Robert Greene (dramatist)

Robert Greene (probably baptised July 11, 1558, died September 3, 1592) was an English poet, dramatist, romance-writer and pamphleteer.

• Amends may never come too late.
  • A Looking-Glass for London (c. 1590), written with Thomas Lodge

• My God commands, whose power no power resists.
  • A Looking-Glass for London (c. 1590)

• He kept no Christmas-house for once a year;
  Each day his boards were fill'd with lordly fare:
  He fed a rout of yeomen with his cheer,
  Nor was his bread and beef kept in with care:
  His wine and beer to strangers were not spare;
  And yet beside to all that hunger griev'd
  His gates were ope, and they were there reliev'd.
  • A Maiden's Dream (1591); Dyce, p. 280

• For as one star another far exceeds,
  So souls in heaven are placèd by their deeds.
  • A Maiden's Dream (1591); Dyce, p. 282

• Fie upon such as say, "Young saints, old devils"! It is no doubt a devilish and damnable saying; for what is not bent in the cradle, will hardly be bowed in the saddle.
  • A Disputation between a He-Cony-Catcher and a She-Cony-Catcher (1592)

• At last he hath leaped at a daisy, with a halter about his neck.
  • Black Book's Messenger (1592) To the Reader

• On women Nature did bestow two eyes,
  Like heaven's bright lamps, in matchless beauty shining,
  Whose beams do soonest captivate the wise,
  And wary heads, made rare by art's refining
  • Philomela (1592); Dyce, p. 315

    Heaven's] The 4to. "Hemians."

• Marry, because you have drank with the King,
  And the King hath so graciously pledg'd you,
  You shall no more be call'd shoemakers,
  But you and yours, to the world's end,
  Shall be call'd the Trade of the Gentle Craft.
  • George-a-Greene (c. 1592)

• O sir! I love the fruit that treason brings,
  But those that are the traitors, them I hate.
  • Selimus (c. 1594)

• Love is a lock that linketh noble minds,
  Faith is the key that shuts the spring of love.
  • Alcida (1617)

• Her stature like the tall straight cedar-trees
  Whose stately bulks do fame th' Arabian groves;
  A pace like princely Juno when she brav'd
  The Queen of Love 'fore Paris in the vale;
  A front beset with love and courtesy;
  A face like modest Pallas when she blush'd
  A seely shepherd should be beauty's judge;
  A lip sweet ruby-red, grac'd with delight;
  A cheek wherein for interchange of hue
  A wrangling strife 'twixt lily and the rose;
  Her eyes two twinckling stars in winter-nights
  When chilling frost doth clear the azur'd sky;
  Her hair of golden hue doth dim the beams
  That proud Apollo giveth from his coach. ...
  A foot like Thetis when she tripp'd the sands
  To steal Neptunus' favour with her steps;
  In fine, a piece, despite of beauty, fram'd
  To show what Nature's lineage could afford.
  • "The Description of Silvestro's Lady", ll. 1–14, 20ff; Dyce, p. 286

    Twinckling] The 4to. "tinckling."

• Two moving hills
  Which, topp'd with pretty teats, discover down a vale
  Wherein the God of Love may deign to sleep.
  • "The Description of Silvestro's Lady", l. 17; Dyce, p. 286

• Fair is my love, for April in her face,
    Her lovely breasts September claims his part,
  And lordly July in her eyes takes place
    But cold December dwelleth in her heart.
  • Sonnet, "Fair Is My Love", l. 1; Dyce, p. 293

• He look'd, he sigh'd, he courted with a kiss,
  No better could the silly swad than this.
  • Sonnet, "Phillis Kept Sheep", st. 2; Dyce, p. 293

• Men when they lust can many fancies feign.
  • Sonnet, "Phillis Kept Sheep", st. 5; Dyce, p. 293

• Oft times many things fall out between the cup and the lip.

• Though men determine, the gods too dispose.

• Ah Franion, treason is loved of many, but the traitor hated of all: unjust offences may for a time escape without danger, but never without revenge.
  • pp. 9–10 (ed. 1588)

    Cf. "Cæsar said he loved the treason, but hated the traitor."—Plutarch, Life of Romulus · "This principle is old, but true as fate,— / Kings may love treason, but the traitor hate."—Dekker, The Honest Whore (1604)

• And yet Dorastus shame not at thy shepherd's weed: the heavenly gods have sometimes earthly thoughts: Neptune became a ram, Jupiter a bull, Apollo a shepherd: they gods, and yet in love; and thou a man appointed to love.
  • p. 39 (ed. 1588)

    Cf. Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale, act 4, sc. 3

• Ah, were she pitiful as she is fair,
  Or but as mild as she is seeming so,
  Then were my hopes greater than my despair,
  Then all the world were heaven, nothing woe.
  • Song, "Fawnia", l. 1 (ed. 1694); Dyce, p. 294

