University of Virginia Library

The .viij. Egloge entituled RELIGIO.

Candidus. Alphus.
Alphus.
Yea, yea, I see the hills afarre
and haughtie Mountains hie:
But (to be plaine) what of the hills
to make I know not I.
For from my Cradle custome was
with mee to feede my sheepe
In Uale belowe, by riuers side
to dwell, and flocke to keepe.
Upon the hillie grounde (I pray)
what kinde of corn doth sproute?

Candidus.
O simple siellie witted lobbe,
O plaine and pieuish loute,
That aye hast dwelt by damping flouds
and filthie Fennes belowe,
Much like the Gnats that haunt ye lakes
where brushe and rubbish growe,
And where the sluttish vermin cause
a sauour like to hell,
And stifling stinke in durtie dikes,
and Marrish deapth to dwell.
Wher is of frogs, gnats, flies & wormes
and other like good store,
Among the Willowes, Alderboughes
and rotten Reedes, with more
Than I can name: and yet dost thou
thus dare to mocke the Hills
And make so small accompt of them?
From whence (I pray thee) trills
The spouting Spring? and where (good friend)
is marble quarre yfounde
That builds ye Church? where grows ye gold?
in vale or hillie ground.
What soile brings forth the lofty mast?
where growes the Phisicke grasse?
And herbes to cure diseases fell,
if not in hillie place?
I sundry times on Baldus mount
the Bearefoote gathred haue,
Which Goates diseasde from force of death
is ready way to saue:
As Ægon earst to me declarde
when he did geld at Spring
His sowes & lambes, he taught me that
as sure and soueraine thing.
Take here (quod he) the passingst heart
that euer grew on grounde.
And further tell me (pray thee) where
are Chesnuts to be founde
More plentuous than on Hills aloft?
where greater store of Mast?
There ar both groues & pasture groūds:
there I haue broke my fast
With Pie full many a time and oft,
and fattie gruell eate,
There are the sturdie Children borne
bolde youthes in my conceate,
Brode footed Lads wt shoulders square,
well brawned armes and strong,
All hairy, handed harde, whose backes
no weight can lightly wrong.
From thence come lustie Mariners,
that sayle the marble Seas,
Are none more fitte for Towne affaires
or Citie than are these.
Where thou wilt haue thy Cattell cut,
or seeling timber fellde,
Or Stables varmde, the Priuie cleansd
or staying stoppe that helde
The filth, remoud from where it lay
and bred a lothsome smell,
Or men by Ladders to descende
to Uaultes as darke as Hell:
These, these, are they that do the feate,
their witts are passing good,
And they are of exceeding force
and lustie strength by th Roode.
But what shall neede so many woords?
all toyle they take in hande:
Waite in the kitchin, make the Fire,
cast on the Chimney brande,
Turne broth in cūning wise, make clean
and purge the loouer hole,
For smoke to passe, beare gutts & tripes
to riuer in a Bole,
Swepe filthie floore with Birchē broome,
but most I meruaile how
They run with burthen on their backes
and neuer seeme to bowe.
They are bred vp among the Rockes
and mid the Mountaines woonne,
Like Goates into the crooked Caues
of sauage Beasts they roonne.
Beside this, eake the way is short
from top of Hills to Skie,
Up to the azure cloudes they reach:
and some do stande so hie
As verily I deeme they touche
the golden starres welnie
They say there is a place where as
the Sunne from Sea doth rise,
Which (if I well remember) seemes
vnto our mortall eyes
Euen with his head to touche ye Moone,
and that there liud a man:
But afterward when greedy Lust
and licorous lips began
To tast the fruite that was forbid,
and that he eate vp all
The Apples, keeping none for God
when he for fruite did call,
This Glutton was expelde the place
not suffred there to dwell.
This makes that holie fathers like
the lofty Hills so well,
And there do choose them quiet stayes
to leade their lyues in rest:
As Carthuse witnesse can full well,
Carmelus, Gargans crest,
Laureta, Athos, Lauern, Syne,
Soractis picked pate,
And Nursis thou that famous art
for aged Fathers fate.
And good Gamalula, whose head
so turretlike doth stande,
Beset with Beeche and other trees
that grow about the lande.
As for the rest I ouerpasse,
for why I do not mynde
In this my tale to compasse all.
The Gods of stately kynde
Do oft frequent the hilly holtes,
when downe in vale below
Dwel Ducks, Didopper, Bitour, Goose
Kite, Shag, and other moe.

