of Egypt gazing on the starres Are sayd to see the Worlds sad ruines past That had beted by fire and waters iarres And how the World inconstant and vnchast Assaylde by these cannot alike stand fast Earthquakes and warres famine hate and pest Bring perils to the earth and mans vnrest 38. We at the present see Times changing state And Natures fearefull alterations As if Time now did preach the Heauens debate And starres to band in dismall factions Strange signes are seene diuine probations That some effect will follow of admire Too late when come to say it will retire 39. The Sunne and Moone eclipsed ne're so much Comets and strange impressions in the ayre The tydes and swelling flouds were neuer such The earth doth tremble Nature doth impayre Hid'ous monsters now possesse the chayre Where erst dame Natures true begotten seede Sate truely graced in her proper weede 40. Such changes neuer haue beene seene of yore In Countries and in Kingdomes as of late Manners and Lawes and Religions lore Neuer were prized at so meane a rate Such are the changes of this earthes estate It may bee sayd Times wings beginne to frie Now couching low that erst did soare so hie 41. Yea now is proou'd the progresse of the Sunne To differ farre from pristine gredience The Solstices and Equinoxes run As in pretended disobedience The Sunne obserued by Artes diligence Is found in foureteene hundred yeeres to fall Neere twelue Degrees towards the Center ball 42. The Zodiack and all her partes and signes Alter the course that first they were assign'd And all the orbe of Heauen so combines As she vnto her Period inclin'd Time past farre greater then that is behind Doth prooue the Heauens in their greatest Pride Subiect to changes and to waue aside 43. Some eke affirme the earthly Sphere to erre First set the Center of the concaue Spheres Now start aside supposed not to sterre If so the Power that Earth and Heauen steres By it foreshowes the purpose that he beares That all the Creatures that he made so fast Shall by Degrees alter weare and wast 44. Yet all the Changes that succeed below Proceed of Mouing Mouing double is The first and chiefe moues yet not moued so The other mouers mooue by force of this But to moue rightly or to moue amis Without the first high Prouidence diuine They are vnable of their owne incline 45. Guy ded they yeeld such influence of force As notwithstanding alteration They seeme to shew by fatall course remorce To creatures in their generation And by successiue propagation Corrupted things renew grow and decay Vncessantly by natures fatall way 46. The changes which successiuely accrew Vnto the creatures of this lower part And bodies which the Elements endew With habite and which cunning Natures art Contriues with ornaments that in her mars Are had proceede of contraries That in them breede such strange varieties 47. For things compounded of the Elements Partake the like compounded faculties Themselues vnlike in vertue and contents Make all their subiects contraries And mut ' all discord in their offices Producing fruits and in them enmitie Whereby they change by fatall destinie 48. The water thicked doth resemble stone Or earthie matter vaporating ayre The ayre enlightened and her vertue gone Resembles fire the fire extinct comes ayre Ayre thicked and by grosse impayre Gets cloudes and mistie vaporation All haue alternate variation 49. So these that wee call Elements are not But onely like and not indeede the same As each partaketh of the others lot Hath not selfe nature but the fayned ' name Yet is it seene from whence each of them came Like to the thing that each resembles most From these corrupt comes al the earthly host 50. Yet so prepared as the Power aboue Doth first decree to shape the lowest things Discrepant and diuers as it list approue Voyde of all forme Hence formall bodie springs In couert order with concealed wings Nature her selfe flies to and fro vnseene Till things haue life none sees where she hath beene 51. Then viuall each thing wrayes his faculties And what in it hath chiefe Predominance Hot cold drie or moyst meerely contraries All in one body haue like penetrance But farre vnlike in supreme gouernance The chiefe in force subdue the feeble sort And foyle in fine the body they support 52. The Elements repugnant each to each Yet seeme they all each other to imbrace But each on other makes alternate breach As one growes potent th' other in disgrace Their Powers vnequall not their natures base Doth winne or lose and gaines contempt or prayse None seemes a coward weakest giues essayes 53. As when a Sparke that most partakes of Fire Contendes a while as farre as Power permits To dry a Floud Force fayleth not Desire Likewise a Drop contendeth where it hittes To quench a Flame that quenchles is