chalenge for her meed If vnder heauen anie endurance were These moniments which not in paper writ But in Porphyre and Marble doo appeare Might well haue hop'd to haue obtained it Nath'les my Lute whom Phoebus deignd to giue Cease not to sound these olde antiquities For if that time doo let thy glorie liue Well maist thou boast how euer base thou bee That thou art first which of thy Nation song Th' olde honour of the people gowned long L'Envoy Bellay first garland of free Poësie That France brought forth though fruitfull of braue wits Well worthie thou of immortalitie That long hast traueld by thy learned writs Olde Rome out of her ashes to reuiue And giue a second life to dead decayes Needes must he all eternitie suruiue That can to other giue eternall dayes Thy dayes therefore are endles and thy prayse Excelling all that euer went before And after thee gins Bartas hie to rayse His heauenly Muse th' Almightie to adore Liue happie spirits th' honour of your name And fill the world with neuer dying fame FINIS MVIOPOTMOS Or The Fate of the Butterflie By ED. SP. Dedicated to the most faire and vertuous Ladie the Ladie Carey LONDON Imprinted for VVilliam Ponsonbie dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Bishops head 1590. To the right worthy and vertuous Ladie the La Carey MOst braue and bountifull La for so excellent fauours as I haue receiued at your sweet handes to offer these fewe leaues as in recompence should be as to offer flowers to the Gods for their diuine benefites Therefore I haue determined to giue my selfe wholy to you as quite abandoned from my selfe and absolutely vowed to your seruices which in all right is euer held for full recompence of debt or damage to haue the person yeelded My person I wot wel how little worth it is But the faithfull minde humble zeale which I beare vnto your La may perhaps be more of price as may please you to account and vse the poore seruice thereof which taketh glory to aduance your excellent partes and noble vertues and to spend it selfe in honouring you not so much for your great bounty to my self which yet may not be vnminded nor for name or kindreds sake by you vouchsafed beeing also regardable as for that honorable name which yee haue by your braue deserts purchast to your self spred in the mouths of al mē vvith vvhich I haue also presumed to grace my verses vnder your name to cōmend to the vvorld this smal Poëme the vvhich beseeching your La to take in vvorth and of all things therein according to your vvonted graciousnes to make a milde construction I humbly pray for your happines Your La euer humbly E. S. Muiopotmos or The Fate of the Butterflie I Sing of deadly dolorous debate Stir'd vp through wrathfull Nemesis despight Betwixt two mightie ones of great estate Drawne into armes and proofe of mortall fight Through prowd ambition and hartswelling hate Whilest neither could the others greater might And sdeignfull scorne endure that from small iarre Their wraths at length broke into open warre The roote whereof and tragicall effect Vouchsafe O thou the mournfulst Muse of nyne That wontst the tragick stage for to direct In funerall complaints and waylfull tyne Reueale to me and all the meanes detect Through which sad Clarion did at last declyne To lowest wretchednes And is there then Such rancour in the harts of mightie men Of all the race of siluer-winged Flies Which doo possesse the Empire of the aire Betwixt the centred earth and azure skies Was none more fauourable nor more faire Whilst heauen did fauour his felicities Then Clarion the eldest sonne and haire Of Muscaroll and in his fathers sight Of all aliue did seeme the fairest wight With fruitfull hope his aged breast he fed Of future good which his yong toward yeares Full of braue courage and bold hardyhed Aboue th'ensample of his equall peares Did largely promise and to him forered Whilst oft his heart did melt in tender teares That he in time would sure proue such an one As should be worthie of his fathers throne The fresh yong flie in whom the kindly fire Of lustfull yonght began to kindle fast Did much disdaine to subiect his desire To loathsome sloth or houres in ease to wast But ioy'd to range abroad in fresh attire Through the wide compas of the ayrie coast And with vnwearied wings each part t' inquire Of the wide rule of his renowmed sire For he so swift and nimble was of flight That from this lower tract he dar'd to stie Vp to the clowdes and thence with pineons light