Prisoner in Windsor, he recounteth his pleasure there passed. [Abridged from 54 lines.] So cruel prison how could betide, alas, As proud Windsor! where I, in lust and joy, With a king's son my childish years did pass In greater feast than Priam's sons of Troy: Where each sweet place returns a taste full sower! The large green courts, where we were wont to hove, With eyes cast up into the maiden's tower, And easy sighs, such as folk draw in love. The stately seats, the ladies bright of hue, The dances short, long tales of great delight, With words and looks that tygers could but rue; Where each of us did plead the other's right. The palm-play, where, despoiled for the game, With dazed eyes, oft we by gleams of love, Have miss'd the ball, and got sight of our dame; To bait her eyes which kept the leads above. The gravel ground, with sleeves tied on the helm, On foaming horse, with swords, and friendly hearts, With cheer as though one should another whelm : Where we have fought, and chased oft with darts. The secret groves, which oft we made resound What hope of speed, what dread of long delays. The wild forest, the clothed holts with green, With reins avaled,' and swift ybreathed horse, With cry of hounds, and merry blasts between, Where we did chase the fearful hart of force. The wide vales, eke, that harbour'd us each night, The sweet accord, such sleeps as yet delight, The secret thoughts imparted with such trust, The wanton talk, the divers change of play, The friendship sworn, each promise kept so just, Wherewith we past the winter night away • Reins dropped. • Chasse à forcer, Fr. is the chace in which the game is run down, in opposition to the chasse à tirer, in which it is shot. O place of bliss, renewer of my woes! Give me account where is my noble fere,1 Whom in thy walls thou dost each night enclose, To other leefe, but unto me most dear. On the death of Sir Thomas Wyatt. DIVERS thy death do diversly bemoan: And some, that watched with the murderer's knife, With eager thirst to drink thy guiltless blood, Whose practice brake that happy end of life, With envious tears to hear thy fame so good! But I, that knew what harbour'd in that head, • Companion. The means to attain happy Life. [Translated from Martial.] MARTIAL, the things that do attain The fruitful ground; the quiet mind; The egal friend; no grudge, no strife; No charge of rule nor governance; Without disease the healthful life ; The household of continuance ; The mean diet; no delicate fare; The night discharged of all care, Where wine the wit may not oppress: The faithful wife, without debate ; Such sleep as may beguile the night: Contented with thine own estate, Ne wish for death, ne fear his might. A praise of his Love, wherein he reproveth them that compare their ladies with his. GIVE place, ye lovers, here before That spent your boasts and brags in vain; The best of yours, I dare well saine, And thereto hath a troth as just, As it by writing sealed were: I could rehearse, if that I would, The whole effect of Nature's plaint; The like to whom she could not paint : I know she swore, with raging mind, |