The Complete Works of Thomas Lodge [Ed. by Sir E.W. Gosse]. Volume 1 (Paperback)

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. 1883 Excerpt: ...And fpying me, gan rowfe her heauie head, And praide me pen her fad and heauie chance, And fhe recounted it that prefent fted, I did agree, and graunting Truth me fed With thefe reportes, which I fet downe in vearfe, Which greeues my Mufe for forrowes to rehearfe. Whilome (deere friend) it was my chaunce to dwell, Within an Hand compaft with the waue, A fafe defence a forren foe to quell. Once Albion cald, next Britaiiie Brutus gaue, Now England hight, a plot of beautie braue, Which onely foyle, fhould feeme the feate to bee, Of Paradife, if it from finne were free. Within this place, within this facred plot, I firft did frame, my firft contented bower, There found I peace and plentie for to float, There iuftice rulde, and fhinde in euerie ftowre, There was I lou'de and fought too euerie howre, Their Prince content with plainneffe loued Truth, And pride by abftinence was kept from youth. Then flew not fafhions euerie daie from Fraunce, Then fought not Nobles nouells from a farre, Then land was kept, not hazarded by chaunce, Then quiet minde preferud the foile from iarre, Cloth kept out colde, the poore releeued were. This was the ftate, this was the luckie ftowre, While Truth in England kept her ftately bowre. Iuftice did neuer looke with partiall eyes, Demoflhenes was neuer dum for golde, The Princes eares were ope to pefants cries, And falfe fufpeft was charely kept in holde, Religion flourifht, liuings were not folde For lucre then, but giuen by defart, And each receiu'd, & preacht with zealous hart. Then learning was the Loadftone of the land, Then huf bandman was free from fhiftes of lawe, Then faithfull promife ftoode in fteed of band, The Drones from bufie Bee no Mel could drawe, Then loue, not fe...