The Notable Hystory of two faithfull Louers named Alfagus and Archelaus Whearein is declared the true fygure of Amytie and Freyndshyp. Much pleasaunte and delectable to the Reader. Translated into English meeter by Edwarde Ienynges. With a Preface or Definytion of Freyndshyppe to the same |
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Edward lenynges to the Reader. |
 | The Notable Hystory of two faithfull Louers named Alfagus and Archelaus |  |
Edward lenynges to the Reader.
The
wyes Phylosopher Arystoetell doth saie,
Freindship is a vertue most incomparable,
And Tully doth his wordes not denaye,
Sayenge it is a thinge most commendable:
Both fyrme and sure, nothing deceyuable
For freinship with out vertue in no man can remaine
Thus the wyse Phylosopher Tully telleth plaine.
Freindship is a vertue most incomparable,
And Tully doth his wordes not denaye,
Sayenge it is a thinge most commendable:
Both fyrme and sure, nothing deceyuable
For freinship with out vertue in no man can remaine
Thus the wyse Phylosopher Tully telleth plaine.
Tully defyneth freindship on this wise also
Sayenge it is none other thing at all
But a perfecte consent of thinges for to kno
Whych as well to God as to men doth befall,
Beneuolence and charitie imbraced of great and small
Nothing is more comodious while men on earth do liue
Then this except sapience which God to man doth giue.
Sayenge it is none other thing at all
But a perfecte consent of thinges for to kno
Whych as well to God as to men doth befall,
Beneuolence and charitie imbraced of great and small
Nothing is more comodious while men on earth do liue
Then this except sapience which God to man doth giue.
Then which definicion is excelent and true
For in God and all thinges which of God doth come
Nothing of more estemacion doth ensue
Then Loue called in latin Amor all and some,
Amicitia desending and coming of Eum
In english called Freindship which taken a waie
The life of man wyll soone fall in decaie.
For in God and all thinges which of God doth come
Nothing of more estemacion doth ensue
Then Loue called in latin Amor all and some,
Amicitia desending and coming of Eum
In english called Freindship which taken a waie
The life of man wyll soone fall in decaie.
No house can stand in quiet peace and reste
No feilde can bringe his fruyte in due season
If hatred and enuie doth dwell both East and Weste,
All men may iudge then parfectly by reason
Fynally of man is iudged by discretion
He semeth from the worlde to take a way the sume,
That from mans life wold freindship daue vndon.
No feilde can bringe his fruyte in due season
If hatred and enuie doth dwell both East and Weste,
All men may iudge then parfectly by reason
Fynally of man is iudged by discretion
He semeth from the worlde to take a way the sume,
That from mans life wold freindship daue vndon.
Syth frendshyp then to mans lyfe is so pure
Then all other vertues it doth far excell.
And onely in good men remaines, thys is sure,
From whose harte and mynde no paine maie excell:
But fyrmly and sure within them doth dwell,
So that therof none euyll may proceede
Ne cause of thynge which euyll is in deede.
Then all other vertues it doth far excell.
And onely in good men remaines, thys is sure,
From whose harte and mynde no paine maie excell:
But fyrmly and sure within them doth dwell,
So that therof none euyll may proceede
Ne cause of thynge which euyll is in deede.
Betweene all men that be good can not be Amitie
Alwayes abydynge without some decente,
Except they seme both of on quallitie,
Fourmed all a lyke by natures pretence:
In maners and study both equally bente,
And specyally in maners, for that is the thynge
Whych knytteth the hartes both of one lykinge.
Alwayes abydynge without some decente,
Except they seme both of on quallitie,
Fourmed all a lyke by natures pretence:
In maners and study both equally bente,
And specyally in maners, for that is the thynge
Whych knytteth the hartes both of one lykinge.
For Grauytye and Affabylytie be laudable both
And qualyties highlye to be had in estemacyon,
So is Seuerytie and Placabylytie forsooth
Magnyfycence and Lyberalytie is of the same fassion
And yet Frugalitie by all wyse mens Oracyon
Which showeth a lyfe both moderate and sober,
Is hygher extolled then any of the other.
And qualyties highlye to be had in estemacyon,
So is Seuerytie and Placabylytie forsooth
Magnyfycence and Lyberalytie is of the same fassion
And yet Frugalitie by all wyse mens Oracyon
Which showeth a lyfe both moderate and sober,
Is hygher extolled then any of the other.