by Wittes Such Feede they foster not of equall Force That which preuayleth yeeldeth no Remorce 54. The Earth a massie Lumpe is lowest set The Water it surrounds and lies diffuz'd Through and about this Orbe as friendly met Yet do they striue as if eche were abuz'd Ballanced they pend mut'ally confuz'd The Fire and Ayre light are surmounted hie Yet ech polluted with his Neighbour by 55. The Fire though highest and in purest place Betweene the Heauens and the ayrie Sphere Seemes not yet hath more then the Ayres disgrace For when she volueth and reuolues arere She comes deformed by her often stere And forced downeward to the ayry cell Fals to the Earth and so her Forces quell 56. The Ayre that swayes the region next to Fire Is in the vpper part most absolute Most thin and pure most like her first inspire Her lowest grosse the middle meane acute She thus vnequall in her tryple sute Stands most corrupted here with vs beneath Corrupting bodies that by her do breath 57. And most inconstant of the rest she fares Most variable in her best estate Turn'd as the Place whereon she lights prepares And as the Starres aspect and haue their Gate So she comes pure or of a grosser rate With Exhallations and with Vapors thicke That rise and fall and in her Lymit sticke 58. Whence grow the Clowdes the Thunder the Windes Hayles Frost and Snowe and Changes manifold Which do afflict the Earth and earthy kinds With Natures striuings oft tweene Hot and Cold. Descent oft forced and Ascent controld Mooues Warres aboue in ayrie firmament Tweene water-clouds and others discontent 59. Then fals the Rayne erst raysed by the Sunne Of watry vapors flying from below Forc'd downe againe like twist arere vnspun And thus the Clowdes by course do come and goe The Ayre now calme forthwith fell winds do blow What more inconstant then the Ayre can be Whereby all Bodies breathe and change we see 60. And if Astrologers aucthority May passe for proofe of th' issue of the winds The Sunne doth rayse the winds cal'd Easterly And Iupiter the Northern in their kinds
The Southern Mars the Moone the Wester bindes Some hold the Zodiacks triplicities To cause in th' windes such strange diuersities 61. From East three signes of nature hot and drie That are subiected to Equator line Then from the Pole Antarctick as they lie Three other signes the Southerne assigne The hot and moyst three other then combine In Occident and in Septentrion The cold and moyst sway as the rest alone 62. These foure are windes accounted principall That haue alternate chiefe preeminence These haue againe foure windes collaterall All eight intire sway with high diligence Eight other halfe windes of lesse efficence Betweene them each an equidistant part All thirtie two which manage Nauticke art 63. These yet inconstant full of change do blow Their natures differ and their properties And alter as the part from whence they grow And place whereon they light hath qualities And moouing thus breede strange diuersities In earth and earthie bodies and the seas Which mou'd no wit nor weapons them appease 64. The water next and most contiguous Vnto the ayre hath like varieties Now calme and quiet now more impetous Wherein the ships and mightie Argosies Flote vnder sayle making the voyages That feede one countrey with anothers fruit Perill makes not the greedie gainer mute 65. Yet in his trafficke is alternate state Now golden gaine is guide vnto his ioy His ioy now alters sorrow in like rate The seas are sullen and the winds beene coy Their often combates coyners of annoy The windes and seas and element of ayre Combining bring stout hearts vnto despayre 66. The waters that the highest Powers haue set In secret celles and vallies of the deepe Suround the earth as if they had no let High powers their rage in limits fast doth keepe Taming the bellowes that do mount so steepe And suffers not the proudest waues to passe Nor to breede perill to the earthie masse 67. The seas a vniuersall powerfull band Linckt in the earth with veynes and concaue springs That serue as barres to enter-locke the land And which throughout a needfull moysture brings Wherewith refresh'd all vegitable things Do yeeld their branches buds and bloome and fruit Selfe earth to drie to decke them so in sute 68. Meere reason may admire to see the seas Raging with waues as if infirnall fire Them boyl'd or furies reft the earth of ease And by and by the tempest to retire Of selfe accord without ilke humane hyre And rest appeased calme in quiet case And as in loue the earth againe imbrace 69. Earth yeelds the seas a seat to rest them on And waters all by nature ponderous Though misty Fogges through exhalation Ascend they fall againe more humidous In droppes or mystes sometimes contagious And fill the brookes and riuers of the