s: I dreamt that the night was quickly advancing,


s: I saw the dead and dying on the green crimson plain.


s: Comrades I once knew well in death’s sleep reposing,


s: Friends that I once loved but shall ne’er see again.


s: And each man was singing most gloriously.


s: God has been with us, and old Ireland is free.”


s: I dreamt I was homeward, back over the mountain track,


s: With joy my mother fainted and gave a loud scream.


s: With the shock I awoke, just as the day had broke,


s: And found myself an exile, and ’twas all but a dream.


s: When I was at home I was down on my luck,


s: And I earned a poor living by drawing a truck;


s: But old aunt died, and left me a thousand—“Oh, oh,


s: I’ll start on my travels,” said Billy Barlow.


s: When to Sydney I got, there a merchant I met,


s: Who said he would teach me a fortune to get;


s: He’d cattle and sheep past the colony’s bounds,


s: Which he sold with the station for my thousand pounds.


s: He gammon’d the cash out of Billy Barlow.


s: When the bargain was struck, and the money was paid,


s: He said, “My dear fellow, your fortune is made;


s: I can furnish supplies for the station, you know,


s: And your bill is sufficient, good Mr. Barlow.”


s: So I got my supplies, and I gave him my bill,


s: And for New England started, my pockets to fill;


s: But by bushrangers met, with my traps they made free,


s: Took my horse and left Billy bailed to a tree.


s: “I shall die of starvation,” thought Billy Barlow.


s: At last I got loose, and I walked on my way;


s: “Are you free?” Says I, “Yes, to be sure; don’t you know?”


s: And I handed my card, “Mr. William Barlow.”


s: He said, “That’s all gammon,” to Billy Barlow.


s: Then he put on the handcuffs, and brought me away


s: Right back down to Maitland, before Mr. Day.


s: When I said I was free, why the J.P. replied,


s: “I must send you down to be i—dentified.”


s: So to Sydney once more went poor Billy Barlow.


s: They at last let me go, and I then did repair


s: For my station once more, and at length I got there;


s: But a few days before, the blacks, you must know,


s: Had spear’d all the cattle of Billy Barlow.


s: “It’s a beautiful country,” said Billy Barlow.


s: And for nine months before no rain there had been,


s: So the devil a blade of grass could be seen;


s: And one-third of my wethers the scab they had got,


s: And the other two-thirds had just died of the rot.


s: “I shall soon be a settler,” said Billy Barlow.


s: And the matter to mend, now my bill was near due,


s: So I wrote to my friend, and just asked to renew;


s: He replied he was sorry he couldn’t, because


s: The bill had passed into a usurer’s claws.


s: “But perhaps he’ll renew it,” said Billy Barlow.


s: I applied; to renew he was quite content,


s: If secured, and allowed just three hundred per cent.;


s: But as I couldn’t do, Barr, Rodgers, and Co.


s: Soon sent up a summons for Billy Barlow.


s: They soon settled the business of Billy Barlow.


s: For a month or six weeks I stewed over my loss,


s: And a tall man rode up one day on a black horse;


s: He asked, “Don’t you know me?” I answered him “No.”


s: “Why,” said he, “my name’s Kinsmill; how are you,


s: He’d got a fi. fa. for poor Billy Barlow.


s: What I’d left of my sheep and my traps he did seize,


s: And he said, “They won’t pay all the costs and my fees;”


s: Then he sold off the lot, and I’m sure ’twas a sin,


s: At sixpence a head, and the station giv’n in.


s: “I’ll go back to England,” said Billy Barlow.


s: My sheep being sold, and my money all gone,


s: Oh, I wandered about then quite sad and forlorn;


s: How I managed to live it would shock you to know,


s: And as thin as a lath got poor Billy Barlow.


s: Quite down on his luck was poor Billy Barlow.


s: And in a few weeks more, the sheriff, you see,


s: Sent the tall man on horseback once more unto me;


s: Having got all he could by the writ of fi. fa.,


s: By way of a change he’d brought up a ca. sa.


s: He took me to Sydney, and there they did lock


s: Poor unfortunate Billy fast “under the clock;”


s: And to get myself out I was forced, you must know


s: The schedule to file of poor Billy Barlow.


s: In the list of insolvents was Billy Barlow.


s: Then once more I got free, but in poverty’s toil;


s: I’ve no “cattle for salting,” no “sheep for to boil;”


s: I can’t get a job—though to any I’d stoop,


s: If it was only the making of portable soup.”


s: Pray give some employment to Billy Barlow.


s: Queene.--Ponsonby's account of the way in which this volume was


s: Nigh where the goodly Verlame stood of yore,


s: By which the travailer that fares that way


s: _This once was she_ may warned be to say.


s: Rending her yeolow locks, like wyrie golde


s: About her shoulders careleslie downe trailing,


s: And streames of teares from her faire eyes forth railing*:


s: In her right hand a broken rod she held,


s: Which towards heaven shee seemd on high to weld,


s: Whether she were one of that rivers nymphes,


s: Which did the losse of some dere Love lament,


s: I doubt; or one of those three fatall impes


s: Which draw the dayes of men forth in extent;


s: Or th'auncient genius of that citie brent*;


s: But, seeing her so piteouslie perplexed,


s: I, to her calling, askt what her so vexed.


s: "Ah! what delight," quoth she, "in earthlie thing,


s: Or comfort can I, wretched creature, have?


s: From highest staire to lowest step me drave,


s: And have in mine owne bowels made my grave,


s: The worlds sad spectacle, and Fortunes scorne."


s: Much was I mooved at her piteous plaint,


s: And felt my heart nigh riven in my brest


s: With tender ruth to see her sore constraint;


s: That, shedding teares, a while I still did rest,


s: "Name have I none," quoth she, "nor anie being,


s: Bereft of both by Fates uniust decreeing.


s: "I was that citie which the garland wore


s: By Romane victors which it wonne of yore;


s: Though nought at all but ruines now I bee,


s: VERLAME I was; what bootes it that I was,


s: Sith now I am but weedes and wastfull gras?


s: "O vaine worlds glorie, and unstedfast state


s: Of all that lives on face of sinfull earth!


s: Which, from their first untill their utmost date,


s: But like as at the ingate* of their berth


s: They crying creep out of their mothers woomb,


s: So wailing backe go to their wofull toomb.


s: "Why then dooth flesh, a bubble-glas of breath,


s: Hunt after honour and advauncement vaine,


s: With so great labour and long-lasting paine,


s: As if his daies for ever should remaine?


s: Sith all that in this world is great or gaie


s: "Looke backe, who list, unto the former ages,


s: And call to count what is of them become.


s: Where be those learned wits and antique sages,


s: Which of all wisedome knew the perfect somme?


s: Where those great warriors, which did overcome


s: The world with conquest of their might and maine,


s: And made one meare* of th'earth and of their raine?


s: Of whome no footing now on earth appeares?


s: What of the Persian Beares outragiousnesse,


s: Whose memorie is quite worne out with yeares?


s: Who of the Grecian Libbard* now ought heares,


s: That over-ran the East with greedie powre,


s: And left his whelps their kingdomes to devoure?


s: "And where is that same great seven-headded beast,


s: That made all nations vassals of her pride,


s: To fall before her feete at her beheast,


s: And in the necke of all the world did ride?


s: Where doth she all that wondrous welth nowe hide?


s: With her own weight downe pressed now shee lies,


s: And by her heaps her hugenesse testifies.


s: That whilom was, whilst heavens with equall vewe


s: Deignd to behold me and their gifts bestowe,


s: The picture of thy pride in pompous shew:


s: And of the whole world as thou wast the empresse,


s: So I of this small Northerne world was princesse.


s: "To tell the beawtie of my buildings fayre,


s: Adornd with purest golde and precious stone,


s: That by my foes are now all spent and gone,


s: Were but lost labour that few would beleeve,


s: And with rehearsing would me more agreeve.


s: "High towers, faire temples, goodly theaters,


s: Strong walls, rich porches, princelie pallaces,


s: Large streetes, brave houses, sacred sepulchers,


s: Sure gates, sweete gardens, stately galleries


s: Wrought with faire pillours and fine imageries,--


s: All those, O pitie! now are turnd to dust,


s: And overgrowen with blacke oblivions rust.


s: "Theretoo, for warlike power and peoples store


s: In Britannie was none to match with mee,


s: Ne Troynovant*, though elder sister shee,


s: With my great forces might compared bee;


s: That stout Pendragon to his perill felt,


s: Who in a siege seaven yeres about me dwelt.


s: "But long ere this, Bunduca, Britonnesse,


s: Her mightie hoast against my bulwarkes brought;


s: That, lifting up her brave heroick thought


s: Bove womens weaknes, with the Romanes fought,


s: Fought, and in field against them thrice prevailed:


s: Yet was she foyld, when as she me assailed.


s: "And though at last by force I conquered were


s: Of hardie Saxons, and became their thrall,


s: Yet was I with much bloodshed bought full deere,


s: And prizde with slaughter of their generall,


s: For wonder of the world, long in me lasted,


s: But now to nought, through spoyle of time, is wasted.


s: And all the rest that me so honord made,


s: Is turnd to smoake that doth to nothing fade;


s: And of that brightnes now appeares no shade,


s: But greislie shades, such as doo haunt in hell


s: With fearfull fiends that in deep darknes dwell.


s: "Where my high steeples whilom usde to stand,


s: On which the lordly faulcon wont to towre,


s: There now is but an heap of lyme and sand


s: For the shriche-owle to build her balefull bowre:


s: And where the nightingale wont forth to powre


s: Her restles plaints, to comfort wakefull lovers,


s: There now haunt yelling mewes and whining plovers.


s: "And where the christall Thamis wont to slide


s: About whose flowrie bankes on either side


s: A thousand nymphes, with mirthfull iollitee,


s: Were wont to play, from all annoyance free,


s: There now no rivers course is to be seene,


s: But moorish fennes, and marshes ever greene.


s: "Seemes that that gentle river, for great griefe


s: Of my mishaps which oft I to him plained,


s: With which he saw my cruell foes me pained,


s: And his pure streames with guiltles blood oft stained,


s: From my unhappie neighborhood farre fled,


s: And his sweete waters away with him led.


s: "There also where the winged ships were seene


s: In liquid waves to cut their fomie waie,


s: And thousand fishers numbred to have been,


s: In that wide lake looking for plenteous praie


s: Of fish, which they with baits usde to betraie,


s: Nor ever ship shall saile there anie more.


s: "They all are gone, and all with them is gone!


s: My long decay, which no man els doth mone,


s: And mourne my fall with dolefull dreriment:


s: Yet it is comfort in great languishment,


s: And Times decay, and Envies cruell tort*,


s: Hath writ my record in true-seeming sort.


s: Buried in ruines, through the great outrage


s: Of her owne people led with warlike rage,


s: CAMBDEN! though Time all moniments obscure,


s: "But whie, unhappie wight! doo I thus crie,


s: And grieve that my remembrance quite is raced*


s: Sith I doo dailie see things highest placed,


s: So soone as Fates their vitall thred have shorne,


s: Forgotten quite as they were never borne


s: "It is not long, since these two eyes beheld


s: A mightie Prince*, of most renowmed race,


s: Whom England high in count of honour held,


s: And greatest ones did sue to game his grace;


s: Of greatest ones he, greatest in his place,


s: And _Right and Loyall_** did his word maintaine.


s: Of the meane people, and brought foorth on beare;


s: His dolefull fate that late him loved deare;


s: Scarse anie left to close his eylids neare;


s: That builde your blis on hope of earthly thing,


s: And vainly thinke your selves halfe happie then,


s: When painted faces with smooth flattering


s: Doo fawne on you, and your wide praises sing;


s: And, when the courting masker louteth* lowe,


s: Him true in heart and trustie to you trow!


