Classic Poem

When scorching Phaebus he did mount, —
to-Iaur bonne tannce, —
then Lady Venus went to hunt,
p ar melio shannce;
to whom diana did resort,
w i th [a]ll the Ladyes of hills & valleys,
of springs & ffloodes,
to shew where all the princely sport,
w i th hound imbrued, & harts pursued,
throughe groues & woodes.

This tender harted louers Queene, —
to-iour bonne tannce, —
such wandring sports had seldome seene,
p ar melio shance
shee tooke noe pleasure in the same,
to see hounds merry, & pore harts werrye
ffor want of breath.
q uo th shee, " I like better tha t game
where ladyes bewtyes do pay their dutyes
to loues sweete death "

They aire was hott, & shee was drye, —
to-iour bonne tannce; —
to Bacchus court shee fast did hye —
par melio shance —
her ffaint & weary hart [to] cheirsh,
w hi ch was soe fyered, tha t shee descryed
to quench her thirst,
& cryed, " helpe Bacchus, or else I p er ish! "
who still did hold her, & plainly told her
he wold kisse her ffirst.

Then Bacchus w i th a power divine, —
to-iour bone tance, —
himselfe turned to a butt of wine, —
p ar melio shance, —
and bade this Ladye drinke her ffill,
& take her pleasure in any measure,
& make noe waste;
& gane her leaue to sucke the quill,
w hi ch was spriteffull and delightffull
vnto her tast

Att last this butte did run a tilte —
to-iour bonne tance. —
q uo th shee, " one drop shall not be spilt,
p ar melio shance,
ffor itt doth pleasing tast soe well,
my hart doth will me ffor to fill me
of this sweete Vine;
I wold tha t I might alwayes dwell
in this ffaire Arbor! heeres soe good harbor,
& pleasant wine "

Shee drunke soe long, ere shee had done, —
to-iour bonne tance, —
her belly swelled like a tunn,
p ar melio shance
Att last shee ffell in peeces twaine;
& being assunder, appeard a wonder,
God pryapus!
yett ffaine shee wold haue drunke againe;
& oft did visitt, & much solicite
God Diacchus.

His emptye caske wold yeeld noe more, —
to-iour bonne tannce, —
ffor shee had sucked itt ffull sore,
p ar melio shance.
q uo th she " god Bacchus, change thy shape;
ffor now thy rigour, & all thy vigour,
Is cleane decayd
behold [thou] here this new borne babe,
who when he is p ro ued, heele be beloued
of wiffe & maide. "

This bellye god tha t wold be drunke —
to-iour bonne tannce, —
and being a goddesse, proued a punke,
p ar melyo shance,
her lusty bastarde stiffe & stronge,
was made & framed, & alsoe named,
god Bacchus heyre
he had a nose 3 handfull Long,
w i th one eye bleared, & all besmeard
about w i th hayre

He is the god of rich & poore —
to-iour bonne tannce; —
he openeth euery womans doore,
p ar melio shance;
he ceaseth all debate & strife,
& gently peaseth, & sweetly pleaseth
the hungry wombe
he is the ioy twixt man & wiffe;
her pleasure lasteth, & sweeter tasteth
then hony combe

Now all you nice & dainty dames, —
to-iour bonne tannce, —
to vse this god, thinke itt no shame,
p ar melio shance
then let my speeches not offend,
tho you be gaudye, & I be baudye
& want a rodd!
good deeds shall speeches ffault amend
when you are willing ffor to be billing
w i th this sweet god