An eglogue. gratulatorie. Entituled: To the right honorable, and renowmed shepheard of Albions Arcadia: Robert earle of Exxex and Ewe for his vvelcome into England from Portugall. Done by George Peele. Maister of arts in Oxon.

❧ THE RIGHT HONORAble Earle of Essex his welcom into England , from Portugall . Piers . Palinode . Dicite Io Paean , & Io bis dicite Paean , In Patriam rediit magnus Apollo suam . PALINODE . HErdgrome , what gars thy pipe to goe so loud ? Why bin thy bookes so smicker and so proud ? Perdie plaine Piers , but this couthe ill agree , With thilke bad fortune , that ay thwarteth thee . Piers . That thwarteth me , good Palinode , is fate , Yborne was Piers to be infortunate . Yet shall my Bagpipe go so loud and shrill , That heauen may entertaine my kind good will . Jo Io Paean . Palinode . Sot I say , Lose I , leudest of all swaines , Singest thou proud Paeans on these open plaines ? So ill sitteth this straine , this loftie note , With thy rude tire , and gray russet cote . Piers . Gray as my cote is , greene all are my cares , My grasse to drosse , my corne is turned to tares : Yet euen and morrow will I neuer lin , To make my crowd speake as it did begin . Jo Io Paean . Palinode . Thou art too crancke , and crowdest all to hie , Beware a Chip fall not into thine eie : ( Man ) if Triumphals heere be in request , Then let them chaunt them , that can chaunt them best . Piers . Thou art a sowre swaine Palinode perdie , My Bagpipe vaunteth not of victorie : Then giue me leaue , sonizance to make , For chiualrie , and louely learnings sake . Io Io Paean . Palinode . Thou hardy Herdsman , darest thou of Arms chaunt Sike verse I tell thee , ought haue a great vaunt : Then how may thy boldnes scape a fine frumpe , Warres Laud , is matter for the brasen Trumpe . Piers . Of Armes to sing , I haue nor lust nor skill , Enough is me , to blazon my good will : To welcome home that long hath lacked beene , One of the iolliest Shepherds of our Greene . Io Io Paean . Palinode . Tell me good Piers , I pray thee tell it me , What may thilk iollie swaine or shepherd be ? Or whence y comen ? that he thus welcome is , That thou art all so blithe to see his blisse . Piers . Palinode , thou makest a double demaund , Which I will answere , as I vnderstand . Yet will I not forget , so God me mend , To pipe lowd Paeans as my Stanzaes end . Io Io Paean . Thilk Shepheard ( Palinode ) whom my pipe praiseth , Whose glory , my reed to the welkin raiseth : He is a great Herdgroome , certes , but no swaine , Saue hers that is the Flowre of Phaebes plaine . Io Io Paean . He is wel alied and loued of the best , Well thewed , faire and francke , and famous by hys Crest : His Raine Deere racking with proud & stately pace , Giueth to his flocke a right beautifull grace . Io Io Paean . He waits where our great Shepherdesse doth wunne , He plaieth in the shade , and thriueth in the Sunne : He shineth on the plaines , his lustie flocke him by , As when Apollo kept in Arcadie . Io Io Paean . Fellow in Armes he was , in their flowing deies , With that great Shepherd good Philisides : And in sad sable did I see him dight . Moning the misse of Pallas peereles Knight . Io Io Paean . With him he seru'd , and watcht and waited fate , To keepe the grim Wolfe from Elizaes gate : And for their Mistresse thoughten these two swains , They moughten neuer take too mickle paines . Io Io Paean . But , ah for griefe , that iolly groome is dead , For whome the Muses siluer teares haue shed : Yet in this louelie swaine , source of our glee , Mun all his Vertues sweet reuiuen bee . Io Io Paean . Palinode . So moughten they Piers , and happilie thriue , To keepen this Herdsinan after death aliue : But whence I pray thee , tel me , come is hee , For whome thy Pipe and Paeans make such glee ? Piers . Certes Sir Shepheard , commen he is fro far , Fro wrath of deepest Seas and