s: "All is but fained, and with oaker* dide,


s: That everie shower will wash and wipe away;


s: All things doo change that under heaven abide,


s: And after death all friendship doth decaie.


s: Therefore, what ever man bearst worldlie sway,


s: For, when thou diest, all shall with thee die.


s: "He now is dead, and all is with him dead,


s: Save what in heavens storehouse he uplaid:


s: His hope is faild, and come to passe his dread,


s: And evill men (now dead) his deeds upbraid:


s: Spite bites the dead, that living never baid.


s: He now is gone, the whiles the foxe is crept


s: Into the hole the which the badger swept.


s: "He now is dead, and all his glorie gone,


s: And all his greatnes vapoured to nought,


s: Which vanisht quite so soone as it was sought.


s: His name is worne alreadie out of thought,


s: "Ne doth his Colin, carelesse Colin Cloute,


s: Of shepherd groomes, which wont his songs to praise:


s: Praise who so list, yet I will him dispraise,


s: Untill he quite* him of this guiltie blame.


s: Wake, shepheards boy, at length awake for shame!


s: "And who so els did goodnes by him game,


s: And who so els his bounteous minde did trie*,


s: Whether he shepheard be, or shepheards swaine,


s: (For manie did, which doo it now denie,)


s: And I, the whilest you mourne for his decease,


s: Will with my mourning plaints your plaint increase.


s: "He dyde, and after him his brother dyde,


s: His brother prince, his brother noble peere,


s: That whilste he lived was of none envyde,


s: And dead is now, as living, counted deare;


s: Deare unto all that true affection beare,


s: But unto thee most deare, O dearest Dame,


s: "He, whilest he lived, happie was through thee,


s: And, being dead, is happie now much more;


s: Living, that lincked chaunst with thee to bee,


s: And dead, because him dead thou dost adore


s: As living, and thy lost deare love deplore.


s: So whilst that thou, faire flower of chastitie,


s: Dost live, by thee thy lord shall never die.


s: "Thy lord shall never die, the whiles this verse


s: Shall live, and surely it shall live for ever:


s: For ever it shall live, and shall rehearse


s: His worthie praise, and vertues dying never,


s: Though death his soule doo from his bodie sever:


s: And thou thy selfe herein shalt also live;


s: Such grace the heavens doo to my verses give.


s: "Ne shall his sister, ne thy father, die;


s: Thy father, that good earle of rare renowne,


s: Whose great good deeds, in countrey and in towne.


s: Have purchast him in heaven an happie crowne:


s: And left his sonne t'ensue those steps of his.


s: "He, noble bud, his grandsires livelie hayre,


s: Now ginnes to shoote up fast, and flourish fayre


s: In learned artes, and goodlie governaunce,


s: That him to highest honour shall advaunce.


s: Brave impe* of Bedford, grow apace in bountie,


s: And count of wisedome more than of thy countie!


s: That goodly ladie, sith she eke did spring


s: And foorth out of her happie womb did bring


s: The sacred brood of learning and all honour;


s: In whom the heavens powrde all their gifts upon her.


s: "Most gentle spirite breathed from above,


s: In whom all bountie and all vertuous love


s: With treasure passing all this worldës worth,


s: Worthie of heaven it selfe, which brought it forth:


s: "His blessed spirite, full of power divine


s: Loathing this sinfull earth and earthlie slime,


s: Fled backe too soonc unto his native place;


s: Too soone for all that did his love embrace,


s: Too soone for all this wretched world, whom he


s: "Yet, ere his happie soule to heaven went


s: Out of this fleshlie goale, he did devise


s: Should powre forth th'offring of his guiltles blood:


s: So life exchanging for his countries good.


s: "O noble spirite, live there ever blessed,


s: The worlds late wonder, and the heavens new ioy;


s: Live ever there, and leave me here distressed


s: With mortall cares and cumbrous worlds anoy!


s: But, where thou dost that happines enioy,


s: That happie there I maie thee alwaies see!


s: "Yet, whilest the Fates affoord me vitall breath,


s: I will it spend in speaking of thy praise,


s: And sing to thee, untill that timelie death


s: By heavens doome doo ende my earthlie daies:


s: Thereto doo thou my humble spirite raise,


s: Which thou there breathest perfect and entire.


s: "Then will I sing; but who can better sing


s: Than thine owne sister, peerles ladie bright,


s: Which to thee sings with deep harts sorrowing,


s: That her to heare I feele my feeble spright


s: "Yet will I sing; but who can better sing


s: Than thou thyselfe thine owne selfes valiance,


s: That, whilest thou livedst, madest the forrests ring,


s: And fields resownd, and flockes to leap and daunce,


s: And shepheards leave their lambs unto mischaunce,


s: To runne thy shrill Arcadian pipe to heare:


s: O happie were those dayes, thrice happie were!


s: "But now more happie thou, and wretched wee,


s: Which want the wonted sweetnes of thy voice,


s: Whiles thou now in Elisian fields so free,


s: With Orpheus, and with Linus, and the choice


s: Conversest, and doost heare their heavenlie layes,


s: And they heare thine, and thine doo better praise.


s: "So there thou livest, singing evermore,


s: And now thee worship mongst that blessed throng


s: So thou both here and there immortall art,


s: And everie where through excellent desart.


s: "But such as neither of themselves can sing,


s: Their names shall of the later age be heard,


s: "What booteth it to have been rich alive?


s: But sleepes in dust dead and inglorious,


s: Like beast, whose breath but in his nostrels is,


s: Which in their daies most famouslie did florish,


s: Of whome no word we heare, nor signe now see,


s: But as things wipt out with a sponge to perishe,


s: Because they living cared not to cherishe


s: No gentle wits, through pride or covetize,


s: Which might their names for ever memorize!


s: "Provide therefore, ye Princes, whilst ye live,


s: And do those men in golden thrones repose,


s: "The seven-fold yron gates of grislie Hell,


s: They able are with power of mightie spell


s: To breake, and thence the soules to bring awaie


s: Out of dread darkenesse to eternall day,


s: And them immortall make which els would die


s: In foule forgetfulnesse, and nameles lie.


s: "So whilome raised they the puissant brood


s: Of golden-girt Alcmena, for great merite,


s: Out of the dust to which the Oetaean wood


s: Had him consum'd, and spent his vitall spirite,


s: To highest heaven, where now he doth inherite


s: "So raisde they eke faire Ledaes warlick twinnes.


s: That, when th'one diës, th'other then beginnes


s: And they, for pittie of the sad wayment*,


s: Her back againe to life sent for his sake.


s: That freed from bands of impacable** fate,


s: And power of death, they live for aye above,


s: Where mortall wreakes their blis may not remove:


s: But with the gods, for former verities meede,


s: "For deeds doe die, how ever noblie donne,


s: And thoughts of men do as themselves decay;


s: But wise wordes taught in numbers for to runne,


s: Ne may with storming showers be washt away,


s: Ne bitter-breathing windes with harmfull blast,


s: Nor age, nor envie, shall them ever wast.


s: "In vaine doo earthly princes then, in vaine,


s: Or huge colosses built with costlie paine,


s: Or shrines made of the mettall most desired,


s: "Such one Mausolus made, the worlds great wonder,


s: But now no remnant doth thereof remaine:


s: Such one Marcellus, but was torne with thunder:


s: Such one Lisippus, but is worne with raine:


s: Such one King Edmond, but was rent for gaine.


s: All such vaine moniments of earthlie masse,


s: Devour'd of Time, in time to nought doo passe.


s: "But Fame with golden wings aloft doth flie,


s: And with brave plumes doth beate the azure skie,


s: Admir'd of base-borne men from farre away:


s: Then who so will with vertuous deeds assay


s: To mount to heaven, on Pegasus must ride,


s: And with sweete Poets verse be glorifide.


s: "For not to have been dipt in Lethe lake,


s: Could save the sonne of Thetis from to die;


s: But that blinde bard did him immortall make


s: Which made the Easterne conquerour to crie,


s: O fortunate yong man! whose vertue found


s: So brave a trompe thy noble acts to sound.


s: "Therefore in this halfe happie I doo read*


s: In spight of envie, that his deeds would spot:


s: Since whose decease, learning lies unregarded,


s: "Those two be those two great calamities,


s: That long agoe did grieve the noble spright


s: But now his wisedome is disprooved quite,


s: For he that now welds* all things at his will


s: Scorns th'one and th'other in his deeper skill.


s: "O griefe of griefes! O gall of all good heartes!


s: Of him that first was raisde for vertuous parts,


s: And now, broad spreading like an aged tree,


s: Lets none shoot up that nigh him planted bee.


s: O let the man of whom the Muse is scorned,


s: Nor alive nor dead, be of the Muse adorned!


s: "O vile worlds trust! that with such vaine illusion


s: Hath so wise men bewitcht and overkest*,


s: That they see not the way of their confusion:


s: That do my soule with inward griefe infest!


s: Let them behold the piteous fall of mee,


s: "And who so els that sits in highest seate


s: Of this worlds glorie, worshipped of all,


s: Ne feareth change of time, nor fortunes threats,


s: And in himselfe be moov'd to pittie mee."


s: Thus having ended all her piteous plaint,


s: With dolefull shrikes shee vanished away,


s: That I, through inward sorrowe wexen faint,


s: But sate long time in sencelesse sad affright,


s: Looking still, if I might of her have sight.


s: Which when I missed, having looked long,


s: My thought returned greeved home againe,


s: Renewing her complaint with passion strong,


s: For ruth of that same womans piteous paine;


s: Whose wordes recording in my troubled braine,


s: I felt such anguish wound my feeble heart,


s: That frosen horror ran through everie part.


s: And deepelie muzing at her doubtfull speach,


s: Whose meaning much I labored foorth to wreste,


s: At length, by demonstration me to teach,


s: Before mine eies strange sights presented were,


s: Like tragicke pageants seeming to appeare.


s: That all which did the same from farre beholde


s: Might worship it, and fall on lowest staire.


s: Not that great idoll might with this compaire,


s: To which th'Assyrian tyrant would have made


s: The holie brethren falslie to have praid.


s: But th'altare on the which this image staid


s: Was (O great pitie!) built of brickle* clay,


s: With showres of heaven and tempests worne away;


s: Then downe it fell, and low in ashes lay,


s: Next unto this a statelie Towre appeared,


s: Built all of richest stone that might bee found,


s: And nigh unto the heavens in height upreared,


s: Not that great towre which is so much renownd


s: King Ninus worke, might be compar'd to it.


s: But, O vaine labours of terrestriall wit,


s: That buildes so stronglie on so frayle a soyle,


s: As with each storme does fall away and flit,


s: And gives the fruit of all your travailes toyle


s: To be the pray of Tyme, and Fortunes spoyle,


s: I saw this towre fall sodainlie to dust,


s: That nigh with griefe thereof my heart was brust.


s: Full of sweete flowres and daintiest delights,


s: Such as on earth man could not more devize,


s: With pleasures choyce to feed his cheereful sprights:


s: Not that which Merlin by his magicke slights


s: Made for the gentle Squire, to entertaine


s: His fayre Belphoebe, could this gardine staine.


s: But O short pleasure bought with lasting paine!


s: In earthlie blis, and ioy in pleasures vaine?


s: Since that I sawe this gardine wasted quite,


s: That where it was scarce seemed anie sight;


s: That I, which once that beautie did beholde,


s: Could not from teares my melting eyes with-holde.


s: Soone after this a Giaunt came in place,


s: Of wondrous power, and of exceeding stature,


s: That none durst vewe the horror of his face;


s: Yet was he milde of speach, and meeke of nature.


s: Not he which in despight of his Creatour


s: With railing tearmes defied the Iewish hoast,


s: Might with this mightie one in hugenes boast;


s: For from the one he could to th'other coast


s: Stretch his strong thighes, and th'ocean overstride,


s: And reatch his hand into his enemies hoast.


