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
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
she doth appeare But fewe there be that can attaine the truth away to beare For riches to be chiefest good the greatest sort do say An other part doth honour take to be the chiefest away And diuers men in diuers things the chiefest good doe fynde But I the price abeue the rest to pleasure haue assignde And this my part I trust I can by reason good defende It is the marke that all shoote at and eke the finall ende To which the actes and dedes of men be altogither bent Euen as vnto th appointed marke the shooters shaft is sent Who euer would the earth with rakes or Seas with Ores haue tryed Or martyall power by force of armes who durst haue occupyed In fyne who euer would haue sought vertue to come vnto If pleasure then or hope thereof dyd not enforce hym so For this the chiese beginning is the midst and eke the ende Of laboures all for proofe therof thy minde a whyle attende All workes if chagent reason haue vnto some ende are donne The workmaÌ„s handes it moues therto and first in minde begonne It is But last of all the deade it selfe comes forth to lyght The ende therof is good therfore the worke doth more delight The will thereof with great delight the ende for to obtaine Doth force the labour light to be the cause is pleasure plaine For truely nothing else it is but pleasure of the minde And synce by reason harde it is to teache the rude and blinde I will attempt by simlitudes the truth for to declare Why delues the plowmaÌ„s clubbishe haÌ„d teares the earth w t share For all the heate of flaming dogge hys worke he doth not space Nor hoary winter froste Why fears the shipman not in minde The raging rage of surging Seas with threarning Rocks so blind Despisyng death at hande in hope of maste with sayly pyne Why doth the Captaine to the fielde hys manfull minde encline And uÌ„ersly doth reioicewhen as he heares the Trompettes blow With hynteng noyse of foming horse hys heart begynnes to glow Why doth it some delyght alwayes with papers pale to bee And bookes of diuers authors made with daily paine to see Certes for that that after time when labours long depart SoÌ„e gaine or same may giue him cause for to reioice in heart For if so be that fame and gaine should not the minde ascende With ioye both vertue artes withall would soone be at an ende For of it selfe the ende is sweete and for the ende is thought Both middest former facces so sweete it forceth also nought Of vyle or else of honest state the dcades do seeme to be For as the lewde lycentious man reioyseth vice to see In vertue lykewyse euermore the good mans Joyes doe stande All things therfore for pleasures sake we surely take in hande For pleasure men decline froÌ„ harmes for this they gaines require Things worthy praise or else reproche through this they doe desyre With onely this the Goddes aboue contented surely bee For profyte is for them vnmeete synce nought they lacke we see But thou perchaunce wilt say the gods with honest ioyes abounde What then If with such ioyfull goods in them no ioye is founde As if thou shouldest w t glistering golde and pearles a stocke aray An other thing here adde as oft as cause be perfect may It nedefull is the like effect from thence should then proceede When as therefore that force of lyâ—e is well disposde in deede And châ—efest good obiect to it it alwayes doth retayne That this is happiest happinesse denieth no man playne But now from out such fountayne loe is pleasure forst to runne With musick so the eares reioyce of numbers apte begunne So is the syght wyth beauty pleasde the nose with goodly smell This iudgement eke I do pronounce of other partes as well What sayst thou now to Uenus worke that creatures all doth make And this the pleasauntst pleasure is except thou truth forsake Moreouer yet both payne and griefe since greatest yls they bee Contrary eke to pleasure now by right we pleasure see To be the chiefest good deserues of contraries also The reason lyke contrary is that sad things to forgo By natures force all things do seke and pleasures do embrace Who may beleue that once wyl vs deceaue that natures grace The chiefest good therfore it is that creatures all do loue But what loue they or seeke they for but pleasaunt ioyes to proue That we must vertue seke agayne some sort there be that say By swet and colde while here we liue and pleasure cast away And after death they say we shall in perfit pleasure liue Which good to those that do him loue prepared hath to giue This voyce wyth reason cannot stande but shewes it selfe as vayne For that the soule doth after liue when death the corps hath sayne Or that it lurkes in lothsome lake of Tartares griesly den And payes the paynes of his deserts and takes rewardes as then Of former factes ought none beleue except his senses fade 〈◊〉 fooles it is your Poets mad that haue these fables made Who euer wonted were to write such foolishe fayned toyes Whereby they might delight the eares of fooles with frustrate â—yes The yrksome place they fayned haue of Stigâ—an â—iraunâ— fell Wher flames y e â—ouds of PhiegethoÌ„ that burnes with roaring yell Whereas the triple headed dog and Tisiphone doth dwell With adders arinde of payâ—ted hewe and gressly Gyaunts great wyth dreadfull darkenes doide of lyght and fyres whose flaming heat Consumes no wood where frieseth cold without the wynters space The bote without the force of oke here creketh in this place whâ—lste her wyth soules doth â—uerlode the aged Ferriman Here Sisiphus the stone torments and Tantale waters wanne The sâ—isty ristye vesselles heare matemurdring systers beare From whence the waters out do gush that kept in vaine are there Much more than I haue heare declarde these Poets pâ—lde haue taught In hell to be which are not true of children to be thought O gods how great a lacke of wit there is in euery place How prone the way to trifâ—es is and credite you this case O voide of wyt which neuer coulde by reason ought be proued Nor by no sense may be desernde with feare why are you moued Of things so vaine who credites mosâ— is most himselfe deceaued These are I say deceitfull things whereby be priestes releaued For when that once our vitall breath is faded cleane away No more we be than first we were before our natall daye O to much weake to fraile and proude O nature bolde of man whereby doest thou perswade thy selfe to liue for euer than Leaue of therefore thou lumpe of claye the yeares of gods to wyll â—ll things begonne shall haue an ende nothing remaineth styll Both cities great and mighty men and vastye realmes withall The hautiest hylles and greatest flouds doth time at length let fall And thinkest thou O fading dust for euer
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
as doth the sunne full bright Amid the starres and doth despise the force of fortunes might And vnderneath his fete doth treade eche harme wyth constant minde Nor moued is besyde wyth feare or dread of death vnkinde Nor feareth once the paynes of Hell but takes wyth myrth his graue And laughes to scorne the fansies fond that common people haue Not douting here this lyfe to leaue repleate wyth wretchednesse And ful of toyles hereby to get eternall quietnesse In fine he equall is to Joue to him adherent be Four things For wel he counsel giues and clearly iudgeth he All error quite from him remoude he guideth also right Both humaine things and eke deuine are subiect to his sight This last that I haue here rehearst is chiefest of all the rest Than which there is no greater thing that here may be passest But no man can this wisedome haue tyll cleane he purged bee From euery haynous vice and crime and all iniquitie For wisedome doth deny to dwell amyd the sinfull hart And hateth eke the mindes vnpure sith she is purest parte And no man can this wisedome haue except he be discreate And learned be in many Artes know these to be the feate Wyth which is wisedome free obtaynd wherof I would say more But time commaundes me here to shut and end this booke before My Lions tale hath long enough continued here hir stile Wherfore my muse now hold thy peace and rest thy self a while Virgo the sixt Booke SOme I beleue of cancred minde and of malicious face Who thinke they only know the troth and only haue the grace Al doutful things wyth iudgemeÌ„t right and knowledge full to trie Wil say I neuer tasted yet the blessed springs that lie In Aone fieldes nor sacred flouds that Phocidos doth frame Nor that the Laurell leafe I doe deserue nor Poets name Bycause I write not fansies fond and monsters maruellous And fayning not deceyue the eares of such as credit vs. For they suppose the Poets parte is only lies to tell As if it were a thing to vile for them wyth troth to mell And lawfull not their iudgements I accompt both naught and vayne And sweeter semeth farre to me the truth for to retayne To aged wiues and witlesse boyes such trifles I be take Some barke abrode the battels big that Giauntes great did make With Gorgons grun and Harpies vile and mighty Ciclops wilde And shipmen sore enflamde with song of plesaunt mermaides milde with Circes old that monstrous hag and beastes that thre heds weares Chymera vile and Atlas strong whose mighty shoulders beares The starry skies ichangd to rocke that cloudes hath forrowed eft with Persea hie and Tantalus Promotheus wretched theft And Titius stout and Belides and what so euer more The doting grece hath Latins taught in long time here cofore I wish not I so much to drincke of Aganippes streames Nor seke I so the Laurel leafe of glistring Phebus beames with Juey leaues the hears to decke wherby I so might fain A poet thus to be I blush and am ashamed plam If nedes we must suche trifles wright and vse suche pleasaunt lies Troth thus despisoe of many toung is had but few are wise Beleue me well and many wright with hauty verses hie And many haue the Grecians toung and latin perfectly And while so many thinges they know their wisdome is but thin With regal wordes theyr stile is dekt but small effect within The outward Image only shewes and picture light we spy But what good thing remains therin what frute is had therby What learneth he that readeth them what knowledge hath he got But dreames and folish fansies fond that lise here profit not which for to know and not to know is all of one effect Though they me Poet call or not I wil not yet neglect The troth to say and lies to shunne truthe makes the perfect minde which who so euer most doth know approcheth niste the kinde Of saintes aboue and happiest is although the folishnesse Of people rude him not commend nor prayse his worthinesse Nor fauour him as he deserues nor titles of him tel Wherfore my muses now approch and Sicophants farewel Behold I enter now the way which with a lothsome shade The Cipresse and the Yeutree hides with leaues that neuer fade The doleful fieldes and darksome raign of Proserpuâ—e I see Wherin the Letheus riuer runs with streames that darkned be Amid the poyson fieldes abrode doth slepy Popey spring On silent shores Calliopey wherto dost thou me bring What monsters for to se dost thou commaund what noyse to harke With doleful noyse of irksome Owles soundes al the wodes so darke The Howlats cry with woful tunes and loud lamenting noyse O muse wherto dost thou me bring behold with wailing voyce The hilles and valleis all do roar and â—ccho back doth beat The mourning times an answer giues what grief is this so great What is