University of Virginia Library

[The first book of Epistles]

Horace his Epistles to Mæcenas

O thou the matter of the first
the matter of these laste
Uerses of myne, (Mecenas Lorde)
this is thy very cast
Yet once againe t'acquaint me with
my wonted ryming game,
Me, that am throughlie tryde in that
and victor in the same.
Not age a lyke nor minde a like,
the valiant man of warre
May leaue his armes, and liue at lengthe
a parte from scirmage farre.
Him needes not when his race is run
the people much to praye,
He hath lycence by lawe of armes
in time to goe his waye.
A thinge I haue within my selfe
that beates vpon mine eare,
And dassheth often in such sort
that clearely I may heare,
How it doth warne me to be wyse
to rid me from this race,
And timely to, lest I becum
a tyred iade in space.
A croked caple, who when he
hath trauailde any whyle
Will halt downe right at length & pante,
and make a number smyle.
And therefore now I lay my rimes.
and other toyes a syde
Deuysing things of hone stie,
and therin holy byde.
That whych may serue to guide my selfe
I muse vppon and make.
And leaste thow aske what Chifetan I,
to what sect I do take,
To none so bound, to sweare vnto
what s'euer he shall saye.
To where the tempest carieth me
a straunger borne away.
Sumtymes I skude abowt the towne
in ciuyll matters drounde,
A champion roughe and practyser
of vertue straite and sounde.
Sumtymes on Aristippus lore
by stealthe I cease on it,
The thinges to me, not me to things,
I would they should submit.
Long is the night to them whose griefe
alrest doth quyte exyle:
The labouringe man doth thinke one daye
a longe, and dreary whyle:
Slowe seames the yeare vnto the warde
which houlden downe must be
In custodie of stepdame straite:
Slowe slydes the time to me,
Unwelcome tymes, which do forslow
my hope, and fixed mynde,
With corage to accomplishe that
which ritche and poore shall finde
Of proffit like, the which thinge to
if it be left vntolde,
The not knowing therof may be
like hurte to younge and olde
Remaynes, with these fewe principles
my selfe to rule, and stay,
And throughe my skill surcreasd in me
thus to my selfe to saye.
Though one cannot lyke Linceus
with pearsing eyesight see,
To mende his sighte he maye not grudge
inoynted for to be
Lyke lustie Glyco thou dispayres
in lymmes to be so stoute
Yet maye thou exercyse thy selfe
to shun the knottie gowte.
A man maye clim a step, or twayne
thoughe he goe not beyonde.
Thy breste doth boyle with couetyse,
with lustinge vyle, and fonde,
Sainges there be, and sawes there be
to cure thy greedie care:
To master thyne assaltynge fyttes
to purchase thy welfare.
And doste thou swell with loue of prayse?
Such sacred salues there be,
Rede the prescriptions through but thryse
and I dare warraunte the,
Th' enuyouse, angrye, drunken, slowe,
the louer lewde and wylde
None so outeragiouse, but in tyme
he maye becume full mylde.
If he to good aduertisemente
will retche his listenyng eare,
And meekely byde with pacience
the counsaile he shall heare.
It is virtue, vice t'auoyde
and wysedome cheefe of all
Follie to wante: these two ills lo
do vex the at thy gall.
A slender stocke, and sharpe repulse.
to shun, and voyde these twayne,
Howe dost not thou disease thy mynde,
and plye thyne heade wyth payne?
A pace thou scuddes to traffique with
the furdeste folke of Inde,
Through Seas and rockes, throughe fyer and all
leste thou be caste behynde.
Contemne those things, which sodainelie
thou doste wishe, and admire:
Wilte thou not learne nor heare, nor truste,
the wyse at his desyre?
Who would (sayest thou) goo practise fence
In euerie towne, and streate,
And then refuse Olympus crowne
if he with it mighte meate,
A pleasaunte thinge, so pleasauntlye
without muche stiflynge duste:
Good toylinge faste, and for the beste
since trauaile needes I muste.
Siluer is baser muche then gould,
and goulde then virtew worse.
O, neyghbours, neyghbours, first get coyne
firste hardlye pragge the purse,
And then seeke virtue after gould,
so saye our marchauntes lo:
So chaunte the younge, so chat the olde,
all occupyers so.
Theire powches, and theire counting bookes
are glewed to theire handes,
For this we see, nor can but see,
the case on this sorte standes:
Though thou haste witte and courage good,
and manners mylde by skill,
Thoughe thou beeste craftie, and canst welde
thy pleading tounge at will,
If thou haste all thinges competent:
an other more then the,
Thou arte thoughte course, and he a kinge:
thy better muste he be.
The Romane children haue a songe,
whiche carrall doth they call
A kyng and keaser if to sinne
thy selfe thou doste not thrall.
Not to be giltye or wax wan
at anye falte at all,
A bulwarke that, to beare all bruntes,
be that the brasen wall.
The lawyere Rossy made this lawe,
that all shulde be estemde,
For onely wealthe: that blood, and skill
as nowght worthe should be deemde.
Per frendship whether better nowe
Syr Rossius lawes, and toyes,
Or that whiche I did carrall call
the ballad of the boyes?
That ballad crownes all iuste lyuers,
and euerye woorthie wighte.
Seeke crownes of fame, for well lyuynge,
not goulden crownes for sight.
Who gaue the better counsaile? he
whiche biddes the learne to thryue
By ryghte, if not to catch, and scrape
whilste thou arte man alyue.
To saile in welth, (a ship forsothe
where thou maiste plaine behould
The rufull falles which they haue had
that put theire truste in gould):
Or he, that biddes the stande vprighte
gainste fortune, and hyr pryde,
And chearelye willes the to be bould
not once to skew a syde?
If sum aske me why I ioy not
from barre, or benche to talke
Sythens I vse so commenlye
mongste lawyers for to walke
Why I do not embrase or flye
which moste men loue or hate
As once vnto the Lyon crasde
the fox that suttle pate
Did make reply, so answer I:
the foteprints do me fray
Which lye and looke toward the caue,
none lye or looke this way.
Should wyse men seeke to please the moste?
what proffit, or what gaynes?
Whome should I eye? the people is
a beaste of manye braynes.
Sum men will mell with publique thinges,
and those delite to hyer:
Sum seeking welthie wydowes can
with toyes set them on fyer:
Sum can (like fishes in a truncke)
kepe ould men for their paye:
Manie by secret vserie,
do crepe vp at this day.
But be it so, that diuerse haue
a diuerse trade, and waye:
Doth any one well lyke his trade,
one hole hower of the daye?
No coaste of all the worlde I weane
lyke Baiie towne of pleasure:
Yet sayle the posting carles from thence,
in hope to heape vp treasure.
If (on goddes name) they chāge their place,
whiche way those lurdans drawes,
Th' artificers must beare theire tooles
the carpinters their sawes.
In wedlocke (Lorde) how he admyres
the blesse of single lyfe?
Unmaryed, he sweares him bleste,
alone which hath a wyfe.
What knot can hould this Proteus,
that varies thus in hewe?
The pore man What? merrie I hope
he too muste chaunge his stew.
His parler, and his bedchamber,
Yea he will haue his barge
As surlye as the ritche: a bote
vpon his proper charge.
Mecænas if I meete with the
without my frisled top,
Not notted fyne, and fashion lyke,
thy mannour is to stop,
And ieste at me: my cote is bare,
my gawberdyne amis,
Thou iestes at me: I maruaile muche
what sport thou fyndes at this.
If that my mynde were chaungeable,
and were not alwayes one,
Takinge, reiectinge, retakinge
the fashions lefte, and gone
Glowing in no state of my lyfe
in steddie plighte, and sounde,
Thou thinckes, and knowes me to be mad,
but wilte not ieste at me
In iuster case, as reason would:
as farre forth as I see,
Thou weneste that I do wante no leache,
nor phisickes helpinge cure
From pretor sente: nathles thou arte
a buttres safe, and sure
Of all my state, thou chafes at me
for payring of my nayle
Amisse, at me thy frinde, and eeke
an hangeby at thy tayle.
In fyne, suche follye fondes a man,
and fondlye makes him roue:
The wyseman a nes vnfalliblie,
second to onelye Ioue.
His owne man famouse mannerlye
lastlye of kinges, a kinge.
Healtheful in sowle excepte his corpes
sum kynde of sicknes bringe.

