George Peele

George Peele (born in London, baptized 25 July 1556 – buried 9 November 1596), was an English translator, poet, and dramatist. See also: The Old Wives' Tale David and Bethsabe Quotes What thing is love?—for (well I wot) love is a thing It is a prick, it is a sting, It is a pretty, pretty thing; It is a fire, it is a coal, Whose flame creeps in at every hole! The Hunting of Cupid (1591) O Gentle Love, ungentle for thy deede,        Thou makest my hart,        A bloodie marke,With piercing shot to bleede.Shoote soft sweete Love, for feare thou shoote amisse,        For feare too keene,        Thy arrowes beene:And hit the hart, where my belovèd is.Too faire that fortune were, nor never I        Shall be so blest,        Among the rest:That love shall ceaze on her by simpathy.Then since with Love my prayers beare no boote,        This doth remaine,        To cease my paine,I take the wound, and die at Venus foote. Anthologised in England’s Helicon (1600); cp. Latin O Crudelis Amor Bartlett's Familiar Quotations Quotes reported in: Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919) Villain, a horse--Villain, I say, give me a horse to fly,To swim the river, villain, and to fly. Battle of Alcazar (acted 1588-1589, printed 1594), act V, line 104. Published anonymously, but attributed with much probability to Peele. His golden locks time hath to silver turned;O time too swift! O swiftness never ceasing!His youth ’gainst time and age hath ever spurned,But spurned in vain; youth waneth by encreasing. Polyhymnia (1590) His helmet now shall make a hive for bees,And lovers’ songs be turned to holy psalms;A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees,And feed on prayers, which are old age’s alms. Polyhymnia (1590); also attributed to Henry Lee of Ditchley My merry, merry, merry roundelayConcludes with Cupid’s curse: They that do change old love for new,Pray gods, they change for worse! Cupid's Curse, lines 12-13 (date uncertain) External links Category:Poets from England Category:1596 deaths Category:Translators from England Category:Playwrights from England Category:1556 births Category:University of Oxford alumni Category:People from London