let him go tosse the boke Of Stagerite or if he liste in Platoes workes go loke Which two are lightes to all the world whatsoeuer then it be Such like to vs that giues that terme may profitable we As to the body medcine is and eke the phisick leach And to the minde the boke likewyse is mayster that doth teach But those that profiteth the soule more profitable be And better eke bycause it is of greater dignity As is the mayster than the man the shipman than the ship Than is the cart is he that holdes the clashing carters whip But by delay or out of hand doth profit vs eche thing As to the hungred man the golde and he that golde doth bring The coke and eke the fode it selfe the like I do declare Of pleasing goods in diuers partes deuided is their share Of which the body some do please and some the soule delight But yet the pleasures of the soule he alwayes more of might And common eke to Gods and vs whereas the bodies ioy As graunted vnto brutish beastes to them a proper roy Not lawfull vnto them it is wyth ioyes of soule to mell Nor haue they all the senses fiue and only knowe they well What tast and sense of featling meanes they musick nought esteme No swete perfumes wyth princely smel to them doth pleasant seme Regard they ought the paynted lines of fine Appelles hand Or muse they on the brasen plate of comly Corinthes land Or wonder they the sight to see of shooting Circus game If ought they smel if tune or syght them please it is the same That â—aste or feeling makes as when the Lion fierce doth spye In fieldes by chaunce a cowe he leapes and liftes his maine on hye And twines and twirls his twisting tast desrous of his pray Or when the fomey horse beholdes the gadding mare astray Wyth hauty head vpheld he runnes and here and there he kickes And leapeth hedge and ditch abrode while lusty guts him prickes And causeth all the skies aboue wyth hineying noyse to shrike When meat therfore and gendring act the beastes do chiefest like And syth to them it proper is it is therfore most vile And fit for villaynes to possesse fyne wyt it doth erile To often vsde it body hurtes who therfore this obayes Is made a foole and for to serue is apter eke alwayes Than ouer others for to rule but vse them moderately And if thou minded art to know the goods of honesty Remember what before I sayd for of the minde they bee The maners milde and learning eke as I declard to thee But giue good eare what I shal say those goods that do delight While as they last do pleasant seme and after of no might Example for beholde the ioyes of song and Uenus play But that that brings the body good that profits men do say The goods therof be pleasant eke as health obtaynde doth please So profits it agayne we see that healeth eche disease And that that causeth goods of minde we well may profit name But these as sone as they be got then pleasant are the same And honest out of hand they be for all that vertue brings Doth profit much and delt her selfe aboue all other things She pleaseth most and honest is her iust rewarde and hire Is honour only due to her therfore who doth desire Much loue while he here liues to haue let eyther him deuise To please or profyt them he loues or else in any wyse Let him haue vertues good in store the which the dogged sort Shal force and eke constrayne to gyue a prayse and good report Whome though they hate yet shall they feare and fyrst of all he must Of those whome he doth seke to please marke all the manners iust For all mens wylles do not agree nor all their studies one Such seedes vnlike dame nature sowes engendring vs vpon The one doth hate that thother loues that one doth most disprayse The other lifts aboue the Skies wherof appeares alwayes That eche loue al things not a like nor al men do desyre One good that profits like to haue nor honest like requyre Wherfore we fyrst of all must learne what pleaseth best his brayne To whome we seke lest else perchaunce we laboure all in vayne In doing things of them vnliked this is not hard to knowe The talke assuredly declares the deedes from them that flowe And hidden heart al men talke most of that they most do loue And most attentiue are therto ful many things that proue His loue at home may eft be spied the plowman holdes at home The plow the goade the yoke the rake the spade to temper lome The Knight his fearful armour hath that hangs at home full bie So he whose house wyth bokes abounds a student rightfully May demed be and this I say of euery other man The hand and tong declares the heart such things as pleaseth than Who seketh frendes let him perfourme for fawning loue doth get But most men yet do gape for gayne and all mens hearts are set On gold and giftes and many frendes by gyftes obtayned be But sure such loue endureth not for when that gayne doth flee Then fayleth frendship chiefly then when hope to haue is gone But some there be though few of them that styll remayne as one And mindfull eke of frendship shewed do neuer ceasse to loue But graunt the vnthankfuls frendshyp fayle it doth not yet behoue The good and frendly man to leaue who may as rare be found As Phenix bird in all the world that breedes in Arabs ground To profyt many men and ayde wyth all his power the same This way to heauen only leades by this obtaynd the game Great Hercules and many more whose worthy fames remayne As yet wyth vs whome neuer age can cause to die agayne The gentle and the liberall man is lyke to God aboue Great sortes of men agayne there be delighting things that loue Wherby such men they most esteme that pleasant things do bring And chiefly children youth and such as are of greate liuing Do couet ioyes and pleasures seke but such loue is not true For when that pleasure once is gone then frendships eke adewe Yet sometymes sure it profyts much and many get therby Riches and many fauour get therfore let him apply His mind to please who frendship sekes so he go not astray From bondes of right and honesty but eche man profyt may And pleasure eke two sundry wayes by wordes and dede besyde But safer eke and easier it is such frendship to prouide By wordes than dedes but now t is best for to declare the way By which it may be brought to passe which thing perfourme you may If holsome counsell thou dost giue and warning hurt declare And teach how profyt may be got of euill to beware In praying Gods to send them helth and send them well to fare In askyng gratefull thynges for them in whome consistes thy care
what auayles it vnto him the pleasaunt wines to bring Who euermore refrayning wine doth ioy in cleared spring Some one with Kid some other thoe wyth porke refresht to be Desireth more some songs delight some other playes to seâ— So loue to all men is not like some man a boy desires And some a mayd and some a gyll and some a wyfe requires The minde and not the thing therefore doth cause a quietnesse Wherby the poore no lesse their ioyes then riche men doth possesse Excesse the riche man doth desyre fewe things the poore suffise To him doth greater charge of house but lesser ioyes arise The shipman or the labouring wight much pleasure more doe take With egges leekes and homely foode his hungred mawe to slake Than kyngs Queenes w t deinty dishe of seas and lande to dine The worthier pleasure then I thinke of right we may define That vsed neither causeth harme nor honesty resystes For best it is to couet least and liue within the lystes Of counsaile good nor vexed be with vaine and fonde desyre For who the things he cannot haue doth earnestly require With frustrate hope is tormented and loseth time in vaine Wherfore desyre thou nothing els but that thou mayst obtaine And rule thy minde w t bridlyng bitt but he that doth habounde With riches alwayes couets more then lawfull may be founde With little and content to liue he knowes not yet there fore Whom least of all doe full suffise hym happier iudge I more For lofty landes doe cause a man for to excell in pride Thimmortall gods for to despise and men for to deride Without all rule a carpet knight and vertues mortall foe For who doth vertue ought regarde when riches swelleth so O famous worthy pouertie O giftes of God vnkende Of vertues aye the safe defence to shamefastnes a frende The