Praise who so list yet I will him dispraise Vntill he quite him of this guiltie blame Wake shepheards boy at length awake for shame And who so els did goodnes by him gaine And who so els his bounteous minde did trie Whether he shepheard be or shepheards swaine For manie did which doo it now denie Awake and to his Song a part applie And I the whilest you mourne for his decease Will with my mourning plaints your plaint increase He dyde and after him his brother dyde His brother Prince his brother noble Peere That whilste he liued was of none enuyde And dead is now as liuing counted deare Deare vnto all that true affection beare But vnto thee most deare ô dearest Dame His noble Spouse and Paragon of fame He whilest he liued happie was through thee And being dead is happie now much more Liuing that lincked chaunst with thee to bee And dead because him dead thou dost adore As liuing and thy lost deare loue deplore So whilst that thou faire flower of chastitie Dost liue by thee thy Lord shall neuer die Thy Lord shall neuer die the whiles this verse Shall liue and surely it shall liue for euer For euer it shall liue and shall rehearse His worthie praise and vertues dying neuer Though death his soule doo from his bodie seuer And thou thy selfe herein shalt also liue Such grace the heauens doo to my verses giue Ne shall his sister ne thy father die Thy father that good Earle of rare renowne And noble Patrone of weake pouertie Whose great good deeds in countrey and in towne Haue purchast him in heauen an happie crowne Where he now liueth in eteâ—nâ—ll blis And left his sonne â—'ensue those steps of his He noble bud his Grandsires liuelie hayre Vnder the shadow of thy countenaunce Now ginnes to shoote vp fast and flourish fayre In learned artes and goodlie gouernaunce That him to highest honour shall aduaunce Braue Impe of Bedford grow apace in bountie And count of wisedome more than of thy Countie Ne may I let thy husbands sister die That goodly Ladie sith she eke did spring Out of this stocke and famous familie Whose praises I to future age doo sing And foorth out of her happie womb did bring The sacred brood of learning and all honour In whom the heauens powrde all their gifts vpon her Most gentle spirite breathed from aboue Out of the bosome of the makers blis In whom all bountie and all vertuous loue Appeared in their natiue propertis And did enrich that noble breast of his With treasure passing all this worldes worth Worthie of heauen it selfe which brought it forth His blessed spirite full of power diuine And influence of all celestiall grace Loathing this sinfull earth and earthlie slime Fled backe too soone vnto his natiue place Too soone for all that did his loue embrace Too soone for all this wretched world whom he Robd of all right and true nobilitie Yet ere his happie soule to heauen wâ—nt Out of this fleshlie goale he did deuise Vnto his heauenlie maker to present His bodie as a spotles sacrifise And chose that guiltie hands of enemies Should powre forth th' offring of his guiltles blood So life exchanging for his countries good O noble spirite liue there euer blessed The worlds late wonder and the heauens new ioy Liue euer there and leaue me here distressed With mortall cares and cumbrous worlds anoy But where thou dost that happines enioy Bid me ô bid me quicklie come to thee That happie there I maie thee alwaies see Yet whilest the fates affoord me vitall breath I will it spend in speaking of thy praise And sing to thee vntill that timelie death By heauens doome doo ende my earthlie daies Thereto doo thou my humble spirite raise And into me that sacred breath inspire Which thou there breathest perfect and entire Then will I sing but who can better sing Than thine owne sister peerles Ladie bright Which to thee sings with deep harts sorrowingâ— Sorrowing tempered with deare delight That her to heare I feele my feeble spright Robbed of sense and rauished with ioy O sad ioy made of mourning and anoy Yet will I sing but who can better sing Than thou thy selfe thine owne selfes valiance That whilest thou liuedst madest the forrests ring And fields resownd and flockes to leap and daunce And shepheards leaue their lambs vnto mischaunce To runne thy shrill Arcadian Pipe to heare O happie were those dayes thrice happie were But now more happie thou and wetched wee Which want the wonted sweetnes of thy voice Whiles thou now in Elisian fields so free With Orpheus and with Linus and the choice Of all that euer did in rimes reioyce Conuerâ—est and doost heare their heauenlie layes And they heare thine and thine doo better praise So there thou liuest singing euermore And here thou liuest being euer song Of vs which liuing loued thee afore And now thee worship mongst that blessed throng Of heauenlie Poets and Heroes strong So thou both here and there immortall art And euerie where through excellent desart But such as neither of themselues can sing Nor yet are sung of others for reward Die in obscure obliuion as the thing Which neuer was ne euer with regard Their names shall of the later age bâ— heard But shall in rustie darknes euer lie Vnles they mentiond be with infamie What booteth it to haue been rich aliue What