The noble arte of venerie or hvnting VVherein is handled and set out the Vertues, Nature, and Properties of fiuetene sundrie Chaces togither, with the order and maner how to Hunte and kill euery one of them. Translated and collected for the pleasure of all Noblemen and Gentlemen, out of the best approued Authors, which haue written anything concerning the same: And reduced into such order and proper termes as are vsed here, in this noble Realme of England [by George Turbervile] |
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The Otters oration
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 | The noble arte of venerie or hvnting |  |
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The Otters oration
VVhy
stande we beastes abasht, or spare to speake?
Why make we not a vertue of our neede?
We know by proofe, in witte we are too weake,
And weaker muche, bicause all Adams seede,
(Whiche beare away the weyght of witte in deede)
Do dayly seeke our names for to distayne,
With slandrous blotte, for whiche we Beastes be slayne.
Why make we not a vertue of our neede?
We know by proofe, in witte we are too weake,
And weaker muche, bicause all Adams seede,
(Whiche beare away the weyght of witte in deede)
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With slandrous blotte, for whiche we Beastes be slayne.
Firste of my selfe, before the rest to treate,
Moste men crye out, that fishe I do deuoure,
Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate:
I graunte to bothe, and he that hath the powre,
To feede on fishe that sweeter were than sowre,
And had yong fleshe to banquet at his fill,
Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes, or swyll.
Moste men crye out, that fishe I do deuoure,
Yea some will say, that Lambes (with mee) be meate:
I graunte to bothe, and he that hath the powre,
To feede on fishe that sweeter were than sowre,
And had yong fleshe to banquet at his fill,
Were fonde to fraunche on garbage, graynes, or swyll.
But master Man, which findeth all this fault,
And streynes deuise for many a dayntie dishe,
Whiche suffreth not that hunger him assault,
But feedes his fill on euery fleshe and fishe,
Whiche muste haue all, as muche as witte can wishe,
Us seely Beastes, deuouring Beastes do call,
And he himselfe, moste bloudie beaste of all.
And streynes deuise for many a dayntie dishe,
Whiche suffreth not that hunger him assault,
But feedes his fill on euery fleshe and fishe,
Whiche muste haue all, as muche as witte can wishe,
Us seely Beastes, deuouring Beastes do call,
And he himselfe, moste bloudie beaste of all.
Well yet mee thinkes, I heare him preache this Texte,
Howe all that is, was made for vse of man:
So was it sure, but therewith followes next,
This heauie place, expounde it who so can:
The very Scourge and Plague of God his Ban,
Will lyght on suche as queyntly can deuise
To eate more meate, than may their mouthes suffise.
Howe all that is, was made for vse of man:
So was it sure, but therewith followes next,
This heauie place, expounde it who so can:
The very Scourge and Plague of God his Ban,
Will lyght on suche as queyntly can deuise
To eate more meate, than may their mouthes suffise.
Nowe master Man, stande foorth and here declare,
Who euer yet coulde see an Otter eate
More meate at once, than serued for his share?
Who sees vs beastes sitte bybbing in our seate,
With sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate?
Whiche breede disease, yfostred in suche feastes,
If men do so, be they not woorse than beastes?
Who euer yet coulde see an Otter eate
More meate at once, than serued for his share?
Who sees vs beastes sitte bybbing in our seate,
With sundry wynes, and sundry kindes of meate?
Whiche breede disease, yfostred in suche feastes,
If men do so, be they not woorse than beastes?
The beastly man, muste sitte all day and quasse,
The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twice a day,
The beastly man, muste stuffe his monstrous masse
With secrete cause of surfetting alwaye:
Where beasts be glad to feede when they get pray,
And neuer eate more than may do them good,
Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode.
The Beaste indeede, doth drincke but twice a day,
The beastly man, muste stuffe his monstrous masse
With secrete cause of surfetting alwaye:
Where beasts be glad to feede when they get pray,
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Where men be sicke, and surfet thorough foode.
Who sees a Beast, for savrie Sawces long?
Who sees a Beast, or chicke or Capon cramme?
Who sees a Beast, once luld on sleepe with song?
Who sees a Beast make vensone of a Ramme?
Who sees a Beast destroy both whelpe and damme?
Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie?
Which man doth vse, for great Ciuilitie.
Who sees a Beast, or chicke or Capon cramme?
Who sees a Beast, once luld on sleepe with song?
Who sees a Beast make vensone of a Ramme?
Who sees a Beast destroy both whelpe and damme?
Who sees a Beast vse beastly Gluttonie?
Which man doth vse, for great Ciuilitie.
I know not I, if dyuing be my fault,
Me thinks most men can diue as well as I:
Some men can diue in Seller and in vault,
In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and Buttery,
To smell the roste, whereof the finne doth flee;
And as for gaines, men diue in euery streame,
All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame.
Me thinks most men can diue as well as I:
Some men can diue in Seller and in vault,
In Parlor, Hall, Kitchen and Buttery,
To smell the roste, whereof the finne doth flee;
And as for gaines, men diue in euery streame,
All frawdes be fishe, their stomacks neuer squeame.
So to conclude, when men their faults can mend,
And shunne the shame, wherewith they beasts do blot,
When men their time and treasure not mispende,
But follow grace, which is with paines ygot,
When men can vice rebuke and vse it not:
Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame,
And else they be but Beasts well worthy blame.
And shunne the shame, wherewith they beasts do blot,
When men their time and treasure not mispende,
But follow grace, which is with paines ygot,
When men can vice rebuke and vse it not:
Then shall they shine, like men of worthy fame,
And else they be but Beasts well worthy blame.
| The noble arte of venerie or hvnting | |