[The Courte of Vertu contaynynge many holy songes, Sonettes, psalmes and ballettes] [by John Hall] |
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The Prologue. |
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 | [The Courte of Vertu |  |
The Prologue.
Amids
the twynnes when Phebus [illeg.]
Fayre Cithera, and Ioue benigne,
Last over went by his course ryght,
That he with them had conioyning:
Commodiously mitigating,
Both Mars and Saturns malice grette,
Whiche in the Crabbe but lately mette.
Fayre Cithera, and Ioue benigne,
Last over went by his course ryght,
That he with them had conioyning:
Commodiously mitigating,
Both Mars and Saturns malice grette,
Whiche in the Crabbe but lately mette.
Lykewyse Lucina, then hir decte,
With eche planet diligently,
Hir selfe to ioyne with lyke aspecte,
Begynnyng first with Mercury:
To Iupiter consequently,
With Soland Cithera in haste,
With Saturne then, and Mars at laste,
With eche planet diligently,
Hir selfe to ioyne with lyke aspecte,
Begynnyng first with Mercury:
To Iupiter consequently,
With Soland Cithera in haste,
With Saturne then, and Mars at laste,
Almightie God that all hath wroughte,
Thus through their course moste naturall,
Within three signes together brought,
These sterres that creatykes men call:
In these three were these planets all,
The Crab, the Twyns the horned Bull,
Of wonders thus his workes are full.
Thus through their course moste naturall,
Within three signes together brought,
These sterres that creatykes men call:
In these three were these planets all,
The Crab, the Twyns the horned Bull,
Of wonders thus his workes are full.
At this tyme as for my solase,
To banyshe pensyue heuynesse:
I went abrode the tyme to passe,
When thought my soule did sore oppresse:
Callyng my muses to to relese,
My soule, whiche dyd in sorowe smarte,
Who aye were wonte to ease my harte.
To banyshe pensyue heuynesse:
I went abrode the tyme to passe,
When thought my soule did sore oppresse:
Callyng my muses to to relese,
My soule, whiche dyd in sorowe smarte,
Who aye were wonte to ease my harte.
The Muses nyne I meane whiche teache,
And Christen poets illuminate,
Whether with pen or mouth they preache,
In vertuous and moste godly rate:
Of grace and knowledge they the gate
Doe open in moste gentle wyse,
To all that goodnes exercise.
And Christen poets illuminate,
In vertuous and moste godly rate:
Of grace and knowledge they the gate
Doe open in moste gentle wyse,
To all that goodnes exercise.
The fyrste of these is vertue fayre,
Whiche some men doe Arete call.
The seconde faith whiche doth repayre,
To sauing health as principall.
The third place lady hope haue shall.
The fourth is loue: and wysdome fyue,
Whiche doe with grace ryght well reuyue.
Whiche some men doe Arete call.
The seconde faith whiche doth repayre,
To sauing health as principall.
The third place lady hope haue shall.
The fourth is loue: and wysdome fyue,
Whiche doe with grace ryght well reuyue.
Dame temperance the sixt muse is.
The seuenth is dame pacience.
The eight a lady full of bits.
Is constancie in good pretence.
The nynthe of good experience,
Is mekenes, or humilitie,
The purchasers of Gods mercie.
The seuenth is dame pacience.
The eight a lady full of bits.
Is constancie in good pretence.
The nynthe of good experience,
Is mekenes, or humilitie,
The purchasers of Gods mercie.
To these as I before haue sayde,
I made my playnte still as I went,
Desyring them of helpe and ayde,
Els am I all in peeces rent:
For ignorance moste pestilent,
With hir sonne error me assayle,
And would against my soule preuayle.
I made my playnte still as I went,
Desyring them of helpe and ayde,
Els am I all in peeces rent:
For ignorance moste pestilent,
With hir sonne error me assayle,
And would against my soule preuayle.
At lest (quod I) dere helpes alas,
Let come Arete, and dame Spes:
Brynging with them dame Charitas,
That they my harte may bryng to ease.
