infinite encamped lie Th' enraged Dragon and his Serpents bold And knowing well his time grows short and nigh He swells with venom'd gore and poys'nous heat His tail unfolded heav'n it self doth beat And sweeps the mighty starres from their transcendent seat 14 With him goes Caro cursed damme of sinne Foul filthie damme of fouler progenie Yet seems skin-deep most fair by witching gin To weaker sight but to a purged eye Looks like nay worse then hells infernall hagges Her empty breasts hang like lank hollow bagges And Iris ulcer'd skin is patcht with leprous ragges 15 Therefore her loathsome shape in steel arayd All rust within the outside polisht bright And on her shield a Mermaid sung and playd Whose humane beauties ' lure the wandring sight But slimy scales hid in their waters lie She chants she smiles so draws the eare the eye And whom she winnes she kills the word Heare gaze die 16 And after march her fruitfull serpent frie Whom she of divers lechers divers bore Marshall'd in severall ranks their colours flie Foure to Anagnus foure this painted whore To loathsome Asebie brought forth to light Twice foure got Adisus a hatefull wight But swoln Acrates two born in one bed and night 17 Moechus the first of blushlesse bold aspect Yet with him Doubt and Fear still trembling go Oft lookt he back as if he did suspect Th' approach of some unwisht unwelcome foe Behinde fell Jealousie his steps observ'd And sure Revenge with dart that never swerv'd Ten thousand griefs and plagues he felt but more deserv'd 18 His armour black as hell or starlesse night And in his shield he lively pourtray'd bare Mars fast impound in arms of Venus light And ti'd as fast in Vulcans subtil snare She feign'd to blush for shame now all too late But his red colour seem'd to sparkle hate Sweet are stoln waters round about the marge he wrate 19 Porneius next him pac't a meager wight Whose leaden eyes sunk deep in swimming head And joylesse look like some pale ashie spright Seem'd as he now were dying or now dead And with him Wastefulnesse that all expended And Want that still in theft and prison ended A hundred foul diseases close at 's back attended 20 His shining helm might seem a sparkling flame Yet sooth nought was it but a foolish fire And all his arms were of that burning frame That flesh and bones were gnawn with hot desire About his wrist his blazing shield did frie With sweltring hearts in flame of luxurie His word In fire I live in fire I burn and die 21 With him Acatharus in Tuscan guise A thing that neither man will owne nor beast Upon a boy he lean'd in wanton wise On whose fair limbes his eyes still greedie feast He sports he toyes kisses his shining face Behinde reproach and thousand devils pace Before bold Impudence that cannot change her grace 22 His armour seem'd to laugh with idle boyes Which all about their wanton sportings playd Al 's would himself help out their childish toyes And like a boy lend them unmanly aid In his broad targe the bird her wings dispread Which trussing wafts the Trojan Ganymed And round was writ Like with his like is coupeled 23 Aselges follow'd next the boldest boy That ever play'd in Venus wanton court He little cares who notes his lavish joy Broad were his jests wilde his uncivil sport His fashion too too fond and loosly light A long love-lock on his left shoulder plight Like to a womans hair well shew'd a womans sprite 24 Lust in strange nests this Cuckoe egge conceiv'd Which nurst with surfets drest with fond disguises In fancies school his breeding first receiv'd So this brave spark to wilder flame arises And now to court preferr'd high blouds he fires There blows up pride vain mirths and loose desires And heav'nly souls oh grief with hellish flame inspires 25 There oft to rivalls lends the gentle Dor Oft takes his mistresse by the bitter Bob There learns her each daies change of Gules Verd Or His sampler if she pouts her slave must sob Her face his sphere her hair his circling skie Her love his heav'n her sight eternitie Of her he dreams with her he lives for her he 'l die 26 Upon his arm a tinsell scarf he wore Forsooth his Madams favour spangled fair Light as himself a fanne his helmet bore With ribbons drest begg'd from his Mistresse hair On 's shield a winged boy all naked shin'd His folded eyes willing and wilfull blinde The word was wrought with gold Such is a lovers minde 27 These foure Anagnus and foul Caro's sonnes Who led a diff'rent and disorder'd rout Fancie a lad that all in feathers wons And loose desire and danger linkt with doubt And thousand wanton thoughts still budding new But lazie ease usher'd the idle crue And lame disease shuts up their troops with torments due 28 Next band by Asebie was boldly led And his foure sonnes begot in Stygian night First Idololatros whose monstrous head Was like an ugly fiend his flaming sight Like blazing starres the rest all different For to his shape some part each creature lent But to the great Creatour all adversly bent 29 Upon his breast a bloudie Crosse he