the destruction of troy, an essay upon the second book of virgils æneis. written in the year, 1636. aeneis. liber 2. english virgil. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a65118 of text r796 in the english short title catalog (wing v624). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 36 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 19 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a65118 wing v624 estc r796 12880498 ocm 12880498 94923 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a65118) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 94923) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 902:35 or 2211:1) the destruction of troy, an essay upon the second book of virgils æneis. written in the year, 1636. aeneis. liber 2. english virgil. denham, john, sir, 1615-1669. [8], 28 p. printed for humphrey moseley ..., london : 1656. translated by sir john denham; published also in his poems and translations. london, 1668. item at reel 2211:1 identified as wing l933a (number cancelled). reproduction of original in henry e. huntington library and art gallery and bodleian library. eng a65118 r796 (wing v624). civilwar no the destruction of troy, an essay upon the second book of virgils æneis. written in the year, 1636. virgil 1656 6000 4 0 0 0 0 0 7 b the rate of 7 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the b category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2006-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-09 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-10 john latta sampled and proofread 2006-10 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the destruction of troy , an essay upon the second book of virgils aeneis . written in the year , 1636. london : printed for humphrey moseley , at his shop at the sign of the princes arms in s. pauls church-yard , 1656. the preface . there are so few translations which deserve praise , that i scarce ever saw any which deserv'd pardon ; those who travel in that kinde , being for the most part so unhappy , as to rob others , without enriching themselves , pulling down the fame of good authors , without raising their own : neither hath any author been more hardly dealt withal then this our master ; and the reason is evident , for , what is most excellent , is most inimitable ; and if even the worst authors are yet made worse by their translators , how impossible is it not to do great injury to the best ? and therefore i have not the vanity to think my copy equal to the original , nor ( consequently ) my self altogether guiltless of what i accuse others ; but if i can do virgil less injury then others have done , it will be , in some degree to do him right ; and indeed , the hope of doing him more right , is the onely scope of this essay , by opening this new way of translating this author , to those whom youth , leisure , and better fortune makes fitter for such undertakings . i conceive it a vulgar error in translating poets , to affect being fidus interpres ; let that care be with them who deal in matters of fact , or matters of faith : but whosoever aims at it in poetry , as he attempts what is not required , so he shall never perform what he attempts ; for it is not his business alone to translate language into language , but poesie into poesie ; and poesie is of so subtle a spirit , that in pouring out of one language into another , it will all evaporate ; and if a new spirit be not added in the transfusion , there will remain nothing but a caput mortuum , there being certain graces and happinesses peculiar to every language , which gives life and energy to the words ; and whosoever offers at verbal translation , shall have the misfortune of that young traveller , who lost his own language abroad , and brought home no other instead of it ; for the grace of the latine will be lost by being turned into english words ; and the grace of the english , by being turned into the latine phrase . and as speech is the apparel of our thoughts , so are there certain garbs & modes of speaking , wch vary with the times ; the fashion of our clothes being not more subject to alteration , then that of our speech : and this i think tacitus means , by that wch he cals sermonem temporis istius auribus accommodatum ; the delight of change being as due to the curiosity of the ear , as of the eye ; and therefore if virgil must needs speak english , it were fit he should speak not onely as a man of this nation , but as a man of this age ; and if this disguise i have put upon him ( i wish i could give it a better name ) sit not naturally and easily on so grave a person , yet it may become him better then that fools-coat wherein the french and italian have of late presented him ; at least , i hope , it will not make him appear deformed , by making any part enormously bigger or less then the life , ( i having made it my principal care to follow him , as he made it his to follow nature in all his proportions ) neither have i anywhere offered such violence to his sense , as to make it seem mine , and not his . where my expressions are not so full as his , either our language , or my art were defective ( but i rather suspect my self ; ) but where mine are fuller then his , they are but the impressions which the often reading of him , hath left upon my thoughts ; so that if they are not his own conceptions , they are at least the results of them ; and if ( being conscious of making him speak worse then he did almost in every line ) i erre in endeavoring sometimes to make him speak better ; i hope it will be judged an error on the right hand , and such an one as may deserve pardon , if not imitation . argument . the first book speaking of aeneas his voyage by sea , and how being cast by tempest upon the coast of carthage , he was received by queen dido , who after the feast , desires him to make the relation of the destruction of troy , which is the argument of this book . the destruction of troy , an essay on the second book of virgil's aeneis . while all with silence and attention wait , thus speaks aeneas from the bed of state . madam , when you command us to review our fate , you make our old wounds bleed anew , and all those sorrows to my sence restore , whereof none saw so much , none suffer'd more , not the most cruel of our conqu'ering foes so unconcern'dly can relate our woes , as not to lend a tear , then how can i repress the horror of my thoughts , which flie the sad remembrance . now th' expiring night and the declining stars to rest invite ; yet since 't is your command , what you , so well are pleas'd to hear , i cannot grieve to tell . by fate repell'd , and with repulses tyr'd the greeks , so many lives and years expir'd , a fabrick like a moving mountain frame , pretending vows for their return ; this , fame divulges , then within the beasts vast womb the choice and flower of all their troops intomb , in view the isle of tenedos , once high in fame and wealth , while troy remain'd , doth lie , ( now but an unsecure and open bay ) thither by stealth the greeks their fleet convey , we gave them gone , and to mycenae saild , and troy reviv'd , her mourning face unvaild ; all through th' unguarded gates with joy resort to see the slighted camp , the vacant port , here lay ulysses , there achilles , here the battels joyn'd , the grecian fleet rode there ; but the vast pile th'amazed vulgar views till they their reason in their wonder lose , and first tymaete moves , ( urg'd by the power of fate , or fraud ) to place it in the tower , but capis and the graver sort thought fit , the greeks suspected present to commit to seas or flames , at least to search and bore the sides , and what that space contains to ' explore ; th'uncertain multitude with both engag'd , divided stands , till from the tower , enrag'd , laocoon ran , whom all the crowd attends , crying , what desperate frenzy 's this ? ( oh friends ) to think them gone ? judge rather their retreat but a design , their gifts but a deceit , for our destrction 't was contriv'd no doubt , or from within by fraud , or from without by force ; yet know ye not ulysses shifts ? their swords less danger carry then their gifts ▪ ( this said ) against the horses side , his spear he throws , which trembles with inclosed fear , whilst from the hollows of his womb proceed groans , not his own ; and had not fate decreed our ruine , we had fill'd with grecian blood the place , then troy and priam's throne had stood ; mean while a fetter'd pris'ner to the king with joyful shouts the dardan shepherds bring , who to betray us did himself betray , at once the taker , and at once the prey , firmly prepar'd , of one event secur'd , or of his death or his design assur'd . the trojan youth about the captive flock , to wonder , or to pitty , or to mock . now hear the grecian fraud , and from this one conjecture all the rest . disarm'd , disorder'd , casting round his eyes on all the troops that guarded him , he cryes , what land , what sea , for me what fate attends ? caught by my foes , condemned by my friends , incensed troy a wretched captive seeks to sacrifice , a fugitive , the greeks , to pitty , this complaint our former rage , converts , we now enquire his parentage , what of their councels , or affairs he knew , then fearless ' , he replies , great king to you all truth i shall relate : nor first can i my self to be of grecian birth deny , and though my outward state , misfortune hath deprest thus low , it cannot reach my faith . you may by chance have heard the famous name of palimede , who from old belus came , whom , but for voting peace , the greeks pursue , accus'd unjustly , then unjustly slew , yet mourn'd his death . my father was his friend , and me to his commands did recommend , while laws and councels did his throne support , i but a youth , yet some esteem and port we then did bear , till by ulysses craft ( things known i speak ) he was of life bereft , since in dark sorrow i my days did spend , till now disdaining his unworthy end i could not silence my complaints , but vow'd revenge , if ever fate or chance allow'd my wisht return to greece ; from hence his hate , from thence my crimes , and all my ills bear date , old guilt fresh malice gives ; the peoples ears he fills with rumors , and their hearts with fears , and then the prophet to his party drew . but why do i these thankless truths pursue ? or why defer your rage ? on me , for all the greeks , let your revenging fury fall . ulysses this , th' atridae this desire at any rate . we streight are set on fire ( unpractis'd in such mysteries ) to enquire the manner and the cause , which thus he told with gestures humble , as his tale was bold . oft have the greeks ( the siege detesting ) tyr'd with tedious war a stoln retreat desir'd , and would to heaven they'had gone : but still dismay'd by seas or skies , unwillingly they stayd , chiefly when this stupendious pile was rais'd strange noises fill'd the air , we all amaz'd dispatch eurypilus to enquire our fates who thus the sentence of the gods relates , a virgins slaughter did the storm appease when first towards troy the grecians took the seas , their safe retreat another grecians blood must purchase ; all , at this confounded stood . each thinks himself the man , the fear on all of what , the mischief , but on one can fall : then chalcas ( by ulysses first inspir'd ) was urg'd to name whom th' angry gods requir'd , yet was i warn'd ( for many were as well inspir'd as he ) and did my fate foretel . ten days the prophet in suspence remain'd , would no mans fate pronounce ; at last constrain'd by ithacus , he solemnly design'd me for the sacrifice ; the people joyn'd in glad consent , and all their common fear determine in my fate , the day drew neer ; the sacred rites prepar'd , my temples crown'd with holy wreaths , then i confess i found the means to my escape , my bonds i brake , fled from my guards , and in a muddy lake amongst the sedges all the night lay hid , till they their sails had hoist ( if so they did ) and now alas no hope remains for me my home , my father and my sons to see , whom , they enrag'd will kill for my offence , and punish for my guilt their innocence . those gods who know the truths i now relate , that faith which yet remains inviolate by mortal men , by these i beg , redress my causless wrongs , and pitty such distress . and now true pitty in exchange he finds for his false tears , his tongue , his hands unbinds . then spake the king , be ours who ere thou art , forget the greeks . but first the truth impart . why did they raise , or to what use intend this pile ? to'a warlike , or religious end ? skilfull in fraud , ( his native art ) his hands towards heaven he rais'd , deliver'd now from bands . ye pure aethereal flames , ye powers ador'd by mortal men , ye altars , and the sword i scap'd ; ye sacred fillets that involv'd my destin'd head , grant i may stand absolv'd from all their laws and rites , renounce all name of faith or love , their secret thoughts proclaim ; only o troy , preserve thy faith to me , if what i shall relate preserveth thee . from pallas favour , all our hopes , and all counsels , and actions took original , till diomed ( for such attempts made fit by dire conjunction with ulysses wit ) assails the sacred tower , the guards they slay , defile with bloody hands , and thence convey the fatal image ; straight with our success our hopes fell back , whilst prodigies express her just disdain , her flaming eyes did throw flashes of lightning , from each part did flow a briny sweat , thrice brandishing her spear , her statue from the ground it self did rear ; then , that we should our sacriledge restore and reconveigh their gods from argos shore , chalcas perswades , till then we urge in vain the fate of troy . to measure back the main they all consent , but to return agen , when re inforc'd with aids of gods and men . thus chalcas , then instead of that , this pile to pallas was design'd ; to reconcile th' offended power , and expiate our guilt , to this vast height and monstrous stature built , least through your gates receiv'd , it might renew your vows to her , and her defence to you . but if this sacred gift you dis-esteem , then cruel plagues ( which heaven divert on them ) shall fall on priams state : but if the horse your walls ascend , assisted by your force , a league 'gainst greece all asia shall contract ; our sons then suffering what their sires would act . thus by his fraud and our own faith o'recome , a feined tear destroys us , against whom tydides nor achilles could prevail , nor ten years conflict , nor a thousand sail . this seconded by a most sad portent which credit to the first imposture lent ; laocoon , neptunes priest , upon the day devoted to that god , a bull did slay , when two prodigious serpents were descride , whose circling stroaks the seas smooth face divide , above the deep they raise their scaly crests , and stemme the flood with their erected breasts , their winding tails advance and steer their course , and 'gainst the shore the breaking billow force . now landing , from their brandisht tongues there came a dreadful hiss , and from their eyes a flame : amaz'd we flie , directly in a line laocoon they pursue , and first intwine ( each preying upon one ) his tender sons , then him , who armed to their rescue runs , they seiz'd , and with intangling folds imbrac'd his neck twice compassing , and twice his wast , their poys'nous knots he strives to break , and tear , whilst slime and blood his sacred wreaths besmear , then loudly roars , as when th'enraged bull from th'altar flies , and from his wounded skull shakes the huge ax ; the conqu'ring serpents flie to cruel pallas altar , and there lie under her feet , within her shields extent ; we in our fears conclude this fate was sent justly on him , who strook the sacred oak with his accursed lance . then to invoke the goddess , and let in the fatal horse we all consent : a spacious breach we make , and troys proud wall built by the gods , by our own hands doth fall ; thus , all their help to their own ruin give , some draw with cords , and some the monster drive with rolls and leavers , thus our works it climbs , big with our fate , the youth with songs and rhimes , some dance , some hale the rope ; at last let down it enters with a thundering noise the town . oh troy the seat of gods , in war renown'd ; three times it stuck , as oft the clashing sound of arms was heard , yet blinded by the power of fate , we place it in the sacred tower . cassandra then foretels th'event , but she finds no belief ( such was the gods decree . ) the altars with fresh flowers we crown , and wast in feasts , that day , which was ( alas ) our last . now by the revolution of the skies , nights sable shadows from the ocean rise , which heaven and earth , and the greek frauds involv'd , the city in secure repose dissolv'd , when from the admirals high poop appears a light , by which the argive squadron steers their silent course to iliums well known shore , when synon ( sav'd by the gods partial power ) opens the horse , and through the unlockt doors to the free ayr the armed fraight restores : ulysses , stenelus , tysander slide down by a rope , machaon was their guide ; atrides , pyrrhus , thoas , athamas , and epeus who the frauds contriver was , the gates they seize , the guards with sleep and wine opprest , surprize , and then their forces joyn . 't was then , when the first sweets of sleep repair our bodies spent with toil , our minds with care ( the gods best gift ) when bath'd in tears and blood before my face lamenting hector stood , such his aspect when soyld with bloody dust dragg'd by the cords which through his feet were thrust by his insulting foe ; o how transform'd ? how much unlike that hector , who return'd clad in achilles spoyls ; when he , among a thousand ships ( like jove ) his lightning flung ; his horrid beard and knotted tresses stood stiff with his gore , and all his wounds ran blood , intranc'd i lay , then ( weeping ) said , the joy , the hope and stay of thy declining troy ; what region held thee , whence , so much desir'd , art thou restor'd to us consum'd and tyr'd with toyls and deaths ; but what sad cause confounds thy once fair looks , or why appear those wounds ? regardless of my words , he no reply returns , but with a dreadfull groan doth cry , fly from the flame , o goddess-born , our walls the greeks possess , and troy confounded falls from all her glories ; if it might have stood by any power , by this right hand it should . what man could do , by me for troy was don , take here her reliques and her gods , to run with them thy fate , with them new walls expect , which , tost on seas , thou shalt at last erect ; then brings old vesta from her sacred quire , her holy wreaths , and her eternall fire . mean while the walls with doubtfull cries resound from far ( for shady coverts did surround my fathers house ) approaching still more near the clash of armes , and voice of men we hear ▪ rowz'd from my bed , i speedily ascend the house's top , and listning there attend , as flames rowl'd by the winds conspiring force , ore full-eard corn , or torrents raging course bears down tho'opposing oaks ; the fields destroys and mocks the plough-mans toil , th'unlookt for noise from neighb'ring hills , th'amazed shepherd hears ; such my surprise , and such their rage appears . first fell thy house ucalegon , then thine deiphobus , sigaan seas did shine bright with troys flames , the trumpets dreadful sound , the louder groans of dying men confound . give me my arms i cryed , resolv'd to throw my self mongst any that oppos'd the fo : rage , anger and despair at once suggest that of all deaths , to die in arms was best . the first i met was panthus , phoebus priest , who scaping with his gods and reliques fled and towards the shore his little grandchilde led ; panthus , what hope remains ? what force ? what place made good ? but sighing he replies ( alas ) trojans we were , and mighty ilium was , but the last period and the fatal hour of troy is come , our glory and our power incensed jove transfers to grecian hands , the foe within , the burning town commands , and ( like a smother'd fire ) an unseen force breaks from the bowels of the fatal horse , insulting synon flings about the flame , and thousands more then e're from argos came possess the gates , the passes and the streets , and these the sword oretakes , and those it meets , the guard nor fights nor flies , their fate so near at once suspends their courage and their fear . thus by the gods , and by otrides words inspir'd , i make my way through fire , through swords , where noises , tumults , outcries and alarms i heard , first iphitus renownd for arms we meet , who knew us ( for the moon did shine ) then ripheus , hippanis and dymas joyn their force , and young choraebus mygdons son , who , by the love of fair cassandra , won , arriv'd but lately in her fathers ayd unhappy , whom the threates could not disswade of his prophetique spouse , whom , when i saw , yet daring to maintain the fight , i said , brave spirits ( but in vain ) are you resolv'd to follow one who dares tempt all extreams , the state of our affairs you see , the gods have left us by whose aid our empire stood , nor can the flame be staid , then let us fall amidst our foes ; this one relief the vanquisht have , to hope for none . then re-inforc'd , as in a stormy night wolves urged by their raging appetite forrage for prey , which their neglected young with greedy jaws expect , ev'en so among foes , fire and swords , to'assured death we pass , darkness our guide , despaire our leader was . who can relate that evenings woes and spoils , or can his tears proportion to our toils ! the city , which so long had flourisht , falls , death triumphs o're the houses , temples , walls , nor onely on the trojans fell this doom , their hearts at last the vanquish'd re-assume , and now the victors fall , on all sides , fears , groans and pale death in all her shapes appears , androgeus first with his whole troop was cast upon us with civility misplac't , thus greeting us you lose by your delay , your share both of the honor and the prey , others the spoils of burning troy convey back to those ships , which you but now forsake ; we making no return , his sad mistake too late he findes ; as when an unseen snake a travellers unwary foot hath prest , who trembling starts , when the snakes azure crest , swoln with his rising anger , he espies , so from our view surpriz'd androgeus flies . but here an easie victory we meet : fear binds their hands , and ignorance their feet , whilst fortune , our first enterprize , did aid , encourag'd with success , choraebus said , o friends , we now by better fates are led , and the fair path , they lead us , let us dread . first change your arms , and their distinctions beare ; the same , in foes , deceit and vertue are . then of his arms , androgeus he divests , his sword , his shield he takes , and plumed crests , then ripheus , dymas , and the rest , all glad of the occasion , in fresh spoils are clad . thus mixt , with greeks , as if their fortune still follow'd their swords , we fight , pursue , and kill . some re-ascend the horse , and he , whose sides let forth the valiant , now , the coward , hides . some to their safer guard their ships retire , but vain 's that hope , 'gainst which the gods conspire : behold the royal virgin , the divine cassandra , from minerva's fatal shrine dragg'd by the hair , casting tow'ards heaven , in vain , her eyes ; for cords , her tender hands , did strain : choraebus , at the spectacle enrag'd flyes in amidst the foes : we thus engag'd , to second him , amongst the thickest ran , here first our ruine from our friends began , who from the temples battlements , a showr of darts and arrows , on our heads did powr : they , us for greeks , and now the greeks ( who knew cassandra's rescue ) us for trojans slew . then from all parts ulysses , ajax , then , and then th'atridae rally all their men ; as winds , that meet from several coasts , contest , their prisons being broke , the south and west , and eurus on his winged coursers born triumphing in their speed , the woods are torn , and chafing nereus with his trident throws the billows from their bottom ; then all those who in the dark our fury did escape , returning , know our borrowed arms and shape . and diff'ring dialect , then their numbers swell and grow upon us , first choraebus fell before minerva's altar , next did bleed just ripheus , whom no trojan did exceed in virtue , yet the gods his fate decreed . then hippanis and dymas wounded by their friends : nor thee panthus thy piety , nor consecrared mitre , from the same ill fate could save ; my countreys funeral flame and troys cold ashes i attest , and call to witness for my self , that in their fall no foes , no death , nor danger i declin'd , did , and deserv'd no less , my fate to find . now iphitus with me , and pelias slowly retire , the one retarded was by feeble age , the other by a wound , to court the cry directs us , where we found th'assault so hot , as if 't were onely there , and all the rest secure from foes or feare , the greeks the gates approach'd , their targets cast over their heads , some scaling ladders plac't against the walls , the rest the steps ascend , and with their shields on their left arms defend arrows and darts , and with their right hold fast the battlement ; on them the trojans cast stones , rafters , pillars , beams , such arms as these , now hopeless , for their last defence they seize . the gilded roofs , the marks of ancient state they tumble down , and now against the gate of th'inner court their growing force they bring , now was our last effort to save the king , relieve the fainting , and succeed the dead . a private gallery 'twixt th'appartments led , not to the foe yet known , or not observ'd , ( the way for hectors hapless wife reserv'd , when to the aged king , her little son she would present ) through this we pass , and run up to the highest battlement , from whence the trojans threw their darts without offence . a tower so high , it seem'd to reach the sky , stood on the roof , from whence we could descry all ilium — both the camps , the grecian fleet ; this , where the beams upon the columnes meet , we loosen , which like thunder from the cloud breaks on their heads , as sudden and as loud . but others still succeed : mean time , nor stones nor any kinde of weapons cease . before the gate in gilded armour , shone young pyrrhus , like a snake his skin new grown , who fed on poys'nous herbs , all winter lay under the ground , and now reviews the day fresh in his new apparel , proud and yong , rowls up his back , and brandishes his tongue , and lifts his scaly breast against the sun , with him his fathers squire , automedon and periphas who drove his winged steeds , enter the court ; whom all the youth succeeds of scyros isle , who flaming firebrands flung up to the roof , pyrrhus himself among the formost with an ax an entrance hews through beams of solid oak , then freely views the chambers , galleries , and rooms of state , where priam and the ancient monarchs sate . at the first gate an armed guard appears ; but th'inner court with horror , noise and tears confus'dly fill'd , the womens shrieks and cryes , the arched vaults re-eccho to the skyes , sad matrons wandring through the spacious rooms embrace and kiss the posts , then pyrrhus comes full of his father , neither men nor walls his force sustain , the torn port-cullis falls , then from the hinge , their strokes the gates divorce , and where the way they cannot finde , they force ▪ not with such rage a swelling torrent flows above his banks , th'opposing dams orethrows , depopulates the fields , the cattel , sheep , shepherds , and folds the foaming surges sweep . and now between two sad extreams i stood , here pyrrhus and th' atridae drunk with blood , there th'hapless queen amongst an hundred dames , and priam quenching from his wounds those flames which his own hands had on the altar laid : then they the secret cabinets invade , where stood the fifty nuptial beds , the hopes of that great race , the golden posts whose tops old hostile spoils adorn'd , demolisht lay , or to the foe , or to the fire a prey . now , priams fate perhaps you may enquire , seeing his empire lost , his troy on fire , and his own palace by the greeks possest , arms , long disus'd , his trembling limbs invest , thus on his foes he threw himself alone not for their fate , but to provoke his owne , there stood an altar open to the view of heaven , neer which an aged lawrel grew , whose shady arms the houshold gods embrac'd , before whose feet the queen her self had cast with all her daughters , and the trojan wives , as doves whom an approaching tempest drives and frights into one flock ; but having spy'd old priam clad in youthful arms , she cry'd , alas my wretched husband , what pretence to bear those arms , and in them what defence ? such aid such times require not , when again if hector were alive , he liv'd in vain ; or here we shall a sanctuary find , or as in life , we shall in death be joyn'd . then weeping , with kinde force held and embrac'd , and on the sacred seat the king she plac'd ; mean while polites one of priams sons flying the rage of bloody pyrrhus , runs through foes and swords , and ranges all the court and empty galleries amaz'd and hurt , pyrrhus pursues him , now oretakes , now kills , and his last blood in priams presence spills . the king ( though him so many deaths inclose ) nor fear nor grief , but indignation shows , the gods requite thee ( if within the care of those alone th'affairs of mortals are ) whose fury on the son but lost had been , had not his parents eyes his murder seen , not that achilles ( whom thou feignst to be thy father ) so inhumane was to me , he blusht , when i the rights of arms implor'd ; to me my hector , me to troy restor'd ▪ this said , his feeble arm a javelin flung , which on the sounding shield , scarce entring , rung . then pyrrhus ; go a messenger to hell of my black deeds , and to my father tell the acts of his degenerate race . so through the sons warm blood , the trembling king he drew to th'altar : in his hair one hand he wreathes ; his sword , the other , in his bosom sheathes . thus fell the king , who yet surviv'd the state , with such a signal and peculiar fate , under so vast a ruine not a grave , nor in such flames a funeral fire to have : he , whom such titles sweld , such power made proud , to whom the scepters of all asia bow'd , on the cold earth lyes this neglected king , a headless carkass , and a nameless thing . finis . the passion of dido for æneas as it is incomparably exprest in the fourth book of virgil. translated by edmund waller & sidney godolphin, esqrs. aeneis. book 4. english. virgil. 1679 approx. 40 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 42 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a65123) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 35194) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1877:17) the passion of dido for æneas as it is incomparably exprest in the fourth book of virgil. translated by edmund waller & sidney godolphin, esqrs. aeneis. book 4. english. virgil. waller, edmund, 1606-1687. godolphin, sidney godolphin, earl of, 1645-1712. [82] p. printed, and are to be sold by peter parker, at the leg and star over against the royal exchange in cornhil, london : 1679. the translators names are in braces on the title page. signatures: [a] b-e f⁴[-a1, a2, f4]. imperfect: leaf f2 torn. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng 2002-08 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-11 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2002-11 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-12 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the passion of dido for aeneas . as it is incomparably exprest in the fourth book of virgil. translated by edmund waller & sidney godolphin . esq rs . — ubi quid datur otî illudo chartis : hoc est mediocribus illis ex vitiis unum — horat. l. sat. 4 ● . london , printed , and are to be sold by peter parker , at the leg and star over against the royal exchange in cornhil , 1679. the argument . dido was espous'd a virgin to sichaeus ; and both liv'd happy in their mutuall love , untill her brother pigmalion , who was then king of tyre , the place of their abode , by some close treachery slew sichaeus in hopes to possesse his great wealth , and to dispose of his wife ; all which , her husbands ghost appearing in her sleep , discovered ; telling her also where hee had hid a considerable treasure , of which pigmalion knew not . this she took , and , in the company of such friends she could best trust , and most hated the tyrant ; fled from thence to seeke her fortune in some safer place . at length arriving on the shore of lybia , partly for mony , partly by the favour of some neighbour-princes , affected with her beauty , and the hope to obtaine her in marriage , shee got possesion of that ground where the famous citty of carthage was afterwards built ; whose foundation she had not only laid , but made some good progresse in the structure ; when the wandring trojan aeneas was by tempest shipwrackt on some part of her dominion . his great fame , good mine , and well relating of his story , prevailed so with her that shee not only repair'd his ships , and feasted him and his company with great magnificence ; but let him so far into her affection , that she esteemed him , ( at least did not doubt but to make him ) her husband . when his necessary pursuit of other designes occasioned his sudden departure , and her tragedy . this fourth book describing only hir passion , deep sense of his ingratitude , and hir death , has been alwayes esteemed the best piece of the best of poets ; has been translated into all languages , and in our days at least ten times by severall pens , into english. it is freely left to the reader ; which he will preferre . this was done ( all but a very little ) by that incomparable person as well for virtue as wit , mr. sidney godolphin only for his own divertion , and with lesse care , then so exact a judgment as his would have used , if he had intended it should have ever been made publick . the passion of dido for aeneas . translated out of the fourth book of virgil . mean while the queen fanning a secret fire , in her own breast revolves her deepe desire she oft reflects upon the princely grace of great aeneas , and that noble race from whence he springs ; her wounded fancy feeds on his discourse , his high heroick deeds , his words his looks , her waking thoughts imploy , and when she sleepes , she sees him with more joy , but seldome sleeps : for when the shades of night had left their empire to the rising light , folding her sister in her armes , she sayes , what unacquainted thoughts , what dreams are these ▪ how great a guest within our walls we hold , how wise in counsell , and in armes how bold ? the mortall seed of man acknowledge feare but this brave prince his equall mind doth beare above all chance . did not my changelesse vow and mine owne will engage me to allow no other love ; my first affection dead and with the soul of my sichaeus fled : were not all joyes growne tastlesse , and the name of love offensive , since i lost that flame ; i might perhaps indulge this one desire . for , anna , i confesse since funerall fire embrac'd sichaeus , this first beame of light hath offered comfort to so dark a night , unwonted motions in my thoughts retriv'd , i find and feel the brand of care reviv'd . but may the earth , while yet alive , devoure this haplesse frame , and jove his thunder poure upon my head , and sink me to that shade that silent deep , whence no returne is made ▪ before i doe those sacred knots unty , which bind me to so deare a memory . he first unto my soul this ardor gave , and may he hold it in his quiet grave , this said , she weeps afresh . anna replyes , o chiefly lov'd and dearer then mine eyes , sad and alone for ever wil you wast your verdant youth , nor natures bounties taste in their due-season ? think you that the dead in their cold urns welcome the tears we shead ? what though no prayrs have yet had power to move your thoughts to entertain a second love ; yet vvill you now with your own heart contest ? nor give admittance to a pleasing guest ? consider where this new plantation lyes , and amidst whom these wall● of carthage rise : here the getulians , fierce numidians there , on either side engage your watchfull fear . propitious heaven● it seems , and juno lead these trojans here with so desir'd an aid : this match will mixe your fortunes and advance the tyrian state above all force or chance . invoke the powers above , with so●t delay engage the dardan prince to longer s●ay : till the swoln seas and winds their fury spend , and calmer gales his purposes attend . this speech revives the courage of the dame and through her burning veines dilates the flame . first to the holy temple they repaire and seek indulgence from above by praire : law-giving ceres , phoebus they invoke , but above all do venus altars smoke propitious to the bands of love ; the queen with her own hands , the heifer's horns between , poures the full bowls , or midst the sacrifice intentive walkes , as the rich odours rise fresh gifts she brings , and with a thought full brain surveyes the panting livers of the slain ; blind prophesies , vain altars , bootlesse prayer how little help they ? while so neer a care presses the queen and mingled with her bloud spreads secret poyson through the purple ●●oud . the haplesse dido is enrag'd by love , and with uncertain thoughts doth wildly move . so when a shepheards roving arrows find and pierce ( to him unknown ) some careless hind she flyes through woods and seeks the streames opprest the deadly arrow rankles in her breast . now to the walls she leads her trojan chief , and with this food she entertain'd her grief shevvs the sidonian-vvealth , and , as she speaks , her ovvn discourse by care diverred breaks ; the evening closes vvith another ●east and there again sh'invites the princely guest to tell his dangers past , and there again she drinks together deeper love and pain . but vvhen the prince ( night's darker ensign spread and sleepy dew upon all mortails shed ) doth bid farewell , she waking there alone deserted mourns that her dear guest is gone ▪ or keeps ascanius in her armes , to prove if likenesse can delude her restlesse love. mean while her stately structures slowly rise , halfe-finisht carthage rude and broken lyes . that high design , to heaven exalted frame , confus'd appears , and li●e a ruine lame . which when survey'd by juno from above and that the queen neglects her fame for love ▪ approaching venus , thus saturnia sayes : what ample trophies , never-dying prayse , to you and to your cupid will be paid ? that two such gods one woman have betray'd . i know with what designe you us'd this art planting aeneas thus in dido's heart , suspecting least these walls of ours might prove faithlesse to him if not secur'd by love ▪ but shall this partiall quarrell never cease ? may we not now ●ixe on eternall peace ? fair dido loves and feels your golden dart ; give but like ardour to aeneas heart , and we wil rule this state with equall power , and give the trojan carthage for a dower . venus replyes ( seeing the wife of jove to crosse the height of roman greatnesse strove with this deceit ) , what madnesse can refuse friendship with you where you a friendship chuse ? but whether jove will favour this designe and the great people in one empire joyn ; this in your prayers , who are his wife , doth lye . juno returns ; impose this taske on me , for what is now in hand let this suffice . the trojan prince with his unhappy prize the wounded queen , to chase the flying dear soon as the beams of morning-light appeare hyes to the fields ; there , on the goodly traine a darkning shower i 'le pour of hayl and raine , shake heaven with thunder , while the pale troop rid● disperst with fear and lo●t without a guide : one cave in her dark bosome shall afford shelter to dido and the trojan lord , and if , as i , propitious to their love you shine ; this shall their hymeneall prove ; all rites shall here be done . venus with smiles consents , but laughs within , at juno's wiles . the morning come , early at light 's first ray the gallant youth rise with the chearfull day : ●harp javelins in their hands , their coursers by they walke amidst the hound's impatient cry : neerer the gates the tyrian peers artend , and waite the queen now ready to descend . her prouder steed as fill'd with high disdain ●tamps the dull earth , & chavves the frothy reine . mounted at last , her golden quiver on ●y'd up with gold , her hair which gold-like shone her purple garment , claspt with gold , in head of her fair troop , the brighter queen doth lead with these the trojans , and their great chief close as one fair stream into another flows . he like apollo in his light and heat when he returnes unto his native ●ear of delos , and fresh verdure doth restore forsaking xanthus and the lycian shore thus he on cynthus tops , his own retreat securely walkes , thus welcome and thus great ●he dryop●ans and the cretans by , ●o doth his quiver clash ; not lesse then he aeneas shines , like beauty's in his face and in his motions like attractive grace . while thus they climb the pathless hills , the cry ●ursuesthe fearfull heards which headlong fly ●own to the vales , and on the boundlesse plain 〈◊〉 longer chase in view of all maintain . but glad ascanius spurrs his willing horse ●ow these , now those , out-passing in the course . he wishes some incensed bore his prey , or lyon from the hills would cross his way . mean while the gathering clouds obscure th● po●● they flash out lightning and in thunder roule : a bitter storme succeeds , the troops divide and ore the hills disperst to coverts ride . one cave in her dark bosome doth afford shelter to dido and the trojan lord. heaven shines with fire , earth shakes at this success the conscious air is fill'd with prodigies . this was the hour , which gave the fatall blow , the pregnant spring of all succeeding woe . tender respects no more have power to move the haplesse queen , no more she hides her love , but doth hir crime express with hymens name , and lives expos'd a theame to various fame . fame the most swift of ills , which in her course and motion spreads , and flying gathers force sprung from a scarce discerned seed , doth tread on the low ground , but lifts to heaven her head . she ( as 't is said ) was of that monstrous birth the latest sister , which the teeming earth brought forth , to war with heaven it self alone ; surviving all her brothers overthrown . thousands of plumes advance her easie flight , as many eyes enlarge her piercing sight , as many eares to catch reports , and then as many tongues to spread those tales agen , the silent night cannot the voyce allay of this ill boading dame , in the bright day she sits upon the citty walls a spy and takes delight all fears to multiply : she now through lybia's empire doth diffuse talk of aeneas , and th' unwelcome news of dido's love , that he late fled from troy such envi'd power and greatness doth enjoy . this the leight dame proclames in every ear and to iarbas doth the message bear ; iarbas who had felt fair didos scorne , joves son of ravisht garamant is born , who hallowed had to his great father's name an hundred altars , which together flame with ceaseless incense to the powers above , eternall fires pledges of humble love . mad with the news , the lybian monarch layes prostrate himself before the throne , and sayes ; all powerfull jove , propitious to the moors whom lybia more then any land adores beholdst thou this ? or doth in vain our fear ascribe just vengeance to the thunderer ? she , who a stranger with out leave have gain'd possession here , from us the power obtain'd to plant a town , hath thought her self above the prize and merit of our ardent love ; yet now with joy receives into our land the flying trojan and his conquered band , resignes to him her beauty , fame , and power , prefers the phrygian to the scorned moore . is this our pay , our recompence , while we consume our flocks in sacrifice to thee ? while thus he pours his grief before the shrines and sacred altars ; mighty jove inclines , looking on carthage and the amorous paire who in their pleasure quench all nobler care . he thus bespeaks his swift ambassadour ; go , son , and hie thee to the tyrian shore and to the dardan prince ( whose generous fire is now betrayed by love , and low desire ) this message bear , 't was not this destiny his fairest mother promis'd us when she preserv'd him from the powerfull arms of grece ; she gave us then far other hopes then these , that he from conquer'd alba should extend his empire to the worlds remotest end , and spread the fame of teucer's mighty race . if in his thoughts these honours have no place , if he have lost all sense of high renown ; ah can he yet envy the towers of rome to his ascanius and fair latium's sway ? this message to the phrygian prince convay , and bid him hoise his sayles ▪ swift mercury takes the command , and through the ayr doth fly his shining wings of gold , and in his hand the ensigne , of his power , his sacred wand ; that wand which long-clos'd eyes doth blesse with light and seals up others in erernall night . with this he cuts the ayr , and yielding clouds ; at length sees atlas top , atlas which shrouds his pine-crown'd head in heaven , and doth sustain incessant stormes of new form'd wind and rain . here first he stoops low as the earth , and then imployes his wings with all their speed agen : till the vast seas orepast and lybia's sands he slacks his course at carthage , and there lands . where when arriv'd he finds the trojan king viewing the walls , intent in ordering the strength and beauty of the new-rais'd town to whom the wing'd cyllenius thus begun : ah , too , too mindlesse of your own affairs , your thoughts immerst in lesse concerning cares , can you in tyrian wealth and greatness joy ? and carthage build , forgetfull of your troy ? great jove , who rules and fills the spacious all the evermoving spheers , the fixed ball , sends me to aske , with what unblest design you do the hopes of better fates resigne , and glory due to teucer's mighty race : if in your thoughts these honours have no place , if you have lost all sense of high renown ; ah , can you yet envy the towers of rome to your ascanius , and fair latium's sway ? hermes ( this said ) returns the ayery way he came ; but cold amazement doth surprize aeneas speechlesse tongue and fixed eyes : his pious fears urge him in haste to fly the too lov'd land and dear captivity . but this resolv'd , what way is left t'infuse th' unhappy queen with this unwelcome news ? a thousand counsells wander in his mind now here , now there , successively inclin'd this he prefers , he calls eurilochus the bold cloanthus , trusted mnestheus , gives them in charge that they the fleet prepare gather their troops but yet disguise their care that he mean while will to the queen impart at some fit time his much divided heart : or when his canvas-wings are spread to fly impute to heaven the sad necessity . thus he resolves and thus commands these peers but nothing can escape the wakefull fears of the enamour'd queen , whose tender breast presages all , by the first change imprest before the ill arrives : already fame ( which lately did the lybian prince inflame ) now takes delight to spred this ill report , that the glad phygians ●o their ships resort preparing flight . the jealous queen pursues through every part the much amazing news . the more she hears , the more inrag'd with grief shee thus at last invades the trojan chief . could thy dissembling heart consent to fly this hated land in cruell secrecy ? perfidious man , canst thou so soon remove the bands of vows , and dearer bands of love ? nor spare one word ? nor shed one tear to save my life descending to the cruell grave ? why yet in winter to the storming maine dost thou expose thy wandring slcet again ? cruell and false ! didst thou not seek a land unknown ? did now the antient ilium stand , were this a time through hazards such as these to seek thy troy through winter winds and seas ? vvhom dost thou flye ? by these unfained tears i do adjure thee , by these loving fears , by my own life , or ( what is more ) by thine , by all that hath oblig'd thee yet of mine , pitty my fall , and shew at least some grace to these my prayrs , if prayrs may yet have place , for thee , the hate and envy i support of the numidians and the lybian court ; for thee i have displeas'd my own , and lost that modesty , which i alone could boast ; that better fame , by which i had surviv'd my funerall fire and after death had liv'd . what have i left , or whither shall i fly ? shall i attend pigmalion's cruelty ? or till iarbus do in fetters lead the proud despiser of his love and bed ? i never could have thought my self undone , had but kind heaven indulg'd me with a son resembling thee , in whose ( though childish ) face i might retrive thy look and princely grace . sad dido pauses here . the trojan chief restrains within the motions of his grief , then thus replyes ; you never can repeat , great queen , the sum of my unquestion'd debt . nor while my active soul informes this frame , ever shall i forget eliza's name . i urge no more , let it suffice that i in thanklesse silence never meant to fly ; nor did i ever to those bonds pretend which now you charge me as a faithlesse friend ; had i bin trusted to design my fate , when troy betrayed fell by the grecians hate , i from the ashes of that dear-lov'd town had there restor'd another ilium . but now the lycian oracle commands , a pollo now assignes th' ausonian lands , and thither bids us send our thoughts and care and only fix our expectation there , fair carthage you and your own work survay a stranger born a forrain scepter sway . and shall it be a crime ( ah lass ! ) if we desire at last to rest in italy ? no night doth pass in which i do not see the old anchises image beckning me ; nor is there day in which i not reflect on my ascanius , and that lov'd aspect to whom by fate th' hesperian town is due . hither of late joves winged herald flew nor did he in delusive dreams appear ; a wake , i did the angry message hear . then fairest queen do not this fate withstand , unwillingly i leave your happy land. while thus he talks , the much distempered dame incenst within , breaks forth into this flame . nor wer 't thou of the gentle goddesse breed , nor art thou sprung from great anchises seed , perfidious man ! but from some savage stock hewn from the marble of some mountain rock for why should i disguise this height of ill and still deceiv'd expect new favour still ? did he let fall one pittying word , one tear ? or did he with one sigh my passion hear ? what shall i do ? for now alasse , i see that neither juno daignes to favour me , nor jove himself looks down with equall eyes , the earth is faithlesse , faithlesse are the skies . shipwrackt and cast upon the barren shore , pursu'd by cruell fates , forsaken , poor , i gave thee harbour in my simple breast ah ill-advis'd , ah too-unmindfull guest i sav'd thy fleet , thy friends , and faithlesse thee ; but now ( for sooth ) apollo's augury the oracles are urged to incite , and angry jove commands thy sudden flight , is heaven concern'd ? doth care of humane fate disturb the calmenesse of th' immortall state ? thou hearst me not , regardlesse of my cry , go then and through the seas seek italy , through the deaf seas and through the angry wind , and such compassion as thou usest find : there mayst thou call on dido's name in vain , i le follow thee , be present in thy paine . and when cold death shall this mixt-frame divide , my ghost shall lacquey by thy frighted side , thou dearly shalt repent ; the news of this shall overtake my soul , and give it blisse . nor waiting answer from the prince she flyes , and wishes she had power to shun all eyes but fainting soon and to her chamber led she threw her self upon her ivory bed . pious aeneas , though his noble breast softned by love was with much grief opprest , though faine he would with gentle words asswage the queens high passion and divert hir rage , suspends not yet his heaven-inspired care but does his fleet without delay prepare . the trojans ply the work , the busie maine is fill'd with noise , the ships now float again : on every side are seen descending down long troops which bring provision from the town . so when the winter-fearing ants invade some heaps of corn the husbandman had made ; the sable army marches , and with prey laden return , pressing the leafy way , some help the weaker , and their shoulders lend , others the order of the march attend , bring up the troops , and punish all delay . what were thy thoughts , sad dido , on that day ? how deep thy sighs ? when from thy tower above thou seest the phrygians in such order move and hear'st the tumult of the clamorous sea. all-conquering love ! who can resist thy sway ? once more the queen to humble tears descends , and language to her grief once more she lends , that she might leave no remedy untry'd nor counsell unexplor'd , before she dy'd . anna , she said , thou seest the peopled sea , the phrygians now their fatall anchors weigh ready to loose ; i feel their great chief's scorn which if foreseen i might perhaps have born . but now i make this one , this last request , you in this faithlesse man have interest you know his gentlest times , and best can find what wayes are left to mollify his mind . go then and use all pitty-moving art and if you can soften his harder heart . not i at aulis , did with greece conspire nor did i bring one brand to troy's last fire i never rent anchises honour'd tomb , why should he then my sad entreaty shun ? i do not urge ( as once ) our marriage tyes those sacred bonds which now he does despise , nor that he would fair italy resigne i only aske respite , and breathing time , till my dejected mind learne to comply ( taught by degrees ) with so great misery . ¶ all this her weeping sister does repeat to the sterne man , whom nothing could intreat . lost here her prayrs and fruit lesse were her tears , fate and great jove had stop't his gentle eares . as when loud winds a well-grown oak would rend up by the roots , this way and that they bend his reeling trunk , and with a boisterous sound scatter his leaves and strew them on the ground : he fixed stands , as deep his root dothly down to the center as his top is high . no lesse on every side the hero prest feels love and pitty shake his noble brest . and down his cheeks though fruitlesse tears do roul , unmov'd remaines the purpose of his soul. then dido urged with approaching fate begins the light of cruell heaven to hate ; her resolution to dispatch and dye confirm'd by many a horrid prodigy . the water consecrate for sacrifice appears all black to her amazed eyes the wine to putrid bloud converted flows which from her , none , not her own sister knows . besides there stood as sacred to her lord a marble temple which she much ador'd , with snowy fleeces and fresh garlands crown'd , hence every night proceeds a dreadfull sound . her husbands voyce invites her to his tomb and dismall owls presage the ills to come , besides , the prophefies of wizards old increast her terrour and her fall foretold , scorn'd and deserted to her self she seems and finds aeneas cruell in her dreames , so , to mad pentheus , double thebes appears , and furies howle in his distempered eares . orestes so with like distraction tost is made to fly his mothers angry ghost . now grief and fury at their height arrive , death she decrees , and thus does it contrive . her grieved sister with a cheerfull grace ( hope well-dissembled shining in her face ) she thus deceives . ( dear sister ) let us prove the cure i have invented for my love . beyond the land of aethiopia lyes the place where atlas doth support the skies ; hence came an old magician that did keep th' hesperian fruit , and made the dragon sleep . her potent charmes do troubled souls relieve and where she lists , makes calmest minds to grieve , the course of rivers or of heaven can stop , and call trees down from th'ayry mountains top . witnesse the gods , and thou my dearest part , how loath am i to tempt this guilty art. erect a pile , and on it let us place that bed where i my ruine did imbrace . with all the reliques of our impious guest , armes , spoyles , and presents ; let the pile be drest , ( the knowing-woman thus prescribes ) that we may rouz the man out of our memory ; thus speaks the queen , but hides the fatall end for which she doth those sacred rites pretend . nor worse effects of grief her sister thought would follow , than sychaeus murder wrought , therefore obeys her ; and now heaped high the cloven oaks and lofty pines do ly , hung all with wreaths and flowry garlands round ; so by her self was her own funerall crown'd . upon the top , the trojan image lyes , and his sharp sword wherewith anon she dyes . they by the altar stand , while with loose hair the magick prophetess begins her prayr on chao's , erebus , and all the gods , which in th' infernall shades , have their aboads she loudly calls besprinkling all the room with drops suppos'd from lethes lake to come . she seeks the knot which on the forehead grows of newfoal'd colts , and herbs by moon-light mowes . a cake of leven in her pious hands holds the devoted queen and barefoot stands , one tender foot was bare , the other shod , her robe ungirt , invoking every god and every power , if any be above which takes regard of ill-requited love . now was the time when weary mortalls steep their carefull temples in the dew of sleep . on seas on earth , and all that in them dwell a deathlike quiet , and deep silence fell , but not on dido , whose untamed mind refus'd to be by sacred night confin'd . a double passion in her breast does move love and fierce anger for neglected love , thus she afflicts her soul , what shall i doo with fate inverted , shall i humbly woo ? and some proud prince in wild numidia born pray to a●cept me and forget my scorn ? or shall i with th' ungratefull trojan goe , quit all my state , and waite upon my foe ? is not enough by sad experience known , the perjur'd race of false laomedon ? with my sidonians shall i give them chase ? bands hardly forced from their native place ? no , dy , and let this sword thy fury tame , nought but thy bloud can quench thy guilty flame . ah sister ! vanquisht with my passion thou betraidst me first , dispensing with my vow . had i bin constant to sycheus still and single-liv'd , i had not known this ill . such thoughts torment the queen's inraged breast , while the dardanian does securely rest in his tall ship for sudden flight prepar'd , to whom once more the son of jove appear'd : thus seem'd to speak the youthfull diety , voice , hair , and col●ur all like mercury . fair venus seed ! canst thou indulge thy sleep ? nor better guard in such great danger keep , mad by neglect to lose so fair a wind ? if here thy ships the purple morning find , thou shalt behold this hostile harbour shine with a new fleet , and fire , to ruine thine . she meditates revenge resolv'd to dy , weigh anchor quickly , and her fury fly . this said , the god in shades of night retir'd amaz'd aeneas with the warning fir'd shakes off dull sleep , and rouzing up his men , behold ! the gods command our flight agen , fall to your oars , and all your canvas spread , what god soe'er that thus vouchsaf'st to lead we follow gladly and thy will obey , assist us stil smoothing our happy way , and make the rest propitious . with that word he cuts the cable with his shining sword ; through all the navy doth like ardour raign they quit the shore and rush into the main plac't on their banks , the lusty trojan sweep nuptunes smooth face , and cleave the yielding deep . aurora now leaving her watry bed , colours the east with a presaging red ; soon as the dawn began to cleer the sky , down to the shore the sad queen cast her ey ; where when she doth the empty port survay , and now the fleet with wings display'd at sea , her hands held up , her golden tresses torne , must we , saies she , of force indure this scorn ? can we not have recourse to arms ? not meet this fraud with fraud ? not burn this wicked fleet ? hast fly , pursue , row , and let every hand snatch up with speed some swift revenging brand . where am i now ? alass what words are these how late this hope ? see how they plow the seas , unhappy dido ! cruell fate devoures thy wretched life , thou feel'st the angry powers , this rage had once bin f●tter then thy love , see how he doth his far-fam'd faith approve ! he who through burning ilium ( as they say ) did bear his country gods untoucht away , who through the flames the old anchises led , why saw i not the perjur'd villain dead ? why did i not on slaine iulus feast and at that banquet make the father guest ? suppose there had bin doubt in the successe what could i fear of all left comfortless ? i should have ruin'd all , father and son , and the whole stock , and then my self among . thou sun who with thy light dost all survay , and juno , witnesse to that fatall day , which seal'd our loves , revengefull hecat● , and all ye powers that see eliza dy receive these prayrs , if , all sea-dangers past , the trojan needs must reach some shore at last ; if nothing can withstand this fixt decree , a peacefull land yet may he never see . war entertain him and a haughty foe and may he never one calme slumber know . hatred pursue him , furies give him chase and rend iülus from his dear imbrace ; himself at last without a grave expos'd a prey to vultures in no urne inclos'd . i forme my latest breath into this prayer : and ò ye tyrians be it then your care t' afflict with war this race in time to come , and send such bloudy offerings to my tomb. our seas their seas , our shores their shores oppose , our armes their armes , and be our children foes : here sighing deep revolving in her mind , what way she might the freeest passage find from hated life . bercea standing by nurse to sycheus ; dearest nurse , saies she , go call my sister , tell her i prepare the magick rites , ordain'd to heal my care . but be she first with water sprinkled thrice and with her bring th'appoynted sacrifice . and you , with pious wreaths your temples bound , enter the circle of the holy ground : i le give the trojans image to the fire , as that consumes so shall my grief expire . the aged nurse obeys with trembling hast and now the queen all bounds of sorrow past her heart opprest , her visage wan and pale and her whole mind bent on her funerall , goes to the place , where stood the sacred pile ; and here diverted by her grief a while melted in tears , at first she doth behold the trojans image , sword , and robes of gold . dear reliques , saies she , while the powers above were so content , the objects of my love , but now my sad reproaches ; at that word she mounts the pile , and draws the shining sword . what 't is to live , enough saies she i know ; and to the wil of fate i nothing ow. nor shall i now a worthlesse ghost descend , having with honour first reveng'd my friend , built him a stately town , happy and more had the false trojan never toucht this shore . then lifting up her hands to strike , shall i dye unreveng'd she saies , however dy . forsaken thus , thus to the shades i hast , and blot out all remembrance of the past . may the false trojan see these flames from far and in his thoughts the fatal omen bare ! with this the bloud came rushing from her side deep in her breast the reeking sword was dy'd . her frighted servants in distraction run and with their cries they fill th' amazed town . such is the noise when the prevailing foes enter a breach and slaughter over-flowes . her frantick sister with a furious pace pierc't to the heart comes running to the place . ah dearest ! saies she , was this fraud for me these altars drest , for such a tragedy ? why was i not invited to thy fate , nor made thy partner in thy worst estate ? ah! you have slain your self and me and all people and nobles in one funerall . o give me leave , if yet you not resign your latest breath , to suck that soul with mine . with that she doth the high rais'd pile ascend and weeping doth imbrace her dying friend , thrice on her armes the queen supports her head and thrice again falls grovelling on her bed . thrice with disclos'd eyes she seeks the light and thrice with sighing folds again her sight . then juno looking with a pittying ey upon so sad and lasting misery since deepest wounds can no free passage give to self-destroyers who refuse to live sent iris down to cut the fatall hayr which done , her whole life vanisht into ayr ; finis . the destruction of troy, or the acts of aeneas. translated out of the second booke of the æneads of virgill, that peerelesse prince of latine poets. with the latine verse on the one side, and the english verse on the other, that the congruence of the translation with the originall may the better appeare. as also a centurie of epigrams, and a motto vpon the creede, thereunto annexed. by sr thomas wrothe, knight aeneis. liber 2. english and latin virgil. 1620 approx. 44 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 15 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a68848 stc 24810 estc s119258 99854465 99854465 19887 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a68848) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 19887) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 981:1, 1043:11) the destruction of troy, or the acts of aeneas. translated out of the second booke of the æneads of virgill, that peerelesse prince of latine poets. with the latine verse on the one side, and the english verse on the other, that the congruence of the translation with the originall may the better appeare. as also a centurie of epigrams, and a motto vpon the creede, thereunto annexed. by sr thomas wrothe, knight aeneis. liber 2. english and latin virgil. wroth, thomas, sir, 1584-1672. [52], 4, 4-11, 13-23, [5] p. printed by t[homas] d[awson] and are to be sold by nicholas bourne, at the royall exchange, london : 1620. in verse. signatures: a-k⁴. "the abortiue of an idle houre: or a centurie of epigrams" has separate dated title page; register is continuous. "the abortive of an idle houre" identified as stc 26052 on umi microfilm reel 981. reproductions of the originals in the folger shakespeare library and the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. appears at reel 981 (folger shakespeare library) and at reel 1043 (henry e. huntington library and art gallery copy). created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng 2007-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2007-02 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-03 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2007-03 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the abortive of an idle hovre : or a centvrie of epigrams . and a motto vpon the creede . by sr t. vv. scribimus indocti , doctique poemata passim . london imprinted by t. d. 1620. vinum , & vinegrum . i neither hang out bush nor signe , t' inuite the commers by to taste , what vvine i sell : t' is new , but hard , the pallat to delight : yet i haue often heard some others tell , that i haue vvine , some much more sweete then other : beleeue them not , for they may be deceau'd , t' were better taste thy selfe , then trust an other : i passe not if thou taste , or taste not , so i leau't : it 's that i made my selfe , t' was neuer bought , many pay deare , for that 's exceeding nought ▪ the abortiue of an idle houre . ad lectorem . epigr. 1. apologia pro libello . the epigrams which you shall read are some good , most part nought , indifferent some ; or else indeed a booke , no booke is thought . in hermaphroditos anglicanos . ep. 2. the * tyrian maides in shooting tooke great pride , and always wore their quiuer by their fide ; our brittaine brutes , or rather monster-dames , whose necks are compass'd with hells yellowe flames , i must tell troth , though i be shent for blabbing , they were steeletto's , for their prid 's in stabbing . in drusum . ep. 3. vvhen drusus waits vpon st. george his day , he prays his friends not to molest him then , for then hee 's not his owne man , doth he say , he 's so imployd , as other lordings men ; the man 's so farre for being then his owne , that drusus and his clothes alike are knowne . in leuem . ep. 4. leuis through much experience vnderstands ▪ women haue cause to fancie falling — bands . in monoculum . ep. 5. vve deem them craftie , which with one eye look ; but i dare take my oath vpon — no booke , monoculus did nere deceiue his brother , hee 'd see with two eyes , if he had another . in lenonem . ep. 6. leno protests it is not past foure yeares , since shoe-tie-roses were in estimation ; and he was one that had the first he swears , t' is like ; for he loues still to be in fashion . but for his credit and the time , i 'le add , he eight years since a paire of * roses had . in leuem . ep. 7. i will not , * no , and that 's as much as i , this phrase cost leuis hir virginitie . in littletonicos . ep. 8. an auncient tenure cornage is ye know , and heretofore hath bin of more esteeme : now horns in euery place so common grow , that men ridiculous this tenure deeme ; but inns-of-court-men should not cornage scorne , for they are much behoulding to the horne . in thrasonem . ep. 9. thraso is loath , that his well-wishing friends should see his courses , or know what he spends ; but when to borrow neede doth vrge him , then he stands not on 't , bee 't knowne vnto all men . in allum . ep. 19. allus protests , that he can drinke no wine , he loues it not , t' will make his headpeece light ; with ale or beere ( sayth he ) i 'le rather dine , than hurt my stomacke , or my wits afright . at wine his lipps shall not so much as smacke , but you may dayly make him drunke with sacke . in quercium . ep. 11. qvercius turns ouer many physicke bookes , but doth not practice , yet on water lookes ; i haue not heard his physicke ere sau'd any , but once i heard , he would haue poysond many . in lucifugum . ep. 12. lvcifugus was with a ghost so haunted , that he thought euery place to be enchaunted ; he could no soner moue him to one place , but still his ghost had got before his face . lucifugus ow'd mony to his host this was his night and day molesting g. de simulachro thomae bodlei equitis aurati , bibliothecae oxoniensi dicato . ep. 13. here may you see though bodley but in part , apollo's image and lysippus art . to wishe for more then part of him were vaine , for all the earth cannot the * whole containe . in orbicularem figuram mundi . ep. 14. the world is round , we know , that liue therein , t' is round in compasse , and t' is round in sinne . in magnasum . ep. 15. magnasus is a man of worthy race , his nose stands like a screene before his face ; much worship did he lose of the last queene , because he could not for his nose be seene . i heare he hath of late receiu'd some grace , his nose it seemes , was in some other place . in thrasonem . ep. 16. thraso looks big , and mak's his cheeks seeme ten , as if he would out-face an host of men : the flesh , the deuill , and the world , i know he cannot conquer , though he puffeth so . in dronum . ep. 17. vvhere euer dronus sups , or dines , or walks , he thinks on dolon , and on dolon talks ; he 's much indebted vnto him , he saies ; and so thinke i , but debt is ta'ne two wayes . in debt to him sayth he ? i know he 's bound , not for his loue , but t' is for many a pound . in hergusum . ep , 18. drunken hergusus is knowne euery where , al spendthrifts know him , such as loue good beere cuckolds , pandars , and periur'd drabs can tell , hee 's strange to none , not scant to them in hell ; who knowes him not ? if he be strange to one , t' is to himselfe , himselfe he ne're hath knowne . in litorem . ep. 19. litoris holds him for a simple swaine , that get's not forty pounds a yeare by 's wits ; but he ( me thinks ) makes small vse of his braine , his shifts are bad , nor dainty are his bits ; yet those , to whom the man is better knowne , affirme he vseth all he hath , that 's — . in hergusum . ep. 20. hergusus , i had almost quite forgot to aske thee why of late thou art so hot ; i will not blame thy liuer , nor thy heart , thy heate proceeds from some inferiour part . in thrasonem . ep. 21. thraso protests his neighbours goods to couet , is sinne so vile , no crime may be aboue it ; to wish his wife , he sweares , mauger the deuill can be no sinne ; for , shee 's his greatest euill . in biberium . ep. 22. because i sayd biberius was discreete , in that he vs'd few words when we did meete , one fell a laughing , and this ieast did breake , biberius drinks vntill he cannot speake . de insignibus oxoniensium . ep. 23. i neuer did behold since i was borne , an oxe or bull whose head had not one horne : the citizens of oxforde had of yore a bull that scant had halfe a horne , before the learned tribe , which indecorum scorns , out of their loue gaue them a paire of horns . in britannicas amazones . ep. 24. they say a new plantation is intended , neare or about the amazonian riuer , but sure that mannish race is now quite ended ; o that great ioue of all good gifts the giuer , wold moue king iames once more to store that clyme , with the mall-cut-purses of our bad time . de corde & lingua . ep. 25. the tongue was once a seruant to the heart , and what it gaue she freely did impart ; but now hypocrisie is growne so strong , she makes the heart a seruant to the tongue . to his worthy friend captaine butler , gouernour of bermuda , or the summer ilands . ep. 26. i marueil i , what mischiefes or what euils hath made men call your iles the iles of deuils , is 't for the perillous * rockes , or for the * swine , in whom our lord the legion did confine ? what ere it be , let 's heare no more complaints ▪ so gouerne you , they may be iles of saints . in thrasonem . ep. 27. thinke not amisse of thraso in your hearts , because he brags , and sets forth his good parts , for i haue knowne some backward to reueale that which they lost , because they did conceale . in leuem . ep. 28. leuis was troubled with a iealous man , which long perplex't the silly womans mind , but taking heart , she studies all she can for 's iealous humor remedy to find : she so contriu'd , that through a little chinke he saw that done , which earst he did but thinke . in mortem . ep. 29. death , wher 's thy sting ? i hope th' art taken downe , i feare thee not in citie , court , nor towne ; thou need'st not boast thou rob'st men of their breath , for he that conquer'd hell did conquer death . in quercium . ep. 30. qvercius queasie stomack feeds on muttons , great eaters sin ( saith he ) and termes them glutons ; to thrust himselfe out of the count of sinners , one legg of mutton serues him minc't ten dinners . de luna . ep. 31. vvomen from luna's custome much doe stray , she makes hornes monthly , but they e'ry day . in lenam . ep. 32. lena was once of gallants much esteem'd , but now she is as one vnworthy deem'd , by those of whom she hath bin often vs'd , she is contemned , scoft at , and abus'd ; the reason 's this ; all men affect and wish to haue the youngest flesh and ouldest fish , in tergusum . ep. 33. homer did drink , and homer could not see , but homer drunke not out his eyes , like — in littletonicum quendam . ep. 34. the morrow next after an ember fast , litoris brags of his last nights repast ; partrich and pheasant , tut , with him 's no dish ; i thinke so to , wher 's neither flesh nor fish : he alway keepes his bed , when he sups best , but morpheus still is master of the feast . in allum . ep. 35. ine're did wish thee well , thou saidst to day , now therefore allus marke what i shall say : i wish thy nose for euer may looke red , for , vvhen t' is pale ( i feare ) thou wilt be dead . in ebriosum ep. 36. fie man , sayth she ; but i tell mistris ann , her drunken husband is no drunken man ; for , those whose wits are ouercome with drinke , are voyd of reason , such are beasts i thinke . in petraeam . ep. 37. who sayth petraea hath no abstinence ? those that say so , haue but a little sense , for most men know , ti 's euident and plaine that none from church doth more then she abstaine . in thrasonem . ep. 38. thraso i thinke doth neare of anger dreame , although his coller seems to be extreame . in lexum . ep. 39. vvhen sword and buckler was in estimation , lexus sayth , then a man might haue some play ; but since this noble fight grew out of fashion , a boy might kill a man in any fraye : lexus in honour of this ould defence , hacks many a * buckler in an other sense . in lizam . ep. 40. liza doth nothing well , her sister say's but this proceeds from enuie , i can tell , for which i must her sister much disprayse ; since many know that liza drinketh well . in curuum . ep. 41. vvhen curuus first siluanus daughter saw , her heat of youth his frostie bloud did thaw ; which so inflamd the aged mans desire , that he ne're stood on portion with her sire ; nor was there cause , the match was not so bad , for with his wife enough ( god knowes ) he had . in ventrosum . ep. 42. for trees an p●nt-houses i doe not care , as long as you ( ventrosus ) presentare , for in the greatest show're and storms i tell ye , i wish not better shelter then your bellie . in litorem . ep. 43. lye on litoris , doe , hear's none controules , thou maist as freely lye here , as in poules ; but now my small friend , that the lesse men say , the more they write against thee euery day . de anglis . ep. 44. it seems the english men are caniballs , for they eat fooles , and fooles we know are men ; such as eate men haue bitter barbarous galls , the english haue so , it should follow then . resolutio . bvt i 'le resolue this doubt equiuocall some men are fooles , some fooles are men , not * all . in magnasum . ep. 45. th' art vaine magnasus for to be so proud , because so many , where thou com'st , giue place , and most of those are of the vulgar croud , yet were they lords i think , t' were noe great grace : for one of better vnderstanding knowes , they giue not place to thee , but to thy nose . in thomansium long. ep. 46. th' art very fitly nam'd thomansius long , for with thy name doth well accorde thy nature ; long ere thou wilt doe good , or right a wronge , long in thy lyeing , likewise longe in stature , th' art long in all , in nature , stature , name , but thou com'st short of vertue , and good fame . de musis . ep. 47. ye reuerend poets , now but earth and clay , and ye the gloryes of this present age , vouchsafe mee leaue with due respect to say , ye seemd to flatter in your sacred rage , faining the muses to be women , when reason approues them rather to be men ; those nine , in men are but a nine-fould skill , which for the head is the supreamest part doe there inhabit , as vpon a hill , well nam'd parnassus , or the house of art ; ther 's scant nine women wise ; men nine times nine , then reason will , they should be masculine . in piscatorem quendam . ep. 48. ostendam piscem , quoth a learned clarcke , that scornd to vse his mother tongue in schooles ; a right wise scholler forthwith got a barcke , and out he goes with all his angling tooles ; his guide pointing to heau'n , ere they went farre , cry'd ecce piscem , angle for the starre . de oto . ep. 49. otus a mayde both farre and neere hath sought , but cannot come , where he dares sweare is one ; i tell him maydes are common to be bought , if they be common then , sayth he , th' are none . t' is true and false : but i mistooke the dish , otus ment flesh , and i ment maydes the fish . in thrasonem . ep. 50. thraso giu's out , he 's riding out of towne , yet still i meet him ietting in his gowne ; which would haue made me thought it but a brag , had i not knowne he kept a running nagg : but if to speake my conscience i were bidden , he rides not halfe so oft , as he is ridden . in britannicam amazonem . ep. 51. god saue you captaine . oh i haue mistooke , excuse mee ladie ; when i first did looke vpon your broad-brymd hat ▪ and flaunting feather , those martiall ensignes met in you together , made mee suppose a captaine you had beene ; your sex like men i neare before haue seene . in lizam . ep. 52. crosse mee not liza , ne'ther be so perte for if thou do'st , i 'le sit vpon thy skerte . thou know'st i know thy nimble fingers ioynts , then hold thy tongue , and stand not on thy * points . in leuem . ep. 53. th'italians say , giue me your wenches fat , to make them faire , wee 'l quickly finde a meane , they 'l haue them fat and faire ; but wot you what , thou takst such paines , that thou art carrion leane . in quosdam punctualisticos . ep. 54. i 'le tell a secret , if you will not mocke it , some keepe a kalender worne in their pockit , to note their dayes of buisnes and delights : others doe beare about a rowle of knights , so punctuall are they ; yet to their disgrace , they haue mistaken both their day , and place . in quendam tobacciferum . ep. 55. vvhen men are dry , they vse to call for drinke , and so they wet their arrid parts , i thinke , my husband bibs , and drinke doth euer cry , yet his drinke doth not moysten , but doth drye . de * galaxia siue lactea via . ep. 56. philosophers and poets doe agree , a white or milkye way * in heau'n to be : t' is well their iudgements there so much doe marke , for on the earth the wayes of men are darke . in drusam . ep. 57. drusa loues powdring , but she hateth salt ; at first this humour seemeth very strange , like his who loueth beere , yet hateth mault ; but drusa's woman-like , constant in chaunge . which maks mee hope , that in her daintiest fare . she may loue salt , and hate her powdred haire . in capistra foeminea . ep. 58. tradition sayth the mair's of oxforde wore , a rope about their necks * in time of yore but now for decencie of later yeares , in the rop's place each mai'r a ribbin wears ; this fashion women vse , which maks mee doubt , when that came in with them , their ropes went out . ad seipsum . ep. 59. nor pine , nor pranck , in pouerty or wealth ; nor curious be , nor carelesse of thy health ; to others doe as they should doe to thee ; loue th'actiue life , yet not too busie bee . maturely ponder , eare thou dost propounde , prepare thy mind to want , and to abound : i giue my selfe this counsell , to indeere mee to my selfe , since to my selfe most neere . in corbum . ep. 60. corbus will not , perswade him what i can , the world should take him for a gentleman ; his reason 's this ; because men should not deeme , that he is such , as he doth neuer seeme . ad laudem cuiusdam faeminae ep. 61. virtute praecellentis . — men say th' art crooked and exceeding black , my eye obserues not any thing you lack , and i esteeme thee as a precious iewell , in thee is that giu's my affection fewell ; i loue thee much , what faults so ere men finde , because i know thou hast a beuteous minde . in lenonem . ep. 62. good lawes there be , and proclamations made to force the abstinence from flesh in lent ; but leno's appetite is so vnstaide , flesh he must haue , though after he repent ; i wonder how he keeps worms from his mawe , they say his flesh is leane , and fresh , and rawe . in quendam — ep. 63. honest sir iohn doth to his neighbours cry , forsake the world , and learne the way to dye ; if this be wholesome counsell he doth giue , why then makes he himselfe such shift to liue ? in assinium . ep. 64. assinius weeps still , for he feares to dye , as who should say , teares did produce his dayes ; nay laugh not , till you know his reason why , perhaps t' is such , that it will merrit prayse ; singing ( sayth he ) portends death to the swan ; why may it not presage the like to man ? allusio ad praecedens . ep. 65. this may be true ; for wer 't for ioy or sorrow , * singer sung ouer night , and dy'd next morrow . in mopsam . ep. 66. vvhen mopsa mee a nose-gaye pray's to buye , i doe not gesse her meaning suddainely ; her nose so gay is , that i oft suppose , she would not sell her flowers , but her nose . in galbum . ep. 67. galbus , when thou wert young , i knew thee fayre , but you are sun-burnt since that time , you say ; that burnt you are , you shall not neede to sweare , for none that knows thee will the same denaye . but many doubt , though you haue closely hid it , that t' was not phebus , but t' was phebe did it . in cornutum . ep. 68. vntill cornutus gazed in a glasse , he litle thought that he a monster was : but when he saw the truth , he cry'd out then , women haue pow'r to metamorphose men . in assinium . ep. 69. tell me assinius , how it comes to passe , that thou do'st hold in such contempt an asse ; knew'st thou as much as i , i 'de vndertake , thou 'dst loue an asse better for thine owne sake . de chinensibus . ep. 70. the men of china say ( who are so wise ) * we see with one eye , they with double eyes ; suppose they err not : yet a christian man sees more with one eye , then with two they can . ad lectorem intelligentem . ep. 71. readers too common , and too many be , hee 's tearm'd a reader , can reade a.b.c. but i 'le not call for such a readers ayde , for then poore rymes , you were but ill apayde ; i onely craue protection from his hands , that carps noe more , then what he vnderstands . apologia pro seipso . ep. 72. i pra'y faire ladyes pard'ne my forward youth , if i haue slaunder'd you in telling truth ; you shall noe more me thus offensiue finde ; but if you mend not , in a worser kind . in zabidium . ep. 73. i loue thee not zabidius , nor can i stay so long to tell thee , why i hate thee thus , thy breath doth smell so strong . in litorem . ep. 74. if i against litoris ought haue writ , i shall not need to feare his reading it ; my youth hath seldome so much in his slopp to buy my booke , wer 't in a brokers shopp . ad libellum . ep. 75. if philomusus reade you , my rude rymes , you may haue hope to outliue present times ; according to the sentence he shall giue , or looke you must to die , or looke to liue . in lenonem . ep. 76. t is a great signe , that leno's stomack 's hot , because hee 's noted to loue lemons so : but of this reason some approueth not , who better do his constitution know : for they affirme , his lemons got by theft , and those are cast-ones * , such as priests haue left . de quatuor terminis militaribus . ep. 77. if souldiers may obtaine foure termes of warre , muskets shal be the pleaders , pikes the barre ; and since our termes are rare , get we but one , mars shall eate flesh , iustinian picke the bone . in quendam richardum . ep. 78 ▪ dick went to dunmowe for a * bacon flitch , and claim'd the custome there : but one replide , although i know you ( sir ) exceeding rich , and well may pay ; you shall not be denide , so you will fetch your wife , for then i vow you shall beare hence two sides of a fat sow . in rodulphum . ep. 79. rodulphus frets , that he is rank't no higher , because ( sayth he ) his title is esquier ; of the first * magnitude hee 's not , may be some pippin-squire , or one of lowe degree . in aucipem . ep. 80. ye harmles birds , the fowler now doth watch ye , take heed his charming musicke doth not catch ye ; happy were ye , and most secure from wronge , if that a * fistula were in his tounge . in quosdam panedentes . ep. 81. ye rau'nous eat-breads , had you chaunc't to liue , when christ the loafes did to the hung'ry giue ; you eat bread so , that some prophanely thought , that miracle had then beene neuer wrought . in lenonem . ep. 82. the doues will dwell in habitations cleane , they thriue not , nor delight in any other : but thou hast got a habit so obsceane ; ( which thou deriu'st neither from sire nor mother ) thou dwell'st in houses ( and delight'st therein ) , such as are nastie with the stench of sinne . in floram. ep. 83. flora was sicke ; they say she 's now amended , but wanteth weight her sicknes so impaird her ; that weight she wanteth shall be condiscended , she 's now so light , that honest men discard her . if she be well , iudge those that haue more skill , in my opinion she is verry ill . ad dominam sapientiam . ep. 84. ever young lady , euer glorious faire , t' is strange the sons of men no more doe court thee ▪ youth , beautie , honour , wealth , vncertaine are a month they vexe , if one day they disport thee ; how talpishe-blind are those , who doe not see , they nothing haue ( dame wisdome ) wanting thee ? in quosdam non ignotos . ep. 85. th'antipathy of nature in these men , deserue an obseruation with my pen : two things they loue , greene leeks and tosted cheese , but hemp they hate , and when they see 't , they sneese . in non decimantes . ep. 86. some theeues are * water-ratts , someway-purs-takers , some canters are , and other some house-breakers ; ther 's many sorts of theft , many of theeues , the greatest * those , keepe that the church releeues . de naui submersa . ep. 87. the poast brings newes a ship is suncke hard by , laden with goods , worth threescore thousand pounds ; t' were rude in me , to giue the poast the lye , yet graunt me leaue to shew , i haue some grounds , he talks of goods , * if one * good were therein she had not suncke , but see the weight of sinne ! in cornutum . ep. 88. the time hath been , thou weart a sucking calfe , and then thy mother daily vs'd to beare thee ; but when thou wert a weanling , halfe in halfe , thy weight encreas'd , and then thy sire did reare thee ; but now th' art growne an oxe , i know not one can beare thy horns ; thou art so monstrous growne . ad floram. ep. 89. the vse of masks i cannot but commend , to keepe the beautie from the scorching sun ; but flora i would know , what you intend , whether you feare the moone , when day is done ; for i haue heard , that duly euery night you weare a maske , to smooth , but not to white . de suffocatione matricis . ep. 90. bella is much afflicted with the mother , no physick can her mind 's content restore ; a contrary disease troubles her brother , of some the father * tearmd ; which lyes so sore vpon his heart , and thence not to be driuen till he may say , the father is in heauen . in leuem . ep. 91. t' is white and red that most delights the eye , that cheek's ador'd , where those two colours lye ; but thou look'st green as leeks , or greenest glasse , which hue in thee , confirms all flesh is grasse . greene cures greene , conceiue me in a word . for thee nought's better then a green-goose — ad senatores lond. ep. 92. graue senators , add to your roy'l exchange , ( pleasure one * window more , through which your eyes with from thence may see your feildes , and leuell range of your young plants ; oh take not so much leasure for a good worke , which had beene done ( some say ) longe since , had not a * stile stood in the way . de quodam iocoso . ep. 93. a merry greeke set vp a si quis , late , to signifie a stranger come to towne , who could great noses , and their heate abate ; his lodging , such an inne , the day set downe , the hugest noses thither made repaire , but leech found none , they made mine host to stare . of the trees and walkes in moore-fieldes . ep. 94. ye vpright formalists , and grauelld walks , of you the spaniard , dutch , italian talks ; so talke they of your citty 's great infectour , old more-ditch and condemne the works directour that more-ditch is not lesse ditch , or more water , to cleanse the filth of those , * that catle slaughter . in vulpinum . ep. 95. vvlpinus twice was sicke , twice made his will , ( with no intent , that then should be his last ) gaue all to those , who bore him no good will , which well he knew , but policie forecast : that hope of gaine did gaine those men respect , whom all the world would otherwise neglect . in potatores . ep. 96. ye gusling drunkards , i do much admire , your throats weare not , nor that your arms do tyre in swallowing drinke , and lifting double iuggs , which fright my senses , as the sight of buggs ; o guttur-laine , how many sorts of drinke , run poast through thee , as water downe a sincke ? in temporis profusores . ep. 97. the world is ful of prodigall expenders , the borrowers are more then are the lenders ; those prodigalls commit the highest cryme , who wast their liues in vaine expence of time . in quendam morbum equinum . ep. 98. the'rs one disease in country and in london hath men and horses ye , and women vndon ; there cannot sure a more contagious thing come then this disease that spreads o're all the kingdome ; i dare not nam 't least prides pyes in their passions chatter against mee . oh horses ! oh the fashions ! in quosdam tubicinatores . ep. 99. ye roaring beggers , tell mee what you meane , to spend each christmas so much winde , to gleane gratuities from men . o come not neere where i abode , or whisper in my eare ; be sure your tongues with modestie be tipt , and then i 'le tell you , beggers must be whipt . in zoilum . ep. 100. my booke is short sayth zoilus , what then ? i wish it short , and sweet to other men . or thus . ep. 77. if souldiers may obtayne foure termes of warre , muskets shall be the pleaders , pikes the barre , for blacke bagges , bandeleers , iackets for gownes , angels our fees , wee 'l take no more crackt crownes . finis . libellus . if any aske me now , whose booke i am , i cannot answere without signes of shame ; for he that owns mee , very often saith , i am the worst of all the bookes he hath , and which more grieues me , calls me triuiall rymes , th' vntimely issue of his idle times . a motto vpon the creede . king dauids * foole in paths of athists trod , denying him whom — i beleeue in god , nay more ye athists know ( although it spight ye ) i 'le euer trust in — the father almightie : nor feare i pestilence , nor sword , nor dearth , confessing him — maker of heau'n and earth . i'ts thou o lord , the hearts of men that tr'yst , thou know'st my faith in thee — and iesus christ , mediat my sinnes ( or else i am vndone ) sweet christ , with god , thou art — his onely sonne , all men o god , thy mercie must recorde , who mad'st vs , slaues to sinne , * free by — our lord ; which with a * bitter welcome was receau'd into this world , o christ — who was conceiu'd not by the carnall act of man , but most miraculously — by the holy ghost : nor stayd god here , nor did his mercie vary , christ was for vs — borne of the virgin marie : when he consummated each worke and wonder , most innocent , for vs — he suffered vnder th' accursed iewes , through iudas that false mate , and the constrained doome of — pontius * pilate : and more for vs was buffited , * enui'd , reuil'd , disdain'd , and last — was crucify'd : * ioseph of arimathea then ( inured to works of mercy ) beg'd his body — dead , and buried : the lord of life ; would all our sinnes had ended , and beene engrau'd with him , when — he descended ( as we beleeue , and this our creed doth tell ) into the graue , or pit , or — into hell : * captiuitie led captiue , death in chaine and for vs men — the third day rose againe and by his resurrection from the bed of soules deceal'd , rays'd mankind — from the dead : and rotten works of sinne , talk't with th' eleu'n * gaue them a chardge — ascended into heau'n : but not as man , who out of sight forgetteth their suits , and wants are absent , still — hee setteth close by our god his heau'nly father , and for sinners interceads — on the right hand of maiesty incessantly , and rather then saints and angells , begs — of god the father forgiu'nesse of all sinnes , t' is he can right ye o sinnefull sonnes of men , eu'n he th' — almightie : who then would * greiue him ? who so sottish he to say hee 's not in heau'n — from thence shall be the second time ( till when he will not budge ) descend from heau'n his throne , and — come to iudge with * ite or venite such as led liu's good or ill — both the quicke and the dead . and though he 's now in heau'n , we must not grieue in , his corp'rall absence ; now doe — i beleeue in the com'forter his spirit * gainst whom an host is weake , so pow'rfull is — the holy ghost : satan shall neuer leaue mee in the lurch whilst i am branch of — the catholicke church : let christians learne to liue in * peace and vnion , in zeale to imitate — the communion of heau'ns rich citizens , wher 's noe complaints noriarrs of angells , cherubs nor — of saints : ther 's loue , and blisse , and * peace with so much eu'nesse , that they ne're one another aske — forgiuenesse then let 's not speake , but doe * the deeds that wins the loue of god , and the full pard'ne — of sinnes : so when we dye , or greiue , ther 's a refection , life after death , ioy by — the resurrection nor shall we then , though low doth lie the head , be ranck't amonge the number — of the dead : this is a comfort sweete , and neuer wasting , to be assur'd of — the life euerlasting ; * pray'rs may doe much , therefore let preist and lay men , for this great blessing knit vp all with — amen . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a68848-e260 sunt bona , sunt quaedam mediocria , sunt mala plura , quae legis hîc : aliter non fit auite liber : ep. mar. * virginibus tyrijs mos est gestare pharetram . virg. * non rosae mundae , * two negatiues make an affirmatiue . it summons them to dinner nouerint vniuersi . * anima . nosce teipsu●… non loquitur os secundum cor . * by reason of rocks , the entrance into those ilands is very dangeous . * in the beginning of that plantation , great store of hoggs were found there . * one end of a sur-loin of beife called the buckler peece , by reason of a large flat bone in that part . * a vvhitmeat made of creame and rice , called of some a ricemos , of others a foole. tarlton cut off all his skirts because none should sit vpon them . * poynted round . * punctuallists * nihil aliud est , secundum philosophos , quàm albi coloris apparentia , quae fit ob intetionem astrorum luminis , quae , vbi circulus apparet , densissima sunt & numerosissima . est via sublimis , caelo manifesta sereno , lactea nomen habet ▪ candore notabilis ipso : ouid. * quaere de hoc . * ropes on or about the head vvas a signe of submission . 1. kings 20. 3● * the player ▪ * that which the eye sees not the heart neuer rues ▪ * similis similem petit . * and all the world , according to their prouerbe . * duplexest hîc sensus . * arsnonhabet inimicum praeter ignorantem . non amore zabidi , nec possum dicere quare ; hoc tantum possum dicere , non amo te ▪ mart. * priests lemons . * the old custome was , that whosoeuer repented not vvithin a yeare after their marriage , they might go to dunmowe for a flitche of bacon , and haue it vpon demaund . * not esquire by honour of bloud . * fistula dulce canit , volucres dum decipit auceps . aspicis vt veniant ad candida tecta columbae . * pirats . * sacrilegio●● de fures . at north fleete march 1619. goeing out to the east indies * christo in nauicula ( quamuis dormiente ) non perierunt . mar. 4. 38. * dolor patris * you may call it northstreete . * quaere de hoc . thinke vpon midletons water . * the cut-throates of whitecrosse-street 〈…〉 notes for div a68848-e7960 nullum simile est idem . arist * psal . 14. 1. * 2 sam. 24. 13 * rom. 8. 27. * 1 corin. 16. 13. 1 tim. 2. 5. * 1 tim. 1. 15. * mat. 1. 16. * mat. 1. 20. * mat. 26. 48. * mat. 26. 48. * mat. 27. 24. 28. * 67. * 35. * mat. 27. 58. * psal . 68. 18. * 〈…〉 * mat. 27. 63. 28. 6. * heb 9. 14. rom. 6. 2. * mat. 28. 9. mar. 16. 14. * mat. 26. 64. * eph. 4. 30 * mat. 25. 34. 41. * iohn 14. 16. * rom. 8. 2. * 1 thess . 5. 13 * heb. 12. 14. * mat. 34. 46. * thess . 5. 17. aeneas his errours, or, his voyage from troy into italy an essay upon the third book of virgils aeneis / by john boys. aeneis. liber 3. english. 1661 virgil. 1661 approx. 69 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 39 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a65116) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 43250) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1319:2) aeneas his errours, or, his voyage from troy into italy an essay upon the third book of virgils aeneis / by john boys. aeneis. liber 3. english. 1661 virgil. boys, john, 1614?-1661. [6], 74, [1] p. printed by t.m. for henry broome, london : 1661. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng 2003-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-09 john latta sampled and proofread 2003-09 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion aeneas his errours , or his voyage from troy into italy . an essay upon the third book of virgils aeneis . by iohn boys of hode court , esq — per varios casus , per tot discrimina rerum tendimus in latium : — virg. aen . 1. london , printed by t. m. for henry broome , at the gun in ivy-lain , 1661. to the right honourable , the lord viscount cornbury , eldest sonne to the right honourable , the lord high chancellour of england . my lord , i here present your honour with the fruits ( not so well indeed digested and ripen'd , as i wish they were ) of some few weeks retirement in the country : the more then merited reception my late essay upon this great author found with your greater father , the right honorable , the lord high chancellour hath encouraged me to continue my addresses to the same family , of which , after himself , your lordship is the deserving head. i hasten , my lord , with my poore offering , whilest your lordship hath leasure to cast your eye upon such a trifle as this ; for ( doubtlesse ) you are already in your journey to more weighty employments , for which as well the example as the precepts of your most wise and knowing father daily prepare and adapt you . the truth is , that if you look upon the bulk of the volume , it is no more then a pamphlet , and , by consequence , very much beneath the patronage of so great a mecenas : but if you consider the credit and weight of the author , to wit , virgil , then i hope , that your lordship will not receive it under so mean and opprobious a qualification ; however defac'd and mangled by the unskilfull hand of so rude an artist , as my self . great wits have not blush'd to undertake and publish one single piece of this excellent author , of whom every book indeed is of it self a compleat poem : hence we have mr. sandys his essay upon the first ; sir iohn denhams upon the second , and the united studies of mr. waller and mr. godolphin upon the fourth of the aeneis : i aspire not to the unequall'd excellencies , and deserved fame of those worthy gentlemen ; it is the height of my ambition to merit your lordships acceptance , and candid interpretation of this my present addresse , and to beget a belief in you , that there is no person more truly devoted to your lordships service , and to that of your right noble family , then my lord , your lordships most humble and most obedient servant , iohn boys . aeneas his errours , or his voyage from troy into italy . the argument . aeneas having given queen dido a full relation of the miseries , and final subversion of the city , and empire of troy in the precedent booke , pursues in this the particulars of his navigation , or voyage from asia into europe , from troy into italy : with those severall ranconters , which befell him by the way . when 't was by heav'ns decreed that asia's states , and priams race by undeserved fates should fall ; that lofty ilium , and that frame by neptune raiz'd , should in a common flame expire ; urg'd by the answers of the gods , from stranger seats we quit our own abodes under antandros wee and ida fit our fleet for sea , and when men furnish it , uncertain whether we our course should bend , or where our labours should a period find . summer was scarce advanc'd , when to resigne our selves to fates anchrises did enjoyn : our ports i weeping leave , and native shore , and fields , which lately troy's proud turrets bore : with my companions , son , my gods , forlorn an exile i through the vast deep am born . a vast and warlike land by thracians till'd ( whose scepter fierce lycurgus once did weild ) in view doth lye ; to us ( by the same ties of leagues and worship ) ancient allies ; whilest fortune smil'd : my course i hither steer , and on the winding shore a town doe reer ; by crosse fates guided ; & from mine own name , the name of the aeneadae doe frame : to venus i , and to those deities offer'd , who did befriend our enterprize : to the great king of gods upon the strand a white bull i did slay ; there was at hand a rizing bank , with cornel twigs beset and with rough myrtle for rude lances fit : this place approaching , i endeavoured to pluck the verdāt boughs , therwith to spread the altar ; but a horrid prodigie and strang behold : from the first shrub , which i tore from the ground drops of black blood distill'd which with corrupted gore the place defil'd : a shiv'ring through my members shot : my blood through terrour in my veins congealed stood : another twig i then assay , that i of things the hidden causes might descry : the like defluxion thence proceeds : in thought perplext , by pray'r the rural nymphs i sought , and father mars , the thracians deity ; that into good they 'd turn this prodigie ; but , when with greater strength a third assay making , with both my knees i struggling lay against the earth ( shall i be dumb or speak ? ) a piteous groan did from beneath me break : and a voice doth arrive my frighted ear : why wretched me , aeneas , do'st thou tear : stain not thy pious hands ; the buried spare , one troy hath caus'd that we no strangers are : nor , from this root distils this purple gore : fly bloody coasts , ah , fly this cursed shore : for i am polydorus , whom they slew with showrs of arrows , which here rooting grew : but , then distracting fear did me surprize : me my tongue fail'd ; an end my hair did rise : unhappy priam ( when he did distrust dardania's strength , when he the city first invested saw ) to thracia's a king , by stealth this polydorus , and with him much wealth sent to be kept : but , when the fortune he of troy , and our strength did declining see , the victors arm 's , and agamemnon's side he follow'd ; and , all laws rejecting , did slay polydorus , and possesse his gold ; dire thirst of pelf what empire dost thou hold in mortal breasts ? my fear allay'd , then i told to the trojan peers the prodigie , but chiefly to my sire : their sense i crave , who jointly those curs'd shors perswade to leave with injur'd friendship ; & our sayl's to spread ; with heap'd-up earth the grave then of the dead we doe repaire : and to his ghost erect altars , with cypresse , and black garlands deck'd : the trojan dames stand round with flowing hair bowls of new milk and blood we offer there : then in his grave his soul we do compose , and with a vale the whole duty close : when winds & seas were still'd , & gentle gales did us invite to hoise our pregnant sail 's : when first we durst to calmed surges trust , filling the strands , our ships to sea we●● thrust : ●s we the port , so shores and citi 's seem is to forsake : a land , in high esteem with neptune , and the sea-nymphs mother , lies surrounded with the sea ; apollo this floating about all coasts and seas did tie with gyaros , and high-brow'd myconie : and ( sixt ) made it for culture fit ; 'gainst wind secure : here we arriv'd safe harbour find for our tir'd selves and ships : and , now on shore , apollo's town approaching we adore : king anius , king of men , and phoebus priest , with royall wreaths , and sacred lawrel drest , comes forth his friend anchises to accost , we joyn rights hands , and he becomes our host : i in the ancient temple of that god make my addresse : grant us a fixt abode ; grant wals : a stock ; a lasting state : maintain troy's second tours , with what there doth remain left by achilles , and his greeks : what guide have we ? where shall we go ? or where abide ? o father give a blessed augurie , and gently glide into our breasts : but i had scarcely done , when all things seem'd to shake , the laurel , porch , the moūtain seem'd to quake ; the very tripod rung : upon the ground we prostrate fell : and heard this voice resound : stout dardans , whence you first your birth derive thither return , that land shall harbour give : aeneas house , with those , who thence descend , here far and neer its empire shall extend : great joy here at amongst the people rose : what seats they were al ask'd , which phoebus chose for our retreat : my sir , then old records calling to minde , began , yee trojan lords hear ; and whereon your hopes are grounded , know to sea-girt crete great iove his birth doth ow : ther 's ida's mount : thence we our birth derive ; a hundred city's there doe dwellings give : hence ( if i speak aright ) to phrygian shores our grandsire teucrus first advanc'd with oar's : and chose his empires seat : nor ilium stood , or troy's tour's then : they in the vales abode : hence mother cybel , brazen cymbals hence , hence ida's grove , and silent rites commence : that goddesse chariot hence yoak'd lyons drew : come on ; let us the gods commands pursue : the winds appease ; to * gnossian realms contend ; not far from hence : if iupiter befriend , our fleet in crete shall in th●● day's arrive : then to the altars he due rites did give : a bull to neptune ; such was phoebus right ; to storms a black sheep ; to fair gales a white : a idomeneus was bruited to be cast out of his native throne : cretes coast laid wast : houses and towns deserted : we forsake b ortygias port ; and all sail winged make : we vinie naxus ; green donysa , we the cyclads , through the main which scater'd lie , oliarus , white paros passe , and quit those seas , which are with frequent isles beset . a shout the eager sailers raise , and chear their willing mates , brave hearts , come , let us steer for crete , our native soile : a friendly gale blowing a stern fils our distended saile : and now we coast the a curets shore along now i the wals raise of my wished town ; and call it pergamus : joy'd at the name , our men build houses , and a castle frame : and now our ships were drawn upon the sands , our youth employ'd in choosing wives & lands : i dwellings gave : but loe ! a mortal year from the corruption of the tainted ayre , a lamentable-languishing disease all living creatures , trees , and corn doth seize : beloved life those either did exhale or after them their pined bodies drawle ; the barren fields the soultry dog-star burns ; grasse drys ; the blasted ear no food returns : my sire the way to delos to repeat and phoebus bids , his pardon to intreat , to know when he would to our toils put end , our labours ease ; where we our course should bend 't was night ; and sleep all mortals did possess , behold my gods , those sacred images which i with me from ' midst troys flam's did bear to me ( in sleep dissolved ) did appear . in all proportions by that light display'd , which through the window the bright moon convay'd they thus began ; and thus my cares allay'd . what phoebus to thee ( leaving delos ) said , he here repeats ; he us to thee doth send : troy burnt , thee and thy arms we did attend , with thee have cross'd the swelling waves ; the same shall to the stars extoll thy nephews fame , and give thy city rule : great wals prepare for thy great heirs : nor toile , nor travel spare : from hence remove ; apollo to this strand bid not approach , or plant in cretan land . there is a place , the greeks hesperia stile , an antient land , and strong ; a fruitfull soile , th' oenotrians held it ; italie the same our moderns call , from their first a leaders name : this is our distin'd seat : hence dardanus and iasius sprung , the root of troy and us : rise , and relate unto thine aged sire these doubtless truths ; then for b ausonia steer . for iove forbids this countrey to possesse : astonish'd at this sight , and gods expresse , ( nor was 't a dream ; their faces , wreathed hair i knew , and did their voices plainly hear , whilst a cold sweat run all my body o're ) i start up from my bed ; the heav'ns implore with hands extended ; and a sacrifice offer : this duly done , i doe advise anchises of all passages , and tell to him in order what to me befell : our twofold i parents and ambiguous race : he did confesse , with the mistaken place then he ; son , try'd in trojan fates , this thing cassandra unto me alone did sing : i now recall ; these fates to us as due , italian kingdoms she did of 't foreshew , a hesperia oft ; but , who could e're conceive , that trojans to hesperia should arrive : or whom then did cassandras councell sway ? better adviz'd let us the b god obey . thus he , and his advice all gladly take , we also do this place forthwith forsake . and leaving some behinde , set sayl : and now we with our hollow keels the ocean plow. but , when we were advanc'd , nor land could see and rounded were with nought but sea & skye : loe ! o're my head a black storm-crouded cloud hung , which the waters did in darkness shro●d . the sea windes furrow : angry waves swell high toss'd on the deep we are , and scatter'd lye : storms intercept the day ; mists veil the skye , whil'st from rent clouds vollies of thunder flye : forc'd from our course in darkned salts we stray ev'n a po●inure discerns not night from day : nor doth remember how his course to steer ; three days we wander , nor doth sun appear : as many star-lesse nights ; on the fourth we land , hills , & smoak in black curls rizeing see , furling our sayls we take our oars : with these we dash the foam ; and cleave the azure seas : escap'd the str●phades me first receiv'd , the str●phades , ( from a greek name deriv'd ) are islands in th' ionian main : the place , to which celoeno , and harpynian race retir'd , when they by phineus banisht were , and their first pension did forsake through fear . then these no monster 's worse , no greater curse , no greater plague e're sprung from stygian source the fowl's have virgins faces , purging still their filthy paunches , arm'd with talons , ill and ever pale through hunger . but , when we , the port entring , neer did draw , fat oxen in the meads we grazing saw , goats without keepers : these we did invade ; and of the prey the gods partakers made . then on the shore we tables placing , feast , but , from the mountains ( sooner then exprest ) the harpyes stoop ; snatch , and pollute our meat , and making hideous crys their wings do beat ; whil'st skreeches ' midst a filthy stench resound : a shadie and a close retreat we found under a hollow rock ; again we spread our tables , and fire on the altars laid : then from another quarter ( where they lay in ambush ) sallying , they invade our prey with their hook'd talons , and defile the same : then 'gainst the cursed race i war proclaim : to arms command ; my men obey , and place their swords & shields ' midst the aspiring grass ▪ but , when with usual noise upon the ground they stoop't , misenus then a charge did sound : my men fall on , and a strange fight assay , with swords to wound the noisom foul , but they nor wounds , or hurt upon their plumes receive : but , nimbly on their wings remounting , leave lothsome impressions , and the prey half-eat : one ( hight celaeno ) on a rock did set , an om'nous prophetesse , and thus declare : race of laömedon , will ye wage war your unjust slaughters to maintain ? and strive the guiltlesse harpies by rude force to drive out of their native kingdome ? now give ear and these my words in your mindes fixed bear ; which iove to phoebus , he to me did shew , i , of the furies chief , the same to you pronounce : you now for italy are bound , and shall arrive safe on italian ground : but , you shall not with wals your promis'd town invest , before dire hunger , and the wrong offerr'd to us , shall force you to devour your trenchers : she this having said , did sore aloft ; and her self in the woods conceal'd : but suddain fear my mens cold blood congeal'd their courage fell ; whether th' are goddesses , fiends , or foul birds , not force must make our peace but prayers and vows , they cry : then from the shore anchises his hands spreading , doth implore the power 's above ; and with due rites appease : adding , just deity 's , that you would please to interpose , these evils to prevent , and , reconcil'd , to save the innocent : then he commands to launch : a lusty breez our canvas swels , on foaming waves we rise : now woody zant amidst the waves we see , dulichium , same , neritos descry : from ith'can rocks , a laërtes realm , we fled cursing that soil , which dire vlysses bred : anon its head cloud-crowned leucas reers : and phoebus opens , whom the sayler fears : tired we hither steer : we anchor here , and under a small city shelter'd were : now , when despaired land we did enioy , we promis'd vows on smoaking altars pay : on actian shores we ilian games revive : where our men , naked and anointed , give proof of their active strength : we joy that we have thus escap'd the dreaded enemy ; so many grecian citie 's past . the sun in the mean time his annual course had run ▪ and northern blasts made the chaff'd billows rore a brazen shield ( which mighty abans bore ) i here affixing , this verse underwrote : these spoyls from conqu'ring greeks aeneas got : then , i bid lanch , and hand their oars : the deep to strives they cuff , and the rude billows sweep : the airie tours of the phaeacians we forth with doe hide ; and epires coast passe by : then , into the chaonian port we swim , and the high city of buthrotos climb : here we a story hear , which did exceed our faith , that helenus ( of priam's seed ) both pyrrhus wife and scepter did enjoy : and that a andromache to one of troy was wedded : i amazed stood : on fire i was , the man to meet , and to enquire into this strange successe : the shore and fleet i leave ; and do advance with winged feet : before the city , in a grove , hard by feign'd simois the sad andromache pay'd solemn rites to her dead hectors dust , and at his empty grave invok'd his ghost , joyning to which she had two altars made , whereon her tributary tears she payd . when me , ' midst trojan guards , she did behold coming , thereat astonish'd , stiff and cold she forthwith grew ; and sinking to the ground , at last her speech a passage hardly found . i' st a true face , a real man i see ? or com'st thou , goddesse-born , a ghost to me ? if so , where 's hector , pray ? this weeping she spoke , and the place fill'd with her mournfull crye to her ( through grief distracted ) briefly i troubled , and faultring in my speech reply i live indeed , though me crosse fates pursue , doubt not , for thou realities doest view : after the losse ( alas ! ) of thy great a mate , what is thy hap ? what fortune ( of thy state worthy ) hath thee befaln ? doth hectors wife andromache with pyrrhus wedded live ? with a soft voice , and a dejected face she then reply's , o b maid , of priams race , before all others happy ! who didst die a victime to the cruel enemie under troy's wals ; by lot who wert not led a captive to a conqu'ring masters bed : after troy burnt , and tossed on the main , i , ( a slave ) did the irksome scorn sustain of that proud youth , achilles off-spring , who a hermione and spartan nuptials now hotly pursuing , to my fellow slave helenus , me ( a slave ) in marriage gave : but him orestes ( whom the flames of love did burn , and conscience of past ills did move ) betray'd , and at his fathers altars slew ; whence by his death this province did accrue to helenus ; from trojan chaon , who did all this tract chaonia name : but show what happy fates , what god , what friendly gales thy ship did hither drive , and fill thy sailes ? how does ascanius ? doth he live , and breathe ? how doth he , pray , resent his b mothers death ? what ? doth his uncle hector , or his syre aeneas him with noble thoughts inspire ? whil'st thus she spoke , and did lament in vain , priamides doth with a princely train arrive : and ( with words mingling tears ) doth own us , his old friends : then to the neighbouring town we joyfully advance , where i doe see of our great troy a small epitome : our tour's , and shallow xanthus i behold : and scaean gate in my embraces fold : the vulgar also the same freedome have , to them the king like entertainment gave . our costly fare is served up in gold ; of lusty bacchus we full goblets hold : day after day whilest thus we feasting spend , our sailes are courted by the gentle winde , a auster our canvas swels ; in these words i then to the a prophet doe my self apply : o trojan-born , the gods interpreter , inspir'd by phoebus , skilled in what e're the tripods , laurels , or the stars foreshow , what by the tongues of birds , or wings we know . say , ( for all oracles to us promise a happy voyage , all the gods advize to italie , and far-sequestred seats to saile ; celaeno onely dreadfull threats , dire famine breathes ) how we should or eschew dangers at hand , or toyl's to come subdue : here helenus with gratefull sacrifice having the gods prepar'd , ( as was the guize ) untied the fillets of his sacred head , and me ( with awfull rev'rence smitten ) led into the temple , where the learned priest from his divine mouth thus my fates exprest , o goddesse-born , ( for it is more than plain , that by the heav'nly conduct through ●he main thou dost advance , thus 't is decreed by iove , who that great wheele of things doth wisely move ) of many cautions take these few , whereby thou stranger coasts the saflier may'st descry ; and anchore in ausonian ports : the rest the fates and iuno have from me supprest : first italy ( which you suppose at-hand ) is a far-scatter'd , a far-distant land : and , before you attain the promis'd shore , you in sicilian seas must ply the oar , your keels must the ausonian brine divide , hell you must see , by circes isle must glide : remember ; this to thee a signe shall be : thou a white sow with thirty pigs shalt see white as her self , beleaguering her breast , hard by a shadow'd stream ; here welcome rest thou from thy toyls shalt finde ; thy town build here nor the devouring of thy trenchers fear . the fates themselves will best unriddle , and apollo , when invok'd , will be at hand . but , that a land there , the coast of italie wash'd by our seas , our neighb'ring country , flye ▪ by hostile greeks those places peopled are : narycian locrians doe inhabite there and from those tracts , the salentines late held , lyctian idomeneus hath them expell'd : there melibaean phyloctetes smal petilia hath invested with a wall : but , when thy fleet shall in safe harbour be , and on the altars vows perform'd by thee , spread o're thy face a purple veil , least , when thou dost officiate , foes should intervene , and holy rites disturb : let this to thee and thy descendants still a custome be : but , when thou shalt sicilias coast draw neer and the straits of pelorus shall appear , steer to the larbord , fly the starbord shore ; the left-hand seas cleave with thy lab'ring oar . it is reported ( so great change doth wait vpon times darker footsteps ) that this strait was once firm land ; and that a mighty force did it from the old continent divorce : that the sea , interposing , did divide th' hesperian from the sicilian side : and rushing in with its still-chaffed brine , once neer-allied plains and towns disjoyn : scylla the right , the left charybdis keeps , and sucks thrice to the bottome of her deeps the toyling floud , as often lifts on high th' ejected waves , & laves th'approached skie . but , a scylla lurking in dark caves display's her face , and ships to crushing rocks betray 's : a virgin to the twist divinely fram'd : her nether parts with shape of monsters sham'd : which wolves are in their fore-parts , but behind of dolphins have the scalie rudders joyn'd : better it is to round pachynus cape , and thy course that way , ( though about ) to shape , then ugly scylla in her cave , to see and rocks resounding with her monsters crye : further , if helenus have any skill ; or truth ; or know at all apollo's will , one thing i recommend , one above all , incessantly on courted iuno call : her deity with vows propitious make , with sacrifice appease ; then thou shalt take thy journey with assur'd successe : and land from sicil's coast safe on th' italian strand . where when to cumoe , and avernus ( plac'd a midst softly-wisp'ring woods ) thou shalt have pass'd , there thou shalt see the frantick a prophetesse sing destinies in a deep caves recesse : which she to leaves commits : what verse soe're she writes , in order plac'd she leaveth there : they firmly keep the place to each assign'd ; but , when the open'd door th' intruding wind admits , which doth the lighter leaves disperce , she n'ere reorders the disorder'd verse ; or cares them to rejoyn : unanswear'd they and sibyls cell detesting go their way : nor think time lost , though thou beest here delayd though thy departure winds and friends perswade , but with all humblenesse sibylla seek : to thee th' inspired willingly will speak , of italie the people will declare , and thee instruct in the insuing warre , teach where toward , & teach where to assayl , and ( worshipp'd , ) will supply a favo'ring gale : loe ! here the sum of what i can advise : go ; raise our troy by great deeds to the skyes . which when the prophet kindly had exprest , with costly gifts he doth dismisse his guest : with iv'ry , silver , gold , with vessels made of dodonaean brasse , his ship doth lade : a coat-of-maile studded with gold : a bright helmet , with curled plumes , ( once the delight of pyrrhus ) he bestows : the a father had his presents likewise ; he to these doth add brave coursers with their riders : lastly their crazie fleet he doth repair , and them supplies with all things useful were . mean while anchises bids them to prepare , that they might ready be when winds blew faire ; to whom in courtly terms the priest thus spake anchises , whom into her bed to take venus hath deign'd , the gods especial care , twice from troys ruin's snatch'd : lo ! 'fore thee are ausonia's shores ; to these thy course direct , and yet from these thou must thy course deflect : for that part of ausonia farr doth lye by phoebus meant ; in thy sons pietye go happy man : but why do i thus spend both words and time , when friendly gales attend ? andromache ( at parting no lesse sad ) ascanius with rich figur'd vests doth lade : what or the needle could , or loom invent , rare peeces , she in these words did present , sweet youth , these , wrought by mine own hands , receive as monuments , with thee to keep alive of hectors wife the memory ; of thine the fare-well tokens : thou the very meen of my astyanax , the ey 's , the face , and very gesture hast ; and now ( alas ! ) had he surviv'd , you 'd equall been in years . then with these parting words i mingle tears live , and be happy you who setled are , we must be tossed too and fro : your care is at an end : you have no seas to crosse , or in your quest to be still at a losse , catching recoyling shores : you live to see xanthus in little ; and a troy , which ye your selves have built , i hope more happily , and which to greeks may lesse obnoxious bee : and , if i tyber and those plains about possesse , and see those realmes for us laid out , both troy's , ( designed kindred towns to be , neighbours , both boasting the same pedigree , alike turmoyl'd ) shall leagued be : that care on those shall rest , who our descendants are : now we neer the ceraunian mountains ride , the shortest cut to the italian side : the sun now set , night its black mantle spreads , and on our mother-earth we take our beds ; we for our bodi 's on the shore take care , where toyled nature we with sleep repaire : night was not yet half spent , when from his bed a waken'd palinurus nimbly fled : the winds observ'd ; to ev'ry blast gave ear , mark'd all stars gliding in the silent sphear : arctûrus , and the dripping hyadae , the two bears , with golden orîen he contemplat's , then , when he a setled skye and clear beheld , he gives the signe to weigh : we goe abord ; we launch ; our sayls we spread ; and now morn blush'd , & twingling stars were fled ; when obscure hills , and humble italie we make : achates italie doth crie ; with joyfull clamours italie our men resound : a mighty bowl anchises then ( surrounding with a garland ) fills with wine , and standing on the poup , the powers divine invokes : gods , who both seas do rule and land , who tempests tame , a favouring gale command . the wished breezes rise : as we draw neer ; minerva's temple and the port appear : and now our sayls we furl , and anchor cast : a haven ( iland-lock'd , ) opens to the east , which vast rocks wal , with breaking waves made white and ( it invironning ) hide from the sight : under whose shelter as our selves we drew , the temple , lately seen , fled from our view : four coursers here , as white as snow could be , ranging the fields without restraint we see , anchises then : warr dost thou , land , presage ? horse are for war ; with horse we war do wage : and yet they in the charriot joyned are , and bit and yoke use patiently to bear ; and blessed peace may speak : then we adore arm-shakeing pallas , on whose friendly shore we first arriv'd , having our faces veil'd : nor to obey the a prophets order fail'd , whilst we the rites , as he had us enjoyn'd , to iuno do perform : then 'fore the wind our sayls we set ; and bid those coasts farewell , by us suspected , as where greeks did dwell : tarentum's bay from hence salutes our ey 's 'gainst which the fore-land of lacinia lye's neighbouring to this caulonia's tour's appear , then scylacaeum , whose rocks ships do tear . trinacrian aetna's our next prospect , where rocks beaten with loud-roaring seas we hear ; and noises eccho'd to the neighb'ring strands ; where waves , ( discolour'd with commixed sands belch'd-up we see : anchises then ; behold charybdis , and those dreadfull rocks foretold by helenus : bear from the shore , he cryes , and stoutly to your oars , my masters , rize they all obey ; and palinurus now bears to the larbord-sea the yeilding prow : with oars and sailes all to the larbord ply ; now on the back of swelling surges we to heaven ascend , then , when they sinking fell , through yawning waves we do descend to hel : thrice we the hollow rocks heard to resound ; thrice saw the foam to drenched stars rebound : the wind now leaves us with the setting sun , and on the cyclops coast ( unskill'd ) we run : the port , though larg , was safe : but thunder-like neer aetna's ruins did a terrour strike : a cloud of smoak it sometimes to the skies ejects , which doth with glowing embers rise : then bals of fire it casts , as if it meant with strange granads to storm the firmament : rocks & torn mountains with dissolved stones it belcheth up , thence issuing forth with groans encelad's body thunder-struct , is said under this mighty weight to have been laid : and that , when e're his wearied side he turns imposed aetna ( flames ejecting ) burns ; that all a trinacria trembles , whilest a night of duskie smoke doth intercept the light : hid in the woods this night we passe in fear , nor the cause of the noise could see : for there was neither stars , or moon : a gen'ral cloud did the whole face of heav'n in darknes shroud . now from the east the sun began to rise , and day nights mask had plucked from the skies when a strang out-side of a man appears from out the woods , his hands who suppliant rears more then half-starv'd ; most wretched in his dresse we look , and lo ! an uncouth nastinesse : a long untrimmed beard , and ragged cloths with thorns repeec'd ; the rest a greek disclose : but , when he trojan arms and habits saw , he frighted stopt , as if he would withdraw : then hastily he to the shore did run , and thus with tears , & humble prayers begun : i by the stars , the gods , the common ayre we breath , conjure you me away to bear : to any coast let me transplanted be ; it shall suffice : i must confesse that i amongst those of my nation arms did bear , and against troy serv'd in the passed war : for which ( if my offence so hainous be ) me tear , and scatter i th' unfathom'd sea : and if i perish , 't will my grief abate , that i from humane hands receive my fate : then falling down he did my knees embrace , whilest we exhort him to declare the race from whence he sprung ; his name ; and what hard fate had him reduced to this sad estate : forthwith anchises his right hand extends , and , by this pledg declares that we were friends : at last confirm'd he fearelesse doth reply : from ithaca , vlysses fortune i did follow ; achaemenides by name , poore adamastus son , ( i wish the same fortune had still continued ) to troy sent : here , when my friends from this dire region went through fear they me forgot , and left behind , in the vast den of polypheme confin'd : a vast and gloomy room it is : the floore with raw flesh strewed is , and putrid gore : of a stupendious height himself : the skies at ev'ry step he knocks : great deities of such a plague , o , ease the earth ; addresse to him none dares to make , or crave accesse : he eats the bloody bowels of the slain : i saw , when he two of our wretched train seizing with his huge paws with force did throw against the rock ; the house within did flow with crimson streams : i saw , when he did eat limbs spurting gore , and when the living meat under his teeth yet trembled : but our chief , brave ithacus , ever himself , relief in this destresse found out : for lo ! whilest he with wine and food , ore-gorg'd did snoring lie , a stretch'd in his den ; his neck awry , of blood a stream ejecting , and a mighty flood of undigested wine , with gobbits raw , the gods imploring , we about him draw : and his vast eye peirce with a sharpned spear , which ( single in his forehead ) did appear like phoebus setting , or a grecian sheild : thus just revenge to our dead friends we yeeld : but fly , oh wretches , fly this cursed shore ; your cables cut ; for here are hundreds more , as salvage and as big ; who doe frequent these strands and rocks ; and now the moon it 's spent lamp hath recruited thrice , its horns thrice fill'd since i a haplesse life lead in these wilde and desart places : and vast cyclops see advancing , whilest i their approaches flie , and dreaded yels : a wretched food to me berries and cornels , shrubs and trees supplie : on grasse i feed , and herbs which wild do grow : but , taking from this place my prospect , loe ! your fleet i saw , the first which did arrive upon this coast : to you resolv'd to give my self a pris'ner : any death let me die , so i may these salvage monsters flye : he scarce had said , when polyphemus we with his huge bulk ' midst his flocks stalking see , and making to the shore : a dreadfull , vast , and ugly monster , who his sight had lost : his hand and foot-steps a strip't pine did guide ; his flocks ( his sole joy ) him accompani'd a pipe ( 'bout his neck hung ) his grief did ease : but , when he did approach the swelling seas from his lost eye he wash'd the flowing blood , and , his teeth grinding , stalked through the flood nor could the waves reach his exalted wast ; the worthy suppliant then we take ; and hast away : our cables silently we slip ; and the seas surface with stretch'd oars do sweep he heard and by our noise his steps did guide , but , when he found that to lay hold he tryde in vain ; nor could surmount the deeper flood , then he his hideous voice extends , so loud , that th' ocean trembled , italie did quake , and hollow aetna a deep groan did make : now from the hils and woods cyclopean bands alarm'd flie to the port , and man the strands : whence they in vain pursue with threatning eyes whilest their proud heads they lodg i' th' neighbouring skies a dire assembly ; like tall oakes they stood , or spire-like cypresse-trees , and seem'd a wood : fear makes us hastily to sea to thrust , and t' any gale our ready sail 's to trust : and though twixt scylla and charybdis we forbidden were to steere ; yet we decree that course to stand : when from pelorus strait a northern breez doth rise , and on us wait : pantagia's mouth ; the bay of megara we passe , and tapsus level with the sea : thus achaemenides , ( known coasts whilest he repeats ) our course directs : an isle doth lie 'fore the a sicanian bay ; and opposite to rough plemmyrium , by our grandsires hight ortygia ; alphêus ( as they fame ) under the sea through secret channels came , and mingling , arethusa , with thy spring doth to the main , with thine , its waters bring : the gods we here invoke : helorus leave , th' adjoyning plains enriching with its wave : hence weathering pachynus rocky cape , by unmov'd camerine our course we shape : to the geloian plains we bid adieu , and gelas town : and now we have in view the mighty wals of high-built agregas , for breeds of gen'rous steeds which did surpass : palmie selinus , now by thee we run , then the blind rocks of lelybaeum shun : and lastly in the port of drepannum , a joylesse port , i to an anchore come : here having pass'd so many stormy seas , my sire ( alas ! ) i lose ; the onely ease of all my cares and toile : dear father dost dresse thou here forsake me , thus turmoil'd and tost ? nor helenus , nor dire celaeno , ( though they many ills foretold ) did this fore-show . here all my travels , all my toils took end , and hence the gods me to your coast did send . thus whilest to him all do attention give , he here concludes his ample narrative , of haplesse troy which did the fates contain , and what himself had suffer'd on the main . finis . some few hasty reflections upon the precedent poem . it was not , reader , the ultimate end of our poet , in this precedent poem , barely to deliver the story of aeneas his errours , or perigrination from troy into italy , with those accidents which befell him therein ; which , ( although there were in it , no further scope then that ) yet is so trim and well contriv'd a narrative , that it is of it self sufficient to entitle this a most excellent piece : no : our wise authour had a more covert and mysterious design ; and , in this wel-built fabrick of his gives us the full prospect of a well-order'd common-wealth , with all the integral parts thereof ; which whilest we endeavour to make out , let not the reader passe sentence upon us , as guilty of perverting or violating the sense or meaning of our authour , whose constant manner it is , to have a more remote drift , then what is perceptible to the eye of every vulgar reader . wherefore , behold first in the grosse or general , our supposed common-wealth , to wit , a ship , or fleet at sea , between both which the allegory or comparison is as natural , as it is familiar , and therefore needs no further illustration . next we come to the parts integral , which , as members , compleat this whol , or body of our common-wealth , whereof the first is the prince , the second , the council ; the third , the great minister of state ; and the fourth , the people ; of which briefly in their order , and according to virgils method and design . first , behold in the accomplish'd aeneas , the prince or supream magistrate , as the principal member , or rather head of our common-wealth : and him we will consider in these three princely attributes or qualifications , which are here given him : first , in his piety : secondly , in his wisdome ; & thirdly , in his valour : 1 piety , with the latines is first taken for that due observance , respect and devotion , which we pay to god ; and secondly for that duty and reverence we give to our parents ; so that pius signifies as well dutifull , as religious ; and he that is truly pious in the one sense , will be so in the other : none was therefore either more religious , or dutifull then virgils aeneas , our imaginary prince . as a pregnant proof of both which take this story , which i casually light upon the other day in aelian : var. hist. l. 3. c. 22. when troy was taken , and sack'd , ( sayes he ) the greeks pitying the miserable condition of the subdued trojans , proclaimed , by sound of trumpet , that it should be lawfull for them , to make choise of any one thing they pleased , and to carry it away with them : aeneas therefore , neglecting all things else , chose his house-hold gods : the greeks admiring the piety of the man , gave him leave to take any one thing of his moveables ; who slghting the most pretious of his iewels , and other goods , took his old decrepit father upon his shoulders . the enemy admiring at this second demonstration of piety , gave him his whole estate free , with liberty to go whether he pleased : adding , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . that the most implacable enemies ought to shew mercy to those , who were religious to the gods , and dutifull to their parents . hence virgil introduceth him here flying with his gods , often praying and sacrificing to the same ; and , to say truth , religion , ( were there no other end in it , then a politick ) ought to be the chief care and study of the prince , as being the very basis of all government , and the surest tye of obedience : whence , it rightly hath its denomination , a religando , which signifies , to binde fast , or to tye . as for his wisdome ; 2 that appears , as well in his readinesse to ask and follow good counsel , as in his abilities in giving the same : hence virgil makes him frequently consulting with the gods ; and good counsellours are indeed as gods to princes : often with prophets , and interpreters of oracles : particularly , with his father anchises , an experienc'd , and sober old man ; with sibylla ( a great prophetesse , inspired by apollo ) that is , a person endued with much wisdome , whereof he was the supposed deity ; and with helenus , a knowing and a well-known friend : a person as honest , as he was intelligent : mark what qualifications ought to be in counsellours of state , age , experience , wisdome and integrity : the age and experience of anchises ; the wisdome of sibylla ; and the integrity of helenus : as for his abilities in giving good advise , in directing , governing and managing his affaires , that appeares in the whole series and course of his life : to enumerate particulars herein , would be infinite . lastly , for the valour of our aeneas , or prince , 3 that is also twofold : active or passive , of both which there are such clear and undeniable demonstrations , that we shall not insist long upon this head : the first appears in his several ranconters , often charges , victories , and triumphs : the latter in his sufferings , distresses and afflictions ; in which no one ever shared more plentifully , than himself : how was he tossed up and down ? how often in storms and tempests ? how often driven from place to place ? disappointed in his designes ? defeated in his attempts ? still persecuted by iuno , his mortal or rather immortal enemy : yet , behold him ever unshaken , unmoved , undaunted : still constant in the pursuit of his counsels , till at last , overcoming the malice both of fortune and his enemies , he accomplish what he drives at , and what was by the fates laid out for him ; and setting foot in italy , there lay the foundation of a never-declining monarchy . and , now , most gracious soveraign , it is not that i have wrested this character , in delivering things otherwise , then they are represented by our authour in the precedent poem , that , i might direct this application to your royal self : no , should i therefore compare your majesty with our aeneas , in those three princely qualifications , above mentioned , none could truly object to me either force or flattery : as for your piety therefore , whether in the first sense , as it relates to god , that appears sufficiently ; our eyes see it , and our hearts re●oyce thereat : our church , that is , the assembly of the faithfull , and our churches , that is , the consecrated places , where those assemblies use to be held , begin now , ( under your royal protection ) to resume their prestine beauty , and will ( we hope ) in time , phaenix-like , rise up more splendid and glorious , out of their own ashes , that is , those deformed ruines and rubbish , wherein they lay lately obscured and oppressed : or , in the second , that is , your aeneas ▪ like reverence to your royal father both living and dead : which manifests it self in your justice distributive , which consists in punishment and reward , the two principal wheels , upon which that great engin of a common-wealth makes its rotation ; the first in taking just revenge upon the horrid murderers of your royal father , our gracious soveraign ; a parentation indeed , considering the unparallel'd hainousnesse and enormity of the fact , not in the least severe : the second , in restoring and rewarding his old servants , and such as have either acted or suffered for him . as for our second qualification , we require in our prince , and finde it in our aeneas , a readiness in taking , and an ability in giving good councel , the first your majesty hath sufficiently demonstrated as well in the choise of your councell , and correspondence all along with your parliament , as you have the latter in your prudent management of affairs , of which we all see the happy effects , and taste the blessed fruits . but , for your valour , both active and passive ; the footsteps and impressions of them are so fresh and so many , that we should loose our selves in the enumeration of them , should we but once enter upon them : england , scotland , france , flanders , all the world rings of them : to be short ; quae regio in terris vestri non plena laboris : and now at last , after all those strang and multiplied revolutions , we , to our ineffable joy , see your sacred majesty , ( like another aeneas in his promis'd italie ) by the undeniable conduct of the divine providence seated & firmly fixed in your paternal throne , never thence to be removed , till such time as you shall be translated from earth to heaven . — nam te majoribus ire per altum auspicijs manifesta fides ; sic fata deùm rex sortitur ; volvitque vices ; is vertitur ordo : — for it is more then plain , that by the heav'nly conduct through the main thou dost advance : thus 't is decreed by iove who that great wheel of things doth wisely move . here then as the same poet speaks in the person of anchises concerning his aeneas in this very book , let us , as prophetically , i hope affirm and conclude , ( changing one word , ) concerning your sacred majesty . hic carolina domus cunctis dominabitur ris , et nati nato●●m , & qui nascentur ab illis : great charles his house , with those who thence descend , here far and near its empire shall extend . the second part which after the prince constitutes a common-wealth , is his councel : here the poet gives to aeneas as councellours , anchises , sibylla , helenus : of whom we have already spoken : we shall not therefore insist long upon this point : i shall observe in the advice helenus gives him , ( which according to the nature of his design , was seasonably-prudent ) these two precepts only : first he adviseth him rather to coast the whole ●sle of sicily in his voyage to italie , then to passe the dangerous straits of pelôrus , now called the faro , though by much the nerer way , for fear he fall upon the rocks of scylla , or be suck'd in by the violent gulph or eddy of charybdis : to shew , that it is better , and more secure , to proceed . leasurably in affairs of moment , then to precipitate , and that a profest states-man , ought rather to chuse the safer then the nearer way : for herein our english proverb takes place , the furthest way about , is the nearest way home : secondly he recommends to him above all things , by prayers and sacrifice , to reconcile and conquer his implacable enemy iuno : for ; as donatus upon this place : ostendit poeta majoris potentiae inimicos obsequendo potius , quam resistendo posse superari : 't is wisdome rather to gain a potent enemy by obligeing him , then to run the risk of subduing him by force , the success whereof is uncertain . 3 nor has aeneas his councel onely , but , as a third complement of our common-wealth , and a necessary instrument of government ; behold his palinurus , or great minister of state , cui princeps incumbit , & in quem onus imperij reclinat , as seneca speaks of the younger marcellus : the person our prince placeth , at the helm of state , and to whom he intrusts the chief guidance of that great vessel of the common-wealth : now the qualifications of such a minister are chiefly two , vigilance and dexterity , or experience in matters of state : thus palinurus , whilest others slept : haud segnis strato surgit — there 's his vigilance ; now for his dexterity or experience . — omnes explorat ventos — but to be a little more particular in charactizing our great minister , we will adde a note or two ; virgil then speaks thus of palinurus , as we have ( according to our manner , that is , imperfectly ) rendred him . night was not yet half spent , when from his bed awaken'd palinurus nimbly fled : the winds observ'd , to ev'ry blast gave ear , mark'd all stars gliding in the silent sphear arcturus , and the dripping hyadae the two bears , with golden orion he contemplats : from hence we draw two wholsome precepts , and such , as above all others , must diligently be observ'd by our great minister : first , he is to observe the wind , and listen to every blast ; that is , to hold intelligence in all places ; and to have an ear to all reports , that accordingly as the winde blows , he may trim the sailes of his own ship ; and may not be surpriz'd by a sudden gust ; which may happily overset both him and it : next , he is to mark the stars , and accordingly to steer his course ; that is , to understand perfectly the interests of all neighbouring kingdomes and states , and to know what influence or aspect the affairs of other princes have in reference to those of his own master . and should i , reader , say that our gracious soveraign is blessed in such a minister , in the right honourable , the earl of clarendon , the present lord high chancellour of england , i should say no more , then what is evident by those daily dispatches , which passe through his hands , and that weight of affairs which presse , but cannot oppresse him : — sic hercule quondam sustentante polum , melius librata pependit . machina , nec dubijs titubavit signifer astris , perpetuaque senex subductus mole parumper , obstupuit proprij spectator ponderis atlas : which the excellent claudian applies to stilico , the great minister of state to the emperour honorius , and which i hope without offence to his lordships modesty , or violence to the poets sense , we may thus render in english : thus , when great hercules his shoulders lent to under-prop the heav'ns , the firmament vnmoved hung : nor did the zodiac fear to drop a star , whilst he sustain'd the sphear : old atlas ( from his burthen freed a while ) stood ; and admir'd the weight he us'd to feel : but for as much as prince and people , governour and governed are relatives , 4 and therefore not subsistent one without the other , behold our poet gives his aeneas a competent number of subjects , which , he ever calls by the name of socij : by which word the latines understand a companion , allie , or confederate : in both which senses the people may most properly be called socij , first : they are companions , for they must expect to accompany the prince in his fortune : if he be opprest , they must be enslav'd ; if he be dethron'd , and murdered , their lives , fortunes , and liberties are all at the mercy of the usurping tyrant : we need not go farr for an instance to make good this : the late distractions out of which we are ( by the blessing of god ) now happily deliver'd are a sufficient proof of our assertion : next they are allies or confederates ; now such are bound to take up arm 's for the mutuall defence one of the other , and that prince that offers an injury to the one , doth it to the other ; thus the people are bound to expose their lives , fortunes and all they call theirs in the defence of the princes crown , dignity , and estate , for which they in exchange receive his protection , as well against forreign invaders , as domestick oppressours : and this is that alliance or society , which ought to intervene between both parties : and thus are subjects properly stiled socii . but to draw to a conclusion : whereas our author , in the whole , exposeth his aeneas to many difficulties , during his navigation , making him sometimes to mistake his port ; sometimes to run upon a rock , and sometimes ready to perish in a storm ; these ( i say ) are to hint to us those many lets , impediments & difficulties that every kinde of regiment is subject unto , which ( as the learned mr. hooker observes ) in publick proceedings are innumerable and inevitable ; and therefore the people ought not to fall out with their governours , or cavill at the government , upon every perty miscarriage ; but soberly to consider , and weigh with themselves the forementioned difficulties , and not to object that to the governour , which , is indeed incident to all humane affairs ; nor could , by the greatest wisdome and forecast imaginable , be avoided : to judge by successe is irrational ; for many times weak councels take effect , when the best-digested designes are frustrated , for as much as chance and accident have a share in both : i could be copious upon this subject , and plentiful in instances , but i designed onely a few hasty reflexions , and a running discourse . the end. pray , reader , amend these few lapses of the presse as followeth : page the 1. line the 6. for from read for , p. 2. l. 2. for when , with , p. 6. l. 16. for were , we . p. 9. l. 1. for sir. sire , p. 10. l. 1. for their , three , l. 9. for donysor , donysa . p. 15. l. 12. for shrond shroud . p. 16. l. 4. for polinure , palinure . l. 11. for straphades , strophades l. 14. for harpynian , harpyian , p. 41. l. 10. for clyclops , cyclops . p. 61. l. 10 for port poet. notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a65116-e830 a polymnestor , who married ilione , priams eldest daughter . * cretan . a the present king of crete . b the ancient name of delos . a the cretans anciently so called . a to wit , italus . b italie . a a name of italie . b phoebus . a the master of aeneas his ship. a ulysses his father . a hectors wife , who with helenus priams son , was carried away captive , by pyrrhus , achilles son , and king of epirus . a hector . b polyxena , one of priams daughters , sacrific'd by pyrrhus at achilles tomb . a menelaus his daughter , betrothed to pyrrhus , who was slain also by his rival orestes at apollo's altar , as achilles his father was . b creusa : see the second book . a helenus son of priam. a helenus . a magna grecia , the coast of calabria inhabited by the greeks : those he mentions here , are such as after the trojan war , had planted themselves in those parts of italie . a see our notes upon the 6. book . a sibylla ; see our notes upon the 6 th . book . a sibylla ; see our notes upon the 6 th . book . a anchises . a helenus . a sicilia a a name of ulysses . a the bay of siracruse notes for div a65116-e12930 the com-wealth . the foure parts thereof the prince . 1 his piety . 2 his wisdome 3 his valour . aen . 1 aen . 3. aen . 3. the counsel . 3 the great minister of state. sen. de consol . ad marcian . 4 the people . the conclusion . virgil's bucolicks engished [sic]. vvhereunto is added the translation of the two first satyrs of iuvenal. by iohn bidle bucolica. english virgil. 1634 approx. 102 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 32 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a14498 stc 24821 estc s119265 99854472 99854472 19895 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a14498) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 19895) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1044:3) virgil's bucolicks engished [sic]. vvhereunto is added the translation of the two first satyrs of iuvenal. by iohn bidle bucolica. english virgil. biddle, john, 1615-1662. juvenal. satura 1-2. english. [62] p. printed by i[ohn] l[egat], london : 1634. in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: a-d (-d8). 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ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng 2006-04 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-05 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-05 taryn hakala sampled and proofread 2007-05 taryn hakala text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virgil's bvcolicks engished . whereunto is added the translation of the two first satyrs of ivvenal . by iohn bidle . — baccare frontem cingite , ne vati noceat mala lingua futuro . london . printed by i. l. 1634. to the worshipfvll , his most worthy patron , iohn smith of nibly esquier , mecaenas of the wottonian muses . sith , when you daigned to restore our schoole deflowr'd , defac'd before , your favorite hee did commence , and hansell your munificence ; that of his muse he well may call you the maine base , and pedestall ; and a bad debtor 't is ( they say ) that never can resolve to pay : he , sir , ( for his lanke fortunes poore affords him now no better store ) in tender of his service due , this moity presents to you , ( the firstlings of his fruits ) that will remaine your gratefull hench-man still , iohn bidle . to the readers . ingenuous readers , question you may , with what front i ( enlisted ( i confesse ) among the rable of home-bread versifiers ) dare thrust upon the world this abortive pamphlet : shall i tell you ? i dreamt nothing lesse , but was entasked to undertake this unwilling willing labour . but not to goe about the bush , if you reake not of this apologie , ( i pray you ) sith every capricious brain-sicke rimer so pestersthe world with the uncouth chimaeraes of his owne fancy , why should not i disvellop the flag of my muse ? which though shee bee home-spun , and savors of rusticity , yet fearing to rove at random after selfe-plotted and new-fangled trickes ; ( in which respect shee may extort , though not praise yet pardon ) hath chosen to confine her-selfe within the precincts of translation , and here presents you with these pastoralls ( which were first coated by the prince of latin poets in a roman garb ) now shifted into an english habit . as for the worke it selfe , i could wish i had performed it throughout with such dexterity , as might have indeered , and ingaged your liking : but sith ( as i mistrust ) i have not in some places , upon just admonition , none shall bee more ready to agnize his errors , and amend them , than my selfe . iohn bidle . virgil's bvcolicks . the first eclogve , or , tityrvs . the argvment . blest tityrus his fautor god doth stile , whilst melibie deplores his hard exile . meliboevs . tityrvs . thou , tityrus , in shroud of beech , dost play on slender oaten-pipe a sylvan lay ; our native confines we abandon : we our pleasant granges , & our country flee : thou , tityrus , i' th' shade reposing still , learn'st the woods to resound faire amarill . tit. god is the source of this our happy rest , o melibaeus ! him i will invest ay with that name ; a tender lambling , ta'n from our cotes , oft his altars shall distain . my neat to freely graze ( thou seest : ) and me on reed to play my fill , permitted he. me. sure i envie not , but admire thy state : through all our countrey , ev'ry where , of late , we by the souldier are embroiled so . far-off i , sickly , drive my goatlings , lo , and , tityrus , can scarce this lug along ; for earst she eaning , th' hazels thicke among , her twins , the flock's hope , on a bare flint letr . oft this disaster ( had we not been rest ( dull sots ! ) of sence ! ) the lightning-blasted okes by sure ostents portended , and the rook's ill-boading notes from th' hollow holmen tree ! but tell me , tit'rus , who that god should bee . ti. with that vast city , which they rome doe call , i ( foole ! ) did parallel our mantua small , where oft we , shep-heards , sell our tender lambs . now i haue known thus kidlings like their dams ; whelps , like their bitches : thus compare i did great things with small : but her cloud-threatning head as much 'bove other cities towreth up , as cypresses the dwarfe shrubs over top . me. and what such great cause hadst thou rome to see ? ti. sweet liberty , which re-saluted mee with later , but with better visits farre , after my downy beard i first did sheare . she re-saluted me , and came agen long after , since that galataea ( when me amarillis had ) deserted me . for ( for i will confesse ) of libertie no hope , no care of my estate i had ; while i with rustick galataea staid . though many a victim from my sheepe folds went , and fat cheese to that thank-lesse towne i sent , yet ne'r my fist well-monied did returne . me. i mus'd why thou the gods didst call and mourne ; and for whose sake thou sufferd'st , amarill the ripe fruit on the trees to dangle still — 't was tityrus went hence ; the pine-trees tall , thee , tityrus , the founts , and groves did call . ti. what should i doe ? me from the servile yoke i neither could loose , nor , else-where , invoke the like propitious gods. here , melibie , i did that vn-corrivald stripling see , for whose sole sake twice sixe dayes ev'ry yeere , our altars smoak . he first my wishes here sing'd with these answerrs ; boys ( as earst ye did ) yoke your vn-wilded buls , your oxen feed . me. blest old-man , therefore shall thy country grange remaine , and big enough for thee to range : " though it an over-peering hill doth bound , " and a thick muddy plash bemoat it round " tn'vn-wonted clover shall not hurt thy stocke of pregnant ewes : nor shall thy neighbour's flock infect them with the scab . old happy man , here shalt thou ' mongst the wel known rivers than , and sacred springs , be with coole brieses fand , on this side , th' hedge , that parts thy neighbors land from thine , ( which for the blooming willow-trees is alwaies haunted by hyblaean bees ) thee shall invite , with gentle buzzing noise to take sweet naps oft . with exalted voice sing shall ( on t' other side ) the loppers shrill , downe at the bases of a lofty hill. nor shall hoarse ring-doves ( thy care ) cease to woo ; nor turtle from the airy elme to coo . ti. the light stags therefore shall feed in the sky , and seas leave on the shore their fishes dry : ( deserting both their native country's blis ) the exild parthian shall drinke araris ; the german , ty●●is : from his countenance 'fore i my min●●ull hearts eyes will askance . me. but we , some to the thirsty africans , hence quick will poast ; some to the scythians ; to cretan swift oaxis some confin'd ; and britons quite from the whole world disjoin'd . lo i shall i ( wretched exile ) kenning e're my native confines , after many a yeare ; and turf thatcht contect of my cottage poore , ( my petty kingdome ) it admire therefore ? shall th' impious souldier be possest of these so-well tild earshes ? the barbarian seaze these crops ? lo ! neighbours to what miserie discord hath brought vs ? lo ! for whom have we sown our manured acres ! pear-trees now grafe . melihoeus ; into ranges bow thy vines ! ye bounding goats , avant , avant ye ( sometime happy ) goats ! far-off : i sha'n't , ( in a greene cave imbowl'd ) hereafter you , from a thorn-bristled mountaine hanging view . to you no war bling ditties shall i sing ; the flowring cythisse ( i you pasturing ) nor then the bitter willowes shall you brouz . ti. but yet vouchsafe my shed thy rendez-vouz . this night , and on green leaves repose with me ; we ( for thy supper ) mellow apples ; we fresh-gathered chest nuts have at home , and store of new-made cheese : and now bemisted o're with dusky smoake are th' hamlets summits all , and greater shadowes from high mountaines fall . the second eclogve . or , alexis . the argvment . thril'd with god cupid's shafts , ( though in despaire ) poore corydon pursues alexis faire , the shepheard corydon lov'd alexis faire , his masters darling : but with hope lesse care. he only to the glades his course did frame , and ' mongst the tufted beeches daily came ; there did he to the woods , and mountaines vent this moody ditty , with a vaine intent . alexis dire ! thou sleight ' st all layes of mine ! relent-lesse art ! mak'st me to die ( in fine ! ) now even the cattell in the shade reside : now thorn-full brakes even the greene lizards hide . thestylis , for the mowers tir'd i' th sun , now garlicke , and wild-bettony deth pun , strong-senting hearbs : but with my warbling sound , and grashopper's hoarse notes the groves rebound , as i in quest of thee ( while phoebus glowes ) do roam . was it not better me t' expose to amaril's sad ire , and haughty pride ? not better was 't menalcas to abide ? though he were blacke , thou white . faire , none-such be not too-confident on beauty's blaze . ( face , vnsullied privet-flowres do fall ( we see ; ) blacke violets are cropt . thou scornest mee , nor , who i am , enquit'st ; what store i keepe of milke ; how many snow-white fleeced sheepe . my thousand ewes stray on sicilian hils ; when summer scorches , and when winter chils , new-milke i have : such quav'ring airs i sing , as that sweet hymnist , ( the heards summoning ) theban amphion earst to chant was wont , in aracinth , that on the shore doth front . nor am i so deform'd , this face of mine . i viewd i' th mirror of the calmed brine , late standing on the beach ; contend i dare , thou iudge , ( if true's my counterfeit ) for faire with daphnis . o , would it might please thee well , i' th' countrey ( sor did deem'd of thee ) to dwell ! and seat thy mansion in our low-built sheds ; and stage transfix ; and drive the frisking kids to the marsh mallowes , chanting th' woods among , like pan , the diapason of thy song . pan many reeds did first together glue with wax : pan favours sheep , and sheep heards too . nor e'r repent t' have worn thy lip with play : how toild amy 〈…〉 t for skill in musick 's lay ? with seven unequall reeds a pipe i have compact , which earst damatas to me gave , and dying ( thou' rt the second owner ) said ; he spake : amyntus envi'd , ill apaid . besides two young-rces , in an vn-safe vale late found , i have ; whose yet-py'd skins are all be-spect with white ; they suck dry ev'ry day an ew's two teats ; which earst to have away me thestylis importun'd , and she shall , because thou prizest not our gifts at all . faire boy , come hither ; lo ! in crowded maunds the nymphets bring thee lilyes . with her hands spruse nais , cropping tops of poppys stammell , and violets , thy ghirlands doth enammell made with narcissus sweet , and lushious dill ; then adding other hearbs of fragrant smell , the hyacinth she deftly doth be-frindge with the fine mary-gold of saffron i indge . my-selfe i 'l downy quinces pluck with care , and chest-nuts , to my amarillis deare ; soft plums i 'l add , and honour shall accrew to them ; and o ye laurels , crop-off you , thee , amarous myrtle , next ; for placed thus , perfumes ye mixe most odoriferous . thou' rt carydon a clown : alexis fair thy gifts doth scorne ; iölas debonair , ( if gifts enforce thy claim ) will thee out-vy : alas ! what meant i wretch ? let in have i to th' flowrs danke auster , whiffing with his wings ; fount-troubling bores , to the pure christall springs . from whom , ah frantick boy , dost fling so fast ? even gods have in the woods their mansion plac't , and paris : in her selfe-rais'd turrets bright let pallas dwell ; vs the woods sole delight the lionesse , the wolfe : the wole doth vse the goat to follow : the blith goat pursues the cythisse : thee , alexis , coridon . all fancys choice delights attend upon . the bullocks , lo , bring home againe the plows ; and sol departing , 'bout earth's gloomy brows night ' gins to spread her curtaines : yet i glow with love ; for what mean doth fell cupid know what thus infuriates thee , corydon ? a vine thou hast at home halfe prun'd , upon a leavie elone ; go , rather osiers take , and pliant bul-rushes , and quickly make vtensils needfull . if this prove vn-kind , a debonair alexis thou shalt find . the third eclogve . or , palaemon . the argvment . the sheep-heards entring lists with furious rage , are stickled by palaemon's vmpirage . menalcas . damoetas . palaemon . me vvho owns these sheepe , damoetas ? melibie ? da. no , aegon ; aegon lately took'em me. me still hap-lesse sheepe ! while aegon ( courting her ) feares lest neoera met ' him-selfe prefer : the ewes each howre this hireling milketh twice , that both exhausted is the cattels iuice , and the poore lamblings of their milke beguild . da. but , sir , to men those feats up-braid more milde . we know where thou , looking askew , wast tane , and ( out the gentle nymphs smild ) in what fane . me. t was then , when mycon's copse they saw me top with an ill cycle , and his new vines lop . da. or , at th' old beeches , here , when daphnis bow , and shafts thou brok'st : which when re-given , thou , perverse menalcas , sawst , thy choller sweld , and ( he vn-spited ) spleen thy life had queld . me. when such buffons even theevish servants bee , then what shall masters doe ? did i not see thee , varlet , stealing damons goat , when i , his mongrell barking , holla thiefe , did cry ? and said ; in one my flocks drive , tit'rus , here ; then didst thou skulke behind a sedgy peere . out sung by me , should he the goat , before gaind by my pipes demerit , not restore ? if thou knowst not , 't was mine , confest to me by damon , but surrendred could not be . me. thou , him , in singing — hadst a pipe e'r glude with waxe ? wa st thou not wont , thou bungler rude , tinfest the high-waies with thy yels , and double thy balefull ditties with a squeeking stuble . da. by turne shalls both our skills in singing try ? this heifer i lay down ( left thou deny , twice a-day milkt , two sucklings fosters she ) say for what wager thou wilt cope with me. me. nought of the flocke with thee ingage i must : a sire i have at home , a step-dame curst . both twice a-day the sheepe ; the kids she tells besides . but , what thy selfe shall say excells , ( sith thou' rt so peevish ) i will bett a paire of beechen cups , carv'd by that artist rare alcimedon : on which a pliant vine most featly turnd , doth amorously combine with berry'd ivy ; embost , midst of all , two figures are , conon , and ( what i call ) he , that with 's iacob-staffe this mundan bowle , when mowers should py'd tellus tresses powle , describ'd what seasons are for plow-men fit : which with my lips vntoucht i keepe as yet . da. so two for vs the same alcimedon made , whose eares soft twining bears-foot doth o'r shade ; i' th' midst he orpheus , and th' woods following set : which with my lips vntoucht i keepe as yet . the heifer view , thou ' lt not the cups inhance . me. thou shalt ne'r scape to day . i will advance on any terms : let 's only put it to yon' mans arbitrement . palamon lo ! i 'l make ye , sirra , never dare agen . let 's to 't ; no stay shall be found in me then , nor reake i any . only this i pray , neighbour palaemon peiz it ; 't is no toy . pa. sing , sith we in the tender grasse repose , and now each meadow , now each sapling blowes ; the woods now flourish , the yeare 's fairest now. begin , damaetas , first ; then follow thou menalcas . ye shall both by turne rehearse : the sacred muses love alternate verse . da. my song beginneth from all-filling jove : he 's tellus fautor : he my verse doth love . me. and me don phoebus favours : his gifts ay i have , both sweet red hyacinth , and bay. da. at me an apple galataea flings : ( first ey'd by me ) then to the willow springs . me. but me amynt , un-woo'd , doth visit so , that our dogs doe not better delia know . da. i for my minion have got gifts : for i a neast of airy ring-doues earst did spy . me. ten limmons to the boy , ( so stored then ) i sent : i 'l send to-morrow t' other ten. da. what words to vs did galataea say ? some part , ye winds , to the gods eares convay ! me. what boots it though , amynt , thou lov'st me , the bores thou chacest , if i keep the toiles ? ( whiles da. iôlas , phillis send ( my birth-day 't is : ) come thou , when i to ceres sacrifice . me. she hath my heart : my going she did rue , saying , fair jôlas , long adieu , adieu . ( downe ; da. the wolfe , the stals ; ripe fruits , showrs drizling trees , boistrous winds annoy ; me , phillis frowne . me. withy love teeming cattell ; corne , a showr ; kids , arbuts ; i , amynt my paramour . da. our muse ( though rustick ) is to pollio deare ; ye muses , for your reader feed a steare . me. a bull feed for him , ( he the poet plaies ) whole hornes may grow , whose hooves the sand may raise . da. let thy friend , polli● , come where thou dost come , let hony flow there ; thornes beare amomum . me. who hates not bavius rimes , let him love thine , ranke maevius : he-goates milke , and foxes ioyne . da. ye boys , that flowers , and strawb'rys plucke apace , fly hence ; a cold snake lurketh in the grasse . me. let not the sheepe approach the banke too nigh a now even the ram his soaked fleece doth dry . da. my goatlings , tit'rus , from the river bring : when time shall serve , i 'l rinse'em in the spring . me. lads , shroud the ewes : if their milke dri'd up be , ( as lare ) in vaine their vdders squeez shall we. da. how lanke my bull is in a pasture battle ! the same love pines the master , and the cattle . me. love 's not the cause these bare-bon'd are , & flender : some ill eye fascinates my lamblings tender . da. tell ( and thou shalt be great appollo ) where heav'n three els open ( no more ) doth appeare . me. tell where flowrs grow , upon whose crowners fine kings names are writ , and phyllis shall be thine . pa. no such great mutuall fewd compose must we , thou' rt worthy of the heifer , so is he ; and who-e'r bitter tryes , or sweet loves dreads . lads shut the rivers , sated are the meads . the fovrth eclogve . or , pollio . the argvment . reviving sibyl's verse , in golden rimes , our poet here presageth golden times . sicilian muses now some loftier strain : low tamarisks , and shrubs do never gain all fancies liking . if we caroll forth the woods , the woods may suit the consul's worth , laps'd now 's the iron age by sibyl sung : a-fresh the old worlds renovation's sprung : the virgin now returnes , and saturn's raigne : now a new off-spring's sent of heavenly strain . this boy ( the period of the iron age , that doth , lucina , golden times presage ) his mother's pregnant womb as thy hand laies , favour : the scepter thy apollo swayes . this blist-full age , thou consul , shall begin , drad pollio , and the great moneths vsher in . then civill-wars surviving relicks quel'd , from feare to quit the earth shall be compel'd . he shall be deifide in blest abodes , seeing , and seen of heroes mixt with gods. and with his father's martiall prowes , the earth composed , rule . but , sweet boy , on thy birth , tellus , uncultivated , shall bestow green lady-gloves and crawling ivy too , as her first gifts ; and beares-foot virent still , mixt with egyptian-beans of lushious smell . their vdders stuft with milk the she-goats shall bring home ; nor lyon saw the heards at all . most odoriferous flowers shall proceed even from thy cradle , and each bain-full weed dy , with the serpent : sprouting ev'ry where assyrian amomum shall appeare . but when thy sire's exploits , and heroes fame thou , reading , shalt discerne true vertues name , the field shall yellow grow with eares of corn , and red grapes dangle on th' ncultive thorn ; and fragrant hony from hard-okes shall drain . yet shall few seeds of ancient fraud remain , towns causing to immure , and thetis sweep with keels , and slice the earth with surrowes deep . another famous typhis shall be then ; another argo , to waft o'r agen selected heroes ; other warres befall ; again great-sould achilles illium scale . when thou a man shalt be , to saile the brine the marriner shall cease ; no nauticke pine shall barter wares . all lands all things shall beare . the glebe then tooth full harrowes shall not teare , nor shall the vine abide the pruning hooke : the hardy plow man shall his bulls un-yoke . wooll various colours shall not counterfeit : their fleeces now with red-mixt purple sweet , now dy with saffron yellow shall the rams ; bright sandix shall invest the feeding lambs . the parcae ' greeing by fates fixt decree , said to their spindles , rowl such times of glee . vaut ( 't will be time ) into the regall throne , loves great increase , th' immortal's dearest sonne , the world , lo , reels with sin 's stupendious fraight ! earth , seas , heavens boundlesse regiōrs shrink with waight ! see , in the age-to-come how all reioyce ! may i so long extend my life , and voyce , thy deeds in strains heroïck to rehearse ! not thracian orpheus should out-shrill my verse , nor linus : though calliope , his mother , should second orpheus : his fire phoebus , t'other . arcadia iudge , strove pan with me in lays , arcadia iudge , he should resigne the bays . 