Selected quad for the lemma: reason_n
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A12774
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Complaints Containing sundrie small poemes of the worlds vanitie. VVhereof the next page maketh mention. By Ed. Sp.
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Spenser, Edmund, 1552?-1599.
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1591
(1591)
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STC 23078; ESTC S111266
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76,727
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184
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are Vnto this point we will appease our iarre And I with reason meete will rest content That ye shall haue both crowne and gouernment Vpon condition that ye ruled bee In all affaires and counselled by mee And that ye let none other euer drawe Your minde from me but keepe this as a lawe And herevpon an oath vnto me plight The Ape was glad to end the strife so light And thereto swore for who would not oft sweareâ— And oft vnsweare a Diademe to beare Then freely vp those royall spoyles he tooke Yet at thâ— Lyons skin he â—â—ly quooke But it dissembled and vpon his head The Crowne and on his backe the skin he did And the false Foxe him helped to array Then when he was all dight he tooke his way Into the forest that he might be seene Of the wilde beasts in his new glory sheene There the two first whome he encountred were The Sheepe and th'Asse who striken both with feare At sight of him gan fast away to flye But vnto them the Foxe alowd did cry And in the Kings name bad them both to stay Vpon the payne that thereof follow may Hardly naythles were they restrayned so Till that the Foxe forth toward them did goe And there disswaded them from needlesse feare For that the King did fauour to them beare And therefore dreadles bad them come to Corte For no wild beasts should do them any torte There or abroad ne would his maiestye Vse them but well with gracious clemencye As whome he knew to him both fast and trueâ— So he perswaded them with homage due Themselues to humble to the Ape prostrate Who gently to them bowing in his gate Receyued them wiâ—h chearefull entertayne Thenceforth proceeding with his princely trayne He shortly met the Tygre and the Bore Which with the simple Camell raged sore In bitter words seeking to take occasion Vpon his fleshly corpse to make inuasion But soone as they this mock-King did espy Their troublous strife they stinted by and by Thinking indeed that it the Lyon was He then to proue whether his powre would pas As currant sent the Foxe to them streight way Commaunding them their cauâ—e of sâ—rife bewray And if that wrong on eyther side there were That he should warne the wronger to appeare The morrow next at Court it â—o defend In the meane time vpon the King t' attend The subtile Foxe so well his message sayd That the proud beasts him readily obayd Whereby the Ape in wondrous stomack woxe Strongly encorag'd by the crafty Foxe That King indeed himselfe he shortly thought And all the Beasts him feared as they ought And followed vnto his palaice hye Where taking Couge each one by and by Departed to his home in dreadfull awe Full of the feared sight which late they sawe The Ape thus seized of the Regall throne Eftsones by counsell of the Foxe alone Gan to prouide for all things in assurance That so his rule might lenger haue endurance First to his Gate he pointed a strong gard That none might enter but with issue hard Then for the safegard of his personage He did appoint a warlike equipage Of forreine beasts not in the forest bred But part by land and part by water fed For tyrannie is with strange ayde supported Then vnto him all monstrous beasts resorted Bred of two kindes as Griffons Minotaures Crocodiles Dragons Beauers and Centaures With those himselfe he strengthned mightelie That feare he neede no force of enemie Then gan he rule and tyrannize at will Like as the Foxe did guide his graceles skill And all wylde beasts made vassals of his pleasures And with their spoyles enlarg'd his priuate treasures No care of iustice nor no rule of reason No temperance nor no regard of season Did thenceforth euer enter in his minde But crueltie the signe of currish kinde And sdeignfull pride and wilfull arrogaunce Such followes those whom fortune doth aduaunce But the false Foxe most kindly plaid his part For whatsoeuer mother wit or arte Could worke he put in proofe no practise slie No counterpoint of cunning policie No reach no breach that might him profit bring But he the same did to his purpose wring Nought suffered he the Ape to giue