University of Virginia Library

The thirde booke.

The booke to the Reader.

Elegia. 1.

In feareful wyse an exiles baoke, am sent the towne to see,
Thy helpinge hand, to weary frend (O Reader) lend thou mee.
Nor doubt thou not least I because, perhappes to worke thy shame,
No verse in this doth teache to loue, whereby to force the same.
Nor maisters fortune hath beene such, alas vnhappie wight,
That he wyth iestes or pleasant toyes, ought hide the same from sight.
And that which he in greener yeares, hath made vnluckelye,
To late (O woful worke) doth now, wyth hatefull hart defye.
Behold therefore what I do bringe, saue sorrowes nought at all,
Such matter meete in weeping woords, as doth to time befall.
Eche other lyne a limping verse, that here in sight is seene,
The weary foote or length of way, the cause thereof haue beene.
I am not staynd in Cedars sappe, nor wrought wyth Pumyse bright,
For shame it were to be more braue, then maister may wyth right.
The letters sad whereof the blots, bereft of wonted grace,
The sorry teares that worke hath hurt, which fell from Poets face.
If any word he wrested haue, from light of latin sence,
The barbarous lande haue forct thereto, and cause proceded thence.
Then tell, if payne be, none which waye, (O Reader) is most sure,
And by what steps a straungers booke, my passage may procure.
While these I spake wyth stamering tongue, and closely all alone,
My iorneye lo: that told there was, amonge them all but one.
God graunt thou may, which Naso to, hath beene denyed plaine,
That in thy countrye here mayst byde, and quiet rest obtaine.
Gyde on I shall pursue, although, by seas and lande I sought,
All tyred longe my wearye feete, from furthest countrye brought.
Obeying then and passing forth (quoth he) this is the gate,
Of Cæsars Court: and way the name, from Gods haue growen but late.
This is the vestal place that keepes: dame Pallas and the fyre,
This is the pallace smal whereto, king Numa did aspyre.
From hence on left syde looke (quoth hee) Saturnus house do stande,
Here Romulus the loftye Rome, to build did take in hande.
And wondring much: forthwyth in sight, I glittring armour spyde,
And royal gates wyth heauenly bowers, in perfit vew discryde.
Behold of Ioue the house (quoth I) which we may so deuyne,
By royall crowne of okeing tree, that high thereon do shyne.
His name once hard forthwith I said, we haue deuined well,
Of mighty Ioue it is the house, and he therein do dwell.
But lo what cause the noble gates, be hid with Lawrell greene?
Or why the tree with braunches spred, hath made his heere vnseene?
For that this house of tryumphes braue, deserues eternal fame?
Or els because Apollo great, doth dearely loue the same?
Or that it sacred is? or els, all thinges of it must neede?
Or els of peace the tokens plaine, on totall earth do spreede?
For as the Lawrell greene doth growe, and neuer fades awaye,
So endlesse honor here remaynes, which yeldes to no decaye.
The letters eke which written be, about the stately Crowne,
The ensines be of his defence, the Cittizenes haue foune.
One faythful man except alone, who driuen ful far away,
Doth lurke aloofe in furthest lande, opprest in deepe decay.
Who though he doth confesse himselfe, to haue deserued paine,
No wicked deede was cause thereof, but error proued plaine.
At royall place and mighty man, O wretche for feare I shake,
And dolefull wofull letters small, through trembling dred do quake.
Thou doest behold to sickely hewe, my paper pale do chaunge,
