Vatis Sunt in maternos quae tibi versa sonos Omnia quae pulchrè Musisque fauentibus ipse Scripsisti Vatum munere digna sacro To the right Honorable Sir William Cecill Knighte principall Secretary to the Queenes highnesse Maister of her Maiesties Courte of Wardes and Liuereyes THe fauorable accepting of my simple trauayles lately dedicated vnto your honor hath so much boldened and thorowelye encouraged me that mawgre the despite of most reprochfull tongs I haue not feared to finish the course of my long pretended race with no lesse profite as I trust vnto a number than paynefull trauayle vnto myselfe Wherin if I had knowen at the firste as much as since I haue perfectly vnderstode neyther had I as then taken vpon me so great an enterprise nor since so rudely finished the translation of so eloquent a Poet. For when I fyrste began to employ some part of my leysure aboute it making dilligente inquirie I coulde learne of no man that euer had attempted to english the same So that perceyuing my labour to be no hindraunce to any other mans prayse and lamenting to see so Christian a writer to lie hyd and vnknowen to the ignoraunt sorte I thought I should not do amisse if al that in me lay I bestowed in the albeit simple and slender yet faythfull and true translation of so vertuous a worke But since I haue certaynely vnderstoode that when I firste began to fall in hand wythall three bookes thereof were both eloquentely and excellently englished by Master Smith clark vnto the moste honorable of the Queenes Maiesties counsell Whose doings as in other matters I haue wyth admiration behelde so in thys I am well assured I should with an amased minde haue sene I woulde that eyther I had latelier begonne it or else that he had fallen in hand sooner with it wherby my grosse homely style might haue bene no hindrance to the fruites of so pure a penne But since it was my fortune so blindely to venture vpon it I truste my trauayle shall neuer the more be enuied I could not when I had long debated y e matter with my selfe finde out a Poet more meete for the teaching of a Christian life an estate in these oure dayes most miserably decayed than this no lesse learned than famous ItalioÌ„ Marcellus Pallingenius a man of such excellent learning and Godly life that neither y e vnquietnesse of his time Italie in those dayes raging wyth most cruell bloudy warres ne yet the furious tyranny of the Antichristian Prelate vnder whose ambicious and Tirannicall gouernaunce he continually liued coulde once amase the Muse or hinder the zealous and vertuous spirit of so Christian a Souldiour I haue many times much mused wyth my selfe howe liuing in so daungerous a place he durst take vpon him so boldely to controll the corrupte and vnchristian liues of the whole Colledge of contemptuous Cardinalles the vngracious ouerseeings of bloudthyrsty Bishops the Panchplying practises of pelting Priours the manifold madnesse of mischeuous Monkes wyth the filthy fraternitie of flattering Friers Which surely he durst neuer haue done but onely that he was heartened wyth a happy and heauenly spirite Which notable audacitie of his was wonderfully reuenged by the malicious hands of such as felt themselues fretted with his spiritual corsey For when they had not power to execute their tyrannie vpon his innocent body in time of his life their mischieuous malice was no whit ashamed to consume with fyre the blamelesse bones of so vertuous a man yea and that a great while after his death Besides the reprouing of the leud liues of the Clergie he boldly inueyed agaynst the gracelesse gouernance of proud pompous Princes y e licencious liuing of the riottous nobilitie the couetous catchings of greedy Lawyers the vngodly gaynes of foolish Physitians and the corrupted consciences of deceytfâ—â— Artificers affirming playnly that if they did not better beautify their christian names with a more christiaÌ„ life of so many thousands as haue in vaine receued that most holy sacrament of sacred Baptisme there should scarce three aspire vnto the enheritaunce of Heauenly ioyes What doth your honor suppose this man would haue written Unto how great a volume doe you thinke his works would haue amouÌ„ted if so that GOD had appoynted him to florish at this preseÌ„t time in England wheras pitifully raigneth such moÌ„strous horrible pride such cancred and spiteful malice such false fayned freÌ„dships such lack of loue and charity such professing of God in words denying him in works as doubtlesse is not to be fouÌ„d among the faythlesse Turks miscreant SarazeÌ„s or supersticious Jewes Better were it in my fansy not at al to profes his name thaÌ„ thus with diuelish life to make it be euill spoken of amongst the heathen The Prophet Esay 52. saith Vae vobis propter quos nomeÌ„ meum malè audit apud gentes Vae qui consurgitis c. Esay 5. It is not our christendome assuredly that liuing so vnlike Christians shall bring vs to Heauen as S. Chrisostome in these wordes doth wytnesse Sin vero ne tibi quidem ipse luce as ne propriam putredinem foetoremque detergas quibus te indicijs ego fidelem In Cap. 1. Mat. Ho 4 potero agnoscere an quia sacrati aquas fontis ingressus es at hoc ipsuÌ„ fit tibi grauioris viatticuÌ„ supplicij I would therfore wish that we should not to much presume of the securitie obtayned by a Christian name but that we should wyth al our endeuour apply our selues to shew such fruits as duetie requireth in the followers of Christe Whereby we shoulde not onely preuayle agaynst our enimies and stoppe the mouthes of our slaunderous aduersaries but also enioy a blessed and happy tranquility in this worlde and be assured to obtayne the promised pleasures in the worlde to come For the teachinge whereof I know no man that hath so much trauayled and perfectly profyted as hath this Poet which I here present vnto your honor about whom although I haue lately ken some paynes not enioying all the while so quiet a minde as had bene nedefull for such a labour nor hauing the familiar conference of any studious frends whereby in some doubtes I might better haue bene resolued I am well assured I shall receyue for reward the reprechfull reports of a number of infamous tongs as by the publishing of my first attempts I haue bene sufficiently taught What remedie If this my trauayle shall finde fauoure at the handes of youre honoure and others of perfectnesse in iudgement I doe little esteeme the fonde surmisings of the scornefull company nor the rashe reporte of so fonde a fellowship aduising them rather to proue the lyke laboure than hawetyly to reproue any well meaning minde I haue longer here continued my Barbarous style than reason doth allowe wherefore ceassing for auoyding of tediousnesse wyth so vnperfecte an ende I moste humbly beseechs your honoure to take in
whom no like could then be found by force and deadly might Of this my dart in Babilon sore wounded downe did fall What should I here the Latine Lordes and Mars his neueweâ— call To minde the Lordes of all the earth whose valeant vertue plaine Did ioyne theyr rule to Ocean seas and fame with starres to raine Could I not when me list all these â—slaine to hel throw downe Depriude theyr hands of scepâ—ors â—â—ouâ— theyr heades of regall crowne Of wordes their mouthes of sight theyr eyes of mouing members all And eke their bodies thus destroyde in filthy graue let fall Me feares the Ind the Arabian the more the Scithian fel All they whom Asy and Europe kepes in Affricke all that dwel Both kinde and place are one to me nor times obserue I than Nor maners way nor yeares esteame the good and euil man The wise the foolish dolt shall die the little sucking Will The yong and old the fayre and foule with reason like I kil And he that yonder I do se approching to my land When as his destenies permit shall feale my deadly hand These fearful words with hellish mouth this churlish thief out brayed Wherwith my senses all did fayl and I remaind affrayd My bloud therwith forsoke the vaines and left the outward part And shrouded close within my brest to succour there my heart But chiefely when this fearefull fiende had sent the plagues of Hell To them that ranged on the earth amid the croude to dwell Which knew not of that mischief great then forth abrode they fly And here and there they catche and take eche one they can come by Then bodies sicke on grounde are laide and deepe for paine they grone And many there with Sythe in hande doth death dispatch alone And passing forth she did reserue till slaughter next begunne The liues of all whom Lachesis not yet had fully spunne Thus trembling all my ioints therwith and all amased then My selfe vnto gan saye these wordes O cares O vowes of men O labours vaine deceiuing hope O seeting ioyes of minde O time that euermore dost chaunge O fading humaine kinde How vayne and how vncertayne is thys transitory life How subiect vnto euery harme of thousand euils rife Which outward shewes a pleasant face both swete and framed wel But inward O what gall what griefe what poyson there doth dwel What are we wretches here but dust with winde and rayne vpcast And like the brittle breaking glasse and shaddowes fading fast Much like to Roses that doe shewe a gorgeous gaudy face When funne doth rise when the night apears do lose their grace To day wyth myrth aliue and foote to wormes wythin a while This day in fayre and lusty plight and straight a Carrian vile Alas what doth it vs auayle to hourd vp heapes of Gold And plate to haue and clothing riche and Gems of price to holde Great realmes cities strong to guide in houses fayre to lye Aloft to loke and think himselfe ful like to Gods on hye If death do al things take from hence if we like smoke or dust As wretches fade if that so sone our pride our pompe and lust Do passe and end for euermore as I these wordes had sayd With whispring voyce my selfe vnto beholding al afrayd With quaking pace this Ghastly fiend syr Orpheus mother deare Why art thou thus she sayth aseard be bolde and of good cheare For feare is signe of beastly minde vnfyt for men is such What is the cause that shuld thee moue to feare this death so much Then aunswered I Good Lady mine nature doth force me so What liuing beast hir not abhors and seekes from hir to go Shee takes from vs both life and goods delightes and al at ones The corps to nought resolues for what remaines but dust and bones Which bones in tyme returne to dust in fine all goodly things Shee here from vs doth take away and chiefest mischiefe brings Whom would not therfore such a beast and vgley Monster feare Except his heart were made of steele Then Ioue hys daughter deare With smiling lippes began to say thou runst beyonde the white And art deceiude with forme of truth and shadow of that light It is not easy for eche one the truth it selfe to know Thys is the selfe same bowe that doth amid the great woode grow With trees of order thick embracde that misty errors hide Nor euer might thys golden twig of many men be spide But onely vnto them to whom the milke white Doues it show But I of seede celestiall borne the truth doe fully knowe And can it well to thee declare if thou to here require I aunswerde then Good lady sure I nothing more desyre We must depart from hence quoth shee come after me a while And forth she leades not far from thence where Phebus hye did smyle With beating beames vpon the hill whose pleasant shining light Did put the misty cloudes abrode and darknesse all to flight Besyde a spring we both sate downe and vnder Laurell shade Begins my guide with pleasaunt voice and thus hir wordes she