Poems of Alexander Montgomerie And Other Pieces from Laing MS. No. 447: Supplementary Volume: Edited with Introduction, Appendices, Notes, and Glossary by George Stevenson |
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THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE
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 | Poems of Alexander Montgomerie |  |
71
THE CHERRIE AND THE SLAE
(WREITTOUN TEXT)
72
1
About a Bank with balmie bewes,where nightingals their nots renews,
With gallant Goldspinks gay,
The Mavise, Mirle, and Progne proud,
The Lintwhite, Lark, and Laverock loud,
Saluted mirthful May.
When Philomel had sweetly sung,
To Progne she deplored,
How Tereus cut out her tongue,
And falsely her deflorde;
Which storie, so sorie,
To shew ashamd she seemde,
To heare her so neare her,
I doubted if I dream'd.
2
The Cushat crouds, the Corbie cries,The Cuckow couks, the pratling Pyes
To geck her they begin.
The Iargoun of the iangling Iayes,
The craiking Crawes, the keckling Kayes,
They deav'd me with their din.
The painted Pawne, with Argoes eyes,
Can on his Mayock cal;
The Turtle wailes on withered trees,
And Echo answered all,
Repeiting, with greiting,
How faire Narcissus fell,
By lying, and spying,
His shadow in the Well.
73
3
I saw the Hurcheon and the HareIn hidlings hirpling heere and there,
To make their morning mange;
The Con, the Conny, and the Cat,
Whese dainty dounes with dew were wat,
With stiffe mustaches strang;
The Hart, the Hynd, the Dae, the Rae,
The Fulmart, and false Foxe:
The bearded Buck clamb up the brae,
With birsie Baires and Brocks.
Some feeding, some dreading,
The Hunters subtile snares,
With skipping and tripping,
They plaid them all in paires.
4
The aire was sober, soft and sweet,But mistie vapours, wind, and weet,
But quyet, calme and cleare,
To foster Floras fragrant flowres,
Whereon Apollos paramours
Had trinckled many a teare;
The which like silver shakers shynde,
Imbrodering beauties bed,
Wherewith their heavy heads declinde,
In Mayes colours clad:
Some knopping, some dropping
Of balmie liquor sweet,
Excelling in smelling,
Through Phœbus wholsome heat.
74
5
Mee thought an heavenly heartsome thing,Where dew like Diamonds did hing,
Ou'r twinckling all the trees,
To study on the flourishde twists,
Admiring natures alcumists,
Laborious busie Bees,
Whereof some sweetest hony sought
To stay their lives to sterve;
And some the waxie vessels wrought,
Their purchase to preserve:
So heaping for keeping,
It in their hyves they hide;
Precisely, and wisely,
For winter they provide.
6
To pen the pleasures of that Parke,How every blossome, branch, & bark,
Against the Sun did shine,
I passe to Poets to compile
In high heroick stately stile,
Whose Muse surmatches mine.
But, as I looked mine alone,
I saw a river rinne
Out ou'r a steepie rock of stone,
Syne lighted in a linne,
With tumbling, and rumbling,
Amongst the Roches round,
Devalling, and falling,
Into a pit profound.
75
7
Through routing of the river rangThe Roches, sounding like a sang,
Where Descant did abound,
With Treble, Tenor, Counter, Meene;
An echo blew a Basse between,
In Diapason sound,
Set with the C-sol-fa-uth cleife,
With long and large at list,
With Quaver, Crotchet, Semi-briefe,
And not a Minim mist:
Compleetly, and sweetly
She firdound flat and sharp,
Than Muses, which uses
To pin Apollos harpe.
8
Who would have tyr'd to heare that tone?Which birds corroborate ay abone,
With layes of lovesome Larks;
Which climb so high in Christal skyes,
While Cupid wakned with the cryes
Of natures chappel Clarks;
Who, leaving al the heavens above,
Alighted on the eard.
Lo! how that litle Lord of love
Before me there appeard!
So mild-like, and child-like,
With bow three quarters skant;
Syne moylie, and coylie,
Hee looked like a Sant.
76
9
A cleanly crispe hang over his eyes;His Quaver by his naked thyes
Hang in a silver lace:
Of gold betweene his shoulders grew
Two pretty wings wherewith he flew,
On his left arme a brace.
This god soone off his geare he shook
Vpon the grassie ground:
I ran as lightly for to looke
Where ferlies might be found:
Amazed, I gazed
To see his geare so gay;
Perceiving mine having,
He counted mee his prey.
10
His youth and stature made mee stout;Of doublenesse I had no doubt,
But bourded with my Boy.
Quoth I, “how call they thee, my child?”
“Cupido, sir,” quoth he, and smilde;
“Please you mee to imploy?
For I can serve you in your sute,
If you please to impire,
With wings to flee, and shafts to shute,
Or flames to set on fire.
Make choice then of those then,
Or of a thousand things;
But crave them, and have them:”
With that I woo'd his wings.
77
11
“What would thou give, my heart,” quoth he,“To have these wanton wings to flee,
To sport thy sprite a while?
Or what if love should send thee heere
Bow, quaver, shafts, and shooting geare,
Somebody to beguile?”
“This geare,” quoth I, “cannot be bought,
Yet I would have it faine.”
“What if,” quoth he, “it cost thee nought
But rendring all againe?”
His wings then he brings then,
And band them on my back:
“Goe flye now,” quoth he now,
And so my leave I take.
12
I sprang up with Cupido's wings,Whose shots and shooting geare resignes,
To lend me for a day:
As Icarus with borrowed flight,
I mounted higher than I might,
Ou'r perilous a play.
First foorth I drew the double dart
Which sometimes shot his mother,
Wherewith I hurt my wanton heart,
In hope to hurt another.
It hurt me, or burnt mee,
While either end I handle:
Come see now, in mee now,
The Butterflee and candle.
78
13
As she delites into the low,So was I browden of my bow,
As ignorant as she:
And as she flyes while she is fir'de,
So with the dart that I desirde,
Mine hands hath hurt mee to.
As foolish Phaeton by sute,
His father's chaire obtainde,
I longed in loves bow to shoote,
Not marking what it mean'de:
More wilful, than skilful,
To flee I was so fond,
Desiring, impyring,
And so was seene upond.
14
Too late I knew, who hewes too high,The spaile shal fall into his eye:
Too late I went to schooles:
Too late I heard the swallow preach,
Too late Experience doth teach—
The Schoole-master of fooles.
Too late I find the nest I seek,
When all the birds are flowne;
Too late the stable door I steeke,
When as the steede is stowne.
Too late ay, their state ay,
As foolish folk espy;
Behind so, they finde so
Remead, and so doe I.
79
15
If I had ripely beene advisde,I had not rashly enterprisde
To soare with borrowed pens;
Nor yet had sayde the Archer-craft,
To shoot myselfe with such a shaft
As Reason quite miskens.
Fra Wilfulnes gave me my wound,
I had no force to flee;
Then came I groning to the ground:
“Friend, welcome home!” quoth he.
“Where flew you? whom slew yee?
Or who brings home the booting?
I see now,” quoth he now,
“Ye have beene at the shooting!”
16
As scorne comes commonly with skaith,So I behovde to bide them baith:
So staggering was my state,
That under cure I got such check,
Which I might not remove nor neck,
But either staile or mait.
Mine agony was so extreame,
I swelt and swound for feare;
But, ere I wakned off my dreame,
He spoild me of my geare.
With flight then, on hight then,
Sprang Cupid in the skyes,
Forgetting, and setting
At nought my carefull cries.
80
17
So long with sight I followed him,While both my dazeled eyes grew dimme
Through staring of the starnes;
Which flew so thick before mine eyne,
Some red, some yellow, blew, and greene,
Which troubled all mine harnes,
That every thing appeared two
To my barbuilied braine;
But long might I lye looking so
Ere Cupid came againe;
Whose thundring, with wondring,
I heard up through the Aire;
Through clouds so, he thuddes so,
And flew I wist not where.
18
Then when I saw that god was gone,And I in langour left alone,
And sore tormented too,
Sometime I sigh'd while I was sad,
Sometime I musde, and most gone mad,
I doubted what to doe;
Sometime I rav'd halfe in a rage,
As one into despare:
To be opprest with such a page
Lord! if my heart was saire!
Like Dido, Cupido
I widdle and I wary,
Who reft mee, and left mee,
in such a feirie farie.
81
19
Then felt I Courage and DesireInflame mine heart with uncouth fire,
To me before unknowne;
But then no blood in me remaines,
Vnburnt or boyld within my vaines,
By loves bellowes blowne.
To drowne it, ere I was devourde,
With sighs I went about;
But ay the more I shoope to smoor'de,
The bolder it brake out,
Ay preasing, but ceasing,
While it might break the bounds:
Mine hew so, foorth shew so,
The dolour of my wounds.
20
With deadly visage, pale and wan,More like Anatomic than man,
I withered cleane away:
As waxe before the fire, I felt
Mine heart within my bosome melt,
And piece and piece decay,
My veines by brangling like to break—
My punses lap with pith—
So fervency did mee infect,
That I was vext therewith.
Mine heart ay, it start ay,
The firie flames to flee:
Ay howping, through lowping,
To leape at libertie.
82
21
But O! alas! it was abusde,My carefull corps kept it inclusde
In prison of my breast,
With sighs so sopped and ou'rset,
Like to a fish fast in a net,
In deadthraw undeceast;
Which, though in vaine it strives by strength
For to pul out her head,
Which profites nothing at the length,
But hastning to her dead;
With thristing and wristing
The faster still is sho;
There I so, did lye so,
My death advancing to.
22
The more I wrestled with the wind,The faster still my selfe I finde:
No mirth my minde could mease.
More noy than I had never none,
I was so altered and ou'rgone,
Through drouth of my disease:
Yet weakly, as I might, I raise,
My sight grew dimme and dark;
I staggered at the windling strayes,
No token I was stark.
Both sightles, and mightles,
I grew almost at once;
In anguish I languish,
With many grievous groanes.
83
23
With sober pace yet I approachHard to the River and the Roch,
Whereof I spake before;
The river such a murmure made,
As to the sea it softly slade:
The Craige was stay and shore.
Then Pleasure did me so provoke
There partly to repaire,
Betwixt the River and the Rocke,
Where Hope grew with Despare.
A tree then, I see then,
Of Cherries on the Braes;
Below, too, I saw, too,
A bush of bitter Slaes.
24
The Cherries hang aboue mine head,Like trickling Rubies round and red,
So high up in the Heugh;
Whose shadowes in the river shew,
As graithly [glancing], as they grew
On trembling twists and teugh,
Whiles bow'd through burden of their birth,
Declining downe their tops:
Reflexe of Phœbus off the firth
Now coloured all their knoppes,
With dancing, and glancing,
In tirle as Dornick champe,
Which streamed, and leamed,
Through lightnes of that lampe.
84
25
With earnest eye, while I espyThat fruite betwixt me and the skye,
Halfe gate almost to Heaven;
The Craige so cumbersome to climb,
The tree so tall of growth, and trim
As ony arrow even;
I calde to minde how Daphne did
Within the Lawrel shrinke,
When from Apollo she her hid:
A thousand times I thinke
That tree there to mee there,
As hee his Lawrel thought;
Aspyring, but tyring,
To get that fruite I sought.
26
To climb that Craige it was no buite,Let bee to prease to pul the fruite
In top of all the tree:
I know no way whereby to come,
By any craft, to get it clum,
Appearandly to mee:
The Craige was ugly, stay and dreigh,
The tree long, sound and small;
I was affraide to climb so high,
For feare to fetch a fall.
Affrayed, I stayed,
And looked up aloft,
Whiles minting, whiles stinting,
My purpose changed oft.
85
27
Then Dread, with Danger, and Despare,Forbade me minting any mare,
To raxe above my reach.
“What? tush!” quoth Courage, “man, go to,
He is but daft that hath to doe,
And spares for everie speach;
For I have oft heard sooth men say,
And we may see't ourselves,
That Fortune helps the hardie ay,
And pultrons ay repels.
Then care not, an[d] feare not,
Dread, Danger nor Despare:
To fazards, hard hazards
Is death, or they come there.
28
“Who speeds, but such as high aspyres?Who triumphs not, but such as tyres
To win a noble name?
Of shrinking what but shame succeeds?
Then doe as thou would have thy deeds
In register of fame.
I put the case, thou not prevailde,
So thou with honour die,
Thy life, but not thy courage failde,
Shal Poets pen of thee.
Thy name then, from Fame then,
Can never be cut off;
Thy grave ay shal have ay
That honest Epitaph.
86
29
“What canst thou losse, when honour lives?Renowne thy vertue ay revives,
If valiantly thou end.”
Quoth Danger: “huly, friend, take head;
Vntimous spurring spilles the stead:
Take tent what yee pretend.
Thogh Courage counsel thee to climb,
Beware thou kep no skaith:
Have thou no helpe, but Hope and him,
They may beguile thee baith.
Thysell now can tell now
The counsel of these Clarkes;
Wherethrow yet, I trow yet,
Thy breast doth beare the marks.
30
“Burnt bairne with fire the danger dreads;So I believe thy bosome bleeds,
Since last that fire thou felt:
Besides that seindle times thou sees
That ever Courage keeps the keyes
Of knowledge at his belt:
Though he bid fordward with the Gunnes,
Smal powder he provides:
Be not a Novice of that Nunnes
Who saw not both the sides.
Fooles haste ay, almaist ay,
Ou'rsyles the sight of some,
Who luikes not, or huikes not,
What afterward may come.
87
31
“Yet Wisedome wisheth thee to weyThis figure in Philosophy—
A lesson worth to leare—
Which is, in time for to take tent,
And not, when time is past, repent,
And buy repentance deare.
Is there no honour after life
Except thou slay thy sel?
Wherefore hath Atropus that knife?
I trow thou canst not tell,
Who but it, would cut it,
Which Clotho scarce hath spun,
Destroying the ioying,
Before it be begun.
32
“All ou'rs are repute to be vice—Ou'r high, ou'r low, ou'r rash, ou'r nice,
Ou're hote, or yet ou'r cold:
Thou seemes unconstant by thy signes;
Thy thought is on a thousand things;
Thou wats not what thou would.
Let Fame her pitty on thee powre,
When all thy bones are broken:
Yon Slae, suppose thou think it sowre,
Would satisfie to sloken
Thy drouth now, of youth now,
Which dries thee with desire:
Asswage then, thy rage then,
Foule water quencheth fire.
88
33
“What foole art thou to die a thirst,And now may quench it, if thou list,
So easily, but paine?
More honour is to vanquish ane,
Than fight with tensome and be tane,
And either hurt or slay[ne]:
The practick is to bring to passe,
And not to enterprise;
And as good drinking out of glasse
As gold in any wise.
I lever have ever
A fowle in hand, or tway,
Then seeing ten flying
About me all the day.
34
“Looke where thou lights before thou loupe,And slip no certainty for Hope,
Who guides thee but be gesse.”
Quoth Courage, “cowards take no cure
To sit with shame, so they be sure:
I like them all the lesse.
What pleasure purchast is but paine,
Or honour won with ease?
He wil not lye where he is slaine,
Who doubts before he dies.
For feare then, I heare then,
But onely one remead,
Which latt is, and that is,
For to cut off the head.
89
35
“What is the way to heale thine hurt?What way is there to stay thy sturt?
What meanes to make thee merrie?
What is the comfort that thou craves?
Suppose these Sophists thee deceaves,
Thou knowes it is the Cherrie.
Since for it onely thou but thirsts,
The Slae can bee no buite:
In it also thine health consists,
And in none other fruite.
Why quakes thou, and shakes thou,
Or studies at our strife?
Advise thee, it lyes thee,
On no lesse than thy life.
36
“If any patient would be pansde,Why should he loupe when he is lansde,
Or shrinke when he is shorne?
For I have heard Chirurgians say,
Oft-times deferring of a day
Might not be mend the morne.
Take time in time, ere time be tint,
For time will not remaine:
What forceth fire out of the flint,
But as hard match againe?
Delay not, nor fray not,
And thou shall see it sa:
Such gets ay, as sets ay,
Stout stomackes to the brae.
90
37
“Though all beginning be most hard,The end is pleasant afterward;
Then shrinke not for no showre:
When once that thou thy greening get,
Thy paine and travel is forget:
The sweete exceeds the sowre.
Goe to then quickly, feare no thir,
For Hope good hap hath height.”
Quoth Danger, “be not sudden, Sir,
The matter is of weight.
First spy both, then try both,
Advisement doth none ill:
Thou may then, I say then,
Be wilful when thou will.
38
“But yet to minde the proverbe call,‘Who uses perils perish shal’;
Short while their life them lasts.”
“And I have heard,” quoth Hope, “that he
Should never shape to saile the sea,
That for all perils casts.
How many through Despare are dead
That never perils priev'd!
How many also, if thou read,
Of lives have we releiv'd!
Who being even dying,
But Danger, but desparde;
A hunder, I wonder,
But thou hast heard declarde.
91
39
“If we two hold not up thine heart,Which is the chiefe and noblest part,
Thy works would not goe well;
Considering the companions can
Disswade a silly, simple man
To hazard for his heale.
Suppose they have deceived some,
Ere we and they might meete,
They get no credance where we come,
In any man of sprite;
By reason, their treason
By us is plainely spyde;
Revealing their dealing,
Which dow not be denyde.
40
“With sleekie Sophismes seeming sweete,As all their doing were discreet,
They wish thee to be wise;
Postponing time from houre to houre
But, faith, in underneath the flowre,
The lurking serpent lyes;
Suppose thou seest her not a stime,
While that she sting thy foote:
Perceives thou not what precious time
Thy sleuth doth overshoote?
Alas, man, thy case, man,
In lingring I lament:
Goe to now, and doe now,
That Courage be content.
92
41
“What if Melancholy come in,And get a grip ere thou begin?
Then is thy labour lost;
For he will hold thee hard and fast,
Til time and place and fruite be past,
And thou give up the ghost:
Then shal be graven upon that place,
Which on thy tombe is laid,
‘Sometime there liv'd such one’—alas,
But how shal it bee said?
‘Heere lyes now, but prise now,
Into dishonours bed,
A cowart, (as thou art),
Who from his fortune fled.’
42
“Imagine, man, if thou were laidIn grave, and syne might heare this said,
Would thou not sweat for shame?
Yes, faith, I doubt not but thou would;
Therefore, if thou have eyes, behold
How they would smore thy fame!
Goe to, and make no more excuse,
Ere life and honour losse,
And either them or us refuse:
There is no other chose.
Consider, togidder,
That we doe never dwell:
At length ay, but strength ay,
The pultrons we expell.”
93
43
Quoth Danger, “since I understandThat counsall can be no command,
I have no more to say;
Except, if that you thinke it good,
Take counsel yet, ere ye conclude,
Of wiser men then they:
They are but rackles, young and rash,
Suppose they thinke us fleit:
If of our fellowship ye fash,
Goe with them hardly beit.
God speed you, they lead you,
Who have not meekle wit;
Expel us, yeeil tell us,
Heereafter comes not yet.”
44
While Danger and Despare retir'de,Experience came in, and spear'de
What all the matter meande;
With him came Reason, Wit, and Skill.
Then they began to aske at Will,
“Where make you to, my friend?”
“To pluck yon lustie Cherrie, loe!”
Quoth he, “and quyte the slae.”
Quoth they, “is there no more adoe,
Ere yee win up the brae,
But doe it, and to it,
Perforce your fruite to pluck?
Well, brother, some other
Were better to conduct.
94
45
“We grant yee may be good enough,But yet the hazard of yon heugh
Requyres a graver guide.
As wise as yee ar may goe wrang;
Therefore take counsell, ere ye gang,
Of some that stands beside.
But who were yon three yee forbade
Your company right now?”
Quoth Wil, “three preachers to perswade
The poysonde Slae to pull.
They tratled and pratled,
A long halfe hour and mare;
Foul fal them! they call them
Dread, Danger, and Despare.
46
“They are more fashions than of feck:Yon fazards durst not, for their neck,
Climb up the Craige with us.
Fra we determined to die,
Or then to climbe the Cherrie tree,
They bode about the bush.
They are conditionde like the Cat—
They would not weete their feete;
But yet if any fish we gate,
They would be apt to eate:
Though they now, I say now,
To hazard have no heart;
Yet luck we, or pluck wee
The fruite, they would not part.
95
47
“But when we get our voyage wun,They shal not then a Cherrie cun,
Who would not enterprise.”
“Well,” quoth Experience, “ye boast;
But he that reckon'd but his hoast,
Oftimes he counteth twise.
Ye sell the Baires skin on his back,
But bide while ye it get;
When ye have done, its time to crack:
Ye fish before the net.
What haste, sir, ye taste, sir,
The Cherrie, ere yee pow it:
Beware, sir, ye are, sir,
More talkative nor trowit.”
48
“Call Danger back againe,” quoth Skil,“To see what he can say to Wil,
We see him shoad so straite:
We may not trow what each one tels.”
Quoth Courage, “we concluded els,
He serves not for our mate;
For I can tel you al perquiere
His counsel ere he come.”
Quoth Hope, “whereto should he come here?
He cannot hold him dum:
He speaks ay, and seeks ay
Delayes oft times and drifts,
To grieve us, and dieve us,
With Sophistrie and shifts.”
96
49
Quoth Reason, “why was he debarde?The tale is ill cannot be heard;
Yet let us heare him anes.”
Then Danger to declare began,
How Hope and Courage tooke the man,
To leade them all their lanes;
How they would have him up the hill,
But either stoppe or stay;
And who was welcomer than Will?
He would be foremost ay:
He could doe, and should doe,
Who ever would or nought.
Such speeding proceeding
Vnlikely was, I thought.
50
“Therefore I wisht him to beware,And rashly not to run ou'r far,
Without such guides as yee.”
Quoth Courage, “friend, I heare you faile,
Take better tent unto your tale,
Ye said it could not bee:
Besides that ye would not consent
That ever we should clim.”
Quoth Wil, “for my part I repent,
We saw them more than him;
For they are the stayare
Of us, as well as hee:
I thinke now they shrinke now:
Goe forward, let them bee.
97
51
“Goe, goe, we doe nothing but guckes:They say the voyage never luckes,
Where each one hath a vote.”
Quoth Wisedome gravely, “Sir, I grant,
We were no worse your vote to want,
Some sentence now I note:
Suppose you speake it but be gesse,
Some fruite therein I finde;
Ye would be foremost I confesse,
But comes oft-times behind.
It may be that they bee
Deceiv'd that never doubted:
Indeed, sir, that head, sir,
Hath meekle wit about it.”
52
Then wilful Will began to rage,And swore he saw nothing in age,
But anger, yre, and grudge:
“And for myselfe,” quoth he, “I sweare
To quyte all my companions heere,
If they admit you iudge.
Experience is growne so old,
That he begins to rave:
The rest, but Courage are so cold,
No hazarding they have;
For Danger, farre stranger,
Hath made them than they were;
Goe fra them, we pray them,
Who neither dow nor dare.
98
53
“Why may not wee three leade this one?I led an hundreth mine alone,
But counsel of them all.”
“I grant,” quoth Wisedome, “ye have led;
But I would speere, how many sped,
Or furthered but a fall?
But either few or none, I trow,
Experience can tell.
He sayes that man may wite but you,
The first time that hee fell.
He kens then, whose pens then,
Thou borrowed him to flee.
His wounds yet, which stounds yet,
He got them then through thee.”
54
“That,” quoth Experience, “is true:Will flattered him, when first he flew,
Wil set him in a low.
Will was his counsell and convoy;
Will borrowed from the blinded Boy
Both Quaver, wings, and bow;
Wherewith before he say'd to shoote,
He neither yeeld to youth,
Nor yet had need of any fruite,
To quench his deadly drouth;
Which pines him, and dwines him,
To death, I wot not how:
If Will then, did ill then,
Himselfe remembers now.
99
55
“For I, Experience, was there,Like as I use to bee all where,
What time hee wited Will
To be the ground of all his griefe,
As I my selfe can bee a priefe
And witnes thereuntill.
There are no bounds but I have beene,
Nor hidlings from mee hid,
Nor secret things but I have seene,
That he or any did;
Therefore now, no more now,
Let him thinke to concealde;
For why now, even I now
Am debtbound to reveald.”
56
“My custome is for to declareThe truth, and neither eke nor paire
For any man a ioate:
If wilful Will delytes in lyes,
Example in thy selfe thou sees,
How he can turne his coate,
And with his language would allure
Thee yet to breake thy bones:
Thou knowes thyself if he be sure:
Thou usde his counsell ones;
Who would yet behold yet
To wreak thee, were not wee.
Thinke on you on yon now,”
Quoth Wisedome then to mee.
100
57
“Wel,” quoth Experience, “if heeSubmits himselfe to you and mee,
I wote what I should say:
Our good advise he shall not want,
Providing alwayes that hee grant
To put yon Will away,
And banish both him and Despare,
That all good purpose spils;
So he will mell with them no mare,
Let them two flyte their fils:
Such cossing, but lossing,
All honest men may use.”
“That change now were strange now,”
Quoth Reason, “to refuse.”
58
Quoth Will, “fy on him, when he flew,That powde not Cherries then anew
For to have staide his hurt.”
Quoth Reason, “though he beare the blame,
He never saw nor needed them,
While he himselfe had hurt.
First when he mistred not, he might,
He needs, and may not now:
Thy folly, when he had his flight,
Empashed him to pow.
Both hee now, and we now,
Perceives thy purpose plaine,
To turne him, and burne him,
And blow on him againe.”
101
59
Quoth Skil, “what would wee longer strive?Far better late than never thrive;
Come let us helpe him yet:
Tint time we may not get againe,
We waste but present time in vaine:”
“Beware with that,” quoth Wit:
“Speak on, Experience, let see;
We think you hold you dumb.”
“Of bygones I have heard,” quoth he;
“I know not things to come.”
Quoth Reason, “the season,
With slouthing slydes, away;
First take him, and make him
A man, if that you may.”
60
Quoth Will, “if he be not a man,I pray you, sirs, what is he than?
He lookes like one at least.”
Quoth Reason, “if he follow thee,
And minde not to remaine with mee,
Nought but a bruital beast.
A man in shape doth nought consist,
For all your tanting tales;
Therefore, sir Will, I would yee wist
Your Metaphysick failes.
Goe leare yet, a yeare yet,
Your Logick at the schooles,
Some day then, yee may then
Passe Master with the Mules.”
102
61
Quoth Will, “I marvel what you meane;Should I not trow mine own two eyne,
For all your Logick schooles?
If I did not, I were not wise.”
Quoth Reason, “I have told you thrise,
None ferlies more than fooles;
There be more senses than the sight,
Which ye ov'rhaile for haste,
To wit, if ye remember right,
Smel, hearing, touch, and taste.
All quick things have such things,
I meane both man and beast,
By kinde ay, we finde ay,
Few lackes them at the least.
62
“So, by that consequence of thine,Or Syllogisme said like a swine,
A Kow may learne thee laire.
Thou uses onely but the eyes:
She touches, tastes, smels, heares, and sees;
Which matches thee, and maire.
But since no triumph yee intend,
As presently appeares,
Sir, for your Clergie to be kend,
Take yee two asses eares.
No Miter perfyter
Got Midas for his meed;
That hood, sir, is good, sir,
To hap your braine-sick-head.
103
63
“Ye have no feele for to defyne,Though yee have cunning to decline
A man to bee a moole:
With little work yet, yee may vowde
To grow a gallant horse and good,
To ride thereon at Yoole.
But to our ground where wee began,
For all your gustlesse iests,
I must be master of the man,
But thou to bruital beasts;
So wee two must bee two,
To cause both kinds be knowne;
Keep mine then from thine then,
And each one use their owne.”
64
Then Will, as angry as an ape,Ran ramping, swearing, rude and rape,
Saw he none other shift;
He would not want an inch his wil,
Even whether't did him good or ill,
For thirty of his thrift:
He would be formest in the field,
And master, if he might;
Yea, hee should rather die than yeeld,
Though Reason had the right.
“Shal he now, make mee now
His subiect or his slave?
No, rather my father
Shal quick goe to the grave.
104
65
“I height him, while mine heart is haile,To perish first, ere he prevaile,
Come after what so may.”
Quoth Reason, “doubt yee not, indeed,
Yet hitte the naile vpon the head:
It shall bee as yee say.
Suppose yee spur for to aspire,
Your bridle wants a bit;
That marke may leave you in the myre,
As sicker as yee sit.
Your sentence repentance
Shall leave you, I believe,
And anger you langer,
When yee that practick prieve.
66
“As yee have dyted your decreet,Your prophecy to bee compleat,
Perhaps, and to your paines;
It hath beene said, and may be so,
‘A wilful man wants never woe’
Though he get little gaines.
But since ye thinkt an easie thing
To mount above the Moone,
Of your owne fiddle take a spring,
And dance when yee have done.
If than, sir, the man, sir,
Like of your mirth, hee may;
And speare first, and heare first,
What he himselfe will say.”
105
67
Then altogether they beganAnd said, “Come on, thou martyrde man,
What is thy will, advise.”
Abasde, a bony while I stood,
And musde, ere I mine answere made;
I turnd me once or twise,
Beholding everyone about,
Whose motions mov'd me maist.
Some seem'd assured, some dread for doubt,
Will ran red-wood for haist,
With wringing and flinging,
For madnes like to mang;
Despare too, for care too,
Would needs himselfe goe hang;
68
Which when Experience perceiv'd,Quoth he, “remember if I rav'de,
As Will allegde of late,
When as he swore, nothing he saw
In age, but anger, slack and slaw,
And cankred in conceite:
Ye could not lucke, as he alledgde,
Who all opinions spearde.
Hee was so frack and firie edg'd,
He thought us foure but feard.
‘Who panses what chanses,’
Quoth hee, ‘no worship wins.
To some best shal come best,
Who hap wel, rack well rins.’
106
69
“Yet,” quoth Experience, “behold,For all the tales that ye have told,
How hee himselfe behaves.
Because Despare could come no speed,
Loe! heere he hings, all but the head,
And in a widdy waves.
If you be sure once, thou may see,
To men that with them mels;
If they had hurt or helped thee,
Consider by themsels.
Then chuse thee, to use thee
By us, or such as yon:
Syne soone now, have done now;
Make either off or on.”
70
“Perceiv'st thou not wherefra proceedsThe frantick fantasie that feeds
Thy furious flamming fire?
Which doth thy bailfull brest combur,
That none, indeed,” quoth they, “can cure,
Nor helpe thine hearts desire.
The piercing passions of the spirit,
Which wastes thy vitall breath,
Doth hold thine heavy heart with heate:
Desire drawes on thy death.
Thy punces pronunces
All kinde of quyet rest;
That fever hath ever
Thy person so opprest.
107
71
“Couldst thou come once acquaint with Skil,Hee knowes what humours doth thee ill,
And how thy cares contracts;
Hee knowes the ground of all thy griefe,
And recipies of thy reliefe:
All medicines hee makes.”
Quoth Skil, “come on, content am I
To put mine helping hand:
Providing alwayes hee apply
To counsel and command.
While wee then,” quoth he then,
“Are minded to remaine,
Give place now, in cace now
Thou get us not againe.
72
“Assure thy selfe, if that we shed,Thou shalt not get thy purpose sped;
Take heede, wee have thee told.
Have done, and drive not off the day:
The man that will not when he may,
He shal not when hee would.
What wilt thou doe? I would we wist:
Accept, or give us ou'r.”
Quoth I, “I think me more than blest
To finde such famous foure
Beside mee, to guide mee,
Now when I have to doe;
Considering what swidering
Ye found me first into.
108
73
“When Courage crav'd a stomack stout,And Danger drave mee into doubt,
With his companion Dread:
Whiles Wil would up above the aire;
Whiles I am drownde in deepe Despare;
Whiles Hope held up mine head.
Such pithie reasons and replies,
On every side they shew,
That I, who was not very wise,
Thought all their tales were true.
So mony and bony,
Old problemes they proponit,
But quickly and likely,
I marvell meekle on it.
74
“Yet Hope and Courage wan the field,Though Dread and Danger never yeeld,
But fled to finde refuge:
Yet, when ye foure came, they were faine,
Because ye gart us come againe:
The[y] griende to get you iudge.
Where they were fugitive before,
Yee made them frank and free
To speak and stand in aw no more.”
Quoth Reason, “so should bee:
Oft-times now, but crymes now,
But even perforce, it fals,
The strong ay with wrong ay
Puts weaker to the wals;
109
75
“Which is a fault, ye must confesse:Strength was not ordained to oppresse
With rigour by the right;
But, by the contrare, to sustaine
The loaden which ov'rburthend beene,
As meckle as they might.”
“So Hope and Courage did,” quoth I,
“Experimented like,
Show skilde and pithy reasons why
That Danger lap the dyke.”
Quoth Dreid, “sir, take heed, sir;
Long spoken part must spill;
Insist not, we wist not
We went against our will.
76
“With Courage ye were so content,Ye never sought our smal consent;
Of us ye stood not aw.
Then Logick lessons ye allowit,
And was determined to trow it:
Alleageance past for Law.
For all the proverbs wee perusde,
Yee thought them skantly skild;
Our reasons had beene as well rusde,
Had ye beene as well wil'de
To our side as your side,
So truely I may tearme it;
I see now in thee now
Affection doth affirm't.”
110
77
Experience then smirking smilde:“We are no bairnes to be beguild,”
Quoth he, and shooke his head;
“For Authors who alledges us,
They stil would win about the bus
To foster deadly feede:
For wee are equal for you all;
No persons wee respect;
We have been so, are yet, and shall
Be found so in effect.
If we were as ye were,
We had comde unrequyrde;
But wee now, ye see now,
Doe nothing undesirde.
78
“There is a sentence said by some,‘Let none uncald to counsell come,
That welcome weines to bee’;
Yea, I have heard another yet,
‘Who came uncald, unserv'd shuld sit’;
Perhaps, sir, so may yee.”
“Good-man, grande mercie for your gecke,”
Quoth Hope, and lowly lowts:
“If yee were sent for, we suspect,
Because the Doctours doubts.
Your yeares now appeares now
With wisedome to be vext,
Reioycing in gloysing,
Till you have tint your text.
111
79
“Where yee were sent for, let us seeWho would be welcomer than wee?
Prove that, and we are payde.”
“Wel,” quoth Experience, “beware;
You know not in what case you are;
Your tongue hath you betrayde.
The man may able tine a stot
Who cannot count his kinch;
In your owne bow you are ov'rshot,
By more then halfe an inch.
Who wats, sir, if that, sir,
Is sowre, which seemeth sweet?
I feare now ye heare now
A dangerous decreete.
80
“Sir, by that sentence yee have said,I pledge, ere all the play bee plaid,
That some shall lose a laike.
Since yee but put me for to prove
Such heads as help for my behove,
Your warrand is but waike.
Speare at the man your selfe, and see,
Suppose you strive for state,
If hee regrated not how hee
Had learnd my lesson late,
And granted hee wanted
Both Reason, Wit, and Skill;
Compleaning, and meaning,
Our absence did him ill.
112
81
“Confront him further face for face,If yet hee rewes his rackles race,
Perhaps and ye shall heare;
For ay since Adam and since Eve,
Who first thy leasings did believe,
I sold thy doctrine deare.
What hath beene done, even to this day,
I keep in minde almaist:
Ye promise further than ye pay,
Sir Hope, for all your haste;
Promitting, unwitting,
Your heghts yee never hooked;
I show you, I know you;
Your bygones I have booked.
82
“I would, incace a count were crav'd,Shew thousand, thousands thou deceivde,
Where thou was true to one;
And, by the contrare, I may vant,
Which thou must, though it grieve thee, grant,
I trumped never a man,
But truely told the naked trueth
To men that meld with mee,
For neither rigour nor for rueth,
But onely loath to lie.
To some yet to come yet
Thy succour shall be slight;
Which I then must try then,
And register it right.”
113
83
“Ha, ha!” quoth Hope, and lowdly leugh,“Ye'r but a prentise at the pleugh,
Experience, yee prieve.
Suppose all bygones as yee spacke,
Ye are no Prophet worth a plack,
Nor I bound to believe.
Yee should not say, sir, till yee see;
But, when yee see it, say.”
“Yet,” quoth Experience, “at thee
Make many mints I may,
By signes now, and things now,
Which ay before mee beares,
Expressing, by gessing,
The perill that appeares.”
84
Then Hope replyde, and that with pith,And wisely weigh'd his words therewith
Sententiously and short;
Quoth hee, “I am the Anchor grip
That saves the Sailers and their ship
From perill, to their port.”
Quoth hee, “oft times that Anchor drives,
As wee have found before,
And loses many thousand lives
By shipwrack on the shore.
Your grips oft but slips oft,
When men have most to doe,
Syne leaves them, and reaves them
Of my companion too.
114
85
“Thou leaves them not thy selfe alone,But to their griefe when thou art gone
Gars Courage quite them als.”
Quoth Hope, “I would ye understood,
I grip fast if the ground be good,
And fleets where it is false.
There should no fault with mee be found,
Nor I accusde at all.
Wyte such as should have sound the ground
Before the Anchor fall.
Their leede ay, at neede ay,
Might warne them, if they would;
If they there would stay there,
Or have good anchor-hold.
86
“If yee read right, it was not I,But onely Ignorance, whereby
Their Carvels all were cloven.
I am not for a trumper tane.”
“All,” quoth Experience, “is ane;
I have my processe proven,
To wit, that we were cald, each one,
To come before wee came;
That now obiection ye have none,
Your selfe may say the same.
Ye are now, too farre now,
Come forward, for to flee;
Perceive then, ye have then
The worst end of the tree.”
115
87
When Hope was gald into the quick,Quoth Courage, kicking at the prick,
“Wee let you well to wit;
Make hee you welcomer than wee,
Then bygones, bygones, farewell he,
Except hee seeke us yet.
Hee understands his owne estate,
Let him his chiftanes chuse;
But yet his battel will bee blate,
If hee our force refuse.
Refuse us, or chuse us,
Our counsel is, hee clim;
But stay hee, or stray hee,
We have none help for him.
88
“Except the Cherrie be his chose,Bee ye his friends, wee are his foes;
His doings we despite.
If we perceive him satled sa
To satisfie him with the Slae,
His company we quite.”
Then Dread and Danger grew so glad,
And wont that they had wun;
They thought all seald that they had said,
Sen they had first begun.
They thought then, they mought then
Without a partie plead;
But yet there, with Wit there,
They were dung downe indeed.
116
89
“Sirs, Dread and Danger,” then quoth Wit,“Ye did yourselves to mee submit;
Experience can prove.”
“That,” quoth Experience, “I past:
Their owne confession made them fast;
They may no more remove.
For, if I right remember mee,
This maxime then they made,
To wit: the man with Wit should wey
What Philosophs had said.
Which sentence, repentance
Forbade him deare to buy;
They knew then how true then,
And preasde not to reply.”
90
Though hee dang Dread and Danger down,Yet Courage could not [be] overcome,
Hope heght him such an hyre:
He thought himselfe, so soone he saw
His enemies were laid so law,
It was no time to tyre.
Hee hit the yron while it was hait,
Incace it might grow cold;
For he esteemde his foes defaite,
When once he found them folde.
“Though we now,” quoth hee now,
“Have beene so free and franke,
Vnsought yet, ye mought yet
For kindnesse cund us thanke.
117
91
“Suppose it so as thou hast said,That unrequyrde wee offered aide,
At least it came of love.
Experience, yee start too soone,
Yee dow nothing while all be done;
And then perhaps yee prove
More plaine than pleasant, too, perchance:
Some tell that have you tryit;
As fast as you your selfe advance,
Ye dow not wel deny it.
Abide then your tide then,
And waite upon the wind;
Ye know, sir, ye ow, sir,
To hold you ay behinde.
92
“When yee have done some doughty deeds,Syne ye should see how all succeeds,
To write them as they were.”
“Friend, huly, haste not halfe so fast,
Lest,” quoth Experience, “at last
Ye buy my doctrine deare.
Hope puts that haste into your head,
Which boyles your barmie braine;
Howbeit, Fooles haste comes hulie speede;
Faire heights make fooles be faine.
Such smyling, beguiling,
Bids feare not for no freets;
Yet I now deny now
That al is gold that gleets.
118
93
“Suppose not silver all that shines:Oft times a tentlesse Merchant tines,
For buying geare be gesse;
For all the vantage and the winning
Good buyers gets at the beginning.”
Quoth Courage, “not the lesse,
Whiles as good Merchant tines as wins,
If old mens tales bee true.
Suppose the pack come to [the] pins,
Who can his chance eshew?
Then, good sir, conclude, sir,
Good buyers have done baith;
Advance then, take chance then,
As sundry good ships hath.
94
“Who wist what would bee cheape or deareShould neede to traffique but a yeare,
If things to come were kend.
Suppose all bygone things be plaine,
Your Prophecy is but prophane;
Ye're best behold the end.
Yee would accuse mee of a crime
Almost before wee met;
Torment you not before the time,
Since dolour payes no debt.
What by past, that I past,
Ye wot if it was well:
To come yet, by doome yet,
Confesse ye have no feele.”
119
95
“Yet,” quoth Experience, “what than?Who may be meetest for the man,
Let us his answere have.”
When they submitted them to mee,
To Reason I was faine to flee,
His counsell for to crave.
Quoth he, “since you yourselves submit
To doe as I decreet,
I shal advise with Skil and Wit,
What they thinke may bee meete.”
They cryde then, “we byde then
At Reason for refuge;
Allow him, and trow him,
As governour and iudge.”
96
So said they all, with one consent,“What he concluds, we are content
His bidding to obey.
Hee hath authority to use;
Then take his chose whom he would chuse,
And longer not delay.”
Then Reason rose and was reioysde:
Quoth he, “mine hearts, come hither;
I hope this play may bee composde,
That we may goe together.
To all now I shall now
His proper place assigne;
That they heere shal say heere,
They thinke none other thing.”
120
97
“Come on,” quoth he, “companion, Skill,Ye understand both good and ill,
In Physick yee are fine;
Be medciner unto this man,
And shaw such cunning as yee can,
To put him out of paine.
First gard the ground of all his griefe,
What sicknes ye suspect;
Syne looke what hee lackes for reliefe,
Ere further he infect.
Comfort him, exhort him,
Give him your good advice;
And panse not, nor skanse not,
The perill nor the price.
98
“Though it be cumbersome, what recke?Finde out the cause by the effect
And working of his veines.
Yet while we grip it to the ground,
See first what fashion may bee found
To pacifie his paines.
Doe what ye dow to have him haile,
And for that purpose prease:
Cut off the cause, the effect must faile,
So all his sorrowes cease.
His fever shall never
From thencefoorth have no force;
Then urge him to purge him,
He will not waxe the worse.”
121
99
Quoth Skil: “his senses are so sicke,I know no liquor worth a leeke
To quench his deadly drouth;
Except the Cherrie help his heat,
Whose sappy sloking, sharp and sweet,
Might melt into his mouth,
And his melancholy remove,
To mitigate his minde.
None wholesomer for your behove,
Nor more cooling of kinde;
No Nectar directar
Could all the gods him give,
Nor send him, to mend him,
None like it, I believe.
100
“For drowth decayes as it digests.”“Why, then,” quoth Reason, “nothing rests
But how it may bee had?”
“Most true,” quoth Skil, “that is the scope,
Yet we must have some helpe of Hope.”
