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 THE ESSAYES OF 
 
 A PRENTISE, IN THE 
 
 DIVINE ART OF 
 
 POESIE. 
 
 WITH 
 
 A PREFATORY MEMOIR, 
 
 BY 
 
 R. P. GILLIES, ESQ., F. S. A. E. 
 
 And now whiles I consider what a Trompet of Honor Homer hath bene 
 to sturre up many woorthy Princes ; I cannot forget the woorthy 
 Prince that is a Homer to himselfe, a golden spurrc to Nobihty, a 
 Scepter to Vertue, a Verdure to the Spring, a Sunne to the day ; and 
 hath not only translated the two divine poems of Salustius du Bartas, 
 his heavenly Urany, and his hellish Furies, but hath readd a most Va- 
 lorous Martial Lecture unto himselfe in his own victorious Ccpanto, 
 a short heroicall worke in meeter, but royal meeter fitt for a David's 
 harpe. 
 
 Gabriel Haiivey. 
 
 EDINBURGH: 
 
 PRINTED BY JAMES BALLANTYNE AND CO. 
 
 1814.
 
 * ^
 
 THE ESSAYES OF 
 
 A PRENTISE, IN THE 
 
 DIVINE ART OF 
 
 POESIE. 
 
 Imprinted at Edinbrugh, by Thomas 
 
 Vautroullier. 
 
 1584. 
 
 CVM PRIVILEGIO 
 
 RECALL
 
 THE CATALOGVE OF THE 
 
 workis heirin conteined. 
 
 ^"JT^He tvvelf Sonnets oflnuocations to the Goddis* 
 
 The Vranie or heauenly Mufe tranflated. 
 
 The Metaphorical/ Inuention of a Tragedie, callU 
 Vhosnix. 
 
 A Varaphrajiicall tranjlatioun out of the Yoete Lucane^ 
 
 A treatife of the airt of Scottis Foefie, 
 
 X. 
 
 The CIIII Vfalme of Dauid, tranflated out of 
 Tremellius, 
 
 A Voeme of Tyme,
 
 IF Martiall deeds, and praftife of the pen 
 Haue wonne to auncient Grece a worthie fame : 
 If Battels bold, and Bookes of learned men 
 Haue magnified the mightie Ko?nai?i name : 
 Then place this Prince, who well deferues the fame : 
 Since he is one of Mars and Pallas race : 
 For both the Godds in him haue fett in frame 
 Their vertewes both, which both, he doth embrace, 
 O Macedon, adornde with heauenly grace, 
 O Ko?}iai?i ftout, decorde with learned fkill. 
 The Monarks all to thee fhall quite their place : 
 Thy endles fame Ihall all the world fulfill. 
 And after thee, none worthier fhalbe feene. 
 To fway the Sword, and gaine the Laurell greene. 
 
 T.H.
 
 SONNET. 
 
 THE glorious Grekis in ftately ftyle do blaife 
 The lawde, the conqurour gaue their Homer olde : 
 The verfes Q.cefar fong in Maroes praife 
 The Rojnnnis in remembrance depe haue rolde. 
 Ye Thefpian ^y?npbes, that fuppe the ^edar colde, 
 That from VarnaJJls forked topp doth fall. 
 What Alexander or Aiigujius bolde, 
 May found his fame, whofe vertewes paffe them all ? 
 O Vhabus, for thy help, heir might I call. 
 And on Minerue, and Maias learned fonne : 
 But fmce I know, none was, none is, nor fhall. 
 Can rightly ring the fame that he hath wonne. 
 Then flay your trauels, lay your pennis adowne. 
 For Ca/ars works, fliall iuftly Ca/ar crowne. 
 
 R. H.
 
 SONNET. 
 
 The mightle Father of the Mufes nyne 
 Who mounted thame vpon Yarnajfus hill. 
 Where Phosbus faire amidd thefe Sijiers fyne 
 With learned toung fatt teaching euer ftill. 
 Of late yon God declared his woundrous will. 
 That Vranie ftiould teach this Prince moft rare : 
 Syne fhe informed her fcholler with fuch Ikill, 
 None could with him in Poefie compaire. 
 Lo, heir the frudis, tJympbe, of thy fofter faire, 
 Lo heir (6 noble hue) thy will is done. 
 Her charge compleit, as deid doth now declaire. 
 This work will witneiTe, fhe obeyed the fone. 
 O Pbosbus then reioyce with glauncing glore. 
 Since that a King doth all thy court decora. 
 
 "J
 
 SONNET. 
 
 WHen as my minde exemed was from caire, 
 Among the 'Nympbis my felf I did repofe : 
 Where I gaue eare to one, who did prepaire 
 Her fugred voice this fequell to difclofe. 
 Conveine your felfs (6 fillers) doe not lofe 
 This paffing tyme which hafteth faft away : 
 And yow who wrytes in (lately verfe and profe. 
 This glorious Kings immortall gloire difplay. 
 Tell how he doeth in tender yearis effay 
 Aboue his age with f kill our arts to blaife. 
 Tell how he doeth with gratitude repay 
 The crowne he wan for his deferued praife. 
 Tell how of loue, of Mars, but more of God 
 The gloire and grace he hath proclaimed abrod. 
 
 M. W. F.
 
 SONNET. 
 
 CAN goldin Titan fhyning bright at mome 
 For light of Torchis, cafl ane greater fhaw ? 
 Can Thunder reard the heicher for a home ? 
 Craks Cannons louder, thoght ane Qok sould craw ? 
 Can our weak breath help 'Boreas for to blaw ? 
 Can Candill Iowa giue fyre a greater heit ? 
 Can quhyteft Swans more quhyter mak the Snavv ? 
 Can Virgins tears augment the Vinters weit ? 
 Helps pyping Pan Apollos Mufique fweit ? 
 Can Fountanis fmall the Ocean fea increffe ? 
 No, they augment the greater nocht a quheit : 
 Bot they them felues appears to grow the lefle. 
 
 So (worthy Prince) thy works fall mak the knawin. 
 
 Ours helps not thyne : we fteynzie bot our awin. 
 
 * iiij A. M.
 
 De huius Libri Au^ore, Herculis 
 Rolloci conie6:ura. 
 
 QVi/quis es, entheus hie exit quo Audore libellus^ 
 (Nam liber Au£lorem conticet ipfefuum) 
 Dum quonam ingenio meditor, genioque fubadus, 
 
 Maiora humanis viribus ijia cartas : 
 Teque adeo quijis expendo : aut Diuus es, inquam, 
 
 Aut a Diuum aliquis forte fecundus homo. 
 Nil fed habetfimile aut Diuis, aut terra fecundum : 
 
 Quanquam illis ^eges proximus ornat honos, 
 Aut opus hoc igitur humano femine nati 
 
 Nullius, aut hoc/ic Regis oportet opus, 
 
 10
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 It must be allowed, perhaps, that the poetry of 
 King James possesses no great intrinsic merit. 
 Amid the romantic scenery of his birth and edu- 
 cation, he probably never looked on any object 
 with the true eye of a poet. Feeble as was the 
 lustre of a court in those days, and simple and un- 
 refined its habits and manners compared with the 
 luxurious artifices of modern times, yet there was 
 enough to .enslave and controul the mind of the 
 King. " My burden," he observes, " is great and 
 continual." He had no eye for wild and unso- 
 phisticated nature. There is no evidence that he 
 ever looked with rapture on the castled cliffs and 
 aerial towers of his native city ; or that he ever 
 watched with a heart full of emotion the beams of 
 the morning sun ascending out of the sea ; and 
 the rocky cliffs of Arthur's Seat, that overhang 
 
 a
 
 [ " ] 
 
 Holy rood palace, half-seen, half-lost, amid the lin- 
 gering vapours of night. There is no evidence 
 that he ever loved, or hated, or rejoiced, or suffer- 
 ed, like a poet. It must then he granted that his 
 productions have no great intrinsic claims to no- 
 tice ; for their author possessed not the true tem- 
 perament of a bard ! 
 
 But most justly has it been said by Hume, that 
 " such a superiority do the pursuits of literature 
 possess over every other occupation, that even he 
 who obtains but a mediocrity in them, merits the 
 pre-eminence over those who excel in other pro- 
 fessions." And, after all the concessions that have 
 been made, it must be allowed, on the other side, 
 that the royal author of these " Essay es "yet pos- 
 sesses high and unequivocal claims to the regard of 
 the bibliographer. If James was not himself a 
 great author, he was at least a venerator and encou- 
 rager of authorship. While other monarchs have 
 chosen to mark their earthly career in characters 
 of blood and desolation, his prime ambition was to 
 be enrolled among poets and philosophers ; and if 
 this object could not be gained, he loved to trans- 
 late from the works of others. " But sen, alas ! "
 
 [ "1 ] 
 
 he exclaims, alluding to Du Bartas, " God by na- 
 ture hath denied me the like lofty and quick in- 
 gyne, and that my muse, age, and fortune have re- 
 fused me the like skill and learning, I was forced 
 to have refuge to the secound, w^hich v^as to do 
 what lay in me to set forth his praise when I could 
 not merit the like myself." From his earliest years 
 he delighted to foster and cherish the genius and 
 reputation of his literary contemporaries. In con- 
 sequence of this alone, he becomes an object of re- 
 spect and attention ; and his character is illumina- 
 ted by a borrowed light. 
 
 But this is not all. James, if not an original 
 inventor, was a competent classical scholar. The 
 editor has at this moment, through the kindness of 
 a highly valued literary friend, a transcript of an 
 authentic document, indorsed, " The Kingis Ma.'"" 
 buikis Julii 1576." The books consist altogether 
 of about ninety-two articles ; of which the titles, 
 all except two, are in Latin ; and suggest chiefly 
 well-known classical authors and books of divini- 
 ty. There are also some treatises on the occult 
 sciences, and old chronicles. It is apparent that 
 this paper is not the catalogue of his Majesty's
 
 •[ iv ] 
 
 whole library, but merely a list of books given out 
 to the binder. It comprises two different records ; 
 of which the second begins, " October 1580 John 
 gibsonis buikbinder's precept 17 lb 4 s 4 d.'* 
 
 To shew the exemplary care with which James 
 transacted affairs relating to his library, I transcribe 
 the following. 
 
 " Thesaurar & zour deputtis ze sail ansuer thir 
 buikis to ze kingis maiestie And the prices thairof 
 salbe thankfullie allowit to zow in zour comptis 
 kepand thir presentis for zour warrand subscrivit 
 with ovr hand At Dalkeith the xxv day of Julij 
 1576 James Regent." 
 
 " Rex. 
 
 Thesaurare we greit zow weill. It is our will 
 and we charge zou that ze Incontinent aftir the 
 sycht heirof ansuer our louit John gipsoun buik- 
 binder of the sowme of sevintene pundis iiij ss iiij d 
 within mentionat To be thankfullie allowit to zow 
 in zour comptis keping this our precept with the 
 said Johnne his acquitance tharevpoun for zour 
 warrand subscryvit with our hand at Halyrudhous 
 the first day of October 1580 James R."
 
 t V ] 
 
 But the researches of the bibliographer depend 
 for their support on the pleasures which they af- 
 ford to the imagination. It has been observed by 
 Scott, that the mere attribute of antiquity is of 
 itself sufficient to rouse and interest the fancy.* 
 Bibliography has been censured by the dull and 
 unthinking, and old poetry has been called " trash" 
 by those, to whose dormant imaginations it calls 
 up no delightful associations. But let not such 
 persons dare to condemn what is worthless, only 
 because their cold hearts and narrow intellects are 
 incapable of appreciating its worth ! 
 
 The interesting attributes of King James as a 
 poet, however, are not confined to that of antiqui- 
 ty alone. His verses are not wholly destitute of 
 mind. His twelve sonnets to the gods evince 
 learning at least ; and perhaps are not devoid of 
 some original and poetical thoughts. The " Me- 
 taphorical Inventioun of a Tragedy called Phoenix" 
 has been considered to relate to the character and 
 misfortunes of Queen Mary. " Under the sem- 
 blance of that fabulous bird," observes Mr Sibbald, 
 
 * See his admirable preface to Carey's Poems in Edinb. Ann. 
 Register for 1810.
 
 [ yi ] 
 
 " if I mistake not, the author attempts to exhibit 
 the matchless beauty and sufferings of his unfortu- 
 nate mother, whom he represents as dead, but per- 
 forms his task with so much caution, and with such 
 a timid and trembling hand, that one can scarcely 
 recognize the resemblance." 
 
 The " Revlis and Cautelis" have always been 
 considered curious. To the " Schort Poem of 
 Tyme," when compared with the production of 
 contemporary poets, may justly be applied th^ 
 expression of Pope's father, " These are good 
 rhymes." 
 
 As a monarch, James has been abundantly cen- 
 sured by several historians. With this I have no- 
 thing to do. My business is only with his literary 
 character. Were I to offer any remark on his con- 
 duct as a King, I should feel inclined to join with 
 those judges who think, that after the union of the 
 crowns, he was constrained to act as he did by dif- 
 hculties, of which those who censure him are not 
 sufficiently aware. 
 
 While his court flourished at Holyrood, it seems 
 to have been adorned by several individuals of emi- 
 nence and elegant taste in literature, especially by
 
 [ vii ] 
 
 Fouler, by Montgomery, Arbuthnot, and Alexan- 
 der Hume. 
 
 The works of Fouler in MS. were presented to 
 the College Library of Edinburgh; where they 
 have reposed undisturbed, save by the hand (now 
 cold) of that admirable poet and antiquary Dr Ley- 
 den : a gleam of whose genius fell on the neglect- 
 ed pages of two unfortunate bards, and rescued a 
 few sonnets of Fouler, and a beautiful poem, " The 
 Day Estival," of Hume, from oblivion. A MS. of 
 Hume's poetry, referred to by Leyden, is preser- 
 ved in the Advocates' Library ; and a collection 
 of his poems in quarto was printed at Edinburgh 
 by Robert Waldegrave in 1599. This edition is 
 now before me ; but is so very rare as to be almost 
 quite unattainable. He has rescued, also, an ex- 
 cellent sonnet of King James, addressed to Fouler, 
 and prefixed to " The Triumph of Petrarke." As 
 it exhibits rather a favourable specimen of the 
 King's poetry, it is here subjoined : 
 
 SONNET. 
 
 cc 
 
 We find by proof that into every age 
 
 In Phcebus art some glistering stars did shine,
 
 [ viii ] 
 
 Who worthy scholars to the Muses sage 
 
 Fulfilled their countries with their workes divine. 
 So Homer was a sounding trumpet fine 
 
 Among the Greeks into his learned days ; 
 So Virgil was among the Romans syne 
 
 A sprite sublimed, a pillar of their praise. 
 So lofty Petrarke his renown did blaze 
 
 In tongue Italic in a sugred style. 
 And to the circled skies his name did raise, 
 
 For he by poems that he did compile 
 Led in triumph Love, Chastness, Death, and Fame, 
 But thou triumphs o*er Petrarke's proper name.** 
 
 Of the " Revlis and Cautelis" the most remark- 
 able chapter is the last, in which the author proba- 
 bly indicates the favourite poets, to whom he ser- 
 ved his apprenticeship, by resorting to them for il- 
 lustrative quotations. Of the first of these quota- 
 tions I am not prepared to say whence it is extract- 
 ed. It seems to sound like the poetry of Gaw4n 
 Douglas, but is not to be found in any of his pro- 
 logues. The circumstance which constitutes what- 
 ever poetical merit the verses possess, renders it the 
 more difficult to ascertain its origin, for in the poe- 
 try both of Scotland and England at this period,
 
 there are numberless " Auroras," of which all are 
 more or less beautiful. " All differ, but all agree" 
 in those leading expressions and phrases, by which 
 the origin of a quotation is generally to be traced. 
 Almost every poem of any length or consequence 
 in the romantic ages begins with a description of 
 a morning in spring. The remark applies to every 
 old romancer ; to Douglas, Dunbar, Lyndesay, and 
 other Scottish worthies, and is equally applicable 
 to Chaucer. I never walk out to Blackford or Cor- 
 storphine hill or Arthur's seat, in the fine mornings 
 of April or May, when the west winds blow, and 
 all nature smiles, without fancying that these very 
 walks have given rise to many strains of inspired 
 poetry, whose memory shall never die. I imagine 
 that it was here where Leyden wrote his beautiful 
 sonnet on Sabbath Morning ; where Dunbar con- 
 ceived the preface to his " Goldin Terge ;" or 
 where Dugald Stewart walked with the Ayrshire 
 bard, whose never-dying strains yet swell upon the 
 ear. There is extant a fine old song, entitled, 
 " Blackford hill," which I have often recollected 
 
 b
 
 [ ^ I 
 
 when wandering near the romantic scenery to 
 which it refers.* 
 
 Of the next two quotations the editor is equally 
 unprepared to assign the author. The stanza on 
 Echo is from a poem of Montgomery's, to be found 
 in volume third of Sibbald's Chronicle, where also 
 a copious extract is given from the " Flyting of 
 Polwart and Montgomery ;" from which extrava- 
 gant production the ludicrous description of witches 
 is taken by the royal critic. The last of the king's 
 illustrations is a stanza of a well-known poem of 
 Montgomery. 
 
 Of the recommendatory versifiers T[homas] 
 H[udson] was the author of a translation of Du 
 Bartas's History of Judith, printed at Edinburgh 
 by Thomas Vautrollier, and republished in the 
 works of Du Bartas, by Joshua Sylvester, f 
 
 * While correcting the fr oof sheet of this preface, I discovered 
 that '■^ Blackford Hill" is not ancient, but is the composition of Mr 
 Pinherton. The origin of the song in question, tvith that of many 
 others, is determined by the confessions in page CXXXI of " List 
 of the Scotish Poets, " 2^rejixed to volume jfirst of Maitland Poems. 
 Lond. 1786. 
 
 f A copy of the original eitlier is, or ought to be, in the College 
 Library, as it occurs in Drummond's Catalogue,
 
 [ xi ] 
 
 R. H[udson] probably a brother of the prece- 
 ding, was also a writer of verses. See an address 
 to him by Montgomery, in the second volume of 
 Sibbald's Chronicle. 
 
 M. W. F. is obviously Master William Fouler, 
 author of " The Triumphs of Petrarke" and " The 
 Tarantula of Love," extant in MS. in the College 
 Library of Edinburgh, of which specimens have 
 been published by Dr Leyden. Besides this, Fou- 
 ler was the author of the following, also address- 
 ed to the king. 
 
 SONNET. 
 
 Where shall the limits lie of all your fame ? 
 
 Where shall the borders be of your renown ? 
 In East, or where the sunne again gocth down ? 
 
 Or shall the fixed Poles impale the same ? 
 Where shall the pillars which your praise proclaime. 
 
 Or trophies stand of that expected crowne ? 
 The monarch first of that triumphant towne 
 
 Revives in you, by you renews his name. 
 For that which he performed in battels bold 
 
 To us his books with wonders doth unfold. 
 So we of you far more conceave in minde. 
 
 As by your verse we plainlie. Sir, may see 
 
 6
 
 [ xii ] 
 
 You shall the writer and the worker be 
 For to absolve that C^sar left behind.* 
 
 Sibbald, S. 492. 
 
