The Works of William Fowler Secretary to Queen Anne, Wife of James VI. Edited with introduction, appendix, notes and glossary by Henry W. Meikle |
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The Seconde Triumphe called
the Triumphe of chastetie. |
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 | The Works of William Fowler |  |
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The Seconde Triumphe called the Triumphe of chastetie.
When then I saw, evin at one tyme, and in the self same place,
the courage dantound of the gods whome lowe did so deface,
And lykwise with these god[s] evin those who mortall men wer cald,
and to the world did liwe lyke Sants, subdewed all and thrald,
By thair estait and guiltie fall I did example tak,
and by thair losses and thair harmes this proffeit did I mak;
So thairbe confort cam to me which eased me of my woe,
when as I spyed me tred that trace when gods and men did go.
For thair I saw and did beholde fair Phœbus full of glore
with Cupids bow and with his dart lye strukned verye sore;
With him also that lustie youthe, Leander, Heros lowe,
The one a god, the other a man, and so his death did prowe.
I lykwise saw within one snair with Iuno Dido led,
who for the woe hir husband deid hir vitall blood furth shed,
Not as the publict voyce dois bruit, or commoun fame dois tell,
becaus Æneas went his way, and would not with her duell.
Thus seing than, wherefore suld I regrett or yit lament,
or yit bewaill my fredome lost, or yit seme malcontent,
Yf now I be by lowe ourcum whils as I wes but armes,
young, rekles, and not well adwysed, vnwar of all my harmes?
Or wherfore suld I than complane if Loue and not my lowe,
or might not mak my freindlie foe his puissant power prowe?
Nor yit haif I iust caus of doole that thair I saw agane
Lowe in habit naked, spoyld, so pwrelie thair remane,
Berewed of his feddered wings, and spoyled of his flight,
though sorrow maid me to complane for to behoulde that sight.
the courage dantound of the gods whome lowe did so deface,
And lykwise with these god[s] evin those who mortall men wer cald,
and to the world did liwe lyke Sants, subdewed all and thrald,
By thair estait and guiltie fall I did example tak,
and by thair losses and thair harmes this proffeit did I mak;
So thairbe confort cam to me which eased me of my woe,
when as I spyed me tred that trace when gods and men did go.
For thair I saw and did beholde fair Phœbus full of glore
with Cupids bow and with his dart lye strukned verye sore;
With him also that lustie youthe, Leander, Heros lowe,
The one a god, the other a man, and so his death did prowe.
I lykwise saw within one snair with Iuno Dido led,
who for the woe hir husband deid hir vitall blood furth shed,
Not as the publict voyce dois bruit, or commoun fame dois tell,
becaus Æneas went his way, and would not with her duell.
Thus seing than, wherefore suld I regrett or yit lament,
or yit bewaill my fredome lost, or yit seme malcontent,
Yf now I be by lowe ourcum whils as I wes but armes,
young, rekles, and not well adwysed, vnwar of all my harmes?
Or wherfore suld I than complane if Loue and not my lowe,
or might not mak my freindlie foe his puissant power prowe?
68
Lowe in habit naked, spoyld, so pwrelie thair remane,
Berewed of his feddered wings, and spoyled of his flight,
though sorrow maid me to complane for to behoulde that sight.
And thus when Cupid sone espyed, Evin as wyld lyons two
with roring rumour other beasts in rage rancounters so,
Or as two thundring thunderbolts doun dingeth heir and thair
all thingis they find whair ever they light in heavin, earth, and air,
No otherwyse I Cupid spyed adres him to my dame
with all the argumentis he might hir to his yok reclame;
Bot shee vpone the other part against him did proceid
with swifter courss, so that she past both wind and fyre through speid.
No gretar sound more terrible did Ætna mountane mak
evin at that tyme Enceladus the giant it dois shak,
Nor Scylla with Charibdis seis so ragis in thair Ire,
that day nor night thair sturdie stormes dois ather waist or tyre,
Than wes evin at the first conflict for to be sene and hard;
so full of doubt wes that assault it can not be declaird.
