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I. THIS made him write in a glass window, obvious to the Queen’s eye— | |
| “‘Fain would I climb, yet fear I to fall.’ | |
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| Her Majesty, either espying or being shown it, did under-write— | |
| “‘If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.’” | |
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II. “SIR WA. RAWLEY made this rhyme upon the name of a gallant, one Mr. Noel:— | 5 |
“Noe. L. | |
| “‘The word of denial and the letter of fifty | |
| Makes the gentleman’s name that will never be thrifty.’ | |
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“And Noel’s answer:— | |
“‘Raw. Ly. | 10 |
| “The foe to the stomach and the word of disgrace | |
| Shews the gentleman’s name with the bold face.’” | |
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III. IN vain mine eyes, in vain you waste your tears; | |
| In vain my sighs, the smokes of my despairs; | |
| In vain you search the earth and heavens above; | 15 |
| In vain ye seek; for Fortune keeps my love. | |
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IV. WITH wisdom’s eyes had but blind fortune seen, | |
| Then had my love, my love for ever been. | |
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V.
EPITAPH ON THE EARL OF LEICESTER.
(Died Sept. 4, 1588.) HERE lies the noble warrior that never blunted sword; | |
| Here lies the noble courtier that never kept his word; | 20 |
| Here lies his excellency that governed all the state; | |
| Here lies the L. of Leicester that all the world did hate. WA. RA. | |
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VI.
EPITAPH ON THE EARL OF SALISBURY.
(Died May 24, 1612.) HERE lies Hobbinol, our pastor whilere, | |
| That once in a quarter our fleeces did sheer. | |
| To please us his cur he kept under clog, | 25 |
| And was ever after both shepherd and dog. | |
| For oblation to Pan his custom was thus:— | |
| He first gave a trifle, then offered up us. | |
| And through his false worship such power he did gain, | |
| As kept him o’th’ mountain and us on the plain: | 30 |
| Where many a hornpipe he tuned to his Phyllis, | |
And sweetly sung Walsingham to ’s Amaryllis.
(Two lines omitted.) | |
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VII.
A POEM PUT INTO MY LADY LAITON’S POCKET BY SIR WALTER RALEIGH. LADY, farewell, whom I in silence serve! | |
| Would God thou knewest the depth of my desire! | |
| Then mought I wish, though nought I can deserve, | 35 |
| Some drops of grace to slake my scalding fire; | |
| But sith to live alone I have decreed, | |
| I’ll spare to speak, that I may spare to speed! | |
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VIII.
SIR W. RALEIGH ON THE SNUFF OF A CANDLE THE NIGHT BEFORE HE DIED. COWARDS [may] fear to die; but courage stout, | |
| Rather than live in snuff, will be put out. | 40 |
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