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  • Title: Fair Em (Quarto 1, 1593)
  • Editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
  • ISBN:

    Copyright Digital Renaissance Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: Anonymous
    Editor: Brett Greatley-Hirsch
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Fair Em (Quarto 1, 1593)

    The Millers daughter
    Our harmeles liues, which ledd in greater port
    105Would be an enuious obiect to our foes,
    That seeke to roote all Britaines Gentrie
    From bearing countenance against their tyrannie.
    Em. Good Father let my full resolued thoughts,
    With setled patiens to support this chaunce
    110Be some poore comfort to your aged soule:
    For therein restes the height of my estate,
    That you are pleased with this deiection,
    And that all toyles my hands may vndertake,
    May serue to worke your worthines content.
    115Miller. Thankes my deere Daughter: these thy plesant words
    Transferre my soule into a second heauen:
    And in thy setled minde, my ioyes consist,
    My state reuyued and I in former plight.
    Although our outward pomp be thus abased,
    120And thralde to drudging, stay lesse of the world,
    Let vs retaine those honorable mindes
    Thar lately gouerned our superior state.
    Wherein true gentrie is the only meane
    That makes vs differ from base millers borne:
    125Though we expect no knightly delicates,
    Nor thirst in soule for former soueraintie.
    Yet may our myndes as highly scorne to stoope
    To base desires of vulgars worldlynes,
    As if we were in our presedent way.
    130And louely daughter, since thy youthfull yeares
    Must needes admit as yong affections:
    And that sweete loue vnpartiall perceiues
    Her daintie subiects through euery part,
    In chiefe receiue these lessons from my lippes.
    135The true discouerers of a Virgins due
    Now requisite, now that I know thy mynde
    Somthing enclynde to fauour Manuils sute,
    A gentleman, thy Louer in protest:
    And that thou maist not be by loue deceiued,
    But