Yet wheare these vertues and qualyties bee
Seperately a sundre amongst persones manye,
Assembled together by tranquilitie
May well be parfecte concorde trulie,
But freyndshyp is there sildome verelye,
For that which the one for a vertue imbraceth,
The other contemninge his minde, it neglecteth.
Seperately a sundre amongst persones manye,
Assembled together by tranquilitie
May well be parfecte concorde trulie,
But freyndshyp is there sildome verelye,
For that which the one for a vertue imbraceth,
The other contemninge his minde, it neglecteth.
And there wheare descension of mindes doth appere
By reason can stande no parfecte Amytie,
Syth freindship is a consent entyre,
Of will and desires in one like quantytie:
Therfore is syldome seene for a certeinty,
That freyndshyp betweene such parsons should bee,
Whych in theyr desyres can nothinge agree.
By reason can stande no parfecte Amytie,
Syth freindship is a consent entyre,
Of will and desires in one like quantytie:
Therfore is syldome seene for a certeinty,
That freyndshyp betweene such parsons should bee,
Whych in theyr desyres can nothinge agree.
Those which be liberall of harte and deede
Withholdyng nothinge from them whom they loue
Whearby increase of loue doth proceede,
And in them that be constante and wyll not remoue:
Is neuer mystruste nor suspection to proue,
Ne anye surmysynge of euill reporte
Can drawe theyr affection from them in any sorte.
Withholdyng nothinge from them whom they loue
Whearby increase of loue doth proceede,
And in them that be constante and wyll not remoue:
Is neuer mystruste nor suspection to proue,
Ne anye surmysynge of euill reporte
Can drawe theyr affection from them in any sorte.
And by this thinge is freindship made sure
Parpetually for euer both firme and stable,
But if like studye or learnynge procure
Theyr mindes in one thinge to be delectable:
Ioyeing to those vertues agreable,
Freindship much rather doth happen to stande
By mutuall agrement with faithfull bande.
Parpetually for euer both firme and stable,
But if like studye or learnynge procure
Theyr mindes in one thinge to be delectable:
Ioyeing to those vertues agreable,
Freindship much rather doth happen to stande
By mutuall agrement with faithfull bande.
Nothinge euill or vycious to man
In faithfull freindship doth happen to bee,
The first election made of freindes than
Receueth all the importaunce truely,
Wherfore it wolde be done nothing rashely,
But with a longe proofe and great deliberacion
Deseruyng parfectly his former trade and fashyon.
In faithfull freindship doth happen to bee,
The first election made of freindes than
Receueth all the importaunce truely,
Wherfore it wolde be done nothing rashely,
But with a longe proofe and great deliberacion
Deseruyng parfectly his former trade and fashyon.
For oft times by fortune it comith to passe
A man now in welthe and great prosperytie,
Is brought in a momit much worsse then he was
Standinge in peryll and great extremytie:
Freyndshyp oft times then faileth verely
As Ouydes sweete sentence to vs doth declare
Hereafter folowyng with wordes good and fayre.
A man now in welthe and great prosperytie,
Is brought in a momit much worsse then he was
Standinge in peryll and great extremytie:
Freyndshyp oft times then faileth verely
As Ouydes sweete sentence to vs doth declare
Hereafter folowyng with wordes good and fayre.
Whylste fortune thee fauoreth, freindes thou hast plenty
The time being troublous thou art alone,
And Coluers haunt houses made whyte and dayntie
To the ruonous Towers almost commeth none:
Of Emotes innumerable, vnneth thou findest one
In emptie barnes wheare fayleth substaunce,
Happeneth no freinde in whom is assurance.
The time being troublous thou art alone,
And Coluers haunt houses made whyte and dayntie
To the ruonous Towers almost commeth none:
Of Emotes innumerable, vnneth thou findest one
In emptie barnes wheare fayleth substaunce,
Happeneth no freinde in whom is assurance.
But if amonge manie one chuse to be found
In all cares of fortune hys freyndshyp to holde,
The prayse of hys nane shall highly rebounde
And is more of valew then syluer or golde,
Or any comodytie that els can be tolde,
Of kyndred and blood none is so cōmendable
As one parfecte freynde in nothynge deceyuable.
