University of Virginia Library

Pans Pipe.

[It was in the moneth of May]

It was in the moneth of May,
All the field now looked gay:
Little Robin finely sang,
with sweet notes ech greenwood rang.
Philomene forgetfull then,
Of her rape by Tereus done.
In most rare and ioyfull wise,
Sent her notes vnto the skies:
Progne with her bloody breast,
Gan in chimney build her neast.
Flora made each place excell
with fine flowers sweet in smell.
Violets of purple hue,
Primroses most rich in shew:
Vnto which with speedie flight,
Bees did flie and on them light.
And with Thyme loding their thyes,
Did it carie to their hiues.
Some it tooke, which they had brought,
And in combs it rarely wrought.
Fish from chrystall waues did rise,
After gnats and little flies:
Little Lambes did leape and play,
By their Dams in Medowes gay.
And assoone as Lucifer
Had expelde the lesser starres,
Tyterus and Thirsis hight,
Through a lettice-seeing light,
Which did come from Ecus bright.
As they lay in drowsie beds,
Vp did lift their sluggish heads:
Hasting Sheep from fouldes to let,
Sheepe which bleated for their meate.
Sheepe let out from place to place,
Greedilie did plucke vp grasse.
And by chance as heards did meet,
Shepheardes did each other greete,
Thirsis looked verie sad,
As he some ill fortune had:
Tyterus first gan to speake,
And his mind in this sort break.

Eglogue first.

Tyterus. Thirsis.
Th.
Ah Tyterus, Tyterus, how can I cease to be pensiue?
One o'mine ewes last night, hard fortune, died in eaning,
One o'mine ewes, a great ew, whose fruit I chiefly did hope of,
Eaned a tidie lambe, which she no sooner had eaned,
But the Foxe did it eat, whilst I slept vnder a thicket:
Thus haue I lost mine Ewe, my lamb the Fox thus hath eaten:
Ah Tyterus, Tyterus, how can I cease to be pensiue?

Tyt.
Hard fortune neighbor, but what? wil heauines help you?
Wil griefe get your sheep againe? cast care away therefore,
Shun dolor, vse patience, patience in miserie profits:
To smile is wisdome when waspish destinie thunders.

Th.
Good counsell Tyterus, but not so easily follow'd,
Man is borne in griefe, and grieueth at euery mishap.
I thinke we shepheards take greatest paines of all others,
Sustaine greatest losses, we be tyred with daylie labour,
With colde in winter, with heat in summer oppressed,
To manie harmes our tender flockes, to manie diseases
Our sheepe are subiect, the thiefe praies ouer our heardlings,
And worse then the thief, the Fox praies ouer our heardlings,
Thus we poor heardsmen are pincht and plagu'd aboue other.

Tyt.
Truth, but I know not why, we do not only deserue it,
But lets be content, sith Fortune hath so prouided.
And rather heark to my tale, sith vnder this shadie valley
Either of vs do sit, sith both our flockes be together,
Lets now tell our ancient loues, least sleepe créèpe vpon vs,
And the craftie Foxe, who priuiliy lurks in a thicket,
Or in these huge holes, our lambes should greedilie murther:
Better is it to wake, then sleepe, what thing euer happens.

Th.
Content, yet fro my mind this griefe yet cannot I banish,
Begin first your selfe, you first made mention of it.

