Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age Described in sundry Poems intermixedly placed after certaine other Poems of more speciall respect: And before the same is an Oration or speech intended to haue bene deliuered by the Author hereof unto the Kings Maiesty [by Edward Hake] |
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A liuely description of Ingratitude by a Fable of a Serpent and a way-faring man.
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 | Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age |  |
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A liuely description of Ingratitude by a Fable of a Serpent and a way-faring man.
A Serpent fast enclosed in a Caue,
Vpon the mouth whereof a stone did lye,
Did piteously complaine and succour craue
Of such as then by chaunce were passing by.
A man there was that did regard his crie,
And to the Serpents suite this answere gaue:
Thou wilt inuade my life if thine I saue.
Vpon the mouth whereof a stone did lye,
Did piteously complaine and succour craue
Of such as then by chaunce were passing by.
A man there was that did regard his crie,
And to the Serpents suite this answere gaue:
Thou wilt inuade my life if thine I saue.
The Serpent then vnto the man replide,
O no, not so, but rather if by thee
My life be sau'd, which else is here destroyde,
Ile giue thee then the chiefest thing that yee
Of humane race and kinde accustom'd be
To giue to those who haue done for you most:
O saue me man, else here my life is lost.
O no, not so, but rather if by thee
My life be sau'd, which else is here destroyde,
Ile giue thee then the chiefest thing that yee
Of humane race and kinde accustom'd be
To giue to those who haue done for you most:
O saue me man, else here my life is lost.
The man much pitying his distressed case,
Remou'd the stone and let the Serpent out:
Who being out, did straight his limmes embrace
And with his hissing wound his legges about:
Herewith the man grew into fearefull doubt,
And asking what his meaning was thereby,
To kill thee (quoth the Serpent here to dye:
Remou'd the stone and let the Serpent out:
Who being out, did straight his limmes embrace
And with his hissing wound his legges about:
Herewith the man grew into fearefull doubt,
And asking what his meaning was thereby,
To kill thee (quoth the Serpent here to dye:
For such is the reward (quoth he) that men
On earth do giue and euery where bestow
On those who vnto them most firme haue ben:
Ingratitude from each ones brest doth flow,
And there is none from whome requitals grow.
The man denying this, they both agreed
That Iudges should decide the case: so on they yeede,
On earth do giue and euery where bestow
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Ingratitude from each ones brest doth flow,
And there is none from whome requitals grow.
The man denying this, they both agreed
That Iudges should decide the case: so on they yeede,
And as they passe, they meete an aged horse,
Deathes picture sure was he, whome late before
The owner had thrust forth without remorse:
They in this case of theirs his helpe implore
The feeble horse all galde, which grieu'd him sore,
Accepted of the charge, and thus began:
There was a time (quoth he) my selfe know whan,
Deathes picture sure was he, whome late before
The owner had thrust forth without remorse:
They in this case of theirs his helpe implore
The feeble horse all galde, which grieu'd him sore,
Accepted of the charge, and thus began:
There was a time (quoth he) my selfe know whan,
For many yeeres a maister I did serue,
Who in my youth was glad to vse me well,
But being olde, he gaue me leaue to sterue,
Because that olde, I lame and feeble fell:
And though in youth I bare away the bell,
And was esteemde, yet now, my labour past,
He thrusts me forth an Abiect at the last.
Who in my youth was glad to vse me well,
But being olde, he gaue me leaue to sterue,
Because that olde, I lame and feeble fell:
And though in youth I bare away the bell,
And was esteemde, yet now, my labour past,
He thrusts me forth an Abiect at the last.
Loe, thus you heare (quoth Serpent) what he sates:
The like requitall must thou haue of me:
Not so (sir) said the man: This horses prayse
Is of himselfe: And yet you plainly see
His ill deserts, not Age the causes be,
And being now enlargde from former toyle,
Here may he shift to liue vpon this Soyle.
The like requitall must thou haue of me:
Not so (sir) said the man: This horses prayse
Is of himselfe: And yet you plainly see
His ill deserts, not Age the causes be,
And being now enlargde from former toyle,
Here may he shift to liue vpon this Soyle.
And therefore from his Sentence I appeale,
And will be tride by one that is vpright:
This idle Iade decideth not of zeale,
But what he speakes, he speaketh in despight,
And would much more if malice were of might:
The next we meete therefore shall heare the strife,
For why (quoth he) it doth concerne my life.
And will be tride by one that is vpright:
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But what he speakes, he speaketh in despight,
And would much more if malice were of might:
The next we meete therefore shall heare the strife,
For why (quoth he) it doth concerne my life.