or graunt But through his hand must passe the Fâ—aunt All offices all leases by him lept And of them all whatso he likte he kept Iustice he solde iniustice for to buy And for to purchase for his progeny Ill might it prosper that ill gotten was But so he got it little did he pas He fed his cubs with fat of all the soyle And with the sweete of others sweating toyle He crammed them with crumbs of Benefices And fild their mouthes with meeds of malefices He cloathed them with all colours saue white And loded them with lordships and wiâ—h might So much as they were able well to beare That with the weight their backs nigh broken were He chaffred Chayres in which Churchmen were set And breach of lawes to priuie ferme did let No statute so established might bee Nor ordinaunce so needfull but that hee Would violate though not with violence Yet vnder colour of the confidence The which the Ape reposd ' in him alone And reckned him the kingdomes corner stone And euer when he ought would bring to pas His long experience the platforme was And when he ought not pleasing would put by The cloke was care of thrift and husbandry For to encrease the common treasures store But his owne treasure he encreased more And lifted vp his loftie towres thereby That they began to threat the neighbour sky The whiles the Princes pallaces fell fast To ruine â—or what thing can euer last And whilest the other Peeres for pouertie Were forst their auncient houses to let lie And their olde Castles to the ground to fall Which their forefathers famous ouer all Had founded for the Kingdomes ornament And for their memories long moniment But he no count made of Nobilitie Nor the wilde beasts whom armes did glorifie The Realmes chiefe strength girloÌ„d of the crowne All these through fained crimes he thrust adowne Or made them dwell in darknes of disgrace For none but whom he list might come in place Of men of armes he had but small regard But kept them lowe and streigned verie hard For men of learning little he esteemed His wisedome he aboue their learning deemed As for the rascall Commons least he cared For not so common was his bountie shared Let God said he if please care for the manie I for my selfe must care before els anie So did he goâ—d to noâ—e to maniâ— ill So did he all the kingdome rob and pill Yet none durst speake ne none durst of him plaine So great he was in grace and rich through gaine Ne would he anie let to haue accesse Vnto the Prince but by his owne addresse For all that els did come were sure â—o faile Yet would he further none but for auaile For on a time the
vnto all doth yeeld due curtesie But not with kissed hand belowe the knee As that same Apish crue is wont to doo For he disdaines himselfe t' embase theretooâ— He hates â—owle leasings and vile flatterie Two filthie blots in noble Gentrie And lothefull idlenes he doth deâ—est The canker worme of euerie gentle brest The which to banish with faire exerciâ—e Of knightly feates he daylie doth dâ—uise Now menaging the mouthes of stubborne steedes Now practising the proofe of warlike deedes Now his bright armes assaying now his speare Now the nigh aymed ring away to beare At other times he casts to sew the chace Of swift wilde beasts or runne on foote a race T' enlarge his breath large breath in armes most needfull Or els by wrestling to wex strong and heedfull Or his stiffe armes to stretch with Eughen bowe And manly legs still passing too and fro Without a gowned beast him fast beside A vaine ensample of the Persian pride Who after he had wonne th' Assyrian foe Did euer after scorne on foote to goe Thus when this Couâ—tly Gentleman with toyle Himselfe hath wearied he doth recoyle Vnto his rest and there with sweete delight Of Musicks skill reuiues his toyled spright Or els with Loues and Ladies gentle sports The ioy of youth himselfe he recomforts Or lastly when the bodie list to pause His minde vnto the Muses he withdrawes Sweete Ladie Muses Ladies of delight Delights of life and ornaments of light With whom he close confers with wise discourse Of Natures workes of heauens continuall course Of forreine lands of people different Of kingdomes change of diuers gouernment Of dreadfull battailes of renowmed Knights With which he kindleth his ambitious sprights To like desire and praise of noble fame The onely vpshot whereto he doth ayme For all his minde on honour fixed is To which he leuels all his purposis And in his Princes â—eruice spends his dayes Not so much for to gaine or for to raise Himselfe to high degree as for his grace And in his liking to winne worthie place Through due deserts and comely carriage In whatso please employ his personage That may be