'gin , little boy , to know thy mother's smiles : ten moneths have brought thy mother tedious toiles . begin : his god ( whose parents have not laught ) a board ; a bed , his goddesse ne'r vouchaft . the fifth eclogve . or , daphnis . the argvment . their daphnis death in swan-like tunes deplor'd , the swains consorting mutuall gifts afford . menalcas . mopsvs . me. vvhy , mopsus , doe we not ( sith both skild meet , thou , to blow light reeds , i , to caroll sweet ) amid these hazel-inchas'd elms reside ? mo. you are my senior ; you t' obey i 'm tide , beneath uncertaine shades while zephyr blowes whether we lie , or in some cave repose ; lo how a wild-vine doth this grot bespread , his dangling clusters thinly scattered ! me. the sole amynt shall combat in our hils . mo. what if , in singing , phoebus he out-shrils ? me. sing , mopsus , first , or phyllis loves to raise ; or scouling codrus death ; or alcons praise . begin ; thy feeding kidds shall tit'rus tend . mo. yea ( late which in a beeches rine i pend ) these verses tun'd by course vnto my reed , i 'l try ; then bid amyntas to succeed . me. as pliant osiars , to pale olive trees ; low lavander , to purple rosaries ; so much we iudge amyntas stoops to thee . mo. cease boy , for we thy grot are entred , see . the nymphs condol'd their butcherd daphnis deare , to them ye streames , and hazels record beare : when clipping her dead son 's ruth-moving corse , his mother blam'd the gods and stars dire force . none , daphnis , drove their full-stuft near to drinke , nor any cattell sipt the river's brinke , nor in those dayes once toucht a blad of grasse . that punick lyons did thy death ( alas ! ) bemoan , the woods and savage mountaines tell . he harnest first hyrcanian tygres fell : he first to bacchus instituted dances , and first with soft leaves wreathed pliant lances . as vines do trees , as grapes doe vines adorne , the heards as bulls , as fallow lands the corne : so thou thine crownest . when thee fates bereft , our fields even pales , and apollo left . where we plump barly sowd in furrowes late , base darnell , and wild-oates predominate : for the soft vi'let , purple daffadill , our meadowes prickly furse , and thistles fill . ye sheepheards strow the ground with leaves , & flowers your fountaines seele with enterbroided bowes , ( for daphnis so commands ) and him interr , with this inscription on his sepulcher , i daphnis in the woods , hence known to th' air ; a fair flocks keeper , but my selfe more fair. me. such is thy verse to vs , poet divine , as , tir'd , in grasse to sleep , or to incline our head to quench ( in scorching summer's heat ) our thirst , at some sweet capering rivulet . for thou not onely with thy reeds shrill noise , but equallest thy master with thy voyce . o happy lad , thou shalt his second bee ! yet we however w 〈…〉 l re-chant to thee . our verse , and to the stars advance thy peare we 'l daphnis stellify : he lov'd vs deare . mo. can any boon endear vs more ? he , young , deserv'd to be enhanced with a song . and stimichon earst prais'd to vs those laies . me. heaven's portall deify'd daphnis doth amaze , and views the clowds , and stars beneath his feet . therefore the frolick woods , and countrey sweet , pan , swains , and virgin ▪ dryads now are rapt with ioy ; nor doth the wolfe ( to prey so apt ) worry the sheep , nor guilefull toiles cisease the fearefull stags : good daphnis loveth peace . the wood-crown'd mountaines make the welkin ring with shouts of glee ; the rocks , the groves do sing , menalcas , he 's a god! propitious bee to shine : foure altars lo ! two recar'd to thee , god daphnis : two up for apollo set . to thee two foaming cups with milke repleat , with oyle as many 〈…〉 alott each yeare : with liberall bacchus as thy wakes i chear , i'th'hearth , if cold ; if hot , in shady bowre . i 'l chian wine ( as sweet as nectar ) powre from turn'd up bowls . while i performe this thing , damaetas shall with lyctian aegon sing . alphe sibaeus shall trip nimble rounds , like to the frisking satyrs . when our grounds we expiate , and pay our solemn vowes vnto the nymphs , thou still shalt have these dues . whilst the fish loves the streams , the boar the hill , bees feed on thyme ; on dew grashoppers shrill : thy honour , name , and praise shall still remain . to bacchus , and to ceres as the swain makes yeerely vowes , he shall to thee : and thou shalt bind him with a curse to pay his vow . mo. how shall i guerdon thee for such a lay ? for neither whilstling auster's gale ( i say , ) nor b●llow-beaten rocks delight me so ; nor r●ls that perle through stony vallyes low ! me. but we this slender pipe will give thee first . this [ corydon lov'd faire alexis ] verst ; this taught [ whose sheep , damaetas ? melibies ? ] mo. take thou this sheeps . crook ( which antigenes oft beg'd in vain ▪ and yet a lovely friend ) near for the equall knots , and brazen end. the sixth eclogve , or , silenvs , the argvment . dread varus prais● . silenus , whittled , sings the earths beginning , & the change of things . to sport first in a syracusian strain , and woods frequent , did my thalia daigne . when kings , and horred wars i loudly sung , apollo pluckt my eare , and checkt my tongue . a sheep-heard feed his sheepe must , tityrus ; make slender verses , not robustious . now i ( for , varus , enow will in verse desire thy acts , and sad wars to rehearse ) will tune on slender reed a rusticke lay. infranchiz'd is my muse . if any may , if any these of meere love read , thy worth our tamarisks , each grove shall warble forth , nor e'r a page more deare to phoebus came , than to whose front prefixt is varus name . sing , muses . cromis , and mnasylus saw silenus yawn , as in a cave he lay , veine-swoln with yersterday's too-liberall bowls : his flowry chaplet from his temples rowls , his eare-worne massy flagon hangs fast by . invading him ( for oft the old fox sly , with hope of verses them deluded had ) of his soft anadems him bonds they made . aegle , as mate , forth-with accrewes to these ; aegle , the fairest of the naiades : and now ( silenus well enough it spys ) his front , and temples with red mulb'ries dyes . he , smiling at the trick , said , why d' ye ty me ? wags , loose ; it is enough you did espie me. lo your so-long wisht-boon ! you verses take ; she shall have some gift else . and so bespake , then savages , and fauns , at his tunes brave did dance levoltoes , and okes summits wave , not his mount , phoebus so ; th' ismarian spire , or rhodope so orpheus did admire . for , first , how atoms met , and did give birth , conjoin'd in that vast chaos , unto earth , to fire , to aire , to water : how from all these firsts proceeded each originall : and how the world 's unstable globe complide ; how th' earth it did consolidate , and divide salt nereus from the fresh , and things formes bore , and sol's bright rayes amaz'd , unseene before : and how by praecipies the showrs do fall from elevated clouds : th' originall of woods he sung , and how through mountaines strange the animals , at first , did thinly range . then pyrrha's cast-stones ; saturn's monarchy ; caucasean fowl ; prometheus theevery ; and how the saylers , fount-drencht hyle unfound , cry'd , that the shore did hylas , hylas sound . and ( happy , had there ne'r bin heards ) doth cheer pasiphae with the love of snow-white steer . ah hap-lesse maid ! what madnesse thee doth sease ? the three infuriated praetides did with false lowing fill the spacious fields , but to such coiture of buls none yeilds , though her neck feard the plow , and shee was wont to seeke horns on her smooth un-horned front. ah hap-lesse maid ! thou now on hils dost stray , he on the hyacinth his white side doth lay , and halfe digested grasse again doth chew beneath a holy-oke , or doth purse some cow in the great heard ▪ shut up your lawns , shut up , dictaean nymphs , now : if by chance some foot-tracks of the bull ( as 'bout we chase ) meet our retriving eys : with verdant grasse or ta'n perhaps , or , the heards following , him to the cretan stals some kine doe bring . then chants her that th' hesperides fruit of gold so much admir'd ; then mossy films infold th' heliades , who spine to aldars tall , with such dexterity he limns em all . how gallus , when he at permessus straid , one muse into th' aonian hils convaid ; and chants how all the chore of phoebus than rose up , and did obeysance to the man. how with divining verse ( his tresse impal'd with flowry wreathes , and parsly bitter call'd ) sheep-keeping linus thus to him did sing . thee these reeds ( take 'em lo ! ) the muses bring , th' ascraean sheep-heards once , whereon he 'd lay and sturdy ash●s from their seasures draw . now the grynaean wood's origen chant with these , that phoebus more of none may vant . why shall i nisus daughter seylla name how sung by him ? or t'other scylla fame , that , with dire yelping monsters hemb'd below , did tosse vlisses carvels to and fro : and in the tumid main's incensed billows , with her fierce sea-dogs worried all his fellowes . or , how he changed tereus limbs exprest ? or for h●m philomela's gifts , and feasts ? how , he , woods haunting , a bird's forme assumes , but flies about his house first rais'd with plumes ? all which eurotas ( phoebus turning earst ) did hear , and bad his laurels learne , rehearst . he sings , with repercussion of the sound the vallies ring , and ecchoing do rebound : till in the foulds the counted sheep t'inshrine ( maugre olympus ) vesper did injoine . the seventh eclogve . or , meliboevs . the argvment . sweet corydon , out-shrilling thyrsis well , by melibaeus verdict beares the bell. meliboevs . corydon . thyrsis . me. beneath a whistling holm-tree daphnis sate ; and corydon , and thyrsis did of late drive both their foocks together into one : thyrsis , his seepe ; milke-stuft goats , corydon . both striplings ; both you 'd thinke of arcady ; both matcht to sing , and ready to reply . while shrouding myrtles from bleake winds i staid , the flock-conducting he-goat hence had straid : and i see daphnis : when me once he spyes , come hither melibaeus quick , he cryes : safe is thy goat , and kids , ne'r vex for those , and , if thou canst stay , in the shade repose . thy bullocks , of their own accord , to drinke will hither come ; here the greene grassy brinke of gamesome mince , with quiv'ring reeds is crownd , and from the sacred oke the swarmes resound . what should i do ? alcippe , phyllis i had not , at home my weaned lambs to try ; and the swaines did contend in ve'ment sort ; yet to my worke preferd i their disport . then both strove in alternate verses terse ; the muses crav'd an amebaean verse ; these corydon ; those thyrsis 'gan rehearse . co. our loy , lebethrian nymphs , me such a vaine as codrus ( phoebus second ) either daign , or if all cannot make a verse diuine , hang shall my shrill pipe on this sacred pine. th. arcadian swaines ( that codrus guts with spleen may breake ) your poet deck with ivy green : or if he praise extort , his fore-head wreath with lady-gloves , ' gainst cordrus blasting breath . co. this boar's head mycon to thee doth import ; these antliers , delia , of a long-liv'd hart ; but grant this boon , in polisht marble now , calve-bound with purple buskins , stand fhalt thou . th a bowl of milke , these cakes ( expect no more , ) priapus , keeper of our hort-yard poore . now doth a marble statue thee infold ; but if our flocks increase , be all of gold. co. o galataea , sweeter than the thyme ! more white than swans ; than ivy pale more prime , when our buls fed shall to the stals go home , ( for corydon if ought thou carest ) come . th. more bitter than sardinian hearbs to thee , than broome , or sea-weeds baser let me be , if longer than a yeere is not this day . for shame , ye full-fed steers , away , away . co. cool mossy fountaines , sleep-alluring grasse , greene arbuts , that with thin shades you imbrace , the cattell from the sun-sted fence about ; now on the tendrell the buds burgeon out . th. a hearth , fat tapers , still much fire is here , and black smoake-collied posts : as much we care for boreas , as wolves for sheeps numerous ranks , or rain-incensed torrents for their banks . co. our iunipers , our chest-nuts rough are full , thou apples under each tree strow'd maist cull : all now laugh ; let alexis absent be from these hils , you should rivers stream lesse see . th. fieldes rive , the sultery air the herbage kils ; liber the vine-leaves envies to the hils : woods phillis comming shall with verdure crown , and vegetating love with showrs bring downe . co. the poplar , herc'les ; bacchus loves the vine ; the laurel , phoebus ; myrtle , venus fine ; the hazels phyllis loves : which while she doo , yeeld shall the myrtle , phoebus laurel too . th. the wild-ash , th' woods ; the pine the hort-yards crowns ; the poplar rivers ; the tall fyrre the downs . faire lycidas , but ofter visit mee , wild-ash , and garden-pine shall stoop to thee . me. this i record ; foil'd thyrsis did put on in vaine : since that time , for vs , corydon . the eighth eclogve . or , pharmacevtria . the argvment . false fickle nisa , damon infamizes : alphesibie for daphnis , spels devizes . damon . alphesiboevs . vve 'l damon's , and alphesiboeus laies ; with whose sweet chants a heifer stood at gaze , and rivers , ravisht , did surcease to glide ; and with whose verses were lynxes stupifide : we 'l damons , and alphesibaeus laies relate . assist thou , if thou passest 'ore now great timovus , or th' illyrian shore . lo ! that i may eternize with my rimes thy martiall feats , will ever be those times ? that thy verse may by me be o'r the world ( sole suiting sophoclean buskin ) hurld ? from thee my rise ; to thee my end i 'l make ; verses at thy command composed take ; and suffer this my wreath of lvie small , amongst thy conqu'ring bays , thy brows t' impale . now scarce contracted were nights curtains sable , ( the dew to th' cattell then most acceptable ) thus damon , leaning on an olive spray . da. rise , lucifer , and usher in the day ; whilst i , inveigled with her couz'ning love , of nisa's lure complaine , and pitty moove : and now accoast the gods , in fine , apall'd ; though i them oft to record bootlesse call'd . begin with me , my pipe , maenalian layes . shrill woods hath maenalus , and vocall pines ; to shep-heards love complaining songs inclines he his eares still ; and pan , who reeds , of yore , taught tunes to vary , rude compos'd before . begin with me , my pipe , maenalian layes . ill-favour'd mopsus doth faire nisa wed . what is there , that we lovers may not dread ? the gryphins , henceforth , shall with horses link ; and stags with stag-infesting dogs shall drink ; new tapers cut , for thou a wife dost wed ; nuts , mopsus , strow , from oeta hesper's fled . begin with me , my pipe , maenalian layes . to worthy husband ioin'd ! while scorning all my pipe thou slight'st , my bounding goats as small ; my rough-hair'd ey-brow , and my dangling beard ; and ween'st no god doth mortall things regard . begin with me , my pipe , maenalian layes . a goat-heard , i thee , with the mother , view'd , when little , gath'ring aples all be-dew'd , within our hegde fenc'd grounds ; then entred had the second from th' eleventh year me t' invade . then under-boughes i could reach o'r my head : no sooner seen , how undone ! how mislead ! begin with me , my pipe , maenalian layes . now what the godling cupid is , i see ; or craggy ismarus , or rhodope , or farthest garamants that rock-born brood produc't , not of our progeny or bloud . begin with me , my pipe , maenalian layes . love taught a mother to distain , for ire , in her son's gore her hands ; a mother dire ! a fiercer mother , or a fiercer ●ad ? the mother cruell , and the boy was bad. begin with me , my pipe , maenalian layes . now let the wolfe fly from the sheep's pursuit : now let hard okes be charg'd with golden fruit : let th' aldar flourish with the daffadill : let tamarisks fat amber now distill : owles cope with swans : tit'rus put orpheus on : orpheus , in woods ; ' mongst delphins , arion . begin with me , my pipe , maenalian layes . let all now turne to sea. adieu , ye woods . by headlong praecipies , into the floods , i 'l from this towring mountain's summit fall : this gift , as i expire , take last of all . leave off , pipe , now leave off maenalian layes . thus he. alphesibaeus answer too , ye muses chant : all cannot all things doo . al. maid , bring me out some water quickly quick , then with soft anadems , and ribbands thicke surround these altars , and suffumigate male frankincense , and oil-smear'd vervain fat ; t' infuriate with magicks dire alarms love-flying daphnis ▪ nought here wants , but charmes . my charmes fetch from the city daphnis home . charmes make bright cynthia from her orbe decline . th' incantresse circe did transforme to swine vlysses mates by charmes : the balefull snake charms in the meads to breake asunder make . my charmes fetch from the city daphnis home . i with this triple colour'd three-fold thred arround thee , and thy feature poutraicted three times about these sacred altars hale ; for god loves the odde number best of all . my charmes fetch from the city daphnis home . in three knots knit three thrums of triple dy ; quick , amarillis ; say , love-bonds i ty . my charms fetch from the city daphnis home . as this clay hard , and this waxe soft doth prove with the same fire : so daphnis with our love. sprinkle the cake , burne bay smear'd with bitume , he frys me ; i on him this bay consume . my charmes fetch from the city daphnis home . let daphnis be with such a love possest , as is a heifer , when ( tir'd with the quest of lust-full steer through groves , and devious woods ) she , loue-consum'd , reposeth on the floud's green marge , nor late at night doth thence depart ; such him surprize : nor let me cure impart . my charmes fetch from the city daphnis home . as his love-pawns , he ( now of trust bereft ) these cast impoverisht garments whilom left , which , earth , i sacre in the porch to thee . these daphnis must again restore to mee . my charmes fetch from the city daphnis home . these hearbs , and pontick simples earst bestow on me did moeris : store in pontus grow . vnder a wolvish forme by these he 'd hide , and skulking in the vncouth woods abide . transplant crops waving with mustacho'd eares , and raise up ghosts from their deep sepuchers . my charmes fetch from the city daphnis home . out , amaryllis , forth-with ashes bring , and them with head retrait i' th' river fling . i will encounter daphnis with these . armes : that reaks not for the gods , nor philter-charms . my charmes fetch from the city daphnis home . the altars , lo ! with quiv'ring flames have caught ; ( be it auspicious ! ) whilst that fire 's unbrought ! ( i know not what 't is ) and the fierce curre bawls . is 't true ? or phantick are all cupid's thrals . leave off , charmes , daphnis from the city coms . the ninth eclogve . or , moeris . the argvment . two rurals here bewaile , ( disaster strange ● ) in balefull notes , menalcas seased grange . lycidas . moeris . ly. vvhither , o moeris ? this way , to the city ? moe . we live , o lycidas , ( alas ! for pitty ! ) to heare a stranger , of our lands possest , ( which we poor wretches ever feared least ) say , these are mine ; avant ye ancient pesants . now we cashier'd , and sad , ( o chance ! ) for presents to him these kidlings ( may they choak him ) send . ly. certes i heard , where the hil's verge doth bend downe with feasable descent his bases , to crankling mincius , that the meads inchases , and the old beeches now-broke summit tall , that your menalcas by his verse kept all . moe . you heard ; 't was bruited so ; but our verse proves ' mongst warrs as powerfull , as chaonian doves , iove's bird assailing . which before if those vnwonted garboils quickly to compose , did not th' auspicious rooke me warning give , nor should thy moeris , nor menalcas live . ly. so desperately bent can any bee ? ah! were thy solace-giving layes with thee almost , menalcas ravisht ? who should sing the nymphs ? or th' earth imbellisht in the spring with flora's pride ? or drilling fountaines pure , o'r-shadowed with arbours coverture ? or ( going to our minion amaryll ) the verses late i stole from thee by skill ? tit'rus , while i returne ( short is the way ) my she-goats feed ; fed , them to drinke convay , and as thou driv'st them to the rivers fine , the he-goat ( butting with his horn ) decline . moe . yea these he sung to varus yet unfil'd , thy name ( we not of mantua dispoil'd . poore mantua , to cremona , ah ! too near ! ) vp to the twinkling starres the swans shall beare . ly. so may thy swarmes cyrnaean yews decline ! so may with milke thy cythisse-brouzing kine their vdders stuffe ! begin ( if ought thou hast ) ' mongst the poetick throng even i am plac't ; me the pierian sisters did install , and me swaines ( unbeleev'd ) a poet call : i mate not varus yet , nor cinna's strains , but gagle like a goose ' mongst vocall swains . moe . i do 't , and silent , with my selfe i scan ; 't is a brave strain , if call 't to mind i can . come , galataea ; in rough neptune's wave what pleasure is 't ? here snaking rillets lave flowr-motly'd banks ; here is a purple spring ; a sallow poplar a grot shadowing ; here cool vine-arbours shroud vs from the heate . come : ' gainst the beach let surly billows beat . ly. nay those i heard thee singing one cleer night : the tune i know , could i the words hit right , moe why dost thou , daphnis , ancient starres survay ? lo , dionaean caesar's doth display his clinquant head , corn-ears with grain t'indue , and hil-bred grapes with their ripe purple hue ! imp pear-trees , daphnis , for thy nephews shall gather the peares . time hurrieth with it all ; yea my frail mem'ry . i thinke how ( a boy ) i spent in singing many a summers day . those songs are now in deepe oblivion drownd . impeacht is moeris hoarce obstructed sound . the wolves saw moeris first . at his retreat , oft shall menalcas them to thee repeat . ly. pretending scuses , thou prolong'st our loves ; and now no sea with iustling surges moves ; the full-mouth'd murmuring gusts are silent , see ! and halfe-way of our iourney come are wee : for you ' bianor's tomb his raised top begins to shew . here , where the rurals lop their trees luxurious boughs , let 's caroll : here lay down thy kids : or if perchance we feare lest the night gather rain before , we may sing as we goe ; lesse hurt vs will the way . that we may do 't , thee of this load i 'l ease . moe . more of me , boy , now to desire surcease : let 's rather to an end our businesse bring ; when he him-selfe shall come we 'l better sing . the tenth eclogve . or , gallvs . the argvment . scorcht with idalian flames ; fond gallus is enamour'd on the strumpet cytheris . this last peece grant me , o kind arethuse ; some verses to my gallus must thou , muse , ( but such as let lycoris read ) rehearse ; ( who unto gallus would deny a verse ? ) so under sicil's seas when thy flood raves , may not salt doris mixe her briny waves ! cupid-thrild gallus , loves begin to rouz , whilst that the flat-nos'd goats the tendrels brouz . not to deafe hearers we our airs afford , the ecco-ringing woods our words re-word . what groves imbowr'd you , virgin naiades , while gallus perisht by such loves as these ? for neither towring pindus caus'd your stay , nor aganippe in aonia . nor yet parnassus spire . with one accord the tamariks , the laurels him deplord : beneath a lovely rocke reposing , thus condold lycaeus , pine-clad maenalus . the sheepe surround him priz'd in our esteem , nor thou them to be vainely slighted deem , o divine poet : ev'n adonis faire his sheepe did pasture at the rills with care. the sheep-heard tardy cow-heards thither drew ; from gathering winter acorns did accrew menalcas wet ; and then demand they all this fascinating love's originall . why art thou frantick , gallus , cryes apollo : for now thy darling doth another follow through the snow-shirted alpes , and horrid camps . next , pranckt with flowry wreathes , sylvanus ramps , and came with flowring feruls in his hand , and great unsully'd lillys . ruddy pan , the god that swayes arcadia then appear'd , with dane-wort berries , and vermillion smeard , and ( quoth he ) will there be no meane , nor measure ? such griefes as these to slight love takes a pleasure . nor teares dire love ; nor streames that gently float grasse satiate ; cythisse , bees ; nor leaves , the goat . yet thus he said , arcadians , ye this thing ( to sing sole skild ) shall in your mountains sing , what soft repose shall then my bones enjoy , if your pipe shall my loves hereafter play ? and would to god i had bin of your crew to tend your flock , or vintager to you ▪ were phyllis , or amyntas of renown my paramour ( what though amynt be brown ▪ blacke is the hyacinth , and violet ) beneath a willow-married vine we'd sit : me phyllis chaplets ( while amynt did sing ) should gather . here 's a coole , and pleasant spring , here soft enameld meadowes , here a grove , here my whole life , i 'de spend with thee , my love. now moody cupid , ' mongst hard warres alarms , and hostile troopes detaines me , hemb'd with armes , thou , hard lycoris , from the country farre ( may i , to give no credence to it , care ) without me through the alpes , and rhine dost trace . let no cold hurt thee , ah no keene yee race thy tender feet ! i 'l go , those layes that earst compos'd were in chalcidick numbers first , i 'l tune on the sicilian shep-heards reed . for , rather in the woods i have decreed my mansion 'mong the wild beasts dens to have , and in trees tender barks my loves ingrave : they shall increase : you , my loves shall increase . 'bout nymph-frequented maenalus i 'l chase , or boars intoil . parthenian lawns will i begird ( cold scorching ) with the loud-mouth'd cry. through clifts , and ecchoing woods ev'n now to go i seeme : cydonian flights from parthian bow i 'l twang : as though this may my fury cure , or cupid may to sympathize inure . but now again not hamadryades , nor verses themselves vs impatient please , woods yeeld again ; our toils him cannot change . though we through thracian snow i' th winter range , though then we drench our lips in hebrus floud : though when the barke rives on the elm we shou'd feed th' aethiop's sheepe , under the crab adust . love all subdues , and yeeld to love we must . this that your poet sung it shall suffice , ye muses , whilst he sitting wickers ties . to gallus make these layes , pierides , most deare : to gallus , whose love doth encrease to me each houre as much , as in the spring the aldar sprours . let 's go , to such as sing the shade's offensive , the iuniper's shade : and shades are hurtfull , when they fruits invade . full-fed , my browzing goats , go home , goe home , for night-reducing hesper now is come . finis . a satyrical essay , or the two first satyrs of ivvenal englished . by iohn bidle . est aliquid prodire tenùs , si non datur vltra . london . printed i. l. 1634. the epistle . marvell not , readers , that i set before you but this pittance : i was loth to cloy your appetites at the first , knowing ( on the one side ) that mens quesy and squemish stomacks rellish better the poinant suckets of a love-sonnet , or the iulips of a frothy epigram , than a homely ( though holesom ) dish of satyricall stuffe : and fearing withall ( on t'other side ) lest having cooked a great deale of this hard and sower-meat ill , i might have so distasted a truely judicious palat , as to have made it even sicke with loathing , being not able by reason of the quality ( much more the quantity ) without great annoyance , to concoct it . in this therefore ( in cooking i meane ) if i have greatly failed , i will willingly cry peccavi , and herein offend no more : if not , ( god helping ) present you with the second and third course . in the mean-time , gentlemen , rest you consent . iohn bidle . d. ivnivs ivvenal , his first satyr . the argvment . our author in his furious breast resolves , in like sort , to infest the tyring poets of his times , but with sharp-fang'd satyrick rimes ; urg'd in this rough career to prance , by rome's debaucht inhabitan's : as shamelesse lewd uiragoes first ; soft nice-lings , and informers cur'st ; pollers of wards ; wife-selling pimps ; will forgers , and incestuous imps ; chuffs ; dic●rs , with their boven lures ; excessive builders ; epicures . what ? shall i be a hearer onely still ? and ne'r to counter tire 'em try my quill , with bawling codrus vext , & pester'd thus , his poems , of the gests of thescus , so oft rehearsing , till he 's hoarse again ? scot-free shall one troule out to me amain , his curious smooth latin comedies ? another his soft amorous elegies ? and tyred thus on each side , ne'r shall i ? scot free shall that long tedious tragedy of telephus , be all-day-long recited ? or that of mad orestes , fury-frighted , the booke of a huge bulk ; in folio writ ; and ( th' margin full ) endorst ; nor ended yet ? none better knowes his house , than i the grove of dantlesse mars , sprung from the strain of love ; and thumping vulcan's forge , that doth o're-peere the seven aeolian rocky i lets neere . what pranks the whiffling winds are wont to play ; what ghosts sterne wracking aeacus doth pay ; from whence another steales the golden fleece , and beares it , through the surging brine , to greece ; what great wild-ashes monychus , in fight , vp-rives , and darts against the lapithite , muse-fostring fronto's walks his or-thards round , seeld with broad-spreading plane-trees , still resound . and 's roof 's ev'n shiverd downe with oft repeating , and marble columnes with the daily beating of yelling poets cryes ev'n broke , record , as if th' had conn'd it over every word . the dog-bolt poet , and the artist rare on the same subject descant every where . and we from th' fcrule have our hand with drawne and we , declaiming fained theams have ta'ne , and counseld sylla , his vast reach confinde , and 's troublesome dictatorship resignde , vnto a private life to buckle then , and sleepe secure . 't is foolish pitty , when you meet so many poets every where , a little worth-lesse paper for to spare . but why i rather list this race to run , rak't by arunca's noble foster-son : if you at leisure be , and like it well ; and of a reason will admit , i 'l tell . when a soft eunuch with a wife shall mix ; when lewd froes ( such as maevia ) shall transfix the tuscan boar upon the stage , and bear , with naked dugs , a steel-tipt hunting-spear ; when one base scoundrell , now out-vyes , himselfe , all the patricians with his ill got pelfe , who whilom oft with snipping sissers sheard , when i was in my prime , my cumbrous beard ; when that aegyptian peasant , ( now so soft ) that vassall of canopus , crispin , oft cals backe his purple cloake , and at it chides , that with the heft still from his shoulders slides ; and waves his sweating fingers too and fro , his light , thin-plated , summer-rings to show , nor can ( for sooth ) endure the pond'rous fraight , of a gem , in his ring , of greater waight ! it is a hard thing not to satyrize . for who 's so stupid , ( when he casts his eyes on such deboistnesse in rome ev'ry where ) so steely-hearted , that he can forbeare ? when that guts , matho , ( of an advocate , turnd a promooter now ) is growne of late lo rich that he in his new litter rides , full with his strouting panch , and burly sides : and after him when that arch-sycophant , the poller of the greatest peeres , doth flaunt , that soone of precious life will all deprive , of the devoured nobles that survive ; whom even the base delator massa feares ; to whom the pick-thanke carus presents beares ; at whom latinus shudders , and for hire , ( to stop his mouth ) even playes the apple-squire , and prostitutes to him his owne deare wife , lest he accuse him should , and take his life . when they disherit thee , the lawfull heir , who in the will invest them-selves , by their night service ; who soone up to wealth , and powre , this way ( the best now to promotion ) towre , even by fulfilling the obsene delights , of rich old womens itching appetites : to proculeius one twelfth part 's assign'd , but unto gillo the eleventh behind ; in the inheritance every one doth share , as they by prudent nature furnisht are : well , much good it him with his lot ( for me ) and let him , all his blood exhausted , be with such a meager palenesse still possest , as he that with bare heels a snake hath prest ; or th' oratour in the strict solemne game at the lugdunian altar to declaime . what need i to relate with how great ire my dry , chaf'd , glooming liver 's set on fire ? when that base termagant doth proudly strout , and prease the people with the mighty rout of his retinue , that his person gards , that rose to this vast powre by pilling wards , whom now ill-tempting need doth even constrain their lives by prostitution to sustain : and marius , who into exile went , condemn'd in vain ( for what 's disparagement . if a man's money still remaineth safe ? ) now eft-soones , after eight of clock , doth quaffe , and 's genius cheeres more , than before , by ods , and makes a booty of the angry gods : but thou , victorious province , polled sore , thy un-reprized pillage dost deplore . these shall i not think worthy to be jerkt , and with a venusinian satyr yerkt , that smels o' th lamp ? shall i not ferret these ? why rather should the toiles of hercules , or diomedes fowl-transformed men , or bellowing minocaure engrosse my pen ? the sea drencht boy , or that quaint artizan , that did the air with selfe-fram'd pinions fan ? when a base pimp th' adult'rer's goods inherits , ( if his wife cannot by her filthy merits ) that his crafts-master is up-right to ly , and rivet on the seeling still his ey ; and , faining him well whitled , to repose , and then snore soundly with a routing nose : when he dares canvas for a regiment , that hath his goods , in pampring horses , spent ; who wasts his ancestor's demeanes away , while with swift coach he rakes flaminia : for young automedon the palfreyes reand , when as he , vaunting , did himselfe commend , vnto his cloak-invellopt paramour . why , prithee , should i now not bend my powr , and fill large tables in a four-way leet ? when a proud princox lords it through the street , pearcht on six shoulders , to the fleeting air on each side open , in a naked chair , even mating soft mecaenas garb ; that came vnto this gallant pompe , this wealth , and fame , by little forged wils , and testaments , and his wet signet , that the wax indents . while further i proceed in sin 's survay , a powerfull matron meets me in the way , who to her thirsty husband 'bout to skink a cup of lushious galene wine , to drink , it with a land-toads banefull venom blends , and counsell to her ruder neighbours lends , ( than that locusta earst b'ing better skild ) their husbands with a poysonous potion kild , forth-with to cary their blacke corses out , though it be knowne , and bruited by the rout. if e'r thou meanest to thrive , some fact assaile short gyaros deserving , and the iaile : prais'd vertue sits , and blowes her nailes for cold. to heinous crimes they ow , what-e'r they hold , to them ingaged for their wealthy state , their hort-yards , manours , tables antique plate , and imbost goblets , on whose massy sides stands phryxus emblem that the goat bestrides . whom suffers the ineestuous leacher vile , that his owne brothers daughter doth defile , ( with money precorrupted ) for to sleep , and 's pen from writing touchy satyrs keep ? whom male-brides filthy , and cupidian boyes , that learne lewd courtship , yet their childish toyes , and purple garded coats are laid aside ? if the ill genius of a man denide , even indignation would make verses than , so , so , as i , or cluvienus can . since that deucalion , ( the rest drencht in rain ) imbarquing on the showr-incensed main , bi-topt parnassus in a friggot rought , and themis oracle devoutly sought ; and softned stones , ensould by vitall heat gan quicken by degrees , and cold defeat ; and pyrrha shewd her maids ( enlived stones ) to the males likewise sprung from tellus bones : mens actions whatsoever , fond desire , vaine pleasure , pannicke feare , revengefull ire , false glozing loyes , and fruitlesse speeches , looke , are even the hotch-potcht subject of our booke . and when had all deboistnesse e'r more scope ? when lay a greater receptacle ope to the prodigious sin of avarice , than in our times ? when did damn'd cheating dice e'r raigne o'r human beasts with greater sway ? for now , not little bags , to goe to play a sett at tables , do our gamesters take , but a whole coffer , cram'd with mony , stake . what bick'rings you 'l see with the steward there , his master's squire ( forsooth , ) that do's prepare his implements , and dicing equipage . infuriated with a simple rage art thou , lewd spend-thrist , for to loose no lesse , at mum-chance , than an hundred sesterces , and not , for wretchednesse , to spare a groat tow'rd buying of thy quiv'ring groome a coat ? which of our grandsires did , in elder dayes , so many costly , sumptuous mannours raise ? which , by himselfe alone , at one repast , did with seven dishes feast his dainty tast ? but in the lobby , now a little maund , to be snatcht by the gowned rout , doth stand ; yet first he in thy face doth stare , and dread lest thou , false nam'd , come in anothers stead . if known , thou shalt receive . he summons then by a shrill cryer , even the noble-men , that vaunt themselves sprung from the trojan strain , for they infest the lobby with our train . give to the praetor , to the tribune give they yell aloud , and cry . but by your leave , roome for a libertine your better , here ( quoth he ) i am , your better . should i feare , or doubt for to defend , and keep my place , though great euphrates verge my birth embase , which the soft loop-holes in my eare imply , although i stiffely should the same deny ? but my five taverns in the forum heere , yeeld me a knights revenues every yeere , what greater boon confers the purple vest , ( the badge of knighthood ) if corvinus prest by need , turnes hireling , and anothers sheep doth in the champains of laurentum keep ? with a far richer state endow'd am i , than wealthy pallas , and the lucini ; now therefore let the tribunes wait a space : let riches beare the bell ! nor him give place to sacred honour , that , priz'd at a rate , with white chalkt feet came to this city late ! sith powerfull riches now majestick sit , amongst vs deem'd divine , although , as yet , thou , banefull mony , dwelst not in a fane ; as yet , by vs un-godded dost remaine , nor have we any altars reard to thee , as unto peace , faith , vertue , victory , and concord , on whose temple , with the beak the storks , their nests saluting , loudly creak . but when , at the yeeres end the states do count , to what the profit of the * maund doth mount ; how much it doth to their revenues add : what shall poore clients do , that hence are glad to fetch the shooes they weare , and hence their cloak ; hence bread , and wood to make the chimney smook . the nobles , clustring , in their litters stand , and crowd together thick to beg a maund . the faint wife , ready to be brought a bed , her husband followes , and about is led . one , suttle , for his absent wife a part demandeth will , a well knowne tricke of art , for his wife showing a close empty couch ; then to the almer doth the same avouch , and quicke dismisse me , 't is my galla , cryes ; why staist thou thus , and dallist ; he replyes ? lift , galla , up thy head ; advance thy crest : when straight th' impostor , peace , she takes her rest our roman gentry with a rare survay , and exact order , can dispose the day ! for , first to crave a maund betimes they goe ; then , to augustus court of plea ; and so , vnto the lawyers haunt , apollo's shrine , where the triumphall clinquant statues shine , mongst which , i know not what aegyptian slave , and arch arabian durst his image have , not onely worthy to be well be-pist , but — the old weary clients then , dismist depart the lobby , with a maund content , ( that for a supper hop't before they went ) and with it ( for they quite despaire againe ) to buy 'em wood , and cole worts last are faine , meane while the choicest sea fish , at his boord , the choicest ven'son that the woods afford , their kingly patron rich doth gurmandize , and by himselfe on his bed empty lyes : for of so many faire , so old , and large , they but one table still with viands charge , their patrimonies there devouring quite . there will be now no smell-feast parasite . but who ' i endure those base luxurious chusses ? what 's he , who , when his stanch-lesse maw he stuffes , whole brawns before him sets ( prodigious thing ! ) a creature onely made for banqueting ? but thou dost quickly for thy ravening pay : for when thou , stripped , downe thy robes dost lay , and to the bath within thy strouting panch ( the which so many cates before did stanch ) an undigested peacocks flesh dost bring , hence sudden deaths , and age incestate spring . a now ( nor balefull ) fame is bruited , beast ; of thy untimely death at every feast . and thy last funerall solemnitie is by thy moody friends performd with glee . there will be no offence , no crime so bad , that after-age can to our manners add ! our nephewes will the same desire and doo . all vice is at the highest pitch ! goe too , launch , bully , launch , and all thy sailes display ; ply nipping satyrs . here , per chance you 'l say , whence , prithee , wilt thou have such wit , and art , that 's correspondent to so hard a part ? whence th' ancients liberty ( their mindes to write , and , what their fury prompted , to recite : ) ( i say ) the ancients down-right liberty , whose name i dare not now to specifie ? what matterd it at all , if mutius , tho , forgave lucilius biting taunts , or no ? but now debaushed tigellistus note , and then , invellopt with a rozen'd coate , thou shalt be kindled for a taper-light , like them , with transsixt throats that blaze by night , and in the middle of the tragicke sand , a broad trench dig'em , and there burning stand . shall he then , that with banefull aconite , three vncles poison'd , and dispatcht 'em quite , vpon a down-stuft couch be mounted high , and over-looke vs with a scornfull ey ? yes ; if he chance to meet thee in the way , straight with thy finger stop thy lips , i say : for if it happen but one word run o're , there will be an appeacher ; st , no more . thou safely mayest adventure to rehearse aeneas stowr with the rutilian fierce : achilles story , how he got his end , transsixt by paris dart , doth no● offend : or much-sought hylas , that so soone was quencht , and with his pitcher in the fountaine drencht . as oft as wood lucilius , as it were , with his drawn bilbow thunderd , straight for feare , the hearer flushes , whose heart 's cold with sin ; with secret guilt his fivers sweat within . hence th' are so testy , and for anger whine . perpend thou therefore this advice of mine , before th' alarm : who hath his murrion hent , hee too-late of the duell doth repent . well then what 's granted ' gainst those , i 'l assay , interr'd i' th' latin , and flaminian way . d. ivnivs ivvenal his second satyr . the argvment . false glozing stoickes naked stript ; their tapess'd sins unmaskt , and whipt . obscene abused cat amites . soft iudges . base hermaphrodites . face-farthing otho quipt ; his error in too much gazing on his mirror . the gracchi ( that not orious paire ) unvizor'd , and well-scourged are : the first , for his man. marriage , vext ; for fencing on the stage the next . he shewes the source , from whence arise all such uncouth impieties , to be , ' cause men beleeve no hell. then do's rome's vast ambition tell , and jerkes , with it , her soft-growne state that strangers did effeminate . i hence from rome will post , with speedy motion , beyond the sauromates , and frozen ocean : when sacred manners are the chat of those , who , seeming cury , live like bacchus froes . first are your art-lesse pedants : though at home they have chrysippus image made of lome in every creeke , and corner . for sole he , of these men , the exactest faine will be , that can the life-like statues shew to vs , of aristotle , and sage pittacus . and ( ●s megazin of bookes to guard ) that sets cleanthes and the stoicks counterfeits . the front 's a cozening mirror : for what street is not with obscene catoes now repleate ? none more comptrols effeminacy , than the most notorious soft socratian . rough limbs , and armes all-bristled o'r with haire . are the plaine badges of a mind severe : but in thy smooth posteriors , full of biles , the smiling leach doth lance the swelling piles . these men have seal'd-up lips , and take great pride , in silence and demurnesse ; yea , beside then notted haire doth not their ey-brow busse : and therefore debaucht teribonius is in a far more tolerable state ; his nature to malignant stars , and fate i iustly doe impute , whose very colour , and lazy gate are symptomes of his dolour . such mens simplicity should vs excite to sympathy , and ruth ; their passion 's might doth plead them guiltlesse : but far worse are they who with herculean thundring taunts inveigh ' gainst these delinquents , and of vertue prate amid their base venereous cringes . what ? for feare of thy drad presence shall i thiver , while thy posteriors do obscenely quiver ? or , sext us , am i one jot worse than thee , quoth loose varillus of known iufamy ? strait let him be , that mocks a wry-leg'd man ; white , that derides an aethiopian . the graccbi plaining fore of garboiles neare , and innovation , who can brooke to heare ? who would not , with confusion blending all , cry out ; heavens ! earth , and seas ! when verres shall , ( the archest land sharke ) be displeas'd with theeves ; at homicides when th' hackster milo grieves ; the most notorious leacher clodius , empleads adulterers ; when cethegus ; ( the boutefeu ) 's accus'd by catiline ; when three like bloudy tyrants shall ( in fine ) tax sylla's table of proscription ? in which list was vespasian's lust-full sonne , whos 's coiture , and late-adultery , might be the subject of a tragedy : who calling backe the inlian law severe , all , nay ( mars and his lemman thrild with feare : from iulia's fruitfull ( but too son-laid ) wombe , when so many abortives forth did come ; and from her issued , ( in lieu of sonne ) ( right like their vncle ) shapelesse embryous . therefore doe not the most deboist , by right , yea even the vicious in the abstract , slight these glozing sca●r● , who of sinne complaine . and , bit by thier invectives , snap againe ? late one of these abuse-comptrolers proud laronia brookt not , as he yeild aloud , retreating , where art thou julian law ? falne in a ●ethargy ? with smiling aw who thus acoasts him ; o thrice-happy age , whose manners grosse are checkt by such a sage ! let rome ( earst impudent ) now blush c'offend : a third sowre cato doth from heaven descend ! but whence , sir , doe the iushious vnguents come ? whence is this odoris'rous balsamum ( in thy rough hairy neck that swels so ) brought ? tell of what seller of perfumes 't was bought . but if the sleep-drownd lawes be rowzed , than , above all , ought the sharpe scantinian . first canvas men in your strict scrutinies : more palpable are their enormities : but their vast number doth them safely shield , and their close files with target fencers stield . amongst those rybaulds there is great consent ; but no such detestable president shall in our sex be found : even taedia ( that trull ) doth never abuse cluvia : nor flora ( that lewd quean ) catulla wrong with th' obscene actions of her beastly tong. hispo's a pathick , and diseas'd no lesse with passive , than with active filthinesse . do e'r we women wrangling causes plead ? do we the civill-lawes peruse , and read ? or in your strife-full courts e'r scold , and brawl ? still at your tournies , few ( or none at all ) virago-like doe combat ; few doe eat the doughty wrastlers sole-allotted meat . ye card wooll , and re-carry backe in maunds the well-wrought webb ; ye nimbly with your hands rowl the thred-swelling spindle , quicker yea than feat arachne , or penelope . like to the squallid spinster , by her dame doom'd to the clog for being tardy ta'ne . why wealthy hister made his denison , in 's will sole heir of all his goods , 't is known ; why with great largesses he , in his life , rewarded still his untoucht virgin-wife . rais'd shall she be to wealth , and dignity , that in a pathick's pallet third doth ly . this way to thrive i thee will onely teach , marry but such a one , and ne'r appeach . rich pendants guerdon oft such secresie . on vs a heavie doome is past , and we mean-while do smart it ; the lawes partiall are , that silly doves infest , and crows forbeare . these daunted stoicks from laronia slung , while such apparant truths she boldly sung : for who can burden her with forgeries ? what will not others dare to enterprise , when thou invellopt art , soft creticus , in robes of tassetie diaphanous and ( though the rout doth fleere at this thy vest ) in it to death thou harlots sentencest , as poore polinea , and procula . a whore's fabulla , and carfinia , condemne 'em ( if thou list ; ) yet ne'r will they , condemn'd , invest themselves in such aray . but sun-burn't july sir , most torrid is , and i even swelt with heat . i grant you this then plead stark-naked : 't is a seemlier thing to be a mad-man , than a wantonling . a garb past all compare ! in which thee clad , and promulgating lawes ( so life they had ) ev'n daign to heare the ancient romans might , returning victors from some horrid fight all gasht , and mangled ; and those mountainers , their plowes forsaking , and their tillage-cares ! what would you not exclaime , a iudge to see so trapped ? i demand if a affetie become a witnesse ? thou undaunted art , a patriot stout : yet ev'ry limb , and part may be discerned ( to thy great disgrace ) through the small crannies of thy pory case . 't is other loose men's foule contagion hath stencht thy life , and further yet will run ; like as one scabbed sheepe a flocke infects ; one scurvie swine a whole heard's health rejects ; and from sight of one perisht grape that 's blue , another grape contracts the selfe-same hue. e'r long thou 'lt villanies attempt , and dare , than those soft vestments more flagitious farre . none forwith e'r extreamely wicked grew . thee , by degrees , into their filthy crew the throng of dapper softlings will admit , who 'bout their fronts at home do bonnets knit , their neckes adorning with deft carquinets ; and ( like the froes , that with sow's tender tears appease their bona dea ) screen'd in night's black collied mantle , doe their beastly rites to the virago ; but invert the guise , and women thence cashier , and chase with cries , who dare not to the guarded lobby venture ? this sacred temple may men onely enter ; hence , profane women , hence , they lowdly bawl ; no cornets clangor howleth here at all ; such orgies did those priests effeminate , earst with night-burning tapers celebrate , wont with their antique rounds ( obscenely merry ) cecropian cotytto even to weary . he with wet cole-sleck all his eye-brow smears ; then curls in curious sort the collow'd haires with a neat crisping pin , and lifting up his twinckling eyes , doth fard'em in a cup of glasse , proportion'd like a virile wand , he drinks , and in a call ( with curious hand made all of ductill gold ) his head he dresses , fare't with the trammels of his braided tresses ; in watchet robes invested , finely wrought with cob-web-worke , and in a whitish coat smooth-shorn , and thin , his very groome ( beside ) swearing by juno in a wanton pride . in 's hand another carr's a looking glasse , ( earst otho's , born in lieu of royall mace ) and it , no lesse triumphing , doth advance , than turnus , when he brandisht actor's lance. in which he view'd him-selfe in harnesse standing , and his the standards to erect commanding . in new-made registers , and a fresh story to be recorded is this mirror 's glory , part of the baggage of the civil warre ! galba to stay , was like a chiestain rare , and woman-like ( forsooth ) with curious art his skin to fucusse , was a heroe's part ! to bicker sharpely , at brebriacum , for empire of great pallace-famed rome . and spread on 's face bread soakt in asses milk , to sleek the skin , and make 't as soft as silke ! when quiver-wearing loose semramis did never in assyria practise this ; nor cleopatra , in her base retreat from fatall actium , sad for her defeat . all kind of rybauld talke , and filthy words , are here the parly at their very boards : to speake obscurely here , and make a noise with an affected wanton , lisping voice , hath the same liberty , as earst among base phrygian cybele's lascivious throng ; and the old dotard , with a hoary head , their arch-priest , spirit-rapt , and extased , may for his rav'ning panch . ( ne'r cloy'd with meat ) of gurmandizers be sole tearm'd the great ; and is well worthy to be hir'd , to be their provost with an ample salarie . but why yet linger these , and daily thus , whom ( like those phrygian priests venereous ) it is high time themselves to evirate , sith they are now grown quite effeminate ? the pathick gracchus ( like a virgin-bride ) ( as i thinke ) to a fluter earst affide , a trumpeter he was else ( i assure ye ) gave forty sesterces to him for doury . in short , the nuptial tables both were sign'd ; to this great vollyes of loud shouts were ioyn'd all crying out to both , god give ye ioy ! large dishes , charg'd with viands , in a ray were set upon the tabler ; this new bride lay dandling in her husband's lap beside . o peers ! of censours , to reforme with speed , or of sooth-sayers have we greater need t' attone such foule portentuous crimes as this ? wouldst thinke 'em more stupendious prodigies , and shudder more , to see a cow to a lamb , or to a calfe a woman prove a dam ? long purfled stoles , and scarfs of crimson dy now habit him , whose neck beseemingly with short round scutcheons was still charg'd of yore , which thong-ty'd , nodding with the waight he bore , and the morisco danc'd , till ( chaf't with heat ) he parboild all his limbs in scalding sweat . o mars , drad father of all-crushing rome ! whence have the latian upland shep-heards come to this stupendious height of wickednesse ? whence hath such tickling lust ( like netles ) these thy bastardizing nephews toucht , and slung ? for lo a man , whose fame for riches rung ; who was innobled by his royall line , doth ( against nature ) with a man combine ! and dost not ( for all this ) thy murrion shake , nor cause the earth , struck with thy lance , to quake and , netled with most horrid indignation , to thy fire love complaine in furious fashion ? avant then ; leave thy tilt. yard ( earst severe ) which thou neglectest now , devoid of care . to morrow , when sol first shall mount his carre , and heaven's career to gallop him prepare , i must unto quirinus temple wend , for i 've engag'd my service to a friend . pray what 's the cause ( quoth one ) of your vagary ? when straight another , why d' ye make enquiety , as though you know not ? his friend married is vnto a man , and with a few , ( for this ) 't is shuffled up : but , if you live , you 'l see such nuptials solemniz'd openlie , and in the publike registers inrold . mean while great teen these male-brides hearts doth hold , because they cannot ( be they ne'r so fain ) bring foorth , and so their husbands still retain . but nature well provided that our minds should not our bodyes change to other kinds . these cannot be with-childed , therefore they must barren dy , and ne'r their bellies lay ; nor yet no pouting hus pust lydian dame with her receipts can remedy the same : nor would it profit , though their palms they had by pans yare running priests well ferula'd . but gracchus in a sleeve-lesse coat bedight , ( his gown discarded ) hath outstripped quite this vncouth monster with his trident , and turnd fencer , earst did scoure the spacious sand , o'r come , and chas'd by his pursuing fo-man ( i say ) the scoundrel gracchus , no● a common net-casting fencer , whose high royall strain dim'd with it's lustre all the clinquant traine of capitol-preserving manlius . the stout marcelli , great-soul'd catulus , and life-contemning paulus doughty brood ; th' heroick fabies all of noble blood and all the senators , with every peere plac't in the fore-ranke of the theater ; though i should ad to these the praetor too , the fencing-nets to cast that hir'd him tho . that there are any grizly , hideous ghoasts ; realms vnder ground in hel's black ebon coasts ; and a long shoving pole ( grim charon's oare ; ) and blacke frogs swimming in the stygian moore , and that so many thousand souls do float . and stem that sable sound in one small boat ; men , nay even boyes themselves ( vnlesse they be no higher than three horse-loaves , nor a fee e'r to the bath-guide did for batting pay ) are so farre from beleeving now , that they but silly old wives fables do esteem 'em , and childrens bugs , and scare-crows onely deem'em but do thou count em ' true ; what dost suppose stern curius thinks , and the two scipio's ? what grave fabricius , and camillus ghoast ? what all the fabies , that patrician hoast , quite routed at the verge of cremera ? and all the roman fry , whose corpses lay so thicke , that cannae's field was paved quite ? what the soules of so many slaine in fight , as oft as any such polluted ghoast as this , descends hence to their hallowed coast ? sure they would eft-soons to be purg'd desire with sulphur ( might they have 't ) and sacred fire ; with fat pine-tapers , and a clensing spray , to sprinkle holy-water , made of bay. alas , we ( whether we beleeve 't , or no ) to the infernall kingdomes needs must go ! we have ( indeed ) our guydons born beyond the late-ta'n orcads , and hibernian strond ; and sea-clapt britans whose light hemi-sphere is with nights sable shrouds scarce curtain'd e're . but the prodigious sins , which we , at home , ( triumphant victors ) do commit in rome , those whom we have surpriz'd , and triumph o're ( sole conquerours indeed ) to doe abhorre . but yet one , loose armenian zalates , softer than striplings all , unnerv'd by ease , was ( as 't was bruited , and by all men se'd ) the lust-inflamd tribune's ganymed . see what commerce will doe ! he came to rome as a good , simple hostage did become . here they are made men ! but if longer stay these forraine lands make in our city , they shall ne'r want a corrupting paramour . their slops , knives , bridles , switches swopt with our loose garbles , the praetext manners soft away they will beare with them to artaxata . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a14498-e15580 * * sportula opposita caenae recta . virgil's georgicks englished. by tho: may esqr georgica. english virgil. 1628 approx. 170 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 81 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-05 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a14500 stc 24823 estc s119392 99854599 99854599 20026 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a14500) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 20026) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1159:6) virgil's georgicks englished. by tho: may esqr georgica. english virgil. may, thomas, 1595-1650. vaughan, robert, engraver. [10], 147, [5] p. printed [by humphrey lownes] for tho: walkley in brittains burse, lo: : 1628. in verse. the title page is engraved and signed: r vaughan fecit. printer's name from stc. the first leaf and the last two leaves are blank. in this edition the text ends on k2. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng 2002-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-01 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-02 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2003-02 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virgil's georgicks englished . by tho : may esq lo : printed for tho. walkley in brittains burse r●ughan fecit 1628 to my truely judicious friend , christopher gardiner of haleng , esquire . i cannot make a fitter choise of any name to stand prefixed before this worke , than such a friends , who not onely vnderstands but loves endeavours of this nature ; one as far from pride as ignorance ; and such a reader , as i could wish all , but cannot hope to finde many . it is a translation of such a poet as in our age is no lesse admired , than hee was once honoured in his romane world . to speake how learned the poem is , how full of heights not improperly raised out of a meane subject , were needlesse to you , who so well vnderstand the originall of it , and the pattern of this originall , the poem of hesiod . if there were any thing in my paines , which might either offend an honest eare , or justly suffer a great condemnation from a learned censurer , i should bee fearefull to commend it to you , whose religion , life , and learning , are so well known vnto me . this worke may informe some , delight others , it can hurt none ; it is no new thing , ( being a translation ) but an old worke of such a poet , who in the opinion of his owne times was an honest man , as well as an able writer . whose poem if i have truely rendered , i thinke it better than publishing mine owne fancies to the world , especially in an age so much cloyed with cob-webbe inventions , and vnprofitoble poemes . how much i have failed in my vndertaking , ( as missing the sense of virgil , or not expressing of him highly and plainely enough ) they onely are able iudges who can conferre it ; and such are you to whose iudgement i leave it , and rest your true friend thomas may. georgicon . the first booke . the argvment . tillage , in all her severall parts , is showne , her favouring gods , her first invention , her various seasons , the celestiall signes ; and how the plow-mans providence divines of future weather : what presages bee from beasts and birds by wise antiquity drawne into rules insallible ; from whence the plow-man takes despaire , or confidence . it hat tooles th' industrious husband's works a● vaile ▪ fro whence our poet sadly doth bewaile that crooked sickles turn'd to swords , so late had drunke the blood of romes divided state ▪ and in few yeares with her unnaturall wounds had twice manur'd aemathiae● fatal grounds . what makes rich crops ; what season most enclines to plowing th' earth , & marrying elms with vines ? what care of neat , or sheep is to be h●d ; of frugall bees what trials may be made i sing , mecoena● , here . you lights most cleare , whose heavenly course directs the sliding yeare ▪ bacchus , and fostring ceres , if first you did for chaonian mast rich corne bestow , and temper'd waters with invented ( b ) wine : you tillage-favouring gods ; ye ( c ) fauns divine , and virgin dryades be present now : i sing your bounties : and , great ( d ) neptune , thou , whose tridents stroke did first frō th' earth produce a warlike horse : thou that the woods dost use , whose full three hundred snow-white bullocks run grazing rich ( e ) caeas pasture fields upon , sheep-ke●ping pan , with favour present bee ( if thy m●●nalian flocks be deare to thee ) leaving lycaeus , and faire arcady : minerva foundresse of the olive tree : thou ( f ) youth inventer of the crooked plow : and thou that mak'st the tender cypresse grow vp from the root , ( g ) silvanus : all that love tillage , both gods , and goddesses above , that growing plants can foster without seed , and them from heaven with raine sufficing feed : and thou , great caesar , whom t is yet not plaine what ranke of gods shall one day entertaine ; whether the world thy deity shall feare , as lord of fruits , and seasons of the yeare , of lands and townes ( with venus myrtle tree crowning thy head ) or thou the god wilt bee of the vast sea , and thules farthest shore , and thee alone the saylors shall adore , as thetis sonne-in-law with all her seas giuen for a dower ; or else that thou wilt please to adde one signe to the slow moneths , and be betwixt the ballance , and ( h ) erig●ne ; the fiery scorpion will contract his space , and leaue for thee in heauen the greater place . what ere thou 'lt be ( for hell despaires to gaine thee for her king : nor thirst thou so for reigne , though greece so much th' elysian fields admire , and sought proserpin● would not retire thence with her mother ) view with gracious eies , and prosper this my ventrous enterprise . pity the plow-mens errours , and mine too , and use thy selfe to be inuoked now . when first the spring dissolues the mountaine snow when th' earth grows soft again , & west winds blow , then let your oxen toile in furrowes deepe , let use from rusting your bright plowshares keep . those crops , which twice have felt the sun , & twice the cold ; will plow-mens greediest wish suffice . harvests from thence the crowded barnes will fill . but least the fields we ignorantly till , to know how different lands and climates are , all windes and seasons , let it be our care ; what every region can , or cannot beare ; here corn thrives best : vines best do prosper there ; some lands are best for fruit , for pasture some ; from tmolus see how fragrant saffrons come : 'mongst the sabaeans frankincense doth grow ; iron the naked chalybes bestow : india sends ivory , pontus beavers stone , epire swift horse , that races oft haue wonne ▪ these severall vertues on each land and clime , nature bestow'd even from the point of time , when stones in th' empti'd world deu●alion threw , frō whēce th' hard-harted race of mankind grew . therefore when first the yeare begins , do thou thy richest grounds most deep and strongly plow , that summers piercing sun may ripen more , and well digest the fallow gle●e ; but poore , and barren grounds about october plow not deepe ; in one , lest weedes , that rankly grow , spoile the rich crop : in tother , lest the dry and sandy grounds quite without moisture ly . and let thy ●ield each other yeare remaine fallow , and ear'd , to gather heart againe . or else thy corne thou there mayst safely sow where in full codds last yeare rich pease did grow , or else where tares , or lupines last were sowne , lupines that sadnesse cause ; ( for t is well knowne that oates , hempe , flaxe , and poppy causing sleep do burne the soile ) but best it is to keep the ground one yeare at rest ; forget not than with richest dung to hearten it againe , or with unsifted ashes ; so t is plaine that changing seedes gives rest unto a field ; and t is no losse to let it lye untill'd . fires oft are good on barren earshes made with crackling flames to burne the stubble blade . whether the earth some hidden strength do gaine from thence , or wholesome nourishment obtaine : or that those fires digest , or purge , or dry all poisonous humours that in th' earth did ly : or else that heat new pores , and caverns opes , through which good iuice comes to the following crops ▪ or else it knits the earths too open veines , and makes them more compact , lest falling raines soake them too farre , lest boreas piercing cold , or phoebus heat should dry the parched mold . and wholesome husbandry t was euer found often to breake and harrow barren ground , and well rewarded still at ceres hand . nor is 't unwholesome to subdue the land by often exercise : and where before you broke the earth , againe to plow it ore crosse to the former . let the plow-mens prayer be for moist sol●●ices , and winters faire . for winters dust doth cheere the land , and draw so great an haruest , that rich maesia for all her skill obtaines not greater store , nor ida's hil● do boast their plenty more . what shall i say to him that sowes his land immediately , scattering the barren sand ? then brings in watering streames that wil suffice ? and when in scorched fields all herbage dyes : lo , he from higher bending hillocks drawes in furrowes wate●s down , which gliding cause among the pebble stones a murmuring sound , and with their streams refresh the thirsty ground ▪ or him , that least ranke eares should ouerlade , and lodge the stemme , he in the tender blade , eates off the rankenes ? or that draines his ground with thirsty sand , when moisture doth abound ? when in the spring , or autume specially ( vnconstant seasons ) riuers swell'd too high haue fill'd the drenched fields with slime , and yet the draining trenches with warm moisture sweat . nor are these things ( though they mens labors be and beasts ) not subiect to the iniurie of ●●ose , strymonian cranes , the shade of trees , and growing bitter-rooted suckoryes . for ioue himselfe , loath that our liues should proue too easie , first caus'd men the ground to moue , fill'd mortall hearts with cares , nor sufferd he the world to fall into a lethargy . before ioues reign no plow-men till'd the ground ▪ nor was it lawfull then their lands to bound : they liu'd in common all : and euery thing did without labour from earths bosome spring . ioue venome first infus'd in serpents fell , taught wolues to prey , and stormy seas to swell : rob'd leaues of honey , and hid fire from men , and banish'd wine , which run in rivers then , that th' arts by neede might so in time be found ; corne might be sought by tilling of the ground , and hidden fire from flints hard veines be drawn . then aldern boates first plow'd the ocean : the sailers number'd then , and nam'd each starre the pleiads , hyads , and the northren carre . deceiving bird-lime then they learn'd to make : and beasts by hunting , or by toyles to take : drag-nets were made to fish within the deep : and casting nets did rivers bottomes sweep . then iron first , and sawes were understood ; for men before with wedges clef● their wood . then th' arts were found ; for all things conquer'd be by restlesse toyle , and hard necessity . first yellow ceres taught the world to plow when woods no longer could afford enow wilde crabs and acorns , and dodona lent her mast no more : then miseries were sent to vexe the art of tillage : blastings kill'd the stalks , and fruitlesse thistles in the field prevailing , spoyl'd the corne : rough weeds did grow , of burs and br●mbles troubling it , and now within the fields among the harvest graine corne-v●xing darnell , and wilde oates did reigne . that now unlesse thou exercise the soile , fright birds away , and with continuall toile lop off the shadowing boughes , and pray for raine devoutly still , thou mayst behold in vaine thy neighbours heape of corne with envious eies labouring with mast thy hunger to suffice . the hardy plow-mens tooles must now be shown , without which corne can nor be reapt nor sown . the flaile , fled , coulter , share , and crooked plow , the iron harrow , ceres wagons slow , celeus poor wicker houshold-stuffe , and than harrowes of wood , with bacchus misticke van. all these before hand must be got by thee if fame thou seeke in noble husbandry . fetch from the woods a fitting elme , and bow the same with skill , till of a crooked plow it take the forme ; to that fasten a beame eight foot in length , two eares ; not far from them the wood that holds the share ; but tile-tree take , or lofty beech the oxens yokes to make , and tailes of plowes , which all the course do guid , when smoke the goodnesse of the wood hath tri'd ▪ many of the ancients rules i here could show vnlesse thou scorne to study arts so low ; let thy barns floore be digg'd , and sodder'd than with tuffest clay , and then rowl'd hard againe , lest it should turne to dust , or grasse should grow . many mishaps may fall ; the mouse below oft makes her house , and garner under ground , and there as oft the blinde-borne moles are found : there toades , and many earth-bred monsters ly : there little weeuills heapes of corne destroy , and frugall ants , that toyle for times to come . consider thou , when nut-trees fully bloome , and with their fragrant blossomes bend the tree , as those nuts thriue , so will thy harvests be , and corne in great abundance gathered . but if those trees in broad leaues only spread , then ears , though great , but little grain wil yeeld . some i haue seene , before they sow their field , their seedes with lees of oyle , and nitre still to macerate , which makes full graines , to fill the flattering huskes ; or else their seedes to boile . seedes i haue seene chosen , and pick'd with toile , yet grow ill corne , unlesse the man for feare cull with his hand the greatest every yeare . so all things of themselues degenerate , and change to worse even by the law of fate ; no otherwise than when a man doth row against a violent streame with much adoo , if ere he chance from rowing to refraine , his boate is hurry'd downe the streame againe . plow-men had need each starre as well to know the kids , the dragon , and arcturus too as sailors neede , who in rough stormes are wont to passe the oyster-breeding hellespont . when libra first diuides the world , twixt light and darknesse , equalling the day and night , then exercise your teames , and barley sow till winter to extremity do grow . while yet t is dry thy hempe , and poppie sow before the winter too tempestuous grow . sow beans i'th'spring , claue grasse in rotten soile , and willet , that requires a yearely toile , when with his golden hornes bright taurus opes the year , & downward the crosse dog-star stoops . but if thou plow to sow more solid graine a wheat or barley harvest to obtaine , first let the morning pleiades be set , and ariadnes shining coronet , ere thou commit thy seed to ground , and there dare trust the hope of all the following yeare . some that before the fall o' th' pleiades began to sow , deceived in th' increase have reapt wilde oates for wheat . but if that thou disdain not fesels , or poor vech to sow , or care to make aegyptian lentils thrive , falling boòtes then to thee will give signes not obscure . begin to sow , and till the midst of winter hold on sowing still . and therfore through twelve signes bright phoebus guides the world , and th' earth in severall climes divides . five zones divide the heavens , the torrid one still red , still heated by the burning sun . on either side are two extreamely cold , which ice , and frosts , and stormes perpetuall hold : twixt that and these , to comfort mans estate , the gods have plac't two zones more temperate twixt both these two , a line i' th' midst is put , which by the zodiack is obliquoly cut . and as the world is elevated to the scythian north , it does declining go down to the libyan south . the north's still high to us , the south vnder our feet doth lye , seen by the ghosts , and balefull styx below . the mighty dragon there windes to and fro , and like a crooked river doth passe through and compasse round the great and lesser beare , which to be dipped in the ocean feare . there ( as they say ) an ever silent night remaines , and darknesse never pierc'd by light , or else the morne returnes to them , when gone from us , and brings them day ; when th'eastern su● doth in the morne salute our haemisphere , darke night compels them to light candles ther● . hence we in doubtfull skies may stormes foresee , when a fit harvest or seed time will bee ; or when to plow th' uncertain ●eas t is fit with cares , or when to rig an armed fleet , and when pine trees are seasonably fell'd . nor can this speculation vaine be held , how th' heavenly signes doe rise and fall , and here into foure seasons do divide the yeare . when storms within doores keep the husbandman they give him leisure to make ready than what they would hasten in faire weather more , to grinde their plowshares dulled edge , to bor● and hollow tree● for boates ; the husbandmen then measure corne , and marke their cattell then . some horned forkes prepare , some sharpen stakes , bonds for the limber vines another makes : panyers sometimes of rubean twigs they make , sometimes they grinde their corne , somtimes they bake : for all diuine and humane lawes allow on greatest holy-daies some workes to do , to digge a dike , or fence about the corne ; to catch the harmefull birds , brambles to burne : to wash the bleating flocks in riuers cleare by no religion was forbidden ere . some driue their asses to the market towne with oyle and apples , who returne anone laden with pitch and grinding stones againe . the moone did not all daies alike ordaine happy for euery worke . the fift moone fly , then hell and furies first began to be . then did the earth an impious birth produce typhoeus , caeus , and iapetus , that durst conspire the towers of heauen to rase . thrice they indeavour'd with strong hand to place the mountain ossa on high pelion , on that olympus : thrice great ioue threw downe their worke with thunder . but the fourteenth day is best to plant your vineyards , and assay your new-tam'd oxen. then best spinning thriues ; the ninth is safe to travell , free from theeues . some works by night are happiest brought to pass , or when the morning starre bedeawes the grasse . by night your stubble and dry meadowes mow , for night faire moisture doth on them bestow . some sit up late at winter-fires , and fit their sharp edg'd tools ; the while their wiues do sit beside them carding wooll , and there make light with songs the tedious labour of the night . or boyle new wine from crudities , and skim the bubbling froth off from the caldrons brim . but reape thy corne in the daies heat and drought , for dry-reap't corne will thresh more cleanly out . in summer naked plow thy ground , and sow : cold winter rest on plowmen doth bestow . then they enioy what they before did gaine , and with glad feasts each other entertaine . the geniall winter to free ioy inuites from care . such are the mariners delights , when laden ships long absent from their home now deckt with garlands to the hauen come . besides the winter is a season fit to gather ackorns , and ripe berries get of bayes , of olive trees , and myrtles red . to catch wilde cranes in sprindges , and to spred toiles for red deere ; the long-ear'd hare to start , and fallow deere with a loop'd spanish dart wel thrown to kil , whē with deep snow the ground is hid , and rivers with strong ice are bound . the stormes of autumne why should i relate ? when daies grow shorter , and more moderate the heat ? what care good husbands entertaine ? or when the show●ry spring doth promise raine ? whē all the fields with green ear'd corn are proud and tender blades the swelling graine do shroud ? ●oft have seen , when corne was ripe to mow , and now in dry , and brittle straw did grow , windes from all quarters oppositely blow . by whose dire force the full-ear'd blades were torn vp by the roots , and into th' aire were born : no otherwise than when blacke whirle windes rise , and tosse dry straw and stubble to the skies . oft fall huge gusts of water from the sky . and all the full-swell'd clouds whirle from on high black showers & stormes about : the thunders noise even rends high heaven , & falling raine destroyes all crops , and all that th' oxens toile has done . dikes fill : with sound the swelled rivers run ; the seas with troubled agitations move . in midst of that tempestuous night , great iove from a bright hand his winged thunder throwes : which shakes the earth ; beasts flye ; sad terror goes through mortal breasts . his burning dart doth aw rhodope , athos , th' high ceraunia . the showery south windes double now , and round the woods do murmur , and beate shores resound . for fear● of this observe the moneths and signes : marke to what house saturns cold star inclines : and with what planet mercurie doth ioyne . but first give worship to the powers divine : offer to ( i ) ceres yearely sacrifice with feasts upon the grasse , when winter is quite spent , and now the spring doth fresh appear . then lambs are fat , then wines are purg'd & clear : the shady mountaines then sweet sleeps afford . let her by all thy plowmen be ador'd : let honey , milke , and wine be offered to her , and th' happy sacrifice be led about the new corne thrice , whilst every one followes with ioyfull acclamation , imploring ceres favour ; and let none presume to thrust a sickle into corne , vnlesse with oaken wreathes he first adorne his head , and dance unartificially with hymnes of praise to ceres deity . and that by certain tokens we might know when heat will come , when raine , when winds shal blow , great ioue ordained monethly what the moone should teach , what signes foretell , when winds go down , that husbandmen , marking what oft befals know when to keep their cattell in the stals . iust ere the windes arise , the sea swels high , great noise is heard from all the mountaines nigh , then hollow murmurs through the woods you hear , and all the shoares resounding far and near . then seas are ill to saylers evermore when cormorants fly crying to the shore from the mid-sea , when sea fowle pastime make vpon dry land , when herns the ponds forsake , and mounted on their wings do flye aloft . you may discerne , when windes are rising , oft the stars in heauen do seeme to fall , and make through nights dark ayre a long and fiery tracke . oft straw and wither'd leaues in th' aire fly vp , and feathers swimme upon the waters top . but when it lightens from the boistrous north , and th' east , and western houses thunder forth , the lands oreflow'd , the dikes fill'd every where , and marriners wet sayles on th' ocean beare , the storme can nere thee unawares surprise , for from the vallies , ere it thence arise , the cranes do fly , the bullock vpward throwes his head , and snuffs the ayre into his nose ; the subtle swallow flyes about the brooke , and querulous frogs in muddy pooles doe croke . th' industrious ant through narrow paths doth role her egges along from out her little hole . the rain-bow seemes to drink the waues , & home the crowes in mighty sholes from feeding come , and clap their wings aloud ; sea-fowles , and those that feed along where faire cayster flowes through th' asian meadowes , you may often see bathing themselues in water greedily . they oft diue downe , and swimming to and fro a glad , though vaine , desire of washing show . then with full throats the wicked rooks call on the raine , and wander on the shores alone , offring their heads to the approaching showres . as maids in spinning spend the nights late howres , their burning lamps the storm ensuing show , th' oile sparkles , theeves about the snuffe do grow . by no lesse true , and certaine signes may we faire daies and sunshine in a storme foresee . for then the stars aspects are cleare to us , nor does the moone arise obnoxious vnto her brothers rayes , nor ore the sky do little clouds like woolly fleeces fly : the theus-lov'd kings-fishers spread not then their wings against the sun ; nor hogs uncleane prepare them heapes of straw to ly upon . but to the lowest vales the clouds fall down . the fatall owle high mounted at sun set does not the balefull evening song repeat . nisus his wings in th' ayre aloft displayes , and for his purple lock false scylla payes . where ever scylla through the ayre doth fly , nisus , her fierce and cruell enemy , with eager flight pursues ; from thence where he appeares , with fearfull wing doth scylla flye . the ravens with a loud , and strained throate from their high nest do oft repeat their note , and 'mongst the leaves they croak together all as taken with a ioy unusuall ; it does them good , the storme now spent , to see their nests of young ones , and dear progeny . i do not think that all these creatures have more wisedome than the fates to mankinde gave ; but thus ; as tempests , as th' unconstant skies do change their course , as severall windes arise in th' aire , and do condense , or ra●ifie , ●ust so their natures alter instantlie . their breasts receive impressions different ; as some by calmes , so some by stormes are sent . hence that consent of ioy or wo doth slow which croaking ravens , fowle , and cattell show . but if that to the swiftly moving sun thou look for signes , or to the following moone , the next daies weather thou maist know , nor be deceiv'd by a faire evenings treacherie . be sure great stormes by sea and land ensue when first the moon doth her wan'd light renue , if then her dulled hornes dark ayre embrace . but if a rednesse hide her virgin face it will be windy ; that complexion in her shewes winde . but in the fourth new moon ( for that 's the certain'st author ) if most cleare , and free from dimnesse her bright horns appeare , that day , and all the following daies shall be till the moneths end , from rain and tempests free ▪ to panopaea , glancu● , inoe● boy the saued marriners shall pay with ioy their vowes upon the shore . but sur'st of all , and best the sunne , when he doth rise , or fall into the ocean , doth those rules bestow , when he or yeelds to night , or morne doth show . when full of spots the rising sunne doth seeme , hid in a cloud , and in his middle dimme , suspect great raine ; the moist southwinde is nigh to cattell , corne , and trees an enemy . or when thick clouds the morning sunne do hide , yet ●ound about his shining rayes are spi'de , or when aurora with a count'nance pale leaues tithons rosie bed , then ill from haile , which leapes into all houses rattling hard , can thinne vine leaues ( alas ) the clusters guard ▪ these signes more surely may obserued bee about the setting sunne ; for oft wee see his face with various colours is orespred ; azu●e betokens raine : a fiery red shewes winde . but if that rednesse mix'd appeare and full of little spots , then every where both winde and raine together shall be seen ▪ in such a night , when that sad signe hath been , shall no perswasions make me venture ore the seas , or loose my cables from the shore . but when his orbe both even and morne is bright , then let no feare of stormes thy minde a●fright . the woods no windes but dry north windes shall moue . and last of all how all the night shal proue , frō whēce dry clouds the north●ē wind shal driue , and what moist seasons the south winds shall giue , the sun shall perfectly declare to thee , and who dares taxe the sunne of falsitie ? he oft forewarnes us of blinde tumults nigh , of growing wars , and secret treachery . he pitying rome , when caesar murder'd dy'd , in sable darknesse his bright head did hide , and night eternall threaten'd th' impious age . then besides him did th' earth and seas presage : the dogs and fatall birds sad signes did yeeld . how often then into the cyclop● field did aetna's burning caverne overflow , and globes of fire , and melted stones did throw ? the trembling alps did shake ; ore all the sky a noise of arms was heard in germany . in solitary groves were often heard affrighting voices , and pale ghosts appear'd when night began ; the beasts 'gainst nature spake ; hoods stopt their courses ; the cleft earth did make wide chinks ; on statues , which our temples kept , the brasse did sweat , the mourning ivory wept . swelling eriadnus the king of floods ▪ with violence orethrew the lofty woods , and ore the fields both beasts and stals did beare . beasts entrailes sad , and threatning did appeare . the wels were fill'd with bloud ; in depth of night the howling wolves did greatest towns affright ▪ nere flew more lightning through a welkin faire , nor mo portentuous comets fill'd the aire . therefore with equall ensignes once againe two romā hoasts fought on philippi plain . the gods were pleas'd that our blood-dropping woūds should twice ( k ) manure aemathiaes fatal grounds . rust eaten piles and swords in time to come , when crooked plows dig up earth's fertile womb ; the husbandman shal oft discover there , and harrowes i●on teeth shall every where rake helmets up ; plowmen in graves so old such large-siz'd bones shall wonder to behold . romulus , ve●●a , and ye native gods that keep by tuscan tyber your abodes , and romes high pallaces , take not away young caesa● , now the only ayde and stay of this distressed age ; enough have we already pay'd for troyes old periury . the court of heaven already envies us caesar , for thee , that thou vouchsafest thus poor earthly triumphs to regard below . for when such mischiefes , and dire wars did flow ore all the world , & right with wrong confound , the plowes neglected lay , the fruitlesse ground ore-grown with weeds , for want of tillers mournd , and crooked sickles into swords were turnd . euphrates here , there germany in arms was up ; on tother side the loud alarms f●ight neighbouring cities ; all accords are broke , and all the world with impious war is shooke . so when swift charriots from the lists are gone , their furious hast increases as they run . in vaine the charrioter their course would stay ; th'ungovern'd horses hurry him away . finis libri primi . annotations upon the first booke . it is not unknowne to any man , who is an able iudge of this worke , that virgil , though prince of the roman poets ( for that title his own age freely affoorded him , and the judgement or modesty of succeeding times never detracted from him ) did help his inuention by imitation of the