The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton For the First Time Collected and Edited: With Memorial-Introduction, Notes and Illustrations, Glossarial Index, Facsimilies, &c. By the Rev. Alexander B. Grosart. In Two Volumes |
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Pasquils passion
for the worlds waiwardnesse. |
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 | The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton |  |
Pasquils passion for the worlds waiwardnesse.
Wicked, vngratious, and vngodly Age,
Where hatefull thoughts are gotten to their height,
How should my spirit in true passions rage?
Describe the courses of thy vile conceight,
That feede the world but with the diuels baight:
While wofull hearts, with inward sorrowes wounded,
Finde Wit and Reason in their sense confounded.
Where hatefull thoughts are gotten to their height,
How should my spirit in true passions rage?
Describe the courses of thy vile conceight,
That feede the world but with the diuels baight:
While wofull hearts, with inward sorrowes wounded,
Finde Wit and Reason in their sense confounded.
No, no, the depth of thy vnknowne distresse
(Wherein the heart is ouerwhelm'd with woes)
Exceedes the power of passion to expresse;
While so much griefe within the Spirit growes,
As all the power of Patience ouerthrowes:
While vertuous minds, within their sowles agrieued.
Must helplesse die, and cannot be relieued.
(Wherein the heart is ouerwhelm'd with woes)
Exceedes the power of passion to expresse;
While so much griefe within the Spirit growes,
As all the power of Patience ouerthrowes:
While vertuous minds, within their sowles agrieued.
Must helplesse die, and cannot be relieued.
The clearest eye must seeme to haue no seeing,
And Eloquence must be to silence bound,
And Honours essence seeme to haue no beeing,
Where wicked windes runne Vertues shippe a ground,
While healthfull spirits fall into a swound;
That only Pride, that weares the golden horne,
May liue at ease and laugh the world to scorne.
And Eloquence must be to silence bound,
And Honours essence seeme to haue no beeing,
Where wicked windes runne Vertues shippe a ground,
While healthfull spirits fall into a swound;
That only Pride, that weares the golden horne,
May liue at ease and laugh the world to scorne.
If euery right were rightly apprehended,
And best deseruings best might be regarded,
And Carefull workes were to their worth commended,
And Gratious spirits gratiously rewarded,
And wicked craft from Conscience care discarded;
Then might the Angels sing in Heauen, to see
What blessed courses on the earth would be.
And best deseruings best might be regarded,
And Carefull workes were to their worth commended,
And Gratious spirits gratiously rewarded,
And wicked craft from Conscience care discarded;
Then might the Angels sing in Heauen, to see
What blessed courses on the earth would be.
But oh, the world is at another passe,
Fooles haue such Maskes, men cannot see their faces:
There is such flattery in a looking Glasse,
That winking eyes can not see their disgraces,
That are apparant in too open places:
But what auailes vnto a wicked minde?
No eye so clowdy, as the wilfull blinde.
Fooles haue such Maskes, men cannot see their faces:
There is such flattery in a looking Glasse,
That winking eyes can not see their disgraces,
That are apparant in too open places:
But what auailes vnto a wicked minde?
No eye so clowdy, as the wilfull blinde.
To see the sleight of subtill sneaking spirits
(That dare to see the Glasse of their disgraces)
Thriue in the World, while better natur'd merits
Can not aspire vnto those blessed places,
Where faithlesse hearts should neuer shewe there faces:
Would it not grieue an honest heart to knowe it?
Although the tongue be sworne it may not showe it.
(That dare to see the Glasse of their disgraces)
Thriue in the World, while better natur'd merits
Can not aspire vnto those blessed places,
Where faithlesse hearts should neuer shewe there faces:
Would it not grieue an honest heart to knowe it?
Although the tongue be sworne it may not showe it.
To see a harse of seruice in the field,
Hurt by a Iade, that can but kicke and fling:
To see Vlisses weare Achilles shield,
While hissing Serpents haue a Hellish sting:
To see the Knaue of Clubbes take vp the King.
Although hee be a wicked helpe at Mawe.
Twas but a clowne that yet deuis'd the lawe.
Hurt by a Iade, that can but kicke and fling:
To see Vlisses weare Achilles shield,
While hissing Serpents haue a Hellish sting:
To see the Knaue of Clubbes take vp the King.
Although hee be a wicked helpe at Mawe.
Twas but a clowne that yet deuis'd the lawe.
To see a sight of Curres worry a Hound,
A flight of Buzzards fall vpon a Hawke,
A coward villaine giue a Knight a wound,
To heare a Rascall to a King to talke,
Or see a Peasant crosse a Princes walke:
Would it not fret the heart that doth behould it.
And yet in figures may not dare vnfolde it?
A flight of Buzzards fall vpon a Hawke,
A coward villaine giue a Knight a wound,
To heare a Rascall to a King to talke,
Or see a Peasant crosse a Princes walke:
Would it not fret the heart that doth behould it.
