The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes A literal reprint of the earliest complete copy (1517) with variant readings from the editions of 1509, 1554, and 1555 together with introduction notes, glossary, and indexes: By William Edward Mead |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IIII. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIIII. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIIII. |
| XXV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXVII. |
Of the merualyos argument bytwene Mars and fortune. Ca. xxvij.
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| XXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XXIX. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLII. |
| XLII. |
| XLIIII. |
| XLV. |
| XLVI. |
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Of the merualyos argument bytwene Mars and fortune. Ca. xxvij.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes |  |
XXVII. Of the merualyos argument bytwene Mars and fortune. Ca. xxvij.
Besyde this toure of olde foundacyon
There was a temple strongly edefyed
To the hygh honoure and reputacyon
Of the myghty Mars it was so fortefyed
And for to know what it sygnyfyed
I entred in and sawe of golde so pure
Of worthy Mars the meruaylous pycture
There was a temple strongly edefyed
To the hygh honoure and reputacyon
Of the myghty Mars it was so fortefyed
And for to know what it sygnyfyed
I entred in and sawe of golde so pure
Of worthy Mars the meruaylous pycture
There was depaynted all aboute the wall
The grete dystruccyon of the cyte of troye
And the noble actes to reygne memoryall
Of the worthy Ector that was all theyr Ioye
His dolourous deth was herde to occoye
And so whan Ector was cast all downe
The hardy Troylus was moost hyghe of renowne
The grete dystruccyon of the cyte of troye
And the noble actes to reygne memoryall
Of the worthy Ector that was all theyr Ioye
His dolourous deth was herde to occoye
And so whan Ector was cast all downe
The hardy Troylus was moost hyghe of renowne
And as I cast my syght so asyde
Beholdynge Mars how wonderly he stode
On a whele top with a lady of pryde
Haunced aboute I thought nothynge but good
But that she had two faces in one hode
Yet I kneled adowne and made myne oryson
To doughty Mars with grete deuocyon
Beholdynge Mars how wonderly he stode
On a whele top with a lady of pryde
Haunced aboute I thought nothynge but good
But that she had two faces in one hode
Yet I kneled adowne and made myne oryson
To doughty Mars with grete deuocyon
Sayenge / O Mars / O god of the warre
The gentyll lodesterre of an hardy herte
Dystyll adowne thy grace from so farre
To cause all fere frome me to asterte
That in the felde I may ryght well subuerte
The hedyus monsters / and wynne the vyctory
Of the sturdy grauntes with famous chyualry
The gentyll lodesterre of an hardy herte
Dystyll adowne thy grace from so farre
To cause all fere frome me to asterte
That in the felde I may ryght well subuerte
118
Of the sturdy grauntes with famous chyualry
O prynce of honoure and of worthy fame
O noble knyghtes of olde antyquyte
O redouted courage the causer of theyr name
Whose worthy actes fame caused to be
In bokes wryten as ye may well se
So gyue me grace ryght well to recure
The power of fame / that shall longe endure
O noble knyghtes of olde antyquyte
O redouted courage the causer of theyr name
Whose worthy actes fame caused to be
In bokes wryten as ye may well se
So gyue me grace ryght well to recure
The power of fame / that shall longe endure
I thought me past all chyldly ygnoraunce
The .xxj. yere of my yonge flourynge aege
I thought that Venus myght nothynge auaunce
Her strength agaynst me with her lusty courage
My wytte I thought had suche auauntage
That it sholde rule bothe Venus and Cupyde
But alas for wo for all my sodayne pryde.
The .xxj. yere of my yonge flourynge aege
I thought that Venus myght nothynge auaunce
Her strength agaynst me with her lusty courage
My wytte I thought had suche auauntage
That it sholde rule bothe Venus and Cupyde
But alas for wo for all my sodayne pryde.
