Printed for _Roger Iackson_, and are to be sold at his shop neere Fleet Conduit. 1617. TO THE WORSHIPFVLL his veric friend, D.B.H. Dvnstan Gale, wisheth all happinesse. _The worthinesse (good Captaine) of your demerits, with the benefit of your friendly curtesies, incites mee to make profer vnto you of this my vnpolished Pamphlet, humbly intreating you to vouchsafe it acceptance, in that amongst many whom I haue knowne, I could finde none more meete for the patronizing it then your self. Which if it please you, I hope it wil be the better welcom to others for your sake: and if vnconstant fortune do but once more enable me for better, then shall you find a gratefull minde ready to requite you with a double guerdeon for your former kindnesse. Thus crauing pardon for this my rash attempt, I humbly take my leaue this_ 25. _of_ Nouember, 1596. _Your Worships euer devoted_, Dunstan Gale. 1 Neere to the place where _Nilus_ channels runne, There stood a town by loue long since vndone; For by a chance that hapned in the same, The town's forgot, & with the towne the name. Within which towne (for then it was a towne) Dwelt two commanders of no small renowne, Daughter to one, was _Thisbe_ smooth as glasse: Fairer then _Thisbe_ never woman was. Sonne to the other, _Pyramus_ the bright: Yong _Thisbes_ play-feare, _Thisbe_ his delight: Both firme in loue, as constant and were any, Both crost in loue, as proud Loue crosseth many. 2 For in the pride of sommers parching heat, When children play and dally in the street, Yong _Thisbe_ seuerd from the common sort, As gentle nurture lothes each rusticke sport, Went to an arbour, arbours then were greene, Where all alone, for feare she should be seene, She gatherd violets and the Damaske rose, And made sweet nosegaies, from the which she chose, One of the sweetest. Sweet were all the rest, But that which pleasd her wanton eye the best. And this (quoth she) shall be my true loues fauor: Her tender nonage did of true love sauor. 3 No sooner spake, but at her speech she blusht: For on the sudden _Pyramus_ in rusht, Hauing but newly cropt the spredding pine, And other branches that were greene and fine, Of which to passe his idle time away, The boy made wreaths and garlands that were gay, And spying _Thisbe_, _Thisbe_ made him start, And he her blush, so tender was her heart: She blusht, because another was so neere, He started, for to finde another there; Yet looking long, at last they knew each other, For why, they lov'd like sister and like brother. 4