The Shorter Poems
Page 13
theyr boyes can looke to those.
These wisards weltre in welths waues,
pampred in pleasures deepe,
They han fatte kernes, and leany knaues,
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their fasting flockes to keepe.
Sike mister men bene all misgone,
they heapen hylles of wrath:
Sike syrlye shepheards han we none,
they keepen all the path.
MORRELL.
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Here is a great deale of good matter,
lost for lacke of telling,
Now sicker I see, thou doest but clatter:
harme may come of melling.
Thou medlest more, then shall haue thanke,
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to wyten shepheards welth:
When folke bene fat, and riches rancke,
it is a signe of helth.
But say me, what is Algrin he,
that is so oft bynempt.
THOMALIN.
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He is a shepheard great in gree,
but hath bene long ypent.
One daye he sat vpon a hyll,
(as now thou wouldest me:
But I am taught by Algrins ill,
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to loue the lowe degree.)
For sitting so with bared scalpe,
An Eagle sored hye,
That weening hys whyte head was chalke,
a shell fish downe let flye:
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She weend the shell fishe to haue broake,
but therewith bruzd his brayne,
So now astonied with the stroke,
he lyes in lingring payne.
MORRELL.
Ah good Algrin, his hap was ill,
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but shall be bett in time.
Now farwell shepheard, sith thys hyll
thou hast such doubt to climbe.
Thomalins Embleme.
In medio virtus.
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Morrells Embleme.
In summo fœlicitas.
GLOSSE.
[1] A Goteheard) By Gotes in scrypture be represented the wicked and reprobate, whose pastour also must needes be such.
[2] Banck) is the seate of honor. [3] Straying heard) which wander out of the waye of truth.
[8] Als) for also. [9] Clymbe) spoken of Ambition. [12] Great clymbers) according to Seneca his verse, Decidunt celsa grauiore lapsu. [16] Mickle) much.
[17] The sonne) A reason, why he refuseth to dwell on Mountaines, because there is no shelter against the scortching sunne. according to the time of the yeare, whiche is the whotest moneth of all.
[19–20] The Cupp and Diademe) Be two signes in the Firmament, through which the sonne maketh his course in the moneth of Iuly.
[21] Lion) Thys is Poetically spoken, as if the Sunne did hunt a Lion with one Dogge. The meaning whereof is, that in Iuly the sonne is in Leo. At which tyme the Dogge starre, which is called Syrius or Canicula reigneth, with immoderate heate causing Pestilence, drougth, and many diseases.
[28] Ouerture) an open place. The word is borrowed of the French, and vsed in good writers.
[29] To holden chatt) to talke and prate.
[33] A loorde) was wont among the old Britons to signifie a Lorde. And therefore the Danes, that long time vsurped theyr Tyrannie here in Brytanie, were called for more dread then dignitie, Lurdanes .s. Lord Danes. At which time it is sayd, that the insolencie and pryde of that nation was so outragious in thys Realme, that if it fortuned a Briton to be going ouer a bridge, and sawe the Dane set foote vpon the same, he muste retorne back, till the Dane were cleane ouer, or els abyde the pryce of his displeasure, which was no lesse, then present death. But being afterwarde expelled that name of Lurdane became so odious vnto the people, whom they had long oppressed, that euen at this daye they vse for more reproche, to call the Quartane ague the Feuer Lurdane.
[34] Recks much of thy swinck) counts much of thy paynes.
[35] Weetelesse) not vnderstoode.
[41] S. Michels mount) is a promontorie in the West part of England.
[47] A hill) Parnassus afforesayd. [49] Pan) Christ. [51] Dan) One trybe is put for the whole nation per Synecdochen.
[59] Where Titan) the Sonne. Which story is to be redde in Diodorus Syc. of the hyl Ida; from whence he sayth, all night time is to bee seene a mightye fire, as if the skye burned, which toward morning beginneth to gather into a rownd forme, and thereof ryseth the sonne, whome the Poetes call Titan.
[64] The Shepheard) is Endymion, whom the Poets fayne, to haue bene so beloued of Phœbe .s. the Moone, that he was by her kept a sleepe in a caue by the space of xxx. yeares, for to enioye his companye.
[63] There) that is in Paradise, where through errour of shepheards vnderstanding, he sayth, that all shepheards did vse to feede theyr flocks, till one, (that is Adam) by hys follye and disobedience, made all the rest of hys ofspring be debarred and shutte out from thence.
[73] Synah) a hill in Arabia, where God appeared.
[74] Our Ladyes bowre) a place of pleasure so called.
[77–8] Faunes or Syluanes) be of Poetes feigned to be Gods of the Woode.
[79] Medway) the name of a Ryuer in Kent, which running by Rochester, meeteth with Thames; whom he calleth his elder brother, both because he is greater, and also falleth sooner into the Sea.
[84] Meynt) mingled. [85–6] Melampode and Terebinth) be hearbes good to cure diseased Gotes. of thone speaketh Mantuane, and of thother Theocritus.
τεμvθου τγων σχατον χμονα.
[89] Nigher heauen) Note the shepheards simplenesse, which supposeth that from the hylls is nearer waye to heauen.
[91] Leuin) Lightning; which he taketh for an argument, to proue the nighnes to heauen, because the lightning doth comenly light on hygh mountaynes, according to the saying of the Poete. Feriuntque summos fulmina montes.
[93] Lorrell) A losell. [95] A borell.) a playne fellowe.
[97] Narre) nearer.
[107] Hale) for hole. [109] Yede) goe. [111] Frowye) mustye or mossie.
[116] Of yore) long agoe. [117] Forewente) gone afore.
[127] The firste shepheard) was Abell the righteous, who (as scripture sayth) bent hys mind to keeping of sheepe, as did hys brother Cain to tilling the grownde.
[133] His keepe) hys charge s. his flocke. [137] Lowted) did honour and reuerence.
[143] The brethren) the twelue sonnes of Iacob, whych were shepemaisters, and lyued onelye thereupon.
[146] Whom Ida) Paris, which being the sonne of Priamus king of Troy, for his mother Hecubas dreame, which being with child of hym, dreamed shee broughte forth a firebrand, that set all the towre of Ilium on fire, was cast forth on the hyll Ida; where being fostered of shepheards, he eke in time became a shepheard, and lastly came to knowledge of his parentage.
[147] A lasse) Helena the wyfe of Menelaus king of Lacedemonia, was by Venus for the golden Aple to her geuen, then promised to Paris, who thereupon with a sorte of lustye Troyanes, stole her out of Lacedemonia, and kept her in Troye. which was the cause of the tenne yeares warre in Troye, and the moste famous citye of all Asia most lamentably sacked and defaced.
[154] Argus) was of the Poets deuised to be full of eyes, and therefore to hym was committed the keeping of the transformed Cow Io: So called because that in the print of a Cowes foote, there is figured an I in the middest of an O.
[161] His name) he meaneth Aaron: whose name for more Decorum, the shephearde sayth he hath forgot, lest his remembraunce and skill in antiquities of holy writ should seeme to exceede the meanenesse of the Person.
[163] Not so true) for Aaron in the absence of Moses started aside, and committed Idolatry.
[173] In purple) Spoken of the Popes and Cardinalles, which vse such tyrannical colours and pompous paynting. [177] Belts) Girdles.
[177] Glitterand) Glittering. a Participle vsed sometime in Chaucer, but altogether in I. Goore.
[179] Theyr Pan) that is the Pope
, whom they count theyr God and greatest shepheard.
[181] Palinode) A shephearde, of whose report he seemeth to speake all thys.
[197] Wisards) greate learned heads. [197] Welter) wallowe. [199] Kerne) a Churle or Farmer.
[201] Sike mister men) such kinde of men. [203] Surly) stately and prowde. [208] Melling) medling.
[230] Bett) better. [214] Bynempte) named. [215] Gree) for degree.
[213] Algrin) the name of a shepheard afforesayde, whose myshap he alludeth to the chaunce, that happened to the Poet Æschylus, that was brayned with a shellfishe.
Embleme.
By thys poesye Thomalin confirmeth that, which in hys former speach by sondrye reasons he had proued. for being both hymselfe sequestred from all ambition and also abhorring it in others of hys cote, he taketh occasion to prayse the meane and lowly state, as that wherein is safetie without feare, and quiet without danger, according to the saying of olde Philosophers, that vertue dwelleth in the middest, being enuironed with two contrary vices: whereto Morrell replieth with continuaunce of the same Philosophers opinion, that albeit all bountye dwelleth in mediocritie, yet perfect felicitye dwelleth in supremacie. for they say, and most true it is, that happinesse is placed in the highest degree, so as if any thing be higher or better, then that streight way ceaseth to be perfect happines. Much like to that, which once I heard alleaged in defence of humilitye out of a great doctour, Suorum Christus humillimus: which saying a gentle man in the company taking at the rebownd, beate backe again with lyke saying of another Doctoure, as he sayde. Suorum deus altissimus.
August.
Ægloga octaua.
ARGVMENT.
In this Æglogue is set forth a delectable controuersie, made in imitation of that in Theocritus: whereto also Virgile fashioned his third and seuenth Æglogue. They choose for vmpere of their strife, Cuddie a neatheards boye, who hauing ended their cause, reciteth also himselfe a proper song, whereof Colin he sayth was Authour.
WILLYE. PERIGOT. CVDDIE.
Tell me Perigot, what shalbe the game,
Wherefore with myne thou dare thy musick matche?
Or bene thy Bagpypes renne farre out of frame?
Or hath the Crampe thy ioynts benomd with ache?
PERIGOT.
