Here begynneth the Temple of glas

¶ Here begynneth the Temple of glas FOr thought conſtreynt & greuous heuynes For penſyfhed and hyghe diſtres To bed I wente now this other nyght whan that lucyna with hyr pale lyght was Ioyned laſt with phebus in aquarye Amyd decembre / whan of Ianuarye Ther be kalendes of the new yere And derke dyane horned and nothyng clere Had her beames vnder a myſty cloude wiſh in my bed for cold I gan me ſhroude All deſolate for conſtraynt of my woo The long nyght walowyng to and fro Tyll at laſte er I gan take kepe Me dyde oppreſſe a ſodeyn dedly ſlepe with in the whiche me thought I was Rauyſſhed in ſpiryte in to a Temple of glas I nyſte how ferre in wyldernes That founded was as by lyclynes Not vpon ſtele / but on a craggy roche Lyke yſe I frore / and as I dide approche Agayn the ſonne that ſhone ſoo clere As ony cryſtall and euer nere and nere As I gan nyghe this gryſly dredfull place I wex aſtonyed / the lyght ſoo in my face Began to ſmyte / ſoo perſyng euer in one On euery parte where that I gan gone That I ne myght no thyng as I wolde Aboute me conſydere and beholde The wonder eſtres for bryghtnes of the ſonne Tyll atte laſt certayn ſkyes donne with wynde chaced han her cours I went Tofore the ſtremes of tytan and I blent Soo that I myght within and withoute wherſo I wolde beholden me aboute For to reporte the facyon and manere Of all this place that was circuler In compas wyſe / round by entayle wrought And whan I had longe gone and ſought I founde a wyket and entred in as faſt In to the temple and myn eyen caſt On euery ſyde now lowe and now eft alofte And right anone as I gan walken ſofte yf I the ſo • he a right reporte ſhall I ſawe depaynted vpon a wall From eſte to weſte many a fayr ymage Of ſondry louers lyke as they were of age Iſette in ordre after they were trewe with lyfly colours wonder freſh of hue And as me thought I ſawe ſom̄ ſyt & ſom̄ ſtāde And ſom̄ knelyng with bylles in theyr hande And ſom̄ with complaynt wofull and pyetous with dolefull chere to putten to venus Soo as ſhe ſate fletyng in the ſee Vpon her woo for to haue pytee And fyrſt of all I ſaugh there of cartage Dido the quene ſo goodly of vyſage That gan complayne hyr auenture and caas How ſhe deceyued was of Eneas For all his heſtes and his othes ſworne And ſayd alas that euer ſhe was borne whan ſhe ſawe that ded ſhe muſt be And next I ſawe the complaynt of Medee How that ſhe falſed was of Iaſon And nygh by venus ſawe I ſytte Atheon And all the maner how the boor hym ſlough For whom ſhe wepte and had pyne ynough There ſawe I alſo how that Penolope For ſhe ſo longe her lord ne myght ſee was of colour bothe pale and grene And al ther next was the freſh quene I mene Alceſt the noble trewe wyf And for admete how ſhe loſt her lyf And for her trouth yf I ſhall not lye How ſhe was torned in to a dayſye There was Grſſyldes Innocence And all her mekenes and pacyence There was eke I ſoude and many other moo And all the torment and the cruell woo That ſhe had for tryſtram all her lyue And how that Tiſbe her hert dide ryue with thylke ſwerd of ſyr Pyramus And all the maner how that Theſeus The mynotaure ſlow amyd the hous That was for wrynked by crafte of dedalus whan he was in pryſon ſhit in Crete And how that philles felte of loues hete The grete fyre of demephon allas And for his falſhed and for his treſpas Vpon the walles depeynt men myght ſee How ſhe henge vpon a fylberd tree And many a ſtory moo than I rekene can were in the temple / and how that parys wan The fayr Eleyne a luſty freſh quene And how achylles was for Polycene I ſlayn vnwardly within troye toune All this lawe I walkyng vp and doune There ſawe I wreton eke the hole tale How philomene in to a nyghtyngale I torned was / and proigne vnto a ſwalowe And how the ſabyns in theyr maner halowe The feſte of lucreſſe yet in Rome toun There ſawe I alſo the ſorow of palamon That he in pryſon felte and all the ſmert And how that he thurgh vnto his hert was hurt vnwaarly by caſtyng of an eye On fayr freſh the luſty yong Emelye And all the ſtryf bytwene hym and his brother And how that one faught with that other within the groue / tyll they by theſeus Accorded were as Chaucer telleth vs And furthermore as I gan beholde I ſawe how phebus with an arowe of golde I wounded was thurgh out his ſyde Only by enuye of the god Cupide And how that diane vnto a laurer tree I torned was whan that ſhe dide flee And how that Ioue began to chaūge his cope Only for loue of the fayre Europe And in to a bulle / whan he did her ſue Lyſte of his godhed his forme to tranſmewe And how that he by tranſmutacyon The ſhap gan take of Amphitryon For Alcumena ſoo paſſyng was of beante Soo was he hurt for all his deyte with louys dart / and myght it not eſcape There ſawe I alſo how mars was take Of vulcanus and with venus founde And with the cheynes / Inuyſible bounde There was alſo all the Poeſye Of hym Mercurye and all the Philogye And how that ſhe for her ſapience I wedded was to the god of eloquence And how the Muſes lowly dide obeye Hyghe in to heuyn this lady to conueye And with her ſonge how ſhe was magnefyed with Iubyter there to be ſtellefyed And vppermore depaynt men myght ſee How with her ryng the goodly canace Of euery fowle / the leydons and ſonge Coude vndſtond as ſhe walked theym amonge And how her brother ſoo often holpen was In his myſchyef / by the ſtede of bras And furthermore in the temple were Full many a thouſand louers here and there In ſondry wyſe redy to complayne Vnto the goddeſſe / of her woo and payne How they were hyndred ſome for enuye And how the ſerpent of fals Iolouſye Full many a louer hath put a back And cauſeles on them haue leyd a lack And ſom̄ there were that playned on abſence That were exiled and put out of preſence Thurgh wycked tonges and fals ſuſpeccyon withoute mercy or ony remiſſyon And other alſo her ſeruyſe ſpent in vayn And of her lady were not loued agayn And alſo other that for pouerte Durſten in noo wyſe her grete aduerſyte Diſcouere ne open / leeſt they were refuſed And ſome for wantyng alſo were accuſed And alſo other that loued ſecretly And of her lady durſt axe noo mercy Leeſt that ſhe wolde of hym haue deſpyte And ſome alſo that putten right grete wyte On double louers that loue thynges newe Thurgh whos falſenes hyndred be the trewe And ſome there were as it is ofte founde That for her lady many a blody wounde Endured hath in many a regyon whyles that an other hath had poſſeſſyon All of his lady and bereth a way the fruyt Of his labour and of all his ſuyt And other complayned of Rycheſſe How he with treſour doth his beſyneſſe To wynne agaynſt all kynde and right where as true louers haue noo force ne myght And ſome ther were as maydens yonge of age That playnen ſoo with pipyng and with rage That