3.20. The last and principall figure of our poeticall Ornament.
For the glorious lustre it setteth vpon our speech and language, the Greeks
call is [Exargasia] the Latine [Expolitio] a terme
transferred from these polishers of marble or porphirite, who after it is
rough hewen & reduced to that fashion they will, do set vpon it a goodly
glasse, so smoth and cleere as ye may see your face in it, or otherwise as it
fareth by the bare and naked body, which being attired in rich and gorgious
apparell, seemeth to the common vsage of th'eye much more comely &
bewtifull then the naturall. So doth this figure (which therefore I call the
Gorgious) polish our speech & as it were attire it with copious
& pleasant amplifications and much varietie of sentences all running
vpon one point & to one intent: so as I doubt whether I may terme it a
figure, or rather a masse of many figuratiue speaches, applied to the
bewtifying of our tale or argument. In a worke of ours entituled
Philocalia we haue strained to shew the vse & application of this
figure and all others mentioned in this booke, to which we referre you. I
finde none example in English meetre, so well maintayning this figure as
that dittie of her Maiesties owne making passing sweete and harmonicall,
which figure beyng as his very originall name purporteth the most bewtifull
and gorgious of all others, it asketh in reason to be reserued for a last
complement, and desciphred by the arte of a Ladies penne, her selfe beyng
the most bewtifull, or rather bewtie of Queenes. And this was the occasion:
our soueraigne Lady perceiuing how by the Sc. Q. residence within this
Realme at so great libertie and ease (as were skarce meete for so great and
daungerous a prysoner) bred secret factions among her people, and made
many of the nobilitie incline to fauour her partie: some of them desirous of
innouation in the state: others aspiring to greater fortunes by her libertie
and life. The Queene our soueraigne Lady to declare that she was nothing
ignorant of those secret practizes, though she had long with great wisdome
and pacience dissembled it, writeth this ditty most sweet and sententious,
not hiding from all such aspiring minds the daunger of their ambition and
disloyaltie: which afterward fell out most truly by th'exemplary
chastisement of sundry persons, who in fauour of the sayd Sc. Q. declining
from her Maiestie, sought to interrupt the quiet of the Realme by many euill
and vndutifull Practizes. The ditty is as followeth.
The doubt of future fores, exiles my present ioy,
And wit me warnes to shun such snares as threaten mine annoy.
For falshood now doth flow, and subiect faith doth ebbe,
Which would not be, if reason rul'd or wisdome weu'd the webbe.
But clowdes of tois vntried, do cloake aspiring mindes,
Which turne to raigne of late repent, by course of changed windes.
The toppe of hope supposed, the roote of ruth wil be,
And frutelesse all their graffed guiles, as shortly ye shall see.
Then dazeld eyes with pride, which great ambition blinds,
Shalbe vnseeld by worthy wights, whose foresight falshood finds.
The daughter of debate, that eke discord doth sowe
Shal reape no gaine where formor rule hath taught stil peace to growe.
No forreine bannisht wight shall ancre in this port,
Our realme it brookes no strangers force, let them elswhere resort.
Our rusty sworde with rest, shall first his edge employ,
To polle their toppes that seeke, such change and gape for ioy.
In a worke of ours entituled [Philo Calia] where we entreat of the
loues betwene prince Philo and Lady Calia, in their mutual
letters, messages, and speeches: we haue strained our muse to shew the vse
and application of this figure, and of all others.