In all cares of fortune hys freyndshyp to holde,
The prayse of hys nane shall highly rebounde
And is more of valew then syluer or golde,
Or any comodytie that els can be tolde,
Of kyndred and blood none is so cōmendable
As one parfecte freynde in nothynge deceyuable.
For Tully saith from kyndred and lyne
Beneuolence may soone be taken awaye,
But freyndshyp whych neuer at naught doth repine
Can neuer be seuered by night nor by daye:
So though beneuolence in kindred doth staye,
Yet the name of kindred doth alwayes stand styll
But take it from freindshyp and cleane it doth spyll.
Beneuolence may soone be taken awaye,
But freyndshyp whych neuer at naught doth repine
Can neuer be seuered by night nor by daye:
So though beneuolence in kindred doth staye,
Yet the name of kindred doth alwayes stand styll
But take it from freindshyp and cleane it doth spyll.
I am not able of freindshyp to showe
A true definycyon in euery thinge,
Though all a whole yere my wyt I bestowe
In such like sentences still wrytinge,
With manie auncient Hystoryes searchynge
Whearin I shulde fynde such stoore to indyte
That in a large booke I scarce coulde them write.
A true definycyon in euery thinge,
Though all a whole yere my wyt I bestowe
In such like sentences still wrytinge,
With manie auncient Hystoryes searchynge
Whearin I shulde fynde such stoore to indyte
That in a large booke I scarce coulde them write.
But gentle Reader I praie you haue pacience
In this malabour not worthy of praise,
Acceptinge well my mynde and dillygence,
Occupyenge my pen thus on many idle daies:
Wherby some profit doth come manie waies,
For vnto all men it showeth the vertue
Of amytie and freyndshyp parfecte and true.
In this malabour not worthy of praise,
Acceptinge well my mynde and dillygence,
Occupyenge my pen thus on many idle daies:
Wherby some profit doth come manie waies,
For vnto all men it showeth the vertue
Of amytie and freyndshyp parfecte and true.
Many yonge wyts desyre for to read
Hestoryes olde, in Mecter delectable,
Of dyuers good Knyghtes and such as be dead,
Leauyng behynde them a fame much commendable,
Yet is the readynge therof nothinge profitable,
But in this small treatice a man maie beholde,
How freyndshyp is better then syluer or golde.
Hestoryes olde, in Mecter delectable,
Of dyuers good Knyghtes and such as be dead,
Leauyng behynde them a fame much commendable,
Yet is the readynge therof nothinge profitable,
But in this small treatice a man maie beholde,
How freyndshyp is better then syluer or golde.
The vertue of freindshyp in this shalbe seene
Betweene two parsons most worthy of fame,
More truer in freinship hath neuer none bene
Then these Alfagus and Archelaus by name:
Many yeres lyuynge wythout anie blame,
The one of Rome, of Carthage the other
Lyuing more truly then brother and brother.
Betweene two parsons most worthy of fame,
More truer in freinship hath neuer none bene
Then these Alfagus and Archelaus by name:
Many yeres lyuynge wythout anie blame,
The one of Rome, of Carthage the other
Lyuing more truly then brother and brother.
And vnto God with all my harte I praye
That by this treatice some may ensample take
To learne to kepe theyr freinship night and daie,
When to theyr freindes lyke yromyse they do make:
In wealth and wo them neuer to forsake,
But now a daies I fere but few men do lyue
That will vnto theyr freyndes such freinshyp gyue.
That by this treatice some may ensample take
To learne to kepe theyr freinship night and daie,
When to theyr freindes lyke yromyse they do make:
In wealth and wo them neuer to forsake,
But now a daies I fere but few men do lyue
That will vnto theyr freyndes such freinshyp gyue.
And thus concludinge my simple Preface
Most hartely I pray the Readers all,
If in this booke parhaps by my trespasse
Some thyng amysse to them doth befall:
Showe me my faulte and mende it I shall
Desyrynge no man my worke to disdayne
Though symple it be and done with small payne.
Most hartely I pray the Readers all,
If in this booke parhaps by my trespasse
Some thyng amysse to them doth befall:
Showe me my faulte and mende it I shall
Desyrynge no man my worke to disdayne
Though symple it be and done with small payne.
FINIS.
| The Notable Hystory of two faithfull Louers named Alfagus and Archelaus | |