University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Minerva Britanna

Or A Garden of Heroical Deuises, furnished, and adorned with Emblemes and Impresa's of sundry natures, Newly devised, moralized, and published, By Henry Peacham

collapse section 
  
  
  
  
collapse sectionI. 
[PART I]
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
collapse sectionII. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


1

I. [PART I]

Nisi desuper.

To my dread Soveraigne iames, King of great britaine.
A secret arme out stretched from the skie,
In double chaine a Diadem doth hold:
Whose circlet boundes, the greater Britannie,
From conquered Fravnce, to Thvle sung of old:
Great Iames, whose name be yond the inde is told:
To god obliged so by two-fold band,
As borne a man, and Monarch of this land.
Thus since on heauen, thou wholly dost depend:
And from aboue thy Crowne, and being hast:
With malice vile, in vaine doth man intend,
T'vnloose the knot that God hath link't so fast:
Who shoot's at heaven, the arrow downe at last
Lightes on his head: and vengeance fall on them,
That make their marke, the Soveraigne Diadem.

2

Initium Sapientiæ.

A poysonous Serpent wreathed vp around
In scalie boughtes, a sharpe two edged Sword,
Supported by a booke vpon the ground,
Is worldly wisedome grounded on gods word,
The which vnlesse our proiects doth sustaine,
Our plot is nought, and best devises vaine.
What ever then thou hap to take in hand,
In formost place, the feare of god preferre,
Else, like the Foole thou buildest on the sand,
By this (the Lesbian stone) thou canst not erre,
Which who so doth, his first foundation lay,
Contriues a worke that never shall decay.

3

Cui cedet.

Two handes togeither heere with griping hold,
And all their force, doe striue to take away
This burning Lampe, and Candlestick of Gold,
Whose light shall burne in spite of Hell for ay:
And brighter then the beames of Phoebvs shine,
For tis the Truth so holy and divine.
Which foule Ambition hath so often vext,
And swelling pride of Prælates put in doubt,
With Covetuousnes that greedie Monster next,
That long I feare me since it had bene out,
Did not thy hand (deare Saviour) from aboue
Defend it so, that it might never moue.

4

Nusquam tuta.

The silly Hind among the thickets greene,
While nought mistrusting did at safetie goe,
His mortall wound receiu'd with arrow keene
Sent singing from a Sheepeheard's secret bowe;
And deadly peirc'd, can in no place abide,
But runnes about with arrow in her side.
So oft we see the man whome Conscience bad
Doth inwardly with deadly torture wound,
From place to place to range with Furie mad,
And seeke his ease by shifting of his ground
The meane neglecting which might heale the sinne,
That howerly ranckles more and more within.

5

Philautia.

A virgins face with Robes of light aray,
Why hath (Selfe-loue) our Poets thee assign'd?
Philaut:
Loue should be young, and fresh as merry may,
Such clothing best agreeth with my mind.
What meanes that poisonous Serpent in thy hand?

Philaut:
My bane I breed, by this you vnderstand.
I'th other hand say why that looking glasse?
Since in thee no deformitie I find,

Philaut:
Know how in Pride Selfe-loue doth most surpasse,
And still is in her Imperfections blind:
And saue her owne devises doth condemne,
All others labours, in respect of them.


6

Humane traditiones.

At last my braunch doth wither and decay,
And with the ruine downe my selfe doe fall,
Whose pride did loath on surer ground to stay,
But needes would raigne as King vpon the wall,
To overlooke in scorne the shrubs below,
That did (I find) in greater safetie growe.
By this same tree, are all Traditions ment,
And what else hammer'd out of humane braine,
That on the Rocke, to rest are not content,
But puffed vp with pride, and glory vaine;
Vnto their shame, doe moulder downe, and fall,
As doth this Elder growing on the wall.

7

Cuique et nemini.

My hope is heauen, the crosse on earth my rest,
The foode that feedes me is my Saviours bloud,
My name is faith to all I doe protest,
What I beleeue is Catholique and good,
And as my Saviour strictly doth commaund,
My good I doe with close and hidden hand.
Nor Heresie, nor Schisme, I doe maintaine,
But as christ's coate so my beliefe is one,
I hate all fancies forg'd of humane braine,
I let contention and vaine strifes alone;
If ought I neede I craue it from aboue,
And liue with all in Charitie and Loue.

8

Nec metuas nec optes.

The Æthiopian Princes at their feastes,
Did vse amid their cates, and costly cheere
A deadmans head, to place before their guestes,
That it in minde might put them what they were:
And phillip dayly caused one to say,
Oh King remember that thou art but clay.
If Pagans could bethinke them of their end,
And make such vse of their mortalitie,
With greater hope their course let christians bend,
Vnto the haven of heavens fœlicitie;
And so to liue while heere we drawe this breath,
We haue no cause to feare, or wish for death.

9

Isalms David.

To the right Reverend Father in god, iohn Bishop of London.
To sundry keies doth hilarie compare
The holy Psalmes of that prophetique King,
Cause in their Natures so dispos'd they are,
That as it were, by sundry dores they bring,
The soule of man, opprest with deadly sinne,
Vnto the Throne, where he may mercy winne.
For wouldst thou in thy Saviour still reioyce,
Or for thy sinnes, with teares lament and pray,
Or sing his praises with thy heart and voice,
Or for his mercies giue him thankes alway?
Set davids Psalmes, a mirrour to thy mind,
But with his Zeale, and heavenly spirit ioin'd.

10

Prius ablue sordes.

Who takes in hand to turne this sacred booke,
And heavenly wisedome, doth from hence require,
His handes be cleane, I wish him first to looke:
No Dog or Swine, that walloweth in the mire,
Let dare to come, this pretious Iewell nigh,
The foe to filth, and all impuritie.
But if thou needes wilt launch into this sea,
Where Lambes may wade, and Elephants may swimme,
Cast all vncleane affections away,
And first with heartie prayer call on him,
Whose holy Spirit must guide thee in the sence,
A thousand times else better thou wert thence.

11

Sic pacem habemus.

To the High and mightie IAMES, King of greate Britaine,
Twoo Lions stout the Diadem vphold,
Of famous Britaine, in their armed pawes:
The one is Red, the other is of Gold,
And one their Prince, their sea, their land and lawes;
Their loue, their league: whereby they still agree,
In concord firme, and friendly amitie.
Bellona henceforth bounde in Iron bandes,
Shall kisse the foote of mild triumphant Peace,
Nor Trumpets sterne, be heard within their landes;
Envie shall pine, and all old grudges cease:
Braue Lions, since, your quarrell's lai'd aside,
On common foe, let now your force be tri'de.

12

Quæ plantivi irrigabo.

The Thistle arm'd with vengeaunce for his foe,
And here the Rose, faire Cytheraeas flower;
Together in perpetuall league doe growe,
On whome the Heavens doe all their favours power;
“For what th' Almighties holy hand doth plant,
“Can neither cost, or carefull keeping want.
Magnifique Prince, the splendour of whose face,
Like brightest Phoebvs vertue doth reviue;
And farre away, light-loathing vice doth chase,
These be thy Realmes; that vnder thee doe thriue,
And which vnite, gods providence doth blesse,
With peace, with plentie, and all happines.

13

TO THE THRICE VERTVOVS, AND FAIREST OF QVEENES, ANNE QVEENE OF GREAT BRITAINE.

[_]

In Anna regnantium arbor. Anna Britannorum Regina.

