[Ariostos seven planets governing Italie or his satyrs] [by Robert Tofte] |
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| 1. | THE FIRST SATYR OF Ariostos. |
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| 3. |
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 | [Ariostos seven planets governing Italie or his satyrs] |  |
1
THE FIRST SATYR OF Ariostos.
The Argvment.
He sheweth what qualities such men ought to haue, who go about to purchase credite and wealth in the Courts of Princes: and that both his seruice and his writings haue beene most vngratefully requited by his Lord and Master.
To his brother Master A. A. and his friend L. B.
Brother, both of your selfe, and of my friend,
I faine would know this doubts vncertaine end:
Whether the Court thinks of vs as we be,
Or in obliuion drownes our memory.
Whether my Lord accuse my staying heere:
Or if I haue a friend so nobly deere,
As in mine absence will excuse my blame,
And gainst mine imputations, reasons frame:
That all be others follow him, yet I
May stay behind with ample honesty.
Or whether all of you most learnedly
Read in the wealthy rules of flattery,
(That Goddesse of great Courtiers) rather augment
By your soft smoothings, his high discontent:
And so lift vp the fury of his heart,
Beyond both reason, sense, and my desart.
Well: if you do so, you are then most wise:
For so in these dayes Courtiers onely rise.
He is a foole that striues to liue by losse,
And t'is wits madnesse when our Prince we crosse:
Not though he said he saw the mid-day bright,
Couered with starres as in the darke of night;
No, he that will by great mens fauours liue,
To sooth and flatter, must by no meanes grieue.
Let greatnesse either praise or discommend,
Do we not see how his attendants send,
Their verdicts forth, to iumpe with what he saies
Like Echos, or the Actors of stage plaies?
And from their lips send vollies of consent,
(As ift'were done by Act of Parliament.
And if by chance, any amongst them be,
(As t'were most strange in such a company)
That dares not speake so much for bashfulnesse,
Yet shall his looke applaud it nerethelesse:
And his oyld shining countenance tell, that he
In silence doth commend their flattery.
Though this in others you do discommend,
Yet me it doth much reputation lend:
Because what euer my resolues haue moulded,
I plainly without flattery haue vnfolded,
And vtterd forth my reasons in such sort,
That no disgrace could to my fame retort:
The least of which in this extremity.
I hold of worthy strong validity.
As first my life, which nature bids me prize,
Aboue all wealth thats vnderneath the skies:
Nor will I it by folly shorter make,
Then fortune or the heauens predestinate.
If I should spend in trauaile my best times,
And sucke th' infectious aire of forraine climes,
Being already sickly, I should die,
Else Valentine and Posthumus do lie.
Againe, men say I know my bodies state,
Better then any other can relate:
Can iudge what for my selfe is good or ill,
And therefore am referd to mine owne skill;
Which being so, I know my natures strength
Can not endure your cold climes: as at length,
Your selues haue prou'd, and found that Italy
Doth farre exceed the North in dignitie.
Besides, the cold doth not offend me more,
Then doth their stoues, whose heate I much abhor;
My nature being such, that euen the sent
I loath as't were a plague maleuolent.
Nor in the winter breathes with you a man,
Without his hot house, bath, or warming pan;
Where here with vs, nature doth order keepe,
We drinke vntill we sweat, sweat till we sleepe:
Eate til our iawes ake, game til our bones are wearie,
Kisse till our lips smart: all things make vs merrie.
Then who that comes from vs, with you can liue
In health, or to himselfe contentment giue?
I faine would know this doubts vncertaine end:
Whether the Court thinks of vs as we be,
Or in obliuion drownes our memory.
Whether my Lord accuse my staying heere:
Or if I haue a friend so nobly deere,
As in mine absence will excuse my blame,
And gainst mine imputations, reasons frame:
That all be others follow him, yet I
May stay behind with ample honesty.
Or whether all of you most learnedly
Read in the wealthy rules of flattery,
(That Goddesse of great Courtiers) rather augment
By your soft smoothings, his high discontent:
And so lift vp the fury of his heart,
Beyond both reason, sense, and my desart.
Well: if you do so, you are then most wise:
2
He is a foole that striues to liue by losse,
And t'is wits madnesse when our Prince we crosse:
Not though he said he saw the mid-day bright,
Couered with starres as in the darke of night;
No, he that will by great mens fauours liue,
To sooth and flatter, must by no meanes grieue.
