Minerva Britanna Or A Garden of Heroical Deuises, furnished, and adorned with Emblemes and Impresa's of sundry natures, Newly devised, moralized, and published, By Henry Peacham |
I. |
II. | PART II. |
Minerva Britanna | ||
II. PART II.
The Author to his Muse.
My wearie Muse, the worst is well nie past:
And take a while, our pleasure on the shore,
Recounting what wee overcame at last:
To what deepe danger were our fortunes cast:
What Rocks, the greatest, & vnknowen shelues,
We dar'd to touch, and yet did saue our selues.
Of Heartes and Eies, our wished Loue and Light:
By thee conducted, we arriue thus farre;
That now OPINIONS vttermost despight,
Nor ENVIE, that the iustest one doth bite,
We doubt at all; but forth into the maine,
With doubled courage, put our selues againe.
ELIZAS Zeale, and Pietie doe shine,
Heire of her Name, and Virtues, that invest
You in our Heartes, and Loues immortall shrine:
Oh send from that pure Maiestie of thine,
Those beames againe, from whence (as PHOEBUS bright)
Our feeble Muse, deriues her life and light.
Vnto your worthes, and greatnes dares aspire;
Or out of course, if I your rankes reherse:
But as i'th Presence, twixt the Lord and Squire,
(He neere the state, the other by the fire,)
Small difference seemes; so heere most Honord traine,
Ye take your lots about your Soveraigne.
These ruder lines, devoid of skill and Art;
Reserue thy good opinion of our Muse,
That may heereafter worke of worth impart:
And though she tastes of Countrey and the Cart,
(As that DICTATOR) all in time she may,
Within the Citie beare a greater swey.
Presidium et dulce deciis.
This most noble Prince beside his admirable knowledge in all learning, & the languages, hath exellent skill in musick. Mr Douland hath many times shewed me 10 or 12 severall sets of Songes for his Chappel of his owne composing.
By me or by my worthles Poësie,
Since those admired virtues of your owne,
Haue made you obiect of the worldes wide eie,
Your bounteous mind, your matchles Pietie,
Your languages, and learning in all artes,
That gaine you millions of remotest heartes.
This Monument, and to your memorie,
Which shall outweare the vtmost date of Fame,
And wrestle with the worldes Eternitie:
For as Artes glorie is your GERMANIE,
For rar'st invention, and designe of wit,
So ye braue Maurice are the pride of it.
Distantia iungo.
Ore-passe your name, your birth, and best deserts:
But lowly strike, and to these cullors vaile,
That make ye yet belou'd in forrein partes,
In memorie of those disioined heartes:
Of two great kingdomes, whom your grandsire wrought,
Till Buckle-like, them both in one he brought.
Ordaines your daies ye shall dispend in rest,
While Horror bound, in hundred-double chaine,
At her faire feete, shall teare her snakie crest,
And Mars in vaine, with Trumpet sterne molest
Our Muse, that shall her lostiest numbers frame,
To eternize your STEVVARTS Roiall name.
Nostro elucescis damno.
And mutuall hewing, each the other wast:
While vnderneath the open Tinderboxe,
Vnto his gaine, consumes them both at last:
And to the backs, when they are spent and worne,
He throwes them by, for he hath seru'd his turne.
They weare awaie themselues, in golden sparkes;
The Boxe, are Pettifoggers from their Iarres,
Who walke with Torches, vsher'd by their Clearkes:
While blind by Owle-light, Hoidon stumbling goes,
To seeke his Iune, the Windmill, or the Rose.
Ex Avaritia Bellum.
What it hath got by long vnlawfull gaine;
Withall for Battaile ready is prepard,
Still to defend, what it doth fast retaine:
(For wretches some, will sooner spend their bloods,
Then spare we see, one penworth of their goods.)
Who hardly can endure, to liue in Peace;
But alwaie prest, to quarrell, or to kill,
When sober mindes, from such contention cease:
And seeke no more, then quiet and content,
With those good blessinges, which the Lord hath sent.
[The glorious Sunne, that cheeres vs with his light]
And giueth life, and growth to every thing:
Can brooke no peere, to check his soveraigne right,
But onely will remaine, the Heauens sole king:
When lesser starres, that borrow from his light,
Doe keepe their course, in numbers infinite.
In loue, and mutuall concord most secure,
When Paritie procures the overthrow,
Of Monarchies, that else might well endure:
And like moe Sunnes in skie, portendeth still,
The Princes ruine, or a worser ill.
Non invicta recedo.
That scarce the Steele can peirce his scalie side:
Assaulteth oft the Elephant his foe,
And either doth the conqueror abide,
Or by his mightie combatant is slaine,
For never vanquisht, he returnes againe.
To overcome your hard, and crabbed skill,
Take courage, and treade vnder foote dispaire,
For better hap, attendes the vent'rous still:
And sooner leaue, your bodie in the place,
Then back returne, vnletter'd with disgrace.
Non Honos, sed Onus.
In great commaund, and Roiall dignitie;
And Kinges with Scepters hold within their fistes,
The perfect summe of all Fœlicitie:
No no, their Crownes are lin'd with pricking thorne,
And sable cares, with crimson Robes are worne.
Another, some rare, beauteous modell draw;
With Eloquence, let him goe charme the eare,
Thy onely art, must be to keepe in aw,
And curbe with Iustice, the vnrulie crew,
To favor skill, and giue the good their due.
Quem timuisti, timet.
Ad BRITANNIAM.
Who spurnes a shippe, with Scepter in her hand:
Thus BRITANE's drawen in old Antiquities,
What time the Romanes, overran her land:
Who first devis'd her, sitting in this plight,
As then their captiue, and abandon'd quite.
To all thinges being, Fates a change decree:
Thrice-famous Ile, whome erst thou didst obey,
Vsurping Roome, standes now in aw of thee:
And trembles more, to heare thy Soveraignes name,
Then thou her Drummes, when valiant Cæsar came.
Eo magis caligat.
To search the depth, of Misteries divine:
Which like the Sunne vpon his earthy fire,
With glorie inaccessible do shine:
And with the radiant splendor of their ray,
Chase all conceipted Ignorance away.
Gods sacred essence, and his secret will,
Or his soules substance, or could but intend,
Least while to view, this glorious creature still:
Be wise in what the word doth plainely teach,
But meddle not, with thinges aboue thy reach.
Piorum vita luctuosa.
Doe cheerely warble their delicious straines,
The Turtle likes the shade, and thickets darke,
And solitarie by herselfe remaines,
Recording in most dolefull wise her woe,
Letting the pleasures, of the season goe.
Doth with vaine pleasure draw: or worldly care,
Esteemeth not, these fleeting Ioies a pinne:
But to the Lord, in private doth repaire,
With quiet Conscience; when the wicked oft,
Are in the mid'st, of all their pleasures caught.
Coniugÿ Symbolum.
Of milkie hew, with winges abroad displaide;
In aunchient time, the marke of wedlock chast,
Because this Bird, a deadly foe is said
T' Adulterie, and foulest foule Incest,
The Vestal maide, the fire beseemeth best.
The best content we haue, while here we liue,
That blessest Mariage, with thy sweete encrease,
And dost a pledge, of that coniunction giue
Twixt Soule, and Body, eke the mutual Loue,
Betweene the Church, and her sweete Spouse aboue.
In eos qui cum amicis fruantur, vti nesciant.
And knowing well, the daunger vnderneath,
Yet busilie doth saw the same in two,
Like idle Ape, though to his present death:
Which if he had forborne, and let it grow,
He free from harme, had scapt the pikes below.
Of trustie Frendes as doe not know the vse,
But while they are their props, and onely stay,
Will cut them off, by this, or that abuse;
Or loose their favor, by behaviour ill,
Who otherwise, might haue vpheld them still.
