Classic Poem

It seemeth by this devise folowing, that Plasmos triumph was but a voluntarie invention: otherwise, if it had beene devised of any certaintie, his pleasures would a beene of longer continuaunce. Likewise it seemeth his lady Laymos, that he so highly commended, was in very deede as sayre as Flora, as faithful as Faustine, as loving as Layis, as meeke as Medea, as honest as Hellen, as constant as Cressed, and as modest as Maria Bianca; and therefore worthie of estimation. But digressing from the cause of the invention, for that the circumstances be long and not greatly materiall, the reader may vew the vanities of a number, who either bewitched with the outward blase of beautie, or blinded with the desire of riches (never examining the behaviour of their best beloved) hap well, or hap ill, adventure to marrie, who for the most part are haunted with Plasmos hard fortune, who pretily toucheth his Laymos inconstancie as followeth.
I dreaming once (me thought) dame Beautie bad me crave
The thing that fed my fancie best, and I the same should have.
My choice was quickly made, I beautie likt so well,
And yet I su'de my maistresse might her seemely selfe excell;
Who, smyling in her thought to see my small foresight,
Such one (quoth she) thou shalt injoy, make much of thy delight.
Unto which ende, forsooth, for Fortune straight she sought,
Who did present a sightly girle unto my wanton thought.
My promise is performde (quoth shee), sweete friend, adieu.
My fancie rendred forthwith thankes, as though it had beene true;
But when I wooke, and miste this passing lovely wight,
A murdred sighe the fancie checkte that raisde my late delight,
And fretting forth I goe, fonde fancies for to chase,
But loe! by Lady Fortune signde, I chaunst to spy thy face.
Then to my selfe I said, Cease, Plasmos, to be sad,
This is the dame thou didst possesse in dreame that earst thou had.
Acquaintance for to crave, adventrous boy, assay:
Thou wert not nise, ne I abasht my secretes to bewray;
I showde thee all and some what I in vision sawe,
Thou wart mine owne by beauties dome, unlesse thou scorndst her law.
My wordes did like thee well, or praises that I usde,
And smyling saidst, Dame Beauties hest must no wayes be abusde.
Thus after slender sute thou knowste whom I enjoyde,
But easily wonne, as soone thou wert, through sullon will accoyde,
And in thy wrangling rage I sawe thee raunge for newe:
I chafte, through sight, Dame Beautie blamd, cause Laymos was not true;
Which soone I did recant, and yeelded for to have
My sute performde at Beauties hands, in forme as I did crave.
I askst a gallant gyrle, which vaild at first assault:
I askte no faith, no none I found, in whom was then the fault?
In him who now will learne to make his match more sure,
And as for thee, thou dost but kinde to stoupe to every lure.