is plast Where they consume the time at meate two houres large or more The noble men attending aye and waytyng them before Both Dukes and Earles with such lyke and Barons of hye prise Eche one in office dyuersly as best was to deuise This dinner done the armory beginneth for to sound Which to the land of Pelops and Hippodame doth redound There Orpheus scholers shewe their masters skyll and arte Then youthly knights betake themselues all things els sâ—c apart Tâ— daunce and rayse the dames or Nimphes almost in sight And so in pleasure they consume the tyme vntyll the night The king departs the hall hymselfe as fast as he can hye Which Myrtilus as prone therfore doeth suddenly espye And thus he sayes sir Pelops now sith that you doe obtayne This dame and eke the Realme by my industry and my payne I reade you for to kéepe your hest the time is present now The night drawes on therfore I pray remember wel your vowe But he these words doeth thunder out oh caytyffe borne to ill Oh myser most dishonour such woulost thou me bring vntil Oh traytor vilâ— dissembler thou thou shalt haue thy reward Because mine honor and thy faith thou diddest not regard For thy desart and vsage aye example thou shalt be To other that commit such crime what euer hap to me Now Pelops calles to other which he studeth best to trust And painteth out this hap to them of Myrtilus vniust Who being bound they throw on horse vnto the sea they ride There plunge they in this Venus child with this reproch that tide Lye there thou Lecher thou wouldst fayne asswage thy foule desire On her who is thy Leege on whom thou oughtst no shame require And yet because that by this help yaung Pelops gate the game In memorie of him he would that sea to be are his name This done they all returne againe vnto the woonted place But in the Citie they disguise themselues with hidden face And maske vnto the Court where that they spend much time in play Not knowen whothat they were vntill they threwe their maske away Which done the Quéene departs the hall each wight departs to rest King Pelops wishing nothing lesse is thereto likewyse prest Where they content both take their ease as both they dyd require And Pelops hath the onely wight whom most he did desire FINIS Epigrams and Sonets Of the most famous renowmed and thrice happie Realme of England OH fertile soyle thou lâ—ttle lande that Anglia hath to name Vnto whose bankes and lymits set Brutus of perfect fame With forced shield gan turne his arme vnto thée now I say These worde to thée in whom the waues of hony swéete doe stay In whom the floods of milke doe runne and 〈…〉 〈…〉 e doth flowe Like lâ—nâ— our Lord to his elect did promyse long agoe If euer thou hadst cause to laugh or ioyfull to be séene They clay thy hands and thanke the God t 〈…〉 ue thee such a Quéene W 〈…〉 ues doe ascend and mount vnto the very skyes And there doe moue the mighty Ioue to turne to thée hys eyes With louely hand to poure on thée the seedes of this his grace And plentie causeth of all things to abound in euery place Within thy compasse cut thou canst not truely witnes this Before her dayes that like in thée there was such cause of blisse Nor aye there is none other cause by wit which thou canst finde That mooued God to throw on thée such plenty thus assignde But her before her dayes in bookes full playne its to be séene What war what strife and slaughter great in thée at once hath béene What scarcitie with thée there was what penury each thing For want of grayne the lack of foode dyd to thy bowels bring The moued Gods by some thy fault what euer sinne it were Did thée inforce the horror huge and wrack of warre to beare By reason when the people faynt and tyred could not toyle To tyll this land wherby almost it was vnfertile soyle But now sith none there is in sight oh thanke thy God therefore And wish her life that is the cause of this thy perfect store Who here in presence prayeth plain vnto the Lord aboue At whose request and whose behalfe he poures on thée such loue Yet thinke not litle Realme that it is for thine owne assent Thy sinne is sore it is for her or els thou mightst be shenâ— Her vertues shine as bright as stars as cléere as Phebus chéefe The port of hir doth stayne the moon a Phenix by her life For chastity Lucretia ne could that Romish dame Aspire to her though while she liued she had the only same Let prudent Pallas pause a space and then for to eschue Let â—lio muse to paint the gifts which Ioue doth her endue Who worthy is to rule and raigne besides her kingdomes thrée Ouer the globe which we account all Chaos for to be What shuld I say what shal I write but land the royall race Of her who by her passing port staynes Iunoâ—s very face Elizabeth whose name compact doth stand of letters nine The effect thereof and meaning true in fewe words to define She loues the Muses nine she leues their wisdome passinglie She loues the sugred skil she loues their lawes assuredly Let ech true subiect on his knée with thankful heart stil pray For to preserue this noble Quéene in vertues lore alway The queene of England realme also of France and Ireland Whom God protect from all annoy by his most