Sic nos Dÿ.
With Racket, or the gentle Schoole-boies hand,
With greater force, doth back againe rebound,
His Fate, (though senceles) seeming to withstand:
Yea, at the instant of his forced fall,
With might redoubled, mountes the highest of all.
(For men as balls, within their handes are said,)
We cheifly then, should manly courage show,
And not for every trifle be afraid:
For when of Fortune, most we stand in feare,
Then Tyrant-like, she most will domineere.
Par nulla figura dolori.
And can to life, a Lantscip represent,
Afford to Antiques, each his proper grace,
Or trick out this, or that compartement:
But with the Pencill, who could ere expresse,
The face of griefe, and heartie pensiuenes.
There no proportion, can effect delight,
For like a Chaos, all within's confounded,
Resembling nothing, saue the face of night,
Which in his sheild, this noble Earle did beare,
The last Impresa', of his greife, and care.
In repetundos, et adulatores.
Vpon thy table, PHINEUS here behold,
A monstrous Harpie, that hath præied long,
Vpon thy meates, while thou art blind, and old,
And at all times, his appetite doth serue,
While vnregarded, thou thy selfe dost sterue.
Of these still hungry for their private gaine:
The first is he, that carries tales vntrue,
The second, whome base bribing doth maintaine,
The third and last, the Parasite I find,
Who bites the worst, if Princes will be blind.
Salomone pulchrius.
And Rhodopis, in silkes and sattens shine;
Behold the Lillie, thus devoid of cost,
In flowery feildes, is clothd by power divine,
In purest white, fair'st obiect of the eie,
Religions weede, and badge of Chastitie.
And frantique fooles, thinke ye are halfe vndone,
When that ye goe not in your cullors pide,
Or want the grace, of newest fashion:
When even the Lillie, in glorie doth surpasse,
The rich, and roiallst King, that ever was.
Soboles damnosa parenti.
An aged Willow, fewell for to burne,
But wanting wedges, Grandsire was compeld,
To rend with bowes, the bodie for his turne:
And while the Willow, now was rent in twaine,
It gaue a grone, and thus seem'd to complaine.
And haue my heart, by those asunder rent,
That are my fruite, and of my bodie borne,
Who for my stay, and comfort, should be sent:
You Parents good, your selues behold in me,
Whose Children wicked, and vngratious be.
Innocentiam iniurÿs maximè obnoxiam esse.
And said of Birdes, he most deseru'd to die,
For that contrarie vnto Natures Law,
His kindred he abus'd incestuously:
His Mother, Sisters, and a noise did keepe,
With crowing still, when others faine would sleepe.
My fault of lust, is for my maisters gaine,
I am for crowing, call'd the Plowmans clock,
Whome I awake betime, to daily paine:
No doubt (quoth Pusse,) of reasons thou hast store,
But I am fasting, and can heare no more.
Humanæ miseriæ.
That doe our life, vnto the last amate,
And sawce the sweete, with feare, and howerly griefe,
Diseasing oft, the high, and happiest state:
A Rod, the world, a Woman, Ages greife,
Which fower, the wisest doe account the cheife.
His youth with Loue, and strong affectes is vext,
That headlong force him, pliable to ill,
A retchles wife, and worldly cares are next:
And when both youth, and middle age be past,
Diseases straunge, doe end him at the last.
Vireo tamen.
His leafe with flower, are fresh and growing seene,
And many times, as by experience proou'd,
It will abide, in sharpest winter greene,
As faire, and full of life, vnto the view,
As if abroad, in fertil'st soile it grew.
Who though the world afford them not a foote,
Yet doe they thriue, within the emptie aire,
As well as they, that haue the richest roote:
Yea, when as some, that are vpheld like Hops,
Doe droope, and die, even vnderneath their props.
Dÿ laboribus vendunt.
And wanton pleasures, to dispend his daies:
The Scripture plaine denieth for to eate,
And lawes severe, doe punish many waies:
And never Heavens, with their bountie blesse,
The hand addicted vnto Idlenes.
To sale they set vs, all the pretious thinges,
The Earth within her bosome, doth containe,
Gemmes, Herbes of virtue, Diadems of Kinges,
All sortes of Girlondes, and the Quill of Fame,
To keepe aliue, the honor of our name.
Gloriæ lata via.
His iourney finish, in a little space,
The way is wide, an honest course to runne,
And great the glories of a virtuous race,
That at the last, doe our iust labors crowne,
With threefold wreath, Loue, Honor, and Renowne.
Conceale faire Virtue, from the worldes wide eie,
The more opprest, the more she striues to peepe,
And raise her Rose-bound golden head on high:
When Epicures, the wretch, and worldly slaue,
Shall rot in shame, aliue, and in the graue.
Tu contra audentior.
Of envious Fortune, who with Sword and fire,
Awaites his ruine, with redoubled might,
Takes courage to him, and abates her ire,
By resolution, and a constant mind,
To deede of virtue, evermore inclin'd.
Inglorious Sloth, may not in embers keepe,
But spite of hell, it will at length aspire,
And even by strawes, for want of fewell creepe:
When fearefull natures, and the mind vnsound,
At every blast, is beaten to the ground.
Huic ne credere tutissimum.
(In greater saf'tie then MEDEA's shrine,)
Did Hap, or that thou knew'st a Crowne the best,
From iniurie to shelter thee and thine?
How much I did thy happines envie,
When first I saw thee singing, hither flie.
In highest place, the weaker one to sheild,
Thus vnder that sweete shadow of your winges,
Best loues the Artes, and Innocence to build:
And thus my Muse, that never saf'tie knew,
With weary wing, great HENRIE flies to you.
To the Honorable, Sir Thomas Ridgewaie, Knight, and Baronet: Treasurer at warres in Ireland, and one of his Maiesties Privie Counsell there &c.
Is forc'd to yeeld vnto his loade at last,
And while he toiles, himselfe enioies the least,
Of all the wealth, that on his back is cast:
For why? he must the same, to those impart,
Whose due it is, by Fortune, or desert.
A Treasures charge, that pulls you on your knee,
And though that thousandes, aske it here, and there,
To those that ought, and best deseruing be,
You only giue, their wages, and their due,
The while the care, and perill lies on you.
Melancholia.
Pale visag'd, of complexion cold and drie,
All solitarie, at his studie sits,
Within a wood, devoid of companie:
Saue Madge the Owle, and melancholly Pusse,
Light-loathing Creatures, hatefull, ominous.
For Melancholly loues not many wordes:
One foote on Cube is fixt vpon the ground,
The which him plodding Constancie affordes:
A sealed Purse he beares, to shew no vice,
So proper is to him, as Avarice.
Sanguis.
The Pestane Rose, and Lilly doe contend:
By nature is benigne, and gentlie meeke,
To Musick, and all merriment a frend;
As seemeth by his flowers, and girlondes gay,
Wherewith he dightes him, all the merry May.
The lustfull Goate is seene, which may import,
His pronenes both to women, and to wine,
Bold, bounteous, frend vnto the learned sort;
For studies fit, best louing, and belou'd,
Faire-spoken, bashfull, seld in anger moou'd.
Cholera.
Of swarthie yeallow, and a meager face;
With Sword a late, vnsheathed in his Ire:
Neere whome, there lies, within a little space,
A sterne ei'de Lion, and by him a sheild,
Charg'd with a flame, vpon a crimson feild.
The most in heedles, and vnstaied youth:
That Lion showes, he seldome can refraine,
From cruell deede, devoide of gentle ruth:
Or hath perhaps, this beast to him assign'd,
As bearing most, the braue and bounteous mind.
Phlegma.