Let greatnesse either praise or discommend,
Do we not see how his attendants send,
Their verdicts forth, to iumpe with what he saies
Like Echos, or the Actors of stage plaies?
And from their lips send vollies of consent,
(As ift'were done by Act of Parliament.
And if by chance, any amongst them be,
(As t'were most strange in such a company)
That dares not speake so much for bashfulnesse,
Yet shall his looke applaud it nerethelesse:
And his oyld shining countenance tell, that he
In silence doth commend their flattery.
Though this in others you do discommend,
Yet me it doth much reputation lend:
Because what euer my resolues haue moulded,
I plainly without flattery haue vnfolded,
And vtterd forth my reasons in such sort,
That no disgrace could to my fame retort:
The least of which in this extremity.
I hold of worthy strong validity.
As first my life, which nature bids me prize,
Aboue all wealth thats vnderneath the skies:
Nor will I it by folly shorter make,
Then fortune or the heauens predestinate.
If I should spend in trauaile my best times,
And sucke th' infectious aire of forraine climes,
Being already sickly, I should die,
Else Valentine and Posthumus do lie.
Againe, men say I know my bodies state,
Better then any other can relate:
Can iudge what for my selfe is good or ill,
3
Which being so, I know my natures strength
Can not endure your cold climes: as at length,
Your selues haue prou'd, and found that Italy
Doth farre exceed the North in dignitie.
Besides, the cold doth not offend me more,
Then doth their stoues, whose heate I much abhor;
My nature being such, that euen the sent
I loath as't were a plague maleuolent.
Nor in the winter breathes with you a man,
Without his hot house, bath, or warming pan;
Where here with vs, nature doth order keepe,
We drinke vntill we sweat, sweat till we sleepe:
Eate til our iawes ake, game til our bones are wearie,
Kisse till our lips smart: all things make vs merrie.
Then who that comes from vs, with you can liue
In health, or to himselfe contentment giue?
When like Riphaan snowy mountaines hie,
Many through sharpnesse of the aire doe die.
As for my selfe, the vapours which exhale,
And from my queasie stomacke rise and fall,
Breeding Catarrhes, and my sicke braines vnrest,
Which soone from thence fal downe into my breast;
Would quickly rid me, in one night I know,
Both of my life and sicknesse at a blow.
Adde vnto this the strength of fuming wine,
Which boyles like poyson in these veines of mine,
Which custome makes them quaffe and to carowse;
Who doth refuse, is sacrilegious.
Their meate with pepper, and with spices hot,
Is mixt, to make them relish more the pot:
Which diet Reason my Physitian saith,
Will make my sorrow long, and short my breath.
But you will answere me, that if I please,
My selfe may be the Steward of mine ease,
And both prouide warm lodgings and sound friends,
Who will not tie me to those drunken ends,
Which custome and the countries liberty,
Hath knit to men of place and quality.
You'le say I may prouide my selfe a Cooke;
Whose care might ouer my prouision looke:
And that my selfe according to my pleasure
Might with my coyne, my conduit water me asure,
Whilest you and your associates with delight,
Should make of one iust length both day and night:
And I like to a Charterhouse close Fryer,
Sit in my chamber, and attend my fire,
Eate mine owne breath, and most impatiently,
Like Timon liue without mans company.
And yet this is not all, behinde is worse,
I must haue houshold stuffe, to plague my purse:
Both for my kitchin, and my chambers grace,
As fathers furnish brides in such a case.
Besides, if master Pasquin, from his loue,
For once or twice, should daine but to approue,
To dresse my meat alone; yet in the end,
He would my seuere humour discommend,
And say, if such particulars I hold,
I must prouide a Cooke of mine owne mould.
And truely were my wealth strong as my will,
Such counsell I would earnestly fulfill.
Or if I had Francisco Steuiars wealth,
No Prince should be more followed then my selfe:
But this great charge, I can no way support,
My meanes doth yeeld my minde so little comfort.
Besides, if to my Steward I should say,
(What best these watrish humours doth alay)
That buy, and buy (what ere thou paiest) the best,
Because such things my stomacke doth disgest:
If once or twice to please me he do frame,
Foure times at least, he will forget the same.
