Let me advise, when next you do bestow Your pains on men that do but little know, You do no Chorus nor a comment lack, Which may expound and construe ev'ry Act: 20 That it be short and slight; for if 't be good Tis long, and neither lik'd nor understood. Know 'tis Court fashion still to discommend All that which they want brain to comprehend. [_To his Friends of Christ Church._] The occasion of this piece was one of those 'sorrowful chances' which befall those who endeavour to please kings, whatever their name. 'The play' was Barton Holyday's _Technogamia_, and the 'misliking' (James actually 'offered' to go away twice, though, being a good-natured person, he was persuaded to sit it out) is chronicled by Antony Wood under the author's name. It had been acted with great applause in the House itself, and two of King's younger brothers were among the performers. Also the 'frost' was made more unkind by the success at Cambridge of Ruggles's _Ignoramus_. So King's spleen, if unwise, was not quite unmotived. The date was August, 1621.] [Line: 14 There is no probable reference to Malvolio, despite the association of 'cross-garter'd' and 'Puritan'; but the tone of the passage enables one to some extent to understand why the Puritan party conceived themselves to be deserted by King.] _The Surrender._ My once dear Love! hapless that I no more Must call thee so; the rich affection's store That fed our hopes, lies now exhaust and spent, Like sums of treasure unto bankrupts lent. We, that did nothing study but the way To love each other, with which thoughts the day Rose with delight to us, and with them, set, Must learn the hateful art, how to forget. We, that did nothing wish that Heav'n could give, Beyond ourselves, nor did desire to live 10 Beyond that wish, all these now cancel must, As if not writ in faith, but words and dust. Yet witness those clear vows which lovers make, Witness the chaste desires that never brake Into unruly heats; witness that breast Which in thy bosom anchor'd his whole rest, 'Tis no default in us; I dare acquite Thy maiden faith, thy purpose fair and white, As thy pure self. Cross planets did envy Us to each other, and Heaven did untie 20 Faster than vows could bind. O that the stars, When lovers meet, should stand oppos'd in wars! Since then some higher Destinies command, Let us not strive nor labour to withstand What is past help. The longest date of grief Can never yield a hope of our relief; And though we waste ourselves in moist laments, Tears may drown us, but not our discontents.