were coupled agayn all nature with croked olde that may not longe endure For to perfourme the luſte of loues playe For hit ne ſit not vnto freſſhe maye For to be coupled to olde Ianuarye They be ſoo dyuerſe that they muſt varye For olde is grutchyng and malencolyous Ay full of yre and ſuſpecyous And yought entendeth to Ioye and luſtynes To myrth and play and to all gladnes Alas that euer hit ſhold falle Soo ſwete ſugre ycoupled be to galle Thiſe yonge folke cryeden oft ſythe And prayd venus her power to kythe Vpon this myſchyef and ſhape remedye And right anone I herde other crye with ſobbyng teres and pyetous ſowne To fore the goddeſſe by lamentacyon That were conſtrayned in theyr youthe And in childhode as is ofte couthe I entryd were in to relygyon Or they had yeres of diſcrecyon That all her lyf can not but complayn In wyde copes perfeccyon for to fayne Full couertly for to coueren theyr ſmert And ſhewe the contrary of theyr hert Thus ſawe I wepe many a fayr mayde That on theyr frendes all the wyte they layde And other next I ſawe there in grete rage That they were maryed in theyr tendre age without fredome of free eleccyon where loue hath ſelde domynacyon For loue at large and at lyberte wolde frely cheſe and not with ſuche trete And other ſawe I full ofte wepe and wrynge That they in men fonde ſuche varyenge To loue a ſeaſon while that beaulte flourith And after by diſdayn ſoo vngoodly lourith On her that whilom he callyd his lady dere That was to hym ſo pleyſaunt and entyer But luſt with fayrnes is ſoo ouergoon That in her herte trouthe abydeth noon And ſom̄e alſo I ſawe in teres reyne And pyetouſly on god and kynde pleyne That euer they wold on ony creature Soo moche beaute paſſyng by meſure Sette on a woman to gyue occaſion A man / to loue to his confuſion And namely there / where he ſhall haue noo grace For with a loke forth by as he dooth pace Full ofte falleth thurgh caſtyng of an eye A man is wounded that he muſt nedis deye That neuer perauenture after he ſhall her ſee why wyll god doo ſoo grete a cruelte To ony man / or to his creature To make hym ſoo moche woo endure For her / percas / whom he ſhall in noo wyſe Reioyſe neuer / but ſoo forth in Iuyſe Lede his lyf tyll that he be in his graue For he ne durſt of hyr no mercy craue And alſo perauenture though he durſt & wolde He can not wyte where he hyr fynde ſholde I ſawe there alſo / and therof had I routhe That ſom̄e were hyndred by couetyſe & ſlouthe And ſome alſo for theyr haſtynes And other alſo for theyr recheleſnes But at the laſt as I walked and behelde Beſyde pallas with her cryſtall ſhelde Tofore the ſtatute of venus ſet on heyght There kneled a lady in my ſyght Tofore the goddeſſe / whiche as the ſonne Paſſeth the ſterrys / and alſo the ſtormes donne And lucyfer to voyde the nyghtes ſorowe In clerenes paſſeth erly the morowe And ſoo as Maye hath the ſouereynte Of euery moneth the fayrnes and beaute And as the Roſe in ſwetnes and odour Surmounteh tloures / and bame of all lycour Hath the pryſe / and as the rubye bryght Of all ſtones in beaute and in ſyght As it is knowe hath the Regalye Ryght ſoo this lady with her goodly eye And with the ſtremes of hyr loke ſoo bryght Surmounteth all thourgh beaute in my ſyght That for to tell her grete ſemelynes Her womanhed her porte and her fayrnes Hit was a meruayle / how euer that nature Cowde in her werkes make a creature Soo angelyk ſoo goodly one to ſee Soo femynyn or paſſyng of beaute whos ſonnyſſhe heer bryghter than goldwyre Lyche phebus beames ſhynyng in his ſpyre The goodlyhed alſo of her freſſhe face Soo replenyſhed of beaute and of grace Soo well ennewed by nature and depeynt As Roſe and lylyes to gyder were meynt Soo egally by good proporcyon That as me thought by myn inſpeccyon I gan meruaylle how god or werke of kynde Myghten of beaute ſuche a treſour fynde Te yeuen hyr ſoo paſſyng excellence For in good fayth thurgh her hye preſence The temple was enlumyned enuyron And for to ſpeke of her condicyon She was the beſte that myght be on lyue For there was none yt with her myght ſtryue To ſpeke of bounte or of gentylneſſe Of womanhede or of lowlyneſſe Of curteſye or of goodlyhede Of ſpeche of chere or of ſemelyhede Of poort benygne or of dalyaunce The beſt taught and therto of pleyſaunce She was the welle alſo of honeſte An examplayr and myrrour alſo was ſhe Of ſecretnes / of trouthe / of faythfulnes And to all other lady and mayſtres To ſhewe vertue who ſoo lyſt to lere And ſoo this lady right humble of chere • rnelyng I ſawe / clad in grene and whyte To fore venus goddeſſe of all delyte Enbrowded all with ſtones and perre Soo rychely that Ioye it was to ſee with ſondry rolles on her garnement For texpowne the trouth of her entent To ſhewe fully that for her humbleſſe And for her vertue and her ſtableneſſe That ſhe was rote of all womanly pleyſaūce Therfore her word / withoute varyaūce Enbrowded as men myght ſee De mieulx en mieulx with ſtones of perre This is to ſayne that ſhe was ſoo benygne From better to better her hert doth reſygne And all her wyll to venus the goddeſſe whan that her lyſt her harmes to redreſſe For as me thought ſommhat by her chere For to complayne ſhe had grete deſyre For in her hande ſhe helde a lytyll bylle For to declare the ſūme of all her wylle And to the goddeſſe her quarell for to ſhewe Theffect of whiche was in wordes ſewe

¶ The copye of the ſupplycacyon. O lady Venus Moder of Cupide That all this world haſt in gouernaūce And hertes hye that hawten by pryde Enclyneſt mekely to thyn obeyſſaūce Cauſer of Ioye Relees of penaūce And with thy ſtremes canſt euery thyng diſcerne Thurgh heuenly fyre of loue that is eterne O bleſfull ſterre perſaunt and full of lyght Of beames gladſom / deuoyder of derkenes Chyef recomfort after the blacke nyght To voyde wofull hertes out of theyr heuyneſſe Take now good hede lady and goddeſſe Soo that my bylle may your grace atteyne▪ Redreſſe to fynde of that I me complayne For I am bounde to thyng that I nolde Frely to cheſe there lacke I lyberte And ſoo I want of that myn herte wolde The body is knyt / though my thought be free Soo that I muſt of neceſſyte My hertes lyſt outward contrarye Though we be oon the dede muſt varye My worſhyp ſauf I faylle eleccyon Agayn all ryght bothe of god and kynde Therto be knyt vnder ſubieccyon Fro whens fer both ar out of mynde My thought gooth fourth my body is behynde For I am here / and yond my remembrance Betwene two ſo hange I in balance Deuoyde of Ioye / of woo I haue plente what I deſire / that may I not poſſede For that I nolde is redy ay to me And that I loue / for to ſue I drede To my deſyre contrary is my mede And thus I ſtonde departed in tweyne Of wyll and dede ylaced in a cheyne For though I brenne with feruence and hete within myn hert I mote