A poore Knight his Pallace of priuate pleasures Gallantly garnished, with goodly Galleries of strang inuentio[n]s and prudently polished, with sundry pleasant Posies, & other fine fancies of dainty deuices, and rare delightes. Written by a student in Ca[m]bridge. And published by I. C. Gent |
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The vale of Venus, with all the wayes and footpathes
vnto her Forte, beeing scituate in the same.
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 | A poore Knight his Pallace of priuate pleasures |  |
The vale of Venus, with all the wayes and footpathes vnto her Forte, beeing scituate in the same.
The Argument.
The Autor penneth, wherof he hath no proofe,But as in dreame, so doth his knowledge come:
Hee warnes all those whose case it doth behooue,
To flie these panges, or els to taste of some,
VVhich hee displayeth, as proper vnto Loue:
The wofull state, of those which run that race,
By others fate, which hertofore did prooue,
VVhom hee by heapes, hath brought into this place:
But if that loue do bring no pinching payne,
The Autor sayth, hee will recant agayne.
When
as my dazled eyes, by Sopor were opprest,
God Morpheus with his fethered limmes would let mee take no rest,
But with his wonted guise, did feede my minde with dreames,
And shewed to mee, faire Helicon, with all the siluer streames.
The mansion of the dames: with euery Laurell tree,
With Herbers, Brookes, and pleasant flowres, that on Parnassus bee.
From firy Phœbus throne, to Pluto his pudled Denne,
Yea all that lay in Neptunes gulfes, and in Leerna Fenne.
Nothing was then concealed, each God in his degree,
From Iupiter and Iunos right, vnto the Furies three:
My Angell then was bent, to visite euery place,
For why, hee sayd that it was long, since hee did run that race:
And though that weary way, were tedious steppes to mee,
Yet thought I not my labour lost, such strange delights to see.
Within a valley low, there stoode a Castle hye,
Which by the might of Phœbus beames, did glister in mine eye.
No man could passe therto, to foe nor yet to freend,
But that hee should assure himselfe, some hill for to assend:
For why? before the walles, (which were exceeding good)
By Natures free munition, foure hugy hilles there stood,
Which seemed a great defence to feare the foming foe,
Menacinge feare to faynting hartes, and to the dastard woe.
And yet about the hilles great beaten pathes there were,
Which did the store of passengers vnto that place declare.
Wherwith I was amazde, this strange deuise to see,
Yet durst I not demaund my God, what building it should bee.
But when hee did perceiue, how trembling I did stand,
Feare not (quoth hee) (and therwithall hee tooke mee by the hande)
For lo that shining place beeing situate in the vale
The Castle and the fortresse strong, of Venus men doo call.
The Ualley where it stands, hath Smyrdo vnto name,
By whole consent of heauenly Gods, allotted to this dame.
The Father of the Gods, with Iuory staffe in hand,
Hath giuen vnto his Daughter deere, this sweete and fertill lande.
And euery forrain coast, doo yeeld her homage due,
Some sacrifice vnto her shrine, her wrath for to eschue,
Beholde the hilles (quoth hee) which compasse in the same,
And beare in minde if that thou canst in order euery name.
The first vnto the North, is called Change of Ioy,
For hee that entreth on the same, is entred to annoy.
The second Ficklenesse, the second chance in loue,
Now hot, now cold, now quicke, now dead: as many men doo prooue.
The thirde is Apetite, as red as raging fire,
Such is the chance of louers poore, to vanquish their desire.
The fourth is Crabbed Care, imployd with streekes of red,
Upon this Mount alas I rue, lay many Captiues ded.
My guyde there stayd, but I desirous of the same,
Did aske of him why euery Hill, inioyd that proper name.
Within eche Hill (quoth hee) a furious Feend doth rest,
And in the hill hath digged a Denne, to bee his nightly nest.
The Mountes enioy the name, and doth that title win,
As doth that hellish hound inioy, which hath his Den therin.
None entreth to the Forte, which will displayne to fight,
With him which stands, with club in hand, and challeng it by right.
And none shall passe the Mount, but hee shall him withstand,
And hee shall quite him passing well, that shall not feele his hand.
Yea Hercules him selfe, which erst had bin at Hell,
And bound the barking Cerberus, which in the Lake did dwell:
Could not resist these strokes, nor warde these battering blowes,
But yeelded him to Crabbed Care, as well his toombe forshowes.
And dying on the Mount, with fire it is suspected,
Hee hath his Tombe and Monument within that hill erected.
For none can come to Loue, or to her Castle rare,
But that hee must ascend them all in order as they are.
Good syr (quoth I agayne) I pray declare to mee,
What is the cause that in this place so many pathes there bee?
For if the case were such, as you haue erst declared,
The passage should bee perilous and much for to be feared.
Morpheus replyde agayne, I finde none other cause,
Why such resort of mortall men, vnto her tent shee drawes,
But that shee dooth delight the minde of man and beast,
And tickleth forth the willing minde, vnto Dame Venus neast.
For first in Saturns dayes, when men did simply liue,
Shee shewed forth that was vnknowen, and preceptes shee did giue.
In Venus trade and did instruct them in such sorte,
That euer since to Venus Uale, they cease not to resorte:
Yea since those flourishing dayes, shee fed their fansies so,
And opened vnto them the doore, which erst they did not know.
That now in euery Region, a costly shryne she hath,
From whence vnto her Mansion, there lyeth a beaten path:
A path I say she hath, which comes from euery place,
For to conduct those passengers, which roune in Cupids race.
Lo see the path of Troy, where Troylus lyeth dead,
And see where good Diophœbus by Greekes is murdered.
Corebus with the loue, vnto Cassandra borne,
Among the rest do couched lye, on carking care forlorne.
There Paris hath a Tombe, far distant from the rest,
A gorgious Tombe no doubt it was, excelling all the best,
Upon ech ende therof a furious Feend doth lye,
The one doth sound a dolefull Trumpe vnto the cloudy skye:
Wherwith ech place resounds, as well the vale as hill,
The other shouteth oft and shrickes, with trembling voyce and shryl.
And with his rauening mouth doth neuer cease to teare,
The bones of Paris which longe since, vpon the Mountaine were.
Oh syr (quoth I to Morpheus) what meane those dolefull mones,
And what meanes hee, that often shrykes and feedes vpon the bones?
The one (quoth hee) who sounds, his Trumpe vnto the sky,
It is Defame which will not let, yonge Paris fact to die.
The other Enuie hight: whose cankred minde doth fret,
And with Defame agaynst the Knight, his hand and tooth hath set.
But muse not then (quoth hee) though Paris lyeth here,
For through Defame and Enuies force, his facte is euery where.
The Troyans lye by heapes, next vnto them is Greece,
Where lyeth the Dame which did betray her fathers golden Fleece.
And Laodomia in like care doth rest her heauy head,
Because her loue and only ioy, Proteselaus is dead.
Here Cephalus entred is, and wayleth still with care,
For that hee killed his Procris deare, before hee was aware:
Hee wisht full ofte as Acteon did hartely wish the same,
That hee had neuer knowne his Bowe, nor vsed the hunters game.
One thing in Grecian Path, did make mee for to muse,
And for my ignorance of the same Morpheus did mee excuse.
Two gorgious Tombes there were, the one agaynst the other,
(It seemed at first vnto my eyes, as Castor and his brother)
Aboue these tombes there stood a woman faire and bright,
And not far of with franticke sworde, there stood a raging knight.
And all did seeme to wayle, and mourne most piteously,
Except the armed knight which smilde, when as the rest did cry.
My Morpheus saide, the Queene, faire Clitemnestra hight,
Which with Ægistus kild her spouse, which came from Troian fight.
Orestes then in rage, for Agamemnons death,
Did shed Aegistus vitall blood and stopt his mothers breath.
Orestes then returnde vnto his sence againe,
Did rule in Agamemnons steed, and in his roume did raine:
So hee began to smile, when all the rest were slayne,
And they beeing payd for duty due, in Crabbed Care remaine.
Within this Grecian path, while that wee taried still,
Beholde foure birdes which orderly, did fly about the hill.
The Nightingale complainde, the Lapwing fled for feare,
The Swallow shee no doubt was swifte, the Phesant lyude in care,
In care all foure they nest, in care they do remaine,
The Father, Wife, and silly childe, with sister there complaine.
Now haue wee past from Greece, and vnto Carthage came,
Where Hanniball among the rest, did win immortall fame.
From Dido vnto Thrace, from Phillis vnto Rome,
Where Porcia with Lucrecia, be linked in one Tombe,
And Camma lyeth behinde, as faythfull as the best,
But these haue almost passed care, and come to perfite rest.
Orestilla lyeth there where Cataline doth couch,
Tarpeia lyeth by Tatius, for gold doth make them touch.
Pompeia lyeth there, whom Clodius seekes to couer,
And eke Terentia Tullyes wife, about the hill doth houer.
A thousand more there were, which on that mount did sleepe,
Whom Crabbed care with other feends vpon the mount did keepe.
But as we passed those Tombes, of all the Roman rout,
And when by chance wee had espide religious persons out:
One Monument there was, excelling all the rest,
The forme so strange can not depart out of my fearfull brest.
The Tombe did crosse the path, when none beside did so,
Whose lefte side seemed a man to bee, the right a woman show:
A monstrous key of length, her left hand alwayes beares,
And on her head of glistering golde, a triple Crowne shee weares.
And with a glauncing looke, and with a stretched right hand,
Shee doth receiue a liuely youth, which naked there doth stand.
Oh sir (quoth I to him) which was my carefull guide,
In all the Mount the like to this, I haue not seene beside.
Quoth Morpheus this is shee which all the Church beguilde,
Whom all men thought to bee a man, till that shee had a childe.
Pope Ioane shee hath to name, whom once within the Lake,
I shewed vnto Robinson, as our viage wee did make.
Her tombe did crosse the path, because the passers bye,
When as they saw her shamefull fact, to her reproche should cry.
The young man it is hee, which was her Minion euer,
For whom vpon this Hill for aye, with care they shall perseuer.
The Roman path wee lefte, when wee had vewed at will,
The Roman Knights and Monuments, which were within that Hil.
From thence to Babilon, where Thisbe did complaine,
Because that valiant Piramus, through her default was slaine.
Then did the Theban path appeare within my sight,
And Hemon with Antigona, did well inioy their right.
There Cadmus shrined was, Hermione iust harde by
Whose tombes were garnished with golde, where crawling serpents lye
Semeles there was layd, next to her fathers side,
For whom her deare twise borne Bacchus most carefully prouide.
And Ino with her childe, is taken from the sea,
And in the Mount with Athamas, haue long time been all three.
Creusa, creons childe, which was yonge Iasons deare,
Whom scorching fire consumed from yerth, hath her abiding heare.
But yet one tombe there was, among the Theban route,
Which till I had perceiued well, did make mee stand in doubt:
For why hard by the same, did flow a litle flood,
Where many women washt their hands, imbrued with liuely blood.
It was Agaue the Queene, which Pentheus had rent,
Because that hee disdayned the feastes, of Baccus to frequent:
And yet her only sonne, about her tombe remayne,
The partes of him whom shee and hers, with cruell hand had slayne.
And many more there were, whose tombes I would haue seene
Which for their long antiquity, with mosse be couered cleene.
Verona path we left, where Romeus doth lye,
Where Iuliet with Iconia, inioy a place therby.
Gualfrido lyeth in Venis, Barnardo doth the same,
And eke Arestons only childe which Gnosia hath to name.
All Germany I thinke, eche towne that therin was,
Had captiues there, which tediousnesse, do cause mee to let passe:
At last my guide did smile, and thus to mee hee sayd,
Loe here what English prisoners, in Crabbed care are stayd.
Great heapes of valiant knights, of noble youthfull peeres,
Which in the feelde most Martially haue broken many speres:
Among the which I spied, those which I will not name,
Least yt my pen through my default, perhaps should purchace blame.
Both Abbots, Friers and Monkes, and all that learned rout,
Hermites and holy Hipocrites, which now bee rooted out.
In care nere Venus vale, they had a place to lye,
Wheras they haue their monuments wheras they chanced to die.
Among the which I romed: desirous for to see,
If any of those learned Clarkes, were knowen before of mee.
Wherof perhaps I could, rescite you many a one,
Which liued in ioy, but now in care, do make a dreadfull mone.
At last I spied out Bond, that fat and lazy Frier,
Which died wheras faire Astoloth would graunt to no desire.
This Champion liued by loue, as Larkes do liue by leekes,
He wept, hee wailde, he sighed so much, hee could not see for cheekes.
Of Ireland and of Wales came many a carefull wight,
And out of Cornwale valiantly came Labeale Isoundes knight.
From path to path wee went, as Morpheus did giue leaue,
Hee showd mee all that did beseeme, my knowledge to conceaue.
At last wee entered in, the valley by the hill,
And left the lofty mount of Care, which wee had vewde at will.
And loe, into the vale, when as wee were discended,
And come vnto the Castle wall, as Morpheus had pretended:
Upon the Castle strong, and in Dame Venus Forte,
Her cumly shape and rosiall hew, was drawne in seemely sorte.
And in her hand shee helde, an Iuory Combe most clere,
And by the ayde of Phœbus beames did kembe her golden heare.
Wherat I was amazde, but Morpheus helpeth mee out,
And with his sweete and sugred speeche, assoylde me of my doubt.
The Iuory Combe (quoth hee) which Venus hath in hand,
In trymming of her christall haire, will let thee vnderstand,
That those which doo delight, to run in Venus vale,
Will trim themselues, as some brush ware, before it come to sale.
For as Dame Venus doth, so all her darlings do,
This is the cause quoth hee againe, why shee is pointed so:
The Castle gate wee did approche and would not stay,
The Porters let God Morpheus passe, but mee they thrust away.
Sir boy quoth one to mee (a grim and vgly knaue,)
Come not so nye, stand backe in time, and seke thy selfe to saue.
To whom God Morpheus sayd, my freend, content thee still,
That hee should passe vnto this place, it is my minde and will.
Commaund not mee quoth hee, and therwith gan to raue,
Quoth Morpheus then from Heauen and Hell, authority I haue.
I am the God of dreames, which passe through euery vale,
Resist not then, let him approche into the Castle wall:
The knaue when hee perceiued, that it was so indeede,
Of with his cap and crowching low, hee let mee in with speede.
Affliction kept the gate, as fearce as Satyre wylde,
And Doubt was his companion, yet hee was somwhat milde.
The Porters prison was bedecked all with greene,
And chaunging coulers now and then, were often to be seene.
Out of the narrow grates did Cleopatra prye,
And beckned with her trembling hand to valiant Antony:
Naera with Carmona which waited on this Dame,
With Plyos poyson made an ende, and here do repe their shame.
Whom often Cleopatra kisse, and often them imbrace,
And ioyning heades, they do lament their hap and heauy case.