To Lollius.

I haue perusde at Preneste him
(frind Lollie greate of fame)
That pende Troies broyles, whilste thou at Rome
didste practyse to declame.
Who, what proffits, whats good, whats bad,
(and verye feelde doth slip)
Dothe better tell, and more at full,
then Crantor or Crysipp.
Why I so thincke, (if leasure let)
lende me thy listninge eare.
The hystorye of Parys loue,
(for which as we do heare
Greate Greece empayred verye sore,
which wreakinge Parys sinnes
Did wayne awaye with ten yeares fighte
prolongde by lingeringe twynnes)
Of foolishe kinges and foolishe folke
conteynes a fumishe flame.
Antenor would haue compremize
to cut awaye the same.
What saies our Parys? what sayes he?
compell him shall theire none
To cease to bathe in worldlye blis,
and flow in ioy alone.
Duke Nestor sillie carkinge segge
the tempeste to appease
He cummes, and goes, twixte king of

Agamenon

men
and awfull Achilles.
The kinge for loue, both twayne for ire
are in a chafinge fitte,
What so the princes dote in lyfe,
the commons smarte for it.
Throughe treason crafte, mischiefe, and luste,
through wrothe of stomacke stowte,
Theye spare no sinne within Troye walles,
nor none they spare without.
Againe, how virtue, and a witte
at all assayes can ease
The Poet made a mirror in
the wittie Vlixes.
Who taminge Troye, the manors, and
the cities wyselye viewd
Of manye men: (for him and his
whilste he through vaste sea rude,
Did shape returne) who though he bore
ful manye a bitter shower,
Yet had the aduerse waues of him,
no soueraintie, or power.
Thou knowst ye mearemades sweete recordes,
dame Circes charminge cup,
Whereon if he like to the reste
had once assayde to sup,
Fylthie and fonde, a strumpettes slaue,
subiecte to hir desyer
Then had he bene, a dogge vncleane,
and sowe, the frinde to myer.
We are a sorte of lubbers, bred
to helpe to eate vp corne,
Righte wooers of Penelopie,
knaues, Parasytes forlorne,
A youth but to well practysed
in makinge of a feste,
To sleepe to twelue a clocke at noone,
we thincke it but a ieste.
And when as we are couchde in bed,
we heare the minstrells play,
With twanging of an instrumente,
to chase our dumpes away.
Theues ryse at all tymes of the nighte
to murder, and to quell.
Wilte thou not breake thy deathlyke sleepe,
to kepe the sounde and well?
If thou neglecte forecastinge still
for to enioy thy health,
Take heade, for dropsies breede of slowthe,
all sodainlye by stealth.
If at day breake with candle lighte,
thou buskle not at booke,
If thou to sum good exercyse,
or studie do not looke,
In loue, or malice shalte thou plunge,
Yea, thoughe thou be awake.
A little mote out of thyne eye
why doste thou haste to take?
If oughte there be that noyes thy minde
moste parte thou arte contente
Or thou begin to cure the same
to seeke an whole yeare spente.
The facte begun, tonehalfe is done,
be wyse and take good harte:
Begin: who so dryues of good deedes,
he playes the farmers part,
Who will not ouerslip the brooke
whilste that the water fall.
The water runnes, and kepes his course,
and ever kepe it shall.
Men seeke for moneie, and a wyfe,
fruitfull, and freshe of hewe:
The earth vndreste, with shredding share,
the husbandmen subdew:
He that hath once sufficient,
let him wishe for no more:
Not howse nor groue, nor yet of gould,
or siluer ample store
Can rid the owners crasie corpes
fro fellon shaking feuer.
Nor can the mynd of man from carke,
(for al their vigor) seuer:
That owner needes must healthfull bee,
and other men excel,
Which hauing riches competent,
doth cast to vse theim well.
The wisshinge, and the tremblinge chuffe
his house and good doth please,
As portraytures the poreblind eyes,
as bathes, the gowtie ease.
As musicke dothe delite the eares
With matter stuffde, and sore.
The vessels sowers what so it takes
if it be fowle before
Do, way delite, for pleasure bowghte
with payne annoyes in th' ende.
The Carle wantes aye, let thou thy drift
to no excesse extende.
Th' enuiouse foole doth pine away
at others happie state,
The tyrfants of Sicilia
did finde nothing to grate
Their gawles so much, as enuie did.
who can not staie his ire
Shall wishe vndone which teene bad do,
and wilful fonde desyre.
Ire is shorte wrathe, rule thow thy moode.
if it do not obey,
It rules forthwith, it thou with bitte,
it thou with chaine must stay,
The plyante steede of tender necke,
the horsekeper doth tame,
To marche forth lightly where him list:
further, to proue the same,
The hounde which doth commence his game
with opening at the skin,
Doth practise pursuite at the beast
and length through ferne and finne.
Then children leane your hartes to lore,
the best thinges eeke imbrase
What iuse (looke) first bemoysts a shel,
the shel therof a space,
A longe space wil reteyne the tast:
But if thou slack or stay:
Or if thou beist to forwerd ells,
and run to fast away:
I tarye for no trewands, I,
which from their studies slacke,
And those that wil vauntcurrers be
Not I wil draw theim backe.

To Iulius Florus.

Florus , in what parte of the worlde
Augustus sonne in lawe
Duke Claudius doth warfayre nowe
I trauaile much to know.
Or Tracia or Hebrus floode
congealde with winter frost:
Or seaes twixt towers, abordringe next
that glyde away, and post:
Or fertill feeldes of Asia,
and mountaynes hould you stil?
What doth our busye bende of Clarkes?
to know it is my will.
Who takes vpon him to indite
Augustus, woorthy acts?
Who powers into the worlde to cume
his wise, and warlike facts?
What Tytius? to Romane cost
that shortlye cums to dwel.
Who did not feare to drinke the drawghtes
of Pindars hidden well.
Bould to disdaine, the ryuers knowne
and common puddles vyle
How might he feare? howe mindes he vs?
dothe he in lattin style
Addresse his Thebane melodie
with Madam muse his guide?
Or is his swelling lofty vaine
in tragicke practise tryde?
How doth Sir Celsus? warned once,
and to be warned much
To seke for matter of his owne,
as also not to tuche
The workes which haue bene demed good
By Phebus Pallatine:
Lest if the birdes perhappes do cume
to aske their fethers fine:
The crow bereft of borrowed hue
do make a merry game,
To se the theefe that had so much
haue nought to shrowde his shame,
Florus what dost thou enterprise,
in what studie or ryme
Dost thou bestir? as doth the bee
bestir herselfe in thyme
Thy witte is not of meanest sorte,
it doth not lye vnskowrde,
It is not harshe through negligence
or otherwise vntowarde.
If thou doste whet thy tongue to pleade,
or plaie the ciuill iudge,
If thou dost make a louely verse,
theres none aliue wil grudge
To fee the with the first rewarde
of victorie the crowne.
And couetyse, the cause of care:
If thou couldest caste it downe,
O passing florus passinge man
thou mighste goe forewarde free,
Aduaunsed by thy thy heauenly witte.
as it would conduct the,
To this woorke, and this exercise,
lets spedely drawe neare,
If we wilbe vnto our selues,
or to our Countrye deare.
I wishe you furthermore to write
and written to me sende.
What harte thou bearst to Munatie,
if he be yet thy frend.
If that thy frendeship soulderd ill,
hath stayed no longer while:
And if it now be knapte in twaine
which I did reconcile.
But, whether you hote stirring blood,
or lacke of practise vex,
Lyke beastes vnbroake, vnusde to toyle,
Bruits of vntamed neckes,
Sirrs, whersoeuer you do liue,
me thinke it doth not well,
To breake so straite a knot of loue:
further I will not mell.
I haue againste your home comminge
a long deuoued cowe.
Which graseth here within my groues
and fattes her selfe for you.

