The three first bookes of Ouid de Tristibus translated into English Tristia. Book 1-3. English Ovid, 43 B.C.-17 or 18 A.D. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A08673 of text S110230 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 18978). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 153 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 30 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A08673 STC 18978 ESTC S110230 99845820 99845820 10744 2240893572

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A08673) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 10744) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 347:08) The three first bookes of Ouid de Tristibus translated into English Tristia. Book 1-3. English Ovid, 43 B.C.-17 or 18 A.D. Churchyard, Thomas, 1520?-1604. [2], 28 leaves In Fleetestrete, neare vnto Sainct Dunstones Church, by Thomas Marsh, Imprinted at London : 1580. Translator's dedication signed: Thomas Churchyarde. In verse. At foot of title: Cum priuilegio. Running title reads: Ouid de tristibus. .. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. All through A2 in facsimile. eng eebo The three first bookes of Ouid de Tristibus translated into English. Ovid 1580 60 28473 1767 0 0 0 0 0 620.59 F The rate of 620.59 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the F category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2003-05 Assigned for keying and markup 2003-06 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-08 Sampled and proofread 2004-01 Rekeyed and resubmitted 2004-02 Sampled and proofread 2004-02 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

THE Three first BOOKES OF Ouid de Tristibus Translated into English .

IMPRINTED at London in Fleetestrete , neare vnto Sainct Dunstones Church , by Thomas Marsh. 1580. Cum Priuilegio .

The occasion of this Booke .

OF Ouidius Naso his banishment , diuers occasions be supposed : but the common opinion and the most likely is , that Augustus Caesar then Em perour , reading his Bookes of the Arte of Loue , misliked them so much , that he condemned Ouid to exile . After which time the sayd Ouid aswel in his passage on the Sea , as after arriued in the Barbarous countries , the rather to recouer the Emperours grace , wrote these Elegies , or Lamentable verses , directing some to the Gods , some to Caesar , some to his wife , some to his Daughter , some to his Frendes , some to his foes , &c. And called this booke , the booke of Sorowes : In latin de Tristibus .

TO HIS MOST ASSVred and tryed Friende Maister Christopher Hatton Esquire , Thomas Churchyarde wysheth continuaunce of Vertue .

AS I haue greate desyre to perfourme my promise touching my whole workes of English Verses , good maister Hatton , so I wish my selfe able euerye waye to keepe the worthinesse of your Frendship , which many haue tasted , and few can fynd fault withall : such is the eeuennesse of your dealinges , and the vpright behauiour of the same . Wel , least I should seeme to vnfolde a fardle of Flattrie , I retourne to my matter My booke being vnreadye , considering I was commaunded ( by a great and mighty parsonage ) to write the same againe , I am forced in the meane whyle to occupy your iudgement with the reading of another mans worke , whose doings of it self , are sufficient to purchase good report , albeit it wanted such a Patron as you are to defende it . The rest of that woorke which as yet is not come forth , I purpose to pen and set out , crauing a litle leasure for the same . And surely sir , I blush that myne owne booke beares not a better Tytle , but the basenes of the matter wil not suffer it to beare any higher name , than Churchyardes Chyps : for in the same are sondry tryfles composed in my youth , and such fruicte as those dayes and my simple knowledge coulde yelde , so that the aptest name for such stuffe , was as I thought , to geue my workes this Title , to be called Churchyardes Chips ( to warme the wittes of his welwillers . ) In my first booke shal be three Tragedies , two tales , a Dreame , a description of Frendship , a Farewell to the Court , the siege of Leeth and sondry other thinges that are already written . And in my seconde Booke shal be foure Tragedies , ten Tales , the Siege of Saint Quintaynes , Newhauen , Calleis , and Guynes , and I hope the rest of all the sorrein warres , that I haue seene or heard of abroade , shall follow in another volume .

Thus commending this little present to your consideration , I trouble you not long with the tediousnes of my Epistle , and wishing you muche worshippe , good ●ame and blessed fortune , I bydde you moste hartely farewell .

Yours in all at commaundement . Thomas Churchyarde .
Ouid to his Booke .
The Elegie first . MY litle booke ( I blame thee not ) to stately towne s●all goe . O cruell chaunce , that where thou goest , thy maister may not so . Goe now thy way : yet sute thy selfe , in sad and simple geare , Such exiles weede as time requyre , I wil that thou do weare . No vastie Uiolet shalt thou vse , nor robe of Purple hue , Those costly coulours be vns●t , our carefull cause to ●ue . With ruddy red dye not thy face , nor sappe of Ceder tree , Such outward hu● see that thou haue , as cause assignes to thee . Frounce not thy fearefull face I say , nor haplesse head to streke , But roughe and rugde so shew in sight that pity may prouoke . Those subtill sleights be much more meete , for volumes voyde of paine But thou of my vnfrendly fate a myrror must remayne . Be not abasht thy ruefull blots , to set and shew in sight , That of my teares men may them iudge , to haue beene made a right . Depart thy way and in my name , salute those blessed bowers , When as thy fearefull foote shall fall , in Caesars stately towers . If any be ( as some there are ) amongst the rurall route , Forgetlesse frends shall aske for mee , or ought shall seeme to doubte . Say that I liue : which as I do , by force of heauenly might , So do confesse my troubled state , wherein thou sees me plight : If further speach shall thee prouoke , or other skill they craue , I charge thee then to take good heede : no wastfull wordes to haue . My faulty facts if any shall , reproue perhaps to thee , Or dolefull deedes in publike place condempned chaunce to be● . Spend thou no speach , nor do not care , tho threatning browes they bende , A rightfull cause it hindreth oft , with wordes if we defend . Some shalt thou finde that wil bewayle , me thus in exile sent , And reading thee with trickling teares , my carefull case lament . And in their muttring mindes will wish ( least wicked men may heare ) That Caesars yre once set a syde , from paynes I may be cleare . To such therefore as wel do wish , to vs that payne do proue , To mighty Ioue wee pray likewyse , like sorrowes to remoue . All thinges thus sta●de in quiet state , and Caesars grace once wonne , Doth wish my lothsome life to ende , where life I first begonne . A worke vnworthy of my witte , of thee some men will iudge . And doing that I thee requyre , at thee likewyse shall grudge . Yet ought a Iudge as well to time ▪ as matte● haue regarde . Which if ye haue ( as I do hope ) thou sasely shalt be harde . For pleasaunt berses do proceede , from quiet resting brayne , But soden sorrowes mee assaultes , with hugie heapes of ●ayne . A time of trouble voyde it craues , a perfit verse to make , But mee : the Seas , the wrest●yng wyndes , the winter wyld doth shake ▪ A minde more free from feare it askes , in deadly doubt I stand , Least that my life with sword be reft , by force of enemyes hand . Yet some there are that maru●ile will , and rightfull Iudges bee , When they this meane and simple verse , with equall eyes shall see . For though that Homer yet did liue , with sorrowes so be set , His wonted wits through malyce mighte , I feare he should forget . Yet shewe thy selfe ( my seely booke ) without regard of fame , Nor though percase thou doest displease , let it not thee ashame . Syth fortune so vnfrendly is to hope it were in vayne , That thou therby should purchase prayse to make therof thy gayne . Whyle fortune smyld with smirking chere of fame I had desyre , And noted name on euery syde , I sought for to acquyre A fayned verse lo now I make , and hate my hurtful lore , Let it suffice , sith that my wit forsaketh me therfore . Yet goe thou one and in my steede the royall Rome to see God graunt that there is none of myne , they may account of thee . And though thou there a straunger be , thinke not vnknowen to come But that amids the mighty towne thou shalt be knowen to some . Thy colour wil disclose thy craft , althoughe thou weare no name , By depe deceite ▪ or otherwyse by skill to cloake the same . In priuy wyse yet passe thou in my verse may els offend , The wonted grace it clearly wantes , which I to verse did lend . To reade as myne if any shal , vnworthy therfore deeme , And from his handes to cast away to the by hap shal seeme , Tel then thy name : thou art not he of loue that taught the lore , That wicked worke hath felt the paynes that it deseru'd before . Perhaps thou lookst I should thee bid the pallace proude to clyme , Where Cesar royall court doth keepe with pleasaunt passed tyme . Those princely places and eke Gods , of pardon to I crane Sith from the stately tops of them this lyghtning lo we haue . The tyme I may remember when those Gods more gentle weare , Such now therfore as hurtful be by proofe of payne I feare . The sely Doue that once was nymd , with goshauk●s gredy nype , Doth dread the smallest glympes of her , to flye her greeuous gripe . The wandring lambe that worewing wolfe , had caught by corage boulde , Escapyng then his cruel chaps doth slepe in shepheards fould . Yea Phaeton would shunne the skyee , if he agayne did rayne , And hate the horses whom hee lou'de for feare of former paynt , My selfe confesse that haue receyu'de of l●ue his launce a wound ▪ Do feare the force of flashing fyre , by thonders threatning sound . Who so Caphatea sekes to shunne in way from Grecian fleete , That he alwayes from Ebo●ke Seas , to turne his sterne is meete My ship that lately did escape , with sturdy storme a clappe In that fame place doth hate to come , for feare of like mishap ▪ My booke therfore beware and stand , with fearful mynde in doubt . , And be content that thou be red in priuate place aboute . Whyle Icarus with tender winges did clyme the starry skye , In surging Seas he fel adowne . which haue their name therby The Ower or the sayles to vse , herein to know is hard , But time and cause shall counsayle thee , if thou therto regarde . An ydle tyme if thou espye , when ceased is debate , And when all ire is pacifyed , and turnd to frendly state . Some doubting thus with feareful face wil thee perhaps present , So hee with wordes thy way haue made , then go where thou art sent . More happy hap god graunt thou haue , and far more lucky day , Then I haue had , when thou come there , our sorrowes to allay . For he alone can salue my sore : of whom the wounde I haue . And hurt and heale by selfe same skill , Achilles lately gaue . Take hede while helpe herein thou seeke , therby no hurt arise , For feare doth farre surmount our hope , thy selfe therfore aduise . In myndes to quiet bent , renew not wrath agayne , Least thou vnwares may kindle cooles , to double former payne . Yet when vnto my homly house , thou shalt returne to mee , And in thy croked shryne be set , a place made meete for thee . Thy brethren there thou shalt behold , in order seemely set , One only father all they had , whom he by skill beget . The rest that therin sight do show by signes thou may decerne , Whose names be set amids their browes , that thou therof maye learne . And also three in priuy place , do lurke in darkesome den , Of loue the crafty skill they teache , as it is knowen to men . Those wicked wightes thou shalt eschew , or if thou may proclayme , For such as fathers lately slew , by Telogonian name , These three I warne thee of , if thou ( the father not disdayne , Of loue although the way they teach , to loue yet thou refrayne . And fifteene volumes more in verse , of chaunged bodyes be● , Which at my funeralles I had , and there bereft from mee . Amonge the which transformed shapes , say thou that I do craue , That my misfortune may be set , with them a place to haue . Unlikely to her former hests , her altring wondrous straunge , For now shee weepes the whilom smilde , as chaunce of time doth change More matter yet ( if thou had askte ) I had to tel beside , But that I feare it might be cause ▪ to longe that thou abyde . For if nothing that comes to minde , from thee I should detayne . A burden farre more huge thou were , then bearers could sustayne . Longe is thy way therefore make hast , for we shal now abyde , In furthest Coast of all the earth far from our country wyde .
To the Gods . The Elegie seconde . O Gods of Seas & Sky , for what saue ( prayers may preuayle ) Do not destroy our shaken shippes , in surging Seas to sayle . Nor do you not to Caesars wrath , with whole assent resort , For him whome one God doth oppresse , an other may support . Though Vulcane stoode aduerse to Troy , Apollo sought reliefe , And Venus was to Troyans iust , though Pallas wrought their griefe . So Iu●o did Aeneas hate , who Turnus held full deare , Yet he through helpe of Venus power , from harme was saued cleare . The fearce Neptunus oft did seeke , to short Vlysses dayes . Yet from her Eme Minerua did , his life preserue alwayes . And though we farre inferiour be , in heauenly force and might , A f●endly God yet who forbids , an angry God to spight . But wastefull wordes ( O wretch ) I spend , no good thereby aryse . Saue that it makes the watry waues , to springe from speakers eyes . My paynfull speach and prayers prest , the Southren wynd hath rent . And suffers not that they do come , to Gods where they be sent . With one alonely cause therefore least I be hurt , should deeme Both shippes and vowes I know not where , to beare away they seeme What boysterous billowes now ( O wretch ) amids the waues we spye , As I forthwith should haue bene heu'de to touch the Azure skye . What vacant vallies be there set , in swallowing S●as so wrought , As presently thou lookes I should , to drery hell be brought . I too kt about : saue Seas and sky , nought subiect was to sight , With swelling surges one , with cloudes , the other threatned spight . Betweene them both with whis●yng sound , the whyrling wynds do rend And foming Seas to Weather God , do stand in doubt to bend , Now doth sir Eurus windes take force at ryse of mourning bright , Now Zephirus is prest at hand , to wayghte the darksome night . Now Boreas with parching vrye , from Northren Pole doth glide , Now Notus so with ●eare of flyet , doth put his ●orce assyde . The Guyde himselfe in doubtful muse , what he may flye doth craue , Astonied stayes his wonted skill from wracke the ship to saue . We dye therfore , no hope at all of life their doth remayn . While thus I speake the bitter teares , my feareful face distayn . The floods my mind opprest while thus , in vaine we prayd alas , And by our carefull mouth adowne , the deadly drops do pas . My godly wyfe it onely greues , in exile I am sent , This one mish●p alone she knowes ▪ for this she doth lament . In largest seas how I am cest , to her no feare doth seeme , Nor tos● with wyndes she knoweth not , nor death so nere doth deeme . O happy yet I did her leaue , and so my selfe auys● For els ( pore wretch ) my payn were more , then d●ath haue suffred ●wise But though that I do perish quite , s●th she in lyfe remayne , I thinke thereby my dayes to length and h●lfe a life to gayne . What flames alas with swift recourse , from scowling cloudes do light What cruell crashing noyse do sound , from axe in heauen on hight , No lighter blowes our ship do beare by surges waygh●y gush , Then lofty walles when they sust●yne , the cannons cruell rushe , This raging floud which hence do come , in force all fluds surmount , Behynd the ny●th before the le●enth , in syght we my account . For death I feare though this do sceme , a wretched death to be , Set wracke aside , a gift it is , a welcome guest to mee , Somwhat it is for such as are , by sword or fa●e decayed , That dying so in mouldy earth , their liueles corpes be layed . Their faythf●l frendes they may exhort , and gladsome gr●ue obtayne , And not in Seas to haue bene stroyd , and fishes ●ood be sla●ne . Admit I do deserue such death , alone I am not heare . Why should my gri●●e pr●cure these paynes whose factes from ●●ults be cleare O Saints aboue and g●ds so great , which rule ●he wate●s al , Of either sort mor●●eker be , and threatning bro●●s lette fall . So life which Cesars gentle wrath , hath 〈◊〉 to passe alyue , Herewith I ma● ( if you let not ) at poynted place ariue . If ●ny payne I ha●e deseru'de , haue 〈◊〉 my death decreede ? My fault at all no 〈◊〉 deseru●● , th● 〈◊〉 hi●selfe agreed . If Cesar would ●aue sent me do●ne to swim in Sti●ian l●ke , No helpe of you for that he nedes nor p●ynes therin should take . No such enuy he doth pretend nor , longeth so for bloud , Sith that he gaue and may receiue , when he so thinkes it good . And you therfore we humblye pray , s●th ye no harme sustayne , Indifferent myndes herein to haue , and not encrease our payne . For though you woul● with wh●le assent , my wretched body saue , Thinke you by that for dampned soule a helpe hereafter haue ? Though ●eas were cal ●e , though windes were stil , & you O Gods content , Yet a a●exilde I should remayne , by Caesars owne assent . I do not seeke for greedy gayne ▪ by marchantes crafty s●ill . Whereby I should occas●on haue the surging seas to till Nor Athens ●oe I loke to see , where I haue sought for sore , Nor Asia mighty townes to view , not seene to mee before . Nor yet to Alexandria cost , I would conuayed be , That ther I might O Nil●s rest , thy pleasures there to see . The wyndes I wish ( who would beleue ) my ship in hast to dryue . Unto S●rmatia famous land , that there it might aryue . As I am bound euen so I would , to Pontus hauen attayne , And leauing thus my country deare my slow successe I playne . Nor know n●t in what coast to fynd , the town that Tomos hight And by my paynefull prayers so , I take my feareful flight . If me you loue then do I craue your swellyng flouds to tame , And by your heauenly power permit our ships may sayle the same . Or if you hate , compel me then to poynted place to flie , A part of payne I thinke it is , in straungers ground to dye . Now hal● away you ●o●sterous windes , why do wee here abyde ? And by Italia shore in sight w●at causeth vs to ryde ? Sith Caesar hath decreede my flight , wil you therto denye . Wherefore permit my eyes may come , where Pontus they may spye . Thus hath he iudgd , thus I deserue , nor what he doth reproue , By right or law to ●end my fault , it may not mee behoue . If doleful deedes of mortal men , to Gods be not vnknowen , Then may you see not my offence , of wicked mynd is growen . But if such ●●il they haue , and I by errour so distraught , My mynde with ignorance and not , with wickednes was fraught . If any loue to Caesars house , wee symple men do beare , His publique hestes it shall suffice , that wee do dread and feare . If I haue told of happy dayes , wherin that he did rayne , To Caesar and Cesarians all , haue 〈◊〉 my busy payne . If I such faythful mynd haue had , so graunt ( O Gods ) reliefe , If not to dround in Seas I wish and end my weary griefe . But am I now deceyued ? or do the scowling cloudes waxe fayre , Or do the billowes breake in sight ? or calme to seas repayre No chaunce but cause haue cal'de you here , your ayde wee pray to lend , Syth you no fraude or craft may blinde , for help we doe attend .
