THE CVCKOW At etiam cubat cuculus surge amator i domum RICHARDVS NICCOLS in Artibus Bac. Oxon. Aulae Mag. AT LONDON Printed by F. K. and are to be sold by W. C. 1607. TO HIS WORSHIPFVL GOOD FRIEND MASTER THOMAS WROTH an affecter and fauourer of the Muses THis Cuckowes poem let me thus excuse To you deare friend the Patron of my verse Though some blind night-born Momus it abuse As but a iest vnworthy to reherse Yet who such iests as this shall idly blame Shall for their meede merit a Cuckowes name I speake not this but that in future time When as my wit with riper fruit shall grow My Muse may speake to thee in sweeter ryme And for thy worth some grauer poem show Meane time accept of what I heere do bring Though Cuckow-like my Muse doth harshly sing Yours at commaund R. NICCOLLS TO THE READER I Know that the nature of our Cuckow is a thing so well knowne that I neede not despaire of any mans knowledge herein and thereâ—…ore for me especially in these parts where it is so well knowne to present only a Cuckow were to bring an Owle to Athens a bird better knowne there then a Cuckow Wherefore gentle Reader leaâ—…ing the literall exposition to him that is better skild in the nature of a Cuckow then my selfe I remit the cause of my affect in this subiect to thy deeper consideration To the prodigall want-wits of our age that are either too curious to contemne al or too free to affect all let them know that I neither despaire at the furious frownes of the one neither relie vpon the fawning fancie of the other only I submit my selfe to the censure of him that is more then a meere reader to whom I do impart part of my poore poeticall skill vpon which I haue bestowed some idle houres idle I call them not in disgrace of so famous a skill but to giue the world notice that I make it not the chiefe part of my profession but rather place it amongst those things of accomplement required in a scholar or gentleman which if gentle Reader thou shalt gently accept my new borne Muse that now sings harsh and hoarse in the shape of a Cuckow may by thy incouragement hereafter sing to thee in a more pleasing note And so wishing that her obscuritie and vnacquaintance with thee bee not the barre of her good intertainment in thy conceit as being but a stranger yet as friend I bid thee Farewell THE CVCKOW WHen Perseus bride that starre of heauen had fled The Dragons paw by helpe of Gorgons head And on the sea-gods golden-edged brim Her gold-out-glistring lockes began to trim Then did the lustie Ram with horned crest Rouse vp Europas grim-curl'd-headed beast Who loudly bellowing did chase away The tedious night and call'd backe cheerefull day For then Hyperions son the daies bright king In pompe did court the Ladie of the spring And she againe in all her rich aray Did wanton with him in lasciuious play Vntill her wombe with loues sweet fruit did grow The sweetest fruit that wombe did euer show For it brought forth the worlds admired birth The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Flora 〈◊〉 fairest child on earth Who in short time did grow so great in fame For needle worke that neuer any dame Although her cuâ—…ing were exceeding rare With faire 〈◊〉 Floraes skill might make compare To show the which the world she set on wing Of sweet delight to welcome in the spring The mountaine tops she clad in coate of greene And spotted them with gold as they had been Starrie Olympi and the vales below She deckt with daintier worke then art can show Vpon the ground mantled in verdent hew Out of her fruitfull lap each day she threw The choicest flowers that any curious eye In natures garden euer did espie The loftie trees whose leauie lockes did shake And with the wind did daliance seeme to make Shee with sweet breathing blossomes did adorne That seem'd to laugh the winter past to scorne Who when mild Zephirus did gently blow Delightfull odors round about did throw While ioyous birds beneath the leauie shade With pleasant singing sweet respondence made vnto the murmuring streames that seem'd to play With siluer shels that in their bosom lay Thus with delight did Flora decke each thing To welcome in her mother ioyfull spring Who had not long triumph'd in this our clime Before the tidings of her ioyous prime Were spread abroad which when those birds that shrunke Into the wooden walles of hollow trunck For truth did heare abroad they boldly came To welcome Lady Ver that louely dame Mong'st whom two chiefe there were Dan Cuckow hight In whom god Vulcans loue tooke most delight The other that sweet singer Philomel Or Casta hight whom Phoebe loued well These two were chiefe that in contention stood Amongst the pleasant singers of the wood To be chiefe carroler and lead the ring Of all the rest to welcome in the spring Dan Cuckow was a bird hatcht in that houre When Mars did sport in Cythereas bowre Whereby the note which his hoarse voice doth beare Is harsh and fatall to the wedded eare But little Philomela farre more blest Was foster'd in faire Phoebes owne deare brest Whom she no more the