Not daring sometimes buy them from this feare,
Lest I should loathe it cause the price is deere.
Hence comes it, oft I feed on bread alone,
Which breedes in me the cholicke and the stone.
Hence I liue priuate; hence I am subiect much;
To choler, and to euery peeuish tuch:
Fretting and fuming with such peeuishnesse,
That in my best friends, I leaue doubtfulnesse.
Many through sharpnesse of the aire doe die.
As for my selfe, the vapours which exhale,
And from my queasie stomacke rise and fall,
Breeding Catarrhes, and my sicke braines vnrest,
Which soone from thence fal downe into my breast;
Would quickly rid me, in one night I know,
Both of my life and sicknesse at a blow.
Adde vnto this the strength of fuming wine,
Which boyles like poyson in these veines of mine,
Which custome makes them quaffe and to carowse;
Who doth refuse, is sacrilegious.
Their meate with pepper, and with spices hot,
Is mixt, to make them relish more the pot:
Which diet Reason my Physitian saith,
Will make my sorrow long, and short my breath.
But you will answere me, that if I please,
My selfe may be the Steward of mine ease,
And both prouide warm lodgings and sound friends,
Who will not tie me to those drunken ends,
Which custome and the countries liberty,
4
You'le say I may prouide my selfe a Cooke;
Whose care might ouer my prouision looke:
And that my selfe according to my pleasure
Might with my coyne, my conduit water me asure,
Whilest you and your associates with delight,
Should make of one iust length both day and night:
And I like to a Charterhouse close Fryer,
Sit in my chamber, and attend my fire,
Eate mine owne breath, and most impatiently,
Like Timon liue without mans company.
And yet this is not all, behinde is worse,
I must haue houshold stuffe, to plague my purse:
Both for my kitchin, and my chambers grace,
As fathers furnish brides in such a case.
Besides, if master Pasquin, from his loue,
For once or twice, should daine but to approue,
To dresse my meat alone; yet in the end,
He would my seuere humour discommend,
And say, if such particulars I hold,
I must prouide a Cooke of mine owne mould.
And truely were my wealth strong as my will,
Such counsell I would earnestly fulfill.
Or if I had Francisco Steuiars wealth,
No Prince should be more followed then my selfe:
But this great charge, I can no way support,
My meanes doth yeeld my minde so little comfort.
Besides, if to my Steward I should say,
(What best these watrish humours doth alay)
That buy, and buy (what ere thou paiest) the best,
Because such things my stomacke doth disgest:
If once or twice to please me he do frame,
Foure times at least, he will forget the same.
Not daring sometimes buy them from this feare,
Lest I should loathe it cause the price is deere.
Hence comes it, oft I feed on bread alone,
Which breedes in me the cholicke and the stone.
Hence I liue priuate; hence I am subiect much;
5
Fretting and fuming with such peeuishnesse,
That in my best friends, I leaue doubtfulnesse.
Apollo thee I thanke, it is thy will,
And you faire Muses of the learned hill,
I find that for your sakes I not possesse
Apparell that will cloath my nakednesse.
But say, my Lord doth (as it is most true)
Each seuerall yeare make me apparell new:
Yet for your sakes that he performes the same,
Tis most vntrue, or so to thinke a blame.
Himselfe auowes as much, and well I may
With reputation write what he doth say;
Yet am no nearer my cares to rehearse,
Sith he respects strawes better then my verse.
All creatures can commend sweet poesie,
But none respect the Poets pouerty.
That famous worke which I in painefull wise
Compos'd to raise his glories to the skies,
He doth deny the merit of all fame,
Learning must beg; but rich men are to blame.
To gallop vp and downe, and post it hard,
My Lord auowes t'is he deserues reward,
Who keepes his banquet-house and banco sweet:
And like a Spaniell waites vpon his feet.
That nicely playes the secret Chamberlaine,
And watches euery houre with great paine:
Or he that to his bottles cleanly lookes,
And cooles his ale or wine in running brookes:
Or else his Page that dares not close an eye,
Vntill the Bergamiskes industriously
Doe beat on their anuils, whose very sound
Brings the poore sleepy boy into a swound.
To these he giues his great beneuolence,
And doth approue their worthes by recompence.
