The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes A literal reprint of the earliest complete copy (1517) with variant readings from the editions of 1509, 1554, and 1555 together with introduction notes, glossary, and indexes: By William Edward Mead |
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Of elocucyon the thyrde parte of rethoryke with colourynge of sentences. ca. xi.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes |  |
XI. Of elocucyon the thyrde parte of rethoryke with colourynge of sentences. ca. xi.
And than the .iii. parte / is elocucyon
Whan inuencyon / hath the purpose wrought
And set it in ordre / by dysposycyon
Without this thyrde parte / it vayleth ryght nought
Thoughe it be founde / and in ordre brought
Yet elocucyon / with the power of Mercury
The mater exorneth / ryght well facundyously
Whan inuencyon / hath the purpose wrought
And set it in ordre / by dysposycyon
Without this thyrde parte / it vayleth ryght nought
Thoughe it be founde / and in ordre brought
Yet elocucyon / with the power of Mercury
The mater exorneth / ryght well facundyously
In fewe wordes / swete and sentencyous
Depaynted with golde / harde in construccyon
To the artyke eres / swete and dylycyous
The golden rethoryke / is good refeccyon
And to the reder / ryght consolacyon
As we do golde / frome coper puryfy
So that elocucyon / doth ryght well claryfy
Depaynted with golde / harde in construccyon
To the artyke eres / swete and dylycyous
The golden rethoryke / is good refeccyon
And to the reder / ryght consolacyon
As we do golde / frome coper puryfy
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The dulcet speche / frome the langage rude
Tellynge the tale / in termes eloquent
The barbary tongue / it doth ferre exclude
Electynge wordes / whiche are expedyent
In latyn / or in englysshe / after the entent
Encensynge out / the aromatyke fume
Our langage rude / to exyle and consume
Tellynge the tale / in termes eloquent
The barbary tongue / it doth ferre exclude
Electynge wordes / whiche are expedyent
In latyn / or in englysshe / after the entent
Encensynge out / the aromatyke fume
Our langage rude / to exyle and consume
But what auayleth euermore to sowe
The precyous stones / amonge gruntynge hogges
Draffe vnto them / is more meter I trowe
Let an hare and swyne / be amonge curre dogges
Though to the hares / were tyed grete clogges
The gentyll best / they wyll regarde nothynge
But to the swyne / take course of rennynge
The precyous stones / amonge gruntynge hogges
Draffe vnto them / is more meter I trowe
Let an hare and swyne / be amonge curre dogges
Though to the hares / were tyed grete clogges
The gentyll best / they wyll regarde nothynge
But to the swyne / take course of rennynge
To cloke the sentence / vnder mysty fygures
By many coloures / as I make relacyon
As the olde poetes / couered theyr scyptures
Of whiche the fyrste / is dystrybucyon
That to the euyll / for theyr abusyon
Doth gyue payne / and to the worthy
Laude and prayse / them for to magnyfy
By many coloures / as I make relacyon
As the olde poetes / couered theyr scyptures
Of whiche the fyrste / is dystrybucyon
That to the euyll / for theyr abusyon
Doth gyue payne / and to the worthy
Laude and prayse / them for to magnyfy
Of beest or byrde / they take a semylytude
In the condycyon / lyke to the party
Feble fayre / or yet of fortytude
And vnder colour of this beest pryuely
The morall cense / they cloke full subtyly
In prayse or dysprayse / as it is reasonable
Of whose faynynge / fyrste rose the fable
In the condycyon / lyke to the party
Feble fayre / or yet of fortytude
And vnder colour of this beest pryuely
The morall cense / they cloke full subtyly
In prayse or dysprayse / as it is reasonable
Of whose faynynge / fyrste rose the fable
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Concludynge reason / gretely profytable
Who that theyr fables / can well moralyse
The fruytfull sentences are delectable
Though that the fyccyon / they do so deuyse
Vnder the colour / the trouthe dooth aryse
Concludynge reason / rychesse and connynge
Pleasure / example / and also lernynge.
Who that theyr fables / can well moralyse
The fruytfull sentences are delectable
Though that the fyccyon / they do so deuyse
Vnder the colour / the trouthe dooth aryse
Concludynge reason / rychesse and connynge
Pleasure / example / and also lernynge.