Nightingale did name But to consort her nature to the same Shee call'd her Casta word of much import And made her chiefe of birds in their consort Betwixt Dan Cuckow and this little bird Th'approach of spring a great contention stird Who should be deem'd the chiefe of birds to bring The happie tidings of th' approaching spring For Philomel once in a pearlie morne When heauen with sun-bright lookes did earth adorne Hearing each bird record her curious lay Vnto the wood with speed did take her way Where shee did presse into the thickest throng And did so sweetly in delicious song Chaunt out aloude her welcome to the spring That all the birds did cease to heare her sing But as she sate admir'd of euery one Redoubling quauers in diuision And sweetly warbling out that chaste set song Which Phoebe taught to her when shee was young Dan Cuckow came and from his greedie throate breathing out ditties of an vnchast note As wroth that other birds should seeke to make Her mistres of the quier thus boldly spake Thou wretch said he what high aspiring spirit Doth harbor in thy brest what is thy merit That thou should'st be chiefe carroler to sing Amongst vs all to welcome in the spring Is not my dame the goddesse of delight And Queene of Loue whose altars are bedight With broad blowne blossomes of the blooming spring Of budding youth then cease and let mee sing For I of birds am chiefest in her sight And in my ditties she takes most delight Then cease thou fondling cease and let me sing A pleasing welcome to the wanton spring This said he chaunted out his wonted lay Which did in woods all wedded birds affray But little Casta
With true consort sweet worke of natures skill Who to the bower of blisse did take their way To hâ—…are the iarre decided that same day Which the approach of spring did late excite Beâ—…wixt Dan Cuckow and his opposite The place in which this matter should be tride Was in a greene pailde round on euery side In which was pight a stately cannopiâ—… For that great 〈◊〉 and her companie Many a 〈◊〉 Nymph of great estate That should that day Dan Cuckowes cause debate Who being pearchâ—… aloft in open sight Vpon a 〈◊〉 braunch had well ydight And deckt his plumes to make a pleasant show When he should pleade his cause against his foe Who on the other side her selfe did place In hope Dan Cuckow foulely to disgrace Not doubting but those Nymphes for Phoebes sake In this so iusta cause her part would take The time being come loe like as when Ioues bride Heauens Iuory fingered queene in pompe doth ride To heauens high court aboue the Planets seauen To sit in counsell with the gods of heauen Euen so forth comes that faire renowmed dame Chiefest of all the bower of blisse that came To iudge the controuersie that befell Betwixt Dan Cuckow and faire Philomel Shee was a Ladiâ—… gaudie in attire And to content th'affect of her desire Th'earthes golden bowels often wounded were And th' Indian slaue with steele did often teare The hard rockes rubie ribs in hope to find Treasure to pleasure her disdainfull mind Proudly she pas'd it with a princely gate As earth had been too meane for her estate Looking to heauen with her disdainâ—…ull eies For humble obiect she did still dispise Yet was her birth but meane and her esteeme Respectiuely compaâ—…'d but base did seeme Loosely she was aray'd in wanton weed Which wanderâ—…s eies did with inticement feed For she was clad in robe of tissue thinne Through which so brim appear'd her snowie skin That it did seeme to those that did it see No whit obscur'd but farre more white to bee Her Iuorie brests did euer open lie To readie spoile of gazers greedie eie And both her lillie paps were bare to winne Her louers melting heart to wanton sinne Her name the which was Meehafasto hight Her double nature did expresse aright With her there hither came a goodly crew Of louely Nymphes of seeming Angels hue Featur'd each where in bodies liâ—…eament As if they late had left the firmament Or as if heauens diuine triplicitie Out of some fift vnknowne simplicitie For 〈◊〉 complexions hue had fram'd some mixture Passing 〈◊〉 homely gift of common nature But piâ—…ie 't was such angell-seeming creatures With vlcerous minds deform'd such heauenly features For they were wanton full of loose desire And in their heart did nourish lustfull fire With glauncing lookes like summers euening lights They could allure the rash beholders sights And Heliotropon-like with sun-like skill Could cause soft hearts to turne vnto their will When they list speake their words like to a lake Breaking through rocks of rubie seem'd to make Celestiall musike with their pleasing sound Amongst the siluer pearles that stood around With which they Syren-like could often moue Modest Hypolitus to wanton loue They all acoutered were in sundrie fashion Seeming t' haue been all of a seuerall nation Some in the antique Roman Lords attire Did shape themselues as seeming to aspire Some captaines place or as if they had been Symiramis that manlike monster queene In Persian loose aray some