mighty hand And graunt her subiects her to serue inheart with one accord While she doth raigne here ouer vs as long as please the Lord. And when that Atropos shal cut and shred her webbe in twaine In skyes with him to ioy a place for euer to remayne The Author being minded to write but laâ— king an argument made this following thinking wherof he were best to write VVHen Phebus in the azure Skye Gan mount with horses tracyng hye Then was my mynd bent to endite Some pretty toy with pen to write Of quyls I had in place good store With inke and paper méete therfore But arguments I wanted aye That might conduct on the way At length when zelous study had Pretence to write of good or bad As aye my mind dyd geue me skill It selfe reprooued mine owne wil. I wil of kings goe tel the raigne How they in throne doe hie remayne That doth sur passe my base estate Some other thing Ile imitate Ile write of priestes but with those It is mad medling in a glose Of good men I wil somewhat shewe But fewe such on earth I know Then wil I wryte of such therfore As doe geue almes vnto the poore It is rare vsed in each place Ergo I wil omyt that case Of fasting something Ile declare But let that goe it is so rare Ile write of rich mens huge destre The more they haue more they require But shal I talke
like so rare enforst the father olde With zealous care his daghter and her state for to behold And to prouide that damage small hereafter should annoy The tender corps by any meanes of thys his only ioy For which intent he did retayne with him in Court alwayes A number séene in Magike arte and prone for such assayes Which by their learned skil forshew vnto the king and his Those things that long shal after fal of euil hap or blisse Which men Omaus king gan will in presence for to come Which do approch their dutie eke with bended knée soone downe Do listen then to heare their charge to whom the king gan say My tryed friends ye learded péeres in whom my trust doth stay As heretofore ye faithfull haue been vnto me and mine In all aspects and great affayres so now your eares encline You all do know our daughter dear our Hippodame milde Who séemeth now in youthly yéeres a most vertuous childe And shunneth yet each sinfull lore as farre as I can know Whereby to me no little ioy through her I say doth grow Yet doubting now dame Fortunes wheele which whirieth very strange I aske your ayde for to preuent and stop a sodeyne change For Fortune frayle not surely stayes her steppes still in one place But turneth as the winde whereby I stay in doubtfull case What if that she should be infect with Venus wanton sport Or other like or if that shée should any ill report That may vnwished come to passe I silie wight in woe Might wail the case of this my child her selfe which noyeth so For youth is fraile and tendeth not sometimes to sage aduise And shunneth that which they perceiue Those men which do seem wise For to embrace for they whom that olde Senex staffe hath smite In sadnes not in youthly pranks doe studie and delite But youth doth tread the path to sinâ—… and earst t'obtaine that still Which they perceiue doth please the flesh hap either good or ill And you doe know there nothing is that fraile flesh pleaseth more Than that which doth depend on vice wereof there raigneth store And I remember Venus sonne who with his shaft and bowe Doth often peérce the harts of those who like pangues did ne know Alas if that should light on her as likely sure it is Vnwares to me then might I say adue my ioy and blisse For that blind boy doth cast his dart not on the meanest fort As soone as on those stately Peéres that places haue in Court. For why they driue their time in ease and idly spend the day They féede on dayntie dishes race and rest on downe for aye There is no pleasure but they taste as may content the hart Which are the causes that he doeth so soone throwe them his dart For if thou banish idlenes thou breakest then the bands Which Cupid doth with flight deuise to tangle both thy hands If she should chaunce to fix hir mind in loue with one that is Inferior in degreé to her which match were farre amisse I should be loath therfore my frends of this her destinie I wil that ye ensearch foorthwith and it reueale to me To this intent I may prouide for to preuent the same If it should happen for to be impayring to her fame Yet willingly I would that she should ioyne with one in loue As meete is in degreé which doeth from him all vice remoue For this I know the time will be if that her yeres endure Néeds she must knit her selfe to one in wedlock ioy most pure Wherfore repaire to th'used place and with our Gods assent As touching Hippodamia to know their high intent And take the fairest goate that may within this towne be found Him offer vp in sacrifice to them whose laude doeth sound Aboue the starres who rule the globe who sitte aboue the starry skye And know such things as earst were pa 〈…〉 and those to come perdy Then they all on their bowed knées vnto the earth doe-fall And one of them doth answere then and thus in name of all O king if that we would not graunt now to thy hest and thée Vnworthy we were of our 〈◊〉 