The Poems of James VI. of Scotland :: :: University of Virginia Library

If euer I ô mightie Gods haue done yow seruice true
In setting furth by painefull pen your glorious praises due
If one the forked hill I tredd, if euer I did preasse
To drinke of the Pegasian spring, that flowes without releasse
If euer I on Pindus dwell'd, and from that sacred hill
The eares of euerie liuing thing did with your fame fullfill
Which by the trumpett of my verse I made for to resounde
From pole to pole through euerie where of this immoble rounde
Then graunte to me who patrone am of Hymens triumphe here
That all your graces may vpon this Hymens band appeare.
O sonne of Cytherea faire, and thou Thalasse withall
Graunte that this band may happelie to these coupled folkes befall
And ô Volumna prent a will into there coupled harts
Which may retaine that vnion aye, on ather of there parts
O Venus make them brooddie als for to produce with speede
Wherin they may reuiue againe a blest and happie seede
Vitunnus and Sentinus als in happie tyme indue
The childe when as it is conceau'd, with life and senses true

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O Prosa with Egeria ioyn'd, and thou Lucina bright
Her dolours make into her birth, by your assisting, light:
O thou Leuana doe with loue and cairefulnes embrace
The babe when it is borne which shoulde extend there happie race
O Vagitanus playe thy part and safelie doe it keepe
From all misfortunes and mischance when as it first does weepe
O thou Cunina cairefullie doe watche the cradle aye
Preseruing it from sicknes or from harme in anie waye
Rumina, with Edusa, and Potina ioyn'd, doe see
That when it sucking is or wained, the foode may wholesome be
And also for there wpbringing ô Statilinus caire
That to there perfect age it may a happie waye prepare
And thou ô Fortune to conclude, make these and all there race
To be beloued of Gods and men, and thriue in euerie cace.
If for my saike ye Gods aboue these graces will bestowe
Before these nuptiall dayes sume signe to me for promise showe.

Mercurius
I messager of Gods aboue am here vnto yow sent
To showe by proofe your tyme into there seruice well is spent
For they haue graunted your requeste and for a signe and seale
Since they them selfs amongs yow men doe no wayes haunte nor deale
They therfor haue directed here to honour all this feast
Faunes, Satyrs, Siluans, that approache there natures neare at least
And as for there conductour haue they sent the whisler Pan
Who thogh a God yett drawes he neare the nature of a man

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With Naiades, Hamadryades, Nymphes of waters, woods, and wells
To iudge on euerie sporte wherat there brethren with yow mells
And as for me for my adieu, I drinke vnto yow here
The horne of Amalthæe, with lucke, with wealth and mirrie cheere.

Nymphes
We are sent by Gods aboue with these our brethren deare
Who are prepared for gloue, or ring, or anie sporte with speare
And we haue broght for victours pryse this yellow garland rounde
Wouen of our haire, with pearls therat, which we in fishes founde.
Then knights goe to, and make yow for it, we can no further saye
Essaye yow brethren, thogh I graunte, vnused at such a playe.

Agrestis
Good Sirs the maruelous cumming here of these goode neighbours mine
Hath moued me for to come and see, this iollie feast and fine
Such allridge people in such a sort to cumme to plenished grounde
But anie fraye and guided by a man was neuer founde
Good faith before was neuer harde the like of my conuoye
No since Deucaleons floode, I trowe ye call it the floode of Noë
Me thinke Sainct Marie gentles here makes for sume game and glee
Wa sume good Sir lenn me a speare, what racks essaye and see

140

The valliant actes, the workes of worthie fame
That bruite hath blowen abroade through euerie whair
Of King and Court of Scotlands noble name
There Martiall games, and pastymes braue and faire
Sume does your Court, to Arthures court compaire
Sume sayes to Charles the magnes it may be peere
This bruit at last made wandring knights repaire
From forrane vncouthe lands and trauell here
Fra they arriued they sent me soone to speare
If anie in your Court woulde them essaye
To runne at ring or proue sume games at warre
They three shall be defendours at the playe.
Sirs thogh this language seeme both hard and haske
Appardone new come strangers in a maske.

[Scholar.]
O Gods aboue how am I rauish'd now
A heauenlie Goddesse is come doune I trowe
Our senses to delude: what euer she be
She peerles is as all men will agree
And therfor Sirs here am I sent before
As he who might by language best decore,
As schollers can, this doubt whome to the faire
Should appartaine, whome of ye harde declaire
And whome into at equall strife doe fall
Wealth, beautie, noble race, and vertues all
Eache one of these makes her a suitour here
And she is cume vnto your Grace to speare
Whome to she should encline of all this rout
Among the rest Madame leaue me not out

Woman.1.
What meanes these kappit men? what can this be,
Is all this bussines that they make for me?

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The verteous man.4.
The sacred state of marriage it was made
That two conioyn'd a holie life might leade

Zanie.5.
Good euen Sirs all, good faith I thinke it best
Yow quitte me this and take yow all the rest

L.G.1.
If that ye please Madame to make me yours
My rent and friends shall serue yow at all houres
God if my father.

