Grosart's 1878 Introduction

 

Home Page

LOVES MARTYR:

OR,

ROSALINS COMPLAINT.

Allegorically shadowing the truth of Loue,

in the constant Fate of the Phoenix

and Turtle.

 

A Poeme enterlaced with much varietie and raritie;

now first translated out of the venerable Italian Torquato Caeliano, by Robert Chester.

 

With the true legend of famous King Arthur the last of the nine Worthies, being the first Efsay of a new Brytish Poet: collected out of diuerse Authenticall Records.

 

To these are added some new compositions of seuerall moderne Writers whose names are subscribed to their seuerall workes, vpon the first subiect viz. the Phoenix and Turtle.

 

Mar: — Mutare dominum non potest liber notus.

 

 

LONDON

Imprinted for E. B.

1601

 

 

THE

Anuals of great

Brittaine.

A MOST EXCEL-

lent Monument, wherein may be

feene all the antiquities of this King-

dome, to the fatisfaction both of the

Vniuerfities, or any other place ftir-

red with Emulation of long

continuance.

Excellently figured out in a worthy Poem.

 

 

LONDON

Printed for Mathew Lownes.

1611

 

 

TO THE HONORA-

ble, and (of me before all other)

honored Knight, Sir John Salisburie

 one of the Esquires of the bodie to the

Queenes most excellent Maiestie, Robert

Chester wisheth increase of vertue

 and honour.

 

Pofse & nolle, nobile.

 

Onorable Sir, hauing according to the directions of some of my best-min­ded friends, finished my long  expected  labour; knowing this ripe iudging world to be full of enuie, euery one (as sound reason requireth) thinking his owne child to be fairest although an AEthiopian, I am emboldened to put my infant wit to the eye of the world vnder your protectio

 

A3

 

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE.

knowing that if Absurditie like a theefe haue crept into any part of these Poems, your well-graced name will ouer-shadow these defaults, and the knowne Caracter of your vertues, cause the common back-bi­ting enemies of good spirits, to be silent. To the World I put my Child to nurse, at the expence of your fauour, whose glorie will stop the mouthes of the vulgar, and I hope cause the learned to rocke it asleepe (for your sake) in the bosome of good wil. Thus wishing you all the blefsings of heauen and earth; I end.

Yours in all feruice,

Ro. Chester.

 

 

The Authors request to the Phoenix.

 

PHoenix of beautie, beauteous, Bird of any

To thee I do entitle all my labour,

More precious in mine eye by far then many

That feedst all earthly sences with thy savour:

Accept my home-writ praifes of thy loue,

And kind acceptance of thy Turtle-doue

 

Some deepe-read fcholler fam’d for Poetrie,

Whofe wit-enchanting verfe deferueth fame,

Should fing of thy perfections pafsing beautie,

And eleuate thy famous worthy name:

Yet I the leaft, and meaneft in degree,

Endeuoured haue to pleafe in praifing thee.

 

R. Chefter.

 

 

 

To the kind Reader.

 

Of bloudy warres, nor of the facke of Troy,

Of Pryams murdred fonncs, nor Didoes fall,

Of Hellens rape, by Paris Troian boy,

Of Caefars victories, nor Pompeys thrall,

Of Lucrece rape, being rauisht by a King,

 Of none of these, of fweete Conceit I sing.

 

Then (gentle Reader) ouer-reade my Muse;

That armes herfelfe to flie a lowly flight,

My vntun’d stringed verfe do thou excuse,

Th'at may perhaps accepted, yeeld delight:

I cannot clime in praifes to the skie,

Least falling, I be drown’ d with infamie.

 

Mea mecum Porto.

 

R. Ch

 

ROSALINS COM-

PLAINT, METAPHORI-

cally applied to Dame Nature at a Parlia-

ment held (in the high Star-chamber) by the

Gods, for the preferuation and increafe of

Earths beauteous Phoenix.

 

A Solemne day of meeting mongft the Gods,

And royall parliament there was ordained:

The heauenly Synod was at open ods,

And many harts with earthly wrongs were pained;

Some came to craue excufe, some to complaine

Of heauie burdend griefes they did fuftaine.

 

Vefta she told, her Temple was defiled :

luno how that her nuptiall knot was broken;

Venus from her sonne Cupid was exiled :

And Pallas tree with ignorance was fhoken;

Bellona rau'd at Lordlike cowardice,

And Cupid that fond Ladies were to nice.

 

To this Affembly came Dame Nature weeping,

And with her handkercher through wet with teares,

She dried her rofie cheekes, made pale with fighing,

Hanging her wofull head, head full of feares :

And to Ioues felfe plac'd in a golden feate,

She kneeld her downe, and thus gan to intreate:

 

Thou mightie Imperator of the earth,

Thou euer-liuing Regent of the aire,

That to all creatures giu'ft a liuely breath,

 

B

 

2                   Rofalins complaint.

 

And thundrest wrath downe from thy firie chaire,

Behold thy handmaid, king of earthly kings,

That to thy gracious fight fad tidings brings.

 

One rare rich Phoenix of exceeding beautie,

One none-like Lillie in the earth I placed ;

One faire Helena, to whom men owe dutie :

One countrey with a milke-white Doue I graced :

One and none such, since the wide world was found

Hath euer Nature placed on the ground.

 

Head.     Her head I framed of a heauenly map,

Wherein the seuenfold vertues were enclofed,

When great Apollo flept within my lap,

And in my bofome had his reft repofed,

I cut away his locks of purest gold,

And plac'd them on her head of earthly mould.

 

Haire.     When the leaft whistling wind begins to sing,         

And gently blowes her haire about her necke,

Like to a chime of bels it soft doth ring,

And with the pretie noise the wind doth checke,

Able to lull afleepe a pensiue hart,

That of the round worlds forrowes beares a part.

 

Forehead. Her forehead is a place for princely Ioue

To sit, and cenfure matters of import:

Wherein men reade the fweete conceipts of Loue,

To which hart-pained Louers do retort,

            And in this Tablet find to cure the wound,

For which no falue or herbe was euer found.

 

Rofalins complaint                                 3

 

Vnder this mirrour, are her princely eyes :

Two Carbuncles, two rich imperiall lights;

That ore the day and night do soueraignize,

And their dimme tapers to their reft fhe frights:

        Her eyes excell the Moone and glorious Sonne,

        And when the rifeth al their force is donne.

 

Her morning-coloured cheekes, in which is plac'd,

A Lillie lying in a bed of Rotes ;

This part aboue all other I haue grac'd,

For in the blew veines you may reade fweet pofies:

        When fhe doth blufh, the Heauens do wax red,

        When fhe lookes pale, that heauenly Front is dead,

 

Her chinne a litle litle pretie thing

In which the fweet carnatian Gelli-flower,

Is round encompaft in a chriftall ring,

And of that pretie Orbe doth beare a power:

        No ftorme of Enuie can this glorie touch,

        Though many fhould affay it ouermuch?

 

Her lippes two rubie Gates from whence doth fpring,

Sweet honied deaw by an intangled kiffe,

From forth thefe glories doth the Night-bird fmg,

A Nightingale that no right notes will miffe :

        True learned Eloquence and Poetrie,

        Do come betwene thefe dores of excellencie.

 

Her teeth are hewed from rich cryftal Rockes,

Or from the Indian pearle of much efteem,

Thefe in a clofet her deep counfell lockes,

 

B 2                  

 

4                 Rofalins complaint

 

        And are as porters to so faire a Queene,

        They tafte the diet of the heau'nly traine,

        Other base groffeneffe they do ftill difdaine.

 

Her tongue the vtterer of all glorious things,

The filuer clapper of that golden bell,

That neuer foundeth but to mightie Kings,

And when she fpeakes, her fpeeches do excell:

        He in a happie chaire himfelfe doth place,

        Whofe name with her fweet tongue she means to grace.

 

Her necke is Vestas filuer conduict pipe,

In which she powers perfect chaftitie,

And of the muskie grapes in fommer ripe,

She makes a liquor of ratietie,

That dies this fwanne-like piller to a white,

More glorious then the day with all his light.

 

Her breafts two cryftal orbes of whiteft white,

Two little mounts from whence lifes comfort fprings.

Between thofe hillockes Cupid doth delight

To fit and play, and in that valley sings:

Looking loue-babies in her wanton eyes,

That all groffe vapours thence doth chaftefize,

 

Her armes are branches of that filuer tree,

That men furname the rich Hefperides

A precious circling fhew of modeftie,

When the doth fpread thefe glories happines:

Ten times ten thoufand bleflings he doth taste,

Whofe circled armes fhall cling about her wafte.

 

Her

 

Rofalins complaint                  5

 

Her hands are fortunes palmes, where men may reade     Hands.

His first houres deftiny, or weale or woe,

When she this sky-like map abroad doth fpreade,

Like pilgrimes many to this Saint do go,

And in her hand, white hand, they there do fee

Loue lying in a bed of yuorie.

 

Her fingers long and fmall do grace her hand ;            Fingers.

For when the toucheth the fweete founding Lute,

The wild vntamed beafts amaz'd do ftand,

And carroll-chanting birds are fudden mute :

O fingers how you grace the filuer wires,

And in humanitie burne Venus fires !

 

Her bellie (o grace incomprehenfible)                     Bellie.

Far whiter then the milke-white lillie flower.

O might Arabian Phoenix come inuifible,

And on this mountaine build a glorious bower,

Then Sunne and Moone as tapers to her bed,

Would light loues Lord to take her maidenhead.

 

Be still my thoughts, be filent all yee Muses,               Nota.

Wit-flowing eloquence now grace my tongue:

Arife old Homer and make no excufes,

Of a rare peece of art muft be my fong,

Of more then most, and most of all beloued,

About the which Venus fweete doues haue houered.

 

There is a place in louely paradize,

From whence the golden Gehon ouerflowes,

A fountaine of fuch honorable prize,

 

B3

 

6                 Rofalins complaint.

 

That none the facred, facred vertues knowes,

Walled about, betok'ning fure defence,

With trees of life, to keepe bad errors thence,

 

Her Thighs two pillers fairer far then faire,

Two vnderprops of that celeftiall houfe,

That Manfion that is Iunos filuer chaire,

In which Ambrosia VENUS doth caroufe,

And in her thighs the prety veines are running

Like Chriftall riuers from the maine ftreames flowing.

 

Her legges are made as graces to the reft,

So pretie, white, and so proportionate,               

That leades her to loues royall fportiue neft,

Like to a light bright Angel in her gate:

For why no creature in the earth but she,

Is like an Angell, Angell let her be.

 

Her Feete (now draw I to conclufion)

Are neat and litle to delight the eye,

No tearme in all humane inuention,

Or in the veine of fweet writ Poetrie

Can ere be found, to giue her feet that grace,

That beares her corporate Soule from place to place.

 

And if by night she walke, the Marigold,

That doth inclofe the glorie of her eye,

At her approch her beauty doth vnfold,

And fpreads her felfe in all her royaltie,

Such vertue hath this Phoenix glassy fhield,

That Floures and Herbs at her faire fight do yeeld.

 

And

 

Rofalins complaint.                 7

 

And if fhe grace the Walkes within the day,

Flora doth fpreade an Arras cloth of flowers,

Before her do the prety Satires play,

And make her banquets in their leauie Bowers :

Head, Haire, Brow, Eyes, Cheeks, Chin and all,

Lippes, Teeth, Tong, Neck, Brefts, Belly are maiefticall.

 

This Phoenix I do feare me will decay,

And from her ashes neuer will arife

An other Bird her wings for to difplay,

And her rich beauty for to equalize :

The Arabian fiers are too dull and base,

To make another fpring within her place.

 

Therefore dread Regent of thefe Elements,

Pitie poore Nature in her Art excelling,

Giue thou an humble eare to my laments,

That to thee haue a long true tale beene telling,

Of her, who when it pleafe thee to behold,

Her outward fight fhall bewties pride vnfold.

 

At thefe words Ioue ftood as a man amazed,

And Iunos loue-bred bewtie turnd to wight,

Venus fhe blusht, and on dame Nature gazed,

And Vefta she began to weepe outright:

And little Cupid poore boy ftrucke in loue,

With repetition of this earthly Doue.

 

But at the laft Ioue gan to rouse his fpirit,

And told dame Nature in her fweet difcourfe;

Her womans Toung did run before her Wit,

 

B 4

 

 

8     Rofalins complaint.

 

Such a faire foule her felfe could neuer nurfe,

Nor in the vaftie earth was euer liuing,

Such beauty that all beauty was excelling.

 

Nature was ftrucke with pale temeritie,

To fee the God of thunders lightning eyes ;

He fhooke his knotty haire to wrathfully,

As if he did the heauenly rout defpife :

Then downe vpon her knee dame Nature fals, ,

And on the great gods name aloud she cals.

 

Ioue thou fhalt fee my commendations,

To be vnworthie and impartiall,

To-make of her an extallation,

Whofe beauty is deuine maiefticall;

Looke on that painted picture there, behold

The rich wrought Phoenix of Arabian gold.

 

Ioues eyes were setled on her painted eyes,

Ioue blufhing fmiled, the picture fmiled againe:

Ioue fpoke to her, and in his heart did rife

Loues amours, but the picture did difdaine

To loue the god, Ioue would haue ftole a kiffe,

But Iuno being by, denyed him this.

 

When all the reft beheld this counterfeit,

They knew the fubftance was of rarer price :

Some gaz'd vpon her face, on which did waite

As meffengers, her two celeftiall eyes ;

Eyes wanting fire, did giue a lightning flame,

How much more would her eyes mans fences tame ?

 

Then

 

Rosalins complaint.                 9

 

Then all the Gods and Goddeffes did decree,

In humble maner to intreat of Ioue

And euery power vpon his bended knee,

Shewd faithfull feruice in dame Natures loue,

Intreating him to pacifie his Ire,

And raife another Phoenix of new fire.

 

Her picture from Ioues eyes hath banifht Hate,

And Mildneffe plaind the furrowes of his brow,

Her painted fhape hath chaftifed debate,

And now to pleafure them he makes a vow:

Then thus Ioue fpake, tis pittie she fhould die,

And leaue no offpring of her Progenie.

 

Nature go hie thee, get thee Phoebus chaire,

Cut through, the skie, and leaue Arabia,

Leaue that il working peece of fruitleffe ayre,

Leaue me the plaines of white Brytania,

Thefe countries haue no fire to raife that flame,

That to this Phoenix bird can yeeld a name.

 

There is a country Clymat fam'd of old,

That hath to name delightfome Paphos Ile,

Ouer the mountaine tops to trudge be bold,

There let thy winged Horfes reft awhile :

Where in a vale like Cipariffus groue,

Thou fhalt behold a fecond Phoenix loue

 

A champion country full of fertill Plaines,

Green graffie Medowes, little prettie Hils,

Aboundant pleafure in this place remaines,

 

C

 

10                Rofalins complaint.

 

And plenteous fweetes this heauenly clymat filles :

Faire flowing bathes that iffue from the rockes,

Aboundant heards of beafts that come by flockes.

 

High ftately Caedars, sturdie bigge arm'd Okes,

Great Poplers, and long trees of Libanon,

Svveete fmelling Firre that frankenfence prouokes,

And Pine apples from whence fweet iuyce doth come :

The fommer-blooming Hauthorne ; vnder this

Faire Venus from Adonis ftole a kiffe.

 

Fine Thickets and rough Brakes for fport and pleafure,

Places to hunt the light-foote nimble Roe:

Thefe groues Diana did account her treafure,

And in the cold fhades, oftentimes did goe

To lie her downe, faint, weary on the ground,

Whileft that her Nimphs about her daunft a round.

 

A quire of heauenly Angels tune their voyces,

And counterfeit the Nightingale in singing,

At which delightsome pleafure fhe reioyces,

And Plenty from her cell her gifts is bringing:

Peares, Apples, Plums, and the red ripe Cherries,

Sweet Strawberries with other daintie berries.

 

Here haunt the Satyres and the Driades,

The Hamadriades and pretie Elues,

That in the groues with skipping many pleafe,

And runne along vpon the water fhelues :

Heare Mermaides sing, but with Ulyffes eares,

The country Gallants do difdaine their teares.

 

The

 

Rofalins complaint.                  5

 

The Crocadile and hiffing Adders fling,        

May not come neere this holy plot of ground,

No Nightworme in this continent may sing,

Nor poifon-fpitting Serpent may be found :

Here Milke and Hony like two riuers ran,

As fruitefull as the land of Canaan.

 

What fhall I fay ? their Orchards fpring with plentie,

The Gardens fmell like Floras paradice,

Bringing increafe from one to number twentie,

As Lycorice and fweet Arabian fpice :

No place is found vnder bright heauens faire bliffe,

To beare the name of Paradife but this.

 

Hard by a running ftreame or cryftall fountaine,

Wherein rich Orient pearle is often found,

Enuiron'd with a high and fteepie mountaine,

A fertill foile and fruitful plot of ground,

There fhalt thou find true Honors louely Squire

That for this Phoenix keepes Prometheus fire.

 

His bower wherein he lodgeth all the night,

Is fram'd of Caedars and high loftie Pine,

I made his houfe to chaftice thence defpight,

And fram'd it like this heauenly roofe of mine:

His name is Liberall honor, and his hart,

Aymes at true faithfull feruice and defart

 

Looke on his face, and in his browes doth fit,

Bloud and fweete Mercie hand in hand vnited,

Bloud to his foes, a prefident most fit

 

C 2

 

12                Rofalins complaint.

 

For fuch as haue his gentle humour fpited :

His Haire is curl'd by nature mild and meeke,

Hangs careleffe downe to fhrowd a blufhing cheeke

 

Giue him this Ointment to annoint his Head,

This precious Balme to lay vnto his feet,

Thefe fhall direct him to this Phoenix bed,

Where on a high hill he this Bird fhall meet:

And of their Afhes by my doome shal rife,

Another Phoenix her to equalize.

 

This faid the Gods and Goddeffes did applaud,

The Cenfure of this thundring Magiftrate,

And Nature gaue him euerlafting laud,

And quickly in the dayes bright Coach fhe gate

Downe to the earth, fhe's whirled through the ayre ;

Ioue ioyne thefe fires, thus Venus made her prayer.

 

 

An Introduction to the Prayer.

GVide thou great Guider of the Sunne and Moone,

Thou elementall fauourer of the Night,

My vndeferued wit, wit fprong too foone,

To giue thy greatneffe euerie gracious right:

Let Pen, Hand, Wit and vndeferuing tongue,

Thy praife and honor fmg in euerie fong.

 

In my poore prayer guide my Hand aright,

Guide my dull Wit, guide all my dulled Senfes,

Let thy bright Taper giue me faithfull light,

 

And

 

A Prayer.                    13

 

And from thy Booke of life blot my offences :

Then arm'd with thy protection and thy loue,

Ile make my prayer for thy Turtle-doue.

 

 

A Prayer made for the profperitie of

a filuer coloured Doue, applyed to the

beauteous Phoenix.

 

O Thou great maker of the firmament,

That rid'ft vpon the winged Cherubins

And on the glorious fhining element,

Hear'ft the fad praters of the Seraphins

That vnto thee continually sing Hymnes:

Bow downe thy liftning eares thou God of might,

To him whofe heart will praife thee day and night.

 

Accept the humble Praiers of that foule,

That now lies wallowing in the myre of Sinne,

Thy mercie Lord .doth all my powers controule,

And fearcheth reines and heart that are within :

Therefore to thee Iehouah Ile begin :

Lifting my head from my imprifoned graue,

No mercie but thy mercie me can faue.

 

The foule vntamed Lion ftill goes roring,

Old hell-bread Sathan enemy to mankind,

To leade me to his iawes that are deuouring,

Wherein no Grace to humane flefh's afngn'd,

 

C3

 

14                    A Prayer.

 

But thou celefliall Father canft him bind :

Tread on his head, tread Sinne and Sat/tan downe,

And on thy feruants head fet Mercies crowne.

 

Thus in acceptance of thy glorious fight,

I purge my deadly finne in hope of grace,

Thou art the Doore, the Lanthorne and the Light,

To guide my finfull feete from place to place,

And now O Chrift I bow before thy face:

And for the filuer coloured earthly Doue,

I make my earneft prayer for thy loue.

 

Shrowde her o Lord vnder thy fhadowed wings,

From the worlds enuious malice and deceit,

That like the adder-poifoned ferpent ftings,

And in her way layes a corrupted baite,

Yet raife her God vnto thy mercies height:

Guide her, o guide her from pernitious foes,

That many of thy creatures ouerthrowes.

 

Wafh her O Lord with Hyfope and with Thime,

And the white fnow the fhall excell in whiteneffe,

Purge her with mercie from all finfull crime,

And her foules glorie fhall exceed in brightneffe,

O let thy mercie grow vnto such ripeneffe:

Behold her, O behold her gratious King,

That vnto thee fweet fongs of praife will fmg.

 

And as thou leadft through the red coloured waues,

The hoaft of thy elected Ifrael,

And from the wrath of Pharoe didft them faue,

 

Appoin-

 

A Prayer.                    15

 

Appointing them within that land to dwell,

A chofen land, a land what did excell ;

So guide thy filuer Doue vnto that place,

Where she Temptations enuie may outface.

 

Increafe thy gifts beftowed on thy Creature,

And multiply thy bleffings manifold,

And as thou haft adorned her with nature,

So with thy bleffed eyes her eyes behold,

That in them doth thy workmanfhip vnfold,

Let her not wither Lord without increafe,

But bleffe her with ioyes offpring of fweet peace.

 

Amen. Amen.

 

 

 

To thofe of light beleefe.

 

YOu gentle fauourers of excelling Muses,

And gracers of all Learning and Defart

You whofe Conceit the deepeft worke peruses,

Whofe ludgements still are gouerned by Art:

Reade gently what you reade, this next conceit,

Framed of pure loue, abandoning deceit.

 

And you whofe dull Imagination,

And blind conceited Error hath not knowne

Of Herbes and Trees true nomination

But thinke them fabulous that shall be showne :

Learne more, fearch much, and furely you shall find

Plaine honeft Truth and Knowledge comes behind,

 

Then gently (gentle Reader) do thou fauour,

 

C4

 

16        A Dialogue.

 

And with a gracious looke grace what is written,

With fmiling cheare perufe my homely labour,

With Enuies poifoned fpitefull looke not bitten:

So shalt thou caufe my willing thought to striue,

To adde more Honey to my new-made Hiue.

 

 

 

 

A meeting Dialogue-wife betweene Na-

ture, the Phoenix, and the Turtle Doue.

 

Nature

 

All haile faire Phoenix, whither art thou flying ?

Why in the hot Sunne doft thou fpread thy .wings ?

More pleafure fhouldft thou take in cold fhades lying,

And for to bathe thyfelfe in wholfome Springs,

Where the woods feathered quier fweetely sings :

Thy golden Wings and thy breafts beauteous Eie,

Will fall away in Phoebus royaltie.

 

O ftay me not, I am no Phoenix I,

And if I be that bird, I am defaced,

Vpon the Arabian mountaines I muft die,

And neuer with a poore yong Turtle graced ;

Such operation in me is not placed :

What is my Beautie but a painted wal,

My golden fpreading Feathers quickly fal.

 

Why doft thou fhead thy Feathers, kill thy Heart,

Weep out thine Eyes, and ftaine thy golden Face ?

Why doft thou of the worlds woe take a part,

And in relenting teares thy felfe difgrace ?

Ioyes mirthful Tower is thy dwelling place;

 

All

 

A Dialogue.                    17

 

All Birdes for vertue and excelling beautie,

Sing at thy reuerend feet in Loue and Dutie.

 

Oh how thou feed'ft me with my Beauties praifing!

O how thy Praife founds from a golden Toung!

O how thy Toung my Vertues would be raising!

And raising me thou doft corrupt thy fong;

Thou feeft not Honie and Poifon mixt among;

Thou not'ft my Beautie with a iealous looke,

But doft not fee how I do bayte my hooke.

 

Tell me, o tell me, for I am thy friend,

I am Dame Nature that firft gaue thee breath,

That from loues glorious rich feate did defcend,

To fet my Feete vpon this lumpim earth :

What is the caufe of thy fad fullen Mirth ?

Haft thou not Beauty, Vertue, Wit and Fauour;

What other graces would'ft thou craue of Nature ?

 

What is my Beauty but a vading Flower ?

Wherein men reade their deep-conceiued Thrall,

Alluring twentie Gallants in an hower,

To be as feruile vaffalls at my Call ?

My Sunne-bred lookes their Senfes do exhall:

But (o my griefe) where my faire Eyes would loue,

Foule bleare-eyed Enuie doth my thoughts reprooue.

 

What is my Vertue but a Tablitorie :

Which if I did beftow would more increafe ?

What is my Wit but an inhumane glorie:

That to my kind deare friends would proffer peace ?

 

D

 

18

 

A Dialogue.

 

But O vaine Bird, giue ore in filence, ceafe;

Malice perchaunce doth hearken to thy words,

That cuts thy threed of Loue with twentie fwords.

 

Tell me (O Mirrour) of our earthly time,

Tell me fweete Phoenix glorie of mine age,

Who blots thy Beauty with foule Enuies crime,

And locks thee vp in fond Suspitions cage ?

Can any humane heart beare thee fuch rage ?

Daunt their proud ftomacks with thy piercing Eye,

Vnchaine Loues fweetneffe at thy libertie.

 

What is't to bath me in a wholefome Spring,

Or wash me in a cleere, deepe, running Well,

When I no vertue from the fame do bring,

Nor of the balmie water beare a fmell ?

It better were for me mongft Crowes to dwell,

Then flocke with Doues, whe Doues fit alwayes billing,

And wafte my wings of gold, my Beautie killing.

 

Ile chaine foule Enuy to a brazen Gate,

And place deepe Malice in a hollow Rocke,

To some blacke defert Wood Ile banifh Hate,

And fond Sufpition from thy fight Ile locke:

Thefe fhall not ftirre, let anie Porter knocke.

Thou art but yong, frefh, greene, and muft not pass,

But catch the hot Sunne with thy fteeled glass.

 

That Sunne fhines not within this Continent,

That with his warme rayes can my dead Bloud chearifh,

Groffe cloudie Vapours from this Aire is sent,

 

Not

 

A Dialogue.                   19

 

Not hot reflecting Beames my heart to nourifh.

O Beautie, I do feare me thou wilt perifh ;

Then gentle Nature let me take my flight,

But ere I paffe, fet Enuie out of fight.

 

Ile coniure him, and raife him from his graue,

And put vpon his head a punifhment:

Nature thy fportiue Pleafure meanes to faue;

Ile fend him to perpetuall banifhment,

Like to a totterd Furie ragd and rent:

Ile baffle him, and blind his Zealous eye,

That in thy actions Secrecie would prye.

 

Ile coniure him, Ile raife him from his Cell,

Ile pull his Eyes from his confpiring head,

Ile locke him in the place where he doth dwell;

Ile starue him there, till the poore flaue be dead,

That on the poifonous Adder oft hath fed :

Thefe threatnings on the Helhound I will lay,

But the performance beares the'greater fway.

 

Stand by faire Phoenix, fpread thy Wings of gold,

And daunt the face of Heauen with thine Eye,

Like Iunos bird thy Beautie do vnfold,

And thou fhalt triumph ore thine enemie:

Then thou and I in Phoebus coach will flie,

Where thou fhalt fee and taft a fecret Fire,

That will adde fpreading life to thy Defire.

 

Arife thou bleare-ey'd Enuie from thy bed,

Thy bed of Snakie poifon and corruption,

 

                 D 2

 

20        A Dialogue.

 

Vnmaske thy big-fwolne Cheekes with poyfon red,

For with thee I muft trie Conclufion,

And plague thee with the Worlds confufion.

I charge thee by my Power to appeare,

And by Celestiall warrant to draw neare.

 

Phoenix.  

 

O what a miftie Dampe breakes from the ground,

Able it felfe to infect this noyfome Aire:

As if a caue of Toades themfelues did wound,

Or poyfoned Dragons fell into difpaire,

Hels damned sent with this may not compare,

And in this toggle cloud there doth arife

A damned Feend ore me to tyrannize.

 

Nature.

 

He shall not touch a Feather of thy wing,

Or euer haue Authoritie and power,

As he hath had in his dayes fecret prying,

Ouer thy calmie Lookes to fend a fhower:

Ile place thee now in fecrecies fweet Bower,

Where at thy will in sport and dallying,

Spend out thy time in Amarous difcourfing.

 

Phoenix.  

 

Looke Nurce, looke Nature how the Villaine fweates,

His big-fwolne Eyes will fall vnto the ground,

With fretting anguifh he his blacke breaft beates,

As if he would true harted minds confound :

O keepe him backe, his fight my heart doth wound :

O Enuie it is thou that mad'ft me perifh,

For want of that true Fire my heart fhould nourifh.

 

Nature  

 

But I will plague him for his wickedneffe,

 

A Dialogue.                   21

 

Enuie go packe thee to fome fbrreine foyle,

To fome defertfull plaine or Wilderneffe,

Where fauage Monfters and wild beafts do toyle,

And with inhumane Creatures keep a coyle.

Be gone I fay, and neuer do returne,

Till this round compafl world with fire do burne.

 

What is he gone ? is Enuie packt away ?

Then one fowle blot is mooued from his Throne,

That my poore honeft Thoughts did feeke to slay:

Away fowle griefe, and ouer-heauie Mone,

That do ore charge me with continuall grones.

Will you not hence ? then with downe-falling teares,

Ile drowne my feife in ripeneffe of my Yeares.

 

Fie peeuifh Bird, what art thou franticke mad ?

Wilt thou confound thy feife with foolifh Griefe ?

If there be caufe or meanes for to be had,

Thy Nurfe and nourifher will find reliefe:

Then tell me all thy Accidents in briefe;

Haue I not banifht Enuy for thy fake ?

I greater things for thee ile vndertake.

