the Conquerors eldest sonne Whose hand did then the Norman scepter weld In Armes to win what once his Father won To Englands conquest is againe compeld Whose crown frō him proud William Rufus held An exile thence by's angry Father driuen By Fortune robd of all by Nature giuen 121 VVith fame of this once Roberts eares possest With heauenly wonder doth his thoughts inspire Leauing no place for wrong in his faire brest Giuing large wings vnto his great desire VVarming his courage w t more glorious fire As thus to fight for his deere Sauiours sake Of Englands crowne he no account doth make 122 Of kingdoms tytles he casts off the toyle VVhich by proude Rufus tyranny is kept Deere as his life to him that hallowed soile VVherein that God in liuely manhood slept At whose deere death the rocks for pitty wept A crown of gold this Christian knight doth scorne so much he lou'd those temples crown'd w t thorne 123 Those grieuous wants whose burthen weyed him downe The sums w c he in Germany had spent In gathering power to gaine the English crowne Garded with princly troopes in his rich Tent Like William Conquerors sonne magnificent Now by his need he greeuously doth find VVeakning his might what neuer could his mind 124 This braue high spirited Duke this famous Lord VVhose right of England Rufus held away To set an edge vpon his conquering sword In gage to Henry Normandy did lay Thus to maintaine his valiant souldiers pay Rather of Realms himselfe to dispossesse Then Christendome should be in such distresse 125 Eternall sparks of honors purest fire Vertue of vertues Angels angeld mind VVhere admiration may it selfe admire VVhere mans diuinest thoughts are more diuin'd Saint sainted spirit in heauēs own shrine enshrind Endeared dearest thing for euer liuing Receiuing most of Fame to Fame more giuing 126 Such feruent zeale doth from his soule proceed As those curl'd tresses which his browes adorne Vntill that time Ierusalem were freed Hee makes a vow they neuer should be shorne But for a witnes of that vow be worne True vow strōg faith great lord most happy howr Perform'd increasd blest by effecting power 127 True vow so true as truth to it is vowed Vowing all power to help so pure a vow Allowing perfect zeale to be allowed If zeale of perfect truth might ere allow Then much admir'd but to be wondred now Faith in it selfe then wonder more concealing Faith to the world then wonder more reuealing 128 Disheueld locks what names might giue you grace VVorne thus disheueld for his deere Lords sake Sweet-flowring twists valors engirdling lace Browe-decking fringe faire golden curled flake Honors rich garland beauties meshing brake Arbors of ioy which nature once did giue VVhere vertue should in endles Sommer liue 129 Faire Memory awaken Death from sleepe Call vp Times spirit of passed things to tell Vnseale the secrets of th'vnsearched deepe Let out the prisoners from Obliuisions Cell Inuoke the black inhabitants of hell Into the earths deepe dungeon let the light And with faire day cleere vp his clowdy night 130 Eternitie bee prodigall a vvhile VVith thine immortall arms imbrace thy loue Diuinest Powers vpon your image smile And from your star-encircled thrones aboue Earths misty vapors from his sight remoue And in the Annals of the glorious fun Enrole his worth in Times large course to run 131 Truth in his life bright Poesie vphold His life in truth adorning Poesie VVhich casting life in a more purer mold Preserues that life to immortalitie Both truly working eyther glorifie Truth by her power Arts power to iustifie Truth in Arts roabs adorn'd by Poesie 132 To his victorious Ensigne comes from far The Redshanck'd Orcads toucht with no remorse The light-foote Irish which with darts make war Th'ranck-ryding Scot on his swist running horse The English Archer of a Lyons force The valiant Norman all his troupes among In bloody conquests tryed in Arms train'd long 133 Remote by nature in thys colder Clyme Another nature he new birth doth bring And by the locks he haleth aged Tyme As newly he created euery thing Shewing the place where heauens eternall King Our deere blood-bought redemption first began Man couering God earth heauen God in man 134 Poore Ilanders which in the Oceans chaine Too long imprisoned from the cheerfull day Your warlike Guide now brings you to the maine VVhich to your glory makes the open way And his victorious hand becomes the kay To let you in to famous victories The honor of your braue posterities 135 Be fauourable faire heauen vnto thine owne And with that Bethelem birth-foretelling star Still goe before this Christian Champion In fiery pillers lead him out from far Let Angels martch with him vnto this war VVith burning-bladed Cherubins still keepe Encompasse him with clowds when he doth sleep 136 VVhen heauen puts on her glittering vaile of stars And with sweet sleep the souldiers sences charms Then are his thoughts working these holy wars Plotting assaults watchful at all alarms Rounding the Campe in rich apparreld Arms His sleep their watch his care their safeties kay Their day his night his night he makes their day 137 Valors true valor honours liuing crowne Inspired thoughts desert aboue desert Greatnes beyond imaginations bound Nature more sweet then is exprest by Art A hart declaring a true princly hart Courage vniting courage vnto glory A subiect fit for an immortall story 138 Why shold not heauen by night when forth he went Conuert the stars to Sunnes to giue him light And at his prayers by day in his close Tent The Tapers vnto starrs to help his sight That in his presence darknes might be bright That euery thing more purer in his kind Might tell the purenes of his purer mind 139 Yet Letters but like little Ilands bee And many words within this world of fame VVhose Regions rise and fall in their degree Large volumes short descriptions of his name Like little Maps painting his Globes great fame VVit lost in wonder seeking to expresse His vertues sum his praises vniuerse 140 In greeuous toyles consisteth all his rest In hauing most of most enioyeth none Most wanting that whereof he is possest A King ordain'd ne're to enioy his throne That least his own which richly is his own In this deuision from himselfe deuided Himselfe a guide for others safety guided 141 His one poore lyfe deuided is to many Dead to his comfort doth to others liue Vnto himselfe he is the least of any All from him taken vnto all doth giue Depriu'd of ioy of care his to depriue Who al controuleth now that all controules Body of bodyes his soule of their soules 142 Religious war more holy pilgrimage Both Saint souldier Captaine Confessor A deuout youth a resolute old age A warlike States-man peacefull Conqueror Graue Consull true autentique Senator Feare-chasing resolution valiant feare Hart bearing nought yet patient all to beare 143 Skill valour guides and valour armeth skill Courage emboldneth
all infamie and shame Dispis'd of men abhord in euery place Hate to thy selfe the very worlds disgrace 176 VVhen all thy race shall be in tryumph set Their royall conquests and atchiuements done Henrie thy Father braue Plantaginet Thy conquering Brother Lyon-hart his sonne The crownes spoiles these famous Champions won This still shall be in thy dishonour said Loe this was Iohn the murderer of a Maid 177 Looke I to heauen her purenes tells my sin Looke I on man hee frownes with hatefull sight Looke I on earth I see my fault therein The light to view my shame doth giue me light The night puts me in mind of my fames night I read my shame in all things as a booke And yet most grieu'd when on my selfe I looke 178 This act enrold in booke of black Defame Where men of death tragick murders reed Recorded in the Register of shame In lines whose letters freshly euer bleed VVhere all the world shall wonder my misdeed And quote the place thus euer passing by Note heere King Iohns vile damned tyranny 179 Her blood exhal'd from earth vnto the sky A fearfull Meteor still hangs ore my head Stayning the heauens with her Vermilion dye Changing the Sunnes bright rayes to gorie red Prognosticating death and fearfull dread Her soule with howling reuengfull steuen Shreeking before the christall gates of Heauen 180 VVhose sacred Counsell now in iudgment set And shee before them stands to plead her case Her drearie words in bloodie tears are wet The euidence appears before my face And I condemn'd a catife wanting grace Iustice cryes out vpon this sinfull deed And to my death the fatall starrs proceed 181 Earth swallow me and hide me in thy wombe O let my shame in thy deepe Center dwell Wrap vp this murder in my wretched tombe Let tender mercy stop the gates of hell And with sweet drops this furious heat expell O let repentance iust reuenge appease And let my soule in torment find some ease 182 O no her tears are now become a flood And as they rise increasing mine offence And now the shedding of her guiltlesse blood Euen like a Cankar gnawes my conscience O ther's my griefe my paine proceeds frō thence Yet neuer time wears out this filthy staine And I dishonor'd euer shall remaine 183 Fame in her death shame in me tooke her birth That shame in dying till her fame be dead My sinne on earth whilst shee is in the earth And by her fall my fault will still be fed My black more black my red be made more red Her no my I her was my wicked is Her good my ill my basenes be her blisse 184 Then doe I vow a solemne pylgrimage Before my wretched miserable end This doone betake me to some Hermitage VVhere I the remnant of my daies will spend VVhere almes and prayer I euer will attend And on the Tombe at last where thou dost lie VVhen all is done Ile lay mee downe and die 185 And for his pennance lastly he deuis'd Monthly to Dunmow would he take his way And in a simple Palmers weede disguis'd VVith deep deuotion kneele him downe to pray Kissing the place whereas my body lay Washing my Tombe with his repentant tears And being wet yet dry'd it with his hairs FINIS THE ARGVMENT OF PEIRS