And as I pryed by chaunce, I saw a damsell morne,
With ragged weedes and Layers spots, a wight to much forlorne.
Quoth Morpheus durst thou see, wheras that caytiffe lyes,
Much like the wretched Crocodill, beholde now how shee cryes.
That is Pandare his Nice, and Calcas only childe,
By whose deceits and pollicies, young Troylus was beguilde.
Shee is kept in affliction where many other are,
And veweth Troylus lying dead, vpon the Mount of Care.
Shee wepte, shee sighed, shee sobd, for him shee doth lament,
And all too late, yea to to vaine, her facte shee doth repent:
How could that stedfast Knight, (quoth I) loue such a dame?
Morpheus replied in beauty bright, shee bare away the fame:
Till that shee had betrayd, her Troylus and her dere,
And then the Gods assignd a plague, and after set her here.
An other wretched wight, within Affliction kept,
Who for her false periured faith, lamented sore and wept.
Eriphile, shee it was, and spronge of Grecian blood,
(Yet all the Grecian pollicyes, could neuer do her good)
Who for desire of coyne betrayd her louing make,
And now shee must content herselfe, a traytresse due to take.
Kinge Pretus wife is here, alas alas what tho?
Affliction helde her in so fast, shee is like to die for woe.
Galatea shee poore soule, must holde her selfe content,
Which fayne would wepe if other could, preuaile which do lamente,
What should I say, a thousand moe, within this prison were,
Whom neither time nor memory, will suffer to declare.
But all that therin were, haue layd their ioy apart,
And giue themselues to vtter plaints, imbrued with swelling smart.
From thence wee marched forth vnto a litle Lake,
The spring was swift although but small, the course did neuer slake.
Leander here did row, here Helena did dwell,
Achilles loueth Polixena, and drinketh at this Well.
Here Aeolus daughter deere, here Silla Nisus daughter,
And here Pasiphæ oft did drinke, and neuer thirsted after.
One thing was very strange, which at this Well was seene,
Within the brooke in ritch aray there stood a gallant queene.
And on the banke a Bull, with guilted hornes did stay,
Which when shee would haue issued out, did stop her in the way.
Wherat I wondred much, and greatly was dismayde,
And asking Morpheus of that [illeg.], hee quickly to mee sayd:
The Queene shee Diete hight, which was King Lycus wife,
A Theban borne in Nicteus daies, the fates did graunt her life.
Who through a ielious minde: and false surmised loue,
Such discorde in the Theban Court, this diuelish Dame did moue.
That if young Amphion, and Zetus his dere brother,
Had not brought reskew happely: this Bull had slaine their Mother.
Whose ielosie the Gods, in such displeasure tooke,
That they haue placed this roringe Bull, to keepe her in the brooke
An other Dame there was, which at this Well did liue,
Which neuer ceast for to assay to fill an empty Siue.
And when the cause therof, on Morpheus I did aske,
Hee sayd the Gods allotted it, to be the Ladies taske.
Which all in vayne bestowed, (vnto her pinchinge payne)
Her loue vpon Narcissus faire: which in the woods complayne:
Neare to the litle Lake, a Dungeon grounded was,
As blacke as pitche throughout the which, this runninge streame did passe
Dispaire did kepe the same, which was both stout and strong,
A wofull wretch whose greedy gorge, delighted much in wrong.
Poore Captiues in distresse, hee keepeth many a one,
Whose flintie hart doth oft reioyce, when other make their mone.
Hipsiphale which loued, king Peleus Nephew deare,
Erigone which hanged her selfe: hath purchast house roome here.
Here Dianeira lyeth which kilde her selfe for wo,
And Hero which on fominge floods, her life sought to vndo.
Euadne hath a place, Dispaire doo loue her well,
With thousands more within that place, which were to long to tell.
Among the rest one stood, ready to come away,
Bat that Dispaire through fayned tales, did cause her for to stay.
Quoth Morpheus, see the Queene, that weares the mourning gowne,
Shee fled from ritch Pigmalion, and built vp Carthage towne.
This false Report (quoth hee) a foe vnto good fame,
Hath plaide his part vpon that wight, which neuer deserude the same
For in the court of chastitie, her deedes be fresh and new,
A crowne of Glory shee deserues, if that shee had her due.
For Poets say, shee loued, Æneas Knight of Troy,
And when hee priuily fled from thence, her selfe shee did distroy.
But tatling Poets lye, Aeneas was vnknowne,
And Troyan seede in Carthage towne, by him was neuer sowne.
Iarbas griped with loue, and could not her attayne,
(For once shee made a faithfull vow, that chast shee would remayne)
Laide seege vnto the towne, Dame Dido to mollest,
But shee to saue her plighted othe, to die did thinke it best.
And with a glittering blade, shee banisht breathing life,
This was the constant ende of her, which was Sicheus wife.
This sayd, wee left Dispaire, and all his raging traine,
(With watery teares for Didos sake, my Morpheus did complaine.)
Wee past the gallant court, and entered very far,
Unto the place where Venus sate, while Cupid went to war.
There Ceres kept with her, and Bacchus did the same,
And Mars stoode waiting at the doore, desirous of the game.
The house was full of Clyents, eche corner had great store,
God Morpheus as his custome was, hee entred in before.
Whom when Dame Venus saw, shee quickly gan to rise,
Saluting him with cumly cheare, and in most curteous wise.
My Lord (quoth shee to him) how doth my auncient sire,
And how doth Neptune in the seas, and Pluto in the fire.
While Morpheus tolde his tale, I vewed among the rout,
To see if some acquainted freend, by chance I could finde out.
No Englishmen were there, of Wales a worthy bande,
Whom, when they came to greet mee well, I could not vnderstande.
Wherby no doubt I lost, the truth of euery case,
And many a harty welcominge vnto that princely place.
But if my Cuntry men, had layne in Venus Uale,
Then might I haue discribed at large, the trueth of euery tale.
Thus while I pryed about, in euery vacant place,
And while I saw God Morpheus, was still with Venus grace.
And Venus did perceiue mee, to Morpheus thus shee sayd,
My Lorde the presence of this lad, doth make vs sore dismayde.
Feare not (quoth Morpheus then) there is no cause to doute,
For hee which is within your Court, can neuer issue out.
Wherwith I trembled sore, for feare hee sayd to true,
I wept, I wailde, and thus I sayd, I haue my wages due.
Then Venus sat her downe, among her Lordly peeres,
And Mars his souldiers guarded her, with Billes, with Bowes and speeres.
I asked Morpheus then, whither Cupid did resorte?
Hee sayd that hee was marchte to feelde, against Dianas court.
Whom I would faine haue seene, but time did it deny,
And Morpheus sayd tis time to goe, the starres be in the sky.
But yet hee promised mee, against another day,
For to addresse himselfe agayne, to shew mee all that way.
Wherwith hee pluckt mee backe, and said, come let vs go,
I was preparde with willing minde, for why I wisht it so.
The way wee past before, wee entred in againe,
Where fearce Affliction and Doubt, as Porters did remaine.
By Care and Appetite, Ficklenesse and Change of Ioy,
By euery Path, and euery Tombe, wee past the former way.
(Quoth Morpheus now adue) till Cupids Host do fight,
Then will I haue thee to the feelde, and shew thee all that sight.
Wherwith I wakte and saw, what folly I had seene,
And what in vision did appeare, as it had perfite beene.
Parnassus now is gone, and Helicon his streame,
And though this Treatise bee not true, yet sure it is a dreame.
God Morpheus with his fethered limmes would let mee take no rest,
But with his wonted guise, did feede my minde with dreames,
And shewed to mee, faire Helicon, with all the siluer streames.
The mansion of the dames: with euery Laurell tree,
With Herbers, Brookes, and pleasant flowres, that on Parnassus bee.
From firy Phœbus throne, to Pluto his pudled Denne,
Yea all that lay in Neptunes gulfes, and in Leerna Fenne.
Nothing was then concealed, each God in his degree,
From Iupiter and Iunos right, vnto the Furies three:
My Angell then was bent, to visite euery place,
For why, hee sayd that it was long, since hee did run that race:
And though that weary way, were tedious steppes to mee,
Yet thought I not my labour lost, such strange delights to see.
Within a valley low, there stoode a Castle hye,
Which by the might of Phœbus beames, did glister in mine eye.
But that hee should assure himselfe, some hill for to assend:
For why? before the walles, (which were exceeding good)
By Natures free munition, foure hugy hilles there stood,
Which seemed a great defence to feare the foming foe,
Menacinge feare to faynting hartes, and to the dastard woe.
And yet about the hilles great beaten pathes there were,
Which did the store of passengers vnto that place declare.
Wherwith I was amazde, this strange deuise to see,
Yet durst I not demaund my God, what building it should bee.
But when hee did perceiue, how trembling I did stand,
Feare not (quoth hee) (and therwithall hee tooke mee by the hande)
For lo that shining place beeing situate in the vale
The Castle and the fortresse strong, of Venus men doo call.
The Ualley where it stands, hath Smyrdo vnto name,
By whole consent of heauenly Gods, allotted to this dame.
The Father of the Gods, with Iuory staffe in hand,
Hath giuen vnto his Daughter deere, this sweete and fertill lande.
And euery forrain coast, doo yeeld her homage due,
Some sacrifice vnto her shrine, her wrath for to eschue,
Beholde the hilles (quoth hee) which compasse in the same,
And beare in minde if that thou canst in order euery name.
The first vnto the North, is called Change of Ioy,
For hee that entreth on the same, is entred to annoy.
The second Ficklenesse, the second chance in loue,
Now hot, now cold, now quicke, now dead: as many men doo prooue.
The thirde is Apetite, as red as raging fire,
Such is the chance of louers poore, to vanquish their desire.
The fourth is Crabbed Care, imployd with streekes of red,
Upon this Mount alas I rue, lay many Captiues ded.
My guyde there stayd, but I desirous of the same,
Did aske of him why euery Hill, inioyd that proper name.
Within eche Hill (quoth hee) a furious Feend doth rest,
And in the hill hath digged a Denne, to bee his nightly nest.
The Mountes enioy the name, and doth that title win,
As doth that hellish hound inioy, which hath his Den therin.
None entreth to the Forte, which will displayne to fight,
With him which stands, with club in hand, and challeng it by right.
And hee shall quite him passing well, that shall not feele his hand.
Yea Hercules him selfe, which erst had bin at Hell,
And bound the barking Cerberus, which in the Lake did dwell:
Could not resist these strokes, nor warde these battering blowes,
But yeelded him to Crabbed Care, as well his toombe forshowes.
And dying on the Mount, with fire it is suspected,
Hee hath his Tombe and Monument within that hill erected.
For none can come to Loue, or to her Castle rare,
But that hee must ascend them all in order as they are.
Good syr (quoth I agayne) I pray declare to mee,
What is the cause that in this place so many pathes there bee?
For if the case were such, as you haue erst declared,
The passage should bee perilous and much for to be feared.
Morpheus replyde agayne, I finde none other cause,
Why such resort of mortall men, vnto her tent shee drawes,
But that shee dooth delight the minde of man and beast,
And tickleth forth the willing minde, vnto Dame Venus neast.
For first in Saturns dayes, when men did simply liue,
Shee shewed forth that was vnknowen, and preceptes shee did giue.
In Venus trade and did instruct them in such sorte,
That euer since to Venus Uale, they cease not to resorte:
Yea since those flourishing dayes, shee fed their fansies so,
And opened vnto them the doore, which erst they did not know.
That now in euery Region, a costly shryne she hath,
From whence vnto her Mansion, there lyeth a beaten path:
A path I say she hath, which comes from euery place,
For to conduct those passengers, which roune in Cupids race.
Lo see the path of Troy, where Troylus lyeth dead,
And see where good Diophœbus by Greekes is murdered.
Corebus with the loue, vnto Cassandra borne,
Among the rest do couched lye, on carking care forlorne.
There Paris hath a Tombe, far distant from the rest,
A gorgious Tombe no doubt it was, excelling all the best,
Upon ech ende therof a furious Feend doth lye,
The one doth sound a dolefull Trumpe vnto the cloudy skye:
Wherwith ech place resounds, as well the vale as hill,
The other shouteth oft and shrickes, with trembling voyce and shryl.
The bones of Paris which longe since, vpon the Mountaine were.
Oh syr (quoth I to Morpheus) what meane those dolefull mones,
And what meanes hee, that often shrykes and feedes vpon the bones?
The one (quoth hee) who sounds, his Trumpe vnto the sky,
It is Defame which will not let, yonge Paris fact to die.
The other Enuie hight: whose cankred minde doth fret,
And with Defame agaynst the Knight, his hand and tooth hath set.
But muse not then (quoth hee) though Paris lyeth here,
For through Defame and Enuies force, his facte is euery where.
The Troyans lye by heapes, next vnto them is Greece,
Where lyeth the Dame which did betray her fathers golden Fleece.
And Laodomia in like care doth rest her heauy head,
Because her loue and only ioy, Proteselaus is dead.
Here Cephalus entred is, and wayleth still with care,
For that hee killed his Procris deare, before hee was aware:
Hee wisht full ofte as Acteon did hartely wish the same,
That hee had neuer knowne his Bowe, nor vsed the hunters game.
One thing in Grecian Path, did make mee for to muse,
And for my ignorance of the same Morpheus did mee excuse.
Two gorgious Tombes there were, the one agaynst the other,
(It seemed at first vnto my eyes, as Castor and his brother)
Aboue these tombes there stood a woman faire and bright,
And not far of with franticke sworde, there stood a raging knight.
And all did seeme to wayle, and mourne most piteously,
Except the armed knight which smilde, when as the rest did cry.
My Morpheus saide, the Queene, faire Clitemnestra hight,
Which with Ægistus kild her spouse, which came from Troian fight.
Orestes then in rage, for Agamemnons death,
Did shed Aegistus vitall blood and stopt his mothers breath.
Orestes then returnde vnto his sence againe,
Did rule in Agamemnons steed, and in his roume did raine:
So hee began to smile, when all the rest were slayne,
And they beeing payd for duty due, in Crabbed Care remaine.
Within this Grecian path, while that wee taried still,
Beholde foure birdes which orderly, did fly about the hill.
The Nightingale complainde, the Lapwing fled for feare,
The Swallow shee no doubt was swifte, the Phesant lyude in care,
The Father, Wife, and silly childe, with sister there complaine.
Now haue wee past from Greece, and vnto Carthage came,
Where Hanniball among the rest, did win immortall fame.
From Dido vnto Thrace, from Phillis vnto Rome,
Where Porcia with Lucrecia, be linked in one Tombe,
And Camma lyeth behinde, as faythfull as the best,
But these haue almost passed care, and come to perfite rest.