(Sould.2)
What a kalland is this
Place sillie man Madame I will not misse
To ware for yow this hand and sworde of mine
A man of spirit his honour will not tine.

Scholler.3.
I can with pen your prayses due proclame
If that ye please accept of me Madame.

Vert.4.
Your vertues rare Madame I doe respect
I promise trueth if that may take effect.

Sould.1.
If anie here hath skill of fense come proue
Three markett strockes before my onlie loue.

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L.G.2.
If that the morrowe Madame chance to be faire
Please see two speedie grayhounds rinn a haire.

Schol.3.
If that ye please Madame a song to heare
I'll sett the toone, and make the clareshoh cleare

Sould.2.
I whome no bloodie battells coulde effraye
Am now become a simple womans praye,
Bot what? no woman bot a Goddesse bright
No shame to blinded be with suche a light

L.G.3.
If friends or rent may serue my turne in this
I houpe to gett this Ladie full of blisse.

38
The beginning of his Mties jurnei to Denmarke; neuer ended.

True is that saying vs'd of olde amongs philosophes wise
That to eschue his destinie in no mans hands it lies
And thogh that they as ethnicks blinde on fortune laide the cause
And on the course and influence of starres and of there lawes.
Yett doe we Christians clearlie knowe that it is God alone
Who did before beginnings all, on wordlie things dispone
Euen he into his glorious and stedfast shining throne
Hath giuen to euerie thing a tyme when as it must be done

146

That thogh this statelie heauen we see, the seas, and solide grounde
Must perish, and must changed be into a suddaine stounde
Yett not a worde of his decrees shall euer fall in vaine
Bot must be at that instant done, he did for it ordaine
And so as I haue saide it does from Gods preordining flowe
The certaintie of destinies, and not of starres does growe
For they as simple creatures can no wayes guided be
Except by him that creatt them, then iudge how like is he
That can not stande nor rule him selfe, to guide so manie things
Turne famous kingdomes wpside doune, make and vnmake there Kings
Thus Ethnicks fonde thogh wordlie wise, not knowing anie God
Did first inuent that fortune and the starres did rule the rod
For like a blindman lacking light they wandered here and there
By guesse with groaping, stumbling oft, bot knewe not how nor where
And since sume Christians on there stepps Cimmerians hath no shame
To take wpon them to debaite and putt in proofe the same.
O soft and faire, redounding Muse returne into thy waye
Thou chooses here to large a fielde, and to to far astraye
And worse then that, thou are to weake a Momus to be bolde
So manie learned men to impugne that this coniecture holde.
Then to returne to destinies, how none can them eschue
I may affirme that in my selfe, I proued it to be true
For I as being a King by birth, it seam'd my lott was made
thaire to resyde quhaire god my charge & burthen on me laide

148

And lacking parents, brethren, bairns, or anie neare of kinn
Incace of death, or absence to supplie my place therin
And cheeflie in so kitle a land, where few remember can
For to haue seene gouerning there a King that was a man
yett thogh through these occasions all, it was my setled minde
That I shoulde neuer on vncouthe coastes a harberie seeke to finde:

39
A pairt of du Bartas first day

This largeness and this breadth so long, / this highnes so profounde,
This bounded infinite, the masse / confused of all this rounde;
This Chaos lourde, I saye, which in / it selfe suche wproares wroght,
And sawe it in one moment borne / in nothing made of noght,
The brooddie bodie was wherof / the essence pure diuine,
And foure contending brethren ought / there birth to borrowe sine,
Now as to these foure elements, / these twinne sonnes ment by here,
Towitt, the subtle aire, the fire, / the earthe, and waters cleere,
Composed they are not, bot of them / is all composed and made,
That can into our senses fall, / or may be thought or saide:

150

Now if there qualities do poure / there whole effects within
Eache part of euerie bodie mixed, / and so to worke beginne;
Or whether that on euerie part / there beings they confounde
And so of beings double twaine / one bodie doe compounde;
Euen as within the bottome deepe / of christall glasses cleene,
The wine with the Acheloian sucke / for to be mix'd is seene:
Or euen as meate which wholesome is / and subtle liquour fine
Doe mixe them selfs within ws for / to change in chilus sine.
This by experience may we see / into the stick that burnes,
Vnto the heauen his natiue house / his fire full swift returnes,
His aire it flies in wanished smocke, / his earth in cendres falls,
His water crackes into his knotts, / and as for succour calls.
Like warre dothe holde our bod' in peace, / whose earth her fleshe it bene,
Who does into her vitall spirits / her fire and aire contene,
Her water in her humours lies: / yet thou can see no part
In all our humaine bodie, where / eache one by naturall art
Hath not his mightie vertues mix'd, / allthogh we plainlie see
That ather one or other of them / the cheefe commander be.
Into the masse of seething bloode / this clayie dregg and thicke,
Is blacke melancholie which sadd / does to the bottome sticke,

