The Choise of Valentines/The Choosing of Valentines

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To the right honorable the Lord S.
The Choise of Valentines
by Thomas Nashe
The Choosing of Valentines
Post-script
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166610The Choise of Valentines — The Choosing of ValentinesThomas Nashe
THE CHOOSING[1] OF VALENTINES.

It was the merie moneth of Februarie,
        When yong men, in their iollie roguerie[2],
Rose earelie in the morne fore[3] breake of daie,
4        To seeke them valentines soe trimme and gaie[4];

With whom they maie consorte in summer sheene[5],
        And dance the haidegaies[6] on our toune-greene,
As alas at Easter[7], or at Pentecost,
8        Perambulate[8] the fields that flourish most;

And goe to som village abbordring[9] neere,
        To taste the creame and cakes[10] and such good cheere;
Or[11] see a playe of strange moralitie,
12        Shewen by Bachelrie of Maningtree[12].

Where to, the contrie franklins[13] flock-meale swarme,
        And Jhon and Jone com[14] marching arme in arme.
Euen on the hallowes of that blessed Saint[15]
16        That doeth true louers[16] with those ioyes acquaint,

I went, poore pilgrime, to my ladies[17] shrine,
        To see if she would be my valentine[18];
But woe, alass[19], she was not to be found,
20        For she was shifted to an upper[20] ground:

Good Justice Dudgeon-haft, and crab-tree face[21],
        With bills and staues had scar'd hir[22] from the place;

And now she was compel'd, for Sanctuarie[23],
24        To flye unto a house of venerie[24].

Thither went I, and bouldlie made enquire[25]
        If they had hackneis[26] to lett-out to hire,
And what they crau'd[27], by order of their trade,
28        To lett one ride a iournie on a iade.

Therwith out stept a foggy three-chinnd dame[28],
        That us'd to take yong[29] wenches for to tame,
And ask't[30] me if I ment as I profest,
32        Or onelie ask't[31] a question but in iest.

"In iest?" quoth I; "that terme it[32] as you will;
        I com for game, therefore give me my Jill[33]."
"Why Sir," quoth shee, "if that be your demande[34],
36        Com, laye me a Gods-pennie[35] in my hand;

For, in our oratorie siccarlie[36],
        None enters heere, to doe his nicarie[37],
But he must paye his offertorie[38] first,
40        And then, perhaps, wee'le[39] ease him of his thirst."

I, hearing hir[40] so ernest for the box,
        Gave hir hir[41] due, and she the dore unlocks.
In am I entered:[42] "venus be my speede!
44        But where's this female[43] that must do this deed"?

By blinde meanders, and by crankled[44] wayes,
        Shee leades me onward, (as my Aucthor saies[45]),
Vntill we came within a shadie[46] loft
48        Where venus bounsing vestalls skirmish[47] oft;

And there shee sett me in a leather chaire[48],
        And brought me forth, of prettie Trulls[49], a paire,

To chuse of them which might content myne[50] eye;
52       But hir I sought, I could nowhere espie[51].

I spake them faire, and wisht them[52] well to fare—
        "Yet[53] soe yt is, I must haue fresher ware;
Wherefore, dame Bawde, as daintie as you bee[54],
56       Fetch gentle mistris Francis forth to[55] me."

"By Halliedame[56]," quoth she, "and Gods oune mother,
        I well perceaue you are a wylie[57] brother;
For if there be a morsell of more[58] price,
60        You'll smell it out, though I be nare so[59] nice.

As you desire, so shall you swiue with hir[60],
        But think, your purse-strings shall abye-it deare[61];
For, he that will eate quailes must lauish crounes[62],
64        And Mistris Francis, in her veluett gounes[63],

And ruffs and perwigs as fresh as Maye[64],
        Can not be kept with half a croune[65] a daye."

"Of price, good hostess[66], we will not debate,
68        Though[67] you assize me at the highest rate;

Onelie conduct me to this bonnie[68] bell.
        And tenne good gobbs I will unto thee tell[69],
Of golde or siluer, which shall lyke thee[70] best,
72        So much doe I hir companie[71] request."

Awaie[72] she went: so sweete a thing is golde,
        That (mauger) will inuade[73] the strongest holde.
"Hey-ho! she coms, that hath my hearte in keepe[74]
76        Sing Lullabie, my cares, and falle a-sleepe[75]."

Sweeping she coms[76], as she would brush the ground;
        Hir ratling silkes my sences doe confound[77].
"Oh, I am rauisht: voide the chamber streight[78];
80        For I must neede's upon hir[79] with my weight."

"My Tomalin," quoth shee, and then she smilde[80].
        "I, I," quoth I, "soe more men are beguild[81]
With smiles, with flatt'ring wordes, and fained cheere[82],
84        When in their deedes their falsehood doeth appeare[83]."

