The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Choise of Valentines; Or the Merie Ballad of Nash His Dildo, by Thomas Nash and John Stephen Farmer

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at https://www.gutenberg.org/license. If you are not located in the United States, you’ll have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The Choise of Valentines; Or the Merie Ballad of Nash His Dildo

Author: Thomas Nash and John Stephen Farmer

Release Date: February 16, 2006 [EBook #17779]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ***

[Transcriber's Note: Line notes have been moved to the end of each poem from their places on the individual pages to aid in the flow of the poems.]

OR THE MERIE BALLAD OF

NASH HIS DILDO

[BY THOMAS NASH]

[From MSS. Copies in the

Inner Temple (Petyt MS. 538, Vol. 43,

f. viii., 295 b, circa 1680) and Bodleian

(Rawl. MS. Poet 216, leaves 96-106,

circa 1610-20) Libraries]

EDITED BY

JOHN S. FARMER

LONDON

[PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY]

MDCCCXCIX

INTRODUCTION.

Nash's "CHOISE OF VALENTINES" has apparently come down to us only in manuscript form. It is extremely doubtful (Oldys notwithstanding[a]), whether the poem was ever before accorded the dignity of print. Nor would it now be deemed worthy of such were the only considerations those of literary merit or intrinsic value: truth to tell there is little of either to recommend it. But, as it has been repeatedly said, and well insisted on, the world cannot afford to lose any "document" whatsoever which bears, or may bear, in the slightest degree, on the story of its own growth and development, and out of which its true life has to be written. Especially is even the meanest Elizabethan of importance and value in relation to the re-construction—still far from complete—of the life and times of the immortal bard of Avon. In the most unlikely quarters a quarry may yet be found from which the social historian may obtain a valuable sidelight on manners and customs, the philologist a new lection or gloss, or the antiquary a solution to some, as yet, unsolved problem.

"The Choise of Valentines" claims attention, and is of value principally on two grounds, either of which, it is held, should amply justify the more permanent preservation[page viii] now accorded this otherwise insignificant production. In the first place, it appears to have been dedicated to the Earl of Southampton, the generous patron of letters, and friend of Shakspeare; and second, it is probably the only example extant of the kind of hackwork to which Nash was frequently reduced by "the keenest pangs of poverty."[b] He confesses he was often obliged "to pen unedifying toys for gentlemen." When Harvey denounced him for "emulating Aretino's licentiousness" he admitted that poverty had occasionally forced him to prostitute his pen "in hope of gain" by penning "amorous Villanellos and Quipasses for new-fangled galiards and newer Fantisticos." In fact, he seems rarely to have known what it was to be otherwise than the subject of distress and need. As an example of these "unedifying toys" the present poem may, without much doubt, be cited, and an instance in penning which his "hope of gain" was realised.

It is a matter of history that Nash sought, and succeeded in obtaining for a time, the patronage of the Earl of Southampton, one of the most liberal men of his day, and a prominent figure in the declining years of Elizabeth. "I once tasted," Nash writes in 1593,[c] "the full spring of the Earl's liberality." Record is also made of a visit paid by him to Lord Southampton and Sir George Carey, while the former was Governor, and the latter Captain-General, of the Isle of Wight.

From internal evidence it would seem that this poem was called forth by the Earl's bounty to its author. "My[page ix] muse devorst from deeper (the Rawl. MS. reads deepest) care, presents thee with a wanton elegie;" and further on, the dedication promises "better lines" which should "ere long" be penned in "honour" of his noble patron. This promise is renewed in the epilogue:—

"My mynde once purg'd of such lascivious witt,

With purifide words and hallowed verse,

Thy praises in large volumes shall rehearse,

That better maie thy grauer view befitt."

Does this refer to "The Unfortunate Traveller; or, The Life of Jack Wilton," generally regarded as Nash's most ambitious work, and which he dedicated to Lord Southampton in 1593? If so, and there is no evidence to gainsay the conclusion, we can fix the date of the present poem as, at all events, prior to 17th September of that year, when "The Unfortunate Traveller" was entered on the Stationers' Register.[d] This would make Nash contemporaneous, if not prior to, Shakspeare in offering a tribute to the merits of the young patron (Southampton at that time was barely twenty years old) of the Muses. Venus and Adonis was entered on the Register of the Stationers' Company about five months earlier, on the[page x] 18th April, 1593, and barely more than two months prior to the registration of "The Terrors of the Night."

It is curious to note that while Shakspeare and Nash both promise "graver work" and "better lines," they alike select amatory themes for their first offerings. The promise in Shakspeare's case was redeemed by the dedication to Southampton of "The Rape of Lucreece," while it may be assumed, as aforesaid, that Nash followed suit with "The Unfortunate Traveller."

Nash, however, for some cause or other failed to retain the Earl's interest; "indeed," says Mr. Sidney Lee, "he did not retain the favour of any patron long." It is only fair to state, however, that the withdrawal of Lord Southampton's patronage may not have been due to any fault or shortcoming on the part of Nash, for there is likewise no evidence whatever to show that any close intimacy existed between Southampton and Shakspeare after 1594. Probably there was much else to claim Lord Southampton's attention—his marriage, and the Essex rebellion to wit. This, however, leads somewhat wide of the present work.

So much for the circumstances which appear to have called forth "The Choise of Valentines." The next consideration is, Has it ever appeared in print before? Oldys, in his MS. notes to Langbaine's English Dramatic Poets (c. 1738) says:—"Tom Nash certainly wrote and published a pamphlet upon Dildos. He is accused of it by his antagonist, Harvey." But he was writing nearly 150 years after the event, and it is certainly very strange that a production which it can be shown was well known[page xi] should, if printed, have so entirely disappeared. At all events, no copy is at present known to exist.[e] John Davies of Hereford alludes to it, but leaves it uncertain whether its destruction occurred in MS. or in print. In his "Papers Complaint"[f] he writes:—

But O! my soule is vext to thinke how euill

It is abus'd to beare suits to the Deuill.

Pierse-Pennilesse (a Pies eat such a patch)

Made me (agree) that business once dispatch.

And having made me vndergo the shame,

Abusde me further, in the Deuills name:

And made [me] Dildo (dampned Dildo) beare,

Till good men's hate did me in peeces teare.