scor'd Which oft he worshipt but the Christ that di'd Thereon he seldome but in paint ador'd Yet wood stone beasts wealth lusts fiends deifi'd He makes meer pageants of the saving Rock Puppet-like trimming his Almightie stock Which then his god or he which is the verier block 30 Of Giant shape and strength thereto agreeing Wherewith he whilome all the world opprest And yet the greater part his vassals being Slumbring in ignorance securely rest A golden calf himself more beast he bore Which brutes with dancings gifts and songs adore Idols are lay-mens books he round had wrote in Ore 31 Next Pharmacus of gashly wilde aspect Whom hell with seeming fear and fiends obey Full eas'ly would he know each past effect And things to come with double guesse foresay By slain beasts entrails and fowls marked flight Thereto he tempests rais'd by many a spright And charm'd the Sunne and Moon chang'd the day and night 32 So when the South dipping his fablest wings In humid Ocean sweeps with 's dropping beard Th' aire earth and seas his lips loud thunderings And flashing eyes make all the world afeard Light with dark clouds waters with fires are met The Sunne but now is rising now is set And findes west-shades in East and seas in ayers wet 33 By birth and hand he jugling fortunes tells Oft brings from shades his grandsires damned ghost Oft stoln goods forces out by wicked spells His frightfull shield with thousand fiends embost Which seem'd without a circles ring to play In midst himself dampens the smiling day And prints sad characters which none may write or say 34 The third Haereticus a wrangling carle Who in the way to heav'n would
While smiling heav'ns spread round a canopie Now tost with blasts and civil enmitie While whistling windes blow trumpets to their fight And roaring waves as drummes whet on their spite 8 Such cruel storms my restles heart command Late thousand joyes securely lodged there Ne fear'd I then to care ne car'd to fear But pull'd the prison'd fishes to the land Or spite of windes pip't on the golden sand But since love sway'd my breast these seas alarms Are but dead pictures of my raging harms 9 Love stirres desire desire like stormy winde Blows up high swelling waves of hope and fear Hope on his top my trembling heart doth bear Up to my heav'n but straight my lofty minde By fear sunk in despair deep drown'd I finde But ah your tempests cannot last for ever But ah my storms I fear will leave me never 10 Haples and fond too fond more haples swain Who lovest where th' art scorn'd scorn'st where th' art loved Or learn to hate where thou hast hatred proved Or learn to love where thou art lov'd again Ah cease to love or cease to woo thy pain Thy love thus scorn'd is hell do not so earn it At least learn by forgetting to unlearn it 11 Ah fond and haples swain but much more fond How canst unlearn by learning to forget it When thought of what thou should'st unlearn does whet it And surer ties thy minde in captive bond Canst thou unlearn a ditty thou hast con'd Canst thou forget a song by oft repeating Thus much more wilt thou learn by thy forgetting 12 Haplesse and fond most fond more haplesse swain Seeing thy rooted love will leave thee never She hates thy love love thou her hate for ever In vain thou hop'st hope yet though still in vain Joy in thy grief and triumph in thy pain And though reward exceedeth thy aspiring Live in her love and die in her admiring 13 Fair-cruel maid most cruel fairer ever How hath foul rigour stol'n into thy heart And on a comick stage hath learnt thee art To play a Tyrant-tragical deceiver To promise mercy but perform it never To look more sweet maskt in thy looks disguise Then Mercy self can look with Pities eyes 14 Who taught thy honied tongue the cunning slight To melt the ravisht eare with musicks strains And charm the sense with thousand pleasing pains And yet like thunder roll'd in flames and night To break the rived heart with fear and fright How rules therein thy breast so quiet state Spite leagu'd with mercy love with lovelesse hate 15 Ah no fair Coelia in thy sunne-like eye Heav'n sweetly smiles those starres soft loving fire And living heat not burning flames inspire Love's self enthron'd in thy brows ivorie And every grace in heavens liverie My wants not thine me in despairing drown When hell presumes no mar'l if heavens frown 16 Those gracefull tunes issuing from glorious spheares Ravish the eare and soul with strange delight And with sweet Nectar fill the thirsty sprite Thy honied tongue charming the melted eares Stills stormy hearts and quiets frights and fears My daring heart provokes thee and no wonder When earth so high aspires if heavens thunder 17 See see fair Coelia seas are calmly laid And end their boisterous threats in quiet peace The waves their drummes the windes their trumpets cease But my sick love ah love full ill apayd Never can hope his storms may be allayd But giving to his rage no end or leisure Still restles rests Love knows no mean or measure 18 Fond boy she justly scorns