complayne of colde And by exceſſe though I ſwelte and ſwete Me to complayne god wote I am not bolde Vnto no wyght / nor one word vnfolde Of all my payne / alas the hard ſtounde The hotter yt I brenne / the colder is my woūde For he that hath myn hert faythfully And hool my loue in all honeſte withoute chaunge all be hit ſecretly I haue no ſpace with hym for to be O lady venus conſyder now and ſee Vnto theffecte and complaynt of my byll Syth lyf and deth I put all in thy wyll And tho me thought the goddes did enclyne Mekely her hede and ſoftly gan expreſſe That in ſhort tyme her torment ſhold fyne And how of hym for whom all her diſtreſſe Contynued had and all her heuyneſſe She ſhold haue Ioye and of her purgatorye Be holpen ſoone and ſo lyue forth in glorye And ſayd doughter for thy ſad trouthe Thy faythfull menyng and Innocence That planted be with outen ony ſlouthe In your perſone deuoyde of all offence Soo han atteyned to our audyence That with our grace ye ſhall be well releuyd I you behete of all that hath you greuyd And for that ye be euer of one entent withoute chaunge or mutabilyte And in your paynes ben ſoo pacyent To take lowly your aduerſyte And that ſoo longe thurgh the cruelte Of olde ſaturne my fader vnfortuned your woo ſhall now no lenger be contuned And thynketh this within a lytyll whyle Hit ſhall aſwage and ouer paſſen ſoone For men by layſir paſſen many a myle And ofte after a drepyng mone The weder clereth / & whan the ſtorme is done The ſonne ſhyneth in his ſpyre bryght And Ioye waketh whan woo is put to flyght Remember eke how neuer yet no wyght Ne cam̄ to worſhyp without ſom̄ debate And folke reioyſe alſo more of lyght That they with derkenes were waped & mate No mans chaunce is allewaye fortunate Ne no wyght prayſeth of ſugre the ſwetnes But they toforeh aue taſted bytternes Gryſyld was aſayed atte full That torned after to encreſe of Ioye Penolope gan eke for ſorowes dulle▪ For that her lord abode ſo long at troye Alſo the torment there coude no man accoye Of dorygene flour of all Bretaygne Thus euer Ioye is fyn and ende of payne And truſteth this for concluſyon The ende of ſorow is Ioye voyde of drede For holy ſayntes thurgh her paſſyon Haue heuyn wonne by theyr ſouerayn mede And plente gladly folowed after nede And ſo my doughter after your greuaunce I you behote ye ſhall haue full pleſaunce For euer of loue the maner and the gyſe Is for to hurte his ſeruaunt and to wounde And when he hath taught them his empryſe He can in Ioye make them to habounde And ſith that ye haue in my laas be bounde without grutchyng or rebellyon ye muſte of right haue conſolacyon This is to ſayne dowteth neuer a deell That ye ſhall haue full poſſeſſyon Of hym that ye now cheryſſhe ſoo well In honeſt maner with oute offencyon By cauſe I knowe your entencyon Is truly ſette in party and in all To loue hym beſt and mooſt in ſpecyall For he that ye haue choſen you to ſerue Shall be to you ſuche as ye deſyre withoute chaunge fully • yll he ſterue Soo with my brond I haue ſette hym a fyre And with my grace I ſhall hym enſpyre That he in herte ſhall be ryght at your wyll whether ye lyſt to ſaue hym or to ſpyll. For vnto you I ſhall his herte ſo lowe withoute ſpotte of ony dobleneſſe That he ne ſhall eſcape from the bowe Though that hym ſelfe by vnſtedfaſtneſſe I mene of cupyde that ſhall hym ſoo diſtreſſe Vnto your hande with tharowe of golde That he ne ſhall eſcape though he wolde And ſyth ye lyſt of pyte and of grace In vertue only his youthe to cheryſſhe I ſhall by aſpecte of my benygne face Make hym teſhewe euery ſynne and vyce Soo that he ſhall haue noo maner ſpyce In his corage to loue thynges newe He ſhall to you ſoo playne be found and trewe And whan this goodly fayr freſſhe of hue Humble and benygne of trouth crop̄ and rote Conceyned had how venus gan to rewe On her prayer playnly to doo bote To chaunge her bytter attones in to lote She fyll on knees of hyghe deuocyon And in this wyſe began her oryſon Hygheſt of hye quene and Emperes Goddeſſe of loue / of good yet the beſt That thurgh your beaute withoute vyce whylom conquered thappell atte feſt That Iubyter thurgh his hye requeſt To all the goddes aboue celeſtyall Made in his palays mooſt Imperyall To you my lady vpholder of my lyf Mekely I thanke ſoo as I may ſuffyſe That ye lyſt now with herte ententyf Soo gracyouſly for me to deuyſe That whyle I lyue with humble ſacrefyſe Vpon your awters your feſt yere by yere I ſhall encence caſte in to the fyre For of your grace I am full reconſyled From euery trouble vnto Ioye and eaſe That ſorowes all be from me exyled Syth ye my lady lyſt now tappeaſe My paynes olde and fully my diſeaſe Vnto gladnes ſoo ſodenly to torne Hauyng noo cauſe from hensforth to morne For ſythen ye ſoo mekely lyſt to daunte To my ſeruyſe hym that loueth me beſt And of your bounte ſoo gracyouſly to graunte That he ne ſhall varye though hym lyſte wherof my herte is fully brought to reſte For now and euer o lady my benygne That hert and wyll I hooly to you reſygne Thankyng you with all my full herte That of your grace and vyſitacyon Soo humbly lyſte hym to conuerte Fully to be at my ſubieccyon withoute chaunge or tranſmutacyon Vnto his laſt / now laude and reuerence Be to your name and excellence This all and ſūme and chyef of my requeſt And hooll ſubſtance of my full entent you thankyng euer of your graunt and heſt Both now and euer that ye me grace ſent To conquere hym that neuer ſhall repent Me for to ſerue and humbly for to pleaſe As fynall treſour of my hertes eaſe And thenne anone venus caſt a doun In to her lappe braſiches whyte and grene Of hawthorn that went enuyron Aboute her heed that Ioye was to ſene And bad her kepe hem honeſtly and clene whiche ſhold not fade ne neuer wexe olde If ſhe her biddyng kepe as ſhe hath tolde And as theſe bowes be bothe fayr and ſwete Folowe theffecte that they doo ſpecyfye This is to ſayne bothe in cold and hete Be ye of one hert and of one fantaſye As arn theſe leues whiche may not dye By no dureſſe of ſtormes that ben kene Nomore in wynter than in ſomer grene Right ſoo by enſample of wele or woo For Ioye torment or for aduerſyte whether ſoo fortune fauour / or be foo For pouert ryches or proſperyte That ye your hert kepe in one degre To loue hym beſt for no thynge that ye fayne whom I haue boūd ſo low vnder your chayne And with ye word the goddeſſe ſhoke her hede And was in pees and ſpake as tho nomore And therwith all full femynyn of drede Me thought this lady ſyghen gan full ſore And ſayd agayn / lady that mayſt reſtore Hertes in Ioye from theyr aduerſyte To do your wyll de mieulx en mieulx ma gree Thus euer ſlepyng dremyng as I laye within the temple me thought I ſaye Grete prees of folke with murmure wōderfull To croude and ſhoue / the temple was ſoo full