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And of Our Ladyes Bowre:

  But little needes to strow my store, 75

  Suffice this hill of our.

  Here han the holy Faunes recourse,

  And Sylvanes haunten rathe;

  Here has the salt Medway his sourse,

  Wherein the Nymphes doe bathe; 80

  The salt Medway, that trickling stremis

  Adowne the dales of Kent,

  Till with his elder brother Themis

  His brackish waves be meynt.

  Here growes melampode every where, 85

  And teribinth, good for gotes:

  The one, my madding kiddes to smere,

  The next, to heale theyr throtes.

  Hereto, the hills bene nigher heven,

  And thence the passage ethe: 90

  As well can prove the piercing levin,

  That seeldome falls bynethe.

  Thom. Syker, thou speakes lyke a lewde lorrell,

  Of heaven to demen so:

  How be I am but rude and borrell, 95

  Yet nearer wayes I knowe.

  To kerke the narre, from God more farre,

  Has bene an old sayd sawe,

  And he that strives to touch the starres

  Oft stombles at a strawe. 100

  Alsoone may shepheard clymbe to skye,

  That leades in lowly dales,

  As goteherd prowd, that, sitting hye,

  Upon the mountaine sayles.

  My seely sheepe like well belowe, 105

  They neede not melampode:

  For they bene hale enough, I trowe,

  And liken theyr abode.

  But, if they with thy gotes should yede,

  They soone myght be corrupted, 110

  Or like not of the frowie fede,

  Or with the weedes be glutted.

  The hylls where dwelled holy saints

  I reverence and adore:

  Not for themselfe, but for the sayncts 115

  Which han be dead of yore.

  And nowe they bene to heaven forewent,

  Theyr good is with them goe,

  Theyr sample onely to us lent,

  That als we mought doe soe. 120

  Shepheards they weren of the best,

  And lived in lowlye leas:

  And sith theyr soules bene now at rest,

  Why done we them disease?

  Such one he was (as I have heard 125

  Old Algrind often sayne)

  That whilome was the first shepheard,

  And lived with little gayne:

  As meeke he was as meeke mought be,

  Simple as simple sheepe, 130

  Humble, and like in eche degree

  The flocke which he did keepe.

  Often he used of hys keepe

  A sacrifice to bring,

  Nowe with a kidde, now with a sheepe 135

  The altars hallowing.

  So lowted he unto hys Lord,

  Such favour couth he fynd,

  That sithens never was abhord

  The simple shepheards kynd. 140

  And such, I weene, the brethren were

  That came from Canaan,

  The brethren twelve, that kept yfere

  The flockes of mighty Pan.

  But nothing such thilk shephearde was 145

  Whom Ida hyll dyd beare,

  That left hys flocke to fetch a lasse,

  Whose love he bought to deare.

  For he was proude, that ill was payd,

  (No such mought shepheards bee) 150

  And with lewde lust was overlayd:

  Tway things doen ill agree.

  But shepheard mought be meeke and mylde,

  Well eyed as Argus was,

  With fleshly follyes undefyled, 155

  And stoute as steede of brasse.

  Sike one (sayd Algrin) Moses was,

  That sawe hys Makers face,

  His face, more cleare then christall glasse,

  And spake to him in place. 160

  This had a brother, (his name I knewe)

  The first of all his cote,

  A shepheard trewe, yet not so true

  As he that earst I hote.

  Whilome all these were lowe and lief, 165

  And loved their flocks to feede,

  They never stroven to be chiefe,

  And simple was theyr weede.

  But now (thanked be God therefore)

  The world is well amend, 170

  Their weedes bene not so nighly wore;

  Such simplesse mought them shend:

  They bene yclad in purple and pall,

  So hath theyr God them blist,

  They reigne and rulen over all, 175

  And lord it as they list:

  Ygyrt with belts of glitterand gold,

  (Mought they good sheepeheards bene)

  Theyr Pan theyr sheepe to them has sold;

  I saye as some have seene. 180

  For Palinode (if thou him ken)

  Yode late on pilgrimage

  To Rome, (if such be Rome) and then

  He sawe thilke misusage.