He saith if in my bookes he praysed be,
T'is nothing or to him, or vnto me,
And that it was the seede of idle time,
Nourisht by vanity and foolish time;
And from my seruice he might more haue gained,
If I in other sort to him retained.
What if within the Millan Chancery,
Vnder the shew of some authority,
He hath bestow'd not fully out a third,
Of that true gaine the place might well afford
Vnto my labour? yet what was done therein,
Was, that my trauell might his profit bring;
And that mine endlesse trauell and my cares,
Might bring an end vnto his great affaires.
Wel: Virgil if thou wilt be worldly wise,
Let my too deare bought counsell thee aduise;
Thy harp, thy bookes, thy verse with darknesse shade
And in thine old age learne some handy trade:
Or if thou hopest in this world to gaine,
Some office get, or to some Prince retaine:
For worse plague I neare wish mine enemy,
Then to be famous for sweete Poetry.
Yet this be sure, thy liberty is lost,
Vncertainty of place so deare doth cost.
Nor thinke although thou liuest vntill thy haire
Like flakes of snowie Apenins appeare,
Or that thy Lord as many old daies haue,
As aged Nestor bore vnto his graue:
Thinke not, I say, that thou shalt euer come,
By him or by his meanes to higher roome.
Or if once tierd with seruitude thou please
But to looke backe or turne vnto thine ease;
Blest maist thou be if he vouchsafe to take,
But from thee what he gaue for vertues sake;
And so without more thought of iniury,
Send thee away with threed-bare charity.
As for my selfe what euer he hath giuen,
If he backe take and make my fortunes euen,
Because that Buda neither Agria I
Would see, or follow him in Hangarie:
Yet I mislike not, force makes me content,
And shall doe, since against me he is bent;
Although away those prosperous plumes he bring,
Which euen himselfe did fixe vnto my wing;
Although he doe exclude me from all grace,
And will not smile on me with chearefull face
Although he say I am disloiall proued,
Respectlesse, base, vnworthy to be loued;
And that his publike speeches doe declame,
How much he hates my memory and name:
Yet patience shall within my bosome sit,
And thinke that I was borne to suffer it.
This was the reason that I haue remoued
My best obseruance, since I was not loued:
Knowing it was effectles to approue
To bring incensed greatnes backe to loue.
And you faire Muses of the learned hill,
I find that for your sakes I not possesse
Apparell that will cloath my nakednesse.
But say, my Lord doth (as it is most true)
Each seuerall yeare make me apparell new:
Yet for your sakes that he performes the same,
Tis most vntrue, or so to thinke a blame.
Himselfe auowes as much, and well I may
With reputation write what he doth say;
Yet am no nearer my cares to rehearse,
Sith he respects strawes better then my verse.
All creatures can commend sweet poesie,
But none respect the Poets pouerty.
That famous worke which I in painefull wise
Compos'd to raise his glories to the skies,
He doth deny the merit of all fame,
Learning must beg; but rich men are to blame.
To gallop vp and downe, and post it hard,
My Lord auowes t'is he deserues reward,
Who keepes his banquet-house and banco sweet:
And like a Spaniell waites vpon his feet.
That nicely playes the secret Chamberlaine,
And watches euery houre with great paine:
Or he that to his bottles cleanly lookes,
And cooles his ale or wine in running brookes:
Or else his Page that dares not close an eye,
Vntill the Bergamiskes industriously
Doe beat on their anuils, whose very sound
Brings the poore sleepy boy into a swound.
To these he giues his great beneuolence,
And doth approue their worthes by recompence.
He saith if in my bookes he praysed be,
T'is nothing or to him, or vnto me,
And that it was the seede of idle time,
6
And from my seruice he might more haue gained,
If I in other sort to him retained.
What if within the Millan Chancery,
Vnder the shew of some authority,
He hath bestow'd not fully out a third,
Of that true gaine the place might well afford
Vnto my labour? yet what was done therein,
Was, that my trauell might his profit bring;
And that mine endlesse trauell and my cares,
Might bring an end vnto his great affaires.
Wel: Virgil if thou wilt be worldly wise,
Let my too deare bought counsell thee aduise;
Thy harp, thy bookes, thy verse with darknesse shade
And in thine old age learne some handy trade:
Or if thou hopest in this world to gaine,
Some office get, or to some Prince retaine:
For worse plague I neare wish mine enemy,
Then to be famous for sweete Poetry.