land Who hasten soone vnto the marine strand 70. So as the Waters in earths bowels spred And Riuers that do runne as ornaments Vpon th' earths surface are not in her bred But friendly lent the Oceans excrements Rising and falling by swayde accidents Salt from the Seas by th' ayre refresh'd againe To shew what changes earth and seas sustaine 71. The earth the waters doth support and beare The Ocean hath tryple motions From East to West from North to South arere Thirdly the ebbings and the fluctions Sixe houres rising sixe howers digressions So eke the sea term'd Mediterrany And other waters of that faculty 72. The motiue causes who so seekes to know The first that moueth from the East to West The firmament is sayd to moue it so And that the spheres are moued and adrest To volue and reuolue by the higher hest Where by the Waters take their orders gate Not of selfe nature but so destinate 73. The fall from North to South is sayd to bee For that the waters in Septentrion Are full and farre the highest in degree Engendred most in that cold Region In South the sunnes hot exhalation Abates those Seas to which the greater fall By changing courses yet perpetuall 74. The third that maketh ebbes and flowing tydes Hath beene and is the Moones volution Most changing in one state she neuer bides Full halfe full and of bicorned fashion White pale red then cleere then spotted on Sometimes apparent sometime hidden so As none perceiueth where the Moone doth go 75. Sometime shee shineth in the merkish night Sometime she riseth in the brightest day Sometimes eclipsed cleane depriu'd of light Sometimes below sometime in higher way Neuer at one but euer in estray East South and West her course vncertaine seene Artists best know how all her courses beene 76. The Moone thus changing in her mouings make Like changes in the vniuersall seas Whose ebbes and flouds like changes by her take And neither seemeth to haue constant ease No art or force their mouings may appease But as the Powers diuine of yore them set So they keepe course vntill that power do let 77. Till then the Moone moues with the Heauens Sphere Twentie foure howres she takes her turne to runne Two ebbes two flowes in seas she makes appeare Sixe houres shee flowes in sixe her ebbe is done In sixe doth each performe her taske begunne Increast and decreast assignd and kept aright Approue the powers that guide them of great might 78. Yet still vnlike shee doth increase and fall Alternately as time and place assigne Seu'n dayes sh'increasing to her highest wall Seu'n dayes likewise shee doth againe decline Sea-men the first Spring-tydes aptly define The latter or decreasing streames they call Nepe-tides when seas grow to the low of all 79. These tydes againe are of vnequall state That swelling high this lower ayn by farre The next more higher or of lower rate All other tydes haue like alternate Iarre Alwayes afflicted with intestine warre That makes the Mariner to sigh or sing Hurl'd downe or heau'd aloft by Neptunes wing 80. The Moone North-east doth make the sea at full South-east low water Thus the Moone doth guide Not onely humors making sharpe or dull Wittes sences bodyes as some verifide But sea and land as things vnto her tide And as she wauers and oft changeth state So do the things by her thus destinate 81. Oft doe some Riuers and some fountaines drie Oft doth the earth yeeld forth new water-springs Oft doth reuiue what seemed erst to die Oft doubtfull ginning sweetest issue brings Oft greatest comfort growes by grieuous things Nothing the same and as the same abides But God the guide nought standeth firme besides 82. Hee is that essence that beganne of nought Hee is that Moouer of the moouing skies Hee is the concord that true vnion wrought Hee is the meane by whom all destinies Turne to the ends that hee did first deuise Yet are the Heauens and the Earth maintain'd By discord excellent that hee ordain'd 83. Can discord then so much dispraysed bee The meane to keepe things by their contraries Can enmitie haue such equall degree As may make vnion in qualities Hath sad contention