brydle tryde of wantones and patron of the lyfe Thou onely canst and well despise the shamelesse fortunde ryfe The raging of the Seas and wyndes whilste in thy little bote Thou kepest the safe assured foordes and rydste by shore a flote The loftye hylles on hye full oft the flashing lightnings smite And spiring ashes long be bette by northern Boreas might Low things do lie vnknoweÌ„ to harmes the tempestes neuer greues The lowly shrouded Junipers nor shakes the Mirice leues The famous Anaxagoras and Democryte the wyse With many mo whose worthy fame throughout the world nowe flies Did syluer golde and riches eke as heads of yll despyse And why but y t they thought they were not vertues good nor trew Which let the minde w t diuers cares and hedlong downe eke threw Full many men in diuers vice but alwayes marke thou well What Fabrice Calo and Curius to these holy men thee tell Regarde not what the common sort and foolishe route doe say Therample of the good alwayes before thy eyes but lay Dyd not Ouirinus conquerour his banners oft display Commaunded weapons vp to take and plough a downe to laye And rest his deluing spade a whyle then would the cottage small Content the men and deinty fare not vsed then at all But Princely meates roufed roomes bring forth as now a dayes A weake a faynâ— and tender fruite and apt to sport and playes O learne you mortall men at length put darkenes from your minde Lyft vp a loft your dimmye eies wherto doth will so blinde You leade take heede in any wyse you thither doe not goe By reason lyke the gods aboue you are created loe By reasons are the seas and lande vnto your power subiect Let errours not therfore as now but reason you direct The certaine ende of euery thing peruse you well alwaye And let the meate your selues suffise that hunger driues away And garments eke your skinnes to hide and cald for to expell Let aye the slepe that doth refresh your wery limmes be well Of these three things aboue the reste most nede we haue alway Sith these our bodies are compact of vile and brittle claye But yet thou oughtst those things to vse as Phisick for to heale The diuers sicknesse that to man dame nature wontes to deale Some one we see in daynty fare doth riot most embrace Some other in ercesse of clothes and some whilst they apace From learning flye do vneth knowe nor once this life perceaue When euermore wyth sluggish slepe their eyes togyther cleaue But happy is he that is content with little to remayne Nor puts his trust in things so frayle that death will him constrayne To leaue behinde as none of his and wayeth well in minde How short the space is of our life how all things vayne we finde That here on earth created be who alwayes one remaynes In prosperouse eke and aduerse chance the iudge nor Sttgian paynes Regardeth not and nought esteemes what euer fortune flyng Unhappy is he whom will doth leade vnmindfull of the thing That is to come but like to beastes regardes the thing in syght Who knoweth not that by how much the minde is more of might Than is the corps so much the more in gifts it doth excell Riches be not the chiefest goodes therefore appeareth well For these bicause for bodies wealth they onely out be sought The manners of the owners eke we see they better nought Who wil accompt them chiefest goods for often times we see Such men with riches as abounde like brutish beastes to bee As much therfore as will suffise thy life no more require For in excesse do fooles reioyce in vaine thou doest desyre Thy barnes vnheaped hugye mowes of corne when thou as well With lesser measure though by much thy hunger mayst expell When little cuppes shall thee suffise why doest thou tunnes desyre But yet if Putus doe thee loue and plentie on thee flyre And eke the will vnknowne of fases hath riches delâ—e to thee What wouldst thou doe that thou hadst learnde it semeth best to mee Least by possession thou be worfe a dolte and counted plaine And tell mee now I thee require what wisdome doth remaine Or counsell else to him in whom great riches euer â—â—owe And by what meanes them for to vse the foole doth nothing know Hereby doth strength and often hurte and beautie eke anoye By reason lyke the aucthour oft doth eloquence destroy And by these meanes are diuers artes full hurtfull oft to many Let not the snare of auarice thee catche but from her flie Than thys there is no fury fierce assuredly more fell Begotten once in Acheron amyd the raigne of hell She was where flaming fyerbrandes she dreadfully doth cast A hundred thretning heades shee beares wyth vgly adders brast Her gredy iawes with bloud of men coulde neuer haue their fill With churlish chaps deuouring meaâ— yet foode requir the shee still She spareth none nor god hys churche once feareth to defyle This cursed neuer fylled beast and wicked monster vile Of hir come plagues slaughâ—ers sharp wyth discorde and distresse
might know O that from heauens hye shee would descend the earth belowe And me with pleasaunt words instruct as erst I did her heare A valley long there lay betwene two hils that bounded neare A narrow path there was that shewes the trauayling wight his way This path I toke and straight I saw two shepheardes there that lay In grasse full grene agaynst the banke who bagges and bottels downe with crab tre staues wher w t they walkd desirous of renowne Began to striue who best could sing but iudge they lacked than Whose sentence shuld the strife appease and prayse the siner man As sone as they me present spyde they both me calde vnto And wild me for to syt them by and iudge who best could do Then one of them when that he had wyth oten musicke played His staring eyes on heauen cast and on thys sort he sayd O floure fayre of Dardany of Joue beloued o childe That seruest the gods wyth frothing cup of pleasaunt Nectar milde Come downe from hie now froÌ„ y e Skies a fayrer far than thee In earth remayns that vnto Joue cupbearer now shall be Him Jupiter despising thee shall take from hence and place Among the starres from enuy burst O thou in wretched case Yeld vp for griefe thy wofull goste but rather not departe Thou shalt wyth wines the Gods salnte and I enioy my harte Philetus deare wythout whose sight no kinde of thing is swete To me no not my life to haue wythout his presence mete As oft as him on horsbacke swift the Gote or Hart to chace The Fayries spie wyth loue they burnt and wysh that louely face Wyth thousand kisses for to mete as many giftes wythall And floured garlands trim him giue contending best who shall And apples fayre in baskets bring and grapes of pleasannt tast O that neglecting to be pleasd in him were not so plast O that this liuelie Impe would shewe himself alwayes at hand To ease the wretched louers griefe then hapiest should I stand No man in all the world my mate but he doth cleane despise My plaints and faithful louers sutes and hates my dolefull cries And as the shaft from bowe departes so from me fast he flies But flye not from me thus nor hate me so Philetus deare I am no cruell Canniball wherby thou shouldest me feare But worthy to be loued I am perchaunce if thou me knowe For though vpon my body rough the hoary haires they growe And though from chin with locks vnkeÌ„pt my griesly beard doth fall I am not yet yll fauoured sure for beard and bristels all Be decent eke and mete they be for fyghting folkes and strong Let maydly men haue tender skinnes the sheapheardes all among In richesse none doth me excell of beast I lacke no store A thousand kine my pasture feedes of swine full fyfty score Amongst my groue of Okes they runne my kine wyth calues do sway My lusty gotes wyth kid they swell ne want I whigge nor whay Fresh cheese and olde inough I haue take what thou likest away All mine is thine and I thine owne though cruel thou denny If thou me louedst and wouldst thy selfe somtyme come sit me by I would thee pleasaunt apples get that hangs on braunches hie wyth golden sydes like yellow waxe and red as strawberies die I would thy lap wyth fylberts fyll and nuts of diuers kinde How oft how oft mine armes should I about thy myddle winde Two thousand kisses would I giue those rosey lippes of thine Dout not swete boy but walk with me by cleared spring