do moue in no such rate No more doth Moone nor Mercury nor Venus pleasaunt Starre But moue in little Circles that to them annexed are Why sparckles not Saturne and Ioue and Mars as doth the Sunne Syth farther far from vs in Spheares aloft more hye they runne Nor differ they in difference great from fixed Starres aboue Bycause they do not as the Sunne about their Centers moue But in these Epicycles rolle their bodyes rounde about Some man perchaunte if so the Sunne doth sparckle standes in doubt But if he shall the same beholde when first it doth appeare Or when in Winter time it falles and settes in waters cleare When as his eye may beste endure his syght thereon to cast He shall perceyue it playne to turne and eke to sparkle fast Let no man thinke this thing to be so greate and strange to minde If all the gorgeous Starres do moue in such a sorte and kinde Seemes it not farre more wonderfull that Heauens compasse wide Wyth such a motion swift about the world doth alwayes glyde That Byrdes and windes lightnings flash in swiftnesse it doth passe Thus now th' almighty Lord by whom the world created was All things he made deuided in these two mouing and rest But in the Center rest vpon the earth hir place possest In all the others motion dwelles The streames do swiftly flye The ayre and fyry flames on earth do moue continually But chiefly in the firmament hath mouing greatest spright And euery Spheare the higher it is doth moue wyth greater might And swiftlier runnes about the world Wherefore that Heauen hie That called is the mouer fyrst with motion most doth flie But that the greatest motion is that in the time most small Doth soonest runne his course about the greatest space of all Thus would it runne about the worlde in twinckling of an eye But that the other Spheares do let that vnder him do lye Restrayning it of course so swifte least that in turning round The Seas with it it should conuay and all the earthy ground For then no kinde of creature coulde leade here his life in them O matter to be wondred at who is not mazed when He wayeth with himselfe in minde so great a quantitie So farre to passe in so short time and backe agayne to flye And neuer for to ceasse this course and labour none to feele Hereby do some beleue that Gods the worlde about do wheele Of them to euery Circle is a mouer strong assignde Who like as they that are condemned in bakehouse for to grinde May neuer ceasse from turning round the Skies both day and night Nor though he would can once haue time to rest his wery spright Now surely happy is that God that serueth in the same But these are toyes and fansies fond of such as seeke for fame What store of fonde Foolosophers and such as hunte for prayse The earth brings forth it is not good to credit all he sayes Though great his estimation be in mouthes of many men Though many Keames of Paper he hath scribled with his pen. For famous men do oftentimes make great and famous lies And often men do mysse the truth though they be neuer so wise Therefore must reason first be sought for in such doubtfull things More credit reason ought to haue than mennes ymaginings For such are often proued false What thing doth reason say That Skies or Starres are moued of Gods or of their proper i way What honour great what kinde of ioy what pleasure can there be Unto these Gods that turne about the Skies continually That they for life of foolish man may needefull things prouide And that the Birdes and sauage beasts and Fyshes they may guide Becoms it Lordes in such a sorte their seruants here to serue And Gods for euer to be thrall that they may beastes preserue That they may foster Foles Knaues is it not rather meete For Gods to enioy their liberty and pleasaunt freedome sweete That they may wher they list go walk least as in fetters tyed They can not passe from place to place but styll at home abyde Or as the potters plying styll the wheele and lumpe of clay Can haue no time of quiet rest nor steppe from place away Seemes it so sweete asporte to them the compasse round to moue Or can this laboure neuer grieue the Gods that syt aboue O sentence worthy to be markde of graue and witty men But reason bars them this and cryes contrary quite to them For nothing is eternall here but only God alone And after him continuall be the Natures euerychone Of things that he of nothing made But yet by sure decree That otherwise they cannot shewe than they appoynted be By him when first he framd the world so styll continuall shall The waters soft the ster hote the earth a sted fast ball So shal the ayre for euer moue so of necessity The circles of the Heanens round shal turne continually So force and fashion euery herbe deliured doth retayne And euery tree and euery