Orestilla lyeth there where Cataline doth couch,
Tarpeia lyeth by Tatius, for gold doth make them touch.
Pompeia lyeth there, whom Clodius seekes to couer,
And eke Terentia Tullyes wife, about the hill doth houer.
A thousand more there were, which on that mount did sleepe,
Whom Crabbed care with other feends vpon the mount did keepe.
But as we passed those Tombes, of all the Roman rout,
And when by chance wee had espide religious persons out:
One Monument there was, excelling all the rest,
The forme so strange can not depart out of my fearfull brest.
The Tombe did crosse the path, when none beside did so,
Whose lefte side seemed a man to bee, the right a woman show:
A monstrous key of length, her left hand alwayes beares,
And on her head of glistering golde, a triple Crowne shee weares.
And with a glauncing looke, and with a stretched right hand,
Shee doth receiue a liuely youth, which naked there doth stand.
Oh sir (quoth I to him) which was my carefull guide,
In all the Mount the like to this, I haue not seene beside.
Quoth Morpheus this is shee which all the Church beguilde,
Whom all men thought to bee a man, till that shee had a childe.
Pope Ioane shee hath to name, whom once within the Lake,
I shewed vnto Robinson, as our viage wee did make.
Her tombe did crosse the path, because the passers bye,
When as they saw her shamefull fact, to her reproche should cry.
The young man it is hee, which was her Minion euer,
For whom vpon this Hill for aye, with care they shall perseuer.
The Roman path wee lefte, when wee had vewed at will,
The Roman Knights and Monuments, which were within that Hil.
From thence to Babilon, where Thisbe did complaine,
Because that valiant Piramus, through her default was slaine.
And Hemon with Antigona, did well inioy their right.
There Cadmus shrined was, Hermione iust harde by
Whose tombes were garnished with golde, where crawling serpents lye
Semeles there was layd, next to her fathers side,
For whom her deare twise borne Bacchus most carefully prouide.
And Ino with her childe, is taken from the sea,
And in the Mount with Athamas, haue long time been all three.
Creusa, creons childe, which was yonge Iasons deare,
Whom scorching fire consumed from yerth, hath her abiding heare.
But yet one tombe there was, among the Theban route,
Which till I had perceiued well, did make mee stand in doubt:
For why hard by the same, did flow a litle flood,
Where many women washt their hands, imbrued with liuely blood.
It was Agaue the Queene, which Pentheus had rent,
Because that hee disdayned the feastes, of Baccus to frequent:
And yet her only sonne, about her tombe remayne,
The partes of him whom shee and hers, with cruell hand had slayne.
And many more there were, whose tombes I would haue seene
Which for their long antiquity, with mosse be couered cleene.
Verona path we left, where Romeus doth lye,
Where Iuliet with Iconia, inioy a place therby.
Gualfrido lyeth in Venis, Barnardo doth the same,
And eke Arestons only childe which Gnosia hath to name.
All Germany I thinke, eche towne that therin was,
Had captiues there, which tediousnesse, do cause mee to let passe:
At last my guide did smile, and thus to mee hee sayd,
Loe here what English prisoners, in Crabbed care are stayd.
Great heapes of valiant knights, of noble youthfull peeres,
Which in the feelde most Martially haue broken many speres:
Among the which I spied, those which I will not name,
Least yt my pen through my default, perhaps should purchace blame.
Both Abbots, Friers and Monkes, and all that learned rout,
Hermites and holy Hipocrites, which now bee rooted out.
In care nere Venus vale, they had a place to lye,
Wheras they haue their monuments wheras they chanced to die.
Among the which I romed: desirous for to see,
If any of those learned Clarkes, were knowen before of mee.
Which liued in ioy, but now in care, do make a dreadfull mone.
At last I spied out Bond, that fat and lazy Frier,
Which died wheras faire Astoloth would graunt to no desire.
This Champion liued by loue, as Larkes do liue by leekes,
He wept, hee wailde, he sighed so much, hee could not see for cheekes.
Of Ireland and of Wales came many a carefull wight,
And out of Cornwale valiantly came Labeale Isoundes knight.
From path to path wee went, as Morpheus did giue leaue,
Hee showd mee all that did beseeme, my knowledge to conceaue.
At last wee entered in, the valley by the hill,
And left the lofty mount of Care, which wee had vewde at will.
And loe, into the vale, when as wee were discended,
And come vnto the Castle wall, as Morpheus had pretended:
Upon the Castle strong, and in Dame Venus Forte,
Her cumly shape and rosiall hew, was drawne in seemely sorte.
And in her hand shee helde, an Iuory Combe most clere,
And by the ayde of Phœbus beames did kembe her golden heare.
Wherat I was amazde, but Morpheus helpeth mee out,
And with his sweete and sugred speeche, assoylde me of my doubt.
The Iuory Combe (quoth hee) which Venus hath in hand,
In trymming of her christall haire, will let thee vnderstand,
That those which doo delight, to run in Venus vale,
Will trim themselues, as some brush ware, before it come to sale.
For as Dame Venus doth, so all her darlings do,
This is the cause quoth hee againe, why shee is pointed so:
The Castle gate wee did approche and would not stay,
The Porters let God Morpheus passe, but mee they thrust away.
Sir boy quoth one to mee (a grim and vgly knaue,)
Come not so nye, stand backe in time, and seke thy selfe to saue.
To whom God Morpheus sayd, my freend, content thee still,
That hee should passe vnto this place, it is my minde and will.
Commaund not mee quoth hee, and therwith gan to raue,
Quoth Morpheus then from Heauen and Hell, authority I haue.
I am the God of dreames, which passe through euery vale,
Resist not then, let him approche into the Castle wall:
The knaue when hee perceiued, that it was so indeede,
Of with his cap and crowching low, hee let mee in with speede.
And Doubt was his companion, yet hee was somwhat milde.
The Porters prison was bedecked all with greene,
And chaunging coulers now and then, were often to be seene.
Out of the narrow grates did Cleopatra prye,
And beckned with her trembling hand to valiant Antony:
Naera with Carmona which waited on this Dame,
With Plyos poyson made an ende, and here do repe their shame.
Whom often Cleopatra kisse, and often them imbrace,
And ioyning heades, they do lament their hap and heauy case.
And as I pryed by chaunce, I saw a damsell morne,
With ragged weedes and Layers spots, a wight to much forlorne.
Quoth Morpheus durst thou see, wheras that caytiffe lyes,
Much like the wretched Crocodill, beholde now how shee cryes.
That is Pandare his Nice, and Calcas only childe,
By whose deceits and pollicies, young Troylus was beguilde.
Shee is kept in affliction where many other are,
And veweth Troylus lying dead, vpon the Mount of Care.
Shee wepte, shee sighed, shee sobd, for him shee doth lament,
And all too late, yea to to vaine, her facte shee doth repent:
How could that stedfast Knight, (quoth I) loue such a dame?
Morpheus replied in beauty bright, shee bare away the fame:
Till that shee had betrayd, her Troylus and her dere,
And then the Gods assignd a plague, and after set her here.
An other wretched wight, within Affliction kept,
Who for her false periured faith, lamented sore and wept.
Eriphile, shee it was, and spronge of Grecian blood,
(Yet all the Grecian pollicyes, could neuer do her good)
Who for desire of coyne betrayd her louing make,
And now shee must content herselfe, a traytresse due to take.
Kinge Pretus wife is here, alas alas what tho?
Affliction helde her in so fast, shee is like to die for woe.
Galatea shee poore soule, must holde her selfe content,
Which fayne would wepe if other could, preuaile which do lamente,
What should I say, a thousand moe, within this prison were,
Whom neither time nor memory, will suffer to declare.
But all that therin were, haue layd their ioy apart,
And giue themselues to vtter plaints, imbrued with swelling smart.
The spring was swift although but small, the course did neuer slake.
Leander here did row, here Helena did dwell,
Achilles loueth Polixena, and drinketh at this Well.
Here Aeolus daughter deere, here Silla Nisus daughter,
And here Pasiphæ oft did drinke, and neuer thirsted after.
One thing was very strange, which at this Well was seene,
Within the brooke in ritch aray there stood a gallant queene.
And on the banke a Bull, with guilted hornes did stay,
Which when shee would haue issued out, did stop her in the way.
Wherat I wondred much, and greatly was dismayde,
And asking Morpheus of that [illeg.], hee quickly to mee sayd:
The Queene shee Diete hight, which was King Lycus wife,
A Theban borne in Nicteus daies, the fates did graunt her life.
Who through a ielious minde: and false surmised loue,
Such discorde in the Theban Court, this diuelish Dame did moue.
That if young Amphion, and Zetus his dere brother,
Had not brought reskew happely: this Bull had slaine their Mother.
Whose ielosie the Gods, in such displeasure tooke,
That they haue placed this roringe Bull, to keepe her in the brooke
An other Dame there was, which at this Well did liue,
Which neuer ceast for to assay to fill an empty Siue.
And when the cause therof, on Morpheus I did aske,
Hee sayd the Gods allotted it, to be the Ladies taske.
Which all in vayne bestowed, (vnto her pinchinge payne)
Her loue vpon Narcissus faire: which in the woods complayne:
Neare to the litle Lake, a Dungeon grounded was,
As blacke as pitche throughout the which, this runninge streame did passe
Dispaire did kepe the same, which was both stout and strong,
A wofull wretch whose greedy gorge, delighted much in wrong.
Poore Captiues in distresse, hee keepeth many a one,
Whose flintie hart doth oft reioyce, when other make their mone.
Hipsiphale which loued, king Peleus Nephew deare,
Erigone which hanged her selfe: hath purchast house roome here.
Here Dianeira lyeth which kilde her selfe for wo,
And Hero which on fominge floods, her life sought to vndo.
Euadne hath a place, Dispaire doo loue her well,
With thousands more within that place, which were to long to tell.
Bat that Dispaire through fayned tales, did cause her for to stay.
Quoth Morpheus, see the Queene, that weares the mourning gowne,
Shee fled from ritch Pigmalion, and built vp Carthage towne.
This false Report (quoth hee) a foe vnto good fame,
Hath plaide his part vpon that wight, which neuer deserude the same
For in the court of chastitie, her deedes be fresh and new,
A crowne of Glory shee deserues, if that shee had her due.
For Poets say, shee loued, Æneas Knight of Troy,
And when hee priuily fled from thence, her selfe shee did distroy.
But tatling Poets lye, Aeneas was vnknowne,
And Troyan seede in Carthage towne, by him was neuer sowne.
Iarbas griped with loue, and could not her attayne,
(For once shee made a faithfull vow, that chast shee would remayne)
Laide seege vnto the towne, Dame Dido to mollest,
But shee to saue her plighted othe, to die did thinke it best.
And with a glittering blade, shee banisht breathing life,
This was the constant ende of her, which was Sicheus wife.
This sayd, wee left Dispaire, and all his raging traine,
(With watery teares for Didos sake, my Morpheus did complaine.)
Wee past the gallant court, and entered very far,
Unto the place where Venus sate, while Cupid went to war.
There Ceres kept with her, and Bacchus did the same,
And Mars stoode waiting at the doore, desirous of the game.
The house was full of Clyents, eche corner had great store,
God Morpheus as his custome was, hee entred in before.
Whom when Dame Venus saw, shee quickly gan to rise,
Saluting him with cumly cheare, and in most curteous wise.
My Lord (quoth shee to him) how doth my auncient sire,
And how doth Neptune in the seas, and Pluto in the fire.
While Morpheus tolde his tale, I vewed among the rout,
To see if some acquainted freend, by chance I could finde out.
No Englishmen were there, of Wales a worthy bande,
Whom, when they came to greet mee well, I could not vnderstande.
Wherby no doubt I lost, the truth of euery case,
And many a harty welcominge vnto that princely place.
But if my Cuntry men, had layne in Venus Uale,
Then might I haue discribed at large, the trueth of euery tale.
And while I saw God Morpheus, was still with Venus grace.
And Venus did perceiue mee, to Morpheus thus shee sayd,
My Lorde the presence of this lad, doth make vs sore dismayde.
Feare not (quoth Morpheus then) there is no cause to doute,
For hee which is within your Court, can neuer issue out.
Wherwith I trembled sore, for feare hee sayd to true,
I wept, I wailde, and thus I sayd, I haue my wages due.
Then Venus sat her downe, among her Lordly peeres,
And Mars his souldiers guarded her, with Billes, with Bowes and speeres.
I asked Morpheus then, whither Cupid did resorte?
Hee sayd that hee was marchte to feelde, against Dianas court.
Whom I would faine haue seene, but time did it deny,
And Morpheus sayd tis time to goe, the starres be in the sky.
But yet hee promised mee, against another day,
For to addresse himselfe agayne, to shew mee all that way.
Wherwith hee pluckt mee backe, and said, come let vs go,
I was preparde with willing minde, for why I wisht it so.
The way wee past before, wee entred in againe,
Where fearce Affliction and Doubt, as Porters did remaine.
By Care and Appetite, Ficklenesse and Change of Ioy,
By euery Path, and euery Tombe, wee past the former way.
(Quoth Morpheus now adue) till Cupids Host do fight,
Then will I haue thee to the feelde, and shew thee all that sight.
Wherwith I wakte and saw, what folly I had seene,
And what in vision did appeare, as it had perfite beene.
Parnassus now is gone, and Helicon his streame,
And though this Treatise bee not true, yet sure it is a dreame.
Of Cupid his Campe.
The Argument.
The Gods in Heauen assembled all to feast,In midst of glee Dame Venus telles her fate:
VVherat the Gods in order bee addrest,
Against her foes, for to maintaine her state.
The worlde set wide, the fight therin shalbe,
Dianas force with wauering hands doth fight:
But blody Mars, with Venus doth agree,
And Dians troupe at last is put to flight.
VVhom Cupid chase when shee to woods doth flye,
And Venus sonne, returnes triumphantly.
On
Friday at night I layd mee downe, with slepe to take my rest,
And as in wonted guise before, so was I now addrest:
With slumbring sleepe to take my leaue, of Phebus glittering bemes,
Till Morpheus should bedecke my head, with fantasies and dreames.
And as I lay, so did I looke, with looking long dismayde,
With sodayne sightes my dazeled eyes did make my hart afrayd:
For why within my listning eare, mee though a trumpe did sound,
The noyse wherof did seeme so strange, it cast mee flat on ground.
Strait way there did appeare to mee, a vision where I lay,
Most strange to tell (so much this sight my courage did dismay)
An aged Sire whose glistering face with hoary heares bedeckt
Did sore appale my dreadfull hart, that scant I could erect.
My lingring lymmes, in weried wise I couched one in place,
And glaunced oft with leering lookes, to vew his cumly face.
His limmes were fethered on eche part, and winged on eche syde,
Wherwith hee tooke his speedy flight: at last hee mee espyde.