They fayned / no fable without reason
For reasonable is / all theyr moralyte
And vpon reason / was theyr conclusyon
That the comyn wyt / by possybylyte
Maye well adiuge / the perfyte veryte
Of theyr sentence / for reason openly
To the comyn wyt / it doth so notyfy
For reasonable is / all theyr moralyte
And vpon reason / was theyr conclusyon
That the comyn wyt / by possybylyte
Maye well adiuge / the perfyte veryte
Of theyr sentence / for reason openly
To the comyn wyt / it doth so notyfy
Theyr fruytfull sentence / was grete rychesse
The whiche ryght surely / they myght well domyne
For lordeshyppe / welthe / and also noblesse
The chaunce of fortune / can soone determyne
But what for this / she can not declyne
The noble scyence / whiche after pouerte
Maye brynge a man agayne to dygnyte
The whiche ryght surely / they myght well domyne
For lordeshyppe / welthe / and also noblesse
The chaunce of fortune / can soone determyne
But what for this / she can not declyne
The noble scyence / whiche after pouerte
Maye brynge a man agayne to dygnyte
Scyence.
Theyr sentence is connynge / as appereth well
For by connynge / theyr arte dooth engendre
And without connynge / we knowe neuer a dele
Of theyr sentence / but maye soone surrendre
A true tale / that myght to vs rendre
Grete pleasure / yf we were intellygyble
Of theyr connynge / nothynge impossyble
For by connynge / theyr arte dooth engendre
And without connynge / we knowe neuer a dele
Of theyr sentence / but maye soone surrendre
A true tale / that myght to vs rendre
Grete pleasure / yf we were intellygyble
Of theyr connynge / nothynge impossyble
Pleasure.
O what pleasure to the intellygent
It is to knowe / and haue perceyueraunce
Of theyr connynge / so moche expedyent
And therof to haue good vtteraunce
Redynge newe thynges / of so grete pleasaunce
Fedynge the mynde / with fode insacyate
The tales newe / they are so delycate
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Of theyr connynge / so moche expedyent
And therof to haue good vtteraunce
Redynge newe thynges / of so grete pleasaunce
Fedynge the mynde / with fode insacyate
The tales newe / they are so delycate
Example.
In an example / with a mysty cloude
Of couert lykenesse / the poetes do wryte
And vnderneth the trouthe / doth so shroude
Both good and yll / as they lyst acquyte
With symylytude / they dyde so well endyte
As I here after / shall the trouthe soone shewe
Of all theyr mysty / and theyr fatall dewe
Of couert lykenesse / the poetes do wryte
And vnderneth the trouthe / doth so shroude
Both good and yll / as they lyst acquyte
With symylytude / they dyde so well endyte
As I here after / shall the trouthe soone shewe
Of all theyr mysty / and theyr fatall dewe
The poetes fayne / how that kynge Athlas
Heuen shoulde bere / vpon his shoulders hye
Bycause in connynge / he dyde all other pas
Especyally / in the hygh astronomye
Of the .vi. planettes / he knewe so parsytely
The operacyons / how they were domyfyed
For whiche poetes / hym so exemplyfyed
Heuen shoulde bere / vpon his shoulders hye
Bycause in connynge / he dyde all other pas
Especyally / in the hygh astronomye
Of the .vi. planettes / he knewe so parsytely
The operacyons / how they were domyfyed
For whiche poetes / hym so exemplyfyed
And in lykewyse / vnto the sagyttary
They feyne the centaures / to be of lykenesse
As halfe man / and halfe horse truely
Bycause Mylyzyus / with his worthynesse
Dyde fyrste attame / and breke the wyldnes
Of the ryall stedes / and ryght swyftly
His men and he / rode on them surely
They feyne the centaures / to be of lykenesse
As halfe man / and halfe horse truely
Bycause Mylyzyus / with his worthynesse
Dyde fyrste attame / and breke the wyldnes
Of the ryall stedes / and ryght swyftly
His men and he / rode on them surely
And also Pluto / somtyme kynge of hell
A Cyte of Grece / standynge in thessayle
Betwene grete rockes / as the boke doth tell
Wherin were people / without ony fayle
Huge / fyerse / and stronge in batayle
Tyrauntes / theues / replete with treason
Wherfore poetes / by true comparyson
A Cyte of Grece / standynge in thessayle
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Wherin were people / without ony fayle
Huge / fyerse / and stronge in batayle
Tyrauntes / theues / replete with treason
Wherfore poetes / by true comparyson
Vnto the deuylles / blacke and tedyous
Dyde them resemble / in terryble fygure
For theyr mysse lyuynge / so foule and vycyous
As to this daye / it doth appere in vre
