THE Three first BOOKES OF Ouid de Tristibus Translated into English IMPRINTED at London in Fleetestrete neare vnto Sainct Dunstones Church by Thomas Marsh. 1580. Cum Priuilegio The occasion of this Booke OF Ouidius Naso his banishment diuers occasions be supposed but the commoÌ„ opinion and the most likely is that Augustus Caesar theÌ„ Em perour reading his Bookes of the Arte of Loue misliked theÌ„ so much that he condemned Ouid to exile After which time the sayd Ouid aswel in his passage on the Sea as after arriued in the Barbarous countries the rather to recouer the Emperours grace wrote these Elegies or Lamentable verses directing some to the Gods some to Caesar some to his wife some to his Daughter some to his Frendes some to his foes c. And called this booke the booke of Sorowes In latin de Tristibus TO HIS MOST ASSVred and tryed Friende Maister Christopher Hatton Esquire Thomas Churchyarde wysheth continuaunce of Vertue AS I haue greate desyre to perfourme my promise touching my whole workes of English Verses good maister Hatton so I wish my selfe able euerye waye to keepe the worthinesse of your Frendship which many haue tasted and few can fynd fault withall such is the eeueÌ„nesse of your dealinges and the vpright behauiour of the same VVel least I should seeme to vnfolde a fardle of Flattrie I retourne to my matter My booke being vnreadye considering I was commaunded by a great and mighty parsonage to write y e same againe I am forced in the meane whyle to occupy your iudgement with the reading of another mans worke whose doings of it self are sufficieÌ„t to purchase good report albeit it wanted such a Patron as you are to defende it The rest of that woorke which as yet is not come forth I purpose to pen and set out crauing a litle leasure for the same And surely sir I blush that myne owne booke beares not a better Tytle but the basenes of the matter wil not suffer it to beare any higher name than Churchyardes Chyps for in the same are sondry tryfles composed in my youth and such fruicte as those dayes and my simple knowledge coulde yelde so that the aptest name for such stuffe was as I thought to geue my workes this Title to be called Churchyardes Chips to warme the wittes of his welwillers In my first booke shal be three Tragedies two tales a Dreame a description of Frendship a Farewell to the Court the siege of Leeth and sondry other thinges y t are already written And in my seconde Booke shal be foure Tragedies ten Tales the Siege of Saint Quintaynes Newhauen Calleis and Guynes and I hope the rest of all the sorrein warres that I haue seene or heard of abroade shall follow in another volume Thus commending this little present to your coÌ„sideration I trouble you not long with the tediousnes of my Epistle and wishing you muche worshippe good â—ame and blessed fortune I bydde you moste hartely farewell Yours in all at commaundement Thomas Churchyarde Ouid to his Booke The Elegie first MY litle booke I blame thee not to stately towne sâ—all goe O cruell chaunce y â— where thou goest thy maister may not so Goe now thy way yet sute thy selfe in sad and simple geare Such exiles weede as time requyre I wil y â— thou do weare No vastie Uiolet shalt thou vse nor robe of Purple hue Those costly coulours be vnsâ—t our carefull cause to â—ue With ruddy red dye not thy face nor sappe of Ceder tree Such outward huâ— see that thou haue as cause assignes to thee Frounce not thy fearefull face I say nor haplesse head to streke But roughe and rugde so shew in sight that pity may prouoke Those subtill sleights be much more meete for volumes voyde of paine But thou of my vnfrendly fate a myrror must remayne Be not abasht thy ruefull blots to set and shew in sight That of my teares men may them iudge to haue beene made a right Depart thy way and in my name salute those blessed bowers When as thy fearefull foote shall fall in Caesars stately towers If any be as some there are amongst the rurall route Forgetlesse frends shall