The Zodiake of Life Written by the Godly and zealous Poet Marcellus Pallingenius stellatus, wherein are conteyned twelue Bookes disclosing the haynous Crymes & wicked vices of our corrupt nature: And plainlye declaring the pleasaunt and perfit pathway unto eternall lyfe, besides a numbre of digressions both pleasaunt & profitable, Newly translated into Englishe verse by Barnabae Googe |
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Virgo the sixt Booke.
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 | The Zodiake of Life |  |
Virgo the sixt Booke.
Some I beleue of cancred minde,and of malicious face:
Who thinke they only know the troth
and only haue the grace
Al doutful things wyth iudgemēt right,
and knowledge full to trie:
Wil say I neuer tasted yet,
the blessed springs that lie
In Aone fieldes, nor sacred flouds,
that Phocidos doth frame:
Nor that the Laurell leafe I doe
deserue, nor Poets name.
Bycause I write not fansies fond,
and monsters maruellous:
And fayning not deceyue the eares,
of such as credit vs.
For they suppose the Poets parte,
is only lies to tell:
As if it were a thing to vile,
for them wyth troth to mell
And lawfull not. their iudgements I,
accompt both naught and vayne:
And sweeter semeth farre to me,
the truth for to retayne.
To aged wiues and witlesse boyes,
Some barke abrode the battels big,
that Giauntes great did make.
With Gorgons grim, and Harpies vile,
and mighty Ciclops wilde:
And shipmen sore enflamde with song,
of plesaunt mermaides milde.
with Circes old that monstrous hag,
and beastes that thre heds weares:
Chymera vile, and Atlas strong,
whose mighty shoulders beares.
The starry skies, ichangd to rocke,
that cloudes hath forrowed eft:
with Persea hie, and Tantalus,
Promotheus wretched theft.
And Tittus stout, and Belides,
and what so euer more:
The doting grece hath Latins taught,
in long time here tofore.
I wish not I, so much to drincke,
of Aganippes streames:
Nor seke I so the Laurel leafe,
of glistring Phebus beames.
with Iuey leaues the hears to decke,
wherby I so might fain:
A poet thus to be I blush,
and am ashamed plain.
and vse suche pleasaunt lies
Troth thus despisde: of many toung
is had, but few are wise.
Beleue me well: and many wright,
with hauty verses hie:
And many haue the Grecians toung,
and latin perfectly.
And while so many thinges they know
their wisdome is but thin:
With regal wordes theyr stile is dekt,
but small effect within.
The outward Image only shewes,
and picture light we spy:
But what good thing remains therin?
what frute is had therby?
What learneth he that readeth them?
what knowledge hath he got?
But dreames and folish fansies fond,
that life here profit not.
which for to know, and not to know,
is all of one effect:
Though they me Poet call or not,
I wil not yet neglect.
The troth to say, and lies to shunne,
truthe makes the perfect minde:
which who so euer most doth know,
Of saintes aboue, and happiest is,
although the folishnesse:
Of people rude him not commend,
nor prayse his worthinesse.
Nor fauour him as he deserues,
nor titles of him tel:
wherefore my muses now approch,
and Sicophants farewel.
Behold, I enter now the way,
which with a lothsome shade:
The Cipresse and the Yeutree hides,
with leaues that neuer fade.
The doleful fieldes and darksome raign
of Proserpine I see:
wherein the Letheus riuer runs,
with streames that darkned be.
Amid the poyson fieldes abrode,
doth slepy Popey spring:
On silent shores, Calliopey
wherto dost thou me bring?
what monsters for to se dost thou,
commaund? what noyse to harke?
with doleful noyse of irksome Owles,
soundes al the wodes so darke.
The Howlats cry with woful tunes
and loud lamenting noyse,
behold, with wailing voyce.
The hilles and valleis all do roar,
and Eccho back doth beat:
The mourning times, an answer giues,
what grief is this so great?
what is the cause of mischief such,
what kinde of people those:
That all be cladde in mourning blacks
and wailing vesture goes?
what men are they that thus in blacke,
with weping fil the skies?
Alas, what sight of bodies slain,
lie here before mine eies?
what hath here causde this bloudy broyl?
who made this slaughter fel?
How many kinges and bishops bones
lye here? I know them wel.
Is yen same death aloofe that comes
with bloudy sithe in hand?
with dredful face, and ghastley looke
before whose face doth stand.
A thousand heapes of sicknesses,
a thousand daungers eake:
O armed with to fierce a gard,
my thinckes I hear him speake.
with clamoure great as he doth come,
And what I hard wyth all my hart,
I wil declare them heare.
That death I am that with my sythe,
right downe do cut like hay:
All thinges that liue vpon the earth,
the rule and eke the sway.
Of all the world, hath Ioue me delt,
and biddes me none to spare:
But hie and low, to flea and kil,
them downe with equal share.
wherby may none escape my handes,
not one can flie from me:
The hauty heds of mighty kings,
by me suppressed be.
The pride and pompe of prelates flour,
I cause a downe to fall:
No kinde of creature here doth liue,
but vnto vs is thrall.
Although he (flying) pearse the partes,
of northern Boreas ground:
And passe the ragged Riphean rockes,
yet shall mine ire be found.
And he my power and stroke shal fele,
or though he do descend:
The southern parts, wher shineth bright
the starres to vs vnkend.
and finding me shall die:
My sithe, both East, and west doth kill,
I set not richesse by.
How many men hath this my hand,
downe cast from state on hie:
And hedlong shoued with mortal might,
in darksome graue to lie?
I wel remember Priam once,
when slaine at altare stone:
He sacrificed was to me,
the guid of Macedone.
The proud, with fighting hand that put,
so many realmes to flight:
To whom no like could then be found,
by force and deadly might.
Of this my dart, in Babilon,
sore wounded downe did fall:
what should I here the Latine Lordes,
and Mars his neuewes call
To minde, the Lordes of all the earth,
whose valeant vertue plaine:
Did ioyne theyr rule to Ocean seas,
and fame with starres to raine?
Could I not when me list all these,
islaine to hel throw downe?
Depriude theyr hands of scepters stout
Of wordes their mouthes, of sight theyr eyes,
of mouing members all:
And eke their bodies thus destroyde,
in filthy graue let fall.
Me feares the Ind, the Arabian,
the more, the Scithian fel:
All they whom Asy and Europe kepes,
in Affricke all that dwel.
Both kinde and place are one to me,
nor times obserue I than,
Nor maners way, nor yeares esteame,
the good and euil man.
The wise the foolish dolt shall die,
the little sucking Will:
The yong and old, the fayre and foule,
with reason like I kil.
