〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE SHADOVV OF NIGHT CONTAINING TWO POETICALL HYMNES Deuised by G. C. Gent. Versus mei habebunt aliquantum Noctis Antilo AT LONDON Printed by R. F. for William Ponsonby 1594. TO MY DEARE AND MOST VVORTHY FRIEND MASTER MATHEW ROYDON IT is an exceeding rapture of delight in the deepe search of knowledge none knoweth better then thy selfe sweet Mathew that maketh men manfully indure th'extremes incident to that Herculean labour froÌ„ flints must the Gorgonean fount be smitten Men must be shod by Mercurie girt with Saturnes Adamantâ—e sword take the shield from Pallas the helme from Pluto and haue the eyes of Grâ—a as Hesiodus armes Perseus against Medusa before they can cut of the viperous head of benumming ignorance or subdue their monstrous affections to most beautifull iudgement How then may a man stay his maruailing to see passion-driuen meÌ„ reading but to curtoll a tedious houre and altogether hidebownd with affection to great meÌ„s fancies take vpon them as killing censures as if they were iudgements Butchers or as if the life of truth lay tottering in their verdits Now what a supererogation in wit this is to thinke skil so mightilie pierst with their loues that she should prostiâ—utely shew theÌ„ her secrets when she will scarcely be lookt vpoÌ„ by others but with inuocatioÌ„ fasting watching yea not without hauing drops of their soules like an heauenly familiar Why then should our Intonsi Catones with their profit-rauisht grauitie esteeme her true fauours such questionlesse vanities as with what part soeuer thereof they seeme to be something delighted they queimishlie commende it for a pretie toy Good Lord how serious and eternall are their Idolatrous platts for riches no maruaile sure they here do so much good with them And heauen no doubt will grouill on the earth as they do to imbrace them But I stâ—y this spleene when I remember my good Aâ—aâ— how ioyfully ofteÌ„times you reported vnto me that most ingenious Darbie deepe searching Northumberland and skill imbracing heire of Hunsdon had most profitably entertained learning in theÌ„selues to the vitall warmth of freezing science to the admirable luster of their true Nobilitie whose high deseruing vertues may cause me hereafter strike that fire out of darknesse which the brightest Day shall enuie for beautie I should write more but my hasting out of towne taketh me from the paper so preferring thy allowance in this poore and strange trifle to the pasport of a whole Cittie of others I rest as resolute as Seneca satisfying my selfe if but a few if one or if none like it By the true admirour of thy vertues and perfectly vowed friend G. CHAPMAN Hymnus in Noctem GReat Goddesse to wâ—ose throne in Cynthian fires This earthlie Alter endlesse fumes exspires Therefore in fumes of sighes and fires of griefe To fearefull chances thou sendst bold reliefe Happie thrise happie Type and nurse of death VVho breathlesse seedes on nothing but our breath In whom must vertue and her issue liue Or dye for euer now let humor giue Seas to mine eyes that I may quicklie weepe The shipwracke of the world or let soft sleepe Binding my sences lose my working soule That in her highest pitch she may controule The court of skill compact of misterie VVanting but franchisement and memorie To reach all secrets then in blisfull trance Raise her deare Night to that perseuerance That in my torture she all earths may sing And force to tremble in her trumpeting Heauens christall temples in her powrs implant Skill of my griefs and she can nothing want Then like fierce bolts well rammd with heate cold In Ioues Artillerie my words vnfold To breake the labyrinth of euerie eare And make ech frighted soule come forth and heare Let them breake harts as well as yeelding ayre That all mens bosoms pierst with no affaires But gaine of riches may be lanced wide And with the thrâ—ates of vertue terrified Sorrowes deare soueraigne and the queene of rest That when vnlight some vast and indigest The formelesse matter of this world did lye Fildst euery place with thy Diuinitie VVhy did thy absolute and endlesse sway Licence heauens torch the scepter of the Day Distinguisht intercession to thy throne That long before all matchlesse rusde alone VVhy letst thou order orderlesse disperse The fighting parents of this vniuerse VVhen earth the ayre and sea in fire remaind VVhen fire the sea and earth the ayre containd VVhen ayre the earth and fire the sea enclosde VVhen sea fire ayre in earth were indisposde Nothing as now remainde so out of kinde All things in grosse were finer then refinde Substance was sound within and had no being Now forme giues being all our essence seeming Chaos had souâ—e without a bodie then Now bodies liue without the soules of men Lumps being digested monsters in our pride And as a wealthie fount that hils did hide Let forth by labor of industrious hands Powres out her treasure through the fruitefâ—ll strands Seemely diuided to a hunderd streames VVhose bewties shed such profitable beames And make such Orphean Musicke in their courses That Citties follow their enchanting forces VVho running farre at length ech powres