Green pastures; being choice extracts from the works of Robert Greene, M.A., of both universities, 1560(?)-1592

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 Excerpt: ... rule and govern all the gods: I say Love, Inconstant Love, Sets men's senses far at odds. Some swear Love, Smooth-fac'd Love, Is sweetest sweet that men can have: I say Love, Sour Love, Makes Virtue yield as Beauty's slave: A bitter sweet, a folly worst of all, That forceth Wisdom to be Folly's thrall. Love sweet: Wherein sweet? In fading pleasures that do pain. Beauty sweet: Is that sweet, That yieldeth sorrow for a gain? If Love's sweet, Herein sweet, That minutes' joys are monthly woes: 'Tis not sweet, That is sweet Nowhere but where repentance grows: Then love who list, if Beauty be so sour; Labour for me, Love rest in prince's bower. (' Menaphon ' 1589, vi., pp. 41, 42.) LO VE ( = Cupid as child). Fond, feigning poets make of love a god, And leave the laurel for the myrtle-boughs When Cupid is a child not past the rod, And fair Diana Daphne most allows: I'll wear the bays, and call the wag a boy, And think of love but as a foolish toy. Some give him bow and quiver at his back; Some make him blind to aim without advice; When, naked wretch, such feathered bolts he lack And sight he hath, but cannot wrong the wise; For use but labour's weapon for defence, And Cupid, like a coward, flieth thence. Love. He's god in Court, but cottage calls him child; And Vesta's virgins with their holy fires Do cleanse the thoughts that fancy hath defiled, And burn the palace of his fond desires; With chaste disdain they scorn the foolish god, And prove him but a boy not past the rod. ('Ciceronis Amor' 1589, vii., p. 136.) r LOPE'S TREACHERY Cupid abroad was 'lated in the night, His wings were wet with ranging in the rain; Harbour he sought, to me he took his flight, To dry his plumes: I heard the boy complain; I oped the door, and granted his desire; I rose myself, and ma...