to be great what to be gracious When after death no token doth suruiue Of former being in this mortall hous But sleepes in dust dead and inglorious Like beast whose breath but in his nostrels is And hath no hope of happinesse or blis How manie great ones may remembred be Which in their daies most famouslie did florish Of whome no word we heare nor signe now see But as things wipt out with a sponge to perishe Because they liuing cared not to cherishe No gentle wits through pride or couertize Which might their names for euer memorize Prouide therefore ye Princes whilst ye liue That of the Muses ye may friended bee Which vnto men eternitie do giue For they be daughters of Dame memorie And Ioue the father of eternitie And do those men in golden thrones repose Whose merits they to glorifie do chose The seuen fold yron gates of grislie Hell And horrid house of sad Proserpina They able are with power of mightie spell To breake and thence the soules to bring awaie Out of dread darkenesse to eternall day And them immortall make which els would die In soule forgetfulnesse and nameles lie So whilome raised they the puissant brood Of golden gâ—rt Alâ—mena for great merite Out of the dust to which the Oetaean wood Had him consum'd and spent his vitall spirite To highest heauen where now he doth inheritâ— All happinesse in Hebes siluer bowre Chosen to be her dearest Paramoure So raisde they eke faire Ledaes warlick twinnes And interchanged life vnto them lent That when th' one dies th' other then beginnes
Charon too and fro am tost Seest thou how all places quake and quiuer Lightned with deadly lamps on euerie post Tisiphone â—ach where doth shake and shiuer Her flaming fire brond encountring me Whose lockes vncombed cruell adders be And Cerberus whose many mouthes doo bay And barke out flames as if on fire he fed Adowne whose necke in terrible array Ten thousand snakes cralling about his hed Doo hang in heapes that horribly aâ—â—ray And bloodie eyes doo glister firie red He oftentimes me dreadfullie doth threaten With painfull torments to be sorely beaten Ay me that thankes so much should â—aile of meed For that I thee restor'd to life againe Euen from the doore of death and deadlie dreed Where then is now the guerdon of my paine Where the reward of my so piteous deed The praise of pitie vanisht is in vaine And th'antique faith of Iustice long agone Out of the land is fled away and gone I saw anothers fate approaching fast And left mine owne his safetie to tenderâ— Into the same mishap I now am cast And shun'd destruction doth destruction render Not vnto him that neuer hath trespast But punishment is due to the offender Yet let destruction be the punishment So long as thankfull will may it relent I carried am into waste wildernesse Waste wildernes amongst Cymerian shades Where endles paines and hideous heauinesse Is round about me heapt in darksome glades For there huge Othos sits in sad distresse Fast bound with serpents that him oft inuades Far of beholding Ephialtes tide Which once assai'd to burne this world so wide And there is mournfull Tityus mindefull yet Of thy displeasure O Latona faire Displeasure too implacable was it That made him meat for wild foules of the ayre Much do I feare among such fiends to sit Much do I feare back to them to repayre To the black shadowes of the Stygian shore Where wretched ghosts sit wailing euermore There next the vtmost brinck doth he abide That did the bankets of the Gods bewray Whose threat through thirst to nought nigh being dride His sense to seeke for ease turnes euery way And he that in auengement of his pride For scorning to the sacred Gods to pray Against a mountaine rolls a mightie stone Calling in vaine for rest and can haue none Go yâ— with them go cursed damosells Whose bridale torches foule Erynnis tynde And Hymen at your Spousalls â—ad foretells Tydings of death and massacre vnkinde With them that cruell Colchid mother dwells The which conceiu'd in her reuengefull mindeâ— With bitter woundes her owne deere babes to slay And murdred troupes vpon great heapes to lay There also those two Pandionian maides Calling on Itis Itis euermore Whom wretched boy they slew with guiltie bladesâ— For whome the Thracian king lamenting sore Turn'd to a Lapwing fowlie them vpbraydes And flattering round about them still does sore There now they all eternally complaine Of others wrong and suffer endles paine But the two brethren borne of Cadmus blood Whilst each does for the Soueraignty contend Blinde through ambition and with vengeance wood Each doth against the others bodie bend His cursed steeleâ— of neither well withstood And with wide wounds their carcases doth rend That yet they both doe mortall foes remaine Sith each with brothers bloudie hand was slaine Ah waladay there is no end of paine Nor chaunge of labour may intreated bee Yet I beyond all these am carried faine Where other powers farre different I see And must passe ouer to th' Elisian plaine There grim Persephone â—ncountring mee Doth vrge her fellow Furies earnestlie With their bâ—ight firebronds me to terrifie There chast Aâ—â—este liues inuiolate Free from all care for that her husbands daies She did prolong by