The Eclogues of Alexander Barclay From the original edition by John Cawood: Edited with an introduction and notes by Beatrice White |
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 | The Eclogues of Alexander Barclay |  |
The description of the Tovvre of vertue and honour, into the which the noble Hawarde contended to enter by worthy actes of chiualry.
Minalcas speaketh
High on a mountayne of highnes maruelous,
With pendant cliffes of stones harde as flent,
Is made a castell or toure moste curious,
Dreadfull vnto sight, but inwarde excellent.
Such as would enter finde paynes and torment,
So harde is the way vnto the same mountayne,
Streyght, hye and thorny, turning and different,
That many labour for to ascende in vayne.
With pendant cliffes of stones harde as flent,
Is made a castell or toure moste curious,
Dreadfull vnto sight, but inwarde excellent.
Such as would enter finde paynes and torment,
So harde is the way vnto the same mountayne,
Streyght, hye and thorny, turning and different,
That many labour for to ascende in vayne.
Who doth perseuer, and to this towre attayne,
Shall haue great pleasure to see the building olde,
Ioyned and graued, surmounting mans brayne,
And all the walles within of fynest golde,
With olde historyes, and pictures manyfolde,
Glistering as bright as Phebus orient,
With marble pillers the building to vpholde,
About be turrets of shape moste excellent.
Shall haue great pleasure to see the building olde,
Ioyned and graued, surmounting mans brayne,
And all the walles within of fynest golde,
With olde historyes, and pictures manyfolde,
Glistering as bright as Phebus orient,
With marble pillers the building to vpholde,
About be turrets of shape moste excellent.
This towre is gotten by labour diligent,
In it remayne such as haue won honoure
By holy liuing, by strength or tournament,
And moste by wisedome attayne vnto this towre:
Briefely, all people of godly behauour,
By rightwise battayle, Iustice and equitie,
Or that in mercy hath had a chiefe pleasour:
In it haue rowmes eche after his degree,
In it remayne such as haue won honoure
By holy liuing, by strength or tournament,
And moste by wisedome attayne vnto this towre:
Briefely, all people of godly behauour,
By rightwise battayle, Iustice and equitie,
Or that in mercy hath had a chiefe pleasour:
In it haue rowmes eche after his degree,
This goodly Castell (thus shining in beautie)
Is named Castell of vertue and honour,
In it eyght Henry is in his maiestie
Moste hye enhaunsed as ought a conquerour:
In it remayneth the worthy gouernour,
A stocke and fountayne of noble progeny,
Moste noble Hawarde the duke and protectour,
Named of Northfolke the floure of chiualry.
Is named Castell of vertue and honour,
In it eyght Henry is in his maiestie
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In it remayneth the worthy gouernour,
A stocke and fountayne of noble progeny,
Moste noble Hawarde the duke and protectour,
Named of Northfolke the floure of chiualry.
Here is the Talbot manfull and hardy,
With other princes and men of dignitie,
Which to win honour do all their might apply,
Supporting Iustice, concorde and equitie:
The manly Corson within this towre I see,
These haue we seene eche one in his estate,
With many other of hye and meane degree,
For marciall actes with crownes laureate.
With other princes and men of dignitie,
Which to win honour do all their might apply,
Supporting Iustice, concorde and equitie:
The manly Corson within this towre I see,
These haue we seene eche one in his estate,
With many other of hye and meane degree,
For marciall actes with crownes laureate.
Of this stronge castell is porter at the gate
Strong sturdy labour, much like a champion,
But goodly vertue a lady moste ornate
Within gouerneth with great prouision:
But of this castell in the moste hyest trone
Is honour shining in rowme imperiall,
Which vnrewarded of them leaueth not one
That come by labour and vertue principall.
Strong sturdy labour, much like a champion,
But goodly vertue a lady moste ornate
Within gouerneth with great prouision:
But of this castell in the moste hyest trone
Is honour shining in rowme imperiall,
Which vnrewarded of them leaueth not one
That come by labour and vertue principall.
Fearefull is labour without fauour at all,
Dreadfull of visage, a monster intreatable,
Like Cerberus lying at gates infernall,
To some men his looke is halfe intollerable,
His shoulders large, for burthen strong and able,
His body bristled, his necke mightie and stiffe,
By sturdy senewes his ioyntes stronge and stable,
Like marble stones his handes be as stiffe.