so fine we both wyll rest and gratefull sleepe wyth hausing armes wyll take Alurde wyth shade of hushing trees and noyse that riuers make while Greshops in the heat do chirp alas and dost thou now Despise both me and all my giftes that here to thee I vow Do not my wofull teares thee moue nor all that I can say More fiercer far than Tiger stout whose whelp is tane away More deafe than pictures made of Parus Marble stone And harder eke than are agayne the mountaynes euery chone Of Alpes hie and Diamond strong what doth thy beauty good If all men so thou dost despise wyth fierce and cruell moode And slayest the soules of woful wightes whose heartes thine owne be tride Thus wise her selfe in floures fayre the dreadfull Snake doth hide And thus wyth poyson hony myxt lay downe dis 〈…〉 asyde A monster vile and vnto God is auncient e 〈…〉 y pryde Nor be not thou wyth grace begilde or forme of fading hewe For beauty lasts but little time like flower fresh and newe Full fayre at fyrst is gone in tyme while flouring age doth last while tender skinne in face doth shine let not in vayne be past Such happy tymes but vse the giftes now graunted vnto thee While tyme doth serue for euery thing by vse commended be The tyme shall come when this thy chin wyth bristled beard beset Shall vggly seeme and eke thy face shall riueled wrinkles fret And when thy golden lockes shal tourne to ghastly gresild heares To late then shalt thou fodle bewayle the losse of youthfull yeares And oft thy selfe shalt say where is my beauty olde now gone Where is my colour fresh become both red and white in one Uayne hope alas of this thy face then shalt thou sore lament Thy chaunged cheekes and face so foule thy selfe when represent Thou shalt thy glasse perceyue but why thus waste I winde in vayne What meane I thus in barren soyle to let my seedes remayne Unhappy wretch in vayne I toyle my destnies will me so O cruell destenies that now so sore agaynst me go And chiefly now when wretched loue hath pearst my wofull hart Of greater force is lucke in loue than all the swelling part Of richesse great or noble bloud to destnies vertue â—hrall By luck in loue the prince despisde and John obtaines the ball But though more fiercer thou remainst than fearfull raging drake Or doste my loue no more esteme than weedes in fenny lake Yet thee sweete hart I serue and thee for euer shall I loue And nothing shall thee from my minde Philetus deare remoue This sayd he held his peace and thus this other gan to say Mellina passing floure of wheat and whiter farre away Than frothing fome of raging seas or Allablastar stone And boyled milke more red than are the Cherries euery one When ripe they hang or Mulbry frute while yet no blacke they weare More fayre than trees in time of spring when braunches blossomes beare More sweete than are the withred figges or wines that new be made Such lippes such brest or eyes I thinke dame Uenus neuer had What should I here commend her thies or places there that lie Such partes in practise put than speake with better will would I. Not onely here of mortall men her prayse Mellina gaynes But Gods her loue I saw my selfe a Satire take the paynes To hunt her once and when he
the sacred natures hest Which wold the bred shuld brede agayn which made such ioyful rest In wedlock bed thee not to feare but rather to allure Why wilt thou nature thus withstande no hurt in Venus lure There is if hir thou lawful vse with meane and not excesse But to much vsde she strength abates and drownes the valiantnesse Destroyes the wit and shortneth life Now must we here display dame Venus soÌ„ne whose force doth cause both man and God obay Who brond withal and quiuered shafts makes all the world afrayd To whome though yet a boy and blind hath euery thing obayd That earth or sea did euer breede or heauens hie contayne O Lord what rage of flames and fyre in euery place to rayne This boy hath causd what force haste y e O quiuered Cupide now No strength thy power may once resist thy conquest makes to bow Both beast and Man and Gods aboue with dartes of thine alone His heart through pearcd full oft hath made the thuÌ„dring God to grone And diuers shapes on him to take hys lightning laide a syde And region left of starry skyes on wretched soile to slide Hath not disdainde sometime the forme of Egle swift to beare Sometime a bull with frowuing face sometimes a shepheards cheare On him to put sometime to seme a snake and now and than With flames to come in Satirs shape now golde now like a swan Neptunus also once ychanged to fluddes of Enepey While he poore wretch thy dart did feele with Salmonide he lay And oft a Dolphin would he seeme a Ram or Horse to be With all the seas he coulde not quenche the flames that burnte by thee In breast so blinde and heart of him a tale to long it were Like actes of all the Gods to shewe to thee in order here How Phebus did a hauke become and eke a Lion kende Or call to minde the woode attemptes of raging Tartares fende But vaine it is so time to spende for if I should expounde The Lordes and Ladies euerychone whom cruell loue did wounde My tale woulde runne to much at large and downe before woulde hide His glistring beames syr Titan bright the smoking wheeles should slide Amid the washing westerne waues But here I thinke it best Such things to haue sith many men haue plainely them exprest And now the truth we will declare this boy did neuer flow From Bacchus raines as Grece did faine no sure if it were so Eche man that hateth wine should loue but destny him begot Bicause in euery kinde of loue this destny knittes the knot All morttall things this desteny rules she doth to all bestow Conditions eke with fortune to and ende of lyfe doth know Of greater force than beauty is this desteny assurde Though beauty cause of burning flame hath louers linckes procurde Of greater might than golde it is though once with golde did bye Olde Saturnes sonne inclosde in towers with Danae faire to lie Familier syght and licence had full oft to talke and liue Togither both when none shall see which sliding way doth giue By which to loue we in doe come by which is Venus got All this can nothing sure preuaile if destnies fauour not By destny ioinde by destny broke the louers knot and ring By this the vile deformed slaue sometimes obtaines the thing Which rich nor faire can haue by this the faire and gentle wyfe Is of hir husbande eft despisde and more contentes his lyfe A ragged iade in house to kepe By this the wife disdaines Hir husbande faire of gentle bloud and greater ioy sustaines A lither lousy lout to haue or vnaquainted wight And if so be that loue were not by Gods aduisement right To euery man appointed here by limittes parted iust No doubt of all might one be loued and on them all should lust And euery man might safe enioy the Damsel that he likes But as the fisher doth not take the fishes all in dikes Nor foulers all the birdes do catch nor hunters all doe kill But euery one his chance doth take obtaines and hath his will So loue to euery one is delt by Gods arbitrement So doth the seruant base full oft his Lady well content So shall the bursten bleared lout and crooked father olde A blissefull girle to wyfe obtaine For as the Marchant bolde That vnderneth vnhappy starre with wares his ship doth freight And cuts the fearefull fouring seas is often spoilde of weight By loste of ship or Pirates fierce so he that flames wyth loue The starres luck agaynst him both doth seke the rockes to moue An euil name and cruel wound receyueth he agayne And efâ—e his loue to get doth he the losse of lyfe sustayne But he whome destnies fauour wel and fortune smiles vpon His heart and ioy may sone obtayne wyth quiet rest anon But sure of fewe this grace is had so good are Gods to fewe Except such one as close doth kepe his ioyes that none them knowe No trust there is at al in man disceytes are vsed vile Now euery man doth practise howe his fellow to beguile If any man vnto his frende his secretes doth disclose Then must he stande in feare of him least he his frendship lose Least he in angry moode reueale that erst in harte he hydes If free therefore thou sekest to be and safe to liue besydes Let no man knowe thy