grecian poets ; & in this work of his georgicks , ( to speak nothing of his aeneids , or bucolicks ) he has taken his subject from ascraean hesiod ; as his own verse in the second booke modestly acknowledges . ascraeuinque cano romana per oppida carmen . in this subiect ( though the learning of virgil must needes carry him vpon other matters than hesiod treated of , and his own intent to honour his natiue italy , which was then mistresse of the conquer'd world , and to whose climate and properties hee especially proportions this discourse of husbandry ) hee retaines in many things the grecian way ; bee invokes their gods ( men whose ancient worth had deis●ed them to posterity ) he builds upon many stories , which either the gre●kes inuented , or the distance of time has made posterity not to credit them as truths , but intitle them poeticall stories . some of these histories which are shortly mentioned in this werks , i haue thought fitting to relate here for th● ease or delight of the english reader , ●●treating all readers to pardon me for striving onely to please them : ( for to mee it can adde nothing , since all men of iudgement can tell how easily , and where i find them . ) i haue not mentioned them all ; nor made a large comment upon the worke to extend it to an unnecessary bulke ; but mentioned such only as i thought fitting . ( b ) staphylus the son of sithneus , and chiefe shepheard to oeneus king of aetolia , had obserued that one of his goates did often in feeding separat it selfe from the rest of the flocke , and by that feeding was growne fatter and better in liking than all the rest . he upon a day resolved to watch this goate , and found it feeding on a cluster of grapes : he gathered some of the grapes , & wondring at the noveltie and rarenesse of the fruit , presented it to the king his master . the king tasted it , and wondrously pleased , and cheared with the juice of it , began to esteeme it of great value ; insomuch as not long after it so happened , that the great bacchus returning from his indian conquests , was entertained at the court of this oeneus ; who presented to bacchus his new-found fruit . bacchus , who before had learned the use of it , instructed the king how to continue the race , and the maner how to dresse , and perfect his vines ; and ordained withall that the wine in the greeke language should be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in honour of oeneus , and the grape 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , after the name of staphylus the kings shepheard . ( c ) these faunt are accounted the country gods , and are thought alwaies to inhabite in the woods . the first of them was faunus king of the aborigines , the son of picus , & grandchilde of saturne , who first reduced the inhabitants of italy to a ciuill life : hee built houses , and consecrated woods ; in honour of so great a merit as this , he was by his thankefull posterity ( as the custome was of those times ) consecrated a god , and his oracle with great devotion kept in abbunea an italian wood . of his name all temples were afterwards called fanes ; hee married his sister fauna , whom the romans in after times honoured with great deuotion , and called her bona ; shee gaue oracles to the women , as her husband faunus did unto the men . ( d ) the fable is thus ; when the famous city of athens was founded , and neptune and minerva were in great contention who should have the honour of naming the place , it pleased the gods to appoint it thus , that the honour should accrew to that deity , who could bestow the greatest benefit upon mankinde . vpon which sentence neptune with his trident striking the shore , immediately a furious horse provided , and armed for the war , was created by that stroke : minerva casting her javelin from her , of that javelin produced an olive tree ; which being a fruitfull and good plant , and the embleme of peace , was iudged more usefull and profiable to mankinde . the cause why our author invoketh neptune in this place , is , because hee intendeth to speake of horses in the third booke of this worke. which had beene else unfit in a discourse concerning affaires of land to have invoked a god of the sea. ( c ) aristaeus , who is here invoked was reported the son of apollo , and the nymph cyrene : this aristaeus the father of actaeon , who transformed into a stag ( as ovid's fable delivers it ) was devoured by his doggs , grieved for his sons death , departed from thebes to the iland caea , which was then destitute of inhabitants by reason of a pestilence which had there happened : this caea is an iland in the aegaean sea ; from whence hee sailed into arcadia , & there ended the residue of his life . in arcadia hee was honoured as a god after his death for teaching the people that strange mysterie of making bees . ( f ) this youth here named the invent●r of the plow , is by most thought to be osiris the king , and afterwards god of the aegyptians . he was the first that ever taught the aegyptians his country-men the use of oxen for p●owing of their ground . he was honoured by them as a god after his death for this great benefit ; and worshipped in the forme of an ox● , which was called apis , in the city of memphis . and in memory of this also isis the wife of that osiris was honoured as a goddesse , and had solemne sacrifices , in which an care of corne was carryed before the pompe , and all plowmen in harvest time sacrified to her with the straw of wheat . ( g ) the history of the birth , life , and deity of this god sylvanus is thus reported ; a shepheard , whose name was cratis , abused to his lust ash●e-goat of his flocke : and when upon a time cratis was sleeping by a river● side ; that hee-goat , which used the company of the shee-goat , in a jealous fury , assaulted cratis with his hornes , and tumbled him into the river ; from whose name the flood was afterwards called cratis . this monstrous issue of he shepheard and the goat , when it was brought to light , resembled them both , and was a goat in the nether parts , but in the upper it carryed the shape of a man. being afterward brought up and growing in the woods , the shepheards astonished at so strange a shape , began to honour and adore him for a god , calling him sylvanus , from the woods wherein he lived . this god sylvanus was extreamely enamoured on a beauteous youth named cyparissus , who with great care had brought up a tame deere ; and when on a time the youth unhappily trying his bow , had mist the marke , and slaine unawares his beloved deere , out of extremity and impatience of griefe he dyed . sylvanus lamenting the death of his minion cyparissus , fell downe weeping upon the dead body , and vowed never to part from those imbraces : which he continued so long ●ntill the gods in pitie to sylvanus , transformed the body of cyparissus into a tree , called , from him , the cypresse tree , which ever after was a tree of mourning , and garnished great mens houses at funerals , as all the poets mention ; and sylvanus is accounted the god protector of that tree . ( h ) erigone the virgin was the daughter of icarus an athenian shepheard , whose pie●ie to her father was much renowned : insomuch as that when her father was slaine ( as shall bee afterwards declared ) shee never parted from the dead body , but dyed with him ; and by the pitie of the gods , as poets say , was taken up into heaven , and made a signe in the zodiacke , called virgo . ( i ) the husbandmen in ancient time sacrificed to ceres the goddesse of corne. they killed a fat hog as the sacrifice it selfe , a creature whose rooting endamages the corne . about this sacrifice the whole chorus of the husbandmen danced in a rude inartificiall maner ( for such dances in religion were accepted ) and sang songs in honour of the goddesse ceres , who first invented corne. they wore upon their heads branches of oaken trees , in a thankefull remembrance of their old food : for before her bounti● to mankinde had taught them the wayes of tilling and harvest , the people lived upon mast and acorns . ( k ) for twice in that countrey the romans fought in civill warre : first iulius caesar against pompey the great , afterward octavius caesar and marcus antonius against marcus brutus and caius cassius . finis . georgicon . the second booke . the argvment . this booke the nature of all trees defines , of fat-rin'd olives , of heart-cheering vine● , and other lesse-fam'd plants ; to every tree it s proper climate , growth , and quality assignes ; and teaches how to propagate , how to engraffe , transplant , enoculate . with what rich fruit some happy lands are blest , which others want : and here 'bove all the rest our poet doth inferre the praises high of his owne native f●uitfull italy ; her meadowes , heards , faire townes , and rivers knowne to all the world ; her nations of renowne , and men of honour'd name . last , it doth shew the blisse of plowmen , if their blisse they knew . thus much of tillage , and coelestiall signes ; thee , bacchus , now i le sing ; & with thy vines other wilde plants , and olives slowly growing . hither , ô father ( for thy gifts are flowing ore all things here ; the vineyards by thy care with rich autumn all fruit full laden are , and vinetages oreflow ) o● hither daine to come , great bacchus , and when thou hast tane thy buskins off , oh then vouchsafe with me in new sweet wine to dip thy bared thigh . nature on trees doth different births bestow ; some of themselves without mans aide do grow ; and round the fields , and crooked rivers come , as limber osiers , poplars , tender broome , and grey-leav'd willowes ; some from seed arise ; such are the lofty chest nuts , and those trees , which iove his greatest holds , th' high aesculus , and th' oak by greekes esteem'd oraculous . some from their own great roots make young ones rise about them round , as elmes and cherry trees ; and young parnas●ian bayes do often so vnder their mothers shadow shelter'd grow . these waies of planting nature first did bring : so trees , so herbs , and sacred woods did spring . but other waies experience since hath found . some plant yong shoots cut off frō trees in groūd , some graffe young rooted stalks in deeper mould ; and sharp crosse-cloven stakes : some bow their old vines into ranges , propagating young , which thence in arches on both sides have sprung . some need no roots ; the pruner young slips cuts , and them into the earth securely puts . and ( wondrous to be told ) an olive tree out from a dry cut trunke oft springs we see . and often are the branches of one tree into another grasfed prosperously ; so from an apple stocke ripe peares do come , and hard red cornoiles from a stock of plumme , therefore be carefull , husbandmen , to know what art belongs to every tree , and how to make wilde trees by dressing better grow . keep no ground barren : ismarus will please bacchus , taburnus will beare olive trees . and thou , ( a ) mecaenas , to whose grace i ow my fame and glory , be propitious now ; lend thy free favour to this subiect plaine . i dare not hope this poeme should containe all parts of it , had i an hundred tongues , to them an hundred mouthes , and iron lungs . wa●t me from shore : the earth's description's plain . nor will i here , maecenas , thee detaine with poets fictions , nor oppresse thine eare with circumstance , and long exordiums here . those trees , which of thēselves shoot up in th' aire , do grow unfruitfully , but strong and faire ; for in the soile their nature is ; but these if thou do take , and gra●fe in other trees , or else transplant them well , they 'le quite forsake their barren nature , and most aptly take by dressing oft , what forme thou wouldst bestow . the like those trees , that spring from roots , wil do , if them to th' open fields thou do remove ; but now their mothers leaves , and boughes above oreshadow them and make them barren trees . but all those plants , which do from seedes arise , grow slow , and shade to our grand-children give . they still degenerate the more they live . good grapes turne birds meate , grown extreamly bad , and apples lose the first good iuice they had . they must be mended all , well digg'd , and drest , and by much labour tam'd ; the olive best , and venus myrtle set in trunks do live , and vines the best by propagation thrive . from small slips set do fil●erts grow , we see , iove's oake , and great alcides ( b ) poplar tree , the stately ashes , lofty palmes , and firs employ'd at sea by ventrous marriners . rough arbute slips into a hazell bough are oft ingraffed ; and good apples grow out of a plaine trees stocke : the chestnut beares ingraffed beech : in tall wilde ashes peares do flourish best ; from elmes oak-acorns fall to hogs ; nor are the wayes alike in all how to ingraffe , how to inoculate . for where the tender rinde opening of late shot forth a bud , iust at that knot they cut a little hole ; into that hole they put a budding shoot ●ane from another tree ; the rinde then closing makes them prosperously together grow . but if the trunke be free from knots , they cleave the trunke of such a tree with wedges , putting fruitfull slips therein ; within short time th' ingrafted slips begin to grow to prosperous height ; the tother tree wonders such stranger fruit , and leaves to see . nor are the waies alike in all of these , in willowes , lotes , idaean cypresses , and sturdy elmes ; nor in one maner do all kindes of olives , the long radii grow , nor olives orchites , or pausia nam'd , nor apples , nor alcinous fruit so fam'd . nor must all shootes of peares alike be set , crustumian , syrian peares , and wardens great . nor hang the vines upon our trees as do those that in lesbian methymna grow . the thasian vines in barren soile abound : the ma●●otike thrive in richer ground ; the psithian grapes are best of all to dry . besides these , strong lagaean wines there be , whose strength makes drunkards stagger , & doth tye their tongues ; ●ath-ripe , & purple grapes there be ; but in what verse shall ● enough commend the rhetian grape ? yet let it not contend with the tabernian . aminean vines there are besides , which beare the firmest wines . cilician , and phanaean grapes there are , and white grapes lesse than those ; none may compare with these for store of iuice , and lasting long . nor will i passe thy vintage in my song o rhodes , for feasts and sacrifices fam'd ; nor that great grape from a cowes udder nam'd . but all the kindes , and names of grapes that are t is numberlesse and needlesse to declare . which he that seekes to do , as soon may know how many libyan sands the west winds blow ; or when fierce eurus 'gainst the sailers rores , how many waves rowle to th' iônian shores . nor can all grounds bring forth all plants we see ; by rivers willowes prosper : th' alder tree o● mo●ish grounds : on rocky mountaines grow wilde ashes : myrtles on the shores below ; vines love warm open heights ; the northren cold makes yew trees prosper . and again behold the conquer'd worlds farthest inhabitants , easterne arabians , painted scythians . see there all trees their proper countries know ; in india only does black eben grow : none but sabaea boasts of frankincense . why should i name that fragrant wood , frō whence sweet balsam sweats ? the berries or the buds of bears-foot ever greene ? those hoary woods of aethiopia cloath'd with snowy wooll ? or how the seres their rich fleeces pull from leaves of trees ? or those fair woods , w ch grow neere to the indian sea , whose highest bough no arrowes flight can reach ? none shoot so high , although that nation no bad archers be . slow-tasted apples media doth produce , and bitter too , but of a happy use ; than which no surer antidote is known , t' expell a poyson-temper'd potion , when cruell step-dames their sad cups have us'd , with cha●ming words , and banefull herbs infus'd . the tree is faire , iust like a laurell tree , and were indeed a laurell perfectly , but that their smels far differ ; no winds blast shakes off her leaves , her blossomes still stick fa●t . with this the mede short-winded old men eases , and cures the lungs unsavory diseases . but not the richest land , not median woods , not golden hermus , nor faire ganges sloods may ought for praise contend with ( c ) italy , nor faire panchaia fam'd for spice●y , bactia , nor india ; no bulls , that blow fire from their nostrels , did that region plow : no dragons teeth therein were sow'd , to beare a crop of souldiers arm'd with shield and speare . besides this land a spring perpetuall sees , twice breeding cattell , twice fruit-bea●ing trees . and summers there in moneths unusuall shine ; but no wilde tigers in that coast are seene , no savage lions breed , nor in that land do poisonous ( c ) herbs deceive the gatherers hand . no huge and s●aly snake on those faire grounds makes fearful tracks , or twines in hideous rounds . adde to all these so many structures faire of beauteous cities , of strong townes , that are fenced with rocks impregnable , and how vnder those antient walls great rivers flow . shall i insist on those two seas that flow 'bout italy , above it and below ? or her great lakes ? thee mighty larius ? or thee tempestuous sea-like benacus ? or praise her havens ? or the lucrine lake ? where the imprison'd iulian waters make a loud & wrathfull noise , through which the great sea-tides into avernus lake are let ? besides the land abounds with mettals store , with veines of ●ilver , gold and brazen ore ; it nurturs nations bold , the marsians , the ●i●●ce sabellians , dart-arm'd vol●cians , hardy ligurians ; in particular the decii , marii , those brave names of war , the great camilli , valiant scipio's , and thee , great caesar , now victorious in asia's utmost bounds , whose conquering powers from flying indians guard the roman towers . haile saturns land in riches great , and great in men ; for thee i will presume t' entreat of th' ancient praised arts , ope sacred springs , and through romes townes a●crean poems sing . now all soiles severall natures let us see , their strengths , their colours , and fertility . first barren hils , and hard unfruitfull ground , where clay is scarce , and gravell doth abound , is good for pallas long-liv'd olive tree . for in such soiles we by experience see wilde olive trees do in abundance grow , and all the fields with their wilde olives strow . but ground more fertile , with sweet moisture fill'd , well cloath'd with grasse , and fruitfull to be till'd , ( such as in valleyes we doe oft espy , whither the waters flow from hils on high , leaving a fruitful slime ) where south-winds blow , and brakes , great hinderers of all plowing , grow , will yeeld thee spreading vines , and full of iuice , and lusty wines , such as we sacrifice in golden goblets to the gods , as soon as the swoln tuscan trumpeter has done his sounding at the altar , which we load with reeking entrailes brought in chargers broad . but if thou rather heards , or calves wouldst keep , or goats , whose grazing burns the fields , or sheep ; then seek tarentums lawnes , and farthest coast , such fields as happlesse mantua has lost , where snowy swans feed in the meadowes neere the rivers side ; nor grasse , nor water there thy heards can want ; what grasse they eat by dayes , the dewy night back to the field repayes . but ground in colour blacke , and fat below , putrid and loose ( for such we wish to plow ) is best for co●ne ; for from no ground do come mo l●den waggons , and tir'd oxen home . or where of late the plowman grubb'd up wood , which quiet there for many yeares had stood , and birds old nests has from the roots orethrown ; they ●est of dwellings now from thence are flown ; the new-made ground once plow'd most fruitfull grows . course barren sand , & hilly scarce bestows casia , and ●lowers for bees to feed upon , nor chaulk , nor that so soft though rugged stone eat by black snakes ; no ground on snakes so good close holes bestowes , nor such delicious food . but that rich land , which doth exhale like smoakes thin vapors up , that showrs of raine in soakes , and when ●he lists returns them forth againe , whose mould with ●ust the iron doth not staine , which cloaths herselfe in her own grassie greene● that land ( as well in tillage may be seene ) is good to pasture cattell good to plow , there vines and olives prosperously grow . such lands by capua , by vesuvius high , and clanius , that o●e●lowes acerrae , ly . ● how to discerne each soile ●le teach thee now , which mould is thick and which is loose to know . ( for one ●●aeus , tother ceres loves : vines love loose grounds , corne best in thickest proves ) choose with thine eie that piece that is most plain ; there digge a pit , and then throw in againe the clods and earth , and tread them strongly in ; if they 'le not fill the pit , the soile is thin , and best for vineyards , and for pasture grasse ; but if the clods do more than fill the place , the earth is thick and solid ; try that soile , and plow it well , though hard and full of toile . that earth that 's salt , or bitter , bad for sowing , ( for that will never be made good by plowing , nor vines , nor apples planted there , abide in their first generous tast ) may thus be tride ; take a thick-woven osiar colander , through w ch the pressed wines are strained clear , and put a piece of that bad earth into it well mixt with water , & then strain them through it , you shall perceive the struggling water flow , and in great drops will through the osiars goe , but by the tast you may discerne it plaine ; the bitternesse will make the taster straine his countenance awry . so you may know by handling , whether ground be fat or no ; leane earth will crumble into du●t ▪ but thicke like pitch fat earth will to your fingers sticke . moist land brings forth tall grasse , and oft is found too rich ; oh give not me so rank a ground , nor let it co●ns yong husks too richly raise . earth that is heavy her own weight betrayes , and so of light ; our eyes do iudge aright the colour of the land or black or white ▪ but to finde out that cursed quality of cold in grounds , of all , will hardest be ; yet that the trees , which prosper there , will shew , pitch trees , black ivie , and the balefull yew . these things consider'd well , remember thou long before hand in furrowes deep to plow and breake the earth ; then let it lye thus broke expos'd to north-cast-windes and winters shock , before thou plant thy fruitfull vines therein , for they thrive best in rotten ground , and thin . the windes and hoary frosts , after the toile of digging ( husbandmen ) wil rot the soile . but he , that throughly vigilant will be , must finde a place out for a nurcerie iust like the place he plants in , left a tree transplanted do not with the soile agree . and he , to plant it as it was , must marke the heavens four quarters on the tender ba●ke , to know how every tree did stand , which side endur'd the south , which did the north abide , and let their former situation stand . consider then if plaine or mountaine land be best for vines ; if plain good ground thou choose then plant them thicke ; the grapes can nothing loose by their thick standing there ; if on a hill thou plant , with measure , and exactest skill , set them in rowes by equall distance held ; as when an army 's ranged in the field , and stand● for triall of a mighty day ; in equall squadrons they themselves display ore the broad field , which seemes with glittering armes to move , before the battel 's fierce alarmes do ●ound , and mars to both stands doubtfull yet . so trees at equall distance ranked set , not only to delight thy prospect there , but cause the ground can no way else conferre to all an equall vigour , nor can they have roome at large their branches to display . perchance how deep to digge thy furrowes now thou 'dst learne . thy vines in shallow ones , will grow but other trees more deeply digg'd must be ; chiefly th' aesculean oake , who still more high he lifts his branches in the ayre , more low his root doth downward to avernus go . therefore no windes , nor winter stormes orethrow tho●● trees ; for many yeares unmov'd they grow , and many ages of mankinde outweare , and sp 〈…〉 ing their fair branches here and there , themselves 〈…〉 do make a stately s●ade . let not thy vineyards to the west be made , nor plant t●ou ●●asels 'mongst thy vines , nor yet lop off their highest branches , which are beat with winds , nor prune them with blunt knives , nor yet wilde olive trees 'mongst other olives set . for unawares fire oft is scattered ; which in the dry fat ●inde conceal'd , and fed seizes the tree , the leaves and branches takes , and through the aire a crackling noise it makes , till on the top it reigne with victory involving all the wood in ●lames , and fly like a black pitchy cloud up to the sky , especially if stormy windes do ly vpon the wood , the ●lames about to beare . when this doth chance , the olives burned there spring from the root no more in their first state , but to wilde olives do degenerate . let none perswade thee then , how wise so ere , when boreas blowes , the harden'd earth to stir ; winter congeales the ground , and suffers not the trees new set in th' earth to spread their root . but when the golden spring doth first appeare , and that white bird is come , whom serpents feare , is the best time of all to plant thy vines : the next is when the autumnall cold beginnes ; when now the 〈◊〉 short●ns the daies , and done the summer is , yet winter not begun . the spring 's the time that cloaths the woods with leaves ; the earth then swells , and seed with ioy receives . the iove almighty down descends , and powers into the earths glad bosome fruitfull showers , and mixt with her great body , he doth feed all births of hers , and foster every seed . each bush with loudly chirping birds is grac'd ; beasts at set times the ioyes of venus tast : the ground stirr'd up by zephyres warmer winde opens her selfe , and brings forth fruit in kinde . young blooming trees dare trust themselves unto the sun new mounted ; the vine branches now feare not the rising southren windes , nor yet the north-east-winde , that causes tempests great . but shoot their blossoms forth , & spread their leafe . no other daies but such ( t is my beliefe ) when first the world beginning had , were known ▪ th' earth had no other t●nor ; spring alone , and that perpetual , the great world enioy'd ; no east-windes winter blasts that age annoy'd , when first all cattell their beginning had , when of the earth mankindes hard race was made , when wilde beasts fill'd the woods , & stars the sky . nor could the tender creatures easily endure this change ; but heaven to make amends twixt heat and cold this temper'd season sends . what plants so ere thou setst in th' earth , be sure cover them well , and with fat dung manure ; put shells , and sandy stones therein ; twixt them moisture will flow , and thin exhalings steame ; from whence the plants will gather hart . some lay great stones at top , & vessels of thick clay , which from all stormes will guard and fence them sound , this when the dog-star cleaves the thirsty ground . and when thou plantst thy vines dig round about to bring good store of earth to every root ; or exercise thy struggling steeres , to plow the ground in surrowes deep twixt every row . then get light reeds , smooth wands , & ashen stakes with horned forkes , whose supportation makes young vines contemne the windes , and to the top of elmes to clime by broad-spred branches up ▪ but when their leaves do first begin to bee , and new-growne branches from supporting free shoot loose into the ayre ; then spare to use thy pruning knife so soone , and rather choose the leaves superfluous with thy hands to pull . but when embracing elmes with armes more full and strong , they grow ; then confidently pare their leaves and branches too ; before they fear● the p●uning knife ; then do not spare the same ; but their superfluous growth with rigour tame . then make strong hedges to keep cattell out , young beasts especially , and yet unwrought . wilde bulls and greedy goates more harm will do than scorching summers , and cold winters too . there sheep will browze , and feeding heifers go . the winters hoary frosts , and falling snow , and parching suns that burne the hardest rocks , endammage vines lesse than those greedy flock●● their browzing teeth do venome leave behinde , and killing scars upon the stocke and rinde . no other fault there was , that ( d ) goates did d●● at bacchus altars , and th' old comaedie was celebrated , that th' athenian playes in villages , and all crosse-meeting wayes were grac'd ; and men , ore meadowes in their po●● did dance about th' annointed ( e ) skins of goat●● th' italian nations also sprung from troy singing saturnian rythms with open ioy and laughter loose , horrid disguises wor● of hollow'd barks of trees , and did adore with hymnes of mirth , bacchus , thy power divine , and virgins ( f ) statues on the lofty pine did hang. then vineyards fruitfully did beare , all vales , and lawnes were fertile every where , where ere the god his beauteous head do show . therefore let us these rites to bacchus do in our own mother language , offering full cups , and wafers ; and to th' altar bring a guilty goat led by the hornes , and his fat entrailes rost on spits of cornoile trees . besides in dressing vines more paines is showne , to which there never can enough be done ; for every yeare the ground must digged be three or foure times , and plow'd eternally ; the leaves must oft bee gathered ; all the paine , that husbandmen bestow , returnes againe ; his own steps back the circling yeare doth tread . and when the vines their leaves in autumn shed , and all the woods of cloathing robbed are by north-east-windes : even then th' industrious care of th'husbandman unto the following yeare extends it selfe ; then he begins to pare the vine with saturn's crooked hooke , and right by skilfull pruning to refashion it . first dig the ground : first burne the shreds cut off : and lay thy rests up dry within thy roofe ; gather thy vintage last . leaves twice oreshade the vines , as twice the ranke-grown weeds invade yong corn . both which require great toil to mend . till thou a little farme , though thou commend a great one . and besides sharpe twigs of thorne from woods , and reedes on bankes of rivers born , thou for thy vines must cut , and carefull be for willow groves , which else neglected ly . now when the vines are bound , & prun'd , and all : and th' husband sings about the vineyard wall ; yet there remaines a care , to dust them there , and storms , even when the grapes are ripe , to fear . contrariwise unto the olive tree no dressing doth belong , nor needeth shee the crooked hook , nor harrow , when once faire shee stands in ground , and once has felt the ayre ▪ the earth it selfe , when furrow'd by the plow , doth food enough on her , and corne bestow . therefore the fat and fruitfull olive nourish . so th' apple tree in a full stock doth flourish , and once full grown up to the sky she towres by her own strength , and needes no helpe of ours so of themselves wilde woods , and every bush beare fruit , and with vermilion berries blush ; low shrubs are shorn brāds on high trees do grow , that feede the nightly fire , and light bestow . and doubt men yet to plant , and care bestow ? ( to leave great trees ) willowes and broom so low do cooling shades to sheep and shepheards give , hedges for corne , and food for bees to live . how pleasantly with boxe cytorus stowes ? with her pitch trees how faire maricia showes ? oh how it pleases me those fields to see , that need no plowes , nor humane industrie ! those barren woods on caucasus high hill , which strong east-windes do wave , and rattle still , have each their severall use ; pines for the seas ; for houses cypresse , and tall cedar trees . from hence the plowmen spokes for wheeles doe take● covers for waines , & keeles for ships they make . willowes do usefull twigs afford , elmes shade ; of cornoile trees , and myrtles darts are made : yew trees , to make strong parthian bowes , are bow'd ; tile trees , & pliant boxe may be bestow'd hollow'd , or turn'd , in formes , and uses good ; light alderne barks do swim the po's rough floud ; in rotten-holme stocks , and the rindes of trees you oft may finde the hony-combes of bees . what benefits like these come from the vine ? that causes guilt . the centaures fill'd with wine great rhaetus , pholus , and hylaeus dy'd , when they with pots the lapithees defi'd . oh too too happy , if their blisse they knew , plaine husbandmen ; to whom the earth with true and bounteous iustice , free from bloody war returnes an easie food ; who , though they are not early wak'd in high-roof'd pallaces when waiting clients come ; though they possesse no poasts , which indian shels adorne in state , no gold embroidred cloaths , corinthian plate , nor rich assyrian scarlet ; nor abuse with sweetest casia the plaine simple use of oyle ; yet rest secure , a harmelesse life enrich'd with severall blessings , free from strife , coole caves , dark shady groves , & fountains clear , vntroubled sleeps , and cattells lowing there , and pleasant huntings want not ; there they live by labour and small wealth ; honour they give vnto their gods and parents ; iustice tooke her last step there , when she the earth forsooke . but let the sacred muse , whose priest i am , me above all with her sweet love inflame ; teach me each star , each heavenly motion , the oft eclipses of the sun and moone , the cause of earthquakes : why the swelling main rises , and fals into it selfe againe : why winter suns so soone hast to the sea : what makes the summer nights so short to be . but if dull bloud , which 'bout my heart doth flow , these parts of nature will not let me know ; then let me ( famelesse ) love the fields and woods , the fruitfull water'd vales , and running floods . those plains , where clear sperchius runs , that moūt where spartan virgins to great bacchus wont to sacrifice , or shady vales that lye vnder high haemus , let my dwelling be . happy is he that knowes the cause of things ! that all his feares to due subiection brings , yea fare it selfe , and greedy acheron ! yea happy sure is he , who ere has known the ●urall gods , sylvanus , and great ●an , and all the sister nymphs ! that happy man nor peoples voices , nor kings purple move : nor dire ambition sundring brothers love : nor th' istrian dacians fierce conspiracies : nor romes estate , nor falling monarchies . he sees no poore , whose miserable state he suffers for ; he envies no mans fate ; he eats such fruits as of their own accord the willing grounds , and laden trees afford ; he sees no wrangling courts , no lawes undone by sword , nor peoples forc'd election . some search the seas hid pathes , some rush to war , in courts of kings others attendants are . one would his country , and dear gods destroy , that he himselfe might drink in gemmes , and ly on purple beds ; another hoards up gold , and ever wakes his hidden wealth to hold . the pleading bars another doth admire , and high applause from every seat desire plebeians , and patritians ; some for goods their guilty hands embrue in brothers bloods . some from their houses and dear countries rome in banishment , to seek a forreine home : whilest the industrious husband plowes the soile , and takes the profit of his yearly toyle . with which his house and country too he serves , and feedes his heards , & th'oxe that wel deserves ▪ no fruitlesse time ; young cattell still are bred , or corne is reap'd , or fruits are gathered , corne that the surrowes lades , and barnes doth fill . when winter comes , oyle in the olive mill they make ; and porkers fat with acorns grow ; the woods yeeld crabs but autumne does bestow all kindes of pleasant fruit ; the grapes hang by hot sunny walls , and ripen perfectly . meane while his pretty children kissing cull his neck : his house is chast ; with vdders full his kine come home ; and in the flowery meades his frisking kids do butt with tender heads . he feasts himselfe upon the grassie ground , whilst 'bout the fire carowling cups are crown'd ; and bacchus is invok'd in sacrifice ; then mongst his herdsmen makes a darting prize , and s●ts the mark upon an elme ; or they prepar'd for wrastling , their hard lims display . such lives as this the ancient sabines led , and so were romulus and remus bred ; so grew renowned tuscany to fame , so rome the greatest of all lands became , and in one wall did seven great hils containe . and thus before dictaean love did reigne , and impious nations on slaine cattel fed , his life on earth the golden saturne led ▪ no classicks sounded then , nor mortall blade of swords , the smiths laborious anvile made . but we enough have now produc'd our course , and time it is to ease our wearyed horse . finis . annotations upon the second booke . caius ( a ) mecaenas , that famous cherisher of good learning , to whom our poet in this place acknowledges so much , was a gentleman of etruria , in high favour with augustas caesar , and in great imployment of state under him . hee was in his friendship with learned men , not onely bountifull , but judicious in the placing of his bountie , and above all others fortunate in the choise of the men . among all the poets , in that wise age wherein he lived , virgil and horace were the onely two , which i can finde , whose meane fortunes needed his liberalitie , as well as their vertues deserved his acquaintance : how liberall he was , their often acknowledgements in their works , have testified to the world : how judicious or fortunate he was in those mens acquaintance , no age of the world hath since beene ignorant ; his name having beene generally used for the love of learning , no lesse than caesar's for imperiall dignity ( though there were , both in that and the following ages , as iuvenal witnesseth in his seventh satyr , other men of honourable name and esteeme in rome , who were lovers of such things , as fabius , cotta , proculeius , lentulus , &c. ) those lords eyther fayled in judgement in the choyse of their friends , or the injury of their times affoorded them not wits able enough to raise their fames ; since wee finde not any such manifest honour done to their memories as to this mecaenas . whose fortune it was , that virgil and horace should live in his time ; and in such estates , as to need his bounty for his owne honour : which is not a thing incident to every age , though wittie martial in an epigram of his could speake thus , sint mecaenates , non deerunt , flacce , marones . yet the contrary by experience hath oft been found . maroes have beene borne when no mecaenases have lived to cherish them ( as homer the wonder of posteritie , in his owne time little esteemed ) and mecaenases have lived and wanted maroes . what monarch in the world was ever more desirous of fame in that kinde , and more able to requite than alexander the great ? hee that so much honoured the memory of homer , and at the sacking of thebes spared all the posteritie of the poet pindarus , found in his owne time no able poet to celebrate his fame . there were in his time ( as arianus witnesseth in the life of alexander ) many poets , who would have written of him , and stirred up by the greatnesse of his actions , or moved with hopes form his known bounty , had written in the praise of him ; but such and so poore were their inspirations , they neyther deserued the acceptation of alexander , nor the sight of posterity . ( b ) the poplar is called the tree of hercules for this reason , as the poets faine : when hercules had entred into hell , redeemed theseus from prison there , and returned victorious , leading out cerberus in triumph after him ; the first tree that he espyed was a poplar tree , of which he made himselfe a garland , and crowned himselfe after his new conquest . ( c ) our poet , after the description of those severall trees of strange natures , which enrich the severall climates of the earth , takes an occasion , by way of comparison , to extoll in all kinds the fruitfulnesse , and withall the happinesse of his native italy , the magnificence of the italian cities , the multitude and bravery of her people : of the populousnesse of italy thus plinius at one place speaketh . this is that italy , which , when lucius aemilius paulus and caius attilius were consuls upon the fame of the tumult of gallia , armed presently of her owne forces , without the aide of any forreyners , and without mustering of any italians beyond the river of po , thirty thousand horsemen , and seventy thousand foot : and diodorus siculus speaking of rome before the second carthaginian warre , sayes that the senate as it were foreseeing the comming of annibal with a warre so bloudy , tooke a generall survey of themselves and their tributaries , and found the number of men fit to beare armes , to be ten hundred thousand . and speaking also of the populousnesse of the iland of sicily , esteemed then as a part of italy ( for it was all called magna graecia ) bids us not wonder at those mighty armies of ninus , semiramis , darius , or xerxes , since dionysius the tyrant , out of syracusae onely , armed an hundred and twenty thousand footmen , with twelve thousand horsemen , and a navy of foure hundred ships out of one haven . ( d ) the sacrifices , which in ancient times were offered to the gods , were alwayes chosen eyther for likenesse or contrariety : for likenesse some were offered , as to pluto the king of the darke world a blacke sheepe or steere were offered in sacrifice . others for contrarietie and hatred ; as a sow , because she rooteth up land and spoyleth corne , was offered unto ceres : the goat , because he browzeth the vines , was offered to bacchus : the goat was likewise offered to aesculapius the god of health , because the goat is never without a fever . ( e ) in those old playes which the athenians instituted in the honour of bacchus , the people danced with wine bottles made of goat-skinnes , to insult as it were over the goats after they were dead . of these goat-skinnes 〈…〉 in greeke signifieth a 〈…〉 up first the name of tragaedies . ( ● ) these playes were instituted to bacchus by the athenians for this reason ; bacchus bestowed a bottle of sweet wine upon icarus an athenian shepheard . this icarus coming to the company of some other labouring people of the country , set his bottle of wine before them . the plaine labourers not knowing the quality of the liquor , but delighted with the sweetnesse of it , drunke intemperately , and feeling themselves much altered in their braines , and their whole bodies , they killed icarus , supposing that he had given them poyson . the dog of icarus returning home to erigone his daughter , conducted her , who followed the dogge , unto her fathers dead body . erigone impatient of griefe , hanged her selfe upon a pine tree , and the dogge parting not from the two bodies , starved himselfe : for which piety both erigone and the dogge were taken and made signes in heaven . but not long after , for these murders unrevenged , the athenians were visited with a great pestilence , and the virgins of athens were possessed with a strange frenzie , and in their fits hanged themselves . the oracle , being asked the cause of this pestilence , returned them answer , that it should cease when they in devotion had interred the bodies of icarus and erigone , and revenged their murders : this being done , the plague ceased , and the people in honour of bacchus celebrated yearely playes , and in remembrance of their former frenzy , upon pines or other trees were hanged up the images of virgins . finis . georgicon . the third booke . the argvment . the art of grazing , with the different cares of different cattell , this third book declares ; of warlike horses , of the labouring oxe , shag-bearded goats , and snow-white woolly flocks : their breeding , feeding , profitable use , last their diseases , and the cures it shewes . but by the way our poet promising this subiect done , great caesar's deeds to sing , makes present mention of them , and declares his glorious triumphs , and late finish'd wars , which nile , swift tigris , and euphrates saw , and crassus ensignes fetch'd from parthia . of thee , great pales , and apollo now thou fam'd amphrysian shepheard , and of you arcadian woods & streams i le sing . those known old strains , that would have pleas'd light minds , are growne vulgar ; who cannot of eurysteus fell , or of busiris blood-stain'd altars tell ? who of latonian dele , or hylas now , or ivory-shoulder'd pelops does not know for riding fam'd , or his ( a ) hippodame ? some new attempted straine must lift up me from ground , and spread my fame to every eare . i first , returning , to my countrey deare will from th' aonian mountaine bring with me the muses ( live● ) and first honour thee mantua , with idumaean palmes of praise ; a marble temple in the field i le raise neare to the streame where winding minclus flow , cloathing his banks with tender reedes , doth flow . in midst shall caesars altar stand ; whose power shall guard the fane ; to him i conquerer will on the shore , with purple cloath'd in state , circensian playes in chariots celebrate . all greece shall gladly celebrate our fames , leaving th' olympicke , and nemaean games , with racing and the whorlebat fight , whilest i crown'd with a tender branch of olive tree my offerings bring ; oh how i long to see the sacrificing pompe in order rang'd to th' temple come , or how the scene oft chang'd varies her face : or how the ( b ) brittaines raise that purple curtaine which themselves displaies . about the doores the indian victory describ'd in gold and polish'd ivory , with great quirinus ( c ) armes shall stand , there showing great nile with ( d ) wars , as wel as waters , flowing ; and navall triumphs in brasse pillars cut ; the conquer'd asian cities there i le put , niphates , and the parthian ( e ) foes , that fight retiring , and direct their shafts in flight . two trophees tane from th' east & western shore , and both those nations twice triumphed ore . in parian marble carv'd with cunning hand , the race of great assaracus shall stand , and tros , that from high iove their birth derive , and phoebus too , who first did troy contrive . those wretches , that shall envie this , shall feare the furies dire , cocytus stood severe , and sisyphus still rowling stone , or feele ixion's wreathed snakes , or racking wheele . meanewhile let us follow the woods , and lands vntouch'd ; such are , mecaenas , thy commands . my breast , without thee , no high rapture fils ; inspire me then without delay ; the hills cythaeron high , of dogs taygeta proud , and epire fam'd for horses , call aloud . whose noise the ecchoing woods redoubled bring . after of caesars glorious warres i le sing , and through as many ages spred his praise , as have already past to ●esar's dayes . who ere in hope to win th' olympick prize would keep good horses , or else exercise strong steeres to plow ; best choise from dams it tooke . that cow proves best that has the roughest looke , great head and neck , and downe unto her knee her dangling dewlaps hang ; sides long and high : all must be great : yea even her feet ; her eare vnder her crooked hornes must rough appeare . i like the colour spotted , partly white ; loath to endure the yoke , and apt to fight ; in all most like the bull ; in stature tall , her sweeping taile down to the ground doth fall . best age to go to bull , or calve , we hold , begins at foure , and ends at ten yeare old . all other ages nor for breeding fit , nor strong for plow ; but i' th' mean time , whilst yet the flocks have lusty youth , let the males go without restraint to venery , and so by timely broodes preserve a perfect kinde . their first age best all wretched mortals finde ; after diseases , and old age do come , labour , and deaths inexorable doome . there still will be , whose bodies with thy will thou wouldst wish chang'd . therefore repaire thē still ; and lest thy kinde quite lost thou finde too late prevent the losse , and yearly propagate . and such a choise you must in horses make ; but him , whom you for stallion meane to take , as hope of all the race , elect with care even from a tender colt ; such colts as are of generous race , straight , when they first are fol'd , walke proudly , their sost ioynts scarce knit , & bold da●e lead the way , into the rivers enter , and dare themselves on unknown seas to venture . not frighted with vaine noises ; lofty neck'd , short headed slender belly'd , and broad back'd , broad and full breasted ; let his colour be bright bay , or grey ; white proves not commonly nor flesh-colour . when wa●s alarumes sound his nostrils gather and breathe fire ; no ground can hold his shaking ioyn●s ; his care advances , his thick shag'd mane on his right shoulder dāces . his back bones broad & strong , the hollow'd groūd trampled beneath his hard roūd hoof doth sound . such was that horse , which spartan ( f ) pollux tam'd fierce cyllarus , and mars his horses fam'd by th' old greek poets , or those two that drew achille● chariot ; such a shape and hew at his wives comming , flying ( g ) saturne tooke , and all high pelion with shrill neighings shooke . yet when disease or age have brought to nought this horses spirit , let him at home be wrought , nor spa●e his base old age . a horse grown old though he in vaine attempt it oft ; is cold to venery , and when he 's brought to try ( like that great strengthlesse fire in stubble dry ) in vaine he rages ; therefore first t is good to mark his age , his courage and his broode with other arts ; how sad a horse will be when overcome , how proud of victory . dost thou not see , when through the field in speed two racing chariots from the lists are fled , the young mens hearts all rise , as forth they start , and fear with ioy confounded strikes each hart ? they give their horse the reines , and lash them on , their hurryed wheeles enflaming as they run ; now low they go , now rise as they would flye through th' empty aire , and mount up to the sky : no resting , no delay ; a sandy cloud darkens the ayre ; they on through shoutings loud of standers by , all sweat and some do fly , so great 's their love of praise and victory . first ( h ) erict●●onius chariots did invent , and by foure horses drawne in triumph went. the ( i ) peletronian lapithes first found the use of backing horses , taught them bound , and run the ring ; taught riders t' exercise in martiall ranks , both equall mysteries : the masters of both these have equall neede to finde out horse of courage , and good speed , though nere so nobly born , though oft in game they won the prize , and for their country claime epi●e , or fam'd mycenae , or else tooke their birth at first from neptune tridents stroke . these things observ'd , at covering time , they care to make their stallion strongly fat and faire the father of their broode ; for him they mow choise grasse , sweet streames , & corn to him allow , le●t he should faile his pleasant worke to do , and th' young ones starvelings from his hunger grow . but they of purpose keep the femals light and leane : and when they have an appetite to venerie , let them not drink nor eat , and course them oft , and tire them in the heat , when in full barnes the ripe corne crowded lyes , and emptie cha●fe before the west winde flyes . and this they do lest too much ranknesse make the breeding soile , and fatted furrowes take too dull a sense ; but that they should draw in seed with desire , and lodge it safe within . now to the dams our care comes from the sires : they great , when now their time almost expires , let no man yoake them then for worke , nor make them leap a ditch , nor let them swimming take swift flouds , nor cours'd about the meadowes bee . but let them feed in empty fields , where free the water is ; the banks with mosse are stor'd , and rocky caves a coole sweet shade afford . about alburnus still with holly greene , and sila●us high woods great flies are seene in roman term'd a●li antiently oestra in greek , a fierce loud-buzzing fly ; whose terrour makes th' affrighted cattell fly as chas'd about the woods , and pierce the sky with lowings loud ; which through that country round the woods , & bankes of tanager resound . with this dire monster once did iuno show her vengefull spite 'gainst lô then a cow. this ●ly ( for most he stings in heat of day ) from cattell great with young keep thou away , or bring them not abroad to feed alone vnlesse at morne , or after sun is down . after the breeding they use all their care about the young ones ; of what birth they are their markes discouer ; they designe each one his severall use ; one for a stallion is kept , another ●or a sacrifice , a third for plowing , from whose toile arise the harvests fruits ; the rest a grazing go vpon the verdant fields . but those whom thou intendst for husbandry , begin to tame their courages while they are calves , and frame them for the plow betimes , while yet their rage but tender is , and flexible their age . loose collars first of tender branches make for their soft necks ; then , when they freely take the yoake by custome , yoake a paire , and so teach them in order and a-breast to goe . and let them first draw empty wheeles , or rake the ground but sleightly , and smal furrowes make ; then afterwards under a deep-strook plow they 'le learne to tug till th' axeltree do bow . but to thy yet-untamed calves allow not only grasse , and sea-grasse , that doth grow in fenny grounds , with willow leaves ; but still feede them with corne thy selfe : and do not fill thy milking pailes from th' vdders , as of yore , but let them freely suck their mothers store . but if thy minde thou more to war do give , or through iove's wood wouldst racing chariots drive , and swiftly passe by pisa's riuer side : the first taske is to make thy horse abide to see the souldiers armes , heare their loud voices , the trumpets sound , and rattling chariots noises , and oft within the stable let him heare the clashing whip ; he ' le more and more appeare to be delighted with his masters praise , and when he strokes his necke , his courage raise . when first he 's wean'd from sucking let him hear these things , and trembling be compell'd to wear soft ●alters oft about his head ; but when his life has seene foure summers , teach him then to run the round , in order right to beat the ground , and both waies skillfully curvet as if he toil'd ; then let him with his speede challenge the winde , and from all curbing free'd ▪ scoure ore the champion fields so swift , that there the sands no print of his light hoof do beare . so when the scythian gusts and north-east-wind● from their cold quarter fiercely blow , and binde the dry clouds up : all ore the waving field corn bows with equall blasts ; woods tops do yeeld a murmuring noise : long waves roule to the shore . forth flyes the winde , sweeps lands and waters ore ▪ thy horse thus order'd to the races end all bloody foam'd , victoriously will tend ; or else his tamed neck will better bow to draw the belgian chariot ; let him grow full fed , when once he 's broken well , nor feare his growth ; so fed before he 's broke , he 'll beare too great a stomack patiently to feele the lashing whip , or chew the curbing steele . but no one care doth more their strēgth improve , than still to keep them from venereall love , ( whether in horse or bullocks be thy care ) therefore their bulls they send to pastures farre to graze alone , where rivers are between or hils , or feed them at full racks within . for the faire femals sight with secret fire consumes their strength , and lessens all desire of feeding in them ; her temptations make two stubborne bulls a combate undertake , and with their hornes to try their utmost deedes . in the great wood the beauteous heyfer feedes , whilst they contending with their utmost spite ; their wounded bodies lay'd in blood , do fight . their hornes with fury meet , their bellowings roūd olympus great , and all nere woods resound . nor do they after both together feede , far into exile goes the vanquished , and there alone in forreine fields bewailes his sad disgrace , how his proud foe prevailes , he unrevenged forc'd to lose his love , and from his native countrey to remove . then he with care his strength doth exercise ; vpon the hardest stones all night he lyes ; on roughest leaves , and sharpest herbs he feedes , oft tryes himself ; with wrathfull horns proceedes against the trunks of trees with furious strokes , and with his strength the winde it selfe provokes . each place beholds the prologue to his sight . but when his strength is recollected quite , and well improv'd , he doth with fury go to meete againe his not forgotten ●o . as when a furious foaming billow rose in the mid-sea , and thence with horrour goe● to be at the rocky shore , resounding straight , and falls no lesse than with a mountaines weight . the seas low'st part mixt with his highest fomes , and belch'd black sand up from the bottom comes . even so all kindes on earth , led by desire , men , beasts , fish , painted fowle to this sweet fire with fury run : love is the same to all . the ●urious lionesse no time at all forgetting yong ones , through the fields doth rore and rage so much , nor ougly beares do more black slaughters make , nor throgh the woods more wracke do cruell bores and furious tygers make . in libyan desarts t is ill wandring then . see how the horses ioynts all tremble , when a mare 's known sent he through the aire doth feele . no stripes , no strength of men , no bits of steele , no rocks , nor dikes , nor rivers in his way , which roule whole mountaines , can his fury stay . the sterne sabellian bore in love doth whet his tusks , and digge the earth up with his feet : against a tree he rubs his lusty fide rowzing his bristles with a martiall pride . what dares the young man do , whom loves strong heat torments within ? though stormes be nere so great , he ore the seas in midst of night dares swim , although the heavens showre down their spite on him , and though the sea-beat rocks resound amaine . no ●eeping parents can his course restraine , nor that faire maide whose death his death must prove . why should i speak of spotted ●●nxes love ? of dogs , and cruell wolves ? or shew what warre faint deer in love will make ? but strangest farre is those mares furious love , which venus sent , whē they their master ( k ) glaucus peecemeal rent . love makes them mount ore lofty gargarus , and swim the streames of swift ascanius . and when love's flame their greedy marrowes burnes most in the spring ( for heat then most returnes to th'bones ) upō high rocks they take their places , and to the western winde all turn their faces , ●uck in the blasts , and ( wondrous to be said ) grow great with fole without the horses ayd . then ore the rocks and vallies all they run , not to the north , nor to the rising sun , nor caurus quarter , nor the south , whence rise black showres , which darken & disturbe the skies . hence flows thick poison from the groines of these , which shepheards truly call hippomanes , hippomanes , which oft bad stepdames use , and charming words , and banefull herbs infuse . but time irreparable flyes away , while we too much of every thing would say , let this suffice of heards : our tother care shall woolly sheep , and shaggy goats declare . this is a taske : hence , shepheards , hope to get your praise : nor am i ignorant how great a paine t will be in words to hit it right , and give such lustre to a subiect sleight . but me the sweet desire of fame doth beare over parnassus hardest ridges , there , where never path nor track before i saw of former writers to castalia . now hallowed pales in a lofty straine i le sing ; but first i counsell to containe your sheep within soft stals to feed at home , whilst winter lasts , till flowery summer come : bundles of straw , and b●akes upon the ground strow under them , lest the cold ice should wound the tender cattle , and bring scabs and rots . this done , i counsell thee to feed thy goats with arbute trees and streames that freshly run ; and 'gainst the winde , toward the winter sun directly to th' meridian build thy stals , when now the long-chilling aquarius fals , and lends a moisture to the ending yeare . let these unto our care be no lesse deare , nor are they lesse of use ; though nere so high milesian fleeces with the purple dye of tyre be sold. but goates , if well they thrive , bring young ones ofter , and more milk do give . and still the more the milking pailes are fill'd , the more their swelling vdders still will yeeld . besides the beards , grey skins , and bristly haire of the cyniphian goats the owners sheare to make their tents , and cloath poore marriners . they feed on woods & mountaines tops , on briers , brambles , and bushes of the greatest height . and of their owne accords come home at night , scarce able their swell'd vdders to get ore the threshold then . for this do thou the more guard them from ice , and winter winde ( the lesse themselves perceive mortalities distresse ) bring them for food sweet boughes & osyars cut , nor all the winter long thy hay-ricke shut . but when faire summer comes , when west windes blow let both thy ●locks to field a grazing goe . when first bright lucifer appeares , along the yet coole pastures lead thē forth , whilst yong the morning is , whilst all the grasse is grey , and mingled with sweet dew ; that dew away ta●● by the fourth houres thirsty sun , when roūd the fields with noise of grashoppers resound , lead down thy flocks unto the rivers brink , or else in woodden channels make them drink ; in th' heat of day for shady vallies looke , on which some stately , and far spreading oke sacred to ●ove , or holly grove do grow , which darke , but sacred shadowes do bestow ; then sleightly water them againe , and let them feed abroad againe about sun-set , when night to th' ayre a cooler temper yeelds , and dew refreshing on the pasture fields the moone bestowes , kings-fishers play on shore , and thistles tops are fill'd with linnets store . what need i sing of libyan shepheards , and their feeding countries , where few houses stand ? there oft the flocks whole moneths , both night & day do without stals along the desarts stray . the libyan shepheard carryes with him ever his armes , his spartan dog , his cretan quiver , his house , and victuals too ; provided so to wars far off the roman souldiers go , when they too heavie laden march , and yet before the fo expect , encamped get . but neere maeotis in cold scythian lands , where ister tumbles up his yellow sands , where rhodope's extended to the north , from stals they never bring their cattell forth . no herbage cloaths those fields , no leaves appear● vpon their naked trees , but farre and neer , the hidden ground with hard frosts evermore , and snow seven cubites deep is cover'd ore . cold north-west-winds stil freezing blow , nor ere do ●hoe●us beames their pallid darknesse cleare , not whan he rises to his height , nor whan his ruddy chariot falls in th' ocean . the running streames so hard are freezed there the waters back will cart-wheeles iron'd beare ; in stead of ships there horse , and wagons run ; brasse cleaves with cold asunder ; cloaths put on freeze hard ; whole ponds by frosts , which never thaw , are turn'd to solid ice ; they do not draw but cut their wine with hatchets , and upon their beards hang isicl●s congealed downe . meane time perpetuall snowing fils the ayre ; the cattell dy , the beeves most great and faire are starv'd in drifts of snow ; whole heards of deer so far are hid that scarce their hornes appeare . for these they spread no toiles , nor hunt they there with dogs , but kill them with a sword or speare , while they in vaine strive to remove away those hils of snow , and pitifully bray ; and home with ioyful shouts they bear them then ; for under ground in deep-digg'd caves the men secure , and warmly dwell ; the night they turne to mirth , and sport , and at one fire do burne whole oakes and elmes ; and in full bowles they please their tasts with fresh sowre iuice of services in stead of wine ; a people rough and bold like these , beneath the northren wagons cold do live , which beasts skins warmest furs do weare . bleake eastern windes still beat upon them there . if thou regard their wooll , let them not go where bushes are , where burs and thistles grow , nor in a grasse too rich . be sure to choose thy flocks with white soft fleeces , but refuse that ram ( although the fleece upon his backe be nere so white ) whose only tongue is blacke , lest he do staine the fleeces of his lambs with spots , but chuse another 'mongst the rams . so with a snowy fleeced ram ( if we trust fame ) did pa● the god of arcady deceive thee 〈◊〉 , nor didst thou disdaine within the woods to ease a lovers paine . but who so loves their milke , to them must hee store with his own hands bring claver , trifoly , and ●a●test grasse , which makes them drink more than else they would , & swells their vdders more , and tasts of salt do in their milke remaine . some from their dams the tender kids restraine , and with sharpe muzzles bar their sucking quite . their morning meale of milk they presse at night : that which they milk at night as sun goes down , the shepheard carries to his market town next morne in panyers , or with salt bestowes , and layes it up till winter colder growes . nor let thy dogs be thy last care , but feede with fattest whey , as well as dogs of speede which spa●ta sends , thy mastives fierce , for nere whilst they do guard thy folds , needst thou to fear the wolves invasion , nor the thiefe by night , nor mountainers that do in stealth delight . thou oft with dogs mayst ore the plaines apace wilde asses , deere , or hares for pleasure chace , or ●ow●e with their loud yelps the chafed bore from out his rough , and desart den , or ore the lofty mountaines in delightfull view a lusty stag into thy toiles pursue . but learn to burne within thy sheltering rooms sweet iuniper , and with galbanean gums drive adders thence ; for vipers , that do fly the light , oft under unmov'd stals do ly , or snakes , that use within the house for shade , securely lu●k , and like a plague invade thy cattell with their venom ; shepheard take a staffe or stones with thee , and kill the snake swellling , and hissing from his threatning throte . for though his head into a hole be got , his middle twines , his taile , and parts behinde lye ope , and slowly after tother winde . as bad 's that snake , which in calabrian lawns doth live , and his proud neck aloft advance , and rowling makes a long , and winding track . his belly 's spotted , sealed is his back . whom the spring , when showery southwindes blow , when grounds are moist , and rivers overflow lives upon ponds , and banks , and ravening still with frogs , and fishes his black maw doth fill . but when all grounds , yea fens themselves are dry and cleft with chinks , upon dry ground is he , and rowling then his fiery eyes doth threat the fields , and rages , vex'd with drought & heat . oh let not me then take sweet sleepes abroade , nor lye secure under the shady wood , when he , his skin new cast , his youth renewing : lifts up his head , his tongue threeforked shewing in heat of day , and through the field doth rome his egges or young ones having left at home . he teach thee now the signes and causes all of each diseases ; on sheep the scab will fall when cold raw humours pierce them to the quick , or searching frosts , or sweat unwash'd off stick vpon their new-shorne skins , or brambles teare their flesh ; for that wise shepheards every where do in sweet rivers wash their new-shorn flocks : the drenched ram down the streame swimming sokes his fleece , & skin or else with oiles fat lees they ' noint their new-shorn sheep , & mix with these ●daean pitch , quick sulphur , silvers spume , sea onyon , hellebore , and black bitume . no kinde of cure 's more full of present hope than with a knife to cut the vl●●r ope . for else the hidden venome let alone both lives , and growes ; whilst making of his mone vnto the gods , the idle shepheard stands , and to the wound denies his lancing hands . but when a fever dry shall seize upon their loynts , and pierce into the inmost bone , ●tis best to keep them then from heat , and cut that fall swell●d veine at bottome of the foot . as the bisaltian macedonians do , and fierce gelonians , when they ●ly unto high rodope , or the getes farthest wood , and drink their milk mingled with horses blood . but where thou seest one sheep too often ly in shade at rest , and crop too lazily the tops of grasse , or keep aloofe from all , or ly along , to feed , or to the stall returne home late alone , straight kill that sheep before th infection through th' whole flocke doe creep . no seas are subiect to mo tempests still than sheep , are to diseases , which do kil not single ones , but the whole hopefull flocke , and at one blow rob thee of all they stocke . then who has known the alpes , th' illyrian high castles , and fields , that by timavus lye , may yet behold after so long , the land lye wast , and shepheards dwellings empty stand . here by corruption of the ayre so strong a plague arose , and rag'd all autumn long , that all wilde beasts , all cattell perished , all pasture fields , and ponds were poisoned . nor single was the way to death , but when a thirsty fire burnt up their flesh , even then moist humours flow'd againe , and not at once , but by degrees did melt away the bones . an oxe that is for the gods service prest in all his trimmings , and white garlands drest before the altar dyes , as there he stands preventing the slow sacrificers hands . or if that slaine by the priests hand ●e fall . his entrailes fired yeeld no flame at all , nor can the prophets thence give answers good ; the knives themselves are scarce distain'd with blood ; the sand below with black-filth darkned is . hence the young calfe in richest pasture dyes , and at full racks his sweetest breath forsakes . kinde fawning dogs grow mad ; strong coughing shakes the sick short-winded , pursie hogs , & pains their stubborn iawes ; the conquering horse disdaine● the pleasāt streams , & sick forgetteth quite his food , and th' honour of a race or fight . oft with his hoofes he beates the earth , his eares hang downe , his sweat uncertainly appeares : but cold before his death , his skin is dry , and to the touch resisting ruggedly . these signes of death you at the first may know : but if by time the plague more cruell grow , their eyes are fiery then , their far-drawn breath is with a groane exprest ; their flanks beneath stretch'd with oft sobbing ; a black blood doth flow frō out their nostrels ; their tongues rugged grow ; their iawes grow close & hard ; which help'd hath bin by drenching thē thorough a horn with wine that drench sometimes has wrought a care alone . sometimes has brought a worse destruction . for they refresh'd , more fiercely mad have grown , and with impatient furie torne their own flesh from their bared bones ( so of their foes , of good men better , let the gods dispose ) the labouring oxe now sweating at the plow fals downe , and dyes , & from his mouth doth flow blood mix'd with foame , yeelding his latest grone . the weeping plowman tother oxe alone vnyokes , which wailes his fellowes death , and now abroad in field lyes the forsaken plow . his mourning minde up shade of lofty woods . no flowery meadowes , nor clear chrystall floods which ore the rocks , and through green fields do glide , can comfort now ; his bowels on each side consume ; his settled eyes unmov'd are grown , and his unweildy necke hangs bending down . what now availes his ●o●mer fruitfull toyle ? that he so often plow'd the fertile soile ? besides , no riotous , no costly feast , no rich campanian wine brought his unrest . greene leaves and simple herbage was his food , his drink cleare water from the running flood . no cares disturb'd his sleep . that time ( l ) they say within those regions oxen wanted they for iuno's sacrifice ; her chariots than by beasts unlike were to the temple drawn . therfore they digg'd their ground with much ado , and with their hāds thrust down the seed they sow . and ore the lofry mountaines not disdaine , for want of beasts themselves to draw the waine . no wolves do now about the sheepfold spy how to a●●ault the flock by treachery ; a greater sorrow tames the wolves ; the deer● and fearfull harts do wander every where amidst the dogs , about the houses round . the scaly nation of the sea profound , the fishes , that all ponds and rivers store , float dead , like shipwrack'd bodies , to the shore : sea-calves unwonted to fresh rivers fly : the water-snakes , with scales up-standing , dy : the viper vainly fenced by his hole dyes there : the aire to every sort of fowle vngentle grows , who , whilst their flights they take high in the aire both flight and life forsake . nor does it boore them now to change their food ; all arts are hurtfull , leaches do no good ; not learned chiron , nor melampus sage . the pale tisiphone with all her rage is to the light from stygian darknesse sent ; before her feares , and pale diseases went ; her murderous head higher , and higher still she daily lifts ; each river , banke , and hill , the blea●s of sheep , and bullocks lowings fill . now in whole flocks they fall , and heap'd on high , even in the stals the carrion'd bodies lye , till men had learn'd t'interre them under ground in dikes ; for of their hides no use was found ; nor could they roast their flesh , nor wash it clear , nor their disease-corrupted fleeces shear , nor touch the tainted webb ; for who so ere durst once attempt those hated cloaths to weare , hot carbuncles did on their bodies grow , and lice-engendring sweat did overflow ; and ere long time in this infection past , a red * hot swelling all their limmes did wast , finis libri tertij . annotations upon the third booke . hippodamia ( a ) was daughter to oenoma●s king of the cities of elis and pisa. this oenomaus had horses of wondrous speed ( as being begotten by the winds ) and admitted suiters to his daughter hippodamia , upon this condition , that they should run a race in chariots with him : upon him that conquered , hee would bestow his daughter ; but whom hee vanquished , hee would kill . when by this cruell meanes hee had killed many that came as suiters to her , and she at last was falne in love with pelops , she corrupted myrtilus her fathers charioter to let pelops win , promising him for that favour hee should first enjoy her and have her maydenhead . myrtilus upon this promise put on false wheels upon the chariot of oenomaus ; and when pelops was conqueror , and obtained the lady , myrtilus de●●●ding her promise from her , was by pelops her husband tumbled downe headlong into the sea , which sea from his name hath beene since called mare myrtaeum . ( ● ) augustus caesar , after brittany was vanquished , employed many of the captiv● brittains in servile offices about the theater : he bestowed also upon those theaters diverse flags of rich price , in which were woven his victories and triumphs . these flags were carried by the captive brittaines , bearing the history of their owne conquest : but sure it is , the poet in this place names brittaine for any other barbarous nation ; for augustus , though he had many triumphs over severall barbarous nations , yet never conquer'd nor triumphed over brittaine . ( c ) by the name of quirinus in this place the poet meaneth augustus caesar , and that not farre fetch'd , nor farre from reason , but more for the emperours true honour ; for suetonius tranquillus in the life of augustus , speaketh thus : three parties of the people by the senats consent offered on a time three names to octavius ; the names of quirinus , augustus and caesar : hee fearing lest if he should choose one , he should displease the other two parties , accepted them all : he was first called quirinus , afterward caesar , and last of all augustus ; in which name he ever remamed ; and virgil gives him all those names . ( d ) this great flow of warre from nil● 〈◊〉 poet meanes when marcus antonius , and cleopatra came downe from thence to encounter augustus caesar at actium ; 〈◊〉 which warre they brought wonderfull power : for marcus antonius besides the ayde of ten kings , which served him at that time , and all the strength of cleopatra , had nineteene whole roman legions , and twelve thousand horsemen : his strength at sea was five hundred sayle of fighting ships . in this battell they were vanquished by augustus caesar. ( e ) after the victory of actium , augustus caesar marcht with a great strength towards divers nations ; who easily yeelded unto him . the indians & scythians ( saith suetonius tranquillus ) hearing of his name onely begged his favour . the parthians themselves yeelded without resistance , and their king phraartes did homage to augustus , gave him hostages , and delivered backe all those romane ensignes which they before had taken in warre from marcus crassus , and marcus antonius the triumvir . ( f ) the horses here mentioned , and so famed in poetry , were these : the horses of castor and pollux called xanthus and cyllarus : the horses of mars called dimos and phobos : and the horses of achilles , called xanthus and aethon . ( g ) the fable is thus : saturne was in love with philyra the daughter of oceanus and thetis : shee , to avoide the rape , was transformed by her parents into a mare ; upon which saturne turned himselfe into a stately courser , and so enjoyed the nymph : in which shape also hee deceived his wife ops , who came thither of purpose to finde him out , and discover the fact ▪ of which con●●ction of saturne and phylira , the poets reported that chiron the centaure was borne . ( h ) as the thessalians were the first of all that ever invented the use of riding on horse-backe ; so ericthonius was the first that taught posteritie the way of joyning horses together in chariots . this ericthonius was the sonne of vulcan , a man of a goodly personage , but deformed onely in his feete , which were like the feet of a serpent . hee to hide this deformity , invented chariots , wherein hee might ride , and nothing of him but his upper parts exposed to the view . ( i ) peletronium is a towne in thessaly , where the use of taming and riding horses was first found : for on a time when thessalus the king of that countrey was much displeased that his bullocks ran 〈…〉 ( for it should seeme the horse-fly had stung them ) he commanded his men , which wayted on him , to run after them , and stop their flight : they being not able to overtake the swiftnesse of the bullocks , took up on the sudden a new invention ; they mounted themselves upon horses backs , and so with ease overtooke and turned them . these men espied by some of the neighbouring people , eyther as they rode swiftly by , or else as their horses bowed downe their heads to drinke of the river peneus , gave way to that old fable of the centaures : for the people neere had an opinion that they were halfe men and halfe horses . but the name of centaure was therefore given them , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because those men , when first they rods 〈◊〉 horses were driving of bullocks . ( k ) potnia is the citie , of which glaucus was , who ( as the poets fained ) despised the sacrifices and service of venus . the goddesse angry with his contempt , sent a madnesse to possesse the mares which drew his chariot ; who turning upon their master , tore him to pieces . the cause of this fiction that venus should send a madnesse into them , is this : glaucus to make his mares the swifter and fuller of mettall , kept them from venery , which made his mares so furious , that their ungovern'd spirit turned to the destruction of their master . ( l ) virgil speaking in this place of the plague among cattell , ingeniously supposeth that this was the same time , wherein that famous history of herodotus was verified . it was the custome for the votaresse or priest of argos to ride to the temple of iuno , drawne by two oxen upon fest●●all 〈◊〉 but when it so befell upon a solemne day that no oxen could be found to draw her ( the plague having consumed the cattell in that countrey ) her two sonnes cleobis and biton put the yoakes upon their neckes , and drew their mother to the temple . the goddesse iuno , moved with so great a piety in these two young men , offered their mother that whatsoever shee would pray for in her sonnes behalfe , it should be granted . the mother with a pious answer entreated the godd●sse that whatsoever she knew the most happy for mortall men , shee would be pleased to graunt unto her sonnes : the next morning the two young men were both found dead ; from whence it was generally concluded that nothing was so happy for a man as to dye . finis . georgicon . the fourth booke . the argvment . this book describes the bees industrious state ; by what chast wondrous means they propagate their kind , & breed their cōmon progeny . their age , their natures and strange industry ; their wars and furious factions ; & how they by lawes of iustice governe , and obey in their monarchike state . their maladies , and cures ; and how to make a swarm of bees when all thy stock is quite consum'd to nough● . sad aristaeus by his mother taught bindes fast shape-changing proteus ; who alone tels him what caus'd his bees destruction . orpheus bewailes his wife ; his musicks straine charms hell , and brings eurydice againe from thence ; againe fond love looses her quite . 