O little fish, what hap hadst thou, to have such spiteful fate! To come into one's cruel hands, out of so happy state. Thou didst suspect no harm, when thou upon the bait didst look: O that thou hadst had LYNCEUS's eyes, for to have seen the hook! Then hadst thou, with thy pretty mates, been playing in the streams; Where as Sir PHŒBUS daily doth shew forth his golden beams. But sith thy fortune is so ill to end thy life on shore; Of this, thy most unhappy end, I mind to speak no more. But of thy fellow's chance that late such pretty shift did make That he, from fisher's hook did sprint before he could him take. And now he pries on every bait, suspecting still that prick For to lie hid in everything, wherewith the fishers strike. And since the fish, that reason lacks, once warnèd, doth beware: Why should not we take heed to that that turneth us to care. And I, who was deceivèd late by one's unfaithful tears, Trust now for to beware, if that I live this hundred years. IS. W. FINIS. A Love Letter, or an earnest persuasion of a Lover, sent, of late, to a young Maiden; to whom he was betrothed: Who, afterward, being overcome with flattery, she seemed utterly to swerve from her former promise, without occasion; and so to forsake him. By W. G. [Illustration] W. G. _A Love Letter sent from a faithful Lover, to an unconstant Maiden._ AS duty wills, so Nature moves thy friend these lines to write Wherein thy fraud, O faithless Thou! I mind to bring to light. Can plightèd faith, so firmly plight, without desert be moved? Or should the man that faithful is, so slenderly be loved? Should hate his guerdon thus remain in place of thy goodwill? Should rigour reign within thy breast, to vanquish reason's skill? Should faith, to falsehood so be changed? alas, the greater ruth, When double dealing is preferred before the perfect truth! If case such hap as recompense unto your friend you yield, What bulwark canst thou claim 'gainst GOD thyself to shield? Can they that sit in hau[gh]ty heavens, such covert guilt abide? Or are they partial now, deemst thou? is Justice thrown aside? Nay, just are they, and justice still, as just, they justly use: And unto them, as guiltless then, canst thou thyself excuse? No, no; not so, for they behold thy double deeds, be sure! No forgèd style, nor flatt'ring phrase, their favour may allure. No gifts, no gold, can them corrupt; such justice there doth reign: And they that disobey their 'hests, are subject unto pain.