Yet this be sure, thy liberty is lost,
Vncertainty of place so deare doth cost.
Nor thinke although thou liuest vntill thy haire
Like flakes of snowie Apenins appeare,
Or that thy Lord as many old daies haue,
As aged Nestor bore vnto his graue:
Thinke not, I say, that thou shalt euer come,
By him or by his meanes to higher roome.
Or if once tierd with seruitude thou please
But to looke backe or turne vnto thine ease;
Blest maist thou be if he vouchsafe to take,
But from thee what he gaue for vertues sake;
And so without more thought of iniury,
Send thee away with threed-bare charity.
As for my selfe what euer he hath giuen,
If he backe take and make my fortunes euen,
Because that Buda neither Agria I
Would see, or follow him in Hangarie:
Yet I mislike not, force makes me content,
7
Although away those prosperous plumes he bring,
Which euen himselfe did fixe vnto my wing;
Although he doe exclude me from all grace,
And will not smile on me with chearefull face
Although he say I am disloiall proued,
Respectlesse, base, vnworthy to be loued;
And that his publike speeches doe declame,
How much he hates my memory and name:
Yet patience shall within my bosome sit,
And thinke that I was borne to suffer it.
This was the reason that I haue remoued
My best obseruance, since I was not loued:
Knowing it was effectles to approue
To bring incensed greatnes backe to loue.
Rogero, if thy royall progeny,
From their disdaine blast me with obliquie,
And I from them haue nothing got, altho
Their worthy valours and braue deeds I shoe,
Spending my time and wit most studiously,
To raise them tombes vnto eternity;
Then what should I doe with them? tis well knowne
I am no falkoner, all my art is flowne
From such light vanities: I haue not the skill,
To make my spaniels noses please my will:
Nor was I euer brought vp to the same,
Or can thereto my worst indeauours frame:
For I am big, vnwieldly, grosse and fat,
And such strong motions gree not with my state.
I haue no curious taste, or eye of fire,
To please the tongue or the vnchast desire.
Steward nor Cater to a noble man
I was not borne to be, I nothing can
In those low offices. It had bin good,
I then had liu'd when men eate homely food.
Gismunds accounts, I will not one me take,
Nor vnto Rome an idle iourney make,
Posting with all my reasons to asswage
The fiery heate of great Secundus rage.
But say, my fortune at such ods should runne,
That needes by me such seruice must be done:
I feare me in the businesse would be found,
Dangers more great, and able to confound.
Besides, if such hard seruices must be,
And that men must attend with slauery,
As doth Arctophylax vpon the Beare:
He that desires to purchase gold so deere
Let him enioy it freely; for my selfe
I will not at so high rate buy my wealth.
Before aduancement in such sort shall please,
Ile only study how to gaine mine ease:
Rather then cares shall compasse me about
And from my mind thrust contemplation out:
Which though my body it enrich not tight,
Yet to my mind it addes such rare delight,
That it deserueth in immortall stories,
To be enrold with all admired glories.
And hence it comes, my pouerty I beare,
As it on earth my best of best things were.
This makes that brothell wealth I doe not loue,
Or that great name or titles doe me moue:
Or any State allurements so adore,
That I will sell my liberty therefore.
This makes me neuer to desire or craue,
What I not hope for, nor am like to haue.
Nor choler nor disdaine doth me assaile,
Nor inward enuy shewes my count'nance pale;
Sith Maron or Celio are Lords created,
Or from low basenesse into greatnes stated
Nor doe I care for sitting at great tables,
Soothing the humour of these pufpast bables;
But hold them as the scum of foolery,
Whom rymers taxe in idle balladry.
That I without attendants am content,
To walke on foote, and make my selfe consent
To follow mine affaires; and when I ride,
To knit my cloake-bag to my horses side,
As much doth please me, as at my command,
A world of mercenary knaues did stand.
And sure I thinke my sin is lesse each way,
In this (for I respect not what men say)
Then when in Court I am infor'st to bribe,
And euery scornefull proud delay abide;
Ere our most lawfull suites vnto the Prince,
We can preferre, and be dispatch from thence:
Or slander honest titles, or subuert,
Right without reason, conscience or desert;
Only to shew our malice, or whats worse,
(Because thereon doth hang a heauy curse)
To make poore Parsons buy their tenths so deare,
That they are double forc't their sheepe to sheare.
