whom no like could then be found by force and deadly might Of this my dart in Babilon sore wounded downe did fall What should I here the Latine Lordes and Mars his neueweâ— call To minde the Lordes of all the earth whose valeant vertue plaine Did ioyne theyr rule to Ocean seas and fame with starres to raine Could I not when me list all these â—slaine to hel throw downe Depriude theyr hands of scepâ—ors â—â—ouâ— theyr heades of regall crowne Of wordes their mouthes of sight theyr eyes of mouing members all And eke their bodies thus destroyde in filthy graue let fall Me feares the Ind the Arabian the more the Scithian fel All they whom Asy and Europe kepes in Affricke all that dwel Both kinde and place are one to me nor times obserue I than Nor maners way nor yeares esteame the good and euil man The wise the foolish dolt shall die the little sucking Will The yong and old the fayre and foule with reason like I kil And he that yonder I do se approching to my land When as his destenies permit shall feale my deadly hand These fearful words with hellish mouth this churlish thief out brayed Wherwith my senses all did fayl and I remaind affrayd My bloud therwith forsoke the vaines and left the outward part And shrouded close within my brest to succour there my heart But chiefely when this fearefull fiende had sent the plagues of Hell To them that ranged on the earth amid the croude to dwell Which knew not of that mischief great then forth abrode they fly And here and there they catche and take eche one they can come by Then bodies sicke on grounde are laide and deepe for paine they grone And many there with Sythe in hande doth death dispatch alone And passing forth she did reserue till slaughter next begunne The liues of all whom Lachesis not yet had fully spunne Thus trembling all my ioints therwith and all amased then My selfe vnto gan saye these wordes O cares O vowes of men O labours vaine deceiuing hope O seeting ioyes of minde O time that euermore dost chaunge O fading humaine kinde How vayne and how vncertayne is thys transitory life How subiect vnto euery harme of thousand euils rife Which outward shewes a pleasant face both swete and framed wel But inward O what gall what griefe what poyson there doth dwel What are we wretches here but dust with winde and rayne vpcast And like the brittle breaking glasse and shaddowes fading fast Much like to Roses that doe shewe a gorgeous gaudy face When funne doth rise when the night apears do lose their grace To day wyth myrth aliue and foote to wormes wythin a while This day in fayre and lusty plight and straight a Carrian vile Alas what doth it vs auayle to hourd vp heapes of Gold And plate to haue and clothing riche and Gems of price to holde Great realmes cities strong to guide in houses fayre to lye Aloft to loke and think himselfe ful like to Gods on hye If death do al things take from hence if we like smoke or dust As wretches fade if that so sone our pride our pompe and lust Do passe and end for euermore as I these wordes had sayd With whispring voyce my selfe vnto beholding al afrayd With quaking pace this Ghastly fiend syr Orpheus mother deare Why art thou thus she sayth aseard be bolde and of good cheare For feare is signe of beastly minde vnfyt for men is such What is the cause that shuld thee moue to feare this death so much Then aunswered I Good Lady mine nature doth force me so What liuing beast hir not abhors and seekes from hir to go Shee takes from vs both life and goods delightes and al at ones The corps to nought resolues for what remaines but dust and bones Which bones in tyme returne to dust in fine all goodly things Shee here from vs doth take away and chiefest mischiefe brings Whom would not therfore such a beast and vgley Monster feare Except his heart were made of steele Then Ioue hys daughter deare With smiling lippes began to say thou runst beyonde the white And art deceiude with forme of truth and shadow of that light It is not easy for eche one the truth it selfe to know Thys is the selfe same bowe that doth amid the great woode grow With trees of order thick embracde that misty errors hide Nor euer might thys golden twig of many men be spide But onely vnto them to whom the milke white Doues it show But I of seede celestiall borne the truth doe fully knowe And can it well to thee declare if thou to here require I aunswerde then Good lady sure I nothing more desyre We must depart from hence quoth shee come after me a while And forth she leades not far from thence where Phebus hye did smyle With beating beames vpon the hill whose pleasant shining light Did put the misty cloudes abrode and darknesse all to flight Besyde a spring we both sate downe and vnder Laurell shade Begins my guide with pleasaunt voice and thus hir wordes she made An Ape quoth she and iesting stock is man to God in skye As oft as he doth trust his wit to much presuming hie Dare searche the things of nature hid his secretes for to speake when as in very deede his minde is dull and all to weake If he be ignorant of things that lye before his feete How thinkst thou those things shal he se which God and nature sweete Within their bosomes close haue hyd yet al at fingers endes This hasty blinde vnhappy foole persuade himselfe he kendes So much himself he beares in hand of al your folishnesse The spring and chiefe this selfeloue is A darknesse great that causeth you to knowe the truth the lesse Away with this and better things thine eyes shal quickly spy And those that erst for good y e thoughtst thou shalt for good deny And those that euil now thou thinkest thou wilt not euill trowe This darknesse from thy minde expeld I wil therefore thou know That mortall state is nothing else but blathers full of winde which here and there on rolling bal enforceth fortune blinde To whome if any wytte they had should death more welcome be Than life syth liuing here all men wyth harmes oppressed be And fewe good things they here do vse not full of bytternesse which true I thinke thou wilt beleue when I shall here expresse The goods and ylles of mortall life as briefly as I may These two conferd the humaine life we playnly shall display What thing it is and whither death ought so much fearde to be But fyrst of riches wyll we speake which euery land we see Doth prayse doth seeke doth wonder at and couet instantly I wil endeuour them to blase Good Lady then quoth I If it you please this labour spare for once and long agoe This lesson learnde I perfectly Minerua taught me thoe Now forward shew some