And thus hee sayth with whirling voyce, make haste do not delay,
Gyrde vp thy loynes, addresse thy selfe, to walke this tedious way.
Wherwith as one berefte of wittes, and of my sences cleane,
I was amazd but did not know, what these his words should meane.
Feare not (quoth hee) stand not in doubt, for Morpheus is my name,
Which led thee forth to Venus Uale when as thou vewedst the same
And as by promise I was bound, so now I come agayne,
To leade thee where thou mayst beholde Diana with her trayne.
In Martiall feelde beeing ready bent, agaynst Dame Venus sonne,
But let vs goe least or wee come, the battell bee begonne.
My Lorde (quoth I) I thanke you much, for this your double payne,
Make haste (quoth hee) let vs depart, make haste quoth hee againe.
Then went wee forth to lofty skyes, our iorney wee did take,
Unto Appollos curious Tente, for hee a feast did make
To all the Gods and Goddesses where Iupiter did sit,
Within a golden chayre of state, and for his honour fit.
Then entred Mars and toke his place, wheras hee thought it best,
And Mercury most welcome there, vnto Apollo his feast.
But gentle Ceres was not come, nor Baccus was not there,
And til they came al things were whist, ye Gods could make no chere,
Neptune bespangled all with skales, ascended to the sky,
And Protheus as his custome is, did sounde couragiously.
Then Tartar Lake began to flash, and Cerberus gan to yell
And all the Feends did homage due, when Pluto came from Hell.
And Pan came forth, with Oaten pipe the shepheards all gan play,
The sheepe stood still and gazed on him, as hee past by the way:
Saturnus with his withered legges, had almost come to late,
But that the Maister of the feast, regarded his estate.
Thus euery one did take his place, in order as they came,
Yea all the Gods and Goddesses, did likewise doo the same.
The Table where these guestes did sit, was rounded round about,
That where the noblest seat there was, twould make one for to dout.
Apollo bearing great goodwill vnto the Muses nyne,
To them when as hee thought it best, a roome hee did assyne.
Then Iuno sate by Iupiter, which did her make abide,
And Pallas twixt God Mercury, and sweete Apollos side.
Dame Ceres with her curious cost, behaued her selfe so well,
That shee and Baccus at that feast, do beare away the bell.
Musitions sounded orderly Proserpine would not heare,
Though Orpheus with his warblinge Harpe, did thinke to finde her there
Arion with his siluer sound, did prayse the Delpins loue,
And with his quauering melody, did all the Sages mooue.
And Amphion that Theban wight, did streeke his stroke so euen,
That Pan is risse from Bacchus campes, and dance about the Heuen.
Then glauncing forth my rowlinge eye, by chaunce it came to passe,
That I espyde at first vnknowne, wheras God Vulcan was.
Who in the kitchin curiously, did worke his wonted feate,
And kindled coales most cunningly, to roste Apollos meat.
The seruiters at instant feast, were laureat Poets all,
Who ready were at becke to bow, when as the Muses call.
There Homer with his filed Pen, a graue and worthy wight,
Among them all did beare the sway, inioyinge it by right.
Hesiodus was not behinde, whom Pan esteemed much,
With Laureate Euripides, and many other such.
The Romans flocked there by heapes, olde Ennius bare the sway,
Whose merits with antiquity, the learned ought to way
There witty Virgill did his best, and Naso there did serue,
And many moe there were at hand, whose merittes fame deserue.
Then Morpheus sayd, loe where he stands that worthy Chauser hight
The cheefest of all Englishmen, and yet hee was a knight.
There Goure did stand, with cap in hand, and Skelton did the same,
And Edwards hee, who while hee liude, did sit in chaire of fame.
Thus euery thing past merely, and Pan good sporte did make,
For Baccus with his sugred tales, had made his brayne to ake.
Then when the Gods had feasted well and good pastime had made,
Twas Cherill his course to come in place, and vse the Amners trade:
Who caryed forth the Amners hutch, vnto the Porters gate
And freely gaue vnto the poore, which were preparde therat.
At last when as the Gods had washte, and rime did well betide,
Iuno and Pallas, with the nyne, withdrew themselues aside.
Then entred in among the Gods, a Dame of cumly cheere,
Although besprent with scalding sighes, shee mourning did appeere,
Twas Venus with her smiling lokes, which came from Smyrdo vale
And to the Gods which sat at feaste, thus shee began her tale.
And as in wonted guise before, so was I now addrest:
With slumbring sleepe to take my leaue, of Phebus glittering bemes,
Till Morpheus should bedecke my head, with fantasies and dreames.
And as I lay, so did I looke, with looking long dismayde,
With sodayne sightes my dazeled eyes did make my hart afrayd:
For why within my listning eare, mee though a trumpe did sound,
The noyse wherof did seeme so strange, it cast mee flat on ground.
Strait way there did appeare to mee, a vision where I lay,
Most strange to tell (so much this sight my courage did dismay)
An aged Sire whose glistering face with hoary heares bedeckt
Did sore appale my dreadfull hart, that scant I could erect.
My lingring lymmes, in weried wise I couched one in place,
And glaunced oft with leering lookes, to vew his cumly face.
His limmes were fethered on eche part, and winged on eche syde,
Wherwith hee tooke his speedy flight: at last hee mee espyde.
And thus hee sayth with whirling voyce, make haste do not delay,
Gyrde vp thy loynes, addresse thy selfe, to walke this tedious way.
Wherwith as one berefte of wittes, and of my sences cleane,
I was amazd but did not know, what these his words should meane.
Which led thee forth to Venus Uale when as thou vewedst the same
And as by promise I was bound, so now I come agayne,
To leade thee where thou mayst beholde Diana with her trayne.
In Martiall feelde beeing ready bent, agaynst Dame Venus sonne,
But let vs goe least or wee come, the battell bee begonne.
My Lorde (quoth I) I thanke you much, for this your double payne,
Make haste (quoth hee) let vs depart, make haste quoth hee againe.
Then went wee forth to lofty skyes, our iorney wee did take,
Unto Appollos curious Tente, for hee a feast did make
To all the Gods and Goddesses where Iupiter did sit,
Within a golden chayre of state, and for his honour fit.
Then entred Mars and toke his place, wheras hee thought it best,
And Mercury most welcome there, vnto Apollo his feast.
But gentle Ceres was not come, nor Baccus was not there,
And til they came al things were whist, ye Gods could make no chere,
Neptune bespangled all with skales, ascended to the sky,
And Protheus as his custome is, did sounde couragiously.
Then Tartar Lake began to flash, and Cerberus gan to yell
And all the Feends did homage due, when Pluto came from Hell.
And Pan came forth, with Oaten pipe the shepheards all gan play,
The sheepe stood still and gazed on him, as hee past by the way:
Saturnus with his withered legges, had almost come to late,
But that the Maister of the feast, regarded his estate.
Thus euery one did take his place, in order as they came,
Yea all the Gods and Goddesses, did likewise doo the same.
The Table where these guestes did sit, was rounded round about,
That where the noblest seat there was, twould make one for to dout.
Apollo bearing great goodwill vnto the Muses nyne,
To them when as hee thought it best, a roome hee did assyne.
Then Iuno sate by Iupiter, which did her make abide,
And Pallas twixt God Mercury, and sweete Apollos side.
Dame Ceres with her curious cost, behaued her selfe so well,
That shee and Baccus at that feast, do beare away the bell.
Musitions sounded orderly Proserpine would not heare,
Though Orpheus with his warblinge Harpe, did thinke to finde her there
Arion with his siluer sound, did prayse the Delpins loue,
And with his quauering melody, did all the Sages mooue.
That Pan is risse from Bacchus campes, and dance about the Heuen.
Then glauncing forth my rowlinge eye, by chaunce it came to passe,
That I espyde at first vnknowne, wheras God Vulcan was.
Who in the kitchin curiously, did worke his wonted feate,
And kindled coales most cunningly, to roste Apollos meat.
The seruiters at instant feast, were laureat Poets all,
Who ready were at becke to bow, when as the Muses call.
There Homer with his filed Pen, a graue and worthy wight,
Among them all did beare the sway, inioyinge it by right.
Hesiodus was not behinde, whom Pan esteemed much,
With Laureate Euripides, and many other such.
The Romans flocked there by heapes, olde Ennius bare the sway,
Whose merits with antiquity, the learned ought to way
There witty Virgill did his best, and Naso there did serue,
And many moe there were at hand, whose merittes fame deserue.
Then Morpheus sayd, loe where he stands that worthy Chauser hight
The cheefest of all Englishmen, and yet hee was a knight.
There Goure did stand, with cap in hand, and Skelton did the same,
And Edwards hee, who while hee liude, did sit in chaire of fame.
Thus euery thing past merely, and Pan good sporte did make,
For Baccus with his sugred tales, had made his brayne to ake.
Then when the Gods had feasted well and good pastime had made,
Twas Cherill his course to come in place, and vse the Amners trade:
Who caryed forth the Amners hutch, vnto the Porters gate
And freely gaue vnto the poore, which were preparde therat.
At last when as the Gods had washte, and rime did well betide,
Iuno and Pallas, with the nyne, withdrew themselues aside.
Then entred in among the Gods, a Dame of cumly cheere,
Although besprent with scalding sighes, shee mourning did appeere,
Twas Venus with her smiling lokes, which came from Smyrdo vale
And to the Gods which sat at feaste, thus shee began her tale.
Venus Oration to the Gods.
Renowmed
Lordes, to whom my tale I tell,
And worthy Gods, which rule the Heauen and [OMITTED]
The fluds the brookes, the furious feends of Hell,
And euery thing, that in these subiectes bee:
Bende downe your eares, and listen vnto mee,
Harke and giue eare, regard my plaint and tale,
Whom you haue placed, to rule in Smyrdo vale.
And worthy Gods, which rule the Heauen and [OMITTED]
And euery thing, that in these subiectes bee:
Bende downe your eares, and listen vnto mee,
Harke and giue eare, regard my plaint and tale,
Whom you haue placed, to rule in Smyrdo vale.
From time to time, since that you gaue mee powre,
Within my Court to sit as Iudge of might:
You Gods doo know, that neither day nor howre,
My minde hath been, to swerue from trueth and right,
(For all that I doo, I know is in your sight)
And all my actes, with trueth haue been approoued,
By Iustice lawes, whom I haue alwayes loued.
Within my Court to sit as Iudge of might:
You Gods doo know, that neither day nor howre,
My minde hath been, to swerue from trueth and right,
(For all that I doo, I know is in your sight)
And all my actes, with trueth haue been approoued,
By Iustice lawes, whom I haue alwayes loued.
Loe now you Gods, regarde my piteous mone,
Lende mee your hands, which doo your ayde implore:
Rebellious wights, out of my tente be gone,
And vow till death, neuer to serue mee more.
Diana shee, which went long time before,
Hath armde her selfe, with bended bowe in hand,
By force to driue, my sonne and mee from land.
And thus shee sayd, but salted sighes, would let her say no more,
Lende mee your hands, which doo your ayde implore:
Rebellious wights, out of my tente be gone,
And vow till death, neuer to serue mee more.
Diana shee, which went long time before,
Hath armde her selfe, with bended bowe in hand,
By force to driue, my sonne and mee from land.
And trickling teres ran down by stremes, wherof she had great store
And flatling fell before the Gods, and mighty Ioue his throne,
And ofte shee dubled forth these wordes, regard my piteous mone.
Wherwith the Gods began to weepe, and euery one was moued,
For Venus in that parte of heauen, of all the Gods was loued.
At last the Father of the Gods, tooke vp his louing daughter,
And kissed her with louely lippes, these wordes hee vtred after.
Ah Venus, Venus, take good cheere, Dian shall not preuaile,
Wee will resist her martial might, when as shee shall assaile.
And Cupid hee, whom shee detests, shall lead thy hoste to feeld,
And I my selfe will wend with thee, to make her for to yeeld.
Yea all my mates and faithfull frends, I hope will bee content,
Perdy my Lorde (quoth euery one) wee yeeld to this intent.
Then Mars began to smile, and then, the Gods did rise together:
And euery one in cumly sorte, did welcome Venus thyther.
The noyse therof, great feare no doubt, to all the earth did bring.
Then Pelion gan to shake for feare, and Ossa trembled sore,
Olimpus with the mighty Alpes did neuer so before.
But mighty Mars did shake his hed, hee leapt and ran for ioy,
And kissing Venus oft hee sayd, thy foes I will distroy.
By this the Gods he furnished, and armed at all neede,
And Ioue himselfe rides first in ranke, vpon a barbed steede,
The Goate suffiseth for his badge, whose milke hee loued well,
When milde Melissa gaue him sucke, which then in Crete did dwell.
Then Mercury doth sound agayne, and all the Gods assemble
And as before, so Heauen and earth beginneth againe to tremble,
Amonge the gods which present were, olde Priasus did resort,
Who with Dianas Champions, did thinke to make some sporte.
A garden spade this God did bring, euen as his custome was,
Bedeckt with crownes of smelling flowres, hee rid vpon an asse.
The Gods rid on before apace, for Venus made great haste,
And Pryasus was left behinde, hee could not ride so fast.
His Asse did trot so harde (alas) and put him to such paine,
Hee thought the iorney was to longe, and turned backe agayne.
Then Morpheus turnd himselfe and sayd, it is no time to stay,
To follow them vnto the Campe, let vs no more delay.
Wherfore I thankte him much that time, for longe I wisht to see,
The royall tentes of Cupids Court, with all their dignitie.
A description of Cupid.
God Morpheus was more swift thē those, which with Dame Venus came(Or els by right he should not seeme for to inioy his name.)
Wherfore by his assent wee past, Dame Venus and her trayne,
With speedy pace vnto the tentes, where Cupid did remayne.
Who deygned it my poore request, to ease mee of my charge,
And with his pleasant tales of truth, described the God at large.
Whom when I vewde I was amazde, and all abasht with feare,
Wherat my guide began to smile, and thus hee did declare.
Within that tente and cumly couch; whose couering seemeth red,
A grisly ghost beholde, by whom the mighty Gods bee led.
Yea none in heauen, in earth nor hell, that can resist the same.
Alas my Lorde (quoth I againe) this seemes most strang and rare,
Should all the Gods which rule in skyes, of one boy stand in feare.
In deede (quoth hee) this withered wight, doth so mollest their braine,
That those which bee of feebled age, hee turnes to boyes agayne.
For why in trickes of childish yeeres, hee causeth them to stay,
Neglecting duties of great waight, delighting nought but play.
My God (quoth I) to know all things, I greatly doo desire,
What is the cause that Venus sonne, is naked without attire,
(Quoth Morpheus) hee that liueth in loue, in folly passe his dayes,
And hee that hath but halfe an eye, may see his wauering wayes.
