Song. [Love a childe is ever crying]
Love a childe is ever crying,
Please him, and he strait is flying;
Give him, he the more is craving,
Never satisfi’d with having.
His desires have no measure,
Endlesse folly is he treasure:
What he promiseth, he breaketh,
Trust not one word that he speaketh.
Hee vowes nothing but false matter,
And to cousen you hee’l flatter:
Let him gain the hand, hee’l leave you,
And still glory to deceive you.
Hee will triumph in your wailing,
And yet cause be of your failing:
These his vertues are, and slighter
Are his guifts; his favours lighter.
Fathers are as firme in staying,
Wolves no fiercer in their praying.
As a childe then leave him crying,
Nor seek him so giv’n to flying.
Being past the paines of Love,
Freedome gladly seekes to move:
Sayes that Loves delights were pretty;
But to dwell in them twere pitty.
And yet truly sayes, that Love
Must of force in all hearts move:
But though his delights are pretty,
To dwell on them were a pitty.
Let Love slightly passe like Love,
Never let it too deepe move:
For though Loves delights are Pretty,
To dwell in them were great pitty.
Love no pity hath of Love,
Rather griefes then pleasures move:
So though his delights are pretty,
To dwell in them would be a pitty.
Those that like the smart of Love,
In them let it freely move:
Els though his delights are pretty,
Doe not dwell in them for pitty.
Line 10. cousen: defraud.
Line 17. staying: restraining (children).