the cause of mischief such what kinde of people those That all be cladde in mourning blacks and wailing vesture goes What men are they that thus in blacke with weping fil the skies Alas what sight of bodies slain lie here before mine cies What hath here causde this bloudy broyle who made this slaughter fel How many kinges and bishops bones lye here I know them wel Is yen same death aloofe that comes with bloudy sithe in hand With dredful face and ghaslley looke before whose face doth stand A thousand heapes of sicknesses a thousand daungers cake O armed with to fierce a gard my thinckes I hear him speake With clamoure great as he doth come to him I wil geue eare And what I hard wyth all my hart I wil declare them heare That death I am that with my sythe right downe do cut like hay All thinges that liue vpon the earth the rule and eke the sway Of all the world hath I oue me delt and biddes me none to spare But hie and low to slea and kil them downe with equal share Wherby may none escape my handes not one can flie from me The hauty heds of mighty kings by me suppressed be The pride and pompe of prelates flour I cause a downe to fall No kinde of creature here doth liue but vnto vs is thrall Although he flying pearse the partes of northern Boreas ground And passe the ragged â—iphean rockes yet shall mine ire be found And he my power and stroke shal fele or though he do descend The southern parts wher shineth bright the starres to vs vnkend Yet there he shall me surely finde and finding me shall die â—y sithe both East and west doth kill I set not richesse by How many men hath this my hand downe cast from state on hie And hedlong shoued with mortal might in darksome graue to lie I wel remember Priam once when staine at altare stone He sacrificed was to me the guid of Macedone The proud with fighting hand that put so many realmes to flight To
fame Why bragst thou that thou doste descende of noble stocke and bloud Great spres thee got what then if thou thy selfe be nothing good If thou a villaine doe defyle and staine thy familye Then is thy bloud no honour sure but meere reproche to thee Thou art a Monster shame to them from whom thy bloud doth passe As when the stately Lion stoute begettes a sely Asse Or Ape of Eliphant is borne for noblenesse not so Is left you here by Testament nor vertue giuen so As house and land and housholde stuffe this nature cleare hath delt Unto thine Auncetours before which yet they all not felt For if thou shalt the lyne well searche from whence thou fyrst wert twinde Thou shalt perchāce of thine own bloud full many a cobler finde And many a Carter cleane and one of them thou shalt well see was first that causde in time thy stocke such Gentlemen to bee which as it did in time encrease so time shall it decay For time doth here bring euery thing and time takes all away Amongst vs all what man to come of Pompeis bloud is founde Of Cesars line or of that man to whom did Affricke grounde A surname giue by vertue great what man would once haue thought That such a stately stocke as these should euer come to nought The highest houses often fall and come to meere decay Oft comes the little house aloft of man the srate alway Can not endure The skyes aboue doe alter mortall things But thou wile saye what kinde of seede is sowne such fruite it brings If I of noble stocke doe come then shall I noble bee Not so for oft a squall is borne of goodly men we see And fayre and eke welfauourde men yll fauourde knaues haue got Of witty men haue Asses come The mind engendreth not As doth the corps of fathers seede nor in the fathers sure It lyes to giue the children minde This nature doth procure What fruite can noble seede vp bring if skyes doe not agree Most true it is that people say the yeare not husbandrie Doth giue the corne a good encrease if see de amyd the grounde Though best be cast and thereto starres agreing not be founde There of will eyther Darnell spring or lost it els will be Thus noble children for to get the father not we see Sufficient is except the grace of Heauens him permit That many base proue noble men of this here chaunceth it Who by their vertue and desertes obtayning fame thereby Did after noble make themselues What was the Vergill hie What was the famous Cicere what Cato wyse deuine Or what else was Horatius all borne of franklynes lyne Of whom did learned Homer come whose syre nor countrey we As yet doe knowe Demosthenes hys father tell thou me And mother of Euripides declare the worthy line Of Socrates of him I say from whom the sawes deuine Did Plato learne who counted was as then Apollo thought The wysest man hym Mason got that in the Marble wrought And eke a Midwyfe was hys dame We also well doe knowe That many haue bene crowned Kings whose parents were but lowe Not seldome Emperours haue come from base and small estate To honours hye what sayst thou then syth all degenerate Both horse dogges and other beastes from their long wonted kinde For nothing can long time endure but all things worse we fynde In time to be by natures rule and law that still endures Of destenies till that againe an other byrth procures Restored state this altering the worldes chiefe grace I take This is the htest workmans prayse of little things to make Great matters and the ample things reduce to smal estate To chaunge the face of euery thing and styl to renouate Most prudently al things in tyme. I do not here deny But that it is a goodly thing to come of parents hye And to be borne of auncient bloud for it is worthy sure With ayde and good examples eke such fathers do procure Their children like themselues to be if Fates do not say nay Or nature strong of force to much which who so seekes to stay As wel may clime wyth heaped hylis in heauens hie to dwel Depriuing Ioue of regal seate as fame to vs doth tel When Phlegurs fieldes the tumult felt of ghastly Giants stout How then the great Enceladus by force did bring about The great and huge Olimpus hill with Ossa for to lie While Ossa then was ouer pressde with mighty Pelion hie But yet we count not this ynough though all therefore thee call A Gentleman and thou art fayre and framed well withall Of pleasaunt face and farest well and goest in proude aray And thereby she west thy noble stocke for this no man can say Thou art a Gentleman but that dame Fortunes grace is thine And thou full like a golden puffe and like a marble signe But who regardes for now ynough it is to haue the name Of vertuous and of gentlemen eche man to seeme the same Desyreth more than it to be O Gods aboue that guide Now names of great magnificence and titles hie besyde All men desyre and arrogate they hunt and it possesse The Asse a Libarde calles himselfe the Ant a Lionesse Who will not gentle iust and wyse well learnde and honest now Be counttd here contented well with barke alone of bowe And outwarde shadowes of the thing that vnder such a cloke His wicked maners he may hide Now name beares all the stroke And not the thing well take therfore this noble name to thee As Pasquill is at Rome and as both Thecues and Harlots bee Be noble thou like marble signe I put the case a Gentleman by name and eke in deede Thou art what good shall it thee doe hereof what shall proceede Thou aunswere wi lt I shal haue praise and honours shall obtaine Are these rewardes not to be sought or seme they to be vaine Of noblenesse doth vertue breede of vertue prayse doth spring And honor eke I wil not for it seemes no lawful thing With vertue finde a fault but if with cleare and perfect eye Thou shalt beholde the truth in deede then shalt thou playne espye What grefe payns this vertue brings and bytcer lyfe doth make Though they that are of Stoik sect this for to graunt forsake And fyrst we wil the mortal parte beholde so difficil That who so seekes it for to kepe must needes employ his wil Great cares and labours for to take wyth nature warres proclayme And fight he must for nature so doth minde of man constrayne Both weake and prone in vice to be and vertues enimy O God ful soone in vice eche one doth fal ful readily What is the cause that nature is of man so naught and vile Was this thy fault Promotheus or doth the fiende beguile And plant such illes in mortall brest as fame doth playnly tell And causeth loue of wickednesse The way that leades to well Ful hard and sharp and paynful
I go And leaue this fylthy world I wyll where thousand mischieues flowe Where fayth is none where godlinesse where iustice none doth dwell Where peace and quietnesse is fled where vices beare the bell Where brother sekes the brothers blud where sonne the father hates Where discorde euermore doth raigne and guile in maried mates No man there is at least but rare who if he can not steales Who robbeth not who doth not fayne and who not falsiy deales That well this world may now be calde of theeues a gaping den Loe Kings and Bishops proude besyde by name of Godly men The commons poore do powle and pyl and Citizens do shere And simple innocents destroy what should I recken here The horedomes great committed now all flowes with vice we see The naughty act do yong men vse and close misused be Who plants not hornes in neighbours heads the balde religious frye Who should be chast abrode with hores or close wyth boyes do lye To widdowes graue or tender maydes the holy priestes do crepe And some within their kinsfolkes bed haue great delight to slepe Some slaues w t bests themselues defile the fieldes and groue of tree And euery towne is now a stewes And harmes that instant be And daungers great that haps to men and labours great and sore And al the supersticious sorte of false religious lore What nede we subiectes now to be syth O the shameful state Unwytty and grosseheaded fooles and they that learning hate To whome the dice and Dogs to kepe with byrdes of rauening kinde And horses ryde with other toyes is all their chiledish minde Do Scepters holde and peoples guide and gouerne Cities strong Here of such errors vp do spring with folishnesse among Hereof so many vices breede if this thou callest to minde Thou shalt not feare this foolish worlde and nought to leaue behinde Yea thou wilt count it wel that once Calanus and his feares Did bring to passe who slewe theÌ„selues to scape these wretched yeares And staying death with hand did haste nor longer would preserue The dying Corps nor wretched flesh with labour long to serue And if religion sayd not nay and lawes of Plato hie And GOD himselfe I would persuade thee forthwith for to die And wicked chaunce and wretched earth to leaue as vayne and nought Not wine as wine desyred is but wine and good is sought So life as life is nothing worth if goodnesse lack we see If it be naught as wine corrupt let it despised be For life it selfe we nede not wysh nor fled it ought to be The worme the flye and euery stone and barke of euery tree And euery vile and little thing doth life in it possesse No kinde of thing desyred is where wanteth pleasauntnesse If it be not both life and good I see no cause whereby It should be wisht or may be loued Therefore who feares to dye Is but a foole since he desires such hurt and harme to byde Both of the body and the minde with labours long besyde Before he would al kinde of grieues with flesh from him expel And euer in tranquillity and perfect rest to dwell Or leauing members here behinde to liue for euermore Where he shal want no kinde of thing nor sorrow feele nor sore And with the saincts togither there about the world to flye More swift than al the