The vvorkes of a young wyt, trust vp with a fardell of pretie fancies profitable to young poetes, preiudicial to no man, and pleasaunt to euery man, to passe away idle tyme withall. Whereunto is ioyned an odde kynde of wooing, with a banquet of comfettes, to make an ende withall. Done by N.B. Gentleman.
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- Title
- The vvorkes of a young wyt, trust vp with a fardell of pretie fancies profitable to young poetes, preiudicial to no man, and pleasaunt to euery man, to passe away idle tyme withall. Whereunto is ioyned an odde kynde of wooing, with a banquet of comfettes, to make an ende withall. Done by N.B. Gentleman.
- Author
- Breton, Nicholas, 1545?-1626?
- Publication
- [Imprinted at London :: Nigh vnto the three Cranes in the Vintree, by Thomas Dawson, and Thomas Gardyner,
- [1577]]
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http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16815.0001.001
- Cite this Item
-
"The vvorkes of a young wyt, trust vp with a fardell of pretie fancies profitable to young poetes, preiudicial to no man, and pleasaunt to euery man, to passe away idle tyme withall. Whereunto is ioyned an odde kynde of wooing, with a banquet of comfettes, to make an ende withall. Done by N.B. Gentleman." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A16815.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 3, 2024.
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¶The Author standing in a study whether to write or no, wrote as foloweth.
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¶The Author mynding to wryte somewhat, yet not resol∣ued what: wrote in verse certayne demaundes with him∣selfe what to write, as foloweth.
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¶A prety passion, pend in the behalfe of a Gentleman, who trauailyng into Kent, fell there in loue: and ventring both landes, lymme, and lyfe, to doo his Mistresse seruice, in long time reapt nothing but losse for his labour, which losse, by yll lucke, in lamentable verse, he wrote to his beloued Lady, which, how shee tooke in woorth, that restes.
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¶My Muse hauing heard this, told me that patience was the best Medicine for such a sickenesse. And thereuppon wild me wryte vppon Patience, as followeth.
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¶My Muse likte so well of this Pamphlette, that shee willed me to write agayne vpon it, at whose commaunde I wrote as folowes.
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¶By that tyme that I had finished this Pamphlet vpon pa∣tience, wyth hanginge downe my hedde ouer my paper, mine eyes grue redde, and ranne on water, wherevpon my muse tooke occasion, to thinke, vpon the hurte of the eye sighte, and presentely willed me to write vpon the same, as foloweth.
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¶Now my Muse gan sodaynely enter into the cogitation of the state of man, and thereupon wilde me to write these few verses following.
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¶These verses being read, my Muse be thought her selfe of a proper Gentlemā, who hauing been sometime a braue fel∣low, and liued gallātly in Courte by Fortunes frownes, fro∣ward dealing of friendes, and flattery of friendly foes, so∣daynly sonke, and was forced for want of that he wished, for to leaue the court, and end his lyfe among the coun∣trey: Crue, where dolefully he dyed: at whose departure from Court, and passage to the Countrey, I gaue hym in Verse too reade in ydle tyme thys dolefull Adio, which heere I recite. The man is dead, his name not expressed. Wherefore I hope no man will finde faulte with the recitall: if any doe, the matter is not great, and therefore at all aduentures thus it was.
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¶My Muse somewhat melancholy with the reading of this pitifull parting of this poore Gentleman, standing a while in a great dumpe, suddaynly can call to mynde a dolefull discourse of a very sorrowfull shroue Sondayes Supper, which a luckelesse louer not long agoe was at. Who fyt∣ting at boord with his maliciyous Mistres, receyued of her such vndeserued frownes, and vncurteous speaches, as being returned home to his lodging after supper, sitting in his chamber all alone, and calling to minde the perylles he had past for her sake, and the coyne he had spent in her seruice, repenting him selfe, as well of his labour as cost, both lost, Wrote in rage a fewe Verses of his yll happe: which waylfull woordes my Muse gaue me thus to write.
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¶This donne, my Muse began to thinke vpon the estate of louers, and tolde me that he was muche to blame, to rage in suche sorte for a frowne or a foule worde, he muste a∣bide twenty worse Banquets (excepte fortune be his greate friende) ere he atteine to his desire. For quoth shee: Dulcu•• non n••uit, qui non gustauit amarum. and therewithall, vpon the same wordes wilde me write as foloweth.
¶This donne, my Muse studiynge of the straunge estate of luckeles louers. bethoughte her selfe of a disdainfull dame, whom God had blest with better beauty then by her be∣hauiour many wayes shee seemed worthy of, and chiefely, for her discourteous dealinge with a gentleman her faith∣full louer, who euery way had deserued her fauoure, and was by equality worthy of her in euery respecte: who seing her vntowarde dealing, wrote vpon the same in his study alone certeine verses, which as they were giuen me by my Muse to write, were these folowing.