changing fate for fate Lo there liues also the immortall praise Of womankinde most faithfull to her mate Penelope and from her farre awayes A rulesse rout of yongmen which her woo'd All slaine with darts lie wallowed in their blood And sad Eurydiâ—e thence now no more Must turne to life but there detained bee For looking back being forbid before Yet was the guilt thereof Orpheus in thee Bold sure he was and worthie spirite bore That durst those lowest shadowes goe to see And could beleeue that anie thing could please Fell Cerberus or Stygian powres appease Ne feard the burning waâ—es of Phlegeton Nor those same mournfull kingdomes compassed With rustie horrour and fowle fashion And deep digd vawtes and Tartar couered With bloodie night and darke confusion And iudgement seates whose Iudge is deadlie dred A iudge that after death doth punish sore The faults which life hath trespassed before But valiant fortune made Dan Orpheus bolde For the swift running riuers still did stand And the wilde beasts their furie did withhold To follow Orpheus musicke through the land And th'Okes deep grounded in the earthly molde Did moue as if they could him vnderstand And the shrill woods which were of sense bereau'd Through their hard barke his siluer sound receau'd And eke the Moone her hastie steedes did stay Drawing in teemes along the starrie skie And didst ô monthly Virgin thou delay Thy nightly course to heare his melodieâ— The same was able with like louely lay The Queene of hell to moue as easily To yeeld Eurydice vnto her fere Backe to be borne though it vnlawfull were She Ladie hauing well before approoued The feends to be too cruell and seuere Obseru'd th' appointed way as her behooued Ne euer did her ey sight turne arere Ne euer spake ne cause of speakâ—ng mooued But cruell Orpheus thou much crueller Seeking to kisse her brok'st the Gods decree And thereby mad'st her euer damâ—'d to be Ah but sweete loue of pardon worthie is And doâ—h deserue to haue small faults remitted Iâ— Hell at least things lightly done amis Knew how to pardon when ought is omitted Yet are ye both receiued into blis And to the seates of happie soules admitted And you beside the honouâ—able band Of great Herâ—ës doo in order stand There be the two stout sonnes of Aeacus Fierce Peleus and the hardie Telamon Both seeming now full glad and ioyeous Through their Syres dreadfull iurisdiction Being the Iudge of all that horrid hous And both of them by strange occasion Renown'd in choyce of happie marriage Through Venus grace and vertues cariage For th' one was rauisht of his owne bondmaide The faire Ixione captiu'd from Troy But th' other was with Thetis loue assaid Great Nâ—reus his daughter and his ioy On this side them there is a yongman layd Their match in glorie mightie fierce and coy That from th'Argolick ships with furious yre Bett back the furie of the Troian fyre O who would not recount the strong diuorces Of that great warre which Troianes oft behelde And oft beheld the warlike Greekish forces When Teucrian â—oyle with bloodie riuers swelde And wide Sigaean shores were spred with corses And Simois and Xanthus blood outwelde Whilst Hector raged with outragious minde Flames weapoÌ„s wouÌ„ds
of golde Ouer the Sea from one to other side Withouten prop or pillour it t'vpholde But like the coulored Rainbowe arched wide Not that great Arche with Traian edifide To be a wonder to all age ensuing Was matchable to this in equall vewing But ah what bootes iâ— to see earthlie thing In glorie or in greatnes to excell Sith time doth greatest things to ruine bring This goodlie bridge one foote not fastned well Gan faile and all the rest downe shortlie fell Ne of so braue a building ought remained That griefe thereof my spirite greatly pained 6 I saw two Beares as white as anie milke Lying together in a mightie caue Of milde aspect and haire as soft as silke That saluage nature seemed not to haue Nor after greedie spoyle of blood to craue Two fairer beasts might not elswhere be found Although the compast world were sought around But what can long abide aboue this ground In state of blis or stedfast happinesse The Caue in which these Beares lay sleeping sound Was but earth and with her owne weightinesse Vpon them fell and did vnwares oppresse That for great sorrow of their sudden fate Henceforth all words felicitie I hate ¶ Much was I troubled in my heauie spright At sight of these sad spectacles forepast That all my senses were bereaued quight And I in minde remained sore agast Distraught twixt feare and pitieâ— when at last I heard a voyce which loudly to me called That with the suddein shrill I was appalled Behold said it and by ensample see That all is vanitie and griefe of minde Ne other comfort in this world can be But hope of heauen and heart to God inclinde For all the rest must needs be left behinde With that it bad me to the other side To cast mine eye where other sights I spide 1 ¶ Vpon that famous Riuers further shore There stood a snowie Swan of heauenly hiew And gentle kinde as euer Fowle afore A fairer one in all the goodlie criew Of white Strimonian brood might no man view There he most sweetly sung the prophecie Of his owne death in