soonest pry Whose nature thus I chose to be the mould Therein to worke what forme of hap I would 98 His owne compassion cause of his owne care Vpon his thought his constant promise stood Vertue in him most naturally rare No vile base humor tainted his pure blood His bounty still gaue good desert her food His mind so great and honorably free Made him too prone to loose credulitie 99 His counsels thus are combred by his care In nothing certaine bnt vncertaintie His friends resolu'd on nothing but dispaire Yet shewes he greatnes in most misery Each place become a stage for Tragedy By error wandring far beyond his scope Strong in desire but weakest in his hope 100 In publique shame oft counsell seemes disgrac'd No priuiledge can from the Fates protect In desperation counsell hath no taste Vntamed rage doth all aduise reiect Hiding the course which reason should direct Making himselfe the author of his harms VVithout experience valor wants his arms 101 Now I whose power in Williams wars was seene VVhen first on Williams conquest he begun To shew my selfe the worlds imperious Queene Now turne my selfe against his warlike son To lose by me by me his Father won On Englands part gainst Normandy to stand Which Normandy had conquered by my hand 102 The conquest William made vpon this Ile VVith Norman blood be-peopling Brittany Euen now as Brittons made within a while Turne with reuenge to conquer Normandy Thus victory goes back to victory That his own blood wins what before he won His conquering son subdu'd his conquering son 103 Thus Norman townes begirt with English arms The furious brother dealing wrathfull blowes Both pressing in where deadly perrill swarms These English-Norman Norman-English foes At last doe get what they at first did lose As Normandy did Englands fall prouoke Now Norman necks must beare the English yoke 104 The flood of mischiefe thus comes in againe VVhat Fortune works not alwaies seems pretéded The wind thus turn'd blows back the fire amaine VVhere first mischance began she will be ended And he defend him from those he offended For this we find the course of fatall things Is best discern'd in states of Realms Kings 105 On whom of late in Palaestine I smild In ciuill warrs now dreadfully I frowne He call'd from exile I from him exil'd To leaue his crowne who had refus'd a crowne Who beat all down now heare is beaten down Here to lose all who there had gotten all To make his fall more grieuous in his fall 106 To England now a prisoner they him bring Now is he hers which claim'd her for his owne A Captiue where he should haue been a King His dūgeon made wher shold haue been his throne Now buried there wheras he shold haue growne In one poore tower mew'd vp within one place Whose Empires bounds the Ocean shold embrace 107 Could mortall sence containe immortall hate Or reason sound the depth of things diuine Iudgement might stand amaz'd at Roberts state And thinke no might to be compar'd with mine That all power may vnto my power resigne And that in Roberts fall the world may see Amongst the starrs what power remaines in mee 108 That sword which on his fortune hath such power Yet powerles is to end his wretched dayes Those daies w c in their course all things deuoure To his swift griefe makes slow and lazie staies To Tyrannies long raigne he thus obaies That he in life a thousand deaths might die Onely in mercy rackt with crueltie 109 He hath no ioy but in his miseries His greatest comfort is the blessed light For which as I were angry with his eyes I make the King depriue him of his sight To sute his daies so iustly with the night That sencles stones to mone he should not see Yet sencles stones behold his misery 120 And this he felt that Fortune made him blinde Least his eyes obiects yet might lighten care That y e light wanting more might light his minde VVhose eyes might see how great his sorrows are That euery sence that sences woe might share And so that sence depriu'd of ioy alone Might more increase the griefe of euery one 111 These griefes and horrors enemies of rest VVhich murther life where they do harbor long Kill humors which his body oft opprest Vnnaturally thus making nature strong As out of deaths dead stock new life still sprong As life with death had tempted him till now Yet death to life no ease would er'e allow 112 Death he fear'd not is taught his end to feare Life once he lou'd with him now fall'n in loue That foe a friend to hurt him doth forbeare That friend a foe he cannot now remoue Twixt them he all extremities doth proue Aged in youth to pine his ioy thereby Youthfull in age to suffer misery 113 Courage forbids that he himselfe should kill His life too proud to be constrain'd to die His will permits not death now when he will VVhat would dispaire true valor doth deny Thus life's life foe death is deaths enemy VVilling to die by life him double killing Vrging to die twice dying he vnwilling 114 So many yeeres as he hath worne a crowne So many yeeres as he hath hop'd to rise So many yeeres he liues thus quite thrown downe So many yeeres he liues without his eyes So many yeeres in dying ere hee dyes So many yeeres lockt vp in prison strong Though sorrow make the shortest time seeme long 115 Thus sway I in the course of earthly things That Time might worke him euerlasting spite To shew that power yet euer makes not kings Nor that conceit can compasse my deceit In fined things such meruails infinite Nor any wonder is to be supposed In that wherein all wonders are inclosed 116 AT Fortuns speech they stand as all amaz'd Whilst Fame herselfe doth wonder at his woe And all vpon this deadly Image gaz'd VVhose misery shee had discribed so But in reuenge of this dispightfull foe Fame from a slumber as it seem'd awake On his behalfe thus for herselfe be-spake 117 What time I came frō world-renowned Rome To waken Europe from her drouzie traunce Summoning the Princes of great Christendome To Palaestine their Ensignes to aduaunce Soūding my trump in England Spaine Fraunce To moue the Christians to religious war Frō Pagans hands to free CHRISTS sepulchar 118 That holy Hermit Peter then as one VVhich as a Saint bewaild so great a losse With Bulloigne Godfrey Christs strong champion Vnder the Banner of the bloody CROSSE Now on the Alps the conquering collours tosse Leading along the brauest Christian band To reare their Tropheys in the HOLY LAND 119 Hether the flocks of gallant spirits do throng The place whence immortalitie doth spring To whom the hope of conquest doth belong Nor any thought lesse then to be a King Hether doth Fame her deerest children bring And in this Camp shee makes her treasury The rarest Iems of Europs Chiualry 120 This conquering lord
