A Strappado for the Diuell Epigrams and Satyres alluding to the time, with diuers measures of no lesse Delight. By MISOSUKOS[Greek], to his friend PHILOKRATES[Greek] [by Richard Brathwait] |
 |
 |
|
|
Siluan. Epicædium.
|
 | A Strappado for the Diuell |  |
79
Siluan. Epicædium.
This done in silent passage of the Night,when stars shone fair & bright in Thetis sight,
The rural Wood-nimphes did their Odes display,
sabled with woes: which woes to take away,
They sung these verses, verses ominous,
Ore Thisbes hearse, and louely Pyramus.
Long may your fame and glory heer remain,
honour'd by vs, and by each country Swaine.
Long may you liue renowned, for your loue
hath made perpetuall eccoes in this groue.
A thrice blest groue, blest graue for such blest Saints,
That in this flowry pale heere pitch their tents,
Wherein loues warre eternized for aye,
lost that by night, which was restor'd by day,
Smell sweet for euer, sweetest of all sweets:
you springing blossoms which the spring-time greets.
Send out your fragrant sauor and releeue,
our troubled springs which be adddress'd to grieue.
Let not your vernant bosome so retaine,
all comfort from the oat-pipe of a Swaine,
That no release of sorrow or distresse,
makes diminution of his wretchednesse.
What should we sing? no hymne of melody:
shall ere possesse our desert empery.
No tune of ioy, no pleasant straine of mirth,
shall yeeld contentment to Nereus birth.
For farre more faire, more beautious, Thysbe was
then any wood-Nimph, any Country Lasse.
Campaspe shee was faire, and was belou'd,
of potent Monarchs: her proportion mou'd,
Doting Apelles, loues effects to shew,
to that same picture which his Pencile drew.
Yet if Campaspe were enshrined heere,
no cause of loue would in her frame appeare.
More diuine feature was in Thysbes face,
a more delightfull smile more comely grace,
Then ere Apelles, though in skill most rare,
could make his picture any way compare.
Bring mirtle branches let vs couer them,
shrowding their corps with wreaths laid ouer them;
And euery time and tide, let's shed a teare,
ouer the sad memoriall of their Bere,
Well doe these odes of sorrow vs beseeme,
and better would they please Arcadias Queene,
Then if with feasts and triumphs we should spend,
our dismall houres, about a louers end.
Wee are not for Dianas cheerefull game,
though we (foretime) haue well approou'd the same.
No quiuer, nor no bow, will we receiue,
till wee haue spent our dirges on their graue,
Whose glorious loues, so well conioyn'd in one,
makes their two teares distill into one stone.
For euery drop of bloud which doth descend,
from Thisbes wound, flies to her louing friend:
And those same streames which issued out amaine,
from Pyramus make their recourse againe.
And ioyne with Thysbe, whose respectiue wound,
licks vp the blood was shed vpon the ground.
Eternall Trophies hung vpon your hearse,
made euerlasting, by our pensiue verse;
And let this marble which doth couer you,
her teares (each morne) with moistned drops renew,
Which in remorse, compassionate may spend,
some dewie drops to witnesse your sad end.
You pretty gliding streames which run apace,
leaue off your course, and flow vnto this place,
That you may moisten this sad monument,
this desert herse with watry element.
And gratifie our loue, that loue you deare,
and wish entirely your sweet presence heere.
Leaue off to wash those cliues and ruggy caues,
and now repaire to monumentall graues,
To rinse all foule infection which did staine,
the corps deceas'd by your still streaming vaine.
Why doe you stay? why seeme you so hard harted,
to shed no teares, at constant loue departed?
If that our Queene should heare, as shee shall heare,
this your remorselesse hart would cost you deare.
Doe you not see how we in sable weeede,
to weepe amaine, haue heere repair'd with speed?
And in distresse enclos'd, full fraught with woe,
may aske of you what's cause you doe not soe?
See how ech sprig sends out a pearled drop,
and when the pruner seemes their height to crop,
They seeme to thanke him for it wishing death,
to decke these louers with a flowry wreath.
See how each bird resorts vnto their shrine,
as if it were vnto some power diuine:
And dedicates vnto their mournfull tombe
laies, which shal serue in after times to come.