windes that be beholding things on hye Except the dregs of vice him stay and force him styll to dwell Beneath in Corners deepe of earth amyd the raygne of Hell When thus this Lady fayre had sayd she rose and stode by me And on my head refusing I she put the Laurell tree And thence departing forth she flewe where shining starres we see ¶ Explicit media Pars. Libra The seauenth Booke MY muse a lofâ— raise vp thy self and vse a better flite MouÌ„t vp a hie think it scorn of base affayres to write More great renoune and glory more in hautye matters lyes Uiew thou y e Gods and take thy course thorowout the starrye Skyes Where spring time lastes for euermore where peace doth neuer quayle Where Sunne doth shine continuallye where Light doth neuer fayle Clowde causer Southwinde none there is nor boystrous Boreas blowes But mylder breaths y e Western windes where sweete Ambrozia growes Take thou thys way and yet somtimes downe falling fast from hye Now vp now downe wyth sundry sort of Gates aloft go flye And as some hawty place he seekes that couets farre to see The cause is fyrst before the effect the workman worke aboue The perfect thing bicause it doth eche parte in it containe And nothing lacks is stronger farre of greater force againe Therfore it makes coÌ„maunds moues and so by chalenge due The cause and Auctor eke of all it may be tearmed true But otherwyse thunperfect thing that maymde can not consist Is ouercome and moue it must euen as the perfyte list It doth obey and not commaunde and therfore must be named The effect and eke the framed worke and not the thing that framed So farre behinde it euer ought the perfect thing to goe For if vnperfite were the spring from whence all thing doe â—â—oe It were but vile and nothing wrought therof should perfect be As alwayes of thunperfect Arte vnperfect worke we se Wherfore beginnings more than one no reason forth can finde Bicause there is not to be knowne but one of perfect kinde From which the neuer fayling course and order of all things Doth come as from the Union fyrst eche other number springs Besydes it pure and syngle is that mixtures all hath made For nothing can compounded be but symples fyrst is had For fyrst it nedefull is alone the symples to be tryde And then in mixture all in one compounded to abyde Therfore no principall there is but one as I haue taught Which symple in degree we iudge and purest must be thought Whom if we think not for to liue in â—rror great wee fall If he liue not how liues the reasâ— synce by him lyue we all Doubtlesse he liâ—es and wisedome hath or else in order dewe How could he frame such goodly sightes except he all things knew Nor doubt we must but needes coÌ„fesse with mouth and eke with heart Him to be good Can he be ill of whom eche good is part Can bitter â—reames at any time from sweetest fountaine runne Or can the riuers pleasant be of bytter spring begunne For eyther nothing must be good or good must he be thought That is the spring of all the rest by whom the worlde was wrought Hym men doe call by diuers names but we that Latine wright Doe call him God and more we saye that Jupiter he hight Who fynce he is the first that was and maker of eche one Liues of himself both good and wyse receiuing state of none But all by him their states enioy who may lose that they haue Whensoeuer he lyst for to restraine the thing that fyrst
should this aryse As faynting feete in trauaile and the akyng arme oft tryes The cause hereof is bloud resolued by force of feruent heate For to much mouing it inflames decayes in fuming sweate None otherwyse than Feuers fierce the creature pale consumes When bloud or other humor hote thorowout all the members fumes Doth lyfe support and body feedes which whylest it quickning makes The mouing force possessing all the body quiuering shakes The heate and heated bloud besyde doth brede a liuely spright As waters warmde w t beames of SuÌ„ne doe yelde a vapour light Thys spirite enclosed within the bowels Thorowe all the vaines doth ronne And nere to hir doth serue the lyfe in what she will haue donne But those in heauy sleepes that lye how should they mouing make As some doe in theyr steepes aryse and weapon vp doe take Some in the stable takes hys horse some wrytes as many say And some hath earst bene seene a sleâ—pe vpon the Lute to play It must be knowne that of the thing the Image doth remaine In vs of all that we doe see or senses can retaine Thys makes vs think we see the face that late we gased on And that we seeme to heare the wordes were vtred long agone These formes within the secrete celles inclosed in the brayne A vapour moues which to ascende the stomack doth constraine And minde deluded so doth moue the body styres thereby If the resemblance be of force that in the head doth lye But tayle of L ysart or of Snake that cut in two doth sprawle Doth will it moue Or force of minde that Greekes doe fansye call As they whom rage of madnesse moues or to much drinke arayes Or dreadfull dreames do cause to shake or happens other wayes Perchaunce amongst the knotty partes of thys deuided tayle The liuely spirite enclosde doth searche all meanes for to preuayle In breaking out and wynding partes doth wrye as best it may And striuing long through passage smal doth get at length away Or that same part of minde that feeles deuided doth remaine In tayle cut of and causeth it to turne and turne againe Yet I suppose that euery thing wherin no iudgement lyes Can feele no griefe nor nothing else that we can here deuise For chiefest force by which we feele from knowledge euer flowes who knowes iudgeth most feeles most and most reioysing knowes But fooles and doltes care lesse for all lesse harmde lesse fearing styll They feele not colde nor heate so much scarce know they good from ill Not for bicause it smartes therfore the tayle deuided shakes For nought it feeles bicause the streÌ„gth from which it knowledge takes Is not in it but in the head in better place did lye Wherfore the former cause I iudge the trouth to go more nye Lo thus therfore is mouing made by which all creatures go Yet in the reasons past before we put thys one thing to That sundry times the present good when it might be atchieued Doth nothing moue nor is desyred bicause t is not perceiued Thus knowledge semes of mouing cause or chiefest as we see For who desyres or sekes the thing he knowes not what to ber For will hâ—r selfe of proper force is altogither blinde And cannot any thing desyre without the light of minde By whom if she be not enformde she takes she vntowarde way And with the she we of good beguilde hir vertue doth decay Of mouing this shall here suffise nowe let vs seeke to knowe How liuing things doe waxe so great what causeth them to growe And why at certayne tyme they cease a fiery spirite doth raine Thou giuest lyfe to euery thing that carcasse doth contayne This heate doth liuely moisture feede as flame of Candell bright When soone withdraw himself froÌ„ vs the Oyle preserues in light Thys in the stomack boyles the meate wherof the finest spread Abrode the synowes bones and fleshe wyth pyth and bloud are bread And all the body doth encrease as plantes wyth showers of rayne And warmth of SuÌ„ne them comforting doth ryse and spring amaine If that this fyre be much of force and moysture equall here As much as heate shall seeme to nede the encrease shall great appere At length it makes an ende and stayes when spent is all the heate Which fading body fades as shewes in them whose yeares are great For wasted they lyke pyned Ehostes their aged lymmes doe crooke And stouping low wyth hollowed eye vpon the earth doe looke For fyre is gone and liuely heate and moysture doth decay Without the which no lyfe remaines as Lampes no longer may Giue out their light than oyle doth serue but leaues and darkenesse brings Then let vs now the mouing shewe of minde and whence it springs A thing both darke and harde to fynde but yet we will assay With all our force to touch the trouth as nere as well we may And fyrst of rage that boldneth men and daungers doth despyse Encreaseth strength and giueth force as much as shall suffise Which mouing all as desperate vpon our foes we flye And bloudy battaile to beginne with sworde in hast we hye The cause therof is bloud enflamde and heart that sendes out fyre And bitter galle abrode dispersd for Galle is house to yre And choller matter ministers to rage and fury blinde Hence comes that creatures lacking gal are not of wrathfull minde Embracing peace refuse to fight but they whose bloud doth burne And greater rage of heate retaine to anger sonest turne So youth and so such dronken mates whose heads hath brink diseased Upon a smallest cause doe snuffe the minde therfore displeased Doth bloud and choller myngle straight then hande for weapon calles And skirmishe comes thus cuts are carued and wounde wyde open falles For fyrst the minde offended is and vexed by miury Which troubled moues y e body straight by these it semes they lye That say the minde can neuer styre for if it neuer moue The body styll to stande and staye it alwayes doth behoue For diuers mouings doe declare a diuers mouer playne The Sunne doth ofteÌ„ change in course and shaddowes change againe What is the cause that Organs giue now one now other voice But hande y t shyftes from diuers kayes doth cause a diuers noyse The minde affection inwarde fyrst doth take and close concele And makes some part or other serue when she wyll it reucle Disclosing straight to it whatsoeuer within in secrete lyes To th ende that plame it may appere and open to the eyes None otherwyse than when the king vnto his faithfull frende Declares the secretes of hys minde and after doth it sende To be proclaimed in euery place that it may plaine appere Hence springeth loue for wheÌ„ the minde doth fansye pleasant gere She makes the heart a minister and so doth loue declare In heart loue wrath feare lust hope wyth ioye and also care As in a tower with minde doe dwell and these as there begonne By meanes
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