To Albius, Tybullus a deuysor

Tybullus frend and gentle iudge
of all that I do clatter
What dost thou all this while abroade,
how might I learne the matter?
Dost thou inuent such worthy workes,
as Cassus poemes passe?
Or doste thou closelie creepinge lurcke,
Amid the wholsome grasse,
Addicted to Philosophie,
contemning not a whitte
Thats seemelie for an honest man,
and for a man of witte?
Not thou a bodie withoute breast,
the Goddes made the t'excell
In shape, the goddes haue lent the goodes,
and arte to vse them well.
What better thinge vnto her childe
can wishe the mother kinde,
Then wisedome, and in fyled frame
to vtter owte his minde,
To haue fayre fauoure, fame enoughe,
and perfect staye, and health,
Things trim at will, and not to feele
the emptie ebb of wealth?
Twixte hope to haue, and care to kepe,
twixte feare and wrathe, awaye
Consumes the time: eche daye that cummes
thinke it the latter daye,
The hower that cummes vnloked for
shall cum more welcum ay.
Thou shalt fynde me fat, and wel fed,
as pubble as may be,
And when thou wilt a merrie mate,
to laughe, and chat with the.

To torquatus

If thou canst well vowtsafe to suppe
with thin, and simple cheare,
And eate thy potage holy vp,
(a mease of homely geare)
In skellet course: at sonsette then
Torquat I tarrye the.
Thou shalte cum home and helpe to drinke
a cup of wine with me.
Wine, prest in taurus consulship,
twixt Sinuce, and Petryne,
And merrie Mintorne, If thou hast
sum better that is thine,
Or pray me cum, or bid me cum,
If thou wilt be my gest
My chimney shines, myne householde stuffe,
is hansumly vp drest.
Do waye vaine hope, fowle strife for goodes
and bablinge in lawe cases.
The day licenceth sporte, and sleepe,
To morrow Cesars graces
Natiuitie assoyleth al,
scotfree we may hould tagge,
In frendly chat this sommers night,
and let the worlde go wagge.
A way with wealth, if that a man
haue not a tyme to vse it:
The niggarde to straite to him selfe,
what doth he but abuse it?
Who sekinge howe to benefite
his heire in al he can,
Doth well deserue the second roume,
next to a frantike man.
I wil go quaffe, and strew my flowres,
In freshe and fragrant wise,
And for a time wilbe contente
not to be counted wise.
What, doth not liuely drunkennesse?

Dronkennes

deepe secrets it bringes oute
It confirmes hope, the naked man
it makes in battaile stowte:
It doth discharge the pensife minde,
It teacheth artes a pace,
Whom haue not fraighted goblettes made,
to vtter with a grace?
And eke in pinching pouertie
made lowse at harte and free?
This fit for me, I glad of it,
this charge I take to me:
A factor I to take good hede
that table clothes be cleaue:
The napkens fayre: leste sluttishnes
do turne the gess to teene.
That flagons and the vessels scourde
do shew to the thy face.
That what passeth through frend and frende
go not oute of the place.
Throughe pratlinge pyes: that like with like
and mate may set with mate:
Septicius,, and Brute withe the
according to your state.
Excepte Sabin per companie
be bod to better cheare,
He shalbe one? I take on me
to compasse all this geare.
There is a roume for shadowes to,
as iesters, and for such:
Unlesse the crowded company
perfume the place to much.
Write thou the number that wil cum,
cum straight, and stay no more,
And through sum posterne slip thou from
thy clyent at thy dore.

To Numitius

Nowght to admyre Numitius
is almost suche a thinge
As can conserue a man in blesse
and blesse vnto him bringe.
Sum suche there be not once agaste
which dare beholde the sonne,
The starres, the tymes, from point, to point,
how they do rowle and run,
What thinke you of the goodly giftes,
which in the earthe we finde?
What of the sea, that ritcheth those
of Arabie, and Inde.
Plaies, triumphes (giftes of such as seeke
with folke to haue a grace)
How dost thou looke vpon this geare?
what Censur, and what face?
Who dreades the lacke, of such like thinges,
in such sorte doth admyre,
No doubt the same, as he that doth
them feruently desyre.
Both parties are distrubde with feare,
both drenched in one cryke,
The feare to lose, or not to haue,
doth fray them both a like.
Ioy he, sad he, wishe he, dread he,
what matters that at al,
If at all thinges which hee shal see
better, or worse to fal
Then hee hopd for, with powting lookes
he glares vpon the grounde,
Or els in bodie, and in minde
be sicklie, and not sounde?
The wyse man maye be counted mad,
the rightuouse man vniuste,
If he after virtue it selfe
more then enough do luste.
Goe now, and laye thy lookes vpon
thy siluer, and thy goold,
Thy marble statues, brasen woorkes,
and Monumentes beholde.
Past virtue since we maye not passe,
this earthlye drosse admyre,
Becum in loue with iewells, gemmes,
and coloures cumd from tyre.
Reioyse that thowsand eyes do gase
on the, whilste thou doste talke,
Take this with the from market place
both late, and earelye walke
Home to thy house: forcastinge that
thy neghbour should haue more
Wheate (by the dowrie of his wyfe)
dehuskd vpon the flore:
Let it greue the that sum man cumd
of basse, and cowrser kynde,
Shalbe admirde of the for wealthe,
and thou owte of his mynde.
Nothinge but virtue, nowghte but it,
what s'euer lyes belowe
Age will make seene, age will digge vp:
and those thinges whiche we sowe
Moste freshe, and sheene, age will attache
Thoughe thou beeste famouse knowne
In courte, of kinges, though throughe the streetes
thy bruite abroade be blowne
Remaynes to cum, to where all kinges
and kesars haue bene drawne.
If that thy sydes, or Renes becume
With twitchinge stitche attainted,
Seeke how to chase that griefe awaye
to make it disaquaynted.
Wouldste thou lyue well? who would not so?
If onelye virtue can
Procure such lyfe, vayne toyes resyne,
sticke stowte to virtue then.

The best marchandise is virtue.

Thincke not that woords do virtue make,
as trees do make a wood,
Take ship betyme, leste sum forestal,
and bye vp all this good:
This pretiouse delytefull good,
treasure of greater gaine
Then all the chaffer that transfretes
from Portugal, or Spayne.
Disburce a thowsand talents thus,
and then a thowsand moo,
Three thowsand, and fowre thowsand thus
for virtue let them go.

Money.