English crowne Victorious Longshanks flower of chiualrie First of his name that raign'd in Albion Through worlds renown'd to all posteritie My youth began and then began my blis Euen in his daies those blessed daies of his 9 O daies no daies but little worlds of mirth O yeeres no yeeres time slyding with a trice O world no world a very heauen on earth O earth no earth a verie Paradice A King a man nay more then this was hee If earthly man more then a man might be 10 Such a one hee was as Englands Beta is Such as shee is euen such a one was hee Betwixt her rarest excellence and his VVas neuer yet so neere a simpathy To tell your worth and to giue him his due I say my Soueraigne hee was like to you 11 His Court a schoole where Arts were dailie red And yet a Campe where Armes are exercised Vertue and learning heere were nourished And stratagems by souldiers still deuised Heere skilfull Schoolmen were his Counsailors Schollers his Captains Captains Senators 12 Here sprang the roote of true gentilitie Vertue was clad in gold crown'd with honor Honor intitled to Nobilitie Admired so of all that looked on her Wisdom not wealth possessed wisemens roomes Vnfitting base insinuating Groomes 13 Then were vile worldlings loth'd as filthy toades And good men as rare pearls were richly prized The learned were accounted little Gods The hatefull Atheist as the plague despised Desert then gaynd what vertues merit craues And Artles Pesants scornd as basest slaues 14 Pride was not then which all things ouerwhelms Promotion was not purchased with gold Men hew'd their honor out of steeled helms In those daies fame with blood was bought sold No petti-fogger pol'd the poore for pence These dolts these dogs as traytors banisht hence 15 Then was the Souldier prodigall of blood His deeds eterniz'd by the Poets pen VVho spar'd his life to doe his Countrie good VVhen after death his fame remain'd with men Then learning liu'd with liberalitie And men were crownd with immortalitie 16 Graunt pardon then vnto my wandring ghost Although I seeme lasciuious in my praise And of perfection though I vainlie boast VVhilst here on earth I troad this wearie maze VVhilst yet my soule in body did abide And whilst my flesh was pampred here in pride 17 My valiant Father was in Gascoygne borne A man at Arms and matchlesse with his launce A Souldier vow'd and to King Edward sworne VVith whom he seru'd in all his warrs in Fraunce His goods and lands he pawnd layd to gage To follow him the wonder of that age 18 And thus himselfe hee from his home exil'd Who with his sword sought to aduaunce his fame VVith me his ioy but then a little chyld Vnto the Court of famous England came Whereas the King for seruice he had done Made me a Page vnto the Prince his sonne 19 My tender youth yet scarce crept from the shell Vnto the world brought such a wonderment That all perfection seem'd in mee to dwell And that the heauens me all their graces lent Some sware I was the quintessence of Nature And some an Angel and no earthly creature 20 The heauens had limm'd my face with such a die As made each curious eye on earth amazed Tempring my lookes with loue and maiestie A miracle to all that euer gazed So that it seem'd some power had in my birth Ordained me his Image heere on earth 21 O beautious varnish of the heauens aboue Pure grain-dy'd colour of a perfect birth O fairest tincture Adamant of loue Angell-hewd blush the prospective of mirth O sparkling luster ioying humaine sight Liues ioy harts fire loues nurse y e soules delight 22 As purple-tressed Titan with his beames The sable clowdes of night in sunder cleaueth Enameling the earth with golden streames VVhen he his crimson Canapie vpheaueth Such where my beauties pure translucent rayes Which cheer'd y e Sun cleerd y e drouping daies 23 My lookes perswading Orators of loue My speech diuine infusing harmonie And every word so well could passion moue So were my icstures grac'd with modestie As where my thoughts intended to surprize I easly made a conquest with mine eyes 24 A gracious minde a passing louelie eye A hand that gaue a mouth y e neuer vaunted A chast desire a tongue that would not lye A Lyons hart a courage neuer daunted A sweet conceit in such a cariage placed As with my iesture all my words were graced 25 Such was the work which Nature had begun As promised a Iem of wondrous price This little starre fore-told a glorious Sunne This curious plot an earthly Paradice This Globe of beauty wherein all might see An after world of wonders heere in mee 26 As in th' Autumnall season of the yeere Some death-presaging Comet doth arise Or some prodigious meteor doth appeare Or fearefull Chasma vnto humaine eyes Euen such a wonder was I to behold Where heauen seem'd all her secrets to vnfold 27 If cunnings't pensill-man that euer wrought By skilfull Arte of secret Sumetrie Or the diuine Idea of the thought VVith rare descriptions of high Poesie Should all compose a body and a minde Such one was I the wonder of my kinde 28 VVith this faire bayte I fisht for Edwards loue My daintie youth so pleasd his princlie eye Heere grewe the league which time could not remoue So deeplie grasted in our infancie That frend nor so nor life nor death could sunder So seldom seene and to the world a wonder 29 O heauenlie concord musick of the minde Touching the hart-strings with such harmonie The ground of nature and the law of kinde Which in coniunction doe so well agree VVhose reuolution by effect doth proue That mortall men are made diuine by loue 30 O strong combining chayne of secrecie Sweet ioy of heauen the Angels oratorie The bond of faith the seale of sanctitie The soules true blisse youths solace ages glorie And endles league a bond thats neuer broken A thing diuine a word with wonder spoken 31 With this faire bud of that same blessed Rose Edward surnam'd Carnaruan by his birth VVho in his youth it seem'd that Nature chose To make the like whose like was not on earth Had not his lust and my lasciuious will Made him and me the instruments of ill 32 With this sweet Prince the mirror of my blisse My souls delight my ioy my fortunes pride My youth enioyd such perfect happines Whilst Tutors care his wandring yeeres did guide As his affections on my thoughts attended And with my life his ioyes began and ended 33 Whether it were my beauties excellence Or rare perfections that so pleasd his eye Or some diuine and heauenly influence Or naturall attracting simpathy My pleasing youth became his sences obiect Where all his passions wrought vpō this subiect 34 Thou Arke of heauen where wonders are inroled O depth of nature who can looke on thee O who is he that hath thy doome controuled Or
