The arbor of amorous deuises VVherin, young gentlemen may reade many plesant fancies, and fine deuises: and thereon, meditate diuers sweete conceites, to court the loue of faire ladies and gentlewomen by N.B. Gent.

A Poeme.

WEare happie I as others are, Then might I liue as others doe: But fortune giues a sundrie share, And more to one then others too,

The mind doth yet content it selfe▪ What euer fortune doe befall, And makes no count of cankred pelfe, Nor cares for any care at all.

For health it is the gift of God, And giue him thankts, and so haue done, And want of wealth a heauenly rod, To punish natures eldest sonne.

Is freinds doe frowne, then farewel they, This worldlie loue wil neuer last, And if it be a rainie day, The sunne wil shine when storme is past,

If troubles come a thwart thy minde, Why tis a rule, there is no rest, And he that seekes and cannot finde, Must take a little for a feast▪

If Ladies loue, then laugh for ioy, And if they doe not, farewell loue: If thou be lost, tis but a toy, And if it hold, it will not mooue.

Faire b••a••tie soone will fade a way. And riches q••icklie fall to rust, Thy youthfull yeares will soone decay▪ And age will soone giue ouer lust.

The greatest horse is but a beast, The highest H••wk is but a bird, The sweetest b••nquet but a feast, The brauest man is but his word.

To promise much doth please th•• eare, B••t to performe contents the heart. And where performance commeth, there A vowed loue can neuer parte.

But they that haue the world at will, And shrinketh at a shower of raine, May h••p to wish and want there will. Vnles their hands haue greater gaine,

But hap what will my heart is sette▪ I am resolu'd of this conceit, If by desert I cannot get, I loath to liue vpon deceit.

For stayed minde is of that state, As euerie fortune cannot finde, For hope nor feare, nor loue, nor hate, Can euer change an honest minde.

••ut either die in secrete griefe, Whe••e care shall euer be conceald▪

Then send abroad to seeke reliefe, And haue a hurt vnkindely heald.

And onely trust in God on high, For in the world there is no friend, And loath to liue and long to die, And know the world sh••ll haue an end.

But if I die, and you doe mis, The sweet con••ention might command, Then thinke but what a death it is▪ To want d••sert without demand.

And thinke vpon t•••• nights and dayes. When beat••n braines and broken heart. Did r••adie serue at al assayes, For to discharge an honest part.

And if that you doe hap to neede, As other men doe now and than. Thinke w••en that vertue stood in steede, I. R. was a right honest man.

The time draweth on▪ I heare the bell, That calleth for death my dearest friend, But liue or die I wish you well, Though your vnkindnes were my end.

Finis.