Then forward still they passe till at the length
They meete a dogge, whom also age had worne,
A sily Curre was he cleane void of strength,
And one who many miseries had borne,
An halter lately this poore dogge had torne,
For why, the end then compassed his necke,
Whereby it seem'd he had escapte a checke.
They meete a dogge, whom also age had worne,
A sily Curre was he cleane void of strength,
And one who many miseries had borne,
An halter lately this poore dogge had torne,
For why, the end then compassed his necke,
Whereby it seem'd he had escapte a checke.
The matter then vnto this dogge declarde,
Like doome he gaue, as did the horse before,
Whereat the Serpent as a victor farde,
But yet for this the man would not giue ore,
But tooke exceptions nothing lesse, but more:
This halters end (quoth he) doth well reueale
What this dogge is: wherefore I do appeale
Like doome he gaue, as did the horse before,
Whereat the Serpent as a victor farde,
But yet for this the man would not giue ore,
But tooke exceptions nothing lesse, but more:
This halters end (quoth he) doth well reueale
What this dogge is: wherefore I do appeale
From him as from the horse: that halters end
Doth shew, that he condemned was to die
For some offence, though fortune as his friend
That fate of his hath turned cleane awry,
And lent him strēgth frō halters strength to flie.
The Serpent seeing this to be so plaine,
Could not reply, but gaue consent againe
Doth shew, that he condemned was to die
For some offence, though fortune as his friend
That fate of his hath turned cleane awry,
And lent him strēgth frō halters strength to flie.
The Serpent seeing this to be so plaine,
Could not reply, but gaue consent againe
That this their cause should once more be referd
To him whom: next they met. And so content
They onward walke, and as they then conferd,
They met a curteous Foxe who grauely went
In long Furd gowne, he to them hearing lent.
Which done, withdrew himselfe that he thereby
Might better vse aduise to iudge truly,
To him whom: next they met. And so content
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They met a curteous Foxe who grauely went
In long Furd gowne, he to them hearing lent.
Which done, withdrew himselfe that he thereby
Might better vse aduise to iudge truly,
And secretly vnto the man meane while thus spake:
My friend (sayd he) thy life lies in my hand:
Wilt thou therefore agree if for thy sake
I iudge the cause (which doubtfully doth stand)
Vpon thy side, that I by promise band
Shall haue the Poultry which thou dost possesse,
I say thy Poultry be they more or lesse?
My friend (sayd he) thy life lies in my hand:
Wilt thou therefore agree if for thy sake
I iudge the cause (which doubtfully doth stand)
Vpon thy side, that I by promise band
Shall haue the Poultry which thou dost possesse,
I say thy Poultry be they more or lesse?
My Poultry? (quoth the man) how can the same
Serue as a Guerdon for my liues release?
There shall not one, not Pertellot by name,
Be kept from thee, nor euer will I cease
To yeeld thee yeare by yeare of my increase.
Sufficeth (sayd the Foxe) thus will I do,
I will require my selfe to go into
Serue as a Guerdon for my liues release?
There shall not one, not Pertellot by name,
Be kept from thee, nor euer will I cease
To yeeld thee yeare by yeare of my increase.
Sufficeth (sayd the Foxe) thus will I do,
I will require my selfe to go into
The Caue to see how there the Serpent lay,
And when the Serpent is come in t'expresse
The maner how, Ile quickly whip away,
And being gone, then worke thine owne redresse,
Roll on the stone before he forward presse.
The matter thus agreed, the Foxe retires
Vnto the Serpent, and of him requires
And when the Serpent is come in t'expresse
The maner how, Ile quickly whip away,
And being gone, then worke thine owne redresse,
Roll on the stone before he forward presse.
The matter thus agreed, the Foxe retires
Vnto the Serpent, and of him requires
As is in sort declarde: They go yfeere
Into the Caue, the Foxe soone skippeth out,
The man who then was standing very neere,
Rolles on the Stone: So things are brought abowt.
The Stone once on, not all the learned Rowt
Of Foxes, nor of Serpents in that feeld
Could stirre the same, or any comfort yeeld
Into the Caue, the Foxe soone skippeth out,
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Rolles on the Stone: So things are brought abowt.
The Stone once on, not all the learned Rowt
Of Foxes, nor of Serpents in that feeld
Could stirre the same, or any comfort yeeld
Vnto that traitrous worme enclosde againe.
Then there he lyes. And now I will proceed
To shewe the rest that hereof doth remaine,
New dishes oft, new Appetites do breed,
And many a one of later course doth feed,
Tis tragicall that resteth to be tolde:
What then? beet good or bad, our course weele holde.
Then there he lyes. And now I will proceed
To shewe the rest that hereof doth remaine,
New dishes oft, new Appetites do breed,
And many a one of later course doth feed,
Tis tragicall that resteth to be tolde:
What then? beet good or bad, our course weele holde.