Dreadfull of visage, a monster intreatable,
Like Cerberus lying at gates infernall,
To some men his looke is halfe intollerable,
His shoulders large, for burthen strong and able,
His body bristled, his necke mightie and stiffe,
By sturdy senewes his ioyntes stronge and stable,
Like marble stones his handes be as stiffe.
Here must man vanquishe the dragon of Cadmus,
Against the Chimer here stoutly must he fight,
Here must he vanquish the fearefull Pegasus,
For the golden flece here must he shewe his might:
If labour gaynsay, he can nothing be right,
This monster labour oft chaungeth his figure,
Sometime an oxe, a bore, or lion wight
Playnely he seeme[t]h, thus chaungeth his nature.
Against the Chimer here stoutly must he fight,
Here must he vanquish the fearefull Pegasus,
For the golden flece here must he shewe his might:
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This monster labour oft chaungeth his figure,
Sometime an oxe, a bore, or lion wight
Playnely he seeme[t]h, thus chaungeth his nature.
Like as Protheus oft chaunged his stature,
Mutable of figure oft times in one houre,
When Aristeus in bondes had him sure:
To diuers figures likewise chaungeth labour,
Under his browes he dreadfully doth loure,
With glistering eyen, and side dependaunt beard,
For thirst and hunger alway his chere is soure,
His horned forehead doth make faynt heartes feard.
Mutable of figure oft times in one houre,
When Aristeus in bondes had him sure:
To diuers figures likewise chaungeth labour,
Under his browes he dreadfully doth loure,
With glistering eyen, and side dependaunt beard,
For thirst and hunger alway his chere is soure,
His horned forehead doth make faynt heartes feard.
Alway he drinketh, and yet alway is drye,
The sweat distilling with droppes aboundaunt,
His breast and forehead doth humours multiply
By sweating showres, yet is this payne pleasaunt:
Of day and night his resting time is scant,
No day ouerpasseth exempt of busynes,
His sight infourmeth the rude and ignorant,
Who dare perseuer, he geueth them riches.
The sweat distilling with droppes aboundaunt,
His breast and forehead doth humours multiply
By sweating showres, yet is this payne pleasaunt:
Of day and night his resting time is scant,
No day ouerpasseth exempt of busynes,
His sight infourmeth the rude and ignorant,
Who dare perseuer, he geueth them riches.
None he auaunceth but after stedfastnes,
Of litle burthen his bely is, and small,
His mighty thyes his vigour doth expres,
His shankes sturdy, and large feete withall:
By wrath he rageth, and still doth chide and brall,
Such as would enter repelling with his crye,
As well estates as homely men rurall
At the first entry he threatneth yrefully.
Of litle burthen his bely is, and small,
His mighty thyes his vigour doth expres,
His shankes sturdy, and large feete withall:
By wrath he rageth, and still doth chide and brall,
Such as would enter repelling with his crye,
As well estates as homely men rurall
At the first entry he threatneth yrefully.
I trowe olde fathers (whom men nowe magnify),
Called this monster Minerua stoute and soure,
For strength and senewes of man moste commonly
Are tame and febled by cures and laboure.
Great Hercules the mighty conquerour
Was by this monster ouercome and superate,
All if he before vnto his great honour
The sonne of Uenus had strongly subiugate.
Called this monster Minerua stoute and soure,
For strength and senewes of man moste commonly
Are tame and febled by cures and laboure.
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Was by this monster ouercome and superate,
All if he before vnto his great honour
The sonne of Uenus had strongly subiugate.
Who would with honour be purely laureate,
Must with this monster longe time before contende,
But lightly is man ouercome and fatigate,
To lady vertue if he not well intende:
When strength is febled she helpeth at the ende,
Opening the gates and passage to honour,
By whose assistaunce soone may a man ascende
The hye degrees of the triumphant Tour.
Must with this monster longe time before contende,
But lightly is man ouercome and fatigate,
To lady vertue if he not well intende:
When strength is febled she helpeth at the ende,
Opening the gates and passage to honour,
By whose assistaunce soone may a man ascende
The hye degrees of the triumphant Tour.
Mankinde inflamed by goodly behauour
Of lady vertue come to this towre with payne,
But for the entree pretendeth them rigour
Many one abasheth, rebuking backe agayne:
To purchase honour they would be glad and fayne,
But fearefull labour, the porter is so fell,
To them proclaiming, their enterprise is vayne,
Except they before with him contende and mell.