Eueryche full beſy / in his owne cauſe That I ne may ſhortly in a clauſe Diſcryuen all the rytes and the guyſe And eke I wante connyng to deuyſe How ſome there were with blood encence & mylke And ſome with floures ſote & ſofte as ſylke And ſome with ſparowes and douues whyte That for to offren gan hem delyte Vnto the goddeſſe with ſyghe and prayer Hem to releſe of that they mooſt deſyre That for the prees ſhortly to conclude I went my waye for the multytude Me for to refreſſhe out of the prees aloue And by my ſelfe me thought as I gan goone within the eſtres and gan a whyle tarye I ſawe a man that walked all ſolytarye That as me ſemeth for heuynes and dole Hym to compleyne / that he walked ſo ſole withoute eſpyeng of ony other wyght And yf I ſhall diſcryue hym aryght If that he had not be in heuynes Me thought he was / to ſpeke of ſemelynes Of ſhap of fourme / and alſo of ſtature The mooſt paſſyng / that euer yet nature Made in her werkes / and lyke to be a man And therwith all as I reherce can Of face and chere the mooſt gracyous To be byloued happy and ewrous But as it ſemed outward by his chere That he complayned for lacke of his deſyre For by hym ſelfe as he walked vp and doun I herde hym make a lamentacyon And ſayd alas / what thyng may this be That now am boūde that whilom was fre And went at large at myn eleccyon Now am I caught vnder ſubieccyon For to become a very homager To god of loue / where or I cam here Felte in myn herte / nought of loues payne But now of new / within her fyry chayne I am enbraced ſoo that I maye not ſtryue To ſerue and loue while I am on lyue The goodly freſſe in the temple yonder I ſawe right now / that I had wonder How euer god / for to rekene all Myght make a thyng ſoo celeſtyall Soo angelyke on erthe to appere For with the ſtremes of her eyen clere I am wounded euen to the hert That fro the deth I may not aſtert And mooſt I meruayle that ſoo ſodeynly I was ſoo yolde to be at her mercy whether that ſhe lyſt me to lyue or deye withoute more / I muſt her luſt obeye And take mekely my ſodeyn auenture For ſyth my lyf / my deth / and eke my cure Is in her hand it wyll not auaylle To grutche agayn / for of this bataylle The palme is hers / and playnly the victorye If I rebelled honour none ne glorye I myght not in ony wyſe acheue Syth I am yolden / how ſhold I thenne preue To renne awaye / I wote hit wyll not be Though I be loos / at large I may not flee O god of loue how ſharp is now thyn arowe How mayſt thou now ſoo cruelly & ſoo narowe withoute cauſe hurte me and wounde And takeſt none hede my ſorowes to founde But lyke a byrde that fleeth at her deſyre Tyll ſodeynly within the pantore She is caught though late ſhe was at large A newe tempeſt forcaſteth now my barge Now vp now doun / with wynde it is ſo blowe Soo am I poſſed and almoſt ouerthrowe Fordryue in derknes of many ſondry wawe Alas whan ſhall this tempeſt ouerdrawe To clere the ſkyes of myn aduerſyte The lode ſterre what that I ne may ſee Hit is ſoo hyd with clowdes that be blacke Alas whan wyll this torment ouerſlacke I can not wyte / for who is hurt of newe And bledeth inward tyll he w • xe pale of hue And hath his wound vnwarly freſſhe & grene And hit is not knowē vnto the harmes kene Of myghty cupyde that can ſoo hertes daunte That no man may in his warre hym vaunte To gete a pryce but oonly by mekenes For there ne vayleth ſtryue ne ſturdynes Soo maye I ſaye that with a loke am yolde And haue no power to ſtryue though I wolde Thus ſtonde I euer betwix lyf and deth To loue and ſerue whyle I haue breth In ſuche a place where I dare not playne Lyke hym that is in torment and in payne And knoweth not to whom to diſcure For there that I haue holy ſet my cure I dare not well for drede ne for daunger And for unknowen tellen how the fyre Of loues bronde is kyndled in my breſte Thus am I murdred and ſlayn atte leſte Soo pryuely within my thought O lady venus whom I haue ſought Soo wyſſhe me now what me is beſt to doo That am diſtraught with my ſelfe ſoo That I ne wote what waye for to torne Sauf by my ſelfe ſoleyn for to morne Hangyng in balance betwixe hope and drede without comforte remedye or rede For hope biddeth purſue and aſſaye And agaynward drede anſwerth naye And now with hope I am ſet a lofte But drede and daunger hard & nothyng ſofte Hath ouerthrowe my truſt and put a doun Now at my large / now fetred in pryſoun Now in torment / now in ſouerayn glorye Now in paradyſe and now in purgatorye As man diſpayred in a double werre Borne vp with hope / & thenne anone daūger Me draweth a backe / and ſayth it ſhall not be For where as I of myne aduerſyte Am bolde ſom whyle mercy to requyre Thenne cometh diſpair & begynneth me to lere A newe leſſon to hope full the contrarye They ben ſoo dyuerſe they wyll doo me varye And thus I ſtande diſmayed in a traunce For whan that hope were lykly me tauannce For drede I tremble & dare one word not ſpeke And yf hit ſoo be / that I not out breke To tell the harmes that greuen me ſoo ſore But in my ſelfe encrece them more and more And to be ſlayn fully me delyte when of my deth ſhe is noo thyng to wyte For but yf ſhe the conſtreynt playnly knowe How ſhold ſhe euer / on my paynes rue Thus oft tyme with hope I am meuyd To tell her all / how I am greuyd And to be hardy on me for to take To axe mercy / but drede doth me thēne awake And thenne wanhope anſweryth me agayn That better were that ſhe haue diſdayne To deye attones vnknowen of ony wyght And therwith all biddeth hope anone ryght Me / to be bolde and praye her of grace And ſyth all vertues be portreyd in her face Hit were not ſyttyng / that pyte were behynde And right anone within my ſelf I fynde A newe plee brought on me with drede That me ſoo maſeth that I ſee noo ſpede By cauſe he ſayd that ſtonyeth all my blood I am ſoo ſymple and ſhe is ſoo good Thus hope and drede in me wyll not ſeace To plete and ſtryue my harmes to encrece But at hardeſt yet or I be dede Of my diſtreſſe ſyth I can noo rede But ſtande doun ſtyll as ony ſtone To fore the goddeſſe I wyll me haſte anone And compleyne withoute more ſermon Though deth be fyn and full concluſyon Of my requeſt / yet I wyll aſſaye And right anone me thought I ſaye This wofull man as I haue memorye Full lowly entre in to an oratorye And kneled adoun in full humble wyſe To fore the goddeſſe and gan anone deuyſe His pyteous quarell with a dolefull chere Sayeng right thus as ye ſhall here