thy proud desire While thou with singing would'st forget thy pain Go strive to empty the still-flowing main Go fuell seek to quench thy growing fire Ah foolish boy scorn is thy musicks hire Drown then these flames in seas but ah I fear To fire the main and to want water there 19 There first thy heav'n I saw there felt my hell There smooth-calm seas rais'd storms of fierce desires There cooling waters kindled burning fires Nor can the Ocean quench them in thy cell Full stor'd with pleasures all my pleasures fell Die then fond lad ah well my death may please thee But love thy love not life not death must ease me 20 So down he swowning sinks nor can remove Till fisher-boyes fond fisher-boyes revive him And back again his life and loving give him But he such wofull gift doth much reprove Hopelesse his life for hopelesse is his love Go then most loving but most dolefull swain Well may I pitie she must cure thy pain FINIS ECLOG IIII. CHROMIS Thelgon Chromis Thel CHromis my joy why drop thy rainie eyes And sullen clouds hang on thy heavie brow Seems that thy net is rent and idle lies Thy merry pipe hangs broken on a bough But late thy time in hundred joyes thou spent'st Now time spends thee while thou in vain lament'st Chrom 2 Thelgon my pipe is whole and nets are new But nets and pipe contemn'd and idle lie My little reed that late so merry blew Tunes sad notes to his masters miserie Time is my foe and hates my rugged rimes And I as much hate both that hate and times Thel 3 What is it then that causeth thy unrest Or wicked charms or loves new-kindled fire Ah! much I fear love eats thy tender breast Too well I know his never quenched ire Since I Amyntas lov'd who me disdains And loves in me nought but my grief and pains Chrom 4 No lack of love did ever breed my smart I onely learn'd to pity others pain And ward my breast from his deceiving art But one I love and he loves me again In love this onely is my greatest sore He loves so much and I can love no more 5 But when the fishers trade once highly priz'd And justly honour'd in those better times By every lozel-groom I see despis'd No marvel if I hate my jocond rimes And hang my pipe upon a willow bough Might I grieve ever if I grieve not now Thel 6 Ah foolish boy why should'st thou so lament To be like him whom thou dost like so well The Prince of fishers thousand tortures rent To heav'n lad thou art bound the way by hell Would'st thou ador'd and great and merry be When he was mockt debas'd and dead for thee 7 Mens scorns should rather joy then sorrow move For then thou highest art when thou art down Their storms of hate should more blow up my love Their laughters my applause their mocks my crown Sorrow for him and shame let me betide Who for me wretch in shame and sorrow died Chrom 8 Thelgon 't is not my self for whom I plain My private losse full easie could I bear If private losse might help the publick gain But who can blame my grief or chide my fear Since now the fishers trade and honour'd name Is made the common badge of scorn and shame 9 Little know they the fishers toilsome pain Whose labour with his age still growing spends not His care and watchings
crosses By with'ring springing fresh and rich by often losses 36 Vain men too fondly wise who plough the seas With dangerous pains another earth to finde Adding new worlds to th' old and scorning ease The earths vast limits dayly more unbinde The aged world though now it falling shows And hastes to set yet still in dying grows Whole lives are spent to win what one deaths houre must lose 37 How like 's the world unto a tragick stage Where every changing scene the actours change Some subject crouch and fawn some reigne and rage And new strange plots brings scenes as new strange Till most are slain the rest their parts have done So here some laugh and play some weep and grone Till all put of their robes and stage and actours gone 38 Yet this fair Isle sited so nearely neare That from our sides nor place nor time may sever Though to your selves your selves are not more deare Yet with strange carelesnesse you travell never Thus while your selves and native home forgetting You search farre distant worlds with needlesse sweating You never finde your selves so lose ye more by getting 39 When that great Power that All farre more then all When now his fore-set time was fully come Brought into act this undigested Ball Which in himself till then had onely room He labour'd not nor suffer'd pain or ill But bid each kinde their severall places fill He bid and they obey'd their action was his will 40 First stept the Light and spread his chearfull rayes Through all the Chaos darknesse headlong fell Frighted with suddain beams and new-born dayes And plung'd her ougly head in deepest hell Not that he meant to help his feeble sight To frame the rest he made the day of night All els but darknesse he the true the onely Light 41 Fire Water Earth and Aire that fiercely strove His soveraigne hand in strong alliance ti'd Binding their deadly hate in constant