s: But see the end of pompe and fleshlie pride!


s: One of his feete unwares from him did slide,


s: That downe hee fell into the deepe abisse,


s: Where drownd with him is all his earthlie blisse.


s: Then did I see a Bridge, made all of golde,


s: But like the coloured rainbowe arched wide:


s: Not that great arche which Traian edifide,


s: But ah! what bootes it to see earthlie thing


s: Sith time doth greatest things to ruine bring?


s: This goodlie bridge, one foote not fastned well,


s: Gan faile, and all the rest downe shortlie fell,


s: Ne of so brave a building ought remained,


s: That griefe thereof my spirite greatly pained.


s: I saw two Beares, as white as anie milke,


s: Of milde aspect, and haire as soft as silke,


s: Nor after greedie spoyle of blood to crave:


s: Two fairer beasts might not elswhere be found,


s: Although the compast* world were sought around.


s: But what can long abide above this ground


s: In state of blis, or stedfast happinesse?


s: The cave in which these beares lay sleeping sound


s: Was but earth, and with her owne weightinesse


s: Upon them fell, and did unwares oppresse;


s: That, for great sorrow of their sudden fate,


s: Much was I troubled in my heavie spright,


s: At sight of these sad spectacles forepast,


s: That all my senses were bereaved quight,


s: Distraught twixt feare and pitie; when at last


s: I heard a voyce which loudly to me called,


s: That with the suddein shrill I was appalled.


s: "Behold," said it, "and by ensample see,


s: That all is vanitie and griefe of minde,


s: But hope of heaven, and heart to God inclinde;


s: For all the rest must needs be left behinde."


s: To cast mine eye, where other sights I spide.


s: There stood a snowie Swan, of heavenly hiew


s: Of white Strimonian brood might no man view:


s: There he most sweetly sung the prophecie


s: He ended had, that both the shores resounded,


s: Feeling the fit that him forewarnd to die,


s: With loftie flight above the earth he bounded,


s: And out of sight to highest heaven mounted,


s: Where now he is become an heavenly signe;


s: There now the ioy is his, here sorrow mine.


s: Whilest thus I looked, loe! adowne the lee*


s: I sawe an Harpe, stroong all with silver twyne,


s: Swimming, that whilome seemed to have been


s: The harpe on which Dan Orpheus was seene


s: Wylde beasts and forrests after him to lead,


s: But was th'harpe of Philisides** now dead.


s: At length out of the river it was reard,


s: And borne above the cloudes to be divin'd,


s: Whilst all the way most heavenly noyse was heard


s: Of the strings, stirred with the warbling wind,


s: That wrought both ioy and sorrow in my mind:


s: So now in heaven a signe it doth appeare,


s: The Harpe well knowne beside the Northern Beare.


s: That in it did most precious treasure hide,


s: Yet through the overflowing of the flood


s: It almost drowned was and done to nought,


s: That sight thereof much griev'd my pensive thought.


s: At length, when most in perill it was brought,


s: Two angels, downe descending with swift flight,


s: Out of the swelling streame it lightly caught,


s: And twixt their blessed armes it carried quight


s: So now it is transform'd into that starre,


s: In which all heavenly treasures locked are.


s: That might for anie princes couche be red*,


s: And deckt with daintie flowres, as if it shold


s: Be for some bride, her ioyous night to hold:


s: For lo! her bridegrome was in readie ray


s: To come to her, and seeke her loves delight:


s: With that she started up with cherefull sight,


s: When suddeinly both bed and all was gone,


s: A Knight all arm'd, upon a winged steed,


s: The same that was bred of Medusaes blood,


s: On which Dan Perseus, borne of heavenly seed,


s: That streames of blood foorth flowed on the gras.


s: Yet was he deckt (small ioy to him, alas!)


s: And with rich spoyles, which late he did purchas


s: Through brave atcheivements from his enemies:


s: Fainting at last through long infirmities,


s: He smote his steed, that straight to heaven him bore,


s: And left me here his losse for to deplore.


s: Which th'ashes seem'd of some great prince to hold,


s: Seemed the heavens with the earth did disagree,


s: Whether should of those ashes keeper bee.


s: From heaven descending to appease their strife,


s: The arke did beare with him above the skie,


s: To live in heaven, where happines is rife:


s: At which the earth did grieve exceedingly,


s: Which now art made the heavens ornament,


s: That whilome wast the worldës chiefst riches.


s: Give leave to him that lov'de thee to lament


s: His losse by lacke of thee to heaven hent*,


s: And with last duties of this broken verse,


s: Broken with sighes, to decke thy sable herse!


s: And ye, faire Ladie! th'honor of your daies


s: And glorie of the world, your high thoughts scorne,


s: Vouchsafe this moniment of his last praise


s: With some few silver dropping teares t'adorne;


s: And as ye be of heavenlie off-spring borne,


s: So unto heaven let your high minde aspire,


s: And loath this drosse of sinfull worlds desire.


s: Ver. 190.--_I saw him die_. Leicester died at Cornbury Lodge, in


s: Ver. 239.--_His brother._ Ambrose Dudley, Earl of Warwick.


s: Ver. 281.--_Most gentle spirite._  Sir Philip Sidney.


s: Ver. 436.--_Good Melibae_. Sir Francis Walsingham, who died April


s: L'ENVOY: _L'Envoy_ was a sort of postscript _sent with_ poetical


s: Those piteous plaints and sorowfull sad tine


s: Which late ye powred forth as ye did sit


s: Making your musick of hart-breaking mone!


s: For since the time that Phoebus foolish sonne,


s: Ythundered, through loves avengefull wrath,


s: Beyond the compasse of his pointed path,


s: Of you, his mournfull sisters, was lamented,


s: Such mournfull tunes were never since invented.


s: Her loved twinnes, the dearlings of her ioy,


s: The Fatall Sisters, did for spight destroy,


s: Whom all the Muses did bewaile long space,


s: Was ever heard such wayling in this place.


s: For all their groves, which with the heavenly noyses


s: Of their sweete instruments were wont to sound,


s: And th'hollow hills, from which their silver voyces


s: Did now rebound with nought but rufull cries,


s: And yelling shrieks throwne up into the skies.


s: The trembling streames which wont in chanels cleare


s: To romble gently downe with murmur soft,


s: And were by them right tunefull taught to beare


s: A bases part amongst their consorts oft;


s: Now forst to overflowe with brackish teares,


s: With troublous noyse did dull their daintie eares.


s: The ioyous Nymphes and lightfoote Faëries


s: Which thether came to heare their musick sweet,


s: Did learne to move their nimble-shifting feete,


s: And all that els was wont to worke delight


s: Through the divine infusion of their skill,


s: And all that els seemd faire and fresh in sight,


s: So made by nature for to serve their will,


s: Ay me! what thing on earth, that all thing breeds,


s: Might be the cause of so impatient plight?


s: What furie, or what feend, with felon deeds


s: Hath stirred up so mischievous despight?


s: Can griefe then enter into heavenly harts,


s: And pierce immortall breasts with mortall smarts?


s: Vouchsafe ye then, whom onely it concernes,


s: For none but you, or who of you it learnes,


s: Heare, thou great Father of the Gods on hie,


s: That most art dreaded for thy thunder darts;


s: And thou, our Syre? that raignst in Castalie


s: And Mount Parnasse, the god of goodly arts:


s: Behold the fowle reproach and open shame


s: The foes of learning and each gentle thought;


s: They, not contented us themselves to scorne,


s: Doo seeke to make us of the world forlorne*.


s: The sonnes of darknes and of ignoraunce;


s: But they whom thou, great love, by doome uniust


s: Didst to the type of honour earst advaunce;


s: They now, puft up with sdeignfull insolence,


s: That wont to be the worlds chiefe ornament,


s: And learned impes that wont to shoote up still,


s: And grow to hight of kingdomes government,


s: They underkeep, and with their spredding armes


s: Doo beat their buds, that perish through their harmes.


s: Of mightie peeres true wisedome to sustaine,


s: And with their noble countenaunce to grace


s: The learned forheads, without gifts or game:


s: Or rather learnd themselves behoves to bee;


s: Of th'heavenly gift of wisdomes influence,


s: And to be learned it a base thing deeme:


s: Base minded they that want intelligence;


s: For God himselfe for wisedome most is praised,


s: And men to God thereby are nighest raised.


s: But they doo onely strive themselves to raise


s: Through pompous pride, and foolish vanitie;


s: In th'eyes of people they put all their praise,


s: And onely boast of armes and auncestrie:


s: But vertuous deeds, which did those armes first give


s: To their grandsyres, they care not to atchive.


s: So I, that doo all noble feates professe


s: Through their bad dooings, or base slothfulnesse,


s: Finde nothing worthie to be writ, or told:


s: For better farre it were to hide their names,


s: Than telling them to blazon out their blames.


s: Of things forepast, nor moniments of time;


s: And all that in this world is worthie hight


s: Shall die in darknesse, and lie hid in slime!


s: Therefore I mourne with deep harts sorrowing,


s: With that she raynd such store of streaming teares,


s: That could have made a stonie heart to weep;


s: And all her sisters rent* their golden heares,


s: And their faire faces with salt humour steep.


s: Began her grievous plaint, as doth ensew.


s: A sea of teares that never may be dryde,


s: A brasen voice that may with shrilling cryes


s: Pierce the dull heavens and fill the ayër wide,


s: To waile the wretchednes of world impure!


s: Ah, wretched world! the den of wickednesse,


s: Ah, wretched world! the house of heavinesse,


s: Fild with the wreaks of mortall miserie;


s: Ah, wretched world, and all that is therein!


s: The vassals of Gods wrath, and slaves of sin.


s: For all this worlds affliction he thereby,


s: And fortunes freakes, is wisely taught to beare:


s: She armes the brest with constant patience


s: Against the bitter throwes of dolours darts:


s: The gentle minds, in midst of worldlie smarts:


s: When he is sad, shee seeks to make him merie,


s: And doth refresh his sprights when they be werie.


s: And wants the staffe of wisedome him to stay,


s: Full sad and dreadfull is that ships event;


s: Whie then doo foolish men so much despize


s: The precious store of this celestiall riches?


s: The name of learning? Most unhappie wretches!


s: The which lie drowned in deep wretchednes,


s: The stage with tragick buskin to adorne,


s: And fill the scene with plaint and outcries shrill


s: Of wretched persons, to misfortune borne:


s: But none more tragick matter I can finde


s: Than this, of men depriv'd of sense and minde.


s: Full of sad sights and sore catastrophees;


s: First comming to the world with weeping eye,


s: Where all his dayes, like dolorous trophees,


s: Are heapt with spoyles of fortune and of feare,


s: And he at last laid forth on balefull beare.


s: The flowre of wit, finde nought to busie me:


s: Because that mourning matter I have none.


s: Then gan she wofully to waile, and wring


s: Threw forth lowd shrieks and drerie dolefull cries.


s: Began her grievous plaint, as doth ensew.


s: Where be the sweete delights of learnings treasure,


s: The painted theaters, and fill with pleasure


s: The listners eyes, and eares with melodie,


s: In which I late was wont to raine as queene,


s: And maske in mirth with graces well beseene?


s: O, all is gone! and all that goodly glee,


s: Which wont to be the glorie of gay wits,


s: With hollow browes and greisly countenaunce


s: Out of dredd darknes of the deep abysme,


s: Where being bredd, he light and heaven does hate:


s: They in the mindes of men now tyrannize,


s: And the faire scene with rudenes foule disguize.


s: All places they with follie have possest,


s: And with vaine toyes the vulgare entertaine;


s: That whilome wont to wait upon my traine,


s: Fine Counterfesaunce*, and unhurtfull Sport,


s: Delight, and Laughter, deckt in seemly sort.