"As how, my lambkin," blushing, she replide[84],
        "Because I in this dancing[85] schoole abide?
If that it be, that breede's this[86] discontent,
88        We will remoue the camp[87] incontinent:

For shelter onelie, sweete heart, came[88] I hither,
        And to auoide the troblous stormie[89] weather;
But now the coaste is cleare, we will[90] be gonne,
92        Since, but thy self, true louer[91] I haue none."

With that she sprung full lightlie to my lips[92],
        And fast about the neck me colle's, and clips[93];

She wanton faints[94], and falle's vpon hir bedd,
96        And often tosseth[95] too and fro hir head;

She shutts hir eyes[96], and waggles with her tongue:
        "Oh, who is able to abstaine so long?[97]"
"I com! I com! sweete lyning be[98] thy leaue:"
100        Softlie my fingers up theis curtaine heaue[99],

And make me happie, stealing by degreese[100].
        First bare hir leggs, then creepe up to hir kneese[101];
From thence ascend unto her mannely[102] thigh—
104        (A pox on lingring when I am so[103] nighe!).

Smock, climbe[104] a-pace, that I maie see my ioyes;
        Oh heauen and paradize are all[105] but toyes
Compar'd with this sight I now[106] behould,
108        Which well might keepe a man from being olde.

A prettie rysing wombe without a weame[107],
        That shone as bright as anie siluer streame[108];

And bare out like the bending of an[109] hill,
112        At whose decline a fountaine dwelleth still[110];

That hath his mouth besett with uglie bryers[111],
        Resembling much a duskie nett of wyres[112];
A loftie buttock, barrd with azure veines[113],
116        Whose comelie swelling, when my hand distreines[114],

Or wanton checketh with a harmlesse stype[115],
        It makes the fruites of loue oftsoone[116] be rype,
And pleasure pluckt too tymelie from the stemme[117]
120        To dye ere it hath seene Jerusalem[118].

O Gods! that euer anie thing so[119] sweete,
        So suddenlie should fade awaie[120], and fleete!
Hir armes are spread, and I am all unarm'd[121],
124        Lyke one with Ouid's cursed hemlocke charm'd[122];

So are my Limms unwealdlie for the fight[123]
        That spend their strength in thought of hir[124] delight.

What shall I doe to shewe my self a man?
128        It will not be for ought that beawtie can[125].

I kisse, I clap, I feele[126], I view at will,
        Yett dead he lyes[127], not thinking good or ill.
"Unhappie me," quoth shee, "and wilt' not stand?[128]
132        Com, lett me rubb and chafe[129] it with my hand!

Perhaps the sillie worme is labour'd[130] sore,
        And wearied that it can[131] doe noe more;
If it be so, as I am greate a-dread[132],
136        I wish tenne thousand times that I were[133] dead.

How ere it is, no meanes shall want[134] in me,
        That maie auaile to his recouerie[135]."
Which saide, she tooke and rould it on hir thigh[136],
140        And when she look't on't, she would weepe and sighe;[137]

She dandled it, and dancet it up and doune[138],
        Not ceasing till she rais'd it from his swoune[139].

And then he flue on hir as he[140] were wood,
144        And on hir breeche did hack and foyne[141] a-good;

He rub'd, and prickt, and pierst her[142] to the bones,
        Digging as farre as eath[143] he might for stones;
Now high, now lowe, now stryking[144] shorte and thicke;
148        Now dyuing deepe, he toucht hir[145] to the quicke;

Now with a gird[146] he would his course rebate,
        Straite would he take him to a statlie[147] gate;
Plaie while him list, and thrust he neare so[148] hard,
152        Poore pacient Grissill lyeth at hir warde[149],

And giue's, and takes, as blythe and free[150] as Maye,
        And ere-more meete's him in the midle[151] waye.
On him hir eyes continualy[152] were fixt;
156        With hir eye-beames his melting looke's[153] were mixt,

Which, like the Sunne, that twixt two glasses plaies[154],
        From one to th' other cast's rebounding[155] rayes.

He, lyke a starre that, to reguild[156] his beames
160        Sucks-in the influence of Phebus[157] streames,

Imbathes the lynes of his descending[158] light
        In the bright fountaines of hir clearest sight[159].
She, faire as fairest Planet[160] in the skye,
164        Hir puritie[161] to noe man doeth denye;

The verie chamber that enclouds[162] her shine
        Lookes lyke the pallace of that God deuine[163],
Who leades the daie about the Zodiake[164],
168        And euerie euen discends to th'oceane[165] lake;

So fierce and feruent is her radiance[166],
        Such fyrie stakes she darts at euerie glance[167]
As might enflame the icie limmes[168] of age,
172        And make pale death his seignedrie to aswage;[169]

To stand and gaze upon her orient lamps[170],
        Where Cupid all his chiefest ioyes encamps[171],

And sitts, and playes with euery atomie[172]
176        That in hir Sunne-beames swarme aboundantlie.