Of Cerberus / the defloured pycture
The porter of hell / with thre hedes vgly
Lyke an horryble gyaunt / fyrse and wonderly
Dyde them resemble / in terryble fygure
For theyr mysse lyuynge / so foule and vycyous
As to this daye / it doth appere in vre
Of Cerberus / the defloured pycture
The porter of hell / with thre hedes vgly
Lyke an horryble gyaunt / fyrse and wonderly
Bycause alwaye / his customed tyranny
Was elate in herte / by hygh presumpcyon
Thynkynge hymselfe / moost stronge and myghty
And secondly / he was dystruccyon
Of many ladyes / by yll compulcyon
And thyrdly / his desyre insacyable
Was to get ryches / full innumerable
Was elate in herte / by hygh presumpcyon
Thynkynge hymselfe / moost stronge and myghty
And secondly / he was dystruccyon
Of many ladyes / by yll compulcyon
And thyrdly / his desyre insacyable
Was to get ryches / full innumerable
Thus for these thre vyces abhomynable
They made hym / with thre hedes serpentyne
And lyke a fende / his body semblable
For his pryde / auaryce / and also rapyne
The morall cense / can soone enlumyne
The fatall pycture / to be exuberaunt
And to our syght clere / and not varyaunt
They made hym / with thre hedes serpentyne
And lyke a fende / his body semblable
For his pryde / auaryce / and also rapyne
The morall cense / can soone enlumyne
The fatall pycture / to be exuberaunt
And to our syght clere / and not varyaunt
Also rehersed / the cronycles of Spayne
How redoubted Hercules / by puyssaunce
Fought with an Ydre / ryght grete certayne
Hauynge seuen hedes / of full grete myschaunce
For whan that he / with all his valyaunce
Had stryken of an heed / ryght shortly
An other anone / arose ryght sodaynly
How redoubted Hercules / by puyssaunce
Fought with an Ydre / ryght grete certayne
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For whan that he / with all his valyaunce
Had stryken of an heed / ryght shortly
An other anone / arose ryght sodaynly
Seuen sophyms / full harde and fallacyous
This Ydre vsed / in perposycyon
Vnto the people / and was full rygoryous
To deuoure them / where lacked responcyon
And whan one reason / had conclusyon
An other reason / than incontynent
Began agayne / with subtyll argument
This Ydre vsed / in perposycyon
Vnto the people / and was full rygoryous
To deuoure them / where lacked responcyon
And whan one reason / had conclusyon
An other reason / than incontynent
Began agayne / with subtyll argument
For whiche cause / the poetes couertly
With .vii. hedes / doth this Ydre depaynt
For these .vii. sophyms / full ryght closely
But of rude people / the wyttes are so faynt
That with theyr connynge / they can not acquaynt
But who that lyst / theyr scyence to lerne
Theyr obscure fygures / he shall well decerne
With .vii. hedes / doth this Ydre depaynt
For these .vii. sophyms / full ryght closely
But of rude people / the wyttes are so faynt
That with theyr connynge / they can not acquaynt
But who that lyst / theyr scyence to lerne
Theyr obscure fygures / he shall well decerne
O redolent well / of fomous poetry
O clere fountayne / replete with swetenes
Reflerynge out / the dulcet dylycacy
Of .iiii. ryuers / in meruaylous wydenesse
Fayrer than Tygrys / or yet Eufrates
For the fyrste ryuer / is vnderstondynge
The seconde ryuer / close concludynge
O clere fountayne / replete with swetenes
Reflerynge out / the dulcet dylycacy
Of .iiii. ryuers / in meruaylous wydenesse
Fayrer than Tygrys / or yet Eufrates
For the fyrste ryuer / is vnderstondynge
The seconde ryuer / close concludynge
The thyrde ryuer / is called nouelry
The fouth ryuer / is called carbuncles
Amyddes of whome / the toure is so goodly
Of Vyrgyll standeth / most solacyous
Where he is entered / in stones precyous
By this fayre toure / in a goodly grene
This well doth sprynge / both bryght and shene
The fouth ryuer / is called carbuncles
Amyddes of whome / the toure is so goodly
Of Vyrgyll standeth / most solacyous
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By this fayre toure / in a goodly grene
This well doth sprynge / both bryght and shene
To vnderstandynge these .iiii. accydent
Doctryne / perceyueraunce / and exercyse
And also therto is equypolent
Euermore / the parfyte practyse
For fyrst doctryne / in all goodly wyse
The perceyuerant routh / in his bote of wyll
In vnderstondynge / for to knowe good from yll
Doctryne / perceyueraunce / and exercyse
And also therto is equypolent
Euermore / the parfyte practyse