made An Ape quoth she and iesting stock is man to God in skye As oft as he doth trust his wit to much presuming hie Dare searche the things of nature hid his secretes for to speake when as in very deede his minde is dull and all to weake If he be ignorant of things that lye before his feete How thinkst thou those things shal he se which God and nature sweete Within their bosomes close haue hyd yet al at fingers endes This hasty blinde vnhappy foole persuade himselfe he kendes So much himself he beares in hand of al your folishnesse The spring and chiefe this selfeloue is A darknesse great that causeth you to knowe the truth the lesse Away with this and better things thine eyes shal quickly spy And those that erst for good y e thoughtst thou shalt for good deny And those that euil now thou thinkest thou wilt not euill trowe This darknesse from thy minde expeld I wil therefore thou know That mortall state is nothing else but blathers full of winde which here and there on rolling bal enforceth fortune blinde To whome if any wytte they had should death more welcome be Than life syth liuing here all men wyth harmes oppressed be And fewe good things they here do vse not full of bytternesse which true I thinke thou wilt beleue when I shall here expresse The goods and ylles of mortall life as briefly as I may These two conferd the humaine life we playnly shall display What thing it is and whither death ought so much fearde to be But fyrst of riches wyll we speake which euery land we see Doth prayse doth seeke doth wonder at and couet instantly I wil endeuour them to blase Good Lady then quoth I If it you please this labour spare for once and long agoe This lesson learnde I perfectly Minerua taught me thoe Now forward shew some
in others harme delight The brother scarce may brother trust eche man his friende must feare The father of hys sonne in doubt doth liue sure Hell is here The furies and the stinking flouds that lye in Lumbo lake The gaping grenning Helhound wood and all that Hell doth take Sleepe only peace to man doth bring amid his fleering life Nothing than this if dreames fray not more sweete or voide of strife For cares and labour it extles and with his pleasant wings The wretched body resting brodes and sweere estate him brings Yet nature seemes thys rest to hate and ordainde hath hereby The stinging Gnat and byting Flea to vexe continually With twinging prick this pleasant ioy whereby both night and day Might mischiefes euer present be More better farre away Therefore is death than picture hys For who so once the seas of lyfe in ioyfull bote hath past And in the quiet hauen fayre his Anker safe hath cast With mery heart doth laugh to scorne the blastes of raging wyndes With tempests black and Leucoths hed which floury Garlandes byndes Doth honor much and Melicâ—rt with giftes he doth salute And safe amid the shore he ioyes with playes of sundry sute Death endes al pain al bonds doth lose death causes feare to flie And daungers all by death are forede to rest eternally And as no griefe nor paine thee vext before thy Syre thee got So shalt thou feele no griefe nor paine when death hir dart hath shot Who can conceiue the times as yll he felt hys byrth before Or iudge of dayes he neuer saw or shall see neuer more Or who will once dispraise the night as wretched nought or yll Wherein possest of deadly sleepe he senselesse lay ful still For what is death continuall sleepe what sleepe for small time death But many thinke soules neuer die but after losse of breath The dead they say doe liue againe and fleshe forsaking quite As cockels from the shell outdrawne to Pluto take their flight And downwarde hedlong fast they run in kingdome blacke to sayle There faine they woods of Mirtel trees where wofull louers wayle There riuers run wyth flaming flouds and dreadfull Monsters bee That poysoÌ„ fome with gaping throtes theyr places may you see Of diuers forme where Infants crye and where the gilty Ghostes The furies fierce of Hell doe burne and whip fast lynckd to postes And where the pleasant fieldes doe lye with goodly greene arayed As due to blessed men that here their pagents wel haue playde But other now say otherwise and soules they graunt remayne But those that wel in earth haue liude with starres aboue shall rayne And they againe that lyke to beastes haue serude licencious minde And God neglect in forme of beastes to liue are all assinde In brutishe shape to wander long by iudgement iust are made Til time that purged front their crime they come to hyghest grade Which things in deede if they wer true death fearefull might be thought Or at the least a better lyfe and voide of sinne be sought For to the iust hereby is got the ioyes and pleasures true Wheras the wicked shall receiue their paines and merits due But whether that the deade doe liue or that they nothing bee And soule with body hath hys ende pertaineth not to mee For I mee thinks haue sayd ynough enquire of Sister mine Whom Grecians wysedome euer call these thoughtes she doth defyne And alwayes searcheth secrete things and verity doth showe Hir teaching well thou maist attaine the state of soules to knowe Except it serue to tell thee that death is not to be dred At least vnto the iust that here a righteous life haue led For eyther quiet rest they haue in sleepe that still doth last Or happy else they shall receiue rewardes for vertue past wherfore go to liue Godly now put vice from minde away So death shall seme but light to thee and graue thee not shall fray But now in minde these words reuolue both speake and think this thing What hurt shall death to mee procure what losse shall graue mee bring No whit for trouth what will it haue of richesse mee depriue But richesse then I shall not neede for nothing then I striue But richest then I may be calde for welthyest is the wight Not that doth most possesse but he that lacketh least in syght Gold siluer precious stones and lands with sumptuous fyne aray With other lyke I will despise as things that I not way Nor pleasure past shall greue me then no more than greueth beastes Swete plesant sparkling wines to lack or Custards fyne in feastes The thinges that no man doth desyre what if they not be had But friends children sweete to leaue wil make thou sayest men sad why shuld this thing me greue so much were it not hurtful more If in my life my frends should dye and I lament therfore Continually as some do write how for Antilochus Syr Nestor wept as for his sonne whome slewe the King Turnus While he the Troians armies helpt Euandre liude in woe I go before and what for this they all shall after goe When God appoynted hath their time and me agayne shall see If soules be ought as we beleue as Christ declares they be Well whatsoeuer that it is death yll I may not call Bycause it riches takes away and pleasaunt ioyes wythall For vnto vs these are but lent the vse doth nature giue And not the thing it selfe she deales to mortal men that liue Sith nothing then to me belongs to death I wyl resigne Al other things that here I haue as nothing sure of mine What if I others goods do leaue wherfore should I lament If nature nowe do aske agayne the things that she me lent I naked came into this world and naked wil I out For this world is an Inne where hostes of men a wondrous roure Who for a time do vse the foode that layes before their face Their hoste and therewithal doth say syrs take and eate apace Not for desertes of you we giue these things but of good wyll These pleasant dishes here we set therewith your selues to fyll Untill such time as I thinke good to byd you hence departe And say from vp my table rise now ease with ioyfull harte But when the houre last shal come wherein I byd you go With willing minde obey me then and place resigne you thoe To other gests that here shal syt let them reioyce a while wyth dishes these who wyll repine except he be to vile Lack wyt or else vnthanckfull be hearing these wordes to go From others dores or else wyll syt while he commaundeth so But he shal cry come forth you Knaue and thrust him out by the eares And yll apayd he forwardes goes wyth woful weping teares Wherfore should I if he do call that all things here doth guide â—epine to go from hence or seeke in wretched life to byde As many do nor fyt it is nay willing hence
here ar made through his almighty state For if the soule perceaues and knowes and vnderstandeth al We may not thinke it substance such as we may body cal Sych bodies moue not earth nor ayre not floud nor fyry flame Nor any thing that these haue made hath power as hath this same we neede not doubt but soule proceedes and doth from Joue discend And neuer dyes whome he permits the world to comprehend What if so be the Atoâ—â—yes that sundry wise men fayne The soule is rather thought to be than body to maintayne Al Bodies be of quantity and may deuided be But soule is vndiuidable and of no grosse degree And as a Center doth she seeme where many lynes do mete Which senses do conuey to hir as floudes to seas do flete Wherefore I maruel much at such as thinke a like decay And iudge the soule no more to be when body fades away For if so be it might be proued yet should it not be sayd Nor published to the common sort nor euery where displayed For many wicked men and yll there are which if they thought Their soules as nothing shall remayne when corse to graue is brought Nor that it feeles or suffers ought when it goeth hence away And that no punishment remaynes for prancks that here they play A thousand mischiefs would they doe take feare from them among And fall to euery villany confounding right wyth wrong Besydes a number now that thinke in blessed state to be When death hath them destroied hope the face of God to see And euermore wyth him to ioy and therfore vertuously Do seke to passe their present lyfe wych Godly modesty If they shall see that after death do no rewardes remaine Amased al their vertuous workes shall ceasse and perishe playne So many stately temples trimmed so many altares hie Wyth golde and marble garnished and decked sumptuously Besyde Religion Godly zeale honour and worshipping Of God shal come to nought if after death remayne nothing That men hope for if that the soule as winde doth passe away Of wilde and franticke common sorte Religion must be stay And feare of smart For mischieuous and full of fraude theyr brayne Is alwayes seene nor of themselues they well doe meane or plaine The common people vertue loath and euer more doe hate Religion is the comelinesse and glory of our state Which makes the Gods to fauour vs which we winne Heauen by No wyse nor good man therfore dare attempt here openly To teache y t soule shall come to naught and so corrupt the mindes Of rude vnskilfull common sort that wauer lyke the wyndes Now must we proue by reason good that soule doth neuer dye And free from sting or darte of death doth liue eternally As he that preacheth Christ declares and Greshop eater Jewe That for synnes vtterly despysed which God that all things knewe Would not haue made if he had thought it had bene nedelesse here And nations all with one consent account it to be clere And first the thing resembling most the mightyest Lorde of al Of longer lasting tyme we graunt and perfecter must call For that which doth not long endure but shortly doth decay That it should be vnperfecter who is that will say nay And therefore doe celesâ—iall things a greater whyle endure Bicause they are more perfecter and more diuine and pure But things that nerer are to earth and farthest of from skyes Unperfect since they