Than euerie man retired him self vnto the highest place,
the better for to mark and vew who in that cruell cace
And interpryse so horrible victorious maist suld be,
with hart and eyes of Plaster maid, such succes for to see.
with roring rumour other beasts in rage rancounters so,
Or as two thundring thunderbolts doun dingeth heir and thair
all thingis they find whair ever they light in heavin, earth, and air,
No otherwyse I Cupid spyed adres him to my dame
with all the argumentis he might hir to his yok reclame;
Bot shee vpone the other part against him did proceid
with swifter courss, so that she past both wind and fyre through speid.
No gretar sound more terrible did Ætna mountane mak
evin at that tyme Enceladus the giant it dois shak,
Nor Scylla with Charibdis seis so ragis in thair Ire,
that day nor night thair sturdie stormes dois ather waist or tyre,
Than wes evin at the first conflict for to be sene and hard;
so full of doubt wes that assault it can not be declaird.
Than euerie man retired him self vnto the highest place,
the better for to mark and vew who in that cruell cace
And interpryse so horrible victorious maist suld be,
with hart and eyes of Plaster maid, such succes for to see.
This conquerour who first did prease to giwe the first on sett
did tak in his right hand his dart, in left his bow did gett;
Than for to put my dame in fray and in a gretar feare,
he had alreddye bended It, and drawin it to his eare;
And this did he so haistelie that not the flying hart
more spedelie to foord and wood his course dois so convert,
Persewed by the Leopard, discha[r]ged of his chane,
or yit that in the wydest woodis in fredome dois remane;
Yea, they had both bene Late and slow thair in respect of lowe,
who with his visage full of flams did fast him fordwartis mowe.
did tak in his right hand his dart, in left his bow did gett;
Than for to put my dame in fray and in a gretar feare,
he had alreddye bended It, and drawin it to his eare;
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more spedelie to foord and wood his course dois so convert,
Persewed by the Leopard, discha[r]ged of his chane,
or yit that in the wydest woodis in fredome dois remane;
Yea, they had both bene Late and slow thair in respect of lowe,
who with his visage full of flams did fast him fordwartis mowe.
Thair might be sene within my breist, which all wes set in fyre,
a sore conflict and doubtfull feyght tuix pitie and desyre:
Desyre me mowed for to desyre that lowe suld victor be,
and that my dame, by him subdewed, I might my marrow see;
Bot Pittie than did pleade remorse, and caused me say agane,
“It pittie war and hard to sie My Laura so lye slane.”
yet vertew that dois neuer from the Verteuous folke estrange,
evin at that instant shaw hir self that she dois never change,
Nor yit thame leawe who trustis in hir, thought sum thairbe hir blame,
from whome she hes hir self withdrawen to ludge them nixt thair shame.
Was never suche a scrimeur than so able, war, and quik,
for to awaird or to eshew the blow, the stogg, and prik;
Was neuer Mariner so prompt nor so reddie a hand
To turne the shipp furth of the rokkis and from the sinking sand.
Thair was my Ladie, Laura fair, who with a bould defence,
with honestie and shamefastnes, did lett his high pretence:
Sche suddenlye hir visage fair did from his strykes so hyde
that she both sharpe and egerlie did lowis assaults abyde.
I was that tyme with eyes attent and bent for to behoulde
the succes and the end of this greit feyght and battell boulde,
And hoping that the victorie suld fall on Cupids syid,
whair it is wonnt, and not from Lowe hir self dois oft dewyd;
And in this hope I so became than through to muche desyre
evin as a man vnmeasurablie who dois sum thing requyre
Hes first his suit first putt in writt or he to speik begin,
And in his eyes and forrett hes his toung and talk within:
“I would,” I say, “O thow, my lord, if thou me worthie think,
that with this Dame, if thow ourcum, I chaned wer and link;
Feare not I swerwe from thy impyre, or yit my self sall frie
furthe of these knottis wharwith thow hes so bund and coupled me.”
Whils thus I spak and this did say, I saw my dame agane
with face depainted full of Ire, and full of proude disdane,
Demeur within her countenance, sad, sober, and so grawe,
that no man is to shaw the same or able to conceawe,
Althought his wittis wer singular and almost all dewyne;
how than can I the same display that is of base ingyne?