obey For destny is the wyl of God where wyth the prudent wight Agrees and doth as it commaundes The fond and naughty sprite On the other part abhorres his lawes and shunnes the Lordes decrees But thou wylt say then is he free not rulde by destenies No but two worser lordes he serues and such as vilest be As wickednesse and folishnesse his syster in degree Though this the wyll of God doth cause but that which doth permit And not the wil that doth commaunde for of two sortes is it whereby appeares that al thyngs are subiect to desteny whether they be of good estate or of a vile degree For mischiefe desteny permits and good by force doth send And God him self cōmaūds frō whome doth desteny descend wyth reasous like persuaded some to this effect do say O mortal men liue ioyfully while that you haue a day And doleful cares from heart expel ne trouble once your thought wyth things that present here you see or after shall be wrought By fyxed law shall all things fall and passe by order sure Wherefore should griefe or foolish feare to sadnesse you procure Eche man hath here his lot assinde which written secretely Wythin his breast he alwayes beares yet nothing knowes thereby But profe thereof doth come to light vpon the fatall day When as experience doth reueale that erst in secret lay what nedeth sobs or wayling teares for back can neuer runne Celestial sawes nor nothing chaunge that God hath wrought or done For order best and perfect course if it should altred be It shuld be worse which may not chāce or better in degree But nothing of more perfect state than perfect can be found A doubt both great and maruellous doth spring vpon this ground For if al things as late I sayd are vnder Destenie Why frowneth God on some and lookes on others graciously why is not fortune like to al why seeth some happier dayes Than other do and nature why seemes she to some alwayes A stepdame sharpe and vnto some agayne a mother dere This knot it semeth good that we should breake asunder here By fault and by desert of vs a number thinke that this Doth chaunce and by decree of God such as haue done amysse For to be plagued and vertuous men good Fortune to receue But this by no meanes can be true nor I do it belene For what haue brutish beastes deserued what fault in trees can be Yet fortune vnto euery beast doth shew diuersity The theefe doth some conuey some dye vpon the Butchars knyfe Some wolues or sycknesse frost or flud some age depriues of lyfe Some leade their life more pleasantly and some wyth greater payne And vnto euery kynde of tree hys fortune doth remaine The east wynde cracks a sonder thys and rootes doth vpwarde turne Some sort are cut for diuers things and some in fiers burne And lyghtning spoyles an other sort To euery fishe and beast A certaine fortune is assynde by destenies beheast Yet neyther tree nor beast can synne And oftentymes besyde Misfortunes great the good man doth and vertuous man abyde On the other part to naughty men doth fortune fauour showe And graunts them eke in worldly welth and honors hye to flowe Thus destnye lookes not on desertes therfore some other way Or cause we must attempt to finde Perhaps some man wyll say The wyll of God is cause of all and seekes none other where Thys doth not yet suffise we must go syft the truth more nere For God synce he is wyse and best will not the thing permit That reason lackes but chiefest things commaunds as seemes most fyt Wherfore we must say otherwyse eche cause of causes all As from the fyrst it farther is so more vnlyke doth fall Syth God therfore is alwayes pure and euer one shal be The last of causes that from him is farthest in degre Shall double be and diuers seeme and worke shall alwayes frame In sundry sortes and altring state and this is euen the same That rules the earth and euery thing that earth doth here containe Therfore nothing on earth is seene that certaine is or plaine Syth fortune hir vnsted fast wheele doth turne in sundry sort And mortall men wyth diuers chaunce to guide hath chiefest sport But yet why smyles she so on some and frownes on other sort Why giues she some a lyfe wyth cares and some a princely port The cause of this is harde to knowe as if we should require To know the cause of raging heate we feele in flaming fyre Or wherfore worwood bitter is why snowe doth shewe so white wherfore some herbs haue force to hurt and others healing might And why some trees beare sūdry branch why in such shape they growe Or why some beasts haue subtile sense and some are dull and slowe Wherfore y e strawes doth Amber draw why Loadstone lyfteth hye The yron peece why it can not doe so the Diamonde nye Such things hath God in secrete shut and vnto mortall braine Appointed boundes the which to passe mans wyt doth striue in vaine As if the potter doe deuide in sundry partes his clay And it departed thus abrode to sundry purpose lay Why rather he of thys than that a pot or dishe doth bake Or bason broade Of thys a Crock of that a pytcher make Doth reason moue hint thus to doe or reason none at all But only wyll as he thinks best so frames he great and small T ys harde to know y e workmans mind Euen so who seekes to knowe Why fortune some exalteth hye and bringeth others lowe A thing to hye he reacheth at for God hath giuen powre Of earth to hir and of the world hath made hir gouernour That what she lyst shee may perfourme the force of desteny Excepted still for euery thing is gouerned therby why should not she doe what she lyst what law should hir restraine Ought seruants lawes for to appoint their Lordes for to constraine we all hir seruants truely are whyle we enioy this lyght And must in euery thing obey the pleasure of the spright Yet of our soules she hath no powre whose roote in heauen standes Thys onely God exempted hath from out thys tyrants handes All other things in earth or seas as she shall best deuise God suffers frely to be done both good and ill likewyse But some wyll say God then is cause of euery euill act And so vniust may well be calde for he that doth the fact And he that suffers it to passe doe both one fault commit And both lyke punnishement to haue the law adiudgeth fit Wherefore if God such illes on earth doth suffer for to raine And when he well may them forbydde yet doth not them restraine He shall be thought the cause of ill and mischiefe to embrace Thys part I also aunswere shall if God doe graunt me grace First therfore with attentiue minde it must be noted well That causes some be base and small and some againe excell In
rest in quietnesse Nor God should happy be if that as oft as we traâ—â—gresse He should be wroth â–ª moued with dedes of such as synfuâ—â—be But God can not be vexe or harmd if we the truth wyl se For of such might and perfectnesse of God the nature is And distant euen so farre is it from our iniquities That we from him do differ more and farder are by much Than is from vs the Asse the Flye the Flea or worse than such How then can we such wretches vile offend a Lord so great Or by what meanes may we him harm and force him thus so freat Is not this God of passïons voyd and free from griefe or payne And thereby liues in blessed state and alwayes doth remayne Doth it becom a Prince to fume when foles do fondly prate Or rather them for to contemne seemes it a giants state Wyth little children for to fight since he knowes al things wel And doth the things to come foresee I thee besech to tel Ought he such things for to create as should his pleasure spot Wherby he should be after grieued or rather ought he not That helpes the world to help himself or tel if thus diseased He willes it so if he wyll so he is no whit dyspleased But rather ioyes If he would not why doth he it permit Or is he not omnipotent he is we al graunt it Then ought he not to suffer it but yet he doth we see Whereby no kinde of griefe he feeles as reason teacheth me But leades his life in quietnesse Here thou perchaunce wylt say If that our synnes him not displease wyth al the force we may Let vs runne headlong into vice and neuer sinne forbeare Not so but to these words of mine giue thou attentiue eare And vnto thee of truth strayghtwayes the gates I shall disclose When any man doth synne then forth away he stinging goes From this same spring of good leaues both right and light and peace Wherby the synner euermore hys harmes doth still encrease Such is the state of contraryes that how much thou doest flye From one vnto the other straight thou doest approche more nye So he that synning flyes from God runnes to Sarcotheus next Whose yoke when he hath once put on with griefes he sore is vext And as the tyraunt doth commaunde is plagued in sundry wyse Thus no man synnes but punnishment for hym prepared lyes Yet God is neuer cause of ill as I haue sayde before As of hymselfe and properly But he that synnes therfore doth with his owne consent Unto the hangman giue himselfe to haue his punnishment But hereof springs two crabbed doubts for if that synne be cause Of al our mischiefe and our ylles and our vnhappy sawes Why often doth the wicked man his lyfe in pleasure trayne And dyeth wel the vertuous man doth many griefes sustayne And endes at length in misery Besydes before is taught That by no fault nor our deserts things good do chaunce or naught But rather seemes it from the power of certayne sprite to flowe Who guides the Seas and al the earth and ayre possesseth lowe How speake I thus in contraries my wordes do disagree But reader wel thou shalt discerne the trouth and verity And darknesse from thy mynd thou shalt behold farre of to flye If these my words thou wilt vouchsafe to heare attentiuely Know therefore double good to be one as the Commons wil The other as the wisemen iudge So of two sortes is ill The opinion of the common sort is worser euermore For grosse and doâ—â—she is their braine of iudgement lacking store wherfore the goods of body here and such as fortune gaue These onely they doe wonder at and these they seeke to haue But now the goods that in the minde are founde for to remaine They either know not what they meane or else they count them vaine The wyse man on the other syde the onely goods of minde Doth seeke to haue and doth despyse the rest and other kinde Thus followed we before the minde of rude and common men And as such people vse to speake so was my talke as then But from the rude and common sort my minde doth differ now As wyse men iudge of good and ill at thys tune I allowe And in such sort I say no good vnto the wicked man May chaunce and to the vertuous sort no euill happen can Which plainely will I now declare and clerely shall appere Fyrst thys it nedefull is to knowe what vice or cryme is here Is of the minde a sicknesse sore nor men are onely syck In body here but minde aye feeles hir wounde and greuous prick No lesse in force than body doth Thus euery euill wight Is syck bicause hys will is syck and iudgement is not right Whereby the wretch y e harmeful things more worth than good esteemes And sweter aye the filthyest factes to hym than honest semes Which if hys minde wyll were sounde coulde neuer wicked be But iust and vertuous should be found in thys they disagree And as the body all is ill when any of these twayne Diseased is with maladie the heart or else the braine So so alas the whole estate of soule is euer ill WheÌ„ as these two with vice are harmde the minde and eke the wyll As pleasaunt meate to stomack syck doth seme vnpleasaunt aye And protytes nothing vnto hym that sycknesse doth assay So sycke the soule no good thing can the wicked man come by Nor nothing profytes him at all which true I thus wyll trye Some men in lawes expert we see but full of subtiltie And couetous vniust and one that wayes not honesty What profites hym hys learning here what good gaines he therfore Alas he wretches doth beguile and spoyles hys Clyents poore And many other doth he hurt Learning vnto the naught Is lyke a sworde vnto the man that mad hath it vp caught For all things doth the wycked man abuse and make vnpure To others harme shame to himselfe and hatred doth procure And in his feete the thornes he set with anguishe often goes Or else he feareth them wyth hurt whom he hath made hys foes Shall then hys learning good be calde which doth so many blame And hurt like stinging snake ne spares the owner of the same And so of other faculties that yll men occupie Estemed them to be as good lyke reason doth dente But now the wycked man is riche wyth Golde and Jewels store Are not these riches good not so tell me the cause wherefore Lo here I tell bicause he doth abuse them filthily He kepeth hores and surfetteth and baudes therewith doth by With money gredy boyes corrupts and wyth great gyftes assayes The chastitie of maidens poore that happen in hys wayes And so that he may bring to passe what lust doth hym persuade Regardes no whit what lawes of men or Gods precepts doe trade Who if he once be couetous what crime dare he not doe