 

Enuie is gone and banifht from my fight,

Banifht for euer comming any more :

But in Arabia burnes another Light,

A dark dimme Taper that I muft adore,

This barren Countrey makes me to deplore:

It is to fapleffe that the very Spring,

Makes tender new-growne Plants be withering.

 

D3

 

22        A Dialogue.

 

The noifome Aire is growne infectious,

The very Springs for want of Moifture die,

The glorious Sunne is here peftiferous,

No hearbes for Phificke or fweet Surgerie,

No balme to cure hearts inward maladie:

No gift of Nature, fhe is here defaced,

Heart-curing Balfamum here is not placed.

 

Is this the fumme and fubftance of thy woe?

Is this the Anker-hold vnto thy bote ?

Is this thy Sea of Griefe doth ouerflow ?

Is this the Riuer fets thy fhip aflote ?

Is this the Leffon thou haft learn'd by rote ?

And is this all ? and is this plot of Ground

The fubftance of the Theame doth thee confound ?

 

This is the Anker-hold, the Sea, tlie Riuer,

The Leffon and the fubftance of my Song,

This is the Rocke my Ship did feeke to fhiuer,

And in this ground with Adders was I ftung,

And in a lothfome pit was often flung :

My Beautie and my Vertues captiuate,

To Loue, diffembling Loue that I did hate.

 

Cheare vp thy fpirit Phoenix, prune thy wings,

And double-gild thy Fethers for my newes;

A Nightingale and not a Rauen sings,

That from all blacke contention will excufe

Thy heauy thoughts, and fet them to perufe

Another Clymat, where thou maift expreffe,

A plot of Paradice for worthineffe.

A Dialogue.

 

Ioue in diuine diuineffe of his Soule,

That rides vpon his fine axaltree,

That with his Mace doth humane flefh controule,

When of mans deedes he makes a Regiftrie,

Louing the good for fingularitie:

With a vail’d Countenance and a gracious Smile,

Did bid me plant my Bird in Paphos Ile.

 

What ill diuining Planet did prefage,

My timeleffe birth to timely brought to light ?

What fatal Comet did his wrath engage,

To worke a harmleffe Bird fuch worlds defpight,

Wrapping my dayes bliffe in blacke fables night?

No Planet nor no Comet did confpire

My downefall, but foule Fortunes wrathful ire.

 

What did my Beautie moue her to Difdaine ?

Or did my Vertues fhadow all her Bliffe ?

That she should place me in a desart Plaine,

And fend forth Enuie with a Iudas kiffe,

To fling me with a Scorpions poifoned hiffe ?

From my firft birth-right for to plant me heare,

Where I haue alwaies fed on Griefe and Feare.

 

Raile not gainst Fortunes facred Deitie,

In youth thy vertuous patience the hath tyred,

From this base earth fhee'le lift thee vp on hie,

Where in Contents rich Chariot thou fhalt ride,

And neuer with Impatience to abide :

Fortune will glorie in thy great renowne,

And on thy feathered head will fet a crowne.

 

24        A Dialogue.

 

T'was time to come, for I was comfortleffe,

And in my Youth haue bene Infortunate:

This Ile of Paphos I do hope will bleffe,

And alter my halfe-rotten tottering ftate;

My hearts Delight was almoft ruinate.

In this rich Ile a Turtle had his neft,

And in a Wood of gold tooke vp his rest

 

Fly in this Chariot, and come fit by me,

And we will leave this ill corrupted Land,

We'le take our courfe through the blew Azure skie,

And fet our feete on Paphos golden fand.

There of that Turtle Doue we'le vnderftand :

And vifit him in thofe delightfull plaines,

Where Peace conioyn'd with Plenty ftill remaines.

 

I come, I come, and now farewell that ftrond,

Vpon whofe craggie rockes my Ship was rent;

Your ill befeeming follies made me fond,

And in a vaftie Cell I vp was pent,

Where my frefh blooming Beauty I haue fpent

O blame your felues ill nurtred cruell Swaines,

That fild my fcarlet Glorie full of Staines.

 

Welcome immortal Bewtie, we will ride

Ouer the Semi-circle of Europa,

And bend our courfe where we will fee the Tide,

That partes the Continent of Affrica,

Where the great Cham gouernes Tartaria

And when the ftarrie Curtaine vales the night,

In Paphos facred He we meane to light.

 

A Dialgoue.        25

 

How glorious is this Chariot of the day,

Where Phoebus in his cryftall robes is fet,

And to poore paffengers directs a way:

O happie time fince I with Nature met,

My immelodious Difcord I vnfret:

And sing fweet Hymnes, burn Myrrhe & Frankenfence,

Honor that Isle that is my fure defence.

 

Looke Phoenix ore the world as thou doft ride,

And thou fhalt fee the pallaces of Kings,

Great huge-built Cities where high States abide,

Temples of Gods, and Altars with rich off'rings,

To which the Priefts their facrifices brings :

Wonders paft wonder, ftrange Pyramides,

And the gold-gathering Strond of Euphrates.

 

O what rich pleasure dwelleth in this Land!

Greene fpringing Medowes, high vpreared

Hits, The white-fleeft Ewe brought tame vnto the hand,

Faire running Riuers that the Countrie fils,

Sweet flowers that faire balmy Deaw diftils,

Great peopled Cities, whofe earth-gracing fhow,

Time is afham'd to touch or ouerthrow.

 

Be filent gentle Phoenix, Ile repeate,

Some of thefe Cities names that we defcrie,

And of their large foundation Ile intreate,

Their Founder that firft rear'd them vp on hie,

Making a glorious Speftacle to each eie :

Warres wald Defender and the Countries grace,

Not battred yet with Times controlling Mace.

 

E

 

26        A Dialogue.

 

This Alfred

 firft deuided

England into

Shires, being

King of Nor-

thumbers.

 

Alfred the father of faire Elfleda

Founded three goodly famous Monafleries,

In this large Ile of fweete Britania,

For to refrefh the poore foules miferies,

That were afflicted with calamities :

One in the Towne furnamed Edlingsey,

Which after ages called Athelney.

 

Alfred buried

in the Cafhe-

drall Church of

VVinchester.

 

The fecond Houfe of that Deuotion,

He did ered at worthy Winchefter,

A place well planted with Religion,

Called in this age the newly-builded Minfter,

Still kept in notable reparation :

And in this famous builded Monument,

His bodie was interd when life was fpent

 

The Vniuerfity

Of Oxforde built

by Alfred

 

The laft not leaft furpaffing all the reft,

Was Oxfords honorable foundation,

Since when with Learnings glorie it is bleft,

Begun bv the godly exhortation

Of the Abbot Neotus direftion :

From whofe rich womb pure Angell-like Diuinitie,

Hath fprong to faue vs from Calamitie.

 

This Sore is a

Riuer that run-

neth by Leice-

ster called of

some Brenber

vvater     

 

Leyre the sonne of Baldud being admitted,

To beare the burden of the British fway,

A Prince with Natures glorie being fitted,

At what time Ioas raigned King of Iuda,

To make his new got Fame to laft for aye,

By Sore he built the Towne of Caerleir,

That to this day is called Leycefter.

 

In this Citie

vvere three fa-

mous Churches

one of S. Julius

the Martyr, the

fecond of S. A-

ron : and the o-

ther the mother

Church of all

Demetia.

 

 

This Belin alfo

builded a nota­-

ble Gate in Lo-

don now called

Billingsgate

Belins Castle.

 

Lud, father to

Baldud, a man

vvellfeen in the

Sciences of A-

stronomie and

Necromancie.

 

This Baldud

sonne of Lud-

Hurdibras,

made firft the

hot Baths at

Caerbran, now

 called Bathe,

 

A Dialogue.                   27

 

Belin that famous worthy Brytaine King,

That made the Townes of Fraunce to feare his frowne,

And the whole Romish Legion to fing.

And to record his gracious great renowne,

Whofe hoft of men their Townes were firing:

Builded in Southwals height Caerlion,

Or termed Arwiske Caerlegion.

 

This glorious Citie was the onely Pride,

In eldeft age of all Demetia:

Where many notable Monuments abide,

To grace the Countrey of Britania,

That from Times memorie can neuer flide:

Amphibulus was borne in this fweete place,

Who taught S. Albon, Albon full of grace.

 

King Lud furnam’d the great Lud-hurdibras,

The sonne of Leil, builded the famous Towne

Of Kaerkin, with a huge Tower of braffe,

Now called Canterburie of great renowne,

Able to bide the raging Foes ftout frowne:

The Metropolitans feate where Learning fits,

And chiefe of all our English Bifhoprickes.

 

This noble King builded faire Caerguent,

Now cleped Winchester of worthie fame,

And at Mount Paladour he built his Tent,

That after ages Shaftfburie hath to name,

His firft foundation from King Leyls fonne came:

About which building Prophet Aquila,

Did prophefie in large Brytania.

 

E 2

 

28                   A Dialogue.

 

He alfo repai-

red the Citie of

Caer Leon, now

called Chester

 

King Leill a man of great religion,

That made his bordring neighbours for to yeeld,

And on their knees to pleade Submifsion,

Being eldest: sonne to Brute furnamed GreeneshieId,

The Citie of Caerleits he did build,

Now called Carleyle by corruption,

And Time that leades things to confufion.

 

The Cittie of

Cambridge

built in the

dayes of Gur-

guntius the son

of Beline, by

one Cantaber a

Spaniard, bro

­ther to Partho-

lony, or as fome

write by Gor-

bonian.

 

* Rithmi gra­-

tia.

 

Cambridge a famous Vniuerfitie,

The Nurfe of Learning and Experience,

The Chearifher of true Diuinitie,

That for the Soules good wifedome doth commence,

Confuting Vice, and driuing Error thence :

Was built by Sigisbert: but wrought effeflually

By Kings and Lords of famous memorie.

 

Ebranke the sonne of flout Mernpritius,

Hauing in matrimoniall copulation,

Twentie one wiues in large *Britanicus,

And thirtie daugliters by iuft computation,

And twentie sonnes of eflimation,

Builded Caerbranke famous for the name,

Now called Englands Yorke a place of Fame.

 

He in Albania large and populous,

Now termed Scotland of the Scottish Sect,

Because his deedes should still be counted famous,

The Castle of Maidens there he did erect,

And to good purpose did this worke effect :

But iron-eating Time the Truth doth staine,

For Edingburgh the Citie doth remaine.

 

A Dialogue.                  29

 

And in that Maiden Caftle he did frame.

To grace the building to the outward eie,

Nine Images of ftone plac'd in the fame,

Which fince haue ftay'd times perpetuitie,

In the true forme of worke-mans excellencie :

Not any whit diminifht, but as perfect

As in the firfl-dayes minute they were fet.

 

Nature I muse at your defcription,

To fee how Time that old ruft-cankard wretch,

Honors forgetfull Friend, Cities confufion,

That in all Monuments hath made a Breach,

To auncient names brought alteration :

And yet at this day fuch a place remaines,

That all Times honor paft with honor ftaines.

 

Thofe carued old-cut ftonie Images,

That beautifie the Princes ftately Towers,

That graces with their grace the Pallaces,

And high imperiall Emperizing bowers,

Were neuer raz'd by Times controlling houre

Nine worthie women almoffc equiualent,

With thole nine worthie men to valient.

 

Three of the nine were Iewes, and three were Gentile,

Three Christians, Honors honorable Sexe,

That from their foes did often beare the fpoiles,

And did their proud controlling neighbours vexe,

Which to their name did Nobleneffe annexe,

An Embleame for true borne Gentilitie,

To imitate their deeds in chiualrie.

 

E3

 

30                   A Dialogue.

 

The firft Minerua a right worthie Pagon,

That many manlike battailes manly fought,

She firft deuiz'd Artillerie of yron,

And Armour for our backes the firft found out,

Putting our liues deare hazard from tome doubt:

She gouerned the Libians, and got Victories,

With Honor by the lake *Tritonides.

 

*Lacus Mi-

nerua,

 

Our maine pitcht Battels the firft ordered,

Setting a Forme downe to this following Age,

The orders of Incamping she firft regiftred,

And taught the lavves of Armes in equipage,

To after time her skill she did engage:

Apollo was her deare begotten sonne,

In Abrahams time she liu'd till life was donne.

 

Semiramis Queene of Assiria,

Was fecond worthie of this worlds great wonder,

She conquered large Aethiopia,

And brought the Necke of that ftout Nation vnder,

Wafting the Countries of rich India:

Her dayes of Honor and of Regiment,

Was in the time of Ifaacks gouernment.

 

The third and chiefeft for Audacioufnesse,

And Enterpriles that she took in hand,

Was Tomyris full of true Nobleneffe,

Queene of the North (as I do vnderftand,)

From forth her eyes she lightned Honors Brand,

And brandifhed a Sword, a fword of Fame,

That to her weake Sexe yeelded Hectors name.

 

When

 

A Dialogue.                   31

 

When fhe receiued newes her tonne was dead,

The Hope and Vnderprop of Scithia,

She put on Armour, and encountered

The Monarch Cyrus King of Perfia,

And Gouernor of rich Getulia :

Slue him in fight her Fame for to renew,

Two hundred thoufand Souldiers ouerthrew.

 

Amongft the Hebrew women we commend,

Iahel the Kenite for the firft in bountie,

Whofe vncomprehenfible valour in the end,

Did free and fet at large her captiu'd Countrie,

Oppreffed with tyrannicall Miferie :

From dangers imminent of firie Warre,

By killing hand to hand her foe great Sifar.

 

Debora an Hebrew worthie the fecond place,

She fortie yeares did gouerne Ifrael,

In peace preferu'd her Land, her land of Grace,

Where honeft fportiue Mirth did alwaies dwell:

Her holy holineffe no tongue can tell,

Nations aftonied at her happineffe,

Did grieue to loofe her Wifedomes worthineffe.

 

Iudith the third that redeliuered,

The ftrong befieged Citie of Bethulia,

And when the prowd Foe fhe had vanquifhed,

And ouercame hot-fpur'd Assiria,

Bringing in triumph Holofernes head,

She got a great and greater Viflorie,

Then thoufand Souldiers in their maieftie.

 

39

 

32                   A Dialogue.

 

Tlie firft of Chiriftians was faire Maud the Counteffe,

Countefse of Aniow, daughter to a King,

Englands firft Henry. Almaines Empreffe,

Heire indubitate, and her Fathers offpring,

She titles to the English Crowne did bring:

She ne're defiffced from the warlike field,

Till that vfurped Stephen of Blois did yeeld,

And condifcended to her sonnes dear right,

That war-like Maude had reobtain'd by might.

 

The fecond was Elizabeth of Aragon,

Queene and wife to honorable Ferdinando:

She ftoutly fought for propagation

Of Chriftian Faith ; brought to fubuerfion,

The forfaken infidels of Granado,

Reducing that proud prouince all in one,

To follow Christs vnfpotted true Religion.

 

The laft was Iohane of Naples true borne Queene,

Sifter to Ladislaus King of Hungarie,

A woman that defended (as twas feene,)

Her countries great and gracious libertie,

By force of laudable Armes and Chiualrie,

Againft: the Sarafins inuafion,

And proud hot warres of princely Aragon.

 

Thus haue I in the honor of their worth,

Laid ope their Progenie, their Deedes, their Armes,

Their offpring, and their honorable Birth,

That is a Lanthorne lightning their true Fames,

Which Truth can neuer burne in Enuies flames:

 

Worthy

 

King Arthur.                   33

 

Worthie of wonder are thefe three times three,

Folded in brazen Leaues of memorie.

 

Windfor a Caftle of exceeding ftrength,

Firft built by Aruiragus Brytaines King,

But finifhed by Arthur at the length,

Of whofe rare deedes our Chronicles do ring,

And poets in their verfe his praife do sing:

For his Round-table and his war-like Fights,

Whofe valiantneffe the coward Mind affrights.

 

This Brytish King in warres a Conquerer,

And wondrous happie in his Victories,

Was a companion of this noble Order,

And with his perfon graced thefe Dignities,

Great dignities of high exceeding Valour:

For he himfeife the felfe-fame Honor tooke,

That all his following States did euer brooke.

 

This Paragon whofe name our time affrights,

At Windsor Caftle dubbed in one day,

One hundred and iuft fortie valiant Knights,

With his keene truftie Sword, and onely ftay,

(Cald Dridwin) that his Loue did ouerfway :

And with that Sword the very day before,

He flue as many Saxon foes or more.

 

But English Edward third of Memorie,

In bleffed and religious zeale of.Loue,

Built vp a Colledge of exceeding glory,

That his kind care to England did approue.

 

F

 

34                   A Dialogue.

 

This Colledge doth this Caftle beautifie :

The Honor of the place is held so deare,

That many famous Kings are buried there.

 

But one rare thing exceeding admirable

That to this day is held in great renowne,

And to all Forreiners is memorable,

The name of which makes Englands foes to frowne,

And puts the pride of forreine Nations downe,

Knights of the Garter and Saint Georges Croffe,

Betokening to the Foe a bloudie loffe.

 

 

Here followeth the Birth, Life

and Death of honourable Arthur

King of Brittaine.

 

 

To the courteous Reader.

 

COurteous Reader, hauing  fpoken of the first foundation  of that yet renowned castle of Windfor by Aruiragus king of Britain, & finishied by that fucceeding prince of worthy memory famous king Arthur; I thought good (being intrea-ted by fome of my honourable-minded Friends not to let fo good and fit an occafion, by reafon that there yet remaines in this doubtfull age of opinions a controuerfie of that esteemed Prince of Brittaine) to write not according to ages obliuio, but directed onely by our late Hiftoriographers of England who no doubt haue taken great paines in the fearching foorth of the truth of that fist Chriftian worthie : and wheras (I know not

 

 directed

 

35

 

directed by what blindnes) there haue bene fome Writers (as I thinke enemies to truth) that in their erronious cenfures haue thought no fuch ma euer to be lining ; How fabulous that should feeme to be, I leaue to the iudgement of the best readers, who know for certaine, that that neuer dead Prince of memory, is more beholding to the French, the Romane, the Scot, the Ita­lian, yea to the Greekes themfelues, then to his own Country­men, who haue fully and wholly fet foorth his fame and liuely-hood: t/ien how sliamelesse is it for fome of vs to let flip the truth of this Monarch ? And for more confirmatio of the truth, looke but in the Abbey of Weftminfter at Saint Edwards shrine, there shalt thou fee the print of his royal Scale in red wax clo-fed in Berrill, with this infcription, Patricius Arthurus Gallie, Germanise, Daciae Imperator.   At Douer likewife you may fee Sir Gawins skull and Cradocks mantle: At Winchefter, a Citie well knowne in England, his famous round Table, with many other notable monuments too long to rehearfe: Befides I my felfe haue feen imprinted, a french Pamphlet of the armes of king Arthur, and his renowned valiant Knights, fet in co­lours by the Heraulds of France: which charge of impression would haue been too great, otherwife I had inferted them or­derly in his Life and Actions: but (gentle Reader) take this my paines gratefully, and I shal hereafter more willingly striue to employ my fimple wit to thy better gratulation ; I haue here fet downe (turned from French profe into Englifh meeter) the words of the Herald vnder the arms of that worthy Brittaine.

      King Arthur in his warlike Shield did beare

      Thirteene rich Crownes of purified gold :

      He was a valiant noble Conqueror,

      As ancient Memorie hath truly told :

His great Round-table was in Britanie,

Where chofen Knights did do their homage yearely.

 

F 2

 

36        King Arthur.

 

The ftrange Birth, honorable Coro-

nation and moft vnhappie Death of

famous Arthur King of Bry-

taine,

 

OF noble Arthurs birth, Arthurs fall,

Of Arthurs folemne Coronation,

Of Arthurs famous deedes Heroyicall,

Of Arthurs battels and inuafion,

And that high minded worthie Brytish King,

Shall my wits memorie be deifying.

 

In the laft time of Vter furnam'd Pendragon

So called for his wittie pollicies,

Being a King of eftimation,

In famous Brytaine mongst: his owne allies,

There was a mightie Duke that gouern'd Cornwaile,

That held long warre, and did this King affaile.

 

This Duke was nam'd the Duke of Tintagil

After thefe hot bred warres were come to end,

He foiourn'd at a place cald Terrabil,

From whence Pendragon for this Duke did fend,

And being wounded fore with Cupids fting,

Charged him his Wife vnto the Court to bring,

 

His Wife a paflmg Ladie, louely, wife,

Chafte to her husbands cleare vnfpotted bed,

Whofe honor-bearing Fame none could fupprize,

 

King Arthur.                 37

 

But Vesta-like her little time the led :

Igrene her name on whofe vnequall beautie

Pendragon doted, led by humane folly.

 

At length he broke his mind vnto a Lord,

A truftie Councellour and noble Friend,

That foone vnto his minds griefe did accord,

And his Kings louing loue-thoughts did commend,

Telling Pendragon this fhould be his beft,

To tell the Dutcheffe of his fweete requeft.

 

But the a Woman, fterne, inexorable,

Willing fond Lufts inchauntments to refift,

All his tongues fmoothing words not penetrable,

In her chafte bofomes Gate could not infift,

But ftraight fhe told her Husband how she fped,

Left that his grace fhould be difhonoured.

 

And counfeld him to paffe away in hafte,

That Nights darke duskie mantle might orefhade,

Their flying bodies, leaft at laft they tafte,

More miferie then Time did ere inuade,

“For Luft is fuch a hot inflamed thing,

“It gouerneth mans fenfes, rules a King.

 

And as the Ducheffe fpake, the Duke departed,

That neither Vter nor his Councell knew,

How his deepe bofomes *Lord the Dutcheffe thwarted,

But marke the ftory well what did enfue:

Soone as the King perceiued their intent,

Intemperate Rage made him impatient.

 

*Cupid

 

F3

 

38                  King Arthur.

 

Away with Muficke for your ftrings do iarre,

Your found is full of Difcords, harm and ill,

Your Diapazon, makes a humming warre

Within mine eares, and doth my fences fill

With immelodious mourning; She is gone

That rul'd your felues and Inftruments alone.

 

Away fond riming Ouid, left thou write

Of Prognes murther, or Lucretius rape,

Of Igrens iourney taken in the night,

That in the blacke gloom'd filence did efcape :

O could no Dogge haue bark'd, no Cocke. haue crow'd,

That might her paffage to the King haue show'd.

 

No mirth pleafde Vter, but grimme Melancholy

Haunted his heeles, and when he fate to reft,

He pondred in his mind Igrenas beautie,

Of whom his care-craz'd head was full poffeft:

Nothing was now contentiue to his mind,

But Igrenes name, Igrene, to him vnkind.

 

At laft his noble Peeres with pitie mou'd,

To fee the Kings fodaine perplexitie,

With a great care that their Liege Emperour lou'd,

For to allay his great extremitie,

Did counfell him to fend for Garloyes wife,

As he would anfwer it vpon his life.

 

Then prefently a Meffenger was sent,

To tell the Duke of his wifes fecret folly:

This was the fubftance of his whole, intent,

 

To

 

King Arthur.                  39

 

To bring his wife to Court immediatly :

Or within threefcore dayes he did proteft,

To fetch him thither to his little reft.

 

Which when the Duke had warning, ftraight he furnifh'd

Two Caftles with well-fenc'd artillerie,

With vitailes and with men he garnifh'd,

His ftrongeft Holds for fuch an enemie :

And in the one he put his hearts-deare Treafure,

Faire Igrene that he loued out of meafure,

 

That Caftle which the Duke himfelfe did hold,

Had many Pofternes out and iffues thence,

In which to truft his life he might be bold,

And fafely the warres Furie to commence :

But after-telling time did wonders worke,

That Foxes in their holes can neuer lurke.

 

Then in all hafte came Vter with his hoaft,

Pitching his rich pauilions on the ground,

Of his afpiring mind he did not boafl,

For Loue and Anger did his thoughts confound,

Hot warre was made on both fides, people flaine,

And many Death-doore-knocking Soules complaine.

 

Loue and minds anguifh fo perplext the King

For Igrene that incomparable Dame,

That Cupids sickneffe pearc'd him with a fting,

And his warres lowd Alarums ouercame,

Venus intreated Mars awhile to ftay,

And make this time a fporting Holiday.

 

40                 King Arthur.

 

Then came fir Ulfius, a moft noble Knight,

And askt his King the caufe of his difeafe,

Being willing in a fubiects gracious right,

Vter Pendragons mind in heart to pleafe :

Ah faid the King, Igrene doth captiuate

My Heart, and makes my Senfes fubiugate.

 

Courage, my gracious Liege, I will go find

That true diuining prophet of our Nation,

Merlin the wife that fhall content your mind,

And be a Moderator in this actlion :

His learning, wifedome, and vnfeene experience,

Shall quickly giue a Salue for loues offence.

 

So Vlfius at the length from him departed,

Asking for Merlin as he paft the way,

Who by great fortunes chance fir Vlfius thwarted,

As he went by in beggers base aray:

Demanding of the Knight in bafeneffe meeke,

Who was the man he went so farre to feeke ?

 

Vlfius amazed at his bate attire,

Told him it was prefumption to demaund

The name of him for whom he did enquire,

And therefore would not yeeld to his command :

Alas faid Merlin I do plainly fee,

Merlin you feeke, that Merlin I am he.

 

And if the King will but fulfill my heft,

And will reward my true deferuing heart,

In his loues agonies he shal be bleft

 

King Arthur.                  41

 

So that he follow what I fhall impart,

Vpon my Knighthood he will honor thee,

With fauour & rewards moft royally.

 

Then Vlfius glad departed in all haft,

And rode amaine to King Pendragons fight,

Telling his Grace Merlin he met at laft,

That like a Lampe will giue his Louelaies light.

Where is the man ? I wifht for him before.

See where he ftands my Liege at yonder doore.

 

When Vter faw the man, a fudden ioy,

And vncompre'nded gladneffe fild his hart:

With kind embracements met him on the way,

And to him gan his fecrets to impart.

Leaue off, quoth Merlin, I do know your mind,

The faire-fac'd Lady Igrene is vnkind.

 

But if your Maiefty will here proteft,

And fweare as you are lawfull King annointed,

To do my will, nothing fhall you moleft,

But follow my directions being appointed.

I fweare quoth Vter by the Euangelists,

He dyes for me that once thy will refifts.

 

Sir, faid the Prophet Merline, this I craue,

That fhall betoken well what ere betide,

The firft faire fportiue Night that you fhall haue,

Lying fafely nuzled by faire Igrenes fide,

You fhall beget a sonne whofe very Name,

In after-ftealing Time his foes fhall tame.

 

 G

 

42                  King Arthur.

 

That child being borne your Grace muft giue to me,

For to be nourifhed at my appointment,

That shal redound much to his maieftie,

And to your Graces gracious good intent:

That fhall be done : (quoth Merlin) let's away,

For you fhall fleepe with Igrene ere't be day.

 

And as Ioue ftole to faire Alcmenas bed,

In counterfeiting great Amphytrio

By the fame luft-directed line being led,

To Igrenes louely chamber must: you go :

You fhall be like the Duke her husbands greatnesse,

And in his place poffeffe her Husbands sweetneffe

.

And you my noble Lord, fir Vlfius,

Shall be much like fir Brustias a faire Knight,

And I will counterfeit the good Iordanus,

 And thus weele paffe together in the night,

But fee you question not, fay you are difeafed,

And hie to bed there fhall your heart be pleased.

 

But on the morrow do not rife my Liege,

Vntill I come to councell for the best,

For ten miles off you know doth lie the Siege,

That will not turne thefe night-fports to a ieft,

Pendragon pleas'd hatted for to embrace,

The fweet'st got pray that euer King did chafe.

 

Soone as the Duke of Tintagill did perceiue,

That Vter left alone his royall armie,

He iffued from his Castle to bereaue,

 

King Arthur.                 43

 

The fouldiers of their liues by pollicie :

But fee his fortune, by that wily traine,

That he had laid for others he was flame.

 

The fubtill-luft directed King went on,

Maskt in a ftrange deuifed new found fhape,

To fimple-minded Igrene vnlike Pendragon,

And three long houres lay in his louers lap :

There he begat the chriftian King of Kings,

Whofe fame Caister Swannes in pleafure tings.

 

Affoone as day-betok'ning Phoebus Chariot,

Had croft his fifters waggon in the skie,

Merlin in hafte to Vters chamber got,

Bidding good morrow to his Maieftie :

And told him vnrecalled Time did ftay,

To hafte him from his pleafure thence away.

 

Vter amaz'd with Igrene in his armes,

Wifht that the Prophet had no vfe of tongue,

Whofe dolefull found breath'd forth thefe harsh Alarmes,

And like the night-Crow craokt a deadly fong;

Ah what a hell of griefe t'was to depart,

And leaue the new-got Treafure of his heart.

 

Then by the lawne-like Hand he tooke his louer,

Being warm'd with blood of a diffembling Husband,

Defire in her cheekes she could not fmother,

And her Loue-dazeling eye none could withftand;

He kift her twice or thrice and bad adue,

As willing his nights pleafure to renue ;

 

G 2

 

44                  King Arthur.

 

But when the late betrayed Lady knew,

How that her true betrothed Lord was flaine,

Ere that nights reuelling did firft enfue,

In fecret to her felfe the wept amaine:

Amaz'd and maruelling who that fhould be,

That rob'd her husband of his treafurie.

 

And to her felfe she gan for to relate,

The iniuries of her vnfpotted life,

And in her mind she liu'd difconfolate,

Banning her bafe-bad Fortune being a wife ;

Wifhing for euer she had liu'd a maide,

Rather than her chaft thoughts mould be betraid.

 

The noble Councell that attended Vter,

Began with grauitie for to deuife,

That (where their King had doted much vpon her)

Her beautie his young thoughts to equalize,

To knit them both in Hymens facred right,

And then in lawfull wife to taft delight.

 

This motion made vnto their Soueraigne,

Of a warme luftie ftomacke youthfull bloud,

Thought it a heauen fuch a Saint to gaine,

That would reuiue his fpirits, do him good :

And gaue content to have her honoured,

With mariage Rites, the which were foone performed.