Besides, it makes me with a pure deuotion,
Thanke my good God for my lowe safe promotion,
And that where ere I come I this haue proued,
I liue amongst the best, and am beloued.
Tis knowne, though I no seruice had, I haue
Goods to maintaine me, and to buy a graue.
That which to me from birth and fortune came,
Is such as I may boast without my shame:
But for I will not worke your too much paine,
To my first song I will returne againe;
That I no true occasion haue to grieue,
Because in your commercement I not liue.
I haue already strenght of reasons showne,
And yet if more should be vnto you knowne,
It would be to no end; sith I doe see,
That our opinions warres will not agree.
Yet with one other more I will contest,
Because I hold it stronger then the rest:
If I from my poore house should start away,
All would to wrack, I being all their stay.
Of fiue of vs (all which now liuing are)
Three are remoued into Regions farre:
As Charles, who in that kingdome meanes to stay,
From whence the Turkes Cleanthus driue away:
Gallasso for a Bishopricke in Rome,
Doth daily gape and lookes when it should come.
Thou Alexander dost with my Lord remaine,
Making thy seruice purchase of thy gaine.
Onely poore Gabriel's here, but what wouldst thou
That he should doe hereafter? or what now?
He as thou know'st, of hands and feete is lame,
And so into this wretched world first came.
Abroad he hath not gone, which cannot goe;
Little hath seene, and lesse then that doth know:
Only at home he doth securely bide.
Now he that takes vpon him for to guide
A house, as I haue done, must haue respect,
That they doe not the impotent neglect.
My mayden sister is with me beside,
Whose dowry I am bound I shall prouide:
Till which I haue effected honestly,
I cannot say nor thinke that I am free.
From their disdaine blast me with obliquie,
And I from them haue nothing got, altho
Their worthy valours and braue deeds I shoe,
Spending my time and wit most studiously,
To raise them tombes vnto eternity;
Then what should I doe with them? tis well knowne
I am no falkoner, all my art is flowne
From such light vanities: I haue not the skill,
To make my spaniels noses please my will:
Nor was I euer brought vp to the same,
Or can thereto my worst indeauours frame:
For I am big, vnwieldly, grosse and fat,
And such strong motions gree not with my state.
I haue no curious taste, or eye of fire,
To please the tongue or the vnchast desire.
Steward nor Cater to a noble man
I was not borne to be, I nothing can
In those low offices. It had bin good,
I then had liu'd when men eate homely food.
Gismunds accounts, I will not one me take,
8
Posting with all my reasons to asswage
The fiery heate of great Secundus rage.
But say, my fortune at such ods should runne,
That needes by me such seruice must be done:
I feare me in the businesse would be found,
Dangers more great, and able to confound.
Besides, if such hard seruices must be,
And that men must attend with slauery,
As doth Arctophylax vpon the Beare:
He that desires to purchase gold so deere
Let him enioy it freely; for my selfe
I will not at so high rate buy my wealth.
Before aduancement in such sort shall please,
Ile only study how to gaine mine ease:
Rather then cares shall compasse me about
And from my mind thrust contemplation out:
Which though my body it enrich not tight,
Yet to my mind it addes such rare delight,
That it deserueth in immortall stories,
To be enrold with all admired glories.
And hence it comes, my pouerty I beare,
As it on earth my best of best things were.
This makes that brothell wealth I doe not loue,
Or that great name or titles doe me moue:
Or any State allurements so adore,
That I will sell my liberty therefore.
This makes me neuer to desire or craue,
What I not hope for, nor am like to haue.
Nor choler nor disdaine doth me assaile,
Nor inward enuy shewes my count'nance pale;
Sith Maron or Celio are Lords created,
Or from low basenesse into greatnes stated
Nor doe I care for sitting at great tables,
Soothing the humour of these pufpast bables;
But hold them as the scum of foolery,
Whom rymers taxe in idle balladry.
9
To walke on foote, and make my selfe consent
To follow mine affaires; and when I ride,
To knit my cloake-bag to my horses side,
As much doth please me, as at my command,
A world of mercenary knaues did stand.
