In which all trees of honour stately stood, And did all winter as in fummer bud,

$94. Mutability.

SUCH is the weakness of all mortall hope; So fickle is the ftate of earthly things, That ere they come into their aimed fcope, They fall fo fhort of our fraile reckonings, And bring us bale and bitter forrowings,

Instead of comfort which we should embrace: This is the state of Cæsars and of kings.

Let none therefore that is in meaner place, Too greatly grieve at any his unlucky cafe.

WH

$95. Night.

HERE griefly Night, with vifage deadly fad, That Phoebus'chearfull face durft neverview, And in a foul black pitchy mantle clad, She finds forth comeing from her darkfome mew, Where the all day did hide her hated hew.

Before the dore her iron charot stood, Already harneffed for journey new;

And cole-black fteeds yborne of hellish brood, That on their nafty bits did champ, as they were wood.

By this, eternall lamps, where with high Jove Doth light the world, were half yspent,

And the moift daughters of huge Atlas fhove Into the ocean deep to drive their wearie drove, Now when as all the world in filence deep Yfhrowded was, and every mortal wight

Was drowned in the depth of deadly fleep. Night, thou foule mother of annoyance fad, Sifter of heavy death, and nurfe of woe,

Which waft begot in heaven, but for thy bad And brutish fhape, thruft downe to hell below, Where, by the grim floud of Cocytus flowe,

That dwelling is Herebus' black hous,

(Black Herebus, thy husband, is the foe

Of all the Gods) where thou ungracious, Half of thy days doeft lead in horrour hedeous. What had th' Eternal Maker need of thee, The world in his continual courfe to keep,

That doeft all things deface, ne lettest see The beautie of his work? Indeed in fleep The flothful body doth love to steep

His luftlefs limbs, and drowne his bafer mind, Doth praife thee oft, and oft from Stygian deep Calls thee his goddess, in his errour blind, And great dame Nature's hand-maid chearing every kind.

But well I wote, that to an lieavy heart Thou art the root and nurfe of bitter cares, Breeder of new, renewer of old marts; Inftead of reft, thou lendeft rayling tears,

And dreadful vifions, in the which alive, The dreary image of fad Death appears :

So from the wariè fpirite thou doft drive Defired reft, and men of happiness deprive. Under thy mantle black there hidden lye, Light-fhunning theft, and trayterous intent, Abhorred bloudfhed, and vile felony, Shamefull deceipt, and danger iminent, Foule horror, and eke hellish dreriment:

All these (I wote) in thy protection bee, And light doe fhunne, for fear of being fhent: For, light ylike is loth'd of them and thee, And all that lewdness love, doe hate the light to fee.

For day discovers all dishonest wayes, And fheweth each thing as it is indeed;

The prayfes of high God he fair displayes, And his large bounty rightly doth areed, Days bleffed children be the bleffed feed,

Which darkness shall fubdue, and heaven win: Truth is his daughter, he her first did breed, Moft facred virgin, without fpot or fin: Our life is day; but death with darkness doth begin.

Now gan the humid vapour shed the ground With pearly dew, and the earth's gloomy fhade Did dim the brightness of the welkin round, That every bird and beaft awarned made To throwd themselves, while fleep their fenfes did invade.

$96. Occafion. AND him behind, a wicked hagg did ftalke, In ragged robes, and filthy difarray; Her other leg was lame, that the no'te walk, But on a staff her feeble fteps did ftay; Her locks, that loathly were, and hoary grey,

Grew all afore, and loosely hung unroll'd; But all behind was bald, and worn away, That none thereof could ever taken hold, [old. And eke her face ill-favour'd, full of wrinkles

And ever as he went, her tongue did walk In foul reproach, and terms of vile despight, Provoking him, by her outrageous talk, To heap more vengeance on that wretched wight.

Some

TO Morpheus' houfe doth haftily repaire:
Amid the bowels of the earth full fteep
And lowe, where dawning day doth never peep,
His dwelling is; there Thetys his wet bed

Doth ever wash, and Cynthia ftill doth steep
In filver dew his ever drouping head,
Whiles fad night over him her mantle black doth
spread.