As regards the manuscript copies there are one or two points worthy of note. At present we know of two, more or less incomplete, but each of which supplements, in some degree, the other. These MSS. are respectively in the Bodleian (Rawl. MS. Poet, 216) and the Inner Temple (Petyt MS. 538, vol. 43, p. viii., 295b.) libraries. Both texts are obviously corrupt, the Rawlinson abominably so. Probably the former was written out from memory alone, while the Petyt, if not a transcript direct from the original is, at any rate, very near to it.

The Bodleian version is written on paper in a small oblong leather-covered book, originally with clasps. The penmanship is early 17th century, probably about 1610-20. It is thus catalogued:— ..."E libris Matt.[page xii] Postlethwayt, Aug. 1, 1697. Perhaps (earlier) Henry Price owned the book." The volume contains besides an English transcript of Ovid's "Arte Amandis" and some amatory poems.[g] The date of the Petyt text may be about.... It is written in a miscellaneous, folio, commonplace-book, and in the catalogue it is described as "an obscene poem, entitled 'The Choosing of Valentines,' by Thomas Nash. The first 17 lines are printed at p. lx. of the Preface to vol i. of Mr. Grosart's edition of Nash's works, as if they formed the whole piece."[h]

Nothing is known of Postlethwayt and Price, who at one time owned the Rawlinson copy, that throws light on its source. In the Petyt, however, we get a suppositional explanation of its manifestly purer text. Petyt, subsequent to his call to the Bar, in 1670, was for many years Keeper of the Records in the Tower of London. Now we know that Lord Essex, an intimate friend and connection of the Earl of Southampton, and like Southampton a generous and discerning patron of letters, was for some time in the "free custody" of the Lord Keeper of the Tower. Further, Southampton, who had joined Essex in his rebellion, had been tried and convicted with his friend, and though the Queen spared his life, he was not released from the Tower until the ascension of James I. It is not unlikely, therefore, that a copy of Nash's manuscript made for Lord Essex passed, on the execution[page xiii] of the latter, with other papers and documents, into the official custody of the Lord Keeper, to be subsequently unearthed by his successor, Petyt, who, with a taste for the "curious," had it copied for his own edification. This supposition is further borne out as follows: The particular commonplace book in which this poem occurs has been written by various hands. In the same handwriting as, and immediately preceding "The Choise of Valentines," are two poetical effusions dedicated "To the Earl of Essex," both apparently written when he was in prison and under sentence of death. The other contents of the volume are likewise contemporaneous.

All things considered, then, the Petyt text, although transcribed about fifty years later, has weightier claims to attention than the version in the Rawlinson MSS. I have, therefore, adopted the former as a basis, giving the Rawlinson variations in the form of notes. A few of these are obviously better readings than those of the Petyt text: the reader cannot fail to distinguish these. In the main, however, the Inner Temple version will be found consistent with its particular dedication, whilst the Rawlinson variations appear due to an attempt, signally unsuccessful, to adapt the poem for general use.

For the rest I have faithfully adhered to the original in the basic text, and in the variorum readings, except in one particular. The Rawlinson MS. is altogether guiltless of punctuation, while the Petyt copy has been carelessly "stopped" by the scribe: I have therefore given modern punctuation.

J.S.F.

FOOTNOTES

a   See page x.

b   Have with you to Saffron Walden, iii., 44.

c   Terrors of the Night.

d   It is true that Nash, in his dedication of the "Unfortunate Traveller," speaks of it as his "first offering." This, however, must be taken rather as meaning his first serious effort in acknowledgment of his patron's bounty, for in "The Terrors of the Night" (registered on the 30th June, 1593), he somewhat effusively acknowledges his indebtedness to Lord Southampton:—"Through him my tender wainscot studie doore is delivered from much assault and battrie: through him I looke into, and am looked on in the world: from whence otherwise I were a wretched banished exile. Through him all my good is conueighed vnto me; and to him all my endeavours shall be contributed as to the ocean." Again, as evidence that Nash had addressed himself to Southampton prior to his dedication of "The Unfortunate Traveller," we glean from his promise ("Terrors of the Night") "to embroyder the rich store of his eternal renoune" in "some longer Tractate."

e   At the same time it must be stated that the scandal of the controversy between Nash and Harvey became so notorious that in 1599 it was ordered by authority "that all Nashes books and Dr. Harvey's books be taken wheresoever they may be found and that none of the said books be ever printed hereafter" (COOPER, Athenæ Cant. ii. 306).

f   Davies [Grosart, Works (1888) 1-75, lines 64-72.]

g  These have been incorporated in "National Ballad and Song" (Section 2, Merry Songs and Ballads, Series 1).

h   This is not quite correct. The title in the MS. runs "The Choise of Valentines," and Dr. Grosart purports to give the first eighteen lines, but in transcription he has omitted line 4.

[page 1]

TO THE RIGHT

honorable the Lord S.[a]

ardon, sweete flower of Matchles° poetrie,

And fairest bud the red rose euer bare°;

Although my Muse, devorst from deeper care°,

4

Presents thee with° a wanton Elegie.

[page 2]

Ne° blame my verse of loose unchastitie

For painting forth the things that hidden are°,

Since all men acte what I in speache declare,

8

Onlie induced with varietie°.

Complants and praises° euery one can write,

And passion out their pangu's in statlie rimes°;

But of loues pleasures none did euer write°,

12

That have succeeded in theis latter times°.

Accept of it, Deare Lord°, in gentle gree,

And better lynes, ere long°, shall honor thee.

NOTES

a   Henry Wriothesley, the Earl of Southampton, and Baron of Titchfield. The dedication is absent in the Rawlinson text: cf. variorum reading in line 13.

1   Matchles, machles.

2   the red rose euer bare, that euer red rose bare.

3   devorst from deeper care, diuert from deepest care. Nash was notoriously impecunious all through his life, and probably reference is here made to some bounty received at the hands of Lord Southampton (see Introduction). What patronage meant at times is gleaned from Florio's dedication of The Worlde of Wordes in 1598 to the same nobleman. He says:—"In truth I acknowledge an entire debt, not only of my best knowledge, but of all; yea, of more than I know, or care, to your bounteous lordship, in whose pay and patronage I have lived some years.... But, as to me, and many more, the glorious and gracious sunshine of your honour hath infused light and life." Rowe also tells a story of Lord Southampton's munificence to Shakspeare. It is said that he gave the poet £1,000 (equal to £12,000 now-a-days) to complete a special purchase. Whether this story be true or not, it is certain that Lord Southampton was a most liberal patron of letters.

4   Presents thee with, Presentes you with.

5   "Ne" = Nor, A.S.; unchastitie, inchastitye.

