The Works of William Fowler Secretary to Queen Anne, Wife of James VI. Edited with introduction, appendix, notes and glossary by Henry W. Meikle |
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| The Fourt Triumphe
called Fame. |
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 | The Works of William Fowler |  |
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The Fourt Triumphe called Fame.
i. chap.
Now after hend that cruell deathe had Triumpht in hir face,
which oftentymes so ouer me Triumphed in lyke cace,
And after that furth from this world my Sun wes taken away,
and that dispytfull wicked beist, which dois all folk affray,
Paill, sad in visage, horrible, and in hir countenance prowd,
had bewteis light extinguished, which did all brightnes shrowd,
which oftentymes so ouer me Triumphed in lyke cace,
And after that furth from this world my Sun wes taken away,
and that dispytfull wicked beist, which dois all folk affray,
Paill, sad in visage, horrible, and in hir countenance prowd,
had bewteis light extinguished, which did all brightnes shrowd,
Than lookeing so me round about vpoun the growing grass,
I quiklye on the other part espyde a dame to pass,
And nerar me for to arrywe, who drawis men from thair grawe
and from thair tombe, thought being deid, in longer lyfe dois sawe.
And looke how dois the morning starr at brek of day appeir,
and cam from eist befoir the Sun within hir purpled spheir,
Who willinglie dois marrow hir with all his light and flame,
So in suche sort and all alyke approched then this Dame.
I quiklye on the other part espyde a dame to pass,
And nerar me for to arrywe, who drawis men from thair grawe
and from thair tombe, thought being deid, in longer lyfe dois sawe.
And looke how dois the morning starr at brek of day appeir,
and cam from eist befoir the Sun within hir purpled spheir,
Who willinglie dois marrow hir with all his light and flame,
So in suche sort and all alyke approched then this Dame.
Oh, sall I sie now from what scoole a maister sall proceid,
that can at large descrywe what I do speik in simple leid!
The heavinis about hir wer so cleir, so that through grit desyre
whairwith my lingring hart wes brunt and waisted in a fyre,
My daisled eyes, vncapable of suche a splendant light,
war than maid less, and culd not weill sustane suche fair a sight.
Vpon thair forheades wer ingrawen the valeur of these men
who wer a people honorable; amangis thame saw I then
Great sort of these whome lowe before had with him captiwe led
as presoneris, and thame enforst his tract to trace and tred.
that can at large descrywe what I do speik in simple leid!
The heavinis about hir wer so cleir, so that through grit desyre
whairwith my lingring hart wes brunt and waisted in a fyre,
98
war than maid less, and culd not weill sustane suche fair a sight.
Vpon thair forheades wer ingrawen the valeur of these men
who wer a people honorable; amangis thame saw I then
Great sort of these whome lowe before had with him captiwe led
as presoneris, and thame enforst his tract to trace and tred.
And first vnto my sight appered to be in Fames right hand
great Cæsar and brawe Scipio about hir than to stand;
Bot who of thame was nerest hir I culd not weill perceawe,
for one of them to vertew was, and not to lowe, a slawe,
The other subiect was to bothe, and with thame both indewed.
so after this beginning brawe and glorious ensewed
A cumpanie & rank of men, a people warlike wyght,
with valeur and with armour armed, and full of force and might,
Lyke these who in the ancient tymes, in high Triumphant chair,
To Capitoll by Sacra streit or lata did repair;
These all so orderlyke, I say, with famous Fame thame sped,
whair thair in euerie bree and brow might than his name bene red,
Who most through gretest glorye to this glorious world was freind,
and by his valiancye and deadis obtened great commend.
great Cæsar and brawe Scipio about hir than to stand;
Bot who of thame was nerest hir I culd not weill perceawe,
for one of them to vertew was, and not to lowe, a slawe,
The other subiect was to bothe, and with thame both indewed.
so after this beginning brawe and glorious ensewed
A cumpanie & rank of men, a people warlike wyght,
with valeur and with armour armed, and full of force and might,
Lyke these who in the ancient tymes, in high Triumphant chair,
To Capitoll by Sacra streit or lata did repair;
These all so orderlyke, I say, with famous Fame thame sped,
whair thair in euerie bree and brow might than his name bene red,
Who most through gretest glorye to this glorious world was freind,
and by his valiancye and deadis obtened great commend.
As I did mark attentiwely thair Noble secreit talk,
thair gesture, acts, and countenance, behold, I saw to walk
With thame two other in array, the one ones Neucis was,
the other his Sone, who through his deadis did all the world surpass.
Thair also these men I beheld who by thair valiant corss
did cloiss the passage to thair foes, and staide thair force perforce,
Two fatheris brawe, accumpanyed with the victorious sones,
and one before and two behind so marched to thair thrones;
Of whose the last and hindmest was the cheifast first in glore,
thought not in marche yit far in praise the formest wes before.
thair gesture, acts, and countenance, behold, I saw to walk
With thame two other in array, the one ones Neucis was,
the other his Sone, who through his deadis did all the world surpass.
Thair also these men I beheld who by thair valiant corss
did cloiss the passage to thair foes, and staide thair force perforce,
99
and one before and two behind so marched to thair thrones;
Of whose the last and hindmest was the cheifast first in glore,
thought not in marche yit far in praise the formest wes before.
Thair after, lyke a Carbuncle great, Claudius flamd and shynde
that by his counsell and his handis from Italie declynde
The tempestes of more greit effairis, that secreitlie at night—
as weill the flood Metaurus yit can weill recorde his might—
Cam quiklye thair, and did defait Asdruballis sakking host,
that threatninglie the Romane armes so threatned and did bost,
Who thair did purge the romane feildis of that most noysum seid,
and in this fact he had both eyes and wingis to mak more speid.
that by his counsell and his handis from Italie declynde
The tempestes of more greit effairis, that secreitlie at night—
as weill the flood Metaurus yit can weill recorde his might—
Cam quiklye thair, and did defait Asdruballis sakking host,
that threatninglie the Romane armes so threatned and did bost,
Who thair did purge the romane feildis of that most noysum seid,
and in this fact he had both eyes and wingis to mak more speid.
Thair oulde great Captane Fabius did second him nixt fame,
who by great craft ferse Anniball and drift of tyme ourcame;
With him a nother Fabius, with thame Two Catois toe,
two Pauls with thame, two Bruti als, and eik Marcelli twoe,
One Regulus that lowed Rome and did him self more hate,
on Curio with Fabricius, more fair in poore estait
Than Midas or yit Crassus to, for all thair glanceing gold,
whose auarice thair greadie myndis from vertew did with hold;
With thame did Cincinnatus march, with him Serianus walk,
not distant be a stapp or pace from thame of whome we talk.
