UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 IV 
 
 lojnvo 
 
 padui^s a^p ^s-ej aq^ uo ana st 310^4 
 
 AJ.ISd3AlNn 
 
 S3H3DNV SOI IV VINMOJITVO JO AJ.ISM3AINn
 
 dil ft 
 
 THE 
 
 \ftorlcalandPoeticalMedley: 
 
 O R 
 
 MUSES LIBRARY; 
 
 BEING 
 
 A Choice and Faithful Collection of the beft 
 Antient Englifh Poetry, from the Times of 
 EDWARD the ConfefTor, to the Reign of 
 Kin JAMES the Firft. 
 
 WITH 
 
 The Lives and Characters of the known Writers 
 taken from the moft Authentick Memoirs. 
 
 BEING 
 
 The moft valuable Colleftion of the Kind now 
 extant, affording Entertainment upon all Subjects 
 whatfoever. 
 /C- ^-f^fe^- 
 
 AW veniam Antiquii fed honor em & pr&miapofci. Hor. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for T. DAVIF?, in Date's Court over-againft St. Mar. 
 tirTs Church, in St. Martin^ Lane. I 7:58, [ ^
 
 To the truly feicuraafe 
 
 S O C f E f Y 
 
 FOR THE 
 
 Encouragement of Learning; 
 
 My Lords and Gentlemen, 
 
 AS the illuftrious Families of 
 the Howards^ Sidneys^ Sac- 
 villes, GrevilleSy &c. have all 
 an Intereft in, and confe- 
 quently fhould have a Refped: for the 
 Merit, and Fame of their moil eminent 
 Predeceffors ; 'tis morally impoffiblq 
 that a Work of this Nature fliou'd want 
 a Patron ; yet I chufe rather to wave 
 all private Applications, and addrefs it; 
 to you ; You have prov'd your felve s 
 ally'd to the Genius of thofe great 
 A 2 -Perfons; 
 
 S2C190
 
 Perfons ; their Defendants may be on- 
 ly Heirs: tot' t&Hti Cities ; and as you 
 onl^.ha^.fi^ildefc^icledto attempt the 
 making a Provifion for the living 
 Learned, I may the more reafonably 
 hope for your Afliftance to preferve 
 the Memories of the Dead. 
 
 Perhaps, there are but few fingle 
 Names important enough to appear at 
 the Head of fo Elegant a Lift; and 
 if, for want of Judgment, I (hould 
 make a wrong Choke, the Abfurdity 
 would be too flagrant to be forgiven. 
 But by infcribing it to you, I run no 
 fuch Danger : The fevereft Critick in 
 Manners muft allow 'tis addrefs'd with 
 the greateft Propriety imaginable. 
 
 To patromfe a Series of Englijh Poe- 
 try^ is, I prefume, a Part of your 
 Scheme ; for the Eftablifhment of an 
 Author's Fame, may be faid to be the
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 moft effectual Provifion for his For- 
 tune, and, as I have more at large, ob- 
 ferv'd in the Preface, what is attempt- 
 ed here in Favour of former Ages, may, 
 by your Patronage, be made a Benefit 
 to the Prefent, and reach to all Pofte- 
 rity. 
 
 But, befide the Obligations of De- 
 corum, I feel my felf bound in Gra- 
 titude, as an Author, tho' of the 
 Jbumbleft Clafs, thus publickly to ex- 
 prefs my Senfibility of the Concern 
 you have {hewn for the Intereft of 
 Learning: Tho' I my felf may have 
 no Title to any Share of the Advan- 
 tage. 'Tis a great, feafonable, and 
 humane Defign, and all who have Ge- 
 nerofity, Benevolence, or Politenefs, 
 
 muft applaud it. It has a far more 
 
 illuftrious Origin than the Grand 
 
 Academy-Royal at Paris, and, I hope, 
 
 the Effedts will be anfwerable; to 
 
 A 3 the
 
 DEDICATION. 
 
 the Increafe of your own Honour, the 
 Improvement of Science, and Service 
 of the Nation in General. 
 
 I am, with the greateft Zeal, and 
 Devotion, 
 
 My Lords and Gentlemen, 
 
 Tour moft Obedient^ 
 
 Humble Servant^ 
 
 E. COOPER. 
 
 THE
 
 THE 
 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 WE are all apt to make our own O- 
 pinions, the Standard of Excellency? 
 and I muft plead guilty to my Share 
 <f this general Weaknefs : What 
 has given me Pkafure in my Clofet^ 
 J have undertaken to recommend to the Publick -, not 
 prefuming to inform the Judgment l , but only awaken the 
 Attention \ and rather endeavouring to preferve what 
 is valuable of others^ than advance any thing of my 
 town. The mere Hint of a good-natured, and not un- 
 
 ufeful Dejtgn, is all the Merit I can pretend to. 
 
 *Tis true I attempt to clear the Ground, and lay in 
 the Materials, but leave the Building to .be raifd, 
 and finiflfd by more majlerly Hands. 
 
 What is faid of the Nightengle's Jinging with her 
 Breaft againft a Thorn^ may be juftly applfd to the 
 Poets. Their Harmony gives Pleafure to Others^ but 
 is composed with Pain to Themfelves : And what is not 
 to gratify a real Want^ or fajhionable Luxury, Few care 
 to purchafe : Thus Poetry has been, almofl univerfally, 
 and its Authors have facrijic'd the Sub- 
 A 4 ftance
 
 viii The PREFACE. 
 
 fiance of prefent Life to the Shadow of future Famf, 
 Fame, Fame alone they have fondly fancy* d an Equi-. 
 talent for all they wanted bejide, and the World has 
 often been fo malicious, or carelefs, as even to de- 
 feat them of that imaginary Good. lam told, Time 
 and Ignorance have devoured many important Names 
 which even the univerfal Languages flattered with afure 
 Immortality : )c Tis no Wonder, therefore, that Ours, 
 rude, and barbarous, as it formerly was, Jhould be 
 fo little able to defend its Authors from fuch in- 
 cro aching Enemies. Thofe, who read the enfuing 
 Volume with Attention, will be convinced that Senfe, 
 and Genius have been of longftanding in this I/land-, 
 and 'tis not fo much the Fault of our Writers, as 
 the Language it felf, that they are not read with 
 Pleafure at this Day. This, naturally, provokes an 
 Enquiry, whether *tisJin the fame Vagrant Conditi- 
 on ftill -, or whethe^he Fame of our moft admired 
 Moderns, is not almty as precarious, as that of their 
 now-obfolete Predecejfors has proved to be ; agreable 
 to that Line in the celebrated Eflay on Criticifm. 
 
 And what now Chaucer is, lhall Dryden be. 
 
 If this is the Cafe, as, according to my little Know-, 
 ledge, I think there is feme Reafon to fear, is it not 
 high Time to think of feme Expedient fo cure this Evil ; 
 and fecure the Poet in his Idol-Reputation however ? 
 I don't take upon me to fay that Learning is of as 
 much Importance here, as in France , or that wejhou'd 
 be at the Trouble, and Expence of a Publick Acade- 
 my for the Improvement of our Language -, But, if 
 
 any.
 
 Tie PREFACE. ix 
 
 any flight Effay can be made towards it, which, at 
 a fmall Expence, may make a Jhift to fupply that Da* 
 fett, till a better Scheme Jhall be found, 'tis humbly 
 hop'd that a moderate Encouragement will not be 
 wanting. 
 
 Such, to the left of my -poor Ability, is now prc- 
 fented to the Publick, a Sort of Poetical Chronicle : 
 which begins with the firft Dawning of polite Litera- 
 ture in England, and is propofd to be continued to 
 the higheft Perfection, it has hitherto attain* d; That, 
 in Spite of Difficulties, and Difcouragements, it may 
 be hardly poffible for us to recede into our firft Bar- 
 barifm \ or again lofe fight of the true Point of Excel- 
 lence, which Poetry, beyond all other Sciences, makes 
 its peculiar Glory to aim at. 
 
 Of what real Value polite Literature is to a Na- 
 tion, is toofublime a Tajk for me to meddle with -, I 
 therefore chufe to refer my Readers to their own Ex- 
 perience, and the admirable Writings of Sir Philip 
 Sidney, Lord Bacon, Lord Shaftsbury, and innume- 
 able other elegant Authors ; the joint Sentiment of all 
 the refin'd Spirits that ever had a Being, and the 
 following excellent Rapture, in particular, of the in- 
 genious Mr. Daniel, in his Poem called Mufophilus. 
 
 PErhaps the Words, thou (corned now, 
 May liue, the fpeaking Picture of the Mind, 
 The Extract of the Soul, that labour'd, how 
 To leaue the Image of herfelf behind ; 
 Wherein Pofterity, that loue to know, 
 The iuft Proportion of our Spirits may find. 
 
 For
 
 x fit P R E F A C E. 
 
 For thefe Lines are the Veins, the Arteries, 
 And vndecaying Life-Strings of thofe Hearts 
 That ftill fhall pant, and ftill mall exercife 
 The Motion, Spirit and Nature both imparts, 
 And fhall, with thofe aliue fo fympathize, 
 As, nouriiht with their Powers, intoy their parts. 
 
 O blefled Letters, that combine in One 
 All Ages paft, and make One Hue with All : 
 By you, we doe conferr with who are gone, 
 And the Dead-Liuing vnto Council call : 
 By you, th* Vnborne mail have Communion 
 Of what we feel, and what doth vs befall. 
 
 Soul of the World ! Knowledge! without thee, 
 What hath the Earth, that truly glorious is ? 
 Why mould our Pride make fuch a Stir to be, 
 To be forgot ? What good is like to this, 
 To doe worthy the Writing, and to write 
 Worthy the Reading, and the World's Delight ? 
 
 An 'd afterwards^ alluding to Stone- Henge on Salis- 
 bury Plain. 
 
 And whereto ferues that wondrous Trophy now, 
 That on the goodly Plaine, near Wiltm ftands ? 
 That huge, dumb Heap, that cannot tell vs how, 
 Nor what, nor whence it is, nor with whofe Hands, 
 Nor for whofe Glory, it was fet to mew 
 How much our Pride mocks that of other Lands ? 
 
 Whereon, when as the gazing PafTenger 
 Hath greedy look't with Admiration, 
 And fain would know his Birth, and what he were, 
 
 How
 
 The P R E F A C E. xi 
 
 How there erected, and how long agone : 
 Enquires, and afks his Fellow-Traveller, 
 What he hath heard, and his Opinion : 
 
 And he knowes nothing. Then he turns again, 
 And looks, and fighs, and then admires afrefh, 
 And in himfelfe, with Sorrow, doth complain 
 The Mifery of dark Forgetfulnefs : 
 Angry with Time that nothing jfhould remain, 
 Our greateft Wonder's Wonder to exprefs ! 
 
 Bat, to wave any farther Authorities, we need only 
 look back to the Days of Langland, the firft Englifh 
 Poet we can meet with, who employed his Mufe for the 
 Refinement of Manners, and, in the Rudenefs of his 
 Lines, we plainly difcover the Rudenefs of the Age he 
 wrote in. - Chaucer, not the next Writer, tho* the 
 next extraordinary Genius, encountered the Follies of 
 Mankind, as well as their Vices, and blended the a- 
 cute/l Raillery, with the moft infinuating Humour. 
 By his Writings, it plainly appears that Poetry, and 
 Politenefs grew up together ; and had like to have been 
 burfd in his Grave ; For War, and Fattion, imme- 
 diately after reftofd Ignorance, and Dulnefs almoft to 
 their antient Authority. Writers there were -, but Taft, 
 Judgment, and Manner were loft : Their Works wert 
 cloudy as the Times they liv'd in, and, till Barclay, 
 and Skelton, there was fcarce a Hope that Knowledge 
 would ever favour us with a fecond Dawn. But 
 foon after thefe, Lord Surrey, having tafted of the 
 Italian Delicacy, naturalized it here, gave us an Idea 
 of rejirfd Gallantry, and taught Love to poli/h us into 
 
 Virtue.
 
 xil ttg P R E FAC E. 
 
 Virtue. 5*/- t > this ImpreJJion was worn off. Lord 
 Buckhurft arofe, and introduced the Charms of Allego- 
 ry, and Fable, to allure Greatnefs, into a Love of 
 Humanity -, and make Power the Servant of Juftice : 
 Spencer made a Noble Ufe of fo fine a Model, over- 
 flowing with Tendernefs, Court efy, and Benevolence ', re- 
 conciling Magnificence and Decorum, Love and Fide- 
 lity ; and, together with Fairfax, opening to us a new 
 World of Ornament, Elegance, and Tafte : After thefe 
 Lord Brook, and Sir John Davis corrected the Luxu- 
 riancy of Fable, inrictfd our Under/landings with the 
 deepeft Knowledge, and dijtingwjh'd Ufe from Oftenta- 
 tion, Learning f ram Pedantry Donne, and Corbet 
 added Wit to Satire, and reft or* d the almeft forgotten 
 Way of making Reproof it felf entertaining ; Carew, 
 and Waller taught Panegyrick to be delicate, PaJJion 
 to be courtly, and rode the Pegafus of Wit, with the 
 Curb of good Manners ; D' Avenant blended Addrefs 
 and Politenefs with the fever eft Leffbns of Temperance, 
 and Morality ; and the divine Milton reconciled the 
 Graces of them all, and added a Strength, Solidity* 
 and Majefty of his own, that None can equal, Few can 
 imitate, and All admire. 
 
 So many and varioufty-accompHftfd Minds were ne- 
 cejjary to remove the Gothique Rudenefs that was 
 handed down to us by our unpoli/h'd Fore-Fathers ; and* 
 I think, 'tis manifeft all the Ornaments of Humanity, 
 are owing to our Poetical Writers, if not our moft 
 Jhining Virtues, "fis not reafonable, therefore, that 
 while the Work remains, the Artift Jhould be forgot ; 
 and yet, 'tis certain, very Few of thefe great Men 
 
 are
 
 The PREFACE. xii 
 
 are generally known to the prefent Age : And tho' 
 Chaucer, and Spencer are ever nam'd with much 
 Refpett, not many are intimately acquainted with 
 
 their Beauties. 'The Monumental Statues of 
 
 the Dead have, in all Ages, and Nations, been 
 efteem'd facred ; but the Writings of the Learned, of 
 all others, deferve the higheft 'Veneration ; The Laft 
 hear the Refemblance of the Soul, the Firft only of the 
 Body. The Pirft are dumb, inanimate, and require 
 the Hiftorian to explain them ; while the Laft live, 
 converfe, reafon, inftrutt, and afford to the Contempla- 
 tive, one of their ftncereft Pleafures. They are likewife 
 to Authors, what Aftions are to Heroes ; In His Annals 
 you muft admire the one, in his Studies the other ; and 
 $n elegant Poemjhould be as lofting a Memorial of the 
 Scholar's Wit, as a -pompous Trophy of the General's 
 Conduct, or the Soldier's Valour. And yet, for want of 
 certain periodical Reviews of the Learning of former 
 Ages, not only many ineftimabk Pieces have been /<?/?, 
 but Science itfelfhas been in the moft imminent Danger. 
 I have often thought there is a Kind of Contagion in- 
 Minds, as well as Bodies ; what we admire, we fond- 
 ly wijh to imitate -, and, thus, while a Few excellent 
 Authors throw a Glory on the Studies they purfue, Dif- 
 ciples will not be wanting to imitate them : But, when 
 thofe Studies fall into Difejleem, and Negleft, inflead 
 of being profefs'd, or encouraged, 'tis more than pro- 
 bable they will not be underjlood. I have read 'twas 
 thus in Greece, and Rome, and all the conjiderable Na- 
 tions of Europe befide: In England 'tis notorious , and 
 Iwifh ourfljare of Reproach on this Head, may be confin'd 
 to the Ignorance t and Inhumanity of former Times.
 
 xiv The P R E FAC E 
 
 'fts true, not only every Age, but every Tear pro* 
 duces Numbers of new Pieces, and 'twould be impoffible 
 to preferve them all -, neither indeed, would all deferve 
 it : But Jhould we govern our Choice with Judgment 9 
 and Impartiality, the fajk would be eafy, and every 
 good Author would receive the Benefit of it. "Twill 
 be in vain to objeft that Merit is its own Prefervative: 
 For, bejide Numberlefs other Inflames, mofl of the Poems 
 in this Volume are a Proof to the contrary, and ftill many 
 more that I have referv*dfor the next. Tet, let them 
 be enquired for among the Bookfellers, and the Difficulty 
 of procuring them will be a fufficient Proof hov} little 
 they are known, and how near they are to be loft in Ob- 
 livion. Ibis lam a Witnefs of myfelf, and 'tis with 
 great Trouble and Charge, I have been able to collecJ a 
 fufficient Number for my prefent Purpofe : Nor, with- 
 out the generous Ajfiftance of the Candid Mr. Oldys, 
 would even this, have been in my Power: And, after all, 
 there areflillfome omitted-, which, if I can procure, Jh all 
 be annex* d by way of Supplement, together with a Gloffary, 
 at the End of the Work. 
 
 Let me then, at leafl, be pardon' d for attempting tofet 
 up a Bulwark between Time, and Merit ? I have heard 
 that a certain modern Virtuofo, had a Projeft to difco~ 
 ver the Age of the World, by the Saltnefs of the Sea, the 
 Effefl of which could not be known for Hundreds of Tears 
 after. I flatter myfelf, that the Succefs of mine need 
 not be quite fo far removed ; nor is it more Romantick, or 
 lefs Ufeful. The Alterations of a Language are offome 
 Conference to be known, tbo' inferior to thofe of Nature ; 
 nd VM fome Satisfaftion to be acquainted with the Lives 
 
 f
 
 The P R E F A C E. xv 
 
 tf Authors, as well as their Works : 'This Undertaking 
 includes all, nor is merely calculated for thofe which 
 are already Obfolete ; but, if it can bcfuppos'd that any 
 of the Moderns would ever be in the fame Danger, or 
 any future Writer jhould do me the Honour to continue 
 the Series, may "prove fome little Support even to 'Them. 
 In a Word, it may ferve as a perpetual Index to our 
 Poetry, a Tejl of all foreign Innovations in our Language, 
 a general Regifter of all the little, occajional Pieces, of 
 our Holy-Day Writers (as Mr. Dryden prettily calls 
 them} which might otherwife be loft ; and a grateful Re~ 
 cord of all the Patrons that, in England, have done 
 Honour to the Mufes. 
 
 Before I conclude, 'tis my Duty to acknowledge that m 
 Jefs than Three * Writers have undertaken, fimply, ths 
 Lives of the Poets, bejide Mr. Wood, who confines him- 
 felfto tbtfe educated at Oxford -, That Sir Thomas Pope 
 Blunt, has wrote Remarks on a Few of them, and Two or 
 Three have bad their Works republiflfdin ourownTimes\ 
 what ufe I have made of all, or any oftbefeCircumftances^ 
 will be obvious ; as well as what is peculiarly my own. 
 This, however, I may, with Modefiy, hint, that 
 many Miftakes in Faffs are reftify'd, feveral Lives are 
 added, the Cbaraclers of the Authors are not taken on 
 Content, or from Authority, but a ferious Examination 
 ef their Works ; andfome of the moft beautiful Paffages* 
 or entire Poems, I could chufe, are added to conftitute a 
 Series of Poetry (which has never been aim*d at any 
 where elfe] and compleat one of the moft valuable Collec- 
 tions, that ever was made publick. 
 
 * Mr. Phillips, Mr. Winftanly and Mr. Jacob. 
 
 How
 
 zvi fbe P R E F A C fi, 
 
 How far Ibavejucceeded, is fubmitted to the Under* 
 Standing of every impartial, and fenfible Reader : To 
 which I the more cheerfully refign myfelf, as introducing 
 more Beauties of others, to be my Advocates, than lean 
 have Faults of my own to be forgiven. 
 
 To what has beenfaid, en the Deftgn of this Work in 
 General, I, at firft, intended to add fome Account of the 
 Progrefs of Criticifm in England ; from Sir Philip 
 Sidney, the Art 0/Englifti Poefy (written by Mr. Put- 
 tenham, a Gentleman Pen/i oner to Queen Elizabeth:) 
 Sir John Harrington, Ben Johnfon, &c. But this part 
 of my Ta/k lam oblig'd to poftpone>for want of Room, 
 to my next Volume ; andjhall conclude with rectifying a 
 Miftake of my own in the Life of Mr. Fairfax : Where 
 9 tisfaid ; that Author is crouded by Mr. Philips into 
 his Supplement, which Jhould have been faid of Mr. 
 Sacville: And begging Pardon far the Errata which 
 have efcap'd me, not thro' neglett, but want offufficieut 
 Experience in Affairs of this Nature. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 PAG. 2. Lines, for Frindling, read Kndling. p. 17. for the PafTage, &c. r. The 
 f'Mmii'uig Paffagc feems to have the Honour of giving a Hint to Milton, p. 18. 1. 
 II. 5? Book 2. r. Book the Eleventh, p. zi. after 1. 9. add, That they have done Him 
 Felltnvjbip. ib. 1. 16. f. ke, r. eke. p. 23. 1. 14. after D. of Lancafter, add, Tbo I 
 d'^n't find any Authority in Hiftsry to frwe it, it. I. 33, and 34 dele Tbd Idont f.r.d 
 any Authority in Hiftory to frovt it, &c. p. 6z. 1. 22. f. to r.fo. p. 73. 1. 5. after ther 
 \Vord Heart, infert a ^emi-Cobn inftead of the Comma, and at the End of the I. dele 
 the Colon, p. 75. 1. 9. dele the Punflum. p. 80. 1. 18. after the Word toitb, add thy 1 , 
 ib. ]. 19. after the Word with, add a. p. 89. for Him, r. it. p. 97. 1. iz. f. Stlke, r. 
 Siif. p. loo. 1. 6. f. ftate r. fate. p. 1 11. 1. 7 . r. Try ! Troy f p. 166. 1. 6. for 
 waward, r. ivayward. p. 177.1.4. for wore, r.worfe. p. 195. J. 6. f. Country, r. 
 Country's, p. 196. 1. II. f. then, r. Their, p. 215. 1. 28. f. lately, r. Laftly. p. 217. 
 1. 5. f. offr. of. p. 239. 1. 10. f. Fanes, r. Furies, p. 249. 1. 3. f. more r. rxc<ue. p. 
 264. 1. 5. for brcu'd, r. brcnd. p. 293. 1. 19. f. Body, r. Boy. p. 304. 1. 19. dele 
 the Semi-Colon, and fors'oft, r.foft. p. 320. 1. 3. f. through, r. thorough, p. 349. I. 
 13. after for, add of. p. 365. 1. 8. for Smoak or Glory, r. or Smoke-Glory, p. 368. 
 frr kifs'd, r. tiffed, p. 373.!. i. (of the Notes) for Gambia, r. Cambaia. p. 391. Lz, 
 f. nor.i, int. p. 396. 1 15. for Triumph, r. Triumfht, 
 
 THE
 
 . 
 
 THE 
 
 Mufes Library. 
 
 PHILOSOPHERS, in a Series of Fof- 
 fils, begin with Nature in her crudeft 
 State, and trace her, Step by Step, to 
 the moft refin'd. In this Progrefs of 
 Englijh Poetry we muft do the fame -, 
 and they, who defire to fee the Con- 
 nexion, muft bear with the rude Pebble, in order 
 to be better pleas'd with the Ruby, and the Dia- 
 mond. 
 
 To fet afide the Metaphor, few People fuppofe 
 there were any Writers of Verfe before Chaucer^ 
 but, as it appears there were many, 'tis abfolutely 
 neceflary to give a Specimen from a few of them, 
 both as Curiofifies in themfelves, and to manifeft 
 from what a low and almoft contemptible Original, 
 that happy Genius rais'd his Profeffion at once. 
 
 We muft begin with a Conveyance of Edward 
 the Confeffor's^ which has fometm'ng in it very 
 fingular both as 'tis written in Verfe,, which feems a 
 Relique of the antient Briti/h Druids, and afford- 
 ing a remarkable Inftance, of the Concifenefs, and 
 Simplicity of the Saxon Lawyers. 
 
 
 i 
 
 CHE Edward Koning, 
 Have given of my Forreft the Keeping 
 
 B Of
 
 2 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Of the Hundred of Chelmer and Dancing, 
 
 To Randolph Peperking and to his Kyndling : 
 
 With Heorte and Hinde, Doe, and Bocke, 
 
 Hare, and Foxe, Cat and Brocke, 
 
 Wild Powell with his Floefce, 
 
 Patrich, Fefant-Hen, and Fefant-Cocke r 
 
 With green, and wilde ftob and ftocke. 
 
 To kepen and to yemen by all her might, 
 
 Both by Day, and eke by Night : 
 
 And Hounds for to hold 
 
 Good and fwift and bolde : 
 
 Four Greahounds and fix Bracches, 
 
 For Hare and Foxe, and wild Cattes. 
 
 And therefore ich made him my Booke : 
 
 Witneffe the Bifhop Wolflon 
 
 And Booke ylered many one, 
 
 And S-wein of EJJex our Brother 
 
 And teken him many other, 
 
 And our Stiward Howelm 
 
 That by fough me for him. 
 
 The next Antiquity, that we can find, is the fol- 
 lowing Fragment, preferred in a very old Manu- 
 fcript on the Bath : The Author entirely unknown, 
 but the Legend too remarkable to be omitted. 
 
 Two
 
 The Mufes Library. 3 
 
 TWO Tunne there beth of Bras* 
 And other two iinaked of Glas 
 
 Sevci Seats there buth inne 
 
 And other Thing imaked with Ginne,: 
 
 Quick Brimfton in them alfo, 
 
 With wild-Fier imaked theretor: 
 
 Sal Gemmae and Petree, 
 
 Sal Armonak there is eke 
 
 Sal Albrod and Sal alkine, 
 
 Sal Gemmd is minged with hiniy 
 
 Sal Comin and Sal Almetre bright; 
 
 That borneth both Day and Night? 
 
 Al this is in the Tonne ido, 
 
 And other things many mo 5 
 
 And borneth both Night and Day$ 
 
 That never quench it he may. 
 
 In vour Wel-fpririgs the Tonnes liggethj 
 
 As the Philofophers us figgeth, 
 
 The hete within, the Water without 
 
 Maketh it hot, al about : 
 
 The two Wel-fprings earneth mere. 
 
 And the other two Bath inner clere, 
 
 There is maked fulJ iwis 
 
 "That Kings Bath icluped , 
 
 B 2 The
 
 4 The Mufes Library. 
 
 The rich King Bladud, 
 
 The Kings Son Ludl 
 
 And, when he maked that Bath hot, 
 
 And, if he failed ought 
 
 Of that that fhou'd thereto , 
 
 Herkeneth what he would do! 
 
 From Bat b* to London he would flee 
 
 And thulke Day felf againe bee, 
 
 And fetch that thereto bivel. 
 
 He was quicke, and fwith fell, 
 
 Tho the Matter was ded, 
 
 And his Soule went to the Qued. 
 
 For God ne was not yut ybore, 
 
 Nor Deth fufFered him biuore. 
 
 The following Rhapfody has fo many poetical 
 Beauties in it, that, I think, they will amply atone 
 for the Wildnefs of the Meafure and Uncouthnefs 
 of the Phrafe. 
 
 Verfes on Henry I. wrote immediately after bis Death, 
 the Author unknown. 
 
 KYNG Henry is dead, Bewty of the World ! 
 For whome is great dole: 
 
 Goddes now maken rowm for theyr kinde Brother I 
 For he is Sole. 
 
 Mercurius
 
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 5 
 
 Mercurius in Speeche, Marce in Battayle, 
 
 In Harte ftrong Appollo^ 
 Jupiter in heft, egall with Saturn 
 
 And Enemie to Cupido ! 
 King he was of Right! 
 And Man of moft Myght ! 
 
 And glorious in rayninge! 
 And, when he left his Crowne, 
 Then fell Honour down ! 
 
 For Mifle of fuch a King -, 
 Normandy than gan lowre, 
 For Lofle of their Floure, 
 
 And fange wel a way ! 
 England made Mone, 
 And Scotland* did grone, 
 
 For to fe that Day ! 
 
 Robert of Gloucefter, 
 
 So call'd, becaufe a Monk of that City. He 
 liv'd in the Time of Henry the Second, and is often 
 quoted by Cambden^ Selden, &c. but more as an 
 Hiftorian than Poet ; tho* he wrote in Rhymes. 
 This being the only Paflage I have met with worth 
 Notice, and having both Humour and Satire j at 
 the Expence of King William Rufus. 
 
 A S his Chamberlaine him brought, as he rofe 
 -^ ^ on aDay r 
 
 A Morrow for to weare, a Paire of FTofe of Say': 
 B 3 He
 
 6 7 *he Mufes Library. 
 
 He afked what they coftned, Three Shillings he feid, 
 Fie a Diable ! quoth the King, who fey fo vile a Deede: 
 King to weare fo vile a Cloth ! But it coftned more : 
 Buy a Paire for a Marke, or thou fhalt ha cory fore ! 
 And worfe aPaire enough,theOther fwith himbrought, 
 And faid they coftned a Mark, and unneth he them 
 
 fo bought: 
 
 Aye Bel- Amy ! quoth the King,thtfe were well bougt, 
 In this manner ferve me, other ne ferve me not ! 
 
 Richard the Hermit 
 
 Was his Contemporary, but top defpicia^le to adt 
 rait of a Quotation. 
 
 Jofeph of Exeter, 
 
 Who liv'd in the Reign of Richard I. js quoted 
 t>y Milton, in his Englijh Hiftory, whith fome Ap- 
 plaufe, and by many other Authors : But, as He, 
 Blaunpain, Matthew Paris, William Ramfey, Alex- 
 ander Nequam, Alexander Ejjebie and Havillan wrote 
 all in Latin, the bare mention, of their Names is 
 rather more than belongs to this Collection. 
 
 Robert Bajlon 
 
 Liv'd in the Reign of Qdward the Firft, and was 
 in fb great Reputation that the King commanded 
 his Attendance, in his Expedition againft the Scots 
 to celebrate his Victories j But his Fortune was 
 more remarkable than his Verfes ; being taken Pri- 
 foner by Bruce, and compell'd by Torments, to 
 .applaud his Country's Enemy : Which, however, he 
 
 had
 
 *The Mufes Library. 7 
 
 had the Spirit to complain of, as appears by his In* 
 troduction. 
 
 In dreery Verfe my Rymes I make, 
 Bewailing whileft fuch Theme I take ! 
 
 Henry Brad/haw 
 
 Is the next Poet on Record, and much applaud- 
 ed i but, with what Juftice the following Quotati- 
 on from Winftanly will fufficiently evidence. 
 
 On the City of Chefter. 
 
 The Founder of this City, faith Polycbronicon, 
 Was Leon Gawer^ a mighty ftrong Gyant ! 
 
 Which builded Caves and Dungeons many a one 
 No goodly Building, ne proper, ne pleafant. 
 
 Robert de Langland, 
 
 The Author of the Satire, intitled, The Vifion of 
 Piers the Plowman^ and who may be truly call'd 
 the firft of the Englijh Poets. Selden* in his Notes 
 on Draitori*s Poly-Olbion, quotes him with Honour ; 
 but he is not fo much as mention'd either by Philips 
 or Winftanly ; though, in my Judgment, no Writer, 
 except Chaucer , and Spencer ^ for many Ages, had 
 more of real Infpiration. J muft own I can't read 
 his Work, without lamenting the Unhappinefs of a 
 fluctuating Language, that buries even Genius it felf 
 in its Ruins : 'Tis raifmg Edifices of Sand, that every 
 Breath of Time defaces ; and, if the Form remains, 
 the Beauty is loft. This is the Cafe of the Piece 
 B 4 before
 
 8 The Mufes Library. 
 
 before us , 'Tis a Work of great Length, and La- 
 bour ; of the Allegorick-kind j animated with a rich 
 Imagination, pointed with great Variety of juft Sa- 
 tire, and dignify'd with many excellent Leflbns of 
 Morality and Virtue: And, to fay all in a Word, 
 if I may prefume to fay fo much, Chaucer feems to 
 have this Model in his Eye ; and, in his Pardoners 
 Prologue^ particularly, has a Feature or two nearly 
 refembling the Speech and Character of Sloth here- 
 after quoted. 
 
 I am not ignorant that the Author of the Art 
 of Engli/h Poefy\ mention'd in the Preface, ranks him, 
 in Point of Time, after Chaucer ; but as he is not 
 fb much as acquainted with his Name, there is lit- 
 tle Reafon to depend on his Authority. Betides, 
 "'tis notorious Langland copies his Characters, and 
 Manners from the Age he lived in, and we find him, 
 in one Paflage, feating Reafon between the King and 
 his Son : In another, Conference reproaches Mede 
 with caufing the Death of the King's Father, which 
 exactly tallies with the Fall of Edward II. And, in a 
 Third, Mede fpeaks of the Siege of Calais , as a re- 
 cent Fact, and upbraids Conference as the only Im- 
 pediment to the Conqueft of France , which, fays 
 me, if I had govern'd, could have been eafily ef- 
 fected. From which Hiftorical References, I make 
 no Scruple to place him in the Reign of Edward 
 III. or that of Richard II. his SuccefTor. To this 
 may be added ; That the worft Writer, after Chaucer, 
 had fome regard to Meafure, and never neglected' 
 Rhymes : Whereas this is greatly defective in both; 
 feldom affording a perfect Verfe, and uling a Dialect 
 hardly intelligible. But of this enough ! This work 
 is divided into I'wenty Parts ; the Arguments of 
 .which are wrote with uncommon Spirit j and fe- 
 veral Paflages in it deferve to be immortal ; But, 
 as to the Conduct of the whole, I muft confefs it 
 
 does
 
 "The Mufes Library. 9 
 
 does not appear to me of a Piece ; every Vifion 
 feeming a diftinct Rhapfody, and not carrying on 
 either one fingle Action, or a Series of many. But 
 we ought rather to wonder at its Beauties, than ca- 
 vil at its Defects ; and, if the Poetical Defign is 
 broken, the Moral is entire j which is, uniformly, the 
 Advancement of Piety, and Reformation of the Ro- 
 man Clergy. - I hope the following Quotations will 
 not be thought too long , tho* the ftile is fo cbfo- 
 lete ; flnce they are not inferted for want of other 
 Materials ; but becaufe 'tis prefum'd they are really 
 Curious and Entertaining. Civil, and Symony publifh 
 the Marriage-Contract, between Falfe and Mede, 
 tfheologie fteps in, forbids the Banns, and cites them 
 to appear before Conference and the King. 
 
 HERETO afTented Cyvil, and Simony ; ne woulde 
 Till he had Silver, for his Sevice, and alfq 
 
 the Notaries. 
 
 Than fet Favel forth Florences ynowe 
 And bade Gyle go gyne Gold about ! 
 And, namely, to the Notaries, and hem none fayle. 
 And feffe falfe Witnefs with Florences ynowe ; 
 For thei may Mede amaifter, and maken at myWill. 
 Tho* this Gold was geven ; great was the thanking 
 To Falfe and to Favel, for her great Giftes ; 
 And come to comfort hem fro Care the falfe : 
 And fithen fayd. Certes Syr, ceafen mall we never 
 Till Mede be wedded thy Wife, through Wits of us al 
 
 For
 
 io The Mufes Library. 
 
 For we have Mede amaiftrid, with our mery Speche, 
 That me graunted to gone with a good Wyll 
 To London, to loke, if the Lawe would 
 Judge youjoyntlye, in Joye for ever. 
 'Then was palfenefs faine and pavell as blyth ; 
 And letten fommon al Seges in Shire about, 
 And bad hem all to be bowne ; Beggers and other 
 To wend with himtoIPeftminJler, towitnefsthisDede. 
 A,nd than carried thei forthCaples,tocaried hem thither: 
 And Favel fet forth then, foles ynowe 
 And fet Mede upon a Shyrefe, mode all newe ! 
 And Falfe fat on a $ifour, that foftlich troted, 
 And Favel on a Flatterer, feetly attired, 
 Tho had Notaries none ; anoyed they were : 
 For Simony and Civil, fhould on their fete gan. 
 Althan fware Simony, and Civil both 
 That Somners fhould be fadled, and ferve hem echone i 
 And let aparel thefe Provifors, in Palfreirwife ; 
 Sir Simony him felfe, mall fit on their Backes : 
 Deanes and Subdeanes, drave you together 
 Archdeacons and Officials, and al your Regefters 
 Let faddle hem with Silver, our Sinne to fuffer; 
 As Aduoutrie and Divorces, and derne Ufury, 
 To bear Bijkops about abrode in vhlting : 
 
 Paulintts
 
 The Mufes Library. 
 
 II 
 
 Paulinus Primus, for pleintis in Confiftory, 
 Shal ferve him felfe, that Civil is inempned ! 
 And Cartfadle the Comifary, our Cart mal he lede, 
 And fetche us Vitailes, at Fornicatores , 
 And maketh of Lier a long Cart, to lede al thefe other, 
 As Freres and Traytours, that on their Feete runnen. 
 And thus Pals and Favel, faren forth together, 
 And Mede in the middes, and al thefe Men after. 
 I have no Time to tel, the Taile that here foloweth 
 Of many manner of Men j that on this Mould libbeth 
 And Gyle was foregoer, and guided hem all. 
 Sotbnes feeth hem wel, and faith but little, 
 And pricked his Palfrey, and patted hem all ; 
 And came to the Kinges court, and Confcience it tolde 
 An4 Conscience, to the King, carped it after. 
 Now, by Chrift, quod the King and I catch might 
 Falfe, or Fave! y or any of their Freres, 
 I wold be wreken of thoWretches, that worken this II ; 
 And done hem hang by the hals, and al that hem 
 
 mainteineth : 
 
 Shal never Man on his Mold, mainprife the leaft ; 
 But right as the Law wol loke, let fal on hem all! 
 And commanded a Conftable, that came at the firft, 
 To attache tho Tirauntes, for any thing I hote> 
 I
 
 1 2 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And fetter faft Falfenefs, for any Kinges giftes ; 
 Andgirde off Gyles Head, and let him go no further! 
 And, if ye catche Lyer, let him not efcape, 
 Or he be put on the Pilery, for any Prayers Ihote ! 
 And bring Mede to me, in maugre them all ! 
 Drede at the Dore ftode, and the Dome harde ; 
 HowtheKing comaunded,Conftables, and Sergeauntes, 
 Falfenes and his Felowmip, to fetter and to binden. 
 Then Drede went weightely, and warned the Falfe* 
 And bad him fle for Feare, and his Felowes all ! 
 
 Falfenefs for Feare then, fled to the Freres> 
 And Gyle doth him to go, agaft for to die! 
 And Marchants meten, with him, and made him to 
 
 abide, 
 
 And fit him in her fhoppes, to fhewen her Wares, 
 Appareled as a Prentife, the People to ferve ! 
 
 Lightly Lyer leaped, and away ranne 
 Lurkyng through Lanes, to- lugged of Many ! 
 He was no where welcome, for his many Tales 
 Ouer al yhonted, and I hote trufle ; 
 Tyl Pardoners had Pitie, and pulled him into Houfe; 
 Thei warn him, and wipe him, and wounden him in 
 
 Clouts, 
 
 And fend him with Seals, on Sundayes to Churches, 
 
 And
 
 The Mufes Library. 13 
 
 And gave him Pardon for Pence,pound meale aboute! 
 Than loured Leches, and Letters they fent 
 That he mould wonne with hem, Waters to loke. 
 Spicerrs fpeken with him, to fpie their Ware ; 
 For he could of their Craft, and knew many Gommes. 
 And Minftrels and Me/engers, met with him once, 
 And helde him halfe a Yere, and a leven Daies. 
 Freres, with faire Speche, fet him thence, 
 And, for knowing of Commers coped him as a Frere- 9 
 And he hath leave to leape out, as oft as hem lyketh, 
 And welcome when he wilj and wonneth withhemofte. 
 All fledden for Feare, and flooen in Hernes ; 
 Saue Mede the Mayde, no mo durft abyde ; 
 And, truely to tell, the trembled for Drede, 
 And eke wept, and wronge, when me was atached. 
 
 After a Sermon of Reafon's which concludes with 
 this remarkable Sentence. 
 
 4 And ye that feke St. James, and Saintes at Rome, 
 * Seke Saint Truth for he may fave you all ! 
 
 The Vices are reprefented as converted, and come, 
 in order, to Confeffion ; of which the two following 
 Characters are a Specimen. 
 
 Envy with heuy Hart, aflced after Shryft, 
 And carefully Mea Culpa, he comfed to fhewe, 
 
 i And
 
 14 fte Mufes Library. 
 
 And was as pale as a Pellet ; in the Palfey he femecf$ 
 And clothed in Caury-Maury, I can it not difcriue; 
 In Kirtel, and Curtepy* and a Knife by his fide : 
 Of a Freres Frbke, were the fore Sieves; 
 And, as a Leke, that hath lied longe in the Sunne; 
 So loked he, with leane Chekes ; lowring foule ! 
 His Body was fo bole for Wrath, thathebote hisLips, 
 And,wringing what firft to wreke himfelf, he thought 
 Witli Workes, or with Words when he fee his Time i 
 Ech Word, that he warped, was of an EdderVTongej 
 Of Chiding,and of Chalenging^was his chief Liuelode j 
 WithBackbitting and Bifmer, and bearing falfeWitnefs; 
 This was al his Curtefy, when that ever he (hewed him. 
 I wold be ftiriuen, quoth this Shrewe, if I, for Shame, 
 
 durft ; 
 
 I wold be gladder, by God, that Gib had Mifchance, 
 Than If 1 had won this Wete a Wey of /^-Chefe! 
 I have a Neighbour nie me, I have noyed him ofte, 
 And lowen on him to Lordes, to done him lofe his 
 
 Silver, 
 
 And make his Frend his Foe, through my falfe Tonge: 
 His Grace, and his good Happes, greueth me full fore } 
 Betwene Many, and Many, I make Debate oft, 
 That both Life and Lime, is loft through ray Speche. 
 
 And,
 
 The Mufes Library. 15 
 
 And, when I mete him in Market, that I moft hate, 
 I have him hendlich, as I his Frende were -, 
 For he is doughtier then I, I dare do none other; 
 And had I Maiftry and Might, God wot my Wyll ! 
 And, when I come to the Kirke, and mould knele to 
 
 the Rode 
 
 And pray for the People, as the Prieft teacheth, 
 For Pilgrimes, and for Palmers, and for all the People 
 
 after, 
 
 Than I cry, on my Knes, thouChrift giue himSorow, 
 That bare away my Bole, and my broken Shete ! 
 Away from the Aulter, then turne I mine Eyen 
 And behold how EUn hath a new Coate, 
 I wifhe it were mine, with al the Web after ! 
 And at Mens Lefing I laugh, that mine Hart aketh 
 And for their Winning I wepe, and wele the Time -, 
 And deme that thei do yll, though I do well worfe. 
 Whofo undermineth me, hereof I hate him dedly after 
 I wold that eche a Wight, were my Knave ! 
 For whofo hath more then I, that angreth me fore. 
 And thus I live loveles, like a lither Dogge ; 
 That al my Body bolneth, for bitter of my Gall ! 
 I might not eaten many Yeres, as a Man oughte j 
 For Ewvy and Euyl-wytt, is euyll to defye ; 
 
 May
 
 1 6 The Mufes Library. 
 
 May no Sugar, ne no fwete Thing, fwage the Swelling* 
 Ne no Diapenidion, drive it from my Harte, 
 Nether Shrift, nether Shame, but fhraping of my Maw. 
 
 Then cameS/0//Ml beilaberd, with two flimy Eyne; 
 I muft fit faid the Seg, or els I muft nedes nap ; 
 I mai not ftond, ne ftoupe, ne, without my Stole, kncle i 
 Wer I brought a Bed, but if my Talend it made, 
 Should no Ringing do me rife, or I were ripe to dine. 
 Awak Reuk, quod Repentance, and rape thee toShrift} 
 If I mould dy, by this Day, me lyft not to looke ! 
 I cannon perfidy my Pater-nofterjs thePrieft it fingeth, 
 But I can Rimes of RobenHood&rA Randal of Chefter: 
 But, of our Lord, or our Lady, I lerne nothing at all. 
 I have made Vowes to Day, and forgotten hem on 
 
 the Morrow, 
 
 I performed never Penance, as the Prieft me hight ; 
 Ne right fory for my Sinnes, yet was I never. 
 And if I bid any Beades, but it be of Wrathe, 
 That I tel with my Tong, is two Mile from my Hart. 
 I am occupied every Day, holy Day and other 
 With idleTales at theAle, and,other while, in Churches. 
 Gods Peyne and hisPamon,ful felde I thinke thereon ; 
 
 I vifited
 
 The Mufes Library. 17 
 
 I viiited never feble Men, ne fettred Folk in Pittes ; 
 I have lever hear an Harlotry, or a Sommers Game, 
 Or Lefmges to laugh at, and belye my Neighbours, 
 Than all that ever Marke made, Matthew, John, and 
 
 Lucas: 
 
 And Vigiles arid facing Daies, all thefe, I let paflee, 
 And lie in Bed in Lent, and myLemman in mineArmes 
 Till Mattens and Mafle be done; * * * * 
 
 I am not fhriven forrietime; but if Sicknefs it make, 
 Not twife intwoYere , and than up gefle I fhrive me *, 
 I have ben Prieft and Parfon, patting Thirty Winter, 
 Yet can I nether Sol-fa ne (ing, ne Sainctes Lives read ; 
 But I can finde in a Fielde, or a Furlong an Hare, 
 Better than in Seati Omnes, or in Beatus Vir. 
 
 The Pafiage which, I think, feems to have given 
 a Hint to Milton, is as follows. 
 
 Kinde, Conference tho' heard, and came out of the 
 
 Planets, 
 
 And fent forth his forrioues, Fevers, and Fluxes, 
 Coughes, and Cardiacles* Crampes and Toth- Aches, 
 Reumes, and Ragondes, and raynous Scalles, 
 Byles, and Botches, and burning Agues, 
 
 C Frenfes,
 
 1 8 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Frenefes, and foul Euyl, Foragers of Kinde / 
 
 ******** 
 
 There was Harow ! and Help! here commeth Kinde 
 With Death that's dreadful, to undone us all ! 
 Age the hoore, he was in the Vaw-ward 
 And bare the Baner before Death, by right He it 
 
 claymed! 
 
 Kinde came after, with many kene Sores, 
 As Pockes, and Peftilences, and much Purple Shent* 
 So Kinde, through Corruptions, killed ful Many : 
 Death came driving after, and all to Duft pafhed 
 Kynges and Kayfers, Knightes and Popes. 
 
 Paradife Loft. Book II. Line 475. 
 
 Immediately a Place 
 
 Before his Eyes appear'd, fad, noifom, dark, 
 A Lazar-houfe it feem'd ; wherein were laid 
 
 -T 
 
 Numbers of all difeas'd : all Maladies 
 Of gaftly Spafm, or racking Torture, Qualmes 
 Of heart- fick Agony, all feaverous Kinds, 
 Convulfions, Epilepiles, fierce Catarrhs, 
 Inteftine Stone, and Ulcer, Cholic Pangs, 
 Da?moniac Phrenzy, moaping Melancholy 
 And Moon-ftruck Madnefs, pining Atrophy, 
 Marafmus, and wide- wafting Peftilence, 
 
 2 Dropfies,
 
 The Mufes Library. 19 
 
 Dropfies, and Afthma's, and Joint-racking Rheums. 
 Dire was the tofling ! deep the Groans ! Defpair 
 Tended the Sick bufieft from Couch to Couch : 
 And over them triumphant Death his Dart 
 Shook - 
 
 Sir John Gower 
 
 Flourifh'd in the Reign of Richard the Second, 
 and wrote his Poems by the King's Command. He 
 was a Man of Family, and Learning, but does not 
 appear to have much Genius ; his whole Work be- 
 ing little better than a cool Tranflation from other 
 Authors : The Tale annex'd has, however, fomething 
 truly excellent both in the Incidents and Moral. That 
 he was a Man of Judgment, may be underftood by 
 Chaucer's fubmitting his Troilus, and Creffida to his 
 Cenfure, as appears by the following Lines. 
 
 OMorall Gower, this Boke I directe 
 To thee, and to the Philofophic Strode 
 To vouchfafe, where need is, to correcte 
 Of your Benign itees, and Zeles good. 
 
 He was bred a Lawyer, tho' a Man of Fortune, 
 furvived both Chaucer and Lidgate\ being quite blind 
 before he dy'd, and was bury'd in St. Marfs 
 Southivark. 
 
 Of the c-ivuious Man and the Mifer. 
 F Jupiter thus I find y.write 
 How, whilom, that he wolde wite 
 
 C 2 Upon
 
 20 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Upon the pleintes, which he herde 
 
 Among the Men, how that it ferde, 
 
 As of her wronge Condition 
 
 To do Juftificacion. 
 
 And, for that Caufe, downe he fent 
 
 An Angell^ which aboute went, 
 
 That he the footh knowe maie. 
 
 So it befell, upon a Daie, 
 This Angell) which him mould enforme y 
 Was clothed in a Manes Forme ; 
 And overtoke, I underftonde, 
 Two Men, that wenten over Londe : 
 Through which he thought to afpie 
 His Caufe, and goth in Companie. 
 
 This Angell with his Wordes wife y 
 Oppofeth hem in fondry wife , 
 Nowe lowde Wordes and now fofte, 
 That made hem to defputen ofte : 
 And eche his Reafon hadde, 
 And thus with Tales he hem ladde, 
 With good Examinacion, 
 Till he knewe the Condicion, 
 What Men thei were Bothe Two : 
 And fawe well, at lafte, tho*, 
 
 That
 
 The Mufes Library. 21 
 
 That One of hem was covetous, 
 And his Felowe was envious. 
 And thus, when he hath Knowlachyng 
 Anone he feigned Departynge, 
 And faide he mote algate wende. 
 But, herken now what fell at Ende I 
 For than he made hem underftonde, 
 That he was there of Gotfs Sonde; 
 And (ayd them for the Kyndfhip, 
 He wolde do fome Grace againe, 
 And bad that One of hem fhuld faine, 
 What Thynge is him leueft to crave ; 
 And he it mall of yefte have. 
 And over that ke foorth with all 
 He faith, that Other have mall 
 The double of that his Fellowe axeth. 
 And thus to them his Grace he taxeth. 
 
 The Covetous was wonder gladde ; 
 And to that other Man he badde, 
 And feith, that he firfl axe fhulde ; 
 For he fuppofeth, that he wolde 
 Jvlake his Axing of Worldes good : 
 for, than, he knewe well, howe it flood ; 
 
 C
 
 22 The Mufes Library. 
 
 If that him felle by double Weight 
 Shall after take, and thus, by Sleight, 
 . Becaufe that he wolde wynne, 
 He badde his Felowe firfte begynne. 
 This Envious, though it be late, 
 Whan that he fawe he mote, algate, 
 Make his Axinge firfte, he thought, 
 If he Worfhip or Profite fought, 
 It mall be double to his Fere, 
 That wolde he chefe in no Manere. 
 But than he fheweth what he was 
 Towarde Envie, and, in this Cas, 
 Unto this Angell thus he faide, 
 And for his Yefte this he praide, 
 To make him blynde on his One Eie, 
 So that his Felowe no-thynge fie. 
 
 This Worde was not fo foone fpoke, 
 That his one Eie anone was loke : 
 And his Felowe foorth-with alfo 
 Was blynde on both his Eies two. 
 Tho was that other glad enough. 
 That one wepte, and that other lough. 
 He fet his one Eie at no Coft, 
 
 Wherof that other Two hath loft. 
 
 Chaucer^
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 23 
 
 Chaucer, 
 
 The Morning-Star of the Englijh Poetry! was, by 
 his own Record, in the Teftament of Love, born in 
 London -, in the Reign of Edward the Third. His 
 Family is fuppos'd to come in with William the 
 Norman, and, fome fay, Ira Father was a Merchant. 
 He had his Education pjkly at Oxford, partly at 
 Cambridge, and, by Circumftance, we find he was 
 enter'd a Student of the Inner-Temple. He travel- 
 led in his Youth, thro* France and Flanders ; and, 
 in the Reign of Richard the Second, was famous for 
 his Learning. After this he marry'd the Daughter 
 of a Knight of Hainault, by which Alliance he is 
 faid to become Brother-In-Law to John of Gaunt 
 Duke of Lancafter: He had feveral Children, a 
 large, and ample Revenue, refided chiefly at Wood- 
 ftock, was employ'd on feveral Embaflies, received 
 many great Rewards from the Crown, and was in high 
 Efteem with the mod Noble and Excellent Perfons 
 of his Time. In the latter Part of his Life,, he met 
 with many Troubles, of which he complains, very pa- 
 thetically, in fome of his Pieces ; yet liv'd to the Age 
 of Seventy Two Years, and was bury'd at Weftmivfter. 
 , All agree he was the firft Mailer of his Art among 
 us, and that the Language, in general, is much oblig'd 
 to him for Copioufnefs, Strength, and Ornament. 
 It would be endlefs, almoft, to enumerate the Com- 
 pliments that have been paid to his Merit, by the 
 Gratitude of thofe Writers, who have enrich'd them- 
 felves fo much by his ineftimable Legacies. But 
 his own Works, are his beft Monument. In thofe 
 appear a real Genius, as capable of inventing, as im- 
 proving ; equally fuited to the Gay, and the Sublime ; 
 foaring in high Life, and pleafant in low: Tho' Id6n't 
 find the leaft Authority in Hiftcry to prove it. 
 C 4 Ever
 
 24 77> Mufes Library. 
 
 Ever both entertaining, and inftructive ! All which is 
 fo well known, 'tis, in a Manner, needlefs to repeat : 
 But the Nature of this Work requires it, and I fhould 
 not be excus'd for faying lefs, or omitting a Quota- 
 tion ; tho it is not a little difficult to 'chufe one that 
 will do him Juftice : Moft of his principal Tales 
 have been already exhaufted by the Moderns, and, 
 confequently, neither of sjhem would appear to Ad- 
 vantage in their antiquadfe, original Drefs ; 'tho* the 
 fame in Complexion and Harmony of Parts.' "' 
 
 tte Pardoners Prologue. 
 
 IT Ordings ! quoth he, in Chirch when I preche^ 
 
 -* ' I paine mee to have an hauteine Speche 
 
 And ring it put, as round as doth a Bell ; 
 
 For I can all by rote that I tell. 
 
 My Teme is alway one, and ever was, 
 
 (Radix omnium Malorum eft Cupiditas) 
 
 Firft, I pronounce fro whence I come, 
 
 And then my Bills I mew all and fome : 
 
 Our Liege-Lords Seal on my Patent ! 
 
 That mew I firft, my Body to warrentj v 
 
 That no Man be fo bold, Prieft ne Qerke, 
 
 Me to difturbe of Cbrifts holy Werke. 
 
 And, after that, I tell forth my Tales 
 
 Of Buls, of Popes, and of Cardinales, 
 
 Of Patriarkes, and of Bimops I mew -, 
 
 ,/knd in Latins I fpeake Wordes a Few, 
 
 To
 
 7 'he Mufes Library. 25 
 
 To faver with my Predication, 
 And for to ftere Men to Devotion. 
 Then mew I forth my long, Chriftall-ftones, 
 Ycrammed full of Clouts and of Bones ; 
 Relickes they been, as wene They, Echone ! 
 Then have I, in Laton^ a Shoder-Bone, 
 Which that was of an holy Jewes-Shepe. 
 Good Men, fay I, take of my Words kepe ! 
 If this Bone be wafhen in any Well, 
 If Cow, or Calfe, Sheepe, or Oxe fwell 
 That any Worme hath eaten, or hem ftong, 
 Take Water of this Well, and warn his Tong, 
 And it is hole a-non : And, furthermore, 
 Of Pockes, and of Scabs, and every Sore 
 Shall Shepe be hole, that of this Well 
 Drinketh a Draught : Take keepe of that I tell ! 
 If that the good Man, that Beafts oweth, 
 Woll every Day, ere the Cocke croweth, 
 Fafting, drink of this Well, a Draught, 
 (As thilk holy Jew our Elders taught) 
 His Beafts and his Store (hall multiplie : 
 And Sirs, alfo it healeth Jealoufie, 
 For, though a Man be fall in jealous rage, 
 JL,et make with this Water his Potage, 
 
 And
 
 26 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And never mall he more his Wife miftrifr!, 
 Though he, in (both, the Defaut by her wift : 
 All had flie taken Priefts Two or Three ! 
 Here is a Mittaine eke, that ye may fee : 
 He that his Hand woll put in this Mittaine ; 
 He mall have multiplying of his Graine, 
 When he hath fowen, be it Wheat or Otes ; 
 So that he offer good Pens or Grotes ! 
 
 And Men and Women, a Thing I warne you ! 
 If any Wight been in this Church now, 
 That hath done Sinne horrible, that he 
 Dare not, for Shame, of it Shriven be ; 
 Or any Woman, be me yong or old, 
 That hath made her Hufband a CokewoJd, 
 Such Folke fhall have no Power, ne no Grace 
 To offer to my Relickes in this Place. 
 And who fo findeth him out of fuch Blame, 
 Commeth up and offer in Godes Name ! 
 And I aflbyle him by the Authentic, 
 Such as by Bull was graunted undo me. 
 
 By this Gaude have I won every yere 
 An hundred Mark, fithen I was Pardonere. 
 I ftond, like a Clerk, in my Pulpet 
 And, when the lend People been doune y fet, A 
 
 I
 
 'The Mufes Library. 27 
 
 I preach fo as ye have lered before, 
 And tell to them an hundred Yapes more, 
 Then paine I me to ftretch forth my Neck$ 
 And, Eaft and Weft, upon the People I becke, 
 As doth a Dove, fitting upon a Berne : 
 My Honds and my Tongue gone fo yerne, 
 That it is Joy to fee my Bufinefs. 
 Of Avarice and of fuch Curfednefle 
 All my Preaching is, for to maken hem free 
 To yeven her Pens, and, namely, unto me. 
 For mine Entent is not but for to Winne, 
 And nothing for Correction of Sinne. 
 I recke never when that they bin buried, 
 Though her Soule gone a black-buried. 
 For, certes, many a Predication 
 Commeth oft time of Evill Entention : 
 Some for Pleafance of Folke, and for Flaterie, 
 To been advanced by Hipocrifie : 
 And fome for vain Glory, and fome for Hate, 
 For when I dare not, other ways, debate, 
 Then woll I fling hem with my Tongue fmert 
 In Preaching , fo that he mall not aflert 
 To ben defamed falfely, if that he 
 Hath trefpafTed to my Brethren, or to me. 
 
 For,
 
 2 8 *?he Mufes Library. 
 
 For, though I tell not his proper Name, 
 
 Men fhall well know that it is the fame 
 
 By Signes, or by other Circumftances. 
 
 Thus quire I Folke, that doth us Difpleafaunces : 
 
 Thus put I out my Venum under Hew 
 
 Of Holinefs, to fee Men holy and trew. 
 
 But fhortly mine Entent I woll devife, 
 
 J preach of nothing but of Couetife. 
 
 Therefore my Teme is yet, and ever was, 
 
 Radix omnium Malorum eft Cupiditas. 
 
 Thus can I preach againft the fame Vice 
 Which that I ufe, and that is Avarice. 
 But, though my felf be guilty in that Sinne, 
 Yet can I maken other Folke to twinne 
 From Avarice, and foue hem to repent: 
 But that is not my principal Entent ; 
 I preach nothing but for Couetife. 
 Of this Matere it ought ynough fuffife. 
 
 Then tell I hem Enfamples many a One 
 Of old Stories done long time agone. 
 For leaud People aye loven Tales old, 
 Which things they can well report and holcj. 
 What, trowen ye whiles that I may prech, 
 And win Gold and Silver for to tech, 
 
 That
 
 The Mufes Library. 29 
 
 That I woll live in Povert wilfully ? 
 
 Nay, nay, I thought it never truly, 
 
 For I woll preach, and beg in fundry Londs 5 
 
 I woll not doe no Labour with mine Honds ; 
 
 Ne make Bafkets and live thereby, 
 
 Becaufe I woll not beg idelly. 
 
 I woll none of the Apoftles counterfete : 
 
 I woll have Mony, Mault, Cheefe, and Whete, 
 
 All were it yeven of the pooreft Page, 
 
 Or of the pooreft Widdow in a Village : 
 
 Though her Children mould fterue for Famine. 
 
 Nay, I woll drinke the Licour of the Vine* 
 
 And have a jolly Wench in every Toun. 
 
 But hearkeneth Lordings my Conclufion ! 
 
 Your liking is that I mould tell a Tale, 
 Now I have drunken a Draught of corny Ale : /'^ 
 By God I hope I mall tell you a Thing, 
 That mail by reafon been at your afldng : 
 For, though my felf be a full vicious Man, 
 A morall Tale yet I you tell can, 
 Which I am wont to preach, for to win. 
 Now hold your Peace, my Tale I woll begin. 
 
 Join
 
 30 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Lidgate, 
 
 Commonly call'd the Monk of Bury, becaufe a 
 Native of that Place, was a Difciple of Chaucer's. 
 Many Authors are fo profufe in his Praife as to rank 
 him very little below his Mafter, and, often, quote 
 them together ; which rais'd my Curiofity fo high, 
 that I gave a confiderable Price for his Works, and 
 waded thro* a large Folio, hoping ftill to have my 
 Expectation gratified. But I muft, either, con- 
 fefs my own want of Penetration, or beg Leave to 
 diflent from his Admirers. Modefty, indeed, he 
 has to a very great Degree ; ever difavowing all 
 Pretence to Merit, fpeaking of Chaucer with a reli- 
 gious Reverence, and pleading the Command of 
 Princes for following his Track. -But, as to the 
 Compliments that are made him, of deep Scholar, 
 Logician, Philofoper, fcff . let his own Words anfwer, 
 in the Clofe of his Fall of Princes ; which will, at 
 once, illuftrate my Idea both of the Poet, and the 
 Man. 
 
 UT of the French I drough it of Entent, 
 Not Word by Word, but following inSubftance, 
 And, from Paris, to England it fent, 
 
 Only of purpofe you to do Pleafance. 
 Have me excufed ! my Name is John Lidgate, 
 
 Rude of Language, I was not born in France, 
 Her curious Miters in Engli/b to tranflate ! 
 Of other Tong I have no Suffifance.
 