6   painting, paynting; things, thinges; hidden are, hidden be.

7 & 8   In Rawl. MS. these lines are transposed. Since all men act, sith most men marke; speache declare, speech descrie; Onlie, only; varietie, varyetye.

9   Complants and praises euery one, Complayntes & prayses every man.

10   passion out, passion forth; their pangu's, there loue; statlie rimes, statly rime.

11   pleasures none, pleasure non; euer write, e're indite.

12   theis latter times, this latter time.

13   Deare Lord, deare loue. A significant reading in view of the absence of the dedication in the Rawl. MS. "Accept ... in gentle gree," to take kindly.

14   And better lynes ere long, And better farr, ere long (see Introduction).

[page 3]

THE CHOOSING°

OF VALENTINES.

t was the merie moneth of Februarie,

When yong men, in their iollie roguerie°,

Rose earelie in the morne fore° breake of daie,

4

To seeke them valentines soe trimme and gaie°;

With whom they maie consorte in summer sheene°,

And dance the haidegaies° on our toune-greene,

As alas at Easter°, or at Pentecost,

8

Perambulate° the fields that flourish most;

[page 4]

And goe to som village abbordring° neere,

To taste the creame and cakes° and such good cheere;

Or° see a playe of strange moralitie,

12

Shewen by Bachelrie of Maningtree°.

Where to, the contrie franklins° flock-meale swarme,

And Jhon and Jone com° marching arme in arme.

Euen on the hallowes of that blessed Saint°

16

That doeth true louers° with those ioyes acquaint,

I went, poore pilgrime, to my ladies° shrine,

To see if she would be my valentine°;

But woe, alass°, she was not to be found,

20

For she was shifted to an upper° ground:

Good Justice Dudgeon-haft, and crab-tree face°,

With bills and staues had scar'd hir° from the place;

[page 5]

And now she was compel'd, for Sanctuarie°,

24

To flye unto a house of venerie°.

Thither went I, and bouldlie made enquire°

If they had hackneis° to lett-out to hire,

And what they crau'd°, by order of their trade,

28

To lett one ride a iournie on a iade.

Therwith out stept a foggy three-chinnd dame°,

That us'd to take yong° wenches for to tame,

And ask't° me if I ment as I profest,

32

Or onelie ask't° a question but in iest.

"In iest?" quoth I; "that terme it° as you will;

I com for game, therefore give me my Jill°."

"Why Sir," quoth shee, "if that be your demande°,

36

Com, laye me a Gods-pennie° in my hand;

[page 6]

For, in our oratorie siccarlie°,

None enters heere, to doe his nicarie°,

But he must paye his offertorie° first,

40

And then, perhaps, wee'le° ease him of his thirst."

I, hearing hir° so ernest for the box,

Gave hir hir° due, and she the dore unlocks.

In am I entered:° "venus be my speede!

44

But where's this female° that must do this deed"?

By blinde meanders, and by crankled° wayes,

Shee leades me onward, (as my Aucthor saies°),

Vntill we came within a shadie° loft

48

Where venus bounsing vestalls skirmish° oft;

And there shee sett me in a leather chaire°,

And brought me forth, of prettie Trulls°, a paire,

[page 7]

To chuse of them which might content myne° eye;

52

But hir I sought, I could nowhere espie°.

I spake them faire, and wisht them° well to fare—

"Yet° soe yt is, I must haue fresher ware;

Wherefore, dame Bawde, as daintie as you bee°,

56

Fetch gentle mistris Francis forth to° me."

"By Halliedame°," quoth she, "and Gods oune mother,

I well perceaue you are a wylie° brother;

For if there be a morsell of more° price,

60

You'll smell it out, though I be nare so° nice.

As you desire, so shall you swiue with hir°,

But think, your purse-strings shall abye-it deare°;

For, he that will eate quailes must lauish crounes°,

64

And Mistris Francis, in her veluett gounes°,

And ruffs and perwigs as fresh as Maye°,

Can not be kept with half a croune° a daye."

[page 8]

"Of price, good hostess°, we will not debate,

68

Though° you assize me at the highest rate;

Onelie conduct me to this bonnie° bell.

And tenne good gobbs I will unto thee tell°,

Of golde or siluer, which shall lyke thee° best,

72

So much doe I hir companie° request."

Awaie° she went: so sweete a thing is golde,

That (mauger) will inuade° the strongest holde.

"Hey-ho! she coms, that hath my hearte in keepe°

76

Sing Lullabie, my cares, and falle a-sleepe°."

Sweeping she coms°, as she would brush the ground;

Hir ratling silkes my sences doe confound°.

"Oh, I am rauisht: voide the chamber streight°;

80

For I must neede's upon hir° with my weight."

[page 9]

"My Tomalin," quoth shee, and then she smilde°.

"I, I," quoth I, "soe more men are beguild°

With smiles, with flatt'ring wordes, and fained cheere°,

84

When in their deedes their falsehood doeth appeare°."

"As how, my lambkin," blushing, she replide°,

"Because I in this dancing° schoole abide?

If that it be, that breede's this° discontent,

88

We will remoue the camp° incontinent:

For shelter onelie, sweete heart, came° I hither,

And to auoide the troblous stormie° weather;

But now the coaste is cleare, we will° be gonne,

92

Since, but thy self, true louer° I haue none."

With that she sprung full lightlie to my lips°,

And fast about the neck me colle's, and clips°;

[page 10]

She wanton faints°, and falle's vpon hir bedd,

96

And often tosseth° too and fro hir head;

She shutts hir eyes°, and waggles with her tongue:

"Oh, who is able to abstaine so long?°"

"I com! I com! sweete lyning be° thy leaue:"

100

Softlie my fingers up theis curtaine heaue°,

And make me happie, stealing by degreese°.

First bare hir leggs, then creepe up to hir kneese°;

From thence ascend unto her mannely° thigh—

104

(A pox on lingring when I am so° nighe!).

Smock, climbe° a-pace, that I maie see my ioyes;

Oh heauen and paradize are all° but toyes

Compar'd with this sight I now° behould,

108

Which well might keepe a man from being olde.

A prettie rysing wombe without a weame°,

That shone as bright as anie siluer streame°;

[page 11]

And bare out like the bending of an° hill,

112

At whose decline a fountaine dwelleth still°;

That hath his mouth besett with uglie bryers°,

Resembling much a duskie nett of wyres°;

A loftie buttock, barrd with azure veines°,

116

Whose comelie swelling, when my hand distreines°,

Or wanton checketh with a harmlesse stype°,

It makes the fruites of loue oftsoone° be rype,

And pleasure pluckt too tymelie from the stemme°

120

To dye ere it hath seene Jerusalem°.

O Gods! that euer anie thing so° sweete,

So suddenlie should fade awaie°, and fleete!

Hir armes are spread, and I am all unarm'd°,

124

Lyke one with Ouid's cursed hemlocke charm'd°;

So are my Limms unwealdlie for the fight°

That spend their strength in thought of hir° delight.

[page 12]

What shall I doe to shewe my self a man?

128

It will not be for ought that beawtie can°.

I kisse, I clap, I feele°, I view at will,

Yett dead he lyes°, not thinking good or ill.

"Unhappie me," quoth shee, "and wilt' not stand?°

132

Com, lett me rubb and chafe° it with my hand!

Perhaps the sillie worme is labour'd° sore,

And wearied that it can° doe noe more;

If it be so, as I am greate a-dread°,

136

I wish tenne thousand times that I were° dead.

How ere it is, no meanes shall want° in me,

That maie auaile to his recouerie°."

Which saide, she tooke and rould it on hir thigh°,

140

And when she look't on't, she would weepe and sighe;°

She dandled it, and dancet it up and doune°,

Not ceasing till she rais'd it from his swoune°.

[page 13]

And then he flue on hir as he° were wood,

144

And on hir breeche did hack and foyne° a-good;

He rub'd, and prickt, and pierst her° to the bones,

Digging as farre as eath° he might for stones;

Now high, now lowe, now stryking° shorte and thicke;

148

Now dyuing deepe, he toucht hir° to the quicke;

Now with a gird° he would his course rebate,

Straite would he take him to a statlie° gate;

Plaie while him list, and thrust he neare so° hard,

152

Poore pacient Grissill lyeth at hir warde°,

And giue's, and takes, as blythe and free° as Maye,

And ere-more meete's him in the midle° waye.

On him hir eyes continualy° were fixt;

156

With hir eye-beames his melting looke's° were mixt,

Which, like the Sunne, that twixt two glasses plaies°,

From one to th' other cast's rebounding° rayes.

[page 14]

He, lyke a starre that, to reguild° his beames

160

Sucks-in the influence of Phebus° streames,

Imbathes the lynes of his descending° light

In the bright fountaines of hir clearest sight°.

She, faire as fairest Planet° in the skye,

164

Hir puritie° to noe man doeth denye;

The verie chamber that enclouds° her shine

Lookes lyke the pallace of that God deuine°,

Who leades the daie about the Zodiake°,

168

And euerie euen discends to th'oceane° lake;

So fierce and feruent is her radiance°,

Such fyrie stakes she darts at euerie glance°

As might enflame the icie limmes° of age,

172

And make pale death his seignedrie to aswage;°

To stand and gaze upon her orient lamps°,

Where Cupid all his chiefest ioyes encamps°,

[page 15]

And sitts, and playes with euery atomie°

176

That in hir Sunne-beames swarme aboundantlie.

Thus gazing, and thus striuing, we perseuer°:

But what so firme that maie continue euer?°

"Oh not so fast," my rauisht Mistriss cryes°,

180

"Leaste my content, that on° thy life relyes,

Be brought too-soone from his delightfull seate°,

And me unwares of hoped bliss defeate°.

Together lett us marche unto content°,

184

And be consumed with one blandishment°."

As she prescrib'd so kept we crotchet-time°,

And euerie stroake in ordre lyke a chyme°,

Whilst she, that had preseru'd me by hir pittie°,

188

Unto our musike fram'd a groaning dittie°.

[page 16]

"Alass! alass! that loue should be a sinne!

Euen now my blisse and sorrowe doeth° beginne.

Hould wyde thy lapp, my louelie° Danae,

192

And entretaine the golden shoure so free°,

That trikling falles° into thy treasurie.

As Aprill-drops not half so° pleasant be,

Nor Nilus overflowe to Ægipt plaines°

196

As this sweet-streames that all hir ioints imbaynes°.

With "Oh!" and "Oh!" she itching moues hir hipps°,

And to and fro full lightlie starts and skips°:

She ierkes hir leggs, and sprauleth° with hir heeles;

200

No tongue maie tell the solace° that she feeles,

"I faint! I yeald! Oh, death! rock me° a-sleepe!

Sleepe! sleepe desire! entombed° in the deepe!"

"Not so, my deare," my dearest saint° replyde,

204

"For, from us yett, thy spirit maie° not glide

[page 17]

Untill the sinnowie channels° of our blood

Without their source from this imprisoned° flood;

And then will we (that then will com too° soone),

208

Dissolued lye, as though our dayes were donne."

The whilst I speake, my soule is fleeting° hence,

And life forsakes his fleshie° residence.

Staie, staie sweete ioye, and leaue me not forlorne

212

Why shouldst thou fade that art but newelie borne?

"Staie but an houre, an houre° is not so much:

But half an houre; if that° thy haste is such,

Naie, but a quarter—I will aske no more—

216

That thy departure (which torments me sore),

Maie be alightned with a little pause°,

And take awaie this passions sudden° cause."

He heare's me not; hard-harted as he is,

220

He is the sonne of Time, and hates my blisse.

Time nere looke's backe, the riuers nere returne;°

A second springe must help me or° I burne.

[page 18]

No, no, the well is drye that should refresh me°,

224

The glasse is runne of all my destinie:

Nature of winter learneth nigardize

Who, as he ouer-beares the streame with ice

That man nor beaste maie of their pleasance taste,

228

So shutts she up hir conduit all in haste,

And will not let hir Nectar ouer-flowe,

Least mortall man immortall ioyes should knowe.

Adieu! unconstant loue, to thy disporte

232

Adieu! false mirth, and melodie too short;

Adieu! faint-hearted instrument of lust;

That falselie hath betrayde our equale trust.

Hence-forth no more will I implore thine° ayde,

236

Or thee, or man of cowardize upbrayde°.

My little dilldo shall suply° their kinde:

A knaue, that moues° as light as leaues by winde;

That° bendeth not, nor fouldeth anie deale,

240

But stands as stiff as he were made of steele;

And playes at peacock twixt my leggs right blythe°,

And doeth my tickling swage with manie a sighe.

[page 19]

For, by saint Runnion! he'le° refresh me well;

244

And neuer make my tender bellie° swell.

Poore Priapus! whose triumph now must falle°,

Except thou thrust this weakeling to the walle°.

Behould! how he usurps, in bed and bowre°

248

And undermines thy kingdom euerie howre;°

How slye he creepes betwixt° the barke and tree,

And sucks the sap, whilst sleepe detaineth° thee.

He is my Mistris page at euerie stound°,

252

And soone will tent° a deepe intrenched wound.

He wayte's on Courtlie Nimphs that be so° coye,

And bids them skorne the blynd-alluring° boye.

He giues yong guirls their gamesome sustenance°,

256

And euerie gaping mouth his full sufficeance.

He fortifies disdaine with forraine° artes,

And wanton-chaste deludes° all loving hartes.

[page 20]

If anie wight a cruell mistris serue's°,

260

Or, in dispaire, (unhappie) pines and staru's°,

Curse Eunuke dilldo, senceless counterfet°

Who sooth maie fill, but never can begett.

But, if revenge enraged with dispaire,

264

That such a dwarf his wellfare should empaire,

Would faine this womans secretarie° knowe,

Lett° him attend the markes that I shall showe:

He is a youth almost two handfulls highe°,

268

Streight, round, and plumb, yett hauing° but one eye,

Wherein the rhewme so feruentlie doeth raigne°,

That Stigian gulph maie scarce his teares containe;°

Attired in white veluet°, or in silk,

272

And nourisht with whott water, or with milk°,

Arm'd otherwhile° in thick congealed glasse,

When he, more glib, to hell be lowe° would passe.

[page 21]

Vpon a charriot of five wheeles he rydes°,

276

The which an arme strong driuer stedfast° guides,

And often alters pace as wayes growe deepe,

(For who, in pathes unknowne°, one gate can keepe?)

Sometimes he smoothlie slideth doune° the hill;

280

Another while°, the stones his feete doe kill;

In clammie waies he treaddeth° by and by,

And plasheth and sprayeth all that be him nye°.

So fares this iollie rider° in his race,

284

Plunging and sousing forward in lyke° case,

He dasht, and spurted, and he plodded° foule,

God giue thee shame, thou blinde° mischapen owle!

Fy-fy, for grief: a ladies chamberlaine°,

288

And canst not thou thy tatling tongue refraine?°

I reade thee beardles blab°, beware of stripes,

And be aduised what thou vainelie° pipes;

[page 22]

Thou wilt be whipt with nettles for this geare°

292

If Cicelie shewe but of thy knauerie° heere.

Saint Denis shield me from such female sprites!°

Regarde not, Dames, what Cupids Poete° writes:

I pennd this storie onelie° for my selfe,

296

Who, giuing suck unto a childish Elfe°,

And quitte discourag'd in my nurserie°,

Since all my store seemes to hir penurie°.

I am not as was Hercules the stout,

300

That to the seaventh iournie° could hould out;

I want those hearbe's and rootes of Indian soile°,

That strengthen wearie members in their toile°—

Druggs and Electuaries of new devise°,

304

Doe shunne my purse, that trembles at the price°.

Sufficeth all I haue, I yeald hir hole°

Which, for a poore man, is a princelie dole,

[page 23]

I paie our hostess scott and lott at moste°,

308

And looke as leane and lank as anie° ghoste;

What can° be added more to my renowne?

She lyeth breathlesse; I am taken doune;°

The waves doe swell, the tydes climbe or'e the banks;°

312

Judge, gentlemen! if I deserue not thanks?°

And so, good night! unto° you euer'ie one;

For loe, our thread is spunne, our plaie is donne°.

Claudito iam vinos Priapa, sat prata biberunt [sic[a]].

THO. NASH.

a   This does not scan; and, moreover, seems incorrectly transcribed, even making allowance for Nash's adaptation of a well-known line; cf. Virgil, Eclogue iii., line 111—"Claudite jam rivos, pueri, sat prata biberunt," "Now shut the hatches (in the banks of the stream), O lads, the pastures have drunk enough."

[page 25]

hus[*] hath my penne presum'd to please my friend—

Oh mightst thou lykewise please Apollo's eye.

No, Honor brooke's no such impietie,

Yett Ouids wanton Muse did not offend.

He is the fountaine whence my streames doe flowe—

Forgive me if I speake as I was taught,

A lyke to women, utter all I knowe,

As longing to unlade so bad a fraught.

My mynde once purg'd of such lasciuious witt,

With purifide words and hallowed verse,

Thy praises in large volumes shall rehearce,

That better maie thy grauer view befitt.

Meanewhile yett rests, you smile at what I write;

Or, for attempting, banish me your sight.

THOMAS NASH.

*   Quite detached, on page 94 of the Rawl. MS. (the text commences on page 96), are a few lines entitled "The Epilogue," which are obviously part of the above, albeit more than usually imperfectly copied. Why so placed does not appear, especially as several blank pages immediately follow the conclusion of the Bodleian copy.

NOTES

TITLE, The Choosing of Valentines, Nashes Dildo.

2   yong, younge; their iollie roguerie, their brauery; iollie, Fr. joli, pretty, fine. Bravery, finery; Cf. Holinshed's Chron. of Eng., 55—The ancient Britons painted their bodies "which they esteemed a great braverie."

3   Rose earelie in the morne fore, Rose in the morning before; daie, daye.

4   soe trimme and gaie, soe fresh and gaye.

5   summer sheene, somers shene.

6   haidegaies on, high degree in.

7   alas at Easter, or, allso at Ester and.

8   Perambulate, preambulate.

9   to som, into some; abbordring, bordering.

10   taste the creame and cakes, tast the cakes and creame.

11   Or, To.

12   by Bachelrie of Maningtree, by the bachelours of magnanimity. "Manningtree, in Essex, formerly enjoyed the privilege of fairs, by the tenure of exhibiting a certain number of stage plays yearly. It appears also, from other intimations, that there were great festivities there, and much good eating, at Whitsun ales, and other times."—Nares.

13   Where to, the contrie franklins, Whether our Country Franklins.

14   Jhon and Jone com, John and Joane come.

15   Euen, Even; hallowes, Hallowes; Saint, Sainct.

16   doeth, doth; louers, lovers; those, omitted in Rawlinson.

17   ladies, Ladyes.

18   she, shee; valentine, valentyne.

19   woe, alass, out, alas.

20   an upper, another.

21   -haft and crab-tree face, with his crabbed face.