An Oliue lo, with braunches faire dispred,
Whose top doth seeme to peirce the azure skie,
Much seeming to disdaine, with loftie head
The Cedar, and those Pines of Thessalie,
Fairest of Queenes, thou art thy selfe the Tree,
The fruite thy children, hopefull Princes three.
Which thus I ghesse, shall with their outstretcht armes,
In time o'respread Europa's continent,
To shield and shade, the innocent from harmes,
But overtop the proud and insolent:
Remaining, raigning, in their glories greene,
While man on earth, or Moone in heauen is seene.

14

Fatum subscribat Eliza.

To the most excellent Princesse Elizabeth, onely Daughter to our Soveraigne Lord King Iames, King of Great Britaine.
[_]

Elisabetha Steuarta. Has Artes beata velit.

Faire Princesse, great, religious, modest, wise,
By birth, by zeale, behauiour, iudgment sound,
By whose faire arme, my Muse did first arise,
That crept before full lowly on the ground,
And durst not yet from her darke shade aspire,
Till thou sweete Sunne, didst helpe to raise her higher.
Thus since by thee, shee hath her life and sappe,
And findes her growth by thy deere cherishment,
In thy faire eie consistes her future hap:
Heere write her fate, her date, her banishment,
Or may she that day-lasting Lillie be,
Or Soli-seqvivm e're to follow thee.

15

Auspice cœlo.

To the most Christian King lovis, XIII. King of fravnce and navarre.
[_]

Henricus IV Galliarum Rex. In Herum exurgis Ravillac.

Most Christian King, if yet hast turn'd away,
Those kindly rivers, from thy royall eies
For Fathers losse, this little view I pray
Our Muse reserues from his late Exequies:
The least of littles, yea though lesse it be,
It's thine, and signe, of her loues loyaltie.
Which, wheresoe're presented to thy view,
(For all thinges teach vs) thinke a heavenly mind
Is meant vnto thee, by that cullour Blew,
The Gold, the golden plentie thou dost find;
The number of thy Heaven-sent Lillies, three,
Is concord's ground, the sweetest harmonie.

16

Vnita valebunt.

To the high and mightie Phillip King of Spaine &c.
To you great Prince, strong stay, and powerfull prop
Of Christian state, who by thy feared might,
And restles care; the same supportest vp;
From neighbour Mahovnds vndermining spight;
From thy Gade's pillars, to the west as farre,
As Thetis leades vs to the Southerne starre.
I offer vp these Arrowes, with the Tree
Of thy Grenade, the Symbole long agoe
Of great Fernando's famous

In the time of King Henry the 7. in memory of which battaile wonne by Archerie, the sheofe of Arrowes is yet giuen on the Spanish coine

victorie,

What Time he gaue the Moores their overthrow:
Though here it may impart, the fruite that springes
By Peace and concord of all Christian Kinges.

17

TO THE MOST RENOWNED, AND Hopefull, Henrie, Prince of VVales, &c.

[_]

Βρετταννιαου' σε γωρει.

[_]

henricvs Walliæ Princeps. Par Achillis, Puer vnevinces.

Thvs, thus young Henry, like Macedo's sonne,
Ought'st thou in armes before thy people shine.
A prodigie for foes to gaze vpon,
But still a glorious Load-starre vnto thine:
Or second Phoebvs whose all piercing ray,
Shall cheare our heartes, and chase our feares away.
That (once as Phillip) Iames may say of thee,
Thy Britaine scarcely shall thy courage hold,
That whether Tvrke, Spaine, Fravnce, or Italie,
The Red-shanke, or the Irish Rebell bold,
Shall rouze thee vp, thy Trophees may be more,
Then all the Henries ever liu'd before.

18

E corpore pulchro Grazior.

TO THE RIGHT NOBLE, AND MOST TOWARDLY YOVNG PRINCE, CHARLES DVKE OF YORKE.
Sweete Duke, that bear'st thy Fathers Image right
Aswell in bodie, as thy towardly mind;
Within whose cheeke me thinkes in Red and white
Appeare the Roses yet againe conioind;
Where, howsoe're their warres appeased be,
Each, striues with each, for Soveraignitie.
Since Nature then in her faire-Angell mould,
Hath framd thy bodie, shew'd her best of art:
Oh let thy mind the fairest virtues hold,
Which are the beautie of thy better part:
And which, (braue Charles) shall make vs loue thee more,
Then all thy state we outwardly adore.

19

TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE robert, EARLE OF salisbvrie AND LORD HIGH TREASORER OF england &c.

[_]

ROBERTVS CAE CILIVS. Is cœlebs, Vrit cura.

Th' Arabian Phoenix heere, of golden plumes,
And bicie brest, vpon a sacred pile
Of sweetest odors, thus himselfe consumes;
By force of Phoebvs fiery beames, the while,
From foorth the ashes of the former dead,
A faire, or fairer, by and by is bred.
You, you (Great Lord) this wondrous Phoenix are,
Who wast your selfe in Zeale, and whot desire,
Of Countries good, till in the end your care
Shall worke your end, as doth this Phoenix fire.
But while you are consuming in the same,
You breede a second, your immortall Fame.

20

His servire.

To the Right Honourable and my singuler good Lord Henry Hovvard Earle of Northhampton, Lord Privie Seale. &c.
[_]

HENRICVS HOVVARDVS Comes Northamptoniensis. Pius, Castus huic mentis honor, mere honorandus.

A snow-white lion by an Altar sleepes,
(Whereon of Virtue are the Symboles plac't,)
Which day and night, full carefully he keepes,
Least that so sacred thing mought be defac't
By Time, or Envie, who not farre away,
Doe lurke to bring the saine vnto decay.
Great Lord, by th' Altar Pietie is ment,
Thus, wherevpon is virtue seated sure:
Which thou protectest with deare cherishment;
And dost thy best, their safetie to procure
By howerly care, as doth this Lion white
Tipe of thy mildnes, and thy feared might,

21

Gloria Principum.

To the right truely Noble, and most Honourable Lord VVilliam, Earle of Penbrooke.
A Ladie faire, who with Maiestique grace,
Supportes a huge, and stately Pyramis.
(Such as th'old Monarches long agoe did place,
By Nilv's bankes, to keepe their memories;)
Whose brow (with all the orient Pearles beset,)
Begirte's a rich and pretious Coronet.
Shee Glorie is of Princes, as I find
Describ'd in Moneies, and in Meddailes old;
Those Gemmes are glorious proiectes of the mind,
Adorning more their Roiall heades, then Gold.
The Pyramis the worldes great wonderment,
Is of their fame, some lasting Moniment.

22

Ragione di stato.

To the right Honourable Sir Ivlivs Caesar, Knight.
Who sits at sterne of Common wealth, and state
Of's chardge and office heere may take a view,
And see what daungers howerly must amate,
His Atlas-burden, and what cares accrew
At once, so that he had enough to beare,
Though Hercvles, or Briarevs he were.
He must be strongly arm'd against his foes
Without, within, with hidden Patience:
Be seru'd with eies, and listening cares of those,
Who from all partes can giue intelligence
To gall his foe, or timely to prevent
At home his malice, and intendiment.
That wand is signe of high Authoritie,
The Poppie heads, that wisdome would betime,
Cut of ranke weedes, by might, or pollicie,
As mought molest, or over-proudly clime:
The Lion warnes, no thought to harbour base,
The Booke, how lawes must giue his proiectes place.

23

His ornari aut mori.

