should this aryse As faynting feete in trauaile and the akyng arme oft tryes The cause hereof is bloud resolued by force of feruent heate For to much mouing it inflames decayes in fuming sweate None otherwyse than Feuers fierce the creature pale consumes When bloud or other humor hote thorowout all the members fumes Doth lyfe support and body feedes which whylest it quickning makes The mouing force possessing all the body quiuering shakes The heate and heated bloud besyde doth brede a liuely spright As waters warmde w t beames of SuÌ„ne doe yelde a vapour light Thys spirite enclosed within the bowels Thorowe all the vaines doth ronne And nere to hir doth serue the lyfe in what she will haue donne But those in heauy sleepes that lye how should they mouing make As some doe in theyr steepes aryse and weapon vp doe take Some in the stable takes hys horse some wrytes as many say And some hath earst bene seene a sleâ—pe vpon the Lute to play It must be knowne that of the thing the Image doth remaine In vs of all that we doe see or senses can retaine Thys makes vs think we see the face that late we gased on And that we seeme to heare the wordes were vtred long agone These formes within the secrete celles inclosed in the brayne A vapour moues which to ascende the stomack doth constraine And minde deluded so doth moue the body styres thereby If the resemblance be of force that in the head doth lye But tayle of L ysart or of Snake that cut in two doth sprawle Doth will it moue Or force of minde that Greekes doe fansye call As they whom rage of madnesse moues or to much drinke arayes Or dreadfull dreames do cause to shake or happens other wayes Perchaunce amongst the knotty partes of thys deuided tayle The liuely spirite enclosde doth searche all meanes for to preuayle In breaking out and wynding partes doth wrye as best it may And striuing long through passage smal doth get at length away Or that same part of minde that feeles deuided doth remaine In tayle cut of and causeth it to turne and turne againe Yet I suppose that euery thing wherin no iudgement lyes Can feele no griefe nor nothing else that we can here deuise For chiefest force by which we feele from knowledge euer flowes who knowes iudgeth most feeles most and most reioysing knowes But fooles and doltes care lesse for all lesse harmde lesse fearing styll They feele not colde nor heate so much scarce know they good from ill Not for bicause it smartes therfore the tayle deuided shakes For nought it feeles bicause the streÌ„gth from which it knowledge takes Is not in it but in the head in better place did lye Wherfore the former cause I iudge the trouth to go more nye Lo thus therfore is mouing made by which all creatures go Yet in the reasons past before we put thys one thing to That sundry times the present good when it might be atchieued Doth nothing moue nor is desyred bicause t is not perceiued Thus knowledge semes of mouing cause or chiefest as we see For who desyres or sekes the thing he knowes not what to ber For will hâ—r selfe of proper force is altogither blinde And cannot any thing desyre without the light of minde By whom if she be not enformde she takes she vntowarde way And with the she we of good beguilde hir vertue doth decay Of mouing this shall here suffise nowe let vs seeke to knowe How liuing things doe waxe so great what causeth them to growe And why at certayne tyme they cease a fiery spirite doth raine Thou giuest lyfe to euery thing that carcasse doth contayne This heate doth liuely moisture feede as flame of Candell bright When soone withdraw himself froÌ„ vs the Oyle preserues in light Thys in the stomack boyles the meate wherof the finest spread Abrode the synowes bones and fleshe wyth pyth and bloud are bread And all the body doth encrease as plantes wyth showers of rayne And warmth of SuÌ„ne them comforting doth ryse and spring amaine If that this fyre be much of force and moysture equall here As much as heate shall seeme to nede the encrease shall great appere At length it makes an ende and stayes when spent is all the heate Which fading body fades as shewes in them whose yeares are great For wasted they lyke pyned Ehostes their aged lymmes doe crooke And stouping low wyth hollowed eye vpon the earth doe looke For fyre is gone and liuely heate and moysture doth decay Without the which no lyfe remaines as Lampes no longer may Giue out their light than oyle doth serue but leaues and darkenesse brings Then let vs now the mouing shewe of minde and whence it springs A thing both darke and harde to fynde but yet we will assay With all our force to touch the trouth as nere as well we may And fyrst of rage that boldneth men and daungers doth despyse Encreaseth