THE Three first BOOKES OF Ouid de Tristibus Translated into English IMPRINTED at London in Fleetestrete neare vnto Sainct Dunstones Church by Thomas Marsh. 1580. Cum Priuilegio The occasion of this Booke OF Ouidius Naso his banishment diuers occasions be supposed but the commoÌ„ opinion and the most likely is that Augustus Caesar theÌ„ Em perour reading his Bookes of the Arte of Loue misliked theÌ„ so much that he condemned Ouid to exile After which time the sayd Ouid aswel in his passage on the Sea as after arriued in the Barbarous countries the rather to recouer the Emperours grace wrote these Elegies or Lamentable verses directing some to the Gods some to Caesar some to his wife some to his Daughter some to his Frendes some to his foes c. And called this booke the booke of Sorowes In latin de Tristibus TO HIS MOST ASSVred and tryed Friende Maister Christopher Hatton Esquire Thomas Churchyarde wysheth continuaunce of Vertue AS I haue greate desyre to perfourme my promise touching my whole workes of English Verses good maister Hatton so I wish my selfe able euerye waye to keepe the worthinesse of your Frendship which many haue tasted and few can fynd fault withall such is the eeueÌ„nesse of your dealinges and the vpright behauiour of the same VVel least I should seeme to vnfolde a fardle of Flattrie I retourne to my matter My booke being vnreadye considering I was commaunded by a great and mighty parsonage to write y e same againe I am forced in the meane whyle to occupy your iudgement with the reading of another mans worke whose doings of it self are sufficieÌ„t to purchase good report albeit it wanted such a Patron as you are to defende it The rest of that woorke which as yet is not come forth I purpose to pen and set out crauing a litle leasure for the same And surely sir I blush that myne owne booke beares not a better Tytle but the basenes of the matter wil not suffer it to beare any higher name than Churchyardes Chyps for in the same are sondry tryfles composed in my youth and such fruicte as those dayes and my simple knowledge coulde yelde so that the aptest name for such stuffe was as I thought to geue my workes this Title to be called Churchyardes Chips to warme the wittes of his welwillers In my first booke shal be three Tragedies two tales a Dreame a description of Frendship a Farewell to the Court the siege of Leeth and sondry other thinges y t are already written And in my seconde Booke shal be foure Tragedies ten Tales the Siege of Saint Quintaynes Newhauen Calleis and Guynes and I hope the rest of all the sorrein warres that I haue seene or heard of abroade shall follow in another volume Thus commending this little present to your coÌ„sideration I trouble you not long with the tediousnes of my Epistle and wishing you muche worshippe good â—ame and blessed fortune I bydde you moste hartely farewell Yours in all at commaundement Thomas Churchyarde Ouid to his Booke The Elegie first MY litle booke I blame thee not to stately towne sâ—all goe O cruell chaunce y â— where thou goest thy maister may not so Goe now thy way yet sute thy selfe in sad and simple geare Such exiles weede as time requyre I wil y â— thou do weare No vastie Uiolet shalt thou vse nor robe of Purple hue Those costly coulours be vnsâ—t our carefull cause to â—ue With ruddy red dye not thy face nor sappe of Ceder tree Such outward huâ— see that thou haue as cause assignes to thee Frounce not thy fearefull face I say nor haplesse head to streke But roughe and rugde so shew in sight that pity may prouoke Those subtill sleights be much more meete for volumes voyde of paine But thou of my vnfrendly fate a myrror must remayne Be not abasht thy ruefull blots to set and shew in sight That of my teares men may them iudge to haue beene made a right Depart thy way and in my name salute those blessed bowers When as thy fearefull foote shall fall in Caesars stately towers If any be as some there are amongst the rurall route Forgetlesse frends shall aske for mee or ought shall seeme to doubte Say that I liue which as I do by force of heauenly might So do confesse my troubled state wherein thou sees me plight If further speach shall thee prouoke or other skill they craue I charge thee then to take good heede no wastfull wordes to haue My faulty facts if any shall reproue perhaps to thee Or dolefull deedes in publike place condempned chaunce to beâ— Spend thou no speach nor do not care tho threatning browes they beÌ„de A rightfull cause it hindreth oft with wordes if we defend Some shalt thou finde that wil bewayle me thus in exile sent And reading thee with trickling teares my carefull case lament And in their muttring mindes will wish least wicked men may heare That Caesars yre once set a syde from paynes I may be cleare To such therefore as wel do wish to vs that payne do proue To mighty Ioue wee pray likewyse like sorrowes to remoue All thinges thus staâ—de in quiet state and Caesars grace once wonne Doth wish my lothsome life to ende where life I first begonne