To the right Honourable, and most noble Lord, Henry, Earle of Southampton.
Three Girlondes once, Colonna did devize
For his Impresa, each in other ioin'd;
The first of Olive, due vnto the wise,
The learned brow, the Lavrell greene to bind:
The Oken was his due aboue the rest,
Who had deserued in the Battaile best.
His meaning was, his mind he would apply
By due desert, to challenge each, his prize:
And rather choose a thousand times to die,
Then not be learned, valiant, and wise.
How fewe alas, doe now adaies we finde
(Great Lord) that beare, thy truely noble mind.

24

[When Troian youth went out into the field]

When Troian youth went out into the field,
With courage bold, against the Greekes to fight;
With naked Sword they marched, and their Shield
Devoide of charge, saue only painted white:
Herein the Captaine with his hand did write,
(The Battaile done,) some Ensigne of his fame,
Who had by valour, best deseru'd the same.
Oh Age of Iustice, yet vnlike to this
Wherein wee liue, where Mome and Midas share
In vertues merit, and th' inglorious is
Allow'd the place sometimes in Honours chaire,
Wherein Armes, ill, but worser, Artes doe fare,
Times hast, be gone, with all the speede ye may,
That thus we liu'd, no after Age may say.

25

Fœlicitas publica.

To my Honourable Lord OLIVER Lord Saint IOHN of Bletnesho.
Foelicitie by Ivlia once devis'd
This shape doth beare, a Ladie louely bright
With Mercuries Caduceus, enthroniz'd,
Her golden haire with flowery girlonds dight:
The horne of plentie, th'other hand doth hold
With all the fruites, and dainties may be told.
For why? content, she raigneth like a Queene;
Richest in Quiet, and the Muses skill,
Without the which, wee most vnhappie beene
The plentie that her horned cup doth fill;
Our labours fruite, the which when we possesse
Wee haue attaind our worldly happines.

26

Doctrina.

Heere Learning sits, a comely Dame in yeares;
Vpon whose head, a heavenly dew doth fall:
Within her lap, an opened booke appeares:
Her right hand shewes, a sunne that shines to all;
Blind Ignorance, expelling with that light:
The Scepter shewes, her power and soveraigne might.
Her out spread Armes, and booke her readines,
T' imbrace all men, and entertaine their loue:
The shower, those sacred graces doth expresse
By Science, that do flow from heaven aboue.
Her age declares the studie, and the paine;
Of many yeares, ere we our knowledge gaine.

27

Sine refluxu.

TO the honourable Lord, the L: Harrington.
The Caspian Sea, as Histories do show,
(Whome Rocky Shores, on every side surround,)
Was never seene by man, to ebbe and flow:
But still abides the same, within his bound;
That drought no whit, diminisheth his store,
Nor neighbour streames, augment his greatnes more.
Thus should we beare, one and the selfe-same saile,
In what ere fortune, pleaseth God to send,
In mid'st of trouble, not of courage faile,
Nor be to proude, when fortune is our frend:
And in all honest actes, we take in hand,
Thus constant, in our resolutions stand.

28

His altiora.

TO the honourable the Lord Wootton.
Yee Noblest sprightes, that with the bird of Iove,
Haue learnt to leaue, and loath, this baser earth,
And mount, by your inspired thoughtes aboue,
To heaven-ward, home-ward, whence you had your birth:
Take to you this, that Monarches may envie,
Your heartes content, and high fœlicitie.
You, you, that over-looke the cloudes of care,
And smile to see a multitude of Antes,
Vppon this circle, striuing here and there,
For Thine and Mine, yet pine amid their wantes;
While yee your selues, sit as spectators free,
From action, in their follies tragædie.

29

Sol alter, veritas.

To the Honourable Sir Edvvard Coke, Lord-cheife Iustice of the commen Pleas.
The fiery Coales, that in the silent night,
(When vaile of darknes, all had overspred)
With glowing heate, about did giue their light,
Since glorious Phoebvs hath discovered
Doe loose foorthwith their splendor, at his sight:
And of themselues, doe fall to Cinders quite.
So traiterous proiectes, while they lie obscure,
They closely feede the plotter, with their light,
Who thinkes within, he hath the matter sure,
Not dreaming how, the Truth that shineth bright;
Will soone reveale the secret of his thought;
And bring his ripest practises to nought.

30

Rex medicus patria.

A Dragon lo, a Scepter grasping fast
Within his paw: doth shew a King should be
Like Æsculapius, ev'er watchfull plac't;
Amongst his subiects, and with skill to see,
To what ill humors, of th'infectious mind.
The multitude, are most of all inclind.
And when he findes corruption to abound,
In that Huge body, of all vices ill,
To purge betimes, or else to launch the wound,
Least more, and more, it ranckles inward still:
Or when he would, it bring to former state,
Past all recure, his phisick comes to late.

31

Protegere Regium.

While deadly foes, their engines haue prepard,
with furie fierce, to batter downe the walles,
My dutie is the Citie gate to guard,
And to rebate their Rammes, and fierie balls:
So that if firmely, I do stand without,
Within the other, neede no daunger doubt
Dread Soveraigne IAMES, whose puissant name to heare,
The Turke may tremble, and the Traitor pine:
Belou'd of all thy people, farre and neere:
Bee thou, as this Port-cullies, vnto thine,
Defend without, and thou within shalt see,
A thousand thousand, liue and die with thee.

32

Ilies et ingenium.

To the worthie Ladie the L: E: W.
The feircest natures; whome in youthfull prime,
Nor counsel good, nor reasons rule, could tame,
Are by their owne experience, and in time;
To order brought, and taught themselves to frame,
To honest courses, and to loath the waies;
So well they liked, in their youthfull daies.
Why then dispaire yee Madame, of your sonne,
Whose wit, as in the sappe, doth but abound:
These braunches prun'd, that over rancklie runne,
You'le find in time, the bodie inward sound:
When Dullard sprightes, like fenny flagges belowe,
Or fruictles beene, or rot while they do grow.

33

Labor viris convenis.

TO the most Honorable Lord, the L: Dingwell.
Who thirsteth after Honor, and renowne,
By valiant act, or lasting worke of wit:
In vaine he doth expect, her glorious crowne,
Except by labor, he atcheiveth it;
And sweatie brow, for never merit may,
To drousie sloath, impart her living bay.
HAMILCARS sonne, hence shall thy glory liue,
Who or'e the Alpes, didst foremost lead the way,
With Cæsars eeke, that would the onset giue,
And first on foote, the deepest foor'ds assay:
“Let Carpet Knightes, of Ladies favours boast,
“The manly hart, brave Action loveth most.

34

Ex malis moribus bonæ leges.

To the most iudicious, and learned, Sir FRANCIS BACON, Knight.
The Viper here, that stung the sheepheard swaine,
(While careles of himselfe asleepe he lay,)
With Hysope caught, is cut by him in twaine,
Her fat might take, the poison quite away,
And heale his wound, that wonder tis to see,
Such soveraigne helpe, should in a Serpent be.
By this same Leach, is meant the virtuous King,
Who can with cunning, out of manners ill,
Make wholesome lawes, and take away the sting,
Wherewith foule vice, doth greeue the virtuous still:
Or can prevent, by quicke and wise foresight,
Infection ere, it gathers further might.

35

To the right worshipfull Sir Thomas Chaloner, Knight.

[_]

Est hac almus honor. Thomas Chalonerus.

Heere Virtue standes, and doth impart a scroule,
To living fame, to publish farre and neere:
The man whose name, she did within enroule,
And kept to view, vnseene this many yeare,
That erst me thought, she seemed to envie,
The world his worth, his fame, and memorie.
But since she sees, the Muse is left forlorne,
And fortune fawning, on the worthles wight,
And eke her selfe, not cherisht as beforne.
She bringes Mœcenas once againe to light:
The man (if any else) a frend to Artes,
And good rewarder, of all best desertes.

