LAMIA

ALL a flaunt now vaunt it, brave wench cast away care, With Lays of Love chant it, for no cost see thou spare: ❧ Sith Nature hath made thee, with beauty most brave, Sith Fortune does lade thee, with what thou wouldst have. Ere Pleasure does vade thee, thy self set to sale: All wantons will trade thee, and stoup to thy stale. All a flaunt, Ʋ to Supram. ❧ Young Ruflers maintains thee, defends thee and thine, Old Dottrels retains thee, thy Beauties so shine: Though many disdains thee, yet none may thee tuch: Thus Envy refrains thee, thy countenance is such. All a flaunt, Ʋ to Supram: Triumph fair Lamia now, thy wanton flag advance, Set forth thy self to bravest show, boast thou of happy chance: Girl, account thou thy self the chief, of Lady Pleasures train, Thy face is fair, thy form continued ̄ tent, thy Fortune's both does strain. Even as thou wouldst, thy house does stand, thy furniture is gay, Thy weeds are brave, thy face is fine, & who for this does pay? Thou thy self no, the rushing Youths, y e bath in wanton bliss, Yea, old and doting fools sometime, do help to pay for this. Free cost between them both I have, all this for my behoove, I am the stern, y to gides their thoughts, look what I Like, they love Few of them stir, that I bid stay, if I bid go, they fly: If I on foe pursue revenge, Alarm a hundred cry. The bravest I their hearts, their hands, their purses hold at will, Joined with the credit of the best, to bowlster me in ill. But see where as my trusty man, does run, what news brings he? Rosko, what news, that in such haste you come blowing? What so they be, foolish knave, tell me true? For me good fellow, I pray thee why so? Go too, say on: Why, what's the matter man? Is this offence, in question come again? Tell, tell, no more, 'tys time this tale were done: See, see, how soon, my triumph turns to pain. Alas poor Rosko, our dainty diet, Our bravery and all we must forgo. Yea, but out alas, sorrow will not serve: Thou shalt have a Pasporte, Why, that thou wart my man. Never fear: honestly Lamia now means to live, even till she die. Admit I would, my hazard were in vain. Thou comforts Me, good Rosko, tell Me how? I did but jest, good sweet servant tell Me. Tush, to try thy unwillingness. I did but jest. I thought thy talk was too sweet to be true. No, I did so long since, but inforste by need, To bid him welcome home again, I was decreed. And what of this? A good device, God grant us good success: But I pray thee, what trade does he profess? All the better, suspicion will be the less. Well, go thy ways, and if thou him espy, Tell him from me, that I a cause or two. Would put to him, at leisure willingly. Aye me alas, less Phallax help, poor wench undone I am: My foes now in the wind, will lie to work my open shame: Now envious eyes will pry abroad, offenders to entrap, Of force now Lamia, must be chaste, to shun a more mishap. And wanton girl, how wilt thou shift, for garments fine and gay? For dainty fare, can crusts continued ̄ tent? who shall thy houserent pay? And that delights thee most of all, thou must thy dalliance leave? And can then the force of law, or death, thy mind of love bereave? In good faith, no: the wight that once, hath taste the fruits of love, Until his dying day will long, Sir Chaucers jests to prove. Were you born in a mill, curtole? you prate so hie: What young Hipolito? Least he be gone, home hie: And will Daliam pop him in the nether room, And keep the falling door close till I come And tell my thraule his fortune will not stay? Prating vixen away. Gallants adue. I venture must Hipolito to see. He is both young and wealthy yet, the better spoil for Me. My hazard for his sake I true, Note shall make him pray and pay: He: he: shall prank me in my plumes, and deck me brave and gay, Of Curtisie, I pray you yet, if Phallax come this way, Report to put a case with him, hear Lamia long did stay. Worshipful Sir, my self I happy reak, With patience that my answer you will hear: These naughty men, these words on malice speak, And for this cause, ill will to me they bear. I scornde to keep, their minds with money play, I mean to keep, my life from open shame, Yea, if I live, as lewdly as they say: But I that knew, my self unworthy shame: Shrunk not, to come unto my trial now. My tale is told, conceive as liketh you. Indeed I grant (although I could reprove, Their lewd Complaints, with goodness of my life) Your courtesy, your debtor does me prove, In that you took my honest fame in strife,) My answer for discharge of their report: For which good turn, I at your pleasure rest, To work amends, in any honest sort: Tush, I warrant thee, I am not so hot, Your words are too harden Sir, for me to construe. I see no sign of death, in your face to appear, 'Tis but some usual qualm you have, pitiful Dams to fears. Well, I admit it so, only to argue in your case. I am married, so that to set your love on me were vain: Though for pleasure, or to prove me, these proffers you do move, You are to wise, to hassarde life, upon my yielding love: The man is painde with present death, that uses wanton pleasure. If law you do profess. I gladly crave, In a cause or two, your advise to have. You are a merry man, but leave to jest, To morrow night, if you will be my Jest: At my poor house, you shall my causes know, For good cause, which I mean not here to show. Your good welcome Sir, your best cheer will be. Well (in seeréete, be it said) how so I seemed divine, I feared once, a blue gown, would have be my shrine. But now that pain is flayed, and pleasure keeps his hold, I know that Phallax will, my Fame henceforth uphold: To entertain which Jest, I will some dainty cheer prepare, Yet ere I go, in pleasant Song, I mean to purge my care. ❧ A endue poor care, adue, Go, cloy some helpless wretch: My life, to make me rue, Thy forces do not stretch. Thy harbour, is the heart, Whom wrong, hath wrapped, in woe: But wrong, does take my part, With cloak of right in shoe. My faults, inquiry escape, At them the Judges wink: Those for my fallen that gape, To show my lewdness shrink. Then silly care go pack, Thou art no Jest for me: I have, and have, no lack, And lack, is shroud for thee. Tear not my clothes my friends, they cost more the ̄ you are a beware,