And thair I saw Catullus go, that great Camillus come,
that rather lothe to liwe or that he did not good to Rome,
So that the goddes him fauouring so did bring him bak agane
by his great proofe of manfull mynde and thair for to remane,
When that the blinde and furious rage of Vulgar people vyle
did banish him from natiwe soyle and chaist vnto exyle.
who by great craft ferse Anniball and drift of tyme ourcame;
With him a nother Fabius, with thame Two Catois toe,
two Pauls with thame, two Bruti als, and eik Marcelli twoe,
One Regulus that lowed Rome and did him self more hate,
on Curio with Fabricius, more fair in poore estait
Than Midas or yit Crassus to, for all thair glanceing gold,
whose auarice thair greadie myndis from vertew did with hold;
With thame did Cincinnatus march, with him Serianus walk,
not distant be a stapp or pace from thame of whome we talk.
And thair I saw Catullus go, that great Camillus come,
that rather lothe to liwe or that he did not good to Rome,
So that the goddes him fauouring so did bring him bak agane
by his great proofe of manfull mynde and thair for to remane,
100
did banish him from natiwe soyle and chaist vnto exyle.
So thair I did Torquatus sie to giwe command to kill
his valiant and victorious youth that disobeyed his will,
And chosed rather to indure, to liwe but chylde and sone,
than that the discipline of wars by him suld be vndone;
Heir One and other Decius who with thair breists maid way
owt through the thikkest of thair foes thame ferslie to assay.
O cruell vow which with the Sone the father reft of breathe,
and caused thame bothe offer wp thair lyfe vnto one deathe!
his valiant and victorious youth that disobeyed his will,
And chosed rather to indure, to liwe but chylde and sone,
than that the discipline of wars by him suld be vndone;
Heir One and other Decius who with thair breists maid way
owt through the thikkest of thair foes thame ferslie to assay.
O cruell vow which with the Sone the father reft of breathe,
and caused thame bothe offer wp thair lyfe vnto one deathe!
Now Curtius with thame dois walk no less then those devote
that to the Cawe did both him self and armour all alote,
And filled wp that vglie den, alace, by horrible vow,
in midst within the market place that trembling so did bow;
Leuinius with Mummius Attilius was, with thame
Flamminius who bothe by force and pittie greikis ourcame.
that to the Cawe did both him self and armour all alote,
And filled wp that vglie den, alace, by horrible vow,
in midst within the market place that trembling so did bow;
Leuinius with Mummius Attilius was, with thame
Flamminius who bothe by force and pittie greikis ourcame.
Thair also was that Roman bauld who, bounded with a wand,
the Syrien king within a rounde to answer did demand,
And with his gesteur and his brow, and with his toung constraind
vnto his will and his desyre which he afore disdaind;
And him I spyed who all Inarmed alone did keip the hill
from whense he afterwart wes thrust and hurled by thair will;
With him also Horatius that did alone defend
the bridge aganis the Thoskan force and brought thame to thair end;
And him I saw who in the midst and thikkest of his foes
in vane did thrust his hand in fyre his boldnes to disclose,
And thair so long did it retane till it was burned quyte,
for anger than effaist his pane and all his doole despyte;
With him was he who first ourcame the Africans by sea,
and with him had that man who tuix Sardene and Scicilie
Disparpled all thair Nauall ost, and brought thame all to sak,
and one part brak, ane other drowned, the rest did captiwe mak.
the Syrien king within a rounde to answer did demand,
And with his gesteur and his brow, and with his toung constraind
vnto his will and his desyre which he afore disdaind;
And him I spyed who all Inarmed alone did keip the hill
from whense he afterwart wes thrust and hurled by thair will;
With him also Horatius that did alone defend
the bridge aganis the Thoskan force and brought thame to thair end;
And him I saw who in the midst and thikkest of his foes
in vane did thrust his hand in fyre his boldnes to disclose,
And thair so long did it retane till it was burned quyte,
for anger than effaist his pane and all his doole despyte;
101
and with him had that man who tuix Sardene and Scicilie
Disparpled all thair Nauall ost, and brought thame all to sak,
and one part brak, ane other drowned, the rest did captiwe mak.
I appius knew evin by his eyes that heavie war and blinde,
against the vulgar sort of folk vnplesand and vnkynde.
Than after thair I did espye that chiften goode and greate,
the conquerour of manye realmes which he did all defait,
Sweit, courteous, douce in all his deidis, who him behawed so
that nixt to Fame and to renoun he well deserwed to go,
Wer not his light wes neir at hand, and glorye in decay,
and yit with ws Italian folk he might bene weill, I say,
Evin he alone, as all these thrie was vnto Thebes toun,
Alcides, Bachus, Epaminond, of fame and brute renoun.
Bot oh! alace! to liue to long is to Suruiue to shame,
and longest lyfe through lenthe of yeares dois shorten but our name.
against the vulgar sort of folk vnplesand and vnkynde.
Than after thair I did espye that chiften goode and greate,
the conquerour of manye realmes which he did all defait,
Sweit, courteous, douce in all his deidis, who him behawed so
that nixt to Fame and to renoun he well deserwed to go,
Wer not his light wes neir at hand, and glorye in decay,
and yit with ws Italian folk he might bene weill, I say,
Evin he alone, as all these thrie was vnto Thebes toun,
Alcides, Bachus, Epaminond, of fame and brute renoun.
Bot oh! alace! to liue to long is to Suruiue to shame,
and longest lyfe through lenthe of yeares dois shorten but our name.
And him I saw who had his name for to be brawe disposed,
and in his youth great valiancye and proofes of praise disclosed;
And looke how Raw and how seueir he bloodye was and fearse,
evin far more courtess and beninge was he whome I reherse,
Whose manhoode was so excellent as skairslie I can tell,
Now whidder he as chiften did, or suldartlyke, excell.
and in his youth great valiancye and proofes of praise disclosed;
And looke how Raw and how seueir he bloodye was and fearse,
evin far more courtess and beninge was he whome I reherse,
Whose manhoode was so excellent as skairslie I can tell,
Now whidder he as chiften did, or suldartlyke, excell.
Than after came Volumius who through weill knowen deids
represt the ranckled swelling rage that wepeth sore mens heids,
And swellis the bloode, and it infectis maliciouslye with byillis,
and putrefeing the corss of man both plageth and defyillis.
With him I spyed Rucilius, with Cossus Philon nixt,
and after hend to stand apart this thikkest light betuixt
Thrie valiant knyghts whose memberis war both lamed and hurt with wounder,
whose armour wes both loss and clowen and hinging all a sounder,
Luce Dentat, and Mark Sergius, and Cetius Sceua named,
thrie thunderboltis, thrie fyrie flaughts, thrie rokis of wars vntamed;
With thame wes cursed Cateline that did from Sergius springe,
successour of a wrongus fame, and cruell, inbeninge.
represt the ranckled swelling rage that wepeth sore mens heids,
And swellis the bloode, and it infectis maliciouslye with byillis,
and putrefeing the corss of man both plageth and defyillis.