dolefull Elegie At last when all his mourning melodie He ended had that both the shores resounded Feeling the fit that him forewarnd to die With loftie flight aboue the earth he bounded And out of sight to highest heauen mounted Where now he is become an heauenly signe There now the ioy is his here sorrow mine 2 Whilest thus I looked loe adowne the Lee I sawe an Harpe stroong all with siluer twyne And made of golde and costlie yuorie Swimming that whilome seemed to haue been The harpe on which Dan Orpheus was seene Wylde beasts and forrests after him to lead But was th' Harpe of Philisides now dead At length out of the Riuer it was reard Aâ—d borne aboue the cloudes to be diuin'd Whilst all the way most heauenly noyse was heard Of the strings stirred with the warbling wind That wrought both ioy and sorrow in my mind So now in heauen a signe it doth appeare The Harpe well knowne beside the Northern Beare 3 Soone after this I saw on th' other side A curious Coffer made of Heben wood That in it did most precious treasure hide Exceeding all this baser worldes good Yet through the ouerflowing of the flood It almost drowned was and done to nought That sight thereof much grieu'd my pensiue thought At length when most in perill it was brought Two Angels downe descending with swift flight Out of the swelling streame it lightly caught And twixt their blessed armes it carried quight Aboue the reach of anie liuing sight So now it is transform'd into that starre In which all heauenly treasures locked are 4 Looking aside I saw a stately Bed Adorned all with costly cloth of gold That might for anie Princes couche be red And deckt with daintie flowres as if it shold Be for some bride her ioyous night to hold Therein a goodly Virgine sleeping lay A fairer wight saw neuer summers day I heard a voyce that called farre away And her awaking bad her quickly dight For lo her Bridegrome was in readie ray To come to her and seeke her loues delight With that she started vp with cherefull sight When suddeinly both bed and all was gone And I in languor left there all alone 5 Still as I gazed I beheld where stood A Knight all arm'd vpon a winged steed The same that was bred of Medusaes blood On which Dan Perseus borne of heauenly seed The faire Andromeda from perill freed Full mortally this Knight ywounded was That streames of blood foorth flowed on the grâ—s Yet was he deckt small ioy to him alas With manie garlands for his victories And with rich spoyles which late he did purchas Through braue atcheiuements from his enemies Fainting at last through long infirmities He smote his steed that straight to heauen him bore And left me here his losse for to deplore 6 Lastly I saw an Arke of purest golde Vpon a brazen pillour standing hie Which th' ashes seem'd of some great Prince to hold Enclosde therein for endles memorie Of him whom all the world did glorifie Seemed the heauens with the earth did disagreeâ— Whether should of those ashes keeper bee At last me seem'd wing footed Mercurie From heauen descending to appease their strife The Arke did beare with him aboue the skie And to those ashes gaue a second life To liue in heauen where happines is riâ—e At which the earth did grieue exceedâ—ngly And I for dole was almost like to die Lâ— Envoy Immortall spirite of Philisides Which now art made the heauens ornament That whilome wast the worlds chiefst riches Giue leaue to him that lou'de thee to lament His losse by lacke of thee to heauen hent And with last duties of this broken verse Broken with sighes to decke thy sable Herse And ye faire Ladie th' honor of your daies And glorie of the world your high thoughts scorne Vouchsafe this moniment of his last praise With some few siluer dropping teares t' adorne And as ye be of heauenlie off spring borne So vnto heauen let your high minde aspire And loath this drosse of sinâ—ull worlds desire FINIS THE Teares of the Muses By ED. SP. LONDON Imprinted for VVilliam Ponsonbie dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Bishops head 1591. TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE the Ladie Strange MOst braue and noble Ladie the things that make ye so much honored of the world as ye bee are such as without my simple lines testimonie are throughlie knowen to all men namely your excellent beautie your vertuous behauior your noble match with that most honourable Lord the verie Paterne of right Nobilitie But the causes for which ye haue thus deserued of me to be honoured if honour it be at all are both your particular bounties and also some priuate bands of affinitie which it hath pleased your Ladiship to acknowledge Of which when as I found my selfe in no part worthie I deuised this last slender