 7 'he Mufes Library. 31 
 
 'Thomas OcclrVe, or Okeleafc 
 
 Another Difciple in the fame School, and an Of- 
 ficer in the Houmold of the Immortal Henry the 
 Fifth, to whom he dedicated his Book De Regimine 
 Principis ; a Work which I have never been able 
 to attain a Sight of -, confequently can't prefume to 
 determine what is due to its Author. By fome he 
 is highly applauded, by others not fo much as men- 
 tion'd. To his Care and Affection is owing the 
 Original of that Print, which is now fo common of 
 Chaucer^ and certain tender and pathetick Lines to 
 his Memory, are the only Inftance in my Power to 
 give of the Merit of his Mufe. 
 
 : | '<j /JILI sui it> 
 U T welaway ! is mine Heart wo, 
 
 That the Honour of Englijh Tongue is dead ; 
 Of which I wont was Conncaile have and Reed ! 
 O Mafter dere ! and Fadre reverent ! 
 My Mafter Chaucer ! Floure of Eloquence ! 
 Mirror of Frucluous Entendement ! 
 O univerfal Fadre of Science ! 
 Alas ! that thou thine excellent Prudence, 
 In thy Bed-mortal, mighteft not bequeath. 
 O Death ! thou didft not Harm, fmgler, in flaughtering 
 Him, 
 
 But all the Land it fmerteth ; 
 But nathelefs, yet haft thou no Power hisName to flee 
 
 But his Virtue afterteth 
 Unflajn fro thee j - r . .
 
 32 The Mufes Library. 
 
 John Harding 
 
 A Gentleman of very good Family in 
 who liv'd in the Reign of Edward the Fourth. But, 
 tho* it appears he had a Love for Poetry, he feems 
 to have miftaken its very Eflence; Chronicles in 
 Verfe, which were his Subject, are, in my Opinion, 
 as little akin to Infpiration as mere Rhyme to Har- 
 mony ; Chaucer was ftill remember'd, but his Art 
 forgot, and Robert of Glocefter's rude Simplicity 
 feem'd to reign in its ftead. 
 
 This Gentleman was, however, greatly efteem'd 
 by the King, and fo throughly attach'd to his 
 Service, that he undertook, at the rriariifeft Hazard 
 of his Life, to procure Copies from the Scots own 
 Records, of all the Homages paid by their Kings 
 to thofe of England^ from the Reign of Altheftan, 
 Grandfon to Alfred ; which, by his great Dexterity 
 he accomplifh'd, and deferves to be remember'd for 
 with Honour. I wifh I could fay as much for his 
 Verfe. But, where I am filent, Winftanty and o- 
 thers, are Heralds at large. --- With what Propriety, 
 let the Reader judge from their own Quotations. 
 
 On the magnificent Hen/hold of King Richard II. 
 
 TRULY I herd Robert Ireleffee fay 
 Clark of the Green-Cloth^ and that to the Houfe- 
 
 hold 
 
 Came every Daye, forth moft part alway, 
 TenThoufand Folke, by his Mefles told; 
 That followed the Houfe aye as thei wold. 
 
 And
 
 The Mufes Library. 33 
 
 And in the Kechin, Three Hundred Seruitours, 
 And in eche Office many Occupiours. 
 
 And Ladies faire, with their Gentlewomen, 
 Chamberers alfo, and Launderefs, 
 Three hundred of them were occupied then ; 
 There was great Pride emong the Officers j 
 And of all Men far paffing their Compeers, 
 Of rich Arraye, and much more Coftous^ 
 Then was before, or fith, and more precious, &V. 
 
 From Gower to Barclay, it muft be obferved that 
 Kings, and Princes were conftantly the Patrons of 
 Poetry. 
 
 Alexander Barclay^ 
 
 An Author of great Eminence, and Merit ; tho* 
 not fo much as mention'd in any Undertaking of 
 this Nature before. He ftiles himfelf Prieft, and 
 Chaplain in the College of St. Mary-Otory, in the 
 County of Devon, and afterwards Monk of Ely. 
 His principal Work is a Tranflatiori of a Satirical 
 Piece, written originally in High-Dutch, and in- 
 titled, The Ship of Fools : It expofes the Cha- 
 racters, Vices, and Follies of all Degrees of Men^ 
 and* (tho* neither fo Copious in the Fakle, as 
 fo pleafant a Title promifes ; or fo mafterly in 
 Execution as the Canterbury T'ales] has, yet, more 
 Merit than, I think, could be expedited from 
 fo barren, and impolite an Age. In the Prologue 
 to this, he makes an Apology for his Youth ; and 
 D it
 
 34 The Mufes Library. 
 
 it appears, in the Conclufion, that the Whole was 
 nnim'd Ann. Dom. 1508. which was the laft Year, 
 or laft but one of Henry VII. an Interval (if we may 
 judge by the Length of the Peformance) of fome 
 Years ! The Reader will, no doubt, obferve, by 
 the Quotations, that he greatly improves the Lan- 
 guage ; there being no Comparrifon between Him, 
 and Harding ; who wrote but very few Years be- 
 fore Him. And, in Elegancy of Manners, he feems 
 to have the Advantage of all his Predeceflbrs : as 
 is particularly remarkable, in his Addrefs to Sir 
 Gyles Alington ; his Patron. The Poet was now 
 grown old, and the Knight defiring him to abridge, 
 and improve Cowers Ccnfeffio Amantis^ He declines 
 it in the politeft Manner, on the Account of his 
 Age, Profeffion, and Infirmities ; But, tho* Love is 
 an improper Subject ; fays he, in other Words, I 
 am ftill an Admirer of the Sex ; and mail introduce, 
 to the Honour of your Acquaintance, Four of the 
 fineft Ladies that Nature ever Fram'd, Prudence^ 
 Temperance^ Juftice, and Magnanimity. Some Parts 
 of his Addrefs are fo exceeding courtly, that 'twou'd 
 be inexcufable to omit them. 
 
 you thefe accorde, thefe unto you are due, 
 Of you kte preceding as of their head-fountayne ; 
 Your life as example in writing I enfue, 
 For, more then my writing within it can conteyne, 
 Your maners perfourmeth and doth thereto attayne : 
 So touching thefe vertues, ye haue in your liuing 
 More then this my meter conteyneth in writing. 
 
 My
 
 The Mufes Library. 35 
 
 My dities indited may counfell many one, 
 
 But not you, your maners furmounteth my doctrine; 
 
 Wherefore, I regarde you, and your maners all one* 
 
 After whofe liuing my procefle I combine : 
 
 So other men inftructing, I muft to you encline, 
 
 Conforming my procefle as muche as I am able, 
 
 To your fad behauour and maners commendable. 
 
 But, through your hye courage belonging to a knight; 
 Mufe on greater matters then I intende to write : 
 Yet all thinges ended at morning or at night, 
 Reade this my rude meter at leafure and refpite* 
 The Egle at all feafons hath not her mofte delite 
 To flee to the cloudes, nor hyre in the ayre, 
 Sometime riere lowe neldes her pleafeth to repayre. 
 
 And oft hath me pleafure in flying nere the grounde: 
 So when greater cures will graunt to you refpite, 
 And when your minde from them for feafori is un- 
 
 bounde ; 
 
 Graunt then to our mufes fome pleafure and delite, 
 That gladly for to reade, which gladly I indite : 
 My fpirit mall reioyce to hear that, in effect, 
 My wqrkesye (hall reade, and them mende and correct. 
 D 2 For
 
 36 The Mufes Library. 
 
 For, though in rude meter my matter I compile, 
 Men mail count it ornate, when ye it lift to reade, 
 Your tonge mail it polifhe, garnime, adorne, and file. 
 
 The Clamour to the Fooles. 
 
 IO Ship galantes ! the fea is at the full, 
 
 The winde vs calleth, our fayles are difplayde, 
 Where may we beft ariue, at Lin, or els at Hull ? 
 To vs may no hauen in Englande be denayde, 
 Why tary we ? the ankers are up wayde, 
 If any Corde or Cable vs hurt, let, or hinder, 
 Let flip the ende, or els hewe it in funder ! 
 
 Returne your fight, beholde vnto the more, 
 There is great number that fayne would aborde, 
 They get no roume, our Ihip can holde no more : 
 Haufe in the Cocke, geue them no other worde. 
 God gide vs from rockes, quickfande tempeft and forde ! 
 If any man of warre, wether or winde appeare, 
 My felfe mall trye the winde and kepe the Steare. 
 
 But
 
 Mufes Library. 37 
 
 But I pray you, readers, have ye no dildayne, 
 Though Barclay have prefumed of audacitie 
 This fhip to rule as chiefe matter and captayne, 
 Though fome thinke them felues much worthier then 
 
 he: 
 
 It were great maruell forfoth fith he hath be 
 A fcholer longe, and that in diuers fcholes, 
 But he might be captayne of a fhip of fooles. 
 
 But if that any one be in fuche maner cafe 
 That he will chalenge the mafterfhip fro me, 
 Yet in my (hip can I not want a place, 
 For in euery place my felfe I ofte may fee : 
 But this I leaue, befeching eche degree 
 To pardon my youth and to bolde enterprife, 
 For harde is it duely to fpeake of euery vice. 
 
 For if I had tonges an hundred, and wit to fele 
 All thinges naturall and fupernaturall, 
 A thoufande mouthes and voyce as harde as ftele, 
 And fene all the feuen Sciences liberall, 
 Yet could I neuer touche the vices all 
 And fin of the world, ne their braunches comprehende, 
 though I liued vnto the worldes ends, 
 
 P 3 But
 
 fbe Mufes Library. 
 
 But if thefe vices which mankinde doth incomber 
 Were cleane expelled, and vertue in their place, 
 I coulde not haue gathered of fooles fo great a number, 
 Whofe folly from them out chafeth Gods grace : 
 But euery man that knowes himfelfe in that cafe, 
 To this rude booke let him gladly intende, 
 And learne the way his lewdnes to amende. 
 
 i 
 
 72><? Book - Worm. 
 
 AM the firft fooleqf all the whole nauie, 
 To keepe the Pompe, the Helme and eke the 
 
 Sayle : 
 
 For this is my minde, this one pleafure haue I, 
 Of bookes to haue great plentie and apparayle. 
 I take no wifedome by them, nor yet auayle, 
 Nor them perceaue not, and then I them defpife : 
 Thus am I a foole, and all that fue that guife. 
 
 f I ^HAT in this Ship the chiefe place I gouerne, 
 -*- By this wide Sea with fooles wandring, 
 The caufe js plaine and eafy to difcerne, 
 Still am I bufy, bookes aflembling, 
 For to haue plentie it is a pleafaunt thing 
 
 fc
 
 7 "he Mufes Library. 39 
 
 In my conceyt, and to haue them ay in hande : 
 But what they meane do I not underftande. 
 
 But yet I haue them in great reuerence 
 
 And honoure, fauing them from filth and ordure, 
 
 By often brufhing and much diligence, 
 
 Full goodly bounde in pleafaunt couerture, 
 
 Of Damas, Sattin, or els of Veluet pure : 
 
 I keepe them fure, fearing leaft they mould be loft, 
 
 For in them is the cunning wherein I me boaft. 
 
 But if it fortune that any learned men 
 
 Within my houfe fall to difputation, 
 
 I drawe the curtaynes to fhewe my bokes then, 
 
 That they of my cunning mould make probation : 
 
 I kepe not to fall in alterication. 
 
 And while they commen,my bookes I turn and winde, 
 
 For all is in them, and nothing in my minde. 
 
 Why mould I ftudie to hurt my wit tlierby, 
 Or trouble my minde with ftudie excefliue. 
 Sithe many are which ftudie right bufely, 
 And yet thereby mall they neuer thriue : 
 The fruite of wifdome can they not contriue, 
 
 D 4 And
 
 40 7*he Mufes Library. 
 
 And many to fludie fo much are enclinde, 
 That vtterly they fall out of their minde. 
 
 Eche is not lettred that now is made a lorde, 
 Nor eche a Clerke that hath a benefice : 
 They are not all lawyers that plees do recorde, 
 All that are promoted ^re not fully wife, 
 On futhe chaunce nowe Fortune throwes heir dice, 
 That though one knowe but the yrime game, 
 Yet would he haue a gentlemans name. 
 
 So, in like wife, I am in fuch cafe. 
 
 Though I nought can I woulde be called wife : 
 
 Alfo I may fet another in my place, 
 
 Which may for me my bookes exercife, 
 
 Or els I mail enfue the common guife, 
 
 And fay c once do to euery argument, 
 
 Leaft by much fpeeche my latin mould be fpent. 
 
 I am like other Clerkes which fo frowardly them gyde, 
 That after they are once come vnto promotion : 
 They geue them to pleafure, their fludy fet afide, 
 Their auarice couering with fained deuotion. 
 Yet dayly they preache, and haue great derifion 
 Againft the rude lay men, and all for couetife, 
 Though their own confcie.nce be blinded with that vice.
 
 The Mufes Library. 41 
 
 <Tbe Hypocrite, 
 
 TTER E maketh mine authour a fpeciall mencion 
 
 "* Of ypocrites not perfect of beleue, 
 
 And fuche as abufeth their religion, 
 
 But I {hall not fo marply them repreue, 
 
 I am full lothe religious men to greue, 
 
 Or difcontcnt, for, if I fo do would, 
 
 A mighty volume could not their vices holde, 
 
 I leaue their pride, I leaue their couetife, 
 I will not touche their malice nor enuy ; 
 Nor them that Venus toyes exercife, 
 J will not blame nor touche openly ; 
 It were but foly fith is no remedy, 
 But if I mould vpon me take the payne, 
 A newe labour I mould begin agayne. 
 
 I them not touche that cunning men difdayne, 
 There were none ende in blaming all the fooles, 
 The maners rude, vngodly and vilayne, 
 And afTes eares cloaked vnder coules, 
 Knowing nothing, contemning yet the fcooles ! 
 AU thefe to touche and fundry vices mo, 
 Jt were to fore a charge and payne to do, 
 
 I will
 
 42 The Mufes Library. 
 
 I will not fay that they vfe any finne, 
 Yet oft forfooth they follow not the way 
 Of the religion that they haue entred in, 
 Though they the name and habite not denay ; 
 Yet of their life full harde it is to fay, 
 But often at ende it proueth euident, 
 That vnder floures lurketh the ferpent. 
 
 The wolfe or foxe is hid within the fldn, 
 Of the fimple fheepe poor and innocent, 
 Mekenefs without, but pride is hid within, 
 The wordes faire, but falfe is their intent, 
 No fort by falfhood or ways fraudulent, 
 May fooner deceyue good folke by any way, 
 Then the wicked fort of ypocrites may, 
 
 Hange vp the fcapler, the ames-coule and frocke, 
 Or other habite of eche religion, 
 Upon a tree cleane dede or rotten ftocke! 
 Such are thofe fooles that haue profeflion, 
 Leauing their right rule in eche condition ; 
 They bere the habite, the vefture or the wede, 
 And eke the name without the thing in deede. 
 
 They
 
 The Mufes Library. 43 
 
 i 
 
 They outwarde in face prefent humilitie, 
 
 As if they were holy and perfect of living, 
 
 Yet would they not of men defpifed be : 
 
 They fayne them poore, yet will they lacke nothing, 
 
 Touching their habite, vefture or cloathing. 
 
 They will the fame in coftly maner drefle, 
 
 Without all care, thought, trouble or bufynes. 
 
 They looke to be fed well and delicioufly, 
 Without kbour, therein is no delite ; 
 Some men they flatter, but other they enuy 5 
 And other fome they cruelly backbite ; 
 Some men to malice by falfhoode they excite: 
 As dogges they bite fome in playne audience 
 For finne, though they commit the fame offence. 
 
 As foxes full of falfhood and of gile, 
 
 By fubtiltle they all their workes gide, 
 
 They boldly other for ftatelynes reuile, 
 
 Yet as proude Lions are they accloyed with pride ; 
 
 And, while that they in company abide, 
 
 They fhewe them outwarde as Lambes innocent, 
 
 ]Like nwifliing wolues yet are they of intent. 
 
 They
 
 44- 7^ Mufes Library. 
 
 They will be Judges without authorise, 
 And witnefles without knowledge or fight, 
 They will be doctours of patting grauitie, 
 Without procefTe in ftudy day and night : 
 And to be fhort, by judgement vnright 
 They oft accufe good men, them to opprefle, 
 Their felfe yet bare of vertue and goodnes. 
 
 Here purpofe I no farther to precede, 
 
 Let euery man chofe for him felfe a place, 
 
 As he mail in this booke ouerfee or rede 
 
 For him mofte meete ! man knoweth beft his cafe ! 
 
 And here mail I, by Gods helpe and grace, 
 
 Drawe all my nauy to hauens for to reft, 
 
 For feare of winter ftormes and tempeft. 
 
 Wifedome hath geuen me this commandment, 
 My wit is wery, my hande and heade alfo, 
 Wherefore I gladly with all my heart afTent, 
 And leape amorre among the other mo. 
 But in my iournay if that I haue mifgo 
 By biting wordes or fcarcenes of fcience, 
 I yelde me vnto men of more prudence. 
 
 He
 
 The Mufes Library. 45 
 
 He likewife tranflated the Ecclogues of JEneas- 
 Syhius, afterwards Pope, by the Name of Pius-Se- 
 cundus. When he dy'd is not known. 
 
 Robert Fabian, 
 
 Sheriff, and Alderman of London ; He wrote in 
 the Reigns of Henry the Seventh, and Henry the 
 Eighth, two large Hiftories from the Landing 
 of Brutus-, to the Death of Henry the Seventh, thefe 
 are in Profe, and he is to be admir'd for his 
 Judgment that they are : Since there were fo many 
 bad Examples to miflead him. His Poetry coniifts 
 in Prologues to the different Divifions of his Annals; 
 and, here and there a Tranflation. Every Body will 
 fee that it does not deferve much Praife ; but as 
 'tis very rare that Men of Bufinefs, unbend them- 
 felves with the Mufes, I thought a Sample of his 
 Vein, was both his Due, and wou'd be look'd upon 
 at leaft as a Curiofity. 
 
 tranflated from the Latin of the unfortunate 
 Edward the Second. 
 
 T XT" HEN Saturne, with his cold, ifye Face 
 
 The Ground with his Froftes turneth the 
 
 grene to white, 
 
 The Time Winter, which Trees doth deface, 
 And caufeth all Verdure to avoyde quite ; 
 Then Fortune, which fharpe was, with ftormes not 
 
 alite 
 
 Hath me aflaulted with her froward Wyll, 
 And me beclipped with Daungers ryght yll. 
 
 What.
 
 46 The Mufes Library. 
 
 What Man in this World, is fo wyfe or fayre, 
 So prudent, fo vertuous, or famous under th'ayre, 
 But that for a Foole, and for a Man difpyfed 
 Shal be take, whan Fortune is from him devided ? 
 
 Alas ! now I crie, but no Man doth me moone ! 
 For I fue to them, that pitie of me have none. 
 Many with great Honours I did whylome avance 
 That now with Dyfhonoure doeri me ftyng and launce. 
 And fuch as fometime did me greatly fere, 
 Me difpife, and let not with Slaunder me to derc. 
 
 O mercyfull Gob what Love they did me 
 
 And with Detraction they do me hacke and hewe. 
 
 Alas! mofte finfull Wretche^ why mould I thus 
 
 complayne, 
 
 If God be pleafed, that I mould thus fufteyne : 
 For the great Offence before by me doone ; 
 Wherefore to thee goode Lorde ! I wyll retourne eftc 
 
 foone, 
 
 And wholy committe me, thy great mercy uniyll,' 
 And take in Patience, all that may be thy Wyll, 
 And all onely thee ferve with all diligence. 
 Alas that before this Tyme, I had not that Sence! 
 
 But 
 
 I
 
 Mufes Library. 47 
 
 But now good Lorde ! which arte omnipotente ! 
 Beholde the moft wretched and greatly Penitente, 
 And of my TrefpafTe, Forgivenefs thou me graunte: 
 And by that Sorrow, my Carkes is now daunte ! 
 
 Graunt it may be to my Soule remedy, 
 
 That the fooner I may attayne it by. 
 
 For to the fweete Jefu y I yelde me fore weepyng, 
 
 And afke of thee Pardon, for my greuous Synnyng. 
 
 An Apology for having prais'd the City of 
 London, in Verfes, which he calls Ryme-DoggereL 
 
 TXT* HO fo him lyketh thefe Verfys to rede, 
 * With Favour I pray he will them Spell ; 
 Let not the Rudenefs of theym hym lede 
 For to difprave thys Ryme-Dogerell : 
 Some Part of the Honour it doth you tell 
 Of this old Cytye Troynovant ; 
 But not thereof the halfe dell ; 
 Connyng in the Maker is fo adaunt 5 
 But, though he had the Eloquence 
 Of Tulfy, and the Moralytye 
 Of Seneck, and the Influence 
 Of the Swyte-fugred Armony, 
 
 Or
 
 4 8 Tte Mufes Library. 
 
 Or that fair Ladye Caliope ; 
 Yet had he not connyng perfyght, 
 This Citye to prayfe in eche Degre, 
 As that fhuld duely afke by Ryght< 
 
 "John Skeltoti, 
 
 The Reftorer of Invention in Engtijh Poetry ! wag 
 born of an ancient Family in Cumberland, received his 
 Education at Oxford, and, afterwards, efltring into Ho- 
 ly Orders j was made Rector otDyJJe in Norfolk, in the 
 Reign of Henry the Eighth ; tho', in my Opinion, 
 He appear'd firft in that of Henry the Seventh, and 
 may be faid, to be the Growth of that Time. Some 
 bitter Satires on the Clergy, and particularly, his keen 
 Reflections on Cardinal Wolfiy, drew on him fo fevefe 
 Profecutions, that he was oblig'd to fly for Sanctuary 
 to Weftminfter, under the Protection of IJlip the Ab- 
 bot; where He dy'd in the Year 1529. It appears, 
 by his Poem, intitled, The Crown of Laurel, that his 
 Performances were very numerous, tho' fo few of 
 Them remain : In thefe is a very rich Vein of Wit, 
 Humour, and Poetry, tho' much debas'd by the 
 Ruft of the Age He liv*d in. His Satirs are re- 
 markably broad, open, and ill-bred ; the Verfe 
 cramp'd by a very mort Meafure, and incumber'd 
 with fuch a Profufion of Rhimes, as makes the Poet 
 almoft as ridiculous, as Thofe he endeavours to ex- 
 pofe. In his more ferious Pieces, He is not guil- 
 ty of this Abfurdity ; and confines himfelf to a regular 
 Stanza, according to the then reigning Mode. His 
 Eouge of Court, is, in my Opinion, a Poem of great 
 Merit : it abounds with Wit, and Imagination, and 
 argues him well vers'd in Human Nature, and the 
 Manners of that inlinuating Place. The Allegorical 
 
 Characters
 
 The Mufes Library. 49 
 
 Characters are finely defcrib'd, and as well fuftain'd ; 
 The Fabrick of the Whole, I believe, entirely his 
 own, and, not improbably, may have the Honour to 
 be a Hint, even to the inimitable Spencer ; But, as 
 his Poems have been lately reprinted, I fhall only an- 
 nex the Prologue, and fubmit this Conjecture to the 
 Correction of better Judges. 
 
 How, or by whofe Intereft He was made Lau- 
 reat, or whether 'twas a Title He aflum'd himfelf, 
 I cannot learn. Neither is his Principal Patron any 
 where nam'd , but, if his Poem of the Crown of 
 Lawrell, before mention'd, has any Covert-meaning, 
 He had the Honour to have the Ladies for his 
 Friends, and the Countefs of Surrey, the Lady Eliza* 
 betb Howard, and many others united their Services 
 in his Favour. 
 
 tte Prologue to the Bouge of Court. 
 T N Autumpne, whan thefanne in vyrgyne, 
 By radyante hete, enryped hath our corne, 
 Whan Luna, full of mutabylyte, 
 As Emperes the dyademe hath worne 
 Of our pole artyke, fmylynge halfe in fcorne 
 At our foly, and our vnftedfaftnefle, 
 The tyme whan Mars to warre hym dyd dres, 
 
 I, callynge to mynde the great aucloryte 
 Of poetes olde, whiche full craftely, 
 
 E Vtider
 
 50 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Vnder as couerte termes as coulde be, 
 Can touche a trouth, and cloke fubtylly 
 With frefhe vtteraunce ; full fentencyoufly, 
 Dyuerfe in ftyle : fome fpared not vyce to wryte, 
 Some of mortalitie nobly dyd endyte. 
 
 Whereby I rede, theyr renome and theyr fame 
 Maye neuer dye, but euermore endure, 
 I was fore moued to a-forfe the fame : 
 But ignoraunce full foone dyde me dyfcure, 
 And mewed that in this arte I was not fure t 
 For to illumine me fayd I was to dulle, 
 Aduyfynge me my penne awaye to pulle, 
 
 And not to wryte : for he fo wyll atteyne 
 Excedyng ferther than his connynge is, 
 His head maye be harde, but feble, his brayne; 
 Yet haue I knov/en fuche er this : 
 But of reproche furely he maye not mys, 
 That clymmeth hyer than he may fotinge haue ! 
 What and he flyde downe, who fhalf hym faue ? 
 
 Thus, vp and downe,my my nde was drawen and caft, 
 That I ne wyfte what to do was befte, 
 
 So
 
 The Mufes Library. 5 1 
 
 So fore enwered that I was, at the kfte, 
 Enforfed to flepe, and for to take fome refte, 
 And to lye downe as fbone as I my drefte ; 
 At Harwyche-porte, flumbrynge as I laye 
 In myne hoftes houfe called, Powers keye ! 
 
 Me thought I fawe a myppe, goodly of fayle^ 
 Come faylyng forth into that hauen brood, 
 Her takelyng ryche and of hye apparayle ; 
 She kaft an anker, and there me laye at rode ; 
 Marchauntes her borded to fe what me had; 
 Therein they founde Royall marchaundyfe, 
 Fraghted with pleafure of what ye could deuife. 
 
 But than I thought I wolde not dwell behynde, 
 Amange all other I put my felfe in prece ; 
 Than there could I none aquentaunce fynde ; 
 There was moche noyfe : anone one cryed cefe 
 Sharpely commaundynge eche man holde his pece f 
 Mayfters he fayd, ' the fhyp that ye here fe 
 The bowge of courts it hyghte for certeynte. 
 
 The owner thereof is lady of eftate, 
 Whoos name to tell is dame faunce-pert ; 
 
 E 2 Her
 
 52 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Her marchaundyfe is ryche and fortunate; 
 But who will haue it mufte paye therfore dere : 
 This royall chaffre that is fhypped here 
 Is called fauoure to ftonde in her good grace; 
 Than fhould ye fe there preflynge in a pace 
 
 Of one and other, that wolde this lady fe y 
 Which fat behynde a tranes of fylke fyne 
 Of golde of teflew, the fyneft that myght be, 
 In a trone whiche ferre clerer dyd fhyne 
 Than Pbebus in his fpere celeftyne ; 
 Whoos beaut ie, honoure, goodly porte 
 J haue to lytell connynge to reporte. 
 
 But, cf eche thynge there are as I toke hede, 
 Among all other was wryten in her trone 
 In golde leters, this worde whiche I dyd rede. 
 Garde le fortune que eft maulez et bone ! 
 And, as I ftode redyng this verfe my felfe alone, 
 Her chyef gentylwoman, daunger by her name, 
 Gaue me a-taunte and fayd I was to blame 
 
 To be fo perte to prefe fo proudely uppe : 
 She fayd ; me trowed that I had eaten faufe 
 
 She
 
 The Mufes Library. 53 
 
 She afked yf euer I dranke of fauces cuppe ? 
 And I than foftely anfwered to that claufe 
 That fo to faye, I had gyuen her no caufe. 
 Than afked me me Syr fo God the fpede 
 What is thy name ? and I fayd it was Drede. 
 
 What moued the quod, me, hydder to come ? 
 Forfoth quod I to bye fome of your ware ! 
 And with that worde on me fhe gaue a glome 
 With browes bente, and gan on me to ftare 
 Full daynoufly, and fro me me dyd fare 
 Leuynge me ftondynge as a mafed man. 
 To whome there came an other gentilwoman, 
 
 Defire her name was, and fo fhe me tolde 
 Sayenge to me. Brother be of good chere ! 
 Abasfhe you not but hardely be bolde! 
 Auaunce your felfe to aproche and come nere ! 
 What though our chaffer be neuer fo dere, 
 Yet I auyfe you to fpeke for ony drede? 
 Who fpareth to fpeke, in faith he fpareth to fped ! 
 
 Maiftres quod I, I haue none aquentaunce 
 That wyll for me be medyatoure, and mene j 
 
 E 2 But
 
 54 The Mufes Library. 
 
 But this another I haue but fmale fubftaunce. 
 Peace quod Dejyre, ye fpeke not worth a bene ! 
 Yf ye haue not in fayth I will you lene 
 A precious Jewell, no rycher in this londe ! 
 Bon auenture haue here nowe in your honde, 
 
 Shyfte now therwith let fe as ye can, 
 In Bowge of courte dieuyfaunce to make ! 
 For I dare faye that there nys erthly man 
 But and he can bone auenture take : 
 There can no favoure nor frendihyp him forfake ; 
 Bone auenture may brynge you in fuche cafe, 
 That ye mall ftonde in fauoure and in grace. 
 
 But of one thynge I warne you er I goo 
 She tiakftyreth tbejhyp make her your frende ! 
 Mayftres quod I, I praye you tel me why fo ? 
 And how I may that waye and meanes fynde ? 
 Forfoth quod me how euer blowe the wynde, 
 Fortune gydeth and ruleth all our fhyppe ; 
 Whom me hateth mall ouer the fhyp-borde flcyp. 
 
 Whome me loueth of all pleafure is riche, 
 Whyles me laugheth and hath lufte for to playe, 
 
 Whome
 
 Mufes Library. 55 
 
 Whome fhe hateth fhe cafteth in the dyche ; 
 For whan fhe frouneth fhe thinketh to make a fray : 
 She cherysfhed hym, and hym fhe chafleth away. 
 Alas quod I how myght I haue her fure ? 
 In fayth quod fhe by bone auenture ! 
 
 Thus, in a row of marchauntes, a grete route 
 Sued to fortune that fhe wolde be theyr frynde : 
 They thronge in fafte and flocked her aboute, 
 And I with them prayed her to h^ue in mynde. 
 She promyfed to vs all fhe wolde be kynde : 
 Of Bowge of court fhe afketh what we wold haue ? 
 And we zikedfauoure, and fauoure fhe vs gaue. 
 
 Henry Howard Earl of Surrey, 
 
 Not more remarkable for his illuftrious Birth, than 
 his fine Accomplifhmeiits : Being acknowledg'd by 
 all, the gallanteft Man, the politeft Lover, and inoft 
 
 perfect Gentleman of his Times. He was eldeft 
 
 Son of Thomas Duke of Norfolk, defcended from the 
 Heroick King Edward the Firft, received his Edu- 
 cation at Windfor^ with a natural Son of Henry the 
 Eighth's, and became firft eminent for his Devotion, 
 to the beautiful Geraldine, Maid of Honour to Queen 
 Catherine : 'Twas fhe firft infpir'd Him with Poetry, 
 and that Poetry has made her Immortal. - The 
 young Lord was even fo tranfported with his PafTion, 
 that he made a Tour to the moft elegant Courts in 
 E 4 Europe,
 
 5 6 "The Mufes Library. 
 
 Europe, to maintain her Beauty Peerlefs, againft all 
 Oppofers i and, every where, made good his Chal- 
 lenge with Honour. 
 
 Hiftory is filent, why all thefe extraordinary Gal- 
 lantries did not end in a Wedding ; but we find him 
 afterwards marry'd to Frances, Daughter to John 
 Earl of Oxford ; by whom he left feveral Children. 
 
 The reft of his Life was fpent in Arms for the 
 Service of his Country, acquiring, by his Bravery, 
 the higheft Reputation at the Battle of Flodden-Field-, 
 where James the Fourth of Scotland was flain. 
 
 At laft, being fufpected, by the King, of a Defign to 
 wed the Princefs Mary (his former Lady being dead) and 
 thereby advance Himfelf to a Poflibility of wearing 
 the Crown, he fell into Difgrace ; The adding foms 
 Part of the Royal Arms to his own, was made a 
 Pretence to impeach him of High-Treafon, and, 
 tho* juftified by the Heralds, he was condemn'd, by 
 the Suffrage of a Jury of Commoners, to lofe his 
 Head: Which was accordingly executed, all his 
 Merits, and Services forgot ! on January 19, 1547. 
 He was the fir ft of the Englijh Noblemen, who 
 cjiftinguim'd himfelf by a Fellowihip with the Mufes; 
 but, in Purity of Language, and Sweetnefs of Sound, 
 far furpafs'd his Contemporaries, and all that had 
 preceded him.^-Nay, I believe no Writer that follow- 
 ed him for many Years, can juftly vie with him in 
 either of thefe Beauties. In a Word, he broke thro* 
 the Faihion of Stanzas, and wrote fb much in the 
 Manner of the prefent Times, that many of his 
 Lines would do Honour to the moft Elegant of the 
 Moderns. SirTfamas Wyat, Churchyard, Sir Philip 
 Sydney, Draiton, Dryden, Mr. Pope, Fenton, and 
 many other Authors have given their Teftimony of 
 his Merits , but, beyond all Authorities, his own, 
 Works. 
 
 Defcrip-.
 
 The Mufes "Library. 57 
 
 Defcription and Praife of Us Love Geraldine. 
 
 TJ1ROM Tufcane came my Ladies worthy Race, 
 * Faire Florence was fometyme her auncient Seate j 
 The Weftern Yle whofe pleafant Shore doth face 
 Wild Cambers Clifs, did geve her lyuely heate : 
 Foftered me was, with milke of Irifhe breft : 
 Her Sire, an Erie, her Dame, of Princes blood ; 
 From Tender yeres, in Britaine me doth reft, 
 With Kinges Childe, where me tafteth Coftly foode. 
 Hondfon did firft prefent her to myne yien : 
 Bright is her hewe, and Geraldine me hight, 
 Hampton me taught, to wime her firft for mine, 
 And Windfbr, alas, doth chafe me from her Sight. 
 Her Beauty of Kinde, her Vertue from above, 
 Happy is he, that can Obtain her Love. 
 
 Defcription of Spring, wherein eche thing renewes y 
 fave only the Lover. 
 
 rri H E foote feafon that bud, and bloome fourth 
 
 -*- bringes, 
 
 With grene hath cladde the hyll, and eke the vale, 
 The Nightingall with fethers new me finges ; 
 
 The
 
 58 The Mufes Library. 
 
 The turtle to her mate hath told her tale : 
 Somer is come, for every fpray now fprmges -, 
 The hart hath hung hys olde head on the pale, 
 The bucke in brake his winter coate he flynges ; 
 The fimes flete with new repayred fcale : 
 The adder all her flough away me flynges ; 
 The fwift fwallow purfueth the flyes fmalle, 
 The bufy bee her honey how me mynges ; 
 Winter is worne that was the floures ball. 
 And thus I fee among thefe pleafant thynges 
 Eche care decayes, and yet my forrow fprynges. 
 
 Definition of the reftlefs eft ate of a Lover. 
 T X THEN youth had led me halfe the race, 
 
 * That Cupides fcourge had made me runne i 
 I looked back to meet the place, 
 From whence my weary courfe begunne : 
 And then I faw ho we my defyre, 
 Mifguiding me, had led the waye, 
 Myne eyne to greedy of theyre hyre, 
 Had made me lofe a better prey. 
 For when in fighes I fpent the day, 
 And could not cloake my Grief with gayne ; 
 The boyling fmoke dyd ftill bewray, 
 The prefent heate of fecret flame : 
 And when fait teares do bayne my breaft, Where
 
 The Mufes Library. 59 
 
 Where love his pleafant traynes hath fowen, 
 
 Her beauty hath the fruytes oppreft, 
 
 Ere that the buddes were fpronge and blowne. 
 
 And when myne eyen dyd ftill purfue. 
 
 The flying chafe of theyr requeft ; 
 
 Theyre greedy looks dyd oft renew, 
 
 The hydden wounde within my brefte. 
 
 When every Joke thefe cheekes might ftayne, 
 
 From dedly pale to glowing red ; 
 
 By outward fignes appeared playne, 
 
 To her for helpe my hart was fled. 
 
 But, all to late, Love learneth me, 
 
 To paynt all kynd of Colours new ; 
 
 To blynd theyre eyes that elfe mould fee 
 
 My fpeckled chekes with cupids hew. 
 
 And now the covert bred I clame, 
 
 That worfhit Cupide feeretely i 
 
 And nourifhed hys facred flame, 
 
 From whence no blairing fparkes do flye. 
 
 'The frailty >e and hurtfulnes of Beaut ie. 
 
 Kittle Beautie that nature made fo fraile, 
 Whereof the gifte is fmall, and mort the Seafon -, 
 Flowring to day, to morowe apt to faile, 
 
 Tickled
 
 60 'The Mufes Library. 
 
 Tickled treafure, abhorred of reafon: 
 Dangerous to deale with, vaine of none availe, 
 Coftly in keeping, paft not worthe two peafon ; 
 Slipper in fliding, as is an Eles Taile ; 
 Harde to attain, once gotten not geafon. 
 Jewell of Jeopardie, that peril doth aflaille, 
 Falfe and vntrewe, enticed oft to Treafon ; 
 Enemy to youth, that moft may I bewaile ; 
 Ah bitter Swete ' infecting as the poyfon, 
 Thou fareft as frute, that with the froft is taken, 
 To day redy ripe, to morow al to fhaken. 
 
 A Vowe to love faithfully Howfoeuer be be rewarded. 
 
 Q1ET me whereas the Sonne doth parch the grene, 
 l-f Or where his beames do not dyflblve the Yfe, 
 Intemperate heat, where he is felt, and fene, 
 In prefence preft of people, madde, or Wife j 
 Set me in hye, or yet in lowe degree, 
 In Longeft night, or in the morteft day ; 
 In cleared Skye, or where cloudes thickefl be, 
 In lufty Youth or when my heares are graye : 
 SeVme-in Heaven, in Earth, or elfe in Hell, 
 In Hyll, or dale, or in the foaming flood j 
 
 Thrall,
 
 The Mufes Library. 61 
 
 Thrall) or at large, alyve where fo I dwell, 
 Sicke, or in helthe, in evyll fame or good ; 
 Hers will I be, and only with this thought, 
 Content my fel, although my chaunce be nought. 
 
 Prifoner in Wtndfor, he recountetb bis pleafure 
 there pafled. 
 
 O cruell prifon howe could betyde, alas ! 
 As proude Windfor : Where I in Luft and Joy, 
 Wythe a Kynges Sonne, my chyldyfh yeres dyd pafle, 
 In greater feaft, than Priams Sonnes of Troye : 
 Where eche fwete place returnes a taftfull fower : 
 The large grene where we were wont to rove, 
 Wyth Eyes caft up into the Maydens tower, 
 And eafy fighes, fuch as folkes draw in Love : 
 The ftately feates, the Ladies brighte of hewe ; 
 The Daunces fhort, long tales of greate delight 
 Wyth woordes and lookes, thatTygers could but re we, 
 Where eche of us dyd pleade the others ryghte. 
 The palme play, where defpoyled for the game, 
 With dared Eyes oft we by gleames of Love, 
 Have myft the Ball, and got fighte of our Dame 
 To bayte her Eyes, whyche kept the leads above: 
 The gravel ground, wythe fleves tyde on the helme 
 
 On
 
 62 The Mufes Library. 
 
 On fomyng horfe, with fwordes and friendly hartes; 
 Wythe chere as though one fhoulde another whelme; 
 Where we have fought, and chafed oft wyth dartes. 
 With Silver droppes the meade yet fpreade for ruthe^ 
 In adlives games of Nimblenefs and Strength, 
 Where we did ftrayne trayned wyth fwarmes of youthe 
 Our tender limmes, that yet mot up in lengthe. 
 The fecrete groves which oft we made refounde, 
 Of pleafant playnte, and of our Ladies prayfe, 
 Recordyng of what grace eche one had founde, 
 What hope of fpede, what dreade of long delayes. 
 The wylde forrefte, the clothed holes with grene, 
 With raynes availed and fwiftly breathed horfe ; 
 Wyth cry of Houndes andy merry blaftes betwene, 
 Where we did chafe the fearful hart of force. 
 The wyde vales efce, that harborde us eche nyghte, 
 Wherewyth, (alas) reviveth in my brefte ; 
 The fwete accorde, fuch flepes as yet delyghti 
 The pleafant dreames the quyet bed of reft : 
 The fecret thoughtes imparted with fuch truft, 
 The wanton talke, the dyvers chaunge of playe ; 
 The Friendfhip fworne, eche promife kept to faft, 
 Wherewith we paft the Winter nyght away. 
 And wyth thys thoughte, the bloud forfakes the face, 
 
 The
 
 The Mufes Library. 63 
 
 The tears berayne my chekes of deadly hewe, 
 The whyche as foone as fobbyng lighes, (alas !) 
 Upfupped have, thus, I my playnt renew; 
 O place of blilTe ! renewer of my Woes ! 
 Give me accompt where is my noble fere, 
 Whom in thy walles thou doeft eche nyghte enclofe, 
 To other lufe, but unto me moft clere : 
 Eccho (alas \) that doth my forrow rewe, 
 Returns thereto a hollowe founde of playnt ; 
 Thus I alone, where all my freedome grewe, 
 In pryfon pyne, wythe bondage and reftraynt : 
 And with remembrance of the greater griefe, 
 To banime the lefle I fynd my chief reliefe. 
 
 Complaint of the abfence of for Lover being upon 
 the Seas. 
 
 Happy Dames that may Embrace^ 
 The finite of your delyghte j 
 Helpe to bewayle the woefull cafe, 
 And eke the heavy plyghte 
 Of me that wonted to reioyce, 
 The fortune of my pleafant choice : 
 Good Ladyes helpe to fyll my mourning voice, 
 In Shippe freighte wythe remmembraunce 
 Of thoughtes and pleafures paft, 
 
 He
 
 64 The Mufes Library. 
 
 He fayles that hath in governaunce, 
 My Life while it will laft, 
 With {balding fyghes for lacke of Gale, 
 Furdering hys hope that is his fayle, 
 Toward me, the fwete port of hys avayle, 
 Alas ! how oft in Dreams I fee 
 Thofe Eyes that were my foode, 
 Whych fometyme fo delyted me 
 That yet they do me goode ? 
 Wherewith I wake wy the his returne, 
 Whofe abfent flame dyd make me burn, 
 But when Ifynde the lacke,Lord,how I mournef 
 When other Lovers in armes acrofle, 
 Reioyce their encchyfe delyght ; 
 Drowned in teares to mourne my Lofle 
 I ftand the bytter Nyghte 
 In my Window, where I may fee 
 Before the wyndes how the Cloudes flee 
 Lo ! what a Mariner Love hath made me. 
 And in grene waves when the fait floode 
 Doth ryfe by rage of wynde, 
 A thdufand fanfies in that mood 
 Aflayle my reftlefle Mynde : 
 
 Alas! 
 
 

 
 The Mufes Library. 65 
 
 Alas ! how drencheth my fweet fo, 
 
 That wyth the fpoyle of my hart did go, 
 
 And left me ? But alas ! why did he fo ? 
 
 And, when the feas were calme agayne, 
 
 To chace from me annoye, 
 
 My doubtful hope dcth caufe my playne ; 
 
 So drede cuts of my loye. 
 
 Thus is my wealth myngled with woe, 
 
 And of eche thought a doubt doth growe 
 
 Now he comes ! will he come ? alas ! no ! 
 
 Apraife of hys Love, wherein he reproveth them that 
 compare their Ladies with his. 
 
 GIVE place ye Lovers here before, 
 That fpent your boaftes and bragges in vain ! 
 My Ladies beuty pafleth more, 
 The bed of yours I dare well fayne, 
 Then doth the funne the Caundle-lyght, 
 Or bryghteft Day the darkeft Nyght: 
 And thereto hath a troth as juft, 
 As had Penelope the fayre ; 
 For what me fayeth ye may it truft, 
 As it by wrytyng fealed were: 
 
 F And
 
 66 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And virtues hath me many moe, 
 Than I wyth Pen have fkill to fhowe. 
 I could ftherfe, if that I would, 
 The whole effecte of Natures playnt, 
 When (he had loft the perfect moulde, 
 The lyke to whome fhe could not paynte, 
 With, wringeing hands, how fhe did cry, 
 And what me faid, I know it, I. 
 I knowe fhe fwore with rageing Mynde, 
 Her Kyngdome only fet aparte, 
 There was no lofTe by Law of kynde* 
 That could have gone fo nere her hearte ; 
 And this was chiefely all her payne, 
 She could not make the lyke agayne. 
 Syth Nature thus gave her the prayfe, 
 To be the chiefeft worke fhe wroughte ; 
 In fayth me thynke fome better wayes, 
 On your behalfe myghte well be foughte. 
 Then to compare (as you have done) 
 To matche the candle with the funne.
 
 The Mufes Library. 67 
 
 Ybe meanes to attayne happy lyfe. 
 
 MArtiall^ the thinges that doe attayne 
 The happy lyfe, be thefe I fynde ; 
 The riches left, not got with payne, 
 The fruitfull grounde, the quiet mynde, 
 The egall frend, no grudge, no ftrife, 
 No charge of rule nor governaunce > 
 Without difeafe the healthful lyfe, 
 The houfhold of continuance ; 
 The meanedyef, no delicate fare, 
 True wifedome joynde with fimplenefle ; 
 The night difcharged of all care, 
 Where wine the witte may not opprefle. 
 The faithfull wyfe without debate, 
 Such flepe as may beguile the night, 
 Contented with thine owne eftate, 
 Ne wim for death, ne feare his might. 
 
 How no age is content with his owne eft ate ^ and how 
 the age of Children is the happieft if they had Jkill 
 to undtsrftand it. 
 
 T Ayd an my quiet bed, in fludy as I were, 
 ^^ I fa'W within my troubled head, a heap of 
 thoughts appear, 
 
 F 2 And
 
 68 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And every thought did fhew fo lively in myne eyes, 
 That, now I fight, and then I fmilde, as caufe of 
 
 thoughtes did ryfe. 
 
 I faw the little boy, in thought how oft that he 
 Did wime of God, to fcape the rod, a tall young man 
 
 to be, 
 The young man eke, that feks his bones with paines 
 
 oppreft, 
 
 Plow he would be a riche,old man,tolive andlye at reft : 
 The riche, olde man that fees his end draw on fo fore, 
 How he would be a boy againe to live fo much the more. 
 Whereat full oft I fmylde, to fee how all thefe three, 
 From boy to man, from man to boy, would chop and 
 
 change degree. 
 
 And mufing thus, I think, the cafe is very ftrange, 
 That man from wealth, to live in wo, doth ever feke 
 
 to change, 
 
 Thus, thoughtfull as I lay, I fawe my withered fkyn, 
 How it doth fhew my dented Jawes, the flem was 
 
 worn fo thin, 
 
 And eke my tothelefs chaps, the gates of my right way, 
 That opes and fhuttes, as I do fpeak, do thus unto me 
 
 % 
 
 Tht
 
 The Miffes Library. 69 
 
 The white and horim heres, the meflengers of age, 
 That mew like lines of true belief, that this life doth 
 
 affwage, 
 
 Biddes theelay hand,andfeel them hangingonthy chin. 
 The which doth write to Ages paft, the third now 
 
 coming in, 
 
 Hangup therefore the bitte, of thy yong wanton tyme, 
 And thou that therein beaten art, the happieft*life defyne : 
 Wherat I fighed, and fayde, farewell my wonted toye, 
 Trufle up thy packe, and trudge from me to every 
 
 little boy, 
 
 And tell them thus from me, their time moft happy is, 
 If to theyr time they reafon had, to know the truth 
 
 of this. 
 
 Sir Thomas Wyaf, 
 
 Commonly call'd the Elder, to diftinguim him 
 from another Knight of the fame Name, was a 
 Gentleman of an ancient Family, fettled at Allington- 
 Caftle in Kent, and Contemporary with the Earl of 
 Surrey, who held him in great Efteem. His In- 
 tegrity, and many other valuable Talents recom- 
 mended Him to the Favour of the King, and, tho* 
 an Enemy to a State-Life, as appears by his Writ- 
 ings, He was, at laft, prevailed on to undertake an 
 Embafly to the Emperor Charles the Fifth ; but dy'd 
 of the Plague, by the Way, greatly lamented by 
 :all Lovers of Learning, and Politenefs. In his Poe- 
 F 3 tical
 
 70 ?be Mufes Library. 
 
 tical Capacity, he does not appear to have much Ima- 
 gination ; neither are his Verfes fo mufical or well 
 polifh'd as Lord Surrey's. Thofe of Gallantry, in 
 particular, feem to me too artificial for a Lover, and 
 too negligent for a Poet ; for which Reafon I have 
 quoted but very few of them. His Letters to John 
 Poynes, and Sir Francis Bryan deferve more Notice ; 
 They argue him a Man of great Senfe, and Honour, 
 a critical Obferver of Manners, and very well quali- 
 fied for an elegant, and genteel Satirift. 
 
 The Lover complainetb the unkindnefs of bis love, 
 
 A /TY Lute, awake, perform the laft 
 * * Labour that thou and I mall waft, 
 And ende that I have now begunne ; 
 And when this fong is fong and paft, 
 My Lute, be ftyll, for I have done ! 
 
 As to be heard where eare is none, 
 As leade to grave in Marble ftone, 
 My fong may pearce her hart as foon ! 
 Should we then figh, or fing, or mone? 
 No, no, my lute, for I have done ! 
 
 The Rocks do not fo cruelly 
 Repulfe the waves continually, 
 As me my fuite and Affection : 
 So that I am paft remedy, 
 Whereby my Lute and I have done, 
 
 3 Proude
 
 Mufes Library. 71 
 
 Proude of the fpoyle that thou haft gotte, 
 Of fimple hearts through loves (hot, 
 By whome unkind thou haft them wpnne, 
 Think not he hath his Bow forgott, 
 Although my lute and I have done ! 
 
 Vengeance mall fall on thy difdaine 
 That makeft but Game of Earneft payne, 
 Think not alone under the Sunn, 
 Unquit the caufe thy lovers playne, 
 Although my lute and I have done. 
 
 May chance thee lye withred and old, 
 In winter nights that are fo cold, 
 Playning in vaine unto the Moon : 
 Thy wifhes then dare not be told ! 
 Care then who lift for I have done. 
 
 And then may chaunce thee to repent 
 The time, that thou haft loft and fpenf, 
 To caufe thy lovers fighe and fwone : 
 Then (halt thou know beauty but lent, 
 And wim and want as I have done. 
 
 Now ceafe, my lute, this is the laft 
 Labour that thou and I (hall waft, 
 
 F 4 And
 
 72 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 And ended is that we begonne, 
 
 Now is this forig both fung and pad. 
 
 My lute, be ftill, for I have done. 
 
 fke Courtiers Life, 
 
 T N Court to ferve decked with frefhe araye, 
 * Of fugared Meates feling the fwete repaft, 
 The Life in Bankets and fundry kyndes of playe, 
 Amid the prefle the worldly lookes to wafte, 
 Hath with it joyned oft fuch bitter tafte, 
 That whofo joyes fuch kinde of life to holde, 
 Jn prifon joyes, fettred with chaines of Golde. 
 
 Of the Courtiers life^ written to John Poynes. 
 
 A /T^ne own John Poines, (ins ye delight to know 
 
 The caufes why that homeward I me draw, 
 And flee the preafe pf Courtes, wherefo they goe, 
 Rather then to Jive thrall under the awe 
 Of Lordly lookes, wrapped within my Cloke, 
 To will and luft learning to fet a Law ; 
 It is not, that becaufe I ftorme or mocke 
 The power of them whom fortune here hath lent 
 Charge over us, of right to ftrike the Stroke j 
 J5ut true it is, that I have always ment
 
 The Mufes Library. 7-3 
 
 Lefs to efteeme them, then the common fort, 
 Of Outward thinges that Judge in their entent, 
 Without regarde, what inward doth refort : 
 I graunt, fome time of Glory that the fyre, 
 Doth touch my heart, me lift not to report : 
 Blame by honour and honour to defyre. 
 But how may I this honour now attame, 
 That cannot dye the colour blacke a Iyer ? 
 My Paynes, I cannot frame my tune to fayn. 
 To cloke the truth, for praife, without defert, 
 Of them that lift all vice for to retayne : 
 I cannot honour them that fet theyr part 
 With Venus and Bacchus all their life Jong ; 
 Nor hold my peace of them, although I fmart. 
 J cannot crouche nor knele to fuch a wronge, 
 To worfhip them like God on Earth alone, 
 That are as Wolves thefe fely Lambes among ; 
 I cannot with my Woordes complayne and mone, 
 And fuffer nought , nor fmart without complaint, 
 Nor turne the word that from my mouth is gone. 
 I cannot fpeake and looke like a Saint, 
 Ufe wyles for wit, and make defceit a pleafure, 
 Call craft Counfaile, for lucre ftill to paynt : 
 J can not wreft the Law to fyll the Coffer 
 
 3 With.
 
 74 72* Mufes Library. 
 
 With innocent blood to feed my felf fatte, 
 And do moft hurt where that moft helpe I offer; 
 I am not he that can allow the State, 
 Of hye Caefer, and damne Cato to dye, 
 That with his death did fcape out of the gate, 
 From Caefer's hands, if Livy doth not lye ; 
 And would not live where Liberty was loft, 
 So did his heart the Common wealth apply. 
 I am not he, fuch eloquence to boft, 
 To make the crow in finging, as the Swanne ; 
 Nor call the Lyon of Coward beafts the moft, 
 That cannot take a Moufe, as the Cat can, 
 And he that dyeth for honger of the Golde, 
 Call him Alexander ; and (ay that Pan 
 Pafleth Apollo in Mufike many folde, 
 Praife Syr I'opas for a noble tale, 
 And fcorne the Story that the Knight tolde. 
 Praife him for Counfell that is dronke of Ale, 
 Grinne when he laughes, that beareth all the Sway, 
 Frowne when he frownes, and grone when he is pale ; 
 On others luft, to hang both night and day, 
 None of thefe Poines would ever frame in me, 
 My wit is nought, I can not learn the way. 
 And much the lefs of things that greater be, 
 
 That
 
 *Tke Mufes Library. 75 
 
 That afken helpe of colours to devife, 
 
 To joyne the meane with eche extremitie, 
 
 With nereft vertue ay to cloke the vyce ; 
 
 And as to purpofe likewife it mall fall, 
 
 To prefle the vertue that it may not ryfe ; 
 
 As Dronkennefs good felowfhip to call, 
 
 The frendly foe with his faire double face, 
 
 Say he is Gentle, and Curties therewithall; 
 
 Affirme that Favill hath a goodly grace. 
 
 In eloquence ; and cruelty to name, 
 
 Zeale of Juftice ; and change in time and place : 
 
 And he that fuffereth offence without blame, 
 
 Call him pitiefull, and him true and playne, 
 
 That rayleth rechlefs unto eche mans mame, 
 
 Say he is rude, that cannot lye and fayne j 
 
 The lecher a lover, and tyranny 
 
 To be right of a princes raigne. 
 
 I cannot I, no no, it will not be. 
 
 This is the caufe that I could never yet, 
 
 Hang on their Sieves the weigh (as thow maift fee) 
 
 A chippe of chaunce, more then a pound of Wit : 
 
 This makes me at home to hunt and hawke, 
 
 And in foul weather at my book to fit, 
 
 In froft and Snow, then with my bowe ftalke* 
 
 No
 
 j6 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 No man doth marke wherefo I ryde or goe, 
 
 In lufty leas at libertie I walke j 
 
 And of thefe Newcs I fele no weale no woe, 
 
 Save that a clogge doth hang yett at my hele, 
 
 No force for that,' for that is Ordred fo, 
 
 That I may leape both hedge and dyke full wele. 
 
 I am not now in France to judge the wyne, 
 
 With favery Sauce thofe delicates to feele, 
 
 Nor yet in Sfayne^ where one muft him incline, 
 
 Rather then to be, Outwardly to feme, 
 
 I meddle not with wittes that be fo fyne, 
 
 Nor Flanders-chzre lettes to my Sight to deme, 
 
 Of black and white, nor takes my wittes away, 
 
 With Beaftlinefs, fuch doe thofe beaftes efteme ! 
 
 Nor I am not, where truth is geven in pay 
 
 For Money, pryfon ajid treafon-, of fome 
 
 A common practice ufed night and daye : 
 
 But I am here in Kent and Chriftendome, 
 
 Among the Mufes, where I reade and ryme, 
 
 Where if thou lift, mine own John Paynes to come, 
 
 Thou malt be judge, how I do fpende my tyme. 
 
 How
 
 The Mufes Library. 77 
 
 How to uff the Court and himfelf therein, written to 
 Sir Fraunces Bryan. 
 
 A Spending hand that alway powreth out, 
 tf * Had nede to have a bringer in as faft, 
 And on the ftone that ftill doth turn about, 
 There groweth no Mofle : Thefe proverbes yet doe laft. 
 Reafon hath fet them in fo fure a place, 
 That length of yeres their force can never wafte, 
 "When I remember this and eke the cafe 
 Wherein thou ftandft, I thought forthwith to write 
 (Bryan} to thee, who knowes how great a grace, 
 In writing is to counfayle Man the right, 
 To thee therefore that trottes ftyll up and downe, 
 And never refts, but running day and Night, 
 From Realme to Realme, fromCitie, ftrete, and 
 
 Towne i 
 
 Why doeft thou weare thy Body to the bones, 
 And mighteft at home flepe in thy bedde of downe, 
 And drink good Ale fo nappy for the nones, 
 Fede thy felf fatteand heapeup pounde by pound? 
 Lykeft thou not this ? No ! why ? for fwine fo groines 
 In ftye, and chaw dung moulded on the ground, 
 And drivel on pearles, with head dill in the Manger, 
 
 So
 
 78 *The Mufes Library. 
 
 So of the harpe the Afle doth heare the found, 
 So fackes of durt be filde. The neat Courtier 
 So ferves for lefle, then do thefe fatted fwine, 
 Though I feme leane and drye without a Moifter, 
 Yet will I ferve my prince, my Lord and thyne, 
 And let them live to fede the paunch that lift, 
 So may I live to fede both me and myne. 
 By God well fayd ! But what and if thou wift 
 How to bring in, as faft as thou doeft fpende, 
 That would I learne, and it mail not be mift 
 To tell the how. Now harke what I intende! 
 Thou knoweft well firft, who fo can feke to pleafe, 
 Shal purchafe frendes, where trouth mall but offende. 
 Flee therefore truth! it is both welth and eafe ! 
 For, though that trouth of every man hath praife, 
 Full near that wynde goth trouth in great mifeafe : 
 Ufa vertue, as it goeth now a dayes, 
 In woord alone to make thy language fwete; 
 And of the dede, yet do not as thou fayes ! 
 Els be thou fure, thou malt be farre unmete, 
 To geat thy bread, eche thing is now fo fkantl 
 Seke ftill thy profit upon thy bare fete I 
 Lend in no wife, for fear that thou do want; 
 Unlefle it be, as to a Calfe a chefe, 
 
 But
 
 Mufes Library. 79 
 
 But if thou can be fure to win a cent 
 
 Or half at leaft, it is not good to leefe. 
 
 Learn of the Ladde, that in long white cote, 
 
 From under the ftall, withouten landes or fee, 
 
 Hath lepte into the ftioppe, who knowes by rote, 
 
 This rule that I have tolde thee here before ! 
 
 Sometime allfb riche Age begynnes to dote, 
 
 Se thou when there thy gayne may be the more, 
 
 Stay him by the Arme where fo he walk or goe, 
 
 Be nere alway, and if he cough to fore, 
 
 What he hath fpyt treade out, and pleafe him fo ! 
 
 A diligent knave, that pykes his Maifters purfe, 
 
 May pleafe him fo, that he withouten mo, 
 
 Executor is, and what is he the worfe ? 
 
 But if fo chance, thou get nought of the Man, 
 
 The Widow may for all thy payne difburfe ; 
 
 A riveled flcinne, a {linking breath, what than ? 
 
 A toothlefle Mouth mall do thy Lippes no harme *, 
 
 The Gold is good, and though me curfe or banne, 
 
 Yet where thee lift, thoumayft lye good and warme* 
 
 Let the old Mule byte upon the brydle, 
 
 Whilft there do lye a fweter in thine Arme ! 
 
 In this alfo fee that thou be not ydle, 
 
 Thy Nece, thy Cofin, fifter or thy Daughter 
 
 If
 
 8o The Mufes Library. 
 
 If me be fayre, if hanfome be her middle, 
 If thy better hath her love befought her, 
 Avaunce his caufe and he mall helpe thy nede, 
 It is but love, turne thou it to a laughter. 
 But ware I fay, fo Gold the helpe and fpede, 
 That in this cafe thou be not fo unwyfe, 
 As pander was in fuch a lyke dede ! 
 For he the foole of Confcience was fo nyce, 
 That he no gayne would have for all his payfle. 
 Be next thy felfe, for Friendlhip bears no pryce. 
 Laughed thou at me? why? do I fpeak in vayne ? 
 No not at thee, but at thy thryfty jefr. 
 Wouldeft thou, I moulde for any lofle or gayne 
 Change that for golde that I have tane for beft ? 
 Next godly thinges, to have an honeft name, 
 Should I leave that ? then take me for a beaft 
 Nay then farewel, and if thou care for mame 
 Content the with honeft povertie, 
 With free tong, what the miflykes, to blame, 
 And for thy trouth fome time Adverfitie: 
 And therewithall this gyft I mall thee give, 
 In this world now little profperitie, 
 And quoyne to kepe, as water in a five ! 
 
 As
 
 'The. Mufes Library. 81 
 
 As it is not only the Intention of this Work to 
 do Juftice to Names and Characters, but colled, and 
 preferve fuch fcatter'd Poems as have been, in a 
 Manner, loft to the Publick, I have thought it not 
 improper to infert the following Mifcellaneous Pieces ; 
 the Authors of which are unknown, but fuppos'd 
 Contemporary with Lord Surrey and Sir 'Thomas 
 Wyat. 
 
 They of the meane Eft ate are happieft. 
 
 TF right be raft and overronne, 
 
 And power take part with open wronge, 
 If fearer% force do yelde too fone, 
 The lacke is like to laft too long. 
 
 If God for goodes dial be unplacedj 
 If right for riches lofes hys fhape, 
 If World for Wifedome be embraced, 
 The gefle is great much hurt may hap. 
 
 Among good things I prove and finde, 
 The quiet lyfe doth moft abound, 
 And fure, to the contented mynde, 
 There is no riches may be founde. 
 
 For riches hates to be content, 
 Rule is enemy to quietneile, 
 Power is moft part impacient, 
 And feldome lykes to live in peace. 
 
 G C
 
 82 The Mufes Library. 
 
 I heard a heardman once compare* 
 That quiet nights he had mo flept 
 And had mo mery dayes to fpare, 
 Then he which ought the beaft, he kept. 
 
 I would not have it thought hereby* 
 The Dolphin Swimme I mean to teach, 
 Nor yet to learne the Fawlcon flye 
 I rowe not fo farre paft my reache. 
 
 But as my part above the reft, 
 Is well to wifh and well to will, 
 So tyll my breath mall fayle my breft, 
 I will not ceafe to wim you ftill. 
 
 Upon confideration of the State of this Life he wijheth 
 Death. 
 
 HE longer Life the more Offence, 
 The more Offence the greater paine, 
 
 The greater paine the lefle defence, 
 
 The lefle defence the lefler gaine ; 
 
 The lofs of gaine long yll doth trye, 
 
 Wherefore come death and let me dye! 
 
 The fhorter Life, lefle count I finde, 
 The lefs account the fooner made, 
 The account foon made, the merier mind, 
 
 i The
 
 The Mufes Library. 83 
 
 The merier mynd doth thought evade ; 
 Short life in truth this thing doth tryej 
 Wherefore come death and let me dye ! 
 
 Com gentle death, the ebbe of care^ 
 The ebbe of Care, the floode of Life, 
 The floode of life; the joyfull fare, 
 The joyful fare, the end of Strife, 
 The end of Strife, that thing wifh I. 
 Wherefore come death and let me dye ! 
 
 Of a New Married Studient that plaied faft and loft. 
 
 \ Studient; at ^ s boke fo placed, 
 
 That welth he might have wonne ; 
 From boke to wife did flete in haft, 
 From welth to wo to runne. 
 Now who hath plaied a feater caft 
 Since jugling firft begonrie ? 
 In knitting of himfelfe fo faft, 
 Himfelfe he hath undoone. 
 
 
 A praife of his ladie. 
 
 EVE place, you Ladies, and be goney 
 Boaft not your felves at all! 
 
 62
 
 84 ?!>e Mufes Library. 
 
 For, here at hande, approcheth one; 
 Whofeface will ftayne you all. 
 
 The vertue of her lively lookes 
 Excels the precious ftone, 
 I wifhe to have none other bookes 
 To reade or look upon. 
 
 In eche of her two chriftall eyes r 
 Smyleth a naked boy ; 
 It would you all in heart fuffife 
 To fee that lampe of joye. 1 
 
 I think nature hath loft the moulde, 
 Where fhe her fhape did take ; 
 Or elfe I doubte if nature coulde 
 So fay re a creature make. 
 
 She may be well comparde 
 Unto the Phenix kinde,' 
 Whofe like was never feene nor heard. 
 That any man can fynde. 
 In lyfe fhe is Diana chaft 
 In trouth Penelopy, 
 In Woord and eke in dede ftedfaft 5 
 What will you more we fay ? 
 
 If all the world were fought fo farre, 
 Who could finde, fuche a wight, 
 
 Her
 
 The Mufes Library. 85 
 
 Her beauty twinkleth lyke a ftarre 
 Within the frofty night. 
 
 Her rofeall colour comes and goes, 
 With fuch a comely grace, 
 More ruddier too, then doth the rofe, 
 Within her lively face. 
 
 At Bacchus feaft none mall her mete, 
 Ne at no wanton playe, 
 Nor gating in an open ftrete, 
 Nor gadding as aftray. 
 
 The modeft myrth that me doth ufe, 
 Is mixt with fhamefaftnefle, 
 All vyce (he doth wholy refufe, 
 And hateth ydlenefle. 
 
 O lord, it is a world to fee, 
 How Vertue can repayre, 
 And decke in her fuch honeftie, 
 Whome nature made fo fayre. 
 
 Truely (he doth as farre excede, 
 Our Women now adayes, 
 As doth the Jelifloure, a wede, 
 And more a thoufand wayes. 
 
 How might I doe to get a graffe 
 Of this unfpotted tree :
 
 86 The Mufes Library. 
 
 For all the reft are playne but chaffe 
 Which feeme good corne to bee. 
 
 This gyft alone I mall her geue, 
 When death doth what he can, 
 Her honeft fame mall ever live, 
 Within the mouth of man. 
 
 Andrew Bourd 
 
 Was born in London^ and Educated at Oxford ; 
 by Profeflion a Phyfician, and in that Capacity had 
 the Honour to ferve King Henry the Eighth ; But, 
 falling into ill Circumftances, whether thro* Idlenefs, 
 Extravagance, or Misfortune, is not known. He 
 dy'd in the Fleet-Prifon, Anno Dom. 1549. 
 
 Hepublifh'd feveral Pieces ; one of which is call'd, A 
 "Breviary of Health -, and another, in Profe and Verfe, 
 'The Introduction to Knowledge ', Languages, Fafhions, 
 and Geniufes of all Countries, Dedicated to Princefs 
 Mary, afterwards Queen. He had a tolerable mare 
 of Reputation, as a Writer ; and feems to be turn'd 
 particularly for Satire. For the Charaderiftick of 
 an Englijhman,, under the Picture of a naked Man, 
 (with a pair of Sheers in one Hand, and a Roll of 
 Cloth in the other) He inferted the following Lines, 
 which may ferve as a Specimen of his Mufe. 
 
 T" AM an Englifhman, and naked I ftand here, 
 -*- Mufing in my minde, what garment I mall weare, 
 For now I will weare this, and now I will weare that, 
 Now I will weare I cannot tell what ; 
 
 All
 
 The Mufes Library. 87 
 
 All new fafhions be pleafant to mee, 
 I will have them whether I thrive or thee : 
 Now I am a frifker, all men on me Jooke, 
 What mould I do but fet cockeon the hoope? 
 What do I care, if all the world me faile, 
 I will have a garment reach to my taile ; 
 Then am I a minion, for I wear the new guife, 
 The next yeare after I hope to be wife : 
 Not only in wearing my gorgeous aray, 
 For I will go to learning a whole Summers day ; 
 I will learne Latine, Hebrew, Greeke, and French, 
 And I will learne Dutch fitting on my bench. 
 I do feare no man, each men feareth me, 
 I overcome my adverfaries by land and by fea : 
 I had no peere, if to my felfe I were true. 
 Becaufe I am not fo, divers times do I rue. 
 Yet I lacke nothing, I have all things at will, 
 If I were wife and would hold my felfe ftill, 
 And meddle with no matters but to me pertaining, 
 But ever to be true to God and my King. 
 But I have fuch matters rowling in my pate, 
 That I will and do I cannot tell what. 
 No man mail let me, but I will have my minde, 
 And to father, mother, and friende He be unkinde : 
 Q 4 I will
 
 88 The Mufes Library. 
 
 I will follow mine own minde and mine old trade, 
 Who mail let me ? the divels nailes are unparde, 
 Yet above all things new famions I love well, 
 And to weare them my thrift I will fell. 
 In all this world I mail have but a time: 
 Hold the cup good fellow, here is thine and mine! 
 
 r. Sackville, 
 
 A Gentleman of very eminent Family, the An- 
 ceftor of the late truly. Noble Lord Dorjet, and the 
 prefent Duke ; and fo diftinguim'd for his Addrefs, 
 Underftanding, and Politenefs, even in the Court 
 of the Great Queen Elizabeth, that he was foon 
 created a Peer , and honoured with a remarkable mare 
 of her Confidence and Favour. 
 
 He was born at Withyam in Suffix, received his 
 Education both at Oxford, and Cambridge ; was, 
 ibmetime a Student in the Inner --Temple ', and, af- 
 terwards call'd to the Bar. He then undertook his 
 Travels, and was, on fome occafion, imprifon'd at 
 Rome : During which Time his Father dy'd, and left 
 a vaft Inheritance ; which, as foon as he regain'd his 
 Liberty, He haften'd Home to take Pofleflion of. 
 Some Years after, He had the Honour to be fent 
 Ambaflador to feveral Princes, was elected Chan- 
 cellor of the Univerfity of Oxford, appointed Lord 
 High Treafurer of England by Queen Elizabeth ; 
 and created Earl of Dorfet by King James : Con- 
 tinuing a great Encourager of Polite Literature till his 
 Death, which happen'd, fuddenly, at the Council? 
 13oard, Anno Dam. 1608. 
 
 15 It appears to me, by a Preface of Mr. Niccofe, 
 that the Original Plan of the Mirror of Magiftrates, 
 
 was
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 89 
 
 was principally owing to Him ; (though neither Phil- 
 lips, or Winftanly have done him the Juftice, or 
 Themfelves the Honour to mention him) a Work 
 of great Labour, Ufe, and Beauty, and fo well re- 
 ceived, that Sir Philip Sidney, in his Effay on Poe- 
 try, has quoted it, as worthy of much Efteem, and 
 Approbation. The Induction by Mr. Sackville, is, 
 indeed, a Matter-Piece ; and, if the whole could 
 have been compleated with the fame Spirit, it wou'd 
 have been an Honour to the Nation at this Day ; 
 nor could have funk under the Ruins of Time. 
 But the Courtier put an End to the Poet, and he has 
 left juft enough to eclipfe all the Writers that fuc- 
 ceeded Him in the fame Tafk ; and makes us wifh 
 that his Preferment had been, at leaft, a little longer 
 delay'd. The Reader, in this Performance, will 
 fee that Allegory was brought to great Perfection, be- 
 fore Spencer appear'd, and that, if Mr. Sackville did 
 not furpafs him, 'twas becaufe he had the Difadvan- 
 tage of Writing firft. Agreeable to what Taffo ex- 
 claim'd on feeing Guarinfs Paftor-Fidp. If be had 
 not feen my Aminta He had not excelled it ! Mr. Sack- 
 vilfc was likewife Joint- Author of a Tragedy, calltt 
 Ferrex and Porrex, with one Mr, Norton. 
 
 Induction to the Mirror of Magiftrates. 
 
 f""IPHE wrathfull winter haftning on apace, 
 -** With bluftring blafts had all ybard the treene, 
 And old Saturnus with his frofty face 
 With chilling cold had pearft the tender greene : 
 The mantles rent, wherein enwrapped beene 
 
 The
 
 90 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 The gladfome groues that now lay ouerthrowne. 
 The tapets torne, and euery tree downe blowne. 
 
 The foil that erft fo feemly was to feene, 
 Was all defpoyled of her beauties hew, 
 And foote frefh flowers (wherewith the fummers 
 
 Queene 
 
 Had clad the earth) now Boreas blafts downe blew. 
 And fmall fowles flocking, in their fong did rew 
 The winters wrath, wherewith ech thing defafte, 
 In woefull wife bewaild the fummer paft. 
 
 Hawthorne had loft his motley liuery, 
 The naked twigs were miuering all for cold ; 
 And dropping downe the teares abundantly, 
 Ech thing (me thought) with weeping eye me told 
 The cruell feafon, bidding mee withhold 
 My felfe within, for I was gotten out 
 Into the fields, whereas I walkt about. 
 
 When loe the night with miftie mantels fpred 
 Gan darke the day, and dim the azure fkies, 
 And Venus in her mefiage Hermes fped 
 
 To
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 91 
 
 To bloudy Mars, to will him not to rife, 
 While fhe her felfe approcht in fpeedy wife : 
 And Virgo hiding her difdainfull breft, 
 With Thetis now had laid her downe to reft. 
 
 Whiles Scorpio dreading Sagittarius' dart, 
 Whofe bowe preft bent in fight, the ftring had flipt, 
 Downe flide into the Ocean-floud apart. 
 The Beare that in the Irifh feas had dipt 
 His grizly feet, with fpeed from thence he whipt : 
 For Thetis^ hafting from the Virgins bed, 
 Purfude the Beare, that, ere flie came, was fled. 
 
 And Phaeton now neare reaching to his race 
 With gliftring beames, gold ftreaming where they bent, 
 Was preft to enter in his refting place. 
 Erythius that in the cart firft went, 
 Had euen now attain'd his iourneys ftent : 
 And faft declining hid aw#y his head, 
 While Titan coucht him in his purple bed. 
 
 And pale-fac'd Cinthea with her borrowed light, 
 Beginning to fupplie her brothers place, 
 Was paft the Noonefteed fixe degrees in fight, 
 
 When
 
 92 7*&e Mufes Library. 
 
 When fparkling ftarres amid the heauens face, 
 With twinkling light fhone on the earth apace, 
 That while thy brought about the nights black chare, 
 The darke had dim'd the day ere I was ware. 
 
 And forrowing I to fee the fummer flowers, 
 The liuely greene, the lufty leafe forlorne : 
 The fturdie trees fo fhattred with the (bowers, 
 The fields fo fade that florifht fo beforne, 
 It taught me well all earthly things be borne 
 To dye the death, for nought long time may laft. 
 The fummers beautie yeelds to winters blaft. 
 
 Then, looking vpward to the heauens leames 
 With nights bright ftarres thick powdred euery where, 
 Which erft fo gliftred with the golden ftreames, 
 That chearfull Phcebus fpred downe from his fphere. 
 Beholding dark, oppreffing day, fo neere. 
 The fudden fight reduced to my mind, 
 The fundry changes that in earth we find. 
 
 That, mufing on this wordly wealth in thought, 
 Which comes and goes more fafter then we fee 
 The flickering flame that with the fire is wrought, 
 
 My
 
 The Mufes Library. 93 
 
 My bufie minde prefented vnto me 
 Such fall of Peeres as in the realme had be : 
 That oft I wiiht fome would their woes defcriuei 
 To warne the reft whom Fortune left aliue. 
 
 And ftrait forth (talking with redoubled pace, 
 
 For that I faw the night drew on fo faft, 
 
 jpjr 
 In black all clad, there fell before my face 
 
 A piteous wight, whom woe had all fore waft: 
 Forth on her eyes the cryftall teares out braft, 
 And fighing fore her hands me wrung and fold, 
 Tearing her haire that Ruth was to behold. 
 
 Her body fmall, forwithered and forefpent, 
 As is the ftalke that fummers drought oppreft, 
 Her wealked face with woeful teares be-fprent, 
 Her colour pale (at it feemed her beft) 
 In woe and plaint repofed was her reft. 
 
 And, as the ftone that drops of water weares, 
 So dented were her cheeks with fall of teares. 
 
 Her eies, full fwollen with flowing ftreames aflote, 
 Were with her lookes throwne \rp full piteoufly ; 
 Her forcelefle hands together 0ft me fmote, 
 
 With
 
 94 The Mufes Library. 
 
 With dolefull fhriekes, that echoed in the fkye : 
 Whofe plaint fuch fighs did ftraight accompany^ 
 That in my doome was neuer man did fee 
 A wight but halfe fo woe-begone as fhee. 
 
 I flood agaft, beholding all her plight, 
 Tweene dread and dolour fo diftraind in hart, 
 That, while my haires vpftarted with the fight* 
 The teares outftreamed for forrow of her fmart : 
 But, when I faw no end that could appart 
 The deadly dole, which fhee fo fore did make, 
 With dolefull voice then thus to her I fpake : 
 
 Vnwrap thy woes! What euer wight thou bee, 
 And ftint in time to fpill thy felfe with plaint, 
 Tell what thou art, and whence, for well I fee 
 Thou canft not dure with forrow thus attaint. 
 And with that word of forrow all forfaint, 
 She looked vp, and, proftrate as me lay, 
 With piteous found, lo thus me gan to fay ! 
 
 Alas, I wretch whom thus thou feeft diftrain'd 
 With wafting woes that neuer fhall aflake, 
 Sorrow I am, in endleffe torments pain'd 
 
 Among
 
 Mufes Library. 95 
 
 Among the Furies in th* infernall lake : 
 Where Pluto, God of Hell fo grizly black! 
 Doth hold his throne, and Lathe's deadly taft 
 Doth reue remembrance\>f each thing forepaft : 
 
 Whence come I am, the drery deftiny 
 And lucklefle lot for to bemone of thofe, 
 Whom Fortune, in this maze of mifery, 
 Of wretched chance, moft wofull Mirors chofe ; 
 That when thou feeft how lightly they did lofe 
 
 Their pomp, their power, and that they thought 
 more fure, 
 
 Thou mayft foone deeme no earthly ioy may dure. 
 
 Whofe rufull voice no fooner had out-brayed 
 Thofe wofull words, wherewith me forrowedfb : 
 But out , alas I me mright and neuer ftayed, 
 tell downe, and all to dafht her felfe for wo. 
 The cold, pale dread my limmes gan ouergo ; 
 And I fo forrowed at her forrowes eft, 
 That what with griefe and feare my wits were reft. 
 
 I ftretcht my felfe, and ftraight my heart reuiues, 
 That dread and dolour earft did fo appale, 
 Like him that with the feruent feuer ftriues, 
 
 When
 
 96 The Mufes Library. 
 
 When fkknefle feekes his caftell-health to fcale ;- 
 With gathred fprites foforft I feare t'auale. 
 And rearing her with anguifh all foredone, 
 My fp'rits return'd, and then I thus begon ; 
 
 Sorrow, alas ! fith Sorrow is thy name, 
 And that to thee this drere doth well pertaine, 
 Jn vaine it were to feeke to ceafe the fame : 
 But as a man himfelfe with forrow flaine, 
 So I alas doe comfort thee in paine, 
 
 That here in forrow art forefunke fo deepe, 
 That at thy fight I can but figh and weepe. 
 
 I had no fooner fpoken of a (like, 
 But that the ftorme fo rumbled in her breft, 
 As Eolus could neuer rore the like, 
 And fhowres downe rained from her eyes fo fart, 
 That all bedreint the place: till at the laft 
 Well eafed they the dolour of her mind, 
 As rage of raine doth fwage the ftormie wind. 
 
 For forth fhe pafed in her fearfull tale : 
 
 Come, come, quoth fhe, and fee what I mall mow! 
 
 Come heare the plaining, and the bitter bale 
 
 2 OF
 
 The Mufes Library. 97 
 
 Of worthy men, by Fortunes ouerthrow : 
 Come thou and fee them rewing all in row. 
 
 They were but (hades that erft in mind thou rold : 
 Come, come with me; thine eyes (hall them behold. 
 
 What could thefe words but make me more agaft* 
 To heare her tell whereon I mus'd while ere ? 
 So was I maz'd there with : till at the laft, 
 Mufing vpon her words, and what they were* 
 All fuddainly well leflbned was my feare : 
 For to my mind returned how fhe teld 
 Both what me was, arid where her wun me held. 
 
 Whereby I knew that fhe a Goddefle was, 
 And therewithall reforted to my mind 
 My thought, that late prefented me the glas 
 Of brittle ftate, of cares that here we find, 
 Of thoufand woes to filly men aflign'd: 
 And how fhe now bid me come and behold, 
 To fee with eye that erft in thought I rold. 
 
 Flatdowne I fell, and with all reuerence 
 Adored her, perceiuing now that fhee 
 A Goddefle fent by godly prouidence, 
 
 H In
 
 98 The Mufes Library. 
 
 In earthly fhape, thus fliew'd her felfe to me, 
 To waile and rue this worlds vncertainty : 
 
 And, while I honoured thus her Godheads might, 
 , With plaining voice thefe words to me fhe mright. 
 
 I mall thee guide firft to the griefly lake, 
 And thence vnto the blisfull place of reft, 
 Where thou malt fee and heare the plaint they make, 
 That whilome here bare fwinge among the beft. 
 This malt thou fee, but great is the vnreft 
 That thou muft bide, before thou canft attains 
 Vnto the dreadfull place where thefe remaine. 
 
 And with thefe words as I vpraifed flood, 
 
 And gan to follow her that ftraight forth pafte, 
 
 Ere I was ware, into a defert wood 
 
 We now were come : where hand in hand imbrafte 
 
 She led the way, and through the thicke fo trafte, 
 
 As but I had bene guided by her might, 
 
 It was no way for any mortall wight. 
 
 But loe, while thus amid the defert darke, 
 We pafled on with fteps and pace vnmeete, 
 A rumbling rorc confus'd with howle and barke 
 
 Of
 
 The Mufes Library. 99 
 
 Df Dogs, fhooke all the ground vnder our feete, 
 And ftrooke the din within our eares fo deepe, 
 As halfe diftraught vnto the ground I fellj 
 Befought returne, and not to vifit hell. 
 
 But /he, forthwith vplifting mee a pace^ 
 Remou'd my dread, and with a ftedfaft minde; 
 Bad me come on, for here was now the place, 
 The place where we our trauailes end fhould finde. 
 Wherewith I rofe, and to the place affingde 
 
 Aftond I ftalkt, when ftraight we approched neere 
 The dreadfull place, that you will dread to heare : 
 
 
 An hideous hole all vafte, withouten 
 Of endlefle depth, orewhelm'd with ragged ftone, 
 With ougly mouth, and griefly iawes doth gape, 
 And to our fight confounds it felfe in one. 
 Heere entred we, and yeeding forth, anone 
 A dreadfull lothly lake we might difcerne x 
 As blacke as pitch* that cleped is Auerne. 
 
 A deadly gulfe where nought but rubbifli growes, 
 With foule, bkck fwelth in thickned lumps that lies,* 
 Which vp in th' aire fuch {linking vapors throwes 
 
 H 2 That
 
 loo The Mufes Library. 
 
 That ouer there, may flic no fowle but dies* 
 Choakt with the' noyfome fauours that arife. 
 
 Hither we come^ whence forth we ftill did pace, 
 In dreadfull feare amid the dreadful place. 
 
 And firft, within the porch and iawes of hell, 
 State deepe Renwrfe of conference, all befprent 
 With teares : and to her felfe oft would me tell 
 Her wretchednefle, and curling neuer ftent 
 To fob and figh : but euer thus lament, 
 
 With thoughtfull care, as me that all in vairie 
 Would weare, and wafte continually in paine. 
 
 Her eyes, vnftedfaft, rolling here and there, 
 Whurl'don each place,as place that vengeance brought^ 
 So was her mind continually in feare, 
 TofTed and tormented with tedious thought 
 Of thofe detefted crimes which me had wrought : 
 WithdreadfulTcheere and lookes throwneto thefkie, 
 Wiming for death, and yet me could not die. 
 
 Next faw we Dread, all trembling how he mooke, 
 With foote vncertaine profered here and there, 
 Benum'd of fpeech, and with a ghaftly looke 
 
 Searcht
 
 
 The Mufe? J Library. 
 
 Searcht euery place, all pale and dead for feare ! 
 
 His cap borne vp with ftaring of his heare, 
 Soyn'd and amaz'd at his owne made for dreed, 
 And fearing greater dangers then was need! 
 
 And next, within the entrie of this lake, 
 Sate fell Reuenge gnafhing her teeth for ire, 
 Deuifing meanes how mow fhe may vengeance take, 
 Neuer in reft till fhe haue her defire : 
 But frets within fo farforth with the fire 
 
 Of wreaking flames, that now determines fhe 
 To die by death, or veng'd by death to be. 
 
 When fell Reuenge with bloudie, foule pretence 
 Had fhew'd her felfe as next in order fet, 
 With trembling limbes we foftly parted thence, 
 Till in our eyes another fight we met: 
 When from my heart a figh forthwith I fet, 
 Ruing, alas, vpon the wofiill plight 
 Of MiferJe, that next appear'd in fight. 
 
 His face was leane, and fome deale pin'd away, 
 And eke his hands confumed to the bone, 
 But what his bodie was I cannot fay, 
 
 H 3 For
 
 IQ3 ^ , : he, Mufa Library.. 
 
 For on his carkas rayment had he none, 
 Saue clouts and patches pieced one by one, 
 
 With ftaffe in hand, and fcrip on fhoulder caft ? 
 
 His chiefe defence againft the winters blaft. 
 
 His food, for moft, was wilde fruits of the tree, 
 Vnlefle fometime fome crums fell to his fhare, 
 Which in his wallet long God wot kept he, 
 As one the which full daintily would fare. 
 His drinke the running ftreame : his cup the bare 
 
 Of his palme clofde, his bed the hard cold ground. 
 
 To this pppre life was Miferie ybound. 
 
 \ 
 Whofe wretched ftate when we had well beheld, 
 
 With tender ruth on him and on his feeres, 
 
 In thoughtfull cares, forth then our pace we held : 
 
 And by and by, another fhape appeeres 
 
 Of greedie Care, ftill brufhing vp the breers., 
 
 His knuckles knob'd, his flefh deep dented in. 
 
 With tawed hands, and hard ytanned {kin. 
 
 The morrow gray no fooner hath begun 
 
 To fpread his light, euen peeping in our eyes, 
 
 When he is vp and to his worke yrun. 
 
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 The Mufes Library; 103 
 
 But let the nights bkcke, miftie mantles rife 
 And with foule darke neuer fo much difguife 
 The faire, bright day, yet ceafeth he no while, 
 But hath his candles to prolong his toile. 
 
 By him lay heauie Sleepe, cofin of Death .' 
 Flat on the ground, and ftill as any ftone, 
 A very corps, faue yeelding forth a breath. 
 Small keepe tooke he whom Fortune frowned on, 
 Or whom me lifted vp into the throne 
 Of high renowne, but as a liuing death, 
 So dead aliue, of life he drew the breath. 
 
 The bodies reft, the quiet of the hart, 
 The trauailes eafe, the ftill nights feree was he ! 
 And of our life in earth the better part, 
 Reuer of fight, and yet in whom we fee 
 Things oft that tide, and oft that neuer bee 5 
 Without refpecT: efteeming equally 
 King Crxfus pompe, and Irus pouertie ! 
 
 And next in order fad Old Age we found, 
 
 His beard all hoare, his eyes hollow and blind, 
 
 With drouping cheere ftill poring on the ground, 
 
 H 4 As
 
 The Mufes Library* 
 
 As on the place where nature him aflign'd 
 To reft, when that the fitters had vntwin'd 
 His vitell thred, and ended with their knife 
 The fleeting courfe of faft declining life. 
 
 There heard we him, with broke, and hollow plaint 
 Rew with himfelfe his end approching faft, 
 And all for nought his wretched mind torment, 
 With fweete remembrance of his pleafures paft, 
 And frefti delites of luftie youth forewaft. 
 
 Recounting which, how would he fob and flireek ? 
 
 And to be yong againe of loue befeeke ? 
 
 But, and the cruell fetes fo fixed be, 
 That time forepaft cannot returne againe. 
 This one requeft of loue yet prayed he : 
 That in fuch withred plight, and wretched paine, 
 As eld (accompanied with lothfpme traine) 
 
 Had brought on him, all were it woe and griefc^ 
 He might a while yet linger forth his life, 
 
 And not fo foone defcend into the pit : 
 
 Where Death, when he the mortall corps hath flame^ 
 
 "VVith wretchlefle hand in graue doth couer it, 
 
 There-
 
 The Mufes Library. 105 
 
 Thereafter neuer to enioy againe 
 
 The gladfome light, but in the ground ylaine, 
 
 In depth of darknefle, wafte and weare to nought, 
 As he had nere into the world been brought. 
 
 Put who had feene him, fobbing how he flood 
 Vnto himfelfe, and how he would bemone 
 His youth forepaft, as though it wrought him good 
 To tajke of youth, all were his youth forgone, 
 He would haue mufde and maruaiPd much whereon 
 
 This wretched Age fhpuld life defire to faine. 
 
 And Hnowes fuj wel life doth but length his paine. 
 
 Crookebackt he was, tooth fhaken, and blere eyde, 
 Went on three feete, and fometime crept on foure, 
 With old, lame bones, that ratled in his fide, 
 Hisfcalpe all pil'd, and he with eld forlore : 
 His withred fift ftill knocking at Deaths dore, 
 
 Fumbling anddriueling as he drawes his breath. 
 
 For briefe, the fhape and meflenger of Death ! 
 
 And faft by him pale Maladie was plafte, 
 Sore ficke in bed, her colour all foregone, 
 Bereft of ftpmacke, fauour, and of tafte, 
 
 i Ne
 
 io6 *The Mufes Library. 
 
 Ne could me brooke no meate but broths alone ; 
 Her breath corrupt, her keepers euery one 
 Abhorring her, her ficknerTe paft recure, 
 Detefting phyficke, and all phyfkkes cure. 
 
 But, oh the dolefull fight that then we fee! 
 We turn'd our looke, and on the other fide 
 A griefly fhape of Famine mought we fee, 
 With greedie lookes, and gaping mouth that cried, 
 And roar'd for meate as me mould there haue died, 
 Her bodie thin, and bare as any bone, 
 Whereto was left nought but the cafe alone : 
 
 And that alas was gnawne on euery where, 
 All full of holes, that I ne mought refraine 
 From teares, to fee how me her armes could teare. 
 And with her teeth gnafh on the bones in vaine : 
 When all for nought me faine would fo fuftaine 
 Her ftaruen corps, that rather feem'd a made, 
 Then any fubftance of a creature made. 
 
 Great was her force, whom ftonewall could not ftay, 
 Her tearing nailes fnatching at all me faw : 
 With gaping iawes, that by no meanes ymay 
 
 Be
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 107 
 
 Be fatisfi'd from hunger of her mawe, 
 But eates her felfe as me that hath no law : 
 Gnawing, alas, her carcafe all in vaine, 
 Where you may count each finew, bone, and veine., 
 
 On her while we thus firmely fixt our eyes, 
 That bled for ruth of fuch a driery fight, 
 Loe fuddenly fhe fhrinkt in fo huge wife, 
 As made hell gates to fhiuer with the might ; 
 Wherewith a dart we faw how it did light 
 
 Right on her breft, and therewithall pale Death 
 Enthrilling it to reaue her of her breath. 
 
 And by and by a dumb, dead corps we faw, 
 Heauie and cold, the fhape of death aright, 
 That dants all earthly creatures to his law : 
 Againft whofe force in vaine it is to fight. 
 Ne Peeres, ne Princes, nor no mortall wight, 
 
 No Towne, ne Realmes, Cities, ne ftrongeftTower, 
 But all perforce muft yeeld vnto his power. 
 
 His dart anon out of the corps he tooke, 
 And in his hand (a dreadfull fight to fee) 
 With great triumph eftfopnes the fame he mooke, 
 
 That
 
 io8 The Mufes Library. 
 
 That moft of all my feares affrayed mee ; 
 
 His bodie dight with nought but bones perdie, 
 The naked fhape of man there faw I plaine, 
 All faue the flefh, the finew, and the veine. 
 
 Laflly flood Warre in glittering armes yclad, 
 With vifage grim, fterne looks, and blackely hewed, 
 In his right hand a naked fword he had, 
 That to the hilts was all with blood cmbrued : 
 And in his left (that King and kingdomes rued) 
 
 Famine and fire he held, and therewithal! 
 
 He raced townes, and threw downe towers and all. 
 
 Citiee he fackt, and Realmes, that whilomc flowred 
 In honor, glorie, and rule aboue the beft, 
 He ouerwhelm'd, and all their fame deuoured, 
 Confum'd, deftroy'd, wafted and neuer ceaft, 
 Till he their wealth, their name and all oppreft : 
 His face forehew'd with wounds, and by his fide 
 There hung his targ, with games deepe and 
 
 In midft of which, depainted there we found 
 Deadly Debate, all full of fnakie heare, 
 That with a bloodie fillet was ybound, 
 
 Out
 
 Mufes Library. log 
 
 Out breathing nought but difcord euery where. 
 
 And round about were portrai'd heere and there 
 The hugie hofts, Darius and his power* 
 His Kings, Princes, his Peeres, and all his flower, 
 
 Whom great Macedo vanquiflit there in fight* 
 With deepe flaughter, defpoiling all his pride* 
 Pierft through his Realmes, and danted all his might. 
 Duke Hannibal beheld I there betide* 
 In Cannas field, victor how he did ride* 
 And wofull Romans that in vain withftood, 
 And Conful Paulus couered all in blood. 
 
 Yet faw I more the fight at 
 And freberie field, and eke when Hannibal 
 And worthie Scipio, laft in armes were fene 
 Before Carthago gate, to trie for all 
 The worlds Empire, to whom it mould befall. 
 There faw I Pompey, and Cdfar clad in armes, 
 Their hofts allied and their ciuill harmes; 
 
 With Conquerers hands forbath'd in their owne blood, 
 And Ciefar weeping ouer Pompeyes head. 
 Yet faw I Scilla and Marius where they flood, 
 
 Their
 
 Iio The Mufes Library. 
 
 Their great crueltie, and the deepe bloodftiead 
 Of friends : Cyrus I faw and his hoft dead, 
 
 And how the Queene with great defpite hath flortg 
 . His head in blood of them fhe ouercome. 
 
 Xerxes the Perfian King yet faw I there, 
 With his huge hoft that dranke the riuers drie t 
 Difmounted hilles, and made the vales vprere, 
 His hoft ; and all yet faw I flaine perdie. 
 Thebes I faw all rac'd how it did lie 
 
 In heapes of ftones, and Tyrus put to fpoile, 
 With walles and towers flat euened with the foile. 
 
 But Troy alas (me thought) aboue them all, 
 It made mine eyes in very tears confume : 
 When I beheld the wofull werd befell, 
 That by the wrathfull will of God was come : 
 And loues vnmoued fentence and foredoome 
 On Priam King, and on his towne fo bent* 
 I could not Kn, but I muft there lament. 
 
 And that the more, fith deft'ny was fo fterne 
 As force perforce, there might no force auaile, 
 But me muft fall : and by her fall we learne, 
 
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 The Mufes Library. in 
 
 That cities, towers, wealth, world, and all lhall quaile. 
 
 No manhood, might, nor nothing mought preuaile; 
 All were there preft full many a Prince and Peere, 
 And many a Knight that fold his death full dere. 
 
 Not worthie He ft or worthieft of them all, 
 Her hope, her ioy, his force is now for nought: 
 O Troy, Troy, there is no boote but bale, 
 The hugie horfe within thy walles is brought : 
 Thy turrets fall, thy Knights, that whilome fought 
 In armes amid the field, are flaine in bed, 
 Thy gods defil'd, and all thy honour dead. 
 
 The flames vprife, and cruelly they creepe 
 From wall to roofe, till all to cinders waft ! 
 Some fire the houfes where the wretches fleepe, 
 Some rum in heere, fome run in there as faft ! 
 In euery where or fword or fire they taft ! 
 
 The wals are torne, the towers whurPd to the ground, 
 There is no mifchiefe but may there be found ! 
 
 Caffandra yet there faw I how they haled 
 From Pallas houie, with fpercled trefle vndone, 
 Herwrifts faft bound, and with Gmkes rout empaled: 
 
 And
 
 rt2 *The Mufes Library. 
 
 And Priam eke in vaine how he did runne 
 To armes, whom Pyrrhus with defpite hath done 
 To cruel death, and bath'd him in the baine 
 Of his forines blood before the altar flaine. 
 
 But how can I defcribe the doleful! fignt, 
 That in the fhield fo liuely faire did mine ?' 
 Sith in this world I thinke was neuer wight 
 Could haue fet forth the halfe, not halfe fo fine. 
 I can no more but tell how there is feene 
 Fair Ilium fall in burning-red gledes downe, 
 And on the foile great Troy, Neptunus towne. 
 
 Here-from, when fcarce I could mine eyes withdraw 
 That fil'd with teares as doth the fpringing well, 
 We pafled on fo far forth till we faw 
 Rude Acheron, a lothfome lake to tell, 
 That boyles and bubs vp fwelth as blacke as hell, 
 Where grieflie Charon at their fixed tide 
 Still ferries ghoft vnto the farther fide. 
 
 The aged God no fooner Sorrow fpied, 
 But hafting ftraight vnto the bancke apace, 
 With hollow call vnto the rout he cried, 
 
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 The Mufes Library. 113 
 
 To fwarue apart, and giue the Goddefle place. 
 
 Straight it was done, when to the fhoare we pace, 
 Where, hand in hand as wee then linked faft, 
 Within the boate wee are together plafte. 
 
 And forth we lanch full fraughted to the brinke, 
 When, with th'vnwonted waight, the rufty keele 
 Began to cracke, as if the fame ihould finke. 
 We hoife vp maft and faile, that in a while 
 We fet the fhoare, where fcarfely we had while 
 For to arriue, but that we heard anone 
 A three-found barke confounded all in one. 
 
 We had not long forth paft, but that we faw 
 Blacke Cerberus, the hideous hound of hell, 
 With briftles reard, and with a three-mouth'd law, 
 Foredinning th'aire with his horrible yell, 
 Out of the deepe, darke caue where he did dwell. 
 The Goddefle ftraight he knew, and by and by 
 He ceaft and couched, while that we paft by. 
 
 Thence come we to the horrour and the hell, 
 
 The large, greate Kingdomes, and the dreadful raignc 
 
 Of Pluto in his throne where he did dwejl, 
 
 I The
 
 ii4 7^ Mufes Library. 
 
 The wide wafte, places, and the hugie plaine : 
 The wailings, fhrikes, and fundry forts of paine ! 
 The fighs, the fobs, the deepe and deadly groane, 
 Earth, ake, and all refounding plaint and moane \ 
 
 Thence did we pafle the three-fold emperie 
 To th* vtmoft bounds, where Radamanthus raignes, 
 Where proud folke waile their woerull miferie, 
 Where dreadful! din of thoufand dragging chaines, 
 And balefull fhriekes of ghofts in deadly paines 
 Tortur'd eternally, are heard moft brim 
 Through filent fhades of night fo darke and dim. 
 
 From hence vpon our way we forward pafle, 
 And through the groues and vncoth paths we goe, 
 Which leade vnto the Cyclops walles of brafle r 
 And where that maine-broad flood for aye doth floe, 
 Which parts the gladfome fields from place of woe, 
 
 Whence none mall euer pafle t* Elizium plaine, 
 
 Or from Elizium euer turne againe. 
 
 With Sorrow for my guide, as there I ftood, 
 A troope of men, the moft in armes bedight, 
 In tumult clufterd *bout both fides the flood : 
 
 'Mongft
 
 *?he Mufes Library. 115 
 
 'Mongft whom, who were ordaind t'eternall night, 
 Or who to bliflefull peace and fweet delight 
 I wot not well, it feem'd that they were all 
 Such as by deaths vntimely ftroke did fall. 
 
 Some headlefle were, fome body, face and hands, 
 With fhamefull wounds defpoil'd in euery part : 
 Some ftrangled, fome that dide in captiue bands, 
 Some fmothred, drown'd, fome ftricken thro' the hart 
 With fatall fteele ; all, drown'd in deadly fmart, 
 Of haftned death, with mriekes,fobs,fighsand teares, 
 Did tell the woes of their forepafled years. 
 
 We (laid vs ftraight, and with a rufiill feare, 
 Beheld this heauie fight, while from mine eies 
 The vapored teares downe ftiiled here and there, 
 And Sorrow eke in far more wofull wife, 
 Tooke on with plaint, vp heauing to the ikies 
 Her wretched hands, that with her cry the rout 
 Gan all in heapes to fwarme vs round about. 
 
 Lo here (quoth Sorrow] Princes of renowne, 
 That whilome fate on top of Fortunes wheele, 
 Now laid fujl low, like wretches whurled downe 
 
 I 2 Euen
 
 n6 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Euen with one frowne, that ftaid but with a fmile, 
 And now behold the thing that thou erewhile 
 
 Saw only in thought, and what thou now fhalt heare, 
 Recount the fame to Kefar, King, and Peere. 
 
 Then firft came Henry Duke of Buckingham, 
 His cloake of blacke all pild and quite forworne, 
 Wringing his hands, and Fortune oft doth blame, 
 Which of a Duke hath made him now her fkorne. 
 With gaftly lookes as one in maner lorne : 
 
 Oft fpred his armes, ftretcht hands he ioines as faft 
 With rufull cheare, and vapored eyes vpcaft. 
 
 His cloake he rent, his manly breft he beat, 
 His haire all torne, about the place it lay, 
 My heart fo molt to fee his griefe fo great, 
 As feelingly me thought it dropt away: 
 His eyes they whurld about withouten ftay. 
 With ftormy fighes the place did fo complaine, 
 As if his heart at each had burft in twaine. 
 
 Thrice he began to tell his dolefull tale, 
 
 And thrice the fighs did fwallow vp his voice : 
 
 At each of which he fhrieked fo withal], 
 
 As
 
 The Mufes Library. 117 
 
 As though the heauens riued with the noife : 
 
 Till at the laft recouering his voice, 
 
 Supping the teares that all his breft beraind, 
 On cruell Fortune weeping thus he plaind. 
 
 Thomas Churchyard* 
 
 One of the Afliftants in the Mirror of Magiftrates ; 
 and, therefore, rang'd in order of Time, after Mr. 
 Sackville , tho* he was known, as a Writer, fome 
 Years before Him. This Gentleman was born at 
 Shrew/bury, liberally educated, and inherited fome 
 Fortune, Real and Perfonal ; but, foon, lavifh'd a- 
 way both in a Court- Attendance, without gaining 
 any other Equivalent, but the Honour of being re- 
 tained a Domeftick in the Family of the Princely 
 Lord Surrey, during which Time, he commenc'd 
 Poet, and, on his Lordmip's Death, turn'd Soldier ; 
 being in many Engagements, frequently wounded ; 
 twice a Prifoner, as often redeemed by the Charity 
 of two noble Ladies , yet ftill diftrefs'd, and unre- 
 warded. Neither of his Employments affording him 
 a Patron, who knew, or wou'd do Juftice to his Merit, 
 and as unfortunate in his Amours as his Grcumftances. 
 'Tis true, he dedicated his Works to Sir Cbriftopber 
 Hatton -, but AddrefTes of that Nature don't always 
 imply a Provifion for their Authors. 'Tis conjec- 
 tur'd that he died about the eleventh Year of Queen 
 Elizabeth, and, according to. Mr. Wood, was bury 'd 
 near Skelton, in the Chancel of St. Margaret's Church, 
 Weftminfter. By fach of his Writings, as I have had 
 an Opportunity to examine, He appears generally a 
 Man of Senfe ; and fometimes a Poet, tho' Inven- 
 I 3 tion
 
 1 1 8 The Mufes Library. 
 
 tion does not feem to be remarkably his Talent.- 
 His Language is tolerably pure, and his Numbers 
 not wholly inharmonious. The Legend of Jane 
 Shore , here annex'd, I think, has fome Merit, and 
 his Stanzas on the Poets, much more ; in thofe the 
 Stile is rich, the Turns elegant, and the Judgment 
 fuch, as intitles him to a much better Character than 
 former Writers have condefcended to allow him. 
 
 Jane Shore. 
 
 \ Mong the reft, by Fortune ouerthrowne, 
 -* -* I am not leaft, that moft may waile her fate i 
 My fame and brute, abroad the world is blowne : 
 Who can forget, a thing thus done fo late ? 
 My great mifchance, my fall, and heauie ftate, 
 Is fuch a marke, whereat each tongue doth fhoot s 
 That my good name, is pluckt vp by the root. 
 
 This wandring world, bewitched me with wiles, 
 And won my wits, with wanton, fugredioyes : 
 In Fortunes frekes, who trufts her when me fmiles. 
 Shall find her falfe, and full of fickle toyes, 
 Her triumphes all, but fill our eares with noife, 
 Her flattring gifts, are pleafures mixt with paine, 
 Yea, all her words, are thunders threatning raine. 
 
 Th e
 
 The Mufes Library. 119 
 
 The fond defire, that we in glorie fet, 
 Doth thirle our hearts, to hope in flipper hap : 
 A blaft of pompe, is all the fruit we get, 
 And vnderthat, lies hid a fudden clap. 
 Jn feeking reft, vnwares we fall in trap, 
 
 In groping flowres, with nettles ftung we are, 
 In kbring long, we reape the crop of care. 
 
 Oh darke deceit, with painted face for /ho, 
 Oh poifned bait, that makes vs eager (till, 
 Oh fained friend, deceiuing people fo, 
 Oh world, of thee, we cannot fpeake too ill ! 
 Yet fooles we are, that bend fo to thy fkill! 
 
 The plague and fcourge, that thousands daily feele, 
 Should warne the wife, to fhunthy whirling wheele. 
 
 But who can ftop, the ftreame that runnes full fwift ? 
 
 Or quench the fire, that is kept in the ftraw ? 
 
 The thirftie drinkes, there is no other fhift, 
 
 Perforce is fuch, that need obeyes no law. 
 
 Thus bound we are, in worldly yokes to draw, 
 And cannot (lay, nor turne againe in time, 
 Nor learne of thofe, that fought too high to clime. 
 1,4 My
 
 120 The Mufes Library. 
 
 My felfe for proofe, loe heere I now appearc, 
 In womans weed, with weeping, watred eyes, 
 That bought her youth, and her delights full deare, 
 Whofe loud reproch, doth fouud vnto the fides, 
 And bids my corfe, out of the graue to rife, 
 As one that may, no longer hide her face, 
 But needs muft come, and mew her pitious cafe. 
 
 The fheete of mame, wherein I fhrowded was, 
 Did moue me oft, to plaine before this day, 
 And in mine eares did ring the trumpe of brafle, 
 Which is defame, that doth each thing bewray. 
 Yea though full dead, and low in earth I ky, 
 I heard the voice, of me what people faid, 
 But then to fpeake, alas, I was afraid !' 
 
 And now a time, for me I fee prepared, 
 I heare the liues, and falles of many wights : 
 My tale therefore, the better may be heard, 
 For at the torch, the little candle lights. 
 Where pageants be, fmall things fill out the fights. 
 Wherefore giue eare good Churchyard ! 'do thy beft, 
 My tragedie, to place among the reft ! 
 
 Becaufe
 
 "The Mufes Library. 121 
 
 Becaufe the truth, fhall witnes well with thee, 
 I will rehearfe, in order as it fell, 
 My life, my death, my dolefull deftinie, 
 My wealth, my woe, my doing euery deale, 
 jMy bitter blifle, wherein I long did dwell : 
 A whole difcourfe, by me Shores wife by name, 
 Now malt thou heare, as thou hadft feene the fame, 
 
 Of noble blood, I cannot boaft my birth, 
 For I was made out of the meaneft mold, 
 Mine heritage, but feuen foot of th' earth, 
 Fortune ne gaue, to me the gifts of gold : 
 But I could brag, of nature, if I wold, 
 
 Who fil'd my face, with fauour frem and faire, 
 Whofe beautie mone, like Phoebus in the aire. 
 
 My fhape, fome faid, was feemely to each fight, 
 My countenance, did mew a fober grace, 
 Mine eyes in lookes, were neuer proued light, 
 My tongue in words was chaft in euery cafe ; 
 Jvline eares were deafe, and would no louers place, 
 
 Saue that, alas, a Prince did blot my brow ; 
 
 J-oe, there the ftrong, did make the weake to bow. 
 
 The
 
 122 *The Mufes Library. 
 
 \ 
 
 The maiefty, that Kings to people beare, 
 The ftately port, the awfull cheere they mow, 
 Doth make the meane, to fhrink and couch for feare, 
 Like as the hound, that doth his matter know : 
 What then ? fince I, was made vnto the bow, 
 There is no cloke, can ferue to hide my fault : 
 For I agreed, the fort he mould aflault. 
 
 The Eagles force, fubdues ech bird that flies, 
 What metall may, refift the flaming fire ? 
 Doth not the Sun, dazell the cleareft eies, 
 And melt the ice, and make the froft retire ? 
 Who can withftand, a puiflant Kings defire ? 
 The ftiffeft ftones, are pierced through with tooles, 
 The wifeft are, with Princes made but fooks. 
 
 If kinde had wrought my forme in common frames, 
 And fet me forth, in colours blacke and browne, 
 Or beautie had, been parent in Pkcebus flames, 
 Or fhamefaft waies, had pluckt my fethers downe, 
 Then had I kept, my fame and good renowne : 
 
 For natures gifts, were caufe of all my griefe. 
 
 A pleafant prey, entifeth many a thiefe. 
 
 Thus
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 123 
 
 Thus woe to thee, that wrought my peacocks pride, 
 By clothing me with natures tapeftry : 
 Woe worth the hew, wherein my face was dide, 
 Which made me thinke, J pleafed euery eye. 
 Like as the ftarres, make men behold the fkie, 
 So beauties mew, doth make the wife full fond, 
 And brings free harts, full oft to endlefle bond. 
 
 But cleare from blame, my frends can not be found, 
 
 Before my time, my youth they did abufe : 
 
 In mariage, a prentife was I bound. 
 
 Then that meere loue, I knew not how to vfe. 
 
 But, wel alway ! that cannot me excufe, 
 
 The harme is mine, though they deuifde my care, 
 And I muft fmart, and fit in flandrous mare. 
 
 Yet giue me leaue, to pleade my caufe at large ! 
 If that the horfe, do run beyond his race, 
 Or any thing that keepers haue in charge, 
 Do breake their courfe, where Rulers may take place: 
 Or meat be fet, before the hungries face, 
 Who is in fault ? th' offender yea or no, 
 Or they that are, the caufe of all this wo ? 
 
 Note
 
 I 24 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Note well what ftrife, this forced mariage makes, 
 What lothed Hues, do come where loue doth lacke, 
 What fcratching breers, do grow vpon fuch brakes, 
 What common weales, by it are brought to wracke, 
 What hauie loade, is put on patients backe, 
 
 What ftrange delights, this branch of vice doth breed, 
 And marke what gralne, fprings out of fuch a feed ! 
 
 Compell the hauke, to fit that is vnman'd, 
 Or make the hound, vntaught to draw the Deere, 
 Or bring the free, againft his will in band, 
 Or moue the fad, a pleafant tale to heere, 
 Your time is loft, and you no whit the neere ! 
 So ioue ne learnes, of force the knot to knit : 
 She ferues but thofe, that feele fweet fancies fit, 
 
 The lefle defame, redounds to my difpraife, 
 I was entift, by traines, and trapt by truft : 
 Though in my powre, remained yeas and nayes, 
 Vrito my friends, yet needs confent I muft, 
 In euery thing, yea lawfull or vniuft. 
 
 They brake the boughes,aricl fhakte the tree by fleight, 
 
 And bent the wand, that might haue growne full 
 
 ftreight. What
 
 The Mufes Library. 125 
 
 What helpe in this, the pale thus broken downe, 
 The Deere muft needs, in danger run aftray : 
 At me therefore, why mould the world fo frowne ? 
 My weaknefle made my youth a Princes prey. 
 Though wifdome mould the courfe of nature ftay, 
 Yet trie my cafe, who lift, and they mail proue, 
 The ripeft wits, are fooneft thralles to loue. 
 
 What need I more, to cleare my felfe fo much ? 
 A King me wan, and had me at his call, 
 His royall ftate, his princely grace was fuch, 
 The hope of will, that women feekeforall, / 
 The eafe and wealth, the gifts, which were not fmall, 
 Befieged me fo ftrongly round about, 
 My powre was weake, I could not hold him out. 
 
 Duke Hannilall, in all his conqueft great, 
 Or Csfar yet, whofe triumphs did exceed, 
 Of all their fpoiles, which made them toile and fweat, 
 Were not fo glad, to haue fo rich a meed, 
 As was this Prince, when I to him agreed, 
 And yeelded me a prifner willingly, 
 As one that knew no way away to flie. 
 
 2 The
 
 126 The Mufes Library. 
 
 The Nightingale, for all his merry voyce* 
 Nor yet the Larke, that ftill delights to fmg* 
 Did neuer make, the hearers fo reioyce, 
 As I with words, haue made this worthie King : 
 I neuer iar'd, in tune was euery firing* 
 I tempred fo, my tongue to pleafe his eare, 
 That what I faid, was currant euery where, 
 
 I ioyn'd my talke, my geftures and my grace, 
 In wittie frames, that long might laft and ftand, 
 So that I brought the King in fuch a cafe, 
 That to his death, I was his chiefeft hand. 
 I gouern'd him, that ruled all this Land : 
 
 I bare the fword, though he did weare the Crowne, 
 I ftrake the ftroke, that threw the mightie downe. 
 
 If iuftice faid, that Judgement was but death, 
 With my fwete words, I could the King perfwade, 
 And make him paufe, and take therein a breath, 
 Till I with fuite, the faultors peace hath made : 
 I knew what way, to vfe him in his trade ; 
 I had the art, to make the Lion meeke : 
 There was no point, wherein I was to feeke, 
 
 2 If
 
 The Mufes Library. 127 
 
 If I did frowne, who then did looke awrie ? 
 
 If I did fmile, who would not laugh outright ? 
 
 If I but fpeake, who durft my words denk ? 
 
 If I purfude, who would forfake the flight ? 
 
 I meane, my powre, was knowne to euery wight. 
 On fuch a height, good hap had built my bowre, 
 As though my fweete,fhoukl nere haue turnd to fo wre. 
 
 My hufband then, as one that knew his good, 
 Refufde to keepe a Princes Concubine, 
 Forfeeing th'end, and mifchiefe as it ftood, 
 Againft the King did neuer much repine : 
 He faw the grape, whereof he dranke the wine. 
 Though inward thought, his heart did ftill torment, 
 
 Yet outwardly, he feemd he was content. 
 
 *** i{3R30i5O7fi ,';." - 3OT c i)HA 
 
 To purchafe praife, and win the peoples zeale, 
 
 Yea rather bent of kinde to do fome good, 
 
 5 SosynnuS 
 
 I euer did vphold the common weale, 
 I had delight to faue the guiltlefle blood : 
 
 ^ - J fi V x - 
 
 Each futers caufe, when that I vnderftood, 
 I did prefer as it had bene mine owne, 
 And help themvp,that might haue been orethrowne. 
 
 My
 
 128 The Mufes Library. 
 
 My powre was preft to right the poore mans wrong< 
 My hands were free to giue where need required : 
 To watch for grace, I neuer thought it long, 
 To do men good, I need not bee defired; 
 Nor yet, with gifts my heart was neuer hired. 
 But, when the ball, was at my foote to guide, 
 I plaid to thofe, that Fortune did abide. 
 
 My want was wealth, my woe was eafe at will, 
 My robes were rich, and brauer then the funne : 
 My Fortune then was far aboue my {kill, 
 My ftate was great, my glafle did euer runne. 
 My fatall threed, fo happely was fpunne, 
 That then I fate, in earthly pleafures clad, 
 And, for the time, a Goddefle place I had. 
 
 But I had not fo foone this life poflHl, 
 But my good hap began to flip afide : 
 And Fortune then did me fo fore moleft, 
 That, vnto plaints, was turned all my pride. 
 It booted not to row againft the tide : 
 Mine oares were weake, my heart and ftrength did faile, 
 The winde was rough, I durft not beare a faile. 
 
 What
 
 Mufes Library. 129 
 
 What fteps of ftrife belong to high eflate ? 
 The climing vp is doubtfull to endure j 
 The feat it felfe doth purchafe priuie hate* 
 And honors fame is fickle and vnfure, 
 And all fhe brings is flowres that be vnpure : 
 Which fall as fail* as they do fprout and fpring, 
 And cannot laft, they are fo vaine a thing. 
 
 We count no care to catch that we do wilh, 
 But what we win is long to vs unknowen : 
 Till prefent paine be ferued in our difh, 
 We fcarce perceiue whereon our griefe liath growen : 
 What graine proues well, that is fo ramly fowen ? 
 If that a meane did meafure all our deeds, 
 In fteed of cofne, we fhould not gather weeds. 
 
 The fetled mind is free from Fortunes power, 
 They need not feare who looke not vp aloft : 
 But they that climbe, are carefull euery hower, 
 For, when they fall, they light not very foft. 
 Examples haue the wifeft warned oft, 
 
 That, where the trees the fmalleft branches bere, 
 The ftormes do blow, and haue moft rigour there. 
 K Where
 
 130 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Where is it ftrong, but neere the ground and roote ? 
 Where is it weake, but on the higheft fprayes ? 
 Where may a man fo furely fet his foote, 
 But on thofe bowes that growen low alwayes ? 
 The little twigs, are but vnftedfaft ftayes, 
 
 If they breake not, they bend with euery blaft ; 
 
 Who trufts to them mall neuer ftand full fail. 
 
 The winde is great vpon the higheft hilles ; 
 The quiet life is in the dale below r 
 Who treads on ice mail flide againft their willes, 
 They want not cares, that curious arts would know. 
 Who Hues at eafe, and can content him fo, 
 Is perfect wife, and fets vs all to fchoole : 
 Who. hates this lore, may well be call'd a foole. 
 
 What greater griefe may come to any life, 
 Then, after fweete, to tafte the bitter fowre ? 
 Or, after peace, to fall at warre and ftrife, 
 Or, after mirth, to haue a caufe to lowre ? 
 Vnder fuch props falfe Fortune builds her bowrc, 
 On fudden change her flittering frames be fet, 
 Where is no way for to efcape the net. 
 
 The
 
 7 he Mufes Library^ 131 
 
 The haftie fmart* that Fortune fends in fpite, 
 Is hard to brooke, where gladnefle we embrace : 
 She threatens not, but fuddenly doth finite ; 
 Where ioy is moft, there doth me forow place. 
 But fure, I thirtke, this is too ftrange a cafe, 
 For vs to feele, fuch griefe amid our game, 
 And know not why, vntill we tafte the fame. 
 
 As erft I faid, my blifle was turn'd to bale, 
 I had good caufe to weepe and wring my hands, 
 And mew fad cheare, with countenance full pale : 
 For I was brought in forowes wofull bands. 
 A pirat came, and fet my {hip on fands. 
 
 What mould I hide, or colour care and noy ? 
 
 King Edward di'd, in whom was all my ioy. 
 
 And, when the earth receiued had his corfe, 
 And that in tombe this worthie Prince was laid, 
 The world on me began to mew his force j 
 Of troubles then, my part I long aflai'd : 
 For they, of whom I neuer was afrai'd, 
 
 Vndid me moft, and wrought me fuch defpite, 
 That they bereft me of my pleafure quite. 
 
 K 2 As
 
 i3 2 fte Mufes Library. 
 
 As long as life remain'd in Edwards breft, 
 Who was but I ? who had fuch friends at call ? 
 His bodie % was no fooner f put in cheft, 
 But well was he that could procure my fall : 
 His brother was mine enerriie moft of all i 
 Proteclor then, whofe vice did {till abound, 
 From ill to worfe, till death did him confound. 
 
 He falfely fain'd, that I of counfell was 
 To poifon him; which thing I neuerment : 
 But he could fet thereon a face of brafle, 
 To bring to pafle his leaud and falfe intent. 
 To fuch mifchiefe this tyrants heart was bent, 
 To God, ne man, he neuer flood in awe, 
 For, in his wrath, he made his will a law. 
 
 Lord Haftings blood for vengeance on him cries, 
 And many moe, that were too long to name : 
 But, moft of all, and in moft wofull wife, 
 I had good caufe this wretched man to blame ; 
 Before the world I fuffred open fhame : 
 Where people were as thicke as is the fand, 
 . I penance tooke, with taper in my hand. 
 
 i Each
 
 The Mufes Library. 133 
 
 Each eye did ftare, andlooke me in the face, 
 As I paft by, the rumours on me ran 5 
 But patience then had lent me fuch a grace, 
 My quiet lookes were prais'd of euery man : 
 The fhamefaft blood brought me fuch colour than, 
 That thoufands/aid, who faw my fober cheere, 
 It is great ruth to fee this woman heere. 
 
 But what prevaiPd the peoples pitie there ? 
 This raging wolfe would fpare no guiltlefle blood. 
 Oh wicked wombe that fuch ill fruit did bsare ! 
 
 curfed earth that yeeldeth forth fuch mud ! 
 The hell confume all things that did thee good ' 
 
 The heauens (hut, their gates againfl thy fpreete ! 
 The world tread downe thy glorie vnder feete ! 
 
 1 aflce of God a vengeance on thy bones, 
 Thy ftinking corps corrupts the aire I know : 
 Thy mamefull death no earthly wight bemones, 
 For, in thy life, thy workes were hated fo, 
 That euery man did wifh thy ouerthro : 
 
 Wherefore I may, though partiall now I am, 
 Curfe euery caufe whereof thy bbdie came. 
 
 K ? Woe
 
 134 The Mufes Library^ 
 
 Woe worth the man that fathered fuch a child ! 
 Woe worth the houre wherein thou waft begate ! 
 Woe worth the brefts that haue the world beguil*d, 
 To nourim thee, that all the world did hate! 
 Woe worth the gods that gaue thee fuch a fate, 
 
 To Hue fo long, that death deferu'd fo oft ! 
 
 Woe worth the chance that fet thee vp aloft! 
 
 Ye Princes all, and Rulers euery one, 
 
 In punifhment, beware of hatreds ire! 
 
 Before yee fcourge, take heed, looke well thereon : 
 
 In wroths ill will if malice kindle fire, 
 
 Your hearts will burne in fuch a hot defire, 
 
 That,in thofe flames, the fmoke mall dim your fight, 
 Yee mall forget to ioyne your iuftice right. 
 
 You mould not iudge till things be well difcerned, 
 Your charge is ftill to maintaine vpright lawes : 
 In confcienee rules ye mould be throughly learned, 
 Where clemencie bids wrath and rafhnes paufe : 
 And, further faith, ftrike not without a caufe! 
 And, whenyefmite, doit for iuftice fake, 
 Then, in good part, each man your fcourge wii take. 
 
 i if
 
 *?l*e Mufes Library. 135 
 
 If that fuch zeale had mou'd this tyrants mind, 
 To make my plague a warrant for the reft, 
 I had fmall caufe fuch fault in him to find, 
 Such punimment is vfed for the beft : 
 But by ill will and powre I was oppreft ; 
 
 He fpoil'd my goods, and left me bare and poore, 
 And caufed me to beg from dore to doore. 
 
 What fall was this, to come from Princes fare, 
 To watch for crums among the blind and lame ? 
 When almes were delt, I had a hungrie mare, 
 Becaufe I knew not how to alke for fhame ; 
 Till force and need had brought me in fuch frame, 
 That ftarue I muft, or learne to beg an almes, 
 With booke in hand to fay S. Davids Pfalmes. 
 
 Where I was wont the golden chaines to weare, 
 A paire of beads about my necke was wound, 
 A linnen cloth was lapt about my heare, 
 A ragged gowne that tray led on the ground, 
 A dim that clapt, and gaue a heauie found, 
 
 A flaying ftaffe, and wallet therewithal!, 
 
 I bare about, as witnefle of my fall. 
 
 K 4 I had
 
 136 *fke Mufes Library. 
 
 I had no houfe wherein to hide my head, 
 The open ftreete my lodging was perforce : 
 Full oft I went all hungrie to my bed, 
 My flefh confum'd, I looked like a corfe. 
 Yet, in that plight, who had on me remorfe ? 
 
 O God thou know'ft my friends forfooke me then* 
 Not one holpe me, that fuccourd many a man. 
 
 They froun'd on me, that faun'd on me before, 
 And fled from me that followed me full faft : 
 They hated me by whom I fet much (lore, 
 They knew full well my fortune did not feft. 
 In euery place I was condemn'd and caft ; 
 To pleade my caufe at barre it was no bootc, 
 For euery man did tread me vnder foote. 
 
 Thus long I liu'd, all wearie of my life, 
 Till death approcht, and ricj me from that woe : 
 Example take, by me, both maid and wife, 
 Beware, take heed, fall not to follie fo! 
 A mirour make, by my great ouerthro, 
 Defie the wor]d, and all his wanton waies, 
 Beware by me, that fpent fo ill her daies !
 
 The Mufes Library. 137 
 
 On the Englifh Poets. 
 
 T F Sloth, and Traft of Time, 
 ** (That wears eche Thing away) 
 Should ruft, and canker worthy artes, 
 
 Good works would foen decay. 
 If fuch, as prefent are, 
 
 Fpr-goc the people paft ; 
 Our felues fhould foen in filence flepe, 
 
 And Iocs renom at laft. 
 No foyll nor land fo rude, 
 
 But fom wife men can fho : 
 Than fhould the learned pas unknowne, 
 
 Whoes pen and {kill did floe ? 
 God ftieeld our floth wear fuch, 
 
 Or world fo fimple now i 
 That knowledge fcapt without reward, 
 
 Which fercheth vertue thro, 
 And paints forth vyce aright, 
 
 And blames abues in men : 
 And fhos what lief defarues rebuke, 
 
 And who the prays of pen. 
 You fee howe forrayn realms, 
 
 Advance their Poets all : 
 
 And
 
 138 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And ours are drowned in the duft, 
 
 Or flong againft the wall. 
 In Fraunce did Marrot raigne, 
 And, neighbour thear-vnto ; 
 Was Petrark, marching full with Dantie. 
 
 Who erft did wonders do 
 Among the noble Grekes, 
 
 Was Hmere full of fkill : 
 And, where that Quid norifht was, 
 
 TheSbylldidflorimftill 
 With letters hie of ftyle: 
 
 But Virgitt wan the bayes, 
 And paft them all for deep engyen ; 
 
 And made them all to gaes 
 Upon the bookes he made. 
 
 Thus eche of them you fee 
 Wan prayfe and fame, and honor had ; 
 
 Eche one in their degree ! 
 / 1 pray you then my friends, 
 Difdaine not for to vewe 
 The works and fugred verfes fine. 
 
 Of our ra'er poetes newe ! 
 Whoes barb'rous language rued, 
 Perhaps ye may miflike : 
 
 But
 
 "The Mufes Library. 139 
 
 But blame them not that ruedly playe 
 
 If they the ball do ftrike. 
 Nor flcorne your mother-tunge, 
 
 O babes of ^//^-breed ! 
 I haue of other language feen ; 
 And you, at full, may reed 
 Fine verfes, trimly wrought, 
 And coucht in comly fort ; 
 But neuer I, nor you, I troe, 
 
 In fentence plaine, and ftiort, 
 Did yet beholde with eye, 
 
 In any forraine tonge, 
 A higher verfe, a ftaetlyer ftyle, 
 
 That may be read, or fung, 
 Than is this daye, in deede, 
 
 Our Englifhe verfe and ryme ; 
 The grace wherof doth touch the Gods, 
 
 And reach the cloudes fometime ! 
 Thorow earth and waters deepe, 
 The pen, by {kill, doth pafle ; 
 And featly nyps the worldes abufe, 
 
 And fhoes vs in a glafle, 
 The vertu and the vice, 
 Of evry wyghtalyue: 
 
 The
 
 14 fbe Mufes Library. 
 
 The hony-combe that bee doth make, 
 
 Is not fo fweete in hyue, 
 As are the golden leues, 
 
 That drop from poets head 5 
 Which do furmount our common talke 
 
 As farre as gold doth lead. 
 The flowre is fifted cleane, 
 
 The bran is caft afide : 
 And fo good corne is known from chaffe, 
 
 And each fine graine is fpide. 
 Piers plowman, was full plaine. 
 
 And Chaufers fpreet was great : 
 Earle Surry had a goodly vayne, 
 
 Lord Vaux the marke did beat. 
 And Pbaer did hit the pricke, 
 
 In thinges he did tranflate ; 
 And Edwards had a fpecial gift : 
 
 And diuers men of late, 
 Have helpt our Enli/he-toung, 
 
 That firft was baes and brute. 
 Oh mall I leaue out Skeltotfs name, 
 
 The bloflbme of my frute ! 
 The tree wheron in deed, 
 My branch's all might groe !
 
 The Mufes Library. 141 
 
 Nay Skelton wore the Lawrell-wreath, 
 
 And paft in fchoels ye knoe ? 
 A poet for his arte, 
 Whoes iudgment fuer was hie, 
 And had great praclies of the pen : 
 
 His works they will not lie. 
 His terms to taunts did lean, 
 
 His talke was as he wraet : 
 Full quick of witte, right (harp of words, 
 
 And fkilful of the ftaet ! 
 Of reafon riep and good, 
 
 And, to the haetfull mynd, 
 That did difdain his doings ftill, 
 
 A Ikorner of his kynd ! 
 Moft pleafant euery way, 
 
 As poets ought to be : 
 And feldom out of Princis grace, 
 
 And great with eche degre ! 
 Thus haue you heard at full, 
 
 What Skelton was in deed : 
 A further knowledge fhall you haue, 
 
 If you his bookes do reed. 
 I haue of meer good will, 
 
 Thefe verfes written heer, 
 
 To
 
 142 The Mufes Library. 
 
 To "honour vertue as I ought, 
 And make his fame apeer, 
 
 That wan the Garland gay, 
 Of lawrel leaues but laet. 
 
 Small Is my pain, great is his prayes, 
 That did fuch honour gaet ! 
 
 The Writer of a large Addition to the Mirror of 
 Magiftrates, and Contemporary with Thofe who firft 
 began the Defign. But, as to his Birth, Fortune, 
 or other Contingencies, Time has not left us the leaft 
 Remains. 'Tis true he has no great Claim on Po- 
 fterity for Acknowledgments, yet as his Induction, 
 with that of Mr. Sackvil's will give the Reader a 
 View of this Work, fo often quoted ; it appeared 
 neceflary to annex it ; and k> much the rather 
 as 'tis the beft of his Performances. 
 
 Second Induction to the Mirror of Magiftrates. 
 
 T TITHen Sommer fweete,with all her pleasures, paft, 
 
 * * And leaues began to leaue the fhadie tree, 
 The winter cold encreafed on full faft, 
 And time of yeare to fadnes moued me : 
 For moiftie blafts not halfe fo mirthfull be, 
 As fweet Aurora brings in fpring-time faire, 
 Our ioyes they dimme, as winter damps the aire. 
 
 The
 
 The Mufes Library. 143 
 
 The nights began to grow to length apace, 
 Sir Ph&bus to th* Antarctique gan to fare : 
 From Libraes lance to th'Crab he tooke his race, 
 Beneath the line, to lend of light a lhare. 
 For then with vs the daies more darkifh are, 
 
 More fhort, cold, moift, and ftormie cloudie clit, 
 For fadnes more then mirths or pleafures fit. 
 
 Deuifing then what bookes were beft to reade, 
 Both for that time, and fentence graue alfo, 
 For conference of friend to ftand in ftead ; 
 When I my faithfull friend was parted fro, 
 I gate me ftraight the Printers mops vnto, 
 To feeke fome worke of price I furely ment, 
 That might alone my carefull mind content. 
 
 Amongft the reft, I found a booke fo fad, 
 As time of yeare or fadnefle could require : 
 The Mirour nam/d for Magiftrates he had, 
 So finely pen'd, as heart could well defire : 
 Which, when I read, fo fet my heart on fire, 
 Eftfoones it me conftrain'd to take the paine, 
 Not left with once, to reade k once againe. 
 
 And
 
 144 T^f Mufes Library. 
 
 And as againe I view*d this worke with heed, 
 And marked plaine each partie paint his fall : 
 Me thought in mind, I faw thofe men indeed, 
 Eke how they came in order Princely all ; 
 Declaring well : This life is but a thrall, 
 
 Sith thofe, on whom for Fortunes gifts we ftare, 
 Oft fooneft finke in greateft feas of care. 
 
 For fome, perdie, were Kings of high eftate, 
 And fome were Dukes, and came of regall race: 
 Some Princes, Lords, and Judges great that Sate 
 In counfell ftill, decreeing euery cafe : 
 Some other Knights that vices did embrace, 
 Some Gentlemen, fome poore exalted hie : 
 Yet euery one had plai'd his tragcdie. 
 
 A Mirrour well it might be calPd, a glafle 
 
 As clear as any cryftall vnder Sun : 
 
 In each refpeft the Tragedies fo pafle, 
 
 Their names mail Hue that fuch a worke begun. 
 
 For why, with fuch Decorum is it done, 
 
 That Momus fpight with more then Argus ies, 
 Can neuer watch to keep it from the wife. 
 
 Examples
 
 Mufes Library. 145 
 
 Examples there for all eftates you find, 
 
 For ludge (I fay) what iuftice he mould vfe : 
 
 The noble man to beare a noble mind, 
 
 And not himfelfe ambitioufly abufe ; 
 
 The Gentleman vngentlenefle refufe : 
 The rich and poore, and eu'ry one may fee, 
 Which way to loue, and Hue in due degree. 
 
 I wifh them often well to reade it than, 
 And marke the caufes why thofe Princes fell : 
 But let me end my tale that I began. 
 When I had read thefe Tragedies full well, 
 And paft the winter euenings long to tell, 
 One night at laft I thought to leaue this vfe, 
 To take fome eafe before I chang'd my Mufe. 
 
 Wherefore away from reading I me gate, 
 My heauie head waxt dull for want of reft : 
 I laid me downe, the night was waxed late, 
 For lacke of fleepe mine eyes were fore oppreft : 
 Yet fancie ftill of all their deaths encreaft, 
 
 Me thought my mind from them I could not take, 
 So worthie wights, as caufed me to wake, 
 
 L A t
 
 146 The Mufes Library. 
 
 At laft appeared, clad in purple blacke, 
 Sweet Somnus, reft which comforts each aliue ; 
 By eafe of mind, that weares away all wracke, 
 That noyfome night from wearie wits doth driue, 
 Of labours long the pleafures we atchieue. 
 Whereat I ioy'd, fith, after labours paft, 
 I might enioy fweet Somnus fleepe at laft. 
 
 But he, by whom I thought my felfe at reft, 
 Reuiued all my fancies fond before : 
 I, more defirous, humblie did requeft 
 Him fhew th* vnhappie Albion Princes yore : 
 For well I wift, that he could tell me more, 
 Sith vnto diuers, Somnus erft had told 
 What things were done in elder times of old. 
 
 Then ftraight he forth his feruant Morpbeus call'd, 
 On Higgins heere thou muft (quoth he) attend ; 
 The Britaine Peeres to bring (whom Fortune thral'd) 
 From Lethean lake, and th'ancient fhapes them lend; 
 That they may fhew why, how, they tooke their end. 
 
 I wil (quoth Morpbeus} fhew him what they were ; 
 
 And fo me thought I faw them ftraight appeare. 
 
 One
 
 The Mufes Library. 147 
 
 One after one, they came in ftrange attire, 
 
 But fome with wounds and blood were fo difguis'd, 
 
 You fcarcely could by reafons aid afpire, 
 
 To know what warre fuch fundrie deaths deuis'd ; 
 
 And feuerally thofe Princes were furpris'd. 
 
 Of former ftate, thefe States gaue ample mow. 
 Which did relate their liues and ouerthrow. 
 
 Of fome the faces bold, and bodies were 
 Diftain'd with woad, and Turkijh beards they had : 
 On th'ouer lips mutchatoes long of haire, 
 And while they feem'd, as men defpairing, mad ; 
 Their lookes might make a conftant heart full fad : 
 And yet I could not fo forfake the view, 
 Nor prefence, ere their minds I like wife knew. 
 
 For Morpheus bad them each in order tell 
 Their names and liues, their haps and haplefle daies, 
 And by what meanes from Fortunes wheele they fell, 
 Which did them erft vnto fuch honors raife. 
 Wherewith the firft not making moe delaies, 
 A noble Prince, broad wounded breft that bare, 
 Drew neere, to tell the caufe of all his care. 
 
 L 2 Which
 
 148 'The Mufes Library. 
 
 Which when me thought to fpeak he might be bold, 
 Deepe from his breft he threw an vnquoth found : 
 I was amaz'd his geftures to behold ; 
 And blood that fremly trickled from his wound : 
 While echo fo did half his words confound, 
 
 That fcarce a while the fenfe might plaine appeare : 
 At laft, me thought, he fpake as you mail heare. 
 
 As there were many others concern'd in this 
 Work , Baldwin, Ferrers, Cauil, Phaer, I thought 
 it proper to mention their Names ; but, except what 
 belongs to Draiton and Niccols (who muft be treat- 
 ed of in their Place) if I add any more, it muft be 
 to their Difad vantage. 'Tis true, the Beginning of 
 the Tale of Michael Jofeph the Black-Smith, fet up 
 for a Prince of the Blood,, by Lord Audley ; has 
 fomething in it like Merit, and therefore 'tis added 
 to give Mr. Cauil, his Pittance of Praife. 
 
 tte Prologue of Michael Jofeph the Black-Smith. 
 
 T X 7 HO is more bold then is the Bayard blind ? 
 
 * Where is more craft then in the clouted fhqne ? 
 Who catch more harme then do the bold in mind ? 
 Where is more guile then where miftruft is none ? 
 No plaifters helpe before the griefe be knowne, 
 So feemes by me who could no wifdome leare, 
 Vntill fuch time I bought my wit too deare. 
 
 Who-
 
 The Mufes Library 149 
 
 P 
 
 Who being boyftrous, ftout, and brainlefle bold, 
 Puft vp with pride, with fire and furies fret, 
 Incenft with tales fo rude and plainly told, 
 Wherein deceit with double knot was knk, 
 I trapped was as filly fifh in net, 
 
 Who, fwift in fwimming, carelefle of deceit, 
 Is caught in gin wherein is laid no bait. 
 
 Such force and vertue hath this dolefull plaint, 
 Set forth with fighes and teares of Crocodile, 
 Who feemes in fight as fimple as a Saint, 
 Hath laid a baite the warelefle to beguile, 
 And, as they weepe, they worke deceit the while, 
 Whofe rufull cheere the rulers fo relent, 
 To worke in hafte that they at laft repent. 
 
 Take heed therefore yee Rulers of the Land, 
 Be blind in fight, and ftop your other eare : 
 In fentence flow, till fldll the truth hath fcand, 
 In all your doomes both loue and hate forbeare, 
 So ihall your iudgement iuft and right appeare. 
 It was a fouthfaft fentence long agoe, 
 That haftie men Ihall neuer lacke much woe. 
 
 L 3 Is
 
 150 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Is it not truth ? Baldwine what faieft thou ? 
 Say on thy mind : I pray thee mufe no more : 
 Me thinke thou ftar'ft and look'ft I wot not how, 
 As though thou neuer faw'ft a man before : 
 Belike thou mufeft why I teach this lore, 
 Elfe what I am, that heere fo boldie dare, 
 Among the preafe of Princes to compare. 
 
 Though I be bold, I pray thee blame not mee, 
 
 Like as men fow, fuch corne needs muft they reape, 
 
 And nature planted fo in each degree, 
 
 That Crabs like Crabs will kindly crawle and creepe : 
 
 The futtle Fox vnlike the filly fheepe. 
 It is according to my education, 
 Forward to preafe in rout and congregation. 
 
 Behold my coate burnt with the fparkes of fire, 
 My leather apron fild with horfe fhooe nailes, 
 Behold my hammer and my pinfers here, 
 Behold my lookes, a marke that feldome failes : 
 My cheekes declare I was not fed with quailes, 
 My face, my cloathes, my tooles with all my fafhion s 
 Peclare full well a Prince of rude creation. 
 
 2 A
 
 The Mufes Library. 151 
 
 A Prince I faid, a Prince I fay againe, 
 Though not by birth, by crafty vfurpation. 
 Who doubts but fome men princehood do obtaine, 
 By open force, and wrongfull domination ? 
 Yet while they rule are had in reputation. 
 Euen fo by me, the while I wrought my feate, 
 I was a Prince, at leaft in my conceite. 
 
 I dare the bolder take on me the name, 
 Becaufe of him whom here I leade in hand, 
 Tychet Lord Awdley one of birth and fame, 
 Who with his ftrength and power feru'd in my band, 
 I was a Prince while thus I was fo mand : 
 His Butterfly ftill vnderneath my fhield 
 Difplaied was, from Welles, to Blakebeatb field. 
 
 But now behold he doth bewaile the fame : 
 Thus after- wits their raihnes do depraue. 
 Behold! difmaid he dare not fpeake for fhame : 
 He lookes like one that late came from the graue, 
 Or one that came forth of 'Tropbonius* caue, 
 For that in wit he had fo litle pith, 
 As he a Lord to ferue a traytour-Smith, 
 
 L 4 Such
 
 152 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Such is the courage of the noble hart, 
 Which doth defpife the vile and bafer fort, 
 He may not touch what fauours of the cart, 
 Him lifteth not with each lack-lout to fport, 
 He Jets him pafle for pairing of his port : 
 The iolly Eagles catch not litle flees, 
 The courtly filkes match feeld with homely frees, 
 
 But furely, Baldwine, if I were allow'd 
 To fay the troth, I could fomewhat declare : 
 But clerkes will fay, this Smith doth waxe too proud, 
 Thus in precepts of wifdome to compare. 
 But Smiths muft fpeake whatClerkes for feare ne dare. 
 It is a thing that all men may kment, 
 When Clerkes keepeclofe the truth left they be fhent. 
 
 The Hoftler, Barbar, Miller and the Smith, 
 Heare of the fawes of fuch as wifdome ken, 
 And learne fome wit, although they want the pith, 
 That Clerkes pretend : and yet, both now and then> 
 The greateft Clerkes proue not the wifeft men : 
 It is not right that men forbid mould bee 
 To fpeake the truth, all were he bond or free. . 
 
 And
 
 The Mufes Library. 153 
 
 And, for becaufe I vs'd to fret and fome, 
 Not patting greatly whom I mould difpleafe, 
 I dare be bold a while to play the mome, 
 Out of my facke fome others faults to leafe, 
 And let mine owne behinde my back to peafe. 
 For he that hath his owne before his eie, 
 Shall not fo quicke anothers fault efpie. 
 
 J fay was neuer no fuch wofull cafe, 
 As is when honor doth it felfe abufe : 
 The noble man that vertue doth embrace, 
 Reprefleth pride, and humblenes doth vfe, 
 By wifdome workes ; and ramnefle doth refufe. 
 His wanton will and luft that bridle can, 
 Indeed is gentle both to God and man. 
 
 But, where the Nobles want both wit and grace, 
 Regard no rede, care not but for their luft, 
 Opprefle the poore, fet will in reafons place, 
 And in their words and doomes be found vniuft, 
 Wealth goeth to wracke till all lie in the duft : 
 There Fortune frownes, and fpite begins to grow, 
 Till high, and low, and all be ouerthrow. 
 
 Then
 
 354 *H>e Mufes Library. 
 
 Then, fith that vertue hath fo good reward, 
 And after vice fo duely waiteth fhame, 
 How hap'th that Princes haue no more regard, 
 Their tender youth with vertue to inflame ? 
 For lacke whereof their wit and will is lame, 
 Infect with folly, prone to luft and pride, 
 Not knowing how themfelues or theirs to guide! 
 
 Whereby it hapneth to the wanton wight, 
 As to a fhip vpon the ftormie feas, 
 Which lacking fterne to guide it felfe aright, 
 From more to more the winde and tide to teafe, 
 Finding no place to reft or take his eafe, 
 Till at the laft it finke vpon the fand : 
 So fare they all that haue no vertues fcand. 
 
 The plowman firft his land doth drefle and tourne, 
 And makes it apt, or ere the feed he fow, 
 Whereby he is full like to reape good corne, 
 Where otherwife no feed but weed would grow : 
 By which enfample men may eafely know, 
 
 When youth haue wealth before they can wellvfeit, 
 It is no wonder though they do abufe it. 
 
 How
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 155 
 
 How can he rule well in a commonwealth, 
 Which knoweth not himfelfe in rule to frame ? 
 How mould he rule himfelfe in ghoftly health, 
 Which neuer learn'd one leflbn for the fame ? 
 If fuch catch harme their parents are too blame: 
 For needs muft they be blind, and blindly led, 
 Where no good leflbn can be taught or read. 
 
 Some thinke their youth difcreet and wifely taught, 
 That brag, and boaft, and weare their feather braue, 
 Can roift and rout, both loure and looke aloft, 
 Can fweare and ftare, and call their fellowes knaue, 
 Can pill and poll, and catch before they craue, 
 Can card and dice, both cog and foift at fare, 
 Play on vnthriftie, till their purfe be bare. 
 
 Some teach their youth to pipe, to fing and dance, 
 To hauke, to hunt, to choofe and kill their game, 
 To wind their home, and with their horfe to praunce, 
 To play at tenis, fet the lute in frame, 
 Run at the ring, and vfe fuch other game : 
 Which feats, although they be not all vnfit, 
 Yet cannot they the marke of vertue hit. 
 
 For
 
 156 The Mufes Library. 
 
 For noble youth there is nothing fo meete 
 As learning is, to know the good from ill: 
 To know the tongues and perfectly endite, 
 And of the lawes to haue a perfect fkill, 
 Things to reforme as right and iuftice will : 
 For honour is ordeined for no caufe, 
 But to fee right maintained by the lawes. 
 
 It fpites my heart to heare when noble men 
 Cannot difclofe their fecrets to their frend, 
 In fauegard fure, with paper, inke, and pen, 
 But firft they muft a fecretary find, 
 To whom they mew the bottome of their mind : 
 And be he falfe or true, a blab or clofe, 
 To him they muft their counfaile needs difclofe. 
 
 And, where they rule that haue of law no fkill, 
 There is no boote, they needes muft feeke for ayd: 
 Then rul'd are they, and rule as others will, 
 As he that on a ftage his part hath plaid : 
 But he was taught, nought hath he done or faid. 
 Such youth therfore feek fcience of the fage, 
 As thinke to rule when that ye come to age. 
 
 William
 
 The Mufes Library. 157 
 
 William Warner , 
 
 An Author only unhappy in the Choice of his 
 Subject, and Meafure of his Verfe. His Poem is 
 an Epitome of the Britijh Hiftory, and wrote with 
 great Learning, Senfe, and Spirit. In fome Places 
 fine to an extraordinary Degree, as I think, will e- 
 minently appear in the enfuing Epifode. A Tale 
 full of beautiful Incidents, in the Romantick Tafte, 
 extreamly affecting, rich in Ornament, wonderfully 
 various in Stile -, and, in mort, one of the moft 
 beautiful Paftorals I ever met with. What were 
 the Circnmftances, and Accidents of his Life, we 
 have hardly light enough to Conjecture, any more 
 than, by his Dedication, it appears he was in the 
 Service of the Lord Hunfdon^ and acknowledges very 
 gratefully both Father and Son for his Patrons, and 
 Benefactors. 
 
 fTP H E Brutons thus departed hence, feven King- 
 ** domes here begonne : 
 Where diuerfly in divers Broyles the Saxons loft and 
 
 wonne . 
 
 King Edctland King Adelbright in Diria joyntly rayne : 
 In loyall Concorde, during life, thefe Kingly friends 
 
 remayne. 
 When Adelbright mould leave his life, to Edell thus he 
 
 faies. 
 By thofe, fame Bonds of happy love, that held us 
 
 friends alwaies, 
 
 By
 
 3 
 
 158 "fie Mufes Library. 
 
 By our by-partedCrowne, of which theMoyetle is Myne, 
 By God, to whom my Soule muft pafTe, and fo in 
 
 Tyme may thyne, 
 
 I pray thee, nay, Conjure thee too,tonourimasthyne > 
 
 owne 1 
 
 Thy Neice, my Daughter Argentile^ till me to age v 
 
 be growne, 
 
 Andthen,asthourecieveftit,refignetohermyThrom 
 A promife had for this Bequeft, the Teftator he dyes 
 But all that Edell undertooke, he afterward denyes. 
 Yet well he fofters for a Tyme the Damfell, that was 
 
 growne 
 The fayreft Lady under Heaven: whofe Beautie being 
 
 knowne, 
 A many Princes feeke her love, but none might her 
 
 obtaine : 
 For Grippel-Edell to himfelfe, her Kingdome fought 
 
 to gaine, 
 By chance one Curan, Son unto a Prince in Danjke 
 
 did fee 
 The Mayde, with whom he fell in loue as much as 
 
 one might bee. 
 Unhappie Youth! what mould he do? his Saint was 
 
 kept in Mewe, 
 
 Nor he, nor any Noble-man admitted to her vewe. 
 
 One
 
 The Mufes Library. 159 
 
 One while in Melancholy fits he pynes himfelfe away, 
 Anon he thought by force of Armes to winne her if 
 
 he may, 
 
 And ftill againft the Kings reftraint did fecretly invay. 
 At length the high controller Love, whom none may 
 
 difobay, 
 
 Imbafed him from Lordlynefs, unto aKitchin-drudge: 
 That fo, at leaft, of Life or Death me might become 
 
 his Judge. 
 
 Accefle fo had to fee, andfpeak, he did his love bewray 
 And telles his Birth : her Anfwer was ; me Huf- 
 
 bandles would ftay. 
 Mean while, the King did beat his Braines his 
 
 Bootie to achiue, j 
 
 Not caring what became of her, fo he by her might\. 
 
 thrive : 
 
 A t laft his refolution was fome Peflant mould her wiue. ' 
 And, which was working to his wim, he did obferve 
 
 with joye 
 How Curan^ whom he thought a Drudge, fcapt many 
 
 an amorous Toye. 
 The King, perceiving fuch his vayne, promotes his 
 
 Vaflal ftill, 
 Leaft that the bacenefTe of the Man mould let perhaps 
 
 his Will. Aflured 
 
 /"
 
 160 The Mufes Library. 
 
 AfTured therefore of his Love, but not fufpeding who 
 The Lover was, the Kinghimfelf in hisbehalfedidwoe. 
 The Lady, refolute from loue, unkindly takes that hee 
 Should barretheNoble,and unto fo bafe a Match agree : 
 And therefore, fluffing outof Doores, departed thence 
 
 by ftealth, 
 
 Preferring Povertie before a Dangerous life in Wealth. 
 When Curan heard of her efcape, the anguifh in 
 
 his Harte 
 Was more then much ; and, after her, from Court he 
 
 did departe : 
 Forgetfullofhimfelf, his Birth, hisCountrie, Friends, 
 
 and all -, 
 And only minding whom he mift ; the foundrefle of 
 
 his Thrall! 
 Nor meanes he, after to frequent or Court, or ftately 
 
 Townes, 
 
 But follitarily to live, amongft the Countrie Grownes. 
 A brace of years he lived thus ; well pleafed fo to live! 
 And fhepheard-like to feede a Flocke, himfelf did 
 
 wholly give. 
 So wafting love, by Worke,and want, grewe almoft to 
 
 the Waene : 
 
 But then began a fecond Love, the worfer of the t wane! 
 2 A
 
 The Mufes Library. 161 
 
 A Countrie- Wench, a Neatheards Mayd, where 
 
 Curan kept his fheepe 
 Did feed her Droue : and now on her was all the Shep- 
 
 heards keepe. 
 He borrowed, on the working Daies, his holly Ruffets 
 
 oft: 
 And of the Bacons fat, to make his Starttups blacke 
 
 and foft : 
 And leaft his Tar-Box fhould offend he left it at the 
 
 Folde : 
 Sweete Growte, or Whigge, his Bottle had as much as 
 
 it would holde : 
 A Sheeue of Bread as brown as Nut, and Cheefe as 
 
 white as Snowe, 
 And Wyldings, or the Seafons Fruite, he did in 
 
 Scrippe beftowe : 
 And, whilft his py-bald Curre did fleepe, and Sheep- 
 
 hooke lay him by, 
 
 On hollowe Quilles of oten-ftrawe he pyped Melodic. 
 But, when he fpyed her his Saint, he wiptehisGreafie 
 
 Shooes, 
 And clear'd the drivell from his Beard, and thus the 
 
 Shephcard woes. 
 
 M I
 
 163 The Mufes Library. 
 
 I have, fweete Wench, a peece of Cheefe as good as 
 
 Tooth may chawe : 
 And Bread, and Wyldings, fouling well : (and there- 
 
 withall did drawe 
 HisLardrie:) and, in eating, See yon crumpled Ewe, 
 
 quoth hee, 
 Did twinne this fall, faith thou art too elvim,and to 
 
 coye : 
 
 Am I, I pray thee, beggerlie,thatfuchaFlockenioye: 
 I wis I am not : yet that thou doeft hold me in difdaine 
 Is brimme abroade, and made a gibe to all that keep 
 
 this Plaine. 
 There be as quaint, at leaft that think themfelves as 
 
 quaint, that craue 
 The match, which thou (I wot not why) mayft, but 
 
 miflik'ft to have. 
 How wouldeft thou match : (for well I wot, thou art 
 
 a female) I, 
 I know not her that, willingly, with Mayden-head 
 
 would dye. 
 The Plowmans Labour hath no end, and he a Churle 
 
 will proue : 
 The Craftsman hath more work in hand, then fitteth 
 
 unto loue : 
 
 The
 
 Mufes Library. 162 
 
 The Merchant, trafficking abroade, fufpe&s his wife at 
 
 home: 
 A Youth will play the Wanton, and an old Man prove 
 
 a Mome : 
 Then chufe a Shepherd: with the Sunne he doth his 
 
 Flock unfold, 
 And all the Day on Hill or Plaine, he merrie chat can 
 
 hold; 
 And with the Sunne doth folde againe : then, jogging 
 
 home betyme, 
 He turnes a Crabb, or tunes a Rounde, or fings fome 
 
 merrie ryme ; 
 Nor lackes he gleefull Tales to tell, whilft that the 
 
 Bole doth trot : 
 
 And fitteth finging Care-away, till he to Bed hath got. 
 There fleeps he foundly all the Night, forgetting 
 
 Morrow-Cares, 
 Nor feares he blafling of his Corne, or uttring of his 
 
 wares, 
 Or ftormes by Seae, or ftirres on Land, or cracke of 
 
 Credit loft, 
 
 Nor fpending franklier then his Flocke mall ftill de- 
 fray the coft. 
 
 M 2 Well
 
 164 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Well wot I, footh they fay, that fay : more quiet 
 
 Nights and daies 
 The Shepherd fleepes and wakes then he whofe Cartel 
 
 he doth graize. 
 
 Believe me Lafle, a King is but a Man, and fo am I : 
 Content is worth a Monarchic, and Mifchiefs hit the hy e. 
 As lateitdidaKingandhis,notdyingfarrefromhence: 
 Who left a Daughter (fave thy felfe) for faire, a 
 
 matchlefs Wench. 
 Here did he paufe, as if his Tongue had made his 1 
 
 Harte offence. 
 The Neatrefle, longing for the reft, did egge him 
 
 on to tell 
 How faire me was, and who me was. She bore (quoth 
 
 he) the Bell 
 ForBeautie: though I clownifh am, I know what 
 
 Beautie is, 
 
 Or did I not, yet feeing thee, I fenceles were to mis. 
 Suppofe her Beautie /&//'s-like, or Hellen's fome- 
 
 what lefs, 
 
 And every ftarre conforting to a puer completion gefle. 
 Her ftature comely tall, her gate well graced, and her 
 
 wit 
 
 To marvell at, not meddle with, as matchles I omit. 
 
 A
 
 The Mufes Library 165 
 
 A Globe-like Head, a Gold-like Haire, a Forhead 
 
 fmooth and hye, 
 
 An even Nofe, on either fide ftood out a graim Eye: 
 Two rolie Cheekes, round ruddie Lippes, with juft-fet 
 
 Teeth within, 
 
 A mouth in meane, and underneath a round and dimp- 
 led Chin, 
 Her fnowy Necke, with Blewifh Vaines, ftood bolt 
 
 upright upon 
 Her portly Shoulders : beating Balles, her vayned 
 
 Breafts, anon, 
 Add more to Beautie : wand-like was her middle, 
 
 falling ftill, 
 
 And rifeing whereas Women rife : but overfkip I will, 
 What Males in Females overfkip ; ymagin nothing ill! 
 And more, her Jong and limber Armes,had white and 
 
 azure Wriftes, 
 And flender Fingers anfwer to her fmooth and lillie 
 
 Fiftes: 
 
 A Leg in print, and prettieFoote : conjecture of the reft! 
 For amorous Eyes, obferving forme, think parts ob- 
 
 fcured beft. 
 
 M 3 With
 
 1 66 The Mufes Library. 
 
 With thefe (oh thing divine!) with thefe, her Tongue 
 
 of fpeech was fpare : 
 But,fpeaking, Venus feem'd to fpeak the Ball from Ide 
 
 to bear! 
 With Pallas, Juno, and with both herfelf contends in 
 
 Face ; 
 Where equal mixture did not want of milde and ftately 
 
 grace: 
 Her fmyles were fober, and her lookes were chearfull 
 
 unto all, 
 And fuch as neither wanton feeme, nor waward j melj, 
 
 nor gall. 
 A quiet Mjnde, a patient-moode, and not difdayning 
 
 any, 
 Not gybing, gadding, gawdie, and her faculties were 
 
 many. 
 A Nimph, no toung, no harte, no eye, might praife, 
 
 might wifh, might fee, 
 For Life, for Love, for forme, more good, more worth, 
 
 more faire, then mee ? 
 Yet fuch an one, as fuch was none, faue only me was 
 
 fuch: 
 Of drgentile to fay the moft were to be filent much.
 
 The Mufes Library. 167 
 
 I knew the Lady very well, but worthlefs of fuch 
 
 prais, / 
 
 TheNeatrefle fayd: and mufe I doe, a Shepeard thus ^ 
 
 mould blaze 
 The coate of Beautie. Credit me thy latter fpeach 
 
 bewraies 
 Thy clownifh fhape, a coyned (hew. But wherefore 
 
 doft thou weep ? 
 (The fhepeard wept, and (he was woe, and both did 
 
 filence keep.) 
 
 In troth, quoth he, lam not fuch as, feeming, I profefle; 
 But then for her, and now for thee, I from my felf di- 
 
 grcfle. 
 
 Her loued I, (wretch that I am, a Recreant to bee) 
 J loued her, that hated loue : but now I dye for thee. 
 At Kirkland is my Fathers Court, and Curan is my 
 
 Name, 
 In Edels Court fometymes in pompe, till Loue con- 
 
 trould the fame : 
 But now. What now ? dear Hart ! how now ? what 
 
 ayleft thou to weepe ? 
 
 (The Damfell wept, and he was woe, and both did 
 filence keep.) 
 
 M 4 I
 
 1 68 The Mufes Library. 
 
 I graunt, quoth me, it was too much, that you did 
 
 loue fo much : 
 But whom your former could not moue, your fecond 
 
 loue doth touch. 
 
 Thy twife-beloued Argentile* fubmitteth her to thee : , 
 And for thy double loue prefents her felfe a fmgle 
 
 fee: 
 In Paflion, not in Perfon chaung'd, and I my Lord^ 
 
 am mee. 
 
 They fweetly forfeiting in joye and filent for a fpace, 
 Whereas theextafie had end, did tenderly imbrace: 
 And for their Wedding, and their Wifh, got fitting! 
 
 tyme and place. 
 
 G. Gafcoigne, 
 
 A Gentleman of Grafs-Inn, intended by his Pa- 
 rents to practife the Laws , but as it appears, mifled 
 by his Pleafure into Poetry ; or by Poetry into Plea^ 
 fure ; He afterwards folio w'd the Wars in Flanders , 
 and, in his Winter Quarters, wrote his Poem call'd, 
 The Fruits of Warre^ The Lord Gray of Wilton^ 
 was his Patron ; and from whom, He profefTes to 
 have received many fignal Favours ; His Verfe is by 
 far the fmootheft of any of his Time ; and in that 
 lies his principal Merit : Scarce any one of his De- 
 figns being regularly conducted ; or uniform in Stile, 
 and Manner. Upon the Whole, I think, He neither 
 cleferves to be flighted, as he is by Wtnftanly^ and 
 Philips , nor greatly to be prais'd ; as will beft ap- 
 pear
 
 The Mufes Library. 169 
 
 pear from the following Paflages. In my humble 
 Opinion fome cf the moft Ihiniug of his Works. 
 
 72><? Aratgnmentof a Louer. 
 
 \ T Beautye's Barre as I dyd ftande, 
 -* * When falfe Sufpeft accufed mee, 
 George (quod the Judge) holde vp thyHande, 
 Thou art arraignde of Flatterye : 
 Tell therefore howe wylt thou bee tryde 1 
 Whofe Judgment here wylt thou abyde ? 
 
 My Lorde (quod I) this Lady here, 
 Whom I efteeme aboue the reft, 
 Doth know my Guilt if any were : 
 Wherefore her Doome doth pleafeme beft, 
 Let her be Judge and Jurour both, 
 To trye me guyltlefle by mine Oath I 
 
 Qupth Beauty, no, it fitteth not, 
 A Prince her felfe to iudge the Caufe : 
 Wyll is our Juftice well you wot, 
 Appoynted to difcufle our Lawes : 
 If you wil guiltlefle feeme to goe, 
 Cod and your Countrey quitte you fo \ 
 
 Then
 
 701 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Then Craft, the Crye r calde a queft, 
 Of whom was Fal/hoode formoft feere : 
 A packe of Pickthankes were the reft, 
 Which came falfe Witnes for to beare. 
 The Jury fuch, the Judge vniuft, 
 Sentence was fayd I mould be truft. 
 
 Jelous the Jayler bound me faft, 
 To heare the Verdite of the bill : 
 George (quoth the Judge) now thou art caft, 
 Thou muft goe hence to heauy Hill. 
 And there be hangd all but the head, 
 God reft thy foule when thou art dead ! 
 
 Downe fell I then vpon my Knee, 
 All flatte before Dame Beauties face, 
 And cryed ; good Ladye pardon mee, 
 Who here appeale vnto your Grace, 
 You know if I have beene vntrue, 
 It was in too much prayfmg you. 
 
 And,
 
 Mufes Library. 171 
 
 And, though this Judge doe make fuch Hafte, 
 To med with Shame my guyltlefle Blood ; 
 Yet let your Pittie firft bee plafte, 
 To faue the Man that meant you good, 
 So mall you Ihewe your felfe a Queene, 
 And I maye bee your Seruant feene ! 
 
 (Quod Beautie} well : becaufe I guefle, 
 What thou doeft meane hence foorth to bee, 
 Although thy Faultes deferue no lefle, 
 Than Juftice here hath iudged thee, 
 Wylt thou be bounde to ftynt all Strife, 
 And be true Prifoner all thy Lyfe ? 
 
 Yea Madame (quod I) that I mall, 
 Loe Fayth and Trueth my fuerties : 
 
 * 
 
 Why then (quod me) come when I call, 
 I afke no better Warrantife. 
 Thus am I Beauties bounden Thrall, 
 At her cpmmaunde when me doth call. 
 
 From
 
 172 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 From bis Dan Bartholomew, &V . 
 
 A ND now (wyth care) I can record thofc dayes, 
 * * And call to mind the quiet Life J led, 
 Before I firft beheld thy golden Rayes, 
 When thine Untruth yet troubled not my Head, 
 Remember thou, as I cannot forget, 
 How I had laid both Loue and Luft afide, 
 And how I had my fixed Fancie fet 
 In conftant Vow for euer to abide. 
 The bitter Proofe 0f Pangs in Pleafure part, 
 The coftly Taft of Hony, mixt with Gall, 
 The painted Heauen, which turnd to Hell at laft, 
 TheFreedome faind, which brought me but to Thrall, 
 The lingring Sute, well fed wyth frem Delayes, 
 The wafted Vowes which fled wyth euery Wind, 
 The reftlefle Nights to purchafe pleafmg Dayes, 
 The toiling Daies to pleafe my reftlefle Mind. 
 All thefe (wyth mo) had brufed fo my Breft, 
 And graft fuch Griefe within my groaning Hart, 
 That had I left dame Fcwfie and the reft, 
 To greener Yeers, which might indure the Smart. 
 
 From
 
 *The Mufes Library. 173 
 
 From the fame. 
 
 Olouing Youths! thys glafle was made for you, 
 And in the fame you may your Selues behold, 
 Beleeue me now not one in all your crew, 
 Which (where he loues) hath courage to be bold, 
 Your CreJJides Climes are alwayes vncontrold. 
 You dare not fay the Sunne is cleare and bright, 
 You dare not fweare that darkefome is the night ! 
 
 Terence was wife who taught 
 How Courage quailes where Loue beblinds the Senfe, 
 Though Proofe oft times makes Louers quarellous, 
 Yet fmall Excufe ferues Loue for iuft Defenfe. 
 Thefe Curtifans haue Power by Pretenfe, 
 To make a Swan of that whych was a Crow, 
 As though blacke Pitch were turned into Snow. 
 
 From the Fruits of War. 
 
 HE Poets olde, in their fond Fable faine 
 
 That mighty Mars is God, of war and ftrife, 
 Thefe Aftronomers thinke, where Mars doth raygne, 
 That all Debate and Difcord muft be rife ; 
 Some thinke Bellona Goddes of that Life : 
 
 So
 
 174 The Mufes Library. 
 
 So that fome One and fome Another iudge 
 To be the caufe of euery greeuous Grudge. 
 
 Among the Reft that Paynter had fome Skil, 
 Who thus in armes did once fet out the fame, 
 A field of Geules, and, on a Golden-Hil, 
 A (lately Towne confumed all with Flame, 
 On Cheafe of Sable (taken from the dame) 
 A fucking Babe (oh) borne to byde Mifchaunce ! 
 Begoarde with Blood, and peerced with a Launce. 
 
 On high the Helme, I beare it wel in minde, 
 The Wreath was Siluer poudred all with mot, 
 About the which (goutte defang) did twinde, 
 A roll of Sable, black and foule beblot ! 
 The Creft two hands, which may not be forgot j 
 For in the Right, a trenchant Blade did fland ; 
 And in the Left a fiery burning Brand. 
 
 Thus Poets, Paynters, and Aftronomers, 
 Haue geuen their Gefle this Subject to define, 
 Yet are thofe Three, and with them Trauellers, 
 Not beft betruft among the Worthyes nine ; 
 Their words and works are deemed not deuine. 
 
 But
 
 The Mufes Library. 175 
 
 But why ? God knowes : (my Matter not fo marre.) 
 Vnlefle it be becaufe they fayne too farre. 
 
 Wei then, let fee what fayth the common Voyce, 
 Thefe old fayd fawes, of Warre what can they fay : 
 Who lift to harken to their whifpring Noyce, 
 May heare them talke and tattle Day by Day, 
 That Princes Pride is caufe of Warre alway. 
 Plenty brings Pride, Pride Plea, Plea Pine, Pine Peace, 
 Peace Plentie, and fo (fay they) they neuer ceafe. 
 
 Then what is Warre : define it right at laft, 
 And let vs fet all old fayd Saws afide ; 
 Let Poets lie, let Painters faine as faft, 
 Aftronomers let marke how ftarres doo glide, 
 And let thefe Trauellers tell wonders wide ! 
 But let vs tell by trufty proofe of Truth, 
 What thing is Warre which raifeth all thys Rutht 
 
 And for my part my fanfie for to wright, 
 I fay that Warre is euen the Scourge of God, 
 Tormenting fuch as dwell in princely Plight, 
 Yet not regard the Teaching of his Rod, 
 Whofe Deedes and Dueties oftentimes are odde, 
 
 Who
 
 176 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Who range at random letting at the iuft, 
 
 As though they raignd to do euen what they lufi. 
 
 Whome neyther Plague can pull into Reniorce, 
 Nor Dearth can draw to mend that is amis* 
 Wythin thofe Hearts no Pitie findeth Force, 
 Nor Right can rule to iudge what Reafon is. 
 Whom SicknefTe falueth not, nor Bale brings Blis : 
 Yet can high Joue by waft of bloodie Warre^ 
 Send Schoolemaifters to teach them what they are. 
 
 Then fince the Cafe fo plaine by Proofe doth ftand, 
 That Warn is fuch, and fuch always it was, 
 How chanceth then that Many take in Hand 
 To ioy in Warre^ whyle greater Pleafures pafle ? 
 Who count the quiet Burgher but an AfTe, 
 That liues at Eafe contented wyth his owne, 
 Whiles they feeke more and yet are ouerthrowne. 
 
 If Mars mooue Warre^ as Star-conners can tell, 
 And Poets eeke in Fables vfe to faine, 
 Or if Bellona caufe Mens Hearts to fwell 
 By deadly Grudge, by Rancor or Difdaine, 
 Then what Delight may in that life remains ? 
 
 Where
 
 The Mufes Library. 177 
 
 Where Anger, Wrath, Teene, Mifchiefe and Debate, 
 Do ftill vphold the Pillars of the State ? 
 
 If Painters Craft haue truly Warre difplaide, 
 Then is it wore (and bad it is at beft) 
 Where To wnesdeftroid and Fields with Blood beraide, 
 Yong Children flaine, old Widows foule oppreft, 
 Maids rauifhed, both Men and Wiues diftreft : 
 Short Tale to make, where Sword and cindring Flame 
 Confume as much as Earth and Aire may frame. 
 
 If Pride make Warre (as common People prate) 
 Then is it good (no doubt) as good may bee ; 
 For Pride is roote of 111 in euery State, 
 The Sowrfe of Sinne ! the very Feend his Fee ! 
 The Head of Hell, the Bough, the Branch, theTree, 
 From whych doo fpring and fprout fuch flemly Seed, 
 As nothing elfe but Mone and Mifchiefe breeds ! 
 
 But if Warre be (as I haue faid before) 
 God's Scourgewhich doth bothPrince and People tame, 
 Then warne the wifer Sort by learned Lore, 
 To flee from that which bringeth naught but blame, 
 And let Men count it Grief and not a Game, 
 
 N To
 
 178 The Mufes Library. 
 
 To feele the Burden of God's mightie Hand, 
 When he concludes in Judgement for to ftand. 
 
 Oh Prince be pleas'd with thine owne Dyademe, 
 Confine thy Countreys with their common Bounds! 
 Enlarge no Land, ne ftretch thou on thy Streame! 
 Penne vp thy Pleafure in Repentance Pounds, 
 Lead thine own Sword be caufe of al thy Wounds. 
 Clayme nought by Warre where Title is not good ! 
 It is God's fcourge, then Prince beware thy blood ! 
 
 Oh Dukes,oh Earls, oh Barons, Knights and *Squiers! 
 Keepe you content with that which is your owne ! 
 Let Bravery neuer bring you in his Briers I 
 Seeke not to mowe where you no Seed haue fowne ! 
 Let not your Neighbors Houfe be ouerthrowne, 
 To make your Garden ftraight, round, euen and fquare? 
 For that is Warre (God's fcourge) then Lords beware 1 
 
 Oh Biftiops, Deacons, Prelates, Priefts and all, 
 Striue not for Tythes, forGlebeland, nor for Fees, 
 For polling Peter-pence^ for Popim-pall, 
 For proud Pluralities, nor new Degrees ; 
 And though you thinkc it lubberlike to leefe, 
 
 Yet
 
 The Mufes Library. 179 
 
 Yet ftiould you lend that one halfe of your Cote, 
 Then Prieftes leaue/Fdm,and learne to fing that note! 
 
 Oh lawlefie Lawyers ftop your too long Nofe, 
 Wherewith you fmel your needy Neighbour's Lacke, 
 Which can pretend a little to fuppofe, 
 And in your Rules vplandifh Louts can racke 
 Til you haue brought their Wealth vnto the wrack ! 
 This is playne Warre although you terme it Strife : 
 Which God wil fcourge, then Lawyers leaue this life ! 
 
 Oh Merchants make more Confcience in an Oath, 
 Sell not your Silkes by Danger nor Deceite, 
 Breake not your Bankes with Coyne and Credit both, 
 Heape not your Hoords by Wy lines of Weight, 
 Set not to Sale your Suttleties by Slight, 
 Breede no Debate by bargayning for Dayes ! 
 For God wil fcourge fuch guyles ten thoufand wayes I 
 
 Oh Countrey Clownes, your Clofes fee you keeps, 
 With Hedge and Ditch, and marke your Meade with 
 
 Meares, 
 
 Let not dame Flattery in your bofome creepe, 
 To tel a Fittone in your Landlords Eares, 
 And fay the Ground is his as playne appeares, 
 
 N 2 Where
 
 180 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Where you but fet the Bounders forth too farre: 
 Ply you the Plough and be no caufe of Warre ! 
 
 Oh common Peopl e clayme nothing but Right 
 And ceafe to feeke that you haue neuer loft, 
 Strive not for Trifles : make not all your Might 
 To put -your Neighbors Purfe to needles Coft, 
 When your owne Gilt is fpent, then farewel Froft ! 
 The Lawyer gaynes and leades a lordly Life, 
 Whiles you leefe all and beg to ftint your Strife. 
 
 Knew Kings and Princes what a Pain it were 
 To win mo Realms then any Wit can weeld, 
 To pine in Hope, to fret as faft for Feare, 
 To fee their Subiects murdred in the Field, 
 To lofe at laft, and then Themfelues to yield, 
 To breake found Sleepe with Carke and inward Care, 
 TL ;y would loue Peace, and bid Warre well to fare ! 
 
 His Works are bound altogether in Quarto ; and 
 contain Poems, which he calls Flowers, Herbs, and 
 Weeds : The Hiftory of Dan Bartbolemew of Bath, 
 The Tale of Ferdinando Jeronimi : The Sted-Glafs ; 
 a Satire in Blank Verfe, and, according to Langbane, 
 &c. The Glafs of Government, a Tragi-Comedy, (but 
 not in my Edition.) The Complaint of Philo- 
 mene ; The Suppofes, a Comedy ; Jocafta, a Tragedy, 
 
 from
 
 7 'he Mufes Library 181 
 
 from the Greek. In this he was aflifted by one 
 
 Mr. Francis Kinwelmarjb : And the Pleafures of Kenel- 
 vorth-CaJtle, an Entertainment for the Queen. 
 
 Thomas Najh, 
 
 Defcended from a Family in Hertford/hire ; but 
 born at Le oft off in Suffolk. He received his Educa- 
 tion at St. John's College, Cambridge, and was de- 
 fign'd for Holy Orders , But whether ever preferr'd, 
 'or honoured with any great Man's Patronange is no 
 where determin'd. - I am inclin'd to think the Con- 
 trary, becaufe good Fortune is feldom without the 
 Evidence of Flattery, or Envy : Whereas Diftrefs, 
 and Obfcurity are almoft infeparable Companions. 
 This is farther confirmed by fome Lines, vehemently 
 paflionate, in a Performance of his, call'd, Piers 
 Pennilefs j which, to fay nothing of the Poetry, are 
 the ftrongeft Picture of Rage, and Defpair that 
 I ever met with. 
 
 \ 7 T H Y is't Damnation to defpair and die, 
 
 * When Life is my true Happinefs' Difeafe ? 
 My Soul ! my Soul ! thy Safety makes me fly 
 The faulty Means that might my Pain appeafe, 
 Divines, and dying Men may talk of Hell ; 
 But, in my Heart, her feveral Torments dwell ! 
 
 Ah worthlefs Wit to train me to this Woe! 
 Deceitful Arts that Nourim Difcontent ! 
 Ill Thrive the Folly that bewitch*d me fo ! 
 
 N 3 Vain
 
 1 82 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Vain Thoughts adieu ; for now I will repent ! 
 And yet my Wants perfuade me to proceed > 
 Since none take Pity of a Schollar's Need ! 
 
 Forgive me God altho' I curfe my Birth, 
 And ban the Air wherein I breathe a Wretch f 
 Since Mifery hath daunted all my Mirth 
 And I am quite undone thro* Promife-Breach 
 
 O Friends ! no Friends, that then ungently frown, 
 When changing Fortune cafts us headlong down ! 
 
 Without Redrefs complains my carelefs Verfe. 
 And Midas Ears relent not at my Moan ! 
 In fome far Land will I my Griefs rehearfe 
 Mongft them that will be mov'd when I mail groan ! 
 
 England adieu ! the Soil that brought me forth ! 
 
 Adieu unkin'd where Skill is nothing worth ! 
 
 His Works are various, both in Verfe and Profe- 
 tho* all Biting, and Satirical. ... By fome he is call'd 
 the Englijh Aretine ; By others, a Buffoon in Print 
 Bat that he had a fufficient Quantity of Spleen' 
 at leaft, is apparent by the following Lines, occa- 
 fion'd by a Controverfy with Doctor Gabriel Har- 
 vey of Saffron-Walden. 
 
 Were
 
 'The Mufes Library. 183 
 
 Were there no Wars, poor Men mould have no Peace; 
 UncefTant Wars with Wafps, and Drones I cry ! 
 He that begins, oft knows not how to ceafe ; 
 He hath begun ; I'll follow till I die ! 
 
 I'll hear no Truce, Wronge gets no Grave in me , 
 Abufe Pell Mell, incounter with Abufe ! 
 Write he again, I'll write eternally ! 
 Who feeds Revenge, hath found an endlefs Mufe ! 
 
 If Death ere made his black Dart of a Pen, 
 My Pen his ipecial Bayly mall become : 
 Somewhat He be reputed of 'mongft Men, 
 By ftriking of this Dunce or dead or dumb : 
 Await the World the Tragedy of Wrath ! 
 What next T paint mail tread no common Path ! 
 
 As I have not been able to meet with his Poems 
 myfelf, I beg Leave to infert his Character, as it 
 feems impartially fumm'd up, foon after his Death, 
 in an old Comedy, call*d, 'The Return from Parnaffits> 
 or a Scourge for Simony. 
 
 Let all his Faults fleep in his mournful Cheft, 
 And there for ever with his Ames reft ! 
 His Style was Witty ; tho 1 he had fome Gall: 
 Something he might have mended fo may all ? 
 
 N 4 George
 
 184 *The Mufes Library. 
 
 George < Turber i uille y 
 
 A Gentleman of an antient Family in Dorfetjhiye i 
 educated at Oxford, chofen perpetual Fellow of New 
 College, and, afterwards Secretary to an Embafly to 
 Ruffia. Sir JohnHarrington Complements him in one 
 of his Epigrams ; but, by others, he is barely men- 
 tion'd, as one of the Poetical Hive, that fwarm'd, 
 fo prpfufely in the Reign of Q^Efizabctb. Some 
 of the very beft of his Poems, I mean fuch as I think 
 fo, are here inferted ; that if he deferves a Cha- 
 racter, his Merit may be remember'd as well a^ his 
 Name. 
 
 The Speech of Reafon againfl Love.. 
 
 A T length, when Reafcn faw 
 * * Me fotted fo in Loue, 
 As I ne would, ne might at all 
 
 My Fanfie thence remoue : 
 Shee caus'd her Trumpe be blowne 
 
 To cyte her Servants all 
 Into the Place, by whofe Aduife 
 
 I might be rid from Thrall. 
 Then Plato firft appearde, 
 
 With Sage and folemne Sawes : 
 And in his Hand a golden Booke 
 
 Of good and Greekijh Lawes j 
 
 i Whofe
 
 The Mufes Library. 185 
 
 Whofe Honie-Mouth fuch wife, 
 
 And weightie Wordes did tell : 
 Gainft thee and all thy Troupe at once 
 
 As Reafon lykte it well. 
 When Plato's Tale was done, ^ ; 
 
 Then 2ullie preft in Place : 
 Whofe filed Tongue with fugred Talke, 
 
 Would good a fimple Cafe. 
 With open Mouth I heard 
 
 And Jawes yftreched wyde, 
 How He gainft Venus Dearlings x all, 
 
 And Cupid's Captiues cryde. 
 Then Plutarch gan to preache 
 
 And by Examples proue, 
 That thoufand Mifchiefes were procurde 
 
 By meane of guilefull Loue. 
 Whole Cities brought to Spoyle, 
 
 And Realmes to fhamefull Sack : 
 Where Kings and Rulers good Aduice 
 
 By means of Loue did lack ? 
 Next Plutarch, Senec came, 
 
 Seuere in all his Sawes ! 
 Who cleane defide your wanton Tricks, 
 
 And fcornd your childifh Lawes. 
 
 I
 
 1 86 The Mufes Library. 
 
 I neede not name the Reft 
 
 That ftoode as then in Place : 
 But Thoufahdes more there were that fought 
 
 Your Godhead to deface. 
 When all the Hall was hufht, 
 
 And Sages all had done : 
 ThenReafon that, in Judgement, fate 
 
 Her fkilfull Talke begonne. 
 Gramercie Friends (quoth me) 
 
 Your Counfell likes me well : 
 But now lend Eare to Reafons Wordes. 
 
 And liften what I tell ! 
 What Madnefle may be more 
 
 Than fuch a Lorde to haue, 
 Who makes the Chiefetaine of his Bande 
 
 A rude and Rafkall-SIaue ? 
 Who woonted is to yeelde 
 
 In Recompence of Paine ? 
 A ragged Recompence God wote ! 
 
 That turnes to meere Difdaine ? 
 Who gladly would enfue 
 
 A Condud that is blinde ? 
 Or thrall himfelfe to fuch a one 
 
 As fhewes himfelf vnkinde ? 
 
 What
 
 *fhe Mures Library. 187 
 
 What Ploughman would be glad 
 
 To fowe his Seede for Gaine, 
 And reape when Harueft-time comes on 
 
 But Trauaile for his Paine ? 
 What Madman might endure 
 
 To watch and warde for nought : 
 To ride, to runne, and laft to loofe 
 
 The, Recompence he fought? 
 To wafte the Day in Wo, 
 
 AndreftlefTe Night in Care, 
 And haue, in ftead of better Foode, 
 
 But fobbing for his Fare ? 
 To bleare his Eies with Brine, 
 
 And falted Teares ymead : 
 To force his fainting Flefh to fade, 
 
 His Colour pale and dead ? 
 And to foredoe with Carke 
 
 His wretched, witherd Hart ? 
 And fo to breede his bitter Bale 
 
 And hatch his deadly Smart ? 
 I fpeake it to this Fine, 
 
 That plainely might appere, 
 Cupidos Craft, and guileful 1 Guife 
 
 To him that ftandeth here, 
 
 I Whofe
 
 188 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Whofe Eies, with Fanfies mift 
 
 And Error's Clowdes are dim, 
 By means that hee in Venus Lake 
 
 And Cupids Goulfe doth fwim ; 
 And hath, by fodaine Sight 
 
 Of vnacquainted Shape, 
 So fixt his Hart, as Hope is paft 
 
 For euer to efcape. 
 Unlefle to thefe my Wordes, 
 
 A liftning Eare hee lende : 
 Which oft are wont the Louers Minde 
 
 And Fanfie to offende. 
 But he that would his Health, 
 
 SowreSirops muft aflay: 
 For ev'ry Griefe hath Cure againe 
 
 By cleane repugnant Way. 
 And who fo mindes to quite, 
 
 And rid himfelfe from Wo, 
 Muft feeke, in Time, for to remooue 
 
 The Thing that hurtes him fo. 
 For, longer that it laftes, 
 
 It Frets the farder in, 
 Untill it growe to curelefle Maine 
 
 By pafling FeJJ and Skin. 
 
 The
 
 The Mufes Library. 189 
 
 The Pyne, that beares his Head 
 
 Up to the haughtie Skie, 
 Would well haue beene remoouede at firft 
 
 As day lie Proofe doth trie : 
 Which, now, no force of man 
 
 Nor Engine may fubvert : 
 So wyde the creeping Rootes are run 
 
 By Natures fubtile Art: 
 So Loue, by (lender Sleight 
 
 And little paine at furft, 
 Would haue beene ftopt, but hardly now 
 
 Thou thou wouldft doe thy wurft. 
 The wanted Saw is true, 
 
 Shun Loue, and Loue will flee, 
 But follow Loue and, fpite thy nofe,. 
 
 Then Loue will follow thee. 
 And, though fuch grafted Thoughts, 
 
 On fodaine, may not die, 
 Ne be forgone ; yet Procefle mall 
 
 Their farther Growth deftrie. 
 No Giaunt for his Lyfe 
 
 Can cleaue a knarrie Oke, 
 Though he would feeke to doe his wurft 
 
 And vtmoft at a Stroke : 
 
 But
 
 190 *The Mufes Library. 
 But let the meaneft Man 
 
 Haue Space to fell him downe, 
 And he will make him bende his Head 
 
 And bring his Boughes to Grownde. 
 No Force of falling Showre 
 
 Can pierce the Marble-Stone, 
 As will the often Drops of Raine 
 
 That from the Gutters gone : 
 Wherefore, thou retchlefle Man ! 
 
 My Counfell with thee mo 
 Is, that thou Peecemeale doe expell 
 
 The Loue that paines thee fo. 
 Renounce the Place where mee 
 
 Doth make Soiourn and Stay : 
 Force not hir trayning, truthlefle Eies, 
 
 But turne thy Face away ! 
 Thinke that the hurtfull Hooke 
 
 Is coverde with fuch Baite : 
 And that in fuch a pleafant Plot 
 
 The Serpent lurkes in waite. 
 Weigh well her fcornefull Cheere, 
 
 And thinke mee feekes thy Spoyle : 
 And though thy Conqueft were atchivde, 
 
 May not acquite thy Toyle : 
 
 Not
 
 The Mufes Library. 191 
 
 Not ydle fee thou bee, 
 
 Take aye fome Charge in Hande : 
 And quickly {halt thou quench the Flame 
 
 Of carelefle Cupid's Brands. 
 For what (I pray you) bred 
 
 jEgiftus foule Defame ? 
 And made him fpoken of fo yll ? 
 
 What put him to the fhame ? 
 What forfte the Foole to loue ? 
 
 This beaftly, ydle Lyfe 
 Was Caufe that he befotted was 
 
 Of Agamemnons Wyfe. 
 If he had fought in Field, 
 
 Encountring with his Foe; 
 On ftately Steede, or elfe on Foote 
 
 With Glaue had giuen the Bloe : 
 If he, that Lecher lewde ! 
 
 Had warlick Walles aflailde 
 With Cannon mot, or bownfing Ramme 
 
 His fenced Enemies quailde : 
 He had not felt fuch Force 
 
 Of vile and beaftly Sin ; 
 Cupidos Shafts had fallen fhort, 
 
 If he had bufie bin. 
 
 What
 
 192 The Mufes Library. 
 
 What Myrrha made to loue ? 
 
 Or Byblis to defire> 
 To quench the Heate of hungrie Luft 
 
 And Flames of filthy Fire ? 
 What Canace enforcde 
 
 To frie with frantick Brandes, 
 In fort as vp to yeelde hir felfe 
 
 Unto hir Brothers Handes ? 
 And other Thoufand mo 
 
 Of whome the Poets wright ? 
 Nought elfe (good Fayth !) but for they had 
 
 In ydle Thoughts Delight. 
 They fpent their youthfull Yeares 
 
 In foule, and filthie Trade, 
 They bufied not their ydle Braines 
 
 But God of Pleafure made. 
 Wherefore if thou (I fay) 
 
 Doft couet to auoyde 
 That Bedlam-Boyes deceitfull Bowe 
 
 That Others hath anoyde : 
 Efchewe the ydle Lyfe, 
 
 Flee, flee from doing nought ! 
 For neuer was their ydle Braine 
 
 But bred an ydle Thought. 
 
 **.r: And
 
 The Mufes Library. 193 
 
 And, when thofe Stormes are paft 
 
 And Clowdes remov'd away : 
 I know thou wilt on (Reafori) thinke 
 
 And minde the Wordes I fay. 
 Which are : that Loue is Roote, 
 
 And onely Crop of Care, 
 The Bodies Foe, the Harts annoy : 
 
 And Caufe of Pleafures rare ! 
 The SicknefTeof the Minde ! 
 
 The Fountaine of Vnreft ! 
 The Goulfe of Guile, the Pit of Paine ! 
 
 Of Grief the hollow Cheft ! 
 A fierie Froft, a Flame 
 
 That frozen is with Ife ! 
 A heauie Burden light to beare, 
 
 A Vertue fraught with Vice ! 
 It is a warlike Peace, 
 
 A Safetie fet in Dred, 
 A deepe Difpaire annext to Hope, 
 
 A Famine that is fed, 
 Sweete Poyfon for his Tafte, 
 
 A Porte CforyMj-leeke, 
 A Scylla for his Safetie Thought, 
 A Lyon that is meeke 
 
 O A
 
 194 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And (by my Crowne I fwear) 
 
 The longer thou doft loue, 
 The longer fhalt thou liue a Thrall 
 
 As Trad of Time will proue. 
 Wherefore retire in Hafte 
 
 And fpeed thee Home againe, 
 And pardon'd mall thy TrefpafTe bee, 
 
 And thou exempt from Paine. ' 
 Take Reafon for thy Guide 
 
 As thou haft done of yore : 
 / And Spite of Lous thou malt not loue 
 
 Ne be a Thrall no more. 
 Repaire to Plato's Schoole, 
 
 And Tutties true Aduice : 
 Let Plutarch be and Seneca 
 
 Thy Teachers to be wife. 
 
 Louers ought tojhunne no painet 
 to attains their Loue. 
 
 IF Merchaunts, in their warped Keales 
 Commit themfelues to Waue, 
 And dreadfull Daunger of the Goulfe, 
 
 In Tempeft that doth raue, 
 To fet from farre, and Forraine Lands 
 Such Ware as is to fell, 
 
 And
 
 The Mufes Library. 195 
 
 And is not in their Natiue Soile 
 
 Where they themfelues doe dwell : 
 If Souldiars ferue in Perill's place 
 
 And dread of Cannon Shot, 
 Ech Day in Daunger of their Liues, 
 
 And Countrie, Lofle God wot, 
 Whofe Mufick is the Dreadfull Drumme 
 
 And dolefull Trumpets Sounde, 
 Who haue, in (lead of better Bed, 
 
 The colde, and ftonie Grounde, 
 And all t'attaine the Spoile with Speede 
 
 Of fuch as do withftande, 
 Which {lender is fometime we fee 
 
 When fo it comes to Hande : 
 If they for Lucre light fuilaine 
 
 Such Perill as enfues, 
 Then thofe that ferue the Lorde of Lous 
 
 No Trauaile ought refufe. 
 But, lauifh of their liuely Breath 
 
 All Tempeft to abide, 
 To maintaine Loue and all his Lawes, 
 
 What Fortune fo betide. 
 And not to fhrink at erie Shoure 
 
 Or ftormie Flawe that lights, 
 
 O * Ne
 
 196 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Ne yet to yeeld themfelues as Thrall 
 
 To fuch as with them fights. 
 Such are not fit for Cupids Campe, 
 
 They ought no Wages win 
 Which faint before the Clarige of Trump 
 
 Or Battels Broyle begin. 
 They muft not make account of Hurt, 
 
 For Cupid hath in Store 
 Continually within his Campe 
 
 A Salue for erie Sore. 
 Then Enfigne-Bearer is fo ftoute, 
 
 Ecleaped Hope by name, 
 As if they follow his Aduife 
 
 Eche Thing mail be in Frame. 
 But if, for want of Courage ftoute, 
 
 The Banner be bereft, 
 If Hope by hap be ftricken downe, 
 
 And no good Hope yleft : 
 Tis Time with Trump to blow Retreate, 
 
 The Field muft needs be woon : 
 So Cupid once be Captiue tane 
 
 His Souldiers are vndocn. 
 Wherefore, what fo they are that Loue 
 
 As waged Men doe ferue ; 
 
 Muft
 
 The Mufes Library 197 
 
 Muft flum no Daunger drift at all, 
 
 Ne from no Perill fwerue, 
 Keepe Watch and Warde the wakefull Night 
 
 And neuer yeelde to Reft : 
 For feare, left thou, a waiting naught, 
 
 On fodaine be oppreft. 
 Though Hunger gripe thy emptie Maw, 
 
 Endure it for a while, 
 Till Time do ferue with good Repaft 
 
 Such Famine to beguile. 
 Be not with chilly Colde difmaide, 
 
 Let Snow nor Jfe procure 
 Thy luftfull Limmes from painfull plight 
 
 Thy Ladie to allure. 
 That is the Spoyle that Cupid glues, 
 
 That is the onely Wight 
 Whereat his Thralls are woont to roue, 
 
 With Arrowes from their Sight. 
 My felfe, as one among the moe, 
 
 Shall neuer fpare to fpend 
 My Life, my Limmes, yea Hart and all 
 
 Loues Quarrell to defend. 
 And fo in Recompense of Paines, 
 
 And Toile of Perills paft, 
 
 O 3 Ht
 
 198 The Mufes Library. 
 
 He yeelde me but my Ladies Loue : 
 
 1 will not be agaft. 
 Of Fortune, nor her frowning Face, 
 
 I naught mall force her Cheere, 
 But tend on erie Turne on her 
 
 That is my louing Feere. 
 
 That no manjhould write lut fucb as do excett. 
 
 QHOULD no Man write (fay you,) 
 
 *^ But fuch as doe excell 
 
 This fonde Deuife of yours deferues 
 
 A Bable and a Bell. 
 Then one alone mould doe 
 
 Or verie few in Deede : 
 For that in erie Art there can 
 
 But One alone exceede. 
 Should others ydle bee, 
 
 And wafte their Age in vaine, 
 That myght perhaps in after Time 
 
 The Prick and Price attaine ? 
 By Pradife Skill is got, 
 
 By Pradife Wit is wonne. 
 At Games you fee how many doe 
 
 To win the Wager roonne, 
 
 2 Yet
 
 The Mufes Library. 199 
 
 Yet one among the moe, 
 
 Doth beare away the Bell : 
 Is that a Caufe to fay the Reft 
 
 In running did not well ? 
 If none in Phifick fhould 
 
 But only Galene deale, 
 No doubt a Thoufand perifti would 
 
 Whom Phifick now doth heale. 
 Eche one his Talent hath, 
 
 To vfe at his Deuife : 
 Which makes that many Men, as well 
 
 As One, are counted wife. 
 For if that Wit alone 
 
 In one mould reft and raine. 
 Then God the Skulles of other Men 
 
 Did make but all in vaine. 
 Let eche One trie his Force, 
 
 And do the beft he can ; 
 For therevnto appointed were 
 
 The Hande and Hed of Man. 
 The Poet Horace fpeakes 
 
 Againft thy Reaibn plaine, 
 Who fayes, 'tis fomewhat to attempt 
 
 Although thou not attaine 
 
 O 4 The
 
 2OO 'The Mufes Library. 
 
 The Scope in erie thing : 
 To touch the higheft Degree 
 
 Is pafling hard, to doe thy beft 
 Sufficing is for thee. 
 
 In fraife of Ladie P. 
 
 geemes of Venus ftock to bee 
 For Beautie's comely Grace, 
 A Gryfett for her Grauitie, 
 
 A Helen for her Face : 
 A fecond Pallas for her Wit, 
 
 A Goddefle rare in Sight, 
 A Dian for her Daintinefle, 
 
 Shee is fo chafte a Wight. 
 Doe vew her Corfe with curious Eie, 
 
 Eche Lim from Top to Toe, 
 And you mall fay I tell but Truth 
 
 That doe extoll her fo. 
 The Head, as Chiefe that ftandes aloft 
 
 And ouer looketh all, 
 With Wifedome is fo fully fraught 
 
 As Pallas there did ftall. 
 Two Eares that truft no trifling Tales 
 
 Nor credit blazing Brute : 
 
 Yet
 
 7* he Mufes Library. 201 
 
 Yet fuch againe as readie are 
 
 To beare the Humbles, Sute. 
 Her Eies are fuch as will not gaze 
 
 On Things not worthy Sight, 
 And, where {he ought to caft a Looke 
 
 She will not winke in Spight. 
 The golden Graines that greedie Gueftes 
 
 From forraine Countries bring, 
 Ne mining Phoebus glittring Beames 
 
 That on his Godhead fpring: 
 No auncient Amber had in Price 
 
 Of Roman Matrons olde, 
 ,May be comparde with fplendent Haires 
 
 That pafle the Venus-Golfe. 
 Her Nofe adorns her Countenance fo 
 
 In middle iuftly plafte. 
 As it at no Time will permit 
 
 Her Beautie be defafte. 
 Her Mouth fo fmall, her Teeth fo white 
 
 As any Whale his Bone, 
 Her Lips without fo liuely red 
 
 That patfe the Corall Stone. 
 What neede I to defcribe her Cheekes? 
 
 Her Chin ? or elfe her Pap ? 
 
 For
 
 2O2 The Mufes Library. 
 
 For they are all as though the Rofe 
 
 Lodged in the Liilies Lap. 
 What fhould I ftand vpon the Reft 
 
 Or other Parts depaint : 
 As little Hand with Fingers long ? 
 
 My Wits are all too faint. 
 Yet this I fay in her Behalfe 
 
 If Helen were her Like, 
 Sir Paris neede not to difdaine 
 
 Her through the Seas to feeke : 
 Nor Menelaus was vnwife, 
 
 Or Troupe of Trojans mad, 
 When he with them, and they with him, 
 
 For her fuch Combat had. 
 Leander's Labour was not loft 
 
 That fwam the furging Seas, 
 If Hero were of fuch a Hue 
 
 Whome he fo fought to pleafe. 
 And if Admetus Darling deere 
 
 Were of fo frefhe a Face, 
 Though Pbabus kept Admetu's Flock 
 
 It may not him difgrace. 
 Nor mightie Mauors weigh the Floutes 
 
 And Laughing of the reft, 
 
 If
 
 The Mufes Library. 203 
 
 If fuch a one were ftiee with whome 
 
 He lay in Vnlcans Neft. 
 If Bryfeis Beautie were fo braue, 
 
 Achylles needes no Blame 
 Who left the Campe and fled the Fields 
 
 For loofing fuch a Dame. 
 If me in Ida had hene feene 
 
 With Pallas and the Reft, 
 I doubt where Paris would haue chofe 
 
 Dame Venus for the beft, 
 Or if Pygmalion had but tane 
 
 A Glimfe of fuch a face, 
 He would not then his Jewell dumb 
 
 So feruently imbrace. 
 But what mall neede fo many Wordes 
 
 In Things that are fo plaine ? 
 I fay but that I doubt where Kinds 
 
 Can make the like againe. 
 
 Sir Philip Sidney, 
 
 By the common Confent of all Europe, allov/'d to 
 be the compleateft Gentleman of his Time ; Na- 
 ture, Fame, and Fortune feem'd to vie with each 
 other in mowering down their Favours on Him : He 
 was Noble by Defcent, amiable in his Perfon, in 
 Genius, and Judgment the Standard, by which all 
 
 his
 
 2O4 The Mufes Library. 
 
 his Contemporaries eflay'd, and improv'd their own: 
 As gallant in the Field, as wife, and learned in the 
 Schools ; and, at Court, fb elegantly well-bred, as 
 if He had never known the Pedantry of the One, 
 or the Rudenefs of the Other. Yet all thefe great 
 AccompHfhments fat fo eafy upon him, that no 
 Body was offended at what they could not equal, 
 nor envy'd the firft Praifes to his Character, tho' ever 
 fo jealous of their own. In a Word, He was a 
 moft illuftrious Inftance of the real Power of private 
 Virtue: For, without Titles, Places, Court-Fa- 
 vour, or, any other common Bait for Refpect and 
 Veneration, He had Homage from all Eyes, com- 
 manded Attention from every Ear, and won the Af- 
 fection of all Hearts. In fo much, that Don John 
 of Auftria^ Vice- Roy of the Netherlands , one of the 
 proudeft Men that ever was born, publickly treated 
 Him with more Honour, (tho* only a Vifitor at his 
 Court, and then very young) than the AmbafTadors 
 of Sovereigns : Nay, fo Univerfal was his Efteem, 
 and to fuch a Height 'twas carry'd, that, tho' not 
 born a Prince, 'twas the general Voice, no one was 
 more Worthy of a Throne ; and, I prefume, 'twas 
 rather owing to the Wifhes of the Publick, than any 
 real Fad, that 'tis faid He was in Election for the 
 Kingdom of Poland : A Circumftance infinitely more 
 Glorious than if he had worn the Nobleft Diadem in 
 the World, by Inheritance ! But Hyperbole it felf 
 was hardly thought able to do him Juftice: Nor wou'd 
 Jefs than a Volume contain all the printed Teftimo- 
 nies the Learned have given of his unequal'd Vir- 
 tues. Never had the Mufes a greater Lofs than when 
 He dy'd, for, tho' by his own Pen He could com- 
 mand Immortality, He ha ; d the true Greatnefs of 
 Mind to encourage Merit in others where ever He 
 found it, without the interefted Views of Policy 
 or Oitentation. - For which, may his Fame be ever 
 2 Dear
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 205 
 
 Dear to Memory! And no Englijh Writer ever 
 quote the Roman Meccenas^ without firft acknowledg- 
 ing his Superior in the immortal Sydney \ 
 
 I find my Zeal has- led me into a ftrange Miftake, 
 I have wrote his Character inftead of His Life, 
 
 whereas his Life had included his Character. 
 
 But 'tis in Study juft as 'tis in Action ; many Peo- 
 ple fee their Faults, but are too fond of them to en- 
 deavour at a Cure. He was Son to Sir Henry Sydney, 
 Knight of the Garter, and Three Times Lord De- 
 puty of Ireland ; and Lady Mary Dudley Daughter 
 to the Duke of Northumberland ; and Nephew to 
 that great Favourite, Robert Earl of Leicefter : 
 Chrift-Ckurch College, in Oxford, had the Honour 
 of his Education, from whence he fet out very 
 early on his Travels, and was at Paris, when the 
 Proteftants were maflacred ; and, with other Eng- 
 li/h Gentlemen, fled for Protection to the Houfe of 
 Sir Francis Walfingham, Embafiador from Q^Eliza- 
 leth. At his Return, her Majefty was one of the 
 firft that diftinguifh'd his great Abilities, and, as if 
 proud of fo rich a Treafure, fent him immediately 
 Embafiador to the Emperor, to do Honour to Her 
 {elf and his Country. Some Years after this He 
 addrefs'd, in Print, his humble Reafons to the Queen, 
 to difiiiade her from marrying the Duke of A;ijou % 
 Brother to the French King j which, 'tis prefum'd, 
 occafion'd him to retire from Court, and gave him 
 Leifure to produce his Arcadia. Notwithstanding 
 which, we find Him, Two Years after, in Favour 
 again, and riding a Tilt with Sir Fulk Greville, for 
 the Entertainment of the Duke, and waiting on him 
 in his Return to Antwerp. The next Year He 
 was Knighted, and in the Year 1585, intended an 
 Expedition with Sir Francis Drake ; but was em- 
 ploy'd nearer Home ; The Queen appointing Him 
 Governor of Flujhing^ in the Low-Countries, and 
 
 General
 
 206 The Mufes Library. 
 
 General of Horfe. There he fignaliz'd Himfelf in 
 fo Heroical a Manner, that the very Dutch, who at 
 firft, hated Him, became his Admirers. But War 
 is not the Province of our Sex. I therefore wave 
 the Particulars of his Exploits, and have only to add 
 that, mounting his Third Horfe at the Battle of 
 Zutphen, He received a Mortal Wound, of which 
 He languim'd Twenty Five Days , dying in the 
 Flower of his Age, tho' arriv'd to the higheft Point 
 of honeft Glory. He marry'd the Daughter of 
 the great Sir Francis Walfingham^ and left only one 
 Child, who afterwards, marry'd the Earl of Rutland^ 
 and unfortunately dy'd without Ifliie to perpetuate 
 the living Virtues of her illuftrious Family. Af- 
 ter the innumerable Compliments paid to this Great 
 Man's Writings, it would be Prefumption in me, to 
 attempt their Character. I chufe therefore only to in- 
 fert Two of his Eflays in Poetry, and leave the 
 Readers to Judge for themfelves. His Body was 
 brought to England^ and bury'd at St. P^^/'s, with 
 a Magnificence fuitable to his Merit : Beauty, Wit, 
 Piety, and Valour being the undirTembled Mourners! 
 
 he true Pifture of Love. 
 
 POORE Painters oft with filly Poets joyne, 
 To fill theWorld with ftrange, but vain Conceits: 
 One brings the Stuffe, the other ftamps the Coyne, 
 Which breeds nought elfe but Glofles of Deceits/ 
 Thus Painters Cupid paint, thus Poets doe 
 A naked God, blind, young, with Arrows Two.
 
 The Mufes Library. 207 
 
 Is he a God, that ever flies the Light ? 
 
 Or naked he, difguis'd in all Untruth ? 
 
 If he be blind, how hitteth he fo right ? 
 
 How is he young that tam'd old Pb<ebus Youth ? 
 
 But Arrowes Two, and tipt with Gold or Lead ? 
 
 Some, hurt, accufe a Third with horney Head. 
 
 No> nothing fo ; an old, falfe Knave he is, 
 
 By Argus got on lo, then a Cow : 
 
 What time for her Juno her Jove did mifle 
 
 And charge of her to Argus did allow. 
 Mercury kill'd his falfe Sire for this Act, 
 His Damme a Beaft was pardon'd beaftly Fad:. 
 
 With Fathers Death, and Mothers guiltie Shame, 
 With Jew's Difdairie at fuch a Rival's Seed: 
 The Wretch compeld, a Runnegate became, 
 And learn'd what ill a Mifer-State doth breed : 
 To lye, to fteale, to prie, and to accufe, 
 Nought in Himfelfe, each Other to abufe. 
 
 Yet beares he ft ill his Parents ftately Gifts, 
 A horn'd Head, cloven Feet, and thoufand Eyes, 
 
 Some
 
 20 8 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Some gazing ftill, fome winking wily fhifts, 
 With long, large Eares, where never Rumour dies. 
 His horned Head doth feem the Heaven to fpight, 
 His cloven Foot doth never tread aright. 
 
 Thus halfe a Man, with Man he daily haunts, 
 Cloath'd in the Shape which fooneft may deceive : 
 Thus halfe a Beaft, each beaftly Vice he plants, 
 In thofe weak Hearts that his Advice receive. 
 
 He proules each Place in new Colours bedeckt, 
 
 Sucking One's 111, another to infect. 
 
 To narrow Breafts he comes all wrapt in Gaine : 
 To fwelling Hearts he mines in Honour's Fire : 
 To open Eyes all Beauties he doth raine ; 
 Creeping to each with flattering of Defire. 
 
 But for that Love is worft which rules the Eyes, 
 Thereon his Name, there his chief Triumph lyes. 
 
 Millions of Years this old Drivell Cupid lives, 
 While ftill more Wretch, More wicked he doth prove: 
 Till now at length that Jove him Office gives, 
 At Juno's fuit, who much did Argus love. 
 
 In
 
 The Mufes Library. 209 
 
 In this our world a Hang-man for to be 
 
 Of all thofe Fooles, that will have all they fee. 
 
 A 
 
 "* * 
 
 ,., 
 ceipt to make a 'Cuckold. A Tale. 
 
 Neighbour mine hot long agoe there was* 
 (But namelefle he* for blamelefie he mail be) 
 That married had a tricke and bonny Lafle 
 As in a Sommer-Day a Man might fee : 
 
 But he Himfelfe a foule, unhandfome Groome, 
 And farre unfit to hold fo good a Roome. 
 
 Now whether mov'd with Selfe-Unworthinefle, 
 Or with her Beauty, fit to make a Prey ! 
 Fell Jealoufie did fo his Braine opprefle, 
 That* if he abfent were but halfe a Day, 
 
 He gheft the worft (you wot what is the woril) 
 And in himfelfe new, doubting Caufes nurft. 
 
 While thus he fear'd the filly Innocent, 
 
 Who yet was good, becaufe me knew none 111, 
 
 Unto his Houfe a jolly Shepheard went, 
 
 / 
 
 To whom our Prince did beare a great good Will, 
 Becaufe in Wreftling and in PaftoraU, 
 He farre did pane the reft of Shepheards all. 
 
 P And
 
 2io The Mufes Library. 
 
 And therefore he a Courtier was benamed, 
 And as a Courtier was with Cheere received, 
 (For they have Tongues to make a poor Man blamed, 
 If he to them his Dutie mifconceived :) 
 
 And for this Courtier mould well like his Table, 
 The good Man bade his wife be ferviceable. 
 
 And fo She was, and all with good Intent ; 
 But, few Daies paft, while me good Manner us'd, 
 But that her Hufband thought her Service bent 
 To fuch an End as he might be abus*d j 
 Yet like a Coward fearing Stranger's Pride, 
 He made the fimple Wench his Wrath abide. 
 
 With churlim Lookes, hard Words, and fecret Nips, 
 Grumbling tit her when me his Kindnefle fought, 
 Afking her how me tafted Courtier's Lips, 
 He forc'ft her thinke that which me never thought. 
 In fine, he made her ghefie there was fome Sweet, 
 In that which he fo fear'd that me mould meet. 
 
 When once this entred was in Woman's Heart, 
 And that it had enflam'd a new Defire, 
 There refted then, to play a Woman's Part, 
 Fuell to feeke and not to quench the Fire : 
 
 But
 
 Mufes Library. 211 
 
 But (for his jealous Eye me well did finde) 
 She ftudied Cunning how the fame to blinde. 
 
 And thus fhe did. One Day to him fhe came, 
 And (though againft his will) on him fhe leaned, 
 And out gan cry, Ah well away for Shame, 
 If you helpe not our Wedlock will be ftained ! 
 
 The good Man ftarting, afkt what her did move ? 
 
 Shefigh'd andfaid, ThebadGheft fought her Love- 
 
 He little looking that fhe fhould complaine 
 Of that, whereto he fear'd fhe was enclin'd ; 
 Buffing her oft, and in his Heart full faine, 
 He did demaund what Remedy to finde ; 
 
 How they might get that Gueft, from them to wend, 
 And yet the Prince (that lov'd him) not offend. 
 
 Hufband, quoth fhe, goe to him by and by, 
 And tell him you do finde I doe him love : 
 And therefore pray him that of Courtefie, 
 He will abfent himfelfe, left he mould move 
 
 A young Girle's Heart, to that were Shame for Both, 
 Whereto, you know, his honeft Heart were loath. 
 
 P 2 Thus
 
 212 7* he Mufes Library. 
 
 Thus {hall you mew that him you doe not doubt, 
 And as for me (fweet Hufband !) I muft beare. 
 Glad was the Man when he had heard her out, 
 And did the fame, although with mickle Feare. 
 For feare he did, left he the young Man might 
 In Choler put j with whom he would not fight. 
 
 The Courtly Shepheard much agaft at this ! 
 Not feeing erft fuch Token in the Wife, 
 Though full of Scorne, would not his Duty mifle, 
 Knowing that ill becomes a Houmold-Strife, 
 
 H . * " . 
 
 Did goe his Way ; but fojourn'd neare there by, 
 That yet the Ground hereof he might eipie. 
 
 The Wife, thus having fettled Hufband's Braine, 
 Who would have fworne his Spoufe Diana was, 
 Watched when me a further Point might gaine, 
 Which little Time did fitly bring to pafle. 
 
 For to the Court her Man was call'd by Name, 
 Whether he needs muft goe for fear of Blame. 
 
 Three Dayes before that he muft fure depart, 
 She written had (but in a Hand difguis'd) 
 
 i A
 
 The Mufes Library 213 
 
 A Letter fuch, which might from either Part, 
 Seeme to proceed, fo well it was devis'd. 
 She feald it firft, then me the Sealing brake, 
 And to her jealous Hufband did it take. 
 
 With weeping Eyes (her Eyes me taught to weep !) 
 She told him that the Courtier had it fent : 
 Aks (quoth me) thus Women's Shame doth creepe. 
 The good Man read on both Sides the Content, 
 
 It Title had, unto my only Love : 
 
 Subfcription was, Tours moft , if you will prove. 
 
 Th' Epiftle felfe fuch kind of Words it had, 
 My fweeteft Joy ! the Comfort of my Sprite! 
 So may thy FJockes increafe thy deare Heart glad, 
 So may each Thing, even as thou wimeft light, 
 As thou wilt deigne to reade, and gently reed 
 This mourning Inke, in which my Heart doth bleed! 
 
 Long have I lov'd (alas thou worthy art) 
 Long have I lov'd (alas Love craveth Love) 
 Long have I lov'd thy felf, alas my Heart 
 Doth breake, now Tongue unto thy Name doth move! 
 And thinke not that thy Anfwer Anfwer is, 
 But that it is my doome of Bale or Blifle !' 
 
 P 3 The
 
 214 The Mufes Library. 
 
 -\ ib'Iil - -'H ; ' "-'""! "^iV^ 1 j ^ ">- 
 The jealous Wretch muft now to Court be gone : 
 Ne can he faile, for Prince hath for him fent : 
 Now is the time we may be here alone, 
 And give a long Defire a fweet Content. 
 . Thus mall you both reward a Lover true, 
 And eke revenge his Wrong fufpecting you. 
 
 And this was all, and this the Hufband read 
 With Chafe enough, till me him pacified : 
 Defiling, that no Griefe in him be bred, 
 Now that he had her Words fo truely tried : 
 But that he would to him the Letter mow. 
 That with his Fault he might herGoodnefle know. 
 
 Thatftraight was done, with many a boy ftrous Threat, 
 That to the King he would his Sjnne declare : 
 But now the Courtier gan to fmell the Feat, 
 And with fome Words which mewed little Care, 
 He ftaid until! the good Man wa,s departed, 
 Then gave he him the Blow which never fmarted. 
 
 Thus may you fee the jealous Wretch was made 
 The Pandar of the Thing he rno# did feare : 
 
 Take
 
 The Mufes Library. 2 1 5 
 
 Take heed therefore, how you enfue that Trade, 
 Left the fame Markes of Jealoufie you beare : 
 For fure no Jealoufie can that prevent, 
 Whereto two Parties once be full content. 
 
 Sir Fulk Greville, Lqrd Brook, 
 
 For many Confiderations, has an unqueftionable 
 Right to be rang'd next to Sir Philip Sydney -, He 
 was born in the fame Year, hVd with Him, in the 
 greateft Affection and Intimacy, to the Laft, fol- 
 lowed the fame Study both in Arts and Arms i and, 
 tho' many Years his Survivour, order'd this eternal 
 Memorial of their Friendfhip to be fix'd on his Grave. 
 
 Servant to Queen ELIZABETH, 
 
 Counfellor to King JAMES, 
 
 And Friend to Sir PH i L i p S Y D N E v . 
 
 He fprung from an Antient and Honourable Fa- 
 mily in Warwick/hire, was educated both at Oxford 
 and Cambridge, and introduc'd to Court by an 
 Uncle in the Service of the Queen ; who foon re- 
 ceived him into Favour ; which He had the Honour 
 to preferve without Interruption, to her Death. At 
 the Coronation of James the Firft, He was created 
 Knight of the Bath, and, foon after, obtain'd a 
 Grant of the ruinous Caftle of Warwick. He was 
 next appointed Sub-Treafurer, Chancellor of the Ex- 
 chequer, and Privy Counfellor, and then advanc'd to 
 the Degree of a Baron, by the Title of Lord Brook 
 of Beaucbamp's Court, and lately to be one of the 
 Lords of the Bed-Chamber to His Majefty. 
 
 P4 He
 
 2i 6 The Mufes Library. 
 
 He was a great Patron to Men of Learning, par- 
 ticularly Cambden, who, by his Lordfhip's fole In- 
 tereft was made King at Arms. He likewife lov'd 
 and admir'd the Ladies, tho' he lived and dy'd a 
 Bachelor. Faffing thro* a long Life in a Calm of 
 Profperity, and Honour ; But when He was up- 
 wards of Seventy, clofing it with a Tragical End. 
 One Haywood, a Man, who had ferv'd Him faith- 
 fully many Years, expoftulated with Him fiercely 
 (while they were alone) for his not having received 
 a due Reward : His Lordfhip piqu'd at this unufual 
 Freedom, and giving way to his prefent Paflion, re- 
 primanded him feverely for his Prefumption. --- For. 
 which the Villain, being now work'd up to the higheft 
 Pitch of Fury, took an Opportunity to ftab Him 
 with his Dagger thro* the Back into his Vitals. Of 
 which Wound He inftantly dy'd, Sept. 30, 1628. 
 The AflafTm then (truck with Horror and Defpair, 
 retir'd to his Chamber, and having fecur'd the Door, 
 fell upon the fame Weapon, before, the Inftrument 
 of Guilt, and now of Juftice ! 
 
 I don't know whether a Woman may be acquitted 
 for endeavouring to fum up a Character fo various, 
 and important as his Lordmip's. But, if the At- 
 tempt can be excus'd, I don't defire to have it pafs 
 
 for a decifive Sentence. Perhaps few Men that 
 
 dealt in Poetry had more Learning, or real WifHom 
 than this Nobleman, and yet his Stile is fometimes fo 
 dark, and myfterious, I mean it appears fo to me, 
 that one would imagine he choie rather to conceal, 
 than illuftrate his Meaning. At other Times again 
 His Wit breaks out with an uncommon Brightnefs, 
 and Shines, I had almoft faid, without an Ecjual. 
 'Tis the fame Thing with his Poetry, fometimes fo 
 harm, and uncouth, as if he had no Ear for Mufick, 
 at others fo fmooth and harmonious, as if He 
 was Mailer of all its Powers. The firft of the fol- 
 lowing
 
 The Mufes Library. 217 
 
 lowing Poems is but an Abftract , the Whole being 
 much too long for the Bounds of this Work ; No-r 
 thing is alter'd, but many Things omitted ; in 
 which I have us'd all the Care and Judgment I am 
 Miftrefs off ; as I hope will be manifeft on compar- 
 ing it with the Original. Upon the Whole, I flatter 
 my felf, that the bringing thefe Pieces forward to the 
 Attention of the Publick, will be a Means of doing 
 Juftice to a great Name, that I fear has never yet 
 received the Honours it deferved. 
 
 A Treattfe of Humane Learning. 
 
 Mind of Man is this World's true Dimen- 
 
 /ion ; 
 
 And Knowledge is the Meafure of the Minde : 
 And as the Minde, in her vaft Comprehenfion. 
 Containes more Worlds than all the World can finde. 
 So Knowledge doth it felfe farre more extend, 
 Than all the Minds of Men can comprehend. 
 
 A climing Height it is without a Head, 
 Depth without Bottome, Way without an End, 
 A Circle with no Line inuironed, 
 Not comprehended, all it comprehends ; 
 Worth infinite, yet fatisfies no Minde, 
 Till it that Infinite of the God-bead finde. 
 
 For
 
 2i 8 The Mufes Library. 
 
 For our Defects in Nature who fees not ? 
 Wee enter firft, Things prefent, not conceiving, 
 Not knowing future -, what is paft forgot : 
 All other Creatures inftant Power receiving, 
 To helpe themfelues ; Man onely bringetb Senfe 
 and wailf bis native Impotence. 
 
 Which Senfa Mfl.ns firft InfimBorl while itmowes 
 To free him from Deceipt, deceiues him moft ; 
 And, from this falfe Root, that Miftaking growes, 
 Which 'Truth in humane Knowledges hath loft : 
 So that by Judging Senfe herein Perfection, 
 Man muft deny his Natures Imperfection. 
 
 Which to be falfe, euen Senfe it felfe doth proue, 
 
 Since euery Beaft in it doth vs exceed ; 
 
 Befides, thefe Senfes which we thus approue, 
 
 In vs as many diuerfe Likings breed, 
 
 As there be different Tempers in Complexions, 
 Degrees in Healths, or Ages Imperfections. 
 
 Yet ttefe, rack'd vp by Wit excefliuely, 
 Make Fancy thinke me fuch Gradations findes 
 
 Of
 
 The Mufes Library. 219 
 
 Of Heat, Cold, Colors fuch Variety , 
 
 Of Smels, and Tafts, of Tunes fuch diuers Kindes, 
 
 As that braue Scythian never could defcry j 
 
 Who found moreSweetnefle in his Horfe'sNeighing, 
 Than all the Phrygian, Dorian, Lydian Playing. 
 
 Knowledge's next Organ is Imagination ; 
 A Glafle, wherein the Obiect of our Senfe 
 Ought to refpect true Height, or Declination, 
 For Under/landing's clear Intelligence ! 
 But this Power alfo hath her Variation ; 
 Fixed in Some, in Some with Difference : 
 In all, fo fhadowed with Self- Application, 
 
 As makes her Pictures ftill too Foule, or Faire ; 
 
 Not like the Life in Lineament, or Ayre. 
 
 Hence our Dtfires, Feares, Hopes, Loue, Hate, and, 
 
 Sorrow, 
 
 In Fancy makes us heare, feele, fee Impreflions, 
 Such as out of our Senfe they doe not borrow ; 
 And are the efficient Caufe, the true Progreifion 
 Of fleeping Vifions, idle Phantafmes waking, 
 Life, Dreames', and Knowledge, Apparitions 
 making! 
 
 Againe,
 
 22Q The Mufes Library* 
 
 Againe, our Memory, Regifter of Senfe, 
 And 'mould of Arts ! as Mother of Induction, 
 Corrupted with difguis'd Intelligence, 
 Can yeetd no Images for Man's Inftruction : 
 But as, from ftained Wombes, abortiue birth 
 Of ftrange Opinions, to confound the Earth. 
 
 The laft, chief Oracle of what Man knowes 
 Is Underftandiug ; which, though it containe 
 Some ruinous Notions, which our Nature fhowes, 
 Of generall Truths j yet they have fiich a Staine 
 From our Corruption, as all Light they lofe ; 
 Saue to conuince of Ignorance, and Sinne, 
 Which, where they raigne, let no Perfection in. 
 
 Hence weake, and few thofe^ dazled Notions be, 
 Which our fraile Understanding doth retaine ; 
 So as Man's Bankrupt- Nature is not free, 
 By any Arts, to raife it felfe againe ; 
 Or to thofe Notions which doe in vs line 
 Confus'd, a well-fram'd, Art- like State to giue. 
 
 Nor 9
 
 The Mufes Library, 221 
 
 Nor, in a right Line, can her Eyes afcend, 
 To view the Things that immateriall are ; 
 " For as theSunne doth, while his beams defcend* 
 " Lighten the Earth, but fhadow euery Starre : 
 
 So Reafon, {looping to attend the Senfe> 
 
 Darkens the Spirit's clear Intelligence. 
 
 Againe, we fee the beft Complexions vaine, 
 
 And in the worft more nimble Subtilty ; 
 
 From whence Wit^ a Diftemper of the Braine 9 
 
 The Schooles conclude , and our Capacity, 
 
 How much more fharpe, the more it apprehends 
 Still to diftrad, and lefle Truth comprehends. 
 
 But all thefe natural Defefts perchance 
 May be fupplyed by Sciences, and Arts ; 
 Which wee thirft after, ftudy, admire, aduance, 
 As if reftore our Fall, recure our Smarts 
 
 They could, bring in Perfection, burne our Rods ; 
 
 With Decades to make us like our Gods. 
 
 But if thefe Arts containe this Myftery, 
 It proues them proper to the Deity. 
 
 So
 
 222 The Mufes Library. 
 
 So that, where our Pbilofophers confefle, 
 That we a Knowledge univerfall haue, 
 Our Ignorance in Particulars we exprefTe : 
 Of perfedl Demonftration, who e'er gaue 
 One cleare Example ? Or, finee Time began, 
 What one true Forme found out by Wit of Man ? 
 
 Who thofe charadlerifticall Ideas 
 Conceiues, which Science of the Godhead be ? 
 But, in their Stead, we raife, and mould Tropheas, 
 Formes of Opinion, Wit, and Vanity , 
 Which we call Arts, and fall in lone with thefe, 
 " As did Pygmalion, with his carved Tree ; 
 *' For which Men, all the Life they here enioy, 
 " Still fight, as for the Helens of their Troy. 
 
 Hence doe we out of Words create us Arts , 
 Of which the People notwithftanding be 
 Mafters, and without Rules , doe them impart : 
 Reafon we make an Art ; yet None agree 
 
 What this true Reafon is ; nor yet haue Powers, 
 
 To leuell Other's Reafon vnto Ours. 
 
 Nature
 
 The Mufes Library. 223 
 
 Nature we draw to Art^ which, then forfakes 
 To be herfelfe, when (he with Art Combines ; 
 Who, in the Secrets of her owne Wombe, makes 
 The Load-ftone, Sea, the Souls of Men, and Windes* 
 '* Strong Inftances to put all Arts to Schoole, 
 " And proue the Science-Monger but a Foole. 
 
 Nay we doe bring th* Influence of each Star, 
 Yea God himfelfe euen vnder Moulds of Arts , 
 Yet all our Arts cannot preuaile fo far, 
 As to confirme our Eyes, refolue our Hearts, 
 " Whether the Heauens doe ftand ftill or moue, 
 " Were fram'd by Chance, Antipathic^ or Loue f 
 
 Then what is our high-prais'd Philofophie^ 
 But Bookes of Poefie^ in Profe compil'd ? 
 Far rnore delightfull than they fruitfull be, 
 *' Witty appearance ! Guile that is beguil'd ; 
 
 Corrupting Minds much rather than directing ! 
 
 The Allay of Duty, and our Pride's Erecting ! 
 
 For as, among Phyfitians, what they call 
 Word-Magike> neuer helpeth the Difeafe, 
 
 i Which
 
 224 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Which Drugges, and Dyet ought to dcale withall. 
 And by their real Working giue vs Eafe : 
 So thefe Word-fellers haue no Power to cure 
 The Pqffions , which corrupted Liues endure. 
 
 Yet, not afham'd thefe Verbalifts ftill are, 
 From Youth, till Age, or Study dim their Eyes, 
 To engage the Grammar Rules in ciuill- War, 
 For fbme fmall Sentence which they patronize ; 
 As if our End liu'd not in Reformation, 
 But Verbs, or Nouns true Senfe, or Declination * 
 
 Mtifike inftructs me which be Lyrike- Moods ; 
 
 Let her inftrud me rather, how to mow 
 
 No weeping Voyce for Lofs of Fortune's Goods. 
 
 Geometrie giues Meafure to the Earth below ; 
 Rather let her inftrud me, how to meafure 
 What is enough for Need, what fit for Pleafure. 
 
 She teacheth, how to lofe nought in my Bounds, 
 And I would leanie with Joy to lofe them all : 
 This Artift (howes which way to meafure Rounds, 
 But I would know how firft Man's Mind did fall, 
 
 How
 
 The Mufes Library. 225 
 
 How great it was^ how little now it is, 
 
 And what that Knowledge was which wrought vs this ? 
 
 What Thing a right Line is, the Learned know j 
 But how auailes that him, who in the right 
 Of Life, and Manners doth defire to grow ? 
 What then are all thefe humane Arts, and Lights, 
 But Seas of Errors ? In whofe Depths who found 
 For Truth, finde only Quick-fands, and no Ground. 
 
 Then, if our Arts want Power to make vs better, 
 
 What Foole will thinke they can vs wifer make, 
 
 Life is the Wifdom, Art is but the Letter ; 
 
 Or Shell, which, oft, Men for the Kernell take j 
 
 In Moods, and Figures moulding vp Deceit, 
 
 To make each Science rather hard, than great, 
 
 And as, in Grounds which Salt by Nature yield, 
 No Care can make Returne of other Graine : 
 So who with Bookes their Nature ouer-build, 
 Lofe that in Practife, which in Arts they gaine 5 
 
 , ' .. : 
 
 And, in the beft, where Science multiplies, 
 Man multiplies with it his Care of Mnde : 
 
 Q^ While,
 
 226 The Mufes Library. 
 
 While, in the worft, thefe fwelling Harmonies, 
 Like Bellowes, fill vnquiet Hearts with Winde, 
 To blow the Fame of Malice, Queftion, Strife, 
 Both into publicke States and priuate Life. 
 
 For which Refpects, Learning hath found Diftafte 
 
 In Gouernments, of great, and glorious Fame j 
 
 In Lacedemon fcorned, and difgrac'd, 
 
 As idle, vaine, effeminate, and lame : 
 
 Engins that did vn-man the Mindes of Men 
 From Action, to feeke Glorie in a Den. 
 
 Here fee we then the Vainenefle, and Defect 
 Of Schooles, ArtSy and all elfe that Man doth know. 
 Yet mall wee ftraight refolve, that by Neglect 
 Of Science, Nature doth the richer grow ? 
 That Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion, 
 Since Schooles/# them that teach tbisfucb Promo- 
 tion ? 
 
 No, no ; amongft the worft let her come in, 
 As Nurfe, and Monitor to euery Luft ; 
 Since who commit Injuftice y often finne^ 
 Becaufe they know not what to each is iuft ; 
 Intemperance doth oft our Natures winne, 
 
 Becaufe
 
 Mufes Library. 227 
 
 fcecaufe what's foule, vndecent, wee thinke beft, 
 And by Mifprifion, fo grow in the reft. 
 
 Kfan muft not therefore, rafhly Science fcorne, 
 *' But chofe, and read with Care ; fince Learning is 
 <e A Bunch of Grapes fprung vp among the Thornes, 
 " Where, but by Caution, none the Harme can mifle 5 
 
 " Nor Arts true Riches *ead to vnderftand ; 
 
 " But mall, to pleafe his Tafte, offend his Hand. 
 
 Wherein to guide Man's Choice to fuch a Mood, 
 As all the World may iudge a Worke of Merit 5 
 I wim all curious Sciences let blood^ 
 Superfluous purg'd from Wantonnefle of Spirit : 
 For, though the World be built upon Excejfe, 
 Tet, by Confufion.Jhee mujl needs grow leffe : 
 
 For Man, being finite both in Wit, Time, Might, 
 
 His Dayes in Vanitie may be mifpent ; 
 
 Vfe, therefore, muft ftand higher than Delight j 
 
 The A&iue hate afruitleffe Inftrument ; 
 
 So muft the World thofe bufie, idle Fooles, 
 That ferve no other Market than the Schooles. 
 
 Q^2 Againe,
 
 228 fbe Mufes Library. 
 
 Againe, the adiue, neceflarie Arts, 
 Ought to be briefe in Bookes, in Praftife Jong ; 
 Short Precepts may extend to many Parts, 
 The Prafttfe muft be large, or not be ftrong. 
 And as, by artlejje Guides, States euer waine : 
 So doe they where thefe vfele/e Dreamers reigne. 
 
 For, if thefe Two be in One Balance weigh'd, 
 The artlefle Vfe beares down the vfelefle Art ; 
 With Mad-Men, elfe how is the madd'ft obey'd, 
 But by Degrees of Rage in actiue Hearts ? 
 "While Contemplation doth the World diftract, 
 With vain Idea's, which it cannot ad. 
 
 The World fhould, therefore, her Inftructione draw 
 Backe vnto Life, and Adions, whence they came ; 
 That Praftife, which gaue Being, might giue Law, 
 To make them fliort, clear, fruitfull vnto Man, 
 As God made all for Vfe ; euen fo muft She, 
 By Chance, and Vfe, vphold her Myftery. 
 
 " Befides, where Learning, like a Cafpian Sea, 
 Hath, hitherto, receiu'd all little Brookes, 
 
 De-
 
 The Mufes Library 229 
 
 c< Deuour'd their Sweetneffe, borne their Names away, 
 " And in her Greenefle hid their Chryftal-Lookes ; 
 " Let her turn Ocean now, and giue backe more 
 " To thofe cleare Springs, than me receiu'd before. 
 
 And, where the ProgreJJe was to finde the Caufe, 
 Firft, by Effects out, now her Regre/e fhould 
 Form Art directly vnder Nature*s Lawes ; 
 And all Effects fo in their Caufes mould ; 
 
 As fraile Man, liuely, without Schoole of Smart, 
 Might fee Succefles comming in an Art. 
 
 For Sciences from Nature mould be drawne, 
 As Arts from PracJife, neuer out of Bookes ; 
 Whofe Rules are onely left with Time in Pawne, 
 To (hew how in them Vfe> and Nature lookes : 
 Out of which Light, they that Arts firft began, 
 Pierc'd further, than fucceeding Ages can. 
 
 Againe, Art mould not, like a Curtizan, 
 Change Habits, drefTmg Graces euery Day ; 
 But of her Termes one ftable Counterpane 
 Still keepe, to flum ambiguous Allay 5 
 
 That
 
 230 The Mufes Library. 
 
 That Youth in Definitions once receiu'd, 
 (As in Kings ftandards) might not be deceiv'd. 
 
 To which true End in euery Art there mould 
 One, or two Authors be felected out 
 To caft the Learners in a conftant Mould j 
 Who if not falfely, yet elfe go about ; 
 And, as the Babes by many Nurfes doe, 
 Oft change Conditions, and Complexions too. 
 
 The like Surueyes that Spirit of Gouernmenf, 
 Which moulds, and tempers all thefe feruing Arts^ 
 Should take, in choofing out fit Inftruments, 
 To Judge Men's Inclinations, and their Parts ; 
 That Bookes, Arts, Natures, may well fitted be. 
 To hold vp this Worlds curious Myftery. 
 
 Firft dealing with her chiefe commanding Art, 
 The outward Churches, which their Enfignes bear,e 
 So mixt with Power, and Craft in euery Part, 
 As any fhape, but 'Truth, may enter there : 
 All whofe Hypocrites, thus built on Pamon, 
 Can yet nor Being giue, nor conftant Fafhion. 
 
 Be.
 
 *The Mufes Library. 231 
 
 Befides their Scboolemetfs fleepy Speculation, 
 
 <c Dreaming to comprehend the Deity 
 
 " In humane Reafon's finite Eleuation ; 
 
 While they make Senfe Seat of Eternity, 
 Muft bury Faith, whofe proper Obiects are 
 God's myfteries, aboue our Reafon far. 
 
 Since therefore me brookes no Diuinity, 
 But Superftition, Herefie, Schifme, Rites, 
 Traditions, Legends, and Hypocrifie ; 
 Let her yet forme thofe Vifions in the Light, 
 
 To reprefent the Truth fhe doth defpife ; 
 
 And, by that Likenefle, profper in her Lies. 
 
 To which End let her raife the Difcipline, 
 And Practife of Repentance, Pity, Loue ; 
 To image forth thofe Homages- Diuine, 
 Which, euen by Showes, draw Honour from aboue . 
 Embracing Wlfdome, though fhe hate the Good 5 
 Since Power, thus vayl'd, is hardly vnderftood. 
 
 Lawes be her next chiefe Arts, and Inftruments, 
 Of which the onely beft deriued be, 
 
 Out
 
 232 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Out of thofe "Tenne words in God's Testaments, 
 
 Where Confcience is the bafe of Policie ; 
 But, in the World a larger Scope they take, 
 And cure no more Wounds, than, perchance, they 
 make. 
 
 Let this faire Hand-maid then the Church attend, 
 And, to the Wounds of Confcience^ adde her Paines, 
 That priuate Hearts may vnto publike Ends 
 Still gouern -d be, by Order's eafie Reines ; 
 And, by Effect, make manifeft the Caufe 
 Of happy States to be religious Lawes. 
 
 Their fecond, noble Office is, to keepe 
 Mankinde upright in Trafficke of his owne, 
 That fearlene, Each may in his Cottage fleepe, 
 Secur'd that Right mall not be ouerthrowne ; 
 Perfons indifferent, reatt Arts in Prife, 
 And, in no other Priuiledge made wife. 
 
 Laftly, as Linkes betwixt Mankinde, and Kings, 
 Lawes fafely muft protect Obedience, 
 Vnder thofe Soueraigne, all-embracing Wings, 
 Which from beneath expect a Reutrence : 
 
 That
 
 The Mufes Library. 233 
 
 That, like the Ocean, with their little Springs, 
 We for our Sweet e may feele the Salt of Kings. 
 
 Pbyficke, with her faire friend Philofophie, 
 
 Come next in Ranke, as well as Reputation ; 
 
 Whofe proper Subied is Mortalitie, 
 
 Which cannot reach that principal Creation, 
 
 Mixtures of Nature, curious Myftery 
 
 Of timelefle Time, or Bodie's Tranfmutation ! 
 
 Nor comprehend the infinite Degrees 
 
 Of Qualities, and their ftrange Operation ; 
 
 " Whence both, vpon thsfecond Caufes grounded, 
 " Moft iuftlyby theJlrftCauft, be confounded. 
 
 Therefore, let thefe which decke this Houfe of Clay, 
 And, by Excefle of Man's Corruption gaine, 
 Know Probabilitie is all they may, 
 For to demonftrate they cannot attain : 
 Let Labour, Reft, and Dyet be their Way 
 Man's natiue Heat ; and, Moifture to maintaine, 
 As Health's true Bafe, and in Difeafe, proceed, 
 * c Rather by what they know, than what they read. 
 
 Next after comes that Politick Philofopbie, 
 Whofe proper Objects, Forms and Manners are ; 
 
 i la
 
 234 T&e Mufes Library. 
 
 In which me oft corrupts her Myftery, 
 
 By grounding Order's Offices too far 
 
 " On Precepts of the Heathen, Humours of Kings, 
 " Cuftomes of Men, and Time's vnconftant Wings. 
 
 Once in an Age let Gouernment then trace 
 The Courfe of thefe Traditions, to their Birth ; 
 And bring them backe vnto their Infant-Dayes, 
 To keep her owne Soueraignity on Earth ; 
 Elfe, Viper-like, their Parents they deuoure : 
 For all Power* j Children eafily couet Power* 
 
 Logike comes next, who, with the Tyranny 
 Of fubtile Rules, Diftindtions, Termes, and Notions, 
 Confounds of reatt Truth the Harmony ; 
 Diftracts the Judgement, multiplies Commotion 
 
 In Memory, Man's Wit, Imagination ; 
 
 To dimme the cleare Light of his own Creation. 
 
 The wife Reformer -j, therefore, of this Art 
 Muft cut off Termes, Diftindtions, Axioms, Lawes, 
 Such as depend, either in Whole, or Part, 
 Vpon this {trained Senfe of Words, or Sawes : 
 
 Only
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 235 
 
 Only admitting Precepts of fuch Kinde, 
 
 As, without Words, may be conceiu'd in Minde. 
 
 Rbetorike, to this a Sifter, and a Twinne ! 
 Is growne a Siren in the Formes of Pleading, 
 * ' Captiuing Reafon ! which, the painted Skinne 
 a Of many Words, with empty Sounds misleading 
 " Vs to falfe Ends, by thefe falfe Forms Abufe, 
 f ' Bring neuer forth that 2r#/#, whofe Name they 
 vfe. 
 
 For the true Art of Eloquence indeed, 
 Is not this Craft of Words, but Formes of Speech, 
 Such as from liuing Wifdonts doe proceed 5 
 Whofe Ends are not to flatter, or befeech, 
 Insinuate, or perfwade, but to declare 
 What things in Nature good, or m//are. 
 
 Poefie and Muftcke, Arts of Recreation ! 
 
 Succeed, efteem'd as idle Men's Profeffion ; 
 
 Becaufe their Scope, being meerely Contentation, 
 
 Can moue, but not remoue, or make Impreflion 
 Really, either to enrich the Wit, 
 Or, which is lefle, to mend our States by it. 
 
 i This
 
 236 T*le Mufes Library. 
 
 This makes the folid Judgements giue them Place, 
 " Onely as pleafing Sauce to dainty Food ; 
 Fine Foyles of Jewels, or Enammel's Grace, 
 Caft vpon Things which in themfelues are good : 
 Since, if the Matter be in Nature vile. 
 How can it be made pretious by a Stile ? 
 
 Let, therefore, humane Wifdom vfe both thefe, 
 As Things not pretious in their proper Kind j 
 The One a Harmony to moue, and pleafe ; 
 " If ftudied for it felfe, Difeafe of Mind : 
 The next (like Nature) doth Idea's raife, 
 'Teaches, and makes ; but hath no Power to binde : 
 Both, Ornaments to Life and other Arts, 
 Whiles they doeferve, and not pojjeffe our Hearts. 
 
 The Grace, and Difgrace of this following Traine, 
 Arithmetike, Geometric, Ajtronomy, 
 Refts in the Artifatfs Induftrie, or Veine, 
 Not in the Whole, the Parts, or Symmetric : 
 
 "Which being onely Number, Meafure, Time ; 
 
 All following Nature, helpe her to refine. 
 
 And
 
 The Mufes Library. 237 
 
 And of thefe Arts it may be faid againe, 
 
 That fince their Tbeoricke is infinite ; 
 
 " Of infinite there can no Arts remaine. 
 
 " Befides, they ftand by Curtefie, not Right ; 
 " Who muft their Principles: as granted craue, 
 " Or elfe acknowledge they no Being haue. 
 
 Their < Theoricke then muft not wane their Vfe^ 
 But, by a Practife in materiall Things, 
 Rather awake that dreaming, vaine Abufe 
 Of Lines 9 without Breadth ; without Feathers, Wings: 
 So that their Boundlefnefle may bounded be, 
 In Workes, and Arts of our Humanity. 
 
 But for the moft Part, thofe Profe/ors are, 
 
 So Melted, and tranfported into thefe ; 
 
 And with the Abftract fwallowed up fo far 
 
 As they lofe Trafficke, Comfort, Vfe, andEafe: 
 And are, likefreafures withjtrange Spirits guarded^ 
 Neither to le enjoy 'd, nor yet dif carded. 
 
 Then muft the Reformation of them be, 
 By carrying on the Vigor of them all, 
 
 Through
 
 238 *The Mufes Library > 
 
 Through each Profeflion of Humanity, 
 
 Military^ and Myfleries Mechanicall : 
 
 Whereby their abftrad Formes, yet atomis'd, 
 May be embodied ; and by doing pris'd. 
 
 For thus, thefe Arts pafle, whence they came, to Life, 
 
 Circle not round in Selfe-Imagination, 
 
 Begetting Lines upon an abftraft-Wife^ 
 
 As Children borne for idle Contemplation ; 
 " But in the Practife of Man's Wifedom giue, 
 " Meanes, for the World's Inhabitants to liue. 
 
 Againe, the vfe of Knowledge is not Strife, 
 To contradict, and Criticall become, 
 As well in Bookes, as Practife of our Life ; 
 Which yeelds diflbluing, not a building Doome, 
 A Cobweb's Work, thethinneft fruit of Wit! 
 , Things reall feeme to it. 
 
 But as toward the Error, is one End, 
 
 So is her worthieft to maintaine the Right ; 
 
 Not to make Queftion, cavill or contend, 
 
 Dazell the Earth with Vifions infinite ; 
 But nurfe the World with charitable Food, 
 Which none can doe that are not wife, and good. 
 
 The
 
 The Mufes Library. 239 
 
 I 
 
 The chiefe Vfe, then, in Man of that he knowes, 
 Is his Paines- taking for the good of all, 
 Not flefhly weeping for our owne-made Woes, 
 Not laughing from a Melancholy Gall, 
 Not hating from a Soule that ouerflowes 
 With Bitternefle, breath'd out from inward Thrall : 
 c But fweetly rather to eafe, loofe, or binde, 
 <e As Need requires, this fraile,fall'n Humane Kinde. 
 
 Comlufton of the Prologue to the Tragedy of ALA- 
 HAM: Aadrefs'd by a Ghoft to the Paries. 
 
 NOW marke your Charge! Each Fury work his 
 Part, 
 
 In fubtile Webs of Mifchief ouerthwart ! 
 You are not now to worke on priuate Thoughts, 
 One Inftant is your Time to alter all ; 
 Corruption vniuerfall muft be wrought : 
 Impoflible to you is naturall. 
 Plots, and Effeds together muft be brought j 
 Mifchiefe, and Shame, at once muft fpring, and fall. 
 Vfe more than Power of Man to bring forth that, 
 Which (it is meant) all Men fhall wonder at ! 
 
 Craft!
 
 240 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Craft I Go thou forth, worke Honour into Luft! 
 Malice ! Sow in Self-loue vnworthinefle ! 
 Feare ! Make it fafe for no Man to be iuft ! 
 Wrong ! Be thou clothed in Power's Comlinefle. 
 Wit ! Play with Faith ; take Glory in miftruft j 
 Let Duty, and Religion goe by ghefle! 
 Furies ! Stirre you vp War ; which follow muft, 
 When all Things are corrupt with Doublenefle ! 
 Frome Vice to Vice let Error multiply ! 
 With vncouth Sinnes, Murthers, Adulteries, 
 Incorporate all Kinds of Iniquity ! 
 Tranilate the State to forraigne Tyrannies ! 
 Keepe downe the Eeft^ and let \hs.Worft haue Power, 
 That War, and Hell may all at once deuoure ! 
 
 Chorus Sacerdotum, at the End of the Tragedy 
 of Muftapha. 
 
 H wearifome Condition of Humanity ! 
 
 Borne vnder one Law, to another bound : 
 " Vainely begot, and yet forbidden Vanity* 
 ' Created ficke, commanded to be found ! 
 What meaneth Nature by thefe diuerfe Lawes ? 
 Pafiion, and Reafon, Self-Diuifion caufe : 
 
 Is
 
 The Mufes Lifoaty* 241 
 
 Is it the Marke, or Maiefty of Power 
 To make OfFences that it may forgiue ? 
 Nature herfelfe, doth her owne felfe defloure, 
 To hate thofe Errors (he her felfe doth giue 1 . 
 For how mould Man thinke that, he may not doe* 
 If Nature did not failej and punifh too ? 
 Tyrant to others* to -her felfe vnjuft* 
 Onely commands Things difficult and hard ! 
 Forbids vs all Things, which it fcnowes isLuftj 
 Makes eafie Paines, vnpoffible Reward. 
 If Nature did not take Delight in Blood, 
 She would haue made more eafie Waies to good. 
 We that are bound by Vowes, and by Promotion, 
 With Pompe of holy Sacrifice and Rites* 
 To teach Beleefe in good, and ftill Deuotion^ 
 To preach of Heauen's Wonders, and Delights : 
 Yet, when Each of vs, in his owne Heart lookes, 
 He tindes the God there, far unlike hisBookes. 
 
 MyraV Inconftancy. 
 
 I, With whofe Colors Myra dreft her Head, 
 I, that wore Pofies of her owne Hand-making, 
 I, that mine owne Name in the Chimnies read 
 By Myra finely wrought e're I was waking : 
 
 R Muft
 
 242 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Muft I looke on ? in hope Time-comming may 
 With Change bring backe my Turne againe to play. 
 
 I, that on Sunday at the Church-ftile found, 
 A Garland fweet, with true-loue Knots in Flowers* 
 Which I to weare aboute mine Arme was bound, 
 That each of vs might know <-hat all was ours : 
 
 Muft I now lead an idl* Life in Wifties ? 
 
 And follow. Cup'd for his Loaues, and Fifties ? 
 
 I, that did weare the Ring her Mother left, 
 I, for whofe Loue flie gloried to be blamed, 
 I, with whofe Eyes her Eyes committed Theft, 
 I, who did make her blufti when I was named ; 
 Muft IlofeRing,Flowers,Blufti,Theft and go naked, 
 Watching with Sighs, till dead Loue be awaked ? 
 
 I, thatj when drowfie Argus fell afleepj 
 
 Like lealoufte o'rewatched with Defire^ 
 
 Was euen warned Modeftie to keepe, 
 
 While her Breath fpeaking kindled Nature's Fire : 
 
 Muft I looke on a-cold, while Others warine them? 
 
 Do Vulcan's Brothers in fuch fine Nets arme them? 
 
 3 Was
 
 The Mufes Library. 243 
 
 Was it for this that I might Myra fee ? 
 
 Wafhing the Water with her Beauties, white, 
 
 Yet would me neuer write her Loue to me ; 
 
 "Thinks Wit of Change while ^thoughts are in Delight ? 
 Mad Girles may fafely loue, as they may leaue, 
 No Man can print a Kiffe, Lines may deceive. 
 
 Love for Love. 
 
 A Way with thefe Selfe-louing Lads, 
 * * Whom Cupid's Arrow neuer glads ! 
 Away poore Soules, that figh and weep* 
 In loue of thofe that lye afleepe ! t 
 
 For Cupid is a Merry-God, 
 
 And forceth none to kifle the Rod. 
 
 Sweet Cupid's Shafts like Deftinie 
 
 Doe caufelefle good or ill decree 3 
 
 Defert is borne out of his Bow, 
 
 Reward vpon his Wing doth goe! 
 
 What Fooles are they that haue not knowne, 
 That Loue likes no Lawes but his owne ? 
 
 R 2 My
 
 244 3T& Mufes Library. 
 
 My Songs they be of Cynthia's Praife, 
 I weare her Rings on Holy-Dayes, 
 In euery Tree I write her Name, 
 And euery Day I read the fame. 
 
 Where Honour Cupid's riuall is 
 There Miracles are feene of his ! 
 
 If Cynthia craue her Ring of me, 
 I blot her Name out of the Tree, 
 If Doubt doe darken things held deare, 
 Then well-fare Nothing once a yeare ! 
 For Many runne, but One tnuft winne I 
 Fooles only hedge the Cuckoe in! 
 
 The Worth that Worthinefle mould mouci 
 Is Loue, that is the Bow of Loue, 
 And Loue as well thee fofter can, 
 As can the mighty Noble-man. 
 
 Sweet Saint 'tis true, you worthy be ! 
 
 Yet, without Loue, nought worth to me f 
 
 Tt*
 
 The Mufes Library. 245 
 
 he Dream. 
 
 TV yf Y fenfes all, like Beacon's Flame 
 
 *-^J- Gaue Alarum to Defire 
 
 To take Armes in Cynthia's Name, 
 
 And fet all my Thoughts on Fire: 
 
 Furie's Wit pefwaded me, 
 
 Happy Loue was Hazard's Hire ; 
 
 Cupid did beft moot and fee 
 
 In the Night, where fmooth is faire, 
 
 Vp I fiart, belieuing well, 
 
 To fee if Cynthia were awake 
 
 Wonders I faw, who can tell ? 
 
 And thus vnto my felfe I fpake. 
 
 Sweete God Cupid where am J, 
 
 That, by pale Diana's Light, 
 
 Such rich Beauties doe efpie, 
 
 As harme our Senfes with Delight ? 
 
 Am I borne vp to the Skyes ? 
 
 See where Joue and Venus mine, 
 
 Shewing in her heauenly Eyes 
 
 That Defire is diuine ! 
 
 Looke where lyes the Milkey-Way ! 
 
 Way vnto that dainty Throne, 
 
 R ^ Where,
 
 246 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 Where, while all the Gods would play, 
 Vulcan thinkes to dwell alone ! 
 I gaue Reyns to this Conceipt, 
 Hope, went on the Wheel of Lujl : 
 Phanfies Scales are falfe of Weight, 
 Thoughts take Thought that go of Trufi, 
 I ftept forth to touch the Skye, 
 I a God by Cupid's Dreames ! 
 Cynthia, who did naked lye, 
 Runnes away like filuer Streames, 
 Leauing hollow Banks behind, 
 Who can neither forward moue, 
 Nor, if Riuers be vnkind, 
 Turne away, or leaue to loue, 
 
 There ftand I, like Articke Pole^ 
 Where Sol pafleth o're the Line y 
 Mourning my benighted Soule, 
 Which fo lofet-h T ,ight diuine. 
 There ftand I like Men that preacfy 
 From the Execution-Place, 
 At their Death content to teach 
 All the World with their Difgrace, 
 He, that lets his Cynthia lye 
 Naked on a Bed of Play, 
 
 n
 
 The Mufes Library 247 
 
 To fay Prayers ere fhe dye, 
 
 Teacheth 'Time to runne away : 
 
 Let no Loue-defiring Heart, 
 
 In the Starres goe feeke his Fate, 
 
 JLoue is onely Nature's Art -, 
 
 Wonder hinders Loue and Hate. 
 None can well behold with Eyes y 
 But what underneath him lies! 
 
 Caelica, always amiable. 
 
 JElica 9 when I did fee you euery Day, 
 I faw fo many Worths, fo well vnited, 
 As, in this Vnion, while but One did play, 
 All others Eyes both wondred and delighted : 
 
 Whence I conceau'd you of fome heauenly Mould, 
 Since Loue, and Vertue^ noble Fame and Pleafure y 
 Containe in One no earthly Metall could ; 
 Such Enemies are Flefh, and Blood to Meafure ! 
 
 And, fmce my Fall, though I now onely fee 
 Your Backe, while all the World beholds your Facej 
 This Shadow ftill fhewes Miracles to me, 
 And ftill I thinke your Heart a heauenly Place : 
 
 R4 For
 
 248 The Mufes Library, 
 
 For what, before, was fil'd by me alone, 
 I now difcerne hath Roome for euery On?. 
 
 Loves Excufe. 
 
 LOUE, I did fend yea forth enammel'd fairs 
 With Hope, and gaue you Sefin and Liuery 
 Of Beauties Skye, which you did claime as Heyre, 
 By Obiect's and Defire's Affinitie. 
 
 And doe you now returne leane with Defpaire ? 
 Wounded with Rivall's War, fcorched with lealoufie? 
 Hence Changeling ; Lcue doth no fuch Colours weare; 
 Find Suerties, or at Honour's Seflions dye ! 
 
 Sir, know me for your owne ! I onely beare, 
 Faiths enfigne, which is Shame, and Miferie, 
 My Paradife, and Adams diuerfe were : 
 His fall was Knowledge, mine Simplicitie ! 
 
 What ftiall I doe, Sir ? doe me Prentice bind, 
 To Knowledge, Honour, Fame or Honeftie ; 
 JLet me no longer follow Womenkinde, 
 Where Change doth vfe all ihapes of tyranny !
 
 The Mufes Library, 
 
 Court Favourites. 
 
 -- 
 
 I HE little Hearts, where light- wing'd Paflioit 
 
 reignes, 
 
 More eafily vpward, as all Frailties doe j 
 Like Strawes to let, thefe follow Princes Veines, 
 And fo, by pleafing, do corrupt them too. 
 
 Whence, as their raifing proues Kings can create ; 
 So States proueficke, where Toyes beare Staple-rates. 
 
 c UikzAtomi they neither reft, nor ftand, 
 
 " Nor can erect ; becaufe they nothing be 
 
 ' But Baby-Thoughts, fed with Time's-prefent handj 
 
 *' Siaues, and yet Darlings of Authority ! 
 
 <e EccbeTs of Wrong ; Shadowes of Princes Might! 
 
 ?< Which Glow-Worme-like, by fhining, {how 'tis 
 Night. 
 
 c Curious of Fame, as foule is to be faire ;' 
 
 c Caring to feeme that which they would not be ; 
 
 " Wherein Chance helpes, fince Praife is Power 'sHeyre, 
 
 ** Honor the Creature of Authoritie ! 
 
 " So as borne high, in giddie Orbes of Grace, 
 < c Thefe Pictures are, which are indeed but Place. 
 3 And
 
 250 The Mufes Library* 
 
 " And as the Bird in Hand, with Freedome loft, 
 " Serues for a Stale, his Fellowes to betray : 
 " So doe thefe Darlings, rais'd at Prince's Coft^ 
 " Tempt Man to throw his Libertie away ; 
 " And facrifice Law, Church, all reall things 
 " To foare, not on his owne, but Eagles Wings, 
 
 like Jfop*$ Dogge, Men lofe their Meat, 
 To bite at glorious Shadowes, which they fee ; 
 And let fall thofe Strengths which make all States great 
 By free Truth's Change to feruile Flatterie. 
 
 Whence, while Men gaze upon this blazing Star \ 
 Made Slaves, not Subiefts, they to tyrants are t 
 
 Nobilitie, 
 
 REwards of Earth, Nobilitie and Fame, 
 To Senfes Glorie, and to confcience Woe I 
 How little be you, for fo great a Name ? 
 Yet leffe is he with Men that thinks you fo. 
 For earthly Power , tbatjlands by flejhly Wit, 
 Hath banijh'd that Truth, which /J mid gowrne it.
 
 5T 'he Mufes Library. 251 
 
 Nobilitie, Power's golden Fetter is, 
 Wherewith wife Kings Subieftion doe adorne, 
 To make Man thinke her heauy Toke, a Blzffe, 
 Becaufe it makes him more than be was borne. 
 Tet^Jlill a Slaue, dimmed by Mifts of a Crowne^ 
 Lefthejhouldfee, what rifetb^ what puh downe. 
 
 fame, that is but good Words of euill Deeds, 
 Begotten by the Harme we have, or do,* 
 Greateft farre off, leaft euer where it breeds ! 
 We both with Dangers and Difquiet woo. 
 And in our Flefli (the Vanities /*#* Glaffe) 
 We, thus decieu'd, adore thefe Calues of Brafle, 
 
 On the fame. 
 
 "T TIrgula diuina^ $!orcerers call a Rod, 
 
 *^ Gather'd with Vowes, and Magicke-Sacrifice ; 
 Which borne about, by Influence doth nod, 
 Vnto the Siluer, where it hidden lyes ; 
 
 Which makes poorMen to thefe blackeArts deuout, 
 Rich onely in the Wealth which Hope findes out. 
 
 Nobilitie, this fret ious freafure is. 
 Laid vp infecret Myfteries of State, 
 
 Kings
 
 252 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 King's Creature ! and SubieSlioifs gilded 
 Where Grace, not Merit, feemes to gouerne Fate ! 
 Mankinde I think to be this Rod diuine, 
 M For to the greafeft euer they incline, 
 
 Eloquence, that is but Wifdome [peaking well, 
 
 (The Poets faigne) did make the Sauage tame ; 
 
 Of Eares and Hearts chain'd vnto Tongues they tellj 
 
 J thinke NoMlitie to be the fame : 
 
 " For, be they Fooles, or fpeake they without Wit, 
 <c We hold them wife, we Fooles be- wonder it t 
 
 Jnuiftble there is an Art to goe^ 
 (They fay thatftudie Natures fee ret Works) 
 And Art there is to make Things greater Jbow i 
 In Noblenefle I thinke this Secret lurks^ 
 < For place a Coronet on whom you wi'll, 
 Touftraight fee all great in him,, but his Iff! 
 
 The AJJe of Authority. 
 
 I Sis (in whom the Poet's feigning Wit, 
 Figures the Goddefle of Authority, 
 And makes her on an Afe in Triumph fit, 
 As if Power's Throne were Man'* Humility) 
 
 In-
 
 The Mufes Library. 253 
 
 Infpires this Afle, as well-becomming it, 
 Euen like a Type of Wind-blowne Vanity, 
 
 With Pride to beare Power's gilding, fcorching Heat 
 For no Hire, but Opinion to be great. 
 
 So as this Beaft, forgetting what he beares, 
 Bridled and burden'd by the Hand of Might, 
 While he beholds the Swarmes of Hope and Feares, 
 Which wait vpon Ambition infinite, 
 Proud of the glorious Furniture hee weares, 
 Takes all, to Tfis offer'd, but his Right ; 
 
 Till Wearinefle, the Spurre, or Want of Food, 
 Makes gilded Curbs of all Beafts underftood. 
 
 Edmund Spencer^ 
 
 A Writer in fo endearing, and amiable a Vein, 
 that, if I may judge of Others by my felf, 'tis im- 
 poflible to read his Works, without being in Love 
 with the Author ; without the greateft Curiofity to 
 inquire into the Circumftances of his Life ; or feeling 
 the whole Soul interefted in his good or evil Fortune. 
 
 He was a Native cf London, and educated at Pem- 
 broke-Hall, in Cambridge, where he became a clofe 
 Student; But, devoting his Time to the Clajficks, in- 
 ftead of the Fathers, had not Intereft enough to ob- 
 tain a Fellowfhip, which he was Candidate for, a- 
 gainft a Gentleman in Holy Orders, afterwards a 
 Bifhop -, and, on this Difappointment, leaving the 
 Umveriity, came in great Perplexity to London. 
 
 Here,
 
 254 The Mvfes Library. 
 
 Here, without Friends, or Fortune, He was ot>- 
 lig'd to commence Author, and write for Bread -, and, 
 tho* the only true Genius for Poetry, fince Chaucer^ 
 might have liv'd, and dy'd in Obfcurity, but for the 
 moft generous Patronage of the Noble Sir Philip 
 
 Sidney. To Him He addrefs'd Himfelf, with 
 
 no other Recommendation than the Merit of a Frag- 
 ment of his own Work : The Picture of Defpair, 
 in his Legend of Holinefs ! and, fo true, and deter- 
 min'd was that great Man's Judgment, that, with- 
 out waiting for the Sanction of the World's Opini- 
 6n, He declar'd himfelf at once his Admirer , and, 
 in a Tranfport of Pleafure, as 'tis faid, order'd him 
 Fifty Pounds a Piece, for feveral Stanzas, with this 
 
 exceffive Compliment Make Hafte ! left I Jhould 
 
 be oblig'dto give Him my whole Eft ate ! - On the o- 
 ther Hand, fo grateful was our Author, and fo ftruck 
 with the Magnanimity of His Patron, that He 
 thought him worthy to be the principal Hero of 
 his Poem ; which reprefented Magnanimity it felf ! 
 
 We find him, after this, exalted to be Secretary to 
 the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, poflefs'd of a large 
 Tract of Land there, by Grant from the Crown, 
 and marry'd to a Merchant's Daughter, whofe 
 Charms he has irnmortaliz'd, together with his owri 
 Affection, in that inimitable Epithalamium, which 
 He prefented her with on the Bridal-Day. 
 
 This Period was the only happy one of his Life. 
 
 But the Sun-mine was foon over, and nothing 
 
 but Darknefs follow'd. The Rebellion broke out 
 in Ireland, his Patron was recalled, and He plunder'd 
 of his Eftate. In the fame unfortunate Interval, 
 his Friend, Sir Philip Sidney, was kill'd in Flanders, 
 and, according to fome Authors, a Servant, that He 
 fent over to England with the Conclufion of his Fairy 
 
 Queen, was never heard of more. He follow'd 
 
 foon after Himfelf in a very difccmfolate Condition, 
 
 and
 
 The Mufcs Library. 255 
 
 and apply'd to the Queen in Perfon, for Encourage- 
 ment, and Relief-, upon which Her Majefty was 
 gracioufly pleas'd to order Him Five Hundred Pounds-* 
 But her Treafurer Burleigb reduc'd it to one^ by this 
 farcaftick Turn. All this for a Song ? Some fay 
 this ill Office was occafion'd by certain fatirical Ex- 
 preflions in Mother Hubberd's Tale (rather too true to 
 be forgiven!) But it appears to me more likely that 
 the Tale was written in Refentment of the Injury. 
 But which ever it was, Spencer's Spirit was too deli- 
 cate to bear fuch a Series of Misfortunes, and 'tis 
 agreed on all Hands that They help'd to fhorten his 
 Days. A Circumftance, which no Reader who has 
 a Tafte for Poetry, can ever reflect on without MeJ- 
 lancholy ! No Writer ever found fo near a Way to 
 the Heart as He, and there is fcarce a Beauty in his 
 Verfes, that has not the peculiar Happinefs of re- 
 commending the Author to our Friendmip, as well 
 as Our Admiration. For my own Part, when I 
 read Him, I fancy myfelf converting with the Graces, 
 and am led away as irrefiftibly, as if inchanted by his 
 own Merlin. But to fufpend as much as poflible 
 this Female Fondnefs : If the greateft Fertility and 
 Elegance of Imagination are the diftinguifhing Cha- 
 racterifticks of a Poet, Spencer has the Advantage 
 of all who have aflum'd the Honour of that Name; 
 and, had He never debauched his Tafte with the Ex- 
 travagancies of Ariofto, He might have vied in Fame 
 (if we may judge by Tranflations) with the moft ve- 
 nerated of the Antients, and deterr'd the moft inge- 
 nious Moderns from hoping to equal Him. But, 
 with all his Imperfections, no Writings have fuch 
 Power as his, to awake the Spirit of Poetry in o- 
 thers : And 'tis probable many Geniufes, befide 
 Cowley's, have ow'd their Infpiration, to the reflected 
 Fire, they caught originally from Him. 
 
 The
 
 256 *fhe Mufes Library* 
 
 The Great, tho' unfortunate Earl of Effex^ a Mu- 
 nificent Patron to Men of Letters ! was at the Charge 
 of his Funeral, and Monument ; which is ftill to 
 be feen in ffieftminfter- Abbey ; tho' not with the fame 
 Epitaph it had iri the Beginning -, which I fuppofe 
 was worn out by Time : The Tomb it felf being 
 much decay'd, and more likely to be remembred by 
 the Works it was rais'd to Honour* than be a Me- 
 morial to Them ! 
 
 As to the Quotation I have chofen from the Fairy 
 Queen*, I don't recommend it as what moft deferves 
 to be diftinguifh*d in that celebrated Piece ; There 
 being feveral other Epifodes equal i if not fuperior 
 to it: But they are either very well known already, 
 or too long to be inferted entire. None, I think, 
 fhew more of the Author's Genius for Allegory, 
 and, as that is the Turn of his principal Poemj this 
 may be juftly reckoned one of the moft remarkable 
 Paflages. 
 
 The Majk of Cupid, Fairy Queen, Book 3. Cant. 12, 
 
 f | "* II E firft was Fancy , like a lovely Boy 
 
 Of rare Afpeft, aild Beauty without Peere ; 
 Matchable eyther to that Impe of Trey 9 
 Whom Jbm did love, and chofe his Cup to bear^ 
 Or that fame dainty Lad, which was fo dear 
 To great Alcides^ that, when as he dide* 
 He wailed Woman-like with many a Tear* 
 And every Wood and every Valley wide 
 He fil'd with Hylas Name - 9 the Nymphes eke Hyla s 
 cride! His
 
 The Mufes Library. 257 
 
 His Garment neither was of Silk, nor Say, 
 
 But painted Plumes, in goodly Order dight, 
 
 Like as the Sun-burnt Indians do array 
 
 Their tawny Bodies, in their proudeft Plight : 
 
 As thofe fame Plumes, fo feem'd he vain and light, 
 
 That, by his Gate, might eafily appear ; 
 
 For ftill he far'd as dancing in Delight, 
 
 And in his Hand a windy Fan did beare, 
 
 That in the idle Aire he mov'd ftill here, and there. 
 
 And, him befide, march't amorous Dejire, 
 Who feem'd of riper Yeares, then th s other Swaine ; 
 Yet was that other Swaine this Elder's Syre 
 And gave him Being, common to them Twaine ! 
 His Garment was difguifed very vaine, 
 And his embroidered Bonnet fat awry ; 
 Twixt both his Hands, few Sparks he clofe did ftraine, 
 Which ftill he blew, and kindled bufily, 
 That foone they Life conceived, and forth in Flames 
 did fly. 
 
 Next, after him, went Doubt 9 who was yclad 
 In a difcolour'd Cote, of ftrange Difguife ; 
 That, at his Backe, a broad Capucio had, 
 And fleves dependant Albanefe-wik : 
 
 S He
 
 2 $8 The Mufes Library. 
 
 He lookt afkew with his miftruftfull Eyes, 
 And nicely trode, as Thornes lay in his Wayy 
 Or that the Flore to fhrink he did avife, 
 And on a broken Reed he ftill did flay 
 His feeble Steps, which fhrunk, when hard thereon 
 he lay. 
 
 With him went Danger, cloth'd in ragged Weed", 
 Made of Bear's Skin,that him more dreadful made : 
 Yet his own Face was dreadful!, ne did need 
 Strange Horror, to deforme his griefly Shade ; 
 A Net in the one Hand, and a rufty Blade 
 In th* other was ; this Mifchiefe, that Miihap ; 
 With the one his Foes he threatned to invade ; 
 With th' other, he his Friends ment to enwrap -, 
 
 For whom he could not kill, he pradiz'd to entrap ! 
 
 Next him was Fear, all arm'd from Top to Toe* 
 Yet thought himfelf not fafe enough thereby. 
 But fear'd each Shadow, mouing to and fro : 
 And his own Armes, when glittering, he did fpy, 
 Or claming heard, he faft away did fly, 
 As Ames pale of hew, and wingy-heel'd ; 
 
 And evermore on Danger fixt his Eye -, 
 
 Gainft
 
 The Mufes Library. 259 
 
 Gainft whom he alwaies bent a Brazen-Shield, 
 Which his right Hand, unarmed, fearefully, did wield* 
 
 With him went Hope in ranke, a handfome Mayd, 
 Of chearefull looke and lovely to behold i 
 In filken Samite me was light array'd, 
 And her faire Locks were wouen up in Gold ; 
 She always fmil'd, and, in her Hand, did hold 
 An holy- Water-Sprinkle, dipt in Dewe, 
 With which me fprinkled Favours manifold, 
 On whom me lift, and did great Liking mew ; 
 
 Great Liking unto Many, but true Love to Fewe ! 
 
 And, after them, Diffemblance and Sufpeff 
 Marcht in one Ranke, yet an unequall Paire ! 
 For me was gentle, and of mildAfpect, 
 Courteous to all, and feeming debonaire, 
 Goodly adorned, and exceeding faire : 
 Yet was that all but painted, and purloyn'd, 
 And her bright Browes were deckt with borrowed 
 
 Haire, 
 
 HerDeeds were forged, and her Words falie coyn'd, 
 And alwaies in her Hand two Glewes of Silke me 
 twyn'd. 
 
 S 2 But
 
 260 The Mufes Library. 
 
 But He was foule, ill fauoured, and grim, 
 Under his Eye-Brows looking ftill afcaunce ; 
 And ever, as Diffemblance laught on him 
 He lowrd on her with dangerous Eye-Glance ; 
 Shewing his Nature in his Countenance i 
 His rolling Eyes did never reft in Place, 
 But walkt each where, for feare of hid Mifchance, 
 Holding a Lattice ftill before his Face, 
 
 Through which he ftill did peep, as forward he did pafs. 
 
 Next him went Grief e^ and Fury marcht yfere ; 
 Grief e all in Sable, forrowfully clad, 
 Down-hanging his dull Head, with heavy Chere, 
 Yet inly being more, then feeming fad : 
 A paire of Pincers in his Hand he had, 
 With which he pinched People to the Hart, 
 That, from thenceforth, a wretched Life they led, 
 In wilfull Langour and confuming Smart, 
 
 Dying each Day, with inward Wounds of Dolour's 
 Dart. 
 
 But Fury was full ill-appareiled 
 
 In Rags, that naked nigh fhe did appeare, 
 With ghaftfull Lookes, and dreadfull Dreri-hed ; 
 
 For
 
 *The Mufes Library. 261 
 
 For, from her Backe, her Garments (he did teare, 
 And, from her Head, oft rent her fnarled Heare : 
 In her right Hand a Fire- Brand me did tofle 
 About her Head, ftill roming here, and there ; 
 Asa difmayed Deere, in Chace emboft, 
 Forgetfull of his Safety, hath his right Way loft. 
 
 After them, went Difpleafure and Pleafance ; 
 He looking lompim and full fullein-fad, 
 And hanging downe his heauy Countenance ; 
 She chearefull, frem, and full of Joyance glad, 
 As if no Sorrow fhe ne felt, ne drad ; 
 That evil-matched-Paire they feem'd to bee : 
 And angry Wafp th' One in a Viall had : 
 Th' other in her's an hony-Lady-Bee. 
 
 Thus marched thefe fixe Couples forth in faire Degree. 
 
 After all thefe, there march't a moft faire Dame, 
 Led of Two gryflie Villeines, th' one Defpight, 
 The other cleped Cruelty by Name : 
 She, dolefull Lady ! like a dreary Spright, 
 Call'd, by ftrcng Charmes, out of eternall Night. 
 Had Death's owne Image figur'd in her Face, 
 Full of fad Signes, fearefull to living Sight ! 
 
 5 3 Yet
 
 262 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Yet in that Horror, fhew'd a feemly Grace j 
 And with her feeble Feet did move a comely Pace, 
 
 Her Breaft all naked as net luory, 
 
 Without Adorne of Gold or Silver bright, 
 Wherewith the Crafts-Man wont it beautifie, 
 Of her due Honour was defpoyled quight, 
 And a wide Wound therein (O ruefull fight ! 
 Entrenched deepe with Knife, accurfed keene ! 
 Yet fremly bleeding forth her fainting Spright 
 The wocke of cruell Hand !) was to be feene ; 
 
 That dyde in fanguine Red her Skin all fnowy-cleane. 
 
 At that wide Orifice, her trembling Hart 
 Was drawne forth, and in Silver-Bafin layd, 
 Quite through transfixed with a deadly Dart, 
 And in her Blood yet feeming-frefh embayd ! 
 And thefe two Villeins, which her Steps up-ftayd, 
 When her weake Feet$ could fcarcely her fuftaine, 
 And fading, vitall Powers gan to fade, 
 Her, forward ftill, with Torture did conftraine 5 
 
 And evermore encreafed her confuming Paine.
 
 7 'he Mufes Library 263 
 
 "Next, after her, the Winged God himfelf, 
 Came riding on a Lion rauenous, 
 Taught to obey the Menage of that Elfe, 
 That Man and Beaft, with Power imperious, 
 Subdeweth to his Kingdome tyrannous : 
 His blindfold Eyes he bade a while unbind, 
 That his proud Spoyle of that fame dolorous, 
 Fair Dame he might behold in perfect Kind : 
 
 Which feen, he much rejoyced in his <ruel Mind. 
 
 Of which full proud, himfelf uprearing hye, 
 He looked round about with fterne Difdaine ; 
 And did furvey his goodly Company ; 
 And, marfhalled the -euill-ordered Traine: 
 With that, theDarts, which his right Hand did ftraine 
 Full dreadfully he fhooke ; that all did quake ; 
 And clapt, on hie, his colour'd Winges Twaine ; 
 That all his Many it affraide did make : 
 
 Tho, blinding him againe, his Way he forth did take. 
 
 Behinde him was Reproach, Repentance, Shame, 
 Reproach the firft, Shame nexjt, Repent behind : 
 Repentance feeble, forrowfull, and lame : 
 
 S 4 Reproach
 
 264 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Reproach defpightfull, carelefTe, and unkind ; 
 Shame moft ill-favour'd, beftiall, and blind : 
 Shame ]owrd,Repenfancefigh't,Reproach did fcould; 
 Reproach fharpe Stings, Repentance Whips entwyn*d ; 
 Shame burning Brou'd- Yrons in her Hand did hold: 
 All Three to each unlike, yet all made in one Mould- 
 
 And, after them, a rude, confufed Rout 
 
 Of Perfons flock't, whofe Names, are hard to read: 
 
 Amongft them was fterne Strife, and Anger ftout, 
 
 Unquiet Care, and fond Unthriftihed ; 
 
 Lewd Lqffe of Time, and Sorrow feeming dead, 
 
 Inconftant Change, and falfe Difloyaltie, 
 
 Confuming Riotife, and guilty Dread 
 
 Of Heavenly Vengeance ; faint Infirmity, 
 
 Vile Pouertie, and laftly Death with Infamic. 
 
 The brave Courtier, from Mother Hvbberds Tale. 
 
 YE T the braue Courtier, in whofe beautious 
 Thought, 
 
 Regai-d of Honour harbours more than ought, 
 Doth loath fuch bafe Condition, to backbit^ 
 Anies good Name for Envie or Defpite : 
 
 He
 
 The Mufes Library. 265 
 
 He ftands on Tearmes of honourable Mind, 
 Ne will be carried with the common Wind 
 Of Court's inconftant Mutabilitie, 
 Ne after euery tattling Fable flie ; 
 But heares, and fees the Follies of the Reft, 
 And thereof gathers for himfelfe the beft : 
 He will not creepe, nor crouch with fained Face, 
 But walks vpright with comely, ftedfaft Pace, 
 And vnto all doth yeeld due Curtefie ; 
 But not with kifled Hand belowe the Knee, 
 As that fame Apim Crue is wont to do : 
 For he difdaines himfelf t'embafe there-to. 
 He hates foule Leafmgs, and vile Flatterie, 
 Two filthy Blots in noble Genterie ! 
 And lothefull Idlenes he doth deteft, 
 The Canker- Worme of euery gentle Breft ! 
 The which to banifh with faire Exercife 
 Of knightly-Feates, he daily doth deuife : 
 Now menaging the Mouthes of ftubborne Steedes, 
 Now praftifrng the Proofe of warlike Deedes, 
 Now his bright Armes aflaying, now his Speare, 
 Now the nigh-aymed Ring away to beare ; 
 At other Times he cafts to few the Chace 
 Of fwift, wilde Beafts, or runne on Foote a Race, 
 i T'enlarge
 
 266 fie Mufes Library. 
 
 T'enlarge his Breath (large Breath in Armes moft 
 
 needful) 
 
 Or elfe by Wreftling to wex ftrong and heedful, 
 Or his ftiffe Armes to ftretch with Eughen-Bowe, 
 And manly Legs, ftill patting to and fro, 
 Without a gowned Beaft him faft befide ; 
 A vain Enfample of the Per/tan pride ! 
 Who after he had wonne th' Affyrian Foe, 
 Did euer after fcorne on Foote to goe. 
 Thus, when this Courtly Gentleman with Toyle 
 Himfelfe hath wearied, he doth recoyle 
 Vnto his Reft, and there with fweet Delight 
 Of Mufick's Skill reviues his toyled Spright : 
 Or elfe with Loues, and Ladies gentle Sports, 
 The ioy of Youth ! himfelfe he recomforts. 
 Or laftly, when the Body lift to paufe, 
 His Minde vnto the Mufes he with-drawes j 
 Sweet Lady-Mufes, Ladies of Delight, 
 Delights of Life, and ornaments of Light ! 
 With whom he clofe confers with wife Difcourfe, 
 Of Nature's Workes, of Heauen's continual 1 Courfe, 
 Of forraine Lands, of People different, 
 Of Kingdom's Change, of diuers Gouernment, 
 Of dreadfull Battles, of renowned Knights ; 
 With which he kindleth his ambitious Sprights 
 
 To
 
 The Mufes Library. 267 
 
 To like Defire and Praife of noble Fame, 
 
 The onely Vp-Shot where-to he doth aime : 
 
 For all his Minde on Honour fixed is, 
 
 To which he leuels all his Purpofes, 
 
 And in his Prince's Seruice fpends his Daies ; 
 
 Not fo much for to gaine, or for to raife 
 
 Himfelfe to high Degree ; as for his Grace, 
 
 And in his Liking to winne worthy Place, 
 
 Through due Deferts and comely Carriage, 
 
 In what-fo pleafe employ his Perfonage, 
 
 That may be Matter meet to gaine him Praife : 
 
 For he is fit to vfe in all Eflayes, 
 
 Whether for Armes, and warlike Amenaunce, 
 
 Or elfe for wife, and ciuill Gouernaunce: 
 
 For he is practiz'd well in Policie, 
 
 And there- to doth his Courting moft apply : 
 
 To learne the Enterdeale of Princes ftrange, 
 
 To marke th* Intent of Counfells, and the Change 
 
 Of States, and eke, of priuateMen, fome- while, 
 
 Supplanted by fine Falmood and faire Guile ; 
 
 Of all the which he gathereth what is fit 
 
 T'enrich the Storehoufe of his powerfull Wit, 
 
 Which, through wife Speeches, and graue Conference 
 
 Jrle daily eekes, and brings to Excellence. 
 
 2 Sir
 
 268 Tfhe Mufes Library. 
 
 Sir Walter Raleigh, 
 
 A Gentleman of fo univerfal a Capacity, that 'twas 
 faid He feem'd to be born only for what he undertook: 
 For which Reafon, as he has oblig'd the World with 
 fome Writings in Verfe 'tis but a juft Acknowledg- 
 ment of his Merits to admit him among the Number 
 of the Poets ; yet not fo much to honour Him by 
 that Diftindion, as them by introducing fo great, 
 and noble a Fellow- Student ; Nor is it the Poets 
 alone, that put in for this Honour, but Soldiers both 
 by Land, and Sea, Statesmen, Orators, Hiftorians, 
 Philofophers, and almoft all the Profeflbrs of every 
 
 other Science. He was born at Eaft Budeleigb in 
 
 Devon/hire^ of an eminent Family, became a Com- 
 moner of Oriel College in Oxford^ was afterwards en- 
 ter'd a Student in the Middle-Temple. Then ferv'd 
 as a Volunteer in the Wars, received a Captain's Com- 
 miffion, under Arthur Lord Grey^ Deputy of Ir eland * 
 and, after the greateft Variety of Fortune, that could 
 befall one of the moft active Geniufes in the World, 
 loft his Head in Old Palace-Tar d, Weftminfter^ An. 
 1618. I have given this fhort Epitome, becaufe 
 'tis impoflible to infert half the Incidents of fo ex- 
 traordinary a Life, within the narrow Limits that 
 I am confin'd to : And the Reader may find them 
 collected with the greateft Exactnefs, in a thin Folio, 
 lately publifh'd by the ingenious and accurate Mr. 
 Oldys. Sir Walter was a great Friend, and Patron 
 of the divine Spencer^ as is manifeft by their mu- 
 tual Compliments to each other : And his Services 
 to that great, unfortunate Genius, are not the leaft 
 Proof, that his Fame did not exceed his Virtue. 
 
 Upon
 
 "The Mufes Library. 269 
 
 Upon Gafcoign'j Poem, called The Steel-Glafs. 
 
 SWeete were the Sauce would pleafe each kind of 
 Tafte 
 
 The Life likewife were pure that never fwerued, 
 For fpiteful Tongues, in cankred Stomacks plaft, 
 Deeme worft of Things, which beft percafe deferv'd 
 But what for that ? this Medicine maie fuffice, 
 To fcorn the Reft, and feeke to pleafe the Wife. 
 
 Though fundrie Mindes in fundrie Sort doe deeme, 
 Yet Worthies Wights yielde Praife for everie Paine ; 
 But envious Braines doe nought (or light) efteeme, 
 Such ftatelie Steps as they cannot attaine : 
 For who fo reapes Renown above the Reft, 
 With heapes of Hate, fhal furelie be oppreft. 
 
 Wherefore, to write my Cenfure of this Booke, 
 This Glafle of Steele unpartiallie dot!) fhewe, 
 Abufes all to fuch as in it looke, 
 
 From
 
 270 The Mufes Library. 
 
 From Prince to Poore ; from high Eftate to lowe. 
 As for the Verfe, who lift like Trade to trie, 
 I feare me much fhal hardlie reach fo hie, 
 
 A Vifion upon the Faerie Qyeene. 
 
 TV /f E thought I fawe the Grave, where Laura lay; 
 Within that Temple, where the veftall Flame 
 Was wont to burne; and, pafling by that Way, 
 To fee that buried Duft of living Fame, 
 Whofe Tombe faire Love, and, fairer Vertue kept, 
 All fuddenly I fawe the Faery Queene ." 
 At whofe Approache the Soul of Petrarke wept, 
 And, from thenceforth, thofe Graces were not feene j 
 For, they this Queene attended ; in whofe fteed 
 Oblivion laid him downe on Laura's Herfe : 
 Hereat the hard eft Stones were feene to bleed, 
 And Grones of buried Ghofts the Heavens did perfe } 
 Where Homer's Spright did tremble al for Griefe, 
 And curft th' Acceffe of that celeftiall Thiefe. 
 
 On the fame. 
 
 THE Praife of meaner Wits this Worke like Pro- 
 fite brings, 
 
 As doth the Cuckoes Song Delight, when Philomena 
 fings, If
 
 The Mufes Library. 271 
 
 If thou haft formed right true J^rta^sFace herein : 
 Vertue her felfe can beft difcerne, to whom they writ- 
 ten bin. 
 
 If thou haft Beauty prays'd, let her fole Lookes divine, 
 Judge if ought therein be amifs> and rnend it by her 
 
 Eyne. 
 
 If Cbajlitie want ought, or Temperance her dew, 
 Behold her Princely Mind aright, and write thy 
 
 Queene anew. 
 
 Mean while fhe mall percieve,how farre her Vertue foare 
 Aboue the Reach of alJ that live, or fuch as wrote of 
 
 yore: 
 
 And, thereby will excufe and favour thy good Will: 
 Whofe Virtue cannot be expreft, but by an Angels 
 
 quill. 
 
 Of me no Lines are lov'd, nor Letters are of Price, 
 Of all, which fpeake our Englijh Tongue ; but thofe 
 of thy Device. 
 
 The Nimphs Reply to the Shepheard. 
 
 In Anfwer to fome Stanzas of Marlows, Beginning, 
 Come live with me, &c. 
 
 rail the World and Love were young, 
 And Truth in every Shepheard's Tongue, 
 
 Tkefe
 
 272 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Thefe pretty Pleafures might me move, 
 To live with Thee and be thy Love. 
 
 Time drives the Flockes from Field to Fold, 
 When Rivers rage, and Rockes grow Cold, 
 And Philomett becometh dombe ; 
 The Reft complain of Cares to come. 
 
 The Flowers do fade in wanton Fields ; 
 The wayward Winter Reckoning yields ; 
 A Hony Tongue, a Heart of Gall, 
 Is Fancies Spring, but Sorrow's Fall. 
 
 Thy Gownes, thy Shooes, thy Beds of Rofes, 
 Thy Cap, thy Kirtle, and thy Pofies, 
 Soon break, foone wither, foone forgotten 
 In Folly ripe, in Reafon rotten ! 
 
 Thy Belt of Straw, and Ivie-Buds 
 Thy Corall-Clafpes, and Amber-ftuds, 
 All thefe in me no Mind can move, 
 To come to thee, and be thy Love. 
 
 But
 
 The Mufes Library* 273 
 
 But could Toutb laft, and Lome ftill breed. 
 Had Joy no Date, nor Age no Neede, 
 Then thefe Delights my Minde might move, 
 To live with thee, and be thy Love; 
 
 be Jilent Lover. 
 
 IP Aflidns are likened beft to Floods and Streams ; 
 The mallow murmur, but the deep are dumb; 
 So, when Affections yield Difcourfe, it feerris 
 The bottom is but mallow whence they come : 
 They that are rich in Words muft needs difcoverj 
 They are but poor in that which makes a Loveh 
 
 Wrong not, fweet Miftrefs of my Heart! 
 The Merit of true Pafiion, 
 With thinking that he feels no Smart, 
 Who fues for no tompan*ion ! 
 
 Since, if my Plaints, were riot ^approve 
 The Conqueft of thy Beauty, 
 It comes not from t)efect of Love, 
 But Fear t' exceed my Duty.
 
 274 ^he Mufes Library. 
 
 For, knowing that I fue to ferve 
 A Saint of fuch Perfection 
 As all defire, but none deferve 
 A Place in her Affection, 
 
 I rather chufe to want Relief 
 Than venture the Revealing : 
 Where Glory recommends the Grief 
 Defpair difdains the healing ! 
 
 Thus thofe Defires that boyl fo high 
 In any mortal Lover^ 
 When Reafon cannot make them die, 
 Difcretion them muft cover. 
 
 Yet when Difcretion doth bereave 
 The Plaints that I mou'd utter, 
 Then your Difcretion may perceive 
 That Silence is a Suitor. 
 
 Silence in Love bewrays more Woe 
 Then Words, tho' ne'er fo witty ; 
 A Beggar that is dumb you know, 
 challenge double Pity. 
 
 Then
 
 The Mufes Library. 275 
 
 Then wrong not, deareft to my Heart ! 
 My Love for fecret Paffion i 
 He fmarteth moft that hides his Smart, 
 And fues for no Compaflion. 
 
 The following Poems were extracted out of an old 
 Volume, call'd England's Helicon ; and appear to me 
 too excellent to be omitted. 
 
 The Shepherd** Conceit of Prometheus. 
 
 when, firft, from Heaven hie, 
 He brought down Fire, ere then on Earth unfeene: 
 Fond of Delight, a Satyr ftanding by, 
 Gave it a Kifle, as it like fweet had been. 
 
 Feeling, forthwith, the other burning Power, 
 Wood with theSmart,with Shoutes andShrikingsmrillj 
 He fought his Eafe in River, Field, and Bower; 
 But for the Time hisGriefe went with him ftill. 
 
 So, filly I, with that unwonted Sight. 
 In humane Shape, an Angell from aboue ! 
 Feeding mine Eyes, th' Impreflion there did light, 
 That fmce I run, and reft as pleafeth Love, 
 
 T 2 The
 
 276 The Mufes Library. 
 
 The Difference is, the Satyr's Lips, my Heart, 
 He for a while, I evermore have Smart. 
 
 Sir Ed. Dyer. 
 
 The Wood-Marts Walks. 
 
 npHrough a faire Forreft as I went 
 -*- Upon a Summer's Day, 
 I met a Wood-man, quaiitf and gent 
 Yet in a ftrange Array. 
 
 I marvell'd much at his Difguife, 
 
 Whom I did know fo well : 
 But thus, in Tearms, both grave and wife, 
 
 His Mind he gan to tell. 
 
 Friend! mufe not at this fond Array, 
 
 But lift a while to Me: 
 For it hath holpe me to furvay 
 
 What I mall mew to thec. 
 
 Long liv'd I in this Forreft faire, 
 
 Till, wearie of my Weale, 
 Abroad in Walkes I would repaire* 
 
 As now I will reveale. 
 
 My
 
 The Mufes Library; 277 
 
 My firft Daye's Walk was to the Court > 
 
 Where Beautie fed mine Eyes : 
 Yet found I that the courtly Sport, 
 
 Did mafke in flie Difguife: 
 
 For Falfehood fate in faireft Lookes, 
 
 And Friend to Friend was Coy : 
 
 Court-favour fill'd but emptie Rookes, 
 And there I found no Joy. 
 
 Defert went naked in the Colde, 
 
 When crouching Craft was fed : 
 
 Sweet Words were cheeply bought and folde, 
 But none that flood in fted. 
 
 Wit was imployed for each Man's owne, 
 Plaine-meaning came too mort: 
 
 All thefe Devices, feenc and knowne, 
 Made me forfake the Court. 
 
 Unto the City next I went, 
 
 In hope of better hap : 
 Where liberally I lanch'd and fpent, 
 
 As fet on Fortune's Lap, 
 
 T 3 Thp
 
 278 The Mufes Library* 
 
 The little Stock I had in Store, 
 
 Methought would nere be done : 
 
 Friends flockt about me more, and more 5 
 As quickly loft as Wone. 
 
 For, when I fpent, then they were kinde j 
 
 But, when my Purfe did faile, 
 The foremoft Man came laft behinde: 
 
 Thus Love with Wealth doth quaile, 
 
 Once more, for footing, yet I ftrove, 
 
 Although the World did frowne : 
 
 But they, before that held me up, 
 Together trod me downe. 
 
 And, left once more I mould arife, 
 
 They fought my quite Decay ; 
 
 Then got I into this Difguife, 
 And thence I ftole away. 
 
 And in my Mind (me thought) I faid, 
 
 Lord blefs me from the Cky : 
 Where Simpknes is thus betraide, 
 
 Without Remorfe or Pity. 
 
 Yet
 
 'The Mufes Library 279 
 
 Yet would I not give over fo, 
 
 But once more trie my Fate : 
 And to the Country then I go, 
 
 To live in quiet State. 
 
 There did appeare no fubtile Showes, 
 
 But yea, and nay went fmoothly : 
 
 But, Lord ! how Country-folkes can glofe, 
 When they fpeak moft untruly ? 
 
 More Craft was in a button'd Cap, 
 
 And in an old Wive's Raile, 
 
 Then in my Life it was my hap, 
 
 To fee on Downe or Dale. 
 
 v 
 
 There was no open Forgerie, 
 
 But under- handed Gleaning: 
 Which they call Countrie Pollicie, 
 
 But hath a worfer Meaning. 
 
 Some good, bold-Face beares out the Wrong, 
 
 Becaufe he gaines thereby : 
 The poore Man's Backe is crackt ere long, 
 
 Yet there he lets him lie. 
 
 T4 And
 
 380 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And no Degree, among them all, 
 
 But had fuch clofe Intending, 
 That I upon my Knees did fall, 
 
 And prayed for their Amending. 
 
 Back to the Woods I got againe, 
 
 In Minde perplexed fore : 
 Where I found Eafe of all my Paine, 
 
 And meane to ftray no more. 
 
 There, City, Court, nor Country too 
 
 Can any Way annoy me. 
 But, as a Wood-Man ought to doe, 
 
 I freely may imploy me. 
 
 There live I quietly alone, 
 
 And none to trip my Talke: 
 
 Wherefore when I am dead and gone,, 
 
 Think on the Wood-Man's Walke > 
 
 $bep. Vonit.
 
 Mufes Library, 281 
 
 fbe Shepherd's Slum&er, 
 
 IN Pefcod-Time, when Hound to Home 
 Gives Eare, till Buck be kil'd : 
 And little Lads with Pipes of Come, 
 Sate keeping Beafts a-Field. 
 
 I went to gather Strawberries tho* 
 
 By Woods and Groves, full faire ; 
 
 And parch't my Face with Phcebus fo, 
 In walking in the Ayre 
 
 That downe I layde me by a Streame, 
 
 With Boughs all over-clad : 
 And there I met the ftrangeft Dreame, 
 
 That ever Shepherd had. 
 
 Methought I faw each Ckriftmas-Gzms, 
 
 EachRevell, allandfome; 
 And every Thing that I can name, 
 
 Or may in Fancie come. 
 
 The
 
 .282 The Mufes Library. 
 
 The Subftance of the Sights I faw, 
 
 In filence pafle they {hall : 
 Becaufe I lacke the Skill to draw, 
 
 The Order of them all. 
 
 But Venus mall not pafle my Pen, 
 
 Whofe Maydens, in Difdaine, 
 Pid feed upon the Hearts of Men, 
 
 That Cupid's Bowe had flaine. 
 
 And that blinde Boy was all in Blood 
 
 Be-bath'd up to the Eares; 
 And, like a Conquerour he flood, 
 
 And fcorned Lovers Teares. 
 
 I have (quoth he) more Hearts at call, 
 
 Than Ctefar could cofhmand : 
 And, like the Deere, I make them fall, 
 
 That runneth o're the Lawnd. 
 . J^L ..: 'no. .JAyK, : . 
 
 One drops dowrie here, another there, 
 
 In Bulhes as they groane ; 
 I bend a fcornfull, carelefs Eare, 
 
 To heare them make their moane. 
 
 Ah,
 
 The Mufes Library. 283 
 
 Ah, Sir, (quoth Honeft-Meaning) then, 
 
 Thy Boy -like Brags I heare, 
 When thou has wounded many a Man, 
 
 As Hunts-man doth the Deere. 
 
 Becomes it thee to triumph fo ? 
 
 Thy Mother wills it not : 
 For me had rather breake thy Bowe, 
 
 Then thou fhould'ft play the Sot. 
 
 What faucie Merchant fpeaketh now, 
 
 Said Venus in her Hage, 
 Art thou fo blinde thou knoweft not how 
 
 I governe every Age ? 
 
 My Sorme doth ftioote no Shaft in waft, 
 
 To me the Boy is bound : 
 He never found a Heart fo chaft, 
 
 But he had Power to wound. 
 
 Not fo faire Goddefle (quoth Free-will,'} 
 
 In me there is a Choice; 
 And caufe I am of mine owne 111, 
 
 If I in thee rejoyce : 
 
 And
 
 284 *fle Mufes Library. 
 
 And, when I yeild my felfe a Slave, 
 
 To thee, or to thy Son, 
 Such Recompence I ought not have, 
 
 If Things be rightly done. 
 
 Why Foole, ftept forth Delight^ and faid, 
 When thou art conquer'd thus, 
 
 Then loe Dame Luft> that wanton Maid, 
 Thy Miftrefle js I wus ; 
 
 And Lufl is Cupid** Darling deare ; 
 
 Behold her where me goes! 
 She creepes the Milkrwarme Flem fo neere. 
 
 She hides her under, clofb. 
 
 Where many privie Thoughts doe dwell $ 
 A Heaven here on Earth ! 
 
 For they have never Mind of Hell, 
 They think fo much on Mirth. 
 
 Be ftill Good-Meaning, quoth Good-Shorty 
 Let Cupid Triumph make : 
 
 For fure his Kingdome mall be fliortj 
 If we no Pleafure take.
 
 The Mufes Library. 285 
 
 Falre Beaut ie, and her Play-Feares gay, 
 
 The Virgins- Veftall too, 
 Shall fit, and with their Fingers play,' 
 
 As Idle People doe. 
 
 If Honeft-Meaning fall to frowne, 
 
 And I good-Sport decay, 
 Then Venus' Glory will come downe, 
 
 And they will pine away. 
 
 Indeede (quoth Wit} this your Device, 
 
 With StrangenefTe muft be wrought, 
 
 And, where you fee thefe Women nice, 
 And looking to be fought, 
 
 With fcowling Browes their Follies check, 
 
 And fo give them the Trig : 
 Let Fancy be no more at beck, 
 
 When Beaufie lookes fo big. 
 
 When Venus heard how they confpir'd, 
 
 To murther Women fo : 
 Methought indeede the Houfe was fir'd, 
 
 With Stormes and Lightning, tho* : 
 
 * The
 
 2 86 The Mufes Library. 
 
 The Thunder-Bolt through Windowes burftj 
 
 And in there fteps a Wight, 
 Which feem'd fome foule, or Sprite accurftc 
 
 So ugly was the Sight ! 
 
 I charge you Ladies all (quoth he) 
 
 Looke to ypur felves, in Haft i 
 
 For if that Men fo wilfull be, 
 
 And have their Thoughts fo chaft, 
 
 That they can tread on CupitPs Breft, 
 
 And march on Venus* Face, 
 Then they mall fleepe in quiet Reft, 
 
 When you {hall waile your Cafe. 
 
 Wkh that had Venus, all in Spight, 
 
 Stir'd up the Dames to Ire : 
 And Lujt fell cold, and Beautie, white, 
 
 Sate babbling with Defire. 
 
 Whofe muttering Words I might not marke ; 
 
 Much Whifpering there arofe ; 
 The Day did lower, the Sunne waxt darke, 
 
 Away each Ladie goes. 
 
 But
 
 The Mufes Library. 287 
 
 But whether went this angry Flock, 
 Our Lord himfelf doth know 5 
 
 For they full lowdly crew the Cock, 
 And I awaked fo. 
 
 A Dream (quoth I ?) a Dogge it Is, 
 I take thereon no keepe : 
 
 I gage my Head, fuch Toyes as this, 
 Do fpring from Lacke of Jleepe. 
 
 In Imitation of C. Marlow. 
 /~lOme live with me, and be my Dear, 
 ^ ta-4 And we will revell all the Year, 
 In Plains and Groves, on Hills and Dales : 
 Where fragrant Ayr breeds fweeteft Gales. 
 
 There mail you have the beauteous Pine, 
 The Cedar and the fpreading Vine, 
 And all the Woods to be a Skreen ; 
 Leaft Pbcebus* Kifle my Summer's Green. 
 
 The Seat of your Difport mail be 
 Over fome River in a Tree, 
 Where filver Sands, and Pebbles fmg, 
 Eternall Ditties with the Spring. 
 
 There
 
 288 The Mufes Library* 
 
 There mall you lee the Nimpbs at Play, 
 And how the Satyrs fpend the Day ; 
 The Fifties gliding on the Sands, 
 Offering their Bellies to your Hands. 
 
 The Birds, with Heavenly-tuned Throtes, 
 PofTefTe Wood's Ecchoe with fweet Notes, 
 Which to your Senfes will impart 
 A Mufick to enflame the Heart. 
 
 Upon the bare, and leafe-lefle Oake, 
 The Ring-Doves Woings will provoke 
 A colder Blood, then you pofTefle, 
 To play with me, and doe no lefle, 
 
 In Bowers of Laurell, trimly dight, 
 We will out-weare the filent Night, 
 While Flora bufie is to fpread : 
 Her richeft Treafure on our Bed. 
 
 Ten Thoufand Glow- Worms mall attend, 
 And all their fparkling Lights fhall fpend, 
 All to adorne and beautifie : 
 Your Lodging with more Majeftie. 
 
 Then
 
 The Mufes Library. 289 
 
 to mine Armes will I enclofe, 
 Lillies fair Mixture with the Rofe ; 
 Whofe nice Perfections in Love's Play* 
 Shall tune me to the higheft Key. 
 
 Thus, as we pafle the welcome Night, 
 In fportfull Pleafure and Delight, 
 The nimble Fames on the Grounds, 
 Shall Dance and Sing mellodious Sounds. 
 
 If thefe may ferve for to entice 
 Your Prefence to Love's Paradife, 
 Then come with me, and be my Deare, 
 And we will ftrait begin the Year ! 
 
 Ignoto. 
 
 The Shepherd's Solace. 
 
 delights to view his Larell-Tree, 
 The Poplar pleafeth Hercules alone : 
 Meliffa Mother is, and Fautrixe to the Bee, 
 Pallas will weare the Olive-Branch alone ; 
 Of Shepherd and their Flocks Pales is Queen, 
 And Ceres ripes the Corne was lately greene. 
 
 U . To
 
 290 The Mufes Library. 
 
 To Chloris every Flower belongs of Right, 
 The jDry^-Nimphs of Woods make chief accounts 
 The Or cades in Hills have their Delight, 
 Diana doth protect each bubling Fount j 
 To Hebe lovely Rifling is aflign'd, 
 To Zephire every gentle-breathing Wind. 
 
 But what is Love's Delight ? to hurt each where 
 He cares not whom, with Darts of deepe Defire : 
 With watchfull Jealoufie, with Hope with Fear, 
 With nipping Cold, and fecreet Flames of Fire. 
 Oh happy Houre, wherein I did forgoe : 
 This little God, fo great a Caufe of Woe ! 
 
 ^0. Watfon. 
 
 A Paftoratt. 
 
 \ Carefull Nimph, with carelefTe Griefe oppres't, 
 -** Under the Shaddow of an Aflien-Tree: 
 With Lute in Hand, did paint out her Unreft, 
 Unto a Nimph, that bare her Company. 
 No fooner had me tuned every String : 
 But fob'd and figh'd, and thus began to fing. 
 
 a Ladies
 
 Mufes Library. 291 
 
 Ladies and Nimphs, come liften to my Plaint, 
 
 On whom the cheereful Sun did never rife : 
 If Pity's Stroakes your tender Breafts may taint, 
 Come learne of me to wet your wanton Eyes. 
 For Love in vaine, the Name of Pkafure beares : 
 His fweet Delights are turned into Feares. 
 
 The truftlefle Shewes, the Frights, the feeble Joyes, 
 
 The freezing Doubts, the guilerull Promifes ; 
 The feigned Looks, the Shifts, the fubtill Toyes, 
 The brittle Hope, the ftedfaft Heavinefs ; 
 The wifhed War in fuch uncertaine Peace : 
 Thefe with my Woe, my Woes with thefe increafe. 
 
 Shep. Tonie. 
 
 The "Barglnet of Antimachus. 
 
 IN Pride of Youth, in midfts of May, 
 When Birds with many a merry Lay, 
 
 Salute the Sunne's Up-rifmg: 
 I fat me down faft by a Spring, 
 And, while thefe merry Chaunters fing 
 I fell upon furmizing. 
 
 U 2 Amidft
 
 292 The Mufes Library: 
 
 Amidft my Doubt, and Mind's Debate, 
 Of Change of Time, of World's Eftate, 
 
 I fpyed a Boy attired 
 In filver Plumes, yet naked quite, 
 Save pretty Feathers fit for Flight, 
 
 Wherewith he ftill afpired. 
 
 A Bowe he bare to worke Men's Wrack, 
 A little Quiver at his Back, 
 
 With many Arrowes filled : 
 And, in his foft, and pretty Hand, 
 He held a lively, burning Brand, 
 
 Wherewith he Lovers killed. 
 
 Faft by his Side in rich Array, 
 There fate a lovely Lady gay, 
 
 His Mother as I guefled ? 
 That fet the Lad upon her Knee, 
 And trim'd his Bow and taught him flee, 
 
 And mickle Love profefTed. 
 
 Oft from her Lap, at fundry Stowres 
 He leapt, aud gathered Summer's Flowers, 
 Both Violets and Rofes ; 
 
 But,
 
 The Mufes Library. 293 
 
 But, fee the Chance that follow'd faft ! 
 As he the Pompe of Prime doth waft, 
 
 Before that he fuppofes, 
 
 i 
 
 A Bee, that harbour'd hard thereby, 
 Did fting his Hand, and made him cry, 
 
 Oh Mother, I am wounded ! 
 Fair Venus, that beheld her Son, 
 Cryed out alas, I am undone ! 
 
 And there-upon fhe fwounded! 
 
 My little Lad ! the Goddefle fay'd, 
 Who hath my Cupid fo difmay'd ? 
 
 He anfwer'd : Gentle Mother! 
 The Honey-worker in the Hive, 
 My Griefe and Mifchiefe doth contrive ; 
 
 Alas it is none other ! 
 
 Shee kift the Lad : Now mark the Chance! 
 And ftrait me fell into a Trance, 
 
 And, crying, thus concluded : 
 Ah wanton Body ! like to the Bee, 
 Thou with a Kifle haft wounded me, 
 
 And- haplefs Love included. 
 
 U 3 A
 
 294 The Mufes Library, 
 
 A little Bee doth thee affright, 
 
 But ah my Wounds are full of Spight, 
 
 And cannot be recured : 
 The Boy, that guefs'd his Mother's Paine, 
 Gan fmile, and kift her whole againe, 
 
 And made her Hope affured. 
 
 She fuck'd the Wound, and fwag'd the Sting, 
 And little Love y-cur'd did iing. 
 
 Then let no Lovers forrow ! 
 To Day tho' Griefe attaint his Heart, ' 
 
 Let him with Courage bide the Smart ! 
 
 Amends will come to morrow. 
 
 no. Lodge, 
 
 Phillida and Coridon. 
 
 T N the merry Month of May, 
 * In a Morn by break of Day, 
 Forth I walk'd by the Wood-fide, 
 W 7 hen as May was in her Pride ; 
 There I fpied, all alone, 
 and Condon 
 
 Mucfc
 
 1*le Mufes Library 295 
 
 Much a-do there was, God wot ! 
 He would love, and fhe would not. 
 She faid never Man was true. 
 He faid, none was falfe to you. 
 He faid, he had loved her long. 
 She faid, Love fhould have no Wrong. 
 Condon would kifle her then, 
 She faid, Maides muft kifs no Men, 
 Till they did, for good aad all. 
 Then fhe made the Shepherd call 
 All the Heavens to witnefs 'Truth : 
 Never lov'd a truer Youth. 
 Thus, with many a pretty Oath, 
 Yea and nay, and faith and troth ! 
 Such as filly Shepherds ufe, 
 When they will not Love abufe : 
 Love, which had been long deluded, 
 Was with Kifles fweet concluded. 
 And Phillida, with Garlands gay, 
 Was made the Lady of the May. 
 
 N. Breton. 
 U 4 Sir
 
 296 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Sir John Harington, 
 
 Born at Kelfton, near the City of Bath, was the 
 Son of John Harington, Efq; who, having been im- 
 prifon'd in the Tower, in the Reign of Queen 
 Mary, for holding a Correfpondence with the Lady 
 Elizabeth, was much in her Favour after (he was 
 advanc'd to the Throne, and received many Tefti- 
 monies of her Bounty, and Gratitude. 
 
 Sir John had the Honour to be her God-Son, and, 
 both in Refpect to his Father's Merit and his own, 
 continued in her Efteem to the Laft. He was firft 
 educated at Eaton, then remov'd to Cambridge where 
 He commenc'd Matter of Arts, and, before He was 
 Thirty, gave the World a Tranflation of the Or- 
 lando Furiofo of Ariofto ; by which He gain'd confider- 
 able Reputation. After this He compos'd Four Books 
 of Epigrams, which, in thofe Times, were received 
 with great Applaufe ; feveral of Thefe mention ano- 
 ther humorous Piece of his, call'd Mifacmos Meta- 
 worphojis, which, for a while, gave Offence to her 
 Majefty , yet was, afterwards, both abfolv'd, and 
 
 acknowledg'd. This is not added to the Reft 
 
 of his Works, and, therefore, I fuppofe, was only 
 meant for a Court- Amufement, not the Entertain- 
 ment of the Publick, or the Increafe of his Fame.--- 
 In the Reign of James the Firft, He was created a. 
 Knight of the Bath, and prefented a Manufcript to 
 Prince Henry, call'd A Brief View of the State of 
 the Church of England, as it flood in Queen Eliza- 
 bethV and King JamesV Reign, to the Tear 1608. 
 This Piece was fevere on the marry'd Bifhops, and was 
 intended only for the private Ufe of His Highnefs $ 
 But was, fome Years after, publifh'd by one of Sir 
 John's Grandfons, and occafion'd muci> Diipleafure 
 
 from
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 297 
 
 from the Clergy, who did not fail to recoiled that his 
 Conduct was of a Piece with his Doctrines. He, 
 together with Robert Earl of Leicefter having fup- 
 ported Sir Walter Raleigh in his Suit to Queen Eli* 
 zabeth, for the Manor of Ban-well, belonging to the 
 Pimoprick of Bath, and Wells ; on the Prefumption 
 that the then Right Reverend Incumbent, had in- 
 curr'd a Premunire, by marrying a fecond Wife. 
 
 Sir John appears to be a Gentleman of great Plea-^ 
 fantry, and Humour; his Fortune was eafy, the Court 
 his Element, and Wit not his Bufinefs, but Diver- 
 fion. r 'Tis not to be doubted, but his Tranflation 
 of Arioflo, was publifh'd after Spencer's Fairy Queen\ 
 and yet, both in Language, and Numbers, is greatly 
 Inferior. Indeed, if I may be forgiven, for daring 
 to meddle with Studies fo much beyond me, the 
 whole Poem of Orlando is a tedious Medley of un- 
 natural Characters, and improbable Events ; and the 
 Author's Patron, Cardinal Hippolito De Efte, had 
 fome Reafon for that fevere Queftion, Where the 
 Devil, Signor Ludoyico, did you pick upallthefe damtfd 
 Lies ? In my humble Opinion his Genius was in- 
 finitely more fit for Satire, than Heroick Poetry, as, 
 I think, will be manifeft, even from the Two fol- 
 lowing Paflages, which appear to me the mod emi- 
 nent in the whole Poem : And, if his Tranjlatcr 
 had followed the fame Track, He had not been more 
 out of his right Way. - But 'tis Time to ftop, or 
 I mail be thought more aftray than either. 
 
 Ariofto*s Qrlando Furiofo, Bool?: 15. 
 
 Paris, befieged by the Saracen?, and in Danger of 
 being taken , God difpatches Michael to comrmflion 
 Silence to guide the Englijh Hoft in Secrefy, to raife 
 the Siege , and D.ifcord, in the mean while, to fow 
 Diflention among the Infidels. 
 
 WHEN
 
 298 The Mufes Library. 
 
 T XJHEN, lo ! the Goodnefs, and the Power divine, 
 * That never mall, nor never vain was fought, 
 His gracious Eare doth to their Prayer incline, 
 Thole whom he made, and whom he dear had bought ! 
 Then to the Angel Michael ftraight he beckned, 
 Who not a little of his Calling reckned ! 
 
 And thus he faid ; Go thither ftraight in Poft, 
 Where now in Picardie the Cbriftians knd, 
 And fo to Paris guide that Englijb Hoft ! 
 Let not their Foes their Coming underftand ! 
 In this Attempt mall Silence help you moft ; 
 Will him this Enterprife to take in Hand ! 
 This done, then fee you find Dame Difcord out, 
 And will her haft unto the Pagan-Rout. 
 
 And charge her there, according to her Skill, 
 Among the Beft tofow fuch foule Diflention, 
 That they may One the Other wound, and kill, 
 And fill their Camp with Brauls and with Contention : 
 Let fome Men like their Entertainment ill, 
 And grudge becaufe they have no bigger Penfion ; 
 And let them all fo vary out of Meafure, 
 That they may do their Prince but little Pleafure ! 
 
 The
 
 The Mufes Library. 299 
 
 The Blefied Angel not a Word replies, 
 But doth his Maker's holy Will obay. 
 Forthwith ev'n in a Moment down he flies, 
 And where he goes the Clouds do fleet away : 
 But by the Way he thinks and doth devife, 
 Of every Place where Silence find he may : 
 Though he an Angel were, he could not tell 
 Where this fame Enemy of Speech doth dwell. 
 
 At laft, he fully doth himfelfe perfwade, 
 To find him in fome Houfes of Devotion ; 
 The Firft for Life- Monafticall was made, 
 Where godly Men, Pefpifers of promotion ! 
 Dwell farre from all this worldly, wicked Trade ; 
 With Minds abhorring Flefh, and flefhly Motion, 
 Where idle Words mould counted be a Shame, 
 And where on every Wall they write his Name. 
 
 Wherefore into an Abbey he doth go, 
 
 And makes no queftion Silence there to find, 
 And Peace and Cbarifte, and Love alfo, 
 And lowly Thoughts, and well-contented Mind: 
 But foon he was aware it was not fo ; 
 J1 contrary their Humors were inclin'd ; 
 
 For
 
 300 The Mufes Library. 
 
 For Silence in that Abbey doth not hoft ; 
 His Name was only writ upon a Poft. 
 
 Nor>uiet"!effe, nor Humblenefle, nor Peace, 
 Nor Charity, nor godly Love was here; 
 They were fometimes, but now thofe Times do ceafe : 
 Now Covet ife, zndEafe, and Belly- Cheare, 
 Pride, Enuie, Sloth, and Anger fo increafe, 
 That Silence banifht is and comes not neare, 
 With Wonder great the Angel them doth view, 
 And findeth Difcord in this curfed Crew. 
 
 Her whom the Heav'nly King did will him find 
 Next after Silence, her he findeth firft : 
 To feek her out in Hell he had afiign'd, 
 Among the Spirits damned and accurft : 
 It fore did grieve his pure, unfpotted Mind, 
 Where he expected beft to find them worft $ 
 It feem'd to him a Thing uncouth and ftrange, 
 In facred Place to find fo great a Change ! 
 
 He knew her by her Weed of fundry Hew, 
 All patcht with infinite, unequal Lifts ; 
 Her {kin, in fundry Places naked, vew, 
 At divers Rents and Cuts, he may that lifts : 
 
 2 Her
 
 The Mufes Library. 301 
 
 Her Hair was grey, and red, and blacke and blew, 
 And hard, and foft ; In Laces fome me twifts ; 
 Somehangeth downe; upright fomeftandeth flaring, 
 As if each Haire with other had been fquaring. 
 
 Her Lap was full of Writs, and of Citations, 
 Of Procefles, of Actions and Arrefts, 
 Of Bills, of Anfwers, and of Replications, 
 In Courts of Delegates and of Requefts, 
 To grieve the fimple Sort with great Vexations : 
 She had reforting to her as her Guefts, 
 Attending on her Circuits and her Journeys, 
 Scriv'ners and Clerks, and Lawyers and Atturneys. 
 
 The Angel calleth her, and bids her go, 
 Unto the Turks as fafl as fhe can hie, 
 Among their Kings fuch Seeds of Strife to fow, 
 As One of them may caufe the Other die. 
 Then he demandeth her if fhe do know, 
 Within what place Silence doth ufe to lie: 
 He thought that fhe that travel'd much about, 
 In flirring Strife might hap to find her out.
 
 302 The Mufes Library. 
 
 I cannot call to Mind (quoth (he) as yet, 
 That I have talkt with Silence any Time ; 
 I hear them talke of him, and praife his Wit, 
 And Secretnefle to cover any Crime ; 
 But my Companion Fraud can ferve you fit, 
 For (he hath kept him Company fometime. 
 And which was Fraud (he pointed with her Finger, 
 Then hence me hies, and doth no longer linger. 
 
 Fraud fhew'd in comely Cloathes a lovely Looke, 
 An humble Caft of Eye, a fober Pace, 
 And fo fweete Speech, a Man might her have tooke, 
 For him that faid, Haile Marie full of Grace! 
 But all the Reft deformedly did looke, 
 Full of all Filthinefle, and foule Difgrace, 
 Hid under thofe large Garments that me wear ; 
 Clofe under which a poifon'd Knife me bare. 
 
 The Angel afketh her if me do know 
 
 The place where Silence makes his Habitation. 
 Forfooth (quoth Fraud) he dwelled long ago 
 With the wife Sages of the Greekijb- Nation, 
 Archytas and Pythagoras' (I trow) 
 That chiefe to Virtue had their Inclination : 
 
 And,
 
 The Mufes Library. 303 
 
 And, afterward, he fpent thefe latter Yeers 
 With Carmelit and with Ssant-Bennet-Friers. 
 
 But fince thefe old Philofophers did faile 
 
 And thefe new Saints their Saint-like Life did change, 
 He fought new Places for his moft availe, 
 And fecret and uncertain he doth range : 
 Sometime with Theives that true Men do aflaile, 
 Sometime with Lovers that delight in Change, 
 Sometime with Traitors he doth bide, and furder; 
 I faw him late with One that did a Murder. 
 
 With Clippers and with Coyners he doth ftay, 
 Sometime in fecret Dens and Caves obfcure j 
 And oft he changeth Places Day by Day ; 
 For long he cannot in a Place indure. 
 But I can tell you One moft ready Way, 
 Where you to find him out mail be moft fure : 
 Go where as Sleepe doth dwell, and, out of Doubt, 
 At Midnight you mall find him there about. 
 
 Though Fraud? by Cuftome, ufe to lie and faine, 
 Yet was this Tale fo evidently trew, 
 The Angel now no longer doth remaine, 
 
 But
 
 304 72* Mufes Library* 
 
 But with his Golden Wings away he flew 
 
 To Arable, where* in a Country-Plaine, 
 
 Far from all Villages and Cities- View, 
 
 There lieth a Vale with Woods fo over growhe* 
 
 As fcarce at Noone the Day Light there is mowne< 
 
 Amid this dark, thicke Wood, there is a Gave, 
 Whofe Entrance is with Ivie over-fpread, 
 They have no Light within, nor none they crave , 
 Here Sleepe doth couch his ever-drowiie Head : 
 And Slotb lies by, that feems the Gout to have, 
 And MeneJJe, not fo well taught as fed : 
 They, point Forgetfulneffe the Gate to keepe, 
 That none come in nor out to hinder Sleepe. 
 
 She knowes no Names of Men, nor none will learne ; 
 There MefTages me lift not underftand, 
 She knowes no Bufinene doth her concerne ; , 
 Silence is fentinell unto this Band, 
 And, unto thofe he comming doth diferne, 
 To come neare ; s'oft he beckens with his Hand, 
 He treadeth light, his Shoes are made of Felt, 
 His Garment mort, and girded with a Belt. 
 
 To
 
 The Mufes Library. 305 
 
 To him the Angel 
 
 No Anfwer Silence made, but with his Head 
 
 He made a Sign, as who mould fay he would, - - 
 
 From the fame, Book 34. 
 
 Aftolfo the Englijh Duke's Voyage to the Store- 
 Houfe of Vanities, in the Moon, for Orlando's Wit. 
 
 ----- A T k^ ^ s Guide mm brings 
 
 **- Unto a goodly Valley, where he fees 
 A mighty Mafs of Things, ftrangely confus'd ; 
 Things that on Earth were loft, or were abus'd ! 
 
 A Store- Houfe ft range, that what on Earth is loft, 
 By Fault, by Time, by Fortune, there is found, 
 And, like a Merchandize, is there ingroft, 
 In Stranger-Sort then I can well expound 5 
 Nor fpeak I fole of Wealth, or things of Coft, 
 In which blind Fortune's Power doth moft abound, 
 But even of Things quite out of Fortune's Power, 
 Which wilfully we waft each Day and Houre. 
 
 X The
 
 306 Tie Mufes Library. 
 
 The precious Time that Fooles mis-fpend in Play, 
 The vaine Attempts that never take Effect, 
 The Vows that Sinners make, and never pay, 
 
 The Counfels wife that carelefle Men neglecl, 
 The fond Defires that lead us oft aftray, 
 The Praifes that with Pride the Heart infect ; 
 And all we lofe with Folly and Mif-fpending, 
 May there be found unto this Place afcending. 
 
 Now as Aftolfo by thofe Regions paft, 
 He afked many Queftions of his Guide, 
 And, as he to one Side his Eye did caft, 
 A wondrous Hill of Bladders he efpi'd ; 
 And he was told they had been, in time paft, 
 The Pompous Crowns and Sceptres full of Pride, 
 Of Monarchs of AJjyria and of Greece, 
 Of which now fcantly there is left a Piece. 
 
 He faw great Store of baited Hooks with Gold, 
 And thofe were Gifts that foolim Men prefer'd 
 To give to Princes Covetous, and old, 
 With fondeft Hope of future, vain Reward ; 
 Then were there Ropes ali in fweet Garlands roll'd, 
 2 And
 
 The Mufes Library. 307 
 
 And thofe were all falfe Flatteries he heard: 
 Then heard he Cricket's-Songs, like to the Verfes 
 The Servant in his Matter's Praife reherfes. 
 
 There did he fee fond Loves, that Men perfue, 
 To look like golden Gieves, with Stones all fet ; 
 Then Things like Eagles Talons he did view, 
 Thofe Offices that Favourites do get! 
 Then faw he Bellowes large that much Wind blew; 
 Large Promifes that Lords make, and forget, 
 Unto their Ganimeds in Flowre of Youth, 
 But after nought but Beggery enfu'th. 
 
 He faw great Cities feated in faire Places, 
 
 That, overthrowne, quite topfie-turvie flood ; 
 He aflt'd and learn'd the Caufe of their Defaces 
 Was Treafon, that doth never turn to good : 
 He faw foule Serpents with fair Women's Faces, 
 Of Coyners and of Thieves the curfed Brood i 
 He faw fine Glafles all in Pieces broken, 
 Of Service loft at Court a wofull Token ! 
 
 X 2 Of
 
 308 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Of mingled Broth he faw a mighty Mafic, 
 That, to no Ufe, all fpilt on Ground did lie ; 
 He afk'd his Teacher, and he heard it was 
 The fruitlefie Almes that Men give when they die: 
 Then, by a feire, green Mountaine he did pafle, 
 That once fmelt fweet, but now it (links perdye : 
 This was that Gift (be't faid without Offence)- 
 That Conftantine gave Sihefter long fince* 
 
 Of Birdlime Rods he faw no little Store,. 
 And thefe (O Ladies faire !) your Beauties be: 
 I do omit ten Thoufand Things and more 
 Like unto thefe, that there the Duke did fee ; 
 For all that here is loft, there evermore 
 Is kept, and thither in a Trice doth flee : 
 Howbeit, more, nor lefle, there was no Folly, 
 For ftill that here with us remaineth wholly. 
 
 He faw fome of his own loft Time, and Deeds, 
 But yet he knew them not to be his own ! 
 They feem'd to him difguis'd in fo ftrange Weeds^ 
 Till his Intruder made them better known : 
 But laft the Thing, which no Man thinks he needs, 
 
 Yet
 
 Mufes Library 309 
 
 Yet each Man needeth moft, to him was fhown, 
 "By Name Man's Wit^ which here we leefe fo faft, 
 As that one Subftance all the other paft. 
 
 It feem'd to be a Body moift and faft, 
 And apt to mount by every Exhalation -, 
 And, whea it hither mounted was aloft, 
 It there was kept in Pots of fuch a Fafhion, 
 As we call Jarrs, where Oyle is kept in oft : 
 "The Duke beheld (with no fmall Admiration) 
 The Jarrs of Wit among which one had writ, 
 Upon the fide thereof, Orlando's Wit. 
 
 This Veflell bigger was then all the Reft, 
 And ev'ry Veflell had ingrav'n with Art 
 His Name, that erft the Wit therein pofTeft : 
 There of his own the Duke did find a part, 
 And much he mus'd, and much himfelf he blefs'd, 
 To fee fome Names of Men of great Defert, 
 That think they have great Store of Wit, and boaftit, 
 When here it plaine appeared they quite had loft it. 
 
 .' . ~-j/-,M i f ' fi-v ->'*- r c y "i . * ~-"i 
 
 t , *..'.- 1 * 3iXcn * - > j*j * * -* ' . : - * - i 
 
 Some lofe their Wit with Love, fome with Ambition, 
 Some running to the Sea, great Wealth to get, 
 .Some following Lords, and Men of high Condition, 
 X 3 Soma
 
 3io The Mufes Library. 
 
 And fome in faire Jewels rich and coftly fet : 
 One has Defire to prove a rare Magician, 
 And fome with Poetry their Wit forget, 
 Another thinks to be an Alchymift, 
 Till all be fpent, and he his Number mift. 
 
 A Specimen of Sir John Harington's Epigrams. 
 
 Againft Sextus, a Scorner of Writers. 
 
 OF Writers, Sextus's known a true Defpifer, 
 Affirmes, than on our Writings oft he looks, 
 And confefleth that he growes ne'er the wifer. 
 But Sextu^ where's the Fault ? not in our Books, 
 No fure, 'tis in your felfe (Pie tell wherefore) 
 Books give not Wifdome where was none before, 
 But where fome is, there reading makes it more. 
 
 Againft Writers that carp at other Mens Books. 
 
 ryHE Readers and the Hearers like my Books, 
 -*- But yet fome Writers cannot them digeft. 
 But what care I ? For when I make a Feaft, 
 I would my Guefts mould praife it, not the Cooks. 
 
 Of
 
 The Mufes Library. 311 
 
 Of one Paulus, a great Man,, that cxpefted to 
 be followed. 
 
 TTJRoud Paulus , late aduanc't to high Degree, 
 * Expects that I mould now his Follower be. 
 Glad I would be to follow ones Direction, 
 By whom my honeft Suits might haue Protection. 
 But I fue Don Fernandas Heyr for Land, 
 Againft fo great a Peere he dare not ftand. 
 ^A. Biihop fues me for my Tithes, that's worfe, 
 He dares not venture on a Bijfhops Curfe 
 Sergeant Eriflus beares me old Grudges, 
 Yea but faith Paulus^ Sergeants may be Judges. 
 Pure Cinna o're my Head would beg my Leafe, 
 Who my Lord Man, O hold your peace! 
 Rich Widdow Lejbia for a Slander fues me. 
 Turn for a Womans Caufe he muft refufe me. 
 Then farewell Froft : Paulus henceforth excufe me. 
 For you that are your felfe thrall'd to fo many, 
 Shall neuer be my good Lord, if I haue any. 
 
 X 4 4
 
 312 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Againft afoolijh Satyrifl. 
 
 I Read that Satyre thou intitleft flrft, 
 And laid afide the Reft, and over-paft, 
 And fware, I thought, that th* Author was accurft j 
 That, that firft Satyre had not been his laft. 
 
 Of flame dealing. 
 
 MY Writings oft difpleafe you: what's the Matter ? 
 You love not to heare Truth, nor I to flatter. 
 
 DON 
 *, 
 
 Of Don Pedros Debts. 
 
 Pedro's out of Debt, be bold to fay it, 
 For they are faid to owe, that mean to pay it, 
 
 Of Don Pedro. 
 
 A Slave thou wert by Birth, of this I gather, 
 * ^ For evermore thou faift, my Lord, my Father. 
 
 Againft Fauftus. 
 
 IN fcprn of Writers, Fauftus ftill doth hold, 
 Nought is now faid, but hath been faid of old : 
 a Will,
 
 The Mufes Library. 313 
 
 Well, Fai<ftus, fay my Wits are grofle and dull, 
 If for that Word I give not thee a Gull : 
 Thus then I prove that holds a falfe Pofition: 
 I fay, thou art a Man of fair Condition, 
 A Man true of thy Word, tall of thy Hands, 
 Of high Defcent, and left good Store of Lands, 
 Thou with falfe Dice and Cards haft never plaid, 
 Corrupted never Widow, Wife nor Maid, 
 And as for fwearing, none in all this Realme 
 Doth feldomer in Speech curfe or blafpheme. 
 In fine, your Vertues are fo rare and ample, 
 Fpr all our Sonnes thou maift be made a Sample, 
 This I dare fweare, none ever faid before, 
 This I may fweare, none ever will fay more. 
 
 Of devout Parents and Children. 
 
 A Hufband and a Wife, oft difagreeing, 
 * * And either weary of the other, being 
 In Choler great, either devoutly prayes 
 To God, that he will morten th* others Dales : 
 But, more devout then both, their Son and Heire 
 JPraiesGod that he will grant them both their Pray'r.
 
 3 X 4 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 Of Treafon. 
 
 Reafon doth never profper, what's the reafon ? 
 For if it profper, none dare call it Treafon. 
 
 " "1 '' ' ' ' >'\h "* ' ' j 
 
 Of Lynus, borrowing. 
 \ " 
 "IT Tnus came late to me, Six Crownes to borrow, 
 
 * ' And fware God damne him, heed'd repai't to 
 
 morrow. 
 
 I knew his Word, as currant as his Bond, 
 And ftraight I gaue to him Three Crownes in Hand ; 
 This I to giue, this he to take was willing, 
 And thus he gain'd, and I fau'd Fifteene Shilling. 
 
 Of Fortune. 
 
 FOrtune, Men fay, doth give too much to many, 
 But yet me never gave enough to any 
 
 In Cornutum. 
 
 WHat curl'd-Pate Youth is he that fitteth there 
 So near thy Wife, and whifpers in her Eare, 
 
 And takes her Hand in his, and foft doth wring her 
 Sliding his Ring ftill up and down her Finger ? 
 
 Sir,
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 315 
 
 Sir, 'tis a Proctor, feen in both the Lawes, 
 Retain'd by her, in fome important Caufe ; 
 Prompt and difcreet both in his Speech and Action, 
 And doth her BufinefTe with great Satisfaction. 
 And think'ft thou fo ? a Horn-plague on thy Head ! 
 Art thou fo like a Fool, and Wittoll led, 
 
 To think he doth the BufmefTe of thy Wife ? 
 
 He doth thy Bufmefle, I dare lay my Life. 
 
 John Chalkhill, Efq; 
 
 The Author of a Paftoral Hiftory, call'd Tbeal- 
 ma, and Clearcbus publifh'd long after his Death 
 by Mr. Jfaac Walton : By whom we are told he was 
 an intimate Friend o{Spencer\ generally known, and 
 as well belov'd ; modeft, and obliging in his Beha- 
 viour, innocent and prudent in his Life : In fhort 
 a Gentleman, and a Scholar, whofe Precepts of Vir- 
 tue were beft illuftrated by his own Example. 
 
 He dy'd before he could perfect even the Fable 
 of his Poem, and, by many Paflages in it, I half 
 believe, He had not given the laft Hand to what 
 he has left behind Him. However, to do both him 
 and his Editor Juftice, if my Opinion can be of any 
 Weight, 'tis great Pity fo beautiful a Relique fhou'd 
 be loft ; and the Quotations I have extracted from it, 
 will fufficiently evidence a fine Vein of Imagination, 
 a Tafte far from being indelicate, and both Lan- 
 guage, and Numbers uncommonly Harmonious, 
 and Polite.
 
 316 7%e Mufes Library. 
 
 The Arcadian-Golden-Age. 
 
 was a Whifper heard, " Such a ftrange Force 
 " Hath Novelty -, it makes us fwift to hear, 
 * And to the Speaker chains the greedy Ear. 
 Arcadia was of old (faid he) a State 
 Subject to none but their own Laws and Fate : 
 Superior there was none, but what old Age 
 And hoary Hairs had rais'd i the wife and fage, 
 Whofe Gravity, when they were rich in Years, 
 Begat a civil Reverence more than Fears 
 In the well-manner'd People ; at that Day 
 All was in common, every Man bare fway 
 O're his own Family ; the Jars that rofe 
 Were foon appeas'd by fuch grave Men as thofe : 
 This Mine a-nd Thine^ that we fo cavil for, 
 Was then not heard of : He that was moft poor 
 Was rich in his Content, and liv'd as free 
 As they whofe Flocks were greateft ; nor did He 
 Envy his great Abundance, nor the Other 
 Difdain the low Condition of his Brother, 
 But lent him from his Store to mend his State, 
 And, with his Love he quits him, thanks his Fate, 
 
 And,
 
 The Mufes Library. 317 
 
 And, taught by his "Example, feeks out fuch 
 As want his Help , that he may do as much . 
 Their Laws, e'en from their Childhood, Rich and Poor 
 Had written in their Hearts, by conning o're 
 The Legacies of good, old Men, whofe Memories 
 Out-live their Monuments : the grave Advice 
 They left behind in Writing ! This was that 
 Which made Arcadia then fo bleft a State : 
 Their wholefome Laws had linkt them fo in One, 
 They liv'd in Peace and fweet Communion. 
 Peace brought forth Plenty, Plenty bred Content, 
 And that crown'd all their pains with Merriment. 
 They had no Foe ; fecure they liv'd in Tents, 
 All was their own they had, they paid no Rents 5 
 Their Sheep found Cloathing, Earth provided Food, 
 And Labour dreft it as their Wills thought good. 
 On unbought Delicates their Hunger fed, 
 And for their Drink the fwelling Clutters bled : 
 The Vallies rang with their delicious Strains, 
 And Pleafure revel'd on thofe happy Plains i 
 Content and Labor gave them Length of Days, 
 And Peace ferv'd in Delight a Thoufand Ways. 
 The golden Age, before Deucalion's Flood, 
 Was not more happy, nor the Folk more good. 
 
 But
 
 3i 8 ^he Mufes Library. 
 
 But Time, that eats the Children he begets, 
 And is lefs fatisfied the more he eats, 
 Led on by Fate, that terminates all Things, 
 Ruin'd our State, by fending of us Kings. 
 Ambition (Sin's firft-born) the bane of State ! 
 Stole into Men, puffing them up with Hate 
 And emulous Defires , Love waxed cold, 
 And into Iron froze the Age of Gold. 
 The Laws Contempt made Cruelty ftep in, 
 And, ftead of curbing, animated Sin ; 
 The Rich-Man tramples on the Poor-Man's Back, 
 Raifmg his Fortunes by his Brother's Wreck. 
 1 he wronged Poor NeceJJity J gan teach, 
 To live by Rapine, ftealing from the Rich. 
 The Temples, which Devotion had creeled. 
 In honor of the Gods, were now neglected. 
 No Altar fmoaks with facrificed Beafts, 
 No Incenfe ofFer'd, no Love-ftrength'ning Feafts. 
 Mens greedy Avarice made Gods of Clay, 
 Then Gold and Silver : Field to Field they lay, 
 And Houfe to Houfe ; no Matter how 'twas got, 
 The Hand of Juftice they regarded not. 
 Like a diftemper'd Body, Fever-fhaken, 
 When with Combuftion every Limb is taken, 
 
 The
 
 The Mufes Library. 319 
 
 The Head wants Eafe, the heavy Eyes want Sleep, 
 The beating Pulfe no juft Proportion keep ; 
 The Tongue talks idly, Reafon cannot rule it, 
 And the Heart fires the Air drawn in to cool it. 
 The Palat reli/heth no Meat, the Ears 
 But ill affected with the Sweets it hears. 
 The Hands deny their Aid to help him up, 
 And fall, as to his Lips they lift the Cup. 
 Such was Arcadia then, till Clitus reign'd, 
 The firft and beft of Kings that e're obtain'd 
 Th' Arcadian Scepter : he piec'd up the State, 
 And made it fomewhat like to fortunate. 
 
 A Defcription of the Prieftejfes of Diana, 
 
 T X TIthin a little, filent Grove hard by, 
 
 Upon a fmall Afcent, He might efpy 
 A {lately Chappel, richly gilt without, 
 Befet with fhady Sycamores about : 
 And, ever and anon, He might well hear 
 A Sound of Mufick rbal in at his Ear 
 As the Wind gave it Being : So fweet an Air 
 Would ftrike a Syren mute and ravim her. 
 He fees no Creature that might caufe the fame, 
 But he was fure that from the Grove it came. 
 
 And
 
 320 The Mufes 
 
 And to the Grove he goes to fatisfie 
 The Curiofity of Ear and Eye. 
 Through the thick-leav'd Boughs he makes a Way, 
 Nor could the fcratching Brambles make him ftay , 
 But on he rufhes, and climbs up the Hill, 
 Thorow a Glade he faw, and heard his Fill. 
 A hundred Virgins there he might efpy 
 Proftrate before a Marble Deity : 
 Which, by its Portraicture, appear'd to be 
 The Image of Diana : On their Knee 
 They tender'd their Devotions : With fweet Airs, 
 OfPring the Incenfe of their Praife and Prayers. 
 Their Garments all alike ; beneath their Paps 
 Buckl'd together with a filver Claps, 
 And crofs their fnowy, Silken- Robes, they wore 
 An azure Scarf, with Stars embroider'd o're. 
 Their Hair in curious TrefTes Was knit up, 
 Crown'd with a Silver-Crefcent on the Top. 
 A Silver-Bow their left Hand held, their Right, 
 For their Defence, held a {harp- headed Flight, 
 Drawn from their broidred Quiver ; neatly ti'd 
 Jn Silken- Cords, and faftned to their Side. 
 Under their Veftments, fomething fhort before, 
 White Bdkins lafd with Ribbanding they wore. 
 
 It
 
 The Mufes Library: 321 
 
 It was a catching Sight to a young Eye* 
 
 That Love had fir'ct before ; He might efpy 
 
 One, whom the Reft had Sphere- like circled round, 
 
 Whofe Head was with a golden Chaplet crown'd. 
 
 He could not fee her Face, only his Ear 
 
 Was bleft with the fweet Words that came from her. 
 
 'The Image of Jealoujy. 
 
 ----- A Curious Eye 
 
 * * Might fee fome Reliques of a Piece of Art, 
 That Pfycbe made, when Love firft fir*d her Heart. 
 It was the Story of her Thoughts, which me 
 Curioufly wrought in lively Imagry. 
 Among the Reft, the Thought of Jealoujie 
 <Time left untoucht, to grace Antiquity. 
 It was decifer'd by a timorous Dame, 
 Wrapt in a yellow Mantle lin'd with Flame : 
 Her Looks were pale, contracted with a Frowii, 
 Her Eyes fufpicious, wand'ring up and down j 
 Behind her, Fear attended big with Child, 
 Able to fright Prefumption, if fhe fmil'd. 
 After her flew a Sigh, between two Springs 
 Of briny Water j on her Dove-like Wings 
 
 Y She
 
 322 The Mufes Library. 
 
 She bore a Letter feaPd with a Half-Moon, 
 And fuperfcrib'd, This from Sufyicion. 
 
 Anaxus, poflefs'd of an Herb that detected Irt- 
 chantments, fearches for his Lover Clarinda, and 
 falls into the Power of the Witch Orandra, who, to- 
 gether with her Cave, &c. is defcribed in the fol- 
 lowing Lines. 
 
 DOwn in a gloomy Valley thick with Shade, 
 Which Two afpiring, hanging Rock shad made, 
 That fhut out Day and barr'd the glorious Sun 
 From prying into th' Actions there done ; 
 Set full of Box, and Cyprefs, Poplar, Tew, 
 And hateful Elder, that in Thickets grew ; 
 Amongft whofe Boughs, the Scritch-Owl and Night- 
 Crow, 
 
 Sadly recount their Prophecies of Woe, 
 Where Leather- winged Batts, that hate the Light 
 Fan the thick Air, more footy than the Night ! 
 The Ground, o're-grown with Weeds, and bumy 
 
 Shrubs, 
 
 Where milky Hedg-Hogs nurfe their prickly Cubs : 
 And, here and there, a Mandrake grows, that ftrikes 
 The Hearers dead with their loud, fatal Shrieks -, 
 
 Under
 
 Mufes Library. 323 
 
 Under whofe fpreading Leaves the Toad, 
 The Adder, and the Snake make their Abode. 
 Here dwelt Orandra, fo the Witch was hight, 
 And thither had me toaPd him by a Slight : 
 She knew Anaxus was to go to Court, 
 And, envying Virtue, fhe made it her Sport 
 To hinder him ; fending her airy Spies 
 Forth with Delufions, to entrap his Eyes, 
 And captivate his Ear with various Tones, 
 Sometimes of Joy, and, otherwhiles, of Mones i 
 Sometimes He hears delicious, fweet Lays 
 Wrought with fuch curious defcant as would raife 
 Attention in a Stone : anon a Groan 
 Reacheth his Ear, as if it came from One 
 That crav'd his Help ; and, by and by, He fpies 
 A beauteous Virgin with fuch catching Eyes, 
 As would have fir'd a Hermit's chill Defires 
 Into a Flame ; his greedy Eye admires 
 The more than human Beauty of her Face, 
 And much ado he had to fliun the Grace 
 Conceit had fhap'd her in : fo like his Love, 
 That He was once about in vain to prove, 
 Whether 'twas his Clarinda, yea, or no : 
 But He bethought him of his Herb, and fo 
 
 Y 2 The
 
 324 The Mufes Library* 
 
 The Shadow vanifh'd ; many a weary Stej* 
 
 It led the Prince that Pace with it ftill kept, 
 
 Until it brought him, by a hellifh Power, 
 
 Unto the Entrance of Orandra's Bower ; 
 
 Where, underneath an Elder-Tree, He fpied 
 
 His Man Pandevius, pale and hollow-eyed ; 
 
 Enquiring of the cunning Witch what Fate 
 
 Betid his Mafter : They were newly fate 
 
 When his Approach difturb'd them ; up me 
 
 And tow'rd Anaxus (envious Hag) me goes ; 
 
 Pandevius me had charm*d into a Maze, 
 
 And ftrook him mute, all he could do was gaze. 
 
 He call'd him by his Name, but all in vain, 
 
 Eccho returns Pandevius back again ; 
 
 Which made him wonder, when a fudden Fear 
 
 Shook all his Joynts : She, cunning Hag ! drew near j 
 
 And, fmelling to his Herb, He recollects 
 
 His wandring Spirits, and with Anger checks 
 
 His Coward-Fears ; refolv'd now to out-dare 
 
 The worft of Dangers, whatfoe're they were : 
 
 He ey'd her o're and o're, and ftill his Eye 
 
 Found fome Addition to Deformity. 
 
 An old, decrepid Hag me was, grown white 
 
 With frofty Age, and withered with Defpight, 
 
 And
 
 "The Mufes Library. 3 2 5 
 
 And felf-confuming Hate -, in Furrs Y-clad, 
 
 And on her Head a thrummy Cap me had : 
 
 Her knotty Locks, like to Alefto's Snakes, 
 
 Hang down about her Shoulders, which me fhake s 
 
 Into Diforder ; on her furrow'd Brow 
 
 One might perceive Time had been long at plough. 
 
 Her Eyes, like Candle-fnufFs, by Age funk quite 
 
 Into their Sockets, yet like Cats-eyes, bright : 
 
 And, in the darkeft Night, like Fire they min'd; 
 
 The ever-open Windows of her Mind ! 
 
 Her fwarthy Cheeks Time, that all Things confumes, 
 
 Had hollowed flat unto her Toothlefs Gums. 
 
 Her hairy Brows did meet above her Note, 
 
 That, like an Eagles Beak, fo crooked grows, 
 
 It, well nigh, kifs'd her Chin; thick-briftled Hair 
 
 Grew on her upper Lip, and, here and there, 
 
 A rugged Wart with grifly Hairs behung ; 
 
 Her Breafts mrunk up, her Nails and Fingers long! 
 
 Her Left lent on a Staff, in her right Hand 
 
 She always carried her enchanting Wand. 
 
 Splay-footed, beyond Nature, every Part 
 
 So patternlefs deform'd, 'twould puzzle Art 
 
 To make her Counterfeit ; only her Tongue 
 
 Nature had that moft exquifitely ftrung; 
 
 Y 3 Her
 
 326 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Her oyly Language came fo fmoothly from her, 
 And her quaint Action did fo well become her, 
 Her winning Rhetorick met with no Trips, 
 But chain'd the dull'ft Attention to her Lips. 
 With Greedinefs he heard, and, tho he ftrove 
 
 To make her off, the more her Words did move. 
 
 v 
 
 She woo'd him to her Cell, call'd him her Son, 
 And with fair Promifes me quickly won 
 Him to her Beck ; or rather, he, to try 
 What me could do, did willingly comply 
 With her Requeft : Into her Cell he goes, 
 And with his Herb he rubs his Eyes and Nofe. 
 His Man ftood like an Image ftill, and ftar*d 
 As if fome fearful Prodigy had fcar'd 
 Life from its earthy Manfion ; but She foon 
 Unloos'd the Charms, and after them He run. 
 Her Cell was hewn out in the Marble -Rock, 
 By more than human Art ; me need not knock, 
 The Door ftood always open, large and wide, 
 Grown o're with woolly Mofs on either Side, 
 And interwove with Ivies flatt'ring Twines ; 
 Thro' which the Carbuncle, and Di'mond mines j 
 Not fet by Art, but there by Nature fown 
 At the World's Birth ; So Star-like bright they mone, 
 
 They
 
 The Mufes Library. 327 
 
 They ferv'd, inftead of Tapers, to give light 
 To the dark Entry -, where perpetual Night, 
 Friend to black Deeds, and Sire of Ignorance ! 
 Shuts out all Knowledge ; left her Eye, by chance, 
 Might bring to Light her Follies. In they went j 
 The Ground was ftrow* d with Flowers, whofe fweet 
 
 Scent 
 
 Mixt with the choice Perfumes, from India brought, 
 Intoxicates his Brain, and quickly caught 
 His credulous Senfe ; the Walls were gilt, and fet 
 With Precious Stones, and all the Roof was fret 
 With a Gold- Vine, whofe ftragling Branches fpread 
 All o're the Arch ; the fwelling Grapes were red : 
 This Art had made of Rubies, clufter'd fo, 
 To the quick'ft Eye they more than feem'd to grow. 
 About the Walls, lafcivious Pictures hung, 
 Such as whereof loofe Ovid fometimes fung. 
 On either Side a Crew of dwarfim Elves, 
 Held waxen Tapers taller than Themfelves : 
 Yet fo well map'd unto their little Stature, 
 So AngeUike in Face, fo fweet in Feature ; 
 Their rich Attire fo differing, yet fo well 
 Becoming her that wore it, none could tell 
 Which was the Faireft, which the Handfomeft deckt. 
 Or which of them Deftre would foon'ft affect. 
 
 Y 4 After
 
 328 The Mufes Library. 
 
 After a low Salute they all 'gan fing, 
 
 And circle in the Stranger in a Ring. 
 
 Orandra to her Charms was ftept afide, 
 
 Leaving her Gueft half- won, and wanton-ey*d. 
 
 He had forgot his Herb : cunning Delight 
 
 Had fo bewitch'd his Ears, and bleared his Sight, 
 
 And captivated all his Senfes fo, 
 
 That he was not himfelf ; nor did he know 
 
 What Place he was in, or how he came there, 
 
 But greedily he feeds his Eye and Ear 
 
 With what would ruine him ; but that kind Fate^ 
 
 That contradicts all Power fubordinate. 
 
 Prevented ^r/'s Intents. A filly Flie 
 
 (As there were many) light into his Eye, 
 
 And forc'd a Tear to drown her felf, when He, 
 
 Impatient that he could not fo well fee, 
 
 Lifts up his Hand, wherein the Herb he held, 
 
 To wipe away the Moifture that diftill-d 
 
 From his ftill-fmarting Eye ; he fmelt the Scent 
 
 Of the ftrong Herb^ and fo, Incontinent, 
 
 Recovered his ftray'd Wit : his Eyes were clear'd. 
 
 And now he lik'd not what he faw or heard. 
 
 This knew Orandra well ; and plots anew 
 
 How to entrap him. Next unto his View 
 
 She
 
 The Mufes Library. 329 
 
 She reprefents a Banquet ufher'd in 
 By fuch a Shape, as fhe was fure would win 
 His Appetite to tafte ; fo like fhe was, 
 To his Clarinda^ both in Shape and Face, 
 So voic'd, fo habited, of the fame Gate 
 And comely Gefture; on her Brow, in State 
 Sate fuch a Princely Majefty, as he 
 Had noted in Clarinda ; fave that She 
 Had a more wanton Eye, that, here and there 
 Rowl'd up and down, not fetling any where. 
 Down on the Ground fhe falls his Hand to kifs, 
 And with her Tears bedews it ; cold as Ice 
 He felt her Lips, that yet, inflam'd him fo, 
 That he was all on Fire the Truth to know, 
 Whether fhe was the fame fhe did appear, 
 Or whether fome fantaftick Form it were, 
 Famioned in his Imagination, 
 By his ftill working Thoughts ; fo fix'd upon, 
 His lov'd Clarinda^ that his Fancy ftrove 
 Even with her Shadow to exprefs his Love. 
 He took her up, and was about to 'quite 
 Her Tears with Rifles, when, to clear his Sight, 
 He wipes his Eyes, and, with his Herb of Grace^ 
 Smooths his rough Lip to kifs with greater Grace : 
 
 So
 
 330 The Mufes Library. 
 
 So the Herb's Virtue ftole into his Brain, 
 
 And kept him off ; hardly did he refrain 
 
 From fucking in Deftrudtion from her Lip. 
 
 (Sins Cup will poifon at the fmalleft fip,) 
 
 She weeps, and wooes again with Subtlenefs, 
 
 And, with a Frown, She chides his Backwardnefs. 
 
 Have you fo foon (fweet Prince faid me) forgot 
 
 Your own belov'd Clarinda ? Are you not 
 
 The fame you were, that you fo flightly fet 
 
 By her, that once you made the Cabinet 
 
 Of your choice Counfel ? hath my conftant Heart 
 
 (As Innocence unfpotted) no Defert, 
 
 To keep me yours ? Or hath fome worthier Love 
 
 Stole your Affeclions ? What is it mould move 
 
 You to diflike fo foon ? Muft I ftill taft 
 
 No other Dim but Sorrow ? When we laft 
 
 Emptied our Souls into each other's Breaft 
 
 It was not fo, Anaxm ; or, at leaft, 
 
 I thought you meant what then you promis'd me. 
 
 With that me wept afrem. Are you then She, 
 
 Anfwer'd Anaxus ? Doth Clarinda live ? 
 
 Juft thus me fpake : How fain I would believe ! 
 
 With that She feem'd to fall into a Swound, 
 
 And, (looping down to raife her from the Gound, 
 
 That
 
 The Mufes Library. 331 
 
 That he might ufe both Hands to make more Hafte, 
 He puts his Herb into his Mouth, whofe Tafte 
 Soon chang'd his Mind : He lifts her, but in vain > 
 His Hands fell of, and me fell down again. 
 With that me lent him fuch a Frown as would 
 Have kill*d a common Lover, and made cold 
 Ev'n Luft it felf :------ 
 
 - - - - The Lights went out, 
 
 And Darknefs hung the Chamber round about. 
 A hellim, yelling Noife was each where heard ; 
 Sounds that would make ev'n Valors felf afeard ! 
 A ftifling Scent of Brimftone he might fmell, 
 Such as the damned Souls fuck in in Hell ! 
 
 Sir John Davis, 
 
 Was the Son of a wealthy Tanner of Chifgrove^ 
 in the Parifh of Tyjbury in Wiltjhire j and, at Fifteen 
 Years of Age, enter'd a Commoner of Queen's Col- 
 lege in Oxford ; from whence, after feveral Years 
 Residence, He remov'd to the Middle-Temple, to ftudy 
 the Law, tho', 'tis faid, againft his Inclination, and 
 was call'd to the Bar : But having a Quarrel with one 
 Mr. Richard Martyn, (afterwards Recorder of Lon- 
 don} He baftinado'd him in the Temple-Hall, at 
 Dinner-Time, in the Sight of the whole Society. For 
 which Contempt He was forthwith expell'd, and re- 
 tir'd, fomewhat uneafy, to Oxford \ where he, a- 
 gain, folio w'd his Studies clofely ; but without re- 
 fviming the Scholar's Gown, and compos'd the ex- 
 cellent
 
 332 The Mufes Library. 
 
 cellent Poem annex'd. After this, we find him 
 
 honoured with the Protection of 'Thomas Lord Ellef- 
 more, Lord-Keeper of the Great Seal ; and, not on- 
 ly reftor'd to his Chambers in the Temple^ but re- 
 turn'd a Member of Parliament, Ann. 1601. Upon 
 the Death of the Queen, He, with feveral other 
 Gentlemen, accompany'd the Lord Hunfdon into Scot- 
 land^ to congratulate King James on his Acceflion to 
 the Throne of England : And, being introduc'd to 
 his Majefty, by Name, the King immediately in- 
 quir'd if he was Nofce Teipfum ? (The Title of his 
 firft Poem !) and, being inform'd He was, moft 
 gracioufly embrac'd Him, and fpeedily made him 
 his Sollicitor, and Attorney-General for Ireland. (It 
 being a Miftake that he received thofe Preferments 
 from Queen Elizabeth.} Befide which, He was 
 one of the King's Serjeants in England ; feveral Times 
 an Afliftant- Judge, and had the Honour of being 
 Knighted by His Majefty, at White-Hall^ An. 1607. 
 At length being appointed Lord Chief- Juftice of 
 the Kings-Bench^ He dy'd fuddainly, before He 
 could take Poflemon of that eminent Dignity ; But 
 left behind Him more valuable WitnefTes of his 
 Merit, than all the Titles that Heraldry can invent, 
 or Monarchs beftow : The joint Applaufes of Camb- 
 den^ Sir John Harington, Ben Johnfon, Selden, Donn, 
 Corbet , &c! Thefe are great, and unqueftionable 
 Authorities in Favour of this Author ; and I mail 
 only prefume to add, That, in my humble Opinion, 
 no Philofophical Writer, I have met with, ever ex- 
 plain'd their Ideas more clearly, or familiarly even in 
 Profe; or any fo beautifully or harmonioufly in Verfe. 
 There is a peculiar Happinefs in hisSimilies, being in- 
 troduc*d to illuftrate, more than adorn ; which renders 
 them as ufeful, as entertaining ; and diftinguifhes his 
 from thofe of every other Author. But his Me- 
 mory has already received the higheft Compliments 
 
 that
 
 The Mufes Library. 333 
 
 that can be paid to it. The late excellent Lord' 
 Dorfet admir'd his Writings fo much, that he recom- 
 mended fuch of them as remain, to be republim'd 
 by Mr. Tate ; which was, accordingly done, under 
 His Protection ; and the World has juftify'd his 
 Lordfhip's Tafte fo effectually, that another Edition 
 appear'd in the Year 1714, from whence the fol- 
 lowing Piece is extracted. 'Tis call'd there an Intro- 
 duttion to his Eflay, on the Nature^ and Immortality 
 cf the Soul: But, without Queftion, is the Nofce Te 
 ipfum, for which He was fo highly carefs'd by King 
 James ; as fully appears by the Contents of the 
 Poemitfelf. 
 
 Nofce Teipfum. 
 
 TX7HY did my Parents fend me to the Schools, 
 That I, with Knowledge, might enrich my Mind, 
 Since the Defire to know firft made Men Fools, 
 And did corrupt the Root of all Mankind ! 
 
 For when God's Hand had written in the Hearts 
 Of our firft Parents, all the Rules of Good 5 
 
 So that their fkill, infus'd, furpafs'd all Arts 
 That ever were before, or fince the Flood. 
 
 And, when their Reafon's Eye was fharp and clear, 
 And (as an Eagle can behold the Sun) 
 
 Cou'd have approach'd th* Eternal Light as near, 
 As th' Intellectual- Angels could have done ; 
 
 2 Ev';
 
 334 72* Mufes Library. 
 
 Ev'n then, to them the Spirit of Lyes fuggefts, 
 That they were blind, becaufe they faw not /// -, 
 
 And breath'd into their incorrupted Breafts 
 
 A curious Wijh, which did corrupt their WilL 
 
 From that fame ///, they ftrait defir'd to know ; 
 
 Which ///, being nought but a Defect of Good, 
 In all God's Works the Devil cou'd not mow, 
 
 While Man, their Lord, in his Perfection flood : 
 
 So that themfelves were firft to do the HI* 
 
 E're they thereof the Knowledge cou'd attain j 
 
 Like him that knew not Poifon's Power to kill, 
 Until (by tafting it) himfelf was flam. 
 
 Ev'n fo, by tafting of that Fruit forbid, 
 
 Where they fought Knowledge, they did Error find 
 
 ///they defir'd to kntrw, and ///they did-, 
 
 And, to give Paffion Eyes, made Reafon blind. 
 
 For then their Minds did firft, in Paflion, fee, 
 Thofe wretched Shapes of Mifery and Woe, 
 
 Of Nakednefs, of Shame, of Poverty ; 
 Which, then, their own Experience made 'em know 
 
 But
 
 Mufes Library. 335 
 
 But then grew Reafon dark, that me no more, 
 Could the fair Forms of Good and Truth difcern ; 
 
 Batts they became, who Eagles were before : 
 And this they got by their Defire to learn. 
 
 But We, their wretched Off-fpring ! what do we ? 
 
 Do not we ftill tafte of the Fruit forbid, 
 While, with fond, fruitlefe Curiofity, 
 
 In Books profane, we feek for Knowledge hid ? 
 
 What is this Knowledge, but the Sky-ftoll'n Fire, 
 For which the Theif ftill chain'd in Ice doth fit, 
 
 And which the poor, rude Satyr did admire, 
 
 And needs would kifs, but burnt his Lips with it ? 
 
 What is it, but the Cloud of empty Rain, 
 
 Which vi\&nJo've' > sGueft embrac't, heMonfters got? 
 
 Or ihefalfe Pails, which, oft being fill'd with Pain, 
 Received the Water, but retain'd it not ? 
 
 In fine, what is it, but the fiery Coach, 
 
 Which the Toutb fought, and fought his Death 
 
 withal ? 
 
 Or the Boy's Wings, which when he did approach 
 The Sun's hot Beams, did melt and let him fall ? 
 
 2 And,
 
 336 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 And yet, alas ! when all our Lamps are burn'd* 
 Our Bodies wafted, and our Spirits fpent ; 
 
 When we have all the learned Volumes turn'd, 
 Which yield Men's Wits both Help and Ornament* 
 
 What can we know, or what can we difcern^ 
 When Error clouds the Windows of the Mind ? 
 
 The divers Forms of Things how can we learn, 
 That have been ever, from our Birth-day, blind ! 
 
 When Reafon's Lamp, which (like the Sun in Sky) 
 Thro* out Man's little World her Beams did fpreadj 
 
 Is now become a Sparkle, which doth lie 
 Under the Ames, half extinct, and dead ; 
 
 How can we hope that, thro' the Eye and Ear, 
 This dying Sparkle, in this cloudy Place, 
 
 Can recollect thofe Beams of Knowledge clear, 
 Which were infus'd in the firft Minds by Grace ? 
 
 So might the Heir, whofe Father hath in Play 
 Wafted a Thoufand Pounds of ancient Rent, 
 
 By painful Earning of one Groat a Day, 
 Hope to reftore the Patrimony fpent. 
 
 The
 
 Mufes Library. 337 
 
 The Wits, that div'd moft deep, and foar*d moft high, 
 Seeking Man'sP<ree;m,have found hisffaaknefsCuch 
 
 Skill comes fojlow, and Life fo J aft doth fly ; 
 We learn fo little ^ and forget fo much. 
 
 For this the wifeft of all moral Men 
 
 Said, be knew nought, but that he nought did know 
 And the great, mocking Matter, mock't not then, 
 
 When he faid ; Truth was bury*d here below. 
 
 For how may we to other Things attain, 
 
 When none of us his own Soul underftands? 
 
 For which the Devil mocks our curious Brain, 
 When Know thyfelf> his Oracle commands. 
 
 For why mould we the bufy Soul believe, 
 
 When boldly me concludes of that, and this j 
 
 When of her felf me can no Judgment give, 
 
 Nor how, nor whence, nor where, nor what me is ? 
 
 All things without, which round about we fee, 
 We feek to know, and have therewith to do ; 
 
 But that whereby we reafon, live, and be, 
 Within our felves, we Strangers are thereto. 
 
 Z We
 
 338 Tbe Mufes Library. 
 
 We feek to know the moving of each Sphere, 
 
 And the ftrange Caufe of th* Ebbs, and Floods of 
 Nile , 
 
 But of that Clock, which in our Breafts we bear, 
 The fubtle Motions we forget the while. 
 
 We, that acquaint our felves with every Zone, 
 And pafs the Tropicks, and behold each Pole ; 
 
 When we come Home, are to our felves unknown, 
 And unacquainted ftill with our own Soul. 
 
 We ftudy Speech, but others we perfuade 5 
 We Leech-Craft learn, but others cure with it j 
 
 W'interpret Laws, which other Men have made, 
 But read not thofe which in our Hearts are writ. 
 
 Is it becaufe the Mind is like the Eye, 
 
 Thro* which it gathers Knowledge by Degrees ; 
 
 Whofe Rays reflect not, but fpread outwardly ; 
 Not feeing it felf * when other things it fees. 
 
 No, doubtlefs ; for the Mind can backward caft 
 Upon her felf, her underftanding Light ; 
 
 But me is fo corrupt, and fo defac'd, 
 As her own Image doth her felf affright. 
 
 As
 
 The Mufes Library. 339 
 
 As in the Fable of the Lady-Fair 
 
 Which> for her Luft, was turn'd into a Cow, 
 
 When, thirfty, to a Stream fhe did repair, 
 
 And faw her felf transform'^ fhe wift not how : 
 
 At firft fhe ftartles, then fhe ftands amaz'd ; 
 
 At laft with Terror* fhe from thence doth fly, 
 And loaths the wat'ry Glafs wherein fhe gaz'd, 
 
 And fhuns it ftill, altho' for Thirft fhe dye. 
 
 Ev'n fo Man's Soul, which did God's Image bear, 
 And was at firft fair, good, and fpotlefs-pure, 
 
 Since, with her Sins, her Beauties blotted were, 
 Doth, of all Sights, her own Sight leaft endure 5 
 
 For ev'n at firft Reflection, fhe efpies 
 
 Such ftrange Chimera's, and fuch Monfters there ; 
 Such Toys, fuch Anticks , and fuch Vanities, 
 
 As fhe retires, and fhrinks for Shame and Fear : 
 
 And, as the Man loves leaft at Home to be, 
 
 That hath a Jluttijh Houfe, haunted with Sprites, 
 
 So fhe, impatient her own Faults to fee, 
 
 Turns from her felf, and in ftrange Things delights. 
 Z 2 For
 
 34 The Mufes Library. 
 
 For this, few know themfelves ; for Merchants, broke, 
 View their Eftate with Difcontent, and Pain ; 
 
 And, as Seas, troubled^ when they do revoke 
 Their flowing Waves into themfelves again. 
 
 And, while the Face of outward Things we find 
 Pleafing, and fair, agreable and fweet, 
 
 Thefe Things tranfport, and carry out the Mind 5 
 That with her felf, the Mind can never meet. 
 
 Yet, if Afflittion once her Wars begin 
 And threat the feebler Senfe with Sword and Fire, 
 
 The Mind contracts her felf, and fhrinketh in 
 And to her felf ftie gladly doth retire ; 
 
 As Spiders toucb'd, feek their Webs inmoft Part ; 
 
 As Bees, in Storms^ back to their Hives return ; 
 As Blood in Danger gathers to the Heart ; 
 
 As Men feek Towns, when Foes the Country burn. 
 
 If ought can teach us ought, Affliftiorfs Looks 
 (Making us pry into ourfehes fo near) 
 
 Teach us to know our fefoes beyond all Books, 
 Or all the Learned-Schools that ever were. 
 
 This
 
 The Mufes Library. 341 
 
 This Miftrefs lately pluck'd me by the Ear 
 And many a Golden Leflbn hath me taught j 
 
 Hath made my Senfes quick, and Reafon clear 
 Reform'd my Witt* and rectify'd my Thought. 
 
 So do the Winds i and Thunders cleanfe the Air : 
 So working Seas fettle and purge the Wine ; 
 
 So lop't and pruned Trees do flourifh fair, 
 So doth the Fire the drofly Gold refine. 
 
 Neither Minerva, nor the learned Mufe, 
 Nor Rules of Art, nor Precepts of the Wife, 
 
 Cou'd in my Brain thofe Beams of Skill infufe, 
 As but the Glance of this Dame's angry Eyes. 
 
 She within Lifts, my ranging Mind hath brought 
 That now beyond my f elf I will not go ; 
 
 My felf am Centre of my circling Thought : 
 Only my felf I ftudy, learn, and know. 
 
 I know my Body's of fo frail a Kind, 
 
 As Force without, Fevers within can kill : 
 
 I know the Heavenly Nature of my Mind, 
 But 'tis corrupted both in Wit and Will.
 
 34 2 ?fa Mu/es Library. 
 
 I know my Soul hath Power to know all Things ', 
 Yet is me Blind, and ignorant in all : 
 
 I know I'm one of Nature's little Kings, 
 Yet to the leaft, and vileft Things am thrall. 
 
 I know my Life's a Pain, and but a Span ; 
 
 I know my Senfe is mock'd in every Thing : 
 And to conclude, I know my felf a Man, 
 
 Which is a Proud, and yet a wretched 'Thing. 
 
 Edward Fairfax, Efq; 
 
 A Gentleman of fo much Merit, that he eminent- 
 ly deferves to be rank'd among the Firft of our Eng- 
 li/h Writers ; yet has He hitherto been treated with 
 fo much Neglect, to fay no Worfe, That no one 
 Author has afforded us a tolerable Sketch of his Life; 
 or given Themfelves even the Trouble to make the 
 flighteft Enquiry after Him. Philips fo far over- 
 looks him, that he was forc'd to crowd him into 
 his Supplement, and his Tranfcriber Winftanly, does, 
 in a Manner, the fame, by poftponing him till af- 
 ter the Earl of Rochefter. Sir 'Thomas Pope Blunt 
 makes no mention of him at all : And Mr. Jacob in- 
 forms us he wrote in the Reign of King Charles the 
 Firft , tho* He dedicates his Tranflation of Tajfo to 
 Queen Elizabeth : Indeed all that name him, do him 
 the Juftice to allow he was an accompliih'd Genius ; 
 but then 'tis in fo cool, and carelefs a Manner, as 
 plainly indicates they were very little acquainted with 
 the Merit they prais'd. 'Twas impofiible for the 
 great Mr. Dry den to be fo infenfible ; and, accord-
 
 The Mufes Library. 343 
 
 ingly we find him introducing Spencer^ and Fairfax^ 
 almoft on the Level, as the leading Authors of their 
 Times ; nay tacitly yielding the Palm in Point of 
 Mufick to the laft , by aflerting, That Waller con- 
 fefs'd He ow'd the Harmony of his Numbers to the 
 
 Godfrey of Bulloign, of Fairfax. In Fact, this 
 
 Gentleman is the only Writer down to TFAvenant^ 
 that needs no Apology to be made for him, on Ac- 
 count of the Age he lived in. His Diction being, 
 generally fpeaking, fo pure, fo elegant, and full of 
 Graces, and the Turn of his Lines fo perfectly Me- 
 lodious, that I hardly believe the Original Italian^ 
 has greatly the Advantage in either : Nor could any 
 Author, in my Opinion, be juftify'd for attempting 
 TaJJb anew, as long as his Tranflation can be read. 
 
 Mr. Fairfax was natural Son of Sir Thomas Fairfax 
 of Denton, and natural Brother to Sir Thomas Fairfax, 
 the firft who was created Baron of Cameron. His 
 younger Brother was Knighted ; and {lain at the 
 memorable Siege of Oftend^ 1601. of which Place he 
 was fome Time Governor. 
 
 Whom he marry'd, is not on Record -, or in what 
 Circumftances he liv'd ; But 'tis to be prefum'd, his 
 Father took Care to fupport him in a Manner fu it- 
 able to his own Quality, and his Son's Merit. He 
 being always ftil'd E. Fairfax, Efq; of New-Hall in 
 Fuyftone^ in the Foreft of Knafeborough : - The Year 
 he dy'd in, is likewife uncertain , and the laft we hear 
 of him, is, that He was living in 1 63 1 : which ar- 
 gu'd that he was then pretty well advanc'd in Years ; 
 and, as I fuppofe, gave occafion to the many Miftakes 
 that have been made, as to the Time he wrote in. 
 
 His eldeft Son was William a very learned, but 
 fplenetick Man ', who was a Kind of a Tutor ; or 
 rather an intimate Friend to Mr. Stanley^ who pub- 
 lifh'd the Lives of the Pbilofophers j The greateft Part 
 pf the Work, as well as the Notes on Euripides 
 Z 4 truly
 
 344 72* Mufes Library. 
 
 truly belonging to Mr. W. Fairfax ; tho' his Mo- 
 defty, and Friendfhip declined the Reputation. 
 
 Mr. Fairfax^ the Father, befide the Tranflation of 
 Godfrey of Eulloigne^ wrote the Hiftory of Edward 
 the Black Prince, and certain witty Eclogues, which 
 are yet in Manufcript, tho* by the Indulgence of the 
 Family (from whom I had likewife the Honour of 
 thefe Memoirs) I am permitted to oblige the World 
 with a Specimen of their Beauties : A Favour that lam 
 proud to fay will, in one Senfe however, make this 
 Collection compleat, fince it was impoflible it mould 
 be fo without. He wrote alfo a Book call'd Dtemono- 
 logie^ in which, tho' the Story is particular, He 
 Ihows a great deal of ancient Reading and Know- 
 ledge : It is ftill a MS. and, in the Beginning, He 
 give? this Character of Himfelf. 
 
 " I am in Religion, neither a fantaftick Puritan, 
 " nor fuperftitious Papift, but fo fettled in Confcience 
 " that I have the fure Ground of God's Word to 
 " warrant all I believe, and the commendable Or- 
 " dinances of our Englijh Church to approve all J 
 " practife : In which Courfe I live a faithful Chriftian 
 " and an Obedient, and fo teach my Family.^' 
 
 The Introduction to the following Pajfagefrom Taflb. 
 
 Two Knights (fent by Godfrey to invite Rinaldo 
 back to the Siege, and furnim'd with a Diamond- 
 mield, to dilmchant him, with the Sight of his own 
 effeminate Figure) find him in a fond Converfation 
 with the Sorcerefe Armida. 
 
 And
 
 "The Mufes Library. 345 
 
 ';"'. kl i. 
 
 ND'with that Word me fmil'd, and nerethelefle, 
 Her Loue-Toies ftill me vs'd, and Pleafure* 
 
 bold: 
 
 Her Haire (that done) me twifted vp in Trefle, 
 And loofer Locks in filken Laces rolPd, 
 Her Curies Garland -wife (he did vpdrefle, 
 Wherein (like rich Ennamell laid on Gold) 
 
 The twifted Flowrets fmil'd, and her white Breft 
 The Lillies (there that fpring) with Rofes dreft. 
 
 The iolly Peacock fpreads not half fo faire, 
 
 The eyed Feathers of his pompous Traine -, 
 
 Nor golden Iris fo bends in the Aire 
 
 Her twentie-colour'd Bow, through Clouds of Raine: 
 
 Yet all her Ornaments, ftrange, rich and rare, 
 
 Her Girdle did in Price and Beauty ftaine, 
 
 Not that (with Scorne) which Tufcan Guillalott. ; 
 
 Nor Venus Cefton could match this for Coft. 
 
 Of milde Denaies, of tender Scornes, of fweet 
 Repulfes, War, Peace, Hope, Defpaire, Joy, Feare, 
 Of Smiles, Jefts, Mirth, Woe, Griefe, and fad Regret ; 
 Sighes, Sorrowes, Teares, Embracements, Kiffes deare, 
 2 That
 
 346 The Mufes Library. 
 
 That, mixed firft, by Weight and Meafure meet ; 
 
 Then at an eafie Fire attempred were ; 
 This wondrous Girdle did Armida frame, 
 And (when me would be loued) wore the fame. 
 
 But, when her wooing Fit was brought to End, 
 She Congee tooke, kift him, and went her Way \ 
 For once me vfed euery Day to wend 
 Bout her Affaires, her Spels and Charms to fay : 
 The Youth remain'd, yet had no Pow'r to bend 
 One Step from thence j but vfed there to ftray 
 
 Mongft the fweet Birds, through euery Walke and 
 Groue: 
 
 Alone, faue for an Hermit falfe, call'd Loue . 
 
 And, when the Silence deep and friendly Shade 
 Recall'd the Louers to their wonted Sport, 
 In a fair Roome, for Pleafure built, they lai'd, 
 And longeft Nights with Joyes made fweet and fhort. 
 Now,whiletheQueene her Houmold-Thingsfuruai'd, 
 And left her Lord, her Garden and Difport, 
 The Twaine, that hidden in the Bufheswere, 
 Before the Prince in gliftring Armes appeare : 
 
 As
 
 "The Mufes Library. 347 
 
 As the fierce Steed for Age withdrawne from War, 
 Wherein the glorious Beaft had alwaies wonne, 
 That in vile Reft, from fight fequeftred far, 
 Feeds with the Mares at krge, his Seruice done, 
 If Armes he fee, or hear the Trumpet's Jarre, 
 He neyeth loud, and thither faft doth run, 1 
 And wiflieth on his Backe the armed Knight, 
 Longing for Jufts, for Turnament and Fight ! 
 
 So far*d Rinaldo when the glorious Light 
 Of their bright Harnefle gliftred in his Eies ; 
 His noble Sprite awaked at that Sight, 
 His Blood began to warme, his Heart to rife ; 
 Though drunke with Eafe, deuoid of wonted Might, 
 On fleepe, till then, his weak'ned Vertue lies : 
 Vbaldo forward ftept, and to him hell'd 
 Qf, Diamonds cleere, that pure and precious Shield. 
 
 Vpon the Targe his Lookes amas'd he bent, 
 And therein all his wanton Habit fpide, 
 His Ciuet, Baulrne, and Perfumes redolent, 
 How from hisLockes they fmoakt, and Mantle wide ; 
 His Sword, that many a Pagan ftout had fhent, 
 Be wrapt with Flowres, hung idlie by his Side, 
 
 2 So
 
 348 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 So nicely decked, that it feem'd the Knight 
 Wore it for Fafhion-fake, but not for Fight. 
 
 As when, from Sleepe and idle Dreames abraid, 
 A Man, awakt, cals home his Wits againe ; 
 So, in beholding his Attire he plaid, 
 But yet to view himfelfe could not fuftaine ; 
 His Lookes he downward carl, and nought he faid, 
 Grieu'd, (named, fad, he would haue died faine 5 
 And oft he wifht the Earth or Ocean wide 
 Would fwallow him, and fo his Errours hide ! 
 
