THE POEMS OF ISABELLA WHITNEY: A CRITICAL EDITION by ...

Some Zoylus sot, will thinke it lightly doone.
Because I mone, my mate, and louer, so
Some Momus match, this scroule will ouerronne.
But loue is lawlesse, euery wight doth know:
Sith loue doth lend mee such a freendly scope,
Disdaynfull dogs I may despise (I hope)
Wherfore I doo, attempt so much the more.
By this good hope, to shew my slender arte:
And mourne I must (who) neuer marckt before.
What fretting force doo holde eche heauy hart:
But now I see that Gruffithes greedy graue.
Doth make mee feele, the fits which louers
(haue.
My mournfull Muse, (good Ladyes) take in worth.
And spare to speake the worst, but iudge the best:
For this is all, that I dare publish forth.
The rest recorded is, within my brest:
And there is lodg'd, for euer to remayne.
Till God doth graunt (by death) to ease my
(payne.
And when that death is come to pay her due.
With all the paynes, that shee can well inuent:
Yet to my Gruffith, will I still be true.
Hap death, holde life, my minde is fully bent:
Before I will our secret loue disclose.
To Tantals paynes, my body I dispose.
So liue I shall, when death hath spit her spight,
And Lady (Fame) will spread my prayse I know:
And Cupids Knights, will neuer cease to write.
And cause my name, through (Europe) for to flow:
And they that know what (Cupid) can preuayle,
Will blesse the ship, that floates with such a
(sayle.
If I had part of Pallas learned skill.
Or if (Caliope) would lend her ayde:
By tracte of time, great volumes I would fill.
My Gruffithes prayse in wayling verse to spread:
But (I poore I) as I haue sayd before,
Doo wayle, to want, Mineruaes learned lore.
By helpe (I hope) these ragged rymes shall goe,
Entituled as louers lyues should bee:
And scape the chyding chaps of euery foe,
To prayse that man, who was best likte of mee:
XXXI