did knowe To plough to plant to reap to rake to sowe To hedge to ditch to thrash to thetch to mowe Or to what labour els he was prepar'dâ— For husbands life is labourous and hard Whenas the Ape him hard so much to talke Of labour that did from his liking balke He would haue slipt the coller handsomly And to him said good Sir full glad am I To take what paines may anie liuing wight But my late maymed limbs lack wonted might To doo their kindly seruices as needeth Scarce this right hand the mouth with diet feedeth So that it may no painfull worke endure Ne to strong labour can it selâ—e enure But if that anie other place you haue Which askes small paines but thrifâ—â—nes to saue Or care to ouerlooke or trust to gather Ye may me trust as your owne ghostly father With that the husbandman gan him auize That it for him were fittest exercise Cattell to keep or grounds to ouersee And asked him if he could willing bee To keep his sheep or to attend his swyne Or watch his mares or take his charge of kyne Gladly said he what euer such like paine Ye put on me I will the same susâ—aine But gladliest I of your fleecie sheepe Might it you please would take on me the keep For ere that vnto armes I me betooke Vnto my fathers sheepe I vsde to looke That yet the skill thereof I haue not loste Thereto right well this Curdog by my coste Meaning the Foxe will serue my sheepe to gather And driue to follow after their Belwether The Husbandman was meanly well content Triall to make of his endeuourment And home him leading lent to him the charge Of all his flocke with libertie full large Giuing accompt of th'annuall increace Both of their lambes and of their woolley fleece Thus is this Ape become a shepheard swaine And the false Foxe his dog God giue them paine For ere the yeare haue halfe his course out-run And doo returne from whence he first begun They shall him make an ill accompt of thrift Now whenas Time flying with wings swift Expired had the terme that these two iauels Should render vp a reckning of their trauels Vnto their master which it of them sought Exceedingly they troubled were in thought Ne wist what answere vnto him to frame Ne how to scape great punishment or shame For their false treason and vile theeuerie For not a lambe of all their flockes supply Had they to shew but euer as they bred They slue them and vpon their fleshes fed For that disguised Dog louâ—d blood to spill And drew the wicked Shepheard to his will So twixt them both they not a lambkin left And when lambes fail'd the old sheepes liues they reâ—t That how t'acquite themselues vnto their Lord They were in doubt and flatly set abord The Foxe then counsel'd th'Ape for to require Respite till morrow t'answere his desire For times delay new hope of helpe still breeds The goodman granted doubting nought their 〈◊〉 And bad next day that all should readie be But they more subtill meaning had than he For the next morrowes meed they closely ment For feare of afterclaps for to preuent And that same euening when all shrowded were In careles sleep they without care or feare Cruelly fell vpon their flock in folde And of them slew at pleasure what they wolde Of which whenas they feasted had their fill For a full complement of all their ill They stole away and tooke their hastie flight Carried in clowdes of all-concealing night So was the husbandman left to his losse And they vnto their fortunes change to tosse After which sort they wandered long while Abusing manie through their cloaked guile That at the last they gan to be descryâ—d Of euerie one and all their sleights espyed So as their begging now them failed quyteâ— For none would giue but all men would them wyte Yet would they take no paines to get their liuing But seeke some other way to gaine by giuing Much like to begging but much better named For manie beg which are thereof ashamed And now the Foxe had gotten him a gowne And th'Ape a cassocke sidelong hanging downe For they their occupation meant to change And now in other state abroad to range For since their souldiers pas no better spedd They forg'd another as for Clerkes booke-redd Who passing foorth as their aduentures â—ell Through manie haps which needs not here to tell At length chaunst with a formall Priest to meâ—te Whom they in ciuill manner firsâ— did greete And aâ—ter askt an almes for Gods deare loue The man straight way his choler vp did moue And with reproachfull tearmes gan them reuile For following that trade so base and vile And askt what license or what Pas they had Ah said the Ape as sighing wondrous sad It s an hard caâ—e when men of good deseâ—uing Must either driuen be perforce â—o steruing Or asked for their pas by euerie squib That list at will them to reuile or snib And yet God wote small oddes I often see Twixt them that aske and them that asked bee Natheles because you shall not vs misdeeme But that we are as honest as we seeme Yee shall our pasport at your pleasure see And then ye will I hope well mooued bee Which when the Priest beheld he vew'd it nere As if therein some text he studying were But little â—ls God wote could thereof skill For read he could not euidence nor will Ne tell a written word ne write a letter Ne make one title worse ne make one bâ—tter Of such deep learning little had he neede Ne yet of Latine ne of Greeke that breede Doubts mongst Diuines and difference of texts From whence arise diuersitie of sects And hatefull heresies of God abhor'd But this good Sir did follow the plaine word Ne medled with their controuersies vaine All his care was his seruice well to saine And to read Homelies vpon holidayes When that was done he might attend his playes An easie life and fit high God to please He