But Madam moneye can do much,
she brings a wealthie wyfe,
Bringes trustie frinds, gentrie, & stocke
all pleasures of this lyfe.
Yea, he that hath the coyne in store
in pleading of a case
Shall tell his tale more pythelie,
with more delyteful grace.
The kinge of Cappadocia.
with all his rowte of men,

The causes of the lacke of mony.

Lordes, lordings, princes and theire peares,
lacke moneye now, and then.
Well if theye lacke, manteyne not thow,
a swarme of idle pages.
Bye not suche suites of vaine attyre,
whereon the worlde so rages.
Lucull demaunded on a tyme
to lende as I hard say,
An hundred cotes t'adorne the stage
and make the players gay.
And how should I that number greate
betake to you quoth he
Natheles in south I do not know
I will go home to see.
Straighte waye when he had searchd his house:
rewrytte agayne this mome,
That he had whiche he know not of
Ten thowsand clokes at home.
Or take t'one halfe, or all of them.
that howse (saith he is scante,
Where howsould stuffe vnoccupyde
not thoughte vpon doth wante.
Yea, true, such stuffe is verye good
the master to deceaue,
(And he not knowinge) is a praye
for euerye pilferinge knaue.
If wealthe alone can blessed make,
and the conserue in blisse,
Let all thy care, both more, and sum,
be caste to conquer this.
If brauerie or honour can
make the an happie man,
Lettes by a cut throte rutterkin
whiche in beste mannor can
Recyte thy tytles, and thy names,
who also muche reioyses
To Craue and iog those on the syde
that haue th' electinge voyces.
Who will, and dare retche forthe his hande,
and man the throughe the croude,
Beare of the heuie multitude,
cracke thus, and crye aloude:
My Lorde my master nowe a dayes
doth beare alonelye swaye
Throughout the hole nobilitie:
If that him liste to frowne,
From burnishd carre of Iuorie
the maiestrate goes downe,
And thou thy selfe moste smerkinglye
(to further on thy page)
Saye father, brother, to eche one,
as beste becoms theire age.
If well suppinge be well lyuinge,
this matter is dashste, lets goe,
To fishe, to hunte, and whether that
our throte will leade vs to.
Lyke Gargill, who betyme would cause
his nettes, bore speares, and men
To goe abroade throughe flockes of folke,
that theye mighte see him, when
He marched forth, and for to make
the men to maruaile more
He would in couarte carrie forth
and bringe in sighte a Bore,
As who saye he had conquerd him.
Let vs go quaffe, and swill
On full gorge, nor once mynde whats good,
or what becummes vs ill.
Woorthie to haue our memories
Portrade, in war or ayle.
Ulixes men of Ithaca
a greedie sinfull sayle:
To whome pleasure inhibited
did seeme of value more,
Then was to see their natyue soyle,
so wisshed for before
If he saye true that saythe all blisse
consistes in loue, and sporte,
Then lyue in loue: in daliance
is beste to keepe a porte.
Its nether so, nor so say I.
wealthe, honour feastinge, loue,
Do breade no blysse, virtue it is
that stauleth vs aboue.
Lyue, and fayre well, if thou knowe oughte,
Better then these thinges be
As touchinge blysse) frindlye conferre,
if not, vse these with me.

To Mecenas.

Phi
Vultie I perdon al,
If thou wilt sup to night with me
what time I shall the call,
Yours to cōmaunde Phi: at nine a clocke

Vult
I truste you wil not fayle.
Whilst that, goe make your marchandize
God sende you good retayle.

To Celsus albinouanus

My muse at my request wish wel,
to the great puisante mate
And secretarie to Nero
that much renowmed state,
If he inquyre once after me,
or question what I do,
Say me to threaten many things
and goodly matters to.
To liue not well, nor pleasauntlye:
not for because the hayle,
Dothe bruse my vines, or parchinge heate
myne olyues doth assayle,
Nor that my neate do go in feldes
frome home remoued longe:
But that I am in minde then corpes
lesse well at ease and stronge.
Wrothe with my leaches, and my selfe
for that they do restraine
From me suche things, as they do thincke
in time would be my bayne.
Things noysum those I long to haue,
from holsom things, I flye.
At Rome Tyber at Tyber Rome
a giddie marchaunte I.
This done my muse demaunde of him
how he doth, and what cheare
Throughout the ost, and with Nero
What stroke he doth now beare,
If he shall say that all is well
that nowght can make him sad,
Then shew the eftsonnes iocant to,
and be thou very glad
At last remember to instil
this precept in his eare
Celsus as thou canst fortunevse
so all men will the beare.

To Septimius

Septimi , Only Claudius.
perceaueth as I dene
What good accompt you make of me
how you do me esteme.
For needes withe importunitie
(I wis he will compell
That I should set him forth to the,
and go aboute to tel
That he well for his worthy witt
on Nero maye depende,
Nero, that to vnhonest bookes
in no wise will attende.
He knowes your fauoure to be greate,
so depely he doth prye.
What knowes not he? certes he knowes
much more of me, then I.
I sayd most thinges that might auaile
t'excuse me in this case,
Yet was afrayde lest I should seme
to much my selfe t'abbase
By cloking myne habilitie:
fit for my selfe alone.
So I that from the greater vice
so fayne would haue bene gone,
Not to be thought an hypocrite
deserue now to be named,
In this my suite a citizen
that is of nought ashamed,
But if thou thinkeste it prayse woorthy
that at my frendes request,
I haue shakde of all shamefastnes,
and bouldly done my best:
Let him retaine vnto thy house,
thou shalt finde him no doubte
Aright good fellowe of him selfe,
and for his corage stoute.

To Fuscus Aretius

I that admire the countrie soyle
interely do wishe wel
Fuscus to the, in cittye ay
that likest so to dwel.
In this thinge onely wee are founde
vnlike in iudgmente others,
In all thinges els wee tune in one
as it were germaine brothers,
The culuerdoues of auncient league
the treweste twaine that bee,
Are not in more consente of willes
and hermony, than we.
Thou kepes thy neste, the citie still,
I loue on husshing brookes
Of cuntrie gay, on mossie stones
onmedes to caste my lookes.
What wilte thou man I lyue I reigne
since I resignde these toyes
Which you aduance vp to the skyes
with mighty rowting noyse.
Lyke as the seruaunt that is vsde
to course, and fulsome meate,
Thinks it of small effect, or none
on wafer cakes to eate:
So I woulde haue good cuntrie cheare
my nature to suffice,
Your iunkets, and your delicates,
of truth I do dispyse.
If men must lyue accordingly
as nature dothe them call:
And if a plotte for howseroume muste
be sowght for, first of all:
The cuntrie didst thou euer know
and place of better blisse?
Is there, where wynters bitter breths
more tollerable is,
Where more coole ayre doth temperate
the dogges starre stewing rage?
Or doth the lyon in his course
more beninglie aswage.
When furiouse he hath receaude
the traueld prickling sonne?
Is there, where slepe throughe rankerouse care
is lesse then here vndone?
And do the erbes I pray you worse
delite the nose, and eye:
Then Lybique stones, or what so ells
the citie setteh by?
Where doth there purer water throughe
the leaden conduyts glyde,
Then that which in the fawling streame
with murmur, swete doth slyde.
The cittie eke lyke cuntrie townes
to haue theire fruite, and flowers
Builde pillors to support their trees
their orchardes, and grene bowers
In cittie to, do we not saye
that building is the beste
Whose prospect serue to see the fieldes
more fitly then the reste?
The citizens thinkes nature base,
and arte is their desier.
Tushe, expulse nature with a forke
yet she will still retire,
But chefely, if that she be euill
she tarries then no space,
The victris hath a swifte recourse
by stealthe vnto her place,
The man that can not wel decerne
but vseth still to buye
For Sidon silke, a wullen webb
of wateringes forged dye,
Hath not like losse, nor yet like greefe
to grate him on the gall,
As he which twixt falshoode,, and truthe
cannot decerne at al.
Who so was to much rauished
and to much ioy did take
In flow of wealth, him chaunge of flow
yea to much shall yshake.
Make it awaye what s'euer it be
thou ginnes for to admire.
Flye greate doings: aboue all thinges
seeke not for to aspyer:
Well may one passe in cotage pore
the princes and their peares
In true and perfect libertie
and see more pleasante yeres.