secrete deedes thy frend haue alwayes so While frendship lasts that thou foresee he once may be thy foe Which thing in profe hath eft ben knowen for fewe such frendes we see That alwayes loue and much herein ought enuy fearde to be Which euer striues the happy chaunce wyth poyson fell to stayne Take heede therfore of enuy syrs I warne you louers playne Let no man know thy minde in loue but hide this loue of thine If witte thou hast and let not thou thy fyer forth to shine A monster vile is enuy sure a plague that rageth fel A deadly hurt than which a worse is hard to finde in Hel. It hunteth vertue in euery place good dedes asunder teares Good men she hates and doth disdayne the happes of others yeares Although no man can well kepe close his owne vnfayned loue If Fates agaynst him let and nyll the enuious lightes aboue Smal force in wit of man there is where Goddes do not agree In vayne he toyles that seeketh ought when Gods against him be Yet ought we not for this to leaue our willes and wittes to strayne For he that hath the race forth runne and palme cannot obtayne Is worthy prayse and enuy all vpon the Goddes he layes Who often good men downe haue put and fooles exaiting rayse A happy man is he to whome from tower of heauens grace Is graunted whoÌ„ God guides himself whose byrth with lucky face The happy starres haue shinde vpon to him coÌ„mes ioyful loue And voyd of woe long swetenesse he wyth pleasant life may proue For loue is daynty swete and milde if
If thou desyrest any man with woordes for to delight Of him and eke of all his thinges doe prayses thou resight And if he euer any acte performed woorthy prayes Commende it much for wisemen now and fooles at all assayes Would praysed be somtime agayne with sweet and pleasant stile Delight that tentiue eares of theirs prouokyng them to smile Or tellyng of some pleasant tale though new or olde it be If it be woorth declaryng tell some woorthy history If thou perceiuest any thyng that doth his minde delight In any case disprayse it not but say the crow is white And if thy conscience be so straight thou darst not say so much Then hold thy tong saye neuer a woord for now the time is such That wysdome great it is to fayne as true the people say He cannot liue that knowes not how with both his handes so play Sometime beleeue me now it hurtes the truthe for to defend The place the people and the time in minde doo thou perpend That nought thee hurte But some there be that rather loue to prayse A man behinde his backe and take the same for better wayes They doo but wel suche kynde of prayse more thanke deserueth sure Unfayned eke and vnsuspect â–ª it seemes to be more pure For some doo vse to cosin men when as they present be True friendes whereby they might be thought â–ª whom when they absent se With bifyng words they laugh to scorn best is it to reiect Such clawyng gestes it is the vse of Gnatoes fawning sect Not few again at least some one such marchant shalt thou finde That all thynges will abroade declare that issued from thy mynde Such praiyng mates tnow there be he speakes much good sayth he And doth commend your maystership of him dispraysde you be In fewe wordes now the truth to say nothing doth more delight All kinde of men than manners good and life lead all vpright Of greater force than riches this or learning eke it semes Though euyll men be learnde or riche yet no man them estemes Nothing more odious is than vice but if thou honest be And good al men shal thee embrace at least I think none thee Wyll hate A sentence olde it is that maners lyke in all And study like is it they say that loue is fedde wythall So merry it is when knaues be mette so learnd wyth learnd remayne So haunt al kinde of beastes their herd I speake not this agayne For how can they be ioynd in loue whose mindes contrary bee When one thing for to wyll and hate frendes vse it is we see Loue lastes not longe in wicked men fooles frendship lastes not long For priuate wealth that yll men seke by right and â—ke by wrong And cruell luste to harme and hurt that yll men all possesse With pryde and wrath togither both the frendes of folyshnesse Makes fuming humors rage abrode and ioynes them by the eaâ—es That onely loue endureth long whose roote dame vertue beates Which honesty engendred hath this onely knittes the hartes Of godly â—ke and faithfull men with loue that neuer partes And more it is to be estemde Than is the loue of kinde By which the father loues the sonne and eke with louing minde â—â—he other kâ—â—smen doe imbrace for children eâ—â—yn hate Their parentes deare and fathers eâ—â— haue grudgd the childes estate The brother hath bene sene er this to worke the brothers wylâ— But neuer true Dresses yet did Pylades beguile Nor Pylades Dreâ—â— to ayde did death esteme there while But here it comes in question if by any meanes we can Procure the loue of euerychone the good and euill man For lone in many partes disperstâ— is weaker euery howre In fewe of greater force it is in two of greatest powre Denided thus in many parteâ— it vanisheth away Who byddes secke not to many mates doe therefore truely saye For harde it is to line among so great a companye With them as it doth frendes become eke conuersant to be For fyxed fayth denyes her selfe with many for to dwell With fewe her selfe the doth content wherfore beleue thou well Thou shalt not many faithfull finde loue not in any wyse The common sort nor seeke their loue for discorde thence doth ryse And pleasant peace with fewe remains the common prease forsake Of pressing men with troubles they their troublous name doe take A fewe and good choose thou thy selfe with whom to leade thy lyfe By many yeares in safe thou maiste and also voide of strife Lyke as therefore thou canst not loue so many feruently So canst thou not of such a sort be loued faithfully For who so loueth not for troth is worthy of no loue A ciuill common loue there is wherewith it doth behoue The common sorte to loue with which eche good and euill man We ought assuredly to loue which is perfourmed than When as we no mans hurt procure by wordes or else by actes When as we leade our lyfe that none may well controll our factes When we to all men curteyse be and eke with frendly fare Doe them salute with honours dewe and praysing them â—â—brace But yet at fyrst it doth â—ehoue with fewe to leade thy life If thou dostâ— seeke 〈◊〉 peace to liue and 〈◊〉 from foolishe 〈…〉 Them 〈◊〉 shun whom â—â—â—ght thou knowes it can not be perdye That we in thornes and thistles treade and scape 〈◊〉 thereby Nor care thou not a whyt if that the wicked loue not thee Thinke it ynough if he not hate ne shalt thou hated bee If thou from them doe stande aloofe such hurâ—eth not the snake But if sometime it doth thee please the company to take Of tag and rag and neighbor John let tongue in silence dwell And take good herde what thing y u saist and alwaâ—es haâ—ken well And seldome speake iâ— is the signe of one whose head is lyght So much to praâ—e be efâ— oâ—â—â—ndes that so â—oth wordes resight But such as rare and wysely speake desâ—â—ue the chiefest praise And in the pruâ—â—â—t mouth it is a goodly gift alwayes Speake yll of none behinde their baâ—ke ne yet before their face Let thys the chiefest warning bee and â—ule of chiefâ—st place Nor prâ—â—e not thou to no intent nor ydle wordes let â—all For then shall eche man laugh at thee and eke a foole thee call If thou shalt aunswere any man or if thou question finde Before thou speakest in any case recorde it in thy minde For when it once is â—â—edde from thee thou canst it not retaine The worde that once is flowne abrode can not come home againe A goodly thing also it is in talke to tell sometime The pithy sense of aged lawes and auncient poets â—â—me â–ª And now and then examples sounde â–ª in worthy stories olde Do giue the talke a greater grace if they â—lude so tolde Alwayes therfore it nedefull is on diuers bookes to reede And as the Bees now there now here on sondry floures to feede Expell thou