And he that yonder I do se,
approching to my land:
when as his destenies permit,
shall feale my deadly hand
These fearful words with hellish mouth,
this churlish thief out brayed:
wherwith my senses all did fayl,
and I remaind affrayd.
My bloud therwith forsoke the vaines,
and left the outward part:
to succour there my heart:
But chiefely when this fearefull fiende
had sent the plagues of Hell
To them that ranged on the earth
amid the croude to dwell,
Which knew not of that mischief great,
then forth abrode they fly
And here and there they catche and take
eche one they can come by.
Then bodies sicke on grounde are laide
and deepe for paine they grone,
And many there with Sythe in hande
doth death dispatch alone:
And passing forth she did reserue
till slaughter next begunne,
The liues of all whom Lachesis
not yet had fully spunne.
Thus trembling all my ioints therwith
and all amased then
My selfe vnto gan saye these wordes:
O cares, O vowes of men
O labours vaine, deceiuing hope,
O fleeting ioyes of minde,
O time that euermore dost chaunge,
O fading humaine kinde,
thys transitory life?
How subiect vnto euery harme
of thousand euils rife?
Which outward shewes a pleasant face
both swete and framed wel,
But inward, O what gall, what griefe,
what poyson there doth dwel?
What are we wretches here but dust,
with winde and rayne vpcast?
And like the brittle breaking glasse
and shaddowes fading fast?
Much like to Roses that doe shewe
a gorgeous gaudy face
When sunne doth rise, & when the night
apears do lose their grace.
To day wyth myrth aliue, and foode
to wormes wythin a while,
This day in fayre and lusty plight,
and straight a Carrian vile.
Alas what doth it vs auayle
to hourd vp heapes of Gold
And plate to haue, and clothing riche
and Gems of price to holde,
Great realmes & cities strong to guide,
in houses fayre to lye
ful like to Gods on hye?
If death do al things take from hence
if we like smoke or dust
As wretches fade, if that so sone
our pride, our pompe and lust
Do passe, and end for euermore?
as I these wordes had sayd
With whispring voyce my selfe vnto
beholding al afrayd
With quaking pace this Ghastly fiend:
syr Orpheus mother deare,
Why art thou thus she sayth afeard?
be bolde and of good cheare,
For feare is signe of beastly minde,
vnfyt for men is such,
What is the cause that shuld thee moue
to feare this death so much?
Then aunswered I: Good Lady mine
nature doth force me so,
What liuing beast hir not abhors
and seekes from hir to go?
Shee takes from vs both life and goods
delightes and al at ones
The corps to nought resolues, for what
remaines but dust and bones,
in fine all goodly things
Shee here from vs doth take away
and chiefest mischiefe brings.
Whom would not therfore such a beast
and vgley Monster feare
Except his heart were made of steele?
Then Ioue hys daughter deare
With smiling lippes began to say
thou runst beyonde the white,
And art deceiude with forme of truth
and shadow of that light.
It is not easy for eche one
the truth it selfe to know,
Thys is the selfe same bowe that doth
amid the great woode grow
With trees of order thick embracde,
that misty errors hide,
Nor euer might thys golden twig
of many men be spide,
But onely vnto them to whom
the milke white Doues it show,
But I of seede celestiall borne
the truth doe fully knowe:
And can it well to thee declare
if thou to here require.
I nothing more desyre:
We must depart from hence quoth shee
come after me a while.
And forth she leades, not far from thence
where Phebus hye did smyle,
With beating beames vpon the hill,
whose pleasant shining light
Did put the misty cloudes abrode
and darknesse all to flight.
Besyde a spring we both face downe
and vnder Laurell shade
Begins my guide with pleasaunt voice,
and thus hir wordes she made:
An Ape (quoth she) and iesting stock
is man to God in skye,
As oft as he doth trust his wit
to much, presuming hie,
Dare searche the things of nature hid
his secretes for to speake,
when as in very deede his minde
is dull and all to weake.
If he be ignorant of things
that lye before his feete
How thinkst thou those things shal he se
which God and nature sweete
yet al at fingers endes
This hasty blinde vnhappy foole
persuade himselfe he kendes,
So much himself he beares in hand
of al your folishnesse
The spring and chiefe this selfeloue is,
A darknesse great that causeth you,
to knowe the truth the lesse.
Away with this, and better things
thine eyes shal quickly spy,
And those that erst for good yu thoughtst
thou shalt for good deny,
And those that euil now thou thinkest
thou wilt not euill trowe,
This darknesse from thy minde expeld.
I wil therefore thou know,
That mortall state is nothing else
but blathers full of winde,
which here and there on rolling bal
enforceth fortune blinde,
To whome if any wytte they had
should death more welcome be
Than life, syth liuing here all men
wyth harmes oppressed be:
not full of bytternesse
which true I thinke thou wilt beleue
when I shall here expresse
The goods and ylles of mortall life
as briefly as I may.
These two conferd the humaine life
we playnly shall display.
What thing it is, and whither death
ought so much fearde to be.
But fyrst of riches wyll we speake
which euery land we see
Doth prayse, doth seeke, doth wonder at
and couet instantly:
I wil endeuour them to blase.
Good Lady then quoth I
If it you please, this labour spare
for once and long agoe
This lesson learnde I perfectly,
Minerua taught me thoe,
Now forward shew some other case,
not things foreknowen retel.
The whole estate of pleasure to
Arete tolde me well,
So dyd hir sonne Timalphes eke
let this thoe passed be
what else it pleaseth thee.
Then aunswered she, of noblenesse
I somthing here wyll say,
For that is one of chiefest goodes,
and at this present day
Al men do seke this same to haue
and think they it obtayne
Although as farre from it they be
as is the Spaniard playne
Remoued from the man of Inde.
But what is noblenesse?
Of value what? the truth I do
intend for to expresse.
But what auayleth it as nowe
the truth of ought to say
Syth no man wil it nowe beleue
syth al men it denay?
Some kinde of beastes doe flye and hate
continually the light,
And rouing styll amyd the darke
do wander eke by night.
So, many neyther can, nor loue
the light of truth to finde.
For God with nature so deuides
the state of mortall kinde,
the state of man alone
Doth seme to blase the nature full
of other beasts eche one.
So diuers are the thoughtes of man,
and so vnlike they be,
For many still pursue the darke
and truth can neuer see,
And on the Sunne do alwayes loke
wyth watrish winking eyes,
A few with open sight it vewe
whose minde is of the Skies.
Nobillity therefore as doth
the common people say,
In heapes of riches doth consist,
or in the Golden sway,
Or else in bloud, as oft as he
bred vp of gentle like,
Of Belsiers, and of Grandfathers
can brag and armes define,
And can his valeant parents prayse:
this iudgement I refuse,
For styll the common people lye
as they were wont to vse.