To mount aloft vnto the Christall skie To vew the workmanship of heauens hight Whence downe descending he along would flie Vpon the streaming riuers sport to finde And oft would dare to tempt the troublous winde So on a Summers day when season milde With gentle calme the world had quieted And high in heauen Hyperions fierie childe Ascending did his beames abroad dispred Whiles all the heauens on lower creatures smilde Yong Clarion with vauntfull lustie head After his guize did cast abroad to fare And theretoo gan his furnitures prepare His breastplate first that was of substance pure Before his noble heart he firmely bound That mought his life from yron death assure And ward his gentle corpes from cruell wound For it by arte was framed to endure The bit of balefull steele and bitter stownd No lesse than that which Vulcane made to sheild Achilles life from fate of Troyan field And then about his shoulders broad he threw An hairie hide of some wilde beast whom hee In saluage forrest by aduenture slew And rest the spoyle his ornament to bee Which spredding all his backe with dreadfull vew Made all that him so horrible did see Thinke him Alcides with the Lyons skin When the Naemean Conquest he did win Vpon his head his glistering Burganet The which was wrought by wonderous deuice And curiously engrauen he did set The mettall was of rare and passing price Not Bilbo steele nor brasse from Corinth fet Nor costly Oricalche from strange Phoenice But such as could both Phoebus arrowes ward And th'hayling darts of heauen beating hard Therein two deadly weapons fixt he bore Strongly outlaunced towards either side Like two sharpe speares his enemies to gore Like as a warlike Brigandine applyde To fight layes forth her threatfull pikes afore The engines which in them sad death doo hyde◠So did this flie outstretch his fearefull hornes Yet so as him their terrour more adornes Lastly his shinie wings as siluer bright Painted with thousand colours passing farre All Painters skill he did about him dight Not halfe so manie sundrie colours arre In Iris bowe ne heauen doth shine so bright Distinguished with manie a twinckling starre Nor Iunoes Bird in her ey-spotted traine So manie goodly colours doth containe Ne may it be withouten perill spoken The Archer God the sonne of Cytheree That ioyes
Praise who so list yet I will him dispraise Vntill he quite him of this guiltie blame Wake shepheards boy at length awake for shame And who so els did goodnes by him gaine And who so els his bounteous minde did trie Whether he shepheard be or shepheards swaine For manie did which doo it now denie Awake and to his Song a part applie And I the whilest you mourne for his decease Will with my mourning plaints your plaint increase He dyde and after him his brother dyde His brother Prince his brother noble Peere That whilste he liued was of none enuyde And dead is now as liuing counted deare Deare vnto all that true affection beare But vnto thee most deare ô dearest Dame His noble Spouse and Paragon of fame He whilest he liued happie was through thee And being dead is happie now much more Liuing that lincked chaunst with thee to bee And dead because him dead thou dost adore As liuing and thy lost deare loue deplore So whilst that thou faire flower of chastitie Dost liue by thee thy Lord shall neuer die Thy Lord shall neuer die the whiles this verse Shall liue and surely it shall liue for euer For euer it shall liue and shall rehearse His worthie praise and vertues dying neuer Though death his soule doo from his bodie seuer And thou thy selfe herein shalt also liue Such grace the heauens doo to my verses giue Ne shall his sister ne thy father die Thy father that good Earle of rare renowne And noble Patrone of weake pouertie Whose great good deeds in countrey and in towne Haue purchast him in heauen an happie crowne Where he now liueth in eteâ—nâ—ll blis And left his sonne â—'ensue those steps of his He noble bud his Grandsires liuelie hayre Vnder the shadow of thy countenaunce Now ginnes to shoote vp fast and flourish fayre In learned artes and goodlie gouernaunce That him to highest honour shall aduaunce Braue Impe of Bedford grow apace in bountie And count of wisedome more than of thy Countie Ne may I let thy husbands sister die That goodly Ladie sith she eke did spring Out of this stocke and famous familie Whose praises I to future age doo sing And foorth out of her happie womb did bring The sacred brood of learning and all