They warble out their dolefull funeralls,
hauing forgot their forepast festiualls.
Their sad aspects such sorrow doth affoord,
that we our selues their sorrows may record
Time yeelds no tune, nor tune obseru's no time,
time, tune, nor measure keep we ore this shrine,
We cannot descant, descant there is none,
to such as know no descant but to mone.
Like spouse-lost Turtles, do we flocke together,
and on each morn by time, consort we hither
To celebrate their deaths with memorie,
whose constant loues make them charactred be.
Nor will we cease, or make an end of griefe,
till that their parents yeeld them some reliefe,
To consummate their wishes, and supply
their former hardnes by their clemency:
For in no time did euer children find,
parents more wilfull, to their loues vnkind.
Yet for that Fate hath done her worst of ill,
in that she did the bloud of louers spill.
And tyrannis'd in shewing of her force.
raging gainst loue, depriued of remorse:
Let Parents cease to hate, and make amends,
by solemne hests for their vntimely ends.
It is not fit that death and enmity
Long may your fame and glory heer remain,
honour'd by vs, and by each country Swaine.
Long may you liue renowned, for your loue
hath made perpetuall eccoes in this groue.
A thrice blest groue, blest graue for such blest Saints,
That in this flowry pale heere pitch their tents,
Wherein loues warre eternized for aye,
lost that by night, which was restor'd by day,
Smell sweet for euer, sweetest of all sweets:
you springing blossoms which the spring-time greets.
Send out your fragrant sauor and releeue,
our troubled springs which be adddress'd to grieue.
Let not your vernant bosome so retaine,
all comfort from the oat-pipe of a Swaine,
That no release of sorrow or distresse,
makes diminution of his wretchednesse.
What should we sing? no hymne of melody:
shall ere possesse our desert empery.
No tune of ioy, no pleasant straine of mirth,
shall yeeld contentment to Nereus birth.
80
then any wood-Nimph, any Country Lasse.
Campaspe shee was faire, and was belou'd,
of potent Monarchs: her proportion mou'd,
Doting Apelles, loues effects to shew,
to that same picture which his Pencile drew.
Yet if Campaspe were enshrined heere,
no cause of loue would in her frame appeare.
More diuine feature was in Thysbes face,
a more delightfull smile more comely grace,
Then ere Apelles, though in skill most rare,
could make his picture any way compare.
Bring mirtle branches let vs couer them,
shrowding their corps with wreaths laid ouer them;
And euery time and tide, let's shed a teare,
ouer the sad memoriall of their Bere,
Well doe these odes of sorrow vs beseeme,
and better would they please Arcadias Queene,
Then if with feasts and triumphs we should spend,
our dismall houres, about a louers end.
Wee are not for Dianas cheerefull game,
though we (foretime) haue well approou'd the same.
No quiuer, nor no bow, will we receiue,
till wee haue spent our dirges on their graue,
Whose glorious loues, so well conioyn'd in one,
makes their two teares distill into one stone.
For euery drop of bloud which doth descend,
from Thisbes wound, flies to her louing friend:
And those same streames which issued out amaine,
from Pyramus make their recourse againe.
18
licks vp the blood was shed vpon the ground.
Eternall Trophies hung vpon your hearse,
made euerlasting, by our pensiue verse;
And let this marble which doth couer you,
her teares (each morne) with moistned drops renew,
Which in remorse, compassionate may spend,
some dewie drops to witnesse your sad end.
You pretty gliding streames which run apace,
leaue off your course, and flow vnto this place,
That you may moisten this sad monument,
this desert herse with watry element.
And gratifie our loue, that loue you deare,
and wish entirely your sweet presence heere.
Leaue off to wash those cliues and ruggy caues,
and now repaire to monumentall graues,
To rinse all foule infection which did staine,
the corps deceas'd by your still streaming vaine.
Why doe you stay? why seeme you so hard harted,
to shed no teares, at constant loue departed?
If that our Queene should heare, as shee shall heare,
this your remorselesse hart would cost you deare.
Doe you not see how we in sable weeede,
to weepe amaine, haue heere repair'd with speed?
And in distresse enclos'd, full fraught with woe,
may aske of you what's cause you doe not soe?
See how ech sprig sends out a pearled drop,
and when the pruner seemes their height to crop,
They seeme to thanke him for it wishing death,
to decke these louers with a flowry wreath.
