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

When they left looking, for they lookt awhile,
First _Pyramus_, last _Thisbe_ gan to smile,
I was afraide, thus _Thisbe_ straight began:
Faint (he replied) a maid and feare a man?
I feard (quoth she) but now my feare is past.
Then welcome me (quoth _Pyramus_) at last.
Welcome (quoth she) and then she kist his lips,
And he from her, sweet _Nectar_ drops out sips:
She pats his lips, he puls her milke white skin.
Thus children sport, and thus true loue begins:
But they as children, not as louers gamed,
For loue (alas) twixt them was neuer named.

5

Oft would he take her by the lillie hand,
Cirkling her middle, straight as any wand,
And cast her downe, but let her lye alone,
For other pastime _Pyramus_ knew none.
Then vp she starts and takes him by the necke,
And for that fall giues _Pyramus_ a checke:
Yet at the length she chanst to cast him downe,
Though on the