 

Halfe a yeare after as the King and Queene,

Then growing great with child a bed were lying,

The Curtaines drawne vnwilling to be feene ;

 

This

 

King Arthur.                 45

 

This pollicie the King himfelfe deuifing :

Asking whofe child it was that fhe did beare,

Speake gentle Igrene tell me without feare.

 

The Queene amazed at this queftion,

Being fully wrapt in pale timiditie,

Knew not to anfwer this fad action,

Becaufe fhe fully knew her innocencie :

He vrg'd her ftill, at length fhe waxed bold,

And ftoutly to the King the truth fhe told.

 

With that he kift his Queene that was beguil'd,

And did recomfort her being halfe forlorne,

Telling t'was he that did beget the child,

The child that from her faire wombe should be borne:

With that a fudden ioy did repoffeffe

Her penfiue hart, whome Fortune late did bleffe.

 

Then Merlin (that did alwaies loue the King,

As bearing chiefe affiance to his countrey)

Sought to prouide for the childs nourifhing,

Therein to fhew his well difpofed dutie.

As thou decreed faid Vter, muft: it be,

My deare Sonnes fortunes lie commit to thee.

 

Well faid the Prophet, I do know a Lord,

A faithfull parting true difpofed man,

That to your Graces pleafure will accord,

And in your feruice do the beft he can :

Commit your child vnto his cuflodie,

A man renoun'd in famous Britany.

 

G3

 

46                King Arthur.

 

His name Sir Hector : fend a Meffenger,

To will him come vnto the Court with fpeede,

And that your Maieftie muft needs conferre,

Of matters helpefull in a Princes neede.

When he is come your Grace may certifie,

You'le put your sonne & heire to his deliuerie.

 

And when that Fortunes child kind Fortunes heire,

(For fo the Deftinies prognofticate)

Shall be brought foorth into the open aire,

That of faire Igrene lately was begate :

At yonder priuie Pofterne being vnchriftened,

You muft deliuer it me to be baptized.

 

As Merlin had deuifed, fo twas done :

For all the Court to him did yeeld obeyfance;

And now Sir Hector to the king is come,

And to Pendragon made his deare affiance,

Wifhing his Wife might nourifh that bright fonne,

Whofe Mornings glorie was not yet begunne.

 

Then when the louely Queene was foone deliuered,

Of that rich bearing Burthen to her ioy,

The King himfeife in perfon hath commaunded,

Two Ladies and two Knights to beare the boy,

Bound vp in cloth of gold being rich of State,

And giue it to the pooreman at the gate,

 

So Merlin had the Prince at his difpofmg,

Committing it to Hectors faithfull wife:

Now nothing wanted but the fweete baptizing,

 

King Arthur.                    47

 

To grace the Prince of Princes all his life :

A holy reuerent Man indu'de with fame,

Arthur of Britaine cald the Princes name.

 

After the royall Solemnation,

Of that blacke mournfull weping funerall,

Of Vter that we name the great Pendragon,

By fubtill practife brought vnto his fall:

Tlie fixteenth yeare of his victorious raigne,

By poifon was this braue Pendragon flaine.

 

His body vnto Stone-heng being brought,

Hard by his brother Aurelius is he laid,

In a faire Monument then richly wrought,

Dead is the King whofe life his foes difmaid,

But from his loynes he left a sonne behind,

The right Idea of his fathers mind.

 

Great Arthur whom we call the Britaines King,

A man renown'd for famous victories,

Saxons and Pictes to homage he did bring,

As you may read in auncient hiftories :

Our later Chronicles do teftifie,

King Arthurs noble mind in Chiualrie.

 

Twelue noble battels did King Arthur fight,

Againft the Saxons men of hardie ftrength,

And in the battels put them ftill to flight,

Bringing tliem in fubieftion at the length :

He neuer ftroue to driue them quite away,

But ftragling here and there he let them ftay.

 

Valerius vvit-

nesseth that K.

Arthur coque-

red thirty king-

domes, for as

the a great co-

pany of Gouer-

nours held under

their iurisdi-

ction the Iland

together vvith

France and

Geramany.

 

King Arthur                     48

 

In Southry Kent, and Norfolke did they dwell,

Still owing homage to king Arthures greatneffe,

Whofe puiffance their pride did alwaies quell,

Yet did he temper rigour with his meekneffe :

And like a Lion fcorn'd to touch the Lambe,

Where they fubmissiue-like vnto him came,

 

Againft the Pictes he held continuall warre,

The which vnto the Saxons were allide,

And with the fubtill Scot did alwaies iarre,

Who neuer true to Arthur would abide:

But (fcorning his aduancement to the Crowne)

Did thinke by force to pull his greatneffe downe.

 

The chiefeft caufe of this hot mortall ftrife,

That mou'd thefe Kings to be diffentious,

Was that the King of Pictes had tane to wife

The eldeft fister of Aurelius,

And Cornon King of Scots had married

The youngeft fister to his Princely bed.

 

Wherefore they thought the Brytish Regiment,

Should haue defcended to the lawfull heires

Of Anna, wife to both in gouernment,

And he as King to rule their great affaires :

And do inferre king Arthures barftardie,

And vniuft claime to that high dignitie.

 

And prefently they do difpatch in haft,

Ambaffadours to famous Brytanie,

Of their great Peeres for to demaund at laft,

 

King Arthur.                  49

 

The kingdomes Crowne and kingdomes Royaltie:

Who fcorning for to heare a ftranger nam'd.

Crowned king Arthur, whom the world hath fam'd.

 

 

The Coronation of King Arthur, and

the Solemnitie thereof: the proud meffage

of the Romanes, and the whole refoluiion of King

Arthur and his Nobles.

 

THe appointed time and great Solemnitie,

Approched of king Arthurs Coronation,

To which high ftates of mightie Dignitie,

Affembled at the Citie of Caerleon,

In Caefars time cal’d Vrbs Legionum:

A Title doubtleffe bearing some import,

Where many famous Brytaines did resort.

 

To grace king Arthur whom the Britaines loued,

Came three Arch bishops Englands chiefe renowne,

Both London, Yorke, and Dubright Honor moued,

On Arthurs head to fet the British Crowne,

That after puld the pride of Nations downe :

Vnto the Pallace of this princely King,

They were conuay'd where true-born Fame did fpring.

 

Dubright (becaufe the Court at that time lay

Within the compaffe of his Dioceffe)

In his own perfon on this Royall day,

Richly to furnifh him he did addreffe,

His loue vnto his King he did expreffe,

 

H

 

50                  King Arthur.

 

And at his hands the King was dignified,

When Aue Caefar lowd the people cride.

 

This happie Coronation being ended,

The King was brought in fumptuous royaltie,

With all the peoples harts being befriended,

To the Cathedrall church of that fame See,

Being the Metropoliticall in nobilitie,

With lowd exclaiming ioy of peoples voyce,

That God might bleffe their Land for fuch a choice

 

On either hand did two Archbifhops ride,

Supporting Arthur of Britania,

And foure Kings before him did abide,

Angifell King of ftout Albania,

And Cadual King of Venedocia,

Cador of Cornewaile mongft tliefe Princes pafb,

And Safer of Demetia was the laft.

 

Thefe foure attired in rich ornaments,

Foure golden Swords before the King did beare,

Betokening foure royall Gouernments,

And foure true Noble harts not dreading feare,

That Enuie from their breafts can neuer teare:

Before them playd fuch well-tun'd melodie,

That birds did sing to make it heauenly.

 

King Arthurs Queene vnto the Church was brought,

With many noble Peeres being conducted :

Her Armes and Titles royally were wrought,

And to her noble Fame were garnifhed,

 

That

 

King Arthur.                  51

 

That Infamie had neare diminifhed :

Foure Queenes before her bore foure filuer Doues,

Expreffing their true Faith and husbands Loues.

 

To braue King Arthur on this folemne feaft,

This day of high vnfpeakeable dignitie,

Came foure graue difcreet perfons of the beft,

From Romes Lieutenant, proud in Maieftie,

Carying in token of their Embaffage

Greene Oliue boughs, and their dear Lieges meffage.

 

 

The Epiftle of Lucius Tiberius the

Romane Lieutenant, to Arthur

King of Britanie.

 

LVcius Tiberius, Romes great gouernour,

To Arthur King of large Britania,

As he deferueth fauour at our hands :

Rome and the Romane Senators do wonder,

And I my felfe exceedingly do mufe,

To thinke of thy audacious haughtie mind,

And thy tyrannicall dealing to our State:

Hote firie Anger boyleth in iny breast,

And I am mou'd with honour of the caufe,

For to reuenge thy Iniuries to Rome :

And that like one or’ proud of his eftate,

Refufeft to acknowledge her thy head,

Neither regardeft fpeedily to redreffe,

Thy bafe and blind obliuous ouerjight,

And vniust dealings to offend the Senate,

 

H 2

 

52                  King Arthur.

 

Vnto whofe high imperiall Dignitie,

 Vnleffe Forgetfulneffc do blare thine eyes,

Thou knowft the whole huge Circle of the world,

Are made Contributorie and owe vs homage.

The tribute that the Britaines ought to pay,

 The which the Senate did demaund of thee,

Being due 'unto the Romaine Emperie :

For that braue Iulius Caefar had enioy'd

And many worthy Romanes many yeares,

 Thou in contempt of vs and our Eftate,

Our honorable Eflate and our dignitie,

Prefum'st iniurioufly for to detaine :

The confines of wel-feated Gallia,

The Prouinces of Sauoy and Daulphine,

 With hot-flam'd fierie warre haft thou fubdude,

 And gotten in thy large poffeffion ;

The Ilands of the bordring Ocean,

The Kings whereof fo long as we enioy’d them,

Payd tribute to our Noble aunceftors.

The Senate highly mou'd with thy prefumption,

Determine for to redemaund amends,

And reftitution for thy open wrongs :

I therefore from the noble Senatours,

 Commaund thee on thy true Allegiance,

 To Rome, to them, to me, and our Eftate,

 That in the midft of Auguft next enfuing,

Thou do repaire to Rome, there for to anfwer,

Before the worthie Senate and the Lords

 Thy Trefpaffe ; and abide arbitrement,

 Such as by them shall there be ordred,

And iuftice shall impoje vpon thy head:

 

King Arthur.                 53

 

Which thing- if thou prefumptuoufly refufe,

I will forthwith inuade thy Territories,

Waft thy whole Countrey, burne thy Townes and Cities;

And whatfo ere thy rashneffe hath detained,

From Rome or from the Romaine Emperie,

I will by dint of fword fubdue againe.

 Thus arm'd with hopefull Refolution,

 Weele stay thy anfwer of fubmission.

 

                                        Lu. Tib.

 

 

Cador the Duke of Cornewaile his

Oration to the King.

 

REnowmed Arthur and thrice worthie Britaine :

O how a liuely blond doth fill my veines,

At this proud message of 'the hawtie Romanies,

I hitherto my Lord haue bene in feare,

Lest that the worthy Britaines with much eafe,

And long continuall, peace and quietneffe,

Should grow to too much flouth and cowardize,

And lofe that honorable Reputation,

Of Chiualrie and Martiall difcipline:

Wherein (right Noble King) we hane bene counted,

For to furmount all Nations of the world.

For where the vfe of Armes is not esteened,

 But buried in Obliuions loathfome caue,

And wanton dallying held in oestimate,

It cannot chufe but pale-fac'd Cowardize,

Must dimme and cleane deface all worthy Vertue.

Fiue yeares haue fully runne their monthly courfe,

 

H 3

 

Since we put off our armour from our backes,

Or heard the Trumpets clangor in our eares,

Or marcht in triumph with the ratling Drum,

Being muzzeled in effemenate delights,

God willing that our names should not be blotted

With the foule staine of beastly sluggardie,

Hath stirred vp the proud insulting Romaines

To whet our dull edg’d swords not now in vse,

To cut their heads off in this rightful cause,

And fcoure our ruflie Armour long laid vp,

 To buckle with fo proud an enemie,

Therefore great Arthnr in thy greatneffe raise

Thy colours vp for to vpreare thy praife.

 

Ca. Cor.

 

 

The Oration of King Arthur to his Lordes

and Followers.

 

MY Fellowes and my deare Companions,

Both in the aducrfe chances of our age,

And profperons fucceffefull happineffe,

Whofe true vnfpeakable fidelities,

In giuing counfell touching warres abroad,

 And home-bred mutinies amongst ourfelues,

 With good fucceffefulneffe haue I perceau’d

 In your deepe wifedomes and your grauiti.

Affoord me now your honorable aides,

Wifely forefeeing what you think conuenient,

Touching the proud command'ment fent,

 A thing at firfl carefully deliberated,

Is in the end mofl eafily tollerated:

 

King Arthur                             55

 

We therefore fhall with eafier burden brooke,

The hawtie meffage of Tiberius Lucius,

If mongft our felues in wifedome we conferre,

How and which way to anfwer his demaund,

And furely (noble Followers) I fuppofe,

We haue no caufe to feare their foreine braues.

For that vpon a mofl vniuft request,

He feekes to haue a tribute paid from Britaine,

Becaufe forfooth in lulius Caefars time,

Through iarres and difcords of the ancient Brytains,

The tribute hath beene due and payable :

For when our countrie was at full poffeft,

With ciuill garboiles and domefiicke brawles,

Their Caefar did ariue within this land,

And with this armed fouldiers full of force,

Brought in fubjetion that vnquiet Nation,

By this alleadgance they vniuftly craue,

Tribute and fatisfaction at our hands,

For nothing that is got by violence,

May iuflly be poffessed by violence.

Sith therefore he prefumeth to demaund,

A thing being moft vnlawfull at our hands,

By the fame reafon let vs demaund of him,

Tribute at Rome mauger their Romifh power,

 And he that is the mightier in force,

 Let him poffeffe the honor of the tribute,

For if his allegations and demaunds,

Be forcible and worthie to be kept,

Becaufe their Caefar and fome Romane Princes

Haue fometimes conquered Brytania,

By the like reafon I do thinke that Rome,

 

56                  King Arthur

 

Ought to pay tribute and to do vs homage,

Becaufe my Predeceffors conquered it :

Bellin the noble King of Brytanie,

With his braue brother Brennus warlike ayde,

Being then accounted Sauoies noble Duke,

Razed the wals of Rome, and fet his Standard

With victorie vpon the Citie gates,

And in the middle of their Market place,

Hung vp twentie of their chiefeft Noblemen.

And Conftantine the fonne Helena,

And Maximinianus my neere Coufms,

Were both inthroniz’d in the Imperiall feate,

And gouernment of Romes great Emperie.

As touching, Fraunce and other Ilands there,

We neede not anfwer their out-brauing termes :

For they refufed to defend their owne,

When we by force redeemed them from their hands.

Then counfell me thrife-worthy Brytaine Peeres,

Abandoning bafe cowardice and feares.

K. Arthur.

 

 

The Anfwer of Howell King

of litle Brytaine.

 

THough all your wifedomes and your grauities,

Handmaides to Counfell and Nobilitie,

Should be engrafted in one golden leafe,

More to the purpofe could not you inferre,

Then thy mofl graue and exquijite Oration,

Thy eloquent and Tully-like aduife

 

Hath

 

King Arthur.                  57

 

Hath furnisht vs with fuch experiment,

Whereby we ought incejfantly to praife,

In you the wifedome of a constant man:

For if with all post expedition,

You will prepare a voyage vnto Rome,

That doth expect our hafte and royall comming,

According to the reafons you alleage,

I doubt not but that faire Victoria,

Will fit in triumph on our conquering Helmes,

To fright the mindes of Romifh aduerfaries,

Sith we defend our auncient libertie,

Difdaining for to beare a feruile yoke,

Which to this day the Britaines do maintaine:

Let vs go chearefully and demaund of them,

With Iustice what vniuftly they demaund:

For he that doth deface anothers right,

And thinkes vniuftly for to difpossesse,

And take from him his owne inheritance

Deferuedly, and with a worthy meanes,

Not violating large and hostile Armes,

May he be put from that which is his owne,

By him to whom the wrong is offred.

Seeing therefore that the Romanes would vfurpe

The royall dignitie of worthy Britaine,

Due to your honorable aunceftors,

I doubt not (noble King) but weele regaine,

That which your Predeceffbrs haue poffeft,

Euen in the middle of t/ieir proudest Citie,

 If we may come to buckle with our foes.

This is the conflict that true hearted Britaines,

 So long haue wisht to happen to our age.

 

I

 

58                  King Arthur.

 

These be the prophefies of wife Sibilla,

Long time agoe, plainly and truly told,

And now at length fulfilled to our ioy,

That of the third race of the worthie Britaines,

There should be borne a Prince to repoffeffe,

The Romifh Empire and their Dignitie:

For two of thefe the prophefie is past,

In Belin and that worthie Conftantine,

Who ouercame, and gaue the Armes of Rome :

Now haue we none but you my gracious Liege,

The third and loft, not least in all our eyes,

To whom this high Exploit is promifed:

Make hafte therefore mofl royall Soueraigne,

For to receiue that which our God will giue,

Hasten for to fubdue their willing minds,

Which profer vp their honor to your hands,

Haften deare Liege for to aduance vs all,

That willingly will fpend our liues and lands,

For the aduancement of our libertie.

And to atchieue this Labour worthie King,

Ten thoufand armed fouldiers will I bring.

 

Ho. K. of Brit

 

 

Angufel King of Albania his

Anfwere to the King.

 

Since first I heard my Soueraigne fpeake his mind,

Ful fraught with Eloquece and learned Counfel,

A fodaine ioy did fo poffeffe my foule,

As that in words I cannot vtter forth

 

King Arthur.                  59

 

The explanation of my willing thoughts :

In all our Victories and Conquefts wonne,

Subduing many Regions, many Kings,

Nothing at all in honour haue we gain'd,

That we fuffer the proud-minded Romanes,

And hautie Germaines to vfurpe vpon vs.

And do not now reuenge thofe bloudie slaughters,

Enabled on our friends and countrymen,

And fith occafion now is profered,

And Libertie to trie our force of Armes,

I do reioyce to fee this happie day,

Wherein we may but meet and ioyne with them:

I thrist my Lord in heart for fweet reuenge,

As if three dayes I had beene kept from drinke;

The wounds I should receiue vpon that day

Would be as pleafant to my labouring foule,

As Water to a thirstie Traueller,

Or elfe Releafement to a man condemned,

Nay death itfelfe were welcome to my bofome,

For to reuenge our Fathers iniuries,

Defend our libertie, aduance our King :

Let vs giue onfet on that meacocke Nation,

Thofe fond effeminate vnruly people;

And fight it out vnto the latest man ;

That after we haue fpread our waning Colours

In figne of Triumph and of Victorie,

We may enioy the Honors they poffeffe,

And for my part renowned valiant King,

Two thoufand armed horfemen will I bring.

 

An. K. Alb.                 I 2

 

60                  King Arthur.

 

A Royall armie Arthur hath prouided,

To beard the brauing Romanes in their Countrie,

And like a Martialift hath them diuided,

To buckle with fo proud an Enemie:

And Courage ioyn'd with Refolution,

Doth pricke them forwards to this Action.

 

The Britains hawtie and refolued men,

Stout, valiant, of Bellonas warlike brood,

Chear'd on their Followers, and began agen

For to reuiue their new decayed blood:

And to redeeme to Arthur and his Line,

What once was wonne by valiant Constantine.

 

Now founds his Drumme a march in chearfull fort,

Now his loud winded Trumpets checke the aire,

And now the Britaines to him do resort,

Not fearing warres affliction or defpaire :

But all with one voyce promife victorie

To Arthur King of famous Britainy.

 

His Colours they are wauing in the wind,

Wherein is wrought his Armes of anceftrie,

His Pendants are in formall wife aflign'd,

Quartred at large by well read Heraldrie :

Cuffing the ayre that ftruggles for to kiffe,

The gaudineffe of faire King Arthurs bliffe.

 

Within his fpreading Enfigne firft he bore,

Allotted from his royall familie,

Three flying Dragons and three Crownes he wore,

 

King Arthur.                  61

 

Portraid de Or, the field of Azure die,

His fathers Coate, his Mothers Countries grace,

His honors Badge, his cruell foes deface.

 

At laft vnto himfeife he hath affumpted,

And tooke to Armes proper to his defire,

As in his faithfull mind being beft accounted,

And fitting to thofe thoughts he did require :

A croffe of Siluer in a field of Vert,

A gracious Embleame to his great defert.

 

On the firft quarter of this field was figured,

The image of our Ladie with her Sonne

Held in her armes ; this he defired,

Wherein his new-growne valour was begonne :

And bearing this fame Figure forth right nobly,

Did maruellous Actes and feates of Chiualrie.

 

This Signe in elder ages being odious,

And hated of the bad deferuing mind,

By his deare blood is made moft pretious

Our vnpure Sinne by him being full refind :

A great triumphant Signe, a Signe of ioy,

A bleffed Croffe to free vs from annoy.

 

To this the righteous man bowes downe his head,

And this the heauenly Angels do adore,

By this our vnpure foules with life is fed,

And Diuels fearing this do much deplore:

Hereon he vanquifht Sathan, Hell, and Sinne,

And by this Signe our new-life we begin.

 

I 3

 

62      King Arthur.

 

Wife, learned Historiographers do write,

That this pure Signe of the moft holy Croffe

Was sent from God, to Mercuries delight,

Iulian the Apostata’s onely loffe,

And that an Angell brought to Mercurie,

All Armour for his backe moft neceffarie.

 

A Shield of Azure herein coloured,

A flowrie Croffe between two golden Roses,

That the prowd Iewes minds much diftempred,

Whofe vertue in it feife true Time enclofes

A rich wrought Shield and a moft heauenly Armour,

That to the proud Foe ftrucke a deadly terrour.

 

And in the time of Charles the feuenth french King

The Sunne giuing glorie to the dim-fac'd Morne,

When early rifing Birds alowd did fmg,

And faire cleare clouds the Element did adorne,

To Englishmen and French from heauen was sent

A milke-white Croffe within the Firmament.

 

Which heaue'nly Signe of both thefe nations feene,

The haughtie French mou’d with rebellion

Againft their lawfull King and true-borne Queene,

Began to yeeld their true fubmiffion,

And tooke it as a great admonifhment,

And Signe betok'ning bitter detriment.

 

Thus we may fee, that the Religion

Which they conceiued of this bleffed fight

Altred their minds to veneration,

 

And

 

King Arthur.                  59

 

And mollified their harts then full of fpight,

Yeelding vnto their Prince obedience,

And true fubmiffion for their great offence.

 

This fight of honor, to the French Kings fame

They did behold, a fpectacle to Fraunce,

At the fame time when the third Edward came,

And in the land his colours did aduance,

Sending to Clodoueus then their King

Which there became a Chriftian by Baptizing.

 

Haec funt Francorum celebranda infignia Regum,

Quae demiffa polo, fuftinet alma fides

Et nobis caelica dona :

Et pia Francorum placeant infignia Regum,

Aurea caelefti primum fuffulta colore

Lilia, Caefarijs olim iam credita ceruis

Auri flamma dehinc, veterum victoria Regum.

 

And euer fince great Clodoueus raigne,

They did remaine as Enfignes to that Nation,

Where ftill before three Toades they did fuftaine,

Their onely pourtraiture of commendation,

By honor to the English Kings pertaining,          (ning.

That conquer'd Fraunce, when all their pride was wai-

 

His barbed Horfes beat the yeelding ground,

And with their neighing terrifide their foe,

Prowd of their riders, in whofe harts are found

A promiie to the Romanes ouerthrow.

 

64                  King Arthur.

 

The glittering fhine of their well-fafhion'd armour,

Tels all men here doth ride a Conquerour.

 

Their Armour firongly made and firmely wrought,

Not to the vfe of old decayed Time,

Who with their guilded fhewes are good for nought,

But like to ftonie wals not made with lime,

The Brytaines went not proudly armoured,

But ftrong, as fcorning to be conquered.

 

In Calis he his colours doth aduance,

Who all for feare do entertaine this Prince.

And paffeth through the regiment of France,

And doth with puiffance the French conuince:

Still marching vp to Paris and to Roane,

Bringing that Countrie in fubiection.

 

And hauing got his Title and his Name

A Title got with famous victorie,

He marcheth forward to enlarge his Fame,

Leauing faire France in his authoritie,

By fword and clemencie he conquered Ifland,

And wonne by famous warre the land of Gothland.

 

Now more and more his armie doth increafe,

And mightie Kings do offer him their aide,

So in the country they might liue in peace,

His warlike followers to their minds difmaid :

The name of Arthur King of Britanie,

Hath fear'd the Romish force from Italy.

 

King Arthur.                  65

 

At laft he comes to meete his enemie,

High-harted Lucius that his letters fent,

To great Carleon with fuch Maieftie,

That ftiffely did demaund a bafe intent:

But now he wifht King Arthur were away,

For feare he loft the Honor of the day.

 

The Britaines valour was fo admirable,

As when a Lion meeteth with his Pray;

King Arthurs courage fo ineftimable,

That nere a Romaine durft his ftrength affay :

But like the duft with wind did take their flight,

Yeelding by Warre what they demaund by Might.

 

Here lay a heape of Romans flaughtered,

Trode vnder foote by proud victorious Steedes,

And here one Friend another murthered,

Not able for to helpe him in his neede :

Here bruited Souldiers that alowd did cry,

Braue Arthur helpe vs in our miferie.

 

And after he had wonne fo great a Field,

And ouerthrew the Romaine Lucius,

He pardon'd thofe that gracioufly would yeeld,

And leaue their Leader proud Tiberius:

Who left his men for feare, and would not fight,

But hid himfeife in darkneffe of the Night.

 

This base retraite and glorious Victorie,

To Arthur's honour and Tiberius fhame,

Was fpred through Rome, through France, through Italy,

 

K

 

66                  King Arthur.

 

An exfoliation to the Brytifh name :

Who forraged about, yet all did flie,

Till Arthur tooke them to his pitying mercie.

 

Forwards towards Rome thefe Britaines make their way,

Sounding Defiance as they paffe along,

Their conquering Enfignes ftill they do difplay,

In Armes and hautie courage paffmg ftrong :

All Cities offer peace, all Townes fubmit

 To Arthurs greatneffe, as a thing moft fit.

 

But as they paffe huge Mirmedons do ftriue,

Surnamed Giants, for to ftop this King.

And vow by Paganifme (by which they thriue,)

His bodie in Oceanus to fling:

And daunt his followers, who as Fame hath faid,

Of great bigge monftrous men were not afraid.

 

At laft they march vpon a large broade plaine,

When firft thefe hautie Giants he doth fpie,

The Britaines fcorne for to retire againe,

But either winne the honor, or elfe die:

Courage quoth Arthur, better die with fame,

Then yeeld or turne to our immortall fhame.

 

At length they meete, and meeting cope together,

As when two fauage Boares are full of ire,

The Victorie as yet inclined to neither,

But from their Creafts and Shields did fparckle fire:

Inkindled Wrath from Arthurs breaft hath fprong,

That he made pafiage through the thickeft throng.

 

The

 

King Arthur                  67

 

The King of Giants Arthur meetes withall,

And copes with him : for in his ftrength did fland

His Kingdomes great aduancement, or his fall,

His Subiefts peace, his quietneffe of land :

But this renowne to Britaine doth remaine,

The Giant, Arthur hand to hand hath flaine.

 

When he was downe the reft did faint for feare,

Which when the Britifh armie had efpied,

Their true-borne valour did they not forbeare,

But all the greene graffe with their bloud they died :

And made fuch flaughter of thefe monftrous men,

That after-time hath regiftred agen.

 

After this Conqueft is King Arthur minded,

With all his royall power to march to Rome,

And with his Lords he hath determined,

This gallant Refolution, and this Doome :

To crowne himfeife by warre their Emperour,

And ouer all a mightie Gouernour.

 

And had not Fortune and Rebellion,

Stir’d vp his Coufin Mordreds hautie mind,

At home to make ciuill inuafion,

Who fought King Arthurs glory for to blind,

With honour had he re-inkindled fire,

To burne the wals of Rome to his defire.

 

But O false Mordred, thou deceitfull Kinfman,

(Begot of Treafons heyre) thus to rebell,

Againft thy noble Nephew, who hath wonne

 

K 2

 

68                  King Arthur.

 

Cities and peopled Townes that did excell:

And all he did was for to glorifie

His Royall kindred and his Noble countrey.

 

But thou fome bafe-borne Haggard mak'ft a wing,

Againft the Princely Eagle in his flight,

And like a hiffing Serpent feek'ft to fling

The Lion that did fhield thee from defpight:

But now being wakened by his Countries wrong,

With warre he meanes to vifite you ere long.

 

The news of this proud Rebell in his Land,

Was like deepe piercing arrowes at his hart,

Intemperate Rage did make them vnderftand

King Arthurs furie, and fond Mordreds fmart,

Who vow'd reuengement moft vnnaturall,

On him that fought to bring his friends to thrall.

 

He founds Retraite with heart-fwolne heauineffe,

That he muft leaue faire Rome vnconquered,

And marcheth through the Land in quietneffe,

To be reueng'd on the Vfurper Mordred :

At this fweet newes of his departing thence

The Romaines praife the Rebels excellence.

 

King Arthur heard at his returne towards Brytaine

How Mordred had proclaim'd himfelfe there King,

Thofe that refifted, he by force hath flaine,

Vnto their Countries ground a gentle offring,

And to the Saxon Cheldricke is allide,

Who landing to their lawfull King denide.

 

King Arthur.                  69

 

By force they driue King Arthur from the fhore,

And like rebellious Monfters kill his men,

Which when he viewes, he ftriueth more and more,

And his great puiffant ftrength renewes againe,

And maugre all the power they withftand,

At Sandwich Noble Arthur taketh Land :

 

And ioyning battel with his enemies,

The traytrous Rebels are difcomfited,

And Mordred all in haft away he flies,

By Treafons bloudie Traine & murther led,

To gather Power to renew the fight,

Vrg'd forward by the Saxon Cheldricks fpight.