Their stature tall their courage cruell set As heate and moysture their extremes beget 131. Like difference in other things is found In herbes in trees and things inanimate They grow or wither as they like the ground Things of one kind stand not in like estate Too hot or cold too drie or humidate All vegitables doe proue best in land Where ayre is sharpe yet not too sharpe at hand 132. Some plants applaude yet as their nature willes On driest ground some on the moyster steede Some on the vallyes some aloft the hilles Pine trees and Ceders and the Firre agreed To choose high mountaines for their better breed The Oke and Beech the Ashe and Hazell tree In lower land and Forrests best agree 133. The Alder Popler and the Willow loue To liue below where rilles of water runne Each creature seekes by nature best behoue Their will perseuers as it first begunne Art yet may alter and it may be wonne To like the place which was not first assign'd Yet not if nature doe it counterbind 134. For if the Orange and the Lemon trees Be brought from Spaine and set in English soyle They grow perchance their nature yet they leese And he that plants them lendes a fruitlesse toyle As wash a Moore blacke still Art hath the foyle Nature preuaileth maugre industrie In things where Nature will haue dignitie 135. The Vine and Figge tree do refuse to grow In Babylon yet found a fertill land And Indie Occident doth seeme a foe To Oliue trees there planted will not stand But fruitlesse none therefore doth take in hand To sowe or set the kernelles roote none take They loose their labour that doe triall make 136. No place is yet of that sterrilitie But yeeldes a portion and beneuolence To man a subiect who hath soueraigntie Ouer all creatures Natures efficence Begets and leaues them to mans diligence And diligence discreete obtaines the lot Of life and libertie which sloth hath not 137. For gold and siluer lead and tynne lie dead And sundrie precious things in minerals None find the celles wherein these things bee bred But such as diue into the earths entrals Which art and labour find out by trials For Nature giueth men hands feete and eyes To worke to walke to see hearts to deuise 138. Which well is seene among men qualifi'd In sacred gifts learning to liue aright They onely rule they onely rectifi'd Doe onely polish Nature with Arts light Disposing creatures pleasing to the sight As Plants and trees gardens and Orchyards fayre Fraught with fayre fruites in the holsom'st ayre 139. In this doth Europe farre excell the rest Spaine Italy France high low Germany And England Northmost equall with the best The first most famous for sterrillitie The last hath fame for sweete fertillitie They haue the art that nature beautifies And nature giues the rest their dignities 140. Thus prouidence diuine distributes things To men and people and to Nations Peculiar Most bountifull shee brings Vnto them all change of conditions Land lendes to Land such contributions As may supplie each others needfulnesse That land wants most that wants Truths heedfulnesse 141. Yet in the barreynest where truth is not And where true light lends not releeuing rayes There yet haue beene and are some gifts by lot That sauour some as blemish'd of disprayes And some of vertue all grow by essayes Essayes breede vse vse custome custome arts Arts ayding Nature perfit both their parts 142. The parts of Nature yet most absolute Not subiect to the Art for Art shee breedes If shee denie Arts all stand dumbe and mute Art onely growes from Natures working deedes Which first did sowe in Aristotle seedes That grew to branches others brake the same And planted in their braines thence Logicke came 143. Auicen and Gallen and the most of skill That first did find the simples Natures out Were not first helpers but at first did kill Nature gaue wit wit held the thing in doubt Doubt then made proofe proofe brought the thing about And found the hearbs fit Physick for vnsound Phisicke minerals Paracelsus found 144. Geometrie the mother of all Arts Was not at first found by a former Art Nature did first deliniate those parts That Wits and Willes might come vnto her mart And buy by practise to adorne the heart The principles of Art as Archimedes did Archytas too and other to some hid 145. Art in Astrologie grew by degree The Babylonians excel'd therein Imperfect first til Nature gaue to see Anaximandes did the art begin Since many famous in the same haue bin But if high Nature doe forbid the skill None comes to Art vsing what meanes he will 146. Yet some by nature haue such apt incline To this or that as holpen by Arts light Doe see the secrets of that Art for signe To which if they attribute meanest might They soone attaine when others not so dight May striue and struggle to atchieue the same But yet in vaine Nature not will to blame 147. To some yet are some common faculties And people of some lands haue priuate skill In some peculiar trades and mysteries Which doe preuaile by Nature more then will As if the soyle did learne them what they nill But there it seemes Nature and vse agrees And willing minds seldome their labour leese 148. The Scithians did will and vse to ride They grew so excellent they gained fame Their horses and good horsemanship their pride By Bowes the Parths and Medes gat greatest name And English Archers famous for the same But now of late by course they leaue the thing That got them fame and glorie to their King 149. The Irishmen strong and