aske for mee or ought shall seeme to doubte Say that I liue which as I do by force of heauenly might So do confesse my troubled state wherein thou sees me plight If further speach shall thee prouoke or other skill they craue I charge thee then to take good heede no wastfull wordes to haue My faulty facts if any shall reproue perhaps to thee Or dolefull deedes in publike place condempned chaunce to beâ— Spend thou no speach nor do not care tho threatning browes they beÌ„de A rightfull cause it hindreth oft with wordes if we defend Some shalt thou finde that wil bewayle me thus in exile sent And reading thee with trickling teares my carefull case lament And in their muttring mindes will wish least wicked men may heare That Caesars yre once set a syde from paynes I may be cleare To such therefore as wel do wish to vs that payne do proue To mighty Ioue wee pray likewyse like sorrowes to remoue All thinges thus staâ—de in quiet state and Caesars grace once wonne Doth wish my lothsome life to ende where life I first begonne A worke vnworthy of my witte of thee some men will iudge And doing that I thee requyre at thee likewyse shall grudge Yet ought a Iudge as well to time as matteâ— haue regarde Which if ye haue as I do hope thou sasely shalt be harde For pleasaunt berses do proceede from quiet resting brayne But soden sorrowes mee assaultes with hugie heapes of â—ayne A time of trouble voyde it craues a perfit verse to make But mee the Seas the wrestâ—yng wyndes the winter wyld doth shake A minde more free from feare it askes in deadly doubt I stand Least that my life with sword be reft by force of enemyes hand Yet some there are that maruâ—ile will and rightfull Iudges bee When they this meane and simple verse with equall eyes shall see For though that Homer yet did liue with sorrowes so be set His wonted wits through malyce mighte I feare he should forget Yet shewe thy selfe my seely booke without regard of fame Nor though percase thou doest displease let it not thee ashame Syth fortune so vnfrendly is to hope it were in vayne That thou therby should purchase prayse to make therof thy gayne Whyle fortune smyld with smirking chere of fame I had desyre And noted name on euery syde I sought for to acquyre A fayned verse lo now I make and hate my hurtful lore Let it suffice sith that my wit forsaketh me therfore Yet goe thou one and in my steede the royall Rome to see God graunt that there is none of myne they may account of thee And though thou there a straunger be thinke not vnknowen to come But that amids the mighty towne thou shalt be knowen to some Thy colour wil disclose thy
fortune bendes her brow â—o wonted vse â—e hath to fume no man is more modest If he which lou'de to louer 〈◊〉 in troubâ—lous time is prest The fame doth telâ— how Thoas kinge on Pylades did rew When as by mâ—te of Graecian Lande Orestes once he knew Patâ—â—â—lus perfit fayth which was with great Achilles kniâ— Was wont full oft with worthy prayse in Hectorâ— mouth to sit They say because that Theseus with frend of his did pas Amonge the Princes blacke of Hell their God full sorâ—y was Wee beleeue O Turnus that thy cheekes with teares were wet When thou heard of Eurialuâ— and Nysus faythâ—â— so set In wretches eke there is a loue in foes which we approue O heauy hap so few there be which with my words I moue Such is the state and chaunce of mee and of my matters all That nothing ought my teares to stop from sory race to fall ¶ Hee reioyseth that his frend profited in learning Elegie 9. ALthough my heart for priuate chaunce with sadnes so be fraught It â—ighter lyes when I heare of the knowledge thou hast caught I saw most deare that here thou should within this port ariue Afore this way the wrasâ—ling windes thy ship began to driue If â—anners milde with vertue mixt or life deuoyde of blame Be had in price no man that liues deserues a better name Or if by art of cunning knowne that any do ascend There comes â—o cause which thâ—n cannot with pleasaunt