With him I spyed Rucilius, with Cossus Philon nixt,
and after hend to stand apart this thikkest light betuixt
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whose armour wes both loss and clowen and hinging all a sounder,
Luce Dentat, and Mark Sergius, and Cetius Sceua named,
thrie thunderboltis, thrie fyrie flaughts, thrie rokis of wars vntamed;
With thame wes cursed Cateline that did from Sergius springe,
successour of a wrongus fame, and cruell, inbeninge.
Than Marius after thair I spyed who Iugurth did subdew,
and Cymbais with the duchemens rage and furie owerthrew;
And Fuluius Flaccus thair I saw, who purpoislye did err
in heading of these thankles men that so ingraitfull wer;
Nixt him more noble Fuluius, with him I Gracchus spyed,
the father of these other two who did the toun dewyid,
Whose clattering nest and combersome the Romans oft hes rent,
and wes the causs that so greit death and so muche blood wes spent.
And him I saw who dois appeir to others blyithe and blist,
bot not to me who dois not sie suche grace in him consist,
Or yit to be within his thoughts and secrecie inclosed
a closed hart on which all happ and mishappe is reposed:
Heirby I do Metellus meane, his father and his air,
That from Numidia and from Spane the spoyle and booting baire,
From Macedone and Cretas Ile to Rome great riches brought,
and from these townis whairin such loss and saccage he hes wrought.
and Cymbais with the duchemens rage and furie owerthrew;
And Fuluius Flaccus thair I saw, who purpoislye did err
in heading of these thankles men that so ingraitfull wer;
Nixt him more noble Fuluius, with him I Gracchus spyed,
the father of these other two who did the toun dewyid,
Whose clattering nest and combersome the Romans oft hes rent,
and wes the causs that so greit death and so muche blood wes spent.
And him I saw who dois appeir to others blyithe and blist,
bot not to me who dois not sie suche grace in him consist,
Or yit to be within his thoughts and secrecie inclosed
a closed hart on which all happ and mishappe is reposed:
Heirby I do Metellus meane, his father and his air,
That from Numidia and from Spane the spoyle and booting baire,
From Macedone and Cretas Ile to Rome great riches brought,
and from these townis whairin such loss and saccage he hes wrought.
Than after hend Vespasian I spyed to walk with Fame,
with him his sone, both good and fair, who Titus heght by name,
And not that curst Domitian, vnworthie ay of praise;
Goode Nerua, and Traianus eik, iust princes in thair dayis,
And Helius Adrianus I with Antonie Pius spyed,
whose offspring and successioun in Marius did abyde,
Who had at leist to rewill and ringe a naturall desyre,
and gouerne in iustice and in right thair noble large impyre.
And whils with wandring eyes I lookt to spye the wandring way,
I saw the first foundatour of the Romane walls, I say;
With him fywe other Kings with fame did fordwart march and stapp,
The sevint lay charged on the ground with Ill and all mishapp,
Euin as it oft befallis to these that verteu dois forsake
to follou euill and wickidnes and vnto vyce thame take.
with him his sone, both good and fair, who Titus heght by name,
And not that curst Domitian, vnworthie ay of praise;
Goode Nerua, and Traianus eik, iust princes in thair dayis,
103
whose offspring and successioun in Marius did abyde,
Who had at leist to rewill and ringe a naturall desyre,
and gouerne in iustice and in right thair noble large impyre.
And whils with wandring eyes I lookt to spye the wandring way,
I saw the first foundatour of the Romane walls, I say;
With him fywe other Kings with fame did fordwart march and stapp,
The sevint lay charged on the ground with Ill and all mishapp,
Euin as it oft befallis to these that verteu dois forsake
to follou euill and wickidnes and vnto vyce thame take.
Finis .i. cap.
104
ii. The Secound chapter of the Triumphe of Fame.
Quhen as with merwell infinit and suche a noble sight
I was surprysed by deip desyre to sie these folk of might,
And that good martiall people brawe who wer in world but pane,
as suche a race within the same sall nevir appeare agane,
I Than vnto my scrolles and bookes reioyned so my eyes,
wherin thair names wer writtin all which wer in high degreis,
And these of gretest praise and pryce bot than I quikly knew;
my language was in nameing thame inferiour to my vew,
So that my speache thair praise impaird or all them not reherst;
and whils my mynd on this was sett ane other thought me perst,
And turned my eyes ane other way, when as I saw encroche
a trim consort of strangers stout more nerer to approche.
I was surprysed by deip desyre to sie these folk of might,
And that good martiall people brawe who wer in world but pane,
as suche a race within the same sall nevir appeare agane,
I Than vnto my scrolles and bookes reioyned so my eyes,
wherin thair names wer writtin all which wer in high degreis,
And these of gretest praise and pryce bot than I quikly knew;
my language was in nameing thame inferiour to my vew,
So that my speache thair praise impaird or all them not reherst;
and whils my mynd on this was sett ane other thought me perst,
And turned my eyes ane other way, when as I saw encroche
a trim consort of strangers stout more nerer to approche.
Amongs the first was Hanniball, with him Achilles brawe,
whose praise by Homer is depaint to frie from death and grawe,
With freinȝeis he imbroudered was of euerliving fame,
These Troians two who by thair deidis demereted the same;
With thame two Perseans great I saw, and Philip and his sone,
that to the Inds from Pella toun established his throne.
Not far from these I thair did sie ane other Alexander,
To whome dame fortoun in his feght such succes did not rander,
He ran not so as other did, he had lyke kynde of stay
quhen fortoun from trew honour doithe deuyde her self auay.
whose praise by Homer is depaint to frie from death and grawe,
With freinȝeis he imbroudered was of euerliving fame,
These Troians two who by thair deidis demereted the same;
With thame two Perseans great I saw, and Philip and his sone,
that to the Inds from Pella toun established his throne.
105
To whome dame fortoun in his feght such succes did not rander,
He ran not so as other did, he had lyke kynde of stay
quhen fortoun from trew honour doithe deuyde her self auay.
Thair in one knott the Thebanes thrie I spyed, as I hawe showen;
thair Diomed with Aiax and Vlisses might be knowen,
Who had to sie this spacious world so greit and deip desyre,
and Nestor who forsaw so muche, and knew all that impyre.
I Agamemnon lykwyse vewed with Menelaus thair,
that threw this world by cursed wyiffis in greit debait and cair;
Leonidas was thame amongs, who did with mirrie cheare
Propyne a denner hard and sharpe vnto his men of weir,
Bot harder and more horrible the supper he assingis
who in a litill part of ground did work greit wondrous thingis.
Than Alcibiades I espyed that oft did Athenis toun
evin when it list him to rewolt and turne vpsyde doun,
With sugred speache, and langage dowce, and with alluring words,
and with his brow and forret cleir restraned oft thair swordis.