GAVESTON PEIRS Gaueston borne in Gascoyne at a place of that name his Father a valiant Gentleman and a souldiour seruing vnder Edward Longshancks in his warres in Fraunce Scotland and Wales This Peirs Gaueston then beeing a child of singuler beautie and no lesse towardnesse was preferd to the place of a Page to Edward of Carnaruan the young Prince of Wales with whom hee became so highlie in fauour as neuer any thing could remooue his inviolable loue Gaueston as he grew in yeers became most licentious by his inticments drew this toward young Prince following this his youthfull Minion into hate with the Noblemen and disgrace with the King his Father who banished this lasciuious corrupter of his Sonne But after the death of this good King Edward of Carnaruan comming to the Crowne calls him home creating him Earle of Cornwall making him Lord Chamberlaine Treasurer Secretarie Lord Deputie of Ireland and Lord Protector of the Land in his absence in Fraunce giuing him the Ile of MAN with all Queene Elinors dowrie Hee thus established by the King becommeth a hater of the Noble men drowned in pride and ambition setting mortall debate betwixt the Barrons and the King who subborned him in all his actions as a man bewithced by this wicked and vile man Hee was twice banished the Realme by meanes of the Barrons who deadly hated him and yet still the King founde meanes to restore him At length the Barrons seeing no remedy rise in Armes taking Gaueston at Scarborough in the North thether fled as to a refuge frō their furie They bring him to Warwicke where by Guy Beuchamp the great Earle of Warwicke he was beheaded at Blacklow bill THE LEGENDE OF Piers Gaueston Entituled To the vvorthie and Honourable Gentleman Ma. Henrie Cauendish Esquire 1 FRom gloomy shaddow of eternall night Where cole-black darknes keeps his lothsom cel And frō those ghosts whose eyes abhor y e light From thence I come a wosull tale to tell Prepare the Stage I meane to act my part Sighing the Scenes from my tormented hart 2 From Stygian Lake to gracelesse soules assign'd And from the flood of burning Acheron VVhere sinfull spirits are by fire refin'd The fearfull ghost of wofull Gaueston With black-fac'd Furies frō the graues attended Vntill the tenor of my tale be ended 3 Wing-footed Fame nowe summons me frō death In Fortunes triumph to aduaunce my glory The blessed Heauens againe doe lend me breath VVhilst I report this dolefull Tragick storie That soule body which death once did sunder Now meete together to report a wonder 4 O purple-buskind Pallas most diuine Let thy bright Fauchion lend me Cypresse bowes Be thou assisting to this Poet of mine And with thy tragick garland girt his browes Pitying my case when none would hear me weep To tell my cares hath layd his owne to sleepe 5 You mournfull Maidens of the sacred nine You Destenies which haunt the shades beneath To you fayre Muses I my plaints resigne To you black spirits I my woes bequeath VVith sable penns of direfull Ebonie To pen the processe of my tragedie 6 Drawe on the lines which shall report my life VVith weeping words distilling from thy pen Where woes abound and ioyes are passing rife A verie meteor in the eyes of men Wherein the world a wonder-world may see Of heauen-bred ioy and hell-nurst miserie 7 Declare my ebb my often swelling tyde Now tell my calmes and then report my showres My Winters storms and then my Sommers pride False Fortunes smiles then her dissembling lowres The height wherto my glory did ascend Then point the period where my ioyes did end 8 When famous Edward wore the
giuen And in my Charter all their right compil'd That I alone should blesse as beautious heauen And honor those on whom I meane to smile To gaine them tytles of immortall stile That all should worthy be which I bestow Nor reason vrg'd but for I thinke it so 31 In great predestination is my beeing Whose depth yet wisdom neuer could discerne And in her secrets more then secrets seeing Where learning stil may learne how still to learne Those points w t do the deepest points conscerne VVhere sacred texts vnlock the way to me To lighten those which will my glory see 32 What names old Poets to their gods did giue VVere onely figures to expresse my might To shew the vertues that in mee doe liue My onely power on this all-moouing wight And all their Alters vnto mee were dight VVhose wondrous working stil to times did bring Matter whereon they euer-more might sing 33 Still most vncertaine varying in my course Yet in these changes hold one certaine end Crossing mans fore-cast weakning wisdoms force To none still foe to none a perfect frend Amazing thought to thinke what I pretend Depressing vertue sometime that thereby Shee taking wing againe may sore on hie 34 Forth of my lap I poure aboundant blisse All good proceedes from my all-giuing hand By me man happie or vnhappie is Blest if I blesse repuls'd if I with-stand And I alone am friendships onely band Vpon whose Lincks all greedely take hold Which being broke our zealous faith growes cold 35 Pawsing shee strownes when sudainly againe A roaring noyse ariseth from the flood As when a tempest with a shower of raine Is heard far off within some mightie wood At which me thought all things amazed stood As though her words such power with them did beare As Sea Land did quake her voice to heare 36 VVhen Fame yet smiling mildly thus replyes Alasse quoth shee what labour thou hast lost What wondrous mists thou casts before our eyes Yet will the gaine not counteruaile the cost What couldst y u say if thou hadst cause to boast Which thus canst paint such wōders of thy worth Yet art far lesse then nothing can set forth 37 A hap a chaunce a casuall euent The vulgars I doll and a childish terror A what men will a silly accedent The maske of blindnesse and disguise of error Natures vile nickname sollies foolish mirror A tearme a by-word by tradition learn'd A hearesay nothing not to be discern'd 38 A wanton feare a silly Infants dreame A vaine illusion a meere fantasie A seeming shade a lunatick mans theame A fond Aenigma a flat heresie Imaginations doting trumperie A folly in it selfe it one selfe lothing A thing that would be and yet can be nothing 39 Disease of time Ambitions Concubine A minde-entrauncing snare a slippery Ice The baite of death destructions heady wine Vaine-glories Patron the fooles paradice Fond hope wherewith confusion doth entice A vile seducing fiend which haunts men still To loose them in the errors of their will 40 A reason which no reason can discusse And hast the ground of all thy strength frō hence VValking in shadow of mans Genius In humane birth pretending residence A riddle made of the starrs influence VVhich good and euill doost thy title frame Yet neither good nor euill but in name 41 Those ignorant which made a God of Nature And Natures God diuinely neuer knew VVere those which first erected Fortunes stature From whence this vile idolatry first grew Which times defect into mens eares still blew Grounding their vsurpations foolish lawes On the opinion of so poore a cause 42 Sloth first did hatch thee in her sleepie Cell And with base thoughts in idlenes wast bred VVith cowardize thou euer-more doost dwell And with dishonourable ease art fed In superstitious humors brought to bed A gossips tale thy greatest proofe doth lend On old-sayd sawes thy tytle doth depend 43 Thy habit loosenes and thy measure wast Deceitfull vaine inhumane sickle light Thou poysonest him to whom thou giu'st to tast Gainst vertue still thou bendest all thy might VVith honourable thoughts thou wagest fighte The yeelding man in fetters thou doost binde But weake and slauish to the constant minde 44 VVho leanes to thee whō thou hast not deceiu'd VVho slattrest thou whom thou abusest not VVho hopes of thee and not of hope bereau'd whose secrets known w t shame do'st thou not blot VVho not deuour'd thou in thy pawes hast got VVho's he or where yet euer was he found That thou might'st hurt didst not deadly wound 45 The slauish peasant is thy fauorite In chaunge and chaunces all thy glory is In vile and basest things thou tak'st delite In earthly mud consisteth all thy blisse VVhat canst thou be which art bewitch'd with this For weart thou heauenly thou in loue wouldst be With that which neerest doth resemble thee 46 I am the powerfull messenger of heauen My wings the lightning spreading farre wide To euery coast I with a thought am driuen And on the gorgeous sun-beames doe I ride To heauen I mount downe to the earth I slide I regester the worlds eternall howers The Secretarie of the immortall powers 47 Refuge of hope the harbinger of truth Handmaide of heauen vertues skilfull guide The life of life the ages of springing youth Triumph of ioy eternities faire bride The Virgins glory and the Martirs pride The courages immortall raysing fier The very height to which great thoughts aspire 48 The staire by which men to the Starres doe clime The minds first moouer greatnes to expresse Fayths armour and the vanquisher of time A pleasant sweete against deaths bitternes The high reward which doth all labours blesse The studie which doth heauenly things impart The ioy amidst the tedious wayes of Art 49 Learnings greene Lawrell Iustice glorious throne The Muses chariot Memories true foode The Poets life the Gods companion The fire-reuiuing Phaenix Sun-nurst broode The spirits eternall Image honors good The Balsamum which cures the Souldiers scarre The world-discouering Sea-mans happy Starre 50 My dwelling place betwixt the earth and skies My Turret vnto heauen her top vpreares The windowes made of Lynceus piercing eyes And all the walls be made of daintiest eares Where euery thing thats done in earth appeares No word is whispered in this vaulty round But in my Pallace straightwayes it doth sound 51 The pauement is of ratling brasen drums The Rafters trumpets which do rend the aire Sounding aloud each name that thither comes The chinks like tongues of all things talking there And all things past in memorie doe beare The dores vnlock with euery word man faith And open wide with euery little breath 52 It's hong about with Arms conquering spoiles The pillers which support the roofe of this Are tropheis grauen with Herculean toiles The roofe of garlands crownes and ensignes is In midst of which a christall Pyramis All ouer caru'd with men of most renowne Whose base is my faire chaire the spire my
