[A sweet nosgay, or pleasant posye] [contayning a hundred and ten phylosophicall flowers &c.]

¶A careful complaynt by the vnfortunate Auctor.

GOOd DIDO stint thy teares, and sorrowes all resigne To mée: that borne was to augment, misfortunes lucklesse line. Or vsing styll the same, good DIDO doo thy best: In helpyng to bewayle the hap, that furthereth mine vnrest. For though thy Troyan mate, that Lorde AENEAS hight, Requityng yll thy stetfast loue, from Carthage tooke his flight. And fowly brake his oth, and promise made before: Whose falshode finisht thy delight, before thy haires were hore. Yet greater cause of griefe compells mée to complayne: For Fortune fell conuerted hath, My health to heapes of payne. And that she sweares my death, to playne it is (alas) Whose end let malyce styll attempt, to bring the same to passe. O DIDO thou hadst liu'de, a happye Woman styll, If fickle fancie had not thrald thy wits: to retchlesse wyll.

For as the man by whom, thy deadly dolors bred: Without regard of plighted troth, from CARTHAGE Citie fled. So might thy cares in tyme, be banisht out of thought: His absence might well salue the sore, that earst his presence wrought. For fyre no lenger burnes, then Faggots feede the flame: The want of things that bréede annoy, may soone redresse the same. But I vnhappy mosse, and gript with endles griefes: Dispayre (alas) amid my hope, and hope without reliefe. And as the sweltyng heate, consumes the War away: So doo the heapes of deadly harmes, styll threaten my decay. O Death delay not long, thy dewtye to declare: Ye Sisters thrée dispatch my dayes and finysh all my care.

(q)

IS. VV.