nought Who so is free doth seeme to serue such is not to be sought It bringes the owner to much harme and not to can doe ill Is better sarre than haue such vice adherent to thy will How many men haue bene destroide by to much liberty How many men in safety liue with bridles dost thou se And if thy children sicknesse vexe why shouldst thou weepe or waile Go seeke in hast to make them whole if that will not preuaile And if that death will haue them needes then vse a pacient minde Thou art not in this case alone but fellowes shalt thou finde The griefe that we with many beare we better may sustaine We all are borne to this intent to render lyfe againe For of our fyrst beginning doth the fatall ende depende And certaine is the time decreed for all away to wende And either sone or latter doth eche man his graue descende To death which is of euils alt the last and finall ende Not of the valiaunt to be fearde what doth it ought auaile The deathes of them with teares y t here haue lost their lyfe to wayle Is it a thing so wretched here to leaue this foolishe life To ryd thereby our mortall corps from all vnquiet strife And for the hurly burly here eternall lyfe to win Perpetuall reast by death we gaine or eke the comming in To lyfe againe but weepe thy fill in time thy teares shall staye And all thy cares and griefe besyde from thee shall time conuaye But if thou wanton children keepe or of a greater shame O father fonde deseruing stripes then thou art most to blame And causer chiefe of all their hurt who taughtst not them to know Both maners good and vertuousneseâ— while tender yeares did grow Not yet with vices foule defaced neglecting thou the minde Diost only bring their bodies vp like beastes of brutishe kinde Hereof so many foolish geese and noughty men remaine With whom eche citie pestred is for all in age retaine The maners that they did receiue when yonger yeares were rife And eche man as he liued in youth so leadeth he his life The tender twigge at first may bowe according to thy minde But when the bowes get elder strength no more thou shalt them winde Nor from the place that yong it helde thou shalt it cause to flye So doth a childe in tender yeares eche way himselfe applye But when that elder age is come looke which way first he went That kepes he still and will not change his first conceiude intent Of custome long is nature bred and yeldes hir force alway To vse that long time hath bene kept yet ought we for to pray To God within the mothers wombe that he may giue good seede For so we shew our selues in lyfe as wee therin doe breede Whosoeuer doth come nought froÌ„ theÌ„ce will seldome vertuous proue Though manners good the schole hym teach and thousande masters moue Well maist thou nature rule sometime but neuer hir expell For she is still of greater force thau all thy guiding well Yet somthing will she altred be with vse and daily toyle So with continuall husbanding doth beare the barren soyle So Lions fierce of mighty force obey to man as king So by continuall exercise eche Arte in time doth spring Wherefore instruct thy children well while tender yeares doe grow And teach them honest wayes to walke and vertuous lyfe to know Permit them not to rampe abrode according to their will Than liberty no kinde of thing for children is more ill If thou be wyse holde fast thy raynes and warely well them guide For mortall things by naturra force are moude in vice to slide And willingly thereto they run if helpe no labour bring For without Arte is nature wone to giue no perfect thing For God himselfe will not permit that we with slouthfulnesse Should heauy ware but stirres vs vp with cares and busynesse And as with spurres the slothfull pricks a pleasaunt place ther lies That ryseth vp with craggey rocke amid the steamy skies Full of delight than which more bleft a place can not be founde To whom the sweete Elysius fields and Temp of Thessale grounde Doth place resigne here nigh the pole and night the starres that shine Dame vertue dwels and there enioyes a thousande pleasures fyne But vengeance crabbed is the pathes â—oth narrow and vnplaine And so be grown wyth thickes of thorne that neuer can attaine The vile and slouthfull minde to passe of earthly cares possest And few pure minde a loft doth bring whom God hath chose as blest Aboue to dwell amid the skyes full crabbed is the way To vertue sure but plaine to vice by which we sone doe stray To which we all runne easely who therefore doth intende To trade a childe in vertuousnesse must labour him to mende For without labour nothing good can well perfourmed bee The force of daily labour doth all things dispatch we see First ought you fathers to take heede aboue all other things Your children haunt no ill resort for custome alwayes brings Eche kinde of manners vnto men yea though they sainctes should be Ill company will them corrupt but chiefely let them flie From haunt of lustye youthfull brutes for youth is alwayes bent Lo vices all and filthy be all filthy talke innent For wholly is this age advicse to naughty ryots deede That they vse not the haunt therefore of yong men take good heede Thou that intendest for to kepe a childe in vertuousnesse Now vse to chide and now the rod and plaine the way expresse By which they may their feete direct in no wyse fauour showe And euer angry let them not the loue of Fathers know For nothing can more hurtful be than speake them faire vnto Then greater heart in vice they take then all things dare they doe When thou for truthe shalte take theyr wordes and makst of them to much Bewitched sore with doting loue to children fauour such Is hurtefull sure for feare alone doth make them vice to fly Not reason then and sone they synne if they be not put by With brydels harde and as they doe full oft in vices fall Done causyng them so seldome they returne if none doe call According as they bring them vp so all men children haue Besyde all this we must inuent our bodyes health to saue For health is far more worth than golde the healthy deluing loute In better state accounted is than crased kyng no doute First ought the cause be knoweÌ„ wherof such sicknesse vile are sowne In corps of men tormenting them for once the causes knowne More easely mayst thou shun theffects and causes pulde away The effectes of them that did ensue incontinent decay The causer first of each disease is chiefest nature sure As oft as vnder naughty starres the byrth she doth procure While as the childe doth inwarde take the motions of the saye Or else begot of naughty seede the cause doth eften lye Amyd the parentes of
of other partes through al the body forth do runne But of this same in other place more playnly shal we write If God therein do fauour vs and Muses graunt vs sprite Suffiâ—eth now affections fyrst of al things else to be Wythin the minde the causes sprong of things wythout we see And after they by member bloud or other humours might Are spread abrode in euery parte and so thrust out to light For seing minde and body are ioynde the mouing nedes must be Common to both the harmes al one and chaunge in like degree Whatsoeuer thing the one perceyues the other feeleth it They both in nature doe agree so strongly are they knitte But now bycause we seeme to touch the typ of Scorpions toe Let vs my Muse of senses speake here briefly as we goe Fyue senses nature gaue to sucâ— as perfect creatures be But vnto some he delt not all which may be worthely Unperfect namde as Moles wormes and Scallops of the baye And Wilks Irchin ekâ— whom pricks incompast rounde araye Aniong these senses al the syght is thought the best to bee Bicause it is the chiefest meanes wherwith the minde doth see Declaring plaine the wondrous workes beasts that nature here doth frame such floures such fruits such her vs such such plantes such stones of name Such sundry sortes of mettalles fayre and shewing also plaine What Fyshes Proteus feedes in seas what Monsters there remaine And more than thys the stately roomes wherein the Gods doe lye The glistering globes of starres aboue and Phaebus shining hye Besydes the things that men doe heare that tongue can not displaye Thys sense therfore doth all excell and fayrest farre away In which the seate and chiefest place wherin the minde doth dwell Is thought to be for when we meetâ— or talke in presence tell Upon the others eyes we gase as man and minde and all Did there consyst who so the