And dost regard eche other foote, to hault with tremblinge straunge.
And at what time before the Lords, and rulers of the place,
In sight thou shalbe set: I pray the plead the parentes case.
From thence wyth slender pausing pace, to lofty steps was brought,
And stately Temples built on high, of great Apollo sought.
Euen where on mighty pillers plaine, the noble pictures stand,
Belides: and the cruell syre, wyth naked sword in hand.
And where the auncient wryters learnd, with learned hand did wright,
Which readers all may there beholde, and there do stand in sight.
My brethren there I looked for, saue those, I could not finde,
Whose byrth the father did repent, and so did wishe in minde.
And seeking there in vaine about, the keeper of the place,
Did will me from those sacred staules, to passe wyth speedy pace.
To Temples next which ioyned were, in hast I did depart,
From whence my feete were forct to fle, for feare of further smart.
Nor that which wonted was alway, the learned bookes to take,
Would suffer mee to touch the same, but clerely did forsake.
The heauy fate of wretched fyers, to ofspring doth discend,
And fathers feareful flight to vs, his children doth extend.
Yet may it hap in time to come, through length of longer space,
That we, and hee of Cæsar may, obtayne more milder grace.
The Gods for this I pray, and yet (saue Cæsar none at all)
That they wyth heauenly eares attende, to this our humble call.
And seing that the publicke staules, to vs denyed beene,
In priuate place it may be free, to lurcke therein vnseene.
And you also ye simple hands (if it so lawfull bee)
Our carefull verse receiue likewyse, wyth modest eyes to see.
And was it my destneis than, the Sythean land to see?
And in that lande that vnderlyeth, the Northren Poale to bee?
Not to your Poet sacred Nymphes, and learned cunning flocke,
Haue succour sheewed: which boast your selfe, of dame Dianayes stocke.
Nor that deuoyde of verye cryme, I wrote did profit ought,
And eke my muse more wanton far, then life I euer fought.
But after perils many past, by seas and lande wyth payne,
In Pontus ile dryde vp wyth colde, aye lasting I remayne.
And I that borne to quiet rest, auoyding busye broyle,
Full tender and impacient was, of labors pinching toyle.
Extreames I suffer nowe, nor mee, the seas depriude of port,
Nor sondrye wayes cold yet destroy, by which I made resort.
But ils my minde resisted haue, of which my body worne,
Repayres his force and suffreth things, skant hable to be borne.
Yet while wyth winds and whelming waues, I doubtfully am tost,
My gryping cares and heauy hart, wyth trauaile great is lost.
But when my way was ended once, and iorneying worke gan rest,
And I a land wherein to waile, my greuous paine possest.
Naught els saue weepe I would, nor from, myne eyes a smaller shower,
Did flowe: then when the Spring time warme, doth winter snow deuower.
My house and Rome remember I, wyth want of wonted place,
And what soeuer thing of mine, doth Citty least embrace.
O heauye chaunce so oft alas, as I haue knockt on gate,
Of greedy graue, but yet no time, cold enter in thereat.
Why haue I scapt so many swords, so oft with threatning dread?
Why hath not sturdy storme ouerwhelmde, this my vnhappye head?
O Gods whom I to wrathfull, and, in wrath to constant proue,
Pertakers of displeasers which, one only God doth moue.
Hast on prouoke I humblye pray, the lingring longed fates,
And let not death be able eft, to shut his grisely gates.