 

The Noble Arthur in this conflict loft

Some of his followers whom he lou'd too deare;

The death of gentle Gawen grieu'd him moft,

As by his outward forrow did appeare:

This Gawen was proud Mordreds lawfull brother,

Legitimate by father and by mother.

 

O mirrour of true borne gentilitie,

Faire mappe of Honor in his gentle blood,

That rather chofe to loue his noble countrie,

And feeke the meanes to do his life Liege good,

Then to defend his kindred by that warre,

That made the Sonne and moft kind Father iarre.

 

Kind Gawen, truftie worthie Gentleman,

Belou'd of Arthur, as deferuedly,

Recording Time thy faithfulneffe fhall fcan,

 

K 3

 

70                 King Arthur.

 

And loyall Truth wrapt vp in memorie :

Shall fay in thy Kings quarrell being iuft,

At laft thou diedft, not in thy Brothers truft.

 

Thy gentle King prepared thy Funeral,

And laid thy bodie in a Sepulchre,

In thine owne country richly done and royall,

At Roffe whofe aunceftrie fhall ftill endure:

And like a Nephew, mourn'd and wept for thee,

Grieuing to loofe Brytifh Nobilitie.

 

But to proceede in this vnluckie fight,

King Angufel was flaine whom Arthur loued,

A man in whom his countrie tooke delight,

That ne're with home-bred Treacherie was moued

In falfe-faith'd Scotland was his bones interd,

To which before King Arthur him prefer'd.

 

That vniuft Mordred, Mifchiefes nourifher

Times bad infamer, Traitor to the State,

Of his whole Countrie bounds the chiefe perturber,

Whofe name to this day mong’ft them growes in hate.

Fled from the battell, getting fhips he faild

Weftward towards Cornwail whe his force was quail’d.

 

But when King Arthur heard of his departure,

Caufing the refute Rebels for to flie,

To make the way of his defence more fure,

With fpeed he re-inforft his royall armie,

With new fupplie of hardie men at Armes,

Whofe Refolution fear'd no following harmes.

 

With

 

King Arthur.                  71

 

With his whole force he marcheth after him,

Where all the Kentish men reioyce to fee

King Arthurs Colours, whofe rich pride doth dim

The faire-fac'd Sunne in all his Maieftie:

Not refting till he came vnto the place,

Where Mordred was encamped for a fpace.

 

By Winchefter a Citie of renowne,

The Traitorous armie of this Mordred lay,

On whofe proud gather’d troupe the Sunne did frowne,

Fore-fhewing to his men a blacke-fac't day:

And fo it prou'd before the felfe-fame night;

Mordred and his beft friends were flaine in fight.

 

At Camblane was this bloudie battell ended,

Where fame-acthieuing Arthur fore was wounded,

With gallant Britaine Lords being attended,

Whofe fword (cald Pridivin) manie had confounded,

Yet Fortunes vnfeene immortalitie,

Sometimes cuts downe fprigs of a Monarchie.

 

At this dayes dolefull ftroke of Arthurs death,

The glorious fhining Sunne lookt pale and wanne,

And when this Monarch lofed forth his breath,

The Britaines being amaz'd about him ranne:

And with their nailes did teare their flefh afunder,

That they had loft their King the worlds great Wonder.

 

Ouer this litle Iland he had raigned,

The full iuft terme of fixe and twentie yeares,

When twelue moft famous battels he obtained,

 

72                                                                    King Arthur.

 

As in our auncient Chronicles appeares,

And in the Church-yard of faire Glastenburie,

They held King Arthurs wofull obfequie.

 

And in the time of fecond Henries dayes,

Betweene two pillars was his body found,

That in his life deferu's immortall praife,

Layd fixteene foote deepe vnderneath the ground

Becaufe his Saxon foes whom he did chafe,

Should not with fwords his liueleffe corps deface.

 

In the laft yeare of Henries royaltie,

More then fixe hundred after his buriall,

By the Abbot of the houfe of Glastenburie,

At last they found King Arthurs funerall:

Henry de Bloys the Abbots name they gaue,

Who by the Kings commaund did find the graue.

 

The principall and chiefe occafion

That moou'd King Henry for to feeke the place,

Was that a Bardth in Welfh diuition,

Recorded Arthurs actes vnto his Grace :

                And in the forefaid Church-yard he did fmg,

                That they fhould find the body of the King.

 

And thofe that dig'd to find his bodie there,

After they enterd feuen foote deepe in ground,

A mightie broade ftone to them did appeare,

With a great leaden Croffe thereto bound,

And downwards towards the corpes the Crosse did lie,

Containing this infcripted poefie.

 

Hic

 

King Arthur.                        73

 

Hic iacet fepultus inclytus Rex,

Arthurus in Infula Aualoniae.

 

His bodie whofe great actes the world recorded,

When vitall limitation gaue him life,

And Fames fhrill golden Trump abroad had founded,

What Warres he ended, what Debate, what Strife,

What Honor to his countrey, what great Loue,

Amongft his faithfull fubiefts he did proue.

 

Was not interd in fumptuous royaltie,

With funerall pompe of kindred and of friends,

Nor clofde in marble ftone wrought curioufly,

Nor none in mourning blacke his King attends,

But in a hollow tree made for the nonce,

They do enter King Arthurs princely bones.

 

Their outward habite did not fhew their mind,

For many millions of fad weeping eies,

In euery ftreete and corner you might find,

Some beating their bare breaft, and some with out cries,

Curfmg and Banning that proud Mordreds foule,

That did by warre his princely life controule.

 

The Kings that were attendant on his traine,

Forgot their kingdomes, and their royall crownes,

Their high proud hautie hearts with griefe were flaine,

Strucke in amaze with Fortunes deadly frownes :

For they had loft their Scepter, Seate, and all,

By princely Arthurs moft vnhappie fall.

 

L

 

74                  King Arthur.

 

The trunke being opened, at the laft they found

The bones of Arthur King of Brytanie

Whofe fhin-bone being fet vpon the ground,

(As may appeare by auncient Memorie)

Reacht to the middle thigh within a fpanne,

Of a tall proper well fet bigge lim'd Man.

 

And furthermore they found King Arthurs skull,

Of fuch great largeneffe that betwixt his eyes,

His foreheads fpace a fpanne broad was at full,

That no true Historiographer denies:

The forenam'd Abbot liuing in thofe daies,

Saw what is written now to Arthurs praife.

 

The print of tenne wounds in his head appeared,

All grown together except onely one,

Of which it feemes this worthie Brytaine died :

A true Memoriall to his louing Nation ;

But that was greater far then all the reft,

Had it bene leffer Brytaine had bene bleft.

 

In opening of the Tombe they found his wife,

Queene Guiniuere interred with the King,

The Treffes of her haire as in her life,

Were finely platted whole and glittering:

The colour like the moft pure refin'd gold,

Which being toucht ftraight turned into mould.

 

Henry de Bloyes at the length tranflated

The bones of Arthur and his louely Queene,

Into the great Church where they were interred,

 

King Arthur.                  75

 

Within a Marble toombe, as oft was feene:

Of whom a worthie Poet doth rehearfe,

This Epitaph in fweete Heroicke Verfe.

 

Hic iacet Arthurus flos regum, gloria regni,

Quem mores, probitas commendant lande perenni.

 

lohannis Leylandij antiquarij Encomion funerale, in vitam, facta, mortemq; Regis Arthuri inclitiffimi.

 

SAxonicas toties qui fudit marte cruento

Turmas, & peperit fpolijs fibi nomen ofimis,

Fulmineo toties Pictos qui contudit enfe,

Impofuitque iugum Scoti ceruicibus ingens,

Qui tumidos Gallos, Germanos qidq. feroces

Pertulit , & Dacos bello confregit aperto :

Denique Mordredum e medio qui fuftulit illud

Monstrum, horrendum ingens, dirum fcuumque tyrannum,

Hoc iacet extinctus monumento Arthurius alto,

Militiae clarum decus & virtutiis alumnus,

Gloria nunc cuius terram circumuolat omnem

AEtherij que petit, fublimia tecta tonantis.

Vos igitur gentis Proles generofa Britannae

Induperatori ter magno affurgite vestro :

Et tumalo facro Rofeas inferte Corollas,

Officij testes redolentia munera veftri.

 

Thus Englished

.

He that fo oft the Saxon Troupes did foile,

And got a name of worth with richeft fpoile :

He that with brandifht fword the Picts deftroyd,

And yok'd the Scots, their flubborn necks annoy'd:

He that the loftie French and Germaines fierce did fmite,

 

L 2

 

76                 King Arthur

 

And Dacians force with Warre did vanquifh quite :

Pie laflly which cut off that monfter Mordreds life,

A cruell Tyrant horrible, mightie, full of ftrife:

Arthur lyes buried in this Monument,

Warres chiefeft garland, Vertues fole intent;

Whofe Glorie through the world ftil fwiftly flies,

And mounts with Fames wings vp to the thundring skies.

You gentle Offfpring of the Britaines blood,

Vnto this puiffant Emperour do honours good,

And on his Tombe lay Garlands of fweete Rofes,

Sweete gifts of Dutie, and fweet louing pofies.

 

Finis Epitaphij.

 

No. Arth.

 

 

 

The true Pedigree of that famous

VVorthie King Arthur, collected

out of many learned Authors.

 

TWelue men in number entred the vale o! Aualon:

Iofeph of Arimathea was the chiefeft we confeffe,

Iofue the fonne of lofeph his father did attend on,

With other ten, thefe Glafton did poffeffe,

Hilarius the Nephew of Iofeph firft begate

Iofue the Wife : Iofue Aminadab,

Aminadab Caftellors had by fate:

Caftellors got Manael that louely Lad,

And Manael by his wife had faire-fac'd Lambard,

With another deare fonne furnamed Vrlard

And Lambard at the length begot a fonne,

 

That

 

King Arthur.                 77

 

That had Igrene borne of his wife,

Of this Igrene, Vter the great Pendragon

Begot King Arthur famous in his life,

Where by the truth this Pedigree doth end,

Arthur from Iofephs loynes did firft defcend

Peter Coufin to Iofeph of Arimathea,

Being fometimes King of great Arcadia,

Begat Erlan that famous worthy Prince,

And Erlan gat Melianus, that did conuince

His neighbour foes, Melianus did beget

Edor, and Edor Lothos name did fet,

That tooke to wife the fifter of King Arthur

A Virgine faire, chafte, louely, and moft pure,

Of whom this Lotho had foure louely boyes,

Their fathers comfort and their mothers ioyes,

Wawanus, Agranaius, Garelus and Guerelife,

That in their countrey much did foueragnize:

All which were men of great authoritie,

And famous in the land of Britanie.

 

Here endeth the Birth, Life, Death, and Pedigree of

King Arthur of Britanie, & now, to where we left.

 

O Nature tell me one thing ere we part,               Phoenix.

What famous towne and fituated Seate

Is that huge Building that is made by Art,

Againft whofe wals the cryftall ftreames do beate,

As if the flowing tide the ftones would eate :

That lies vpon my left hand built fo hie,

That the huge top-made Steeple dares the Skie ?

 

L3

 

78    King Arthur.

 

That is the Britaines towne old Troynouant,

The which the wandrmg-Troyans Sonne did frame

When after fhipwracke he a place did want,

For to reuiue his Honor-fplitted Name,

And raifd againe the cinders of his Fame,

When from Sydonian Dido they did fteale,

To reare the Pillars of a Common-weale.

 

Since when to come more nearer to our time,

Lud the great King did with his wealth enlarge,

The famous builded Citie of this Clime,

And Ludftone to be cald he gaue in charge,

And London now that Towne is growne at large:

The flowing Riuer Thamafis is nam'd,

Whofe Sea-enfuing Tide can neare be tam’d

 

O London I haue heard thee honoured,

And thy names Glorie rais'd to good intent,

Lawes Councell chamber in thy wals is bred,

The fchoole of Knowledge and Experiment:

Wife Senators to gouerne thee is lent.

All things to beautifie a Royall Throne,

Where Scarfitie and Dearth did neuer grone.

 

Leaue off thy Praifes till we haue more leafure,

And to beguile the wearie lingring Day,

Whofe long-drawne Howers do tire vs out of meafure :

Our cunning in Loue-fongs let vs afsay,

And paint our Pleafure as fome good Array:

I will beginne my cunning for to taft,

And your Experience we will try at laft.

 

Here Nature fingeth to this dittie following

WHat is Loue but a toy,

To beguile mens Senfes ?

 

King Arthur.                 79

 

What is Cupid but a boy,

Boy to caufe expences,

A toy that brings to fooles oppreffed thrall,

A boy whofe folly makes a number fall.

 

What is Loue but a child,

Child of little fubftance,

Making Apes to be wild,

And their pride to aduance,

A child that loues with guegawes to be toying,

And with thinne fhadowes alwaies to be playing.

 

Loue is fweete, wherein fweete ?

In fading pleafures, wanton toyes,

Loue a Lord, and yet meete,

To croffe mens humours with annoyes:

A bitter pleafure, pleating for a while,

 

A Lord is Loue that doth mans thoughts beguile.

O fmg no more, you do forget your Theame,

And haue prophan'd the facred name of Loue,

You dip your tongue in an vnwholfome Streame,

And from the golden Truth your notes remoue

In my harfh Dittie I will all reproue :

And vnaccuftom'd I will trie my skill,

To pleafure you, and to confute your will.

 

The Phoenix her Song to the Dittie before.

 

O Holy Loue, religious Saint,

Mans onely hony-tafting Pleafure,

Thy glory, learning cannot paint,

For thou art all our wordly Treafure:

Thou art the Treafure, Treafure of the foule,

That great celeftiall powers doft controule.

 

What greater bliffe then to embrace

 

80    King Arthur.

 

The perfect patterne of Delight

Whofe heart-enchaunting Eye doth chafe

All ftormes of forow from mans fight

Pleafure, Delight, Wealth, and earth-ioyes do lye

In Venus bofome, bofome of pure beautie.

 

That mind that tafteth perfect Loue

Is farre remoted from annoy:

Cupid that God doth fit aboue,

That tips his Arrowes all with ioy:

And this makes Poets in their Verfe to fing

Loue is a holy, holy, holy thing.

 

O voice Angelicall, O heauenly fong,

The golden praife of Loue that thou haft made,

Deliuerd from thy fweete fmoothd honied tong,

Commaunds Loue felfe to lye within a fhade,

And yeeld thee all the Pleafures may be had :

Thy fweete melodious voice hath beautifide

And guilded Loues rich amours in her pride.

 

Enough, enough, Loue is a holy thing,

A power deuine, deuine, maiefticall:

In fhallow wilted braines as you did fing,

It cares not for the force materiall,

And low-borne Swaines it nought refpects at all:

She builds her Bower in none but noble minds,

And there due adoration ftill fse finds.

 

Stay Phoenix ftay, the euening Starre drawes nie,

And Phoebus he is parted from our fight,

 

A Dialogue.                   81

 

And with this Wagon mounted in the Skie,

Affoording paffage to the gloomie night,

That doth the way-faring Paffenger affright:

And we are fet on foote neere to that Ile,

In whofe deep bottome plaines Delight doth fmile.

 

O what a muskie fent the ayre doth caft,                                    Phoenix.

As if the Gods perfum'd it with fweete Myrrhe:

O how my bloud's infpired and doth tafte,

An alteration in my ioynts to ftirre,

As if the good did with the bad conferre :

The ayre doth moue my Spirites, purge my Sence,

And in my body doth new warre commence.

 

Looke round about, behold yon fruitfull Plaine,

Behold their meadow plots and pafture ground,

Behold their chryftall Riuers runne amaine,

Into the vafte huge Seas deuouring found,

And in her bowels all her filth is found :

It vomiteth by vertue all corruption,

Into that watrie plaine of defolation.

 

And while the day giues light vnto our eies,

Be thou attentiue, and I will relate,

The glorie of the plaines that thou defcri'ft,

Whofe fertill bounds farre doth extenuate,

Where Mars and Venus arme in arme haue fate:

Of plants of hearbs, and of high fpringing trees,

Of fweete delicious fauors, and of Bees.

 

In this delightfome countrey there doth grow,

 

M

 

82        A Dialogue.

 

The Mandrake cald in Greeke Mandragoras,

Some of his vertues if you looke to know,

The iuyce that frefhly from the roote doth paffe,

Purgeth all fleame like blackc Helleborus :

Tis good for paine engendred in the eies ;

By wine made of the roote doth fleepe arife;

 

Theres Yellow Crowbels and the Daphadill,

Good Harry, herbe Roberta and white Cotula,

Adders graffe, Eglantine, and Aphodill,

Agnus Cafius, and Acatia,

The Blacke Arke-Angell, Coloquintida,

Sweete Sugar Canes, Sinkefoile, and boies Mercurie,

Goofefoote, Goldfnap, and good Gratia Dei.

 

Moffe of the Sea, and yellow Succorie,

Sweete Trefoile, Weedwind, the wholefome Wormewood,

Muskmealons, Mouftaile, and Mercurie,

The dead Arkeangell that for wennes is good,

The Souldiers perrow, and great Southernewood:

Stone hearts tongue, Bleffed thistle, and Sea Trifoly,

Our Ladies cushion, and Spaines Pellitorie.

 

No doubt this Clymate where as thefe remaine,

The women and the men are fam'd for faire,

Here need they not of aches to complaine,

For Phifickes skill growes here without compare:

All herbes and plants within this Region are,

But by the way fweete Nature as you go,

Of Agnus Cafius fpeake a word or two.

 

A Dialogue                   83

 

That fhall I briefly ; it is the very handmaid             Nature.

To Vefta, or to perfect Chaftitie,

The hot inflamed fpirite is allaid

By this fweete herbe that bends to Luxury,

It drieth vp the feede of Venerie:

The leaues being laid vpon the fleepers bed,

With chaftneffe, cleanneffe, pureneffe he is fed.

 

Burne me the leaues, and ftraw them on the ground,

Whereas foule venemous Serpents vfe to haunt:        '

And by this vertue here they are not found,

Their operation doth fuch creatures daunt,

It caufeth them from thence for to auaunt:

If thou be ftung with Serpents great or leffe,

Drink but the feede, and thou fhalt find redreffe.

 

But to proceed, heres Clary or Cleare-eie,

Calues fnout, Cukoe flowers, and the Cuckoes meate,

Calathian Violets, Dandelion, and the Dewberrie,

Leopards foote, and greene Spinage which we vfe to eate,

And the hot Indian Sunne procuring heate :

Great wild Valerian, and the Withie wind

The water Creffes, or ague-curing Woodbind.

 

There’s Foxgloue, Forget me not, and Coliander,

Galingal, Goldcups, and Bupreftis,

Small honesties, Eyebright, and Coculus Panter,

Double tongue, Moly, and the bright Anthillis,

Smelling Clauer, and AEthiopis :

Floramore, Euphorbium, and Efula,

White bulbus violet, and Caffia fiftula.

 

M 2

 

84        A Dialogue.

 

By the way fweete Nature tell me this,

Is this the Moly that is excellent,

For ftrong enchauntments, and the Adders hiffe ?

Is this the Moly that Mercurius fent

To wife Vlyffes, when he did preuent

The witchcraft, and foule Circe's damned charmes,

That would haue compaft him with twentie harmes ?

 

This is the Moly growing in this land,

That was reueal’d by cunning Mercurie

To great Vlyffes, making him withftand

The hand of Circes fatall forcerie,

That would haue loden him with miferie:

And ere we paffe Ile fhew fome excellence,

Of other herbs in Phifickes noble Science.

 

There Mugwort, Sena and Tithimailes,

Oke of Ierufalem, and Lyryconfaucie,

Larkes fpurre, Larkes claw and Lentiles,

Garden Nigella, Mill, and Pionie,

Woody Nightshade, Mints, and Sentorie,

Sowbread, Dragons, and Goates oregan

Pelemeum, Hellebore, and Ofmond the Waterman.

 

Firft of this Mugwort it did take the name,

Of Artemefia wife to Maufoleus,

Where funne-bred beautie did his heart inflame,

When fhe was Queene of Helicarnaffus,

Diana gaue the herbe this name to vs :

Becaufe this vertue to vs it hath lent,

For womens matters it is excellent.

 

And

 

A Dialogue.                    85

 

And he that fhall this herbe about him beare,

Is freed from hurt or daunger any way,

No poifned Toade nor Serpent fhall him feare,

As he doth trauell in the Sunne-fhine day,

No wearineffe his limmes fhall ought affay :

And if he weare this Mugwort at his breaft,

Being trauelling, he nere fhall couet reft.

 

There is blacke Hellebore cald Melampodium,

Becaufe an Arcadian fhepheard firft did find

This wholfome herbe Melampus nam'd of some,

Which the rich Proetus daughters wits did bind,

When she to extreame madneffe was inclind :

It cured and reuiu'd her memorie,

That was poffeft with a continuall frenzie.

 

There Centrie in Greeke Centaurion,

That from the Centaure Chiron tooke the name,

In Spaine t'was cald Cintoria long agone,

And this much honor muft we giue the fame,

Wild Tygers with the leaues a man may tame:

Tis good for finewed aches, and giues light

To the blacke miftie dimneffe of the fight.

 

Fames golden glorie fpreadeth this report,

Vpon a day that Chiron was a gueft,

To arme-ftrong Hercules and did refort

Vnto his houfe to a moft fumptuous feaft,

And welcome was the Centaure mongft the reft.

But fee his lucke, he on his foote let fall,

Great Hercul's fhaft, and hurt himfeife withal.

 

M 3

 

86        A Dialogue.

 

A mightie arrow not for him to weeld,

The wound being deepe, and with a venom'd point,

To Deaths areftment he began to yeeld,

And there with fundrie Balmes they did annoint,

His wounded foote being ftrucken through the ioynt:

All would not ferue till that an old man brought,

This Centaurie that eafe to him hath wrought.

 

There's Ofmond balepate, Plebane, and Oculus Christi,

Sleeping nightfhade, Salomons feale, and Savipire,

Sage of Ierufalem, and fweete Rofemarie,

Great Pilofella, Sengreene, and Alexander,

Knights Milfoile, Masticke, and Stocke gillofer,

Hearts cafe, herbe twopence, and Hermodactill,

Narciffus and the red flower Pimpernell.

 

That word Narciffus is of force to fteale,

Cold running water from a ftony rocke :

Alas poore boy thy beautie could not heale

The wound that thou thyfelfe too deepe did’st locke;

Thy fhadowed eyes thy perfect eyes did mocke.

Falfe beautie fed true beautie from the deepe,

When in the glaffie water thou didft peepe.

 

O Loue thou art imperious full of might,

And doft reuenge the crie difdaining louer

His lookes to Ladies eyes did giue a light,

But pride of beautie, did his beautie fmother,

Like him for faire you could not find another :

Ah had he lou'd, and not on Ladies lower,

He neare had bene transformed to a flower.

 

A Dialogue,                     87

 

This is an Embleame for thofe painted faces.              Nature.

Where deuine beautie refts her for awhile,

Filling their browes with ftormes and great difgraces,

That on the pained foule yeelds not a fmile,

But puts true loue into perpetuall exile:

Hard hearted Soule, fuch fortune light on thee,

That thou maift be tranform'd as well as he.

 

Ah had the boy bene pliable to be wonne,

And not abufde his morne excelling face,

He might haue liu'd as beauteous as the Sunne,

And to his beautie Ladies would giue place,

But O proud Boy, thou wroughtft thine owne difgrace:

Thou lou'ft thy felfe, and by the felfe fame loue,

Didft thy deuineffe to a flower remoue.

 

But to proceed, theres Chrifti ocidus,

The feede of this Horminum drunke with wine,

Doth ftirre a procurations heate in vs,

And to Libidenous lufts makes men incline,

And mens vnable bodies doth refine:

It brings increafe by operation,

And multiplies our generation.

 

There's Carrets, Chervile, and the Cucumer,

Red Patiens, Purflane, and Gingidium,

Oxe eie, fheepe killing Penygraffes, and the golden flower

Cuckoe pintell, our Ladies feale, and Saga pinum,

Theophrastus violet, and Vincetoxicum :

Saint Peters wort, and louely Venus haire,

And Squilla, that keepes men from foule defpaire.

 

88                   A Dialogue.

 

O this word Carrets, if a number knew

The vertue of thy rare excelling roote,

And what good help to men there doth enfue,

They would their lands, and their liues fell to boote,

But thy fweete operation they would view:

Sad dreaming Louers flumbring in the night,

Would in thy honie working take delight.

 

The Thracian Orpheus whofe admired skill

Infernall Pluto once hath rauifhed,

Caufing high Trees to daunce againft their will,

And vntam'd Beaft with Muficks Harpe hath fed,

And fifhes to the fhore hath often led,

By his experience oftentimes did proue,

This Roote procured in Maides a perfect loue,

 

Purslane doth comfort the inflamed hart,

And healeth the exulcerated kidnies :

It ftoppeth all defluxions falling fmart,

And when we fleepe expelleth dreames and fancies :

It driues Imaginations from our eyes,

The iuyce of Purflane hindreth that defire

When men to Venus games would faine afpire.

 

Theres Rocket, Iack by the hedge, and Loue in idleneffe,

Knights water Sengreene, and Siluer maidenheare,

Paris Nauews, Tornefol, and towne Creffes,

Starre thiftle that for many things is deare,

And Seia that in Italy Corne doth beare:

Wake-robbins, Hyacinth, and Hartichocke,

Letuce that mens fence afleepe doth rocke.

 

O poore

 

A Dialogue. .                  89

 

O poore boy Hyacinthus thy faire face

Of which Apollo was enamored,

Brought thy lifes Lord too timely to that place,

Where playing with thee thou waft murdered,

And with thy bloud the graffe was fprinckled :

Thy bodie was transformed in that hower,

Into a red white mingled Gilli-flower.

 

But yet Apollo wept when he was flaine,

For playing with him, cleane againft his will

He made him breathleffe, this procured his paine:

True loue doth feldome feeke true loue to kill;

O Loue thou many actions doft fulfill!

Search, feek, & learn what things there may be fhown,

Then fay that Loues fweet fecrets are vnknowne.

 

And as a token of Apolloes forrow,

A filuer coloured Lillie did appeare,

The leaues his perfect fighes and teares did borrow,

Which have continued ftill from yeare to yeare;

Which fhewes him louing, not to be feuere,

Ai ai is written as a mourning Dittie,

Vpon this flower which fhewes Apolloes pittie.

 

O Schoole-boyes I will teach you fuch a fhift,

As will be worth a Kingdome when you know it,

An herbe that hath a fecret hidden drift,

To none but Treauants do I meane to fhow it,

And all deepe read Phifitions will allow it:

O how you play the wags, and faine would heare

Some fecret matter to allay your feare.

 

N

 

90                   A Dialogue.

 

Theres garden Rocket, take me but the feed,

When in your Maisters brow your faults remaine,

And when to faue your felues there is great need,

Being whipt or beaten you fhall feel no paine,

Although the bloud your buttocks feeme to ftaine:

It hardneth to the flefh and tender skin,

That what is feene without comes not within,

 

The Father that defires to haue a boy,

That may be Heire vnto his land and liuing,

Let his efpoufed Loue drinke day by day,

Good Artichocks, who buds in Auguft bring,

Sod in cleare running water of the fpring ;

Wiues naturall Conception it doth fh'engthen,

And their declining life by force doth lengthen.

 

In Sommer time, when fluggifh idleneffe

Doth haunt the bodie of a healthfull man,

In Winter time when a cold heauie flowneffe

Doth tame a womans ftrength do what fhe can,

Making her look both bloudleffe, pale and wan,

The vertue of this Artichocke is fuch,

It ftirres them vp to labour very much.

 

Theres Sowbread, Stanwort, and Starre of Hierufalem,

Bafe or flat Veruine, and the wholefome Tanfie,

Go to bed at noone, and Titimalem,

Hundred headed thiftle, and tree-clafping Iuie,

Storks bill, great Stonecrop, and feed of Canary,

Dwarfe gentian, Snakeweed, and fommer Sauory,

Bell rags, prickly Boxe, and Rafpis of Couentry.

 

This

 

A Dialogue.                91

 

This Sowbread is an herbe that's perillous,

For howfoeuer this fame Roote be vfed,

For women growne with child tis dangerous,

And therefore it is good to be refufed :

Vnleffe too much they feeke to be mifufed.

O haue a care how this you do apply,

Either in inward things or outwardly.

 

Thofe that about them carrie this fame Sowbread

Or plant it in their gardens in the Spring,

If that they onely ouer it do tread,

Twill kill the iffue they about them bring,

When Mother Lullabie with toy fhould fing:

Yet wanton fcaping Maides perhaps will taft,

This vnkind herbe, and fnatch it up in haft.

 

Yet let me giue a warning to you all,

Do not prefume too much in dalliance,

Be not fhort-heeld with euery wind to fall:

The Eye of heauen perhaps will not difpence

With your rath fault, but plague your fowie offence,

And take away the working and the vertue,

Becaufe to him you broke your promis'd dutie.

 

Theres Iuie, that doth cling about the tree,

And with her leauie armes doth round embrace

The rotten hollow withered trunke we fee,

That from the maiden Ciffus tooke that place,

Grape-crowned Bacchus did this damzell grace:

Loue-piercing windowes dazeled to her eye,

That in Loues ouer-kindneffe the did dye.

 

N 2

 

92                   A Dialogue.

 

A rich-wrought fumptuous Banquet was prepared,

Vnto the which the Gods were all inuited :

Amongft them all this Ciffus was infnared,

And in the fight of Bacchus much delighted:

In her faire bofome was true Loue vnited,

She daunc't and often kift him with fuch mirth,

That fudden toy did ftop her vitall breath.