Whan that Phebus entred was in gemyne
Towarde the crabbe takynge ascencyon
At the tyme of the grete solempnyte
From heuen aboue of goddes descencyon
In a grete temple with hole entencyon
As I went walkynge my selfe to and fro
Full sodaynly Venus wrought me suche wo
Towarde the crabbe takynge ascencyon
At the tyme of the grete solempnyte
From heuen aboue of goddes descencyon
In a grete temple with hole entencyon
As I went walkynge my selfe to and fro
Full sodaynly Venus wrought me suche wo
For as I cast than my syght all a lofte
I sawe Venus in beaute so clere
Whiche caused Cupyde with his darte so softe
To wounde my herte with feruent loue so dere
Her louynge countenaunce so hygh dyde appere
That it me rauysshed with a sodayne thought
Alas for wo it vayled me ryght nought
I sawe Venus in beaute so clere
Whiche caused Cupyde with his darte so softe
To wounde my herte with feruent loue so dere
Her louynge countenaunce so hygh dyde appere
That it me rauysshed with a sodayne thought
119
To gyue audyens vnto the melody
Of waytes and organs that were at the fest
Loue had me wounded so sore inwardly
What was to do I knewe not the best
Replete with sorow and deuoyde of rest
Sythen the tyme that she my herte soo wounded
My Ioy and pryde she hath full lowe confounded
Of waytes and organs that were at the fest
Loue had me wounded so sore inwardly
What was to do I knewe not the best
Replete with sorow and deuoyde of rest
Sythen the tyme that she my herte soo wounded
My Ioy and pryde she hath full lowe confounded
And so now for to attayne her grace
As thou doost knowe become aduenturous
Besechynge the in this peryllous case
O Mars me socoure in tyme tempestyous
That I may passe the passage daungerous
And to thy laude honoure and glorye
I shall a temple ryght strongly edefye
As thou doost knowe become aduenturous
Besechynge the in this peryllous case
O Mars me socoure in tyme tempestyous
120
And to thy laude honoure and glorye
I shall a temple ryght strongly edefye
Well than sayd Mars I shall the fortefye
In all thy warre as fast as I canne
But for thy payne I knowe no remedy
For Venus reyned whan that thou beganne
Fyrst for to loue makynge the pale and wanne
And of the trouthe to make relacyon
Thou was borne vnder her consolacyon
In all thy warre as fast as I canne
But for thy payne I knowe no remedy
For Venus reyned whan that thou beganne
Fyrst for to loue makynge the pale and wanne
And of the trouthe to make relacyon
Thou was borne vnder her consolacyon
Wherfore thou must of veray perfyte ryght
Vnto her sue by the dysposycyon
Whiche the constrayneth with hole delyght
For to loue ladyes by true affeccyon
Suche is her course and operacyon
Wherfore whan thou hast lerned perfytely
The for to gouerne by prudent chyualry
Vnto her sue by the dysposycyon
Whiche the constrayneth with hole delyght
For to loue ladyes by true affeccyon
Suche is her course and operacyon
Wherfore whan thou hast lerned perfytely
The for to gouerne by prudent chyualry
Than to fulfyll thy ryght hye enterpryse
Forthe on thy way thou shalte thy Iorney take
Vnto a temple in all humble wyse
Before dame Venus thyn oblacyon to make
Whiche all thy payne may sone redresse and slake
For at that tyme she holdeth a parlemente
To redresse louers of theyr Impedymente
Forthe on thy way thou shalte thy Iorney take
Vnto a temple in all humble wyse
Before dame Venus thyn oblacyon to make
Whiche all thy payne may sone redresse and slake
For at that tyme she holdeth a parlemente
To redresse louers of theyr Impedymente
Aha quod fortune with the faces twayne
Behynde syr Mars / I haue a grete meruayle
That thou doost promyse hym that he shall attayne
Vnto his purpose with all dylygente trauayle
Through thyn ayd eke strength and counsayle
Sythens dependeth in myn ordenaunce
Hym to promote or brynge to myschaunce
Behynde syr Mars / I haue a grete meruayle