depart and shunne the common sort Contenting hym with fellowes fewe and wyth a slender port And solitary oftentimes to God both night and daye The mind wel purgde of naughty thou ghtes in feruent sprite to praye And wholly to addict himselfe the heauenly state to finde And all the cares that fleshe doth giue to banishe from his minde Then shall the Gods appere though he in valley lowe doe lye Or on the hylles or shadowy woodes or on the mountaines hye In cottage small do place himselfe it is not safe nor well With many for to liue or in the townes of fooles to dwell And in the company of theeues of slaues and couetous And cuthrote brawling swering mates or men ambitious But let the wyseman flye the croude of rude and common sort For of the common people is enuied the wysemans port Bycause of their contrary deedes contraries euermore Do one the other striue agaynst and let and hinder sore Here of haue many wisemen dyed bycause they would not spare When any naughty thing they saw the truth for to declare And to rebuke the mindes of Fooles which sith it could not beare Nor suffer such abuse of Fooles they slayne and punnisht were Wherefore least that the wiseman see such store of synful syght And least he fall in daunger by defending truth and right Let him wythdraw himselfe forthwith from common company And secret liue with two or three that good and learned be Though seldome shal he be without the Gods that guide the sky For Gods do often pleasure take in wisemens company Oft doth the wiseman heare them speak and seeth them oft with eyes They fil his heart with comfort greate in wondrous sorte and wise The wiseman blessed is on earth and blest aboue in Skies Go then O blinded mortal men go heape vp money than And fyll your caskets full of Golde by al the meanes you can Beset with rings your fyngers thick and let the Jewels round In gorgeous linekes of golde about your gracelesse neckes be wound Now ruffie in your sylkes abrode and brag it through the streete Go go I say you blinded fooles both Crownes and Scepter sweete And al that Fortune rash can giue to you with al your power Go seke yet all these goodly things shal vanish in an houre Al these things are but dreames toyes and haue but little stay Which quickly chaunce doth from you take or death doth snatch away Which sone doe vanish hēce like smoke and neuer turne agayne Go go O wretches seke to get these mystes and shaddowes vayne But when the dying day shal come and latest houre shal fall Then then when all your follies past in vayne to minde you call You shall perceyue that you did dote and stept from truth awry And mourne to late Alas in tyme your errour learne to spy O mischieuous vntoward soules O heartes of canckred kinde Why gaze you styll vpon he earth like beastes of brutish minde Why cast you not your eyes aloft vnto the starry Skies There there y e truest world doth stande there life most perfect lies For such as feare aad worship God there neyther chaunce hath place Nor churlish death can there the state wyth deadly darte deface There is the assured treasure found there lies the chiefe delight That God almighty hath preparde for them that serue him right Which neuer curse of fretting time hath power to ouerthrowe To this apply your mindes while states permit and life below Beholde you not of fading life the slender holde and stay Do not you see how all things here in shortest time decay And lyke to smoke in subtile ayre doth vanish quite away Where finde you now the stately kings in pomp of proud aray That heretofore haue bene or where do you esteme to be The Prelates chief that thought thēselues Gods fellowes in degree Their rotten bones entombed close in fylthy caues do dwell And for their soules perhaps they do kepe Christmasse now in Hell Farre banishde from the happy place wherto the good are brought And there they suffer payne for pryde and mischiefe that they wrought O Lord how gladly would they nowe if in their power it lay Enclose themselues in flesh agayne and take their olde aray That not esteming riches here and kingdomes leauing cleane They might liue Godly here on earth in pore estate and meane And by their righteous lyfe make hym their frende that guides the Skie And after death possesse a place aboue the heauens hie But he that shewes his wit to late his wisdome shewes in vayne Let euery man seeke God to please and worldly wealth disdayne And trauayle for the heauenly state of him example take Which of this worldly fading ioyes a small accompt doth make But only hopes in time to come the perfect ioyes to feale Which wel he knowes for God to hym such things doth oft reueale And such a wiseman late there liued since I remember may That with a fewe vpon the top of hye Soractis lay Full leane he was and bearded wel his house was smal and neate All clad he was in russet robes a man of learning great And comely countnance to be holde he had his dwelling place In wildernesse where round about the woods did him embrace Whose heauenly mind when as he lyst of things to come could tel And aunswers gaue such as for truth did Delphis not excel I moued and prouoked thus with fame that of him ran By paynfull iourneys long vnto this sacred hill I came And foūd the olde man sitting there in warme and Sunny caue Who after that I had receiude the like God Deane I gaue He wyllde me there to take my rest so downe by him I syt And therewithall I askde him thus what is the cause of it Quoth I that here you choose to lyue vpon this mountaine steepe Where almost euery thing doth lack that life of man should kepe Then aunswering me this holy man on this sorte there began My great delight was heretofore to liue in cities whan Both yong and ignoraunt I thought nought else to be requirde But riches here and such delight as life of man desirde Following y e example and the fault of rude and common sort Then ioyed I for to leade my life wyth great and much resort And with the rest for company I fell into the floud Of vayne delightes with colour false deceyude of trouth and good But when that greater age began wyth fading yeares to show And wisedome more in tract of time within my head to growe I then began to note and marke the partes that men do play And sundry sorte of liues they leade as God gaue grace to way Then many fylthy things I sawe there done and ful of shame And nothing else of iustice left but vayne and ydle name Th'vngilty to be punnished the gylty scaping free The vertue hydde in vice and vice in vertue hid to be The poore in euery place opprest and fauour