36

Virtus Romanaet antiqua.

To the right worshipfull Sir DAVID MVRRAY Knight.
Thvs HERCULES, the Romanes did devise,
And in their Temples, him a place assignd:
To represent vnto the peoples eies,
The image of, th' Heroique virtuous mind:
Who like ALCIDES, to her lasting praise,
In action still, delightes to spend her dayes.
Within whose hand, three apples are of gold,
The same which from th' Hesperides he fetcht,
These are the three Heroique vertues old,
The Lions skinne, about his shoulders stretcht,
Notes fortitude, his Clubbe the crabbed paine,
To braue atcheiuements, ere we can attaine.

37

Sic vtile dulci.

[_]

Ad generosissimum et opt: spei iuvenem Nobilem D.C.M. in Italiane nuperrime profectum.

The Spartan virgines, ere they had composed;
Theire Girlonds, of the fairest flowers to sight:
The wholesom'st herbes, they heere withall inclosed,
And so their heades, full iollily they dight,
In memorie of that same leach they wright:
Who first brought simples, and their vse to light.
So ye braue Lord, who like the heavenly Sphære,
Delight in motion, and aboute to roame:
Must learne to mixe in travaile farre and neere,
With pleasure profite, that returning home;
Your skill, and Iudgment, more may make you knowen;
Then your French suite, or locke so largly growen.
For who's he, that's not ravisht with delight,
Farre Countries, Courtes, and Cities, straung to see;

38

To haue old Rome, presented to his sight:
Troy-walls, or Virgils sweete Parthenope.
Yet nothing worth, vnles ye herewith find,
The fruites of skill, and bettering of your mind.

Tandem divulganda.

The waightie counsels, and affaires of state,
The wiser mannadge, with such cunning skill,
Though long lockt vp, at last abide the fate,
Of common censure, either good or ill:
And greatest secrets, though they hidden lie,
Abroad at last, with swiftest wing they flie.

39

Ope mutua.

To the right worshipfull and my singuler good frend Mr: ADAM NEWTON Secretarie to Prince Henry.
The Laurel ioyned to the fruitefull vine,
In frendly league perpetually doe growe,
The Laurell dedicate to wits divine,
The fruite of Bacchus that in clusters growe,
Are such as doe enioy the world at will,
And swimme in wealth, yet want the muses skill.
This frendship should inviolate remaine,
The rich with Bountie should rewarde the Artes,
The living muse should gratefully againe,
Adorne Mœcenas with her learned partes:
And when his branch is drie, and withered seene,
By her support, preserue him alway greene.

40

Salomonis prudentia.

To the right worshipfull Sir DAVID FOVLIS Knight.
The meanes of wisedome, heere a booke is seene,
Sometime the glory of great Salomon,
A Cedar branch, with Hysope knotted greene,
The heart and eie withall, plac'd herevpon:
For from the Cedar saith the Text he knew,
Vnto the Hysope, all that ever grew.
The eie and heart, doe shew that Princes must,
In weightiest matters, and affaires of state,
Not vnto others over rashly trust,
Least with repentance they incurre their hate,
But with sound iudgment, and vnpartiall eie,
Discerne themselues twixt wrong and equitie.

41

Vicinorum amicitia.

Svch frendly league, by nature is they say;
Betwixt the Mirtle, and Pomegranate tree,
Who, if not planted over-farre away,
They seeke each others mutuall amitie:
By open signes of Frendship, till at last,
They one another haue with armes embrac't.
Which doth declare, how neighbours should vnite
Themselues together, in all frendly loue;
And not like Tyrants, excercise their spight,
On one another, when no cause doth moue:
But letting quarrels, and old grudges cease,
Be reconcild, to liue, and die, in peace.

42

To the right worshipfull Sir Edmund Ashfeild Knight.

[_]

Edmund Ashfeild. I fledd vnshamed.

The clouded Sunne, that westward left our sight,
And for a night, in THETIS lap had slept,
Againe's return'd, with farre more glorious light,
“To cheere the world, that for his absence wept:
His beames retaining, vncorrupt and pure,
Although he lay imprison'd and obscure.
So, Sir, although the cloudes of troubles, had
A while conceald you, from your louing frendes;
You doe appeare at length to make them glad,
And so much higher still your name ascendes,
By how much Envie, seeketh to oppresse,
And dimme the splendor of your Worthines.

43

Prœmio et pœna.

The vernant Bay, with liuing fame shall crowne,
Victorious Cæsar, or sweete Maro's brow,
As due reward of Learning, and renowne:
To Iustice hand, we do the Sword allow:
For by these two, all common-wealthes doe stand,
And virtue is vpheld in every land.
For Honor, Valour drawes her sword to fight,
Devoide of feare, or cuts the foamy surge:
The Muse for glorie labours day and night,
To braue attempts, yea this doth cowards vrge:
When Iustice sword, th' inglorious and the base,
Vnworthy life, pursues with all disgrace.

44

Quæ pondere maior.

Behold a hand, extended from the sky;
Doth steddilie a peized ballance hold,
The dreadfull Cannon, in one scale doth ly,
The Bay ith'other, with a pen of Gold;
Due to the Muse, and such as learned are,
Th'other Symbole, of th'art Militar.
Though MARS defendes the kingdome with his might,
And braues abroad his foe, in glorious armes,
Yet wiser PALLAS guides his arme aright,
And best at home preventes all future harmes:
Then pardon Soveraigne, if the pen and bay,
My better part, the other downe doe wey.

45

Hibernica Respub: ad Iacobum Regem.

While I lay bathed in my natiue blood,
And yeelded nought saue harsh, & hellish soundes:
And saue from Heauen, I had no hope of good,
Thou pittiedst (Dread Soveraigne) my woundes,
Repair'dst my ruine, and with Ivorie key,
Didst tune my stringes, that slackt or broken lay.
Now since I breathed by thy Roiall hand,
And found my concord, by so smooth a tuch,
I giue the world abroade to vnderstand,
Ne're was the musick of old Orpheus such,
As that I make, by meane (Deare Lord) of thee,
From discord drawne, to sweetest vnitie.

46

Pœnitentia.

Heere sits Repentance, solitarie, sad;
Her selfe beholding in a fountaine cleare,
As greeuing for the life, that she hath lad:
One hand a fish, the other birch doth beare,
Wherewith her bodie, she doth oft chastize;
Or fastes, to curbe her fleshly enimies.
Her solemne cheare, and gazing in the fount,
Denote her anguish, and her greife of soule,
As often as her life, she doth recount,
Which Conscience doth, with howerly care enroule,
The cullor greene, she most delightes to weare,
Tells how her hope, shall overcome dispaire.

47

Dolus.

Of simple looke, with countenance demure,
In golden coate, lo heere DECEITE doth stand,
With eies to heauen vpcast, as he were pure,
Or never yet, in knau'ry had a hand,
Whose nether partes, resemble to our sight,
The figure of a fearefull Serpent right.
And by his side, a Panther close you see,
Who when he cannot easily catch his pray,
Doth hide his head, and face, with either knee,
And shew his back, with spots bespeckled gay
To other Beastes: which while they gaze vpon,
Are vnawares, surprized every one.

48

Crimina gravissima.