To his wyfe.

Eleg. 3.

To his frende that he should eschewe the companye of great men.

Elegia. 4.

O deare in deede alwayes to me, but in this time distrest,
Now trusty tride since myne estate, so sore hath lyen opprest,
If ought thou do thy frend beleeue, wel taught by practise proofe.
Liue to thy selfe, from haughty names, of might flee thou aloofe.
Liue to thy selfe, and for thy power, great noblenes eschewe,
Right noble is the Castel whence, this cruell lightning flewe.
For though in handes of mighty men, to helpe alone it lyse,
They do not helpe but rather hurt, in worsest wicked wyse.
The ship whose sayle is stricken lowe, escapes the stormye blast,
But slackye sayle and brode extent, more feare then lesser tast.
Thou seest how corke wyth litle waight, on top of water fleetes,
When heauy loade through paise, it selfe, and nets in bottome weetes.
If I myselfe these warnings wyth, had warned beene or this,
The towne where right doth wil me dwell, perhaps I should not mis.
Whilst yet wyth thee I dwelt and whilst, the pipeling wind be put,
This boate of myne through calmy seas, her quiet way she cut.
Who falleth on euen ground (as scant, the same doth euer chaunce,)
So fauls as when to earth he comes, may vp againe aduaunce.
But that poore soule Elpenor fel, a downe from hight of hall,
Whose mourneful sprite his king vnto, appeared after fall.
What ment it then that Dedalus, his winges cold flicker safe?
And Icarus to largye seas, his name assyned gafe?
For soth because aloft this one: that other flew belowe,
For both of them did others winges, their sides vppon bestowe.
Beleeue me this who hidden well: hath lurckt, he liueth well,
And eche man ought within his lot, to him appointed dwell.
Eumenides should not, beene shieldles, if his foolishe sonne,
Had not so much desired on, Achilles horse to ronne.
And Merops if to Phaeton, he father still had beene,
His sonne in fyre, his daughters and, in trees should not haue seene.
So thou likewise for euer feare, to loftye matters hye,
And draw together I thee pray, the sayles of purpose nye.
For thou well worthy art forthwith, vnspurned foote to ronne,
Thy course of life: and haue thy fate, more fauorablye sponne.
With gentle loue that I should pray, for thee thou dost deserue,
And faythful fayth that wil from mee, at no time euer swerue.
With countenaunce like my carefull case, I saw thee to lament,
As wel it may beleeued be, my face did represent.
I saw thy teares wyth trickling fall, vppon my visage sad,
Which all at once were poured forth, wyth trusty wordes thou had.
Now thou also thy frend remoude, with dilligence defends,
And ils which scant may eased be, with mytigating mends.
All voide of enuye see thou liue, wythout renowne dispatch,
Thy yeares in quiet and thy selfe, with equal frendship match.
And loue the name of Naso thine, which thing is yet alone,
Unbanished remaynes, the rest, in Sythia seas be gone.
In lande which neerest ioynes to starre, of Erymanthus beare,
I byde: where frost congeled hard, the ground wyth cold do ceare.
The Bosephor streame and Tanais, wyth other lakes there bee,
In Sythia sea and names a fewe, of place skant knowen to mee.
And eke there is nothing saue cold, which none can safely byde,
Alas how neare the furthest land, approcheth to my syde.
But far away my countrye is, and far my dearest wyfe,
And what thing els besydes these two, was pleasant in my life?
Euen so these thinges be absent as, the same I cannot get,
In body: but in minde they may, be all beholded yet.
Before mine eyes my house and towne, and forme of places showe,
And euery place together wyth, their deedes I shortly know.
Before mine eyes like as my wyfe, in present shape appeares,
My state she greuous presseth downe, and vp againe she reares.
She absent greeues, but lighter makes, that lasting loue she lends,
And heauy charge vppon her layd, she constantly defends.
So you (O frends) full firmely sticke, within my fixed hart,
Whom I desyre to speake vnto, by eche mans name apart.
But fainting feare that is beware, my dutye due doth let,
And you I thinke vnwilling would, within my verse be set.
Afore you would and did regard, it as thy loue most kinde,
That in my verse the Reader might, your names so placed finde.
Which thing because is doubtful now, in secrete brest eche one,
I shal talke wyth and wil be cause, of quaking feare to none.
Nor in my verse my hidden frendes, betraying forth I will,
Expresse: if any priuely, haue loued loue he still.
Know this although in Region farre, is now my resting place,
Wyth all my hart you inwardly, I euermore embrace.
And by such meanes as eche man may, releeue my ils I pray,
Your faithful hand to frend vtcast, in griefe do not denaye.
So prosper fortune vnto you, and happy still remaine,
As neuer in like lot the same, to aske ye may be faine.

To his frende.

Eleg. 5.

