WIT

Nature, my sovereign Queen and paret passing dear Whose force I am enforced to know and knowledge every where, This care of mine though it be bred within my breast, Yet it is not so ripe: as yet to breed me great unrest, So run I to and from, with hap such as I find, Now fast, now loose, now hight, now cold, unco ̄ stant as that wind, I feel my self in love yet not inflamed so, But causes move me now and then, to let such fancies go, Which causes prevailing sets eke thing else in doubt Much Like the nail that last came in, & dryues the former out. Wherefore my sum to is this, that it would please your grace, To settle this unsettled head in some assured place: To lead me through the thick, to guide me all the way, To point me where I may atcheue my most desired pray, For now again of late I kindle in desire And pleasure pricks fourth my youth to feel a greater fire, What though I be to young to show her sport in bed, Yet are there many in this land that at my years do wed, And though I wed not yet, yet am I old inowe To serve my Lady to my power and to Begin to woe. A Lady whom it might be seem high Jove him self to love Nor this nor that, but I would worser men talk of her apace. Reason is her sire, Experience her dame, The Lady now is in her flowers and Science is her name Lo where she dwells, lo where my heart is all possessed, Lo where my body would abide, lo where my soul does rest. Her have I born good will, these many years tofore, But now she lodgeth in my thought a hundred parts the more, And since I do persuade my self that this is she Which ought above all earthly wights to be most deer to me And since I wot not how to compass my desire, And since for shame I can not now nor mind not to retire, Help on I you beseech and bring this thing about Without your hurt to my great ease, and set all out of doubt. You name your self the Lady of this world. And can there be within this world, a thing oh hard for you. If conning be the key and well of wordly bliss My thinketh God might at y e first as well endue all with this. And yet right worthy things there are, you will continued ̄ fesse I trow, Which notwithstanding at our birth God does on us bestow. Fain would I learn what harm or detriment ensued, If any man were at his birth with these good gifts endued. Suppose I would address my self to seek her out And to refuse no pain that lies there about Should I be sure to speed? Madame, I trust I have your licence and your leave With your good will & so much help as you to me can gyve With further aid also, when you shall spy your time, To make a proffe to give attempt this famous hill to climb And now I here request your blessing and your prayer For sure before I sleep I will to yonder fort repair Welcome to me my will, what service canst thou do, But when wilt thou list, when I shall list I trow When I have need of thee thou wilt not serve me so, Cock soul this is a boy for the nonse amongst twenty more, Then must I prick you child if you be drowned in sloth Adue Lady mother with thanks for all your pain And now let me bethink my self again & eke again To match with Science is the thing that I have took in hand, A matter of more weight I see, then I did understand Will must be won to this, or else it will be hard Will must go break the matter first, or else my gain is marred, Sir boy are you content to take such part for me As God shall send, and help it forth as much as lies in thee. Come then & let us two devise what trace were best to tredde, Nature is on my side and Will my boy is fast, There is no doubt I shall obtain my joys at last. What Will I say Will boy come again foolish self Such a cokbraine as thou art I never saw y Like to it Can ̄ st thou tell me thy erram ̄ worser because thou art gone so soon, Yet thou must commend me to be rich, lusty pleasant and wise. Leave these mad toys of thine and come to the pythe One partly of the errand should have be, To give her this picture of mine to be seen, And to request her the same to accept Safely until my coming to be kept, Which I suspense till thy return and then If it Like her Ladyshipppe to appoint me where and when I will wait upon her gladly out of hand. In faith sir boy this talk deserves blows. I pray the go thy ways and leave this clatter. Tush thou art disposed to spend words in wast, And yet thou knowest this business asks hast If it be worth the hearing, say on. Why so? Speak hardly what thou wilt without any blame. I warrant the for that take thou no thought, Thou shalt be made of, whosoever be set at nought As dear to me, as mine own dear brother, Whosoever be one, thou shalt be and other. Thy message will cause her some favour to bear, For my sake and thy sake and for her own likewise If thou use thy self discreetly in this enterprise. Gyve him fair words, forbear him for his age, Thou must consider him to be ancient and sage, Show thy self officious and seruisable still, And then shall Reason make very much of Will. My wife will have nothing to do with my men. If thou have done begone, and spend no time in vain. At home. Sayest thou me so boy, will she have me in deed How took she the picture, how liketh she my person. And must I come to talk with her my fill. Oh my sweat boy, how shall I recompense, Thy faithful heart and painful diligence, My hope, my stay, my wealth, the kaye of all my joy. Thou shalt be what thou wilt all in all. Give me thy hand take here my faith and troth, I will maintain thee, how soever the world goes. What shall we do? shall we stand lingering here? What if there be some other suitor there. Madame stand to your promise if I win I am sped, Am I not? The more company the merrier, boy what sayest thou? If it shall please you to send those three hither, We will follow your counsel and go together. Well quiet your self thou shalt take no wrong, Me think our three companions tarry very long. Welcome good fellows, will you dwell with me. Welcome