Thys wolfe w c bloudy mouth doth ragâ— eche folde to come vnto And runneth headlong into vice hys misch efe to contriue And euery where he followeth harde as vyle desyre doth driue Nothing may worse be suffered than fooles in welthy state Than riche men to be couetous than ill men fortunate Thus ryther lyke to beastes he doth with fleshely pleasures go Unto himselfe an ennimye and to hys purse a foe Or else an other Tantalus hys goods to much doth spare And heapes vp all ne knowes for whom these heapes he doth prepare And as the swine to his owne bsâ— himselfe he doth not feede But many mo who fruites of toyle doe snatche away with speede Wherby appeares no goods to be the riches of the yl But if he stoute and sturdy be and stomacke haue at wyll What doth he theÌ„ he stratght wil braul and with hys mighty yowre Now one now others shall he harme and mischiefe euery howre Most commonly a wartare goes or else becomes a chiefe That Tygarlyke by others bloud he may receiue reliefe Both warres weapons fierce he loues for mischiefe not for prayse whereby he to his countrey gettes both losse and shame alwayes Stout personage void of vertuous mind puts many men to paine Lastes lyttle time and seldome doth to aged yeares attaine But what nedes many wordes hereiâ— syth these exampies may Suffise the trouth therof to shewe and clerely to display Now meete it is wyth good aduise to searche if ought can be That harmes the iust and holy men as many iudge we se Sure harde it is yet boldely will I thereto trudge apace Presuming of Apolloes helpe and of my Muses grace Fyrst euery good man nedes must be of soule and minde both sounde Though sycknesse in hys body rage or ache in limmes be founde Least will and iudgement tyght in him doe lacke or not agre For voide of iudgement right wyll no vertuous man may be These two are the foundations wheron doth vertue syt Such men whatsoeuer they possesse doe iustly order it And therfore is their learning good their substance and their strength And finally whatsoeuer they possesse and haue at length For in the greacest sort of things the vse of them we se Is it that chiâ—fly causeth them both good and ill to be And if so be thimmortall Gods of men haue any care They chiefely ought such to defende as sust and vertuous are Which if they should not doe they semde all voide of reason cleare Unworthy cke of odour sweete of Church or seruice here Wherfore I doe not se what thing can harme the vertuous man Ne yet what ill in body or in minde he suffer can Syth God him kepes and norisheth and with his mighty arme Doth for him fight and sets him safe from euery kinde of harme For who helpes not or who doth not defende his frende at neede whensoeuer he can if that he doe beare him good wyl in deede But yet sometimes the good man semes to liue in misery To suffer nede and sicknesses and great aduersity When as in deede he is not good but playes the Hipocrite Wherof a number shalt thou finde that vnder simple plight Do secret hide their poysoned heartes and woluish natures playne And foolish men do oft beguile while they do vertue fayne And therfore god who knowes y e hearts and secrets of the minde Preserues him not nor loueth him But we wyth iudgement blinde And doltish head deceyued wyth sygne and shaddow of the right Think then the iust man suffers hurte and liues in woful plight Alas how often false and fond are founde the iudgements blynde Of men and eke how ignorant of truth is mortal minde Al please themselues and euery man in his conceyt seemes wise By this we cause the Goddes to laugh hence errors most do rise But here admit the iust man feeles both griefe and sicknesses And leades his life in pouerty and aye in great distresse Exiled from his countrey farre or pent in pryson vile Or vext wyth other casualties doth he take harme this while No for in suffring of such things more clerely shine he shall Al to the best to Godly men as God commaundes doth fall And as Physitians vse to giue the byttrest medcines oft Unto the sicke to bring them health and rayse them vp aloft So oftentymes God tries the iust to stirre them vp thereby That so he may them more compel their vertue to apply As pleasure makes men foles naught so payne doth cal to minde And chaseth vice a bytte to synne a spurre to vertnes kinde Seest thou not golde in fyry flame more precious to be made And ground more ferule for to be by edge of churlish spade And standing waters to corrupt On yron cast thine eye Is fayrer made by occupyings and rusts if it do lye Thus diuers things there are that vext receyue a clearer state As chiefly vertue that when as hir blackest mischiefes mate Appeares most bright as in the darke the fyre more fayrer shewes wherfore no kinde of griefe at al the good man euer knowes Or if he suffers ought his pa â–ª cience gets him greater gayne And medcine though it bitter be doth cause relcase of payne And least some man should think that I do tryfies fayne in minde The thing that holesome others feele is poyson to some kinde So vnto some wines hurtful are and flesh a harmfull meate So wormwood vnto many health doth gyue and pleasure greate So heate doth Snow and wax and I se consume and melt away which heat doth harder make agayne the earth or potters clay So many such in sundry states do worke in diuers kinde How eft the same wordes some delight that vex anothers minde Al things to al sortes are not lyke the wines that best we deeme If they in musty calke be kept both tart and naught do seeme Unto the sound are al things sound but such as sycknesse haue Them holesome meates doe sometyme harme and almost bring to graue So to my matter to returne the ylles of body than Or stings of fortune hurtful be vnto the euyl man But good and also necessary for such as vertuous be By which although they hurtful seeme they gayne more hye degree These words for this tyme shal suffise for now this booke to ende My Muse commaundes Chiron doth vpon my Pen attende Who coueteth of state of man to write and fashtons rife And open to disclose abrode the vestry here of lyfe Now therfore nedeful is for me my Muses tunes to ceasse And silent in the sacred woods to rest my selfe in peace And on the roofe of learnings lodge on hye to hange my harpe Tyll that these tymes be ouerpast and doubtful seasons sharpe Tymes much to be bewaylde wherein the discorde that doth broyle Among the states all Italy wyth warres doth seke to spoyle Whereby doth Rome lament hir cafe hir housholdes layd on ground Ticinum Narnia Melphis eke this fall
tymes of olde He knewe me straight for oft he had hys mothers hestes me tolde And when eche other greted was he much things asked of me And after brought me to a towne of hugest quantitie The loftye walles of Diamonde strong were raysed hye and framde The bulwarks built of Carbuncle that all as fiery flamde O Lorde what gorgeous houses there and goodly syghtes I saw As Temples fayre and Theaters and streetes and seares of lawe Al framed of syluer gold and stone and more of goodly kinde I there beheld but cannot now beare al away in minde And though I could remembre al yet God doth not allowe That coÌ„mon peoples heads shuld know the state of all and how I wondred at the number great that through the city so Al clad in white by thousands thick amyd the streates to go Their heads beset wyth garlands fayre in hand the Lillies white They ioyful beare Menarchus guyde of Cynthyus kingdome bright Remembring oft w t Himnes they syng and swete agreing layes Menarchus name they oft rehearse Menarch wyth Psalme they prayse Menarchus name did Eccho lowde resounding oft send out He vanquished in happy fielde th' Arcadian giants stout As then Timalphes tolde to me wyth wordes that were not vayne Once was quoth he Arcadia voyd of hylles and al lay playne There dreadful giants kingdome held as Maenalos the hye And Pholoe and Lyceus great that ioyed in woods to lye And Erymanth whose shoulders bare the backes of sauage swine Cyllenes eke that boylde wyth spyte agaynst the powers diuine Who fyrst before the rest presuming al of force and might Durst giue ill language to the Moone wyth wordes of canckred spite That they before hir long were borne and of more noble race And so that they deserue the names of Gods and higher place Besydes in rage a towre they built amyd the skies to looke O Nemroth larger farre than thine and wyth an yron hooke Attempted thrice from place to pluck this Goddesse where she standes Bloud red for feare to see hir selfe so nere to wretches hands Menarchus gaue them thrice repulse wyth valeant force and might And thrice the iuice out prest from gras of olde Saturnus spright Among them â—ast the poyson runnes straight wayes through al their bones Wyth chyâ—ling colde consumed w t payn they leaue their liues at once And vggly soules they cleane forsake which hel below receaues Wher as with paynes they plagued are that neuer after leaues But now their bodies quite destroyde by force of venome late Their carcasse turnde to lofty hilles kepes name wyth chaunged state Whereby this deede and triumph great in minde the Moone men heare And celebrate wyth solemne pompe this feast from yeare to yeare And to their king they worship make with great and ioyful cheare Thus passing forth we found a tower that all of Gold did shine Al wrought set wyth precious stones of sundry colours fine Here quoth my guyde no mortal man may euer set his feete We stayde therfore and by the space of large and ample streete On euery syde we might beholde approching soules at hand And there before the seate and place of iudgement for to stand Which placed was agaynst the towre and wrought right cunningly Three sonnes of Ioue and fayth begot syt there in seaâ—es ful hye To iudge the soules regarding wel of al their sinnes the store And vertuous deedes that euery man hath done in earth before Telescopus and Dorophon Philorthus frend alway To iustice these desertes and faultes in perfect balance way And by their iudgements very fewe to heauen did ascend But thousands of the same agayne to earth did downe descend And many also in the Moone they did commaund to stay Astonished long wyth gasyng syght at length I gan to say Declare to me good guyde quoth I if Hell beneath doth lye In deepest dongeon of the earth and to the Center nye And soules thereto conueyde they say the corse clapt vnder hearce Olde Aeacus and Minos there and Radamanthus fearce Do euer iudge and giue rewardes or else deserued payne How chaunceth it I here beholde the like thing done agayne Mannes mind quoth he in pryson dark of carcasse shut doth lye And forced by fault and ignorance is led by wayes awry By this is man to dreames and toyes of nature prone and bent And from the truth he wanders farre if grace do not preuent No maruel thoe if many things your Poets false haue song Bycause to treade the steppes of truth lies not in euery tong But thou haue alwayes well in minde these mysteries I tell All things are good and neuer fade aboue the Moone that dwell Nor griefe can vexe those sacred states But all that nature framed beneath the Moone is nought and ill And lawe seuere of death doth feele and force of time to spyll These places doth the middle spheare of Moone in twaine deuide Placde equally betwixt the worlde doth boundes to heauen bide Thus when that lyfe is fledde all soules are brought vnto thys place And here pleade gilty or vngilty before the iudges face By whose awarde to certaine roomes according to their deedes They straight are sent receiuing there for their desertes their meedes And euery one the henyer they with heapes of vice are made The deeper they descende the pyt of darke infernall shade Agayne the better that they be and farther of from crime So much they higher mounting vp more nye the heauens clime But they whose ylles do counterpease the vertues of their minde For to remaine about the Moonâ— are many yeares assinde Tyl eyther falling fresh to vice when many yeares are spent They turne to earth or purged wel are into heauen sent Loe thus he sayd But then agayne what is the cause quoth I That soules so fewe the starres approch and gayne the heauens hie Why runne they hedlong so to vice and Misers vertue flye Why more esteme they dark than light and rather synne to apply Than vertue pure where of to them doth so great madnesse rise What will so fond doth them beguile what fansy bleares their eyes Then aunswered thus Aretes sonne both I do it desire And mete it is that I disclose the things thou dost require And many other things besyde which thou thy selfe shalt say Are worthy to be learned here and to be borne away Since here wythout the power of God I know thou canst not come Who list such things to thee to shewe before the gates of whome No man aliue may once approch except by him assinde Then now giue eare and what I say beare wel away in minde But nedeful fyrst it is for vs a little hence to walke We went and in a lofty tower we both syt downe to talke From whence both seas land ful plain we might beholde and see Then thus from sacred brest this voice he vttred out to me As of them selues the soules can not be yll nor bent to synne Since