And take from me my great disease:
This ougly griefe vyle ignorance,
And in hir stede knowledge aduance.
Let come Arete, and dame Spes:
Brynging with them dame Charitas,
That they my harte may bryng to ease.
This ougly griefe vyle ignorance,
And in hir stede knowledge aduance.
At last I sate downe on a grene,
Unto a banke lenyng my backe:
But Phebus beames so whot did shyne,
That it constreined me to take,
The shade vnder the freshe grene brake.
Not farre from me then streight I spyde,
A groue whiche was there harde besyde:
Unto a banke lenyng my backe:
But Phebus beames so whot did shyne,
That it constreined me to take,
The shade vnder the freshe grene brake.
Not farre from me then streight I spyde,
A groue whiche was there harde besyde:
Where as eche byrde, with ye swete noyse
That nature gaue them to endure,
Began my harte for to reioyse,
Their notes my thought were so demure:
Whiche in short space did me procure,
My thoughtfull harte for to apalle,
That I into a sleape gan falle.
That nature gaue them to endure,
Began my harte for to reioyse,
Their notes my thought were so demure:
Whiche in short space did me procure,
My thoughtfull harte for to apalle,
That I into a sleape gan falle.
But in this slumber as I laye,
My spirit receyude no quiet rest.
Wherfore I wakte agayne streightwaye,
So sore encombred was my brest:
Whiche sought therof to be relest.
Thus on my muses gan I craue,
Take pitie on your simple slaue.
My spirit receyude no quiet rest.
Wherfore I wakte agayne streightwaye,
So sore encombred was my brest:
Whiche sought therof to be relest.
Thus on my muses gan I craue,
Take pitie on your simple slaue.
But then a freshe I herde agayne,
The byrdes that sang so swete a note,
To whom I sayde with glad harte fayne,
Now Christe his blessing on your throte:
And to my mynde it came I wote,
With laude and prayse for to aduance,
In them the Lordes hyghe ordinance,
The byrdes that sang so swete a note,
To whom I sayde with glad harte fayne,
Now Christe his blessing on your throte:
And to my mynde it came I wote,
In them the Lordes hyghe ordinance,
O God (quod I) omnipotente,
We render the with hartes so pure,
All laude and prayse with good intente.
Thy handy workes doe me allure,
That my harte can ryght well indure,
For euer in this place to dwell.
And straight againe on sleape I fell.
We render the with hartes so pure,
All laude and prayse with good intente.
Thy handy workes doe me allure,
That my harte can ryght well indure,
For euer in this place to dwell.
And straight againe on sleape I fell.
But sure I had not rested long,
Yer that into a dreame I fell.
I sawe my thought the flowres among
Fayre ladies three, whiche dyd excell
The prayse that any tongue can tell,
Aprochyng towardes me full faste,
For soth I was right sore agaste.
Yer that into a dreame I fell.
I sawe my thought the flowres among
Fayre ladies three, whiche dyd excell
The prayse that any tongue can tell,
Aprochyng towardes me full faste,
For soth I was right sore agaste.
Me thought they compaste me about,
Standing as in a syrcle trayne,
The midlemoste without all doubte,
Dyd farre excelle the other twayne,
Them to beholde my harte was fayne:
Forsothe it was a semely syghte,
My harte therin dyd muche delyghte.
Standing as in a syrcle trayne,
The midlemoste without all doubte,
Dyd farre excelle the other twayne,
Them to beholde my harte was fayne:
Forsothe it was a semely syghte,
My harte therin dyd muche delyghte.
As I dyd earnestly beholde,
These ladyes three that weare so bryght.
From care my harte began vnfolde:
For I receiued pertecte syghte,
That madame hope so full of myght,
Was one of that same ladyes three,
That so about had compast me.
These ladyes three that weare so bryght.
From care my harte began vnfolde:
For I receiued pertecte syghte,
That madame hope so full of myght,
Was one of that same ladyes three,
That so about had compast me.
