Petrarch in English

by Thomas Roche (ed)

  And as a light of clear and steady ray.

  When fails the souirce from which its brightness flows,

  She to the last held on her wonted way.

  Pale, was she? No, but white as shrouding snows,

  That, when the winds are lull’d, fall silently,

  She seem’d as one o’erewearied to repose.

  E’en as in balmy slumbers lapt to lie

  170 (The spirit parted from the form below),

  In her appear’d what th’ unwise term to die:

  And Death sate beauteous on her beauteous brow.

  The Triumph of Fame

  HENRY PARKER, LORD MORLEY (1476–1556)

  Lord Morley was an inveterate translator, who gave his efforts as New Year’s gifts. In addition to the Trionfi, he translated Boccaccio’s De claris mulieribus. Text from The Triumphes of Petrarch Translated by Henry Parker Lord Morley (1554); reprinted by Stafford Henry Earl of Iddesleigh (1877) [Roxburghe Club].

  The Excellent Tryumphe of Fame

  After that deathe had triumphed in that face

  Which often of me had tryumphed in lyke case

  And that the sonne of our world was dead and past

  This ougly and dispytefull beaste at the last

  Pale and horrible and proud for to se

  With hyr blacke baner awaye goeth she

  When that she had extincte out quyte

  Of perfyt beutye the very clere lyght

  Then as I dyd loke about on euery part

  10 Commyng towardes me there I dyd aduert

  Hyr that mans lyfe for euer doth saue

  And pulleth hym out alyue from his graue

  This gloryous fayre Lady muche lyke was she

  Vnto that bryght starre that goeth trust me

  In the orient of the cleare day appeare

  Euen in lyke maner was this Ladyes chere

  So that there is no mayster in no Scole

  Can take vpon them to descrybe that Sole

  That I go aboute with symple wordes to tell

  20 So muche great in glory this Lady dyd excell

  That all the element about her dyd shyne

  Not as a mortall but lyke a thyng deuyne

  Grauen in theyr foreheades were the names

  Of the honorable people whose hyghe fames

  By valure and vertue can neuer dye

  Folowynge this noble fame there sawe I

  Many of those of whiche I tofore haue rehersed

  That by loue (as sayd is) were sore oppressed

  On her ryght hand there fyrst in my syght

  30 Was Cesar and Scipion that honorable knyghte

  But which of them twayne next [to] fame was

  I do not remember but there they both dyd pas

  The tone in vertue the tother in loue

  Was taken though he semed somewhat aboue

  And then forthwith was shewed vnto me

  After these twayne captaynes that so excellent be

  Men of hyghe valure armed full bright

  As vnto the Capitall they went full ryghte

  By that selfe waye that sacra called was

  40 Or by via lata wherevnto they dyd passe

  They came in suche an honest ordre as I saye

  And had wrytten and graued this is no nay

  Theyr excellent names in theyr foreheads on hie

  And euen as I behelde them thus attentyfely

  Their maner, their port, their chere & euerithing

  To these twayne most hyest in ordre folowyng

  Ensued the tone his neuew to hym dere

  The tother his sonne that neuer yet had pere

  And those that thou seest with the swerde in [the hand]

  50 The twayn fathers and the sonnes that by him [stand]

  Agaynst these enemies that Italy dyd inuade

  Armed in bryght stele they no dreade hadde

  Two there folowed fyrst, and twayne after past

  But he that in ordre was semyng to be laste

  In dede of the thre was worthyest of fame

  And after these of excellent and renoumed name

  Euen as the Ruby most oriently doth shyne

  Went he with his hand and with his councel fyne

  It was Claudius that with his wyse foresyght

  60 As a swyfte byrde that taketh hys flyght

  So dyd he go to the fielde at Metaurus

  And pulled vp the wede, this knyght gloryouse

  He had eyes and tymes convenient for to spy

  And wynges as a byrde to execute it by and by

  There folowed then after in that worthy race

  The great old captayne that let not byd bace

  Vnto the fierce captayne Hannibal and thervnto

  Adioyned vnto hym was annother Fabio

  Twayne named Catones with these also went

  70 And two noble Paulus wyse to all intent

  Two Brutus and also twayne Marcellus

  And one renowmed worthy captayne Regulus

  That more truly layed Rome then I saye that he

  Loued his owne selfe excedyng in degree

  There was there also Curio and Fabricius

  That with theyr wyse pouertie maruelouse

  Were more prayse worthy then [M]yde was

  Or Crassus with all the great golde that he has

  For golde made them vertue to expell

  80 And pouertye these twayne in glory to excell

  There folowed these twayne euen syde by syde

  Cincinato to whom the Romaynes cryed

  For helpe in theyr extreme daunger and nede

  He was equall to the tother twayne in dede

  Camillus ensued the noble valyaunt knyght

  That had liuer dye for the maintenaunce of ryght

  Then otherwise to do but as a vertuouse man

  The fauour of heauen brought him to Rome [than]

  Where enuy had banyshed hym from the towne

  90 Home to his countrye this knyght of high renoun

  There was also the vallyaunt & fresh Torquatus

  That slewe his owne welbeloued son Cheualerus

  Rather then he would knyghtly ordre breake

  He would be childles thus the olde stories speake

  Both the twayne Decius were also in the place

  That theyr cruell enemies cleane for to deface

  Vowed them selfes alas and that willingly

  O cruell vowe them selfes forthwith to dye

  No lesse dyd he the vallyaunt hardy Curio

  100 That entred vnto the great large hole so

  That horrybly was opened in Rome [that] riall tow[n]e

  Wyllyngly hymselfe therein he entred downe

  Mummio Leuio went also in ordre there

  And the good noble [Attilio] with a manly chere

  Titus Flami[ni]us that the grekes dyd subdue

  Most with gentle pytie there dyd he ensue

  There was also there in the presse he that made

  A large great circle in Syria with hys rode

  And with his hardy and ferse loke & cou[n]tenaunce

  110 To his wylle & intent so was this romaines chau[n]ce

  He the great & pussaunt kyng so constrayned

  That all his hole request thereby he obteyned

  And by hym in good ordre there was also he

  That kept as he was armed most valliauntly

  The hyll from his cruell enymies all

  And after in that same place hym selfe had a fall

  And with this company was [that] most valiaunt man

  That kept the brydge from all Toscan

  And next in ordre vnto this hardy knyght

  120 Stode that ferse warrear that in great dispyte

  Burnte hys ryght hand because he fayled

  To sley the king his enemie which he the[n] assayled

  Euen in the mides of all his noble men.

  Thys was a merueylouse hardy dede there & the[n]

  And I sawe also there in the hugh prese<
br />
  He that fyrst vanquished on the great Seese

  The Carthagines and scatred all abroade

  By Cycell and Sardinia by euyll chanse al [the] rode

  I sawe among the others him with [the] graue sight

  130 Called Appius that wyth his forse and myght

  Kept the men vulgar people in great dread & awe

  So strayt & hard he bound pore men to a lawe

  And after as all about I dyd cast myne eye

  I dyd that person among other rest espye

  That with his swete facyons vsyd hym soo

  That next the fyrst in fame he myght goo

  But that the ende turnyd vnto blame

  Wherefore I may ryght well affirme the same

  That often it is sene a long prolonged lyfe

  140 Turneth good renowne into payne and stryfe

  And certenly he was no lesse in fame and myght

  But as Bacus and great Alcides by ryght

  Or as to Thebus the good Impaminunda was

  Among the other nobly he dyd there pas

  And after this great and worthy myghty man

  I sawe folowing among the other than

  Hym that in his yonge flowryng age

  Had great lawde and prayse for his vassalage

  And euen asmuch as thys ferse champion

  150 Was terrible and cruell in his naturall regyon

  He that folowed hym was as merciable

  I know noo Duke to be more commendable

  There went in ordre after by and by

  He that wyth hys wysdome sapiently

  The noble [V]olumines he was there in the prese

  Hys lawde is praysed and shall neuer sease

  Cosso was there Philon and Rutilio

  And the hardy captayne Lucio Dentato

  With Marco, Sergio and Sceua the bolde

  160 In armys as lyghtnyng one myght them behold

  Their harnes broke[n] their shelde in twenty places

  Persyde thorowe with swordes dartes & mases

  The last of them that there was in dede

  With no lytle fame the rest dyd succede

  And after these noble men afore rehearsed

  Dyd folowe ferse Marius which reuersyd

  Iugurta of Numedy the myghty kyng

  And the Cymbers that with them dyd brynge

  The Almaynes in fury and in rage

  170 Thys Marius dyd their great myght asswage

  There went by the Marius by and by

  Fuluius [Flaccus], that with witty polecy

  Destroyed those that at Rome dyd rebell

  But he that folowed dyd farre passyng exell

  It was Fuluio so was his very name

  Well worthy among other to folowe fame

  There was also one Romayne named Graccus

  [That] had among [that] people much matter contrariouse

  To his ruyne at the last in Rome towne

  180 There was he thys knyght of high renowne

  And he also that much fortunate semyde

  Though by me he cannot so be demyde

  Was there and after hym there came

  The two worthy Marcelles in ordre than

  That kept all close in theyr hartes I say

  Theyr secretes they went aboute alway

  These two had great prayse in Numyddia

  In Macedon also and in the Yle of Creta

  And in lyke maner in the Realme of Spayne

  190 Three vallyaunt famouse Knyghtes for certayne

  And I sawe also euen at that tyde

  The good Vespacian and by his famouse syde

  His eldest sonne but not his cruell brother

  He was not worthy to be amonge the other

  And so folowed after in good ordre than

  Narva the auncient and gentle Traian

  Helio and Adrian and the mercifull Antonius

  With fayre succession vnto Macronius

  That were no more couetouse of croune imperial

  200 Then desirous for to lyue in vertuous naturall

  And whiles that I thus loked all aboute

  I sawe fyue Kynges amonges that rowte

  The syxte an euyll happe dyd hym take

  As one that foloweth vice & vertue doth forsake.