hauing ouerlookt their pas at â—ase Gan at the length them to rebuke againe That no good trade of life did entertaine But lost their time in wandring loose abroad Seeing the world in which they bootles boad Had wayes enough for all therein to liueâ— Such grace did God vnto his creatures giue Said then the Foxe who hath the world not tride From the right way full eath may wander wide We are but Nouices new come abroad We haue not yet the tract of anie troad Nor on vs taken anie state of life But readie are of anie to make preife Therefore might please you which the world haue proued Vs to aduise which forth but lately moued Of some good course that we might vndertake Ye shall for euer vs your bondmen make The Priest gan wexe halfe proud to be so praide And thereby willing to affoord them aide It seemes said he right well that ye be Clerks Both
chalenge for her meed If vnder heauen anie endurance were These moniments which not in paper writ But in Porphyre and Marble doo appeare Might well haue hop'd to haue obtained it Nath'les my Lute whom Phoebus deignd to giue Cease not to sound these olde antiquities For if that time doo let thy glorie liue Well maist thou boast how euer base thou bee That thou art first which of thy Nation song Th' olde honour of the people gowned long L'Envoy Bellay first garland of free Poësie That France brought forth though fruitfull of braue wits Well worthie thou of immortalitie That long hast traueld by thy learned writs Olde Rome out of her ashes to reuiue And giue a second life to dead decayes Needes must he all eternitie suruiue That can to other giue eternall dayes Thy dayes therefore are endles and thy prayse Excelling all that euer went before And after thee gins Bartas hie to rayse His heauenly Muse th' Almightie to adore Liue happie spirits th' honour of your name And fill the world with neuer dying fame FINIS MVIOPOTMOS Or The Fate of the Butterflie By ED. SP. Dedicated to the most faire and vertuous Ladie the Ladie Carey LONDON Imprinted for VVilliam Ponsonbie dwelling in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Bishops head 1590. To the right worthy and vertuous Ladie the La Carey MOst braue and bountifull La for so excellent fauours as I haue receiued at your sweet handes to offer these fewe leaues as in recompence should be as to offer flowers to the Gods for their diuine benefites Therefore I haue determined to giue my selfe wholy to you as quite abandoned from my selfe and absolutely vowed to your seruices which in all right is euer held for full recompence of debt or damage to haue the person yeelded My person I wot wel how little worth it is But the faithfull minde humble zeale which I beare vnto your La may perhaps be more of price as may please you to account and vse the poore seruice thereof which taketh glory to aduance your excellent partes and noble vertues and to spend it selfe in honouring you not so much for your great bounty to my self which yet may not be vnminded nor for name or kindreds sake by you vouchsafed beeing also regardable as for that honorable name which yee haue by your braue deserts purchast to your self spred in the mouths of al mē vvith vvhich I haue also presumed to grace my verses vnder your name to cōmend to the vvorld this smal Poëme the vvhich beseeching your La to take in vvorth and of all things therein according to your vvonted graciousnes to make a milde construction I humbly pray for your happines Your La euer humbly E. S. Muiopotmos or The Fate of the Butterflie I Sing of deadly dolorous debate Stir'd vp through wrathfull Nemesis despight Betwixt two mightie ones of great estate Drawne into armes and proofe of mortall fight Through prowd ambition and hartswelling hate Whilest neither could the others greater might And sdeignfull scorne endure that from small iarre Their wraths at length broke into open warre The roote whereof and tragicall effect Vouchsafe O thou the mournfulst Muse of nyne That wontst the tragick stage for to direct In funerall complaints and waylfull tyne Reueale to me and all the meanes detect Through which sad Clarion did at last declyne To lowest wretchednes And is there then Such rancour in the harts of mightie men Of all the race of siluer-winged Flies Which doo possesse the Empire of the aire Betwixt the centred earth and azure skies Was none more fauourable nor more faire Whilst heauen did fauour his felicities Then Clarion the eldest sonne and haire Of Muscaroll and in his fathers sight Of all aliue did seeme the fairest wight With fruitfull hope his aged breast he fed Of future good which his yong toward yeares Full of braue courage and bold hardyhed Aboue th'ensample of his equall peares Did largely promise and to him forered Whilst oft his heart did melt in tender teares That he in time would sure proue such an one As should be worthie of his fathers throne The fresh yong flie in whom the kindly fire Of lustfull yonght began to kindle fast Did much disdaine to subiect his desire To loathsome sloth or houres in ease to wast But ioy'd to range abroad in fresh attire Through the wide compas of the ayrie coast And with vnwearied wings each part t' inquire Of the wide rule of his renowmed