"Fro thence I durst in derring to compare For, if the flocking nymphes did follow Pan, "But, ah! such pride at length was ill repayde; The shepheards god (perdie god was he none) My hurtlesse pleasaunce did me ill upbraide, My freedome lorne, my life he left to mone. Love they him called that gave me checkmate, "Tho gan my lovely spring bid me farewell, A comet stird up that unkindly heate, "Forth was I ledde, not as I wont afore, 45 55 60 The bush my bed, the bramble was my bowre, 65 "Where I was wont to seeke the honie bee, 70 105 "My boughs with bloosmes that crowned were at "The fragrant flowres, that in my garden grewe, "And I, that whilome wont to frame my pype The loser lasse I cast to please no more; 115 126 2 Lions house he imagineth simply that Cupid, which is ove, had his abode in the hot signe Leo. which is in midst of Sonimer; a pretie allegory; wherof the meaning is, that love in him wrought an extraordinarie heat of lust. His ray, which is Cupids beame of flames of love. A comet, a blasing starre, meant of beautie, which was the cause of his hot love. Venus, the goddesse of beautie or pleasure. Also a signe in heaven, as it is here taken. So he meaneth that beautie, which hath alway aspect to Venus, was the cause of his unquietnesse in love. Where I was: a fine description of the change of his life and liking, for all things now seemed to him to have altered their kindly course. Lording: Spoken after the manner of Paddocks and Frogs sitting, which is indeed lordly, not mooving or looking once aside, unlesse they be stirred. Then as: The second part, that is, his manhood. Cotes, Shepcotes, for such be exercises of shepheards. Sale or sallow, a kinde of wood like willow, fitte to wreathe and binde in heapes to catch fish withall. Phœbe failes, The Eclipse of the Moone, which is alwayes in Cauda, or Capite Draconis, signes in heaven. Venus, s. Venus starre, otherwise called Hesperus, and Vesper, and Lucifer, both because he seemeth to be one of the brightest stars, and also first riseth, and setteth last. All which skill in starres being convenient for shepheards to know, Theocritus and the rest use. Raging seas: The cause of the swelling and ebbing of the sea commeth of the course of the Moone, sometime increasing, sometime waining and decreasing. Sooth of birds, a kind of soothsaying used in the elder times, which they gathered by the flying of birds: First (as is said) invented by the Tuscans, and from thei derived to the Romanes who, as it is said in Livy, were so superstitiously rooted in the same, that they agreed that every noble man should put his sonne to the Tuscanes, by them to be brought up in that knowledge. Of herbs: That wondrous things be wrought by herbs, as wel appeareth by the common working of them in our bodyes, as also by the wonderfull enchauntments and sorceries that have beene wrought by them, insomuch that it is said, that Circe, a famous sorceresse, turned men into sundry kinds of beasts and monsters, and only by herbes : as the Port saith, "Dea sava potentibus herbis &c." Kidst, knowest. Eare, of corne. Scathe, losse, hindrance. Frer ang. Ever and anone. And thus: The third part wherein is set forth his ripe yeares as an untimely harvest that bringeth little fruit. The fragrant flowers, sundry studies and laudable parts of learning, wherein our poet is seene: be they witnesse which are privie to this study. So now my yeere: The last part, wherein is described his age, by comparison of wintrie stormes. Carefull cold, for care is said to coole the bloud. Glee, mirth. Hoarie frost, a metaphor of hoarie haires scattered like a gray frost. Breeme, sharpe and bitter. Adieu delights, is a conclusion of all. Where in sixe verses he comprehendeth all that was touched in this booke. In the first verse his delights of youth generally: In the second, the love of Rosalinde: In the third, the keeping of sheep, which is the argument of al the Eg logues: In the fourth, his complaints: And in the last two, his professed friendship and good will to his good friend Hobbinoil. EMBLEME. The meaning whereof is, that all things perish and come to their last end, but works of learned wits and monuments abide for ever. And therefore Horace of his Odes, a worke though full indeed of great wit and learning yet of no so great weight and importance, boldly saith, "Exegi monimentum ære perennius, "Quod non imber edax, non aquilo impotens &c.