Hee departeth from Rome , remembreth the teares of his Wyfe , and freendes . Elegie . 3. WHen I the pensiue picture see , of darcke and drery night , And in my minde behold the towne , from whence I toke my flight . Or time record , when I did leaue ▪ my friendes and dere allyes , Then do the dolefull drops discend , from my sad weeping eyes . The day drue on I should depart , as Caesar wild before , And flee a farre to partes extreame , and shun Italia shore . No time or perfit space I had , nor minde for prayer prest , And drowsines by long delay , had crept in carefull brest . No men there were to waight on mee , no care I had to reede , No garmentes meete for myne estate , nor wealth to serue my neede , I was astoyn'de : as hee that feeles the force of lightning flame , Who thinckes he were of life bereft , and yet enioyes the same , But when this cloude of minde was gone , by sorrow set asyde , And that my sences did returne , in former health to bide , At last my sory friendes I spake , when I away did pas , Which of a number that I had , but one or two there was . My louing wyfe all weeping thus , me weeping did sustaine , Till that by her vnworthy cheekes , a shoure of teares did rayne , My daughter deare was farre away , in coast of Libia land , And of my fate no word she knew , nor cause could vnderstand . A yelling and a crying noyse did sound on euery syde , No secret forme of funerall , within my house did byde . The man the Wyfe , the blamelesse babe , my dolefull death do ●ue , In euery corner of my house , a streame of teares there giue . If we doubt not our matters small , by greater thinges make playne , As Troy when it was tane , so we in like estate remayne . Now whisted was the voyce of men , of dogges and euery wight , And Cynthea ledde the horses then , that rul'de the darckesome night . I lookinge vp , did cast myne eyes , the Senate house to see , Which next our carefull cot in vaine , was built in good degree . And sayd ( O Gods ) that here do rest , and neerest neighbours bee , O stately Temples whom myne eyes , henceforth shall neuer see . And you O heauenly goasts I leaue , in lofty Rome to dwell . For euer here I take my leaue , and bid you all farewell . But though that after g●euous woundes , my shield to late I haue , Yet do vouchsafe my fearefull flight , from hurtful hate to saue . And say vnto this heauenly man : by errour I did fall , Least wickednes ●ay els be though● to haue bene mixt withall , 〈◊〉 that which you do all perceiue , let hym perceiue the same , That Gods once pe●sde , I may be sure , to haue no wretches name . These paynful prayers haue I made the mighty Gods , vnto My wyfe with more whyle sobbing sighes , her wordes haue letted so . Before the dores with hayres he spread , she prostrate ●o did lye , And with her mouth the 〈…〉 , that builded are therby . Ful many helples wordes she spake to aduerse houses than , Which naught at al for me preu●●ld , that was condempned man . The hastyng night now drew away , nor longer space would graunt W●erw●th the star●es did turne one axe , the darksome night to daun● What might I do as loath I was to leaue my country deare , So was the poynted night now come , and almost passed cleare . How oft cride I to such as then , my long delay controld . Why force you me ? why hast ●ou so ? whence goe we now ? behold How often haue I faynde like w●se , a certayne houre to haue , Which for my iourney were more fyt , and me from daunger saue . The threshold thryse I ki●t , an●●hryse I was calde backe I trow , M● mynd was dull and made no hast , my feete in flight were slow . O●t t●mes I sayd farewel , and yet , for which I speake and plaine , 〈◊〉 then as parting I returnd to kisse my frendes agayn . Oft tymes the same preceptes I gaue , and beyng yet begylde . I l●ked backe and cast myne 〈◊〉 , to see my seely chylde . In fine : what hast , to Sci●hea now it is that wee are sente , And Rome we leaue , yet both delayes , be done of iust intent . My wyfe although she liue I loose , I yet do liue likewyse W●th house and members sweete therof , which I cannot despyse . My faythfull fellowes eke whom I ▪ as brethren did esteeme , Whose fastned fayth as true to mee , O These●n mates I deeme . Them there in armes I did embrace , which neuer more I might , Each howre a grateful gayne I ●hought , that geuen me was that night . N● more delay I made but left my talke imper●●t there , All thinges that I should then haue sayd , in mynd recorded nere . W●yle we our sory spech did spend , and while we weped thus , The day starre gan appeare on sky , a heauy starre to vs . W●erwith a payne I felt , as though my members haue forlorne , And from my body euery part , did se u● to haue bene torne . I plainde as Pri●m whi●om did , when he the treason knew , And saw his foes from horse to slippe . ●hen ●roian mates they slew . A common crie did th●n arise , my 〈…〉 c●ri●g 〈◊〉 , Their carefull brea●t●s of cl●●●ing b●●e , 〈◊〉 hea●y h●●ds they strake . D●p●rting then : to shoulders fast , my 〈…〉 clea●●e afrayd , And with my t●ares her words ●hee mixt , a●d thus eu●● t●en sh● sayde . Thou shalt not goe together vs , to flee they sh●ll constrayne , I follow thee , of exiles wife , ●n exile will rem●yne . The way is made for mee , and I , the fa●the●t lande will see , And to your passing shippes I shall , a sle●der burden bee . Caesars wrath comm●●ndeth you our cou●try ●●are to flee , B●t loue , this godly zealous lou● , shall Caesar g●●● to mee . Li●e helpelesse thinges shee did assay , as oft ●hee did before , And skant her weary hands shee 〈◊〉 , her pro●●● to restore . A comming forth as one that were , depriude of rightfull gra●e , A nasty skinne , & hanging ●eare , a coming ●outh I haue . Some say that shee with sorro●es great , a● ende of darkesome nig●t . A●ids the house i● frantike moode , did cast her se●fe in sight . And that at length ●h●e rose agayne , her hayres in dust arayde . And members colde from ground ●hee hea●de , as one right sore afrayd ▪ Sometimes her selfe , so●etimes her house , shee doth bewayle with●●l , And to her husband absent then , full o●t by name shee call . No lesse shee weeped there then if , her w●full eyes should spye . M● daughter or my selfe made m●●te , on burning co●les to lye . Such care shee had her death to haue , and leaue her liuing sence , Yet none it were respecting mine , though ●hee so passed hence . But now God graunt that she do liue , ●●th fates do so decree , That by her helping hand I may , the more relieued bee . Boote● now which keepes the beare , of Erymanthus wood , In Ocean Sea is dyued lowe , whose starre doth stir the flood ▪ Yet sayle we not in Ionian Seas , for that we so do craue , But are compeld by present feare , more boldnes there to haue . Lo now ( O wretch ) the Seas waxe blacke , the boisterous winds do beat , And sandes that from the depth ●e drawne , do burne with ●owly heat . Our shippes with waues no lesse then hilles , is ●ossed to and fro , Our painted Gods with billowes bet , their quiet state forgo . The slender s●des do cry and sound , with stresse the cables cracke , The ship it selfe with our i●l hap , a fearefull groning make . The maister by his pale aspecte , bewrayes his secrete fer● , And ouercomde pursues the wippe , by ●●il rules not the s●ere . Like as the fearful ryder doth let slip the horses reane . Who yeldeth to his carelesse will and a●t forgett●h clea●e . Euen so not where he woulde , but where the forcing water dryue , The sayle I see he lets at large , in washing waues to diue . That if syr Acolus , had not sent his chaunged wyndes abrode , I surely had or this bene blowen , to place that was forbode . For far from Liria coast to then , on left syde fast at hande , The interdicted place we saw , and spide Italia land . But let the foming se●s ( we pray ( forbidden shore to seeke . That they with me the Gods obaye , and shew themselu●s more meeke . While speaking thus wee prayde and feard to haue bene dryue abacke ▪ Wi●h wondrous force of sturdy waues our ship sides lo did cracke . O mighty Gods of ma●ble seas let not your tre arise , That Ioue himsele with mee be wroth , we creue it may suffice . And do you not my wery minde with cruell death constrayn , If he that death hath suffred once , cannot ●e●ar● ag●yn .
To his constant frend . Elegie . 4. O Frend whom first among my mates as chiefe in mynd I deeme , O thou that doest my heauy fate , euen as thyne ownee●●eeme , That first relieued me I meane , amazed where I lay ▪ And bouldest were with willing mouth comforting wordes to say . Which gently gaue me counsell then , to liue and len●●h my dayes , When loue of death in careful brest , had crept by sondry wayes . Thou knowst to whom I speake although thy name in sygnes I set , Thy duty and thy frendly care , no whit I do forget . In deepest depth of mynd these thynges I printed haueful playne , A debter still of thyne , I shall for euermore remayne . With wandryng windes this spirite of myne , shal pas away and flee , And lastyng bones with flaming fire , shal quite consumed bee . Before that these thy good desertes shall scape my careful mynd . Or els this godly loue with ●ime , from thence a ●ay s●al find . Let mighty Gods now fauour thee , that helpe thou nede none craue , And for●une far vnlike to myne , God graunt that thou may haue ▪ Yet if the ship had safely sayld and frendly ●●ndes had blowne . This loue and faithful frendship then , perhaps had not bene knowne . Peritheus did not accompt , Duke Theseu● for his frend , Til that for hym to Stygian lake aliue he dyd discend . O restes so thy furyes fearceful pe●●●te tryals bee , With how true hart that Pylades , was linkt in loue to thee . If ●hat the stout Eurialus , with Butis had not fought , Thy noble fame O Nisus then , had not bene blowen abought . Like as the fine and perfect gould , in flaming fyre is tryde , Euen so the loue of frendship is in troublous tyme discride , While fortune lust to smile and geue , her helping hand withall , And thinges to grounded wealth they haue , that may thereto befall . But when her threatning browes she bend , they shrinke away and flee , Where hugy heapes but lately were , not one now left we see . This skilful red I learnd by ils , in other that did growe , But now euen of myne owne mishaps , by profe the same I know . Scant two or three my frende● you are , that of my ●uth remayne , The rest as fortunes and not myne , I do accompt them playne , You ●ew therfore do help our payne , that rest we may atchiue , And that by you our shaken ships , in safer shore aryue . With fayned feare be not afrayd , a thing both fond and vayne , Least God misliking that your loue , offended do remayne . For Caesar oft in ennemyes doth , his faythful friendship prayse , And that which in his owne , in foes , he doth approue a●wayes . My cause yet better is , I haue , no aduerse armour worne , My folly is the cause that I my country haue forlorne . With waking mindes our heauy haps , do you bewayle , and praye , That Caesars raging wrath the more , therby may haue delay , Who so my cares doth seeke to know , in number them to haue , A thing more hard then may be done , he seemes therby to craue , So many ils ●o haue I borne , as starres in Azure sky , And little graynes of flying dust , on parched ground do lye . And many more of greater weight , we forced were to bere , Which though they chaunst of credit yet , in them some doubt there were . Some part wherof as doth behoue , with me must die away , And by my meane would God were none , that might the same bewray , A persing speach although I had , a fyrme and flinty breast , And greater store of mouthes therto , wherein more tounges did rest , Yet all in wordes I do not know how I might comprehend , The thing exceding further then , my wits may well extend . My troubles great ( O Poets lernde ) for Duke Vlysses wright , Yet I more 〈◊〉 then he hath borne , for truth you may endight . In compas small hee many yeares , was tossed vp and downe , Betwene the Grecians noble land , and Troians famous towne . But we the widest S●as haue met , and wandred euery wayes , To Geta crickes haue driuen bene , and eke Sarmatia Bayes , A faythful hand Vlysses had , with mates both true and iust , But me my fellowes fled in whome , I chiefly put my trust . In mery moode as victor then , hee went his land to see , But I as victored do depart , and exile hence to flee . In Greece ne yet Ithaca ground , nor Samia do I dwell , From whence to be no payne it is , but may be suffred well . But Rome which from the mountaynes seuen , we there behold in sight , The empire large and Gods therof ▪ lo thence I take my flight . A body strong Vlysses had , that labour could sustayne , A small and slender corpes I haue , with weake and tender brayne . To cruell warres and Marshall deedes hath he bene vsed always , In quiet study haue I dwelt , and liued all my dayes . The greatest God oppresseth me , to whom no God resort , But Pallas him assisted stil , and did his cause support . Neptunus ire the God of Seas , haue greued him right sore , But me Amighty Ioue oppresse , whose wrath reuengeth more . The greatest part of his now be , for fables counted playne , Of our mishaps no part at all for leesing do remayne . In fine , euen as he did desyre , at poynted place a●yue , Which long he wisht , right so he did , at length attayne alyue . But I my country deare do think now neuer more to see . Unlesse the ire of angry Gods , appeased hap to be .
To his wife Elegie . 5. CAllimachus did not so burne , with loue to Lyda lent , Nor yet so sore Phila●es had , his hart on Ba●tis ben● , As the ( O mate most true ) my brest within I depely graue , Which worthy art a better not , but happier husband haue , I fall●ng fast by thee do hold , as by a booteful beame , Thy gi●t it is , that I haue scapt , apart of troubles streame . Thou art the cause I am no pray , to such as seeke to see , The letters brought that might declare , the woefull wracke of mee . Lyke as the wolfe that bloud desyres , when hunger hard doth pricke , Of sely sheepe that be vnkept , the flesh ful fayne wold ●ick , Or as the greedy Grype vpon , the careful corpes doth stare , When on the ground hee sees it lye and left vnburned bere . So 〈…〉 I ●now not who , 〈…〉 hap did mistrust . Upon 〈…〉 let s not his handes had layd ●niust . But I 〈…〉 did withstand , by force of hendes full true , To whom no ●han●e we render may , as to their deedes is due . In carefull c●se a witnes true , thy deedes therefore doth prayse , If witnes do perchaunce preuayle , in these our dolefull dayes . In vertuous life Andromacha , thy name doth not distaine , Nor Laodamia who did leaue , her life with husband slaine . If Homer thou hadst hapt vpon , thy fame should farre exceede . Aboue the chaste Penelopeis , of whom in him we reade . But if these maners meeke the Gods , did geeue thee all vntaught ▪ And in the day of blisfull byrth , of nature thou them caught . Or els the matrone most to prayse , on whom thou waightest long , A myrror did thee make to be , al honest wiues among . And to her selfe with custome longe , hath causde thee like to seeme , By greater thinges of matters small , wee doubt not for to deeme . Full woe I am my verse hath not , more force in such a case , And that my tongue doth not suffice , thy saythfull factes to blase . For looke what liuely strents of mynde , afore in mee there spronge , Is quenched quite and fallen away , with sorrowes sore ●nd longe : The chiefe amonge the Ladies of , great fame tho● mightest sit , And of all men be lookte vppon , for vertue , and for wit . And so what power my penne may haue , when verse I do indyte , From time to time thou shalt aye liue , in verse that I can wryte .