 In addition to the ridiculous sonnet signed A. M. 
 "which are no doubt the initials of Montgomery, the 
 following of more fortunate execution by the same 
 author may not be unacceptable. 
 
 SONET TO HIS MAJESTIE. 
 
 As bright Apollo staineth every star. 
 
 With goldin rayis when he begins to rise, 
 Quhais glorious glance yet stoutlie skailHs the skyis 
 
 Quhen with a wink we wonder quhair they war, 
 Befoir his face for feir they faid so far 
 
 And vanishes away in such a wayis. 
 That in their spheiris they dar not interpryse 
 
 For to appeir lyk planeits as they ar ; 
 Or as The Ph(enix, with hir fedrum fair. 
 
 Excels all foulis in diverse hevinly hues 
 Quhais nature contrair nature so renews 
 
 As onlie but companion or compair. 
 So quintessence of Kings ! quhen thou compyle 
 
 Thou stainis my versis with thy staitlie style. 
 
 Sibbald, 3. .493. 
 
 * This is prefixed to " His Majesties Poetical Exercises.'*
 
 ' I xiii ] 
 
 Comparisons have often been drawn between our 
 author and his predecessor James I. with a view to 
 depreciate the former. I confess I see no great 
 merit in the buffooneries and ribaldry " of Chryst's 
 Kirk on the Green," or " Peblis to the Play." But 
 whatever praise I might be inclined to allow to 
 these productions, infinitely rather would I read 
 the worst composition of James VI. than join such 
 facetious readers in their exclusive admiration of 
 those two poems ; or even of their prime favour- 
 ites, the " Jollie Beggar" and the " Wyfe of Auch- 
 termuchty." To such persons the present publi- 
 cation will no doubt appear dull and absurd. But 
 I honour the spirit of the following address to his 
 book, by John Bellenden, the translator of Hector 
 Boyse's chronicle. 
 
 Sen thou contelns mo vallzeand men and wyse 
 Than evir was red in ony buke but dout 
 
 Gif ony churle or velane the dispyse, 
 
 Bid hence him harlot ! he is not of this 
 
 ROUT ; 
 
 For heir are kingis and mony nobillis stout. 
 And nane of thame pertenand to his clan. 
 Thou art sa full of nobylnes partout, 
 
 I WALD NANE RED THE BOT ANE NOBYLL MAN !
 
 [ xiv ] 
 
 Before concluding this preface, I must not for- 
 get to notice the second publication of James, print- 
 ed by Robert Waldegrave in 159 1, entitled, " Poe- 
 tical Exercises," to which the preface is so interest- 
 ing and unassuming, that it cannot fail to impress 
 the reader with an indulgent and favourable opi- 
 nion of its author, 
 
 " Receave here, beloved reader, a short poetique 
 discovrs which I have selected and translated from 
 amongst the rest of the works of Du Bartas as a 
 vive mirror of this last and most decreeped age. 
 .Heere shalt thou see clearlie, as in a glass, the mi- 
 series of this wavering world," &c. &c. " And 
 in case thou finde aswel in this work as in my Le- 
 panto follov\ring, many incorect errors, both of the 
 dytement and orthography, I must pray thee to ac- 
 cept this reasonable excuse which is this. Thow 
 considers, I doubt not, that upon the one part, I 
 composed these things in my verie young and ten- 
 der yeares, wherein Nature, except she were a mon- 
 ster, can admit of no perfection. And now, on the 
 other part, being of riper yeares, my burden is so 
 great and continual), without any intermission, that 
 quhen any ingyne and age could, my affairs and
 
 fasherie, will riot permit me to remark the Wrong 
 orthography, committed by the copies of my un- 
 legible and ragged hand, far les to amend my pro- 
 per errours. Yea, scarslie, but at stolen moments, 
 have I the lesure to blenk upon any paper, and yet 
 not that with free and unvexed spirit. Alwaies 
 rough and unpolished as they are, I offer them un- 
 to thee : which being well accepted, will move me 
 to haste the presenting unto thee of my Apocalyps, 
 and also such nomber of the Psalms as I have per- 
 fited, arid incourage me to the ending out of the 
 rest. And thus, beloved Reader, recommending 
 these labours to thy freindlie acceptation, I bid thee 
 hartelie farewell." 
 
 It is impossible to withhold a tribute of applause 
 from this preface. And when due credit is grant- 
 ed to the author's apology, that these verses were 
 the production of his " verie young and tender 
 yeares," and it is considered that the Essays now 
 reprinted were published in the author's eighteenth 
 year, they have surely, on this account alone, a 
 xlaim to be reckoned among the "curiosities of 
 literature." 
 
 The " Exercises" consist of " The Furies," a
 
 [ XVI ] 
 
 translation from a wild effusion of Du Bartas, de- 
 picting under this title all the vices and miseries 
 that assail human nature, and of " The Lepanto," 
 a long original poem of King James, of which he 
 says in the preface, that " it is an argument, a mi- 
 nore ad majus, largely intreated by a poetique com- 
 parison, being to the writing heerof moved by the 
 stirring up of the league and cruel persecution of 
 the protestants in all countries, at the very first 
 rageing whereof I compiled this poeme.'* 
 
 The poem, in short, is a narrative of the batde 
 of Lepanto ; from which inferences are drawn, 
 which the author considers applicable to circum- 
 stances and events in his own age. This produc- 
 tion afforded to Du Bartas, the contemporary and 
 favourite author of James, an opportunity of com- 
 plimenting his royal friend. He translated " The 
 Lepanto" into French heroic verse, and his transla- 
 tion was printed at Edinburgh in 1591, with a tru- 
 ly interesting preface, consisting of enthusiastic en- 
 comiums in prose, and a second preface of the same 
 kind in verse, by the translator. And at the con- 
 clusion of the translation appears the following son-
 
 [ xvii ] 
 
 net of King James, which being very little known, 
 I gladly take this opportunity of reviving. 
 
 SONET. 
 
 The azure vaulte, the crystall circles bright, 
 
 The gleaming fyrie torches powdered there ; 
 The changing round, the shining beamie light. 
 
 The sad and bearded fyres, the monsters faire ; 
 The prodiges appearing in the aire. 
 
 The rearding thunders and the blustering winds, 
 The foules in hue and shape and nature raire. 
 
 The prettie notes that winged musicians finds ; 
 In earth, the savrie flouris, the metalled minds. 
 
 The wholsum herbes, the hautie pleasant trees. 
 The silver streams, the beasts of sundrie kinds. 
 
 The bounded roares and fishes of the seas ; 
 All these for teaching man the Lord did frame 
 To do his will whose glorie shines in thame. 
 
 J. R, S. 
 
 When I read this excellent sonnet, I almost fear 
 that I have at the beginning of these desultory re- 
 marks too much undervalued the pretensions of 
 James to poetic merit. 
 
 , Before quitting the subject of " His Majesties 
 Poetical Exercises," I must not neglect to men- 
 
 c
 
 [ xviii ] 
 
 tion that the copy now before me of this rare 
 quarto has been most carefully perused by Ben 
 Jonson ; whose accurate pen has been employed 
 to correct many of the errors in orthography, 
 which are deprecated by jthe author in his pre- 
 face already quoted. The title page has Jonson's 
 name, with the motto which he was accustomed to 
 inscribe on all his books. 
 
 " Taiiquam Kxplorator, 
 Ben : Jonson." 
 
 It has been endeavoured to make the following 
 reprint a perfect resemblance of the original. But 
 as from its extreme rarity, it was necessary that 
 the printer should depend entirely on a written 
 copy of the volume (which was executed with 
 unrivalled care and industry, by the editor's friend 
 Mr Weber,) a few typographical inaccuracies 
 may perhaps be foimd ; which as they are of little 
 or no importance in themselves, and do not at all 
 affect the general appearance of the work, it is 
 hoped the candid reader will treat with indulgence. 
 
 R. P. G. 
 
 ^
 
 ACROSTIGHON. 
 
 I jyigne AuEloris 'vetiiit ■pr<2figere nomen 
 
 A u6ioris cundia peSius vacuum ambitione. 
 
 C ti'ms praclaras laudes, heroica fa^ia, 
 
 7ipiigenafq^ animi dotes ^ Iff pe6lora vers 
 
 B elligera^ exornat cmlejiis gratia M.uf<^, 
 
 V era ijia omniuQ eji. virtus, virtuteq^ 7naior 
 S ublmis regnai generojo in pe6lbre Qhrijius* 
 S cottia fortunata nimis, honafi tua nojfes 
 EX imij vatis, ple6lru?n qui pollice dodo 
 
 T emperat, i^ Mu/as regaletn inducit in aUlam.: 
 
 V idurus poji fata diu .* '^amfamafuperjies 
 S emper erityfemper jlorehit gloria vatis. 
 
 Pa. Ad. Ep. Sand. 
 A
 
 EIVSDEM AD LECTOREM 
 EPIGRAMMA. 
 
 SI quaras quisfit tarn co?npH car?ninis audor, 
 Audorem audebis Mufa negare tuum ?j 
 Ille qiddem 'uetuit, cm te parere necejfe eft : 
 
 Quis tantum in Diuas obtinet i?npenw}i ? 
 Ctii parent Mufa, Phodbus quo <vate fuperbity 
 
 Et capiti demit laiirea ferta fuo. 
 Cut lauri. Iff fceptri prinii debentur honores, 
 
 Cui multa cingit laude tyara caput. 
 Quo ducefpes certa eji diuifis orbe Britannis^ 
 
 Haud diuifa iterum regna futura duo, 
 'Progenies Regum, Regnorumq^ vnicus hceres^ 
 
 Scilicet obfciirus delituije poteji !
 
 ANE QVADRAIN OF 
 
 ALEXANDRIN VERSE. 
 
 IMmortall Gods, fen I with pen and Poets airt 
 So willingly hes fervde you, though my fkill be fmall, 
 I pray then euerie one of you to help his pairt. 
 In graunting this my fute, which after follow fliall.
 
 SONNET. I. 
 
 .^@>§f^^IRST hue, as greateflGod aboue the reft, 
 Wfr^^n^* G^^unt thou to me a pairt of my defyre : 
 $ JL 5 ^^^^^ when in verfe of thee I wryte my beft, 
 '^bvs^cS^ This onely thing I earneftly requyre, 
 
 • • That thou my veine Poetique fo infpyre, 
 As they may fuirhe think, all that it reid. 
 When I defcryue thy might and thundring fyre, 
 That they do fee thy felf in verie deid 
 From heauen thy greateft Thunders for to leid. 
 And fyne vpon the Gyants heads to fall : 
 Or cumming to thy Se?nele with fpeid 
 In Thunders leaft, at her requeft and call : 
 
 Or throwing Phaethon downe from heauen to eard. 
 With threatning thunders, making moftrous reard.
 
 SONNET. 2. 
 
 Avollo nixt, aflift me in a parte. 
 Sen vnto loue thou fecound art in might. 
 That when I do defcryue thy fhyning Carte, 
 The Readers may efteme it in their fight. 
 And graunt me als, thou worlds 6 onely light. 
 That when I lyke for fubiedb to deuyfe 
 To wryte, how as before thy countenaunce bright 
 The yeares do ftand, with feafons dowble twyfe. 
 That fo I may defcryue the verie guyfe 
 Thus by thy help, of yeares wherein we Hue : 
 As Readers fyne may fay, heir furely lyes. 
 Of feafons fowre, the glaffe and pidure viue. 
 Grant als, that fo I may my verfes warpe. 
 As thou may play them fyne vpon thy Harpe. 
 
 A. iiij.
 
 SONNET. 3. 
 
 AND firfl, 6 Yhxhiis^ when I do defcriue 
 The ^pringtyme fproutar of the herbes and flowris, 
 Whomewith in rank none of the foure do flriue, 
 But neareft thee do ftande all tymes and howris : 
 Graunt Readers may efteme, they fie the fhowris, 
 Whofe balmie dropps fo foftlie dois diftell, 
 Which watrie cloudds in mefure fuche downe powris, 
 As makis the herbis, and verie earth to fmell 
 With fauours fweit, fra tyme that onis thy fell 
 The vapouris foftlie fowkis with finyling cheare, 
 VVhilks fyne in cloudds are keiped clofs and well, 
 VVhill vehement 'Winter come in tyme of yeare. 
 Graunt, when 1 lyke the Springtyme to difplaye. 
 That Readers think they fie the Spring alwaye.
 
 SONNET. 4. 
 
 AND graunt I may fo viuely put in verfe 
 The Sommer, when I lyke theirof to treat : 
 As when in writ I do theirof reherse. 
 Let Readers think they fele the burning heat. 
 And graithly fee the earth, for lacke of weit. 
 With withering drouth and Sunne fo gaigged all. 
 As for the graSe on feild, the duft in ftreit 
 Doth ryfe and flee aloft, long or it fall. 
 Yea, let them think, they heare the fong and call, 
 Which Floras wingde muficians maks to found. 
 And that to tafte, and fmell, beleue they fhall 
 Delicious fruidis, whilks in that tyme abound. 
 And fhortly, all their fenfes fo bereaued. 
 As eyes and earis, and all may be deceaued. 
 
 B
 
 SONNET y 
 
 OR when I lyke my pea for to imploy 
 Of fertile Harveji in the defcription trew : 
 Let Readers think, they inflantly conuoy 
 The bufie fhearers for to reap their dew. 
 By cutting rypeft comes with hookes anew : 
 Which cornes their heauy heads did dounward bow. 
 Els feking earth againe, from whence they grew. 
 And vnto Ceres do their feruice vow. 
 Let Readers alfo furely think and trow, 
 They fee the painfull Vigneron pull the grapes : 
 Firft tramping them, and after prefling now 
 The grenell cluflers gathered into heapes. 
 Let then the Harvejl fo viue to them appeare. 
 As if they faw both cornes and cluflersneare.
 
 SONNET. 6. 
 
 BVT let them think, in verie deid theyfeill. 
 When as I do the Winters ilormes vnfolde. 
 The bitter frofts, which waters dois congeill 
 In Winter feafon, by a pearfmg colde. 
 And that they heare the whiddering Boreas bolde, 
 With hiddeous hurling, rolling Rocks from hie. 
 Or let them think, they fee god Saturne olde, 
 Whofe hoarie haire owercouering earth, maks flie 
 The lytle birds in flocks, fra tyme they see 
 The earth and all with ftormes of snow owercled : 
 Yea let them think, they heare the birds that die. 
 Make piteous mone, that Saturnes hairis are fpred. 
 Apollo, graunt thir foirfaid fuitis of myne. 
 All fyue I fay, that thou may crowne me fyne. 
 
 Bii.
 
 SONNET. 7. 
 
 AND when I do defcriue the Oceans force, 
 Graunt fyne, 6 'Neptune, god of feas profound, 
 That readars think on leebord, and on dworce. 
 And how the Seas owerflowed this mafliue round : 
 Yea, let them think, they heare a ftormy found. 
 Which threatnis wind, and darknes come at hand : 
 And water in their fhipps fyne to abound, 
 By weltring wanes, Uke hyell towres on land. 
 Then let them think their fliipp now low on fand. 
 Now climmes & Ikippes to top of rageing feas. 
 Now downe to hell, when fhippmen may not fland, 
 But lifts their hands to pray thee for fome eas. 
 Syne let them think thy Trident doth it calme. 
 Which makes it cleare and fmothe lyke glas or alme.
 
 SONNET. 8. 
 
 AND graunt the lyke when as the fwimming fort 
 Of all thy fubjeds Ikaled I Hfl declare : 
 As Triton monfter with a manly port. 
 Who drownd the Troyan trumpetour mofl raire : 
 As Marmaids wyfe, who wepis in wether faire : 
 And marvelous monkis, I meane M.onkis of the fee, 
 Bot what of monfters, when I looke and flaire 
 On wounderous heapes of fubieftis feruing the ? 
 As whailes fo huge, and Sea eylis rare, that be 
 Myle longs, in crawling cruikis of fixtie pace : 
 And Daulphins, Seahorfe, Selchs with oxin ee. 
 And Merfwynis, Pertrikis als of fifhes race. 
 In fhort, no fowle doth flie, nor bead doth go, 
 But thow haft fifhes lyke to them and mo. 
 
 B iij
 
 SONNET. 9. 
 
 ODreldfull Pluto^ brother thrid to loue. 
 With Proferpin, thy wife, the quene of hell : 
 My fute to you is, when I like to loaue 
 The ioyes that do in Elife field excell : 
 Or when I like great Tragedies to tell : 
 Or flyte, or murne mj fate : or wryte with feare 
 The plagues ye do fend furth with Dira fell. 
 Let Readers think, that both they fee and heare 
 Alecto, threatning Turnus filler deare : 
 And heare Celcenos wings, with Harpyes all : 
 And fee dog Cerberus rage with hiddeous beare. 
 And all that did AEneas once befall. 
 
 When as he paft throw all thofe dongeons dim, 
 The forefaid feilds fyne vifited by him.
 
 SONNET. lo. 
 
 O Furious Mars, thow warlyke fouldlour bold. 
 And hardy Vallas, goddefs flout and graue : 
 Let Reidars think, when combats manyfold 
 I do defcriue, they fee two champions braue. 
 With armies huge approaching to refaue 
 Thy will, with cloudds of duft into the air. 
 Syne Phifers, Drumes, and Trumpets cleir do craue 
 The pelmell chok with larum loude alwhair. 
 Then nothing hard but gunnis, and ratling fair 
 Of fpeares, and clincking fwords with glaunce fo cleir. 
 As if they foght in fkyes, then wrangles thair 
 Men killd, vnkilld, whill Parcas breath reteir. 
 
 There lyes the venquiiht wailing fore his chaunce : 
 Here lyes the victor, rewing els the daunce. 
 
 B iiij
 
 SONNET. II. 
 
 ANd at your handis I earneftly do craue, 
 O facound Mercure, with the Mtifes nyne, 
 That for conducing guyde I may you haue, 
 Afwell vnto my pen, as my Ingyne. 
 Let Readars think, thy eloquence deuyne 
 O Mercure, in my Poems doth appeare : 
 And that ParnaJJts flowing fountaine fyne 
 Into my works doth fhyne lyke criflall cleare. 
 O Mufes, let them thinke that they do heare 
 Your voyces all into my verfe refound. 
 And that your vertewis fmguler and feir 
 May wholly all in them be alfo found. 
 Of all that may the perfyte Poems make, 
 I pray you let my verfes haue no lake.
 
 SONNET. 12. 
 
 IN fhort, you all forenamed gods I pray 
 For to concur with one accord and will. 
 That all my works may perfyte be alway : 
 Which if ye doe, then fweare I for to fill 
 My works immortall with your praifes ftill : 
 I fhall your names eternall euer fing, 
 I fhall tread downe the grafle on Parnafs hill 
 By making with your names the world to ring : 
 I Ihall your names from all obliuion bring. 
 I lofty Virgin Ihall to life reftoir. 
 My subieSs all Ihalbe of heauenly thing. 
 How to delate the gods immortals gloir. 
 Eflay me once, and if ye find me fwerue. 
 Then thinke, I do not graces fuch deferue. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 C.
 
