Tudor and Stuart Love Songs — Robert Greene

FAIR SAMELA.

Like to Diana in her summer weed, Girt with a crimson robe of brightest dye, Goes fair Samela;

Whiter than be the flocks that straggling feed, When wash'd by Arethusa's fount they lie, Is fair Samela;

As fair Aurora in her morning gray, Deck'd with the ruddy glister of her love, Is fair Samela;

Like lovely Thetis on a calmed day, Whenas her brightness Neptune's fancy move, Shines fair Samela;

Her tresses gold, her eyes like glassy streams, Her teeth are pearl, the breasts are ivory Of fair Samela;

Her cheeks, like rose and lily, yield forth gleams, Her brows, bright arches fram'd of ebony;

Thus fair Samela Passeth fair Venus in her bravest hue, And Juno in the show of majesty, (For she's Samela!

) Pallas in wit,--all three, if you well view, For beauty, wit, and matchless dignity Yield to Samela.

Robert Greene.

KINDS OF LOVE.

Foolish love is only folly;

Wanton love is too unholy;

Greedy love is covetous;

Idle love is frivolous;

But the gracious love is it That doth prove the work of wit.

Beauty but deceives the eye;

Flattery leads the ear awry;

Wealth doth but enchant the wit;

Want, the overthrow of it;

While in Wisdom's worthy grace, Virtue sees the sweetest face.

There hath Love found out his life, Peace without all thought of strife;

Kindness in Discretion's care;

Truth, that clearly doth declare Faith doth in true fancy prove, Lust the excrements of Love.

Then in faith may fancy see How my love may construed be;

How it grows and what it seeks;

How it lives and what it likes;

So in highest grace regard it, Or in lowest scorn discard it.

Robert Greene.

LOVE AND BEAUTY.

Pretty twinkling starry eyes, How did Nature first devise Such a sparkling in your sight As to give Love such delight, As to make him like a fly, Play with looks until he die?

Sure ye were not made at first For such mischief to be curst;

As to kill Affection's care That doth only truth declare;

Where worth's wonders never wither, Love and Beauty live together.

Blessed eyes, then give your blessing, That in passion's best expressing;

Love that only lives to grace ye, May not suffer pride deface ye;

But in gentle thought's directions Show the power of your perfections.

Robert Greene.