Fable

An hart the better cheuailer
as it came then to passe
Did chase an horse that fed with him
from eating of the grasse.
The horse that alwaye went to worse
besowghte the helpe of man.
The man he takes him vp with spurres
and bitt, in al he can.
The tryumpher after that he
was parted from his foe
The man from backe, the bitt from mouthe
he could not rid them fro.
So, he that feareth pouertie
his fredom cannot houlde.
Fredome, better then mettells all
better then choysest goulde.
That foole shall beare in dede a Lorde,
and lyue a dayly thrall,
For that he will not knowe to vse
and lyue vpon a small.
The state of men, if it for them
bee not accordinge fitte,
Is like a shoe, or els a shoe
is verie like to it:
The shoe thats greater then the fote
will make the fall or trip,
The lesser shoe doth hurt thy foote
(for pardie it will nip.
Its wisedome to lyue merrilie
(Fuscus) vpon thy share.
Correct me wel and thriftely
(good Fuscus do not spare,
If I should seme to scrape vp more
then well suffice me can.
Collected coyne is Lord or lowte
to eche possessinge man,
More worthy to cum after him
constrained with a cord,
Then that it shoulde so haue the heade,
and leade the lowtishe Lorde.
Behind Dame Ceres ruinnouse churche
I dighted these to the
In all pointes verie well appaied
but that thou wast from me.

To Bullatius

How haue theie Bullate pleased the
Chios, and Lesbos knowne?
How Sames fine, whose buildings braue
throughout the world is blowne?
How surly Sardis Cresus towne
who made it beare a name?
How Smirna and how Colophon?
greater or lesse then fame?
Or in respect of Tybers fluddes
and fieldes, semes all thinges nowght?
Or doth sum dame of delicates
resort vnto thy thought?
Or doth not (for that Lebedus
hath ircksum seas, and lande?
Or roisting Rome so populouse
now in thy fauoure stande?
Lebed in deede is dissolate
and that ful well knowst thou
The smallest village in a shyer
more peopled then it now.
Peopled, or not, to liue euen there
I would be very fayne,
For gittinge myne and I of them
to be forgot againe.
Wher I may see, and safely see
Neptune of dreadfull name,
How he at wil the waltering waues
doth oft controule, and tame.
But he that postes from Capua
to Rome mucke weete with myer,
To rest him all day in his In
is not that mannes desyer:
Nor he that lately hath catchde coulde
the stewe, and baine doth prayse,
As thinges that fullie make a man
happie at all assaies.
If thou beest tost vpon the sea
with Sowth wynde pusant fell,
Thou wilt not yonte Aegæum sea.
sell all thou hast, and dwell.
We trauaile all, not all a lyke,
I trauaile to remaine:
Thou here to catche, and ther to snatche
dost go and cum againe,
What is Rhods to content a man
or Myttelene the gaye?
A warme furde freese coote on thy backe
vpon a summers day.
A linnine slop in spitting snowe,
in wynter, Tyber fludde,
In hote August a nosehighe fyer
wil do the as much good.
Whilste we are lustie, and fortune
doth kepe her frendly cheare,
At Rome praise Chios, and Samos
and Rhods that lyes not neare.
Apprende with greatfull hande eche hower
that god hath lente the here:
Thinges pleasant now for to be done
deffer not for a yeare.
To wher soeuer thou dost cum
or what hap thou dost fynde,
Thou maist lyue ther, if that thou wilt,
with a contented mynde:
If by wisedom, not well dight house
our cares are al vndone,
If those chaunge weather, not their wit,
which yont the sea do run.
Our dilligence hath littell skill
we far and neare do skip,
To purchase wealthe in euery coaste
in wagon, and by ship.
The worste place here as pleasaunte is
as that which thou wouldste fynde,
If thou hadst grace, to iudge a right,
and qualefie thy minde.

To Iccius.

On Agrippes goodes in Sicilie
which thou hast in thy hande,
If (Iccie) how to vse them well
thou wouldest vnderstand,
I cannot see how Ioue himselfe
coulde geue the better store.
Do waye therefore thy practysde plaintes,
bemone thy selfe no more.
For he that hath the vse of goodes,
cannot be iudged poore.
If that thy bellie, sydes, and feete,
and all thy partes be well,
Not wealth of kinges can adde to owght
that doth this wealth excell.
If that midst all these present goodes,
thou bibliste not at wine,
But arte contente with erbes and rootes
to set the downe and dyne:
This dare I say thou lyuest harde,
to get the coine in houlde.
That fortune liquide ryuer straighte
might turne the into goulde.
Or, that moneye should seme to chaung,
thy nature but a small,
Or that thou dost thinke abstinence
surmountinge pleasures al.
It is no maruaile if that he
let bease eate vp his corne,
Whilste that his mynde contemplatinge,
on pilgramage was borne:
For thou this drosse, vneasefull drosse
doste sette but little by,
No small wyseman, as it shoulde seeme,
thou hast thy mynde on hye.
What stayes the seas from drowning all.
what orders all the yeares:
If planettes meue them selues, or els
are wrounge aboute in spheres:
Why is the moone now bright now darke,
what to hir roundnes bringes:
What meanes, what doth the great conflict,
the striuing peace of thinges:
Empedocles, or Sartyues pate,
which of the twaine dothe dote:
Thus arte thou ofte tymes occupied,
or shouldest be I wote.
Fishe, garlicke, onions what it be,
thou vseste for to eate:
I praie the of thy coortesie
do Grosphus well intreate.
Thers not the thinge that is not good
that he will of the craue,
The good man hath the fieweste frindes,
when he moste needes to haue.
Leaste thou beeste ignoraunte what is
as now our Romanes state,
The folke of Bisca, by Agrip,
th' Armenianes, of late,
By Nero were discumfited:
Phraates tooke his mace,
Kneeling vppon his marribones,
to Cesars aufull grace.
The goulden Lady plentie hath.
let fal out of her horne
Such store of graine, as Italie
hath seldom had like corne.

To Vinnius Asella

As I haue taughte the longe and oft
when thou for me shouldest ryde,
Thou shalte presente to August hand
my bokes in clawsure tyde:
(Asell) presente them vnto him,
if thou hast markde those thre
That he is well: that he is glad:
and asked for them from me,
Be not to rashe on my behalfe,
it wil disgrace the gifte,
If thou beeste to officiouse
a profferer to swift.
If that my booke be burthenouse
shift the of it be tyme
Least thou ass lyke vnloden the
with greater note of cryme:
Then will they laughe at Asina
thy fathers right sirname,
On the his sonne, the common voice
will then bestowe the same:
More meete to beare through cliftes, & fluddes
and puddills (wil they saye)
Then here in courte in mannishe shape
the Asses part to plaie.
Thy purpose once accomplished,
arryued at the porte,
Thou must retaine thy bookishe charge
in hansum ciuil sorte:
Not as the lambe vnder the arme
the sheppard doth reteine:
Or drunken Pyrrhe beares her wool
her flycesie filched gaine.
Or as the drunken dissolute
doth prate his cap in hande.
And bragge not to the companie
that shall abowte the stande,
That thou hast swet, and taken paines.
in bringinge of such geare,
As will embaite our Cesars eye,
and tickle vp his eare.
I pray the hartly to take paines,
(good Asell) do thy beste,
Auaunte, adew, take hede to trip,
and breake not my behest.