beast that neuer time can stayne As long as vnremouing state of nature doth endure As long as chaungeth not the wyll of GOD diuine and pure Wherefore if thus continuall be the course of Heauens bright It must be naturall as shewes in wayghty things and light For what of nature propre is doth neuer feele decay But if another moue the same in time it falles away For no such state of violence doth last continually Haue heauy things light more force than state of Starres and Skie That they can moue of propre strength and these can not do so Except of Gods they caused be about in course to go Then is the earth and fier farre more noble than the Skie At least for this bycause they neede no helpe of mouer by But of themselues from Center they or can to Center flie Wherefore we must beleue that these celestiall states aboue Of proper force and of their formes as fyer and earth do moue For nature is of greater might than mouer any one This nature onely God excelles and him except alone No better thing than nature is nor in the worlde more hie I nature call the fixed law of him that guides the Skie Which frō the worldes foundation first to all things he assured And wyllde that it should stand in force while age of worlde endured For this same lawe hath God vnto the formes of things assignde That when from thence do things procede formes wel fulfil Gods minde He can they once this order breake for of their formes do spring Such things as he commaunded hath who framde eche formed thing This true and proper nature is of higher state agayne Then matter or forme as some haue taught for certainly these twayne Are rather springs of eury thing or causes first aboue Or framers first not nature sure if truest names we loue Except we haue a better wyll false names to giue such things But of this same
destnye cause not payne Whose dartes the man that neuer felt doth senslesse styll remayne What beast might euer yet be found that felt not Cupides flame All creatures vile and base we see haue tasted of the same God willing so Wherfore who seekes this loue a thing deuine He seekes for if the king and Lorde of all the world should not All things created here retaine in loues assured knot The world should straight be at an end and the elements decay That eche man loues he keepes and it defendeth eke alway But no man seekes the thing to kepe that he sets nothing by Wherfore the order of all things shall last continually For euerlasting is the loue of God that all doth guide Though all things made do fal and fade the kindes yet neuer stide For those the blessed God doth loue but not the bodies so Wherof the cruell death hath power for no man suffreth tho The thing he loues to perishe quite if he can it defende But who denies God all thing can and he can them defende But be the bodies doth not loue wherefore he lettes them die But not the kindes he so permits from their estate to 〈◊〉 What doth the potter care if thys or that hys pot be burst Turning the wheele and chalke in hand despiseth now the first A newer sort of them he makes now ouer all this same The skye the grounde the seas and aire and raging fiers flame And eke in fine the worlde it selfe by loues enduring knot So many yeares doth stande and last for if thys loue were not The elaments altogither would with bursten bondes go fyght Nor downe to earth the Heauens would shewe forth theyr blissefull light And beames so warme no seede shoulde growe and eke the fiery flame This aire his neighbor would coÌ„sume he would but out of frame His shoures on earth y t aire put downe full bare would seeme eche soile The seas should quench the 〈…〉 er quite or rather fyre boyle And waste away the fyshy seas As once when Phaeton rulde not wel the fyry foming beasts I dreading sore the monsters hie his owne good fathers heastes Beleeuing not vnhappy wretch was drownd in his desyre Then al the world therewith began to burne with blasing fyre Tyll he by force of lightning smytte came tumbling headlong downe And in the flouds his flames did quench Loue breedes in euery towne Assured peace peace worthiest is of al things here we see In time of peace do al things growe and al things liuely be Then liue men safe in safety â—ke the trauayling wight he stands And takes his iourney voyd of harme and scapes the robbers handes Then buzzing Bees in hiues be kept by good aduise and care And beastes in pastures fat are fed the ground is torne wyth share And yeldeth farre encrease in tyme then plenty beares the sway In bread and mylke and noppy drinke then euery where they play The sounding shaume doth theÌ„ prouoke to daunce the Thiase round But idiotes none do enuy peace and couet Martiall ground Such times did flow when Saturn ruld his Empire here