Of whom I had the knowledge sounde,
By readyng of the worde of God.
As I behelde hyr in that stounde,
Hyr head at me she gan to nod.
Then from my harte the heauy lode,
Consumde away, with all my thought:
For hope was come whom I had sought.
By readyng of the worde of God.
As I behelde hyr in that stounde,
Hyr head at me she gan to nod.
Then from my harte the heauy lode,
Consumde away, with all my thought:
For hope was come whom I had sought.
Then vp to hyr my handes I caste,
And kneled downe vpon the grounde:
Welcome (quod I) my hartes repaste,
That I haue sought, now haue I founde.
The healer vp of this my wounde.
That iustice hath so fiersly made,
With thought, that sharpe and cuttyng blade.
And kneled downe vpon the grounde:
Welcome (quod I) my hartes repaste,
That I haue sought, now haue I founde.
The healer vp of this my wounde.
That iustice hath so fiersly made,
With thought, that sharpe and cuttyng blade.
She tooke me then in hyr armes twayne,
And thus to me she sweetly sayde.
Be strong (quod she) stande vp agayne,
Oh man why shouldste thou be afrayde,
For God hath made me for thyne ayde:
To thee we are sent from aboue,
Both vertue, hope, and also loue.
And thus to me she sweetly sayde.
Be strong (quod she) stande vp agayne,
Oh man why shouldste thou be afrayde,
For God hath made me for thyne ayde:
To thee we are sent from aboue,
Both vertue, hope, and also loue.
To loue then dyd I turne my face,
And vnto hyr I bowde my knee.
And gently she did me embrace,
Be of good chere O man (quod she:)
For here is also come to thee,
(According to thy prayer true)
Arete or lady vertue.
And vnto hyr I bowde my knee.
And gently she did me embrace,
Be of good chere O man (quod she:)
For here is also come to thee,
(According to thy prayer true)
Arete or lady vertue.
When I had heard howe they had sayde,
That lady vertue was in place,
My harte forsothe was sore dismayde,
And colour rose streyght in my face:
And downe I fell before hir grace,
Desyryng hir beneuolence,
To pardon my rude negligence.
That lady vertue was in place,
And colour rose streyght in my face:
And downe I fell before hir grace,
Desyryng hir beneuolence,
To pardon my rude negligence.
That lady then did me beholde,
And stepte and caught me by the hande.
Be not dismayde (quod she) be bolde,
And vp vpryght before me stande:
For I doe the to vnderstande,
That I am come downe from aboue,
And brought with me both hope and loue.
And stepte and caught me by the hande.
Be not dismayde (quod she) be bolde,
And vp vpryght before me stande:
For I doe the to vnderstande,
That I am come downe from aboue,
And brought with me both hope and loue.
To hope and loue then dyd she call,
And thus began her tale to tell.
Marke well (sayd she,) for shewe I shal,
How men from them do me expell,
And against their lorde God rebell:
Estemyng me but of small pryce,
And wholy geue them selues to vyce.
And thus began her tale to tell.
Marke well (sayd she,) for shewe I shal,
How men from them do me expell,
And against their lorde God rebell:
Estemyng me but of small pryce,
And wholy geue them selues to vyce.
The lorde did ordeyne me for man,
That I should richely hym endue.
Why doe they thus forsake me than,
And synne and vyce so muche ensue?
Forsoth, because they be vntrue,
Regardyng their owne wyt and wyll,
And wyll not harke gods worde vntyll.
That I should richely hym endue.
Why doe they thus forsake me than,
And synne and vyce so muche ensue?
Forsoth, because they be vntrue,
Regardyng their owne wyt and wyll,
And wyll not harke gods worde vntyll.
Gods worde, no no, alas therfore,
Ther is no thyng I dare will saye,
That worldly men doe more abhorre,
He that hath wyt perceyue it may:
Their outwarde workes doe them bewraye,
For when gode worde byds them amende,
With reason they their vyce defende.