storme of War : Safe is he come , O swell my Pipe with ioy , To the olde buildings of Nue reared Troy . Io Io Paean . Fro Sea , fro Shore , where he with swinck and sweat Felt Foemans rage , and Sommers parching heat : Safe is he come , laden with Honors spoile , O swell my Pipe with ioy , and breake the while . Io Io Paean . Palinode . Thou foolish swaine that thus art ouerioied , How soone may heere thy courage be accoyed : If he be one come new fro Westerne coast , Small cause hath he or thou for him to boast . I see no Palme , I see no Laurell bowes , Circle his temples , or adorne his browes , I heare no Triumphes for this late returne , But many a Herdsman more disposde to morne . Piers . Pale lookest thou like Spite , proud Palinode , Venter doth losse , and warre do the danger bode : But thou art of those Haruesters I see , Would at one shocke , spoile all the Philherd-Tree . Io Io Paean . For shame I say , giue Vertue honors due . I le please the Shepherd , but by telling true : Palme maist thou see , and Baies about his head , That all his flocke , right forwardly hath led . Io Io Paean . But woe is me lewd lad , fames full of lies , Enuie doth ay true honors deeds despise , Yet chiualrie will mount with glorious wings , Spite all and nestle neere the seat of kings . Io Io Paean . Base thrall is he , that is foule slaunders slaue , To pleasen all , what wight may him behaue : Yea , Ioues great sonne though he were now aliue , Mought find no way thilk labour to atchiue . Io Io Paean . Palinode . Well plead'st thou ( gentle Lad ) for this great peere , Then tell me sith but thou and I am here ? Did not thick Bagpipe man which thou dost blow A farewell on our Souldiers erst bestow ? How yst then , thicke great Shepherd of the field , To whome our swaines , sike humble beisance yeild : And thou these Laudes and labours seriouslie , Was in that worke , not mencioned speciallie . Piers . Harke Palinode , me dare not speake to lowd , Hence was he raught , wrapt in a fierie cloud : With Mars his Viceroy , and a golden Drake , So that of him , me durst no notice take . Jo Io Paean . But now returnd , to royallize his fame , Whose mightie thoughts , at Honors Tropheis aime : Least worthily , I moughten witned bee , I welcome him with Shepherds country glee . Io Io Paean . And of his dread aduentures here sing I , Equiuolent with the Punic Chiualrie : That brake his Launce , with terror and renowne , Against the gates of slaughtered Rhemus Towne . Io Io Paean . And was the first of many thousands more , That at Penechia waded to the shore : There couthe he lead his landed flocke so far , Till a was left of men approoued in war . Io Io Paean . O Honors fire , that not the brackish Sea , Mought quench , nor Foemans fearefull Larums lay : So high those golden flakes done mount and clime , That they exceed the reach of Shepherds time . Io Io Paean . Palinode . What boot thy welcomes , foolish hardie swaine , Lowder pipes then thine , are going on this plaine : Faire Elizaes Lasses and her great Groomes , Receiue this Shepherd with vnfaigned welcomes . Honour is in him that doth it bestowe , Thy Reed to rough , thy seat is all to lowe . To writen sike praise , hadst thou blithe Homers quil Thou moughtest haue matter equall with thy skill . Piers . Twit me with boldnes , Palin as thou wilt , My good mind be my glorie and my guilt : Be my praise lesse or mickle , all is one , His hie deserts deseruen to be knowen . Io Io Paean . So cease my pipe , the worthies to record , Of thilke great Shepherd , of thicke faire yong Lord : Leaue him with lucke , to those well tuned Laies , That better ken to sound sike Shepherds praies . Io Io Paean . Now time is neere to pen our Sheepe in folde , And Euening aire , is rumaricke and colde : For my late Songs , plead thou my pure good will , Though Newcome once ( Braue Earle ) yet welcome still . Io Io Paean .