Vpon a Cock, heere Ganimede doth sit,
Who erst rode mounted on IOVES Eagles back,
One hand holdes Circes wand, and ioind with it,
A cup top-fil'd with poison, deadly black:
The other Meddals, of base mettals wrought,
With sundry moneyes, counterfeit and nought.
These be those crimes, abhorr'd of God and man,
Which Iustice should correct, with lawes severe,
In Ganimed, the foule Sodomitan:
Within the Cock, vile incest doth appeare:
Witchcraft, and murder, by that cup and wand,
And by the rest, false coine you vnderstand.

49

Virtutem aut vitium sequi Genus.

A Familie in Libia's said to be,
For prowesse, farre renown'd aboue the rest:
With whome no wholesome diet can agree,
But easilie, all poison they digest:
The Aspe, the Adder, and the vipers broode,
Are said to yeeld their ordinarie foode.
To these infected races, I resemble,
Of Traitors vile, as Gourie and the rest,
To tell whose legend, each good heart may tremble,
While Psilli-like, they suck from Mothers brest,
The poison of the sires infected mind,
Transmissing it, to theirs that come behind.

50

Vos vobis.

The painefull Bee, when many a bitter shower,
And storme had felt, farre from his hiue away,
To seeke the sweetest Hunny-bearing flower,
That might be found and was the pride of May:
Heere lighting on the fair'st he mought espie,
Is beate by Drones, the waspe and butterflie.
So men there are sometimes of good desert,
Who painfully haue labour'd for the hiue,
Yet must they with their merit stand apart,
And giue a farre inferior leaue to thriue:
Or be perhaps, (if gotten into grace)
By waspish Envie, beaten out of place.

51

Sic opibus mentes.

The Hyosciame, that about the plaines
Of Italie, doth in abundance grow,
Doth beare a flower, wherein a seed remaines,
Of Birdes the most desir'd, (as Herballs show:)
Which tasted by them, giddie downe they fall,
And haue no power, to flie away at all.
To this same fruite, I riches doe compare,
Which though at first, with sweetnes they bewitch:
Within a while, they breede our bane of care,
Or else we surfet, cloid with overmuch:
Or with their poison, breede out frantique fits:
Or with their losse, bereaue vs of our wits.

52

Vndique flamma.

Who ever dost a Roiall Scepter sway,
Or sit'st at sterne of publique gouerment,
So beare thy selfe, that all Inferiors may,
Behold thee as, a bright example sent;
From God aboue, and clearest light to show,
The virtuous pathes, wherein they ought to goe.
For people, are like busie Apes inclin'd,
To imitate the Soveraignes manners still,
And to his Actions, frame their varieng mind:
So that he standes, as Torch vpon a hill,
In open view, and ever shining bright,
In good or ill, to thousandes giuing light.

53

Regia liberalitas.

Of all the vertues, that doe best beseeme;
Heroique valor, and high Maiestie,
Which sooner loue, and Honor winne, I deeme,
None may compare, with Liberalitie:
Which well the mightie ALEXANDER knew,
As by this Impre'se following heere I shew.
Ere to the charge, he did himselfe advance,
His purse by giving he would emptie quite;
And cause the same be borne vpon a launce,
Throughout the campe, in all the armies sight:
And heerewithall proclaime, see, all is gone,
“We liue in hope, to purchase more anon.

54

In actione consistit.

The Dread-nought Argo, cuts the foaming surge,
Through daungers great, to get the golden prize,
So when our selues, Necessitie doth vrge,
We should avoide ignoble Cowardize,
And vndertake with pleasure, any paine,
Whereby we might our wealth, or honour gaine.
For all in vaine, our partes we keepe within,
Vnlesse we act, or put the same in vre:
Or hope heereafter, Fame our frend to winne,
If can no labour, constantly endure:
Which from aboue, is with aboundance blest,
When slothfull wightes, by nature we detest.

55

Humilibus dat gratiam.

The Mountaines huge, that seeme to check the sky,
And all the world, with greatnes overpeere,
With Heath, or Mosse, for most part barren lie:
When valleis low, doth kindly Phœbus cheere,
And with his heate, in hedge and groue begets,
The virgin-Primrose, or sweete Violets.
So God, oft times denies vnto the greate,
The giftes of Nature, or his heavenly grace,
And those that high, in Honor's chaire are set,
Doe feele their wantes, when men of meaner place,
Although they lack, the others golden spring,
Perhaps are blest, aboue the richest King,

56

Candor immunis erit.

The burning glasse, that most doth gather fire,
While Sirian Dog doth parch the meddowes greene,
Doth never burne (a thing we much admire)
The cloth, or stuffe, that perfect white is seene:
But soone enflames, all cullors else beside,
The black, the blew, the red, and motley pide.
To this same glasse, I slaunder still compare,
That by degrees, doth subtilly gather heate,
And doth not with malicious envie spare,
The good, the bad, the little or the greate,
Who though she hath, o're other vertues power,
The conscience cleere, she never shall devoure.

57

Scripta non temere edenda.

By worke of wit, who thirsteth after Fame:
And by the Muse, wouldst liue a longer day,
What ere thou writ'st, see carefully the same,
Thou oft peruse, and after pause, and stay;
Mend what's amisse, with ARGVS hundred eies,
I meane advice, and Iudgment of the wise.
For as in Children, easily we behold,
Some neere resemblance of the mouth, or eie:
Of Parents likenes: so our workes vnfold,
Our mindes true Image, to posteritie.
Beside, lew'd lines, our loues, and leasinges vaine
Doe die: when wise wordes ever doe remaine.

58

Pulchritudo fœminea.

A Virgin naked, on a Dragon sits,
One hand out-stretch'd, a christall glasse doth show:
The other beares a dart, that deadly hits;
Vpon her head, a garland white as snow,
Of print and Lillies. Beautie most desir'd,
Were I her painter, should be thus attir'd.
Her nakednes vs tells, she needes no art:
Her glasse, how we by sight are mooud to loue,
The woundes vnfelt, that's giuen by the Dart
At first, (though deadly we it after prooue)
The Dragon notes loues poison: and the flowers,
The frailtie (Ladies) of that pride of yours.

59

Nil inde insipidum.

A silver Salt, heere on the Table standes,
On which the peace-full Turtle Doue doth sit,
Who at the bord, a silent tongue commaundes:
The Salt, that we should season still with it
Discourses honest, not with idle tongue,
Speake what we list, to doe another wrong.
Some men there are, whose glorie's to depraue,
With ill report, a man behind his back,
And then suppose, their credits best they saue,
With slaunders vile, when they anothers crack:
When wisedome staid, will let such leasinges rest,
And speake even of, her enimie the best.

60

Ni vndas ni vientos.

Who wouldst dispend in Happines thy daies,
And lead a life, from cares exempt and free,
See that thy mind, stand irremoou'd alwaies,
Through reason grounded on firme constancie,
For whom opinion doth vnstaiedly sway,
To fortune soonest, such become a pray.
Ye loftie Pines, that doe support the state
Of common wealthes, and mightie government,
Why stoope ye soon'st, vnto the blast of fate,
And fawne on Envie, to your ruine bent:
Be taught by me, to scorne your worser happe,
The waue by Sea, or land the Thunderclap.

61

In alÿs tempestivè consulentes non sibi.

They tell me Tusser, when thou wert aliue,
And hadst for profit, turned euery stone,
Where ere thou cammest, thou couldst never thriue,
Though heereto best, couldst counsel every one,
As it may in thy Husbundry appeare,
Wherein a fresh, thou liu'st amongst vs heere.
So like thy selfe, a number more are woont,
To sharpen others, with advice of wit,
When they themselues, are like the whetstone blunt,
And little care, to keepe or follow it:
Eeke heere I must, the careles Pastor blame,
That teacheth well, but followes not the same.

