To a late acquainted Friende

IF Vulcan durst presume
that was a Gnuffe to sée,
And strake with Hammer on the Stiche
a cunning Smith to bée,
Whose chiefe and whole delight
was aye to frie at Forge,
And listen to that melodie
Smithes sorrowes to disgorge:
If Vulcan durst (I saye)
Dame Venus to assaile
That was the worthyste Wight of all,
if witnesse may preuaile:
Then may you muse the lesse,
though fansie force me wright
To you a second Venus (Friende)
and Helen in my sight.
For what he saw in hir
a Goddesse by hir kinde,
That I in you (my chosen Friende)
and somewhat else doe finde.
And as that sielie Smith
by Cupid was procurde
To fawne on hir, to whome in fine
hee firmely was assurde:
So by none other meanes
my Senses are in thrall,
But by procurement of the God
that conquers Gods and all.
Tis hée that makes mée bolde,
tis hée that willes me sue
To thée (my late acquainted Friende)
loues torment to eschue.
Not too this day was séene
that any durst rebell
Or kicke at Cupid Prince of Loue,
as learned Poets tell:
But rather would with frée
and vncoacted minde
Applie to please in any case
what so the God assignde.
What néede I here displaye
the spoyles by Cupid wonne?
Not I, but you (my Friende) woulde faint
ere halfe the tale were donne.
His Banner doth declare
what harts haue béene subdude:
Where they are all in Sabels set
with blood and gore imbrude.
Not mightie Mars alone,
nor Hercules the stoute:
But other Gods of greater state,
there standing in a route.
There may you plainely sée
how Ioue was once a Swanne,
To lure faire Leda to his lust
when raging Loue beganne.
Some other when a Bull,
some other time a showre
Of golden drops: as when he coyde
the closed Nunne in towre.
Appollos Loue appeares
and euer will be knowne,
As long as Lawrell leaues shall last,
and Daphnes brute be blowne.
May brainsick Bacchus brag
or boast himselfe as frée?
Not I, but Aryadnas Crowne
shewes him in loue to bée.
Since these and other mo
that Gods were made by kinde
Might not auoyde that guilefull God
that winged is and blinde:
Should I haue hope to scape
by force, or else by flight,
That in respect of those his thralls
am of so slender might?
As they did yéelde to Loue
for feare of Cupids yre:
Euen so am I become his thrall
by force of flaming fyre.
What time I first displayde
mine eies vpon thy face,
(That doth allure eche lookers hart)
I did the P. imbrace.
And since that time I féele
within my breast such ioye,
As Paris neuer felt the like
when Helen was at Troye.
How coulde so barraine soyle
bring forth so good a Graffe,
To whome the reast that séeme good Corne
are in respect but Chaffe?
(O God) that Cupid woulde
vpon thy breast bestowe
His golden shaft, that thou the force
of lyking loue mightst knowe.
Then should I stande in hope
and well assured bée,
That thou wouldst be as friendly (P.)
as I am now to thée.
Whome (till thy friendship fayle,
and plighted Hest doe swerue)
I vaunt and vowe by mightie Ioue
with hart and hande to serue.
My Senses all take héede,
and yée my wits beware
That you attentiue be on hir
and for none other care.
You eies that woonted were
light louing lookes to cast,
I giue commaundment on hir hue
that yée be ankred fast.
Mine eares admit no sounde
ne Womans woords at all:
Be shut against such Syrens Songs
repleate with lurking gall.
Tongue sée that thou be tyde,
and vse no wanton stile:
By lawe of Loue I thee coniure
such toyes to exile.
Legges looke that yee be lame
when you should reache a place
To take the vewe of Venus Nymphes
Pees beautie to deface.
For such a one is shee
whome I would will you serue,
As to be plaste for Pallas péere
for wisedome may deserue.
So constant are hir lookes
and eakē as chaste a face:
As if that Lucrece liuing were
shée Lucrece would disgrace.
So modest is hir mirth
in erie time and tyde,
As they that prick most nearste of all
their shiuerde shafts are wyde.
Pause Pen a while therefore,
and vse thy woonted meane:
For Boccas braine, and Chaucers Quill
in this were foyled cleane.
Of both might neither boast
if they did liue againe:
For P. would put them to their shifts
to Pen hir vertues plaine.
Yet one thing will I vaunt
and after make an ende,
That Momus can not for his lyfe
deuise one iote to mende.
Thus to conclude at length,
sée thou (my Friend) pervse
This slender Verse, till leysure serue
abrode to bring my Muse.
For then you shall perceiue
by that which you shall sée,
That you haue made your choise as well
as I by choosing P.