love So that great Wisdome temper'd all their pride Commanding strife and love should never cease That by their peacefull fight and fighting peace The world might die to live and lessen to increase 42 Thus Earths cold arm cold Water friendly holds But with his drie the others wet defies Warm Aire with mutuall love hot Fire infolds As moist his dryth abhorres drie Earth allies With Fire but heats with cold new warres prepare Yet Earth drencht Water proves which boil'd turns Aire Hot Aire makes Fire condenst all change and home repair 43 Now when the first weeks life was almost spent And this world built and richly furnished To store heav'ns courts and steer earths regiment He cast to frame an Isle the heart and head Of all his works compos'd with curious art Which like an Index briefly should impart The summe of all the whole yet of the whole a part 44 That Trine-one with himself in councell sits And purple dust takes from the new-born earth Part circular and part triang'lar fits Endows it largely at the unborn birth Deputes his Favorite Vice-roy doth invest With aptnesse thereunto as seem'd him best And lov'd it more then all and more then all it blest 45 Then plac't it in the calm pacifick seas And bid nor waves nor troublous windes offend it Then peopled it with subjects apt to please So wise a Prince made able to defend it Against all outward force or inward spite Him framing like himself all shining bright A little living Sunne Sonne of the living Light 46 Nor made he this like other Isles but gave it Vigour sense reason and a perfect motion To move it self whither it self would have it And know what falls within the verge of notion No time might change it but as ages went So still return'd still spending never spent More rising in their fall more rich in detriment 47 So once the Cradle of that double light Whereof one rules the night the other day Till sad Latona flying Iuno's spite Her double burthen there did safely lay Not rooted yet in every sea was roving With every wave and every winde removing But since to those fair Twins hath left her ever moving 48 Look as a scholar who doth closely gather Many large volumes in a narrow place So that great Wisdome all this All together Confin'd into this Islands little space And being one soon into two he fram'd it And now made two to one again reclaim'd it The little Isle of Man or Purple Island nam'd it 49 Thrice happy was the worlds first infancie Nor knowing yet nor curious ill to know Joy without grief love without jealousie None felt hard labour or the sweating plough The willing earth brought tribute to her King Bacchus unborn lay hidden in the cling Of big-swoln grapes their drink was every silver spring 50 Of all the windes there was no difference None knew mild Zephyres from cold Eurus mouth Nor Orithyia's lovers violence Distinguisht from the ever-dropping South But either gentle West-winds reign'd alone Or else no winde or harmfull winde was none But one winde was in all and all the windes in one 51 None knew the sea oh blessed ignorance None nam'd the stars the North carres constant race Taurus bright horns or Fishes happy chance Astraea yet chang'd not her name or place Her ev'n-pois'd ballance heav'n yet never tri'd None sought new coasts nor forrain lands descri'd But in their own they liv'd and in their own they di'd 52 But ah what liveth long in happinesse Grief of an heavy nature steddy lies And cannot be remov'd for weightinesse But joy of lighter presence eas'ly flies And seldome comes and soon away will goe Some secret power here all things orders so That for a sun-shine day follows an age of woe 53 Witnesse this glorious Isle which not content To be confin'd in bounds of happinesse Would trie what e're is in the continent And seek out ill and search for wretchednesse Ah fond to seek what then was in thy will That needs no curious search 't is next us still 'T is grief to know of grief and ill to know of ill 54 That old slie Serpent slie but spitefull more Vext with the glory of this happy Isle Allures it subt'ly from the peacefull shore And with fair painted lies colour'd guile Drencht in dead seas whose dark streams full of fright Emptie their sulphur waves in endlesse night Where thousand deaths and hells torment the damned sprite 55 So when a fisher-swain by chance hath spi'd A big-grown Pike pursue the lesser frie He sets a withy Labyrinth beside And with fair baits allures his nimble eye Which he invading with our-streched finne All suddainly is compast with the ginne Where there is no way out but easie passage in 56 That deathfull lake hath these three properties No turning path or issue thence is found The captive never dead yet ever dies It endlesse sinks yet never comes to ground Hells self is pictur'd in that brimstone wave For what retiring from that hellish grave Or