Ther is no thyng I dare will saye,
That worldly men doe more abhorre,
He that hath wyt perceyue it may:
For when gode worde byds them amende,
With reason they their vyce defende.
And to be briefe nowe eche estate,
Doth seke all meanes vyce to maynteyne:
And are with me at great debate,
So that I doe not ryghtly reigne.
At me the most part haue disdeyne:
All saue a fewe doe me resiste,
Whiche fewe are the electe of Christe.
Doth seke all meanes vyce to maynteyne:
And are with me at great debate,
So that I doe not ryghtly reigne.
At me the most part haue disdeyne:
All saue a fewe doe me resiste,
Whiche fewe are the electe of Christe.
And thou O man marke what I saye,
To the I wyll my mynde declare:
That thou mayst nowe perceyue the waye,
Of worldly men, and howe they fare:
That afterwarde thou mayest prepare
Thy selfe to doe and worke my wyll,
In that whiche I saye the vntyll.
To the I wyll my mynde declare:
That thou mayst nowe perceyue the waye,
Of worldly men, and howe they fare:
That afterwarde thou mayest prepare
Thy selfe to doe and worke my wyll,
In that whiche I saye the vntyll.
Their pryde they name nowe cleanlynes,
And auarice is polycie:
So doe they name wrath manlynes,
And loue they call vyle lecherie,
Namyng enuie good memorie.
They call glutony fare honeste
And slouth they call naturall reste.
And auarice is polycie:
So doe they name wrath manlynes,
And loue they call vyle lecherie,
Namyng enuie good memorie.
They call glutony fare honeste
And slouth they call naturall reste.
Extortion lawfull gettyng,
Idolatrie catholyke fayth,
Usury is wytty wynning,
Uyce is vertue as eche man sayeth:
But in the truthe who nowe hym stayeth?
Rebellyon is common welth,
And manly shifte, robrie and stelth.
Idolatrie catholyke fayth,
Usury is wytty wynning,
Uyce is vertue as eche man sayeth:
But in the truthe who nowe hym stayeth?
Rebellyon is common welth,
And manly shifte, robrie and stelth.
Oppression is good gouernance,
Cruelnes is seueritie,
The prodigall their dedes aduance,
And call it lyberalytie.
And Sodoms synne is chastitie,
Among those whiche compte mariage synne,
Whose wickednes wyll neuer blynne.
Cruelnes is seueritie,
The prodigall their dedes aduance,
And call it lyberalytie.
And Sodoms synne is chastitie,
Among those whiche compte mariage synne,
Whose wickednes wyll neuer blynne.
Some lyue in wylfull pouertie,
And beggers haue the proudest harte.
Thus wade they in hipocrisie,
And idlenes for the moste parte,
Whiche causeth vertue to departe:
For idlenes the mother is,
Of all mischiefe and thinges amys.
And beggers haue the proudest harte.
Thus wade they in hipocrisie,
And idlenes for the moste parte,
Whiche causeth vertue to departe:
For idlenes the mother is,
Of all mischiefe and thinges amys.
It is a thyng ay incident,
That eche man hath felicitie,
On some one thyng the mynde is bente,
In wysdomes schole, or in folye:
And doe their myndes wholy aplye,
That they may it attayne and gette,
Wheron theyr harte is fyxte and sette.
That eche man hath felicitie,
On some one thyng the mynde is bente,
In wysdomes schole, or in folye:
And doe their myndes wholy aplye,
That they may it attayne and gette,
Wheron theyr harte is fyxte and sette.
The couetous delyghte in goulde,
The lechour in his fleshly luste.
The proude would haue all men beholde,
Their painted shethe of dounge and duste:
The slothfull sleape, and slomber muste,
The wrathfull and the enuious noye:
Whose whole delyghte is to destroye.
The lechour in his fleshly luste.
The proude would haue all men beholde,
Their painted shethe of dounge and duste:
The slothfull sleape, and slomber muste,
The wrathfull and the enuious noye:
Whose whole delyghte is to destroye.