words defeâ—d With these in minde I mooued thus to thee then streight can say A greater stage O friend remaynes thy vertâ—e to display No spleene of Sheepe of Ligâ—â—ning flame no flashe on left side seene No chirâ—ing songe or flight of foule a sâ—gne whereof hath bene By reasons rule I did deuine and iudge of that should come All these in mynde I gâ—ssed right and of them knowledge â—ome In heart therefore I ioyfull am for thee they proouâ—d true Also for me to whom thy wit was knowne as did ensue But would to God that myne had lyne full lowe in darknes hid For neede requyres my sâ—udious stile of louely â—ight to rid And aâ— the sciâ—nce sad and graue wyth pyked speach aâ—d fyne Doth profit thee so am I hurt with lore vnlike to thyne But yet my life thou know'st right well how that far from this art Is maisters maners distant all â—epugne in euery part Thou knowest of old this verse was writ by me when I was yonge And it was though not to prayse in Iest and playing songe Like as no crafty couller can in their defence haue might So I suppose my verse may not excused be with right Euâ—n as thou can doe thâ—m excuse and frendes cause not forsake And with such steppes as thou hast gone thy way right forâ—h do take ¶ Hee prayseth his shippe hee founde at Corinthia Elegie 10. A Ship I haue and God so gâ—aunt gâ—uern'de by Pallas might Whose haâ—py name no helme thâ—reof dâ—â—aâ—nted is in sight Iâ— sayles therein we neede to vse with slendâ—r winde she sayles Or if the ower her way she takes and easy force preuayles Her fellowes all â—ith speedy course to pâ—sse is not content But doth put backe by sundry skilles all shippes that forward bent The flowing floude she lightly bears and sels the tâ—ssing seas No cruell wâ—ues she yeeldes vnto but sayles away with â—ase With her I came acquaynted â—irst euen aâ— Corinthia ground Whom since a guide and trusty mate in fearefull slight I found Through sundry streights and wicked winds out way she did prâ—cure Yet was by force of Pallaâ— power frâ—m daunger saued sure And now the gates of vasâ—y Seas we â—ray that she may 〈◊〉 In Geta streames so long time sought we may at length arâ—iue Which when she had conuey'de me â—hus to Hellispontus port In narrow trackt away full longe she sâ—ulâ—ely did resort On left syde thâ—n our course wee tourn'de from Astors famous towne And to their coasts ô Imbria thâ—re â—rom thence we came a downe So forth 〈◊〉 gentle windes when wee Zerinthia did attayne In Samothâ—acia there our ship all weary â—id remayne From hence the reach is short if thou Sâ—antira seekes to vewe So â—arre the happy ship she did her maister still pursue Then on Bistâ—nian fieldes to goe on fâ—â—te it did meâ— please My ship forthwith forsaking there the Hellespontian Seas Unto Dardania then which hears the Auâ—hâ—rs 〈◊〉 we bend And thee ô Lampsace we do seeke wâ—om rurall Gods defend Wâ—ere as the Sea doth Seston par from Abydena towne Euen where as Helles whilom fell in narrow Seas adowne From thence to Cizicon which on Propontis shore do stand Ciziâ—oâ— the noble worke of Thessalonians hand Whereas Byzantia holdeth in the seas on eyther side This is the place of double Seas that keepes the gate so wyde And here I â—ray that wee may scape by force of Southren winde That from Cyaneas Rockes in hast she streight a way may finde And so to Enyochus bayes and thence by Polleo fall And caried thus to cut her way by Anchilaus his wall Thence vnto Messembros port and to Opeson bowres May haply passe ô Bacchus by of thee the named towres Now to Alchathoes we go which of the waues be spronge Who flâ—inge â—orth men say did builde herein their houses stronge From which vnto Myletus towne it faulfely may arriue Whereto the fearce and heauy wrath of angry Gods do dryue Wâ—ich if we may attayne vnto a lambe there shal be slâ—yne Mynerua to for greater gift our goods do not sustayne And you dame Hellens breâ—hrâ—n twaine to whom this Ile do bend Your double power to both our shippes