To his friends that ware his Image ingraude . Elegie . 6. What frend thou be that Image haue , in forme made like to mee , No Garlands gay with Iuye wrought , about his head let bee . These happy signes most comely be , that pleasaunt Poets were , My troublous time is farre vnfit the Lawrell crowne to beare . And thou that beares about of mee , in ringe the picture prest , Fayne that these thinges were neuer spoke , although thou knowes them best . The countenaunce deare of mee , that am in exile sent , beholde , The likenes of my louring lookes , which thou hast graude in goulde . Whereon when thou shalt cast thine eyes , then haply thou may say , How far from vs is Naso now , our fellow sent away . Thy loue I well alowe but yet , my verses print more playne My forme : which as they be , I ●id , to read do not dis●ayne . My verse I say that doth declare , how men straunge shapes did shade , Unhappy worke whose maister fled , and left vnperf●● made . The same with heauy hand full sad in flaming fyre I thrust , With much more of my grieuous goods , when needes depart I must . And as they say that Thestias , did burne with fatall fi●● , Her sonne : and sister kineder was , then mother woude with ire . So I my bookes my bowels deare , which no desert did s●ow , To dye away with ●ee did then , in fles●●ng fl●m●● bestow . Which eyther was because my muse , as hurtful I did hate , Or els for that my verse was rude and not in perfect state . Which as they be not quite extinct , but partly yet appere In volumes mo then one I thinke , that when they written were . So now I wish them stil remayne , none y●le slouth that bee , The r●●der to delyte but may , remember him of mee . But y●t no man with pacient cares , to reade them can abyde , Except he know that vncorrect , from me the s●me did slide . That worke was pluckt away when halfe , he had his labour skant , The trim●●ng tricke that last should come , my wrttinges clerelye want . For paynted prayse thy pardon craue , thy praise shal wel suffice , If thou th●t chance to read● this boke , my worke do not despyse , And here also sixe verses haue , which if thou thinke it best , In formost fronte of that my booke , see that thou let them rest . What ●an thou be these volumes touch , of father now bereft . And leastwyse graunt within your house a place for them be left . And that thou should more fauour them , of him they were not sent , In publique pre●se : but as it were the maysters herse of ren●e . If that vnlearned verse therfore , shal then shew forth my cryme , The mayster would haue mended it , if he had longer ●yme ,
To his frend that br●ke his promise Elegie . 7. THe fresh flouds shall from S●●s re●yre , ●gayne their● springes vnto So shall the Sunne with horses ●urnde , his course r●uok● also . The ●arth shal ●ke the bright starre bear , and ayre t●e plough s●al cleue , The ●ater shal● brynge forth the flames , and fl●e shal water geue All thinges sh●l now by natu●es law , in order straunge procede , No pa●cell of this wandryng worlde , his way aright shall leade , Al things s●al come to passe which I , deuyed afore colde be , For nothing is so straunge to heare , bu● we may hope to see It s●all be so I gesse because , of him I am reiect , Whose helpe I hoped now that should , my wo●ful cause protec● . O faythl●s 〈◊〉 how came so great forgetfuln●s of mee Why w●re thou then so sore , afrayd , my careful corps to see ? That o●ce agayne thou might not loke , nor comfort me opprest , Nor yet hard hart , my funeral● pursue among the rest : The sacred name of frends●ip fayre , that al men do adore , Under thy foote thou le●●●st lye , as thinge of litle store . And t●ough thou did ●o tear●s set ●all , ●or this ●y sorry plight , Yet f●r from hart some wordes to say , with ●ay●ed griefe thou might . At lea●t wyse that to straungers did then bid we well to fare , With peoples voyce and publique speach agree that good will bare , And then thy face with mourning f●et , no more in sight t appere , W●yle yet thou mightst to looke vpon the la●t day I was there . To take and geue with talke alike , o●t farewel in such case , W●ich once we might and then ●o more , w●yle world end●res embrace , As others moe which with no league of frend●hip I h●d bo●nde , W●o then declar● their griefe of mynd , with ●rick●yng teares o● groū● W●ere els should I to thee be knit , with 〈◊〉 in com●on ●ed , With causes eke of great effect , and ●●at 〈◊〉 long tyme bred . Why els knew thou so many bourdes , and ca●ne● ac●es of myne , And I so ma●y matters sayde , and p●easant prankes of thyne . What if alone at royall Rome our frend●hip had bene knit , But thou so oft in euery place , was calde a fellow fit . With wistsome wyndes of seas in vayne , haue all these taken flight Or els al thinges in Lethe lake , are drou●d with darkesome nighte . I thinke in towne thou were not borne , that Rome of Q●iri●e hight ▪ A towne alas wherein to come , I may not woful wight . But in the rockes which here do lye , on left syde of the sea , In croked cragges of Sarmatis , in land of Scithia . That in thy hart be heaped high , of flyne the stony vaynes And eke ● Iron the seedes so hard , within thy brest remaynes . The nourse also which gaue thee suck● through tender mouth to passe● With fruitful teares when thou wert young , vntamed ●iger was . For els thou would not l●sse regard the heauy hap I beare , Then straungers ill : nor gylty yet , of rigour rough appeare . But synce the same my fatall fall and sorrowes do encrease , That frenship should in his fyrst tyme , from duty doing cease . Now cause I may forget thy fault , and then I shal agayne , With selfe same toung thy kindnes prayse that I do now complayne ▪
To his frend that the common people followeth fortune . Elegie 8. ALl voyde of griefe God graunt thou may , last ende of life attayne Which as a frend to reade this worke , of myne dost not disdayne . And here I wish my prayers might , preuayle for thy behoue , Which for my selfe the cruell goddes , to mercy cold not moue . In number thicke thy ●rendes wil come , whyle hap hanges on thy syde , If stormy cloudes of tyme apeare , alone thou shalt abyde , Behold how Doues to house resort , in whitely coloures cladde , In b●astly boure of sluttish coate , no byrd abydeth gladde . The p●ynefull Pismeere neuer comes , in barne left voyde and bare , No frend repayres where goods before , be cleane consumde with care . When Sunne doth shine the shadow shewes , of them that walke abrode , When it lyeth hid in cloude he list , no longer make abode , The vnconstant sort of people so , do follow fortunes light , Which q●ēched once with houering showre , they straight do take their flight And would to God thou might perceiue , that falsely this do sound , But I must needes confesse them true , by fortune that I found . Whyle we did stand in perfect state our house desyrde no fame , But yet was knowen , and had resort , as did suffice the same . But when it first began to s●ake , th●y s●ared sore the fall , And w●ly backes to flying turnd , to saue themselues withall . No maruayle though they feare the flash , of lightning ●ruell flame , By fyre of which all thinges is wont , consume that neare it came . But Caesar yet among his foes , that frende doth well allow , Which doth not shrinke but tary still , when fortune bendes her brow . ●o wonted vse ●e hath to fume ( no man is more modest ) If he which lou'de to louer 〈◊〉 , in troub●lous time is prest . The fame doth tel● how Thoas kinge , on Pylades did rew , When as by m●te of Graecian Lande , Orestes once he knew . Pat●●●lus perfit fayth which was , with great Achilles kni● , Was wont full oft with worthy prayse , in Hector● mouth to sit . They say because that Theseus , with frend of his did pas . Amonge the Princes blacke of Hell , their God full sor●y was . Wee beleeue O Turnus that thy cheekes with teares were wet . When thou heard of Eurialu● , and Nysus fayth●● so set . In wretches eke there is a loue , in foes which we approue , O heauy hap so few there be which with my words I moue , Such is the state and chaunce of mee , and of my matters all , That nothing ought my teares to stop ▪ from sory race to fall .
Hee reioyseth that his frend profited in learning . Elegie . 9. ALthough my heart for priuate chaunce , with sadnes so be fraught , It ●ighter lyes when I heare of , the knowledge thou hast caught , I saw ( most deare ) that here thou should within this port ariue . Afore this way the wras●ling windes , thy ship began to driue . If ●anners milde with vertue mixt , or life deuoyde of blame , Be had in price no man that liues , deserues a better name . Or if by art of cunning knowne , that any do ascend , There comes ●o cause which th●n cannot , with pleasaunt words defe●d With these in minde I mooued thus , to thee then streight can say , A greater stage ( O friend ) remaynes , thy vert●e to display . No spleene of Sheepe , of Lig●●ning flame , no flashe on left side seene , No chir●ing songe or flight of foule , a s●gne whereof hath bene . By reasons rule I did deuine , and iudge of that should come , All these in mynde I g●ssed right , and of them knowledge ●ome . In heart therefore I ioyfull am , for thee they proou●d true , Also for me , to whom thy wit , was knowne as did ensue . But would to God that myne had lyne , full lowe in darknes hid , For neede requyres my s●udious stile , of louely ●ight to rid . And a● the sci●nce sad and graue , wyth pyked speach a●d fyne , Doth profit thee : so am I hurt , with lore vnlike to thyne . But yet my life thou know'st right well , how that far from this art , Is maisters maners distant all , ●epugne in euery part , Thou knowest of old this verse was writ , by me when I was yonge , And it was though not to prayse , in Iest and playing songe . Like as no crafty couller can , in their defence haue might , So I suppose my verse may not , excused be with right . Eu●n as thou can , doe th●m excuse , and frendes cause not forsake , And with such steppes as thou hast gone , thy way right for●h do take .
Hee prayseth his shippe hee founde at Corinthia . Elegie . 10. A Ship I haue ( and God so g●aunt ) g●uern'de by Pallas might , Whose ha●py name no helme th●reof , d●●a●nted is in sight . I● sayles therein we neede to vse , with slend●r winde she sayles , Or if the ower : her way she takes , and easy force preuayles . Her fellowes all ●ith speedy course , to p●sse is not content , But doth put backe by sundry skilles , all shippes that forward bent . The flowing floude she lightly bears , and sels the t●ssing seas , No cruell w●ues she yeeldes vnto but sayles away with ●ase . With her I came acquaynted ●irst , euen a● Corinthia ground , Whom since a guide and trusty mate , in fearefull slight I found . Through sundry streights and wicked winds out way she did pr●cure , Yet was by force of Palla● power , fr●m daunger saued sure . And now the gates of vas●y Seas , we ●ray that she may 〈◊〉 , In Geta streames so long time sought , we may at length ar●iue . Which when she had conuey'de me ●hus , to Hellispontus port , In narrow trackt away full longe , she s●ul●ely did resort . On left syde th●n our course wee tourn'de , from Astors famous towne , And to their coasts ( ô Imbria ) th●re , ●rom thence we came a downe . So forth 〈◊〉 gentle windes when wee , Zerinthia did attayne , In Samoth●acia there our ship , all weary ●id remayne , From hence the reach is short , if thou , S●antira seekes to vewe , So ●arre the happy ship she did , her maister still pursue . Then on Bist●nian fieldes to goe , on f●●te it did me● please , My ship forthwith forsaking there , the Hellespontian Seas . Unto Dardania then which hears , the Au●h●rs 〈◊〉 , we bend , And thee ( ô Lampsace ) we do seeke , w●om rurall Gods defend . W●ere as the Sea doth Seston par , from Abydena towne , Euen where as Helles whilom fell , in narrow Seas adowne . From thence to Cizicon which on ▪ Propontis shore do stand , Cizi●o● the noble worke , of Thessalonians hand . Whereas Byzantia holdeth in , the seas on eyther side , This is the place of double Seas , that keepes the gate so wyde . And here I ●ray that wee may scape , by force of Southren winde , That from Cyaneas Rockes in hast , she streight a way may finde , And so to Enyochus bayes , and thence by Polleo fall , And caried thus to cut her way ▪ by Anchilaus his wall . Thence vnto Messembros port , and to Opeson bowres , May haply passe ( ô Bacchus ) by , of thee the named towres . Now to Alchathoes we go , which of the waues be spronge , Who fl●inge ●orth ( men say ) did builde , herein their houses stronge . From which vnto Myletus towne , it faulfely may arriue , Whereto the fearce and heauy wrath , of angry Gods do dryue . W●ich if we may attayne vnto , a lambe there shal be sl●yne , Mynerua to : for greater gift , our goods do not sustayne . And you dame Hellens bre●hr●n twaine , to whom this Ile do bend , Your double power to both our shippes , we pray that you do lend . The one vnto Symplegades , prepares her way to make , The other through Bys●on●a , her iorney thence do take . Cause you that since we diuers plats , of purpose go vnto , Tha● she may haue , and so may this , their wished winds also .
Howe that hee made his first booke in his Iourney . Elegie . 11. WYthin this booke what letter be , that thou perhaps shall reede , In troublous time , of careful way , the same was made in deede . For eyther Adria sawe we there , in colde Decembers day , How weepinge verse amids the Seas , to wryte I did assay . Or els with double Seas in course , I Istmos ouerc●me , And other ships therby in flight , our fellowes so became . When Cy●lades amased were and maruaile much did take How I among the roring ●●ouds , these verses yet cold make : And now my selfe do wonder sore , that in such ●aging waues , Of mynd and Seas my very wits , thems●lues from daunger s●ues . For be ●t maze with care hereof , or madnes we it call , This study doth repell from mynd my thoughts and sorrowes all . Oft times in doubtful mynd ●o tost , by stormy kyndes I was , Oft times with Sterops star the Sea , through threatning waues I pas Arthophilax , that keepes the beare , doth da●kd the day at ●awne , And south wind with the waters fearce , the Hiada● hath drawne . Oft tymes some part therof did pas into my s●ip aryght , Yet trembling I this woful verse , with fearesul hand do wryghte . Now with the Northren wyndes the ropes con●ented are to crake . And like to hilles the Hollow Seas a lofty surging make . The mayster with his handes cast vp , doth pray with feareful hart , Beholding then the heauenly starres forgetful of his art , On euery syde we onely saw of Death the picture playne , Which I in mynde did feare and yet so fearing wish agayne . God graunt I m●y to port ariue , I feare the same right sore , In water far lesse daunger is , then ●n that cursed shore . Of sub●il snares of m●n and flouds , wee stand in drea●y dreede , The sword and Sea my wretched minde with double ter●our f●ede . The one doth hope with guiltles blond a pray of me to make , The other of my woe●u●l death , t●e fame ●ould gladly take . On left side dw●lth a people rude , whose myndes be bent to spoyle , In blamelesse bloud , and slaughter fearce , and ●ruel warres they bo●le , And while the washing wa●●r● are , with wi●●er 〈◊〉 wrought , Our mind●s to greater ●o●le ( then Seas ) by heauy ●ap be brought . Wherefore thou ought more pa●don here ( O gentle Reader ) haue . If these appeare , as sure it is much lesse then 〈◊〉 do craue . My Gardens now we want wherein , I wonted w●s to wright , The vsed beddes my bodie lackes to rest the w●●ry night . Wit● bitter winter dayes I am , in wicked w●t●rs throwne , My papers pa●e , with surges soust , the griesly S●as hau● knowne , The winter angry is t●at I , these verses dare indight , And dreadfull threatnings casteth there my purpos● so to spight . Of man let winter victor bee , in selfe ●ame case I praye , That I may cease my symple verse , and he his raging stay .
FINIS .
Here beginneth the seconde BOOKE .