The gluttons loue their panche to fyll.
The dronkards doe delyghte in drynke:
And eche of these to haue theyr wyll,
No coste nor charge to greate they thynke:
Thus in a fansie all men synke,
And eche mans care is to aspyre,
Unto his luste and hartes desyre.
The dronkards doe delyghte in drynke:
No coste nor charge to greate they thynke:
Thus in a fansie all men synke,
And eche mans care is to aspyre,
Unto his luste and hartes desyre.
Some studie in Astronomie,
Delyghting to beholde the sterres,
Some in musyke and harmonie,
And cosmographie some preferres.
Some in fygures, some in numbers.
Some doe delyghte philosophie,
To knowe on earth eche herbe and tree.
Delyghting to beholde the sterres,
Some in musyke and harmonie,
And cosmographie some preferres.
Some in fygures, some in numbers.
Some doe delyghte philosophie,
To knowe on earth eche herbe and tree.
The fowlers haue their whole delyghte,
To deuyse engyns byrdes to take:
Suche as in fyshing haue a syght,
They angles and their nettes wyll make,
And take great payne for fansies sake.
The faulkners hauke is his pleasure,
The hunter wyll good houndes procure.
To deuyse engyns byrdes to take:
Suche as in fyshing haue a syght,
They angles and their nettes wyll make,
And take great payne for fansies sake.
The faulkners hauke is his pleasure,
The hunter wyll good houndes procure.
In all thynges either good or yll,
That man doth folowe or embrace,
Felicitie they haue and wyll:
Their hartes desyre for to purchace.
Then happy are they whiche by grace,
Loue vertues supernaturall,
Whiche bryghtly shyneth aboue all.
That man doth folowe or embrace,
Felicitie they haue and wyll:
Their hartes desyre for to purchace.
Then happy are they whiche by grace,
Loue vertues supernaturall,
Whiche bryghtly shyneth aboue all.
Ye happy are those men I saye,
That haue in vertue their delyghte:
For in their sorowe they wyll praye,
For helpe and ayde to God almyghte,
And in their myrth their fayth moste ryght,
Doth cause them holy psalmes to synge,
And spirituall songes to his praysyng.
That haue in vertue their delyghte:
For in their sorowe they wyll praye,
For helpe and ayde to God almyghte,
Doth cause them holy psalmes to synge,
And spirituall songes to his praysyng.
As vyce doth cause delyght in synne,
To folowe all iniquitie,
And alwaye seketh waies to wynne,
Mens souls in wretched vylaynie:
So vertue in the contrarie,
Doth by all meanes hir selfe behaue,
The soule of man to blesse and saue.
To folowe all iniquitie,
And alwaye seketh waies to wynne,
Mens souls in wretched vylaynie:
So vertue in the contrarie,
Doth by all meanes hir selfe behaue,
The soule of man to blesse and saue.
O then you that my seruantes be,
In me haue all your exercise.
And as ye doe delyght in me,
So looke that ye doe enterpryse,
All good thynges vertuous and wyse:
That by your badge it may be sene,
That I am your lady and quene.
In me haue all your exercise.
And as ye doe delyght in me,
So looke that ye doe enterpryse,
All good thynges vertuous and wyse:
That by your badge it may be sene,
That I am your lady and quene.
Suche as in carnall loue reioyce,
Trim songes of loue they wyll compile,
And synfully with tune and voyce
They syng their songes in pleasant stile,
To Uenus that same strompet vyle:
And make of hir a goddis dere,
In lecherie that had no pere.
Trim songes of loue they wyll compile,
And synfully with tune and voyce
They syng their songes in pleasant stile,
To Uenus that same strompet vyle:
And make of hir a goddis dere,
In lecherie that had no pere.
A booke also of songes they haue,
And Uenus court they doe it name.
No fylthy mynde a songe can craue,
But therin he may finde the same:
And in suche songes is all their game.