true subiects ne were we If that by Magike are we may satisfie thée in this We are right glad that by the same we thée asferre such blisse And now there doth remain no more but th'while to loue I pray To further that our enterprize which fortune doth assay This Onomaus king was of and held the Payn 〈…〉 law He knâ—w not then the huing God ne kept himselfe in awe Wherefore he gan 〈…〉 a place as best he had in thought Where hée and earst his subiects moe to fayned Gods they sought Herein were aulters many store where when in smart they fall They offer vp their Sacrifice and to their Gods they call The cause is say they for why they offer vp such gift And offerings brent for Sacrifice is for a proper shift For this they thought sith that so farre of distance were the skies Their voice might scarce be heard or els so high as skies arise Yet often they doe prayers houle vnto their gods aboue To this intent when loud they crie they might by chaunce haue loue And eke on aulters them to moue with burned flesh intend The smoke whereof in litle while might vnto them ascend And thus although no voice might be so high as skies inclinde Yet by the incense thereof they might vnderstand their minde For smoake they say goes vpward still and riseth with the winde These wisemen to the temple goe with hast for to fulfill The hest of Onomaus king and search for good and ill They bring with them the kyd his death which resteth to receiue And one of them with p 〈…〉 recing knife doeth force him life to leaue And wringing out the blood also depriuing him his skyn They prayers say which they suppose doeth cause the Gods to blinne Then kindle they the fire and throw the Goate into the same For to consume to ashes aye by violence of flame They mark the diuers colours that in waste doe flée therehence The raynbow hue to déeme thereby of Gods the high pretence Some on Saturnus call and some on Iupiter doe crye Some on Mars and some on Sol. yea some on Mercurie Some on Venus some to Luna make their vocation No god there was but him they had in appellation As diuersly their mindes were sette so diuersly they cal Eche one vnto his god to proue which happyest would befall So they consume the tyme vntyll the fleshe is almoste spente Then déeme they what shall happen as they thinke is Ioues entent And other gods then pray they one whiche oldest was of all To shew them first what he did thinke shoulde afterwarde befall But he with pause doth stay as though some doubt he did perceyue His rolling eyes caste vp and musing he doth leaue And said my fréendes and fellowes deare shall I nowe
famine doth forsake I reade also how Titius heart to flying foule is praye And Danaus daughters fill in vaine their watry vessels aye And all these féele such pangues and paynes for some their iust desert But I as giltles now abide it for to péerce my heart If for desert I felt the same lesse gréefe it were to me But once being come t'expulse the same I finde no remedy Thus finishe he hys wayling stile commaunded earst with speede The Southsayers for to auoyde which willingly for dreade Consent misdoubting much that he in fury fond some fact To them would doe whereby their gréese they should for nought exact Omaus then be takes hunselfe and goes in couert wise To garden plot where by him selfe he wayles with watty eyes There doubts he what were best to doe what remedy to finde What wile for to coyne out that might deceiue fortune vnkind At last he thinks to slea and dyd his daughter of her life For so much as she was the spring wherehence doeth flowe his gréefe And better it to be that she in Charons boat should wâ—â—d Then he who being dead 〈…〉 his destinie to end For sith that Ioue appoynted hath this destinie to take Effect when euer that she did her sole estate forsake If she were 〈…〉 ne before that time by no meanes he can sée Through her desert this hap to pas then no such hap to be And so himselfe quyt for to leaue then stayeth be a while At last he doeth reuoke those words and them from mynd exile And poureth out this playnt agayne ah myser did I say That I with baysterous hand should pierce and Hippodame slay I doe recant those words againe in no wise it may be She is mine only child which by my wife was left to me Shal I embrue my hands with blood or that doe in my rage Which I did neuer yet commit shall I thus stayne mine age No no and more then that she is my only childe Then she once dead Archadia hath fewe the crowne to wielde If I were dead also therefore Ile search some witty wile Wherby I may the churlish snares of dame fortune beguile And from these parched pinching paynes my selfe for to beguile And therby for to faue her life for if that she should dye I glad woulde be my selfe to wende with hir then by and by And what that I did speake before I vtterly denye In arbour he consumes the tyme at length he doth arise As Musa puts into his minde a shyfte he can deuise Which he thinkes best this is the same he myndeth to ordeyne A prize to runne with chariots swifte in fielde vppon the playne And who so findes the chaunce the swyftest pace to trace And vanquished the king thereby for to departe the place Shall