 

Affoone as that the Nourifher of things,

Our Grandam Earth had tafted of her bloud,

From foorth her bodie a frefh Plant there fprings,

And then an Iuy-climing Herbe there ftood,

That for the fluxe Diffenterie is good :

For the remembrance of the God of wine,

It therefore alwaies clafpes about the Vine.

 

There is Angellica or Dwarfe Gentian,

Whofe roote being dride in the hot fhining Sunne,

From death it doth preferue the poyfoned man,

Whofe extreame torment makes his life halfe gone,

That from deaths mixed potion could not fhunne:

No Peftilence nor no infectious aire,

Shall do him hurt, or caufe him to difpaire.

 

Theres Carduus benedictus cald the Bleffed thiftle,

Nefwort, Peniroyall, and Aftrolochia,

Yellow Wolfs-bane, and Rofe-fmelling Bramble,

Our Ladies Bedftraw, Brookelime, and Lunaria,

Cinquefoile, Cats taile, and Creffe Sciatica,

Hollihockes, Moufeare, and Pety Morrell

Sage, Scorpiades, and the garden sorrell.

 

A Dialogue.                   93

 

Firft of the Nefewort, it doth driue away,

And poyfoneth troublefome Mice and long-taii'd Rats,

And being fod in milke, it doth deftroy

Bees, Wafpes, or Flies, and litle ftinging Gnats:

It killeth Dogs, and reft difturbing Cats,

Boyled with vineger it doth affwage

The ach proceeding from the tooths hot rage.

 

Sage is an herbe for health preferuatiue,

It doth expell from women barrenneffe :

AEtius faith, it makes the child to liue,

Whofe new-knit ioynts are full of feebleneffe,

And comforteth the mothers wearineffe:

Adding a liuely fpirit, that doth good

Vnto the painefull labouring wiues ficke bloud.

 

In Egypt when a great mortalitie,

And killing Peftilence did infect the Land,

Making the people die innumerablie,

The plague being ceaft, the women out of hand

Did drinke of iuyce of Sage continually,

That made them to increafe and multiply,

And bring foorth ftore of children prefently.

 

This herbe Lunaria, if a horfe do grafe

Within a medow where the fame doth grow,

And ouer it doth come with gentle pace,

Hauing a horflocke at his foote below,

As many haue, that fauegard we do know,

It openeth the Locke, and makes it fall,

Defpight the barre that it is lockt withall.

 

N3

 

94                   A Dialogue.

 

Theres Standergras, Hares ballockes, or great Orchis

Prouoketh Venus, and procureth fport,

It helpes the weakned body that's amiffe,

And fals away in a confumptuous fort,

It heales the Hectique feauer by report:

But the dried fhriueld roote being withered,

Hindreth the vertue we haue vttered.

 

If Man of the great fpringing rootes doth eate,

Being in matrimoniall copulation,

Male children of his wife he fhall beget,

This fpeciall vertue hath the operation,

If Women make the withered rootes their meate,

Faire louely Daughters, affable, and wife,

From their frefh fpringing loines there fhall arife.

 

There's Rofemarie, the Arabians iuftifie,

(Phifttions of exceeding perfect skill,)

It comforteth the braine and Memorie,

And to the inward fence giues ftrength at will,

The head with noble knowledge it doth fill.

Conferues thereof reftores the fpeech being loft,

And makes a perfect Tongue with little coft.

 

Theres Dwale or Nightfhade, tis a fatall plant,

It bringeth men into a deadly fleepe.

Then Rage and Anger doth their fenfes haunt,

And like mad Aiax they a coile do keepe,

Till leane-fac'd Death into their heart doth creepe,

In Almaine graue experience hath vs tought,

This wicked herbe for manie things is nought.

 

A Dialogue.                   9

 

Oke of Ierufalem being throughly dried,

And laid in preffes where your clothes do lie,

No Mothes or venome mongst them fhall abide,

It makes them fmell to odoriferoufly,

That it doth kill them all immediately:

It helpes the breaft that's ftopped with corruption,

And giues mans breath fit operation.

 

Bleft be our mother Earth that nourifheth,

In her rich womb the feede of Times increafe,

And by her vertue all things flourifheth,

When from her bofome fhe doth them releafe,

But are their Plants and Trees in this faire Ile,

Where Floras fweete fpread garden feemes to fmile ?

 

As plentifull vnto thefe Ilanders,

Are the fruit-bearing Trees, as be the Flowers :

And to the chiefeft Lords that are commanders,

They ferue as pleafant ouer-fhading bowers,

To banquet in the day, and fport being late,

And moft of them I meane to nominate.

 

Ther's the great fturdie Oke and fpreading Vine,

Vnder whofe branches Bacchus vfd’ to fleepe,

The Rofe-tree and the loftie bearing Pine,

That feemes (being toucht with wind) full oft to weepe,

            The Hawthorne, Chrifts-thorne and the Rofemary,

            The Tamariske, Willow, and the Almond-tree.

 

The moft chaft tree, that Chaftneffe doth betoken,

The Hollyholme, the Corke and Goofeberrie,

 

96                   A Dialogue.

 

That neuer with tempeftuous ftormes is fhooken,

The Oliue, Philbert, and the Barberie,

The Mafticke tree whofe liquid gumme being dride,

Is good for them that Rheume hath terrified.

 

Theres Iudas tree, fo cal'd becaufe that Iew,

That did betray the innocent Lambe of God,

There firft of all his forrowes to renew,

Did hang himfelfe, plagu'd with a heauy rod,

A iuft reward for fuch an vniuft knaue,

That would betray his Maifcer to the graue.

 

Theres Afh-tree, Maple, and the Sycamore,

Pomegranate, Apricockes and Iunipere:

The Turpentine that fweet iuyce doth deplore,

The Quince, the Peare-tree, and the young mans Medlar,

The Fig-tree, Orenge, and the fweet moift Lemmon,

The Nutmeg, Plum-tree, and the louely Cytron.

 

Now for the Mirtle tree, it beares the name,

Being once the gods Pallas beft beloued,

Of Merfin the younge fair Athenian Dame,

Becaufe in actiueneffe fhe much excelled :

The luflie young men of Athenia,

She ftill was honour'd of the wife Minerua.

 

Who willing her at Tilt and Tournament,

At running, vaulting, and Actiuitie,

And other exercife of gouernement,

Not to be abfent from her Deitie:

Becaufe that fhe as Iudge might giue the Crowne,

 

And

 

A Dialogue.                   97

 

And garland to the Victors great renowne.

 

But no forepaffed age was free. from Enuie,

That fpitefull honor-crazing enemy :

For on a time giuing the equall glorie

To him that wan it moft deferuedly,

The vanquifher in furie much difpleafed,

Slue Merfm whom the Goddeffe fauoured.

 

Pallas offended with their crueltie,

Did gratefully reuenge her Maidens death,

Transforming her into a Mirtle tree,

Sweetly to flourifh in the lower earth :

The berries are a meanes for to redreffe

(Being decocted) fwolne-fac'd Drunkenneffe.

 

The ftormie Winters greene remaining Bay

Was Daphne, Ladon and the Earths faire daughter,

Whom wife Apollo haunted in the day,

Till at the length by chaunce alas he caught her:

O if fuch faults were in the Gods aboue,

Blame not poore filly men if they do loue.

 

But fhe not able (almoft out of breathe)

For to refift the wife Gods humble fute,

Made her petition to her mother Earth,

That fhe would fuccour her, and make her mute:

The Earth being glad to eafe her miferie,

Did fwallow her, and turn'd her to a Bay tree.

 

Apollo being amazed at this fight,

 

O

 

98        A Dialgoue.

 

Named it Daphne for his Daphnes honour,

Twifting a Garland to his hearts delight,

And on his head did weare it as a fauour:

And to this day the Bay trees memorie

Remaines as token of true Prophefie.

 

Some of the heathen, men of opinion,

Suppofe the greene-leau'd Bay tree can refift

Inchauntments, fpirites, and illufion,

And make them feeme as fhadowes in a mift,

This tree is dedicate onely to the Sunne,

Becaufe her vertue from his vice begonne.

 

The Mofe-tree hath fuch great large fpreading leaues,

That you may wrap a child of twelue months old

In one of them, vnleffe the truth deceaues,

For to our Herborists haue truly told :

By that great Citie Aleph in Affyria,

This tree was found hard by Venetia.

 

The fruite hereof (the Greekes and Chriftians)

That do remaine in that large-fpreading Citie,

The misbeleeuing lewes and Perfians,

Hold this opinion for a certaintie:

Adam did eate in liuely Paradife,

That wrapt mans free-borne foules in miferies.

 

Thefe trees, thefe plants, and this defcription,

Of their fweete liquid gums that are diftilling,

Are to be held in eftimation,

For faire-fac'd Tellus glorie is excelling:

 

A Dialogue.                    99

 

But what white siluer'd rich refembling plaine,

Is that where wooddie moouing trees remaine ?

 

That is the watry kingdome of Neptunus,                                                Nature.

Where his high wood-made Towers dayly flote,

Bearing the title of Oceanus,

As hony-fpeaking Poets oft do quote:

And as the branches fp reading from the tree,

So do the Riuers grace this louely Countrie.

 

Wherein is bread for mans fweete nourifhment,

Fifhes of fundry forts and diuerfe natures,

That the inhabitants doth much content,

As a relieuement to all mortall creatures,

But for to make you perfect what they be,

I will relate them to you orderly.

 

There fwimmes the gentle Prawne and Pickerel,

A great deuourer of fmall little fifh,

The Puffin, Sole, and Sommer louing Mackrell,

In feafon held for a high Ladies difh :

The bigge bon'd Whale, of whom the skilfull Marriner,

Sometimes God knowes Hands in a mightie terrour.

 

The muficke-louing Dolphin here doth fwimme,

That brought Arion on his backe to fhore,

And ftayd a long while at the Seas deepe brimme,

To hear him play, in nature did deplore,

As being loth to leaue him, but at laft

Headlong himfeife into the Sea he caft.

 

O2

 

100      A Dialogue.

 

Here fwimmes the Ray, the Sea-calfe and the Porpoife,

That doth betoken raine or ftormes of weather,

The Sea-horfe, Sea-hound, and the wide-mouth'd Plaice,

A Spitchcoke, Stocke-fifh, and the litle Pilcher,

Whofe onely moifture preft by cunning Art,

Is good for thofe troubled with Aches fmart.

 

Here fwimmes the Shad, the Spitfifh and the Spurling,

The Thornebacke, Turbot, and the Perewincle,

The Twine, the Trout, the Scallop, and the Whiting,

The Scate, the Roch, the Tench and pretie Wrincle:

The Purple-fifh, whofe liquor vfually,

A violet colour on the cloth doth die.

 

Here fwimmes the Pearch, the Cuttle and the Stocke-fifh,

That with a wooden ftaffe is often beaten,

The Crab, the Pearch, which poore men alwayes wifh,

The Ruffe, the Piper good for to be eaten:

The Barbell that three times in euery yeare,

Her natural young ones to the waues doth beare.

 

His great deuine Omnipotence is mightie,

That rides vpon the Heauens axeltree,

That by increafe amongft vs fends fuch plentie,

If to his Mightineffe grateful we will be :

But 'ftubborne necked Iewes do him prouoke,

Till he do loade them with a heauie yoke.

 

Truth haue you faid ; but I will here expreffe

The richeffe of the Earths hid fecrecie,

The falt Seas vnfeene, vnknowne worthinene,

 

A Dialogue.                   101

 

That yeelds vs precious ftones innumerably,

The rareneffe of their vertue fit for Kings,

And fuch this countrie climate often brings.

 

Herein is found the Amatist and Abestone,

The Topaze, Turches, and Gelatia,

The Adamant, Dionife, and Calcedon,

The Berill, Marble and Elutropia,

The Ruby, Saphire, and Afterites,

The Iacinth, Sardonix, and Argirites.

 

The Smaragd, Carbuncle, and Alablaster,

Cornellis, Crufopaffe, and Corrall:

The fparkling Diamond, and the louely Iafper,

The Margarite, Lodestone, and the bright-ey'd Chrystall,

Ligurius, Onix, Nitrum, and Gagates,

Abfiftos, Amatites, and the good Achates.

 

Here in this Iland are there mines of Gold,

Mines of Siluer, Iron, Tinne and Lead,

That by the labouring workman we behold :

And mines of Braffe, that in the Earth is fed,

The ftone Lipparia, Galactites, and Panteron,

Enidros, Iris, Dracontites, and Aftrion.

 

The Adamant, a hard obdurate ftone,

Inuincible, and not for to be broken,

Being placed neare a great bigge barre of Iron,

This vertue hath it, as a fpeciall token,

The Lodestone hath no power to draw away.

The Iron barre, but in one place doth flay.

 

O 3

 

102                  A Dialogue.

 

Yet with a Goates warme, frefh and liuely blood,

This Adamant doth breake and Hue in funder,

That manie mightie, huge ftrokes hath withftood :

But I will tell you of a greater wonder,

It reconciles the womans loue being loft,

And giueth proofe of Chaftneffe without coft.

 

The purple coloured Amatift doth preuaile

Agalnft the wit-oppreffmg Drunkenneffe,

If euill Cogitations do affaile

Thy fleepie thouglits wrapt vp in heauineffe,

It foone will driue them from thy minds difturbing,

And temporize thy braine that is offending.

 

The white-veind enterlin'd ftone Achates,

Befpotted here and there with fpots like blood,

Makes a man gracious in the peoples eyes,

And for to cleare the fight is paffing good :

It remedieth the place that's venemous,

And in the fire fmels odoriferous.

 

The Gemme Amatites hath this qualitie,

Let a man touch his vefture with the fame,

And it refifteth fier mightily:

The vertue doth the force of burning tame,

And afterwards caft in the fiers light,

Burnes not at all, but then it feemes moft bright.

 

The faire ftone Berrill is fo precious,

That mightie men do hold it verie rare:

It frees a man from aflions perillous,

 

A Dialogue.                  103

 

If of his lifes deare blood he haue a care,

And now and then being put into the Eyes,

Defends a man from all his enemies.

 

The ftone Ceranicum fpotted ore with blue,

Being fafe and chaftly borne within the hand,

Thunders hote raging cracks that do enfue

It doth expell, and Lightnings doth withftand,

Defending of the houfe that many keepe,

And is effectuall to bring men afleepe.

 

The Diamond the worlds reflefling eye,

The Diamond the heauens bright fhining ftarre,

The Diamond the earths moft pureft glorie :

And with the Diamond no Stone can compare ;

She teacheth men to fpeake, and men to loue,

If all her rareft vertues you will proue.

 

The Diamond taught Muficke firft his cunning,

The Diamond taught Poetry her skill,

The Diamond gaue Lawyers firft their learning,

Arithmeticke the Diamond taught at will:

She teacheth all Arts : for within her eye,

The knowledge of the world doth fafely lye.

 

Dradocos is a ftone that's pale and wan,

It brings to fome men thoughts fantafticall:

It being layd vpon a cold dead Man,

Lofeth the vertue it is grac'd withall;

Wherefore tis called the moft holy ftone:

For, whereas Death frequenteth it is gone.

 

104                  A Dialogue.

 

Achites is in colour violet,

Found on the Bankes of this delightfome place,

Both male and female in this Land we get:

Whofe vertue doth the Princely Eagle grace;

For being borne by her into her neft,

She bringeth foorth her young ones with much reft.

 

This ftone being bound faft to a womans fide,

Within whofe pureft wombe her child is lying,

Doth haften child-birth, and doth make her bide

But litle paine, her humours is releafing.

If anie one be guiltie of Deceit,

This ftone will caufe him to forfake his meate.

 

Enidros is the ftone that's alwayes fweating,

Diftilling liquid drops continually :

And yet for all his daily moifture melting,

It keepes the felfe fame bigneffe ftedfaftly:

It neuer leffeneth, nor doth fall away,

But in one ftedfaft perfectneffe doth flay.

 

Perpetui fletus lachrymas diftillat Enidros,

Qui velut ex pleni fontis fcaturigine manat.

 

Gagates fmelling like to Frankenfence,

Being left whereas the poifnous Serpents breed,

Driues them away, and doth his force commence,

Making this beaft on barren plaines to feed,

And there to ftarue and pine away for meate,

Becauie being there he finds no foode to eate.

 

This ftone being put in a faire womans drinke,

 

A Dialogue.                  105

 

Will teftifie her pure Virginitie,

A moft rare thing that fome men neuer thinke,

Yet you fhall giue your iugdement eafily,

For if fhe make her water prefently,

Then hath this Woman loft her honeftie.

 

The Iacinth is a neighbour to the Saphire,

That doth transforme it felfe to fundrie fights,

Sometimes tis blacke and cloudie, fometimes cle[ar]

And from the mutable ayre borrowes lights:

It giueth ftrength and vigor in his kind,

And faire fweete quiet fleepe brings to the m[ind]

 

Rabiates being clearely coloured,

Borne about one doth make him eloquent,

And in great honour to be fauoured,

If he do vfe it to a good intent,

Foule venemous Serpents it doth bring in awe,

And cureth paine and griefe about the mawe.

 

The iron-drawing Lode-ftone if you fet

Within a veffell, either Gold or Braffe,

And place a peece of Iron vnder it,

Of fome indifferent fize or fmalleft compaffe,

The Lodeftone on the top will caufe it moue,

And by his vertue meete with it aboue.

 

The Meade ftone coloured like the graffie greene,

Much gentle eafe vnto the Goute hath donne,

And helpeth thofe being troubled with the Spleene,

Mingled with Womans milke bearing a Sonne:

 

P

 

106                  A Dialogue.

 

It remedi'th the wit-affailing Frenzie.

And purgeth the fad mind of Melancholie.

 

The ftone Orites fpotted ore with white,

Being worne, or hung about a womans necke,

Prohibiteth Conception and Delight,

And the child-bearing wombe by force doth checke :

Or elfe it haft'neth her deliuerie,

And makes the birth vnperfect and vntimely.

 

Skie coloured Saphire Kings and Princes weare,

Being held moft precious in their iudging fight;

The verie touch of this doth throughly cure

The Carbuncles enraging hatefull fpight :

It doth delight and recreate the Eyes,

And all bate groffeneffe it doth quite defpife.

 

If in a boxe you put an inuenomd Spider,

Whofe poifonous operation is annoying,

And on the boxes top lay the true Saphire,

The vertue of his power fhewes vs his cunning,

He vanquifheth the Spider, leaues him dead,

And to Apollo now is confecrated.

 

The frefh greene coloured Smaragd doth excell

All Trees, Boughs, Plants, and new frefh fpringing Leaues:

The hote reflecting Sunne can neuer quell

His vertue, that no eyefight ere dcceiues,

But ore faire Phoebus glorie it triumpheth,

And the dimme duskie Eyes it polifheth.

 

The

 

A Dialogue,                  107

 

The valiant Caefar tooke his chiefe delight,

By looking on the Smarous excellence,

To fee his Romane fouldiers how they fight,

And view what wards they had for their defence,

And who exceld in perfect chiualrie,

And nobleft bore himfelfe in victorie.

 

This Stone doth ferue to Diuination,

To tell of things to come, and things being paft,

And mongft vs held in eftimation,

Giuing the ficke mans meat a gentle taft :

If things fhall be, it keepes in the Mind,

If not, forgetfulneffe our Eyes doth blind.

 

The Turches being worne in a Ring,

If any Gentleman hath caufe to ride

Supports, and doth fuftaine him from all falling,

Or hurting of him feife what ere betide :

And ere he fuffer anie fearefull danger,

Will fall it felfe, and breake, and burft a funder.

 

Thefe wondrous things of Nature to mens eares                        Phoenix

Will almoft prove (fweete Nature) incredible,

But by Times ancient record it appeares,

Thefe hidden fecrets to be memorable :

For his diuineffe that hath wrought this wonder,

Rules men and beafts, the lightning and the thunder.

 

For the worlds blindnefie and opinion, I care not                                    Nature

Phoenix, they are misbeleeuing,

And if their eyes trie not conclufion,

 

P 2

 

117

 

108                  A Dialogue.

 

They will not truft a ftrangers true reporting.

With Beafts and Birds I will conclude my ftorie,

And to that All-in-all yeeld perfect glorie.

 

In yonder woodie groue and fertile plaine,

Remaines the Leopard and the watrie Badger,

The Bugle or wild Oxe doth there remaine,

The Onocentaure and the cruell Tyger,

The Dromidary and the princely Lion,

The Bore, the Elephant, and the poifnous Dragon.

 

The ftrong neck'd Bull that neuer felt the yoke,

The Cat, the Dog, the Wolfe, and cruell Viper,

The lurking Hare that pretie fport prouokes,

The Goatebucke, Hedgehogge, and the fwiftfoote Panther,

The Horfe, Cameleopard and ftrong pawd Beare,

The Ape, the Affe, and the moft fearefull Deare.

 

The Moufe, the Mule the Sow and Salamander,

That from the burning fire cannot liue,

The Weafell, Cammell and the hunted Beauer,

That in purfute away his ftones doth giue:

The Stellio, Camelion and Vnicorne,

That doth expell hot poifon with his Horne.

 

The cruell Beare in her conception,

Brings forth at firft a thing that's indigeft,

A lump of flefh without all fafhion,

Which fhe by often licking brings to reft,

Making a formal body good and found,

Which often in this Iland we have found.

 

A Dialogue.                  109

 

Hic format lingua foetum quem protulit Vrfa.

 

The great wild Bore of nature terrible,

With two ftrong Tufhes for his Armorie,

Sometimes affailes the Beare moft horrible,

And twixt them is a fight both fierce and deadly:

He hunteth after Marioram and Organie,

Which as a whetftone doth his need fupplie.

 

The Bugle or wild Oxe is neuer tam'd,

But with an iron ring put through his fnout,

That of fome perfect ftrength muft needs be fram'd,

Then may you leade him all the world about:

The Huntfmen find him hung within a tree,

Faft by the hornes and then thy vfe no pittie.

 

The Camell is of nature flexible,

For when a burden on his backe is bound,

To eafe the labourer, he is knowne moft gentle,

For why he kneeleth downe vpon the ground :

Suffering the man to put it off or on,

As it feemes beft in his difcretion.

 

They liue fome fiftie or fome hundred yeares,

And can remaine from water full foure dayes,

And moft delight to drinke when there appeares,

A muddie fpring that's troubled many wayes :

Between them is a naturall honeft care,

If one conioyneth with his Damme, tis rare.

 

The Dragon is a poifnous venom'd beaft,

 

P 3

 

110                  A Dialogue.

 

With whom the Elephant is at enmitie,

And in contention they do neuer reft,

Till one hath flaine the other cruelly:

The Dragon with the Elephant tries a fall,

And being vnder he is flaine withall.

 

The bunch-backt, big-bon'd, fwift-foote Dromidary

Of Dromas the Greeke word borrowing the name,

For his quicke flying fpeedy property :

Which eafily thefe countreymen do tame,

Hel' go a hundredth miles within one day,

And neuer feeke in any place to ftay.

 

The Dogge a naturall, kind, and louing thing,

As witneffeth our Hiftories of old :

Their maifter dead, the poore foole with lamenting

Doth kill himfelfe before accounted bold :

And would defend his maifter if he might,

When cruelly his foe begins to fight.

 

The Elephant with tufhes Iuorie,

Is a great friend to man as he doth trauell:

The Dragon hating man moft fpitefully,

The Elephant doth with the Dragon quarell:

And twixt them two is a moft deadly ftrife,

Till that the man be paft, and fau'd his life.

 

The Elephant feene in Aftronomy,

Will euery month play the Phifition :

Taking delight his cunning for to try,

Giuing himfelfe a fweete purgation,

 

A Dialogue.                   111

 

And to the running fprings himfelfe addreffe,

And in the fame wafh off his filthineffe,

 

The Gote-bucke is a heart lafciuious,

And giuen much to filthy venerie;

Apt and prone to be contentious,

Seeking by craft to kill his enemy:

His bloud being warme fuppleth the Adamant,

That neither fire or force could euer daunt.

 

The Hedghogge hath a fharpe quicke thorned garment,

That on his backe doth ferue him for defence:

He can prefage the winds incontinent,

And hath good knowledge in the difference

Betweene the Southerne and the Northren wind,

Thefe vertues are allotted him by kind.

 

Whereon in Conftantinople that great City,

A marchant in his garden gaue one nourifhment :

By which he knew the winds true certainty,

Becaufe the Hedgehogge gaue him iuft prefagement:

Apples, or peares, or grapes, fuch is his meate,

Which on his backe he caries for to eate.

 

The fpotted Linx in face much like a Lyon,

His vrine is of fuch a qualitie,

In time it turneth to a precious ftone,

Called Ligarius for his property :

He hateth man fo much, that he doth hide

His vrine in the earth, not to be fpide.

 

P 4

 

112                  A Dialogue.

 

The princely Lion King of forreft-Kings,

And chiefe Commaunder of the Wilderneffe,

At whofe faire feete all Beafts lay downe their offrings,

Yeelding alleageance to his worthineffe:

His ftrength remaineth moft within his head,

His vertue in his heart is compaffed.

 

He neuer wrongs a man, nor hurts his pray,

If they will yeeld fubmiffiue at his feete,

He knoweth when the Lioneffe playes falfe play,

If in all kindneffe he his loue do meete :

He doth defend the poore and innocent,

And thofe that cruel-hearted Beafts haue rent.

 

Then is't not pittie that the craftie Foxe,

The rauenous Wolfe, the Tyger, and the Beare,

The flow-paft-dull-brain'd heauie Oxe,

 Should ftriue to good a ftate to ouerweare ?

The Lion fleepes and laughes to fee them ftriue,

But in the end leaues not a beaft aliue.

 

The Onocentaur is a monftrous beaft;

Suppofed halfe a man and halfe an affe,

That neuer fhuts his eyes in quiet reft,

Till he his foes deare life hath round encompaft,

Such were the Centaures in their tyrannie,

That liu'd by humane flefh and villanie.

 

The Stellio is a beaft that takes his breath,

And liueth by the deaw thats heauenly,

Taking his Food and Spirit of the earth,

 

A Dialogue                   113

 

And fo maintaines his life in chaftitie,

He takes delight to counterfeit all colours,

And yet for all this he is venimous;

 

Tis ftrange to heare fuch perfect difference,

In all things that his Mightineffe hath fram'd  ;

Tis ftrange to heare their manner of defence,

Amongft all creatures that my Nurfe hath nam'd :

Are there no Wormes nor Serpents to be found

In this fweete fmelling Ile and fruitful' ground ?

 

Within a little corner towards the Eaft,

A moorifh plot of earth and dampifh place,

Some creeping Wormes and Serpents vfe to reft,

And in a manner doth this bad ground grace :

It is vnpeopled and vnhabited,

For there with poifonous ayre they are fed.

 

Here liues the Worme, the Gnat and Graffhopper,

Rinatrix, Lizard, and the fruitfull Bee,

The Mothe, Chelidras, and the Bloodfucker,

That from the flefh fuckes bloud moft fpeedily :  

Ceraftis, Afpis and the Crocadile,

That doth the way-faring paffenger beguilel

 

The labouring Ant, and the befpeckled Adder,

The Frogge, the Tode, and Sommer-haunting Flie,

The prettie Silkeworme, and the poifnous Viper,

That with his teeth doth wound moft cruelly:

The Hornet and the poifonous Cockatrice,

That kills all birds by a moft flie deuice.

 

Q

 

121

 

114                A Dialogue.

 

The Afpis is a kind of deadly Snake,

He hurts moft perillous with venom'd fting,

And in purfute doth neare his foe forfake,

But flaies a Man with poyfnous venoming :

Betweene the male and female is fuch loue,

As is betwixt the moft kind Turtle doue.

 

This is the Snake that Cleopatra vfed,

The Egyptian Queene belou'd of Anthony,

That with her breafts deare bloud was nourifhed,

Making her die (faire foule) moft; patiently,

Rather than Caefars great viftorious hand,

Should triumph ore the Queene of fuch a land.

 

The Lizard is a kind of louing creature,

Efpecially to man he is a friend:

This property is giuen him by nature,

From dangerous beafts poore Man he doth defend :

For being fleepy he all fence forfaketh,

The Lizard bites him till the man awaketh.

 

The Ant or Emote is a labouring thing,

And haue amongft them all a publike weale,

In fommer time their meate they are prouiding,

And fecrets mongft themfelues they do conceale :

The monftrous huge big Beare being fickly,

Eating of thefe, is cured prefently.

 

The fruitfull prety Bee liues in the hiue,

Which unto him is like, a peopled City,

And by their daily labour there they thriue,

 

Bringing

 

A Dialogue.                  115

 

Bringing home honied waxe continually :

They are reputed ciuill, and haue kings,

And guides for to direct them in proceedings.

 

When that their Emperour or King is prefent,

They live in peacefull fort and quietneffe,

But if their officer or king be abfent,

They flie and fwarme abroad in companies :

If any happen cafuall-wife to dye,

They mourne and bury him right folemnly.

 

The Crocadile a faffron colour'd Snake,

Sometimes vpon the earth is conuerfant,

And other times liues in a filthy lake,

Being oppreffed with foule needy want:

The skin vpon his backe as hard as ftone,

Refifteth violent ftrokes of fteele or iron.

 

Rinatrix is a poyfenous enuenom'd Serpent,

That doth infeft the riuers and the fountaines,

Bringing to cattell hurt and detriment:

When thirfty they forfake the fteepy mountaines,

Rinatrix violator Aquae, and infefts the earth,

With his moft noyfome ftinking filthy breath.

 

The Scorpion hath a deadly ftinging taile,

Bewitching fome with his faire fmiling face,

But prefently with force he doth affaile

His captiu'd praie, and brings him to difgrace:

Wherefore tis cald of fome the flattering worme,

That fubtilly his foe doth ouerturne.