That thou doost promyse hym that he shall attayne
Vnto his purpose with all dylygente trauayle
Through thyn ayd eke strength and counsayle
121
Hym to promote or brynge to myschaunce
My power / estate and ryall dygnyte
Doth torne the whele of worthely glorye
Often vp so downe by mutabylyte
Haue not I promoted full nobly
Many a lowe degre to reygne full ryally
And often haue made a transmutacyon
Of worldly welthe in to trybulacyon
Doth torne the whele of worthely glorye
Often vp so downe by mutabylyte
Haue not I promoted full nobly
Many a lowe degre to reygne full ryally
And often haue made a transmutacyon
Of worldly welthe in to trybulacyon
Thus can I make an alteracyon
Of worthely honoure whiche doth depende
All onely in my domynacyon
Through the worlde my whele doth extende
As reason doth ryght well comprehende
Of my grete chaunces whiche are vnsure
As dayly dooth appere well in vre
Of worthely honoure whiche doth depende
All onely in my domynacyon
Through the worlde my whele doth extende
As reason doth ryght well comprehende
Of my grete chaunces whiche are vnsure
As dayly dooth appere well in vre
Yf I sholde werke with perfyte stedfastnes
As to exalte some to be honourable
And that they knewe by perfyte sykernes
That it sholde dure and not be varyable
It were a thynge vnto me culpaple
For grete orguell pryde sholde them so blynde
To knowe themselfe they sholde lose theyr mynde
As to exalte some to be honourable
And that they knewe by perfyte sykernes
That it sholde dure and not be varyable
It were a thynge vnto me culpaple
For grete orguell pryde sholde them so blynde
To knowe themselfe they sholde lose theyr mynde
Thus whan that they sholde themselfe forgete
And in no wyse theyr owne persone knowe
Full lytell than they wolde by me sette
That them exalted to hye degre from lowe
And by my chaunce coude nought them ouerthrowe
Thus sholde they do and drede me nothynge
Wherfore my whele is euermore tournynge
And in no wyse theyr owne persone knowe
Full lytell than they wolde by me sette
That them exalted to hye degre from lowe
And by my chaunce coude nought them ouerthrowe
Thus sholde they do and drede me nothynge
Wherfore my whele is euermore tournynge
122
And where that I sholde torne my face
Castynge some in pytte of pouerte
They were condampned without ony grace
As for to attayne ony prosperyte
Whiche were a cause of grete iniquyte
For ryche mennes goodes I must ofte translate
Vnto the pore them for to eleuate
Castynge some in pytte of pouerte
They were condampned without ony grace
As for to attayne ony prosperyte
Whiche were a cause of grete iniquyte
For ryche mennes goodes I must ofte translate
Vnto the pore them for to eleuate
And thyrdly I sholde lese my name
For this worde fortune is well derefyde
Of an accydent chaunce bothe good or shame
Whan that the dede is so exemplefyde
Wherfore by reason I must be duplyfyde
And nothynge stable in myn hye werke
As wryteth many a ryght noble clerke
For this worde fortune is well derefyde
Of an accydent chaunce bothe good or shame
Whan that the dede is so exemplefyde
Wherfore by reason I must be duplyfyde
And nothynge stable in myn hye werke
As wryteth many a ryght noble clerke
Therfore by reason I must be mutable
And torne my whele ryght oft vp so downe
Labourynge in werkes whiche are vnstable
On some to laugh and on some I must frowne
Thus all aboute in euery realme and towne
I shewe my power in euery sundry wyse
Some to descende and on some to aryse
And torne my whele ryght oft vp so downe
Labourynge in werkes whiche are vnstable
On some to laugh and on some I must frowne
Thus all aboute in euery realme and towne
I shewe my power in euery sundry wyse
Some to descende and on some to aryse
Wherfore my power doth ryght well excell
Aboue the Mars in thyn house enclosed
For to rule man thou hast power neueradell
Saue after the somwhat he is dysposed