For thair it might hawe weill besene Cupidois golden darts,
that kendled wer in fyrie flams, and waisted so mens harts,
Through outwart blast of beautie brawe, with honestie quyte quainshed,
and through the coldnes of my dame his ardent pleasouris stanched
So greit hir mynde and courage was with valeur of the same
that nather was the Volsian quene, nor amazonian dame
That did support the Troianis and the Greikis of lyfe bereft,
and vsed ay for to combat and shute ay with the left,
In anye point of worthines with Laura to be compared,
whose valeur far surpast thame bothe that I afore declared;
Nor Cæsar great, that worthye wight, who in Pharsalia feild
defaited Pompei with his host, and maid him to him yeild,
Wes neuer so scharpe nor ardentar, or bouldar on his foes,
than was my dame in contrare him who dois all armour lose.
a sore conflict and doubtfull feyght tuix pitie and desyre:
Desyre me mowed for to desyre that lowe suld victor be,
and that my dame, by him subdewed, I might my marrow see;
Bot Pittie than did pleade remorse, and caused me say agane,
“It pittie war and hard to sie My Laura so lye slane.”
yet vertew that dois neuer from the Verteuous folke estrange,
evin at that instant shaw hir self that she dois never change,
Nor yit thame leawe who trustis in hir, thought sum thairbe hir blame,
from whome she hes hir self withdrawen to ludge them nixt thair shame.
Was never suche a scrimeur than so able, war, and quik,
for to awaird or to eshew the blow, the stogg, and prik;
Was neuer Mariner so prompt nor so reddie a hand
To turne the shipp furth of the rokkis and from the sinking sand.
Thair was my Ladie, Laura fair, who with a bould defence,
with honestie and shamefastnes, did lett his high pretence:
Sche suddenlye hir visage fair did from his strykes so hyde
that she both sharpe and egerlie did lowis assaults abyde.
I was that tyme with eyes attent and bent for to behoulde
the succes and the end of this greit feyght and battell boulde,
And hoping that the victorie suld fall on Cupids syid,
whair it is wonnt, and not from Lowe hir self dois oft dewyd;
70
evin as a man vnmeasurablie who dois sum thing requyre
Hes first his suit first putt in writt or he to speik begin,
And in his eyes and forrett hes his toung and talk within:
“I would,” I say, “O thow, my lord, if thou me worthie think,
that with this Dame, if thow ourcum, I chaned wer and link;
Feare not I swerwe from thy impyre, or yit my self sall frie
furthe of these knottis wharwith thow hes so bund and coupled me.”
Whils thus I spak and this did say, I saw my dame agane
with face depainted full of Ire, and full of proude disdane,
Demeur within her countenance, sad, sober, and so grawe,
that no man is to shaw the same or able to conceawe,
Althought his wittis wer singular and almost all dewyne;
how than can I the same display that is of base ingyne?
For thair it might hawe weill besene Cupidois golden darts,
that kendled wer in fyrie flams, and waisted so mens harts,
Through outwart blast of beautie brawe, with honestie quyte quainshed,
and through the coldnes of my dame his ardent pleasouris stanched
So greit hir mynde and courage was with valeur of the same
that nather was the Volsian quene, nor amazonian dame
That did support the Troianis and the Greikis of lyfe bereft,
and vsed ay for to combat and shute ay with the left,
In anye point of worthines with Laura to be compared,
whose valeur far surpast thame bothe that I afore declared;
Nor Cæsar great, that worthye wight, who in Pharsalia feild
defaited Pompei with his host, and maid him to him yeild,
Wes neuer so scharpe nor ardentar, or bouldar on his foes,
than was my dame in contrare him who dois all armour lose.
With hir than armed wer at ones evin all the verteus fair—
o what a hevinlie cumpanie and glorious troupe was thair!
Thay progrest so in this thair Pompe and brawe triumphant band,
all Pair and pair, and two with two, and marching hand in hand.