 

Q 2

 

116                  A Dialogue.

 

Orion made his boaft the earth fhould bring

Or yeeld no ferpent forth but he would kill it,

Where prefently the Scorpion vp did fpring,

For fo the onely powers above did will it:

Where in the peoples prefence they did fee,

Orion ftung to death moft cruelly.

 

Of Wormes are diuers forts and diuers names,

Some feeding on hard timber, fome on trees,

Some in the earth a fecret cabbine frames,

Some liue on tops of Afhes, fome on Oliues;

Some of a red watrifh-colour, fome of greene,

And fome within the night like Fire are feene.

 

The Silkeworme by whofe Webbe our Silkes are made,

For fhe doth dayly labour with her weauing,

A Worme that's rich and precious in her trade,

That whilft poore foule fhe toyleth in her fpinning,

Leaues nothing in her belly but empty aire,

And toyling too much falleth to defpaire.

 

Here liues the Caddes and the long leg'd Crane,

With whome the Pigmies are at mortall ftrife,

The Larke and Lapwing that with nets are tane,

And fo poore filly foules do end their life:

The Nightingale wrong'd by Adulterie,

The Nightcrow, Goffhawke, the chattring Pie.

 

The Pheafant, Storke, and the high towrmg Faulcon,

The Swanne that in the riuer takes delight,

The Goldfinch, Blackcbird, and the big neck'd Heron

 

A Dialogue.                  117

 

The skreeching Owle that loues the duskie night,

The Partridge, Griffon, and the liuely Peacocke,

The Linnet, Bullfinch, Snipe, and rauening Puttocke.

 

The Robin Redbreast that in Winter fings,

The Pellican, the Iay, and the chirping .Sparrow,

The little Wren that many yong ones brings,

Herein, Ibis, and the fwift.wingd Swallow :

The princely Eagle and Caladrius

The Cuckow that to fome is profperous.

 

The fnow-like colour'd bird, Caladrius,

Hath this ineftimable natural profperitie,

If any man in fickneffe dangerous,

Hopes of his health to haue recouerie,

This bird will alwayes looke with chearefull glance,

If otherwife, fad is his countenance.

 

The Crane directed by the leaders voice,.

Flies ore the feas, to countries farre unknowne,

And in the fecret night they do reioice

To make a watch among them of their owne ;

The watchman in his clawes holds faft a ftone,

Which letting fall the reft are wak'd anone.,

 

The Spring-delighting, bird we call the Cuckow,

Which comes to tell of wonders in this age,

Her prettie one note to the world doth fhow,

Some men their deftinie, and doth prefage.

The womans pleafure and the mans difgrace,

Which fhe fits finging in a fecret place.

 

Q 3

 

118                  A Dialogue.

 

The Winters enuious blaft fhe neuer tafteth,

Yet in all countries doth the Cuckoe fing,

And oftentimes to peopled townes fhe hafteth,

Ther for to tell the pleafures of the Spring:

Great Courtiers heare her voyce, but let her flye,

Knowing that fhe prefageth Deftiny.

 

This prety bird fometimes vpon the fteeple,

Sings Cuckoe, Cuckoe, to the-parifh Prieft,

Sometimes againe fhe flies amongft the people,

And on their Croffe no man can her refift,

But there fhe fings, yet tome difdaining Dames,

Do charme her hoarfe, left fhe fhould hit their names.

 

She fcornes to labour or make vp a neft,

But creepes by ftealth into fome others roome,

And with the Larkes deare yong, her yong-ones reft,

Being by fubtile dealing ouercome :

The yong birds are reftoratiue to eate,

And held amongft vs as a Princes meate.

 

The Princely Eagle of all Birds the King,

For none but fhe can gaze againft the Sunne,

Her eye-fight is fo cleare, that in her flying

She fpies the fmalleft beaft that euer runne,

As fwift as gun-fhot vfing no delay,

So fwiftly doth fhe flie to catch her pray.

 

She brings her birds being yong into the aire,

And fets them for to looke on Phoebus light,

But if their eyes with gazing chance to water,

 

Thofe

 

126

 

A Dialogue.                  119

 

Thofe fhe accounteth baftards, leaues them quight,

But thofe that haue true perfect conftant eyes,

She cherifheth, the reft fhe doth defpife.

 

The Griffon is a bird rich feathered,

His head is like a Lion, and his flight

Is like the Eagles, much for to be feared,

For why he kils men in the vgly night:

Some fay he keepes the Smaragd and the Iafper,

And in purfute of Man is monftrous eager.

 

The gentle birds called the faire Hircinie,

Taking the name of that place where they breed,

Within the night they fhine to glorioufly,

That mans aftonied fenfes they do feed :

For in the darke being caft within the way

Giues light vnto the man that goes aftray.

 

Ibis the bird flieth to Nilus flood,

And drinking of the water purgeth cleane :

Vnto the land of AEgypt he doth good,

For he to rid their Serpents is a meane;

He feedeth on their egges, and doth deftroy

The Serpents nefts that would their Clime annoy.

 

The Lapwing hath a piteous mournefull cry,

And fings a forrowfull and heauy fong,

But yet fhee’s full of craft and fubtilty,

And weepeth moft being fartheft from her yong:

In elder age fhe feru'd for Southfayers

And was a Propheteffe to the Augurers.

 

Q 4

 

112                  A Dialogue:

 

The birds of AEgypt or Memnodides,

Of Memnon that was flaine in refcuing Troy

Are faid to flie away in companies,

To Priams pallace, and there twice a day

They fight about the turrets of the dead,

And the third day in battell are confounded. 

 

The Nightingale the nights true Choriffter,

Mufickes chiefe louer in the pleafant Spring,

Tunes Hunts-vp to the Sunne that doth delight her,

And to Arions harp aloud will fing:

And as a Bridegroome that to church is comming,

So he falutes the Sunne when he is rifing.

 

The Romane Caefars, happie Emperours,

Efpecially thofe of the yongeft fort,

Haue kept the Nightingale within their towers,

To play, to dally, and to make them fport,

And oftentimes in Greeke and Latine tong,

They taught thofe birds to fing a pleafant fong.

 

This bird as Hiftories make mention,

Sung in the infant mouth of Stefichorus,

Which did foretell due commendation,

In all his actions to be profperous :

So Bees when Plato in his bed did lie,

Swarm'd round about his mouth, leauing. their, home.

 

The fluggifh, flouthfull and the daftard Owle,

Hating the day, and louing of the night,

About old fepulchers doth daily howle,

 

A Dialogue.                  121

 

Frequenting barnes and houfes without.light,

And hides him often in an Iuy tree,

Leaft with fmall chattring birds wrong’d he fhould be.

 

Faedaque fic volucris venturi nuntia luctus,

Ignauus Bubo, dirum mortalibus omen.

 

The filthy meffenger of ill to come ;

The fluggifh Owle is, and to danger fome.

 

This ill bedooming Owle, fate on the fpeare,

Of warlike Pirrhus marching to the field,

When to the Graecian armie he drew neare,

Determining to make his, foes to yeeld,

Which did forefhew finifter happineffe,

And balefull fortune in his bufineffe.

 

The Parrat cald the counterfeiting bird,

Deckt with all colours that fair Flora yeelds,

That after one will fpeake you word for word :

Liuing in wooddie groues neare fertile, fields

They haue bene knowne to giue great Emperors wine,

And therefore fome men hold them for deuine.

 

The proud fun-brauing Peacocke with his feathers,

Walkes all along, thinking himfelfe a. King,.

And with his voyce prognofticates all weathers,

Although God knowes but badly he doth fing :

But when hei lookes downe to his bafe blacke Feete,

He droopes, and is afham'd of things unmeete.

 

The mighty Macedonian Alexander,

 

 R

 

122               A Dialogue.

 

Marching in louely triumph to his foes,

Being accounted the worlds conquerour

In Indie fpies a Peacocke as he goes,

And maruelling to fee fo rich a fight,

Charg'd all men not to kill his fweete delight.

 

The Pellican the wonder of our age,

(As Ierome faith) reuiues her tender yong,

And with her pureft bloud, fhe doth affwage

Her yong ones thirft, with poifonous Adder ftong,

And thofe that were fuppofed three dayes dead.

She giues them life once more being nourifhed.

 

The vnfatiate Sparrow doth prognofticate,

And is held good for diuination,

For flying here and there, from gate to gate,

Foretels true things by animaduertion :

A flight of Sparrowes flying in the day,

Did prophetic the fall and facke of Troy.

 

The artificiall neft-compofing Swallow,

That eates his meate flying along the way,

Whofe fwiftneffe in our eyfight doth allow,

That no imperiall Bird makes her his pray:

His yong ones being hurt within the eies,

His helpes them with the herbe Calcedonies.

 

Cecinna and the great Volateran,

Being Pompeis warlike and approued knights,

Sent letters by thefe Birds without a man,

To many of their friends and chiefe delights,

 

130

 

A Dialogue.

 

And all their letters to their feete did tie,

Which with great fpeed did bring them haftily.

 

The fweete recording Swanne Apolloes ioy,

And firy fcorched Phaetons delight,

In footed verfe fings out his deep annoy,

And to the filuer riuers takes his flight,

Prognofticates to Sailers on the feas,

Fortunes profperitie and perfect eafe.

 

Cignus in aufpicijs femper laetiffimus ales,

Hoc optant nautae quia fe non mergit in vndis,

 

But what fad-mournefull drooping foule is this,

Within whofe watry eyes fits Difcontent,

Whofe fnaile-pac'd gate tels fomething is amiffe:

From whom is banifht fporting Meriment:

Whofe feathers mowt off, falling as he goes,

The perfect picture of hart pining woes ?

 

This is the carefull bird the Turtle Doue,

Whofe heauy croking note doth fhew his griefe,

And thus he wanders feeking of his loue,

Refuting all things that may yeeld reliefe:

All motions of good turnes, all Mirth and Ioy,

Are bad, fled, gone, and falne into decay.

 

Is this the true example of the Heart ?

Is this the Tutor of faire Conftancy ?

Is this Loues treafure, and Loues pining fmart ?

Is this the fubftance of all honefty ?

 

R 2

 

124                  A Dialogue.

 

And comes he thus attir'd, alas poore foule,

That Deftinies foule wrath fhould thee controule.

 

See Nourfe, he ftares and lookes me in the face,

And now he mournes, worfe then he did before,

He hath forgot his dull-flow heauy pace,

But with fwift gate he eyes vs more and more;

O fhall I welcome him, and let me borrow

Some of his griefe to mingle with my forrow.

 

Farwell faire bird, Ile leaue you both alone,

This is the Done you long'd fo much to fee,

And this will proue companion of your mone,

An Vmpire of all true' humility :

Then note my Phoenix, what there may enfue,

And fo I kiffe my bird. Adue, Adue.

 

Mother farewell; and now within his eyes,

Sits forrow clothed in a fea of teares,

And more and more the billowes do arife:

Pale Griefe halfe pin'd vpon his brow appeares,

His feathers fade away, and make him looke,

As if his name were writ in Deaths pale booke.

 

O ftay poore Turtle, whereat haft thou gazed,               Turtle

At the eye dazling Sunne, whofe fweete refleftion,

The round encompafl heauenly world amazed ?

O no, a child of Natures true complexion,

The perfect Phoenix of rariety,

For wit, for vertue and excelling beauty.

 

A Dialogue.                  125

 

Haile map of forrow : Tur. Welcome Cupids child:                    Phoenix

Let me wipe off thofe teares vpon thy cheekes,

That ftain'd thy beauties pride; and haue defil'd

Nature it felfe, that fo vfurping feekes

To fit vpon thy face, for Ile be partener

Of thy harts wrapped forrow more hereafter.

 

Natures faire darling, let me kneele to thee,                                Turtle

And offer vp my true obedience,

And facredly in all humility,

Craue pardon for prefumptions foule offence:

Thy lawne-fnow-colourd hand fhall not come neare

My impure face to wipe away one teare.

 

My teares are for my Turtle that is dead,

My forrow fprings from her want that is gone,

My heauy note founds for the foule that's fled,

And I will dye for him left all alone :

I am not liuing, though I feeme to go,

Already buried in the graue of wo.

 

Why I haue left Arabia for thy fake,

Becaufe thofe fires haue no working fubftance,

And for to find thee out did vndertake:

Where on the mountaine top we may aduance

Our fiery alter; let me tell thee this;

Salomon miferis focios habuiffe doloris.

 

Come poore lamenting foule, come fit by me,

We are all one, thy forrow fhall be mine,

Fall thou a teare, and thou fhalt plainly fee,

 

R 3

 

126                  A Dialogue.

 

Mine eyes fhall anfwer teare for teare of thine:

Sigh thou, Ile figh, and if thou giue a grone,

I fhall be dead in anfwering of thy mone.

 

Loues honorable Friend, one grone of yours,

Will rend my ficke loue pining hart afunder,

One figh brings teares from me like Aprill fhowers,

Procured by Sommers hote loud cracking thunder:

Be you as mery as fweet mirth may be,

Ile grone and figh, both for your feife and me.

 

Thou fhalt not gentle Turtle, I will beare

Haife of the burdenous yoke thou doft fuftaine,

Two bodies may with greater eafe outweare

A troublefome labour, then Ile brooke fome paine,

But tell me gentle Turtle, tell me truly

The difference betwixt falfe Loue and true Sinceritie.

 

That fhall I briefly, if youle giue me leaue,

Falfe loue is full of Enuie and Deceit,

With cunning fhifts our humours to deceiue,

Laying downe poifon for a fugred baite,

Alwayes inconftant, falfe and variable,

Delighting in fond change and mutable.

 

True loue, is louing pure, not to be broken,

But with an honeft eye, fhe eyes her louer,

Not changing variable, nor neuer fhoken

With fond Sufpition, fecrets to difcouer,

True loue will tell no lies, nor ne're diffemble,

But with a bafhfull modeft feare will tremble.

 

Falfe

 

A Dialogue.      127

 

Falfe loue puts on a Maske to fhade her folly,

True loue goes naked wifhing to be feene,

Falfe loue will counterfeite perpetually,

True loue is Troths fweete emperizing Queene:

This is the difference, true Loue is a iewell,

Faife loue, hearts tyrant, inhumane, and cruell.

 

What may we wonder at ? O where is learning ?

Where is all difference twixt the good and bad ?

Where is Apelles art ? where is true cunning ?

Nay where is all the vertue may be had ?

Within my Turtles bofome, fhe refines,

More then fome louing perfect true deuines.

 

Thou fhalt not be no more the Turtle-Doue,

Thou fhalt no more go weeping al alone,

For thou fhalt be my felfe, my perfect Loue,

Thy griefe is mine, thy forrow is my mone,

Come kiffe me fweeteft fweete, O I do bleffe

This gracious luckie Sun-fhine happineffe.

 

How may I in all gratefulneffe requite,

This gracious fauor offred to thy feruant ?

The time affordeth heauineffe not delight,

And to the times appoint weele be obferuant:

Command, O do commaund, what ere thou wilt,

My hearts bloud for thy fake fhall ftraight be-fpilt.

 

Then I command thee on thy tender care,

And chiefe obedience that thou owft to me,

That thou efpecially (deare Bird) beware

 

128                  A Dialogue.

 

Of impure thoughts, or vncleane chaftity :

For we muft waft together in that fire,

That will not burne but by true Loues defire.

 

A fpot of that foule monfter neare did ftaihe,                                          Turtle

Thefe drooping feathers, nor I neuer knew

In what bate filthy clymate doth remaine

That fpright incarnate ; and to tell you true,

I am as fpotleffe as the pufefl whight,

Cleare without ftaine, Of enuy, or defpight.

 

Then to yon next adioymng groue we’le flye;

And gather fweete wood for to make our flame,

And in a manner facrificingly,

Burne both our bodies to reuiue one name :

And in all humbleneffe we will intreate

The hot earth parching Sunne to lend his heate.

 

Why now my heart is light, this very doome

Hath banifht forrow from my penfiue breaft:

And in my bofome there is left no roome,

To fet blacke melancholy, or let him reft ;

Ile fetch fweete mirrhe to burne, and licorice,

Sweete Iuniper, and ftraw them ore with fpice.

 

Pile vp the wood, and let vs inuocate ;

His great name that doth ride within his chariot,

And guides the dayes bright eye, let's nominate

Some of his bleffings, that he well may wot,

Our faithfull feruice and humility,

Offer'd vnto his higheft Deiety

 

A Dialogue.                  129

 

Great God Apollo, for thy tender loue,

Thou once didft beare to wilful Phaeton

That did defire thy chariots rule aboue,

Which thou didft grieue in hart to thinke vpon :

Send thy hot kindling light into this wood,

That fhall receiue the Sacrifice of bloud.

 

For thy fweete Daphnes fake thy beft beloued,

And for the Harpe receiu’d of Mercury,

And for the Mufes of thee fauored,

Whofe gift of wit excels all excellency :

Send thy hot kindling fire into this wood,

That fhall receiue the Sacrifice of bloud.

 

For thy fweet fathers fake great Iupiter,

That with his thunder-bolts commands the earth,

And for Latonas fake thy gentle mother,

That firft gaue Phoebus glories liuely breath :

Send thy hot kindling light into this wood,

That fhall receiue the facrifice of bloud.

 

Stay, flay, poore Turtle, o we are betraid,

Behind yon little bufh there fits a fpy,

That makes me blufh with anger, halfe afraid,

That in our motions fecretly would pry:

I will go chide with him, and driue him thence,

And plague him for prefumptions foule oftence,

 

Be not affraid, it is the Pellican,

Looke how her yong-ones make her breft to bleed

And drawes the bloud foorth, do the beft fhe can

 

S

 

130      A Dialogue.

 

And with the fame their hungry fancies feede,

Let her alone to vew our Tragedy,

And then report our Loue that fhe did fee.

 

See beauteous Phoenix it begins to burne,

O bleffed Phoebus, happy, happy light,

Now will I recompence thy great good turne,

And firft (deare bird) Ile vanifh in thy fight,

And thou fhalt fee with what a quicke defire,

Ile leape into the middle of the fire.

 

Stay Turtle ftay, for I will firft prepare;

Of my bones muft the Princely Phoenix rife,

And ift be poffible thy bloud wele fpare,

For none but for my fake, doft thou defpife

This frailty of thy life, o liue thou ftill,

And teach the bafe deceitfull world Loues will. 

 

Haue I come hither drooping through the woods,

And left the fpringing groues to feeke for thee ?

Haue I forfooke to bathe me in the flouds,

And pin'd away in carefull mifery ?

Do not deny me Phoenix I muft be

A partner in this happy Tragedy.

 

O holy, facred, and pure perfect fire,

More pure then that ore which faire Dido mones,

More facred in my louing kind defire,

Then that which burnt old Efons aged bones,

Accept into your euer hallowed flame,

Two bodies, from the which may fpring one name. 

 

O fweet

 

Pelican,                      131

 

O fweet perfumed flame, made of thofe trees,

Vnder the which the Mufes nine haue fong

The praife of vertuous maids in mifteries,

To whom the faire fac’d Nymphes did often throng;

Accept my body as a Sacrifice

Into your flame, of whom one name may rife.

 

O wilfulneffe, fee how with fmiling cheare,

My poore deare hart hath flong himfelfe to thrall,

Looke what a mirthfull countenance he doth beare,

Spreading his wings abroad, and ioyes withall:

Learne thou corrupted world, learne, heare, and fee,

Friendfhips vnfpotted true fmcerity.

 

I come fweet Turtle, and with my bright wings,

I will embrace thy burnt bones as they lye,

I hope of thefe another Creature fprings,

That fhall poffeffe both our authority :

I ftay to long, o take me to your glory,

And thus I end the Turtle Doues true ftory. 

 

Finis.  R. C.

 

 

Pellican.

 

WHat wondrous hart-grieuing fpectacle,

Haft thou beheld the worlds true miracle ?

With what a fpirit did the Turtle flye

Into the fire, and chearfully did dye ?

He look't more pleafant in his countenance

Within the flame, then when he did aduance,

His pleafant wings vpon the naturall ground,

 

S2

 

132                     Pellican.

 

True perfect loue had to his poore heart bound,

The Phoenix Natures deare adopted child,

With a pale heauy count'nance, wan and mild,

Grieu'd for to fee him firft poffeffe the place,

That was allotted her, her felfe to grace,

And followes cheerfully her fecond turne,

And both together in that fire do burne.

O if the rareft creatures of the earth,

Becaufe but one at once did ere take breath

Within the world, fhould with a fecond he,

A perfect forme of loue and amitie

Burne both together, what fhould there arife,

And be prefented to our mortall eyes,

Out of the fire, but a more perfect creature ?

Becaufe that two in one is put by Nature,

The one hath giuen the child inchaunting beautie,

The other giues it loue and chaftitie:

The one hath giuen it wits rarietie

The other guides the wit moft charily :

The one for vertue doth excell the reft:,

The other in true conftancie is bleft

If that the Phoenix had bene feparated,

And from the gentle Turtle had bene parted,

Loue had bene murdred in the infancie,

Without thefe two no loue at all can be.

Let the loue wandring wits but learne of thefe,

To die together, to their griefe to eafe :

But louers now a dayes do loue to change,

And here and there their wanton eyes do range,

Not pleated with one choife, but feeking many,

And in the end fcarce is content with any:

 

Loue

 

Conclufion.                   133

 

Loue now adayes Is like a fhadowed fight,

That fhewes it feife in Phoebus golden light,

But if in kindneffe you do ftriue to take it,

Fades cleane away, and you muft needs forfake it.

Louers are like the leaues with Winter fhoken,

Brittle like glaffe, that with one fall is broken.

O fond corrupted age, when. birds fhall fhow

The world their dutie, and to let men know

That no finifter chaunce fhould hinder loue,

Though as thefe two did, deaths arreft they proue.

I can but mourne with fadneffe and with griefe,

Not able for to yeeld the world reliefe,

To fee thefe two continued in the fire,

Whom Loue did copulate with true defire:

But in the worlds wide eare I meane to ring

The fame of this dayes wondrous offring,

That they may fing in notes of Chaftitie,

The Turtle and the Phoenix amitie

 

 

 

 

Conclufion.

 

GEntle conceiuers of true meaning Wit,

Let good Experience iudge what I haue writ,

For the Satyricall fond applauded vaines,

Whofe bitter worme-wood fpirite in fome ftraines,

Bite like the Curres of AEgypt thofe that loue them,

Let me alone, I will be loth to moue them,

For why, when mightie men their wit do proue,

How fhall I leaft of all exped their loue ?

Yet to thofe men I gratulate fome paine,

Becaufe they touch thofe that in art do faine.

 

S3

 

134                    Cantoes.

 

But thofe that haue the fpirit to do good,

Their whips will will neuer draw one drop of bloud :

To all and all in all that view my labour,

Of euery iudging fight I craue fome fauour

At leaft: to reade, and if you reading find,

A lame leg'd ftaffe, tis lameneffe of the mind

That had no better skill: yet let it paffe,

For burdnous lodes are fet vpon an Affe.

From the fweet fire of perfumed wood,

Another princely Phoenix vpright ftood :

Whofe feathers purified did yeeld more light,

Then her late burned mother out of fight,

And in her heart reftes a perpetuall loue,

Sprong from the bofome of the Turtle-Done,

Long may the new vprifing bird increafe,

Some humors and fome motions to releafe,

And thus to all I offer my deuotion,

Hoping that gentle minds accept my motion.

 

Finis R. C.

 

 

 

 

Cantoes Alphabet-wife to faire Phoe-

nix made by the Paphian Doue.

 

A. 1.

A Hill, a hill, a Phoenix feekes a Hill;

A promontorie top, a ftately Mountaine,

A Riuer, where poore foule the dippes her bill,

And that fweete filuer ftreame is Natures fountaine,

Accomplifhing all pleafures at her will:

Ah, be my Phoenix, I will be thy Done,

And thou and I in fecrecie will loue. 

 

B.2.

 

Cantoes.                    135

 

B. 2.

Blaze not my loue, thou Herald of the day,

Bleffe not the mountaine tops with my fweet fhine,

Beloued more I am then thou canft fay,

Bleffed and bleffed be that Saint of mine,

Balme, honie fweet, and honor of this Clime :

Blotted by things vnfeene, belou'd of many,

But Loues true motion dares not giue to any,

 

C. 3.

Chaftneffe farewell, farewell the bed of Glorie,

Conftraint adew, thou art loues Enemie,

Come true Report, make of my Loue a Storie,

Caft lots for my poore heart, fo thou enioy me,

Come come fweet Phoenix, I at length do claime thee,

Chafte bird, too chafte, to hinder what is willing,

Come in mine armes and wele not fit a billing.

 

D. 4.

Deuout obedience on my knees I profer,

Delight matcht with delight, if thou do craue it,

Denie not gentle Phoenix my fweet offer,

Defpaire not in my loue, for thou fhalt haue it,

Damne not the foule to woe if thou canft faue it:

Doues pray deuoutly, O let me requeft,

Delicious loue to build within thy neft.

 

E. 5.

Enuie is banifht, do not thou defpaire,

Euill motions tempt thee fooner then the good :

Enrich thy beautie that art fam'd for faire,

Euery thing's filent to conioyne thy blood,

Efteeme the thing that cannot be withftood :

Efteeme of me, and I will lend thee fire,

 

136                    Cantoes.

 

Euen of mine owne to fit thy fweet defire.

 

F 6.

Faint harted foule, why doft thou die thy cheekes,

Fearfull of that which will reuiue thy fence,

Faith and obedience thy fweet mercy feekes,

Friends plighted war with thee I will commence,

Feare not at all, tis but fweet Loues offence,

Fit to be done, to doing tis not feene,

Fetcht from the ancient records of a Queene.

 

G 7     .

Gold beautifying Phoenix, I muft praife thee,

Graunt gracious heauens a delightfome Mufe,

Giue me old Homers fpirit, and Ile raife thee,

Gracious in thought do not my Loue refute,

Great map of beauty make thou no excufe,

Gainft my true louing fpirit do not carpe,

Grant me to play my Sonnet on thy Harpe.

 

H. 8.

Health to thy vertues, health to all thy beauty,

Honour attend thy fteps when thou art going,

High heauens force the birds to owe thee duty;

Hart-groning care to thee ftill flands a woing,

Haue pitty on him Phoenix for fo doing :

Helpe his difeafe, and cure his malady,

Hide not thy fecret glory leaft he die.

 

I. 9.

I Loue, o Loue how thou abufeft me,

I fee the fire, and warme me with the flame,

I note the errors of thy deity :

In Veftas honor, Venus lufts to tame,

I in my humors yeeld thee not a name,

 

Cantoes.                    137

 

I count thee foolifh, fie Adultrous boy,

I touch the fweete, but cannot taft the ioy.

 

K. 10.

Kiffes are true loues pledges, kiffe thy deare Turtle,

Keepe not from him the fecrets of thy youth :

Knowledge he'le teach thee vnder a greene fpred Mirtle,

Kend fhalt thou be of no man, of my truth,

Know firft the motion, when the life enfueth:

Knocke at my harts dore, I will be thy porter,

So thou wilt let me enter In thy dorter.

 

L. 11.

Loue is my great Aduotrix, at thy fhrine

Loue pleads for me, and from my tongue doth fay,

Lie where thou wilt, my hart fhall fleepe with thine,

Lamenting of thy beauty frefh as May,

Looke Phoenix to thy felfe do not decay:

Let me but water thy dead fapleffe floure,

Loue giues me hope t'will flourifh in an houre.

 

M. 12.

Make not a Iewell of nice Chaftity,

Mufter and fummon all thy wits in one,

My heart to thee fweares perfeft conftancy:

Motions of zeale are to be thought vpon,

Marke how thy time is ouerfpent, and gone,

Mif-led by folly, and a kind of feare,

Marke not thy beauty fo my deareft deare.

 

N. 13.

Note but the frefh bloom’d Rofe within her pride,

(No Rofe to be compared vnto thee)

Nothing fo foone vnto the ground will flide,

Not being gathered in her chiefeft beauty,

 

T

 

138                   Cantoes.

 

Neglecting time it dies with infamy:

Neuer be coy, left whilft thy leaues are fpred,

None gather thee, and then thy grace is dead.

 

O. 14.

O looke vpon me, and within my brow,

Officious motions of my hart appeares,

Opening the booke of Loue, wherein I vow,

Ouer thy fhrine to fhed continuall teares :

O no, I fee my Phoenix hath no Eares,

Or if fhe haue Eares, yet no Eyes to fee,

O all difgraced with continuall follie.

 

P. 15.

Proud Chaftity, why doft thou feeke to wrong

Phoenix my Loue, with leffons too precife ?

Pray thou for me, and I will make a fong,

Pend in thine honor, none fhall equalize,

Poffeffe not her, whofe beauty charmes mine eyes,

Plead, fue, and feeke, or I will banifh thee,

Her body is my Caftle and my fee.

 

Q. 16.

Queftion not Phoenix why I adore thee,

Quite captiuate and prifner at thy call,

Quit me with Loue againe, do not abhor me,

Queld downe with hope as fubiugate to thrall,

Quail'd will I neuer be defpight of all;

Quaking I ftand before thee, ftill expecting

Thine owne content, our ioyes to be effecting.

 

R. 17.

Remember how thy beauty is abufed,

Ract-on the tenter-hookes of foule difgrace,

Riuers are dry, and muft be needs refufed

 

Cantoes.                       139

 

Reftore new water in that dead founts place,

Refrefh thy feathers, beautifie thy face :

Reade on my booke, and there thou fhalt behold

Rich louing letters printed in fine gold.

 

S. 18.

Shame is afhamed to fee thee obftinate,

Smiling at thy womanifh conceipt,

Swearing that honor neuer thee begat,

Sucking in poyfon for a fugred baite,

Singing thy pride of beauty in her height:

Sit by my fide, and I will fing to thee

Sweet ditties of a new fram'd harmony.