Ah silly wight, ah shaddow poore, (for flesh in him is skant)
And as hee seemeth to bee blinde, a brow so doth hee want
Hee is a type, (quoth Morpheus then) you know well what I meane,
And too much lust, and lechery, hath made him very leane.
Not lust alone, but care and thought, which doth perplex his minde
For to much lust may bee a cause, why Cupid seemeth blinde.
For those which liue in louers lawes, regarde not what they doo,
And ofte they thinke to bathe in blisse, but sinke in wretched woe.
A brow hee wants, for by the same, his souldiers doo deuine,
Wherto the motions of the harte, doo purpose to declyne.
And as the brow doth beare the badge, that bringeth death or life,
So they that badge doth hate and shun, which seeme to tel some strife.
But oh my God, why hath hee wings, adioyned to eche side,
Because that Cupid changeth ofte, and neuer long abide.
A bowe is bent within his hand, two quiuers at his backe,
Well may hee shoote, and wide enough, that doth his eye sight lacke.
It is not so among the Gods, as men suppose to bee,
Hee shootteth ofte, but nere in vaine, so stedfast holdeth hee.
That leane and naked boy, with force his mighty foes doo quell,
That blinde and winged Champion, doth shoote exceeding well.
And though hee browlesse seeme to bee, yet doth hee pearce the brain
Through skin and bone, hee hits the hart, wheras his Dart remain.
Then maruell not, though all the Gods, doo yeeld for want of might,
Sith none haue force for to resist, the strength of such a knight.
Both man and beast, both fish and foule, and all that life doth beare,
Are subiecte vnto Cupids bowe, which all the Gods doth feare.
The one is full of golden shaftes, the other full of lead.
The golden strike, the feruent wights, which pas their daies in loue
The leade doth wound the brasen harts, whō no complaint can moue
Poliphemus with Stenobia young Phedra felt the golde,
Galatea Belerophon, with the lead were stricken colde.
This while wee talked at leysure, loe, wee heard the trumpet sound,
Wherby we knew the Gods were come, from skyes vnto the ground
And as they had pretended erst, did set themselues in ranckes,
To march with Venus to the Campe, who yeelded them great thanks
And sounding out, God Mars his trumpe, to set them in aray,
They marched forth vnto the feeld, wheras their foes did stay.
But freendly Morpheus had mee first, for to discribe at large,
The order of God cupids campe, the which I will discharge.
And if it please my Angell then, to call mee to that sight,
I will discribe Dianas hap, which did befall in fight.
A description of Cupid his host.
The Gods beeing met & Venus sonne, beeing garnished in this wise,By whole consent to vanquish her, which did his lawes dispise,
Mars is assended vp the Couch, to guide the horses right,
And Cupid stands with bow in hand, to send forth euery knight.
Then Venus layd her heauenly head, vpon God Mars his lap,
And sayd my Lorde, wee trust on you, to gouerne well our hap.
The cheefest Captaine of the rout, Audacity was named,
Whose safe conduct of all the host, deserues not to be blamed.
With him hee led forth Pollicy, Cupid his only stay,
These vndertooke by Mars his will, to guide the host that day.
The second Captaine, Curtesy, a valiant host did leade,
Who had Delight adioynde to him, to helpe him at his neede.
The Captayne graund, did bid them both, the right wing to possesse,
And alwayes to attend the same, to driue away distresse.
And on the lefte side, ietted Rage, with cruell Tyranny,
Which were as aydes vnto the host, led by Audacity.
I haue not here rescited those, which petty Captaynes were,
Only my Morpheus charged mee, the cheefe for to declare.
That Drunkennesse and Drowsinesse, did set them in aray.
Dissention ran from host to host, and Riot stood not still,
But all adioynd their helping hands, and furdered with good will.
I let passe all the Souldiers names, the labor were to long,
And yet my booke would not containe, the names of all the throng.
Thus euery thing beeing finished, ech Souldier standing still,
Beholde a proclamation, was made by Cupids will.
Which offered giftes aboundantly, to any souldier there.
To vndertake in Dians tente, a message to declare.
And greete her hartely from him, which blinded bare the bow,
Commaunding her to yeelde in time, and quiet peace to show.
Or els with dint of martiall blade, hee would dispatch her quite,
And teache all other to beware for to resist his might.
Desire a champion of great pride, whose force deserued fame,
Before the Gods, and Venus faire, on knee did aske the same.
Which when the Gods had graunted him, and Cupid gaue consent,
Hee tooke his leaue of all the trayne, and forth to Dian went.
Come let vs go (quoth Morpheus then) this greeting for to here,
I am content my Lord (quoth I) to attend both here and there,
To vew Dianas Court (quoth hee) for to discribe the same,
To heare the answere to Desire, to know the Captaines name.
For shee was ready furnished, of Souldiers at her will,
And euery court garnished, with Captaynes of great skill.
Desire, who longed to tell his tale, approcht this Dame vnto,
With duty done for curtesie, had chargde him so to doo.
But sith my Angell bad mee first, for to discribe her traine,
And sith to sound a true report my Morphes tooke such paine.
I thinke it most conuenient, seeing time doth serue so fit,
Before Desire haue tolde his tale, for to discouer it.
A discription of Diana and her army.
Iust by Eurota flowing streame, where many Laurelles grow,A pleasaunt place, which all the Nimphes, of Dians traine do know.
Beholde God Morpheus offered mee, a place to vew at will,
The safe returne of Dians traine, which her hest doth fulfill.
With bow in hand so ready bent, and well addrest therfore.
Her couch was couerd al with white, white Harts the same did draw
Whose swiftnesse pleasde Diana well, to bring the Beare in awe.
For solely in the woods shee kept, in groues shee did remaine,
And Acteon hath his tale to tell, although vnto his paine.
Within the Couch kept Modesty, as ruler of her will,
Where Prayse & Honner were as guides, to hold the helme with skil.
A crowne shee weares of precious price, bedecte in ritch aray,
Whose pleasant lookes, in seemely sorte, her nature did bewray.
Thus while from wood shee did returne, vnto the feelde to fight,
And when her host assembled was against Dame Cupids might.
Beholde the Captaines do discharge, the duty that they owe,
And euery one his good intent, to Dians host doo show.
The rout by Chastitie is swayde, the Misterisse of the rest,
Who set the Souldiers in aray, as shee esteemde it best.
There Constancy is called to ayde, and helpe them at a neede,
And Temperance is well esteemde, as Dian hath decreede.
Sobriety hath sage Aduise, to counsell Dian well,
And Labor stands against his foes, their sloth for to expell.
Fidelity a faithfull freend, within the wood doth stay,
Who seekes to spoyle the forraine foe, as hee passe by the way.
For Dian hath commaunded him, to rest within the wood,
And campe himselfe most orderly, iust by Eurota flood.
With whom Dame Thisbe takes a place, wher is Pandor his Neece,
And Phedra shee which somtime was, Duke Theseus wife of Greece.
And if I should resite them all, which couched by this brooke,
My pen would faynt in halfe the way, in wrighting of this booke.
But sithe I haue discribde the tente, as breefely as I may,
And as my Morpheus would giue leaue, the same for to display.
Behold Desire presents him selfe, before this Dame on knee,
And from the saint, whom hee did serue, these voyces vttered hee,
Desire his message vnto Diana.
Renowmed
Dame, whose fame the world containes,
Whose glistering face throughout the world appeare:
Cupid my Lorde, in martiall feels remaines,
And sent mee out my message to declare:
Whose valiant force, the Gods themselues doo feare,
Cupid I say in whom such ioy I finde,
Hath sent mee forth, to know thy willing minde.
Whose glistering face throughout the world appeare:
And sent mee out my message to declare:
Whose valiant force, the Gods themselues doo feare,
Cupid I say in whom such ioy I finde,
Hath sent mee forth, to know thy willing minde.
Hee craues of thee, that iustice doost request,
That thou doo yeeld, and let thy army go:
Thy false attempts the Gods themselues detest,
And euery one, is sworne thy future foe,
Eche one is bent to worke thy greefe and woe.
With glittering blade, to see thy blood in feelde,
If thou disdaine, as recreant to yeelde.
That thou doo yeeld, and let thy army go:
Thy false attempts the Gods themselues detest,
And euery one, is sworne thy future foe,
Eche one is bent to worke thy greefe and woe.
With glittering blade, to see thy blood in feelde,
If thou disdaine, as recreant to yeelde.
And Mars himselfe, with Venus is ascended,
Into the Couch, where Cupid draweth his bow:
But yet my Lorde, thus much hath thee befrended,
If thou wilt yeeld, then hee will mercy show:
This for thy sake on thee hee doth bestow.
But if thou nill, hee will dispatch thee quight,
Both thee and thine, by dint of bloody fight.
Into the Couch, where Cupid draweth his bow:
But yet my Lorde, thus much hath thee befrended,
If thou wilt yeeld, then hee will mercy show:
This for thy sake on thee hee doth bestow.
But if thou nill, hee will dispatch thee quight,
Both thee and thine, by dint of bloody fight.
Accept therfore his mercy and good will,
And deigne to shew, obedience for the same:
Pitty thy selfe, doo not the army spill,
Least all the world report this to thy shame:
And none that liueth, my louing Lord will blame.
Consider this, and thinke vpon the paine,
And speake thy minde, that I may returne againe.
Thus when Desire had tolde his tale, to Dian and her traine,
And deigne to shew, obedience for the same:
Pitty thy selfe, doo not the army spill,
Least all the world report this to thy shame:
And none that liueth, my louing Lord will blame.
Consider this, and thinke vpon the paine,
And speake thy minde, that I may returne againe.
Diana quickly answered, Sir knight returne againe.
Let Cupid doo his worst hee can, his force I doo not feare,
Ne will I yeeld vnto his lawes, nor none that with mee are,
Wherwith a lofty shout and noyse, vnto the skye was raysde,
And Dians courage and good will, of all the rout was praysde.
Desire beeing hot with raging hate, did thus reply againe,
I doo lament the rufull lot, of them which shalbe slaine.
So Cupid with his martiall might these stately wordes can quell.
That neither Captaine shall be lefte, nor souldier for to fyght,
Of all this rout, whose hands bee prest, against my Lord his might.
Then Modesty, Dianas guide, in her behalfe did say,
Although wee die in Dians cause, our deathes we do not way.
This sayd, Desire returnd againe, and vnto Cupid went,
And shewed at large, Dianas wordes, as of her whole intent.
And that within the silent wood, wheras Eurota flow,
Fidelity did holde his campe, their force to ouerthrow.
And added this that neither Mars, with all his waighty stroke,
Nor all the Gods should bring her necke, vnder God Cupids yoke.
Then Cupid sent Desire before, the Ambush for to tame,
Or els perforce to scatter them, before the army came.
Desire doth seeke to bee reuengde, of his appointed foe,
And wandring in the Laurell woods vnto Eurota goe.
Wheras Fidelity was prest, his force for to withstand,
And in defence of Dians right, did fight longe hand to hand.
But what could Thisbe then resist, when Pyram came in sight,
Or when as worthy Troylus came, how could Dame Cressid fight.
Phedra shee was content to yeelde, Desire did force her so,
And from Dianas faithfull freend, to Cupids campe to go.
What shall I say, Dianas host, which in the wood did stay,
Was sore abasht, Fidelity was chased quite away.
And many yeelded recreant, not able to deny,
Desire perforce did force them so, eyther to yeeld or dye.
But rather then Dame Cressid would, so quickly seeme as dead,
Shee vowed her selfe from Troylus true, to flattering Diomede.
So that the periured Grecian, or els the Troyan knight,
Should haue Dame Cressid vnto loue, yea both if so it might.
Thus while Desire do cleare the coast, and make the passage free,
The host marcht on into the feeld, with thundring harmony.
The noise wherof do beate the skies, and eke from thence reboundes,
And Mars his musicke in the seeld, aloft Tantara soundes.
The souldiers set them selues in rankes, the winges to succor go,
Audacity by Mars his will, hee had commaunded so.
But Dian and her worthy traine, when as her freend was fled,
And for the losse of all those freends, with fury was much led,
My life for yours, continue still, so shall you victors bee.
The souldiers fought so valyantly, the Captaines did so well,
That Cupid gan to crouch for feare, and Dian did excell.
Audacity then shooke for feare, when Chastity withstood,
And Constancy shee followed fast, to see the forrain blood.
And if God Cupids pollicy, a reskue had not found,
Both Venus and her darlings deare, had flatlyng fell to ground.
But Pollicy came rushing in, and sent forth mighty Ioue,
Who then discended from the skyes, to serue the God of loue.
Who vanquished Dame Dians host, and made them for to tremble,
And sundry kindes of vgly shapes, hee reast not to dissemble.
Aurora loued the snowy Bull, and Leda loued the Swan,
And Io lickt her fathers face, which then was pale and wan.
For as the Woolfe among the lambes, so Ioue among the host,
I meane among Dame Dians flocke, of whom shee vaunt and boste
But when as Fame had sounded forth, and Brute had blased his wil,
That Ioue did vanquish worthily, with Pollicy and Skill.
Then Danæ fled her way for feare, vnto Acrisius Towre,
Till Iupiter through Pollicy discended in a showre.
Achilles then began to rage, before that Troy was sackte,
And craued of Pollicy his guide, the armur that hee lackte.
Who armed him corragiously, in Maydens feate aray,
Till Derdanna swelling wombe, his pollicy did bewray.
And Licomedes was deceiude, the father of the May,
And therfore could not stop the steps, of young Achilles way.
Then clodius rushed in in haste, Pompeya for to quell,
Bedect like to the vestall Dames, wheras his loue did dwell.
Thus Cupid was incorraged, with all his warlike trayne,
Diana which was erst aloft, is now beat downe agayne.
And all the Gods and Souldiers eke, did play their parts so well
That Cupid is extolde to heauen, and Dian fell to Hell.
Medusa Gorgon hearing this, to Pallas alter fled,
Hoping by her assisting hand, in time to bee releeued.
Whom mighty Neptune through deceit, intangled in such sort,
That shee forsook Dianas campe, and fled to Venus Court.
Then Phedra whom desire had brought, from Dian and her traine,
Ceased not in Cupids cause to fight, till Hyppolite was slayne.
And Drowsinesse hee followed fast, for feare hee came to late.
Antonius resisted long, Queene Cleopatras host,
But yet at last through Gluttony, did yeeld to her request.
When Constancy had seene the force and hauocke of their foes,
Shee vowed, both life and lands, and fame, in Dians cause to lose,
Rather then Cupid should preuaile, vnto their vtter shame,
And all Dame Dians valiant wights, accorded in the same.
And ioyning harts and hands in one, that battered Cupid so,
That hee was neare constraind againe, out of the feeld to go.
There Temperance stood stifly too, and Labor laid on lode,
Sobriety did helpe at neede, when they in danger stoode.