robustious Vse for offensiue weapons armed darts Their armes are actiue bodies valerous Casting by force assisted by their arts No people equalize them in these parts Their natures and their educations one Makes them most famous in these arts alone 150. Although of yore the Sarmates and the Getes Cretens Armaspi and the Perses were Admired most excelling in these fetes Th'Irish soyles most dreadfull darters rere Who in the skirmish skip them here and there Ouer the bogges that tremble as they runne The bullet vnborne darts and arrowes wonne 151. But men their maners and their properties Doe alter so that all things alter too Subiect to them and to their faculties As time doth men so men inuention woo And things do follow as the founders doo Man onely erreth from right reasons way Fed by fond fancie guide vnto estray 152. Who doth not see the state of sickle man His changing courses and his diuers turnes Tweene aged yeeres and time he first began How time his termes from time to time adiurnes Time tries him still to triumph him he wurnes And will not let him glorie long in blisse In this short progresse where no glorie is 153. Before his birth hee lies as in a caue Inclos'd with gore an vgly shape hee beares Then by degrees hee gins some forme to haue And represents what after hee appeares A humane body then hee comes with teares From cell of darkenesse and partakes the light A silly creature and of silly might 154. Then hee forthwith liues and forthwith he dies Though liuing long hee lingers and decayes From youth to age hee pining mortifies Although hee seeme to glorie in his dayes His day to die comes stealing though it stayes And when he seemeth to haue constant state A change chops in of more inconstant rate 155. Man neuer standeth but like wauing tyde That comes and goes now calme then full of ire Now sings he sweete all sorrowes layd aside Then groweth griefe welcome to no desire Heau'd vp hurl'd downe dismay'd or in aspire Grac'd now then in disdaine now in the sunne Of sweetest fauour then eclips'd vndonne 156. Th' inconstant state of man inconstant mooues My constant Muse to mourne and pause a while Sad and in silence as my state approoues Beset with sorrowes comforts in exile Fed with imperfect promise wounding smile Reft of releefe the worlds change I sing This first approou'd a second part I bring 157. Wherein the changes of mans glorie seene Of Cities Kingdomes tongues and Nations Shall well approoue Time strong a checklesse Queene Yeeldes not to idle allegations That fruitlesse fancie frames for fashions To colour sinne and gloze fond vanitie With fayned habite of sweete pietie FINIS * The Rinoceros a beast whose parts are all Phisicall
Elements distributed As may be thought in true proportion And bodies feele them not distempered Fit lineaments and due coniunction There will in fine be yet confusion For what so is compact of contraries By combates fall to mortall maladyes 108. Then is it seene that earth and earthly things Conserued long by Heauens influence And Elements the foure pretended kings That keepe all creatures in obedience Although they haue most due ingredience Their discord seeming most sweete concordance In fine they perish by distemperance 109. Now let vs see the earth and all her parts Her places and her strange diuersities And how the Heauens aspects are found by arts To worke in men and things antipathyes Or by consent of Clymats simpathies How plants and fruites how birds and fishes fare That all throughout this orbe dispersed are 110. The Heauens and earth diuided by the Zones Appeare to haue fiue fit partitions Two cold one hote and two temperate ones Some seeke to proue by strong assertions The cold and hote of these diuisions Were not nor may at all bee habited Two onely are that are well tempered 111. The Zones they say beneath the poles are cold And so exceede in that extreame they kill The creatures that in them doe couet hold The middle Zone neath Equinoxe as ill That burnes the creatures subiect to her will And onely two that lie on either side Do foster men and creatures vndenide 112. Yet is it found by due experience That all haue people and commodious things And Natures might and sweete beneficence So swayes the Clymats and such issue brings Vnto this orbe of earth and earthly things As all her parts and limits are beset With men and fruite that Nature daignes to get 113. Yea in the North vnder the coldest clime Dwell sundrie people and great Nations Long since and some found in this latter time Diuers in tongues and habitations In Lawes Religions and in fashions And though the cold ingender Ice and Snow Men trauaile traffick plant warre ayre and sow 114. As they that dwell in Lythuania Lyuonia Sweden and Estoteland Perima Condora Noua Zembla In Norway