s: All these, and all that els the comick stage


s: With seasoned wit and goodly pleasance graced,


s: Was limned forth, are wholly now defaced;


s: And those sweete wits which wont the like to frame


s: Are now despizd, and made a laughing game.


s: And he, the man whom Nature selfe had made


s: To mock her selfe, and truth to imitate,


s: With kindly counter* under mimick shade,


s: Our pleasant Willy, ah! is dead of late:


s: And scornfull Follie with Contempt is crept,


s: Each idle wit at will presumes to make*,


s: And doth the learneds taske upon him take.


s: But that same gentle spirit, from whose pen


s: Large streames of honnie and sweete nectar flowe,


s: Scorning the boldnes of such base-borne men,


s: Which dare their follies forth so rashlie throwe,


s: And laughing stocke of all that list to scorne,


s: But loath'd of losels* as a thing forlorne:


s: Therefore I mourne and sorrow with the rest,


s: Therewith she lowdly did lament and shrike,


s: Pouring forth streames of teares abundantly;


s: And all her sisters, with compassion like,


s: The breaches of her singulfs* did supply.


s: So rested shee: and then the next in rew


s: Began her grievous plaint, as doth ensew.


s: Like as the dearling of the summers pryde,


s: Faire Philomele, when winters stormie wrath


s: The goodly fields, that earst so gay were dyde


s: In colours divers, quite despoyled hath,


s: All comfortlesse doth hide her chearlesse head


s: So we, that earst were wont in sweet accord


s: All places with our pleasant notes to fill,


s: Free libertie to chaunt our charmes at will,


s: Like wofull culvers**, doo sit wayling now.


s: For far more bitter storme than winters stowre*


s: The beautie of the world hath lately wasted,


s: And those fresh buds, which wont so faire to flowre,


s: Hath marred quite, and all their blossoms blasted;


s: And those yong plants, which wont with fruit t'abound,


s: Now without fruite or leaves are to be found.


s: A stonie coldnesse hath benumbd the sence


s: And livelie spirits of each living wight,


s: And dimd with darknesse their intelligence,


s: Darknesse more than Cymerians daylie night:


s: And monstrous Error, flying in the ayre,


s: Hath mard the face of all that semed fayre.


s: Borne in the bosome of the black abysse,


s: And fed with Furies milke for sustenaunce


s: By yawning Sloth on his owne mother Night,--


s: So hee his sonnes both syre and brother hight,--


s: He, armd with blindnesse and with boldnes stout,


s: (For blind is bold,) hath our fayre light defaced;


s: Of Faunes and Satyres, hath our dwellings raced*,


s: And our chast bowers, in which all vertue rained,


s: With brutishnesse and beastlie filth hath stained.


s: The sacred springs of horsefoot Helicon,


s: And speaking streames of pure Castalion,


s: The famous witnesse of our wonted praise,


s: They trampled have with their fowle footings trade*,


s: And like to troubled puddles have them made.


s: Our pleasant groves, which planted were with paines,


s: That with our musick wont so oft to ring,


s: And arbors sweet, in which the shepheards swaines


s: Were wont so oft their pastoralls to sing,


s: They have cut downe, and all their pleasaunce mard,


s: In stead of them, fowle goblins and shriek-owles


s: With fearfull howling do all places fill,


s: And feeble eccho now laments and howles,


s: The dreadfull accents of their outcries shrill.


s: Whilest Ignorance the Muses doth oppresse.


s: And I, whose ioy was earst with spirit full


s: To teach the warbling pipe to sound aloft,


s: My spirits now dismayd with sorrow dull,


s: Therefore I mourne and waile incessantly,


s: Till please the heavens affoord me remedy.


s: Therewith shee wayled with exceeding woe,


s: And all her sisters, seeing her doo soe,


s: With equall plaints her sorrowe did partake.


s: So rested shee: and then the next in rew


s: Began her grievous plaint, as doth ensew.


s: Beene long time luld, and fed with pleasures sweet,


s: Feareles through his own fault or Fortunes spight


s: So wee, that earst in ioyance did abound,


s: Like virgin queenes, with laurell garlands cround,


s: Sith Ignorance our kingdome did confound,


s: Bee now become most wretched wightes on ground.


s: And in our royall thrones, which lately stood


s: In th'hearts of men to rule them carefully,


s: Blind Error, scornefull Follie, and base Spight,


s: Who hold by wrong that wee should have by right.


s: They to the vulgar sort now pipe and sing,


s: And make them merrie with their fooleries;


s: They cherelie chaunt, and rymes at randon fling,


s: The fruitfull spawne of their ranke fantasies;


s: They feede the eares of fooles with flattery,


s: And good men blame, and losels* magnify.


s: All places they doo with their toyes possesse,


s: The schooles they till with fond newfanglenesse,


s: And sway in court with pride and rashnes rude;


s: Mongst simple shepheards they do boast their skill,


s: And say their musicke matcheth Phoebus quill.


s: The noble hearts to pleasures they allure,


s: And tell their Prince that learning is but vaine;


s: Faire ladies loves they spot with thoughts impure,


s: And gentle mindes with lewd delights distaine;


s: And fill their bookes with discipline of vice.


s: For their usurped kingdomes maintenaunce,


s: The whiles we silly maides, whom they dispize


s: And with reprochfull scorne discountenaunce,


s: Walk through the world of every one revilde.


s: And yeeld us some reliefe in this distresse;


s: Yet none cloth care to comfort us at all;


s: So seeke we helpe our sorrow to redresse,


s: Yet none vouchsafes to answere to our call;


s: Therefore we mourne and pittilesse complaine,


s: With that she wept and wofullie waymented,


s: That naught on earth her griefe might pacifie;


s: And all the rest her dolefull din augmented


s: With shrikes, and groanes, and grievous agonie.


s: Began her piteous plaint, as doth ensew.


s: Where ye in Venus silver bowre were bred,


s: Thoughts halfe devine, full of the fire of love,


s: With beawtie kindled, and with pleasure fed,


s: Now change the tenor of your ioyous layes,


s: And blazon foorth an earthlie beauties praise


s: Now change your praises into piteous cries,


s: Such as ye wont, whenas those bitter stounds*


s: Of raging love first gan you to torment,


s: And launch your hearts with lamentable wounds


s: Before your loves did take you unto grace;


s: Those now renew, as fitter for this place.


s: And use to paint in rimes the troublous state


s: Am put from practise of my kindlie** skill,


s: Banisht by those that love with leawdnes fill.


s: Love wont to be schoolmaster of my skill,


s: But pure and spotles, as at first he sprong


s: Out of th'Almighties bosome, where he nests;


s: From thence infused into mortall brests.


s: Such high conceipt of that celestiall fire,


s: The base-borne brood of Blindnes cannot gesse,


s: Ne ever dare their dunghill thoughts aspire


s: Yet little wote what doth thereto behove.


s: And queene of beautie, now thou maist go pack;


s: Thy scepter rent, and power put to wrack;


s: And thy gay sonne, that winged God of Love,


s: May now goe prune his plumes like ruffed* dove.


s: And ye three twins, to light by Venus brought,


s: The sweete companions of the Muses late,


s: From whom whatever thing is goodly thought


s: Doth borrow grace, the fancie to aggrate*,


s: Go beg with us, and be companions still,


s: Finde entertainment or in court or schoole:


s: The learneds meed is now lent to the foole;


s: He sings of love and maketh loving layes,


s: And they him heare, and they him highly prayse.


s: With that she powred foorth a brackish flood


s: Of bitter teares, and made exceeding mone;


s: And all her sisters, seeing her sad mood,


s: With lowd laments her answered all at one.


s: Began her grievous plaint, as doth ensew.


s: To whom shall I my evill case complaine,


s: With fowle reproach, and cruell banishment?


s: The faithfull service of my learned skill,


s: The goodly off-spring of loves progenie,


s: That wont the world with famous acts to fill,


s: It is my chiefe profession to compyle,--


s: They, all corrupted through the rust of time,


s: That doth all fairest things on earth deface,


s: Or through unnoble sloth, or sinfull crime,


s: Have both desire of worthie deeds forlorne,


s: And name of learning utterly doo scorne.


s: Should know their names, or speak their praises dew,


s: But die, forgot from whence at first they sprong,


s: As they themselves shalbe forgot ere long.


s: What bootes it then to come from glorious


s: Forefathers, or to have been nobly bredd?


s: Twixt best and worst, when both alike are dedd,


s: Or who would ever care to doo brave deed,


s: If none should yeeld him his deserved meed,


s: Due praise, that is the spur of doing well?


s: For if good were not praised more than ill,


s: None would choose goodnes of his owne freewill.


s: Therefore the nurse of vertue I am hight,


s: That lowly thoughts lift up to heavens hight,


s: And Charlemaine amongst the starris seaven.


s: And will henceforth immortalize no more,


s: For prize of value, or for learned lore:


s: For noble peeres, whom I was wont to raise,


s: Now onely seeke for pleasure, nought for praise.


s: Their great revenues all in sumptuous pride


s: They spend, that nought to learning they may spare;


s: And the rich fee which poets wont divide


s: Therefore I mourne and endlesse sorrow make,


s: Both for my selfe and for my sisters sake.


s: With that she lowdly gan to waile and shrike,


s: And from her eyes a sea of teares did powre;


s: And all her sisters, with compassion like,


s: Did more increase the sharpnes of her showre.


s: Of starres conspiring wretched men t'afflict,


s: Hath powrd on earth this noyous pestilence,


s: That mortall mindes doth inwardly infect


s: With love of blindnesse and of ignorance,


s: To dwell in darkenesse without sovenance?*


s: What difference twixt man and beast is left,


s: When th'heavenlie light of knowledge is put out,


s: Through fleshes frailtie and deceipt of sin.


s: In this wide world in which they wretches stray,


s: It is the onelie comfort which they have,


s: It is their light, their loadstarre, and their day;


s: But hell, and darkenesse, and the grislie grave,


s: That mindes of men borne heavenlie doth debace.


s: Through knowledge we behold the worlds creation,


s: How things she formed of a formelesse mas:


s: By knowledge wee do learne our selves to knowe,


s: And what to man, and what to God, wee owe.


s: From hence wee mount aloft unto the skie,


s: There we behold the heavens great hierarchie,


s: The starres pure light, the spheres swift movëment,


s: And angels waighting on th'Almighties chayre.


s: And there, with humble minde and high insight,


s: His love, his truth, his glorie, and his might,


s: And mercie more than mortall men can vew.


s: O soveraigne Lord, O soveraigne happinesse,


s: To see thee, and thy mercie measurelesse!


s: Such happines have they that doo embrace


s: The precepts of my heavenlie discipline;


s: Have they that scorne the schoole of arts divine,


s: And banish me, which do professe the skill


s: To make men heavenly wise through humbled will.


s: However yet they mee despise and spight,


s: I feede on sweet contentment of my thought,


s: And please my selfe with mine owne self-delight,


s: In contemplation of things heavenlie wrought:


s: So, loathing earth, I looke up to the sky,


s: Which want the blis that wisedom would them breed.


s: And like brute beasts doo lie in loathsome den


s: Of ghostly darkenes and of gastlie dreed:


s: For whom I mourne, and for my selfe complaine,


s: And for my sisters eake whom they disdaine.


s: With that shee wept and waild so pityouslie,


s: As if her eyes had beene two springing wells;


s: And all the rest, her sorrow to supplie,


s: Did throw forth shrieks and cries and dreery yells.


s: Began her mournfull plaint, as doth ensew.


s: A dolefull case desires a dolefull song,


s: Without vaine art or curious complements;


s: And squallid Fortune, into basenes flong,


s: Doth scorne the pride of wonted ornaments.