haue And doth remaine when death hath cast the fading corse in graue But me vnhappy wretch alas did pleasure swete deâ—eaue And fled away doth me in briars and many mischienes leaue For whilst that I in youthful yeares the â—â—ewes do oft frequent And while to feeding slepe and play my dolâ—â—sh minde was bent Nought would I lerne hating bokes did study much despise And learning scorne but now alas I see before my eyes My selfe vnlearnde of yll report in beggarly aray My strength decayde my minde appald my senses worne away Al this tyme haue I liued as he that lyes a sleepe in dreames Doth think him self awake to be deceyued by such meanes Like wordes to these doth vtter ofâ— the sâ—outhfull sâ—uggish man When age the neighbor nexte to death doth count to late as than His life led yll in youthfull yeares The greatest sort do shut the dore when Steede is stollen away And wyse they are when as to late their wittes they do assay And for Physitians faâ—â— they seeke when hope of health is gone O wretches whilst you here haue tyme looke wel thys tyme vpon For fast away the houre â—â—yes and fled can not reâ—ouâ—ne No teares can help the corse in graue nor sobbes for him to mourne That medcine only is of force which is in time applyed Therfore must vertue be embracde when youth is fyrst in pryde And then it nedeful is to to treade the perfect path of lyfe And vertuous workes to take in hand then reason must be ryfe And minde wyth councel must be rulde while yet but yong it is Least that with fonde delight deceyude it he adlong runne amysse Who so is wyse let hym in tyme wyth wisedome wel prouide For after wyttes are euermore to folly next alied And out of tyme it bringeth griefe be wayling al in vayne A hurt or losse that neuer can be brought or got agayne Besyde the wicked thirst of wealth and vile desyre of golde Must thou eschew for where a place this couetousnesse doth holde There rayne almost eche other vice as shameful periuries Ungoolinesse theft and disceyt wyth open robberies Guyles treasons and conspyracies wyth frayes and murders vile What needes it for to shew them all nothing besyde more vile Nor worse than is the couetous man that drownde in earth belowe Doth like the Mole no kinde of thing desyre loue or know Saue only riches of the earth for which he doth not feare Eche yll to work nor other God he doth acknowledge here But purse and pens his chiefe delight nor sees the vnhappy best How short the lyfe of man is here how frayle how sone deceast And how that from his bending bow death euermore doth cast His deadly shaftes that pearceth hearts of mortall men so fast And neyther spares the yong nor lernd nor yet the wealthy wyght But euery man wythout respect wyth bloudy blow doth smyte And oftentimes is neerest then when furthest of he showes And sodaine tumults then doth cause when no man of hym knowes But thou regarde not ryches here nor goods that subiect be To blinded chaunce nor let no care of such things tro 〈…〉 thee For proper vnto no man are the things which as she lykes Doth fortune giue and takes away when she vnconstant strykes Or passing doth wyth lyfe away to diuers men descend Nay other riches shalt thou seke that neuer shal haue ende On which no chauÌ„ce nor kinde of death shall euer powre obtayne These riches labour thou to get both dayes and nightes with payne For that thou shalt be truely rich and truely blest by that The others that the common sorte like fooles do wonder at And wish to haue if thou enioyest as money house and land Them vse and occupy at wyll who doth agaynst it stand But iustly yet and modestly and when thou maist or can Haue pity on the pouerty despise no needy man By this meanes shalt y e wyn thee praise and health for euer more And for this earthly baggage here the Skies aboue shalt gayne No man is he but sure a wolfe that doth not mercy showe That is not moued to see the state of others ouerthrowe But if of poore estate thou arte then beare it paciently And in good part sustayne the lotte of this thy pouerty For greater ouerthrowes hath he and greater griefe and care Whome Fortune most enriched hath and giuen the greater share And so much ouerlayd he is wyth wayght of substance great That by no meanes he can beholde the hie celestial seate For light and voyde of earthly dregges it him behoues to be That wil with minde ascend the place where as the heauens be For more a man seekes earthly state more falles he from the Skye And from the euer lasting light he farther of doth flye And eke in place where as a man his treasure vp doth hyde There lies his heart and there his mind doth euermore abyde Thus prouertie helpes many men vnburdning them therby That so wyth swifter wyngs they may vnto the heauens flye In lyke sort pride thou must auoyde the spring of stryfe and hate That with discention many times destroyes a common state wyth thys disease in auncient time was Rome nere ouerthrowne Opprest wyth rage of fury fierce that ciuill warres had blowne Flye thou thys fiende of hell if thou desyrest for to bee A friende of Gods and after death the Heauens elere to see No proude man loues the Gods aboue nor is beloued of them For God estemes the humble sort and lowly minded men And well he lykes the gentle mindes where no ambition lyes Thrustes downe y e proude suffers not to dwell with him in skyes wherfore you proude disdainful swarme what doth your pryde you gaine What helpes your great renoumed names and princely titles vaine which death in shortest time doth spoile and in the streame hath dronde Of Lethes flouds where synking lowe they neuer can be founde You seeke to please the common sort and of them praysde to hee Tell what distretion hath that state the truth of things to see They count you here as Gods to be and what doth follow then When Asses here in deede you are with outwarde signe of men Th vnskilfull sort you doe deceiue but not the Gods aboue But rather them to laughter oft and oft to wrath you moue For all your prety prankes they marke and priuie deedes they see But you O blinded Asses thinke no Gods at all to bee Nor yet beleue the Corse in graue the soule shall ryse to dome And therfore seke these present ioyes and scorne the lyfe to come A number great of beastes aliue in shape of men doe straye Hence springeth vp your errour great and cause of your decaye That with your grosse capacitie no other thing you see but bodyes grosse nor true things know but such as shaddowes bee The greatest sort delight in smoke and full with smoke they flowe O fooles what lighter thing thaÌ„ smoke what
thing doth vayner showe Or what may more be laughed at than honor to pursue All vndeserued and to despyse the cause of honor true We see yll men vnlearned and fonde in place aloft to stay And guide such as doe them excell whom they should rather obay For spitefull fortune stâ—ll doth sport 〈◊〉 mortall mans estate And out of order all confoundes as she doth lyke or hate Oft tymes exaiting to the starres the stouthfull seruile kinde Deseruing fetters for to weare or in the mille to grinde But if she were of good estate she would the world commit Of wyse men to be guided here as meete it is and fyt Then all things should in order passe and lawes in strength should stande And holy Sacraments be delt by Godly Prelates hande And God would then contented be to she we himselfe in syght But harebrainde Fortune alwaies doth in counter faites delight Yet thys thalmighty Lorde permittes Who could it well correct And why should not we suffer it For vnto what effect Is it the truth with reason strong to maintaine and defende Preuayling not but get thereby displeasure in the ende For wysedome is coÌ„temnde harmde with which no force doth raine Whom no authoritie supportes nor honour doth maintaine Therfore it is better not to speake despyse thou in thy minde The foolishe common peoples prayse and gyftes of Fortune blinde Applye thy selfe to please the Lorde wyth deedes of vertuous kynde And after death true honor thou and true renoume shalt finde That for the iust and Godly men prepared is in skyes Wheras the milde and lowly hearts doe ioy in ioyfull wyse But proude men wofully doe wayle in smothring fiery smokes Now last of all restraine thy wrath for anger rage prouokes And rage doth cause vnsemely wordes of naughty wordes doth spring Both brawles frayes of frayes comes wouÌ„ds wouÌ„ds do slaughter bring Anger doth so confounde the minde that dronke when bloud doth frye It knowes not what to doe and voide of iudgement runnes awrye Sraight griefe shame ensues y e deedes done vnaduisedly Shunne thys guide minde winne thy selfe with bearing manfully A goodly vertue pacience is which who so is without Must needes of force lacke honestie with cruell minde and stout Still vsyng for to braule and â—â—ght Frayes fittest are for beastes And quiet peace is farre more meete to dwell in mortall breastes The wyse vertuous man sekes peace all other things before And suffers things of smaller waight for feare of mischiefe more And well takes heede least that the cole that yet but kindling lyes Wyth fiery force of flashing flame aloft at length aryse Who naught can beare let him absent himselfe from company And leade hys lyfe alone in woods or else on mountaines hye And he that dwelles in company let him learne much to beare And to restrayne with brydle sharpe the wrath that him doe steare Dissembling closely wyth himselfe his anger that doth spring And neuer breake the bondes of peace for euery tristing thing Forgiuing stull the faultes of those that hym offended haue That he may so forgiuenesse get as he to others gaue Thus much of trayning of the minde I thought it good to touche Which doth suffyse to these I coulde haue added more by much But he that doth obserue these fewe shall neuer want the rest But easely all them obtaine that are not here exprest They all contayned priuily and closde