5
Ah Willye, when the hart is ill assayde,
How can Bagpipe, or ioynts be well apayd?
WILLYE.
What the foule euill hath thee so bestadde?
Whilom thou was peregall to the best,
And wont to make the iolly shepeheards gladde
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With pyping and dauncing, didst passe the rest.
PERIGOT.
Ah Willye now I haue learnd a newe daunce:
My old musick mard by a newe mischaunce.
WILLYE.
Mischiefe mought to that newe mischaunce befall,
That so hath raft vs of our meriment.
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But reede me, what payne doth thee so appall?
Or louest thou, or bene thy younglings miswent?
PERIGOT.
Loue hath misled both my younglings, and mee:
I pyne for payne, and they my payne to see.
WILLYE.
Perdie and wellawaye: ill may they thriue:
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Neuer knewe I louers sheepe in good plight.
But and if in rymes with me thou dare striue,
Such fond fantsies shall soone be put to flight.
PERIGOT.
That shall I doe, though mochell worse I fared:
Neuer shall be sayde that Perigot was dared.
WILLYE.
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Then loe Perigot the Pledge, which I plight:
A mazer ywrought of the Maple warre:
Wherein is enchased many a fayre sight
Of Beres and Tygres, that maken fiers warre:
And ouer them spred a goodly wild vine,
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Entrailed with a wanton Yuie twine.
Thereby is a Lambe in the Wolues iawes:
But see, how fast renneth the shepheard swayne,
To saue the innocent from the beastes pawes:
And here with his shepehooke hath him slayne.
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Tell me, such a cup hast thou euer sene?
Well mought it beseme any haruest Queene.
PERIGOT.
Thereto will I pawne yonder spotted Lambe,
Of all my flocke there nis sike another:
For I brought him vp without the Dambe.
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But Colin Clout rafte me of his brother,
That he purchast of me in the playne field:
Sore against my will was I forst to yield.
WILLYE.
Sicker make like account of his brother.
But who shall iudge the wager wonne or lost?
PERIGOT.
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That shall yonder heardgrome, and none other,
Which ouer the pousse hetherward doth post.
WILLYE.
But for the Sunnebeame so sore doth vs beate,
Were not better, to shunne the scortching heate?
PERIGOT.
Well agreed Willy: then sitte thee downe swayne:
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Sike a song neuer heardest thou, but Colin sing.
CUDDIE.
Gynne, when ye lyst, ye iolly shepheards twayne:
Sike a iudge, as Cuddie, were for a king.
Perigot. It fell vpon a holly eue,
Willye. hey ho hollidaye,
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Per. When holly fathers wont to shrieue:
Wil.now gynneth this roundelay.
Per. Sitting vpon a hill so hye
Wil. hey ho the high hyll,
Per. The while my flocke did feede thereby,
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Wil. shepheard selfe did spill:
Per. I saw the bouncing Bellibone,
Wil. hey ho Bonibell,
Per. Tripping ouer the dale alone,
Wil. he can trippe it very well:
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Per. Well decked in a frocke of gray,
Wil. hey ho gray is greete,
Per. And in a Kirtle of greene saye,
Wil. reene is for maydens meete:
Per. A chapelet on her head she wore,
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Wil. hey ho chapelet,
Per. Of sweete Violets therein was store,
Wil.he sweeter then the Violet.
Per. My sheepe did leaue theyr wonted foode,
Wil. hey ho seely sheepe,
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Per. And gazd on her, as they were wood,
Wil.as he, that did them keepe.
Per. As the bonilasse passed bye,
Wil. hey ho bonilasse,
Per. She roude at me with glauncing eye,
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Wil.he christall glasse:
Per. All as the Sunnye beame so bright,
Wil. hey ho the Sunne beame,
Per. Glaunceth from Phœbus face forthright,
Wil.hy hart did streame:
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Per. Or as the thonder cleaues the cloudes,
Wil. hey ho the Thonder,
Per. Wherein the lightsome leuin shroudes,
Wil. thy soule a sonder:
Per. Or as Dame Cynthias siluer raye
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Wil. hey ho the Moonelight,
Per. Vpon the glyttering waue doth playe:
Wil.s a pitteous plight.
Per. The glaunce into my heart did glide,
Wil. hey ho the glyder,
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Per. Therewith my soule was sharply gryde,
Wil.s soone wexen wider.
Per. Hasting to raunch the arrow out,
Wil. hey ho Perigot.
Per. I left the head in my hart roote:
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Wil. it was a desperate shot.
Per. There it ranckleth ay more and more,
Wil. hey ho the arrowe
Per.
Ne can I find salue for my sore:
Wil. oue is a curelesse sorrowe.
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Per. And though my bale with death I bought,
Wil. hey ho heauie cheere
Per. Yet should thilk lasse not from my thought:
Wil. you may buye gold to deare.
Per. But whether in paynefull loue I pyne,
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