  The Seconde Chapiter of Fame

  Full of greate and infynyte maruayle

  I stode beholding these noble Romaynes well

  Whiche of al other hadde neuer no peere

  And as I reuolued their famous actes cleere

  Which I haue sene in bookes wrytten and tolde

  More was there of them dyuers and manyfolde

  Then I haue here in this place set in by name.

  Therfore I now for this tyme passe the same

  To loke vpon straungers vertuous and excelle[n]t

  10 The fyrst was Hannybal that in ordre went

  The next was he that syngyng made his men

  To haue the vyctory, and there folowed then

  Achylles the Greke, that in his hauynge dayes

  Gate by his prowes a great laude and prayse

  Twayne noble worthy Troyans were there also

  And twayne hardy Persiens in ordre ther did go

  Philip of Macedon, and his sonne Alexander

  That dyd bryng downe [the] Persiens great power

  Vnto subiection, as in olde bookes we fynde

  20 And conquered thervnto al the regyon of Inde

  After noble fame they passed in that place

  And another named Alexander folowed apace

  Not farre from the tother that went before

  But O fortune howe doest thou euermore

  Dyuyde those that in the put theyr truste

  From true honoure thou arte so vnivste

  There ensued in ordre there by and by

  The gloryouse captayne valyaunt and worthy

  Of Thebes that ryall Citie of hygh renowne

  30 There was also he that had the famous crowne

  And twayne Achilles, and the wyse Vlixes

  And the hardy valiaunt greke Dyomedes

  Nestor the sage that lyued so many yeares

  There was the olde kynge amonge his peeres

  Agamenon the great and the kynge Menelaus

  That both their two wyues to v[n] gracious

  Muche hurt vnto the hole worlde dyd they

  Folowed hardy Leonydes that purposed I saye

  To his men a harde Dyner, but hardyest of all

  40 Was the supper whereto he dyd them call

  With a fewe men he dyd a meruelouse dede

  Amonge the other there this captayne yede

  There was also the fayre knyght Alcibiades

  That dyd straunge & great wonders in Athenes

  With his fayre eloquent speche and fayre face

  Amonge the rest he was there in that place

  Melciedes was next that made all Grece free

  His sonne folowed the example of pytye

  That alyue and dead his father dyd ensue

  50 That among the other in preace there I knewe

  The[mistocles] and the valyaunt Theseus

  Arystides and the good faythfull Fabricius

  Whiche theyr vnkynde countrey I do saye

  Woulde not suffre theyr bodyes to lye in claye

  Alas this was a foule and an vnkynde dede

  So to reward them for theyr well doynge mede

  The good Phocion folowed whom I did regard

  For his good dedes they gaue hym lyke rewarde

  And as I turned here and there my syght

  60 I sawe Pyrrus that noble warlyke knyght

  And the good gentle kynge Masinises

  That semed angry because that doubtles

  Amonge the Romaynes that he was not set

  With hym I knewe Iero of Syracuse the greate

  And cruell Amylcar deuyded from these twayne

  It was he that yssued from the fyre and rayne

  A manyfest token that nether helme nor shi
elde

  Agaynst false fortune can neuer wynne the fyelde

  There was Sciphas much after that rate and sorte

  70 and Brennius for all his great pryde and porte

  That was cast downe by Apollos temple syde

  after the other in ordre there he hyde

  In dyuers straunge garmentes and araye

  Went this tryumphe onwarde on theyr waye

  And I that chaunced to cast my loke asyde

  I sawe a great huge number go and ryde

  amonge them one that would Gods temple make

  and he fyrst began it for his loue and sake

  This was the fyrst I saye in all that rowte

  80 But he that fynyshed that worke out of doubte

  That holy buyldyng of whiche that I do meane

  Was not inwarde so vertuouse nor so cleane

  as the fyrst good kynge wheron I do saye

  Nowe he that folowed him in that greate arraye

  Was he that spake to God face to face

  There was few or none that euer had such grace

  And after hym in lyke order by and by

  Came he that stayde the Sonne so wonderly

  Tyll he his enemies had taken and slayne

  90 O gentle trust most sure and certayne

  In servynge God as dyd this noble knyght

  With symple worde to stay the heauenly lyght,

  I sawe after hym where that there went

  Our olde father whiche for good entent

  God badde he shoulde his lande forsake

  And he for that shoulde possesse and take

  The place that was helthfull to all mankynde

  Electe of God there dyd he that countre fynde

  Folowed after this father his sonne moost dere

  100 And his welbeloued neuew also he was there

  Whiche had the yoke in hauynge wyues two

  There was with hym the chast Joseph also

  That from his father went full many a daye

  Thus here and there castynge myne eyes alwaye

  I sawe the iuste and good kynge Ezechias

  And Sampson that so stronge and myghtye was

  And not farre distaunt from hym there went he

  That made the great wonderfull shyppe of Noe

  And he also that the great hygh towre began

  110 Charged with synne and with errour than

  The good valyaunt Iudas that noble knyght

  He there folowed after in ordre ryght

  That would not his holy godly lawe forsake

  Alas he for Justice the death dyd take

  My desyre with seyng all these noble men

  Was well nere fully satisfyed there and then

  When that sodenly I dyd there espye

  Of worthy ladyes a more gorgeous company