Nicholas Breton

“ The worldly prince doth in his sceptre hold
A kind of heaven in his authorities;
The wealthy miser, in his mass of gold,
Makes to his soul a kind of Paradise;
The epicure that eats and drinks all day. ”

“ Say that I should say I love ye,
⁠Would you say 'tis but a saying?
But if Love in prayers move ye,
⁠Will ye not be moved with praying?
Think I think that Love should know ye,
⁠Will you think 'tis but a thinking? ”

“ Yet let me know thou dost not scorn
⁠To cast a look on me.
But if thy beauty make thee proud,
⁠Think then what is ordain'd;
The heavens have never yet allow'd
⁠That love should be disdain'd. ”

“ Then may'st thou joy and be right glad,
Although in woe I seem to moan;
Thy father is no rascal lad:
A noble youth of blood and bone,
⁠His glancing looks, if he once smile,
⁠Right honest women may beguile. ”

“ For well he knew, where came the queen.
⁠The shepherd durst not stay:
And where that he durst not be seen,
⁠The sheep must needs away.
To ask her if she saw his flock,
⁠Might happen patience move. ”

“ Crack yet, though they cannot speak
Bid the purest, whitest swan
Of her feathers make her fan;
Let the hound the hare go chase;
Lambs and rabbits run at base;
Flies be dancing in the sun,
While the silk-worm's webs are spun ”

“ O, fair eyes, yet let me see,
⁠One good look, and I am gone:
Look on me, for I am he,
⁠Thy poor silly Corydon.
Thou that art the shepherds' queen.
⁠Look upon thy silly swain;
By thy comfort have been seen
⁠Dead men brought to life again. ”

“ She said, her beauty was the mark
⁠That did amaze the highest mind;
He said, he only made the mist
⁠Whereby the senses grew so blind.
She said, that only for her sake,
⁠The best would venture life and limb:
He said, she was too much deceiv'd ”

“ Then she made the shepherd call
All the heavens to witness, truth
Never loved a truer youth.
Thus with many a pretty oath,
Yea, and nay, and faith and troth!—
Such as silly shepherds use
When they will not love abuse ”

“ There stood a man (was never man
⁠For woman so distressed) :
This man beheld a heavenly view,
⁠Which did such virtue give
As clears the blind, and helps the lame,
⁠And makes the dead man live. ”

“ Nor conceit that can unfold it.
⁠Though in thoughts be all its being.
Oh! it maketh old men witty,
⁠Young men wanton, women idle,
While that patience weeps, for pity
⁠Reason bite not nature's bridle. ”