* Therefore let not be envied, that this Poet in his Epilogue saith, he made a Calender that shall endure as long as time, &c. following the example of Horace and Ovid in the like. "Grande opus exegi, quod nec Iovis ira, nec ignis, "Nec ferrum poterit nec edax abolere vetustas, &c." EPILOGUE. LOE! I have made a Calender for every yeare, That steele in strength, and time in durance, shall outweare; And, if I marked well the starres revolution, It shall continue till the worides dissolution, To teach the ruder shepheard how to feede his sheepe, [keepe. And from the falsers fraude his folded flocke to Goe, little Calender ! thou hast a free passeporte: Goe but a lowly gate amongst the meaner sorte Dare not to match thy pype with Tityrus his stile. Nor with the Pilgrim that the plough-man playd a fadore; while; But follow them farre off, and their high steps The better please, the worse despise; I aske no MUIOPOTMOS: OR, THE FATE OF THE BUTTERFLIE. 1590. ΤΟ THE RIGHT WORTHY AND VERTUOUS LADIE; THE LA: CAREY. MOST brave and bountifull La: for so excellent favours as I have received at your sweet handes, to offer these fewe leaves as in recompence, should be as to offer flowers to the gods for their divine benefites. Therefore I have determined to give my selfe wholy to you, as quite abandoned from my selfe, and absolutely vowed to your services: which in all right is ever held for full recompence of debt or damage, to have the person yeelded. My person I wot wel how little worth it is. But the faithfull minde and humble zeale which I bear unto your La: may perhaps be more of price, as may please you to account and use the poore service therof; which taketh glory to advance 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 unminded; nor for name or kindreds sake by you vouchsafed; being also regardable; as for that honorable name, which yee have by your brave deserts purchast to your selfe, and spred in the mouths of all men: with which I have also presumed to grace my verses; and, under your Name, to commend to the world this small Poëme. The which beseeching your La: to take in worth, and of all things therin according to your wonted graciousnes to make a milde construction, I humbly pray for your happines. Your La ever humbly; I SING of deadly dolorous debate, nyne, The roote whereof and tragicall effect, Of all the race of silver-winged Flies With fruitfull hope his aged breast he fed 10 E. S. Full of brave courage and bold hardyhed The fresh young Flie, in whom the kindly fire 35 40 43 And high in heaven Hyperion's ficrie childe His breast-plate first, that was of substance pure, 85 60 Lastly his shinie wings as silver bright, Ne (may it be withouten perill spoken) Full many a Ladie faire, in Court full oft Ver. 78 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 oricalche] Ogííxuλnov, orichalchum, the most sonorous of metals for tube and tibiæ. BENTLEY. Ver. 99. wroken,] Revenged. TODD. Some one, that would with grace be gratifide, Report is that dame Venus on a day, In spring when flowres doo clothe the fruitfull ground, In curteous usage and unstained hewe. Whereof the goddesse gathering iealous feare, Eftsoones that Damzell, by her heavenly might, 196 125 130 205 In the wide aire to make her wandring flight; Thus the fresh Clarion, being readie dight, 14 150 155 The woods, the rivers, and the medowes greene, To the gay gardins his unstaid desire 185 And then againe he turneth to his play, Coole violets, and orpine growing still, 195 200 Warre against us the vassals of their will. Not thou, O Clarion, though fairest thou Of loves owne hand, to worke thy miserie ! Ne may thee help the manie hartie vow, Which thy old sire with sacred pietie Hath powred forth for thee, and th' altars sprent: Nought may thee save from heavens avengement! 240 It fortuned (as heavens had behight) But when he spide the ioyous Butterflie 245 250 254 |