University of Virginia Library

To Bullatius

How haue theie Bullate pleased the
Chios, and Lesbos knowne?
How Sames fine, whose buildings braue
throughout the world is blowne?
How surly Sardis Cresus towne
who made it beare a name?
How Smirna and how Colophon?
greater or lesse then fame?
Or in respect of Tybers fluddes
and fieldes, semes all thinges nowght?
Or doth sum dame of delicates
resort vnto thy thought?
Or doth not (for that Lebedus
hath ircksum seas, and lande?
Or roisting Rome so populouse
now in thy fauoure stande?
Lebed in deede is dissolate
and that ful well knowst thou
The smallest village in a shyer
more peopled then it now.
Peopled, or not, to liue euen there
I would be very fayne,
For gittinge myne and I of them
to be forgot againe.
Wher I may see, and safely see
Neptune of dreadfull name,
How he at wil the waltering waues
doth oft controule, and tame.
But he that postes from Capua
to Rome mucke weete with myer,
To rest him all day in his In
is not that mannes desyer:
Nor he that lately hath catchde coulde
the stewe, and baine doth prayse,
As thinges that fullie make a man
happie at all assaies.
If thou beest tost vpon the sea
with Sowth wynde pusant fell,
Thou wilt not yonte Aegæum sea.
sell all thou hast, and dwell.
We trauaile all, not all a lyke,
I trauaile to remaine:
Thou here to catche, and ther to snatche
dost go and cum againe,
What is Rhods to content a man
or Myttelene the gaye?
A warme furde freese coote on thy backe
vpon a summers day.
A linnine slop in spitting snowe,
in wynter, Tyber fludde,
In hote August a nosehighe fyer
wil do the as much good.
Whilste we are lustie, and fortune
doth kepe her frendly cheare,
At Rome praise Chios, and Samos
and Rhods that lyes not neare.
Apprende with greatfull hande eche hower
that god hath lente the here:
Thinges pleasant now for to be done
deffer not for a yeare.
To wher soeuer thou dost cum
or what hap thou dost fynde,
Thou maist lyue ther, if that thou wilt,
with a contented mynde:
If by wisedom, not well dight house
our cares are al vndone,
If those chaunge weather, not their wit,
which yont the sea do run.
Our dilligence hath littell skill
we far and neare do skip,
To purchase wealthe in euery coaste
in wagon, and by ship.
The worste place here as pleasaunte is
as that which thou wouldste fynde,
If thou hadst grace, to iudge a right,
and qualefie thy minde.