doth run The Marble-skyes with checker'd varnish faire My branch-embossed bed of natures care The flowers my smell the slood my thirst to steep Thus like a King with pleasure rock'd a sleepe 8 VVhen in a dreame it seemed vnto mee A noyse of trumpets from the flood arose As when great BETA in her pompe wee see VVhen shee by London on the water goes The dauncing Barge with silent musick rowes The people thronging on the wharfes shores The ayre with shouts the water fill'd with oares 9 A troope of Nymphes came suddainly on land When thus was ended this tryumphant sound Encompassing mee lying on the strand Taking theyr places on the grassy ground Theyr ory tresses all with Laurell crown'd Casting theyr sober modest eyes a space Vpon my swarty mellancholly face 10 Betwixt two Ladies came a goodly Knight As newly brought from some distresfull place It seem'd to mee he was some noble wight Though his attyre were miserable and base And care made furrowes in his manly face And though cold age had frosted his faire haires It rather seem'd for sorrow then for yeares 11 The one a princely Lady did support This feeble Image which coulde sarcly stand The other fleering in disdainfull sort With scornefull iesture drew him by the hand VVho being blind yet bound with many a band At length I found this proude disdainefull Dame Was FORTVNE and the other glorious FAME 12 FAME on his right hand in a robe of gold VVhose stately trayne Time as her Page did beare On which for rich embrawdery was enrold The deedes of all the VVorthies euer were So strōgly wrought as wrong could not empeire VVhose large memorialls shee did still rehearse In Poets man-immortalizing verse 13 Two Tables on her goodly breast shee bore The one of Christall th'other Ebony Engrau'd with names of all that liu'd before That the faire booke of heauenly memory Th'other the black scrowle of infamy One stuffd with Poets Saints Conquerers Th'other with Atheists Tyrants Vsurers 14 And in her words appeared as a wonder Her during force and neuer-failing might VVhich softly spake farre of were as a thunder And round about the world wold take their flight And bring the most obscurest things to light That still the farther of the greater still Did euer sound our good or make our ill 15 Fortune as blinde as he whom she doth leade Her feature chang'd each minute of the hower Her riggish feet fantastickly would tread Now would shee smile suddainly would lower And w t one breth her words were sweet sower Vpon her foes she amorously would glaunce And on her followers coylie looke a scaunce 16 About her necke it seem'd as for a chaine Some Princes crownes broken scepters hong Vpon her arme a lazie youth did leane VVhich scornfully vnto the ground shee flong And with a wanton grace passing along Great bags of gold from out her bosome drew And to base Pesants and fond Ideots threw 17 A dusky vaile which hid her sightles eyes Like clowds which couer our vncertaine liues Painted about with bloody Tragedies Fooles wearing crownes wisemen clogd in giues Now how she giues againe how she depriues In this black Map thus shee her might discouers In Campes and Courts on soldiers kings louers 18 An easie rysing little banck there was The seate fayre FLORA somtime sat vpon Curling her locks in louely Isis glasse To reuell in the Springs pauilion Here was her court and this her princly throne Here set they downe this poore distressed man And in this sort proude Fortune first began 19 BEhold quoth she this Duke of Normandy The heire of William Conqueror of this Ile VVhich thou poore Fame hast vow'd to glorifie VVhose history this Poet must compile My slaue my scorne my prisoner an exile Whose life I mark'd with my black dismall brand And thou would'st now eternize with thy hand 20 Thou art an Eccho a by-word a wind Thine ayrie bodie is composd of breath A wandring blast within no place confin'd VVhich oft of nothing silly somthing saith Yet neuer canst speake well till after death And from imagination hast thy birth Vnknowne in heauen vnperceiu'd on earth 21 First in opinion had'st thou thy creation Form'd with conceit the needy Poets frend And like opinion keep'st no certaine fashion Yet in a circle still thy course doth end And but a Post which all base rumors send An needles burden of an idle song The prophane accent of each witles tongue 22 Slaunders vile spy a runnagate a thiefe VVhich day and night in euery chinck doth peepe A blab a wanton lightest of beliefe Nor in thy gate a meane doost euer keepe But now hie in the ayre now in the deepe Reporting that which thou doost but suppose And telling that thou neuer should'st disclose 23 VVith extreame toyle and labour thou art sought Danger the way that leadeth to thy Cell Onely with death thy fauours must be bought And who obtaines thee fetcheth thee from hell Where thou ensconst w t fiery swords dost dwell And when thou art with all this perrill found Thou art a suddaine voice a tinckling sound 24 My out-cast abiects such as I disgrace And euer-more haue held in hatefull scorne And in the world haue set in seruile place These be thy fauorits these thou doost subborne These wait on Fame whose weeds be neerly worne Yet cannot these poore wretches come to thee Vnlesse before they be preferr'd by mee 25 That trump thou saist wakes dead men from theyr traunce Is not of precious gold as somē do deeme A brazen pipe by which vaine fooles do daunce And but to sound so loude doth onely seeme Sith points of vertue no man doth esteeme And with this toy the idle braine abusest And so their folly and thy fault excusest 26 Except in perrill thou doost not appeare And yet in perrill ebbing still and flowing Flying from him that seeth succour neere Diminished at hand augmented going On fertile stocks decay'd on barraine growing Lost life with rumors thou doost but repayre And what thou promisest thou payest with ayre 27 In balefull Hearses sad and sable grounds On gory letters thy memorialls lye Thy lines are deepe immedicable wounds And towards the dust thou point'st thy tearful eye Neuer discouer'd but in Tragedy Thy stony hart is pittifull to none But Syren-like to their destruction 28 This orbes great reuolution knowes my power And how I raigne with the eternall Fates VVith whom I sit in counsell euery howre On change of times subuersion of states On their beginnings on their seuerall dates In destining haps past on things to come In iudgement till the euerlasting dome 29 The starrs my Table-bookes wherein I write My Register the spacious circling Sky On heauens great brow I carefully endite Vnhappy mans long birth-markt desteny And by my power my lawes I ratefy And his fraile will imperiously controule VVith such quaint clauses as I there enroule 30 To me the heauens haue theyr Commission
wit wit courage arms This is the thred which leadeth on his will This is the steere which guides him in these storms To see his good and to foresee his harms Not flying life in fortune so content Not fearing death as truly valient 144 He feasts desire with sweetest temperance Greatnes he decks in modesties attire Honor he doth by humblenes aduance By sufferance he raiseth courage hier His holy thoughts by patience still aspire To fashion vertue strangely he doth seeke Making poore hope impatient sorrow meeke 145 Then in his ioy he nothing lesse inioyes Still of him selfe the worser part he is What most shold please him him the most annoyes Of his there's nothing can be called his And what he hath that doth he euer misse His thought of conquest so doth rest inuade Thus is he made as vnto others made 146 All things to him be prosperous as he would Not trusting Fortune nor distrusting Fate Resolu'd to hope hap what soever could Ioying in woe in ioy disconsolate Ioy lightneth woe woe ioy doth moderate Carelesse of both indifferent twixt either VVooed of both yet yeelding vnto neither 147 Endlesse his toyle a figure of his fame And his life ending giues his name no end Lasting that forme where vertue builds the frame Those sums vnnumbred glory giues to spend Our bodies buried then our deeds ascend Those deeds in life to worth cannot be rated In death with life our fame euen then is dated 148 VVilling to doe he thinketh what to doe That what he did exactly might be done That due foresight before the act might goe VVhich wisely warning might all errors shun That care might finish what he had begun Iustly directed in the course of things By that straight rule which sound experience brings 149 From famous Godfrey and the Christian hoast Vnto the migty Grecian Emperor Now is he sent through many perrils tost This Norman Duke the braue Ambassador His royall spirit so much ne're seene before As with his princely traine when he doth come Before the towne of faire Bizantium 150 From forth the holy Region is he sent Bending his coure through Macedon and Thrace Yet neuer would he sleepe but in his Tent Till he return'd vnto that hallowed place Till he beheld that famous Godfreis face Nor neuer rest his body in a bed Till Palaestine were free deliuered 151 Triumphall prowesse true disposed care Cleare-shining courage honourable intent Vertuous-apparreld manhood thoughts more rare Mind free as heauen imperiall gouernment Numbers of vertues in one sweet consent Gyfts which the soule so highly beautifie Humble valour valiant humilitie 152 Sweet ayre with Angels breath be thou refin'd And for his sake be made more pure then ayre And thether let some gentle breathing wind From Paradice bring sweets which be most rare Let Sommer sit in his imperiall chayre And clothe sad Winter in the cheerefull prime Keeping continuall Sommer in the clime 153 Delight be present in thy best attire And court his eyes with thy delightfull change Oh warme his spirit with thy soule-feasting fire To base delight-abusers be thou strange Such as in vainest pleasures boundlesse range For pleasure he all pleasures quite forsooke And arm'd with zeale these toiles first vndertooke 154 O let Danubius in her watry roome VVhere she the name of Ister first did take VVith threescore riuers swelling in her wombe With seauen large throats her greedy thirst to slake Doth swallow in the great worlds vastie lake Vnto all regions which doe know her name In Roberts glory tell our countries fame 155 And broad-brim'd Strymon as she vaulteth on Slyding along the fertill Thracian shore Kissing the stronds of famous Macedon Which once the name of old Aemathia wore Whose fame decay'd her drops do now deplore May raise another Orpheus with her mones To sing his praise vnto her trees and stones 156 Time on his life thy gathered store disburse VVhich may enrich thee with eternall gaine VVhich art a beldame now become a nurse And in his end begin his glorious raigne That yet truth may of truth be forc'd to faine That of his praise thy selfe a part maist be VVhich praise remaines the better part of thee 157 O thou immortall Tasso Aestes glory VVhich in thy golden booke his name hast left Enrold in thy great Godfreis liuing story VVhose lines shall scape vntoucht of ruins thest Yet vs of him thou hast not quite bereft Though thy large Poems onely boast his name Ours was his birth and we will haue his fame 158 The curious state of greatnes he doth scorne Carelesse of pomp to be magnificent Deeming the noblest minded noblest borne Him worthiest honor which the furthest went His blood most pure whose blood in wars most spent Esteeming all fond titles toyes of naught Most honoring those which were with peril bought 159 His richest roabes are his approoued Armes His sports were deeds of peerelesse chiualrie He flies all pleasures as the Syrens charmes To his great mind no pleasing harmonie Not touch't with childish imbecillitie As sacriledge to his religious mind To mix base thoughts with those of heauenly kind 160 A mind which of it selfe could rightly deeme Keeping a straight way in one certaine course As a true witnes of his owne esteeme Feeding it selfe from his owne springing source And by himselfe increasing his owne force Desirous still him daylie to enure To endure that men thought none could endure 161 Deuinest touch instinct of highest heauen Most gracefull grace purest of puritie To mortall man immortall vertue giuen Manhood adorn'd with powerfull dietie Discreetfull pitty hallowed pietie In secret working by itselfe confest In silent admiration best exprest 162 Not spur'd with honor dearely louing peace Constant in any course to which he fell A spirit which no asffliction could oppresse Neuer remou'd where once his thought did dwell Opynionate that what he did was well VVhich working now vpon so good a cause Approueth his conceit the surest lawes 163 No braggarts boast nor ostentacious word Out of his mouth is euer heard proceed But on his foe-mans curats with his sword In characters records his valiant deed That there vnpartiall eyes might plainly reed In modest silence by true vertue hid That though he dumb his deeds told what he did 164 He cheres his Souldiers with sweet honied words His princely hand embalmes the maimeds wound Vnto the needie gold he still affords To braue attempts encouraging the sound Neuer dismaid in perrill is he found His Tent a seate of iustice to the greeu'd A kingly court when need should be releeu'd 165 His life each hower to danger he doth giue Yet still by valour he with perrill striues In all attempts as he did scorne to liue Yet lyuing as his life were many liues Oft times from death it seemes that he reuiues Each hower in great attempts he seemes to die Yet still he liues in spight of ieopardie 166 Euen by that town o're which his Lord did weepe Whose precious tears were shed
for her own sinne Euen by that towne this zealous Lord did weepe To see her now defil'd with others sinne He wept he weepes for sinne and he for sinne He first shed teares he lastly sheddeth teares Those sacred drops the others drops endeares 167 What prince was found within the Christian hoast That carried marke of honor in his shield That with braue Roberts Lyons once durst boast Raging with furie in the bloody field VVhose mighty pawes a piller seem'd to weild Which froÌ„ their nostrhils breath'd a seeming flame VVhen he in pride amongst the Pagans came 168 His life with blood how dearely did he prize And neuer did he brandish his bright sword But many Pagan soules did sacrifize And all the ground with liuelesse truncks he stor'd Such was his loue vnto his dearest Lord That were true loue more purer then is loue Here in this loue his purenes he might proue 169 Who from his furie latelie fled away VVhen in the field far off they him espied Pursu'd in his faire presence make a stay As of his hand they willing would haue died His beautie so his feircenes mollified As taking death by valiant Roberts name Should to their liues giue euerlasting fame 170 The cruell Panyms thirsting after blood VVith his sweet beauty doe their hates a slake Yet when by him in danger they haue stood And that his valour did their rage awake And with their swords reuenge wold deeply take The edges turne as seeming to relent To pitty him to whom the blowes were sent 171 At feirce assaults where thousand deaths might fall His cheerfull smiles made death he could not kill Imperiously his sword commaunds the wall As stones should be obedient to his will The yeelding blood his blood did neuer spill His fury quencht with teares as with a flood And yet like fire consuming all that stood 172 When in the morne his Courser he bestrid The trumpets sound vnto his thoughts gaue fire But from the field he euer dropping rid As he were vanquisht onely in retire The neerer rest farther from his desire In bootie still his Souldiers share the crowns They rich in gold he onely rich in wounds 173 At this returne now in this sad retreate From heathens slaughter from the Christians fled This is not he which in that raging heate On mighty heapes laid Pagan bodies dead Whose plumed helme empaled in his head Mild as some Nimphlike â—â—â—gin now he seem'd VVhich some in fight a fearefull spirit deem'd 174 No tryumphs doe his victories adorne But in his death who on the Crosse had died No lawrell nor victorious wreath is worne But that red Crosse to tell him crucified This death his life this pouertie his pride His feast is fast his pleasure pennaunce is His wishes prayers his hope is all his blisse 175 Great Caluary whose hollow vaulted womb In his deere Sauiours death afunder riuen That rock-rent Caue that man-god burying tomb VVhich was vnto his blessed body giuen VVhose yeelding Ghost did shake the power of heauen Here as a Hermit could he euer liue Such wondrous thoughts vnto his soule they giue 176 Thus a poore Pilgrim he returnes againe His sumptuous roabes be turn'd to Palmers gray Leauing his Lords to lead his warlick traine Whilst he alone comes sadly on the way Dealing abroad his deare bloods purchas'd pray A hermits staffe his caresull hand doth hold VVhose charged Launce the beathen foe controld 177 Most louing zeale borne of more zealous loue Cares holy care faiths might ioyes food hopes kay The groundwork worlds bewitching cannot moue Of true desires the neuer failing stay The cheerfull light of heauens ne're-ending day Vertue which in thy selfe most vertuous art The fairest gyft of the most fairest part 178 But now to end this long continued strife Henceforth thy malice takes no further place Thy hate began and ended with his life His spirit by thee can suffer no disgrace Now in mine armes his vertues I imbrace His body thine his crosses witnes be His mind is mine and from thy power is free 179 Thou gau'st vp rule when he gaue vp his breath And at his end then did I first begin Thy hate was buried in his timelesse death Thou going out first did I enter in Thou loosing him thy losse then did I win And when the Fates did vp their right resigne Thy right his wrong thy hate his hap was mine 180 To the vnworthie world then get thee back Stuft with deceits and fawning flatteries There by thy power bring all things vnto wrack And fill the times with fearefull Tragedies And since thy ioy consists in miseries Heare his complaint who wanting eyes to see May giue thee sight which art as blind as hee 181 AT her great words whilst they in silence stand Poore haplesse Robert now remembring him Holding one bloody eye in his pale hand VVith countenance all dead and gastly grim As in a feauer shaking euery lim Euen with a pitteous lamentable grone Vailing his head thus breakes into his mone 182 Poore teare dim'd taper which hast lost thy brother And thus art lest to twinkle here alone Ah might'st thou not haue perrisht with the other And both together to your set haue gone You both were one one wanting thou not one Poore twins which like true friends one watch did keepe Why seuer'd thus y t so you shold not sleepe 183 And thou pore eye oh why sholdst thou haue light The others black eclipse thus soone to see And yet thy fellow be depriu'd of sight For thy sad teares the while to pitty thee Equall your griefes your haps vnequall be Take thou his darknes and thy sorrow hide Or he thy light his griefe so well espied 184 Let that small drop out of thy iuicie ball Canded like gum vpon the moist'ned thrid There still be fixed that it neuer fall But as a signe hang on thine eyes staind lid A witnes there what inward griefe is hid Like burning glasses sired by the Sonne Light all mens eyes to see what there is done 185 Now like to conduits draw my body drie By which is made the entrance to my blood Streame-gushing sluces plac'd in eyther eye VVhich shalbe fed by this continuall flood Whirlpooles of tears where pleasures citty stood Deuouring gulfes within a vastie land Or like the dead Sea euer hatefull stand 186 Where stood the watch-towers of my cheerful face Like Vestall Lamps lighted with holy flame Is now a dungeon and a lothed place The dark some prison of my hatefull shame That they themselues doe most abhor the same Through whose foule grates griefe full of miserie Still begging vengeance ceaseth not to crie 187 VVith dire-full seales death hath shut vp the dores VVhere he hath taken vp his dreadfull Inne In bloody letters shewing those fell sores That now doe raigne wherioy mirth haue beene This mortal plague the iust scourge of their sinne From whose contagion comfort quite is fled And they themselues in their selues buried 188 Poore