To his Balie in the Countrie.

Balie , the baliue of my firme,
which maketh me so glad,
Which thou contemnest daintelye
and demeste very badde,
My ferme of fiue faire families,
which once was wunt to haue
Fyue Senators frome Baria,
men credible and graue.
Balie, I saye let the and me
in this one point compare,
Or thou canste plucke more thornes from field
or I from minde more care.
Whether the landes lord, or the lande
shalbe more trim, and gaie.
Although the pensife pietie
of Lamia do me staie,
Who comforteles his brothers deathe
a mourner doth lament,
Yet th'itherwarde assuredlye
my harte, and mynde is bente.
And burnes, and burnes to braste the bondes
which doe inclose it so,
That it ne can goe scope abrode
where it woulde gladly goe.
I thincke the countrie, thou the towne,
to make a man of blisse:
He that doth lyke an others lote
his owne condempned is.
Both fooles alyke, without respecte
the countrye we do blame
Our minde the cause in ficklenes
Which euer is the same.
A Citizen, in secret wyse
thy farme thou dost desyer:
A farmer, thou the townish games
doste burne for, hote as fyer.
Thou knewste me to be still one man
much pensife ay to be
When myne vnwelcum busines
to cittie draweth me.
We loue not one thinge thou and I,
and therfore disagree.
Those places which thou thinkeste rude
erksum, and desolate,
A man of myne opinion
thinckes pleasaunte: and doth hate
Things gaie to the: the vitlinge house
doth bring thy stomake downe
And eggeth on thyne appetyte
to cum into the towne.
And that my grounde, incense, and
rather then grapes doth beare:
And for because to whittle the
the tauerne is not neare:
And that thou hast no trippinge trull
to mince it with the now
That thou mighst foote it vnto her
as nimble as a cow.
The glebie fielde, and clottrie glebe
with mattocke thou must tame:
Yoke the wylde neat, and with burthens
of fother feede the same.
The ryuer turnes the to a toyle,
if that a raine do fall,
Thou must go learne to make a dam
to saue thy meade with all.
Now harke, and marke on my behalfe
what maketh vs to square.
I that did shine in silken sutes
and glitter in mine haire,
I that coulde make the wylie shiftes
scotfre to liue in pleasure:
I that in time, and out of time
karoust it without measure:
Now me to fede on simple cheare
it is a heauenly hap:
And swetely by the husshing brookes
to take a snurting nap.
Not any there with waywarde eyes
for my good lucke shal spyte me,
Or poison me through secret grudge
or bitterly backbite me,
The innocentes the countrye clownes
when they see me vnfitte
Upturning cloddes, their harme is this,
theill stande, and lawghe at it.
The carpintor dothe grudge and thinke
thy state to be to good,
And that thou hast to much of neate,
or orchard, fruite and woode,
The sluggishe oxe doth wishe to beare
the caple for to draw:
I wolde wishe all with good intente
to vse the art they knowe.

To Valla.

Yt were but well that I should cum,
that thou shouldest writ to me
What winter nowe at Velia,
what wether there mihbt be
At Salerne towne: what countrye folke,
and eke what kinde of way.
For Musa the phisicion,
tould me this other day,
That Baiæ was not now estemde
as it was once in price.
They hate me ther at Baiæ
of late in greuouse wise,
For that I vse in winter tyme
to bathe me in such baynes
As be not warmie like to theires,
nor so aslake my paynes.
The place is full of mertle tries:
and many a holsom lake,
Of brimston, good to cure the gowte,
of truth I did forsake.
All Baiæ murne, and grudge to see
the sickmen, and the sore,
How eche doth bathe him selfe els where,
and commeth there no more.
The place is chaungd, ye Innes are chaungde
the horses they go by,
And no man now to Cumæ, or
to Baiæ doth hye.
The people they do shun the towne,
the horses must obey,
Guyded by twyning of the bitt
vnto their maysters paye.
I pray you also wryte to me
the nature of that grounde,
Or this, or that, to fede the flocke
more plentifull is founde.
If that their water in the poules
and cesternes closely stande:
Or if it sweetly bubble throughe
the siluer channeld sande.
As for the wynes that you haue there
I force not on them I
How s'euer it be in country towne
I loue it by and by.
But when I cum to seadyke syde
then do I hope to drinke
Lyuely, and myldlie rellesde wynes,
wine that will wake one thinke
Of cherie thinges, and that will flushe
into my mynde, and vaines,
Assuringe me, that I shal be
a man of ample gaines.
Wine that will make me speake in tune,
to prattle with a grace,
Wyne that will make my paramoure
esprysed on my face.
Of haires, and bores wryte vnto me,
which soyle hath better store,
Of sea fishe, and of dainty fishe
which country hath the more.
That I may cum brawne fed from thence;
This write thou vnto me:
So meete it is, as also meete
that I should cum to the,
When as with spence of parentes goddes
Sir Meui once began,
Mongst lustie laddes for to be cawld
a iolly gentleman:
The wandring varlet that knewe not
oft tymes where he should goe
Undynde, and had not wit to knowe
his true frende from his foe,
Cunning to speake all kinde of speache
against all kinde of men,
Th' vndoer tempest, and the hell
of al the shambles then,
What s'euer hee coulde get, or scrape
his appetyte to staunche
He gaue it all to gratifie,
his gredie gutted paunche.
When from his wicked dasterde mates
he coulde but littel wype,
Then like an horse he woulde deuowre
a chitterling, or trype,
And as a man halfe mortified,
of god he woulde desier,
That all the glottons wastefull wombes
were brent with flaminge fyer.
When he had got sum greater praie,
and turnde it all to dust,
I maruaiie not (by God) quoth he
If many men do luste
To eate good things, what thinge is lyke
amorsell of good meate:
The Turtle, and a peece of souse,
no better thinge to eate.
Suche one am I, thinges smal and safe
mine vse is for to praise.
In ebb of wealth, agaynst the ebb
my courage sterne doth paise.
In dainty flowe of happie tyde
I thinke you onlye wise,
To bathe in blysse aboue the rest
and lyue in cyuill guyse,
Which haue the fermes, and manners fayre,
with goulde the pragged purse,
Rents and reuenewes standinge firme.
at all tymes to disburse.

To Quintius.

VViseman
Penthus thou gouernour of Thebes,
what dost thou on me laye?

Gouernor
What shal I beare vnworthelie?
Ile take thy goodes from the

VViseman
What goddes? my substance, syluer, beddes?
take al those goodes to the.

Gouerner
With gyues, and fetters Ile tame the
vnder a galow dyre

VViseman
But god (I hope) wil reskewe me,
at mine instant desyer.
Perceauinge this, death on my backe,
streight forth the tyraunt bringes:
That is his worst: death is the last
and vtter line of thinges.