Of lady vertue come to this towre with payne,
But for the entree pretendeth them rigour
Many one abasheth, rebuking backe agayne:
To purchase honour they would be glad and fayne,
But fearefull labour, the porter is so fell,
To them proclaiming, their enterprise is vayne,
Except they before with him contende and mell.
Here moste of all muste mans might excell
With stedfast courage and sure perseueraunce,
Els shall this monster him backe agayne repell,
But man preuayleth by long continuaunce.
No costly treasour nor Iewell of pleasaunce
Without price or payne can man in earth come by:
So without labour doth vertue none aduaunce
To parfite honour and noble seignory.
With stedfast courage and sure perseueraunce,
Els shall this monster him backe agayne repell,
But man preuayleth by long continuaunce.
No costly treasour nor Iewell of pleasaunce
Without price or payne can man in earth come by:
So without labour doth vertue none aduaunce
To parfite honour and noble seignory.
Faynt cowarde mindes soone at the first escry
Of sturdie labour, fall to the grounde as lame,
Els runne they backwarde fast fleing cowardly,
As hartles wretches caring nothing for shame:
But noble heartes to win immortall name,
Fight at these gates till they ouercome labour,
Then lady vertue with good report and fame
Suche knightes gideth to laude and hye honour.
Of sturdie labour, fall to the grounde as lame,
Els runne they backwarde fast fleing cowardly,
As hartles wretches caring nothing for shame:
But noble heartes to win immortall name,
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Then lady vertue with good report and fame
Suche knightes gideth to laude and hye honour.
But cruell fortune to some is harde and soure,
That after trauell and many deadly wounde,
When lady vertue should graunt to them this toure
Then frowarde fortune them beateth to the ground:
Of this examples ouer many do abounde,
But chiefly this one, the noble lorde Hawarde,
When he chiefe honour was worthy to haue founde,
False death and fortune bereft him his rewarde.
That after trauell and many deadly wounde,
When lady vertue should graunt to them this toure
Then frowarde fortune them beateth to the ground:
Of this examples ouer many do abounde,
But chiefly this one, the noble lorde Hawarde,
When he chiefe honour was worthy to haue founde,
False death and fortune bereft him his rewarde.
Longe he contended in battayle strong and harde,
With payne and labour, with might repelling wrong,
No backe he turned as doth some faint cowarde,
But with this monster boldly contended long,
When he had broken the locke and doores stronge,
Ouercome the porter, and should ascende the toure,
To liue in honour hye conquerours amonge,
Then cruell fortune and death did him deuoure.
With payne and labour, with might repelling wrong,
No backe he turned as doth some faint cowarde,
But with this monster boldly contended long,
When he had broken the locke and doores stronge,
Ouercome the porter, and should ascende the toure,
To liue in honour hye conquerours amonge,
Then cruell fortune and death did him deuoure.
Though he were borne to glory and honour,
Of auncient stocke and noble progenie,
Yet thought his courage to be of more valour,
By his owne actes and noble chiualry.
Like as becommeth a knight to fortifye
His princes quarell with right and equitie,
So did this hawarde with courage valiauntly,
Till death abated his bolde audacitie.
Of auncient stocke and noble progenie,
Yet thought his courage to be of more valour,
By his owne actes and noble chiualry.
Like as becommeth a knight to fortifye
His princes quarell with right and equitie,
So did this hawarde with courage valiauntly,
Till death abated his bolde audacitie.
O happy Samson more fortunate then he
Onely in strength, but not in hye courage,
O cruell fortune why durst thy crueltie
This floure of knighthood to slea in lusty age,
Thou hast debated the floure of his linage,
If thou had mercy bewayle his death thou might,
For cruell lions and mo beastes sauage
Long time not ceased for to bewayle this knight,
Onely in strength, but not in hye courage,
O cruell fortune why durst thy crueltie
This floure of knighthood to slea in lusty age,
Thou hast debated the floure of his linage,
If thou had mercy bewayle his death thou might,
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Long time not ceased for to bewayle this knight,
[O] death thou haste done agaynst both lawe and right
To spare a cowarde without daunger or wounde,
And thus soone to quench of chiualry the light,
O death enuious moste enemie to our grounde,
What moste auayleth thou soonest doest confounde:
Why did not vertue assist hir champion?
