[The first two satires or] poesyes of Horace [translated into English] meeter by Levvis Euans schoolemayster.

POESYES OF HORACE Meeter , by Lewis Euans Schoolemayster . ¶ The second Poesie of Horace rebuking Uice . ¶ The Argument . ¶ Here Horace dooth by ryght rebuke , suche as keepe not the meane : Not leauing eke vntouched those , which to theyr lustes do leane . THe rowte & crewe of dronken drabs , & oynctment they that sell , the beggers , bawdes , & al the kind of flatterers fowle & fell Are wofull sad when that they heare , of Tigill : singers deathe : For that he spent his wealth on them . But this will not vnneath ( For feare to bee so prodigall , ) gyue to his fryende in neede , Therby his hunger & his cold , to dryue away with speede . If thou the one demaund why hee his fathers wealth doth wast , And substaunce great on daintye fare , with persons vyle vnchast , Preparing so such gluttons feast , with money had by hyre ? Because ( saith hee ) to shunne the name of Niggard I requyre . Which one his mates do much comend , but him the wyse do blame . Fusidius fearth on thother syde , of gluttons great the shame . When that he hath great groundes & eke , much money lent for gaine , Who doth requyre for euery pounde , fyue pounde to hym agayne . And looke thunthryfter any is , the more hee wryngthe of him , And so hee haunteth yonkers out , that wolde go fyne and trym . But yet whom fathers harde do fynde , what God could now lo , lo , Chuse but exclayme , and crye on such , when those that they do kno ? But this mans charge is as his gayne , thou scarsly mayst belyeue , How small a freynd vnto him selfe , is hee that thus doth lyue . Lyke as the father , ( Terence sayth ) was sad , his sonne awaye , No greater greife susteyned hee , then doth this churle alwaye . If any now do aske of mee , what meane these tales begun ? To shew that fooles auoyding faultes , to faultes ouerwartly run . Malchinus walkthe with gowne so long , as flappeth oft the ground A mecier man doth weare agayne , a cutted cloke and rounde : Rufillus smelthe of Muskbals styll , and Gorgon stinkes as Gote , there is no mene , there are which wil not touch but those I wote whose gownes do traile the ground , & so ar wyues & matrons such . Another on the other parte , but stynking hoores will tuche . When that from stewes was comming foorth , a certaine famous man To him sage Cato sayd , procede in vertue if thou can , For lo , as soone as fylthy lust , the puffed vppe with desyre , Such youth then here for to discend right lawe doth it requyre : And not to tempte the matron wyfes : but I defye that prayse , Said he Cupennius which did loue , none els but wifes alwayes . For you to heare is labour worth , which that aduowtrous men Wolde not to speede , or haue theyr wil , how they are payned then And how the pleasure rare they haue , corrupted is with grief , Still chaunsing vnto daungers greate , that dayly bene & rief . The one from window hygh in house , hath fallen headlong rownd , the other whipt almost to death ▪ that third they theues haue fownd . Another caught compelled is , to saue him selfe with brybe , With pyspots , Skoollions , dresse the fyfte , & sixte I will describe . Whose chaunce is for to suffer payne , and gelded for to bee , Which they deserue as all men saye , yet nay sayth Galba hee . But how more safe the next degree of women men may vse , I meane all such as are made flee , whom Salust could not chuse But like aduowtrer fancie much , yet if that hee had so Bene free , as wealth & wisdome wolde , & them wolde gyue no mo Then myght become one lyberall , and bounteous fayne wolde bee , Hee shuld them gyue as that hee might , not hurting his degree As that shuld to his shame redound , but this was his desyre , And this hee lykte , that hee might say , no Matron I requyre . As Marsaeus seruent Louer once , Origines of the queane . Did giue that daunsing drab his ground , his house nor substance meane , & than did say with men theyr wifes , I neuer had lo to do , But yet vile drabs & naughty queanes , thou Marsaeu oft didst kno By whom thy name susteineth losse , more then thy goods I graunt , thinkst thou ynough to fly some sort , & that which hurts to haunt ? For thee to lose good name , and spend thy fathers wealth awaye Is ill and hurte , wherso thou spendes vnthryftly that I saye , What diffrence if thou synne , with matron graue or harlot gaye Annius Milo sonne in lawe of Silla foole in thys , In hauing pleasure in such name , hee suffred payne Iwys More then