Whofe double gates he findeth locked fast, The one faire fram'd with burnish'd ivory, The other all with filver over-caft;

And fhut up faft within her prifons blind, Makes the huge element againft her kind To move, and tremble as it were aghaft, Untill that it an iffue forth may find, Then forth it breakes, and with his furious blaft Confounds both land and feas, and fky doth overcast.

§ 100. Sun.

AS when two Suns appear in th' azure sky,

Mounted in Phoebus' chariot fierie bright: Both darting forth faire beames to each man's eye, And both adorn'd with lamps of flaming light, All that behold fuch strange prodigious sight,

Not knowing nature's work, nor what to weene, Are wrapt with wonder and with rare affright.

§ 101. Phaeton.

Who oft is wont to trouble gentle fleep. By them the fpright doth pafs in quietly, [deep And unto Morpheus comes, whom drownded In drowfie fit he finds: of nothing he takes keep. And more to lull him in his flumbers foft,

A trickling stream from high rock tumbling down,

And ever drizling raine upon the loft,
Mixt with a murmuring wind, much like the found
Of fwarming bees, did caft him in a swoone:

No other noife, nor peoples troublous cryes,
As ftill are wont t' annoy the walled town,

Might there be heard: but careiefs quiet lies, Wrapt in eternal filence, farre from enemies.

§ 98. Tyger.

childe,

That did prefume his father's fierie waine,

And flaming mouthes of steeds unwonted wild, Thro' higheft heaven with weaker hand to raine Proud of fuch glory and advancement vaine,

While flashing beams doe daze his feeble eyen, He leaves the wilkin way most beaten plaine, And wrapt with whirling wheels enflame the fkyen

With fire not made to burn, but fairly for to fhine.

$ 102. Sight.

THE first troupe was a monstrous rabblement

Of fowle mishapen wights, of which fome were Headed like owles, with beakes uncomely bent, Others like dogs, others like gryphons dreire, .

On which they ween their famin to affwage, And gaine a featful guerdon of their toyle, Both falling out, do ftir up ftrife-full broyle,

And cruell battel 'twixt themfelves do make. Whiles neither lets the other touch the spoyle, But either 'fdeignes with other to partake. Another.

As when a tyger and a lyonefs
Are met a fpoyling of fome hungry prey,

Both challenge it with equal greediness:
But first the tyger clawes thereon did lay;
And therefore, loth to loos her right away,

Doth in defence thereof full ftoutly ftond: To which the lyon ftrongly doth gainfay,

That the to hunt the beast first took in hond;

And therefore ought it have, where ever the

found.

§ 99. Winds.

And every one of them had lynces eyes, And every one did bowe and arrowes beare. All thofe were lawless lufts, corrupt envies, And covetous aspects, all cruel enemies.

Thofe fame against the bulwarke of the fight Did lay ftrong fiege, and battailous affault, Ne once did yield it refpit day nor night, But foon as Titan gan his head exault, And foon again as he his light withhault,

Their wicked engines they against it bent: That is, each thing by which the eyes may fault; But two than ali more huge and violent, Beauty and money, they that bulwark forely rent.

§ 103. Slander.

A little cottage farre away they spide, To which they drew, ere night upon them fell; And entering in, found none therein abide, But an old woman fitting there befide,

Upon the ground, in ragged rude attire, With filthy locks about her fcattered wide, 3 B

Gnawing

Gnawing her nayles for felness and for ire, And thereout fucking venom to her parts intire. A foule and loathly creature fure in fight, And in conditions to be loath'd no less:

For flee was ftuft with rancour and def piht Up to the throat; that oft with bitterness It forth would break, and gufh in great excefs, Pouring out ftreames of poyfon and of gall, Gainft all that truth or virtue doe profeffe;

Whome the with leefings lewdly did mifcall, And wickedly back-bite: her name men Slander call.