Vpoun the vanguarde thair wes plaist high Honestie that dame,
with shamefastnes who trimlie did conduct and guyde the same,
Two noble verteus of great praise, and in thame selfs dewyne,
which maid my ladie, Laura fair, abowe the rest to shyne;
Witt than with Modestie ensewid, and wer thair nighbouris nixt,
Delyte, and good behauiour, who in her [OMITTED] wer fixt;
Than Perseuerance marched on, and Glorye cam behind,
Entreatie fair, with goode aduyse of ane forseing mynd;
And round about that valiant dame they wer in midle guarde
Rare courtesie and clenelines for which sche muche ay cairde,
Than feare of schame, desyre of glore, and thoughts in youthfull age,
and Concorde rare (within this world) all rancour to assuage.
In arire guard Trew Chastetie and Beutye brawe did go,
and in this sort my ladie fair went to hir feghting so
Against that souerane lord of Lowe with full intent to win,
with fauour of the heavinis, and all the blissed sowlis thairin:
And as my eyes vnable war thair fulnes to behoulde,
so is my toung the meanest part thairof for to vnfoulde.
o what a hevinlie cumpanie and glorious troupe was thair!
71
all Pair and pair, and two with two, and marching hand in hand.
Vpoun the vanguarde thair wes plaist high Honestie that dame,
with shamefastnes who trimlie did conduct and guyde the same,
Two noble verteus of great praise, and in thame selfs dewyne,
which maid my ladie, Laura fair, abowe the rest to shyne;
Witt than with Modestie ensewid, and wer thair nighbouris nixt,
Delyte, and good behauiour, who in her [OMITTED] wer fixt;
Than Perseuerance marched on, and Glorye cam behind,
Entreatie fair, with goode aduyse of ane forseing mynd;
And round about that valiant dame they wer in midle guarde
Rare courtesie and clenelines for which sche muche ay cairde,
Than feare of schame, desyre of glore, and thoughts in youthfull age,
and Concorde rare (within this world) all rancour to assuage.
In arire guard Trew Chastetie and Beutye brawe did go,
and in this sort my ladie fair went to hir feghting so
Against that souerane lord of Lowe with full intent to win,
with fauour of the heavinis, and all the blissed sowlis thairin:
And as my eyes vnable war thair fulnes to behoulde,
so is my toung the meanest part thairof for to vnfoulde.
Thair saw I this cleir cumpanie from lowe and from his bandis
a thousand thousand famous sonnes spoyle by thair spoyling handis,
And shake and strype furth of the same with victors voyce and psalmes
a thousand thousand branches brawe of cleir victorious Palmes.
That sudden fall and ouerthrow was never than so strange
To Anniball, that victor long who did the Romanis range,
And sextene yeares in Italie did brangill thair estait,
and in the end by Scipio was vanqueist and defait;
Nor yit that Giant Goliath with feare was more abasht
when that the Hebrew chyld his branes & head with stones had dasht;
Nor Cyrus more astonished when that wedow came
and killed him and all his route with lasting glore and fame,
As than that tyme appeared Loue, who stoode evin in that place
resembling him who now is whole, but in a litill space
Is suddenlie in seiknes brought, with wonder is amased
to sie his weilfair and his helth so suddanlie vpraised;
Or evin as one who, touchte for doole for thingis he not forsees,
dois with his handis bothe wype and rubb sham furth owt of his eyes:
Loue evin so did thair remane, yea, in a worser state,
for all his forcis and his folkis wer brawelie thair defait.
a thousand thousand famous sonnes spoyle by thair spoyling handis,
And shake and strype furth of the same with victors voyce and psalmes
a thousand thousand branches brawe of cleir victorious Palmes.
72
To Anniball, that victor long who did the Romanis range,
And sextene yeares in Italie did brangill thair estait,
and in the end by Scipio was vanqueist and defait;
Nor yit that Giant Goliath with feare was more abasht
when that the Hebrew chyld his branes & head with stones had dasht;
Nor Cyrus more astonished when that wedow came
and killed him and all his route with lasting glore and fame,
As than that tyme appeared Loue, who stoode evin in that place
resembling him who now is whole, but in a litill space
Is suddenlie in seiknes brought, with wonder is amased
to sie his weilfair and his helth so suddanlie vpraised;
Or evin as one who, touchte for doole for thingis he not forsees,
dois with his handis bothe wype and rubb sham furth owt of his eyes:
Loue evin so did thair remane, yea, in a worser state,
for all his forcis and his folkis wer brawelie thair defait.