wit wit courage arms This is the thred which leadeth on his will This is the steere which guides him in these storms To see his good and to foresee his harms Not flying life in fortune so content Not fearing death as truly valient 144 He feasts desire with sweetest temperance Greatnes he decks in modesties attire Honor he doth by humblenes aduance By sufferance he raiseth courage hier His holy thoughts by patience still aspire To fashion vertue strangely he doth seeke Making poore hope impatient sorrow meeke 145 Then in his ioy he nothing lesse inioyes Still of him selfe the worser part he is What most shold please him him the most annoyes Of his there's nothing can be called his And what he hath that doth he euer misse His thought of conquest so doth rest inuade Thus is he made as vnto others made 146 All things to him be prosperous as he would Not trusting Fortune nor distrusting Fate Resolu'd to hope hap what soever could Ioying in woe in ioy disconsolate Ioy lightneth woe woe ioy doth moderate Carelesse of both indifferent twixt either VVooed of both yet yeelding vnto neither 147 Endlesse his toyle a figure of his fame And his life ending giues his name no end Lasting that forme where vertue builds the frame Those sums vnnumbred glory giues to spend Our bodies buried then our deeds ascend Those deeds in life to worth cannot be rated In death with life our fame euen then is dated 148 VVilling to doe he thinketh what to doe That what he did exactly might be done That due foresight before the act might goe VVhich wisely warning might all errors shun That care might finish what he had begun Iustly directed in the course of things By that straight rule which sound experience brings 149 From famous Godfrey and the Christian hoast Vnto the migty Grecian Emperor Now is he sent through many perrils tost This Norman Duke the braue Ambassador His royall spirit so much ne're seene before As with his princely traine when he doth come Before the towne of faire Bizantium 150 From forth the holy Region is he sent Bending his coure through Macedon and Thrace Yet neuer would he sleepe but in his Tent Till he return'd vnto that hallowed place Till he beheld that famous Godfreis face Nor neuer rest his body in a bed Till Palaestine were free deliuered 151 Triumphall prowesse true disposed care Cleare-shining courage honourable intent Vertuous-apparreld manhood thoughts more rare Mind free as heauen imperiall gouernment Numbers of vertues in one sweet consent Gyfts which the soule so highly beautifie Humble valour valiant humilitie 152 Sweet ayre with Angels breath be thou refin'd And for his sake be made more pure then ayre And thether let some gentle breathing wind From Paradice bring sweets which be most rare Let Sommer sit in his imperiall chayre And clothe sad Winter in the cheerefull prime Keeping continuall Sommer in the clime 153 Delight be present in thy best attire And court his eyes with thy delightfull change Oh warme his spirit with thy soule-feasting fire To base delight-abusers be thou strange Such as in vainest pleasures boundlesse range For pleasure he all pleasures quite forsooke And arm'd with zeale these toiles first vndertooke 154 O let Danubius in her watry roome VVhere she the name of Ister first did take VVith threescore riuers swelling in her wombe With seauen large throats her greedy thirst to slake Doth swallow in the great worlds vastie lake Vnto all regions which doe know her name In Roberts glory tell our countries fame 155 And broad-brim'd Strymon as she vaulteth on Slyding along the fertill Thracian shore Kissing the stronds of famous Macedon Which once the name of old Aemathia wore Whose fame decay'd her drops do now deplore May raise another Orpheus with her mones To sing his praise vnto her trees and stones 156 Time on his life thy gathered store disburse VVhich may enrich thee with eternall gaine VVhich art a beldame now become a nurse And in his end begin his glorious raigne That yet truth may of truth be forc'd to faine That of his praise thy selfe a part maist be VVhich praise remaines the better part of thee 157 O thou immortall Tasso Aestes glory VVhich in thy golden booke his name hast left Enrold in thy great Godfreis liuing story VVhose lines shall scape vntoucht of ruins thest Yet vs of him thou hast not quite bereft Though thy large Poems onely boast his name Ours was his birth and we will haue his fame 158 The curious state of greatnes he doth scorne Carelesse of pomp to be magnificent Deeming the noblest minded noblest borne Him worthiest honor which the furthest went His blood most pure whose blood in wars most spent Esteeming all fond titles toyes of naught Most honoring those which were with peril bought 159 His richest roabes are his approoued Armes His sports were deeds of peerelesse chiualrie He flies all pleasures as the Syrens charmes To his great mind no pleasing harmonie Not touch't with childish imbecillitie As sacriledge to his religious mind To mix base thoughts with those of heauenly kind 160 A mind which of it selfe could rightly deeme Keeping a straight way in one certaine course As a true witnes of his owne esteeme Feeding it selfe from his owne springing source And by himselfe increasing his owne force Desirous still him daylie to enure To endure that men thought none could endure 161 Deuinest touch instinct of highest heauen Most gracefull grace purest of puritie To mortall man immortall vertue giuen Manhood adorn'd with powerfull dietie Discreetfull pitty hallowed pietie In secret working by itselfe confest In silent admiration best exprest 162 Not spur'd with honor dearely louing peace Constant in any course to which he fell A spirit which no asffliction could oppresse Neuer remou'd where once his thought did dwell Opynionate that what he did was well VVhich working now vpon so good a cause Approueth his conceit the surest lawes 163 No braggarts boast nor ostentacious word Out of his mouth is euer heard proceed But on his foe-mans curats with his sword In characters records his valiant deed That there vnpartiall eyes might plainly reed In modest silence by true vertue hid That though he dumb his deeds told what he did 164 He cheres his Souldiers with sweet honied words His princely hand embalmes the maimeds wound Vnto the needie gold he still affords To braue attempts encouraging the sound Neuer dismaid in perrill is he found His Tent a seate of iustice to the greeu'd A kingly court when need should be releeu'd 165 His life each hower to danger he doth giue Yet still by valour he with perrill striues In all attempts as he did scorne to liue Yet lyuing as his life were many liues Oft times from death it seemes that he reuiues Each hower in great attempts he seemes to die Yet still he liues in spight of ieopardie 166 Euen by that town o're which his Lord did weepe Whose precious tears were shed
of heauenly chastitie You sacred Vestalls Angels only glorie Right presidents of immortalitie Onely to you I consecrate my storie It shall suffise for mee if you be sorie If you alone shall deigne to grace his verse Which serues for odours to perfume my hearse 4 Let your delicious heauen-distilling tears Soften the earth to send mee from her wombe With Conquerors Lawrel crown my golden hairs With flowry garland beautifie my tombe Be you the Heralds to proclaime mee roome VVith sable Cypresse maske your louely eyes Mourning my death with dolefull Elegies 5 Faire Rosamond of all so highly graced Recorded in the lasting booke of Fame And in our Sainted Legendarie placed By him who striues to stellifie her name Yet will some Matrons say shee was to blame Though all the world bewitched with his rime Yet all his skill cannot excuse her crime 6 Lucrece of whom proud Rome hath bosted long Lately reuiu'd to liue another age And here arriu'd to tell of Tarquins wrong Her chast deniall and the Tyrants rage Acting her passions on our stately stage Shee is remembred all forgetting mee Yet I as faire and chast as ere was shee 7 Shores wife is in her wanton humor sooth'd And modern Poets still applaud her praise Our famous Elstreds wrinckled brows are smooth'd Call'd from her graue to see these latter dayes And happy's hee their glory high'st can raise Thus looser wantons still are praisd of many Vice oft findes friends but vertue seldom any 8 O fairest Charities Ioues deere delight O lend me now one heauen-inchaunting lay And you rare Nymphs which please Apollos sight Bring spreading Palme and neuer-dying Bay VVith Oliue branches strew the pleasant way And with you viols sound one pleasing straine To ayde his Muse and raise his humble vaine 9 And thou ô BETA soueraigne of his thought Englands Diana let him thinke on thee By thy perfections let his Muse be taught And in his breast so deepe imprinted be That he may write of sacred chastitie Though not like Collin in thy Britomart Yet loues asmuch although he wants his Art 10 O my dread Soueraigne rare and princly Maid From whose pure eyes the world deriues her light In Angels roabs with maiestie arayd In whom true vertue is defin'd aright O let these lines be gracious in thy sight In whom alone as in a perfect glas All may discerne how chast Matilda was 11 To brag of birth or noblesse were but vaine Although I might compare me with the best To challenge that our Auncestors did gaine A royall minde such follie doth detest VVhich I omit and heere set downe my rest Of vertuous life I meane to boast alone Our birth is theirs our vertues are our owne 12 A shame to fetch our long discent from Kings And from great Ioue deriue our pedigree The braue atchiuements