But yet alas, this wished ioy, was soone brought to an ende,
For Curtesy came rushing forth, and brought Delight his freend.
For to reuenge this fresh assalt of Dian and her traine,
And to renew the wonted state, of Cupid once againe.
With him came Duke Protesilaus, with him came Alcyde stout,
Hee sought for Laedomia, this found Dianeira out.
Hector vanquished Andromache, that worthy wight of Troy,
And Pryamus with Hecuba, did liue in perfit ioy.
Thus when Dianas Souldiers, began to slip away,
Through Curtesy, a thousand fled, to Cupid in one day.
And few there were, which would remain, with Dian to abide,
But yeeld them selfe vnto Delight, betide what might betide.
Who pardned euery one of those, which came with free consent,
And did remit eche ones offence, before hee did repent.
Then Pluto posted out for rage, which did this while abide,
And kept the winge with Cruelty, which lay on the left side.
Who sent forth tryple Cerberus, that deuillish dogge of Hel,
To fetch away Proserpina, which then in Greece did dwell.
Then Appius swelled with rage, Virginia to deflowre,
Achilles spryte, did rage from Hell, Polixina to deuowre.
Lucrecia was tooke in trip, Rage was her forrain foe,
Apollo cursed Cassandra faire, for Rage did will him so.
Thus cruell Rage, with Curtesy, and with his freend Delight,
With fond Desire, and Pollicy, which weare God Cupids might.
Haue chased away Dianas force, that shee her selfe must flye,
Or yeeld to those, whose bloody harts, would cause her for to dye.
Shee did conuay herselfe, by flight, as wofull of her fall.
Quoth Morpheus marke this well my freend, and note her trayne I pray
Which when I purposed for to doo, their backes were turnd away.
So was I much vnable left, their names for to rescite,
Which taried with Diana faire, when shee was put to flight.
And lo my guide himselfe, could not their names vnto mee shew,
But this hee bad mee publish forth, the Souldiers were not few.
Whom Cupid with his louely rout, perswade with might amayne,
But yet Diana fled so fast her foes returnd agayne.
And vnto Cupid his curious tent, they went for to returne,
With bibbing Baccus and his mate, a while for to soiorne.
But as they gan for to returne, to their appointed rome,
Beholde they saw a virgin pure, which gallantly did come,
(Although to late) to ayd her deare, which then had lost the day,
But Theseus stepped from the rout, and stepped in her way.
Oh then (quoth I) vnto my guide, whom keepes hee in the tent,
Tis Hellena, which too to late, vnto Dame Dian went.
(Quoth Morpheus then) whose chastity, was won by Theseus might,
Who when ten yeeres had run their race, was tooke in Dians fight.
Thus while my God did end his talke, Cupid at pallace is,
With all his souldiers banketting, with heauenly ioy and blisse.
The feast indured, very long, the triumphe was not small,
These ioy their goodly victory, the other rue their fall.
At last a trumpet gan to sound, and Preco sayd his will,
That Venus did commaund them all, no captiue for to kill.
But that with ioy, eche one should wend, and with his prisoner play,
Till Beauty should commaund them all, to walke an other way.
Then euery God departed forth, vnto his heauenly seate,
And led with him such prisoners, as hee did thinke it meete.
Then Mars with Iron armes did kisse, his darling and his deere,
And that without suspicion, for Vulcan was not there.
And after sayd adew my deere, then shee from couch discended,
And tooke God Morpheus by the hand, sith fate haue mee befreended.
My Lord (quoth shee) reioyce with mee, & thanke the heauenly might,
And you shall wend no further now, but rest with me this night.
With whom my God departed thence, beckning his hand at mee,
As who should say, goe pack away, I cannot come to thee.
And I to former sence and wit, at Natures pleasure came.
Iustice and Iudgement, pleaded at Beauties Barre.
The Argument.
In Beauties Pallace met, as Cupid had ordaynd,The Captayne with his crowne, and captiue led away:
All strife, debates, and iarres, which erst before remaind
VVhen Beauty sat as Iudge, were ended in that day.
And Hymeneus hee, exhorte them all to wed,
But those which can liue chaste, he do exempt therfro,
So Cupid is content, to rest him in his bed:
And Dian chose her path, in wandring woods to go.
Let Dian take her deare, and Cupid his delight,
For Beauty sate in throne, to pleasure euery wight.
Yet
once agayne, before the yeere was spent,
I did returne vnto my wonted wise:
When as the Sun, to the woods a shade had bent,
Whose smell, and hew, my fancy did suffice:
Wheras I couched, and couered both my eyes,
And drowsie sleepe, did soone arest my hart,
And wished rest, did binde eche weary part.
I did returne vnto my wonted wise:
When as the Sun, to the woods a shade had bent,
Whose smell, and hew, my fancy did suffice:
Wheras I couched, and couered both my eyes,
And drowsie sleepe, did soone arest my hart,
And wished rest, did binde eche weary part.
And loe as erst, my fethered Angell came,
And bad mee come, and wait in wonted sorte:
Doubt not (quoth hee) to vndertake the same,
For as I haue, so will I bee thy forte,
And eke thy guide, to bringe thee to that porte:
Wheras (be bolde) no danger shall in sewe,
Giue credit now as thou hast found mee true.
And bad mee come, and wait in wonted sorte:
Doubt not (quoth hee) to vndertake the same,
For as I haue, so will I bee thy forte,
And eke thy guide, to bringe thee to that porte:
Wheras (be bolde) no danger shall in sewe,
Giue credit now as thou hast found mee true.
Wherwith I rise, and gladly passed forth,
Not knowing whence, nor whither I should goe:
But followed him, whose counsell was much worth,
To ease my paine, and rid mee of all woe:
No loue of freend, nor dread of frowning foe,
Abasht my minde, or strooke my hart in feare,
For drowsie sleepe had clene expeld all care.
Not knowing whence, nor whither I should goe:
But followed him, whose counsell was much worth,
To ease my paine, and rid mee of all woe:
No loue of freend, nor dread of frowning foe,
Abasht my minde, or strooke my hart in feare,
For drowsie sleepe had clene expeld all care.
My God went fast, whose steps were neuer slow,
And guided mee vnto a fertill Fen:
Where many shrubs, of sundry sortes did grow,
A place no doubt, vnknowne to mortall men:
Which when I saw, I was amased then,
And gladly would, haue knowne the place his name,
But that I durst, not aske my guide the same.
And guided mee vnto a fertill Fen:
Where many shrubs, of sundry sortes did grow,
A place no doubt, vnknowne to mortall men:
Which when I saw, I was amased then,
And gladly would, haue knowne the place his name,
But that I durst, not aske my guide the same.
Within the Fen, there stood a Castle faire,
Most strongly built, most cumly to beholde:
The top wherof, assended to the aire,
And euery part, was gilted with pure golde:
My guide vnasked, the circumstances tolde,
Beauty (quoth hee) within this place doth dwell,
Who veweth this Fen, and rules it passing well.
Most strongly built, most cumly to beholde:
The top wherof, assended to the aire,
And euery part, was gilted with pure golde:
My guide vnasked, the circumstances tolde,
Beauty (quoth hee) within this place doth dwell,
Who veweth this Fen, and rules it passing well.
Wherby I saw, that which I did not know,
And did perceiue the end of his intent:
At last hee dayned, his purpose for to show,
What was the cause, and why that way hee went:
Wherfore to him I yeelded my consent,
And forth wee past, as hee did thinke it good,
Into the place, wheras this Castle stoode.
And did perceiue the end of his intent:
At last hee dayned, his purpose for to show,
What was the cause, and why that way hee went:
Wherfore to him I yeelded my consent,
And forth wee past, as hee did thinke it good,
Into the place, wheras this Castle stoode.
No sooner did wee enter in the same,
But loe a trumpe, did sound within my eare:
And euery one, gaue eare to sounding fame,
And noted well, what newes hee did declare:
Yea all those knights, which in the Castle were,
Attended well what newes there should befall,
From her which was the Iudge, and Queene of all.
But loe a trumpe, did sound within my eare:
And euery one, gaue eare to sounding fame,
And noted well, what newes hee did declare:
Yea all those knights, which in the Castle were,
From her which was the Iudge, and Queene of all.
The Preco sayd that all which were assembled,
With free consent, their Captiues should reseyne:
(Wherat no doubt, the feruent louers trembled)
Till Phebus beames, began in morne to shine:
Till Lucifer from his loue should decline,
To him which had, Dame Beauties birds in store,
And kept them cleane, full many yeeres of yore.
With free consent, their Captiues should reseyne:
(Wherat no doubt, the feruent louers trembled)
Till Phebus beames, began in morne to shine:
Till Lucifer from his loue should decline,
To him which had, Dame Beauties birds in store,
And kept them cleane, full many yeeres of yore.
To him therfore, the prisoners were committed,
Who kept them well, as Beauty did request:
And euery knight, a pleasant place hath fitted,
Where hee alone, that silent night might rest?
To sport him selfe, as hee should thinke it best,
But blame them not, though some were wery then,
Which came that day vnto that ioyfull Fen.
Who kept them well, as Beauty did request:
And euery knight, a pleasant place hath fitted,
Where hee alone, that silent night might rest?
To sport him selfe, as hee should thinke it best,
But blame them not, though some were wery then,
Which came that day vnto that ioyfull Fen.
But when Dame Nox hath couered euery thing,
And Cinthia, by Phebus is sent out:
Which to the world, most ioyfull light dooth bring,
And aydeth those, whom Phebus left in doubt:
Euen so I gesse that most of all this rout,
Haue yeelded vp, when Sopor seeme so tall,
I neede not gesse, when Morpheus shewd mee all.
And Cinthia, by Phebus is sent out:
Which to the world, most ioyfull light dooth bring,
And aydeth those, whom Phebus left in doubt:
Euen so I gesse that most of all this rout,
Haue yeelded vp, when Sopor seeme so tall,
I neede not gesse, when Morpheus shewd mee all.
And those likewise, which in the Closet kept,
(Excepting some) did lay them downe to rest:
Who sighed sore, while that the other slept,
And wayled the losse, of them whom they loued best:
Of whom that night, there passed many a iest,
Which if I should rescite them as they came,
It were enough for to discorse the same.
(Excepting some) did lay them downe to rest:
Who sighed sore, while that the other slept,
And wayled the losse, of them whom they loued best:
Of whom that night, there passed many a iest,
Which if I should rescite them as they came,
It were enough for to discorse the same.
Next to the gate, faire Iuliet did lye,
And in the Court young Romeus did stay:
Faire Cinthia gaue leue, to peke and pry,
But [illeg.] oft sayd, when wilt thou come away.
Windowes (quoth hee) I would assend faire May,
I looke to see, the place where erst I came,
But Tibalt hee, hath closed vp the same.
And in the Court young Romeus did stay:
Faire Cinthia gaue leue, to peke and pry,
But [illeg.] oft sayd, when wilt thou come away.
I looke to see, the place where erst I came,
But Tibalt hee, hath closed vp the same.
Then mighty Ioue came slidinge downe from Heauen,
And thought to fall, within young Danaes lap:
But yet behold, the tyles were not layd euen,
And hee his head, against the stones did rap:
And on the ground, hee did complaine his hap.
Alas (quoth hee) this fall hath made my paine,
Then looke (quoth I) before you slide agayne.
And thought to fall, within young Danaes lap:
But yet behold, the tyles were not layd euen,
And hee his head, against the stones did rap:
And on the ground, hee did complaine his hap.
Alas (quoth hee) this fall hath made my paine,
Then looke (quoth I) before you slide agayne.
Then Orpheus gat leaue to come from Hell,
To cheere vp her, which was his whole delight:
Which in the Lake, with Tartur kinge did dwel,
Whose Harpe did sound, almost the silent night:
Pluto saw that, hee thought hee did not right,
But with his might, hee troubled Orpheus minde,
Who fled for feare, and left his Harpe behinde.
To cheere vp her, which was his whole delight:
Which in the Lake, with Tartur kinge did dwel,
Whose Harpe did sound, almost the silent night:
Pluto saw that, hee thought hee did not right,
But with his might, hee troubled Orpheus minde,
Who fled for feare, and left his Harpe behinde.
Then Priamus out of the gardaynes came,
Into the place wheras young Lotis lay:
Who while shee slept, did thinke it was no shame,
In silent night, with her to sporte and play:
His Asse brayd out, for feare hee ran away.
And durst not bide, her curtesie to try,
Wherat the Nimphes did laugh exceedingly.
Into the place wheras young Lotis lay:
Who while shee slept, did thinke it was no shame,
In silent night, with her to sporte and play:
His Asse brayd out, for feare hee ran away.
And durst not bide, her curtesie to try,
Wherat the Nimphes did laugh exceedingly.
Then Tethis sonne, began his forme to change,
In sundry sorte, as well hee could deuise:
A cunning art, a worke which seemed most strange,
Whose firy flames, out of his mouth did rise:
The Iayler fered, and stopped both his eyes,
Then Proteus hee, vnto Pomona went,
Which turnd him selfe, euen for the same intent.
In sundry sorte, as well hee could deuise:
A cunning art, a worke which seemed most strange,
Whose firy flames, out of his mouth did rise:
The Iayler fered, and stopped both his eyes,
Then Proteus hee, vnto Pomona went,
Which turnd him selfe, euen for the same intent.
Neptune saw that, and causde Triton to sound,
And Eolus for him did rayse the weather:
Hee sought so longe at last his loue hee found,
And Alcion said, my Lord your are welcome hyther:
I will not say, how that they went togeather,
But yet beholde, the keeper spied their play:
The God for feare, did breechlesse run his way.
And Eolus for him did rayse the weather:
And Alcion said, my Lord your are welcome hyther:
I will not say, how that they went togeather,
But yet beholde, the keeper spied their play:
The God for feare, did breechlesse run his way.
Thus merily wee passed all the night,
For Morpheus was, contented in the same:
But yet mee thought, there was one passing sight,
Wherat my guide, did finde good sport and game:
Which to let passe, I thinke I were to blame,
I feare no foes, the truth I doo not feare:
For this I saw, which now I shall declare.
For Morpheus was, contented in the same:
But yet mee thought, there was one passing sight,
Wherat my guide, did finde good sport and game:
Which to let passe, I thinke I were to blame,
I feare no foes, the truth I doo not feare:
For this I saw, which now I shall declare.
When Clodius, vnto Pompeia wente,
And Vestall omnes, had tooke him in the trip:
They all at once trust him in continent,
And in their vse, began this youth to whip:
And what though hee alowe did hang the lip,
They sent him forth, and this charge did him giue.
To come no more, so long as hee should liue.
And Vestall omnes, had tooke him in the trip:
They all at once trust him in continent,
And in their vse, began this youth to whip:
And what though hee alowe did hang the lip,
They sent him forth, and this charge did him giue.