 

T. 19.

Thou art a Turtle wanting of thy mate,

Thou crok'ft about the groues to find thy Louer,

Thou fly'ft to woods, and fertile plaines doft hate :

Thou in obliuion doft true vertue fmother,

To thy fweete felfe thou canft not find another:

Turn vp my bofome, and in my pure hart,

Thou fhalt behold the Turtle of thy fmart.

 

V. 20.

Vpon a day I fought to fcale a Fort,

Vnited with a Tower of fure defence ;

Vncomfortable trees did marre my fport,

Vnlucky Fortune with my woes expence,

Venus with Mars would not fweet war commence,

Vpon an Alter would I offer Loue,

And Sacrifice my foule poore Turtle Doue.

 

                                                                                            W. 21.

Weepe not my Phoenix, though I daily weepe,

Woe is the Herald that declares my tale,

 

T 2

 

140                    Cantoes.

 

Worthy thou art in Venus lap to fleepe.

Wantonly couered with God Cupids vale,

With which he doth all mortall fence exhale:

Wafh not thy cheekes, vnleffe I fit by thee,

To dry them with my fighes immediatly.

 

X. 22.

Xantha faire Nimph ; refemble not in Nature,

Xantippe Loue to patient Socrates,

Xantha my Loue is a more milder creature,

And of a Nature better for to pleafe :

Xantippe thought her true loue to difeafe,

But my rare Phoenix is at laft well pleaf'd,

To cure my paffions, paffions feldom eaf'd.

 

Y. 23.

Yf thou haue pitty, pitty my complaining,

Yt is a badge of Vertue in thy fexe,

Yf thou do kill me with thy coy difdaining,

Yt will at length thy felfe-will anguifh vexe,

And with continuall fighes thy felfe perplexe :

Ile helpe to bring thee wood to make thy fire,

If thou wilt giue me kiffes for my hire.

 

Z. 24.

Zenobia at thy feete I bend my knee,

For thou art Queene and Empreffe of my hart,

All bleffed hap and true felicity,

All pleafures that the wide world may impart,

Befall thee for thy gracious good defart:

Accept my meaning as it fits my turne,

For I with thee to afhes meane to burne.

                                               

                                                                                                Finis.

 

141

 

 

Cantoes Verbally written.

 

1.

Pittie me that dies for thee.

Pittie                           PIttie my plainings thou true nurfe of pittie,

me                               Me hath thy piercing lookes enioynd to fighing,

that                  That cannot be redreffed, for thy beautie

dies                  Dies my fad heart, fad heart that's drown'd with weeping :

for                               For what fo ere I thinke, or what I doe,

thee                             Thee with mine eyes, my thoughts, my heart, I woe.

2.

My life you. faue, if you I haue.

My                   My eyes, my hand, my heart feeke to maintaine

life                   Life for thy loue, therefore be gracious,

you                  You with your kindneffe haue my true heart flame,

faue                 Saue my poore life, and be not tyrannous,

if                      If any grace do in thy breaft remaine,

you                  You women haue bene counted amorous ;

I                                   I pine in fadneffe, all proceeds from thee,

haue                            Haue me in liking through thy clemencie.

3.

Do thou by me, as I by thee.

Do                   Do not exchange thy loue, left in exchanging,

thou                 Thou beare the burd'nous blot of foule difgrace,

by                    By that bad fault are many faults containing,

me                   Me frill affuring nothing is fo bafe,

as                     As in the worlds eye alwayes to be ranging:

I                       I fweare fweete Phoenix in this holy cafe,

by                                By all the facred reliques of true loue,

 

T3

 

142

 

Cantoes.

 

thee                 Thee to adore whom I ftill conftant proue.

 

4.

Vontfafe to thinke how 1 do pine,

In louing thee that art not mine.

Voutfafe          Voutfafe with fplendor of thy gracious looke,

to                     To grace my paffons, paffions ftill increafing:

thinke              Thinke with thy feife how I thy abfence brooke,

how                 How day by day, my plaints are neuer ceafmg,

I                       I haue for thee all companies forfooke ;

do                                Do thou reioyce, and in reioycing fay,

pine                             Pine nere fo much Ile take thy griefe away.

 

In                     In that great gracing word fhalt thou be counted

louing              Louing to him, that is thy true fworne louer,

thee                 Thee on the ftage of honor haue I mounted,

that                  That no bate miftie cloud fhall euer couer :

art                   Art thou not faire ? thy beautie do not fmother;

not                               Not in thy flouring youth, but ftill fuppofe

mine.                           Mine owne to be, my neuer dying Rote.

 

5.

My deftinie to thee is knowne.

Cure thou my fmart, I am thine owne.

My                   My time in loues blind idleneffe is fpent, 

deftinie                        Deftinie and Fates do will it fo, 

to                     To Circes charming tongue mine eare I lent,

thee                 Thee louing that doft with my ouerthrow:

is                                  Is not this world wrapt in inconftancie, 

knowne.                       Knowne to moft men as hels miferie ?

 

 

Cure                Cure of my wound is paft all Phifickes skill,

thou                 Thou maift be gracious, at thy very looke

 

Cantoes.                    143

 

my                   My wounds will clofe, that would my bodie kill,

fmart               Smart will be eafie that could no plaifters brooke ;

I                       I of my Phosnix being quite forfooke,

am                   Am like a man that nothing can fulfill:

thine                Thine euer-piercing eye of force will make me,

owne                Owne heart, owne loue, that neuer will forfake thee.

 

6.

Ore my heart your eyes do idolatrize

Ore                  Ore the wide world my loue-layes Ile be fending.

my                    My loue-layes in my Loues praife alwayes written,

heart                Heart comfortable motions ftill attending,

your                 Your beautie and your vertuous zeale commending,

eyes                 Eyes that no frofts-cold-rage hath euer bitten :

do                                Do you then thinke that I in Loues hot fire,

idola-                           Idolatrize and furphet in defire.

trize

 

7.

I had rather loue though in vaine that face,

Then haue of any other grace.

I                       I being forc'd to carrie Venus fhield,

had                  Had rather beare a Phoenix for my creft,

rather              Rather then any bird within the field,

loue                 Loue tells me that her beautie is the beft :

though                         Though fome defire faire Veftas Turtle-doue

in                                 In my Birds bofome refteth perfefl loue. 

 

Vaine               Vaine is that blind vnskilfull herauldrie,

that                  That will not caufe my bird that is fo rare,

face                 Face all the world for her rarietie,

then                 Then who with her for honor may compare ?

haue                            Haue we one like her for her pride of beautie,

of                                 Of all the feathered Quier in the aire ? 

 

144                   Cantoes.

 

any                  Any but unto her do owe their dutie :

other                            Other may blaze, but I will alwaies fay,

 grace.                         Grace whom thou lift, fhe beares the palme away.

 

8.

What euer fall, I am at call.

What                What thunder ftormes of enuie fhall arife,

euer                 Euer to thee my heart is durable,

fall,                  Fall fortunes wheele on me to tyrrannize,

I                       I will be alwayes found inexorable :

am                   Am I not then to thee moft ftable ?

at                                 At morne, midnight, and at mid-dayes funne,

call.                             Call when thou wilt, my deare, to thee Ile runne.

 

9.

I had rather loue though in vaine that face,

Then haue of any other grace.

I                       I now do wifh my loue fhould be releiued,

had                  Had I my thoughts in compaffe of my will,

rather              Rather than liue and furfeit being grieued,

loue                 Loue in my breaft doth wondrous things fulfill,

though             Though loues vnkindneffe many men do kill,

in                                 In her I truft, that is my true fworne louer,

vaine                           Vaine he doth write that doth her vertues fmother.

 

that                  That fhe is faire, Nature her felfe alloweth,

face,                Face full of beauty, eyes refembling fire,

then                 Then my pure hart to loue thy hart ftill voweth,

haue                Haue me in fauour for my good defire,

of                     Of holy loue, Loues Temple to afpire ;

any                  Any but thee my thoughts will nere require,

other                            Other fweet motions now I will conceale

grace.                          Grace thefe rude lines that my hearts thoughts reueale. 

 

10. Dif-

Cantoes.                    145

 

10.

Difgrace not me, in louing. thee.

Difgrace          Difgrace be banifht from thy heauenly brow,

not                   Not entertained of thy piercing eie,

me                   Me thy fweete lippes, a fweet touch will allow,

in                     In thy faire bofome would I alwayes lie,

louing                          Louing in fuch a downe-bed to be placed,

thee.                            Thee for to pleafe, my feife for euer graced.

 

11.

I had rather loue though in vaine that face,

Then haue of any other grace.

I                       I liue enricht with gifts of great content,

had                  Had my defires the guerdon of good will,

rather              Rather then tafte of Fortunes fickle bent,

loue                 Loue bids me die, and fcorne her witleffe skill,

though             Though Loue command, Defpaire doth ftil attend,

in                     In hazard proues oft times but doubtfull end.

vaine               Vaine is the loue encountred with denayes,

that                  That yeelds but griefe, where grace fhould rather grow,

face,                Face full of furie, voide of curteous praife :

then                 Then fince all loue confifts of weale and woe,

haue                Haue ftill in mind, that loue deferues the beft,

of                     Of hearts the touchftone, inward motions louing,

any                  Any that yeelds the fruite of true-loues reft,

other                Other I loue vnworthie of commending,

grace.              Grac'd with bare beautie, beautie moft offending.

 

12.

My felfe and mine, are alwayes thine.

My                   My care to haue my blooming Rofe not wither,

felfe                 Selfe-louing Enuie fhall it not denie,

and                  And that bafe weed thy growth doth feeke to hinder,

 

V

 

146                   Cantoes.

 

mine                Mine hands fhall pull him vp immediatly,

are                   Are they not curious monfters in thine eie,

alwayes                       Alwayes with vaine occafions to inclofe

thine.                           Thine euer growing beautie, like the Rofe ?

 

13.

The darting of your eyes may heale or wound,

Let not empiring lookes my heart confound.

The                  The ey-bals in your head are Cupids fire,

darting                        Darting fuch hot fparkles at my breft,

of                     Of force I am enthrald, and do defire

your                 Your gracious loue, to make me happie bleft:

eies                  Eyes, lippes, and tongue haue caufed my vnreft,

may                 May I vnto the height of grace afpire,

heale                Heale my ficke heart with loues great griefe oppreft,

or                                 Or if to fire thou wilt not yeeld fuch fuell, 

wound,                                   Wound me to death, and fo be counted cruell.

 

Let                   Let the wide ope-mouth'd world flaunder the guiltie, 

not                   Not my dead Phoenix, that doth fcorne fuch fhame, 

empiring          Empiring honor blots fuch infamie,

lookes              Lookes dart away the blemifh of that name;

my                   My thoughts prognofticate thy Ladies pittie ;

heart                Hearts-eafe to thee, this counfell will I giue,

confound.        Confound thy foes, but let true louers liue.

 

14.

You are my ioy, be not fo coy.

You                  You beft belou’d, you honor of delight,

are                   Are the bright fhining Starre that I adore,

my                   My eyes like Watchmen gaze within the night,

 

Cantoes.                    147

 

ioy,                  Ioy fils my heart when you do fhine before,

be not              Be not difgrafiue to thy friend therefore:

too                               Too glorious are thy lookes to entertaine

coy.                              Coy thoughts, fell peeuifh deeds, our bafe difdaine.

 

15.

For you I die, being abfent from mine eye.

For                  For all the holy rites that Venus vfeth,

you                  You I coniure to true obedience :

I                       I offer faith, which no kind hart refufeth,

die                   Die periur'd Enuie for thy late offence,

being               Being enamored of rich Beauties pride,

abfent              Abfent, I freeze in Winters pining cold,

from                From thee I fit, as if thou hadft denide,

my                   My loue-ficke paffions twentie times retold :

eye.                              Eye-dazling Miftris, with a looke of pittie,

Grace my fad Song, and my hearts pining Dittie.

 

16.

Send me your heart, to eafe my fmart.

Send                Send but a glaunce of amours from thine eie,

me                   Me will it rauifh with exceeding pleafure,

your                 Your eye-bals do enwrap my deftinie,

heart                Heart ficke with forrow, forrow out of meafure,

to                     To thinke vpon my loues continuall folly :

eafe                 Eafe thou my paine from pitties'golden treafure ;

my                               My griefe proceeds from thee, and I fuppofe

fmart                           Smart of my fmart will my lifes bloud inclofe.

 

17.

Seeing you haue mine, let me haue thine.

Seeing              Seeing my paffions are to penetrable,

you                  You of all other fhould be pittifull,

haue                Haue mind of me, and you'le be fauourable,

 

V 2

 

148                  Cantoes.                      

 

Mine                Mine hart doth tell me you are mercifull,

let                    Let my harts loue be alwayes violable,

me                   Me haue you found in all things dutifull,

haue                            Haue me in fauour, and thy felfe fhalt fee,

thine.                           Thine and none others, will I all wayes be.

 

18.

Within thy brest, my hart doth reft.

Within              Within the circuit of a Chriftall fpheare,

thy                   Thy eyes are plaft, and vnderneath thofe eyes,

brest,               Breft of hard flint, cares that do fcorne to heare

my                   My dayes fad gronings, and night waking cries,

hart                 Hart fore ficke paflions, and Loues agonies,

doth                             Doth it become thy beauty ? no, a ftaine

reft.                             Refts on thy bright brow wrinckled with difdaine.

 

19.

O let me heare, from thee my deare.

O                     O tongue thou haft blafphem'd thy holy Goddeffe,

let                    Let me do penance for offending thee,

me                   Me do thou blame for my forgetfulneffe:

heare,              Heare my fubmiffion, thou wilt fuccor me:

from                From thy harts clofet commeth gentleneffe:

thee                 Thee hath the world admir'd for clemency,

my                               My hart is forrie, and Ile bite my tongue,

deare.                          Deare that to thee, to thee I offred wrong.

 

20.

My Phoenix rare, is all my care.

My                   My life, my hart, my thoughts, I dedicate,

Phoenix           Phoenix to thee, Phoenix of all beauty,

rare                 Rare things in hart of thee I meditate,

is                      Is it not time, I come to fhew my duty ?

all                    All fauors vnto thee I confecrate,

 

Cantoes.                       149

 

my                   My goods, my lands, my felfe, and all is thine

care.                Care thofe that lift, fo thou faire bird be mine

 

21.

I would I might, be thy delight.

I                       I widi for things, would they might take effect

would              Would they might end, and we enioy our pleasure

I                       I vow I would not proffred time neglect,

might,              Might I but gather fuch vnlook't for treafure,

be                    Be all things enuious I would the refpect,

thy                               Thy fauours in my hart I do enroule,

delight.                       Delight matcht with delight, doth me controule.

 

22.

If I you haue, none elfe I craue.

If                      If adoration euer were created,

I                       I am a Maifter of that holy Art,

you                  You my aduotrix, whom I haue admired,

haue,               Haue of my true deuotion bore a part :

none                None but your feife may here be nominated,

elfe                  Elfe would my tongue my true obedience thwart:

I                                   I cannot flatter, Loue will not allow it,

craue.                          Craue thou my hart, on thee I will beftow it.

 

23.

Be you to me, as I to thee.

Be                    Bee the poore Bee, fucke hony from the flower

you                  You have a fpacious odoriferous field,

to                     To taft all moyfture, where in fweet Floras bower

me,                  Me fhall you find fubmiffiuely to yeeld,

as                     As a poore Captiue looking for the hower;

I                       I may haue gracious lookes, eife am I kild,

to                                 To dye by you were life, and yet thy fhame.

thee.                            Thee would the wide world hate, my folly blame

 

V3

 

150                   Cantoes.

 

24.

You are the firft in whom I truft.

You                  You in your bofome hauing plac'd a light,

are                   Are the chiefe admirall vnto my Fleet,

the                   The Lanthorne for to guide me in the night,

firft,                 Firft to the fhore, where I may fet my feet

in                     In fafegard, void of Dangers cruell fpight,

whom              Whom in difgrace Loue and fel Enuie meet,

I                                   I mufter vp my fpirits, and they flie ;

truft.                            Truft of thy faith controules mine enemie. 

 

25.

You are the laft my loue fhall tafte.

You                  You ftanding on the tower of hope and feare,

are                   Are timerous of felfe-will foolifhneffe,

the                   The onely Viper that doth loue-laies teare,

laft,                  Laft can it not, tis womans peeuifhneffe,

my                   My kind affections can it not forbeare,

loue                 Loue tells me that tis bred in idleneffe,

fhall                             Shall fuch occafion hinder thee or me ?

tafte.                            Tafte firft the fruit, and then commend the tree.

 

26.

If you I had, I fhould be glad.

If                      If the Sunne fhine, the harueft man is glad,

you                  You are my Sunne, my dayes delightfome Queene,

I                       I am your harueft laborer almoft mad,

had,                 Had I not my glorious commet feene,

I                       I wifh that I might fit within thy fhade,

fhould             Should I be welcome ere thy beautie fade:

be                                            Be not Narciffus, but be alwaies kind,

glad.                            Glad to obtain the thing thou neare couldft find. 

 

27.                   

 

Cantoes.                151

 

Though place be far, my heart is nar.

Though            Though thou my Doue from me be feparated,

place               Place, nor the diftance fhall not hinder me,

be                    Be conftant for a while, thou maift be thwarted,

far,                  Far am I not, Ile come to fuccour thee.

my                   My heart and thine, my fweet fhall nere be parted,

heart                Heart made of loue, and true fimplicitie :

is                                  Is not Loue lawleffe, full of powerfull might,

nar.                              Nar to my heart that ftill with Loue doth fight

 

28.

My thoughts are dead, caufe thou art fped.

My                   My inward Mufe can fing of nought but Loue,

thoughts          Thoughts are his Heralds, flying to my breaft

are                   Are entertained, if they thence remoue,

dead,               Dead fhall their matter be, and in vnreft:

caufe                           Caufe all the world thy hatred to reproue,

thou                 Thou art that All-in-all that I loue beft :

art                                           Art thou then cruell ? no thou canft not be

fped.                            Sped with fo foule a fiend as Crueltie.

 

29.

I fend my heart to thee, where gladly I would be.

I                       I of all other am faire Venus thrall,

fend                 Send me but pleafant glances of thine eie,

my                   My foule will leape with ioy and dance withall,

heart                Heart of my heart, and foules felicitie :

to                                 To beauties Queene my heart is fanctified,

thee.                            Thee aboue all things haue I deified.

 

Where              Where is Affections ? fled to Enuies caue ?

gladly              Gladlie my Thoughts would beare her companie,

I                       I from foule bondage will my Phoenix faue, 

 

152                   Cantoes.

 

would              Would the in loue requite my courtefie,

be.                               Be louing as thou art faire, elfe fhall I fing,

Thy beautie a poifnous bitter thing. 

 

30.

If yon me iuft haue knowne,

Then take me for your owne.

If                      If you be faire, why fhould you be vnkihd ?

you,                 You haue no perfect reafon for the fame,

me                   Me thinkes it were your glorie for to find

iuft                   Iuft meafure at my hands, but you to blame

haue                            Haue from the deepeft clofet of your heart,

known,                        Knowne my pure thoughts, and yet I pine in fmart.  

 

Then                Then in the deepeft meafure of pure loue,

take                 Take pittie on the fad ficke pining foule,

me                   Me may you count your vnknowne Turtle-Doue,

for                   For in my bofomes chamber, I enroule

your                             Your deepe loue-darting eie, and ftill will be

owne.     .                     Owne of your owne, defpight extremitie. 

 

31.

My heart I fend, to be your friend.

My                   My deare foules comfort, and my hopes true folace,

heart                Heart of my heart, and my liues fecret ioy,

I                       I in conceit do thy fweete felfe embrace,

fend,                Send cloudie exhalations cleane away

to                     To the blind miftie North, there for to ftay:

be                    Be thou my arbour, and my dwelling place,

your                             Your armes the circling folds that fhall enclofe me,

friend.                          Friend me with this, and thou fhalt neuer lofe me.

 

32.

I haue no loue, but you my doue.

 

Cantoes.                    153

 

I                       I pine in fadneffe, and in fad fongs finging

haue                Haue fpent my time, my ditties harfh and ill,

no                    No fight but thy faire fight would I be feeing:

loue                 Loue in my bofome keepes his caftle ftill,

but                   But being diffeuered I fit alwayes pining,

you                  You do procure me. Niobes cup to fill,

my                              My dutie yet remembred I dare proue,

doue.                           Doues haue no power for to exchange their Loue. 

 

34.

I will not change, though fome be strange.

I                       I cannot ftir one foote from Venus gate,

will                  Will you come fit, and beare me company ?

not                   Not one but you can make me fortunate:

change             Change when thou wilt, it is but cruelty,

though             Though vnto women it is giuen by fate,

fome                Some gentle minds thefe ranging thoughts do hate:

be                                            Be thou of that mind, elfe I will conclude,

frange.                         Strange haft thou alter'd Loue, to be to rude.

 

Thoughts keepe me waking.

Thoughts         Thoughts like the ayrie puffing of the wind,

keepe               Keepe a fweet faining in my Loue-ficke breft,

me                   Me ftill alluring that thou art moft kind,

waking.           Waking in pleafure, fleeping fure in reft:

That no fleepes dreamings, nor no waking cries,

To our fweet louing thoughts, fweet reft denies. 

 

Seeing that my heart made choife of thee, Then frame thy felfe to comfort me.

Seeing              Seeing Loue is pleafd with Loues enamor'd ioyes,

that                  That Fortune cannot croffe fweet Cupids will,

 

X

 

154                              Cantoes.

 

my                   My Loues content, not with fond wanton toyes:

heart                Hart of my hart doth Loues vnkindneffe kill,

made               Made by fond tongues vpbraiding hurtfull skill:

choife              Choife now is fram'd to further all annoyes:

of                                 Of all fweete thoughts, of all fweete happie reft,

thee,                            Thee have I chofe, to make me three times bleft. 

 

Then                Then let our holy true afpiring loue,

frame               Frame vs the fweeteft muficke of Defire :

thy                   Thy words fhall make true concord, and remoue

felfe                 Selfe-will it felfe, for Venus doth require

to                     To be acquainted with thy beauties fire :

comfort                       Comfort my heart; for comfort tels me this,

me.                              Me haft thou chofe of all to be thy bliffe. 

 

My heart is bound to fauour thee,
            Then yeeld in time to pittie me.

My                   My Phoenix hath two ftarre-refembling Eyes,

heart                Heart full of pittie, and her fmiling looke,

is                      Is of the Sunnes complexion, and replies,

bound              Bound for performance by faire Venus booke

to                     To faithfulneffe, which from her nurfe fhe tooke :

fauour                         Fauour in her doth fpring, in vertuous praife,

thee,                            Thee Eloquence it felfe fhall feeke to raife. 

 

Then                Then in performance of this gracious right,

yeeld                Yeeld vp that piteous heart to be my Louer,

in                     In recompence how I haue lou'd thy fight,

time                 Time fhall from time to time to thee difcouer ;

to                     To thee is giuen the power of Cupids might,

pittie                            Pittie is writ in gold vpon thy hart,

 

Cantoes.                    155

 

me.                              Me promifing to cure a cureleffe fmart

 

I ioy to find a conftant mind.

I                       I am encompaft round about with ioy,

ioy                   Ioy to enioy my fweete, for fhe protefteth

to                     To comfort me that languifh in annoy,

find                  Find eafe if any forrow me molefteth,

a                      A happie man that fuch a loue poffeffeth:

conftant                       Conftant in words, and alwayes vowes to loue me,

mind.                           Mind me fhe will, but yet the dares not proue me.

 

My heart by hope doth liue,

Defire no ioy doth giue.

My                   My loue and deareft life to thee I confecrate,

heart                Heart of my hearts deare treafure, for I ftriue

by                    By thy deuineneffe too deuine to nominate,

hope                Hope of approued faith in me muft thriue :

doth                             Doth not the God of Loue that's moft deuine,

liue.                             Liue in thy bofomes clofet and in mine ?

 

Defire              Defire to that vnfpeakable delight,

no                    No fharpe conceited wit can nere fet downe,

ioy                   Ioy in the world to worldly mens ey-fight,

doth                 Doth but ignoble thy imperiall crowne :

giue.                            Giue thou the onfet and the foe will flie,

Amazed at thy great commanding beautie. 

 

Death fhall take my life away,

Before my friendfhip fhall decay.

Death              Death that heart-wounding Lord, fweet louers foe,

fhall                 Shall lay his Ebone darts at thy faire feete,

 

X 2

 

156                    Cantoes.

 

Take                Take them into thy hand and worke my woe,

my                   My woe that thy minds anguifh will regreet:

life                               Life, hart, toy, greeting and all my pleafure,

away.                           Away are gone and fled from my deare treafure.

 

Before              Before one ftaine fhal blot thy fcarlet die,

my                   My bloud fhall like a fountaine wafh the place,

friendfhip        Friendfhip it felfe knit with mortality,

fhall                 Shall thy immortal blemifh quite difgrace :

decay.      .                   Decay fhall all the world, my Loue in thee

Shall liue vnftain'd vntoucht perpetually.  

 

Let truth report what hart I beare,

To her that is my deareft deare.

Let                   Let not foule pale-fac'd Enuy be my foe,

truth                Truth muft declare my fpotleffe loyalty,

report              Report vnto the world fhall plainely fhow

what                What hart deare Loue I alwayes bore to thee,

heart                Hart fram'd of perfect Loues fincerity :

I                                   I cannot flatter, this I plainely fay,

beare,                          Beare with falfe words, ile beare the blame away.

 

To                    To change in loue is a bafe fimple thing,

her                   Her name will be oreftain'd with penury,

that                  That doth delight in nothing but diffembling ?

is                      Is it not fhame fo for to wrong faire beauty,

my                   My true approued toung muft anfwer I

deareft                         Deareft beware of this, and learne of me,

deare.                          Deare is that Loue combin'd with Chaftity.

 

Seene hath the eye, chofen hath the hart.

 

Cantoes.                    157

 

Firme is the faith, and loth to depart.

Seene               Seene in all learned arts is my beloued,

hath                 Hath anie one fo faire a Loue as I ?

the                   The ftony-hearted fauage hath fhe moued,

eie,                   Eye for her eye tempts blufhing chaftitie,

chofen                         Chofen to make their nine a perfect ten,

hath                             Hath the fweet Mufes honored her agen. 

 

The                  The bright-ey'd wandring world doth alwaies feeke,

heart.               Heart-curing comfort doth proceed from thee,

firme                Firme truft, pure thoughts, a mind that's alwayes meeke,

is                      Is the true Badge of my loues Soueraigntie :

the                               The honor of our age, the onely faire,

faith,                            Faiths miftris, and Truths deare adopted heire.

 

And                  And thofe that do behold thy heauenly beautie,

loth                  Loth to forfake thee, fpoile themfelues with gazing,

to                     To thee all humane knees proffer their dutie,

depart.             Depart they will not but with fad amazing:

To dimme their ey-fight looking gainft the funne,

Whofe hot reflecting beames will neare be donne.

 

No woe fo great in loue, not being heard

No plague fo great in loue, being long deferd.

No                   No tongue can tell the world my hearts deepe anguifh,

woe                  Woe, and the minds great perturbation

fo                     So trouble me, that day and night I languifh,

great                Great cares in loue feeke my deftruction :

in                                 In all things gracious, fauing onely this,

loue.                            Loue is my foe, that I account my bliffe.

 

X 3

 

158                    Cantoes.

 

Not                  Not all the world could profer me difgrace,

being               Being maintained faireft faire by thee,

hard,                Hard-fortune fhall thy feruant nere outface,

no                    No ftormes of Difcord fhould difcomfort me :

plague                         Plague all the world with frownes my Turtle-Doue

fo                                 So that thou fmile on me and be my loue.

 

great                Great Miftris, matchleffe in thy foueraigntie,

in                     In lue and recompence of my affection,

loue                 Loue me againe, this do I beg of thee,

being               Being bound by Cupids kind direction:

long                             Long haue I fu'd for grace, yet ftil I find,

deferd.                         Deferd I am by her that's moft vnkind.

           

And if my loue fhall be releeu'd by thee,
My heart is thine, and fo account of me.

And                  And yet a ftedfaft hope maintaines my hart,
if                      If anie fauour fauourably proceede
my                   My deare from thee, the curer of my fmart,
loue                 Loue that eafeth minds oppreft with neede,
fhal be                         Shall be the true Phifition of my griefe,
releeu’d                       Releeu'd alone by thee that yeeld'ft reliefe.

 

by                    By all the holy rites that Loue adoreth,

thee,                Thee haue I lou'd aboue the loue of any,

My                   My heart in truth thee alwayes fauoureth,

heart                Heart freed from any one, then freed from many:

is                                  Is it not bafe to change ? yea fo they fay,

thine                            Thine owne confeffion loue denies delay.

 

and                  And by the high imperiall feate of loue,

fo                     So am I forc'd by Cupid for to fweare,

account           Account I muft of thee my Turtle-doue,

 

Cantoes.                159

 

of                     Of thee that Times long memorie fhall outweare;

me.                              Me by thy ftedfaft truth and faith denying,

To promife any hope on thee relying.

 

My paffions are a hell and death to me,

Vnleffe you feele remorce and pitie me.

My                   My fweeteft thoughts fweet loue to thee I fend,

paffions           Paffions deeply ingrafted, vnremouable

are                   Are my affections, and I muft commend

a                      A ftedfaft truft in thee moft admirable :

hell                              Hell round enwraps my bodie by difdaine,

and                              And then a heauen if thou loue againe.

 

death               Death haunts me at the heeles, yet is affraid,

to                     To touch my bofome, knowing thou lou'ft me,

me.                  Me fometimes terrifying by him betraid,

vnleffe                         Vnleffe fweete helpfull fuccour come from thee:

you                              You well I know, the honor of mine eie,

feele                             Feele fome remorcefull helpe in miferie.

 

remorce           Remorce fits on thy brow triumphantly,

and                  And fmiles vpon my face with gentle cheere;

pittie                Pittie, loues gracious mother dwels in thee,

me.                  Me fauouring, abandoning bafe feare,

Death is amazed, viewing of thy beautie,

Thinking thy felfe perfect eternitie. 