sire For he so swift and nimble was of flight That from this lower tract he dar'd to stie Vp to the clowdes and thence with pineons light To mount aloft vnto the Christall skie To vew the workmanship of heauens hight Whence downe descending he along would flie Vpon the streaming riuers sport to finde And oft would dare to tempt the troublous winde So on a Summers day when season milde With gentle calme the world had quieted And high in heauen Hyperions fierie childe Ascending did his beames abroad dispred Whiles all the heauens on lower creatures smilde Yong Clarion with vauntfull lustie head After his guize did cast abroad to fare And theretoo gan his furnitures prepare His breastplate first that was of substance pure Before his noble heart he firmely bound That mought his life from yron death assure And ward his gentle corpes from cruell wound For it by arte was framed to endure The bit of balefull steele and bitter stownd No lesse than that which Vulcane made to sheild Achilles life from fate of Troyan field And then about his shoulders broad he threw An hairie hide of some wilde beast whom hee In saluage forrest by aduenture slew And rest the spoyle his ornament to bee Which spredding all his backe with dreadfull vew Made all that him so horrible did see Thinke him Alcides with the Lyons skin When the Naemean Conquest he did win Vpon his head his glistering Burganet The which was wrought by wonderous deuice And curiously engrauen he did set The mettall was of rare and passing price Not Bilbo steele nor brasse from Corinth fet Nor costly Oricalche from strange Phoenice But such as could both Phoebus arrowes ward And th'hayling darts of heauen beating hard Therein two deadly weapons fixt he bore Strongly outlaunced towards either side Like two sharpe speares his enemies to gore Like as a warlike Brigandine applyde To fight layes forth her threatfull pikes afore The engines which in them sad death doo hyde◠So did this flie outstretch his fearefull hornes Yet so as him their terrour more adornes Lastly his shinie wings as siluer bright Painted with thousand colours passing farre All Painters skill he did about him dight Not halfe so manie sundrie colours arre In Iris bowe ne heauen doth shine so bright Distinguished with manie a twinckling starre Nor Iunoes Bird in her ey-spotted traine So manie goodly colours doth containe Ne may it be withouten perill spoken The Archer God the sonne of Cytheree That ioyes
right hand did the peacefull Oliue wield And head with Lawrell garnisht was about Sudden both Palme and Oliue fell away And faire greene Lawrell branch did quite decay 10 Hard by a riuers side a virgin faire Folding her armes to heauen with thousand throbs And outraging her cheekes and golden haire To falling riuers sound thus tuâ—'d her sobs Where is quoth she this whilom honoured face Where the great glorie and the auncient praise In which all worlds felicitie had place When Gods and men my honour vp did raise Suffisd it not that ciuill warres me made The whole worlds spoile but that this Hydra new Of hundred Hercules to be assaide With seuen heads budding monstrous crimes anew So many Neroes and Caligulaes Out of these crooked shores must dayly rayse 11 Vpon an hill a bright flame I did see Wauing aloft with triple point to skie Which like incense of precious Cedar tree With balmie odours fil'd th'ayrâ— farre and â—ie A Bird all whiâ—e well feathâ—red on each wing Hereout vp to the throne of Gods did â—lie And all the way most pleasant notes did sing Whilst in the smoake she vnto heauen did stie Of this faire fire the scattered rayes forth threw On eueriâ— side a thousand shining beames When sudden dropping of a siluer dew O grieuous chance gan queÌ„ch those precious flames That it which earst so pleasant sent did yeld Of nothing now but noyous sulphure smeld 12 I saw a spring out of a rocke forth rayle As cleare as Christall gainst the Sunnie beames The bottome yeallow like the golden grayle That bright Pactolus washeth with his streames It seem'd that Art and Nature had assembled All pleasure there for which mans hart could long And there a noyse alluring sleepe soft trembled Of manie accords more sweete than Mermaids song The seates and benches shone as yuoriâ— And hundred Nymphes sate side by side about When from nigh hills with hideous outcrie A troupe of Satyres in the place did rout Which with their villeine feete the streame did ray Threw down the seats droue the Nymphs away 13 Much richer then that vessell seem'd to bee Which did to that sad Florentine appeare Casting mine eyes farre off I chaunst to see Vpon the Latine Coast herselfe to reare But suddenly arose a tempest great Bearing close enuie to these riches rare Which gan assaile this ship with dreadfull threat This ship to which none other might compare And finally the storme impetuous Sunke vp these riches second vnto none Within the gulfe of greedie Nereus I saw both ship and mariners each one And all that treasure drowned in the maine But I the ship saw after raisdâ— againe 14 Long hauing deeply gron'd these visions sadâ— I saw a Citie like vnto that same Which saw the messenger of tidings glad But that on sand was built the goodly