Thus gazing, and thus striuing, we perseuer[173]:
        But what so firme that maie continue euer?[174]
"Oh not so fast," my rauisht Mistriss cryes[175],
180        "Leaste my content, that on[176] thy life relyes,

Be brought too-soone from his delightfull seate[177],
        And me unwares of hoped bliss defeate[178].
Together lett us marche unto content[179],
184        And be consumed with one blandishment[180]."

As she prescrib'd so kept we crotchet-time[181],
        And euerie stroake in ordre lyke a chyme[182],
Whilst she, that had preseru'd me by hir pittie[183],
188        Unto our musike fram'd a groaning dittie[184].

"Alass! alass! that loue should be a sinne!
        Euen now my blisse and sorrowe doeth[185] beginne.
Hould wyde thy lapp, my louelie[186] Danae,
192        And entretaine the golden shoure so free[187],

That trikling falles[188] into thy treasurie.
        As Aprill-drops not half so[189] pleasant be,
Nor Nilus overflowe to Ægipt plaines[190]
196        As this sweet-streames that all hir ioints imbaynes[191].

With "Oh!" and "Oh!" she itching moues hir hipps[192],
        And to and fro full lightlie starts and skips[193]:
She ierkes hir leggs, and sprauleth[194] with hir heeles;
200        No tongue maie tell the solace[195] that she feeles,

"I faint! I yeald! Oh, death! rock me[196] a-sleepe!
        Sleepe! sleepe desire! entombed[197] in the deepe!"
"Not so, my deare," my dearest saint[198] replyde,
204        "For, from us yett, thy spirit maie[199] not glide

Untill the sinnowie channels[200] of our blood
        Without their source from this imprisoned[201] flood;
And then will we (that then will com too[202] soone),
208        Dissolued lye, as though our dayes were donne."

The whilst I speake, my soule is fleeting[203] hence,
        And life forsakes his fleshie[204] residence.
Staie, staie sweete ioye, and leaue me not forlorne
212        Why shouldst thou fade that art but newelie borne?

"Staie but an houre, an houre[205] is not so much:
        But half an houre; if that[206] thy haste is such,
Naie, but a quarter—I will aske no more—
216        That thy departure (which torments me sore),

Maie be alightned with a little pause[207],
        And take awaie this passions sudden[208] cause."
He heare's me not; hard-harted as he is,
220        He is the sonne of Time, and hates my blisse.

Time nere looke's backe, the riuers nere returne;[209]
        A second springe must help me or[210] I burne.

No, no, the well is drye that should refresh me[211],
224        The glasse is runne of all my destinie:

Nature of winter learneth nigardize
        Who, as he ouer-beares the streame with ice
That man nor beaste maie of their pleasance taste,
228        So shutts she up hir conduit all in haste,

And will not let hir Nectar ouer-flowe,
        Least mortall man immortall ioyes should knowe.
Adieu! unconstant loue, to thy disporte
232        Adieu! false mirth, and melodie too short;

Adieu! faint-hearted instrument of lust;
        That falselie hath betrayde our equale trust.
Hence-forth no more will I implore thine[212] ayde,
236        Or thee, or man of cowardize upbrayde[213].

My little dilldo shall suply[214] their kinde:
        A knaue, that moues[215] as light as leaues by winde;
That[216] bendeth not, nor fouldeth anie deale,
240        But stands as stiff as he were made of steele;

And playes at peacock twixt my leggs right blythe[217],
        And doeth my tickling swage with manie a sighe.

For, by saint Runnion! he'le[218] refresh me well;
244        And neuer make my tender bellie[219] swell.

Poore Priapus! whose triumph now must falle[220],
        Except thou thrust this weakeling to the walle[221].
Behould! how he usurps, in bed and bowre[222]
248        And undermines thy kingdom euerie howre;[223]

How slye he creepes betwixt[224] the barke and tree,
        And sucks the sap, whilst sleepe detaineth[225] thee.
He is my Mistris page at euerie stound[226],
252        And soone will tent[227] a deepe intrenched wound.

He wayte's on Courtlie Nimphs that be so[228] coye,
        And bids them skorne the blynd-alluring[229] boye.
He giues yong guirls their gamesome sustenance[230],
256        And euerie gaping mouth his full sufficeance.

He fortifies disdaine with forraine[231] artes,
        And wanton-chaste deludes[232] all loving hartes.

If anie wight a cruell mistris serue's[233],
260        Or, in dispaire, (unhappie) pines and staru's[234],

Curse Eunuke dilldo, senceless counterfet[235]
        Who sooth maie fill, but never can begett.
But, if revenge enraged with dispaire,
264        That such a dwarf his wellfare should empaire,

Would faine this womans secretarie[236] knowe,
        Lett[237] him attend the markes that I shall showe:
He is a youth almost two handfulls highe[238],
268        Streight, round, and plumb, yett hauing[239] but one eye,

Wherein the rhewme so feruentlie doeth raigne[240],
        That Stigian gulph maie scarce his teares containe;[241]
Attired in white veluet[242], or in silk,
272        And nourisht with whott water, or with milk[243],

Arm'd otherwhile[244] in thick congealed glasse,
        When he, more glib, to hell be lowe[245] would passe.