¶ The complaynte of the man. Redreſſe of ſorowe O Citherea That with the ſtremes of thy pleſaūt hete Gladeſt the Mounte of all Cirrea where thou haſt choſen thy paleys and ſete whos bryght beames ben weſſhen and wete In the Ryuer of Elycon the welle Haue now pyte of that I ſhall yow telle And nof diſdayne ye of your benygnyte My mortall woo O lady myn Goddeſſe Of grace and bounte and mercyfull pyte Benygnely to helpe and to redreſſe And though ſoo be I can not well expreſſe The greuous harmes that I fele in my herte Haue neuer yet the leſſe mercy of my ſmerte This is to ſayne O clere heuens lyght That next the ſonne ſercled haue your ſpere Syth ye me hurte with your dredfull myght By influence of your beames clere And that I by your ſeruyſe now ſoo dere As ye me brought in to this maladye Be ye gracyous and ſhape ye remedye For in you hooly lyeth helpe of all this care And knowe beſt my ſorowe and all my payne For drede of deth / how I ne dare alas To axen mercy ones / ne me complayne Now with your fyre hert ſoo conſtrayne withoute more / or I deye atte laſte That ſhe may wyte what is my requeſte How I noo thyng in all this world deſyre But for to ſerue fully to myn ende That goodly freſſhe ſoo womanly of chere withoute chaunge while I haue lyfe & mynde And that ye wold ſuche grace ſende Of my ſeruyſe that ſhe not diſdeyne Sythen her to ſerue I may not me reſtreyne And ſyth that hope me hath yeue hardynes To loue her beſt and neuer to repente whiles that I lyue with all my beſynes To drede & ſerue / though daūger neuer aſſente And here vpon ye knowe myn entente How I haue vowed fully in my mynde To be her man / though I noo mercy fynde For in my hert enprynted is foo ſore Her ſhap her forme and all her ſemelynes Her porte her chere / her godenes more & more Her womanhed and the her gentylnes Her trouth / her fayth and her kyndnes with all vertues eche ſet in her degree Ther is noo lacke / ſauyng oonly of pyte Her ſad demenyng of wyll not varyable Of loke benygne / and rote of all pleſaunce And exemplayre to all that wyll be ſtable Diſcrete prudente of wyſdom ſuffyſaunce Myrrour of wytte ground of gouernaunce A world of beaute compaſſed in her face whos perſant loke doth thurgh my hert race And ouer this wonder ſecrete and true A well of fredome and right bounteuous And euer encrecyng in vertue new and newe Of ſpeche goodly / and wonder gracyous Deuoyde of pryde / to poure not diſpytous And yf that I ſhortly ſhall not feyne Saue vpon mercy I noo thyng compleyne what wonder thenne / though I be with drede Inly ſuppryſed for to axen grace Of her that is quene of womanhede For well I wote in ſoo hyghe a place Hit wyll not be / therfore I ouer pace And take lowly what woo I endure Tyll ſhe of pyte me take to her cure But one auowe playnly here I make That whether ſoo be / ſhe doo me lyf or deye I wyll not grutche / but humbly hit take And thanke god and wylfully obeye For by my trouth my hert ſhall neuer reneye For lyf ne deth mercy ne daunger Of wyll and thought to be at her deſyre To ben as trewe as euer was Antonyus To Cleopatre whyle hym laſted breth Or on to Theſbe yong Pyramus That was faythfull found / tyll theym depted deth Right ſoo ſhall I tyll Antropos me ſleeth For wele or woo her faythful man be found Vnto my laſt / lyke as my hert is bound. To loue as well as dyde Achylles Vnto his laſte the fayre Polixene Or as the grete famous Hercules For dianyre that felte the ſhott kene Right ſoo ſhall I ſaye right as I mene whyle that I lyue / her bothe drede and ſerue For lacke of mercy though ſhe doo me ſterue Now lady venus to whom no thyng vnknowe Is in the world hyde / ne nought may be For there nys thyng neyther hye ne lowe May be counceled from your pryuete Fro whom my menyng is not now ſecree But wyte fully that myn entent is true And lyke my trouthe now on my payne rue For more of grace than of preſumpcyon I axe mercy / and noo thyng of dute Of lowly humbles / withoute offencyon That ye enclyne of your benygnyte your audyence vnto my humylyte To graunt me that to you I clepe and calle Some daye relees yet of my paynes alle And ſythe ye haue the guerdon and the mede Of all louers pleynly in your honde Now of grace and pyte take ye hede Of my diſtres / that am vnder your bonde Soo lowly bounde / as ye well vnderſtonde In that place where I toke fyrſt my wounde Of pyte ſuffre ye my helth may be founde That lyke as ſhe me hurte with a ſyght Right ſoo with helth lete me her ſuſtene And as the ſtremes of her eyen bryght whylom my hert with woundes ſharp ▪ kene Thurgh perſed haue and yet be freſſhe & grene Soo as ſhe me hurte / lete her me ſocour Or ellys certayn I may not long endure For lacke of ſpeche I can ſay you noo more I haue mater but I can not playne My wytte is dull to tell all my ſore A mouth I haue / and yet for all my payne For want of wordes I may not now attayne To tell half / that dothe my hert greue Mercy abydyng / tyll ſhe me lyſt releue But this theffect of my mater fynall with deth or mercy relees for to fynde For hert body thought lyf luſt and all wyth all my reſon and all my full mynde And fyue wyttes of one aſſent I bynde To her ſeruyſe with oute ony ſtryf And make her prynceſſe of my deth or lyf And now I pray of reuth and eke pyte O goodly planet / o lady venus bryght That ye your ſone of his deyte Lupide I mene that with his dredfull myght And with his brond that is ſoo clere of lyght Her herte ſoo to fyre and to marke As ye me whylom brent with a ſparke That lyke wyſe and with the ſame fyre, She may be hit / as I now brenne and melte Soo that her herte be flāmed with deſyre That ſhe may knowe by feruēce how I ſwelte For of pyte playnly yf ſhe felte The ſelfe hete that dooth myn hert enbrace I hope of reuth ſhe wyll doo me grace And there with all Venus as me thought Towardes this man ful benygnely Gan caſt her eye / lyke as that ſhe rought Of his diſeaſe / and ſayed full goodly Syth it is ſoo / that thou ſoo humbly withoute grutchyng our heſtes lyſt obeye Toward thyn helpe I wyll anone pourueye And alſo my ſone Lupide that is ſoo blynde He ſhall be helpyng fully to performe your hooll deſyre / that noo thyng be behynde Ne ſhall be lefte / ſoo we ſhall reforme This pyteous cōplaynt / yt maketh y• to morne That ſhe for whom yu ſoroweſt mooſt in hert Shall thurgh her mercy relece all thy ſmert whan ſhe ſeeth tyme / thurgh our purueaūce Be not to haſty / but ſuffre all thyng wele For in abydyng / thurgh lowly obeyſſaūce Lyeth full redres / of all that ye now fele And ſhe ſhall be as trewe as ony ſtele To you alone / by our myght and grace If ye lyſt mekely abyde a lytyll ſpace But vnderſtande ye that all her cheriſyng Shall be grounded vpon honeſte That noo wyght ſhall by ony rehercyng Deme amys of her in noo degre For neyther mercy / reuth / nor pyte She ſhall not haue ne take of the none hede Ferther than longeth vnto her womanhede Be not aſtonyed of noo wylfulnes Ne not deſpeyred of this diſſolucyon Lete reſon brydle luſt by buxumnes withoute grutchyng or rebellyon For Ioye ſhall folowe all this paſſyon For who can ſuffre torment and endure Ne maye not faylle / but folowe ſhall his cure For to fore alle ſhe