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That y mot stonden in here grace:

For though me lacke to purchace

Here worthi thonk as by decerte,

Yit the symplesse of my poverte

Desireth forto do plesance

To hem undir whos governance

I hope siker to abide.

But now uppon my laste tide

That y this book have maad and write,

My muse doth me forto wite, 3140

And seith it schal be for my beste

Fro this day forth to take reste,

That y nomore of love make,

Which many an herte hath overtake,

And ovyrturnyd as the blynde

Fro reson in to lawe of kynde;

Wher as the wisdom goth aweie

And can nought se the ryhte weie

How to governe his oghne estat,

Bot everydai stant in debat 3150

Withinne him self, and can nought leve.

And thus forthy my final leve

I take now for evere more,

Withoute makynge any more,

Of love and of his dedly hele,

Which no phisicien can hele.

For his nature is so divers,

That it hath evere som travers

Or of to moche or of to lite,

That pleinly mai noman delite, 3160

Bot if him faile or that or this.

Bot thilke love which that is

Withinne a mannes herte affermed,

And stant of charite confermed,

Such love is goodly forto have,

Such love mai the bodi save,

Such love mai the soule amende,

The hyhe god such love ous sende

Forthwith the remenant of grace;

So that above in thilke place 3170

Wher resteth love and alle pes,

Oure joie mai ben endeles.

Explicit iste liber, qui transeat, obsecro liber,

Vt sine liuore vigeat lectoris in ore.

Qui sedet in scannis celi det vt ista lohannis

Perpetuis annis stet pagina grata Britannis,

Derbeie Comiti, recolunt quem laude periti,

Vade liber purus, sub eo requiesce futurus.

The End

THE WINTER’S TALE – Greene’s Poem

Pandosto: The Triumph of Time is a prose romance written by Robert Greene and first published in 1588. This work was popular during Shakespeare’s time and the plot inspired The Winter's Tale. The entire tale is provided below.

PANDOSTO.

THE TRIUMPH OF TIME.

Wherein is discouvred by a pleasant Historie, that although by the meanes of sinister fortune, Truth may be concealed yet by Time in spight of fortune it is most manifestly reuealed.

Pleasant for age to avoyde drowsie thoughtes, profitable for youth to eschue other wanton pastimes, and bringing to both a desired content.

Temporis filia veritas.

By Robert Greene, Maister of Artes in Cambridge.

Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci.

To the Gentlemen

Readers, health.

The paultring poet Aphranivs being blamed for troubling the Emperour Traian with so many doting Poems: aduentured notwithstanding, still to present him with rude and homely verses, excusing himselfe with the curtesie of the Emperour, which did as friendly accept, as he fondly offered. So Gentlemen, if anie condemne my rashnesse for trobling your eares with so many vnlearned Pamphlets: I will straight shroud my selfe vnder the shadow of your courtesies, and with Afranivs, lay the blame on you, as well for friendly reading them, as on my selfe for fondly penning them: Hoping though fond curious, or rather currish bacbiters, breath out slaunderour speeches: yet the courteous Readers (whom I feare to offend) will requite my trauile, at the least with silence: and in this hope I rest: wishing you health and happinesse.

Robert Greene.

To the Right Honovrable

George Clifford Earle of Cumberland,

Robert Greene wisheth increase

of honour and vertue.

The Rascians (right honourable) when by long gazing against the Sun, they became half blind, recover their sights by looking on the blacke Loade stone. Vnicornes being glutted with brousing on rootes of Lycoras, sharpen their stomacks with crushing bitter grasse.

Alexander vouchsafed as well to smile at the crooked picture of Vulcan, as to wonder at the curious counterfeite of Venus. The mind is sometimes delighted as much with small trifles as with sumptuous triumphs, and as well pleased with hearing of Pans homely fancies, as of Hercules renowmed labours.

Sillie Baucis could not serve Iupiter in a silver plate, but in a woodden dish. All that honour Esculapius, decke not his