A like opinion many haue,
but fewe haue reason playne.
that riches doth obtayne,
Why then good Gentlemen may be
the Sowters and their feares,
The Butchar, Barber, Fishmongers,
and he that horses reares,
The shepheard, and Iack Baker, and
the Tanner with his hide,
The Baud, the Thefe, the Grafter
and other all beside
Of fylthy sorte, for them among
ful many riches haue
And many may, for fortune ofte
extolles the wretched slaue,
And often she doth throwe a downe
with hir vnequal hand
Such as of late she did permitte
aloft on whele to stand.
At that tyme only Marius was
therfore, in noble state
When as a victorer he came
within the Romaines gate
(The Counsel and the Commons al
reioycing much thereat,)
With crowne of Bayes, & horses whyte
ydrawne on Chariot sat,
by wicked Syllæs might,
A banisht man to Minturne fled
lay hid, and wanted light
In dungeon vile, or when he was
constraynd to beg his bread
In Africke land, (O lawes of Gods
O powers to little dread,)
And bread most apt for ditchers tough:
was not this noble man
A wretch as now? from him aloofe
fled noblenesse as than
And strayghtwayes she did eke returne
when Marius came agayne
By lot of chaunged starre to Rome:
their sentence sure is vayne,
If noble state consist in golde,
of earth doth Golde procede
Of fraud, of stealth, of Usery,
we ergo then do spede
Of noblenesse by fraude and stealth,
and eke by Usery,
O iudgement blinde of common sort
of reason cleane wythout,
No Golde can make your noble men
no riches thus can cloute,
than any precious good,
With golde it is not bought nor solde.
But some now bragge of bloud,
And prayses of their kindred prate
while they most wicked be,
And of their parents actes they tell
and olde antiquity,
Of Grandsirs dedes, and bloudy spoyle
of Unckles winning ground,
And though ye slouthful beasts thēselues
wyth thousand crimes abound,
And vertue lacke, yet are they thought
good Gentlemen to be,
Bycause they come of auncient bloud,
and noble auncestrie.
Why bragst thou thus with others acts
and talkst thy Parents prayse,
When as thou art a shame to them
that liude in alder dayes?
The Crowe a Swan would seeme to be
and eke the prating Rooke,
Wyth Pecockes feathers false ystolne
would like a Pecocke loke,
But nature doth forbyd, which is
the spring of noblenesse.
addict to Godlinesse,
Of hir procedeth euery kinde.
The body causeth not
Thee for to be a Gentleman
but minde procureth that.
For many Clownes haue bodies bigge
of fayre and lusty state,
An ornament is noblenesse
to minde appropriate,
And certaine force of nature bredde
which mighty things and hie,
Desyreth still, and things of base
estate settes nothing by,
By which the minde doth striue aloft
lyke fiery flame to ryse,
And lyke the Herne, to pearce the clouds
and baser things despise.
whosoeuer can this strength obtaine
by gift and force deuine
He shall be good and painefull eke,
of powre in counsell fine,
And toyle sustaine something to doe
that shall seeme worthy prayse,
That he himselfe may praise deserue
in long and after dayes.
a thing of value such,
Yea vnto fewe she doth it deale,
whose worthy fame so much
For euer liues in peoples mouthes
long after deathes distresse.
But O condicions yll to tel,
O wondrous fransinesse:
Who would not now be calde & thought
a Gentleman by name:
O Knauishe sorte, O creatures vile
beyond all kinde of shame:
Triumphing names do thee delight,
and fame abrode to yel,
Thee glory likes, then why not payne,
and vertuousnesse as wel,
Contents thy minde that worthyly
thou mayst be named than
A Gentleman, lykes it thee more
a wise and sobre man,
Deseruing not, than of desert
accompted for to be?
Why is not chalke for cheese as wel
delighting vnto thee
As lying name of Noblenesse?
O vile disguised spright,
to guide thy minde aright,
Reason to vse, to flye the things
that shameful are and vayne,
Haunt righteousnesse & know thy selfe,
and labour hard sustayne.
Fly slouthfulnesse, wherby thou mayste
attayne to vertue hie
Then mayst thou wel a Gentleman
be calde, and worthylie,
This, this, is true Nobillity,
these gifts the Gods bestowne,
And these rewardes to men, vnto
the vnlearned sorte vnknowne.
This way the auncient Romaines went,
by this their Empire flew
Aboue the Starres, and when it ceaste
then bad their state adew.
For when as their vnthrifty seede
(their Empire thus encreast)
Did spring amid more prosprous yeres,
they following inward preast
Great riot, playes, and wantonnesse
did cleane forsake the state
Their fathers helde before, whereby
did noblenesse them hate:
till ryot forewarde wrought
And vice, whereby was Rome at length
cleane sackt, and spoilde to nought.
It is not kinred thoe nor bloud
nor spechelesse Imagrie,
Nor heapes of Golde that can thee make
a Gentleman to be.
Uertue, vertue, by hir was made
both Hector and Alcide
Of noble state, by this againe
right Gentleman was tryde
That wight to whom the Iliades got
an euerlasting name.
with diuers other worthy states
of still abiding fame.
why bragst thou that thou doste descende
of noble stocke and bloud?
Great syres thee got, what then, if thou
thy selfe be nothing good?
If thou a villaine doe defyle
and staine thy familye
Then is thy bloud no honour sure
but meere reproche to thee.
Thou art a Monster, shame to them
from whom thy bloud doth passe
begettes a sely Asse
Or Ape of Eliphant is borne:
for noblenesse not so
Is left you here by Testament
nor vertue giuen so,
As house and land and housholde stuffe.
this nature cleare hath delt
Unto thine Auncetours before,
which yet they all not felt.
For if thou shalt the lyne well searche
from whence thou fyrst wert twinde,
Thou shalt perchēace of thine own bloud
full many a cobler finde,
And many a Carter cleane, and one
of them thou shalt well see
was first that causde in time thy stocke
such Gentlemen to bee.
which as it did in time encrease
so time shall it decay
For time doth here bring euery thing
and time takes all away.
Amongst vs all what man to come
of Pompeis bloud is founde?
Of Cesars line, or of that man
to whom did Affricke grounde
what man would once haue thought
That such a stately stocke as these
should euer come to nought?
The highest houses often fall
and come to meere decay:
Oft comes the little house aloft,
of man the state alway
Can not endure. The skyes aboue
doe alter mortall things.
But thou wilt saye, what kinde of seede
is sowne, such fruite it brings,
If I of noble stocke doe come
then shall I noble bee.
