IOANNIS PALSGRAVI LONDONIENSIS , ECPHRASIS ANGLICA IN COMOEDIAM ACOIASTI .

¶ THE Comedye of Acolastus translated into oure englysshe tongue , after suche maner as chylderne are taught in the grammer schole , fyrst worde for worde , as the latyne lyeth , and afterwarde accordynge to the sence and meanyng of the latin sentences : by shewing what they do value and counteruayle in our tongue , with admonitions set forth in the margyn , so often as any suche phrase , that is to say , kynd of spekyng vsed of the la●yns , whiche we vse not in our tonge , but by other wordes , expresse the sayd latyn maners of speakinge , and also Adages , metaphores , sentences , or other fygures poeticall or rhetoucal do require , for the more perfyte instructynge of the lerners , and to leade theym more easilye to see howe the exposytion gothe , and afore the seconde sceane of the fyrst acte , is a brefe introductory to haue some general knowledge of the dyuers sortes of meters vsed of our auctour in this comedy . And afore Acolastus balade is shewed of what kyndes of meters his balade is made of . And afore the syxte sceane of the fourthe acte , is a momtion of the Rhetorycall composytion vsed in that sceane , and certayne other after it ensuynge .

Interpreted By John Passgra●e .

ANNO. M. D. XL.

WHAN I CONSYDER with my selfe moste hygh and most redoubted Prynce , and to me of al your humble subiectes moste benygne and gracious soueraygne lorde , amongest other the great and weyghty affayres whyche lye vnder the moderation of youre Scepter royall , howe hyghly your grace dothe tender the well bryngynge vp of youre youthe in good letters , in somoche , that where as it is clerely perceyued , by your most prudent wysedom , how great a damage it hathe heretofore bene , and yet is , vnto the tender wyttes of this your noble realme , to be hyndered and confounded with so many dyuers and sondry sortes of preceptes grammaticall : you haue for the redresse thereof , wylled one selfe and vniforme maner of teachynge of all those Grammaticalle ensygnementes , to be vsed through out all your hyghnes domynions , and commytted the dysposyng of that matter vnto suche syngular personages , both of exact iudgement , and therto of excellent lyterature , that I for my parte do not a lyttell hereof reioyce , and ernestly do I wyshe , that I at these present dayes ( whiche in that exercyse , haue dispent no small tyme of my lyfe ) hadde obserued but some one vaylable document to brynge to this Gazophilacium , some thynge to helpe to the furtherance of this your noble graces so goodly , and therto so godly and moche fruitefull a purpose . Whervpon as it fortuneth amonge the louyng and well wyllyng subiectes , whan they here of any gracious and benefyciall purpose , by theyr souerayne lorde intended , whereby his common welthe myght receyue so great a furtherance and aduauncement ( especially tendynge to any such effect , as they themselfes haue ben most exercysed withall . ) I hervpon toke occasion thus to reason and to debate with my selfe . Nowe shal the great varietie vsed afore tyme in the techyng of the grammatical rules of the latyn tonge in this realm , wherby hytherto no smal hynderance hath ensued , herafter vtterly cesse and be put to sylence . Wherby vndoubtedly shall ensue a great commoditie and furtheraunce , bothe to the maysters , and alsoo to the yonge begynners , whyche shall hereafter succede . For nowe is it entended , that euery schole of your graces realme , shulde begyn to waxe one selfe schole , as farre as to those sayde pryncyples dothe belong . But as yet vnto my poore iugement ( semynge to be a thynge very moche requysite ) for the more effectuall and spedy furtherance of your graces sayd youth , I wyshed , that vnto this moch expedient reformation of your schole maisters vnstayd 〈◊〉 , which hytherto haue taught such grammers , and of the same so dyuers and sondry sortes , as to euery of theym semed best ( and was to their fantasies mooste approued : myght therto also folowe and succede one stedy and vnyforme maner of interpretation of the latyn authours into our tonge , after that the latyn principles were by your graces youth ones surely conned and perceyued . Upon the want and defaute wherof , besydes the great and euydente inconuenience ( of whiche the effecte is to moche in euerye place espied ) that is to say , the playnly apparant ignorance & want of a required sufficiencye of many , whiche in priuate places take vpon theym to teache , afore they be theyr craftes maisters . To whome the beste grammaticall rules , that euer were or could be deuised , can not vaylably be sufficient : I haue by experyence lerned , that there be dyuers other occasions , rysynge vppon the schole maisters parties , wherby your graces youth is not a lyttell hyndered . For some instructers of youre hyghnes youth , for want of a perfyte iudgement in this behalfe , so moche desyre to seme affectately curiouse , that hauyng no due consyderation to the tender wyttes , whiche they take vnder theyr charge to teache in the stede of pure englyshe wordes and phrases , they declare to their chylderne one latyne worde by an nother , and confounde the phrases of the tongues : And thus not a lytell do hynder their yong scholers , while they wold seme for their own partes to haue a knowledge and erudition aboue the common sort . And somother ageyne there be , whiche hauynge vndoubtedly , lernyng ynoughe , vaylable and sufficiente , yet whyle they by sondry wayes and maners of speakynge vsed in our tongue , labour to expresse such latyn auctours myndes , as they do take vppon them for the tyme to interprefe , and for to seme therin more dilygent , than the common sorte , dyspende in manerhole forenoones and afternoones , in the declarynge of a fewe lynes of suche latyne authours , as they for the season haue in hande ( as to confesse the very truthe , the schole maisters hole dilygence tendeth in maner chiefely to that effecte and purpose ) they do by that meanes not only ryght lytell for the tyme further their yong audience , but also by that wayes do oppresse and ouerlaye the tender wyttes , the whiche they wold so fayne further , with their multitude of sondry interpretations , confusedly by them vttered . So that fynally theyr yong scholers , to helpe their memory with , be forced to falle a glosynge , or rather a blottyng of their latyn bokes , and as theyr chyldyshe iudgement dothe for the tyme serue them , of dyuers englishe wordes in our tongue beinge synonymes , or of dyuers maners of interpretations vsed by theyr mayster , they chuse moste commonly the very worste , and therewith scryble the bokes of theyr latyne auctours . And somme other furthermore there be , whiche thoughe they haue by their greatte studye , at youre graces Unyuersyties , soo moche prouffyted in the Latyne tongue , that to shewe an euydente tryalle of theyr lernynge , they canne wryte an Epistle ryght latyne lyke , and therto speake latyne , as the tyme shall mynyster occasyon , very well , yea and haue also by theyr diligence atteyned to a comly vayne in makynge of verses : yet for all this , partely bycause of the rude language vsed in their natyue countreyes , where they were borne and firste lerned ( as it happened ) their grammer rules , & partely bycause that commyng streyght from thense , vnto some of your graces vniuersities , they haue not had occasions to be conuersaunte in suche places of your realme , as the pureste englysshe is spoken , they be not able to expresse theyr conceyte in theyr vulgar tonge , ne be not suffycyente , perfectly to open the diuersities of phrases betwene our tonge and the latyn ( whiche in my poore iudgemente is the veray chiefe thynge that the schole mayster shulde trauayle in ) In so moche that for want of this sufficient perfection in our owne tongue , I haue knowen dyuerse of theym , which haue styl continued theyr study in some of your graces vniuersities , that after a substanciall encrease of good lernynge , by theyr great and industrious study obteyned , yet whan they haue ben called to do any seruice in your graces commen welthe , eyther to preach in open audience , or to haue other administration , requiringe theyr assiduous conuersantynge with your subiectes , they haue then ben forced to rede ouer our englyshe auctours , by that meanes to prouyde a remedy vnto their euident imperfection in that behalfe . And when it hath fortuned any suche for theyr good name and estimation to be called from your vniuersities , to instructe any of your graces noble mennes chyldren , then euidently hath appered their imperfection in that case to be notable , and that to no smal detriment and hinderaunce of suche as they haue taken charge to enstruct and brynge forwarde . Being therfore , for my parte desyrous , that these inconueniences myght also be prouided for , and thervpon takyng , occasion , more attentiuely to bethynke me vppon this matter , than began the great difficultie of the wel atchiuinge therof , the more playnly to appere vnto me , not onely bycause the lyke thyng hath not yet hytherto ( that euer I coulde knowe of ) ben throughely attempted of anye clerke within this your gracis noble realme , but also for so moche , as that to be Ecphrastes in theyr mother tonge , vpon any laten autours , hath neuer hitherto ( so farre as I can yet perceyue ) ben assaied in any other region of Europa : except perchance that some such as be lettered , haue for theyr owne ease and the more briefe and spedye furtheraunce of theyr scholers , vsed suche kynde of interpretation in theyr owne tonge vpon some excellent latyn auctour , whiche they wolde neuer suffre to passe the boundes of theyr priuate houses . The not attemptynge of which kynde of interpretation in other regions , hath not proceded of any notable perfection or furderaunce , whiche the other regions haue in theyr langages , ouer & beyonde your noble graces subiectes . For how moch the phrase of the frenche tongue is different from the pure latinitie , maye appere by a booke of late yeres made by Robertus Stephanus , whiche he entitleth , De corrupte sermonis emendatione . And howe moche the Spaynes be with this self imperfection intached , may appere by the restimony of Nebrisensis , whiche with many wordes doth lament the notable corruption of the latyne tonge amongest his countrey men , rysyng vpon this occasion , and ernestly doth exhorte them to be more diligent in th obseruynge of the perfecte and approued laten auctours . And as for the Germaynes not withstanding the great excellency that they nowe at these dayes be come vnto , yet is there no doubte , but that there is noo vulgar phrase vsed within the boundes of Europa , that more swarueth from the exacte latinitie , than this dothe . So that whan I consider , by howe ernest maner Bebelius called vpon the Germaynes , to leaue theyr owne phrase , and to take them to the assiduous readynge and obseruyng of the good latyne auctours , the whiche was but a lyttel before Rheuclines dayes , and howe prosperousely the thynge hath syns that tyme amongest them succeded , I take , that Bebelius was in maner to the Germaynes , as was Laurence Ualla vnto the Italians , by whose fyrste exhortation and settynge on , so many excellent wryters haue rysen amongeste the Italians within the tyme of memory . Beinge therfore in this behalfe not a lyttell perplexed , whether I might be so bolde , to assay howe this thynge myght take effecte , if it shulde fortune by me to be attempted , I had recourse vnto your noble graces hye counsaylour , and euer my synguler good lorde , the lorde priuye seale , vnto whom as the tyme and place dyd serue me , I declared my pore desire , and with right humble instance besieched hym , that I myght ( to make a triall of this my purpose ) dedicate some latyne auctour interpreted after this maner , whiche I haue here described , to his lordeshyppe , not onely to make a profe and experience of the thynge , whiche I so moche mynded , but alsoo to be a testimonye , and a recognysynge on my partie , towardes his lordeshyppe , of the manyfolde and syngular humanities shewed vnto me , and that of no small continuance of yeres . But his lordeshyp wylled me expressely , therto addynge bothe a ryghte wyse and also honeste consyderation , to dedicate my poore labours vnto your noble grace , my moste drad and mooste redoubted soueraygne lorde , wherby my great sollicitude and care is nowe moch more redoubled , than euer it was before , lest I shuld in any maner case offend , where I wold faynest my tendre zeale shulde accordynge as I do meane , moste euidentelye and fruitefully appere . Howe be it callynge in this behalfe good hope vnto me , for the manyfolde experiences that I haue had , in the great clemency and benignitie , whiche I haue euer founde in your noble grace , I haue chosen for my latten authour , to be Ecphrastes vppon , the comedie entiteled A colastus , not onely for bycause that I esteme that lyttell volume to be a very curiouse and artificiall compacted nosegay , gathered out of the moche excellent and odoriferouse swete smellynge gardeynes of the moste pure latyne auctours , but also bycause that the maker therof ( as farre as I can lerne ) is yet lyuing , wherby I wold be glad to moue into the hartes of your graces clerkes , of whiche your noble realme was neuer better stored , some lyttell grayne of honeste and vertuous enuye , whiche on my partie to confesse the verye truthe vnto your grace , hath contynually in all the tyme of these my poore labours takyng , accompanyed me , and styred me onwardes to achieue this matter , on this wise by me attemted . For thus haue I thought to my self . Shal Fullomus an Hollander born , thus many hundred yeres , after the decay of the latyne tongue by the Gothes , Uandales , and Longobardes . iii. moste barbarous nations , vtterly corrupted , through the dylygent obseruation of the pure latyn authors , be able to make so fyne and so exact a pece of worke : And I shal not be able at these yeres of myn age , to do so moche , as to declare what he meaneth , in my natyue tongue ? Seing that he ( regard had to his countrey ) can chalenge no more propretie of the latyne tongue , than I can , sauynge that through his great and industrious labour , he hath maystered the latinitie , and forced it to serue hym , to set forthe to all clerkes his intent and purpose . Thus do I , my moste redoubted soueraine lord , speke to your grace , whose pure and clere iudgement I oughte moste hyghly to feare , as thoughe I were fully persuaded to my selfe , that I haue not all holy dispent my labours in vayne . But in very dede I shall thynke my selfe not onely very well suffised , but also moche fortunate , if this myne enterprise , or at the least fyrst settynge on , maye gyue occasion vnto other your graces wel lerned clerkes , to fal in hande with suche of the latyne auctours , as in the iudgement of all men be most excellent , and to this purpose most necessary and expedient . So that by theyr dilygente labours may be made suche an establyshed mariage , betwene the two tonges , as may be vnto such of your graces subiectes , as shall succede hereafter , not only stedy , agreed vpon , and parmanent , but also an incredible furtheraunce , to atteyn the pure latinitie by . So that thoughe I haue not obteyned to the thinge , which I haue desired , yet do I humbly wishe of god , that myne ignoraunce and imperfection shulde be no maner hynderance , to stop that the thinges self shuld not go forwarde , and take his prosperous effect . For howe so euer Minerua hath assisted and ayded me to my iourneys end , yet styl to persist in the opening vnto your noble grace of my poore and symple iudgement in this behalfe , I suppose veryly that amonge diuerse other profytes