And yet in figures may not dare vnfolde it?
26
But what a kinde of wretched world is this!
They that are honest, let them be so still.
Such as are settled in their course amisse,
Haue much adoe for to reforme their will.
It is the winde that driues about the Mill,
That grindes the Corne that sometimes fils the Sacke,
That laide awry may breake the Loaders backe.
They that are honest, let them be so still.
Such as are settled in their course amisse,
Haue much adoe for to reforme their will.
It is the winde that driues about the Mill,
That grindes the Corne that sometimes fils the Sacke,
That laide awry may breake the Loaders backe.
What shall I say? that knowes not what to say.
This worlds vile Grammer hath a wicked speach:
Where Wealth and Will doe carry such a sway
That many a time the Goodwife weares the breech,
And the stowte Oke must yeelde vnto the Beech.
Such vile coniunctions such constructions make,
That some are pois'ned with a Sugar Cake.
This worlds vile Grammer hath a wicked speach:
Where Wealth and Will doe carry such a sway
That many a time the Goodwife weares the breech,
And the stowte Oke must yeelde vnto the Beech.
Such vile coniunctions such constructions make,
That some are pois'ned with a Sugar Cake.
Terence his Plaies are too much in request.
The Knaue, the Foole, the Swagg'rer, and the Whore,
Thraso and Gnato, Lais and the rest
Of all the crue (that I dare say no more;
But ware the dogges that keepe the Diuels dore)
So play their parts vpon the worldly Stage,
That theiues are hangd before they come to age.
The Knaue, the Foole, the Swagg'rer, and the Whore,
Thraso and Gnato, Lais and the rest
Of all the crue (that I dare say no more;
But ware the dogges that keepe the Diuels dore)
So play their parts vpon the worldly Stage,
That theiues are hangd before they come to age.
Oh tis a word to heare a Gander keake,
And all the Geese to giue a hisse to heere;
To heare an Owle to teach a Parrat speake,
While Cuckoes notes makes better Musique deere;
Where nere a better singing bird is neere,
Would it not grieue a good Musitians eare
To be enforst to stand attentiue heare.
And all the Geese to giue a hisse to heere;
To heare an Owle to teach a Parrat speake,
While Cuckoes notes makes better Musique deere;
Where nere a better singing bird is neere,
Would it not grieue a good Musitians eare
To be enforst to stand attentiue heare.
To see a Wise man handled like a Foole
An Asse exalted like a proper man:
To see a Puddle honour'd like a Poole,
An old blinde Goose swimme wagers with a Swan,
Or Siluer Cuppes disgracèd by a Canne:
Who wold not grieue that so the world should go?
But who can helpe it, if it will be so?
An Asse exalted like a proper man:
To see a Puddle honour'd like a Poole,
An old blinde Goose swimme wagers with a Swan,
Or Siluer Cuppes disgracèd by a Canne:
Who wold not grieue that so the world should go?
But who can helpe it, if it will be so?
No, no, alas it is in vaine for mee,
To helpe the eyes, that ioy not in the light:
Hee that is sworne that hee will neuer see,
Let him play Buzzard, with his blinded sight.
An Owle will neuer haue an Eagles flight;
Hee, that is once conceited of his Wit,
Must die of folly: ther's no helpe for it.
To helpe the eyes, that ioy not in the light:
Hee that is sworne that hee will neuer see,
Let him play Buzzard, with his blinded sight.
An Owle will neuer haue an Eagles flight;
Hee, that is once conceited of his Wit,
Must die of folly: ther's no helpe for it.
And yet good Fooles, that cannot doe withall,
May well be borne with, for their simple Wits:
And Knauish Wits, that wicked Fooles wee call,
(Where Hellish Sathan with his Angels sits,
To worke the feates of many a thousand fits)
Those foolish knaues, or knauish fooles I meane,
I would to God, the world were ridde of cleane.
May well be borne with, for their simple Wits:
And Knauish Wits, that wicked Fooles wee call,
(Where Hellish Sathan with his Angels sits,
To worke the feates of many a thousand fits)
Those foolish knaues, or knauish fooles I meane,
I would to God, the world were ridde of cleane.
And yet is it in vaine such world to wish:
There is no packe of Cardes without a Knaue:
Who loues to feede vpon a Sallet dish,
Among his Herbes some wicked weede may haue:
Some men must winne, some lose, and some must saue.
Fooles wil be Fooles, doe wise men what they can,
And may a Knaue, deceiue an honest man.
There is no packe of Cardes without a Knaue:
Who loues to feede vpon a Sallet dish,
Among his Herbes some wicked weede may haue:
Some men must winne, some lose, and some must saue.
Fooles wil be Fooles, doe wise men what they can,
And may a Knaue, deceiue an honest man.