To Augustus Caesar. Elegie 1 WIth you what thing haue I ado , my bookes my hoplesse care● Sith that my ●its ( o wretch ) because that I of lyfe dispayre . My verse conde●ned muses why ? ●epete I now agayne ? And it is not enough , th●t I haue once thus s●ffred ●ayne ? My verses ●o a meane haue bene , by heauy hap so growne That I ( alas ) on euery syde , to man and wyfe am knowne . By verses the doth Caesar note , me and my maners all , Through peruers art which now of late in deepe disdaine is fall ▪ My paynful studyes set asyde , no faul●es of life remayne , That guylty I imputed am , my verse hath caused playne . This we receiue , as price of life , and labors greate of mynd , And now my paynful pynching paynes , in woful wit I fy●de . If wyse I were , I should of right , the learned sisters blame , As greuous goddesses to such as worship wil the same . But madnes now with feuer fearce , are ioyned so in one , That mindfull yet of former payne , my foote doth strike the stone . Like as the wounded souldiour doth , resort the f●eld vnto , Or as the wracked ship doth seeke , on swellyng seas to g●e . Perhaps li●e him , which once within , Teutrantus real●e did rayne , The same which made this greeuous wound , therof may ease the paine , And angry muse which moued ire , the same likewyse remoue , For weping verse do grace obtayne , at mighty Gods aboue , The worthy dames of Italy , doth Caesar wil to pr●y , To Ops which stately towers beare , and founding verse to say . The like to Phoebus eke what ●yme , ●ere playd the plea●ant playes , Which neuer oftner cold be sene , but once in one mens dayes . Lo these ( O gracious Caesar now ) as h●ppy myrrours haue , And let my wittes more m●lder wrath , of thee hereafter craue . The same is iust I do confesse , nor my desertes denye , Nor shame so far departed is from feareful face to flye . But if I had offended naught what could you then bestowe ? My let therefore occasion is whereof that mercy growe . So oftentymes as mortall men , in sinful faulte● be ●ound . If loue s●ould strike he might in tyme lacke shot whe●with to wounde . But he when once with th●ndring noyse , haue thr●atned sore the lande , With sprinkled drops the cloudy ayre , is cleared out of hand . A God , a guyde , a father graue , of right he cald haue bene , As mighty Ioue nothing so greate , in Uasty world is seene . Sith thee also a father graue , and guyde in earth thy name , Use then of Gods the maner● myld , thy power it is the same , The which full wel thou do , nor no man with more equall hand , The rightful reanes could better hold , wherwith to rule the land . T●e P●rchian● proude thou did subdue , yet pardon oft bestow , Which they to thee in case alike , would not haue geuen I know . Wi●h worldly wealth and honours high , aduaunced many Bee , Whose guilty handes did weapons weare , in fielde aduerse to thee . The day also with moued ●re , thy wrath away did take , S● eyther part in sacred house , at once their offringes make . And as the souldiour doth reioyce , who did thy foes oppresse , So haue the captiues cause ynough , to ioy at such distresse . My cause yet better is : I weare no weapon so vntrue . Nor ennemyes guilty goods I do , with greedy lust ●urs●e . By seas , by land , by starry skye , lo here I make my vow . By thee also that present is , a God to whom I bow . That this good wil ( o most of might ) haue euer bene in mee , And as thyne owne with hart and soule , I sought alwayes to bee . I wished oft that here thou mighte , in earth haue liued long . And one I was that prayed thus amids the mighty thronge . And sacrifyce for this I gaue , and with myne owne assent , When publique prayers were pronounc'd , to help to this entent , My bookes my faulty factes also , what n●ede I haue in mynde , Wherein thy name a thousand tymes , in open place I fynd . Behold likewyse my greater wor●es , vnended as they bee , W●ere th●t transformed bodies are in wondrous wise to se. Ther shalt thou find by flitteryng ●ame , thy name haue had much praise , There shalt thou f●nde by pledges greate of louing mind alwayes . Thy glory yet no verse can well , augment in any wyse , Sith nothing may therto be put , whereby it might aryse . Of Ioue the fa●e doth farre exc●ede , yet doth it him delite , Whe● as the same in sta●●ly verse , we seemly do endight . If that by Gyauntes bloudy warres of mention ought be hard , At pr●●se therof he doth reioice , for truth we do regarde . But th●e do others honou● more and as it seemeth f●t . Thy princely prayse and royall fame ▪ do prayse with riper wit . And as with shedding guil●lesse bloud , of bulles a hundreth slayne ▪ Of God with smallest ensenc● geuen , so grace we do obtayne . O wicked wight , O tyrant fearce , O cruel cursed foe , That did my pleasant fancies make to the disclos●d so . To verses which in bookes discryb● , to thee thyne honour due , From reader ought in iudgement iust , more fauor to ensue , But if thou hap offended be ▪ who then dare be my friend ? No scant vnto my selfe I should , my faythfull frendship lend . When as ● house decayed is , and se●led on the side , Then all the mas●y wa●ght thereof , to yelding pa●tes do slyde . Or elswhereas by fortunes force , a ●hincke therein is wayde . With prayse thereof in tract of ●ime , the same is soone decayde . The great enuy of men so we , by hurtfull verse do finde , And people be ( as mee it is ) to Caesars side enclynde . When as my life and maners yet , were more alowde I knowe , And by the horse the same I iudge , which then thou did bestowe ▪ The which although it profits nought , nor honest prayse I haue , Yet from the name of cruel crime , my selfe I wish ●o saue . No cause to me committed was , of guilty men amis For iudges t●n times ten to loke , vppon whose office is , And priuate playntes without offence , as iudge I did decree With v●ryght mynd the same I gaue , it will confessed be And that ( O wretch ) if latest deedes had not offended more , Euen by thyne owne ass●nt , I should not once be sau'te before . The latest actes do me destroye , my ship which safely sailde , In depthy and swallowing waues , through sturdy storme is faylde . No litle part of wh●lming waues , oppresseth mee alone , But all the flocke of flowing flouds , and Ocean seas in one . Why saw I ought ? myne eyes why haue , I guilty causd to be ? W●y is m● fault vn●eeting I , now ●nowi●g se well to mee ? The ●●eck't Diana Acteon saw , vnwares as hee did pas , To hunge● boundes a present pray , no whit the lesse he was For mighty gods do punishe those , by chaunce that do offend , Nor pa●●on oug●t wh●re po●ers be hurt , to such mishaps do lend , So in that day wherein I was with errour thus beguyld , Our litle ●ous● decayed i● , with fault yet vndefyld . And litle though● yet of good fame , euen in my fathers dayes , Nor vnto none in●●riour now , for honours noble prayse , Not ●or t●e w●●lth nor want therof , it can so well be knowne , For neyther 〈◊〉 beca●se wh●rof , our knighely name is growne . And be 〈◊〉 by our byrth or rent our house be litle namde , My wits and payn●ul studi●● causde abroade it hath bene faynde . Which though percase I seeme to vse , as young and wantonly , Yet by that meane through world so wyde , my famous name do ●lye . O● Naso eke the name is knowen ▪ amidst the learned thronge , W●o ●are of him the same record● , no abiect men amonge . This house therfore to muses greate , in great decay is fall , By one offence and careful cryme , yet not accompted finall . But so decayd as ryse it may , if that the raging ire , Of greeued Caesar waxeth ripe , to wonted vse retyre . Whose gracious mercy is so greate , in iudgement of our payne , That not so much ●s we did feare , we haue receiued playne Our life is geuen and not my death , his gentle wrath doth craue , With vsed power ( O noble Prince ) we pray therfore to saue . I haue ●lso with thyne assent , my fathers liuings all , As though my life thou did accompt , ● gyft that were to small . My doleful dedes hast not condemd , by Senates close assent , Nor by decree of them opprest , in wretched exile sent . With threatning wordes rebuking vice ( as best a Prince beseeme ) Offences all thou dost reuenge ●nd mercy so esteeme . And those decrees which were pronounc'de in sterne and a●per wyse ▪ Yet in the name of lighter fault thou wild it should suffise . Thus as dischargd and sent away , no exiles name I haue , My happy dayes d●priuing so , and life thereby to saue . No payne or greefe so greeuous is , no trouble such of mynde . As to displease so great a Prince his vengeaunce there to f●nde . But Gods which whilom moued were , sometimes appeased bee , And scowling cloudes once driu●n assyde , a day ful fayre wee see . The Elme which lately blasted was , depriued of his greene , The clustred vines eftsones to beare , full oftentymes is seene . And though thou do forbid to hope , we hope assuredly . This one thing yet m●y come to passe , though thou thereto denye My hope encrease ( O gentle Prince ) when thee I do behold , And eke decrease when I respect my faultes so manyfold . The roring rage of swellyng seas , is not alyke alwaye , ●or furies fierce doth euer last ▪ in tossing streames to stay . But sometymes be more calme and cleare , and cease theyr vsed toyle , To make vs thinke the force wer lost , of byllowes boysterous broile So do my feares both ▪ ryse and fall , sometime in doubt remayne , In hope and dreade of thy good wil , to passe or proue my payne . For loue of Gods therfore which geue , the● long and happy dayes , ( If they of noble Romaynes do esteeme thy name and prayse ) For countrey eke which thou do kepe , as guide and father deare , Whereof my selfe a part I was , and thence now passed cleare . To thee the stately towne so shal , with honors due resound , W●o doest for wit and famous factes , in wondrous wife ●bound . So Liuia with thee remayne , and liue in wedded lyfe , Which were but euen for thee alone a farre vnworthy wyfe . If shee were not , a s●●gle lyfe , should best beseeme for thee , For none there liues to whom thou might ● wedded husband be . Of thee so shall ● sonne in health , and thou in health to rayne , Which may in thy more elder ●ge , an old man here remayne . And bring to passe that happy starres , through those thy noble deedes ▪ W●th neuewes young shall stil abide , that thee in realme succedes . So victory which vsed is , thy noble castels to , Shal still be prest at hand alwayes , to customd ensignes goe . S●e shall with wonted winges still flye , with guyde of Laui● land , On happy head a Laurell greene , shal set with semely hand By whom thou famous war● do kepe , in parson also fyght , To whom good lucke by thee is geuen , with Gods of maru'lous might . And thus i● mighty town art s●ene , as present halfe to byde , And halfe away in further partes , the bloudy wars to guyde . A victor greate from foes subdu'de , he shal retourne to thee , With crowned horse and tryumphes braue , aduaunced shal hee be , B●t spare we pray thy lightning fearce and cruel shot vp lay , W●erof ( O wretch ) we haue alas , to long now made assay , Thou art our country father deare , not mindles of this name , We pray thee spare and graunt vs hope , in time to haue no blame . To come agayne I do not craue , yet well beleue we may , That mighty Gods more harder suites , haue not denied alwaye . A gentler kynd of exiles lyfe , and nerer place bestow , Then of my paynes the greatest part would be allayd I know ▪ The furthest land I do approue , and cast among my f●es , Nor no man from his country that , so far an exile goes . In Hauen of seuenfold I stars Sea , alone here am I sent , With frosty axe of Archadie , in cruell care am pent . The Iazegies , the Colcho● eke , and all th● Getan rout . With Me●e●ius whom Danube stream may skant from h●nce kepe out . And though that diuers be driuen forth , for much more greate offence , Yet none to place more f●r then I , is sent away from thence . B●yond this land no thing ther is , saue cold and enmies fell , W●th waters thinne of whelming sea . with frosty yse congell . On left syde here Euxinians ioyne , to part of Romaine land , And next the Basterns and the Sawromes kepe wit● cruell hand . This is the land that latest came to rule of Romayne law , And scantly any part thereof , thyne ●mpire neare do draw . Whe●fore I hu●bly pray that we , be set in saul●er soyle , L●ast els with losse of counrey deare , we liue in endles toyle . So neede we not the nations f●●re , whom I star skant deuyde , Nor as thy subiectes there be t●ne , with cruell foes to byde . For no ●an borne of Latian bloud can beare those barberous bandes , But that the● wil a burden bee vnto Caesarians handes Two faultes there are that haue me slayne , error and my verse . All other ●aultes I thinke it good that I do not reherse . Thy greuous woundes ( O Caesar ) now renew I do not meane , And that thou hau● bewayld t●em onc● , to much I do esteeme . Another part of cryme remaynes , a greeuous fault for mee , A ●eacher of aduoutry foule , I charged am to bee , Some thinges the Gods may well deceiue , then for to know is hard , Of them for many be so meane , that thou dost not regarde . For while as Ioue beholdes the heauens , and mighty Gods also , The smaller thing from lofty skyes , cannot respect vnto . So many matters they escap● , in vewing world so wyde , That l●sse affa●res of mean●r wayght , f●om ●eauenly ●inde do slyde . That is while thou a Prince be set , in Empire large ●o rayne , ▪ May not entend fond verse to reade , and greatter thinges disdayne . The wa●ghty w●●ght of Romayne name , do not so ●ighty moue , No● pray●e therof on back to beare , so 〈◊〉 thee ●ehoue . As thou with Godly power may ma●ke , our fonde and foolish toyes , Wi●h open eyes here to discusse , our ydle earthly ioyes . Some●ymes Germania doth rebell , sometymes Illerians ●●yle , Rh●tia and the Th●a●ian land , with ci●ill wa●●es 〈◊〉 . S●met●●● Armenius craueth peace and Parthus 〈◊〉 ●elde . With f●●r●ful bandes resto●yng ●ft the e●s●g●es won ●n ●●elde , Ge●mania eke through infant young , a yo●g man t●ee do take , And Caesar doth f●ll cruell w●●res , for mig●●● Caesar make . In fine , of all th●ne empire huge ( which ne●er was 〈◊〉 large ) No pa●● 〈◊〉 all abated is , but stil ●en aynes in charge . The Citty great and sure def●nc● , of cus●o●es a●d of law , D●th ●ike the sore ? wh●le thē●ho● s●ekes , 〈…〉 more ●ere to draw The q●●et state ●hou can not vse , w●ich thou hast ●ald in land , For ●ro●blous wars with nations great , thou dayly takes i● hand . Wherfore among such causes graue , I maruayle much and muse , That thou our w●nted follies would , with earnest eyes peruse . But if thou had ( as I do wishe ) ●●re ydle there haue bene , Then in myne art no ●ault at all , perhaps thou shoul● ha●e seene . The w●ich I do confesse was not , deu●sde with seue●e heade , Nor matter meete that might deserue of such a prince be reade . Yet be they not to lawes offence , nor gylty of such blames , But to enstruct the youthfull route , of noble Romayne dames . N●r needest not my bookes to doubt , for in one of those three , These verses ●ower which next approach , ●e set therin to see . Stand you aloofe you vestal tape● , of s●amefastne● the signes , Geue place likewise ye purfled Pawles , that halfe on feete declynes Of lawf●ll lot and skill allowd , we onely do resoonde , For in our simple verse there shall , no subt●●l cryme be founde . Lo ●o wee not all sober dames , from this our art expell● Whom stole and tape forbiddeth playne with louely loue to mell ? B●t matrones may more artes ●●uent , although they be vntaught ▪ W●erby to make the chastest myndes , with wickednes be fraug●t . No bookes therfore let matrons reade , s●th all thinges be so straunge , That they be turnde from vertuous vse , to f●lthy vice to chaunge . W●o lo doth care all thinges to turne to wrong and wor●er part , To vices vile his maners chaunge , through wil of workers hart . For take in hand the C●ronicke bookes , then those nothing more graue How Ilia fayre a babe brought forth , to reade there shalt thou haue . Or if thou ●oke on Maroes workes , ther shalt thou see in s●ght , How Venus fayre a mother was vnto the Troyan Knight . Yea further yet if ●ll thinges may , likewyse accompted be . No kynd of verse but may the mynd , corrupt also we see . As guilty yet not euery booke , we may therefore disp●se ▪ For of ech thing that helpe proceedes , doth harme als● aryse . Then ●re what thinge more needefull to ? yet who so lokes in land , The howses high to burne and spoile , the fyre he t●kes in hande . So P●●s●ck sometimes greatly hur●es , sometymes do●● heale right wel , Of herbes that hurtful be or not , by skil●ul ●ore to tell The theefe and ware wa●fayr●ng man , by syde a sword they haue . The one to ro● the s●mple wight , the other himselfe to saue . And R●thorick haue long time ben taug●t , to pleade for righteousnes , Yet faulty fol●es it oft def●ndes , and innocents ●ppresse Euen so w●o shall my v●●ses reade , with eq●all vpright mynd , Shal well perswade himselfe enoug● , 〈◊〉 hurt in them to fynde . And who so thinkes he sinne conceyues , or vyces here of haue , But erreth much , and writinges myne , to much he doth depraue . In sacred playes ( I do confesse ) ●e certayne wanton 〈◊〉 , The stages therof do remoue , wheron the players sli● . What causes also haue bene geuen , of sinne and great mischaunce In marshall fieldes and places greate where fighters do aduaunce ? L●t Ci●cus 〈◊〉 b● set asyde , the vse therof not good , The maydens chast thereon at playes , by men vnknown they stoode . While men do rome in selfesame path , where louers do resort , Why then be porches set at large where all men may disport . What place then temples is more l●rge ? yet is their cause of ●inne , I● wicked myndes that so delytes , by hap be set therin . For set in sacred house of Ioue perchaunce it may be seene , What number great of mothers made , by mighty Ioue haue bene . Or who shal in the Temples