And sure I thinke my sin is lesse each way,
In this (for I respect not what men say)
Then when in Court I am infor'st to bribe,
And euery scornefull proud delay abide;
Ere our most lawfull suites vnto the Prince,
We can preferre, and be dispatch from thence:
Or slander honest titles, or subuert,
Right without reason, conscience or desert;
Only to shew our malice, or whats worse,
(Because thereon doth hang a heauy curse)
To make poore Parsons buy their tenths so deare,
That they are double forc't their sheepe to sheare.
Besides, it makes me with a pure deuotion,
Thanke my good God for my lowe safe promotion,
And that where ere I come I this haue proued,
I liue amongst the best, and am beloued.
Tis knowne, though I no seruice had, I haue
Goods to maintaine me, and to buy a graue.
That which to me from birth and fortune came,
Is such as I may boast without my shame:
But for I will not worke your too much paine,
To my first song I will returne againe;
That I no true occasion haue to grieue,
Because in your commercement I not liue.
I haue already strenght of reasons showne,
And yet if more should be vnto you knowne,
It would be to no end; sith I doe see,
That our opinions warres will not agree.
Yet with one other more I will contest,
Because I hold it stronger then the rest:
If I from my poore house should start away,
10
Of fiue of vs (all which now liuing are)
Three are remoued into Regions farre:
As Charles, who in that kingdome meanes to stay,
From whence the Turkes Cleanthus driue away:
Gallasso for a Bishopricke in Rome,
Doth daily gape and lookes when it should come.
Thou Alexander dost with my Lord remaine,
Making thy seruice purchase of thy gaine.
Onely poore Gabriel's here, but what wouldst thou
That he should doe hereafter? or what now?
He as thou know'st, of hands and feete is lame,
And so into this wretched world first came.
Abroad he hath not gone, which cannot goe;
Little hath seene, and lesse then that doth know:
Only at home he doth securely bide.
Now he that takes vpon him for to guide
A house, as I haue done, must haue respect,
That they doe not the impotent neglect.
My mayden sister is with me beside,
Whose dowry I am bound I shall prouide:
Till which I haue effected honestly,
I cannot say nor thinke that I am free.
Lastly, th' vnwieldy age of mine old mother
Doth all my other cogitations couer:
She must not be forsaken of vs all,
Vnlesse to ruine we will head-long fall.
Often I am the eldest, and am growne
An old man full forty foure yeares knowne:
My head is bald, and for I sicknesse feare,
My braines to comfort, I a night-cap weare.
The small remaynder of my life behind,
To keepe it curiously is all my minde.
But thou whose issue from my mothers wombe,
After me fully eighteene yeares didst come,
Goe thou and serue my Lord, and spend thy breath
In heate, in cold, in danger and to death.
Go view the world, high Dutch and Hungary,
Attending on him most obsequiously.
Serue for vs both, and where my zeale doth lack,
Make thou amends and bring my fauours back.
Who if he truely please of me to thinke,
The seruice I can doe him is with inke
To giue his fame large wings not in the field;
To prooue my force, in such assaults I yeeld.
Say vnto him, Great Lord at thy commaund,
My brothers seruices doe humbly stand,
Whilst I at home with a shrill trumpets sound,
Will spread his worthy name vpon the ground;
That it shall goe as farre as sea or land,
Yea and beyond the Gadean pillars strand.
Doth all my other cogitations couer:
She must not be forsaken of vs all,
Vnlesse to ruine we will head-long fall.
Often I am the eldest, and am growne
An old man full forty foure yeares knowne:
My head is bald, and for I sicknesse feare,
My braines to comfort, I a night-cap weare.
The small remaynder of my life behind,
To keepe it curiously is all my minde.
But thou whose issue from my mothers wombe,
After me fully eighteene yeares didst come,
Goe thou and serue my Lord, and spend thy breath
In heate, in cold, in danger and to death.
Go view the world, high Dutch and Hungary,
11
Serue for vs both, and where my zeale doth lack,
Make thou amends and bring my fauours back.
Who if he truely please of me to thinke,
The seruice I can doe him is with inke
To giue his fame large wings not in the field;
To prooue my force, in such assaults I yeeld.