are do fade and sonest euer dyes Shall then our soule synce it in lyfe and knowledge doth appere Most lyke vnto the state diuine be closed and shut vp here With body for to ende nor shall it here haue longer place Than fading fleshe or shall it liue more great nor larger space Besydes the soule can not decay thys reason wytnesse shal Bycause it is of syngle state and voyd of matter al. Adde this that when the body fades the force of minde doth growe As weake and aged fathers olde do more of councell knâ—w Than youthful blouds of yonger yeres and often lacks he wit That doth excel in strength and force For rare doth God permit To any one both strength and wyt Wherefore if force brought low By space and course of many yeares the minde doth stronger grow Of Body doth it not depend but of it selfe consist Another thing and after graue doth lyue and death resist Doth not besyde when fote doth ake the minde iudge thereof playne It is no doubt But how can griefe to towre of minde aâ—â—ayne Doth it ascend from lowest partes as smoke doth vpward flye No for many partes not foote alone if so should ake thereby Nor of the foote but of the parte that nerest is to minde The ache shuld grieue this shewes that soule is not of bodies kinde And so is free from death since it in distance needes no meane Adde this when wee would cal to minde the thing forgotten cleane Or else deuise some worthy fetche from minde the senses al It then behoues to gather vp whereby doth often fal That many better for to muse do shut and close their eyes Or else forsaking company some secret place deuise Or when the night with darksome cloud the earth doth ouerspred And creatures all wyth heauy sleepes do take their rest in bed They styll do watch and silent al vpon their beds do rest And light put out in darknesse wâ—et their minde wyth body oppresâ— For senses do the minde disturbe affections it destroyes Amasing it wyth dulnesse great and blindnesse it anoyes None otherwyse than cloudes do hyde the Sunne that clearly shynes If therfore when it doth remayne wythin his owne confines And flying farre from senses al and cares that body brings It wyser be then shal it knowe and vnderstand al things In better sort when it is free and from the flesh doth flye More perfect of it self it is and lyues continuallye Besyde when man as meane consystes the Saints and beastes betwixt Some parte wyth eche he coÌ„mon holdes wyth beastes his body mixt And wyth the saintes his minde agrees one of these partes doth dye Of the other Death can haue no power but liues continuallye Death therfore takes not al away for why his deadly dartes Doth neuer harme the soule a whâ—â— when it from body partes And more than thys I haue to say if nothing doe remaine Of vs when carcasse lyes in tombe God shall be called plaine Uniust and one that fauour shewes to such as naughtly lyue For such for terme of all their lyfe no sorrowes them doe grieue No riches lacke nor pleasures great but happily reioyce Exalted with promotions hye and wyth the Commons voice On the other syde the vertuous men a thousande griefes molest Now sore diseased now plagued w c nede in fine alwayes oppresâ— Therfore the soule liues after graue and feeles deserued paynes And if it haue done iustly here a Crowne of glory gaines By these and many other wayes I coulde declare no doubt That
with heauenly showers O light of mankinde here O perâ—ite way of sauing helth defence and comfort clere Both entry dore and guide of lyfe O peace and salue of minde O blessed worthy sanâ—tuary O wysedome swetest kynde That Nectar doest excell in tast to whom art thou now dere who followes thee what place hast thou on earth what honours there In Temples wast thou wont to raine in schooles and proches lowe In Councelles and in courts of kings now no man doth thee knowe But Poets dreames and tryfles fonde for thee in place doe raine what â—earnes 〈◊〉 scholler now in scholes what knowledge doth he gaine But â—ansyes vaine or baudy tales be holde in seate full hye The Master syâ—tes wich booke before that open wyde doth lye And spitting oft he well doth viewe hys great assembled crowde And when hee sees them bent to heare wyth lofty voice and lowde He then expoundes some dreadful ghost of dolefull tragedie Or else some harlots trickes declares in wanton Comedie Or doting lones of auncient time or else to light doth bring Some monstrous or some cruell fact or lamentable thing O brayne deseruing to be pâ—rged doest thou these wayes instruct The tender mindes and ignorant bring vp with such a fruiâ—t Is this the salt wher of the age so yong is made to say Is it not shame wyth â—ryfles such to passe the time away By thys so many naughty knaues and villaines doe appere By thys the groue of vices thick vp springeth euery where When as no vertuous bringing vp of Children can be founde O you that youth do not correct but rather them confounde Learne fyrst your selues to liue vpright and then to others showe A vertuous trade least lyke to beastes you liue and nothing knowe But thou Stellatus harken well to thee I will expresse which way thou shalt apply thy minde to perfecte vertuousnesse Fyrst oft in minde remember well one God alone to be Eâ—ernall best omnipotent and of most hye degre Who heauen and the golden Starres that shine throughout al the skye The rest of things that may be seene or not be seene wyth eye Of nothing with hys beck alone before all tymes hath made And framde theÌ„ kepes gouernes here with euerlasting trade Hym worship honor feare and prayse and often to hym praye Both nights dayes when SuÌ„ne doth ryse and Sunne doth fall away And when from both in equall space his Globe doth distant glowe For vertue chiefe and wysedome chiefe it is the king to knowe Of sainctes aboue and father of men to loue with heart entire To prayse him alwayes and to dread and humbly him desire Without thys same all vertues else think nothing worth to be For almost thys and nothing else sufficient is for thee Therfore haue alwayes God in heart and often in thy minde And call to him nothing than thys more vertnous canst thou finde Thys is to all the vertues else the open doore and plaine For without grace and ayde of God no man can them obtaine Nor able be to flye from vice Besydes the saynâ—ts aboue that dwell and hostes of messangers And seruants of the chiefest Lorde and holy Ministers Fulfilling the commaundement of hys Maiestie deuine That alwayes stand before hys face in skyes full cleare that shine With holy minde remember oft in humble sort to praye That they may helpe thee in thy neede and daungers dryue awaye And thee vnto the Lorde commende for truely Aungels can And often vse to profite much the earnest praying man Nor be not thou beware therof amongst such sort a mate That think that nature neuer made a thing of hygher state Than man mad men y t when they see so plaine before their eye Both seas and lande of Creatures full doe thinke that in the skye And in the Starres no dwellers be and indge the ample space Of blessed heauen for to be a voide and desert place O crabde and crookde vntoward soules O mindes in darkenesse drounde Mans sense can not all things perceiue for many things are founde That often tymes deceiue the eyes which yet the minde doth see Therfore what reason moues in minde must rather followed bee Which teacheth that there is a God and dwellers in the skye Wherfore y e Starres are eyther Gods Or Temples where they lye These grounde workes layde w t all thy heart embrace thou righteousnesse And let no iniury of thine be any mans distresse By wordes or deedes no man can hurt nor deale thou so wyth men As thou wouldst not be delt withall but alwayes doe to them As thou wouldst they should do ro thee thus nature doth decree Which if thou straightly dost not keeps giue credit vnto mee Thou neuer canst be fauoured of that maiestie deuine Nor after death vnhappy man thou shalt the heauens clime An others honor fame or state harme not in any case When vile desyre doth moue or wrathe or enuye comes in place But rather helpe such as thou knowest to be of vertuous minde With all thy force and pleasure doe to men of wycked kinde Sometimes that so they hurt thee not or seldomer thee harme And let not brybes nor loue nor hate thy minde from iustice charme For these are three especiall things that dasell sore the syght Of minde and driue men euer more from doing well and right But styll haue God in memory and death to come in minde Then fâ—ye the enticements of the flesh and byts of sharpest kinde On pleasure put For nothing doth to man more mischiefe bring Than yll delight to vertue sure a most contrary thing For vertue laboures euermore the heauens hye to clyme But pleasure ennimy to the skies doth downeward styll decline And groueling gaseth on the earth as beastes do commonly Destroying strength of body here and force of minde wherby It breedes a dull and slouthful sense and sharp dyseases makes This is that Circes that Syren and hooke of Stygian lakes With this same snare a nuÌ„ber great of soules the Diuell takes And suffers not them after death their countrey Skyes to see But wyly wrappeth them in mystes of Hel his mates to be These bayts therfore thys poison swete of fylthy fiendish foe Wyth al thy might auoyd them well and warely from them go Lest that when greater yeres do come in vayne thou dost repent Thy selfe thy substance fame and wit so lost and fondly spent Then shalt thou say as many do O goodly tymes in minde How vilely haue I you abused where now should I you finde Unhappy man If God would graunt agayne my former tyme And once againe the Samian branch I might assay to clyme Thereto I would where as the earth his horne forth doth stretch Though that the way be strayt steepe the top there of to retch No kinde of thing doth vertue passe which alwayes doth remayne Which honor giues and hie estate and glory great doth gayne Preserues the life and doth augment the goods that here you