For fyrst doctryne / in all goodly wyse
The perceyuerant routh / in his bote of wyll
In vnderstondynge / for to knowe good from yll
So famous poetes / dyde vs endoctryne
Of the ryght waye / for to be intellectyfe
Theyr fables they dyde / ryght so ymagyne
That by example / we maye voyde the stryfe
And without myschefe / for to lede our lyfe
By the aduertence / of theyr storyes olde
The fruyte werof / we maye full well beholde
Of the ryght waye / for to be intellectyfe
Theyr fables they dyde / ryght so ymagyne
That by example / we maye voyde the stryfe
And without myschefe / for to lede our lyfe
By the aduertence / of theyr storyes olde
The fruyte werof / we maye full well beholde
Depaynted on aras / how in antyquyte
Dystroyed was / the grete cyte of Troye
For a lytell cause / grounded on vanyte
To morall ruyne / they tourned theyr Ioye
Theyr vnderstandynge / they dyde than occoy
Nothynge prepensynge / how they dyde prepare
To scourge themselfe / and brynge them in a snare
Dystroyed was / the grete cyte of Troye
For a lytell cause / grounded on vanyte
To morall ruyne / they tourned theyr Ioye
Theyr vnderstandynge / they dyde than occoy
Nothynge prepensynge / how they dyde prepare
To scourge themselfe / and brynge them in a snare
Who is opprest / with a lytell wronge
Reuengynge it / he maye it soone encreace
For better it is / for to suffre amonge
An iniury / as for to kepe the peace
Than to begynne / whiche he shall neuer ceace
Warre ones begon / it is harde to knowe
Who shall abyde / and who shall ouerthrowe
Reuengynge it / he maye it soone encreace
For better it is / for to suffre amonge
An iniury / as for to kepe the peace
Than to begynne / whiche he shall neuer ceace
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Who shall abyde / and who shall ouerthrowe
The hygh power / honour / and noblenesse
Of the myghty Romaynes / to whose excellence
All the wyde worlde / so moche of gretenes
Vnto theyr empyre / was in obedyent
Suche was theyr famous porte / and preemynence
Tyll within themselfe / there was a contrauersy
Makynge them lese / theyr worthy sygneoury
Of the myghty Romaynes / to whose excellence
All the wyde worlde / so moche of gretenes
Vnto theyr empyre / was in obedyent
Suche was theyr famous porte / and preemynence
Tyll within themselfe / there was a contrauersy
Makynge them lese / theyr worthy sygneoury
It is euer / the grounde of sapyence
Before that thou / accomplysshe outwardly
For to reuolue / vnderstandynge and prepence
All in thy selfe / full often inwardly
The begynnynge / and the myddle certaynly
With the ende / or thou put it in vre
And werke with councell / that thou mayst be sure
Before that thou / accomplysshe outwardly
For to reuolue / vnderstandynge and prepence
All in thy selfe / full often inwardly
The begynnynge / and the myddle certaynly
With the ende / or thou put it in vre
And werke with councell / that thou mayst be sure
And who that so doth / shall neuer repent
For his dede is founded / on a parfyte grounde
And for to fall / it hath none impedyment
With surenes / it is so hygh walled rounde
In welthe and ryches / it must nedes habounde
On euery syde / it hath suche ordynaunce
That nothynge can do it anoyaunce
For his dede is founded / on a parfyte grounde
And for to fall / it hath none impedyment
With surenes / it is so hygh walled rounde
In welthe and ryches / it must nedes habounde
On euery syde / it hath suche ordynaunce
That nothynge can do it anoyaunce
Thus the poetes / conclude full closely
Theyr fruytfull problemes / for reformacyon
To make vs lerne / to lyue dyrectly
Theyr good entent / and trewe construccyon
Shewynge to vs / the hole affeccyon
Of the waye of vertue / welthe and stablenes
And to shyt the gate / of myscheuous entres
Theyr fruytfull problemes / for reformacyon
To make vs lerne / to lyue dyrectly
Theyr good entent / and trewe construccyon
Shewynge to vs / the hole affeccyon
Of the waye of vertue / welthe and stablenes
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And euermore / they are ymagynatyfe
Tales newe / from daye to daye to fayne
The errynge people / that are retractyf
As to the ryght waye / to brynge them agayne
And who that lyst / theyr sentence retayne
It shall hym prouffyte / yf he wyll apply
To do therafter / full conuenyently
Tales newe / from daye to daye to fayne
The errynge people / that are retractyf
As to the ryght waye / to brynge them agayne
And who that lyst / theyr sentence retayne