22   scar'd hir, scard her; the, that.

23   And now she was compel'd for Sanctuarie, And she, poore wench, compeld for Sanctuary.

24   unto, into; venery, Venery.

25   bouldlie,, bouldly; enquire, inquire.

26   hackneis, hackneyes. Hackney, a person or thing let out for promiscuous use, e.g., a horse, a whore, a literary drudge. Cf. "The hobby-horse is but a colt, and your love perhaps a hackney."—Love's Labour Lost, iii., 1.

27   crau'd, craud.

29   Therwith out stept, With that, stept forth; three chinnd, three-chinde. Foggie = fat, bloated, having hanging flesh. Cf. "Some three chind foggie dame."—Dolarney, Primrose.

30   us'd, vsd; yong, younge.

31   ask't, askt; I ment as I profest, soothe were my request.

32   onelie ask't, onely moud.

33   it, yt.

34   com, come; give, giue; Jill, Gill.

35   "Why, Sir." quoth shee, "if that be your demande, "If that yt be," quoth she, "that you demaunde."

36   Com laye me a God's-pennie, then giue me first a godes peny. "God's-pennie, an earnest-pennie."—FLORIO, p. 36.

37   oratorie siccarlie, oratory, siccarly. "Oratory," properly a private chapel or closet for prayer; here a canting term for brothel: cf. abbess = bawd; nun = whore, and so forth. "Siccarly," certainly, surely "Thou art here, sykerlye, Thys churche to robb with felonye," MS. Cantab Ff. ii., 38, f. 240.

38   heere, in; nicarie, deuory. "Nick," female pudendum: hence nickery, copulation. Deuory may either be Fr. devoir, duty; or devoure, to ravish, to deflower.

39   offertorie, affidavit.

40   wee'le, Ile.

41   hearing hir so ernest, seeing her soe earnest.

42   Gave hir hir, I gaue her her; and she the dore unlocks, and she the doare vnlockes.

43   In am I entered, Nowe I am entered; venus, sweet Venus.

44   where's this female, where's the female; do this, do the.

45   By, through; meanders and by crankled, meander and through crooked.

46   Shee leades, Shee leads; Aucthor saies, author sayes.

47   we came within, I came vnto; shadie, shady.

48   bounsing vestalls, bouncing vestures; skirmish, skyrmish; oft, omitted.

49   shee, she; leather chaire, Lether chayre.

50   prettie Trulls, wenches straight.

51   To chuse of them, And bad me choose; myne, my.

52   hir, she; no where espie, noe waye espye.

53   them, her; them her.

54   Yet, But.

55   Bawde, baud; as daintie, soe dainty; bee, be.

56   forth to, vnto.

57   Halliedame, Holy Dame; she, shee; Gods oune, gods one.

58   wylie, wyly.

59   more, better.

60   You'l smell, youle find; nare so, now soe.

61   hir, her.

62   think, look; purse-strings, purse-stringes; abye it deare, abide yt deere.

63   that will eate quailes, whoole feed on quayles; crounes, crownes.

64   Mistris Francis, Mistres Fraunces; veluett gounes, velvett gownes.

65   And ruffs, Her ruffe; perwigs, perriwigge; as, soe; Maye, May.

66   with half a croune, for half a crowne.

67   hostess, hostes; we, wee.

68   Though, although.

69   bonnie, bonny.

70   tenne, tenn; gobbs I will unto thee tell, goblets vnto thee Ile tell. "Gob, a portion" (H).

71   lyke thee, like you.

72   doe I hir companie, I doe her company.

73   Awaie, Awaye; thing, worde.

74   That (mauger) will inuade, it makes invasion in.

75   Hey-ho, Loe! here; hearte, harte; keepe, keeping.

76   Lullabie, lullaby; and falle a sleepe, fall a sleeping.

77   coms, comes; ground, ground.

78   Hir, her; silkes, silcke; confound, Confound.

79   Oh, Awaye; rauisht, ravisht; voide, voyd; chamber, Chamber; streight, straight.

80   For I must neede's be on hir, I must be straight vppon her.

81   smilde, smiled.

82   beguilde, beguiled.

83   With smiles, with flatt'ring wordes, and fained cheere, With sighes and flattering woordes and teares.

84   their, your; their, much; doeth appeare, still apeares.

85   how, How; lambkin, Tomalyn; replide, replied.

86   dancing, dauncing.

87   it be, be it; this, thy.

88   camp, campe.

89   onelie, only; sweete heart, sweete harte; came, cam.

90   auoide, avoyd; troblous and stormie, troublesome, stormye.

91   But now, And since; coaste, coast; we wil, I will.

92   Since, for; louer, louers.

93   sprung, sprunge; lips, lippes.

94   And fast about the neck me colle's and clips, and about my neck she hugges, she calles, she clippes. "Coll or "cull," to kiss, to embrace; so also "clip."

95   faints, faynes; vpon hir, vppon the.

96   tosseth, tosses; and fro hir, and froe her.

97   shutts hir eyes, shakes her feete.

98   who, whoe; abstaine, forbeare; long, longe.

99   I com, I com, I come, I come; lyning, Ladye; be, by.

100   Softlie my fingers up this curtaine heaue, softly my curtaines lett my fingers heaue.

101   make, send; happie, happye; stealing, sailing; degreese, degrees.

102   First bare hir leggs, then creepe up to hir kneese, First vnto the feete, and then vnto the kneese.

103   From thence, And soe; unto, vnto; mannely, manly.

104   lingring, lingering; am so, come soe.

105   Smock, Smocke; climbe, clime.

106   Oh heaven and paradise are all, all earthly pleasures seeme to this.

107   Compar'd with this sight I now, Compard be these delightes which I.

109   prettie rysing, prettye rising; weame, wenne. "Wem," spot or blemish.

110   shone, shine(s); anie siluer streame, any christall gemme.

111   bare, beares; bending, riseing; an, a.

112   a fountaine dwelleth still, the(r) runnes a fountayne still.

113   his, her; uglie bryers, rugged briers.

114   duskie, duskye; wyres, wires.

115   loftie, lusty; veines, vaines.

116   comelie, comely; distreines, restraines. "Distreines," to seize, to touch.

117   wanton, harmles; harmlesse stype, wanton gripe.