Vpon a charriot of five wheeles he rydes[246],
276        The which an arme strong driuer stedfast[247] guides,

And often alters pace as wayes growe deepe,
        (For who, in pathes unknowne[248], one gate can keepe?)
Sometimes he smoothlie slideth doune[249] the hill;
280        Another while[250], the stones his feete doe kill;

In clammie waies he treaddeth[251] by and by,
        And plasheth and sprayeth all that be him nye[252].
So fares this iollie rider[253] in his race,
284        Plunging and sousing forward in lyke[254] case,

He dasht, and spurted, and he plodded[255] foule,
        God giue thee shame, thou blinde[256] mischapen owle!
Fy-fy, for grief: a ladies chamberlaine[257],
288        And canst not thou thy tatling tongue refraine?[258]

I reade thee beardles blab[259], beware of stripes,
        And be aduised what thou vainelie[260] pipes;

Thou wilt be whipt with nettles for this geare[261]
292        If Cicelie shewe but of thy knauerie[262] heere.

Saint Denis shield me from such female sprites![263]
        Regarde not, Dames, what Cupids Poete[264] writes:
I pennd this storie onelie[265] for my selfe,
296        Who, giuing suck unto a childish Elfe[266],

And quitte discourag'd in my nurserie[267],
        Since all my store seemes to hir penurie[268].
I am not as was Hercules the stout,
300        That to the seaventh iournie[269] could hould out;

I want those hearbe's and rootes of Indian soile[270],
        That strengthen wearie members in their toile[271]—
Druggs and Electuaries of new devise[272],
304        Doe shunne my purse, that trembles at the price[273].

Sufficeth all I haue, I yeald hir hole[274]
       Which, for a poore man, is a princelie dole,

I paie our hostess scott and lott at moste[275],
308        And looke as leane and lank as anie[276] ghoste;

What can[277] be added more to my renowne?
        She lyeth breathlesse; I am taken doune;[278]
The waves doe swell, the tydes climbe or'e the banks;[279]
312        Judge, gentlemen! if I deserue not thanks?[280]

And so, good night! unto[281] you euer'ie one;
        For loe, our thread is spunne, our plaie is donne[282].

Claudito iam vinos Priapa, sat prata biberunt [sic[283]].

Tho. Nash.


Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ↑ , The Choosing of Valentines, Nashes Dildo.
  2. ↑ yong, younge; their iollie roguerie, their brauery; iollie, Fr. joli, pretty, fine. Bravery, finery; Cf. Holinshed's Chron. of Eng., 55—The ancient Britons painted their bodies "which they esteemed a great braverie."
  3. ↑ Rose earelie in the morne fore, Rose in the morning before; daie, daye.
  4. ↑ soe trimme and gaie, soe fresh and gaye.
  5. ↑ summer sheene, somers shene.
  6. ↑ haidegaies on, high degree in.
  7. ↑ alas at Easter, or, allso at Ester and.
  8. ↑ Perambulate, preambulate.
  9. ↑ to som, into some; abbordring, bordering.
  10. ↑ taste the creame and cakes, tast the cakes and creame.
  11. ↑ Or, To.
  12. ↑ by Bachelrie of Maningtree, by the bachelours of magnanimity. "Manningtree, in Essex, formerly enjoyed the privilege of fairs, by the tenure of exhibiting a certain number of stage plays yearly. It appears also, from other intimations, that there were great festivities there, and much good eating, at Whitsun ales, and other times."—Nares.
  13. ↑ Where to, the contrie franklins, Whether our Country Franklins.
  14. ↑ Jhon and Jone com, John and Joane come.
  15. ↑ Euen, Even; hallowes, Hallowes; Saint, Sainct.
  16. ↑ doeth, doth; louers, lovers; those, omitted in Rawlinson.
  17. ↑ ladies, Ladyes.
  18. ↑ she, shee; valentine, valentyne.
  19. ↑ woe, alass, out, alas.
  20. ↑ an upper, another.
  21. ↑ -haft and crab-tree face, with his crabbed face.
  22. ↑ scar'd hir, scard her; the, that.
  23. ↑ And now she was compel'd for Sanctuarie, And she, poore wench, compeld for Sanctuary.
  24. ↑ unto, into; venery, Venery.
  25. ↑ bouldlie,, bouldly; enquire, inquire.
  26. ↑ hackneis, hackneyes. Hackney, a person or thing let out for promiscuous use, e.g., a horse, a whore, a literary drudge. Cf. "The hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love perhaps a hackney."—Love's Labour Lost, iii., 1.
  27. ↑ crau'd, craud.
  28. ↑ Therwith out stept, With that, stept forth; three chinnd, three-chinde. Foggie = fat, bloated, having hanging flesh. Cf. "Some three chind foggie dame."—Dolarney, Primrose.
  29. ↑ us'd, vsd; yong, younge.
  30. ↑ ask't, askt; I ment as I profest, soothe were my request.
  31. ↑ onelie ask't, onely moud.
  32. ↑ it, yt.
  33. ↑ com, come; give, giue; Jill, Gill.
  34. ↑ "Why, Sir." quoth shee, "if that be your demande, "If that yt be," quoth she, "that you demaunde."
  35. ↑ Com laye me a God's-pennie, then giue me first a godes peny. "God's-pennie, an earnest-pennie."—Florio, p. 36.
  36. ↑ oratorie siccarlie, oratory, siccarly. "Oratory," properly a private chapel or closet for prayer; here a canting term for brothel: cf. abbess = bawd; nun = whore, and so forth. "Siccarly," certainly, surely "Thou art here, sykerlye, Thys churche to robb with felonye," MS. Cantab Ff. ii., 38, f. 240.
  37. ↑ heere, in; nicarie, deuory. "Nick," female pudendum: hence nickery, copulation. Deuory may either be Fr. devoir, duty; or devoure, to ravish, to deflower.
  38. ↑ offertorie, affidavit.
  39. ↑ wee'le, Ile.
  40. ↑ hearing hir so ernest, seeing her soe earnest.
  41. ↑ Gave hir hir, I gaue her her; and she the dore unlocks, and she the doare vnlockes.
  42. ↑ In am I entered, Nowe I am entered; venus, sweet Venus.
  43. ↑ where's this female, where's the female; do this, do the.
  44. ↑ By, through; meanders and by crankled, meander and through crooked.
  45. ↑ Shee leades, Shee leads; Aucthor saies, author sayes.
  46. ↑ we came within, I came vnto; shadie, shady.
  47. ↑ bounsing vestalls, bouncing vestures; skirmish, skyrmish; oft, omitted.
  48. ↑ shee, she; leather chaire, Lether chayre.
  49. ↑ prettie Trulls, wenches straight.
  50. ↑ To chuse of them, And bad me choose; myne, my.
  51. ↑ hir, she; no where espie, noe waye espye.
  52. ↑ them, her; them her.
  53. ↑ Yet, But.
  54. ↑ Bawde, baud; as daintie, soe dainty; bee, be.
  55. ↑ forth to, vnto.
  56. ↑ Halliedame, Holy Dame; she, shee; Gods oune, gods one.
  57. ↑ wylie, wyly.
  58. ↑ more, better.
  59. ↑ You'l smell, youle find; nare so, now soe.
  60. ↑ hir, her.
  61. ↑ think, look; purse-strings, purse-stringes; abye it deare, abide yt deere.
  62. ↑ that will eate quailes, whoole feed on quayles; crounes, crownes.
  63. ↑ Mistris Francis, Mistres Fraunces; veluett gounes, velvett gownes.
  64. ↑ And ruffs, Her ruffe; perwigs, perriwigge; as, soe; Maye, May.