It shall hym prouffyte / yf he wyll apply
To do therafter / full conuenyently
Carbuncles / in the most derke nyght
Doth shyne fayre / with clere radyant beames
Exylynge derkenes / with his rayes lyght
And so these poetes / with theyr golden streames
Deuoyde our rudenes / with grete fyry lemes
Theyr centencyous verses / are refulgent
Encensynge out / the odour redolent
Doth shyne fayre / with clere radyant beames
Exylynge derkenes / with his rayes lyght
And so these poetes / with theyr golden streames
Deuoyde our rudenes / with grete fyry lemes
Theyr centencyous verses / are refulgent
Encensynge out / the odour redolent
And is theyr warke also extynguysshyble
Nay treuly / for it doth shyne ryhht clere
Thrugh cloudes derke / vnto the odyble
To whome truely / it maye nothynge appere
Where connynge fayleth / the scyence so dere
Ignoraunce hateth / with feruent enuy
And vnto connynge / is mortall ennemy
Nay treuly / for it doth shyne ryhht clere
Thrugh cloudes derke / vnto the odyble
To whome truely / it maye nothynge appere
Where connynge fayleth / the scyence so dere
Ignoraunce hateth / with feruent enuy
And vnto connynge / is mortall ennemy
O ygnoraunce / with slouth so opprest
Open thy curtayne / so ryght dymme and derke
And euermore remembre / the behest
Of thy labour / to vnderstande thy werke
Of many a noble / and ryght famous clerke
Fy vpon slouth / the nouryssher of vyce
Whiche vnto youthe / dooth often preiudyce
Open thy curtayne / so ryght dymme and derke
And euermore remembre / the behest
Of thy labour / to vnderstande thy werke
Of many a noble / and ryght famous clerke
Fy vpon slouth / the nouryssher of vyce
Whiche vnto youthe / dooth often preiudyce
49
Who in youth lyst / nothynge to lerne
He wyll repent hym / often in his age
That he the connynge / can nothynge decerne
Therfore now youth / with lusty courage
Rule thy flesshe / and thy slouth aswage
And in thy youth / the scyence engendre
That in thyne age / it maye the worshyp rendre
He wyll repent hym / often in his age
That he the connynge / can nothynge decerne
Therfore now youth / with lusty courage
Rule thy flesshe / and thy slouth aswage
And in thy youth / the scyence engendre
That in thyne age / it maye the worshyp rendre
Connynge is lyght / and also pleasaunt
A gentyll burden / without greuousnes
Vnto hym / that is ryght well applyaunt
For to bere it / with all his besenes
He shall attaste / the well of fruytfulnesse
Whiche Vyrgyll claryfyed / and also Tullyus
With latyn pure / swete and delycyous
A gentyll burden / without greuousnes
Vnto hym / that is ryght well applyaunt
For to bere it / with all his besenes
He shall attaste / the well of fruytfulnesse
Whiche Vyrgyll claryfyed / and also Tullyus
With latyn pure / swete and delycyous
From whens my mayster Lydgate deryfyde
The depured rethoryke / in englysshe language
To make our tongue / so clerely puryfyed
That the vyle termes / shoulde nothynge arage
As lyke a pye / to chattre in a cage
But for to speke / with Rethoryke formally
In the good ordre / withouten vylany
The depured rethoryke / in englysshe language
To make our tongue / so clerely puryfyed
That the vyle termes / shoulde nothynge arage
As lyke a pye / to chattre in a cage
But for to speke / with Rethoryke formally
In the good ordre / withouten vylany
And who his bokes / lyste to here or se
In them he shall fynde elocucyon
With as good ordre / as ony maye be
Kepynge full close / the moralyzacyon
Of the trouth / of his grete entencyon
Whose name is regestered / in remembraunce
For to endure / by longe contynuaunce
In them he shall fynde elocucyon
With as good ordre / as ony maye be
Kepynge full close / the moralyzacyon
Of the trouth / of his grete entencyon
Whose name is regestered / in remembraunce
For to endure / by longe contynuaunce
Now after this / for to make relacyon
Of famous rethoryke / so in this party
Is to the fourth parte pronuncyacyon
I shall it shewe / anone ryght openly
With many braunches / of it sykerly
And how it taketh the hole affecte
In euery place / degre and aspecte
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Is to the fourth parte pronuncyacyon
I shall it shewe / anone ryght openly
With many braunches / of it sykerly
And how it taketh the hole affecte
In euery place / degre and aspecte
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Of elocucyon the thyrde parte of rethoryke with colourynge of sentences. ca. xi.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes | |