The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation from the yeere of our Lord, one thousand three hundred twentie and seuen: being the first yeare of the raigne of the most mightie Prince Edvvard the third, to the yeere 1558. Also, of the peaceable and quiet state of England, vnder the blessed gouernement of the most excellent and vertuous Princesse Elizabeth: A compendious declaration written by C. O. And newly translated out of Latine verse into English meeter. By I. S. [i.e. John Sharrock] |
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 | The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation |  |
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL Sir William Mohun Knight, long lyfe, and heauenly felicitie.
If
Maroes Muse, if Homers sacred vaine,
(VVhich auncient Poets, intombed lye in molde:)
Parnassus Nimphes had bett into my braine:
If that their skill, my slender quill did hold
Then (worthy sir) your prayses manifold,
VVith Troian Dukes should lifted be to skie,
Or Thetis Impes, whose fame shall neuer die.
(VVhich auncient Poets, intombed lye in molde:)
Parnassus Nimphes had bett into my braine:
If that their skill, my slender quill did hold
Then (worthy sir) your prayses manifold,
VVith Troian Dukes should lifted be to skie,
Or Thetis Impes, whose fame shall neuer die.
But bitter Fate, and cruell destinies doome,
Such cunning rare, denide haue to bestowe,
On me poore lad, to Homers lofty roome
I may not clime, but cowching lye full lowe,
VVith Cherilus, and Virgills vaine forgoe.
They of their store, did spred and blase their skill,
I of my want do testifie my will.
Such cunning rare, denide haue to bestowe,
On me poore lad, to Homers lofty roome
I may not clime, but cowching lye full lowe,
VVith Cherilus, and Virgills vaine forgoe.
They of their store, did spred and blase their skill,
I of my want do testifie my will.
VVherefore in worth accept my willing hart,
VVhich what I could, not what I would, haue brought,
Of Artaxerxes play the princely part,
Of fountayne flouds, who drunke a harty drought,
VVhich to his mouth with handes Synætes rought.
Let Macedonian Phyllips courteous minde,
(Right worshipfull) within your brest be shrinde.
VVhich what I could, not what I would, haue brought,
Of Artaxerxes play the princely part,
Of fountayne flouds, who drunke a harty drought,
VVhich to his mouth with handes Synætes rought.
Let Macedonian Phyllips courteous minde,
(Right worshipfull) within your brest be shrinde.
The Persian king in bosome shrouded close,
A silie bird, which shund the hawke by flight,
And did her selfe for safetie there repose,
Till that her foe were soared out of sight.
So these my toyles accept with countenaunce bright,
VVhich I present here humbly to your hand,
Your like, or loth, may cause them fall, or stand.
A silie bird, which shund the hawke by flight,
And did her selfe for safetie there repose,
Till that her foe were soared out of sight.
So these my toyles accept with countenaunce bright,
VVhich I present here humbly to your hand,
Your like, or loth, may cause them fall, or stand.
Here Martiall feates by valiant Brutes atchiu'de,
Here hard exploites here battailes fiercely fought,
Expressed are from Edward third deri'ud,
In Latian tongue by Occland sweetly taught,
Roughly by mee into our language brought,
How beit I vouch not without combrous paine,
That Britaine youth might pleasure reape againe.
Here hard exploites here battailes fiercely fought,
In Latian tongue by Occland sweetly taught,
Roughly by mee into our language brought,
How beit I vouch not without combrous paine,
That Britaine youth might pleasure reape againe.
And such as could not Romaine letters scanne,
Their Grandsiers acts, and courage haut might see,
Whereby high laude, and endlesse fame they wanne,
And they incenst of corage like to bee,
For Prince and Countrie, dire daungers none to flee.
Let learned Clearkes the Authours poeme vewe,
This worke is wrought for the vnlearned crue.
Their Grandsiers acts, and courage haut might see,
Whereby high laude, and endlesse fame they wanne,
And they incenst of corage like to bee,
For Prince and Countrie, dire daungers none to flee.
Let learned Clearkes the Authours poeme vewe,
This worke is wrought for the vnlearned crue.
How beit if such daine for to bend their eies,
To reade my worke and errours some discrie,
Their Censures smoth the whole will not dispise
Though here, and there, I wrenched haue awry,
Homerus erst sometime would nodding lye.
My youhfull yeares, my iudgement weake beside,
Take for excuse, where from the trueth I glide.
To reade my worke and errours some discrie,
Their Censures smoth the whole will not dispise
Though here, and there, I wrenched haue awry,
Homerus erst sometime would nodding lye.
My youhfull yeares, my iudgement weake beside,
Take for excuse, where from the trueth I glide.
But (Gentle Syr) to whom I do direct,
And Dedicate these first fruites of vine,
Your curtesse ingrast let not neglect:
Your Client from all viprous tongs to shrine,
So tract of time afforde may purer wine.
Of which I here your worshippe promise tast,
When once the grapes into the presse are cast.
And Dedicate these first fruites of vine,
Your curtesse ingrast let not neglect:
Your Client from all viprous tongs to shrine,
So tract of time afforde may purer wine.
Of which I here your worshippe promise tast,
When once the grapes into the presse are cast.
Almightie Ioue which sits in heauenly throane,
Maintaine your health, your great affayres support,
Your Lady keepe, and Children euery one,
Your solace great, and chiefest hartes comfort.
And when deaths dart, shall vitall breath extort,
Your glorious ghost with ioye dissolu'd may flie,
To heauenly costes, to liue and neuer die.
Maintaine your health, your great affayres support,
Your Lady keepe, and Children euery one,
Your solace great, and chiefest hartes comfort.
And when deaths dart, shall vitall breath extort,
Your glorious ghost with ioye dissolu'd may flie,
To heauenly costes, to liue and neuer die.
Your worships most bounden and willing, Iohn Sharrock.
| The valiant actes And victorious Battailes of the English nation | |