strength and giueth force as much as shall suffise Which mouing all as desperate vpon our foes we flye And bloudy battaile to beginne with sworde in hast we hye The cause therof is bloud enflamde and heart that sendes out fyre And bitter galle abrode dispersd for Galle is house to yre And choller matter ministers to rage and fury blinde Hence comes that creatures lacking gal are not of wrathfull minde Embracing peace refuse to fight but they whose bloud doth burne And greater rage of heate retaine to anger sonest turne So youth and so such dronken mates whose heads hath brink diseased Upon a smallest cause doe snuffe the minde therfore displeased Doth bloud and choller myngle straight then hande for weapon calles And skirmishe comes thus cuts are carued and wounde wyde open falles For fyrst the minde offended is and vexed by miury Which troubled moues y e body straight by these it semes they lye That say the minde can neuer styre for if it neuer moue The body styll to stande and staye it alwayes doth behoue For diuers mouings doe declare a diuers mouer playne The Sunne doth ofteÌ„ change in course and shaddowes change againe What is the cause that Organs giue now one now other voice But hande y t shyftes from diuers kayes doth cause a diuers noyse The minde affection inwarde fyrst doth take and close concele And makes some part or other serue when she wyll it reucle Disclosing straight to it whatsoeuer within in secrete lyes To th ende that plame it may appere and open to the eyes None otherwyse than when the king vnto his faithfull frende Declares the secretes of hys minde and after doth it sende To be proclaimed in euery place that it may plaine appere Hence springeth loue for wheÌ„ the minde doth fansye pleasant gere She makes the heart a minister and so doth loue declare In heart loue wrath feare lust hope wyth ioye and also care As in a tower with minde doe dwell and these as there begonne By meanes
is painde Nor can the minde be alwayes yet to seuere things addict For frayle it is and ioy it must when endes the sad afflict And downe the highest hilles descende to valleyes depe and lowe No otherwise than when on earth doth Joue his lightning throwe Hating the crimes that here be done the Egle bearing fast Wyth byll or feete the three edgde tole in Cicil fornace cast Ascends the toppes of heauens hie and maruayles much to see The Princely walles wyth precious stones that there adourned bee Astonished is to see the place of glistering gold confect That shines wyth starres she doth beholde with Diamond pillers deckt The costly roufes she loked vpon of Indian teeth compacte She meruayles at the ample fielde and light that neuer lackt The great delightes that gods are in that rong cannot expresse Nor neuer heart of man could thinke the worthy pleasauntnesse She flying fast both here and there desireth much to play By skies so cleare and pleasaunt ayres begins hir wings to spray The earth and quite she doth forget her nest is out of minde In princely rayne of thundring God such pleasure doth she finde But after that by hungers prick with fasting strength decayes And he ate lackes foode to worke vppon that now she gan to prayse The heauens hie she doth despise and downe her selfe she speedes â–ª To ground that late she did contemne and there apace she feedes Then I which held my peace so long such silence for to breake Addrest my selfe and not affrayd her tale to stoppe gan speake Bycause quod I the sunne as now gan westward first descend And night doth hast his course to vse before this light do wende Away from vs and darknesse coÌ„mes a few things shew to me O goddesse milde no matrone thou but seemes a ghost to be What name the woman had of late that I saw yonder stand Besydes the Quene what the boyes be that she led in hand Then in this sorte shee aunswered me doubt not thou shalt discerne By me if time do nothing let all that thou seekes to learne Unworthy things thou hast not askt I will therfore resight Her now that on the left hand goes and greedy but shee hight Her great delight is for to eate and night and day to drinke The greatest sorte do worship her and for a god her thinke With ioyfull hearts the flaming wines in gilded holes they mash And costly cates on bourdened bourdes the gredy guts they grash The chiefest good they think to be this belly god to serue But out of doubt I thee assure they from the truth do swerue For nothing is more vile than this nor harmeth more the state Of man The beastes for onely lyfe did Joue aboue create But man for life and reason to and that he should excell And so be like vnto the sainctes which in the heauens dwell He ordaynde hath to rule the earth but they that loue the yoke Of gredinesse