Her nature is, all goodness to abufe,
And caulelefs crimes continually to frame;

With which the guiltless perfons may accufe, And ftcale av ay the crowne of their good name: Ne ever knight fo bold, ne ever dame

So chaft and loyall liv'd, but fhe would ftrive With forged caufe them falfely to defame: Ne ever thing was done fo well alive, But the with blame would blot, and of duc praife deprive.

Her words were not as common words are ment, T'exprefs the meaning of the inward minde;

But noifome breath, and poys'nous fpirit fent From inward parts, with cancar'd malice lin'd, And breathed forth with blaft of bitter winde; Which paffing thro' the eares, would pearce the heart,

And wound the foul it felf with grief unkind: For, like the ftings of afpes, that kill with fmart, Her fpightful words did prick and wound the inner part.

§ 104. Storm.

HEE cryde, as rageing feas are wont to rore,

And next her wrinkled fkin rough fackcloth wore,
And thrice three times did faft from any bit.
Upon the image with his naked blade
Three times, as in defiance, there he ftroke;

And the third time, out of an hidden fhade, There forth iued from under the altar fmoake A dreadful fiend, with foul deformed look,

That ftretcht it felf, as it had long lain ftill; That her long taile and feathers ftrongly fhook, That all the temple did with terror fill; Yet him nought terrified, that feared nothing ill. An huge great beaft it was, when it in length Was itretched forth, that nigh fill'd all the place, And feem'd to be of infinite great strength; Horrible, hideous, and of hellifh race, Borne of the brooding of Echidna bate,

Or other like infernall furies kind: For of a maide fhe had the outward face,

To hide the horrour which did lurk behind, The better to beguile whom the fo fond did find. Thereto the body of a dog the had, Full of fell ravin and fierce greedinefs;

A von's clawes with power and rigour clad, To rend and teare what fo the can opprefs; And dragon's taile, whoes fting without redress Full deadly wounds, when to it is empight; An eagle's wings for fcope, and speedinets, That nothing may efcape her ravening might, Whereto fhe ever lift to make her hardy flight. Much like in foulnefs and deformitie Unto that monster, whom the Theban knight The father of that fatal progeny, Made kill herself for very heart's defpight, That he had read her riddle, which no wight Could ever loose, but fuffred deadly doole : So alfo did this monster ufe like flight

To many a one, which came into her school,

threat,

The rolling billows beat the ragged fhore, As they the earth would fhoulder from her feat, And greedy gulf does gape, as he would cat

His neighbour element in his revenge : Then gin the bluftering breathren boldly threat, To move the world from off his ftedfaft henge, And boyftrous battell make, each other to avenge. Another.

Like to a storm that hovers under skie Long here and there, and round about doth flie, At length breaks down in'raine, and haile,and ficct, First from one coast, till nought thereof be dry: And then another, till that likewife fleet; And fo from fide to fide, till all the world be weet.

But it in fhape and beauty did excell All other idols which the heathen adore;

Farre paffing that, which by furpaffing skill Phidias did make in Paphos ifle of yore, With which that wretched Grecke that life forlore Did fall in love: yet this much fairer thined, But covered with flender veile afore,

And both her feet and legs together twined Were with a fnake, whoes head and taile were faft combined.

The caufe why he was covered with a veile, Was hard to know, for that her priests the fame From people's knowledge labour'd to conceale. But footh it was not fure for womanifh fhame, Nor any blemish which the worke mote blame; But for (they fay) she hath both kinds in one, Both male and female, both under one name: She fire and mother is herfelf alone; Begets, and eke conceives, ne needeth other none.

And all about her neck and fhoulders flew A flock of little loves, and fports and joyes,

With nimble wings of gold and purple hew; Whoes fhapes feem'd not like to terreftrial boyes, But like to angels playing heavenly toyes;

The whilft their elder brother was away, Cupid, their elder brother; he enjoys

The wide kingdome of love with lordly fway, And to his law compels all creatures to obey. And all about her altar fcatter'd lay Great forts of lovers pitiously complaining,

Some of their lofs, fome of their love's delay, Some of their pride, fome paragons difdaining,

Nath'lefs that dame fo well them tempred both, That the them forced hand to join in hand,

Albe that Hatred was thereof full loth, And turn'd his face away as he did stand, Unwilling to behold that lovely band.