eyes the glasse of minde doth call Shall say the truth for pleasaunt loue in them doth fyrst gyue lyght There hate and â—iercenesse doth appere with mylde and gentle sprite There sadnesse ioy and mischief shewes with zeale and wysedome great And follye pride and feare and rage with fault and wrathfull heat But wherof doth the syght proceede the mindes let other see Of learned men I briefely shewe as I think best to be One lyfe there must be knowne to be of substance eke so fine As syght can neuer comprehende of force and power dâ—uine Which nature deales God doth giue thys feedes and makes to growe Doth breed doth moue doth heare tast doth smell see feele and knowe Which is the chiefe and greatest power most nere to saints on hye These powres she through y e body spreds in certaine partes to lye And by the eyes doth lyght let in and sundry coulers see And iudgeth playne of euery shape and all things else that be Receaueth also by the nose the smelles of sundry sort And by the eares doth vnderstande sounde noyse and great report By tongue descernes eche kinde of tast by feling knowledge brings Of hote from colde of harde from soft of rough from smothest things Companions fyue these are to lyfe and faithfull seruants sure That shewes hir all without the which she nothing coulde procure The eyes therfore as glassye made and as the Christall clâ—re Lyke as a glasse receyue the shapes that we doe looke on here By power wherof are things desernde if that the eye be sounde These sorts of things vnto the minde for as in hyghest grounde Hir stately seate in head the holdes the eye doth plainely showe Whose ymage truely shadowed there she wyse doth straight wayes knowe So wondrously she doth perceiue a sundry sort of soundes When in the helthy vnharmed eares the ayre therof reboundes For ayre of slendrest substance is and moueth by and by Which beaten with the noise doth shuÌ„ne and from the stroke doth flye And pearcyng breakes into the eares though close be kept the glasse And close the dore so fine it is that inwarde it will passe For euen the fyshe when fyâ—hers harde with poales the floudes â—â—e plashe For feare of noyse flye fast from thence and thick in nettes doe mashe For ayre to depth of seas doth pearce vp mountes the waues thereby And tempests roares w t dreadfull noyse the shipman out doth crye And vowes to offer sacred giftes As oft therfore as wee Doe finde two things togither knockte as oft as ayre we see Moued vehemently but chiefly then when through these hollowed things By narrowe straightes it passeth out thence diuers voices springs As diuers are the sortes of them as place doth fashion take In which the ayre doth sundry soundes and sundry voices make So soundes the Trumpet otherwyse by farre than shalme doth blowe And well we may the Tymbrels tune from sounde of sawtrey knowe For as by stroke of stone in streame doe many cyrcles ryse So moued the ayre w t whirling wheele doth spread in largest guise And therfore into many eares one voice doth easely passe As where a number be one syght is seene in euery glaue But how the nose receiueth smell let vs say something here A slender fume from euery thing arisyng doth appere Which broade in ayre doth spred it selfe as Frankconcense we see Or Myrrhe if that vpon the coales the powder poured bee By meanes of tongue is taste perceiude and roufe of mouthe besyde For by these twaine the taste smatche of euery thing is tryde Which pearcing straight doth touch the sense therof is taste begonne But feeling bloud and sprite procures which through the bodye runne Thys sense doe creatures all possesse and taste they all receiue But man doth better them enioye and them more right perceiue Hereof to man more wysedome doth than to the rest aryse Some thys denye and saye the things foresayde are otherwyse Alowing not that formes receyued in eyes cause syght to be Or that the ayre we neede as meane to heare or for to see For the almighty King doth giue so many powers to minde As in the world he framed things that varie in their kinde That she might al things comprehend she knowes wel what to be Hir proper kinde and more perceyues Minde al things plaine doth see And al things ponders prudently that senses to hir brings And wyth celestial trial wayes the true and vertuous things To Lyfe therefore is minde the Sunne the senses Starres doe seeme So some affirme but we make haste and leaue these things to deeme To other men for nye we come to ende of Libra here Bycause the feete of Scorpion signe do playnly now appere My sayings yet do plainly teach the soule Celestiall To be which voyd of body liues and giueth lyfe to all Discerning also euery thing as farre as God giues leaue For al things here of him their force determinde do receyue To him eternal power belongs al things doth he create And makes al things that
hope thereby of gayne to be possest And of the spoyle of such a sort some soules to beare away Unto the dreadfull dongeon darke These wordes he thus did say TheÌ„ whispring something w c theÌ„selues from thence they doe depart And mee they leaue remaining there alone with heauy heart For when Sarracilus had sayde that none on earth was wyse Immediatly a dolefull thought wythin my heart did ryse And thus vnto my selfe I sayde is wysedome euermore In vaine of vs desyrde and praisde and vainely looked for And only delt to saintes aboue Then of necessitie Here in this wretched mortall lyfe all men must foolishe be And laughing stocks pageants fonde vnto the Gods in skye O state in most vnhappy kinde of man in misery O rashe vnbridled wantonnesse of such as parents bee O filthy lust that doth beget the Children that we see What do you now you doe beget hoth fooles and wretches here A boy is borne be mery syrs reioyce and make good chere Fil in your cuppes and daynty dish vpon the table place But sone the childe shal proue a foole or liue in wretched case Or dying sone he shal departe vnto the Ghost belowe O blinded mindes that of the things to come do neuer know We mortal men in wretched things haue oft a great delight These words I muttred in my minde and wrapt in woful plight I went vnto my lodging strayght for sleepe opprest my eyes And made me reele Of wisemans state these wordes shal here suffise Now meete it is thy weried harpe my Muse at rest to lay And for to spare the iarring strings let vs this time go pray The Lord and maker of the world that grace he may vs send The other sygnes that do remayne wyth pleasant song to end For greater things I must declare than yet from me did flowe And sore my simple minde doth feare such Mysteries great to showe My watry signe shal search the partes of nature perfectly And last of al my labour shal set open wyde the Skye Aquarius the eleuenth Booke THe Loue of nature parent chief and great desire of minde The secret causes of al things for to reueale and finde Persuades me now agayne my selfe with Aeon streames to fyl And once agayne to rest on toppes of hye Parnasus hil My Muse draw neere bring thy Harp now neede thy wit to showe It is and of a learned voyce and verse at ful to flowe No smal things here we must declare I purpose now in minde Dame natures face for to disclose about the world to winde And fyrst what hath bene here before what is and what shal be Is called Eus this name contaynes al things of eche degree But of the sortes that God hath framde by power and wisdome hye Some leade their life of body voyd some eyther liuelesse lye Or else do liue in body here Of former state of twayne This Bâ—ke speaks not y e next shal shew in time that doth remayne Now Muse let vs the other shew The farâ—hest partes most high Of al the world wyth ample space encompast is of Skie That whirling round with dayly course doth al things here enclose Fiue Zones deuide it into partes but euery part of those Replenisht with his dwellers is nothing forbyds the same For colde can neueâ— hurt the Gods nor heatâ— can them inflame Such things do best agree wyth earthe the sacred Skies are free From colde congeled quiuering yse and fiers that flaming be Which though it rolle continually yet kepes it styl one place And from the parte where first it stode doth neuer shift his pace For placde