Oure vse of frendshippe hath beene such, that thou wyth litle shame,
Through smal acquaintāce growen before, might wel haue clockte the same
In former bands of frendships law, vnlesse thou hadst beene tyde,
When that my shippe on safer streame, wyth happye winde did slyde.
But when I fell: eche man for feare, did shun my deepe decaye,
And wonted frends their wilye backs, from me they turnde awaye.
Yet were thou bould my blasted boones, wyth flach of Ioue his fyre,
To touch: and to my heauy house, wyth willing minde retyre.
That thou but lately knowen performe, myne elder mates refrainde,
Of whom skant two or three that now, to me poore wretch remainde.
Thy sorry lookes my selfe I sawe, and gaue to them regarde,
Thy face wyth teares like myne embrude, and palenes wel nere marde.
Thy doolefull drops I beare in minde, and wofull woords eche one,
In mouth the teares, in eares thy woords, full deepely now be gone.
My naked necke wyth heauy armes, thou frendlye didst embrace,
Wyth sithing sobbes did kisses heape, vppon my feareful face.
Yea absent now (O frend) I am, by force of thee protected,
Thou knowest that (frende) thy name encludes, which may not be detected.
And many tokens more I marckt, of thy vncloked loue,
Which in my brest I keepe full cloose, and shall not thence remoue.
God graunt thou may in quiet state, thy frendes desend, alwaye,
Whom nowe in better case thou helpes, of paynes to haue allaye.
Yet if that any shall enquyre (as like they wil do sone)
What life I leade in this meane space, by fortune all fordone.
Saye that some litle hope I haue, that Gods will graunt more grace,
From which do not withdraw thine ayde, if thou dost come in place.
And whether it I wrongfull craue, or that I do deserue,
In what thou may helpe thou thereto, and do not lightly swerue.
And loke what skill in conning speach, thou learned hast before,
Here on see that thou dost bestowe, to helpe my cause the more.
Howe much a man more noble is, so much more free from ire,
In valiant harts is sonest quencht, the rage of furies fire.
It doth suffice the Lyon fierce to see his ennemye yelde,
And not to slee the couching soe, that prostrate lyes in fielde.
Yet doth the Wolfe and Beare dispoyle, the yelding pray in place,
And eke eche other brutish beast, that springes of ruder race.
For what then great Achill was had, in more renowmed fame?
And he at Troye olde Priams teares, did not behold for shame.
Of Alexanders mercyes great, full sure records we haue,
By noble Pharos which doth stand, depainted on his graue.
I know the rage of noble mindes, to mercye lightly goo,
For Iuno sonne in law he is, that was her mortall foo.
In fine: of grace no signes I see, that driues me to distrust,
For that my fault no death deserues, of lawes that be so iust.
I haue not sought Augustus life, wyth treason vile to slaye,
Of totall earth the onlye head, to whom all men obaye.
I nought haue said nor babling tongue, haue spoken ought amis,
If I therefor offended haue, the wyne the causer is.
My giltlesse sight my payne haue wrought, which I therefore do blame.
From loking eyes my griefe doth grow, euen thus proceds the same.
Yet can I not my sondrye crymes, defend against all right,
But part of them is error plaine, and voyde of wilful spight.
This hope therefore remayneth yet, in time to get such grace,
So shall my paynes procure reliefe, by force of chaunged place.
Would to mee by shyning starre, which showes before the sonne,
At rysing redde with horse let go, this message might be don.

To his most familiar frende.

Elegia. 6.

