An eglogue vpon the death of the right honorable Sir Francis Walsingham late principall secretarie to her Maiestie, and of her most honourable priuie councell. VVritten first in latine by Thomas Watson gentleman, and now by himselfe translated into English.

AN EGLOGVE Vpon the death of the Right Honorable Sir Francis Walsingham late principall Secretarie to her Maiestie , and of her most Honourable Priuie Councell . Corydon . Tityrus . NOwe Tityrus , since wee at ease are lade , And both our flockes orespred the flowrie plaine : Sweete friend vnfolde vnder this platan shade The secrete cause of thy concealed paine , How haps thy sighing threats the cleered skie , with gentle Zephyr waging often warres , Whose Muse of yoare with hunnie melodie , did calme fierce winds , & cease their boistrous iarres ? What means this moorning weed ? thy weeping eine ? thy pale aspect ? thy murmuring complaints ? O speake , that I may ioine my teares with thine , and ease thy burdened heart before it faints . Tityrus . O Corydon forbeare by deepe inquire to rip the skarred wounds of my vnrest : No teares , no counsell can abate the fire , which louing sorrow kindles in my brest . I all alone in darkesom vnkoth place , I all alone must like the Turtle Doue , Whose ioy is slaine , bewaile my wretched case , and powre out plaints agenst the gods aboue , Corydon . By syluane nymphs , and louely Graces three , that on our lawnes doe sport them to and fro ; By countrie powres of what so ere degree ; by Floraes chaplet ; by Dianaes boe , By fruitfull Pales , Ceres wheaten crowne , by siluer Thamesis old Oceans dame ; By chang'd Amintas flow'r , that decks the downe ; and lastlie by Elisaes vertuous name , By these , and those that guide caelestial spheares , I here coniure thee to difcloase thy griefe , That I maie slake thy sighing with my teares , whose comforts oft haue bred my harts relief . Tityrus . Then thus ( though loath ) as griefe will suffer me , my faltring tongue shall tell my discontent : That cares by sympathie maie worke on thee , And thou vpholde some part of my lament . Alas too soone by Destins fatall knife Sweet Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . Now Corydon ( for eurie shepheard swaine reports thee skilfull in a sacred verse ) In such a meeter helpe me to complaine , as maie befit great Meliboeus hearse . Corydon . I now beginne : Apollo guide my sounde , And weepe yee sisters of the learned hill : That your Paegasean springs may leap their bound , and from their floate maie seas of teares distill . Let deadly sorrow with a sable wing , throughout the world go brute this tragedie : And let Arcadians altogether sing a woefull song agenst heauns tirannie . Alas too soone by Destins fatall knife Sweete Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . Are wheeling orbs so full of foule despight , that neither wisdome , nor true pietie , Nor learned skill , nor speech of choice delight , nor care of countries sweete securitie , Nor watchfull studie for Dianaes health , nor gentle birth which vertues worth did raise , Nor honors titles , nor abundant wealth , nor thousand gifts deseruing endlesse praise Could smooth the mallice of old Saturnes brow , or heate of Mars , or Lunaes deathfull colde : O enuious heauns , that winde I wotte not how , grudging the glories of this earthly molde . Alas too soone by Destins fatall knife : Sweete Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . Yet glorious heauns , ô pardon my blaspheme , whose witte in sorrowes Labyrinth is straide : All that I spake was but a furious dreame , it was not you , but Fates that him betraide . O thou eternall Monarcke , at whose becke the planets mooue and make their influence : O giue the Destinies a wrathfull checke , afflict them for their spightfull insolence . In case mine oraison seeme ouerlarge , ô yet vouchsafe me but this one request , That fatall lawes be giun to Saintes in charge , whose hands & harts wil alwaies work the best . What can those Imps of euerclowding mist , those ruthlesse daughters of eternall night ; But ( tyrantlike ) sunder their vitall twist , whose shining vertues are the worldes chiefe light ? Alas too soone by destins fatall knife , Sweet Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . And was not Astrophill in flowring prime , by cruell Fates cut off before his daie , Yong Astrophill , the mirrour of our time , faire Hyales chiefe ioy , till his decay ? When late a dreadfull Lyon in his pride descended downe the Pyraenaean mount , And roaring through the pastures farre & wide , deuowr'd whole Themistitan heards of chief account : Stout Astrophill incenst with sole remorse , resolu'd to die , or see the slaughter ceast : Then fenst with fire and sword , with manly force he made assalt vpon the furious beast . But of this tale teares dōwne the latter part : I must returne to