pray , of Lady Iuno true The Gods she there bewayling sees , and wanton Lemman● vewe . So some wil aske that Pallas see , as they her picture pas , How of her Eriththonius , by sinne conceiued was . And commyng to the house shal see of Mar● the heauenly wight , Before the gates where Venus standes , fast by her worthy knight . In Isis Church who chaunce , to sit w●●l haply a●●e in doubt , By Ionian and the Bosphore seas , why Iuno sent her out . For Venus there Anchises is , for Luna Latinus old , For Ceres ●ke doth Iatius stand , on whom thou maist beholde . All these thinges therfore may corrupt , the wicked peruerse mynd , Y●t in their place ful harmles stand , not wrested from ther kynd . Far from this art which w●itten was , for wanton dames behoue , The formost leafe of that same booke , all modest hands remoue . Who so therefore by hap offend , more th●n the liuers chast : With guilty men of fault forbode , shall he strayght wayes be pla●● ? No haynous act the wanton verse , it is to lightly reede , For many thinges the chast may see which be abhord in deede . The matrons graue do oft beholde , the baudy harlots loue , How naked there themselues they make , dame Venus pr●nkes to proue . The Uestall eyes likewyse they do , the S●rompets body see , Yet to themselues by sight therof , no paynes deserued bee But why haue I so much ( alas ) my muse to wanton made ? Or what haue causd my wicked booke to louely lore perswade ? No thinge saue sinne and open fault , of force I must confesse , My wits and skill I do accuse , as cause of my distresse . Why haue I not the Troyan towne , by Gretians whilom sackt , In Asper verse the same renu'de , and toulde that famous fact ? Why spake I not of Thebas slege , and wounded brethren twayne ▪ And how the seuen gates thereof , in sundry charge remayne ? And marshall Rome occasion gaue , whereof I should endight , A godly worke it were for mee , my country facts to wright . In fine : while that by thy deserts , all thinges so much abound● , A cause I had ( O Caesar ) why thy prayse I should resounde . Euen as the eyes delighted be , with beames of Phoebus bright , So did thy facts my mynde entise , to take thereof delight . As rightfully I am reprou'de , in barren fielde I t●l'de , That noble worke is far more large , with greater plentye fil'de , For though the slender boate is bould , in smaller streame to play , Yet like disport it dareth not in surginge seas assay . And doubting that for greater thinges , my minde is farre vnfit , In ditties small it may suffice , that I doe shew my wit . But if thou should commaund to tell , of G●aunts greeuous wound●s , Which they through fyre of Ioue did feele : the worke my wit confoundes ▪ A fruictfull minde it doth requyre , of Caesars actes to wright , Least els perhaps with matter much , the worke may want his right . Which though I durst haue take in hande , yet dreading much amonge , Thy noble power I might abate , which were to great a wronge . To lighter worke I therefore went , and youthfull verse addrest , With ●ayned loue a care I had ▪ to feede my fi●le bre●st . Which loth I was full longe to doe , but fates did so ordayne , And deepe des●re my mynde did mooue , to purchase greeuous payne . Why haue I learn'de ? O wretch why haue , my parents taught me lore ▪ On letters small why haue I set , my wofull eyes before ? For this I am of thee enuide , by wanton arte aright , Through which thou thincks the chasty heads , be traind to foule delight . But none whom wedlocks yoke doth bind , this craft haue learnd of me , For who so nothinge knowes himselfe , no teacher can he be , So haue I made both pleasant Toyes , and gentle facile verse , As yet ●n talke for by worde leude , no wight may ●e reherse . Nor none who liues in wedded life , amonge the common rought , That of himselfe a father false , through my default doe dought . My maners milde repugnant are , to verse ( beleue you mee ) My life both chast and shamefa●t is , though muse mor e pleasaunt Bee . And greatest part of those my workes , inuentions are vntrue , For much more craft they doe allowe , then maker euer knewe . Nor written bookes do not purport , th' aff●ctions of the mynde , But honest will to pleasaunt myrth , to make the ca●es inclynde . For Aceius t●en in cruell deedes , Terentius should delight , In b●nk●t● braue : and warriours be , of warres that do endight . In fine : tho●gh diuers are with mee , that tender l●ue haue m●yde , Y●t I al●n● for it ( O wretch ) the paynes alone haue payde . Theia mus● of Le●yan olde , hath she not taught the skill ? With plenty great of Bacchus dewe , dame Venus neast to fill ? ●hat ha●h dame Sappho Lesbia learn'de , but maydens fayre to loue , Yet Sa●pho still remayneth ●aul●e , and he no pa●nes do proue . What hath it thee ( ô Battis ) hurt that reading of thy verse , T●y pleasaunt pr●ncks thou did confesse , and wanton ioyes reherse . No fab●e ●ounde but tels of loue , in great Menanders booke , Yet is it red to Uirgins yongue , and Boyes thereon do looke . What shall you reade in Ilias , but foule aduouterous life ? And feare aff●●ct of louers false , with toyle and endlesse strife , Therein what is there set before , of Chresida the loue ? And of the mayde from Captaynes caught , which anger great did moue . What is Odys●ea els ? but while Vl●s●e● was away ▪ How of his wyse the loue to get , what Wo●rs did ●ssay . What doth great Homer more report , but Mars to Venus bound , And that th●y were in filthy bed , and foule aduou●ry ●ound . By him haue we not knowledge caught , ●ha● mo●●de with loues 〈◊〉 ? One straunger caus'de two G●ddesses , to bu●ne in secret fyre ? Though Tragedies all writinges do surmount , for matter gr●ue , Yet euen in them occasions great , of loue alwayes we haue . For in Hyppolitus the loue ▪ of Phaedra do we finde , And eke how constant Canace lou'de , her bro●●er not vnkinde . What did not then kinge Pelop● white , when Cupid forcte his chaire , With Phrygian horses fearce conuey , Hippodamia faire ? Prouoked grie●e through loues desyre , in sc●●● so m●ch it was , That mothers caus'de theyr cruell Bledes , through childrens bloud to pas , And loue a king with Lemman ●ayre , in 〈◊〉 foul●s did chaunge , And made Sir Itis mother mourne , with s●ghes , & sobbing straunge . If that Europaes brother vile , her loue did not requyre , Wyth Phoebus : then we h●d not read , how horses did retyre . Nor Scylla should haue so attayn'de , the Tr●g●cke stile vnto , Unlesse that loue her Father forste , his fatall hearse forgo . Whose life by hap Electran reades and made Orestes fit , Aegestus faultes nor Clytemnestras , sinnes , he can forgit . What neede I speake of Victor that Chymera did oppresse ? Who crafty gest did much annoy , to death almost distresse . Who hath not spoke of Hermyone , and thee Chentyda tould , Of Alcumene whom Mycene Duke , in louinge breast did fould . What Daneyes daughter in law , her selfe ? what Bacchus Dame ? What Hermyona with her which caus'de , of one two Nightes became ▪ Of Duke Admere , of Theseus eke , what should I here resounde , Of Greeke whose ship did first arriue , on coast of Pgrygian grounde . Let Ioels come amonge the rest , with Deidamia fayre , Wyth Hylas to and Ganimede , who did to heauen repayre . No time would serue the Traiecke syres , if I for them should looke , Whose names alone could not be set , within this carefull booke . And Tragedies the laughters foule , prouoke in sundry wyse ▪ Yea shamelesse woordes full many a one , because of them aryse . What hath it hindred him that did , the fearce Achill abuse ? For which his valiaunt deedes were lost , and force did him refuse . Aristides the filthy facts , of fond My●●●●●ns tould , Yet from his towne was not exild , nor in such wyse contrould . Nor Eubius a writer great , of hystoryes vncleane , How mothers might their seed● consume , by foule and filthy mean● . Nor he who wrote the bookes , which men , Sabatia haue nam'de , Nor they whose owne aduouterous deedes , to tell were not asham'de . All these with graue and auncient sawes , of learned men be vs'de , The facts apparaunt be yet not , to princes so refus'de . Nor I these forrayne factes alone for my defence do finde , But euen in Romayne bookes I reade , the toyes of wanton winde . As Ennius graue who wonted was , of mighty Mars to tell , Ennius though voyde of arte , in wit he did excell . Lucretius eke the cause discust , of fearce consuminge flame , And triple worke he did deuine , of which proceede the same . So did Catullus wanton man , his Lemmans prayse resight , Whose name in deede hee chaunged haue , and Lesbia therefore hight . Nor yet contented so but did , of Harlots mo reherse , With whom aduoutry vyle he did , confesse in open verse . Like lawles life did Caluus leade , whose stature was but small , By sundry meanes disclosing then , his filthy doinges all . What should I speake of Tynda●es stile , and Memnus verse also , Who writinge of vnhonest actes , their names haue put vnto . And Cinna here a fellow is , and Anser light as hee , And Cornificius wanton , worke , and Catoes eke wee see . And he who in Phasecian seas , that Argos whilom brought , His secrete deedes could not keepe in , which he before had wrought . Ho●●ensi●● and Sulpitius facts , lasciuious be likewise , And such graue men who followeth not , or doth their deedes despise . Sisenna did Mylesian bookes , reduce to Romayne verse , No paynes he proued yet , though filthy facts he did reherse . Nor Gallu● th●ugh Lycoris feast he did oft times adore , Was blamed ought : but deemed druncke , with wyne he bibd before . To womens othes small trust to haue , Tibullus whilom wou●d , Nor of them selues what they deni'd , no husband credit should . For keepers eke of virgins chast , a fraud he did confesse , And now ( O wretch ) through selfe fame art , is driuen to deepe distresse . And as he would of signet fayre , or Iewels vertue finde , By craft whereof his mystresse hand , to touch he beares in minde . By priuy poynctes and crafty b●cks , to shewe theyr secrete mynde , He also taught : and subtile notes , in trenchers fayre to finde . And by the sap of certayne hearbes , how wrath is set a syde , Whereas the same through mutual mouthes by strents of teeth do glide , And eke how they should plenty great , of foolishe husbands craue , Whereby the lesse they might offend , and lesse occasion haue . At whom also the dogges , do barcke , when men that way are gone , And secret hemmes he taught to knowe , when he did passe alone . Full many a crafty lore he learn'de , which women did receiue , Euen by , what art the wedded wyues , their husbands might deceyue . For these yet no rebuke he had , his workes apparant bee , And well alow'de , to thee our Prince , are not vnknowen we see . Propertius like preceptes haue ge●uen , which be apparant plaine ▪ No checke or frowninge looke hee did , for that although sustaine . And many more I did succeede , who ( sith they liue in ●ame ) I will not now in open verse , recite them by their name . I feared not ( I do confes●e ) amonge so great a sayle , My onely shippe to perishe quite , and none but she to fayle . And other artes with trouling dice , lo diuers written haue . Through which no small offence is cast , vpon your grands●rs graue . How that thou may by subtill meane , the greatest number throw , And dogged poinctes may best eschew , through crafty arte to know . In Tables play what markes auayle , or hurtfull are likewyse , A skill they haue to vse the good , and lo●s●nge poyncts dispyse . And how the knight in , coullers clad , doth rage in right sorts way , When middle man through ennemies twayne , assault is made a pray . And how they best may march abroade , or form●n make retyre , For none alone from wa●de to passe , f●r fea●e of hurtfull hyre . A game also with litle stone , so p●ast● on table small , W●ere at he winn'th that mak'th all three , in one straight line to fall . And other Playes deui●ed be ( nor all to ●ell I meane ) Through which our time a ●hinge most deare , is so consumed cleane . And other tell'th the ●orme of Balles , and skill of Tennis playes , And some the Swimming arte ●oth show , and some the toppe as●ayes . The c●aft with coullers blacke to slayne , do diuers take in hand Of banket bowers and houshould lawes , haue others deepely skand . Of earth doe others teach the vse , whereof the cup●es do make , And which the wyn● preserues and which , will other liquor take . Such kinde of sportes in smoky mouth , of cold● D●c●mbers day , A●e v●ed yet : nor maker none , for them the paynes doe pay . Through these exam●●●s lo I haue no weeping verses mayde , But weeping paynes for pleasaunt sportes , I haue alas assayd . In fyne : among these wryters all , I can perceaue not one , To whom his Muse haue hurtfull bene , my selfe except alone . What if I should the filthy playes , of ●ayling Iesters wryght , Wherein the faultes of fayned loue , be set alwa●es in sight , And where the vicious man comes ●orth , in garments freshe and braue . And wily wyfe her foolishe mate , by sleight deceyued haue , Lo these : both mayd , wyfe , and man , with s●ely children see , And oftentimes the senate whole , in parson present bee , The which alone with shame●es spe●che , do not defile the eare , But filthy facts before the eyes they haue disclosed there . And when the louer by his craft the husband doth begyle , They clap their hands with wondrous ioy , and great reioycing smyle . And that although lesse needefull is : for Poets greedy g●yne , The Petor will of forged playes , with charge the sight attayne . B●●olde of Playes the great ●xpence ( O Caesar ) and the charge , Which thou hast pay'd , thou s●alt perceiue , the same haue ben ●ight large . Lo these thy selfe full o●t haue seene , and shewed to others playne , Thy maiesty so lowly is , thy grace nothing ●●sdayne . The ●oyall eyes wherewith thou doe , the totall world beholde , Th' adultry vile haue gladly seene , which that in Scene is ●ol●e , W●●refore if lawfull that it be , that Ies●ers so may wright My ●eedes lesse paynes deserue , they do more honest ac●es resight . But is that kind of writing sa●e , for P●lpets 〈◊〉 regard ? And what the s●age haue lawfull made , from I●st●●s no● r●gard ? So haue the people daunced oft , when songe my po●ses beene , With open eyes the s●me also , thy sel●e o●t times haue seene . E●en as the auncient pictures made , by craft of workemans hand , With glistering glose be set in s●ght , within your house to stand . I● them so be their ●●bles small , in priuate place I know , W●●ch sundry shapes and secret deedes , of Lady Venus show . And as t●e 〈◊〉 Aiax sits , with th●eatning browes all bent , Or as the Bar●rous mothers eye , to wicked act is l●nt , Euen so the watry Ven●s sits , her dampish hayres to dry , A●d s●metimes seemes in mother s●as , away from s●ght to fly . And others be which cruell warres , wyth weapons sharpe do tell , Yea so●e t●y graundst●rs deedes & some thine owne do show right well . In narrowe space the hatefull wight , dame Nature hath me pent , No● to my wo●ull wayling w●ts , but slender force haue lent . O happy yet for him it was Aeneados did wright , W●o M●rian head● wi●h mighty men , and weapo●●●erce resight . No part of all which famous worke , the readers do delight , So much : as that , where loue was ●inckt againe all honest right . Of Phyllis he likewise haue tould , and Amarylli● loue , I● youthfull yeares he sought his minde , wyth Bucolickes to moue . And we who haue by wr●ting these , committed greeu●us sinne , O●r sinfull factes much elder be , though paynes but now beginne . I verses also made when thou offences haue contrould , A knight by thee to passe oft times , I voyde of checke was bould . W●erefore I yong and wanting wit in that no daunger thought , W●ich now to me in elder age , more hurt●ull care haue brought . A new reuenging pa●nes I feele for auncient written Art , The persecution differeth far from time of my defart . Y●t of my woorkes ●ou may beleue , more wayghty burdens beare , For oftentimes more massy sayles , my ship sustayned there . Fo● bookes twyse ●ix I written haue , and Fasto● did them name , In number like of ●onthes were made , and ended in the sa●e . A●d that , that through my heauy fate , I did ( O Caesar ) make , W●erein I highly honoured th●e , wh●n I my way did take . Y●● T●agike still in royall verse we also did endight , W●erein no waight● wordes do want , that stately stile should light . I● verse lik●w●se ●e ●ould , altho●gh t●e workes imperfect bene , W●ere sundr● shapes ●rans●ormed are , and chaunged bodyes seene . B●t would to God thy wrath a w●ile , fro● mi●de thou would remoue , And that of th●●e same part to reade , thou wouldest m● behoue . The worke which at the worldes vpryse his firs● b●ginning had , To thy ●ost famous ●aygne I brought , and wro●● ( O Caesar ● glad . There shalt thou finde what store o● wit , on me 〈…〉 , And with what minde ●or thee and thine , to write I haue assa●ed , I do no man wyth ●yting verse , or churlis●e c●ecke disda●ne , Nor no mans guilty ●actes there doth , within my workes ●emayne ▪ From s●b●ill ●oyes I guilt●es am , that ten pre● be 〈◊〉 ga●l , Nor 〈◊〉 my verse no venyme fell ▪ w●th myrth is mixt at all . Among so many thousand men , wyth verses ●any a one , My learned muse haue hindred no●e ( ●y s●l●e except alone ) At my mishap I gesse therefore , no Romayne doth reioyce ▪ But much bewayle our sundry woes , with one l●●enting voyce ▪ Nor no man would I thinke be sad , in this ●y ●or●y chaunce , If mercy me through gui●●les life to g●eater ca●e aduaunce . Lo th●se with many more I wishe , may perce thy heauenly brest , ( O father deare ) O sure de●ence , our coun●ryes only ●est . To Italy I would not turne , vnlesse in lo●ger space , Through greater paynes of thee perhaps , we ●ay deserue more grac● ▪ More safer place for Exiles life , and gentler rest I craue , So shall my faults and carefull crimes , theyr due deseruinges haue .