To Saeua

Thoughe Seua thou arte wise enoughe,
and by thy selfe canst tel
In euery kynde of coortesie
to vse thy betters wel,
Yet further learne the iudgement of
a very frende of thine,
As if the blinde to him that sees
his footestep should assigne:
Yet marke it thoo if thow canst cull
owght frome these wordes, I saye,
That thou maist take vnto thy selfe,
and after beare away.
If gratefull ease, if profounde slepe,
be such thinges, as do please the,
If crackling cartes, if tauernes no yse,
if stiffling dust disease the:
Auoyde the towne, and goe abrode.
Not he doth liue the best,
That hath the most. In cittie sure
is not the ioyful rest:
Nor he lyues ill that oft times semes
to lyue but base, and vyle.
A much poore man doth liue oft beste,
and doth the world begyle.
If thou wouldst seeke to pleasure thyne,
and well thy selfe demeane,
Wayte on an inche vpon the churle,
attyre thee neate, and cleane.
Not Cynicus (quoth Aristip,)
with colewoorts neede haue dynde,
If he him selfe a seruitor
to princes had resynde.
Not Aristip (quoth Cynicus)
himselfe woulde had resynde
A seruitor to princes, if
with worts he coulde haue dynde.
Which of these twaine hath better spoke?
or tell, or learne of me.
I would iudge Aristippus taunte
the better for to be.
For he the sharpe Diogenes
deryded in his kinde:
Thou art (quoth he) a common cokes,
I to my selfe do fynde
Good pastime to, the better myne
and eke more noble glee:
I plaie my part to ryde alofte
that kinges may pamper me.
Thou askes vyle things, and art much worse
then he that to the gaue,
Though thou pretende to stande no neade
at any man to craue.
All huie, all state, all kynde of life
did Aristip besette.
Seekinge the best, yet well appaied
with that, which he coulde gett.
Againe, wise meeke Diogenes
much would I maruaile I,
If he to sum ciuilitie
himselfe coulde now applye.
Not Aristippu would desier
in purple to bee cladd:
In all places he gladly ware
apparell good, or bad:
And could eche kinde of personage
so gaily on him take:
The Cynecke hates a purple weede
warse then a dogge or snake
Or he would weare a suite of silke,
the winter should him kil:
Well geue him cloth, and let the foole
goe like a Cockescome still.
To conquer Realmes, and at the Carre
the Captyues for to to leade,
Doth touche Ioues throne, an heauenly thing
a loftie praise in dede.
To please those in authority,
is not the meanest prayse:
Not eche mannes chaunce, to Corinthe town
to saile the moystie wayes.
Sum will not mell, distrustinge how
their seruyce should take place:
And is it not a manlie act
to get the princes grace?
Or such, or none in these our dayes
do beare away the bell,
Sum feele their owne vnablenes,
and do abhor to mel
With burdens toto ponderouse,
to heuie for theire backe.
An other vndertakes all thinges
and of himselfe doth cracke.
But if that vertue be a thinge,
and not an idle name,
Experience deserues the braunche
the prince of all the game.
Those that speake least of pouertie,
in talking with the king,
Oft tymes speede best, and all day sene,
the more awaye do bringe,
Gettinge and catching differ muche,
to gett and gette no shame,
That is the heade of our good hap,
the fountayne of our fame.
My Sister hath no dowre at all
my mother lackes her meate,
My lande is nought for to be soulde,
Nor good to kepe my neate:
This is an open beggerie:
An other he doth cracke,
If he had where to do with all
no frende of his should lacke.
If that the Crow could feede in whishte,
not creake nor make adoe,
She might haue better cheare by muche.
lesse grudge and brabling too.
Per company thou rydest abroade
to Brunduis, or Tarente,
Of craggie waye, of stormes, or could
he that doth him repente:
He that for paine, or damagies,
or fayned lossies wailes,
Is lyke the strumpats impudent,
talkde of in poetts tales.
Who morne so oft for want of chaines,
for want of fayre attyre,
That none at length will trust there teares,
when they would most desier.
That cripple that doth ofte delude,
(when his dyceite is spyed)
Must goe on foote, whome many men
did suffer for to ryde.
Though he shoulde vaper into teares,
and sweare vpon the same:
Trust me in sadnes, take me vp,
haue pittie on the lame.
His neighboures all will crie at once:
sum costomer els craue
To spede your turne: we knowe your neede,
we know you for a knaue.

