# A Handful of Pleasant Delights/Dame Beauties replie to the Louer late at libertie

The ballad "Where is the life that late I led", to which the song below is a reply, is now lost. Hyder E. Rollins suggests that the author J. P. may possibly by John Pitts.
¶Dame Beauties replie to the Louer late at libertie: and now complaineth himselfe to be her captiue, Intituled: Where is the life that late I led.
He life that erst thou ledst my friend,
was pleasant to thine eies:
But now the losse of libertie,
thou seemest to despise.
Where then thou ioiedst thy will,
now thou doest grudge in heart:
Then thou no paine nor grief didst feele,
but now thou pinest in smart.
​What mooued thee vnto loue,
expresse and tell the same:
Saue fancie thine, that heapt thy paine,
thy follie learne to blame.
¶For when thou freedome didst enioie,
thou gauest thy selfe to ease,
And letst self-will the ruling beare,
thy fancie fond to please:
Then stealing Cupid came,
with bow and golden dart:
He struck the stroke, at pleasure he
that now doth paine thy hart:
Blame not the Gods of loue,
But blame thy self thou maist:
For freedome was disdaind of thee,
and bondage more thou waiest.
¶Who list, thou saist. to liue at rest,
and freedome to possesse:
The sight of gorgeous Dames must shun,
least loue do them distresse:
Thou blamest Cupidoes craft,
who strikes in stealing sort:
And sets thee midst the princely Dames,
of Beauties famous fort:
And meaning wel thou saiest,
as one not bent to loue,
Then Cupid he constrains thee yeeld,
as thou thy self canst prooue.
¶Faire Ladies lookes in libertie,
enlarged not thy paine:
Ne yet the sight of gorgeous Dames,
could cause thee thus complaine.
It was thy self indeed,
that causd thy pining woe,
Thy wanton wil, and idle minde,
causd Cupid strike the blow:
Blame not his craft, nor vs ​that Beauties darlings be,
Accuse thy selfe to seeke thy care,
thy fancie did agree.
¶There is none thou saist, that can
more truely iudge the case:
Than thou that hast the wound receiu'de,
by sight of Ladies face.
Her beautie thee bewitcht,
thy minde that erst was free:
Her corps so comely framd, thou safest,
did force thee to agree:
Thou gauest thy self it seemes,
her bondman to abide,
Before that her good willingnesse,
of thee were knowen and tride.
[¶]What Judgement canst thou giue:
how dost thou plead thy case:
It was not she that did thee wound,
although thou seest her face:
Ne could her beautie so,
inchaunt or vex thy sprites,
Ne feature hers so comely framde,
could weaken to thy wits.
But that thou mightest haue showne
the cause to her indeede,
Who spares to speak, thy self dost know,
doth faile of grace to speede.
¶By this thou saiest, thou soughtst ye means
of torments that you beare,
By this thou wouldest men take heede,
and learne of loue to feare:
For taking holde thou telst,
to flie it is too late,
And no where canst thou shrowd thy self,
but Care must be thy mate.
Though loue do pleasure seeme,
yet plagues none such there are:
Therefore all louers now thou willst,
of liking to beware,
​¶ Thy self hath sought the meane and way, and none but thou alone: Of all the grief and care you beare, as plainely it is showne: Then why should men take heed, thy counsell is vnfit: Thou sparedst to speak, and faildst to speed, thy will had banisht wit. And now thou blamest loue, and Ladies faire and free: And better lost than found my frind, your cowards heart we see.
Finis.
I. P.