odd off-rhymes such as
"forth" and "mouth" (p. 5), "vaines" and "streames" (p. 6), "either"
and "fairer" (p. 8).

A
PLEASANT
AND DELIGHTFVLL
POEME OF
two Louers,
PHILOS
and
_LICIA_.

LONDON

Printed by _W. S._ for _Iohn Smethwick_, and are to bee
sold at his Shop in Saint _Dunstanes_ Church-yard in
Fleete-streete, vnder the Dyall.
1624.

To the Reader

_Gentlemen; hauing beene (with the ouerthrow giuen to my best opposed
forces) violently taken with the ouerflowing delights of
hart-rauishing Poesie, the common infection of easie youth, and
commending manie idle houres to these papers, and these to the Presse,
I commit both to your fauorable censures. In which, if there be any
thing (yet I feare I am not to attend so high a blisfulnesse) which
may yeeld you the least content, my fortune hath brought forth the
intended end of my labours, and I desire no other happinesse._

PHILOS AND LICIA.

No sooner had the Sun chas'd night away,
And that the Worlds discouerer, bright-eyd day,
Poasting in triumph through the enameld skie,
Had to the people showne this victorie,
But that poore _Philos_ (in himselfe forlorne)
Hasted to tell his Loue that it was morne.
The milke-white path that leadeth vnto _Ioue_,
Whereon the Gods continually doe moue,
Compar'd with that, which leadeth to her bed,
Was not so white, nor so enameled.
A paire of milke-white staires, whiter than white,
Was the next way vnto his chiefe delight:
Vp those he mounted; and as by he paste,
Vpon a wall were sundry stories plaste:
Sweet weeping _Venus_, crying out amaine
For the dear boy that by the bore was slaine:
Skie-ruling _Ioue_ lamenting ore a Cow,
That seemd to weepe with him the sweetest _Io_:
And there the picture of proud _Phaeton_,
Mounting the chariot of the burning Sun,
Was portraied, by which _Apollo_ stood,
Who seemd to check his hot sonnes youthful blood:
One hand had holde, and one legge was aduanst,
To climbe his longing seat; but yet it chanst,
That warned by his father so, he staid
A while, to heare whose teeres might well perswade;
Which with such plenty answerd his desires,
As though they striu'd to quench ensuing fires:
Hanging so liuely on the painted wall,
That standers by haue sought to make them fall.
The chamber, where his hearts delight did lie,
Was all behung with richest Tapistrie;
Where Troies ore