Alphus.
Among the Pleasures of the hills
wherof you speake so much,
How chauncde that you do nothing here
the Uine and Haruest touch?
And yet those two are chiefest stayes
and aydes in life of Man.

Candidus.
Those Mountain lads from rocky hills
come hither nowe and than
To buye our Corne in market place,
Grym wights all grymde with dust,
As rough as hogs, as leane as rakes
raggd, leaping at a crust.
The dwellers shewe the places kinde
and what his nature is.
But that you spake of Sacred vse
and Mountaine holynis
Hath brought vnto my mynde agayne
of Pollux what is sayd.

Alphus.
O Candid, if thou canst declare
What Goddesse 'tis, what Mayde,
Say on, for that wherof we gan
to chatte, is all in vaine:
More better were of holie trade
to talke, and greater gaine.

Candidus.
That Galbula that earst was wont
with thee his flocke to feede,
Could fully haue instructed thee
in thy demaunde with speede.

Alphus.
Of Pollux much was sayd before,
but yet no worde was spoke
There of the Nymph, nor did I then
him thervnto prouoke.
But now this talke of Church affaires
and holie sacred things
(For sure they best deserue the praise)
to my remembrance brings.

Candidus.
She was no Driad Nimph perdie
that in the woods doth woonne:
She was no Muse of those that boute
Lybethris Mount doth roonne.
Nor any of those Orcades
that haunt the hills on hie:
But Mother shee to Mightie GOD
descended from the Skie.
To bring a peace to such as in
distresse and trouble lie.
Dame Tethys is hir wayting mayde,
and lady Ceres eke
Attendes hir traine, and Æole he
that by his force doth breake
And bridles wrath of waiward windes
that in his prison are.
Hir, God hath plast aboue the Sunne
and golden glistring starre
Aboue Cassiope the fayre,
and hath adornde hir head
And sacred front with twice six Signes
that hir enuiron spread:
And more than that, the watrie Moone
that shewes hir face by night
Full vnderneth hir godly foote
his prouidence hath pight.

Alphus.
O Candid, wonders thou declarste
which Shephierds neuer knew,
What is that Tethys tell me, and
Cassiops glittring hewe?
What is that Æole that in denne
doth bridle blustring winde?
What be those fierie Stoads? thou tellst
great meruailes, rare to finde.

Candidus.
Some part of them bee starres in deede,
some part names founde of olde.
All which when Pollux had to me
in largest maner tolde,
Into the Temple ledde me forth
and sayde: This Sacred Wall
That here thou viewst, is able well
to make thee shewe of all.
The wall was painted ful of Signes
and Figures all about,
All I remember not, my braine
is weake, 'tis quickly out:
Scarce this I bore away, for all
I ofte reuolu'd the same,
And did recompt within my head
eche thing, and ery name.
For sundry times for to recompt
a thing in couert brest
All Phisicke farre excells, I deeme
that feate to be the best.
That Uirgin can from darkned Skies,
the duskie cloudes remoue,
She can to partched corne giue drinke
to make the Haruest proue.
And when hir pleasure is, she can
cause springs in fields to rise,
And when hir list represse the same
againe in wondrous wise.
She can (if be hir pleasure) make
the baraine soile and grounde
As fatte as any pasture, and
make it with grayne abounde.
When Scorpius in his darksome lodge
and hellish house receiues
The olde Saturnus frosty starres,
that worldly things bereaues
Of blissefull state, this Uirgin can
inforce to kepe no coyle:
The rattlyng hayle shall nothing noye
the Corne vpon the soyle.
The house shall neuer fall by fyre
or wasted be with flame:
For now they say, the Skies procure
and angrie starres the same.
Oh, if this Uirgin be disposde,
she can make all things sure,
If she be frendly, corne shall fill
the barnes, she can procure
Eche beast to bring a twinne to light
to glad the maisters minde,
Yea and she list, although the sheepe
be drie and notte by kinde,
She can enforce with twink of eye
and becke of friendly browe
The dugge to strout with milke, ye back
with wooll, and Lambes ynowe.
She can remoue all vile disease
that noyes the hurtlesse Beast,
She can tell how to cure the flocke
with any griefe opprest.
Now needlesse is to follow Pan
or any rusticke Saint:
Which auncient folks did honour so,
with follies mist attaint.
I sawe about the Altare of
this Uirgin, sucking Kid,
Ploughs, Oxen, Sheepe, & Ianus Goat,
and written there I spid
In table that at Altar hoong
this Uerse: Here Ianus hee
That lost his Goate, for Goate yfoūd
doth offer this to thee.
And whilste I red this writte on wall
with knee on marble stone
Gan Pollux pray before the Are
and Uirgin call vpon.
He sayd: O Goddesse that preserust
both Towne and Countrey well
I pray that Padus boue his banks
and limites may not swell.
And that no Fayrie sucke by night
our babes in our armes,
Nor that such Heggs about our coast
may rangle with their charmes.
O Goddesse fauour husbandmen,
the wastfull Want destroy
That is our daylie foe, and doth
our pasture grounds anoye.
O Goddesse, when the Winter coms
and we haue sowne our seede,
Sende downe some pleasant showres of raine
to moist the soile at neede
Lest creping wormes, and vermine vile
in yeare that is to come
Do gnaw ye corne with marring mouth
and lothsome little gumme.
From Borias blast defende the Fig,
from cruell Crane the Beanes,
The Haruest corne from greedie Geese
ybred in Marrish Fennes.
The Oxe from spitting Adders iawes,
from Foxe and Theefe the Sheepe,
From Locust Coales & Lettis leaues,
the Uine in Winter keepe.
The flock & folde from Woulfes deceit,
the corne from burning blast,
The dogs from madnesse, towns frō fire
and thundring bolts ycast.
The legge of Bacon from the Mouse,
the Gāmon from the wight
That kepes the Campe, and in the fielde
doth dayly vse to fight.
From Palmer, and the slouthfull: Oh,
I haue welnie forgot
The rest, perhaps recitall of
the former Uerse will not
Be hurtfull, but reduce to minde
what I had thought to say:
Wherfore I will begin agayne,
where I right now did stay.
The legge of Bacon from the Mouse
the Gāmon from the wight
That keepes the Campe, and in the field
doth dayly vse to fyght.
From Palmer and the slouthful Snaile
the Gardens greene as Grasse.
Seest (Alphus) what a Uerse can do?
now is it come to passe
As earst I thought it would in deede,
remembrance is renewde.
O Uirgin saue from thunders rore

A sillie shephierdes simple request.

the Drinke we lately brewde.
Kepe wel the blossomd Ewes from cold,
the Calues from stinging Flie.
The Hogs frō squince & swelling throte
so that they may not die.
That Ploughmens labour be not lost
O Goddesse do thy best,
Let not the Hyues of Hony Bees
by Hornets be opprest.
Ne let the Lynet spill the Hirce
or Myllet seedes destroy,
Nor briers, by renting of the wooll
ere sheare tyme, sheepe anoy.
Let not the hangyng burre sticke fast
vpon the hairie fleese
That makes the flocke pildnecked, and
his couering coate to leese.
O Goddesse that dost gouerne men
and hast of children care,
O Goddesse ease to laboryng wights
and suche as byde the care.
The salue to such as are diseasde,
of flockes the chiefest stay,
I thee beseche to yelde a becke
to this that I do say.
This prayer deuoutly Pollux made
the whilst I leande my backe
Unto a poast, and stayde my foote
against a staffe, it stacke
Within my braine that he had sayd,
his wordes I noted well,
I plaste the processe in my brest
that he before did tell.

Alphus.
How thinkst thou Candid is't not right
and reason that we should
To Pollux yelde some gift for prayers
and Sacred tale he tolde?
For sure by suche deuotion
our richesse are preseru'd.

Candidus.
What els? somewhat we must bestow,
for somewhat he deseru'd.

Alphus.
What shal we giue? by th' Roode a Calf
is costly to forgoe,
We either will a Lambe, or Hare,
or Goose on him bestowe.

Candidus.
The time instructeth what to giue.
at Winter serues the Hare,
When for the Snowe he can no
the Goose we best may spare
At latter end of Haruest time
when Sommer weares away
The Filberd, Appels, clustred Grapes
about Midsommer day.
The sucking Kids, and bleating Lambs
at entring of the Spring.
For then if rotten haye by chaunce
anoide them any thing,
Or any thou so weake espie,
as nether well can liue,
Nor butcher in the market place
for him will money giue,
(The gifte will be accepted well)
that Lambe of all the rest
Bestow (I say) to make a friende
with him I compt it best.
Let Pollux haue it for his paines
and solemne tale ytolde.
He after dinner when that I
from him departed would,
Gaue me such Uerses as he founde
writte in some auncient booke
Of holy Uirgins solemne feastes:
and said, I pray thee looke
Upon this geare when so by happe
thou art with care opprest,
Recount this medcine of the minde
and fixe it fast in brest.
What time the Sunne the Lion leaues
and Virgo entres in,
Then in remembrance of this Uir-
gin let the youth begin
And aged eke with siluer haires,
to triumph and be glad,
For then she left the earth and to
the Skies hir iourney had.
The foure and twenteth after that
is holy day anewe,
This Uirgins birth day makes ye church
and altars (this is true)
With taper light to shine like fire
and glister all with flame:
Then doth ye Priest new offrings make,
the time requires the same.
Then Libra makes returne in hast
to cause the Sommer night
To be full equall with the day
and so appeare in sight.
The men of Pycen waxen glad
on Adrianus flood
Then come Illyrians, Chaons eke
and Thuscans with their good
And ware to sell for greedy gayne,
from Vmbria other some,
Venetians, men of Sicill to
Lauretum temple come
By troupes to offer vp their gifts:
and hauing prayde a time,
Up to the statelie mountaine they
in flockes togither clime.
And when the Sunne doth enter in
his house that bends the Bowe
By shorter course, and bitter frosts
anoy the soile belowe,
Shut vp in Cloister close she did
the mightie God conceaue,
Which contemplation from hir head
did worldly thoughts bereaue.
Hir proper parents she forgot,
so much on God she thought.
And when that Phœbus flees the Bowe
whose string is bent so tought,
And gins vnto the lodging colde
of horned Goate to goe:
Then let both man and woman on
with garments best to showe,
And let them keepe that sacred day
high holy feast, wherin
With sacred seede that aged Sire
did fill his wife within.
For in that day aboue the rest
she did conceiue the childe
That washt away the sinne that woulde
all mortall men defilde.
When Sol the moistie harbour of
Aquarius vnderglides,
At point to bring the Spring about:
then go you gallant brides
And Matrons, set the Altars ful
of torch and taper light,
Cast cense in flame to make a fume
bring candles blasing bright,
Make pompe as great as ere you can.
This Lady brought a bed
Hir little Babe hath borne to church
and hath full happly sped.
When he the Captaine of the hierd
with glittring fleece of golde
(I meane the Ramme) begins to quite
the earth from Winter colde,
And brings the gentle fitts of heate
and pleasant puffes of winde
Allowing day more houres than night,
as is the Sommers kinde,
Let Gabriell then the Angell come
and do his message right,
Declaring tidings to the Nimph
that made the Nimph afright.
That Holie day the Thuscans all
from Mountains makes descends
And Arnycols procureth to
the Florence Church to wende.
And then (for why the Uirgin was
not long before they say,
Espousde) becomes vnwedded maides
to celebrate the day.
When Phebus vnder farthest point
of crawling Crabbe doth goe,
And Dogge approching brings disease,
and makes the feuers growe:
kepe holie eke that sacred tide,
with incense cast in fyre,
For Mary then from mother of Iohn
did home agayne retire.
About the stonie Altars hang
to either damme a share
(In token of your ioyfull hearts)
of Lady Ceres ware.
The Corne that first was ripe in fields,
and gan to change his hewe,
Do offer that (I say) to them
that Mothers are to view.
This Pollux taught: for walking he
amid the Mountaines hie
A fielde to folde, did chaunce to cast
his raunging eyes to Skie
In cleare and quiete starrie night:
and sawe by fortune there
The order of the Heauens, and how
the starres disposed were.
And more than these bisides ywis:
but fast declining Sunne
Will not permit as now we should
prolong our talke begunne.