Thou might haue ayded, for soothly thou was bounde,
For during his life he loued thee alone,
To spare a cowarde without daunger or wounde,
And thus soone to quench of chiualry the light,
O death enuious moste enemie to our grounde,
What moste auayleth thou soonest doest confounde:
Why did not vertue assist hir champion?
Thou might haue ayded, for soothly thou was bounde,
For during his life he loued thee alone,
O God almightie in thy eternall trone,
To whom all vertue is deare and acceptable,
If reason suffred to thee our crye and mone,
This dede might impute and fortune lamentable,
Thou might haue left vs this knight moste honorable,
Our wealth and honour to haue kept in degree:
Alas why hath death so false and disceyuable,
Mankinde to torment this will and libertie?
To whom all vertue is deare and acceptable,
If reason suffred to thee our crye and mone,
This dede might impute and fortune lamentable,
Thou might haue left vs this knight moste honorable,
Our wealth and honour to haue kept in degree:
Alas why hath death so false and disceyuable,
Mankinde to torment this will and libertie?
It quencheth vertue, sparing iniquitie,
The best it striketh, of bad hauing disdayne,
No helpe nor comfort hath our aduersitie,
Death dayly striketh though dayly we complayne:
To treate a tiran it is but thing in vayne,
Mekenes prouoketh his wrath and tiranny,
So at our prayer death hath the more disdayne,
We do by mekenes his furour multiply.
The best it striketh, of bad hauing disdayne,
No helpe nor comfort hath our aduersitie,
Death dayly striketh though dayly we complayne:
To treate a tiran it is but thing in vayne,
Mekenes prouoketh his wrath and tiranny,
So at our prayer death hath the more disdayne,
We do by mekenes his furour multiply.
If some fell tiran replete with villany
Should thus haue ending the dede were commendable;
But a stoute captayne disposed to mercy
So soone thus faded, the case is lamentable,
Was he not humble, iocunde and companable,
No man despising, and first in all labour,
Right wise with mercy debonair and tretable,
Mate and companion with euery souldier.
Should thus haue ending the dede were commendable;
But a stoute captayne disposed to mercy
So soone thus faded, the case is lamentable,
Was he not humble, iocunde and companable,
No man despising, and first in all labour,
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Mate and companion with euery souldier.
Uice he subdued by goodly behauour,
Like as a rider doth a wilde stede subdue,
His body subiect, his soule was gouernour,
From vice withdrawen to goodnes and vertue,
When pride rebelled mekenes did it eschue,
Free minde and almes subdued auarice:
Alway he noted this saying iuste and true,
That noble mindes despised couetise.
Like as a rider doth a wilde stede subdue,
His body subiect, his soule was gouernour,
From vice withdrawen to goodnes and vertue,
When pride rebelled mekenes did it eschue,
Free minde and almes subdued auarice:
Alway he noted this saying iuste and true,
That noble mindes despised couetise.
His death declareth that slouth he did despise,
By hardie courage as fyrst in ieopardie,
Alway he vsed some noble exercise,
Suche as belongeth to worthy chiualrie,
In him was there founde no sparkle of enuy,
Alway he lauded and praysed worthynes,
Suche as were doughtie rewarding largely,
Wrath saue in season he wisely coulde repres.
By hardie courage as fyrst in ieopardie,
Alway he vsed some noble exercise,
Suche as belongeth to worthy chiualrie,
In him was there founde no sparkle of enuy,
Alway he lauded and praysed worthynes,
Suche as were doughtie rewarding largely,
Wrath saue in season he wisely coulde repres.
Of wine or Bacchus despised he excesse,
For mindes kindled to actes marciall,
Seking for honour and name of doughtinesse,
Despiseth surfet and liuing bestiall,
In him no power hath luste venereall,
For busy labour and pleasaunt abstinence
All corporall lust soone causeth for to fall,
No lust subdueth where reigneth diligence.
For mindes kindled to actes marciall,
Seking for honour and name of doughtinesse,
Despiseth surfet and liuing bestiall,
In him no power hath luste venereall,
For busy labour and pleasaunt abstinence
All corporall lust soone causeth for to fall,
No lust subdueth where reigneth diligence.