As Citie-vsurers before their dore:
Of Bodie grosse, not through excesse of meate,
But of a Dropsie, he had got of yore:
His slothfull hand, in's bosome still he keepes,
Drinkes, spits, or nodding, in the Chimney sleepes.
For slowest pace, Sloth's Hieroglyphick here,
For Phlegmatique, hates Labour most of all,
As by his course araiment, may appeare:
Nor is he better furnished I find,
With Science, or the virtues of the mind.
Ad Iesum Christum opt: Max
Prepared readie, for the Sacrifice,
Who willingly awaites his mortall wound,
Without resistance, or helpe calling cries,
To mooue the tender hearted to relent,
Or heauens to heare a dieng Innocent.
Forsook'st the Throne, of highest Maiestie,
And gau'st thy blood, for sinners to be spilt,
Frend to thy foes, high in humilitie:
And is this creature innocent, and dumbe,
Till Lion-like, thou shalt to Iudgment come.
Nec amicis, nec cognatis fidendum.
Did charge her young, (while she abroade did flie,
With tender care, to search about for meate,)
To marke the talke, of those that passed by:
Ere long there came, the owner of the corne,
Who said by frendes, next day it should be shorne.
Be still a while, I once abroade againe,
Then heard they, he his kinsmen would intreate,
Without delay, to fell that feild of graine:
Some feare there is, quoth Damme, but if he saies,
Hee'le come himselfe, then time to goe our waies.
Matrimonium
And better likes, the carefull married state,
May here behold, how Matrimonie standes,
In woodden stocks, repenting him too late:
The servile yoake, his neck, and shoulder weares,
And in his hand, the fruitefull Quince he beares.
Not as he woont, to wander where he list:
The yoke's an ensigne of servilitie:
The fruitefullnes, the Quince within his fist,
Of wedlock tells, which SOLON did present,
T' Athenian Brides, the day to Church they went.
Sed frigida pulchra.
Ad Lesbiam.
Or Cyprian Goddesse, for a beauteous grace;
Forgiue me, here that I so plainlie tell,
My loues long errors, wandring in thy face:
Thy face that takes, like that Dædalian maze,
All eies thereon, that shall with wonder gaze.
Or shamefast Rose, thou inwardly art cold,
Nor can the beames, that gentle Loue doth throw,
Exhale the sweete, thy bosome doth enfold:
As thou art faire, so wert thou Lesbia kind,
My wronges had di'de, and none had knowne thy mind.
Veritas.
Who on the Sunnes bright globe, doth cast her eie:
An opened booke, she holdeth in her hand,
withall the Palme, in signe of victorie;
Her right foote treadeth downe the world belowe:
Her name is Trvth, of old depainted so.
The Sunne, how she is greatest frend to light:
Her booke, the strength she holds by historie:
The Palme, her triumphes over Tyrants spite:
The world she treads on, how in heaven she dwels,
And here beneath all earthly thing excells.
Etiam hosti servanda.
This symbole gaue, their peace about to make,
That as their hands, in one their hearts should ioine,
And sooner first, they would their liues forsake,
Then treachr'ously, their vow and promise breake,
Though to their foe, if they the word did speake.
With vengeance most, doth plague the faithles wight:
As that same “Card'nall, prou'd not long agoe,
Who in the feild against his faith would fight:
With God and man, the truth accepted is;
Oh! let not heathen, vs excell in this.
Iustitia militaris.
To proue their valour on the common foe:
Within his Campe, in authors as I read,
A peare tree laden with the fruit did grow,
Which at's departure, kept the wonted store,
As full remaining as it did before.
Who deeme it honour, and a souldiers guise,
To vse on foes all villanous outrage:
Rapes, murders, rapines, burnings robberies:
And greatest part of valour to consist,
Like savage bruites, in spoyling what they list.
Regum Maiestatem non imminuendam.
To paint a serpent, or such hideous thing:
That holy places, might not be abus'd
By children, whom they told, that these would sting:
And made beleue they liu'd, to that intent,
To Sacred things they should be reverent.
Such Serpents still, thy Soveraignes crowne do guard:
But think not as the other, these are dead,
Like child or foole: but that they are prepar'd,
With mortal stings, to be reueng'd on them,
That shall abuse, tha'nointed Diadem.
Dolis minime fidendum.
Consulting, Regnard thus began to boast,
And soberlie to tel vnto the Cat,
His shiftes, when danger did assaile him most:
The Cat said, one is proper vnto me
If worst should come, that is to take a tree.
Who found the Foxe: Pusse trusting to her clawes,
And seeing him torne in peeces, in her view,
Said to her selfe, after alitle pause;
One honest shift is better now I see,
Then all thy cunning in extremitie.
Vigil vtrinque.
Vpon whose top, a cock to sit you see:
Gods Ministers doth shew, should evermore,
Stand Sentinell; and howerly watchfull be,
Vpon their flock, defending every port,
Whereto the foe, is likeliest to resort.
And Sathan labors still with might and maine,
Within our soules, a landing place to win:
It is your partes, with fervent prayer againe;
And faith the spirits sword, and all yee may,
To keepe his malice, from your flocks away.
Vindicta Divina.
And Nero trembles at his shadowes sight:
This booke, the Herald of th'Almighties Ire,
Doth on the howse, of every swearer light:
To punish iustly, so prophane a sinne,
With all the plagues, that are containd therein.
That think such sinne, their actions only grace:
And him the man, that can with fearefull oathes,
Blaspheme the Lord of heaven vnto his face:
But know prophane, ere many yeares be past,
A plague will come, with winged speede at last.
Eternitas.
With haire dispred, in comelie wise behind:
Within whose handes, two golden balls there be:
But from the brest, the nether partes are twin'd
Within a starrie circle, do expresse,
Eternitie, or Everlastingnes.
The circle wantes beginning and the end:
And vncorrupt for ever lies the gold:
The heaven her lightes for evermore did lend,
The Heathen thought, though heauen & earth must passe,
And all in time decay that ever was.
Hei mihi quod vidi.
In pearlie drops, his heartes deare quintescence:
So I, poore Eie, while coldest sorrow fills,
My brest by flames, enforce this moisture thence
In Christall floods, that thus their limits breake,
Drowning the heart, before the tongue can speake.
And wrested Pittie, from a Tyrants ire:
And drops in time, do hardest Marble peirce,
But ah I feare me, I too high aspire,
Then wish those beames, so bright had never shin'd,
Or that thou hadst, beene from thy cradle blind.
Sic audaces fortuna.
By sentence iust, for that he poisoned,
CALISTHENES his maister privilie,
And lieng long in dungeon fettered
To end his daies, did in the end request,
He might be throwne, vnto a savadge beast.
And naked he vnto a Lion cast,
But hauing one arme closely arm'd, vndaunted,
By th'vpper Iaw, he holdes his foe so fast,
That downe his throate, that armed arme he sendes,
And even the heart-stringes, from the bodie rendes.
Thy life is thine, LYSIMACHVS quoth he,
Besides I giue, (as to thy valour due,)
My frendship here, my Scepter after me:
For thus the virtuous, and the valiant spright,
Triumphes o're Fate, and Fortunes deadliest spite.
Et minimi vindictam.
And gladly as our Parents, them obey,
But loath the Monsters, that delight in blood,
And thinke their People sent them for a prey:
To whome the Lord, doth in his Iudgment send,
A loathed life, or else a fearefull end.
And ROME did tremble, at DOMITIAN'S sight:
But now the Tyrant, cause of all this feare,
Is laid full low, vpon whose toombe do light,
To take revenge, the Bee, and summer Flie,
Who not escap't sometime his crueltie.
Ex vtroque Immortalitas.
Ad pÿssimum Iacobum magnæ Britanniæ Regem.