ſhall the loue beſt Soo ſhall I her withoute offencyon By Influence enſpyre in her breſt In honeſt wyſe with full entencyon For tenclyne by clene affeccyon Her hert fully on the to haue reuthe By cauſe I knowe that thou meneſt treuthe Goo now to hyr where as he ſtant a ſyde with humble chere / and put the in her grace And all before lete hope be thy guyde And though that drede wold with the pace Hit ſytteth well / but loke that thou arace Out of thyn hert wanhope and diſpeyr To her preſence er thou haue repeyr And mercy fyrſt ſhall thy waye make And honeſt menyng afore doo thy meſſage To make pyte in her herte awake And ſecretnes to further thy vyage with humble porte to her that is ſoo ſage Shall meanes be / and I my ſelfe alſo Shall the fortune / or thy tale be doo Goo forth anone / and be right good of chere For ſpecheles noo thynge may you ſpede Be good of truſt and be noo thyng in were Syth I my ſelfe ſhall helpen in this nede For atte leſt of her goodlyhede She ſhall to the her audyence enclyne And lowly to her tyll thou thy tale fyne For well thou woſt yf I ſhall not feyne withoute ſpeche thou mayſt noo mercy haue For who that wyll of his pryue peyne Fully be cured his lyf to helpe and ſaue He muſt mekely out of his hert graue Diſcure his wounde and ſhewe hit his leche Or ellys deye for defaute of ſpeche For he that is in miſchyef reklees To ſeche helpe I holde hym a wretche And ſhe ne may thyn hert bryng in pees But yf thy compleynt to hyr hert ſtretche woldeſt thou be cured and wylt no ſalue fetche Hit wyll not be / for noo wyght may atteyne To come to blyſſe / yf he lyſt lyue in peyne Therfore attones goo forth in humble wyſe To fore thy lady and lowly knele a doun And in all trouthe thy wordes ſoo deuyſe That ſhe on the haue compaſſyon For ſhe that is of ſoo hye renoun In all vertues as quene and ſouerayn Of womanhede ſhall rue on thy payn And whan the goddes this leſſon had tolde Aboute me ſoo I gan beholde Right ſoo aſtonyed ſtode in a traunce To ſee the maner and coūtenaunce And all the chere of this wofull man That was of hue dedely pale and wan with drede ſuppryſed in his owne thought Makyng chere as though he rought nought Of lyf ne deth ne what ſoo hym betyde Soo moche fere he had on euery ſyde To put hym forth for to tell his payne Vnto his lady / other to complayne what woo he felte torment or diſeſe what dedely ſorowe his hert dide ſeſe For reuthe of whiche his wooes I endyte My penne I fele quake as I wryte Of hym I had ſoo grete compaſſyon For to reherce his weymentacyon That vnnethe though with my ſelfe I ſtryue I want connyng his paynes to diſcryue • las to whom ſhall I for helpe calle Not to the muſes for cauſe they ben alle Helpe of right in Ioye and not in woo And in maters that they delyte alſo wherfore they nyll as now dyrecte my ſtyle Nor me enſpyre alas the hard whyle I can noo further but to Theſiphon And to her ſuſter to calle helpe vpon That be goddeſſes of torment and payne Now lete your teres in to myn ynke reyne with woofull wordes my paper for to blotte This woofull mater to peynt not / but ſpotte To tell the maner of this dredefull man Vpon his complaynt whan he fyrſt began To tell his lady whan he gan declare His hyd ſorowes / and his enyll fare That at his herte conſtreyned ſoo ſore Theffect of whiche was this withoute more Prynceſſe of youthe and flour of gentylnes Enſample of vertue ground of curteſye Of beaute rote quene and eke mayſtres To all wym̄en how they ſhall hem gye And ſothfaſt myrrour texemplyfye The right way of porte and of womanhede what I ſhall ſaye / of mercy take ye hede Beſechyng fyrſt vnto your hye nobles with quakyng hert of my Inward drede Of grace and pyte and not of rightwyſnes Of very reuthe to helpen this nede This is to ſay O well of goodlyhede That I ne recke though ye doo me deye Soo ye lyſt fyrſt to here what I ſeye The dredefull ſtroke the grete force & myght Of god Cupide that noo man may rebell Soo Inwardly thurgh out myn hert right I perced hath that I ne may councele Myn hyd wound ne I ne may apele Vnto noo gretter / this myghty god ſoo faſte you to ſerue hath me bound vnto my laſte That hert and all withoute ſtryf ar yolde For lyf or deth to your ſeruyſe alone Right as the goddeſſe myghty Venus wolde Tofore her mekely whan I made my mone She me conſtreyned withoute chaunge anone To your ſeruyſe and neuer for to fayne wherſo euer ye lyſt to doo me eaſe or payne Soo that I can noo thyng but mercy crye Of you my lady / and chaunge for noo newe That ye lyſt goodly tofore or that I deye Of very reuthe vpon my paynes rue For by my trouthe / and ye my paynes knewe what is the cauſe of myne aduerſyte On myn dyſeſe ye wold haue pyte For vnto you trewe and eke ſecree I wyll be founde to ſerue as I beſt can And therwith all as lowly in eche degre To you be alone as euer yet was man Vnto his lady from the tyme I began And ſhall ſoo forth withouten ony ſlouth whiles that I lyue / by god and by my trouth For leuer I had to deye ſodeynly Than you offende in ony maner wyſe And ſuffre paynes inward pryuely Than my ſeruyſe as now ye ſhold diſpyſe For I right nought wyll axe in noo wyſe But for your ſeruaunt ye wold me accepte And whan I treſpace / goodly me correcte And for to graunte of mercy the prayer Oonly of grace and womanly pyce From day to day that I myght lere You for to pleſe / and therwith all that ye Whan I doo mys / lyſt for to teche me In your ſeruyſe how that I may amende From henſforth and neuer you offende For vnto me hit doth ynough ſuffyſe That for your man ye wold me reſceyue Fully to be as ye lyſt deuyſe And as ferforth as my wyttes can conceyue And therwith all lyke as ye preue That I be true / to guerdone me of grace Or ellys to punyſſhe after my treſpace And yf ſoo be that I may not atteyne Vnto your mercy / yet graunte atte leſte In your ſeruyſe for all my woo and payne That I may deyen after my beheſte This is all and ſome the fyn of my requeſt Eyther with mercy your ſeruaunt to ſaue Or mercyles that I may be begraue And whan this benygne of her entent true Conceyued hath the complaynt of this man Right as the freſſhe rody Roſe newe Of her colour to wexen ſhe began Her blood aſtonyed ſoo from her hert it ran In to her face of very femynyte Thurgh honeſt drede abaſſhed was ſhe And humbly ſhe began her eyen caſte Towardes hym of hyr benygnyte Soo that noo word by her lyppes paſte For haſt nor drede mercy ne pyte For ſoo demened ſhe was in honeſte That vnduyſed noo chyng fro her ſtert Soo moche of reſon was compaſſed in hert Tyll atte laſt of whiche ſhe did abrayd Whan ſhe his trouthe and menyng did fele And vnto hym full goodly ſpake and ſayd Of your beheſt and your menyng wele And your ſeruyſe ſoo faythfull euery dele Whiche vnto me ſoo lowly now ye offre With all my hert / I thanke you of