of a hundred things Breathing vaine boasts the world to terrifie If we our selues doe blot with infamie And staine that blood honor which is theirs Men cannot leaue their vertues to their heyrs 13 The Heauen became a Midwife at my birth A kinde Lucina gentlie helping Nature Some sacred power then present on the earth Fore-telling rare perfection in a creature As all men iudg'd by so diuine a feature Yet as my beautie seem'd to rauish all Vertue made beautie more angelicall 14 Vpon my brow sate Honor in her pride Tables containing heauens diuinest law VVhose snowie margent quoted on each side With such delights as all mens harts could draw My thoughts as Tutors kept mine eyes in awe Frō their rare sun-beams darting forth such raies As wel y e work might shew the Arts-mans praise 15 These Cherubins the Tree of life doe keepe These Dragons watch the faire Hesperian fruite These fiery Serpents guarde the golden Sheepe These fixed starrs their rayes like lightning shute At whose approch the wise were striken mute These eyes w c only could true vertues measure Ordain'd by Nature to preserue her treasure 16 My words were gracefull pleasing to the wise My speech retayning modest decencie Not fondlie vaine nor foolishly precise But sweetly tun'd with such a simphony Moouing all hearers with the harmonie Gracing my tale with such an Emphasis As neuer musick could delight like this 17 My face the sunne adorning beauties sky The booke where heauen her wonders did enrole A stately Pharos to each wandring eye And like a Syren could enchaunt the soule Which had the power the proudest to controle To whom this gift my Maker had assigned That there all eyes like Southsayers diuined 18 Natures faire Ensigne royallie displai'd Map of Elisium Eden without night Ermins wherein rich Phoebus is arrai'd Right prospectiue reflecting heauenlie light Hart-wounding arrow pearcing with the sight Bright mornings lustre Ioues high exaltation Load-starre of loue rare Card of admiration 19 True type of honor fine delicious varry The richest coate that euer beauty bare Pure colours which the heauens doe onely carry O vncouth blazon so exceeding rare O curious lymming passing all compare First at my birth assigned vnto mee By that great King of heauenly Heraldry 20 From hence my praise began to proue her wing VVhich to the heauen could carry vp my fame Of all my glory now began the spring Through euery Coast this still enlarg'd my name From hence the cause of all my sorrowes came Thus to this Hydra are we subiect still Who dares to speake not caring good or ill 21 This iealous Monster hath a thousand eyes Her ayrie bodie hath as many wings Now on the earth then vp to heauen shee flies And here and there with euery wind she flings From euerie Coast her rumors forth she brings Nothing so secret but to her appeareth And apt to credit euery thing shee heareth 22 Foule blabbing tel-tale secrets soone bewrayer Thou ayre-bred Eccho whisperer of lyes Shril-sounding trumpet Truths vnkind betrayer False larum-bel awaking dead mens eyes Vncertaine rumor wandring in the skyes Fond pratling Parrat telling all thou hearest Ost furthest of when as thou shold'st be neerest 23 The Princes eares are open to report Ther's skill in blazing beautie to a King To censure is the subiect of the Court Frō thence Fame carries thether Fame doth bring There to each word a thousand Ecchos ring A Lottery where most loose but few do win Few loue Religion manie follow sin 24 Loe here at first my beautie plaid her prize Here where my vertues seldom prized be Yet that which most seem'd wondred of the wise Confin'd by vertue cleerlie made mee see VVhat dangers were attending still on mee Which most desir'd for why esteem'd most rare Guarded I kept with most especiall care 25 Thys whole possest the thoughts of princly Iohn This on his hart-strings Angels musick made This was the subiect which he wrought vpon That deepe impression which could neuer fade Reason which might sufficiently perswade Hence sprong that griefe w c neuer gaue him rest This was the spirit wher-with he was possest 26 This
the world with so diuine a thing But as a gyft to gratifie a King Seal'd thee this Charter dated at thy birth To be the fair'st that euer liu'd on earth 49 Locke not thy treasure heauen doth giue the store A thousand Graces at thine eyes are fed Thy bosome is the Angels secret dore Thy breast the pillowes of faire Venus bed Regards of honour on thy browes are red Thy cheeks the banquet where sweet Loue doth feast The royall Pawne of Beauties interest 50 Thy lips y e Bath where sorrows wounds are healed VVhere abstinence keepes Vertue in a diet And in thy wit all wonders are reuealed VVisedom growne welthy liueth there at quiet Thy modest eye controles Loues wanton ryot Thine eye that planet clearer then the seauen Whose radient splēdour lights y e world to heauen 51 Frō thy sweet looks such streams of lightning glide As through the eyes do wound the very hart Killing and curing as they are applide Hurting and healing like Achilles Dart Which to the world do heauenly things impart And thou alone the spirit of all delight Which like the sun ioy'st all things with thy sight 52 Could heauen allowe wher-with to lim thee forth Or earth afford things of esteeme to praise thee VVere words sufficient to expresse thy worth Or could inuention to thy glory raise thee Could art deuise a waight wherby to peize thee But thy surpassing excellence is such As eyes may gaze but nothing els can tuch 53 Hee is thy King who is becom thy subiect Thy soueraigne Lord who onely seekes thy loue Thy beauty is his eyes commaunding obiect Who for thy sake a thousand deaths would proue Sweet Maid let prayers some compassion moue Let VVolues Beares be cruell in their kinds But women meeke and haue relenting minds 54 Loue forc'd the Gods to things for Gods vnmeet Behold a Monarch kneeling to a maide Apollo prostrate at his Daphnes feete Great Atlas bowes on whom the heauen is staide Thy Ioue his Scepter on thy lap hath laide Thou in his throne doest sit as Chancellor And he become thy daylie Orator 55 Looke on these browes the perfect Map of care The truest mirrour of my miserie In wrinkled lines where sorrowes written are VVhere Time still reades on Loues Anotomy My bloodlesse vaines with greefes Phlebotomy A stanchlesse hart dead-wounded euer bleeding On whō that nere-fild vulture Loue sits seeding 56 Pitty this soule-euaporating smoke The purest incense of most perfect zeale These deep-fetcht sighes confounding words halfe spoke VVhere swoln-ey'd passion doth her selfe reueale That ragefull fier no reason can conceale VVhere torments last ioyes are still diluded VVhere all infernall torture is included 57 Behold the brim-full Cesterns of these eyes VVith surging Tydes of brackist teares frequented VVhere foodlesse Hope still hunger-staruen lies In burning Pooles eternally tormented VVhich to betray my hart at first consented VVhere as the spirit of woe hath euer being Blinded in teares yet in teares only seeing 58 Shyne thou like Cynthia vnder mine estate Thy tresses deckt with Ariadnes Crowne In pompe redubling costly Iunos rate And cloud the world in sable with a frowne Aduance thy friends throw the mighty downe Be thou admir'd through all this famous Ile Thy name enrol'd with neuer-dated stile 59 Great troupes of Ladies shall attend my Gerle Thou on thy braue tryumphing Chariot borne Thy drinke shall be dissolued orient Pearle Thy princely Cup of rarest Vnicorne Then liue at ease and laugh the world to scorne And if our musick cannot like thine eares Thy Ioue shall fetch thee musick from the Spheres 60 Thy name as my Empreza will I beare My well tun'd rymes shall glory in thy praise Vpon my Crowne thy fauors will I weare Figuring thy loue a thousand sundry wayes My power shall be thy shield at all assayes And thou my Saint Kings offering to thy shrine Wondring thy beautie as a thing diuine 61 What if my Queene Detractor of our blisse Thee by her hundreth-eyed Heardsman keepe Ile bring to passe she shall her purpose misse My Mercurie shall lull him till he sleepe Loue euer laughs when I clousie dooth weepe My prouidence shall keepe her stomack vnder She may raise storms but Ioue doth rule y e thunder 62 Thus hauing broke the Ice frō whence might spring Sweet streames of loue in calme and fairer time And afterward might ioyfull tydings bring The staire begun by which he thought to clyme Hoping due howres now he had sed the chyme Leaues me not knowing now w c way to turne me Warm'd with y e fire w c vnawars might burne me 57 Behold the brim-full Cesterns of these eyes VVith surging Tydes of brackist teares frequented VVhere foodlesse Hope still hunger-staruen lies In burning Pooles eternally tormented VVhich to betray my hart at first consented VVhere as the spirit of woe hath euer being Blinded in teares yet in teares only seeing 58 Shyne thou like Cynthia vnder mine estate Thy tresses deckt with Ariadnes Crowne In pompe redubling costly Iunos rate And cloud the world in sable with a frowne Aduance thy friends throw the mighty downe Be thou admir'd through all this famous Ile Thy name enrol'd with neuer-dated stile 59 Great troupes of Ladies shall attend my Gerle Thou on thy braue tryumphing Chariot borne Thy drinke shall be dissolued orient Pearle Thy princely Cup of rarest Vnicorne Then liue at ease and laugh the world to scorne And if our musick cannot like thine eares Thy Ioue shall fetch thee musick from the Spheres 60 Thy name as my Empreza will I beare My well tun'd rymes shall glory in thy praise Vpon my Crowne thy fauors will I weare Figuring thy loue a thousand sundry wayes My power shall be thy shield at all assayes And thou my Saint Kings offering to thy shrine Wondring thy beautie as a thing diuine 61 What if my Queene Detractor of our blisse Thee by her hundreth-eyed Heardsman keepe Ile bring to passe she shall her purpose misse My Mercurie shall lull him till he sleepe Loue euer laughs when Ielousie dooth weepe My prouidence shall keepe her stomack vnder She may raise storms but Ioue doth rule y e thunder 62 Thus hauing broke the Ice frō whence might spring Sweet streames of loue in calme and fairer time And afterward might ioyfull tydings bring The staire begun by which he thought to clyme Hoping due howres now he had sed the chyme Leaues me not knowing now w c way to turne me Warm'd with y e fire w c vnawars might burne me 63 Forth-with began strange factions in my thought And in my soule a sudden mutinie Feare and Desire a doubtfull combat fought The tytle stands vpon extremitie My force was great and strong mine enemie Till Resolution seeing all begun Sent Succors in by whom the field was won 64 As thus mine honour in the Ballance hung Betwixt the worlds preferment and my fame This in mine eares like Syrens sweetly sung That wisely still fore-warned me of shame