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¶This donne my Muse gan cal to minde a prety shorte so∣lemne fansy, that the same man wrote in the tyme of his loue, touchinge his il hap, which presentely she willed me to pen, in this maner.
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¶Now gan my Muse sodeinly to leaue me, and I somwhat we∣ry with writing, walked abroad, to take the aire: but being not gon far from my lodging, I mette with a noble man, my right good Lord, who would (no nay) haue me with him to his lodging, where I had not been long, but he commaun∣ded me to wryte him some Verses. I craued of his Lordship a Theame to wryte vppon▪ none would he graunt, but wild me to write what I would. I not knowing what of a sodayne myght best fit his fansy, and yet desyrous to pen that myght like his Lordshyppe, standyng a while in a stu∣dye, at last at all aduentures I wrote that which I dyd as∣sure my selfe myght no way much mislyke hym, which with the helpe of my Muse who mette me there of a so∣dayne, and vnseene or heard, would whisper me in the eare with what inuention shee thought best: such as by good happe my Lord liked better of, then it was worthy, which was as followeth.
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¶This toye (though little woorth) yet likte my Lord so wel, as presentely he wild me to discourse vppon Aliquid, and let•• Nihil alone, at whose commaund, with the helpe of my Muse, I wrote in this wise.
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¶This discourse ended, and perused, my Lord was somwhat earnest with me, ere I should depart from him, to write in lyke manner some discourse vppon Nihil, and let Aliquid a∣lone: which though it seemed vnto me heard (at the first) yer minding to do my Lord any seruice I could, I tooke in hand, with the helpe of my Muse, to write these verses following.
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¶This discourse finished, and deliuered vnto my Lorde, after some talke had with his Lordship, I tooke my leaue of him, and returnde home to my lodging, but by the way, I chaun∣ced to passe by three or foure gardens: & loking ouer a Pale into one of the sayd gardens, to take the sweete ayre of di∣uers floures and herbes that grue neere vnto the pale, Ie∣spyed sitting on a Cammamell bancke vnder two or three trees, to shade them from the parching heate of the sunne, three gallant ladyes: of which one so farre in beautie ex∣celled the rest, as my thought I could not content my selfe enough with the singular comforte of her sweete counte∣naunce, but let this suffice, that I stoode there gazing, til the sweete soule, to my extreme sorrow, and hartes griefe, de∣parted the place, and then wyth a heauie hart as I coulde I returnde to my lodging, where long I had not been, but my Muse came to me, and seeing me sit in that solempne sort, wyld mee write somewhat of the cause of my dumpes. I not knowing what to write in that perplexitie of mynde, wrote as my Muse bad me, in praise of the garden for the Ladyes sake whom I had seene there, and yet for letting her goe so soone, fell out a little with it, in verse, as followeth.
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¶Now by that tyme this discourse was full finished, it grue somewhat late in the nyght: wherevppon I growing some∣what drousy, had rather desire to rest then write any more: wherupon my Muse left me, and I layd me down to sleep, and being a sleepe, I sodaynly fell into a most straunge dreame, which in the morning, awake, I cald to mynde, and as I could, I put it into verse, in order as followeth.
A peece of a Preface before the dreame.
Straunge are the sights that some in sleepe shall see, and straunger much, then, haue been seene by day. For proofe whereof you heere shall heare of me: as I of late halfe in a slumber lay, A most strange dreame I sodaynly fell in: which dolefull dreame, (marke well) did thus begin.The dreame followes.
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¶This dolefull discourse, of this drowsye dreame beyng fynished, my Muse that left me ouer nyght, came to me agayne, and ••••••ught to my mynde the deli∣cate Lady whom I tooke view of in a Garden of which Garden (for her sake,) I wrote my mynde at my comming to my lodging, as before my dreame dooth here appeare▪ the remembrance of whose heauenly hiew, with perfect proportion of e••he parte from top to toe, with most ••are inward vertues (greatly gessed and almost playnly perceiued by outward countenance) set me of the sodayne in such a pe••ple vitie, as more halfe in a maze my Muse wild me pre∣sently to write thus madly of my passion as you see, which was as followeth.
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¶A dialogue betweene a louer, an his beloued.
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¶Now this Gentileman one day standing in a greate muze of his Mystris, and in a straunge perplexity for the loue of her, sodeinly starte oute of his study, and beyng alone in his Chamber, tooke Pen and Incke and Pa∣per, and in halfe a madde moode, wrote vpon the state of louers: which I (hauing some acquaintaunce with hym) one daye comming in to his Chamber founde lynge in his window, which hauing read ouer, I bare in mynde as I coulde, yet hauyng almoste for∣gotten it, my Muse brought it agayne to my remem∣braunce, and made me wryte as foloweth: which though it were imperfect, and not full finished, yet for that it somwhat likde me, I haue heere placed it with other im∣perfections.