didst spread On those dark waters thy all-opening light Thou who of late of thy great bounty head This nest of hellish fogges and Stygian night With thy bright orient Sunne hast fair renew'd And with unwonted day hast it endu'd Which late both day thee and most it self eschew'd 27 Dread Spirit do thou those severall bands unfold Both which thou sent'st a needfull supplement To this lost Isle and which with courage bold Hourely assail thy rightfull regiment And with strong hand oppresse keep them under Raise now my humble vein to lofty thunder That heav'n and earth may sound resound thy praises wonder 28 The Islands Prince of frame more then celestiall Is rightly call'd th' all-seeing Intellect All glorious bright such nothing is terrestriall Whose Sun-like face and most divine aspect No humane sight may ever hope descrie For when himself on 's self reflects his eye Dull and amaz'd he stands at so bright majestie 29 Look as the Sunne whose ray and searching light Here there and every where it self displayes No nook or corner flies his piercing sight Yet on himself when he reflects his rayes Soon back he flings the too bold vent'ring gleam Down to the earth the flames all broken stream Such is this famous Prince such his unpierced beam 30 His strangest body is not bodily But matter without matter never fill'd Nor filling though within his compasse high All heav'n and earth and all in both are held Yet thousand thousand heav'ns he could contain And still as empty as at first remain And when he takes in most readi'st to take again 31 Though travelling all places changing none Bid him soar up to heav'n and thence down throwing The centre search and Dis dark realm he 's gone Returns arrives before thou saw'st him going And while his weary kingdome safely sleeps All restlesse night he watch and warding keeps Never his carefull head on resting pillow steeps 32 In every quarter of this blessed Isle Himself both present is and President Nor once retires ah happy realm the while That by no Officers lewd lavishment With greedie lust and wrong consumed art He all in all and all in every part Does share to each his due and equall dole impart 33 He knows nor death nor yeares nor feeble age But as his time his strength and vigour grows And when his kingdome by intestine rage Lies broke and wasted open to his foes And batter'd sconce now flat and even lies Sooner then thought to that great Judge he flies Who weighs him just reward of good or injuries 34 For he the Judges Viceroy here is plac't Where if he live as knowing he may die He never dies but with fresh pleasures grac't Bathes his crown'd head in soft eternitie Where thousand joyes and pleasures ever new And blessings thicker then the morning dew With endlesse sweets rain down on that immortall crue 35 There golden starres set in the crystall snow There daintie joyes laugh at white-headed caring There day no night delight no end shall know Sweets without surfet fulnesse without sparing And by its spending growing happinesse There God himself in glories lavishnesse Diffus'd in all to all is all full blessednesse 36 But if he here neglect his Masters law And with those traitours 'gainst his Lord rebells Down to the deeps ten thousand fiends him draw Deeps where night death despair and horrour dwells And in worst ills still worse expecting fears Where fell despite for spite his bowels tears And still increasing grief and torment never wears 37 Prayers there are idle death is woo'd in vain In midst of death poore wretches long to die Night without day or rest still doubling pain Woes spending still yet still their end lesse nigh The soul there restlesse helplesse hopelesse lies The body frying roars and roaring fries There 's life that never lives there 's death that never dies 38 Hence while unsetled here he fighting reignes Shut in a Tower where thousand enemies Assault the fort with wary care and pains He guards all entrance and by divers spies Searches into his foes and friends designes For most he fears his subjects wavering mindes This Tower then onely falls when treason undermines 39 Therefore while yet he lurks in earthly tent Disguis'd in worthlesse robes and poore attire Trie we to view his glories wonderment And get a sight of what we so admire For when away from this sad place he flies And in the skies abides more bright then skies Too glorious is his sight for our dimme mortall eyes 40 So curl'd-head Thetis waters feared Queen But bound in cauls of sand yeelds not to sight And planets glorious King may best be seen When some thinne cloud dimmes his too piercing light And neither none nor all his face discloses For when his bright eye full our eye opposes None gains his glorious sight but his own sight he loses 41 Within the Castle sit eight Counsellers That help him in this tent to govern well Each in his room a severall office bears Three of his inmost private counsell deal In great affairs five of lesse dignitie Have outward Courts and in all actions prie But still referre the doom to Courts more fit and high 42 Those five fair brethren which I sung of late For their just number call'd the Pemptarchie The other three three pillars of the state The first in