we pray that you do lend The one vnto Symplegades prepares her way to make The other through Bysâ—onâ—a her iorney thence do take Cause you that since we diuers plats of purpose go vnto Thaâ— she may haue and so may this their wished winds also ¶ Hovve that hee made his first booke in his Iourney Elegie 11. WYthin this booke what letter be that thou perhaps shall reede In troublous time of careful way y e same was made in deede For eyther Adria sawe we there in colde Decembers day How weepinge verse amids the Seas to wryte I did assay Or els with double Seas in course I Istmos ouercâ—me And other ships therby in flight our fellowes so became When Cyâ—lades amased were and maruaile much did ta ke How I among the roring â—â—ouds these verses yet cold make And now my selfe do wonder sore that in such â—aging waues Of mynd and Seas my very wits themsâ—lues from daunger sâ—ues For be â—t maze with care hereof or madnes we it call This study doth repell from mynd my thoughts and sorrowes all Oft times in doubtful mynd â—o tost by stormy kyndes I was Oft times with Sterops star y e Sea through threatning waues I pas Arthophilax that keepes the beare doth daâ—kd the day at â—awne And south wind with the waters
woâ—ull wayling wâ—ts but slender force haue lent O happy yet for him it was Aeneados did wright Wâ—o Mâ—rian headâ— wiâ—h mighty men and weapoâ—â—â—erce resight No part of all which famous worke the readers do delight So much as that where loue was â—inckt againe all honest right Of Phyllis he likewise haue tould and Amarylliâ— loue Iâ— youthfull yeares he sought his minde wyth Bucolickes to moue And we who haue by wrâ—ting these committed greeuâ—us sinne Oâ—r sinfull factes much elder be though paynes but now beginne I verses also made when thou offences haue contrould A knight by thee to passe oft times I voyde of checke was bould Wâ—erefore I yong and wanting wit in that no daunger thought Wâ—ich now to me in elder age more hurtâ—ull care haue brought A new reuenging paâ—nes I feele for auncient written Art The persecution differeth far from time of my defart Yâ—t of my woorkes â—ou may beleue more wayghty burdens beare For oftentimes more massy sayles my ship sustayned there Foâ— bookes twyse â—ix I written haue and Fastoâ— did them name In number like of â—onthes were made and ended in the saâ—e Aâ—d that that through my heauy fate I did O Caesar make Wâ—erein I highly honoured thâ—e whâ—n I my way did take Yâ—â— Tâ—agike still in royall verse we also did endight Wâ—erein no waightâ— wordes do want that stately stile should light Iâ— verse likâ—wâ—se â—e â—ould althoâ—gh tâ—e workes imperfect bene Wâ—ere sundrâ— shapes â—ransâ—ormed are and chaunged bodyes seene Bâ—t would to God thy wrath a wâ—ile froâ— miâ—de thou would remoue And that of thâ—â—e same part to reade thou wouldest mâ— behoue The worke which at the worldes vpryse his firsâ— bâ—ginning had To thy â—ost famous â—aygne I brought and wroâ—â— O Caesar â— glad There shalt thou finde what store oâ— wit on me 〈…〉 And with what minde â—or thee and thine to write I haue assaâ—ed I do no man wyth â—yting verse or churlisâ—e câ—ecke disdaâ—ne Nor no mans guilty â—actes there doth within my workes â—emayne From sâ—bâ—ill â—oyes I guiltâ—es am that ten preâ— be 〈◊〉 gaâ—l Nor 〈◊〉 my verse no venyme fell wâ—th myrth is mixt at all Among so many thousand men wyth verses â—any a one My learned muse haue hindred noâ—e â—y sâ—lâ—e except alone At my mishap I gesse therefore no Romayne doth reioyce But much bewayle our sundry woes with one lâ—â—enting voyce Nor no man would I thinke be sad in this â—y â—orâ—y chaunce If mercy me through guiâ—â—les life to gâ—eater caâ—e aduaunce Lo thâ—se with many more I wishe may perce thy heauenly brest O father deare O sure deâ—ence our counâ—ryes only â—est To Italy I would not turne vnlesse in loâ—ger space Through greater paynes of thee perhaps we â—ay deserue more gracâ— More safer place for Exiles life and gentler rest I