creatures which in the same do flourish But which is more doth with her dugs supply Foode to the winged people of the skie And gluts the scaly troupe with longed food Whâ—ch cleaue the billowes of the briny floud So that what ere doth creepe runne swimme or flie Is by this Mother nourced carefully It did behoue that she should counter-waigh Her selfe that so she might the firmer stay Against the barking of the stonnie maine And might the anger-swollen cheekes disdaine Of Auster who in parching heate delighteth And Boreas who with freezing cold still fighteth It did behoue her body dull and flow Should farthest be from heauen here below That she might nere be wheel'd about by force Of heauens swift and neuer-resting course Which doth with strong and stubborne rauishment Pull round about the highest element And sith againe that the harmonious course Of heauenly planets is th' immortall source Of life in earthly things and that their changing Is caused by the starres their circled ranging Th' Almightie could no fitter lodge prouide Whereas our grandame earth might well abide Then in the center of this worldly round For vitall beames wherewith the starres abound Do shatter downe their powerfull influence Vpon the aire his waving residence On th' arched fire and on the swelling maine Where scaly people wanting lungs remaine But they in fine vnite their forces all Within the circle of this earthy ball Simil. Which is the worlds naue like as we may See in a wheele which chalketh out his way Amid the mudde whose widest spoakes do meete Within the button by their ioyned feete Simil. And as the Sunne doth pierce the window glasse So do these starrie influences passe Through euerie part without impediment Of the transparant firie element The regions of the aire and water bright But not the earth wherein is firmely pight The worlds foundation so that we name And iustly too the water aire and flame The concubines of euer-mouing heauen For that his Sunne and Moone and Starry-seuen Neuer inioy their loue but when by chance By these three regions along they glance When heauen husband-like hath no intent To be diuorc'd from the driest element And with such seed as still doth animate Each liuing thing he doth engrauidate The fruitfull earth his lawfull wedded bride And with a bodie so diuersifide In disposition and in outward forme He doth the structure of this All adorne VVhy the vvaâ—er is placed betvveene the earth and the aire The water lighter then the earthie lumpe And heauier then the aire doth pitch his iumpe Betweene them both that being moist and cold By those two qualities he may be bold To slacke the thirstie drinesse of our Mother And coole the feruor of his airie brother Apostrophe ad Musam suam But whither away my Muse thou wanton stay Spend not thy Poetry at one essay Surcease to day to sing of sea and land Their compasse power and praise and where they stand Do not too hastily preuent the time Wherein the world was in his flowing prime Leâ—ue mountaine rockes with waters ouer-spread Till Phoebus rise againe from 's easterne bed For when he shewes againe his blushing face Then shall Gods powerfull hand asunder place These mingled bodies and shall richly dight The earth with bushie trees of goodly height It 's time my loue my ioy and onely deare To soare aloft to lodge no longer here Or neuer now t is time to graft my wings On thy immortall virgin-pinâ—onings That on thy backe I being nimbly light May safely vnto heauen take my flight Come come then luckily thy shoulder lend That mounted on the same I hence may wend To gaine that crowne to win that wreathed bay Which neuer Poets that in Fraunce did sway Did weare and which the heauens nigardize Hath long concealed from my longing eyes The aire which foggie mists doth entertaine The aire hovâ— and vvhy it is dâ—uided into three râ—gâ—oâ—s The play-game of the tempests and the raine Th' inconstant house where winged clouds abide Swift Aeolâ—s his kingdome and his pride The shop where winds are sold whose trafficke maketh That euerie mouing thing of life partaketh Is not all one for men by learning guided Into three lofts hau 't rightfâ—lly deuided Whereof the high'st for that the restlesse course Regiâ— suprema Of the first Mouer puls it round by force From Eaâ—t to West and likewise from the West Vnto the place where faire Aurora's drest And for it bounds vpon the burning â—â—ame The learned do this loft the hottest name That loft wherein we breath by turne doth hold Regio infima Now melting heate now all-congealing cold Now neither so his waters in the Spring Are coldly hote in Autumne wauering In winter cold and hote in sommers raigne For then the earth rebatâ—th backe againe Those beames which starrie bow-men shoote apace Especially the Sunne the heauens chiefe grace Who for his shafts doth eueâ—â—ore dâ—light