and belly ioyes are dull and with the smoke Of fuming meates their wit is darckt like as the cloudes the sunne Ne may they yet the truth discerne but chiefly when begunne Hath boyling wines within the brest to blinde and dull the witte And when the paunch is stuffed ful for bookes they be vnfitte Wherby it often coÌ„mes to passe their witte but small to bee The end that nature plaste them for they cleane for sake we see Nor more they knowe than doth y e herd of Shepe or Oxen dull Yea lesse sometyme when as with wine their beastly braynes be full When as for one two lightes they see with borde and wall to daunce O dronkennesse the death of minde the broode of all mischaunce What thing dost thou not force y e mind of man to take in hande What dare not he attempt thorow thee both strife wyth brawling and Most cruell frayes thou mouest him to thou ioyest when bloud is shead By thee are secretes eft reuealde wyth minde and tong made dead Both feare and shame fastnesse also full farre they flye from thee Shunne you this plague O wretches now that makes you mad to be And euen as as mad as once Drestes was with mothers might What filthier thing what beaste more vile than is the dronken wight The meate that he not long before hath fast deuoured vp He perbrakes out he trembles eke and stinketh of the cup. Ful oft he falles and breaks his browes his eyes and legs withall His stutting wordes he stamereth out no man perceiue him shall Much things he sayth much he doth that when the night is gone And sunne is present here agayne he sorrowes sore vppon The Mace donian King the sonne of Phillip graund le Roy In dronken mode at table once his frends did all destroy But when the cups their fumes had left and wit returnde agayne He found the fault w t tears he mournd and wisht himself as slayne Why boast you with your Orgies vain in woodes of Citheron Your Thias dauÌ„ce why brag you now your foolyshe druÌ„ms vpon No God your Bacchus is Iwis that comes of Cadmus line Nor Joue him got of Semels wombe as Poetes doe define But hell hath him engendred lo Begera is his dame No God he is but doth despise the gods and hates their name For godlinesse they nought estreme that haunt the pots of wyne Nor well can vse the dronken priest the Sacraments deuine What neede I here for to resite what sicknesse and what paines Excesse of meate and to much drinke doth brede within the vaines From hence doe flow euen as it were from euerlasting spring The axesse and the botche the byle wyth scaule and scurfe itching The goute oppressing hands and fete wyth bleared dropping eyes Wyth wine the quiuering ioyntes they quake froÌ„ iawes the teeth out flies With sodayne death stomacks paine and fulsome stinking breath A greater sory than sworde hath slayne excesse hath done to death Besydes the goods be straight coÌ„sumde and downe the guttes do sâ—ing The fielde the house the houshold stuffe and euery other thing And now both poore and base he is whose riches late were greate Eate thou wher by thy lyfe may last but liue not thou to eate I haue thee here declared now the woman what she hight And now the boy with nodding noule I wyll thee here resight The boy is hers and of her borne and labour him begat His name is slepe his nourse is leth his fode is poppey fat He brother germaine is to death but not as she doth last He doth refresh the weried limmes wyth dayly labour past He doth expell the cares of men and calleth strength agayne Without the ayde of him no man his life may well sustayne Yet hurtes he much and doth the minde in certayne wise oppresse Diseases breedes and ouls the corps oft vsed with excesse If foode be small he small will be for when the meate is spent The corps doth wake or else doth rest wyth little
is who can we good now fynde Of his owne selfe not one who not of yll and wicked minde Such one as feare of King or lawes prohibites to offend Or such as cannot wel perfourme the crime he doth entend It is not easy sure to winne and nature put to flight Nor for to stay the furies fell within the heart that fight Wherfore it needeful is to striue from yeres of youthful trayne With dayly flight and labours great the vices to restrayne For custome wonted is to break the force of nature sure If that by many yeares it hath bene vsed to endure Mannes life a warrefare ergo is eche fielde the enimy Possesseth ful al ful of theeues such gynnes who then can fly So many nets who can escape for when that fortune smyles Then creepes in fond laciuiousnesse and stings with thousand wiles Fast by encampeth swelling pride with slouth and gluttony And folish boldnesse strayght doth ryse wyth griefe and feare thereby And â—ayson fel of enuy and yre doth then possesse his minde When