the sacred natures hest Which wold the bred shuld brede agayn which made such ioyful rest In wedlock bed thee not to feare but rather to allure Why wilt thou nature thus withstande no hurt in Venus lure There is if hir thou lawful vse with meane and not excesse But to much vsde she strength abates and drownes the valiantnesse Destroyes the wit and shortneth life Now must we here display dame Venus soÌ„ne whose force doth cause both man and God obay Who brond withal and quiuered shafts makes all the world afrayd To whome though yet a boy and blind hath euery thing obayd That earth or sea did euer breede or heauens hie contayne O Lord what rage of flames and fyre in euery place to rayne This boy hath causd what force haste y e O quiuered Cupide now No strength thy power may once resist thy conquest makes to bow Both beast and Man and Gods aboue with dartes of thine alone His heart through pearcd full oft hath made the thuÌ„dring God to grone And diuers shapes on him to take hys lightning laide a syde And region left of starry skyes on wretched soile to slide Hath not disdainde sometime the forme of Egle swift to beare Sometime a bull with frowuing face sometimes a shepheards cheare On him to put sometime to seme a snake and now and than With flames to come in Satirs shape now golde now like a swan Neptunus also once ychanged to fluddes of Enepey While he poore wretch thy dart did feele with Salmonide he lay And oft a Dolphin would he seeme a Ram or Horse to be With all the seas he coulde not quenche the flames that burnte by thee In breast so blinde and heart of him a tale to long it were Like actes of all the Gods to shewe to thee in order here How Phebus did a hauke become and eke a Lion kende Or call to minde the woode attemptes of raging Tartares fende But vaine it is so time to spende for if I should expounde The Lordes and Ladies euerychone whom cruell loue did wounde My tale woulde runne to much at large and downe before woulde hide His glistring beames syr Titan bright the smoking wheeles should slide Amid the washing westerne waues But here I thinke it best Such things to haue sith many men haue plainely them exprest And now the truth we will declare this boy did neuer flow From Bacchus raines as Grece did faine no sure if it were so Eche man that hateth wine should loue but destny him begot Bicause in euery kinde of loue this destny knittes the knot All morttall things this desteny rules she doth to all bestow Conditions eke with fortune to and ende of lyfe doth know Of greater force than beauty is this desteny assurde Though beauty cause of burning flame hath louers linckes procurde Of greater might than golde it is though once with golde did bye Olde Saturnes sonne inclosde in towers with Danae faire to lie Familier syght and licence had full oft to talke and liue Togither both when none shall see which sliding way doth giue By which to loue we in doe come by which is Venus got All this can nothing sure preuaile if destnies fauour not By destny ioinde by destny broke the louers knot and ring By this the vile deformed slaue sometimes obtaines the thing Which rich nor faire can haue by this the faire and gentle wyfe Is of hir husbande eft despisde and more contentes his lyfe A ragged iade in house to kepe By this the wife disdaines Hir husbande faire of gentle bloud and greater ioy sustaines A lither lousy lout to haue or vnaquainted wight And if so be that loue were not by Gods aduisement right To euery man appointed here by limittes parted iust No doubt of all might one be loued and on them all should lust And euery man might safe enioy the Damsel that he likes But as the fisher doth not take the fishes all in dikes Nor foulers all the birdes do catch nor hunters all doe kill But euery one his chance doth take obtaines and hath his will So loue to euery one is delt by Gods arbitrement So doth the seruant base full oft his Lady well content So shall the bursten bleared lout and crooked father olde A blissefull girle to wyfe obtaine For as the Marchant bolde That vnderneth vnhappy starre with wares his ship doth freight And cuts the fearefull fouring seas is often spoilde of weight By loste of ship or Pirates fierce so he that flames wyth loue The starres luck agaynst him both doth seke the rockes to moue An euil name and cruel wound receyueth he agayne And efâ—e his loue to get doth he the losse of lyfe sustayne But he whome destnies fauour wel and fortune smiles vpon His heart and ioy may sone obtayne wyth quiet rest anon But sure of fewe this grace is had so good are Gods to fewe Except such one as close doth kepe his ioyes that none them knowe No trust there is at al in man disceytes are vsed vile Now euery man doth practise howe his fellow to beguile If any man vnto his frende his secretes doth disclose Then must he stande in feare of him least he his frendship lose Least he in angry moode reueale that erst in harte he hydes If free therefore thou sekest to be and safe to liue besydes Let no man knowe thy secrete deedes thy frend haue alwayes so While frendship lasts that thou foresee he once may be thy foe Which thing in profe hath eft ben knowen for fewe such frendes we see That alwayes loue and much herein ought enuy fearde to be Which euer striues the happy chaunce wyth poyson fell to stayne Take heede therfore of enuy syrs I warne you louers playne Let no man know thy minde in loue but hide this loue of thine If witte thou hast and let not thou thy fyer forth to shine A monster vile is enuy sure a plague that rageth fel A deadly hurt than which a worse is hard to finde in Hel. It hunteth vertue in euery place good dedes asunder teares Good men she hates and doth disdayne the happes of others yeares Although no man can well kepe close his owne vnfayned loue If Fates agaynst him let and nyll the enuious lightes aboue Smal force in wit of man there is where Goddes do not agree In vayne he toyles that seeketh ought when Gods against him be Yet ought we not for this to leaue our willes and wittes to strayne For he that hath the race forth runne and palme cannot obtayne Is worthy prayse and enuy all vpon the Goddes he layes Who often good men downe haue put and fooles exaiting rayse A happy man is he to whome from tower of heauens grace Is graunted whoÌ„ God guides himself whose byrth with lucky face The happy starres haue shinde vpon to him coÌ„mes ioyful loue And voyd of woe long swetenesse he wyth pleasant life may proue For loue is daynty swete and milde if