alone O worthy age more worth than Gold but now O griefe to mone All things doth discorde vile disturbe wyth raged mocion mad And filles and feareth euery place wyth broyling tumult sad Nowe fierce we forced are to be all lawes wyth sworde to slake The furies al of hel they swarme a thousand brondes they shake A thousand snakes wythal and moue the proud hie minded Kings And common people mad to be what good to you it brings O wretches mad your death to haste wyth battes and bylbowe blade To late when as she neuer commes but mischefe this hath made That plaguy pride and hunger mad dominion for to haue O dust what makes thee proud to be whose stinking guttes in graue The filthy wormes anone shall teare why sekest thou for golde Thinkste thou for euer here to lyue O wretch O wretch bi hold How vaine how short how fleeteth sone dur life before thine eyes A graue anone shall close contayne thy bones and shall sufficâ— And if so be that loue should knitte the heartes of men in one This would not be for euery man his frend would tend vpon And all men for their partes would ayde the frend that they holde deare Assuredly nothing more good nor sweater doth appeare Than truly while we here do liue of many loued to be A safe defence are alwayes frends agaynst aduersity The mind in deubtful things they ease and helpers seke to be Thy cares and losse they lighten much they wepe and wayle wyth thee But seldome perisheth the man that thus is rich in friendes When fortune laughes vpon thy lucke and happy chaunce thee sendes Wyth thee thy profyts they embrace wyth thee they ioyful bee Wyth frendship they thy haps increase and feast in mirth wyth thee Who list therefore to leade his life in safety and in ioy Great store of frends for to retayne let him his care employ By many meanes this thing is got which as I can I shall Declare but now to know is nedefull fyrst of all Which loue the people call of minde a motion for to be For wel to wyl it is the same that men call loue we see The mind alwayes it selfe desyres the good thing for to proue And seekes the euill for to shunne these 〈◊〉 alone her moue These two therfore the causes be and loues assured ground But good in three deuided is wherof one parte is found Delighting for to be the other honest eke appeares The third vtilitie So likewise yll in three we parte fyrst hurtfull we esteme The second vile deformed is the third doth greuous seme Who so that loues refusing these or else desiring those He loues loue diuers is like as the spring from whence it flowes Not worthy praysed like to be nor worthy like disprayse Nor only differ three foresayd in generall kinde alwayes But diuers speciall kindes himself doth eche of these contayne Which kindes when as they diuers be make diuers loues agayne What so euer aydes that profit is but is not yet as one Much goods vpon the body wayght and much the soule vpon Strength beauty health actiuity these foure the body oweth These things whatsoeuer creature giues from them the profit floweth Two goods agayne the soule contaynes as maners milde and Arte Like as the soule hath vertues two the will to whome the parte Of maners all belong and minde to whome the truth to know It proper is and from the mind like diuers goods do flow The learnings nine this minde adourn which Poets Muses call Equivalent to circles nine that roule aboue vs all The wyll doth diuers goods possesse of which these foure excell Wit iustice eke and vertue strong that conquers troubles fell With her that bridleth eke our mindes and modesty doth bring From these as from the fountayne first do al the other spring Which whosoeuer seekes to know
should this aryse As faynting feete in trauaile and the akyng arme oft tryes The cause hereof is bloud resolued by force of feruent heate For to much mouing it inflames decayes in fuming sweate None otherwyse than Feuers fierce the creature pale consumes When bloud or other humor hote thorowout all the members fumes Doth lyfe support and body feedes which whylest it quickning makes The mouing force possessing all the body quiuering shakes The heate and heated bloud besyde doth brede a liuely spright As waters warmde w t beames of SuÌ„ne doe yelde a vapour light Thys spirite enclosed within the bowels Thorowe all the vaines doth ronne And nere to hir doth serue the lyfe in what she will haue donne But those in heauy sleepes that lye how should they mouing make As some doe in theyr steepes aryse and weapon vp doe take Some in the stable takes hys horse some wrytes as many say And some hath earst bene seene a sleâ—pe vpon the Lute to play It must be knowne that of the thing the Image doth remaine In vs of all that we doe see or senses can retaine Thys makes vs think we see the