Haue caus'd thee so, to be belou'd of thine,
(When envious Fates, shall robbe the Common weale,
Of such a Father,) shalt for ever shine:
Not turn'd as Cæsar, to a fained starre,
But plac'd a Saint, in greater glory farre.
And learned Muse shall end their happie dayes;
While thou to all eternitie admir'd,
Shalt liue a fresh, in after ages praise:
Or be the Loade-starre, of thy glorious North,
Drawing all eies, to wonder at thy worth.
Icon Peccati.
Ore Mountaine steepe, and Thornie Rock to passe,
Whose heart a Serpent gnawes with furie teene,
Another's wound about his wast; alas,
Since ADAM'S fall, such our estate hath bin,
The liuely picture of our guilt and sinne.
His blindnes shewes, our want of wisedomes sight;
Sinnes deadly waies, those dang'rous stepps of his,
His nakednes, of grace depriued quite:
Hell's power the Serpent, which his loines doth girt,
A Conscience bad, the other eates his heart.
Inconstantia.
Vpon a Crab, in gowne of palie greene,
A shining Cressaunt shewing in her hand,
Which as her selfe, is changing ever seene:
That cullour light, she borrowes from the Sea,
Whose waues continue, never at a stay.
Th' inconstant man, so doubtfull in his waies,
The private life, one while will most embrace,
In travaile then, he listes to spend his dayes:
Which was the Kitchin, that he makes a Tower,
Then downe goes all togeither in an hower.
In Amicos falsos.
And by the way, they made a vow to either,
What ere befell, they never would forsake,
But as sworne brethren, liue and die togeither:
Thus wandring thorough deserts, here and there,
By chance they met, a great and vgly Beare.
One leaues his frend, and climbeth vp a tree:
The other, falles downe flat before the Beare,
And keepes his breath, that seeming dead to be,
The Beare forsooke him, (for his nature's such,
A breathles bodie never once to touch.)
The dead arose, and kept along his waie:
His fellow leaping from the tree at last,
Askt what the Beare, in's care did whispring say,
Quoth he, he bad me, evermore take heede,
Of such as thou, that failst in time of neede.
Levitas.
And painted plumes that overspred his crest:
Describes the varieng and fantastique wight,
(For like our mindes, we commonly are drest:)
His right hand holdes, the bellowes to his eare,
His left, the quick, and speedie spurre doth beare.
Whome thousand fancies howerly doe possesse,
For riding post, with every blast of wind,
In nought hee's steddie, saue vnstablenes:
Musitians, Painters, and Poetique crew,
Accept what RIPA, dedicates to you.
Adhuc mea messis in herba.
In silent night, when you haue beene in bed,
With your young husband, wherevpon you thought,
Or what conceipt possest your carefull head,
Since he we know, as yet had never seene,
His tendrest yeares, amounted to fifteene:
As doth the Miser, in a backward yeare:
When others reape, to see your harvest such,
And all your hopes, but in their blade appeare:
Ladie, let henceforth nought disease your rest,
For after-crops doe sometime prooue the best.
Somniorum Dea.
That powers such plentie with her bounteous hand:
Her name is BRYSVS, whome the Greekes of old,
As Queene of dreames ador'd within their land:
Whome if they seru'd, devoutly as they should,
They made no doubt, of hauing what they would.
So many who with fancies vaine deceiues:
Whome when she to fooles Paradice hath brought,
For golden Apples, scarce she giues them leaues:
To visions vaine, and dreames then take no heede,
Which had in Christ, their ending as you reade.
Libidinis effecta.
Thus downe the females throate, doth put his head,
Which of she bites, as learned Authours show,
And ne're conceiues, before the male be dead:
Eke when she forth, her poisonous broode doth send,
Her young ones likewise, bring her to her end.
How deadly, and how dangerous they be,
Of life and soule, that doe at once bereaue,
Turning abundance into beggery:
Daughter of Sloth, vile cancker of the mind,
Leauing repentance, and foule shame behind.
Sors.
Withouten frendes, and meanes of living here,
A halter tooke, to make an end of care,
The while beneath hid treasure doth appeare:
Which to his lot assign'd, by fortunes doome,
He takes, and leaues his halter in the roome.
For deadly greife, his heapes and hopes were gon,
The others halter takes, and hanges himselfe:
Fortune thus dallies ever, and anon
O're-swaieng all, with Scepter in her fist,
And bandieth vs, like balls which way she list.
Inani impetu.
That lurkes to make the passenger his pray,
The most of all delightes, to robbe and spoile
The Hunny-hiues, were he not kept away
By Saffron planted, round on every side,
Which this slie theife, could never yet abide.
Who evermore lies watching, to devoure
Our Hopes encrease, that in the soule doth grow,
Did not the grace divine, this Saffron flower
(Most wholesome herbe) prevent his deadly spight,
And guard the Garden, safely day and night.
Secundus deteriora dies.
The streetes of Rome, by chaunce he did espie
A Lazar poore, who there amid the throng,
Did full of sores, and loathsome vlcers lie,
About the which, so busie was the flie:
That moou'd with pittie, CÆSAR willed some,
Stand by to kill them, as they saw them come.
These flies are full, pray let them yet alone,
For being kill'd, a fresher companie,
More hunger pincht, would bite me to the bone:
So when the wealthy Iudge, is dead and gone:
Some starued one succeedes, who biteth more,
A thousand times, then did the full before.
Silentÿ dignitas.
The glorie of all GRECIA to this day,
With courage bold who taketh knife in hand,
And with the same, doth cut his tongue away:
But being ask'd of some, the reason why,
By writing thus he answer'd by and by.
Much losse by talke, and lavishnes of tongue,
Of silence never any yet complained,
Or could say iustly, it had done him wrong:
Who knowes to speake, and when to hold his peace,
Findes fewest daungers, and liues best at ease.
Vini Energia.
To make it beare, the donge of sundry beastes,
Whose virtue since, hath quite possest the wine,
As may appeare, at many drunken feastes:
One Lion-like, doth quarrell with his host,
Stares, sweares, breakes windowes, or behacks the post.
Or whot with lust, he never thinkes of sleepe:
Another swinish, feeles his stomach ill:
The fourth is soft, and simple as the sheepe:
A Romane sage, did sometime thus expresse,
In briefe th' effectes, of loathsome Drunkenes.
Nec igne, nec vnda.
Whose ruggie brow, had bidden many a shower,
And bitter storme; which neither sea, nor land,
Nor IOVES sharpe-lightening ever could devoure:
This same is MANLIE CONSTANCIE of mind,
Not easly moou'd, with every blast of wind.
Herewith bright flaming in a pitteous fire:
This is OPINION, tossed vp and downe,
Whose Pilot's PRIDE, & Steeresman VAINE DESIRE,
Those flames HOT PASSIONS, & the WORLD the sea,
God blesse the man, that's carried thus away.
Præcocia non diuturna.
And Flora glads all creatures at her sight:
The Almond-trees, ere any leaues they bring,
Vnfold their pride, their blossomes red and white:
But withered soone, vnto the ground they fall,
Or yeild their fruite, the least and last of all.
Doe promise much by towardlines of wit,
From such, yet seldome any fruite appeares:
When as some plodder, that below doth sit,
Of whome both frendes, and maister did dispaire,
As hindmost hound doth soonest catch the Hare.
Ira Principum: Quocunque ferar.
Or by base deede, incurres the Princes Ire,
Doth often wish, it were to doe agen,
And that his hand, perhaps were in the fire,
That fought against him, or with Libell base,
Sedition sow'd, or slaunder in disgrace.
Like IOVE'S swift-thunder, merciles it strikes,
And by the roote, rends vp rebellion quite:
The wiser man, will then aware the pikes,
And frame himselfe, to liue without offence,
First God to serue, and afterwardes his Prince.