Wherof ryght dyuers bookes be made,
To nuryshe that moste fylthy trade.
And Uenus court they doe it name.
No fylthy mynde a songe can craue,
But therin he may finde the same:
And in suche songes is all their game.
To nuryshe that moste fylthy trade.
I will that my seruantes therfore
Shall be as apte me for to serue,
In prayse of God sinne to abhorre
And from me Uertue not to swerue.
That they may godly fame deserue,
Of good men here, and after this
To reigne with God in heauen blys.
Shall be as apte me for to serue,
In prayse of God sinne to abhorre
And from me Uertue not to swerue.
That they may godly fame deserue,
Of good men here, and after this
To reigne with God in heauen blys.
As prayer in sadnes is mete:
In myrthe so godly songes to synge,
For Christen men lo this is fytte.
I charge thee therfore with this thynge:
That thou thyne exercise doe brynge,
To make a boke of songes holy,
Godly and wyse, blamyng foly.
In myrthe so godly songes to synge,
For Christen men lo this is fytte.
I charge thee therfore with this thynge:
That thou thyne exercise doe brynge,
To make a boke of songes holy,
Godly and wyse, blamyng foly.
To whiche boke godly men may adde,
(From tyme to tyme as they see cause,)
Ryght sober songes godly and sadde,
Compyled of gods holy lawes:
Of vertue and wyse olde sayd sawes,
That may to goodnes men procure,
Whyle here their lyfe dayes doe indure.
(From tyme to tyme as they see cause,)
Ryght sober songes godly and sadde,
Compyled of gods holy lawes:
Of vertue and wyse olde sayd sawes,
That may to goodnes men procure,
Whyle here their lyfe dayes doe indure.
As thou will therfore at thy nede,
Haue hope and loue and also me,
Se thou accomplishe this with spede:
My systers twayne therto agree.
And then they warned me all three,
That in this thyng I should not staye,
But make that booke without delaye.
Haue hope and loue and also me,
Se thou accomplishe this with spede:
My systers twayne therto agree.
And then they warned me all three,
That in this thyng I should not staye,
But make that booke without delaye.
My cunnyng small though then I knewe,
In eche degree my wytte full weake:
Though lacke of learnyng eke I rue,
Yet of excuse I durst not speake:
But granted my poore head to breake,
About suche exercyse, as she
So streyghtly had commaunded me.
In eche degree my wytte full weake:
Though lacke of learnyng eke I rue,
Yet of excuse I durst not speake:
But granted my poore head to breake,
About suche exercyse, as she
So streyghtly had commaunded me.
At that instant they dyd me kys,
And frendly did from me departe,
To heauen they went all I wys,
And lefte me with an heuy harte:
So their departure made me smarte.
And in that thought I waked thore,
Merueyling at my dreame full sore.
And frendly did from me departe,
To heauen they went all I wys,
And lefte me with an heuy harte:
So their departure made me smarte.
And in that thought I waked thore,
Merueyling at my dreame full sore.
In songes therfore sythe I must wade,
Accordyng as my dreame me toulde,
I wyll delyght to treade the trade
That lady vertue sayde I should:
As blynde bayard none is so boulde,
And fyrste for lady vertues sake,
A song in hyr prayse wyll I make.
Accordyng as my dreame me toulde,
I wyll delyght to treade the trade
That lady vertue sayde I should:
As blynde bayard none is so boulde,
And fyrste for lady vertues sake,
A song in hyr prayse wyll I make.
And then in mo procede I wyll,
As God shall geue me of his grace.
My wyt is rude, and small my skyll,
To stande and supplie suche a place.
Yet must I nedes walke in the trace,
That vertue did assigne me in,
Therfore in hyr prayse I beginne.
As God shall geue me of his grace.
My wyt is rude, and small my skyll,
To stande and supplie suche a place.
Yet must I nedes walke in the trace,
That vertue did assigne me in,
Therfore in hyr prayse I beginne.
| [The Courte of Vertu | |