Not so, for oft a squall is borne
of goodly men we see
And fayre and eke welfauourde men
yll fauourde knaues haue got,
Of witty men haue Asses come.
The mind engendreth not
As doth the corps of fathers seede,
nor in the fathers sure
It lyes, to giue the children minde.
This, nature doth procure.
What fruite can noble seede vp bring
if skyes doe not agree?
the yeare, not husbandrie
Doth giue the corne a good encrease,
if seede amyd the grounde
Though best be cast, and thereto starres
agreing not be founde,
Thereof will eyther Darnell spring
or lost it els will be,
Thus noble children for to get
the father not (we see,)
Sufficient is except the grace
of Heauens him permit.
That many base, proue noble men
of this here chaunceth it:
Who by their vertue and desertes
obtayning fame thereby
Did after noble make themselues.
What was the Vergill hie?
What was the famous Cicero
what Cato wyse, deuine?
Or what else was Horatius?
all borne of franklynes lyne.
Of whom did learned Homer come
whose syre nor countrey we
As yet doe knowe? Demosthenes
hys father tell thou me,
declare the worthy line
Of Socrates, of him I say,
from whom the sawes deuine
Did Plato learne, who counted was
as then Apollo thought
The wysest man, hym Mason got
that in the Marble wrought,
And eke a Midwyfe was hys dame.
We also well doe knowe
That many haue bene crowned Kings
whose parents were but lowe.
Not seldome Emperours haue come
from base and small estate
To honours hye, what sayst thou then
syth all degenerate,
Both horse & dogges and other beastes
from their long wonted kinde?
For nothing can long time endure
but all things worse we fynde
In time to be by natures rule
and law that still endures
Of destenies, till that againe
an other byrth procures
Restored state, this altering
the worldes chiefe grace I take
of little things to make
Great matters, and the ample things
reduce to smal estate,
To chaunge the face of euery thing
and styl to renouate
Most prudently al things in tyme.
I do not here deny
But that it is a goodly thing
to come of parents hye,
And to be borne of auncient bloud:
for it is worthy sure.
With ayde and good examples eke
such fathers do procure
Their children like themselues to be
if Fates do not say nay,
Or nature strong of force to much:
which who so seekes to stay,
As wel may clime wyth heaped hylls
in heauens hie to dwel
Depriuing Ioue of regal seate
as fame to vs doth tel
When Phlegurs fieldes the tumult felt
of ghastly Giants stout,
How then the great Enceladus,
by force did bring about
with Ossa for to lie
While Ossa then was ouer pressde
with mighty Pelion hie.
But yet we count not this ynough
though all therefore thee call
A Gentleman, and thou art fayre
and framed well withall
Of pleasaunt face, and farest well
and goest in proude aray,
And thereby shewest thy noble stocke,
for this no man can say
Thou art a Gentleman, but that
dame Fortunes grace is thine,
And thou full like a golden puffe
and like a marble signe.
But who regardes, for now ynough
it is, to haue the name
Of vertuous, and of gentlemen,
eche man to seeme the same
Desyreth more than it to be.
O Gods, aboue that guide,
Now names of great magnificence
and titles hie besyde
All men desyre and arrogate,
they hunt and it possesse,
the Ant a Lionesse.
Who will not gentle, iust, and wyse,
well learnde and honest now
Be counted here? contented well
with barke alone of bowe
And outwarde shadowes of the thing
that vnder such a cloke
His wicked maners he may hide.
Now name beares all the stroke
And not the thing: well take therfore
this noble name to thee
As Pasquill is at Rome and as
both Theeues and Harlots bee,
Be noble thou like marble signe.
I put the case a Gentleman
by name and eke in deede
Thou art, what good shall it thee doe,
hereof what shall proceede?
Thou aunswere wilt, I shal haue praise
and honours shall obtaine.
Are these rewardes not to be sought?
or seme they to be vaine.
Of noblenesse doth vertue breede,
of vertue prayse doth spring
it seemes no lawful thing)
With vertue finde a fault: but if
with cleare and perfect eye
Thou shalt beholde the truth in deede,
then shalt thou playne espye
What grefe & payns this vertue brings
and bytter lyfe doth make,
Though they that are of Stoik sect
this for to graunt forsake.
And fyrst we wil the mortal parte
beholde so difficil
That who so seekes it for to kepe
must needes employ his wil
Great cares and labours for to take,
wyth nature warres proclayme,
And fight he must: for nature so
doth minde of man constrayne
Both weake and prone in vice to be
and vertues enimy.
O God, ful soone in vice eche one
doth fal ful readily,
What is the cause that nature is
of man so naught and vile?
Was this thy fault Promotheus?
or doth the fiende beguile,
as fame doth playnly tell,
And causeth loue of wickednesse?
The way that leades to well
Ful hard and sharp and paynful is,
who can we good now fynde?
Of his owne selfe not one, who not
of yll and wicked minde?
Such one as feare of King or lawes
prohibites to offend,
Or such as cannot wel perfourme
the crime he doth entend.
It is not easy sure to winne
and nature put to flight,
Nor for to stay the furies fell
within the heart that fight,
Wherfore it needeful is to striue
from yeres of youthful trayne,
With dayly flight and labours great,
the vices to restrayne.
For custome wonted is to break
the force of nature sure
If that by many yeares it hath
bene vsed to endure.
Mannes life a warrefare (ergo) is
eche fielde the enimy
such gynnes who then can fly?
So many nets who can escape?
for when that fortune smyles
Then creepes in fond laciuiousnesse,
and strings with thousand wiles,
Fast by encampeth swelling pride
with slouth and gluttony,
And folish boldnesse strayght doth ryse
wyth griefe and feare thereby,
And poyson fel of enuy and yre
doth then possesse his minde.
When as he liues in great vnhap
then seekes he for to finde
Al meanes he can away to driue
his wretched pouerty,
Then false he playes, he robs & steales,
his lack for to supply.
Oh Lord thus wise are mortal men
betwene the cruel rockes
Of Charibdis and Scilla tost,
of both receyue they knockes.
And while they seke these yls to shunne
to other straight they fall.
If valeant they do seeke to be
then daungers dire they shall
if vertue they do heede
That guides the actes of mortal men,
then them commaundeth neede
Al ioyes away to driue and put,
and eke wyth saged sawe
A life vnpleasant for to leade.
If iust and righteous lawe
Seeke any man for to obserue,
then profyt must away
This iustice is of many praysde
and fewe retayne it aye.