s: Then fittest are these ragged rimes for mee,


s: For the sweet numbers and melodious measures


s: With which I wont the winged words to tie,


s: And make a tunefull diapase of pleasures,


s: By those which have no skill to rule them right,


s: Have now quite lost their naturall delight.


s: Heapes of huge words uphoorded hideously,


s: With horrid sound, though having little sence,


s: They thinke to be chiefe praise of poetry;


s: But princes and high priests that secret skill;


s: The sacred lawes therein they wont expresse,


s: And with deepe oracles their verses fill:


s: Then was shee held in soveraigne dignitie,


s: But now nor prince nor priest doth her maintayne,


s: Of the base vulgar, that with hands uncleane


s: And treadeth under foote hir holie things,


s: Which was the care of kesars* and of kings.


s: That with rich bountie and deare cherishment


s: Ne onelie favours them which it professe,


s: Most peereles Prince, most peereles Poetresse,


s: The true Pandora of all heavenly graces,


s: Live she for ever, and her royall p'laces


s: That her eternize with their heavenlie writs!


s: Some few beside this sacred skill esteme,


s: Which, being lightned with her beawties beme,


s: To sing with angels her immortall praize.


s: But all the rest, as borne of salvage brood,


s: And having beene with acorns alwaies fed,


s: Can no whit savour this celestiall food,


s: But with base thoughts are into blindnesse led,


s: And kept from looking on the lightsome day:


s: For whome I waile and weepe all that I may.


s: Eftsoones* such store of teares shee forth did powre,


s: As if shee all to water would have gone;


s: And all her sisters, seeing her sad stowre**,


s: Did weep and waile, and made exceeding mone,


s: And all their learned instruments did breake:


s: The rest untold no living tongue can speake.


s: Wrong'd, yet not daring to expresse my paine,


s: To you, great Lord, the causer of my care,


s: In clowdie teares my case I thus complaine


s: Shall chaunce, through power of some divining spright,


s: To reade the secrete of this riddle rare,


s: And know the purporte of my evill plight,


s: Let him rest pleased with his owne insight,


s: Ne further seeke to glose upon the text:


s: For griefe enough it is to grieved wight


s: To feele his fault, and not be further vext.


s: But what so by my selfe may not be showen,


s: May by this Gnatts complaint be easily knowen*.


s: Leicester's displeasure was incurred for "some kind of officious


s: Have onely playde: let thus much then excuse


s: This Gnats small poeme, that th'whole history


s: But who such sports and sweet delights doth blame,


s: Shall lighter seeme than this Gnats idle name.


s: Shall bring forth fruit, this Muse shall speak to thee


s: In bigger notes, that may thy sense allure,


s: And for thy worth frame some fit poesie:


s: Phoebus, shall be the author of my song,


s: Playing on yvorie harp with silver strong*.


s: He shall inspire my verse with gentle mood,


s: Of poets prince, whether he woon* beside


s: Faire Xanthus sprincled with Chimaeras blood,


s: Or whereas Mount Parnasse, the Muses brood,


s: Doth his broad forhead like two hornes divide,


s: And the sweete waves of sounding Castaly


s: With liquid foote doth slide downe easily.


s: Wherefore ye Sisters, which the glorie bee


s: Have care for to pursue his footing light


s: Throgh the wide woods and groves with green leaves dight.


s: Betwixt the forrest wide and starrie sky:


s: And thou, most dread Octavius, which oft


s: To learned wits givest courage worthily,


s: O come, thou sacred childe, come sliding soft,


s: For not these leaves do sing that dreadfull stound*,


s: When giants bloud did staine Phlegraean ground;


s: Nor how th'halfe-horsy people, Centaures hight,


s: Fought with the bloudie Lapithaes at bord;


s: Burnt th'Attick towres, and people slew with sword;


s: Nor how Mount Athos through exceeding might


s: The Pontick sea by their huge navy cast,


s: My volume shall renowne, so long since past.


s: Nor Hellespont trampled with horses feete,


s: When flocking Persians did the Greeks affray:


s: But my soft Muse, as for her power more meete,


s: Delights (with Phoebus friendly leave) to play


s: An easie running verse with tender feete.


s: And thou, dread sacred child, to thee alway


s: Through the worlds endles ages to survive.


s: And let an happie roome remaine for thee


s: Mongst heavenly ranks, where blessed soules do rest;


s: And let long lasting life with ioyous glee,


s: As thy due meede that thou deservest best,


s: Amongst good men, of whom thou oft are blest.


s: But let us turne to our first businesse.


s: Up to the heavenly towers, and shot each where


s: Out of his golden charet glistering light;


s: The hatefull darknes now had put to flight;


s: When as the Shepheard, seeing day appeare,


s: His little goats gan drive out of their stalls,


s: To feede abroad, where pasture best befalls.


s: To an high mountaines top he with them went,


s: Where thickest grasse did cloath the open hills:


s: They, now amongst the woods and thickets ment*


s: Now in the valleies wandring at their wills,


s: Spread themselves farre abroad through each descent;


s: Some on the soft greene grasse feeding their fills,


s: Some, clambring through the hollow cliffes on hy,


s: Nibble the bushie shrubs which growe thereby.


s: Others the utmost boughs of trees doe crop,


s: And brouze the woodbine twigges that freshly bud;


s: This with full bit* doth catch the utmost top


s: Of some soft willow, or new growen stud**;


s: This with sharpe teeth the bramble leaves doth lop,


s: And chaw the tender prickles in her cud;


s: Her owne like image in a christall brooke.


s: O the great happines which shepheards have,


s: Who so loathes not too much the poore estate


s: With minde that ill use doth before deprave,


s: Ne measures all things by the costly rate


s: Of riotise, and semblants outward brave!


s: And rend the greedie mindes of covetous men,


s: Ne cares he if the fleece which him arayes


s: Ne glistering of golde, which underlayes*


s: The summer beames, doe blinde his gazing eye;


s: Ne pictures beautie, nor the glauncing rayes


s: Of precious stones, whence no good commeth by;


s: Ne ought the whelky* pearles esteemeth hee,


s: Which are from Indian seas brought far away:


s: But with pure brest, from carefull sorrow free,


s: On the soft grasse his limbs doth oft display,


s: In sweete spring time, when flowres varietie


s: With sundrie colours paints the sprincled lay**;


s: There, lying all at ease from guile or spight,


s: With pype of fennie reedes doth him delight.


s: There he, lord of himselfe, with palme bedight,


s: His looser locks doth wrap in wreath of vine:


s: There his milk-dropping goats be his delight,


s: And fruitefull Pales, and the forrest greene,


s: And darkesome caves in pleasaunt vallies pight*,


s: And where fresh springing wells, as christall neate,


s: Do alwayes flow, to quench his thirstie heate.


s: Than he, that with cleane minde and heart sincere,


s: No greedy riches knowes nor bloudie strife,


s: No deadly fight of warlick fleete doth feare,


s: A trophee of his glittering spoyles and treasure,


s: Of him his God is worshipt with his sythe,


s: And not with skill of craftsman polished:


s: He ioyes in groves, and makes himselfe full blythe


s: With sundrie flowers in wilde fieldes gathered,


s: Sweete Quiet harbours in his harmeles head,


s: And perfect Pleasure buildes her ioyous bowre,


s: Free from sad cares, that rich mens hearts devowre.


s: This all his care, this all his whole indevour,


s: To this his minde and senses he doth bend,


s: How he may flow in quiets matchles treasour,


s: Content with any food that God doth send;


s: And how his limbs, resolv'd through idle leisour,


s: Unto sweete sleepe he may securely lend,


s: In some coole shadow from the scorching heat,


s: The whiles his flock their chawed cuds do eate.


s: O Flocks, O Faunes, and O ye pleasaunt Springs


s: Of Tempe, where the countrey nymphs are rife,


s: Through whose not costly care each shepheard sings


s: As that Ascraean bard*, whose fame now rings


s: Through the wide world, and leads as ioyfull life;


s: Free from all troubles and from worldly toyle,


s: In which fond men doe all their dayes turmoyle.


s: In such delights whilst thus his carelesse time


s: This shepheard drives, upleaning on his batt*,


s: And on shrill reedes chaunting his rustick rime,


s: Hyperion, throwing foorth his beames full hott,


s: Into the highest top of heaven gan clime,


s: And the world parting by an equall lott,


s: Did shed his whirling flames on either side,


s: As the great Ocean doth himselfe divide.


s: His stragling goates, and drave them to a foord,


s: Whose caerule streame, rombling in pible stone,


s: Crept under mosse as greene as any goord.


s: When he his heard back from that water foord


s: Drave, from the force of Phoebus boyling ray,


s: Into thick shadowes, there themselves to lay.


s: Soone as he them plac'd in thy sacred wood,


s: O Delian goddesse, saw, to which of yore


s: Came the bad daughter of old Cadmus brood,


s: Which she with cursed hands had shed before;


s: There she halfe frantick, having slaine her sonne,


s: Did shrowd her selfe like punishment to shonne.


s: Woodgods, and Satyres, and swift Dryades,


s: With many Fairies oft were dauncing seene.


s: The streames of Hebrus with his songs, I weene,


s: As that faire troupe of woodie goddesses


s: Staied thee, O Peneus, powring foorth to thee,


s: From cheereful lookes, great mirth and gladsome glee.


s: The verie nature of the place, resounding


s: With gentle murmure of the breathing ayre,


s: A pleasant bowre with all delight abounding


s: In the fresh shadowe did for them prepayre,


s: To rest their limbs with wearines redounding.


s: For first the high palme-trees, with braunches faire,


s: And high shoote up their heads into the skyes.


s: Ulysses men, whom rapt with sweetenes new,


s: Taking to hoste*, it quite from him did stay;


s: And eke those trees, in whose transformed hew


s: The Sunnes sad daughters waylde the rash decay


s: Of Phaëton, whose limbs with lightening rent


s: They gathering up, with sweete teares did lament.


s: And that same tree*, in which Demophoon,


s: Through fatall charmes transferred to such an one:


s: The oke, whose acornes were our foode before


s: That Ceres seede of mortall men were knowne,


s: Which first Triptoleme taught how to be sowne.


s: Whom golden fleece did make an heavenly signe;


s: Which coveting, with his high tops extent,


s: To make the mountaines touch the starres divine,


s: Decks all the forrest with embellishment;


s: And the blacke holme that loves the watrie vale;


s: And the sweete cypresse, signe of deadly bale.


s: Emongst the rest the clambring yvie grew,


s: Knitting his wanton armes with grasping hold,


s: Least that the poplar happely should rew


s: Her brothers strokes, whose boughes she doth enfold


s: With her lythe twigs, till they the top survew,


s: And paint with pallid greene her buds of gold.


s: Next did the myrtle tree to her approach,


s: Not yet unmindfull of her olde reproach.


s: But the small birds in their wide boughs embowring


s: Chaunted their sundrie tunes with sweete consent;


s: And under them a silver spring, forth powring


s: His trickling streames, a gentle murmure sent;


s: Thereto the frogs, bred in the slimie scowring


s: Of the moist moores, their iarring voyces bent;


s: And shrill grashoppers chirped them around:


s: In this so pleasant place the shepheards flocke


s: Lay everie where, their wearie limbs to rest,


s: On everie bush, and everie hollow rocke,


s: Where breathe on them the whistling wind mote best;


s: The whiles the shepheard self, tending his stocke,


s: Sate by the fountaine side, in shade to rest,


s: Where gentle slumbring sleep oppressed him


s: Displaid on ground, and seized everie lim.


s: Of trecherie or traines nought tooke he keep,


s: But, looslie on the grassie greene dispredd,


s: His dearest life did trust to careles sleep;


s: Which, weighing down his drouping drowsie hedd,


s: In quiet rest his molten heart did steep,


s: Devoid of care, and feare of all falshedd:


s: Had not inconstant Fortune, bent to ill,


s: Bid strange mischance his quietnes to spill.


s: For at his wonted time in that same place


s: An huge great Serpent, all with speckles pide,


s: To drench himselfe in moorish slime did trace,


s: There from the boyling heate himselfe to hide:


s: He, passing by with rolling wreathed pace,


s: With brandisht tongue the emptie aire did gride*,


s: And wrapt his scalie boughts** with fell despight,


s: That all things seem'd appalled at his sight.


s: Now more and more having himselfe enrolde,


s: His glittering breast he lifteth up on hie,


s: And with proud vaunt his head aloft doth holde;


s: His creste above, spotted with purple die,


s: On everie side did shine like scalie golde;


s: And his bright eyes, glauncing full dreadfullie,


s: Did seeme to flame out flakes of flashing fyre,


s: And with sterne lookes to threaten kindled yre.


s: Thus wise long time he did himselfe dispace


s: There round about, when as at last he spide,


s: That flocks grand captaine and most trustie guide:


s: Eftsoones more fierce in visage and in pace,


s: He commeth on, and all things in his way


s: Full stearnly rends that might his passage stay.


s: Much he disdaines that anie one should dare


s: To come unto his haunt; for which intent


s: He inly burns, and gins straight to prepare


s: The weapons which Nature to him hath lent;


s: Fellie he hisseth, and doth fiercely stare,


s: And hath his iawes with angrie spirits rent,


s: That all his tract with bloudie drops is stained,


s: And all his foldes are now in length outstrained.


s: Whom, thus at point prepared, to prevent,


s: A Gnat, unto the sleepie shepheard went,


s: And marking where his ey-lids twinckling rare


s: Shewd the two pearles which sight unto him lent,


s: Through their thin coverings appearing fayre


s: Warnd him awake, from death himselfe to keep.


s: Wherewith enrag'd, he fiercely gan upstart,


s: And with his hand him rashly bruzing slewe


s: That streight the spirite out of his senses flew.


s: And fervent eyes to his destruction bent.


s: All suddenly dismaid, and hartles quight,


s: He fled abacke, and, catching hastie holde


s: It rent, and streight about him gan beholde


s: What god or fortune would assist his might.


s: But whether god or fortune made him bold


s: Its hard to read: yet hardie will he had


s: To overcome, that made him lesse adrad*.


s: The scalie backe of that most hideous snake


s: And oft him to assaile, he fiercely strake


s: Whereas his temples did his creast front tyre*;


s: And, for he was but slowe, did slowth off shake,


s: And, gazing ghastly on, (for feare and yre


s: Had blent** so much his sense, that lesse he feard,)--


s: Yet, when he saw him slaine, himselfe he cheard.


s: By this the Night forth from the darksome bowre


s: Of Herebus her teemed* steedes gan call,


s: Whenas the shepheard after this sharpe stowre**,


s: Gathering his straying flocke, does homeward fare,


s: And unto rest his wearie ioynts prepare.


s: Into whose sense so soone as lighter sleepe


s: Was entered, and now loosing everie lim,


s: Sweete slumbring deaw in carelesnesse did steepe,


s: And in sad tearmes gan sorrowfully weepe,


s: With grieslie countenaunce and visage grim,


s: Wailing the wrong which he had done of late,


s: In steed of good, hastning his cruell fate.


s: Said he, "What have I wretch deserv'd, that thus


s: Whilest that thy life more deare and precious


s: Was than mine owne, so long as it did last?


s: Am tost in th'ayre with everie windie blast:


s: Thy careles limbs in loose sleep dost display.


s: "So livest thou; but my poore wretched ghost


s: And spoyld of Charon too and fro am tost.


s: Seest thou not how all places quake and quiver,


s: Lightned with deadly lamps on everie post?


s: Tisiphone each where doth shake and shiver


s: "And Cerberus, whose many mouthes doo bay,


s: And barke out flames, as if on fire he fed,


s: Ten thousand snakes, cralling about his hed,


s: Doo hang in heapes, that horribly affray,


s: He oftentimes me dreadfullie doth threaten


s: With painfull torments to be sorely beaten.


s: "Ay me! that thankes so much should faile of meed,


s: For that I thee restor'd to life againe,


s: Even from the doore of death and deadlie dreed.


s: Where then is now the guerdon of my paine?


s: The praise of pitie vanisht is in vaine,


s: And th'antique faith of iustice long agone


s: And left mine owne his safëtie to tender;


s: And shun'd destruction doth destruction render:


s: So long as thankfull will may it relent.


s: Waste wildernes, amongst Cymerian shades,


s: Where endles paines and hideous heavinesse


s: Is round about me heapt in darksome glades.


s: For there huge Othos sits in sad distresse,


s: Fast bound with serpents that him oft invades,


s: Which once assai'd to burne this world so wide.


s: "And there is mournfull Tityus, mindefull yet


s: That made him meat for wild foules of the ayre:


s: Much do I feare among such fiends to sit;


s: Much do I feare back to them to repayre,


s: To the black shadowes of the Stygian shore,


s: Where wretched ghosts sit wailing evermore.


s: "There next the utmost brinck doth he abide


s: That did the bankets of the gods bewray,


s: Whose throat through thirst to nought nigh being dride,


s: His sense to seeke for ease turnes every way:


s: For scorning to the sacred gods to pray,


s: Against a mountaine rolls a mightie stone,


s: Calling in vaine for rest, and can have none.


s: Whose bridale torches foule Erynnis tynde*,


s: And Hymen, at your spousalls sad, foretells


s: Tydings of death and massacre unkinde**:


s: With them that cruell Colchid mother dwells,


s: The which conceiv'd in her revengefull minde


s: With bitter woundes her owne deere babes to slay,


s: And murdred troupes upon great heapes to lay.


s: "There also those two Pandionian maides,


s: Whom, wretched boy, they slew with guiltie blades;


s: For whome the Thracian king lamenting sore,


s: Turn'd to a lapwing, fowlie them upbraydes,


s: And flattering round about them still does sore;


s: Of others wrong, and suffer endles paine.


s: "But the two brethren* borne of Cadmus blood,


s: Whilst each does for the soveraignty contend,


s: Blinde through ambition, and with vengeance wood**,


s: His cursed steele, of neither well withstood,


s: And with wide wounds their carcases doth rend;


s: That yet they both doe mortall foes remaine,


s: Sith each with brothers bloudie hand was slaine.


s: "Ah (waladay!) there is no end of paine,


s: Nor chaunge of labour may intreated bee:


s: Yet I beyond all these am carried faine,


s: Where other powers farre different I see,


s: And must passe over to th'Elisian plaine:


s: With their bright firebronds me to terrifie.


s: Free from all care, for that her husbands daies


s: She did prolong by changing fate for fate:


s: Lo! there lives also the immortall praise


s: Of womankinde, most faithfull to her mate,


s: A rulesse* rout of yongmen which her woo'd,


s: All slaine with darts, lie wallowed in their blood.


s: Must turne to life, but there detained bee


s: Yet was the guilt thereof, Orpheus, in thee!


s: Bold sure he was, and worthie spirite bore,


s: That durst those lowest shadowes goe to see,


s: And could beleeve that anie thing could please


s: Fell Cerberus, or Stygian powres appease.


s: "Ne feard the burning waves of Phlegeton,


s: Nor those same mournfull kingdomes, compassed


s: And deep digd vawtes*; and Tartar covered


s: And iudgement seates, whose iudge is deadlie dred,


s: A iudge that after death doth punish sore


s: The faults which life hath trespassed before.


s: "But valiant fortune made Dan Orpheus bolde:


s: For the swift running rivers still did stand,


s: And the wilde beasts their furie did withhold,


s: To follow Orpheus musicke through the land:


s: And th'okes, deep grounded in the earthly molde,


s: Did move, as if they could him understand;


s: And the shrill woods, which were of sense bereav'd,


s: Through their hard barke his silver sound receav'd.


s: "And eke the Moone her hastie steedes did stay,


s: Drawing in teemes along the starrie skie;


s: Thy nightly course, to heare his melodie?


s: The same was able, with like lovely lay,


s: Backe to be borne, though it unlawfull were.


s: "She, ladie, having well before approoved


s: Observ'd th'appointed way, as her behooved,


s: Ne ever spake, ne cause of speaking mooved;


s: But, cruell Orpheus, thou much crueller,


s: Seeking to kisse her, brok'st the gods decree,


s: And thereby mad'st her ever damn'd to be.


s: "Ah! but sweete love of pardon worthie is,


s: And doth deserve to have small faults remitted;


s: If Hell at least things lightly done amis


s: Knew how to pardon, when ought is omitted:


s: And to the seates of happie soules admitted.


s: "There be the two stout sonnes of AEacus,


s: Through their syres dreadfull iurisdiction,


s: Being the iudge of all that horrid hous:


s: Through Venus grace, and vertues cariage.


s: "For th'one was ravisht of his owne bondmaide,


s: But th'other was with Thetis love assaid,


s: On this side them there is a yongman layd,


s: Their match in glorie, mightie, fierce, and coy,


s: That from th'Argolick ships, with furious yre,


s: "O! who would not recount the strong divorces


s: Of that great warre, which Troianes oft behelde,


s: And oft beheld the warlike Greekish forces,


s: When Teucrian soyle with bloodie rivers swelde,


s: And wide Sigraean shores were spred with corses,


s: Whilst Hector raged, with outragious minde,


s: Flames, weapons, wounds, in Greeks fleete to have tynde.


s: "For Ida selfe, in ayde of that fierce fight,


s: Out of her mountaines ministred supplies;


s: And like a kindly nourse did yeeld, for spight,


s: Store of firebronds out of her nourseries


s: Unto her foster children, that they might


s: And all the Rhetaean shore to ashes turne,


s: Where lay the ships which they did seeke to burne.


s: "Gainst which the noble sonne of Telamon


s: Oppos'd himselfe, and thwarting* his huge shield,


s: Them battell bad; gainst whom appeard anon


s: Encountred, that their mightie strokes so shrild


s: As the great clap of thunder, which doth ryve


s: The railing heavens and cloudes asunder dryve.


s: "So th'one with fire and weapons did contend


s: To cut the ships from turning home againe


s: To Argos; th'other strove for to defend*


s: The force of Vulcane with his might and maine.


s: Thus th'one Aeacide did his fame extend:


s: But th'other ioy'd that, on the Phrygian playne


s: Having the blood of vanquisht Hector shedd,


s: He compast Troy thrice with his bodie dedd.


s: "Againe great dole on either partie grewe,


s: That him to death unfaithfull Paris sent;


s: Drawne into danger through close ambushment;


s: Therefore from him Laërtes sonne his vewe


s: Doth turn aside, and boasts his good event


s: "Againe the dreadfull Cycones him dismay,


s: And blacke Laestrigones, a people stout;


s: Then greedie Scilla, under whom there bay


s: Manie great bandogs, which her gird about;


s: Then doo the AEtnean Cyclops him affray,


s: And griesly feends of hell him terrifie.


s: And famous light of all the Greekish hosts;


s: The Dorick flames consum'd the Iliack posts.


s: Ah! but the Greekes themselves, more dolorous,


s: To thee, O Troy, paid penaunce for thy fall,


s: In th'Hellespont being nigh drowned all.


s: "Well may appeare by proofe of their mischaunce


s: The chaungfull turning of mens slipperie state,


s: That none whom fortune freely doth advaunce


s: Himselfe therefore to heaven should elevate:


s: For loftie type of honour through the glaunce


s: Of envies dart is downe in dust prostrate,


s: Shall fall through fortunes mutabilitie.