 * THE VRANIE 
 
 translateda 
 
 # * * 
 
 « *
 
 * To the fauor able 
 
 Reader. 
 
 Auing oft reuolued, and red ouer 
 (fauorable Reader) the booke and 
 Poems of the deuine and Illufter 
 Poete, Sahiji du Cartas, I was 
 moued by the oft reading & per- 
 ,ufing of them, with a reftles and 
 lofty defire, to preas to attaine to 
 '^® the Hke vertue. But fen (alas) 
 God, by nature hathe refufed me the like lofty and 
 quick ingyne, and that my dull Mufe, age and Fortune, 
 had refufed me the lyke fkill and learnings I was con- 
 ftrained to haue refuge to the fecound, which was, to 
 doe what lay in me, to fet forth his praife, fen I could 
 not merite the lyke my felf. Which I thought, I could 
 not do fo well, as by pubhfhing fome worke of his, to 
 this yle of Brittain (fwarming full of quick ingynes,) 
 afwell as they ar made manifefl already to France. But 
 knowing my felf to vnfkilfuU and groffe, to traflate any 
 of his heauenly & learned works, I almofl left it of, and 
 was afhamed of that opinion alfo. Whill at the laft, 
 preferring foolehardines and a good intention, to an 
 vtter difpaire and fleuth, I refolued vnaduyfedly to af- 
 fay the tranflating in my language of the eafieft and 
 
 ,. iij.
 
 The Preface. 
 fhorteft of all his difficile, and prolixed Poems : to wit, 
 the Vranie or heauenlye Mufe, which, albeit it be not 
 well tranflated, yet hope I, ye will excufe me (fauor- 
 able Reader) fen I neither ordained it, nor auowes it 
 for a iuft tranllation : but onely fet it forth, to the end, 
 that, albeit the Prouerb faith, that foolehardines pro- 
 ceeds of ignoraunce, yet fome quick fprited man of 
 this yle, borne vnder the fame, or as happie a Planet, 
 as Du Bartas was, might by the reading of it, bee 
 moued to tranflate it well, and beft, where I haue 
 bothe euill, and worft broyled it. 
 
 For that caufe, I haue put in, the French on one fide 
 of the leif, and my blocking on the other : noght there- 
 by to giue proofe of my iuft tranflating, but by the con- 
 trair, to let appeare more plainly to the forefaid reader, 
 wherin I haue erred, to the effeft, that with leffe diffi- 
 culty he may efcape thofe fnares wherin I haue fallen. 
 I muft alfo defire you to bear with it, albeit it be re- 
 plete with innumerable and intolerable faultes : fic as, 
 Ryming in tearmes, and dyuers others, whilkis ar for- 
 bidden in my owne treatife of the Art of Poefie in the 
 hinder end of this booke, I muft, I fay, praye you to 
 appardone mee, for three caufes. Firft, because that 
 tranflatioris are limitat, and reftrained in fome things, 
 more then free inuentions are. Therefore reafoun 
 would, that it had more libertie in others. Secound- 
 lie, becaufe I made noght my treatife of that inten- 
 tion, that eyther I, or any others behoued aftricktly to 
 
 follow
 
 The Preface. 
 follow it : but that onely it Ihould fhew the perfection 
 of PoeTie, wherevnto fewe or none can attaine. Third- 
 lye, becaufe, that (as I fhewe alreadye) I auow it not 
 for a iufl tranflation. Befydes that I haue but ten 
 feete in my lyne, where he hath twelue, and yet tranf- 
 lates him lyne by lyne. Thus not doubting, fauor- 
 able Reader, but you will accept my inten- 
 tion and trauellis in good parte, (fen 
 I requyre no farder,) I bid 
 you faire well. 
 
 *** 
 
 * * * -;^ * 
 
 *** 
 
 * 
 
 €•••• 
 nil
 
 L'VRANIE, OV MVSE 
 
 CELESTE. 
 
 IE n'ejioy point encor en VAurll de mon aage, 
 Qu'vn defir d^ affranchir mon renom du ire/pas^ 
 
 Chagrin me faifoit perdre Iff repos, £ff repas. 
 Par le hraue proiet de maint fgauant ouurage, 
 
 Mais comme vn pelerin, qui fur le tardy rencontre 
 Vnfourchu carrefour, douteux, s^arrejie court : 
 Et d^efprit, non des pieds, de ca de la difcourt. 
 Par les diuers chemins, que la Lune luy jiionjlre. 
 
 Parmi tant des fentiers qui^Jleuris,fe vont rendre 
 Sur le mont, ou Vhabus guerdonne les beaux vers 
 De Vhonneur immortel des lauriers tout-iour verds, 
 Je demeuroy confus^ nefgachant lequel prendre. 
 
 Tantoji i^entreprenoy d*orner la Grecque Scene 
 D*vn vejlement Francois. Tantoji dvn vers plus haut 
 Hardly i* enfanglantoy le Frangois efchafaut 
 Des Tyrans d'llion^ de Thebes, de Mycenc. 
 
 ie confacroy tantoji a I* Aonide bande 
 UHiJloire des Francois : Isf ma fain6le fureur 
 Defmentant a bon droit la trop commune erreur^ 
 Faifoit le Mein Gaulois, non la Seine Alematide. 
 
 Tantoji ie deJJ'eignoy dvne plume jlateufe 
 he los non merite des Rwi ^ grands Seigneurs : 
 
 1 
 
 Et
 
 THE VRANIE, OR HEA- 
 VENLY MVSE. 
 
 Scarce was I yet in fpringtyme of my years, 
 When greening great for fame aboue my pears 
 Did make me lofe my wonted chere and reft, 
 Eflaying learned works with curious breft. 
 But as the Pilgrim^ who for lack of light, 
 Cumd on the parting of two wayes at night, 
 He ftayes aflbne, and in his mynde doeth caft. 
 What way to take while Moonlight yet doth laft. 
 So I amongft the paths vpon that hill. 
 Where Phcsbus crownes all verfes euer ftill 
 Of endles praife, with Laiirers euer grene. 
 Did ftay confufde, in doubt what way to mene. 
 I whyles effaide the Grece in Frenche to praife 
 Whyles in that toung I gaue a lufty glaife 
 For to defcryue the Troian Kings of olde. 
 And them that Thebes and Mycens crowns did holde. 
 And whiles I had the ftorye of Fraunce elected. 
 Which to the Mufes I fhould have direded : 
 My holy furie with confent of nane, 
 Made frenche the iSHein, and nowyfe dutche the Sein, 
 Whiles thought I to fet foorth with flattering pen : 
 The praife vntrewe of Kings and noble men, 
 
 D
 
 LVranie. 
 
 Et pour me voir hlen toji riche d*or, ^ d^honneurs, 
 D^vn cosur bas ie rendoy mercenaire ma ^uje. 
 
 Et tandis ie vouloy chanter le fils volage 
 De la molle Cypris^ iff le mal doux-a?ner. 
 Que les plus beaux efprits fouffient pour trop aimer, 
 Difcoiirs, ou me poujfoit ma nature, iff mon aage. 
 
 Or tandis qu* inconjiant ie ne me puis refoudre, 
 De ga, de la pouche d*vn vent a?nbitieux, 
 V7ie fainte beautefe prefente a ?nes yeux, 
 Fille, comme ie croy, du gratid Dieu lance-foudre. 
 
 Saface eji angelique, angelique fon gejie. 
 Son difcours tout diuin, tsf tout par fait fon corps : 
 Et fa bouche a neif-voix imite enfes accords 
 Le fon harmonieux de la dance celefie* 
 
 Son chef eft honor e d^vne riche couronne 
 Faite afept plis, gliffans d*v?i diuers mouuement, 
 Sur chacim defes plis fe tourne obliquement 
 Je nefgay quel rondeau, que fur nos chefs raionne. 
 
 he premier eft de plomb, '& d' eftain le deuxiefme^ 
 he troifiesme d acier, le quart d or iauniffant, 
 "he quint eft compofe d eleSlre palliffant, 
 'Lefuyuant de Mercure, ^ d argent le feptiefme. 
 
 Son corps eft affuble d vne mante azuree, 
 Semee haut Iff bas dvn million de feux. 
 Qui d v?i bel art fans art diftindement confus, 
 Decorent de leurs rais ccfte beaute facree. 
 
 Icy lent le grand Char, icy flambe la 'Lyre, 
 ley la Vouffiniere, icy les clairs 'heffons, 
 
 5 Icy
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 And that I might both golde and honours haue, 
 With courage baffe I made my Mufe a flaue. 
 And whyles I thought to fmg the fickle boy 
 Of Cypris foft, and loues to-lwete anoy, 
 To lofty fprits that are therewith made blynd, 
 To which difcours my nature and age inclynd. 
 But whill I was in doubt what way to go, 
 With wind ambitious toffed to and fro : 
 A holy beuty did to mee appeare, 
 The TImndrers daughter feeming as fhe weare. 
 Her porte was Angellike with Angels face. 
 With comely (hape and toung of heauenly grace : 
 Her nynevoced mouth refembled into found 
 The daunce harmonious making heauen refound. 
 Her head was honorde with a coflly crown, 
 Seuinfolde and rounde, to dyuers motions boun : 
 On euery folde I know not what doth glance, 
 Aboue our heads into a circuler dance. 
 The firft it is of Lead, of Tin the nixt. 
 The third of Stele, the fourth of Golde vnmixt. 
 The fyfth is made of pale Eleftre light. 
 The fixt of Mercure, feuint of Siluer bright. 
 Her corps is couured with an Afure gowne. 
 Where thoufand fires ar fowne both vp and downe : Fixed 
 Whilks with an arte, but arte, confufde in order, 
 Dois with their beames decore thereof the border. 
 Heir fhynes the Charlewain, there the Harp giues light. 
 And heir the Seamans ftarres, and there Twinnis bright, 
 
 Dij 
 
 The feuiu 
 Planets. 
 
 Firmamet 
 
 Starres.
 
 L'VRANIIi. 
 
 Icy le Trebiifchet^ icy les deux Voiffom^ 
 
 Et ?nille autres brandons que ie 7ie puis defcrire. 
 
 Jefuis \_dit elk alors~\ cejle do£le vranie. 
 Qui fur les gonds ajlrez tranfporte les humains^ 
 Faifant voir a leiirs yeux, ^ toucher a leurs maitis, 
 Ce que la Cour celejie Eff contemple ^ manic. 
 
 Je quinte-effence I ame : ^ fay que le Poete 
 ^e furmontant foy mesme, enfonce vn haut difcours. 
 Qui, diuin, par loreille attire les plusfourds, 
 Ani?ne les rochers Is' les feuues arrejie. 
 
 Agr cable eft le fon de mes dories germaines : 
 Mais leur go/icr, qui peut terre £ff del enchanter, 
 N(? me cede pas mains en I art de bien chanter, 
 Ou^au 'Roffgnol /' Oifon, les Vies aux Syrenes. 
 
 Fren moy donques pour gidde : efleue au del ton aifle 
 Salujie, chante moy du Tout-puiffant I honneur, 
 Et remontant le luth du Jeffeanfonneur, 
 Qoui'ageux, broffe apres la couronne eternelle. 
 
 Je ne puis d v?i <zilfec, voir me s femurs maquerelles, 
 Des amorewz Francois, dont les mignards efcrits 
 Sont pleins de feints foifpirs, de feint spleurs, de feints cris, 
 D* impudiques difcours, Esf de vaines querelles. 
 
 Je ne puis d vn ceil fee voir que I on tnette en vente 
 Nos diuines chanfons : 'tff que d vnfiateur vers, 
 Vour gaigner lafaueur des Princes plus peruers, 
 Vn Qo?n?node, vn Neron, vn Caligule on vante. 
 
 Mais, fur tout, ie ne puis fans foufpirs 'i^ fans larmes 
 Voir les vers e?nployez contre I autheur des vers : 
 
 Ie
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 And heir the Ballance, there the Fiflies twaine, 
 
 With thoufand other fyres that pas my braine. 
 
 1 am faid fhe, that learned Vranie, 
 
 That to the Starres tranfports humanitie, 
 
 And maks men fee and twiche with hands and ene 
 
 It that the heauenly court contempling bene. 
 
 I quint -eflence the Poets foule fo well, 
 
 While he in high difcours excede him fell. 
 
 Who by the eare the deafeft doeth allure, 
 
 Reuiues the rocks, and fhayes the floods for fure. 
 
 The tone is pleafaunt of my * fiflers deir : j^y^^. 
 
 Yet though their throts make heauen and earth admire, ^"fcs 
 
 They yeld to me no leflfe in finging well, 
 
 Then Pye to Syraine, goofe to Nightingell. x 
 
 Take me for guyde, lyft vp to heauen thy wing 
 
 Saluji, Gods immortals honour fmg : 
 And bending higher Dauids Lute in tone. 
 With courage feke yon endles crowne abone. 
 
 1 no wais can, vnwet my cheekes, beholde 
 
 My fillers made by Frenchemen macquerels olde, 
 
 Whofe mignarde writts, but faynd lamenting vaine. 
 
 And fayned teares and fhameles tales retaine. 
 
 But weping neither can I fee them fpyte 
 
 Our heauenly verfe, when they do nothing wryte, 
 
 But Princes flattry that ar tyrants rather 
 
 Then N^ro, Commode, or Qaligule ather. 
 
 But fpecially but fobbes I neuer fliall 
 
 Se verfe beftowd gainfl him made verses all, 
 
 I can
 
 LVranie. 
 Je ne puis 'voir battu le Roy de l^vniuers 
 Defes propres foldatSy Esf defes propres amies. 
 
 L* ho7JiJne a les yeuxftlle-z. de nuits Qim?neriennes 
 Et s* il a quelque hien, tant foit pen precieux^ 
 Par differentes ruains il I a receii des deux : 
 yiais Dieufeul nous apprend les chanfons Delphiennes. 
 
 Tout art s* apprend par art : lafeule Poejie 
 Est vn pur don celejie : ^ nul ne peut goujier 
 \je miel, que nous faifons de Vi7ide degoutter 
 S'il n* a d' vn f acre feu la poitrine faifie. 
 
 De cejle fource viejit, que maints grands perfonnages 
 Qonfonwiez enfgauoir., voire en profe diferts^ 
 Se trauaillent en vain a compoferdes vers : 
 Et qu*vn ieune apprenti fait de plus beaux ouurages. 
 
 De la vient que iadis le chantre yieonide, 
 Combien que mendiant, '<5' fans maiflre^ Is' fans yeux, 
 A vaincu par fes vers les nouueaux, Is' les vieux, 
 C/jantantJi bien Vlyjfe, ^ le preux Aeacide. 
 
 De la vient qu*vn l^afojt ne peut parler en profe, 
 De la vient que Dauid mes chants fi tofi aprit, 
 De pasteur fait Poete, 'Zff que maint ieune efprit 
 ^e f^achant point nojire art^fuyuant noftre art compofe, 
 
 Recherche nuiSl ^ iour les ondes Qafialides : 
 'Regri??ipe nuid Iff iour contre le roc Yicffon : 
 So/Y difciple d"* Homere, ^ dufaincl nourriffon 
 D* Ande, /' heureux feiour d^s vierges Pier ides. 
 
 Lis tant que tu voudras, volume apres volume, 
 Les liures de Perga?ne, l^ de la grande cite. 
 
 Qui
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 I can not fee his proper foldiers ding 
 With his owne armes him that of all is King. 
 Mans eyes are bhnded with Qimnierien night : 
 And haue he any good, beit neuer fo light, 
 From heauen, by mediat moyens, he it reaches, 
 Bot only God the Delphiens fongs vs teaches 
 All art is learned by art, this art alone 
 It is a heauenly gift : no flefli nor bone 
 Can preif the hounie we from Vmde diflill. 
 Except with holy fyre his breefl we fill. 
 From that fpring flowes, that men of fpeciall chose, 
 Confumde in learning, and perfyte in profe. 
 For to make verfe in vaine dois trauell take. 
 When as a prentife fairer works will make. 
 That made that Homer, who a fongfler bene, 
 Albeit a begger, lacking mafler, and ene, 
 Exceded in his verfe both new and olde, 
 In fmging Vlifs and Achilles bolde. 
 That made that '^afo noght could fpeak but verfe. 
 That Daidd made my fongs fo foon reherfe, 
 Of pallor Poet made, yea yongmen whyles 
 Vnknowing our art, yet by our art compyles. 
 Seke night and day Qajialias waltring waas, 
 Climme day and night the twinrocks of Parnaas : 
 Be Homers {koUer, and his, was borne in Ande, vu-gm 
 
 The happie dwelling place of all our bande. 
 How oft thou lykes reid ouer booke efter booke. 
 The bookes of Troy, and of that towne which tooke 
 
 Diilj
 
 L'VRANIE. 
 
 Qui du 7io?n d* Alexandre a/on ?iom emprunte : 
 Exerce incejfamment Eff ta langite^ Iff ta plume. 
 
 Join tant que tu voudras^ pour vn carme bienfaire 
 U obfcure mutt au iour. Iff le iour a la nuid^ 
 Si ne pourras tu poitit cueillir vn digne fruit 
 D\m Ji fafcheux trauail,ft Yallas f eji contraire. 
 
 Car du tout hors de Ihomme il fault que I honuneforte^ 
 Si I veutfaire des vers quifacent tcjle aux ans, : 
 II faidt qu entre nos mains il fequejire fes fens : 
 11 fault qu vn faint ecfiafe au plus haut del l^emporte, 
 
 D autant que tout ainji que la fureur humaine 
 Rend I homme moins qu humain : la diuine fureur 
 ^end Ihomme plus grand qu home: ^ d vnefaincie crreur 
 Sur le ciel portefeux afon grc le promeine. 
 
 Qefi d vnfifacrc lieu que ks diuins poetes 
 Nous apporte?it ^a has defi do6les propos, 
 Et des vers nonfuiets au pouuoir d Atropos, 
 Truchemens de 'Natu?'e, iff du del interpretes. 
 
 'Les vrais Poetes font tels que la cornemufe^ 
 Qui pleine de vent fonne^ Iff vuide perd le fan : 
 Car leur fureur durante dure aujji leur chanfon : 
 Etfi la fureur cejfe, aujfi ceffe leur Mufe, 
 
 Puis d'oques que les vers ont au ciel pris naiffance, 
 Efprits vrayment diuins^ aure% vous bien le ca^ur 
 De prononcer vn vers tff profane, ^ ?noqucur 
 Contre cil, qui conduit des cieiix afireux la danfe ? 
 
 Serez vous tant ingrafs, que de rendre vos plumes 
 lAiniflres de la chair, l^ ferues de pechc ? 
 
 Tout
 
 THE VRAM IE. 
 
 Her name from Alexander Monark then, Aicxadria, 
 
 Exerce but ceafe thy toung and eke thy pen. 
 Yea, if to make good verfe thou hes fic cure, 
 Joyne night to day, and day to night obfcure. 
 Yet fhall thou not the worthy frute reape fo 
 Of all thy paines, if Pallas be thy fo. 
 For man from man muft wholly parted be. 
 If with his age, his verfe do well agree. 
 Amongft our hands, he mufl his witts refmg, 
 A holy trance to highefl heauen him bring. 
 For euen as humane fury maks the man, 
 Les then the man : So heauenly fury can 
 Make man pas man, and wander in holy mift, 
 Vpon the fyrie heauen to walk at lift. 
 "Within that place the heauenly Poets fought 
 Their learning, fyne to vs heare downe it brought. 
 With verfe that ought to Atropos no dewe 
 Dame Naturs trunchmen, heauens interprets trewe. 
 For Poets right are lyke the pype alway. 
 Who full doth found, and empty ftayes to play : 
 Euen fo their fury lafting, lafts their tone. 
 Their fury ceaft, their Mufe doth ftay alfone. 
 Since verfe did then in heauen firft bud and blume. 
 If ye be heauenly, how dar ye prefume 
 A verfe prophane, and mocking for to fing 
 Gainft him that leads of ftarrie heauens the ring ? 
 Will ye then fo ingrately make your pen, 
 A flaue to fmne, and ferue but flefhly men ? 
 
 E
 
 LVranie. 
 Tout-iour donques fera vojlre Jlyle empefche 
 A remplir, menfongers^ des fonges vos volumes. 
 
 Ferez -vous, 6 tropeurs, tout-iour d*v?i diable vn ange ? 
 Fendrez vous tout-iour l*air de vos amoureux cris ? 
 Fie ! n'orra on ia?nais dans vos doctes efcrits 
 "Ketentir haut Iff clair du grand Dieu la louange ? 
 
 Ne vousfuffit il pas de fentir dans vojire ame 
 Le Cyprien brandon^fans que plus effrontez 
 Qu *une "Lays publique, encore vous euentez 
 Var le monde abufe vojire impudique jlcune ? 
 
 N^ vous fuffit il pas de croupir en delices. 
 Sans que vous corrompiez^ par vos nombres charmeurs^ 
 Du ledeur indifcret les peu conjiantes maurs^ 
 Luy faifant embrajfer pour les vertus les vices ? 
 
 Les tons, nombres. Iff chants, dant fe fait rharmonie^ 
 Qui rend le versfi beau, ont fur 7ious tel pouuoir. 
 Que les plus durs Catons ils peuuent efmouuoir, 
 Agitant nos efprits d'vne douce manie. 
 
 Ainfi que le cachet dedans la cire forme 
 Frefque vn autre cachet, le Voete fgauant, 
 Vaji bien dans ?ios coEursfes paeons grauant. 
 Que prafque Vauditeur en hauteur fe tranfforme. 
 
 Car la force des vers, qui fecrettement gliffe. 
 Far des fecrets conduits, dans nos entendemens, 
 jT empreint tous les bons ^ mauuais imuuemens. 
 Qui font reprefentez par vn dode artifice. 
 
 Ft c^efi pourquoy Platan hors de fa Republique 
 Chajfoit les efcriuains, qui fouloient par leurs vers. 
 
 Rendre
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 Shall ftill your brains be bufied then to fill 
 With dreames, 6 dreamers, euery booke and bill ? 
 Shall Satan ftill be God for your behoue ? 
 Still will ye riue the air with cryes of loue ? 
 And fhall there neuer into your works appeare 
 The praife of God, refounding loud and cleare ? 
 Suffifis it noght ye feele into your hairt 
 The Ciprian torche, vnles more malapairt 
 Then Lais commoun quean, ye blow abrod 
 But fhame, athort the world, your fliameles god ? 
 Abufers, ftaikes it not to lurk in luft. 
 Without ye fmit with charming nombers iuft 
 The fickle maners of the reader flight. 
 In making him embrace, for day, the night ? 
 The harmony of nomber tone and fong, 
 That makes the verfe fo fair, it is fo ftrong 
 Ouer vs, as hardeft Catos it will moue. 
 With fpreits aflought, and fweete tranfported loue. 
 For as into the wax the feals imprent 
 Is lyke a feale, euen fo the Poet gent, 
 Doeth graue fo vine in vs his paffions ftrange. 
 As maks the reader, halfe in author change. 
 For verfes force is fie, that foftly flydes 
 Throw fecret poris, and in our fences bydes, 
 As makes them haue both good and euill imprented, 
 Which by the learned works is reprefented. 
 And therefore Platos common wealth did pack 
 None of thefe Poets, who by verfe did make 
 
 E. ij
 
 L'VRANIli, 
 
 "Rendre mefchans les bons, plus peruers les peruers, 
 Sapans par leurs beaux mots I honnejieie publique, 
 
 N5 ceux qui dans leurs chats fnarioient les beaux termes 
 Auec les beaux fuiets : ore entonnans le los 
 Du iujie foudroyeur : ore d\m faint propos^ 
 Seruans aux defuoyez Iff de guides & d* Hermes, 
 
 "Profanes efriuains, 'vofire impudique rime. 
 Eft caufe, que I* on met nos chantres mieux-difans 
 Alt rang des bafieleurs, des boufons, des plaifans : 
 Et qu^ encore main's, qu'eux le peuple les efiime, 
 
 Vos faites de Clion vne Thais impure : 
 Z)' Heloicon vn bordeau : 'vous faites impudens^ 
 Far 'VOS lafcifs difcours^ que les peres prudens 
 Deffendent a leurs f Is des carmes la ledure, 
 yiais ft foulans aux pieds la deite volage^ 
 Qui blece de ces traits vos idolatres c(£urs, 
 Vous vouliez employer i^os plus faindes fureurs 
 A faire voir en France vn facrefaind ouurage* 
 
 Qhacun vous priferoit, comme efiant fecretaires, 
 Et miniftrcs facre% du Roy de I* vniuers. 
 Chacun reuereroit comme oracle's, vos vers : 
 Et les grands comjiiettroient en vos mains, leurs affaires, 
 
 ha liaifon des vers fiitiadis inuentee 
 Seule?nent pour traitter les fnyjieres facrez 
 Auec plus de refped : iff de long te?nps apres 
 Par les Cannes ne fut autre chofe chantee. 
 
 Ainft mon grand Dauidfur la corde tremblante 
 Defon luth toiit-diuin nefonne ricn que Dieu. 
 
 Ainft
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 The goodmen euill, and the wicked worfe, 
 Whofe pleafaunt words betraied the publick corfe. 
 Not thofe that in their fongs good tearmes alwaife 
 Joyned with fair Thems : whyles thudring out the praife 
 Of God, iufl Thundrer : whyles with holy fpeache, 
 Lyke Hermes did the way to ftrangers teache. 
 Your fhameles rymes, are caufe, 6 Scrybes prophane. 
 That in the lyke opinion we remaine 
 With Juglers, buffons, and that foolifh feames : 
 Yea les then them, the people of vs efteames. 
 For Clio you put Thais vyle in vre, 
 For Helicon a bordell. Ye procure 
 By your lascivious fpeache, that fathers fage 
 Defends verfe reading to their yonger age. 
 But lightleing * yon fleing godhead flight, Cupide 
 
 Who in Idolatrous breafts his darts hath pight. 
 If that he would imploy your holy traunce, 
 To make a holy hallowde work in Fraunce : 
 Then euery one wolde worthy fcribes you call, 
 And holy feruants to the King of all. 
 Echone your verfe for oracles wolde take, 
 And great men of their counfell wolde you make. 
 The verfes knitting was found out and tryit, 
 For finging only holy myfteries by it 
 With greater grace. And efter that, were pend 
 Longtyme no verfe, but for that only end. 
 Euen fo my Dauid on the trembling firings 
 Of heauenly harps, Gods only praife he fmgs. 
 
 E. iij
 
 L'VRANIE. 
 
 Ainft le condudeur de rexercite Hebr'ieu, 
 
 battue des rouges flots, Ic los du grand Dieu chante. 
 
 Ainft Judith^ Delborc^ au milieu des geiifd'armes^ 
 Ainfi Job^ Jeremie^ accablez de douleurs, 
 D vn car me bigarre des cent mi lie couleurs 
 Defcriuoient faintement leurs ioyes^ Iff leur?, larmes. 
 
 Voyla pourqmy Satan^ qui Jin fe transfigure 
 En A?ige de clarte pour nous enforceler^ 
 Ses pre/ire?, i^ fes dieux faifoit iadis parler 
 'Non d vne libre language, ains par nombre, Eff fJie/ure, 
 
 Ainft, fous Apollon la folk Vhcemonoe 
 En hexametres versfes oracles chantoit : 
 Et par douteux propos, cauteleufe affrontoit 
 Hon le Grecfeulement, ains I* Ibere, If I* Eoe. 
 
 Ainfi r antique voix en Dodone adoree, 
 Aefculape If ^i?nmon en vers prophetizoient, 
 hes Sibylles en vers, lefutur predifoient, 
 Et les pre/ires prioient en oraifon nombree. 
 
 Ainft Line, Hefiode et celuy dont la lyre 
 Oreilloit, comme on dit, les rocs. If les forefis, 
 Oferent autrefois les plus diuin^ fecrets 
 De leur profondfgauoir en do6les vers efcrire. 
 
 Vouz qui tant defirez vos fronts de laurier ceindre. 
 Oil pourriez vous trouuer vn champ plus Jpacieux, 
 Que le los de celuy qui tient le frein des cieux. 
 Qui fait trembler les ?}ionts, qui fait I'Erebe craindre ? 
 
 Cefuiet ejh de vray la Come d^abondance, 
 C*efi vn grand ?nagazin riche en difcours faconds^ 
 
 Ceji
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 Euen fo the leader of the Hebrew hofte, 
 
 Gods praife did fing vpon the Redfea cofle. 
 
 So Judith and Delbor in the foldiers throngs, 
 
 So Job and Jeremie, preaft with woes and wrongs, 
 
 Did right defcryiie the ioyes, their woes and torts, 
 
 In variant verfe of hundred thoufand forts. 
 
 And therefore crafty Sathan, who can feame 
 
 An Angell of light, to witch vs in our dreame. 
 
 He caufde his gods and preefts of olde to fpeake 
 
 By nomber and meafure, which they durft not breake. 
 
 So fond VhcBmonoe vnder Apollos wing, 
 
 Her oracles Hexameter did fing : 
 
 With doubtfum talke flie craftely begylde. 
 
 Not only Grece, but Spa'me and hides Ihe fylde. 
 
 That olde voce ferude in Dodon^ fpak in verfe 
 
 So AEfculap did, and fo did Am?non fearfe. 
 
 So Sybilh tolde in verfe, what was to come : 
 
 The Preefts did pray by nombers, all and fome. 
 
 So Heftod^ 'Line, and he * whofe Lute they fay, Orpheus 
 
 Made rocks and forrefts come to hear him play, 
 
 Durft well their heauenly fecrets all difcloes. 
 
 In learned verfe, that foftly flydes and goes. 
 
 O ye that wolde your brows with Laurel bind, 
 
 What larger feild I pray you can you find. 
 
 Then is his praife, who brydles heauens moft cleare, 
 
 Maks mountaines tremble, and howeft hells to feare ? 
 
 That is a home of plenty well repleat : 
 
 That is a ftorehouse riche, a learning feat.
 
 LVranie. 
 Cejl vn grand Ocean, qui n^a riue, nyfonds, 
 Vnfurjon immortel de diuine eloquence. 
 
 U humble fuiet ne pent qu humble difcour% produire : 
 Mais le graue fuiet de foymefme produit 
 Graues '<sf majle^ 7nots : de foymefmes il luit, 
 Et fait le faind bonneur defon chantre reluire. 
 
 Or done ft vous voulez apres vos cendres viure^ 
 l^*imttez Erofirat, qui pour viure, brujla 
 he temple Ephefien : ou celuy qui moula. 
 Pour eftendre fon nom, vn cruel veau de cuiure. 
 
 N^ vueillez employer vojire rare artifice 
 A chanter la Cyprine, tsffonfils emplume : 
 Qar il vaut beaucoup mieux n' eftre point renomme, 
 Quefe voir reno?nme pour raifon de fon vice 
 
 Viergesfont les neuffceurs, qui dancentfur Varnaffe, 
 Vierge vofire Pallas : Eff vierge ce beau corps 
 Ou*vnfieuue vit changer fur les humides bords. 
 En /' arbre tout-iour vert, qid vos cheueux enlace. 
 
 Qonfacrez moy pluftoft cefte rare eloquence 
 A chanter hautement les ?niracles compris 
 Dans le facre fueillet : Ssf de vos beaux efprits 
 Vfrfez la, mes amis, toute la quinte-effence. 
 
 Que Chri/i, comme Homme-Dieu, foit la croupe iumelle 
 Sur qui vous fommeillez. Que pour cheual aite 
 L Efprit du Troisfois grand, d vn blanc pigeon voite, 
 Vous face ruiffeter vnefource immortelle. 
 
 Tout ouurage excellent la memoire eternize 
 De ceux qui t ant foit pen trauaillent apres luy i 
 
 Le
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 An Ocean hudge, both lacking fhore and ground, 
 Of heauenly eloquence a fpring profound. 
 From fubiefts bafe, a bafe difcours dois fpring, 
 A lofty fubiect of it felfe doeth bring 
 Graue words and weghtie, of it felfe diuine. 
 And makes the authors holy honour Ihine. 
 If ye wolde after aflies Hue, bewaire, 
 To do like Erojirat^ who brunt the faire 
 Ephefian temple, or him, to win a name, 
 
 * Who built of braife, the crewell Calfe vntame. Perilius 
 Let not your art fo rare then be defylde. 
 
 In fmging Venus, and her fethred chylde : 
 
 For better it is without renowme to be. 
 
 Then be renowmde for vyle iniquitie. 
 
 Thofe nyne are Maides, that daunce vpon Far?iaas : 
 
 Learnd Pa/las is a Virgin pure, lyke as 
 
 * That fair, whom waters changed on wattry banks Daphne 
 Into * that tre ftill grene, your hair that hanks. LaureU 
 Then confecrat that eloquence moft rair. 
 
 To fmg the lofty miracles and fair 
 Of holy Scripture : and of your good ingyne. 
 Pour out, my frends, there your fift-effence fyne. 
 Let Chrift both God and man your Twinrock be, 
 Whom on ye flepe : for that * hors who did fle, Pegasus 
 
 Speak of that* thryfe great fpreit, whofe dow mod white Holy 
 Mote make your fpring flow euer with delyte. 2^°*^" 
 
 All excellent worke beare record euer fhall. 
 Of trauellers in it, though their paines be fmall. 
 
 F.
 
 L'VRANIE. 
 
 L<? Maufolee a fait viure iufqu auiourd huy 
 Ti?nothee, Bryace, Iff Scope, t^f Artemife, 
 
 Hiram feroit fans nom,fans la faint e ajfiftance 
 Ou'ilfit au bafliment du temple d* Ifratl. 
 Etfans /* Arche de Dieu /' Webrieu Befeleel 
 Seroit enfeueli fous eternel filence, 
 
 Et puis que la beaute de ce% rare?, ouurages 
 Fait viure, apre% la mort tous ceux qui les ontfaits, 
 Combien qu auec le temps les plus feurs foient deffaits 
 Par rauine%, par feux par guerres, par or ages, 
 
 Venfez, ie vous.fuppli, combien fera plus belle 
 l^a louange, qu beureux, ga bas vous acquerrez, 
 Lors que dans vos faints vers T)iEvfeul vous chanterez, 
 Vuis qu vn nom immortel vient de chofe immortelle, 
 
 Jefgay que vous direz que les antiques fables 
 Sont /' ame de vos chant?,, que ces contes diuers, 
 L' vn de I autre naiffans, peuuent rendre vos vers 
 Beaucoup plus que /' hiftoire au vulgaire adtnirables, 
 
 'Mais oil peut on irouuer chofes plus merueilleufes 
 Que celles de la Foy ? he I quel autre argument 
 Auec plus de tefmoins noftre raifon defment. 
 Qui rabat plus /* orgueil des ames curieufes ? 
 
 /' aymeroy ?meux chanter la tour Affyrienne, 
 Que les trois monts Gregeois I* vn defjus r autre entez 
 Pour dethrosner du del les dieux efpouuantez : 
 Et /' onde de No/, que la Deucalienne, 
 
 r aymeroy jnieiix chanter le changement fubite 
 Du Monarque d* Affur, que de /* Arcadien, 
 
 Et
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 The Maufole tombe the names did eternife 
 
 Of Scope, Timotheus, ^riace and Artemife, 
 
 But HJrams holy help it war vnknovvne 
 
 What he in building Izraels Temple had fliowne, 
 
 Without Gods Ark 'Qefeleel Jewe had bene 
 
 In euerlafting filence buried clene. 
 
 Then, fmce the bewty of thofe works mofl; rare 
 
 Hath after death made Hue all them that ware 
 
 Their builders : though them felues with tyme be failde. 
 
 By fpoils, by fyres, by warres, and tempefls quailde. 
 
 I pray you think, how mekle fairer fhall 
 
 Your happie name heirdowne be, when as all 
 
 Yottr holy verfe, great God alone fhall fmg. 
 
 Since praife immortall commes of endles thing, 
 
 I know that ye will fay, the auncient rabies 
 
 Decores your fongs, and that * thofe dyuers fables, Metamor- 
 
 Ilk bred of other, doeth your verfes mak ^ *°'''* 
 
 More loued then ftoryes by the vulgar pack. 
 
 But where can there more wondrous things be found. 
 
 Then thofe of faith ? 6 fooles, what other ground. 
 
 With witnes mo, our reafons quyte improues. 
 
 Beats doun our pryde, that curious queftions moues ? 
 
 I had farr rather Cabell tower forthfett, ^^^^ p.^^^ 
 
 Then the * thre Grecian hills on others plett, dus,and 
 
 To pull doun gods afraide, and in my moode, oiympus 
 
 Sing No(?j rather then Deucalions floode. 
 
 I had far rather fmg the fuddaine change 
 
 Of AJfurs monark, then of Areas ftrajigeo nezer.^ 
 
 Nabuchad-
 
 L'VRANIE. 
 
 Et le viure fecond du faint ^etbanien. 
 Que le recolement des membres d* Hippolite. 
 
 Uvn de plaire an ledeur tant feulement fe mejle^ 
 Et /' autre feutement tafche de profiter : 
 Maisfeul celuy la peut le laurier merit er^ 
 Qui, /age y le profit auec le plaifir mejle. 
 
 Les plus beaux promcnoirs font pres de la ??tarine, 
 Et le nager plus feur pres de riuages verds : 
 Et lefage Efcriuain n'efloigne dansfes vers 
 he f(jauoir du plaifir, le ieu de la do6lrine. 
 
 Vous iiendrez done ce rang en chantant chofes teller : 
 Qar enfeignans autruy, vous mefme% apprendez. 
 ILa reigle de bien viure : ^ bien-beureux, refidrez 
 jiutant que leursfuiets, vos chansons immortelles, 
 
 Laffez 7noy done a part ces fables furannees ; 
 yies amis, laidez moy cest infolent Archer, 
 Qui les cceurs otieux peut feulement brefcher, 
 Et plus ne foyent par vous les "M-ifes profanees, 
 
 Mais las ! en vain ie crie, en vain, las I ie m enroue ' 
 Car I vn, pour ne fe voir couuaincu par mon chant, 
 Va, com?}ie vnfn afpic,fon oreille bouchant : 
 E* autre Epicurien, de mes discours fe ioue. 
 
 L' autre pour quelque temps fe range en mon efchole^ 
 Mais le monde enchanteur foudain le ?ne foufirait, 
 Et ce difcours facre, qui lesfeuls bons attrait, 
 Entre par vne aureille, et par I autre s* envolle. 
 
 L«j / ie n en voy pas vn quifes deux yeux dejftlle 
 Du bandeau de Venus, i^ dvn profane fieU 
 
 De
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 Of the * Betbaniens holy fecond Hulng Lazarus 
 
 Then Hippolltts with members glewde reuluing. 
 To pleafe the reader is the ones whole cair, 
 The vther for to proffite mair and mair : 
 But only he of Laurell is conding, 
 Who wyfely can with proffit, pleafure ming. 
 The faireft walking on the Sea coaft bene. 
 And fuireft fwimming where the braes are grene : 
 So, wyfe is he, who in his verfe can haue 
 Skill mixt with pleafure, fports with dodrine grauc. 
 In finging kepe this order (howen you heir. 
 Then ye your felf, in teaching men fhall leir 
 The rule of liuing well, and happily Ihall 
 Your fongs make, as your thems immortall all. 
 No more into thofe oweryere lyes delyte. 
 My freinds, cafl of that infolent archer quyte. 
 Who only may the ydle harts furpryfe : 
 Prophane no more the Mufes with yon cryes. 
 But oh ! in vaine, with crying am I horce : 
 For lo, where one, noght caring my fongs force. 
 Goes lyke a crafty fnaik, and ftoppes his eare : 
 The other godles, mocks and will not heare. 
 Ane other at my fchoole abydes a fpace. 
 While charming world withdrawe him fro that place : 
 So that difcours, that maks good men reiofe. 
 At one eare enters, and at the other goes. 
 Alas, I fe not one vnvaill his ene 
 From Venus vaill and gal prophane, that bene 
 
 F. uj.
 
 L'VRANIE. 
 
 Defes carmes dorez ne corrompe le miel : 
 
 Bien que de bom efprits nojire France fourmllle, 
 
 M.ais toy, mon cher mignon^ que la Neiifuaine faln6fe 
 Qui de Pegafe boit lefurjon perennel. 
 Fit le /acre fonneur du los de I* Eternel, 
 IS/iefme auant que de toy ta mere fuji enceinte : 
 
 B/V« que cest argu?nent fenible vne maigre lande. 
 Que les meilleurs efprits ont enfriche laijfe, 
 'Nejbis pour I auenir de ce trauail lajfe : 
 Car plus la gloire eft rare, ^ tant plus elk eji grander 
 
 Salvste, ne perds cosurji tu vois que I Enuie 
 Aille abbayant, maligne, apres ton los naijfant : 
 N^ crain quefousfes pieds elle aille tapijfant 
 L.es vers que tuferas, co?n?ne indignes de vie, 
 
 Ce monjlre blece-honneur rejfemble la 'M.ajiiney 
 Qui iappe contre ceux qui font nouueau venus, 
 Vardonnant toutesfois a ceux qui font cognus, 
 Curtoife enuers ceux cy, enuers ceux la rnutihe, 
 
 Ce monfire femble encor vne fameufe nue. 
 Que le naijfant Vulcan prefbe de toutes pars, 
 Vour, noire, /' e/iouffer defes ondeux brouillar^ : 
 M^/V ou plus ce feu croift, plus elle diminue. 
 
 Sui done ("mon cher fouci) ce chemin non froyabTe 
 Que par ceux, que le del, liberal, veut benir, 
 Et ie iure qu en brief ie teferay tenir 
 Entre les bons efprits quelque rang honorable, 
 
 Cefl par ce beau difcours que la 'M.ufe celejie 
 Tenant vne couronne en fa puce He ?}iain, 
 
 Attire
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 To golden honnled verfe, the only harme, 
 Although our France with lofty fprits doth fwarme. 
 But thou my deir one, whonie the holy "Nyney 
 Who yearly drinks Pegafis fountaine fyne. 
 The great gods holy fongfter had receiued. 
 Yea, euen before thy mother the conceiued. 
 Albeit this fubied feame a barren ground. 
 With quickeft fpreits left ley, as they it found. 
 Irk not for that heirefter of thy paine. 
 Thy glore by rairnes greater Ihall remaine. 
 O Saluji, lofe not heart, though pale Inuye 
 Bark at thy praife increafmg to the Ikye, 
 Feare not that Ihe tread vnder foote thy verfe, 
 As if they were vnworthie to reherfe. 
 This monfter honnors-hurt is like the curr. 
 That barks at Itrangers comming to the durr. 
 But fparing alwaies thofe are to him knowin. 
 To them moft gentle, to the others throwin. 
 This monfter als is like a raving cloude. 
 Which threatnes alwayis kendling Vulcan loude. 
 To fmore and drowne him with her powring raine. 
 Yet force of fyre repellis her power againe. 
 Then follow furth, my fonne, that way vnfeard. 
 Of them whom in fre heauens gift hath appeard. 
 And heare I fweare, thou fhortiy (hall refaue 
 Some noble rank among good fpreits and graue. 
 This heauenly Mufe by fuch difcourfes fair. 
 Who in her Virgin hand a riche crowne bair : 
 
 F. nij
 
 L'VRANIE, 
 
 Attire afoy fnon cceur d vn tranfport plus qu^htimain, 
 Tant hien afe^ doux mot's, elle adioujle vn doux gejie, 
 Depuis, cefeul aviour dans me% veined bouillonne : 
 Depuis cefeul vent foujle es toiles de ma nef'. 
 l^ien-heureux ft ie puis non pofer fur mon chef 
 Ains du doight feule?nent toucher cefte couronne, 
 
 FINIS.
 
 THE VRANIE. 
 
 So drew to her my heart, fo farr tranfported. 
 
 And with fwete grace fo fwetely (he exhorted : 
 
 As fmce that loue into my braines did brew. 
 
 And fmce that only wind my fhipfailles blew, 
 
 I thought me bleft, if I might only clame 
 
 To touche that crown, though not to weare the fame. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^ 
 *Tf <iv ^ ^ ^ 
 
 G
 
 ************************ 
 ANE METAPHORICALL 
 
 INVENTION OF A TRAGEDIE 
 CALLED PHOENIX.
 
 10 
 
 A Colomne of 18 lynes feruing for a Preface 
 to the Tragedie enfuyng'. 
 
 2^^^ Echo ^^11:2 
 "^elp that both 
 'together we, 
 
 lince caufe there be, may"* 
 'now lament with tearis, My^ 
 '^^^^murnefuU yearis. Ye furies als^ 
 ^^E^with him, Euen Pluto grim, who duellb^ 
 ^-^^in dark, that he, Since cheif we fe him^ 
 to you all that bearis The ftyle men fearis of^ 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 Dirae, I requeft, Eche greizlie gheft that dwells 
 ybeneth the fea. With all yon thre, whofe hairs are fnaiks^ 
 jfuU blew, And all your crew, affift me in thir twa 
 Repeit and fha my Tragedie full neir, The\ 
 .chance fell heir, then fecundlie is beft, Deuills 
 g^^^^void of reft, ye moue all that it reid,^^L^9 
 g%^^With me in deid lyke dolour them >4t^8 
 ^^^to griv*, I then will liv' in^4P^7 
 g^^lefler greif therebj. Kyth^>^y^6 
 
 5^^^heir and try your force^ 
 4! ^B^ ay bent and quick, 
 3 ^B^ Excell in 
 
 2^^^fik like 
 
 ill, 
 
 /and 
 
 murne 
 
 with 
 
 fme. From Delphos fynel 
 
 TApollo cum with fpeid : Whofc] 
 
 jlhining light my cairs will dim in deid.j
 
 ic >k ^ ic ic ^ ic ^ i,-4cy>k i(. 
 
 ^)f The expanfion of the 
 former Colomne. 
 
 E If Echo help, that both together w 
 (S ince caufe there be) may now lamet with teari 
 M y murnefuU yearis. Ye furies als with hi 
 lien Pluto grim, who dwels in dark, that h 
 ince cheif we fe him to you all that beari 
 he ftyle men fearis of Dirae : I requef 
 che greizlie gheft, that dwells beneth the S 
 W ith all yon thre, whofe hairis ar fnaiks full ble 
 A nd all your crew, aflift me in thir tw 
 R epeit and flia my Tragedie full nei 
 T he chance fell heir. Then fecoundlie is bef 
 D euils void of reft, ye moue all that it rei 
 W ith me, indeid, lyke dolour thame to gri 
 then will liv', in lefTer greif therebi 
 . ythe heir and trie, your force ay bent and quic 
 xcell in fik lyke ill, and murne with m 
 From Delphos fyne Apollo cum with fpeid, 
 Whofe fhining light my cairs wil dim in deid. 
 
 ^ X^ ^ )^ )^ *L >f. >(L > ^ J>f. Jf
 
 Phoenix. 
 
 THE dyuers falls that Fortune geuis to men. 
 By turning ouer her quheill to their annoy. 
 When I do heare the grudge, ahhough they ken 
 That olde blind Dame delytes to let the ioy 
 Of all, fuche is her vfe, which dois conuoy 
 Her quheill by gefs : not looking to the right, 
 Bot ftill turnis vp that pairt quhilk is too Ught. 
 
 Thus quhen I hard fo many did complaine. 
 Some for the lofle of worldly wealth and geir. 
 Some death of frends, quho can not come againe ; 
 Some loffe of health, which vnto all is deir. 
 Some lofle of fame, which ftill with it dois beir 
 Ane greif to them, who mereits it indeid : 
 Yet for all this appearis there fome remeid. 
 
 For as to geir, lyke chance as made you want it, 
 
 Reftore you may the fame againe or mair. 
 
 For death of frends, although the fame (I grant it) 
 
 Can noght returne, yet men are not fo rair, 
 
 Bot ye may get the lyke. For feiknes fair 
 
 Your health may come : or to ane better place 
 
 Ye muft. For fame, good deids will mend difgrace. 
 
 Giii
 
 Phoenix. 
 Then, fra I faw (as I already told) j 
 How men complaind for things whilk might amend. 
 How Dauid l^yndsay did complaine of old 
 His Papingo, her death, and fudden end, 
 Ane common foule, whofe kinde be all is kend. 
 All thefe hes moved me prefently to tell 
 Ane Tragedie, in griefs thir to excelj. 
 
 For I complaine not of fic common cace. 
 
 Which diuerfly by diuers means dois fall : 
 
 But I lament my Phcenix rare, whofe race, 
 
 Whofe kynde, whofe kin, whofe offpring, they be all 
 
 In her alone, whome I the Fhosnix call. 
 
 That fowle which only one at onis did Hue, 
 
 Not Hues, alas / though I her praife reviu^. 
 
 In Arable cald Falix was flie bredd 
 
 This fowle, excelling Iris farr in hew. 
 
 Whofe body whole, with purpour was owercledd, 
 
 Whofe taill of coulour was celeftiall blew. 
 
 With Ikarlat pennis that through it mixed grew : 
 
 Her craig was like the yallowe burnifht gold. 
 
 And fhe herfelf thre hundreth yeare was old.
 
 Phoenix. 
 She might haue liued as long agalne and mair. 
 If fortune had not ftayde dame 'biaturs will : 
 Six hundreth yeares and fourtie was her fcair. 
 Which Nature ordained her for to fulfill. 
 Her natiue foile Ihe hanted euer ftill. 
 Except to Egypt whiles fhe tooke her courfe. 
 Wherethrough great l^ylus downe runs fro his fourfe. 
 
 Like as ane hors, when he is barded haile. 
 An fethered pannach fet vpon his heid. 
 Will make him feame more braue : Or to aflaile 
 The enemie, he that the troups dois leid, 
 Ane pannache on his healme will fet in deid : 
 Euen fo, had 'Nature, to decore her face, 
 Giuen her ane tap, for to augment her grace. 
 
 In quantitie, (he dois refemble neare 
 Vnto the foule of mightie Jove, by name 
 The AEgle calld : oft in the time of yeare. 
 She vfde to foir, and flie through diuers realme. 
 Out through the Azure ikyes, whill Ihe did Ihame 
 The Sunne himfelf, her coulour was fo bright. 
 Till he abafhit beholding fuch a light. 
 
 H
 
 Phoenix. 
 Thus whill fhe vfde to fcUm the fkyes about. 
 At laft Ihe chanced to fore out ower the fee 
 Calld Mare Rubrum : yet her courfe held out 
 Whill that flie pafl whole Afie. Syne to fiie 
 To Europe fmall {he did refolue : To drie 
 Her voyage out, at laft fhe came in end 
 Into this land, ane ftranger heir vnkend. 
 
 Ilk man did maruell at her forme ^f rare ^ 
 
 The winter came, and ftorms cled all the feild ^ 
 Which ftorms, the land of fruit and come made bare, 
 Then did ftie flie into an houfe for beild, ^ 
 
 VVhich from the ftorms might faue her as an fheild. 
 There, in that houfe ftie firft began to tame, 
 I came, fyne took her furth out of the fame. 
 
 Fra I her gat, yet none could gefs what fort 
 bffoule fhe wis, nor from what countrey cum '.m 
 Nor I my felf : except that be her port, 
 And cliftring hewes I knew that fhe was fum 
 tare ftrangfr foule, which oft had vfde to cum 
 Through diuers lands, delytmg m her flight , 
 Which made us fee, fo ftrange and rare a fight. 
 
 Whill
 
 Phoenix. 
 Whill at the laft, I chanced to call to minde 
 How that her nature, did refemble neir 
 To that of Fh(Emx which I red. Her kinde. 
 Her hewe, her Ihape, did mak it plaine appeir. 
 She was the fame, which now was lighted heir. 
 This made me to efteme of her the more, 
 Her name and rarenes did her fo decore. 
 
 Thus being tamed, and throughly weill acquent. 
 She toke delyte (as fhe was wount before) 
 What tyme that Titan with his beames vpfprent. 
 To take her flight, amongs the fkyes to foir. 
 Then came to her of fowlis, a woundrous ftore 
 Of diuers kinds, fome fimple fowlis, fome ill 
 And rauening fowlis, whilks fimple onis did kill. 
 
 And euen as they do fwarme about their king 
 The hunnie Bees, that works into the hyue : 
 When he delyts furth of the {kepps to fpring. 
 Then all the leaue will follow him belyue, 
 Syne to be nixt him biffelie they ftriue : 
 So, all thir fowlis did follow her with beir. 
 For loue of her, fowlis rauening did no deir. 
 
 Hij
 
 .Phoenix. 
 Such was the loue, and reuerence they her bure. 
 Ilk day whill euen, ay whill they (hedd at night. 
 Fra time it darkned, I was euer fure 
 Of her returne, remaining whill the light, 
 And Phoebus ryfmg with his garland bright. 
 Such was her trueth, fra time that (lie was tame, 
 She, who in brightnes Titans felf did fhame. 
 
 By vfe of this, and banting it, at lafl 
 
 She made the foules, fra time that 1 went out, 
 
 Aboue my head to flie, and follow fall 
 
 Her, who was chief and leader of the rout. 
 
 When it grew lait, fhe made them flie, but doubt. 
 
 Or feare, euen in the cloiTe with her of will. 
 
 Syne Ihe her felf, perkt in my chalmer ftill. 
 
 When as the countreys round about did heare 
 Of this her byding in this countrey cold. 
 Which not but hills, and darknes ay dois beare, 
 (And for this caufe was Scotia calld of old,) 
 Her lyking here, when it was to them told, 
 And how fhe greind not to go backe againe : 
 The loue. they bure her, turnd into difdaine. 
 
 Lo
 
 Phoenix. 
 Lo, here the fruicts, whilks of Inu^ dois breid, 
 To harme them all, who vertue dois imbrace. 
 Lo, here the fruicts, from her whilks dois proceid, 
 To harme them all, that be in better cace 
 Then others be. So followed they the trace 
 Of proud Inuj^ thir countreyis lying neir. 
 That fuch a foule, fhould lyke to tary heir. 
 
 Whill Fortoun at the lafl, not onely moued 
 Inuy to this, which could her not content, 
 Whill that Inuy^ did feafe fome foules that loued 
 Her anis as femed : but yet their ill intent 
 Kythed, when they faw all other foules ftill bent 
 To follow her, milknowing them at all. 
 This made them worke her'vndeferued fall. 
 
 Thir were the rauening fowls, whome of I fpak 
 Before, the whilks (as I already Ihew) 
 Was wount into her prefence to hald bak 
 Their crueltie, from fimple ones, that flew 
 With her, ay whill Jnuy all feare withdrew. 
 Thir ware, the Raui?i, the Staincbell, & the Gled, 
 With other kynds, whome in this malice bred. 
 
 H. iij. 
 
 Fra
 
 Phoenix. 
 Fra Malice thus was rooted be huy. 
 In them as fone the awin etFects did fliaw. 
 Which made them fyne, vpon ane day, to fpy 
 And wait till that, as fhe was wount, fhe flaw 
 Athort the fkyes, fyne did they neir her draw. 
 Among the other fowlis of dyuers kynds, 
 Although they were farr dilTonant in mynds. 
 
 For where as they ware wount her to obey, 
 
 Their mynde farr contrair then did plaine appeare 
 
 For then they made her as a commoun prey 
 
 To them, of whome fhe looked for no deare, • 
 
 They flrake at her fo bitterly, whill feare 
 
 Stayde other fowlis to preis to defend her 
 
 From thir ingrate, whilks now had clene mifkend her. 
 
 When fhe could find none other faue refuge 
 From thefe their bitter flraiks, fhe fled at lafl 
 To me (as if fhe wolde wifhe me to iudge 
 The wrong they did her) yet they followed faft 
 Till fhe betuix my leggs her felfe did caft. 
 For fauing her from thefe, which her opprefl, 
 Whofe hote purfute, her fuffred not to reft. 
 
 Bot
 
 Phoenix. 
 Bot yet at all that fervd not for remdd. 
 For nogttheles, they fpaird her not a haire. 
 In ftede of her, yea whyles they made to bleid 
 My leggs : (fo grew their malice mair and mair) 
 Which made her both to rage and to difpair, 
 Firfl, that but caufe they did her fuch dilhort : 
 Nixt, that Ihe laked help in any fort. 
 
 Then hauing tane ane dry and wethered ftra. 
 
 In deip difpair, and in ane lofty i*age 
 
 She fprang vp heigh, outfleing euery fa : 
 
 Syne to Fanchaia came, to change her age 
 
 Vpon Apollos altar, to aflfwage 
 
 With outward fyre her inward raging fyre : 
 
 Which then was all her cheif and whole defyre. 
 
 Then being careful, the event to know 
 
 Of her, who homeward had retumde againe 
 
 Where Ihe was bred, where ftorms dois neuer blow, 
 
 Nor bitter blafts, nor winter fnows, nor raine, 
 
 But fommer ftill : that countray doeth fo ftaine 
 
 All realmes in fairnes. There in hafte I fent. 
 
 Of her to know the yffew and event. ; 
 
 H. iiij.
 
 Phoenix. 
 The mefllnger went there into fic hafte. 
 As could permit the farrnes of the way. 
 By croffing ower fa mony countreys wafle 
 Or he come there. Syne with a lytle flay 
 Into that land, drew homeward euery day : 
 In his returne, lyke diligence he fhew 
 As in his going there, through realmes anew. 
 
 Fra he returnd, then fone without delay 
 I fpeared at him, (the certeantie to try) 
 What word of Phosnix which was flowen away ? 
 And if through all the lands he could her fpy. 
 Where through he went, I bad him not deny, 
 But tell the trueth, yea whither good or ill 
 Was come of her, to wit it was my will. 
 
 He tolde me then, how fhe flew bak againe. 
 Where fra flie came and als he did receit. 
 How in Fanchaia toun, fhe did remaine 
 On Vhahus altar, there for to compleit 
 With Thus and Myrrh, and other odours sweit 
 Of flowers of dyuers kyndes, and of Incens 
 Her neft With that he left me in fufpens. 
 
 Till
 
 Phoenix. 
 Till that I charged him no wayes for to fpair. 
 But prefently to tell me out the reft. 
 He tauld me then. How Titans garland thair 
 Inflamde be heate, reflexing on her neft. 
 The withered ftra, which when Ihe was oppreft 
 Heir be yon fowlis, Ihe bure ay whill fhe came 
 There, fyne aboue her neft fhe laid the fame. 
 
 And fyne he tolde, how ftie had fuch defyre 
 To burne herfelf, as fhe fat downe therein. 
 Syne how the Sunne the withered ftra did fyre. 
 Which brunt her neft, her fethers, bones and fkin 
 All turnd in afh. Whois end dois now begin 
 My woes : her death maks lyfe to greif in me. 
 She, whome I rew my eyes did euer fee. 
 
 O deuills of darknes, contraire vnto light. 
 
 In Fhxhus fowk, how could ye get fuch place. 
 
 Since ye are hated ay be Phcebus bright ? 
 
 For ftill is fene his light dois darknes chace. 
 
 But yet ye went into that fowle, whofe grace. 
 
 As Phcebus fowle, yet ward the Sunne him fell. 
 
 Her light his ftaind, whome in all light dois dwell. 
 
 I.
 
 Phoenix. 
 And thou (6 Phoenix) why was thow fo moued 
 Thow foule of light, be enemies to thee. 
 For to forget thy heauenly hewes, whilkis loued 
 Were baith by men and fowlis that did them fee ? 
 And fyne in hewe of afhe that they fould bee 
 Conuerted all : and that thy goodly fhape 
 In Chaos fould, and noght the fyre efcape ? 
 
 And thow (6 reuthles Death) fould thow deuore 
 
 Her ? who not only palfed by all mens mynde 
 
 All other fowlis in hewe, and fhape, but more 
 
 In rarenes (fen there was none of her kynde 
 
 But fhe alone) whome with thy ftounds thow pynde : 
 
 And at the laft, hath perced her through the hart. 
 
 But reuth or pitie, with thy mortall dart. 
 
 Yet worft of all, fhe liued not half her age. 
 
 Why flayde thou Tyme at leafl, which all dois teare 
 
 To worke with her ? O what a cruell rage. 
 
 To cut her off, before her threid did weare / 
 
 Wherein ?ill Planets keeps their courfe, that yeare 
 
 It was not by the half yet worne away. 
 
 Which fould with her haue ended on a day. 
 
 Then
 
 Phoenix. 
 Then fra ther newls, in forrows foped haill. 
 Had made vs both a while to holde our peace, 
 Then he began and faid, Pairt of my taill 
 Is yet vntolde, Lo here one of her race, 
 Ane worme bred of her afhe : Though fhe, alace, 
 (Said he) be brunt, this lacks but plumes and breath 
 To be lyke her, new gendred by her death. 
 
 Veniioy, 
 
 Apollo then, who brunt with thy reflex 
 
 Thine onely fowle, through loue that thou her bure. 
 
 Although thy fowle, (whose name doeth end in X) 
 
 Thy burning heat on nowayes could indure 
 
 But brunt thereby : Yet will I the procure. 
 
 Late foe to Phoenix, now her freind to be : 
 
 Reuiuing her by that which made her die. 
 
 Draw farr from heir, mount heigh vp through the air 
 
 To gar thy heat and beames be law and neir. 
 
 That in this countrey, which is colde and bair. 
 
 Thy gliftring beames als ardent may appeir 
 
 As they were oft in Arable : fo heir 
 
 Let them be now, to make ane 'Phoenix new 
 
 Euen of this worme of 'Phoenix alhe which grew.
 
 Phoenix. 
 This if thow dois, as fure I hope thou fhall. 
 My tragedie a comike end will haue : 
 Thy work thou hath begun, to end it all. 
 Els made ane worme, to make her out the laue. 
 This Epitaphe, then beis on Phcsnix graue. 
 
 Here lyeth, 'vvhome too euen be her death and cud 
 
 Apollo hath a longer lyfe her fend, 
 
 FINIS.
 
 A PARAPHRASTICALL 
 TRANSLATION OVT OF 
 
 THE POETE LVCANE.
 
 LVCANVS LIB. 
 
 QVINTO. 
 
 CAEfaris an curfus njejira /entire putatis 
 DamnufJi pojfefuga ? Velutijt cunda mineniur 
 Flumina, quos mi/cent pelago,fubducerefontes : 
 Now 7nagis ahlatis vnquam decreverit aquor, 
 Quam nunc crefcit aquis* An vos momenta putaiis 
 Vila dedijje mihi ? 
 
 If all the floods amonfl them wold conclude 
 
 To ftay their courfe from running in the fee : 
 
 And by that means wold thinke for to delude 
 
 The Ocean, who fould impaired be. 
 
 As they fuppofde, beleuing if that he 
 
 Did lack their floods, he fhould decreffe him fell : 
 
 Yet if we like the veritie to wye. 
 
 It pairs him nothing : as I Ihali you tell. 
 
 For out of him they are augmented all. 
 And mofl part creat, as ye fhall perfaue : 
 For when the Sunne doth fouk the vapours fmall 
 Forth of the feas, whilks them containe and haue, 
 A part in winde, in wete and raine the laue 
 He render dois : which doth augment their flrands. 
 Of ^eptuns woll a coate fyne they him weaue, 
 By hurling to him fait out ower the lands. 
 
 Imj
 
 LVCANVS LIB. V. 
 
 When all is done, do to him what they can 
 None can perfaue that they do fwell him mair, 
 I put the cafe then that they neuer ran : 
 Yet not thelefs that could him nowife pair : 
 What needs he then to count it, or to cair. 
 Except their folies wold the more be fhawin ? 
 Sen though they (lay, it harmes him not a hair, 
 what gain they, thogh they had their courfe withdrawe ? 
 
 So euen ficlike : Though fubieds do coniure 
 For to rebell againft their Prince and King : 
 By leaning him although they hope to fmure 
 That grace, wherewith God maks him for to ring. 
 Though by his gifts he fhaw him felf bening, 
 TO help their neid, and make them thereby gaine : 
 Yet lacke of them no harme to him doth bring. 
 When they to rewe their folie Ihalbe faine. 
 
 Uennoy* 
 
 Then Floods runne on your wounted courfe of olde. 
 
 Which God by Nature dewly hes prouyded : 
 
 For though ye flay, as I before haue tolde. 
 
 And cafl in doubt which God hath els decyded : 
 
 To be conioynde, by you to be deuyded : 
 
 TO kythe your fpite, & do the Depe no Ikaith : 
 
 Farre better were in others ilk confyded. 
 
 Ye Floods, thou Depe, whilks were your dewties baith. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 ANE SCHORT 
 
 TREATISE, 
 
 CONTEINING SOME REVLIS 
 
 and cautelis to be obferuit and 
 
 efchewit in Scottis 
 
 Poefie. 
 
 ***** 
 
 7^ 7lf *
 
 A QVADRAIN OF ALEXANDRIN 
 
 VERSE, DECLARING TO QVHOME THE 
 
 Aiithour hes dire^lit his labour. 
 
 To ignorants obdurde, quhair vvilfull erronr lyis. 
 Nor zit to curious folks, quhilks carping dois deie^l thee. 
 Nor zit to learned men, quha thinks thame onelie vvyis. 
 But to the docile bairns of knavvledge 1 direct thee.
 
 THE PREFACE TO 
 
 the deader. 
 
 THE caufe why (^docile Reader) I haue not dedicat 
 this fhort treatife to any particular perfonis, (as co- 
 mounly worlds vfis to be) is, that I efteme all thais 
 quha hes already fome beginning of knawledge, 
 with ane earned defyre to atteyne to farther, alyke meit 
 for the reading of this worke, or any vther, quhilk may 
 help thame to the atteining to thair foirfaid defyre. Bot 
 as to this work, quhilk is intitulit. The ReuUs and cau- 
 tel'is to he obferuit Eff efchewit in Scottis Poefie, ze may 
 maruell parauenture, quhairfore I fould haue written 
 in that mater, fen fa mony learnit men, baith of auld 
 and of late hes already written thairof in dyuers and 
 fmdry languages : I anfwer. That nochtwithftanding, 
 I haue lykewayis written of it, for twa cauflis : The 
 ane is. As for the that wrait of auld, lyke as the tyme 
 is changeit fenfyne, fa is the ordour of Poefie changeit. 
 For then they obferuit not Flo-wing, nor efchewit not 
 "Kytnmg in termes, befydes fmdrie vther thingis, quhilk 
 now we obferue, & efchew, and dois weil in fa doing : 
 becaufe that now, quhe the warld is waxit auld, we 
 haue all their opinionis in writ, quhilk were learned 
 before our tyme, befydes our awin ingynis, quhair as 
 
 Kij
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 they then did It onelie be thair awin ingynis, but help 
 of any vther. Thairfore, quhat I fpeik of Poefie now, 
 I fpeik of it, as being come to mannis age and perfec- 
 tioun, quhair as then it was bot in the infancie and 
 chyldheid. The vther caufe is. That as for thame that 
 hes written in it of late, there hes neuer ane of thame 
 written in our language. For albeit fmdrie hes writ- 
 ten of it in Englifh, quhilk is lykefl to our language, 
 zit we differ from thame in fmdrie reuHs of Poefie, as 
 ze will find be experience. I haue lykewayis ommit- 
 tit dyuers figures, quhilkis are neceffare to be vfit in 
 verfe, for twa caufis. The ane is, becaufe they are 
 vfit in all languages, and thairfore are fpokin of be Du 
 ^ellay, and fmdrie vtheris, quha hes writte in this airt. 
 Quhairfore gif I wrait of thame alfo, it fould feme that 
 I did bot repete that, quhilk thay haue written, and zit 
 not fa well, as thay haue done already. The vther 
 caufe is, that they are figures of Rhetorique and Dia- 
 ledique, quhilkis airtis I profeife nocht, and thairfore 
 will apply to my felfe the counfale, quhilk Apelles gaue 
 to the fhoomaker, quhe he faid to him, feing him find 
 fait with the Ihankis of the Image of Vemis^ efter that 
 he had found fait with the pantoun, N^ fntor 'ultra 
 crepidanu 
 
 I will alfo wifh zow (docile Readar) that or ze cii- 
 mer zow with reading thir reulis, ze may find in zour 
 felf fie a beginning of Nature, as ze may put in prac- 
 tife in zour verfe many of thir foirfaidis preceptis, or 
 euer ze fie them as they are heir fet doun. For gif 
 Nature be nocht the chief worker in this airt, Reulis 
 
 wilbe
 
 THE PREFACE. 
 
 wilbe bot a band to Nature, and will mak zow within 
 fhort fpace weary of the haill airt : quhair as, gif Na- 
 ture be cheif, and bent to it, reulis will be ane help 
 and ftafF to Nature. I will end heir, left my preface 
 be langer nor my purpofe and haill mater following : 
 wifhing zow, docile Reidar, als gude fucces and great 
 profFeit by reiding this fhort treatife, as I tuke eamift 
 and willing panis to blok it, as ze fie, for zour caufe. 
 Fare weill. 
 
 IHaue infert in the hinder end of this Treatife, maift 
 kyndis of verfe quhilks are not cuttit or brokin, bot 
 alyke many feit in euery lyne of the verfe, and how 
 they are commounly namit, with my opinioun for 
 quhat fubiedis ilk kynde of thir verfe is meiteft to be 
 vfit. 
 
 TO knaw the quantitie of zour lang or fhort fete in 
 they lynes, quhilk I haue put in the reule, quhilk 
 teachis zow to knaw quhat is Flowing, I haue markit 
 the lang fute with this mark, — and abone 
 the heid of the fhort fute, I 
 haue put this mark v. 
 
 Kiii
 
 SONNET OF THE AVTHOVR 
 
 TO THE READER. 
 
 S En for zourfaik I wryte njpon zoiir airt, 
 Apollo, Pan, and ze 6 Mujis nyne. 
 And thou, 6 Mercure, for to help thy pairt 
 I do implore, fen thou be thy ingyne, 
 "Nixt efter Fan had found the quhyjtl,fyne 
 Thou did perfyte, that quhilk he hot efpyit : 
 And efter that made Argus for to tyne 
 (^quha kepit lo) all his windois by it, 
 Concurre ze Gods, it can not be denyit : 
 Sen in zour airt of Po'efie I wryte. 
 Auld birds to learne by teiching it is tryit : 
 Sic docens difcam gif ze help to dyte. 
 
 Then Reidarfie of nature thou haue pairt, 
 ^yne laikis thou nocht, bot heir to reid the airt.
 
 SONNET DECIFRING 
 
 THE PERFYTE POETE. 
 
 AN^ rype ingyne, ane quick and voalkned vvitf. 
 With fommair reafons,fuddenlie applyit^ 
 For euery purpofe vjing reafons jitt^ 
 With Jkilf nines, where learning my befpyit, 
 "With pit hie wordis^for to expres zovv by it 
 His full intention in his proper leid. 
 The puritie quhairof, vveill hes he try it : 
 "With ?ne?norie to keip quhat he dois reidj 
 'Withjkilfidnes and figuring quhilks proceid 
 From Rhetorique, with euerlajiing fame. 
 With vthers woundring, preajjlng with allfpeid 
 For to atteine to meritefic a name. 
 All thir into the perfyte Poete be. 
 Goddis, grant I may obteine the Laurell trie* 
 
 klllj
 
 THE REVLIS AND CAV- 
 TELIS TO BE OBSERVIT 
 
 and efchewit in Scottis 
 
 Poefie. 
 
 CAR I. 
 
 IRST, ze fall keip iuft cullouris, 
 'quhairof the cautelis are thir. 
 
 That ze ryme nocht twyfe in 
 ane fyllabe. As for exemple, that 
 ^ze make not proue and reproue lyme 
 together, nor houe for houeing on 
 *^^ hors bak, and behoue. 
 That ze ryme ay to the hinmeft lang fyllabe, (with 
 accent) in the lyne, fuppofe it be not the hinmeft fyl- 
 labe in the lyne, as bakbyte zovv, & out Jlyte zovv. It 
 rymes in byte & Jlyte, becaufe of the lenth of the fyl- 
 labe, & accent being there, and not in zovv, howbeit 
 it be the hinmeft fyllabe of ather of the lynis. Or 
 quejiion and digejiion. It rymes in ques & ges, albeit 
 they be bot the antepenult fyllabis, and vther twa be- 
 hind ilkane of thame. 
 
 Ze aucht alwayis to note. That as in thir foirfaidis, 
 or the lyke wordis, it rymes in the hinmeft lang fyllabe 
 in the lyne, althoucht there be vther (hort fyllabis be- 
 hind it, Sa is the hinmeft fyllabe the hinmeft fute, fup- 
 pofe there be vther ftiort fyllabis behind it, quhilkis are 
 eatin vp in the pronounceing, and na wayis comptit as 
 fete.
 
 REVLIS AND CAVTELIS 
 
 Ze man be war likewayis (except neceffitie compel! 
 yow) with 'R.ym'mg i?i Tenjiis, quhilk is to fay, that your 
 firft or hinmeft word in the lyne, exceid not twa or thre 
 fyllabis at the maift, vfing thrie als feindill as ye can. 
 The caufe quhairfore ze fall not place a lang word firft 
 in the lyne, is, that all lang words hes ane fyllabe in 
 them fa verie lang, as the lenth thairof eatis vp in the 
 pronouncing euin the vther fyllabes, quhilks are placit 
 lang in the fame word, and thairfore fpiliis the flowing 
 of that lyne. As for excple, in this word, Arabia, the 
 fecound fyllabe (r^) is fa lang, that it eatis vp in the 
 pronouncing [^]] quhilk is the hinmeft fyllabe of the 
 fame word. Quhilk [<^] althocht it be in a lang place, 
 zit it kythis not fa, becaufe of the great lenth of the 
 preceding fyllabe (r^?). As to the caufe quhy ze fall 
 not put a lang word hinmeft in the lyne. It is, becaufe, 
 that the lenth of the fecound fyllabe (r^) eating vp the 
 lenth of the vther lang fyllabe, [^] makis it to ferue 
 bot as a tayle to it, together with the (hort fyllabe pre- 
 ceding. And becaufe this tayle nather feruis for cul- 
 lour nor fute, as I fpak before, it man be thairfore re- 
 petit in the nixt lyne ryming vnto it, as it is fet doune 
 in the firft : quhilk makis, that ze will fcarcely get 
 many wordis to ryme vnto it, zea, nane at all will ze 
 finde to ryme to findrie vther langer wordis. Thair- 
 fore cheifly be warre of in ferting fic lang wordis hin- 
 meft in the lyne, for the caufe quhilk I laft allegit. Be- 
 fydes that nather firft nor laft in the lyne, it keipis na 
 Flowing. The reulis and cautelis quhairof are thir, 
 as foUowis. 
 
 CHAP.
 
 OF SCOTTIS POESIE. 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 FIRST, ze man vnderftad that all fyllabis are deuy- 
 dit in thrie kindes ; That is, fome fchort, fome 
 lang, and fome indifferent. Be indifferent I mcane, 
 thay quhilk are ather lang or fhort, according as ze 
 place thame. 
 
 The forme of placeing fyllabes in verfe, is this. That 
 zour firft fyllabe in the lyne be fhort, the fecond lang, 
 the thrid fhort, the fourt lang, the fyft fhort, the fixt 
 lang, and fa furth to the end of the lyne. Alwayis tak 
 heid, that the nomber of zour fete in euery lyne be 
 euin, & nocht odde : as four, fix, aucht, or ten : & 
 nocht thrie, fyue, feuin, or nyne, except it be in bro- 
 ken verfe, quhilkis are out of reul and dayhe inuentit 
 be dyuers Poetis, But gif ze wald afk me the reulis, 
 quhairby to knaw euery ane of thir thre foirfaidis kyndis 
 of fyllabes, I anfwer, Zour eare man be the onely 
 iudge and difcerner thairof. And to proue this, I re- 
 mit to the iudgement of the fame, quhilk of thir twa 
 lynis following flowis beft. 
 
 V — V — V — V V 
 
 Into the Sea then Lucifer vpfprang. 
 
 V V V V V 
 
 In the Sea then Lucifer to vpfprang. 
 I doubt not bot zour eare makkis zou eafilie to per- 
 faue, that the firfl lyne flowis well, & the vther nathing 
 at all. The reafoun is, becaufe the firfl lyne keips the 
 reule abone written, to wit, the firfl fute fhort, the 
 fecound lang, and fa furth, as I fhewe before : quhair 
 as the vther is dired contrair to the fame. Bot fpe^ 
 
 L ij
 
 REVLIS AND CAVTELIS 
 
 cially tak held, quhen zour lyne is of fourtene, that 
 your SeSlioun in aucht be a lang monofyllabe, or eilis 
 the hinmefl fyllabe of a word alwais being lang, as I 
 faid before. The caufe quhy it ma be ane of thir twa, 
 is, for the Mufique, becaufe that quhen zour lyne is 
 ather of xiiij or xij fete, it wilbe drawin fa lang in the 
 finging, as ze man reft in the middes of it, quhilk is 
 the Sectioun : fa as, gif zour Sectioim be nocht ather a 
 monofyllabe, or ellis the hinmeft fyllabe of a word, as 
 I faid before, bot the firft fyllabe of a polyfyllabe, the 
 Mufique fall make zow fa to reft in the middes of that 
 word, as it fall cut the ane half of the word fra the 
 vther, and fa fall mak it feme twa different wordis, that 
 is bot ane. This aucht onely to be obferuit in thir foir- 
 faid lang lynis : for the ftiortnes of all fliorter lynis, 
 then thir before mentionat, is the caufe, that the Mu- 
 fique makis na reft in the middes of thame, and thair- 
 fore thir obferuationis feruis nocht for thame. Onely 
 tak heid, that the Se^ioun in thame kythe fomething 
 langer nor any vther feit in that lyne, except the fe- 
 cound and the laft, as I haue faid before. 
 
 Ze man tak heid lykewayis, that zour langeft lynis 
 exceid nocht fourtene fete, and that zour fhorteft be 
 nocht within foure. 
 
 Remember alfo to mak a Sedioun in the middes of 
 euery lyne, quhether the lyne be lang or ftiort. Be S^- 
 dioun I meane, that gif zour lyne be of fourtene fete, 
 zour aucht fute, mannot only be langer then the feuint, 
 or vther fhort fete, bot alfo langer nor any vther lang 
 
 fete
 
 OF SCOTTIS POESIE. 
 
 fete in the fame lyne, except the fecound and the hin- 
 meft. Or gif your lyne be of twelf fete, zour Sedioun 
 to be in the fext. Or gif of ten, zour ^edioun to be 
 in the fext alfo. 
 
 The caufe quhy it is not in fyue, is, becaufe fyue is 
 odde, and euerie odde fute is ihort. Or gif zour lyne 
 be of aucht fete, your Sedioun to be in the fourt. Gif 
 of fex, in the fourt alfo. Gif of four, zour Sedloun to 
 be in twa. 
 
 Ze aucht lykewife to be war with oft compofing 
 zour haill lynis of monofyllabis onely, (albeit our lan- 
 guage haue fa many, as we can nocht weill efchewe it) 
 becaufe the maift pairt of thame are indifferent, and 
 may be in fhort or lang place, as ze like. Some wordis 
 of dyuers fyllabis are lykewayis indifferent, as 
 
 Thairfore, rejiore. 
 1 ihairfore^ then. 
 
 In the firft, thairfore, (jhair) is fhort, and (Jore) is 
 lang In the vther, (tbair) is lang, & {fore) is fhort, 
 and zit baith flowis alike weill. Bot thir indifferent 
 wordis, compofit of dyuers fyllabes, are rare, fuppofe 
 in monofyllabes, comoun. The caufe then, quhy ane 
 haill lyne aucht nocht to be compofit of monofyllabes, 
 is, that they being for the maill pairt indifferent, na- 
 ther the fecound. hinmefl, nor Sectioun, will be langer 
 nor the other lang fete in the fame lyne. Thairfore 
 ze man place a word copofit of dyuers fyllabes, and 
 not indifferent, ather in the fecound, hinmefl, or S^^ 
 
 iioun, or in all thrie. 
 
 L>.. 
 "J
 
 RE.VL1S AND CAVTELIS. 
 
 Ze man alfo tak heid, that quhen thare fallis any 
 ihort fyllabis efter the lafh lang fyllabe in the lyne, 
 that ze repeit thame in the lyne quhilk rymis to the 
 vther, evin as ze fet them downe in the firft lyne : as 
 for exempill, ze man not fay 
 
 Bot 
 
 Then feir nocht 
 "Nor heir ocht* 
 
 Then feir nocht 
 Nor heir nocht. 
 
 Repeting the fame, nocht, in baith the lynis : becaufe 
 this fyllabe, nocht, nather feruing for cuUour nor fute, 
 is bot a tayle to the lang fute preceding, and thairfore 
 is repetit lykewayis in the nixt lyne, quhilk rymes vn- 
 to it, euin as it fet doun in the firft. 
 
 There is alfo a kynde of indifferent wordis, afweill 
 as of fyllabis, albeit few in nomber. The nature 
 quhairof is, that gif ze place them in the begynning 
 of a lyne, they are fhorter be a fute, nor they are, gif 
 ze place thame hinmeft in the lyne, as 
 
 Sen patience I man haue perforce. 
 I Hue in hope with patience. 
 
 Ze fe there are but aucht fete in ather of baith thir 
 lynis aboue written. The caufe quhairof is, that, pa- 
 tience, in the firft lyne, in refpect it is in the beginning 
 thairof, is bot of twa fete, and in the laft lyne, of thrie, 
 
 in
 
 OF SCOTTIS POESIE. 
 
 in refped it is the hinmeft word of that iyne. Toknaw 
 & difcerne thir kynde of wordis fra vtheris, zour eare 
 man be the onely iudge, as of all the vther parts of 
 Flowing, the verie twicheflane quhairof is Mufique. 
 
 I haue teachit zow now fhortlie the reulis of Ry??iing 
 Fete, and Flowing. There reftis zet to teache zow the 
 wordis, fentences, and phrafis neceffair for a Poete to 
 vfe in his verfe, quhilk I haue fet doun in reulis, as 
 efter folio wis. 
 
 CHJP, III. 
 
 Flrft that in quhatfumeuer ze put in verfe, ze put in 
 na wordis, ather ?netri caufa, or zit, for filling furth 
 the nomber of the fete, bot that they be all fa necef- 
 fare, as ze fould be conftrained to vfe thame, in cace ze 
 wer fpeiking the fame purpofe in profe. And thair- 
 fore that zour wordis appeare to haue cum out willing- 
 ly, and by nature, and not to haue bene thrawin out 
 conftrainedly, by compulfioun. 
 
 That ze efchew to infert in zour verfe, a lang rable 
 of mennis names, or names of tounis, or fik vther names, 
 Becaufe it is hard to mak many lang names all placit 
 together, to flow weill, Thairfore quhen that fallis 
 out in zour purpofe, ze fall ather put bot twa or thrie 
 of thame in euerie Iyne, mixing vther wordis amang 
 thame, or ellis fpecifie bot twa or thrie of thame at all, 
 faying (VVith the laif of that race) or (VVith the rest in 
 thay pairtis,) or fic vther lyke wordis : as for exemple.
 
 REVLIS AND CAVTELIS 
 
 Out through his cairt^ quhair Eous was eik 
 With other thre, quhilk Phaeton had dravvi?\^-^ 
 
 Ze fie there is bot ane name there fpecifeit, tOff -^ 
 for vther thrie of that forte. 
 
 Ze man alfo take heid to frame zour wordis and fen- 
 tencis according to the mater : As in Flyting and In- 
 ue6tiues, zour wordis to be cuttit fhort, and hurland 
 ouer heuch. For thais quhilkis are cuttit fhort, I meane 
 be fic wordis are thir, 
 
 //; neir cair 
 for 
 
 I fail neuer cair, gif zour fubiedl 
 were of loue or tragedies. Becaufe in thame zour 
 words man be drawin lang, quhilkis in Flyting man 
 be fhort. 
 
 Ze man lykewayis tak heid, that ze waill zour wor- 
 dis according to the purpofe : As in ane heich and 
 iearnit purpofe, to vfe heich, pithie, and learnit wordis. 
 
 Gif zour purpofe be of loue. To vfe commoun lan- 
 guage, with fome paffionate wordis. 
 
 Gif zour purpofe be of tragicall materis, To ufe la- 
 mentable wordisj with fome heich, as rauilhit in admi- 
 ratioun, 
 
 Gif zour purpofe be of landwart eifairis, To vfe cor- 
 ruptit, and vplandis wordis. 
 
 And finally, quhatfumeuer be zour fubied, to vfe 
 vocabula artis, quhairby ze may the mair viuelie re- 
 prefent that perfoun quhais pairt ze paint out. 
 
 This is likewayis neidfull to be vfit in fentences, als 
 
 Weill
 
 OF SCOTTIS POESIE. 
 
 Weill as in wordis. As gif zour fubiect be heich and 
 le "nit, to vfe learnit and infallible reafonis, prouin be 
 rv^' Tities. 
 
 Gif zour fubiecl be of loue, To vfe wilfuU reafonis, 
 proceeding rather from paffioun, nor reafoun. 
 
 Gif zour fubiecl be of landwart effaris. To vfe fklen- 
 der reafonis, mixt with grolfe ignorance, nather keip- 
 ing forme nor order. And fa furth, euer framing zour 
 reafonis, according to the qualitie of zour fubieft. 
 
 Let all zour verfe be hiterall, fa far as may be, 
 quhatfumeuer kynde they be of, bot fpeciallie Tn?iibling 
 verfe for flyting. By Literall I meane, that the maift 
 pairt of zour lyne, fall rynne vpon a letter, as this 
 tumbling lyne rynnis vpon F. 
 
 Fetching fude for tofeid it faji furth of the Farie. 
 
 Ze man obferue that this Tumbling verfe flowis not 
 on that faflbun, as vtheris dois. For all vtheris keipis 
 the reule quhilk I gaue before. To wit, the firfl fute 
 Ihort the fecound lang, and fa furth. Quhair as thir 
 has twa fhort, and and ane lang throuch all the lyne, 
 quhen they keip ordour : albeit the maift pairt of 
 thame be out of ordour, & keipis na kynde nor 
 reule of Flowing, & for that caufe are callit Tu?n- 
 bling verfe : except the fhort lynis of aucht in the hin- 
 der end of the verfe, the quhilk flowis as vther verfes 
 dois, as ze will find in the hinder end of this buke, 
 quhair I giue exemple of fmdrie kyndis of verfis. 
 
 M
 
 REVLIS AND CAVTELIS. 
 
 CHAP. IIIL 
 
 MARK alfo thrie fpeciall ornamentis to verfe, 
 quhilkis are, Comparifons, Epithetis, and Vro- 
 uerbis. 
 As for Co?nparifons , take heid that they be fa proper 
 for the fubieft, that nather they be ouer bas, gif zour 
 fubieO: be heich, for then fould zour fubieft disgrace 
 zour Q.o?npanfouu, nather zour Qo?nparifoim be heich 
 quhen zour fubieft is baffe, for then fall zour Co?npa- 
 rifoun difgrace zour fubieO:. Bot let fic a mutuall 
 correfpondence and fimilitude be betwix the, as it may 
 appeare to be a meit Qomparifoim for fic a fubied, and 
 fa fall they ilkane decore vther. 
 
 As for Epithetis, It is to defryue brieflie, en pajjant, 
 the naturall of euerie thing ze fpeik of, by adding the 
 proper adiediue vnto it, quhairof thair are twa fafions. 
 The ane is, to defcryue it, be making a corruptit worde, 
 compofit of twa dyuers fimple wordis, as 
 
 Apollo gydeSunne 
 
 The vther faflbn, is, be Circumlocution, as 
 
 Apollo reular of the Sunne, 
 
 I efteme this laft faflbun beft, becaufeit expreflis the 
 authouris meaning als weill as the vther, and zit makis 
 na corruptit wordis, as the vther dois, 
 
 A
 
 OF SCOTTIS POESIE. 
 
 As for the Pr oner bis, they man be proper for the 
 fubieft, to beautifie it, chofen in the fame forme as the 
 Qomparlfoun. 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 IT is alfo meit, for the better decoratioun of the verfe 
 to vfe fumtyme the figure of Repetitioun, as 
 
 Ouhylis toy rang, 
 
 Ouhylis my rang, Is'c. 
 
 ^ Ze fie the word quhylis is repetit heir. This forme 
 of repetitioun fometyme vfit, decoris the verfe very 
 mekle : zea quhen it cumis to purpofe, it will be cum- 
 ly to repete fic a word aucht or nyne tymes in a verfe. 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 ZE man alfo be warre with compofing ony thing 
 in the fame maner, as hes bene ower oft vfit of be- 
 fore. As in fpeciall, gif ze fpeik of loue, be warre ze 
 defcryue zour 'Loues makdome, or her fairnes. And 
 ficlyke that ze defcryue not the morning, and ryling 
 of the Sunne, in the Preface of zour verfe : for thir 
 thingis are fa oft and dyuerflie written vpon be Poetis 
 already, that gif ze do the lyke, it will appeare, ze bot 
 imitate, and that it cummis not of zour awin Inuen- 
 tioun, quhilk is ane of the cheif properties of ane Poete. 
 
 M. ij.
 
 REVLIS AND CAVTELIS 
 
 Thairfore gif zour fubie^l be to prayfe zour Loue, ze 
 fall rather prayfe her vther qualiteis, nor her fairnes, 
 nor hir fhaip : or ellis ze fall fpeik fome lytill thing of 
 it, and fyne fay, that zour wittis are fa fmal, and zour 
 vtterace fo barren, that ze can not defcryue any part 
 of hir worthilie: remitting alwayis to the Reider, to 
 iudge of hir, in refped fho matches, or rather excellis 
 Venus, or any woman quhome to it fall pleafe zow to 
 compaire her. Bot gif zour fubieft be fic, as ze man 
 speik fome thing of the morning, or Sunne ryfmg, tak 
 heid, that quhat name ze giue to the Sunne, the Mone, 
 or vther ftarris, the ane ane, gif ze happin to wryte 
 thairof another tyme, to change thair names. As gif 
 ze call the Sunne Titan, at a tyme, to call hiuiFbcebiis 
 or Apollo the vther tyme, and ficlyke the Mone, and 
 vther Planettis. 
 
 CHAP. VII. 
 
 OT fen Imiention, is ane of the cheif vertewis in a 
 'Poete, it is beft that ze inuent zour awin fubied, 
 zour felf, and not to compofe of fene fubiedis. E- 
 fpecially, translating any thing out of vther language, 
 quhilk doing, ze not only elTay not zour awin ingyne 
 of Inuentioun, bot be the fame meanes, ze are bound, 
 as to a ftaik, to follow that buikis phrafis, quhilk ze 
 tranflate. 
 
 Ze man alfo be war of wryting any thing of materis 
 of comoun weill, or vther fic graue fene fubiedis (ex- 
 cept
 
 OF SCOTTIS POESIE. 
 
 cept Metaphorically, of manifeft treuth opinly knawin, 
 zit nochtvvithflanding vfmg it very feindit) becaufe 
 nocht onely ze elTay nocht zour awin huentioun, as I 
 fpak before, hot lykewayis they are to graue materis, 
 for a Poet to mell in. Bot becaufe ze can not haue 
 the Inuentioun except it come of Nature, I remit it 
 thairvnto as the cheife caufe, not onely of Inuentioun 
 bot alfo of all the vther pairtis of Poefie. For airt is 
 one^.y bot ane help and a remembraunce to Nature, as 
 I fhew zow in the Preface. 
 
 5 
 
 F 
 
 CHAP. VIII. tuiching the kyndis of verfis, 
 mentionat in the Preface. 
 
 Irft there is ryme quhilk Jeruis onely for lang hif- 
 tories, and zit are nocht verfe. As for exemple> 
 
 In Mall when that the blijfefull Phabus bricht. 
 The lampe of toy, the heauens gemme of lichty 
 The goldin cairt, and the etheriall king. 
 With piirpour face in Orient dois fpring, 
 Maiji angel-lyke afcending in his fphere. 
 And birds with all their heauenlie voces clears 
 Dois mak afweit and heauinly harmony , 
 And fragrant flours dois fpring vp lujiely : 
 Into this feafon fweiteji of delyte. 
 To walk I had a lujiy appetyte. 
 And fa furth. 
 
 Miij •
 
 REVLIS AND CAVTELIS 
 
 5r For the defcriptioun of Heroique aftis, Martlall and 
 knichtly faittis of armes, vfe this kynde of verfe follow- 
 ing, callit Heroicall, As 
 
 Meik mundane mirrour^ mjrrie and modeji, 
 
 Blyth, kynde, and courtes, comelie^ dene, and cheji^ 
 
 To all exemple for thy honejiie. 
 
 As richeji rofe, or ruble, by the reji. 
 
 With gracis graiie, and gesture maijl dlgejl. 
 
 Ay to thy honnour alwayis hauing eye, 
 
 "V^ere fajfouns jleimde, they micht be found in the i 
 
 Of blijjitigs all, be hlyth, thovv hes the beji, 
 
 'With euerie berna belouit for to be, 
 
 ^ For any heich & graue fubieftis, fpecially drawin out 
 of learnit authouris, vfe this kynde of verfe following, 
 callit ^allat Royal, as 
 
 That nicht he ceijl, and went to bed, bot greind 
 Zit faji for day, and thocht the nicht to lang : 
 At lajt Diana doun her head recleind. 
 Into thefea. Then Lucifer vpfprang, 
 Auroras pofi, vvhome fho did fend amang 
 The Jeittie cludds,for to foretell ane hour, 
 'Before fho fiay her tears, quhilk Ouide fang 
 Tell for her hue, quhilk turnit in a flour, 
 
 If For tragical! materis, complaintis, or teftamentis vfe 
 
 this
 
 OF SCOTTIS rOESIE, 
 
 this kynde of verfe following, callit Troilus verfe, as 
 
 To thee Echo, and thovv to me agane. 
 In the defert, amangs the vvods and wells, 
 Quhair dejiinie hes bound the to remane, 
 ^ut companie, within the firths and fells. 
 Let vs complain, with wofull zoutts and zells, 
 A Jhaft, a jhotter, that our harts hesjlane : 
 To thee Echo, and thow to me agane, 
 
 ^ For fly ting, or Invectiues, vfe this kinde of verfe fol- 
 lowing, callit R.ouncefallis or Tumbling verfe. 
 
 In the hinder end of haruest vpon Ath allow ene, 
 Quhen our gude nichtbors rydis (nou gif I reid richt) 
 Some bucklit on a benwod, ^ fome on a bene. 
 Ay troltand into troupes fra the twylicht : 
 So?ne fadland a Jho ape, all grathed into grene : 
 So?ne hotcheand on a hempfialk, hovand on a heicht* 
 The king of Fary with the Court of the Elf quene. 
 With 7nany elrage Incubus rydand that nicht : 
 There ane elf on ane ape ane vnfell begat : 
 ^efyde a pot baith auld and worne. 
 This bratshard in ane bus was borne, ' 
 They f and a monfier on the morne, 
 VVarfacit nor a Cat, 
 
 ^ For compendious prayfing of any bukes, or the au- 
 thouris thairof, or ony argumentis of vther hifloreis, 
 quhair findrie fentences, and change of purpofis are re- 
 
 Miiij
 
 REVLIS AND CAVTELIS 
 
 quyrit, vfe Sonet verfe, of fourtene lynis, and ten fete 
 in euery lyne. The exemple quhairof, I neid nocht 
 to fhaw zow, in refpeft I haue let doun twa in the be- 
 ginning of this treatife. 
 