all infamie and shame Dispis'd of men abhord in euery place Hate to thy selfe the very worlds disgrace 176 VVhen all thy race shall be in tryumph set Their royall conquests and atchiuements done Henrie thy Father braue Plantaginet Thy conquering Brother Lyon-hart his sonne The crownes spoiles these famous Champions won This still shall be in thy dishonour said Loe this was Iohn the murderer of a Maid 177 Looke I to heauen her purenes tells my sin Looke I on man hee frownes with hatefull sight Looke I on earth I see my fault therein The light to view my shame doth giue me light The night puts me in mind of my fames night I read my shame in all things as a booke And yet most grieu'd when on my selfe I looke 178 This act enrold in booke of black Defame Where men of death tragick murders reed Recorded in the Register of shame In lines whose letters freshly euer bleed VVhere all the world shall wonder my misdeed And quote the place thus euer passing by Note heere King Iohns vile damned tyranny 179 Her blood exhal'd from earth vnto the sky A fearfull Meteor still hangs ore my head Stayning the heauens with her Vermilion dye Changing the Sunnes bright rayes to gorie red Prognosticating death and fearfull dread Her soule with howling reuengfull steuen Shreeking before the christall gates of Heauen 180 VVhose sacred Counsell now in iudgment set And shee before them stands to plead her case Her drearie words in bloodie tears are wet The euidence appears before my face And I condemn'd a catife wanting grace Iustice cryes out vpon this sinfull deed And to my death the fatall starrs proceed 181 Earth swallow me and hide me in thy wombe O let my shame in thy deepe Center dwell Wrap vp this murder in my wretched tombe Let tender mercy stop the gates of hell And with sweet drops this furious heat expell O let repentance iust reuenge appease And let my soule in torment find some ease 182 O no her tears are now become a flood And as they rise increasing mine offence And now the shedding of her guiltlesse blood Euen like a Cankar gnawes my conscience O ther's my griefe my paine proceeds frō thence Yet neuer time wears out this filthy staine And I dishonor'd euer shall remaine 183 Fame in her death shame in me tooke her birth That shame in dying till her fame be dead My sinne on earth whilst shee is in the earth And by her fall my fault will still be fed My black more black my red be made more red Her no my I her was my wicked is Her good my ill my basenes be her blisse 184 Then doe I vow a solemne pylgrimage Before my wretched miserable end This doone betake me to some Hermitage VVhere I the remnant of my daies will spend VVhere almes and prayer I euer will attend And on the Tombe at last where thou dost lie VVhen all is done Ile lay mee downe and die 185 And for his pennance lastly he deuis'd Monthly to Dunmow would he take his way And in a simple Palmers weede disguis'd VVith deep deuotion kneele him downe to pray Kissing the place whereas my body lay Washing my Tombe with his repentant tears And being wet yet dry'd it with his hairs FINIS THE ARGVMENT OF PEIRS GAVESTON PEIRS Gaueston borne in Gascoyne at a place of that name his Father a valiant Gentleman and a souldiour seruing vnder Edward Longshancks in his warres in Fraunce Scotland and Wales This Peirs Gaueston then beeing a child of singuler beautie and no lesse towardnesse was preferd to the place of a Page to Edward of Carnaruan the young Prince of Wales with whom hee became so highlie in fauour as neuer any thing could remooue his inviolable loue Gaueston as he grew in yeers became most licentious by his inticments drew this toward young Prince following this his youthfull Minion into hate with the Noblemen and disgrace with the King his Father who banished this lasciuious corrupter of his Sonne But after the death of this good King Edward of Carnaruan comming to the Crowne calls him home creating him Earle of Cornwall making him Lord Chamberlaine Treasurer Secretarie Lord Deputie of Ireland and Lord Protector of the Land in his absence in Fraunce giuing him the Ile of MAN with all Queene Elinors dowrie Hee thus established by the King becommeth a hater of the Noble men drowned in pride and ambition setting mortall debate betwixt the Barrons and the King who subborned him in all his actions as a man bewithced by this wicked and vile man Hee was twice banished the Realme by meanes of the Barrons who deadly hated him and yet still the King founde meanes to restore him At length the Barrons seeing no remedy rise in Armes taking Gaueston at Scarborough in the North thether fled as to a refuge frō their furie They bring him to Warwicke where by Guy Beuchamp the great Earle of Warwicke he was beheaded at Blacklow bill THE LEGENDE OF Piers Gaueston Entituled To the vvorthie and Honourable Gentleman Ma. Henrie Cauendish Esquire 1 FRom gloomy shaddow of eternall night Where cole-black darknes keeps his lothsom cel And frō those ghosts whose eyes abhor y e light From thence I come a wosull tale to tell Prepare the Stage I meane to act my part Sighing the Scenes from my tormented hart 2 From Stygian Lake to gracelesse soules assign'd And from the flood of burning Acheron VVhere sinfull spirits are by fire refin'd The fearfull ghost of wofull Gaueston With black-fac'd Furies frō the graues attended Vntill the tenor of my tale be ended 3 Wing-footed Fame nowe summons me frō death In Fortunes triumph to aduaunce my glory The blessed Heauens againe doe lend me breath VVhilst I report this dolefull Tragick storie That soule body which death once did sunder Now meete together to report a wonder 4 O purple-buskind Pallas most diuine Let thy bright Fauchion lend me Cypresse bowes Be thou assisting to this Poet of mine And with thy tragick garland girt his browes Pitying my case when none would hear me weep To tell my cares hath layd his owne to sleepe 5 You mournfull Maidens of the sacred nine You Destenies which haunt the shades beneath To you fayre Muses I my plaints resigne To you black spirits I my woes bequeath VVith sable penns of direfull Ebonie To pen the processe of my tragedie 6 Drawe on the lines which shall report my life VVith weeping words distilling from thy pen Where woes abound and ioyes are passing rife A verie meteor in the eyes of men Wherein the world a wonder-world may see Of heauen-bred ioy and hell-nurst miserie 7 Declare my ebb my often swelling tyde Now tell my calmes and then report my showres My Winters storms and then my Sommers pride False Fortunes smiles then her dissembling lowres The height wherto my glory did ascend Then point the period where my ioyes did end 8 When famous Edward wore the
hath the kay of reason to vndoe thee Thy works diuine w c powers alone doe knowe Our shallow wits too short for things below 35 The soule diuine by her integritie And by the functious agents of the minde Cleere-sighted so perceiueth through the eye That which is pure and pleasing to her kinde And by her powrfull motions apprehendeth That w c beyond our humane sense extendeth 36 This Edward in the Aprill of his age Whilst yet the Crowne sate on his Fathers head My Ioue with me his Ganimed his Page Frolick as May a lustie life we led He might cōmaund he was my Soueraigns son And what I said by him was euer done 37 My words as lawes autentique hee allow'd My yea by him was neuer crost with no All my conceit as currant hee avow'd And as my shadow still he serued so My hand the racket he the tennis-ball My voyces eccho answering euery call 38 My youth the glasse where he his youth beheld Roses his lips my breath sweet Nectar showers For in my face was Natures fairest field Richly adorn'd with beauties rarest flowers My breast the pillow where he layd his head Mine eyes this brooke my bosome was his bed 39 My smiles were life and Heauen vnto his sight All his delight concluding my desire From mine eyes beames he borrowed all his light And as a flye play'd with my beauties fire His loue-sick lips at euery kissing qualme Cling to my lips to cure their griefe with blame 40 Like as the wanton Iuie with his twine VVhen as the Oake his rootlesse body warmes The straightest saplings strictly doth combine Clipping the woods with his laciuious armes Such our imbraces when our sport begins Lapt in our armes like Ledas louely twins 41 Or as Loue-nursing Venus when she sports VVith cherry-lipt Adonis in the shade Figuring her passions in a thousand sorts With sights teares or what else might perswade Her deere her sweet her ioy her life her loue Kissing his brow his cheek his hand his gloue 42 My beautie was the Load-starre to his thought My lookes the Pilot to his wandring eye By me his sences all sleepe were brought VVhen with sweet loue I sang his lullaby Nature had taught my tongue her perfect time VVhich in his eare strooke dulie as a chime 43 VVith sweetest speech thus could I Syrenics Which as strong Philters youths desire could moue And with such method could I rethorize My musick played the measures to his loue In his faire breast such was my souls impression As to his eyes my thoughts made intercession 44 Thus like an Eagle seated in the Sunne But yet a Phenix in my Soueraignes eye VVe act with shame our Revels are begun The wise could iudge of our Catastrophe But we proceed to play our wanton prize Our mournfull Chorus was a world of eyes 45 The table now of all delight is layd Seru'd with what banquets beautie could deuise She Syrens sing and false Calipso playd Our feast is grac'd with youths sweet Comedies Our looks with smiles are sooth'd of euery eye Carrousing loue in bowles of Iuorie 46 Fraught with delight and safely vnder saile Like flight-wing'd Faucons now we take our scope Our youth and fortune blow a merry gale VVe loose the Anchor of our vertues hope Blinded with pleasure in this lustfull game By over-sight discard our King with shame 47 My youthfull pranks are spurres to his desire I held the raynes which rul'd the golden Sunne My blandishments were fewell to his fire I had the garland who so euer wonne I waxt his wings and taught him art to flie Who on his back might beare me through y e skie 48 Here first that Sun-bright temple is defild VVhich to faire Vertue first was consecrated This was the fruit wher-with I was beguild Here first the deed of all my fame was dated O me even here from Paradice I fell From Angels state frō heauen cast down to hell 49 Loe here the very Image of perfection VVith the black pensell of defame is blotted And with the vlcers of my youths infection My innocencie is besmear'd and spotted Now comes my night ô now my day is donne These sable clouds eclipse my rysing sunne 50 Our innocence our child-bred puritie Is now defild and as our dreames forgot Drawne in the Coach of our securitie VVhat act so vile that we attempted not Our sun-bright vertues fountain-cleer beginning Is now polluted by the filth of sinning 51 O wit too wilfull first by heauen ordayn'd An Antidote by Vertue made to cherish By filthy vice as with a mole art stayn'd A poyson now by which the sences perish That made of force all vices to controule Defames the life and doth confound the soule 52 The Heauen too see my fall doth knit her browes The valty ground under my burthen groneth Vnto mine eyes the ayre no light allowes The very wind my wickednes bemoneth The barren earth repineth at my food And Nature seemes to curse her beastly brood 53 And thus like slaues we sell our soules to sinne Vertue forgot by worlds deceitfull trust Alone by pleasure are we entered in Now wandring in the labyrinth of lust For when the soule is drowned once in vice The sweet of sinne makes hell paradice 54 O pleasure thou the very lure of sinne The root of woe our youths deceitfull guide A shop where all confected poysons bin The bayre of lust the instrument of pride Inchanting Circes smoothing couer-guile Alluring Siren flattering Crocodile 55 Our Ioue which sawe this Phoebus youth betrayd And Phaeton guide the Sun-carre in the skyes Knew well the course with danger hardly stayd For what is not perceiu'd by wise-mens eyes He knew these pleasures posts of our desire Might by misguiding set his throne on fier 56 This was a corsiue to King Edwards dayes These iarring discords quite vntun'd his mirth This was the paine which neuer gaue him ease If euer hell this was his hell on earth This was the burthen which he groned vnder This pincht his soule rent his hart in sunder 57 This venom suckt the marrow from his bones This was the canker which consum'd his yeares This fearfull vision fild his sleepe with grones This winter snow'd downe frost vpon his haires This was the moth this was the fretting rust VVhich so consum'd his glory vnto dust 58 The humor found which fed this foule disease Most needs be stay'd ere help could be deuis'd The vaine must breath the burning to appease Hardly a cure the wound not cauteriz'd That member now where in the botch was risen Infecteth all not cured by incision 59 The cause coniectur'd by this Prodigie From whence this foule contagious sicknes grue VVisdome alone must giue a remedie Thus to preuent the danger to insue The cause must end ere the effect could cease Else might the danger daylie more increase 60 Now they whose eyes to death enui'd my glory VVhose safetie still vpon my down-fall stood These these could comment