and aduancementes of your graces subiectes towardes good lernyng , there shuld syxe great and moche vaylable commodities of this thyng ensue . Fyrst , for if this kynde of interpretation maye take effecte , and be put in execution , not onely the speache of your graces subiectes shoulde by that meane haue a great aduauntage to waxe vniforme , throughe out all your graces domynions , but also the englysshe tonge , whiche vnder your graces prosperouse reygne is comme to the hygheste perfection that euer hytherto it was , shulde by this occasion remayne more stedy and parmanent in his endurance , not onely by the well kepynge of his perfection alredy obteyned , but also haue a great occasion to come to his most hyghest estate , and there , by that meanes longe to be preserued . Seconde , for after this , there shulde neuer be no vtter yll schole maysters within your graces realme . for if suche as wolde take vpon them that offyce , were not better then theyr englyshe interpretations , yet very shame wolde dryue theym , that they shulde not be worse , excepte they wold stand in danger to be reproued of their owne scholers , whiche if they were but yonge babes , yet might their parentes casily controlle theym , whiche myght welle ynough perceiue , whan they did notably amysse . Thirdly , for than shulde the wyllynge scolers , whiche hadde all redy gotten their grammaticall principles , be so euidently encouraged to go forwarde , that they shulde be great callers vpon theyr felowes , whiche by theyr negligence wolde dragge , besydes that the maysters them selfes shulde haue no small prouocation , to vse for theyr owne parties a good dylygence , leste theyr scholers of theyr owne mynde shulde call for more of theyr au●tour to be declared vnto them , then perchance they had prepared to reade vnto them before : where as nowe the scholers , be they neuer so well wyllynge to be furthered , they haue no maner remedy , but vtterly and holly to staye vpon theyr maysters mouthe . Fourthely , for than shulde all suche as be alredy departed from the grammer scholes , and afterwarde be taken with a repentance of theyr yong time negligently by them ouerpassed , whiche aforetyme were forced to dispayre , thoughe theyr wylles afterwarde wared neuer so good , nowe by this meanes caselye recouer them selfes agayne . Fyftely , for than shulde younge scholers , with small paynes , engrose the hole argumentes of the latten autours in theyr memory , where as heretofore , after they haue redde the latyne auctours in the schole , they haue not perceiued what matter they entreated of : yea and than theyr furtherance and spedy encrease shoulde be soo notable , that with pleasure in maner , and with banyshynge of all seruile rudenes out of grammer scholes , they shulde soner be able perfytely to go , then they coulde afore tymes be able to creepe . Syxtely , for whan the schole maysters , and also the scholers , shuld by this meanes be eased in maner of . iii. partes of theyr paynes , than shuld the masters haue both tyme and better occasion , to open theyr farder lerning , & to shew vnto theyr scholers the great artifice vsed of the auctors , in the composition of theyr workis , which afore time they had no suche oportunitie to do . But what meane I my most redoubted soueraygne lorde , which knowyng the inestimable clerenesse of your graces iudgemente , seme here to be thus farre abused , as to be about to shewe lyght vnto the bryght shynynge sonne ? I do therfore clerely and vtterly submytte me , and these my poore labours , vnto your noble graces disposition and order , auaylinge them no more , nor none otherwise , but as by your noble grace they shall be approued , onely on this maner wise fynishinge my symple epistle , that it is and shal be to my last day amongest the chiefest of my desyres and wyshes of almyghty god , that I may receyue of hym the grace and possybility , to doo the thynge , that maye be acceptable to your noble grace , whose felicitie and prosperous successe in all your noble affayers , I beseche almyghty god to mainteyne , encrease , and with encreasynges , longe to continue .

¶ Sannio cometh of Sanna , a mockyng or a laughinge to scorne . For such a man as can mock Acolastus to the harde tethe , is mete to be his host , and to 〈◊〉 hym of fayre wenches , and to sende for 〈◊〉 , to come and bankette with hym .

¶ Lais was one of the moste bruted common women that clerkes do write of , whom they cal also Corithia , for she was borne at Corinthe , and all the youthe of Grece resorted vnto her , for her great beautie , and she demanded of her wowers no more but what she listed

¶ So that these names Pelargus , Eubulus , Acolastus , Philautus , Pantolabus , and Pamphagus , the auctour hath taken to serue to his purpose , of whiche the lyke be not vsed of the olde Comicall poetes , but as for Sannio , Syrus , Syra , and Chremes , be vsed of Terence , and taken of our Auctour , bycause he bryngeth in persones of lyke condicions vnto suche as Terence describeth in Eunucho and in Adelphis . and Bromia is brought in of Plautus in Amphitrio , whiche in lyke maner sheweth what thinges were done in Amphitrios house , as she doth here , how Pamphagus ordred her , while she was dressyng of her meate in Sannios house .