He was a piller of sober countenaunce,
His onely treasour and iewell was good name,
But O cursed death thy wrathfull violence,
By stroke vnwarned halfe blinded of his fame,
Whom may I accuse, whom may I put in blame,
God for death, or fortune, or impotent nature,
God doth his pleasour, and death will haue the same,
Nature was mightie longe able to endure,
His onely treasour and iewell was good name,
But O cursed death thy wrathfull violence,
By stroke vnwarned halfe blinded of his fame,
Whom may I accuse, whom may I put in blame,
God for death, or fortune, or impotent nature,
God doth his pleasour, and death will haue the same,
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In fortune is the fault nowe am I sure,
I would if I durst his tiranny accuse:
O cursed fortune if thou be creature,
Who gaue thee power thus people to abuse.
Thy mutable might me causeth oft to muse,
When man is plunged in dolour and distresse,
Thy face thou chaungest which did earst refuse,
By sodayne chaunces him lifting to richesse.
I would if I durst his tiranny accuse:
O cursed fortune if thou be creature,
Who gaue thee power thus people to abuse.
Thy mutable might me causeth oft to muse,
When man is plunged in dolour and distresse,
Thy face thou chaungest which did earst refuse,
By sodayne chaunces him lifting to richesse.
And suche as longe time haue liued in noblenes
Anone thou plungest in payne and pouertie,
Wealth, honour, strength, right, iustice and goodnes,
Misery, dolour, lowe rowme, iniquitie,
These thou rewardest like as it pleaseth thee,
To mans merite without respect at all,
One this day being in great aucthoritie,
Agayne to morowe thou causest for to fall.
Anone thou plungest in payne and pouertie,
Wealth, honour, strength, right, iustice and goodnes,
Misery, dolour, lowe rowme, iniquitie,
These thou rewardest like as it pleaseth thee,
To mans merite without respect at all,
One this day being in great aucthoritie,
Agayne to morowe thou causest for to fall.
When man is worthy a rowme imperiall,
On him thou glowmest with frowarde countenaunce,
Weake is thy promis reuoluing as a ball,
Thou hast no fauour to godly gouernaunce,
No man by merite thou vsest to aduaunce,
O blinded fortune ofte time infortunate,
When man thee trusteth then falleth some mischaunce,
Unwarely chaunging his fortune and estate.
On him thou glowmest with frowarde countenaunce,
Weake is thy promis reuoluing as a ball,
Thou hast no fauour to godly gouernaunce,
No man by merite thou vsest to aduaunce,
O blinded fortune ofte time infortunate,
When man thee trusteth then falleth some mischaunce,
Unwarely chaunging his fortune and estate.
Tell me frayle fortune, why did thou breuiate
The liuing season of suche a captayne,
That when his actes ought to be laureate
Thy fauour turned him suffring to be slayne?
I blame thee fortune and thee excuse agayne,
For though thy fauour to him was rigorous,
Suche is thy custome for to be vncertayne,
And namely when man is hye and glorious.
The liuing season of suche a captayne,
That when his actes ought to be laureate
Thy fauour turned him suffring to be slayne?
I blame thee fortune and thee excuse agayne,
For though thy fauour to him was rigorous,
Suche is thy custome for to be vncertayne,
And namely when man is hye and glorious.
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But moste worthy duke hye and victorious,
Respire to comfort, see the vncertentie
Of other princes, whose fortune prosperous
Oftetime haue ended in harde aduersitie:
Read of Pompeius whose pereles dignitie
Agaynst great Cesar did wealth of Rome defende,
Whom after fortune brought in captiuitie,
And he in Egipt was headed at the ende.
Respire to comfort, see the vncertentie
Of other princes, whose fortune prosperous
Oftetime haue ended in harde aduersitie:
Read of Pompeius whose pereles dignitie
Agaynst great Cesar did wealth of Rome defende,
Whom after fortune brought in captiuitie,
And he in Egipt was headed at the ende.
In likewise Cesar which did with him contende
When all the worlde to him was subiugate,
From his hye honour did sodenly descende,
Murdred in Rome by chaunce infortunate.
Cato and Seneke, with Tully laureate,
These and mo like for all their sapience
Hath proued fortune, sore blinding their estate,
By wrongfull slaunders and deadly violence.
When all the worlde to him was subiugate,
From his hye honour did sodenly descende,
Murdred in Rome by chaunce infortunate.
Cato and Seneke, with Tully laureate,
These and mo like for all their sapience
Hath proued fortune, sore blinding their estate,
By wrongfull slaunders and deadly violence.
To poore and riche it hath no difference,
Olde Policrates supposing perill past,
With death dishonest ended his excellence,
Great Alexander by fortune was downe cast,
One draught of poyson him filled at the last,
Whom all the worlde earst could not saciate:
What is all honour and power but a blast,
When fortune threatneth the life to breuiate.