once I choisly fed Now when pale death my sences doth surprize I offer her vpon my dying bed This precious sweet perfumed sacrifice Hallowed in my almighty Makers eyes Which from this Alter lends me heauenly light Guiding my soule amid this darksome night 154 My glorious life my spotlesse Chastitie Now at this hower be all the ioyes I haue These be the wings by which my fame shall flye In memorie these shall my Name engraue These from obliuion shall mine honour saue VVith Laurell these my browes shall coronize And make me liue to all posterities 155 Our fond preferments are but childrens toyes And as a shaddow all our pleasures passe As yeeres increase so wayning are our ioyes And beautie crazed like a broken glasse A prettie tale of that which neuer was All things decay yet Vertue shall not dye This onely giues vs immortalitie 156 My soule thus from her pryson set at large And gently freed from this poluted roome This prize vnladen from this lothsome Barge Such is the Heauens ineuitable doome My body layd at Dunmow in my Toombe Thus Baynards-Castle boasts my blessed birth And Dunmow kindly wraps me in her earth 157 NOW scarcely was my breathlesse body cold But euery where my Tragedy was spred And Fame abroad in euery Coast had told My resolution being lately dead The glorious wonder of all women-head And to my Father flyes with this report VVho liu'd an Exile in the French-Kings Court 158 His griefe too great to be bewail'd with teares VVords insufficient to expresse his woe His soule assaulted with a thousand feares As many sundry passions come and goe His thoughts vncertaine wandring too and froe At length this fearefull extasie ore-past Grones from his soule this passion at the last 159 O Heauens quoth he why was I borne accurst This onely comfort to mine age was left But to despite me you haue done your worst And me of all my worldly ioyes bereft I quite vndone by your deceitfull theft This was the Iewell I esteemed most And loosing this now all my treasurs lost 160 Yee powers Diuine if you be cleane and chast In whom alone consists eternitie VVhy suffer you your owne to be disgras't Subiect to death and black impuritie If in your shield be no securitie If so for Vertue these rewards be due VVho shall adore or who shall honour you 161 VVhat ment you first to giue her vitall breath Or make the world proud by her blessed birth Predestinating this vntimelie death And of her presence to depriue the earth O fruitlesse age now staru'd with Vertues dearth Or if you long'd to haue her companie O why by poyson would you let her die 162 O Soile with drops of mercy once bedew'd When iust men were instauled in thy throne But now with blood of Innocents imbrew'd Stayning the glory of fayre Albion O lustfull Monster ô accursed Iohn O heauens to whom should men for iustice cry When Kings themselues thus raigne by tyrannie 163 O gyue me wings Reuenge I will ascend And fetch her soule againe out of their power From them proceeded this vntimely end VVho tooke her hence before her dying hower And rays'd that clowd which rayn'd this bloodie shower And frō the graue Ile dig her body vp VVhich had her bane by that vile poysoned cup 164 O pardon Heauens these sacriligious words This irreligious open blasphemie My wretched soule no better now affords Such is the passion of mine agonie My desperate case in this extremitie You harbour those which euer like you best With blessed Angels let her spirit rest 165 No no Ile practise by some secret Art How to infect his pure life-breathing ayre Or else Ile sheath my poyniard in his hart Or with strong poyson Ile annoynt his Chayre Or by inchauntment will his dayes impayre O no reuenge to God alone belongs And it is he which must reuenge my wrongs 166 Griefe would'st thou wound a world of humaine harts And yet not furnish'd with artillerie Of my care-dryed bones then make thee darts And point them with my sorrow poysoned eye Which hitting right shall make euen death to dye That thou thine Ebon bowe shalt neuer drawe But black despaire himselfe shall stand in awe 167 O heauens perforce we must attend your time Our succours must awaite vpon you still In your iust waights you ballance euery crime For vs you know what's good and what is ill VVho vnderstands your deepe and secret skill In you alone our destenies consist Then who is he which can your power resist 168 O could my sighes againe but giue thee breath Or were my tears such balme as could restore thee Or could my life redeeme thee from this death Or were my prayers but inuocations worthy Sighs tears life prayers were all to little for thee But since the heauen thus of my child disposeth Ah me thy Tombe now all my ioyes incloseth 169 But Death is proud and scorneth to be Death Her smiling beautie did his heate aswage And is so much enrich'd with her sweet breath As he doth scorne mine o're-worne wrinkled age Though with contempt I moue him still to rage But as thou lou'st her death for her sweet sake As thou took'st her from me me to her take 170 O what a wonder shall thy valure bring VVhat admiration to posteritie VVhat rare examples from thy vertues spring O what a glorie to thy Progenie To be engrau'd in lasting memorie VVhen as applauding Fame in euery Coast Shall thus in honor of Fitzwaters boast 171 England when peace vpon thy shores shall flourish And that pure Maiden sit vpon thy Throne VVhich in her bosome shall the Muses nourish Whose glorious fame shall through the world be blowne O blessed Ile thrice happy Albion Then let thy Poets in their stately rimes Sing forth her praises to succeeding times 182 Euen like the roote of some large branched Oake VVhose body by some storme is ouer-borne Euen with such horror be mine entrailes broke As when that roote out of the ground is torne And with such wofull horror let them mourne As with y e shreeks each liuing thing may wound Euen as the Mandrake torne out of the ground 183 BY this the Kings vile bloody rage is past And gentle time his choller dooth digest The fire consumes his substance at the last The griefe asswag'd which did his spirit molest That fiend cast out wherewith he was possest And now he feeles thys horror in his soule Whē lothsome shame his actions doth cōtroule 174 Black hell-bred-humor of reuenging sin By whose inticements murder we commit The end vnthought of rashlie we begin Letting our passion ouer-rule our wit Missing the marke which most we ayme to hit Clogging our soules with such a masse of care As casts vs downe oft times to deepe Dispaire 175 Traytor to Vertue Reprobate quoth hee As for a King no more vsurpe the name Staine to all honor and gentilitie Mark'd in the face with th'yron of Defame The Picture of
English crowne Victorious Longshanks flower of chiualrie First of his name that raign'd in Albion Through worlds renown'd to all posteritie My youth began and then began my blis Euen in his daies those blessed daies of his 9 O daies no daies but little worlds of mirth O yeeres no yeeres time slyding with a trice O world no world a very heauen on earth O earth no earth a verie Paradice A King a man nay more then this was hee If earthly man more then a man might be 10 Such a one hee was as Englands Beta is Such as shee is euen such a one was hee Betwixt her rarest excellence and his VVas neuer yet so neere a simpathy To tell your worth and to giue him his due I say my Soueraigne hee was like to you 11 His Court a schoole where Arts were dailie red And yet a Campe where Armes are exercised Vertue and learning heere were nourished And stratagems by souldiers still deuised Heere skilfull Schoolmen were his Counsailors Schollers his Captains Captains Senators 12 Here sprang the roote of true gentilitie Vertue was clad in gold crown'd with honor Honor intitled to Nobilitie Admired so of all that looked on her Wisdom not wealth possessed wisemens roomes Vnfitting base insinuating Groomes 13 Then were vile worldlings loth'd as filthy toades And good men as rare pearls were richly prized The learned were accounted little Gods The hatefull Atheist as the plague despised Desert then gaynd what vertues merit craues And Artles Pesants scornd as basest slaues 14 Pride was not then which all things ouerwhelms Promotion was not purchased with gold Men hew'd their honor out of steeled helms In those daies fame with blood was bought sold No petti-fogger pol'd the poore for pence These dolts these dogs as traytors banisht hence 15 Then was the Souldier prodigall of blood His deeds eterniz'd by the Poets pen VVho spar'd his life to doe his Countrie good VVhen after death his fame remain'd with men Then learning liu'd with liberalitie And men were crownd with immortalitie 16 Graunt pardon then vnto my wandring ghost Although I seeme lasciuious in my praise And of perfection though I vainlie boast VVhilst here on earth I troad this wearie maze VVhilst yet my soule in body did abide And whilst my flesh was pampred here in pride 17 My valiant Father was in Gascoygne borne A man at Arms and matchlesse with his launce A Souldier vow'd and to King Edward sworne VVith whom he seru'd in all his warrs in Fraunce His goods and lands