Du Bartas His Divine Weekes And Workes with A Compleate Collectio[n] of all the other most delight-full Workes: Translated and written by yt famous Philomusus: Iosvah Sylvester |
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| EPIGRAMS & EPITAPHES vpon Warre and Peace. |
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 | Du Bartas |  |
614
EPIGRAMS & EPITAPHES vpon Warre and Peace.
Vpon the League.
France , without cause thou doost complainAgainst the League for wronging thee.
Sh' hath made thee large amends again,
With more then common vsurie:
For, for thy one King which she slew,
Sh' hath given thee now a thousand new.
Vpon the taking of Paris.
1
When Paris (happily) was wonneWith small or no endangering,
Such sudden common ioy begunne,
That one would say (t'haue seen the thing)
Th'King took not Paris, Paris took the King.
2
O rarest sight of ioyfull woe,Adorned with delightfull dread;
When Henry with one selfe-same showe,
Conquer'd at once and triumphed!
3
Sith thee from danger and distress to free,The King thus took, or rather entred thee;
Paris, it was not in stern Mars his Moneth,
But in the month that mild Astræa owneth.
Vpon the fall of the Millars-bridge.
1
The Millars, in the River drown'd,While Paris was beleaguerd round;
To die were all resolv'd in minde,
Because they had no more to grinde.
2
Then was their fittest time to die,Because they might intend it best:
But their intent was contrary,
Because they then liv'd so at rest.
615
3
As, after long sharp famine, som (forlorn)Of surfet Die, their greediness is such:
This Mill-bridge, having fasted long from corn,
Is drown'd (perhaps) for having ground too-much.
Vpon the recouerie of Amiens.
[1]
I know not which may seem most admirable;To take or re-take such a Cities force:
But, yet I knowe which is most honourable,
To take by fraud, or to re-take by force.
2
Each where they sing a thousand waiesThe glorie of this enterprise:
But yet of all their merry Layes,
The best is still in the Re-prise.
3
Hernand was happy by this Enterprise,To take so soon our Amiens without blowe:
More happy yet, to die yer the Re-prise,
Else had he dy'd for shame to leaue it so.
Vpon the Reduction of Nantes.
Nantes would not yeeld so soon (they sayd)Nor be recovered so good cheap:
And yet, for all defence it made,
'T was made to make the Britton Leap.
Vpon Peace.
1
Souldiers, late prest, are now supprest;Crost and cassierd from further pay:
Yet will they (in this time of rest)
Take vp their lendings by the Way.
2
This Peace (it seemeth) doth not soundTo all the world; for, every-where
More Sergeants now do goe the Round,
Then Souldiers yerst accustom'd were.
Vpon Captaine Cobbler.
A merry Cobbler left the wars,To turn vnto his Occupation:
And, asked by his Customers
The reason of his alteration:
'T hath pleas'd (quoth he) the King t'ordain
That each his office take again.
616
Vpon Warre.
Heere, vnder this huge heap of stonesLately enterr'd lies cruell Warre:
Pray God long rest her soule and bones
Yet, there is nothing worse for her.
Vpon Rowland Rob-Church.
Heer lyeth Rowland, that was lately slain,In robbing of a wealthy Chappell, spyde:
Yet I beleeue he doth in heav'n remain,
Sith onely for the Churches Good he dyde.
Vpon Captaine Catch.
Heer vnder, Captain Catch is layd,Who six times chang'd from side to side;
Of neither side (it seem'd) afraid:
He wore a white Scarfe when he dyde:
Yet som suspect (and so do I)
For his inconstance showen before,
That to the Black-band he did fly:
But now he can reuolt no more.
Vpon Sir Nequam Neuter.
Heer lyeth he, who the more safe to preyOn both sides; Neuter, between both abode:
Whither his Soule is gone, I cannot say,
Sith he was, nor for Diuell, nor for God.
Pax omnibus vna.
FINIS.
| Du Bartas | |