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¶Not long after he had written these verses, his Mystris vpon a coy conceit, began to frowne on him, and giue him very euill countenance, which he perceyuing, made ma∣ny meanes to moue her to pity, but when nothing would serue his turne, he in great griefe one day sytting alone in his Chamber, wrote in lamenting verse these lines fol∣lowing, which being my chance to read, my Muse brought me now in remembrance of, and wild me to write as folo∣weth.
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¶Not many dayes after, this youth languishing dayly, for lacke of his Mistris loue, willing to let his Mistris vnder∣stand of the woe he abode, and daylye lyude in for her sake: One daye in Verse he wrote his mynde vnto her, And founde meanes to delyuer it vnto her. Which how shee receiude or requited, I must not reueale, let it suffice that I onelye came by the Verses, and that fryendlye I lende them you to reade, which ar these that followe.
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NOw I am sure you thinke the man was in a marueilous taking when he wrote, and doubtles so he was, and so let him be, til God send him better hap by desart to get fauor of his Mystris, or presente death, too ridde him out of his perplexities: for I am sure, that he woulde rather wishe for, then long to remaine in the wretched state that now he euery way stands in. But since my wishes can neyther doe him good, nor he him selfe can finde no meanes too get ease of griefe, I refer him to the helpe of God, who can helpe euery man that trusteth in him, and praieth for his helpe: and so, letting him reste in his per∣plexity, till God only cende him deliueraunce, I leaue to write now any further of him or his passions.
¶A prety tale with the Morall vpon the same.
A Praeface.
¶The Tale.
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¶An other prety Tale of a Pygeon, and an Ante, with the Morall vpon the same.
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The Morall.
¶An odde gretinge, and as madde a wooing betweene a clowne of the country, and his sweete harte. Whose names were Simon and Susan. Simon ouertaking his fore∣said sweete Susan, hauing some former acquaintance with her, and yet not all so frolyke, as to clappe her on the lippse in a cold morninge after the country fashion, wente cunningly as he durst to worke with her: salu∣ting her with some friendely speeche, which shee as hand∣somly aunswered. The wordes betweene them were these that folow: I laught at them hartely when I hearde them, and I persuade my selfe, that some that reade this recorde of them, will smyle a litle at it, be they neuer so solemne. I pende them for myne owne plea∣sure. I hope they will displease none, who lykes not the reading of it, turne ouer the leafe, and you shall finde somwhat els to your contentmente. Well, to the matter, though women are comonly full of toung, and ready of speeche, yet when they ar wooed, they muste be firste spoken to, or els they will condemne their woer for a foole: and therefore Simson hauing on his considering cappe, although not a man of the greatest capacity, yet as his audacity serude him, he boldely brake forth into this salutacion.
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¶A gentleman being of late at an odde banquet, where were diuers women of diuers dispositions, and being serued in at the table diuers comfits of sundry sorts, being come home from the supper to his owne lodging, sitting alone in his chamber, hee compared the women with the comfites, in verse as followeth.
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Notes
-
* 1.1
The luk∣les••e land.
-
* 1.2
The wilder¦nes of wo.
-
* 1.3
In the wil∣dernes of woe the Heth of h••¦uines.
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* 1.4
The de∣scription of the He••••
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* 1.5
The first vi∣sion.
-
* 1.6
The 〈…〉〈…〉.
-
* 1.7
〈…〉〈…〉
-
* 1.8
〈…〉〈…〉 seene ••ere.
-
* 1.9
The third.
-
* 1.10
The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fights of 〈…〉〈…〉.
-
* 1.11
The first
-
* 1.12
The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and last seen•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉
-
* 1.13
〈◊〉〈◊〉 vale 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
-
* 1.14
he mise∣••s seene ••re.
-
* 1.15
〈◊〉〈◊〉
-
* 1.16
Second sight of mis••ry••••
-
* 1.17
Third.
-
* 1.18
••ourth.
-
* 1.19
〈◊〉〈◊〉
-
* 1.20
〈◊〉〈◊〉
-
* 1.21
Eight.
-
* 1.22
〈◊〉〈◊〉.
-
* 1.23
Tenth. And last seene 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
-
* 1.24
The ca••e of care. Vnder hard hap•• b••ll.
-
* 1.25
〈◊〉〈◊〉
-
* 1.26
The book•• of 〈◊〉〈◊〉
-
* 1.27
Seate of so∣rowe in caue of care vnder ha••d haps 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
-
* 1.28
〈…〉〈…〉
-
* 1.29
Sundry sorrowes.
-
* 1.30
The grea∣test sorrow griefe of loue.
-
* 1.31
Dungeon of De∣spai••e. Once in
-
* 1.32
Sodayne waking.