The forrest of fancy Wherein is conteined very prety apothegmes, and pleasaunt histories, both in meeter and prose, songes, sonets, epigrams and epistles, of diuerse matter and in diuerse manner. VVith sundry other deuises, no lesse pithye then pleasaunt and profytable.

C. D. Being enamored of a fayre and vertous yong Gen∣tlewoman he craueth speedy comfort.

DEarely beloued, withoute whose grace and good will, nothing seemeth sweete or pleasaunt vnto me, no not to inioy my lyfe, vnlesse I may therewith obtayn thy loue which my hart aboue all thinges terrestiall doth chiefelye couet and desyre.

Loue onely hath caused me to wright vnto you, youre surpassing bewty hath perforce procured me to loue you, and your rate and singuler vertues haue chiefely kindled my affection towardes you, which affection doth so great∣ly abound in me, and so incessaunclye tormente my poore captiue carcas, that if you in whome it onely resteth to re∣dresse the same doe not speedily render some pleasant and precious pocion, to asswage the intollerable anguishe of this my moste greeuous and painefull mallady, my lyfe is like to be put in great perrill thereby.

The plant whilst it is yet yong and tender may be ea∣sily cut downe. but if it be let alone vntouched, it will in time grow so great, as with much labour it shall be almost impossible so to roofe it out, but that some smal sprigs shal still abyde behinde in the bowels of the earth which maye afterward receiue againe the former force, and accustomed greatnesse.

The waxe whilst it is warme, may be easily redused into what forme or fashion that a man will, but being let alone till it be colde, it wareth so harde and brittle, that it wil so∣ner brea••••, then be brought to any perfect proportion, or v∣niformitye.

So likewise is it in loue, for the louer that loueth fayth∣fully, being dayly fedde with fayre wordes, if he doe not in short time obtaine the full effect of his desyre, the flame al∣ready kindled in his brest, will in the eude waxe so wonder full great, as all the water in riber and Nylus, shall not

suffice to qu•••••••• the same, vntill the body of the pore my∣serable louer, be dissolued into dust.

Consyder therefore I beseech you of my sorrowful state, way my good wil and faithful affection towards you, po•• de•••• my pittious plain••s, and deny not grace to him that lo∣ueth you more heartlye then his owne proper lyfe, who to obtaine your loue would not feare to passe the perrilious waues of vnhappy Helispont, but as a faithfull Leander to please my beloued Hero, would be ready to attempte it how daungerous soeuer the aduenture were.

Refuse not then this my reasonable request, seing that by yielding therevnto, you can no way be pr〈…〉〈…〉 a∣ny 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hindred, and yet by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it, shall put my life in great perrill, purchase your selfe an euill reporte, and bee of all men accounted for cruell.

Thus hoping that your pittifull hart will, through this my moste humble submission be moued to take pittie and compassion vpon my sorrowfull state, I doe for this 〈◊〉〈◊〉 commit you to the tuition of the Almighty, whome I pray still to protect you.

Finis.