Thair might be sene than in his face both dollour, dreid, and feare,
and at one traict both shame and yre and anger greit appeare.
The stormye seis not ragis so when they so angrye grow,
and by thair contrare wyndie tydis thair bordouris dois ourflow,
Nor yit that Ile, Inarime, which lyes on Tipheus bake,
which he with boyling, foming rage and panefull pane dois shake,
Nor yit Mountgibell brayeth so when that Enceladus sighs,
And brusteth furth his rageing sobbs from bouldned breast & lighs,
As lowe did than both chawfe and rage and sighinlie did plane,
To sie him self and all his folkis disconfited remane.
Thus passed this greit cumpanie, so glorious in thair trane
that for to tell thair valiancie my toung I must restrane;
I am vnable that charge to tak leist I thair praise impair;
I thairfoir turne vnto my Dame and to the rest wer thair.
and at one traict both shame and yre and anger greit appeare.
The stormye seis not ragis so when they so angrye grow,
and by thair contrare wyndie tydis thair bordouris dois ourflow,
Nor yit that Ile, Inarime, which lyes on Tipheus bake,
which he with boyling, foming rage and panefull pane dois shake,
Nor yit Mountgibell brayeth so when that Enceladus sighs,
And brusteth furth his rageing sobbs from bouldned breast & lighs,
As lowe did than both chawfe and rage and sighinlie did plane,
To sie him self and all his folkis disconfited remane.
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that for to tell thair valiancie my toung I must restrane;
I am vnable that charge to tak leist I thair praise impair;
I thairfoir turne vnto my Dame and to the rest wer thair.
Sche had that tyme vpone hir bak a glorious gowne of whyte,
and in hir hand That Cristall targe that wrought medusa spyte,
And in the same a Piller was erect of Iaspar stone,
wherin a chane of Diamants wer placed one by one,
And Topassis mixt in the midst which verteus dames did vse,
bot now no more they keip that vse sen they them selfs abuse.
Thair saw I hir before my ene so fast Cupido tye,
and plaging him so cruellie whair he did vanqueist lye,
That suirlie than it semed to me the vengence to to muche;
bot yit I wes content thairwith, and thairat did not grucht.
My wittis ar waik, my Muse to slow, and slender my ingyne,
To pen the number of these Dames and virgins maist dewyne:
Nor Clio with Calliope and all these of that sect
be able what these ladeis wer to shaw or yit detect;
Off manye yit few sall suffice, and of these will I tell,
who on the Topp of Honestie and dignitie did duell.
and in hir hand That Cristall targe that wrought medusa spyte,
And in the same a Piller was erect of Iaspar stone,
wherin a chane of Diamants wer placed one by one,
And Topassis mixt in the midst which verteus dames did vse,
bot now no more they keip that vse sen they them selfs abuse.
Thair saw I hir before my ene so fast Cupido tye,
and plaging him so cruellie whair he did vanqueist lye,
That suirlie than it semed to me the vengence to to muche;
bot yit I wes content thairwith, and thairat did not grucht.
My wittis ar waik, my Muse to slow, and slender my ingyne,
To pen the number of these Dames and virgins maist dewyne:
Nor Clio with Calliope and all these of that sect
be able what these ladeis wer to shaw or yit detect;
Off manye yit few sall suffice, and of these will I tell,
who on the Topp of Honestie and dignitie did duell.
Amangs the number of these Dames that staitlie thair did stand
was fair Lucretia first in place, and keped the right hand;
To whome Penelope wes nixt, who by hir force and might
bespoyled lowe of all his armes and of his winged flight,
And reaving from that froward lord his quawer, bow, and darts,
they crusht, they brust, they threw, and brake tham in a thousand parts.
Than nixt approchte Virginia, with hir hir father ferse,
armed with disdane and pietie, and with a blaid to perse
And wound his chaistlie dochters breist, which bothe to hir and Rome
brought change of state, and by hir death thair fredomes both did come.
was fair Lucretia first in place, and keped the right hand;
To whome Penelope wes nixt, who by hir force and might
bespoyled lowe of all his armes and of his winged flight,
And reaving from that froward lord his quawer, bow, and darts,
they crusht, they brust, they threw, and brake tham in a thousand parts.