With him was thair Milciades who tooke the yok from greace,
with him his sone, Thunonus good, was marcheing in that place,
Who with a perfyte pietie, and with a godlie mynde,
did chaine alywe him with these chaines that did his father bynde.
With these who so wer recompenst Themistocles drew neir,
and Theseus with Aristide a Fabrice might appeir,
To whome, alace, was interdyte thair kyndlie natiwe grawe;
bot yit the vyce of these that so suche malice did consawe
Enobled more thair noble deids, for nothing more makis knowen
two contrareis than one by one by interspace is showen.
And Phocion with thame wes thair, whom I abowe hawe named,
rewarded evin with these alyke and equallie defamed;
For so his thankles countrye men not caused him onelye dee,
bot banisht evin his bouldest bones and maid vnburyed be.
As I me turned thair Pyrrhus I amang that troupe espyed,
with Massanissa that good king besydis him to abyde,
Who semed to be than malcontent, and for to gottin Wrong,
becaus he was not with his freindis the Romans plaist among.
With him I lookeing thair did sie the Syracusian king
called Hero, and thair than agane with him prease to thring
Hammilcar, distant far from thame, a man both ferse and raw;
and him who nacked from the flams escaped thair I saw,
Riche Cræsus, king of Lidia, who teaches ws this tale,
That no defence in fortouns spyte nor buckler can preuale.
I also Syphax than beheld Tormented in lyke sort,
and Brenus vnder whom did fall full manye a man athort,
And he agane yit afterwart in spoyling Delphos temple
was beaten doun and quyte ourthrowen to serwe for lyke example.
thair Diomed with Aiax and Vlisses might be knowen,
Who had to sie this spacious world so greit and deip desyre,
and Nestor who forsaw so muche, and knew all that impyre.
I Agamemnon lykwyse vewed with Menelaus thair,
that threw this world by cursed wyiffis in greit debait and cair;
Leonidas was thame amongs, who did with mirrie cheare
Propyne a denner hard and sharpe vnto his men of weir,
Bot harder and more horrible the supper he assingis
who in a litill part of ground did work greit wondrous thingis.
Than Alcibiades I espyed that oft did Athenis toun
evin when it list him to rewolt and turne vpsyde doun,
With sugred speache, and langage dowce, and with alluring words,
and with his brow and forret cleir restraned oft thair swordis.
With him was thair Milciades who tooke the yok from greace,
with him his sone, Thunonus good, was marcheing in that place,
Who with a perfyte pietie, and with a godlie mynde,
did chaine alywe him with these chaines that did his father bynde.
With these who so wer recompenst Themistocles drew neir,
and Theseus with Aristide a Fabrice might appeir,
To whome, alace, was interdyte thair kyndlie natiwe grawe;
bot yit the vyce of these that so suche malice did consawe
106
two contrareis than one by one by interspace is showen.
And Phocion with thame wes thair, whom I abowe hawe named,
rewarded evin with these alyke and equallie defamed;
For so his thankles countrye men not caused him onelye dee,
bot banisht evin his bouldest bones and maid vnburyed be.
As I me turned thair Pyrrhus I amang that troupe espyed,
with Massanissa that good king besydis him to abyde,
Who semed to be than malcontent, and for to gottin Wrong,
becaus he was not with his freindis the Romans plaist among.
With him I lookeing thair did sie the Syracusian king
called Hero, and thair than agane with him prease to thring
Hammilcar, distant far from thame, a man both ferse and raw;
and him who nacked from the flams escaped thair I saw,
Riche Cræsus, king of Lidia, who teaches ws this tale,
That no defence in fortouns spyte nor buckler can preuale.
I also Syphax than beheld Tormented in lyke sort,
and Brenus vnder whom did fall full manye a man athort,
And he agane yit afterwart in spoyling Delphos temple
was beaten doun and quyte ourthrowen to serwe for lyke example.
In strange attyre and vncouth cloths, and in that thikkest band,
this cumpanie wes thair amongs and with thame thair did stand:
And whils I bakwart turned my eyes I spyed a sort of men
all gathered wholie in a round, whair him I spyed then
Who first to god wold bwild a houss and church to him erect,
to dwell amang his creatures and for that same effect;
Bot he that did compleit the same I saw him cum behinde,
to whome this work was destitute, as we in scripture finde,
Who from the lowest partis thairof evin to the highest topps
did bwild the same, and mounted wp be manye Pinnis and propps,
And as I may coniectour weill and so the treuthe recorde,
he was not suche a Maister work nor builder with his Lorde.
Than after hend I him espyed to marche within that place
that with his god so homely was and Spak him face to face;
Few wer they, yea, none ever was, that heirin so might want
or with his god familiarlie so long a time did hant.
Thair him I spyed who band the Sun evin by his potent toung,
as beastis with thair bandis ar bound and beaten led and doung,
So he did mak the Sun to stay his foes to tract and trace,
till that he thame ourcuming all did all by death deface.
O gentle trust! O noble fayithe of these that servis thair god,
that all which he created hes makis subiect to thair nod,
And dois not only mak the Sun within his circle stay,
bot stable makis vnstable heavinis evin by one word, I say!
Than after I our father saw, to whome was gevin in charge
for to depairt out of his land by waistis and desertis large,
And for to go vnto that place which was be god elect
vnto the weill of mankyndis sowle and that for gude respect;
With him his sone and nevew was who trumped by his wyiff,
and Ioseph that was chaist and wyse and honest all his lyiff.
Extending than sa far my eyes as I had force and might,
beholding that which corporall eyes can not attane by sight,
I Thair iust Ezechias spyde, and Sanson thair defaist,
and him who first vpone the seis the Spacious Arke hes plaist;
And him I vewid who afterhend did builde that stable tour
that chargit was with Syn and shame by god his puissant pouer;
Than Iudas good from whome culd none draw from his fathers lawis,
who franklye for the lowe of treuth did rin in death hir clawes.
this cumpanie wes thair amongs and with thame thair did stand:
And whils I bakwart turned my eyes I spyed a sort of men
all gathered wholie in a round, whair him I spyed then
Who first to god wold bwild a houss and church to him erect,
to dwell amang his creatures and for that same effect;
Bot he that did compleit the same I saw him cum behinde,
to whome this work was destitute, as we in scripture finde,
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did bwild the same, and mounted wp be manye Pinnis and propps,
And as I may coniectour weill and so the treuthe recorde,
he was not suche a Maister work nor builder with his Lorde.
Than after hend I him espyed to marche within that place
that with his god so homely was and Spak him face to face;
Few wer they, yea, none ever was, that heirin so might want
or with his god familiarlie so long a time did hant.
Thair him I spyed who band the Sun evin by his potent toung,
as beastis with thair bandis ar bound and beaten led and doung,
So he did mak the Sun to stay his foes to tract and trace,
till that he thame ourcuming all did all by death deface.