betwene two fixed Poles it stedfastly doth stand And is sustaynde betwene them two by Gods almighty hand Whereof the one doth playne appeare to vs continually And doth beholde the Beares aboue that kepe their course so hye The other vnder earth is placde agaynst it fixed wel And in the night is sene to them that vnder vs do dwel This compast globe of al the Skie from East to West deuides As many Spheres in compasse round as there are Zones besydes That which is next vnto the Beare the Articke hath to name And next to him the Circle stands wherein doth Cancer flame Which doth constraine the SuÌ„ne to fal and backward to retire And farther of for to withdrawe his beames of flaming fire Then next in order doth ensewe the Equinoctiall line Which doth declare the dayes nights of equal length and tyme. Not far from thence by Capricorne another line doth runne Which cannot passe but doth retourne from hence to vs the Sunne The circle next that placed is vnto the South so nere Th' Autarticke circle hath to name contrary to our Sphere Beside these lines a circle crookt there stands in Skies so cleare By which y e SuÌ„ne in months twice syx doth passe a perfect yeare An other circle white there is whose course by knees doth trayne Of Gemini by Scorpius taile and by the Tropicks twayne And through the croked path of Sunne by midst of Archers string And passeth by the Centaurs legges and by the Egles wing And both the Carter and the Swanne and Perseus doth it touch And Paralels there are this name giue Greekes to Circles such And day by day the Sunne doth passe a circle of this kinde When as he falles amyd the West and leaues the East behinde Two Colures eke besydes there are the one where Sunne doth stay By Cancer Capricorne and both the Poles doth cut his way The other by the Balance runnes and by the Wethers face This shewes the times wheÌ„ night day are both of equal space Besydes a numbre great there is of sundry circles framde That passe by both the foresayd Poles Meridians rightly namde That ouer vs directly runnes a Circle more doth lye The Horizon calde the world in mydst deuided is thereby And wher our sight doth ceasse it stands thence terme the Greekes it so Besydes the Heauens parted are with many Circles moe And nine there be whereof the hyest that mouer first we call Doth rolling from the farthest Indes with Moores and Spaniards fall Within a day he runnes his race and fiercely doth he twine About with him the other Spheres in whome no Starre doth shine But cleane contrary to the same moue al the Spheres besyde And towards y e streames of Ganges great from Cales in course they slyde Wherof the greatst doth shine w t starrs that voyd of number be And scarcely in an hundred yeares doth moue but one degree And next to this doth Saturne stande aboue the other Spheres Who finisheth his course at full inspace of thirty yeres And next to him stands Iupiter that ende of course doth gayne In yeares twice syx Him Mars ensewes that turns in tweluemonths twayne Next stands the Sunne that as they say his iourney doth contriue Besyde sir houres in space of dayes three hundred sixty fiue Then next in place doth Venus rolle hir whyrling whele
eury man doth not aspire these mysteries to knowe A fewe them finde to whome the LORD aboue doth fauour showe And giues to them his light that they these things may playne beholde In fine there sprites and Angels are as many thousand folde As all the woods contayne in leaues or all the shores in sand Or all the Fishes in the seas or sâ—arres in Skie that stand Yea number none can them containe for since that GOD could frame Them numberlesse he sure so dyd the more to spread his name Especially since that the world doth voyd of li 〈…〉 s lye As is before declared playne and reason strong doth trye But since they voyd of body be and Matter all away Therfore they neuer chaunge in tyme nor age doth them decay No greese they feele nor sleeps nor foode at any time they craue Nor labour knowe but ioyfull youth continually they haue And freedome chiefe no bondage there no seruants in degree Nor none there are that there compels nor none compelled bee One onely Lord they do confesse the King and spring of all Him worship they and him they loue and serue in generall They willingly do him obey and serue in euery thing Reioycing all his laud and prayse and wondrous actes they sing Eche one doth there apply himselfe to please with goodly grace No fighting there no cancred spite nor enuy can haue place Continuall peace there florisheth great loue and concorde great Among them is suspicion none no craft nor false deceat In fine the goodliest parte it is of all the world beside And farre more worthy are the sprites that in this place abyde Than those that in the Skies do dwell and in the Starres do lye For looke as lower euery spheare doth come to earth more nye The meaner sprites it doth conâ—ayne and meaner goods doth giue And so much baser is the same whereby such things as liue Aboue the Skie as they most fayre and good and blessed show So those that in the bowels darke of earth do dwell below Are most ylfauoured vile and yll and there not all in vayne The stinking lakes and soyels of Hell to be did Poets fayne Of Hell where men do after death their paynes for michiefe take And vainely seeke for rest and peace in euer darkned lake But wherfore waste I words in winde and striuing all in vaine Doe seeke vnto such Buzzards blinde the trothe to open plaine So sore the state of mankinde dotes that it will neuer knowe That eyther Gods in Heauen be or sprites in Hell belowe But most men laugh if any man do tell them credibly That after death the soules doe liue and neuer more doe dye Hence springeth it that night and daye they richesse séeke to gaine This is their greatest carke and care their greatest toyle and paine That they in Golde and Jewels maye their neighbours farre excell Golde is the thing that all men seeke in golde their hope doth dwell For thys runnes into raging warres the Captaine stout of minde For thys his Children wyfe and house and countrey left behinde The Marchaunt cutting foming seas in shyp with sayles set out Assayes the blewe and dreadfull gulfes and coastes the worlde about Eche man doth practise craft and thefte this golde to keepe in sight Golde euery man desires and loues golde pleaseth euery wyght Ne feare they any kinde of paynes that after death is due O altogither earthly men else that onely in the viewe FroÌ„ beasts are knoweÌ„ CaÌ„ you nought than golde to knowledge call By which a wyse man from a foole doth differ nought at all Wherewith fonde fortune ill men oft habundantly doth feede Learne you that many things there are that golde doe farre exceede Which vnto fooles and wicked men of God not giuen be These are the vertues Godlinesse iustice and prudencye And wysedome passing farre the rest These goods who doth retaine A mortall God is and the same immortall man agayne That after death shall happy be but he that hath them not And staines himselfe with filthy sinnes when death his shaft hath shot shall headlong into Hell be cast These are not trifles tales or dreames but true and sure they be Yea most assurde beléeue it well you blinde beleeue you me Woe be to you if that you wyll not me herein beleeue For life shall quickly you forsake and then you shall perceyue That I sayd true euen then when as your soules in Hell shall lye You laugh but this your ioy shall chaÌ„ge to teares and greeuous cry The time shall come when many men that now in welthy pride Do beare the sway and scornefully both God and man deride All naked bare in miserie and wretched case shall lye And shall of others ayde require with pyteous wofull crye Wherfore O you that haue delight in good and Godly things Endewed with a better soule whose rootes from heauen springs These earthly Gods that as the cloudes away doe swifely flye Which fortune vnto fooles and knaues doth giue most commonlye And which a fewe yeares ended once doth death take cleane away Regarde not muche nor in such things your heape or treasure laye Seeke you no more than that which is for lyfe sufficient A small thing certes will suffise with little liue content But let your chiefe