as he liues in great vnhap then seekes he for to finde Al meanes he can away to driue his wretched pouerty Then false he playes he robs steales his lack for to supply Oh Lord thus wise are mortal men betwene the cruel rockes Of Charibdis and Scilla tost of both receyue they knockes And while they seke these yls to shunne to other straight they fall If valeant they do seeke to be then daungers dire they shall And yrkesome labours also fele if vertue they do heede That guides the actes of mortal men then them commaundeth neede Al ioyes away to driue and put and eke wyth saged sawe A life vnpleasant for to leade If iust and righteous lawe Seeke any man for to obserue then profyt must away This iustice is of many praysde and fewe retayne it aye If prudence any man do please he must in any case Beware he put his trust in none for now in euery place Are great deceytes and perils rise and wyth simplicity In fine who that is good receaues most often harme we see He least in safety liues and feeles more hurt than al the rest For this same world a storehouse is where mischiefes al be prest All goodnesse here exiled is the simple Hares thereby The fearfull Hart the harmelesse gotes their bane come sonest by But rare the hunter hunts the Beare amyd the woods so hie The Lion reasts go now thy wayes and leade thou simply A gentle life wyth innocents that soner so thou may Unto the greedy gaping wolues become a grateful pray The world alas doth now abound with tirants ouer al The strong tread vnder fote the weake the mighty hurt the smal The Egles chase the fearful Swannes the Haukes doe Throstles kil And sary simple seely doues destroyes with croked byl The speckled Serpent kylls the Frogs and Lizartes vp doth eate And in the woods the greatest beastes of lesser make their meate Thou monsters also doest possesse O seas of mighty powre That wyth a gaping greedy throte the little fysh deuoure Not sea not earth not aire is safe the enmy euery where Is now at hand it profits smal to liue vnhurtful here Beholde how good is vertues parte that goodnesse here doth trayne For when ye haue it gotten once with labour and great payne Amid your enmies al she doth you thus vnarmed send But thou wilt say such vertuousnesse do lawes and Kings defend O would to God that this were so but now in euery place With money lawes corrupted arâ— and eke the Princes grace Is pleasde with precious gifts and sute the lawes set them on rack That eyther haue no pens to pay or frendship else do lack The other scape as innocents howsoeuer iudgement trye Lyke as the fly that smallest is in weaued Cobweb hye That Spyder makes remayneth wrapt where if a greater stray She breakes the nettes flyes abrode The lawes as wel doth say That Barbarous sage of Scythia the seely soule doth tye Where as the rich and mighty men burst through ful easily The other parte of vertue that doth search wyth studious payne And for to knowe the causes hyd of nature doth obtayne And froth to learne that scarce you can at any time come by How hard and ful of payne it is they knowe that it do try Fyrst vnder maisters rule wyth strypes they are constraynde to liue And there accoumpt of lessons hard with feare and teares to giue Shut vp as it in prison were whereby they may not goe Abrode wythout the tyrants leaue although them forceth thoe The office of the Campo Clubbe restraynt of Blathers might Though hunger pricke and lust to play wherein they most delight But when the yeares of youthful state approching present stand Then nede requires more diligence some one then sekes the land Wherein Anthenor last arriued with raging flouds to striue Of Venice gulâ—e to Naples else through Tuscan seas doth driue An other fast to Perouse sayles or gayneward Rome do fâ—eete There from his countrey farre exilde wyth many woes to meete With lack of meate and quiet sleepes and want of Venus play On bookes wyth study for to loke applying day by day For otherwyse can none be learnd except wyth vntrue fame For fewe are learned now in deede but many are in name Joyes hurt them much pleasures â—ke that seke for to attayne To top of learnings palace hie for this beates back agayne Their mindes from treading crabbed pathes by which the iourney bends To fayre Mineruaes holy house For he that thus intendes A name throughout the world to get must suffer dayly payne Great griefs hereby some men wyth yll digestion eft sustayne Of many whilste to much they reade both syght and eyes decay By study great their stomack rawe their colour falles away Then leannesse coÌ„mes w t wayward age nor maruel is it thoe Sith for to knowe the truth doth styll beyond mannes nature goe And proper is to God alone Like as the Owle of night Can not