Classic Poem

More haste then neede doth turne to waste,
and waste doth al thinges marre:
Your harvest is in grasse, good fyr,
as hastie as you are.

This doubtfull jeast, among my joyes,
my mystresse late did poppe;
But I reply, that backward haste
can never blast my croppe.

For sith (sweete wench) my seede of love
hath taken roote in time,
And cleare escapt the frostes of scorne
that pincht it in the prime,

Now that the spring time of your grace
hath raisde it to an eare,
The kindely riping of the same
in faith I litle feare:

For scorched sythes, like summers sunne,
will hasten on this wheate;
And stormes of teares, as heavenly dewe,
shall nourish with the heate.

The jelous weedes of soule suspect,
which lovers joyes doth sting,
Shall cropped bee with hooke of faith,
that favour freash may spring.

Then, banish dread from thee, deere dame;
my speede will worke no waste,
Since that the season serves so well
our harvest for to haste.
Roberto Rinaldo .
These verses were written in hast, and presented in as much haste, such was Rinaldos hastie desire afresh to followe his sute; and yet not so hastie as of Giletta hartily wished, the heate of eithers love for eithers sight so hastily thyrsted. But now, to cut off circumstances, Rinaldo, uppon this new onset, charged his maistres with such vehement persuasions, as her nicenesse was no force to make further defence; in so much, uppon a modest occasion, shee yelded to love. This sweete consent by Giletta pronounced, with soudaine joy so spoiled Rinaldos senses, as for a time hee fared liked one in an extasie. But so soone as this fit was overblowne (quoth he) Rinaldo, how bountifully hath fortune dealt with thee! How blessed is thy estate! canst thou tell? O, noe! Thy joyes so hugely flow, as the least of a thousand comforts thou canst not utter. And could good Giletta so much tender thy distresse? Could shee brooke Rinaldoes povertie? And could shee love the wight unworthie to be her slave? Her selfe said, Yea. Then (as homage of his saved life) most worthie mistresse, of thy unworthie servaunt, receive, with vowe of continuance, faith, honour, love, and service. I crave no more save faithfull love (quoth Giletta): Giletta herselfe, in discharge of her duetie, will use towards her Rinaldo honour and obedience; whom if shee finde constante, let fortune doe her worst; shee hath her contentment. And yet, my good Rinaldo, (quoth shee) foresight is the onely instrument of quietnes. I knowe my father and other friends, if they knewe of our love, with stormes of displeasure would hinder the accomplishment of our desires. If whose good will by any meanes may be wonne, the execution of our joyes, I meane our mariage day, is well delayed; but if they will [not] consent, happ wel, happ ill, Giletta submitted her selfe to Rinaldoes good will. My good maistresse, (quoth hee) your poore servaunt (full satisfied for his harde fortunes fore past, as also to come) subjectes himself to your wife consideration. Yea, Rinaldo wil not in one jot contrary Gilettas direction, althoughe hee purchase death with the execution of her pleasure. Wel, quoth Giletta, let time worke her will; yet live thou, Rinaldo, assured of thy Gilettas love, who like wise liveth in hope of thine. But in hope, sweete mystresse? (quoth Rinaldo) there is no hope withoute mistruste, and causelesse mistrust woorketh two injuries; the one in distempering the mistrusters minde, the other in suspecting the well meaninge friend. But the offence towardes mee I freely pardon, so that thou wilte (to woorke thine owne quietnesse) take knowledge how that my heart is close prisoner in thy breast, which maye not be removed without thy consente. And for that wee must attende time for the perfection of our joyes, to intertaine time withoute distruste of loyaltie, deare lady, of thy poore servaunte, vouchsafe to take this diamond, whose poesie is I will not false my faith: protestinge before the hyest to accomplish those woordes in woorkes. Giletta, willingly receyvinge this ring, in this fort acquited him: My good Rinaldo (quoth shee) I gratefully accept your gift; and, that in absence you may both thinke of mee and your vowe, for my sake weare you this jewell, wherein is written, Fortune may hinder my love, yet none but death shall breake my vowe .
These two lovers, having by secrete othe thus warranted eche others love, least their overlonge talke mighte breede suspicion, now conveyed themselves into the thickest of the company; where, after they had a while shewed themselves, Rinaldo in respecte of his late conqueste had the ordinarye pleasures, the which hee sawe, in skorne. In somuch that to perfecte his contentemente with sweete imaginations, hee convayed himselfe into his chamber; where, in praise of his good mystresse and triumphe of his fortunes, hee wrote as followeth.