honour In whom the heauens powrde all their gifts vpon her Most gentle spirite breathed from aboue Out of the bosome of the makers blis In whom all bountie and all vertuous loue Appeared in their natiue propertis And did enrich that noble breast of his With treasure passing all this worldes worth Worthie of heauen it selfe which brought it forth His blessed spirite full of power diuine And influence of all celestiall grace Loathing this sinfull earth and earthlie slime Fled backe too soone vnto his natiue place Too soone for all that did his loue embrace Too soone for all this wretched world whom he Robd of all right and true nobilitie Yet ere his happie soule to heauen wâ—nt Out of this fleshlie goale he did deuise Vnto his heauenlie maker to present His bodie as a spotles sacrifise And chose that guiltie hands of enemies Should powre forth th' offring of his guiltles blood So life exchanging for his countries good O noble spirite liue there euer blessed The worlds late wonder and the heauens new ioy Liue euer there and leaue me here distressed With mortall cares and cumbrous worlds anoy But where thou dost that happines enioy Bid me ô bid me quicklie come to thee That happie there I maie thee alwaies see Yet whilest the fates affoord me vitall breath I will it spend in speaking of thy praise And sing to thee vntill that timelie death By heauens doome doo ende my earthlie daies Thereto doo thou my humble spirite raise And into me that sacred breath inspire Which thou there breathest perfect and entire Then will I sing but who can better sing Than thine owne sister peerles Ladie bright Which to thee sings with deep harts sorrowingâ— Sorrowing tempered with deare delight That her to heare I feele my feeble spright Robbed of sense and rauished with ioy O sad ioy made of mourning and anoy Yet will I sing but who can better sing Than thou thy selfe thine owne selfes valiance That whilest thou liuedst madest the forrests ring And fields resownd and flockes to leap and daunce And shepheards leaue their lambs vnto mischaunce To runne thy shrill Arcadian Pipe to heare O happie were those dayes thrice happie were But now more happie thou and wetched wee Which want the wonted sweetnes of thy voice Whiles thou now in Elisian fields so free With Orpheus and with Linus and the choice Of all that euer did in rimes reioyce Conuerâ—est and doost heare their heauenlie layes And they heare thine and thine doo better praise So there thou liuest singing euermore And here thou liuest being euer song Of vs which liuing loued thee afore And now thee worship mongst that blessed throng Of heauenlie Poets and Heroes strong So thou both here and there immortall art And euerie where through excellent desart But such as neither of themselues can sing Nor yet are sung of others for reward Die in obscure obliuion as the thing Which neuer was ne euer with regard Their names shall of the later age bâ— heard But shall in rustie darknes euer lie Vnles they mentiond be with infamie What booteth it to haue been rich aliue What to be great what to be gracious When after death no token doth suruiue Of former being in this mortall hous But sleepes in dust dead and inglorious Like beast whose breath but in his nostrels is And hath no hope of happinesse or blis How manie great ones may remembred be Which in their daies most famouslie did florish Of whome no word we heare nor signe now see But as things wipt out with a sponge to perishe Because they liuing cared not to cherishe No gentle wits through pride or couertize Which might their names for euer memorize Prouide therefore ye Princes whilst ye liue That of the Muses ye may friended bee Which vnto men eternitie do giue For they be daughters of Dame memorie And Ioue the father of eternitie And do those men in golden thrones repose Whose merits they to glorifie do chose The seuen fold yron gates of grislie Hell And horrid house of sad Proserpina They able are with power of mightie spell To breake and thence the soules to bring awaie Out of dread darkenesse to eternall day And them immortall make which els would die In soule forgetfulnesse and nameles lie So whilome raised they the puissant brood Of golden gâ—rt Alâ—mena for great merite Out of the dust to which the Oetaean wood Had him consum'd and spent his vitall spirite To highest heauen where now he doth inheritâ— All happinesse in Hebes siluer bowre Chosen to be her dearest Paramoure So raisde they eke faire Ledaes warlick twinnes And interchanged life vnto them lent That when th' one dies th' other then beginnes