did delight Or rather disaray so loosely dight In the french doublet some againe did iâ—…t wanting but slops to make a man compleat Some on their heads did beare the fatall signe Which of fooles future fortune did diuine Others againe Morisko caps did weare Maid-marrian-like with brooches in each eare And Indian-like did paint inch thicke in view Though natures red and white were Angels hew Thus with their fashions strange varietie They did bewray their minds inormitie For things externall sought with strong affect Internall thoughts both good and bad detect Which when the little Casta did behold Poore bird her fearefull heart did wax stone cold But now too late shee did repent that shee Had made them iudges of her cause to bee For thither now they were alreadie come According to their minds to giue their doome Where heapes of people thronging in the way Did earlie waite for them by breake of day To know what bird should beare away the bell The bastard Cuckow or faire Philomel The iudges being set vp straight did stand The crier of the court who did command High with shrill voice and great authoritie A generall silence through the companie Which done forth stept the little Casta hight Who being pearcht aloft in open sight After obeysance to those damsels made That were as iudges set thus boldly said Fairest of faire who from the ioyous prime Of your great birth vntill this very time Haue trained been in this celestiall place This bower of blisse in vertue and in grace For vertues sake vouchsafe with silent pause To heare poore Philomela plead her cause What once I haue been now I need not tell Nor what I am I know yee know it well Yee know that once when in great Athens towne My Sire good king Pandion wore the crowne A Ladie then I was as now yee bee And daughter to a king till wo is mee The Thracian king whose lust-burnt thoughts did flame And burne in foule desire did worke my shame In Thracian woods O euer be forgot The place in which mine honor he did blot In Thracian woods I say the tyrant fell Vnto his will did force poore Philomel And lest his wicked acte I should desâ—…rie The cruell edged steele he did applie Vnto my tongue and with most bitter smart Did rob me of the Echo of my heart All this and more then this yee all do know So common is poore Philomelaes woe Yee know likewise how in auengement fell My furious sister Progne did compell The lustfull Tereus in a fatall feast To swallow downe into his lust-burnt brest His owne deare sonne his Itis that sweet youth Whose death breeds in my heart eternall ruth For which when as the tyrant did decree With wrathfull sword to wreake reuenge on me Heauen pittie tooke and gaue to me this shape By which his fell intent I did escape And as an exile from all mens abode I since haue liued in the desert wood Where sitting once on humble thorne alone And in my wofull diâ—…ties making mone For my old Sire Pandion that good King Whose timelesse death my sad mischance did bring Loâ—… That great Huntresse of renowmed fame The Ladie Phoebe following the game In the wild wood hath silent stood in pittie To heare the sad tunes of my dolefull 〈◊〉 And being moâ—…'d with deepe remorse of mind That fates had been so 〈◊〉 and vnkâ—…d 'Gainst me poore wretch she did vouâ—…hsafe to show Compassion towards me in my bitter woe While in these woods
sad Philomel no answere made But making doubt of that which Redbrest said Sometimes she thought it best to liue content In th'hollow rock all danger to preuent But when proud Boreas blasts her heart did daunt She thought it best to flie to Trynobant Thus diuers doubts did in her thoughts arise Nor what was best to do could she deuise Vntill her neighbours Wren and Titmouse came Who with perswasiue speech her mind did frame To Trynobant with them along to go Vnto the faire Nymphes there her cause to show To trie if they for Castaes sake would chase The vnchaste Cuckow from their dwelling place Thus by perswasion of those prettie birds The gentle Philomela soone accords To go with them though as it came to passe The sequell prou'd their labour fruitlesse was For in their iourney loe as they did flee Taking their couert slight from tree to tree Not daring to be seene in open skie About great Trynobant they did espie The swift-wing'd swallow making her strong flight Sister to Philomela Progne hight To whom right glad they tooke their ready way Each one recording her delighâ—…some lay Which did so loudly echo in the ayre That Progne heard it as they came from farre And drawing nie to know what it might be Staying her swift strong flight loe she did see Her sister Philomel with other birds To whom with wonderment she spake these words O heauens what chaunce is this what see I heere Pandions Philomel my sister deare Alas what sad mishap is now befell That you haue left the place where you did dwell Great perill which I wot you little know In comming hither you do vndergoe Sister said Philomel no great mischaunce Hath happened vnto me nor ignorance Of perill in the way hath made me