If prudence any man do please
he must in any case
Beware he put his trust in none,
for now in euery place
Are great deceytes, and perils rise,
and wyth simplicity
In fine who that is good receaues
most often harme we see,
He least in safety liues and feeles
more hurt than al the rest
For this same world a storehouse is
where mischiefes al be prest,
All goodnesse here exiled is
the simple Hares thereby
their bane come sonest by,
But rare the hunter hunts the Beare,
amyd the woods so hie
The Lion reasts, go now thy wayes,
and leade thou simply
A gentle life wyth innocents,
that soner so thou may
Unto the greedy gaping wolues
become a grateful pray.
The world (alas) doth now abound
with tirants ouer al,
The strong tread vnder fote the weake,
the mighty hurt the smal.
The Egles chase the fearful Swannes,
the Haukes doe Throstles kil,
And sary simple seely doues
destroyes with croked byl.
The speckled Serpent kylls the Frogs
and Lizartes vp doth eate
And in the woods the greatest beastes
of lesser make their meate.
Thou monsters also doest possesse
O seas of mighty powre
That wyth a gaping greedy throte
the little fysh deuoure.
the enmy euery where
Is now at hand, it profits smal
to liue vnhurtful here.
Beholde how good is vertues parte
that goodnesse here doth trayne,
For when ye haue it gotten once
with labour and great payne
Amid your enmies al she doth
you thus vnarmed send.
But thou wilt say, such vertuousnesse
do lawes and Kings defend.
O would to God that this were so,
but now in euery place
With money lawes corrupted are
and eke the Princes grace
Is pleasde with precious gifts and sute,
the lawes set them on rack
That eyther haue no pens to pay
or frendship else do lack.
The other scape as innocents
howsoeuer iudgement trye:
Lyke as the fly that smallest is
in weaued Cobweb hye
That Spyder makes remayneth wrapt
where if a greater stray
The lawes (as wel doth say
That Barbarous sage of Scythia)
the seely soule doth tye
Whereas the rich and mighty men
burst through ful easily.
The other parte of vertue, that
doth search wyth studious payne
And for to knowe the causes hyd
of nature, doth obtayne,
And troth to learne, that scarce you can
at any time come by:
How hard and ful of payne it is
they knowe that it do try.
Fyrst vnder maisters rule wyth strypes
they are constraynde to liue,
And there accoumpt of lessons hard
with feare and teares to giue:
Shut vp as it in prison were
whereby they may not goe
Abrode, wythout the tyrants leaue
although them forceth thoe
The office of the Campo Clubbe,
restraynt of Blathers might,
Though hunger pricke, and lust to play
wherein they most delight.
approching present stand,
Then nede requires more diligence
some one then sekes the land
Wherein Anthenor last arriued
with raging flouds to striue
Of Venice gulfe, to Naples else
through Tuscan seas doth driue:
An other fast to Perouse sayles
or gayneward Rome do fleete,
There from his countrey farre exilde
wyth many woes to meete,
With lack of meate and quiet sleepes
and want of Venus play,
On bookes wyth study for to loke,
applying day by day.
For otherwyse can none be learnd
except wyth vntrue fame,
For fewe are learned now in deede
but many are in name.
Ioyes hurt them much & pleasures eke
that seke for to attayne
To top of learnings palace hie:
for this beates back agayne
Their mindes from treading crabbed pathes
by which the iourney bends
For he that thus intendes
A name throughout the world to get,
must suffer dayly payne.
Great griefs hereby some men wyth yll
digestion eft sustayne,
Of many whilste to much they reade
both syght and eyes decay,
By study great their stomack rawe
their colour falles away.
Then leannesse cōmes wt wayward age
nor maruel is it thoe,
Sith for to knowe the truth doth styll
beyond mannes nature goe,
And proper is to God alone.
Like as the Owle of night
Can not beholde the shining Sunne,
with clere and perfect sight:
So fares the minde of man as oft
as it intends to flye
Aloft, to search the secret things
falles headlong strayght from hye.
Now mortal men dare reache at things
to Gods appropriate,
And foolisher they proue themselues
the more they seke the state
pertaine to them no whit?
Except that God graūt them from hye
both reason grace and wit.
But happy are the Aungels all
for they the worlde doe know
What thing it is, how much, how great
whereof it fyrst did grow,
The Lorde and maker of the same,
all things that may be thought,
The Causes hid, the priuie strengthes
whereby all things are wrought.
This is the lyfe that they doe leade
and this their pleasure all:
On meate or sleepe they neuer thinke
to griefes they are not thrall,
No hope of gaine, no feare of losse
doth cause them for to fret,
But alwayes are of perfect power
this knowledge true to get.
Sapience to Aungels doth belong
and Gods aboue you see
Where onely prudence doth pertaine
to men that mortall bee
Whereby they may take good aduise
from harmes and hurts to flie
and liue here quietly.
What thing to doe and what to leaue
to man doth prudence showe
Therefore who wysheth well to liue
and eke where thornes doe growe
With feete vnpricked for to go,
let him seeke hir to knowe.
Who wyll not hym acount a foole
that things of greatest gaine
Forsaking quite, doth seeke to get
things strange and also vaine,
Who sekes aboue his reache to roue
and while he climes to hie
Comes tumbling downe lyke Icarus.
in waters deepe to lye?
The Tode that late did seeke to matche
the Oxe in drinking vaine
His panche asunder bursten thoe
doth neuer drinke againe:
while as syr Phæton sought to rule
the brideled iades on hye
with earthly hande, was he not forcde
in Padus streams to lye
His life and chariot both resygnde
with this vnhappy fall?
within dame natures wall
Nor more he dare than hym becomes
except that God him moues:
Let mortall men such things regarde
as mortall men behoues.
Let them not search beyond their powre
least if they clyme to hye
They hedlong fal and proue themselues
a laughing stocke thereby.
As if an Oxe woulde vpwarde clime
abrode his flight to take,
Or if an Asse a Lute would sounde
melodious noise to make.
But let it bee that one obtaine
all artes in memory,
By which he many bookes can make,
what good gettes he thereby?
what iust rewarde shall conteruaile
the paines that he endures?
Fame, prayse, and glory, thou wilt say
rewarde to him procures,
Hys name thereby shall euer lyue,
and alwayes eke remayne.
But I would haue the wel perpende
and also viewe more playne
For many things we see,
In other shapes than in their owne
transformed for to bee
Which wt a cloke and shadowing mist
deceiue the minde and eyes.
Hereof good things are counted nought
and euill good likewise:
All foolishnesse hereof doth spring.
Ful oft is Copper tride
In Siluer rounde enclosde to lye,
oft Golde doth Iron hyde,
And purest shelles within containe
the nuts that rotten bee,
In skinnes of sheepe full oft to lurke
the wylie Wolfe you see.