is who can we good now fynde Of his owne selfe not one who not of yll and wicked minde Such one as feare of King or lawes prohibites to offend Or such as cannot wel perfourme the crime he doth entend It is not easy sure to winne and nature put to flight Nor for to stay the furies fell within the heart that fight Wherfore it needeful is to striue from yeres of youthful trayne With dayly flight and labours great the vices to restrayne For custome wonted is to break the force of nature sure If that by many yeares it hath bene vsed to endure Mannes life a warrefare ergo is eche fielde the enimy Possesseth ful al ful of theeues such gynnes who then can fly So many nets who can escape for when that fortune smyles Then creepes in fond laciuiousnesse and stings with thousand wiles Fast by encampeth swelling pride with slouth and gluttony And folish boldnesse strayght doth ryse wyth griefe and feare thereby And â—ayson fel of enuy and yre doth then possesse his minde When as he liues in great vnhap then seekes he for to finde Al meanes he can away to driue his wretched pouerty Then false he playes he robs steales his lack for to supply Oh Lord thus wise are mortal men betwene the cruel rockes Of Charibdis and Scilla tost of both receyue they knockes And while they seke these yls to shunne to other straight they fall If valeant they do seeke to be then daungers dire they shall And yrkesome labours also fele if vertue they do heede That guides the actes of mortal men then them commaundeth neede Al ioyes away to driue and put and eke wyth saged sawe A life vnpleasant for to leade If iust and righteous lawe Seeke any man for to obserue then profyt must away This iustice is of many praysde and fewe retayne it aye If prudence any man do please he must in any case Beware he put his trust in none for now in euery place Are great deceytes and perils rise and wyth simplicity In fine who that is good receaues most often harme we see He least in safety liues and feeles more hurt than al the rest For this same world a storehouse is where mischiefes al be prest All goodnesse here exiled is the simple Hares thereby The fearfull Hart the harmelesse gotes their bane come sonest by But rare the hunter hunts the Beare amyd the woods so hie The Lion reasts go now thy wayes and leade thou simply A gentle life wyth innocents that soner so thou may Unto the greedy gaping wolues become a grateful pray The world alas doth now abound with tirants ouer al The strong tread vnder fote the weake the mighty hurt the smal The Egles chase the fearful Swannes the Haukes doe Throstles kil And sary simple seely doues destroyes with croked byl The speckled Serpent kylls the Frogs and Lizartes vp doth eate And in the woods the greatest beastes of lesser make their meate Thou monsters also doest possesse O seas of mighty powre That wyth a gaping greedy throte the little fysh deuoure Not sea not earth not aire is safe the enmy euery where Is now at hand it profits smal to liue vnhurtful here Beholde how good is vertues parte that goodnesse here doth trayne For when ye haue it gotten once with labour and great payne Amid your enmies al she doth you thus vnarmed send But thou wilt say such vertuousnesse do lawes and Kings defend O would to God that this were so but now in euery place With money lawes corrupted arâ— and eke the Princes grace Is pleasde with precious gifts and sute the lawes set them on rack That eyther haue no pens to pay or frendship else do lack The other scape as innocents howsoeuer iudgement trye Lyke as the fly that smallest is in weaued Cobweb hye That Spyder makes remayneth wrapt where if a greater stray She breakes the nettes flyes abrode The lawes as wel doth say That Barbarous sage of Scythia the seely soule doth tye Where as the rich and mighty men burst through ful easily The other parte of vertue that doth search wyth studious payne And for to knowe the causes hyd of nature doth obtayne And froth to learne that scarce you can at any time come by How hard and ful of payne it is they knowe that it do try Fyrst vnder maisters rule wyth strypes they are constraynde to liue And there accoumpt of lessons hard with feare and teares to giue Shut vp as it in prison were whereby they may not goe Abrode wythout the tyrants leaue although them forceth thoe The office of the Campo Clubbe restraynt of Blathers might Though hunger pricke and lust to play wherein they most delight But when the yeares of youthful state approching present stand Then nede requires more diligence some one then sekes the land Wherein Anthenor last arriued with raging flouds to striue Of Venice gulâ—e to Naples else through Tuscan seas doth driue An other fast to Perouse sayles or gayneward Rome do fâ—eete There from his countrey farre exilde wyth many woes to meete With lack of meate and quiet sleepes and want of Venus play On bookes wyth study for to loke applying day by day For otherwyse can none be learnd except wyth vntrue fame For fewe are learned now in deede but many are in name Joyes hurt them much pleasures â—ke that seke for to attayne To top of learnings palace hie for this beates back agayne Their mindes from treading crabbed pathes by which the iourney bends To fayre Mineruaes holy house For he that thus intendes A name throughout the world to get must suffer dayly payne Great griefs hereby some men wyth yll digestion eft sustayne Of many whilste to much they reade both syght and eyes decay By study great their stomack rawe their colour falles away Then leannesse coÌ„mes w t wayward age nor maruel is it thoe Sith for to knowe the truth doth styll beyond mannes nature goe And proper is to God alone Like as the Owle of night Can not beholde the shining Sunne with clere and perfect sight So fares the minde of man as oft as it intends to flye Aloft to search the secret things falles headlong strayght from hye Now mortal men dare reache at things to Gods appropriate And foolisher they proue themselues the more they seke the state Of things whereof the knowledge doth pertaine to them no whit Except that God grauÌ„t them from hye both reason grace and wit But happy are the Aungels all for they the worlde doe know What thing it is how much how great whereof it fyrst did grow The Lorde and maker of the same all things that may be thought The Causes hid the priuie strengthes whereby all things are wrought This is the lyfe that they doe leade and this their pleasure all On meate or sleepe they neuer thinke to griefes they are not thrall No hope of gaine no feare of losse doth cause them for to fret But