62

Quicquid delirant Reges—

It was the Custome of the Thracians once,
Ere they would ore a frozen river passe,
To take a Fox, and turne him for the Nonce,
Vpon the Ice, to try how thick it was,
Who to the streame, by laieng downe his eare,
Could heare the noise, and know the thicknes there.
Which if he found to tender for his weight,
He back returnd, and thankt them, he would none,
Which sheweth vs of some, the subtile sleight,
Who hazard first, the poore, and weaker one
To serue their turnes, whome God preserueth oft,
When they themselues, within the pit are caught.

63

In timidos et iactantes.

The Fenny Bitter, that delightes to breede
In thickest sedge, by moore, and river side,
By thrusting low his bill into a reede,
All summer long, at morne and eventide:
Though neere, yet makes farre seeming such a sound
That oft it doth, the Passenger astound.
This Figure fits, two sorts of people base,
The Coward one, that will with wordes affright,
When dares not looke, true Valor in the face:
The other is, the proude vaine-glorious wight,
Who where he comes, will make a goodly show
Of wit, or wealth, when it is nothing so.

64

Deos inprimis placandos.

The Romane Ladies, yearely did present
Their Iewells, and the best attire they wore
To Delphos, which were by commandement
Into a Goblet turnd, and plac't before
The Pythian God, as offring for the sinne
Of loathed pride, they fear'd they liued in.
A mirror for such wightes, as will allow
Religion, or the church, the least of all,
Nay, from the same purloine they care not how,
Till Church perforce, hath stript them out of all:
This also tells our gallant Dames beside,
No vice offendes the Lord, so much as pride.

65

Deus vltimum refugium.

To the right worshipfull, Mr: D: Laifeild, sometimes my Tutor in Trinitie Colledge in Cambridge.
When Priam saw his Citie set on fire,
At once and drowned, in his Peoples blood,
To pacifie the heavens enkindled ire,
(Since humane helpe, doth faile to do him good:)
Creusa warnes him to the Altar flie,
Although he were assured there to die.
The ease is every christians in distresse,
Who to the Lord, himselfe should recommend,
As who can best the wrongfull cause redresse,
And patiently t' abide, what he shall send:
Fall'n into handes of foes, our freedome thence,
Or glorious death, to crowne our innocence.

66

Allah vere.

[_]

i. Deus dabit.

Provde Empresse, of the prouder Tyrant mind,
Of Soliman's high boundles-swelling thought:
When like the Ocean, boyling with the wind,
Of vaine Ambition, all in vaine he wrought,
To vndermine our Christian happie state,
And drowne her in, a deluge of his hate.
But as our God, hath giu'n the Sea his bound:
So (Pagan) scatterd he, thy froathy Ire:
And while thou dream'st, of compassing this round,
Thy Snuffe went out, and yet thou want'st no fire:
Not that same which, thy fat Ambition fed,
But that of Hell, that eates thee, liuing-dead.

67

—Nec te quæsiveris extra.

Althovgh the staffe, within the river cleere,
Be straight as Arrow; in the Persian bow:
Yet to the view, it crooked doth appeare,
And one would sweare, that it indeede were so:
So soone the Sence deceiu'd, doth iudge amisse,
And fooles will blame, whereas none error is.
This staffe doth shew, how oft the honest mind,
That meaneth well, and is of life vpright,
Is rashly censur'd, by the vulgar blind,
Through vaine Opinion: or vile envious spite:
But if thou know'st, thy conscience cleere within,
What others say, it matters not a pinne.

68

Fit purior haustu.

If that the Well we draw, and emptie oft:
The water there remaineth sweete and good:
But standing long, it growes corrupt and naught,
And serues no more, by reason of the mudde,
In Summer hot, to coole our inward heate,
To wash, to water, or to dresse our meate.
So, if we doe not excercise our wit,
By dayly labour, and invention still:
In little time, our sloth corrupteth it,
With in bred vices, foule and stincking ill:
That both the glories of our life deface,
And stoppe the source, and head of heavenly grace.

69

Tutissima comes.

Lo Pallas heere, with heedefull eie doth leade;
Vlisses in his travaile farre and neere:
That he aright, might in his Iourney treade,
And shunne the traine of Error, every where:
N' ought had Vlisses, ever brought to passe,
But this great Goddesse, his directresse was.
Though Homer did invent it long agoe,
And we esteeme it as a fable vaine:
While heere we wander, it doth wisely show,
With all our actions, Wisedome should remaine;
And where we goe, take Pallas still along
To guide our feete, our eares, and lavish tongue.

70

In dilapidantes sibi credita altena.

The Houndes, sometimes the Fox had put in trust,
From Towne, to Towne, to beg for their releife:
Who was a while in's office very iust,
But shortly after, proou'd an errant theife:
By eating, or embezling, of the best,
And casting to, the sterued Houndes the rest.
Of Regnards kind, there is a craftie crew,
Who when at death of frendes, are put in trust,
Doe robbe the Church, or Infantes of their dew,
Disposing of anothers as they lust:
Whome being bound, in Conscience to preserue,
They suffer oft, in open streete to sterue.

71

Patientia læsa furorem.

Who lightly sets his enimie at nought,
And feares him not because he is too weake:
Or that he is thy pray, alreadie caught,
Within such net, he cannot eas'ly breake:
Repents him often, and doth prooue too late,
No foe so dang'rous, as the desperate.
Wherefore saith one, giue passage to his Ire,
Abuse him not with too much insolence:
Least hopeles backe, he doth againe retire,
With Furie arm'd, in stead of Patience:
And prooues the Victor, when with cunning skill,
Thou might'st before, haue rul'd him at thy will.

72

Te aspicit vnam. Ad Sidoniam virginem nobilem.

Thov greeu'st Sidonia, that I thus divide,
My Loue so largely, to a severall frend:
While thou, thou think'st, remainedst vnespi'de:
Or takest thy fortune, at the latter end:
And certes who his loue, impartes to all,
Affectes but coldly, nay loues not at all.
With wonder rapt, though much I doe admire
Some Starres for lustre, and their glories best:
You are that Arctick; most I doe desire,
Whereon my hope, hath wholly set her rest:
And who (sweete Maide,) when others downe do slide,
To vnknowne Fate, must be my surest guide.

73

Maior Hercule.

Two Columnes strong, heere little Loue doth beare,
Vpon his shoulders bare: though Lillie white,
As if another Hercules he were:
And would erect them, in a deepe despite,
Of that Colosse, or Pharos fiery bright
Th' Egyptian Piles, proude Mausolæus toombe
Spaines Pillars, or great Traians, yet in Roome.
Nor may you lesse imagine Cupids might:
Though (Ladies) he, but seeme a child in show,
Since hand to hand, himselfe in single fight,
Hath giuen the great'st Hero'es their overthrow:
Ne could the wisest man avoide his bow:
Whose Trophees, & braue triumphes, were they showne
Thy Sonne Alcmena, never had beene knowne.

74

Erit altera merces.

Ad amicum suum Iohannem Doulandum Musices peritissimum.
[_]

Iohannes Doulandus. Annos ludendo hausi.

Heere Philomel, in silence sits alone,
In depth of winter, on the bared brier,
Whereas the Rose, had once her beautie showen;
Which Lordes, and Ladies, did so much desire:
But fruitles now, in winters frost, and snow,
It doth despis'd, and vnregarded grow,
So since (old frend,) thy yeares haue made thee white,
And thou for others, hast consum'd thy spring,
How few regard thee, whome thou didst delight,
And farre, and neere, came once to heare thee sing:
Ingratefull times, and worthles age of ours,
That let's vs pine, when it hath cropt our flowers.