Oure league of loue (O dearest frend) in firmest frendshippe knit,
Thou will not nor, if happlye would, thou can dissemble it.
To me so longe as lawfull was, none other stoode more deare,
Nor any was in all that towne, wyth mee conioynd so neare.
This loue amonge the people thicke, so openly was blowen,
That almost more then thou or I, the same appeared knowen.
And kindnes thine of gentle hart, vnto thy frend are prest,
The man had throughly tryed whom, thou, dost loue aboue the rest.
Nothing thou could so couert keepe, but I of counsaile was,
And sondrye secretes beare in brest, in common not to pas.
Thou onely wert the man from whom, no priuetye I hidde,
(That one except alas) which me all vtterly vndidde.
Which hadst thou wist thy fellow should, in sauegard thee haue serued,
And shold (O frend) through thy aduise, from sauety neuer swerued.
But me my destneis dire did draw, vnto this passing paine,
They surely shut eche way to mee, that profite could containe.
And whether I this mischiefe might, in being ware avoyde,
Or els the way which destneys wil, by no meanes be destroyde.
Yet thou to vs that fixed art, wyth long acquaintance fast,
Welnere art greatest part I want, of all my pleasures past.
Remember now if fauor can, thy power ought increase,
To proue what it for me may do, we pray the neuer cease.
That godhead once offended would, his anger somewhat staine.
That place appointed chaunged eft, might partly ease my paine.
That if with stunefull wickednes, my brest do not abound,
And error be beginner of, my chiefe accusing found.
My minde as his most hurtful wound, doth feare that filthy time,
Thy griefe againe renueth eke, remembring of the crime.
And what soeuer able is, me wyth such shame to spight,
It should behoue it hidden were in darckesome closed night.
Nought els therefore declare I will, saue onely sinnd I haue,
But in such sin no riche reward, nor other gaine to craue.
And this my fault men rightly may, and ought my follye name,
If very names and true to things, they aptly seeke to frame.
Which if they be not euen so, then looke the furthest cost,
For my abode, let this land be, my subberbes vttermost.

To his daughter.

Eleg. 7.

You wretten letters now prepare, the Harolds of my minde,
To see Perhilla how she fares, wyth hast I haue assinde,
You shall her finde, full sadlye set, fast by her mother sweete,
Or els among her bookes alone, and learned muses meete.
But when she knowes that thou art come, (all studyes set aside)
What thinge I do she will demaunde, and in what state I bide.
Then shalt thou say I liue although, not so as liue I would,
Nor tract of time hath brought reliefe, as hope hath hopt it should.
To muses yet (though hurt they haue) againe I do retyre,
And verses eke of wrested words, to make I haue desyre.
But tell me now? to studyes old, dost thou thy minde applye?
To learned verse thy father like, wilt thou thy selfe affye?
For nature with the frendly fates, hath geuen the maners chast,
And sondry giftes but rarely seene, with wit good store thou hast.
To Pegace pleasant springes, my selfe, of purpose brought the furst,
Least that thy vaine of facound speache, might perishe els for thurst.
In chastest yeares I noted well, the aptnes of thy braine,
And as thy father did the gide, the way to learning plaine.
Euen then I saye (but loue perhaps, wyth time is driuen away)
A passing loue to thee I had, which hardly could decay.
Wherefore if selfe same sparkes of wit, in the do still remayne,
But onlye Sappoes learned workes, shall thine in skil distayne.
And nowe I feare least my mishaps, might thee percase appall,
Or through the same some dolenes may, within thy breast befall.
While time did serue thy verse to mee, and myne to thee I redde,
And now as Iudge I was, and now, as tutor I thee ledde.
Or els sometimes wyth verses made, thine eares I did approue.
Or finding fault: in blushing cheekes, the bloude sometimes did moue.
Like me perchaunce for that my bookes, haue hindered me so sore,
For feare of like mischaunce thou wil, thy studyes leaue therefore.
Naye feare thou not Perhilla deare, this doubting dred remoue,
So that no man of that thy verse, nor woman learne to loue.
Set slouth therefore alwayes asyde (O thou most learned dame.)
To sacred lore and Authors turne, let it not thee ashame.
Thy fauor freshe wyth beuty fraught, shall fade in longer space,
And wrinckled age shall then appeare, vppon thine elder face.
When eluishe eld vppon thy shape, hath done her force and might,
Who stil drawes neare wyth stelthye steps, to worke thy greuous spight.
It wil the greue when some shal say, this wight she hath beene fayre,
And loking in thy wonted glasse, for sorrow shalt despayre.
Thou hast of wealth a metely minde, yet dost deserue much more,
Enriche thy noble wit likewyse, with like abundaunt store.
For fortune doth both geeue and take, and chaunge eche mans estate,
And Hirus now he is become, that Cresus was but late.
What needes more words? all mortall goodes, be lightly spent and gone,
Saue those which in thy brest be hid, and minde except alone.
Lo while of house and country both, and thee I was bereft,
And of eche other thinge depriude, and naught at all was left.
My wittes my mates they left, although, I did enioy them still,
Of them no right could Cæsar serue, whereby to worke his will.
Eche man by force of cruell sword, my life may sone depriue,
Yet shall my fame though I be dead, remaine alwayes aliue.
While martiall Rome frō mountaynes seuen, the conquered world behold,
My learned workes shal stil be read, and fame for aye be told.
And thou also that happyer vse, of studyes dost enioye,
In what thou may flee hasting death, which earthly life destroye.