82
as if it were vnto some power diuine:
And dedicates vnto their mournfull tombe
laies, which shal serue in after times to come.
They warble out their dolefull funeralls,
hauing forgot their forepast festiualls.
Their sad aspects such sorrow doth affoord,
that we our selues their sorrows may record
Time yeelds no tune, nor tune obseru's no time,
time, tune, nor measure keep we ore this shrine,
We cannot descant, descant there is none,
to such as know no descant but to mone.
Like spouse-lost Turtles, do we flocke together,
and on each morn by time, consort we hither
To celebrate their deaths with memorie,
whose constant loues make them charactred be.
Nor will we cease, or make an end of griefe,
till that their parents yeeld them some reliefe,
To consummate their wishes, and supply
their former hardnes by their clemency:
For in no time did euer children find,
parents more wilfull, to their loues vnkind.
Yet for that Fate hath done her worst of ill,
in that she did the bloud of louers spill.
And tyrannis'd in shewing of her force.
raging gainst loue, depriued of remorse:
Let Parents cease to hate, and make amends,
by solemne hests for their vntimely ends.
should wage their battaile euer mutually.
83
they scorne base enuy in their brests to feede.
But let vs to our worke, and build vs bowres,
compos'd of fragrant blossomes, and of flowers,
Hard by this tombe, this herse, this desert graue,
where we may giue what constant loue doth craue,
An ode displaying passion: and relate,
the sad euent of loues vnhappy state.
Each nimph addresse her to her dolefull voice,
that we may charme the furies with our noise;
And draw their haplesse parents from their cell,
to heare the sadd Narration we shal tell.
So shall our first-mornes mone performed bee,
in honour of these louers constancy.
Siluanor: Threnodia.
If
any rurall God, or poore swaine,
consecrate Leucothoes rod, to this plaine:
This herse, deckt with sable verse,
Shall commend
Him as our friend,
Our springs, or groues, our straine.
consecrate Leucothoes rod, to this plaine:
This herse, deckt with sable verse,
Shall commend
Him as our friend,
Our springs, or groues, our straine.
Let your Temples sweet, mixed be.
With perfumes, let their feete embalmed be.
Then will we, mutually
Still expresse,
And confesse,
You deserue eternitie.
With perfumes, let their feete embalmed be.
Then will we, mutually
Still expresse,
And confesse,
You deserue eternitie.
84
Venus with mirtlewand, Cupid, bow,
Pelops with his Iuory hand will bestow;
All in one, to this stone
To declare
Loue is rare,
Loue that hath no painted show.
Pelops with his Iuory hand will bestow;
All in one, to this stone
To declare
Loue is rare,
Loue that hath no painted show.
Ioue admires Thysbes face full of fauor,
Mirrha likes the striplings grace and behauiour,
Venus lippe, Ios skippe,
Were both rare,
Yet both are,
In one Thysbe, Ioue would haue her.
Mirrha likes the striplings grace and behauiour,
Venus lippe, Ios skippe,
Were both rare,
Yet both are,
In one Thysbe, Ioue would haue her.
From Olympus Ioue espies Thysbes beauty,
Which no sooner he descries, then in duety,
Cupids dart wounds his heart,
He by force,
Sues diuorse,
Iuno cannot please his fancy.
Which no sooner he descries, then in duety,
Cupids dart wounds his heart,
He by force,
Sues diuorse,
Iuno cannot please his fancy.
Thus did Thysbe liue and dye, liue by dying
Death confirmes her deity, in applying
To her shrine, power diuine,
Which doth shew,
And renew:
Life anew, renewed by dying.
Death confirmes her deity, in applying
To her shrine, power diuine,
Which doth shew,
And renew:
Life anew, renewed by dying.
Then any Muse of mine can make report:
85
that these sad straines came to their parents eare.
They much perplex'd to heare such wofull newes,
vvhich floods of teares in their moist eies renues;
With speed they could, (which speed but easie was,)
they made recourse vnto that forlorne place.
Teares trickled downe, as drops from Ætas hil.
which with their streams ech hollow caue did fill
For woes exceeded more in that their Tombe,
had bard them hope of future ioys to come.
For they were old, old folkes desire to see,
a good successe vnto their progeny.