Meliboeus fall , Who mourning still for Astrophils depart , forsooke his friends , and lost himselfe withall . Alas too soone by Destins fatall knife , Sweet Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . Nowe tell me shephards all , and fellow swaynes , who shal with rampiers fence our country soile ? And keep the fluds from breaking ore the plaines ? and sheild our tender flocks from deadly spoile ? Who shall recure their faintie maladies , & purge their fleeces in soft running streams ? Who shall defend our lambs from ieoperdies ? & shrowd our kids from Titans parching beames ? Who now shal til our ground , & reape our corne ? who shall assuage the strife of swelling pride , When eurie swynard shall exceede his borne , and will not by God Terminus be tyde ? Alas too soone by Destins fatall knife , Sweet Meliboeus is depru'd of life . Tityrus . Thy tunes haue often pleas'd mine eare of yoare , whenmilk-white swans did flocke to heare theesing , Where Seane in Paris makes a double shoare , Paris thrise blest if shee obey her King . But now ô Corydon , that lightsome vaine is changd from youth to aged grauitie , That whilst I heare thee bitterlie complaine , me thinks Apollo sings in Arcadie . And yet afford thy moorning Muse some rest , while I ( though skil & voice are both decaide ) With termes of duetie from a pensiue brest bewaile my friend , whom cruell Fates betraide . Alas too soone by Destins fatall knife Sweete Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . O all that all the Vniuers containes In heaun , or aire , or earth , or watrie deepe : With mutual plaints make light my secret pains , for sorrow wasts in teares , where manie weepe . And first ye Figures in the Zodiacke line , that decke heauns girdle with aeternall light : O faine some griefs , and knit them vnto mine , such griefs as may this baser worlde affright . Now Cancer slake thy heate with brackish raine , and Leo roare , to make the skie dismaide : Aquarius powre thou downe salt teares amaine , and Aries let thy dancing now be staide . Now Libra make not oequinoctiall , but suffer night to ouergrow the daie : For darkenes fits all vs that liue in thrall , Let those haue light that list to sport and plaie . Now let the Centaure with his poisned steele vpon the Fates inflict a deadlie wounde : That for misguiding late their fatall wheele they may lament with guosts of vnder-ground . Now let the winter vnder Capricorne last still : and Pisces lend him watrie showres : Let Taurus wound the welkin with his horne , and Scorpio with his taile sting fatall powres . Now Gemini forbeare with gladsome shine , to comfort Sea-men in their chiefe dispaire : Virgo make fountains of thy daie-bright eine , and teare the treasure of thy golden haire . Alas too soone by Destins fatall knife Sweete Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . Yee seaunfold flames , whose euer-circling fires maintain this earth with influence from your sphears , And with your powre guide mortall mens desires , now leaue your harmonie , and fall to teares . Yet cankred Saturne it were all in vaine , with my intreats to call for thy lament , For if old Orpheus but a sooth haue saine , to miseries thy minde is alwaies bent . Thou still art lumpish , waiward , cold , and sloe , attended on with Terror , doating night , Pale discontent , sighs , discord , teares , and woe , fit mates for me that want my chiefe delight . But thee faire Iupiter I must require , to change the gratious vertue ofthy starre , And not to temper with thy gentle fire , the raging heates of him that breedeth warre . Let Mars roaue vncontrold and kindle strife , that Sorrowes may sit downe by Slaughters side : And golden Sol surcease to fauour life ; and Uenus weepe , as if Adonis dide . And Stilbon with thy hatt cloude Phaebus face , And Luna see thou steale no more his beames : But let thy Steedes forbeare their nightlie race , and from thy bosome powre downe weeping streames . Alas too soone by Destins fatal knife , Sweete Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . Now Aire , and what thy circuites doe containe , helpe to lament great Meliboeus death : Let clouds of teares with sighs be turnd to raine , admit no winde but euergroaning breath . Now set thy firie Pyramids to viewe , thy diuers Idols , Candles burning bright : Inflamed Shafts , Comets of dreadfull hewe ; Sparkles that flie , and Starres that fall by night . Let all thy Meteors , of what euer kinde , with terrorsort them selues in iust araie : And worke such feare in euery mortall minde , that all the world may waile for ones decaie . Alas to soone by Destins fatal knife , Sweete Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . Corydon . O Tityrus thy plaint is ouerlong , here pause a while , at Corydons request : Of what is wanting in thy farfet song , my moorning voice shall striue to tell the rest . But I must sorrow in a lower vaine , not like to thee , whose words haue wings at wil : An humble stile befits a simple Swaine , my Muse shall pipe but on an oaten quill . Immortall Fauni , Satyrs , and great Pan , the Gods and guiders of our fruitfull soile , Come seat your selues by me , and waile the man , whose death was hastned by his vertuous toile . Yee comelie Graces neither dance nor plaie , nor kembe your beauteous tresses in the Sun , But now since Meliboeus is awaie , sit downe and weepe , for wanton daies are dun . Now in the woods be leafelesse eury Tree , and beare not pleasant fruits as heretofore : Myrrha let weeping gums distill from thee , and help to make my dolefull plaint the more . Now in the woods let night-rauns croak by daie , and gladles Owles shrike out , & Vulturs grone : But smaller birds that sweetly sing and play , be whist and still : for you can make no mone . Now in the fields each corne hang down his head , since he is gon that weeded all our corne : And sprouting Uines wither till you be dead , since he is dead , that shielded you from storme . Now in the fields rot fruits while you are greene , since he is gon that vsde to graff & grace you : And die faire Flowres , since he no more is seene , that in Dianaes garland vsde to place you . O heards & tender flocks , ô handsmooth plains , ô Eccho dwelling both in mount and vallie : O groues & bubling springs , ô nimphs , ô swains , ô yong and olde , ô weepe all Arcadie . Alas too soone by Destins fat all knife Sweete Meliboeus is depriu'd of life . Tityrus . O let me interrupt thee yet once more , for who should more lament his losse then I , That oft haue tasted of his bounteous store , and knew his secret vertues perfectlie ? We haue alreadie summond eurie part , excepting that which in the Ocean lies : To stand copartners of our wofull smart , and beate the senselesse aire with Elegies . Now therfore Neptune grant me this one boone , depose great Ioue for fo misguiding fate : That Meliboeus wounded all too soone , by Mortaes malice dies before his date . And thou old Glaucus with diuining blest , Prophet to him that neuer speakes but truth , Come with Palaemon , Phorcus , and the rest , and here giue oracle of endles ruth . Come Tethis come with Thetis after thee , and all thy watrie nymphs , a louelie traine : Vouchsafe to sit vpon these bankes with me , that I may heare both thee & them complaine . And thou great Triton with thy sounding shell , impart my grieuance vnto eurie shore : And with a murmure make the waues goe tell , that worthie Meliboeus breaths no more . Now let no Dolphins seeke Arions Muse , nor play by shore to ketch vp heedles boies : Let them suppose sweete Musicke out of vse , and wanton louetricks to be foolish toies . Deceitfull Mermaids leaue your auncient guise , forbeare to sing while tempest troubles vs : Let me behold whole fountains in your eies , for weeping fits vnhappie Tityrus . Corydon . But Tityrus inough , leaue of a while : stop moorning springs , drie vp thy drearie eine , And blithlie intertaine my altred stile , inticd from griefs by some allure diuine . For now my mind reclaimd from carefull mone , gins fault hir giuing place to sorrows sourse : And in hir change intreats thee cease to grone , that as we grieud , so we may ioie by course . In iust complaint though sorrowes were begun , and all too litle for the man we waile : Yet now at last our sorrows must be done , and more then moorning reason must preuail . Iniustlie grudge we Melibaeus death , as though his worth were buried in his fate : But neither are his vertues drenchd in Leath , nor vertuous soule remoud to meaner state : His faith hath framd his spirit holie wings , To soare with Astropbil aboue the Sun : And there he ioies , whence eury confort springs , and where the fulnes of his blisse begun . Let vs be ioifull after long annoie , Since Meliboeus lius in perfect ioie . Our Meliboeus lius where Seraphins doe praise the Highest in their glorious flames : Where flowes the knowledge of wise Cherubins : where Throans exhibit earthlie deeds & names : Where Dominations rule and yet obaie : where Principalities to lower powers Deepe hidden misteries doe still bewraie : where arms are vsd by foe-subduing powers . Where Vertues practise miracles and wunder : where both Archangels and sweet Angels sing , Whose office is , to vs , that liue here vnder , from heaun caelestiall messages to bring . Let vs be ioifull after long annoie , Since Meliboeus lius in perfit ioie . Now Melibaeus in comparelesse place , drinkes Nectar , eates diuine Ambrosia ; And hath fruition of eternall grace , and with his countnance cheeres Arcadia . Then while his spirit dwels in heaunlie towres , let vs performe what honor dutie willes : Let vs adorne his sacred tumb with flowres , and sweete it with the riches of our hilles . Our vernall Flora that