〈…〉 in endlesse wo , by night 〈…〉 torne in bacchus sacrifice by thracian dames , whose beds he did despise , taught aristaeus doth to them ordaine a sacrifice , and findes his bees againe . aeriall honey next , a gift divine i le sing ; mecaenas , grace this piece of mine . admired spectacles of creatures small , their valiant captaines , and in order all their nations , manners , studies , people , fight , i will describe ; nor think the glory slight , though slight the subiect be , to him , whom ere th' invoked gods , and pleas'd apollo heare . first for your hives a fitting station finde shelter'd from windes rough violence , for winde hinders their carriage ; let no sheep there play , nor frisking kids the flowery meadowes lay , nor wanton heifers neare the hiving place strike off the dew , nor tread the springing grasse . let speckled lizzards thence be far away , the woodpeckers , and other birds of prey , and progne marked on her stained breast with bloody hands ; for she to feed her nes● seizes the flying bees , and thither 〈…〉 as sweetest food ; but near pure 〈…〉 green mossie fountaines stil your bee-hives place , and streames that glide along the verdant grasse , shaded with palms , or spreading olive trees : that when new kings draw out their swarming bees , and frō their combes dismiss'd in spring they play , the neighboring banks may then invite their stay , cooling their heat , and trees so near the hive a green , and shady coverture may give . into the poole , whether it stand , or flow , great stones acrosse , and willow branches throw as bridges for the bees to stand upon , and spread their wings against the sūmer sun , when strong eastwindes by chance have scatter'd thē in cōming home , or drown'd them in the streame , let beds of violets , and wilde betony , greene cinnamon , and fragrant savory grow round about the spring . but whether you to make your hives , trees barkes together sow , or hives of limber osyars woven get ; make the mouth narrow , lest the summers heat dissolve the honey , or cold winter freeze ; for both extreames alike annoy the bees . nor i● in vaine that they with all their powers daube up each chinck with waxe , & fil with flowers each breathing hole , and to that end prepare a glew more clammy than all birdlime farre , and phrygian ida's pitch ; and under ground ( if fame speak truly ) bees have oft been found breeding in digged caves , and oft been known in holes of trees , and hollow p●mice stone . but daube thou vp the chinky hives with clay , to keep them warme , and leaves above them lay . neere to the hives let no deep waters flow , nor crabs be drest , nor poisonous yew-trees grow . or where mud standing stinkes , or eccho's bound from hollow rocks with their reflected sound . but when bright sol hath banish'd winter chas'd vnder the earth , and summer light hath grac'd the sky againe ; over the fields , and woods they wander straight lightly the brinkes of floods they sip and tast the purple flowers ; from thence ( what sweetnesse ere it be that stir their sence ) care for their bro●de , and progeny they take ; thence work their waxe , and hony clammy make . then when dismiss'd their hives , vp to the sky in summer ayre thou seest them swarming fly ▪ wondring to view dark clouds 〈…〉 wind , then mark thē well , they go sweet streams to 〈◊〉 , and leavie bowers ; upon this place do thou base honey-●uckles , and beaten mill-●oile strow : and round about let tincking brasse resound ; th●i● farther progresse this charmd place wilboūd . there they will make their stand , or else desire back to their own known lodgings to retire . but if they chance to sally out to wars ( as oft two kings have caused mortall iars ) the common bees affections straight are found , and trembling hearts to fight : that martiall sound of brasse checks their delay , and then a voice is heard resembling trūpets winding noise , then straight they muster , spread their glittering wings , and with their beaks whet their dead-doing stings . then to the standard royall all repaire about their king , and loudly buzzing dare their foes t' appeare ; in weather clear , and faire they sally forth : their battels ioyne i' th' ayre . the welkin 's fill'd with noise ; they grapple all , and grappling so in clusters head long fall ; haile from the winters sky fals not so fast , nor shaken oakes so thick do shed their mast . in midst of th' armies with bright glorious wings , and mighty spirits fly the daring kings ( though bodies small ) resolved not to yeeld , till one side vanquisht have forsooke the field . wouldst thou this fight , and furious heate allay ? a little dust thrown up will part the fray . but when both kings drawn home from battel be ▪ kill him that seemes the worst , lest thriftlesse he do hurt , and let the other reigne alone . ( for of two sorts they are ) one fairely knowne by glittering specks of gold , and scales of bright but ruddy hue . this fairest to the sight is best : by floth the other's nasty growne , and hangs his large unweildy belly downe . different , as are the kings , the subiects are . some foule and filthy , like the traveller , that comes from dusty waies , and dirt doth spit from his dry throate : the other gold-like bright . with well proportion'd spots his limbes are deckt this is the better broode ; from these expect honey at certaine seasons of the yeare most sweet , and yet not sweet alone , but cleare , and such as bacchus hardnesse will allay . but when in th' aire the swarmes 〈◊〉 randome play scorning their combes , forsaking their cold hive ; dost thou from this vaine sport desire to drive their wādring thoughts ? not toilsome is the pains , clip but the princes wings ; whilst he remaines within , no common bee will dare to make high flight , nor th'ensignes frō the campe to take . let saffron gardens odoriferous , which th' image of lampsacian priapus guards with his hooke of willow to affright both theeves , and hurtfull fowles , the bees invite . let him himselfe , which feares his bees to want , bring thyme , & pines down frō the hils , to plant , wearing his hands with labour hard , and round bestow a friendly watering on the ground . and did i not now neer my labours end strike faile , and hasting to the harbour tend , perchance how fruitfull gardens may be drest i 'd teach , and sing of twice rose-bearing pest : how succory by waters prospers well , on grasse how bending cucumbers do swell , and bankes of persley greene : besides to show how the late blooming daffodils do grow i would not faile , and twigs of beares-foot slow , shore loving myrtles , and pale ivie too . for where tarentum's lofty turrets stand , where slow galesus soakes the fallow land , i saw an old cilician , who possest few akers of neglected ground undrest , not fit to pasture beasts , nor vines to beare : yet he among the bushes here , and there gathering few pot-hearbs , vervaine , li lies white , and wholesome poppey , in his mindes delight equall'd the wealth of kings , and comming still late home at night , with meat unbought , did fill his laden board : he gather'd first of all roses in spring , and apples in the fall . and when sad winter with extreamest cold crack'd even the stones , & course of flouds did hold with bridling ice , he then pluck'd leaves of soft beares-foot , and check'd the springs delayings oft , and zephyres sloath . he therefore first was found with fruitfull bees , and swarmes still to abound , and froathy hony from the combes could squeeze . he still had fruitfull vines , and linden trees . and for each blossome , which first cloath'd the tree an apple ripe in autumne gather'd he . he could to order old grown elmes transpose , old peare trees hard , & black thorne bearing sloes , the plaine tree too , that drinking shade bestowes . but too much straighten'd , i must now forsake 〈◊〉 this taske for others afterward to take . and now he show those natures , which on bees great iove himselfe bestow'd : for what strange fees following a tinckling noise , and brazen ring in cretan caves they nourish'd heavens high king. bees only live in common-wealths , and bees only in common hold their progenies : live by lawes constant , and their own abodes certainly know , and certain houshold gods : and mindfull of ensuing winter , they labour in summer , and in publike lay vp their provision . some for gathering foods are by the states commission sent abroad to labour in the fields : some still at home lay the foundations of the honey combe of glue , tree-gumme , and faire narcissus reare : then to the top they fasten every where their clāmy waxe : care for their brood some take ( the nations hope ) : some purest honey make , till th' honey combe with clearest nectar swels . some lot appoints to stand as centinels , and to foresee the showres , and stormes to come they watch by turns : those that come laden home some case : or ioyning all their strengths in one far from the hive they chase the lazie drone . to work they fall : their fragrant honeyes hold a sent of thyme ; as when the cyclops mould iove's thunder frō th' hard-yeelding masse in hast , some take and pay againe the windy blast from bull-hide bellowes : others in the lakes do quench the hizzing irons ; aetna shakes with weight of anviles : whilst their armes so strōge in order strike , and with hard-holding tongs the iron turne ; such inbred thrifty care ( if little things with great we may compare ) each in his function bees of athens take . the elder keep within the townes , and make daedalian fabrieks to adorne the combe ; but late returne the younger weary home their thighes laden with thyme : they feed upon wildings , greene willowes , saffron , cinnamon , pale hyacinths , and fruitfull linden trees . one time of work , and rest have all the bees . forth in the morne they goe , and when late night bids them leave gathering , home they take their slight , and there refresh their bodies thē a sound , and buzzing's heard about th'hives confines roūd . but when they all are lodg'd in silence deep they rest , their weary senses charm'd by sleep . nor stray they far when clouds orecast the skyes , nor trust the weather when eastwindes arise . but neare their cities short excursions make , and safely water , or small pebbles take ( as in rough seas with sand the vessels light ballast themselves ) to poize their wandering flight . but at that wondrous way you must admire by which bees breede : they feele nor venus fire , nor are dissolv'd in lust , nor yet endure the paines of childing travell : but from pure sweet flowers , & herbs their progeny they bring home in their mouths . they all elect their king , and little nobles ; their wax mansions and courts they build ; & oft 'gainst hardest stones they fret their wings , and spoile them as they fly , and gladly under their sweet burthens dy : so great 's their love of flowers , ambition too they have of making honey . therefore though their lives be short ( as not above the space of seven yeares ) yet their immortall race remaines ; the fortunes of their houses hold ; for many yeares are grand-sires grand-sires told . besides not aegypt , nor rich lydia more , nor medes , nor parthians do their kings adore ; whilst he 's alive , in concord all obey ; but when he dyes , all leagues are broke , and they themselves destroy their gathered food at home , and rend the fabrick of their hony combe . t is he preserves their workes ; him all admire , and guard his person with a strong desire : they carry him , for him they hazzard death , and think in war they nobly lose their breath . noting these signes , and tokens , some define the bees partakers of a soule divine , and heavenly spirit ; for the godhead is diffus'd through earth , through seas , & lofty skies . from hence all beasts , men , cattle , all that live , all that are borne their subtle soules receive . hither againe they are restor'd , not dy , but when dissolv'd , returne , and gladly fly vp to the stars ; in heaven above they live . but when thou wouldst open the stately hive , and rob their hoarded honey treasury , then first of all throw water silently , and with thine hand send in pursuing smoke . twice in the yeare for honey harvests look : first when taygetes beauteous visage makes earth glad , and th' oceans scorned floods forsakes : againe , when she the southerne fish doth fly , to winter seas descending heavily . but bees offended wondrous wrath conceive inspiring venome where they sting , and leave fixt to the veines their undiscerned speare within the wound , themseves expiring there . but if thou fear a winter hard , and make spare for the future time , or pity take on their deiected spirits , and falne estate : give them cut waxe , and thyme suffumigate . for oft base lizzards eate the hony combe , and to the hives night-loving beetles come ; and drones , that freely fit at others meate ; or with unequall strength fierce hornets b●ate the bees : or moths of a dire kind : or close about the door her net-like cobwebs loose the pallas-hated spider spins . the more they thus are ruin'd to repaire the store of their lost nation , all their utmost powers themselves do use , and fil their hives with flowers . but if their bodies be diseas'd ( as bees by life are subiect to our meladies ) which may by signes infallible be known ; the sick straight lose their colour , and are grown deform'd with leanenesse : they in wofull wise beare forth their dead with solemne obsequies . or cloister'd else within their houses they sadly containe themselves , or lingring stay about the doore , in clusters taking hold , famish'd , and faint , and feeble by the cold . then a sad broken sound , and groaning's heard , as windes do murmur in a forrest stirr'd , as seas do roare , the tide by windes oppos'd , or raging fire within a furnace clos'd , for this of gums a fumigation use , and into th● hive in pipes of reed infuse honey , t' inuite them to a well-known food ; with these the tast of beaten galt is good ; dry'd roses too , and thick decocted wine , with loose hung clusters from the psythian vine , cecropian thyme , strong centorie ; withall a flower , which husbandmen amello call , most easie to be found , in meadowes growes , for from one roote he spreads a wood of boughes . whos 's many leaves , although the flower be gold , black violets dimme purple colour hold . whence wreaths have oft the gods hie altars deckt . sharp-tasted in the mouth ; shepheards collect these flowers beside faire mella's crooked stream , on plaine unwooded valleyes . rootes of them boile in sweet wine , and set provision store in baskets full before the bee-hive doore . but if that any his whole broode of bees have on the suddain lost , and no way sees to raise another stock , i le now declare th' arcadian master's old invention rare , and from fames first beginning make it plaine from blood-corrupted of bruis'd bullocks slaine , how bees have oft been born . for where from old the happy people of canopus hold , their countrey cover'd with niles fruitfull flow , and ore their lands in painted frigots go , neer to the bounds of quiver'd persia , where nile returned from black india , with slime makes fruitfull egypts verdant plaine , and in seven channels fals into the maine , all that whole region in this art repose a certaine remedy . and first they choose a little house , which to that end they build , clos'd in strong wals , guttur'd , and strongly til'd . gainst the foure quarters of the winde they make four windowes lending oblique light ; then take a tender horned steere of two yeares old , and stop his breath , his mouth , and nostrils hold , till struggling so with beating kill'd he fall , through his whole skin his bowels bruised all . then in that narrow roome so closely shut they leave the body , and beneath it put sweet thyme , fresh cinnamon , and other bought , when zephyre first upon the water blowes : before the spring with flowers the meadows guild , or twittering swallowes on the rafters build . then th' heated moisture in the tender bones doth boile , and ( wondrous to be seen ) at once so many animals together brings , first without feet , after with feet , and wings , and take th' aire more , and more , til like a showre , which down frō sūmer clouds doth fiercely powre , or like a storme of shafts , which parthians shoot against their foes , a swarme of bees break out . what god , o muse , to us this art hath taught ? what act of man this new experience brought ? when aristaeus sad from tempe fled , his bees by hunger and diseases dead , beside the sacred spring of peneus plaining he stood , and tax'd his mother thus , mother cyrene , mother whose abodes are in this flood , why from the line of gods ( if phoebus , as thou sayest , my father be ) broughst thou me forth abhorr'd by destinie ? oh whither now is fled a mothers love ? why didst thou bid me hope for heaven above ? when lo those ioyes , which mortall life did bring , which bees , and cornes industrious husbanding with all my care could but procure , is gone though thou my mother be . nay , nay , go on , with thine own hand fell off my growing woods , my harvests blast , by fire consume my goods , my barnes , and corn , my spreading vines cut down if thou so envious of my praise be grown . but from her bower his mother heard the sound vnder the flood ; the nymphs about her round spun green milesian wooll . dishevell'd haire adorn'd their ivorie necks , drym● the faire , x●ntho , ligaea , and phyllodoce , nesae , spio , and cymodoce ; cydippe , and bright licorias , one a maide , th' other then first had felt lucina's aide . clio , and berôe sea-borne sisters both , both guirt with gold , in painted mantles both . ephyre , opis , deiopcia too of asia , and arethusa now at last growne swift since she her quiver left . to these did climene tell the pleasing theft , and slights of mars , with vulcans bootlesse feares , and from the chaos number'd do their eares the loves of gods . whilst pleasd with what she told the rocks of wooll they on their spindles rowl'd . againe the plaints of arislaeu● pierc't his mothers care ; but arethusa first of all the nymphs above the water show'd her beauteous head , and far off cry'd aloud sister , cyrene , t was no causlesse feare that sound procur'd ; thine aristaeus dear weeping beside old peneus streame remaines , and of thy cruelty by name complaines . struck with new feares his mother answer'd thus : bring him ( quoth she ) bring him along to us . he may of right enter the roofe of gods . then by command she straight divides the floods to make him ●oome to passe : the swelling flood like a steep mountaine round about him stood : in that vast gulfe receiv'd he was convey'd down vnder ground , and wondring there suruey'd his mothers watery bower , lakes closely held in cave● , and sounding woods , and there beheld ( astonished to heare that horrid sound that waters motion made ) how under ground in severall places rivers did commence , ●hasis , and lycus , and the spring , from whence the deep enipeus breakes , whence tyber is , mysian caicus , stony hypanis , and annio , golden eridanus with bull-like hornes ; no streame more furious doth run , nor falls more violent than he into the purple adriaticke sea . when to his mothers bower of pumice stone he came , and she perceiu'd his causlesse mone : the nymphs clear water , and fine towels bring to clense his hands with , some replenishing the cups , while some the feasting tables fill , with frankincense the altars smoking still . here take these cups of wine ( his mother said ) let 's sacrifice to th' ocean ; then she pray'd vnto oceanus , father of all things , and nymphs her sisters , who the woods , & springs by hundreds keep . thrice on the fire she threw nectar : to th' roofe the flame thrice upward flew . confirmed with this omen thus begun cyrene ; in carpathian seas , my sonne , great neptune's prophet ( g ) ●roteus abides , who ore the maine in his blew chariot rides by horse-fish drawne ; who now againe resorts to his pallene , and th' aemathian ports : him aged nereus , and we nymphs adore ; for he knowes all things , things that heretofore have been , that are , and shall hereafter be . for so to neptune it seem'd good , that he his heards of fish might under water guide , and great sea-calves . he must in chaines be ti'de by thee , my sonne , to shew the cause thy bees are dead , and give thee prosp'rous remedies . without compulsion he will nothing tell , nor can entreaties move him ; binde him well , and hard , and all his tricks will vanish soone . when ●ol is mounted to his height at noone , when grasse is d●y , and cattell seeke the shade , i le bring thee thither , where thou shalt invade the aged prophet , when his private sleep he takes , ●etired weary from the deep . but when thou bind'st him , to delude thine eyes , in severall shapes he will himselfe disguise , a scaly dragon , or fierce tyger he , or bore , or tawny lionesse will be , or take the noise , and shew of fire to scape , or slide away in liquid waters shape . but , sonne , the more in shapes he varyes still , be sure the harder hold thy cords , untill chang'd frō those figures , that first shape ( h ) he keep , in which thou saw'●t him lying down to sleep . this said , sh' annoints the body of her sonne , with sweete ambrosian odours ; whence anone an heavenly ayre exhaled from his head , and able vigour through his limbes was spread . within an eaten mountaines hollow side is a vast cave , where water driven by tide doth into turning guifes it selfe divide , an harbour safe to storme-tost marriners : within blew pro●eus under stony bars shut up , and guarded lyes . here far from sight in a darke nooke averted from the light cyrene plac'd her sonne ; her selfe away vanish'd obscur'd in clouds . at noone of day , when now the scorching dog-star from the sky the thirsty ●ndians burn'd , the grasse was dry , and the sun-beames as low as to the ground boil'd luke-warm rivers , though the most profoūd . proteus from sea to this accustom'd ground retires himselfe ; the scaly nation round playing about him , fa● salt dew do throw ; the calves on shore do severally bestow themselues to sleep , whilst he upon a rock amidst them fi●s , and numbers all the flock , like to an heard , when from the mountains home vnto their stals his calves from feeding come , and wolves are whetted with the lambs loud bleats . when aristaeus this occasion gets , scarce suffering the old prophet to compose his weary limbes , in with a shout he goes vpon him straight , and bindes him as he lyes . he not unmindefull of his old devise all his strange shapes assumes in order ore , a flaming fire , a flood , a tusked bore . but when no cunning could procure his scape , vanquisht at last , in his owne humane shape he speaks ; who sent thee hither to my cave thou bold young man ? or here what wouldst thou have ? thou knowst my mind , proteus thou knowst ( quoth he ) intend it not , thou c●nst not co●sen me . following the gods command , hither come i for my lost goods to seek a remedie . when thus he spake , the prophet much compell'd , scowling with his green eyes , with anger swell'd , and cha●ing thus at last gan prophecie : the wrath of some great god doth follow thee for great misdeeds . to thee this punishment ( though not so great as thou deseru'st ) is sent from wretched orpheus , unlesse fares resist , who still in wrath for his dear wife persists . when from thy lust she fled , the never spy'd a water-snake , by whose fell s●ing she dy'd , lurking upon the graslie banke : but all the dryades at her sad funerall wept on the mountaines , high pangaea , and the rodepeian tower● , and warlike land of rhaesus , hebrus , and the getes for wo wept , and athenian orythia too . but he himselfe his sicke soule solacing , oft to his warbling instrument would sing of thee , sweet wife ; thou on the shore alone morning and night wert subiect his mone ▪ he through the darke , & fearfull wood did venter , 〈◊〉 , lawes , and ●luto's cave to enter , and to the ghosts , and their grim king he went , hearts that to humane prayers did nere relent . but from all parts of hell the ghosts , and throng of livelesse shadowes moved by his song came forth , as many thousands , as a flight of little birds into the woods , whom night , or showres approaching thither drive in sholes , the ghosts of men and women , the great soules of heroes , virgins , and of boyes were there , and youths , that tomb'd before their parents were ▪ whom foule cocytus reedlesse bankes enclose , and that blacke muddy poole , that never flowes , and styx nine times about it rowles his waves . but all hels in most vaults , and torturing caves amazed stood ; th' eumenides forbeare to menace now with their blew snaky harie : three-mouthed cerberus to bark refraines : ixion's racking wheele unmov'd remaines . now comming back all dangers past had he , behinde him follow'd his eurydice restor'd to life ( for this condition proserpina had made ) when lo anon forgetfull love a suddaine frenzy wrought , yet to be pardon'd , could fie●ds pardon ought . neere to the light ( alas ) forgetfull he love-sicke , look'd backe on his eurydice . that action frustrates all the paines he tooke , the ruthlesse tyrant's covenant is broke , and thrice avernus horrid lake resounds . orpheus ( quoth she ) what madnesse thus confoūde thy wretched selfe , and me ? sterne fates surprie me back againe ; deaths slumbers close mine eyes . farewell ; thus hurry'd in black night i go ; this saide , her aëry hands she lifts , and so as smoake sleetes into ayre , she vanisht there ( now his no more ) and left him clasping th' ayre ▪ offring replyes in vaine : nor more alas would churlish charon suffer him to passe . what should he do his wife twice lost ? how move the fiends with tears , with prayers the gods above● his wife now cold was ferry'd thence away in charons boate . but he seven moneths ( they say ) weeping besides forsaken strymons waves vnder the cold , and solitary caves to ruthlesse rocks did his mishaps lament , that trees were mov'd , and tygers did re●ent . as phi●omel in shady poplar tree wailing her young ones losse , whom cruelly a watching husbandman , ere fledge for flight , took from her nest . she spends in griefe the night , and from a bough sings forth her sorrow there with sad complaints filling the places neere . no venus now , nor hymenaean rites could move his minde ; wandring in wofull plights where on riphaean fields frost ever lyes , ore scythian ice , and snowy tanais , he there complayn'd of pluto's bootlesse boone , and how how againe eurydice was gone ▪ the thracian dames , whose beds he did despise , raging in bacchus nightly sacrifice , scatter'd him peece-meale ore the fields abroad . yet then when swift ocagrian hebrus flood carry'd the head torne from the neck along , eurydice his cold , and dying tongue , ah poore eurydice did still resound . eurydice the banks did eccho round . thus proteus spake , and leapt into the maine , and where he leapt , beneath his head againe the foaming waters rose in bubbles round . fearelesse cyrene with this cheatfull sound comforts her sonne ; banish sad cares , my sonne : this , this did cause thy bees destruction : for this the nymphs , which in the woods did play . and dance with her , have tane thy bees away . bring thou thy offrings humbly , beg thy peace , and there adore the easie dryades ; for they will pardon , and their wrath remit . i le teach thee first what way of praying's fit : choo●e out foure lusty bulls well shap'd , and fed , which on thy greene lycaeus top are bred , as many heifers , which nere yoake did beare ; to these foure altars in the temple reare ; and from their throats let out the sacred blood , and leave their bodies in the leavie wood when the ninth morning after shall arise , let●aean poppy t' orph●us sacrifice , kill a blacke sheep , and th' wood again go see . with a slaine calfe appease eurydice . without delay he doth what ●he directs , comes to the temples , th' altars there erects . foure ●usty bulls well shap'd , and fed he tooke ; as many as heyfers , that nere bare the yoke : when the ninth morning after did arise , to orpheus he perform'd his sacrifice , and came to th' wood , when lo ( strange to be told ) a ●udden wonder they did there behold : bees buzz'd within the bullocks putrifi'd bowels , and issu'd out their broken sides , making great clouds in th' aire , and taking trees like grapes in clusters , hung whole swarms of bee● this i of tillage , trees , and cattells care have sung , whilst mighty caesar in his warre , thundring by great euphrates doth impose lawes on the conquer'd parthians , and goes the way to heaven . then sweet parthenope happy in peacefull stydies nourish'd me , who shepheards layes , and , tytirus , thee young vnder the broade beech covert boldly sung . finis . annotations upon the fourth booke . ( 1 ) virgil in this fourth booke , lest any businesse of a countrey life should be wanting in his georgicks , beginnes here the discourse of bees ; a subiect ( though small ) ●et , as one observes , written of by many the ablest authours , and in different manner . aristotle first in his booke intituled , de historia animalium , had written with much subtletie , and depth concerning the bees nature . amongst the latines , varro in a discourse wondrous for the brevity , hath written fully of them . iunius higinius with diligence , and walking , as it were , in a spacious field hath at large discoursed of the nature of bees : he omitteth nothing which the ancient poets have pleasantly fabled of that subject . cornelius celsus in an elegant and facetious stile hath made illustration of it , columella , moderately , and onely ( as himselfe confesses ) because it is a part of that subject , which he had before began ; with no great ardour hath expressed it . and lest it should only be written in prose , our poet in this place in most elegant verse , inferior to none that ever was , entreateth of this small subiect . ( b ) the king of the bees ( saith one ) it usually spotted more than the rest , and of a forme more faire and beautifull . he is twice as bigge as the common bees ; his wings are shorter than theirs , but his legs are straighter and longer ; so that his walking up and down she h●●e is more lofty and full of majesty . vpon his forehead is a bright spot glittering in manner of a d●ad● me . he wants a sting , armed with nothing but majesty , and a wondrous obedi●nce of the other bees to him . when ever hee goes forth , the whole swarme ●aite about him , guard him , and suffer him not to be seene . when the common bees are 〈◊〉 their worke , hee walkes to take survey of ●hem , he himselfe only being free from labor . about him still are his guards and officers , those strength hee uses in punishing the idle and sloathfull bees . but others are of opini●n ( who deny the generation of bees without ●span ) that this great bee , called the king , 〈◊〉 the onely male in the hive , without whose company there can bee no generation at all : and therefore that all the other bees doe per●etually slocke , and throng about him , not ●ith respect as to a prince , but desire as to a male. ( c ) it was , as most know , an ancient fable , that saturne the husband of ops , and father of iupiter was accustomed to devour his owne children when they were brought forth ( the reason of it , was , because saturne was named the god of time , and all times passing and returning revolve againe into themselves ) which gave occasion to this historie ; when iupiter was borne , his mother ops fearing the cruelty of her husband to him , concealed his birth , and the cretans for feare that saturne should heare the childery , rung their brazen pans and kettles ; which noise the bees following came to the place where the ●nfant was , and sed him there with honey : iupiter for so great a benefit , bestowed on his nurses for a reward this admirable g●ft , that they should have young ones , and continue their kinde without wasting themselves in venery . others report , that iupiter being much in love with a faire nymph called melissa , turned her into a bee , and for her sake bestowed priviledges upon the bees . ( d ) the place where bees first were , is doubted of ; some report it was crete , where those were which nourished iupiter ; others say they were first seen in thessaly in the time of the reigne of aristaeus there ; others make hymetta , a sweet hill neer athens , the place ; others hybla an hill in sicily : all which places are by poets famed for nourishing of bees . mane ruunt ( e ) a most admirable discipline , if it may bee credited : as soone as morning appeares , one bee , whose office it is , goes about the hive , and with three or foure loud buzzes , in stead of a bell or trumpet , awakens them from sleep ; upon whose warning , they all arise , and fly abroad unto their labor of gathering honey , or other employments ; when evening returnes again , and they come home laden with honey ; after some short respite , the same bee , or some other in his turn , with the like buzze commandeth them all to rest ( after the manner of cities ) except such as are appointed to watch and ward . ( f ) this history of aristaeus the son of apollo , and the nymph cyrene ( before mentioned ) the first finder of the use of bees , was not entended by the poet to be here inserted ; this part of the booke was all compiled in honour of cornelius gallus a roman gentleman , the first governour of egypt under augustus caesar ( when caesar after the death of cleopatra had turned the kingdome of egypt into a province ) . this gallus was himselfe a famous poet ( though only fragments remaine of him ) much beloved of the rest of the poets , and honoured by virgil in his bucolickes . but when afterward he fell into a conspiracie against augustus , or , as some report it , accused for abusing the province , which he governed , he was condemned , and put to death ; and virgil by the command of caesar , altered the halfe of his fourth booke , and from the praise of cornelius gallus turned it to the history of aristaeus . the story is plaine , as the poet has here related it ; aristaeus in lust desiring to ravish eurydice the wife of orpheus , and she in her flight from him , being stung with a serpent , and so killed ; aristaeus for his offence was punished with the losse of all his stock , in which he was richer than any of thosetimes , &c. ( g ) in this fable of proteus , virgil imitateth homer altogether ; or rather borroweth , where in his odysses proteus giveth menelaus instruction : but the historie of proteus is thus reported by herodotus in his euterpe ; proteus was king of egypt at that time when paris having raped helena , was driven with her by a tempest into egypt . ( for when troy was sacked helena could not be found there ) but menelaus after the wars of troy sayled into egypt , and there being with great courtesie entertained by proteus , hee received his wife helena againe . some report , that proteus being borne in egypt fled from the tyranny of cruell busiris , and came into thessalia : but others ( of whose opinion it should seeme our poet is ) say , that he was borne at pal●ene a city of thessalia ; and sailing into egypt lived for a time there ; but afterwards returned againe into thessalia his native countrey . ( h ) of this fable that proteus before he was bound , and barred from all his deluding shapes , could never prophesie , some have made a physicall construction ; for every man has in himselfe lust , folly , cruelty and deceit ; which , as long as they raigne uncontrolled in him , his nobler part , which is nearer to the divinitie , that is his wisedome , doth not appeare , nor cannot exercise her function , untill all those are bound ; that is , till a man be freed from those vices . from whence he concludeth , that this priest could not prophesie , nor receive the divinitie into him , untill all these , that is , his fiery lust , his brutish cruelty , his wavering lightnesse of minde , ( like fleeting water ) were all bound , and had ceased in him . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a14500-e15340 * saint anthonies fire . virgils eclogues translated into english: by w.l. gent bucolica. english virgil. 1628 approx. 255 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 104 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a14497 stc 24820 estc s119264 99854471 99854471 19894 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a14497) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 19894) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1044:2) virgils eclogues translated into english: by w.l. gent bucolica. english virgil. lathum, william. vives, juan luis, 1492-1540. [16], 63, 66-192, [2] p. printed by william iones, dwelling in red-crosse-street, london : 1628. w.l. = william lathum. translation wrongly attributed to william lisle. a translation of: bucolics. in verse. with a translation of the commentary of juan luis vives. with a final leaf of verses. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. lacking last leaf. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng 2003-12 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-12 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-01 olivia bottum sampled and proofread 2004-01 olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virgils eclogves translated into english : by w. l. gent. quis non virgili● ingenium admiratur acutum ? quae ●e suos censura potest reprehendere versus ? ( delitias animi , ( miscentes utile dulci : ) pagina non lasciva sua est : non turpi●● lectu caermina ( ficta licet , non sunt mendacia : gryphis mirus inestque lepor , ●iciorum maximus usus : ) p●umbeue est , callumque sibi non molte palarum , qui veneres , nequeatque sales gustare maroms : vno ( sylla ait ) marij sunt casare mille vno in virgilio , sunt centum mille poetoe : talia ; tantae deum fictorum , qualia quanta qui cecinit cecinisse queat ? ( si nosset iesum ; ) ( heu quam me miseret , christum nescisse maronem . london , printed by william iones , dwelling in red-crosse-street , 1628. to the worthy reader . amongst other things , wherewith the learned satyre taxeth the times wherein hee liv'd , this was one , that they were desperately farr spent with a sickness which hee calls the scribendi cacoethes , or the scribling disease : the infection whereof ( as may seeme ) was then so strong , that the contagion of it , hath runn all along in a veine , ( like the knotty farcye in a horses side ) from age to age , to this very age vvherein wee breath ; seeing ( as then ) so now , tenet insanabile multos , scribendi cacoethes ; many crow-poets , and pye-poetesses , rhimers , and poor versers , ( quales ego , vel cluvienus , ) such as i , and bauld cluvienus , as well as those true witts indeed , who can deserve that of virgil to varus , ( sola sophocleo tua carmina digna cothurno , ) even all sorts , learned and unlearned , ( like the cleane , and uncleane beasts , posting to the ark , and ( with the ape ) doating on the whelpes of their own brayn , and breeding , doe , ( even to the oppressing therof , ) daily throng to the press , ( every one gasping greedily after the sweet ayre of popular praise : whereof some are so ambitious , that ( rather then lose it ) ( with the dutchess of burgundy in hen. 7. time , ) having no children of their own , to serve their turn ) they will set forth a child of an others begetting : and ( with the cuckoe , sucking up the eggs of an other birds laying , ) set themselves down in the nest , and there lay their own name , ( in steed of an egg ) at the foot of the dedication ; which beeing thus hatcht , and flying abroad , gulls the credulous world , as if the whole nest had been of their own stuff , and building ; and in steed of beeing an honest steward to the right author , ( against all true practise of piety , ) ( with ziba , ) make themselves heyres to an other mans paynes and praise : others also the world hath heard of , who ( beeing no less ambitious of this vulgar applause , though quite bankerupt of all ability , to deserve it , ) are also so envious , that ( with richard the third , ) they will smother the royall and learned labours of other men . in this scribling itching age , wherein for a man to doe , as the most doe , is to bee least noted , ( with him in the lottery , ) content to bee a foole for company , en ego musarum rudis , et pauperculus hospes , i , that am not worthy ( gentle reader ) to hould a trencher to the muses , have ( with bouldness inough ) thrust my hand into the dish amongst them , and doe heere presēt thee with some of the dainties which i found at their table : take them as the pastime of my pastimes , and the recreations and interims , which in my younger time , i reserved from sports & pleasure , ( especially that bewitching inticement of hawkes , and hawking , which have flowne away with so much of my most pretious time ; and wherein the greatest and the best part of the young nobility & gentry of this land , ( by an ill received , and worse continued custome ) doe ravl'e out a great part of their goulden dayes , as if the terminus ad quem , the end of all their carefull and chargeable education . at home and abroad , were onely to make them ripe and fit for the slavish service of hawkes & hounds , and other poorer sports and pleasures , ( whose rare and seldome use is indeed their greatest commendation . ) long have these trifles of my paynes lyne imprisoned by mee , and some of them , above treble the time that horace injoynes , ( ut nonū premantur in annum : ) yet now at last i have granted them an exeatis into the world : i will not deny , that they had long since adventured abroad , but that i still looked , and as much desired , that some good able poet would have taken this taske in hand , much wondring , that many of the other latin authours , both in prose & poetry , had found so much curtesie amongst sundry of our ingenious countrimen , to bee taught to expresse their mynds very happily in our english tongue , and that this author , ( so much honoured in all times , as the prince and parragon of all latin poesie , should yet stand still as a noli me tangere , whom no man , either durst or would undertake : onely master spencer long since translated the gnat , ( a little fragment of virgils excellence , ) giving the world peradventure to conceive , that hee would at one time or other have gone through the rest of this poets workes : and it is not improbable , that this very cause was it , that made every man els very nice to meddle with any part of the building which hee had begun , for feare to come short with disgrace , of the pattern which hee had set before them : as none would adventure ( for the same reason , ) to finish the pourtraict of venus , which apelles left behind him unperfect , at his death : wherefore i make no doubt , but this which i doe , wil bee addomed against mee for a bould , and a daring deed : but epistola non erubescit : and now they are out of my hands , i hope they will quickly learne so much impudence of the world , into which they are crowding , that a little blushing wil serve their turn : some readers i make no doubt they wil meet with in these dainty mouth'd times , that will taxe them , for not comming resolved word for word , and line for line with the author : to whom ( if any such chance to bee ) i onely say : that this small indeavour of mine beeing at first undertaken onely for my own private delight , my homely muse drest the whole feast , according as shee knew it would best please my own tast and dyet , ( coquus enim domini debet habere gulam : ) & i used the freedome of a translator , not tying my selfe to the tyranny of a grammaticall construction , but breaking the shell into many peeces , was onely carefull to preserve the kernell safe and whole , from the violence of a wrong , or wrested interpretation ; for as wee cannot chide him for an ill tasker , that beates the corne clean out of the straw , though yet hee thresh it not eare by eare , or sheafe by sheafe , in the same order , as it first grevv in the field . neither are vvee vvont to discōmend those hounds , vvho spending their mouths merrily together , trayl the hare home to her forme , though they hunt not all the while so close within the compass of a sheet , nor hitt every head , or every double in the very direct track , that the hare prickt it out before them : & as wee doe not condemn that greyhound to run fowle , that ( with good footmanship courseth the deer straight vvithout coasting , though his strayns bee more or fevver , shorter or longer then the deeres , and his turns not all so nimble and round , in the same narrovv compass together with the hare : nor doe wee hould that falcon any bad hawk , who ( working her selfe into a good kill-ducks place , & flying jump & round ) stoops frankly , strikes sure , and comes home close to the very blank water , though yet shee come not so close , as to ineau , or goe to plunge together with the fowle : no more do i conceive heerein my course to be faulty , though i do not affect to follow my authour so close , as to tread upon his heeles ; if yet i can keep at a neerer distance unto him , then creusa to her husband , in their going out of troy , so as neither to loose my self , nor my guide , in so difficult and dark a journy ; houlding my selfe for a passable travayler , to have held my author all the way by the hand ( as ascanius did aeneas , in the darke night of their trudging out of the massacre ) howsoever my short-legd muse , ( not able to take so long strydes ) have walked with him ( as that young stripling with his father ) non passibus aequis . every line of this poet , in his own language , deserves the acceptance of the very best reader : but the language vvhich i have taught him ; ( not daring to stand upon justification by merit , and therefore needing rather pardon then acceptance , ) appeales unto your curtesies with that limitation vvherevvith the good theodosius bespake the romans , on his death-bed , in the behalf of his tvvo young sonns ( si promerebuntur : ) or ( if i should use any other insinuation ) it should bee that which shemi , as bad a man , as i can bee a poet , ) used to k. david , because i am the first , that have met my countrymen with these dainty aeclogues , in our english tongue : which ( beeing like riddles , wrapt up in a mask , and under a clowd of reserved sense , & a double meaning , ) i have sent abroad with a gloss borrow'd from divers learned authors , as strangers with a guide to direct them in an unknown vvay : not doubting , but some can be very vvell content to delight their tasts vvith the pleasant juice , as their eye vvith the outvvard rhind of these goulden pastoralls . to tender either the text or the gloss , the garment , or the imbroydery , ( as they are mine , ) to the learned sort , were to offer to light up a taper before the sunn , or to bring farthings ( though a currant coyn ) in payment unto the exchequer : but amongst those of my own growth , and last , of knowledge and understanding , perhaps ( formy authors sake ) the one may bee acceptable , and the other welcome , ( as a hand to draw aside the curtaynes from delicate pictures ) that so they may discover the face at least , though not the whole body of the poets meaning . but least i may draw an imputation of having my wings broader then my nest , or my porch larger then my house , with equall respect to all according to the rank and quality of every severall reader . i rest . w. l. quod meus idortus habet , sum●s impune lic●bit , si dederis nobis , quod ●uus hortus habet . aegloga prima . argvment . tityrvs , is a feigned name , and in the laconian language signifies , a greatgrowne-ramme , which is wont to leade the flocke : vnder this name , virgil co●cheth himselfe , and describes his owne fortune ; and ( by the way ) sets forth the bountie of caesar vnto him ; and testifies his owne thankefulnesse to octavian , by making a commemoration of his happinesse , which by his favour hee did enioy : ( herein performing the two duties of true gratitude at once : the first part whereof is to acknowledge the good turne ; but the summe of all , is to confesse the person , that is the author of the benefit . melibe , is also a feigned name , so called of the greeke , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because he hath the care and looking to the oxen committed vnto him ; vnder this person virgil describes an vnfortunate miserable man , exiled and forced out of his owne country ; but more pertinently and directly , the wofull state of the poore people of mantua , virgils native country , where hee was bred and borne . tityrvs . the bucolickes of pvblivs virgilivs maro . aegloga prima . melibeus . thou , in coole covert of this broad beech-tree , ( tityrus ) at case , doest meditating lie on small oate pipe , thy silvan muse ; but wee leave our faire fields , and our deare country flie : whilst thou lye'st shaded in security , teaching the hollow woods , loud to proclaime , and eccho , with the sound of amaryllis name . tityrus . ah ( gentle melibe ) providence divine , and god himselfe , hath blest me with this ●ase , of his meere grace , without desert of mine : 't is hee ; who ( as thou see'st ) in franker leaze let 's my heards rove , at pleasure , where they please ; hee giues mee leave , vpon my homely quill , and rusticke rheed , to pipe , what songs , & tunes i will. for-thy ; him as my god i will behold , and i his altar often will imbrew with my young kids , the fattest of my fold . me. ( shepheard ) the happinesse which thou doest shew i not envie ; and yet ( to tell thee trew ) thy goodly fortune i admire more in this tempestuous stound , all full of foule vprore . see here my kids , whom i am forc'd to drive sick as i am ; and this young tenderling ( with much adoe , to save it e'ne alive ) a little lacke of dead ( poore weakly thing ) all way , i in my armes , am faine to bring : for'mongst the trees ere while , on bare flint steane this goate , two twins , ( the hope of all my heard ) did eane . the oakes i saw , parched with heavens blast , this mischiefe often did prognosticate , ( had i had wit , or any small forecast : ) on hollow ilex , ( as shee croaking sate ) the luckie crow , did oft this intimate . but , thilke same god , whom yet ye herry thus , of court'sie doe me , t' understand ( good tityrus . ) tityrus . sicker , yee mee to thing doo'n timely tempt , which erst , i bet , than yee did never ken : ah fon , ( friend melibe ) i whilome dempt , that famous citty , which i now and then in common chat , amongst our countrimen , haue heard ycleeped , by the name of rome , certes for all the world , sibb , to our homely home . where we poore shepheards , woont attend our lamms , and tender younglings weane . so did i dare kids , liken , to their goates , whelpes to their damms , and mowle-hills , woont , to mountaines , to compare , " but sooth , to it all other citties are " as to huge firre-trees , the young tender plants ; " ( so high her haughty head she ' boue them doth enhance . ) melibe . but what so great cause hadst thou rome to see ? tityrus . my liberty ; which ( late though ) yet when all selfe-helpe , and hope , both faild , respected mee : after my gray beard did to the barber fall , it came at last , and pittied mee ( poore thrall : ) when once mee awaryllis did receiue , poore galatea left mee , and i did her leaue . whom till i left , i fairly must confesse i neither hope had , nor intendement of libertie , ne care , ne mindfulnesse , of flocke , or heard : though from them often went many a sweete sacrifice , and fat cheese sent to that vngratefull towne ; which nathemore not once , fulfill'd my fist , with any golden ore . melibe . ( sad amaryllis ) i did wonder much , why thou in this mans favour didst prepare , and all the gods invoke ; suffering none touch the fruite vpon his trees : yea , with such care , that if once tityrus , hence absent were fountaines , and shrubbs , the loftie pines , and all soone tityrus , can misse , and eachwhere him recall . tityrus . what should i there doe ? spending my fruitles dayes hopelesse , of any opportunity , from my blind bondage , my poore selfe to raise ne meanes haue had to know the clemency of such , so bounteous gods ; heere , first mine eye that young prince paragon , ( good melibe ) ( to whom twelue dayes , each year , mine altars smoke ) did see . hee , ( first v●ask'd ) did my petition grant , and thus himselfe , did answer my request : feede ( ladd ) thine oxen , ( as woont , paravant ) and to the yoake , breake the bulls stubborne crest . melibe . happy old man , and fortunately blest vnder so mighty patronage ; for-thy , thy fields , henceforth to thee , in safety shall abye . and spacious , they shall be , and large enough albe each pasture , fenced be around , mounded with stone , and rushie slimy stuffe : ne shall vnwoonted feede in neighbours ground , tempt thy bigg-bellied crones , out of their bound : ne shall the murrin , or ought like disease ( amongst thy neighbours cattle ) on thy cattle seize . " happy old man , and more than fairely blest , " who 'mongst these well knowne streames , and sacred springs , " maist suck the sweete , coole ayre , into thy breast : " heere , from the hedge , of thy next neighbourlings , the buzzing bees , confused murmurings ( about the sallow bloomes ) shall oft inuade thy lulled sense , and to sweete slumber thee perswade . heere , maist thou heare , vnder these hollow rockes vnto the ayre , the lopper , lowdly chant , and sing wilde descant , to his axes knockes . here , the hoarse stockdove ( thy delight ) will haunt ; ne , shall the mourning turtle , cease to pant in the elmes thicke tops , ( aspiring to the skies ; ) and grone her dolefull notes , and earnfull elegies . tityrus . the light-heel'd hindes , in th' ayre shall feede therefore , and in the ocean , all the fishes dye for want of water , on the naked shore : the wandring parthian , first shall drinken dry huge araris ; and guzzling germany , sucke downe their thirsty throates , swift tygris-tyde ; ere , his deare lovely face , shall from my bosome slide . melibe . but we , like pilgrims must forsake this rea'me , wandring amongst the scorched africans : some to oaxes , ( creta's rapid streame ) and some amongst the frozen scythians : and some , farre hence , amongst th' unknowne bryteans , ( a people of another world , and quite from all the world beside , divided in their site . ) god knowes , if ever i , my country deare , and my poore cot of turse , againe shall see ; or ( after many a long and tedious yeare ) admire my fields of corne , as now they bee . " shall the rude godlesse souldier haue ( aye me ) " these well-plow'd tilthes ? or shall some barbarous slave , " of these rich goodly crops , the bounteous harvests have . lo , heere by our owne discord and debate , how huge a sea , of endlesse miserie ( distressed citizens ) doth vs awaite : lo , now , for whom , we all so carefully have sowne our grounds . plant now ( poore melibe ) thy peares , and doon , in order dresse thy vine , and to some thanklesse stranger , leave them trim & fine goe now ( my once , deare happy heard : ) and yee my tender kids , farewell : never more , i you ( hanging on the mossy rockes ) shall see farre off , whilst i in some greene cave doe lye ; ne songs , will i more sing , as formerly , ne , henceforth ( kiddies ) whilst i feede , shall you brouze on the flourie shrubs , and sowre sallowes chew . tityrus . here yet with me , a sorry simple bed accept , and welcome , on this homely floore , such as thou see'st with fresh greene boughes o'respred : some mellow apples , yet we haue in store , with chessnutts smoothe : ilk , we have curds galore : and now ( farre off ) the village-chimnies tall , smoake high ; and larger shadowes , from the mountains fall . the preface of lodovicvs vives to his glosse vpon virgils aeglogues . the greeke poets that lived in former time , were held in more honour , and estimation amongst the favourers of learning in that nation , than the latin poets were amongst the latins , insomuch that the most exquisite wits of the greekes did write diverse comments vpon homer , as likewise sundry philosophers amongst them ; and namely aristotle , ( in my mind , the prince , and instar omnium , of them all ) wherein our countrimen the latins ( i speake not of those , who lived in the age , wherein poetry had not yet begnn to haue any the least acceptance , ( men which never had leisure to lay the plough , or the lance out of their hands ) but i meane those in these latter ages , who haue applied themselves to philosophy , and the more graver studies ) have so opposed themselves amongst the gentle muses , as that they thought it a disparagement once to touch , or come neere them : as if but glancing vpon these milder kindes of studies , had beene the ready way to haue flung them headlong from that heigth of wisdome to which they did aspire : certainly hereby they did defraud themselves of no meane delight vnto their wits , and a great refreshing and rejoycing of their mindes and spirits , in shutting wilfully their eares , against that delectable sweete harmony of the poets . the blame hereof partly the perverse obstinate natures of those times , and partly the times themselves , and ill received opinions , must beare . as for me , ( having so warrantable an authour for so weighty a matter , as aristotle ) i will never make nice to intermixe these so pleasing and sweete remissions , and vnbending of the minde , with the severity of my more serious studies , and to comment vpon the merry muses , as now of late i haue done vpon virgils bucolickes , out of which i haue picked a deeper sense in many places , than the vulgar common grammarians can conceive . for , did these aeglogues containe in them no farther hidden matter , than the very bare barke of the words makes shew of , i cannot thinke that the author had needed to haue taken three yeares time to haue brought them to perfection , especially borrowing the greatest part of the whole subiect out of theocritus the sicilian poet ; adde hereunto , that he vndertooke this taske to present the greatest wits of rome withall , namely cornelius gallus , asinius pollio , varus , tucca , yea the prince himselfe augustus ; all which ( excellently learned men themselues , and much conversant and accustomed in the best and chiefest writers , both in greeke and latin ) would doubtlesse never haue beene so taken , and infinitely delighted , with such kindes of light matter as pastoralls , had they not affoorded some hidden meaning and sense of a higher nature . againe , when he once set himselfe to insinuate into their favour and grace by this worke , it is to be thought that virgil , vnder these sporting passages of pastorall verse , did finely and neatly as it were , inlay , and couch many things tending to their praise and commendation , and sundry other matters , befitting them to take notice of ; which being vnderstood rightly , might affect the readers mindes , like the elegant and artificiall pictures , which lay secretly hidden vnder the statue of the sileni . hereunto may likewise farther be added , that the matter itselfe and subject of this worke doth plainly witnesse in sundry places , that it is not simply , but figuratively spoken , vnder a shadow : which makes me admire the more at servius honoratus , who will in this booke admit of no allegories , but onely in that passage of virgils grounds , which were lost : when as many other matters are therein manifestly and meerely allegoricall and darke : wherefore i have thought good , to signifie to the world , that i haue trimmed vp these allegories for their vse , and behoofe , who are delighted with the reading of virgil , ( as who is it that it not ? ) to the end that the finest wits might haue a certaine repast , and delicate foode fitting their taste , and might be drawne to mount higher than the simple sense of the very bare letter . moreover i shall hereby restore the poet to the true scope and aime of his meaning , and shew , that his purpose was not to consume so much precious time , and exquisite verses in triviall light matters of no moment ; and that those things which theocritus in a ruder barbarous age , did sing in a pastorall plaine sense , virgil here doth apply to the romans , making them his owne , vnder a mysticall vnderstanding , worthy the cares of the most learned : notwithstanding i make no doubt but i have fitted some of his verses with such an allegory and explication , as the authour himselfe never dreamed of ; as likewise many other , i have as aptly applyed , according to his scope and meaning in the writing : wherein yet i know i haue done a thing , neither vnacceptable , nor vnprofitable to the reader : greeke writers haue done the like before my time , in expounding of homer ; and donatus in our language , hath attempted and performed as much in his comment vpon terence and this poet , where he vndertakes by his glosses , to bewray their sense and meaning , &c. tityrvs . the glosse . by amaryllis , he meaneth rome , or else , octavian : whose praise he set forth in his pastorall verse , which is meant by his slender oaten pipe . and god himselfe , &c. octavian was not yet accepted nor worshipped for a god , when virgil composed these aeglogues : and therefore he vseth this word mihi : for had he beene so generally reputed as a god , this emphaticall pronounce ( which the poet inserts vpon especiall consideration ) had beene superfluous . for he intimates thus much , that howsoever he had behaved himselfe as an enemie to others , yet he had approved himselfe to him , in stead of a god. for as pliny saith , he by whom a man receiues helpe and comfort , is a god to him ; and therefore antiquity him as my god hath feigned very brute beasts , ( by whose service they received profit ) for gods : so the cat , the dog , the oxe , and the ibis were honoured as gods amongst the aegyptians . and so the gracians set them vp for gods , who had found out the first vse of things profitable and necessary for mans life ; as namely minerva , for the invention of oyle : bacchus , for finding the making of wine : and aesculapius , for the vse of medicine and chirurgery . but thou liest shaded in security . thou art secure and free from the scortching heare of the sunne ; that is , safe from the furie and violence of the conquering souldier , that harries our country all over at mantua . the oakes i saw blasted with &c. when i saw the oakes blasted with lightning ; that is , the bruts , and cassius , and others the murtherers of caesar , when i saw them banished , and overthrowne , and all that tooke their part , ( amongst whom they of cremona were ) i might haue escaped that calamity , if i had departed ; and avoided the contagion of my neighbours , ( that is , their treason and conspiracy ) and had by some meanes made my peace with the conquerour , and procured him to be my friend . the luckie crow &c. in the latin , it is sinistra cornix : this word sinistrum , ( howsoever in humane affaires it signifie vnluckie , ) yet in those kinde of fites and ceremonies , vsed in divination , among the heathen , sinistrum is taken in the contrary sense , as avis sinistra , is as much to say , as good lucke : intonuit laevum , it thundered on the left hand , that is , it thundered luckely , or we shall have good successe : and this word sinistrum , is so named à sinendo , from sufferig and permitting , because the gods doe suffer vs to proceede in our purposed projects : and therefore cicero , in lib. 1. de divinatione , saith , a sinistra cornice , ratum , & firmum augurium fieri : the prophecy of the augurs was ratified , and confirmed , from the crow , which they beheld on their left hand : and in the law of the twelve tables , it is said , ave finistra , populi magister esto ; that is , by the bird on the left hand , it is certaine , that thou art the man who must rule the people . and from hence ( in the judgement of lipsius , in his lib. 2. cap. 2. elect. ) the graecians haue named the left hand , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , signifying the best . now the reason , why those things that did appeare to the augurs , in the time of their diving , on the left hand , were commonly held to be tokens of good lucke , was for that in the giving of a benefit , the givers right hand is opposite , and just against the left hand of the receiver : so that in this eglogue , and in the ninth , sinistra cornix , is to be taken for luckie , or fortunate ; because appearing on the left hand , it forewarned of danger , before it hapned . but thilk same god , &c. here demanding him of caesar , ( befitting the rudenesse and ignorance of a shepheard ) with a long circumstance , and yet wittily and cunningly he tells that famous citty , &c. him a tale of rome . for in describing rome , he magnifies the greatnesse of caesar , who ruled rome , and subdued it to his government : and here the poet ( as in all other passages ) observes an excellent decorū , suitable to country plain men ) as if they had no more knowledge of rome , than by a light flying heresay ; ( a thing naturall and vsuall to shepheards , to know no ne●es of any thing , though of importance and waighty ) if it be but a furlong beyond their fould ; ( as not being inquisitive and curious of forraine marters . ) siker : an old saxon word ; as much as verily , or surely . bett : a word contracted from better , and vsed in this sense by chancer , and mr. spencer . sibb to our homely home , &c. shepheards , as they be rude and ignorant , so they esteeme and measure all things according to their owne meanes . so tityrus saith , he deemed that pompous goodly citty ( so full of nobility , lords , and gentry , and the seate of the empire ) to be like their poore shepheards towne , or rather sheepe-cote ; that is , he thought , that the wit , vnderstanding , eloquence , humanity , civill behaviour , and education of the people of rome , was like their homely stuffe , and clownish manners at mantua . fon : a contraction from fondling : spencer . dempt : for deemed , or imagined : spencer . ycleeped : named or called : chaucer . sibb an old saxon word , as much as of kinred or alliance : from hence coms our word gossip ; corruptly so written and spoken ; it being indeede , god-sib : that is , a kinred in god : all such as are godfathers and godmothers together at the christning of a child , by the popes canons , become sib to each other , and of a spirituall kindred , so neere allyed , that such godsibs may not marry together , without speciall dispensation from his holinesse . but what so great cause dandled thy desire , &c. a rusticall speech , and a question well suiting the sillinesse of the country ; for shepheards , and home bred people , are woont to stand at gaze , and admire at any thing the cause wherof , and the reason , they know not . my freedome &c. a specious tittle , and a very reasonable pretext , and such as might easily pierse the simple mind of a shepheard ; it being even imprinted in the disposition of all creatures as well reasonable , as others , naturally to affect freedome : which principle is found most true by daily experience , in such birds , and beasts , as by mans art are reclaimed , how loath th●y are to yeeld vnto bondage ; and being subdued , if never so little left to themselves , how soone they apprehend their first estate and freedome , and how warily they preserve themselves from being enthralled againe . againe virgil could not have devised to haue flattered more artificially , than by confessing to have gained liberty by his meanes , who was suspected to have aimed at the destruction and vsurpation of the generall liberty and immunities of rome : moreover in acknowledging caesars favour , for restoring him to his estate , and liberty : he yet mentions his libertie in the first place , as the most excellent benefit worthy to be preferred before all other blessings whatsoever , as the most excellent benefit , worthy to bee preferred before all other blessings whatsoever , as a iewell of most incomparable value ; which caused another poet to cry out , ( as being rapt with admiration thereof : ) o bona libertas , pretio , pretiosior omni : deere liberty , a gemm beyond all price . after my beard grew white , &c. virgil was but young , when hee wrote his bucolickes about thirty yeares old ; for hee was borne in that yeare , when pompey and crassus were consuls ; from which time to the triumvirate , were twenty foure yeares : againe , the triumvirate lasted ten yeares . therefore this speech of virgil is hyperbolicall and vsed by him , with great affection ; intimating thereby that hee had lived so long without true liberty , and preferment , in meane estate , and povertie , that he seemed in his owne mind to have growne old in living all this while in this kinde of meane condition . i fairely must confesse , &c. at mantua , i could neither enjoy libertie nor wealth ; howsoever i did there giue as much testimonie of my wit , and learning , no lesse worthy the acceptance , than i did at rome : but vertue had there no respect , nor learning any estimation amongst those mantuan blockheads ; who as their minds were not capable of arts , and true knowledge , so likewise they did as little regard them . sad amaryllis , &c. by amaryllis , he meaneth rome ; and he calls it sad , ( though it were the emperesse of the world ) in respect of the favour and esteeme , which virgill was in , as being sad , and all the whole citty out of quiet , if he did but stirr a little from thence ; so gracious was he to all sorts . and all the gods invoke , &c. i did wonder much , why rome should invoke and intreate all the gods ( that is , caesar , and all the nobles ) to shew thee savour , and to be good to thee , and to suffer thy apples to hang safe on the tree , vntouched of any : that is , to giue charge that none should meddle with any of the goods of virgil. fountaines and shrubs , &c. thou hadst such an interest , in the mindes of all sorts , the highest , the middle sort , and the meanest of the commons , as that thou couldst not bee mist , but all men did seeke thy loue , and acquaintance . here first mine eye , &c. this was cause enough ( if there were no other reason ) to have inticed me to goe to rome ; for there i first saw that goodly young prince octavian , for whose prosperitie i doe dedicate twelve dayes euery yeare , to sacrificing and prayer . he names him that young man , by an excellence , as being ( as in degree aboue all other ) so in all vertuous qualities , and behaviour , the non parcille of all the youth of his age ; he being very young at that time , not exceeding five and twenty yeares . he , first vnask'd , &c. he , ( namely caesar octavian ) without any second meanes of his lords , or any intreaty of my owne , of his owne clemency and princely disposition , did prevent me in my request , and granted it vnto me , before i could aske him . feede ( ladd ) thine oxen as woont , &c. goe forward in thy studies , which thou hast begun , and vnder my patronage and protection , increase , and finish them . vnder so mighty patronage , &c. vnder so great a patron and defender , the monuments of thy wit shall remaine for ever ; or else it may be simply vnderstood of his grounds , being spoken in the praise of caesars bounty and mercy to him . although each pasture , &c. this is simply , and without any figure to be taken , as meaning that virgils grounds were bounded in , on the one side with mountaines , on the other with marsh , and fenn ; neverthelesse it should be sufficient for him , and his stocke , so that neither hee nor they should neede to seeke abroad for more to maintaine himselfe or them : intimating further , the great commodity which he receives by the strong fencing , and mounding of his grounds , whereby his cattle shall be safe from the injurie of neighbours , which those beasts which are apt to stray and rome abroad , ( such as are bullockes and bees ) doe often fall into . ne shall vnwoonted feede , &c. being backed with these so mighty patrons , though others lands be taken from them , yet thine shall be saf● ; neither ( having these so gracious pill●rs of learning to countenance thee ) shalt thou feare , that the esteeme of thy wit , and thy m●se , shall ever suffer losse . amongst these well knowne streames , &c. this is none of the least happinesse of a mans life , for a man to live all his whole time in his owne country , and to spend his age , where he began his youth , and hath long continued : according to that saying of claudian , foelix , qui patrijs aevum transegit in arvis . amongst the brytans , &c. antiquitie called onely that the world , which was the continent all along the maine ocean : but as for the ilands of the ocean , they counted to bee out of the world ; esteeming no ilands to be part of the world , but those of the mediterra●ean ; as sicilia , sardinia , the cyclades , and the rest . therefore the calamity was wondrous grievous , which could not be repaired by any neere journey at home ; but the citizens of mantua , were enforced to seeke habitation out of the roman protection , as it were in another world , which compared with the roman , was all barbaros , and senselesse of civility . god knowes , &c. a naturall affection and sympathy in outlawes , and banished persons , which makes them apt to snatch at every little accident , which may suggest the least hope to see once againe the delights , which they were forced to leaue behinde them : at sight wherof they both wonder and rejoyce : the like passion vsually affects travailours , after their long and tedious peregrintation , especially in countries of courser condition , & for all things fit for pleasure , & true comfort , every way short and inferiour to their owne , 〈◊〉 shall the rude , &c. this is expressed with great indignation and disdaine , that some ●ude barbarous raskall should enioy that , which the poore owner hath sweat for , and gotten hardly together . lo , here ( distressed citizens ) by your owne : civill warres , not onely in rome , the head of the empire , but also intestine broyles in every hamlet and tributary towne ; and this is a sentence , full of weight , and grave indignation : describing herein the maine reason and ground of the subversion , and alienation of all kingdomes , to proceede from mutinous and envious distractions , amongst the people of the same nation , which makes them fit and easie to be over-runne . loe , now for whom , &c. so it happens in most worldly matters , that such enioy our labours , whom we least desire , and hold most vnworthy thereof : of which vnhappinesse salomon so much complaines in his booke of the preacher . plant now , poore melibe , &c. all these are most passionate , and pathetical speeches full of commiseration : for the ill which afflicts vs , and the good which we haue lost , doe equally affect vs in the remembrance : he here shewes the vicissitude , and counterchange of all worldly matters , and withall , mans dullnesse , and ignorance , in the apprehension of future things . goe now , my once , &c. the departing from such delights , as either the eye or the eare were wont to take pleasure in , proves very wofull , and almost intollerable . citysus , is a shrubbie plant ; and it is called shrubb trefoyle , or tetrafolye : some call it milke-trefoyle : because it increaseth milke in the cattle , which eate thereof : but we have no proper word for it in england , ( as being a shrub , whole kind grows not amongst vs. ) here yet with mee , &c. here the poet describes true curtesie , which offers all which is in her power to performe ; observing a handsome decorum , in the shepheards bounty , and rusticke hospitality , inviting his poore friend to bed and boord , and to such dainties , as the country of it selfe affoords , and is within his meane power , and ability to bestow ; which indeede is right liberality , and the office of true friendship . moreover , as he shewes his honest minde towards his afflicted needy friend , so he invites octavian by this his example vnder a feigned person , likewise to shew mercy . and whereas he perswades melibe to stay with him , and take his rest , because it was night , hereby he intimates that the end of all these miseries was not farre off , and therefore wisheth him with hope quietly to expect it . galore : an irish word , and signifies plenty , and abundance . the argvment of the second eglogve . cornelius gallus was in his time an excellent poet , and advanced by augustus caesar to chiefe place in government of the common-weale , as also in his warrs : this mans favour and neere acquaintance above all other , virgil intirely affected , ( as may appeare by the verses in his tenth eglogue : ) but ( by his continuall imployments , and the especiall grace wherein he stood with augustus , who carryed him ever with him , wheresoever he went ) virgil was still disappointed : an other rub in his way , may seeme to bee , the small esteeme which gallus at first did make of virgil , ( which the poet in some passages doth seeme to intimate , ) himselfe considered , as the great generall of the emperours provinces and armies , and virgil , a homely country fellow , and a poet : ( which art , being in former ages of no great account , ) in augustus dayes began to bee accepted , like as versisying in the native tongue , began vnder iohn the second , king of castile , to be esteemed . concerning this his love and desire , ( which hee could by no meanes enioy ) hee composed this plaintive eglogue . alexis . aegloga secunda . the poet. the shepheard corydon er'st dearely lov'd . his masters darling , young alexis faire : but in pursuite thereof he still improov'd , not having what he hop'd ; but reap'd despaire , though every day alone he did repaire , and 'mongst the cacuminous thicke beeches shade , in vaine , this idle stuffe , to hills , and woods bewray'd . corydons complaint . ( cruell alexis ) thou hast no regard of my sad songs , no pitty of my paine , yea , thou doest doo me dye with vsage hard : for now the heards , for shadow leave the plaine , and lizzards greene close hid in mosse remaine , and thestilis , be●ony , and garlicke beates , ( ranke hearbes ) for harvesters , all faint with scorching heates . whilst i ( sore sun-burnt , in sad quest of thee , together with the grashoppers hoarce cry , ) the very shrubbs make mourne : ( farre bet for me proud amaryllis ' sdainfull surquedry , and peevish angry humour to abye ; ) yea , much'il better were , menalcas scorne , ( albe , hee not so faire as yee ) t' have borne . ah my faire boy , trust not thy hew too much : hurtles , though blacke , by every handsome hand are pluckt ; whilst dazies , none vouchsafe to touch ; albe they white , yet shed they as they stand . my love thou scorn'st , ne dainest to demand once after mee , or of my state to know , how rich in milke , and cattell white as snow . my lambes by thousands in the mountaines stray , ne want i milke in winter , ne in prime , and with his droves , in aracynthia , when selfe amphyon call'd , at any time did i forbeare to sing my woonted rime . nor am i so deform'd ; selfe-saw i , as i stood , on shore right now , when wind-free was the flood . ne , but my shadow mee deceive , i wis , needes mee , ( though thou be iudge ) selfe daphnis feare , oh , mote it please thee , grant mee onely this , with mee , in my poore simple cottage heere , living a country life , to strike the deere , and chace the stagg , and my bigg-bellied goates , with mallowes greene , to gather to their cotes , amongst these woods , together here with mee , to pan thou maist in singing thee adapt : pan first deviz'd , with skilfull symmetry , of temper'd waxe , a composition apt of many rheedes , each one in other lopt ; yea , pan , with tender care , regards the sheepe , ilke , as hee doth , the shepheards , who them keepe . ne , e're repent , thy lip to weare away vpon a pipe : herein his skill to breede , what paines tooke not amyntas night and day ? selfe-have i a pipe , of seaven-fold joynted rheede , which once damaetas , left mee by his deede , this pipe ( quoth hee ) as hee his last did breathe , to thee , ( the second owner ) i bequeathe . heereat , the foole menalcas , much repin'd : besides two milke-white spotted kids i haue , which in a perillous dale , i chanc't to find two duggs they daily suck , whilst they can crave , and these i purposely for thee doe save : though thestilis full faine would have them both , and so shee shall , sith thou my gifts doost loath . come hither ( my faire boy ) with bolles brim-full of silver lillyes . see where the nimphes doe come ; and lovely nais , violets pale , doth pull , and poppy tops , and pretiouse cynnamum , sweete-savoury dyll , and daffodillyes some ; with hurtles soft , decking the marigould , and other sweete flowres mingled manifould . and i 'le thee pluck the downe-soft hoarie quince , chessnutts , ( which my ' amaryllis did affect ) and mellow plums , ( a present for a prince : ) yee laurells also , ( still with verdure deckt ) and next ( yee myrtles ) i will you collect , and by your leave your bonny berries take , for pretious perfume , yee together make . but ( corydon ) thou's but a sorry swaine , nor doth thy gifts , alexis ought regard : ne , thou iola's free consent canst gaine , albee thou shouldst him tempt with rich reward : ( ah ) how have i mine owne faire market mard ! my flowres keeper , i the south have made , and to the bore my christall streames betrayde ▪ ( ah foolish fon ) whom doost thou seeke to shun ? why ; dardan paeris , ( that same shepheard knight ) yea , e'ne , the gods themselves , the woods did woon : let pallas praise her towres goodly hight , and in her pompous pallaces delight , which shee hath builded ; but of all the rest , ( in my conceit ) the forrest-life is best . the crewell-grim-fac'd lionesse pursues the bloody woolfe : the woolfe , the kid so free : the wanton capring kidd , doth chiefly c●use amongst the flowring cithysus to bee : and corydon ( alexis ) followes thee : so each thing as it likes ; and all affect according as their nature doth direct . but now from plough the yoaked oxen creepe , and sol , his eeking shades doth double kest : yet , love burnes mee ; ( for love no meane can keepe : ) ( ah corydon , corydon ) what chance vnblest , or madnesse , hath ( at mischiefe ) thee possest ? vnfinisht , thus to leave thy halfe-prun'd vine , which on these leavie elmes , doth heere incline . whilst , thou doost rather chuse some other way ▪ of lesser paines , to set on worke thy witt ; ( at least , which may thy present neede defray ) some homely haske , of osyers , woven , fit , with rushes round , and soft : how ever yet , if still alexis doe disdaine thy love , thou shalt some other finde will kinder prove . alexis . the glosse . and thestilis doth garlicke beate , &c. this thestilis was the name of a country wench , who ( according to the fashion of hot countries ) did pound leekes , garlicke , and other strong hearbes together , for the workemen to allay their heate , in extreame whote weather : for , as pliny saith in his naturall history , omnis medicina aut à contrario , aut à simili quaeritur : all remedies are fetcht either from contraries , or from things of like quality : whence it comes , that extreame heate is abated , either by cold , which is his direct opposite , or by another heate . according to which principle the poet in the last aeglogue brings in the lover , resolving to finde remedie to his vehement heate of love , either by travailing into scythia , or into aegypt , two countries quite different in disposition ; the one extreme colde , the other extreame whote . farre bet for mee , &c. it had beene much better for mee , to have made choice of some friend of meaner condition , with whom i might have conversed and discoursed , and delighted my mind with his acquaintance , vnto my owne hearts desire : there being in this life nothing more sweete , than a paritie in friendship . ah my faire boy , &c : trust not too much to the gifts of fortune , whereof the greatest often fall away , and the meanest are preserved . as also , amongst great persons often friendship is dissolved , when amongst meane folke it is charily maintained . for who would willingly affect his acquaintance , which by reason of his greatnesse he can never conveniently enioy ? in friendship there must be every way an equality , that so friends may enjoy each other so much the more freely . did i forbeare to sing my woonted rhime , &c. i doe not onely vnderstand , and am skilled in the human arts , but i make verses like the auncient poets , and so neere imitate them , that there is hardly any difference to bee found betweene them : for amongst the later writers , it is held a great honour to bee compared to these of former ages ; when yet ofttimes the later farr exceede the former . selfe as i stood ; on shore , &c. for i have conversed with octavian himselfe , with mecaenas , with tuccas , and varus : so that i learne to set a true value vpon my selfe , by their judgement of mee . when even was the flood , &c. in the time of the last peace , when in the cessation of warres , every man betooke him to his owne home , laying by their armes , and all tumults remooved , that so it may appeare , that they were at leisure , to make a true estimate of me ; for as a quiet still water , doth receive the resemblance of the face , and so presents it back againe ; so when the minde is quiet , it gives right judgement , which being troubled , and full of agitation , it is not able to perform ▪ the poet here very fitly names italy the sea , and the windes the troubles of wars . the hurtle is a wilde berry , black as iet . pan first deviz'd , &c. this pan by the poets feigned to bee the country god ; his shape they have made , as it were the counterfeit of nature , from whence he hath his denomination of pan ; which signifies all , as resembling every part and member of nature : for hee hath hornes , in resemblance of the beams of the sunne , and the hornes of the moone● his complexion and face is ruddie , in resemblance of the skie ; hee hath in his breast the spotted skinne of a fallow deere , representing the starres ; his inferiour members are rough , and shagged , resembling thereby the trees , shrubbs , and wilde beasts ; hee hath goates feete , signifying thereby the solidity and fast compacture of the earth ; hee hath a pipe of seaven joynts , intimating thereby the harmony of the heaven ; in which there are seaven severall sounds , seaven distinct ayres , or kindes of voices : lastly , he hath his sheepe-hooke , or staffe with a crooke at one end , resembling the yeare , which runnes his course , till it returne into it selfe where it began : now because hee is the generall god of all nature , the poets have feigned that on a time he and love contended together , and that pan was overcome , according to that principle which the poet holds : omnia vincit amor. ne , e're repent , &c. hereby hee plainely showes , that cornelius gallus was the first composer of pastorall verses ; having indeed made tryall of rusticke rimes , but not of the rusticke life . cicuta : is properly the space that is between every ioynt in the cane . heerein his skill to breede , &c. what paines took not amyntas ? some poet as it should seeme , both famous and witty , who did greatly affect this kinde of pastorall veine , but could never attaine any facility therein . which once damaetas , &c. theocritus is this damaetas ; ( or whosoever else , most skilfull in this kinde of verse ) was mr. to virgil. heereat the foole menalc as , &c. amyntas did envie this succession of skill , and excellence in virgil , worthy therefore to bee taxed with the opprobrious terme of foole , in affecting that , which nature had denied him , or his owne negligence ; and envying those , to whom nature had beene more bountifull therein , ; or who by their owne industry had attained thereunto . besides two milke white , &c. two poems , his bucolickes , and his georgickes , which with great studie , and hard labour , hee had composed ; both which hee was minded to dedicate to cornelius gallus : with which gift when hee perceived him not much delighted , hee intends to translate the dedication thereof , to pollio , or mecaenas , who intreated this curtesie of him . two duggs they daily sucke , &c. heereby hee signifies the elaborate paines of the workes ; as if they did even sucke from their parent , a double studie both of night and day . and lovely nais , violets pale , &c. the delight is in the colour and sweete smell of the flowres ; but the fruit is in apples , chessnuts , plums , and the like : the flowres have relation to his pastorall poeme , and the fruit to his georgickes . servins hono. nuces , generaliter dicuntur omnia tecta corio duriore ; vt avellanae , amygdalae , iuglandes , castaneae : sicut contrà , poma dicuntur omnia molliora , vt malorum omne genus , pyra , cerasa , pruna ; et his similia . albee thou shouldst him tempt , &c. what canst thou with all thy best indeavor , bring to intice alexis to thy love ? which hee cannot more plentifully , and of better stuffe furnish himselfe withall at rome , yea e'ne in caesars selfe ; yea though thou shouldest set thy selfe to sing of warres , & of the mighty deeds of woorthy men : for augustus wrote diverse poems ; amongst the rest , the tragedy of aiax . ah , how have i mine owne market mard ! &c. i labour in vaine , i rehearse my verses , where is no eare open to entertaine them . i strew my flowers before the southerne winde , which scatters them all abroad : i loose my time vnprofitably , and whilst i adapt my selfe to winne him , i omit many faire occasions and opportunities of other acquaintances . why dardan paris , &c. a great prince , in a manner equall to the gods , beeing the son , ( yea and the most lovely ) of so great a king ; to whose judgement , three goddesses did once submit their tryall : if you cannot imitate the example of the gods , yet let the example of men moove you . the cruell grim-fac't lyonesse , &c. this is a generall sentence , drawne from examples ; ( which the logicians terme , induction : ) and by addition of a gradation , is made so much the more , fitting to the purpose . the meaning is ; ( cornelius gallus ) deale with mee as you thinke good ; avoide my company , disdaigne mee ; neverthelesse i know not by what propensitie of inclination , i am ( will i , nill i ) haled on to affect your love : neither will i alter my desire herein , howsoever you demeane your selfe towards mee : for i must confesse , i am led by the instinct of my nature thereunto , as pronely , as the woolfe is to the kid , or the kid to the bushy shrubs ; and as every thing in the kinde , is drawne by sense , to follow that which they finde to bee agreeing , and most fitting to their natures . so each thing as it likes , &c. pleasure , in every thing beeing propounded , ( as the end , aymed at , ) doth perswade the minde . for the end , is the impulsive instrument to each action ; and is first in the intent , though last in execution ; for there it rests . but now from plough , &c. all things have their time of rest , both things living , and without life , yea even the heaven it selfe ; speaking after the capacity of shepheards , who thinke , that ( like as all other mortall creatures ) so it at night betakes it also to a quiet ease : onely the desire in love knowes no rest , vntill the full enjoying of the thing desired . such is mans life , till such time as it bee conjoyned , and made one with god. ab corydon , corydon , &c. hee calleth the greatnesse of his love by the name of madnesse , forasmuch as hee did forget , and neglect himselfe , and was as it were out of his owne power , which kinde of posture , is of the philosophers , termed furie . vnfinisht thus to leaue thy , &c. turne thee to thy first begun workes ; and out of these fetch comfort , and ease to thy desire : that is , finish thy georgickes , and thy aeneiads ; which workes thou hast commenced , and left vnperfected . whilst thou doost rather chuse , &c. thou doost take in hand , some subject of lesse moment , or such matters , as thou knowest , are more acceptable , or gainefull , unto the present time . if still alexis . &c. you will still persist in your love to cornelius gallus , according as your affection vnto him doth perswade you ; but by finishing those two more serious workes , they will draw the love and respect of some other worthy , able friend , though gallus doe neglect you . the argvment of the third eglogve . virgil having gained the good will and favour of augustus , pollio , mecaenas , and gallus , and other the lords ; was envied by many learned men of rome for the same . this eglogue is a contention and bitter brawle , betweene virgil , vnder the person of damaetas ) and some other poet , ( who envied him ) vnder the person of menalcas , who indeavoured to extenuate virgils authoritie and acceptance , amongst the romane princes , and advance his owne . palemon . aegloga tertia . men. tell mee ( damaetas ) beene these beasts meli●e'st . dam. nay : but aegons : aegon late left them mee . men ( poore sheepe ) ( of all ( ah ) still most fortuneles : ) whilst hee neoera courts ; and feares lest thee should mee before his worthlesse selfe preferre ; this hyreling milkes the sheepe , twice every hower , so they , of nourishment are reaved ; ilk , the sucking lambes quite cousend of their milk . dan. yet , ill doth thee beseeme , ( take heede ) to jeere , and taxe men thus : i know , who once saw you , when all the goates ( ascance ) did at thee leere : and i could tell thee in what chappell too , but the milde nymphes , ( thee scorning ) did repine . men. yea , so i thought ; 't was when they saw mee shred ould mycons orchards , and new-planted vine , with pruning hooke , as blunt as any sledd , dam. rather , amongst these dotard-beeches , heere when daphnis bow and shafts , thou brak'st in twaine : which ( peevish asse ) seeing they given were vnto the ladd , ) thy heart groand with disdaine , and hadst not hurt , or doon him some mischiefe , thou mot'st neede dye , for very spight , and griefe . men. what will selfe-masters , dare to doone , and say ? when such lewd lozells beene so boasting bold ? saw i not thee ( base buffon ) th' other day filch a goate slily , from out damons fould ? ( though lowd the mungrill barkt : ) and when i cride , whither runnes hee so fast , and calld , hould , hould , ( tityru● ) looke to thy heard ; then thou beside the long greene saggs , thy selfe didst ( sculking ) hide . dam why should not hee , ( first conquerd by my song ▪ my pipe , and verses meede ) that goate resigne ? for , know : that goate doth vnto mee belong , and damons selfe , confest him to bee mine , though ( as hee said ) hee durst him not deliver . men. was hee by thee in singing e're outwent ? or , hadst thou pipe , with waxe compacted ever ? wert not thou woont , thy raskall rhymes to vent ? in each high way , to every travailer , with poore indeavour on thy squeaking rheede ? dam. wilt then by turnes , wee hand to hand doo trye , what either can , and proove each by our deede ? i le pawne this heiffer : ( which lest thou denie , ) she twice hath come , already to the paile , and two twins suckells at this time now say , what pawne thou 'lt gage , with her to countervaile ? men. nought dare i of my flocke with thee to lay , for i , a syre have , and curst stepmother , both who my goates , doon number twice a day , and one of them still counts my kiddies over : but ( which thou wilt confesse much better bee , ( sith , thou wilt needes bee mad ) i 'le pawne thee downe a merry mazer , fram'd of beechen tree , carv'd worke , by hand of divine alcim'edon : 't is round impaled , with a scattering traile of tender vine , and over all betweene a pale greene ivie , wherewith ( as a vaile ) the thicke diffused chusters shaded beene . iust in the midst ▪ conon is pourtrayd , and ( whosoe're