face that late we gased on And that we seeme to heare the wordes were vtred long agone These formes within the secrete celles inclosed in the brayne A vapour moues which to ascende the stomack doth constraine And minde deluded so doth moue the body styres thereby If the resemblance be of force that in the head doth lye But tayle of L ysart or of Snake that cut in two doth sprawle Doth will it moue Or force of minde that Greekes doe fansye call As they whom rage of madnesse moues or to much drinke arayes Or dreadfull dreames do cause to shake or happens other wayes Perchaunce amongst the knotty partes of thys deuided tayle The liuely spirite enclosde doth searche all meanes for to preuayle In breaking out and wynding partes doth wrye as best it may And striuing long through passage smal doth get at length away Or that same part of minde that feeles deuided doth remaine In tayle cut of and causeth it to turne and turne againe Yet I suppose that euery thing wherin no iudgement lyes Can feele no griefe nor nothing else that we can here deuise For chiefest force by which we feele from knowledge euer flowes who knowes iudgeth most feeles most and most reioysing knowes But fooles and doltes care lesse for all lesse harmde lesse fearing styll They feele not colde nor heate so much scarce know they good from ill Not for bicause it smartes therfore the tayle deuided shakes For nought it feeles bicause the streÌ„gth from which it knowledge takes Is not in it but in the head in better place did lye Wherfore the former cause I iudge the trouth to go more nye Lo thus therfore is mouing made by which all creatures go Yet in the reasons past before we put thys one thing to That sundry times the present good when it might be atchieued Doth nothing moue nor is desyred bicause t is not perceiued Thus knowledge semes of mouing cause or chiefest as we see For who desyres or sekes the thing he knowes not what to ber For will hâ—r selfe of proper force is altogither blinde And cannot any thing desyre without the light of minde By whom if she be not enformde she takes she vntowarde way And with the she we of good beguilde hir vertue doth decay Of mouing this shall here suffise nowe let vs seeke to knowe How liuing things doe waxe so great what causeth them to growe And why at certayne tyme they cease a fiery spirite doth raine Thou giuest lyfe to euery thing that carcasse doth contayne This heate doth liuely moisture feede as flame of Candell bright When soone withdraw himself froÌ„ vs the Oyle preserues in light Thys in the stomack boyles the meate wherof the finest spread Abrode the synowes bones and fleshe wyth pyth and bloud are bread And all the body doth encrease as plantes wyth showers of rayne And warmth of SuÌ„ne them comforting doth ryse and spring amaine If that this fyre be much of force and moysture equall here As much as heate shall seeme to nede the encrease shall great appere At length it makes an ende and stayes when spent is all the heate Which fading body fades as shewes in them whose yeares are great For wasted they lyke pyned Ehostes their aged lymmes doe crooke And stouping low wyth hollowed eye vpon the earth doe looke For fyre is gone and liuely heate and moysture doth decay Without the which no lyfe remaines as Lampes no longer may Giue out their light than oyle doth serue but leaues and darkenesse brings Then let vs now the mouing shewe of minde and whence it springs A thing both darke and harde to fynde but yet we will assay With all our force to touch the trouth as nere as well we may And fyrst of rage that boldneth men and daungers doth despyse Encreaseth strength and giueth force as much as shall suffise Which mouing all as desperate vpon our foes we flye And bloudy battaile to beginne with sworde in hast we hye The cause therof is bloud enflamde and heart that sendes out fyre And bitter galle abrode dispersd for Galle is house to yre And choller matter ministers to rage and fury blinde Hence comes that creatures lacking gal are not of wrathfull minde Embracing peace refuse to fight but they whose bloud doth burne And greater rage of heate retaine to anger sonest turne So youth and so such dronken mates whose heads hath brink diseased Upon a smallest cause doe snuffe the minde therfore displeased Doth bloud and choller myngle straight then hande for weapon calles And skirmishe comes thus cuts are carued and wounde wyde open falles For fyrst the minde offended is and vexed by miury Which troubled moues y e body straight by these it semes they lye That say the minde can neuer styre for if it neuer moue The body styll to stande and staye it alwayes doth behoue For diuers mouings doe declare a diuers mouer playne The Sunne doth ofteÌ„ change in