To shew in Heauen his brightnes orientâ— And they for pittie of the sad wayment Which Orpheus for Eurydice did make Her back againe to life sent for his sake So happie are they and so fortunate Whom the Pierian sacred sisters loue That freed from bands of impacable fate And power of death they liue for aye aboue Where mortall wreakes their blis may not remoue But with the Gods for former vertues meede On Nectar and Ambrosia do feede For deeds doe die how euer noblie donne And thoughts of men do as themselues decay But wise wordes taught in numbers for to runne Recorded by the Muses liue for ay Ne may with storming showers be washt away Ne bitter breathing windes with harmfull blast Nor age nor enuie shall them euer wast In vaine doo earthly Princes then in vaine Seeke with Pyramides to heauen aspired Or huge Colosses built with costlie paine Or brasen Pillours neuer to be fired Or Shrines made of the mettall most desired To make their memories for euer liue For how can mortall immortalitie giue Such one Mansolus made the worlds great wonder But now no remnant doth thereof remaine Such one Marcellus but was torne with thunder Such one Lisippus but is worne with raine Such one King Edmond but was rent for gaine All such vaine moniments of earthlie masse Deuour'd of Time in time to nought doo passe But fame with golden wings aloft doth flie Aboue the reach of ruinous decay And with braue plumes doth beate the azure skie Admir'd of base-borne men from farre away Then who so will with vertuous deeds assay To mount to heauen on Pegasus must ride And with sweete Poets verse be glorifide For not to haue been dipt in Lethe lake Could saue the sonne of Thetis from to die But that blinde bard did him immortall make With verses dipt in deaw of Castalie Which made the Easterne Conquerour to crie O fortunate yong-man whose vertue found So braue a Trompe thy noble acts to sound Therefore in this halfe happie I doo read Good Melibae that hath a Poet got To sing his liuing praises being dead Deseruiug neuer here to be forgot In spight of enuie that his deeds would spot Since whose decease learning lies vnregarded And men of armes doo wander vnrewarded Those two be those two great calamities That long agoe did grieue the noble spright Of Salomon with great indignities Who whilome was aliue the wisest wight But now his wisedome is disprooued quiteâ— For he that now welds all things at his will Scorns th' one and th' other in his deeper skill O griefe of griefes ô gall of all good heartes To see that vertue should dispised bee Of him that first was raisde for vertuous parts And now broad spreading like an aged tree Le ts none shoot vp that nigh him planted bee O let the man of whom the Muse is scorned Nor aliue nor dead be of the Muse adorned O vile worlds trust that with such vaine illusion Hath so wise men bewitcht and ouerkest That they see not the way of their confusion O vainesse to be added to the rest That do my soule with inward griefe infest Let them behold the piteous fall of mee And in my case their owne ensample see And who so els that sits in highest seate Of this worlds glorie worshipped of all Ne feareth change of time nor fortunes threate Let him behold the horror of my fall And his owne end vnto remembrance call That of like ruine he may warned bee And in himselfe be moou'd to pittie mee Thus hauing ended all her piteous plaint With dolefull shrikes shee vanished away That I through inward sorrowe wexen fainâ— And all astonished with deepe dismay For her departure had no word to sayâ— But sate long time in sencelesse sad affright Looking still if I might of her haue sight Which when I missed hauing looked long My thought returned greeued home againe Renewing hâ—r complaint with passion strong For ruth of that same womans piâ—eous paine Whose wordes recording in my troubled braineâ— I felt such anguish wound my feeble heart That frosen horror râ—n through euerie part So inlie greeuing in my groning brest And deepelie muzing at her doubtfull speach Whose meaning much I labored foorth to wreste Being aboue my slender reasons reach At length by demonstration me to teach Before mine eies strange sights presented were Like tragicke Pageants seeming to appeare 1 I saw an Image all of massie gold Placed on high vpon an Altare faire That all which did the same from farre beholde Might worship it and fall on lowest