O gentle trust! O noble fayithe of these that servis thair god,
that all which he created hes makis subiect to thair nod,
And dois not only mak the Sun within his circle stay,
bot stable makis vnstable heavinis evin by one word, I say!
Than after I our father saw, to whome was gevin in charge
for to depairt out of his land by waistis and desertis large,
And for to go vnto that place which was be god elect
vnto the weill of mankyndis sowle and that for gude respect;
With him his sone and nevew was who trumped by his wyiff,
and Ioseph that was chaist and wyse and honest all his lyiff.
Extending than sa far my eyes as I had force and might,
beholding that which corporall eyes can not attane by sight,
I Thair iust Ezechias spyde, and Sanson thair defaist,
and him who first vpone the seis the Spacious Arke hes plaist;
And him I vewid who afterhend did builde that stable tour
that chargit was with Syn and shame by god his puissant pouer;
Than Iudas good from whome culd none draw from his fathers lawis,
who franklye for the lowe of treuth did rin in death hir clawes.
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Alreddie was my great desyre all weryed, evin content,
and satisfied by these brawe sightis that so with fame than Went,
When that a quik and gallant lwik did mak me crawe to sie,
and stay for to behoulde the trowpe that Trimlie drew to me.
I saw within that rounde and ring a sort of brawelyk Dames,
Antiope and Eurithea, and so wer both thair names,
Fair in thair face, in armour cled; Hippolita also,
afflicted for Hippolitus, and pansiwe, full of woe,
And Menalippe thair I saw; these dames so agill wer
and reddie to withstand that force, that any Would infer
That it was evin a gretast proofe of Theseus manly might
and Hercules who thame ourcame by hard and doubtfull fight.
I thair that Wedow saw who did securelie sie hir sone,
whose happie dayes of gretest hope wer by his death vndone,
Bot shee revengde the same with speid on Cyre who wrought the same,
as she in cutting of his heide hes cut away his fame:
For seing his vnhappie end, and als his shameles deathe,
It dois appeir that be his fault he hourly daylie heathe
So maid him selff to daylie die, and all his former fame
to be supprest and buryed be togeather with his name.
and satisfied by these brawe sightis that so with fame than Went,
When that a quik and gallant lwik did mak me crawe to sie,
and stay for to behoulde the trowpe that Trimlie drew to me.
I saw within that rounde and ring a sort of brawelyk Dames,
Antiope and Eurithea, and so wer both thair names,
Fair in thair face, in armour cled; Hippolita also,
afflicted for Hippolitus, and pansiwe, full of woe,
And Menalippe thair I saw; these dames so agill wer
and reddie to withstand that force, that any Would infer
That it was evin a gretast proofe of Theseus manly might
and Hercules who thame ourcame by hard and doubtfull fight.
I thair that Wedow saw who did securelie sie hir sone,
whose happie dayes of gretest hope wer by his death vndone,
Bot shee revengde the same with speid on Cyre who wrought the same,
as she in cutting of his heide hes cut away his fame:
For seing his vnhappie end, and als his shameles deathe,
It dois appeir that be his fault he hourly daylie heathe
So maid him selff to daylie die, and all his former fame
to be supprest and buryed be togeather with his name.
Than saw I hir who happelie did sie the toun of Troy,
togeathir with that Virgine fair that did Æneas noy,
And that courageous Valiant Quene, with one tress of hir hair
knitt wpp when that the other hang evin sparpled to hir spair,
So sone she hard that Babilon rewolted from hir croun
did bring thame bak, and stayed the reiff begun within hir toun.
togeathir with that Virgine fair that did Æneas noy,
And that courageous Valiant Quene, with one tress of hir hair
knitt wpp when that the other hang evin sparpled to hir spair,
So sone she hard that Babilon rewolted from hir croun
did bring thame bak, and stayed the reiff begun within hir toun.
With hir I saw Cleopatra, toucht with vnworthie flame,
and likwyse saw I in that dance Zenobia of greate fame,
Bot very sparing of hir glore, and of hir honour hard,
in vsage fair, and in hir youthe of cumelie sweit regard;
And lwik how muche she in hir age and bewtye praise possest,
So muche hir glorye and renoun by honestie increst;
Within hir hart thought womanlye suche constancye remaned
that she thame caused to stand in dreid that others had disdaned;
Hir visage fair, hir face most sweit, hir hair with helmet armed,
abaist our emperouris hart and mynde, and courage queld and charmed,
Althought at last he sore assayld and captiwe twik that quene,
and maid hir to our brawe Triumphe a rechar pray be sene.
And now suppose vpone these names I both be breiff and short,
yit will I more discourse, and of fair Iudithe mak report,
That bould and hardie wedow chaist, who brought vnto the deid
that dronkin foolish Holipherne, and cut from him his heid.
And sall I now lewe me behind or Ninus sall forgett,
from whome all historeis beginnis, and not with thame him sett?
Or yit is heir in that empyre whose arrogance and pryde
conducted to a bestiall lyfe in It sevin ȝeir to byde?
Or Belus yit sall I oursie, from whome did errour spring,
not by his fault, bot by his sone who did it first in bring?
Wheare now dois lurk Zorastres that magik artis Invent,
or yit these men who of our dwkes that in a curst ascent
And frowar star did Euphrate pass with lose and shame also,
Whose evill conduct in Italie emplasters yit thair woe?
Quhair Is Mithridates the greit, a mortall foe to Rome,
and our eternall ennemie vnto his deathe and dome,
Who soldring wp his brokkin loss and his oft crased harmes,
in sommer and in wintar fled befoir the Romane armes?
and likwyse saw I in that dance Zenobia of greate fame,
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in vsage fair, and in hir youthe of cumelie sweit regard;
And lwik how muche she in hir age and bewtye praise possest,
So muche hir glorye and renoun by honestie increst;
Within hir hart thought womanlye suche constancye remaned
that she thame caused to stand in dreid that others had disdaned;
Hir visage fair, hir face most sweit, hir hair with helmet armed,
abaist our emperouris hart and mynde, and courage queld and charmed,
Althought at last he sore assayld and captiwe twik that quene,
and maid hir to our brawe Triumphe a rechar pray be sene.
And now suppose vpone these names I both be breiff and short,
yit will I more discourse, and of fair Iudithe mak report,
That bould and hardie wedow chaist, who brought vnto the deid
that dronkin foolish Holipherne, and cut from him his heid.
And sall I now lewe me behind or Ninus sall forgett,
from whome all historeis beginnis, and not with thame him sett?
Or yit is heir in that empyre whose arrogance and pryde
conducted to a bestiall lyfe in It sevin ȝeir to byde?
Or Belus yit sall I oursie, from whome did errour spring,
not by his fault, bot by his sone who did it first in bring?
Wheare now dois lurk Zorastres that magik artis Invent,
or yit these men who of our dwkes that in a curst ascent
And frowar star did Euphrate pass with lose and shame also,
Whose evill conduct in Italie emplasters yit thair woe?