Than nixt approchte Virginia, with hir hir father ferse,
armed with disdane and pietie, and with a blaid to perse
And wound his chaistlie dochters breist, which bothe to hir and Rome
brought change of state, and by hir death thair fredomes both did come.
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Than afterwart the Germane Dames marcht fordwart in that band,
who for to sawe thair chastetie did in thame selfis putt hand;
Iuditha chaist, that Hebrew dame and wedow wyse and stronge,
wes with these other daintie dames triumphing thame amonge.
Nixt hir that brawe couragious dame, that Hippo heght by name,
To sawe hir bodye ondefylit, and frie hir selff from shame,
Did with a valiant worthye mynde, hir hard mishapp to sawe,
that to hir chaist and cumlie corss she maid the sea hir grawe.
With hir and other blissed Santis I saw Trumphe in glore
my Dame and Lowe who ouer the world had first Triumpht before.
Amangs the same I thair perceawed the Vestall virgine chaist,
fair Thucia, who falslie wes by Infamie disgraist,
Who for to purge hir of the same this miracle did giwe,
she brought from Tiber floode to church furth water in a siwe;
And after hir Hersilia, that brawe Sabinian dame,
whose worthines dois euerie booke and storye furth proclame;
With hir was these hir countrye maids whome Romanis through defait
had rewishit to be thair wyiffis for to prolong thair state.
And thair amangis these strangeris alss I hir did thair espye
that for hir fayithfull loveing spous did tak hir death thairbye—
Lat them the vulgar people peace, It Dido is, I say,
who for the doole of Sicheus death she put hir self away;
Thought Virgill wryte and publict bruit by Æneȩ do hir shame,
It was but cair of honestie that poust hir to the same;
And in the end thair prest in place one who did hir enclose
within a place at Arno syde, bot she hir tyme did lose;
For what she would effectuat and purpose bring to pass,
hir honest thoughts and chaistfull mynde by force impeached was.
who for to sawe thair chastetie did in thame selfis putt hand;
Iuditha chaist, that Hebrew dame and wedow wyse and stronge,
wes with these other daintie dames triumphing thame amonge.
Nixt hir that brawe couragious dame, that Hippo heght by name,
To sawe hir bodye ondefylit, and frie hir selff from shame,
Did with a valiant worthye mynde, hir hard mishapp to sawe,
that to hir chaist and cumlie corss she maid the sea hir grawe.
With hir and other blissed Santis I saw Trumphe in glore
my Dame and Lowe who ouer the world had first Triumpht before.
Amangs the same I thair perceawed the Vestall virgine chaist,
fair Thucia, who falslie wes by Infamie disgraist,
Who for to purge hir of the same this miracle did giwe,
she brought from Tiber floode to church furth water in a siwe;
And after hir Hersilia, that brawe Sabinian dame,
whose worthines dois euerie booke and storye furth proclame;
With hir was these hir countrye maids whome Romanis through defait
had rewishit to be thair wyiffis for to prolong thair state.
And thair amangis these strangeris alss I hir did thair espye
that for hir fayithfull loveing spous did tak hir death thairbye—
Lat them the vulgar people peace, It Dido is, I say,
who for the doole of Sicheus death she put hir self away;
Thought Virgill wryte and publict bruit by Æneȩ do hir shame,
It was but cair of honestie that poust hir to the same;
And in the end thair prest in place one who did hir enclose
within a place at Arno syde, bot she hir tyme did lose;
For what she would effectuat and purpose bring to pass,
hir honest thoughts and chaistfull mynde by force impeached was.
75
This valiant and victorious band went fordwart in that tyme
when that the wintar waxed hote, and spring was in his pryme;
And so they all past Ioyfullie togeather in that way
wheare that the saltish watrie wawes dois brek on bayas bay;
And so they walked on a pace, and towards the right hand
they marched on till they did come vnto that solide land,
from whense betuix these mountanis two of Barbare and Auerne
they progrest on till they did come vnto Sibilla derne;
And further of they passed on vntill Linterno fort,
in whiche so solitare a place that great man did resort
And chiften brawe who hes his name from Aphrica with prayse,
for that he was the first who thair did by his sworde mak wayes,
Who did not thair in anye sort diminishe or abate
by his renoun and purchest glore the newnes of thair state,
Bot with his eyes most plesantlye thame pleased with Mirrie cheir;
and shee that wes maist chaist in lyfe most fairest did appeir.