delight be in the sacred seates on hye Seeke heauenly things w t all your force to this your mindes applye In Heauen are the perfect goods that euermore remaine Which neuer foolishe dolt shall haue nor wicked man obtaine In earth whatsoeuer doth delight are trifles all and toyes Which fooles and beastly people seeke and count as chiefest ioyes For which a thousande hazardes great they rashely vndertake And offring vp their foolishe brestes to death they skirmishe make Of thys they bost the Bytle doth in dong reioyce to lye Things filthy filthy folkes doe loue and villaines villanie Leaue earthly things to earthly minds let swine in durt delight And let your only trauaile be to gaine the heauens bright The goodlyest things doe best become the men of best degree And valiant things most meetest are for them that valiant bee The earth is but a Chery fayre God hath to you assynde The heauens for your countrey swéete your countrey séeke to finde That when from bondes of body thou escaped art and gone And left your fleshe for dogges to féede or wormes to gnawe vpon You there may alwayes happy liue from fleshe vncleane exempt And lame and often weary limmes wherin whylest you were pent Remaining in the vale of teares and in the mortall rayne Both many harmes and sicknesses and griefes you did sustaine For so the earth may called bée which is the stable sure Of all the worlde the mother and the nurse of vice vnpure Wheras the raging Deuill dwels the king of sinfull kinde Wherfore it needefull is that you haue often death in minde And with your selues consider well how nere the dore he standes Still threatning with
his deadly darte in pale and dreadfull handes How suddainely he strikes therewith how oft he doth destroy The lusty youth and takes away our fayre and flowring ioye O fading lyfe that subiect art to thousande casualtyes O to to shorte and doubtfull state that smoke lyke from vs flyes Now this now that man drops away and thou this present day To morrowe I thus at the last we all doe passe away None otherwise than simple shéepe that Butcher hath preparde In folde to kill now these now those with knife he striketh harde To morrowe other the next day moe thus all in time they dye Tyll that by this his slaughters great the folde doth emptye lye This fading lyfe therfore despise which first beginning takes with teares his middest is toyle griefe and death conclusion makes Who wyll delyght in such a lyfe except a foolishe braine Seeke you an other lyfe to haue an other lyfe to gaine Whereas no mourning griefe or paine whereas no death is founde Thus happy state you shall receaue when carcasse comes to grounde You that haue hated sinne and God haue worshipped holylie And haue not put your confidence in things that worldly be But chast vnhurtful milde and true haue liude in pure degree But some perchance y t think how gods doe dwell in Heauens clere wold also learne some wayes or meanes if any such there were By which they might w t them haue talk and see them face to face O what a goodly thing were this and what a wondrous grace Than which no greater thing on earth I think can man obtaine But fewe deserue so great a state and honor for to gaine For many I graunt with diuels talke which easely they entice By humble prayers made to them or meanes of sacrifice Since farre they be not from the earth but in the ayre doe lye And oftentimes beholde and kéepe the people companie Yea vnto many they appere and serue them willingly And with the beautie great of youth enamoured oft they be But Gods that in the heauen dwell the things that mortall be Disdaine to knowe and wicked factes of men abhorre to sée As they that well doe vnderstande how foolishe and how vile Mans nature is how false and bolde and eke how full of guile Despiser and blasphemer of the chiefest maiestie Wherefore to haue the speache of them and see them presentlie Is labour great and seldome had bicause their eares they close To voice of men and turne away their eyes from giftes of those Which after that they be enrichde with séedes that others sowe A portion small of others goodes vpon the Church bestowe Thinking that Heauen may be solde O two legged Asses blinde Thinke you that God is couetous and precious stones doth minde Or hath delight in glittering golde or needes your helpe to haue Doe you suppose that he is such as doth your fauour craue Think you that brybes can him corrupt as many men they doe No sure he is not got with golde nor giftes he looketh to When that he liues in happyest state and blessed on euery syde When his are all that earth contaynes or seas or heauens wyde How can you giue to God the things that his alreadye be Doth not he rather giue to you the things that here you sée Therfore since neither they with giftes nor vowes will moued be A matter very harde it is them presently to see Although the matter be so harde yet wyll we passe the way And what our force in this can doe by proofe we will assaye First needes we must the meanes finde out that God doth best content Who is not moude with noble bloud nor vnto riches bent No king nor Ceysar he respectts nor triumphes doth esteme Ne careth he for such as are most strong and fayrest seeme But these doth vtterly despise nor for the loue of them â—ouchsafes the prayers to beholde or present sight of men Thus must we seeke an other way by which we may obtaine Their speache and presence for to haue perchaunce my verses plaine This way meanes shall bring to light if that the Gods aboue So fayre attempts doe ayde and helpe and wyth their sprite approue The first thing is the clenlinesse of body and of minde By which man well esteemde of God doth loue and fauour finde For all vncleanesse doth he hate and doth abhorre to see So fayre and blessed is his state and of so hye degree Wherfore we must at first take heede that we be perfectly Well purged and pure from filthinee and all iniquitie Unclothed of our garments blacke and clad in comely whites Which colour best with God agrees and black with fiendishe sprites A harde thing is this same I graunt for who doth here remaine That leades his life without a fault and free from blot or staine To euery man hath nature delt some crime or vicious kinde And nothing is on earth so faire but fault therin we finde Yet are there certaine sinnes so small and to such trifling ende That in a manner nought at all the eyes of God offende Wherwith he is not greued much no sores are these nor staynes But as the little freckels that in body fayre remaines Which easely the Lorde forgiues since well perceâ—ueth â—ée How weake and frayle the nature is of such as mortall bee But great haynous crymes doe much offende the mighty state And wicked men he alwayes doth abhorre despyse and hate Nor wyll he once their prayers heare except they clense before And washe away their sinnes w t â—eares and whyte for black restore Requiring pardon for their faults with voice of mourning minde Obtaining once againe the pathes of vertue for to finde And casting of hys canckred skinne as in the pleasant spring The Serpent vseth all his skinne of olde away to â—â—ing who thus renewed departes leaues his slough in stones behinde And casting vp his head aloâ—t with proude and stately minde His breadfull hyssing doubleth oft with tong of triple kinde Thus Gods are pleased thus wheÌ„ as we rightly on them call They shewe themselues and thus to vs theyr prophecies let fall Yet must there one thing more be had vnto this perfect whight A Crymsin colour must be ioynde the beautie then is bright When as a purple redde with white well entermedled lyes What meanes this ruddy colour here sure loue it signifies For loue resembled is to fire which fyre hath reddishe flame And both a colour and an heate procéedeth from the same Therefore it néedefull is beside that we the Gods aboue Doe hartely loue for he that loues deserueth to haue loue For whosoeuer loues the Gods and liueth Christianly Can not be odious vnto them but shall rewarded bee And shall in happy state obtaine whatsoeuer he doth require But who is he that loues the Lorde the man that doth desire In filthy entisements of the fleshe and pleasures for to sleepe Or he that hath a great delight