wedde this dame and when the lyfe of this king is in hande T' inioy Arcadie realme and earst the king therof to stand But on the other side if that Omaus geues the foyle The vanquished to lose their lyues for ventring in the broyle Thus he decréed in minde thereby if happie that hée be To winne the prize if contrarie his owne death for tosée And now when that he doth perceiue he found no better way He hyes him into Pallace straight to publish this for aye And then in déede he calleth in one which most méeâ—e he found For such assayes whom he can will with trumpe in hand to sound In euery place within the Realme the Cities of the land Proclayming to each wight these words or lyke which next doe stande Here foloweth the Proclamation IF there be any wyght that myndes to trye By course of charets on the field shplayue And eke before the route of chyualry VVorthy seeme to haue reward for payne It stayes the wyll of O 〈…〉 grace That they approch within these thyrty dayes Vnto the Court where they shall finde in place Hymselfe sole prest to try in these assayes Gaynst commers all and who so vanquisht is On fyeld by him shall soone tâ— enloâ—e hys lyfe But who so ouer runnes the king with blisse Shall espouse Hippâ—damiâ— to hys wyfe And furthermore the Realme for to enioy After the death of One mauâ— king To hym without disturbance or anoy Of any man and to hys chyldren after hym Tubicen goes and passeth fro he sounds in euery place The newes and at the last returnes and is one in ioyous case Because that this his toyle and tournes is so past The commons muse full fast on this and are with feare agast Not knowing what the cause shoulde beé of this so sudden change But for the most part they impute this hap to fortune strange And as the vulgar people must the nobles ioy againe For ech of them doth thinke by fight this Lady to obtaine Then might you sée the knight concurre on heapes to haue a sight Of Hippodam vnto the court t'encourage them to fight And they who that vile dastard hearts before time did possesse In hope to winne this Ladie bright them now to runne doe presse So much the forme of women doth enforce men for to doe Like as they neuer did before ne like againe would so Vnlesse it were their enterprise as authors olde dyd shewe And they that learned are indeéde the very same doe know The lusty gallants of the Court that proper are and tall Do mynd to venter now themselues and hazard life and all The choosing is of coursers braue that trymly treads the way And wel is he that hath the best the cheefe to prooue that day There trim they vp the charets light which put in redynesse Ech thing that they shal neéd in field themselues they sée to dresse The king also himselfe his horse prouided he doth sée His charets al which lightest and most meéte were thought to be In these affayres they doe consume and spend the thirty dayes Ordeyning and ech one hymselfe to trye in these assayes Thus all things set in order due as best were to deuise Among the troupe of chyuallers one Pelops doth arise And vewing aye the séemly port of Hippodame bright He mynds to try himselfe to wynne her if he may in fight There was that time one Myrtilus of fayned faith a wight Who ruled the charet of the king and draue the horses right To hym doth Pelops think to wend there some meane to deuise Wherby he may preuent the king and bleare the lookers eyes And thinks with gelt to ouercome this mysers féeble minde Or by some other way he cares not what so he may finde The meane to be Archadian king wherby he should enioy This dame and evry thing he would without let or anoy And searching aye the Pallace large to finde this Myrtilus He commeth to his chamber where at length sayes to him thus My frend thou knowest that in field the combat we shall see And veutrous wights to bear the fame amongst the chyualry And as I one doe minde with force to shew
forced feare would neuer enterpryse To taste of Venus sports as things ne to be séene with eyes Where as perhaps as well appeard you willyng were thereto But that a doubt came in the wynde that forst a freénd a foe This token you remember well if that you list to yeéld She tooke a blow below the eare at Mooregate by the field To play at cardes and tables both to driue the tyme away And other games you coulde deuise as time serude day by day An hundred toyes were to be found that might vs merrie make Then had the Moone cleane lost hyr forme and was ne like a cake I was thy darling then also I dyd possesse thy hart Eche word that stubbornly was cast dyd cause eche other smart Why now what is the cause me tell that this so vile disdayne Should theé enforce ne to regarde him that for theé bydes payne What was the cause that when you met me with your fellowes mo And troupe of dames in open stréete you would so slyly go And looke awry as though not méete I were to sée your face Such fréends as we are aye before this was a chaunged case But go thy way to choose thy féere euen where it likes theé best Ile trouble theé from hence no more ne theé disturbe of rest But as long as by sight I know a woman from a shéepe For thy sake I will then bewart and looke before I