 ^ In materis of loue, vfe this kynde of verfe, quhilk 
 we call Co?nmoun verfe, as 
 
 Quhais anfvver made thmne nocht fa glaid 
 That they fould thus the vidors be. 
 As euen the anfvver quhilk I haid 
 Did greatly toy and comfort me : 
 Quhen lo, this fpak Apollo myne. 
 All that thoufeikis, it fall he thyne, 
 
 ^- Lyke verfe of ten fete, as this foirfaid is of aucht, 
 ze may vfe lykewayis in loue materis : as alfo all kyndis 
 of cuttit and brokin verfe, quhairof nev/ formes are 
 daylie inuentit according to the Poetis pleafour, as 
 
 Quha vvald haue tyrde to heir that tone, 
 Quhilk birds corroborat ay abone 
 
 Throuch fhouting of the Larkis ? 
 They fprangfa heich into thefhyes 
 Quhill Cupide vvalknis with the cryis 
 
 Of Naturis chapell Clarkis. 
 Then leauing all the Heauins aboue 
 
 He lichted on the eard, 
 
 Lo\
 
 OF SCOTTIS POESIE, 
 
 Lo ! how that lytill God of hue 
 "before me then oppeard, 
 
 AZ%id.lyke ^^'^^ ^''''^ ^^''' quarters Jkant 
 
 A ^ J ,. He luckit lyke a Sanf, 
 And coy he ■' 
 
 And fa furth. 
 
 ^ This onely kynde of brokin verfe abone written, 
 
 man of neceflitie, in thir lafl fhort fete, as fo moylie and 
 
 coylie^ haue bot twa fete and a tayle to ilkane of thame, 
 
 as ze fie, to gar the cullour and ryme be in the penult 
 
 fyllabe. 
 
 ^ Any of thir foirfaidis kyndes of ballat is of haill 
 
 verfe, and not cuttit or brokin as this laft is, gif ze 
 
 lyke to put ane owerword to ony of thame, as making 
 
 the laft lyne of the firft verfe, to be the laft lyne of 
 
 euerie vther verfe in that ballat, will fet weill for loue 
 
 materis. 
 
 Botbefydis thir kyndes of brokin or cuttit verfe, quhilks 
 
 are inuentit daylie be Poetis, as I ftiewe before, there 
 
 are fmdrie kyndes of haill verfe, with all thair lynis 
 
 alyke lang, quhilk I haue heir omittit, and tane 
 
 bot onelie thir few kyndes abone fpecifeit 
 
 as the beft, quhilk may be ap- 
 
 plyit to ony kynde of 
 
 fubied, 
 
 bot rather to thir, quhairof I 
 
 haue fpokin before. 
 
 •Jff <^ 7^ 
 
 * N
 
 THE CIIII. PSALME, 
 
 TRANSLATED OVT OF 
 TREMELLIVS.
 
 PSALME CIIII. 
 
 OLord infpyre my fpreit and pen, to praife 
 Thy Name, whofe greatnes far furpaffis all : 
 That fyne, I may thy gloir and honour blaife. 
 Which cleithis the ouer : about the lyke a wall 
 The light remainis. O thow, whofe charge and call. 
 Made Heauens lyke courtenis for to fpred abreid. 
 Who bowed the waters fo, as ferve they fhall 
 For criftall fyilring ouer thy houfe to gleid. 
 
 Who walks vpon the wings of reftles winde, 
 Who of the clouds his chariot made, euen he. 
 Who in his prefent ftill the fpreits doeth find. 
 Ay ready to fulfill ilk iufl decrie 
 Of his, whofe feruants fyre and flammis they be. 
 Who fet the earth on her foundations fure. 
 So as her brangling none Ihall euer fee : 
 Who at thy charge the deip vpon her bure. 
 
 So, as the very tops of mountains hie 
 Be fluidis were onis ouerflowed at thy command, 
 Ay whill thy thundring voice fone made them flie 
 Ower hiddeous hills and howes, till noght but fand 
 Was left behind, fyne with thy mightie hand 
 Thow limits made vnto the roring deip. 
 So Ihall Ihe neuer droun againe the land. 
 But brek her wawes on rockis, her mairch to keip. 
 
 N. iij.
 
 PSALME CIIII. 
 
 Thir are thy workis, who maid the ftrands to breid, 
 Syne rinn among the hills from fountains cleir, 
 Whairto wyld Afles oft dois rinn with fpeid, 
 With vther beads to drinke. Hard by we heir 
 The chirping birds among the leaues, with beir 
 To fmg, whii all the rocks about rebounde. 
 A woundrous worke, that thow, 6 Father deir, 
 Maks throtts fo fmall yeild furth fo great a found ! 
 
 O thow who from thy palace oft letts fall 
 TFor to refrefh the hiiis) thy blelTed raine : 
 Who with thy works mainteins the earth and all : 
 Who maks to grow the herbs and grafs to gaine. 
 The herbs for foode to man, grafs dois remaine 
 For food to horfe, and cattell of all kynde. 
 Thow caufeft them not pull at it in vaine. 
 But be thair foode. fuch is thy will and mynde. 
 
 Who dois reioyfe the harts of man with wyne. 
 And who with oyle his face maks cleir and bright. 
 And who with foode his ftomack flrengthnes fyne' 
 who nurilhes the very treis aright. 
 The Cedars evin of hiban tale and wight 
 He planted hath, where birds do bigg their neft. 
 He made the Firr trees of a woundrous hight. 
 Where Storks dois mak thair dwelling place, & reft. 
 
 Thow
 
 PSALME CIIII. 
 
 Thow made the barren hills, wylde goats refuge. 
 Thow maid the rocks, a refidence and rejfl 
 For Alpin ratts, where they doe line and ludge. 
 Thow maid the Moone, her courfe, as thou thoght beft, 
 Thow maid the Sun7ie in tyme go to, that left 
 He ftill fould fhyne, then night fould neuer come. 
 But thow in ordour all things hes fo dreft, 
 Some beafts for day, for night are alfo fome. 
 
 For Lyons young at night beginnis to raire, 
 And from their denns to craue of God fome pray : 
 Then in the morning, gone is all their caire. 
 And homeward to their caues rinnis faft, fra day 
 Beginne to kythe, the Sunne dois fo them fray. 
 Then man gois furth, fra tyme the Sunne dois ryfe,- 
 And whill the euening he remanis away 
 At lefume labour, where his liuing lyes. 
 
 How large and mightie are thy workis, 6 Lord / 
 And with what wifedome are they wrought, but faile=, 
 The earths great fulnes, of thy gifts recorde 
 Dois beare : Heir of the Seas (which dyuers Ikaile 
 Of fifh contenis) dois witnes beare : Ilk faile 
 Of dyuers fhips vpon the fwolling wawes 
 Dois teftifie, as dois the monftrous whalle. 
 Who fray is all fifties with his ravening Jawes, 
 
 N iiij
 
 PSALME CIIII. 
 
 All thir (6 Lord) yea all this woundrous heape 
 Of liuing things, in feafon craues their fill 
 Of foode from thee. Thow giuing, Lord, they reape : 
 Thy open hand with gude things fills them ftill 
 When fo thow lift : but contrar, when thow will 
 Withdraw thy face, then are they troubled fair, 
 Their breath by thee receavd, fone dois them kill : 
 Syne they returne into their alhes bair. 
 
 But notwithftanding, Father deare, in cace 
 
 Thow breath on them againe, then they reviue. 
 
 In Ihort, thow dois, 6 Lord, renewe the face 
 
 Of all the earth, and all that in it hue. 
 
 Therefore immortall praife to him we giue : 
 
 Let him reioyfe into his works he maid, 
 
 Whofe looke and touche, fo hills and earth dois greiue. 
 
 As earth dois tremble, mountainis reikis, afraid. 
 
 To Jehoua I all my lyfe fhall fmg. 
 To found his Name I euer ftill iliall cair : 
 It fhall be fweit my thinking on that King : 
 In him I fliall be glaid for euer mair : 
 O let the wicked be into no whair 
 In earth. O let the finfull be deftroyde. 
 Blefle him my foule who name \ehoua bair : 
 O bleife him now with notts that are enioyde. 
 
 Hallelu-iab,
 
 ANE SCHORT POEME 
 OF TYME. 
 
 * * * 
 
 AS I was panfing in a morning, aire. 
 And could not lleip, nor nawayis take me reft, 
 Furth for to walk, the morning was fa faire, 
 Athort the feilds, it femed to me the beft. 
 The Eaji was cleare, whereby belyue I geft 
 That fyrie Titan camming was in fight, 
 Obfcuring chaft Diana by his light. 
 
 Who by his ryfing in the Azure Ikyes, 
 Did dewlie helfe all thame on earth do dwell. 
 The balmie dew through birning drouth he dryis. 
 Which made the foile to fauour fweit and fmell. 
 By dewe that on the night before downe fell, 
 Which then was foukit vp by the Delphienm heit 
 Vp in the aire : it was fo light and weit. 
 
 Whofe hie afcending in his purpour Sphere 
 Prouokit all from Morpheus to flee : 
 As beafts to feid, and birds to fmg with beir. 
 Men to their labour, biflie as the Bee : 
 Yet ydle men deuyfmg did I fee. 
 How for to dryue the tyme that did them irk. 
 By findrie paftymes, quhill that it grew mirk, 
 
 O.ii.
 
 TYME. 
 
 Then woundred I to fee them felk a wyle, 
 So willinglie the precious tyme to tyne : 
 And how they did them felfis fo farr begyle, 
 To fafhe of tyme, which of it felfe is fyne. 
 Fra tyme be paft, to call it backwart fyne 
 Is bot in vaine : therefore men fould be warr. 
 To lleuth the tyme that flees fra them fo farr. 
 
 For what hath man bot tyme into this lyfe. 
 Which giues him dayis his God aright to knaw : 
 Wherefore then fould we be at fic a ftryfe. 
 So fpedelie our felfis for to withdraw 
 Euin from the tyme, which is on nowayes flaw 
 To flie from vs, fuppofe we fled it noght ? 
 More wyfe we were, if we the tyme had foght. 
 
 Bot fen that tyme is fic a precious thing, 
 
 I wald we fould befliow it into that 
 
 Which were mofl; pleafour to our heauenly King. 
 
 Flee ydilteth, which is the greatefl lat. 
 
 Bot fen that death to all is defliinat. 
 
 Let vs imploy that tyme that God hath fend vs. 
 
 In doing weill, that good men may commend vs. 
 
 Hisc qiioq ; per/iciat, quod perficH omnia) Tetnpus, 
 
 FINIS.
 
 A TABLE OF SOME OBSCVRE 
 WORDIS WITH THEIR SIG- 
 
 nijications ^ efter the ordour of 
 the Alphabet. 
 
 
 VVordis Significations 
 
 Amnion luplter Amnion. 
 
 Aiide A village befyde Mantua 
 
 where Virgill was borne. 
 Alexandria A famous citie in Egypt 
 
 where was the notable librarie gathered by Ptolo'- 
 
 ?neus Philadelphits, 
 
 B 
 
 Bethaniens fecound lining Lazarus of Betbania, who 
 was reuiued be Chrifl, reid John ii Chap. 
 
 Castalia A well at the fute of the hill 
 
 Farnajfus* 
 
 Celano The cheif of the Harpyes, a 
 
 kynde of monllers with wingis and womens faces, 
 whom the Poets feynzies to reprefent theuis. 
 
 O iiij
 
 THE TABLE. 
 
 Cerberus The thrie headed porter 
 
 of hell. 
 
 Clmmcrien night Drevin from a kynd of peo- 
 
 ple in the Eaft, called Chnmerij, who are great theuis, 
 and dwellis in dark caues, and therefore, fleeping in 
 fmne, is called Qhnmcrien night. 
 
 Qirculer daunce The round motionis of the 
 
 Planets, and of their heauens, applyed to feuin fin- 
 drie metallis. 
 
 C//(? One of the Mufes, 
 
 Cypris The dwelling place of Ve* 
 
 nus, tearming continens pro contento. 
 
 Cyprian torche Lovis darte. 
 
 D 
 
 Delphien Songs Poemes, and verfes. draw- 
 
 en from the Oracle of Apollo at Belphos, 
 
 Dim Thre furies of hell, Ale6lo^ 
 
 Megera, and Tefiphone, 
 
 Dodon A citie of the kingdome of 
 
 Epirus, befydes the which, there was a wood and a 
 Temple therein, confecrated to Jupiter. 
 
 EleBre A metall, fowre parts gold 
 
 and fift part filuer. 
 Elife field In Latin Campi Elifij^ a loy 
 
 full place in hell, whereas the Poets feinzeis all the
 
 THE TABLE. 
 
 happle fpreits do remaine. 
 Efcidape A mediciner, after made a 
 
 god. 
 
 G 
 
 Greateji thunders Jupiter (as the Poets fein- 
 
 zeis) had two thunders, whereof he fent the great- 
 eft vpon the Gyants, who contemned him. 
 
 H 
 
 Hermes An AEgiptIa Philofopher 
 
 foone after the tyme of Moyfes, confeffed in his Dia- 
 logues one onely God to be Creator of all things, 
 and graunted the errours of his forefathers, who 
 brought in the fuperftitious worfhipping of Idoles. 
 
 Hippolyte After his mebers were 
 
 drawin in funder by fowre horfes, Efculapius at 
 ^eptuns requeft, glewed them together, and reviued 
 him. 
 
 M 
 
 Maufole tomhe One of the feauin miracles 
 
 which Artemife caufed to be builded for her huf- 
 band by Timotheus^ Briace, Scope, and fmdrie other 
 workmen, 
 
 Mein A riuer in Almanle. 
 
 Sein A riuer in Fraunce. 
 
 P
 
 THE TABLE. 
 
 The Authors meaning by thefe two riuers is, that 
 the originall of the Almanis came firfl out of FrauncCy 
 cotrarie to the vulgar opinion. 
 
 N 
 
 'Nyncvoiced mouth The nyne Miifes, whereof 
 
 Vranie was one. 
 
 Panchaia A towne in the Eaft, 
 
 wherein it is written, the VJmiiix hxxrm^ her felfe v- 
 
 pon Apollos altar. 
 Finde or P'mdus A hill confecrate to Apollo, 
 
 and the Mu/es. 
 Phxmonos A woman who pronounced 
 
 the Oracles of Apollo* 
 
 Sea?nans Jiarres The feauin ftarres. 
 
 Semek Mother of 'Bacchus, who 
 
 being deceiued by Iiino, made Jupiter come to her 
 in his leafl thunder, which neuerthelefsconfumdeher. 
 
 Gyrenes Taken heir for littill gray 
 
 birdes of Qanaria. 
 
 Thais A common harlot of Alex- 
 
 andria. 
 
 Triton
 
 The table. 
 
 Triton A monller In the fea, fhapin 
 
 like a man. 
 
 Tiirnus fifter. Named Tuturna, a goddefle 
 
 of the water, who in the fliape of her brothers wag- 
 goner led his chariot through the fields, ay till 
 Ale6lo appeared vnto them in the fhape of an How- 
 let. 
 
 V 
 
 Vranie The heauenly Mufe. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 Sonnet of the Authour, 
 
 THE facound Greke, Demojihcnes by name, 
 His toung was ones into his youth fo flow. 
 As evin that airt, which floorifli made his fame, Rheto- 
 He fcarce could name it for a tyme, ze know. '''^"^* 
 
 So of fmall feidis the Liban Cedres grow : 
 So of an Egg the Egle doeth proceid : 
 From fountains fmall great N/7//X flood doeth flow : 
 Evin fo of rawnis do mightie liflies breid. 
 Therefore, good Reader, when as thow dois reid 
 Thefe my firfl: fruidis, difpyfe them not at all. 
 Who watts, bot thefe may able be indcid 
 Of fyner Poemis the beginning fmall. 
 
 Then, rather loaue my meaning and my panis. 
 Then lak my dull ingyne and blunted branis. 
 
 FINIS.
 
 I HAVE INSERT FOR 
 
 THE FILLING OVT OF THIR 
 
 VACAND PAGEIS THE VERIE 
 
 wordis of PUnius vpon the 
 
 Phcenixf 
 
 as foUowis. 
 
 C. PLINII 
 
 N^/. H'l/i, luib, Ded?ni, Cap. 2. 
 De Phoenice, 
 
 * 
 
 AEthlopes atq j Indi, difcolores maxime & inenar- 
 rabiles ferunt aues, & ante omnes nobilem Arabia 
 Phoenice : baud fcio an fabulose, vnum in toto orbe, 
 nee vifum mag nopere. Aquilas narratur magnitudine, 
 auri fulgore circa colla, csetera purpureus, Cceruleam 
 rofeis caudam pennis diftinguentibus, criftis faciem, ca- 
 putque plumeo apice cohoneltante. Primus atque di- 
 ligentiflimus togatorum de eo prodidit Manilius, Sena- 
 tor ille, maximis nobilis dodrinis dodlore nullo : ne- 
 minem extitilTe qui viderit vefcente : facrum in Arabia 
 Soli effe, viuere annis DCLX. fenefcentem, cafia thu- 
 rifque furculis conflruere nidu, replere odoribus, & 
 fuperemori. Ex oflibus deinde h memeduUis eius na-
 
 fci prlmo ceuvermlculum : inde fieri pullum : princl- 
 pioque iufta funeri priori reddere, & totum deferre ni- 
 dum prope Panchaiam in Solis vrbem, & in ara ibi de- 
 ponere. Cum huius alitis vita magni conuerfionem 
 anni fieri prodit idem Manilius, iterumque fignifica- 
 tiones tempeftatum & fiderum eafdem reuerti. Hoc 
 autem circa meridiem incipere, quo die fignum Arietis 
 Sol intrauerit. Et fuifle eius conuerfionis annum pro- 
 dete fe P. Licinio, M. Cornelio Confulibus. Corne- 
 lius Valerianus Phoenicem deuolafle in AEgyptum tra- 
 dit, Q. Plautio, Sex. Papinio Coss. Allatus eft & in vr- 
 bem Claudij Principis Cenfura, anno vrbis DCCC, & 
 in comitio propofitus, quod actis teftatum eft, fed quern 
 falfum effe nemo dubitaret. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 I helped my felf alfo in my T rage die thairof with 
 
 the Fhcenix of Lactantius Finniajius^ with 
 
 Gefnerus de Auibus, ^ dyuers vthers^ 
 
 hot I haue onely infert thirfore- 
 
 faid words of Plinius^ 
 
 ^ecaufe I follow 
 
 him malft in my Tra- 
 
 gedie. 
 
 Fareweill, 
 
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