To make the circled earth his but tand white Mediâ—â—â—â—io The middle-loft for that it still remaineth Farre from the burning â—eeling which containeth This lower world in his firie seate Vnable also to partake the heate Which from the earth is banded bolt-vpright Doth in continuall freezing take delight For how could water hardned be to haile Euen when the sommer heate doth so preuaile That haruest fields looke white if yâ—ie cold His shiuering climates did not all enfold VVhy the middle region is thâ— câ—ldâ—st Assoone as Phoebus hath his court remoued From the * Tâ—â— sigâ—â— Gemini two twinnes so mutually beloued And takes his lodging with his * Cancer Crabbed hoste Or panting Lyon then this middle coast His cold redoubleth for enuironed With heate of armies newly mustered Which more then ere are now encouraged To haue his coldest times vnwintered Delayes the time to traine his men no longer His forces ioyn'd together are the stronger Sâ—mil As Christians leauing farre their natiue land Feare not the furie of the Turkish band Marching disorderly make now and then As many squadrons as there be of men So that sometime the clownes with bils and bowes Driue them before them with their stubborne blowes But when they see the Mooned flags appeare Armes of old Ottoman and when they heare The horrid thunder of cannons sound Which by their shocke do leuell with the ground The strongest wals that euer yet immured Rhodes and Belgrada while their prime indured Straight they retire and in some neighbour plaine Do set themselues in order all againe Their warlike courage doth increase their strength Their bloud doth boile for heate and at the length The bordring circumcised peoples aide Doubling their forces makes their foes afraid This antiperistasis for t is no danger Tâ—e effeâ—â—s of the Aâ—tipâ—risâ—aâ—â—s of the â—iâ—â—le râ—gioâ— To naturalize a word that is a stranger Yea in this worke where we haue no one word That doth so strong an emphasis afford Doth cause
quantitie At length should come vnto a nullitiâ— If death could something to a nothing bring Then should that change be vtter perishing Exemplificâ—tiâ— Sometimes the mountaines prouder tops do fall But then the dales are filled therewithall And when as Rhone or Thesis swelling pride Doth ouerflow the field through which they glide No more on either side is drownd and lost Then is recouerd on the other coast The louely heauen doth showre downe many a floud That his beloued spouse the earth may bud Which she repaâ—es squirting them vp amaine Through hidden poares of hearbes and trees againe He that this only obseruation makes Simil. How waxe a hundred diuerse fashion takes Yet still the same to him the daily change Of this inferiour world cannot be strange The worlds First maâ—ter is this waxe vnformed Which with a thousand formes is all adorned The forme is the seale and heauens great King Is this high Chancelor who with his ring His great or lesser seales doth print vpon her Which sometime bring her shame and somtimes honor With vs is nothing firme and constant here Both life and death in turne do dominere One bodie springs not till another fade Onely the matter is immortall made Gods writing table bodie of this All Receiuer of what accidents befall All like it selfe all in it selfe compacted It neither is enlarged nor contracted Whose essence is vuchanged but her shape No fewer outward fashions doth escape Then Proteus or the fish cald Manie-feete Which for to prey amid the watrie deepe Himselfe discolours and in imitation Fitly resembles our French-neighbour nation Matâ—riâ— prima Gallâ— similis Which like an ape doth euermore delight To be in stranger fashions alway dight Whose shirt no oftner suffers any change Then his apparell doth a fashion strange This Matter is a Lais whose delight Would chaunge a hundred louers in a night Who scarcely of some yonkers arme vnlaced Hath in her cogitation straight embraced Anothers culling and her nouell sport Doth cause her wish for plentie of that sort For this same matter prickt with strong desire Of change and yet vnable to attire Her selfe with euery shape doth by succession Receiue in euery part a new impression The cause of the transâ—utation of the elemenâ—s The chiefest cause of these euanishments Is deadly fewd of our foure elements Which in their turne do prey one on the other As snow and water being maide and mother Do make a mutuall change each of these foure In two chiefe qualities doth shew his powre Whereof the one doth still the scepter sway To whom the other doth his homage pay Those elements whose forces disagree And wholy sauour of antipathie Maintaine a longer fight in open field Or either of them to the other yeeld The fire to water turnes not speedily Nor doth the aire rauen so greedily Vpon the earth for being deadly foes They fight both