The Foxe and man togither thence do go
In friendly sort vnto the good-mans house
About the bargaine of the Powltry tho.
But wilt thou goe poore Foxe? auis avous.
Thy bargaine will be scarcely worth a louse,
Th'vnthankfulnesse that raigneth in this Age,
I feare me Foxe, must be thy deathes presage.
In friendly sort vnto the good-mans house
About the bargaine of the Powltry tho.
But wilt thou goe poore Foxe? auis avous.
Thy bargaine will be scarcely worth a louse,
Th'vnthankfulnesse that raigneth in this Age,
I feare me Foxe, must be thy deathes presage.
But well, what is foreset, must come to passe:
Not onely death appointed is to all,
But eke the maner how, as here it was:
For nought to man or beast by chaunce doth fall,
There is none such as men do Fortune call.
Against blacke death no crast nor cunning swayes:
The Foxe for all his craft must ende his daies.
Not onely death appointed is to all,
But eke the maner how, as here it was:
For nought to man or beast by chaunce doth fall,
There is none such as men do Fortune call.
Against blacke death no crast nor cunning swayes:
The Foxe for all his craft must ende his daies.
The honest man repeates vnto his wife
The fearefull hazards he had late bene in,
And how the Foxe preserued had his life,
And while he spake the teares ranne downe his chin,
Which teares with sobbes and sighes he oft did blin.
His wife attending all the while his tale,
At length chaungd colour and waxt wondrous pale:
The fearefull hazards he had late bene in,
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And while he spake the teares ranne downe his chin,
Which teares with sobbes and sighes he oft did blin.
His wife attending all the while his tale,
At length chaungd colour and waxt wondrous pale:
O man (quoth she) now blessed be that beast
By whom thou art restorde to me aliue:
Halfe that we haue is with the very least
That we vnto that blessed Foxe should giue:
We must make reckning neuer here to thriue,
If vnrewarded this kinde beast should be:
O how my soule doth long his face to see.
By whom thou art restorde to me aliue:
Halfe that we haue is with the very least
That we vnto that blessed Foxe should giue:
We must make reckning neuer here to thriue,
If vnrewarded this kinde beast should be:
O how my soule doth long his face to see.
Sweete wife (quoth he) thou speakest nought but truth,
For what can be too much for Lifes great gift?
And sith I see that thou thereon hast ruth,
I will disclose to thee an honest stift,
Not doubting but thou wilt allow my drift.
Thou knowst the Foxe no riches doth regard,
Ile shewe thee then what shall be his reward.
For what can be too much for Lifes great gift?
And sith I see that thou thereon hast ruth,
I will disclose to thee an honest stift,
Not doubting but thou wilt allow my drift.
Thou knowst the Foxe no riches doth regard,
Ile shewe thee then what shall be his reward.
Two Cockes and thirteene Hennes I thinke we haue,
And these thou knowst I count not in our State,
And if with these a greater gift we saue,
Then shall we passe it at an easie rate:
For who that would haue said to me of late,
What wilt thou giue me if I saue thy life?
I would haue said, take all except my wife.
And these thou knowst I count not in our State,
And if with these a greater gift we saue,
Then shall we passe it at an easie rate:
For who that would haue said to me of late,
What wilt thou giue me if I saue thy life?
I would haue said, take all except my wife.
The wise that earst before such Zeale had showde,
As you haue heard, now when it came to proofe,
That words must goe with deeds, Lord how she crowd,
Each word she spake flew vp aboue the roofe.
The husband halfe afeard, began to stand aloofe:
Why man (quoth she) our goods and gold are thine,
But for the Cockes and Hennes, they all are mine.
As you haue heard, now when it came to proofe,
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Each word she spake flew vp aboue the roofe.
The husband halfe afeard, began to stand aloofe:
Why man (quoth she) our goods and gold are thine,
But for the Cockes and Hennes, they all are mine.
Giue what thou wilt, but giue it of thine owne:
A custome tis that men do neuer mell
With Cockes and Hennes which in the house haue growne,
For such small wares the wise doth buy and sell:
I tell thee man, if thou do wish me well,
Let no such thought once creepe into thy hart:
For I will dye before Ile see them smart.
A custome tis that men do neuer mell
With Cockes and Hennes which in the house haue growne,
For such small wares the wise doth buy and sell:
I tell thee man, if thou do wish me well,
Let no such thought once creepe into thy hart:
For I will dye before Ile see them smart.
Alas, good man, what should he now replie?
This peremptory speach hath crossed all:
The Foxe for answere stayes abroad hard by,
Expecting still what share to him should fall,
He little thinkes what speech is in the hall.