Vlterius durabit.
COLOSSO'S statües, and Pyramids high,
In tract of time, doe moulder downe and weare,
Ne leaue they any little memorie,
The Passenger may warned be to say,
They had their being here, another day.
Preserued by the liuing Muse for aie,
Shall still abide, when date of these is done,
Nor ever shall by Time be worne away:
Time, Tyrants, Envie, World assay thy worst,
Ere HOMER die, thou shalt be “fired first.
Pro Regno, et Religione.
Of “Countrie Parents, by their loue and care
Of common-wealth, and to defend the same
From publicque harmes, by wise foresight, prepare:
By louing heartes, are guarded surer farre,
Then some vnweldie SWIZZE, or IANIZAR.
To shew, thy foe should find thee readie prest,
For Church, and Country, to dispend thy bloud,
When daunger, or occasion did request,
And further, though the Trumpet sterne did cease,
Thus evermore, to goe prepar'd in PEACE.
Non Nubila tangant.
The perils that our frailtie here amate,
Through heauenly wisedome, is no more afraid
Of Fortunes frowne, and bitter blastes of Fate:
For though in vale of woes, her dwelling be,
Her nobler part's aboue vntouch't and free.
And nought can here defend vs from the shower,
Now greatest windes doe threate our overthrow,
Our golden morne anon begins to lowre:
And while our hopes, are yet but in their sap,
Their buds are blasted by the Thunderclap.
Ordo.
On evenest ground, of Iustice and the right,
By time or chaunge, in vaine we see assaide,
But where affection overswaies with might:
Confusion there, all vnto havock bringes,
And vndermines, the thrones of mightiest Kinges.
Faire falling Plume, resembling best of all,
The new establsh't goverment of his,
Whereas each feather keepes his ranck and fall:
So should that state, (let Fortune doe her worst,)
As faire, and firme, as ever at the first.
His graviora.
The losse of frendes, of goods, or long exile
From natiue countrie, perils on the Sea,
Night-watchings, hunger, thirst, and howerly toile,
Takes courage, and the same abideth fast,
With resolution, even vnto the last.
Of his poore remnant, on the Tyrrhene Seas;
When even dispaire, their eies began to close,
We greater bruntes, haue borne (quoth he) then these:
And God, (my Mates,) when he shall please will send,
Vnto our greatest miseries an end.
In vos hic valet.
Devoide of vice, and inward guilt of Sinne:
Is guarded by his Innocence more sure,
And witnesse of an honest mind within,
Then if he were in compleate armour clad,
Or Bow and quiver of the Moore he had.
And manly courage by the constant heart,
Way not a straw the force of SLAVNDERS might,
DEATHES Ebone shaft, or CVPIDS golden dart:
When, whome Affection, or their guilt doe wound,
Even at the first, are stricken to the ground.
Nitor in adversum.
The more (they say) the braunch will vpward shoot,
And since the bodie doth resemble best,
A Columne strong and stately from the roote:
The Auntients would, it should the Imprese be,
Of Resolution, and true Constancie.
Th' vndaunted spirit with her wearie weight,
His vertue yet, doth ever vpward tend,
And he himselfe, standes irremooued streight,
Laughing to scorne, the paper blastes of Fate,
That would remooue, or vndermine his state.
Vanæ merces. In Naupalum.
Our English fleece so long beyond the sea,
That not for wit, but for his wealth tis said,
Hee's thence return'd a worthy Knight awaie,
And brought vs back, beades, Hobbie-horses, boxes,
Fannes, Windmills, Ratles, Apes, and tailes of Foxes.
As if he had th' Hesperian Dragon slaine,
And equaliz'd in worth, those old Heroe's,
That in the ARGO cut the Grecian maine:
Honour thou didst, but doe his valour right,
When of the fleece, thou dubbest him a Knight.
Haud conveniunt.
The savadge Boare, and Lion cruell feirce,
Since Kinges and Princes, haue such pleasure tooke
In hunting: haply cause a Boare did peirce
Her Adon faire, who better lik't the sport,
Then spend his daies, in wanton pleasures court.
It signifies vnto the Reader this;
Such exercise Loue will not entertaine,
Who liketh best, to liue in Idlenes:
The foe to vertue, Cancker of the wit,
That bringes a thousand miseries with it.
Zelus in Deum.
Thus winged Zeale, to heauen-ward castes her eie:
And loathing what the world doth most admire,
Vpborne by Faith, ascendes aboue the skie:
Whereby Oh God, thy misteries we learne,
And all beyond, our reasons sight discerne.
The pearly-trickling streame, or Christall fount,
Even so the soule, by Sinne pursu'de and chas'd,
Thee, thee, (oh Lord) desires, who dost surmount
All treasures, pleasures, which we here possesse,
The summe and substance, of our happines.
Sanctitas simulata.
There is more pride, vnder one of their black Bonnets, thē vnder Alexanders Diademe. King Iames in his Bisilicon Doron:
Earle Gourie one of the greatest Puritanes of his time in Scotland, in his travailes thorough Fraunce and Italie, vsed with his Diamond, (for the most part) to draw in his Chāber windowe, a man in armour, with a Sword in his right hand, pointing towards a Crowne, adding this or the like word, Te solum, which yet rēaines in many places to be seene, what he meant hereby it might easily haue to bin ghessed.
Say what's the reason thus a hat we see,
Since Diadem's of Princes ever yet,
From base controule, haue beene exempt and free:
There is a sect, whome PVRITANS they call,
Whose pride this Figure fitteth best of all.
And to doe good endevour all they can,
Would all the world of their religion were,
We taxe th' aspiring factious Puritan:
Whose Paritie, doth worst confusion bring,
And Pride presumes to overlooke his King.
De Morte, et Cupidine.
Where roome was scant, togeither both they lay.
Both wearie, (for they roving both had beene,)
Now on the morrow when they should away,
CVPID Death's quiver at his back had throwne,
And DEATH tooke CVPIDS, thinking it his owne.
That young men died, who readie were to wed:
And age did revell with his bonny-lasse,
Composing girlonds for his hoarie head:
Invert not Nature, oh ye Powers twaine,
Giue CVPID'S dartes, and DEATH take thine againe.
—Latet abditus agro.
By sea and land to make his prowesse knowne,
And in defence of King, and countries right,
So much his valour, and his vertue showne,
Some wished port, doth at the last desire,
And home whereto in age he may retire.
Nor new, nor straunge, that doe afflict the mind,
And shew before the day our silver haires,
Yea even before we can experience find:
That frailest man, by course of nature dies,
Even at his first beginning to be wise.
Sine Cerere et Baccho.
Both handes and feete thon warmest at the fire?
Who wont your selues, t'enkindle many a one,
With gentle flames, of kindly loues desire:
I ghesse cause BACCHVS is not present heere,
With mirthfull wine, nor CERES with her cheere.
There lustfull vice, and pleasure frozen are:
And vertue best, there liketh to remaine;
When often times th' effectes of daintie fare,
And drunken healthes, are quarrelles and debate,
Blaspheming, whoredome, oathes and deadlie hate.
Laboris effecta.
With swiftest houndes, the aiery-footed Stagge:
And while they keepe, the merry chase in view,
The woodes with Eccho's thundring, Loue doth lagge
Behind the thickets, and with arrow keene,
Doth lie in waite, to wound this maiden Queene.
For Labour did this Goddesse faire defend,
And sau'd her harmelesse from his deadly bow,
And pois'nous dartes: so if thou dost intend,
To overcome the force of Cupids might,
Flie Idlenesse, and then he leaues thee streight.
Gratis servire lîbertas.