s: "Th'Argolicke power returning home againe,


s: Enricht with spoyles of th'Ericthonian towre,


s: Did happie winde and weather entertaine,


s: And with good speed the fomie billowes scowre:


s: No signe of storme, no feare of future paine,


s: Which soone ensued them with heavie stowre*:


s: The whiles their crooked keeles the surges clave.


s: "Suddenly, whether through the gods decree,


s: Or haplesse rising of some froward starre,


s: The heavens on everie side enclowded bee:


s: Black stormes and fogs are blowen up from farre,


s: That now the pylote can no loadstarre see,


s: But skies and seas doo make most dreadfull warre;


s: The billowes striving to the heavens to reach,


s: And th'heavens striving them for to impeach*.


s: "And, in avengement of their bold attempt,


s: Both sun and starres and all the heavenly powres


s: Conspire in one to wreake their rash contempt,


s: And downe on them to fall from highest towres:


s: Throwes lightning forth, and haile, and harmful showres,


s: That death on everie side to them appeares,


s: In thousand formes, to worke more ghastly feares.


s: "Some in the greedie flouds are sunke and drent*;


s: Some on the rocks of Caphareus are throwne;


s: Some on th'Euboick cliffs in pieces rent;


s: Some scattred on the Hercaean** shores unknowne;


s: Whilst all the purchase@ of the Phrigian pray,


s: Tost on salt billowes, round about doth stray.


s: Whom ye in goodly seates may placed see,


s: From Rome, that holds the world in sovereigntie,


s: "And here the antique fame of stout Camill


s: Who, stifly bent his vowed life to spill


s: For countreyes health, a gulph most hideous


s: Amidst the towne with his owne corps did fill,


s: T'appease the Powers; and prudent Mutius,


s: Who in his flesh endur'd the scorching flame,


s: To daunt his foe by ensample of the same.


s: Taught him the fires scorn'd furie to detest;


s: To whom the ruin'd walls of Carthage vow'd,


s: Trembling their forces, sound their praises lowd.


s: "Live they for ever through their lasting praise!


s: But I, poore wretch, am forced to retourne


s: To the sad lakes that Phoebus sunnie rayes


s: Doo never see, where soules doo alwaies mourne;


s: And by the wayling shores to waste my dayes,


s: Where Phlegeton with quenchles flames doth burne;


s: By which iust Minos righteous soules doth sever


s: From wicked ones, to live in blisse for ever.


s: "Me therefore thus the cruell fiends of hell,


s: Girt with long snakes and thousand yron chaynes,


s: Through doome of that their cruell iudge compell,


s: With bitter torture and impatient paines,


s: Cause of my death and iust complaint to tell.


s: For thou art he whom my poore ghost complaines


s: That careles hear'st my intollerable cares.


s: "Them therefore as bequeathing to the winde,


s: And leave this lamentable plaint behinde.


s: But doo thou haunt the soft downe-rolling river,


s: And wilde greene woods and fruitful pastures minde,


s: And let the flitting aire my vaine words sever."


s: With piteous crie that anie would have smarted.


s: Now, when the sloathfull fit of lifes sweete rest


s: Had left the heavie Shepheard, wondrous cares


s: His inly grieved minde full sore opprest;


s: That balefull sorrow he no longer beares


s: For that Gnats death, which deeply was imprest,


s: But bends what ever power his aged yeares


s: Him lent, yet being such as through their might


s: He lately slue his dreadfull foe in fight.


s: By that same river lurking under greene,


s: Eftsoones* he gins to fashion forth a place,


s: And, squaring it in compasse well beseene**,


s: There plotteth out a tombe by measured space:


s: To dig up sods out of the flowrie grasse,


s: His worke he shortly to good purpose brought,


s: Like as he had conceiv'd it in his thought.


s: A little mount, of greene turffs edifide*;


s: Might it behold, the toomb he did provide


s: That never might his luckie scape forget.


s: And round about he taught sweete flowres to growe;


s: The Rose, engrained in pure scarlet die;


s: The Spartan Mirtle, whence sweet gumb does flowe;


s: The purple Hyacinths, and fresh Costmarie,


s: And Saffron, sought for in Cilician soyle,


s: And Lawrell, th'ornament of Phoebus toyle:


s: Fresh Rhododaphne, and the Sabine flowre*,


s: Matching the wealth of th'auncient Frankincence;


s: And pallid Yvie, building his owne bowre;


s: And Box, yet mindfull of his olde offence;


s: Oxeye still greene, and bitter Patience;


s: Ne wants there pale Narcisse, that, in a well


s: Seeing his beautie, in love with it fell.


s: The ioyous Spring out of the ground brings forth,


s: To cloath her selfe in colours fresh and new,


s: He planted there, and reard a mount of earth,


s: In whose high front was writ as doth ensue:


s: _To thee, small Gnat, in lieu of his life saved,_


s: _The Shepheard hath thy deaths record engraved._


s: It was the month in which the righteous Maide


s: That for disdaine of sinfull worlds upbraide


s: Fled back to heaven, whence she was first conceived,


s: Into her silver bowre the Sunne received;


s: Corrupted had th'ayre with his noysome breath.


s: And powr'd on th'earth plague, pestilence, and death.


s: Raign'd emongst men, that manie did to die,


s: That it to leaches seemed strange and geason.


s: My fortune was, mongst manie others moe,


s: And my weake bodie, set on fire with griefe,


s: In this ill plight, there came to visite mee


s: Some friends, who, sorie my sad case to see,


s: And meanes of gladsome solace to devise.


s: They sought my troubled sense how to deceave


s: With talke that might unquiet fancies reave;


s: And sitting all in seates about me round,


s: With pleasant tales fit for that idle stound


s: They cast in course to waste the wearie howres.


s: Some tolde of ladies, and their paramoures;


s: Some of brave knights, and their renowned squires;


s: Some of the faeries and their strange attires;


s: And some of giaunts hard to be beleeved;


s: That the delight thereof me much releeved.


s: Hight Mother Hubberd, who did farre surpas


s: The rest in honest mirth, that seem'd her well.


s: She, when her turne was come her tale to tell,


s: Tolde of a strange adventure that betided


s: Betwixt the Foxe and th'Ape by him misguided;


s: The which, for that my sense it greatly pleased,


s: All were my spirite heavie and diseased,


s: Ile write in termes, as she the same did say,


s: No Muses aide me needes heretoo to call;


s: Base is the style, and matter meane withall.


s: Whilome, said she, before the world was civill,


s: The Foxe and th'Ape, disliking of their evill


s: Their fortunes farre abroad, lyeke with his lyeke:


s: For both were craftie and unhappie witted;


s: Two fellowes might no where be better fitted.


s: The Foxe, that first this cause of griefe did finde,


s: Gan first thus plaine his case with words unkinde:


s: "Neighbour Ape, and my gossip eke beside,


s: (Both two sure bands in friendship to be tide,)


s: The evill plight that doth me sore constraine,


s: Thus manie yeares I now have spent and worne,


s: In meane regard, and basest fortunes scorne,


s: No lesse I dare saie than the prowdest wight;


s: For my good parts; but still it hath mischaunced.


s: Now therefore that no lenger hope I see,


s: But froward fortune still to follow mee,


s: And losels lifted up on high, where I did looke,


s: I meane to turne the next leafe of the booke.


s: I meane my gossip privie first to make."


s: "Ah! my deare gossip," answer'd then the Ape,


s: "Deeply doo your sad words my wits awhape,


s: Both for because your griefe doth great appeare,


s: And eke because my selfe am touched neare:


s: For I likewise have wasted much good time,


s: Still wayting to preferment up to clime,


s: Whilst others alwayes have before me stept,


s: And from my beard the fat away have swept;


s: And meane for better winde about to throwe.


s: Therefore to me, my trustie friend, aread


s: Thy councell: two is better than one head."


s: "Certes," said he, "I meane me to disguize


s: In some straunge habit, after uncouth wize,


s: To seeke my fortune, where I may it mend:


s: For worse than that I have I cannot meete.


s: Wide is the world I wote, and everie streete


s: Is full of fortunes and adventures straunge,


s: Say, my faire brother now, if this device


s: Doth like you, or may you to like entice."


s: "Surely," said th'Ape, "it likes me wondrous well;


s: And would ye not poore fellowship expell,


s: In this adventures chauncefull ieopardie.


s: Is disadventrous, and quite fortunelesse:


s: Abroad, where change is, good may gotten bee."


s: The Foxe was glad, and quickly did agree:


s: So both resolv'd, the morrow next ensuing,


s: So soone as day appeard to peoples vewing,


s: And over night, whatso theretoo did neede


s: The morrow next, so soone as one might see


s: Light out of heavens windowes forth to looke,


s: And put themselves, a Gods name, on their way.


s: This hard adventure, thus began t'advise:


s: "Now read, Sir Reynold, as ye be right wise,


s: What course ye weene is best for us to take,


s: That for our selves we may a living make.


s: Whether shall we professe some trade or skill?


s: Or shall we tie our selves for certaine yeares


s: "Now surely, brother," said the Foxe anon,


s: "Te have this matter motioned in season:


s: For everie thing that is begun with reason


s: Will come by readie meanes unto his end;


s: But things miscounselled must needs miswend.


s: That not to anie certaine trade or place,


s: Nor anie man, we should our selves applie.


s: Make himselfe bond? Sith then we are free borne.


s: Let us all servile base subiection scorne;


s: And as we bee sonnes of the world so wide,


s: And chalenge to our selves our portions dew


s: Now hold in hugger mugger in their hand,


s: And all the rest doo rob of good and land:


s: For now a few have all, and all have nought,


s: Yet all be brethren ylike dearly bought.


s: Ordained first, ne by the law of Nature,


s: But that she gave like blessing to each creture


s: That there might be no difference nor strife,


s: Nor ought cald mine or thine: thrice happie then


s: But this might better be the world of gold;


s: For without golde now nothing wilbe got.


s: Therefore, if please you, this shalbe our plot:


s: Let such vile vassalls, borne to base vocation,


s: Drudge in the world and for their living droyle,


s: Which have no wit to live withouten toyle.


s: But we will walke about the world at pleasure,


s: Like two free men, and make our ease our treasure.


s: Free men some beggers call; but they be free;


s: And they which call them so more beggers bee:


s: For they doo swinke and sweate to feed the other,


s: Who live like lords of that which they doo gather,


s: And yet doo never thanke them for the same,


s: But as their due by nature doo it clame.


s: Such will we fashion both our selves to bee,


s: Lords of the world; and so will wander free


s: Where so us listeth, uncontrol'd of anie.


s: Hard is our hap, if we, emongst so manie,


s: Light not on some that may our state amend;


s: Sildome but some good commeth ere the end."


s: Well seemd the Ape to like this ordinaunce:


s: Yet, well considering of the circumstaunce,


s: As pausing in great doubt awhile he staid,


s: And afterwards with grave advizement said:


s: "I cannot, my lief brother, like but well


s: The purpose of the complot which ye tell;


s: For well I wot (compar'd to all the rest


s: Of each degree) that beggers life is best,


s: And they that thinke themselves the best of all


s: Oft-times to begging are content to fall.


s: But this I wot withall, that we shall ronne


s: Into great daunger, like to bee undonne,


s: Thus wildly to wander in the worlds eye,


s: For feare least we like rogues should be reputed,


s: And for eare-marked beasts abroad be bruted.


s: Therefore I read that we our counsells call


s: How to prevent this mischiefe ere it fall,


s: Beg amongst those that beggars doo defie."


s: "Right well, deere gossip, ye advized have,"


s: Said then the Foxe, "but I this doubt will save:


s: And by the names of souldiers us protect,


s: That now is thought a civile begging sect.


s: For manly semblance, and small skill in warre:


s: I will but wayte on you, and, as occasion


s: Falls out, my selfe fit for the same will fashion."