  65. ↑ with half a croune, for half a crowne.
  66. ↑ hostess, hostes; we, wee.
  67. ↑ Though, although.
  68. ↑ bonnie, bonny.
  69. ↑ tenne, tenn; gobbs I will unto thee tell, goblets vnto thee Ile tell. "Gob, a portion" (H).
  70. ↑ lyke thee, like you.
  71. ↑ doe I hir companie, I doe her company.
  72. ↑ Awaie, Awaye; thing, worde.
  73. ↑ That (mauger) will inuade, it makes invasion in.
  74. ↑ Hey-ho, Loe! here; hearte, harte; keepe, keeping.
  75. ↑ Lullabie, lullaby; and falle a sleepe, fall a sleeping.
  76. ↑ coms, comes; ground, ground.
  77. ↑ Hir, her; silkes, silcke; confound, Confound.
  78. ↑ Oh, Awaye; rauisht, ravisht; voide, voyd; chamber, Chamber; streight, straight.
  79. ↑ For I must neede's be on hir, I must be straight vppon her.
  80. ↑ smilde, smiled.
  81. ↑ beguilde, beguiled.
  82. ↑ With smiles, with flatt'ring wordes, and fained cheere, With sighes and flattering woordes and teares.
  83. ↑ their, your; their, much; doeth appeare, still apeares.
  84. ↑ how, How; lambkin, Tomalyn; replide, replied.
  85. ↑ dancing, dauncing.
  86. ↑ it be, be it; this, thy.
  87. ↑ camp, campe.
  88. ↑ onelie, only; sweete heart, sweete harte; came, cam.
  89. ↑ auoide, avoyd; troblous and stormie, troublesome, stormye.
  90. ↑ But now, And since; coaste, coast; we wil, I will.
  91. ↑ Since, for; louer, louers.
  92. ↑ sprung, sprunge; lips, lippes.
  93. ↑ And fast about the neck me colle's and clips, and about my neck she hugges, she calles, she clippes. "Coll or "cull," to kiss, to embrace; so also "clip."
  94. ↑ faints, faynes; vpon hir, vppon the.
  95. ↑ tosseth, tosses; and fro hir, and froe her.
  96. ↑ shutts hir eyes, shakes her feete.
  97. ↑ who, whoe; abstaine, forbeare; long, longe.
  98. ↑ I com, I com, I come, I come; lyning, Ladye; be, by.
  99. ↑ Softlie my fingers up this curtaine heaue, softly my curtaines lett my fingers heaue.
  100. ↑ make, send; happie, happye; stealing, sailing; degreese, degrees.
  101. ↑ First bare hir leggs, then creepe up to hir kneese, First vnto the feete, and then vnto the kneese.
  102. ↑ From thence, And soe; unto, vnto; mannely, manly.
  103. ↑ lingring, lingering; am so, come soe.
  104. ↑ Smock, Smocke; climbe, clime.
  105. ↑ Oh heaven and paradise are all, all earthly pleasures seeme to this.
  106. ↑ Compar'd with this sight I now, Compard be these delightes which I.
  107. ↑ prettie rysing, prettye rising; weame, wenne. "Wem," spot or blemish.
  108. ↑ shone, shine(s); anie siluer streame, any christall gemme.
  109. ↑ bare, beares; bending, riseing; an, a.
  110. ↑ a fountaine dwelleth still, the(r) runnes a fountayne still.
  111. ↑ his, her; uglie bryers, rugged briers.
  112. ↑ duskie, duskye; wyres, wires.
  113. ↑ loftie, lusty; veines, vaines.
  114. ↑ comelie, comely; distreines, restraines. "Distreines," to seize, to touch.
  115. ↑ wanton, harmles; harmlesse stype, wanton gripe.
  116. ↑ fruites of loue oftsoone, fruite thereof too soone
  117. ↑ And, A; too tymelie, to tymely; the stemme, his springe.
  118. ↑ To dye ere it hath seene Jerusalem, it is, dyes ere it can enioye the vsed thinge.
  119. ↑ Gods, Godes; euer anie, ever any; so, soe.
  120. ↑ So suddenlie, soe suddenly; awaie, awaye.
  121. ↑ Hir, Her; are spread and I am all unarm'd, and legges and all were spredd, But I was all vnarmed.
  122. ↑ Lyke, like; with, that; charm'd, charmd.
  123. ↑ Omitted in Rawl. MS.
  124. ↑ spend their, spent there; hir, your.
  125. ↑ It, Yt; beawtie cann, beauty can.
  126. ↑ clap, clipp; I feele, I view, I wincke, I feele.
  127. ↑ dead he lyes, lyes he dead; thinking, feeling.
  128. ↑ Unhappie me, By Holly dame; stand, staund.
  129. ↑ Com, now; rubb, roule; chafe, rub; with, in.
  130. ↑ Perhaps, perhapps; sillie, seely; is labour'd, hath laboured.
  131. ↑ wearied that it can, worked soe that it cann.
  132. ↑ If it be so, Which if it be; am greate a-dread, doe greately dread.
  133. ↑ tenne, ten; were, weare.
  134. ↑ How ere it is, What ere it be; no, noe; want, lacke.
  135. ↑ maie auaile to, maye avayle for; recouerie, recoverye.
  136. ↑ saide, said; and rould, & rowld; hir thigh, her thighe.
  137. ↑ And when she look't on't she would weepe and sighe, and looking downe on it, did groane and sighe.
  138. ↑ dandled, haundled; dancet, daunced; up, vpp; doune, downe.
  139. ↑ she rais'd, shee raisd; his swoune, her sound.
  140. ↑ he flue, it flewe; hir, her; he, it.