matter meete to gaine him praise For he is fit to vse in all assayes Whether for Armes and warlike amenaunce Or else for wise and ciuill gouernaunce For he is practiz'd well in policie And thereto doth his Courting moâ—t applie To learne the enterdeale of Princes strange To marke th' intent of Counsells and the change Of states and eke of priuate men somewhile Supplaâ—ted by fine falshood and faire guile Of all the which he gathereth what is fit T' enrich the storehouse of his powerfull wit Which through wise speaches and graue conference He daylie eekes and brings to excellence Such is the rightfull Courtier in his kinde But vnto such the Ape lent not his minde Such were for him no fit companions Such would descrie his lewd conditions But the yong lustie gallants he did chose To follow meete to whom he might disclose His witlesse pleasance and ill pleasing vaine A thousand wayes he them could entertaine With all the thriftles games that may be found With mumming and with masking all around With dice with cards with balliards farre vnfit With shuttelcocks misseeming manlie wit With courtizans and costly riotize Whereof still somewhat to his share did rize Ne them to pleasure would he sometimes scorne A Pandares coaâ—e so basely was he borne Thereto he could fine louing verâ—es frame And play the Poet oft But ah for shame Let not sweete Poets praise whose onely pride Is vertue to aduaunce and vice deride Be with the worke of losels wit defamed Ne let such verses Poetrie be named Yet he the name on him would rashly take Maugre the sacred Muses and it make A seruant to the vile affection Of such as he depended most vpon And with the sâ—grie sweete therâ—of allure Chast Ladies eares to fantasies impure To such delights the noble wits he led Which him relieu'd and their vaine humours fed With fruitles follies and vnsound delights But if perhaps into their noble sprights Desire of honor or braue thought of armes Did euer creepe then with his wicked charmes And strong conceipts he would it driue away Ne suffer it to house there halfe a day And whenso loue of letters did inspire Their gentle wits and kindly wise desire That chieslie doth each noble minde adorne Then he would scoffe at learning and eke scorne The Sectaries thereof as people base And simple men which neuer came in place Of worlds affaires but in darke corners mewd Muttred of matters as their bookes them shewd Ne other knowledge euer did attaine But with their gownes their grauitie maintaine From them he would his impudent lewde speach Against Gods holie Ministers oft reach And mocke Diuines and their proâ—ession What else then did he by progression But mocke high God himselfe whom they professe But what car'd he for God or godlinesse All his care was himselfe how to aduaunce And to vphold his courtly countenaunce By all the cunning meanes he could deuise Were it by honest wayes or otherwise He made small choyce yet sure his honestie Got him small gaines but shameles flatterie And filthie brocage and vnseemly shifts And borowe base and some good Ladies gifts But the best helpe which chiefly him sustain'd Was his man Raynolds purchase which he gain'd For he was school'd by kinde in all the skill Of close conueyance and each practise ill Of coosinage and cleanly knauerie Which oft maintain'd his masters brauerie Besides he vsde another slipprie slight In taking on himselfe in common sight False personages fit for euerie sted With which he thousands cleanly coosined Now like a Merchant Merchants to deceaue With whom his credite he did often leaue In gage for his gay Masters hopelesse dett Now like a Lawyer when he land would lett Or sell fee-simples in his Masters name Which he had neuer nor ought like the sameâ— Then would he be a Broker and draw in Both wares and money by exchange to win Then would he seeme a Farmer that would sell Bargaines of woods which he did lately fell Or corne or cattle or such other ware Thereby to coosin men not well aware Of all the which there came a secret fee To th'Ape that he his countenaunce might bee Besides all this he vsd ' oft to beguile Poore suters that in Court did haunt some while For he would learne their busines secretly And then informe his Master hastely That he by meanes might cast them to preuent And beg the sute the which the other ment Or otherwise false Reynold would abuse The simple Suter and wish him to chuse His Master being one of great regard In Court to compas anie sute not hard In case his paines were recompenst with reasonâ— So would he worke the silly man by treason To buy his Masters friuolous good will That had not power to doo him good or ill So pitifull a thing is Suters state