staire Noâ— that great Idoll might with this compaire To which th' Assyrian tyrant would haue made The holie brethren falslie to haue praid But th'Altare on the which this Image staid Was ô great pitie built of brickle clay That shortly the â—oundation decaid With showres of heauen and tempests worne away Then downe it fell and low in ashes lay Scorned of euerie one which by it wentâ— That I it seing dearelie did lament 2 Next vnto this a statâ—lie Towre appeared Built all of richest stone that might bee found And nigh vnto the Heauens in height vpreared But placed on a plot of sandie ground Not that great Towre which is so much renownd For tongues confusion in holie writ King Ninus worke might be compar'd to it But ô vaine labours of terrestriall wit That buildes so stronglie on â—o frayle a soyle As with each storme does fall away and flit And giues the fruit of all your trauailes toyle To be the pray of Tyme and Fortunes spoyle I saw this Towre fall sodainlie to dust That nigh with griefe thereof my heart was brust 3 Then did I see a pleasant Paradize Full of sweete flowres and daintiest delights Such as on earth man could not more deuize With pleasures choyce to feed his cheerefull sprights Not that which Merlin by his Magicke slights Made for the gentle squire to entertaine His fayre Belphoebe could this gardine staine But ô short pleasure bought with lasting paine Why will hereafter anie flesh delight In earthlie blis and ioy in pleasures vaine Since that I sawe this gardine wasted quite That where it was scarce seemed anie sight That I which once that beautie did beholde Could not from teares my melting eyes with-holde 4 Soone after this a Giaunt came in place Of wondrous power and of exceeding stature That none durst vewe the horror of his face Yet was he milde of speach and meeke of nature Not he which in despight of his Creatour With railing tearmes defied the Iewish hoastâ— Might with this mightie one in hugenes boast For from the one he could to th' other coast Stretch his strong thighes and th'Occaean ouerstrideâ— And reatch his hand into his enemies hoast But see the end of pompe and fleshlie pride One of his feete vnwares from him did slideâ— That downe hee fell into the deepe Abisse Where drownd with him is all his earthlie blisse 5 Then did I see a Bridge made all
light condition To whom their liuing they resigned quight For a few pence and ran away by night So passing through the Countrey in disguize They fled farre off where none might them surprize And after that long straied here and there Through euerie field and forrest farre and nere Yet neuer found occasion for their tourne But almost steru'd did much lament and mourne At last they chaunst to meete vpon the way The Mule all deckt in goodly rich aray With bells and bosses that full lowdly rung And costly trappings that to ground downe hung Lowly they him saluted in meeke wise But he through pride and fatnes gan despise Their meanesse scarce vouchsafte them to requite Whereat the Foxe deep groning in his sprite Said Ah sir Mule now blessed be the day That I see you so goodly and so gay In your attyres and eke your silken hyde Fil'd with round flesh that euerie bone doth hide Seemes that in fruitfull pastures ye doo liue Or fortune doth you secret fauour giue Foolish Foxe said the Mule thy wretched need Praiseth the thing that doth thy sorrow breed For well I weene thou canst not but enuie My wealth compar'd to thine owne miserieâ— That art so leane and meagre waxen late That scarse thy legs vphold thy feeble gate Ay me said then the Foxe whom euill hap Vnworthy in such wretchednes doth wrap And makes the scorne of other beasts to bee But read faire Sir of grace from whence come yee Or what of tidings you abroad doo heare Newes may perhaps some good vnweeting beare From royall Court I lately came said he Where all the brauerie that eye may see And all the happinesse that heart desire Is to be found he nothing can admire That hath not seene that heauens portracture But tidings there is none I you assure Saue that which common is and knowne to all That Courtiers as the tide doo rise and fall But tell vs said the Ape we doo you pray Who now in Court doth beare the greatest sway That if such fortune doo to vs befall We may seeke fauour of the best of all Marie said he the highest now in grace Be the wilde beasts that swiftest are in chase For in their speedie course and nimble flight The Lyon now doth take the most delight