Yet fhe was of fuch grace and vertuous might, That her commandment he could not withstand, But bit his lip for felonous defpight, And gnafht his iron tusks at that displeasing fight.

Concord the cleeped was in common reed, Mother of bleffed Peace, and Friendship true;

They both her twins, both born of heavenly feed, And the herself likewife divinely grew; The which right well her works divine did fhew: For ftrength, and wealth, and happiness the lends, And ftrife, and war, and anger, does fubdue: Of little, much, of foes the maketh friends,

As ever one had caufe of good or ill.

§ 108. Temple of Venus.

THE
HE temple of great Venus, that is hight
The queen of beauty, and of love the
mother,

There worshipped of every living wight; Whofe goodly workmanship farre paft all other That ever were on earth, all were they fet together.

Not that fame famous temple of Diane, Whoes height all Ephefus did over-fee,

And which all Afia fought with vows profane, One of the world's feven wonders faid to be, Might match with this by many a degree:

Nor that, which that wife king of Jurie framed,

With endless coft to be the Almighty's fee;
Nor all that elfe through all the world is

named

To all the heathen gods, might like to this be clamed.

I, much admiring that fo goodly frame, Unto the porch approacht, which open stood, Bur therein fat an amiable dame, That feem'd to be of very fober mood, And in her femblant fhew'd great womanhood: Strange was her tire; for on her head a crown She wore, much like unto a Danisk hood,

londs gay,

3 B z

Every

Every which was to a damzell hight;

Doth

weep

109. Wrath.

FTER that varlet's fight, it was not long Ere on the plaine faft pricking Guion fpide One in bright armes embattailed full ftrong, That as the funny beams doe glance and glide Upon the trembling wave, fo fhined bright, And round about him threw forth fparkling fire, That feemed him to enflame on every fide: His fteed was bloody red, and fomed ire, When with the maistring fpur he did him roughly stire.

Approaching nigh he never ftaid to greet, Ne chaffer words, proud courage to provoke,

But prickt fo fierce, that underneath his feet The fmouldring duft did round about him fmoke, Both horfe and man nigh able for to chake;

And fairely couching his steel-headed spear, Him firft falated with a sturdy stroke.

And him befide rides fierce revenging Wrath, Upon a lyon, loth for to be led;

And in his hand a burning brond he hath,
The which he brandisheth about his head;
His eyes did hurle forth fparkles fiery red,
And ftared stern on all that him beheld,
As afhes pale of hue, and feeming dead;

And on his dagger ftil! his hand he held, Trembling thro' hafty rage, when choler in him fwell'd

His ruffin raiment all was ftain'd with blood Which he had fpilt, and all to rage yrent,

Thro' unadvifed rafhnefs woxen wood; For of his hands he had no government, Ne car'd for bloud in his avengement;

But when the furious fit was overpast, His cruel fa&is he often would repent,

Yet, wilful man, he never would forcaft, How many mifchiefs fhould enfue his heedlefs

haft !

His mournful plight, is swallow'd up unwares,
Forgetful of his own, that minds another's cares.
So wept Dueffa until even-tide,
That fhining lamps in Jove's high houfe were light:
Then forth the rofe, ne longer would abide,
But comes unto the place where th' heathen knight
In flumb'ring fwoon nigh void of vital spright,
Lay cover'd with enchanted cloud all day:
Whom when the found, as the him left in plight
To wail his woful cafe, fhe would not stay,
But to the eastern coaft of heaven makes fpeedyway,
where griefly Night, with vifage deadly fad,

That Phoebus cheerful face durft never view,
And in a foul black pitchy mantle clad,
She finds forth-coming from her darkfome mew,
Where fhe all day did hide her hated hue:
Already harneffed for journey new ;
Before the door her iron chariot stood,
And cole-black feeds yborn of hellish brood,
That on their rufty bits did champ as they were
wood.

durft ride.

112.