Doe not the gorgeous hangings hyde
the dusty mouldred wall,
Where gaping riftes vnsemely syt
and wormes consuming crall?
There is a sharper syght that sees
what hyd in secrete lyes,
Who vseth thys shall iudge aright
and wonders see with eyes.
I here demaunde what fame doth help,
what prayse? or what renowne?
whom death hath stricken downe?
No more for trouth than doth the harp,
the deafe vnhearing wyght,
No more thā gorgeous plays doth plese
the man that lackes hys syght.
Thou answerst here, that they that liue
and they that here awake
Reioyce therin, and for the same
no perils they forsake,
But breath and bloud doe both resigne
thys thing for to obtaine.
Ambition many doth enforce
and driue to glories gaine
Much like a spurre, and many brings
to toppes of vertue hye
With prickes, prouoking sluggishe folk
by force of sworde to try
Some worthy thing, and if they nilt
by force perfourme the same,
That then by wyt they take in hande
some thing of worthy fame.
Yet is ambition sure a vice
and no man will we see
Be called so, and they that are
ambitious, counted bee
as once the Romains warre,
Requested of the common sort
(reiecting shame afarre)
As oft as they their voices sought
with humble sute did pray
Good will of Rascalles for to get
that they might beare the sway
In cōmon welth, their owne things left
whereby they might go iet
Amid the stretes with traine of men
and stately countenaunce set.
For hir owne selfe is vertue sought,
and not for honors sake,
Though she of right deserueth sure
chiefe honors for to take.
No vertue moues the common sort
they rather hir despise
wherfore must Fortune fauour needes
and richesse eke suffise.
Then prayse renowne and worthinesse
will also present be.
In euery place if liuing lacke
doth vertue begge we see.
But yet it forceth not if that
the donghill cocke doe gesse
this makes not it the lesse
Of value: so the vertuous man
content with eche degre
Despising praise of common sort
regardes not vanitie.
The face that well preporcioned is
requires no paynted hewe,
And of it selfe may bare be shewde
the golde that tryed is true.
But he that vertue is without
doth counterfait the same
And vnderneth disguised cloke
procures a vertuous name.
wherfore if thou dost well discerne
thou shalt beholde and see
This mortall lyfe that here you leade
a Pageant for to bee.
The diuers partes therein declared
the chaunging world doth showe
The maskers are eche one of them
with liuely breath that blow.
For almost euery man now is
desguised from his kinde
And vnderneth a false pretence
they sely soules doe blinde.
wyth toyes and trifles vayne,
Which here in Pageāts fond they passe
while they do life retayne.
Fame, glory, prayse, and eke renowne
are dreames and profitlesse
Bicause with chaunce they are obtaynd
and not by vertuousnesse.
But let it be they graunted are
to such as worthy be
Tel me do they the body good?
no whit I promise thee.
Help they the mind? as much for truth,
they blowe them vp before
Depriuing them of sobrenesse
they make them careful more.
For he that after honour seekes
must cap and crouch ful low
Wyth bribing gifts beseching men
his simple state to know.
This is therefore a wretched life
and ful of businesse,
With enuy oft it compassde is
and oft in great distresse.
But he that vertue true can get
he liues most quietly
the rest to Gods on hye.
Sufficient honour vnto man
is to deserue the same,
For to the vnworthy honour dealt
you can not honour name,
To such it is a burden great
and more a scorneful thing
As when vpon the stage a foole
comes dressde vp like a King.
Now wil I here declare and tel
of man the mischieues al
Assone as he from mothers wombe
with bloud embrued doth cral,
He strayghtway cries, and weping luck
him brings to wretched life,
For seing wel by nature shewde
the cares and bytter strife
Wherwith this mortall life abounds.
So depe with groning winde
The marchant sighes, and feares as oft
as he doth cal to minde
The perils great that ships are in,
the force of Pirats hand,
The boystrous windes, & raging Seas,
with rockes and drenching sand.
him binding bonds do holde,
And straight his tender ioynts and lims
the swadling clothes do folde:
As tokens yll of bondage great
that he in time must weare,
For who is free? lawes, kings & crimes
haue al thing subiect here,
And eche man serues for hope of gayne
or else wyth force constraynd.
Al beastes as sone as they are bred
with lymmes are straight sustaynd.
And walke abrode immediatly,
where man is nothing so,
But long his mouth and minde he lacks
and strength of limmes to go.
Much like a sounding picture made
with crying neuer styll
Disturbing al men night and day
with voyce and waylings shrill.
And when on limmes he stiffer stands,
and words can wel pronounce
Then bound he is, and suffers threates,
then maisters on him bounce,
With lashing strypes, and ofte his syre,
oft mother on him layes,
sometime his stepdames frayes,
with blowes not few that stepsyre giues
and when this age is past
Then lusty youth approching cōmes,
and strength increaseth fast.
Now from his mouth he shakes the bit,
now councel none he heares,
He rageth now with furious mode,
and burnes in youthful yeares,
With rage and riot runnes he mad,
and rash without aduise,
No counsell will he take therein,
but wytty sawes despise.
No daungers now he doth esteme
so he the thing obtayne
Whereto lasciuious lust him moues
and force of wilful brayne.
Neglecting lawes he brawles & fyghtes
and braynsicke runnes astray,
The greatest parte of youth are now
with surfets led away.
A fewe whome feare, or shamefastnesse
or wysdome doth restrayne,
Their youthfull dayes vprightly leade
and voyd of vicious stayne.
and cares with hir she brings,
And labours hard, then toyles the man
about a hundred things,
And al the meanes he can he sekes
his liuing to prouide,
At home he neuer ydle stands,
but here or there must ride,
In towne, or else at fielde he works
with labour great and payne,
His wife, his children and his men
wherby he may sustayne.
Alone for al he careth then,
he tastes no daynty meate,
Nor quiet sleepes, but forward nowe
him driues ambition great
And giues him rule in common wealth,
where while for honours hie
The foole doth gape, he malice doth
and mischieues great come by.
Then wrinkled age wyth hoary hayres
encrocheth in apace
The body fades, the strength abates,
the beauty of his face
And colour goes, his senses fayle,
his eares and eyes decay,
frequenteth him alway,
Scarce chawes his meate his tothlesse chaps
scarce walks wt staffe in hand
His croked olde vnweldy limmes,
whereon he scarce may stand.
The minde likewise doth feele decay,
now dotes he like a childe,
And through his weake and aged yeres
is wisdome quite exilde.
Eche age therefore his mischiefe hath,
but mischiefes more there be,
That doth belong to euery age
to al of eche degree.