In others pompe It would him grewed so in thair bandis to walk,
who onelye was (gif mens beleiff be not in vane and talk)
The onelye man borne to Truimphe and thairto to aspyre,
and onelye bred to countreis win and conqueiss ane Impyre.
Whair after they and all arrywed vnto that souerane toun,
and first vnto that holye church so famous by renoun
Which Chaist Sulpicia had erect, and to that end did frame,
to quensht within the mynde of man all mad and rageing flame;
And after they thair progress maid vnto that church whose name
Is chastetie, that honorable and maist renouned Dame,
Who kendleth in a gentle hart chaist will and high desyre,
Not of the vulgar sort, bot such as vnto praise aspyre:
Quhair in that church that Glorious dame did all hir spoyle expose
before that goddes godlie feitt, and þair lykwyse depose
Victorious leawes and sacred Palmes which she before had tane
and reft from lowe, that to hir glore the same might thair remane.
Thair was with hir that Toskane youthe, Spurinna heght by name,
that Maigled had his visage fair for to eshew defame,
Whose Bewtye was of such great force all wemen to subdew,
that they wer win all to his lowe at his first blinke and vew;
Thair did that youth with Laura fair displey and did vnhyde
his bloodie wondis and magled cheikis with Chastetie to byde.
With hir compered manye moe whose names my Guyde did knaw,
and at the tyme of Thair Triumphe he did thame to me shaw,
Who did dispyse Cupidois force and power in that band,
And whome amongs fair Hippolite and Ioseph iust did stand.
when that the wintar waxed hote, and spring was in his pryme;
And so they all past Ioyfullie togeather in that way
wheare that the saltish watrie wawes dois brek on bayas bay;
And so they walked on a pace, and towards the right hand
they marched on till they did come vnto that solide land,
from whense betuix these mountanis two of Barbare and Auerne
they progrest on till they did come vnto Sibilla derne;
And further of they passed on vntill Linterno fort,
in whiche so solitare a place that great man did resort
And chiften brawe who hes his name from Aphrica with prayse,
for that he was the first who thair did by his sworde mak wayes,
Who did not thair in anye sort diminishe or abate
by his renoun and purchest glore the newnes of thair state,
Bot with his eyes most plesantlye thame pleased with Mirrie cheir;
and shee that wes maist chaist in lyfe most fairest did appeir.
In others pompe It would him grewed so in thair bandis to walk,
who onelye was (gif mens beleiff be not in vane and talk)
The onelye man borne to Truimphe and thairto to aspyre,
and onelye bred to countreis win and conqueiss ane Impyre.
Whair after they and all arrywed vnto that souerane toun,
and first vnto that holye church so famous by renoun
Which Chaist Sulpicia had erect, and to that end did frame,
to quensht within the mynde of man all mad and rageing flame;
And after they thair progress maid vnto that church whose name
Is chastetie, that honorable and maist renouned Dame,
Who kendleth in a gentle hart chaist will and high desyre,
Not of the vulgar sort, bot such as vnto praise aspyre:
76
before that goddes godlie feitt, and þair lykwyse depose
Victorious leawes and sacred Palmes which she before had tane
and reft from lowe, that to hir glore the same might thair remane.
Thair was with hir that Toskane youthe, Spurinna heght by name,
that Maigled had his visage fair for to eshew defame,
Whose Bewtye was of such great force all wemen to subdew,
that they wer win all to his lowe at his first blinke and vew;
Thair did that youth with Laura fair displey and did vnhyde
his bloodie wondis and magled cheikis with Chastetie to byde.
With hir compered manye moe whose names my Guyde did knaw,
and at the tyme of Thair Triumphe he did thame to me shaw,
Who did dispyse Cupidois force and power in that band,
And whome amongs fair Hippolite and Ioseph iust did stand.
Finis Triumphi Castitatis.
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