your profer That for ſoo moche your entent is ſette Oonly in vertue I brydled vnder drede Ye muſt of right nedis fare the bet Of your requeſt / and the better ſpede But as for me I may of womanhede Noo ferther graunte to you in myn entente Than as my lady Venus wyll aſſente For ſhe well knoweth I am not at my large To doon right nought but by her ordinaūce Soo am I drowned vnder her dredefull charge Her lyſte tobbeye withoute varyaunce But for my parte ſoo hit be pleſaunce Vnto the goddeſſe for trouth in your empryſe I you accepte fully to my ſeruyſe For ſhe my herte hath in ſubieccyon Whiche hooly is yours and neuer ſhall repente In thought nor dede in myn eleccyon Wytnes on Venus that knoweth myn entent Fully tobeye hyr dome and Iugement Soo as hyr lyſte diſpoſe and ordeyne Right as ſhe knoweth ye trought of vs tweyne For vnto the tyme that Venus lyſt prouyde To ſhape awaye for our hertes eaſe Bothe ye and I mekely muſt abyde To take at gree / and not of our diſeaſe To grutche agayn tyll that ſhe lyſt tappeaſe Our hyd woo ſoo Iuly that conſtreyneth From day to day and our hertes peyneth For in abydyng of woo and all affraye Who ſoo can ſuffre is founden remedye And for the beſte full ofte is made delaye Er men beheled of theyr maladye Wherfore as Venus lyſt this mater to gye Lete vs agree / and take all for the beſt Tyll her lyſt / ſette bothe our hertes in reſt For ſhe is that byndeth and can conſtreyn Hertes in one / this fortunate planete And can releace louers of her peyne To turne fully her bytter in to ſwete Now blyſfull goddes doun fro thy ſterry ſete Vs to fortune caſt your ſtremes ſhene Lyke as ye knowe / that we trouth mene And therwith all as I myn eyen caſte For to perceyue the maner of theſe tweyne Tofore the goddeſſe mekely as they paſte Me thought I ſawe with a golden cheyne Venus / anone enbrace and conſtreyne Her bothe hertes in one / for to perſeuere Whiles that they lyue / and neuer to diſſeuere Seyeng right thus with a benygne chere Syth it is ſoo / ye be vnder my myght My wyll is thus / that ye my doughter dere Full accepte this man as it is right Vnto your grace anone here in my ſyght That euer hath ben ſoo lowly you to ſerue Hit is good ſkyll your thanke that he deſerue your honour ſauf and alſo your womanhede Hym to cheryſſhe / hit ſytteth you right wele Sych he is bounde vnder hope and drede Amyd my cheyne that forged is of ſtele ye muſt of mercy ſhape that he fele In you ſome grace of his long ſeruyſe And that in haſt lyke as I ſhall deuyſe This is to ſay that ye take hede How he to yow oft faythfull it and true Of all your ſeruaūtes / & no thyng for his mede Of you ne aſketh / but ye on hym rue For he vowed hath to chaūge for noo newe For lyf ne deth / for Ioye ne for payne Ay to be yours / ſoo as ye lyſt ordayne wherfore ye muſte or els it were wronge Vnto your grace fully hym receyue In my preſence / by cauſe he hath ſoo longe Hooly ben yours / as ye may conceyue That from your mercy / yf ye hym weyue I wyll my ſelfe recorde cruelte In your perſone / and grete lacke of pyte Lete hym for his trouth fynde thenne agayn For longe ſeruyſe / guerdon hym with grace And late your pyte weye doun his payn For tyme is now daunger to arace Oute of your hert / and mercy in to ſpace And loue for loue wold well beſeme To yeue agayn and this I playnly deme And as for hym I wyll be his borowe Of lowlyhede and beſy attendaunce How he ſhall be bothe eue and morowe Full dilygent to doon his obſeruaunce And euer awaytyng / you to doo pleyſaunce wherfore my ſone / lyſten and take hede Fully tobeye / as I ſhall the rede And fyrſt of all my wyll is that thou be Faythfull in hert and conſtant as a wall True humble / meke / and therwith all ſecre withoute chaunge in partye or in all And for noo torment that the fallen ſhall Tempeſt the not / but euer in ſtedfaſtnes Rote thyn herte / and voyde doublenes And ferthermore haue in reuerence Theſe wm̄yen all for thy lady ſake And ſuffre neuer that men hem doo offence For loue of one / but euermore vndertake Hem to defende whether they ſlepe or wake And ay be redy to holden theym partye Ayenſt all tho that to hem haue enuye Be curtees ay and lowly of thy ſpeche To ryche and poure ay freſſhe and well beſeyn And euer beſy wayes for to ſeche All true louers to releaſe of her payne Syth yu art one / & of noo wyght haue diſdayn For loue hath power hertes for to daunte And neuer for cheryſyng / the tomoche auaunt Be luſty eke voyd of all tryſteſſe And take noo thought but euer be Iocound And not to penſyf for none heuynes And with thy gladnes / lete ſadnes ay be found whā woo approcheth / lete myrthe moſt haboūd As manhod axeth / and though yu fele ſmert Lete not to many knowe of thyn hert And alle vertues beſely thou ſue Vyces eſchewe for the loue of one And for noo tales thyn hert not renewe word is but wynd that ſhall ſoon ouergoon what euer thou here be dombe as ony ſtoon And to anſwere to ſoone / not the delyte For here ſhe ſtandeth yt all this ſhall the quyte And whether thou be abſent or in preſence None others beawte lete in thy hert myne Syth I haue yeue hyr of beaute excellence Aboue all other in vertue for to ſhyne And thynke how in fyre mē arn wont to fyne This pured gold to put hit in aſſaye Soo to the proue / thou art put in delaye But tyme ſhall come thou ſhalt for thy ſuffraū ce Be well apayd and take for thy mede Thy lyues Ioye and all thy ſuffyſaūce Soo that good hope alwaye thy brydell lede Lete noo diſpeyr hyndre the with drede But ay thy truſt vpon her mercy grounde Syth none but ſhe may thy ſorowe ſounde Eche hour and tyme / weke / day / and yere Be lyke faythfull and vary not for lyte Abyde a while and thenne of thy deſyre The tyme neygheth that ſhall the moſt delyte And lete noo ſorowe in thy hert byte For noo differryng / ſyth thou for thy mede Shall reioyſe in pees the flour of womanhede Thynke how ſhe is this worldis ſonne & lyght The ſterre of beaute the floure eke of fayrnes Bothe crop̄ and rote and eke the rubye bryght Hertes to glade / ytroubled with derknes And how I haue made her. thyn hertes empreſſe Be glad therfore to be vnder her bonde Now come nere doughter and take hym by the ▪honde Vnto this fyn that after all theſe ſhours Of his torment he maye be glad and lyght whan by your grace ye take hym to be yours For euermore anone here in my ſyght And eke I wyll alſo as hit is right withoute more his langour for to lyſſe In my preſence anone that ye hym kyſſe That there maye be of all your old ſmertes A full relees vnder Ioye aſſured And that one locke be of your bothe hertes Shet with my • eye of gold ſoo well pured Oonly in ſygne that ye haue recured your hooll deſyre here in this holy place within my temple now in the yere of grace Eternally be bounde of aſſuraunce The knot is knyt / that maye not