hee been ) an other by , who with his rodd unto the world bewrayd the whole worlds compasse by geographye ; and seasons fit prescrib'd for reapers trade : and for the corbed ploughmans husbandry . ne , to my lips , have i once lift this cup , but charily till now have layd it up ▪ dam. why , selfe alcimedon , mee likewise made two carved cups : ( their handles trayling trim with soft acanthus ; in the midst pourtrayd , orpheus , and all the forrests following him ) ne , i these cups , once mooved to my lips , but layd them up , and keepe them fresh and faire ; yet , canst thou count these cups , no bet than chips , if with my heiffer , thou doost them compare . men. ne're , shalt thou scape , i le meete thee where thou date , if so palaemon , vs to heare , doe daigne ; see , where hee comes : i le make thee well aware for my sake , how to challenge man againe . dam. then leave thy bragging , and at once begin thou shalt not finde mee slacke , i warrant thee ; i le shun no iudge ▪ ne , feare i him a pin : onely , ( of fellowship ) palaemon bee intentive as thou may ; ( the cause is great . ) palae . say then ; as here wee sitten all around the tender grasse : the fields with kindly heate now flourish faire : the woods with leaves abound : and now the yeare 's in his chiefe soveraignty . begin damaetas ; and ( menalcas ) thow follow , by turnes each other to revie , the muses , these alternates , best allow . dam. their first commence from iove , the muses take , iove all fulfills : hee fertile makes the land , and graciously respects the songs i make . men. and phabus favours mee : i still at hand ( the sacred things to phoebus consecrate ) sweete purple , hyacynth , and laurell have . daem . mee , with an apple , that same delicate wanton ( galatea ) hitt ; and ( selfe to save ) fled to the sallowes ; ( but would first bee seene . ) men. but my sweete heart amyntas , of his owne accord , doth come to mee ; that , delia ' i weene not halfe so well vnto our doggs is knowne . dam. i for my venus , have a present found , for i espide , a stock-dove , th' other day , building her neast , not farre above the ground . men. and ( all i could ) i pluckt , to send my boy fro'a wildling tree , ten goulden apples round , and more to send , to morrow doon i minde . daem . how oft to mee , and in what gracious sort hath galatea spoke ? i would the winde some part would to the gods owne eares report . men. what good is mee ( amyntas ) though in heart thou scorne mee not ; if while the bore thou chace , i , at the nets , am left behind apart ? daem . send mee my phillis , ( iolae ) ' of thy grace , against my birth-day : and when for my corne i sacrifice a calfe , come thou among . men. phillis i love , of all that e're were borne , for shee at parting wept , and cryed , long ( my faire io●a ) ' adieu , adieu , to thee . daem . showres to ripe fruite ; the woolfe vnto the fould , wynds to young trees : amaryllis wrath to mee , disastrous is , and direfull to behould . men. budds ; new-wean'd kids ; deaw , corne ( but lately sowne ; ) beasts ; ( great with young , ) soft sallowes , manifould delights ; and deere amyntas , mee alone . dam. pollio , loves mine , ( allbee't a homely muse. ) ( pyerian ladies ) feede yee every ' each one far calfe for him ; ( your learned readers use . ) men. why ; pollio's selfe new kinde of verse doth make , feede him a bull , whose butting hornes can strike , and feete , the sands , abroad allready rake . dam. who loves thee ( pollio ) wheresoe're thou like , let come : to him let luscious honny flow , and sweete amomus , from the brambles grow . men. who bavius hates not , m●●vius songs let love ▪ and let sike lorrell , foxes yoake together , and to draw milke from ram-goates , let him prove . dam. yee bonny boyes , who flowres wont to gather , and sculking strawberries , hence soone remove : a cold snake , lurking in the grasse doth hide . men. drive not your flockes , too neere the waters side ▪ the banke is dangerous ; the ra●●me , right now since hee fell in , his heavie fleece hath dryde . dam. thy feeding kids , al 's ' ( tityrus ) doon thou force from the brooke ; for when i see fit tyde , all in the flood , i le wash them white as snow . men. ( yee shepheard swaines ) now homeward drawe your flock , if heate , ( as erst it did ) their milke forestowe , in vaine , we shall their empty vdders strocke . dam. ah , for my bull , ( albee hee daily fedd with vetches fat ) how megre leane is hee ? flock , and flocks-master both , hath love misled . men. but love 's not cause , that these so evill bee , and poore in plight : i wote not what ill eye my tender lambs bewitch vnluckely . dam. tell in what coast , ( and i will herry thee for great apollo's selfe ) the welkin large iust three ells broade , and no more seemes to bee . men. tell in what coast , the flowres have their marge , with kings names in their leaves , inscribed plaine , and to thy selfe have phillis for thy paine . palemon . so great debate lyes not in my poore power , betwixt yee to compose : both thou and hee deserve the heifer ; and who ere the sower shall happ to trye , or fearefull chance to bee of sweetest love : ( boyes ) shut the rivers out ; inough , the meades haue drunke , and quencht their drought . palemon . the glosse . tell mee damaetas , &c. heerein the poet imitates theocritus so neere , that hee useth e'ne the very same words . the beginning , is an envious obrayding , and uttered ( as it were ) with a contempt of the person ; as if menalcas would shew , and prove dametas , not to be master of the flocke , but a meere by hyreling , for wages . vvhose is this pastorall verse ? ( quoth hee ) is it melibe's ? some base infamous rhymester , such as maevius , or bavius ; or the like ? no , ( saith hee ) it is aegons : by whom he meanes some rare excellent poet , namely gallus , or cynna . ( poore sheepe . ) ( vnfortunate pastoralls , ) to come into vnworthy hands : for whilst cynna , pollio , gallus , and others , ( famous and exquisite in that kinde of verse , excellently able , and ( as it were ) the masters of that art , ) doe contend with mee for grace , and admiration of the peeres , and the people ; ) a stragler , and a stranger , hath heere , shuffled into place , and thrust into the study of the muses , singing pastoralls , barren , and dry , without any grace at all ; and ( like a theefe ) hath stolne the true beauty , and comelinesse from this a●t ; venting his owne ex-tempore stuffe , voide of wit and invention . to taxe men thus . the woord vir , in the latine , is often vsed , as a woord of honour , and is referred to vertue , and strength of the minde , or body . as cicero in his 2 philippickes . that cause ( saith hee ) requires a man , that is , a person of wisdome , and vnderstanding : and therfore dametas termes himselfe by the title of man : as though that other were so base , and vilde a rakeshame , that hee did not deserve to be reckoned amongst the number of reasonable creatures , in respect of himselfe . i know who once saw you , &c. vvee have seene your foolish ridiculous poems ; which the scorned and vnworthy vulgars doe reade ; but the gentle crue of nobles , and true heroick spirits doe deride . and here hee hath most artificially expressed the manner of seeing , and looking at him in contempt , and with disdaigne : namely with the corners of his eye , or askew , ( as we say : ) so as pliny reports , the lyon cannot abide to bee looked on . the goates did at thee leere , &c. pliny saith ) that the goat , ( beeing a most salacious beast , if hee see any other creature ingendring together , hee is so inrag'd with lust , at the very sight , that hee runnes at them with all his force ; and from hence the poet ( expressing heerein ( under the nature of the goate ) damons disposition ) may seeme to allude to the disdaign , which the learned sort held his verses in ; ( that manner of looking askance , beeing a posture , betokening contempt and scorne . ) in what chappell , &c. the nymphes had sundry chappell 's in the fields , dedicated to them ; where they vsed to frequent . saw i not thee ? &c. hee accuseth him of filching from the greeke and latin , so palpably , that other poets did take him with the manner , and obrayded , and made ( as it were ) hue and cry after him for his theft . whither runnes hee so fast , &c. hee well hath expressed the rustick manner of speech in this : and this woord ( hee ) carries with it the force of scorn , & disdain . for know , that goate doth vnto mee belong , &c. the commendation of this poem which thou doest obraid mee to have stollen , i would have you well know , is due to mee , purchased by my ingeny , and invention . neither would other poets deny it mee , were they not hindred by authority of antiquitie ; which beares so much sway in the opinion of the vulgar , that they attribute smally to new writers , ( though never so woorthy ) esteeming skill and excellency , by yeeres , and age , ( as horace saith . ) i le pawne this heifer , &c. i , whom thou obraidest as an hireling to another , will pawne this heifer : to let thee know that i have a stock of mine owne . nought dare i of my flocke , &c. virgil saith hee will pawne downe of his cattle ; this hath relation to the excellency of the argument , and subject of his song : menalcas saith , hee may not gage his flock ; out hee will lay willingly , two cups , curiously turned and wrought . this hath relation to the neat artificiall handling of the matter , and the newnesse of the fashion . selfe alcimedon , &c. i want not elegance , and delicate fine delivery of my mind : and i can expresse my selfe in the newest manner of phrase , and ornament , which is now of any other affected : and refuse not to set up my rest , and venture my wager , vpon that bett : but this is not woorth the speaking of compared with true , profitable solid matter . for the compt , neate elegancy of woords , is but the flowers ; but the sense , is the fruite . say then , as heere , &c. hee setts downe heere , that the fittest time for singing or composing verses , is the spring , and the mynd beeing not onely quiet , but merry . if so palemon , &c. remnius palemon , was a most excellent grammarian , and tutor to fabius quintilianus : such was his pride and arrogance , that hee would vsually vaunt , that learning had her first beeing at his birth ; and at his death all learning would likewise dye . hee was woont likewise out of pride and scorne , to tearme marcus varro , ( that great learned roman ) porcum literatum , the learned hog . hee was likewise woont to brag , that it was prophetically ( as it might seeme ) done by virgil , to vse his name heere in his bucolickes ; foreseeing that palemon , in poetry should prove so exquisite , that all poets and rhetoricians shall honour and admire him , as their iudge , and umpire of their learned contentions . hee further gloryed much to recount how a sort of theeves did once spare him , and dismist him untouched and unrifled , when they once heard his name . hee was so luxurious , as hee bathed often in a day : at last hee became so poore , that hee was inforced his living to become a vine-dresser . iove all fulfills , &c. this sentence is taken from the poet aratus : that is , iove fills all things with his bounty and blessings , otherwise it were impossible for them to abide and continue in their beeing ; and therefore with whom can they more proper●y begin , than with his honour , from whom all things have their beginning . and phabus favours mee , &c. heerein hee alludes to augustus , who being yet very young , having performed great services , was thought to bee the sonne of apollo ; but afterward in processe of time hee was called himselfe by that name of apollo . and all i could , &c. menalcas saith that hee had sent also country gifts , ( to wit , a co●ntry song , and meant to send another . ) by the ten orenges , or golden apples , some interpret virgils ten eglogues : but i leave that indifferent . send mee my phillis , &c. i pray thee , ( augustus ) suffer mee to invite pollio to this banquet , which i make for my birthday ; that is , my country feast : suffer mee to dedicate this woorke of my pastoralls unto him : as for thee ( augustus ) i will invite thee , when i sacrifice a calfe for my corne : that is , i will sing thy name in a verse of a higher straine . pollio loves mine , &c. heere without any figure hee names pollio plainely : and that his country verses and pastoralls were well liked of him . pierian ladies , &c. yee muses , feede a fat calfe for pollio ; who so willingly reades your workes , and is therewith delighted : that is , furnish him with delicate invention , and infuse into him elegance of stile , whether it bee in verse , or prose . why , pollio's selfe , &c. new kinde of verse doth make , &c. hee is not onely delighted with pastoralls , but hee makes verses of a new kinde , and of an extraordinary argument and subject , by which hee will bee able to overthrow all his adversaries ; and with his horne , that is , with the sharpnesse of his verse , hee will gore the envious : and hee will scrape the sand with his feete ; that is , ( to the terrour of his envious foe● ) hee will raise such a dust , that the unlearned sort shall bee afraid of his so great fiercenesse and fury . this pollio was a great learned man , and of an excellent and acute judgement , but harsh of conversation , and in condition unpleasing and dogged . hee was tullies aemulus ; and did aff●ct ould kinde of elegance ( in his time quite layd aside : ) hee writ many orations and tragedies . who loves thee pollio , &c. damaetas , ( to shew how strongly hee stood affected to pollio ▪ ) he prayes for all his friends , that god would blesse them with all felicity of the goulden age , which should bring plenty of happines in all places . amom●m : of some said to bee the rose of ierusalem , or our ladies rose ; some call it garden pepper : they say , it is a little shrub growing in clusters like grapes , bearing a flower like a white violet , and a leafe like the white vine . it growes in armenia , in media , pontus , and assyria ▪ from whence other countries fetch it . yee bonny boyes , &c. you who apply your selves to the study of the faire arts , avoide this venemous tongued poet. drive not your flocks , &c. arrius the centurion had virgils grounds bestowed on him ; but when virgil returned from rome to mantuae , with a warrant from caesar , to command arrius to render up his land againe : the centu●ion , ( like a bedlem souldier ) drew his sword , and 〈◊〉 at virgil , to have killed him : who flying , and having no other way to avoide the mischiefe , skipt into the mincius , & so swimming crosse the river , escaped . vnder the name of the ram , virgil may seeme to meane himselfe , and his owne danger of drowning . thy feeding flockes al 's ' tityrus , &c. hee admonisheth either his owne hired servant , or all those of mantua , to carry themselves warily , & to avoid danger as well as they may : hee would take a fit opportunity , to procure of caesar , an effectuall restitution of all their grounds , which should bee good against all men : neither to the effecting heereof should hee neede to make his meanes by the tribunes , or embassadours , but hee would goe to the well-head , that is , to caesar himselfe . yee shepheard swaines , &c. do not promise to your selves great matters , & hope after things which will never bee gained : your safer way wil be to keep your sheep together , & to hold a carefull eye over them , and to preserve that which you haue left ; lest if some mutiny or troublesome storme of wars should arise again ( as of late it fell out ) the whole profit of your cattle would utterly bee lost . tell in what coast , &c. heere they make an end of their brawling , and fall to puzzle each other with riddles : that so they may get the victory this way . the firmament , &c. this riddle is thus unfoulded : in the bottome of a deepe pitt , whosoever stands there , shall see no more of the heaven , than the very breadth of the mouth of the pitt . this question seemed so unreasonable , that writers report , that virgil ( beeing asked the meaning of both these riddles ) answered , that hee had made that gallowes of purpose for the grammarians to rack themselves upon . macrob. sat. lib. 6. some thinke also , that hereby is meant the silver mines ; out of whose bottome if a man looke , hee shall perceive the skie to bee but three ells broade , or no broader than the mouth of the mine , at the most . tell &c. the flowres have the print . on these mines grow these flowres ; that is , could and silver , which being beaten into coigne , the names of kings are stamped into them : and indeede , there is nothing in the world more sweete and delightfull unto mankinde in generall , than these flowers , and roses : namely the goulden rose-nobles . and i for great apollo's selfe , &c. either are very bitter against other : menalcas affected nothing more , than glory , and admiration of his witt : therefore , saith dametas , you shall attaine the scope of your ambition , you shall bee apollo himselfe to mee . but virgil was popular in his desire , and gaped at the favour and good will of the people of rome : therfore menalcas saith to him , enjoy phillis to thy selfe ; ( whom elswhere he names amaryllis ) i will yeeld her to thee without any contradiction . by phillis , and amaryllis , hee meaneth rome . to herry , is to worship , or to honour : an ould saxon word . who e're the sowre , &c. hee deserves great reward , and commendation , whosoever doth wisely feare the favour of princes , and the praise of the common people ; or can stoutly and valiantly beare the scorne , or hatred of either , with an undaunted resolution and neglect . the argvment of the fovrth eglogve . a sinius pollio , warred upon the illyrians , and tooke from them their city salona : during which time hee had a son born , whom ( after this citties name ) hee called saloninus . virgil having read in the sybils verses of a rare childe to bee borne , about those times , who should restore the world , applied this prophecy of the sybil , to this young sonne of pollio , making no doubt , that it could not bee appliable to any other nation , but needes it must happen within the roman empire , in respect of the huge extent thereof : but this childe dyed very young ; and asinius had another sonne , which was his heire , named asinius gallus . in honour of pollio , virgil intitles this eglogue by his name : but lodovicus vives affirmeth in his glosse vpon this eglogue , that all heerein must of necessity bee spoken of christ , to whom ( saith hee ) i will apply the interpretation , and restore the possession to the right owner , to whom of right it doth belong . let prophane men therefore heerein bee silent , for even in the very simple and naturall sense of the words , without any neede of glosse or allegory , it cannot bee vnderstood , whatsoever is heere spoken , but onely of christ. pollio . or the prophecy of a second govlden age . aegloga quarta . ( sicelian muses ) yet a little higher let 's sing a while : sith all delight not in short shrubbs ; ne all lowe tamariske admire : ( our ●ong , al●bee't of woods , ) woods worthy been , a consull them , his best acceptance daigne . now is fulfill'd the period , and last time of cuma's prophecy ; and now againe all former ages , in their pretious prime , with blessed order are anew begun . the virgin , toward us againe is bent , and saturnes reigne doth back vnto vs run : and a new progenie from heaven sent . thou , onely , to this childe , ( by whose deare birth , the iron age , especially shall end . and age of gould , begin through all the earth , ) ( lucina chast ) with thy best helpe befriend . now thine apollo , houlds the diadem , and pollio ( thou being consul ) shall come in this the words glorious ornament and gem , and the grand months shall their increase begin . if any print or monument remaine of our inherent sinnes ; thy wondrous grace from endlesse feare , of punishment and paine shall vs redeeme , and all misdeedes deface . a god-like life he shall receive , and see the heavenly hero'es , the gods among ; and hee , of them ylike , shall viewed bee . al 's ' , shall hee , by his fathers vertue strong the world , with peacefull governance maintaine . but yet ( faire child ) the earth , shall bring to thee her first fruites , without labour , and hard paine , selfe-growne , without all helpe of husbandry , wilde-climbing ivie , with her berries black , and brank ; with cheerefull hares-foote ; yea the goates , with full●blowne udders , ( even like to crak ) with creamy milke , shall come home to their cotes : ne , shall the heards , the ramping lyon feare . the cradles-selves , to thee sweete flowres shall yeeld , dye shall the serpent , and all hearbes which beare inchanting venome , wither in the field . th' assyrian rose , in each high way shall grow ; and herewithall , the prayses thou maist reede of princely woorthies , and shalt learne to know thy fathers vertues , and each doubty deede : the fields , shall by degrees , full goodly shew their tender eares , all yellow as the gould ; the rugged oake , shall sweate with honny deaw , and the wilde thornes , ( as full as they can hould , ) with ruddie grapes shall hang : yet some small track , of ancient fraud , and lewdnesse shall remaine , which shall tempt men , at sea , to venture wrack ; and wall in towns , and plough the champian-plaine ▪ then second typhis ; and new argosye of select lords , shall beare a princely traine , and garboyles , and fresh warres abroade shall flye : and great achilles , sent to troy againe ; now , when firme age , to mans state once thee brings , seamen , in ships shall trucke no more for ware , for every land , shall yeeld all manner things . no furrowes in the land , the plough shall are : ne , vines , shall pruning neede ; the ploughman shall for ever quit his oxen from the yoake : ne , shall the snow-white wooll , in severall di●couloured waters , more bee taught to soake : but in the meadowes , ( dainty diapred with purple flowres , with red spotts sweetly staind , and saffron lands , like scarlet couloured ) the ramme shall change his fleece , al deepe ingraynd ; the feeding lambes , with ceruse naturally shall cloathed beene . th'agreeing parcae , to their spindles said , ( by fatall power of stable destiny ) runne out at length , and let such age bee made . decre childe of god , ioves infinite increase , oh once begin ; the time now nigheth neere , great honours , and much glory to possesse , come see the world , decrepit , now , and seere , e'ne nodding-ripe , with it owne pondrous heape : the seas , and earth , and highest heavens view ; how , all things , in them all , doon even leape for joy of this same age now to ensue . oh , mote i live but long enough to tell thy woorthy acts ; not lynus-selfe should mee ; ne , yet the thracian bard , my songs excell , ( allbee calliope , orpheus mother bee , and syre to lynus , bright apollo , come : ) yea , should selfe pan , ( arcadia beeing iudg ) contend with mee , yet by arcadia's doome selfe pan , to mee , the conquest would not grudg . begin ( young babe ) with cheerefull smile to knowe thy mother , for her ten moneths tedious paine , ( infant ) begin ; whose parents wept for woe for thee , at bed , nor boord , goddesse , nor god did daign . pollio . the glosse . sicelian muses , &c. heerein hee hath resp●ct to theocritus the sicelian ; whom in this kinde of verse , hee doth especially imitate : and therefore hee termeth the pastorall verse , by the title of the muses of sicely . yet a little higher , &c. for all men delight not in this low straine of pastoralls . of woods albee i sing , &c. let none wonder , that i sing of great matters , in a homely kinde of verse : for even the woods are oftentimes a fitt subject for a consul ; that is , worthy they are of a roman consuls gravity : as suetonius writeth ; that the hills , and woods , were apportioned to iulius caesar , in his consulship , for his province . the period and last time , &c. concerning the sybils , ludovicus vives hath spoken largely , upon austin . the comming of our lord was a thing of such weight and moment , that it was necessary to have it foretold both to iewes , and gentiles , that thereby , who were before his comming , might expect him : these in his time might receive him , and those which came after him might beleeve him : and therefore , as there were prophets among the iewes , so were there amongst the gentiles , sybils ; that is to say , such as were privy , and conscious of heavenly counsaile . now virgil did conjecture , that the time of this prophecy was neere to accomplishment , because diverse of the sybils verses were so composed , as that the first or last letters of the verses , did even point out the very time , or the person : as cicero teacheth in his divination : & in eusebius there is a sybils prophecy of the last judgmēt of christ set forth in the same manner : which s. austin citeth in his 18 book of the citty of god. cuma , is a towne in ionia the lesse , where one of the sybils did abide ; of which place shee was called sybilla cumaea . the virgin now returnes , &c. peradventure the sybils spake something about the blessed virgin mary : which the poet here applyes to astraea , the mayden-lady iustice ; or perhaps shee meanes it of the wondrous iustice of christ , and of the goulden age : which also the prophet esay describes , chap. 9. and there shall bee in the last times , &c. and saturnes reigne , &c. in his time men lived in great tranquillity and quiet , with great equality amongst all sorts , without pride , wrath , or envie ; such as the people of god ( who are to adapt themselves to his commandements ) ought to bee indeede . now a new progenie , &c. the descent of the sonne of god from heaven amongst us , could not by a christian man , bee expressed more exactly , or in more absolute termes . now thine apollo , &c. diana is termed lucina , of bringing those that are borne into the light : apollo is her brother ; hee prayes diana to bee propitious and favourable to the child in his birth , namely in the kingdome of her brother , apollo : augustus was thought to bee apollo's sonne , and in a manner was also called by the name of apollo . and pollio , thou beeing consul , &c. pollio asinius was fellow consul with cneius domitius , calvinus in the triumvitate : in the yeare of the citties building , 714 and before our saviour christs birth , 37. yeares . grand moneths : the moneths of this great yeare . thy wondrous grace , &c. originall sinne shall bee blotted out by the vertue of christ ; as in baptisme is performed by a true faith in him : hee hath with great reason called it the monument or print of sinne ; for originall sinne is a print or stigma , derived to us from our first parents . from endlesse feare , &c. for faith in him , who is god , shall exclude all feare of punishment for sinne , whether our owne by actuall commission , or hereditary , from our first parents . and here most fitly , the poet calleth our feare endlesse , because it never ceaseth to vexe and torment vs : and in this sort and sense saint austin in his citty of god , interpreteth these verses . the world with peacefull governance , &c. all things are given by the father unto the sonne : a speech frequent in the booke of the psalmes , and other mysticall bookes ; and againe , the father hath subdued all things unto the sonne . but yet deere childe , &c. here is described the course of christs church , that is , his kingdome here on earth . for in the gospell , the kingdome of god , amongst other meanings signfies the church . in the infancy of the church , without ordinary meanes , or labour , but by the immediate worke of gods spirit , there sprung up , presents yeelding most fragrant sweete smell , and acceptable savour unto the nostrills of god , ( namely so many apostles , disciples , and martyrs , in every place . ) the goates , &c. peradventure by goates may bee meant the gentiles , who should become in many places ( as afterward it appeared ) very fruitfull in good workes , and repentance : moreover it may bee hereby meant , that the disciples and teachers of the gospell , did never goe forth , to teach and preach , but they returned with great advantage , in winning of soules unto their master . ne shall the heards , &c. the flocke of christ shall not stand in feare of the monarchs and tyrants of the world , notwithstanding all their rage and furie : yea amongst the princes of the earth , there shall bee incredible concord , and peace , without venome of pride or envie . the cradles-selves , &c. young children , ( as it were new-weaned ) shall bee inspired by the spirit of god , to proclaime the prayses of god , as the young children did , when they went singing hosanna , and cast the branches of trees in the way before our saviour christ , riding to ierusalem . and herewithall the prayses , &c. in the succeeding ages , by the doctrine of god once settled ; by christs example , and instruction of the apostles ; piety shall extend it selfe every where , in all parts of the world , not to the bringing in of smal gifts , or mean matters , but even to the gathering in of a large harvest , of corne , wine , and honny . the iewes shall enter in to the society of the church , and multitudes of gentiles : the greene tender stalk of the gentiles shall by degrees grow yellow and ripe , and from the thornes of humane obstinacy shall bee gathered a sweete , and pleasing grape ; and from stubborne , hard and willfull ignorance , shall spring the sweet honny , and delicate taste of knowledge and understanding . yet some small track , &c. christianity could not so bee imprinted in the mindes of men , but still some dreggs of ould errours , infidelity , avarice , envie , cruelty , wares , ambition , and arrogance , would remaine unremooved ; and from hence would afterward arise desire to traffique by sea to forraine nations , for gaine : from hence it grew , that men , ( not trusting one another , and from mutuall hatred and grudges , ) did devise the walling in of townes , and citties : from hence greedy mindes bethought themselves of ploughing and digging the earth : all which indeavours of men , and all these things ( howsoever in themselves they bee not simply evill ) yet mans depraved affection , in the inordinate desire and use of them , is bad . then second typhis , and new argosie . the ould discommodities and mischiefes , received at sea by shipping , shall againe returne , and warres , ( from whence such infinite calamity hath overwhelmed all mankind . ) and here these things may seeme to bee spoken by a kinde of revolubilitie of all things , proceeding from the order , and influence of the starres ; and hath relation to the ould storie of the sea-voyage , which pelias made to colchos for the goulden fleece , which the ramme bore , that carried phrixus through the sea. the ship wherein pelias made his voyage , was called argo , and bare his name , ( as here the poet calls it : ) and the master of the ship was named typhis : in all which severall passages , the sybil prophecies of the troubles , ( which should creepe up ) by way of allusion : for by navigation , shee intimates that mens mindes should tempt them to venture to sea , to get wealth and riches . by walling in of townes , shee intimates warres : by ploughing she foretells the feare of famine : and the better to expresse her meaning , shee reckens up some speciall particulars , in stead of the generalls : as by typhis , wee must understand any shipp-master : by argo , any navie of ships : by achilles , any generall , or gre●t commander : and by troy , any other citty whatsoever , that might by enemies bee distressed . now when firme age , &c. the sybil heere speakes , either of the blessed estate in heaven , or of the perfection of christians , in whose mindes is setled unspeakable quiet , and tranquill●ty , and the true goulden age : for their desires shall not be conversant about worldly matters , neither shall they vse the things of this life , for pleasure or delight of their vaine lusts , but meerely for necessities sake : as we reade of saint paul , that hee did weave tents ; and our forefathers in aegypt did plough the ground , and applyed themselves to husbandry . neither shall their affections bee upon these base earthly matters , but their conversation shall bee in heaven , content with any thing , ( how meane and homely soever , ) that may serve their present need : whereby it shall come to passe , that there shall bee plenty of all things in every place , every ones minde beeing so temperately inclined , as to affect nothing out of curiosity , but onely for use and necessity . the accordant parcae , &c. it may perhaps seeme somewhat too curious , to say , that by these parcae , ( equall in number to the three persons of the godhead , ( which christians beleeve ) agreeing in power , and will of desteny ) the sybil would understand the three persons in divinity . run out at length , and let such age bee made . either the destenies said this , answrable to what every man wished might bee ; or else they appointed it so to bee : for christs kingdome is an everlasting kingdome without end . moreoever , fate , is nothing else , but the absolute will and com●andement of god , and his expresse word ; according to the etymologie which palingenius giveth thereof , fatum , quasi deus sic fatus , or deus ita fatur . deere childe of god , ioves infinite increase , &c. nothing can bee more plainly spoken of christ , then to say , hee is the begotten of god , and the increase of his father . for of what mortall man or created creature can it bee said that hee is the increase of iove ; who can adde any increase to god ? but christ , beeing god , the sonne of god , is the glory of his father , inasmuch as hee is wisdome and power . come see , the world , &c. it is now high time to bring remedie into the world , when as now all things were at the last gaspe , and at the worst , and all mankinde in a poore afflicted state . come view the seas , earth , &c. all things , not onely men , but even the angells , yea , even things without sense , did shew their woonderfull joy at the comming of christ. for as saint paul saith , the whole frame of the world shall bee thereby freed from the bondage of corruption . oh mote i liue , &c. the workes of christ are wonderfull , and unspeakable , and the longest life will be too little to recount them : i would i might but live halfe so long as to sing thy praises : or the sybil desireth long life , that shee might have the opportunity to write of that worthy subject . albee caliope , &c. though caliope one of the muses , helpe her sonne orpheus , and phaebus ( the god of poets , and songs ) inspire his son lynus with skill . yea should selfe pan , &c. herein virgil forgets not the decorum fitting shepheards , who thinke more highly of pan the shepheards god , then of caliope , & phaebus . and here hee ends his comparisons , & goes no farther , ( as thinking nothing could bee more added , having once vouched the shepheards god , for authority of his vaunt . begin young babe , &c. i make no doubt but these things shal one day infallibly happen , & come to passe : now yet begin to bring comfort to thy mother with thy comfortable laugh : doe not bee sad or solitary , doe not by thy sadnesse bring sorrow unto her , who hath endured sorrow and pain inough during the ten moneths , which she bare thee in her womb . but these months must be taken to be mēses luxares , not civiles nor god , nor goddes , him at bed nor boord , &c. the grammarians make much adoo about these two verses . vives upon st. austin , hath spoken somewhat hereof : but shortly , his opinion is , that ( by god ) here in this place must be meant genius , to whom a table was dedicate : from whence this proverb did arise , genio indulgere ; when a man was a dainty affecter of curious meats , & made it as it were his whole exercise to eat , he was said to cocker or flatter his genius , that is his appetite . moremoreover , by goddesse is meant iuno , for whom a bed was prepared ready , on which the childe new borne was suckled . hereby is intimated , that it is a dangerous sign of death when young infants are sad , and not apt to laugh , shewing thereby that the tutelares dij , ( the gods who have the charge of young children ) doe not favour them : ( which so fell out , ) for this young childe of pollio's died soone after it was borne ; god himselfe ( as it may seeme ) not suffering him to live , to whom the poet of so great authority in those times , did apply those precious prayses which the prophetesse , ( this sybil ) had foretould of the blessed sonne of god. and vives is further of the minde , that virgil did adde these two last verses of his owne making , after the childes death : ( a conceit full of probability . ) the argvment of the fifth eglogve . in the former eglogue , virgil ( borrowing his matter out of the sybils verses , prophecying of the birth of our savior ) doth apply the prophecy very unworthily to saloninus . in this eglogue , out of other of the sybils verses , hee sings of the death and ascension of the same our blessed lord ; which as unfitly and unproperly hee attributes to caius iulius caesar. the poet here mingleth some things of his owne , out of ignorance of the true sense and meaning of the prophecie , not knowing how to make it fall fit with the right application , there bee some who hould , that under the name of daphnis the poet doth deplore the death of his owne brother ; but without ground of truth : for from those verses , the nymphes did daphnis , &c. and after , now lovely daphnis doth admiring sit , &c. they are the very prophecy of the sybil , by virgil translated . daphnis . aegloga quinta . menal. mopsvs , what lets ( both skilld in musick ) met , ) thee blow thy pipes , whilst i some ditty sing amongst these elmes , and mixed hazels sett ? mop. to thee ( menaleas ) as mine elderling , befits mee yeeld : whether us list encline vnder the waving west's uncertaine shade , or to this cave : see , how this wilde growne vine hath o're this cave , her tender impes displayd . men. in all our mountaines , ( but amyntas ) none may strive with thee mop. but what if hee should prove great phaebus-selfe , in singing to outgone ? men. mopsus , begin : if any of phillis love , or alcons praise , or codrus brawles thou have : begin : tityru● shall keepe our feeding flock : mop. i le try those verses , which i erst did grave in the greene tender bark of beechen stock , and scor'd them out in parts by turnes to clay , then set amyntas to contend with mee : men. much as soft sallow yeelds to th olive gray , or homely spike , unto the red-rose-tree , ( if i can judge ) amyntas yeelds to thee . mop. but ( boy ) now peace : whilst in this cave we sitt : the nymphes , did daphnis dreey death bemone , ( yee hazells , and yee floods , can witnesse it ) when the sad mournefull mother , ( woe begone ) embracing in her armes full tenderly the lamentable corps of her deere sonne , both gods , and starres appeacht of cruelty : in all the fields , where heards , and flockes , did wo●n , of none , ( as tho ) the fedd oxe driven was to the coole rivers : ne , foure-footed beast sipt any water , or once touch'd the grass : the lybian lyons , e'ne their griefe exprest : the woods , and savage mountaines testifyde their sorrow for thy death : why daphnis taught armenian tygres , ( in meeke manner tyde ) them faire submit unto the chariots draught . daphnis to bacchus , guarlands did devise , and slender speares to wreathe with ivie-twine : looke how the vine , is honour of all trees , and as the grape imbellisheth the vine : looke how the bull is honour of the heard , and corne the glory of the fertile field ; ilk , thine : by thee , been graced and preferd : soone , as to death , thy fate thee forc'd to yeeld selfe pales , and apollo , left the earth , the furrowes , where bigg barly wee did sowe vnluckie lollium , now there hath his birth , and the wilde oate , doth domineering growe . steede of the soft-napt , velvet violet , and daffodillies sweete , ( in purple dyde , ) th' ungracious ●histle , now there growes , ( unset ) and the base bramble , with his prickly side , bestrew the ground , with leaves ( yee shepheards all ) and silver fountaines hide , with shadie gloome , such , daphnis wills should bee his funerall , and fixe this pitaph upon his toome . i daphnis in the woods , known to the stars so high shepheard of a flock so fair , but fairer farre am i ( poet divine . ) men. so mee thy song , as sleepe on grasse doth queame the travailer , ( his weary limbs to drench , ) or as coole water of the gliding streame , in summers heat , ( his eagre thirst to quench . ) ne , doost thou onely in piping paralell thy master ; but in singing maist compare : ( oh bonny boy ) next him thou 'st beare the bell ; and though my songs unkempt and rugged are , yet , as they been ile them by turnes rehearse , and mount thy daphnis to the skies above , i , to the starres , will daphnis by my verse enhance : ( for mee did daphnis allgates love . ) mop. what gift to mee but halfe so pleasing may ? leefe ladd was hee , best worthy to bee sung ; yea , stimacon to mee , upon a day these verse prais'd , with his praise-worthy tongue . men. now lovely daphnis doth admiring sit , th'unwoonted portall of olympus high , and sees the cloudes , aud starres , beneath his feet , the joyous groves , and pleasant plaines for-thy . and jolly pan , each shepheard , and his boy , and mayden-crew , of dainty dryades , sweete pleasance , and deere joyance shall enjoy , and shall securely live in endlesse ease . the woolfe , from ravin , on the flock shall cease , no toiles shall been , th' unwary stagg to kill : ( for daphnis ioyes , in sweete accordant peace ; ) the rough-hew'd mountaines all the ayre fulfill with accents of their ioy ; the rocks likewise sing rusticke rhimes , in honour of his name : the very shrubs ( menalcas ) with loud cryes , a god , a god , hee is , doo still proclame . oh , bee propitious , and thy servants bless , behould foure altars ; whereof two to thou , and two to phaebus i will heere address , and with new milke , fresh strocked from the cowe two flagons every yeare , i unto thee , and twaine with iuice of olives , will poure forth : ne , store of bacchus fruit shall wanting bee , to cheere the feast ; ( which els is nothing worth . ) and wine at aruse ( second nectar ) made : by the fires side , if it in winter chance ; or if in summer , in the friendly shade , whilst alphasibeus , tripp the satyres dance . and lictius aegon , and damatas sing : these duties i to thee will alwayes pay , both when my vowes i to the nymphes doe bring , and when in harvest i my fields survay . whilst bores the mountaines , or fish love to haunt the floods , and bees on thyme delight to tast , or grashoppers on deaw make their provaunt , thy name , thine honour , and thy praise shall last . and as the husbandman woont yeere by yeere their vowes to bacchus , and to ceres pay , ilk , they with offrings , 'fore thee shall appeare , yea , thou their vowes shalt binde them to defray . mops. ( ah my leefe ladd ) what guerdon peregall , for sike a long as this , can i bestow ? sith not the bibling streames , which gently fall at weene the gritty valleys here below , doth adde such pleasure to my lulled minde : nor working of the waves against the shore , ne , coole , fresh breathing of the westerne winde , ( mee featly fanning ) doth delight mee more . men. this simple pipe , i le give thee ( if thou please ; ) on it i learnt the song , how corydon , the faire alexis lov'd : on it likewise i learnt the roundelay , which thus begun , whose beasts been these ? or been they melibes ? mop. meane time , ( mine owne menalcas ) of my hand accept this sheepe-hooke , which antigines full earnestly of mee did oft demand . nathless this boon i did to him deny , ( though of my love , and it , hee worthy was , ) which as thou seest , is scrude in daintily , with two neate ioynts , and bound about with brass . daphnis . the glosse . bvt what if hee , &c. mopsus was somewhat moved at the naming of a rivall : but hee answers mildely to him , as to his elder ; as if hee should say : it is no great commendation to contend , but to overcome , is all the glory : any man may cope with hercules , but not conquer him . mopsus begin : if any , &c. now the senior speakes in good sooth , and shewes unto him , what subject is fittest for his song : either of the impatiency of love , or of the excellency of art ; or of the zeale to his country . phillis love , &c. phillis was daughter of siton , ( the queene of thrace ; ) who falling in love with demophoon , king of athens , the sonne of theseus , at his returne from the troian warre , desired to have him to her husband : hee tould her , that hee would first returne home into his owne kingdome , and settle all things there , and then hee would come backe and marry her : but staying somewhat longer then she had patience to expect , what through love and griefe , ( conceiving that hee h●d cast her off , ) shee hanged her selfe ; and was turned into an almond tree , without leaves : but afterward , demophoon returned , and understanding what had hapned , hee embraced the tree , for love of his sweete heart ; which ( beeing affected as it were with joy for the comming of her husband , ) instantly flourished , and became full of leaves . or alcons praise , &c. this alcon was hercules companion , a famous archer , and so exquisitely skilled in shooting , that hee never mist the marke : one tryall of his skill , was , that hee would set a ring on a mans head , and shoote through it , never hurting the party : hee could cleave a hare when hee list with his shaft ; and setting up a sword , or a speare end-wayes , right against him , hee would shoote a headlesse arrow , and hit the point with the end of his shaft , and cleave it just in the midst . vpon a time , a serpent fastned upon his young sonne , at whom alcon drew so steady a draught , that hee struck the serpent through , and never hurt his sonne . or codrus brawles , &c. codrus was generall of the athenian army , who in the beginning of the warre betweene the athenians , and the laconians , ( understanding from the oracle , that that side should win the day , whose generall was first slaine , ) and finding that the enemie did purposely forbeare to assault him , hee put himselfe into poore clothes , and so went disguised to the enemies camp , where hee fell to quarrelling and brawling with one , and an other , who ( judgeing him by his homely habit ) slew him ; ( by this meanes hee making way to that oracle : ) for in that battle the laconians were discomfited , and lost the field . the nymphes did daphnis , &c. hee brings in the name of daphnis , either for that hee was some delicate young youth , son of mercurie ; or else for that hee was some man of esteeme in sicily , for his wealth in land and cattle : to whom some authors attribute the first invention of pastorall verse . therefore hee saith , that nature it selfe generally in all things , did condole the death of our saviour christ : first , the nymphes , ( that is ) the heavenly spirits and powers themselves . yee hazells , and yee woods , &c. the heaven , and the inferiour creatures did testifie by their motion , and perturbation , the great sympathy of the superiour powers , wherewith they were affected . when the sad mournefull mother , &c. after mention of the gods , hee presently adds rome , which is their mother next to the gods. both gods and starres , &c. this is spoken after the manner of the heathen : a course with them usuall ; but of christians to bee abhorred : for when iupiter their god did not answer them in their desires , to their content ; they would obraid him of cruelty , and savage disposition . but our iupiter , ( the true iove indeed ) doth with great resolution , both begin , and end all things at his pleasure , and of them doth most sweetly dispose in his best time and season . wonn : keepe or abide . as tho , of none the fed oxe , &c. heerein hee intimates the great consternation and dismay of the shepheards , that is , of the apostles of christ , and the cessation of the doctrine of the gospell , by the death of christ : so that , there neither were any to teach ; nor the auditors that were , would harken to what was taught ; the mindes of all were so perversly alienate from the meanes of savation . as tho : then , or at that time . the lybian lyons , &c. even lyons , that is , most fierce and salvage beasts , and farthest from all sense of humanity , did lament the death of christ : many ( to weet ) of the iewes , and gentiles ; as the centurion , and pilate : and others , who returning to ierusalem , testified their griefe , by smi●ing their breasts . the woods and mountaines , &c. perchance heerein the prophecy of the sybil hath allusion to the renting of the stones , the opening of the graves , and the earthquake , at the time of our saviours giving up the ghost . armenian tygres , &c. christ was the authour of a new , and everlasting religion , and thereby did bend the stubborne and untamed neckes of the most fierce tygres , inforcing them meekely to submit unto the yoake of his lawes and commandements . by tygres heere is meant , such worldly tyrants , as live altogether like these brute creatures , rather then men : and yet , iesus christ , by the inward working of his grace , can bring this impossible-seeming worke to passe . daphnis to bacchus , &c. servius saith , that these words have relation to the history of caesar ; because hee first did institute the sacrifice , and feasts to liber , that is , to father bacchus but ( saith vives ) i doe not remember to have read this in any other authour , neither is it likely , or probable ; forasmuch as there were in rome feasts to bacchus , before caesars time : but i will hould my order in glossing , which i have propounded to my selfe : hee seemes therefore especially to mention the sacrifices to bacchus , for that antiquity did beleeve that they were available , for the purging of soules ; and for that reason , gave him that title of liber , which signifies free , because hee doth free the minde from cares and molestations . as the vine is honour , &c. christ is the head and glory of all spirituall creatures . bestrew the ground , &c. after christs resurrection , did follow a renewing and repaire of all things , and new joy was declared to the shepheards , namely to the apostles , whom god appointed as shepheards of his flock . such daphnis wills , &c. the tombe of christ is the perpetuall remembrance of his death , which the church hath evermore in sight : for what is a tombe , but a monument of death ? and fixe this epitaph , &c. this shall bee the superscription of the death of christ. epicedion , is a mournefull song made before the body bee interred . and epitaphion , a funerall song , after buriall . i daphnis in the woods , &c. write not upon him as on other dead mens tombs : heere hee lyes interred : for christ now liveth not in earth onely , but is acknowledged above the starres , and deerely loved of men , and angells . well knowne unto the starres , &c. the sonn of god descended from heaven to become man ; after hee beeing man , ascended from earth to heaven : therefore christ as hee was man , began first to bee knowne upon earth , and so from thence the knowledge of him reached up into heaven . of a flock so faire , &c. christ beeing most faire , pure , and good , nay beauty , purity , and goodnesse it selfe , doth admit none into his kingdome , and unto his pasture , but those who are faire , & pure , and good . iddio fa suoi al suo essempio : god frames his to his owne sample & patterne . and hee makes onely them such , who doe with all readines commit themselves unto him to bee by him reformed and refined . christ hath chosen out angels , and holy men : these are the cattle of the shepheard , who is incomparably more faire , and beautifull , then any the best creatures , ( in whose lipps grace is diffused . ) poet divine , &c. if a song upon caesars death , ( beeing otherwise bitter to the friends of octavian , and hurtfull to many , to none profitable ) was so acceptable to a shepheard , how pretious ought the remembrance of christs death to bee to us , from whence redoundeth everlasting salvation to all mankinde ? queme : please : a saxon word : spencer . for mee did daphnis allgates love , &c. this cannot bee meant of virgil ; who ( i verily thinke ) saith vives ) was never knowne to iulius caesar , nor scarce ever seene . for virgil was but a childe at the time of caesars murther : neither did cicero ever see or heare any of virgils workes , seeing cicero outlived caesar , not above two yeares : and therefore it is a meere fiction , which i know not who writes in the life of virgil ; as likewise many other things are taken upon report from the hearesay of others , that cicero protested of him , in these words , , magnae spes altera romae . therefore they are spoken in the person of menalcas , who was elder then virgil . allgates : also . now lovely daphnis , &c. the sybil hitherto sung the death of christ , here shee prophecies of his ascension , and of the eternity of his kingdome in heaven . christ in his humanity beeing received up into heaven , doth rejoyce to behould all things subdued unto him : according to that which heerein wee are taught in the holy scriptures . and sees the clowds , and starres , &c. all things both in heaven and earth . the ioyous groves , and pleasant , &c. by christs ascension into heaven , abundant great joy hath flowed downe , upon the apostles first , ( by the sending of the holy ghost ; ) then after , upon all men in generall : for by his ascension , hee hath ledd our captivity captive , and given gifts unto men . the woolfe from ravin , &c. the peace of christ is hereby meant , which subdues all tense and motion of the superiour over the inferiour ; of the wilde beast , against the tame ; of the crafty against the simple ; charity making an equality every where , and causing all things to bee safe and secure . for daphnis ioyes in sweete , &c. charity is the speciall commandement of christ ; and peace his inheritance . the mountaines , &c. the holy ghost , saith saint paul , is diffused in our hearts by iesus christ ; and beeing fullfilled with this joy , wee come truly to understand iesus christ , who he is , and acknowledge him to bee god. for no man saith , that iesus is the lord , but by the holy ghost , and the gospell . blessed art thou simon bar-tona , because flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee , but my father , which is in heavē . by the mountaines , is meant the bishops , and chiefe learned men of the church , and other where ; by rockes , is meant , the inferiour sort ; by shrubbs is meant the common people : all doe openly professe and adore the divinity of christ. a god , a god , hee is , &c. to the afflicted minde , for the sad and lamentable death of christ , it is said : vvhy doost thou weepe● bee of good comfort , for hee is a god : why doost thou seek the living amongst the dead● hee is god that lives for evermore . from hence comes joy into our hearts , and great hope of blessednesse . all which in the next verse is prayed for ; namely that hee would confirme his happinesse , and ratifie that which by his expresse commandement , we● promise to our selves concerning him . oh bee propitious , and thy servants , &c. vvho trust in thee , who with all their indeavour doe cleave and adhere unto thee , and doe fly to thy patronage , as to a safe asylum ; and make them absolutely thine , whosoever call upon thee for helpe . behould foure altars , &c. perhaps virgil adds this after the custome observed of the heathen : and hee very often mentions apollo , either in respect of the pastorall verse , or for that hee is the god of all poets , or els having respect to augustus caesar. but if hee tooke these verses out of the sybil , heereby is meant worship due to the humanity of christ under the person of daphnis ; and to his divinity under the person of apollo . therefore it is that hee useth this word arae to daphnis , and altaria , to apollo : forasmuch as arae , are used , to those who of mortall men were made gods : altaria , dedicate to those who were the supreme and chiefe of the heavenly gods. moreover christ is the true phaebus , that is , the sunne of iustice and righteousnesse . ne , store of bacchus , &c. christs feasts are not after the manner of such as are dead , solemnized with griefe , in silence , and mourning , but with joy and rejoycing , as of one living and reigning , and mediatour of our everlasting peace , and grace with his father . these duties i will , &c. the remembrance of christ , & his holy worship in the church shall never end , so long as man kinde and nature have any beeing . this is , saith st. paul , the cup of my new and eternall testament , so oft as yee shall eate of this bread , and drink of this cup , yee shall shew the lords death , till hee come . their vowes to bacchus , and to ceres , &c. as to the most usefull gods for the sustaining of this mortall life ; ( without which man cannot propagate , and preserve their kinde , ) so they shall offer their vowes , and other duties of devotion to thee : and thy power to grant or deny suites made to thee , shall bee no lesse then theirs . nathlesse : nevertheless , or notwithstanding . the argvment of the sixth eglogve . this eglogue intreateth of sundry secrets , namely , of the first beginning of all things ; and of the divinity of the heathen . heerein the power and vertue of the muses is deciphered , whose knowledge reacheth to all things , they celebrate the gods , and preserve the memory of the heroes , and noble personages , as gallus , and varus , &c. they also pierce into the ne●rest secrets and mysteries of nature , ( whereof they have their denomination ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies to search , or ( by searching ) to know : for asmuch as they have the knowledge of all things . therefore the opinion of some , ( unskilfull and unlearned ) is ridiculous , who imagine , that onely the skill of songs & verse belongs to the muses , seeing that a muse properly is the knowledge and skill of all things , both humane and divine , ( as virgil declares , lib. 2. georgie . ) silenvs . egloga sexta . first my thalia daign'd in siracusian verse to play : ne , 'mongst the woods blusht to converse : ( when kings , and arms i sung , ) cynthius mine eare twicht : and this item whisper'd , doost thou heare ? ( tityrus ) a shepheard , his flock fat must feede , and homely hornpipes , carroll on his rheede : now ( sith great varus ) many may bee found , that can thy praises , and dread warres resound ; my muse in tune to my small pipe i le set : ne , i ( unbidden ) sing : if any yet these songs delight to reade , my tamarisk , and euery wood shall varus sing of thee ; ne , any lines to pha●bus gratefull bee , as which beare title of brave varus name . ( ph●rian muses ) now begin the same : the ladd muasilus , and young chromis spyde all in a cave , silenus ( gaping wide ) his veines all swell'd , ( as woont ) and fast asleepe , with wine which yesterday hee gusled deepe : ( slipt from his head ) his guarland off did lye , and his great tankard ( handle-worn ) hung by : now ( for the dotard , had with hope of song , them oft deceivd ) they seize him all among , and with his own-selfe guarlands , sast him brayld : ( they fearfull standing ) aegle him assayld ; ( aegle , mongst all the naya●des most fayre ) and all his front , and temples doth besmayre with mulberry-bloody-iuice : with this hee wakes : and scorning their abuse , why sirs , what makes you bynd mee thus ( quoth hee ? ) lads , set mee free , and think you blest , that mee you might but see : call for what songs yee please : songs , your reward and other guerdon i le this nymph award . eftsoones , hee to his songs himselfe addreast : then mote yee see the faunes the measures tripp , the beasts doe leape the rigid okes doe skipp , their curled branches , capr'e in the ayre : for , of parnassus mountain , the sole heyre phoebus is not ; nor orpheus th' only hee ; whom ismarus , and rhodope admire : and first hee sings , how seedes of ayre , and fire , water and earth , from that vast chaos , were vnited first : then from these elements how th'infant world , and all things did commense : how th' earth woxe firme : and naereus confin'd within the seas : how all things in their kind received forme , successive by degrees . then how amaz'd the earth stands , when it sees the new-suns radiant beames : and clowdy tovvres ( exhaled high ) now melting into shovvres : and vvhen the vvoods in green , vvere first arayd , and vvhen strange beasts , the uncooth mountains strayd the story then of pyrrha's stones , again , hee doth recount : and of saturnus raign : the fowles of ca●casus : prometheus theaft , of hyl●● ; and the fatall streame ; ( where leaft ) the woefull mariners , him lowd deplore ; that hylas , hylas , ecchoed all the shore : then fortunate , ( if heards had never bee ) hee comforts in his song , pa●iphae , for loving of the snow-white-bull , ( alack ) ( ah haplesse dame ) what fury did thee rack ? the pratides , the fields , and forrests streawd with false-forc'd lowings ; yet were not so leaw'd with lust of beasts , unkindly to bee caught ; ( though on their neckes they fear'd the yoak , & sought and fealt for horns , in their smooth foreheads oft : ( poore sowle ) now roming'mongst the hills aloft ; ) whilst , all among the daffod : ilies soft , ( streaking his white lithe-limbes , under some tall black holm-tree ) hee , or upward doth recall into his tender cudd , the pallid hearbs , or wooes some sweete-heart in the goodly heards . ( dict●ean nymphes ) yee lady nymphes of woods ) shut up the groves ; fense round the forrest-bracks , enaunter i espie his stragling tracks : the pleasant grass , ( i muchil am afeard ) or some , or other heyfer of the heard , may to cortinia this bull perswade , then hee pursues the story of the maid , ( erst of th' hesperian fruit inamoured ) then phaetons sisters hee invelloped , with bitter alders-hoary-barke-around , and tall straight trees , them planted in the ground , then did hee sing , how gallus , ( wandring by permessus streames , ) one of the sisters nine , ledd him to those ao●ian hils divine ; how , phoebus traine , ( all rising up ) did bow , and lowly-lowted to the man : and how good liuus , ( with his hayre embrav'd so trim with flowres , and bitter appium ) to him , in divine verse , these lines did dedicate , hould heere : these pipes the muses thee present , which whilome they to ould aseraeus lent : whose charming musick ( from the hils above ) tall ashes from their stations wontremove . these shall deriye the first originall of the crynaan wood to thee ; that so then it , no wood , may please apollo mo : what should i speake of nysus-chyld ? who , in the gulfe , the gracian ships turmoyld , whilst round about her belly ( white as snow ) fowle monsters , ever howling , ( as some show ) th' amazed mariners ( alack for feare ) with sea-dogs ( mercilesse ) in pieces teare : or how hee tould of tereus changed shape , the feast which philomela for him makes , the course which in the wildernesse hee takes , and ( loth to part ) ( poore man ) how hee did sore and long , his owne deere dwelling hoverd o're : and all what ever phaebus erst did preach in blest eurota's hearing , and did teach the laurels for their lessons , hee did sing : which did affect the valleyes in such sort , that they his songs unto the starrs report ; so long till evening vesper warning gave , the sheepe to number , and them drive to fould , and ( maugre olympus ) from the earth , his course did hould . silenvs . the glosse . thalia : one of the three graces , whom the poets supposed to bee iupiers daughter , and inspired men with delectable speech , and sweete pronuntiation . in siracusian verse , &c. the sense of these verses i take to bee this . my thalia , ( that is the muse which hath preheminence over the fields ) did first daign to sport in theocritus his verse , applying it selfe first to sing of country matters . cynthius mine eare , &c. that is , apollo put him in minde of his duty , and very fitly doth the poet heere mention the eare to bee touched by apollo ; because as the forehead is consecrate to genius , the fingers to minerva , the knees to misericordia , so the eare was consecrate to apollo . cynthus : was a hill , where apollo and diana were borne : and thereof hee was named cynthius , and shee cynthia . great varus , &c. quintilius varo , ( generall of the romane army , ) having often overthrowne the mighty armyes of the germans , at last lost a famous battell , against arminius the german : whereat hee conceived so hearty a grief , & indignation , that hee slew himselfe , not abiding to outlive so great a disgrace , as hee conceived for this overthrow : ( but this hapned after virgil was dead . my tamarisk , &c. thou shalt bee remembred , so long as these my bucolicks shall bee read in the world . pyerian : pieris is a hill in thessaly , dedicate to the muses , of which they are called pyerides . mna●lysus , ●nd young cromis , &c. by these twaine , the poet meaneth himselfe , and varu● ; to whose honour hee did compile this eglogue . they were two satyres , so named ; to whom hee also joyneth a young lass : describing thereby the sect of the epicures , at the full ; which sect teacheth , that perfection consisteth in pleasure , without which nothing can bee absolute , and pleasing . and in this eglogue virgil doth purposely treate of the epicurean sect , and doctrine , which both himselfe and varus had learned of syron , and so brings in his master syron , speaking under the person of silenus unto them : and it is said , that virgil did not devise this of silenus , as a fiction of his owne , but did onely translate it out of theopompus ; who reports , that king mydas his shepheards sound this silenus on a time lying drunke , and fast asleepe ; in which case they bound him : afterward ( his bands loosing themselves without helpe ) hee resolved divers questions propounded unto him by the king , in naturall philosophy , and antiquities : some say hee was the sonn of mercury , some of pan , upon a certaine nymph , others affirme him to bee born of drops of blood , issuing from heaven . silenus fast asleepe , &c. stories make mention of two famous men , and of great antiquity of this name : one was schoole-master and tutor to bacchus : the other long after him , and a great wise man , in the time of cyrus ; whose sage saw , that was to craesus the lydian king , optimum non nasci ; proximum citò mori . bacchus is the poets god , as well as apollo : and parnassus , the hill of the muses , hath two tops , one sacred to apollo , the other to bacchus . now poets are crowned with guarlands of laurel leaves , ( which is phaebus tree , ) and with ivie leaves , ( which is bacchus tree . ) therefore by silenus , ( bacchus his master , ) wee must understand the muse it selfe , of whom bacchus ( the poets god , ) is secretly instructed . and for this it is , that they say , that this eglogue doth exceede the matter of a pastorall . his guarlands , &c. that is , in that age all care and regard of humanity , and honour , and praise by poetry , was laid aside ; sith no man did esteeme it , or cared to be crowned with the commendation thereof . with hope of songs , &c. vvee must never cease our paines , in attaining of skill and knowledge ; if our first indeavours succeede not , wee must not give over , but set on againe , and againe , knowing that diligent labour at last brings all to good effect : according to that , si ter pulsanti nemo respondet , abire non licet : urgendum est . with his owne selfe guarlands , &c. the beauty and delight of learning did so inamour the truly generous mindes , that they did even by violence force the muses to abide with them , giving them no rest , but even waking them out of their quiet sleepe , to teach and instruct them : some out of an egre desire of glory ; some other more noble , out of an endlesse and covetous longing to attaine knowledge : for guarlands have relation to the honour due to learning ; whether it bee the beauty of knowledge , or the desire of excellence . aegle came to helpe , &c. soft and effeminate desires doe intermixe themselves with all manly and worthy mindes ; which desires doe seeke for learning , knowledge , and good quality , not for their owne sakes , or for the beauties of their excellent vertues , but for gaine , or some other sinister respect . nayades , feigned by the poets to bee the nymphes of the waters . with mulberry bloody iuice , &c. the young ladds binde and hould down silenus , but the lass scoffs him , and indeavours to make him ridiculous to others : noble and generous mindes , by care , and their best industry , doe adorne the muses , and detaine them with them ; when as base people , and abject mindes doe dishonour and abuse them , aiming at nothing so much , as how to expose them , to the scorne of the vulgar . and wheras the ladds waken him to heare his melodious voice , the lass laughs him to scorne ; it teacheth the contrary entertainment , which learning finds in the world : as beeing received with all manner of grace , and solemnity , amongst the true and ingenious spirits , whereas base , and vile degenerate persons , accept them onely for gaine and pleasure . bloody iuice , &c. this kinde of tree bare a white fruit at first , and likewise the fruit yeelded a white juice ; but pyramus and thisbe , having appointed to meete at this tree , and afterward killing themselves under it , they say , that the tree , ( beeing tainted with the blood which sprinkled from their wounds , ) hath ever since retained the colour of blood , both in her fruite , and the juice . the like mutation is reported of the rose , which was also at first white ; but so it hapned , that ( venus running by the rose bush , and accidently scratching her tender foote , it bled ; ) for which the rose hath ever since been redd ; ( as blushing for shame of such her rudenesse . ) inough is yee , &c. it is enough that yee have found the muses : they shall not henceforth fly from you any more , but willingly and gently they shall apply themselves to teach you whatsoever you desire . call for what songs yee list , &c. you men of understanding shall receive knowledge of what kinde soever you shall make choice to bestow your time in . this shall bee the reward of your labours . but the effeminate mindes , shall have money , and sordid gaine , as the recompense of all they seeke after . the beasts did play , &c. learning doth tame , and mollifie rude and brutish mindes , making them plyant and subject to order and reason . fau●es and satyres were the gods of the woods : a kinde of monsters , with heads like men , and bodies like goates . ismarus , and rhodope , &c. two mountaines in thrace , ( the country where orpheus was borne . the rigid oakes , &c. heere hee seemes to allude to those things which are reported of orpheus . cicero in defence of the poet archia , saith , the woods and wildernesse doe answere to the voice , and oftentimes the savage beasts are perswaded , and stand at gaze , at the sweetnesse and delight of musick . for phaebus is not , &c. indeed phaebus and orpheus sing sweeter ; but there is more learning , and knowledge of matters worthy a mans understanding in silenus his song , and therefore more delight therein . for why hee sung , &c. hee taught and opened the causes , and first principles and originall of things ; ( a matter most pleasing and delightfull , ) out of the most abstruse and hidden points of philosophy ; heere needes no allegory . onely it teacheth that such kinde of subject , ( conteining learning and knowledge , and wise philosophy , ) ought truly and of right to bee the matter of a right poets pen. the story of pyrrha , &c. servius heere moves the question , why the poet , ( leaving the learned and wise discourse of the worlds originall , and such like things , ) sodainly passeth to the narration of fables . to which hee answers , that either it is , because heerein hee houlds himselfe to the epicurean manner , ( which sect doth evermore purposely farse the most serious matters , ) with some pretty pleasant passage , or other ; or for that hee did apply himselfe to the nature and disposition of youth , whose mynds are wonderfully inclined and apt to bee made bend , and relent with fables , which affoord matter of admiration : for fables were first invented , to delight and refresh the hearts of men ; now the fable heere of was this . iupiter ( hating the gyants of the earth for their cruelty , and so likewise ( for their sakes ) all their posterity , ) drowned all the whole earth , except pyrrha and deucalion , who escaped the deluge , upon the huge mountaine athos . these two ( by themis instruction ) by casting stones behynd them , did thereof repaire mankynd againe . some report this fable , and the cause of the deluge otherwise , and that pyrrha was daughter to epimetheus , and deucalion sonne to prometheus : & that on parnassus hill , they increased mankynd againe . as also that the meaning of this fiction is , that those few , who escaped to the topp of this hill , ( during the deluge , hiding them amongst the bushes , and rubbish of these rocky places , ) and arising from thence afterward , were said to bee made of the stones , which ( upon the forsaking those strong places ) they left behynd them . moreover there were two generall deluges , whereof stories report , one in the reigne of ogiges , king of the thebans ; the other in the time of pyrrha , and deucalion . and by these deluges is morally signified the alteration and mutation of times . the fowles of caucasus . that is , the eagle which fed upon prometheus his heart , upon the hill cancasus . prometheus theft . the poets feigne that this man made men ; ( induced thereunto , ) because hee was the first who devised the making of images : and they feigne that hee went to heaven , and stole fire from thence to inspire his men with life : at which iupiter beeing sore displeased , bound him to the hill caucasus , and there set an eagle to tyre and gnaw continually upon his heart . the meaning of all which , is this : prometheus ( according to the etymology of the name ) was a very wise man : for prometheus is derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is providence . hee was the first ; who taught the assyrians the art of astrology . to which knowledge hee attained by observing the starrs on the high mountain caucasus ; where with great study , and continuall paines , hee did carefully and diligently frequent . now this mountain in assyria is so high , that it is said to reach almost unto the stars , so neere , that upon it hee did observe , and descry the greater stars , together with the rising and setting of them all , in their severall seasons and times . and whereas an eagle is said to eate his heart , it hath relation to the curious scrutiny , and deepe contemplation of his studious mynd , ever busie , in beating his braines , for the finding out of the motions of the stars , and celestiall bodies : ( the same word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying in greeke , an eagle , and carefullnesse . ) and because by wisdome , and wondrous prudence and understanding , hee effected this by the help of mercury , who is the god of wisdome and reason among the heathen : therefore hee is said to bee bound , by mercury , to the rock caucasus : alluding to the custome of great students , who sit so close and continually at their bookes , as if they were even tyed to their seates : hee found out also the reason of the lightning , and taught it unto men : and thereupon sprang that part of the fable , which saith , hee stole fire from heaven . for by a secret art , which hee taught them , posterity learned how to draw fire from heaven ; which proved very usefull to man , whilst it was used to a right end : but after once men abused it , it turned to their destruction ; as wee reade in livy , of tullus hostilius , who was consumed with all his his whole family , by that kynd of fire : and yet wee reade of numa pompilius , that hee used it with very good successe , imploying it onely in the sacrifices of the gods . and this gives occasion to that part of the story , which saith , that the gods beeing angry at the stealing of fire from heaven , sent downe diseases and plagues upon the earth , in revenge thereof . thus much servius . and next of hylas , &c. this young man was the son of theodamus , and companion to hercules ; who in his journey to colchos , going to land in the woods of mis●a , and sending hylas to the river ascanias , to draw him some water , hylas ( overreaching himselfe , ) fell into the river , and was drowned : whose losse . hercules tooke so impatiently , that not knowing of his drowning , till long after , hee travailed all over misia , in quest of his deere hylas , ever crying out and calling him by his name , all the way hee went. and fortunate pasiphae , &c. the sense of this seemes obscure , heere hee brings in pasiphae comforting , and as it were blessing her selfe from the love of the bull : so that the words following , ( ah hapless mayd , ) seeme to bee her owne ; in which words shee comforts her selfe , about the absence of the bull , taxing her owne furious lust ; yet in the second person , ( which beares more weight , and seemes to bee more passionate , ) the like manner is that where corydon bewailes his misfortune in the second person , as more forceable to expresse his passion . but presently shee pursues her speech in the first person , in these words , if this bulls stragling tracks i chance to spy , &c. that is , if he should chance to come hither and attempt mee , i pray let mee intreat you to shut up all passages to prevent his comming : see●●g perchance hee will come , though not purposely , yet casually , as hee followes some beautifull cow or other of the heard , whom hee hath undertaken ; or seekes after some more delicate pasture . therefore restrain him within the woods , that the fury of this filthy love , may at least by absence bee asswaged , and not bee farther provoked , or inflamed by behoulding . servius upon this passage glosseth thus : the poet ( saith hee ) may seeme to excuse her misdeede , as having committed this foule fault , by inforcement rather of fortune , and desteny , then of her owne disposition : and therefore , ( out of his pitty , and tender commiseration of her , ) hee cries out ( ah haplesse mayd ) comforting her herein , and alluding to the cause , that inforced her to this action : for so it hapned , that venus beeing infinitely angry with sol , for bewraying to the world , her adulderies , with anchises , or ( as some say ) with mars , or rather with both : in revenge possest his daughters mynds with monstrous desires , to abuse their bodies with unhonest and unnaturall lusts : to as did cyrce , medea , and this pasiphae . and in this sense hee calls her unhappy ; and that in this kind of lamentable madnesse ; others were lesse unhappy , in that they thought themselves to bee very beasts indeede ; whereas shee , though shee knew her selfe to bee still a woman , yet shee doated so through extremity of lust and passion , as ( against her reason , which she still retained , ) to follow a bull. what madnesse thee bewitcht , &c. in these words hee seemes rather to chide , then to comfort her : perhaps giving it as a rule , that the office of a true comforter , is to mingle ( as hee sees cause ) sharp reproofes , and as it were , vineger with his oyle , ( allbeeit to a mynd that may seeme halfe overtaken with sorrow . ) but the poets ground this fable of pasiphae upon a true story , as they most commonly doe in all the fictions which they have left unto the world . for the truth is , shee was wife to minos , king of crete ; and as servius saith , falling in love with taurus , secretary got her with child of two twyns , whereof one was like minos , and the other like taurus . and this was the cause that gave first occasion to the poets to fable , that shee was in love wich a bull , and suffered the bull to have carnall copulation with her , within a wooden cow , made by daedalus , and that shee was thereupon delivered of a monster , halfe a man , and halfe a bull , which ( according to the shape partaking of both natures , ) they named minotaurus ; intimating therein the foule play which shee used therein with the kings secretary , by allusion to both their names joyned in one . the praetides , &c. these were daughters of king praetus , and the faire staenobaea ; or as homer saith antiope ; who for preferring themselves before iune in beauty , ( or as some hould , beeing her maydes of honour , adventuring to take the gould from her rayment , and convert it to their owne use , ) were by the goddess , ( beeing heereat extremely in censed , ) distracted in their mynds ; so that ( conceiving thēselves to bee cowes , ) they strayed up and downe , lowing amongst fields and forrests , beeing fearefull to come neere any mankinde , least they should bee put to draw in the plough . now the coheherence of this example with that which went before is this : that howsoever these distracted poore ladies were so deprived of their reason , as that they did verily beleeve them to bee cowes indeede , and in very nature , and their fancies beeing so destroyed , as that their behaviour was now in every thing answerable to that conceit which they had of themselves , yet none of them in these their bestiall imaginations , were so transported , as to long and to lust after the unkindly company of the savage bulls , as pasiphae did : and therefore her lust was monstrous , and so much the more monstrous , and foule , because shee still retained both her outward shape of womankind , and knew her selfe to bee still a humane creature , injoyed her right senses , and was in her right mind , all the time that shee was overtaken with this kind of lust : so that her madnesse was beyond expression , and skill of man to conclude , from what ground it might proceede . dictaean nymphes , &c. they were so called of dictis , a mountaine in cretae , where they used much to haunt : and heere ( as servius saith ) pasiphae did first fall in love with taurus . e●aunter : least that . then phaetons sisters , &c. phaeton wa● sonn to phaebus , begotten of faire clymene : who instantly intreated his father to give him leave to rule the charriot of the sunn for one day , which with much importunity , and great unwillingness phaebus at last granted . but ( not able to governe the unruly iades , ) they run away with the carr , and overthrew it , and set the whole world on fire . whereat iupiter beeing sore afraid to bee burnt likewise , and to bee fired out of his kingdome , struck phaeton with lightning , and threw him into the river padus , in italy now called po : for which untimely and unfortunate death of their brother , his three sisters , lampaeti● , phaethusa , and lampethusa , grieved so extremely , that the gods ( in ruth of their incessant weeping and dreriment , ) turned thē into alder trees , which ever since , delight most and thrive best in moist and wet places . invelloped : cloathed , or wrapped about . then did hee sing how gallus , &c. in all this whole tract , there is nothing spoken more sweetely , or sung with greater influence of the muses then this , wherein the admirable praise of gallus is set forth : who was himselfe a renowned poet , of whom virgil makes mention in alexis , and after in gallus . lowly lowted : did make obeisance down to the ground . permessus : a delicate river in boeotia . i●to the aonian mountaines did him leade , &c the study of one science and art , drawes and leades a man by degrees , to the knowledge of others . and how the attendants all , &c. the very muses-selves , did admyre gallus his witt ; which they once perceiving and throughly understanding , they fell in love with him , shewing themselves courteous , affable , and very friendly unto him . in divine verse , &c. hee calls the verse divine for the excellence thereof , either for that hee was some great heros the sonn of calliope , ) or because ( as saith servius ) hee was a kind of prophet , and a diviner of things to come . which erst to ould ascraeus , &c. hesyod , the greeke poet , borne in ascra , ( a towne in b●etia , neere to mount helicon ) was of that townes name , surnamed ascr●us . these shall derive , &c. of the grynaean wood , &c. the wood gry●nea is in ionia , dedicate to phaebus . of this wood , and of this wood , and of the workes done therein , ( namely of the prophecy of mopsus , and calcas , as also of apollo's selfe , euphorion the grecian , of the citty of calcis , ) wrote an excellent poem : which gallus , with great dexterity and skill did translate out of greek into latin ; following rather in his translation , the argument and manner of his authors handling , then the very words : which by these meanes hee made his owne , as virgil did his bucolicks , and his aeneiads ; in both which hee did follow theocritus , and homer . hee saith therefore these pipes shall derive the first originall of the prayses , unto thee of the grynaean wood : ( because that by his translation , hee shall heereafter seeme rather the author and inventer of that worke , then euphorion himselfe : ) whereby it shall happen , that by thy commendation , and song of that wood , ( though phaebus have many other temples , and sundry other groves sacred to his service , ) yet hee shall delight in none more , or rather not so much , as in that , as it is set forth by thy excellent witt . what should i speake of scylla , nisus child , ovid in his fourteenth of his metamorph. saith , that this was daughter to phorcus , and not to nisus ; and that ( shee falling in love with glaucus , ( circes her sweete-heart : ) circes out of disdaine , and meere malice , to see her preferred before her selfe , despitefully poysoned the fountaine with venemous hearbes , where scylla woont to bathe her selfe ; of which villany the poore soule beeing utterly ignorant , ( as shee was washing for her recreation , ) spyed sodainly all her nether parts turned into snarling and howling dogs : at which deformity shee was so aghasht , that shee threw her selfe presently into the next sea shee came at : where they say , shee was metamorphosed into a rock , lying right against charybdis , which ever since prooves very dangerous to passengers sayling that way . of tereus changed shape , &c. tereus defloured his wives sister philomela : his wise progne to bee revenged kills young itis , ( his onely sonn , ) and drest his body like meate , and set it before her husband : whereof hee having fedd , shee brought in the head of the dead child , and set it before him ; at sight whereof , tereus rann after progne to kill her ; but in flying from him , shee was turned into a swallow ; tereus into a lapwing ; philomela into a nightingall , and itis into a phesant . blest eurotas , &c. a river in greece , which hee therefore termeth blessed , in injoyning the company of so learned a man , and hearing so excellent songs , as hee sang , by the bankes thereof . till evening vesper , &c. it is the west star , which by reason it appeareth first of all the other starrs , after the sunn is set , is called vesper , or the evening starr : and it is also called hesperus : it is also lucifer , and is so named , because it is the last of all the starrs , which in the morning , upon the first preparing of the sun to rise , is last seene , and stayes longest to our discerning , before it vanish ( as it were , ) and set out of our sight . and maugre olympus , &c. this is a mountaine in greece , above which ( by reason of the exceeding height , ) no clowd appeareth : and therefore among poets , it is taken , and used for the heaven . and yet the evening starr , ( seeming to rise from the bottome thereof , ) in despite of his heighth , was clamberd up above him . the argvment of the seventh eglogve . virgil heere faignes , that at his beeing at rome , hee was present at the contention of two poets : one whereof ( as may bee thought ) was his deere friend , and perchance was either gallus , varus , or asinius : whom hee doth wondrously extoll , of purpose to extenuate the commendation of the other , who happily was one of his rivalls , which envied him , for the grace and acceptance hee found amongst the nobles of rome . melibaevs . egloga septima . all underneath a tall straight holme , whyleere sate daphnis : whilst thyrsis , and coridon , their simple sheep , & milk-stuft-goates , yfeere , ( their severall flocks ) compelled into