in others harme delight The brother scarce may brother trust eche man his friende must feare The father of hys sonne in doubt doth liue sure Hell is here The furies and the stinking flouds that lye in Lumbo lake The gaping grenning Helhound wood and all that Hell doth take Sleepe only peace to man doth bring amid his fleering life Nothing than this if dreames fray not more sweete or voide of strife For cares and labour it extles and with his pleasant wings The wretched body resting brodes and sweere estate him brings Yet nature seemes thys rest to hate and ordainde hath hereby The stinging Gnat and byting Flea to vexe continually With twinging prick this pleasant ioy whereby both night and day Might mischiefes euer present be More better farre away Therefore is death than picture hys For who so once the seas of lyfe in ioyfull bote hath past And in the quiet hauen fayre his Anker safe hath cast With mery heart doth laugh to scorne the blastes of raging wyndes With tempests black and Leucoths hed which floury Garlandes byndes Doth honor much and Melicâ—rt with giftes he doth salute And safe amid the shore he ioyes with playes of sundry sute Death endes al pain al bonds doth lose death causes feare to flie And daungers all by death are forede to rest eternally And as no griefe nor paine thee vext before thy Syre thee got So shalt thou feele no griefe nor paine when death hir dart hath shot Who can conceiue the times as yll he felt hys byrth before Or iudge of dayes he neuer saw or shall see neuer more Or who will once dispraise the night as wretched nought or yll Wherein possest of deadly sleepe he senselesse lay ful still For what is death continuall sleepe what sleepe for small time death But many thinke soules neuer die but after losse of breath The dead they say doe liue againe and fleshe forsaking quite As cockels from the shell outdrawne to Pluto take their flight And downwarde hedlong fast they run in kingdome blacke to sayle There faine they woods of Mirtel trees where wofull louers wayle There riuers run wyth flaming flouds and dreadfull Monsters bee That poysoÌ„ fome with gaping throtes theyr places may you see Of diuers forme where Infants crye and where the gilty Ghostes The furies fierce of Hell doe burne and whip fast lynckd to postes And where the pleasant fieldes doe lye with goodly greene arayed As due to blessed men that here their pagents wel haue playde But other now say otherwise and soules they graunt remayne But those that wel in earth haue liude with starres aboue shall rayne And they againe that lyke to beastes haue serude licencious minde And God neglect in forme of beastes to liue are all assinde In brutishe shape to wander long by iudgement iust are made Til time that purged front their crime they come to hyghest grade Which things in deede if they wer true death fearefull might be thought Or at the least a better lyfe and voide of sinne be sought For to the iust hereby is got the ioyes and pleasures true Wheras the wicked shall receiue their paines and merits due But whether that the deade doe liue or that they nothing bee And soule with body hath hys ende pertaineth not to mee For I mee thinks haue sayd ynough enquire of Sister mine Whom Grecians wysedome euer call these thoughtes she doth defyne And alwayes searcheth secrete things and verity doth showe Hir teaching well thou maist attaine the state of soules to knowe Except it serue to tell thee that death is not to be dred At least vnto the iust that here a righteous life haue led For eyther quiet rest they haue in sleepe that still doth last Or happy else they shall receiue rewardes for vertue past wherfore go to liue Godly now put vice from minde away So death shall seme but light to thee and graue thee not shall fray But now in minde these words reuolue both speake and think this thing What hurt shall death to mee procure what losse shall graue mee bring No whit for trouth what will it haue of richesse mee depriue But richesse then I shall not neede for nothing then I striue But richest then I may be calde for welthyest is the wight Not that doth most possesse but he that lacketh least in syght Gold siluer precious stones and lands with sumptuous fyne aray With other lyke I will despise as things that I not way Nor pleasure past shall greue me then no more than greueth beastes Swete plesant sparkling wines to lack or Custards fyne in feastes The thinges that no man doth desyre what if they not be had But friends children sweete to leaue wil make thou sayest men sad why shuld this thing me greue so much were it not hurtful more If in my life my frends should dye and I lament therfore Continually as some do write how for Antilochus Syr Nestor wept as for his sonne whome slewe the King Turnus While he the Troians armies helpt Euandre liude in woe I go before and what for this they all shall after goe When God appoynted hath their time and me agayne shall see If soules be ought as we beleue as Christ declares they be Well whatsoeuer that it is death yll I may not call Bycause it riches takes away and pleasaunt ioyes wythall For vnto vs these are but lent the vse doth nature giue And not the thing it selfe she deales to mortal men that liue Sith nothing then to me belongs to death I wyl resigne Al other things that here I haue as nothing sure of mine What if I others goods do leaue wherfore should I lament If nature nowe do aske agayne the things that she me lent I naked came into this world and naked wil I out For this world is an Inne where hostes of men a wondrous roure Who for a time do vse the foode that layes before their face Their hoste and therewithal doth say syrs take and eate apace Not for desertes of you we giue these things but of good wyll These pleasant dishes here we set therewith your selues to fyll Untill such time as I thinke good to byd you hence departe And say from vp my table rise now ease with ioyfull harte But when the houre last shal come wherein I byd you go With willing minde obey me then and place resigne you thoe To other gests that here shal syt let them reioyce a while wyth dishes these who wyll repine except he be to vile Lack wyt or else vnthanckfull be hearing these wordes to go From others dores or else wyll syt while he commaundeth so But he shal cry come forth you Knaue and thrust him out by the eares And yll apayd he forwardes goes wyth woful weping teares Wherfore should I if he do call that all things here doth guide â—epine to go from hence or seeke in wretched life to byde As many do nor fyt it is nay willing hence