A Curtall Iade will shewe his hackney trickes
And snarling Curres will bite a man behinde:
The Blacke Thorne Shrubbe is best knowne by his Prickes:
A Kestrell can not chuse but shewe her kinde.
Wise men sometime must wait, till Fooles haue din'd:
And yet, those Fooles, in common Wits conceite,
Are Wise, when Wisdom on their wealth doth wait.
And snarling Curres will bite a man behinde:
The Blacke Thorne Shrubbe is best knowne by his Prickes:
A Kestrell can not chuse but shewe her kinde.
Wise men sometime must wait, till Fooles haue din'd:
And yet, those Fooles, in common Wits conceite,
Are Wise, when Wisdom on their wealth doth wait.
And yet the wealthy Foole is but a Foole,
The Knaue with all his wealth is but a Knaue:
For truest Wisdome reades in Vertues schoole,
That there is no man happy till his graue.
The Hermit liues more quiet in his Caue,
Then many a King that long vsurpes a Crowne;
That in the end comes headlong tūbling downe.
The Knaue with all his wealth is but a Knaue:
For truest Wisdome reades in Vertues schoole,
That there is no man happy till his graue.
The Hermit liues more quiet in his Caue,
Then many a King that long vsurpes a Crowne;
That in the end comes headlong tūbling downe.
Yet who so base, as would not be a King?
And who so fond as thinkes not hee is Wise?
Doth not the Cuckoe thinke that shee can sing,
As clearely as a Birde of Paradise?
The fowlest Dowd' is faire in her owne eyes.
Conceipt is strong and hath such kinde of vaine,
As workes strange wonders in a Woodcocks brain.
And who so fond as thinkes not hee is Wise?
Doth not the Cuckoe thinke that shee can sing,
As clearely as a Birde of Paradise?
The fowlest Dowd' is faire in her owne eyes.
Conceipt is strong and hath such kinde of vaine,
As workes strange wonders in a Woodcocks brain.
But, what should Fancy dwell vpon a Fable?
In some farre Contries, Women ride a-stride:
The Foole that in the kinde can vse his bable,
Shall haue Fat meate and somewhat els beside.
For Wit doth wonders vnder folly hide:
Yet in true Wisdome, all are Fooles approued,
They that loue Fooles, and Fooles that are beloued.
In some farre Contries, Women ride a-stride:
The Foole that in the kinde can vse his bable,
Shall haue Fat meate and somewhat els beside.
For Wit doth wonders vnder folly hide:
Yet in true Wisdome, all are Fooles approued,
They that loue Fooles, and Fooles that are beloued.
But since tis best that all agree in one,
The prouerbe saies, tis mery when friends meete.
It is a kinde of death to liue alone.
A louing humour is a pleasing sweete.
Let Wise men studie on the Winding sheete,
And weaker Wits this poore contentment haue,
Tis better be a Foole then be a Knaue.
The prouerbe saies, tis mery when friends meete.
It is a kinde of death to liue alone.
A louing humour is a pleasing sweete.
Let Wise men studie on the Winding sheete,
And weaker Wits this poore contentment haue,
Tis better be a Foole then be a Knaue.
And so, good friend, if so thou be, farewell:
I must not stand vpon the Foole too long;
Least that my spirits so with folly swell,
As doe perhaps my better humours wrong:
And therefore thus in briefe I ende my song,
The wisest man hath writ, that euer was,
Vanitas vanitatum, & omnia vanitas.
I must not stand vpon the Foole too long;
Least that my spirits so with folly swell,
As doe perhaps my better humours wrong:
And therefore thus in briefe I ende my song,
The wisest man hath writ, that euer was,
Vanitas vanitatum, & omnia vanitas.
Vanitie all, all is but vanitie,
Nothing on earth but that will haue an end:
Where hee that trustes to bare Humanitie,
Shall hardly liue to finde in Heauen a friend.
Take heede therefore the Highest to offend:
Either learne Wit, where truest Wisdome lies,
Or take my word, thou neuer wilt be Wise.
Nothing on earth but that will haue an end:
Where hee that trustes to bare Humanitie,
Shall hardly liue to finde in Heauen a friend.
Take heede therefore the Highest to offend:
Either learne Wit, where truest Wisdome lies,
Or take my word, thou neuer wilt be Wise.
And therefore let the wise not be displeas'd
If they be counted Fonde as well as other:
For, tis a plague that hath the world diseas'd,
Since sinne became vnhappie Natures Mother:
And let me say but this, my gentle brother;
Since all is vaine, that liues vnder the Sunne,
Good wise men beare with Fooles, and I haue done.
If they be counted Fonde as well as other:
For, tis a plague that hath the world diseas'd,
Since sinne became vnhappie Natures Mother:
And let me say but this, my gentle brother;
Since all is vaine, that liues vnder the Sunne,
Good wise men beare with Fooles, and I haue done.
FINIS.
| The Works in Verse and Prose of Nicholas Breton | |