75

Cui candor morte redemptus.

The Ermin heere, whome eager houndes doe chase,
And hunters haue, around environ'd in,
(As some doe write) will not come neere the place,
That may with dirt, defile his daintie skinne:
But rather chooseth, then the same should soile,
Be torne with dogges, or taken with the toile.
Me thinkes even now, I see a number blush,
To heare a beast, by nature should haue care,
To keepe his skinne, themselues not care a rush,
With how much filth, their mindes bespotted are:
Great Lordes, and Ladies, turne your cost and art,
From bodies pride, t' enritch your better part.

76

Status humanus.

Fower Captiue Kinges, proud Sesostris did tie,
And them compeld his charriot to draw,
Whereof the one, did ever cast his eie
Vnto the wheele: which when the Tirant saw,
And ask'd the cause, the chained King repli'de,
Because heerein, my state I haue espi'de.
For like our selues, the spoke that was on high,
Is to the bottome, in a moment cast,
As fast the lowest, riseth by and by,
All humane thinges, thus find a change at last:
The Tyrant fearing, what his hap might be,
Releas'd their bandes forthwith, and set them free.

77

Cum severitate lenitas.

Of orient hew, a Rainebow doth containe,
An hideous shower, within her Circlet round,
Resembling that great punishment of raine,
The Lord inflicted when the world was drown'd:
The Rainebow, of his Mercy, heere a signe,
Which with his Iustice, he doth ever ioine.
For though we howerly, doe the Lord provoke,
By crieng Sinnes, to bring his vengeance downe,
The salue he tempers, while he strikes the stroke,
And ioines his favor, with a bitter frowne:
To let vs know, that wrath he keepes in store,
And grace for such, as will offend no more.

78

Sine pluma.

This warlick Helme, that naked doth appeare,
Not gold-enchased, or with Gemmes beset,
Yet doth the markes, of many a battaile beare,
With dintes of bullets, there imprinted yet,
No featherie creast, or dreassing doth desire,
Which at the Tilts, the vulgar most admire.
For best desert, still liveth out of view,
Or soone by Envie, is commaunded downe,
Nor can her heauen-bred spirit lowly sue,
Though t'were to gaine, a kingdome, and a crowne:
Beside it tells vs, that the valiant heart,
Can liue content, though wanteth his desert.

79

Vmbra tantum.

The Platane Tree, that by the bankes of PO,
With gentle shade refresheth man and beast,
Of other Trees, doth beare the goodliest show,
And yet of all, it is the barrenest:
But Nature though, this tree of fruite bereaues,
It makes amendes, in cooling with the leaues.
This Platane Tree, are such as growe aloft,
Ore-dropping others, with their wealth or might,
And yet, they of themselues, are barren oft,
Wanting th' endowments, of the meaner wight:
Who many times, in vertue doth excell,
When these but haue, the shadow, or the shell.

80

Vita tota dies vnus.

Of all our life, behold the very summe,
Which as this flower, continues but a day:
Our youth is morne, our middle age is come
By noone, at night as fast we doe decay,
As doth this Lillie flowring with the Sunne,
But withered ere, his race be fully runne.
Wherefore our life's resembled to a shippe,
Which passeth on, though we doe what we please,
A shade, a flower, that every frost doth nippe,
A dreame, a froath, a waue vpon the Seas,
Which hath a while his being, till anon,
Some else intrude, and hee's forgot and gon.

81

Divitiæ.

The country Swaines, at footeball heere are seene,
Which each gapes after, for to get a blow,
The while some one, away runnes with it cleane,
It meetes another, at the goale below
Who never stirrd, one catcheth heere a fall,
And there one's maimd, who never saw the ball.
This worldly wealth, is tossed too and fro,
At which like Brutes, each striues with might and maine,
To get a kick, by others overthrow,
Heere one's fetch't vp, and there another slaine,
With eager hast, and then it doth affront
Some stander by, who never thought vpon't.

82

Arbiter ipse mei.

Vnto his life, who lookes with heedie eie,
And labors most to keepe a conscience pure,
And doubtes to treade, in errors pathes awrie:
That man is blest, and deemed happie sure:
When vicious persons, even vnto their graues,
Are lewde affections, and their vices slaues.
For as the Lion, that hath slipt his band,
Or shear'd the chaine, that did his courage hold,
Doth not in awe, of churlish keeper stand,
But since is waxen, more couragious bold:
The righteous man, so from hells bondage free,
Hath heartes content, ioind with his libertie.

83

Vulnerat ille medemar.

This Sword, a Symbole of the Law, doth threate
Perpetuall death, to all of Adams race:
But yet th' Almightie, of his mercie greate,
Sendes, after sentence, pardon of his grace:
For when he found vs, maimed on the ground,
With wine, and oile of grace, he heald the wound.
Our partes it is; since by the Law we see,
The fearefull state, and daunger we are in,
To doe our best, then to his mercie flee,
And new againe, our sinfull liues begin:
Not trusting to our deedes, and merits vaine,
Since nought but death, doth due to these remaine.

84

In prodigos.

The watry willow, growing by the shore,
Of trees the formost, forth her fruite doth send,
But laden with her bee-desired store,
Ere ten daies fully come vnto an end,
Her Palme's so sweete, we lou'd and look't vpon,
With Boreas breath, are blowne away and gone.
To this same tree, did Homer once compare,
Such heires as straight, their Patrimonie wast,
In ri'tous wise: and such as Artistes are,
Who getting much, doe let it fly as fast:
Eeke such of wit, or wealth, that make a show,
In substance when, we find it nothing so.

85

Te Duce.

The Partrich young, in Foulers net ycaught,
Too late the error of their damme repent,
For why? her call them into daunger brought,
And taught at first, the heedeles way they went:
Heereby are kinges our common nurses ment,
When to their lustes, themselues become a pray,
And by example, thousandes cast awaie.
Not heerevpon, as may of most be thought,
We should our Prince, like Rebells disobey,
When they be Tyrants, or with vices nought,
Do hasten others, and their owne decay:
But to the Lord, like Christians rather pray
For mercie, who hath in his anger sent
Such wretches vile, to be our punishment.

86

In salo sine sale.

To the Hon: and most worthy Ladie, E: L:
The frendly Dolphin, while within the maine,
At libertie delightes, to sport and play,
Himselfe is fresh, and doth no whit retaine
The brinish saltnes of the boundles Sea
Wherein he liues. Such is the secret skill,
Of Nature working, all thinges at her will.
So you great Ladie, who your time haue spent,
Within that place, where daungers oft abound,
Remaine vntainted of your Element,
And to your praise; yet keepe your honor sound
Diana-like, whose brightnes did excell,
When many starres, within your climate fell.

87

Vna dolo Divûm.

To the most Honorable and worthie Ladie the Ladie Alicia D:
And ye great Ladie, that are left alone,
To merc'les mercie, of the worldes wide sea,
Behold your faire, though counterfeited stone,
So much you ioi'd in, on your wedding day,
And tooke for true, how after it did prooue,
Vnworthy Iewell, of so worthy loue.
Ah how can man, your sexe (faire Ladies) blame,
Whose brests, are vertues pretious Carcanets,
When he himselfe, first breakes the boundes of shame,
And dearest loue, and loialtie forgets:
Yet heerein happie, ye aboue the rest,
Belou'd of Heauen, and in your children blest.

88

Paulatim.

