THE

VISIONS OF BELLAY.

1591.

THE

VISIONS OF BELLAY

I.

IT was the time, when Reft, foft sliding downe
From heavens hight into mens heavy eyes,
In the forgetfulnes of fleepe doth drowne

The carefull thoughts of mortall miferies;

Then did a Ghoft before mine eyes appeare, 5 On that great rivers banck, that runnes by Rome;

Which, calling me by name, bad me to reare My lookes to heaven whence all good gifts do

come,

10

And crying lowd, lo! now beholde (quoth hee)
What under this great temple placed is:
Lo, all is nought but flying vanitee!
So I, that know this worlds inconftancies,

I. 1. It was the time, &c.] It is to be remarked, that most of these Visions, and the Visions of Petrarch which follow, appeared, with fome differences indeed from the present copies both in regard to the nature of the verse, to a few expreffions, and to the arrangement of them, in "A Theatre for World linges, &c. 12mo. 1569." At the clofe of the Vifions of Petrarch, I will fubjoin the early Vifions, together with fome remarks, for the reader's fatisfaction. Spenfer's own edition notices, that the Vifions of Petrarch were formerlie tranflated. He does not fay by whom. The tranflator might be himself, He was in 1569 entered a member of the University of Cambridge. TODD.

Sith onely God furmounts all times decay,
In God alone my confidence do ftay. H

II.

J..

15

On high hills top I faw a stately frame,
An hundred cubits high by iuft aflize,
With hundreth pillours fronting faire the fame,
All wrought with diamond after Dorick wize;
Nor brick nor marble was the wall in view,A
But fhining chriftall, which from top to bafe: 20
Out of her womb a thousand rayons threw,
One hundred steps of Afrike golds enchafe :
Golde was the parget; and the feeling bright
Did fhine all fcaly with great plates of golde;
The floore of iafp and emeraude was dight. 25
O worlds vaineffe! Whiles thus I did behold,

An earthquake hooke the hill from loweft feat, And overthrew this frame with ruine great. 2002 FAST 10 Bega Media. 4 3 20 baid Then did a fharped fpyre of diamond bright, Ten feete each way in square, appeare to mee, 30 Iuftly proportion'd up unto his hight,

So far as archer might his level fee: sta cauti Did en stol not gatimbrubnud

II. 4.

after Dorick wize:] See the

note on F. Q. iv. x. 6. T. WARTON.

Fr. rayon. TODD.

II. 9.

99 rayons] Beams or rays.

66.

parget;] The varnish or plaster. See Cotgrave, in V. Purget. And calfo the verb, to newparget a wall," ibid. It is often ufed, as Mr. Steevens has remarked, by B. Jonfon. TODD.

iafph Jasper ftone. Fr. juspe, Tondi

The top thereof a pot did feeme to beare, Made of the mettall, which we moft do honour; And in this golden veffel couched weare

The ashes of a mightie Emperour:

35

Upon foure corners of the base were pight,
To beare the frame, foure great Lyons of gold;
A worthy tombe for fuch a worthy wight.
Alas this world doth nought but grievance hold!

I faw a tempeft from the heaven defcend, 41 Which this brave monument with flash did

rend.

IV.

I faw rayfde up on yvorie pillowes tall,
Whofe bafes were of richeft mettalls warke,
The chapters alablafter, the fryfes christall, 45
The double front of a triumphall arke:
On each fide purtraid was a Victorie,

Clad like a Nimph, that winges of filver weares,
And in triumphant chayre was fet on hie,
The auncient glory of the Romaine Peares, 50
No worke it feem'd of earthly craftsmans wit,
But rather wrought by his owne induftry,
That thunder-dartes for Iove his fyre doth fit.
Let me no more fee faire thing under fky,
Sith that mine eyes have feene fo faire a
fight

With fodain fall to duft confumed quight.

V.T

Then was the faire Dodonian tree far feene,