Sometime doth colde to much them vex
and Snowes that flakey flye,
And Northern Boreas winde so brym
when Ise doth hang full hie
On house, and when the waters depe
congealed styll do stay
Now raging heate of Sommer burnes
while Sunne doth kepe his way
Through blasing breath of Lion fierce,
the fields depriude of greene,
The groūd by drythe doth gape for rain
and moysture none is seene,
the Pooles and Fennes be dry
Nowe hunger pricks, nowe thirste doth greue
and dearth doth make thē cry:
Who can in verse declare to men
the sicknesses that raynes
In mortal life? the Agues hote,
the griefe and raging paynes
That ouer al the body runnes?
eche member poyson feeles,
The hand, the syde, the syght, is vext
and al from head to heeles
Doth griefe and sicknesse sore sustayne,
Why do I them resight?
Why seke I here the Cranes to tell
in Strimon flouds that light?
Or number great of Swans that swim
in streames of Troian land?
Oft times the minde doth lose his state
by hearbs or Witches hand:
Or when at sacred Ceres feast
some fiende in brest doth lye,
Or when possest wyth Bacchus force
abrode with rage they flye,
Though griefe wt yre and couetousnesse
ambition and delight
as doth of wine the might
Procuring darknesse to the minde.
If truth we therfore say,
Al dronke with beastly affects of minde
are most men at this day,
But fewe (alas) there can be found
that reele not here and there,
That can discerne what they should do
wyth beames of eyesight clere:
And guide them selues by reasons rule.
Hereof aduisedly
One sayd the number endlesse was
of fooles abrode that flye.
For who nedes not Helleborus
that giues the purging stooles?
But seuen wise the Grekes could finde,
among ten thousand fooles.
The nurse and dam of mortal kinde
dame Folly sure is thought
Wythout whose grace all thing woulde fade
and men wold here do nought,
She Captayne chief are wars begunne
and al that thereto long,
As armour bright, and Targets fayre
with Ancents eke among.
wyth sundry sort of beastes,
Of hir comes playes and daunces fyne
and dronken Bacchus feastes,
All nice delightes and wanton gestes
wyth sutes of fonde aray
From hir doth come, wt heapes of bokes
compyled day by daye.
The floudes of trifles fonde doe flowe
by hir, and euery thing
Most part at least that man here doth,
proceede from such a spring.
But now the wofull hurts and harmes
and dolefull destenye
That man sustaines, can none declare
though eloquent he be,
Now drownde in fluds here sinks theron
and vnto fyshes great
The symple wretche of soule depriude
becomes a dainty meate.
An other downe from house doth fall
and shewes a tumbling point,
And through hys hast receiues a clap
that crackes hys chiefest ioint:
Or batters sore his tender limmes
and some the lightnings smite
the falling house doth light,
And doth vnlode him of his braines,
some fier fries to death,
Wyth hurtfull herbs or Mushroms vile
some yelde their vitall breath.
And some when as to fast he eates,
while gredy guts doe gripe,
Doth ouercharge his peece with lumps
that stops hys drinking pipe.
How many feares the raging beast
with teeth something to keene,
With Iron shoes of Horses slaine
how many hath bene seene
And many goarde wt wilde Bulls horne
that roring mad doth fling?
What shuld I shew the daungers great
that man to man doth bring?
No beast he needeth more to feare
than fellowes of his owne:
So many knaues and theeues hereby
and persons vile are knowne,
So many witnesse false that beare,
so many vicious slaues,
So many liuing on the spoyle,
and cut throte swearing knaues,
and in none other plight,
Than doth the merry beastes disturbe
the Lionesse in syght.
He with hys tongue procureth harme,
he with hys sworde doth fray,
The greatest sort with craft doth hurt,
one robbes in open way,
An other filcheth priuily:
some sort there also be,
That vnder cloke of frendship strong
or of Hypocrisye,
Such men deceiue as they doe knowe
to be of credite light.
All men almost (O wicked kinde)
in others harme delight,
The brother scarce may brother trust,
eche man his friende must feare
The father of hys sonne in doubt
doth liue, sure Hell is here,
The furies and the stinking flouds
that lye in Lumbo lake
The gaping grenning Helhound wood
and all that Hell doth take.
Sleepe only peace to man doth bring
amid his fleeting life,
more sweete or voide of strife:
For cares and labour it exiles,
and with his pleasant wings,
The wretched body resting brodes,
and sweete estate him brings.
Yet nature seemes thys rest to hate
and ordainde hath hereby
The stinging Gnat and byting Flea,
to vexe continually
With twinging prick this pleasant ioy,
whereby both night and day
Might mischiefes euer present be.
More better farre away
Therefore is death, than picture hys,
For who so once the seas of lyfe
in ioyfull bote hath past,
And in the quiet hauen fayre
his Anker safe hath cast,
With mery heart doth laugh to scorne
the blastes of raging wyndes
With tempests black, and Leucoths hed
which floury Garlandes byndes,
Doth honor much, and Melicort
with giftes he doth salute,
with playes of sundry sute.
Death endes al pain, al bonds doth lose,
death causes feare to flie,
And daungers all by death are forcde
to rest eternally.
And as no griefe nor paine thee vext
before thy Syre thee got,
So shalt thou feele no griefe nor paine
when death hir dart hath shot.
Who can conceiue the times as yll
he felt hys byrth before?
Or iudge of dayes he neuer saw
or shall see neuer more?
Or who will once dispraise the night
as wretched, nought or yll
Wherein possest of deadly sleepe
he senselesse lay ful still?
For what is death continuall sleepe.
what sleepe? for small time death.
But many thinke soules neuer die
but after losse of breath
The dead they say doe liue againe,
and fleshe forsaking quite
As cockels from the shell outdrawne
to Pluto take their flight:
in kingdome blacke to sayle.
There faine they woods of Mirtel trees
where wofull louers wayle.
There riuers run wyth flaming flouds
and dreadfull Monsters bee
That poysō fome, with gaping throtes,
theyr places may you see
Of diuers forme, where Infants crye,
and where the gilty Ghostes
The furies fierce of Hell doe burne,
and whip fast lynckd to postes,
And where the pleasant fieldes doe lye
with goodly greene arayed,
As due to blessed men that here
their pagents wel haue playde.
But other now say otherwise
and soules they graunt remayne
But those that wel in earth haue liude
with starres aboue shall rayne,
And they againe that lyke to beastes
haue serude licencious minde,
And God neglect, in forme of beastes
to liue are all assinde:
In brutishe shape to wander long
by iudgement iust are made,
they come to hyghest grade.
Which things in deede if they wer true
death fearefull might be thought,
Or at the least a better lyfe
and voide of sinne be sought:
For to the iust hereby is got
the ioyes and pleasures true,
Wheras the wicked shall receiue
their paines and merits due.