he pawnd layd to gage To follow him the wonder of that age 18 And thus himselfe hee from his home exil'd Who with his sword sought to aduaunce his fame VVith me his ioy but then a little chyld Vnto the Court of famous England came Whereas the King for seruice he had done Made me a Page vnto the Prince his sonne 19 My tender youth yet scarce crept from the shell Vnto the world brought such a wonderment That all perfection seem'd in mee to dwell And that the heauens me all their graces lent Some sware I was the quintessence of Nature And some an Angel and no earthly creature 20 The heauens had limm'd my face with such a die As made each curious eye on earth amazed Tempring my lookes with loue and maiestie A miracle to all that euer gazed So that it seem'd some power had in my birth Ordained me his Image heere on earth 21 O beautious varnish of the heauens aboue Pure grain-dy'd colour of a perfect birth O fairest tincture Adamant of loue Angell-hewd blush the prospective of mirth O sparkling luster ioying humaine sight Liues ioy harts fire loues nurse y e soules delight 22 As purple-tressed Titan with his beames The sable clowdes of night in sunder cleaueth Enameling the earth with golden streames VVhen he his crimson Canapie vpheaueth Such where my beauties pure translucent rayes Which cheer'd y e Sun cleerd y e drouping daies 23 My lookes perswading Orators of loue My speech diuine infusing harmonie And every word so well could passion moue So were my icstures grac'd with modestie As where my thoughts intended to surprize I easly made a conquest with mine eyes 24 A gracious minde a passing louelie eye A hand that gaue a mouth y e neuer vaunted A chast desire a tongue that would not lye A Lyons hart a courage neuer daunted A sweet conceit in such a cariage placed As with my iesture all my words were graced 25 Such was the work which Nature had begun As promised a Iem of wondrous price This little starre fore-told a glorious Sunne This curious plot an earthly Paradice This Globe of beauty wherein all might see An after world of wonders heere in mee 26 As in th' Autumnall season of the yeere Some death-presaging Comet doth arise Or some prodigious meteor doth appeare Or fearefull Chasma vnto humaine eyes Euen such a wonder was I to behold Where heauen seem'd all her secrets to vnfold 27 If cunnings't pensill-man that euer wrought By skilfull Arte of secret Sumetrie Or the diuine Idea of the thought VVith rare descriptions of high Poesie Should all compose a body and a minde Such one was I the wonder of my kinde 28 VVith this faire bayte I fisht for Edwards loue My daintie youth so pleasd his princlie eye Heere grewe the league which time could not remoue So deeplie grasted in our infancie That frend nor so nor life nor death could sunder So seldom seene and to the world a wonder 29 O heauenlie concord musick of the minde Touching the hart-strings with such harmonie The ground of nature and the law of kinde Which in coniunction doe so well agree VVhose reuolution by effect doth proue That mortall men are made diuine by loue 30 O strong combining chayne of secrecie Sweet ioy of heauen the Angels oratorie The bond of faith the seale of sanctitie The soules true blisse youths solace ages glorie And endles league a bond thats neuer broken A thing diuine a word with wonder spoken 31 With this faire bud of that same blessed Rose Edward surnam'd Carnaruan by his birth VVho in his youth it seem'd that Nature chose To make the like whose like was not on earth Had not his lust and my lasciuious will Made him and me the instruments of ill 32 With this sweet Prince the mirror of my blisse My souls delight my ioy my fortunes pride My youth enioyd such perfect happines Whilst Tutors care his wandring yeeres did guide As his affections on my thoughts attended And with my life his ioyes began and ended 33 Whether it were my beauties excellence Or rare perfections that so pleasd his eye Or some diuine and heauenly influence Or naturall attracting simpathy My pleasing youth became his sences obiect Where all his passions wrought vpō this subiect 34 Thou Arke of heauen where wonders are inroled O depth of nature who can looke on thee O who is he that hath thy doome controuled Or
on my youthfull story These were y e Wolues which thirsted for my blood These all vnlade their mischiefes at this bay And make the breach to enter my decay 61 These currs which liu'd by carrion of the court These wide-mouth'd helhounds long time kept at bay Finding the King to credit their report Like greedie Rauens follow for their pray Despightfull Langton fauorit to the King This was the Serpent stroke me with his sting 62 Such as beheld this lightning from aboue My Princely Ioue from out the ayre to thunder This Earth-quake which did my foundation moue This boystrous strome this vnexspected wonder They thought my Sunne had been eclipsed quite And all my day now turn'd to Winters night 63 My youth embowel'd by their curious eyes VVhose true reports my lyfe anotomis'd VVho still pursu'd me like deceitfull spyes To crosse that which I wantonly deuis'd Perceiue the traine me to the trap had led And down they come like hailstones on my head 64 My Sunne eclips'd each starre becomes a Sunne When Phoebus failes then Cynthia shineth bright These furnish vp the Stage my act is done Which were but Glo-worms to my glorious light They erst condemn'd by my perfections doome In Phoebus Chariot now possesse my roome 65 The Commons swore I led the Prince to vice The Noble-men said I abus'd the King Graue Matrons such as lust could not intice Like women whispred of another thing Such as could not aspire vnto my place These were subborn'd to offer me disgrace 66 The staffe thus broke wheron my youth did stay And like the shaddow all my pleasures gone Now with the winds my ioyes fleet hence away The silent night makes musick to my mone The tatling Ecchoes whispring with the ayre Vnto my words sound nothing but dispayre 67 The frowning Heauens are all in sable clad The Planet of my liues misfortune raineth No musick serues a dying soule to glad My wrong to Tirants for redresse complaineth To ease my paine there is no remedie So far despayre exceeds extremitie 68 VVhy doe I quake my down-fall to report Tell on my Ghost the storie of my woe The King commaunds I must depart the court I aske no question he will haue it so The Lyons roring lesser Beasts doth feare The greatest flye when he approcheth neare 69 My Prince is now appointed to his gard As from a Traytor he is kept from me My banishment alreadie is prepard Away I must there is no remedie On paine of death I may no longer stay Such is reuenge which brooketh no delay 70 The skyes with clouds are all inuelloped The pitchy fogs eclipse my cheerfull Sunne The geatie night hath all her curtains spred And all the ayre with vapours ouer-runne Wanting those rayes whose cleernes lent me light My sun-shine day is turn'd black-fac'd night 71 Like to the bird of Leda's Lemmans die Beating his breast against the siluer streame The fatall Prophet of his destenie With mourning chants his death aproching theame So now I sing the dirges of my fall The Anthemes of my fatall funerall 72 Or as the faithfull Turtle for her make VVhose youth enioyd her deare virginitie Sits shrouded in some melancholly brake Chirping fotth accents of her miserie Thus halfe distracted sitting all alone With speaking sighs to vtter forth my mone 73 My beautie sdayning to behold the light Now weather-beaten with a thousand storms My dainty lims must trauaile day and night Which oft were luld in princely Edwards armes Those eyes where Beautie sat in all her pride VVith fearefull obiects fild on euery side 74 The Prince so much astonisht with the blowe So that it seem'd as yet he felt no paine Vntil at length awakned by his woe He sawe the wound by which his ioyes were slaine His cares fresh bleeding fainting more and more No Cataplasma now to cure the sore 75 Now weepe mine eyes and lend me teares at will You sad-musd sisters help me to indite And in your faire Castalia bathe my quill In bloodie lines whilst I his woes recite Inspire my Muse â Heauens now from aboue To paint the passions of a princely loue 76 His eyes about their rowling Globes doe east To find that Sunne frō whom they had their light His thoughts doe labour for that sweet repast VVhich past the day and pleasd him all the night He counts the howers so slolie how they runne Reproues the day blames the loytring Sunne 77 As gorgious Phoebus in his first vprise Discouering now his Scarlet-coloured head By troublous motions of the lowring skies His glorious beames with foggs are ouer-spread So are his cheerfull browes eclips'd with sorrow w t cloud y t shine of his youths-smiling morrow 78 Now showring downe a flood of brackish teares The Epithemas to his hart-swolne griefe Then sighing out a vollue of despayres VVhich only is th'afflicted mans reliefe Now wanting sighes all his teares were spent His tongue brake out into this sad lament 79 O breake my hart quoth he ô breake and dye Whose Infant thoughts were nurst with sweet delight But now the Inne of care and miserie VVhose pleasing hope is murthered by despight O end my dayes for now my ioyes are done VVanting my Piers my sweetest Gaueston 80 Farewell my Loue companion of my youth My soules delight the subiect of my mirth My second selfe if I report the truth The rare and only Phenix of the earth Farwell sweet friend with thee my ioyes are gon Farewell my Piers my louely Gaueston 81 VVhat are the rest but painted Imagrie Domb Idols made to fill vp idle roomes But gaudie Anticks sports of foolerie But fleshly Coffins goodly gilded toombs But Puppets which with others words replie Like pratling Ecchoes soothing euery lie 82 O damned world I scorne thee and thy worth The very source of all iniquitie An ougly dam that brings such monsters forth The maze of death nurse of impietie A filthy sinke where lothsomnes doth dwell A Labyrinth a Iayle a very hell 83 Deceitfull Syren Traytor to my youth Bane to my blisse false theese that steal'st my ioyes Mother of lyes sworne enemie to truth The ship of fooles fraught all with gauds toyes A vessell stuft with foule hypocrisie The very temple of Idolatrie 84 O earth-pale Saturne most maleuolent Combustious Planet tyrant in thy raigne The sword of wrath the root of discontent In whose ascendant all my ioyes are slaine Thou executioner of foule bloody rage To act the will of lame decrepit age 85 My life is but a very map of woes My ioyes the fruit of an vntimely birth My youth in labour with vnkindly throwes My pleasures are like plagues that raigne on earth All my delights like streams that swiftly runne Or like the dewe exhaled by the Sunne 86 O Heauens why are you deafe vnto my mone Sdayne you my prayers or scorne to heare my misse Cease you to moue or is your pitty gone Or is it you which rob me of my blisse What are you