But now no hope, mishap had cross'd their hope,
e're to attaine at their desired scope.
Oh what salt seas for seas they seem'd to be,
no drops but floods, vvhich run incessantly
From their dim eies, for teares had made them dim,
which, nere the lesse, they took much pleasure in.
Oft would the Mother clip her Thysbe round,
vvhich lay all sencelesse on the bloudy ground,
And vvith a kisse (as old vviues vse to doe,)
her entire loue, her withered lips did show.
Turne to thy Mother (quoth he) or receiue,
thy dolefull Mother in thy haplesse graue;
Acknowledge her that first, aye me too soone,
brought thee to light, vvhich is eclyps'd & done;
I nourished thee, and with a kind embrace,
made me an Idoll of that beauteous face;
For I conceiu'd, deceiu'd I could not be,
No birth more perfect, then the birth of thee.
86
with dropping nose, faint breth, more then them all
That did attend her passion: for the rest
did more represse those passions she exprest,
Nor is it proper, well I know, that man
should shed his teares with ease as women can;
For they more prompt to comfort, yeeld releefe,
to such as are opprest with heapes of greefe,
And can conceale their sorrow, as is fit,
knowing the meanes and way to bridle it.
They thus remaining ore their childrens graue,
the hatefull ground, which did their corps receiue,
They did consult how they might expiate
that wrong of theirs, which they had done so late.
Which whilst they did aduise, they straight did see,
their childrens vowes, grauen in an Oliue tree.
Which were to this effect. “Surcease to mourne,
“and place our seuerall ashes in one Vrne.
For whilst we liu'd, we lou'd, then since we dye,
let one poore vrne preserue our memory.
And let this day recorded bee by you,
and festiue kept: eternise louers true.
Giue vpper hand to him, for he was first:
respect with care, our bones be not disperst
Amongst vnhallowed reliques which will staine
the glorious Trophies which our loue did gaine,
Bee not vnkind vnto your childrens loue,
but what they like, let your consent approue,
For if your minds disposed so had beene,
this spacicious glasse of woe you nere had seene.
87
what we haue wish'd: we feast, cease you to mourn.
These hestes, these rites thus read; without delay,
they sought their forepast guilt to take awaie,
And rinse their former ill by present good,
yeelding to loue which they before with-stood:
For admiration rapt them, and they saw,
no curbe could hold the reins of Venus lawe:
For she enioyn'd them loue, which they obey'd,
which by no Parents wishes could be stai'd.
Each in their order did their obsequies,
with solemne rites as their last exequies,
Making a fire of Iuniper compos'd,
in which their louely corps seem'd well dispos'd,
Which were consum'd to ashes and conseru'd,
in one small pot, as wel their fame deseru'd.
This vrne, poore vrne, which kept their ashes sure,
was made of Brasse, that it might ere endure,
And as a relique, reliques then were vsed,
in Nimrods Temple in a chest enclosed.
There was it put, to which as some report,
all constant louers vs'd to make resort.
No marriage rite was to be consummate,
Before they did this relique inuocate,
That it would be propitious to their loue,
in signe where of each gaue a Turtle-Doue,
To explicate their truth, their constancie,
which they obseru'd for euer solemnly.
Thus were these two with honour well rewarded,
their ashes, as times Monuments regarded,
88
in suffering Nature bring so faire a birth
Into the world, which world vnworthy was,
to haue two mirrors and to let them passe.
But time, vnthankfull time, too soone forgot
the Gem she had, as if she had it not.
Soild in the lustre, lustre it had none,
depriu'd of Fame, when her renowne was gone,
For Parents breathlesse were, and with their birth,
by times succession were interr'd in earth.
In selfe-same earth for they desir'd to haue,
their childrens hearse their vrne, their comely graue
Which hauing got, men neuer did adore,
their sacred hearse as they had done before.
For lesse were they esteem'd, so from that time,
nere any louer came vnto their shrine.
Yet to this day, their pictures doe remaine,
in Marble wrought, describing euery vaine.
Ech ruby blush, mix'd with a crimson die,
with Thysbes smile decolour'd wantonly.
With face defac'd by times iniurious frowne,
hath shown more beauty thē my Muse hath shown.
| A Strappado for the Diuell | |