her hart Into the bosome of the gulfie desart As much confounded there and indigest As in the chaos of the hills comprest So all things now extract out of the prime Are turnd to chaos and confound the time A stepdame Night of minde about vs cliâ—gs VVho broodes beneath her hell obscuring wings VVorlds of confusion where the soule defamde The bodie had bene better neuer framde Beneath thy soft and peace-full couert then Most sacred mother both of Gods and men Treasures vnknowne and more vnprisde did dwell But in the blind borne shadow of this hell This horrid stepdame blindnesse of the minde Nought worth the sight no sight but worse then blind A Gorgon that with brasse and snakie brows Most harlot-like her naked secrets shows For in th'expansure and distinct attire Of light and darcknesse of the sea and fire Of ayre and earth and all all these create First set and rulde in most harmonious state Disiunction showes in all things now amisse By that first order what confâ—sion is Religious curb that manadgd men in bounds Of publique wellfare lothing priuâ—te grounds Now cast away by selfe lou's paraâ—ores All are transformd to Calydonian bores That kill our bleeding vines displow our fields Rend groues in peeces all things nature yeelds Supplanâ—ing tumbling vp in hills of dearth The fruitefull disposition of the earth Ruine creates men all to slaughter bent Like enuie fed with others famishment And what makes men without the parts of men Or in their manhoods lesse then childeren But manlesse natures all this world was namde A world of him for whom it first was framde VVho like â— tender Cheurill shruncke with fire Of base ambition and of selfe-desire His armes into his shoâ—lders crept for feare Bountie should vse them and
vast thicket whose descriptions task The penns of furies and of feends would aske So more then humane thoughted horrible The soules of such as liu'd implausible In happie Empire of this Goddesse glories And scornd to crowne hir Phanes with sacrifice Did ceaselesse walke exspiring fearefull grones Curses and threats for their confusions Her darts and arrowes some of them had slaine Others hir doggs eate painting hir disdaine After she had transformd them into beasts Others her monsters carried to their nests Rent them in peeces and their spirits sent To this blind shade to waile their banishment The huntsmen hearing since they could not heare Their hounds at fault in eager chase drew neare Mounted on Lyons Vnicorns and Bores And saw their hounds lye licking of their sores Some yerning at the shroud as if they chid Her stinging toungs that did their chase forbid By which they knew the game was that way gone Then ech man forst the beast he rode vpon T'assault the thicket whose repulsiue thorns So gald the Lyons Bores and Vnicorns Dragons and wolues that halfe their courages VVere spent in rores and sounds of heauines Yet being the Princeliest and hardiest beasts That gaue chiefe fame to those Ortygian forests And all their riders furious of their sport A fresh assault they gaue in desperate sort And with their falchions made their wayes in wounds The thicket opend and let in the hounds But from her bosome cast prodigious cries VVrapt in her Stigian fumes of miseries VVhich yet the breaths of those couragious steads Did still drinke up and cleerd their ventrous heads As when the fierie coursers of the sunne Vp to the pallace of the morning runne And from their nosthrills blow the spitefull day So yet those foggie vapors made them way But preasing further saw such cursed sights Such Aetnas filld with strange tormented sprites That now the vaprous obiect of the eye Out-pierst the intellect in facultie Basenesse vas Nobler then Nobilitie For ruth first shaken from the braine of Loâ—e Aud loue the soule of vertue now did moue Not in their soules spheres meane enough for such But in their eyes and thence did conscience touch Their harts with pitie where her proper throne Is in the minde and there should first haue shone Eyes should guide bodies and our soules our eyes But now the world consistes on contraries So sence brought terror where the mindes presight Had saâ—t that feare and done but pittie right But seruile feare now forgd a wood of darts VVithin their eyes and cast them through their harts Then turnd they bridle then halfe slaine with feare Ech did the other backwardes ouerbeare As when th'Italian Duke a troupe of horse Sent out in hast against some English force From statelie sited sconce-torne Nimigan Vnder whose walles the wall most Cynthian Stretcheth her siluer limms loded with wealth Hearing our horse were marching downe by stealth VVho looking for them warres quicke Artizan Fame-thriuing Vere that in those Countries wan More fame then guerdon ambusâ—ados laide Of certaine foote and made full well appaide The hopefull enemie in sending those The loâ—g-expected subiects of their blowes To moue their charge which strait they giue amaine VVhen we retiring to our strength againe The foe pursewes assured of our liues And vs within our ambuscado driues VVho straight with thunder of the drums and shot Tempest their wraths on them that wist it not Then turning headlong some