Tyt.
Wel, Ile now begin, Venus aid me, sweet Venus aide me,
Ayd me Cupid once my friend, the prosperous euent
Of my loue to rehearse. Not far from hence in a village
Was I borne, in a merrie towne rich in shadie valleyes,
Rich in grounds, in soyle fertile, in cattell abounding:
With my father I liu'd, he was calde rich Melibeus;
Rich Melibeus was my Sire, olde Mepsa my mother.
Long time single I liu'd, long time vnmaried I was:
He would oft to me say, when shall I be called a Grandsire,
She would oft to me say, when shall I be called a Grandam:
Flora doth hope for thee, the lusty daughter of Aldus,
Ianus hopes thou shalt be to his daughter an husband:
I despising loue, hating the name of a woman.
Would them both desire to let me single abide still,
For loue I did detest, I did hate a libidinous Hymen.
But marke how't fell out, I fed my sheepe in a pasture
Neere to the wood, twas summer time, and I very wearie,
Downe all alone me laid, no sooner downe had I laid me,
But sleepe shut mine eyes, neere to this wood abode hunters,
Hunters, who let slip at an hare, the groue she recou'red,
And got away, the dogs returnde, and ran to my cattell:
My sheepe from them ran, great harme they did to my cattel:
They did a Wether kil, they kild a douty good Ew-lambe.
Vp I rose, my sheep I mist, and nought but a carcasse
Of my Wether I sawe, the clawes and skuls of an Ewe-lambe.
Out alasse I cride, I am vndone, spoyled and vndone,
Long time amazed I stood, one while false Destinie blaming,
And drowsie sleep, who closd mine eies whilst merciles hūters
Suffered hounds my sheep to deuoure, like Mercury sometimes
On's sleep-aluring pipe who plaid, while he murthered Argus,
Argus set with an hundred eies: or like to the Fouler,
Who on a whistle playes most sweetly, whilst hee deceiueth
Foolish birds: thus standing amaz'd, my neighbour Alexis
Came to me, crying out, stroken also with the same arrow,
He made doleful mone, seuen of mine Ewes be deuoured,
And the rest are strayed away, sweet Tyterus help me,
Help me (saith he) to seeke them againe, I laboured also
Of the same disease, we two went sadly together
Through desert mountaines, large fieldes, and arable pastures,
Seeking our chac'd heards: at length in a brierie valley,
Between two forrests, some of Amintas his heardlings
Found we lying downe, and seeking still for his other,
Vnder a shade by chaunce he saw Galatea, he saw her,
And burnt in her loue, poore vvretch he cried, he sighed,
Making skies resound his sad and pittiful ecchoes,
And vnmindfull quite of his heardling, he wholly delighted
In talking of her, and passing by her, I wild him
To reiect this loue, which would bring beggery with it,
He with a sigh gan strait exclame, O happie, thrise happy
Should I be if when, the fates, and destinie cals me,
In her lap mine head might lie, and her pretie fingers
Might close vp my key-cold eres: O wood-mightie Syluan,
Keep I beseech thee all sweet hearbs, let not greedy cattell
Plucke them vp, reserue them til my Ladie be buried:
Then let al the ground be straw'd with sauourie blossoms,
And write vpon her tomb, Here lieth a maide, which a goddesse
Would haue bene to her Loue, had she not bene ouer-austere,
Long thus he liu'd ie deep despaire, al companie shunning:
And at length (poore wreth) his daies in misery ended.
Back againe I return'd in an other field then I sought them.
Like one half mad I ran, I found some hard by the milhedge,
Some by the forrest side, my notted Ram stil I missed:
Him I sent my boy to seeke, he wandered al day,
In shady woods till night, and wearie thought to returne him thence,
But twas darke, and making hast, a trench he fel into,
Made to deceiue wild beasts, and could by no means get away
Thus my boy was in hold my Ram was caught in a thicket,
Vp next morn I rose, musing where Willie remained,
Forth I went, twas holie-day, I asked of ech one,
If they saw my ram, and if they saw little Willy,
Willy no wher was found, I sought him through shady mountains
Through vast caues and wood, I cride, I shouted, I hollow'd,
But twas all in vaine, at length a stranger I met with,
Into the pits to looke, who was new come to the forrest,
Him did I aske also, but he saw not my little Willie:
We two together walkt, when we came neere to the pitfall,
Hearing vs two talke, like a mouse in a cheese he did exclame,
Into the trench we look'd, who could not laugh to behold it,
A Fox falne therein, did stand with Will in a corner:
Will did feare the Fox, the Fox did feare little Willy,
Out we pluckt him first, his fellow prisoner after.
Glad was Will he was out, and I was gladder I found him,
Home we returnde, and as we returnd, loe destiny fawning,
Found I my Ram in a thicket tyde, I greatly reioyced:
Summer it was, it was midday, the Sun was at highest,
Will led home my Ram, I softly followed after,
Will went through the fields, but I went through shady pastures
Shunning Titans beams, but ah vnfortunat Heardsman,
Shunning an outward heat, a fire I purchased inward.
Vnder a tree, by Damons cloase, very many resorted,
Maids and men did thither flocke, there merily piped.
Lucidas on his new bagpipe, then Pollio danced,
Ianus leapt and skipt, then thy young vncle Amintas
Daunc'd I remember with many moe too long to repeat nowe.
Here I staid, this crue I viewd, I spied Alexis