with their fingers and their toes But aire to water earth to fire likewise Doth sooner turne for that they symbolize Some qualitie and easier t is to quell One enemie then two that do rebell Sith then this worlds children none can see Vntill these elements conioyned be In holy wedlocke and that nothing dies Till by diuorce these foure are enemies Which by vnconstant changing of their place Produce those various formes wherwith the face Of this great All is so embellished Simil. Iust as a song is sweetly relished With some few notes in sundrie line and space Which by their charming sweet harmonious grace Do make the hearers eares the broad high way By which they may their soules from them conuey Or as the letters of the Alphabet Simil. By being in a diuerse order set Do make these words and then these words againe Which here do flow from my poëtike braine Changing their rancke enrich these sacred lines With choice of new discourse a thousand times It wants not reason why Gods carefâ—ll hand Sharing among them all their common land Gaue eaâ—h a place fit for his quantitie Which also might preserue his qualitie He then that sees a drossie wedge of gold Examplâ— Maiâ—terd by Vâ—lâ—an how it doth vnfold His wished riches and how lingringly The gold vnto the gold doth striue to sliâ— The siluer seekes the siluer and the brasse Betweene them both doth run and how that masse Composd of peeces neither like his fellow Doth branch it selfe in streames blacke white and yelloâ— He doth conceiue that soone as God assigned A place to which each one should be confined The earth the fire the water and the aire Vnto their like do speedily repaire So then this Chaos muddie lees do sinke The situâ—tioâ— of tâ—e â—arth the fiâ—e Right downeward by their naturall instinct The fire doth trie a new conclusion Runs through the chinkes of this Confusion And sparkleth vpward by his nimble pace And of this lower world gets highest place As one may see when as the dawne doth paint Simil. The Zenith of Catay with colours quaint Dead pooles to reake and from the poarie ground Exhaled vapours in the aire abound Thâ— situation of tâ—e vvatâ—r and the aire But least the fire which doth the rest inclose Should burne the earth by his too neare repose As arbiters betweene such deadly foes Did God the water and the aire dispose One of which two could neuer end their fight The water pâ—rent-like would take delight To helpe the earth the ayer would desire T'vphold the quarrell of his cousin fire But both of them their sundred loue vniting Might quickly end their quarrell and their fighting Which questionlesse if 't had not bene perfouâ—ned This new-made world to his first state had turned The aire is plac'd aboue the water vnder No chance but God so placing them asunder Who that each thing in other may take pleâ—sure Hath made his works in number waight and measure For if neare Vulcan Neptune had his place Thâ—t cholericke element would straight embrace Suspect of outrage and his place forsake That of his wrong some iudgement he might take Now then the linkes of this most holy chaine Which doth the members of this All containe Are such as he alone can them vntie Who linked them together cunningly The water armd with moisture and with cold Doth in one arme the cold-drie earth enfold And in the other doth the aire embrace The aire as hote and moist doth hie apace To ioyne himselfe by heate vnto the fire And by his moisture water doth desire Simil. As when the shepheardesses chaunce to meete Trampling the flowers with their tripping feete Marrying their pitches to the oaten sounds And sportfully do daunce their rusticke rounds Vnder the branches of some shadie tree By ioyning hand in hand so coupled be As that the first clinching her fellow fast Is ioyned by her fellowes to the last For sith the earth alonely doth not nourish VVhy thâ—â—â—rtâ— is thâ— câ—â—ter of thâ— vvorld Those
that in the heate of winters cold We feele the chimney hotter many-fold Then in the sommer and that Scythia Saluted often by Orithia Her blustering louer euermore doth breed Children whose stomackes crauing still to feed Continually digest more store of meate Both in the winter and in sommers heate Then those leane scranlings whom the Delphian torch Vpon the Lybian sand doth alway scorch This makes that we which haue the happie lucke Sweete aire into our spongie lungs to sucke More liuely heate within our stomackes hide When freezing Ianiuere doth here abide Then when the Sunne is banisht for a while From Chus and to our tropicke doth recuile Gods mightie hand did thus the aire deuide That in the middle loâ—t there might reside The mists the comets and the windie traine The tempests and the dew the yâ—e and raine Some of the which appointed are to make The earth to yeeld her fruit the rest to take Weapons against our sinnes