be vnbounde That all the goddes of this allyaūce Saturne / Ioue / and Mars as it is founde And eke Cupide that fyrſt did you wounde Shall bere recorde / and euermore be wreke On whiche of you / his trouth fyrſt breke Soo that by aſpectes of theyr fyry lokes withoute mercy ſhall falle the vengeance For te be raced clene out of my bokes On whiche of you be found of varyaūce Therfore attones ſetteth your pleſaūce Fully to be while ye haue lyf and mynde Of one accorde vnto your lyues ende That yf the ſpiryte of newfanglenes In ony wyſe your hertes wold aſſaylle To meue or ſtyre to bryng in doublenes Vpon your trouth to gyue a bataylle Lete not your corage ne your force faylle Nor none aſſaultes you flytten or remeue For vnaſſayed noo man may trouth preue For whyte is whytter yf it be ſette by blacke And ſwete is ſwetter after bytternes And falſhed euer is dryuen and putte abacke where trouthe is roted withoute doublenes withoute proue there may be noo ſekernes Of loue or hate and therfore of you twoo Shall loue be more / for hit was bought wt woo And euery thyng is had more in deute And more of pryce whan it is dere bought And eke loue ſtondeth more in ſeurte whan it is tofore with payne woo & thought Conquered was fyrſt whan hit was ſought And euery conqueſt hath his excellence In his pourſute as it fyndeth reſyſtence And ſoo to you more ſote and agreable Shall loue be founde I doo you playnly aſſure withoute grutchyng that ye were ſuffrable Soo lowe ſoo meke pacyently to endure That all attones I ſhall doo now my cure For now and euer your hertes ſoo to bynde That nought but deth ſhall the knot vnbynde Now in this mater what ſhold I lenger dwelle Come ye attones and doo as I haue ſayd And fyrſt my doughter that are of boūte welle In hert and thought be glad and well apayd To doo hym grace that ſhall and hath obeyd your luſtes euer / and I wyll for his ſake Of trouth to you be bounde and vndertake And ſoo forth within preſence as they ſtand Tofore the goddes this fayre and wele Her humble ſeruaunt toke goodly by the hond As he tofore her▪mekely dyd knele And kyſſed hym after fulfyllyng euery dele from poynt to poynt in full thryfty wyſe As ye to forn had Venus herd deuyſe Thus is this man to Ioye and all pleſaūce From heuynes and from his paynes olde Full reconcyled / and hath full ſnffyſaūce Of her that euer ment well / and wolde That in good fayth and I tell ſholde The Inward myrthes dyd her hertes brace For all my lyf to tell / it were to lytyll ſpace For he hath wonne hyr that he loueth beſt And ſhe to grace hath take hym of pyte And thus her hertes ben bothe ſet in reſt withoute chaunge or mutabilyte And Venus hath of her benygnyte Confermed all what ſhall I lenger tary Theſe tweyne in one and neuer to vary That for the Ioye in the temple aboute Of this acorde by grete ſolempnyte was laude and honour within and withoute Gyue to Venus / and to the deyte Of god Cupide / ſoo that Caliope And all her ſuſtren in her Armonye Swete with theyr ſōges ye goddds to magnifye And all attones with notes loude and ſharpe They dyd her honour and her reuerence And Orpheus among them with his harpe Gan ſtrynges touche with his dilygence And Amphion that hath ſuche excellence Of muſyke ay dyde his beſyneſſe To pleſe and queme Venus the goddeſſe Oonly for cauſe of the affynyte Betwix theſe twoo not luſty to diſſeuere And euery louer of lowe and hye degre Gan Venus praye frothens forth and euer That hooll of theym the loue may perſeuere withouten ende in ſuche wyſe as they gonne And more encrece that hit of hard was wonne And the goddes heryng this requeſt As ſhe that knewe the clene entencyon Of bothe theym tweyne made a byheſt Perpetuelly by confyrmacyon whiles they lyue of one affeccyon They ſhall endure there is noo more to ſayne That neyther ſhall haue mater to complayne Soo ferforth euermore in our eternall ſee The goddes haue in our preſence Fully deuyſed thurgh theyr deyte And hooly concluded by her Influence That by theyr myght and Iuſte prudence The loue of hem by grace and eke fortune withoute chaunge ſhall euermore contune Of whiche graunt the Temple enuyron Thurgh hye comfort of theym yt were preſent Anone was goon with a melodyous ſown̄ In name of tho that trouth in loue ment A balade newe in full good entent Tofore the goddes with notes loude and clere Syngyng right this anone as ye ſhall here Fayreſt of ſterres that with your perſaūt lyght And with the cheryſyng of your ſtremes clere Cauſen in loue hertes to be lyght Oonly by ſhynyng of your glad ſpere Now lawde and pryce O Venus lady dere Be to your name that haue withoute ſynne This man fortuned his lady for to wynne willy planete O eſperus ſoo bryght That wofull hertes can appeſe and ſtere And euer are redy by your grace and myght To helpe all tho that bye loue ſoo dere And haue power hertes to ſette on fyre Honour to you of all that ben here Inne That haue this man his lady made to wynne O myghty goddeſſe day ſterre after nyght Gladyng the morowe whan ye doo appere To voyde derknes by freſhnes of your ſyght Oonly with twynklyng of your pleſaūt chere To you we thanke louers that ben here That ye this man and neuer for to twynne Fortuned haue his lady for to wynne And with the noyſe and heuenly melodye with that they made in her armonye Thurgh out the temple for this mans ſake Out of my ſlepe anone I dyde awake And for aſtonyed knewe as tho noo rede For ſodeyn chaūge oppreſſed with drede My thought was caſt in a traunce Soo clene away was tho my remembraunce Of all my dreme / wherof grete thought & woo I had in herte and nyſt what was to doo For heuynes for that I had loſt the ſyght Of her that I all the long nyght Had dremed of in myn aduyſyon wherof I made grete lamentacyon By cauſe I had neuer in myn lyf beforn Sawe none ſoo fayre ſyth that I was born For loue of whom ſoo as I can endyte I purpoſe here to make and wryte A lytyll treatyſe and proceſſe make In pryce of wym̄en oonly for her ſake Hem to comende as it is ſkyll and right For her goodnes with all my myght Prayeng to her that is ſoo bounteuous Soo full of vertue and ſoo gracyous Of womanhede and mercyfull pyte This ſymple treatyſe for to take in gre Tyll I haue leyzer vnto her hye renoun For to expowne my forſayd vyſyoun And tell in playn the ſignefyaunce As it cometh to my remembraunce Soo that here after my lady may hit loke Now goo thy waye thou lytyll rude boke To her preſence as I the comaūde And fyrſt of all thou me recomaūde Vnto hyr and to her excellence And praye to hyr / hit be none offence If ony word in the be myſſayd Beſechyng her / ſhe be not euyll apayd For as her lyſt I wyll the efte correcte whan that her lyketh ageynward the directe I mene that benygne and goodly of face Now goo thy waye and put the in her grace

¶ Explicit the Temple of glas.