craue So shall my faults and carefull crimes theyr due deseruinges haue FINIS The third Booke ¶ The booke to the Reader Elegia 1. IN Fearefull wyse an Exiles booke am sent â—he towne to see Thy helping hand to weary â—râ—nd â— Readeâ— â—end thoâ— mee Nor doubt thou not least I be cause perhaps to worke 〈◊〉 sâ—aâ—e No versâ— in tâ—is dot◠〈◊〉 to loâ—e wheâ—ebâ— to â—orce â—he saâ—e â—or maisters fortune hath â—en such alas vnâ—aâ—â—â— wight Tâ—at 〈…〉 Iesâ—es or 〈…〉 And that which â—e in 〈…〉 To late â— wofull wâ—â—ke doth nâ—w â—ith 〈…〉 dâ—fy Bâ—hâ—ld theâ—efore what I do bring 〈…〉 â—hought at al Such 〈◊〉 â—eete in 〈…〉 as doâ—â— to 〈…〉 Ecâ—e other 〈…〉 The weaâ—y â—oote or â—engâ—â— of way the cause 〈◊〉 of â—aue deenâ— I am not staynd in Câ—dars say nor wrought with Pâ—â—nice bright For shame it were to be mâ—re braue then mayster may with right The letters sad whereof the blots bereft of wonted grace The sorry teares that worke hath hurt which feâ—l from Poets face If any word he wrested haue from light of latin sence The bâ—rbrous land haue forâ—t thereto and cause proceded thence Then tell if payne be none which way O Râ—ader is most sure Aâ—d by what steps a straungers booke my passage may procure Whyle these I spake with stamering tongue and closely all aâ—one My iourney so that â—olde there was among them aâ—l but one God graunt thou may which Nâ—so to hath bene denied playne That in thy country here maist bide and 〈◊〉 rest obtayne Guyd one I shall pursue although by seas and land I sought All tyâ—ed long my wery feete from furthâ—st country brought Oâ—rying then and passing forth quoth he this is the gâ—te Of Caesars Court and waâ— the name from Gods haue growen but late This is the vestale place that keepes dame Pallas and the fyre This is the Pallace small whereto King Numa did aspyre From hence on left syde looke quoth he Satuâ—nus house do stande Heere Romulus the lofty Rome to build did take in hand And wondring much forthwith in sight I glitering armour spyde And royall gates with heauenly bowers in perfect vew descryde Behold of Ioue the house quoth he which we may so deuine By royall Crowne of Oken tree that high thereon do shine His name once hard forthwith I sayd we haue deuided well Oâ— mighty Ioue it iâ— the house and he therein do dwell But â—o what cause the noble gates be hid with Lawrell greene Or why the tree with braunches spred hath made his beire vnseene For that this house of tryumphes brane deserues eternall fame Or els because Apollo great doth dearely loue the same Or that it sacred is or els all thinges of it must neede Or els of peace the tokens playne on totall earth do spreede For as the Lawrell greene do growe and neuer fades away So â—â—â—lesse honor here remaynes which yeldes to no decay The letters eke which written be about the statâ—ly Crowne The enâ—â—gnes be of his defence the Citizens haue founâ— One faythfull man except alone who dryuen full far away Doth lurk aloofe in furthest land oprest in deepe decay Wâ—o thougâ— he doâ—h confesse himselfe to haue deserued payne No wicked deede was cause thereof but error proued playne At royal place and mighty man O wretch for â—eare I shake And doleful woefull letters smal through tremblyng dread do quâ—ke Thou dost behold to sickly hew my paper pale do chaunge And dost regarde ech other foote â—o haâ—t with trembling straunge And at what tyme before the lordeâ— and rulers of the place In sight thou shal be set I pray thee pleade thy parentes case From thence with slender pawsâ—ng pace to â—ofty steps was brought And stately Temples built on hie of great Apollo sought Euen where on mighty pâ—â—â—ers playne the nobâ—â— picture stande Beâ—ides and the cruel syre with naked sword in hand And where the auncient writers learâ—de with learned hande did wryte Which readers all may there behold and there do stand in sight My brethren there I loked for saue tâ—ose I cold nat â—â—ide Wâ—oâ—e byrth the father did repent and so did wish in mynd And