• Sovereign of beauty, like the spray she grows;
  Compass'd she is with thorns and canker'd bower.
  Yet, were she willing to be pluck'd and worn,
  She would be gather'd, though she grew on thorn.
  • Song, "Fawnia", l. 11 (ed. 1694); Dyce, p. 294

• O glorious sun, imagine me the west,
  Shine in my arms, and set thou in my breast!
  • Song, "Fawnia", l. 23 (ed. 1694); Dyce, p. 294

• Weep not, my wanton, smile upon my knee;
  When thou art old there’s grief enough for thee.
     Mother's wag, pretty boy.
     Father's sorrow, father's joy;
     When thy father first did see
     Such a boy by him and me,
     He was glad, I was woe;
     Fortune changed made him so,
     When he left his pretty boy,
     Last his sorrow, first his joy.
  • "Sephestia's Song to her Child", st. 1; Dyce p. 286

•    The wanton smil'd, father wept,
     Mother cried, baby lept;
     More he crow'd, more we cried,
     Nature could not sorrow hide:
     He must go, he must kiss
     Child and mother, baby bless,
     For he left his pretty boy,
     Father's sorrow, father's joy.
  • "Sephestia's Song to her Child", st. 3; Dyce p. 286

• Like to Diana in her summer-weed,
  Girt with a crimson robe of brightest dye,
    Goes fair Samela;
  Whiter than be the flocks that straggling feed
  When wash'd by Arethusa Fount they lie,
    Is fair Samela.
  • "Doron's Description of Samela", l. 1; Dyce p. 287

    Fount] Walker's correction (Critical Examination of the Text of Shakespeare, &c. (1860) vol. 2, p. 268).—Both 4tos. "faint."

• As fair Aurora in her morning-grey,
  Deck'd with the ruddy glister of her love,
    Is fair Samela.
  Like lovely Thetis on a calmed day,
  Whenas her brightness Neptune's fancy move,
    Shines fair Samela.
  • "Doron's Description of Samela", l. 7; Dyce p. 287

•   Thus fair Samela
  Passeth fair Venus in her bravest hue,
  And Juno in the show of majesty,
    For she's Samela;
  Pallas in wit, all three, if you well view.
  For beauty, wit, and matchless dignity,
    Yield to Samela.
  • "Doron's Description of Samela", l. 19; Dyce p. 287

• How oft have I descending Titan seen
    His burning locks couch in the sea-queen's lap,
    And beauteous Thetis his red body wrap
  In watery robes, as he her lord had been!
  • "Melicertus' Description of his Mistress", st. 3; Dyce, p. 287

• Not Jove or Nature, should they both agree
    To make a woman of the firmament,
    Of his mix'd purity could not invent
  A sky-born form so beautiful as she.
  • "Melicertus' Description of his Mistress", st. 5; Dyce, p. 288

• Her locks are plighted like the fleece of wool
    That Jason with his Grecian mates achiev'd;
    As pure as gold, yet not from gold deriv'd;
  As full of sweets as sweet of sweets is full.
  • "Menaphon's Eclogue", st. 4; Dyce, p. 289

• Her cheeks like ripen'd lilies steep'd in wine,
    Or fair pomegranate-kernels wash'd in milk,
    Or snow-white threads in nets of crimson silk,
  Or gorgeous clouds upon the sun's decline.
  • "Menaphon's Eclogue", st. 7; Dyce, p. 289

• Her lips are roses over-wash'd with dew,
    Or like the purple of Narcissus' flower;
    No frost their fair, no wind doth waste their power,
  But by her breath her beauties do renew.
  • "Menaphon's Eclogue", st. 8; Dyce, p. 289

• Her paps are like fair apples in the prime,
    As round as orient pearls, as soft as down;
    They never vail their fair through winter's frown,
  But from their sweets Love sucks his summertime.
  • "Menaphon's Eclogue", st. 11; Dyce, p. 289

• Her body Beauty's best-esteemèd bower,
  Delicious, comely, dainty, without stain.
  • "Menaphon's Eclogue", st. 12; Dyce, p. 289

• Her maiden mount, the dwelling-house of Pleasure;
    Not like, for why no like surpasseth wonder:
    O, blest is he may bring such beauties under,
  Or search by suit the secrets of that treasure!
  • "Menaphon's Eclogue", st. 12; Dyce, p. 289

• When gods had fram'd the sweet of women's face,
    And lock'd men's looks within their golden hair,
  That Phœbus blush'd to see their matchless grace,
    And heavenly gods on earth did make repair;
  To 'quip fair Venus' overweening pride,
  Love's happy thoughts to jealousy were tied.
  Then grew a wrinkle on fair Venus' brow;
    The amber sweet of love is turn'd to gall;
  Gloomy was heaven; bright Phœbus did avow
    He could be coy, and would not love at all,
  Swearing, no greater mischief could be wrought
  Than love united to a jealous thought.
  • Verses, "When god had framed the sweet"; Dyce, p. 311

• The swain did woo; she was nice,
  Following fashion, nay'd him twice.
  • "The Shepherd's Ode"; Dyce, p. 313

• A penny for your thought!
  • Margret, sc. 6

    Also in Lyly, Euphues (1579)

• Hangs in th' uncertain balance of proud time.
  • Margret, sc. 8; Dyce, p. 166

• The more the fox is curst, the better he fares.
  • Miles, sc. 11; quoting a proverb

    Curst] Obsolete for "coursed."