118   fruites of loue oftsoone, fruite thereof too soone

119   And, A; too tymelie, to tymely; the stemme, his springe.

120   To dye ere it hath seene Jerusalem, it is, dyes ere it can enioye the vsed thinge.

121   Gods, Godes; euer anie, ever any; so, soe.

122   So suddenlie, soe suddenly; awaie, awaye.

123   Hir, Her; are spread and I am all unarm'd, and legges and all were spredd, But I was all vnarmed.

124   Lyke, like; with, that; charm'd, charmd.

125   Omitted in Rawl. MS.

126   spend their, spent there; hir, your.

128   It, Yt; beawtie cann, beauty can.

129   clap, clipp; I feele, I view, I wincke, I feele.

130   dead he lyes, lyes he dead; thinking, feeling.

131   Unhappie me, By Holly dame; stand, staund.

132   Com, now; rubb, roule; chafe, rub; with, in.

133   Perhaps, perhapps; sillie, seely; is labour'd, hath laboured.

134   wearied that it can, worked soe that it cann.

135   If it be so, Which if it be; am greate a-dread, doe greately dread.

136   tenne, ten; were, weare.

137   How ere it is, What ere it be; no, noe; want, lacke.

138   maie auaile to, maye avayle for; recouerie, recoverye.

139   saide, said; and rould, & rowld; hir thigh, her thighe.

140   And when she look't on't she would weepe and sighe, and looking downe on it, did groane and sighe.

141   dandled, haundled; dancet, daunced; up, vpp; doune, downe.

142   she rais'd, shee raisd; his swoune, her sound.

143   he flue, it flewe; hir, her; he, it.

144   hir breeche did hack and fayne, her breech laboured & foam'd.

145   prickt, and pierst her, peirct her euer.

146   farre, deepe; might, could digg; "eath," easy.

147   stryking, stricking; and, &.

148   Now dyuing deepe he toucht hir, And diving deeper, peircte her.

149   gird, girde.

150   Straite, then; statlie, stately.

151   him, he; so, soe.

152   pacient Grissill, patient Grissell; hir warde, his ward.

153   blythe, blith; free, fresh.

154   ere-more, euer; midle, middle of the.

155   him hir eyes continualy, her his eyes Continually.

156   hir eye-beames his, his eye-browes her; looke's, eyes.

157   twixt, betwixt; plaies, playes.

158   one, the one; th'other cast's rebounding, the other casting redounding.

159   He lyke, She like; reguild, requite.

160   Sucks-in, suckes; of Phebus, of sweete Phebus.

161   lynes, beames: descending, discending.

162   bright, deepest; hir dearest sight, the purest light.

163   Planet, plannet.

164   Hir puritie, her puritye.

165   verie chamber, verye Chamber; enclouds, includes.

166   Lookes lyke, seemes as; that God deuine, the gods devine.

167   Who, Whoe; daie, daye; Zodiake, Zodiacke.

168   euerie euen discends to th'oceane, in the even, settes of the ocean.

169   So fierce, soe feirce; is hir radiance, in her radiaunce.

170   fyrie stakes, flyeing breath; darts, dartes; euerie glance, every glaunce.

171   enflame, inflame; icie limmes, verry mappe.

172   make, cause; his seignedrie to aswage, him suddenly tasswage.

173   To, and; upon her, vppon those; lamps, lampes.

174   his chiefest ioyes encamps, his ioyes incampes.

175-6    Omitted in Rawl. MS.

177   Thus gazing, and thus striuing, we perseuer, Thus striking, thus gazeing, we perseuere.

178   what so firme, nought soe sure; maie, will; euer, ever.

179   Oh! Fleete; rauisht Mistris cryes, ravisht senses cries.

180   Leaste, sith; content that on, Content vppon.

181   Be, Which; too, soe; seat, seates.

182   And me unwares of hoped bliss defeat, me vnawares of blissefull hope defeates. Here occur two lines in the Rawl. MS. which do not appear in the Petyt MS., as follows:

Togeather lett our equall motions stirr,

Togeather lett vs liue and dye, my deare;

183   Together lett us marche unto content, Togeather let vs march with one contente.

184   consumed with one blandishment, Consum(e)d without languishmente.

185   prescrib'd, so kept we crochet, prescribed so keepe we clocke and.

186   lyke, like; chyme, chime.

187   Whilst she, soe shee; had preseru'd, here preferd; pittie, pittye.

188   Unto, vnto; musike, musicke; dittie, dittye.

190   Euen, even; blisse and sorrowe doeth, ioyes and sorrowes doe.

191   lapp, lappe; louelie, louely.

192   entretaine the, entertaine this; shoure so free, showry see.

193   trikling falles, drisling fall(es); treasurie, treasurye.

194   As Aprill-drops, Sweete Aprill flowers; half so, halfe soe.

195   overflowe to Ægipt-plaines, overfloweinge Egipt playne.

196   As this sweet-streames, as is the balme; hir ioints imbaynes, her woombe destreynes.

197   With Oh! and Oh! she itching moues hir hipps, Now! oh now! she trickling moues her lippes.

198   And, and often; full lightlie starts and skips, she lightly startes and skippes.

199   ierkes, yerkes; leggs, legges; sprauleth, fresketh.

200   No, noe; maie, can; solace, pleasures.

201   I faint! I yeald! Oh death, rock me, I come! I come! sweete death, rocke mee.

202   entombed, intombe me.

203   my deare, my dearest saint, my deare, and dearest she.

204   For, from us yett, thy spirit maie, from us two (yett) this pleasure must.

205   Untill, Vntill; channels, Chambers.

206   Without their source, Withould themselues; imprisoned, newe prisoned.

207   will we, we will; com too, come soe.

209   whilst, whilest; speake, speke; is fleeting, in stealing.

210   fleshie, earthly.

213   but an houre, but one houre; an houre is, one houre is; so, soe

214   But, nay; if that, and if.

217   Maie be alightned with a little pause, Maye now be lengthened by a litle pawse.

218   awaie, awaye; sudden, suddaine.

221   riuers nere returne, riuer nere returnes.

222   springe, spring; must helpe me or, must helpe, or elles.

223-34    Omitted in Rawl. MS.

235   Hence-forth no more will I implore thine, Hensforth I will noe more implore thine.

236   or man of cowardize upbrayde, for ever of Cowardise shall vpprayd.

237   dilldo, dildoe; suply their, supplye your.

238   knaue, youth; moues, is; by, in.

239   That, He; anie, any.

241-42    Omitted in Rawl. MS.

243   For, by saint Runnion, he'le, And when I will he doth.

244   make, makes; bellie, belly.