Daunce with a Lasse, a gallant Lasse, me thought she did excel
All the rest in beautie, in shape, in comelie behauiour:
Phillida was her name, I thought each ioynt of her heauenly:
Looke what parts lay hid, those I far fairer imagin'd.
Ah, how she pleasde my mind, her cheeks wer ruddy like aples,
With red streames besprent, her hair as browne as a berrie:
Black were her eies, her hands did shew as was a good huswife,
No want in her I saw, for where she squinted a little,
That did grace her I thought, thus was I caught on a sudden.
Ah, how oft I wisht my selfe in place of Alexis,
He to dallie had learn'd, to daunce I neuer had vsed,
And then I sham'd to begin. But marke what followed after;
Codra to daunce did come, the lusty daughter of Aldus:
Her when Alexis espide, he with all speed Phillida leauing,
Caught her by the white hand, at this my Phillida frowned,
She did Alexis loue, but Alexis Codra desired:
In stept I to her strait, I wild her not to be sorry,
I will be thy loue (said I) care not for Alexis,
I will a woing come, from me she flang in an anger,
And with a scornefull looke, wel (saith she) some body loues me.
Home then I went dismaid, and sick, my countenance heauie,
Sotted were my sences all, my mind verie pensiue,
One while I laid me downe, of such idle fantasies hoping,
That sleepe would me depriue, therein was I greatly deceaued.
No sooner had sleep closde mine eies, but Phillida foorthwith
Into my mind did come, still I thought she daunc'd with Alexis:
Ah how my mother greeu'd, when she did see me so pensiue,
She fetcht milke and ale, and for me she made a posset:
She fetcht flower and egs, and for me she made a pudding:
But no meat would downe with me, my father as heauy,
Vnto the wise-man went, he was a physition also,
He said I was in loue, some deuil had told it him, I think,
Then to me forthwith he came, he charg'd me with it, he praid me
To disclose my mind, and he would do what he could do:
Then confest I my loue, tis (said I) Phillida father,
Philida, Damons daughter it is, whose loue thus I burne in,
Be content, my father said, her loue will I sue for,
Well doth Damon know Melibeus chests be not emptie,
At this I comfort tooke, rose, went int' field to my cattell,
Both full of hope and feare. To Damon went Melibeus,
Tolde him all the tale, and for his daughter he prayed,
I giue my consent, but I feare, quoth he Phillida wil not,
She shall like and loue, for she hath very may reiected.
These newes brought to me as I sate alone by mine heardling:
Sonne, saith he, go thy selfe, speake to Philida, Damon
Will giue his good wil, if thou canst also get her loue.
Home foorthwith I went, my self I finely bedecked,
Comb'd mine head, I washt my face, my spruse-lether ierkin
On did I put my ruffes, my yellow-lether galigaskins,
Then sull of hope and feare I went, my Phillida spinning,
Sate by the doore, I went vnto her, I colde her, I kist her,
Proferd her many gifts, but she refusde many profers:
Crau'd of her, her good will, but she did flatly deny me,
Wild me leaue my sute, and not proceed any further.
Impatient of repulse, her three times after I wooed:
Gists many pence me cost, three times againe she repeld me:
Desperate altogether then with bewitched Amintas,
Into the woods I went, and merrie company leauing,
In vncouth mountaines, in deserts and shady valleyes,
All my delight I tooke, I neuer look'd to my cattel:
They for a pray were left to the Fox, to the wolfe to the Lyon,
And had I not bene helpt, I should haue dy'd with Amyntas.
But now Fortune smilde, with Alexis Phillida dayly
Vsde to sport and play, vnto him she dayly resorted,
She brought him conserues, she brought him sugered almonds
He not louing her, but with her flattery mooued,
Lay with her, and in time with childe poore Phillida prooued:
He then fearing least he should her marrie by constraint,
Fled from his Vncle in hast (for he remain'd) with his vncle)
Phillida fearing least, she should be mocked of each one,
Look'd more blyth on me, as I sate vnder a Mirtle,
She past by, me thought, and smyled vpon me,
Her lookes fauour shewed, then againe my sute I renued,
Went and woed her againe, and far more tractable founde her:
Next day to Damons house I went, and with me my sire,
There were cakes and ale, and each one greatlie reioyced:
Then we were made sure, and wedding day was appointed,
Which at length did come, the time long wisht for approched;
We twaine were conioynd, that day we merrily passed,
Great good cheare we made, Licidas and Pollio piped,
All th' whole countrie daunc'd: with credit thus was I wedded:
Which when Alexis heard, with all speed home he returned.
And see Thirsis, I pray, what a quiet wise haue I gotten,
She yet neuer scowl'd she neuer frown'd on Alexis,
But look'd mildly on him, though he so greatly abusde her,
Heele now come to my house, and sit with me by the fire,
Heele now sit by my wife, whilst I goe looke to my cattel:
We two be great friends, and to thee (Thirsis) I tel it,
Thee for a friend I take, to my biggest boy is he father,
But verie few do it know. A large ground now haue I plowed,
And tis more than time to vnyoke my wearied horses:
Thirsis, I haue to thee now declarde the history pleasant
Of my loue: Rehearse yours, as you promised erewhile.