While on the spray in shadie groue she sleepes,
With tender foote, a Larke she holdeth light,
Which till the morning carefully she keepes,
Then lets it goe, and least she should that day
Præie on the same, she flies another way.
By Natures first instinct obserued still,
When worser, man in benefits is blind,
Nay oftentimes, for good will render ill:
And rather seeke ingratefully his blood,
That sau'd his life, or daily gaue him foode.
Hìne super hæc, Musa.
As shaken blossome of a better fruite,
And with VRANIA thy Creator view,
To sing of him, or evermore be mute:
Let muddy Lake, delight the sensuall thought,
Loath thou the earth, and lift thy selfe aloft.
The cunning'st Artist ere he can, (we see)
Some rarest Modell bring to his Intent,
Much heweth off in Superfluitie:
And many a pretious hower, I know is lost,
Ere ought is wrought to countervaile the cost.
Movére levissima sensum.
The Tortoise liues within her armed shell,
That if wee lay the lightest straw aloft,
Or touch that Castle wherein she doth dwell,
Shee feeles the same and quickly doth retire,
A worke of Nature we do most admire,
To make the worst of matters vaine and light,
And for a straw will take occasion,
In choller moou'd to quarrell and to fight,
Then meddle thou the least for feare of wrong,
But most of all beware a lavish tongue.
Negatur vtrumque.
For we welnigh haue finished our taske,
Thy tender hand could never Mattock vse,
Full well I wot, nor canst thou humblie aske
At greatnes gate, or for reversions sue,
As beggars, and the basely minded doe.
To haue a home, and somewhat of thine owne,
To keepe thy selfe from hunger and the cold,
And where thou maiest in quiet sing alone:
For thinke it hell, to liue as bird in cage,
At others curt'sie, in thy latter age.
Sorte, aut Labore.
With meanes to liue, or answere thy desire,
With cheerefull heart, on labour set thy rest,
To bring to passe the thing thou dost require,
For lot, or labour, must our calling giue,
And find the word, that all doe seeke, TO LIVE.
By death, by dowries, even when least they thought,
The Lord a blessing, still to labour sendes,
When lightly come, doth lightly goe as oft:
And goodes ill got, by vse, and wicked gaine,
Doe seldome to the second heire remaine.
Amicitiæ effigies.
Of youthfull hew, arraied all in greene,
Which of the people was TRVE-FRENDSHIP nam'd:
Winter and Sommer, on his brow were seene:
Within his breast, his heart did plaine appeare,
Whereon these wordes were written, Farre, and Neere.
To testifie in life and death his loue,
That farre and neere, with open heart do show,
Nor place, nor space, true frendship should remoue:
Winter and sommer, whatsoever came,
In faire or foule, we should be still the same.
Nulli penetrabilis.
With vncouth pathes, and hidden waies vnknowne:
Resembling CHAOS, or the hideous night,
Or those sad Groues, by banke of ACHERON
With banefull Ewe, and Ebon overgrowne:
Whose thickest boughes, and inmost entries are
Not peirceable, to power of any starre.
To warne the what (if not) thou oughtst to be,
Thus inward close, vnsearch'd with outward eies,
With thousand angles, light should never see:
For fooles that most are open-hearted free,
Vnto the world, their weakenes doe bewray,
And to the net, the first themselues betray.
Vnum, et semel.
Where thou by God the owners leaue dost walke,
And art allow'd in all varietie,
One only flower to crop from tender stalke,
(As thou thinkst good) for beautie or the smell,
Or some one else, whose beautie doth exell.
And honest course wherein to leade thy life,
Thy selfe applieng carefully to it,
Or else the heedie choosing of thy wife:
Wherein thou wisely dost thy selfe preferre,
Or to thy ruine ever after, erre.
In Requie, Labor.
The golden meane we prooue to be the best,
Let idle fits refresh thy daylie paine,
And with some Labour exercise thy rest,
For overmuch of either, duls the spright,
And robs our life, of comfort and delight.
Withdraw thy selfe, and be thou least alone,
Even when alone, as SOLON oft did vse,
For no such frend to Contemplation,
And our sweete studies, as the private life,
Remote from Citie, and the vulgar strife.
Rura mihi et silentium.
And as thy birth, so hadst thy beeing free,
The Citie thou shouldst bid adieu, my Muse,
And from her streetes, as her infection flee:
Where CHAOS and CONFVSION wee see,
A swell of language, as of differing heartes,
A bodie severed in a thousand parts.
Some shadie groue, vpon the THAMES faire side,
Such as we may neere princely RICHMOND see,
Or where a long doth siluer SEVERNE slide,
Or AVON courtes, faire FLORA in her pride:
There shouldst thou sit at long desired rest,
And thinke thy selfe, aboue a Monarch blest,
And turne at quiet ore some holy booke;
Or tune the Accent of thy harmelesse laies
Vnto the murmur of the gentle brooke:
Whiles round about thy greedy eie doth looke,
Obseruing wonders in some flower by,
This bent, that leafe, this worme, that butterflie.
On some faire Mountaine, in a Summers night,
In spangles there embraudered is the BEARE,
And here the FISH, there THESEVS louer bright,
The watry HYADS, here deceiue our sight,
ERIDANOS, and there ORION bound,
Another way the silver SWANNE is found.
Step but aside into the neighbour spring,
Thou shalt a thousand wing'd Musitians heare,
Each praising in his kind the heauenly King:
Here PHILOMEL, doth her shrill Treble sing,
The THRVSH a Tenor, off a little space,
Some matelesse DOVE, doth murmur out the Base.
Obserue the Mill, the Crane, or Country Cart,
Wherein with pleasure, soone thou shalt discerne
The groundes, and vse of this admired Art,
The rules of NVMBRING, for the greatest part,
As they were first devis'd by Country Swaines,
So still the Art with them entire remaines.
Thy Garden fore the Pothecaries shoppe,
Where wholesome herbes, shall it at full repaire,
Before a Quint'sence, or an oily droppe:
There groweth the Balme, there shooteth Endiue vp:
Here Pæonte for th' Epilepsie good,
There Dill, and Hysope, best to stanch the bloud.
The Smallage, for a bruise, or swelling best,
The Mercurie, the formost in the Pot,
The Lavander, beloued for the Chest,
The Costmarie, to entertaine the guest,
The Rosemarie, and Fenel, seldome set,
The lowlie Daisie, and sweete Violet.
With some small plot, where Natures skill is showen,
Perfuming sweetely all the neighbour aire,
While thousand cullors in a night are blowne:
Here's a light Crimson, there a deeper one,
A Maidens blush, here Purples, there a white,
Then all commingled for our more delight.
Here, painted Lectures of Gods sacred will,
The Daisie, teacheth lowlines of mind,
The Camomill, we should be patient still,
The Rue, our hate of vices poison ill,
The Woodbine, that we should our frendship hold,
Our Hope, the Sav'rie, in the bitterst cold.
Of all good Artes, and faire Civillitie:
Where though with good, be intermix't the worse,
That most disturbe our sweete Tranquillitie:
Content thy selfe, till thine Abillitie,
And better hap, shall answere thy desire,
But Muse beware, least we too high aspire.
Omnis a Deo Sapientia.
But very straunge, conceiu'd within his head,
And knowing not, his burthen how to yeeld,
Lo! MVLCIBER doth bring the God abed,
By cutting with an Axe, his skull in two,
When issueth PALLAS forth, with much adoe.
Which not from Nature, and our selues proceedes,
But is from God, immediately sent,
(For in our selues, how little goodnes breedes)
That threefold power of the Soule againe
Resembling God, resideth in our braine.
That without helpe of Art, no fruite they bring,
Whose Midwife must be toile, and endlesse care,
And Constancie, effecting every thing:
And those who wanting Eloquence, are mute,
Some other way like IOVE, must yeeld their fruite.