FINIS .
The third Booke ▪
The booke to the Reader . Elegia . 1. IN Fearefull wyse an Exiles booke am sent ●he towne to see , Thy helping hand , to weary ●r●nd ( ● Reade● ) ●end tho● mee . Nor doubt thou not least I be cause , perhaps to worke 〈◊〉 s●a●e , No vers● in t●is dot● 〈◊〉 to lo●e , whe●eb● to ●orce ●he sa●e . ●or maisters fortune hath ●en such , alas vn●a●●● wight , T●at 〈…〉 Ies●es or 〈…〉 And that which ●e in 〈…〉 To late ( ● wofull w●●ke ) doth n●w , ●ith 〈…〉 d●fy . B●h●ld the●efore what I do bring , 〈…〉 ●hought at al , Such 〈◊〉 ●eete in 〈…〉 as do●● to 〈…〉 Ec●e other 〈…〉 , The wea●y ●oote or ●eng●● of way , the cause 〈◊〉 of ●aue deen● . I am not staynd in C●dars say nor wrought with P●●nice bright , For shame it were to be m●re braue then mayster may with right . The letters sad whereof the blots , bereft of wonted grace , The sorry teares that worke hath hurt , which fe●l from Poets face : If any word he wrested haue , from light of latin sence , The b●rbrous land haue for●t thereto , and cause proceded thence , Then tell , if payne be none which way , ( O R●ader ) is most sure , A●d by what steps a straungers booke , my passage may procure . Whyle these I spake with stamering tongue , and closely all a●one , My iourney , so : that ●olde there was , among them a●l but one . God graunt thou may , which N●so to hath bene denied playne , That in thy country here maist bide , and 〈◊〉 rest obtayne . Guyd one I shall pursue , although by seas and land I sought , All ty●ed long my wery feete , from furth●st country brought . O●rying then and passing forth ( quoth he ) this is the g●te , Of Caesars Court : and wa● the name , from Gods haue growen but late This is the vestale place that keepes dame Pallas and the fyre , This is the Pallace small , whereto King Numa did aspyre . From hence on left syde looke ( quoth he ) Satu●nus house do stande . Heere Romulus the lofty Rome to build did take in hand . And wondring much : forthwith in sight I glitering armour spyde , And royall gates with heauenly bowers , in perfect vew descryde . Behold of Ioue the house ( quoth he ) which we may so deuine , By royall Crowne of Oken tree , that high thereon do shine . His name once hard forthwith I sayd , we haue deuided well , O● mighty Ioue it i● the house , and he therein do dwell . But ●o , what cause the noble gates , be hid with Lawrell greene ? Or why the tree with braunches spred , hath made his beire vnseene ? For that this house of tryumphes brane , deserues eternall fame ? Or els because Apollo great , doth dearely loue the same ? Or that it sacred is ? or els all thinges of it must neede ? Or els of peace the tokens playne , on totall earth do spreede ? For as the Lawrell greene do growe , and neuer fades away , So ●●●lesse honor here remaynes , which yeldes to no decay . The letters eke which written be , about the stat●ly Crowne , The en●●gnes be of his defence , the Citizens haue foun● . One faythfull man except alone who dryuen full far away , Doth lurk aloofe in furthest land , oprest in deepe decay . W●o thoug● he do●h confesse himselfe to haue deserued payne , No wicked deede was cause thereof but error proued playne , At royal place and mighty man , O wretch for ●eare I shake , And doleful woefull letters smal , through tremblyng dread do qu●ke . Thou dost behold to sickly hew , my paper pale do chaunge , And dost regarde ech other foote , ●o ha●t with trembling straunge . And at what tyme before the lorde● and rulers of the place , In sight thou shal be set , I pray thee pleade thy parentes case . From thence with slender paws●ng pace , to ●ofty steps was brought . And stately Temples built on hie , of great Apollo sought . Euen where on mighty p●●●ers playne , the nob●● picture stande . Be●ides and the cruel syre , with naked sword in hand . And where the auncient writers lear●de , with learned hande did wryte ▪ Which readers all may there behold , and there do stand in sight . My brethren there I loked for , saue t●ose I cold nat ●●ide , W●o●e byrth the father did repent , and so did wish in mynd . And seeking there in vayne abou e , the k●per of the place , Did wil mee from those sacred staules , to passe with spedy pace . To temples next which ioyned were , in haste I did depart , From whence my feete were force to flee , for feare of further smart . Nor that which w●nted was alway , the learned bookes to take , Would suffer me to touch the same , but clerely did forsake , The heauy fa●e of wretched syers , to ofspring doth discend , And fathers feareful flight to vs , his children doth extend . Yet may it hap in tyme to come , through length of longer sp●●e , That we and he of Caesar may obtayne more milder grace The Gods for this I pray , and yet ( saue Caesar none at all ) That they with heauenly ears attend to this our humble call . And ●eyng that the publique staules , to vs denied dene , In priuate place it may be free , to lurke therin vnsene . And you also ye simple handes ( if it so lawful Bee ) Our careful verse receiue likewyse with modest e●s to see , And was it then my desten●es , the Syrhean land to se ? And in that land that vnderlieth , the Northren poa●e to be . Not to your poet sacred Nymphes , and learned cunning flocke . Haue succour shewed : which boast your selfe , of dame Dianais , stocke ▪ Nor that deuoyde of very cryme , I wrote did profit ought , A●● eke my muse more wanton far , then lyfe I euer sought , But after perils many past , by seas and land with payne , I● Po●tus I le dryde vp with cold , aye lasting I remayne . And I that borne to q●ter re●t , auoyding busy broyle , Full tender and impacient was of labors p●nching toyle . Extreames I suffer now , nor me , the Seas depryu●e of porte , Nor sundry wayes cold yet destroy by which I made resort . But ils my mynd resisted haue , of which my body worne , Repayres his force and suffreth thinges , skant able to be borne . Yet while with windes and whelming waues , I doubtfully am tost , My gryping cares and heauy hart , with trauayle great is lost . But when my way was ended once , and Iourneing workegan rest , And I a land wherein to wayle my greuous payne possest . Naught els but weepe I would , nor from myne eyes a smaller showre , Did flow : then when the spring tyme warme , doth winter snow deuoure . My house and Rome remember I with want of wonted place , And whatsoeuer thing of myne doth citty least embrace . O heauy chaunce so oft ahlas , as I haue knockt on gate , Of greedy graue , but yet no tyme could enter in therat . W●y haue I scapt so many swordes , so oft with threatnyng dreade ? Why hath not sturdy storme orewhelmd this my vnhappy head ? O Gods whom I to wrathful , and in wrath to constant proue , Pertakers of displeasurs which , one only god doth moue . Hast on , prouoke I humbly pray , the ligring longed fates , And let not death be hable e●t to shut his gries●● Gates .
To his wife Elegie . 3. IF maru●yle ought ( my louing wyfe ) thy m●n●e perhaps detayne ? Why others hand these letters wrote , my sicknes caused plaine . In partes extreame of furthest land , with ●euer sore opprest , Of wonted health I was almost with deadly doubted distrest . What mynd thinkes thou I had when as in region ●ude I lay , 〈◊〉 the Sawromes and the Getes , was forced here to stray , The ayre thick could not be borne , nor waters vsed bee , And land it selfe I know not how to nature disagree . No houses apt nor meat for such , whom sicknes d●th agrieue , Nor none that could by Phisickes art my deepe disease relieue . No ●r●nd that might my mynd comfort , nor dryue with wordes away , The lingring t●me to pas with spede , and greuous p●ynes a●aye . All ●yred thus in furth●st place and landes my byding haue , And each thinge clearly wanting there , my longing mynd do craue . 〈◊〉 t●o●gh not●ing my wish did want ( O w●fe thou art most deare ) And of ●y br●st t●ou dost poss●sse ●nd hold t●e place most ne●re . To t●ee alon● t●ough ab●●nt ●at●e ▪ my vo●ce by ●ame doth call , No day but 〈◊〉 of t●ee I hea●e , nor found of ought ●t all , A●d though 〈◊〉 ●ymes occas●on mooues , to speake of other things , As mad my ●ongue thy name doth touche , and forth the same it bring● . Yea though I sounded were and tongue , to mouth were fixed sure , And that no drop of pleasaunt wynes , could ●ft the same recure . Yet hearing that my mistres deare , to presence should be brought , I ●ouse my selfe : for hope and cause of , strength thereby is wrought . W●yle I in doubt of lyfe r●mayne , thou passest pleasaunt dayes , Unweeting cleare of sorrowes myne , percase thou none assayes . Yet doest thou not I dare , affirme : ( O thou m● dearest w●fe ) I● sorrowes sad me absent farre , thou leades , thyne only lyfe . But when as Fate m● yeares fullf●●de , which it so ought of right , And when as lyfe my corpes hath left , & death perform'de his spight . W●at ioy should it be then ( O Gods ) to graunt to my des●re , O● N●tyue ground to ende my dayes and course therein entyre . O would that eyther these my paynes , might yet haue had delay , Or ells that hasting death had come , before I past away , In health not long agoe it might , my lyfe haue ta●e from mee , But now an exile here to dye , these pardons graunted bee . So farre away shall wee be forst , to dye in Land vnknowen ? Or shall the place inforce my fate , with greater sorrowes growen ? S●all not my corps in wonted deds , consume wyth deadly wound ? Or shall there none my death bewayle when layd I am on ground ? Shall not my mystresse sorry teares , vpon my face let fall ? Nor shall the same wyth lyuing sence , my time prolong at all ? Shall not I make my due requestes ? nor at the l●test cry ? With Friendly hand shall she not shut , ●nd close my passing eye ? But shall my head of funeralles , bereft and noble graue ? And heere in greedy ground be put , and no lamenting haue ? Wilt not thou hearing this of me , with minde amazed stand ? And faythfull breast with wayghty strokes , wil strike with feareful hand And hytherwardes in vayne although , thy wofull armes stretch out ? And on thy wretched husbandes name , to cry will nothing doubt ? Yet spare thy cheekes ( myne own sweete heart ) & louely lookes to rend , This time not first that I from thee , was forst away to bend . W●en as my countrey deare I lost , thinck then I did away , The f●est and greatest death I doe , esteeme the same alway . Now if thou can : which thou cannot , ( my best beloued wyfe ) Reioyce my death the ende of woes , that so molested lyfe . And would my soule with body might , consumed bee in one , So then no part from flashing flames , escaped be alone . For if the sprite do not depart , , but flyes aloft in skyes , And that Pythagoras auncient sawe● , as false we not dispyse . My Romayne ●oule shall wander th●n , euen with the Scythian Ghost , And ●ke ●mong the ●urious spyrites , shall ●yde alwayes at Ost. Ye● cause that all my lifelesse b●●n●s , b● put in one small pot , So shall I not although now dead , an exile be , I wot . For no man did forbid , that when , Thiocles whi●om slayne ▪ Antigones should bury him , though king denyde it playne . And mixe my boanes with poude● dry , of sweete Ammomus tree , And in the Subbu●●es of the towne , let them reposed bee . And lette●s great in Ma●ble grau'de , with seemely verse deuise , Which on my Tombe t●e pos●ers by , may well discerne with eyes , EPITAPHE Here Naso now be●old I lye , that wrote of tender loue , A Poet learnd , whose wits were cause ▪ the deth did him remoue And who so here a louer comes , say thus , if Payne be none , God graunt that Nasoes boanes abyde , in quiet rest ec●one . On Tombe these shall suffice : but ●et , my bookes shall l●nge● byde , As monumentes of mee , which that , no tract of time shall ●yde . And those which Author hurted haue , 〈◊〉 hope I through the same , My time shall more prolonged bee , with m●ch encrea●e o● Fame . Yet on my Corse the due desert●s of Funerals bes●ow , And on the watry Garlandes see , thy bitter tea●es do flow . And though the fyre doth my Corse , to ashes pale conu●rt , Yet shall the sorry sparkes approue , thy godly louing hart . And now receiue this l●st farewell , perhaps , that I shall ●●ke , The which although to thee I send , my selfe cannot pertake .
To his friend , that hee should eschewe the company of great men . El●gia . 4. O Deare in deede alwayes to mee , but in this time distrest , Now trusty ●●yde s●nce myne● es●ate , so sore hath lied opprest , If ought thou 〈◊〉 thy friend beleeue , well t●ught by practise proofe , Liue to thy selfe , ●ro● haughty names , of ●ight , f●te thou aloofe . Liue to thy selfe , and for thy power , great noblenesse esc●ewe , Right noble is the Castle whence , this ●ruell lightning slewe . For though in handes o● mighty men , to helpe alone it lyes , They do not help , but rather hurt , in worsest wicked wyse . The ship whose sayle is stricken lowe , escapes the stormy blast , But slacky sayle and broade extent , more feare then lesser taste . Thou see'st how Corke with litle waight on top of water fleetes , When heauy leade through paise ▪ it selfe , and nets in bottome wee●es . If I my selfe these warninges with , had warned bene or th●● , The towne where right doth will me dwell , pe●haps I should not mis. Whil'st yet with thee I dwelt , and whil'st the p●pe●●ng wynde bee put , This ●oate of myne , through calmy seas , her qu●et way she cut . Who falleth on euen g●oun● ( as scant , the same doth euer chaunce . ) So falles as when to earth it comes , may vp agayne aduaunce . But that poore soule Elpenor fell , a downe from height of Hall . Whose mournefull spyrite his king vnto , appeared after fall . What men● it then that Dedalus , his winges could flicker safe ? And Icarus to larg●e seas , his name assygned gafe . Forsooth because aloft this one ▪ that other flew below , For both of them did others winges , their sides vpon bestow . B●leeue me this wh● hidden well : hath lurkt , he liueth well , And eche man ought within his lot , to him appoynted dwell . Eumen●des should not , ben● Child●es , if his foolishe sonne , Had not so much ●es●red on , Achilles horse to runne . And 〈…〉 Father still had bene , His Sonne in fyre his Daughters and in trees should not haue seene . So thou likewise for euer fea●e , to lofty matters high , And draw ●ogether I thee pray , the sa●les of purpose ●igh . For ●hou well worthy art forthwith , vnspurned foote to ●unne , Thy course of lyfe : and haue thy fate , more fauourably spunne . With gentle loue that I should pray , for thee thou doest dese●●e , And faythfull ●ayth that will from mee , at no time e●er swer●e . With countnaunce like my carefull case ▪ I saw thee 〈◊〉 lament , As well it may beleeued be , my face did repres●nt . I saw thy teares with trickling fall , vpon my vysage sad , Which al at once were pou●ed forth , wi●h t●usty words ●hou had . Now thou also thy F●iend remou'de , with diligence defendes , And ●ls which scant may ●ased bee , with mitigating mendes . All voyde of Enuy see thou lyue , wit●out renowne dispatch , Thy yeares in quiet and thy selfe , with equ●ll Friendship ●atch . And loue the name of Naso thine , which th●ng is yet alone , Unb●nis●ed remaynes t●e rest ▪ in Scythia s●as be gone . In land which neerest ioynes to starre , of E●yman●hus beare , I byde , where frost congealed hard , the grounde with cold do teare . The Bospher streame and Tanais , with other lakes there bee , In Scythia sea and names a few , of place skant knowne to mee . And eke there is nothing saue cold , which none can saulfely byde , Alas how neare the furthest land , approcheth to my sydd . But far away my country is , and far my dearest wyfe , And what thing els besydes these 〈◊〉 , was pleasaunt in my lyfe ▪ Euen so these thinges be absent as , the same I cannot get , In body : but in mynde they ma● , be all beholded yet . Before myne eyes my ●ouse and towne , and forme of places show . And euery place together wyth , th●ir deedes I shortly know . Before myne eyes like as my wife , in present shape appeares , My state she greuous presseth downe , and vp agayne she reares ▪ She absent greeues , but lighter makes , that lasting loue she lends , A●d heauy charge vpon her ●ayde , she constantly defends . S● you ( O friende ) full firmely sticke , within my fixed hart ▪ Whom I desyr● to speake vnto , by eche mans name apart . B●t faynting feare that is beware , my duty du● doth let , A●d you I thincke vnwilling would , within my verse be set . A●ore you would and did regard , it as thy loue most kinde , That in my vers● the Reader might , your names so placed f●nde . Which thing because is doubtfull now , in secret brest eche one , I shall talke with and will because , of quaking feare to none . Nor in my verse my hidden friendes , betraying forth I will , Expresse : if any priuely , haue loued loue he still . Know this although in Region f●rre , is now my resting place , With all my hart you inwardly , I euermore embrace . And by such meanes as eche man may , relieue my ils I pray , Your faythfull hand to friend outcast , in griefe do not denay . So prosper fortu●e vnto you , and happy still remayne , As neuer in like lot the same , to aske yee may be fayne .
