Bel-vedére, or, The Garden of the muses

Of Lust.

Lust, is the minds disturber, purses foe: The conscience wronger, and first step to woe.

LVst oft is fill'd, but neuer satisfied. Lasciuious lust the sences doth deceiue. Where lust gets footing, shame doth soon ensue. Lust like a lanthorne sheweth through it selfe, The poysoned venime hid within it selfe. Lust puts the most vnlawfull things in vre. The Leachers tongue, is neuer void of guile. Lust liues by spoile, like theeues that rob true men. Lust makes obliuion, beateth reason backe: Forgette••h shames pure ••lush, and honours wracke. The flames of lust doe from loues fewell rise. The fil••h of lust, vncleannesse wallowes in. Lust gads abroad, desire doth seldome sleepe. Most sweet it is, swift same to ouer-goe: But vile, to liue in lusts blacke ouerthrow.

Where lust is law, it booteth not to plead. Lust lacks no wings, when loue is fled away. Blind is base lust, false colours to descrie. Iustes Owle-sight eyes are dazeled with the light, Yet see too clearely in the darkest night. Loue surfets not, lust like a glutton dies. Loue is all truth, lust full of perjur'd lyes. Lusts winter comes ere sommer halfe is done. While lust is in his pride, no exclamation Can cur••e his heat, or reine his rash desire. Lust being Lord, there is no trust in kings. Leud lust is endlesse, pleasure hath no bounds. As corne o're-growes by weeds, so feare by lust. All faire humanitie abhorres the deed, That staines with lust loues modest snow-white weede. Teares harden lust, though marble weare with drops. Faire loue, foule lust, are deadly enemies. Lust blowes the fire when temperance is thawed. Faire day discouers lustes obscurest wayes, And sheweth ech thing as it is indeed. The loue of lust is losse vnto our health. Lust led with enuie, dreads no deadly sinne. Sower is the case that from lusts root doth spring. Inchastitie is euer prostitute, Whose tree we loath, when we haue pluck•• the fruit. It is great vertue to abstaine from lust. Who followes lust, can neuer come to loue. Lust alwaies seekes the ruine of chaste loue. Better seueritie that's right and iust, Than impotent affections led with iust. Greatnesse doth make it great incontinence. No bondage like the slauish life to lust. Lust is a pleasure bought with after paine. The gate that opens to iniquitie,

Is vnrestrained lust and libertie. Lust by continuance growes to impudence. Shame and disgrace attend vnbridled lust Adulterie is iniurie to nature. Where wic••ed lust doth dwell in foule excesse, That is no house but for damn'd beastlines. Adult'rie is vnlawfull matrimonie. Adult'rie is despis'd among bruit beasts. Concupiscence doth violence the soule. Loue comforteth like Sun-sh••ne after raine, But lust•• effect is tempest after Sinne. No beastlines like base concupiscense. Lust is the path way to perdition. Concupiscense leads on the way to death. Poore sillie flyes may teach great men be lust, And not to yeeld them selues a prey to lust. Lust is in age most loathsome, vile in youth. Lust makes vs couet things beyond our power. Lust cuts off life before the dated time. Lust neuer taketh ioy in what is due, But still leaues knowne delights to seeke out new. A man long plung'd in lust, is hard v purg'd. Slothfulnesse is the nourisher of lust.

Similies on the same subiect.

AS fire consumeth wood into it selfe, So lust drawes men into her deepest sinnes. A•• Sulphur being hot▪ is quickly fier'd, So lust vnb••••dled easily is prouokt As wanton thoughts are full of wanton speech, So leud conceits are fild with loose desires. As greedie minds encroch on other▪ right, So lust makes no respect of leud delight.

As leprosie the members doth corrupt, So luxurie enuenometh the soule. As rauenous binds make no respect of prey, So all are apt that come in lusts foule way.

Examples likewise on the same.

Cleopatra had her brothers companie, Wronging thereby her husband & her selfe. Thalestris trauail'd five and twentie dayes, To lye one night with mightie Alexander. Claudius of his owne sisters made no spare. Sem••ramis in lust desir'd her sonne. Nero slew Atticus the Romane Consull, That he might haue accesse vnto his wife. Aristotle saith, that lust mens bodies chaunge. And likewise breedeth madnesse in their soules. Hippocrates call'd lust the foule disease, Than which could be no worse infection.