Th.
Wel. I begin to declare't: O Pan melodious help me:
But see neighbour I pray, Tytan is caried headlong
Into the sea, see, clouds covnite, a storme is a breeding:
And pitchie-night drawes on apace, lets hastily therefore,
Deuide our cattell, to the cotes lets speedily driue them.

Tyt.
Let's run apace, til again we meet you shal be my debter.

[Glōmie Winter raign'd as King]

Glōmie Winter raign'd as King,
Hoarie frost did nip each thing:
Fields look'd naked now and bare,
Fields which like a Chaos were.
Earth of grasse was now quite voyde,
Boreas each thing destroyd.
Leauelesse trees seem'd to lament,
Chirping birdes were discontent:
Seeking foode in vncoth lanes,
Where they caught their fatall banes.
Philomene did now recant
Wofully sharp winters want:
Progne fled to place vnknowne,
Somewhere making doleful mone.
Tereus pincht with want did crie,
Iustly plagu'd for villany,
Fish in deepe themselues did hide,
Daring not in foordes abide:
Cattel bleated for their meat.
Cattell found no foode to eate.
Titan had his head lift vp,
Lulde a sleepe in Thetis lap.
When two Swaines were newly gone.
Melibeus and Damon,
Hungrie flocks to let from folde,
Flockes half staru'd with want and colde.
Heards had eaten mornings baite,
Shepheards met together strait.
Melibeus, men report,
Spake to Damon in this sort.

Eglogue second.

Damon. Melibeus.
Goodmorrow Damon.
Da.
Goodmorrow good Melibeus.
What your comely daughter, whose loue so many desired
Is now wedded I heare to a Citizen, is she so dainty,
That none but Citizens will please her? or are ye so wealthie,
That you scorne vs Heards, your mates and fellowes? I fear me,
Once before she die, sheell wish she had wedded an heardsman.

Mel.
Peace Damon, content your self, first heare the defendant,
Ere you giue iudgement, lets sit down friendly together
On this sunny bank, whilst Tytans fiery glances
Warm our limbs, and melt hory snowes, Ile tel the beginning
And end of their loue, end, midst, and originall of it.
When my girle was young, to Cupids fiery weapons
And not yet subiect, then had my neighbour Alexis,
A little sonne, both borne in a day, th' one loued ech other:
As brother and sister, as twaine of one issue begotten:
And as children vse, they two would dallie together,
Sport & play, both went to the school, as yeares came vpon thē:
So their loue encreast, yeares made this amitie greater:
Age made loue increase, and stil my neighbour Alexis
(As most men are woont) esteeming worst of his owne arte,
Set his sonne to the schoole, to scooles of Apollo:
Wholly in ioy he liu'd, what sportes, the cuntrey did affoord,
What playes, what pastimes, those he vsde, al labor abhorring,
Time brought choise of sports, each quarter sundry pleasures:
In spring time when fields are greene, when euery bramble
Looketh fresh, when euery bush with melodie soundeth,
Of little birds rising, before bright Tytan appeared,
Into the fieldes did he goe, which then faire Flora bedecked,
With redolent blossoms, O how grateful to the sences
Were th' odorifferous smels which when Aurora to Phebus
Gan to set ope her gates, the fragrant flowers affoorded,
O how to heare did he ioy the musicall harmony, which then
Each little bird did make. He would go then with a spud staffe
Vnto the leauie vvoods, the dens where Connies had hidden
Their yong ones to seeke, to find yong birds he delighted:
Greatly now did he ioy, the lightfooted hare to run after:
With may yelping hounds, the swift-foot Deere by the forrest,
To pursue with dogs, with an hauke to encounter a partridge:
At this time the top, the tennis ball was a pastine:
At this time no smal delight he toke in a foteball:
When Lodie Ver had run her race, and Phebus ascending
Vnto the highest, began to scortch vvith fiery glances
Floras fruites, and Vers gay giftes, when Rie with a sickle
Down to be cut began, and emptie barnes to be filled.
Then to the Chrystall lake and siluer riuer of Alphus
Vsde he to goe (Good Lord) how greatly to bath him he ioyed
In his running stream, what pleasure companie meeting,
Took he to sport on's reedy banks: somtimes with an angle,
And false shew of a bait glittering fish craftilie taken:
Wold he twitch frō his waues, with nets oft times he deceu'd them;
Now by the mountaines high, and forrests leauy to gather
Stawberies and Damasens no smal delight did he count it.
But vvhy recite I to thee these sports, thou these mery pastimes
Knowst wel ynough, thou knowst what ioies the cuntery yieldeth.
Winter & autum brought not a few ripe apples in autum
Peares and nuts to gather he vsde, all which he reserued,
Winters want to releeue. When gloomie Winter appeared,
When hoarie frosts did each thing nip, vvhen Isacles hanged
on ech house, with milk-white snows whē th' earth was al hiddē
Forth vvith a fouler he vvas to the vvelsprings & to the fountains
& to the running lakes, vvhose euer mooueable vvaters
Frost neuer alter could, there for the long-billed hernshue,
And little Snype did he set snares, vvith tvvigs craftily limed.
Pitfals novv for birds did he make, the musicall Ovvsle,
The little Robbin and the Thrush now greatlie bewayling,
winters want with doleful tunes did he strike with a stone-bow.
Cardes and dice brought now great sport, sitting by the fire,
Bowles ful of ale to quaffe off, ripe peares and mellowed apples
To deuour, to cracke small nuts, now he counted a pleasure.
But what need many words, least ouer tedious I should
Vnto thee bee, many playes, and pastimes here I will omit:
I will omit his gun, I will not speak of his hand-bow:
Which with a twanging string, he so many times hath bended
But to be briefe, his life, his greatest toyle was a pleasure.
And might I speake as I thinke, I would say boldly that he liu'd
More in ioy than Gods, sprong of celestiall issue.
But Fate is peruerse, Fortune a friend to none alwaies:
This merie life the gods, the country gods which inhabit
Earthly seats did note, (for to them Ioue in Olympus,
Yet vouchsafes not a place) they saw't and murmured at it,
Each one did complaine that he so merilie liued:
Each one did complaine that he them neuer adored.
Not far from thence in a wood, in a vast and briery forrest,
There is a famous groue, with Oaks and pine trees abounding
which neuet axe hath tucht, whose tops the clouds cut asunder
These no star could pearce, no sun-beam could euer enter:
Heere nere came Boreas, heere nere came fiery Tytan.
Temperature here alwayes abides, the temperate aire
Causeth a dayly spring, here blossoms dayly do flourish:
Hearbs are green, which a lake, & chrystal stream by the forrest:
With myld-sliding waues doth nourish with liquid humor,
In midst of this groue the mild Creatresse of all things;
Hath by woondrous arte a stately pallace erected:
And from craggie rockes, great seats hath wisely created:
God Syluanus his haule, it need no carued vpholders,
Nor stately pillers to vnderprop, his gorgious hanging
Nought but heauen ouerhangs, Atlas himselfe doth vphold it.
Hither al the Gods, hither al the progeny rurall
In came, each tooke a seat, each sate by Syluan in order,
At the higher end of the haule in a chair with gems very costly
With leauy wreaths on his head sat great Syluanus adorned.
Next sate rusticke Pan, next him sate beautiful Alphus.
Alphus a riuer-god, next him God Bacchus, all hanged
with red-streamed grapes, next him Lady Ceres arrayed
With eary wreaths of wheat: next her dame Flora bedecked
With sweet-smelling hearbes: then sat nymphs, Fayries & half-gods
Syluans, Satyrs, Fauns, with al the rustical ofspring,
Now giuing statutes, now rebels sharply reforming:
And checking sinners, at length they found them agreeued
With sweet Alexis son, that he them neuer adored,
Despisde their Deities, their gifts that he dayly abused:
Foorthwith each god agreed to banish him from his empire,
And kingdome for a time. Saith great Syluanus, he neuer
Til seuen yeares be past, my fragrant empire hereafter,
Shall by my leaue sport in, thus am I fully resolued
Neither saith God Pan, my realmes and flourishing empire
Where many flocks do feed, til seuen yeares fully be passed:
Shal he come in by my leaue, thus am I fully resolued.
I banish him also fro my banks so redy, saith Alphus,
And I (saith Bacchus) fro my faire and beautiful Orchards,
And I (saith Ceres) fro my fields and corn-bearing empire:
And ful this seuen yeare shall he be (saith Flora) depriued
Of freedome, and shal beare the seruile yoke of a maister,
And dearly shall he smart for these his wanton abuses.
This the gods decreed, thus firmely was it enacted:
And a day was set. They now inspired Alexis,
And mooued him to send his son, his sonne little Faustus,
Vnto the cittie to learne a trade, this he fully beleeued,
Was done for his good. Th' appointed time now approched,
Now the day was at hand, good Lord what pittifull howling,
Made that house, when he did depart, his father Alexis,
Now gan sad looke, and at this his heauy departure,
These most woful words with an hart most sorowful vttered.

Thy dayes greene blossoms, thy yeeres yong plants doe resemble,
but my time imitates Swans white and hoary feathers,
To labor and take pains, thy years do wil thee, my white haires
forewarne that death is readie to strike daylie:
Now therfore, O my son, these words I charge thee remember,
Which to thee thy father, so duty binds me speaketh,
Like litle Bees fro their hiues nowe must thou bee banished of Bees
and ants learn, they wil teach thee, my son, to labour:
They will teach thee to worke, lo the Bee, she gathereth hony,
and th' Ant corne, winters pennurie wisely fearing.
So must thou take paines, whilst time wil let thee, for old age
thy body, though now strong, wil very quickly weaken,
A raynie day wil come, crooked age wil (I say) creep vpon thee
enemies vnto worke, enemies vnto profit.
A trade thou must learne, now must thou dwell in a cittie,
which hath both vertues, and manie vices in it:
These thou must eschew, these must thou greedilie follow,
these bring perdition, those credit and great honour:
Bur first thy maker see that thou serue aboue all things,
serue him, he made thee, loue him, he will thee gouerne:
Be loyall and gentle, to thy maister trustie, thy dutie
so requires, be to al affable, lowly, louing:
And marke this one thing, detest euil companie chieflie:
for it wil doubtlesse lead thee to follie: shun it.
Shun womens faire lookes, Venus is faire but to be shunned:
Shees hurtfull, of her flatery see thou take heed:
As to the net with a call smal birds are craftily allured,
with false shew of a baite, as little fish be taken:
Euen so womens looks entrap young nouices oft times,
see thou beware they be naught, flie thē I warn thee, fly them
To know mens desire medle not, but speak wel of each one,
so shalt thou get same, and loue of all thy neighbours:
Shun playes and theaters, go to sermons, here many vices:
there thou shalt learne to magnifie God thy maker.
Both mony and counsell I thee giue, set more by my counsel,
Than mony, thou shalt be rich ynough if thou do thus:
More precious it is then gems which Tagus affoordeth,
then golden fleeces which Phasis Ile hap in it.
So fare well my sonne, God blesse and keep thee, remember
these things, and God wil surely preserue thee, Farewell.
This once said, he shed many teares, his mother as heauy,
Skreeking out, did bid him adue, my daughter Alinda
Seemed half mad with grief, she skies with dollorous ecchoes
Made to resound, amōg many words, these sadly pronouncing
I will with thee goe, I wil be banished also,
Ile take also part of thine hard destiny, Faustus,
But now must he depart, time vrg'd his heavy departure:
Now needs must he go hence, farewel to the watery riuers,
Farwel he said to the fields, to the woods, & greenleaued forrest
And to the town whō he thought surely he shuld neuer again see
Now was he gone quite away, and at length came to the cittie,
Where great god Thamasis, with an huge & horrible murmur
Guideth his vncoth waues, here was the place where he rested,
Here was he forste to abide the seruile yoke of a master,
Here what euils he abode, what miserie sufferd, I need not
Tel thee: needlesse twas to tel thee't Damon, imagine
That many griefes he abode, much toyle and slauery suffred,
Many reproches he bore, oft times my daughter Alinda
Sent priuie gifts vnto him, he greeted her oft with a token,
& which was most rare, their loue which whē they wer infants
First began, neither ire of Gods, time an eater of all things,
Nor proud waspish Fate, able was any whit to diminish,
But the more fate, fretting time, and gods cruel anger
Sought by threatning force, the same to cancell or alter,
More greater it did waxe, she sent, I remember a napkin
With needle wrought vnto him, wherin this posie she feined,
Though time fret, gods chafe, and peruerse destinie thunder,
her mind yet neuer shall thine Alinda varie.
This gift he receiu'd, and opportunity chauncing
a thing to him rare, this wofull letter he framed,
Faustus to his loyall Alinda.
Faustus , infaustus, forsaken, banished, exilde,
in these sad writings, sendeth Alinda greeting.
Soonet my dear-loue each starre which shines in Olympus,
each litle sand maist thou count by the watery sea-shore:
Each bird which flyeth, each leafe in woods shady growing,
each scaled fish which swims in a frothy riuer,
Then halfe the miseries which thy poore Faustus abideth:
Ah, but I feare too much, least thou be grieued at it.
What ioy? what comfort haue I wretch? tis all in Alinda:
Oh but that name oft much dolour also causeth:
No sooner its named, but ioy of sence me depriueth,
no sooner its named, but teares fro mine eies doe trickle.
Ioy in that thou standst in such aduersitie stedfast,
teares in that from thee, destinie me so withholds,
But yet though fate frown, though gods pursue me with anger
though Fortune plague me, penurie pinch me dayly:
Greeue not Alinda for it, when I was exiled, imagine
then that I died, I say, greeue not Alinda for it:
And if in hope thou liu'st, say death shal neuer hereafter
take fro me a second loue, still will I liue a widow,
And it may fall out, gods taking pittie, that once I
shal to both our contents vnto thee safelie returne:
Then what thing mortall, what thing celestiall each where,
shal ioyful Faustus from his Alinda detaine it:
Not golden apples, which rich Hisperia yeeldeth,
not little gems wherewith Tagus in Iude floweth,
How many mo miseries, poore wretch, how many Caribdis,
hoping to inioy thee, would I not easily go through.
Be stable and constant, whatsoeuer destinies happen,
thy Faustus wil stand, be stil Alinda stable:
No gem I send thee, yet a costlie iewell I send thee,
that which I want my selfe, farewel I send thee my Loue,
This to my daughter he sent, and opportunitie fitting,
She this epistle framed, and to him priuilie sent it.
Know'st thou my Fastus, by the superscription, or seale
who to thee this dolefull and heauy dittie frameth:
Tis thine Alinda my loue, which in this dittie saluteth
her Faustus, whose griefes are to thy sorrowes equal.
But feare not Faustus, liue in hope, Ioue doth not all times:
thunder, delay wil gods cruel anger abate:
In time the Lyon his fierce seuerity leaueth,
soft drops of water mollifie craggie pibbles:
In time the heifer to the yoke is easly reduced:
the stifle-neck'd colt doth yeeld to the rusty bridle:
Then feare not Faustus, liue in hope, frost doth not at al times
each thing nip, time wil gods cruel anger asswage.
The troian Captain, Venus ofspring, faithles Eneas,
in time outwore th' ire of great and angry Iuno
Ile be Penelope, be thou my loyal Vlysses,
Ile be Perilla, be thou my trustie Naso.
And be most certaine, my mind I wil neuer alter
my fate whos'euer, Destinie please to varie
But fire and water, cold, heat, loue and enuie, desire
and hate shall first and sooner agree together.
Stream-bounting fishes forsake their waterie channels,
and in greene pastures, and shadie medowes abide
Earth shal beare starres, heauen shal be cleft with a coulter,
then any but Faustus shal his Alinda court.
Faustus adue, to the gods, thy trustie and faithfull Alinda,
for thy safe returne prayes dailie, Faustus adue.
This he receiu'd, and now the griefes and sorrowes he suffred,
though greater and manie mo, yet now far lesser he deemed,
Da.
O rare fidelitie, O faith immooueable, worthy,
Worthy to be rehearst to all posterities after:
Shouldst thou remooue their loue, I tel the friend Melibeus,
If thou shouldst, thou hadst deseru'd with Tantalus endlesse
Paines to receiue. But loe, the withered grasse is all hidden
With hoarie snowes, our sheep want meat.

Mel.
Let's hastilie therfore
Go fetch them fodder, which bleat so gredilie for it.

[VVinter now wore away cold with his hoary frosts]

VVinter now wore away cold with his hoary frosts,
And now sharp Boreas was made a prisoner:
Now brought in Ladie Ver smels odoristerous,
And with blasts verie calme Zephirus entred,
Each bird sent merrily musicall harmonie:
The Cuckow flew abroad with an ode vniforme,
This time euerie thing merily welcomed,
Swains with their silly truls sat by their heards feeding,
One while telling of ancient histories,
Now playing on a pipe rusticall harmony,
And the ruddie Goddesse, her manie colloured
Gates had scarce on a time to Titan opened,
When three Swaines Coridon, Thestilis, and Damon,
Hauing new fro the fieldes, their greedy flockes let out,
Met by chance on a time vnder a shady tree,
And who neere to the tree stood with his heard alone,
Faustus an aged man, master of harmony,
These three mates when he saw speedilie came to them.
Vp then rose Coridon, Thestilis and Damon,
And prayd this aged heard to sit vpon a turse.
He sate, they fate againe, Thestilis and Damon,
And clownish Coridon, each held a pipe in hand,
Th' old man left at home his musical instrument
And he much reuerenc'd for his age of the rest,
First of all merily spake to the companie.

Eglogue third.

Faustus, Coridon, Thestilis, Damon.
What great thanks, neighbors, to the gods celestiall owe we
which such goodly weather haue sent for our ewes that haue eaned
Se neighbors ech one, how finely Aurora saluteth
Her louing Tytan, how pale and ruddy she looketh,
Our weaklings doubtlesse this day wil mightily strengthen.
Co.
O, tis a fine weather, a trim batling time for our heardlings,
And lesse I be deceiu'd, this day will prooue verie faire too,
What great thankes therefore to the gods celestiall owe we?

Fa.
Yea, Coridon for many mo things we be greatly beholding
Vnto the gods, I my self haue seen a time when as heardsmen
Could not vse their pipes, could not as we do together
Sit thus far fro the flocks, the Wolfe which priuily lurked
In these woods, the Beare which craftily croucht in a thicket,
Both sheep & heards wold thē deuour, yea oft frō our herdlings
We by force were pluckt, & wretches vrg'd to be souldiers,
Seldom now doth a Wolf, the beare exilde fro the mountains,
Doth neuer hurt our flocks, the gates of peaceable Ianus
Be now barred fast, we need not feare to be souldiers,
Nor feare souldiers force, we may now merrily pipe here.

Co.
Faustus tels vs troth, my sire and grand-sire oft times
Told me the same, with many mo things, more mercy the gods shew
Pan doth fauor his herds, we may nowe merily pipe here.

Th.
Yea Coridon thou maist securely kisse Galatea,
Vnder a shade, yea and more than that, if no body see thee.

Co.
My Galatea no doubt, before your withered Alice
Shal be preferd, she lookes like an olde witch scortch'd in a Kil.

Da.
Wel Coridon, boast not too much of your Galatea, house.
Shortly your ewes wil (I fear) take you for a Ram, not a keeper,

Th.
No, Coridons sweet pipe, which such braue melody maketh
Nill on's head suffer Acteons hornes to he ioyned.

Co.

Fa.
These reprochfull tearms should not be rehearsed among you,
You should not haue told him of his wife Galatea:
You should not haue told him of the deformity of his wife,
But let these things passe, Coridon euen now made a challenge
Wil ye with him contend, I wil giue reasonable iudgement.

Both.
We be agreed.

Fa.
Begin Coridon, you first made a challenge.

Coridons Sonet.

Fa.
Wel, Coridon hath done, lets heare your melody Damon.

Da.
Help me my chearful Muse, O Pan melodious helpe me,
And wise Apollo to tune the stately progeny of heardsmen.

Damons dittie.

Fa.
Damons dittie is done, begin you Thestilis also,

Th.
Aide me, my pleasant muse, O Pan god musicall aid me.

Thestilis Ode.

Fa.
Ye haue pip'd all well, and I think, had sacred Apollo
Heard you, he would haue praisde your tunes melodious also:
But which of you made best harmonie, for me to tell you,
Were but a needlesse thing, t'wold breed but brauling among you
Thē let this suffice, you haue al three pip'd very wel now

Co.
Wel then I see you feare to offend this company Faustus,
Had Coridon pip'd worst, Coridon should heare it I know wel.

Fa.
Nay not so, but I loue to shun contention, I would
Haue you agree, for if I should Thestilis harmony commend,
You would at it chafe, and Damon also, so should I
Get me surely two foes, but rather harke to my counsell,
Lets to breakfast go, and lets drinke friendlie together,
So this strife wil end, very bad is hatred amongst vs

Co.
I am agreed.

Th.
And I.

Da.
And I wil not say against it.