midst of that high Tower doth lie The chiefest mansion of this glorious King The Judge and Arbiter of every thing Which those five brethrens poasts in to his office bring 43 Of middle yeares and seemly personage Father of laws the rule of wrong and right Fountain of judgement therefore wondrous sage Discreet and wise of quick and nimble sight Not those seven Sages might him parallell Nor he whom Pythian Maid did whilome tell To be the wisest man that then on earth did dwell 44 As Neptunes cestern sucks in tribute tides Yet never full which every chanel brings And thirstie drinks and drinking thirstie bides For by some hidden way back to the springs It sends the streams in erring conduits spread Which with a circling dutie still are led So ever feeding them is by them ever fed 45 Ev'n so the first of these three Counsellers Gives to the five the power of all-descrying Which back to him with mutuall dutie bears All their informings and the causes trying For through strait waies the nimble Poast ascends Unto his hall there up his message sends Which to the next well scann'd he straightway recommends 46 The next that in the Castles front is plac't Phantastes hight his yeares are fresh and green His visage old his face too much defac't With ashes pale his eyes deep sunken been With often thoughts and never slackt intention Yet he the fount of speedy apprehension Father of wit the well of arts and quick invention 47 But in his private thoughts and busy brain Thousand thinne forms and idle fancies flit The three-shap't Sphinx and direfull
dearest heir Did helplesse lie and Greek lords watching still Observ'd his hand guided with carefull will About was wrote Who nothing doth doth nothing ill 34 By him went Idlenesse his loved friend And Shame with both with all ragg'd Pouertie Behinde sure Punishment did close attend Waiting a while fit opportunitie And taking count of houres mispent in vain And graces lent without returning gain Pour'd on his guiltie corse late grief helplesse pain 35 This dull cold earth with standing water froze At ease he lies to coyn pretence for ease His soul like Ahaz diall while it goes Not forward poasteth backward ten degrees In 's couch he 's pliant wax for fiends to seal He never sweats but in his bed or meal He 'd rather steal then work and beg then strive to steal 36 All opposite though he his brother were Was Chaunus that too high himself esteem'd All things he undertook nor could he fear His power too weak or boasted strength misdeem'd With his own praise like windie bladder blown His eyes too little or too much his own For known to all men weak was to himself unknown 37 Fondly himself with praising he disprais'd Vaunting his deeds and worth with idle breath So raz'd himself what he himself had rais'd On 's shield a boy threatens high Phoebus death Aiming his arrow at his purest light But soon the thinne reed fir'd with lightning bright Feel idlely on the strond his word Yet high and right 38 Next brave Philotimus in poast did ride Like rising ladders was his climbing minde His high-flown thoughts had wings of courtly pride Which by foul rise to greatest height enclin'd His heart aspiring swell'd untill it burst But when he gain'd the top with spite accurst Down would he fling the steps by which he clamb'red first 39 His head 's a shop furnisht with looms of state His brain the weaver thoughts are shuttles light With which in spite of heav'n he weaves his fate Honour his web thus works he day and night Till fates cut off his threed so heapeth sinnes And plagues nor once enjoyes the place he winnes But where his old race ends there his new race begins 40 Ah silly man who dream'st that honour stands In ruling others not thy self thy slaves Serve thee and thou thy slaves in iron bands Thy servile spirit prest with wilde passions raves Would'st thou live honour'd clip ambitions wing To reasons yoke thy furious passions bring Thrice noble is the man who of himself is King 41 Upon his shield was fram'd that vent'rous lad That durst assay the Sunnes bright-flaming team Spite of his feeble hands the horses mad Fling down on burning earth the scorching beam So made the flame in which himself was fir'd The world the bonefire was where he expir'd His motto written thus Yet had what he desir'd 42 But Atimus a carelesse idle swain Though Glory off'red him her sweet embrace And fair Occasion with little pain Reacht him her ivory hand yet lozel base Rather his way and her fair self declin'd Well did he thence prove his degenerous minde Base were his restie thoughts base was his dunghill kinde 43 And now by force dragg'd from the monkish cell Where teeth he onely us'd nor hands nor brains But in smooth streams swam down through ease to hell His work to eat drink sleep and purge his reins He left his heart behinde him with his feast His target with a flying dart was drest Poasting unto his mark the word I move to rest 44 Next Colax all his words with sugar spices His servile tongue base slave to greatnesse name Runnes nimble