  For shepeheards, sayd he, there doen leade, 185

  As lordes done other where;

  Theyr sheepe han crustes, and they the bread;

  The chippes, and they the chere:

  They han the fleece, and eke the flesh;

  (O seely sheepe the while!) 190

  The corne is theyrs, let other thresh,

  Their hands they may not file.

  They han great stores and thriftye stockes,

  Great freendes and feeble foes:

  What neede hem caren for their flocks? 195

  Theyr boyes can looke to those.

  These wisards weltre in welths waves,

  Pampred in pleasures deepe;

  They han fatte kernes, and leany knaves,

  Their fasting flockes to keepe. 200

  Sike mister men bene all misgone,

  They heapen hylles of wrath:

  Sike syrlye shepheards han we none,

  They keepen all the path.

  Mor. Here is a great deale of good matter 205

  Lost for lacke of telling.

  Now sicker I see, thou doest but clatter:

  Harme may come of melling.

  Thou medlest more then shall have thanke,

  To wyten shepheards welth: 210

  When folke bene fat, and riches rancke,

  It is a signe of helth.

  But say me, what is Algrin, he

  That is so oft bynempt?

  Thom. He is a shepheard great in gree, 215

  But hath bene long ypent.

  One daye he sat upon a hyll,

  As now thou wouldest me:

  But I am taught, by Algrins ill,

  To love the lowe degree. 220

  For sitting so with bared scalpe,

  An eagle sored hye,

  That, weening hys whyte head was chalke,

  A shell fish downe let flye:

  She weend the shell fishe to have broake, 225

  But therewith bruzd his brayne;

  So now, astonied with the stroke,

  He lyes in lingring payne.

  Mor. Ah, good Algrin! his hap was ill,

  But shall be bett in time. 230

  Now farwell, shepheard, sith thys hyll

  Thou hast such doubt to climbe.

  THOMALINS EMBLEME.

  In medio virtus.

  MORRELLS EMBLEME.

  In summo fælicitas.

  GLOSSE

  A goteheard. By gotes, in scrypture, be represented the wicked and reprobate, whose pastour also must needes be such.

  Banck is the seate of honor.

  Straying heard, which wander out of the waye of truth.

  Als, for also.

  Clymbe, spoken of ambition.

  Great clymbers, according to Seneca his verse.

  ‘Decidunt celsa, graviore lapsu.’

  Mickle, much.

  The sonne, a reason why he refuseth to dwe
ll on mountaines, because there is no shelter against the scortching sunne, according to the time of the yeare, whiche is the whotest moneth of all.

  The Cupp and Diademe be two signes in the firmament, through which the sonne maketh his course in the moneth of July.

  Lion. Thys is poetically spoken, as if the Sunne did hunt a Lion with one dogge. The meaning whereof is, that in July the sonne is in Leo. At which tyme the Dogge starre, which is called Syrius, or Canicula, reigneth with immoderate heate, causing pestilence, drougth, and many diseases.

  Overture, an open place. The word is borrowed of the French, and used in good writers.

  To holden chatt, to talke and prate.

  A loorde was wont among the old Britons to signifie a lorde. And therefore the Danes, that long time usurped theyr tyrannie here in Brytanie, were called, for more dread and dignitie, Ludanes, sc. Lord Danes. At which time it is sayd, that the insolencie and pryde of that nation was so outragious in thys realme, that if it fortuned a Briton to be going over a bridge, and sawe a Dane set foote upon the same, he muste retorne back, till the Dane were cleane over, or els abyde the pryce of his displeasure, which was no lesse then present death. But being afterwarde expelled, that name of Lurdane became so odious unto the people, whom they had long oppressed, that even at this daye they use, for more reproche, to call the quartane ague the Fever Lurdane.

  Recks much of thy swinck, counts much of thy paynes.

  Weetelesse, not understoode.

  St. Michels Mount is a promontorie in the west part of England.

  A hill, Parnassus afforesayd.

  Pan, Christ.

  Dan. One trybe is put for the whole nation per synecdochen.

  Where Titan, the sonne. Which story is to be redde in Diodorus Syculus of the hyl Ida; from whence he sayth, all night time is to bee seene a mightye fire, as if the skye burned, which toward morning beginneth to gather into a rownd forme, and thereof ryseth the sonne, whome the poetes call Titan.