  141. ↑ hir breeche did hack and fayne, her breech laboured & foam'd.
  142. ↑ prickt, and pierst her, peirct her euer.
  143. ↑ farre, deepe; might, could digg; "eath," easy.
  144. ↑ stryking, stricking; and, &.
  145. ↑ Now dyuing deepe he toucht hir, And diving deeper, peircte her.
  146. ↑ gird, girde.
  147. ↑ Straite, then; statlie, stately.
  148. ↑ him, he; so, soe.
  149. ↑ pacient Grissill, patient Grissell; hir warde, his ward.
  150. ↑ blythe, blith; free, fresh.
  151. ↑ ere-more, euer; midle, middle of the.
  152. ↑ him hir eyes continualy, her his eyes Continually.
  153. ↑ hir eye-beames his, his eye-browes her; looke's, eyes.
  154. ↑ twixt, betwixt; plaies, playes.
  155. ↑ one, the one; th'other cast's rebounding, the other casting redounding.
  156. ↑ He lyke, She like; reguild, requite.
  157. ↑ Sucks-in, suckes; of Phebus, of sweete Phebus.
  158. ↑ lynes, beames: descending, discending.
  159. ↑ bright, deepest; hir dearest sight, the purest light.
  160. ↑ Planet, plannet.
  161. ↑ Hir puritie, her puritye.
  162. ↑ verie chamber, verye Chamber; enclouds, includes.
  163. ↑ Lookes lyke, seemes as; that God deuine, the gods devine.
  164. ↑ Who, Whoe; daie, daye; Zodiake, Zodiacke.
  165. ↑ euerie euen discends to th'oceane, in the even, settes of the ocean.
  166. ↑ So fierce, soe feirce; is hir radiance, in her radiaunce.
  167. ↑ fyrie stakes, flyeing breath; darts, dartes; euerie glance, every glaunce.
  168. ↑ enflame, inflame; icie limmes, verry mappe.
  169. ↑ make, cause; his seignedrie to aswage, him suddenly tasswage.
  170. ↑ To, and; upon her, vppon those; lamps, lampes.
  171. ↑ his chiefest ioyes encamps, his ioyes incampes.
  172. ↑ Omitted in Rawl. MS.
  173. ↑ Thus gazing, and thus striuing, we perseuer, Thus striking, thus gazeing, we perseuere.
  174. ↑ what so firme, nought soe sure; maie, will; euer, ever.
  175. ↑ Oh! Fleete; rauisht Mistris cryes, ravisht senses cries.
  176. ↑ Leaste, sith; content that on, Content vppon.
  177. ↑ Be, Which; too, soe; seat, seates.
  178. ↑ And me unwares of hoped bliss defeat, me vnawares of blissefull hope defeates. Here occur two lines in the Rawl. MS. which do not appear in the Petyt MS., as follows:
     Togeather lett our equall motions stirr,
     Togeather lett vs liue and dye, my deare;
  179. ↑ Together lett us marche unto content, Togeather let vs march with one contente.
  180. ↑ consumed with one blandishment, Consum(e)d without languishmente.
  181. ↑ prescrib'd, so kept we crochet, prescribed so keepe we clocke and.
  182. ↑ lyke, like; chyme, chime.
  183. ↑ Whilst she, soe shee; had preseru'd, here preferd; pittie, pittye.
  184. ↑ Unto, vnto; musike, musicke; dittie, dittye.
  185. ↑ Euen, even; blisse and sorrowe doeth, ioyes and sorrowes doe.
  186. ↑ lapp, lappe; louelie, louely.
  187. ↑ entretaine the, entertaine this; shoure so free, showry see.
  188. ↑ trikling falles, drisling fall(es); treasurie, treasurye.
  189. ↑ As Aprill-drops, Sweete Aprill flowers; half so, halfe soe.
  190. ↑ overflowe to Ægipt-plaines, overfloweinge Egipt playne.
  191. ↑ As this sweet-streames, as is the balme; hir ioints imbaynes, her woombe destreynes.
  192. ↑ With Oh! and Oh! she itching moues hir hipps, Now! oh now! she trickling moues her lippes.
  193. ↑ And, and often; full lightlie starts and skips, she lightly startes and skippes.
  194. ↑ ierkes, yerkes; leggs, legges; sprauleth, fresketh.
  195. ↑ No, noe; maie, can; solace, pleasures.
  196. ↑ I faint! I yeald! Oh death, rock me, I come! I come! sweete death, rocke mee.
  197. ↑ entombed, intombe me.
  198. ↑ my deare, my dearest saint, my deare, and dearest she.
  199. ↑ For, from us yett, thy spirit maie, from us two (yett) this pleasure must.
  200. ↑ Untill, Vntill; channels, Chambers.
  201. ↑ Without their source, Withould themselues; imprisoned, newe prisoned.
  202. ↑ will we, we will; com too, come soe.
  203. ↑ whilst, whilest; speake, speke; is fleeting, in stealing.
  204. ↑ fleshie, earthly.
  205. ↑ but an houre, but one houre; an houre is, one houre is; so, soe
  206. ↑ But, nay; if that, and if.
  207. ↑ Maie be alightned with a little pause, Maye now be lengthened by a litle pawse.
  208. ↑ awaie, awaye; sudden, suddaine.
  209. ↑ riuers nere returne, riuer nere returnes.
  210. ↑ springe, spring; must helpe me or, must helpe, or elles.
  211. ↑ Omitted in Rawl. MS.