descant on the plainest vices He lets his tongue to sinne takes rent of shame He temp'ring lies porter to th' eare resides Like Indian apple which with painted sides More dangerous within his lurking poyson hides 45 So Echo to the voice her voice conforming From hollow breast for one will two repay So like the rock it holds it self transforming That subtil fish hunts for her heedlesse prey So crafty fowlers with their fair deceits Allure the hungrie bird so fisher waits To bait himself with fish his hook and fish with baits 46 His art is but to hide not heal a sore To nourish pride to strangle conscience To drain the rich his own drie pits to store To spoil the precious soul to please vile sense A carrion crow he is a gaping grave The rich coats moth the courts bane trenchers slave Sinnes hells winning baud the devils fact'ring knave 47 A mist he casts before his patrons sight That blackest vices never once appeare But greater then it is seems vertues light His Lords displeasure is his onely fear His clawing lies tickling the senses frail To death make open way where force would fail Lesse hurts the lions paw then foxes softest tail 48 His arms with hundred tongues were poud'red gay The mint of lies gilt fil'd the sense to please His sword which in his mouth close sheathed lay Sharper then death and fram'd to kill with ease Ah cursed weapon life with pleasure spilling The Sardoin herb with many branches filling His shield was his device the word I please in killing 49 Base slave how crawl'st thou from thy dunghill nest Where thou wast hatcht by shame and beggerie And pearchest in the learn'd and noble breast Nobles of thee their courtship learn of thee Arts learn new art their learning to adorn Ah wretched mindes He is not nobly born Nor learn'd that doth not thy ignoble learning scorn 50 Close to him Pleasing went with painted face And Honour by some hidden cunning made Not Honours self but Honours semblance base For soon it vanisht like an emptie shade Behinde his parents duely him attend With them he forced is his age to spend Shame his beginning was and shame must be his end 51 Next follow'd Dyscolus a froward wight His lips all swoln and eyebrows ever bent With sootie locks swart looks and scouling sight His face a tell-tale to his foul intent He nothing lik't or prais'd but reprehended What every one beside himself commended Humours of tongues impostum'd purg'd with shame are mended 52 His mouth a pois'nous quiver where he hides Sharp venom'd arrows which his bitter tongue With squibs carps jests unto their object guides Nor fears he gods on earth or heav'n to wrong Upon his shield was fairly drawn to sight A raging dog foaming out wrath and spite The word to his device Impartiall all I bite 53 Geloios next ensu'd a merrie Greek Whose life was laughter vain and mirth misplac't His speeches broad to shame the modest cheek Ne car'd he whom or when or how disgrac't Salt round about he flung upon the sand If in his way his friend or father stand His father his friend he spreads with carelesse hand 54 His foul jests steep'd and drown'd in laughter vain And rotten speech ah was not mirth but madnesse His armour crackling thorns all flaming
most I love with just adoring That Mantuan swain who chang'd his slender reed To trumpets martiall voice and warres loud roaring From Corydon to Turnus derring-deed And next our home-bred Colins sweetest firing Their steps not following close but farre admiring To lackey one of these is all my prides aspiring 6 Then you my peers whose quiet expectation Seemeth my backward tale would fain invite Deigne gently heare this purple Islands nation A people never seen yet still in sight Our daily guests and natives yet unknown Our servants born but now commanders grown Our friends and enemies aliens yet still our own 7 Not like those Heroes who in better times This happy Island first inhabited In joy and peace when no rebellious crimes That God-like nation yet dispeop'led Those claim'd their birth from that eternal Light Held th' Isle and rul'd it in their fathers right And in their faces bore their parents image bright 8 For when the Isle that main would fond forsake In which at first it found a happy place And deep was plung'd in that dead hellish lake Back to their father flew this heav'nly race And left the Isle forlorn and desolate That now with fear and wishes all too late Sought in that blackest wave to hide his blacker fate 9 How shall a worm on dust that crawls and feeds Climbe to th' empyreall court where these states reign And there take view of what heav'ns self exceeds The Sunne lesse starres these lights the Sunne distain Their beams divine and beauties do excell What here on earth in aire or heav'n do dwell Such never eye yet saw such never tongue can tell 10 Soon as these Saints the treach'rous Isle forsook Rusht in a false foul fiend-like companie And every fort and every castle took All to this rabble yeeld the soveraigntie The goodly temples which those Heroes plac't By this foul rout