course and shaddowes change againe What is the cause that Organs giue now one now other voice But hande y t shyftes from diuers kayes doth cause a diuers noyse The minde affection inwarde fyrst doth take and close concele And makes some part or other serue when she wyll it reucle Disclosing straight to it whatsoeuer within in secrete lyes To th ende that plame it may appere and open to the eyes None otherwyse than when the king vnto his faithfull frende Declares the secretes of hys minde and after doth it sende To be proclaimed in euery place that it may plaine appere Hence springeth loue for wheÌ„ the minde doth fansye pleasant gere She makes the heart a minister and so doth loue declare In heart loue wrath feare lust hope wyth ioye and also care As in a tower with minde doe dwell and these as there begonne By meanes
worthinesse before the rest as in a battayle mayne Lieuetenants are and Captaines stout the rest of common traine These causes chiefe aboue the rest in wondrous sort assignes Thalmighty Lord that guides aboue the Starres the starry sygnes Who lyues in euerlasting lyght aboue the Heauens hye That at hys beck doth cause to turne the motions of the skye To euery cause assigning force and whereto they shall tende With certaine boundes encloseth them the which may none transcende And synce he wysely all things made of force it followe must That euery thyng continuallye keepe course and order iust For things that once are rightly framed and fault doe none receaue Ought not in tract of any times their wonted course to leaue The order thus of euery thing can neuer altred be Bicause thalmighty Lorde hath made all things in iuste degre If then the sprite that guides the earth be naught or worke amisse It is bicause the basest cause and farthest of is this From causer fyrst and lyght remoued a large and ample space And therefore vnto darknesse blynde the nerer hath hys place And onely shadowe shewes of truth which God doth so permit Bicause the state of all the world and order asketh it For as the daye determinde is by darknesse of the night And things contrary ended are by force of others might So sort and course of causes good as reason doth require In vyle and wicked cause must ende and fynally expyre which wycked kingdomes gouerne shal and mischiefes vile shall guide Hence discorde euermore proceedes wyth brawles and minde to chide Strong battailes frayes false diseyt with fyres and slaughters great Theftes wyles with nede robberies and plagues with raging heate Great earthquakes stormes tempests great of sycknesses such store So great a sort of perilles vile and daungers euermore And finally what harmes to hap in any place we knowe From thys so wretched cause Prince of all the earth doth flowe Full truely earst alas did say the famous Hermes wyse This world a heape of harms doth seme where euery mischiefe lyes Bicause the diuell that on earth the chiefest stroke doth smite Is mischieuous and euermore in cruelty doth delight For as the first of causes is the spring of all good things So is the last the fountayne chiefe from whence all mischiefe springs Wherefore if lecherours on earth beare al the rule and sway If Asses sxt in seate as Kings in pompe of proud aray If charge of sheepe commytted is to wolues of rauening kinde If Harâ—ots in the Churches dwel and men of monstrous minde If that the holy rytes of Christ the hands vnpure doth fyle If Heauen and purging place Sir John doth sell wyth greedy guile More if vnpunnished such crimes are styll before our eyes The fault not in thalmighty Lord but in this Diuell lies Whome fortune commonly we name and Pluto oft we call But vnto him an apter name Sarcotheus fyt doth fall For vnto him the power of flesh and guiding is assinde Him serues all such as loue them selues â—o much wyth fleshly minde Of him the bodies are therefore in synne they alwayes driue And to the soules as enimies contrary styl do stryue For of the heauens commes the soule and from the starry Skyes But earthly are the bodies here and heauens do despyse This same Sarcotheus thoe that guydes the lowest partes of all Such holy men as do despise the â—oyes â—errestrâ—all To vertue bent and Godly life he hates and styl pursues And vexeth grieueth them molests as commonly doth vse The naughty Prince and cruel King alwayes for to oppresse The wysest men and such as do ercell in vertuousnesse For vertue of the wicked men is euermore enuied Al things their enimies hate and feare and shunne from them asyde Therefore the Diuel many harmes prouâ—deth for the meeke And them whose mindes do mouÌ„t aloft and hearts do heauen seke Ne would he haue his malice seene for if he should be knowne Al men would him detest as head from whom al ylles haue