Instruction with all my heart. Farewell to you, right honourable sir: And commend me to my love my hearts desire, Let her think on me when she sees me not and wish me well. Since I must take advise and counsel of you three, I must entreat you all, to dwell in house with me, And look what order you shall prescribe as needful, To keep the same you shall find me as heedful: Come, I had even as leaf you bade me hang my self, Leave him: no no I would you all knew, You be but loiterers to him, my Will tells me true, I conld be continued ̄ tent with a week, yea a month or twain, But 3. or 4. years, marry that were a pain, So long to keep me, and lie Like a hog. Will a week serve. No. Then farewell all for as I hope to thrive, I will prove him or I sleep, if I be alive, And if you be mine and good fellows all three, Go thither, out of hand and take your chance with me. What sayest thou Study. Out upon the coward: speak Diligence, Against Instructions mind, I am loath to go hence, Yet I will make one, rather then you should lack. Perhaps we may find them at this time in bed. To come within her child, what meanest thou by that. Hard you ever such a counsel of such a Jack sprot. Both blame and shame, rash boldness does breed. More hast then good speed, makes many fare the worse. But he that leaps before he look, good son, May leap in the mire, and miss when he hath done. I see her come, her sorrow and my Joy, My salve, and yet my soar, my comfort, and my care, The causer of my wound, and yet the will of my welfare: Oh happy wight, that have the faint of your request, Oh hopeless hope that holds me from ̄ y e which likes me best, Twixte hope and fear I stand, to mar or else to make, This day to be relived quit, or else my death wou ̄ worser to take. Oh pearl of passing prise, sent down from God on hie, The sweetest beauty to entice that hath be seen with eye The well of wealth to all, that no man does annoy: The kaye of Kingdoms & the steal of everlasting joy. The treasure and the store, whom all good things began, The nurse of Lady wisdoms lore, the link of ma ̄ & ma ̄ . What words shall me suffice, to utter my desire, What heat of talk shall I devise, for to express my fire I burn and yet I freeze, I flame and cool as fast, In hope to win and for to lose my pensiveness does last, Why should my dulled sprite, apal my courage So. Oh salve my soar, or slée me quite, by saying yea, or no, You are the mark at whom, I shot to hit or miss, My life it stays on you alone, to you my suit it is, Amity not much unmeet with you some grief to find, Dame Nature's son, my name is Wit y e fancieth you by kind, And here I come this day, to wait and to attend In hope to have my hoped pray, or else my life to end. As I am bent to this so let my suit be sped, If I do fail ten Thousa ̄ de plagues & more, Light on my head. Credit my words, and you shall find me true. I will be sworn here solemnly before you both. I will be bound in all that ever I can make. Will neither promise serve: nor oath nor bands, What other assurance will you ask at my hands. Soft and fair sir boy, you talk you wot not what? Must I fight with him, Hold thy peace self. Ill might I thrive, and lack that likes me best, If I be not a scourge to him, that bredes your unrest. Madam assare your self, he lives not in the land, W that whom I would not in your cause, encounter hand to hand And as for Tediousness that wretch, your common foe, Let Me alone, we twain shall cope before I sleep I troe. And let us three bestyre our selves Like men. Unlikely things are brought to pass, by courage now and then My will be always pressed, and ready at and ynche To save thy self to succour me, to help at every pinch. Both twain on either side, assault him if you can, And you shall see me in the mids, how I will play the man This is the deadly den, as far as I perceive, Approach we near and valiantly let us the unset give. Come forth thou monster fell, in drowsy darkness hid, For here is wit Dame Nature's son, y does thee battle bid. Great boast small rost, I warrant thee do thy best, Thy head must serve my turn, this day to set my heart at rest. Well shifted Will, now have at thee sir knave. Ah Will art thou alive, that does my heart some ease, The sighed of the sweet boy, my sorrows does appeace: How hast thou scapte, what fortune the befell? I thank both thee and them, what will you have me do. What then. Can any recompense recover this my fallen? Speak Will. But yet this repulse of mine, they will lay in my dish. On that condition a gods name, fallen we to it. Will daunsi g serve, and I will dance until my bones be soar, Pipe us up a Galliard mynstrel, to Begin, Let will call for dances, one after and other. This ex rcise hath done me good, even to the very heart. Let us be bold with you more acquaintance to take And dance a round, yet once more for my sake, Enouge is enough, farewell, and at your need: Use my acquaintance if it may stand you in steed. Right worthy Damsels both, I know you seek no gains, In recompense of this desert your undeserved pains. But look what other thing my service may devise, To show my thankful heart in any enterprise. Be you as bold therewith, as I am bold on you, And thus with hearty thanks, I take my leave as now. One dance for the and me, my boy come on. This gear does make me sweat, and breath a pace. Home Will and make my bed, for I will take a nap. My bones are styff and I am wearied soar, And still me thynck I faint and Feeble more and more, Wake me again in time for I have things to do, And as you will me for mine ease, I do assent thereto, Up and to go, why sleep I here so found: How falls it out that I am left upon the naked ground. God grant that all be well, whilst I lie dreaming here: Me thinks all is not as it was, nor as I would it were, And yet I wot not why, but oh my fancies gives me That some one thing or other, is my tryer that gre es Me. That are but fancies