escapt vs so Some left to ransome some to ouerthrow In such confusion did this troupe retire And thought them cursed in that games desire Out flew the houndes that there could nothing finde Of the slye Panther that did beard the winde Running into it full to clog the chase And tire her followers with too much solace And but the superficies of the shade Did onely sprinckle with the sent she made As when the sunne beames on high billowes fall And make their shadowes dance vpon a wall That is the subiect of his faire reflectings Or else as when a man in summer euenings Something before sunneset when shadows bee Rackt with his stooping to the highest degree His shadow â—lymes the trees and skales a hill VVhile he goes on the beaten passage still So sleightlie toucht the Panther with her sent This irksome couert and away she went Downe to a fruitfull Iland sited by Full of all wealth delight and Emperie Euer with child of curious Architect Yet still deliuerd paâ—'d with Dames select On whom rich feete in fowlest bootes might treade And neuer fowle them for kinde Cupid spreadâ— Such perfect colours on their pleasing faces That their reflects clad fowlest weeds with graces Bewtie strikes fancie blind pyed show deceau's vs Sweet banquets tempt our healths wheÌ„ temper leaues vs Inchastitie is euer prostitute VVhose trees we loth when we haue pluckt their fruite Hithâ—r this Panther fled now turnd a Bore More huge then that th' Aetolians plagud so sore And led the chase through noblest mansions Gardens and groues exempt from Parragons In all things ruinous and slaughter some As was that scourge to the Aetolian kingdome After as if a whirlewind draue them one Full crie and close as if they all were one The hounds pursew and fright the earth with sound Making her tremble as when windes are bound In her cold bosome fighting for euent VVith whose fierce Ague all the world is rent But dayes arme tir'd to hold her torch to them Now let it fall within the Ocean streame The Goddesse blew retrait and with her blast Her morns creation did like vapours wast The windes made wing into the vpper light And blew abroad the sparckles of the night Then â—swift as thought the bright Titanides Guide and great soueraigne of the marble seas VVith milkwhite Herffers mounts into her Sphere And leaues vs miserable creatures here Thus nights faire dayes thus griefs do ioyes supplant Thus glories grauen in steele and Adamant Neuer supposd to wast but grow by wasting Like snow in riuers falne consume by lasting O then thou great Elixer of all treasures From whom we multiplie our world of pleasures Disâ—end againe ah neuer leaue the earth But as thy plenteous humors gaue vs birth So let them drowne the world in night and death Before this ayre leaue breaking with thy breath Come Goddesse come the double fatherd sonne Shall dare no more amongst thy traine to runne Nor with poluted handes to touch thy vaile His death was darted from the Scorpions taile For which her forme to endlesse memorie VVith other lamps doth lend the heauens an eye And he that shewd such great presumption Is hidden now beneath a little stoâ—e If proude Alpheus offer force againe Because he could not once thy loue obtaine Thou and thy Nimphs shall stop his mouth with mire And mocke the fondling for his mad aspire Thy glorious temple great Lucifera That was the studie of all Asia Two hunderd twentie sommers to erect
Now make him leaue the world to Night and dreames Neuer were vertues labours so enuy'd As in this light shoote shoote and stoope his pride Suffer no more his lustfull rayes to get The Earth with issue let him still be set In Somnus thickets bound about the browes VVith pitchie vapours and with Ebone bowes Rich-tapird sanctuarie of the blest Pallace of Ruth made all of teares and rest To thy blacke shades and desolation I consecrate my life and liuing mone VVhere furies shall for euer fighting be And adders hisse the world for hating me Foxes shall barke and Night-rauens belch in grones And owles shall hollow my confusions There will I furnish vp my funerall bed Strewd with the bones and relickes of the dead Atlas shall let th'Olimpick burthen fall To couer my vntombed face withall And when as well the matter of our kind As the materiall sul stance of the mind Shall cease their reuolutions in abode Of such impure and vgly period As the old essence and insensiue prime Then shall the ruines of the fourefold time Turnd to that lumpe as rapting Torrents riâ—e For euer murmure forth my miseries Ye liuing spirits then if any liâ—e VVhom like extreames do like affections giue Shun shun this cruell light and end your thrall In these soft shades of sable funerall From whence with ghosts whoÌ„ vengeance holds froÌ„ rest Dog-fiends and monsters hanting the distrest As men whose parents tyrannie hath slaine VVhose sisters rape and bondage do sustaine Buâ— you that nere had birth nor euer prou'd How deare a blessing tis to be belou'd VVhose friends idolatrous desire of gold To scorne and ruine haue your freedome sold VVhose vertues feele all this and shew your eyes Men made of Tartar and of villanies Aspire th'extraction and the quintessence Of all the ioyes in