waters cleere Is sone destroyed and with a puffe of winde doth not appere For in a moment al the ioyes of man are fetcht away Then only doth the talk remaine wherein they thus do say Loe here he was loe this did he he fought and triumph wan He loued he raigned he conquerd realmes subdued many a man A goodly sorâ—e of bookes he wrote but now where shall we finde These things no where Himself where now both out of sight and minde What is he now Nothing Or whether did he himself conuay Loe fled from hence with windes he is and vanisht quite away Alas alas but trifles fond and fansies meere they be Whatsoeuer goodly thing on earth or wonderful we see What tell you me of Was or Did one Is more worth coumpt I Than Was a thousand times But fast this Is away doth flye And al our pompe with him he beares These things who wel doth way And vseth to consider oft shall quickly cast away This worldly loue and hating earth shal seeke the Skies to finde Especially if therewithal he vse to beare in minde How fylthy and how miserable mans body doth appere Of fading flesh and brittle bones with skinne encompast here Al flowing ful with dregges vncleane and bloud corrupt and vile Still durty soule and filthy lookes except it euery while Be washt and kept with daily care and so made fayre and white O dolefull hospitall of minde and vessell of the sprite By which such sycknesse great we feele by which such neede we haue O heauie garment pryson strong O quick and liuely graue That chokest here both minde sense and them in darkenesse hyde Wherby so great an ignorance in brest of man doth byde O earth to earth returning soone that in a smallest while In tombe shalt freshly feede y e wormes with foode of carcasse vile In what a wretched case liues he that ledde away with loue Of thee doth leaue the perfect lyfe and gift of God aboue While more than meate esteming thee thy pleasures here preparde He onely seekes and good and ryght 〈◊〉 smally doth regarde And thinkes there is no other lyfe than this that here we holde A foolishe Asse forgetfull of himselfe and countrey olde From whence into thys darksome dale and dolefull place he went That so a wretche he should become in wretched carcasse pent For euery soule that is enclosde with fleshe and members here Hath wretched lyfe tyll losed froÌ„ thence it flye to heauens clere Except the heauy waight of synne doe barre him of hys way And cause it in the lowest ayre or on the earth to stay For purest heauen neuer can a thing vncleane abyde Nor wicked men nor doltishe fooles may come where God doth guide These wordes while as the holy man in teaching mee had spent The Sunne almost had ended daye with Waine that weary went And night was nere at hande that thoe began abrode to cast Hir dreadfull darksome shade vpon the worlde approching fast I thence depart and towards Rome my way in hast I take And whyle with speede I passe the pathe that iorney new doth make Lo Cynthia shining compasse full did call the lightlesse night With syluer beames that dewe she cast to appere both fayre and bright Thus went I all alone and wyth my selfe in minde I wayde The Godly wordes that late to me the auncient Father sayde But lo thre men in company therwith I might beholde whom meeting thus by chauÌ„ce I askde which way they trauaile would To Rome they sayde and one of them lookde full vyon mee thoe And naming mee from wheÌ„ce quoth he what countrey comste thou froe I aunswerde him from that wyse man which in the part most hye Of fayre Apolloes stately hyll in lofty place doth lye Wherewith he smylde sayde O foole synkes it into thy minde That possyble on earth it is a wyse man here to finde He semeth wyse that is least foole the other sort among Although a dolt for wysedome doth to Gods alone belong Of number which we here are three for I am calde by name Sarracilus and Sathiell he Iaxa is thys same which though we walk in humain shape thus seeming men in face Yet Gods we be and nere the Moone we haue our dwelling place Whereas a number great of Gods of meanest sort doe lye That haue the guiding of the earth and Seas that ryse so hye This when I heard amasde I was and sore to dread began Yet seming bolde and voide of feare full lyke a pretye man â–ª I askde wherfore they went to Rome then aunswerde me the same A fellowe there of oures we haue that Ammon hath to name whom bounde to serue by Magike Arte a yong man there kepes straight Of Narni soyle that doth in court of Vrsin prelate wayght O what great power is graunted man the sprites he guides by line By this you well may vnderstande your soules to be diuine And voide of death For if no part of you should after raine If that your soule should dye as bodye here by death is slaine What power shoulde haue such foolishe beastes and trifling pyctures vaine Upon the sprites aboue And if no sacred thing remaine In you how should such Ghostes as we the force of man so waye Or vnto man of fading state in such a sort obaye Yea I my selfe was once Constrainde to serue a German wight Enclosde within a compast stone of Christall clere and height â–ª But at the length a bearded syre vnlosde me of these bandes And prison broken thence I fledde in hast from out his handes To Rome therefore we go with minde if that we may t'vntye From seruice straight a mate of oures that there doth captiue lye And so that downe to Hell we may conuaye this present night A sort of Romishe prelates proude that liue in great delight These words whyle as he spake a winde forthwith dyd pittling blowe Quoth Sathiell then O frendes froÌ„ Rome Remisses comes I knowe This winde that comes before declares nor herein did he lye For therwithall a fayre yong man Remisses stoode them bye They at hys comming all reioist and byd hym welcome there And aske what great affayres in Rome what newes doe there appere There all quoth he are bent to lust and Glotony doe minde With theft and guile all ours they be both man and womankinde But Clement there the Pope prepares an armye great in hast And seekes to haue the present state of Luther cleane defacde And Spanishe ensynes therfore kepes nor wyll he nowe dispute And him wyth scriptures ouerthrowe but with the sworde confute Away with counsaile now and hence with Luthers workes againe For Byshops now are battailes meete all other wayes are vaine Ne care they what the Apostles taught ne for the wordes of Christ But boast themselues as Lordes of all that may doe what they list They that haue power do feare no law law is with force opprest But we my mates doe
destnye cause not payne Whose dartes the man that neuer felt doth senslesse styll remayne What beast might euer yet be found that felt not Cupides flame All creatures vile and base we see haue tasted of the same God willing so Wherfore who seekes this loue a thing deuine He seekes for if the king and Lorde of all the world should not All things created here retaine in loues assured knot The world should straight be at an end and the elements decay That eche man loues he keepes and it defendeth eke alway But no man seekes the thing to kepe that he sets nothing by Wherfore the order of all things shall last continually For euerlasting is the loue of God that all doth guide Though all things made do fal and fade the kindes yet neuer stide For those the blessed God doth loue but not the bodies so Wherof the cruell death hath power for no man suffreth tho The thing he loues to perishe quite if he can it defende But who denies God all thing can and he can them defende But be the bodies doth not loue wherefore he lettes them die But not the kindes he so permits from their estate to 〈◊〉 What doth the potter care if thys or that hys pot be burst Turning the wheele and chalke in hand despiseth now the first A newer sort of them he makes now ouer all this same The skye the grounde the seas and aire and raging fiers flame And eke in fine the worlde it selfe by loues enduring knot So many yeares doth stande and last for if thys loue were not The elaments altogither would with bursten bondes go fyght Nor downe to earth the Heauens would shewe forth theyr blissefull light And beames so warme no seede shoulde growe and eke the fiery flame This aire his neighbor would coÌ„sume he would but out of frame His shoures on earth y t aire put downe full bare would seeme eche soile The seas should quench the 〈…〉 er quite or rather fyre boyle And waste away the fyshy seas As once when Phaeton rulde not wel the fyry foming beasts I dreading sore the monsters hie his owne good fathers heastes Beleeuing not vnhappy wretch was drownd in his desyre Then al the world therewith began to burne with blasing fyre Tyll he by force of lightning smytte came tumbling headlong downe And in the flouds his flames did quench Loue breedes in euery towne Assured peace peace worthiest is of al things here we see In time of peace do al things growe and al things liuely be Then liue men safe in safety â—ke the trauayling wight he stands And takes his iourney voyd of harme and scapes the robbers handes Then buzzing Bees in hiues be kept by good aduise and care And beastes in pastures fat are fed the ground is torne wyth share And yeldeth farre encrease in tyme then plenty beares the sway In bread and mylke and noppy drinke then euery where they play The sounding shaume doth theÌ„ prouoke to daunce the Thiase round But idiotes none do enuy peace and couet Martiall ground Such times did flow when Saturn ruld his Empire here alone O worthy age more worth than Gold but now O griefe to mone All things doth discorde vile disturbe wyth raged mocion mad And filles and feareth euery place wyth broyling tumult sad Nowe fierce we forced are to be all lawes wyth sworde to slake The furies al of hel they swarme a thousand brondes they shake A thousand snakes wythal and moue the proud hie minded Kings And common people mad to be what good to you it brings O wretches mad your death to haste wyth battes and bylbowe blade To late when as she neuer commes but mischefe this hath made That plaguy pride and hunger mad dominion for to haue O dust what makes thee proud to be whose stinking guttes in graue The filthy wormes anone shall teare why sekest thou for golde Thinkste thou for euer here to lyue O wretch O wretch bi hold How vaine how short how fleeteth sone dur life before thine eyes A graue anone shall close contayne thy bones and shall sufficâ— And if so be that loue should knitte the heartes of men in one This would not be for euery man his frend would tend vpon And all men for their partes would ayde the frend that they holde deare Assuredly nothing more good nor sweater doth appeare Than truly while we here do liue of many loued to be A safe defence are alwayes frends agaynst aduersity The mind in deubtful things they ease and helpers seke to be Thy cares and losse they lighten much they wepe and wayle wyth thee But seldome perisheth the man that thus is rich in friendes When fortune laughes vpon thy lucke and happy chaunce thee sendes Wyth thee thy profyts they embrace wyth thee they ioyful bee Wyth frendship they thy haps increase and feast in mirth wyth thee Who list therefore to leade his life in safety and in ioy Great store of frends for to retayne let him his care employ By many meanes this thing is got which as I can I shall Declare but now to know is nedefull fyrst of all Which loue the people call of minde a motion for to be For wel to wyl it is the same that men call loue we see The mind alwayes it selfe desyres the good thing for to proue And seekes the euill for to shunne these 〈◊〉 alone her moue These two therfore the causes be and loues assured ground But good in three deuided is wherof one parte is found Delighting for to be the other honest eke appeares The third vtilitie So likewise yll in three we parte fyrst hurtfull we esteme The second vile deformed is the third doth greuous seme Who so that loues refusing these or else desiring those He loues loue diuers is like as the spring from whence it flowes Not worthy praysed like to be nor worthy like disprayse Nor only differ three foresayd in generall kinde alwayes But diuers speciall kindes himself doth eche of these contayne Which kindes when as they diuers be make diuers loues agayne What so euer aydes that profit is but is not yet as one Much goods vpon the body wayght and much the soule vpon Strength beauty health actiuity these foure the body oweth These things whatsoeuer creature giues from them the profit floweth Two goods agayne the soule contaynes as maners milde and Arte Like as the soule hath vertues two the will to whome the parte Of maners all belong and minde to whome the truth to know It proper is and from the mind like diuers goods do flow The learnings nine this minde adourn which Poets Muses call Equivalent to circles nine that roule aboue vs all The wyll doth diuers goods possesse of which these foure excell Wit iustice eke and vertue strong that conquers troubles fell With her that bridleth eke our mindes and modesty doth bring From these as from the fountayne first do al the other spring Which whosoeuer seekes to know
anger farre from thee away with pride that elfe Such kinde of men cannot be loued and alwayes shewe thy selfe Of gentyll minde and lowly eke so shalt thou all men please If any man thy hurt procure proue thou hym to appease Rather with wyt than furious mode to wit doth strength giue place She conqueresse doth all things tame the Tigres stout in pace And Lyons fierce by art are wonne and ships in seas doe swim And towers stronge by art doth beare the Oliphant on him By this the Bull doth beare the yoke and horse with spouting might By this constrained is to beare the bridle and the knight Wit all things rules with aide of force to threaten much wyth crackes Is cowardes guise womens strength to men belongeth factes The wyse man doth dissemble hurt the valeant prates no whitte But when he sees the time then dare he doe that shall seeme fytte First take good heede that none y u hurt and if by iniury Thou harmed art when thou seest time reuenge it rightfully If thou canst not let griefe a while within thy heart remaine Least that by foolishe bosting wordes thou maist more harme sustaine It is naughty playing with edged toles the wyse man will refraine And spie hys time and eke giue place his foe with wordes to traine That pleasant seme and fawnings eke till he him bring to snare So winnes the wilde vnrulye colte the witty horseman ware So on the Oxens necke the yokes the plowman putteth on So Lyons fierce the Charret drawes that Cibell syttes vpon So tigres wood you doe obey to Bachus bridell raines Great wit it is to conquer thus and hide the inwarde paines Tyll time conuenient come therefore this must be markt beside Whersoeuer thou remainest let not thy mouth be stretched to wide With laughings loude but wheÌ„ nede is then laugh thou moderately It doth declare a simple wit to laugh excessiuely And on the other side it is not fyt for any man Alwayes in dumpes to be therfore flie thou them both and than The middle kepe there vertue sits no gester would I thee And yet if that thou canst I would that pleasant thou shouldst bee Enough me thinkes I haue now said my message here doth ende For which to thee my mother mee from heauen hie did sende Now time coÌ„maundes to leaue y e earth and skies aboue to clime From whence I wonted am the earth to se full many a time Musing that it so little semes and rounde as any ball Amid the aire to see it hang hauing no stay at all Sustainde only with his poise the sea doth eke appere About the earth full serpent lyke to crangle heere and there And like a little brooke to runne here eke I doe beholde The Padus Tanais Ganges and that Histre waters colde As oft as showers do cause the dikes with wet to ouerflowe And when thy mouthes alofe I see O Nilus then I trowe They be though great in dede they are but seauen gutters small And hence I vewe the bloudy broyles with shining swordes that fall And fieldes be sprent with purple bloud And foolishe kings therby Who while they couet more to haue and neuer thinke to die With dire debate do battailes bring the giltlesse soules to kill And shew the Gods a gasing griefe repugnant to their will And there I se their places change both riuers springs and flouds Hils fall to dales and dales to hils and place where once grewe woods With coulter â—â—lde and wheras plowes before haue runne their race Theyr woodes to growe transformed cowns and al things changing place He blessed is that may the like prospect to this obtaine Where Asia and Affricke he may see and Europ eke againe That swels with wealth wepons eke and diuers nations strong That there do dwell whoÌ„ Cancer burns the Ethiops them among Cilicians fierce and Tartars turkes and men of Scithians grounde The shoting Parthes Arabians eke where franckinsence is founde The Thracians wylde and Arimaspes those valiant men in fight The french the Italian men of Spain the dreadfull Englishe wight As many people more beside on whom the sunne doth shine While he aboue or vnder goes the horisontall line Wouldes thou not hither wyll to come if it might lawfull bee For any mortall man to doe if body let not thee But this can hap to none but vs whose bodies framed were Of finest aire and not of earth a while therefore forbeare Till death thy soule shall lose froÌ„ bonds and tyll that time a dewe I go this said and aunswering I away from me he flewe In haste he flies wyth swifter course than windes themselues my thought And spreading winges abrode the skies wyth course againe he cought ¶ The fithe Booke entituled Leo. I Seeke not here Arabians wealth nor stones of value hie That redde seas breede ne golden sandes in Tagus streames that lie Nor people proude to gouerne here with sceptred hande and mace Such things my lucke hath me denyed nor once I waile the case That desteny hath not giuen me such so euen the nought as good May like obtaine to reape the golde of wealthy richesse floud Full oft we see rhunworthy heds of witlesse people crownde Whose bodies eke are trun bedeckt with robes of purple rownde Those things I woulde the Lorde of all on mee would here bestow Which neither fooles nor wicked men may euer hap to know That makes a perfect man in deede and nere to sainctes aboue O mighty Joue what is the cause or what should thee thus moue Wisedome to none or fewe to geue in euery place we see Both pleasant faire and lustye brutes and wealthy men to bee But vneth may the place be founde in all the worlde so wyde That bringeth forth such any one in whom doth wyt abide Dost thou perchaÌ„te more worthy think a guide of fooles to bee More noble is that power vnder the which more noble be For worthyer it is assertainly to rule by force of powers Both castels stronge and fortresses wyth large and ample towers Than Lorde of folde and flocke to be and droues of beastes to guide Perhaps thou dost it to that ende our doings to deride And makest man thy laughing stocke for nothing else to be The life of men on earth doth seme the staged comedie And as the Ape that counter feits to vs doth laughter moue So we like wyse doe cause and moue the sainctes to laugh aboue As oft as stately steps we treade with looke of proude disdaine As oft as richesse we to much doe crane or honors graine As oft as we like Saunder snuffe our selues doe bragge and boste What lesse is it what part is played when holding honors most With sceptred hande a crowned owle an Asse of stature faire Of them beholden is to syt a loft in stately chaire Despising euery other man though he be like in case Desiring yet to heare the sounde of God preserue your grace And to be
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
the which eche man himselfe would couet to destroy So hope and folly medicines be that nature doth employ For our behoue by sage aduise least we by chaunce should faint When many mischiefs swarming thick our wytlesse sense doth taint And if no creature else excell thys man in hye degre The chiefe Creator of the worlde what shall we thinke to be Of Misers Fooles and eke of them by whom doth mischiefe spring He shal be calde a Lorde a Prince a Father guide and King O noble powre O princely raigne companions fine and braue What wants ther now O God to thee what sekest thou more to haue Alone thou doste not now remaine it well became thy Grace To frame so fayre a worlde as thys to make such creatures place Let Heauen serue theyr only vse the Starres the Moone the Sunne The Ayre the Earth the surging Seas what else it shal be done But straight they shall consumed be and vanishe cleane away As Snowe doth fade in sommers heate or flowre in frosty day What state haue they that doe consyst of bodye weake and frayle What state baue they that in the space of so small tyme doe fayle May we beleue the seas and earth alone replenished bee Which are compared to the skyes as nothing in degree And if the mighty compast speare in minde thou well dost way thou shalt perceiue the smallest Starre more great as wysemen say Shall then so small and vile a place so many fishe contayne Such store of men of beasts and foules and thother voide remaine Shal skies and ayre their dwellers lack he dotes that thinke th so And seemes to haue a slender wit for there are thousandes mo That better state and better lyfe enioye and farre more blessed be Moreouer if we will confesse the vnfayned veritie This earth is place for man and beast beyonde the clowdes the ayre And sacred skye where peace doth raine and daye is alwayes fayre The Angels haue their dwellings there whom though we cannot see For pure and fyne theyr substance is yet numberlesse they be As thick as are the sandes in place where waters ebbe and flowe As thick as stand the flowers and grasâ—â— that in the meddowes growe For who so thinks the Heauens hye of dwellers voide to be And may vpon thys earth so vyle so many creatures se He dotes deceiued by ignorance and foolishnesse of minde And semes all drounde in earthly drosse as beastes of basest kinde Nor wonder I at thys a whit that happye Ilandes founde In Occean seas they say there be where all things good abounde Whereas no griefe the lyfe doth vexe where no misfortunes raygne The shyes perchaunce thâ— Occean sea to name doth here retaine Bicause in colour lyke it seemes and eke in mouing rounde Eche Starre an Ilande shall be thought why not haue we not founde That diuers houses are so calde bicause that farre away They seuered from their fellowes â—yâ— who otherwyse doth say He sayth not true for if there were such Ilandes in our seas The Princes would not suffer them make to passe their lyfe in ease But weapon strayght should conquest to enlarge theyr kingdomes hye If any passage were to them themselues therin to lye What doubteth Grece to fayne or lye the mother olde of toyes For doubtlesse Heauen Starres ayrâ— inhabitaunts enioyes Who thys denyes doth malice much the blessed saintes on hye And eke the eternall state of God doe blaspheme foolishlyé Is it not wicked blasphemie presumpteously to saye That Heauen lackes inhabitants and God doth beare no sway But here with vs and sauage beastes so fonde so full of shame Nay certainely God coulde and woulde more noble creatures frame That leade theyr lyfe in better place whereby hys prayse esteemde Should be the more and larger power and world more perfect deemde For making suÌ„dry sorts nobler things the beautie more doth shine Of this same worlde and more appeares his Maiesty diuine But if these shapes be pure and voide of body coms the dout Or whether they consist of partes as we doe rounde about Yes truely reason doth declare all creatures that doe dwell In fyre and ayre they bodyes haue if they had not aswell The ayre and fyre should desert be and places voyde should growe For none but bodyes place possesse as wyse mens wordes doe shows But whyther shall these bodyes dye we must confesse it so A long and ioyfull lyfe they leade at length with death they go For if that ayre and fyre in tyme corruption shall deface Why should not all such creatures dye as liue in such a place For placed things doe followe still the places nature playne But some perchaunce desyres to knowe what fashion they retayne We may be sure theyr beauty is such that they doe farre excell All creatures fleeting in the seas or all on earth that dwell Which neyther God permittes nor we coulde view with carnall eye But they that passe theyr life in starres and in the purest skye Doeneuer dye for age nor yeares cannot the strength abate Of those so gorgeous glistring starres or harme the heauens state And eke we must beleue that those which liue in skyes so bryght Theyr bodies are more fayre more fine of greater force and might Then all the reast that liue betweene the earth and Starres aboue Or in the elements dwell where time and age can them remoue But what doe they they doe reioyce with sense and reason right Now vsing one and now the other and liue in such delight As wit of man cannot deuise nor mortall tongue can tell True worlde and true est ate is there true ioyes and treasures dwell We only haue the shadowes here and counter faytes retayne Which lasting but a little space lyke waxe doe melt againe Our worlde is but a figure plaine of those so princely powres And as our worlde the painted Mappe so it surmounteth ouâ—es Aboue these Heauens that we name and creatures all beyonde A better worlde vncorporate that senses doth transcende And wyth the minde alone is seene there are that think to be And with thassured trouth it seemes not much to disagre If minde excelleth farre the sense why should the sense beholde A worlde alone wyth perfect things and creatures many folde And minde without his proper worlde a Cyphar should remayne And none but dreames and fansyes fine with shapes and shadowes vayne Thus eyther nothing is the minde or else hath nature wrought A worlde agreing to the same wherein containde are thought Unfained chiefe and purest things which better farre away May of themselues consyst thaÌ„ things that senses compasse may This same first framed world doth passe the world that senses see As much as minde excels the sense in perfecter degree In which the chiefest lyght is God where saints as Starres appere And therfore more straÌ„ger things are there then are perceiued here Syth it is perfecter by much for nothing there doth dye No tyme nor motion
the race of all their life in great prosperitye On the other syde we may beholde the iust opprest to be With spitefull chaunce a wretched lyfe and pyâ—ious prouertye Thus eyther God vnrighteous is that doth these things permit Or after death hath euery man as he deserueth it Or else he doth disoaine the deedes of mortall men to knowe Besides what gratious mind apperes in God what goodnesse doth he showe â–ª If this be all that he doth giue a lyfe so short and vaine That swyftly runneth to an ende and doth no time remaine The halfe wher of is spent in sleepe the rest in griefe and â—oyle And daungers great as fast doth fleete as riuers swyft in soyle Therfore go to O wretched men builde Gorgeous Churches hye And let with costly offrings great your altars pestred lye Set vp your ioyfull branche of bayes your sacred dores about with pompe of proude processyon passe let Hiâ—â—â—es be ratled out Spende frankconsenâ—e and let the nose of God be stretched wyde With pleasant smoke do this and addâ— more honour much besyde That he preserue your goodly lyfe wherin doth you torment Sometime great cold sometime heaâ— â—ow plague now famishement Now bloudy warres now sicknes great or chaunce to sorowe at Sometime the busye byting flye sometime the stynging â—nat The Chynâ—h and Flea Keioyce I saye that here you leade your lyfe With thousand painfull labours great in trauaile toyle and stryfe And after in a little space in paine you drop away And lompishe lye in lothsome vawlt to wormes a grateful praye O worthy lyfe O goodly gift of God man in this world is bredde Among the brutishe beastes and fooles and â—â—aues hys lyfe is ledde Wher stormes and flakey snowes yse and durt and dust and night And harmful ayre and cloudes mistes and windes wyth hellish syght And grief wailing raynes wher death besyde doth worke his feate Is this our goodly countrey here is this our happy seate For which we owe such seruice here vnto the Goddes aboue For which it seemeth mete wyth vowes the heauenly saynâ—ts to moue And if none other life we haue than this of body vayne So frayle and ful of fylthinesse when death hath carcasse stayne I see not why such prayses should of God resound in ayre Nor why we should such honour giue to hym in temples fayre That hath vs wretches framed here in this so wretched soyle That shall for euermore decay after so great a toyle Wherfore least God shall seeme vniust and ful of cruelnesse Shal well deseruing counted be we must of force confesse That death doth not destroy the soule but that it alwayes is None otherwise than sprite in ayre and sainct in heauen liues Both voyd of body sleepe and meate And more we must confesse That after death they liue in paynes or perfect blessednesse But let this reason thee suffise for if thou this do shewe Unto the wicked kinde they laugh no light the blinde doth knowe But thou beleue for euermore and know assuredly For ground of sauing health it is that soule doth neuer dye Exempted from the Sisters power and fatal destiny These things foretolde made euident let vs begin to tell The perfect life that makes vs like to saincts aboue that dwell By which the heauens we desyre But syth doth best appeare Contrary things when they be seene and ioyned something neere Wherfore it is conuenient first the bodies life to showe That drawes vs downe froÌ„ heauen hie to minde the earth below And makes vs like to brutish beastes contrary to the soule This life he liues though naught y t doth for stately honours prowle And seekes with al his force the fruicte of praise and glory vayne Desiring only men to please with fonde vayne glorious brayne And he that wholly doth apply himself a wealth to get By right or wrong and hath his heart vpon his riches set A two leggde Mole that alwayes doth in earth enâ—ombed lye Not casting once his eyes aloft vnto the heauens hye And be that drownde in lecherie and surfeâ—s euer lyes Regarding only fleshly ioyes doth shamefastnesse despise Runnes headlong into whoredome vile and fattes himselfe with meate A foolish man that so the wormes may haue more foode to eate Al these same vile and fylthy kindes that I haue reckned here May wel be called fleshly men for loue to flesh they beare Whose life doth differ smal froÌ„ beastes But now on the other side He that doth prayse of men depise and pomp of worldly pride Doth liue with chast and Godly minde is calde a spiritual man Bicause his sprite the body rulde and lust subdued than Doth freely guide and hath his place in hiest part of brayne Therefore the Godly life is fyrst with bridle to restrayne Fond pleasure Gluttony and lust to conquer flesh with sprite For to neglect al worldly things and only set delight On heauen heauen most to wysh and chieâ—ly to regard There is the soyle for soules and seate for vertuous men preparde There to the body layd in graue the righteous soules do clime Most glorious soules that brightly doe with glorious vertue shine And feele in euer lasting light an euerlasting ioy But chiefly let the vertuous man his time and toyle employ In learning vsing styll to reade such bokes as do entreate Of God of soule and wretched state of this our dwelling seate Of death or other honest things and let him night and day Of these both often reade and talke and wel in minde them way But wanton workes wanton words let him with head eschew Alas how sore do such affayres a vertuous minde subdew For reading is the foode of minde which if it vertuous be Doth profyt much if it be yll doth hurt excedinglye None otherwise than euyll meate doth hurt the man that chawes These thinges though they muste all be kept yet nothing more withdrawes A man from loue of filthy flesh nor leades to God more nye Than oftentimes to ponder well of life the misery Which since it is so short and full of such calamitie Seemes rather death than life to me yea worse than death to be For who is it that doth not see who doth not playne perceaue That yrksome gall and bytternesse to euery parte do cleaue If euery thing thou wel doest sift nought perfect shalt thou fynde For nature poysoned hath the partes of all and euery kind Most things haue double face ful black within and outward white And with their colour do deceyue the iudgement of the sighte If ought there be here in this life both fayre and good besyde Like smoke and mist it flyes away and doth no time abide Time suffers nothing long on earth death maketh al things vayne And turnes and tumbles vnder foote of man the proud disdayne Alas how al this worldly pompe doth quickly passe away How wauering is renoume of man how sone doth it decay Much like the bubble swelling great amyd the
eury man doth not aspire these mysteries to knowe A fewe them finde to whome the LORD aboue doth fauour showe And giues to them his light that they these things may playne beholde In fine there sprites and Angels are as many thousand folde As all the woods contayne in leaues or all the shores in sand Or all the Fishes in the seas or sâ—arres in Skie that stand Yea number none can them containe for since that GOD could frame Them numberlesse he sure so dyd the more to spread his name Especially since that the world doth voyd of li 〈…〉 s lye As is before declared playne and reason strong doth trye But since they voyd of body be and Matter all away Therfore they neuer chaunge in tyme nor age doth them decay No greese they feele nor sleeps nor foode at any time they craue Nor labour knowe but ioyfull youth continually they haue And freedome chiefe no bondage there no seruants in degree Nor none there are that there compels nor none compelled bee One onely Lord they do confesse the King and spring of all Him worship they and him they loue and serue in generall They willingly do him obey and serue in euery thing Reioycing all his laud and prayse and wondrous actes they sing Eche one doth there apply himselfe to please with goodly grace No fighting there no cancred spite nor enuy can haue place Continuall peace there florisheth great loue and concorde great Among them is suspicion none no craft nor false deceat In fine the goodliest parte it is of all the world beside And farre more worthy are the sprites that in this place abyde Than those that in the Skies do dwell and in the Starres do lye For looke as lower euery spheare doth come to earth more nye The meaner sprites it doth conâ—ayne and meaner goods doth giue And so much baser is the same whereby such things as liue Aboue the Skie as they most fayre and good and blessed show So those that in the bowels darke of earth do dwell below Are most ylfauoured vile and yll and there not all in vayne The stinking lakes and soyels of Hell to be did Poets fayne Of Hell where men do after death their paynes for michiefe take And vainely seeke for rest and peace in euer darkned lake But wherfore waste I words in winde and striuing all in vaine Doe seeke vnto such Buzzards blinde the trothe to open plaine So sore the state of mankinde dotes that it will neuer knowe That eyther Gods in Heauen be or sprites in Hell belowe But most men laugh if any man do tell them credibly That after death the soules doe liue and neuer more doe dye Hence springeth it that night and daye they richesse séeke to gaine This is their greatest carke and care their greatest toyle and paine That they in Golde and Jewels maye their neighbours farre excell Golde is the thing that all men seeke in golde their hope doth dwell For thys runnes into raging warres the Captaine stout of minde For thys his Children wyfe and house and countrey left behinde The Marchaunt cutting foming seas in shyp with sayles set out Assayes the blewe and dreadfull gulfes and coastes the worlde about Eche man doth practise craft and thefte this golde to keepe in sight Golde euery man desires and loues golde pleaseth euery wyght Ne feare they any kinde of paynes that after death is due O altogither earthly men else that onely in the viewe FroÌ„ beasts are knoweÌ„ CaÌ„ you nought than golde to knowledge call By which a wyse man from a foole doth differ nought at all Wherewith fonde fortune ill men oft habundantly doth feede Learne you that many things there are that golde doe farre exceede Which vnto fooles and wicked men of God not giuen be These are the vertues Godlinesse iustice and prudencye And wysedome passing farre the rest These goods who doth retaine A mortall God is and the same immortall man agayne That after death shall happy be but he that hath them not And staines himselfe with filthy sinnes when death his shaft hath shot shall headlong into Hell be cast These are not trifles tales or dreames but true and sure they be Yea most assurde beléeue it well you blinde beleeue you me Woe be to you if that you wyll not me herein beleeue For life shall quickly you forsake and then you shall perceyue That I sayd true euen then when as your soules in Hell shall lye You laugh but this your ioy shall chaÌ„ge to teares and greeuous cry The time shall come when many men that now in welthy pride Do beare the sway and scornefully both God and man deride All naked bare in miserie and wretched case shall lye And shall of others ayde require with pyteous wofull crye Wherfore O you that haue delight in good and Godly things Endewed with a better soule whose rootes from heauen springs These earthly Gods that as the cloudes away doe swifely flye Which fortune vnto fooles and knaues doth giue most commonlye And which a fewe yeares ended once doth death take cleane away Regarde not muche nor in such things your heape or treasure laye Seeke you no more than that which is for lyfe sufficient A small thing certes will suffise with little liue content But let your chiefe delight be in the sacred seates on hye Seeke heauenly things w t all your force to this your mindes applye In Heauen are the perfect goods that euermore remaine Which neuer foolishe dolt shall haue nor wicked man obtaine In earth whatsoeuer doth delight are trifles all and toyes Which fooles and beastly people seeke and count as chiefest ioyes For which a thousande hazardes great they rashely vndertake And offring vp their foolishe brestes to death they skirmishe make Of thys they bost the Bytle doth in dong reioyce to lye Things filthy filthy folkes doe loue and villaines villanie Leaue earthly things to earthly minds let swine in durt delight And let your only trauaile be to gaine the heauens bright The goodlyest things doe best become the men of best degree And valiant things most meetest are for them that valiant bee The earth is but a Chery fayre God hath to you assynde The heauens for your countrey swéete your countrey séeke to finde That when from bondes of body thou escaped art and gone And left your fleshe for dogges to féede or wormes to gnawe vpon You there may alwayes happy liue from fleshe vncleane exempt And lame and often weary limmes wherin whylest you were pent Remaining in the vale of teares and in the mortall rayne Both many harmes and sicknesses and griefes you did sustaine For so the earth may called bée which is the stable sure Of all the worlde the mother and the nurse of vice vnpure Wheras the raging Deuill dwels the king of sinfull kinde Wherfore it needefull is that you haue often death in minde And with your selues consider well how nere the dore he standes Still threatning with
his deadly darte in pale and dreadfull handes How suddainely he strikes therewith how oft he doth destroy The lusty youth and takes away our fayre and flowring ioye O fading lyfe that subiect art to thousande casualtyes O to to shorte and doubtfull state that smoke lyke from vs flyes Now this now that man drops away and thou this present day To morrowe I thus at the last we all doe passe away None otherwise than simple shéepe that Butcher hath preparde In folde to kill now these now those with knife he striketh harde To morrowe other the next day moe thus all in time they dye Tyll that by this his slaughters great the folde doth emptye lye This fading lyfe therfore despise which first beginning takes with teares his middest is toyle griefe and death conclusion makes Who wyll delyght in such a lyfe except a foolishe braine Seeke you an other lyfe to haue an other lyfe to gaine Whereas no mourning griefe or paine whereas no death is founde Thus happy state you shall receaue when carcasse comes to grounde You that haue hated sinne and God haue worshipped holylie And haue not put your confidence in things that worldly be But chast vnhurtful milde and true haue liude in pure degree But some perchance y t think how gods doe dwell in Heauens clere wold also learne some wayes or meanes if any such there were By which they might w t them haue talk and see them face to face O what a goodly thing were this and what a wondrous grace Than which no greater thing on earth I think can man obtaine But fewe deserue so great a state and honor for to gaine For many I graunt with diuels talke which easely they entice By humble prayers made to them or meanes of sacrifice Since farre they be not from the earth but in the ayre doe lye And oftentimes beholde and kéepe the people companie Yea vnto many they appere and serue them willingly And with the beautie great of youth enamoured oft they be But Gods that in the heauen dwell the things that mortall be Disdaine to knowe and wicked factes of men abhorre to sée As they that well doe vnderstande how foolishe and how vile Mans nature is how false and bolde and eke how full of guile Despiser and blasphemer of the chiefest maiestie Wherefore to haue the speache of them and see them presentlie Is labour great and seldome had bicause their eares they close To voice of men and turne away their eyes from giftes of those Which after that they be enrichde with séedes that others sowe A portion small of others goodes vpon the Church bestowe Thinking that Heauen may be solde O two legged Asses blinde Thinke you that God is couetous and precious stones doth minde Or hath delight in glittering golde or needes your helpe to haue Doe you suppose that he is such as doth your fauour craue Think you that brybes can him corrupt as many men they doe No sure he is not got with golde nor giftes he looketh to When that he liues in happyest state and blessed on euery syde When his are all that earth contaynes or seas or heauens wyde How can you giue to God the things that his alreadye be Doth not he rather giue to you the things that here you sée Therfore since neither they with giftes nor vowes will moued be A matter very harde it is them presently to see Although the matter be so harde yet wyll we passe the way And what our force in this can doe by proofe we will assaye First needes we must the meanes finde out that God doth best content Who is not moude with noble bloud nor vnto riches bent No king nor Ceysar he respectts nor triumphes doth esteme Ne careth he for such as are most strong and fayrest seeme But these doth vtterly despise nor for the loue of them â—ouchsafes the prayers to beholde or present sight of men Thus must we seeke an other way by which we may obtaine Their speache and presence for to haue perchaunce my verses plaine This way meanes shall bring to light if that the Gods aboue So fayre attempts doe ayde and helpe and wyth their sprite approue The first thing is the clenlinesse of body and of minde By which man well esteemde of God doth loue and fauour finde For all vncleanesse doth he hate and doth abhorre to see So fayre and blessed is his state and of so hye degree Wherfore we must at first take heede that we be perfectly Well purged and pure from filthinee and all iniquitie Unclothed of our garments blacke and clad in comely whites Which colour best with God agrees and black with fiendishe sprites A harde thing is this same I graunt for who doth here remaine That leades his life without a fault and free from blot or staine To euery man hath nature delt some crime or vicious kinde And nothing is on earth so faire but fault therin we finde Yet are there certaine sinnes so small and to such trifling ende That in a manner nought at all the eyes of God offende Wherwith he is not greued much no sores are these nor staynes But as the little freckels that in body fayre remaines Which easely the Lorde forgiues since well perceâ—ueth â—ée How weake and frayle the nature is of such as mortall bee But great haynous crymes doe much offende the mighty state And wicked men he alwayes doth abhorre despyse and hate Nor wyll he once their prayers heare except they clense before And washe away their sinnes w t â—eares and whyte for black restore Requiring pardon for their faults with voice of mourning minde Obtaining once againe the pathes of vertue for to finde And casting of hys canckred skinne as in the pleasant spring The Serpent vseth all his skinne of olde away to â—â—ing who thus renewed departes leaues his slough in stones behinde And casting vp his head aloâ—t with proude and stately minde His breadfull hyssing doubleth oft with tong of triple kinde Thus Gods are pleased thus wheÌ„ as we rightly on them call They shewe themselues and thus to vs theyr prophecies let fall Yet must there one thing more be had vnto this perfect whight A Crymsin colour must be ioynde the beautie then is bright When as a purple redde with white well entermedled lyes What meanes this ruddy colour here sure loue it signifies For loue resembled is to fire which fyre hath reddishe flame And both a colour and an heate procéedeth from the same Therefore it néedefull is beside that we the Gods aboue Doe hartely loue for he that loues deserueth to haue loue For whosoeuer loues the Gods and liueth Christianly Can not be odious vnto them but shall rewarded bee And shall in happy state obtaine whatsoeuer he doth require But who is he that loues the Lorde the man that doth desire In filthy entisements of the fleshe and pleasures for to sleepe Or he that hath a great delight