To Lollius

Francke Lollio if I knowe the well.
thou wilt be muche afraide,
Professing the a frend, to plaie
the ribbalde at a brade.
The minion, and the matrone chaste
do differ: (that is true)
Faythles ribbalde, and faythfull frend,
be things of dyuers hewe.
This vyce hath to his contrarye,
almost a greater vyce,
Rude dumpishnes, vnmannerlye,
offensyue, and precyse:
Set forthe with rugged, scraped hyde,
and teethe, as blacke as geate.
Whilst it would seme a mere franchyse,
instalde in vertues seate.
Uirtue is meane, of vyces twaine,
from both disseuerde plaine.
An other is to proue, and preste,
to play the slaue for gaine.
A iester at the meaner sorte
the ritchmans becke, or sounde
He feareth so, retreates his wordes,
and helpes them at rebounde:
As if to crewell scholemaster
a childe should lattin saye,
As if a vyce should counterfeate
sum other in the playe.
An other vseth brablarie,
for very gotish wol,
Wyth tryfles fencd indede sayth he,
or any man should pull
My name from me, or shoulde me let
to speake my conscience fre,
I would not lyue duke Nestors lyfe,
in suche case for to be.
Caster, or Docill I may doubt,
which can the better plaie.
And eke debate to Brunduis towne
which is the redie way,
Whome harmefull loue, whom hurtful dyce
haue sodainelye made bare:
Whom pryde, and pompe, aboue his state
hath trickde and trimmed fayre:
Whom greedie thrist and knawinge pyne
of siluer, and of goulde:
Shunning, and shame of pouertie
who so that they do houlde:
Him hates the ritchman, that ritcheman,
doth hate him dedely sore,
That hath himselfe of vyces vyle
ten tymes more deadlie store.
He hates him, or will kepe him downe,
and lyke the godly dame,
Would haue him wiser then him selfe,
of more deserued fame.
And telles him to his owne great shame
a very lickly tale.
Uylan matche not thy selfe with me
my welthynes will quale,
And qualifie my foolishnes,
and with the same dispence.
Ha done compare no more with me,
for why thou lackes the pence.
A narrow gowne maie him content,
that is of humble witt.
Geue fooles the welth, wisemen the neede
for they can beare out it.
Euirapelus his enemies
to troble and annoye,
Would geue them gallant gawdie geare,
who flushde with pusant ioye,
Woulde take newe hope, and newe conceits
with their new garmentes gaie.
Set more by whor edom then wedlocke
slepe all the lightsum day:
Laye monie out to vserie
when it is rowsed thence,
Becum at length for to professe
the noble art of fence.
And being flitted from his strengths
to impotence, and teene,
Is glad to driue the gardners iade,
ourwhart the country grene.
Searche not to knowe the pryuie driftes,
of any frende of thyne.
Kepe counsaile close, though thou best wrunge
with hastie wrath, and wyne.
Commende not thyne owne practises,
nor other mennes disprayse.
When one would haue the hunt abrode,
thy poemes do not blase.
This grounde of stryfe did Amphion,
and Zethus twinnes deuyde,
Till Amphion of brotherhoode
did lay his harpe asyde.
Yelde the t'obbeye the easye rule,
of him that is of mighte.
As oft as thou shalt leede a feelde,
with nettes a charged sighte:
A sight of bangle eared houndes,
rise thou, and lay adoune
Thy conference with bokishe muse
and let the shrewe goe frowne,
That thow maist feede yfeare, vpon
thy hardly purchasde praye.
For those of Rome a goodlye toyle,
good for thy name (I saye)
For life, and limmes confortityue,
for the in health the more
That dost in course surpass the hounde,
in strength excel the bore.
Who can then the more semelely
thy manlike armoure weelde.
Oft hast thou wun with ioye of prease
at gamminges in the fielde.
A childe, thou knewst both warre, and campe,
thou wanste thy spurres in Spayne
With him that browght standerdes of Parths
into their roumes againe.
With him, who if that any thinge
vnconquerd be behinde,
With pruice of the Romane route
to win it hath assynde.
And least thou hyding of thy selfe
excusses should be founde.
(How beit) I thinke thou dust attempt
nothing but iust and sounde)
Sumtymes thou tryfles out thy time
within thy fathers grounde.
The Oste deuydes their bargies, and
the water scrymage then
(Thou beinge guyde) in foishe guyse
is playde by youthely men.
Thy brother foe, the fludd at hande,
the fielde harde by the towne,
You stryue whilst that swift victorie,
one of the twayne doth crowne.
If August knew that thou his warre
resemblest in thy plaie,
He would prayse the with clapping handes
frendly I dare well saye.
Further for to admonishe the
(If therof thou standst neede)
What, of what men, to whom thou speakste,
take euer earnest heede.
A groper after nouelties,
in any wise do flye.
I warrante the learne this of me
the same's a verye pye.
Nor wyde ope eares the thinges of trust
can well conceale at all,
And word once scapde, away its gone,
and none can it recall.
The maide, or wife that doth soiorne
within thy neighboures dore,
Let her not wounde thyne harte with loue
or thrill thyne intralls sore.
Lest that the husband of the wife,
and master of the maide,
Do turne thy hoped ioy to paine,
and make the ill appaide.
Beware, take hede, take heede, bewayre
whom thou for good dost name,
Lest haplie his misdeedes at length
do shent thy face with shame.
Sumtimes we erre, and do defende
a much vnworthie man:
The giltie partie once deceaud
defende no further then.
Speake for thy frend, thy long knowne frend,
if slaunder him assaye:
And beare, and boulster oute the good
which on thyne ayde doth staye.
For if with Theons venom tothe
all gnawde aboute be hee,
The hasserdes that are comminge next
wil cum most nere to the.
The case is thyne, thy neighboures house
when it doth flame vp bright,
And burninges thowght but smal, or now
haue grown to dreedful might.
Then whilst thy ship doth kepe a flote
ydauncinge on the plaine,
Take hede lest sodaine chaunge of winde
do beare the backe againe.
Sad nature, hates the pleasaunt head,
the pleasant heade the sad:
The swift likewise do hate the slowe,
the slowe the swift to bad.
The tiplinge sottes at midnight which
to quaffe carowse do vse,
Wil hate the if at any tyme
to pledge them thou refuse.
Though thou dost sweare, that thou dost feare
the rumes that cum by night.
Be perte, and cleare in countinaunce
not malipert, and light.
Sumetimes the sober man is thought
the most dunce in the toune:
And he that locketh vp his lippes
is taken for a clowne.
Chifely confer with learned men,
peruse eche lettred booke:
That how to liue a quyet life
thou maist consult, and looke,
Lest pore, and nedie couetyse
do euer make the itche:
Or drede or hope of thinges that make
a man but manelie ritche.
If vertue springe by litterature,
or ells by natures gift,
What quencheth care, what can the bring
to constancie, and thrifte?
What makes full contentacion?
honor, or dulcet wealth,
Or secret trade, or pryuat lyfe,
which stalkes away by stealth.
O Lollie frende, what do I thinke,
what thinkes thou? do I say
When I of any ioyllie ioy
or pleasure do assaye:
God graunte that I this kinde of life,
though sumwhat wurse may finde:
(If of my life the goddes wil haue
remayninge sum behynde)
God sende me once my commons cleare,
of Bookes abundaunt store:
This is enoughe to pray to god
that geues and takes away,
God geue me lyfe, and wealth and I
will set my lyfe at staye.

To Mecænas.

Mecænas if thou darst beleue
thine auncient frend Crætyne,
No kinde of verse can longe be lykde
that was not write in wine.
Bacchus doth make the poets raue,
like woddishe goddes, and wilde:
In dawne of daye haue smelt of wyne
the maiden musies mylde.
Dan Homer for that he so much
in prayse of Bacchus could,
Is proude to be a frend of wine:
yea Ennius the oulde
Did neuer prease to puffe abrode
the feates of battaile fyne,
Except he were first whitled well
and warmed through with winne
To thrifty men that had not druncke
graue matters he did leaue:
The sober sorte of poetrie
he did forsothe bereaue.
Ennie said this, they did not misse
but practysde it full well,
All nighte to sprall and stryue with wyne,
all day on it to smell.
But what though one with face austere,
with naked feete, and bayre,
Should Cato counterfeate, and in
his gallowes rounded hayre,
Soould he be like to Catos self
in life and vertue then?
He brast him selfe, that would be thought
equal to Timagen
In gesture, voyce, and eloquence.
Sum follow so precyse
A learned man, that oftentymes
they imitate his vyce.
If I should say at certeine times
I vsde for to be wann,
Sum would wax pale with slibber sauce.
sum imitating man.
O imitators seruyle beastes
how haue your tumultes vyle
Full oftens rasde my collor vp,
and oftens made me myle.
I euer set my fotestepps fre,
princelike where none had gone,
But others groundes I haue not vsde
to presse my fote vpon,
Who hathe corage, and confidence
shall rule an hooste the best.

Licambes hanged himselfe for griefe conceyued through Iambick verses vvritten against hym.

Th' Iambiquæ verse to Italye
I shewde before the rest.
Archilocus his rymes and spryts
I followde at an inche:
Those wordes, and matter that so sore
Licambes once did pinche.
And least you shoulde my poets heade
with lesser leaues adorne,
For that I feare the measure, and
his art of verse to turne:
The mannishe Sappho, and Alcæus
temper the same mans muse
In other feete: this drifte, and soune
they both twaine did refuse.
Alceus seekes no stepfather
whom he with verse may blacke,
Nor doth not make with rayling ryme
his spouse hir necke to cracke.
I, the romishe musicion
set forth to lattin lande,
This author, namde in no mannes mouth,
nor borne in any hande.
It doth mee good to heare him bringe
things neuer brought before,
To see him redde with ientle eyes
in eche mans hande ybore.
If thou wilt know why in him selfe,
the reader much vnkinde
Allowes my workes, and yet abrode
doth blemishe in them fynde:
I seke not for the fletinge voyce
of foolke, with making cheare,
By suppers, or to get the same,
by dole of castinge yere.
Not I that reade the noble bokes,
can so becum the lowte,
To craue grace at the grammer trybes
in pewes to seeke them out.
Hence cum these teares, this mortall spyte
they haue against my verse:
I am ashamed on pompose stage
(say I) for to rehearse
My wrytings, (wrytings nothing worthe)
to seme to add a weight
To tryflinge things, and things in dede
of very slender sleight.
Tushe man, sayth one, you meane to kepe
your tricksie, dainty geare,
To exhibit for worthines
to Ioues good graces eare.
Faire to thy selfe, thow dost suspecte
al other to be sower:
And thinkes thy selfe the hunnie sucke
of poemes to out power.
Reply do I, the iudgement sharpe
of curious wittes I feare,
And that they shoulde for very spyte
my penned poems teare.
The Theator I cannot like
I crye, and aske delaie.
Faine would I not begin at al
so perillouse a plaie.
For plaie ingenders tremlinge stryfe,
and strife outraginge ire:
Owtraging ire, fell spyteful lyfe,
it, deathlyke battel dyre.