  The shepheard is Endymion, whom the poets fayne to have bene so beloved of Phœbe, sc. the moone, that he was by her kept a sleepe in a cave by the space of xxx yeares, for to enjoye his companye.

  There, that is, in Paradise, where, through errour of shepheards understanding, he sayth, all shepheards did use to feede theyr flocks, till one, (that is Adam) by hys follye and disobedience, made all the rest of hys ofspring be debarred and shutte out from thence.

  Synah, a hill in Arabia, where God appeared.

  Our Ladyes Bowre, a place of pleasure so called.

  Faunes or Sylvanes be of poetes feigned to be gods of the woode.

  Medway, the name of a ryver in Kent, which, running by Rochester, meeteth with Thames; whom he calleth his elder brother, both because he is greater, and also falleth sooner into the sea.

  Meynt, mingled.

  Melampode and terebinth be hearbes good to cure diseased gotes: of thone speaketh Mantuane, and of thother Theocritus.

  [Greek]

  Nigher heaven. Note the shepheards simplenesse, which supposeth that from the hylls is nearer waye to heaven.

  Levin, lightning; which he taketh for an argument to prove the nighnes to heaven, because the lightning doth comenly light on hygh mountaynes, according to the saying of the poete:

  ‘Feriuntque summos fulmina montes.’

  Lorrell, a losell.

  A borrell, a playne fellowe.

  Narre, nearer.

  Hale, for hole.

  Yede, goe.

  Frowye, mustye or mossie.

  Of yore, long agoe.

  Forewente, gone afore.

  The firste shepheard was Abell the righteous, who (as Scripture sayth) bent hys mind to keeping of sheepe, as did hys brother Cain to tilling the grownde.

  His keepe, hys charge, sc. his flocke.

  Lowted, did honour and reverence.

  The brethren, the twelve sonnes of Jacob, which were shepemaisters, and lyved onelye thereupon.

  Whom Ida, Paris, which being the sonne of Priamus king of Troy, for his mother Hecubas dreame, which, being with child of hym, dreamed shee broughte forth a firebrand, that set all the towre of Ilium on fire, was cast forth on the hyll Ida; where being fostered of shepheards, he eke in time became a shepheard, and lastly came to knowledge of his parentage.

  A lasse. Helena, the wyfe of Menelaus king of Lacedemonia, was by Venus, for the golden aple to her geven, then promised to Paris, who thereupon with a sorte of lustye Troyanes, stole her out of Lacedemonia, and kept her in Troye: which was the cause of the tenne yeares warre in Troye, and the moste famous citye of all Asia most lamentably sacked and defaced.

  Argus was of the poets devised to be full of eyes, and therefore to hym was committed the keeping of the transformed cow, Io: so called, because that, in the print of a cowes foote, there is figured an I in the middest of an O.

  His name: he meaneth Aaron: whose name, for more decorum, the shephearde sayth he hath forgot, lest his remembraunce and skill in antiquities of holy writ should seeme to exceede the meanenesse of the person.

  Not so true, for Aaron, in the absence of Moses, started aside, and committed idolatry.

  In purple, spoken of the popes and cardinalles, which use such tyrannical colours and pompous paynting.

  Belts, girdles.

  Glitterand, glittering, a participle used sometime in Chaucer, but altogether in J. Goore.

  Theyr Pan, that is, the Pope, whom they count theyr god and greatest shepheard.

  Palinode, a shephearde, of whose report he seemeth to speake all thys.

  Wisards, greate learned heads.

  Welter, wallowe.

  Kerne, a churl or farmer.

  Sike mister men, suche kinde of men.

  Surly, stately and prowde.

  Melling, medling.

  Bett, better.

  Bynempte, named.

  Gree, for degree.

  Algrin, the name of a shepheard afforesayde, whose myshap he alludeth to the chaunce that happened to the poet Æschylus, that was brayned with a shellfishe.

  EMBLEME.