Quoth Danger, “I am rad
His hastines breeds us mishap,
When he is highly horst:
I would wee looked ere wee lap.”
Quoth Wit, “that were not worst.
I meane now, conveene now
The counsell one and all;
Begin then, cal on then:”
Quoth Reason, “so I shall.”
122
101
Then Reason rose with gesture grave,Belyve conveening all the lave,
To see what they would say;
With silver scepter in his hand,
As Chiftane chosen to command,
And they bent to obey.
He pansed long before he spake,
And in a study stood;
Syne hee began and silence brake:
“Come on,” quoth he, “conclude
What way now we may now
Yon Cherrie come to catch;
Speak out, sirs, about, sirs;
Have done—let us dispatch.”
102
Quoth Courage, “scourge him first that skars;Much musing memory but marres;
I tell you mine intent.”
Quoth Wit, “who will not partly panse
In perils, perishes perchance,
Ov'r rackles may repent.”
“Then,” quoth Experience, and spake,
“Sir, I have seene them baith,
In bairnlines and lye aback,
Escape and come to skaith.
But what now of that now?
Sturt followes all extreames;
Retaine then the meane then,
The surest way it seemes.
123
103
“Where some hes further'd, some has faild;Where part hes perisht, part prevaild:
Alike all cannot lucke.
Then either venture, with the one,
Or, with the other, let alone
The Cherrie for to plucke.”
Quoth Hope, “for feare folke must not fash.”
Quoth Danger, “let not light.”
Quoth Wit, “bee neither rude nor rash.”
Quoth Reason, “yee have right.”
The rest then, though[t] best then,
When Reason said it so,
That, roundly and soundly,
They should together goe
104
To get the Cherrie in all haste,As for my safety serving maist.
Though Dread and Danger feard
The peril of that irksome way,
Lest that thereby I should decay,
Who then so weake appearde,
Yet Hope and Courage hard beside,
Who with them wont contend,
Did take in hand us for to guide
Vnto our iourneyes end;
Impleadging, and waidging,
Both two their lives for mine,
Providing the guiding
To them were granted syne.
124
105
Then Dread and Danger did appeale,Alledging it could not be well,
Nor yet would they agree;
But said they should sound their retreate,
Because they thought them no wise meete
Conductores unto mee,
Nor to no man in mine estate,
With sicknes sore opprest;
For they tooke ay the nearest gate,
Omitting oft the best.
Their nearest perquearest
Is alwayes to them both,
Where they, sir, may say, sir,
“What recks them of your skaith?”
106
“But as for us two, now we sweareBy him, before whom we appeare,
Our ful intent is now
To have you whole, and alway was,
That purpose for to bring to passe;
So is not theirs, I trow.”
Then Hope and Courage did attest
The gods of both these parts,
If they wrought not all for the best
Of mee, with upright hearts.
Our Chiftane than liftane
His scepter, did enioyne
“No more there uproare there!”
And so their strife was done—
125
107
Rebuiking Dread and Danger sore,Suppose they meant well evermore
To me, as they had sworne;
Because their neighbours they abusde,
In so farre as they had accusde
Them, as ye heard beforne.
“Did ye not else,” quoth he, “consent
The Cherry for to pow?”
Quoth Danger, “we are well content;
But yet, the maner how?
We shal now, even all now,
Get this man with us there;
It rest is, and best is,
Your counsel shall declare.”
108
“Wel said,” quoth Hope and Courage, “nowWe thereto will accord with you,
And shall abide by them;
Like as before we did submit,
So wee repeate the samine yet;
We minde not to reclaime.
Whom they shal chuse to guide the way,
Wee shal him follow straight;
And further this man, what we may,
Because wee have so height;
Promitting, but flitting,
To doe the thing we can
To please both, and ease both,
This silly sickly man.”
126
109
When Reason heard this, “then,” quoth hee,“I see your chiefest stay to bee,
That we have nam'd no guide;
The worthy counsel hath, therefore,
Thought good that Wit should goe before,
For perils to provide.”
Quoth Wit, “there is but one of three
Which I shall to you show,
Whereof the first two cannot bee,
For any thing I know.
The way heere so stay heere
Is, that wee cannot clim
Even ov'r now, we foure now:
That will bee hard for him.
110
“The next, if we goe downe aboutWhile that this bend of Craiges run out,
The streame is there so starke,
And also passeth wading deepe,
And broader farre than we dow leape,
It should be idle work.
It growes ay broader nere the sea,
Sen over the lin it came;
The running dead doth signifie
The deepnes of the same.
I leave now to deave now,
How that it swiftly slides,
As sleeping and creeping;
But nature so provides.
127
111
“Our way then lyes about the Lin,Whereby, a warrand, we shal win,
It is so straight and plaine;
The water also is so shald,
We shal it passe, even as we wald,
With pleasure and but paine;
For as we see the mischief grow
Oft of a feckles thing,
So likewise doth this river flow
Foorth of a pretty spring;
Whose throat, sir, I wot, sir,
You may stop with your neive;
As you, sir, I trow, sir,
Experience, can prieve.”
112
“That,” quoth Experience, “I can;All that yee said sen yee began,
I know to be of truth.”
Quoth Skill, “the samine I approve.”
Quoth Reason, “then let us remove,
And sleepe no more in sleuth.
Wit and Experience,” quoth he,
“Shall come before apace;
The man shall come, with Skill and mee,
Into the second place.
Attour now, you foure now
Shall come into a band;
Proceeding, and leading,
Each other by the hand.”
128
113
As Reason ordeinde, all obeyde;None was ov'r rash, nor none affraide,
Our counsel was so wise:
As of our iourney Wit did note,
We found it true in every iote:
God bles'd our interprise.
For even as wee came to the tree,
Which, as yee heard mee tell,
Could not be clum, there suddenly
The fruite for ripnes fell.
Which hasting and tasting,
I found myselfe relievde
Of cares all and sares all
Which minde and body grievde.
114
Praise be to God, my Lord, therefore,Who did mine health to mee restore,
Being so long time pinde;
Yea, blessed bee his holy Name,
Who did from death to life recleame
Mee, who was so unkinde.
All Nations also magnifie
This everliving Lord;
Let me with you, and you with mee,
To laude him ay accord;
Whose love ay wee prove ay
To us above all things;
And kisse him and blesse him
Whose Glore eternall rings.
| Poems of Alexander Montgomerie | |