one : arcadians both , and both of equall yeeres , in answers prompt ; and both in singing peeres . as i from could the tender myrtl'es save , the goate ( the husband of the heard ) did stray , i daphnis spyde : hee mee : and mee did wave , and cryde ; ( melibae ) thy kidds are well : away come ; heere 's thy goate too : if thou maist be staide , ( of fellowship ) come rest thee in this shade . heere all the heards doon leave their meadow-feede , to come to drink : heere quiet mincius bounds the verdant flowrie bankes with tender rheede , and sacred oake with buzzing swarmes , resounds . what should i doe ? not having phillis , nor alcippe , whom to send shutup , my weaned lambs at home : and much to doo , was like to bee ( god know , ) twixt thyrsis , and corydon ; yet foolish i , did for their toyes , my business forslow : tho , both by turnes , their verses gan to vye , and each with turning songs invoke their muse , first corydon ; next thyrsis his course ensues . cor. ( lybethrian nymphes ) ( my joy , my deere delight , ) or doon mee helpe sike ditties to endite , as codrus erst yee taught : ( for none so nie as hee , to phaebus-selfe can versifie : or if wee cannot all so happy bee , i le hang my pipe , on this pine-sacred tree . thyr. crowne your new poet , ( yee arcadian swaines , ) with ramping ivie : that so , codrus raines , and very guts may crack , with fell despite : or if hee praise him more , then is his right , with berryes bynd his front : that his ill tong heereafter may not doo your poet wrong . this boresrough head , micon ( my little wagg ) and branched hornes of a long-lyved stagg , doth heere present ( fayre delia ) unto thee : which if hee find , them faire accepted bee , of finest marble thou shalt stand upright ( thy calves , lapt all , in punick-buskins-light . ) thyr. thow , but an orchard-keeper art , no more ; ( poore pryapus : ) inough is thee therefore this bowle of milke , and wafers every yeere : now , for the while , allbee i make thee heere , but of course marble ; yet if once my fould double my stock , i le carve thee all of gould . corid . ( naereus deere daughter ) galatea myne ) more sweete to mee , then hybla's pretious tyme , more ( then white ivie ) smooth ; then swans , more fayre , when once the bulls , from feede returned are vnto their stalls , if that thy heart be right to thine owne corydon , come bless him with thy sight . thyr. let mee bee held more sowre then sardian-grass , rougher then brush-wood ; abject more and base , then the seas weedy wrack , if not to mee long as a yeere , this one day seeme to bee : ( my bullocks ) having fedd , no farther rome for shame , ( if yee have any shame ) goe high you home . corid yee mossy fountaines , and yee hearbs which bee softer then sleepe : and ( oh ) thou strawberry-tree , ( who thy thinn shade doost over all extend , ) from the solstitium doon my beasts defend : the soultry summer gins his broyling heate , and the vine buds , doon burghen broade and greate . thyr. wee , chimnyes heere , and torches-dropping fat , and fires ( nose-high ) wee have : and unto that , posts , with continuall smoake , as black as iet : heere , wee by borras could no more doe set , then one woolfe feares whole flocks of sheepe : no more then tumbling tides , reaken the severall shore . corid . the iuniper , and rough-ryn'd chessnut stand , and under every tree , each-where on land , the apples ready lye : and every thing doth laugh for joy : but if my deere darling alexis , from these mountaines chance to stay , soone shall you see the floods quite dride away . thyr. the field doth wither , and the dying grass , by th'ayres distemper doth to nothing pass , the vine envies the hills her branched shade : but all the woods full goodly been arayd at my faire phillis comming , and self iove , in pretious showres , descendeth from above . corid . most is the popler , to alcides leefe , the vine , to bacchus ; venus , myrtles-cheefe affects : and phoebus , laurels most approves : and phillis , hazels : which ( whiles phillis loves , ) nor myrtles , can the hazels paralell , nor phaebus-laurels ever them excell . thyr. the ash is glory of all timber-woods , the pine , of orchards ; popler , in the ●loods : the firr is beauty of the hills so high : but ( would my licidas continually come visit mee , ) both firr , and ash , and pine , to thee ( my leefe ) the guarland must resigne . meli. these i remember , and that after long contention vaine ; thyris was laid along : and ever since that time , is corydon , my noble corydon , and paragon meli baevs . the glosse . as i from could the tender , &c. whilst i addicted my selfe to the milder studies of the muses , i lost the greatest part of my patrimony ; and for that cause i came to rome . whileere : a while since . i daphnis spide , &c. by daphnis hee meaneth some one of the learned friends of caesar ; who wished him to feare nothing , notwithstanding the losse of his grounds : and therefore invites him to bee secure , and to lend his time , quietly to the hearing and determining of a great controversie betweene two singers . yfeere : together . heere 's thy goat too &c. not onely all which thou hast lost , but whatsoever thou houldst at this present , ( and more too , ) shall bee kept safe for thee . if thou canst bee , &c. if thou canst bee spared from thy necessary businesse at home , rest heere in this coole shade , ( that is ) at rome , heere among us , in tranquillity , and peace of mind , free from all strife , and contentious jangling . all the heards , &c. the tyde of all businesses to bee decided , flowes hither : the prince himselfe , and the chiefe commanders of all his army , will bee heere ; yea , arius the centurion , who expelled thee from thy land , will bee heere : so that thou maist bring all thy matters to passe , according to thy hearts desire . mincius . a river ( rising out of benacus , ( a lake in gallia cisalpina , neere unto brixia , ( a towne of the venetians ) with his broad waters , makes another lake neere unto mantua : from whence , ( sucking in many small streames by the way , ) it empties it selfe into the river of po , anciently called padus , of which the citty of padua , tooke first the name . ( lybethrian nymphes ) so called of a cave , called libethra : wherein was a well called libethros , where the muses did much frequent . my ioy , my deere delight , &c. as beeing pierced with infinite love ; from whence proceedes , that divine fury , which doth raise the mind above the common strength and scope of nature ; whereof plato in his ion , ( beeing a dialogue of poeticall fury , ) doth discourse . as codrus erst yee taught , &c. hee adapteth him to the imitation of some noble , and famous poet. as hee to phaebus , &c. phaebus is the god of the muses . or if wee cannot all , &c. if wee have not skill given to us from above : for ( as the common saying is , ) poeta nascitur , non fit , a poet is so borne , and not made . there must bee a certaine naturall quality , and a kind of ex●taordinary , supernaturall witt , to this faculty : so that oftentimes there are many most excellent poets , who in all other learning are very meanely qualified . wherefore study , and all the in●ustry of the world , availe nothing heereunto , unlesse an an bee fitted , and naturally cut out ( as a man may say ) for the purpose . the pine was dedicate to the mother of the gods : the oke to iupiter : the laurel to phaebus : to venus the myrtle : the popler to hercules : the hazell to phillis . if hee praise him more , &c. heere hee may seeme to allude to the generall received opinion , that ( as there are some complexions , and some men , of such a coloured hayr , whom antiquity hath branded , for unlucky people , to buy or sell with ; ) so it hath likewise been observed , that there are persons of so unlucky a tongue , that if they offer money for a horse , or any other beast , ( if they have it not at their owne price , ) it either dayes soone after , or never thrives more . of this kind solinus writes , that whole families , are noted in africa , people , naturally so fatall and mischievous , that even their very praysing and commendation of any man , woman , or any other creature , is a kind of witchcraft , to forespeak them , to pine , and dwindle away to nothing : and therefore not without great reason , were all men shye of such , and very fearefull to receive a good word , ( against their desire , or desert , ) from such mischievous mouthes . with berries bind , &c. antiquity hath conceived that the bay tree hath a naturall vertue , and priviledge , against blasting by thunder and lightning : according to that of the poet , missa triumphalem non tangunt fulmina laurum : and perhaps from thence they have imagined , that the berries of the laurell , worne about them , is as a spell , and powerfull charme , against the blasting and injury of an evill tongue . fayre delia , &c. delos was the most famous iland of all the cyclades , ( lying in the aegean sea : ) latona was heere brought to bed of apollo , and dyana , both at a birth : and of this place , dyana ever since was called delia : so sacred was this ila●d in the opinion of all the world , for the estimatiō of these two dieties , that the persians , ( who threatned all greece , and even god and men with their invincible army , ) ariving at delos with a thousand sayle of ships ; yet departed from thence , peaceably , doing no manner of wrong thereunto . ( poore prayapus , ) &c. pryapus was said to bee the sonn of bacchus and venus : and by superstitious antiquity , beleeved to bee the god of gardens and orchards . more sowre then sardian grass . writers report , that in sardinia there growes an hearb , ( as salust faith ) which so soone as a man doth but taste , it contracts , and dilates his mouth to and ●ro , with con●rary convulsions , that with extreme paine , hee dayes , yet ( as it were laughing : ) from the effect of which deadly hearb , wiseth the proverb , sardi●ios g●l●s , sardinian laughter : applyable , when a man sets a good face on it , ( as wee say , ) and feignes a forced kind of myrth ; when yet his heart is all sad , and heavy within . having fedd , got high you hom● , &c. country people doo not distinguish the times , by the howres , but by signes and observations to them best known , and most familiar , taken from the summer and harvest : the noon they know by their cattle sitting downe to rest . ve●●● myrtler cheefe , &c. they say that the myrtle is dedicate to venus , because when shee went out of the sea , shee hidd her selfe under the myrtle , from beeing seene naked : or els , for that it is brittle , like as love is unconstant ; or els , because the myrtle yeelds a sweete pleasant savour , as love is woodrous delightfull to those , who are there wit● affected . most is the popler &c. other of the gods are diversly delighted , some with one thing . some with another , whereby those things are highly esteemed , and had in honour ; but so long as ol●vian takes pleasure in poetry , none of all the other arts shall bee so acceptable and lovely , as it : 〈…〉 it may be● understood of 〈◊〉 divers are delighted with severall kinds of verses , but so long as pollio likes the pastoralls best , it shall beare away as great commendation as any other kind whatsoever , and howsoever esteemed , of the greatest gods. leefe : beloved , or deere . to alcides leefe , &c. hercules loved this tree best , because hee shaded himselfe with a guarland heereof , in his return from hell : and by a guarland of this tree , ( whose leaves are of two colours , hee testified his double labours of heaven and hell , as faith servius : of this tree the poets have this fable . leuce , was the most beautifull amongst all the nymphes , and the daughter of oceanus . pluto falls in love with her , carrying her away with him downe to hell : who after a certain time dyed . for whose death , pluto ( as well to comfort himselfe , as to remember her by some monument , ) planted thee tree leuce , in the elysium of the saints : of the branches of which tree , hercules made him a crown at his returne from hell . these i remember , &c. corydon adores the gods ; thyrsis railes at his adversary : corydon begins from piety , thyrsis from rage : corydon invokes a chast goddess ; thyrsis an obscene god : corydon sings of pleasant matters ; the other of sad and dolefull things : hee wisheth ; this curseth : therefore full worthily was the victory adjudged to corydon . and ever since is corydon , &c. maelibe addooming the conquest to corydon , after a clownish manner , ( the poet therein observing most excellent decorum , ) imagining more then hee hath words to express , or ability to utter , breakes of abruply , and as it were in admiration and applause of his absolute conquest , and superl●tive woorth so farr beyond the other . the argvment of the eighth eglogve . heere two shepheards sing : the one disdaigneth that all praise , honour , and reward , is bestowed on the woorthless and unworthy , the whilst men of desert are neglected . the other perceiving that favour and acceptance , could not simply , by good and vertuous meanes bee attained , casts about to gaine them by tricks of pollicy and knavery . and in the persons of both these shepheards , virgil doth closely act his owne cause : for hee doth herein secretly inveigh , both against th●baseness , and lewdness of the paltry poets of his time , and withall doth taxe the blockish , and gross iudgement of the nobility of rome . pharmacevtria . or the witch . egloga octava . the shepheards damon , and alphesibeus muse , ( whose strife , the heards admiring , ) did refuse their wonted food , and ( harkning ) stood at gaze : whose songs , the spotted lynces did amaze , and in their course , inforc'd the flouds to stay : ) this damon , and alpesibeus muse ( i say ) befalls mee now , in order to discourse : and thou ( great lord ) now whether in thy course over tymanus rocks ; ( or sayling o're the mighty mayne , unto th' illyrian shore , ) shall i so luckie bee , to see that day , when i thy doubty deedes , may brave pourtray ? or shall i live , unto the world to tell thy haughty songs , ( which none may parallell ? ) ( of sophocles his buskin worthy best : ) in thee i doo commense , in thee i rest : vouchsafe these verses of my hand to take , which i by thy command , did undertake . and this slight ivie , let thy temples daign with thy triumphant laurels , them to strain : scarce falln from heaven , the nights coole-shadow was ( what time , the deaw , ( like pearle , ) on every grass , to beasts most pleasing , ) each-where did relye , when honest damon , ( leaning carelesly on slender olive-plant , ) thus sadly said : damon . ( luciser ) breake forth , and , comming , doon prevent the blessed lingring day , whilst i lament the cursed cousenage , which i now doo prove by my wife nisa's , fowle , vnworthy love and whilst , i all the gods , to witnesse may invoke , yet once , before my dying day , ( though thereby little helpe , ( god wot ) i win , with mee meenalian verse , my pipe begin . for , maenalus , hath underwoods , great choice , and lofty pines , which speake with human voice . hee shepheards loves , and selfe pan heares each day . ( who first did teach , on painefull pipe to play . ) with mee , menalian verse , my pipe begin . moisus , and nysa , wedd together are , what lover ere , heereafter neede despaire ? gryphons , with horses , shall now joyned bee . and doubtfull deere , and doggs , so well agree , that they shall drinke together at one cupp : torches , new-dight , now ( mopsus ) doon set upp , for thy new-wedded bryde : fling ( bridegroome brave thy nuts abroad : now hesperus leaves the wave , and for thy sake , his oeta doth forsake . with mee maenaelian verse , my pipe begin . oh , goodly match , and wondrous worthy make , choice peece ( i wis ) whilst for his proper sake , thow all els scorn'st , and hould'st in hate my song , and slights my goats ; & my beard lovely-long . and thick-hayrd browes ; and in thy mynd doost think that all the gods , at things on earth , doo wink : with mee maenalian verse , my pipe begin . i saw thee once , and then i was thy guide , when thow wert yet but young , to our backside ; ) where , 'mongst our hedges , thow and thy mother , ripe queene apples , into your lapps did gather . i then was twelve yeeres ould and from the grownd the tender boughes could reach , and plucken downe : soone as i saw thee , i intangled was , and by lewd error , quite misled ( alas : ) with mee manalian verse , my pipe begin . now what this whooresonn love is , i well wote ; it is a little busie boy , begote not of mans seede , ne sibb to one of us , ( but farthest garamants , and ismarus , or rocky rhodope , ( as it should seeme ) in their rough ragged hills ingendred him . with mee maenalian verse , my pipe begin . lewd love was cause , the mother first defil'd her guilty hands , in blood of her owne child : crewell mother , thow the while : but whether mother crewell more , or boy wicked ? either ( both wicked boy , and mother crewell been . with mee , menalian verse , my pipe begin . henceforth let woolves , of their owne nature feare to touch the flock : and boystrous oakes , let beare oranges ; and alders , daffodillies brisk : fatt myrrh , let sweate , from barke of tamarisk : henceforthlet shretch . owles with the swans compare , and tityrus orpheus been : orpheus as rare amongst the woods , as was aryon deere vnto the dolphins , in the sea whyleere , with mee menalian verse , my pipe begin . yea , midst the mayn , let all surrounded lye yee woods farewell : and let impetuously , on highest topp of airy mountain plac't , my selfe from thence , against the waves bee cast and this last dutie , acted for her sake , by'a dying man , vouchsafeth shee to take . now cease ( my pipe ) menalian verses cease . these words spake damon , and so held his peace : but now what answer alph●sibeus made , ( pyerian sisters ) bee by you bewrayde ; for none of all , can doo all manner thing . alphesib . come bring forth water , and soft filleting , to guird this holy altar round about ; and for a sacrifize , bee poured out fatt oily vervin , and male frankincense ; wherewith to vvitch my husbands sounder sense , by sacred magick , where novv nought doth vvant but charmes , and povverfull vvords him to inchant . bring home from towne , my verses daphnis bring . why : charmes , the moone can from the vvelkin vvring circe transform'd vlisses men , this vvay . and charmes , the could-grass-serpent , can dismay . bring home from towne , my verses daphnis bring . first i about thee vvynd , this threefould thredd , ( each trebbly brayded , each discoulored ) and thrice thy portraicture , ( thus crost , and bound ) about this holy altar beare i round : ( god still delights in this odd numbring ) bring home from towne , my verses daphnis bring . these knots discouler'd ( amaryllis ) ●ay , ( doon onely tay them ; ) then amaryllis say , these knots i tye , in venus endless string . bring home from towne , my verses daphn●s bring . like as selfe fire , melts vvaxe , and hardens clay , ilk , daphnis , for my love , so suffre may . sprinkle on meale , and doon vvith brimstone burne this brittle laurel , till to dust it turne . for , crewell daphnis , doth mee all inflame , and i in daphnis steed , will burne the same . bring home from towne , my verses daphnis bring . such love , as takes the heipher in her pride , when ( tyr'd with seeking , through each grove & spring some bull , her longing to have satisfide , ( forehayld with last , ) by some greene rivers side , ) lyes downe at last , ( forgetfull to depart when night avayles : ) ilk , like salatious tyde of satelesse love , mote seize on daphnis hart : ne , let mee care ( regardless of his weale , ) with timely helpe , his malady to heale : bring home from towne , my verses daphnis bring . these relicks , erst this faictour did mee leave , ( deere pledges of his love ; ) which i bequ●athe , oh earth to thee , within this portall heere , daphnis is owner of these pledges deere . bring home from towne , my verses daphnis bring . these hearbes , and poysons , of his gathering . for mee in pontus , maris did bestowe . for , these in pontus , in abundance growe . ) by pow'r of these , i often maris viewd into a woolfe to have himselfe transmewd , and hide him in the woods , from peoples sight : by pow'r of these , hee woonted to excite the quiet ghosts , from forth their deepest grave , and standing corne , i al 's ' , have seene him wave , and from their native soyle elswhere traduce , by secret pow'r , and vertue of their juice . bring home from towne , my verses daphnis bring . bring hither ashes , ( amaryllis ) swing and paddle them , in some fayre running streame : then ( cross thine head ) fling and bescatter them : ( looke not upon them , i doe thee areade : ) heerewith my daphnis i 'le assay to win , sith gods nor charms , hee reaketh not a pin. being home from towne my verses , daphnis bring : see , how the ashes , ( whilst i them forslowe to beare unto the altar , there to blowe ) gin blaze alone : god sends good luck ; and bark , al 's ' doth the hyl●x in the portall bark . there 's something in 't , ( if i could it areade ; ) dcon wee beleeve , that things been so indeede , or is 't trick , from which no lover's free , to feede on hope of things , ne're like to bee , trusting to dreames , which in their busie braine , and sooth'd imaginations they doe faigne ? but charmes now cease : my dephnis is come home . pharmacevtria . the glosse . refus'd their woonted foode , &c. they sung such verses , which like to orpheus , did affect the very dumb brute beasts : and yet their song was altogether plaintive , ( as not attaining the end of their desires . the spotted lynces , &c. the lynx is a beast like to the panther , and is under the protection of bacchus . and thow great lord , &c. this hee speakes of pollio , who had the government of illyria : to which countries hee tooke his iourney through the territories of venice , from that part of gallia , which borders on the river of po ; from whence hee was sent to that warr in illyria . the verses are full of delight , and above the usuall neateness of pastoralls . tymavu● , is the gulfe of venice , or hystria . illyrian shore , &c. dalmatia of sophocles , &c. not onely to celebrate thy renowned deedes , in warr , but thy witt , and excellence in the muses : for pollio wrote divers tragedies . his buskins , &c. this kind of buskin , comming but halfe way up the legg , was woont to bee worne by tragedians , upon the stage , in acting their tragedies ; and first devised by sophocles , ( as some writers report ) who was , for his lofty , stately style , esteemed the most excellent tragick-writer of all other . in thee i doo commence , &c. i began this kind of pastorall verse , at thy command , and will cease to goe on in this kinde likewise , any farther , when it shall please thee to command . and this slight ivie , &c. give leave , that this glory of the muses , may bee numbred amongst thy triumphes , and suffer thy selfe to bee praised both as an invincible captain , and an excellent poet. with the triumphant laurels , &c. victorious emperors were woont to bee crowned with bayes , and poets with ivie : some give these reasons , why the tryumpher was crowned with bayes , either for that iupiter had a branch of laurel in his hands , when hee over came the tytans : or because the generall of the army under romulus , ( upon the conquest of the fidenati , ) was crowned with a guarland of this tree . or els , because this tree is ever greene , and doth alwayes flourish . as for the reason why poets are crowned with ivie ; some say it is , because poets are great and profest wine-drinkers , ( for the most part , ) as horace report , of ennius ; and all the lirick poets in their verses doe testifie . againe , ivie is a very could hearbe , and tempers and qualifies the heate of the wine : and thereof grew the custome of setting this kind of guarland npon the head of the poet , rather then upon any other part of his body . and varro saith , that bacchus was wont to bee crowned with ivie , for this very reason ; as also that the muses themselves were woon●ed to bee crowned heerewithall . lucifer breake forth , &c. hee invokes the light against so great darknesse , and obscurity of iudgements ; and in mentioning of the morning , hee intimates a beginning allready of the alteration of iudgements . and whilst i all the gods invoke , &c. that is , all the peeres and noblemen of rome . though little good , &c. by reason of the grosse wits and poore understanding of these great men . yet ere my dying day , &c. out of very indignation , hee falls into despaire of any amendment , and thereby into impatience . maenalian verse , &c. maenalus is a mountain in arcadia , where the most and best poets frequented ; and pan allso , the shepheards president , and first deviser of pastorall verse . what lover neede despaire ? &c. who neede despaire the obtaining of any thing , when a most elegant nymph was marched to mopsus , ( a homely shepheard of meane quality : ) that is , the honour of learning and favour is conferred upon a loze●l , having neither knowledge , nor understanding to commend him what may not any person , of what sordid condition soever , either by squint-eyed favour , or power and violence , hope to attain , if but boldly hee will put himselfe forward . gryphius with horses , &c. this hee speakes of impossibilities , alluding to the naturall antithesis and enmity of the gryphen , to the horse . this beast lives in the hyperborean mountaines : the shape of his whole body is like the lyon , but his face is like an eagles ; and hee hath wings : and is consecrate to apollo . torches new-dight , &c. in these verses hee alludes to certaine ceremonies used in marriage : for they were woont to beare torches made of horne , before young maydes , so soone as they were made sure to their husbands : and the young brydes , did use to snatch at them , out of their hands that bare them : the meaning of which ceremony , was to shew , that beeing now to marry , shee did take her husband for her guide and direction , intimated by the light of the torch : and for her protection , and defence , against all hazards and injuries , that after this might happen to her life , or otherwise : all which was signified by the horne . ( bridegroome ) fling thy nutts , &c. this other ceremony of flinging nutts about upon the marriage day was , that all the boyes might scramble , that so by their continuall noyses and tumults which they make during this their striving for the nutts , one from an other , the bryde might heare nothing elsewhere , that might discontent her , or any businesse to disturbe her marriage day . some thinke the using of this ceremony is , for that this kinde of fruite is very potent to stirr up lust . varro saith , that the reason of this custome was , that so iupiter might give a blessing to the marriage , and that the bryde might proove a matronlike woman , like iuno . for nuts are loves fruit , & under his protection : whence the latin word iuglandes , quasi iovis glandes . others say , it was the order to fling the nuts about , that so by the noyse of the boyes scrambling for them , the bryde might not bee heard cry out in the lossing her maydenhead . now hesperus his oeta doth forsake , &c. oeta ia a mountain of thessaly , where hesperus is said to bee worshipped . vnder this mountain the starrs seeme to set , as they seeme to rise out of the mount ida : the poets faign , that hesperus ( which is now taken for the evening starr , which first appeares before the sun-setting , ) loved a beautifull boy , named hymenaeus ; who ( as they say ) lost his voice with long singing at the marriage of aryadne , and bacchus : from whose name marriages ever after were called hymenaei . oh wondrous worthy make , &c. oh thow fame , and rash breath of popular commendation , how worthy art thou like the rheum , falling on the weakest places , to settle on the unwoorthiest persons , beeing heerein iustly punished , for despising the good , and most woorthy ; and beeing prowd and disdaignfull toward all in generall . for indeede , there is nothing more base , nothing more absurd , and foolish , then publique praise and commendation from the vulgar . and houldst in hate , &c. the common people most commonly pass their verdict for the worst ; that is , such who are disposed like themselves , whilst they hate the good and honest , whose woorth their gross apprehension cannot reach unto , because they baulk wholly from their nature and condition ; as the people of rome , who ( in bestowing the praetorship , ) forsooke noble cato , and gave their voices with factious vatinius . and slight'st my goates , &c. thou despisest the things , which are simply and truly honest , sound and profitable , and followest after the vaine and false ; which have in then● onely a meere shew , and counterfeit shadow of truth . doost thinke the gods , &c. thou doost feeme by thy actions , as if thou hadst no reverence or esteeme of the gods , or of their divine power ; insomuch that by thy deedes many are seduced to beleeve against gods providence , when they see thee translate the reward due to the good and just , upon the sordid unwoorthy sort ; and contrarily in a preposterous manner , doest affect innocence , with scorne , punishment , and obloquy . amongst our hedges , &c. the first love and desire of study , and glory ; which ( as it were the first shootes of a young hedg , ) did begin to sprout in my mynd . the tender boughes , &c. i began to have now a little smatrering in learning . now what this love is , &c. by the name of love , wee meane all the desire and lust in the mynd , whether it bee of gould , honour , glory , government , or venery ; and when this racker of the mynd , doth once get the conquest , it enforceth a man , to doo and suffer many fowle , crewell , and base passages , to attaine the scope and end of his desires . certainly , desire , like a t●rant , doth harry and torment the mynd with great violence and fury . begot not of mans seede , &c. this strong lustfull and impetuous love , is not naturally proper to man , as hee is civilized , & brought to trew humanity , but fitting rather the savage immanity of brute beasts . lewd love was cause , &c. heere by the way hee toucheth the fable of medea : who ( because shee found her selfe rejected by her husband iaeson , ) slew her owne children , which shee had by him . yea , midst the mayne , &c. through meere indignation to see , in what a beastly base course , without any order or respect , all things were carryed , hee breakes into despaire , that ever the world could proove better , or amend , and so falls even into a very loathing and hatred of all mankind ; like tymon , who was termed misanthropos , or the man-hater . why charmes the moone , &c. carmen in the latin hath many acceptions , as beeing used both in the better , and worse sense ; sometime it is taken for incantation , ( which ( some say , ) is verbis solis , vel etiam rebus adiunctis , aliquid supra naturam moliri : either meerely by a set forme of words , ( which wee call a charme , ) or some other ceremonious action , together with the words to assay to bring something to passe above the common course of nature : by power whereof they at-tempt the effecting of some ill , or the helping some ill allready done , or the preventing some ill to bee done . and iulius firmicus : lib : 1. mathes : observes , that there are some persons , whose horoscope is under the forepart of scorpio , who naturally prove inchanters , or good witches , ( as wee call them ; ) that with certain powerfull words shall have skill to cure and mitigate paynes , aches , and agues , and uncharme , and unbewitch things that have been bewitcht , & inchanted by others . now the poet heere alludes to the old received opinion of the superstitious romans , who when they saw the moon , in the eclipse , thought that shee suffered great pain , by reason of some mischievous inchantment that was upon her , and during the time of her absence , in her wane , when they could not see her , as at other times , that some strong witchcraft had wrested her from her place in the firmament down to the earth : and that by powerfull and skilfull countercharmes , shee was releeved , and brought forth of her darkness , and painfull passion again : at which ridiculous conceit iuvenal in his sixth satyre scoffs notably ( deriding their ringing of pots and pans , blowing of trumpets and horns , and such like confused lowd noyses , as the onely remedy to succour her , and bring her to her selfe again . circe transform'd vlisses men , &c. someime carmen is taken in th●e ill sense , as heer , wh●re it is sai● , circe , the famous sorceress , transformed vlisses his men , into other shapes ; so that by power of words ( metrically disposed , or other wi●e , ) and pronounced against any man or woman , a charme shall worke so strong upon their fancy , and distempered imagination , and spoile the reason in such sort , that for a time they shall verily conceive themselves to bee hoggs , or doggs , or of some other shape and forme , and adapt themselves really to the nature of those things , to which they think themselves turned : such a kind of inchantment was that also of the praetides , which thought themselves to bee cowes : though there is no doubt , but the poets , in these and the like feigned transformations did aime at some reall truth indeede , alltogether beyond that which the outward vizard of the fable doth seeme to import . charmes the could serpent , &c. sometime carmen is taken for a ●ong : ( as heere by my autho● , ) alluding to the custome practised by antiquity upon the adder , ( a venemous , and harme●ull kind of serpent : ) whom by certaine words digested into meeter , and set to some musicall tune , they wrought so vehemently upon his senses , that they cast him into a deadly transe for the while : the powerfull effect of this charme of musick , may bee seene daily amongst nurses , who use to lull their wayward infants asleepe , with the melody of their songs : and that which is reported of alexander musitiā timotheus , declares aboundantly the strength and power thereof : who playing to the king ( new set to supper , ) a phrigian strayne , ( which is a lusty warlike melody , ) it wrought so upon his courage , that ( forgetting his meate , ) hee in a rage called for his armes , ( as if hee had had a sodaine alarum from the enemy , ) which his musitian perceiving , changed his stroke into the lidyan or ionique ayre , and presently his mind was also changed , and hee sate him down as still , and peaceably , as if hee had been at his councell table . but ( as an instar omnium of all other proofes , for the excellent vertue of musick , let us imagine wee see david with his melody , charming the evill spirit that so tormented king saul : and ( if wee beleeve bodin , ) hee will tell us , that no house is haunted with spirits , where much musick is used ; and hee tells us the reason , because it presents still to the divells memory that blessed place , where hee had once a happy interest , where there is melody and sweete harmony beyond expression : so that musick ever since torments his sowle worse then hell it selfe : and if this fancy be true , the invention of ringing of bells to cleere the ayre of bad spirits , may seeme to have some grownd of reason , and probability to defend it ; seeing the harmony of bells ( i know ) shall have many to maintaine it , for none of the meanest musicks in the world . the could serpent , &c. hee is said to bee could , because of his poyson , which is of a quality extremely could . sometime carmen is a charme , or formall set of words in nature of a conjuration ; such was that which the auncient romans used at the besieging of citties : by which they did call foorth the tutelar gods and goddesses of their enemies , lest otherwise they might seem to presume to make warr , and offer violence also unto them . sometime carmen was by them used in the nature of a curse , whereby they were wont to forespeake the army of their enemies : such was that perhaps , which balak intreated balaam to practise against the host of israel : macrobius sets down the formality of both these , lib. 3. cap. 9. saturnal . circe transform'd , &c. circe was a notorious sorceress , and exquisitely skilfull in that damned art of poysoning ; and one of the arrantest light-skirts of her time : shee poysoned her husband , king of sarmatia , and usurped his kingdome ; but was soon spued out by the people , for her cruelty , and banished the land : shee loved glaucus , and transformed scilla ( his sweete-heart ) into a sea-monster , ( to possess him wholly to her selfe : ) shee changed vlisses companions into swine : shee suffered vlisses afterward to get her with child , and for that curtesie restored his people to their former shape : shee turned picus ( king of the latins ) into a byrd of his name , for that hee had praised his wife canens , before her , for worth and excellence : by all which fictions the poets have painted her out for a noted woman , who may seem to have been some rare and beautifull creature , and used her beauty , and excellent skill in musick , as baites to intice men , who beeing even bewitched with her delicacy , had no power to forsake her , but spent their whole time in luxury , and effeminate wantonness and pleasure with her ; ( a life suiting better indeed with swine , then with the divine soul of a reasonable man : ) shee was a prime one amongst those mulieres quinque literarum , women of five letters ; who have made the fifth an unfortunate number , in beeing blemished with the names of many infamous and notoriously noted curtizans , such as medea , flora , elena , lhais , trine , thais , with iulia , and livia , ( the daughter , and neece to caesar , ) whom hee termed his vomicas , his two impostumes , for the uncleannesse of their lives : beside ioane , ( a queene of naples , ) and ioane , to whose honour that verse was made , papa , pater patrum , peperit papissa papillum : and arden , ambry , nubry , and arlot , ( the conquerours concubine , ) whose name ( by the addition of the aspiration , ) ever since ( as some say ) hath increased our english tongue with one synonima more for a whore then it had before . but yet the learned catholicks have redeemed the credit of this quinary number in their legends , with divers goodly observations , ( as a number full of oracle , miracle , and mystery , with which god hath made it sacred to the world : ) as by those five words of our lady to the angel , fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum , our saviour pleased to become man , in the womb of the virgin. by five words , hoc est enim corpus meum , christ appointed his body to bee consecrate in the eucharist . and at the five words , deus propitius est● mihi peccatori , our saviour absolved the penitent publican : but as one saith , qui sanae fidei est , nunquam committet , ut quod dei est , verbis demurmuratis adscribat : no man sound in faith , will ever dare to ascribe matters of gods worship or honour to the power of words , superstitiously mumbled over . male frankincense , &c. so called , because in modum testiculorum nascantur . this threefold thred , &c. three white , three red , and three black . god still delights in this odd numbring , &c. either by god heere , hee meaneth some one of the heavenly gods , according to the doctrine of the pythagorians , who ascribe the ternary number , for perfection , to the high god , from whom the beginning , the middle , and the end of all things doth proceed : or els , hee meaneth hecate , whose power is said to bee threefould , according to the vers , tria virginis ora dianae : ) though indeed the power of all the gods may bee manifested , by a triple signe : as ioves threefold lightning : neptunes trident , or three-forked mace : pluto's three-headed dogg , cerberus : apollo , sol , and liber , are three in one : or hee speakes this , because all things concerning the gods , or heavenly matters , are contained in the ternary number : as the three destinyes , three furies : hercules begotten in three nights . the muses also counted by threes : the three graces , called the charites : and many other things , if not in this direct number of three , yet in an odd number ; as the seven chordes , seven planets , seven dayes dedicate to the names of the gods ; seven north starrs : and many such like . the odd number is held to be immortall , because it cannot well bee divided . the even number is said to bee mortall , because it may bee divided : though varro saith , that the pythagorean should the odd number to bee finite , and the even infinite : and therefore for physicke , surgery , and many other such like conclusions , odd numbers are woont to bee kept , and observed by some very curiously , and with a kind of superstition . like as selfe fire mealts wax , &c. the witch here makes two medalls , one of clay , for her selfe , and another of waxe , for daphnis : and these words are in the nature of a charm , wishing , and bewitching the heart of daphnis , to grow as hard ( toward her whom hee loved so deerely , and all others after whom hee stragled , and haunted , ) as clay doth by beeing heated in the fire ; and to relent , and mealt with extreme love and passion in such manner towards her selfe , as waxe is woont to fry , and wast , by the heate of the same fire : as if shee should say , let him grow careless , disrespective , and hard harted to all others , but so affectionate , and passionate toward mee , that hee forsake all other loves , for the love of mee alone . forehayld , vexed , or distressed , even to tiring out . oh earth to thee , &c. vesta , and tellus , are the same goddess under two names . looke not upon them , &c. it was a ceremony observed amongst the heathen , not to looke upon the filth and excrement of those things , which had been sacrificed for the expiation of any crime for feare they might draw infection from thence into their bodyes . i aroade , &c. i warne or charge thee . reaketh . careth , or respecteth . see how the ashes , &c. her mynd bodes her some good luck , from the sodaine flaming of the ashes without blowing : and by the dogs barking , shee assures her selfe , some body was comming , and it might bee her husband , ( if good luck served . hylax , or the barker , is heere a dogs name , taken from vlactein , signifying to bark . the argvment of the ninth eclogve . after virgil had escaped murthering by arius the centurion , hee returned to rome , giving order to his baylives to see to his grounds in his absence , and to carry themselves fayrely , in the meane cime to arius : hereupon maeris ( virgils bay live , ) ( following his masters direction , ) carryed two kids to mantua , as a present from his master to arius : in his iourney another shepheard and hee fell into discourse of their meseries , and divers other things . this eclogne is all mysticall , and a meere allegory throughout . maeris . aecloga nona . vvhither goest ( meris ) directly to the towne ? maer . 〈◊〉 ( ah lycidas ) 〈◊〉 to see ( what least i send ) a man to 〈◊〉 knowne possess my land ; saying in scorne to mee , ●how ancient owner , now thy right resign , hence , 〈◊〉 , beegone : for now these fields bee mine . yeelding , ( though loth , ) yet ( setting how things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by fortune ) unto him i send these kids , of them the 〈…〉 him good , and all ill 〈◊〉 , together with them w●nd . lici certes i heard ( all where the ●●lly c●ag● , 〈◊〉 , and lower , 〈…〉 discend , 〈…〉 and the broken s●●●gs , 〈…〉 ) menakas , ( thy deere friend ) 〈…〉 , and 〈…〉 defend . maer . right hast thou heard , and so reported they : but ( lycidas ) our songs doon heere prevaile , 'mongst martiall bloody armes , much ( as they say ) chaonian doves , when eagles them assaile : that but the lucky crow , ( as on a day on hollow ilex sitting , ) had bewrayd newe garboyles , like to happen every way , neither had maeris , ( whom thou lov'st so deere , ) nor self menalcas , now been living heere . licy . ah , may it bee , that so great villanie , mote any man befall ? ( ah weladay ) all solace almost , and sweete jollity , with thee menalcas , would been rapt away : who then the nymphes renowned praise should sing ? or who the earth should have invelloped with flowrie hearbes ? or who the christall spring , should with greene shadowes , have incourtained ? either who should those verses sing , which erst ( as thow to our deere amaryllis went'st , i softly reading to my selfe rehearst : feede my kids ( tityrus ) the whilst i goe a little way , and instantly returne : then water them : and ( driving to and fro , ) looke to the goate , ( hee 'le butt ) beware his horne . maer . yea , who should sing , the precious lynes , which hee ( vnfinisht yet ) to varus sung whyleere ? ( varus ) thy name , ( whilst mantua lives to bee mantua , too , too , to poore cremona neere , ) the singing swans , shall to the starrs indeere . lyci. so may thy swarmes , escape the cyrnean-ewe ; and may thy cowes , ( on juicy cloverfedd ) their strutting vdders swell : now then ( if you ought can , ) begin●ilk , mee a poet , bredd , the muses han : and i can versifie , the shepheards al 's ' , ( forsooth ) say i'se a bard , but deele a bit doon i beleeve their lye : for nought yet woorthy ' of varus , have i fram'd , ne learned cynna's eare : but make a noice , and muchil●like the gagling goose have scram'd amongst melodious swans , sweete tunefull voice . maer . i am about it , and i beate my brayne , if i could call 't to mind : and sooth , the song is worth the hearing , and no common vayne : come hither ( galatea ) there among the wastfull waves , what pleasure's to bee found ? heere is perpetuall spring , all the yeere long , heere ( round about the pleasant streames , the grownd hath every way , discolour'd flowers shedd : eke , the white popler , and the plyant vyne , a shadie canopy , have heere dispredd , and hand in hand , over this cave inclyne : come ( my deere love , ) let bee , the bedlam floods against the shore , to dash their surging sudds . lyci. but where 's the song , which ( sitting all alone ) i heard thee sing , in the cleere-star-bright night , the tune , i wote well , but the words are gone mar. ( daphnis ) why doost thou still observe the site , the rise and setting of the antick signes ? dion●an-caesars starr-s , now come to light , ( the starr , in open hills which helpes the vynes , in colours new , the tidy grapes to dye , and glads the eares of corne with rich increase : ) observe it ( daphnis ) and thy peares , thereby graft thow ; and thy posterity in peace by it , their riper apples , gather shall : but age reaves all ; mans mettle , mynd and all : whole summers dayes ; i oft in singing spent , i well remember , when i was a ladd , ) now all 's forgot , both songs , and merriment , and maeris voice is quite decayd and badd , ( ere maeris them , the woolves han maeris spyde : ) but now inough of this ; menalcas-selfe , heereof shall thee relate , some other tyde . lyci. ah what delayes and scuses doost thou find , to while my love : ( though all things now invite : ) dead-calme the sea : and now behould the wynd , and all the boystrous blasts , are ceased quite ; besides , wee'have gone but halfe our iourney yet : ( for , see , byanors monument , in sight : ) heere ( maeris ) now wee 'll sing our carolett , where the thick bowghs ▪ the ploughmen , woont to sheare , heere , leave thy goats ; wee time inough shall gett vnto the towne : but if so bee , wee feare , enaunter , night before doo gather rayne , let 's sing ; ( our way the shorter will appeare ; ) vntill the citty wee at last attaine ; and that wee may goe singing all the way , thy cumbrous loade , my selfe i will defray . maer . leave ( ladd ) of this now , more at all to say : and turne wee to our instant business , wee better ( when hee comes , ) shall to our songs address maeris . the glosse . ilk mee a poet bredd , &c. i feele in my selfe a kind of poeticall fury , not so much by institution , and gained by precept and rules , as by divine inspiration . for nought yet woorthy varus , &c. i esteeme not my selfe a poet , though the world so esteeme mee , because meethinks i have sung nothing which may seeme worthy the approbation of two so excellent poets . cynna : was a poet , who wrote a poem intitled smyrna , which lay concealed , ( as quintilian affirmes , ) thirty yeeres : but it should seeme , that it was wondrous acceptable to that age : for many noble grammarians , wrote divers comments upon it : but cato grammaticus excelled them all therein , ( as suet●niu● reporteth ; ) though , of so famous a worke , there are but onely two verses extant , which servius citeth in his first booke upon the georgicks . and all ill lucke , &c. the divell give him good , &c. this manner of sending presents may seeme to bee drawne from that which is reported of hector and aiax ; who beeing profest enemies , sent each other a present , which afterward proved very unlucky and fatall : and therefore might seeme to bee ominously sent : for the sword wherewith aiax killed himselfe , was sent him by hector : and hector had the guirdle on , which aiax sent him , when hee was thereby dragd up and downe the towne of troy , after achilles had slain him . menalcas thy deere , &c. by menalcas , is heere meant virgil. even to the water , &c. that is , the river myncius . did with his songs defend , &c. this hath relation to virgil , for whose sake , the people of maniua had their grounds restored to them again . come hither galatea , &c. these words are spoken by cyclops to galatea , and are taken out of the●critus : the allegory is applyable to augustus ; intreating him to return from the sea-wars , into italy : for virgil often useth galatea for augustus , ( as in the 3. eclogue . mantua , too , too , to , &c. the reason of this passionate repetition , depends on the story of caesar , who having overcome anthony , and the rest of the murtherers of iulius caesar , gave the territory about cremona , ( which citty had taken part against him ) for a prey to his souldiers : which beeing not sufficient for the whole multitude every one some , augustus gave the fields of the mantuaus , to be divided amongst them : though not for any fault cōmitted against him , or his father , but meerely by reason of their vicinity , lying so convenient upon the borders of cremona . the cyrnean-ewe , &c. the taxus , or ewe-tree , is held to bee venemous : corsica is full of this wood , and this iland in greeke is called cyrne , of cyrnus , the sonn of hercules : if bees eate heereof , their hunny prooves extreme bitter ; therefore lycidas prayes , that maeris his bees may not tast of this unwholesome tree . daphnis , why doost thou , &c. thou shalt not neede to observe heereafter the ould and traditionary rising , and setting of the starrs namely of the ram-star , the seven starrs , aryadnes crowne , the canicular , or dog-star , and the like , in setting , ploughing , sowing , planting , and reaping : iulius caesars one star will suffice in steed of all these : neither need wee implore the help of any other godhead but onely that fortunate and propitious numen of caesar , under whose protection all things shall succeed most luckily unto us . and because hee speakes of the rise and setting of the signes , hee observes good decorum , in saying hee sung of the night , and in a cleere night : seeing the course of the stars are thē best observed , ( according to the manner , which the assyrians , and the aegyptians held , who were the greatest astronomers . ) caesar's starr's now come , &c. when augustus caesar did celebrate the funerall playes to his dead father , there appeared a starr at noone day , which hee by a decree commanded to bee called his fathers starr . and baebius macer saith , that caesar affirmed it to bee his fathers sowle , and erected a statue thereunto ; upon the head whereof was placed a starr of gould , and at the foote this inscription , caesari ematheo . ere m●ris them the woolves , &c. in these verses hee showes , that hee hath lost his skill in singing , which hee once had : and by an allegory doth demonstrate , that his mind is opprest with misfortune . now to shew some reason for the loss of his voice , hee hath relation to an ould received opinion , that if a wolf spy a man , before the man espy him , the man presently loseth the use of his speech for a time : which opinion the naturall philosophers doe confirm-whereupon the proverb , ( lupus est in fabula , ) doth arise ; & is properly used , whensoever the party , of whom wee talke , comes into our company , and doth by his presence ( as it were , ) take away our power to speake that , which otherwise , ( if hee were away , ) wee would confer of . now as there are unlucky tōgued people , so are there also men of an unlucky eye : who by looking earnestly upon any living object , send an insensible wound sodainly thereunto , that causeth it to pine and wast away , ( like a mortling deere , ) ever eating , never thriving till it consume to death . such an eye the shepheard in the third eglogue complaines had looked upon his lambs : this kind of mischievous looking hee calls fascination : pliny ( out of cicero , ) reports , that there are some women born with eyes , having duplices papillas , the apples or pupills of their eyes double : & that such doe naturally faescinū circumferre , beare about them this kind of eyewitchcraft , ( as i may terme it . ) there are two sorts of this fascination : the one proper to men and women , and effected onely by them : and this is doon noxio vultu , & fictis laudationibus , by a mischievous looke , and faigned counterfeit praises and commendations mingled together , and is that , which ( as tully saith of invidentia , ) doth fortunam alterius nimis intueri , behould an others prosperity too curiously , and with too fixed an eye , full of envy , with lookes even bewraying an inward indignation , and malicious griefe and repining of the heart at the good which wee see . the other sort is that which is doon meerely by the eye : such is that of the woolfe , spoken of heere by virgil , by bereaving a man by his very sight , of the power of speaking for the while . ) such allso is y● which they write of the basilisk his sodain killing by his so virulent and piercing sight : and if wee can beleeve that which they report of the bird icteros , ( so called of curing the yellow iaundies , onely by beeing looked upon by the sick party , ) wee may easily beleeve the witchcraft , and mischiefe of an evill eye , to be a most true conclusion . dead calme the sea , &c. hee exhorts him to sing : that is to addict himselfe to the study of the muses , during the peace wherein italy now was : for howsoever the actian warr , which octavian raised against anthony , were a civill warr , yet that part of italy , where caesar governed , was quiet : although indeede it was not the warrs , but the taking away of his grounds , which troubled and hindred virgil. han. i. have . byanors monument , &c. this i take to belong to the trew description of their journy , ( byanors sepulchre beeing just halfe way , betweene virgils land , and mantua , and may seeme to have his name given him , of his great wisedoome and strength both of mind and body : for so it signifies , beeing compounded , apo tes bias , kai anorées , quasi animo & corpore fortissimus : strong both in mind and body . leave ( ladd ) of this , &c. having necessary affaites , and matters of consequence to dispatch , let us apply us to them , and leave our sports , which will befit us better , then when virgil ( having recovered his grounds againe , ) returnes in peace to his own house ; or when augustus returneth from the warrs , into italy , the study of the quiet muses shall bee restored unto us againe , without interruption . enaunter : lest that . the argvment of the tenth eclogve . cornelius gallus , ( a man of most exquisite and dextrous witt , and an admirable poet , after hee had been preferd to augustus and rais'd by him to the government of aegypt , ) was accus'd to caesar , to have conspir'd , and to attempt something contrary to his mind ; for griefe of which accusation , hee killd himselfe : this his death virgil deplores under the title of love. gallvs . aecloga decima . oh arethu ( a ) lend mee of thy skill , this same last labour , goodly to fullfill ; some verses , ( yet such as lycoris may selfe daign to reade , i must to gallus say , ( for who few verses , gallus will deny ? ) so maist thou glide full faire and easily , vnmixt , with bitter doris filthy mudd vnder the channell of sycanus flood . begin ; let 's galius carefull love bewray , the whilst our goates , doo brouze the tender spray : wee doo not to the deafe , our songs partake , for , unto all , the woods doon answer make . ( yee mayden nayaedes ) what woods or grove , when gallus perisht through unwoorthy love , did hould yow then , ( against , or with your wills ? ) sith not parnassus-tops , nor pindus hills , not thee , th a●nion aganippe kept : the very shrubbs , and laurels for him wept : and ( as hee lay under his lonely rock , ) the pene-tree me●●lus , and frozen stones of chill ey●●us , him with teares bemones . and all the rocks , about him flocking were ; ne , ever they , of mee , neede them repent , ne , ( divine bard ) needes thee repent of them : sith , faire ad●nis , erst , alongst the streame woont feede his sheepe : vpilio , al 's ' among , and the slow neate-heards , thither eke did throng : men●as came , with winter-mast bede●●d , and all enquire , whence grew this love so leawd : and sooth , apollo-selfe , there came and said : ( ah gallus ) been thy wits from home astrayd ? thy love lycoris , thorough frost and snow , and th-horrid campe , after new love doth goe : silvanus , allgates , ( with his head adornd with rurall honour , ) came , and in his hand fresh finde waved , and large lyllies spand : eke pan , ( th arcadian god ) ( whom bespyde with dangling danewoorts bloody herries dyde , and vermeil synople ) and what ( quoth hee ) ( alack the while ) heereof wil the issue bee ? for sike-like things love careth not a pin ; nor thirsty grass , with rivers sated been , nor goates with brouce , nor bees with trifolio , ne crewell love , can teares e're satisfie : hee ( sad ) ●●thless , said ; yee 〈◊〉 shall sing these things , on your hills ; ( arcadians yee , who onely skill'd in skillfull singing bee : ) how quiet will my bones henceforth remaine , if your sweete pipes , my lucklesse love proclaime . and sickerly , i would i had beene seene one amongst you , or your flocks-keeper been ; or your ripe tidy clusters set to gather : sure , whether phillis i had lov'd , or whether , black-browd amyntas , i affected had , or any other country-lass , or ladd , ( what though amyntas , browneas berry bee , and violets sable , so wee likewise see , and shining hurtl'es , black as ebony , ) certes with mee they should together lye : amongst the sallowes , underneath the vine , shee guarlands gay , should for my head combine , whilst hee in singing spend the merry time ; heere been coole springs , heere meadowes in their prime and heere , thick groves , ( lycoris ) been beside , where i once meant , with thee t' have liv'd , and dyde now frantick love detaines mee fast in armes of awfull mars , amidst the deadl'alarmes , of such , as gainst mee , doon contrive mischieve : thow ( farr from home ) ( which let mee ne're beleeve ) the snowy alpes , ( without mee ) doost behould , and frozen rhene doost see : ( ah ) let no could thy body hurt ; ( ah ) nor the icie grit cut the soft soles , of thy nice-tender feete : i now will goe , and to my selfe reherse those songs , which erst , i , in calcidick verse , on the sicilian shepheards pipe , did frame : much rather chusing , mongst the beasts untame , henceforth to suffer in this lonely cave , and there , my love , in barke of trees ingrave , that as they growe , ( my love ) thou al 's ' mayst growe : eft , then on menalus , i to and fro , will spend my time , the dainty nymphes among , or hunt , to lay the boystrous bore along ; no could shall let mee make my ringwalkes , round the thick parthenian thickets , with my hound . meethinks i soe , how sometimes i dispase mee , 'mongst the rocks , and hollow woods doo traces sometime i joy , to dravv , in parthian bovve , cydonian arrovves , at the mountaine rovve : ( as if these things mote cure my malady , or that , that god , mote e're relent thereby , or pitty learne , the poore to give them ease : ) againe , sometime , nor th hamadriades , nor songs , delight , nor ought that i can tell ; and ( yee delightfull woods , ) now fare you vvell : not all , which vvee can doo , may change his mynd : no , not , allbee in bittrest could , and vvynd , i hebrus shoulden drinke , or clamber upp the hanging heapes , or headlong mountaines topp , of candid snovve , or chill sithonian rocks ; ne should i tend the aethiopian flocks vnder the crabstarr , vvhen the dying vine on th-elmes provvd topps , doth dvvindle avvay & pine . love makes all yeeld ; and i to love must yeeld . ( pycrian ladies ) now suffice it yee this song , which once your poet sung , as hee of small soft twiggs , fate making baskets feare ; to gallus , yee can make them seeme-n great : ( gallus ) whose love eekes in mee every hovvr , much as ( reviv'd vvith phoebus blisfull povvr ) greene alders vvoont to sprout , in prime of spring : novv let us rise ; 't is naught in shade to sing ; shadovves of iuniper unvvholesome been , and shadovves hurt young fruites , and herbage green : goe kiddyes , ( see ) novv hesperus doth come , inough yee novv have fedd ; goe high you home . verbae , non sensum , transtuli . gallvs . the glosse . oh arethusa , &c. this was a fountain in sicily , dedicate to the muses ; & heer hee invokes the fountain , as if the muses by their presence , had infused vertue , and of ther power and influence thereunto , to helpe the poets invention , and to make him facetious , and witty , in the handling of his matter . arethusa , was a river rising in peloponesus , and running a long course within the veines of the earth , ( unseen ) as farr as cicily , ( by virgil heere called cicania : ) where neere to that part of the city of siracusa , named ortigia , it breakes forth into a goodly broad water : the poet heere alludeth to the course that this river houlds quite underneath many other rivers , and by that meanes , never mingles with the salt and brackish water , by the ebbing or flowing of the sea , ( which is heere meant by doris . ) of this river , and of the cause of the course thereof under the ground , the poets have this fiction : arethusa was a young dainty virgin , companion , and fellow huntress with dyana : with this nymph ( they say ) the river alpheus fell in love ; and thinking to have forced a curtesie from her , which hee could not gain by faire meanes , dyana , ( pittying the danger , and willing to save her , ) turn'd her into a cleere fountain of her owne name : then arethusa , ( to bee safe from farther violence of her rude suiter , ) stole away closely from him under the grownd , ( like a modest mayde , shrinking down into the bed , and hiding her head within the cloathes , at the sight of a stranger , ) and never appearing again , till shee came at siracusa : which when alpheus knew , & with much ado finding which way she was gone , hee follow'd day and night after , in quest of his sweete heart ; at last hee overtakes and injoyes her . such a river is that of gadez in spaine ; of which a king of spaine once ( in a merry discourse between himselfe and some other princes , about the riches and rarities , each one of their own country , ) boasted of : that hee had a bridge in his country , that fedd every yeere ten thousand cattle upon it : ( thereby meaning the river of gadez ; which from the spring head , runns seven miles under grownd , and then breakes forth into a fair , and pleasant river . neere to this river ( as may seeme ) is that little iland , ( called the lesser gadiz , ) where the land is so frank and fertile , that the cowes milk yeelds neither whay nor cheese ; except they mingle therewith a great deale of water : and so wonderfull rich , and barning is the pasture , that they must let their cattle blood often , or els in thirty dayes they so overgrow , that they are stifled with fatt . such as lycoris , &c. augustus himselfe so deere to gallus . for who few verses , &c. to so great a man , to so great a friend ; or so great a poet. doris bitter flood , &c. doris is said to bee the daughter of tethis and oceanus : and is heere taken for the sea. sicanus flood , &c. that is sicely . for unto all the woods , &c. that is , the eccho of the woods will answer us . yee mayden nayades , &c. the nymphes of the meadowes . parnassus-topps , &c. a mountayn of greece , having two topps , under which the muses dwelt . nor pindus hills , &c. a mountayn in thessaly . the aonian aganippe , &c. a fountayn in that country of greece , which is called aonia ; dedicate to the muses : and heereof they were sometime called aganippides . menalus , &c. a high mountayn in arcadia . what woods , &c. these were the places of gallus his retrait amongst the muses , and to the study of sweete poesie : wherein if hee had still retir'd himselfe , and not addicted him so eagerly to the gaining the acquaintance of the great ones , and had not aspired to the great imployments , and business of state , which caus'd his ruin , hee had still liv'd . sith nor parnassus , &c. for , by his study gallus waded so farr , that greeke was as familiar , as his own language : therefore the knowledge of the greeke poets and the other arts , was no hindrance , but that hee might still have persevered in his study , so happily begun . the laurels , &c. the shrubbs , &c. all sorts of people lament gallus his death : the laurels , that is , the poets and students in that kind of learning : the shrubbs , that is , the commons : the stones , that is , the most inferiour , amongst the vulgar ; ( the most rude , and ignorant sort , had a sense of his loss . the flocks about him , &c. the bucolicks , which hee himselfe had made . ne ever they of mee , &c. that kind of verse , that is , ( bucolicks , ) is so handled by mee , that it neede hould no shame , to have fallen into my hands . ne , needes it thee , of them repent , &c. thow , howsoever thou art so excellent in poetry , and so admirable in this art , that now thow maist even bee counted for divine , yet needest not repent , or shame to bee known to have addicted thy selfe , and taken paines in this kind of pastorall verse . vpilio came , &c. heere hee describes the woonder , that all , both lords and commons were in , about the cause of gallus his death . for all sorts held it incredible , that hee , ( so great in authority , so wary a wise man , every way , and so deerely inward to augustus , ) would once bee drawne , so much as to thinke an unworthy thought against caesar : or that augustus would deale in any hard manner with such a friend , whom hee favour'd as his right hand . with winter mast bedeawd , &c. the difference betweene the two synonima's uvidum , and humidum : this is referd to the outward moisture , and that , to the inward : and heereof uva , for a grape ; as much to say , as the fruit full of inward juice . are thy witts distraught ? &c. the poet heere brings in apollo , ( the god of wisedoome ) fore warning , and prophecying alteration of fortune to gallus : intimating thereby that gallus should have had recourse to his wisedoome , and have arm'd himselfe with patience , and constancy , to abide , and withstand , yea and foresee all hazards and accidents before they happend : seeing hee could not chuse but find , ( by comparing matters , and marking the strange carriage of things , ) that caesars heart was alienated , and his love beginning to grow could , by the secret practise of such as bare him an inward grudge : and this is it which hee meaneth , when hee saith , that his love lycoris followed others ; that is , hee was willingly ledd by others councell , who intended mischiefe against gallus . what will the issue bee ? &c. there will bee no end of this anxiety , griefe , and sorrow , for caesars displeasure : for the ambition of princes , and their love to domination , and ruledome , is blynd : against which if any bee but barely imagined to have attempted , or practised in the least sort , the offence is implacable , and no merit or satisfaction ever held sufficient . nor thirsty grass , &c. by these similitudes hee doth illustrate his former speech : as dry grounds , and the like , are never satisfide with water , so love of rule and dominion , ( having once taken offence , ) is never reconciled , or satisfied , with teares , and repentance . hee sad , nathless , &c. beeing full of heaviness , for the loss of his great friend , and his deerest life , ( in both which hee was at the point to suffer , ) and beeing now resolved to dye , hee bequeathes the memoriall of himselfe , unto the learned , and great students , ( as a legacy : ) having now nothing els of his mighty fortune left him or remaining , which hee could truly call his owne . and sickerly i would , &c. i wish now that i had continued my study , amongst my books , and held mee to my private life , then i had proved learned like others ; at least i might have had the happiness , to have been alwayes in the company of schollers , and learned men . whether some phillis , &c. that kind of life would have affoorded mee some pretty delights , if not so glorious , and goodly , as might bee had in that sun-shine of dignity , and honour , yet no less sweete , and pleasing . shee guarlands gay , &c. i should have had two guarlands , that is , glory , and commendation of my witt : and songs ; that is , private pleasure , and delight . now frantick love , &c. now in steed of the peace , and tranquillity , wherein i should have lived , by meanes of augustus his great love , i live amongst my capitall enemies , who have contrived my confusion , and brought this calamity upon mee ; and am forced to keepe amongst the warrs , where my adversaries doo undermine mine estate , and conspire against my life . thow farr from home , &c. thou art quite changed from that inbredd , and woonted humanity , and bounty , wherewith thou didst usually embrace mee : yea thow art quite altered from the roman civility , and gentleness , which all doo profess . let mee ne're beleeve , &c. i am loth to beleeve this change in thy sweete nature , but yet , so it is reported . the frozen alpes , &c. thy disposition beeing me●amorphosed , into a barbarous hardness of heart , ( not against others , to whom thou art still the same , in curtesie , and noble usage , ) but against mee alone . of augustus his clemency , seneca writes , in his booke , de clementia . the alpes . mountaines , which part italy , and france . and frozen rhene : a famous river in germany . ah let no could , &c. i am not carefull for my selfe , but for thee ; for feare , lest by the change of thy disposition , and sweete manners , thou mightst draw hatred , and envy upon thy head ; whereas now all love , and wish thee well . the icie gritt , &c. gritt , is the small sandy gravill , incorporate and frozen amongst the ice , which makes it rugged and sharpe . and there to ingrave , &c. and there to commit my love unto writing , and to bewray it in my poems : which as my verses grow in number , so shall it , grow in fervency and zeale . no could shall let , &c. the venome of de●●action , and malice of my accusers , shall not hinder my delight in my studies and meditations . as though these things , &c. this is ironically spoken ; as if hee should say , i flatter my selfe in my owne imagination , if i think by these meanes to heale my misfortune , or make my love againe acceptable to augustus . nor the hamadryades , &c. heere is described the inconstancy of a troubled mind : that it hates the things , which erewhile it did long for ; and by and by desires the thing , which even now it contested most against . hamadryades , were nymphes , who were borne together with the first springing of trees , and dyed again , when they dyed ; their name beeing accordingly significant unto their nature : apo tou ama , kai tes druos : una cum arbore . such a one was shee , whom erisicthon slue ; who cutting a tree unwillingly , there issued from thence , both a voice , and blood ; ( as ovid testifies . ) dryades , are nymphes , whose abode is allwayes amongst the woods and groves ; according to the etymologie of their name . oreades , were nymphes inhabiting the mountaines , whereof they have their denomination : and indeede the nymphes had sundry appellations , upon divers respects ; as from sheepe they were named peribelides from the waters nayades : from the meadowes , licmoniades : and from the sockling , and nursing of young infants , curotrofae . not all that wee doe , &c. let all beware how they touch kings , and princes in their ambition ; or indeavour to cross them , in their aspiring to domination , and government , or attempt to lessen their dignity , or authority ; for i say , there is nothing which can mitigate these their thirsty and ambititious desires . hebrus : a river in thracia . sithonian rocks , &c. sithonia , is held to bee thracia : others say , it is that part thereof which from mount haemus , reacheth to the euxine sea : it is a country in the north parts of europe ; neque coelo , neque solo tractabilis , the soyle and clymate , very rough and unpleasing , as beeing extreme could and beaten with continuall frosts and snowes : so that except it bee on that side , to the sea ward ) it is very barren and unfruitfull . as once hee sate , &c. that is , hee was quiet , and conversant amongst his learned studies . making small baskets , &c. exercising his homely muse , or his humble plaine manner of stile ; ( namely ) his pastoralls . seeme-n great , &c. these poore pastoralls , 〈◊〉 sorry stuff in themselves ; but if yee muses doo but favour the worke , and adde 〈◊〉 my dull brayne , capacity , invention , 〈◊〉 such matter , as a booke ( which must 〈◊〉 live acceptably long in the world , ) ought to have , they will bring rare and great praise to gallus : or , these simple small trifles ( 〈◊〉 your helpe ) will seeme worthy of gallus his best acceptance , as if they were greater . whose love eekes , &c. virgil heere , ( as the pattern of a true friend , and constant , ) doth not dissemble or conceale his love , to him dead , whom hee profest to love living : and that which is more , hee professeth , that his love and desire of his dead friend is increased not every day , but every hower . finis . virgils eclogues, vvith his booke de apibus, concerning the gouernment and ordering of bees, translated grammatically, and also according to the proprietie of our english tongue, so farre as grammar and the verse will well permit. written chiefly for the good of schooles, to be vsed according to the directions in the preface to the painfull schoole maister, and more fully in the booke called ludus literarius, or the grammar-schoole, chap. 8 bucolica. english virgil. 1620 approx. 491 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 88 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a14494) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 4914) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 944:09) virgils eclogues, vvith his booke de apibus, concerning the gouernment and ordering of bees, translated grammatically, and also according to the proprietie of our english tongue, so farre as grammar and the verse will well permit. written chiefly for the good of schooles, to be vsed according to the directions in the preface to the painfull schoole maister, and more fully in the booke called ludus literarius, or the grammar-schoole, chap. 8 bucolica. english virgil. brinsley, john, fl. 1581-1624. ludus literarius. virgil. georgica. book 4. english. aut [8], 166, [2] p. printed by richard field, for thomas man, dwelling at the signe of the talbot in pater-noster row, london : 1620. translator's dedication signed: iohn brinsley. "de apibus" is book 4 of the georgics. the last leaf is blank. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng bee culture -early works to 1800. 2003-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-11 andrew kuster sampled and proofread 2004-11 andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-01 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion 〈…〉 booke 〈…〉 concerning the 〈◊〉 and ordering of 〈◊〉 ▪ translated gramatically , and also according to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of our english tongue , so farre as grammar and the verse will well permit . written chiefly for the good of schooles , to be used according to the directions in the preface to the 〈◊〉 of schoole 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 in the book called 〈◊〉 learning or the grammar schoole , chap. 8. london , printed by richard 〈◊〉 for thomas man dwelling at the signe of the 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 16●0 . to the right noble and worthy knight sir george hastings , brother to the right honorable the earle of huntingdon . sir , books haue euer sought out the fittest patrons . thinking seriously with my selfe , who might most iustly challenge the dedication of this labour at my hands , which i trust shall euer bring some light and comfort to our grammar schooles , i could finde none to haue thereunto a better title then your self . sith god hath indeed made you a worthy light , for the sound loue and true aduancement of vertue and good learning , and that euen from your tender yeares . in as much as you ( contrary to the course of the greatest part of the flower of the nobilitie and gentrie of our age ) haue addicted your selfe vnto your studies , for the good ( i trust ) both of the church and commonwealth , in stead of following the excessiue pleasures of the time ; and haue moreouer in a singular maner manifested your affection towards them both , and towards all good learning to that end . whenas out of that maintenance , which in regard of your high birth and noble line might seeme farre too little for your selfe ; you haue yet separated and consecrated , as your first fruites , a portion thereof vnto the lord , towards the maintaining of sundry poore schollers in the vniuersitie , by whom his glorie may be aduanced , and the good of his people perpetually procured . concerning which , let me craue pardon of you ( good sir ) and beare the blame , that ( though contrary to your minde ) i yet still desire , as i ought , that memorable loue of yours to be knowne , for the good ensample and prouoking of many others to the like : wherein one day they should finde a thousand times more comfort , doing it with vpright hearts , then in all that they shall bestow , not onely in the ouerhote pursuite of their vaine pleasures and delights , but euen in sundry other kindes , which make the fairest shew . as my selfe am euer bound in all places to acknowledge those great respects , which i iustly owe vnto your selfe and that right noble house for my selfe and mine , so i hope our god will enable vs to seek euermore to be answerable thereunto , as his maiesty shall vouchsafe vs fit opportunities . what is wanting in vs , his goodnesse ( i trust ) will fully recompence , that you may be euer honoured , walking with him in this world , and liuing with him in blessednesse for euer in the heauens . and in this earnest desire , with my heartie prayers incessantly for you , that god may make you to increase daily in all true honour , i commend you to his heauenly grace , resting yours euer most bounden , iohn brinsley . a plaine direction to the painfull schoolemaister and others , for the most profitable vse of this and the like grammaticall translations . to the end that all schollers may find the seuerall benefites of these translations mentioned in my grammar-schoole , not onely for sound vnderstanding , true construing , parsing , getting without booke , making and prouing the same latin , speedy turning either into prose or verse , but also for growth in our english tongue together with the latin ; and principally for causing schollers to study of themselues , and to prepare their lectures at home , to bring them more perfectly , and keep them more surely ; and all this with very much certaintie , pleasure and ease both to maister and scholler , i finde this course most readie . 1. cause euery one to be well acquainted with their grammar rules , and especially to be perfect in the rule of construing , that they may euer follow that direction . 2. because the greatest part in euery forme are commonly of the duller sort of wits and more negligent , and also hardlier drawne to take paines at home , vnlesse they euidently see the way how they may do it with some delight ; cause some pregnant scholler of their owne forme , or of some higher , to reade them their lecture ouernight , onely construing it ouer once or twice , and shewing them the hard words and phrases briefly . 3. direct them either to trie first how they are able to construe of themselues , and finde out a reason of euery thing , why it must be so construed ; and after to compare and trie that which they haue done , by the translation . on else if they haue not sufficient leisure , and that they would do it speedily , or be not so well able to do it of themselues , direct them to reade ouer the translation once or twice ; first , that they may fully vnderstand the matter whereby all the construing will be made most easie , and then aduise them to examine carefully by themselues the reason of the whole construction . and so for parsing euery thing in the same order as they construe : for these two so depend one vpon another , that they cannot be separated . in a word , cause them so to studie their lectures out of the latine books and the translation together , that they may be able with their book vnder their arme , to deliuer and pronounce the whole lecture either latine or english alone , so also to construe and parse without booke to deliuer their lectures either in the plaine grammar order , or more elegantly , and so to giue varietie of phrase , and whatsoeuer is obserued in the translation . 4. be carefull that they take not ouermuch at a time , and then so many of them as are apt and painful , wil the next day at any time , within an houres space giuen them to meditate , be able to deliuer their lecture ( so as i said ) viz. pronouncing it without booke both in latine and english ▪ construe and parse without booke , giue varietie of english phrase , and whatsoeuer can be required for the vnderstanding and knowledge of euery word . hereby also they will be able to keepe all that they haue learned , not onely to repeate each weekes worke most perfectly vpon the friday , but also their whole quarters worke at each quarters end , if they vse to repeate it now and then , and so to keepe their authors for euery vse , far more perfectly then by any other meanes . for these eclogues and the booke de apibus , i haue made choise of them to translate thus , as being the most familiar of all virgils workes , and fittest for childrens capacities : and in some of them i haue made a plaine analysis or resolution , for the more easie and full vnderstanding thereof , as namely of the first and last eclogues , and so of that excellent booke of the gouernment and ordering of bees , which is able to draw the very wisest into an admiration , for their policie , and the rare workes of god apparent in them . the resolution of the rest i haue omitted , as being for the most part but heardmens talke , or the matter not so fit , and so the translation of the latter part of the sixi eclogue . in the first eclogue i haue giuen a litle taste of the rhetoricke in tropes and figures : for the rest i referre to m. butlers rhetoricke , m. far●abies tropes and figures , and to r●mus commentarie . the eclogues being select poemes , i would haue pronounced most exactly , as namely the 1. 3. 5. 