flowne And bloudy butcher of our kinde him al should iustly hate And cursing cal him cruel beast deceyuer of our state Therefore he craftely lies hydde and from the wyse man flies Least he be knowne ne feares he Moles but leapes from Linceus eyes So theues do vse and wicked men alwayes the light to flye And in the darkest tyme reioyce that none their mischiefe spye Hereof it commes as often as men feele aduersity Al ignorant wyth blindnesse and of minde oppressed be For ignorance is causer chiefe of errors al that fal Thinking with anger and complaynt the guyde of goodnesse al Doth vex theÌ„ so they straightway curse his hâ—e and holy name The wicked Diuel daunceth then and grinneth at the same And ioyes to see himself vnknowne and mischiefe close to lye And that he thus hath power to hurt and no man could it spye A foe vnto â—halmighty God he is and ennimy By whome from heauen tumbled down in chaynes he here doth lye Enclosde betwene the earth and Mone and there he holdes his rayne Wherfore O wretched mortal men at length apply your brayne To know the cause of al your griefes from whence such ylles do flowe And heauy harmful things do hay your butcher learne to know For this Sarcotheus this is he that plagues you in such sorte That of your harmes greuous grefes doth make his chiefest sport None otherwise than Mars his child great realmes in thraldome brought Wyth death of wretâ—hed men or beastes a pleaâ—ant pastyme sought The Noble men the Gentlemen the commons all syt styll In diuers roomes assigned them as Othaâ—s lawes doth wyll Then enters in before them all the cutters for to fyght Or else some other yeldes hys lymmes to beastes thereon to byte The Lion or the Tiger stout or else some fierâ—â—r kinde Should at this play present himselfe to please the peoples minde Wyth death mangled much w t wound from whence the bloud doth flow Oft vnto some of others smart a great delight doth grow Wherefore they do most wickedly that rayling thus do brawle And dare blaspheme thalmighty Lorde the cause of goodnesse all From whome as from himself no yll can any tyme proceede Except contingently as Sunne doth darcknesse euer breede As oft as vnder earth it slydes and absent fyre we see Encreaseth colde yet cloud in Sunne nor colde in Fyre can be Wherfore I maruel much that some whose Learning is not smal Do say that he offended is or wrathful him do cal And that he plagueth vs as oft as we do him offend That milde and Lord of mercies is that goodnesse al doth send And that from him doth warres begin wyth plague and famine sore If that our deedes could him offend what thing vnhappier more Than he in al the world were found â–ª for euery day and houre We crimes commit and blasphemies out of our mouthes we poure Then surely should he neuer ioy nor
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
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
With. xix flames the Syrian Dog the lyttle Dog hath three The sydes of Arcos brauely deckt with three and twenty be One starre doth Chiron more relay the sacrifice in hands He holdes eleuen hath deckt with iiij the goodly Altare stands With six and twenty Hydra shynes three signes that lies in length And mates the Crab the Virgin fayre and Lion great of strength The Rauen shynes wyth seauen starres the Cup hath eyght in sight The Southerne Fish with xij doth cast abrode his starry light The rising and the setting of the Signes let vs display Three sorts of wayes y e starres do ryse three sortes they fall away That rising called Cosmike is the setting termde likewise When early in the Easte the signe wyth Sunne is knowen to ryse But when soeuer any sygne doth ryse or downeward fall And Sunne in setting lets them shine this terme we Cronicall And Heliake is the rising namde when as the Sunne full nere The signe lyes hyd and passing thence forth with doth bright appere The Heliake setting that we cal when as in any signe The Sunne doth walke and w t his light permit it not to shine But now the rising of the Signes and how they downe descend I wyll declare if Muses ayde and Phaebus be my frend When Ram doth rise then mounteth vp left part of Andromaed Unto the halfe and ioynde therewith Sir Perseus flaming head Then backward commes the Bull aloft who while he vpward hyes Al Perseus springs and greatest part of Carter then doth rise And Thurlpoles tayle and fading quite the altare downe doth fall Then hydes himself in flashing floudes the Berward first of all With Twinnes doth all the Whale aryse and former partes of Po And with this same Orion great all armed vp doth go Then he that holdes the Snake with both his feete the water tries The Crab arising vp takes halfe the Crowne away from eyes The tayle of Whale the