By violence who tries to turne away,
Strong natures current, from the proper course,
To mooue the Earth, he better were assay,
Or wrest from Ioue, his thunderbolts perforce,
Bid the Sphæres stay, or ioine by art in one,
Our Thames with Tyber, Pinde with Pelion.
For nought at all heerein prevailes our might,
With greater force she doth our strength withstand,
The River stopt, “his banke downe-beareth quite,
And seldome boughes, are bent with stubborne hand:
When gentle vsage, feircenes doth allay,
And bringes in time, the Lion to obay.

89

Sic vos non vobis.

To my worshipfull and kind frend Mr. William Stallenge, searcher of the Port of London, and first Author of making Silke in our Land.
These little creatures heere, as white as milke,
That shame to sloth, are busie at their loome.
All summer long in weauing of their their Silke,
Doe make their webs, both winding sheete and toombe,
Thus to th' ingratefull world, bequeathing all
Their liues haue gotten, at their funerall.
Even so the webs, our wits for others weaue,
Even from the highest to the meanest, worne,
But Siren-like it'h end, our selues deceiue,
Who spend our time, to serue anothers turne:
Or painte a foole, with coate, or cullors gay,
To giue good wordes, or thankes, so goe his way.

90

Tyranni morbus suspicio.

When valiant Richmond, gaue the overthrow
T'vsurping Richard, at that fatall feild
Of Bosworth, as our Histories doe show,
This Embleme he devised for his sheild,
(For when the battaile, wholly was his owne,
He found his crowne, within a Hawthorne throwne.)
Whereat he sigh'd they say, and vttered this,
A Kingdome easeth not, the guiltie mind,
Nor Crowne contents, where inward horror is,
Withall it showes, how I am like to find,
With Honor, and this dignitie I beare,
My part of greife, and thornes of heavie care.

91

Innocentia muninem tutissimum.

The Lion once, whome all the Beastes did dread,
Doth in a thicket deadly wounded lie,
About whose carkas, yet not fully dead,
Doe flock the Vultur, Puttock, and the Pie,
And where the woundes are greene, and freshly bleede,
They light thereon, and most of all doe feede.
Such carrion Crowe, thinke thou thine enimie,
Who seldome dare assault thee being sound,
But where he doth thy guiltines espie,
With eager hate, he præies vpon thy wound:
But wisely if thou lead'st thy life vpright,
He leaues thee then with sterued appetite.

92

Amor coniugalis æternus.

To my Louing and most kind frendes, Mr Christopher Collarde, and Mrs Mabell Collarde his wife, of St Martines in the feildes.
[_]

Mabella Colarde. Bella, alma corde.

Dearest of frendes, accept this small device,
Wherewith I would your curtesies requite,
But that your loues invaluable price,
Must hold me debter, while I view this light,
Nor can my heires, these papers dead and gone,
Repay the favors for me, you haue done.
A Turtle heere, vpon an Oliue sits,
Vpon whose branch, depends a Ring of gold,
As best the loue of Matrimonie fits,
Thus ever endles, never waxing old,
The branch and bowes, the fruite that from you spring,
The Doue your selfe, your wife that golden Ring.

93

Temperantia.

Heere Temperance I stand, of virtues, Queene,
Who moderate all humane vaine desires,
Wherefore a bridle in my hand is seene,
To curbe affection, that too farre aspires:
I'th other hand, that golden cup doth show,
Vnto excesse I am a deadly foe.
For when to lustes, I loosely let the raine,
And yeeld to each suggesting appetite,
Man to his ruine, headlong runnes amaine,
To frendes great greife, and enimies delight:
No conquest doubtles, may with that compare,
Of our affectes, when we the victors are.

94

Servire nescit.

The Princely Faulcon, that hath long beene man'd,
And taught to stoope, vnto the tossed lure,
Is now escaped from his Maisters hand,
And will no more such servitude endure,
But better likes the feilde, and forrestes spray,
And for himselfe, in elder age to pray.
The virtuous mind, and truely noble spright,
Can seldome brooke, in bondage base to serue,
But most doth in his libertie delight,
Still rather choosing, by himselfe to sterue,
Then eate some caterpillar's envied bread,
Or at anothers curtesie be fed.

95

Vis Amoris.

Alcides heere, hath throwne his Clubbe away,
And weares a Mantle, for his Lions skinne,
Thus better liking for to passe the day,
With Omphale, and with her maides to spinne,
To card, to reele, and doe such daily taske,
What ere it pleased, Omphale to aske.
That all his conquests wonne him not such Fame,
For which as God, the world did him adore,
As Loues affection, did disgrace and shame
His virtues partes. How many are there more,
Who hauing Honor, and a worthy name,
By actions base, and lewdnes loose the same.

96

Vini vis.

Heere Bacchus winged, midst his cups doth sit,
With Mercuries Caduceus in his hand,
As God of wine no more, but God of wit,
And Eloquence, which he hath at commaund,
(Since he hath drawne, his bowles and bottles drie,)
Wherewith he seemes, to mount aboue the skie.
For when his liquor hath possess'd the braine,
The foole himselfe, the wisest thinkes to be,
And then so giues his lavish tongue the raine,
You'ld sweare ye heard another Mercurie,
For lies of Ladies loues, or travailes farre,
His birth, his woundes, or service in the warre.

97

Honos venalis.

Who seekst Promotion through iust desert,
And thinkst by gift, of bodie, or of mind,
To raise thy fortune, whosoere thou art,
This new Impresa take to thee assignd,
To warne thee oft, such labour is in vaine,
If heereby thinkst, thy merit to obtaine.
For now the golden time's returned back,
And all's kept vnder, by th' Athenian Cat,
Whose helpe, and favour, whosoere doth lack,
May coole his heeles, with Homer at the gate:
Such is our age, where virtue's scarce regarded,
And artes with armes, must wander vnrewarded.

98

Divinitùs.

To the thrice famous and farre renowned Vniversitie of Oxford.
Deare Sister of my ever-loued Mother,
From whome this little that I haue I drew,

Cambridge and heerein Trinitie Colledge.


Ingratefully greate light I cannot smother,
Some lesser sparkes, which I deriu'd from you,
Which first enflam'd to this, my duller spright,
And lent in darke, my Muse her candle light.
Faire Academe, whome Fame and Artes conspire,
To make thee mirror to all mortall eine,
Within our Sphære, that Europe may admire,
The gratious Lampe that on thy brow doth shine:
And shewes the Trvth around by land and sea,
Directing thousandes erring, in their way.

99

Atheôn exitus.

The Atheists vile, that Giant-like attemptes,
To bandie faction with Almightie IOVE,
And thinkes this fraile worlds priviledge exemptes,
All Faith, and Feare, due vnto heauen aboue:
Vnto his terror, let him heere behold,
What Histories of IULIAN haue told.
For after that he had his Lord defi'de,
And wounded deadly lay in deepe dispaire,
Thou, GALLILÆAN now or'ecom'st, he cri'de,
Wherewith he cast his blood into the Aire:
A fit example, for the faithles wight,
And such as in prophanenes doe delight.

100

Sic et Ingenium.

The Roses sweete, that in the Garden grow,
If that not often drest where they abide,
Become as wild as those, we see doe blow
In every feild, and hedge-row as we ride:
And though for beautie, once they did excell,
They now haue lost, both cullor and the smell.
So many men, whome Nature hath endu'de,
With rarest partes, of bodie, or the mind,
Do in themselues by Sloth, grow rancke and rude,
Not leauing any memorie behind,
Saue that they liued heere, and sometime were,
A needeles burthen which the Earth did beare.