Quhair Is Mithridates the greit, a mortall foe to Rome,
and our eternall ennemie vnto his deathe and dome,
Who soldring wp his brokkin loss and his oft crased harmes,
in sommer and in wintar fled befoir the Romane armes?
I manye thingis of great reporte dois in ane boundell knitt:
whair is he now king Arthure that at Table round did sitt?
Wheare be these Augustis Cæsars, thrie victorious, one of Spane,
of Aphrica ane other was, the last of Lorrane ane?
Whills I so this victorious Fame triumphing so dois sie,
I lykwise spyed tuelf noble knights his Palladins to be.
whair is he now king Arthure that at Table round did sitt?
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of Aphrica ane other was, the last of Lorrane ane?
Whills I so this victorious Fame triumphing so dois sie,
I lykwise spyed tuelf noble knights his Palladins to be.
Than Godefray cam syne a lone, a Duke of fayithe and trust,
who maid a holy interpryse, whose stepps and wayes wer iust;
He, he alone, that valiant prince did with his valiant handis
rebuild that keped Cairles Nest that in Ierusalem standis;
This thing, alace, dois causs my woe, this worketh my disdane,
this is the thing for which I crye, and call so oft in vane,
Is prydefull christians miserable;—goe! goe! yea misers now,
and drink eache one ane others bloode with setled othes and wow!
Goe wourke eache one ane others wrake and others eache distroy,
and euerie one against your selff dois all your spyte employ!
Ȝe cairles ar how that the grawe of Iesus Chryist remanis
within the handis of fayithles dogs and Turkis who it retanis.
Bot after these whome I did sie, if I be not deceawed,
I saw but few, or none at all, that might renoun hawe crawed,
That by thair art in planting peace, or skill in hardie fight,
or doubtfull yok in hard combatt appeared to my sight;
Zit as the chosen men behind and cheifest oftest goe,
I saw in end of all the troupes that Sarrasyne our foe,
That brought vnto our christianis bothe skayith and blushing shame;
and Heguius, sone of Luria, did follow him with fame;
The Duke of Lancaster wes thair, who with his sworde and lance
a nighbour curst and troublesome was to the realme of france.
who maid a holy interpryse, whose stepps and wayes wer iust;
He, he alone, that valiant prince did with his valiant handis
rebuild that keped Cairles Nest that in Ierusalem standis;
This thing, alace, dois causs my woe, this worketh my disdane,
this is the thing for which I crye, and call so oft in vane,
Is prydefull christians miserable;—goe! goe! yea misers now,
and drink eache one ane others bloode with setled othes and wow!
Goe wourke eache one ane others wrake and others eache distroy,
and euerie one against your selff dois all your spyte employ!
Ȝe cairles ar how that the grawe of Iesus Chryist remanis
within the handis of fayithles dogs and Turkis who it retanis.
Bot after these whome I did sie, if I be not deceawed,
I saw but few, or none at all, that might renoun hawe crawed,
That by thair art in planting peace, or skill in hardie fight,
or doubtfull yok in hard combatt appeared to my sight;
Zit as the chosen men behind and cheifest oftest goe,
I saw in end of all the troupes that Sarrasyne our foe,
That brought vnto our christianis bothe skayith and blushing shame;
and Heguius, sone of Luria, did follow him with fame;
The Duke of Lancaster wes thair, who with his sworde and lance
a nighbour curst and troublesome was to the realme of france.
Thus gasing on this famous sight, I at that tyme and space
did lwik lyke one who did adwance his fitstepps and his pace
To mak sum thingis he hes not sene, so I did fordward goe
To sie gif thair war anye moe then these that I did knoe:
Quhair thair I spyed two noble wightis who laitlye, oh, did die,
Who of our countrye men wer glore and praise of Italie,
Who wer inclosed in that band, and marched on with Fame,
good Robert of Scicilia, king of vndefamed name,
Who in his knowledge most sublime and foresight most profound
did Argus lyke sie thingis far of and weill discerned thair ground;
The other that did marche with him was my Colonna great,
courageous, gentle, constant, large and liberall in his state.
did lwik lyke one who did adwance his fitstepps and his pace
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To sie gif thair war anye moe then these that I did knoe:
Quhair thair I spyed two noble wightis who laitlye, oh, did die,
Who of our countrye men wer glore and praise of Italie,
Who wer inclosed in that band, and marched on with Fame,
good Robert of Scicilia, king of vndefamed name,
Who in his knowledge most sublime and foresight most profound
did Argus lyke sie thingis far of and weill discerned thair ground;
The other that did marche with him was my Colonna great,
courageous, gentle, constant, large and liberall in his state.
Finis .2. cap.
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iii. The thrid Chapter of fame.
I culd no wayes returne my eyes from suche a famous sight,
nor yit conwert thame from these men of manhoode full of might,
When that I hard one say agane, “Looke on thyne other syde,
whair Fame and Praise and brawe renoun with other folk dois byde
By other meanes than vse of armes.” So turning to my left
I Plato first espyed thairin with honour first infeft,
Who in that cleir and cumelie band did nerrest marche these sings,
to whiche he narrest dois approche, to whome the heavinis these brings.
Than nixt to Plato thair did go, so godlie and dewyne,
great Aristotill, replenished with full and high ingyne,
And after him Pithagoras, that homelie first did name
Philosophye evin by the same so worthye of greit fame;
Than Socrates with Zenophon, nixt him that aged Man
To whome the Muses wer his freindis, as Troy and Argus can
With Micen yit resent his pen, who song the long astrayes
and errouris of Laertes sone and boulde Achilles praise;
In hand cam singing on that Mantuan poet brawe,
and strywing which of thame suld first the way and passage hawe;
The one I spyed whose stepps the grass transformed in a flour,
Mark Cicero, who cleirlie shawes what fruit, what force and power
Hes eloquence and ornat speache, so that these two be thame,
which wer the eyes of Latine toung, hes lightned muche the same.
nor yit conwert thame from these men of manhoode full of might,
When that I hard one say agane, “Looke on thyne other syde,
whair Fame and Praise and brawe renoun with other folk dois byde
By other meanes than vse of armes.” So turning to my left
I Plato first espyed thairin with honour first infeft,
Who in that cleir and cumelie band did nerrest marche these sings,
to whiche he narrest dois approche, to whome the heavinis these brings.
Than nixt to Plato thair did go, so godlie and dewyne,
great Aristotill, replenished with full and high ingyne,
And after him Pithagoras, that homelie first did name
Philosophye evin by the same so worthye of greit fame;
Than Socrates with Zenophon, nixt him that aged Man
To whome the Muses wer his freindis, as Troy and Argus can
With Micen yit resent his pen, who song the long astrayes
and errouris of Laertes sone and boulde Achilles praise;
In hand cam singing on that Mantuan poet brawe,
and strywing which of thame suld first the way and passage hawe;
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Mark Cicero, who cleirlie shawes what fruit, what force and power
Hes eloquence and ornat speache, so that these two be thame,
which wer the eyes of Latine toung, hes lightned muche the same.