earths circumference VVith ghosts fiends monsters as men robd and rackt Murtherd in life from shades with shadowes blackt Thunder your wrongs your miseries and hells And with the dismall accents of your knells Reuiue the dead and make the liuing dye In ruth and terror of your torturie Still all the powre of Art into your grones Scorning your triuiall and remissiue mones Compact of fiction and hyperboles Like wanton mourners clâ—yd with too much ease Should leaue the glasses of the hearers eyes Vnbroken couâ—ting all but vanities But paint or else create in serious trâ—th A bodie figur'd to your vertues ruth That to the sence may shew what damned sinne For your extreames this Chaos tumbles in But wo is wretched me without a name Vertue feeds scorâ—e and noblest honor shame Pride bathes in teares of poore submission And makes his soule the purple he puts on Kneele then with me fall worme-like on the ground And from th'infectious dâ—nghill of this Round From mens brasse wits and golden foolerie VVeepe weepe your soules into felicitie Come to this house of mourning serue the night To whom pale day with whoredome soked quite Is but a drudge selling her beauties vse To rapes adultries and to all abuse Her labors feast imperiall Night with sports VVhere Loues are Christmast with all pleasures sorts And whom her fugitiue and far-shot rayes Disiâ—yne and driue into ten thousand wayes Nights glorious mantle wraps in safe abodes And frees their neckes from seruile labors lodes Her trustie shadowes succour men dismayd VVhom Dayes deceiptfull malice hath betrayd From the silke vapors of her Iueryport Sweet Protean dreames she sends of euery sort Some taking formes of Princes to perswade Of men deiect we are their equals made Somâ— clad in habit oâ— deceased friâ—nds For whom we mournd and now haue wisht aâ—â—nds And some deare fauour Lady-like attyrd VVith pride of Beaâ—ties full Meridian firâ—d VVho pitie our contempts reuiue our harts For wisest Ladies loue the inward parts If these be dreames euen so are all things else That walke this round by heauenly sentinels But from Nights port of horne she greets our eyes VVith grauer dreames inspir'd with prophesies VVhich oâ—t presage to vs succeeding chances VVe proouing that awake they shew in trances If these seeme likewise vaine or nothing are Vâ—ine things or nothing come to vertues share For nothing more then dreames with vs shâ—e findes Then since all pleasures vanish like the windes And that most serious actions not respâ—cting The second night are worth but the neglecting Since day or light in anie qualitie For earthly vses do but serue the eye And since the eyes most quicke and dangerous vse Enflames the heart and learnes the soule abuse Since mournings are preferd to banquettings And they reach heauen bred vnder sorrowes wings Since Night brings terror to our frailties still And shamelesse Day doth marble vs in ill All you possest with indepressed spirits Indu'd with nimble and aspiring wits Come consecrate with me to sacred Night Your whole endeuours and detest the light Sweete Peaces richest crowne is made of starres Most certaine gâ—ides of hoâ—â—rd Mariâ—ars No pen can any thing eternall wright That is not â—â—eept iâ— hâ—mâ—r of the Night Hence beasts and birds â—o caues and bâ—shes then And welcome Night ye noblest heires of men Hence Phebus to thy glassie strâ—â—pets bed And neuer more let Theâ—â—â— dâ—â—ghters spred Thy golden harnesse 〈◊〉 thy rosie horse But in close thickets 〈◊〉 thy oblique câ—â—rse See now asceâ—ds the glorioâ—â—â—ride of Brides Nâ—ptials and triumphs glittring by her sides Iuno and Hymen do her traine adorne Ten thousand torches roâ—â—d about them borâ—e Dumbe Sileâ—ce 〈◊〉 on the Cyprian starre VVith becks rebâ—kes the winds before his carre VVhere she 〈◊〉 beates downe with cloâ—die â—ace The feeble light to blacke Saturnius pallace Behind her with a brase of siluer Hynds In Iuorie chariot swifter then the winds In great Hyperions horned daughter drawne Enchantresse-like deckt in disparent lawne Circkled with charmes and incantations That ride hâ—ge spirits and outragious passions Musicke and moode she loâ—es but loâ—e she hates As curious Ladies do their publique cates This traine with â—eteors comets lightenings The dreadfull presence of our Empresse sings VVhich grant for euer â— eternall Night Till vertue flourish in the light of light Explicit Hymnus Gloss 1 HE cals these Cynthiâ— fiers of Cynthius or the Sunne In whose beames the fumes and vapors of the earth arâ— exhald The earth being as an aâ—lter and those fumes as sâ—crificing smokes becauâ—e they seeme pleasing to her in resembling her That the earth is cald an aulter Aratus in Astronimicis testifies in these verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Nox antiqua suo curru conuoluitur Arâ—â— Hanc circum quaâ— signa dedit certissima â—aâ—tis Commiserata virâ—m metueâ—dos vndique casâ—s In which verses the substance of the first foure verses is exprest 2 Night is cald the nurse or mother of death by Hesiodus in Theogonia in these verses repeating her other issue Nox peperit fatumque malum Parcamque nigrantem Et mortem somnum diuersaque soâ—nia natos