The golden Aphroditis a pleasant discourse, penned by Iohn Grange Gentleman, student in the common lavve of Englande. Wherevnto be annexed by the same authour asvvell certayne metres vpon sundry poyntes, as also diuers pamphlets in prose, which he entituleth his Garden: pleasant to the eare, and delightful to the reader, if he abuse not the scente of the floures.

The Louer hearing his Lady to be caste in dumpes, vvriteth vnto hir in this order.

LAdy, I heare of thy sadde perplexitie, but what shoulde be the cause thereof I know not, yet if Hartes ease may heale thee, the Dasle delectable delight thee, or the pleasant Pinke may please thee, beholde here I graunt thee the keye of my garden, gather them, vse them, and weare them at will: for euen the chiefest flower ther∣in I afforde it thee willingly to furnishe forth thy garland. Leaue off therefore thy mournyng weedes, lette me be thy comforte, who am thine owne for aye. Trie and trust me, vse and weare me, I am thine owne and wilbe while life dothe laste. I wante the Rhetori∣call termes of Polymneia to polishe forth my writing, my harte is true, my loue vnfained, wherfore beare with my rudenesse, for great good will dothe grauell me. Inke and paper blusheth not, wherefore if my penne were able, well might I here vnlace my loyaltie: but neyther tongue can tell, harte thinke, nor penne subscrybe the vn∣fayned loue whiche I beare vnto thee, who onely arte the Castle of my Comforte: wherefore I will omitte the shewyng thereof my selfe, committiing each surmise vnto thy after witte. For bashful∣nesse in wryting incountreth with my Muse, and facilitie neglec∣teth to counteruayle good will. In secrete thought therefore thinke of my loyalty, perpende well my meaning, for constancie it buffe∣teth a wauering minde: more yours thā mine owne my tried troth shall binde me. Open therefore thy brest and let it shroude twoo faithfull hartes in one. Cupid hath cōmaunded me to be no change∣lyng, for as I am so will I be. O woulde thou couldest perceyue mine inwarde harte or else conceyue my secrete thought. But time ••••eth troth and bringeth all to light, the smothering heate at lēgth breakes foorth in flame Oh open thy brest and let me enter, for the Sunne shall shine at midnight, the Moone and Starres at noone day, the Sea shall become the Lande, and the lande the Sea, yea the Heauen shall become the Earth, and the Earth Heauen, before

suche tyme as I forsake thee. Thus printing my woordes in thine harte, and rolling ful oft the sense thereof in thy minde, I leaue thee to iudge thereof according vnto thy discretion.

Your vowed friende, F. G.