on my youthfull story These were y e Wolues which thirsted for my blood These all vnlade their mischiefes at this bay And make the breach to enter my decay 61 These currs which liu'd by carrion of the court These wide-mouth'd helhounds long time kept at bay Finding the King to credit their report Like greedie Rauens follow for their pray Despightfull Langton fauorit to the King This was the Serpent stroke me with his sting 62 Such as beheld this lightning from aboue My Princely Ioue from out the ayre to thunder This Earth-quake which did my foundation moue This boystrous strome this vnexspected wonder They thought my Sunne had been eclipsed quite And all my day now turn'd to Winters night 63 My youth embowel'd by their curious eyes VVhose true reports my lyfe anotomis'd VVho still pursu'd me like deceitfull spyes To crosse that which I wantonly deuis'd Perceiue the traine me to the trap had led And down they come like hailstones on my head 64 My Sunne eclips'd each starre becomes a Sunne When Phoebus failes then Cynthia shineth bright These furnish vp the Stage my act is done Which were but Glo-worms to my glorious light They erst condemn'd by my perfections doome In Phoebus Chariot now possesse my roome 65 The Commons swore I led the Prince to vice The Noble-men said I abus'd the King Graue Matrons such as lust could not intice Like women whispred of another thing Such as could not aspire vnto my place These were subborn'd to offer me disgrace 66 The staffe thus broke wheron my youth did stay And like the shaddow all my pleasures gone Now with the winds my ioyes fleet hence away The silent night makes musick to my mone The tatling Ecchoes whispring with the ayre Vnto my words sound nothing but dispayre 67 The frowning Heauens are all in sable clad The Planet of my liues misfortune raineth No musick serues a dying soule to glad My wrong to Tirants for redresse complaineth To ease my paine there is no remedie So far despayre exceeds extremitie 68 VVhy doe I quake my down-fall to report Tell on my Ghost the storie of my woe The King commaunds I must depart the court I aske no question he will haue it so The Lyons roring lesser Beasts doth feare The greatest flye when he approcheth neare 69 My Prince is now appointed to his gard As from a Traytor he is kept from me My banishment alreadie is prepard Away I must there is no remedie On paine of death I may no longer stay Such is reuenge which brooketh no delay 70 The skyes with clouds are all inuelloped The pitchy fogs eclipse my cheerfull Sunne The geatie night hath all her curtains spred And all the ayre with vapours ouer-runne Wanting those rayes whose cleernes lent me light My sun-shine day is turn'd black-fac'd night 71 Like to the bird of Leda's Lemmans die Beating his breast against the siluer streame The fatall Prophet of his destenie With mourning chants his death aproching theame So now I sing the dirges of my fall The Anthemes of my fatall funerall 72 Or as the faithfull Turtle for her make VVhose youth enioyd her deare virginitie Sits shrouded in some melancholly brake Chirping fotth accents of her miserie Thus halfe distracted sitting all alone With speaking sighs to vtter forth my mone 73 My beautie sdayning to behold the light Now weather-beaten with a thousand storms My dainty lims must trauaile day and night Which oft were luld in princely Edwards armes Those eyes where Beautie sat in all her pride VVith fearefull obiects fild on euery side 74 The Prince so much astonisht with the blowe So that it seem'd as yet he felt no paine Vntil at length awakned by his woe He sawe the wound by which his ioyes were slaine His cares fresh bleeding fainting more and more No Cataplasma now to cure the sore 75 Now weepe mine eyes and lend me teares at will You sad-musd sisters help me to indite And in your faire Castalia bathe my quill In bloodie lines whilst I his woes recite Inspire my Muse â Heauens now from aboue To paint the passions of a princely loue 76 His eyes about their rowling Globes doe east To find that Sunne frō whom they had their light His thoughts doe labour for that sweet repast VVhich past the day and pleasd him all the night He counts the howers so slolie how they runne Reproues the day blames the loytring Sunne 77 As gorgious Phoebus in his first vprise Discouering now his Scarlet-coloured head By troublous motions of the lowring skies His glorious beames with foggs are ouer-spread So are his cheerfull browes eclips'd with sorrow w t cloud y t shine of his youths-smiling morrow 78 Now showring downe a flood of brackish teares The Epithemas to his hart-swolne griefe Then sighing out a vollue of despayres VVhich only is th'afflicted mans reliefe Now wanting sighes all his teares were spent His tongue brake out into this sad lament 79 O breake my hart quoth he ô breake and dye Whose Infant thoughts were nurst with sweet delight But now the Inne of care and miserie VVhose pleasing hope is murthered by despight O end my dayes for now my ioyes are done VVanting my Piers my sweetest Gaueston 80 Farewell my Loue companion of my youth My soules delight the subiect of my mirth My second selfe if I report the truth The rare and only Phenix of the earth Farwell sweet friend with thee my ioyes are gon Farewell my Piers my louely Gaueston 81 VVhat are the rest but painted Imagrie Domb Idols made to fill vp idle roomes But gaudie Anticks sports of foolerie But fleshly Coffins goodly gilded toombs But Puppets which with others words replie Like pratling Ecchoes soothing euery lie 82 O damned world I scorne thee and thy worth The very source of all iniquitie An ougly dam that brings such monsters forth The maze of death nurse of impietie A filthy sinke where lothsomnes doth dwell A Labyrinth a Iayle a very hell 83 Deceitfull Syren Traytor to my youth Bane to my blisse false theese that steal'st my ioyes Mother of lyes sworne enemie to truth The ship of fooles fraught all with gauds toyes A vessell stuft with foule hypocrisie The very temple of Idolatrie 84 O earth-pale Saturne most maleuolent Combustious Planet tyrant in thy raigne The sword of wrath the root of discontent In whose ascendant all my ioyes are slaine Thou executioner of foule bloody rage To act the will of lame decrepit age 85 My life is but a very map of woes My ioyes the fruit of an vntimely birth My youth in labour with vnkindly throwes My pleasures are like plagues that raigne on earth All my delights like streams that swiftly runne Or like the dewe exhaled by the Sunne 86 O Heauens why are you deafe vnto my mone Sdayne you my prayers or scorne to heare my misse Cease you to moue or is your pitty gone Or is it you which rob me of my blisse What are you