A worke vnworthy of my witte of thee some men will iudge And doing that I thee requyre at thee likewyse shall grudge Yet ought a Iudge as well to time as matteâ— haue regarde Which if ye haue as I do hope thou sasely shalt be harde For pleasaunt berses do proceede from quiet resting brayne But soden sorrowes mee assaultes with hugie heapes of â—ayne A time of trouble voyde it craues a perfit verse to make But mee the Seas the wrestâ—yng wyndes the winter wyld doth shake A minde more free from feare it askes in deadly doubt I stand Least that my life with sword be reft by force of enemyes hand Yet some there are that maruâ—ile will and rightfull Iudges bee When they this meane and simple verse with equall eyes shall see For though that Homer yet did liue with sorrowes so be set His wonted wits through malyce mighte I feare he should forget Yet shewe thy selfe my seely booke without regard of fame Nor though percase thou doest displease let it not thee ashame Syth fortune so vnfrendly is to hope it were in vayne That thou therby should purchase prayse to make therof thy gayne Whyle fortune smyld with smirking chere of fame I had desyre And noted name on euery syde I sought for to acquyre A fayned verse lo now I make and hate my hurtful lore Let it suffice sith that my wit forsaketh me therfore Yet goe thou one and in my steede the royall Rome to see God graunt that there is none of myne they may account of thee And though thou there a straunger be thinke not vnknowen to come But that amids the mighty towne thou shalt be knowen to some Thy colour wil disclose thy
craft althoughe thou weare no name By depe deceite or otherwyse by skill to cloake the same In priuy wyse yet passe thou in my verse may els offend The wonted grace it clearly wantes which I to verse did lend To reade as myne if any shal vnworthy therfore deeme And from his handes to cast away to the by hap shal seeme Tel then thy name thou art not he of loue that taught the lore That wicked worke hath felt the paynes that it deseru'd before Perhaps thou lookst I should thee bid the pallace proude to clyme Where Cesar royall court doth keepe with pleasaunt passed tyme. Those princely places and eke Gods of pardon to I crane Sith from the stately tops of them this lyghtning lo we haue The tyme I may remember when those Gods more gentle weare Such now therfore as hurtful be by proofe of payne I feare The sely Doue that once was nymd with goshaukâ—s gredy nype Doth dread the smallest glympes of her to flye her greeuous gripe The wandring lambe y t worewing wolfe had caught by corage boulde Escapyng then his cruel chaps doth slepe in shepheards fould Yea Phaeton would shunne the skyee if he agayne did rayne And hate the horses whom hee lou'de for feare of former paynt My selfe confesse that haue receyu'de of lâ—ue his launce a wound Do feare the force of flashing fyre by thonders threatning sound Who so Caphatea sekes to shunne in way from Grecian fleete That he alwayes from Eboâ—ke Seas to turne his sterne is meete My ship that lately did escape with sturdy storme a clappe In that fame place doth hate to come for feare of like mishap My booke therfore beware and stand with fearful mynde in doubt And be content that thou be red in priuate place aboute Whyle Icarus with tender winges did clyme the starry skye In surging Seas he fel adowne which haue their name therby The Ower or the sayles to vse herein to know is hard But time and cause shall counsayle thee if thou therto regarde An ydle tyme if thou espye when ceased is debate And when all ire is pacifyed and turnd to frendly state Some doubting thus with feareful face wil thee perhaps present So hee with wordes thy way haue made then go where thou art sent More happy hap god graunt thou haue and far more lucky day Then I haue had when thou come there our sorrowes to allay For he alone can salue my sore of whom the wounde I haue And hurt and heale by selfe same skill Achilles lately gaue Take hede while helpe herein thou seeke therby no hurt arise For feare doth farre surmount our hope thy selfe therfore aduise In myndes to quiet bent renew not wrath agayne Least thou vnwares may kindle cooles to double former payne Yet when vnto my homly house thou shalt returne to mee And in thy croked shryne be set a place made meete for thee Thy brethren there thou shalt behold in order seemely set One only father all they had whom he by skill beget The rest that therin sight do show by signes thou may decerne Whose names be set amids their browes that thou therof maye learne And also three in priuy place do lurke in darkesome den Of loue the crafty skill they teache as it is knowen to men Those wicked wightes thou shalt eschew or if thou may proclayme For such as fathers lately slew by Telogonian name These three I warne thee of if thou the father not disdayne Of loue although the way they teach to loue yet thou refrayne And fifteene volumes more in verse of chaunged bodyes beâ— Which at my funeralles I had and there bereft from mee Amonge