frame It seem'd her top the firmament did rayse And no lesse rich than faire right worthie sure If ought here worthie of immortall dayes Or if ought vnder heauen might firme endure Much wondred I to see so faire a wallâ— When from the Northerne coast a storme arose Which breathing furie from his inward gall On all which did against his course oppose Into a clowde of dust sperst in the aire The weake foundations of this Citie faire 15 At length euen at the time when Morpheus Most trulie doth vnto our eyes appeare Wearie to see the heauens still wauering thus I saw Typhaeus sister comming neare Whose head full brauely with a morion hidd Did seeme to match the Gods in Maiestie She by a riuers bancke that swift downe slidd Ouer all the world did raise a Trophee hie An hundred vanquisht Kings vnder her lay With armes bound at their backs in shamefull wize Whilst I thus mazed was with great affray I saw the heauens in warre against her rize Then downe she stricken fell with clap of thonder That with great noyse I wakte in sudden wonder FINIS The Visions of Petrarch formerly translated 1 BEing one day at my window all alone So manie strange things happened me to see As much it grieueth mâ— to thinke thereon At my right hand a Hynde appear'd to mee So faire as mote the greatest God delite Two eager dogs did her pursue in chace Of which the one was blacke the other white With deadly force so in their cruell race They pincht the haunches of that gentle beast That at the last and in short time I spide Vnder a Rocke where she alas opprest Fell to the ground and there vntimely dide Cruell death vanquishing so noble beautie Oft makes me wayle so hard a destenie 2 After at sea a tall ship did appeare Made all of Heben and white Yuorie The sailes of golde of silke the tackle were Milde was the winde calme seem'd the sea to bee The skie each where did show full bright and faireâ— With rich treasures this gay ship fraighted was But sudden storme did so turmoyle the aire And tumbled vp the sea that she alas Strake on a rock that vnder water lay And perished past all recouerie O how great ruth and sorrowfull assay Doth vex my spirite with perplexitie Thus in a monent to see lost and drown'd So great riches as like cannot be found 3 The heauenly branches did I see arise Out of the fresh and lustie Lawrell tree Amidst the yong greene wood of Paradise Some noble plant I thought my selfe to see Such store of birds therein yshrowded were Chaunting in shade their sundrie melodie That with their sweetnes I was rauish't nere While on this Lawrell fixed was mine eie The skie gan euerie where to ouercast And darkned was the welkin all about When sudden flash of heauens fire out brast And rent this royall tree quite by the roote Which makes me much and euer to complaine For no such shadow shal be had againe 4 Within this wood out of a rocke did rise A spring of water mildly rumbling downe Whereto approched not in anie wise The homely shepheard nor the ruder clowne But manie Muses and the Nymphes withall That sweetly in accord did tune their voyce To the soft sounding of the waters fall That my glad hart thereat did much reioyce But while herein I tooke my chiefe delight I saw alas the gaping earth deuoure The spring the place and all cleane out of sight Which yet aggreeues my hart euen to this houre And wounds my soule with rufull memorie To seâ— such pleasures gon so suddenly 5 I saw a Phoenix in the wood alone With purple wings and crest of golden hewe Strange bird he was whereby I thought anone That of some heauenly wight I had the vewe Vntill he came vnto the broken tree And to the spring that late deuoured was What say I more each thing at last we see Doth passe away the Phoenix there alas Spying the tree destroid the water dride Himselfe smote with his beake as in disdaine And so foorth with in great despight he dide That yet my heart burnes in exceeding paine For ruth and pitie of so haples plight O let mine eyes no more see such a sight 6 At last so faire a Ladie did I spie That thinking yet on her I burne and quake On hearbs and flowres she walked pensiuely Milde but yet loue she proudly did forsake White seem'd her robes yet wouen so they were As snow and golde together had been wrought Aboue the wast a darke clowde shrouded her A stinging Serpent by the heele her caught Wherewith she languisht as the gathered floure And well assur'd she mounted vp to ioy Alas on earth so nothing doth endure But bitter griefe and sorrowfull annoy Which make this life wreâ—ched and miserable Tossed with stormes of fortune variable When I beheld this tickle trustles state Of vaine worlds glorie â—litting too and fro And mortall men tossed by troublous fate In restles seas of wretchednes and woe I wish I might this wearie life forgoe And shortly turne vnto my happie rest Where my free spirite might not anie moe Be vext with sights that doo her peace molest And ye faire Ladie in whose bounteous breâ—t All heauenly grace and vertue shrined is When ye these rythmes doo read and vew the rest Loath this base world and thinke of heauens blis And though ye be the fairest of Gods creatures Yet thinke that death shall spoyle your goodly features FINIS