Thy consolacyon hath hym so apposed
Who vnder the taketh his natyuyte
Yet god hath gyuen hym power to rule the
Aboue the Mars in thyn house enclosed
For to rule man thou hast power neueradell
Saue after the somwhat he is dysposed
Thy consolacyon hath hym so apposed
Who vnder the taketh his natyuyte
Yet god hath gyuen hym power to rule the
Wherfore I am of a ferre hyer power
Than thou arte for there is no defence
Agaynst my wyll at ony tyme or houre
And in my name there is a deference
For in these wordes in my magnyfycence
Predestynate and also desteny
As I shall shewe anone more formably
123
Agaynst my wyll at ony tyme or houre
And in my name there is a deference
For in these wordes in my magnyfycence
Predestynate and also desteny
As I shall shewe anone more formably
Predestynate dooth ryght well sygnyfy
A thynge to come whiche is prepayred
None but god doth knowe it openly
Tyll that the dede cause it be declared
For many a one whan they well fared
Full lytell thought that trybulacyon
To them was ordeyned by predestynacyon
A thynge to come whiche is prepayred
None but god doth knowe it openly
Tyll that the dede cause it be declared
For many a one whan they well fared
Full lytell thought that trybulacyon
To them was ordeyned by predestynacyon
The desteny is a thynge accydent
And by the werke dooth take the effecte
Tyll it be done it is ay precedent
No man from it can hymselfe abiecte
Thus euery chaunce doth fortune derecte
Wherfore by reason la graunde amoure
Must sue vnto me to do hym socoure
And by the werke dooth take the effecte
Tyll it be done it is ay precedent
No man from it can hymselfe abiecte
Thus euery chaunce doth fortune derecte
Wherfore by reason la graunde amoure
Must sue vnto me to do hym socoure
Aha quod Mars suche a one as thou
I neuer knewe byfore this season
For thou thy selfe doost so moche enpron
Aboue the heuens by exaltacyon
But what for all thy commendacyon
Arte thou now ony thynge substancyall
Spyrytuall or elles yet terrestryall
I neuer knewe byfore this season
For thou thy selfe doost so moche enpron
Aboue the heuens by exaltacyon
But what for all thy commendacyon
Arte thou now ony thynge substancyall
Spyrytuall or elles yet terrestryall
How can a werke perfytely be grounded
But in this two and thou arte of those
Wherfore for nought thou mayst be confounded
For nought in substaunce can nothynge transpose
Of none effecte thou canst thy selfe dysclose
How hast thou power in ony maner of case
In heuen or erthe without a dwellynge place
But in this two and thou arte of those
124
For nought in substaunce can nothynge transpose
Of none effecte thou canst thy selfe dysclose
How hast thou power in ony maner of case
In heuen or erthe without a dwellynge place
But that poetes hath made a fygure
Of the for the grete sygnyfycacyon
The chaunge of man so for to dyscure
Accordynge to a moralyzacyon
And of the trouth to make relacyon
The man is fortune in the propre dede
And not thou that causeth hym to spede
Of the for the grete sygnyfycacyon
The chaunge of man so for to dyscure
Accordynge to a moralyzacyon
And of the trouth to make relacyon
The man is fortune in the propre dede
And not thou that causeth hym to spede
What nedeth hym vnto his selfe to sue
Sythen thou art the dedes of his chaunce
Thou to rule man it is a thynge not true
Now where vpon doth hange this ordenaunce
But accedent vpon the gouernaunce
Of the hye bodyes whiche doth man dyspose
The dede to do as hym lyst purpose
Sythen thou art the dedes of his chaunce
Thou to rule man it is a thynge not true
Now where vpon doth hange this ordenaunce
But accedent vpon the gouernaunce
Of the hye bodyes whiche doth man dyspose
The dede to do as hym lyst purpose
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Of the merualyos argument bytwene Mars and fortune. Ca. xxvij.
The Pastime of Pleasure by Stephen Hawes | |