• Time is...Time was...Time is past.
  • Head, sc. 11

• Ah! what is love? It is a pretty thing,
  As sweet unto a shepherd as a king;
    And sweeter too,
  For kings have cares that wait upon a crown,
  And cares can make the sweetest love to frown;
    Ah then, ah then,
  If country loves such sweet desires do gain,
  What lady would not love a shepherd swain?
  • "The Shepherd's Wife's Song", l. 1; Dyce, p. 305

• For kings have often fears when they do sup,
  Where shepherds dread no poison in their cup.
  • "The Shepherd's Wife's Song", l. 20; Dyce, p. 305

• Sweet Adon, dar'st not glance thine eye—
     N'oserez vous, mon bel ami?—
  Upon thy Venus that must die?
     Je vous en prie, pity me;
  N'oserez vous, mon bel, mon bel,
  N'oserez vous, mon bel ami?
  • "Infida's Song", st. 1; Dyce, p. 297

• And in a sable mantle of disgrace
  Sat he that is y-clepèd heaven's bright eye.
  • "Radagon's Sonnet", l. 3; Dyce, p. 300

• In vain it is to strive against the stream.
  • Carinus, act 1; Dyce, p. 226

• A noble mind disdains to hide his head,
  And let his foes triumph in his overthrow.
  • Alphonsus, act 1; Dyce, p. 227

• He that will not when he may,
  When he desires shall surely purchase nay.
  • Alphonsus, act 5, sc. 3

• Sweet are the thoughts that savour of content;
    The quiet mind is richer than a crown;
  Sweet are the nights in careless slumber spent;
    The poor estate scorns fortune's angry frown:
  Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such bliss,
  Beggars enjoy, when princes oft do miss.
  • Song, "Sweet are the thoughts that savour of content", l. 1; Dyce, p. 309

• Obscurèd life sets down a type of bliss:
  A mind content both crown and kingdom is.
  • Song, "Sweet are the thoughts that savour of content", l. 11; Dyce, p. 309

• I had as lief have their room as their company.
  • Third Discourse of Folly

Groatsworth of Wit was published posthumously under Greene's name, but it was heavily revised by Henry Chettle, and may have been partially or even totally written by him.

• So soon kills not the basilisk with sight,
  The viper's tooth is not so venomous,
  The adder's tongue not half so dangerous,
  As they that bear the shadow of delight,
  Who chain blind youths in trammels of their hair,
  Till waste brings woe, and sorrow hastes despair.
  • "Verses against Enticing Couttezans", l. 9; Dyce, p. 310

• Deceiving world, that with alluring toys
  Hast made my life the subject of thy scorn,
  And scornest now to lend thy fading joys,
  T'outlength my life, whom friends have left forlorn;
  How well are they that die ere they be born,
  And never see thy sleights, which few men shun
  Till unawares they helpless are undone!
  • Verses, "Deceiving World", l. 1; Dyce, p. 310

• There is an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers, that with his tiger's heart wrapped in a player's hide supposes he is as well able to bombast out a blank verse as the best of you: and being an absolute Johannes Factotum, is in his own conceit the only Shake-scene in a country.
  • Probably the earliest reference to Shakespeare as a figure in the theatrical world.

• Tread on a worm and it will turn.

• Cupid abroad was lated in the night,
  His wings were wet with ranging in the rain.
  • Sonnet, "Cupid Abroad was Lated", l. 1; Dyce, p. 317

• To dry his plumes: I heard the boy complain;
  I op'd the door, and granted his desire,
  I rose myself, and made the wag a fire.
  • Sonnet, "Cupid Abroad was Lated", l. 4; Dyce, p. 317

• His shaft procur'd a sharp, yet sugar'd smart.
  • Sonnet, "Cupid Abroad was Lated", l. 15; Dyce, p. 317

• Away he flew, for why? his wings were dry;
  But left the arrow sticking in my breast,
  That sore I grieved I welcomed such a guest.
  • Sonnet, "Cupid Abroad was Lated", l. 16; Dyce, p. 317

    Different version in Alcida (1617). Cf. Anacreontea, 33

• Set a beggar on horseback, and they say he will never light.
  • Orpheus' Tale

• Verse quotations are cited from Alexander Dyce (ed.) The Dramatic and Poetical Works of Robert Greene and George Peele (London: Routledge, 1861)