As Souldiers good obey their captaines will,
And readie are to goe, to ride, or runne:
And neuer shrinke their duety to fulfill,
But what they byd, it by and by is done.
So rest I yours (good Captayne) to dispose,
When as you please, to combate with your foes.
Your foes, sayd I? alas what may they be,
That haue the heart, to harme so sweete a wight?
Who dare attempt to try his force with thee,
Shall conquerd be, ere he begin to fight.
Let thousand foes agaynst thee come in field,
Thy beauty great will make them all to yeeld,
To yeeld, sayd I? nay rather would they choose,
By thee subdude, to liue in bondage still,
Then lead such life as Conquerors doe vse,
In thy disgrace, and wanting thy good will.
But strike the drumme, & let the trumpet sound,
To take thy part, whole legions wil be found.
So many eares as euer heard thee speake:
So many eyes as haue thy feature vewde,
So many handes thy puysance hath made weake,
So many heartes thy beauty hath subdued,
Ech of these eares, ech eye, ech hand, ech heart,
(Sweet Captain) stil are prest to take thy part.
Ech eare, to heare when enuy seekes thy foyle:
Ech eye to spy who worketh thine anoy,
Ech hand, with blade to conquere them in broyle:
Ech gladsome heart, for victory to ioy.
Thus euery part the trusty friend will play,
For thy behoofe, whom God preserue alway.