 | Hilaria |  |
TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAIESTIE.
HILARIA
THE TRYVMPHANT FEAST for the fift of August.
I. Temperancia.
No Gemme, no Iewell, no gold I giue,No pearles from Pactolus, lo:
No Persian Gaze, no Indian stones,
Nor Tagus sands I show.
Farre greater gifts, I giue, O King,
if Poets may credite beare;
Foure Vertues great, all link'd in chaine,
a chaine for Kings to weare.
If Poets of force or feare be dumbe,
Dodonæan trees must speake:
If Angerona still be mute,
then stones will silence breake.
If men may vertue not aduance,
Memnos Image shall:
And the Oliue on Corebus graue,
these Halcyon dayes shall call.
Let Thracians bragge of Mars his sword:
let Greece, of Phæbus shield:
Let Romans boast Quirinus speare:
to Ioue great thankes we yeeld.
For Trophees iust and Triumphs due,
for Feast to King of Kings:
Osanna in skie, Alleluiahs on earth,
both men and Angels sings.
where Angels three were Ghests:
The like did Lot in Sodom keepe,
where Angels two did feast.
With Musicke, mirth, with Hebrue songs,
the Iewes kept Phases Feast,
And Iewes in Persia Phurim kept,
but not for Persian ghests.
The Indians feast at Ganges crown'd,
the Greekes with Crowners on:
In Persian feast with Tyra on,
Their kings to tend vpon.
Of all such crownes as Kings were crownd,
who best should crowned be:
They that conquered Kingdomes sixe,
or saued Kingdomes three?
Whose names and fame ought famous be,
e'ne from the Iles of Orchades:
Through lands, through seas, and Kingdomes great,
to the furthest part of Gades.
The cause why Curtius should be in steele,
or Decius wrought in brasse:
Or both Phileny in Iuorie set,
to saue their countrey, it was.
Were Dion, Hermodius in siluer set,
who sau'd two Cities free:
Their names should sure be in siluer set,
that saued Kingdoms three.
For Iustice yelds, and Countreys claime
a Lawrell Crowne for such,
Before such bloody Conquerours Crownes,
like Scythian Tamberlaine much.
in Homeos verse indite:
Of Fame, of Vertue and vertuous men,
a second Illiad write.
Not of Antonius lust in Rome,
Cleopatras loue to please,
Nor Tarquins fame with fancies fond,
on Lucres chaste to seaze.
Though valiant Greekes for Priams Towne,
haue fil'd the world with fame:
Yet Helens rape, by Priams sonne,
did Priams Towne defame.
The fault vnchaste Æneas did,
made Didoes brood rebell:
That Hanibals more for Dido dide,
then Rome could Scipios tell.
The bowre which stoute Bellona holds,
the Fort where Vesta breeds:
Mars could neuer shake that Fort,
where Temperance chaste doth feede.
Xerxes, that could eat vp Greece,
and drinke the Grecian seas:
E'ne Xerxes, that would be Tytan cal'd,
could not Dame Temperance please.
Had strong Alcides conquered lust,
that conquered what he would:
By conquering lust, he had conquer'd more,
then strong Alcides could.
Could he that gain'd the world with fame,
gaine greater fame in life;
Then Sysigambis honor saue,
great King Darius wife?
than gain'd Achilles force,
By slaughter great of Phrigian Knights,
or spoile of Hectors corse.
One Phineas chaste staid Iudas plague:
one Ioseph to Aegypt sold,
By Temperance chaste, in Aegypt did,
what he in Aegypt would.
Let Scipio serue Saturnus Tombe,
let Silla Apollo tend:
Let Numa waste the Egerian Nimph.
To Ioue our knees we bend.
Shall Temperance drinke of Cyrses Cup,
by Syrens thereto train'd?
Shall Mars in Phæbus Chariot sit,
through Vulcanes Forge being stain'd?
Vertues then thus coupled fast,
and link't like Homers chaine:
On Iacobs Ladder scale the Skies,
and Crownes of glory gaine.
II. Fortitudo.
Might Romans of Camillus bragge?might Greece of Theseus boast?
Might Perseus vaunt of Perseus Fame,
had Perseus Fame been lost?
Had Kingdomes heard of Cyrus Name?
Had worlds knowne Cæsars Fame?
Had Fame it selfe beene spoken of,
had Pen not writ the same?
Themistocles moou'd so much:
Themistocles said, he could not sleep,
Milciades Fame was such.
So Cæsar said of Philips sonne:
so Philips sonne dismaid,
To heare what fame Achilles had,
Oh happie Achilles, said.
But Enuie still on Vertue tends,
euen hard at Phocions heele,
And faine would clippe Timoleons wings,
Timoleons wings being steele.
Could Cæsar brooke great Pompeyes fame.
whose fame the world embrac'd?
Or could Octauius well disgest,
Antonius name so grac'd?
But who can square the winde with Line,
or fire in Ballance wey?