Than after cam Demosthenes, all in a flame he went,
disparing of the formest place and not with nixt content;
Nixt him was Æshines in preiss, who thair might weill hawe knowen
in what respect his voyce was hoarse and by the other ourthrowen.
I can not weill in ordour tell whome first I saw and when
to follow or yit go afore amangs these leirned men,
For windring at Ten thousand things of that fair trowpe and band,
my eyes and thoughts did both astray and wer not at command.
disparing of the formest place and not with nixt content;
Nixt him was Æshines in preiss, who thair might weill hawe knowen
in what respect his voyce was hoarse and by the other ourthrowen.
I can not weill in ordour tell whome first I saw and when
to follow or yit go afore amangs these leirned men,
For windring at Ten thousand things of that fair trowpe and band,
my eyes and thoughts did both astray and wer not at command.
I Solon saw who of goode lawis establish[t] first the plant
that now soe will manwred Is, and dois hir fruit now want;
With him these other leirned Sax, the grecian sax and wyse,
of whome dois greik so noblye vaunt and yeildis thame first the pryse;
With these I also did behold him whome our countrye men
as chiften had for to conduct thame evin with other Ten,
I Varro meane, the thrid greit light of Romans high ingyne,
whome more that I in face beheld he semed more to shyne.
Crisp. Salust than appered nixt, with him I Liuius spyed,
who frowardlie did him regaird and greitlye him Inwyed.
Whills I thame than did sie, behoulde than quiklye did I sie
Greit Plinius his nighbour nixt and marrow for to be,
Who tooke more cair to wryte his bookes than to forisee his death,
whom Somma hill with brinstone blasts did stopp his vitall breath.
Than after I Plotinus saw, one learnd of Platois sect,
who trusting secreitlie to liwe did for the same effect
With draw him quietlie apairt with no man to be sene;
bot him his fearse and cruell fates and desteneis did prevene,
Which he contraited in hir wombe from whense he first did come,
so not his foresight him awaild, this was his fatall dome.
Than Crassus, Galba I beheld, Calvus with Pollio,
Hortensius with Antonius, who so in pryde did go
To arme thair toungs and scharpe thair mouthes in Cicerois disgrace,
and searcheing for vnworthie fame did falslye thairs incress.
Thucicides I lykwyse saw that weill distings the place,
the tyme, togeather with the feates, the querrell, and the cace,
And trewlie tellis be whose mens bloode so feirslye shed in store
the barren feildis was fertill maid and fatter then before;
Herodotus I lykwyse saw of all Historiens greik
the father, that thair workis full wreitt and trewlie of thame spak.
that now soe will manwred Is, and dois hir fruit now want;
With him these other leirned Sax, the grecian sax and wyse,
of whome dois greik so noblye vaunt and yeildis thame first the pryse;
With these I also did behold him whome our countrye men
as chiften had for to conduct thame evin with other Ten,
I Varro meane, the thrid greit light of Romans high ingyne,
whome more that I in face beheld he semed more to shyne.
Crisp. Salust than appered nixt, with him I Liuius spyed,
who frowardlie did him regaird and greitlye him Inwyed.
Whills I thame than did sie, behoulde than quiklye did I sie
Greit Plinius his nighbour nixt and marrow for to be,
114
whom Somma hill with brinstone blasts did stopp his vitall breath.
Than after I Plotinus saw, one learnd of Platois sect,
who trusting secreitlie to liwe did for the same effect
With draw him quietlie apairt with no man to be sene;
bot him his fearse and cruell fates and desteneis did prevene,
Which he contraited in hir wombe from whense he first did come,
so not his foresight him awaild, this was his fatall dome.
Than Crassus, Galba I beheld, Calvus with Pollio,
Hortensius with Antonius, who so in pryde did go
To arme thair toungs and scharpe thair mouthes in Cicerois disgrace,
and searcheing for vnworthie fame did falslye thairs incress.
Thucicides I lykwyse saw that weill distings the place,
the tyme, togeather with the feates, the querrell, and the cace,
And trewlie tellis be whose mens bloode so feirslye shed in store
the barren feildis was fertill maid and fatter then before;
Herodotus I lykwyse saw of all Historiens greik
the father, that thair workis full wreitt and trewlie of thame spak.
And Euclide, geometrien, that dois depaint most sound
Triangls with the quadrat formes, the Circles, and the round;
And Porphir quho aganist the trewth became as hard as stone,
who with his Silogismes vntrew and fals he did compone
Assaild to shake the rockis of treuth, bot in Dialectik quick,
and fild the same with argumentis in number great and thick.
I also saw Hipocrates, both bred and borne in Co,
that more had maid his workis perfyte and far more better so
If that his subtill Aphorisms had weill bene vnderstand.
Appollo than with Æsculap I saw than neir at hand,
Bot thay war plaist abowe my sight, with tyme war worne away,
so nather by thair face nor name I culd thame know, I say.
Than Galene great of Pergame toun did follow nixt that band,
of whome did hinge that noble art on which our helth dois stand,
That now amangs ws lyis abused, so clene corrupt and waist,
vyle, abiect, and prophaned now, by euerie one disgraist;
Bot in his dayes it wes not so, thought dark it was and short,
Yit furslie he declared of It, and largelie did report.
I feirles Anaxarches saw, of manly port and mynde,
with him Zenocrates the chaist, that nowayes him Inclynde
Vnto infamous vyld attemps, bot thame withstoode eache one,
So that in euerye point he did resemble a solide stone.
Thair followed Archimedes nixt with visage baise on ground,
and Democrit that pansiwe walkt thair in that trowpe was found,
Who with his will and but constraint did with his sight inlake
the light, the gold, the Riches great, whiche he did all forsake;
And Hippia I saw lykwyse, with him ould Gorgeas,
that bouldlye vanted that he knew all thingis that ever was;
And after him Archesilaus of all thingis for to doubt,
and Heraclite within his sworde more planer spokken owt.
Triangls with the quadrat formes, the Circles, and the round;
And Porphir quho aganist the trewth became as hard as stone,
who with his Silogismes vntrew and fals he did compone
Assaild to shake the rockis of treuth, bot in Dialectik quick,
and fild the same with argumentis in number great and thick.
I also saw Hipocrates, both bred and borne in Co,
that more had maid his workis perfyte and far more better so
If that his subtill Aphorisms had weill bene vnderstand.
Appollo than with Æsculap I saw than neir at hand,
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so nather by thair face nor name I culd thame know, I say.