that so they might Engraue in hardest hearts each day and night The awfull loue the sweet-alluring feare Of him which of this All the crowne doth weare Simil. As in a cupping-glasse a litle flame To shunne a vacuum which is natures shame Or 〈◊〉 it selfe from cupped partes doth bring Thâ—abounding humor which lies pestering The flesh which being thinne and too subtile Doth by the ruddie eyes distill each while Right so the Sunne whose yellow golden haire Doth daily guild this and that hemispheare Two sorts of vapors euermore exhales From wauing fields and from the flowrie dales Eâ—â—â—atio The one is thinne pure nimble burning dry Vapor Tâ—e other hote moist rising heauily Which runne amid the aire throughout the yeare And make the world vnlike it selfe appeare Oâ—â—he blasts oâ— nâ—l dâ—vv If then a vapor do so thinly rise As that it cannot be in any wise To water turned and his heauie wing Gâ—ued with cold lie onely houering Vpon the earth his gaudy flowred weed A blacknesse in the aire it straight doth breed And theâ—ewithall a sluggish miâ—tie blast Vpon the hearbes and flowers hangeth fast Oâ— the dâ—vv aâ—â— the yeâ— If so this vapor lingringly do flie Scarce to the middle region of the sky Yet higher then the clouds it 's in a trice In Aprill dew in Ianuarie yâ—e 〈◊〉 the raine But if this vapor actiuely do get Vnto the shiuering winters cabinet The water which hath got the highest place Is turned in a verie litle space By cold into a â—loud and through the skie Vpon the winged winds doth swiftly flie Vntill his waters dropping downe amaine Do find their grandame riuers once againe Whether one cloud be driuen by the wind Coniâ—câ—urall reasonâ—of the raine Against another in a furious kind And with a stubborne shocke are forc'd againe To shed their water in a showre of raine As oftentimes a wanton lad doth dash Simil. The brittle vessels seruing for to wash Bâ—tweene his waggish hands and so doth spill The water which the vessels earst did fill Or whether it be a gentler gale do play Amid the aire and sighing in his way Wrings out their teares as after a great raine Another showre stilleth downe againe From tops of forrests trees when as the wind Among their bushy boughes doth pleasure find And sports to crispe their wauing leauie tresses Or whether it be a higher cloud that presses The vnder cloud with a moist heauie waight And that the humor seâ—kes an issue straight Prest by another water as is sâ—ene The more that * Grapes Bacchus presents piled bene Vpon the hurdle in the vintage time The faster doth the new sweet â—uming wine Streame from the bottome pierced all below And to the froathie tub amaine doth flow Then many heauenly streames our flouds augment Saue teares is nothing scene the firmament Darkned with clouds in drops doth seeme to still And stinking frogs the earthie plaines to fill Hovv frogs may bâ—â—ngeâ—dred vâ—â—â—h tâ—â— raine Whether the vapor that doth vpward â—lie Be of it selfe both cold hote moist and drie Whose mixture quickneth euerie liuing thing Or whether it be the Easterne blustering Sweeping the earth do heape into the sky Some fertile dust whereof confusedly These ougly things are made as neare the brimme Where some new mountaine floud doth swiftly swimme The froathy mud is turn'd in a strange kind Into a frog which yet vnshhap't behind Within the dirt enioys some small pastime Halfe dead and halfe aliue halfe flesh halfe slime Of the snovv Sâ—â—â—times it hapneth that the freezing cold Congeales the totall cloud then we behold Great lockes of heauenly wooll to tumble downe The trees vnleau'd no grasse vpon the ground The world hath all one die aboue the snow The stagge his horned head can hardly shew Of the â—aile Sometimes it chanceth otherwise againe Soone as the cloud is turned into raine Th' excessiue cold that 's in the middle loft To haily bullets hardneth it full oft Which falling downe alas they so should fall Our hoped vintage greedily forestall Without a sickle reape our vnripe graine Vnblossome all our trees and do constraine The birds to leaue the neasts they lately made Do rob the woods and groues of wonted shade Do bruise our bullockes grazing as they go Do make our verie houses cracke for woe Of tâ—e vvinds hovv they are caused If so the starres which Gods creating hand Sow'd scatteringly vpon the heauenly land Draw fumes from off the earth both hote and dry Their actiue fire would lodge them instantly In Phoebus lap but tâ—ey no sooner gaine The loft where freezing cold doth still remaine And feele the strength of their audacious foes But straight they striue to gaine a sweete repose Vpon the earth from whence they did ascend Assisted by the waight she did them lend But from the fields there fumes another fire Which comes to aide them in their backe reâ—ire Which stops their downeward course restores