 

My purest loue doth none but thee adore,

My heartie thoughts are thine, I loue no more.

My                   My comfortable fweete approued Miftris,

pureft              Pureft of all the pure that nature framed,

loue                 Loue in the height of all our happineffe,

 

160                   Cantoes.

 

Doth                Doth tell me that thy vertues are not named :

none                            None can giue forth thy conftancie approued,

but                               But I that tride thy faith, my beft beloued.

 

Thee                Thee in the temple of faire Venus fhrine

adore,              Adore I muft, and kneele vpon my knee,

my                   My fortunes tell me plaine that thou art mine,

heartie             Heartie in kindneffe, yeelding vnto me:

thoughts                      Thoughts the much-great difturbers of our reft

are                               Are fled, and lodge in fome vnquiet breft.

 

Thine               Thine euer vnremou'd and ftill kept word,

I                       I pondred oftentimes within my mind:

loue                 Loue told me that thou neuer wouldft afford, 

none                None other grace but that which I did find,

more                            More comfortable did this found in mine eare,

Then fweet releafement to a man in feare.

 

I do refolue to loue no loue but thee,

Therefore be kind, and fauour none but me.

I                       I fometime fitting by my felfe alone,

do                    Do meditate of things that are enfuing,

refolue             Refolue I do that thou muft end my mone,

to                     To ftrengthen Loue if loue fhould be declining.

loue                             Loue in thy bofome dwels, and tells me ftill,

no                                No enu ious ftormes fhall thwart affections will.

 

Loue                Loue hath amaz'd the world, plac'd in thy brow,

but                   But yet flauifh difdaine feekes for to croffe       

thee                 Thee and my felfe, that haue combin'd our vow,

therefore         Therefore that monfter cannot worke our loffe :

 

Cantoes.                   161

 

be                                            Be all the winds of Anger bent to rage,

kind.                            Kind fhalt thou find me, thus my hart I gage.

 

and                  And from my faith that's vnremoueable,

favour                         Fauour be feated in thy maiden eie,

none                None can receiue it loue more acceptable

but                   But I my felfe, waiting thy pittying mercie :

me.                              Me haft thou made the fubftance of delight,

By thy faire funne-refembling heauenly fight.

 

Ah quoth fhe, but where is true Loue?

Where quoth he? where you and I loue.

I quoth fhe, were thine like my loue.

Why quoth he, as you loue I loue.

Ah                    Ah thou imperious high commaunding Lord,

quoth               (Quoth he) to Cupid gentle god of Loue,

[f] he                He that I honor moft will not accord,

but                   But ftriues againft thy iuftice from aboue,

where              Where I haue promift faith, my plighted word

is                      Is quite refuted with a bafe reproue :

true                              True louing honour this I onely will thee,

loue?                            Loue thy true loue, or elfe falfe loue will kill me.

 

Where              Where fhall I find a heart that's free from guile ?

quoth               Quoth Faithfulnefle, within my louers breft.

he                    He at thefe pleafing words began to fmile,

where              Where Anguifh wrapt his thoughts in much vnreft;

you                  You did with pretie tales the time beguile,

and                  And made him in conceited pleafure bleft,

I                                   I grac'd the words fpoke with to fweet a tong,

loue,                            Loue being the holy burden of your fong.  

 

Y

 

162                    Cantoes.

 

I                       I grac'd your fong of Loue, but by the way,

quoth               (Quoth true Experience,) fit and you fhall fee,

fhe                   She will enchaunt you with her heauenly lay :

were                Were you fram'd all of heauenly Pollicie,

thine                Thine eares fhould drinke the poifon of Delay,

like                  Like as I faid, fo did it proue to be,

my                               My Miftris beautie grac'd my Miftris fong,

loue.                            Loue pleaf'd more with her Eyes than with her Tong. 

 

Why                 Why then in deepeneffe of fweete Loues delight,

quoth               Quoth fhe, the perfect Miftris of Defire,

he                    He that I honor moft bard from my fight,

as                     As a bright Lampe kindles Affections fire:

you                  You Magicke operations worke your fpight,

loue                 Loue to the mountaine top of will afpires:

I                       I chalenge all in all, and this I fing,

loue.                            Loue is a holy Saint, a Lord, a King.

 

Ah Loue, where is thy faith in fweete loue?

Why loue where hearts conioyne in true loue:

Why then my heart hopes of thy Loues loue,

Elfe let my heart be plagu'd with falfe loue.

 

Why art thou ftrange to me my Deare?

Not ftrange when as I loue my deare:

But thou. Efteem’ft not of thy deare.

Yes when I know my deareft deare.

 

Why is my Loue of falfe to me?

My loue is thine if thou lou’ft me:

Thee I loue, elfe none contents me.

 

Cantoes.                       163

 

If thou lou’ft me, it not repents me.

 

Ah quoth he, wher's faith in fweete loue?

Why quoth fhe, conioynd in true loue.

Ah quoth he, I hope of thy loue:

Elfe quoth fhe, Ile die a falfe loue.

 

Ah my Deare, why dost thou kill me?

No my deare, Loue doth not will me,

Then in thine armes thou fhalt enfould me.

I, my deare, there thou fhalt hold me :

And holding me betweene thine armes,

I fhall embrace fweete Louers Charmes.

 

 

Though death from life my bodie part,

Yet neare the leffe keepe thou my hart.

 

Though            Though fome men are inconftant, fond, and fickle,

death               Deaths afhie countenance fhall not alter me :

from                From glaffe they take their fubftance being brittle,

life                   Life, Heart, and Hand fhall awaies fauour thee,

my                   My Pen fhall write thy vertues regiftrie,

bodie                           Bodie conioyn'd with bodie, free from ftrife,

part.                            Part not in funder till we part our life.

 

Yet                   Yet my foules life to my deare lifes concluding,

nere                 Nere let Abfurditie that  villaine, theefe,

the                   The monfter of our time, mens praife deriding,

leffe                 Leffe in perfeuerance, of fmall knowledge chiefe,

keepe               Keep the bafe Gate to things that are excelling,

thou                 Thou by faire vertues praife maift yeeld-relief,

 

Y 2

 

164                   Cantoes.

 

my                               My lines are thine, then tell Abfurditie, 

heart.                           Hart of my deare, fhall blot his villainie.

 

Where hearts agree, no ftrife can be.

Where              Where faithfulneffe vnites it felfe with loue,

hearts              Hearts pin'd with forrow cannot difagree :

agree,              Agree they muft of force, for from aboue

no                    No wind oppreffing mifchiefe may we fee:

ftrife                Strife is quite banifht from our companie.

can                              Can I be fad ? no, Pleafure bids me fing,

be.                               Be bleffed, for fweete Loue's a happie thing.

 

Thy vowes my loue and heart hath wonne,

Till thy vntruth hath it vndonne.

 

Thy                  Thy true unfpeakable fidelitie,

vowes              Vowes made to Cupid and his faire-fac'd mother,

my                   My thoughts haue wonne to vertuous chaflitie :

loue                 Loue thee alone I will, and loue none other,

and                  And if thou find not my loues fecrecie,

heart               Heart fauouring thee, then do thou Fancie fmother.

hath                            Hath all the world fuch a true Bird as I,

wonne,                        Wonne to this fauour by my conftancie?

 

Till                  Till that leane flefhles cripple, pale-fac'd Death,

thy                   Thy louely Doue fhall pierce with his fell dart,

vntruth            Vntruth in my faire bofome nere takes breath:

hath                Hath any loue fuch a firme conftant heart ?

it                                  It is thine owne, vnleffe thou keepe it ftill.

vndonne.                     Vndone fhall I be, cleane againft my will. 

 

Cantoes.                    165

 

Time fhall tell thee, how well I loue thee,

Time                Time the true proportioner of things,

fhall                Shall in the end fhew my affection,

tell                   Tell thee from whence all thefe my paffions fpring,

thee,                Thee honoring that of loue haue made election :

how                 How often I haue made my offerings,

well                 Well knowne to Venus and her louely fonne,

I                       I to the wide world fhall my paffions runne :

loue                             Loue is a Lord of hearts, a great Commander,

thee.                            Thee chalenging to be my chiefe defender.

 

Moft deuine and facred,

Haue I found your loue vnfpotted.

Moft                Moft reuerend Miftris honor of mine eie,

deuine             Deuine, moft holy in religious loue,

and                  And Lord itfelfe of my hearts emperie,

facred             Sacred in thoughts admitted from aboue,

haue                Haue in remembrance what affection willeth :

I                       I it reuiues the mind, and the mind killeth.

found              Found haue I written in your skie-like brow,

your                 Your neuer ceafing kind humilitie,

loue                 Loue for your fake to me hath made a vow,

vnfpotted         Vnfpotted fhall I find your conftancie,

And without ftaine, to thy pure ftainleffe beautie,

Shall my hearts bofome offer vp his dutie. 

 

The want of thee is death to me.

The                  The day fhall be all night, and night all day

want                Want of the Sunne and Moone to giue vs light,

 

Y3

 

166      Cantoes.

 

of                     Of a blacke darkneffe, before thy loue will ftay

thee                 Thee from thy pleafure of thy hearts delight..

is                      Is not Affection nurfe to long Delay ?

death               Deaths Meffenger, that barres me from thy fight ?

to                                 To be in abfence, is to burne in fire,

me.                              Me round enwrapping with hot Loues defire,

 

I loue to be beloued.

I                       I do acknowledge of all conftant pure,

loue                 Loue is my true thoughts herrald, and Ile fing

to                     To be of thy thoughts clofet, firme and fure,

be                    Be the world ftill thy vertues deifying:

beloued                        Beloued of the moft, yet moft of many,

Affirme my deare, thou art beloued of any. 

 

I fcorne if I be fcorned.

I                       I being not belou'd by my affection,

scorne              Scorne within my thoughts fuch bad difgrace,

if                      If thou of me do make thy firme election,

I                       I to none other loue will giue my place :

be                                Be thou my Saint, my bofomes Lord to proue,

scorned.                       Scorned of all, Ile be thy trueft loue. 

 

The hearts in paine, that loues in vaine.

The                  The griefe poore louers feele being not beloued,

hearts              Hearts anguifh, and fad lookes may teftifie:

in                     In night they fleepe not, and in day perplexed,

paine               Paine of this forrow makes them melancholy,

 

Cantoes.                                   167

 

that                  That in difdaine their filly minds are vexed,

loues                Loues terror is fo fharpe, fo ftrong, fo mightie,

in                                 In all things vnrefiftable, being aliue,

vaine.                          Vaine he refifts that gainft loues force doth ftriue.

           

What greater ioy can be then this,

Where loue enioys each louers wifh ?

What                What may we count the world if loue were dead ?

greater                        Greater in woe, then woe it felfe can be,

ioy                   Ioy from mans fecret bofome being fled,

can                  Cannot but kill the heart immediatly,

be                    Becaufe by ioy the heart is nourifhed :

then                             Then entertaine fweete loue within thy breft,

this.                             This motion in the end will make thee bleft.

 

Where              Where two harts are vnited all in one,

loue                 Loue like a King, a Lord, a Soueraigne,

enioyes                        Enioyes the throne of bliffe to fit vpon,

each                 Each fad heart crauing aid, by Cupid flame :

louers              Louers be merrie, Loue being dignified,

wifh                             Wifh what you will, it fhall not be denied,

 

Finis, quoth R. Chefter.

 

H E R E A F T E R

FOLLOW DIVERSE

Poeticall Effaies on the former Sub-

iect; viz: the Turtle and Phoenix.

Done by the left and chiefeft of our

 moderne writers, with their names fub-

fcribed to their particular workes :

neuer before extant.

And (now firft) confecrated by them all generally,

to the loue and merite of the true-noble Knight,

Sir lohn Salisburie.

Dignum laude virum Mufa vefat mori.

 

 

171

 

I N V O C A T I O,

Ad Apollinem & Pierides.

 

GOod Fate, faire Thefpian Deities,

And thou bright God, whofe golden Eies,

Serue as a Mirrour to the filuer Morne,

When (in the height of Grace) fhe doth adorne

Her Chryftall prefence, and inuites

The euer-youthfull Bromius to delights,

Sprinckling his fute of Vert with Pearle,

And (like a loofe enamoured Girle)

Ingles his cheeke ; which (waxing red with fhame)

Inftincts the fenfleffe Grapes to do the fame,

Till by his fweete reflection fed,

They gather fpirit, and grow difcoloured.

 

To your high influence we commend

Our following Labours, and fuftend

Our mutuall pannes, prepar'd to gratulate

An honorable friend: then propagate

With your illuftrate faculties

Our mentall powers : Inftruct vs how to rife

In weighty Numbers, well purfu'd,

And varied from the Multitude:

Be lauifh once, and plenteoufly profufe

Your holy waters, to our thirftie Mufe,

That we may giue a Round to him

In a Caftalian boule, crown'd to the brim.

 

Vatum Chorus.

 

Z2

 

172

 

To the worthily honored Knight

Sir lohn Salisburie.

NObleft of minds, here do the Mufes bring

Vnto your fafer iudgements taft,

Pure iuice that flow'd from the Pierian fprings,

     Not filch'd, nor borrow’d, but exhauft

By the flame-hair’d Apollos hand:

And at his well-obferu'd command,

For you infufde in our retentiue braine,

Is now diftild thence, through our quilles againe.

 

Value our verfe, as you approue the worth;

     And thinke of what they are create,

No Mercenarie hope did bring them forth,

     They tread not in that feruile Gate ;

But a true Zeale, borne in our fpirites,

Refponfible to your high Merites,

And an Inuention, freer then the Times,

Thefe were the Parents to our feuerall Rimes,

Wherein Kind, Learned, Enuious, al may view,

That we haue writ worthy our felues and you.

 

Vatum Chorus.

 

173

 

 

The first.

THe filuer Vault of heauen, hath but one Eie,

And that's the Sunne: the foule-maskt Ladie, Night

(Which blots the Cloudes, the white Booke of the Skie,)

But one ficke Phoebe, feuer-fhaking Light:

The heart, one ftring: fo, thus in fingle turnes,

The world one Phoenix, till another burnes.

 

 

The burning.

SVppofe here burnes this wonder of a breath,

In righteous flames, and holy-heated fires :

(Like Muficke which doth rapt it felfe to death,

Sweet'ning the inward roome of mans Defires ;)

     So fhe waft's both her wings in piteous ftrife ;

     “The flame that eates her, feedes the others life :

Her rare-dead afhes, fill a rare-liue vrne:

“One Phoenix borne, another Phoenix burne.

Ignoto.

                                                            Z 3

 

 

174

 

LEt the bird of lowdeft lay,

On the fole Arabian tree,

Herauld fad and trumpet be :

To whofe found chafte wings obay.

 

But thou fhriking harbinger,

Foule precurrer of the fiend,

Augour of the feuers end,

To this troupe come thou not neere.

 

From this Seffion interdict

Euery foule of tyrant wing,

Saue the Eagle feathered King,

Keepe the obfequie to ftrict.

 

Let the Prieft in Surples white,

That defunctiue Muficke can,

Be the death-deuining Swan,

Left the Requiem lacke his right

 

And thou treble dated Crow,

That thy fable gender mak’ft.

With the breath thou giu'ft and tak'ft,

Mongft our mourners fhalt thou go.

 

Here the Antheme doth commence,

Loue and Conftancie is dead,

Phoenix and the Turtle fled,

In a mutuall flame from hence,

 

So they loued as loue in twaine,

Had the effence but in one,

 

175

 

Two diftincts, Diuifion none,

Number there in loue was flame.

 

Hearts remote, yet not afunder;

Diftance and no fpace was feene,

Twixt this Turtle and his Queene;

But in them it were a wonder.

 

So betweene them Loue did fhine,

That the Turtle faw his right,

Flaming in the Phoenix fight;

Either was the others mine.

 

Propertie was thus appalled,

That the felfe was not the fame :

Single Natures double name,

Neither two nor one was called.

 

Reafon in itfelfe confounded,

Saw Diuifion grow together,

To themfelues yet either neither,

Simple were to well compounded.

 

That it cried, how true a twaine,

Seemeth this concordant one,

Loue hath Reafon, Reafon none,

If what parts, can fo remaine.

 

Whereupon it made this Threne,

To the Phoenix and the Doue,

Co-fupremes and ftarres of Loue,

As Chorus to their Tragique Scene.

 

176

 

 

Threnos.

BEautie, Truth, and Raritie,

Grace in all fimplicitie,

Here enclofde, in cinders lie.

 

Death is now the Phoenix neft,

And the Turtles loyall breft,

To eternitie doth reft.

 

Leauing no pofteritie,

Twas not their infirmitie,

It was married Chaftitie.

 

Truth may feeme, but cannot be,

Beautie bragge, but tis not fhe,

Truth and Beautie buried be.

 

To this vrne let thofe repaire,

That are either true or faire,

For thefe dead Birds, figh a prayer.

 

William Shake-fpeare.

 

 

177

 

A narration and defcription of a

moft exact wondrous creature, arifing

out of the Phoenix and Turtle

Doues afhes.

 

O Twas a mouing Epicidium !

Can Fire ? can Time ? can blackeft Fate confume

So rare creation ? No; tis thwart to fence,

Corruption quakes to touch fuch excellence,

Nature exclaimes for Iuftice, Iuftice Fate,

Ought into nought can neuer remigrate.

Then looke ; for fee what glorious iffue (brighter

Then cleareft fire, and beyond faith farre whiter

Then Dians tier) now fprings from yonder flame ?

Let me ftand numb'd with wonder, neuer came

So ftrong amazement on aftonifh'd eie

As this, this meafureleffe pure Raritie.

Lo now ; th' xtracture of deuineft Effence,

The Soule of heauens labour'd Quinteffence,

(Peans to Phoebus) from deare Louers death,

Takes fweete creation and all bleffing breath.

What ftrangeneffe is't that from the Turtles afhes

Affumes fuch forme ? (whofe fplendor clearer flafhes,

Then mounted Delius} tell me genuine Mufe.

Now yeeld your aides, you fpirites that infufe

A facred rapture, light my weaker eie :

Raife my inuention on fwift Phantafie,

That whilft of this fame Metaphificall

God, Man, nor Woman, but elix'd of all

My labouring thoughts, with ftrained ardor fing,

My Mufe may mount with an vncommon wing.

 

Aa

 

178

 

The defcription of this Perfection.

DAres then thy too audacious fenfe

Prefume, define that boundleffe Ens,

That ampleft thought tranfcendeth ?

O yet vouchfafe my Mufe, to greete

That wondrous rareneffe, in whofe fweete

All praife begins and endeth.

Diuineft Beautie ? that was flighteft,

That adorned this wondrous Brighteft,

Which had nought to be corrupted.

In this, Perfection had no meane

To this, Earths pureft was vncleane

Which vertue euen inftructed.

By it all Beings deck'd and ftained,

Ideas that are idly fained

Onely here fubfift inuefted.

Dread not to giue ftrain'd praife at all,

No fpeech is Hyperbolicall,

To this perfection bleffed.

     Thus clofe my Rimes, this all that can be fayd,

     This wonder neuer can be flattered.

 

 

To Perfection.

A Sonnet.

OFt haue I gazed witli aflonifh'd eye,

At monftrous iffues of ill fhaped birth,

When I haue feene the Midwife to old earth,

Nature produce moft ftrange deformitie.

 

So

 

179

 

So haue I marueld to obferue of late,

     Hard fauor'd Feminines fo fcant of faire,

     That Maskes fo choicely, fheltred of the aire,

As if their beauties were not theirs by fate.

 

But who fo weake of obferuation,

     Hath not difcern’d long fince how vertues wanted,

     How parcimonioufly the heauens haue fcanted,

Our chiefeft part of adornation.

 

But now I ceafe to wonder, now I find

     The caufe of all our monftrous penny-fhowes :

     Now I conceit from whence wits fcarc'tie growes,

Hard fauour'd features, and defects of mind.

Nature long time hath ftor'd vp vertue, faireneffe,

Shaping the reft as foiles vnto this Rareneffe.

 

 

Perfectioni Hymnus.

WHat fhould I call this creature,

Which now is growne vnto maturitie ?

How fhould I blafe this feature.

As firme and conftant as Eternitie ?

Call it Perfection? Fie!

Tis perfecter the brighteft names can light it:

Call it Heauens mirror ? I.

Alas, beft attributes can neuer right it.

Beauties refiftleffe thunder ?

All nomination is too ftraight of fence :

Deepe Contemplations wonder ?

That appellation giue this excellence.

Within all beft confin'd,

(Now feebler Genius end thy {lighter riming)

 

A a 2

 

180

 

*Differentia                 No Suberbes* all is Mind,                        

Deorum & ho-                         As farre from spot, as poffible defining.

minum (apud                                                        Iohn Marfton.

Senecam) sic ha-   ________________________________________________________

bet noftri      

melior pars a-

nimus in illis

nulla pars ex-

tra animum                              Perifteros : or the male Turtle.

 

NOt like that loofe and partie-liuer'd Sect

Of idle Louers, that (as different Lights,

On coloured fubiects, different hewes reflect;)

Change their Affections with their Miftris Sights,

That with her Praife, or Dispraise, drowne, or flote,

And muft be fed with frefh Conceits, and Fafhions;

Neuer waxe cold, but die : loue not, but dote:

“Loues fires, ftaid Iudgemets blow, not humorous Paf-

Whofe Loues vpon their Louers pomp depend,              (fions,

And quench as faft as her Eyes fparkle twinkles,

“(Nought lafts that doth to outward worth contend,

"Al Loue in fmooth browes born is tomb'd in wrinkles.)

But like the confecrated *Bird of loue,                                                   • The Turtle.    

Whofe whole lifes hap to his *fole-mate alluded,                        •  The Phoenix, 

Whome no prowd flockes of other Foules could moue,

But in her felfe all companie concluded.

She was to him th’ Analifde World of pleafure,

Her firmeneffe cloth'd him in varietie ;

Exceffe of all things, he ioyd in her meafure,

Mourn'd when fhe mourn'd, and dieth when fhe dies.

Like him I bound th’ inftinct of all my powres,

In her that bounds the Empire of defert,

And Time nor Change (that all things elfe deuoures,

But truth eterniz'd in a conftant heart)

Can change me more from her, then her from merit,

That is my forme, and giues my being, fpirit.

 

George Chapman.

181

 

Praeludium.

 

WE muft fing too ? what Subiect fhall we chufe?

Or whofe great Name in Poets Heauen vfe,

For the more Countenance to our Actiue Mufe?

 

Hercules ? alaffe his bones are yet fore,

With his old earthly Labors ; t’ exact more

Of his dull Godhead, were Sinne: Lets implore

 

Phoebus ? No: Tend thy Cart ftill. Enuious Day

Shall not giue out, that we haue made thee ftay,

And foundred thy hote Teame, to time our Lay.

 

Nor will we beg of thee. Lord of the Vine,

To raife our fpirites with thy coniuring Wine,

In the green circle of thy Iuy twine.

 

Pallas, nor thee we call on. Mankind Maide,

That (at thy birth) mad'ft the poore Smith afraide,

Who with his Axe thy Fathers Mid-wife plaide.

 

Go, crampe dull Mars, light Venus, when he fnorts,

Or with thy Tribade Trine, inuent new fports,

Thou, nor their loofeneffe with our Making forts.

 

Let the old Boy your fonne ply his old Tasks

Turne the ftale Prologue to fome painted Maske,

His Abfence in our Verfe is all we aske.

 

A a 3

 

182

 

Hermes the cheater, cannot mixe with vs,

Though he would fteale his fifters Pegafus,

And rifle him ; or pawne his Petafus.

 

Nor all the Ladies of the Thefpian Lake,

(Though they were crufht into one forme) could make

A Beauty of that Merit, that fhould take

 

Our Mufe vp by Commiffion : No, we bring

Our owne true Fire ; Now our Thought takes wing

And now an Epode to deep cares we fing.

 

Epos.

 

“NOt to know Vice at all, and keepe true ftate,

“Is Vertue ; and not Fate :

“Next to that Vertue, is, to know Vice well,

“And. her blacke fpight expell.

Which to effeft (fince no breft is fo fure,

Or fafe, but fhee'l procure

Some way of entrance) we muft plant a guard

Of Thoughts, to watch and ward

At th' Eye and Eare, (the Ports vnto the Mind;)

That no ftrange or vnkind

Obiect arriue there, but the Heart (our fpie)

Giue knowledge inftantly.

To wakefull Reafon, our Affections King:

Who (in th’ examining)

Will quickly tafte the Treafon, and commit 

 

183

 

Clofe, the clofe cavfe of it

"Tis the fecurefl Pollicie we haue,

" To make our Senfe our Slaue.

But this fair courfe is not embrac'd by many ;

By many ? fcarce by any:

For either our Affections do rebell,

Or elfe the Sentinell,

(That fhal ring larum to the Heart) doth fleepe,

Or fome great Thought doth keepe

Backe the Intelligence, and falfely fweares

They'r bafe, and idle Feares

Whereof the loyall Confcience fo complaines.

Thus by thefe fubtill traines,

Do feuerall Paffions ftill inuade the Mind,

And ftrike our Reafon blind :

Of which vfurping ranke, fome haue thought Loue,

The firft; as prone to moue

Moft frequent Tumults, Horrors, and Vnrefts,

In our enflamed brefts.

But this doth from their cloud of Error grow,

Which thus we ouerblow.

The thing they here call Loue, is blind Defire,

Arm'd with Bow, Shafts, and Fire;

Inconftant like the Sea, of whence 'tis borne,

Rough, fwelling, like a Storme:

With whome who failes, rides on the furge of Feare,

And boiles as if he were

In a continuall Tempeft. Now true Loue

No fuch effects doth proue:

That is an Effence moft gentile, and fine.

Pure, perfect; nay diuine :

It is a golden Chaine let down from Heauen,

 

184

 

Whofe linkes are bright, and euen .

That fals like Sleepe on Louers; and combines

The foft and fweeteft Minds

In equal knots : This beares no Brands nor Darts

To murder different harts,

But in a calrne and God-like vnitie,

Preferues Communitie.

O who is he that (in this peace) enioyes

Th’ Elixir of all ioyes ?

(A Forme more frefh then are the Eden bowers,

And lafting as her flowers :

Richer then Time, and as Times Vertue rare,

Sober, as faddeft Care,

A fixed Thought, an Eye vntaught to glance ;)

Who (bleft with fuch high chance)

Would at fuggeftion of a fteepe Defire

Caft himfeife from the fpire

Of all his Happineffe? But foft: I heare

Some vicious Foole draw neare,

That cries we dreame ; and fweares, there's no fuch thing

As this chafte Loue we fing.

Peace Luxurie, thou art like one of thofe

Who (being at fea) fuppofe

Becaufe they moue, the Continent doth so :

No (Vice) we let thee know,

Though thy wild Thoughts with Sparrowes wings do flie,

" Turtles can chaftly die;

And yet (in this t’expreffe our felfe more cleare)

We do not number here

Such Spirites as are onely continent,

Becaufe Lusts meanes are fpent:

Or thofe, who doubt the common mouth of Fame,

 

Becaufe

 

185

 

And for their Place, or Name,

Cannot fo fafely finne; Their Chaftitie

Is meere Neceffitie,

Nor meane we thofe, whom Vowes and Confcience

Haue fild with Abftinence :

(Though we acknowledge who can fo abftaine,

Makes a moft bleffed gaine :

“ He that for loue of goodneffe hateth ill,

“ Is more Crowne-worthy ftill,

“Then he which for finnes Penaltie forbeares,

“ His Heart finnes, though he feares.)

But we propofe a perfon like our Doue,

Grac'd with a Phoenix loue :

A beauty of that cleare and fparkling Light,

Would make a Day of Night,

And turne the blacked forrowes to bright ioyes:

Whofe Od'rous breath deftroyes

All tafte of Bitterneffe, and makes the Ayre

As fweete as fhe is faire:

A Bodie fo harmonioufly compofde,

As if Nature difclofde

All her beft Symmetrie in that one Feature:

O, fo diuine a Creature

Who could be falfe too ? chiefly when he knowes

How onely fhe beftowes

The wealthy treafure of her Loue in him ;

Making his Fortunes fwim

In the full floud of her admird perfection ?

What fauage, brute Affection,

Would not be fearefull to offend a Dame

Of this excelling frame ?

Much more a noble and right generous Mind,

           

B b

           

186

 

(To vertuous moodes enclin'd)

That knowes the weight of Guilt: He will refraine

From thoughts of fuch a ftraine :

And to his Sence obiect this Sentence euer,

“ Man may fecurely fmne, but fafely neuer.

Ben Iohnfon.

 

 

The Phoenix Analyfde.

N Ow, after all, let no man

     Receiue it for a Fable,

     If a Bird fo amiable,

Do turne into a Woman.

 

Or (by our Turtles Augure)

     That Natures faireft Creature,

     Proue of his Miftris Feature,

But a bare Type and Figure.

 

 

Ode [enthousiastiki].

SPlendor ! O more then mortall,

For other formes come short all

Of her illuftrate brightneffe,

As farre as Sinne's from lightneffe.

 

Her wit as quicke, and fprightfull

As fire; and more delightfull

Then the ftolne fports of Louers,

When night their meeting couers.

 

187

 

Iudgement (adornd with Learning)

Doth fhine in her difcerning,

Cleare as a naked veftall

Clofde in an orbe of Chriftall.

 

Her breath for fweete exceeding

The Phoenix place of breeding,

But mixt with found, tranfcending

All Nature of commending.

 

Alas : then whither wade I,

In thought to praife this Ladie,

When feeking her renowning,

My felfe am fo neare drowning ?

 

Retire, and fay ; Her Graces

Are deeper then their Faces :

Yet fhee's nor nice to fhew them,

Nor takes fhe pride to know them.

 

FINIS,

 

Ben : Iohnfon.