the which transformed shapes say thou that I do craue That my misfortune may be set with them a place to haue Unlikely to her former hests her altring wondrous straunge For now shee weepes y e whilom smilde as chaunce of time doth chanÌ„ge More matter yet if thou had askte I had to tel beside But that I feare it might be cause to longe that thou abyde For if nothing that comes to minde from thee I should detayne A burden farre more huge thou were then bearers could sustayne Longe is thy way therefore make hast for we shal now abyde In furthest Coast of all the earth far from our country wyde ¶ To the Gods The Elegie seconde O Gods of Seas Sky for what saue prayers may preuayle Do not destroy our shaken shippes in surging Seas to sayle Nor do you not to Caesars wrath with whole assent resort For him whome one God doth oppresse an other may support Though Vulcane stoode aduerse to Troy Apollo sought reliefe And Venus was to Troyans iust though Pallas wrought their griefe So Iuâ—o did Aeneas hate who Turnus held full deare Yet he through helpe of Venus power from harme was saued cleare The fearce Neptunus oft did seeke to short Vlysses dayes Yet from her Eme Minerua did his life preserue alwayes And though we farre inferiour be in heauenly force and might A fâ—endly God yet who forbids an angry God to spight But wastefull wordes O wretch I spend no good thereby aryse Saue that it makes the watry waues to springe from speakers eyes My paynfull speach and prayers prest the Southren wynd hath rent And suffers not that they do come to Gods where they be sent With one alonely cause therefore least I be hurt should deeme Both shippes and vowes I know not where to beare away they seeme What boysterous billowes now O wretch amids the waues we spye As I forthwith should haue bene heu'de to touch the Azure skye What vacant vallies be there set in swallowing Sâ—as so wrought As presently thou lookes I should to drery hell be brought I too kt about saue Seas and sky nought subiect was to sight With swelling surges one with cloudes the other threatned spight Betweene them both with whisâ—yng sound the whyrling wynds do rend And foming Seas to Weather God do stand in doubt to bend Now doth sir Eurus windes take force at ryse of mourning bright Now Zephirus is prest at hand to wayghte the darksome night Now Boreas with parching vrye from Northren Pole doth glide Now Notus so with â—eare of flyet doth put his â—orce assyde The Guyde himselfe in doubtful muse what he may flye doth craue Astonied stayes his wonted skill from wracke the ship to saue We dye therfore no hope at all of life their doth remayn While thus I speake the bitter teares my feareful face distayn The floods my mind opprest while thus in vaine we prayd alas And by our carefull mouth adowne the deadly drops do pas My godly wyfe it onely greues in exile I am sent This one mishâ—p alone she knowes for this she doth lament In largest seas how I am cest to her no feare doth seeme Nor tosâ— with wyndes she knoweth not nor death so nere doth deeme O happy yet I did her leaue and so my selfe auysâ— For els pore wretch my
sent away from thence Bâ—yond this land no thing ther is saue cold and enmies fell Wâ—th waters thinne of whelming sea with frosty yse congell On left syde here Euxinians ioyne to part of Romaine land And next the Basterns and the Savvromes kepe witâ— cruell hand This is the land that latest came to rule of Romayne law And scantly any part thereof thyne â—mpire neare do draw Wheâ—fore I huâ—bly pray that we be set in saulâ—er soyle Lâ—ast els with losse of counrey deare we liue in endles toyle So neede we not the nations fâ—â—re whom I star skant deuyde Nor as thy subiectes there be tâ—ne with cruell foes to byde For no â—an borne of Latian bloud can beare those barberous bandes But that theâ— wil a burden bee vnto Caesarians handes Two faultes there are that haue me slayne error and my verse All other â—aultes I thinke it good that I do not reherse Thy greuous woundes O Caesar now renew I do not meane And that thou hauâ— bewayld tâ—em oncâ— to much I do esteeme Another part of cryme remaynes a greeuous fault for mee A â—eacher of aduoutry foule I charged am to bee Some thinges the Gods may well deceiue then for to know is hard Of them for many be so meane that thou dost not regarde For while as Ioue beholdes the heauens and mighty Gods also The smaller thing from lofty skyes cannot respect vnto So many matters they escapâ— in vewing world so wyde That lâ—sse affaâ—res of meanâ—r wayght fâ—om â—eauenly â—inde do slyde That is while thou a Prince be set in Empire large â—o rayne May not entend fond verse to reade and greatter thinges disdayne The waâ—ghty wâ—â—ght of Romayne name do not so â—ighty moue Noâ— prayâ—e therof on back to beare so 〈◊〉 thee â—ehoue As thou with Godly power may maâ—ke our fonde and foolish toyes Wiâ—h open eyes here to discusse our ydle earthly ioyes Someâ—ymes Germania doth rebell sometymes Illerians â—â—yle Rhâ—tia and the Thâ—aâ—ian land with ciâ—ill waâ—â—es 〈◊〉 Sâ—metâ—â—â— Armenius craueth peace and Parthus 〈◊〉 â—elde With fâ—â—râ—ful bandes restoâ—yng â—ft the eâ—sâ—gâ—es won â—n â—â—elde Geâ—mania eke through infant young a yoâ—g man tâ—ee do take And Caesar doth fâ—ll cruell wâ—â—res for migâ—â—â— Caesar make In fine of all thâ—ne empire huge which neâ—er was 〈◊〉 large No paâ—◠〈◊〉 all abated is but stil â—en aynes in charge The Citty great and sure defâ—ncâ— of cusâ—oâ—es aâ—d of law Dâ—th â—ike the sore whâ—le theÌ„â—hoâ— sâ—ekes 〈…〉 more â—ere to draw The qâ—â—et state â—hou can not vse wâ—ich thou hast â—ald in land For â—roâ—blous wars with nations great thou dayly takes iâ— hand Wherfore among such causes graue I maruayle much and muse That thou our wâ—nted follies would with earnest eyes peruse But if thou had as I do wishe â—â—re ydle there haue bene Then in myne art no â—ault at all perhaps thou shoulâ— haâ—e seene The wâ—ich I do confesse was not deuâ—sde with seueâ—e heade Nor matter meete that might deserue of such a prince be reade Yet be they not to lawes offence nor gylty of such blames But to enstruct the youthfull route of noble Romayne dames Nâ—r needest not my bookes to doubt for in one of those three These verses â—ower which next approach â—e set therin to see Stand you aloofe you vestal tapeâ— of sâ—amefastneâ— the signes Geue place likevvise ye purfled Pavvles that halfe on feete declynes Of lavvfâ—ll lot and skill allovvd vve onely do resoonde For in our simple verse there shall no subtâ—â—l cryme be founde Lo â—o wee not all sober dames from this our art expellâ— Whom stole and tape forbiddeth playne with louely loue to mell Bâ—t matrones may more artes â—â—uent although they be vntaught Wâ—erby to make the chastest myndes with wickednes be fraugâ—t No bookes therfore let matrons reade sâ—th all thinges be so straunge That they be turnde from vertuous vse to fâ—lthy vice to chaunge Wâ—o lo doth care all thinges to turne to wrong and worâ—er part To vices vile his maners chaunge through wil of workers hart For take in hand the Câ—ronicke bookes then those nothing more graue How Ilia fayre a babe brought forth to reade there shalt thou haue Or if thou â—oke on Maroes workes ther shalt thou see in sâ—ght How Venus fayre a mother was vnto the Troyan Knight Yea further yet if â—ll thinges may likewyse accompted be No kynd of verse but may the mynd corrupt also we see As guilty yet not euery booke we may therefore dispâ—se For of ech thing that helpe proceedes doth harme alsâ— aryse Then â—re what thinge more needefull to yet who so lokes in land The howses high to burne and spoile the fyre he tâ—kes in hande So Pâ—â—sâ—ck sometimes greatly hurâ—es sometymes doâ—â— heale right wel Of herbes that hurtful be or not by skilâ—ul â—ore to tell The theefe and ware waâ—fayrâ—ng man by syde a sword they haue The one to roâ— the sâ—mple wight the other himselfe to saue And Râ—thorick haue long time ben taugâ—t to pleade for righteousnes Yet faulty folâ—es it oft defâ—ndes and innocents â—ppresse Euen so wâ—o shall my vâ—â—ses reade with eqâ—all vpright mynd Shal well perswade himselfe enoug◠〈◊〉 hurt in them to fynde And who so thinkes he sinne conceyues or vyces here of haue But erreth much and writinges myne to much he doth depraue In sacred playes I do confesse â—e certayne wanton 〈◊〉 The stages therof do remoue wheron the players sliâ— What causes also haue bene geuen of sinne and great mischaunce In marshall fieldes and places greate where fighters do aduaunce Lâ—t Ciâ—cus 〈◊〉 bâ— set asyde the vse therof not good The maydens chast thereon at playes by men vnknown they stoode While men do rome in selfesame path where louers do resort Why then be porches set at large where all men may disport What place then temples is more lâ—rge yet is their cause of â—inne Iâ— wicked myndes that so delytes by hap be set therin For set in sacred house of Ioue perchaunce it may be seene What number great of mothers made by mighty Ioue haue bene Or who shal in the Temples pray of Lady Iuno true The Gods she there bewayling sees and wanton Lemmanâ— vewe So some wil aske that Pallas see as they her picture pas How of her Eriththonius by sinne conceiued was And commyng to the house shal see of Marâ— the heauenly wight Before the gates where Venus standes fast by her worthy knight In Isis Church who chaunce to sit wâ—â—l haply aâ—â—e in doubt By Ionian and the Bosphore seas why Iuno sent her out For Venus there Anchises is for Luna Latinus old For Ceres â—ke doth Iatius stand on whom thou maist beholde All these thinges therfore may corrupt the wicked peruerse mynd Yâ—t in their place ful harmles stand not wrested from ther kynd Far from this art which wâ—itten was for wanton dames behoue The formost leafe of that same booke all modest hands remoue Who so therefore by hap offend more thâ—n
the liuers chast With guilty men of fault forbode shall he strayght wayes be plaâ—â— No haynous act the wanton verse it is to lightly reede For many thinges the chast may see which be abhord in deede The matrons graue do oft beholde the baudy harlots loue How naked there themselues they make dame Venus prâ—nkes to proue The Uestall eyes likewyse they do the Sâ—rompets body see Yet to themselues by sight therof no paynes deserued bee But why haue I so much alas my muse to wanton made Or what haue causd my wicked booke to louely lore perswade No thinge saue sinne and open fault of force I must confesse My wits and skill I do accuse as cause of my distresse Why haue I not the Troyan towne by Gretians whilom sackt In Asper verse the same renu'de and toulde that famous fact Why spake I not of Thebas slege and wounded brethren twayne And how the seuen gates thereof in sundry charge remayne And marshall Rome occasion gaue whereof I should endight A godly worke it were for mee my country facts to wright In fine while that by thy deserts all thinges so much aboundâ— A cause I had O Caesar why thy prayse I should resounde Euen as the eyes delighted be with beames of Phoebus bright So did thy facts my mynde entise to take thereof delight As rightfully I am reprou'de in barren fielde I tâ—l'de That noble worke is far more large with greater plentye fil'de For though the slender boate is bould in smaller streame to play Yet like disport it dareth not in surginge seas assay And doubting that for greater thinges my minde is farre vnfit In ditties small it may suffice that I doe shew my wit But if thou should commaund to tell of Gâ—aunts greeuous woundâ—s Which they through fyre of Ioue did feele the worke my wit confouÌ„des A fruictfull minde it doth requyre of Caesars actes to wright Least els perhaps with matter much the worke may want his right Which though I durst haue take in hande yet dreading much amonge Thy noble power I might abate which were to great a wronge To lighter worke I therefore went and youthfull verse addrest With â—ayned loue a care I had to feede my fiâ—le breâ—st Which loth I was full longe to doe but fates did so ordayne And deepe desâ—re my mynde did mooue to purchase greeuous payne Why haue I learn'de O wretch why haue my parents taught me lore On letters small why haue I set my wofull eyes before For this I am of thee enuide by wanton arte aright Through which thou thincks y e chasty heads be traind to foule delight But none whom wedlocks yoke doth bind this craft haue learnd of me For who so nothinge knowes himselfe no teacher can he be So haue I made both pleasant Toyes and gentle facile verse As yet â—n talke for by worde leude no wight may â—e reherse Nor none who liues in wedded life amonge the common rought That of himselfe a father false through my default doe dought My maners milde repugnant are to verse beleue you mee My life both chast and shamefaâ—t is though muse mor e pleasaunt bee And greatest part of those my workes inuentions are vntrue For much more craft they doe allowe then maker euer knewe Nor written bookes do not purport th'affâ—ctions of the mynde But honest will to pleasaunt myrth to make the caâ—es inclynde For Aceius tâ—en in cruell deedes Terentius should delight In bâ—nkâ—tâ— braue and warriours be of warres that do endight In fine thoâ—gh diuers are with mee that tender lâ—ue haue mâ—yde Yâ—t I alâ—nâ— for it O wretch the paynes alone haue payde Theia musâ— of Leâ—yan olde hath she not taught the skill With plenty great of Bacchus dewe dame Venus neast to fill â—hat haâ—h dame Sappho Lesbia learn'de but maydens fayre to loue Yet Saâ—pho still remayneth â—aulâ—e and he no paâ—nes do proue What hath it thee ô Battis hurt that reading of thy verse Tâ—y pleasaunt prâ—ncks thou did confesse and wanton ioyes reherse No fabâ—e â—ounde but tels of loue in great Menanders booke Yet is it red to Uirgins yongue and Boyes thereon do looke What shall you reade in Ilias but foule aduouterous life And feare affâ—â—ct of louers false with toyle and endlesse strife Therein what is there set before of Chresida the loue And of the mayde froÌ„ Captaynes caught which anger great did moue What is Odysâ—ea els but while Vlâ—sâ—eâ— was away How of his wyse the loue to get what Woâ—rs did â—ssay What doth great Homer more report but Mars to Venus bound And that thâ—y were in filthy bed and foule aduouâ—ry â—ound By him haue we not knowledge caught â—haâ— moâ—â—de with loues 〈◊〉 One straunger caus'de two Gâ—ddesses to buâ—ne in secret fyre Though Tragedies all writinges do surmount for matter grâ—ue Yet euen in them occasions great of loue alwayes we haue For in Hyppolitus the loue of Phaedra do we finde And eke how constant Canace lou'de her broâ—â—er not vnkinde What did not then kinge Pelopâ— white when Cupid forcte his chaire With Phrygian horses fearce conuey Hippodamia faire Prouoked grieâ—e through loues desyre in scâ—â—â— so mâ—ch it was That mothers caus'de theyr cruell Bledes through childrens bloud to pas And loue a king with Lemman â—ayre in 〈◊〉 foulâ—s did chaunge And made Sir Itis mother mourne with sâ—ghes sobbing straunge If that Europaes brother vile her loue did not requyre Wyth Phoebus then we hâ—d not read how horses did retyre Nor Scylla should haue so attayn'de the Trâ—gâ—cke stile vnto Unlesse that loue her Father forste his fatall hearse forgo Whose life by hap Electran reades and made Orestes fit Aegestus faultes nor Clytemnestras sinnes he can forgit What neede I speake of Victor that Chymera did oppresse Who crafty gest did much annoy to death almost distresse Who hath not spoke of Hermyone and thee Chentyda tould Of Alcumene whom Mycene Duke in louinge breast did fould What Daneyes daughter in law her selfe what Bacchus Dame What Hermyona with her which caus'de of one two Nightes became Of Duke Admere of Theseus eke what should I here resounde Of Greeke whose ship did first arriue on coast of Pgrygian grounde Let Ioels come amonge the rest with Deidamia fayre Wyth Hylas to and Ganimede who did to heauen repayre No time would serue the Traiecke syres if I for them should looke Whose names alone could not be set within this carefull booke And Tragedies the laughters foule prouoke in sundry wyse Yea shamelesse woordes full many a one because of them aryse What hath it hindred him that did the fearce Achill abuse For which his valiaunt deedes were lost and force did him refuse Aristides the filthy facts of fond Myâ—â—â—â—â—ns tould Yet from his towne was not exild nor in such wyse contrould Nor Eubius a writer great of hystoryes vncleane How mothers might their seedâ— consume by foule and filthy meanâ— Nor he who wrote the bookes which men Sabatia haue nam'de Nor they whose owne
aduouterous deedes to tell were not asham'de All these with graue and auncient sawes of learned men be vs'de The facts apparaunt be yet not to princes so refus'de Nor I these forrayne factes alone for my defence do finde But euen in Romayne bookes I reade the toyes of wanton winde As Ennius graue who wonted was of mighty Mars to tell Ennius though voyde of arte in wit he did excell Lucretius eke the cause discust of fearce consuminge flame And triple worke he did deuine of which proceede the same So did Catullus wanton man his Lemmans prayse resight Whose name in deede hee chaunged haue and Lesbia therefore hight Nor yet contented so but did of Harlots mo reherse With whom aduoutry vyle he did confesse in open verse Like lawles life did Caluus leade whose stature was but small By sundry meanes disclosing then his filthy doinges all What should I speake of Tyndaâ—es stile and Memnus verse also Who writinge of vnhonest actes their names haue put vnto And Cinna here a fellow is and Anser light as hee And Cornificius wanton worke and Catoes eke wee see And he who in Phasecian seas that Argos whilom brought His secrete deedes could not keepe in which he before had wrought Hoâ—â—ensiâ—â— and Sulpitius facts lasciuious be likewise And such graue men who followeth not or doth their deedes despise Sisenna did Mylesian bookes reduce to Romayne verse No paynes he proued yet though filthy facts he did reherse Nor Galluâ— thâ—ugh Lycoris feast he did oft times adore Was blamed ought but deemed druncke with wyne he bibd before To womens othes small trust to haue Tibullus whilom wouâ—d Nor of them selues what they deni'd no husband credit should For keepers eke of virgins chast a fraud he did confesse And now O wretch through selfe fame art is driuen to deepe distresse And as he would of signet fayre or Iewels vertue finde By craft whereof his mystresse hand to touch he beares in minde By priuy poynctes and crafty bâ—cks to shewe theyr secrete mynde He also taught and subtile notes in trenchers fayre to finde And by the sap of certayne hearbes how wrath is set a syde Whereas the same through mutual mouthes by streÌ„ts of teeth do glide And eke how they should plenty great of foolishe husbands craue Whereby the lesse they might offend and lesse occasion haue At whom also the dogges do barcke when men that way are gone And secret hemmes he taught to knowe when he did passe alone Full many a crafty lore he learn'de which women did receiue Euen by what art the wedded wyues their husbands might deceyue For these yet no rebuke he had his workes apparant bee And well alow'de to thee our Prince are not vnknowen we see Propertius like preceptes haue geâ—uen which be apparant plaine No checke or frowninge looke hee did for that although sustaine And many more I did succeede who sith they liue in â—ame I will not now in open verse recite them by their name I feared not I do confesâ—e amonge so great a sayle My onely shippe to perishe quite and none but she to fayle And other artes with trouling dice lo diuers written haue Through which no small offence is cast vpon your grandsâ—rs graue How that thou may by subtill meane the greatest number throw And dogged poinctes may best eschew through crafty arte to know In Tables play what markes auayle or hurtfull are likewyse A skill they haue to vse the good and loâ—sâ—nge poyncts dispyse And how the knight in coullers clad doth rage in right sorts way When middle man through ennemies twayne assault is made a pray And how they best may march abroade or formâ—n make retyre For none alone from waâ—de to passe fâ—r feaâ—e of hurtfull hyre A game also with litle stone so pâ—astâ— on table small Wâ—ere at he winn'th that mak'th all three in one straight line to fall And other Playes deuiâ—ed be nor all to â—ell I meane Through which our time a â—hinge most deare is so consumed cleane And other tell'th the â—orme of Balles and skill of Tennis playes And some the Swimming arte â—oth show and some the toppe asâ—ayes The câ—aft with coullers blacke to slayne do diuers take in hand Of banket bowers and houshould lawes haue others deepely skand Of earth doe others teach the vse whereof the cupâ—es do make And which the wynâ— preserues and which will other liquor take Such kinde of sportes in smoky mouth of coldâ— Dâ—câ—mbers day Aâ—e vâ—ed yet nor maker none for them the paynes doe pay Through these examâ—â—â—s lo I haue no weeping verses mayde But weeping paynes for pleasaunt sportes I haue alas assayd In fyne among these wryters all I can perceaue not one To whom his Muse haue hurtfull bene my selfe except alone What if I should the filthy playes of â—ayling Iesters wryght Wherein the faultes of fayned loue be set alwaâ—es in sight And where the vicious man comes â—orth in garments freshe and braue And wily wyfe her foolishe mate by sleight deceyued haue Lo these both mayd wyfe and man with sâ—ely children see And oftentimes the senate whole in parson present bee The which alone with shameâ—es speâ—che do not defile the eare But filthy facts before the eyes they haue disclosed there And when the louer by his craft the husband doth begyle They clap their hands with wondrous ioy and great reioycing smyle And that although lesse needefull is for Poets greedy gâ—yne The Petor will of forged playes with charge the sight attayne Bâ—â—olde of Playes the great â—xpence O Caesar and the charge Which thou hast pay'd thou sâ—alt perceiue y â— same haue ben â—ight large Lo these thy selfe full oâ—t haue seene and shewed to others playne Thy maiesty so lowly is thy grace nothing â—â—sdayne The â—oyall eyes wherewith thou doe the totall world beholde Th'adultry vile haue gladly seene which that in Scene is â—olâ—e Wâ—â—refore if lawfull that it be that Iesâ—ers so may wright My â—eedes lesse paynes deserue they do more honest acâ—es resight But is that kind of writing saâ—e for Pâ—lpets 〈◊〉 regard And what the sâ—age haue lawfull made from Iâ—stâ—â—s noâ— râ—gard So haue the people daunced oft when songe my poâ—ses beene With open eyes the sâ—me also thy selâ—e oâ—t times haue seene Eâ—en as the auncient pictures made by craft of workemans hand With glistering glose be set in sâ—ght within your house to stand Iâ— them so be their â—â—bles small in priuate place I know Wâ—â—ch sundry shapes and secret deedes of Lady Venus show And as tâ—e 〈◊〉 Aiax sits with thâ—eatning browes all bent Or as the Barâ—rous mothers eye to wicked act is lâ—nt Euen so the watry Venâ—s sits her dampish hayres to dry Aâ—d sâ—metimes seemes in mother sâ—as away from sâ—ght to fly And others be which cruell warres wyth weapons sharpe do tell Yea soâ—e tâ—y graundstâ—rs deedes some thine owne do show right well In narrowe space the hatefull wight dame Nature hath me pent Noâ— to my
woâ—ull wayling wâ—ts but slender force haue lent O happy yet for him it was Aeneados did wright Wâ—o Mâ—rian headâ— wiâ—h mighty men and weapoâ—â—â—erce resight No part of all which famous worke the readers do delight So much as that where loue was â—inckt againe all honest right Of Phyllis he likewise haue tould and Amarylliâ— loue Iâ— youthfull yeares he sought his minde wyth Bucolickes to moue And we who haue by wrâ—ting these committed greeuâ—us sinne Oâ—r sinfull factes much elder be though paynes but now beginne I verses also made when thou offences haue contrould A knight by thee to passe oft times I voyde of checke was bould Wâ—erefore I yong and wanting wit in that no daunger thought Wâ—ich now to me in elder age more hurtâ—ull care haue brought A new reuenging paâ—nes I feele for auncient written Art The persecution differeth far from time of my defart Yâ—t of my woorkes â—ou may beleue more wayghty burdens beare For oftentimes more massy sayles my ship sustayned there Foâ— bookes twyse â—ix I written haue and Fastoâ— did them name In number like of â—onthes were made and ended in the saâ—e Aâ—d that that through my heauy fate I did O Caesar make Wâ—erein I highly honoured thâ—e whâ—n I my way did take Yâ—â— Tâ—agike still in royall verse we also did endight Wâ—erein no waightâ— wordes do want that stately stile should light Iâ— verse likâ—wâ—se â—e â—ould althoâ—gh tâ—e workes imperfect bene Wâ—ere sundrâ— shapes â—ransâ—ormed are and chaunged bodyes seene Bâ—t would to God thy wrath a wâ—ile froâ— miâ—de thou would remoue And that of thâ—â—e same part to reade thou wouldest mâ— behoue The worke which at the worldes vpryse his firsâ— bâ—ginning had To thy â—ost famous â—aygne I brought and