Divina misericordia.
PROMETHEVS heart with teene doth præy vpon,
But this example doth admonish thee
On wretches poore to haue compassion:
To pitie those, on whome doth fortune frowne,
And Tyrant-like, not more to crush them downe.
Nature, and Reason, bids vs doe the like,
Yea though our foes, doe fall into our handes,
Wee should haue mercie, not in malice strike:
Who helpes the sick, and pities the oppressed,
He liues to God, and doubtlesse dieth blessed.
Homo Microcosmus.
A little world? and what the wiser ment
By this new name? two lights Cœlestiall
Are in his head, as in the Element:
Eke as the wearied Sunne at night is spent,
So seemeth but the life of man a day,
At morne hee's borne, at night he flits away.
So likewise man we see breath's whot and cold,
His bodie's earthy: in his lunges inclosed,
Remaines the Aire: his braine doth moisture hold,
His heart and liver, doe the heate infold:
Of Earth, Fire, Water, Man thus framed is,
Of Elements the threefold Qualities.
Vnto the SPRING, so YOVTH we liken may
To lazie SVMMER, whot devoid of care:
His middle Age to AVTVMNE, his decay
To WINTER, snowie white, and frostie gray,
For then his vigor failes, his heate is cold,
And like the saplesse Oake he dieth old.
Vini natura.
Best BACCHVS Ivie thy faire brow befits,Thy winges withall, that proud Gorgonean horse:
Because thou addest vigor to our wits,
Heate to our blood, vnto our bodie force:
Mirth to our heartes, vnto the dullard spright
A quick Invention, to the Sence delight.
Vnum alam.
With cunning skill, to prune, and when to plant,
Must lop the Tree where ranck abundance growes,
Aswell as helpe the barren in her want:
Else happilie, when Summer season's past,
With leaues he may goe satisfie his tast.
With many fancies but it selfe deceiues:
And while it seemes in sundry Artes profound,
In no one good it's fruitfull, but in leaues:
Then some one calling choose, whence good may growe,
And let the rest, as needelesse branches goe.
Terminus.
In former times, which TERMINVS they nam'd:
And was esteem'd, a God of every one:
The vpper part, was like a woman fram'd,
Of comely feature downe vnto the brest,
Of Marble hard a Pillar was the rest.
He bad this God remooue, and get him gone,
But TERMINVS as stoutly did neglect
His heste, and answer'd, I giue place to none:
I am the bound of thinges, which God aboue
Hath fixt, and none is able to remooue.
Fortuna maior.
And vnder keepes, like HERCVLES in aw,
The meaning is, the wise and valiant mind,
In Povertie esteemes not Fate a straw:
And though a while this angry Goddesse frowne,
She vtterlie shall never cast him downe.
Convenient foode and raiment for the back:
And libertie to liue, not like a slaue
Here in this world, she little else doth lack:
But can contented in her cottage sing,
In greater safetie, then the greatest King.
Nec in vna sede morantur.
By powerfull might, great'st Monarches to obay:
Loue, where he listeth, liketh best to dwell,
And take abroade his fortune as he may:
Ne might, or gold, can winne him thence away,
Whereto he is through strong affection led,
Be it a Pallace, or the simplest shedde.
Imperious feare from my sweete Saint remooue,
And with thy soft Ambrosial kisses, breath
Into her bosome meeke, and mildest Loue
With melting Pitie, from thy Queene aboue:
That she may reade, and oft remember this,
And learne to loue, who most beloued is.
Super terram peregrinans.
Ne ought he claimeth iustly as his owne:
But as a Pilgrim wandring from his birth
In Countries straunge, and Deserts wild vnknowne,
Like RECHABITE, or those Tartarian HORDES,
Whose vastest Region but a Tent affordes.
Our inward wantes, ere hence we flit away:
And hide in Heauen, that treasure carefully,
Which neither Moth, nor Canker shall decaie:
In following state, eke not to spend our stock,
Where oft for merit, we but gaine a mock.
Sapientiam, Avaritia, et Dolus, decipiunt.
And in a snare, thus brought thee to distresse:
The wisest now I see may be entrapt,
And Vertue stoope to Fortunes ficklenesse:
Nor Scholler-ship, or wit, at all times can
From sad disaster, keepe a mortall man.
Hold thee MINERVA tangled in their snare:
For now the world, is growne to such a fashion,
That those the wisest, that the richest are,
And such by whome the simpler should be taught,
Are in the net, like PALLAS soonest caught.
Personam non animum.
A feigned Zeale of Sanctitie within,
Eschew betime, nor haue with such to doe,
Whose hoodes are but the harbour of their Sinne,
And humblest habits, but a false disguise,
To cloke their hate, or hidden villanies.
So arm'd with malice, thirstie after blood,
To high estate aspiring, as they are,
The worst of men, nay man it is too good.
Where LVCIFER did openly rebell
To God, these Traitors even within the Cell.
Honores isti aliunde.
That most imagine Honours bring with them,
We pick from others praises here and there,
So patch herewith an Indian Diadem
Of Parrats feathers, vocall favours light,
And Plumes indeede, whereto we haue no right.
Nor he that can commaund a numerous traine,
Nor he to whome the vulgar lout so low,
Nor he that followes Fashion light and vaine,
Saluting windowes, and around doth wheele,
Like VRSA MAIOR, starres from head to heele.
The Glories which his Ancestors haue wonne,
By Cowardise, or vicious liuing base,
Ne wrong for Passion, or Affect hath done:
In whome at once, Artes, Bountie, Valour, dwell.
Contending each which other should excell.
Non alit, enecat.
By PENEVS streame, the Muses chast delight,
Oft water'd by the NAIAD'S of the flood,
And oft reviued by her Louer bright,
The Waue assaileth with her swelling might,
And overthrowes in time, (but who doth know
Their miserie, that neere to Greatnes grow.)
In former times that flourished at will,
Now wash'd and worne by some, even to the heartes,
Who should haue succour'd and vpheld them still,
Who eate the Corne, but throw the Chaffe to Skill:
And what the Church had once to holy vses,
Serues them to pride, and all prophane abuses.
Minimus in summo.
And bid thee not on greatnes BASE to feare,
Let not with that preferment thou hast gain'd,
Vnwonted Pride, or Insolence appeare:
But how much higher thou art plac'd in sight,
So much the lesse affect thy state and might.
And like false mirrours, make vs seeme too greate,
Vpborne by vulgar breath, (the vainest thing,)
Till all be melted by the Soveraigne heate:
That left abandon'd, in a trustlesse aire,
We drowne within an Ocean of dispaire.
Nil viribus impar.
Ere thou attempt'st a buisines of weight,
By triall made of wit, thy wealth, or frend,
Who can advise, or iudge of thy conceipt:
Thou else but hastest, to thy losse and shame,
While abler Iudgments, beare away the game.
And greatest Clerkes in vaine opinions err'd,
And wits too heavy-rancke beene overthrowne,
Who else in time, mought well haue beene preferr'd:
Withall we taxe, the glorious foole that crakes,
Yet good at nothing, that he vndertakes.
Sic bellica virtus.
By vertuous deede to make their prowesse knowne,
Who not of Fathers Actes ambitious are,
But of the braue Atcheiuements of their owne,
Thus as their Ensignes folded vp vnshowne,
In Peace reiected, or forgotten lie:
Till new Alarmes, advance them out on high.
Then rateth Valour at her weight in gold,
For though the ease-full world her merit slight,
She seees aloofe the storme. How Malice old
Plaies loose a while to get the better hold,
And bids vs arme, when least we thinke of knocks,
For Foes asleepe, (they say) the Divell rocks,
Tantó dulcius.