ynoughe , for buffets had , with sworde hee was beset And dryuen foorth when Longaren : within his loue did get . To him with wordes of pryuye part , perceauing all his woe . If reason sayd what meanest thou ? do I of thee looke so , To haue a mate begotten thus , of Consuls stately race , And clad in robes when that my lust , doth thee so feruent chace ? What shuld hee say ? the mayde is borne , of father noble great . But by how much thynges far more meete , & contraring this yet Doth Nature riche her selfe vs warne . But if thou well wylt nowe worke thine intent , & not things fond , to things being good if thou Wylt ioyne , to differ thynkst thou not , through folly if thou synne , Or through the neede or want of things , then linger not , begynne And leaue to haunt the matron wyfes , by whom of trueth more paine And hurt doth come , then that therof , thou mayst receyue of gayne . Nor of this matron braue with stones , being precious white & greene , ( Although Cherinte thine be so ) the lymmes are ryghtlyer seene . But yea , somtimes of common Queanes , the lymmes are far more fine Who what they haue to sell do shewe , not forsynge face to shyne . And if some honesty they haue , they bragge not of the same , Neither seeke they how for to hyde , theyr bodies , faultes & blame . Ryche men so vse when they do buy , great Horses clad to knee , To vewe the same least stature tall , and comely for to see . Being oft set foorth with feete so lyghte , a bayte to buy shuld bee , Or that for buttockes fayre , short head , or necke couragious free . They do this well , but thou wilt not , of matron marke with heede The cheifest partes , when yet more blind , than Hipsea blind indeede : Thou woldst beholde the meaner partes , o legge , o armes , but well , Shee boulged buttockes , & great nose , short syde & feete hath fell . Of matrons thou mayst not behold nowght els but hew of face , which with long gownes be hid onlesse , their legs haue Catias grace . But if the place forbyd thou seeke , that trenched is ( for thee That maketh madde ) much things a let , to thine intent shal bee . Her keepers , lycter , and such lyke , of Parasytes a thrall , Her robe that trailth to ground , & cloke most large that couereth all , which do disdaine that thou shuldst se , that which we Cunnus cal The other strompet workth no fatche , whom in thin weede that shalt As naked see , to vewe if legge , or fylthy feete doo halt , Thou mayst beholde with syght her syde , wilt thou therfore I saye Be so begylde and suffer dames , to haue theyr gayne awaye , Before they purpose had ? but yet as hunter deepe in snowe Doth hunt the Hare , not touching her , that foorth her self doth show Such as hee takes with paine hee eates , to whom my loue is lyke , which thinges so easie had doth hate , & things hard out doth pike With verses such , and hopest thou awaye to put and pare Quite from thy breast thy greif & heates , & crooked cursed care ? Hath not to lust dame Nature made , a bound and measure suche As her what lykth or doth myslyke , or what contentes her muche To searche doth more auayle ? and so thynges fond from syt to sette : As when your tawes do dry for thryst , seeke you of golde to gette A cuppe ? whether hungryng lothe you , all meates and fare besyde A Pecocke and a Turbot bothe ? when lust thee swelles so wyde : If maiden or bond boye be by , to whom shuld thy desyre Take place ? or woldst thou rather burst through stifnes of thy ●ire ? I lyke not her ( for one loue I , all redye at desyre , ) That wil appoynt anon ( their mate being forth ) but at more hyre , Such one let pranking Frenche men take , ( saith Philodem ) for mee , Let one bee had of meaner pryce , that glad to come wyll bee , So whyte , vpryght & fayre let her appete that not more longe Nor fayrer more that wold be seene , then nature wrought amonge : When this in bed her selfe doth lye , and I therin also , Then Ilia her and Egeria I call by names and mo . Nor feare I ought as I thys do , least man from countrey come And gates shuld burst , or dog shuld barke , & then againe by some Least that great noyse be made in house , or that then pale from bead , The dame shuld sleape , and call her selfe , both wofull & wretchead For taken , shee must feare her bones , yea least shee dowry lose And I my selfe with gowne on gyrte , must barefoote flee my foes , Least I shuld money pay and leese my ware , or els my name To bee taken is woo . I winne , though Fabius Iudge the same . ¶ Thus endeth the second Poesye of Hor●ce .