Well, yet the man a manly courage tooke,
And thus he answer'd with a manly looke:
This peremptory speach hath crossed all:
The Foxe for answere stayes abroad hard by,
Expecting still what share to him should fall,
He little thinkes what speech is in the hall.
Well, yet the man a manly courage tooke,
And thus he answer'd with a manly looke:
And wilt thou (wife) withstand my willes decree?
I tell thee woman I haue past my word
Say what thou wilt, the matter needes must be,
And if thou canst in kindnesse it affoord,
I will regard thee both at bed and boord,
But if thou seeke to thwart my true intent,
It shall be done, and yet shalt thou repent.
I tell thee woman I haue past my word
Say what thou wilt, the matter needes must be,
And if thou canst in kindnesse it affoord,
I will regard thee both at bed and boord,
But if thou seeke to thwart my true intent,
It shall be done, and yet shalt thou repent.
Which words of his so spoken, had such powre
To quench the fire of her hote burning spreete,
As that her speech, which had beene sterne and sowre,
Grew instantly to be both calme and sweete.
Well husband then (quoth she) if you thinke meete,
Let it be done: yet thus much let me craue,
That he may come by night his pray to haue:
To quench the fire of her hote burning spreete,
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Grew instantly to be both calme and sweete.
Well husband then (quoth she) if you thinke meete,
Let it be done: yet thus much let me craue,
That he may come by night his pray to haue:
For if I should behold, or beare the crie
That I am sure the sily fowles will make
When they shall see themselues drawne forth to dye,
Full sure I am that hart and ioynts would quake:
Grant this therefore (sweete husband) for my sake,
That he may come at midnight, not before,
And I of purpose will leaue ope the dore.
That I am sure the sily fowles will make
When they shall see themselues drawne forth to dye,
Full sure I am that hart and ioynts would quake:
Grant this therefore (sweete husband) for my sake,
That he may come at midnight, not before,
And I of purpose will leaue ope the dore.
This suite of thine sweete hart (quoth he) is small,
The Foxe I know will readily assent.
So cheerefully he trudg'd out of the hall,
And to the Foxe that lay hard by he went,
Full soone he found the vermine by the sent,
And making knowne to him his wiues request,
The Foxe agreed and held it for the best.
The Foxe I know will readily assent.
So cheerefully he trudg'd out of the hall,
And to the Foxe that lay hard by he went,
Full soone he found the vermine by the sent,
And making knowne to him his wiues request,
The Foxe agreed and held it for the best.
But in this while the wife casts by deceipt
And plots how she her pullens liues may saue:
In th'end she doth resolue that at receipt
His life who sau'd her husbands life sheele haue.
O cursed wretch whose deede doth so depraue
The vertue that should be in humane race,
As that for vertue vice doth come in place.
And plots how she her pullens liues may saue:
In th'end she doth resolue that at receipt
His life who sau'd her husbands life sheele haue.
O cursed wretch whose deede doth so depraue
The vertue that should be in humane race,
As that for vertue vice doth come in place.
But what ensues? the Stratagem is set,
The Foxe at midnight comes to haue his fee,
And thinking (wretch, that he should haue no let,
Within the house the mortall Engins be,
And were so plac'd because he could not see,
That he was caught, and caught, was put to death,
So he poore Foxe resigned vp his breath.
The Foxe at midnight comes to haue his fee,
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Within the house the mortall Engins be,
And were so plac'd because he could not see,
That he was caught, and caught, was put to death,
So he poore Foxe resigned vp his breath.
And thus we see the Serpents saying here
Is verifide that men to men doe giue
Ill turnes for good: for so it doth appere,
The Foxe is kild, the man he sau'd doth liue:
Marke well the Morall where unto we driue,
Ingratitude the Monster of our dayes,
In men more then in beasts it selfe displayes.
Is verifide that men to men doe giue
Ill turnes for good: for so it doth appere,
The Foxe is kild, the man he sau'd doth liue:
Marke well the Morall where unto we driue,
Ingratitude the Monster of our dayes,
In men more then in beasts it selfe displayes.
And also note (as to our purpose fit)
That as the man was moued much by gift
To saue the Serpents life, and saued it,
So was the Foxe likewise procurde to shift
To saue the man: which to our former drift
Is this, that liues reliefe is little waide,
If for the same be nothing paide.
That as the man was moued much by gift
To saue the Serpents life, and saued it,
So was the Foxe likewise procurde to shift
To saue the man: which to our former drift
Is this, that liues reliefe is little waide,
If for the same be nothing paide.
| Of Golds Kingdome, and This Vnhelping Age | |