beleue but fewe obtayne but iust men that despise The fond and fading wanton ioies and foode of fleshly eyes That quietly do liue and cares do banish farre away And heauenly things alone do minde and neuer seeke to stray From that which right and vertuous is Although that some do say Ill sprites amongst these good there be constrayned to obay To naughty men by Coniuring whereby much ill is done I can not stay nor now is place the signe where as the sunne Doth yelde his yearly compast course where scaled brethren shine Shall tell the rest where as I wyll the state of Gods define If God himselfe doe me permit who doth my verses gene Let vs therefore passe ouer this I scarely can beleue That any God can euyl be Wysdome byds neuer synne But contrary by folly doth fault stray and crime come in No man is euil wyllingly as farre as I beleaue For euery wyl doth couet good if iudgement not deceaue But Diuel wysdome hath if that this name to him agree But whether Fortune gouerne al or howsoeuer it be Or Diuels guide the state of men but yet wythout destenie Doth nothing passe But al things rulde by minde of God on hie Without whose power nothing is done but of this saying here A doubt doth ryse and knot so hard and sure doth eke appere Such one as Hercules or else the Macedonian King Would scarce vndoe which douht stay to many mindes doth bring If destenie commaundeth al if al things so must moue Not wyl to vs remaineth free nor to the Goddes aboue Free wyll is taken cleane away and vertue no rewarde Nor vice doth punnishment deserne which is not to be heard No place is now of Gods to speake but of such things as be In our estate is subiect here which eyes of men may see I say therefore that in the things that vnder fortune be No kinde of thing can here be founde exempt from destenie As riches pleasures ioyful minde wyth rule and honours hyâ— Come from aboue not wyl of ours is that we get them by For who would 〈◊〉 such things enioy but wyll auayles not thoe It rather hurts if destenies agaynst a man do go How many striue to ryse aloft agaynst their destenie But faster more and more they fal and downe they deeper lye On thother syde they vnto whome the stars more gracious be Unlooked for doe often liue in chiefe prosperity Whose nettes while they themselues do sleepe Rhamnusia ful doth fyll Wyth fish and bringeth vnto them al things that they can wyll Loe some of great and noble house we see to come to light And to 〈◊〉 from childehode fyrst all things wyth ioyful spright And to attayne to honour hye though they vnworthy be And bliâ—ded oft their eyes to rule that scarcely wel can see And lyue in al licenciousnesse And some of kinred base For to be borne wyth griefe and teares themselues for to deface wyth labour long and vayne to toyle and yet cannot expel The pricke of hunger that they feele but styl in beggrye dwel who wyl denye these ylies to come through cruell destnies might A number fayre and actiue are and of couragious sprite And many fowle and syckly styl of courage faynt we see whereof coÌ„mes thys of our desertes or our infirmity Or shal we say our wyl doth al By Fates assuredly Eche thing doth chaunce to mortal men the rule hath Desrenie Of our affaires and our estate the houre and kinde of death It only guides a halter him him sword depriues of breath He drownde in floudes he kilde w t colde him strangleth fyry smoke Some other hunger doth destroy and some doth surfets choke By griefe or sycknesse many dye some chaunce away doth send And many age bereues of life a certayne day of ende To al men is and euery age nor longer can we go Than threede of life permits that ruÌ„nes the spiteful spyndle fro So kylde a rysh the prayser of A chilles lusty lore So Aeschilus while as he walkde abrode on Sicill shore Wyth mighty fall of house deceassed Anacreon so did kill A reasons seede Alas what wayes what meanes hath death to spyl When fardest of thou thinkest him then nerest standeth he Nothing than death more certayne can nor more vncertayne be Yet some that know the force of starrâ—s and secrets of the skye Soothsaying Poâ—ts that can tel how things to come do lye I knowe not with what sprite inspired are often wont to tell The kinde and day of death to come for of the things aswell To come is nature sure as of the present things and past Sure in the fyrst and seconde cause that from the fyrst to th' last With largest lynke extended are But goodes or illes of minde Doe they proceede from desteny or from the fatall kinde Learning and wit seeme thence to flow may any learning get Except he wysedome doe obtaine and nature force permit If fortune let or sycknesse staye An Dratour some one An other a Philosopher some alwayes looke vpon The sacred secretes of the Gods and secke the starry skye And some there are y t drink the streames in wretched pouertye That from Castalian well doe flowe whom pleaseth pleasant fame As nerest kinne to hunger sharpe from whence comes all these same From desteny the chiefe of all eche Arte from hence doth flowe Thence offices deriued all that mortall men doe knowe In sundry seruants nature ioyes that diuers things thence may Procede to deck the world and let ts not all to passe one way But them commauÌ„deth seuerall course and seuerall paines to take With sundry sort of workes the world more beautyfull to make But whether our conditions here are delt by desteny Or whether of our wyll they spring it semeth good to trye Nor labour small it doth appere the trouth herem to finde Of our free wyll what portion doth remaine within our minde In wretched case we lyue if vs byreft is libertye If that the chiefe and greatest force of fatall desteny Constraine vs ill to be and that by force we in be brought To wickednesse and if to striue therwith auaileth nought Wherfore it semeth labour worth our wittes to thys to bende And for to syft the trouth as much as God shall knowledge sende Fyrst it behoueth vs to tell what thys free wyll should be An ample power receiued of God and largest liberty Deliuered man that as he lyst the right or wayes vniust He folowe should not vertue left that therby sinne he must But contrary the vices thunde to applye the vertuous wayes For euill deedes doe harme the soule and good deserueth prayse Besydes it further must be sought if thys free will doth raine In all a lyke or if it doth in euery time remaine No sure it semeth not to be in Children nor in such As vehement anguishe of the minde or body greueth much Or they whose eyes the heauy sleepes haue shut and closed sure For slepe
is counted plaine of death the liuely portrature Wherfore if thou shalt search the truthe with well aduised minde Thou shalt a smallest sort among so many thousande finde That with free wil do guide themselues and libertie doe vse The fault of age I ouerpasse and childrens yeares excuse And vnto those that sleeping lye I licence also giue Or them whom feuers rage doth rost or sycknesse sharpe doth grieue Of which a number great there be but greater farre away And worser eke whose fylthy minde doth vices foule aray And fonde affections makes to faint wythdrawing it with strife From reason farre and from the path of ryght and vertuous lyfe May these be counted for to haue free wyll and libertye A doubtfull thing it surely is and many it denye Wherfore thou well must vnderstande that he alone is free Whom reason rules that with payne will neuer conquerd bee Nor when the stormy tempests rage to rocks is euer thrall But stoutly sticking to the sterne doth with the hauen fall So truely earst haue certaine sayde but wisemen none we finde Whom reason ruling can correct the affections of the minde The other sort can not doe so why hath not God them delt Free wyll whych euer may be founde where reason may be felt For these are alwayes coupled styll So beastes of nature wylde Syth reason they are thought to lack are iudgde from wyll exylde But all men reason doe receiue and therfore haue free wyll For reason is the guide of minde that choseth good from ill Descerning eke the naughty facts from such as honest be And called is the syght and eye wherwith the minde doth se Such eye perhaps as Poliphaem the Poets gaue to thee Wherwyth the lymmes of thy beloued in seas thou oft didst see But naught alas and all to naught who such to shunne hath might Vlisses wyth a fiery post hath it bereft of syght And face the face that fyrst was fayre of beauty spoyled quite Or such an eye as Lynceus had that sawe in darkest night Thys eye therefore to euery man Prometheus wysedome delt But fewe it vse a very fewe that grace of loue haue felt Hereof the spring of errours doth and wickednesse aryse For if the steps of reason all should treade in nerest wyse Then peace on earthe shoulde alwayes dwell and Mars hys bloudy hande Such slaughters nor such cryes shoulde cause townes walles shuld stand And weapons framed fyrst in hell by fiendyshe furyes wrought Should tille y e field with good exchange to share and cultre brought Then Bees and Cattel swarming thick and riches of the fielde Unto the happy husbandman a great increase should yelde The golden world should then returne and eke one place containe Both man God who would vouchsafe before our eyes to raine The cause why fewe doe reason vse and wayes forbydden knowe And voide of freewill liue like beastes I wyll assay to showe A certaine part diuine in vs that minde and reason hyght There is which nature in the head hath placed a loft in syght And seruants vnto it appoints the senses that there be By meanes whereof the Skies Earth and al things it may see An other fading force there is wythin the breast enclosde By meanes wherof we moue and grow wyth helpe of heate disposde Thus hath it pleased God this straynes molests and grieues the minde And to this part a number great of seruaunts is assinde As fond delight wrath griefe and feare wyth great desire to gayne Ambition hauty harmfull thing wyth fumes that vex the brayne Wyth these his lusty souldiours he giues battayle to the minde These mates attempted Joue to vexe of fiercest giants kinde As Giges strong Iapetus and Tiphoeus monstrous sprite Enceladus yll worker and Briareus dredful wight Wyth worldly thoughtes hie heapt they vexe the part diuine aboue Except that grace from heauen hye like lightning them remoue As when the raynes are once let lose the Chariot headlong dryues And swiftly runnes to stay the course in vaine the Carter stryues The fyrst beginnings must be stopped whyle sparke but kindling lies When fyre hath rought the lofty partes and flames approch the skies Especially when Boreas blastes from Northerne Pole doth fall And rageth fierce in vayne alas for water then they call As when from top of hawty rocke some wayghty stone downe trowles What force can it of course restrayne al things wyth it it rowles Asunder crackes the mighty trees that on the mountayne springs Which at the fyrst might well be stayed wyth force of smallest things Euen so the affections of the minde if that wyth all their sway The minde opprest they do inuade them scarce can reason stay And helme and al forsaken quite wyth streame dame Reason driues In raging windes and yeldes to foe a captiue kept in gyues Therefore while vices yet be yong let them oppressed be And voyd the cause ere they waxe strong then minde and wyl is free Then conquerour thou shalt be crownd wyth Palme of Idumay But if the assault be now begonne and siege the foe doth lay And shakes wyth battrey great y e walles except beleue me well Some God wyth better grace defend Reason doth byd farewell And cannot byde so sore a brunt May we not playnly see What harmes the minde doth there sustayne where Bacchus blessings be What madnesse ofte doth spring when wine to much in stomack raynes Tell where freewyl kepes residence when drinke doth vex the braynes The sober and the fasting man of freewil is possest And doth what so euer Reason byds Againe the dronken gest The thing that he ne would ne knowes he alwayes doth the same Which deedes he sobre doth repent and sorroweth eke wyth shame So wyth affections minde is dronke and in none otherwyse Than wine that topsey turnes the brayn when it doth vpward ryse It troubled is and darkd in mystes Thus he and none besides Hath freedome and his minde at wyl whome reason only guides Who all affections ouercommes and wholly doth restrayne He that from youth doth vertue vse may well to this attaine Such force hath vse nothing more strōg The other sorte are wayde In manner like to brutish beasts as true the Poet sayd Eche man his owne delight doth drawe Freewyll in many opprest And hindred is wherefore who list Freewyl for to possesse Let hym resyst while yong they be thaffections of the minde And them to reason subiect make and brydie vse in kinde For flesh agaynst the sprite rebels and wyth continuall warres Doth it molest The soule most pure doth couet styll thestarres But lumpish flesh doth shunne the skies and earthly things desyres For earth it onely is and into earth at length expyres Thus two so farre contrary things hath God compact in one Admit thou art wyse and onely rulde by reasons force alone And freewyll perfectly enioyest shall destnie then beare sway Yea more to Fates thou subiect arte and more shalt it