  212. ↑ Hence-forth no more will I implore thine, Hensforth I will noe more implore thine.
  213. ↑ or man of cowardize upbrayde, for ever of Cowardise shall vpprayd.
  214. ↑ dilldo, dildoe; suply their, supplye your.
  215. ↑ knaue, youth; moues, is; by, in.
  216. ↑ That, He; anie, any.
  217. ↑ Omitted in Rawl. MS.
  218. ↑ For, by saint Runnion, he'le, And when I will he doth.
  219. ↑ make, makes; bellie, belly.
  220. ↑ whose triumph now, thy kingdome needes; falle, fall.
  221. ↑ Except, eccept; walle, wall.
  222. ↑ usurps, vsurpes; boure, bower.
  223. ↑ undermines, vndermines; euerie howre, euery hower.
  224. ↑ sly he, slyly; betwixt, betwene.
  225. ↑ sucks, suckes; whilst, while; detaineth, deteyneth.
  226. ↑ page, lake; stound, sound. "Stound," a moment.
  227. ↑ "tent," to search out.
  228. ↑ Courtlie Nimphs, courtly nimphs; be so, are full.
  229. ↑ blynd-alluring, blind-alluring.
  230. ↑ Omitted in Rawl. MS.
  231. ↑ fortifies disdaine, fortifyes disdayne; forraine, foraigne.
  232. ↑ And wanton-chaste deludes, while wantons chast delude.
  233. ↑ anie, any; Mistris serue's, Mistres serve.
  234. ↑ Or, and; (unhappie) pines and staru's, full deeply pyne and sterue.
  235. ↑ Omitted in Rawl. MS.
  236. ↑ womans secretarie, woemans secretary.
  237. ↑ Lett, let.
  238. ↑ handfulls highe, handfulles high.
  239. ↑ plumb, plump; yett hauing, and having.
  240. ↑ rhewme so feruentlie doeth raigne, rheume soe fervently doth raine.
  241. ↑ That, the; gulph maie, gulfe can; containe, conteyne. Here follow, in the Rawl. MS., lines 290-93 of the Petyt; lines 292-3 being also reversed in the Rawl. text.
  242. ↑ Attired, attird; veluet, velvet.
  243. ↑ nourisht, norisht; hott, warme; milk, milke. "Whott," hot.
  244. ↑ Arm'd otherwhile, Running sometymes.
  245. ↑ more glib, more like; to hell be lowe, downe into hell.
  246. ↑ charriot, chariot; rydes, rides.
  247. ↑ The which an arme strong driuer stedfast, An arme strong guider steadfastly him.
  248. ↑ who, whoe; pathes unknowne, places vnknowne; gate, pace.
  249. ↑ Sometimes, sometymes; smoothlie slideth doune a, smoothly slippeth downe a.
  250. ↑ Another while, some other tymes.
  251. ↑ clammie waies, clayey wayes; treaddeth, treadeth.
  252. ↑ plasheth and sprayeth, placeth himself &; be him nye, standeth by.
  253. ↑ So, soe; iollie rider, royall rider.
  254. ↑ Plunging and sousing, Plungeing & sowsing; lyke, like.
  255. ↑ He dasht, and spurted, and he plodded, Bedasht, bespotted, and beplotted.
  256. ↑ blinde, foule.
  257. ↑ Fy-fy, for grief, But free from greife; ladies chamberlaine, ladyes chamberlayne.
  258. ↑ not thou, thou not: refraine, refrayne.
  259. ↑ reade thee, tell the; blab, blabb. "Reade," warn.
  260. ↑ aduised, advisd; thou vainelie, thou soe vainely.
  261. ↑ Transposed in Rawl. MS. with line 292; wilt, shouldst.
  262. ↑ Cicelie shewe but, Illian queene knowe; knauerie, bravery.
  263. ↑ Denis shield, Dennis sheild; female sprites, femall sprightes.
  264. ↑ Dames, dames; Cupid's Poet, Cupid's poett.
  265. ↑ pennd, pen; storie onelie, story onely.
  266. ↑ Who giuing suck unto a childish Elfe, And, giving yt to such an actuall Elfe.
  267. ↑ And, am; discourag'd, discoraged; nurserie, mistery.
  268. ↑ hir, her; penurie, misery.
  269. ↑ seaventh iournie, seauenth Iourny.
  270. ↑ want, wantes; hearbe's, omitted; and, &; soile, soyle.
  271. ↑ wearie, weary; toile, toyle.
  272. ↑ Druggs or Electuaries of new devise, Or drugges or electuaryes of newe devises.
  273. ↑ Doe shunne, that shame; that trembles, & tremble; the, thie; price, prices. In the Rawl. MS., lines 307-8 of the Petyt MS. follow here.
  274. ↑ Sufficeth all I haue, I yeald hir hole, For that I allwayes had, I payd the wole.
  275. ↑ I paie our hostess, I paid of both the; and, &; at moste, allmost.
  276. ↑ And, yet; and, &; anie, any.
  277. ↑ can, cann.
  278. ↑ doune, downe.
  279. ↑ climbe, clims; banks, bankes.
  280. ↑ gentlemen, if I, gentleweomen doth this; not thanks, no thankes.
  281. ↑ so, soe: unto, vnto.
  282. ↑ thread, thred; plaie is donne, playes done.
  283. ↑ This does not scan; and, moreover, seems incorrectly transcribed, even making allowance for Nash's adaptation of a well-known line; cf. Virgil, Eclogue iii., line 111—"Claudite jam rivos, pueri, sat prata biberunt," "Now shut the hatches (in the banks of the stream), O lads, the pastures have drunk enough."
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