Southerne Fyshe and head of Kneeler lowe And half his Hanch frō knees to backe of him that Snake doth showe And all his Snake except the neck the Bearward almost quite But now agayne from girdle vp Orion commes to sight Wyth al the course of Nilus great These Signes besyde do ryse Wyth Lion fierce the Egle Hare and Dog of lesser syse The former legges of greater Dog and head of Hydra springs But these agaynst the Bearward hote and he that Serpent wrings With head and necke of Snake in hand and part that did remayne Of glistring Crowne and Kneeler eke excepted yet agayne His left foote and his knee besyde in Westerne waues do fall With Virgin riseth whole the Dog and Serpent vp doth crall Unto the Cups and then appeares the Ship of Thessaly As much as Mast and sayle may showe Contrary hid do lye These starres the Dolphin al the Swan his tayle except the Darte The Scorpions cley and of the floude of Nile the former parte But Pegasus hides head and necke the rest appeareth bright Al Argo with the Scales doth ryse and Bearward clere in sight Saue tippe of tayle al Hydra seene the right knee and the shinne Of Kneeler downe and Centaures tayle to shine doth then beginne Then mayst y t halfe the Crowne perceyue the rest of Horse that flies And partes that hindermost do stand of Swanne then hidden lies And al saue head the Whale doth set hir head in Seas doth hyde Andromaeda then shalt thou see olde Cepheus downe to slyde The Father of Andromeda and downe in flouds to fall With hands his shoulders his head These shapes and fygures all With Scorpion rise the Dragons tayle and Chirons horse appeare And rest of Crowne and Sacrifice that he in hands doth beare Also the Serpents head doth ryse and eke hir holders head Then syts the part that doth remayne of corse of Andromed And Cepheus syts from head to waste and double winding way Of Padus streames and downward then doth fal dame Cassiepey Then first the Dog himselfe doth hyde and downe Orion flings When as the Shooter vp doth ryse the Serpent holder springs With Serpent whole the left hand and the head of Kneeler downe And al the Harp the breast and head of him that ware the Crowne Of Aethyops land King Cepheus cald Then hidden quite doth lye Orion Hare and greater Dog and Carter of the Skye Excepting only Head and Feete then Perseus downe doth fall His right foote and his thigh except the Ship saue sterne syts al. When as the Gote ascendeth vp the Swanne and Shaft thereby The Altare and the Egle fayre begin to appeare in skye But sterne of Argo then descendes and lesser Dog doth hyde His starres in Sea and vnder grounde therewyth doth Perseus slyde When as of Ganimedes fayre the goodly starres do ryse Then first the limmes of Pegasus do clime into the Skies Contrarywyse the neck and head of Dragon downe doth slyde And Chiron doth his hinder parte beneath the waters hyde When as the Fyshes twayne are brought to rise aloft in Skye The right syde of Andromeda appeareth to the eye And he that Southerne Fish is calde then both the bodies quite Of Dragon and of Centaure great are taken from our sight Thus much of rising of the Signes and setting shal suffise Now let vs touch the rest that doth remaine in speedy wise But fyrst we must Vrania call my verses here vnto That she may ayde and succour sende such secrets to vndo Vrania thou that knowest the things aloft that hydden lye That walkest oft by seates of Gods and starry temples hye Vrania beautiful draw nere and open vnto me The secrete seates of Gods aboue and things that hidden be And helpe thy Poet that in song thy Scepters seekes to shewe And graunt the whirling Skies aboue in minde that I may knowe And first good Lady shewe to me if that the Skies aboue Consist of matter hard and thicke or soft and apt to moue None otherwise than is the ayre which well we may deuide This tolde thou shalt declare to me straunge matters more beside Two springs of nature chiefe there be Materia and Forma namde Of these same twaine al kinde of things that here we see are framde Of these the earth the Seas the ayre and flaming fyre springs Wherefore they lye that matter none admit in Heauenly things For contraries should then in them be found thus they do say And by this meanes corrupted quite they should in time decay But as me seemes this reason here doth from the truth decline For neyther matter is in fault if that in tract of tyme The bodies fade nor contraries themselues wil thus vndo If that their forces equall be and stronger none of two For when the strength power is lyke then equall is the fyght And victory on neither part and neither syde doth lyght Therfore God seking in hys minde the heauens hye to make The chiefe and purest fyned partes of matters fyrst dyd take And