in these doelye But yet it nedefull is the whyle the wysemens bookes to applye And causes for to searche of things and to adorne the minde With diuers arâ—es for voyde therof it is both dull and blinde And thus as hath bene sayde before those â—ooles and foxes well May vertuous be and frame theÌ„selues in seate of blysse to dwell These thigs while as my guide declarde in presens Mercury The poste of Gods and Atlas Sonne sent downe from Ioue stoode by And willde Tâ—malphes in hast the heauens to ascende For all the saints quoth he are willds on Ioue for to attende And Momus there appointed hath of wayghty affayres to treate If certaine Monks that placed are vpon the hauty seate That harde besyde the citie standes where passing by the walles To Venize goolfe the fyshie streames of Ariminum fall Oflyuing shall depriued be or else those partes forsake That contrey women vse to cut when they theyr Capons make Since that they are to coltishe waxt and beare their heddes to hye Despisyng men and filthy factes commit licenciously Example taking of their Prior fye fye to great a shame And can the Church abyde to see such Porkettes as these same That only liue to serue their paunch their lust and sleepy sense Which heard in hast Aretes sonne departing straight from thence Did me commyt to Mercury who going downe to Hell The speciall message of hys Lord vnto the fiende to tell Me fast embracing in his armes did through the cloudes conuay To ground what time as Clement Pope in campe with Caesar lay Within the walles of Bononye and Florenze City fayre With mighty force did long besiege Thus cutting swift the ayre With wyngs at length came Mercury to rockes that ragged lye Of S. Marinus hauty hylles that seeme to touch the Skye From thence in small descent he set me in thy fieldes so gay Verruculus and then to Hell in haste he takes his way Capricornus the tenth Booke AL haile to thee good Mercury from Stygian lake so soone things Art thou returnde declare what in Plutoes court are doone Great brawles raging mad vprodes what is the cause or why I wyll thee tell although in haffe I must to heauen flye So great a sort of Turkes and Jewes and Christians there remaine That place therein suffiseth not the number to contayne No empty rome there is but all ful thwact as they may he The Porches full and ful the Hall and full the courtes I see The Temples houses and the Streates the Walles and Market rowe And al the City fieldes and hylles and wooddy valleyes lowe So full that crowding thick they thrust and shoue wyth diuelish might With fyst and heele and tuske tooth in cruel sort they fight For of no weapon haue they skill nor sprites can euer dye Scarce could I passe the place vnto whereas the fiend doth lye But through y e mydst of swarming soules wyth force I make my way And wyth this rod to get me roome amongst them fast I lay At length the priuy chaumber of the black and vggly sprite I come vnto whom there I fynde in sad and doleful plight And when to him I had declarde my fathers full decree Commanding him that Antechrist should strayght vnlosed be From out the pyt and sent abrode to euery place and land That working wonders strange false and teaching that at hand The dreadful day of iudgement is and cude of all the rest May al thing out of order bring both Gods and man and beast As fixed
hope thereby of gayne to be possest And of the spoyle of such a sort some soules to beare away Unto the dreadfull dongeon darke These wordes he thus did say TheÌ„ whispring something w c theÌ„selues from thence they doe depart And mee they leaue remaining there alone with heauy heart For when Sarracilus had sayde that none on earth was wyse Immediatly a dolefull thought wythin my heart did ryse And thus vnto my selfe I sayde is wysedome euermore In vaine of vs desyrde and praisde and vainely looked for And only delt to saintes aboue Then of necessitie Here in this wretched mortall lyfe all men must foolishe be And laughing stocks pageants fonde vnto the Gods in skye O state in most vnhappy kinde of man in misery O rashe vnbridled wantonnesse of such as parents bee O filthy lust that doth beget the Children that we see What do you now you doe beget hoth fooles and wretches here A boy is borne be mery syrs reioyce and make good chere Fil in your cuppes and daynty dish vpon the table place But sone the childe shal proue a foole or liue in wretched case Or dying sone he shal departe vnto the Ghost belowe O blinded mindes that of the things to come do neuer know We mortal men in wretched things haue oft a great delight These words I muttred in my minde and wrapt in woful plight I went vnto my lodging strayght for sleepe opprest my eyes And made me reele Of wisemans state these wordes shal here suffise Now meete it is thy weried harpe my Muse at rest to lay And for to spare the iarring strings let vs this time go pray The Lord and maker of the world that grace he may vs send The other sygnes that do remayne wyth pleasant song to end For greater things I must declare than yet from me did flowe And sore my simple minde doth feare such Mysteries great to showe My watry signe shal search the partes of nature perfectly And last of al my labour shal set open wyde the Skye Aquarius the eleuenth Booke THe Loue of nature parent chief and great desire of minde The secret causes of al things for to reueale and finde Persuades me now agayne my selfe with Aeon streames to fyl And once agayne to rest on toppes of hye Parnasus hil My Muse draw neere bring thy Harp now neede thy wit to showe It is and of a learned voyce and verse at ful to flowe No smal things here we must declare I purpose now in minde Dame natures face for to disclose about the world to winde And fyrst what hath bene here before what is and what shal be Is called Eus this name contaynes al things of eche degree But of the sortes that God hath framde by power and wisdome hye Some leade their life of body voyd some eyther liuelesse lye Or else do liue in body here Of former state of twayne This Bâ—ke speaks not y e next shal shew in time that doth remayne Now Muse let vs the other shew The farâ—hest partes most high Of al the world wyth ample space encompast is of Skie That whirling round with dayly course doth al things here enclose Fiue Zones deuide it into partes but euery part of those Replenisht with his dwellers is nothing forbyds the same For colde can neueâ— hurt the Gods nor heatâ— can them inflame Such things do best agree wyth earthe the sacred Skies are free From colde congeled quiuering yse and fiers that flaming be Which though it rolle continually yet kepes it styl one place And from the parte where first it stode doth neuer shift his pace For placde betwene two fixed Poles it stedfastly doth stand And is sustaynde betwene them two by Gods almighty hand Whereof the one doth playne appeare to vs continually And doth beholde the Beares aboue that kepe their course so hye The other vnder earth is placde agaynst it fixed wel And in the night is sene to them that vnder vs do dwel This compast globe of al the Skie from East to West deuides As many Spheres in compasse round as there are Zones besydes That which is next vnto the Beare the Articke hath to name And next to him the Circle stands wherein doth Cancer flame Which doth constraine the SuÌ„ne to fal and backward to retire And farther of for to withdrawe his beames of flaming fire Then next in order doth ensewe the Equinoctiall line Which doth declare the dayes nights of equal length and tyme. Not far from thence by Capricorne another line doth runne Which cannot passe but doth retourne from hence to vs the Sunne The circle next that placed is vnto the South so nere Th' Autarticke circle hath to name contrary to our Sphere Beside these lines a circle crookt there stands in Skies so cleare By which y e SuÌ„ne in months twice syx doth passe a perfect yeare An other circle white there is whose course by knees doth trayne Of Gemini by Scorpius taile and by the Tropicks twayne And through the croked path of Sunne by midst of Archers string And passeth by the Centaurs legges and by the Egles wing And both the Carter and the Swanne and Perseus doth it touch And Paralels there are this name giue Greekes to Circles such And day by day the Sunne doth passe a circle of this kinde When as he falles amyd the West and leaues the East behinde Two Colures eke besydes there are the one where Sunne doth stay By Cancer Capricorne and both the Poles doth cut his way The other by the Balance runnes and by the Wethers face This shewes the times wheÌ„ night day are both of equal space Besydes a numbre great there is of sundry circles framde That passe by both the foresayd Poles Meridians rightly namde That ouer vs directly runnes a Circle more doth lye The Horizon calde the world in mydst deuided is thereby And wher our sight doth ceasse it stands thence terme the Greekes it so Besydes the Heauens parted are with many Circles moe And nine there be whereof the hyest that mouer first we call Doth rolling from the farthest Indes with Moores and Spaniards fall Within a day he runnes his race and fiercely doth he twine About with him the other Spheres in whome no Starre doth shine But cleane contrary to the same moue al the Spheres besyde And towards y e streames of Ganges great from Cales in course they slyde Wherof the greatst doth shine w t starrs that voyd of number be And scarcely in an hundred yeares doth moue but one degree And next to this doth Saturne stande aboue the other Spheres Who finisheth his course at full inspace of thirty yeres And next to him stands Iupiter that ende of course doth gayne In yeares twice syx Him Mars ensewes that turns in tweluemonths twayne Next stands the Sunne that as they say his iourney doth contriue Besyde sir houres in space of dayes three hundred sixty fiue Then next in place doth Venus rolle hir whyrling whele