Who backe can call the day that's past,
or can mans minde display?
Apelles thought no colours could
paint shining Phæbus face:
Pithagoras, for Mercurius shape,
all Timber iudg'd too base.
Not one might play on Hermes Pipe,
saue onely Orpheus could:
Neither one might ride Bucephalus on,
but onely one might bold.
What need I name the Prince that can,
if Iustice doe him right:
Or seeke another Cæsar out,
sith Fame hath nam'd the Knight?
that could Philippides breake:
The net which Vulcan made so strong,
it was for Mars too weake.
Oh, noble Prince, to Martius field,
among the Romane Crue:
Make challenge in Olimpian games,
Pentatlon claime for due.
Sound Trumpets for Clitoneus out,
Eurialus call to field:
Claime combate for Theagenes crownes,
else he his Crownes must yeeld.
Saile thence, and seeke Palladium out,
bring Peplon proud from Greece;
From Greece to Colchos, saile on, Prince,
attempt the Golden Fleece,
With Aiax claime, and challenge make
to Achilles Armour braue:
Let Paris seeke for Giges ring,
Menelaus Harpe to haue.
Seeke Myrmidons out; seeke Pirrhus Mates,
the Knights of Dolops Land:
Lead on your Knights, and claime the field,
from Argiraspides band.
Sit on Romane Scipios seate,
seeke out some Carthage new:
Let India be the vp-shot marke,
claime Affricke for thy due.
One Scipio made Numantia smoke;
One Brennus, Rome could shake:
One Noble Britayne may aswell,
make great Toledo quake.
on Cæsars fame to feede:
A bough of ancient Dardan stocke,
to honor Hectors seede.
Marcellus for his prowesse great,
The sword of Rome was cal'd:
All Rome haue said, old Fabius was,
the Romane Target stal'd.
Thebes made Pelopidas for their wals,
Pericles Athens hand:
Still was Lisander, Spartas legges,
for Sparta on to stand.
One Lion thought Leonidas best,
before three hundred Deeres:
Then one poore fearefull Deere, before
three hundred Lions peeres.
We haue Leonidas on before,
with Marcellus sword in hand;
In him we haue Lisanders legges,
For Britaines on to stand.
The Load-stone of great Brittaine soyle,
the Lampe that shines so bright:
The Fort where Fame and Man-hood lodge,
and Countreye; Candle-light.
The Persian Knights, Mellophori cal'd,
on whom did Persia rest:
They ware but Cyrus name on sleeue:
Yours weare the George on brest.
The noble Bands of Aegypt Kings,
Calasiries sometime cal'd:
They had but Pharaohs Colours on:
Yours are with Garters stal'd.
III. Iusticia.
Had Greekes beene growne so great in Fame,had Persians fame not yell'd?
Had Romans won halfe that renowne,
had Greekes their greatnesse held?
Then worlds did yeeld to Cyrus sword,
till Philips sonne grew great.
The earth would no Alexander more,
then Skie for Sunne had seate:
Could Asia two Antiochus hold?
could Greece two Philips please?
Could all the Kingdomes in the world,
Philips Sonne appease?
Grow great who can in Countreys cause,
(for Countreys cause is great:)
Let that man great, come Crowned in,
to sit in Countreys seate.
The Nemæan Lyon, the Bore, the Bull,
which Hercules great then slewe:
To winne great Hercules fame it was,
which was by Iustice due.
The hundred twentie Asian Knights,
slaine in Adrasdes field,
For Countryes cause were set in brasse,
on Marble Pillars build.
Then Lyons whelps, and Gyants brood,
the Brood with fame doth breede:
With care alike of Brittayne great,
let not great Brittayne bleede.
of Ioshuas League doe thinke:
And pitch, in witnesse, Samuels stone,
from Brittayne not to shrinke.
These Centaures brood, their weapons dipt
in Nessus blood, for foyles:
These armed Moabs, to Moabs sayd,
Rise, Moab, to the spoyles.
What could Eumenides whelps haue done,
like Carons dogges, but raue,
Which long in Lerna lurkt, and lookt,
Tawrilias Feast to haue?
While Sunne stood ouer Gabaon still;
while Moone ouer Aialon stayde:
While starres in Skies for Kings did sight,
what need good Kings of ayde?
Can Vertue quayle, when Romulus staffe
could not by fire consume?
Can Fame take foyle, when fire durst not
on Pirrhus to presume?
Seeke then the Brood where Achab breeds,
seeke out Palemons den:
Seeke Roman Saturnes secret Caues,
spare not to spoyle such men,
That are of Tubals soile, and looke
when Albions Banners fall:
And succour seeke in Cyttim Land,
to worke great Brittaines thrall.
Who ride on Pegasus, as swift as winde,
with Sertorius Hinde doe talke,
And send Architas woodden Doues,
with Buls from Rome to walke.
whose natures strange are such:
That they do sting their neighbours by,
but strangers neuer touch.