beholde the shining Sunne with clere and perfect sight So fares the minde of man as oft as it intends to flye Aloft to search the secret things falles headlong strayght from hye Now mortal men dare reache at things to Gods appropriate And foolisher they proue themselues the more they seke the state Of things whereof the knowledge doth pertaine to them no whit Except that God grauÌ„t them from hye both reason grace and wit But happy are the Aungels all for they the worlde doe know What thing it is how much how great whereof it fyrst did grow The Lorde and maker of the same all things that may be thought The Causes hid the priuie strengthes whereby all things are wrought This is the lyfe that they doe leade and this their pleasure all On meate or sleepe they neuer thinke to griefes they are not thrall No hope of gaine no feare of losse doth cause them for to fret But
alwayes are of perfect power this knowledge true to get Sapience to Aungels doth belong and Gods aboue you see Where onely prudence doth pertaine to men that mortall bee Whereby they may take good aduise from harmes and hurts to flie And gather things that may giue ayde and liue here quietly What thing to doe and what to leaue to man doth prudence showe Therefore who wysheth well to liue and eke where thornes doe growe With feete vnpricked for to go let him seeke hir to knowe Who wyll not hym acount a foole that things of greatest gaine Forsaking quite doth seeke to get things strange and also vaine Who sekes aboue his reache to roue and while he climes to hie Comes tumbling downe lyke Icarui in waters deepe to lye The Tode that late did seeke to matche the Oxe in drinking vaine His panche asunder bursten thoe doth neuer drinke againe while as syr Phaeton sought to rule the brideled iades on hye with earthly hande was he not forcde in Padus streams to lye His life and chariot both resygnde with this vnhappy fall The prudent man containes himselfe within dame natures wall Nor more he dare than hym becomes except that God him moues Let mortall men such things regarde as mortall men behoues Let them not search beyond their powre least if they clyme to hye They hedlong fal and proue themselues a laughing stocke thereby As if an Oxe woulde vpwarde clime abrode his flight to take Or if an Asse a Lute would sounde melodious noise to make But let it bee that one obtaine all artes in memory By which he many bookes can make what good gettes he thereby what iust rewarde shall conteruaile the paines that he endures Fame prayse and glory thou wilt say rewarde to him procures Hys name thereby shall euer lyue and alwayes eke remayne But 〈◊〉 would haue the wel perpende 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 viewe more playne What prayse what fame and glory is For many things we see In other shapes than in their owne transformed for to bee Which w t a cloke and shadowing mist deceiue the minde and eyes Hereof good things are counted nought and euill good likewise All foolishnesse hereof doth spring Ful oft is Copper tride In Siluer rounde enclosde to lye oft Golde doth Iron hyde And purest shelles within containe the nuts that rotten bee In skinnes of sheepe full oft to lurke the wylie Wolfe you see Doe not the gorgeous hangings hyde the dusty mouldred wall Where gaping riftes vnsemely syt and wormes consuming crall There is a sharper syght that sees what hyd in secrete lyes Who vseth thys shall iudge aright and wonders see with eyes I here demaunde what fame doth help what prayse or what renowne To them that sleepe or vnto them whom death hath stricken downe No more for trouth than doth the harp the deafe vnhearing wyght No more thaÌ„ gorgeous plays doth plese the man that lackes hys syght Thou answerst here that they that liue and they that here awake Reioyce therin and for the same no perils they forsake But breath and bloud doe both resigne thys thing for to obtaine Ambition many doth enforce and driue to glories gaine Much like a spurre and many brings to toppes of vertue hye With prickes prouoking sluggishe folk by force of sworde to try Some worthy thing and if they nilâ— by force perfourme the same That then by wyt they take in hande some thing of worthy fame Yet is ambition sure a vice and no man will we see Be called so and they that are ambitious counted bee Both vain and proude of naughty mind as once the Romains warre Requested of the common sort reiecting shame afarre As oft as they their voices sought with humble sute did pray Good will of Rascalles for to get that they might beare the sway In coÌ„mon welth their owne things left whereby they might go â—et Amid the stretes with traine of men and stately countenaunce set For hir owne selfe is vertue sought and not