beleue but fewe obtayne but iust men that despise The fond and fading wanton ioies and foode of fleshly eyes That quietly do liue and cares do banish farre away And heauenly things alone do minde and neuer seeke to stray From that which right and vertuous is Although that some do say Ill sprites amongst these good there be constrayned to obay To naughty men by Coniuring whereby much ill is done I can not stay nor now is place the signe where as the sunne Doth yelde his yearly compast course where scaled brethren shine Shall tell the rest where as I wyll the state of Gods define If God himselfe doe me permit who doth my verses gene Let vs therefore passe ouer this I scarely can beleue That any God can euyl be Wysdome byds neuer synne But contrary by folly doth fault stray and crime come in No man is euil wyllingly as farre as I beleaue For euery wyl doth couet good if iudgement not deceaue But Diuel wysdome hath if that this name to him agree But whether Fortune gouerne al or howsoeuer it be Or Diuels guide the state of men but yet wythout destenie Doth nothing passe But al things rulde by minde of God on hie Without whose power nothing is done but of this saying here A doubt doth ryse and knot so hard and sure doth eke appere Such one as Hercules or else the Macedonian King Would scarce vndoe which douht stay to many mindes doth bring If destenie commaundeth al if al things so must moue Not wyl to vs remaineth free nor to the Goddes aboue Free wyll is taken cleane away and vertue no rewarde Nor vice doth punnishment deserne which is not to be heard No place is now of Gods to speake but of such things as be In our estate is subiect here which eyes of men may see I say therefore that in the things that vnder fortune be No kinde of thing can here be founde exempt from destenie As riches pleasures ioyful minde wyth rule and honours hyâ— Come from aboue not wyl of ours is that we get them by For who would 〈◊〉 such things enioy but wyll auayles not thoe It rather hurts if destenies agaynst a man do go How many striue to ryse aloft agaynst their destenie But faster more and more they fal and downe they deeper lye On thother syde they vnto whome the stars more gracious be Unlooked for doe often liue in chiefe prosperity Whose nettes while they themselues do sleepe Rhamnusia ful doth fyll Wyth fish and bringeth vnto them al things that they can wyll Loe some of great and noble house we see to come to light And to 〈◊〉 from childehode fyrst all things wyth ioyful spright And to attayne to honour hye though they vnworthy be And bliâ—ded oft their eyes to rule that scarcely wel can see And lyue in al licenciousnesse And some of kinred base For to be borne wyth griefe and teares themselues for to deface wyth labour long and vayne to toyle and yet cannot expel The pricke of hunger that they feele but styl in beggrye dwel who wyl denye these ylies to come through cruell destnies might A number fayre and actiue are and of couragious sprite And many fowle and syckly styl of courage faynt we see whereof coÌ„mes thys of our desertes or our infirmity Or shal we say our wyl doth al By Fates assuredly Eche thing doth chaunce to mortal men the rule hath Desrenie Of our affaires and our estate the houre and kinde of death It only guides a halter him him sword depriues of breath He drownde in floudes he kilde w t colde him strangleth fyry smoke Some other hunger doth destroy and some doth surfets choke By griefe or sycknesse many dye some chaunce away doth send And many age bereues of life a certayne day of ende To al men is and euery age nor longer can we go Than threede of life permits that ruÌ„nes the spiteful spyndle fro So kylde a rysh the prayser of A chilles lusty lore So Aeschilus while as he walkde abrode on Sicill shore Wyth mighty fall of house deceassed Anacreon so did kill A reasons seede Alas what wayes what meanes hath death to spyl When fardest of thou thinkest him then nerest standeth he Nothing than death more certayne can nor more vncertayne be Yet some that know the force of starrâ—s and secrets of the skye Soothsaying Poâ—ts that can tel how things to come do lye I knowe not with what sprite inspired are often wont to tell The kinde and day of death to come for of the things aswell To come is nature sure as of the present things and past Sure in the fyrst and seconde cause that from the fyrst to th' last With largest lynke extended are But goodes or illes of minde Doe they proceede from desteny or from the fatall kinde Learning and wit seeme thence to flow may any learning get Except he wysedome doe obtaine and nature force permit If fortune let or sycknesse staye An Dratour some one An other a Philosopher some alwayes looke vpon The sacred secretes of the Gods and secke the starry skye And some there are y t drink the streames in wretched pouertye That from Castalian well doe flowe whom pleaseth pleasant fame As nerest kinne to hunger sharpe from whence comes all these same From desteny the chiefe of all eche Arte from hence doth flowe Thence offices deriued all that mortall men doe knowe In sundry seruants nature ioyes that diuers things thence may Procede to deck the world and let ts not all to passe one way But them commauÌ„deth seuerall course and seuerall paines to take With sundry sort of workes the world more beautyfull to make But whether our conditions here are delt by desteny Or whether of our wyll they spring it semeth good to trye Nor labour small it doth appere the trouth herem to finde Of our free wyll what portion doth remaine within our minde In wretched case we lyue if vs byreft is libertye If that the chiefe and greatest force of fatall desteny Constraine vs ill to be and that by force we in be brought To wickednesse and if to striue therwith auaileth nought Wherfore it semeth labour worth our wittes to thys to bende And for to syft the trouth as much as God shall knowledge sende Fyrst it behoueth vs to tell what thys free wyll should be An ample power receiued of God and largest liberty Deliuered man that as he lyst the right or wayes vniust He folowe should not vertue left that therby sinne he must But contrary the vices thunde to applye the vertuous wayes For euill deedes doe harme the soule and good deserueth prayse Besydes it further must be sought if thys free will doth raine In all a lyke or if it doth in euery time remaine No sure it semeth not to be in Children nor in such As vehement anguishe of the minde or body greueth much Or they whose eyes the heauy sleepes haue shut and closed sure For slepe