Say vnto him, Great Lord at thy commaund,
My brothers seruices doe humbly stand,
Whilst I at home with a shrill trumpets sound,
Will spread his worthy name vpon the ground;
That it shall goe as farre as sea or land,
Yea and beyond the Gadean pillars strand.
To Ariano and Filo it shall fly,
But not so farre as flowes swift Danuby:
For my weake Muse can hardly iumpe so farre,
So wet (alasse) my feete and body are.
But could the glasse of time to me restore,
Those fifteene yeares which I haue spent before,
Then would I neuer doubt but that the fire
Of my quick braine through all worlds shold aspire,
But if he thinkes because he giues to me,
Each foure monthes twenty fiue crownes for a fee:
Which pension is not alwayes duely payd,
But many times by many humours stayd:
I therefore shall such bondage to him owe,
As if I were his villaine, and not know
Ought but his will, my health and life neglect,
Enter all dangers without all respect:
If so he thinke, his greatnesse is mistaken,
Nor shall he finde my liberty for saken.
Tell him ere ile liue in such slauery,
Ile entertaine most loathsome pouerty.
Once there an Asse was, of his skinne and bone
So leane, that vnder them he flesh had none,
Who stealing through a hole that broken was,
Into a barne well stuft with corne did passe,
Where he so cloyd his stomacke and his hart,
That he grew fat and full in euery part;
His body growne to such a shapelesse masse,
That like a tun his huge proportion was,
But in the end fearing if he should stay,
His bones too dearely for his meat should pay;
Intends to issue forth where he came in,
But is deceiu'd, for why his bellies sinne,
Hath made his bulke so great with that he stole,
His head can hardly now peepe through the hole:
Nearth'lesse he striues and struggles much in vaine,
Lost is his labour and his bootelesse paine.
A little mouse which spi'd him, thus did say,
Asse if from hence thou wilt thy selfe conuay,
Thy body thou must bring to such poore case,
As when thou first didst come into this place.
Leane and like carion must thy carcasse be:
Else ne're expect safe harmelesse liberty.
Hence I conclude, and boldly dare impart,
That if my Princely master from his hart
Thinke with his gifts that he hath purchast me,
It shall not to my selfe ought grieuous be,
That I restore them backe to him againe,
So I my former liberty may gaine.
Freedome I onely loue, since I did heare,
That men doe many times buy gold too deare.
But not so farre as flowes swift Danuby:
For my weake Muse can hardly iumpe so farre,
So wet (alasse) my feete and body are.
But could the glasse of time to me restore,
Those fifteene yeares which I haue spent before,
Then would I neuer doubt but that the fire
Of my quick braine through all worlds shold aspire,
But if he thinkes because he giues to me,
Each foure monthes twenty fiue crownes for a fee:
Which pension is not alwayes duely payd,
But many times by many humours stayd:
I therefore shall such bondage to him owe,
As if I were his villaine, and not know
Ought but his will, my health and life neglect,
Enter all dangers without all respect:
If so he thinke, his greatnesse is mistaken,
Nor shall he finde my liberty for saken.
Tell him ere ile liue in such slauery,
Ile entertaine most loathsome pouerty.
Once there an Asse was, of his skinne and bone
So leane, that vnder them he flesh had none,
Who stealing through a hole that broken was,
Into a barne well stuft with corne did passe,
Where he so cloyd his stomacke and his hart,
12
His body growne to such a shapelesse masse,
That like a tun his huge proportion was,
But in the end fearing if he should stay,
His bones too dearely for his meat should pay;
Intends to issue forth where he came in,
But is deceiu'd, for why his bellies sinne,
Hath made his bulke so great with that he stole,
His head can hardly now peepe through the hole:
Nearth'lesse he striues and struggles much in vaine,
Lost is his labour and his bootelesse paine.
A little mouse which spi'd him, thus did say,
Asse if from hence thou wilt thy selfe conuay,
Thy body thou must bring to such poore case,
As when thou first didst come into this place.
Leane and like carion must thy carcasse be:
Else ne're expect safe harmelesse liberty.
Hence I conclude, and boldly dare impart,
That if my Princely master from his hart
Thinke with his gifts that he hath purchast me,
It shall not to my selfe ought grieuous be,
That I restore them backe to him againe,
So I my former liberty may gaine.
Freedome I onely loue, since I did heare,
That men doe many times buy gold too deare.
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