for honors sake Though she of right deserueth sure chiefe honors for to take No vertue moues the common sort they rather hir despise Wherfore must Fortune fauour needes and richesse eke suffise Then prayse renowne and worthinesse will also present be In euery place if liuing lacke doth vertue begge we see But yet it forceth not if that the donghill cocke doe gesse A precious stone as nothing worth this makes not it the lesse Of value so the vertuous man content with eche degre Despising praise of common sort regardes not vanitie The face that well preporcioned is requires no paynted hewe And of it selfe may bare be shewde the golde that tryed is true But he that vertue is without doth counterfait the same And vnderneth disguised cloke procures a vertuous name wherfore if thou dost well discerne thou shalt beholde and see This mortall lyfe that here you leade a Pageant for to bee The diuers partes therein declared the chaunging world doth showe The maskers are eche one of them with liuely breath that blow For almost euery man now is desguised from his kinde And vnderneth a false pretence they sely soules doe blinde So moue they Goddes aboue to laugh wyth toyes and trifles vayne Which here in PageaÌ„ts fond they passe while they do life retayne Fame glory prayse and eke renowne are dreames and profitlesse Bicause with chaunce they are obtaynd and not by vertuousnesse But let it be they graunted are to such as worthy be Tel me do they the body good no whit I promise thee Help they the mind as much for truth they blowe them vp before Depriuing them of sobrenesse they make them careful more For he that after honour seekes must cap and crouch ful low Wyth bribing gifts beseching men his simple state to know This is therefore a wretched life and ful of businesse With enuy oft it compassde is and oft in great distresse But he that vertue true can get he liues most quietly And happy enough let him commit the rest to Gods on hye Sufficient honour vnto man is to deserue the same For to the vnworthy honour dealt you can not honour name To such it is a burden great and more a scorneful thing As when vpon the stage a foole comes dressde vp like a King Now wil I here declare and tel of man the mischieues al Assone as he from mothers wombe with bloud embrued doth cral He strayghtway cries and weping luck him brings to wretched life For seing wel by nature shewde the cares and bytter strife Wherwith this mortall life abounds So depe with groning winde The marchant sighes and feares as oft as he doth cal to minde The perils great that ships are in the force of Pirats hand The boystrous windes raging Seas with rockes and drenching sand Then by and by but scarce yet borne him binding bonds do holde And straight his tender ioynts and lims the swadling clothes do folde As tokens yll of bondage great that he in time must
more to get Than iust deserts y e law a brybing craft for golde a fyshing nette Eche kinde of handy craft corrupt by guile of workmens wyll The theefe to fee the Inkeper his gests thereby to kyll Besydes I many might beholde enricht by theft and guyle Though naughty beastes more meeter far to weare a rope a whyle Yet praysde to be and worshipped and feared very much The vnworthy placde in regal seate and honours dealt to such As haue but only shape of men Besyde religion fled By conetousnesse and Priests bent al to foode and Harlots bed And vnder cloke of holinesse seke priuily to gayne And pick the common peoples purse by meanes of wyly trayne While as they open heauen wyde and barre the hellish way And while they bost that they can soules where as they list conuay And wyth their Portas force the saincts to do as they are bent By this occasion left I al and from the townes I wene Accoumpting it more safe for me to liue in desert place And in this hyll to runne the rest of al my ranging race This hil whereas the altare stands of Syluester the saint Where as the Shrine and monuments of him his prayses paynt Which place though it seme rough and rude not meere to dwel vpon Yet fitte it is for saincts and such as liue in peace alone And wholly do apply their mindes the Lord to feare and loue And alwayes seeke to ioyne themselues with saincts in Skies aboue But hard perchaunce it seemes to thee and straunge it doth appere That I can liue in desert such and stony places here Where seldome any man doth come where wanting seemes to be Most things that should sustaine the life of man at libertie Yet is it not so hard in deede nor straunge it seemeth than If that the holy Ghost enspire the heart of any man Descending downe from heauens hye of God the sacred sprighte That purifies the heart from sinne and rayseth soules to light That ouerwhelmde