152

Composed of earthlie substance grosse; / in bloode the aire abides,
Which pure into the mids doe swimme; / the humour in the sides
It is the colde and wattrie phlegme; / this foame that light does flote
And holds the selfe aloft, it is / the burning cholere hote.
I meane not that eache element / into his hands retaines
The sceptre of one bodie aye, / his tyme about he raignes
The subiect making for to stoupe / vnto his law and will,
And als oft as his King is changed, / he changeth nature still:
Euen as without respect of wealth, / of bloode or noble race,
Eache worthie citizen commandes / a certaine tyme and space,
In citties Democratick free, / that suddainlie appeare,
Through changing of there magistrate / a changing face to beare:
For people lightlie agitate / with diuers humours strange,
Chameleon like with manners of / there rulers doe they change,
Euen so the element that in / the wine as cheefe doeth raigne,
Whiles makes it drie, whiles wacke, / whiles hoate and colde againe
By there commixtions imperfect / or perfect in it plac'd
Enforcing it to change as well / of vertue as of taste:
So as by processe of the tyme / the veriusse bitter greene,
Sweete winne becummes, then stronger wine, / sine winaigre it bene.
Now euen as when a Prince or King / does ouer ws so commande,
As vnderneath the yoake of law / he gars his greatnes stande;
He rules without suspicion, and / the common wealth enioyes
Most happilie a quiet state / without tyrannique toyes:

154

Bot if that cruell Tyranne like / he neuer satiate be,
With his good subiects saickles bloode, / and if his sworde doe flie
To bloodie sharpe the scabert still, / his rage it will not spare
In end to turne his ciuill land / in deserts wilde and bare.
The like falls out when as one of / the elements empires,
Ouer his three fellowes modestlie, / and not there wracke requires;
And when as a proportion / affeirand ioynes we see
The subiect humours with the cheefe, / though they vnequall be:
The bod' in being then abides / and als it doth retaine,
The speciall draughts of all his forme / which outwardlie remaine.
Bot if that like vnto that King / who barb'rous did desire
That all the citizens of his / most mightie great empire,
Boore bot one craige that by that meanes / (ô crueltie) he might;
By one greate blowe bereaue the liues / of all the Romans quitt.

156

40
The beginning of Mr du Bartas Eden

Thou mightie God, that of the worlde the birth did make me see
Vnfolde her credle also now, her childehoode showe to me:
And make my spirit to walke athort the turning florish'd wayes
Of sauourie gardens, where into still crooked but anie stayes
Of riuers foure the courses quicke: declare me what offence
From Edens both, chas'd Adams selfe and seede for his pretense:
And tell who of immortall did him selfe an mortall make,
To bring from heauen the antidote to ws which we did take.
Giue thou me grace the storie of the Church to sing aright,
And als the storie of the Kings; and grante that by thy might
I guide the worlde unto her graue, my purpose making leste
Euen from the first of Sabboths all vnto the hinmest rest.
Well knowe I that this surgie sea is lacking marche or grounde
Bot ô thou holie pilote greate will guide me safe and sounde,
Vnto the hauen of my desire, where droucked then I shall;
Extoll thy mercies maniefolde and paye my uowes withall.

157

O sacred floure du lis whose youth does promise to ws all,
That euen thy famous laurells greene matche Alexanders shall;
Since that for to obeye thy will I flie into the skies,
Conuoye my course with louing eye, and helpe the faults rise
From my to blounted fruictles pen; in Pampelone so sume daye
Maye thou winne home thy croune againe the which was reft awaye:
So of thy neighbours euermore may thou the honour be,
The loue of all thy subiects true, and foes to feare for the:
So neuer may the heauen against the showe his wrathefull face,
Bot the Eternall be thy arme, his Spirit thy guiding trace;
So with my shearing sworde in hand and fighting at thy side
May I ou'rclothed with bloode and stoure so boldlie by the bide,
As for to cleaue the Spaignoll hoaste, or force sume seaged toune
The combatt done for Virgill serue to publish thy renoune.

God did not onlie (Soueraigne Prince) the whole command bestowe
On our forefather Adam of this earthe and all belowe
In making subiect to his yoake the scalie swimming race,
Who with there litle finns doe cleaue the froathie seas apace;
And these that haue no other holde bot horrour of deserts
And these that bricole through the vaste of aire that feathers partis:
Bot choosed him als an dwelling place which happie was and more,
With climat temperate and faire, the which the dentie Flore

158

With variant ameling paimented
Did payment with the aimeling. faire. of springing floures most sweete,
Adorned with Pomones fruicts, and als with Zephyrs smells repleete:
Where God him selfe did lauell iust the alles with his line,
Ou'rcouer all the hills with trees, with haruest the vallies sine;
And with the sounde of thousand brookes adiourned the sweetest sleepe;
Made cabinets faire at proofe of Sunne which out his beames did keepe,
He squar'd a garden, and als he did plante, cleange, and labour sine
The euerliuing fairenesse of an fertle orchard fine:
The sacred riuers courses als he parted here and there,
And with a thousand coulours peints the face of meddowes faire.