their hearts And weapons to their trembling hands imparts With these fresh souldiers they fiercely fight Now tumbling downe now towring bolt vpright Driuing now here now there our aire along According as the matter 's weake or strong This holds but for a while for in this fray The heate and cold both bearing equall sway To end this stirre one lets their vpward flight The other stops their fall with all his might So that this vapour taking litle rest To moue in circled wise doth hold it best And buzzing flies from pole to pole from Spaine To Easterne India and backe againe These puffing winds although they quickned be The fâ—urâ— thiâ—â— winds reseâ—bled tâ— thâ— foure seasons of the yeare the foâ—re humâ—â—s of a manâ— bodie the foure elements and tâ—e foâ—re ages By spirit and vapour of like qualitie Yet doth the diuerse place where they are borne With diuerse names and power them all adorne Whiles I obserue the foure winds principall Which quarter out the cantons of this All
remaine And in each part of each mixt bodie raigne Or their essentiall formes be all combined These foure as one sole bodie are defined Siâ—ile As in a chrystall glasse we see the bloud Of grapes allaide with Achelouâ— floud Or as the meate and drinke which we haue singled Out for our nouriture in vs is mingled And by our inward heate yeelds moisture good To be conuerted into purest bloud This in a burning brand we see full plaine Example His firetowers vp his heauenly home t' attaine His aire to smoake hiâ— earth to ashes goeth Out of his knobs the boiling water floweth Like warre our bodies quiet peace maintaineth For fire and aire in vitall spirâ—ts remaineth The flesh is earth the humors water be Yea in each particle we plainely see Each of these mingled though some ones minority Among his brethren beares not like authority So in the bloud those muddie lees which craue As being earthie lowest place to haue Are melancholy in the middle swimmes The purest bloud like aire about the brimmes Lies watrie phlegme and on the top there â—ubbles That firie choler which so many troubles Yet in the bodie no one element One element â—lvvâ—â—es predominâ—nt in â—ixt bodies Doth daily play the king but is content To take his turne and so his subiectâ— awes As if they take new Lord he makes new lawes As each good townse-man bloud or wealth nought heeding Simile Is rul'd which earst in ruling made proceeding In a free citie which doth lose his fashion Soone as the rulers suffer alteration For the light vulgar tost with euerie wind Are to their princes humors still enclind Cameleon-like which change of colours weareth As oft as change of obiect him anneareth Example So th' element of which wine most partaketh Now moist now dry now hote now cold it maketh And as these foure are coupled more or lesse So do th' effects and tast the same expresse So that in time the iuyce of grapes vnripe Becomes new wine to fill the emptie pipe And that same new growes good as it growes old Which kept too long for vineger is sold. Any eleâ—ent excessiâ—ely predomiâ—â—nt iâ— dangerous to tâ—e bodie Now whiles the Prince which keepes the rest in aw Doth subiugate his greatnesse to the law He rules in safetie and doth still increase His commons ioy for their so happie peace But if of subiects bloud which he doth spill By dint of sword he neuer take his fill At length his rage dispeopling so his land Must leaue his realme to sauage beasts command Right so as long as some one element Doth rule the rest with modest gouernment And a proportion in the humors found Though some do more then other some abound The bodie 's in faire plight as those faire lines Drawne on the surface are thereof good signes Caligula But if that cruell king it represent Who wisht that all of his great regiment Had one sole necke that at one chop he might Butcher all Rome in furious despight Then doth it breed corruption of the rest And th' house whereof the tyrant is possest Doth by degrees decay so that the eye The bodies totall change may soone descrie Excesse oâ— moistâ—re câ—â—setâ— the dropsie So whensoere the liuer is opprest With moisture which it cannot well digest Which runs along the flesh it makes it swell And stops the conduit pipes which should eâ—pell Moist excrements and bolteth fast the dore Which to the panting breath should euermore Yeeld backe and in the water doth torment The dropsie-sicke with thirstie languishment Nor doth it leaue the patient any rest Vntill the graue be of his corps possest Excesse of driâ—esse causeth the Hectique â—â—â—er So too much drought a lingring feuer breeds Which with some paine on th' Hectique daily feedes Feebles the sinewes clads the heart with griefe The face with sadnesse playes the very thiefe In stealing from the limmes their moist reliefe Like as the flaming torch which is the chiefe Cause of