Thou ioy'st, fond boy, to be by many loued
by Thomas Campion

Thou ioy'st, fond boy, to be by many loued :
To haue thy beauty of most dames approued ;
For this dost thou thy natiue worth disguise
And play'st the Sycophant t' obserue their eyes ;
    Thy glass thou councel'st more t'adorne thy skin,
    That first should schoole thee to be fayre within.

'Tis childish to be caught with Pearle, or Amber,
And woman-like too much to cloy the chamber ;
Youths should the Field affect, heate their rough Steedes,
Their hardned nerues to fit for better deedes.
    Is 't not more ioy strong Holds to force with swords
    Than womens weaknesse take with lookes or words?

Men that doe noble things all purchase glory :
One man for one braue Act haue prou'd a story :
But if that one tenne thousand Dames o'ercame,
Who would record it, if not to his shame?
    'Tis farre more conquest with one to liue true
    Then euery houre to triumph Lord of new.


Source:
Campion, Thomas. Campion's Works. Percival Vivian, Ed.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1909. 176.


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Created by Anniina Jokinen on October 17, 2001.
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Campion: Lute Music