bewailes our losse , will gladlie let hir flowrie locks be rent : And clad hir selfe in moornfull roabes of mosse , if all the treasure of hir buds were spent . Then Flora lend vs thime and violets , sweete balme and roses for his buriall : Bestow no wealth on wanton amorets , but spare it to adorne his funerall . And Pales bath his lims in fluds of milke , and couer him with costly ornament : Inshrine his corps in sheetes of softest silke , for he deserus Mausolus monument . And Tityrus let vs before the rest set holie lights , and watch his breathles corse , Singing sweet himns for him whose soule is blest , though parted from his flesh by deaths diuorce . Now cheere we Dryas in hir miserie , who ouerlong bewailes hir haplesse case : Lest ouerlouing like Laodamie , shee loose hir selfe in deepe supposd imbrace . Now call we Hyale from whispring streames , increast with teares ( true seruants of annoie ) Who takes no pleasure but in griefs extreames , nor ioies in ought but in hir want ofioie : Faire Hyale , who wringing ofthir armes , hir armes far whiter then Sythonian snoa , with doubling sighs bewails hir helples harmes , Alas that helples harmes should vexe hir so . Yet beuteous Nymph thy carefull mother liues , ( long may shee liue , and liuing ease thy hart ) Accept what comfort hir suruiuing giues , and in lifes comfort drown thy sorrows smart . Helpe thou with vs , and eurie countrie wight , to chace all grieuance from Dianaes minde : From drad Diana , earths and heauns delight , Diana , glorie of hir sexe and kinde ; Diana , wondrous mirrour of our daies ; Diana matchlesse Queene of Arcadie ; Diana , whose surpassing beauties praise Improous hir worth past terrene deitie ; Diana ' Sibill for hir secret skill ; Diana , pieties chiefe earthlie friend ; Diana , holie both in deede and will ; Diana whose iust praises haue no end . Ah but my Muse , that creeps but on the ground , begins to tremble at my great presume , For naming hir , whose titles onelie sound doth glad the welkin with a sweet perfume . For in hir minde so manie vertues dwell , as eurie moment breed new pieties : Yet all in one conioind doe all excell , and crowne hir worth with sundrie deities . But that vnwares my sorie stile proceeds drad Cynthia pardon : loue desires dispense : As Ioues high Oaks orelook Pans slender reeds , so boue all praising flies thine excellence . Yet lest my homespun verse obscure hir worth , sweet Spencer let me leaue this taske to thee , Whose neuerstooping quill can best set forth such things of state , as passe my Muse , and me . Thou Spencer art the alderliefeft swaine , or haply if that word be all to base , Thou art Apollo whose sweet hunnie vaine amongst the Muses hath a chiefest place . Therefore in fulnes of thy duties loue , calme thou the tempest of Dianaes brest , Whilst shee for Melibaeus late remoue afflicts hir mind with ouerlong vnrest . Tell hir forthwith ( for well shee likes thy vaine ) that though great Melibaeus be awaie : Yet like to him there manie still remaine , which will vphold hir countrie from decaie . First name Damaetas , flowre of Arcadie , whose thoughts are prudent , & speech vertuous , Whose looks haue mildnes ioind with Maiestie , whose hand is liberall and valorous : He is Damaetas , that is wont to blame extreamest iustice voide of equitie : Diana terms him by an other name , Hatton , vnlesse I faile in memorie . Then name old Damon , whom shee knows of old for such as Nestor was to Graecians guide : Worth ten of Aiax , worth all Craessus gold , if his deserts in ballance could be tride . Damon is he that counsels still aright , and heedfullie preserus Dianaes store : And wakes when others rest them selus by night we Arcads cald him Cecill heretofore . Then name braue Aegon , that with ships defenc about our coast orespreds the Ocean plaines , To keepe fell monsters of the sea from hence : we cleape him Howard , that are countries swaines . Name Mopsus , Daphnis , Faustus , and the rest , whose seurall gifts thy singing can expresse : When thou shalt tell how shee in them is blest , their verie names will comfort hir distresse . Tityrus . Castor and Pollux , Laedaes louelie twins , whose bright aspect cheers moornful Mariners , Shewing them selues when pleasant calme begins , of gladsome newes two welcome messengers , Conuey great comfort to the weltred minde , and with their sheen appearance breed delight : Yet Corydon thy leare and loue combinde please more by hearing , than those twain by sight , For they portending stormie windes surcease , but by portending cause the hearts content : Thy learnd persuades command my sorrow cease , and sweetnes doth allure to merriment . Buthie we homeward , night comes on apace , wee l learne beliue forget our doleful notes : See where faire Uenus shewes hir radiant face , let s hence , & shut our sheepfolds in their coat FINIS .