They seeke with Pharton, Phæbus charge,
with Pharton downe they shall:
They thinke to slye with Icarus wings,
they must with Icarus fall.
Their Magike Ring their Salomons Key,
their starre of Rempha fail'd:
Their Figure mist, their Dagon sell,
Their Planets quite are quail'd.
No fire can hurt the Diamond pure,
no rust the Emerauld touch:
No dung hill can infect the Sunne,
their vertues rare are such.
Could hungry Lyons on Daniel prey?
could fire on Sidrach seaze:
Might fish in Sea on Ionas feed,
when these their God did please?
This King hath Eclus at command,
this, Neptune great can checke:
This hath the Sunne, the Moone, the Stars,
and heauens all at a becke.
Could Pharaos force on Moses fall?
could Saul worke Dauids woe?
Could Esaus wrath on Iacob feede,
when Iacobs God said, No?
Shall Spanish bragges, or Romish pride,
whom Gothes to conquer could:
Whom Vandalls brood, and Agars seede,
as seruile slaues haue sold,
as was to Persia sent?
A Mouse, a Frogge, a Sparrow, a Shaft,
whereby the Scythians meant;
They should run like Mise, or swimme like Frogs,
or Sparrowes like should flee:
Else Scythians shafts should Persians daunt,
which Persians straight should see.
IIII. Prudentia.
Now Atlas heauy loaden comes,with world of Globes on backe,
Saith, Fortitude is that famous King,
which Kingdomes keeps from wracke.
Simandius comes with Iustice in,
and Iustice most commends,
And saith that Iustice is that King,
which Kingdomes all defends.
More force, saith Temperance, in Samgars goade,
then in Philistian swordes:
More strength in little Dauids sling,
then great Golias words.
Then Prudence said, and Sentence gaue;
Be wise as Serpents be:
For wisedome binds such Serpents fast,
lest Serpents such go free.
As fire in Flint is found by sleight,
and oyle in Iette by heate:
So wisedome most, by vertue sought,
and not by forces great.
in Armes would Cecrops bee:
Th' euents of warre, in time of Peace,
great Ianus would forsee.
When Sun doth shine most bright in skie,
the Crab the Oysters snatch.
When Cyrces sang most sweet to sence,
then was Vlisses catcht.
Thinke how the Olinthians towne was tane,
by trust to Lasthenes leares.
Forget not Babel great was wonne,
by false Sopyrus teares.
Thinke on Troy, and Troian horse,
by Synon bought and sold.
Thinke none might yeeld Troy-nouant vp:
but false Androgeus could.
Since secret cankers hidden lie
in Damask Rose vnknowne,
Till stormes do come, and Tempests rise,
and Rose it selfe be blowne.
Had Crœsus thought on Solons saying,
who iudgde himselfe so strong,
Then nothing could king Crœsus harme,
nor do king Crœsus wrong.
One that lurkt in Egypt long,
whom Apres trusted most,
Such treason Apres found in trust,
that Apres Egypt lost.
The swords, the shields, the hands, the eyes,
the legges that Kings stand on,
Antigonus said, were faithfull friends,
for Kings to stand vpon.
some march, some watch, some ward:
Some range abroad, some turne about,
Some tends the Pole to gard.
Haue hands abroad, haue eyes at home,
Search where these Serpents be,
Who faine would build, and make their nests,
in some sacred Cedar Tree.
These Serpents sought this famous Ile,
the Ile of Bryttaine cal'd:
Should now the Ile of Serpents be,
or the Ile of Satyres stal'd?
So many Aiax fit for warre,
to please a Prince at list,
As were Vlisses like for peace,
a Theban Captaine wisht.
In Rome grew many Captaines great,
fewe Captaines Rome did good:
And Greece had many valiant Greekes,
fewe Greekes with Greece long stood.
When Enuie grew in Greece so great,
could Greece on Grecians looke?
When Rome with Romans fought in Rome,
could Rome a Romane brooke?
Oh happie Athens, had Athens more
Aristides like in store:
And twise happie Rome had beene,
had Rome Pabritius more.
Darius wisht so many friends,
Zopirus like in store;
As one Pomegranat curnels had,
Darius wisht no more.
Agamemnon wisht but so:
Ten like Æacida in field with Prince:
what neede a Prince haue mo?
By such we sleepe in quiet peace,
and liue full safe at rest:
And craue of God, which Chaanan kept,
that Brittaine so be blest:
Where second Brutus sits on Throne;
Where Brutus third excell:
And Bryttaine Great, reuiu'd againe,
which world farre off can tell.
[Most liberall gifts I gaue, O King]
Most liberall gifts I gaue, O King,If King will credit Penne:
My Heart, my Life, my Loue, my selfe,
my Bookes and children tenne.
But Cæsar may, if Cæsar will,
on me like Cæsar looke,
Make me to sing more sweeter Notes,
then Swanne, in Seuerne Brooke.
FINIS.
| Hilaria | |