Richard Barnfield

“ In such a Ladies lappe, at such a slipperie by-blow,
That in a world so wide, could not be found such a wilie
Lad: in an Age so old, could not be found such an old lad:
Old lad, and bold lad, such a Boy, such a lustie Iuuentus.
Well to their worke they goe, and both they iumble in one Bed:
Worke so well they like, that they still like to be working:
For Aurora mounts before he leaues to be mounting:
And Astrea fades before she faints to be falling:
(Helen a light Huswife, now a lightsome starre in Olympus.) ”

“ Golden Webs more worth than a wealthy Souldan of Egypt,
And her selfe more worth than a wealthy Souldan of Egypt:
And her selfe more worth than all the wealth shee possessed;
Selfe? indeede such a selfe, as Thundring Ioue in Olympus,
Though he were father could finde in his hart to be husband. ”

“ Whilst thou hast wherewith to spend:
But if store of Crownes be scant,
No man will supply thy want. ”

“ J. P. Collier's erroneous (attempted) withdrawal of "As it fell upon a day," &c., from Barnfield, effective aid has been found in Mr. Charles Edmonds's most valuable and careful Introduction to his charming little fac-simile (in his Isham Reprints) of the 1593 Venus and Adonis. The fac-similes of the original title-pages and of Barnfield's autograph and monogram, and of the arms from a Harleian MS. (1241) , may be accepted as literally faithful. Other points are elsewhere noticed. ”

“ When loe a shepheard Swaine not far away we see.
XI.
I spi'd him first, and spying thus bespake,
Shall yonder Swaine vnfolde the mysterie?
Agreed (quoth Venus) and by Stygian Lake,
To whom he giues the ball so shall it bee:
Nor from his censure will I flie, quoth shee,
(Poynting to Pallas) though I loose the gole.
Thus euery one yplac'd in her degree,
The Shepheard comes, whose partial eies gan role,
And on our beuties look't, and of our beuties stole. ”

“ A pleasant Arbour, of a spreading Vine:
Wherein Art stroue with nature to compaire,
That made it rather seeme a thing diuine
Being scituate all in the open Aire:
A fairer nere was seene, if any seene so faire. ”

“ But if my offence haue not merite [d] such fauor as to say ye truth what can he deserue in ye sight of loue, who hath wilfully lost his wagtaile yet accept this sacrifice wch I bringe vnto thee. This viall wch I offer is a viall of teares wch I haue wept for my los wch eydew being but small in quantity because ye glas is but little & britel, may as a misticale relik be kept in thy temple to shew maidens should not greue to much for the los of so brikle athinge as is virgins maiden head. ”

“ Wth yt I wold haue initated the gras where on we lay by clasping her in my armes but she t'ninge aside, espies my iuory pipe, and as women delight in faire thinges & yet through theire natures couetousnes doe rather take then giue, so now to make p'fit of her anger, she told me by no meanes I shoud enter acquaintance againe vnles franckly and freely I would giue her my white pipe. ”

“ And from a Dance to a Trance, from a Trance they fell to a falling
Either in others armes, and either in armes of another.
Pastime ouer-past, and Banquet duely prepared,
Deuoutly pared: Each one hies home to his owne home,
Saue Lord and Ladie ”

“ Thou lookst for lief yet lewdly forcd it fade
Thou trodst the earth and now in earth thou arte
As men may wish yu neur hadst bin made
Thy glory and thy glasse are tymeles runne
And this (O Tuchbourne) hath thy Treason donne. ”

“ Till Heauens bright Lamps dissolue shall nere bee done
In whose faire eies Loue linckt with vertues been,
In euerlasting Peace and Vnion.
Which sweet Consort in her full well beseeme,
Of Bounty, and of Beauty fairest Fayrie Queene.
XVII.
And to conclude, the gifts in her yfound,
Are all so noble, royall, and so rare,
That more and more in her they doe abound ”

“ All thy friends are lapt in Lead. ”

“ There is a thinge yt much is vsd
tis caulled loue, by men abusd:
they write and sigh and sweare they die
when all is done they know they lie,
⁠but when they sweare by faith & troth
⁠ile sweare they care not for an othe. ”

“ Answere.
Is double V such double woe
Speake of no more then that you knowe.
Tis weale, tis wealth, and nothing soe
I, Joye is, not iealosie.
F fauor is, not flattery.
E is true loues eternytie. ”

“ I neede not to name them, because they are too- well knowne already; nor will I deny them, because they are dislik't; but because they are not mine. This protestation (I hope) will satisfie th' indifferent: and as for them that are maliciously enuious, as I cannot, so I care not to please. Some there were, that did interpret The affectionate Shepheard, otherwise then (in truth) I meant, touching the subiect thereof, to wit, the loue of a Shepheard to a boy ”

“ Foremost among these is Miss C. S. Burne, Loynton Hall, Newport, Shropshire, whose indefatigable intelligence in exploring every available source of information cannot be sufficiently commended. Hearty acknowledgments are similarly due to the Incumbents of St. ”

“ I not to seeme defectiue in curteous bounty gaue her my pipe. she refusd the p'p'ty [= property] & only craued ye vse of it to chere vp her spirites when she was in her melancholy dūps. Phi: said I if you returne me my pipe yet it is yo's at commaund and as for yor mazer since it is houshold stuf & yt I am no huswif I pr thee take it home againe but sweet Phi keepe it neatly. only I desire you woldst bringt a feild adayes, yt when through heat I shall grow thirsty wth the liquor thereof I may alay my drought. ”