Olde Policrates supposing perill past,
With death dishonest ended his excellence,
Great Alexander by fortune was downe cast,
One draught of poyson him filled at the last,
Whom all the worlde earst could not saciate:
What is all honour and power but a blast,
When fortune threatneth the life to breuiate.
Beholde on Pirrus the king infortunate
With a small stone dead prostrate vpon the grounde,
See Ualerian brought downe from his estate,
From his empire in Percy thrall and bounde.
Of olde Priamus it is in writing founde,
Howe he by Pyrrus was in his palace slayne,
Paris and Hector receyued mortall wounde,
To trust in fortune it is a thing in vayne.
With a small stone dead prostrate vpon the grounde,
See Ualerian brought downe from his estate,
From his empire in Percy thrall and bounde.
Of olde Priamus it is in writing founde,
Howe he by Pyrrus was in his palace slayne,
Paris and Hector receyued mortall wounde,
To trust in fortune it is a thing in vayne.
The mightie Cyrus a king of Realmes twayne
Was slayne and his hoste of Thomiris the quene,
Thus is no matter of fortune to complayne,
All that newe falleth of olde time hath bene sene,
This shall be, this is, and this hath euer bene,
That boldest heartes be nearest ieopardie,
To dye in battayle is honour as men wene
To suche as haue ioy in haunting chiualry.
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Thus is no matter of fortune to complayne,
All that newe falleth of olde time hath bene sene,
This shall be, this is, and this hath euer bene,
That boldest heartes be nearest ieopardie,
To dye in battayle is honour as men wene
To suche as haue ioy in haunting chiualry.
Suche famous ending the name doth magnifie,
Note worthy duke, no cause is to complayne,
His life not ended foule nor dishonestly,
In bed nor tauerne his lustes to maynteyne,
But like as besemed a noble captayne,
In sturdie harnes he died for the right,
From deathes daunger no man may flee certayne,
But suche death is metest vnto so noble a knight.
Note worthy duke, no cause is to complayne,
His life not ended foule nor dishonestly,
In bed nor tauerne his lustes to maynteyne,
But like as besemed a noble captayne,
In sturdie harnes he died for the right,
From deathes daunger no man may flee certayne,
But suche death is metest vnto so noble a knight.
But death it to call me thinke it vnright,
Sith his worthy name shall laste perpetuall,
To all his nation example and clere light,
But to his progeny moste specially of all,
His soule is in pleasour of glory eternall,
So duke most doughty ioy may that noble tree,
Whose braunches honour shall neuer fade ne fall,
While beast is on earth or fishes in the sea.
Sith his worthy name shall laste perpetuall,
To all his nation example and clere light,
But to his progeny moste specially of all,
His soule is in pleasour of glory eternall,
So duke most doughty ioy may that noble tree,
Whose braunches honour shall neuer fade ne fall,
While beast is on earth or fishes in the sea.
Lo Codrus I here haue tolde thee by and by
Of shepheard Cornix the wofull elegy,
Wherin he mourned the greeuous payne and harde,
And laste departing of the noble lorde Hawarde,
More he indited of this good Admirall,
But truely Codrus I can not tell thee all.
Of shepheard Cornix the wofull elegy,
Wherin he mourned the greeuous payne and harde,
And laste departing of the noble lorde Hawarde,
More he indited of this good Admirall,
But truely Codrus I can not tell thee all.
Codrus
Minalcas I sweare by holy Peters cope,
180
If happy winde blowe I shall or it be longe
Comfort thy sorowe and well rewarde thy songe,
What tary man a while till better fortune come,
If my part be any then shall thy part be some.
Minalcas
If thou in purpose so to rewarde my hire,
God graunt thee Codrus thy wishing and desire.
Codrus
Forsooth Minalcas I wishe thee so in dede,
And that shalt thou knowe if fortune with me spede,
Farewell Minalcas, for this time, dieu te garde,
Neare is winter the worlde is to harde.
Minalcas
Go wretched nigarde, God sende thee care and payne,
Our Lorde let thee neuer come hither more agayne,
And as did Midas, God turne it all to golde
That euer thou touchest or shalt in handes holde,
For so muche on golde is fixed thy liking,
That thou despisest both vertue and cunning.
| The Eclogues of Alexander Barclay | |