finished it Or could he alwayes it haue done but would not vtter more What is the cause why rather would he after than before Or else what reason alterd thus his minde to other trade If naught it were this world to make why was it euer made But if it meete and profitable were this world to frame What is the cause that God so late created hath the same Wherefore hath it so short an age For if we boldly may Deuines beleeue eyght thousand yeres are not full past away Since Adam olde created was Beside whence doth proceede The cause why God shuld make y e world for that he this did neede If so he should at first it made least he should greeued bee The lacke of such a goodly thing so long a time to see If not why made he it in vayne â–ª ought he for to deuise The thing that to no purpose is of fooles this is the guise Therof theÌ„ was some cause but what of troth assuredly His goodnesse great and mighty powre least that in vayne should lye These twoo shut vp in secrete close but rather open be To eury man for mighty and good in vayne is coumpted he By whome no great nor godly thing hath neuer yet bene wrought If God therefore was euer good and euer mighty thought Why would he not haue alwayes builte this goodly world we see Why let he such a thing till nowe of late deferred bee No reason truly can be found except some subtile brayne Make more accoÌ„pt of â—oyes than truthe and foolish fansies fayne Wherefore if we to reason sticke then must we surely say That this same world hath euer bene and neuer shall decay But if that GOD sayd otherwise long since and then did giue To Moyses knowledge of his workes we Moyses must belieue Let reason alway yelde to fayth and there as prisoner leaue For GOD can not deceaued be nor neuer doth deceaue If any time he do vouchsafe by words with men to deale If that appearing vnto man his secrets he reueale But they that first this Chaos and continuall matter taught Do trifle much For why should God leaue it so long vnwrought If he forthwith could make the world and at the fyrst create All kinde of things In vayne it is for to deliberate That presently may well be done But some haue surely thought Eternal state the world to haue of no man made or wrought But of it selfe as now it is before all ages past And of it selfe as now it is for euermore shall last Which sure is false for reason doth hir selfe this same deny For two most perfect things can not in order euer lye But would fal out betwene themselues and strife thereby maintayne Well graunt that in a faythful league they alwayes do â—emayne In vayne two heads allowed are for one shall wel suffise Bicause at least dame nature ought before the rest to rise And if before the rest she be then is she cause of all For formost cause doth alwayes frame the things that after fall Wherfore doubtlesse the almighty lord this world himself did make Of nothing and eternall to But how the reason take Eternal goodnesse hath the Lorde eternal powre hath he May not likewise his wyll to make the world eternall be Which if it were as reason shewes nought letê but world may be Continuall built by workeman hie in such a fayre degree As who soeuer grauntê the Sunne continuall to haue bene Must needes confesse the light thereof continually was seene Yet is â—he light the Sunnes effect and Sunne the cause we call But let vs search the Elaments and from the Heauens fall And not vnworthy things of them let vs now vâ—â—er playne Some men haue sayd that vnderneath the Skies a fire doth rayne Neere to the Moone but voyd of light and kindling hastily And wondrous hote which to be true doth perfect reason try For in the night we may beholde the fire in Skies to flie And fâ—ashing flames throughout y e aire and Starres to shoote from hie Which doth proceede of damps that in the ayre do rise more hye And burned is by force of fyre that there alâ—ft doth lye For of twoo sorâ—ê is vapoure one light drye and soone begoonne To fire whereby the flaming sighâ—ê in Skies are causde to runne The other more colde more waighty grosse engendred of this same Are showrs clouds snowes mystes and windes with flashing flame And thunder haylestones deaw rayn if fier were none aboue No vapour there could kindled be in eueningê darke to moue Moreouer since in lightnesse thus the fire doth ayre excell No remedy but needes it must haue hier place to dwell His seate therefore is vnder Skies and next to Moone doth lye Beneath this fire hath ayre his place which in his partes most hye A feruent heate of fire doth take The myddle partes most colde Doth thuÌ„der clouds lightnings bredâ— and tempestê sundry folde The lowest parte is warme and moyst for vapour that doth rise From floudê continually it moysâ—ê ascending towardê the Skies And warmd it is by beames of Sunne that back from earth rebound Here â—â—sts showrs and plesant deawâ— and snowes and frostê are found Which sundry sorts of winds do breede for no small powre is dealt Unto these windes and oftentimes their force in ayre is fealt These can in time of Sommer cause the nipping coldes to come And in the winter season sende abrode the warming Sunne These can both giue and take away from vs our corne and grayne These can both breede and beare away great sicknesses and payne From out the East doth Eurus blowe and from the Libian coast Doth Auster come and Zephyrus from westerne parts doth poste But Boreas blastes in Scythian hilles and Northerne partes doth rise More windes there are all rule the ayre that lower lies And with the ayre both land and sea Of windes the cloudes do breede And from the cloudes do flakes of snow and showers of rayne proceede Dewes lightning hayle early frosts but with diuersty of times And eke by sundry wayes and meanes and blastes of sundry windes Whereof such as from South do blow bréedes cloudes showers heaty But those that from the Scythian partes do come cause coldenesse great From these coms yse snowes frostes when winter dwelleth héere But in the Sommer time they serue to make the weather cléere The westerne winde bréedes flowers grosid with gréene doth new aray And giues the birds a cause to sing and filles the woods wyth May. Oft times the Easterne winde is good yet now and then doth rayse Such tempestes great that seas land by force thereof it frayes These windes the ayry sprites aboue or Starres abrode do send And oft when as the Coniurer for treasure doth intend In earth to delue or consecrate his booke in Magike wise Some sprite to binde then haue I heard that windes which then did rise And
suddayne storme hath layd y e corne and grapes did downeward fling The matter making windes is mistes that from the flouds do spring The cause that moueth them are sprites that in the ayre do dwell But this will not the common sorte allow nor credit well What theÌ„ cast not such precious pearls to Dogs or filthy swine Beleue it you that learned are whose mindes are more deuine That not alone in Skies but in the ayre there thousands be Of sprites that moue the raging winds and tempests that you see And thunder down w c lightning throw Yet do I not deny But other causes are that blastes of windes are moued by As Sunne and Moone and Starres but chief the seauen which they name The wandring stars that of these mists effects do diuers frame I saw while as at Rome P. Leo the tenth there raygning than I was a peece of potters worke and picture of a man That from his mouth of straightest sise a mighty winde did blowe For all his brest being hollow made with water full did flowe Which being with heate of fire resolud out of his mouth it went In mighty winde and farre from it the force thereof was sent This proues y t wind proceedes of flouds that thus resolued bee While vapour mounting vp is forede by meanes of heate to flie For contraries do euermore eche other driue away In this same lowest parte of ayre as we before did say The blasing starres do oft appeare that fall of Prince doth showe And there with diuers colours died appeares the stormy bowe This same y e beames of Sun doth cause that on the cloudes we see The other made by some one starre of them that mouers bee Which while the vapour vnderneath doth shape thereof receaue Appeares a tayle and in the clouds his flaming light doth leaue Like as the Circled myst that doth encompasse round the Moone The circled mist as men do say a signe of winde to come As wheÌ„ thrée suÌ„nes are thought to shine and yet they are not thrée But shaps of suÌ„ne that framd in clouds as in a glasse we sée But vnderneath this ayre so grosse and lowe the Seas haue place The Occean Seas that all the earth in circuite do embrace Which passing through y e narrow stratghts where Hercles pillars showes It spreds it selfe and thus abrode both farre and wyde it flowes And this is namde by sundry names Aegian flouds it makes Ionian Tuscan Adriatike Red Seas and Persean lakes This Sea doth search the secrete caues that lowe in earth doth lye And euermore doth ebbe and flowe and tasteth diuersly As diuers is the earth by which he doth his passage make And of the brimstone sulphured vaynes doth smell of brimstone take This is the cause that fluds their cours mayntayne continually For to their springs they ofte returne and oft to seas they flye And roll and passe from place to place and round in compasse driue And do preserue the earth as bloud preserues the corse aliue The selfe same fluds doth make y e lakes and fennes of filthy ayre And cleare and Cristall ruÌ„ning springs and wells for euer fayre In fine from Occean seas proceedes all course of waters heere That round about the world retaynes This made the waters cleare That parte beneath the earth do lye and parte aboue doe runne And such besides as from the cloudes of Hellish dye do come But wherefore is the Seas so salte doth it of nature spring I thinke not so For euery tast that seas with them do bring Doth fetch his cause from out the earth for in the earth are found Great hilles of salte that vnderneath the waters deepe are dround Seas sucks this salte and doth resolue it into water cleare Thus Salte not Sunne is cause that saltnesse doth in Seas appeare For why doth not the Sunne likewise of Ponds salt water make For all such partes of earth as were not meete for man to take Bycause they were to full of salt hath nature vnderlayde The Occean seas more frutefull partes to vs she hath displayed Wherein are mountaines hils cliues rocks fields and valleyes lowe Straights countreys woods and pondê lakes springs streames that flowe Small townes great cities broughes holdes with â—â—ones and metalls pure Such things wherby the life of man the better doth endure The rule of all this earth and goods to man the Lorde did giue And made him King of eury kinde in seas or land that liue And wit and reason to him dealt by which he might excell And guide the world and seruing God him loue and worship well Amyd this earth a Center lies whereby it is sustaynde For thither falles eche waighty thing as God at first ordaynde That neuer of their propre force can from this Center flye And therefore fixed stands the earth and in the mydst doth lye Sustayned with hir heauy waight that fast on eury side To Center runs and frames a ball both darke and thick and wyde About the which wyth Crimsin horse the Sunne is alwayes lead And on the parte contrary styll the darkesome night is spread For nothing else but shade it is of earth and waters great Which shadow if in night it chaunce vpon the Moone to beate Doth cause Eclipse and filles w t feare the wofull gazers hearte Supposing that opprest shee is with charme of Magike arte This shadow makes the longest nightê when farthest from vs burnes The flaming Sunne and shortest when to Northerne signes he turnes The cause thereof is swelling earth and stately mountaynes hie Which subtile nature hath deuised in place betweene to lie That with their tops in change of time the nights they alter may For looke when neerer vnto South the same doth keepe his way Then farther forth their shadowes dark these hilles abrode do fling Such shades as hide the light and cause the day more late to spring And force the day in shorter time and space his course to ende Then frosty winter vnto vs his quaking colde doth sende Then soÌ„mer makes the Indians blacke with raging heate to frye But when the Sunne returneth backe to toppe of Cancer hie Then shorter are the nightê with vs and heate beginnes agayne Then winter vexeth those with colde that vnder vs do rayne Thus doth the SuÌ„ne with diuers cours both alter times and tides And in foure equall partes the space of all the yeare deuides And rolling round about the earth both nations serueth well Both them that vnder vs do liue and them aloft that dwell For men liue also vnder earth not onely woods and streames Nor nature willde that Sunne and day in vayne should cast their beames And onely serue for brutish beastes and sortes of swimming kinde For all the earth is dwelt vpon no place therein we finde Nor any clime there is but that there mortall men may dwell And finde out places fitte for them and seates that serue them well Though colde extreme or to much hear rayne there