might proue Our equall loue did equall like desire And that the fire in which we both did burne VVas sooner quencht in hope of safe returne 166 O hope how cunning with our cares to gloze Griefes breathing point the truce man to desire The rest in sighs the very thoughts repose As thou art milde oh wert thou not a lyer Faire speaking flattry subtill soothing guile Ah how in thee our sorrows sweetly smile 167 Like to a vessell with a narrow vent VVhich is fild vp with liquor to the top Although the mouth be after down-ward bent Yet is it seene not to distill a drop Euen thus our breasts brim-full with pensiue care Stopping our tongues with griefe we silent are 168 But when my want gaue breath vnto his mone And that his teares had now vntide his tongue VVith drery sighes dispersd and ouer-blowne Which erst like Fountains in aboundance sprung Vnto himselfe he thus complaines his griefe Sith now the world could yield him no reliefe 169 O cursed stars quoth he which guide my birth Infernall Torches Comets of misfortune Or Genius here which haunts me on the earth Or hellish Fiend that doest my woes importune Fate-guiding Heauens in whose vnlucky mouing Stands th'effect of my mishaps approuing 170 Sky-couering clouds which thus doe ouer-cast And at my noone-tide darken all my Sunne Blood-drying sicknes which my life doost wast VVhen yet my glasse is but a quarter runne My ioy but a phantasma and elusion And my delights intending my confusion 171 VVhat Planet raignd in the vnluckie hower VVhen first I was inuested in the Crowne Or hath in my natiuitie such power Or what vile furie doth attend my Throne Or els what hellish hags be these that haunt me Yet if a King why should misfortune daunt me 172 Am I a Prince yet to my people subiect VVhich should be lou'd yet thus am left forlorne Ordaynd to rule respected as an abiect Liue I to see mine honour had in scorne Base dunghill mind that doest such slauery bring To liue a Pesant and be borne a King 173 The purest steele doth neuer turne at lead Nor Oake doth bow at euery wind that blowes Nor Lyon from a Lamb doth turne his head Nor Eagle frighted with a flock of Crowes And yet a King want courage in his brest Trembling for feare to see his woes redrest 174 It rather fits a villaine then a State To haue his loue on others lykings placed Or set his pleasures at so base a rate To see the same by euery slaue disgraced A King should euer priuiledge his pleasure And make his Peers esteeme it as their treasure 175 Then raise thy thoughts w t thy thoughts thy loue Kings want no means t'accōplish what they would If one doe saile yet other maist thou proue It shames a King to say If that I could Let not thy loue such crosses then sustaine But rayse him vp and call him home againe 176 Sweet Gaueston whose prayse the Angels sing Maist thou assure thee of my loue the while Or what maist thou imagin of thy King To let thee lyue in yonder brutish Ile My deare a space this wearie time prolong He liues that can and shall reuenge thy wrong 177 Thus like a man growne lunatick with paine Now in his torments casts him on his bed Then out he runnes into the fields againe And on the ground doth rest his troubled head With such sharp passions is the King possest Which day nor night doth let him take his rest 178 As Lyon-skind Alcides when he lost His louely Hylas on his way from Thrace Follows y e quest through many an vnknown Coast With plaints and out-cryes wearying euery place Thus louely Edward fils each place with mone VVanting the sight of his sweet Gaueston 179 Thus like a Barge that wants both steere sailes Forc'd with the wind against the streamfull tyde From place to place with euery billow hailes And as it haps from shore to shore doth ryde Thus doth my case thus doth my fortune stand Betwixt the King and Barrons of the Land 180 Instruct thy dangers whilst they be but yong And like a teacher trayne them to obay That growing cunning as they doe growe strong They may guide thee with safety on the way Thus find out wisdoms true mortallitie Philosophies more deepe Philosophie 181 VVith sweetest mildnes guide thine humble eye Thy mind aloft thy semblance carried downe Vaine-glory fondly gazeth on the skye He on the ground that aymeth at a crowne Thy thoughts sight not leueld both together Wher y u woldst be thine eie not bending thether 182 VVith mind more clearer then with eyes we see That followed best whose proofe brings cōfidence Let words vnto thy thoughts but watch-words be Thy speech no whit alyed to thy pretence Feed fooles with toyes but wise-men with regard The breath thou spar'st for thy aduantage spar'd 183 The Fates far of fore-seene come gently neare Doubt takes sure footing in the slipperest wayes Sasetie most safe when she is kept with feare And quietnes the only Nurse of ease Ambition frantick stabbeth still atthrones Honour and enuie be companions 184 On this Dilemma stood my tickle state Thus Pro et contra all men doe dispute Precisely balanc't twixt my loue and hate Some doe affirme some other doe confute Vntill my King sweet Edward now at last Thus strikes the stroke which makes thē all agast 185 Now calling such of the Nobilitie As he supposed on his part would stand By their consent he makes me Deputie And being seated thus in Ireland Of gold and siluer sendeth me such store As made the world to vvonder more and more 186 Like great gold-coyning Crassus in his health Amidst his Legion long-maintayning store The glory of the Romane Common-wealth Feasting the rich and gyuing to the poore Such was th'aboundance which I then possest Blessed with gold if gold could make me blest 187 VVhere like Lucullus I maintaind a port As great God Bacchus had been late come downe And in all pomp at Dublin kept my Court As I had had th'reuenewes of a Crowne In trayne in state and euery other thing Attended still as I had been a King 188 Of this my wondrous hospitalitie The Irish yet vntill this day doe boast Such was the bountie of my King to me His Chequer then could scarce defray the cost His gifts were great I ioyd in what he sent He freely gaue and I as freely spend 189 Few daies there past but some the channell crost VVith kindest Letters enterlind with loue VVheras I still receiu'd by euery Post His Riug his Bracelet Garter or his Gloue VVhich I in hostage of his kindnes kept Of this pure loue which liu'd and neuer slept 190 VVith many a rich and statelie Ornament Worne by great Kings of high wondrous price Or Iewell that my fancie might content With many a Robe of strange and rare deuice That all which saw knew this wondrous wast Perceiu'd his
with weeping mournfull cryes In griefe of soule complains his miseries 243 Hee wants digestion and refrains his rest His eyes ore-watched like eclipsed sunnes With bitter passion is his soule opprest And through his eyes his braine disolued runnes And after silence when with paine he speakes A suddaine sigh his speech in sunder breakes 244 Hee starteth vp and Gaueston doth call Then stands he still and lookes vpon the ground Then like one in an Epileps doth fall As in a Spasma or a deadly swound Thus languishing in paine and lingring euer In the Symptoma of this pyning feuer 245 Like to a flower that droupeth in a frost Or as a man in a Consumption pyning Staynd like a cloth that hath his culler lost Or Poets-worne Lawrell whē it is declyning Or like a Peacock washed in the rayne Trayling adowne his starry-eyed trayne 246 To Belgia I crosse the narrow seas And in my breast a very sea of greefe Whose tyde-full surges neuer giue me ease For heauen and earth haue shut vp all releefe The ayre doth threaten vengeance for my crime Clotho drawes out the thred of all my time 247 Like as that wicked brother-killing Caine Flying the presence of his mighty God Accurst to die forbidden to bee slaine A vagabond and wandring still abroade In Flaunders thus I trauell all alone Still seeking rest yet restles finding none 248 Or as the Monarch of great Babylon VVhose monstrous pride the Lord did so detest As he out-cast him from his princly throne And in the field hee wandred like a beast Companion with the Oxe and lothlie Asse Staru'd with the cold and feeding on the grasse 249 Thus doe I change my habite and my name From place to place I passe vnknowne of any But swift report so farre had spred my fame I heare my life and youth contrould of many The bouzing Flemings in their boistrous tongue Still talking on me as I passe along 250 O wretched vile and miserable man Besotted so with worldy vanitie VVhen as thy life is but a very span Yet euerie howre full of calamities Begot in sinne and following still the game Lyuing in lust and dying oft with shame 251 Now working means to haue intelligence By secret Letters from my Lord the King How matters stood since I departed thence And of the tearms and state of euery thing I cast about which way I might deuise In spight of all once more to play my prize 252 And still relying on King Edwards loue To whom before my life had beene so deere Whose constancie my fortune made me proue And to my Brother Earle of Glocoster