let them go, to Science now will I, My suit and business yet once again, to labour and aplye. Yes yes have you no doubt, all is and shall be well: Reason most noble sir, and you my Lady deer: How have you done in all this time, since first I saw you here? You speak not as you think, or have you me forgotten, Gods fish hosts and know you not me. I ween you are disposed to make at me some game. I am the son of Lady Nature, my name is Wit. Unto your selves, this trial I remit. Look on me better, and mark my person well, What tokens? Tokens good store I can rehearse a row. First as I was advised, by my mother Nature: My lackey Will, presented you with my picture. This is the very same that you received from Me. Well remembered, and a glass I have in deed, Which glass you gave me, to use at need. I have it in my purse, and will keep it while I live. Either my glass is wonderfully spotted, Or else my face is wonderfully blotted. This is not my Coat, why where had I this weed, By the Mass I look Like a very fool in éede. Oh heaps of haps, Oh rueful chance to me, Oh Idleness woo worth the time, that I was ruled by thee. Why did I lay my head, within thy lap to rest? Why was I not adum worser by her, that wissht and will me best. Oh ten times trouble blessed wights, whose corpses in graven do lie: That are not driven to behold, these wretched cares which die. On me your furies all on me, have poured out your spite, Come now and slay me at the last, and rid my sorrows quite. What coast shall me receive, where shall I show my head: The world will say this same is he, that if he list had sped. This same is he that took, and enterprise in hand, This same is he that scarce one blow, his enemy did withstand. This same is he that fought, and fell in open field: This same is he that in the song, of Idleness did yield. This same is he that was in way, to win the game To join himself whereby he should have wone immortal fame. And now is wrapped in woe, and buried in despair, Oh happy case for the if death would rid the quite of care. Oh spare me with the whip, and slay Me with thy knife: Ten thousand times more deer to Me, were present death then life Oh woofull wretch to whom shall I complain, What sa we may serve to salve my before, or to redress my pain. Nay I and tell the more: remember how, Thou was subdued of Tediousness right now. Remember with what rakes thou went unto his den, Against the good advise, and counsel of thy men, What Recreation did for the, in these thy rueful haps, And how the second time, thou fell into the lap. Oh let me breath a while, and hold thy heavy hand, My grievous faults with shame enough I understand. Take ruth and pity on my plaint, or else I am forlorn, Let not the world continue thus, in laughing me to scorn. Madame if I be he, to whom you once were bent, With whom to spend your time, sometime you were content. If any hope be left, if any recompense, Be able to recover this for passed negligence. Oh help me now poor wretch in this most heavy plighted, And furnish me yet once again, with Tediousness to fight. Here in my sighed good Madam sit and view: That when I lift, I may look up on you. This face this noble face, this lively hiew, Shall harden me, shall make our enemy rue. Oh faithful mates, that have this care of me: How shall I ever recompense, your pains with gold or ée. Come now and as you please, enjoin me how to do it, And you shall see me pr est, and S u sable to it. Welcome good Will, and do as thou art bid, This day or never, must Tediousness be rid. Is this all, for I would fain would e done? I thank you, go thou and bid the battle Will. Nay nay thou shalt have work enough to save thy self, Fight. Have hold hear is a morsel for thee to eat, And here is a foin behind for a mad dog, Hold hold hold the lubber is down, Thou monstrous wretch, thou mortal foe to me and m ne, Which evermore at my good luck and fortune didst repine, Take here thy just desert and payment for thy hire. Thy head this day shall me prefer unto my hearts desire, You you, my faithful Squires deserves no less, Whose tried trust, well known to me in my distres. And certain hope of your fixed faith, and aste good will, Made me attempt this famous fact most needful to fulfil, To you I yeald great thanks, to me redounds the gain. Now home a pace, and ring it out, that Tediousness is slain. Say all at once, Tediousness is slain. Avant you gripping cares, and lodge no more in me, For you have lost, and I have won continual joys and see. Now let me freely touch, and freely you embrace, And let my friends with open mouth proclaim my blissful case. My pain is past, wy gladness to begin, My task is done, my heart is set at rest, My foe subdued, my Ladies love possessed. I thank my friends, whose help I have at need, And thus you see, how Wit and Science are agreed, We twain hence forth one soul, in bodies twain must dwell Rejoice I pray you all with me, my friends and fare you well. Hope haliday, marry this is préety cheer, I have lost my self, I can not tell where And old said saw it is, and to true I find, Soon hight, soon cold, out of sighed, out of mind. What madam, what means this sudden change, What means this scornful look, this countena ̄ ce so strange. It is your fashion so to use, your lovers at the First: Or have all women this delight, to S old and to be cursed. Sir muse no more for it is even I. To whom you gave the glass, and here it is. Time works all with ease, and gives the great dint In time soft water dropes can hollow hardest flint Again. with labour by it self, great matters compaste been Even at a gird in very little time or none we see Wherefore in my conceit good reason it is Either this with out that to look, or that with out this. Did both her parents speak well to her of me . I would I had never known you by the mass. Must I look so long and spend my life with toil Nay sure, I will either win it, or take the foil. A month.