is counted plaine of death the liuely portrature Wherfore if thou shalt search the truthe with well aduised minde Thou shalt a smallest sort among so many thousande finde That with free wil do guide themselues and libertie doe vse The fault of age I ouerpasse and childrens yeares excuse And vnto those that sleeping lye I licence also giue Or them whom feuers rage doth rost or sycknesse sharpe doth grieue Of which a number great there be but greater farre away And worser eke whose fylthy minde doth vices foule aray And fonde affections makes to faint wythdrawing it with strife From reason farre and from the path of ryght and vertuous lyfe May these be counted for to haue free wyll and libertye A doubtfull thing it surely is and many it denye Wherfore thou well must vnderstande that he alone is free Whom reason rules that with payne will neuer conquerd bee Nor when the stormy tempests rage to rocks is euer thrall But stoutly sticking to the sterne doth with the hauen fall So truely earst haue certaine sayde but wisemen none we finde Whom reason ruling can correct the affections of the minde The other sort can not doe so why hath not God them delt Free wyll whych euer may be founde where reason may be felt For these are alwayes coupled styll So beastes of nature wylde Syth reason they are thought to lack are iudgde from wyll exylde But all men reason doe receiue and therfore haue free wyll For reason is the guide of minde that choseth good from ill Descerning eke the naughty facts from such as honest be And called is the syght and eye wherwith the minde doth se Such eye perhaps as Poliphaem the Poets gaue to thee Wherwyth the lymmes of thy beloued in seas thou oft didst see But naught alas and all to naught who such to shunne hath might Vlisses wyth a fiery post hath it bereft of syght And face the face that fyrst was fayre of beauty spoyled quite Or such an eye as Lynceus had that sawe in darkest night Thys eye therefore to euery man Prometheus wysedome delt But fewe it vse a very fewe that grace of loue haue felt Hereof the spring of errours doth and wickednesse aryse For if the steps of reason all should treade in nerest wyse Then peace on earthe shoulde alwayes dwell and Mars hys bloudy hande Such slaughters nor such cryes shoulde cause townes walles shuld stand And weapons framed fyrst in hell by fiendyshe furyes wrought Should tille y e field with good exchange to share and cultre brought Then Bees and Cattel swarming thick and riches of the fielde Unto the happy husbandman a great increase should yelde The golden world should then returne and eke one place containe Both man God who would vouchsafe before our eyes to raine The cause why fewe doe reason vse and wayes forbydden knowe And voide of freewill liue like beastes I wyll assay to showe A certaine part diuine in vs that minde and reason hyght There is which nature in the head hath placed a loft in syght And seruants vnto it appoints the senses that there be By meanes whereof the Skies Earth and al things it may see An other fading force there is wythin the breast enclosde By meanes wherof we moue and grow wyth helpe of heate disposde Thus hath it pleased God this straynes molests and grieues the minde And to this part a number great of seruaunts is assinde As fond delight wrath griefe and feare wyth great desire to gayne Ambition hauty harmfull thing wyth fumes that vex the brayne Wyth these his lusty souldiours he giues battayle to the minde These mates attempted Joue to vexe of fiercest giants kinde As Giges strong Iapetus and Tiphoeus monstrous sprite Enceladus yll worker and Briareus dredful wight Wyth worldly thoughtes hie heapt they vexe the part diuine aboue Except that grace from heauen hye like lightning them remoue As when the raynes are once let lose the Chariot headlong dryues And swiftly runnes to stay the course in vaine the Carter stryues The fyrst beginnings must be stopped whyle sparke but kindling lies When fyre hath rought the lofty partes and flames approch the skies Especially when Boreas blastes from Northerne Pole doth fall And rageth fierce in vayne alas for water then they call As when from top of hawty rocke some wayghty stone downe trowles What force can it of course restrayne al things wyth it it rowles Asunder crackes the mighty trees that on the mountayne springs Which at the fyrst might well be stayed wyth force of smallest things Euen so the affections of the minde if that wyth all their sway The minde opprest they do inuade them scarce can reason stay And helme and al forsaken quite wyth streame dame Reason driues In raging windes and yeldes to foe a captiue kept in gyues Therefore while vices yet be yong let them oppressed be And voyd the cause ere they waxe strong then minde and wyl is free Then conquerour thou shalt be crownd wyth Palme of Idumay But if the assault be now begonne and siege the foe doth lay And shakes wyth battrey great y e walles except beleue me well Some God wyth better grace defend Reason doth byd farewell And cannot byde so sore a brunt May we not playnly see What harmes the minde doth there sustayne where Bacchus blessings be What madnesse ofte doth spring when wine to much in stomack raynes Tell where freewyl kepes residence when drinke doth vex the braynes The sober and the fasting man of freewil is possest And doth what so euer Reason byds Againe the dronken gest The thing that he ne would ne knowes he alwayes doth the same Which deedes he sobre doth repent and sorroweth eke wyth shame So wyth affections minde is dronke and in none otherwyse Than wine that topsey turnes the brayn when it doth vpward ryse It troubled is and darkd in mystes Thus he and none besides Hath freedome and his minde at wyl whome reason only guides Who all affections ouercommes and wholly doth restrayne He that from youth doth vertue vse may well to this attaine Such force hath vse nothing more strōg The other sorte are wayde In manner like to brutish beasts as true the Poet sayd Eche man his owne delight doth drawe Freewyll in many opprest And hindred is wherefore who list Freewyl for to possesse Let hym resyst while yong they be thaffections of the minde And them to reason subiect make and brydie vse in kinde For flesh agaynst the sprite rebels and wyth continuall warres Doth it molest The soule most pure doth couet styll thestarres But lumpish flesh doth shunne the skies and earthly things desyres For earth it onely is and into earth at length expyres Thus two so farre contrary things hath God compact in one Admit thou art wyse and onely rulde by reasons force alone And freewyll perfectly enioyest shall destnie then beare sway Yea more to Fates thou subiect arte and more shalt it