245   whose triumph now, thy kingdome needes; falle, fall.

246   Except, eccept; walle, wall.

247   usurps, vsurpes; boure, bower.

248   undermines, vndermines; euerie howre, euery hower.

249   sly he, slyly; betwixt, betwene.

250   sucks, suckes; whilst, while; detaineth, deteyneth.

251   page, lake; stound, sound. "Stound," a moment.

252    "tent," to search out.

253   Courtlie Nimphs, courtly nimphs; be so, are full.

254   blynd-alluring, blind-alluring.

255-6    Omitted in Rawl. MS.

257   fortifies disdaine, fortifyes disdayne; forraine, foraigne.

258   And wanton-chaste deludes, while wantons chast delude.

259   anie, any; Mistris serue's, Mistres serve.

260   Or, and; (unhappie) pines and staru's, full deeply pyne and sterue.

261-64    Omitted in Rawl. MS.

265   womans secretarie, woemans secretary.

266   Lett, let.

267   handfulls highe, handfulles high.

268   plumb, plump; yett hauing, and having.

269   rhewme so feruentlie doeth raigne, rheume soe fervently doth raine.

270   That, the; gulph maie, gulfe can; containe, conteyne. Here follow, in the Rawl. MS., lines 290-93 of the Petyt; lines 292-3 being also reversed in the Rawl. text.

271   Attired, attird; veluet, velvet.

272   nourisht, norisht; hott, warme; milk, milke. "Whott," hot.

273   Arm'd otherwhile, Running sometymes.

274   more glib, more like; to hell be lowe, downe into hell.

275   charriot, chariot; rydes, rides.

276   The which an arme strong driuer stedfast, An arme strong guider steadfastly him.

278   who, whoe; pathes unknowne, places vnknowne; gate, pace.

279   Sometimes, sometymes; smoothlie slideth doune a, smoothly slippeth downe a.

280   Another while, some other tymes.

281   clammie waies, clayey wayes; treaddeth, treadeth.

282   plasheth and sprayeth, placeth himself &; be him nye, standeth by.

283   So, soe; iollie rider, royall rider.

284   Plunging and sousing, Plungeing & sowsing; lyke, like.

285   He dasht, and spurted, and he plodded, Bedasht, bespotted, and beplotted.

286   blinde, foule.

287   Fy-fy, for grief, But free from greife; ladies chamberlaine, ladyes chamberlayne.

288   not thou, thou not: refraine, refrayne.

289   reade thee, tell the; blab, blabb. "Reade," warn.

290   aduised, advisd; thou vainelie, thou soe vainely.

291    Transposed in Rawl. MS. with line 292; wilt, shouldst.

292   Cicelie shewe but, Illian queene knowe; knauerie, bravery.

293   Denis shield, Dennis sheild; female sprites, femall sprightes.

294   Dames, dames; Cupid's Poet, Cupid's poett.

295   pennd, pen; storie onelie, story onely.

296   Who giuing suck unto a childish Elfe, And, giving yt to such an actuall Elfe.

297   And, am; discourag'd, discoraged; nurserie, mistery.

298   hir, her; penurie, misery.

300   seaventh iournie, seauenth Iourny.

301   want, wantes; hearbe's, omitted; and, &; soile, soyle.

302   wearie, weary; toile, toyle.

303   Druggs or Electuaries of new devise, Or drugges or electuaryes of newe devises.

304   Doe shunne, that shame; that trembles, & tremble; the, thie; price, prices. In the Rawl. MS., lines 307-8 of the Petyt MS. follow here.

305   Sufficeth all I haue, I yeald hir hole, For that I allwayes had, I payd the wole.

307   I paie our hostess, I paid of both the; and, &; at moste, allmost.

308   And, yet; and, &; anie, any.

309   can, cann.

310   doune, downe.

311   climbe, clims; banks, bankes.

312   gentlemen, if I, gentleweomen doth this; not thanks, no thankes.

313   so, soe: unto, vnto.

314   thread, thred; plaie is donne, playes done.

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ***

Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will be renamed.

Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG™ concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away—you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark license, especially commercial redistribution.

START: FULL LICENSE

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE

PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK

To protect the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting the free distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work (or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project Gutenberg™ License available with this file or online at www.gutenberg.org/license.

Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg™ electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property (trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in your possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.

1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg™ electronic works even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project Gutenberg™ electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.

1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the United States and you are located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project Gutenberg™ mission of promoting free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg™ works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg™ name associated with the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg™ License when you share it without charge with others.

1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project Gutenberg™ work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any country other than the United States.

1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:

1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg™ License must appear prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg™ work (any work on which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, copied or distributed:

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg™ trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg™ electronic work is posted with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked to the Project Gutenberg™ License for all works posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.

1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg™ License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg™.

1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project Gutenberg™ License.

1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg™ work in a format other than “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version posted on the official Project Gutenberg™ website (www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg™ License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.

1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg™ works unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.

1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing access to or distributing Project Gutenberg™ electronic works provided that:

• You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from the use of Project Gutenberg™ works calculated using the method you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, but he has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.”

• You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg™ License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg™ works.

• You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of receipt of the work.

• You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free distribution of Project Gutenberg™ works.

1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.

1.F.

1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project Gutenberg™ collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain “Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment.

1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project Gutenberg™ trademark, and any other party distributing a Project Gutenberg™ electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further opportunities to fix the problem.

1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you ‘AS-IS’, WITH NO OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.

1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.

1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone providing copies of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works in accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg™ electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg™ work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg™ work, and (c) any Defect you cause.

Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg™

Project Gutenberg™ is synonymous with the free distribution of electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from people in all walks of life.

Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg™’s goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg™ collection will remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure and permanent future for Project Gutenberg™ and future generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.

Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. The Foundation’s EIN or federal tax identification number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state’s laws.

The Foundation’s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the Foundation’s website and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact

Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation

Project Gutenberg™ depends upon and cannot survive without widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations ($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt status with the IRS.

The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate.

While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who approach us with offers to donate.

International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.

Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate

Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg™ electronic works

Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg™ concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project Gutenberg™ eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.

Project Gutenberg™ eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.

Most people start at our website which has the main PG search facility: www.gutenberg.org.

This website includes information about Project Gutenberg™, including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.

Table of Contents

TO THE RIGHT honorable the Lord S.a

NOTES

THE CHOOSING° OF VALENTINES.

NOTES

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE