Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile :: :: University of Virginia Library

Yf teares might ought auayle to stynt my woe
If sobbyng sighes breathd out from pensiue brest
Could ease the gryping greefes that payn me so
Or pleasure them for vvhom I am distrest
Neyther vvould I stycke vvyth teares to fret my face:
Nor spare to spend redoubled sighes apace.

2

But sith neyther dreary drops nor sighes haue power
To doe me good, or stand my frends in steede
Why should I seeke vvyth sorovves to deuoure
Those humors that my fayntyng lymmes should feede.
Bootelesse it vvere therfore I vvyl assay
To shevv my selfe a frend some other vvay.

3

Some other vvay, as by my mournyng pen,
To doe the vvorld to vvit vvhat vvyghts they vvere
Whose deaths I vvayle, vvhat frendly forvvard men
And to thys land they both dyd beare
Alas, I rue to name them in my verse:
Whose only thought my trembling hart doth pearse.

[176]

4

But yet I must of force their names vnfolde,
(For things concealde are seldome when bewaild,
Tone Sydnham was, a manly wight and bolde.
In whom neither courage haute, nor feature faylde,
Faythful to frends vndaunted to his foes
A lambe in loue, where he to fancy chose.

5

The second neere vnto my selfe allyde,
Gyles Bamfield hight. (I weepe to wryte his name,)
A gallant ympe, amyd his youthfull pryde:
Whose seemely shape commended natures frame.
Deckte of the gods in cradle where he lay:
With louely lymmes and parts of purest clay.

6

Themselues might boast theyr byrths for gentle bloud
The houses are of countenance whence they came
And vaunt I dare their vertues rare as good,
As was their race and fitted to the same.
There wanted nought to make them perfect blest:
Saue happy deathes which clouded all the rest.

7

When rascall Irysh hapned to rebel,
(Who sold we see doe long continue true)
Unto the Lord of Essex lotte it fell.
To haue the lotte those outlawes to subdue.
Who went away to please the Prynce and state:
A treaded on of many a doughty mate.

8

Whose names although my dreary quil conceale,
Yet they (I trust) wil take it wel in worth
For noble mindes employd to common weale,
Shall finde a stemme to blaze their prowes foorth.
My dolefull muse but this alone entends:
To wryte and wayle my frends vnhappy endes.

177

9

Away they would, and gaue their last adew,
With burning hearts to slay the sauage foe,
Bestride their steads, and to the sea they flew,
When weather rose, and water raged so,
As they (alas) who meant their countrey good,
Were forst to lose their liues in Irish flood.

10

Those eyes should haue lookt the foe in face,
Were then constraind to winke at euery waue,
Those valiant armes the billowes did imbrace,
That vowd with sword this realms renowne to saue:
Those manly minds that dreaded no mishap,
Were soust in seas, and caught in suddaine trap.

11

Proud Eole Prince controller of the winds,
With churlish Neptune, soueraigne of the seas,
Did play their parts, and shewd their stubburn kinds,
Whom no request nor prayer might appease,
The Tooyan Duke bid not so great a brunt,
When he of yore for Laume land did hunt.

12

And yet these wights committed none offence,
To Iuno, as sir Paris did of yore,
Their only trauell was for our defence,
Which makes me waile their sodain deaths the more
But what the Gods did purpose to be done.
By proofe we see, mans wisdom cannot shun.

13

Ye water Nimphes, and you that Ladies be,
Of more remorse, and of a milder mood:
Than Neptune or king Eole, if you see
Their balefull bodies driuing on the floud,
Take vp their lims, allowing them a graue,
Who well deserued a richer hearse to haue.

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14

Whereon do stampe this small deuice in stone,
That passers by, may read with dewed eyes,
When they by chance shall chance to light thereon.
Loe Sydhnam here, and Bampfields body lies:
Whose willing harts to serue their prince and realme,
Shortned their liues amid this wrathfull streame.

Ante obitum supremáque funera fœlix.

Deo iubente, fato cedunt mortalia.