And to my wife who labored tooth and naile My abiuration how she might repeale 253 I now embarck mee in a Flemish Hoy Disguised in the habite of a Muffe Attended thus with neither man nor boy But on my backe a little bagge of stuffe Like to a souldier which in Campe of late Had been imployd in seruice with the State 254 And safely landed on this blessed shore Towards Windsor thus disguisd I tooke my way VVhereas I had intelligence before My wife remaind and there my Edward lay My deerest wife to whom I sent my ring Who made my comming known vnto the king 255 As when old-youthfull Aeson in his glasse Saw from his eyes the cheerfull lightning sprung VVhen as Art-spell Medea brought to passe By hearbs charms againe to make him young Thus stood King Edward rauisht in the place Fixing his eyes vpon my louely face 256 Or as Muse-meruaile Hero when she clips Her deere Leanders byllow-beaten limms And with sweet kisses seazeth on his lips When for her sake deepe Hellespont she swimms Thus we by tender deere imbracings proue Faire Heros kindnes and Leanders loue 257 Or like the twifold-twyned Geminy In their star-gilded gyrdle strongly tyed Chaynd by their Saffrond tresses in the sky Standing to guard the Sun-coch in his pride Like as the Vine his loue the Elme imbracing With nimble arms our bodies interlacing 258 O blinded Reason reasonles in this Vnrulie will of vnrul'd appetite Could our discretion moderate our blisse It might more easlie moderate their spight But wee are carried with the winds away To violent the Gulfe of our decay 259 O wondrous loue were then a meane in thee Reason might vnderstand what thou dost meane But for thou wouldst not comprehended bee Our vnderstanding thou doost but disdaine Thou mind-transforming monster monstrous ill Which hating saues but cherrishing doth kill 260 But all thy meane fond loue is in extreames Thy heed is rashnes thy fore-cast thy fall Thy wit is follie and thy hopes are dreames Thy counsell madnes and thy rule is thrall And onelie this thou art not what thou art And of thy selfe thou art not any part 261 The Barrons hearing how I was arriued And that my late abiurement naught preuailed By my returne of all their hopes depriued Their bedlam rage no longer now concealed But as hote coles once puffed with the wind Into a flame out-breaking by their kind 262 Like to a man whose foote doth hap to light Into the nest where stinging Hornets lie Vext with the spleene and raging with despight About his head these winged spirits flie Thus rise they vp with mortall discontent By death to end both life and banishment 263 Or like to souldiers in a towne of warre VVhen Sentinell the enemie discries Affrighted with this vnexpected iarre All with the fearfull Larun-bell arise Thus muster they as Bees doe in a hyue The idle Drone out of their combes to dryue 264 It seem'd the earth with heauen grew male-content Nothing is heard but warrs Armors ringing Now none but such as stratagems inuent The whisling phife the warlike trumpet singing Each souldier now his crested plume aduaunces On barbed horses prest with swords launces 265 Thus whilst our hopes should thriue they do diminish Our early rising makes our set too soone Euen as it dooth begin it soone dooth finish Our night is come before it should be noone Our down-fall haps as wee should mount on hie So short and fraile is our felicitie 266 Mens haps by heauen be fram'd preposterous Now with eternall good now temporall ill And oft againe contrary vnto vs Our good but short our euill during still To shew that heauens euer-waking powers Doe rule as Lords both ouer vs and ours 267 Lyke as the Ocean chafing with his bounds VVith raging billows flyes against the Rocks And to the shore sends forth his hidious sounds Making the earth to tremble with his shocks Euen thus the murmure flies from shore to shore Like to the Cannons battering fearefull rore 268 By day and night attended still with Spyes The Court become the cause of all our woes The Countrie now a Campe of enemies The Citties are be-peopled with our foes Our very beds are snares made to enwrap vs Our surest guard as Traytors do intrap vs. 269 Like to a cry of roring-mouthed hounds Rouzing the long-liu'd Stagge out
time Drouping with faintnes hold their heads aside The boistrous storms dispoile y e greenest greues Stripping the Trees staik naked of their leaues 296 Death cald in liueries of my louely cheeks Layd in those beds of Lillies and of Roses Amaz'd with meruaile here for wonders seeks VVere he alone a Paradice supposes Grew male content and with himselfe at strife Not knowing now if he were death or life 297 And shutting vp the casements of those lights Which like two suns so sweetly went to rest In those faire Globes he saw those heauenly sights In which alone he thought him onely blest Cursing himselfe who had depriued breath From that which thus could giue a life in death 298 VVith palenes touching that faire rubied lip Now waxing purple like Adonis flower Where Iuory walls those rocks of Currall keep From whence did slow y t Nectar streaming shower There earth-pale Death refresht his tyred lims Where Cupid bath'd him in those Christall brims 299 And entring now into that house of glory That Temple with sweet Odors long perfumed VVhere Nature had ingraued many a story In Letters which by death were not consumed Accursed now his crueltie he curst That Fame should liue when death had done his worst 300 Now when the King had notice of my death And that he saw his purpose thus preuented In greeuous sighes he now consumes his breath And into teares his very eyes relented Cursing that vile and mercy-wanting age And breakes into this passion in his rage 301 O heauens quoth he lock vp the liuing day Cease Sunne to lend the world thy glorious light Starres flye your course and wander all astray Moone lend no more thy siluer shine by night Heauen Stars Sun Moone coÌ„ioyne you al in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 302 Earth be thou helplesse in thy creatures birth Sea breake thou sorth from thy immured bound Ayre with thy vapours poyson thou the earth Wind break thy Caue all the world confound Earth Sea Ayre Wind conioyne you all in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 303 You Sauage beasts which haunt y e waylesse woods You Birds delighted in your Siluan sound You scaly Fish which swim in pleasant floods You hartlesse Wormes which creep vpon y u ground Beasts birds fish worms each in your kind alone Bewaile the death of my sweet Gaueston 304 Faire Medowes be you withered in the prime Sun-burnt and bare be all the goodly Mountains Groues be you leauelesse in the Sommer time Pitchy and black be all the Christall Fountains All things on earth each in your kind alone Bewaile the death of my sweet Gaueston 305 You damned Furies breake your Stigian Cell You wandring spirits in water earth and ayre Lead boyled Ghosts which liue in lowest hell Gods deuils men vnto mine ayde repayre Come all at once conioyne you all in one Reuenge the death of my sweet Gaueston 306 Eyes neuer sleepe vntill you see reuenge Head neuer rest vntill thou plot reuenge Hart neuer think but tending to reuenge Hands neuer act but acting deepe reuenge Iust-dooming heauens reuenge me from aboue That men vnborne may wonder at my Loue. 307 You peerlesse Poets of ensuing times Chaunting Herioque Angell-tuned Notes Or humble Pastors Nectar-filled lines Driuing your flocks with musick to their Cotes Let your high-flying Muses still bemone The wofull end of my sweet Gaueston 308 My earth-pale body now enbalmd with tears To famous Oxford solemnly conuaid There buried by the ceremonious Friers Where for my soule was many a Trentall said With all those rites my obsequies behoued Whose blind deuotion time truth reproued 309 But ere two yeeres were out and fully dated This gracious King who still my fame respected My wasted bones to Langley thence translated And ouer me a stately Tombe erected VVhich world-deuouring Time hath now out-worne As but for Letters were my name forlorne FINIS The vision of Matilda ME thought I saw vpon Matildas Tombe Her wofull ghost which Fame did now awake And crâ—â—â—'d her passage froÌ„ Earths hollow wombe To view this Legend written for her sake No sooner shee her sacred Name had seene Whom her kind friend had chose to grace her story But wiping her chast teares from her sad eyne Shee seem'd to tryumph in her double glory Glory shee might that his admired Muse Had with such method fram'd her iust complaint But proud she was that reason made him chuse To patronize the same to such a Saint In whom her rarest vertues may be shown Though Poets skil shold faile to make theÌ„ known H. G. Esquire TEares in your eyes and passions in your harts With mournfull grace vouchsafe Matildas story The subiect sad a King to act the parts Of his owne shame to others endlesse glory But such is sinne where lawlesse lust is raigning Sweet to the tast till all turnes to infection VVhen count is cast a reckoning is remayning VVhich must be payd but not at our election Perrill and Greefe the interest of Pleasure Spending the stock that Danger long was gayning Makes soule and body banckrupt of that treasure Which vainly spent what helps our fond coÌ„plaining O that my lines could so the Author grace As well his vertues merit prayse and place R. L. Esquire To M. Drayton MIchaell which dost great Roberts fame compile Thy subiects worth thy wit thy Ladies glory Cheere vp thy Muse add lyfe vnto thy stile VVhile thou assaist to write his worthy story Whose boundlesse spirit whose high chiualrie And vertuous deeds must needs haue buried beene By ages enuie and times tirannie And neuer had with mortall eyes been seene Had not thy Muse restor'd his former fame The twise dead Norman to his speaking sight Euen when his eyes had lost their shyning flame Like vnto Lamps that wanting oyle want light By thee he sees he liues he speaks againe TheÌ„ chere thee Michaell Fame rewards thy paine Mirocinius