his peecemeale burning cleane away Feeds by his life liues by his owne decay Nor doth it lâ—nd the patient any rest Vntill the graue be of his corps possest So too much heate doth breed the feauer lourdane Excessâ— of hâ—atâ— the cause of thâ— quartaâ—e ague The tongue surcharging with a slimie burthen And makes the drudging pulse to trot apace And in the braine more diuerse shapes doth trace With a fantasticke pencill then can art Or chance or Nature to the eye impart Nor doth it lend the burning patient rest Vntill the graue be of his corps possest So too much cold vpon the aged pate Excesse of cold causeth old age Doth clap a hoarie fleece and doth abate The flesh and furrowes vp the late-smooth forehead Hollowes the eyes and makes a man abhorred Vnto himselfe and gliding through each part Doth by his winters freeze the very heart Nor doth it lend the aged any rest Vntill the graue be of his corps possest Yet thinke not that this great excesse doth bring Nibil in â—ibilum riducitur Annihilation vnto any thing It onely doth diuersifie the fashion So as the matter by this commutation Do it within or else without remaine Nor can be sayd to lose nor yet to gaine What ere is made is of that matter fram'd Which in the ancient nought the * Mâ—tâ—riâ—â—rima First was nam'd And whatsoeuer is resolu'd againe Vnto that former matter runnes amaine For since that God of nothing made this All â—x niâ—ilâ—â—iâ—il fit Of nought is nothing made nor euer shall Ought vnto nought be brought but all that 's borne Or dyes againe doth onely change his forme His bodie sometimes shrinkes sometimes is lengthened Sometimes is thickened sometimes straightened 〈◊〉 And if in sooth of nothing bodies were The earth vntild should fruit abundant beare Desired children virgins should enioy And each thing grow each where without annoy The thirstie hart should in the Ocean lie The monstrous whale should dwell vpon the drie The fleecie sheepe should grase amid the aire The seruice tree and eke the pine-tree faire Should take their rooting in the raging floud Out of the oke the ches-nut tree should bud And from the ches nut tree should achornes fall And natures lawes being violated all The eagle with the silly doue should match And each of these the others broode should hatch Nothing can enlarge it selfe by it selfâ— And if that bodies of themselues could grow Then man which in his growing is so slow Should instantly be of that very stature Which in full age is giuen him by nature Vnplanted trees with leauie branches dight Should rob the shaded groues of Phoebus light The suckling elephant his backe should yeeld Vnto the warlike castle for the field The yongling Colt couragiously should neigh Bucephal-like in warre to breake the ray Contrariwise if ought annihild be Then whatsoere we touch or tast or see Still losing something of his
their standards as it did ensue O franticke Fraunce how is' t thou gainest nought An aposâ—opâ—â— to his oâ—vne countrey of Fraunce By all those signes whereby thy God hath sought To call thee home canst thou with tearlesse eyes Behold those fearefull firie prodigies Wherewith the heauens do vs all affright That * He vnderstands the comet seene in the yeare 1577 blazing starre which threatens euerie night Our land with warre with pestilence and hunger Three deadly points of that prepared thunder Which when th' Almightie ginneth once to frowne On vs rebellious men he powreth downe But what alas can heauen vnarm'd preuaile When as thy backe thresh'd with so many a flaile Drawes not one sigh from thy obdurate heart Thou art delighted with thy painefull smart Thy hunger makes thee on thy flesh to feed And makes thy bloud thy drinke and thou indeed As dull as one that hath the lethargie Shunnest the salue might cure thy maladie The more thou feel'st the spurre the more thou tirest And voide of holy care thou lesse desirest T' amend thy wayes but like an Asse dost striue To fat thy selfe with blowes with losse to thriue And as the iron or the steeled blade So thou by hammering art harder made But better t were I see this talke to end Then speaking to the deafe my time mispend I see t were better tread my wonted way And in my verse Gods greatest workes display Of the elementarie fiâ—â— As then in court the king is hemmed in With princes of his royall bloud and kin And next to them with nobles of his traine And after them with magistrates againe Marching along in order and degree As they are nearest to his Maiestie So God in order wisely did dispose That Cinthia should that element enclose Which did in his resplendent actiuenesse The nature of the heauens best expresse And after him the others as they bene Annear'd vnto the planets by their kin And yet foole-many crediting their eyes Aboue their reason many wayes deuise To pull this essence from his natiue place And with