 Vbaldo tooke the Time, and thus begun. 
 
 All Europe now and Afia be in War, 
 
 And all that Cbrift adore, and Fame haue won 
 
 In Battaile ftrong, in Syria fighting are ; 
 
 But thee alone (Bertoldo's noble Son) 
 
 This little Corner keepes, exiled far 
 
 From all the World, buried in Sloth and Shame ; 
 
 A carpet Champion for a wanton Dame ! 
 
 What Letharge hath in Drowfinefle vp-pend 
 Thy Courage thus ? what Sloth doth thee infect ? 
 Vp! vp! our Campeand Godfrey for thee fend, 
 
 Thee
 
 The Mufes Library. 349 
 
 Thee Fortune, Praife, and Viffory expecl: ! 
 Come fatal Champion, bring to happy End 
 This Enterprife begun, and all that Sett, 
 
 (Which oft thou fhaken haft) to Earth full low 
 With thy marpeBrand,ftrikedowne,kill,ouerthrow! 
 
 This faid j the noble Infant flood a Space 
 Confufed, fpeechlefle, fenilefle, ill afhamed ; 
 But, when that Shame to iuft Difdaine gaue Place, 
 To fierce Difdaine from Courage fprung vntamed, 
 Another Rednefle blufhed through his Face, 
 Whence worthie Anger fhone, Difpleafure flamed 5 
 His nice Attire in Scorne he rent and tore, 
 For his Bondage vile that witnefTe bore. 
 
 That done, he hafted from the charmed Fort, 
 And,through theMaze,paft with his SearchersTwaine, 
 Armida, of her Mount, and chiefeft Port 
 Wondred to finde the furious Keeper flaine : 
 A while me feared, but (he knew in mort 
 That her deare Lord was fled ; then faw me plaine 
 (Ah wofull Sight !) how from her Gates the Man 
 In Hafte, in Feare, in Wrath, in Anger ran. 
 
 Whither
 
 35 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Whither, O Cruett! leau'ft thou me alone? 
 She would haue wide* her Griefe her Speeches (laid* 
 So that her wofull Words are backward gone, 
 And in her Heart a bitter Eccho made : 
 Poore Soule ! of greater Skill than me, was One 
 Whofe Knowledge from her thus her Joy conuaid ; 
 This wift me well, yet had Defire to proue 
 If Art could keepe, if Charmes recall her Loue. 
 
 All what the Witches of 
 With Lips vnpure, yet euer faid or fpake ; 
 Words that could make Heau'ns rolling Circles ftand, 
 And draw the damned Ghofts from Limbo- Lake, 
 All well me knew, but yet no Time me fan'd 
 To vfe her Knowledge, or her Charmes to make, 
 But left her Arts, and forth me ran to proue, 
 If fingle Beauty, were beft Charme for Loue. 
 
 She ran, nor of her Honour tooke Regard. 
 Oh where be all her Vaunts and Triumphs now? 
 Love's Empire great, of late (he made, or mar'd ; 
 To her his Subjects humbly bend and bow, 
 And with her Pride mixt was a Scorne fo hard, 
 That to be lou'd, me lou'd j yet, whilft they woo, 
 
 Her
 
 Mufes Library. 351 
 
 Her Louers all (he hates : That pleas'd her Will, 
 To conquer Men, and, conquer'd fo, to kill. 
 
 But now, her felfe difdain'd, abandoned, 
 
 Ran after him, that from her fled in Scorne, 
 
 And her defpifed Beautie laboured, 
 
 With humble Plaints, and Prayers, to adorne ; 
 
 She ran, and hafted after him that fled, 
 
 Through Froft and Snow, through Brier, Bum, and 
 
 Thome, 
 And fent her Cries on Meflage her before, 
 
 That reacht not him, till he had reacht the Shore. 
 
 \ 
 
 O thou that leau'ft but halfe behinde (quoth me) 
 Of my poore Heart, and halfe with thee doft carry ! 
 
 take this Part, or render that to me ! 
 Elfe kill them both at once ! ah tarry ! tarry ! 
 Heare my laft Words, no parting Kifle of thee 
 
 1 craue ! for fome more fit with thee to marry 
 
 Keepe them (vnkind!) What fear'ft thou if thou ftay ? 
 Thou mai'ft deny, as well as run away. 
 
 At this Rinaldo ftopt, flood ftill, and ftaid. 
 
 She came, fad, breathlefle, wearie, faint, and weake, 
 
 So wo-begone was neuer Nymph or Maid ; 
 
 And
 
 352 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And yet her Beautie's Pride, Griefe could not breakej 
 On him fhe lookt, fhe gaz'd, but nought fhe faid, 
 She would not, could not, or fhe durft not fpeake : 
 At her he lookt not, glanft not; if he did, 
 Thofe Glances fhamefaft were, clofe, fecret, hid. 
 
 As cunning Singers, ere they ftraine on hie, 
 In loud, melodious Tunes, their gentle Voice, 
 Prepare the Hearers Eares to Harmonie, 
 With Fainings fweet, low Notes, and Warbles choice: 
 So fhe, not hauing yet forgot pardie 
 Her wonted Shifts and Slights in Cupid's Toies, 
 A Sequence firft of Sighes and Sobs forth caft, 
 To breed Companion deare, then fpake at laft. 
 
 Suppofe not (Cruel! 7) that I come to vow, 
 Or pray, as Ladies doe their Loues and Lords 5 
 Such were we late ; if thou difdaine it now, 
 Or fcorne to grant fuch Grace as Loue affords, 
 At leaft yet as an En'my liften thou ! 
 Sworne Foes fometime will talke, and chaffer Words j 
 For what I afke thee, maift thou grant right well, 
 And lefTen nought thy Wrath and Anger fell. 
 
 If
 
 The Mufes Library. 353 
 
 If me thou hate, and in that Hate delight, 
 I come not to appeafe thee, hate me ftill ! 
 It's like for like -, I bore great Hate and Spight 
 Gainft Cbri/lians all , chiefly I wimt thee ill : 
 I was a Pagan borne, and all my Might 
 Againft Godfredo bent, mine Art and Skill ; 
 J follow'd thee, tooke thee, and bore thee far 
 To this ftrange Ifle, and kept thee fafe from War. 
 
 And more, which more thy Hate may iuftly moue, 
 More to thy Lofle, more to thy Shame and Griefe, 
 I thee inchanted, and allur'd to loue : 
 Wicked Deceit ! Craft worthy fharpe Repriefe ! 
 Mine Honour gaue I thee ; all Gifts aboue ! 
 And of my Beauties made thee Lord and Chiefe, 
 And to my Suitors old what I denaid, 
 That gaue I thee (my Louer new !) vnpraid. 
 
 But reckon that among my Faults, and let 
 Thofe many Wrongs prouoke thee fo to Wrath, 
 That hence thou runne ; and that at nought thou fet 
 This pleafant Houfe, fo many Joyes which hath' 
 Goe! trauell! pafle the Seas! fight! Conqueft get! 
 Deftroy our Faith ! what mall I fay our Faith ? 
 
 A a Ah
 
 354 The Mufes Library. 
 
 Ah no ! no longer ours, before thy Shrine' 
 Alone I pray, thou cruell Saint of mine ! 
 
 All onely let me go with thee (Vnkinde!) 
 A fmall Requeft although I were thy Foe ! 
 The Spoiler fddonre leaues the Prey behinde ; 
 Who triumphs lets his Captiues with him go y 
 Among thy Pris'ners poore Armida binde ' 
 And let the Campe increafe thy Praifes fo, 
 That thy Beguiler fo thou couldft beguile, 
 And point at me,- thy Thrall and Bond-Slaue vile? 
 
 Defpifed Bond-Slaue ! fince my Lord doth hate 
 ThefeLockes, whykeepe Ithem,orhold themdeare? 
 Come cut them off, that to my feruile State 
 My Habit anfwer may, and all my Geare f 
 I follow thee, in Spight of Death and Fate,- 
 Through Battels fierce where Dangers moft appeare 5 
 Courage I haue, ami Strength enough (perchance) 
 To leade thy Courfer fpare y and bear thy Lance ! 
 & uttrfj.-;-: vftjfrM?.^t' titsw iro^b ^t?y \ 
 I will or beare, or be my felfe, thy Shield, 
 And to defend thy Life, will lofe mine owne :' 
 This Bread, this Bofome foft mail be thy Beild
 
 The Mufes Library. 355 
 
 Gainft Stormes of Arrowes, Darts and Weapons 
 
 throwne ! 
 
 Thy Foes, pardy, encountring thee in Field, 
 Will fpare to ftrike thee (mine AfFedion knowne!) 
 Left me they wound ; nor will iharpe Veng'ance 
 
 take 
 On thee* for this defpifed Beautie's Sake. 
 
 O Wretch ! dare I ftill vaunt, or Helpe inuoke 
 From this poore Beauty, fcorned and difdained ? 
 She faid no more, her Teares her Speeches brokej 
 Which from her Eies like Streames from Springs 
 
 down rained : 
 
 She would hauc caught him by the Hand or Cloke ; 
 But he ftept backward, and himfelfe reftrained, 
 Conquer 'd his Will, his Heart Ruth foft'ned not 
 There Plaints no IfTue, Loue no Entrance got ! 
 
 Loue entred not to kindle in his Breaft 
 
 (Which Reafon late had quencht) his wonted Fkme ; 
 
 Yet entred Pity in the Place at leaft ; 
 
 Loue's Sifter, but a chafte and fober Dame, 
 
 And ftirr'd him fo, that, hardly, he fuppreft 
 
 The fpringiug Teares that to his Eyes vp came'} 
 
 A a a But
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 But yet, euen there, his Plaints reprefled were* 
 And (as he could) he looked, and fained Cheere; 
 
 Madame (quoth he) for your Diftrefs I grieue* 
 And would amend it, if I might or could 5 
 From your wife Heart that fond Affection driue I 
 I cannot hate or fcome you though I would ; 
 I feeke no Veng'ance, Wroftgs I all forgiue ? 
 Nor you my Seruant, nor my Foe I hold ! 
 Truth is, you err'd,- and your Eftate forgof, 
 Too great your Hate was, and your Loue too hot ! 
 
 But thofe are common Faults, and Faults of Kinde, 
 Excus'd by Nature, by your Sex and Yeares -, 
 I erred likewife, if I Pardon finde, 
 None can condemne you, that our Trefpafs heares > 
 Your dear Remembrance will I keepe in Minde, 
 In Jy es m Woes, in Comforts, Hopes and Feares 
 Call me your Souldier, and your Knight, as far 
 As Cbriftian Faith permits, and Aficfs War ! 
 
 Ah let our Faults and Follies here take End, 
 And let our Errors paft you fatisfie, 
 And in this Angle of the World ipeud, 
 
 Let
 
 fie Mufes Library. 357 
 
 Let toth the Fame and Shame thereof now die! 
 From all the Earth, where I am knowne and kend, 
 J wifh this Fad mould ftill concealed lie! 
 
 Nor yet in following me, poor Knight ! difgrace 
 Tour Worth, your Beauty, and your Princely- Race' 
 
 Stay here in Peace ! I goe, nor wend you may 
 With me, my Guide your Fellowfhip denies -, 
 Stay here ! or hence depart fome better Way, 
 And calm your Thoughts ! you are both fage and wife] 
 While thus he fpoke, her Paflions found no Stay, 
 But here and there me turn'd and roll'd her Eies, 
 And (taring on his Face a while, at Jaft 
 Thus, in foule ITermes, her bitter Wrath forth braft. 
 
 Of Sophia faire thou neuer wert the Childe, 
 
 Nor of the Azzaine-Rttt ifprung thou art, 
 
 The mad Sea-Waues, thee bare! fome Tygrefs wildc, 
 
 On Caucafus cold Crags, nurft thee apart ! 
 
 Ah cruell Man ! in whom no Token milde 
 
 Appeares, of Pity, Ruth, or tender Heart, 
 
 Could not my Griefs, my Woes, my Plaints and all 
 One Sigh ftraine from thy Breaft, oneTeare make 
 fell? 
 
 Aa 3 What
 
 35 8 The' Mufes Library. 
 
 What mall I fay ? or how renew my Speach? 
 
 He fcornes me, leaues me, bids me call him mine ! 
 
 The Victor hath his Foe within his Reach ; 
 
 Yet pardons her, that merits Death and Pine ! 
 
 Heare how he counfels me ! how he gan preach 
 
 (Like chafte Xenocrates] gainft Loue diuine ! 
 
 OhHeau'ns! oh Gods! why doethefeMen of Shame, 
 Thus fpoile your Temples, and blafpheme your 
 Name ? 
 
 Go Cruell ! go ! go with fuch Peace, fuch Reft, 
 Such Joy, fuch Comfort, as thou leau'ft me here! 
 My angrie Soul, difcharg'd from this weake Breft, 
 Shall haunt thee euer and attend thee neare ; 
 And, Furie-like, in Snakes and Fire-Brands dreft, 
 Shall aie torment thee, whom it late held deare ! 
 
 And if thou fcape the Seas, the Rockes and Sands, 
 
 And come to fight amid the Ptfgv 
 
 There, lying wounded, mongft the Hurt and Slaine, 
 Of thefe my Wrongs thou malt the Vengeance beare, 
 And oft Armida ! malt thou call in vaine, 
 At thy laft Gafpe ! this hope I foone to heare 
 Here fainted me, with Sorrow, Griefe and Paine j 
 Her lateft Words fcant well expreiTed were, 
 
 But
 
 The Mufes Library. 359 
 
 But, in a Swoune, on Earth, outftretcht me lies ; 
 StifFe were her frozen Limmes, clos'd were her Eies. 
 
 Thou clos'd ,thine Eies (Armida) Heau'n enuidc 
 Eafe to thy Griefe, or Comfort to thy Woe ; 
 Ah, open them againe ! fee Teares downe flide 
 From his kinde Eies, whom thou efteems thy Foe ! 
 If thou hadft heard, hk.Sighes had mollifide 
 Thine Anger hard, 'he fighM and mourned fo ; 
 And, as he could, with fad, and rufull Looke 
 His Leaue .of thee, and laft Farewell he tookc. 
 
 What mould he do? leaue on the naked Sand 
 This wpfull Ladie, halfe aliue, iialfe dead ? 
 Kindmffe forbad, Pity did that withftand ; 
 But hard Conftraint (alas !) did thence him lead. 
 Away he went* the Weft Wind blew from Land 
 Mongft the rich TrefTes of their Pilot's Head, 
 And, with that golden Saile, the Waues me cleft : 
 TO Land he look'd, dll Land vnfeene he left. 
 
 Wak ? t from her Trance, forfaken, fpeechlefs, fed, 
 Armida wildly ftar'd, and gaz'd about : 
 And is he gone ? (quoth me) nor Pity had 
 
 A a 4 To
 
 360 The Mufes Library. 
 
 To leaue me thus twixt Life and Death in doubt ? 
 Could he not ftay ? could not the Traitour-Lad 
 From this laft Trance helpe, or recall me out ? 
 And doe I loue him ftill, and, on this Sand, 
 Still vnreueng'd, ftill mourne, ftill weeping ftand * 
 
 Fie ! no! Complaints farewell ! with Armes and Art 
 I will purfue to Death this fpightfull Knight ; 
 Not Earth's low Center, nor Sea's deepeft Part, 
 Nor Heau'n,nor Hell, canmield him from my Might! 
 I will o're-take him, take him, cleaue his Heart ! 
 Such Veng'ance fits a wronged Louer's Spight ! 
 In Cruelty that cruell Knight furpafle 
 I will j but what auaile yaine Words, alafle ? 
 
 P Fook ! thou moulded haue beene cruell then, 
 (For then this Cruell well deferu'd thine Ire) 
 "When thou in Prifon hadft intrap't the Man : 
 T^ow, dead with cold, took late thou aflceft fire \ 
 But, though my Wit, my Cunning nothing can, 
 Some other Meanes mall worke my Heart's De/ire ! 
 To thee (my Beauty) thine be all thefe Wrongs, 
 Veng'ance to thee, to the Reuenge belongs ! 
 
 Thou
 
 The Mufes Library. 361 
 
 Thou fhalt be his Reward, with murdring Brand 
 That dare this Traitor of his Head depriue ! 
 P you my Louers ! on this Rocke doth ftand 
 The Caftle of her Loue, for whom you ftriue ! 
 I, the fole Heir of all Dama/cits-Land, 
 For this Reuenge, my Selfe and Kingdom giue ! 
 If, by this Price, my Will I cannot gaine, 
 Nature giues Beauty, Fortune Wealth in vain ! 
 
 But thee, vain Gift! vain Beauty ! thee I fcorne, 
 I hate the Kingdom which I haue to giue, 
 I hate my felfe, and rue that I was born ; 
 Onely in Hope of fweet Reuenge I Hue. 
 Thus, raging with fell Ire me gan returne 
 From that bad Shore in Hafte, and homeward driue 5 
 And, as true Witnefs of her franticke Ire, 
 Her Locks wau*d loofe, Face (hone, Eyes fparkled 
 Fire! 
 
 When me came Home, me call'd with Outcries mrill, 
 A thoufand Deuils, in Limbo Deepe that won ! 
 Blacke Clouds the Skies with horrid Darknefs fill, 
 And pale for Dread became th* eclipfed Sun ; 
 The Whirl- Wind bluftred big on euery Hill, 
 And Hell to roare vnder her Feet begun, 
 
 YOU
 
 362 The Mufes Library. 
 
 You might haue heard how through the Palace 
 
 wide, 
 Some Spirits how?d, fomeBarkM, fomehiit, fome 
 
 cride! 
 
 A Shadow, blacker than the mirkeft Night \ 
 Enuiron'd all the Place, with DarknefTe fad -, 
 Wherein a Firebrand gaue a dreadfull Light, 
 Kindled in Hell by ttfipbone the mad. 
 Vanilht the Shade, the Sun appear'd in Sight, 
 Pale were his Beames, the Aire was nothing glad, 
 And all the Palace vanifht was and gone, 
 Nor of fo great a Worke was left one Stone ! 
 
 As oft the Clouds frame Shapes of Caftles great 
 
 Amid the Aire, that little Time doe laft, 
 
 But are diflblu'd by Wind or Titan's Heat $ 
 
 Or like vaine Dreames foone made, and fooner paft: 
 
 The Palace vanifht fo, nor in his Seat 
 
 Left ought, but Rocks and Crags, by Kinde there 
 
 plaft ; 
 
 She in her Coach, which two old Serpents drew, 
 Sate downe, and, as {he vs'd, away {he flew. 
 
 She
 
 The Mufes Library. 363 
 
 She broke the Clouds, and cleft the yeilding Skie, 
 And, bout her, gather'd Tempeft, Storme and Winde; 
 The Lands, that view the South-Pole, flew (he by, 
 And left thofe vnknowne Countrey's far behinde ; 
 The Straits of Hercules me paft, which lie 
 Twixt Spain and Africk ; nor her Flight inclinde 
 To North or South -, but ftill did forward ride 
 Qre Seas and Streames, till Syria's Coaft fhe fpi'd. 
 
 The Eclogues, above quoted, are in Number 
 Twelve , all of them wrote after the Acceflion of 
 of King James to the Throne of England, on im- 
 portant Subjects, relating to the Manners, Charac- 
 ters, and Incidents of the Times he lived in , They 
 are pointed with many fine Strokes of Satire ; digni- 
 fy 'd with wholfome LefTons of Morality, and Policy, 
 to thofe of thehigheft Rank ; and fome modeft Hints 
 
 even to Majefty it felf As far as Poetry is con- 
 
 cern'd in them, the very Name of Fairfax is the 
 higheft Recommendation, and the Learning they 
 pontain, is fo various, and exteniive, that, accord- 
 ing to the Evidence of his Son, (who has written 
 large Annotations on each) No Man's Reading, be- 
 fide his own, was fufficient to explain his References 
 effectually. 
 
 Eclogue
 
 364 The Mufes Library, 
 
 Eclogue the Fourth. 
 Eglon and Alexis. 
 
 VTTHilft, on the rough, and Heath-ftrew'd 
 
 * V Wildernefs, 
 
 His tender Flocks the Rafps, and Bramble 
 
 cropp, 
 
 Poor Shepherd Eglon, dl of fad Diftrefs ! 
 By the fmall Stream, (at on a Mole-Hill-Topp ; 
 Crown'd with a Wreath of Heban Branches 
 
 broke: 
 Whom good Altxis found, and thus befpoke, 
 
 Alex. My Friend^ what means this filent Lamentation? 
 Why on this Field of Mirth, this Realm of 
 
 Smiles 
 Doth the fierce War of Greife make fuch Inva- 
 
 fion? 
 
 Witty Ttmantbes had he feen, ere whiles, 
 What Face of Woe thy Cheek of Sadnefe 
 
 bears, 
 He had not curtain*d Agamemnon's Tears. 
 
 * ^Timamthcs the Painter, wbo, dtfigning the Sacrifiu 
 tbrtw a foil over the Fate of Agamemnon ; not able to exprefs * 
 Father's Anguijb. 
 
 The
 
 The Mufes Library. 365 
 
 The bhcke Ox treads not yet upon thy Toe, 
 Nor thy good Fortune turnes her Wheele awaye ; 
 Thy Flocks increafei andthou increafeft fo; 
 Thy ftraglingGoates now mild and gentle ly ; 
 
 And that Foole Love thou whip'ft away with 
 Rods: 
 
 Then what fets thee and Joy fo far at ods ? 
 
 Egl. Nor Love, nor Lofs of ought that Worldinga 
 
 love, 
 Be it Drefs, Wealth, Dream, Pleafure, Smoak 
 
 or Glory, 
 
 Can my well-fettled Thought to Paflion move : 
 A greater Caufe it is that makes me forry. 
 But, known to thee it may feem fmall or none; 
 Under his Fellow's Burden who needs grone ? 
 
 Alex. Yet tell me, Eglon, for my Ram mall dy 
 
 On the fame Altar, where thy Goat doth burn ; 
 Elfe let thefe Kids my Olive-Trees lick dry, 
 And let my Sheep to mag-hayr'd*M(^wJtura! 
 
 * Mufmon * KifiJ of wild Shtf.
 
 366 fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 All Things with Friends are common ; Grief 
 
 and Sorrow, 
 Men without Bond, or Ihtereft freely borrow 
 
 Egl. Sufficeth to each Man his own Mimap ; 
 
 Yet for our Friends our Eye oft fpends morc 
 
 Teares, 
 
 Than for our felves ; our Neighbour in his Lap, 
 ' Sometimes our Grief, our LofTes never beares ; 
 <3 v Fitter to weep than help when need requires! 
 So foon the halting Steed of Friend/hip tires ! 
 
 Thou know'ft I had a tender Lamb ; a Cade, 
 Nurifh't with Milk and Morfels from my Table, 
 That in my Bofom its foft Lodging made, 
 And cherimt was, and fed as I was able, 
 It was my Child my Darling and my Queen, 
 And might for Shape a Pa/over have been! 
 
 I kept it for an Offering 'gainft the Day 
 That the great God of Shepherds Pan mall come, 
 Not he whofeThoufand Lambs did feed andftray 
 ' On &V/7-Hills, one fuch at Night brought Home. 
 
 Nor
 
 7 'he Mufes Library. 367 
 
 Nor could the Ram, wonne by the Lords of 
 
 Greece 
 Compare his Guilded, with her pearled Fleece. 
 
 But when the Sun with his intifing Ray 
 Allur'd her forth, from Quiet of my fried, 
 Thorow the broken Wall me flipt away, 
 Behind the Corner-ftone, and thence me fled, 
 Ambling along the Meads and Rivers fhrill: 
 And yet me thought, me knew (he did no 111. 
 
 The Fox, whofe Fort, Malpardus^ border*d nie, 
 Spi'd from his Keep the wandring Innocent, 
 That, weary, in the cooling (hade did lye, 
 Left the hot Beams her tender Limbs might 
 
 flient ; 
 
 And foon he judged, by her harmlefs Look, 
 It was a Fifh would eas'ly take the Hook. 
 
 He bufkt him Boon, and, on his fartded Coat, 
 He buckled clofe a flain Kid's hayry Skin, 
 And wore the Vizzard of a fmooth-fac't Goat : 
 All Saint without, none fpi'd the Devill within ! 
 2 With
 
 368 *fhe Mufes Library. 
 
 With wanton Skips he boards die harmlefTe 
 
 Sheep, 
 And with fweet Words thus into Grace did 
 
 creep. 
 
 Dear Sifter-Lamb! Queen of the fleecy Kind! 
 That opal Flowers, pick'ft from thefe Emral'd- 
 
 Clofes, 
 
 Thy Bombace fort in filver Trammels bind, 
 And crown thy Lamber Horns with Corall-Rofes! 
 
 This Sabbath is the Feaft-Day of thy Birth ; 
 
 Come be thou Lady of our May, and Mirth ! 
 
 Break from the Prifon of the auftere Cell 
 Of thy ftricl: Mafter, and his Cynick Diet! 
 And in fweet Shades of this fat Valley dwell, 
 In Eafe and Wealth! Here we are rich and quiet! 
 
 Unty thefe Bonds of Awe, and Cords of Duty! 
 
 They be weake Chains to fetter Youth and 
 Beauty ! 
 
 With that he kifs'd her, and ftrayn'd her Hand, 
 And foftly rays'd her from the tender Grafs ; 
 And, fquiring her along the flowry Land, 
 Still made her court as thro' the Fields they pafs : 
 
 And
 
 The Mufes Library v 369 
 
 And that Bawd Love, Fa&or of mame and fin ! 
 Lent him a Net to catch this Woodcock in. 
 
 Clofe in the fiofom of a bended Hill, 
 Of faire, and fruitful Trees a Foreft flood ; 
 Balm, Myrtle, Bdellium, from their Bark diflill 
 Bay, Smilax, Myrtle, (Cupifa Arrow- Wood) 
 Grew there, and Cyprefs with his kifs-fkyTops, 
 And*Ferrea*s Tree whence pure Rofe- Water 
 drops. 
 
 The Golden Bee, buzzing with TinfeJl- Wings 
 Suckt Amber-Honey from the filken FJower j 
 TheDove fad Love-Grones on her Sack-But fings, 
 The Tiro/ell whittles from his Oaken-Tower ; 
 
 And, fporting, lay the Nymphs of Woods, 
 and Hills, 
 
 On Beds of Heart's-Eafe, Rue, and Dafadtfls. 
 
 Hither the Traytor-Fox his Miftrefs leads, 
 Intifing her with Sweetnefs of the Place, 
 Till on a hidden Net unwares me treads ; 
 Yet hurt her not ; the fubtile Fouler fmil'd : 
 Nor knew the Dett'rell yet, me was beguil'd. 
 
 Alrte growing In oneoftbe CanaHes faid te bavt that Quality. 
 B b Not
 
 37 tt* Mufes Library. 
 
 Not thatfalfe Snare, wherewith theCuckold-Smith 
 Sham'd his Qneen, and himfelf ; nor that fly Gin 
 * Aftolfo caught the Eat-Man-Giant with, 
 Nor that Aracbne takes her wild Fowle in, 
 
 Nor thofe fmall Toiles the Morning- Queen 
 doth fet 
 
 In every Mead, fo fine were as that Net. 
 
 Thus caught, he bound her in a Chain three-fold 1 * 
 And led her to a fliady Arbour near ; 
 The Chain was Copper, yet it feemed Gold, 
 And every Link a fundry Name did bear, 
 Wrath, Sloth, Strife, Envy, Avarice, foul Luft 
 And Pride: What Flelh can fo ftrong Fetters 
 bu'ft ? 
 
 An Hundred Times her Virgin-Lip he kite't, 
 
 As oft her May den- Finger gently wrung ; 
 
 Yet what he would, her Child-hood nothing wift; 
 
 The Bee of Love her foft Heart had not ftung ! 
 In vain hefigh't, heglanc'd, he ihookhisHead, 
 Thofe Hkrogliphicks were too hard to read! 
 
 * See Arioftcv 
 
 She
 
 Mufes Library. 371 
 
 She did not, nay me would not underftand 
 
 Upon what Errand his fweet Smiles were gone ; 
 
 And in his borrowed Coate fome Hole me fond, 
 
 Thro* which fhe fpy'd,all was not Gold that fhone. 
 
 Yet ftill his Tools the Workman ply'd fo faft, 
 
 Thatherfpeed- Wing his Lime-Twig tookat laft, 
 
 Her Silver-Rug from her foft Hide he clip't, 
 And on her Body, knit a Cauvafs thin, 
 With Twenty-Party-Colours ev'nly ftrip't, 
 And guarded like the *Zabra?s Rayne-Bow -Skyi. 
 
 Such Coats young T'amar^ and fayre Rachel's 
 Child 
 
 Put off, when He was fold, and She defil'd. 
 
 There mourn'd the Blacke> thePurple tyranniz*d, 
 The Ru/ef hoped : Green the Wanton play'd ; 
 Yellow fpy'd Faults in fuch as Love difguis'd , 
 Carnation ftill defir'd, White lived a Mayd ; 
 
 Blew kept his Faith unftain'd 5 Red bled to 
 Death 
 
 And forlorn fawny wore a Willow- Wreath. 
 
 * The Zabra, a Utajl in Congo, of variout Colours. 
 
 B b 2 AH
 
 372 The Mufes Library. 
 
 All thefe, and Twenty new-found Colours more, 
 Were in the Weft of that rich Garment wrought; 
 And who that charmed Vefture took and wore, 
 Like it, were changeable in Will and Thought. 
 What Wonder then, if, on fo fmooth a Pkte, 
 He ftamp't a Fiend, where once an Angel fate ? 
 
 Thus clad, he fet her on a Throne of Glafs, 
 And fpread a plenteous Table on the Green ; 
 And every Platter of true Porcelan was, 
 Which had a Thoufand Years in temp'ring been ; 
 
 Yet did the Cates exceed the Subftance fine ; 
 
 So rare the Viands were, fo rich the Wine ! 
 
 Lucullus was a Niggard of his Meat, 
 And fpareful of his Cups feem'd Anthony ; 
 But, in each Morfel, which theGuefts mould eate, 
 The cruel Rat's-Bane of vile Luft did lye 5 
 Yet at that Board, the little -fearing-Sheep 
 Eats, till me furfeit, quaffeth, till me fleep. 
 
 Then, drunk with Folly, to his leather Neft 
 He brought his Prey ; and, in a dufky Room, 
 All Night he couched on her tender Breft, 
 Till timely Day-fpring with her Morning-Broom 
 
 Had
 
 ffje Mufes Library. 373 
 
 Had fwept the Silver Motes from Heav'n' s 
 
 Steel-Flore, 
 And at the Key-Hole peeped through theyr 
 
 Dore. 
 
 But fuch the Ifllie was of that Embrace, 
 That deadly Poyfon thro* her Body fpread, 
 Rotted her Limbs, and leprous grew her Face ; 
 His Bofom's Touch fo dire a Mifchief bred, 
 So venomous was not the poyfoned Lip 
 Of th* Indian * King, or Guinea's Cock's f 
 
 * Pberecides, fmall, winged Dragonets. 
 Ferrotine's "f Gentles, Scilta's || Swarm of Lice, 
 The 5^r-Worm that Joynts afunder frets ; 
 The Plague that fcourged wanton Cr^/'sVice, 
 
 Muhamet* King of Canibia, wbofe Lip, Iting poifoifd by Ac- 
 ddent, was Jaid to kill all the Women He kiffd. 
 
 f A Sea-Weed like a CocK's-Comb, found floating on tbe Coaft uf 
 Guinea, fo venomous as not to be touched without extreme Danger. 
 
 * 4 Pbilofopher confum'd by Fliei like Dragon, bred in his own 
 Body. 
 
 f A Queen of Cyrcne, eaten alive by Maggots,. 
 
 || Scilla dyed of the Lotofy-Difeafe. 
 
 So calfdfrom a City ^"Baftria ; which being ftoallovfd in drink- 
 ing the Waters of the Place, finds a Way into tbe Legs ; and muft 
 be drawn out gradually 5 an Inch a Day\ and if broken * tbe Ope- 
 ration, tbe Patient dies. 
 
 Bb 3 And
 
 374 The Mufes Library. 
 
 And that great Evil! which Viper- Wine 
 
 makes found, 
 Compar'd to hers, are but a Finn's (mail 
 
 Wound. 
 
 The gaftly Raven, from the blafted Oake, 
 With deadly Call forefhew'd my Lamb'sMimap; 
 TheWake-tBirdon my Chimney well-nigh fpoke; 
 But I alas ! forefaw no After-clap ! 
 
 Yet crew my Hens, fure Shepherd's Sign of 111 ! 
 
 But my fond Head in Bird-fpell had no Skill. 
 
 For Help I fought the Leach, wife Mardopbagc 9 
 [ I try'd the EngliJh-Bath, and German-Spaw , 
 
 To Walfmgham I went on Pilgrimage, 
 And faid ftrong Charmes that kept even Death 
 
 in Awe! 
 
 Yet none of thcfc can her loft Health rcflorc : 
 Ah no, my Lamb's Recouery cofteth more ! 
 
 Alex. So vain a Thing is Man ; what leaft we fear 
 That fooneft haps ; the Evill we prefent feel, 
 Brings greater Anguiih than our Souls can bear; 
 Defp'rate we are in Woe, carelefs in Weale ! 
 
 Un-
 
 The Mufes Library. 375 
 
 Unfall'n, unfear'd' if 111 betide us, then 
 Are we paft Hope : So vain a Thing is Man 
 
 Great is, I grant, the Danger of thy Sheep \ 
 But yet there is a Salve for every Sore ; 
 That Shepherd, who ourFlocksandus doth keep, 
 To remedy this Sicknefs long before, 
 
 Killed a holy Lamb^ clear, (potlefs, pure ; 
 
 WhofeBlood the Salve is all ourHurts to cure! 
 
 Call for that Surgeon good, to drefs her Wound! 
 Bath her in holy- Water, of thy Tears ! 
 Let her in Bands of Faith and Love be bound ! 
 And,whihonEarth fhe fpends herPilgrim- Years, 
 
 Thou for thy Charm pray with the Publican! 
 
 And fo reftore thy Lamb to Health again ! 
 
 Now farewell Eglon 1 for the Sun (loops low, 
 And calling Guefts before my Sheep-Coat'sDorc; 
 New clad mPfflite, I fee my * Porter-Crow; 
 Great Kings oft want thefeBleflings of the Poor : 
 
 * The Ring of tie Door, ealFd a Crow;. W, when covered with 
 vibitt Lintn t denettd the Miflrefs of the Hcufe was in Travel. 
 
 Bb 4 My
 
 376 Tie Mufes Library. 
 
 My Board is fliort, my Kitchen needs no Clerk, 
 Come *Fanwus! come! be thou Sywpofiarke ! 
 
 Wmam Shakffftar, 
 
 A Writer of fuch acknowledged Merit, thatPraife is 
 Impertinent, and any Accefs of mine as inconfiderable 
 as a Brook to the Ocean ; I therefore, leave him in 
 the great Hands that have already fo excellently 
 fumm'd up his Life, and Character, and mall bare- 
 ly remark, that his Genius does not feem fo well 
 fuited to the Narrative, as the Dramatick Part of 
 Poetry ; as I prefome, will appear by the many 
 Conceits not only in the Two nrft Stanzas quoted be- 
 low ; but almoft thro* both his Poems of Venus and 
 Lucreffi tho* his paflionate Tranfition in the laft to 
 Opportunity is a ftrong Proof that his Miftakes are 
 more owing to an Excels of Wit, than a Want 
 of it. 
 
 HER Lilly-Hand her rofie Cheekes lies nnder, 
 Coozening the Pillow of a lawful Kifs \ 
 Who, therefore, angry feems to part in funder, 
 Swelling on either Side to want his Blifs, 
 
 Between whofe Hils her Head intombed is; 
 
 ^ 
 Where, like a vertuous Monument, (he lies 
 
 Tp be admir'd of lewd, unhallowed Eyes. 
 * Cuos FiKuaus, mbt *t*dt * La* It nfrtin luxury in Diff. 
 
 Her
 
 Tie Mufes Library. 377 
 
 Her Hair like Golden-Threds plaid with her Breath, 
 
 O modeft Wantons ! wanton Modefty ! 
 
 Showing Life's Triumph in the Map of Death, 
 
 And Death's dim Look in Life's Mortality ; 
 
 Each in her Sleep themfelves fo beautifie, 
 
 As if betweene them Twaine there was no Strife, 
 But that Life livM in Death, and Death in Life. 
 
 Opportunity ! thy Guilt is great ; 
 'Tisthou that execut'ft the Traitor's Treafon; 
 Thou fets the Wolfe where he the Lamb may get : 
 Who ever plots the Sin, thou points the Seafon ; 
 Tis thou that fpurn'ft at Right, at Law, at Reafoa! 
 And in thy fhady Cell, where none may (py her, 
 Sits Sar, to feize the Souls that wander by her. 
 
 Thou mak'ft the Veftal violate her Oath : 
 Thou blowft the Fire when Temperance is thaw'd. 
 Thou finotherft Honefty, thou murtherft Troth 5 
 Thou foul Abbettor, thou notorious Baud ! 
 Thou planteft Scandal, and difplaceft Laud! 
 
 Thou Ravi&er, thou Traitor, thou falfe Thief! 
 
 Thy Hony turns to Gall, thy Joy to Grief! 
 
 I Thy
 
 Mufes Library. 
 
 Thy fecret Pleafure turns to open Shame, 
 Thy private Feafling to a publick Faft : 
 Thy {mothering Tides to a ragged Name ; 
 Thy fugred Tongue to bitter Wormwood-Tafte ; 
 Thy violent Vanities can never laft. 
 How comes it then, vile Opportunity / 
 Being fo bad, fuch Numbers feek for thee ? 
 
 When wit thou be the humble Suppliant's Friend, 
 And bring him where his Suit may be obtained ? 
 When wilt thou fort an Hour great Strifes to end ? 
 Or free that Soul which Wretchednefs hath chained ? 
 Give Phyfick to the fick, Eafe to the pained ? 
 
 The Poor, Lame, Blind, Halt, creep, cry out for 
 thee; 
 
 But they nere met with Opportunity! 
 
 The Patient dies while the Phyfician fleeps j 
 The Orphan pines while the Oppreflbr feeds 5 
 Jujlice is feafting while the Widow weeps : 
 Advife is fporting while Infection breeds, 
 Thou grant'ft no Time for charitable Deeds : 
 Wratl, Envy^ Ireafon, Rape, and Murther rages, 
 Thy hainous Hours wait on them as their Pages. 
 
 When
 
 Tie Mufes Library. 379 
 
 When Truth and Vertue have to do with thee, 
 A thoufand Crofles keep them from thy Aid ; 
 They buy thy Help, but Sin nere gives a Fee j 
 He gratis comes ; aod thou art well apaid, 
 As well to hear, as grant what he hath faid. 
 My Colatine would elfe have come to me : 
 When farquin did, but he was ftaid by thee. 
 
 Guilty thou art of Murther and of Theft, 
 
 Guilty of Perjury and Subornation, 
 
 Guilty of Treafon, Forgery, and Shift, 
 
 Guilty of Inceft, that abomination t 
 
 An acceflary by thine Inclination 
 
 To all Sins paft, and all that are to come, 
 From the Creation to the general Doom. 
 
 Mimapen Time ! Copefmate of ugly Night ! 
 Swift, fubtil* Poft! Carrier of grifly Care ! 
 Eater of Youth ! falfe Slave to falfe Delight ! 
 BafeWatchof Woes! &VsPack-Horfe ! Venue's Snare! 
 Thou nurfeft all, and murthereft all that arc : 
 
 O hear me then, injurious, mifting Time ! 
 
 Be guilty of my Death, fmce of my Crime 1 
 
 i Why
 
 380 7/5* Mufes Library. 
 
 Why hath thy Servant Opportunity 
 
 Betray'd the Hours thou gav'ft me to Repofe ? 
 
 Canceled my Fortunes and enchained me 
 
 To endlefs Date of never-ending Woes ? 
 
 Time's Office is to fine the Hate of Foes, 
 To eat up Error by Opinion bred, 
 Not fpend the Dowry of a kwful Bed. 
 
 Time's Glory is to calme contending Kings, 
 To unmafk Fal/hood, and bring Truth to Light, 
 To ftamp the Seal of Time in aged Things, 
 To wake the Morne, and fentinel the Night, 
 To wrong the Wronger till he render Right, 
 To ruinate proud Buildings with thy Houres, 
 And fmear withDuft their glittering,goldenTowr's. 
 
 To fill with Worm-Holes ftately Monument^ 
 To feed Oblivion with decay of Things, 
 To. blot old Books, and alter their Contents, 
 To pluck the Quils from ancient Ravens Wings, 
 To dry the old Oake's Sap, and cherifh Springs, 
 To fpoil Antiquities of hammer'd Steel, 
 And turn the giddy Round of Fortune's Wheel ! 
 
 Samite?
 
 *fhe Mufes Library. 381 
 
 Samuel Daniel 
 
 Was born of a wealthy Family in Somerfetjhire, and, 
 in 1579, being then but Seventeen, became a Com- 
 moner of Magdalen-Hall^ Oxford ; where he con- 
 tinu'd about Three Years, and greatly improv'd him- 
 felf in academical Learning. But his Genius de- 
 voting him principally to Hiftory and Poetry, he 
 left the Univerfity, before he was of fufficient ftand- 
 ing for a Degree ; and, for fome Years after, we 
 know nothing certain of him, but that he pub- 
 lim*d a Tranflation of a Tract of Paulus Jovius on 
 Rare Inventions , &c. But I think it may very pro- 
 bably, be conjectur'd that 'twas in this Interval, he was 
 Tutor to the great Lady Ann Clifford, Daughter and 
 Heirefs to the Earl of Cumberland, afterwards Coun- 
 tefs of Pembroke, Dorfet, and Montgomery : A Lady 
 who did him as much Honour by her magnificent, 
 and Princely Manner of Living, as by the grateful 
 Monument, and Epitaph, which me erected to his 
 Memory. It is very natural, likewife to imagine, 
 that 'twas by the Intereft, and Patronage of this 
 Noble Family he was afterwards recommended to 
 the Favour, and Encouragement of Ann, Queen- 
 Confort to James the Firft ; who not only did him the 
 Honour of frequent Converfations, but made him 
 ftrft a Gentleman-Extraordinary, and then one of the 
 Grooms of her Chamber. Mr. Daniel himfelf, in 
 the Introduction to his Poem of the Civil Wars, far- 
 ther acknowledges one of the noble Family of Mont- 
 joy to have been his great Friend, and Patron ; and 
 this Acknowledgment of his is the more grateful, 
 and fincere, as it was publifh'd after the Death of his 
 Benefactor. 
 
 But, notwithftanding all this Sun-mine of Favour, 
 and the joint Applaufes of almoft all the great Writers 
 
 of
 
 382 The Mufes Library. 
 
 of his Time, we find him complaining that both his 
 Reputation and Intereft were in their Wane : Which, 
 I fuppofe, was the Reafon why he retir'd from Court* 
 fome Years before he died, to a Farm at Beckington 
 near Philips-Norton in Somerfetjhire -, where he died 
 An. Dom. 1619. 
 
 Mr. Daniel's Works are very various, and confift 
 of Hiftory, Plays, and Poems ; in all which he ap- 
 pears to me a Perfon of great Good-Senfe, and un- 
 biafs'd Integrity ; both Clear, and Concife in his 
 Expreffion ; rather too fimple and void of Orna- 
 ment, and not comparable in his Numbers either to 
 Fairfax or Spencer ; But, on the whole, highly wor- 
 thy of Efteem and Reputation ; as will, I think, be 
 fufficiently evinc'd by the following Quotations, par- 
 ticularly that from the Civil Wars, which, in my 
 Judgment, is one of the fineft Scenes of Diftrefs that 
 can be met with in any Author. 
 
 A Defcription of Beauty^ tranjlated cut of Marino, 
 
 Beauty (Beam nay Flame 
 
 Of that great Lampe of Light 
 
 That mines a while, with Fame, 
 
 But prefently makes Night : 
 
 Like Winter's mort-liu'd-bright, 
 
 Or Summer's fuddain Gleams, 
 
 More valu'd as lefs-lafting are their Beams : ) 
 
 Wing'd
 
 7 'he Mufes Library. 383 
 
 Wing'd Love away doth flye, 
 And with it Time doth bear j 
 And both take fuddainly 
 The fweet, the fair, the dear : 
 A fhining Day, and clear 
 Succeeds an obfcure Night, 
 And Sorrow is theHewe of fweet Delight! 
 
 With what then doft thou fwell, 
 O Youth of new-born Day ? 
 Wherein doth thy Pride dwell 
 O Beauty made of Clay ? 
 Not with fo fwift a Way 
 The headlong Current flies, 
 As do the (parkling Rayes of thy fair Eyes. 
 
 Do not thy felfe betray 
 With wantonizing Years, 
 O Beauty ! Traytors gay ! 
 Thy melting Life that wears, 
 Appearing, difappears, 
 And, with thy flying Days, 
 Ends all thy good of Price,thy fair of Praife. 
 
 Truft
 
 384 Tie Mufes Library. 
 
 Truft not, vain Creditor ! 
 Thy apt-deceiued View, 
 In thy falfe Counfellor, 
 That neuer tels thee true, 
 Thy Forme, and flattred Hew ! 
 Which (hall fo foone tranfpafs, 
 Tho far more fair, than is thy Looking-Glafsl 
 
 Inioy thy Apritt now, 
 Whilft it doth freely mine. 
 This Lightning-Flam and Show, 
 With that clear Spirit of thine, 
 Will fuddainly decline ; 
 And thy fair, murthering Eyes 
 Shal be Loafs Tombs, wherenow his Cradle 
 lyes. 
 
 Old, trembling Age will come, 
 With wrinkled Cheekes, and Stains 3 
 With Motion troublefome, 
 With Skin and bloodlefs Veins : 
 That liuely Vifage wanes, 
 And, made deform'd and old, 
 Hates fight of Glafs, it lou'd fo to behold. 
 
 Thy
 
 Mufes Library. 385. 
 
 Thy Gold, and Scarlet mall 
 Pale Siluer-Colour be ; 
 Thy Rowe of Pearls fhall fall, 
 Like withred Leaues from Tree ; 
 And thou malt fhortly fee 
 Thy Face, and Hair to grow 
 All plough'd with Furrows, ouer-fleec'd 
 with Snow. 
 
 That which, on Flora's Breft, 
 All frefh and flourishing, 
 Aurora^ newly dreft, 
 Saw, in her dawning, fpring 5 
 Quite dry and languishing, 
 Depriu'd of Honour quite, 
 Day-clofing Heforus beholds at Night. 
 
 Faire is the Lilly, fair 
 The Rofe, of Flowers the Eye ! 
 Beth wither in the Ayre, 
 Their beauteous Colours die j 
 And fo, at length, fhall lye 
 Depriu'd of former Grace, 
 TheLilliesofthy Breft, the Rofes of thy 
 Face! 
 
 Cc What
 
 386 The Mufes Library. 
 
 What then will it auail, 
 O Youth, aduifed ill ! 
 In Lap of Beauty frail 
 To nurfe a way-ward Will, 
 Like Snake in Sunne-warme Hill ? 
 Plucke, phicke, betime thy Flow'r, 
 That fprings, and perifheth in one fhort 
 Hou'r! 
 
 Vlyfles and tfa Syren, 
 
 Syren 
 
 COME worthy Greek ! WyJJes come; 
 Poffefle thefe Shores with me ! 
 The Windes and Seas are troublefome, 
 And here we may be free ! 
 
 Here may we fit and view their Toyfc 
 That trauail in the Deepe, 
 And ioy the Day in Mirth the while, 
 And fpend the Night in Sleeps ! 
 
 e Nymph! if Fame or Honour were 
 To be attain'd with Eafe, 
 Then would I come and reft with thee, 
 And kaue fuch To. lies as thefe. 
 
 But
 
 Mufes Library. 387 
 
 But here it dwels, and here muft I 
 With Danger feek it forth : 
 To fpend the Time luxuriou(ly> 
 Becomes not Men of Worth ! 
 
 Syr. Vlyffes, O be not deceiu*d ; 
 With that vnreal Name, 
 This Honour is a thing conceiu*dj .- v 
 And refts on other's Fame. 
 
 Begotten onely to moleft 
 Our Peace, and to beguile 
 (The beft Thing of our Life) our Reft* 
 And giue vs vp to Toyle ! 
 
 V ' J. " - - - - 
 
 Vlyfl. Delicious Nymph! fuppofe there were 
 No Honour, or Report, 
 Yet Manlinefle would fcorne to weare, 
 The Time in idle Sport ; 
 
 For Toyle doth giue a better Touch, 
 TO make vs feele our Joy, 
 And Eafe findes Tedioufnes as much 
 As Labour yeilds Annoy. 
 
 C c 2 Syr:
 
 388 The Mufes Library. 
 
 >r .ThenPleafure , like wife,feemes the Shore, 
 Whereto tendes all your Toyle, 
 Which you forgo to make it more, 
 And perifh oft the while. 
 
 Who may difport them diuerfly, 
 Find neuer tedious Day, 
 And Eafe may have Variety, 
 As well as Action may. 
 
 Vlyff. But Natures of the nobleft Frame 
 Thefe Toyles and Dangers pleafe, 
 And they take Comfort in the fame, 
 As much as you in Eafe ; 
 
 And, with the thought of Actions paftj 
 Are recreated ftill : 
 When Pleafwe leaues a Touch at laft, 
 To mew that it was ill. 
 
 Syr. That doth Opinion onely caufe, 
 That's out of Cuftom bred, 
 Which makes vs many other Lawes, 
 Then euer Nature did. 
 
 No Widows waile for our Delights, 
 Our Sports are without Blood, 
 
 The
 
 Mufes Library* 389 
 
 The World we fee by warlike Wights 
 Receiues more Hurt than Good. 
 
 Wyff. But yet the State of Things require 
 Thefe Motions of Vnreft : 
 And thefe great Spirits of high Defire 
 Seeme born to turne them beft. 
 
 To purge the Mifchiefes that increafe, 
 And all good Order mar : 
 For oft we fee a wicked Peace, 
 To be well chang'd for War. 
 
 Syr. Well, well yiyjjes then I fee, 
 J mall not have thee here : 
 And therefore I will come to thee, 
 And take my Fortune there. 
 
 I muft be won, that cannot win, 
 Yet loft were I not won j 
 For Beauty hath created bin, 
 T'vnde, or be vndone ! 
 
 IN-
 
 39 tte Mufes Library. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 King Richard &\& Second, being brought a PrJr 
 foner to London by Henry Bollingbroke^ Ifabella his 
 Queen, impatient to have a Sight of her Lord, plants 
 herfelf at a Window to be a Spectator of the publicly 
 Entry. 
 
 XT O W Ifdbelli the young, afflicted Queen 
 
 "* ^ (Whofe Yeares had neuer fhew*d her but De- 
 
 lights, 
 
 Nor louely Eyes before had euer feen 
 Other then fmiling Joys, and joyful Sights, 
 Born -great, match't great, liv'd great, and euer beene 
 Partaker of the World's beft Benefits) 
 Had plac't her felf, hearing her Lord fhould pafg 
 That Way, where {he, unfeen, in fecret was. 
 
 Sicke of Delay, and longing to behold 
 Her long-mift Lcue in fearful Jeoperdies.: 
 To whom, although it had, in fort, been told 
 Of their Proceeding, and of his Surprize ; 
 Yet, thinking they would never be fo bold 
 TO Lead their Lord in any fhameful wife, 
 But rather would conduct him as their King 4 
 As feeking but the States reordering^ 
 
 Abroad
 
 The Mufes Library. 391 
 
 Abroad me looks, and notes the foremoft Train ; 
 And grieves to view fome there me wifti't nor there : 
 Seeing the Chief not come, ftays, looks again -, 
 And yet fhe fees not him that mould appear: 
 Then back fhe ftands, and then defires as fain 
 Again to look, to fee if he were near : 
 At length a glittering Troop far off fhe fpies, 
 Perceiues the Throng, and hears the Shouts and 
 Cries. 
 
 Lo ! yonder now, at length he comes; faith fhe : 
 Look, my good Women, where he is in Sight! 
 Do you not fee him yonder ? That is he, 
 Mounted on that white Courfer, all in white ! 
 There! where the thronging Troops of People be ; 
 J know him by his Seat, he fits vpright ! 
 I.o, now he bows! dear Lord! with what fweet Grace! 
 How long, haue I tong'd to behold that Face ! 
 
 O what Delight my Heart takes by mine Eye f 
 I doubt me, when he comes but fomething near, 
 I mail fet wide the Window : What care I 
 Who doth fee me, fo him I may fee clear ? 
 Thus doth falfe Joy delude her wrongfully, 'it 
 JSweet Lady! in the Thing fhe held fo dear, 
 
 C<?.4 For
 
 39 2 Tbe Mufes Library. 
 
 For, nearer come, flic finds me had miftook j 
 And him me mark't, was Henry Bollingbroke. 
 
 Then Enuie takes the Place in her fweet Eyes, 
 Where Sorrow had prepar'd her felf a Seat : 
 And Words of Wrath, from whence Complaints mould 
 
 rife, 
 
 Proceed from eager Looks, and Brows that threat : 
 Traytor ! faith fhe ; is't thou, that, in this wife, 
 To braue thy Lord and King, art made fo great ? 
 And haue mine Eyes done vnto me this Wrong, 
 To look on thee ? For this, ftaid I fo long ? 
 
 Ah, haue they grac't a periur'd Rebel fo ? 
 Well -, for their Error I will v/eep them out, 
 And hate the Tongue defil'd, that prais*d my Foev 
 And loath the Mind, that gaue me not to doubt ! 
 What ? haue I added Shame, vnto my Woe ? 
 I'l look no more : Ladies ! look you about, 
 And tell me if my Lord be in this Train j 
 Left my betraying Eyes mould err again. 
 
 And in this Paffion turns her felf away : 
 The Reft look all, and careful note each Wight i 
 Whim /he, impatient of the leaft Delay, 
 
 De-
 
 The Mufes Library. 393 
 
 Demands again ; And what, not yet in Sight ? 
 Where is my Lord? What, gone fome other Way? 
 I mufe at this. O God, grant all go right ! 
 Then to the Window goes again at laft, 
 And fees the chiefeft Train of all was paft j 
 
 And fees not him her Soul denVd to fee: 
 And yet Hope, fpent, makes her not leaue to look. 
 At laft, her loue-quick Eyes, which ready be, 
 Fattens on One ; whom tho' me neuer took 
 Could be her Lord ; yet that fad Cheer which he 
 Then fhew'd, his Habit and his woful Look, 
 The Grace he doth in bafe Attire retain, 
 Caus'd her me could not from his Sight refrain. 
 
 What might he be, me faid, that thus alone 
 Rides penfiue in this vniverfal Joy ? 
 Some I perceive, as well as we, do mone : 
 All are not pleas'd with euery thing this Day. 
 It may be, he laments the Wrong is done 
 Vnto my Lord ; and grieves, as well he may. 
 Then he is fome of ours ; and we, of Right, 
 Muft pity him, that pities our fad Plight, 
 
 But
 
 394 tte Mufes Library. 
 
 But ftay ! is't not my Lord himfelf I fee ? 
 In Truth, if 'twere not for his bafe Array, 
 I, verily, mould think that it were he i 
 And yet his Bafenes doth a Grace bewray ! 
 Yet God forbid ! let me deceiued be ! 
 And be it not my Lord! although it may ! 
 Let my Defire make Vows againft Defire ! 
 Aad let my Sight approue my Sight a Lier ! 
 
 Let me not fee him, but himfelf ; a King ! 
 For fo he left me ; fo he did remoue. 
 This is not he, this feeles fome other Thing 5 
 A Paffion of Dillike, or elfe of Loue ! 
 O yes ! 'tis hel that princely Face doth bring 
 The Euidence of Maieftie to proue : 
 That Face, I haue conferr'd, which now I fee, 
 With that within my Heart, and they agr^ej 
 
 Thus as me ftood affur'd, and yet in Doubt j 
 Wifhing to fee, what feen me griev'd to fee j 
 fiauing Belief, yet fain would be without ; 
 Knowing, yet ftriuing not to know 'twas he: 
 Her Heart relenting, yet her Heart fo ftout 
 As would not yeild to think what was, could be : 
 
 Till
 
 Mufes Library. 395 
 
 Till, quite condemned by open Proof of Sight, 
 She muft confefs i or elfe deny the Light. 
 
 For, whether Loue in him did fympathize, 
 Or Chance fo wrought, to manifeft her Doubt j 
 Euen juft before, where fhe thus fecret pries, 
 He ftays, and, with clear Face, looks all about } 
 When fhe : 'Tis, oh, too true ! I know his Eyes \ 
 ^las, it is my own dear Lord cries out i 
 And, with that Crie, finks down vpon the Flore, 
 Abundant Grief lackt Words to vtter more! 
 
 Sorrow keeps full Pofleffion in her Heart, 
 Locks it within, flops vp the way of Breath, 
 $huts Senfes out of Door from every Part 5 
 And fo long holds there, as it hazardeth 
 QpprefTed Nature, and is forc't to part, 
 Or elfe muft be conftrain'd to ftay with Death ; 
 So, by a Sigh, it lets in Senfe again j 
 And Senfe, at length, giues Words leaue to complain, 
 
 Then, like a Torrent had been ftopt before, 
 Tears, Sighs, and Words, doubled together flow ; 
 Confus'dly ftriuing whether mould do more, 
 
 The
 
 396 72* Mufes Library* 
 
 The true Intelligence of Grief to ihow. 
 
 Sighs hindred Words : Words perifht in their Store: 
 
 Both, intermixt in one, together grow. 
 
 One would do all : the Other, more than's Part ; 
 
 Being both fent equal Agents, from the Heart. 
 
 At length, when pad the firft of Sorrow's Worft, 
 When calm'dConfufion better Form affords 5 
 Her Heart commands her Words mould pafs out firft, 
 And then her Sighs mould interpoint her Words ; 
 The whiles her Eyes out into Tears mould burft : 
 This Order with her Sorrow me accords ; 
 Which, orderlefs, all Form of Order brake : 
 So, then began her Words, and thus me fpake j 
 
 What ? doft thou thus return again to me ? 
 Are thefe the Triumph, for thy Victories ? 
 Is this the Glorie thon doft bring with thee, 
 From that vnhappie, Irijh Enterprife ? 
 And haue I made fo many Vows to fee 
 Thy fafe Return, and fee thee in this wife ? 
 Is this the lookt-for Comfort thou doft bring ? 
 To come a Captiue, that wentft out a King ? 
 
 And
 
 *The Mufes Library; 397 
 
 And yet, dear Lord ! tho' thy ungrateful Land 
 Hath left thee thus, yet I will take thy Part : 
 I do remain the fame -, under thy Hand 
 Thou ftill doft rule the Kingdom of my Heart : 
 If all be loft, that Gouernment doth ftand ; 
 And that mall neuer from thy Rule depart : 
 And fo thou be, I care not how thou be : 
 Let Greatnefs go ; fo it go without thee \ 
 
 And welcome come, how-fo unfortunate! 
 I will applaud what others do defpife: 
 I loue thee for thy felf; not for thy State : 
 More than thy felf, is what without thee lies : 
 Let that more go, if it be in thy Fate ! 
 And having but thy felf, it will fuffice : 
 I married was not to thy Crown, but thee ; 
 And thou, without a Crown, all one to me. 
 
 But what do I heere lurking idlie, mone 
 And wayle apart, and in a fingle Part 
 Make feueral Grief? which mould be both in one ; 
 The Touch being equal of each Other's Heart. 
 Ah, no! fweet Lord ! thou muft not mone alone. 
 For, without me, thou art not all thou art ; 
 
 3 Nor
 
 39 8 <fi>e Mufes Library! 
 
 Nor my Tears, without thine, are fully Tears * 
 or thus unioyn'dj Sorrow but half appears. 
 
 Joyrie then our Plaints, and make! our Grief full 
 
 Grief! 
 
 Our State being One, let us not part our Care! 
 Sorrow hath only this poor, bare Relief, 
 To be bemon*d of fuch as woful are. 
 And mould I rob thy Grief, and be the Thief 
 To fteal a private Part, and feveral Share, 
 Defrawding Sorrow of her perfect Due ? 
 No, no, my Lord ; I come to help thee rue. 
 
 Then forth me goes, a clofe-concealed Way 
 (As grieving to be feen not as me was) ; 
 Labors t* attaine his Prefence all me may : 
 Which, with moft hard a-do, was brought to pafe* 
 For* that Night, vnderftanding where he lay, 
 With earneft Treating me procur'd her Pafs 
 To come to him, Rigor could not denie 
 Thofe Tears, fo poor a Suit, or put her by< 
 
 Entring the Chamber, where he was alone 
 (As one whofe former Fortune was his Shame) 
 Loathing thVpbrayding Eye of any one 
 
 That
 
 The Mufes Library. 399 
 
 That knew him once, and knows him not the fame : 
 When, hauing giuen exprefs Command that none 
 Should prefs to him, yet hearing fome that came, 
 Turns angerly about his grieued Eyes : 
 When, lo, his fweet, afflicted Queen he fpyes. 
 
 St ait clears his Brow, and witha borrow'd Smile, 
 W. a:, my dear Qjeen? welcome, my Dear, he fays ! 
 And (firming his own Paffion to beguile, 
 And hide the Sorrow which his Eye betrays) 
 Could fpeak no more -, but wrings her Hands, the 
 And then, fweet Lady ! and again he ftayes. [while: 
 Th' Excefs of Joy and Sorrow both affords 
 Affliction none, or but poor, niggard Words. 
 
 Slice that was come with a refolved Heart, 
 And with a Mouth full- ftor'd with Words, well- 
 Thinking, This Comfort will I firft impart [chofe j 
 Vnto my Lord, and thus my Speech difpofe : 
 Then thus PI fay, thus look, and with this Art 
 Hide mine own Sorrow to relieue his Woes : 
 When, being come, all this prov'd nought but Wind; 
 Tears, Looks, and Sighs, do only tell her Mind.*- 
 
 Thus
 
 400 The Mitfes Library. 
 
 Thus both ftood filent^and confufed fo, 
 Their Eyes relating how their Hearts did mourn : 
 Both big with Sorrow, and both great with Wo 
 In Labour with what was rot to be born : 
 This mighty Burthen, wherewithal they go, 
 Dies vndeliuer'd, perifhes vnborn. 
 Sorrow makes Silence her beft Orator, 
 Where Words may make it lefs, not fliew it more. 
 
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