worthinesse before the rest as in a battayle mayne Lieuetenants are and Captaines stout the rest of common traine These causes chiefe aboue the rest in wondrous sort assignes Thalmighty Lord that guides aboue the Starres the starry sygnes Who lyues in euerlasting lyght aboue the Heauens hye That at hys beck doth cause to turne the motions of the skye To euery cause assigning force and whereto they shall tende With certaine boundes encloseth them the which may none transcende And synce he wysely all things made of force it followe must That euery thyng continuallye keepe course and order iust For things that once are rightly framed and fault doe none receaue Ought not in tract of any times their wonted course to leaue The order thus of euery thing can neuer altred be Bicause thalmighty Lorde hath made all things in iuste degre If then the sprite that guides the earth be naught or worke amisse It is bicause the basest cause and farthest of is this From causer fyrst and lyght remoued a large and ample space And therefore vnto darknesse blynde the nerer hath hys place And onely shadowe shewes of truth which God doth so permit Bicause the state of all the world and order asketh it For as the daye determinde is by darknesse of the night And things contrary ended are by force of others might So sort and course of causes good as reason doth require In vyle and wicked cause must ende and fynally expyre which wycked kingdomes gouerne shal and mischiefes vile shall guide Hence discorde euermore proceedes wyth brawles and minde to chide Strong battailes frayes false diseyt with fyres and slaughters great Theftes wyles with nede robberies and plagues with raging heate Great earthquakes stormes tempests great of sycknesses such store So great a sort of perilles vile and daungers euermore And finally what harmes to hap in any place we knowe From thys so wretched cause Prince of all the earth doth flowe Full truely earst alas did say the famous Hermes wyse This world a heape of harms doth seme where euery mischiefe lyes Bicause the diuell that on earth the chiefest stroke doth smite Is mischieuous and euermore in cruelty doth delight For as the first of causes is the spring of all good things So is the last the fountayne chiefe from whence all mischiefe springs Wherefore if lecherours on earth beare al the rule and sway If Asses sxt in seate as Kings in pompe of proud aray If charge of sheepe commytted is to wolues of rauening kinde If Harâ—ots in the Churches dwel and men of monstrous minde If that the holy rytes of Christ the hands vnpure doth fyle If Heauen and purging place Sir John doth sell wyth greedy guile More if vnpunnished such crimes are styll before our eyes The fault not in thalmighty Lord but in this Diuell lies Whome fortune commonly we name and Pluto oft we call But vnto him an apter name Sarcotheus fyt doth fall For vnto him the power of flesh and guiding is assinde Him serues all such as loue them selues â—o much wyth fleshly minde Of him the bodies are therefore in synne they alwayes driue And to the soules as enimies contrary styl do stryue For of the heauens commes the soule and from the starry Skyes But earthly are the bodies here and heauens do despyse This same Sarcotheus thoe that guydes the lowest partes of all Such holy men as do despise the â—oyes â—errestrâ—all To vertue bent and Godly life he hates and styl pursues And vexeth grieueth them molests as commonly doth vse The naughty Prince and cruel King alwayes for to oppresse The wysest men and such as do ercell in vertuousnesse For vertue of the wicked men is euermore enuied Al things their enimies hate and feare and shunne from them asyde Therefore the Diuel many harmes prouâ—deth for the meeke And them whose mindes do mouÌ„t aloft and hearts do heauen seke Ne would he haue his malice seene for if he should be knowne Al men would him detest as head from whom al ylles haue flowne And bloudy butcher of our kinde him al should iustly hate And cursing cal him cruel beast deceyuer of our state Therefore he craftely lies hydde and from the wyse man flies Least he be knowne ne feares he Moles but leapes from Linceus eyes So theues do vse and wicked men alwayes the light to flye And in the darkest tyme reioyce that none their mischiefe spye Hereof it commes as often as men feele aduersity Al ignorant wyth blindnesse and of minde oppressed be For ignorance is causer chiefe of errors al that fal Thinking with anger and complaynt the guyde of goodnesse al Doth vex theÌ„ so they straightway curse his hâ—e and holy name The wicked Diuel daunceth then and grinneth at the same And ioyes to see himself vnknowne and mischiefe close to lye And that he thus hath power to hurt and no man could it spye A foe vnto â—halmighty God he is and ennimy By whome from heauen tumbled down in chaynes he here doth lye Enclosde betwene the earth and Mone and there he holdes his rayne Wherfore O wretched mortal men at length apply your brayne To know the cause of al your griefes from whence such ylles do flowe And heauy harmful things do hay your butcher learne to know For this Sarcotheus this is he that plagues you in such sorte That of your harmes greuous grefes doth make his chiefest sport None otherwise than Mars his child great realmes in thraldome brought Wyth death of wretâ—hed men or beastes a pleaâ—ant pastyme sought The Noble men the Gentlemen the commons all syt styll In diuers roomes assigned them as Othaâ—s lawes doth wyll Then enters in before them all the cutters for to fyght Or else some other yeldes hys lymmes to beastes thereon to byte The Lion or the Tiger stout or else some fierâ—â—r kinde Should at this play present himselfe to please the peoples minde Wyth death mangled much w t wound from whence the bloud doth flow Oft vnto some of others smart a great delight doth grow Wherefore they do most wickedly that rayling thus do brawle And dare blaspheme thalmighty Lorde the cause of goodnesse all From whome as from himself no yll can any tyme proceede Except contingently as Sunne doth darcknesse euer breede As oft as vnder earth it slydes and absent fyre we see Encreaseth colde yet cloud in Sunne nor colde in Fyre can be Wherfore I maruel much that some whose Learning is not smal Do say that he offended is or wrathful him do cal And that he plagueth vs as oft as we do him offend That milde and Lord of mercies is that goodnesse al doth send And that from him doth warres begin wyth plague and famine sore If that our deedes could him offend what thing vnhappier more Than he in al the world were found â–ª for euery day and houre We crimes commit and blasphemies out of our mouthes we poure Then surely should he neuer ioy nor