But whether that the deade doe liue
or that they nothing bee
And soule with body hath hys ende,
pertaineth not to mee.
For I mee thinks haue sayd ynough:
enquire of Sister mine,
Whom Grecians, wysedome euer call,
these thoughtes she doth defyne,
And alwayes searcheth secrete things
and verity doth showe,
Hir teaching, well thou maist attaine
the state of soules to knowe.
Except it serue to tell thee that
death is not to be dred,
At least vnto the iust that here
a righteous life haue led:
in sleepe that still doth last,
Or happy else they shall receiue
rewardes for vertue past.
wherfore go to liue Godly now,
put vice from minde away,
So death shall seme but light to thee
and graue thee not shall fray.
But now in minde these words reuolue
both speake and think this thing:
What hurt shall death to mee procure
what losse shall graue mee bring?
No whit for trouth. what will it haue?
of richesse mee depriue.
But richesse then I shall not neede,
for nothing then I striue.
But richest then I may be calde,
for welthyest is the wight
Not that doth most possesse, but he
that lacketh least in syght.
Gold, siluer, precious stones, and lands,
with sumptuous fyne aray
With other lyke, I will despise,
as things that I not way:
Nor pleasure past shall greue me then
no more than greueth beastes
or Custards fyne in feastes
The thinges that no man doth desyre
what if they not be had?
But friends & children sweete to leaue
wil make (thou sayest) men sad.
Why shuld this thing me greue so much,
were it not hurtful more
If in my life my frends should dye
and I lament therfore
Continually? as some do write
how for Antilochus
Syr Nestor wept, as for his sonne
(whome slewe the King Turnus
While he the Troians armies helpt)
Euandre liude in woe.
I go before, and what for this
they all shall after goe,
When God appoynted hath their time,
and me agayne shall see:
If soules be ought as we beleue,
as Christ declares they be.
Well whatsoeuer that it is
death yll I may not call
Bycause it riches takes away
and pleasaunt ioyes wythall.
the vse doth nature giue,
And not the thing it selfe she deales
to mortal men that liue.
Sith nothing then to me belongs
to death I wyl resigne
Al other things that here I haue
as nothing sure of mine.
What if I others goods do leaue?
wherfore should I lament
If nature nowe do aske agayne
the things that she me lent?
I naked came into this world
and naked wil I out.
For this world is an Inne where hostes
of men a wondrous route:
Who for a time do vse the foode
that layes before their face,
Their hoste and therewithal doth say,
syrs take and eate apace,
Not for desertes of you we giue
these things, but of good wyll
These pleasant dishes here we set
therewith your selues to fyll
Untill such time as I thinke good
to byd you hence departe
now eate with ioyfull harte,
But when the houre last shal come
wherein I byd you go,
With willing minde obey me then,
and place resigne you thoe
To other gests that here shal syt,
let them reioyce a while
wyth dishes these: who wyll repine
(except he be to vile,
Lack wyt, or else vnthanckfull be)
hearing these wordes to go
From others dores, or else wyll syt
while he commaundeth so?
But he shal cry come forth you Knaue
and thrust him out by the eares
And yll apayd he forwardes goes,
wyth woful weping teares.
Wherfore should I if he do call
that all things here doth guide
Repine to go from hence, or seeke
in wretched life to byde
As many do? nor fyt it is,
nay willing hence I go
And leaue this fylthy world I wyll,
where thousand mischieues flowe,
where iustice none doth dwell,
Where peace and quietnesse is fled,
where vices beare the bell,
Where brother sekes the brothers blud,
where sonne the father hates,
Where discorde euermore doth raigne,
and guile in maried mates.
No man there is, at least but rare,
who (if he can) not steales,
Who robbeth not, who doth not fayne,
and who not falsiy deales.
That well this world may now be calde
of theeues a gaping den.
Loe, Kings and Bishops proude besyde,
by name of Godly men
The commons poore do powle and pyl,
and Citizens do shere
And simple innocents destroy.
what should I recken here
The horedomes great committed now?
all flowes with vice we see,
The naughty act do yong men vse,
and close misused be,
Who plants not hornes in neighbours heads?
the balde religious frye
or close wyth boyes do lye:
To widdowes graue or tender maydes,
the holy priestes do crepe.
And some within their kinsfolkes bed
haue great delight to slepe.
Some slaues wt bests themselues defile:
the fieldes and groue of tree
And euery towne is now a stewes.
And harmes that instant be
And daungers great that haps to men,
and labours great and sore,
And al the supersticious sorte
of false religious lore.
What nede we subiectes now to be?
syth (O the shameful state)
Unwytty and grosseheaded fooles
and they that learning hate
(To whome the dice, and Dogs to kepe
with byrdes of rauening kinde
And horses ryde, with other toyes
is all their chiledish minde)
Do Scepters holde, and peoples guide,
and gouerne Cities strong?
Hereof such errors vp do spring
with folishnesse among,
if this thou callest to minde
Thou shalt not feare this foolish worlde
and nought, to leaue behinde:
Yea thou wilt count it wel that once
Calanus and his feares
Did bring to passe, who slewe thēselues
to scape these wretched yeares
And staying death with hand did haste,
nor longer would preserue
The dying Corps, nor wretched flesh
with labour long to serue.
And if religion sayd not nay
and lawes of Plato hie
And GOD himselfe, I would persuade
thee forthwith for to die,
And wicked chaunce and wretched earth
to leaue as vayne and nought,
Not wine as wine desyred is
but wine and good is sought.
So life as life is nothing worth
if goodnesse lack we see,
If it be naught, as wine corrupt
let it despised be.
For life it selfe we nede not wysh,
nor fled it ought to be.
and barke of euery tree,
And euery vile and little thing
doth life in it possesse,
No kinde of thing desyred is
where wanteth pleasauntnesse.
If it be not both life and good
I see no cause whereby,
It should be wisht or may be loued.
Therefore who feares to dye
Is but a foole since he desires
such hurt and harme to byde
Both of the body and the minde
with labours long besyde
Before he would al kinde of grieues
with flesh from him expel,
And euer in tranquillity
and perfect rest to dwell,
Or leauing members here behinde
to liue for euermore,
Where he shal want no kinde of thing
nor sorrow feele nor sore,
And with the saincts togither there
about the world to flye,
More swift than al the windes that be
beholding things on hye.
and force him styll to dwell
Beneath in Corners deepe of earth
amyd the raygne of Hell.
When thus this Lady fayre had sayd
she rose and stode by me
And on my head (refusing I)
she put the Laurell tree,
And thence departing forth she flewe
where shining starres we see.
Explicit media Pars.
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