his want this lower All deface The fier giuing brightnesse heate and flame Ignis encomium Welspring of motion Alchymist of fame A cleanser quickner smith and souldier Bell-founder surgeon cooke and cannoner And goldsmith too which doth and can do all Embracing round the aire and earthie ball If so the fire say they encamped be Obiâ—ction Betweene the heauen and vs then should we see The same by night for then our eyes do marke The shining glowormes in the greatest darke Besides how should we see the worldes eynâ— Throughout so great an element to shine Sith that with vs the sharpest sighted eye Can nothing through a candles flame espie You vnbeleeuing men if so the puffes Solutiâ—n Of wanton Zephirus or angrie snuffes Of rainie Auster made you not beleeue They haue a being you would credence giue That from the earth vnto the firmament There were a vacuum and no element And your opinion would aswell desire To thinke no aire as to conceiue no fire Those torches wherewith we prolong the dayes The diâ—fâ—râ—nâ—e betvveene the elementarie and our mixt fire Which in the winter Capricorne assaies To drowne in Westerne seas t' enlarge the night Compar'd vnto the Sunne the heauens great light Are lesse by many hundreth times obscure Then is our mixt and compound fire impure Compar'd to that resplendent element This lower Vniuerse his chiefest ornament Our fire is nothing but a lightsome shade Of darksome thicke and pitchie grosenesse made But that aboue by being wholy pure From mixture of compounded nouriâ—ure And being farre remoued from our sight And vnacquainted with the blustering might Of Aeolus doth much resemblance beare Vnto the nature of the heauenly spheare Of the matter of the hâ—auens But heauenly God what matter may I name Of which thou didst the heauenly arches frame Vncertaine I resemble euerie howre The cocke that stands vpon some steepled towre Which doth as oft new place and maister find As in the aire we feele a change of wind Sometimes I am of Aristotles traine Sometimes I follow Plato's mind againe Tracking the foot-steps of the Stagirite I rob the firmament of mixture quite I do auerre that Gods omnipotence Did fashion heauen of a quintessence Sith that the elements directly flie Some to the center others to the skie But heauens course giuing no inch of ground Is euer turned in a circled round Their motion dures not but they so abide As God the worlds first day did them diuide But neuer-breathing heauen still doth runne That constant pâ—sting course it hath begun It treads one path mou'd with vnburdened waight And knowes not what it is a teeme to baite The earth and water fire and aire vnited Are with an inbred warring hate delighted Cauâ—ing in time their springing and their fall Increase and decrease suffring not at all Beneath the horned planet any forme For one halfe houre one subiect to adorne But heauen neuer knowes death's equall rigor Growing in yearâ—s it groweth not in vigor Nor weares with vse but 's flowring eld may beare Resemblance to his childhood euery where Tracing againe the steps of Plato's skill Hovv aâ—d to vvhat vse the elements may be in the heaâ—eâ—s according to Platoes opinion The heau'nly orbes with elements I fill Th' earth makes them solid that they neuer craue A fleeting disposition to haue The aire transparant fire makes them light Hote nimble actiue and resplendant bright And all the eadges which do counter-kisse Their fellow-wheeling globes do neuer misse Of water whose cold humor stops the course Of burning heate arising from the source Of their swift motion lest the heauenly land Should be conuerted to a flaming brand Not that I equalize these elements The differencâ— betweene those elements wherof the heauens and those wherâ—of the Sublunarie bodiâ—s are compounded Of which I frame the heau'nly tenements To those dull bodies which are here below Which men by sight and frequent handling know They are all pure a heau'nly harmonie Combines their substances eternally Their aire is free from tossing and their fire From burning and their earth doth not desire From his high mansion to tumble downe Nor doth their water fleete vpon the ground Lo here th'extent of humane surque drie Blinded with error and simplicitie Which dares as though his cunning could calcine The matter of the heau'nly orbes define With an vnbridled tongue what wood and stone Th' Almightie chose to carpenter his throne I rather had still doubtfull to remaine Then lead awrie the simple of my traine Waiting for holie Paul his rediscent Orfreed from the vicious pesterment Ofthis rebellious flesh which doth depresse My clogged soule with counter-heauinesse These eyes may see the beauties of that place Diuersâ—â—â—â—nions touching the number of the spâ—â—ares If then I ought would see saue Gods bright face But men as manie curious questions moue About