wroâ—â— O Caesar â— glad There shalt thou finde what store oâ— wit on me 〈…〉 And with what minde â—or thee and thine to write I haue assaâ—ed I do no man wyth â—yting verse or churlisâ—e câ—ecke disdaâ—ne Nor no mans guilty â—actes there doth within my workes â—emayne From sâ—bâ—ill â—oyes I guiltâ—es am that ten preâ— be 〈◊〉 gaâ—l Nor 〈◊〉 my verse no venyme fell wâ—th myrth is mixt at all Among so many thousand men wyth verses â—any a one My learned muse haue hindred noâ—e â—y sâ—lâ—e except alone At my mishap I gesse therefore no Romayne doth reioyce But much bewayle our sundry woes with one lâ—â—enting voyce Nor no man would I thinke be sad in this â—y â—orâ—y chaunce If mercy me through guiâ—â—les life to gâ—eater caâ—e aduaunce Lo thâ—se with many more I wishe may perce thy heauenly brest O father deare O sure deâ—ence our counâ—ryes only â—est To Italy I would not turne vnlesse in loâ—ger space Through greater paynes of thee perhaps we â—ay deserue more gracâ— More safer place for Exiles life and gentler rest I craue So shall my faults and carefull crimes theyr due deseruinges haue FINIS The third Booke ¶ The booke to the Reader Elegia 1. IN Fearefull wyse an Exiles booke am sent â—he towne to see Thy helping hand to weary â—râ—nd â— Readeâ— â—end thoâ— mee Nor doubt thou not least I be cause perhaps to worke 〈◊〉 sâ—aâ—e No versâ— in tâ—is dot◠〈◊〉 to loâ—e wheâ—ebâ— to â—orce â—he saâ—e â—or maisters fortune hath â—en such alas vnâ—aâ—â—â— wight Tâ—at 〈…〉 Iesâ—es or 〈…〉 And that which â—e in 〈…〉 To late â— wofull wâ—â—ke doth nâ—w â—ith 〈…〉 dâ—fy Bâ—hâ—ld theâ—efore what I do bring 〈…〉 â—hought at al Such 〈◊〉 â—eete in 〈…〉 as doâ—â— to 〈…〉 Ecâ—e other 〈…〉 The weaâ—y â—oote or â—engâ—â— of way the cause 〈◊〉 of â—aue deenâ— I am not staynd in Câ—dars say nor wrought with Pâ—â—nice bright For shame it were to be mâ—re braue then mayster may with right The letters sad whereof the blots bereft of wonted grace The sorry teares that worke hath hurt which feâ—l from Poets face If any word he wrested haue from light of latin sence The bâ—rbrous land haue forâ—t thereto and cause proceded thence Then tell if payne be none which way O Râ—ader is most sure Aâ—d by what steps a straungers booke my passage may procure Whyle these I spake with stamering tongue and closely all aâ—one My iourney so that â—olde there was among them aâ—l but one God graunt thou may which Nâ—so to hath bene denied playne That in thy country here maist bide and 〈◊〉 rest obtayne Guyd one I shall pursue although by seas and land I sought All tyâ—ed long my wery feete from furthâ—st country brought Oâ—rying then and passing forth quoth he this is the gâ—te Of Caesars Court and waâ— the name from Gods haue growen but late This is the vestale place that keepes dame Pallas and the fyre This is the Pallace small whereto King Numa did aspyre From hence on left syde looke quoth he Satuâ—nus house do stande Heere Romulus the lofty Rome to build did take in hand And wondring much forthwith in sight I glitering armour spyde And royall gates with heauenly bowers in perfect vew descryde Behold of Ioue the house quoth he which we may so deuine By royall Crowne of Oken tree that high thereon do shine His name once hard forthwith I sayd we haue deuided well Oâ— mighty Ioue it iâ— the house and he therein do dwell But â—o what cause the noble gates be hid with Lawrell greene Or why the tree with braunches spred hath made his beire vnseene For that this house of tryumphes brane deserues eternall fame Or els because Apollo great doth dearely loue the same Or that it sacred is or els all thinges of it must neede Or els of peace the tokens playne on totall earth do spreede For as the Lawrell greene do growe and neuer fades away So â—â—â—lesse honor here remaynes which yeldes to no decay The letters eke which written be about the statâ—ly Crowne The enâ—â—gnes be of his defence the Citizens haue founâ— One faythfull man except alone who dryuen full far away Doth lurk aloofe in furthest land oprest in deepe decay Wâ—o thougâ— he doâ—h confesse himselfe to haue deserued payne No wicked deede was cause thereof but error proued playne At royal place and mighty man O wretch for â—eare I shake And doleful woefull letters smal through tremblyng dread do quâ—ke Thou dost behold to sickly hew my paper pale do chaunge And dost regarde ech other foote â—o haâ—t with trembling straunge And at what tyme before the lordeâ— and rulers of the place In sight thou shal be set I pray thee pleade thy parentes case From thence with slender pawsâ—ng pace to â—ofty steps was brought And stately Temples built on hie of great Apollo sought Euen where on mighty pâ—â—â—ers playne the nobâ—â— picture stande Beâ—ides and the cruel syre with naked sword in hand And where the auncient writers learâ—de with learned hande did wryte Which readers all may there behold and there do stand in sight My brethren there I loked for saue tâ—ose I cold nat â—â—ide Wâ—oâ—e byrth the father did repent and so did wish in mynd And