To his Friend . Elegia . 5. OUr vse of Friendship hath bene such , that thou with litle shame , T●rough smal acquaintance growen before , might wel haue cloakt the same . In former bands of friendships law , vnlesse thou had'st ben tide , W●en that my ship on safer streame , wyth happy wynde did slide . But when I ●ell , eche man for feare , did shun my diepe decay , And wonted friendes their wyly backes , from me they turn'de away . Yet were thou bold my blasted bo●nes , with flash of Ioue his fyre , To touche , and to my heauy house , with willing minde retyre . That thou but lately knowneper●ourme , my elder mates refraind Of whom s●ant two or three that now to me poore wretch rem●ynd . The sory lokes my selfe I saw , and gaue to them regard , The face with teares lyke myne embrewde , and palenes wel●●re maid ▪ Thy doleful drops I beare in mynd , and woful wordes echone , In mouth the teares , in cares thy wordes , ful deepely now be gone . My naked necke with heauy armes thou friendly didst embrace . With s●ghing sobs did kisses heape vpon my fearful face . Yea absent now ( O frend ) I ●m by force of the protected , Thou knowest the frend thy name enclud●s , which may not be detected . And many tokens more I markt . of thy vncloak●d loue . Which in my brest I kepe ful close , and shal not thence remoue . God graunt thou may in quiet state thy frendes defend alway , Whom ●ow in better case thou helpes of paynes to haue allay . Y●t if that any shall enquyre ( as like they will do sone ) What lyfe I leade in this meane space by fortune all fordone . Say that some litle hope I haue , that Gods will graunt more grace , From which do not withdraw thyne ayde if thou dost come in place . And whether it , I wrongfull craue , or that I do deserue , In what thou may helpe thou therto , and do not lightly swerue . And looke what skill in cunning speach , thou learned hast before Hereon see that thou dost bestow to helpe my cause ●he more . How much a man more noble is , so much more free from ire , In valiant hart is sonest quencht the rage of furious fyre . It doth suffice the Lyon fierce to see his enemy yelde , And not to s●re the couching foe , that prostrat lies in fyeld . Yet doth the Wolfe and Bere dispoyle the yelding pray in place , And eke each other bruttsh beast ●hat springes of ruder race . For what then great Achill was had in more renowmed fam● ? And he at Troy old Priams teares , did not behold for shame . Or Alexanders mercies great , ful sure recordes we haue . By noble Pharos which doth stand depaynted on his graue . I know the rage of noble myndes to mercy lightly goe , For Iuno sonne in law he is , that was her mortall foe , In fine of grace no signes I see , that dryues me to dis●rust , For that my fault no death deserues , of l●wes that be so iust . I haue no● sought Augustus life , with treason vyle to slay , Of tot●ll earth t●e only head to whom all men obay . I n●ught haue sayd , for babling tounge , haue spoken ought an ●s●e . If I therfore offended haue the wine the c●user is . M● guiltles sight my payne haue wrought , which I therefore do blame , F●om loo●ing eyes my griefe doth grow , euen thus proceedes the same . Yet can I not my sundry crimes , defend agaynst all right , B●t part of them is error playne , and voyde of willfull spight . T●is hope therefore remayneth yet , in time to get such grace , S● shall my pa●nes procure reliefe , by force of chaunged place . 〈◊〉 to mee by shyning starre , which showes before the Sonne , 〈…〉 ●ed with horse let s goe , this message might be done .
To his most familier friende . Elegia . 9. OU● league of Loue ( O dearest friende ) in firmest friendship knit ▪ T●ou will not , nor if happly would , thou can dissemble it . To mee so long as lawfull was , none other stoode more deare , N●r a●y was i● all the towne with mee conioynde so neare . This loue among the People thicke , so openly was blowe● , That almost more than thou or I , the same appeared knowen . And kindnesse thine of gentle heart , vnto thy friend aye prest , The man had throug●ly tryed whom , thou , doest loue aboue the rest . Nothing thou coul●'st so couert keepe , but I of counsayle was , And sundry secrets beare in breast , in common not to passe . Thou only wert the man from whom , no priuity I hid , ( That one except ahlas ) which mee all vtterly vndid . W●ich had'st thou wist thy fellow should in sauegard thee haue serued . A●d should ( O friend ) though thy aduyse , from saul●ty neuer swerued , But me my de●tnies dyre did draw , vnto this passing payne . They surely shut eche way to me , that profit coulde contayne . And whether I this mischiefe might , in being ware auoyde , Or els the wayes which dest●●es will , by no meanes be destroyde , Yet thou to vs that fixed art , wyth long acquayntaunce fast , Welneere are greatest part I want , of all my pleasures past . Remember now if fauour can , thy power ought increase , To proue what it for mee may doe , wee pray thee neuer cease . T●at G●dhead once offended would , his anger somewhat frayne , That place appoyncted chaunged eft , might partely ease my payne . That if with sinfull wickednes , my breast do not abound , And error be beginner of , my chiefe accus●ng found . M● mynde as his most hurtfull wounde , doth feare that f●lthy tyme , Thy g●●efe agayne renueth eke , remembring of the cryme . And whatsoeuer able is , mee with such shame to spight , I● should behoue it hydden were in darkesome closed night , Nought els therefore declare I will , saue onely st●'de I haue , But in such sin , no ryche rew●rde , nor other gayne to craue . And this my fault men rightly may , and ought my folly name , If very names and true to thinges , they aptly seeke to frame . W●ich i● they be not euen so , then looke the ●urthest cost , For my abode , let this land be , my subburbes vttermost .
To his daughter . Elegie . 7. YOu written letters now prepare , the Harolds of my m●nde , To see Pe●hilla how she fares , wyth hast I haue ass●ngde . You ●hall her ●inde , full sadly set , fast by her mother swee●e , Or els among her bookes alone , an● learned muses me●te . But when she knowes that tho● ar● come ▪ ( all st●●yes set ●side ) What thing I do ▪ she w●●l demaunde , and in what state I abide . Then shalt thou say I liue , althoug● not so as lyue I w●uld Nor ●rac● of ti●e 〈◊〉 brought relie●e , as hope hath hop● it should ▪ To muses ye● ( though hurt they ha●● ) agayne I doe re●●re , And vers●s eke of wrested wordes , to make I haue desyre . But tell me now ? to studies olde , do'st thou thy mynde apply ? To lea●ned verse thy father lyke , wilt thou thy selfe affy ? For n●●ure with the friendly fates , hath geuen thee maners chast , And sundry giftes but rarely seene ▪ with wit good store thou hast . To Pegase ●●●asaunt springes , my selfe , of purpose brought the first , Least that th● veyne of facund speache , myght per●she els for thyrst . In chastest yeares I noted well the aptnes of thy brayne , And as thy father dyd thee guide , the way to learning playne . Euen then I say ( but loue perhaps , with time is driuen away ) A passing loue to thee I had , which hardly could decay . Wherefore if selfe same sparkes of wit , in thee do still remayne , But onely Sapphoes learned workes , shall thyne in skill disdayne . And now I feare least my mishaps , might thee percase appall , Or through the same some dolenes may within thy breast befall . Whyle time did serue thy verse to mee , and mine to thee I red , And now as Iudge I was , and now , as tutor I thee led . Or els sometymes w●th verses made , thyne ●ares I did aproue , Or f●nding fault : in blushing cheekes , thy bloud some●imes did moue . Like me perchaunce , for that my book●s , haue hindered me ●o sore , For feare of like misch●unce thou wyll , thy studies le●ue therefore . Nay feare thou not Perhilla deare , this doubting dred remoue , So that no man of that thy verse , nor woman lea●ne to ●oue . 〈◊〉 s●outh therefore alwayes aside ( O thou most learned dame . ) ●o s●c●ed ●ore and Au●hors 〈◊〉 . let it not thee asha●e . T●y sauor fres●e with beauty fraught , s●all fade in longer space , And ●r●ck●ed age shall then app●ere , vpon thine e●der face , 〈…〉 ●ld vpon t●y shape , hath done her force and myght , Who s●ill ●raw●s nea●e with st●l●hy steps , to worke thy greuous spight . I● will thee gri●ue w●en some s●all say , this wight s●e hath bene fayre , And looking in the wonted glasse , for sorrow shalt despayre . T●ou ●ast o● wealth a meetely ●inde y●d do'st ●eserue much more . 〈◊〉 thy n●b●e wit likewise with like abundaunt s●ore . F●r 〈…〉 b●th g●ue and take , a●d c●aunge eche mans estate , And 〈◊〉 no●●e is become , that C●aesus was but ●ate . 〈…〉 more words ? all morta●l goods , be lightly spent & gone , 〈…〉 which in the br●st b● hid , and mynde except alone . Lo while of ●ou●e and count●y both , and thee I was bereft , And o● ec●e 〈◊〉 thing d●priu'de , and naug●t at all was left . 〈…〉 m●●es they ●eft , al●hough I did enioy t●em s●ill , 〈…〉 ●o ●ight could Ca sar serue , whereby to worke his will . Ec●e ●an by ●orce of cruell sword my 〈◊〉 may soone depriue , Y●t s●a●l my ●ame though I be dead , remaine alwayes alyue . 〈◊〉 ●artial Rome f●om moū●ains seuen the conquered world behold , 〈◊〉 l●a●●ed work ● shall still be read ▪ and fame for aye be told . A●● thou also t●at ha●pyer vse , o● studies do'st enio● , In wh●t thou way , fl●e h●sting death , wh●ch e●rthly ly●e destroy .
● Hee d●syreth to see his f●iendes and country . ●legie . 8. NOne would I wishe I might ascend , on Triptolemus Carte , Who fir●● wi●h s●edes on ea●th to sow , haue ●●ug●t the skilfull art . N●w would I ●awe the m●nst●●s fell , the which Medea sad , T●en flying fr●m t●e lof●y to●er , of thee ●orinthus had . N●w wo●ld I 〈…〉 on ●ig● , and f●ght● f●thers take , 〈◊〉 ●hich thou Perseus 〈…〉 , or Dedalus did'ste make . 〈…〉 these 〈…〉 subtle sky , In 〈…〉 by m●anet● 〈…〉 , my 〈◊〉 ground es●y . My ●or●y ●●use and 〈…〉 fri●●d●s sho●ld 〈◊〉 to sight a●pe●re , 〈…〉 I accoum●● mos● d●are . 〈…〉 wor●s , t●ou fondly t●ese do craue ? 〈◊〉 neuer thou befor● 〈…〉 ●fter h●●e . But if 〈…〉 〈◊〉 t●●m bes●owe , Who is the mighty God in deede , thy 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 ●o know . He may to thee these speedy wing●s , and wheeled chariots send , That wyth the fl●ing foules thou ma● , in thy returne contend . If these I aske ( nor greater g●●tes ) may none requyred bee , So shall my prayers seeme m●re large , then reason graunts to mee . In time to come perhaps , a●though , and anger all remou'de , When carefull minde requyred then , to mercy be behou'de . T●e whil'●t thi● smaller 〈◊〉 s●●te . I craue with humble ●art , That from this land els w●ere I may , by licence fre● depart . The ayre foule and water could , m● na●ure ●●ill doth hate , And land it selfe my body byndes i● deepe ●iseased state . For eyther doth my trou●led m●nde , the ●ody sore molest , Or els the country breedes the grie●e , wherewith it is di●●rest . So soone as I ●o Po●tus ca●e , wyth drea●es I was ag●●eued , My flesh from bones it fl●d forthwith , which mea●e hath not rel●eued ▪ And looke what colour pale and wan , vpon the leaues ●o showe , When winter fro●t beginneth fir●t , and Boreas blast● to blowe . Such old an● wythered ceared hue , my members do pertake , Nor cause of loue complayning griefe , my paynefull minde forsake . Nor in more found estate my mynde , then body do rema●ne , But ●oth at once diseased be , wyth fits of s●ckn●sse payne , Before my eyes me thinks I see , an I●age sta●d in sight , Which represents my sickely shape , and minde with care a●fright , Such loue of death my brest assaults , my s●lfe by fo●ce to kill , Syth Caesar seeketh not wyth sworde , on m●e to wo●ke hi● w●ll . And sith not force but gentle hate , thus long hath wrou●●t our grief● ▪ Through chaunged place God graunt we may of him obtayne 〈◊〉 .
Why ●omos was so called . E●egie . 9. LO here som Gretian Cyties be , ( who would beleue the same ? ) And yet among ●he Na●●ons ru●e , are kn●we● b● B●r●ro●s name ▪ And to Myletus hither sent , the dweller● way did ●ak● , On Geta ground at last t●ey stayed , and 〈…〉 . Yea this tow●e eke thy fame mo●e ol●e , and ●lder 〈◊〉 knowne , And of Absirtu● crue●l death , a prop●r 〈◊〉 is g●ow●e . The sayling ship through curious ca●● , of ma●tiall Palla● wro●ght , At first these strugling streames ass●●de , before time neuer soug●t . The wicked wight Medea here , from ●ather fl●ing fa●t , Her rowing owers vpon this coast , ( men say ) the fir●t time cast . T●e gazing straunger standing by , respecting ●eas by lowe , Discrying ships aloo●● , quoth he , ( you Colchean ●ayles I know ) While shipmen there for dred did quake , and vp the cables cast , A●d while the Anker vp to wayghe , there fearefull hands made hast . The guilty gyrle with cruell kuffe , did strike of Colchean brest , Who●e hardy hand great hurt hath wrought , and vnto more is prest . An● though within this maydens minde , high courage did remayne , Much perfect pale●es yet thereto , in face appeared playn● . When ha●ing ships with spee●y pace to draw more ●eare she spide , By craft we must my father flee , ( we are betrayd ) she cride . W●yle she for counsell paused then , and looked round about , In sight at last her brother sawe , amids her deepest doubt . Whom when she spide , forthwith she sayd ▪ I dare vs well assure . My br●thers death the cause shal be , our safety to procure . Hee all vnwares and dreading nought , her cancred cruell spight , Into his s●de her bloudy sword she thrust with raging might . Her blade pluckt backe from gored syde , she rent with ruthfull wound , And me●bers ●inste in peeces small , she cast about the ground . And that her father might this knowe , on rocke whereby she past , H●s wofull handes and bloudy head , with sleight she fixed fast . W●th wayling new her aged syre , for this did make delay , And sob●ing sore the fleshe tooke vp , she safely scapt away . Hereof this towne is Tomos hight , for that vpon this soyle , The sister did her brothers corse , in sundry partes dispoyle .