were utterly defac't And all their fences strong and all their bulwarks raz'd 11 So where the neatest Badger most abides Deep in the earth she frames her prettie cell And into halls and closulets divides But when the stinking fox with loathsome smell Infects her pleasant cave the cleanly beast So hates her inmate and rank-smelling guest That farre away she flies and leaves her loathed nest 12 But when those Graces at their fathers throne Arriv'd in heav'ns high Court to Justice plain'd How they were wrong'd and forced from their own And what foul people in their dwellings reign'd How th' earth much waxt in ill much wan'd in good So full-ripe vice how blasted vertues bud Begging such vicious weeds might sink in vengefull floud 13 Forth stept the just Dicaea full of rage The first-born daughter of th' Almighty King Ah sacred maid thy kindled ire asswage Who dare abide thy dreadfull thundering Soon as her voice but Father onely spake The faultlesse heav'ns like leaves in Autumne shake And all that glorious throng with horrid palsies quake 14 Heard you not late with what loud trumpet sound Her breath awak'd her fathers sleeping ire The heav'nly armies flam'd earth shook heav'n frown'd And heav'ns dread King call'd for his three-forkt fire Heark how the powerfull words strike through the eare The frighted sense shoots up the staring hair And shakes the trembling soul with fright shudd'ring fear 15 So have I seen the earth strong windes detaining In prison close they scorning to be under Her dull subjection and her power disdaining With horrid struglings tear their bonds in sunder Mean while the wounded earth that forc'd their stay With terrour reels the hils runne farre away And frighted world fears hell breaks out upon the day 16 But see how 'twixt her sister and her sire Soft-hearted Mercy sweetly interposing Settles her panting breast against his fire Pleading for grace and chains of death unloosing Heark from her lips the melting hony flowes The striking Thunderer recals his blowes And every armed souldier down his weapon throwes 17 So when the day wrapt in a cloudie night Puts out the Sunne anon the rattling hail On earth poures down his shot with fell despight His powder spent the Sunne puts off his vail And fair his flaming beauties now unsteeps The plough-man from his bushes gladly peeps And hidden traveller out of his covert creeps 18 Ah fairest maid best essence of thy father Equall unto thy never equall'd sire How in low verse shall thy poore shepherd gather What all the world can ne're enough admire When thy sweet eyes sparkle in chearfull light The brightest day grows pale as leaden night And heav'ns bright burning eye loses his blinded sight 19 Who then those sugred strains can understand Which calm'd thy father and our desp'rate fears And charm'd the nimble lightning in his hand That all unwares it dropt in melting tears Then thou deare swain thy heav'nly load unfraught For she her self hath thee her speeches taught So neare her heav'n they be so farre from humane thought 20 But let my lighter skiffe return again Unto that little Isle which late it left Nor dare to enter in that boundlesse main Or tell the nation from this Island reft But sing that civil strife and home dissension 'Twixt two strong factions with like fierce contention Where never peace is heard nor ever peaces mention 21 For that foul rout which from the Stygian brook Where first they dwelt in midst of death and night By force the left and emptie Island took Claim hence full conquest and possessions right But that fair band which Mercie sent anew The ashes of that first heroick crue From their forefathers claim their right Islands due 22 In their fair look their parents grace appeares Yet their renowned sires were much more glorious For what decaies not with decaying yeares All night and all the day with toil laborious In losse and conquest angrie fresh they fight Nor can the other cease or day or night While th' Isle is doubly rent with endlesse warre and fright 23 As when the Britain and Iberian fleet With resolute and fearlesse expectation On trembling seas with equall fury meet The shore resounds with diverse acclamation Till now at length Spains firie Dons 'gin shrink Down with their ships hope life and courage sink Courage life hope and ships the gaping surges drink 24 But who alas shall teach my ruder breast The names and deeds of these heroick Kings Or downy Muse which now but left the nest Mount from her bush to heav'n with new-born wings Thou sacred maid which from fair Palestine Through all the world hast spread thy brightest shine Kindle thy shepherd-swain with thy light flaming eyn 25 Sacred Thespio which in Sinaies grove First took'st thy being and immortall breath And vaunt'st thy off-spring from the highest Iove Yet deign'dst to dwell with mortalls here beneath With vilest earth and men more vile residing Come holy Virgin in my bosome sliding With thy glad Angel light my blindfold footsteps guiding 26 And thou dread Spirit which at first