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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.