  By thys poesye Thomalin confirmeth that which in hys former speach by sondrye reasons he had proved. For being both hymselfe sequestred from all ambition, and also abhorring it in others of hys cote, he taketh occasion to prayse the meane and lowly state, as that wherein is safetie without feare, and quiet without danger; according to the saying of olde philosophers, that vertue dwelleth in the middest, being environed with two contrary vices: whereto Morrell replieth with continuaunce of the same philosophers opinion, that albeit all bountye dwelleth in mediocritie, yet perfect felicitye dwelleth in supremacie. For they say, and most true it is, that happinesse is placed in the highest degree, so as if any thing be higher or better, then that streight way ceaseth to be perfect happines. Much like to that which once I heard alleaged in defence of humilitye, out of a great doctour, ‘Suorum Christus humillimus:’ which saying a gentle man in the company taking at the rebownd, beate backe again with lyke saying of another doctoure, as he sayde, ‘Suorum Deus altissimus.’

  August

  ÆGLOGA OCTAVA

  ARGUMENT

  IN this Æglogue is set forth a delectable controversie, made in imitation of that in Theocritus: whereto also Virgile fashioned his third and seventh Æglogue. They choose for umpere of their strife, Cuddie, a neatheards boye, who, having ended their cause, reciteth also himselfe a proper song, whereof Colin, he sayth, was authour.

  WILLYE. PERIGOT. CUDDIE.

  Wil. Tell me, Perigot, what shalbe the game,

  Wherefore with myne thou dare thy musick matche?

  Or bene thy bagpypes renne farre out of frame?

  Or hath the crampe thy joynts benomd with ache?

  Per. Ah! Willye, when the hart is ill assayde, 5

  How can bagpipe or joynts be well apayd?

  Wil. What the foule evill hath thee so bestadde?

  Whilom thou was peregall to the best,

  And wont to make the jolly shepeheards gladde />
  With pyping and dauncing, didst passe the rest. 10

  Per. Ah! Willye, now I have learnd a newe daunce:

  My old musick mard by a newe mischaunce.

  Wil. Mischiefe mought to that newe mischaunce befall,

  That so hath raft us of our meriment!

  But reede me, what payne doth thee so appall? 15

  Or lovest thou, or bene thy younglings miswent?

  Per. Love hath misled both my younglings and mee:

  I pyne for payne, and they my payne to see.

  Wil. Perdie and wellawaye! ill may they thrive:

  Never knewe I lovers sheepe in good plight. 20

  But and if in rymes with me thou dare strive,

  Such fond fantsies shall soone be put to flight.

  Per. That shall I doe, though mochell worse I fared:

  Never shall be sayde that Perigot was dared.

  Wil. Then loe, Perigot, the pledge which I plight! 25

  A mazer ywrought of the maple warre:

  Wherein is enchased many a fayre sight

  Of beres and tygres, that maken fiers warre;

  And over them spred a goodly wild vine,

  Entrailed with a wanton yvie-twine. 30

  Thereby is a lambe in the wolves jawes:

  But see, how fast renneth the shepheard swayne,

  To save the innocent from the beastes pawes;

  And here with his shepehooke hath him slayne.

  Tell me, such a cup hast thou ever sene? 35

  Well mought it beseme any harvest queene.

  Per. Thereto will I pawne yonder spotted lambe;

  Of all my flocke there nis sike another;

  For I brought him up without the dambe.

  But Colin Clout rafte me of his brother, 40

  That he purchast of me in the playne field:

  Sore against my will was I forst to yield.

  Wil. Sicker, make like account of his brother.

  But who shall judge the wager wonne or lost?

  Per. That shall yonder heardgrome, and none other, 45

  Which over the pousse hetherward doth post.

  Wil. But, for the sunnebeame so sore doth us beate,

  Were not better to shunne the scortching heate?

  Per. Well agreed, Willy: then sitte thee downe, swayne:

  Sike a song never heardest thou but Colin sing. 50

  Cud. Gynne when ye lyst, ye jolly shep-heards twayne:

  Sike a judge as Cuddie were for a king.

  Per. It fell upon a holly eve,

  Wil. Hey ho, hollidaye!

  Per. When holly fathers wont to shrieve: 55

  Wil. Now gynneth this roundelay.

  Per. Sitting upon a hill so hye,

  Wil. Hey ho, the high hyll!

  Per. The while my flocke did feede thereby,