He desyreth to see his frendes and countrye.

Elegia. 8.

Nowe would I wishe I might assende, on Triptolemus carte,
Who first wyth seedes on earth to sow, hath taught the skilful arte,
Now would I tame the monsters fell, the which Medea sad,
Then flying from the lofty tower, of the Corinthea had.
Nowe would I wishe to flye on highe, and flighty fethers take,
The which thou Parseus whilom had, or Dedalus didst make.
That flickering wysh these wighty wings, aloft in futill skye,
I might forthwyth by meane thereof, my natiue ground espye.
My sorry house and faithful frends, should so to sight appeare,
And chiefely eke my louing wyfe, whom I accompt most deare.
But why with childishe wishing words, thou fondlye these do craue?
Which neuer thou before time had, nor yet shal after haue.
But if thou wyshing prayers make, on Cæsar them bestowe,
Who is the mightye God in deede, thy selfe by proofe do knowe.
He may to the these speedye wynges, and wheeled chariots lende,
That wyth the flying foules thou maye, in thy returne contende.
If these I aske (nor greater gifts) may none requyred bee,
So shall my prayers seeme more large, then reason graunts to mee.
In time to come perhaps, although, and anger all remoued,
Wyth careful mind requyred then, to mercy be behoued.
The whilst this smaller simple sute, I craue wyth humble hart,
That from this land els where I may, by lycence free depart.
The ayre foule and water could, my nature still doth hate,
And land it selfe my bodye binds, in deepe diseased state.
For eyther doth my troubled minde, the body fore molest,
Or els the countrye breeds the griefe, where wyth it is distrest.
So sone as I to Pontus came, wyth dreames I was agreeued,
My flesh from boones it fled forthwyth, which meate hath not releeued.
And loke what couler pale and wanne, vpon the leaues do showe,
When winter frost beginneth first, and Borias blasts to blowe.
Such old and wythered ceared hue, my members do pertake,
Nor cause of loude complayning griefe, my painful minde forsake.
Nor in more sound estate my minde, then body to remaine,
But both at once diseased be, wyth fits of sickenes paine:
Before my eyes me thinks I see, an Image stand in sight,
Which representes my sickely shape, and minde wyth care affright.
Such loue of death my brest assaults, my selfe by force to kill,
Syth Cæsar seeketh not wyth sworde, on mee to worke his wyll.
And sith not force but gentle hate, thus long hath wrought our griefe,
Through chaunged place God graunt we may, of him obtayne reliefe.

VVhy Tomos was so called.

Eleg. 9.

Lo here some Gretian Cittyes be, (who would beleue the same?)
And yet amonge the Nations rude, are knowen by barberous name.
And to Myletus hither sent, the dwellers way did take,
On Geta ground at last they stayed, and Grekishe hoisses make.
Yea this towne eke thy fame more old, and elder terme is knowne,
And of Absirtes cruell death, a proper name is growne.
The sayling shippe through curious care, of martial Pallas wrought,
At first these strugling streames assayde, before time neuer sought.
The wicked wight Medea here, from father fleing fast,
Her rowing owres vppon this coast, (men saye the first time cast.)
The gazing stranger standing by, respecting seas by lowe,
Discrying shippes aloofe, quoth he, (yen Colchean sayles I know)
While shipmen there for dred did quake, and vp the cables cast,
And while the anker vp to waye, their fearefull hands made hast.
The giltye girle wyth cruell kuffe, did strike of Colchean brest,
Whose hardy hand great hurt hath wrought, and vnto more is prest.
And though wythin this maydens minde, highe courage did remayne,
Much perfit palenes yet thereto, in face appeared playne.
When hasting shippes wyth speedy pace, to drawe more neare she spyde,
By craft we must my father flee, (we are betrayde) she cryde.
Whyle she for counsell paused then, and loked round about,
In sight at last her brother sawe, amids her deepest doubt,
Whom when she spyde, forthwyth she sayd: I dare vs wel assure,
My brothers death the cause shalbe, our safety to procure.
He all vnwares and dreadinge nought, her cancred cruell spight,
Into his syde her bloudy sword, she thrust with raging might.
Her blade pluckt backe from gored syde, she rent wyth ruthful wound,
And members macte in peeces small, she cast about the ground.
And that her father might this knowe, on rocke whereby she past,
His woful handes and bloudy head, wyth sleight she fixed fast.
Wyth wayling new her aged syre, for this did make delay,
And sobbing sore the fleshe toke vp, she safely scapte away.
Hereof this towne is Tomos hight, for that vppon this soyle,
The sister did her brothers corse, in sondry partes dispoyle.

VVyth what Nations he liueth.

Eleg. 10.

If any there remember yet, mee Naso sent away,
And in the Cittye voyde of mee, my name remayning stay.
Know he in mids of barbarye, vnblisful man I breath,
Where fixed starres do neuer stoupe, to subiect Seas beneath.
The Savvromats a Nation fierce, the Bessians and the Geres,
Which names vnworthye are my wit, adioyning haue their seates.
Yet while the weather dureth warme, is Ister our defence,
He wyth his liquid waters weete, repelles the battels hence.
But when thunpleasant winter coms, puts out his vglye face,
And all the lande be sprinckled white, to marble frost geeue place.
While Borias blowes and while the snow, lyeth cast from Northren poole,
Then is it plaine these people are, opprest wyth planet epole,
The snow doth lye, which lyinge can, no Sunne or showers thowe,
That frysing blast indurate makes, to shyning Christall growe.
And on the first vnmelted yet, an other fals as fast,
In diuers places wonted and, twise twelue monthes wholy last.
So hideous force hath violent winde, from Northward hyther sent,
The lofty Towers it equal layes, wyth ground and houses rent.
Wyth mantles made of heary skinnes expell thy faruent could,
And only of their bodyes all, their faces open hould.
Their busshes oft wyth Isye drops, do make a tinkeling dinne,
Their beards wyth frost be bright embrude, all hoary at their chinne.
The cleared wynes in forme stand vp, like shards of chiuered tyle,
Nor draughts the drincke but gladly wil, wyth goblets thrust begyle.
What should I tel, yow riuers all wyth could congealed stand?
And howe the britle waters be, cast vp wyth digging hand?
The same up straighter then the streame, of Nylus bearing reede,
Which parted into sondry gulfes, in vastye Seas do spreede.
This Ister ties wyth parching blastes, his bluish liquor deepe,
And forth in secret silent waues, to sea in couert creepe.
Now may men safely walke on foote, where shippes late passage had,
Wyth could concreate on waters knocke, the houed horses sad,
And by such bridges newly built, on vnderslyding streame,
Sarmatia oxen vnkouth waynes, draw forth wyth stretched teame.
Forsoth I shall skant be beleeued, but if reward of lye,
Be any there no witnes ought, that fayth to ratifye.
The Largie freate with frost we saw, stand stil and neuer flowe,
And slippery shell did vnder keepe, vnmoued surges lowe.
Nor so contented to haue seene, the hardned seas we trode,
When vpmost waues beneath my feete, not wetting them abode.
If such a one sometime had beene, to the Liander kinde,
In narrow seas no fault thy death, or cause of cryme could finde.
Then neyther can the Dolphin fishe, in springing ayre attaine,
Whom forcing fast aloft to skip, doth winter hard restraine.
And though sir Borias blustering hurle, wyth winged wind displayed,
No surging billow boulteth vp, from swallow surelye stayed.
The piched pups inclosed sticke, in Marble as it were,
No strugling owres through frosen floud, their course are able shere.