Than Galene great of Pergame toun did follow nixt that band,
of whome did hinge that noble art on which our helth dois stand,
That now amangs ws lyis abused, so clene corrupt and waist,
vyle, abiect, and prophaned now, by euerie one disgraist;
Bot in his dayes it wes not so, thought dark it was and short,
Yit furslie he declared of It, and largelie did report.
I feirles Anaxarches saw, of manly port and mynde,
with him Zenocrates the chaist, that nowayes him Inclynde
Vnto infamous vyld attemps, bot thame withstoode eache one,
So that in euerye point he did resemble a solide stone.
Thair followed Archimedes nixt with visage baise on ground,
and Democrit that pansiwe walkt thair in that trowpe was found,
Who with his will and but constraint did with his sight inlake
the light, the gold, the Riches great, whiche he did all forsake;
And Hippia I saw lykwyse, with him ould Gorgeas,
that bouldlye vanted that he knew all thingis that ever was;
And after him Archesilaus of all thingis for to doubt,
and Heraclite within his sworde more planer spokken owt.
Diogenes I also spyed, so doggish in his wordis,
and planer than more plesanter a scuffer in his bwrdis;
And Anaxagoras I beheld who blythelie did regaird
his feildis to ly desert and wyld of which he litill caird,
Whiche he did deme to bring Envye, so that he thame forsooke,
and charged with raches and with skill his raches he did brooke.
Thair Curius Dicearchus was, nixt him wer other thrie,
in discipline most different, and distant in degree,
Quintilianus, Seneca, Plutarchus maist renound,
that so in learning muche exceld as dois thair work resound.
I saw a rowt of clattering men the seis of Treuthe to storme
with contrare windye argumentis, not to the treuthe conforme,
Who through thair erring vaginge thoughts wer famous maid and cleir,
yit rather by contentioun than wisdome they did leir;
They shuldringlie rusht other owt, togeather they did raill,
as Lyonis two togeather knitt, and Serpentis taill by Taill.
O now quhat bedlem men be these, quhat madlyke fools indeid,
that are content with trifling toyes and further not proceid!
And then I saw Carneades, who was of suche a witt,
and in his studeis so expert, so reddie, prompe, and fitt,
And in his speaches and brawe discourse his toung he had at will,
that skairsly suld one be him knowen the right almost from Ill;
His lyfe so long, his high ingyne, and greit abundant vane
Did mak him than to vndertak with trawell greit and pane
For to accorde these contrare sects that then war at great Iarrs,
whom literall furour did conduct vnto such lasting warrs;
Bot this he culd not weill performe, for evin as arts did grow,
so lykwyse did enwy and stryfe and discord with thame flow,
And with thair knawlege and thair skill, and with thair learned artis,
arayse lykwyse that poysned spark within thair bowdned hartis.
And Epiceur, who wold him self aganis that gratious man,
who raising wpp mans mortall hope, I thair espyed than,
Did prowe his soule Immortall be, that so yit epiceur
that bouldlye spak aganis that man dois now greit shame indeur;
Bot gif he preiss to challenge fame, what can it ellis more be
than borrowing it from Platois stryfe with whome he culd not grie?
And Lippus thair lykwyse I saw, with him two wer at hand
that to his maister equall war that progrest in that band,
I Methradore with Aristipp do meane, for thease be thay
that in the Epicurien sect wer iudged best that day.
and planer than more plesanter a scuffer in his bwrdis;
And Anaxagoras I beheld who blythelie did regaird
his feildis to ly desert and wyld of which he litill caird,
Whiche he did deme to bring Envye, so that he thame forsooke,
and charged with raches and with skill his raches he did brooke.
Thair Curius Dicearchus was, nixt him wer other thrie,
in discipline most different, and distant in degree,
Quintilianus, Seneca, Plutarchus maist renound,
that so in learning muche exceld as dois thair work resound.
116
with contrare windye argumentis, not to the treuthe conforme,
Who through thair erring vaginge thoughts wer famous maid and cleir,
yit rather by contentioun than wisdome they did leir;
They shuldringlie rusht other owt, togeather they did raill,
as Lyonis two togeather knitt, and Serpentis taill by Taill.
O now quhat bedlem men be these, quhat madlyke fools indeid,
that are content with trifling toyes and further not proceid!
And then I saw Carneades, who was of suche a witt,
and in his studeis so expert, so reddie, prompe, and fitt,
And in his speaches and brawe discourse his toung he had at will,
that skairsly suld one be him knowen the right almost from Ill;
His lyfe so long, his high ingyne, and greit abundant vane
Did mak him than to vndertak with trawell greit and pane
For to accorde these contrare sects that then war at great Iarrs,
whom literall furour did conduct vnto such lasting warrs;
Bot this he culd not weill performe, for evin as arts did grow,
so lykwyse did enwy and stryfe and discord with thame flow,
And with thair knawlege and thair skill, and with thair learned artis,
arayse lykwyse that poysned spark within thair bowdned hartis.
And Epiceur, who wold him self aganis that gratious man,
who raising wpp mans mortall hope, I thair espyed than,
Did prowe his soule Immortall be, that so yit epiceur
that bouldlye spak aganis that man dois now greit shame indeur;
Bot gif he preiss to challenge fame, what can it ellis more be
than borrowing it from Platois stryfe with whome he culd not grie?
117
that to his maister equall war that progrest in that band,
I Methradore with Aristipp do meane, for thease be thay
that in the Epicurien sect wer iudged best that day.
Than did I spye Chrysippus so evin with a woundrous spindill
and with a large and brodest roll his threid & webbs to windill,
Who by greit tyme and high Ingyne did glorious works compose,
and in the same much learned skill did learnedlie disclose.
Than after thair I Zeno spyed, the father of his sect,
and for his ornat clerest speache abowe the rest erect,
Who for to gif more proofe of It this sing and show did giwe,
was opning wpp his hand and palme and falding than his Niwe.
I saw Cleantes, who to stay and stable his intent
did gentlye Weawe his brawest webbs on which he was most bent,
And curiouslye, with earnist cair, to cairfullye prowyid
To mak thair fals opinionis with Verite to byid:
Bot I him leawe heir with the rest who did by fame surmont,
that I more grawe and better things heirafter may recount.
and with a large and brodest roll his threid & webbs to windill,
Who by greit tyme and high Ingyne did glorious works compose,
and in the same much learned skill did learnedlie disclose.
Than after thair I Zeno spyed, the father of his sect,
and for his ornat clerest speache abowe the rest erect,
Who for to gif more proofe of It this sing and show did giwe,
was opning wpp his hand and palme and falding than his Niwe.
I saw Cleantes, who to stay and stable his intent
did gentlye Weawe his brawest webbs on which he was most bent,
And curiouslye, with earnist cair, to cairfullye prowyid
To mak thair fals opinionis with Verite to byid:
Bot I him leawe heir with the rest who did by fame surmont,
that I more grawe and better things heirafter may recount.
Finis Triumphi famȩ.
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