Classic Poem

A prety Toye in rime

MISERO INFORIUNATO SOLO:

LAMENTING HIS EUILI HAPPE IN DISPAYRE OF HELEE

W HE purse grows pild, & credit cracks,
& friends begin to faile,
To comfort then a beauy heart
alas what may prevalle?

Audita vox confortans.

Yet doo not thou dispayre at all,
but comfort thou thy minde:
Though credit, purse, & friends be gone,
somewhat is left behinde.

Misero.

Somewhat, alas, oh, tell me now
what somwhat that may be:
That so in this my deepe distresse
is left to comfort me.

Vox.

Why doost thou craue to know the thing
wherof y u canst not doubt?
Necessity ere long, I wis,
will make thee finde it out.

Misero.

Necessitie, alas I see,
too ready is at hand:
Yet can I not, doo what I can
thy meaning vnderstand

Vox.

Why? doste thou not thy selfe assure
there is no mallady,
But physick hath in store for it.
some kinde of remedy

Misero.

No, credit me, I feare there is
no meane to cure my greefe:
If there be any, let me craue
how I may find releefe

Vox

Wylt thou doo as I bid thee doo?
and thou shalt soone finde ease:
Although thou be not at the first
quite rid of thy disease

Misero.

If that thy counsaile well I like
I will agree thereto:
To ease my heart of this despayre,
I care not what to doo.

Vox.

Haue patience then, rage not to much
let reason rule thy minde:
And be thou sure, in little time
some comfort for to finde.

Misero.

But pacience dooth come perforce:
and what is forst (God wot)
Dooth more and more torment the minde:
then pacience easeth not

Vox.

Yet pacience procureth hope,
and hope driues out dispaire:
And where Dispaire is driuen away
there comfort dooth repayre

Misero.

Oh, but hope oftentimes is vaine
and dooth deceiue the minde:
Therefore, in hope I thinke, alas
but comfort small to finde.

Vox.

Let hope then grow by due desart,
then followes good successe:
For reason showes, who seekes for ease
shal some way finde redresse

Misero.

Oh, but alas, those dayes be past
for to reward desart:
And that the more, dooth cause dispayre
for to torment my heart

Vox.

What though such daies are past in deede,
yet daies wil come again,
Wherein desarts shall reape desyre
and pleasure win for paine.

Misero.

But while the grasse dooth grow, oft times
the silly steede he sterues:
And he, God wot, shall reape small gaine
in only hope that serues.

Vox

Yet serue in hope, and hope in G OD
and seeke well to deserue:
And let the Horse doo what he list
be sure thou shalt not sterue

Misero.

Now like I well this lesson thine,
G OD well in heart to serue:
For he, in deede, who hope in him
will neuer let them sterue.