bold But forc'd by stormie winters bitter cold My friends and I haue lately left our home And for reliefe to Trynobant aâ—…e come Where you do liue in chiefe felicitie Free from the thrall of winters tyrannie Alas good sister Progne did replie Let not that vaine opinion in your eie Go currant which the idiot multitude Out of blind ignorance doth still conclude That meane estate is greatest miserie And high esteeme the chiefe felicitie For high or low rich are not rich indeed And great states still on discontent do feed What dreadfull danger dogs him at the heele That proudly vaunts on top of Fortunes wheele What daunting dread his Stealing steps attend Whose climing thoughts do ayme at honors end Who feares to fall but he that sits on high Or feeles th' infection of an enuious eie For enuy euermore her poison spits At those that most in fortunes fauour sits The heauie care that wounds the mind with woe Seldome forsakes the giddie feet that goe Where treades the steps of high authoritie So fleeting is this earthes felicitie For wauering chaunce about him still doth flie That proudly seekes to build his hopes on high Of which a president I well may bee Vnto you all such is my chaunce you see For fate and nature hauing both decreed That I in loftie tops of towers should breed While you my happie sister Philomel Should in the woods and forrests safely dwell About the bower of blisse once did not I A long time safely build my bowers on high Till by my foes they all were ouerthrowne And young ones slaine which I shall euer mone For those false Nymphes which sentence gaue 'gainst thee On proud Dan Cuckowes side did all agree Because beneath the windowes of their towers My custome was to build my secret bowers That I for euer should be chased thence To seeke my fortunes though for no offence For loe no crime 'gainst me they could obiect But that because they said I did detect Their chamber sports and truth to say mine eye Such obscene sports did oft times there espie That very shame bids me forbeare to tell The nuptiall band-breake play that there befell Wherfore from thence long since they did me chase Since when I liued haue in this same place Whereas you say I build my lowly bowers Safe from the threates of winters stormie showers Yet in such feare of those that vse to feed On beauties spoile about whose bowers I breed That would my fate had been to liue alone In forrests wide though winter made me mone She hauing said this answere Redbrest made Certes dame Progne you haue wisely said For better 't is to liue we all agree In meane estate content from danger free Then in the blind worlds deem'd felicitie In trouble care and minds perplexitie But we to Trynobant not only come For that we grieue at winters blasts at home But seeing many a bright cheek'd gentle dame Dwels heere in Trynobant we hither came That so thy sister Philomel might trie If they for loue to honor'd chastitie Would driue Dan Cuckow from this place with shame And raise againe sad Castaes dying name To this thus Progne did returne replie Alas good Redbrest thy fraile shallow eie Nought but th' externall species doth behold Deeming all things that glâ—…ster perfect gold Each winter when thou â—…ither dost repaire Our Nymphes being spreeâ—…ly vigorous and faire Thou deem'st their minds to be as wise and wittie As in proportion they be â—…aire and prettie But thou art blind for do but marke with me Their witlesse actions and thou soone shalt see Their faire but foule their wit but wanton will Their wisedomes quintessence loues idle skill For heere in Trynobant with their consent Dan Cuckow sings his layes with meriment Venus no more on Ida hilles is seene In Paphos temples nor Cytheron greene But long ago hath bid them all farewell Heere in great Trynobant with vs to dwell For heere the lustie Queene of loue adornes The poore Cerâ—…stes with the welked hornes Here the Propoetides deuoid of sense Those women pictures of true impudence By the great power of loues luxurious Queene Are turn'd to stones women no more are seene For which Pigmalion leads a single life And feares strange things not daring weda wife She 〈◊〉 spoken all the other birds Long silâ—…nt stood amaz'd at those her words Till I it mouse spake quoth she what you do tell Is verie â—…range and we perceiue right well That gentle Casta here shall find small 〈◊〉 Seeing such strange Nymphes do dâ—…ll in this same place But what doth cause them with such impudence In spite of modesties pure excellence So much degenerate from heauenly kind Sure pinching want doth much oppresse the minde Or elâ—…e with Danae for loue of gâ—…ld They kindly suffer friends to be too bold No certes Titmouse Progne did repliâ—… Nor loue of gold nor pinching penurie But plentie pleasure ease and idlenesse Is cause of their deare deem'd voluptuousnes Whereby they oft times rather giue then take The golden gifts that minds immodest make Heere need not loue come take a sleepelesse nap With golden showers in Danaes louely lap For heere our lustie Danaes if he want