Classic Poem

The meaning of the Tale
But wherto tends this Tale?
what first may meane this Chase?
And then the Harte, which in y o same
doth keep one only place?
The Plot where stads the Lodge
the Lodge & then the Dame
Which hunts the Hart: & last the Dogs
which do pursue the game?
A meaning all they haue:
which meaning I must showe,
And that so plaine, as in each point
the meaning you may knowe.
My Carkase is the Chase,
my Heart the selly Harte:
Which, for his rest, my woefull brest.
dooth keepe that onely parte.
The Platte where stands the Lodge
my head I count that place:
My Minde the Lodge, my Loue the Dame
& Lady of the Chase.
Her Dogges of diuers kindes,
that doo my Heart pursue,
Sometime to baye, sometime to fall.
are these that doo ensue.
And first, the Dogges with which
she hunts sometime for sport,
To bring my Harte vnto the baye
and leaue him in that sort
Are these, beleeue me now.
Discountenaunce is the fyrst,
The second is Discourtesie,
and of the two, the worst.
Discountenaunce hee comes fyrst,
and feares me, in this wise:
He hangs his lip, holds downe his head
& lookes vnder his eyes.
And with that angry looke
hee feares me in such sort,
That I may not abide the same:
and then beginnes the sport
For then shee casteth of
Discortesie, that Curre:
And then doo what I can, alas,
my Heart beginnes to sturre.
And wearie halfe at last,
I stand with them at baye:
And so at baye, for my defence,
I somewhat ginne to saye.
Which sayde, shee then takes of
those hylding Curres againe.
And Ieaue me, till she hunt againe
thus pining all in paine:
And now the Cruell Curres,
with which she takes delight
To hunt my Hart euen till he fall
are these: not first, Despight.
But fowle Disdaine: then hee,
which Curres doo course him soe.
That to the fall they bring me ofte
and yet then let me goe.
So that my Harte dooth liue —
but howe? alas, in dreade
Of these same deuillish Dogges: & so
still shall, till I bee dead
Who would not blame this Dame,
that thus without desart,
With these her cruell cankred Curs
dooth hunt this seely Hart:
And curse those cruell Curres.
that thus doo make her sport:
Bothe day and night, without cause why
do hunt him in such sort.
And wish this seely Hart,
with endelesse griefes opprest,
To scape the daunger of the Dogges,
and finde some quiet rest
But wish who list to wish,
except that you, deere Dame.
Among the rest, do wish that wish
no wish wyll helpe the same,
But if that you, in deede,
so wish among the rest,
And hartely do wish that wish,
your wish will helpe him best.