To come no more, so long as hee should liue.
And thus the night, hath run her timely race,
And Lucifer, hath left Auroras bed:
Don Phebus now, begin to take his place,
And with this Dame, doth rest his heauenly hed:
His burning beames, do stand vs all in sted,
And Cinthia sayth: adue, my brother come:
Unto whose rule, I must yeeld vp this rome.
And Lucifer, hath left Auroras bed:
Don Phebus now, begin to take his place,
And with this Dame, doth rest his heauenly hed:
His burning beames, do stand vs all in sted,
And Cinthia sayth: adue, my brother come:
Unto whose rule, I must yeeld vp this rome.
The morning came, the Preco sound againe,
And chargeth all, in place for to appere:
Where Beauty doth in Iudgement seat remaine,
Their direfull doome, or ioyfull newes to here:
They were content, and Morpheus did draw nere,
But Pryapus, when all were in the place,
Sadled his Asse, and rid away a pace.
And chargeth all, in place for to appere:
Where Beauty doth in Iudgement seat remaine,
Their direfull doome, or ioyfull newes to here:
They were content, and Morpheus did draw nere,
But Pryapus, when all were in the place,
Sadled his Asse, and rid away a pace.
For why hee sayd, such fate did him betide,
And such exployts, that night by him were done:
For feare this God, alas could not abide,
That neede hee must, Dame Beauties iudgement shun:
For well hee knew, before it was begun,
That hee by her, should iustly bee condemned,
And for his feare of all the Gods contemned.
And such exployts, that night by him were done:
For feare this God, alas could not abide,
That neede hee must, Dame Beauties iudgement shun:
For well hee knew, before it was begun,
That hee by her, should iustly bee condemned,
And for his feare of all the Gods contemned.
When Preco had tolde forth his sounding tales,
And all the knights, which came from Cupids war:
Addrest them selues, out of these greeuous gales,
To pleade their case, before Dame Beauties Bar:
Pretending there, either to make or mar,
Then Beauty sate, iust Iudgement for to giue:
To trust, to saue, to die and eke to liue.
And all the knights, which came from Cupids war:
Addrest them selues, out of these greeuous gales,
To pleade their case, before Dame Beauties Bar:
Pretending there, either to make or mar,
Then Beauty sate, iust Iudgement for to giue:
To trust, to saue, to die and eke to liue.
There all the Gods, assembled were in place,
And dainty Venus, sate by Beauties side:
To heare eche plead, and way of euery case,
And eke to know, what ende there should betide,
To euery one, that captiue did abide,
The keeper stands, and cryes Lordings giue rome:
Stand from the Bar, and let the prisoners come.
And dainty Venus, sate by Beauties side:
To heare eche plead, and way of euery case,
And eke to know, what ende there should betide,
To euery one, that captiue did abide,
The keeper stands, and cryes Lordings giue rome:
Stand from the Bar, and let the prisoners come.
Thus euery thing was brought to perfite stay,
The prisoners all doo tremble where they stand:
The trusty keeper, hee make no delay,
But dooth resigne them to Dame Beauties hand:
To haue eche case, with wisdome duly skande,
When all was whist, and statutes red at large:
The Cryer gan his dutie to discharge.
The prisoners all doo tremble where they stand:
The trusty keeper, hee make no delay,
But dooth resigne them to Dame Beauties hand:
To haue eche case, with wisdome duly skande,
When all was whist, and statutes red at large:
The Cryer gan his dutie to discharge.
Then Lemnon knight, and of the Ciclops cheefe,
Iudgement did craue, and Beauty graunt the same:
I will quoth hee, you graunt mee some releefe,
For mighty Mars, hath put my wife to shame:
Wherat the Gods did finde exceeding game,
And when they saw what thing hee went about,
Be whole consent, they hoyst the blacksmith out.
Iudgement did craue, and Beauty graunt the same:
I will quoth hee, you graunt mee some releefe,
For mighty Mars, hath put my wife to shame:
Wherat the Gods did finde exceeding game,
Be whole consent, they hoyst the blacksmith out.
Amphytrion did craue a full deuorce,
For Ioue hee sayd, with him had bin vnkinde:
Then Ioue stood vp, and asked some remorce,
And sayd hee would, content his troubled minde,
Yea Beauty then, did craue some grace to finde:
Hee was content, and mighty Ioue therfore,
Did vow himselfe, neuer to serue so more.
For Ioue hee sayd, with him had bin vnkinde:
Then Ioue stood vp, and asked some remorce,
And sayd hee would, content his troubled minde,
Yea Beauty then, did craue some grace to finde:
Hee was content, and mighty Ioue therfore,
Did vow himselfe, neuer to serue so more.
So great complaints, against this God were brought,
That at the last from bench hee slipt away:
Iuno was wroth, and due reuengment sought,
Of those which had deceiued her of her pray:
Shee rage and fret, shee curseth day by day,
But Beauty sought, to recompence the wronge,
Whom hee had made, to singe the Cookoes songe.
That at the last from bench hee slipt away:
Iuno was wroth, and due reuengment sought,
Of those which had deceiued her of her pray:
Shee rage and fret, shee curseth day by day,
But Beauty sought, to recompence the wronge,
Whom hee had made, to singe the Cookoes songe.
I let passe all, till Menelaus came,
And did complaine, because hee lost his peece:
The Troian knight, hee only sought to blame,
Which had conuayed, this Diamond from Greece:
More losse then hee, which lost the golden fleece,
The greefe wherof, did hazard much his helth,
For that the knight, had tooke this Dame by stelth.
And did complaine, because hee lost his peece:
The Troian knight, hee only sought to blame,
Which had conuayed, this Diamond from Greece:
More losse then hee, which lost the golden fleece,
The greefe wherof, did hazard much his helth,
For that the knight, had tooke this Dame by stelth.
Oenone then did heare this great complaint,
And fiatling fell, vpon her tender knee:
Lo worthy kinge beholde thy wished Sainte,
Hath stole away, my loyall knight from mee:
With trickling teares, these voyces vttered shee,
And wisht the Iudge, her sentence to declare,
To asswage her paine, and rid her of her care.
And fiatling fell, vpon her tender knee:
Lo worthy kinge beholde thy wished Sainte,
Hath stole away, my loyall knight from mee:
With trickling teares, these voyces vttered shee,
And wisht the Iudge, her sentence to declare,
To asswage her paine, and rid her of her care.
Then Beauty sayd, sith Paris hath delt so,
And left this dame, which cherished him before:
(When as his sire, did seeke to worke his woe,)
Who vnto him two children hath ybore:
Oenone liues, thy losse for to deplore,
Cherish thy babes, which for their fathers cry,
Defame hath vowed, his fact shall neuer dye.
And left this dame, which cherished him before:
Who vnto him two children hath ybore:
Oenone liues, thy losse for to deplore,
Cherish thy babes, which for their fathers cry,
Defame hath vowed, his fact shall neuer dye.
And as for her which hath this acte committed,
The blood of them, whose bones at Troy do stay:
Reuengment craues, the Gods haue it permitted,
Wherfore (quoth shee) let her be led away:
But whither it was, I cannot truly say,
Yet Morpheus sayd, that Robinson should tell,
As well her paine, as where this Lady dwell.
The blood of them, whose bones at Troy do stay:
Reuengment craues, the Gods haue it permitted,
Wherfore (quoth shee) let her be led away:
But whither it was, I cannot truly say,
Yet Morpheus sayd, that Robinson should tell,
As well her paine, as where this Lady dwell.
Then Menalaus was sory for his make,
Whose tricklinge teares, the Troians did inuie:
Who in the feeld, had perished for her sake,
So did the Greekes, which buried there doo lye:
And with consent, they ceased not to cry,
Wo worth the time, that Hellen came to Troy,
Wo worth that knight, which stole ye wretch away.
Whose tricklinge teares, the Troians did inuie:
Who in the feeld, had perished for her sake,
So did the Greekes, which buried there doo lye:
And with consent, they ceased not to cry,
Wo worth the time, that Hellen came to Troy,
Wo worth that knight, which stole ye wretch away.
Then Troylus true, stept vp among the rout,
And offered vp the bill of his complaint:
How that by chaunce, hee found his Cressid out,
Whose shrine he serued, whō he had made his saint:
For as hee sayd, Beauty had drawen constraint,
Wherfore hee craude, true sentence for his doome:
That Cressid might possesse deserued roome,
And offered vp the bill of his complaint:
How that by chaunce, hee found his Cressid out,
Whose shrine he serued, whō he had made his saint:
For as hee sayd, Beauty had drawen constraint,
Wherfore hee craude, true sentence for his doome:
That Cressid might possesse deserued roome,
But Diomed when as hee hard the truth,
Hee gate (Perforce) to parle in his cause:
Who moued the bench, with Pitty, Mone, and Ruth,
And sayd that thee, had neuer broke the lawes:
But yeelded there, where neede so strongly drawes,
Doo what shee could, Perforce compeld her so:
When shee was driuen, from Troy to Greece to go.
Hee gate (Perforce) to parle in his cause:
Who moued the bench, with Pitty, Mone, and Ruth,
And sayd that thee, had neuer broke the lawes:
But yeelded there, where neede so strongly drawes,
Doo what shee could, Perforce compeld her so:
When shee was driuen, from Troy to Greece to go.
Knight Troylus then, remoued the sute agayne,
Unto a place, wheras the ground was sure:
And by aduise, hee ceased not to complaine,
With hot assault, hee sewed her a periure:
But Diomed scant able to indure,
Let fall the sute vnto Dame Beauties pleasure,
To end in haste, or to defer to leysure.
Unto a place, wheras the ground was sure:
And by aduise, hee ceased not to complaine,
With hot assault, hee sewed her a periure:
But Diomed scant able to indure,
Let fall the sute vnto Dame Beauties pleasure,
To end in haste, or to defer to leysure.
Then Calcas hee, which was her louing Sire,
Did offer Mynes, and glistering gobs of golde:
To spare his childe, the Iudge hee did require,
But yet alas, Beauty would not beholde:
Nor yet giue eare, vnto the tale hee tolde,
But iudged her which was the Prophets daughter
A Leper vile, and so shee liued after.
Did offer Mynes, and glistering gobs of golde:
To spare his childe, the Iudge hee did require,
But yet alas, Beauty would not beholde:
Nor yet giue eare, vnto the tale hee tolde,
But iudged her which was the Prophets daughter
A Leper vile, and so shee liued after.
And as for him, which was the Troian knight,
With louely lookes, shee often gaue good cheere:
Though for her sake, hee ended in the fight,
Yet truth shall try, it plainly shall appeere:
That his desertes, so long as man liue here,
Shall pearce the clowdes, for euery man shall shew
That hee was iust, and to his Lady true.
With louely lookes, shee often gaue good cheere:
Though for her sake, hee ended in the fight,
Yet truth shall try, it plainly shall appeere:
That his desertes, so long as man liue here,
Shall pearce the clowdes, for euery man shall shew
That hee was iust, and to his Lady true.
Achilles then came trembling forth of Hell,
And brought with him Polixina the bright,
Whom hee did craue, because hee loued so well,
And should haue had if Paris had doone right:
But Beauty shee, desired the Grecian knight,
To stay his hand, and hold his liuely breath:
Contenting him, by faire Polixines death.
And brought with him Polixina the bright,
Whom hee did craue, because hee loued so well,
And should haue had if Paris had doone right:
But Beauty shee, desired the Grecian knight,
To stay his hand, and hold his liuely breath:
Contenting him, by faire Polixines death.
Orestes came into his former rage,
Which Pirrus felt, before Dame Beauties bar:
The Iudge did rise, his fury to asswage,
And did demaund the cause of all that iar:
Nestor auoucht, before hee went to war,
Hermione was young Orestes right,
Wherfore my thought the Iury set him quite.
Which Pirrus felt, before Dame Beauties bar:
The Iudge did rise, his fury to asswage,
And did demaund the cause of all that iar:
Nestor auoucht, before hee went to war,
Wherfore my thought the Iury set him quite.
Leander cryed and craued to haue the law,
And Hero shee, began with sobs to waile:
Of Neptunes force, they both did stand in awe,
They labored much, but yet could not preuaile:
They daily sought, but yet therin did faile,
Neptune (quoth hee) doth loue my Dame so deare,
That through his force, I am driuen backe by feare
And Hero shee, began with sobs to waile:
Of Neptunes force, they both did stand in awe,
They labored much, but yet could not preuaile:
They daily sought, but yet therin did faile,
Neptune (quoth hee) doth loue my Dame so deare,
That through his force, I am driuen backe by feare
Then Neptunes loue, began therat to frowne,
And for his sake, Dame Hero did inuy:
And did not cease, to seeke to put her downe,
In Neptunes lap, shee often times did cry:
Whose silly teares, her louers loue did try,
And hee content, to please this gallant Dame:
At her request, reuenged him of thesame.
And for his sake, Dame Hero did inuy:
And did not cease, to seeke to put her downe,
In Neptunes lap, shee often times did cry:
Whose silly teares, her louers loue did try,
And hee content, to please this gallant Dame:
At her request, reuenged him of thesame.
And on the Seas, hee caught this silly knight,
And sonke his boate, within the flowing floods:
Where hee was drowned, and quesned by dispight
This did the God to doo his lady good:
But shee alas, being fed with furious moode,
Cast vp his corpes, which Hero did espye,
And fell from Towre, and with her loue did dye.
And sonke his boate, within the flowing floods:
Where hee was drowned, and quesned by dispight
This did the God to doo his lady good:
But shee alas, being fed with furious moode,
Cast vp his corpes, which Hero did espye,
And fell from Towre, and with her loue did dye.
Amulius brought in his brothers childe,
Whom hee had lockt within the vestall caue:
Accusing Mars, which had that Dame beguilde,
And caused her lose, the life that shee would saue:
But Mars in wrath, this speedy sentence gaue,
That Illias Impes, should worke Amulius shame:
Who after that had tasted of the same.
Whom hee had lockt within the vestall caue:
Accusing Mars, which had that Dame beguilde,
And caused her lose, the life that shee would saue:
But Mars in wrath, this speedy sentence gaue,
That Illias Impes, should worke Amulius shame:
Who after that had tasted of the same.
Then Minos wife came raging all in ire,
And Beauty asked, her purpose and intent:
That speckled Bull (quoth shee) I doo desire,
The Gods gan laugh, and yeelded her consent:
Forthwith from thence, to Dedalus shee went,
But Beauty skould, and did this fact detest,
And sent forth Ire, to gnaw king Minos brest.
And Beauty asked, her purpose and intent:
The Gods gan laugh, and yeelded her consent:
Forthwith from thence, to Dedalus shee went,
But Beauty skould, and did this fact detest,
And sent forth Ire, to gnaw king Minos brest.