s: The pasport ended, both they forward went;


s: The Ape clad souldierlike, fit for th'intent,


s: And manie slits, as if that he had shedd


s: Much blood throgh many wounds therein receaved,


s: Which had the use of his right arme bereaved,


s: Upon his head an old Scotch cap he wore,


s: With a plume feather all to peeces tore;


s: His breeches were made after the new cut,


s: _Al Portugese_, loose like an emptie gut,


s: And his hose broken high above the heeling,


s: And his shooes beaten out with traveling.


s: But neither sword nor dagger he did beare;


s: Seemes that no foes revengement he did feare;


s: In stead of them a handsome bat he held,


s: On which he leaned, as one farre in elde.


s: Shame light on him, that through so false illusion


s: Doth turne the name of souldiers to abusion,


s: Adventure which might them a working set:


s: Yet manie waies they sought, and manie tryed;


s: At last they chaunst to meete upon the way


s: Yet, though his vesture were but meane and bace,


s: And more for thrift did care than for gay clothing:


s: Gay without good is good hearts greatest loathing.


s: The Foxe, him spying, bad the Ape him dight


s: To play his part, for loe! he was in sight


s: That, if he er'd not, should them entertaine,


s: And yeeld them timely profite for their paine.


s: Eftsoones the Ape himselfe gan up to reare,


s: And on his shoulders high his bat to beare,


s: But little thrift for him he did it too:


s: And stoutly forward he his steps did straine,


s: That like a handsome swaine it him became.


s: When as they nigh approached, that good man,


s: T'enquire, of custome, what and whence they were.


s: That late in warres have spent my deerest blood,


s: And in long service lost both limbs and good;


s: And now, constraint that trade to overgive,


s: I driven am to seeke some meanes to live:


s: Which might it you in pitie please t'afford,


s: I would be readie, both in deed and word,


s: To doo you faithfull service all my dayes.


s: This yron world" (that same he weeping sayes)


s: "Brings downe the stowtest hearts to lowest state:


s: And make them seeke for that they wont to scorne,


s: Of fortune and of hope at once forlorne."


s: The honest roan that heard him thus complaine


s: Was griev'd as he had felt part of his paine;


s: And, well dispos'd him some reliefe to showe,


s: Askt if in husbandrie he ought did knowe,--


s: To plough, to plant, to reap, to rake, to sowe,


s: To hedge, to ditch, to thrash, to thetch, to mowe;


s: For husbands life is labourous and hard.


s: Whenas the Ape him hard so much to talke


s: Of labour, that did from his liking balke,


s: He would have slipt the coller handsomly,


s: And to him said: "Good Sir, full glad am I


s: To take what paines may anie living wight:


s: But my late maymed limbs lack wonted might


s: To doo their kindly services, as needeth:


s: Scarce this right hand the mouth with diet feedeth;


s: So that it may no painfull worke endure,


s: Which askes small paines, but thriftines to save,


s: Or care to overlooke, or trust to gather,


s: Ye may me trust as your owne ghostly father."


s: To keep his sheep, or to attend his swyne,


s: Or watch his mares, or take his charge of kyne.


s: "Gladly," said he, "what ever such like paine


s: (Might it you please) would take on me the keep.


s: That yet the skill thereof I have not loste:


s: Thereto right well this curdog, by my coste,


s: (Meaning the Foxe,) will serve my sheepe to gather,


s: And drive to follow after their belwether."


s: And, home him leading, lent to him the charge


s: Of all his flocke, with libertie full large,


s: Both of their lambes, and of their woolly fleece.


s: Thus is this Ape become a shepheard swaine,


s: And the false Foxe his dog: God give them paine!


s: For ere the yeare have halfe his course out-run,


s: And doo returne from whence he first begun,


s: They shall him make an ill accompt of thrift.


s: Now whenas time, flying with wingës swift,


s: Expired had the terme that these two iavels


s: Should render up a reckning of their travels


s: Unto their master, which it of them sought,


s: Exceedingly they troubled were in thought,


s: Ne how to scape great punishment, or shame,


s: For their false treason and vile theeverie:


s: For not a lambe of all their flockes-supply


s: Had they to shew; but ever as they bred,


s: They slue them, and upon their fleshes fed:


s: For that disguised dog lov'd blood to spill,


s: And drew the wicked shepheard to his will.


s: So twixt them both they not a lambkin left;


s: And when lambes fail'd, the old sheepes lives they reft;


s: That how t'acquite themselves unto their lord


s: They were in doubt, and flatly set abord.


s: The Foxe then counsel'd th'Ape for to require


s: Respite till morrow t'answere his desire:


s: For times delay new hope of helpe still breeds.


s: The good man granted, doubting nought their deeds,


s: And bad next day that all should readie be.


s: But they more subtill meaning had than he:


s: For the next morrowes meed they closely ment,


s: For feare of afterclaps, for to prevent:


s: And that same evening, when all shrowded were


s: In careles sleep, they without care or feare


s: And of them slew at pleasure what they wolde.


s: Of which whenas they feasted had their fill,


s: They stole away, and tooke their hastie flight,


s: Carried in clowdes of all-concealing night.


s: So was the husbandman left to his losse,


s: And they unto their fortunes change to tosse.


s: After which sort they wandered long while,


s: Abusing manie through their cloaked guile;


s: That at the last they gan to be descryed


s: Of everie one, and all their sleights espyed;


s: So as their begging now them failed quyte,


s: For none would give, but all men would them wyte.


s: Yet would they take no paines to get their living,


s: But seeke some other way to gaine by giving,


s: Much like to begging, but much better named;


s: For manie beg which are thereof ashamed.


s: And now the Foxe had gotten him a gowne,


s: And th'Ape a cassocke sidelong hanging downe;


s: For they their occupation meant to change,


s: For since their souldiers pas no better spedd,


s: They forg'd another, as for clerkes booke-redd.


s: Who passing foorth, as their adventures fell,


s: Through manie haps, which needs not here to tell,


s: At length chaunst with a formall Priest to meete,


s: Whom they in civill manner first did greete,


s: And after askt an almes for Gods deare love.


s: The man straightway his choler up did move,


s: And with reproachfull tearmes gan them revile,


s: For following that trade so base and vile;


s: And askt what license or what pas they had.


s: "Ah!" said the Ape, as sighing wondrous sad,


s: "Its an hard case, when men of good deserving


s: Must either driven be perforce to sterving,


s: That list at will them to revile or snib.


s: And yet (God wote) small oddes I often see


s: Twixt them that aske, and them that asked bee.


s: Natheles because you shall not us misdeeme,


s: Yee shall our pasport at your pleasure see,


s: And then ye will (I hope) well mooved bee."


s: Which when the Priest beheld, he vew'd it nere,


s: As if therein some text he studying were,


s: But little els (God wote) could thereof skill:


s: For read he could not evidence nor will,


s: Ne tell a written word, ne write a letter,


s: Ne make one title worse, ne make one better.


s: Of such deep learning little had he neede,


s: Ne yet of Latine ne of Greeke, that breede


s: Doubts mongst divines, and difference of texts,


s: But this good Sir did follow the plaine word,


s: Ne medled with their controversies vaine;


s: All his care was his service well to saine,


s: When that was done, he might attend his playes:


s: An easie life, and fit high God to please.


s: Gan at the length them to rebuke againe,


s: That no good trade of life did entertaine,


s: But lost their time in wandring loose abroad;


s: Seeing the world, in which they bootles boad,


s: Had wayes enough for all therein to live;


s: Such grace did God unto his creatures give.


s: Said then the Foxe: "Who hath the world not tride


s: From the right way full eath may wander wide.


s: We have not yet the tract of anie troad,


s: Therefore might please you, which the world have proved,


s: Us to advise, which forth but lately moved,


s: Of some good course that we might undertake,


s: Ye shall for ever us your bondmen make."


s: The priest gan wexe halfe proud to be so praide,


s: And thereby willing to affoord them aide,


s: "It seemes," said he, "right well that ye be clerks,


s: Both by your wittie words and by your works.


s: Is not that name enough to make a living


s: To him that hath a whit of Natures giving?


s: Daylie thereby, and grow to goodly prize;


s: To deanes, to archdeacons, to commissaries,


s: To lords, to principalls, to prebendaries?


s: All iolly prelates, worthie rule to beare,


s: Who ever them envie: yet spite bites neare.


s: Why should ye doubt, then, but that ye likewise


s: In the meane time to live in good estate,


s: Loving that love, and hating those that hate;


s: Being some honest curate, or some vicker,


s: Content with little in condition sicker."


s: "Ah! but," said th'Ape, "the charge is wondrous great,


s: To feed mens soules, and hath an heavie threat."


s: "To feede mens soules," quoth he, "is not in man:


s: For they must feed themselves, doo what we can.


s: We are but charg'd to lay the meate before:


s: Eate they that list, we need to doo no more.


s: But God it is that feedes them with his grace,


s: The bread of life powr'd downe from heavenly place.


s: Therefore said he that with the budding rod


s: Did rule the lewes, _All shalbe taught of God._


s: That same hath Iesus Christ now to him raught,


s: By whom the flock is rightly fed and taught:


s: He is the shcpheard, and the priest is hee;


s: We but his shepheard swaines ordain'd to bee.


s: Therefore herewith doo not your selfe dismay;


s: Ne is the paines so great, but beare ye may;


s: For not so great, as it was wont of yore,


s: It's now a dayes, ne halfe so streight and sore.


s: Their service and their holie things to say,


s: At morne and even, beside their anthemes sweete,


s: Their penie masses, and their complynes meete,


s: Their diriges, their trentals, and their shrifts,


s: Their memories, their singings, and their gifts.


s: Now all those needlesse works are laid away;


s: Ne are we tyde to fast, but when we list;


s: Ne to weare garments base of wollen twist,


s: That before God we may appeare more gay,


s: Should with vile cloaths approach Gods maiestie,


s: Or that all men, which anie master serve,


s: Good garments for their service should deserve,


s: But he that serves the Lord of Hoasts Most High,


s: And that in highest place, t'approach him nigh,


s: Both too and fro, should not deserve to weare


s: A garment better than of wooll or heare.


s: Our lovely lasses, or bright shining brides;


s: By that he ended had his ghostly sermon,


s: The Foxe was well induc'd to be a parson;


s: And of the priest eftsoones gan to enquire


s: "Marie, there," said the priest, "is arte indeed:


s: Much good deep learning one thereout may reed;


s: For that the ground-worke is, and end of all,


s: First, therefore, when ye have in handsome wise


s: Then to some nobleman your selfe applye,


s: There must thou fashion eke a godly zeale,


s: Such as no carpers may contrayre reveale:


s: For each thing fained ought more warie bee.


s: There thou must walke in sober gravitee,


s: And seeme as saintlike as Saint Radegund:


s: Fast much, pray oft, looke lowly on the ground,


s: These lookes (nought saying) doo a benefice seeke,


s: And be thou sure one not to lacke or long.


s: But if thee list unto the Court to throng,


s: For there thou needs must learne to laugh, to lie,


s: To face, to forge, to scoffe, to companie,


s: To crouche, to please, to be a beetle-stock


s: Of thy great masters will, to scorne, or mock:


s: So maist thou chaunce mock out a benefice,


s: Unlesse thou canst one coniure by device,


s: And if one could, it were but a schoole trick.


s: These be the wayes by which without reward


s: Livings in court he gotten, though full hard;


s: For nothing there is done without a fee:


s: The courtier needes must recompenced bee


s: Doo not thou therefore seeke a living there,


s: But of more private persons seeke elswhere,


s: Whereas thou maist compound a better penie,


s: Ne let thy learning question'd be of anie.


s: For some good gentleman, that hath the right


s: To fortie pound, that then his yongest sonne


s: Shall twentie have, and twentie thou hast wonne:


s: Thou hast it wonne, for it is of franke gift