leape Of Vnthrifts THose men whose mindes are wolly bent and set on pleasure vayne Do take no care to get the thrift that brings incessant gayne Of Whoredome AS aye amongst th'vntamed beastes that range amid the wood Thrre is no greater raue nor than the Wolfe of cruell moode And as the Puttoke doth surpasse eche winged foule perdy By egernesse to skirre hir pray once séene with greedy eye So aye excelles this monstrous vice of whoredome by hir kinde Eche other vice stupendious by Sathan left behinde Like will to like EVen as good men reioyce alway With good men for to be In companie to ioy with them so like it is to sée Ill men reioyce with like to haue their companie alwaies The good with like the ill with ill do ioyne in all assayes Of vnwittie spending ME think such wights small wit in head retaine Which do consume spend that worldly gaine Which they haue got with swet of browe and payne no cause therefore Such treasure theÌ„ as they for long haue soght In litle tyme for to consume to nought Such spendyng ay not taking any thought makes rich men poore Perit quicquid feceris ingrato AMongst such déeds as when that they are done Inforce a man for to repent therefore This one thing chéefe remaines for ech to shun Though there abouÌ„d by knowlege many more What euer thing thou doest with zelous mind T'a churlish wight y t adage shewes such sense Its lost he will not leaue his doggish kinde Ne neuer meane the same to recompence The propertie of Reprobates BY kinde they that are lewde in déede doe ioy in heart alway When as the good misfortune find and fall into decay A good man PErforce a perfect wight in déede to be he beares the fame Which no man harmes ne doth delight his neyghbour for to blame Then it insewes if he be good we should him follow still Sith we are taught to loue the good and to abhorre the ill And if that vertue ought to be imbrast of euery wight Then ought we all embrace that man that vertuous is and right A perfect preseruatiue for health FOr keeping of a man in health there is no better way Than for to eate and drinke by meane one meane to kéepe alway And ne surpasse or change that meane at one time more or lesse For measure brings a treasure tried in pleasure or distresse A stupendious desire SOme men there are that do imploy and fix their gréedy mynde To gather riches to themselues to priuate gayne inclynde And though they find no end of wealth yet more they do desire And kindle vp vpon their heads a flashing flaine of fire Olde men AL liuing wyghts whom that old Senex staffe hath smit Denieth youthfull slouthfulnesse and otherwise delite Diuersitie of remembrance VVE all are wont as well is knowne to prynt and beare in mynde A lesson touching naughtinesse to which vice is inclinde More sooner than a godly phrase so great diuersicie Of good and yll we alwayes finde fixt in our memory The deceites of the Foxe FOr to haue learnde the Foxes wiles and rightly vnderstand Were readiest meane them to preuent before they come to hand Of a womans hatred THe anger of a shrew is aye more gréeuous to some wight Then is the sting of serpent strong that bringeth mickle spite Of boasting and bragging HE that doth litle thing performe yet bragges at euery house May be compared to an hill that once brought forth a Mouse A signe of anger IF that he bends the brâ—wes in frowning wyse to lowre We say that he then angry is or hath an angry showre The sudden falling into danger NO wight there is that steppeth forth or traceth on the ball That can from daunger him exempt so soone as in it fall The pitie of Dormice OF pitie this is a signe And cond 〈…〉 e aye for to be knowne Howe that yong Oormice alway séede Their syers that in age are growne And when that they ne able are To trauayle for their pray The yong ones yet the same will get And bryng to rest alway Of imdietie of children VVHo can deny but vertue all is vanisht out of place When as the children ne obey the fathers in no case The sinnes of Kings VVHen euer as the king doth sinne and iustly loue therefore Doth vengeance giue to the intent that he should sinne no more We alwayes sée the plague to light on commons many a one As well as on the wight that sinde and forceth them to grone Of eating of egges AT meate there met both he and she among those dishes rare That there were set not daintie though came egges t'augment the fare Quoth she if that you eate this egge the prouerbe doth ensue Thrée shames therewith incontinent shall happen vnto you But he applying this egge not printing that in minde There fell a drop thers one quoth she the other be behinde With that he clapt the egge into his mouth the shelles and all Theres two quothshe watcht for the third till that it doth befall To him that was angrie because the Cuckow did sing before his doore FRend rage not with the Cuckow though he sings before thy doore And Cuckow cry ne chaunging aye the tune he sang before He cryes not Cuckold though much like thy wife do thou not blame For though thou thinkest he Cuckold cryes perhaps it is not thy name Of Sugar and Salt SVgar and Salt begyn with like letter though sugar be good yet salt is better This sugar is swéete