in flesh do lye as Mercury sublimde By force of fyer is and takes a colour white ful finde This holy sprite adournes the minde and heart doth vpward moue This cutts away the worldly cares and breadeth heauenly loue Wherwith the minde inflamed once all things doth easye seeme Though neuer so sore for he that loues doth labour light esteeme Especially if any hope there be rewarde to holde For hope loue are two stroÌ„g pricks that makes vs alway bolde And not to care for any toyle wherfore continually Our daily prayers must wee make to hym that guides the skye That so thys holy sprite vouchsafe into our heartes to fall That he may plant a Godly hope and Godly loue withall Wherwith y e minde inspirde may mouÌ„t aboue the starry skye Despising much the world and ioyes that vaine doe please the eye And striue to ioyne it selfe to God with all the force and might No maruell then it is all if ayded of this sprite I here can dwell and leade a lyfe full harde so paciently Upon this stiepe and desert rocke and stony mountaine hye Yet neuer lackt I meate nor clothes vpon this loftye spyre As much as nature doth content not wanton fonde desyre A little thing doth nature serue a small thing doth content Such one as loues none ouerplus a man to vertue bent That rather seekes celestiall lyfe than fleshly fading dayes For lyfe least thou be ignorant is double in hir wayes One wherwithall the bodye lyues still followed and pursude Is thys of all the route of fooles and common people rude The people fonde that nothing knowe of any worthinesse But stouthful beasts do make their God of filthy fonde excesse This lyfe is proper vnto beastes of wilde and sauage kinde The other vnto God aboue and men of godly minde That for their great and worthy deedes doe well deserue the name Of perfect men and holly sainctes of euerlasting fame But such hye minded vertuous Impes the earth doth seldome broode The earth a mother to the naught and stepdame to the good Agui se falta vn Renglon por ligereza But now bicause I see thee bent to giue attentâ—uâ— eare Some things of this celestiall lyfe I will declare thee here Which ought well vnderstoode to please the minde of any wight Fyrst man consystes not only of fleshe but also of the spright This giueth lyfe to them that line by this we feele and moue This giues vs mind y e worthyest thing by which men wondrous proue But many doubt if that the soule doe liue the body dead Or whether it doe finishe â—o when as the lyfe is stedde Assaredly the worser sort that to the fleshe doe cleaue And bent to vice despising God doe wishe and eke beleue The soule to haue a dying day â—icause alas they feare The cruell forments for the sinnes that they committed here And therefore will alowe no hell nor Diuels for to be And so they doe persuade themselues to scape with mischiefe free An other better sort of men that synfull lyfe doe hate Prouoked with the Godly loue of vertues goodly â—iate Doe thinke the soule doth alwayes lyue and not to dye with graue Bicause they hope a glorious Crowne for their good workes to haue And make accompt of perfect blisse when death hath shot hys dart And of a better promisde lyfe for to enioy their part Of these two sortes who iudgeth best â–ª who is but the iust For euermore in doubtfull things the opinion must we trust That pleaseth best the better sort and that which follow most Such men as vertuous be and such as haue the holy Ghost More safe it is to cleaue vnto the vertuous and the iust Than fansyes of the wycked men to credite or to trust Ne must we note their number great that any thing haue sayde But in what sort they leade theyr lyfe must well of vs â—e wayde Wherefore it better is with fewe of vertuous sort to say That soules doe lyue continually and haue no dying day Than with a number of the lewde against it to replye Contending that there are no spriâ—â—s and that the soule doth dye But more bâ—cause thou shalt beleue I will declare to thee By reason good the state of soule immortall for to bee For if that God in better things doth cunning still expresse As wysedome telles and as the good and vertuous must confesse Then doubtlesse must we iudge he gauâ— the soules no time to dye Since better farre it is for them to liue continuallye Than with the fleshe to be extinct and feele a full decaye Which thus I proue if death doe take from vs the soule away If that we haue no other lyfe but in thys body here Then God may be accounted ill and shall vniust appere For thousandes euery day we seâ— that florishe prosproustye In richesse substance and renoume in raignes and Empyres hye Yet ydle lubbers vnlearnde naughâ— that synne at liberâ—ye And runne
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