Muscouia and Finland In Iseland Freysland and in Lappen-land These and farre more lie in Septentrion Though a distempered and cold Region 115. Yet when the Sunne brings to them wished light And thawes the waters erst congeal'd with cold Then doth retire their long and wearie night And fruits and plants and trees them then vnfold And make the earth more sweeter to behold And men that erst in couert caues did dwell Like winter sleepers rouze them from their cell 116. For as all Regions are found to lie On th' one or th'otherside th' equator line Their distance farre or their propinquitie Doe shew how much or little they decline Which doth the length of nights and dayes define And as the Sunne comes neere the dayes doe grow And as shee passeth from the nights doe so 117. The limites that do bound the world about Are South and North East and West opposited The first two firme and stable seeme throughout Two last moue as Sunne comes low or hight'ned In the Zodiacke and signes obliqued Which makes the East and West to alter so Some hold as Sunne is seene to come and go 118. And though the countreyes in extremities Of hot and cold seeme much distempered They yeeld of precious things varieties Wherewith all other parts are plenished For Nature sweetely hath distributed Her friendly fruites to all that all may see That good and great and full of fruites is she 119. She hath ordain'd the Indies of the East With Pearle of price with stoâ—â—es of highest deeme The Emerald the Ruby and the rest Which potent Princes hold in such esteeme As in respect the purest gold doth seeme More base then these yet these more base then it Tride by the Test the Quintessence of Wit 120. Thence comes the Elephant a beast of might Of maiestie and humane courtesie And the Rinoceros with vertues dight Whose bloud bones flesh and skin haue secrecie As Phisicke rules hold most salutarie There is also the loftie Palme a tree That beares a fruit whereof good wine may bee 121. And thence the silke high Honours ornament Or rather Sirick comes from Sirrick steede In great esteeme yet but wormes excrement That liues and dyes and dying leaues a seede That dieth not but of it other breede High Peeres beholden to this silly beast Deck them with that which it esteemeth least 122. Arabia South not of lesse consequence Yeeldes forth her talent sable Ibony Finest Cottons Mirrhe and sweetest incense And Iewrie which of yore had dignitie Affords the loftie Cedar and sweete Balsamy So much imbraced for her vertues might In healing hurts of wounded men in fight 123. Moluccaes in the farthest part of West Yeelds Pepper Cloues Mace Cinamon and spice Ginger Nutmegs and Phisick drugs the best Yea from the South comes many things of price Else where are found by nauticke arts deuice Sweete Ciuet and the finest Cassia That Marchants bring from Aethiopia 124. In Callicute the ayre most temperate The countrey neuer touch'd with pest All trees and plants are still in greene estate Yeelding each month new fruites then in request Fayre sweete and pleasant diuers yet in test Which eke doe differ from all other frutes In colour forme and in their diuers sutes 125. In Syria where stood fayre Paradise As antique writers doe the place assigne About Damascus Natures benedice Appeares in corne in flesh in fruit in wine Quinces Pomegranets and fruits of that line Oliues and Almonds and the fragrant Rose Sing sundrie prayses by their sweete disclose 126. But contrarie this blessing is deni'de To many people fell and barbarous To them that in Tartara abide And in Arabia robustious That follow cattel liuing beastious Moouing by troupes feeding on milke and grasse Seldome returning as they erst did passe 127. But in the countreyes of Ciuilitie Where Lawes do leade and where Religion guides The people there liue well and decently And plant and sow reape and what besides May yeeld supplie fit for all wants and tydes These changing courses shew dame Nature may Giue or depriue none countermaundes her way 128. Her vertues streames and bountie richly flow From parts and Clymates best etempered Where ayre and waters holsomely bestow Health and fertilitie things gloried Of men and beasts that bee well qualified In vigor colour and complection But in extreames ill constitution 129. The Ethiopians neere to the sunne With parching beames that on them doe reflect Their colours blacke some tawnie some are dunne The head and beard are frisled of that sect Their bodies drier by the same effect Sharp witted fierce sterne and of warlike minds And differ much from them of colder kindes 130. The people in Septentrionall parts In countries cold and Icie regiments Haue softer skinne and white yet brutish hearts For these extreames breede seele good rudiments Yet in them both natures habiliments