Wyth what Nations hee liueth . Elegie . 10. IF any there remember yet , mee Naso sent away , And in the City voyde of mee , my name remayning stay . Know he in mids of Barbary ▪ vnblisfull man I brea●h . Where fixed starres do neuer stoupe , to subiect Seas beneath . The Sauromat● a Nat●ons fierce , the Bessians , and the Geres , Whic● names vnworthy are my wit adioyning haue their seates . Y●● whi●e the weather dureth warme , is Ister our defence , He wyt● his liquid wa●●rs we●te , repelles the battels hence . But when th' unpleasaunt winter comes , puts out his vgly face , And all the land be sprinckled whi●e , to marble frost geeu● place . While Boreas blowes and while the snow , lieth cast from Northren pole Then is it playne these people are , opr●st wyth plane● coole . The snow d●th lye , which lying can no Sun or showers thowe , Tha● fryzing blast indu●ate makes , to s●yning Christall growe . And on the f●●st vnmelted yet an other fals as ●ast . In diuers places wonted and twise twelue monthes wholy last . So hide●us force hath violent winde from Northward heather se●t , The lofty Tower● it equall lay●s , with ground and houses rent , With Mantles made of heary skinnes , ●xpell thy feru●nt could , And onely of their bodyes all , their faces open hould : Their busshes oft with Icy drop● , do make ● tinkelinge dinne , Their beards with frost be bright e●bru'd , all ho●ry at their chi●ne . The cleared wines in forme stand vp , like s●ards of chiuered tyle , Nor dr●ughts they drincke but gladly will , with goblets ●hrust b●gull● . What should I tell how riuers all , with could congealed stand ? And howe the brittle waters be , c●st vp with digging hand ? The s●me no straighter then the streame , of Nylus bearing reede , Which parted into sun●ry gulfes , in U●sty Seas do spreede . This Ister ●ies with parching blastes , his bluish liquor deepe , And forth in secret silent waues , to Sea in couert creepe . Now may men saul●ely walke on foote , where ships late passage h●d . With could concreate on waters knocke , the hooued horses sad . And by such bridges newly built , on vnder sliding streame , Sarmatia Oxen vnkouth W●ynes draw for●h w●●h stretched te●ms . Forsooth I shall scant be beleeu'de , but if rew●rd of lye , Be any ther● no witnes ought that fayth to r●tifye . The Largie fr●at with frost we s●w , st●nd still ●nd neuer flowe , And slippery shell did vnder keepe , vnmooued surges low● . Nor so contented to haue seene , the hardned seas we trode , When vpmost waues bene●th my f●ete , not weetinge them abode . If such a on● sometime had b●ne , to the Leander kinde , In narrow Seas no fault thy death , or cause of crime could finde . Then n●yther can the Dolphin fis●e , in springing ayre attayne , Whom forcing fast aloft to skip , doth wint●● hard restrayne . And though Sir Bor●as blustring hurle , with winged winde displ●ied , No surging billow boulteth vp , from swallow surely st●ied . The pitched pups inclosed sticke , in Marble as it were , No struglinge Oa●es through frosen floud , their course are abl● sh●r● . We s●we the fishes fastned fast , long clong in yses cliue : Yet part of them euen then also , perceiued w●s to liue : If eyther r●ginge wynde therefore , his sower s●ew● at large ▪ In fryzing on the fle●ting floode , or els on Neptunes ch●rge . A none on Ister made full euen , wyth northren perie drye , A b●rb●rou● fo● on hasting horse , doth rydinge hyther hye . A skilfull foe in cours●ing● steedes , and flyinge shaft a farre , Who doth the grounde that neerest lies , des●royi●ge alwayes ●arre . With flying fast some haply scape , while fieldes vnfended rest , Such richesse as vnkept remayne , by robbers be possest . The Cattell and the creeking cartes , small country richesse are : And what so euer other store , the dwellers poore prepare . Some captiue tane are led with armes , hard bound behind at backe , With countenaunce tourn'de to land in vaine , & houses which they l●cke . Some st●●ken down full pitiously , with hooked shaftes do dread , For drinching poyson driuen is , into the arrowes head . Looke what they can not c●ry forth , nor driue , they quite destr●y , This hostile band with wastinge fire , will coates vnguilty noy . Euen then also when peace is preast , they quake in fearing fight , Nor any man with culter keene , to plowe the ground delight . This place the enmy euer see'th , or fear'th the same vnseene , The land vntil'd with baggage rough , ouer grown hath long time bene . No pleasaunt Grape is hidden here in braunch of viney tree , No warme newe wyne the hollough trough , to ouerflow we see . No a●les round this Regions bear'th , nor here Acontius sped , Of any had : to w●●ght the verse , his loued mistresse red . In nak●d ●i●ld yee should beholde , no tree ne bushes spread , ( O plac●s fa●●e vnfit alas ) for happy men to tread . And though the worlde be stretched out , in compasse wondrous wyde , For mee this Land appoyncted is , my punishment to byde .
Hee inueygheth agaynst the euill speaker . ●legie . 11. WHo so thou art that wickedly , at my mishaps reioyce , And me as guilty dost accuse , & eke condempne with voyce . On hard a d flinty rocke was borne : wyth milke there fostred long , Of sauage beastes , the heart more hard then is the flint so strong . What greater mischiefe would'st thou wishe ? thy wicked ire content , Or els what further ils could cause , thy poyson●d tongue relent ? In barbarous Land I liu , and Pontus Isle hath mee possest , The Archadian Beare hath me also , and Boreas wynde distrest . What Nations straunge no talke I haue , nor vse of language found , Eche place thereto on euery side , with dolefull dread abound . And as the flying Hart once caught , do shun the bloudy beare , Or as the seely taynted lambe , the mountayne Wolues do feare , So I on euery syde beset , with men of martiall Land , Do likewyse , dred , for playne I spye , my enmies hard at hand . And though in deede the payne were small , my louing wyfe to w●nt , Or else my Babes and Countrey sweete , a griefe were deemed scant . Nor any o●her ill at all , but onely Caesars wrath , Do'st thou not thinke that Ca●sars ire , t●ough of vengance hath ? Yet some there are th●t h●ply may my greener wounds 〈◊〉 worse , And can with facund mouth also , and pleasaunt speaking course . Of matters playne to make a proo●e , eche man a skill may showe , But what doth neede in weakned things ▪ such puisaunt force to showe ? A Glory great it is to race , the tower and lofty wall , But other thinges of lesser force , all headlonge downe do fa●● . I am not hee I was : why do'st thou spurne my shadow vayne ? Of Asshes dead on stone consum'de , why do'st thou make agayne ? When Hector fought : he Hector was , but drawne amonge his fone , With force of great Achilles horse , then Hector was he none . And I my selfe as now not he : whom thou hast knowen full playne , Onely now of him thou see'st , the shadowe to remayne . ( Why dost thou beast ) with bitter wordes , mine Image thus constrayne , I pray thee spare from restlesse sprite , these torments to refrayne . And thinke my faults to haue bene true wherewith thou chargest mee , And thinke the same bene wicked all , and folly none to bee . And let me payn●s enough abide , to fill thy ●nuyous brest , And let me still an Exile liue , in place exil'de oprest . My h●auy fate should mo●e thy heart , on pitties playntes to feede , And yet from thee as bloudy Iudge , these Iudgementes do proceede . Thou art more cruell farre then was Busirides the king , Or else then he that fretting fire , to bras●n Bull did bring , Who ( as men say this Bull did geue , the cruell ty●aunt to , Of Sycill Land : who with his wordes , did prayse the same also . The vse of this ( O king quod he ) in pryce doth fa●re surmount , The outward forme : for of the shape , make thou the least accoumpt . On right sid● lo thou open see'st , a place to stand in sight , Wherein put such as sley thou will , to satisfie thy spight . And that once done with sokinge coales , the closed man consume , Who like a Bull shall rore right out , with ●orce of fretting ●●me . For which my worke a gwerdon dew , that I likewyse may haue , Some iust reward of thee ( O Pr●nce ) my paynefull wittes do craue . His tal● thus don● : the king stept ●orth , thou worker of this payne , Shall first ( quod he ) approue the same , and shell therein be slayne . Incontinent as he had taught , with fire ●ee sawe him burn'de , Who cruelly his manly voyce to beastly blearinge turn'de . But why spe●ke I of Sycill factes , these Scythian Getes amonge ? To thee O wretch my playnt I send , that for my bloud do'st longe . And that thou may wyth guilty bloud , aslake thy longed thrust , At these my woes with hungry heart , reioyce wyth greedy lust . On Seas and Land I flying fast , such greeuous paynes approue , As hearinge them to pytious teares , thy selfe perc●se might moue . If that Vlysses toyles were set ( beleue me myne withall , ) Neptunus ire to Ioue his ●rath , might be accoumpted small . Do not therefore ( who so thou art ) my griefe againe renewe , Nor do not eft in greeuous woundes , thy cruell handes embrewe . And let the fame of former factes , forge●fulnes obt●yne , So shall of ●hose myne elder hurts one only skarre remayne . Thou kno●est full well the doubtfull factes , do hurt or helpe at will , Then fear● thy selfe thy lot vnknowen , which may thee saue or spill . And ●●th th●● now is come , which I did thincke coulde not haue bene . Why hast thou mynde of my mishaps , thine owne forgetting cleane . Yet neede thou not to feare : our chaunce most greeuous is of all , For that where Caesars wrath is set all ils thereto befall . And that thy selfe may know , that I , vnfaynedly doe moue , These playn●s : I would to God thy selfe , might euen the same approu● .
Hee desireth a gentler place of exile . Elegie . 12. THe Westerne windes gan slake the colde , and yeare away to pas , And Scythian winter slacker seem'de , then wonted winter was . And when the Ramme on waters thin , that Helles rashly brought , The lightsome day with darkened night , in equall length had wrought . The children smal and gladsome girles , in country fieldes vp growen , The Uiolets sweet at this time reape , where seedes haue not ben sowe● ▪ The fer●●le f●eldes do florishe now , wyth flowers of sundry hewe , And babling byrde● with tongue vnt●ught , do chaunt with n●tes so new . The Sallowe eke a mother vile her cruell deedes to hide , Her neast by beames she maketh close , and buildes by houses syde . The growing Graine in plowed fieldes , with Furrowes layde vnseene , With slender spyere through tender earth apeer'th , with ioyfull greene . The Uines also ( whereas they be ) their buds from braunches lowe Do now bring● out : in Scythia for , no Uynes at all doe growe . And whereas lofty woods be set , the Bowes doe spread from tree , ( For neere to coast of Geta Land , no Trees discerned bee ) Lo there this is the vacant time , for sport and pleasaunt playes , And talking tongues in iudgement haules , do cease for certayne dayes . On hynne●ghing horse with a●mour light , they brauely now disport : And some to Ball , and some to Top , wyth merry mynde resort . The lusty youth ●●noynted longe wyth thyn and slyding Oyle , Their weary limmes with water w●she , and rest from former toyle . Now triumphes are : wyth sounding voy●● , the Lookers on do cry , From three fould stage the factions three , their fauouring words let fly . O foure times blest , and blessed more the number can make playn● : That maiest the City free enioy , and in the same remaine . But I the snow with Sunne con●um'de O wretch do heere approue , And frosen Sea the yse whereof no fo●ce might thence remoue . No yse the same doth now congeale , as wont it was to do● , Nor herdmen way by Ister make , to Sauromathia goe . Yet if by hap that any Ship , arryue within this coast , Or any straunger hap to be , in Pontus Hauen at hoast . In ha●● I seeke the shipmen out ( and saluinge them before ) What ship or whence she coms I aske , or from what happy ●hore . Then they ( vnlesse it marueile be ) from some neere ioyning Land , Do aunswere make : from Nations farre , to sayle fewe tak'th in h●nd . And seldome from Italia Seas do any passage take , Nor in these ports from Hauen so wyde , no shyp his byding make . But if that any come that speake , the Latin or the Greeke , ●ee●s for that more welcome much , such language I do seeke . It lawfull is from mouth of Sea , and from Proponti● longe , That men may saile with Northren winde , these Scythian seas among . Who so hee be may haply make , some whispering rumour lowe , Whereby a part occasion geu'th , more fame thereof to growe . Then do I pray him make discourse of Caesars triumphes braue , And eke what vowes that duty driu'th , the Latian Ioue to haue . Or els i● that Germania land , which still rebell'th in fielde , With carefull minde at Captaynes feete , all prostrate now do yeld● . Who doth ( which would my selfe had seene ) of these thinges haply tell , I pray him vse as welcome ghest , the house wherein I dwell . But well away is Nasoes house , now set on Scythia ground ? Or shall to helpe my payne wythall , a place therefore be found ? God graunt that Caesar may commaunde , not this my house to bee , But rather for the tyme a place , wherein to cha●●ice mee .
To his byrth day . Elegie . 13. MY n●t all day ( though more then need'th ) ●o here beholde I see , But yet on Earth to haue bene borne , what doth ●●pros●e mee ? And why dost thou O carefull day , in wr●●ched yeares appeare ? Which might before this exilde time , my life dispatched cleare . I● any care fo● mee thou cast , or shame had the possest Beyonde my natiue ground pursu'de , why ●ast thou me distrest ? For in what place an infant first , thou knew at n●tall day , In selfe same land me thinkes thou should , haue wrought my last decay . And should haue left me quite when as my fellowes me forsooke , And there haue wisht me well to fare , with sad lamentinge looke . What dost thou bere in Pontu● lande ? doth Caesar will thee go In quakinge yse to wrack● his ire , hath he thee charged so ? And in despight of customes old , and honourable guise ? To see my backe with garments w●ite , be clad Italian wyse ? Or shall the smoking Aulters fume , with flowring Garlands bound ? Or els the graynes of Incence sweete , from flaching flames resound ? Or Sacrifice shall I for thee and offring● due present ? Or shall our vowes to mighty Gods be geuen wy●h whole assent ? I am not so disposed now : nor time is offre● fit , That I thy comming can reioyce , and sorrowes quight forgit . An aul●er fram'de for fun●rals , all deckt with Cipres tree , And flaming fyres for death prepar'de , is much more meete for mee , A Sacrifice to heauenly Gods no care I haue to geeue , For vowes helpe not amids such ils , I fayt●fully be●eeue . But if a liue I ought of them , with painfull prayers craue , I wishe that in this land of thee no ●ight ma● after haue .
T● hys f●●end to def●nd hys Booke . ●l●gie . 14. O Holy Poet prelate hig● , which learned men defendes , What dost thou now to wofull wit , that friendly help extendes ? As thou were wont in better plight alwayes to succour mee , And now a●so least q●it I should , depart dost thou foresee ? Dost thou prese●ue my verses all ▪ and in thy keepinge sa●e , My wofull artes except alone , which Author hurted haue ? Yea do thou so of Poets newe , that carefull will remayne , And if thou may my haplesse name in City still retayne . My selfe enforst away to flee , my bookes yet nothinge so , Nor cau●● by them committed is , to taste of maysters wo. The exil'de father doth oft times , to furdest Nations flee , Hi● children though in town● to byde , as lawfull is you s●e . My verse my O●springe so I call , begot of mother none , But like as P●llas whilom was , of Ioue his br●yne alone . To thee I them commit and sy●h , their Syre is wanted sore , To thee that dost protect the Babes , the burden is the more . And three I haue that my mishap , in case alike do proue , The rest in open sight preserue , thou neede not them remoue . And bookes thryce flu● of shape transform'de , which likewise I haue left , Which at their maisters funerall , with force were all bereft . That worke might well if that in mee my life so longe had last , From heauy hand amended more with greater fame haue past . But now all vncorrupted quite in peoples mouth doth fall , If that in peoples dayly speache , my name be told at all . And to my bookes I know not how , which hap into thy hand . Adde this : although now lately sent , from vnacquainted land . That who then reads in reading them , will presuppose before , What time and restlesse place I had , appoyncted me therefore ▪ To writinges mine more pardon farre , a righteous Iudge will show , If that them made in exil'de time , and barbarous land he know . In such mishaps he marueyle will , how verses I could write , Or how my carefull hand set forth , the words I did endite . My sundry woes my wits haue broke , of which longe time before , The fountayne dry and sclender vaine , appeared euermore . Yet ( as it was ) with want of vse , is now consum'de away , And with long thrist to drines driuen , sustered more decay . No store of bookes to feede my wit , in Scythia coast be founde , But in their place the shootinge bowes and arrowes do resounde . No learned mates for conference , do liue within this lande , That hath the skill my verse to reade , or eares to vnderstande . No space is here to roame aside , that watch on wall which goes , And gate vpshut keepers of the Getes , our deadly dreaded foes . Enquiry oft I make of wordes , of place or of some name , Nor any man is present here , by whom I certaine ame . Not seldome I enforce to speake , to shamefull to confesse , My wonted wordes will fayle me then , which I forgetting cesse . With Thracian talke and Geta rude , my eares be stopped quite , Mee seemeth now I able am , in Getian wise to wryte , Beleeue mee least with Latin they be mixed sore I dread , And least my writinge while thou vewe , the Pontus wordes do read . And to my booke such as it is , in reading pardon giue , And eke excused haue the same , by lot of ly e I liue .
FINIS .