Then Theseus freend, shee stood on Naxus Ile,
And cryed alowd vnto the powres aboue:
Whom Baccus caught, and brought from long exile,
And in the ende, did choose her for his loue:
Whose rufull mone, Dame Beauties hart did mooue,
But all the Gods sent Theseus into Hell:
Whose paynes were more, then any toung can tell.
And cryed alowd vnto the powres aboue:
Whom Baccus caught, and brought from long exile,
And in the ende, did choose her for his loue:
Whose rufull mone, Dame Beauties hart did mooue,
But all the Gods sent Theseus into Hell:
Whose paynes were more, then any toung can tell.
Then Alpheus did Arethusa chase,
And left his course, euen as hee thought it best:
Diana shee, did stay her of her race,
And yet deceiued this long desiring guest:
And sith in her, shee saw a faythfull brest,
By Beauties will, shee changed her forme away:
Into a spring, which in her name did stay.
And left his course, euen as hee thought it best:
Diana shee, did stay her of her race,
And yet deceiued this long desiring guest:
And sith in her, shee saw a faythfull brest,
By Beauties will, shee changed her forme away:
Into a spring, which in her name did stay.
Then Cepheus childe, fearing the monsters might,
Cride to the Gods, vpon her mothers pride:
But Perseus hart, relented at the sight,
And truly vowde, no longer to abide,
Till for her sake, the monster hee had tryde:
And on conflicte, hee ended breathinge life,
And Beauty gaue, this damsell for his wife.
Cride to the Gods, vpon her mothers pride:
But Perseus hart, relented at the sight,
And truly vowde, no longer to abide,
Till for her sake, the monster hee had tryde:
And on conflicte, hee ended breathinge life,
And Beauty gaue, this damsell for his wife.
Apollo hee, which gaue Cassandra wit,
To tell all things, which after should insew:
Before the bar, wheras the Iudge did sit,
His whole complaint in open pleaded shew:
Hee sayd that shee, had neuer prooued true,
Wherat the Iudge, did ware exceeding wanne:
And longe amazde, at last shee thus beganne.
To tell all things, which after should insew:
Before the bar, wheras the Iudge did sit,
His whole complaint in open pleaded shew:
Hee sayd that shee, had neuer prooued true,
Wherat the Iudge, did ware exceeding wanne:
And longe amazde, at last shee thus beganne.
Sith you (quoth shee) which gaue to her this gifte,
Can not obtayne, the troth which shee did plight:
Tis good for you to vse some other shifte,
Her false attempt, some other way to quite:
Wherfore the God, thus said in open sight,
The wordes shee spake, no Troian shall beleeue,
But eche mans minde, they shall molest and greeue.
Can not obtayne, the troth which shee did plight:
Tis good for you to vse some other shifte,
Her false attempt, some other way to quite:
Wherfore the God, thus said in open sight,
The wordes shee spake, no Troian shall beleeue,
But eche mans minde, they shall molest and greeue.
A thousand more, to long for to repeate,
Came thronging in, the Iudgement for to heare:
Such preace was made, before Dame Beauties seat,
Of those which came, their matters to declare:
That if I should name all that did appeare
It were to much, the labour were to long,
My pen would faint, and say it had great wrong,
Came thronging in, the Iudgement for to heare:
Such preace was made, before Dame Beauties seat,
Of those which came, their matters to declare:
That if I should name all that did appeare
It were to much, the labour were to long,
My pen would faint, and say it had great wrong,
Sardanapalus, somtime Thassirian kinge,
With strange attire hee entered into place:
Upon his head a helmet hee did bring,
And in his hand, hee held a glistering glasse:
In Queenes attire, this foole bedecked was,
A rout of Heares, and Concubines hee led,
Which while hee liude his greedy humors fed.
With strange attire hee entered into place:
Upon his head a helmet hee did bring,
And in his hand, hee held a glistering glasse:
In Queenes attire, this foole bedecked was,
A rout of Heares, and Concubines hee led,
Which while hee liude his greedy humors fed.
But Beauty blusht, and bid him packe away,
And Venus smilde as one which likte it well:
Arbactus came of him to make a pray,
Whose wicked vse in presence hee did tell:
Whose life in pompe, and pleasure did excell,
Then Beauty sayd procure his timely death:
Arbactus went, and stopt his fatall breath.
And Venus smilde as one which likte it well:
Arbactus came of him to make a pray,
Whose wicked vse in presence hee did tell:
Whose life in pompe, and pleasure did excell,
Then Beauty sayd procure his timely death:
Arbactus went, and stopt his fatall breath.
What should I say eche one which did complayne,
Hath out of hand, a iudgement and redresse:
The Crier hee is gathering of his gaine,
Eche officer is busied with no lesse:
The inhabiters, prouide for gallant guesse.
And eueryone, prepareth passing cheere,
But euery thing is solde exceeding deere.
Hath out of hand, a iudgement and redresse:
The Crier hee is gathering of his gaine,
Eche officer is busied with no lesse:
The inhabiters, prouide for gallant guesse.
But euery thing is solde exceeding deere.
Since Saturns dayes, and golden yeeres ypast,
Since Ioue his birth, and all his brethren deere:
If ought were done, whose fame till now doth last,
You may suppose that it was truly there:
Yea euery thing in order did appere,
And euery iar, that present time was ended,
And eche offence, by iudgement was amended.
Since Ioue his birth, and all his brethren deere:
If ought were done, whose fame till now doth last,
You may suppose that it was truly there:
Yea euery thing in order did appere,
And euery iar, that present time was ended,
And eche offence, by iudgement was amended.
And since that time, I truly must confesse,
All strife is doone, Dian loues no debate:
Shee liues no more in woods and wildernesse,
But euery one hath choose a cherefull mate:
And some so much this life of hers do hate,
That for the feare of Cupids cursed checke,
They yeeld to bow, and come at euery becke.
All strife is doone, Dian loues no debate:
Shee liues no more in woods and wildernesse,
But euery one hath choose a cherefull mate:
And some so much this life of hers do hate,
That for the feare of Cupids cursed checke,
They yeeld to bow, and come at euery becke.
Then maruell not, though Cupid rule alone,
And though eche wight is ready to obay:
For surely now Dianas host is gone,
Her troupe is small, which in the woods doo stay:
When Cupid comes, eche one doth run his way,
Yet some there bee, I can it not deny,
Which liue with her, with whom they meane to dye.
And though eche wight is ready to obay:
For surely now Dianas host is gone,
Her troupe is small, which in the woods doo stay:
When Cupid comes, eche one doth run his way,
Yet some there bee, I can it not deny,
Which liue with her, with whom they meane to dye.
There Pitty stood, and pleaded many a case,
The blinded boy, had wisht him so to doo.
And often times, the Iudge to him gaue place,
As well for freend, as eke for forrain foe:
For sure shee thought, most meete for to doo so,
That freend and foe, might ioyne them both in one,
And as they ought, worship Cupid alone.
The blinded boy, had wisht him so to doo.
And often times, the Iudge to him gaue place,
As well for freend, as eke for forrain foe:
For sure shee thought, most meete for to doo so,
That freend and foe, might ioyne them both in one,
And as they ought, worship Cupid alone.
Thus euery thing, beeing brought to perfit end,
And euery one contented with the same:
Then mighty Ioue, from lofty clowdes did send,
His trusty knight, which vnto Beauty came:
Who merily began the Court to blame,
For that it stayd, and did defer so long:
While Vulcan thought, the kitchin had some wrong.
And euery one contented with the same:
His trusty knight, which vnto Beauty came:
Who merily began the Court to blame,
For that it stayd, and did defer so long:
While Vulcan thought, the kitchin had some wrong.
For when as Ioue from of the bench did part,
Whose eares did glow, to heare so many cry:
The sore complaints, did mone his tender hart,
With speedy pace hee mounted to the skye:
And caused his cookes with Vulcan for to fry,
Till all delights for Beauties trayne did stay:
For whom hee sent and wisht to come away.
Whose eares did glow, to heare so many cry:
The sore complaints, did mone his tender hart,
With speedy pace hee mounted to the skye:
And caused his cookes with Vulcan for to fry,
Till all delights for Beauties trayne did stay:
For whom hee sent and wisht to come away.
Then Beauty risde, and thus she gan to say,
My noble Lords, and Ladyes of estate:
Much are you bound, for this your happy day,
Your harty thankes to yeeld vnto your fate:
For that this Court, hath banished debate.
Then marke what hee, which is ordainde to speake,
Shall brefely say, and then the Court shall breake.
My noble Lords, and Ladyes of estate:
Much are you bound, for this your happy day,
Your harty thankes to yeeld vnto your fate:
For that this Court, hath banished debate.
Then marke what hee, which is ordainde to speake,
Shall brefely say, and then the Court shall breake.
From of the bench, a cumly Lord did rise,
Which vnto all dit pleasantly appeere:
And vnto Heauen, hee fixed his stedfast eyes,
Whose couler came, which did increase his cheere:
Whose voyce was such that euery man might here.
And at the last (making no long delay)
With filed speech thus hee began to say.
Which vnto all dit pleasantly appeere:
And vnto Heauen, hee fixed his stedfast eyes,
Whose couler came, which did increase his cheere:
Whose voyce was such that euery man might here.
And at the last (making no long delay)
With filed speech thus hee began to say.
Himenæ his Oration.
Renowmed Lordes giue eare, and marke what I shall say,Which now haue seene the whole exploites of all this lucky day.
I Hymenæus hight whose force you do obay,
In whom (twise happy may you bee) if you do rightly stay.
Now therfore sith ech case, hath bin discoursed at large,
And sith the Iudge, by Iustice rule her duty did discharge.
Leaue of those wanton toyes of loue, beeing vsed amisse,
And loue the lawes of wedlocks bond, which much more seemely is.
And you which long haue erred, and wandered to and fro,
Reuoke your selues, and stay your race, and cease for to doo so.
For holy bee the lawes, which wedlocke doo maintaine,
And duty must perforce be giuen, to those which there remaine.
To range abrode in woods, as many vsde before,
Beseeme the brutish beast to doo, then vse that vse no more.
Let Iuno serue for Ioue, sufficing for his wife,
And let not Neptune with his mate, dispise to lede his life.
If Hypolite the chast, can leade his life so still,
Why should not Phedra suffer him, to doo after his will?
What ill affectes bee these, cut of those Impes I pray,
Which may both bring the roote and stocke, with branches to decay.
And thus I end in breefe, as erst I haue begonne,
Desiring you to set your selues, in wedlockes lawes to ronne.
This sayd hee ceast, and setled downe agayne,
And Beauty rose, and vttered all her minde:
Requesting them that they would take the payne,
To wend with her, as Ioue had then assinde:
They did consent as duty did them binde,
But ere they went, beholde what did betide:
To mee poore soule, which did that sight abide.
And Beauty rose, and vttered all her minde:
Requesting them that they would take the payne,
To wend with her, as Ioue had then assinde:
They did consent as duty did them binde,
But ere they went, beholde what did betide:
To mee poore soule, which did that sight abide.
For as I looked, on euery thing that fell,
I did neglect, wheras my guide did goe:
And glauncing lookes, within that place did dwell,
With speedy pace, came running mee vnto,
Who drew mee forth, euen as a furious foe:
Who straightly said, thy iudgement shalbe geuen,
Bee sure to dye, God bring thy soule to Heauen.
I did neglect, wheras my guide did goe:
And glauncing lookes, within that place did dwell,
With speedy pace, came running mee vnto,
Who straightly said, thy iudgement shalbe geuen,
Bee sure to dye, God bring thy soule to Heauen.
Hee drew mee forth, and vrged mee to goe,
Yea Mauger all my force and all my might:
Alas sayd I, what meane you to doo so,
Take some remorse, and cease to worke your spight:
Doo well (quoth hee) if that thy case bee right,
Wherfore I wept, but yet alas in vaine,
And on my guide, I ceast not complayne.
Yea Mauger all my force and all my might:
Alas sayd I, what meane you to doo so,
Take some remorse, and cease to worke your spight:
Doo well (quoth hee) if that thy case bee right,
Wherfore I wept, but yet alas in vaine,
And on my guide, I ceast not complayne.
I sweat for feare, I tremble for to tell,
My haire stood vp, my sences were agast:
My reddy blood, this terror did expell,
Before that time, which in my cheekes was plaste:
And yet my foe did draw mee forth in haste,
Who told the Iudge, where hee had found mee out,
When all the throng began to preace about.
My haire stood vp, my sences were agast:
My reddy blood, this terror did expell,
Before that time, which in my cheekes was plaste:
And yet my foe did draw mee forth in haste,
Who told the Iudge, where hee had found mee out,
When all the throng began to preace about.
And when they saw, what nouelty had hapt,
Then euery one, began to shout and cry:
And on my head, their tender handes they clapt,
And sayd good Sir, you are welcome hartely:
Wherwith I thankte them for their curtesie,
Whē teares and swet, ran down my face by stremes
They awakte mee out of this dreadfull dremes.
Then euery one, began to shout and cry:
And on my head, their tender handes they clapt,
And sayd good Sir, you are welcome hartely:
Wherwith I thankte them for their curtesie,
Whē teares and swet, ran down my face by stremes
They awakte mee out of this dreadfull dremes.
So since that time I neither saw my foe,
Nor yet my guide, which then was slipt away:
Nay can I tell, if they to skyes did goe,
As Beauty had pretended all that day:
Of this nor that, no more I haue to say,
But when I wakte, I went from silent shade:
For darkesome night, the earth did then inuade.
Nor yet my guide, which then was slipt away:
Nay can I tell, if they to skyes did goe,
As Beauty had pretended all that day:
Of this nor that, no more I haue to say,
But when I wakte, I went from silent shade:
For darkesome night, the earth did then inuade.
And here beholde, I breefely will conclude,
For why? my pen is weary of her toyle:
But yet I pray, beare with these termes so rude,
And for my payne, yeeld not my worke the toyle:
Now gentle Muse, vnto thy Caue recoyle,
I yeeld thee thankes, for this thy gentle hart:
Thy Maister hee, hath playd his wished parte.
For why? my pen is weary of her toyle:
And for my payne, yeeld not my worke the toyle:
Now gentle Muse, vnto thy Caue recoyle,
I yeeld thee thankes, for this thy gentle hart:
Thy Maister hee, hath playd his wished parte.
And though not so, as hee hath wisht to doo,
Yet for his skill, hee hath displayde his due:
Hee craues remorce, if that it chaunceth so,
That any crime, therof there should insue:
Or if his pen, hath writ more then is true,
Iudge you which haue, run in this tedious way,
The Author doth expect what you will say.
Yet for his skill, hee hath displayde his due:
Hee craues remorce, if that it chaunceth so,
That any crime, therof there should insue:
Or if his pen, hath writ more then is true,
Iudge you which haue, run in this tedious way,
The Author doth expect what you will say.
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