But chieflie ioyes on foote them to beholde Enchaste with chaine and ciâ—culet of golde So wilde a beast so tame ytaught to bee And buxome to his bands is ioy to see So well his golden Circlet him beseemeth But his late chayne his Liege vnmeete esteemeth For so braue beasts she loueth best to see In the wilde forrest raunging fresh and free Therefore if fortune thee in Court to liue In case thou euer there wilt hope to thriue To some of these thou must thy selfe apply Els as a thistle-downe in th' ayre doth flie So vainly shalt thou too and fro be tost And loose thy labour and thy fruitles cost And yet full few which follow them I see For vertues bare regard aduaunced bee But either for some gainfull benefit Or that they may for their owne turnes be fit Nath'les perhaps ye things may handle soe That ye may better thriue than thousands moe But said the Ape how shall we first come in That after we may fauour seeke to win How els said he but with a good bold face And with big words and with a stately pace That men may thinke of you in generall That to be in you which is not all For not by that which is the world now deemeth As it was wont but by that same that seemeth Ne do I doubt but that ye well can fashion Your selues theretoo according to occasion So fare ye well good Courtiers may ye bee So proudlie neighing from them parted hee Then gan this craftie couple to deuize How for the Court themselues they might aguize For thither they themselues meant to addresse In hope to finde there happier successe So well they shifted that the Ape anon Himselfe had cloathed like a Gentleman And the slie Foxe as like to be his groome That to the Court in seemly sort they come Where the fond Ape himselfe vprearing hy Vpon his tiptoes stalketh stately by As if he were some great Magnifico And boldlie doth amongst the boldest go And his man Reynold with fine counterfesaunce Supports his credite and his countenaunce Then gan the Courtiers gaze on eâ—erie side And stare on him with big lookes basen wide Wondring what mister wight he was and whence For he was clad in strange accoustrements Fashion'd with queint deuises neuer seene In Court before yet there all fashions beene Yet he them in new fanglenesse did pas But his behauiour altogether was Alla Turchesca much the more admyr'd And his lookes loftie as if he aspyr'd To dignitie and sdeign'd the low degree That all which did such strangenesse in him see By secrete meanes gan of his state enquire And priuily his seruant thereto hire Who throughly arm'd against such couerture Reported vnto all that he was sure A noble Gentleman of high regard Which through the world had with long trauel far'd And seene the manners of all beasts on ground Now here arriu'd to see if like he found Thus did the Ape at first him credit gaine Which afterwards he wisely did maintaine With gallant showe and daylie more augment Through his fine feates and Courtly complement For he could play and daunce and vaute and spring And all that els pertaines to reueling Onely through kindly aptnes of his ioynts Besides he could doo manie other poynts The which in Court him serued to good stead For he mongst Ladies could their fortunes read Out of their hands and merie leasings tell And iuggle finely that became him well But he so light was at legier demaine That what he toucht came not to light againe Yet would he laugh it out and proudly looke And tell them that they greatly him mistooke So would he scoffe them out with mockerie For he therein had great felicitie And with sharp quips ioy'd others to deface Thinking that their disgracing did him grace So whilst that other like vaine wits he pleased And made to laugh his heart was greatly eased But the right gentle minde would bite his lip To heare the Iauell so good men to nip For though the vulgar yeeld an open eare And common Courtiers loue to gybe and fleare At euerie thing which they heare spoken ill And the best speaches with ill meaning spill Yet the braue Courtier in whose beauteous thought Regard of honour harbours more than ought Doth loath such base condition to backbite Anies good name for enuie or despite He stands on tearmes of honourable minde Ne will be carried with the common winde Of Courts inconstant mutabilitie Ne after euerie tattling fable flie But heares and sees the follies of the rest And thereof gathers for himselfe the best He will not creepe nor crouche with fained face But walkes vpright with comely stedfast pace And