Twixt louing Bretheren, or the private frend,
Doe proue (we say) the deadliest of all:
Yet if compos'd by concord, in the end
They relish sweeter, by how much the more,
The Iarres were harsh, and discordant before.
In thee sweete MVSICK, Natures chast delight,
The Banquets frend, and Ladie of the Quire;
Phisition to the melancholly spright:
Mild Nurse of Pietie, ill vices foe;
Our Passions Queene, and Soule of All below.
Per far denari.
And tire himselfe in bodie and in minde,
To gather that by all devises vile,
He must be faine ere long to leaue behinde:
All shapes like PROTEVS gladly entertaines,
No matter what, so that they bring the gaines.
Plaine dealing in the Countrie where he dwells,
Then Gravitie among the wiser sort,
Where Fooles are rife, his Follie most excells:
Thus every way transforme himselfe he can
Saue one, in time to turne an honest man.
Aula.
And loues that life, which few account the best,
In hope at length vnto his heigth to clime,
By good desert, or thorough Fortune blest,
May here behold the Modell of his blisse,
And what his life, in summe and substance is.
Whose youthfull Cheeke, doth beare a louely blush,
And as no niggard of her courtesie,
She beares about a Holy-water brush:
Where with her bountie round about she throwes,
Faire promises, good wordes, and gallant showes.
With th' other hand, a paire of Stocks she opes,
To shew her bondage: on her feete she weares
Lead-shoes, as waiting long vpon her Hopes:
And by her doth the fawning Spaniel lie,
The Princes bane, the marke of Flatterie.
The Authors Conclusion.
The Windes did cease, and Cloudes were fled,
AVRORA scattered PHOEBVS haire,
New risen from her Rosie bed:
At whose appoach the Harlot strew,
Both meade, and mountaine, with her flowers:
While ZEPHYRE, sweetest odours threw,
About the feildes, and leavie bowers.
No tend'rest twigge, was seene to mooue,
The Beast lay couched on the ground,
The winged People perch'd aboue,
Saue PHILOMEL, who did renew,
Her wonted plaintes vnto the Morne,
That seem'd indeede, her state to rue,
By shedding teares vpon the Thorne.
Was shew'd (me thought) a goodlie plaine,
With all the store of Nature blest,
And situate within the Maine,
With Rocks about environ'd quite,
But inward round, in rowes there stood,
Aswell for profit, as delight,
The Trees of Orchard, and the Wood.
To DODONÆAN IOVE adioin'd,
And there the loftie Pine did grow,
That winged flies before the Wind:
LEVCOTHOE that wounded bleedes,
Nor wanting was, nor that same Tree,
That beares the staine, in fruite and seedes,
Of THISBES woefull Tragœdie.
And there the Beech was also plac't,
That gaue the golden Age her foode:
Though we esteeme it, but as mast;
The Walnut, praised for her hew,
The Ash, the best for helue, and staues,
The Eugh, vnto the bender trew,
The Sallow soft, that water craues.
The Persian Peach, and fruitefull Quince:
And there the forward Almond grew,
With Cherries knowne no long time since:
The VVinter-Warden, Orchards pride,
The PHILIBERT, that loues the vale,
And red Queene-Apple, so envi'de,
Of Schooleboies, passing by the pale.
Vpon the which the Aëry crew,
Each in his kind, and order sat,
And did his wonted note renew;
The long-liu'd Eagle, IOVE forsooke,
And hither in a moment flew,
Who to the Oake, himselfe betooke,
As King, his multitude to view.
Displaid her ARGVS hundred eies;
By him sat perched on a spray,
The Swanne, that sweetly singing dies:
The Crane, who Centinell hath stood,
The Herne, high'st soarer in our sight,
The Pheasaunt fetch'd from PHASIS flood,
With Faulcon for the Kings delight.
The losse of his beloued mate,
And so did THRACIAN Philomel,
In sweetest tunes, her bitter Fate:
Ne wanted there the envious Stare,
The theevish Chough, and prating Iay,
The Raile, and frostie Feldefare,
And Larke abroade by breake of day.
That rais'd it selfe, of softest grasse,
No Velvet smoother spred on ground,
Or Em'rald greener ever was:
In mid'st there sate a beauteous Dame,
(Not PAPHOS Queene, so faire a wight)
For Roses by, did blush for shame,
To see a purer, red and white.
And deepest Crimson she was clad:
Then diaper'd with golden twine,
Aloft a Mantle greene she had,
Whereon were wrought, with rarest skill
Faire Cities, Castles, Rivers, Woods;
And here, and there, emboss'd a hill
With Fountaines, and the Nymphes of Floods.
Did over all, it selfe extend,
Whereon in sparkling Diamonds,
SAINT GEORGE, her Patrone did depend;
A Crowne Imperial on her head,
One hand a bright drawne Sword did hold,
The other (most that made her dredd,)
Three Scepters of the finest gold.
Rich Trophæies, and victorious spoiles,
Atchieued by her might abroad:
Her name is EMPRESSE OF THE ILES:
There Charriots were, that once she wanne,
From CÆSAR, ere she was betraid,
With standards gat from Pagans, whan
She lent the Holy Land her aide.
Swordes, Battle-axes, Cannons Slinges,
With th' Armes of PORTVGAL, and FRAVNCE,
And Crownets of her pettie Kinges:
High-feathered Helmets for the Tilt,
Bowes, Steelie Targets cleft in twaine:
Coates, Cornets, Armours richly guilt,
With tatterd Ensignes out of SPAINE.
(Whereon full oft she cast her eie,)
Hung silver Sheildes, by three and three,
With Pencill limned curiouslie:
Wherein were drawne with skilfull tuch,
Impresa's, and Devises rare,
Of all her gallant Knightes, and such
As Actors in her Conquestes were.
As pleased their Invention best,
(For wit of woman, much can doe;)
Were fastned vp among the rest,
In sundry tongues, whose Motto's old,
And names, though scarcely could be read,
She wishd their Glories mought be told,
To after times, though they were dead.
With that victorious Prince his sonne:
Next valiant Iohn of Lancaster,
That Spaine, with English overran:
And those braue spirits Marshalled,
The first that of the Garter were,
All Souldiers, none to Carpet bred,
Whose names to tell I must forbeare.
Fift Henries Beacon flaming bright,
Yorkes Locke, that did the Falcon shroude,
Was here, so were his Roses white:
The Marshal Movbraie Norfolkes Duke,
Yet liuing in great Hovvards blood,
With valiant Bedford, Symboles tooke
As pleas'd them, to adorne the Wood.
And noblest Talbot, scourge of Fravnce,
With Nevills whome could nought dismay,
Left Reliques of their Puissance:
The loyal Vere, and Clifford stout,
Greate Strongbovves heire, with Bovrchier, Gray,
Braue Falconbridge, and Montacvte:
Couragious Ormond, Lisle, and Say.
That to haue seene each one's devise,
How liuely limn'd, how well appli'de,
You were the while in Paradise:
Another side she did ordaine,
To some late dead, some liuing yet,
Who seru'd Eliza in her raigne,
And worthily had honour'd it.
Her owne deare Phoenix hovering,
Whereat, me thought, in melting Loue,
Apace with teares mine eies did spring;
But Foole, while I aloft did looke,
For her that was to Heauen flowne,
This goodly place, my sight forsooke,
And on the suddaine all was gone.
And casting vp to Heauen mine eie,
Oh God I said! where may be found,
These Patrones now of Chivalry,
“But Vertue present and secure,
“We hate, when from our knowledge hid,
“By all the meanes we her allure,
“To take her dwelling where she did.
Devises new, as well as old,
Of those braue worthies, faithfullie,
Shall in another Booke be told.
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