7. &c. ( like as tullies paradoxes , and some choise orations for patternes of theames and orations ) for that they may be most not able helps to an excellent pro●ciation , which is a principall ornament to all learning , and will bring the schollers much estimation with others , and delight in themselues . i haue onely proceeded thus farre in translating , being fully assured vpon certaine experience , that children first entred well in grammar , and hauing gone through but those parts of the authors which i haue thus translated , will be able by gods blessing ( if they proceed in a right order ) to take their lectures of themselues , at least with very litle assistance , in all the rest of virgil and the higher latin authors ; by the meanes of the worthy commentaries and other helpes , which the lord hath in this last age prouided aboue all former times . as for that feare of making truants by these translations , which conceit arose meerly vpon the abuse of other translations , neuer intended for this end ; i hope that happie experience in this kind , will in time driue it , and all like to it , vtterly out of schooles and out of the minds of all . sith for my selfe , by the meanes hereof i finde the cleane contrary , in causing my schollers to giue a reason of euery thing why it must be so , and also almost double profit to that which i could otherwise . and finally for that i can hereby teach many● then i could without , and cause euery one of them which are any thing diligent and apt , to render an account of that which he learnes from quarter to quarter continually ; and all with much ease and pleasure to my selfe , delight and contention among themselues , and great contentation to their friends . trie aright , and then giue your sentence . the comforts which my selfe haue found herein , without any of the furnised inconueniences , and the same approued and confirmed by many learned , do make me confident to desire to commend them to all . for all other obiections i haue answered thē at 〈◊〉 in my grammar schoole . experience , i trust , will fully satisfie all sorts in time . though the slips in this as in the rest , be very many , the difficultie of the labour to obserue duly all the directions , both for grāmar , proprietie , puritie and otherwise , ( as whos●euer makes triall will soone perceiue ) and also my continuall employment may pleade for me , desiring , if the lord vouchsafe that fauour , to refine them all ; like as i hope that he who hath thus far proceeded , will for his owne glory and the good of his people , perfect the whole worke in his due time . whereunto crauing thy loue and prayers , i 〈◊〉 thee 〈◊〉 his grace , and rest thi● , in what his goodnes shal v●chsafe vnto me ▪ i. b. the ‖ bvcolicks of pvblivs virgilivs maro : the first ‖ eclogue * which is named ‖ tityrus . ‖ the argvment . ‖ melibeus a sheepheard , * vnder whose name we here vnderstand any sheepheard of mantua , * being driuen out of his bounds ‖ by an old souldier , * bewaileth ‖ his calamitie in this eclog : * & aggrauates his miseries by comparing them with the felicitie of tityrus his neighbour . * tityrus contrarily , ( who represents the person of virgil , ) being now ‖ secure , * hauing recouered his possessions , * extols augustus ‖ the author of his quietnesse with * admirable praises euen vnto heauen . * towards the end of the eclogue , * it being now nere night , * he inuites melibeus to his house * with a kind of rurall curtesie . the first eclogve , which is called ( 1 ) tityrvs . [ the speakers are ] ( 2 ) melibeus and tityrus . melibeus . a tityrus , thou * lying all along vnder the * ( 3 ) couert of * the ( 4 ) broade ( 5 ) beech tree , doest * ‖ deuise ‖ a wood-land ( 6 ) song * vpon a slender ( 7 ) oaten pipe . b we ‖ leaue the * bounds of our countrey and [ our ] ‖ sweet ( 8 ) fields : we ‖ flie ‖ our countrey : [ but ] * thou ( tityrus ) lying securely in the * shade , ‖ teachest the woods ‖ to resound faire ( 9 ) amaryl . tit. c oh melibeus [ our ] ( 10 ) god hath * wrought this * peace for vs ; for ( 11 ) he shall * alwaies be my god , d a ‖ tender lambe [ fetched ] from our * foulds shall * sprinkle * ‖ his altar oftentimes . e hee hath ‖ permitted my ( 12 ) kine * ( 13 ) to pasture freely all abroad , as thou seest , and my self to ‖ ( 14 ) play what tunes i please , with my ‖ fielden * ( 15 ) pipe . melib. * f in truth i do not ‖ enuie [ thy felicitie , ] ‖ i admire it rather . * we [ of mantua ] ( 16 ) are miserably molested on euery side in * al our grounds . * lo , i my selfe being ( 17 ) feeble * do driue * my goats ( 18 ) far off , * and moreouer , tityrus * i can scarsly ( 19 ) * drag after me this weake goate . g for she hauing * eaned euen now ( alasse ) vpon a bare flint stone , hath left ‖ twins the hope of [ my ] flocke , here amongst the thicke hazels . h i remember the ( 20 ) oakes * smitten from ( 21 ) heauen * to haue foretold vs this ‖ mischiefe oftentimes , ‖ if that our mind had not bene * besotted . i ( 23 ) oft times * the ( 24 ) vnluckie chough foretold it from the hollow holme . k but ‖ notwithstanding tityrus * tell vs who this god is . tit. l oh melibeus ‖ i foole ‖ though [ that ] city which [ men ] call rome , to be like to this our [ 25 ) mātua ] whither [ we ] sheephea● ▪ * are often wont * to driue * our tender lambs . m ( 26 ) so * had i knowne ( 27 ) whelpes like * to the dams , [ and ] thus [ * had known ] ( 28 ) kids like * vnto the ( 29 ) goates : thus was i ( 30 ) wont to compare great things ‖ to small . n but * this ‖ hath lifted vp the head * so high ( 31 ) amongst [ all ] other cities ; * as the cypresse trees are wont among the * weake ‖ wilde vines . mel. o ( 32 ) and what so great * a cause hadst thou of seeing rome ? tit. p ‖ liberty : which * though it were long first , yet at length * looked backe vnto me , being altogether ‖ * vnprofitable [ before . ] q after that ( 33 ) ‖ a whiter beard fell * from me in trimming . r notwithstanding ( 34 ) it looked backe vnto [ me ] & came ‖ after a long while . s [ but ] ‖ since that time , that amaryllis * hath got vs , ‖ galatea hath left [ vs : ] t * and why ( ‖ for i will confesse ) ‖ whilst galatea held me , ( 35 ) neither * had i any hope of freedome , nor care of mine ( 36 ) estate . u although * many a ( 37 ) sacrifice went out of my ( 38 ) folds . and ‖ fat cheese was * made [ by me ] for that ( 39 ) vnthankfull ( 40 ) citie : yet * my right hand returned not home loaden with ( 41 ) money at any time . melib. x oh ( 42 ) amaryl , i wondered why thou * so pensiuely * calledst vpon the gods . ‖ for whom thou sufferedst [ his ] apples to hang vpon * their trees : ( 43 ) tityrus was ‖ absent hence : oh tityrus the very pinetrees called thee : ‖ the fountaines themselues [ did call ] thee : [ yea ] these same very ( 44 ) groues cald for thee . tit. y what should i do ? for neither could i get out of * slauerie , nor know ‖ the gods so present otherwhere . z oh melibeus , here i saw ‖ * ( 45 ) that renowned youth , * for whom ‖ our altars smoake twise sixe dayes euery yeare . ( 46 ) here he first gaue this answer to me * humbly petitioning : ( 47 ) ye * seruants feede [ your ] ‖ oxen * as in former time , 48 ) * yoak [ your ] buls [ againe . ] mel. ( 49 ) ( 50 ) ‖ o a fortunate old man ! * then ‖ shall thy * grounds remaine to thee , and ‖ large enough for thee , ‖ although a bare stone and a fennie ditch * incloseth all [ thy ] pastures with 51 the slimie bulrush . b al. [ yet ] ‖ * vnwonted pasturing shall not * annoy thy cattel ( 52 ) great with yong : nor yet the * contagious diseases of [ thy ] * neighbours cattell shall hurt [ them . ] c o fortunate old man , thou * mayest catch here oft times ( 53 ) the coole aire in the shade , ‖ amongst the knowne riuers & the ( 54 ) sacred fountaines . d * on the one side the hedge which is * on thy neighbours bound , ( 54 ) being fed vpon continually by the bees of ( 55 ) ( 56 ) hybla , * [ for ] the flower of the * * ( 57 ) sallow groue will * moue thee oftentimes * to fall asleepe with their * pleasant ( 58 ) humming noise . e * on the other side ( 59 ) the tree lopper shall sing * aloud * from the high rocke . * ( 60 ) ney yet in the meane time the hoarse stocke-doues * [ which are ] thy delight , nor the turtle shall ceasse ‖ to mourne from the * ( 61 high elme . tit. f therefore ‖ the * swift stags shall feede first in the skie : and ( 62 ) the ‖ narrow seas * shall leaue the fishes * bare vpon the shoare . * ( 63 ) [ and also ] ( 64 ) the parthian outlaw shall either drink of [ the riuer ] araris , or the ( 65 ) germaine shall drinke of [ the riuer ] ( 66 ) tigris ; * the bounds of both of them gone round about , ‖ before * his countenance shal slide out of our breast . mel. g but we shall go from hence , * some vnto the thirsty ( 67 ) africanes : part [ of vs ] shall ‖ come into ( 68 ) scythia , and [ part ] vnto ‖ oaxes the swift [ riuer ] of creete : and [ we shall come ] * vnto the britaines being diuided altogether from the whole world . h * loe , i euer beholding my country bounds after a long time ; and ‖ seeing after * some ( 69 ) sommers , the top of my poore cottage * thacked with turfe , ‖ being [ now ] ( 70 ) my * kingdome , ( 71 shall i admire [ it ? ] i shall the * impious souldier haue these so well husbanded ( 72 ) grounds new broken vp ? * shall the barbarous stranger haue these crops of corne ? ( 73 ) k ‖ lo whither discord hath brought [ vs ] miserable citizens ! ( 74 ) see for whom we haue sowne our fields ! l o melibeus , ( 75 ) ‖ greift pearetrees now , * plant vines . m * ( 76 ) farewell my [ goates ] ( a ‖ happy cattell in time past : ) ( 77 ) farewell my little goates . * ‖ i lying along in a greene * valley , shall not see you hereafter ‖ to hang [ feeding ] a far off vpon the bushie rocke . n i shall sing * no moe songs : oh my goates ye shall not ‖ crop the flourishing ( 78 ) cithise , and the ( 79 ) ‖ bitter willowes * hauing me to feede you . tit. ‖ o yet thou mayest ‖ rest here with me this night , ‖ * vpon greene ( 80 ) leaues * we haue * mellow apples , * dainty chestnuts , * and good store of cheese . and now ‖ the highest tops of the villages do smoke farre off . and [ likewise ] ‖ greater shadowes fall from the high hils . the second eclogve * [ called ] alexis . the argvment . ‖ corydon a sheepheard * enamored on a youth called alexis , * omitteth nothing which may * helpe * to allure his childish mind , and ‖ to get mutuall loue . but when he * perceiueth that he doth not any thing preuaile , neither by complaints , nor by [ his ] * faire words , * nor yet by his gifts ; at length * coming to himselfe , and acknowledging his owne * folly , he determineth * to betake himselfe againe * to the discontinued care * of his priuate businesse at home : that he may ‖ shake off by his accustomed labour , the * ●kesomnesse of his ‖ vnhappie loue , which is wont for most part to * come of idlenesse . * moreouer * by corydon ( if we * giue credit to donate ) we vnderstand virgil ; * by alexis , alexander pollioes . sonne , * whom he receiued of him after giuen vnto him freely . * the sheepheard ▪ corydon * impatiently loued ‖ faire alexis : being the * delight of [ his ] maister ; * but yet he could not haue that which he hoped for . onely he came * daily among the thicke beeches * [ hauing ] shadie tops : there all alone ‖ he tossed these * rude [ meeters ] to the mountaines and woods , * with labour spent in vaine . o cruell alexis * thou nought regardest my * songs : ‖ thou takest no pittie of vs : * in a word , * al. thou causest me to die . now * euen the cattle * seeke after shades & coole places . now * do the thorny thickets likewise hide the greene ‖ lizards . and a thestilis * puns strong smelling hearbs [ as ] garlicke and ‖ wilde betany for the ‖ reapers wearied * in the scorching heate . al. but the groues * do ring with me ‖ with hoarse grashoppers [ lying ] vnder the burning sunne , whilst * i spie out ‖ thy footesteps [ on euery side . ] * had it not bene better [ for me ] to ‖ suffer b * the heauy looks of amaryl , ] and [ her ] proud * disdaine ? * were it not better to endure menalcas ? although he [ be ] ‖ blacke , and albeit thou wert * passing faire . ‖ oh faire boy , trust not thy * beauty ouermuch ! c * white priuet flowers ‖ fall , ‖ blacke violets are gathered . alexis , ‖ i am ‖ despised of thee , neither askest thou who i am , al. ‖ how rich [ i am ] * in cattell white as snow , * what plenty of milke i haue . ‖ my thousand ewe lambes * pasture freely * in the mountaines of sicily : * i want not new milke in the sommer , not yet in the cold . ‖ i sing [ the songs ] which amphion dirce was wont [ to sing ] * whensoeuer he called [ his ] d heards * vpon the hill aracinthus butting vpon the shoare . neither am i so ‖ deformed : e i saw my selfe of late [ * as i stood ] vpon the ‖ shoare : when as the sea ‖ stood calme from winds . i will not feare ‖ daphnis , thy selfe being iudge , if the ‖ shadow [ in the water ] do neuer ‖ deceiue . * oh that it might but like [ thee ] ▪ [ to dwell ] with me in the countrey [ though ] base to thee , * and in [ our ] low cottages , * and to pitch downe f forked stakes . and for to driue [ my ] flocke of kids ‖ vnto g the greene * bulrushes . * [ then ] shouldest thou imitate h pan , * in singing with me in the woods . ‖ pan * deuised first to ioyne together ‖ moe reedes with waxe . ‖ pan cares for sheepe , and for the maisters of the sheepe . neither can it repent thee ‖ to haue worne * thy lip with a reeden pipe . what did not amyntas ‖ do , ‖ that he might know * these things ? * i haue a pipe made of seuen different reeds , which dametas * gaue me long ago : and dying said ; * this hath thee now * the second . [ thus ] spake dametas ; foolish amyntas ‖ enuied [ it . ] * [ i haue ] moreouer two kids which i found in a perillous dale , whose skins are also speckled now with white . * each of which sucks dry two sheepes dugs euery day , * which i [ also ] keepe for thee . thestilis * intreated lately * to haue them away from me : and * she shall , because ‖ our gifts * are so basely esteemed of thee . ‖ oh faire boy come hither . ‖ behold i the nymphes bring thee ‖ lillies in full baskets : * beautifull k nais * gathering for thee pale violets * and poppie flowers , * tyes together the * white daffodill and the flowers of pleasant smelling * dill : then * platting them with ‖ cassia and with other sweete hearbes , she * sets in fine order dainty violets ‖ with the yellow marigold . i my selfe will gather * apples hauing cotten coates : and chestnuts which my amaryllis ‖ loued . * i will [ withall ] bring ‖ plums as yellow as waxe , * and this apple shall be in high esteeme . * oh lawrels , i will plucke branches euen from you : and * thou mirtle [ which art ] next in [ sweetnesse ‖ i will likewise crop thee . ] because ye being * so composed * do make sweete smels . corydon thou art * a clowne , neither doth alexis regard [ thy ] gifts . * ney will l iolas yeeld [ to thee ] if thou contend with gifts . * [ alasse ] for me poore wretch ! what meant i ▪ [ for ] being * vtterly forlorrie , i haue * let in the south-wind to [ my ] flowers , and the boares into my * liquid springs . a● ‖ mad [ alexis ] whom doest thou flie ? for euen the gods haue ‖ inhabited the woods , and m paris descended from dardanus . * let pallas delight in the towers which her selfe hath built : [ but ] let the woods ‖ please vs * aboue all [ other ] things . the ‖ sterne lionesse doth * pursue the wolfe , the wolfe himselfe [ pursues ] the goate , ‖ the wanton goate , seekes after the blooming cythisus : oh alexis , corydon followeth after thee : * euery ones owne pleasure draweth him . see , the bullockes * bring [ home ] the plowes hanged * to their yoakes : and the sun * going downe doubleth [ his ] ‖ increasing shadowes : ‖ yet loue doth still burne me for what measure * can there be in loue ? ah corydon , corydon , what madnesse hath * caught thee ? * thou hast a vine halfe pruned * in a thicke branching elme . but * prepare thou rather at least * to make something , * whereof there is neede : * with oziers and soft bulrushes . thou shalt find another ‖ [ companion ] if this alexis * do thinke scorne of thee . the third eclogve * [ viz. ] palemon . the argvment . [ in this eclogue ] [ two ] sheepheards * menalcas and dametas do first contend by taunting one another : * by and by palemon comming as a iudge between them , * they trie the mastery by the law of a verse ‖ sung by course : where neither [ of them ] is ouercome , but * one of them is equall to the other , by the ‖ sentence of palemon . [ the speakers are ] menalcas , dametas , [ and ] palemon . men. * tell me dametas , whose a cattell are these ? * are they melibees ? dam. no , * but they are egons cattell ; egon lately * cōmitted [ them ] to me . men. 〈◊〉 . o b sheepe alwayes an vnfortunate cattell ! whilest ‖ he himselfe doth * woo neera , and is afraid lest she should preferre me * before him . this fellow ‖ being another mans sheepherd , milks his sheepe twise in an houre : and both the c * flesh is plucked off * from the ewes , and the * milke [ is stolen ] from the lambes . dam. yet remember * that these things ought to be more sparingly obiected ‖ vnto men . we know both * who [ saw ] you , al. [ your ] hegoates ‖ looking [ at you ] d asquint , and in what chappel ; but the * gentle nymphs did [ onely ] smile . men. then i beleeue , when they saw me [ ‖ cut ] * mycons e groue , and to * spoile his * tender yong vines with ‖ a naughtie hooke . dam. * or here at the old ‖ beech trees , when thou brakest ‖ the bow and arrowes of daphnis , which thou * peeuish menalcas * grudgedst at , euen when thou sawest them giuen to the boy : * and if thou hadst not hurt [ him ] some way , ‖ thou wouldest haue died [ with spite . ] men. * what shall maisters doe , when ‖ theeues dare be so bold ? o * thou leud fellow , did not i see thee * steale micons goate , * when his f wolfe-dog barkt ●pace ▪ and when * i cried out , whither now * runs the theefe ? ‖ tityrus gather [ thy ] cattell : * thou lurked● behind the sedges . dam. * should not he , being ouercome ‖ in singing , restore to me [ my ] goate , ‖ which my pipe * had wonne by play ? if thou knowest not , that goate was ‖ mine , and damon himselfe confessed it to me , but denied * that he had power to restore it me . menal. * thou him by play ? * or euer hadst thou a pipe [ but onely ] set together with waxe ? * oh thou vnskilfull fellow , wast not thou wont * to lauish out [ thy ] * pitifull * musicke * vpon a creaking stubble pipe in the common crosse wayes ? dam. * wilt thou therefore that we make triall between our selues ‖ by course , what * each of vs can do ? ‖ * i le lay down this heifer to stake ; ( [ and ] lest peraduenture thou shouldest ‖ refuse , ) ‖ she comes twise [ a day ] to the milking paile , [ and besides ] * she brings vp two calues . * speake thou , for what wager * thou darest play with me . men. i dare not * lay * any thing with thee of my flocke , * for i haue a father at home , [ yea ] i haue a cruell stepmother , and both of them * ‖ do tell the cattell twise a day , * and one of them the kids . * but ( because tho● wilt needs be so lustie ) [ i will lay that which thou thy selfe shalt confesse to be * farre greater ▪ [ to wit , two ] beech● cups , ‖ the carued works of [ that ] ‖ diuine ●medon : * in which a 〈◊〉 vine flourished 〈◊〉 with a fine g caruing toole , * doth decke the berries scattered ouer it here and there , with a pale i●uie branch . in the midst [ of them are ] two * pictures h * conon ; and who was * th● other ? ‖ [ he ] who hath described the whole world to the nations with [ i his ] * iacobs staffe . * ‖ the times which * the reaper [ and ] which the k crooked plowman should haue . * neither haue i l ‖ put my lips to them as yet ▪ but reserue them layd vp safe . dam. * the same alcimedon hath made likewise two cups for vs , * and bordered [ them ] about the stouks with * pleasant branke vrsine . * and hath set m orpheus in the midst , and ●he woods ‖ following him . ] neither as yet haue i put my lips vnto them , put * reserue [ them ] layd ●p safe . [ but yet ] ‖ if thou ●ookst to [ my ] heifer , * there is no cause that ●hou shouldst ‖ praise [ thy ] cups . men. * thou shalt neuer [ so ] escape this day : i will come ‖ whither soeuer thou shalt call [ me : ] ‖ let [ any ] heare these things , ‖ at least euen he that comes [ yonder , ] lo palemon . * i will make thee that thou shalt neuer hereafter challenge any man to sing . dam. * go to then , if thou hast ‖ any thing , there shall be no * delay in me . neither * feare i any man : onely , neighbour palemon , * weigh these things with thy best thoughts ▪ the ‖ matter is not small ▪ pal. * begin then ▪ seeing that we sit together * vpon the 〈◊〉 grasse : and now * all the field [ is beautifull , ] now euery tree , puts forth : now woods * wa● greene , [ yea ] now * the year 〈◊〉 [ is ] the faire● * begin dametas , and then menalcas thou shalt follow . you shall speake ‖ by [ turnes ] one after another : the n muses loue [ songs ] * that go by turnes . dam. ‖ the beginning of my song [ shall be ] from iupiter : all things are * filled with ioue . * he preserues the earth : * he respects my songs . men. and o apollo loueth me . * apollos owne gifts are euermore with me , * [ both ] lawrels and the pleasant red p hyacinthus . dam. ‖ galatea that ‖ wanton girle * hits me with apples [ oftentimes . ] and [ then ] * runnes ‖ to the sallow trees , * but she desireth to be seene before . men. but my loue amyntas offers ‖ himself to me of his owne accord : * that ‖ diana is not now better knowne vnto our dogs . dam. * i haue prepared gifts for my loue : for why , i * my selfe haue marked a place where the q ‖ woodculuers haue made their nests . men. i haue sent to to the * youth what * i could [ get ] * ten fine orenges * chosen out of a tree of the wood ; i will send other ten to morrow . dam. oh how oft * and what sweete speeches hath galatea vsed to vs ! * [ ye ] windes carrie some part [ of them ] to the eares of the gods. men. amyntas , * what good doth it [ me ] that thou doest not ‖ despise me in thy * heart : * if , whilest thou * pursuest the boares in chase , ‖ i [ onely ] keepe the nets ? dam. q iolas * send me phyllis , ‖ it is my r birth day : * when i shall s offer sacrifice with an heifer for my ‖ fruites , then come thou . men. i loue phyllis * aboue [ all ] other [ maides , ] for she wept , * ‖ that i should depart ; and said , * oh faire iolas , t farewell for euer , u farewell [ iolas . ] dam. the wolfe [ is ] a * dreadfull thing to the x foulds , * the showres to the corne [ full ] ripe ; the windes to the trees , the frowning looks of amaryl to vs. men. the moisture [ is ] a pleasant thing to the * [ new ] sowne fields , y the * seruice tree to the * wained kids ; the limber ‖ willow * to the cattell great with yong : onely amyntas [ ‖ is pleasing ] vnto me . dam. pollio loueth our * song , though it be [ but ] ‖ countrey like . ye z muses of the hill pierius , feed a heifer ‖ for your reader . men. * pollio also himselfe maketh ‖ new songs : feed ye a bull , which may * put with his horne , and * scrape abroad the sand with his feete . dam. pollio , he that loueth thee , let him ‖ come [ to that honour ] * whereunto he reioyceth [ that thou likewise art come . * let him haue hony abundantly , and let the ‖ rough ‖ bramble beare him ‖ amomus . meuius , let him that * abhorres not bauius , loue thy verses . * and let the same man * yoke foxes together [ for the plow ] and milke he goates . dam. ye * ‖ boyes that gather flowers and strawberries * creeping vpon the ground : * get ye hence , * there is a cold snake lying hid in the grasse . men. [ * ye sheepherds ] * suffer not [ * your ] sheepe to go too neare the riuer , it is not good to trust the banke , [ for ] euen the ram himselfe now drieth [ his ] * fleece . dam. tityrus a * driue away [ thy ] grazing goates from the riuer side , * my selfe will wash [ them ] ‖ all in a [ faire ] ‖ fountaine , when time * shall serue . men. * lads gather [ your ] sheepe , if ‖ heate * drie vp [ their ] milke , we shall * wring [ their ] teates in vaine , as [ we did ] of late . dam. * alas how leane a bull haue i in such a fertile b field ! the same loue is * a spoiling to the cattel * and to their maister [ too . ] men. * certainly loue is not the cause * in these , * they scarcely hang together by the bones . * i wot not ‖ what eye * bewitcheth my tender lambes . dam. c tell [ me ] in what * countrey the ‖ space of heauen * is three elnes wide and no more , ‖ and thou shalt be [ as ] great d apollo vnto me . men. [ and ] tell thou [ me ] in what countrey e flowers grow , * hauing written on them the names of kings , ‖ * and thou alone take phyllis [ for thy labour . ] pal. no , * it is our part to end so great a strife . ‖ both thou [ menalcas ] art worthy of the heifer , and also he , and whosoeuer * shall either be afraide of pleasant loue , or trie the bitternesse thereof . * lads , shut vp [ your ] * sluces now , the medowes haue drunke enough . the fovrth eclogve [ named ] pollio . the argvment . * asinius pollio leader of the germaine armie had a sonne borne the same yeare in which he won salone a citie of dalmatia ; which sonne he called saloninus by the name of the citie which he had taken . a * vnto this [ saloninus ] the poet in this eclogue singeth a genethliacum , detorting to that purpose those things which sibyl had prophecied of the future felicitie of the golden age : yet ‖ by the way , he ‖ mixeth the praises of pollio [ ‖ his ] father and also * of augustus then emperour of rome . the poet alone . ‖ ye b sicilian muses , * let vs sing of matters somewhat more ‖ high . * groues and low * heath ‖ do not delight * all sorts . [ notwithstanding ] if we do sing of woods , ‖ the [ very ] woods * may beseeme a consull for to reade . c the last * age of sibyls song * is now alreadie come . d the great order of ages * doth begin anew . e now * euen f the virgin doth returne , saturnes * kingdome comes againe . * now is [ that ] new ‖ of-spring sent downe ‖ from heauen . oh chaste g lucina , ‖ fauour thou * the babe that 's now in birth , * by whom the iron * [ age ] shall first haue end , and the golden age * shall begin again in all the world . ‖ thy [ brother ] h apollo now reigneth . ‖ and thus ( oh pollio ) * this glorie of the world ‖ shall enter in , * whilest thou art consull , [ i say ] in thy consulship , and i the great moneths shall begin * to take their place . * in thy reigne the * prints ‖ of our wickednesse , if any do remaine , * being vtterly taken away , shall ‖ free the earth ‖ from perpetuall feare . * he shall ‖ receiue the life of the [ immortall ] gods , and shall see the ‖ nobles [ of former ages ] * mixt in company amongst the gods , * and shall himselfe [ likewise ] be seene of them . k and he shall * gouerne the world being set in peace * by his fathers ‖ valour . l * but vnto thee [ oh child ] the earth shall send forth [ her ] first gifts without any labour , [ to wit ] * spreading ivies , with * ladies gloues , and egyptian beanes intermixed with * pleasant branke vrsine . * the litle goates shall returne home , * [ hauing ] their dugs strut out with milk : * the herds of cattel shall not feare the * ‖ fell lions . * thy very cradle shal yeeld thee pleasant flowers . * both the serpent shall * perish , * and the deceitfull * venimous herbe shall die ; the asfyrian vine shall grow * euery where . m * but so soone as euer thou shalt be able to reade the praises of worthy nobles , * and the famous acts of thy father ; ‖ and to know what * valour is : n ‖ the field shall wax yellow by little and little * with tender eares of corne : * and the red grape shall hang vpon * the rough bramble : the hard oakes likewise ‖ shall sweate * hony dewes . o * yet [ some ] few prints of ancient guile shall secretly remaine : * which can ‖ command to trie the p sea with * ships , * and compasse townes with walls , [ and ] * which [ will inforce ] to till the ground . * then shall there be another q tiphys , and another argo too , which may carrie the chosen nobles ; there shall be also ‖ other warres : and * valiant achilles ‖ shall be sent againe to troy. but * after this when thou shalt come to mans estate , * al. the * ship-man himselfe * shall leaue the sea . * the r ship of pine-tree shall not change her merchandize ; * euery countrey shall beare all things . the ground shall not * need * harrowes , * nor the vineyard the * pruning hooke . and now the * sturdie plow man ‖ shall loose the yoakes from his buls . neither * shall the wooll learne to counterfet diuers colours . but the ram himselfe in the medowes * shall one while change his fleece with a sweete red s purple , another while with t a yellow saffron colour . ‖ u sandix shall clothe the lambes feeding , of it owne accord . x * the fatall ladies agreeing in a stable * decree of destinies , * haue spoken to their spindles [ thus : ] ‖ runne ye out * such like times . ‖ oh deare of spring of the gods , oh great increase of ioue , * enter vpon thy high renowne , * now the time will be at hand . behold the world [ now ] * reeling with a bending weight : both the * earth and * the sea coasts , and also the * high heauen : behold how all things do reioyce for this [ golden ] ‖ age * to come . ‖ oh that the last part of [ my ] life may last so long to me : * [ and ] of my breath as may suffice to record thy worthy acts . * neither y orpheus of thracia shal passe me [ then ] in song : * nor yet z li● , although the mother of the one were by , and the father of the other . [ to wit , ‖ though ] calliopeia [ were present ] vnto orpheus , and faire apollo to linus . ‖ [ yea though ] pan also * should contend with me , ‖ archadia being iudge : yet pan would acknowledge himself ouercome , euen archadia being iudge . * begin [ oh litle boy ] to know thy mother by [ thy ] smiling : ‖ [ for ] ten moneths haue brought long * wearinesse * to her . ‖ oh litle boy ‖ begin , * at whom [ his ] parents haue not smiled , neither god [ a genius [ vouchsafed ] him [ his ] table , nor the goddesse [ iuno ] accounted [ him ] worthy of [ her ] bed . the fifth eclogve [ * intituled ] daphnis . the argvment . [ in this eclogue ] [ two ] sheepheards , menalcas and mopfus , * bewaile the death of their friend daphnis : and one of them sings his ‖ epitaph ; the other ‖ his canonization . there are * that thinke that by daphnis , caesar is vnderstood , who was stabbed in the senate house with three and twentie wounds , a litle before that the poet writ these verses . others do take quintilius varus slain in germanie with ‖ three ‖ legions [ to be here meant . ] others * thinke it rather of flaccus maro virgils brother , concerning whom there is extant that distick so commonly vsed , but of an vncertaine author . oh learned maro , whilest thou doest bewaile the sorowfull destinies * of thy flaccus vnder the name of daphnis , thou equali●est thy brother vnto the immortall gods. the speakers are menalcas and mopsus . men. a oh mopsus , * why sit we not downe here among the elmes ‖ mixt with hazels ? seeing we haue met together , both of vs * being skilfull , * thou to blow vp thy light pipes , [ and ] * i to sing in verse . mop. menalcas , * thou art mine ancient , * it is meete for me to yeeld to thee . whether [ we * go into ] the shades being ‖ vncertaine * thorough the wauing west winds : or rather if we enter into [ ‖ this ] caue : * see how the wilde vine hath ouerspread the caue , * with bunches of grapes dispersed here and there . men. * let amyntas onely trie maisteries with thee in [ these ] our hils . mops. * what if he * dare trie to go beyond apollo in singing ? men. mopsus * begin thou first , if thou haue either any * loues of b phillis , or the praises of c alcon , or else the brawlings of d codrus . begin : tityrus * shall ●end * thy kids , whilst that they feed . mops. yea rather i will trie [ to sing ] these * songs , which i wrote of late in the greene bark * of a beech , * and tuning noted them * by course . then bid thou * amyntas trie . men. * as much as the ‖ limber willow * is inferiour ‖ to the pale oliue : [ and ] how much the low ‖ lauender [ giues place ] to the * red rose borders : * amyntas in our opinion is so farre inferiour vnto thee . but * sirra , ceasse [ to adde ] moe words ; we are come vnto the caue . mop. f the nymphs * bewailed daphnis * perishing * by a cruel death : * ye hazels and ye riuers [ too ] are witnesses vnto the nymphes . when as [ his ] mother * embracing ‖ the miserable bodie of her sonne , * calls both gods and starres ‖ cruell . oh daphnis , ‖ not any [ heardmen ] draue their * cattell , * hauing graz'd , vnto the * coole streames ‖ in those dayes : neither did any foure-footed beast taste of the riuer , nor touch * a chier of grasse . [ oh worthy ] daphnis , both the ‖ wilde mountains & the woods * report , * that euen the african lions mourned for thy * death . g daphnis both ‖ ordained [ first ] ‖ to tie the armenian tigres to the coach ; [ also he appointed ] ‖ to bring in h dances vnto bacchus . i and * to bind about the ‖ limber speares with * pleasant leaues . k as the vine is the * honour to the trees , [ and ] as the grapes [ * are ] to the vines ; and the buls [ are ] to the * heards ; as ‖ the standing corne [ * is ] to the * fruitfull fields : [ so ] thou art all the honour ‖ vnto thine . l * since that the fates haue taken thee away , * pales her selfe and euen apollo too hath left the fields : * mischieuous darnell and ‖ barren oates * do beare the sway ‖ in the furrowes , whereto ‖ we haue ‖ committed great barley oftentimes . * for the pleasant violet , [ and ] for the purple * ‖ narcissus , the thistle and ‖ white thorne grow ▪ vp with [ their ] sharpe pricks . m [ yee ] sheepheards ‖ strew the ground with leaues , * make shades about the fountaines , daphnis commands such things to be done for him . and make ‖ a tombe , * and set this verse vpon the same . * daphnis i am , known in the woods from hence vnto the starres . a keeper [ loe ] of cattell faire , yet fairer am my selfe . men. n oh diuine poet , thy verse [ is ] * so pleasant vnto vs , * as sleepe to wearie [ men ] [ lying ] in the grasse ; [ and ] as in the heate , to quench [ ones ] thirst with a * bubbling streame of sweete water . neither doest thou match [ thy ] ‖ maister onely * in thy pipe , but also in thy voice . oh fortuna● * lad , thou now shalt be * the next to him . * yet notwithstanding we will tune these songs of ours to thee againe by course , ‖ in some fashion , and we will extoll thy daphnis to the skies . we will * aduance daphnis vnto the starres : [ for ] * daphnis likewise loued vs. mops. * can any thing be dearer vnto vs then such a verse ? both * the youth himselfe was worthy to be sung of : and ‖ stimichon commended these verses vnto vs , al. now of late . men. * glorious daphnis * wonders at the vnaccustomed * gate of * heauen , and seeth the clouds and * starres vnder his feete . therefore * pleasure doth possesse the merrie woods , ‖ and other countries , and pan also & the sheepheards , and ‖ those gir●es [ called ] dryades . * the wolfe [ deuiseth ] not any hurt vnto the ‖ cattell , nor any ‖ nets intend deceit vnto the stags ; good daphnis loueth * peace . oh menalcas , * the hils vnlopt lift vp their voices with ioy vnto the starres : the very rockes [ do sound out ] verses now , the groues themselues * do ring ; he [ is ] a god , a god [ he is . ] * o be thou good and * gracious to thine . behold ‖ foure altars . * loe ( daphnis ) two for thee , and the [ other ] two o altars for apollo . ‖ * i will prepare for thee euery yeare two pots ‖ foaming with new milke , and two * great cups of fat oyle . ‖ and making ‖ merry bankets , chiefly * with good store of wine , before the fire if it shall be cold , * if hot , [ then ] in the * shade , will powre but * a new and pleasant drinke [ euen ] * malmsey , with sacrificing cups . p dametas and egon * of creete * shall sing me songs : q alphesibeus shall imitate the dancing ‖ satyres . r * these [ sacred rites ] * shall euer be [ performed ] to thee , both when we shall * pay our ‖ solemne vowes vnto the nymphs , and * when we ‖ view the fields . s * whilest the boare [ shall loue ] the ridges of the hils , [ and ] whilest the fish shall loue the streames : * and whilest the bees shall be fed ‖ with thyme , [ and ] the grashoppers with the dew ; [ thy ] honour and thy name and praises shall euermore remaine . the husbandmen * shal make vowes yearely vnto thee , like as vnto bacchus and to ceres . and thou shalt also ‖ charge them with their vowes . mopsus . t what [ gifts shall i bestow on ] thee ? * what can i requite ‖ for such a song ? * for neither doth the whisling of the south-wind rising , so much [ delight ] me : nor the shores * beaten on with the waues , do please me [ so , ] * nor yet the streames which do run downe amongst the stonie ‖ valleys . men. * we will first bestow on thee this brittle pipe : ‖ this [ pipe taught ] vs : corydon impatiently loued faire alexis . this same taught vs : whose cattell [ are these ? ] * are they melibees ? mops. but menalcas , take thou [ ‖ this ] sheephooke , ‖ being very faire , with * equall knots and studs of brasse , which antigenes * could not obtaine , * though he oft requested it of mee , ‖ and [ yet ] was he then worthy to be loued . the sixth eclogve [ * called ] silenvs . the argvment . in this eclogue [ ‖ the poet ] brings in silenus drunke , ( as it well became the schoolemaister of bacchus ) but yet ‖ singing very skilfully according to the opinion of the epicures , ‖ concerning the beginnings of [ all ] things , and that ‖ in fauour of quintilius varus : * who , as donate saith , gaue himselfe to the studie of this discipline , together with virgil , vnder silon the philosopher . but because these things did not sufficiently * accord ‖ to the low straine * of a pastorall verse , * he presently at his entrance craueth pardon ; and not tarying long in that argument , forthwith passeth vnto certaine fained tales . the poet himselfe is the onely speaker in this eclogue . ovr [ muse ] a thalia vouchsafed first ‖ to play ‖ in b syracusian verse , and blushed not * to dwell among the woods . * when as i sang of kings and ‖ warres , * apollo * pluckt me by the care , and warned me : oh tityrus * it becometh a sheepheard to fat [ his ] sheepe , [ and ] to sing a teased verse . * now will i play a countrey tune with my slender reeden pipe : ( for varus thou shalt haue ●now who will desire to speake of thy praises , and * to describe thy dreadfull warres . i do not sing * vnbidden things : yet if any one shall also [ reade ] these [ verses , ] if any one * enamoured with the loue [ of thee ] will reade them . oh varus , * our heath shall sing thy praises . euery ‖ wood ‖ shall sing of thee : * for there is not any * writing more pleasing ‖ to apollo , then that * which beares the name of varus . * yee muses of the hill pierius proceede . ‖ the lads chromis and mnasilus saw ‖ silenus lying fast asleepe in a caue , * hauing his veines blowne vp , * with wine the day before , as alwayes [ hee was wont . ] [ his ] garlands lay * a good way off , ‖ onely slipped * from his head , * and a great ‖ kan hanged by , hauing the eare all worne . [ * they ] setting [ on him ] ( for ‖ the old man had oft times mocked them both ‖ with hope of a song ) ‖ cast bonds vpon him [ made ] of his very garlands . egle * adioyned her selfe [ as ] a companion , * and came to helpe these timorous youths : [ euen ] egle the fairest of the. * water nymphs , ‖ and painted [ both ] the forehead and the temples of the head [ * of him ] now ‖ seeing [ her , ] with bloudie coloured mulberies . hee laughing at [ ‖ their ] subtiltie ; to what end knit you these bands ? quoth he . ‖ yee boyes , loose me : c it is enough * that i could be seene [ of you . ] * chuse ye what songs you will haue , * you shall haue songs . * she shall haue another reward . * [ and ] so withall doth he begin . ‖ and then indeede you might behold both the ‖ fawnes and wilde beasts too , * to dance in measure and in time ; then might you see the * sturdie oakes to waue their tops . * so that parnassus rock * doth not so much reioyce in phoebus : * nor d rhodope and ismarus do so admire orpheus . e for he sang how the f seeds * of the earth and of the aire , and also of the water , and likewise of the ‖ liquid fire , were first gathered together * thorough out the great vast space : al. how all things [ tooke ] their beginnings of the first [ seeds , ] and how the ‖ tender globe it selfe of the round world did grow together : then [ loe ] the earth began to harden and to separate * the ocean sea from * pontus , ‖ and by litle and litle to take the * shapes of things . * and also how the earth is now astonished [ to see ] ‖ the new sunne to begin to shine . and [ how ] ‖ the showres do fall * from clouds remoued on high [ from th' earth , ] ‖ when first the woods * began * to grow vp , * and at what time the beasts wandered vp and downe throughout the vnknowne mountaines . g * after this [ he sang of ] the stones cast by pyrrha , and of saturnes kingdomes . * and withall he sings of the birds of the hill caucasus and the theft of prometheus , &c. the seventh eclogve [ * called ] meliboeus . the argument of this eclogue is taken from the * pastorals of theocritus . and here the poet brings in * the sheepheard melibeus reporting * a pastorall ▪ contention betweene corydon and thyrsis , whereat by chance ( as he sought a goate which had * strayed from his flocke ) * hee was present , * being called [ thereto ] by daphnis the iudge of the * maistery : whom he * intimates to haue giuen sentence with corydon , whenas he saith at the end of the eclogue : * these things i remember , ‖ that thyrsis ouercome , contended all in vaine . the speakers are meliboeus , corydon , thyrsis . mel. * daphnis as it fell out , sate downe vnder a * whizzing holme : and both corydon and thyrsis * had gathered their flockes into one , * thyrsis [ his ] sheepe , corydon his goates bagd with milke . * both of them flourishing in age , ‖ both arcadians . * also matches in singing , and prepared to answer [ one another by turnes . ] * whilst i was fencing my tender myrtles from the cold : the goate himselfe the leader of the flocke , had strayed from me hither : * and then i spied daphnis : * who when he saw me ouer against him , * spake quickly [ thus vnto me . ] * come hither melibeus , thy goate is safe , and so likewise thy kids . and if thou canst * stay any whit , rest [ with me ] vnder the * shade . * the bullockes will come hither to drinke , thorough the medowes of their owne accord . al. here a the greene riuer mincius hath couered his banks with tender reeds : and the swarmes of bees ‖ resound from the holy oake . what should i do ? for neither had i alcippe [ my wife ] nor [ my daughter ] phillis al. at home , which might ‖ shut vp [ my lambes ] * weaned from the milke . and there was * a great match to be tried * b betweene corydon and thyrsis . * yet set i mine owne serious [ businesses ] after ‖ their sport . then ‖ both of them began * to trie with verses sung ‖ by course . the muses wold haue [ them ] record c [ their * songs by turnes . ‖ corydon [ rehearsed ] * these [ first , and ] thyrsis related in order those [ that follow . ] c. o nymphs of d lybethris , * [ who are ] our chiefe delight , either grant vnto me [ such ] a verse as [ yee vouchsafed ] to my codrus ; ( for he makes [ verses ] ‖ next vnto the verses of * apollo : ) or if all of vs cannot [ make such , ] my shrill sounding pipe shall ‖ hang here vpon [ this ] ‖ sacred pine . th. e yee arcadian sheepheards , ‖ adorne with ivie ‖ [ your ] poet growing [ in his skill , ] ‖ * that codrus guts may burst for enuie : f ‖ or if he shall praise [ me ] * more then he would willingly , * compasse yee my browes about with ‖ saint iohns wort , lest [ his ] ill tongue should hurt [ me ] * now ready to be a poet. cor. g * oh diana [ thou hunting goddesse , ] [ my ] little mycon [ ‖ offers ] vnto thee this head of the bristly h boare , and [ these ] branched hornes i of the long liued stag. ‖ if this [ wager ] shall be mine owne , ‖ thou shalt stand [ made ] * wholly of smooth marble k * in purple buskins . thyrs . l priapus , ‖ it is enough for thee to expect euery yeare a boll of milke and these cakes : thou art [ but ] the keeper ‖ of the poore orchard . * now we haue made thee of marble ‖ for the time : * but if increase of yong shall store [ our ] flocke , ‖ [ then ] be thou all of gold . cor. o nymph galatea , daughter of nereus , sweeter to me ‖ then the thyme of hybla [ to the bees , ] whiter then the swans , fairer ‖ then white ivie . so soone as ‖ the buls being fed * shall returne vnto their stals , * if thou haue any care of thy corydon [ then ] come thou . th. yea let me seeme to thee more bitter then m the * sardinian herbes , * more rough to touch then ‖ butchers broome , more ‖ vile * then n wrake cast vp on shore , if that * this day be not * already longer to me then a whole yeare . o bullockes fed [ enough ; ] go home , * if you haue any shame , be gone . cod. ‖ oh mossie springs , * and [ thou ] o grasse o most fost to sleep [ vpon , ] ; and that greene * wilding tree , which couereth you ‖ with her thin * shade , * keepe off p the vehement heate from the cattell : now the ‖ scorching summer comes , now ‖ the gemmes * break forth in the * pleasant vine branch . th. here [ is ] an herth and q fat gummie wood , here [ is ] euer * good store of fire , and the posts blacke with continuall ‖ soote . ‖ here care we for the * cold of the north-wind so much as either the wolfe cares for the number [ of the sheepe , ] or * the raging streames [ care for ] the bankes . cor. both the iuniper trees stand [ full of fruite ] and also * the rough chest-nuts [ ‖ doe abound . ] * the apples lie euery where strewed vnder their trees : * now all things laugh : but is faire alexis ‖ depart from these hils , ‖ [ then ] thou mayest * see the very riuers dried vp . thyrs . the field * is parcht , * the grasse thirsteth , dying through the distemper of the aire . bacchus ‖ hath enuied * the shades of the vine branches to the hils . [ but ] euery ‖ wood * shal waxe green [ again ▪ ] by the coming of our phillis . * and good store of r s pleasant aire shall [ then ] descend * with comfortable showres . cor. the poplar tree [ is ] * most pleasing to t * hercules , * the vine to * bacchus , the myrtle tree to * beautifull venus , his * owne lawrell * vnto * apollo . [ but ] phillis loueth the hazels ; whilest phillis shall loue them : neither shal the myrtle tree * surpasse the hazels , * nor the lawrell of apollo . th. the ash tree is * the fairest in the woods , * the pine tree in the orchards . * the poplar tree * vpon the riuer bankes , the ●ir tree in the high mountaines . but oh faire lycidas , * if thou oftener visit● me , the ash in the woods * shall stoope to thee , [ and ] the pine tree * in the orchards . mol. * these things i remember [ well , ] and thyrsis * ouer-matched to haue contended all in vaine . since that time * corydon , corydon is for vs. the eighth eclogve [ intituled ] * pharmaceutria , [ or the witch or sorceresse . ] the argvment . there are two parts of this eclogue . in the * former , damon a shepheard being * enamored with the loue of a [ certaine ] girle [ called ] nisa ; whenas she had preferred ‖ mopsus before him , * breakes out into diuers complaints * through impatience of loue . the latter part is almost wholly taken out of an ‖ idyllium : of theocritus ‖ of the same name : * wherein a certaine witch al. endeuours * to recall the mind of her husband , of whom she was despised , vnto the loue of her selfe [ againe ] * by medicines and charmes . [ the speakers are ] the poet , damon , and alphesibeus . the poet. [ * we will record ] a song of [ two ] sheepheards , [ to wit ] of damon and alphesibeus ; * whom as they were trying maisteries [ in singing ] ‖ a yong heifer * much wondered at , vnmindfull * of [ her ] grasse ; * at whose song the lynces stood amaz'd , and * the riuers being ‖ changed * stayed their courses . * we will record the song of damon and alphesibey . thou ▪ [ oh ‖ great augustus , shalt be ‖ extolled ] of me , whether ‖ thou goest beyond * the rocks of great b timauus . or whether ‖ thou sailest [ neare ] the coast of the * sclauonian sea ; loe , shall there euer be that day , * when i may record thy acts ? loe , shall there be [ that day ] * when i may * beare throughout the world , ‖ thy verses * which alone are worthy of c sophocles buskin ? d the beginning [ ‖ of my song hath bene ] ‖ from thee ; it shall end * of thee : accept [ my ] verses ‖ begun * at thy command , ‖ and suffer thou this e ivie to creepe about the temples of thy head , amongst the triumphant lawrell boughes . ‖ the cold shadow of the night had scarce departed * from the skie , whenas the dew * vpon the tender grasse , is most pleasing to the cattell , damon ‖ * leaning vpon his f long smooth oliue staffe , began thus . dam. ‖ o lucifer arise , and coming before the * comfortable day , ‖ bring it [ with thee , ] whilest i complaine , being deceiued ‖ with the ‖ vnworthy loue ‖ of nisa my wife , * and still euen ‖ dying do speake vnto the gods at my last houre , although i haue not bene any thing helped ‖ by hauing them my witnesses . * my pipe begin [ to sound ] g menalian tunes with me . ‖ menalus hath euermore both a shrill sounding wood , and speaking pine trees , it alwayes heares the loues of shepheards : * and pan himselfe who first of all * endured not the reeds [ ‖ to be ] vnskilfull . my pipe ‖ begin [ to soūd ] menaliā * tunes with me . ‖ nisa is giuen to mopsus . * what may not [ we ] louers i hope for ? ‖ now k griffins shall be ioyned [ in loue ] with horses , and in the age * succeeding , * the fearefull deere ‖ shall come * to drinke with dogs . o mopsus ‖ cut new l torches : * thou m marriest a wife . thou married man * cast nuts abroad ; n the euening starre ‖ doth leaue mount o oeta * for thy sake . my pipe * begin [ to sound ] menalian * tunes with me . oh [ nisa ] * p matcht to a worthy man , whilest thou despisest all [ others . ] and whilest * thou disdain'st my pipe ; * yea whilest my silly goates , and * rough eye-brow , and also * my beardgrowne in length , ‖ [ are all scorned of thee , ] nor yet beleeuest * that any god regards the things of mortall men . my pipe begin with me [ to sound ] menalian * tunes . q i saw thee ‖ being a little one gathering * apples wet with dew in our hedges , with [ thy ] mother ( i was your guide . ) * i then began to be about thirteene yeares of age . i could * then ‖ touch the brittle boughes from ground . * so soone as euer i saw thee , how was i vtterly distract ? how did * that mischieuous error carry me quite away ? * begin my pipe with me menalian tunes . now know i ‖ what loue is . r ‖ ismarus , or rhodope , or else * ‖ the garamants who dwell in the vttermost parts of the world , * haue bred that boy * amongst the hard rockes , ‖ being neither of our kinde nor bloud . my pipe begin [ to sound ] menalian * tunes with me . ‖ cruell loue taught ‖ the mother * to embrue * her hands in the bloud of her [ owne ] children . ‖ thou likewise [ wa st ] a cruell mother , whether [ was ] the mother more cruell , or that boy more * wicked ? ‖ he [ was ] a wicked boy , and thou * likewise a cruell mother . my pipe begin with me [ to sound ] menalian [ tunes . ] ‖ now * let euen the wolfe flie from the sheep of his o●ne accord : let the hard oakes beare orenges ; let the alder tree flourish with narcissus . * let shrubs ‖ sweate fat amber from [ their ] barks : * and let owles contend [ in song ] with swans , let tytirus [ now ] be orpheus . ‖ [ let him be ] orpheus in the woods , [ and ] arion amongst the dolphins . my pipe begin with me [ to sound ] menalian * tunes . * let all things [ now ] be made maine sea ; * farewell ye woods . * ‖ i will be throwne downe ‖ headlong into the waues , from * the top of an * high mountaine . [ nisa ] * take thou this last gift of me [ now ] ‖ dying . [ my ] pipe leaue off [ to sound ] menalian * tunes , [ my ] pipe [ at length ] ‖ leau●ff . s ‖ damon sung these [ songs : ] t ye muses of picrius [ now ] * report what alphesibeus answered . * ‖ all of vs cannot do * euery thing . alph. u * bring water , and ‖ compasse these altars with a soft fillet . and also ‖ burne fat vervein , ‖ and male frankincense , ‖ that i may trie ‖ to turne away * the right wits of my husband by magicall * ceremonies . ‖ nothing but charmes are wanting here . * my charmes bring [ ‖ daphnis ] home from the citie , bring daphnis [ home . ] * charmes can euen ‖ draw downe the moon from heauen . circe [ the witch ] * changed the companions x y of vlysses with [ her ] charmes . the cold snake in the medowes * is burst by charmes . my charmes bring [ daphnis ] home from th' citie , bring daphnis [ home . ] first of all * i twist for thee * these t●e seluedge threeds , * being of three diuers colours , and i draw thy ‖ picture thrise ‖ about these altars : god * delighteth in an odde number . my * charmes bring [ daphnis ] home from th' citie , bring daphnis home . z o amaryl knit three [ diuers ] colours * in three knots . amaryl al. knit [ them ] a * by and by , and say , i knit * true-loues knots . my charmes bring daphnis ▪ home from th' citie , bring daphnis [ home . ] b as this same ‖ clay * doth harden , and this same waxe doth soften , by one ‖ and self same fire , ‖ * so daphnis by our loue . * c cast meale about , and ‖ set on fire these brittle bay boughes with d ‖ brimstone . that * naughtie daphnis ‖ burneth me ; [ i will burne ] this * lawrell bough * vpon the picture of daphnis . my * charmes bring [ daphnis ] home from th' citie , bring daphnis [ home . ] * let such a loue possesse daphnis , ] as when a heifer being weary in seeking a bull , thorough the woods and high groues , * hauing lost her selfe , doth lie downe * neare a riuer side in the greene * sedge , * and doth not remember * to depart away because of the late night . let such a loue possesse [ ‖ him , ] * and let me not haue any care of his reliefe . my charmes bring [ daphnis ] home from th' citie , bring daphnis [ home . ] that * faithlesse [ daphnis ] * left me these garments long ago , * as deare pledges of him : ‖ which now o earth ‖ i commit to thee * at the very threshold : these pledges ‖ owne daphnis . my charmes bring [ daphnis ] home from th' citie , bring daphnis [ home . ] ‖ meris himselfe gaue [ me ] these herbes , and these * inchanting drugs gathered * for me in pontus : * very many of them do grow in pontus . i haue oft times [ seen ] meris * to become a wolfe ‖ by these , * and to hide himself in woods , [ and ] oftentimes * to raise vp e soules out of the deepest graues . and also i haue seene [ him ] * to conuey f the corne new sowne , from one field to another . my charmes bring [ daphnis ] home from th' citie , bring daphnis [ home . ] o amaril , * bring ‖ the ashes forth , al. and cast [ them ] ‖ ouer [ thy ] head * into the running streame : g * see thou looke not behind thee . ‖ i wil set vpon daphnis * with these : * he nothing cares for gods nor charmes . my charmes bring [ daphnis ] home from th' citie , bring daphnis [ home . ] see , the very ‖ ashes * haue caught hold vpon the altars with trembling flames , of their owne accord , whilst * i deferre to carry them forth : * good lucke may it be : surely i know not ‖ what it is : * and also [ our ] h dog barkes at the doore . ‖ do we beleeue [ that he is comming ? ] or ‖ do they that loue faine dreames vnto themselues ? * ceasse [ my charmes , ] i daphnis comes from the citie , ceasse now [ my ] charmes . the ninth eclogve [ * called ] meris . the argvment . when after the victorie at ‖ philippi , in the distribution of the lands , which were diuided by the commandement of the ‖ triumviri , beyond the riuer ‖ padus ▪ virgil had likewise lost his ‖ farmes , [ he ] going to rome , both by the fauour of his wit , and especially * by the helpe of pollio ‖ gouernour of the country beyond padus , receiued againe his possessions . but ‖ arrius , to whom by chance virgils grounds had fallen for his portion , taking that grieuously , * it wanted but a litle , but that he had bene slaine by the angrie souldier . therefore being to go againe to rome , he commanded [ his ] * bayliffe that he should be dutifull vnto arrius vntill his returne , * with as little damage as he could . * he therefore goeth to mantua , by the * appointment * ▪ of his maister to offer * some little present of kids to arrius . lycidas a shepherd followeth meris , inquiring the cause of his iourney . there meris * taking occasion , bewaileth the calamitie of those times . and then going to mantua , they ease the wearinesse of their iourney by diuers songs . the speakers are lycidas and meris . lyc. * meris , whither goest thou ? [ goest thou ] whither [ this ] way ‖ leades , into the citie ? mer. * o lycidas , we haue liued vnto this vnhappie day , ‖ that the stranger ( which we neuer feared ) being made the possessor of ‖ our little land , should say : these things are mine , ye ‖ old inhabitants ‖ pack ye hence . * now quite ouercome , full sad ( sith fortune turnes all things vpside downe ) a we send him these kids ; * which yet we pray that he may haue no great good of . lyc. ‖ i in very deed had heard * that your menalcas had preserued all by his verses , * from whence the hils begin to abate their height , and to bow downewards with an easie descent , * euen vnto the ‖ riuer and the late broken tops of the old beech tree . mer. * thou heardedst it , and [ in truth ] the ‖ fame was so : but o lycidas , our verses do so much auaile ‖ amongst the b martiall darts , * as men do vse to say that the ‖ pigeons of c chaonia do , when as the eagle cometh . d ‖ that vnlesse the chough sitting on my left hand had admonished me before from the hollow holme tree , to cut off new contentions by any meanes whatsoeuer i could , * neither this thy meris nor menalcas himselfe had liued . lyc. * alacke , can so great a wickednesse fall on any man ? alacke , menalcas thy ‖ solaces [ had bene ] almost * pluckt away perforce from vs together with thy selfe . for , ‖ who should sing of the nymphes ? who should * strew the ground with pleasant flowers ? or who should couer the fountaines with shade of greene trees ? * or [ who should sing those ] * songs , which i closely stole from thee of late , when as thou wentest to amaril our ‖ delight ? ‖ o tityrus feed * my goates till i returne , ( the way is short , ) * and likewise tityrus * driue them to the water when they haue fed well : and as thou driuest them , take heed * of meeting the maister goate , ‖ he striketh with his horne . meris . yea [ who should sing ] these [ songs ] ‖ which he did sing * of varus , * not perfected as yet ? varus , the singing swans shall beare thy name aloft vnto the starres , so that [ our citie ] mantua may remaine ‖ to vs. al. e o mantua , too neare ( alas ) to miserable cremon . lyc. so let thy swarms of bees ‖ flie from * the yeughs of f cyrne . so let thy kine full fed ‖ with g cithyse , * strut out their teates . ‖ begin , if thou haue any thing ; [ for ] * the muses of pierius * haue made me a poet too : * both i haue verses , and the sheepheards call me * a poet ; * but i giue no credit to them . for neither do i seeme as yet * to sing any songs worthy the reading of varus or cinna , but to gaggle as a goose amongst sweete singing swans . meris . * i do so indeed : and lycidas , * i secretly ‖ thinke of it with my selfe : * if i could remember it : neither is it * any base song . * come hither galatea ; ‖ for , ‖ what sport is [ here ] in the waues ? here is ‖ the purple spring : * the ground ‖ doth here affoord sundrie sorts of flowers round about the riuers : here ‖ the white poplar hangs ouer a caue , and limber vines * make shade● . come hither , * and let the * raging waues dash against the shores . lyc. what [ sayest thou of those songs , ] ‖ which i heard thee singing all alone in a faire cleare euening ? i remember * the t●ne , if i could call to mind ‖ the words . meris . h o daphnis , why doest thou * behold the ancient risings of the i * staires ? loe , * the signe * k of dioneus caesar * is come abroad . l the signe in which the standing corne * reioyce in [ their ripe ] fruites , and wherein * the grape gathers her colour in the * sunnie hils . daphnis ‖ graft thou peare-trees , [ ‖ thy ] nephewes * shall gather thy fruite . age m ‖ taketh away all things , * euen the verie vnderstanding and memorie : * i do remember [ that i haue bene wont ] when i was a boy , oft times n to spend long o dayes in singing . * now p i haue forgot [ those ] so many * songs : * and euen voice it selfe doth now faile meris : q the wolfes haue spied meris * first . but yet menalcas shall oft enough ‖ rehearse to thee these [ songs . ] lyc. * thou increasest our longing , by making excuses ; * and now euery sea being calme , keepes silence for thy cause : * yea ( see ) [ how ] all the blasts * of th' stormie winds haue fallen . * moreouer , from hence we haue but halfe the way to go : for why , * ‖ byanors tombe begins t' appeare . * here where the husbandmen do coard thick boughes , here meris let vs sing . here lay downe [ ‖ thy ] kids , yet we shall come [ ‖ betime ] into the citie . or if we be afraid , ‖ lest it proue rainie towards night , we may go singing * all along , ‖ the way will hurt [ vs ] lesse . that we may go singing , i will ease thee of this * burden . meris . * o lad leaue off to vrge me any more ; and now ‖ let vs do that * which we haue in hand . * we shall sing better then , when ‖ he himselfe shall come . the tenth eclogve [ intituled ] gallus . the argvment . cornelius gallus was * an excellent poet , and the first ‖ gouernour of egypt , who when as ‖ he * out of measure affected an harlot called cytheris , * late seruant of volumnius , whom the poet here calls lycoris : * and she answered not [ his ] mutuall loue , * but despising him followed anthonie into france ; * is thought to haue taken that repulse most grieuously . ‖ therefore virgil comforts him in this eclogue , but yet so , as that he doth not depart from pastorall persons and ‖ rusticall comparisons . * all this argument likewise is almost taken out of ‖ thyrsis of theocritus , where he ‖ prosecutes the like loue of daphnis . in this eclogue the poet himselfe is the onely speaker , though he after seeme to bring in gallus comforting himselfe that the arcadians should sing of his loues . a * onymph of the fountaine ‖ arethuse , grant me this last labour . * i am to vtter a few verses to my gallus , but which lycoris her selfe may reade . can any one denie verses vnto gellus ? 1 * ‖ so let not bitter 2 doris intermixe her streames with thee , when thou shalt runne vnder the 3 sicanian waues . b * begin , let vs record the carefull loues of gallus . whilst that the little flat noz'd goates ‖ doe crop the tender sprigs . we sing not to the deafe , the woods * do answer euery thing . c * o naiades , yee nymphs , what ‖ woods or what ‖ launds * held you , when gallus perished ‖ by vnworthy loue ? * for neither any tops of 4 parnassus , nor yet of 5 pindus stayed you , no nor 6 aganippe [ the fountaine ] of aonia . d * yea the very lawrell trees [ bewailed ] him , and euen the low shrubs wept for [ him . ] * and in like manner mount menalus full of pine trees [ made moane for ] him , lying vnder ‖ a louely rocke , yea and the ‖ stones of cold ‖ lycaeus [ * bemoaned ] him . the sheepe likewise stand round about ; * they are not ashamed of vs. * ne yet oh diuine poet , * be thou ashamed of cattell . * for euen that faire ‖ adonis ‖ grazed sheepe by the riuers sides . there came also * 7 the sheepheards , the slow ‖ al. neat-heards [ likewise ] came . [ * and ] menalcas wringing wet , came from gathering winter acornes ; ‖ all ask , from whence this loue [ should be ? ] e [ and euen ] apollo came to thee : * gallus , why art thou mad , quoth he ? * thy loue lycoris follows another [ man ] both ‖ through the snow and through * the dreadfull campes . syluanus also came ‖ with the country honor of [ his ] head , ‖ shaking flourishing ‖ ferule branches , and * faire lillies [ in his hand . pan the god of arcadia came [ withal , ] whom we our selues saw * [ coloured ] red , with bloud-red berries of the ebull tree , and with ‖ vermilion . * and will there be no measure , quoth he , [ of this thy heauinesse ? ] ‖ loue regards not any such things . neither [ is ] cruell loue [ ‖ satiate ] with teares , * nor grasse * with water streames ; nor yet the bees are ‖ satisfied * with cythise flowers , * nor litle goates * with tender sprigs of trees . f * but yet , quoth he , [ though ] very pensiue ▪ ye arcadians shall sing these [ songs ] in your mountaines ; yee arcadians [ i say ] * being the onely cunning musitians ; oh how sweetly shall my bones rest then , if that your ‖ pipe ‖ may record my loues * in future times ? ‖ and i do wish i had bene one of you , and either * a tender of your flocke , or * a gatherer of [ your ] ripe grapes . * certainly whether phillis were my loue , or else amyntas , or any furie whasoeuer : ( what then , though amyntas be blacke ? both violets are black , and * hurtle berries too [ are ] blacke . ) ‖ he [ yet ] should lie downe with me amongst the willowes , vnder the limber vine . * phillis should gather me garlands , amyntas should sing [ me songs . ] * here , o lycoris , [ are ] * coole springs ; ‖ here are * pleasant medowes : here [ is ] * a groue : here * i could wish to spend [ euen ] all my dayes with thee . g now * raging loue * keepes me * in armes of warlicke mars , amongst the midst of weapons * and enemies bent against [ vs. ] * thou ( oh hard and vnkind loue ) being farre off from thy countrey ( * which i wish that i could not beleeue ) [ and ] alone without me doest onely see * the alpine snowes , and the cold of the riuer rhene . ‖ ah , let not the cold hurt thee ! * ah , let not the sharpe ice cut thy tender feete ! h * i will be gone , and will tune * with ‖ a sicilian pipe , * songs which i haue made ‖ in calcidian verse . * i am determined rather to endure [ any miserie ] in the woods amongst the dens of wilde beasts , and * to write my loues in tender trees : the [ trees ] will grow , [ and so ye my ] loues shall grow . * in the meane time i wil view the mountaine menalus , where the nymphs frequent . or i will hunt * the fierce wilde boares : * no colds shall hinder me to range about the ‖ parthenian launds with dogs . ‖ now i seeme vnto my selfe to go ‖ by th' rockes and sounding groues ; * i take delight to shoote 8 cydonian arrows with a 9 parthian bow ; as if this were the medicine of our raging loue . or else that ‖ that god may learne * to become more gentle by th' mishaps of men . i * [ but ] now againe neither ‖ those nymphs of the woods , no nor our ‖ verses themselues do giue vs any content : yee very woods * giue place againe . ‖ our labours cannot change * that god of loue . neither * if we should both drinke vp the riuer ‖ heber * in the midst of winter . * and should vndergo ‖ the al. scythian snowes of the watery winter [ season . ] * no nor yet if we should tend the sheepe of the blackamoores , when the sun is in cancer ; ‖ whenas the barke dying , parcheth in the high elme . loue ouercometh ‖ all things , ‖ and [ therefore ] let vs [ likewise ] yeeld to loue . k oh ‖ ye goddesses , ‖ it shall [ now ] be enough for your poet to haue sung these [ sonnets . ] * whilst he sits still , and makes a little basket of small limber twigs . oh muses of ‖ pierius , ye shall make these [ my ] * chiefest [ songs ] [ most acceptable ] vnto gallus . l to gallus [ i say ] * whose loue growes so much in mee euerie houre , * as the greene alder tree spreads it selfe abroad in the prime of the spring . m let vs arise : the shade is wont to be * noisome vnto them that sing ; the shadow of the iuniper tree is ‖ grieuous : shadowes [ of trees ] do hurt * euen the verie fruites . n [ oh ye my little goates ] * full fed , go home , * the euening comes , * get you gone [ my ] goates . the fovrth booke of virgils * georgicks . the argvment . the * poet in this fourth booke doth prosecute most fully the ordering of bees , and the manner of making hony ; which part was the last in the generall proposition of the whole worke . and whereas ‖ this argument * was of so small an extent , that it might be * contained within a few verses , 〈◊〉 ‖ dilates it by diuers ‖ digressions , an● amplifies and adornes it by most pleasant ‖ translations . for he assignes euen to the bees their certaine commonwealth , giuing vnto them kings , campes , * princes , courts , cities , people , offices , * exercises , and manners ; and that with so great fitnesse , that he no where * departs from his purpose , as * forgetting * his borrowed speeches [ and comparisons . ] * this booke may also be * diuided into two parts : * fo● in the former part of it , he prosecutes ▪ the care of defending and preseruing bees : * in the latter he sets downe the way by which bees may be repaired againe when they shall be * vtterly dead and gone . he makes one aristaeus a sheepheard the author of this inuention ; * who is thought to haue first repaired his bees being lost , * by certaine yokes of oxen which he had killed [ to that end . ] another argument of herennius modestinus * a lawyer . the poet shewes * next after , the fragrant kingdomes * of hony distilling from the aire : * moreouer the hyblean bees , & ‖ the waxen houses of their hiues . and withall what flowers [ are to be * made choise of ] for bees , and also ‖ what swarmes are to be chosen . and finally * [ he shewes ] the dropping hony combes , gods heauenly gifts . a * i will foorthwith dispatch ‖ the heauenly * gifts of hony distilling from the aire : oh [ worthy ] maecenas , ‖ * looke on this part likewise . * i will declare vnto you * admirable sights of things [ so ] light ; both the ‖ couragious captains , * and also the manners , * studies , people , and * skirmishes of [ that ] whole nation [ of the bees ] ‖ in order . the labour ‖ is in a small [ matter , ] but the glorie is not small , if [ i those ] * aduerse powers * will suffer any [ man ] [ to prosper , ] and [ if ] apollo being called vpon , * will heare . b * first of all a seate and standing is to be sought out for the bees ; * whereto there neither can be ‖ entrance for the windes : ( for why , the windes * doe hinder [ them ] to carrie home their * sustenance ; ) nor yet the sheepe nor wanton kids ‖ can often leape vpō the flowers , ‖ or the heifer pasturing in the fields , can strike downe the dew , and waste the rising herbes . * and let the speckled newts [ hauing ] ‖ vgly backes , be farre away ‖ from [ their ] fat stals , and also * the bee-eaters and other birds : and [ specially ] * the swallow * markt on the breast with bloudie hands . * for they spoile all farre about , and carrie in their mouthes the flying [ bees ] a pleasant meate vnto their ‖ pittilesse nests . but let there be cleare springs and standing ponds greene with ‖ mosse , and ‖ a little * brook running through the grasse . ‖ and let the palme-tree ouershade * the entrance [ of their hiues , ] or the ‖ huge wilde oliue : that when the new kings shall leade [ forth ] their first swarmes : * in their owne spring time , and [ their ] * youth sent out from their hony combes shall sport [ abroad , ] * the banke neareby may inuite them to get [ themselues ] out of the heate , * and that the tree full in their way may entertaine them ‖ with [ her ] branching harborowes . * whether the water shall stand still , or whether it runne , ‖ cast sallowes ouerthwart , and great stones ‖ into the midst [ of it . ] * that [ the bees ] may rest vpon * bridges layde thicke together , and [ may ] ‖ lay open their wings vnto the summer sunne ; if that perhaps * the violent easterne winde shall scatter them ‖ lingring ouerlong , * or shall plunge them into the water . * about these [ places ] [ let there grow ] greene * cassia , and * wilde thyme smelling all abroad , and store of ‖ winter sauory * smelling strong ; and let the * banks of violets * drink the moistening water-springs . c and also the hiues themselues , * whether you haue them sewed [ and made ] with hollow barks , or wouen with limber twigs , let them haue narrow entrances ; for winter * hardens hony with the cold ; * and heate [ in the summer ] dissolues and melts the same . * the violence of both these is ‖ to be feared alike to bees : * neither do [ the bees ] themselues in vaine * besmeare with waxe , * most painefully who shall do best the little breathing holes * within their hiues , ‖ and fill vp the * rifts * with mosse and flowers , and * preserue a glue gathered to these same * seruices , more ‖ clammie then birdlime [ or ] then ‖ the pitch of * ida hill in phrygia . oft times also ( if the report be true ) [ the bees ] * haue made their houses in caues digd within the ground ; and they haue bene found * deepe in hollow pumeise stones , and in the * trunke * of an eaten tree . ‖ yet both * da●be their clifted hiues , * with ‖ mud layd smoothly on , * defending [ them ] round about , ‖ and also cast aloft vpon them , leaues thinly strewd . d * and suffer not the yough tree [ to grow ] * neare vnto [ their ] houses , nor burne ‖ red sea-crabs * on your hearth ; ‖ nor trust the deepe fen [ too much . ] * or where [ there is ] a noisome smell of mud ; or where the hollow * rockes ‖ do sound with the beating [ of waters , ] and [ where ] * the likenesse of the voice beat backe rebounds . e that which remains [ is this ] [ that ] when the golden sunne hath chased away the winter driuen ‖ vnder the earth , and * hath again set open the skie with summer light , ‖ they forthwith trauell through forrests and woods , and * suck the purple coloured flowers , and also being light [ of bodie ] * do sip the vpmost streames . hereupon being chearfull , with what * delight i know not , they ‖ cherish [ their ] * brood , and [ maintaine ] [ * their ] hiues . * yea , hereupon * they fashion out * new waxe by skill , and * make their ‖ clammie hony . f hence whenas * you shall behold a swarme sent forth euen now out of their hiues vnto the skies , to waue through the cleare summer aire ; and shall ‖ maruell at ‖ a darke cloud to be ‖ drawne with the wind : * marke well : they do alwayes seeke sweete waters * and houses among the boughes of trees . to this end sprinkle the ‖ appointed iuyces : * bruz'd balme-mint , and the * common grasse of hony-suckle . and make * a ringing noise , * and tinkle round about the ‖ cymbals al. of the mother [ of the gods. ] the [ bees ] will settle all together * vpon their sprinkled seates : [ yea ] * they will get themselues into the inmost * cabbines ‖ after their manner . g but if they shall go foorth to fight ( for discord oftentimes * hath growne betweene two kings with great adoe , ) [ you may ] both presently [ foreknow ] * the stomackes of the common fort , and also you may * perceiue long before [ ‖ their ] trembling hearts [ prepared ] for warre . for why , that warlike noise * of a brazen trumpet sounding harsh , * doth checke * those which do linger long . and [ after ] a voice is heard * resembling the broken sounds of trumpets . * then hastily they go together , ‖ and glister with their * wings . * they likewise sharpen [ their ] stings with [ their ] snouts , * and fit [ their ] lims [ to fight . ] and * are gathered thicke about [ their ] king , and * euen vnto the emperours pauillion , and ‖ call [ forth ] the enemie with ‖ great cries . therefore when [ they haue ] got * a faire and cleare spring time , and ‖ open fields , they rush out of [ their ] gates : * they runne violently together , ‖ a sound is made * high in the aire : * they mixt * are gathered into a great round heape , ‖ and fall downe headlong . the haile [ falls ] not more thicke * out of the aire , * nor yet such , store of acornes raine from th' shaken ‖ oake . [ the kings ] themselues [ flying ] thorough the midst of the armies al. with gallant wings , * do exercise braue minds within their narrow breasts : * endeuouring stoutly with all their power not to yeeld , vntill * the heauie conquerour hath ‖ compelled either these or those * to turne their backs in flight . h ‖ these stirrings vp of their courages , and these so great * skirmishes , * will ceasse , being ‖ repressed * with the casting vp of a litle dust . but when you haue recall'd both the ‖ leaders * from the battell , * put him to death that seemes the worst , lest being a spend-all he do hurt : * [ but ] suffer [ him that seemes ] the better , [ that ] he may reigne * in the pallace [ all alone . ] * one [ of the kings ] will be bright burning red with spots shining like gold . ( for there are two kinds of [ kings : ] ) this [ which is ] the better , [ is ] ‖ notable * in countenance , and ‖ bright * with glistering specks : that other [ king ] is * ill fauoured ‖ through sloth , * and draggeth his ‖ broad belly ‖ without all honour . * as [ there are ] two fashions of [ their ] kings , so the bodies * of the common sort ‖ [ are two , differing each from other . ] for why , some of them * are rough and ill-fauoured , like as when a * thirstie ‖ traueller comes out of the deepe dust , and spits vpō the ground * with [ his ] drie mouth : ‖ others do shine and glister with cleare brightnesse , * gloring like gold , and [ hauing ] [ their ] bodies * dasht * with equall spots . this is the better brood : ‖ from hence at a certaine time * of the yeare , * you may presse out sweete hony , * and not so sweete as liquid , * and which will amend ‖ the ouer-much hardnesse of wine . i but when ‖ the swarmes flie * astray , and play * in the aire , * and care not for [ their ] hony combes , and leaue [ their ] * coole houses , * you must restraine [ their ] ‖ vnstable minds * from [ that ] vaine sport : neither [ is it ] any ] great labour * to represse them . * plucke away the wings from [ their ] kings . [ and then ] ‖ not any one will be bold * to flie so high , or * to remoue the standards from [ their ] campes , * the kings staying behind . * let your gardens * smelling sweete ‖ with saffron flowers entice them . ‖ and let the guard of ‖ priapus borne in hellespont , with his willow hooke , [ who is ] al. the keeper both of theeues and birds , saue them [ from annoy . ] k al. [ and ] he himselfe * to whom such things are in regard , bringing thyme & ‖ pine-trees from the high moūtaines , let him ‖ plant [ them ] largely round about * the houses [ of the bees . ] * let him labour . hard : [ yea ] * let him set fruitfull ‖ plants , and * water them with friendly showres . l and now * indeed , but that i would strike saile , and make haste to turne my foredecke to the land * a little before the last end of my ‖ labours , * i would perhaps declare what care of husbanding [ the ground ] might beautifie both ranke gardens and the rose-borders of pestum , which beareth roses twise a yeare . * and how endiue delights to grow neare water sides . and also [ how ] ‖ banks greene with ‖ parsly [ delight therein . ] * yea how the cucumber writhen among * the herbes * might grow to be very big . neither * would i haue passed ouer in silēce the narcissus which so * lately flowers , or * the branch of the * crisped ‖ branke vrsine . and the pale ivies , and also the myrtle trees ‖ louing the shoares . * for i remember that i haue seene vnder the loftie towers of ‖ oebalia , ( where the blacke riuer galesus ‖ moisteneth the * yellow fields ) an old man ‖ of corycus , * to whom there befell a few acres of the countrey , that was left [ after the diuision [ of the grounds . ] * the soile whereof was neither fruitfull for feeding bullocks , nor the crop ‖ fit for cattell , * neither yet [ was it ] commodious * for wine . ‖ yet in this place * he planting * pot-herbes thinly here and there among the bushes , and white lillies round about , and ‖ verveine , and poppie ‖ fit to be eaten : did match * in conceit the wealth of kings ; and returning home ‖ late at night , * furnished his table with dainties vnbought . * he gathered roses first in the spring , * and likewise apples in the autumne . * and euen when the hard winter did burst the stones * with frost , and stayed the course of waters * with [ her ] ice : * euen then did he gather fresh leaues of pleasant acanthus . oft blaming the ‖ lateward summer , and the west windes * lingring ouer-long [ before they came . ] therefore the same [ old man ] [ was wont ] t' abound first [ of all ] * with breeding bees , & with store of swarmes and to gather foaming hony out of the ‖ pressed hony combes . * he had linden trees , and the pine tree ‖ yeelding most abundantly . * and as many apples as [ each ] fruitfull tree had in the fresh blossom , it had so many ripe in the autumne . * he moreouer set in order lateward elmes . and the * hard peare-tree and sloe trees now bearing ‖ plums . and also the plane-tree * giuing shade to folke drinking [ vnder it . ] but i indeed h passe by these things , * being bard [ from them ] by my vnequall space [ of time , ] and * leaue them to be recorded of others hereafter . m now go to [ then , ] i will dispatch * the qualities which iupiter himselfe ‖ hath added vnto bees : [ ‖ to wit ] for what reward , they following the shrill sounds * of cybeles priests , * and [ their ] tinkling cymbals fed ‖ the king of heauen * in a caue of the hill dicte in creete . n ‖ they alone haue [ their ] * yong in common , * and common houses [ also ] of [ their ] citie , * and leade [ their ] liues * vnder worthie lawes . * and they onely know [ their own ] natiue countrey , and their certaine dwelling houses . * and being mindfull of the winter * that will come , * do take great paines , * and lay vp in store , for the common vse , the things which they haue gotten . * for why , some of them toile for liuing , and * are busied in the fields ‖ by a couenant * made [ amongst themselues . ] ‖ part [ of them ] lay within the * fences of [ their ] houses , * the iuyce of narcissus and * clammie gumme [ gathered ] * from the barkes [ of trees , ] ‖ being the first foundations ‖ of [ their ] hony combes . * and afterwards they fasten thereto gluish waxe . * others bring forth [ their ] yong ones now at perfect growth , the hope * [ all their ] stocke : others [ of them ] ‖ fill vp the purest hony , and ‖ stretch out [ their ] cels * with the finest life hony . [ and other some ] there are , to whom * the warding at their gates falleth for [ their ] lot . * and they by turnes do watch the raine and clouds of heauen . or else ‖ they take the ‖ burdens ‖ [ of the bees ] [ then ] comming [ home . ] * or making an army , driue away from [ their ] * hiues ‖ the drones ‖ a lazie cattell . ‖ their worke is hote , and ‖ [ their ] fragrant hony * smels sweete with ‖ thyme . o and euen as * the cyclopians when they * make vp in haste the * thunderbolts [ of iupiter ] * out of the softned iron lumpes ; * some [ of them ] blow with [ their ] bellowes made of bull-hides : others * quench [ their ] hizzing * mettals in the trough . * etna groaneth * through the stithies * placed thereon . ‖ they among themselues lift vp their armes ‖ in order with great force , and often turne the iron * with [ their ] pinsers holding [ 't ] fast . none otherwise ( * if that i may compare smal things ‖ to great . ) * an inbred loue * of getting [ hony ] * doth euen inforce the bees of * athens , ‖ and euery [ bee ] in her owne place . p ‖ the townes [ are ] the charge [ giuen ] to the * ancienter [ bees , ] and * to fence their hony combes , [ yea ] * and to make them houses * most cunningly deuised . * but the yonger [ bees ] returne [ home ] wearie late at night , * loaden on the legs with thyme : ‖ they are fed euery where both [ vpon ] * the crab tree blossomes and * gray sallowes , ‖ and casia and red saffron , and vpon the * ranke linden trees , and also [ vpon ] * the ironish coloured hyacinth . q [ there is ] one rest * from worke to all [ of them , ] one labour [ is ] vnto [ them ] all . * in the morning they rush out of [ their ] gates : [ there is ] no stay ; againe whenas the euening admonisheth them to depart at length out of the fields ‖ from feeding , then * go they home ; [ and ] * then do they cherish [ their ] weary bodies . ‖ a sound is made , and they ‖ do buz about the * bounds and entrances [ of their hiues . ] afterwards whenas they haue * reposed themselues [ to rest ] in their chambers , ‖ there is silence * [ all ] the night , & * euery ones owne sleepe possesseth [ all their ] * wearie lims . r ‖ nor yet indeede do they * depart farre from [ their ] hiues * if it be like to raine ; * or trust vnto the aire when * the eastwindes will arise . but ‖ they are watered * safely vnder the walls of the citie ‖ round about . * and they aduenture but short courses ; and oft times do they take vp little stones , as * floating boates [ do take vp ] balasse * in a rough water . with these [ same little stones ] * they beare themselues leuell thorough the emptie * cloudie aire . s you wil wonder * that that same manner [ of liuing ] hath so pleased the bees , that they do neither * giue themselues to ingendring ; nor being ‖ slothfull , do let loose their bodies vnto * lust ; * or bring foorth yong with pangs in birth . but they do ‖ gather [ their ] * yong ones with ‖ their mouth from flowers and sweete herbes . they [ hence ] * prouide [ their ] king * and their yong progenie , and * establish [ their ] * courts and [ their ] ‖ waxen kingdomes . t oft times also * they weare [ their ] wings by * wandring among hard rockes , and of their owne accord * yeeld vp [ their ] liues vnder [ their ] ‖ burden . * they haue so great a loue of flowers , and [ such a ] glory of making hony . u * therefore although the compasse of a small age entertaines them , ( * for they do not liue aboue seuen yeares , ) yet [ ‖ their ] stock remaines immortall , and ‖ the fortune of [ their ] house * abides for many yeares ; ‖ and the grandsires of their grandfathers are numbred [ amongst them . ] x moreouer ‖ egypt and great lydia , * or the parthian , ‖ the mede , [ * or ] indian do not so ‖ obserue [ their ] king , [ as bees do theirs . ] ‖ the king being safe , * the same mind [ is ] in them all . * [ but he ] being lost , they breake their faith , and they themselues spoile [ their ] hony made vp [ in their cels ] * burst the frames of [ their ] hony combes . ‖ he [ is ] * the protector of [ their ] workes ; * him they admire , and all of them stand about him * with great humming noise , and guard [ him ] ‖ thicke . and oft times ‖ they lift [ him ] vp with their shoulders , and * hazard [ their ] bodies in warre [ for him , ] and do desire ‖ a glorious death by wounds [ sustained for his sake . ] y * some by these signes , and following these examples , haue said that there is a part of the diuine vnderstanding and * also heauenly spirits in bees : for why [ they say ] * that god goeth thorow all , both lands and * coasts of the sea , and the high heauen . hereupon [ they haue affirmed ] [ both ] * the small [ and ] great cattell , men , and euery kind * of wilde beast , [ yea ] * euery one that is borne , to fetch [ his ] life . ‖ [ from hence , ] * know this [ that they haue said ] ‖ all things ] to be restored hither * finally , and being ‖ resolued , * to be surrendred again ; * and that there is no place for death , * but that all things [ so dissolued ] do flie aliue into the number of the starres , * and [ so ] succeed [ by course ] in the high heauen . z if at any time you will * emptie their al. stately seate , * and the hony which they haue preserued in [ their ] treasuries : * first spurt vpon them [ some ] draughts of ‖ water warmed in your mouth , and hold before you in [ your ] hand * smokes following one another . ‖ they gather [ their ] * great increase twise [ in the yeare , ] * they haue two times of haruest : ‖ * so soone as ‖ taygete hath shewed her honest face vnto the earth , and ‖ pleias * hath pushed backe with [ her ] foote * the scorned waues of the ocean sea : ‖ or whenas the same [ pleias ] * shunning the signe of waterish piscis , ‖ goeth downe more sad from heauen into the winter waters . a * the bees haue anger aboue measure : and being hurt * they breathe in poison with their biting , and also leaue ‖ blind * stings , hauing fastned them in the veines : * yea and lay downe [ their ] liues in the [ verie ] wound . but if you feare ‖ a hard winter , and will spare [ ‖ for [ the time ] to come : and shall haue pitie of [ their ] bruised * hearts * and [ their ] decayed estates : * who then would doubt * to perfume [ their hiues ] with thyme , and * pare away the ‖ * emptie waxe ? for oft times ▪ * the newt * not knowne of , * eates away the hony combes , [ and ] * beds [ are ] made for moathes which flie the light : and also the droane sitting * scotfree ‖ at others meate , or else * the cruel hornet * thrusts in himselfe with [ his ] vnequall weapons : or [ that ] * direfull kind * of moath ; or [ finally ] ‖ the spider * odious to minerua , * hangs [ her ] nets loose * in the entrances [ of the hiues . ] * the emptier the bees shall be , * so much the more * eagerly all of them * wil bestirre [ themselues ] to repaire ‖ the ruines * of [ their ] decayed stocke . and * will fill vp [ their ] * hatches , and ‖ * weaue [ their ] barnes with flowers . b but if [ their ] bodies ‖ shall languish * by [ some ] sore disease , ( because life hath brought [ euen ] our * misfortunes vnto bees . ) ( which thing * you may presently know by vndoubted signes . ) ‖ there is forthwith another colour ‖ to them when they are sicke : an * vgly leannesse doth ‖ deforme [ their ] * looke : * then carry they foorth the bodies of the dead out of [ their ] hiues , and make dolefull funerals . * or they hang at the entries of [ their ] hiues ‖ clung by [ their ] feete . or else ‖ they all abide lingring within ‖ in their houses shut , both sluggish thorough * famishment , and slothfull * by cold which they haue caught . then [ their ] sound is heard more heauie , and they hum ‖ trailingly . as sometimes ‖ the cold south wind ‖ doth sound in th'woods : [ or ] as the troubled sea doth make a noise * with [ her ] rebounding waues : [ and ] as the * vehement fire sounds hollowly * in fornaces shut vp . c here now * i will aduise [ you ] to make sweet smels with the burning of galbanum . and [ i would counsell you ] * ‖ heartning them of your owne accord , * & recalling them being * faint , * vnto [ their ] acquainted food , to bring in [ for them into their hiues ] hony * in troughes of reed . * it shall likewise do them good to mingle herewith bruised gals and drie roses , or * ‖ new wine ‖ boyled * thicke with good store of fire , * or bunches of raisins of the sunne ‖ of the psithian vine . and thyme * ‖ of athens and strong smelling * centaury . there is also a flower ‖ in the medows , ‖ whereunto the husbandmen haue giuen the name amellus , an herbe * easie [ to be found ] of them that seeke [ it . ] * for it sends vp * a mightie bush out of one al. turfe . [ the flower ] it selfe is of a colour like gold ; ‖ * but a purple hue [ as ] of a blacke violet ‖ shines somewhat in the leaues , * which are spread very thicke round about . the altars of the gods [ * are ] oft times deckt with * garlands made [ thereof . ] the taste [ of it ] is sharpe in the mouth : shepheards do gather it * in valleys vsed to be mowne , and neare vnto the crooked * streames of * mella . boyle the rootes hereof * in odoriferous * wine , and set [ the same as ] meate [ vnto the bees ] in full * troughs * at the entrie [ of the hiues . ] d but if all * the brood shall faile any man of a sudden , * that he shall not haue [ some left ] whereof the stocke of a new race may be supplied , [ it is ] time ‖ to lay open also ‖ the memorable inuentions of [ ‖ aristaeus ] the arcadian maister , * how corrupt bloud hath oft times brought foorth bees * in bullockes newly killed . i will dispatch * the whole report [ thereof , ] * rehearsing it at large from the first beginning . for all the region [ from that part ] where * the fortunate people of canopus built by alexander , * bordereth vpon [ the riuer ] nilus , ouerflowing as a standing pond with his streames powred out , * and is carried about his grounds in painted boates , and where [ the same ] riuer * turning downeward * all along from ‖ the [ swartie ] coloured indians , * washeth vpon * the countries neare vnto the persian * armed with bowes & arrowes , * and maketh greene egypt fruitfull ‖ with his blacke sand : and rushing downe ‖ doth run abroad into seuen diuers mouthes . [ euen all that region ] * doth repose her certain ‖ safetie in this art . e * first of all a little ‖ place and * streightned for that same vse is chosen out . * this they make close with narrow roofe tiles and with straite walls . and * they make foure windowes * with the light let in aslope from the foure winds . * then a bullocke of two yeres old , beginning now to bend his hornes is sought . ‖ his * two nosthrils and the breath of his mouth are stopt , although he struggle exceedingly , and [ his ] * fleshie parts * being bruised * throughout his whole hide * are all dissolued whilst he is killed with bangs . so they do leaue him * lying ‖ in the inclosed place , * and lay peeces of boughes vnderneath his ribs , [ and also ] thyme and al. greene ‖ casia . * this feate is done whenas the west winds do first begin to moue the waters ; before the * medow grounds be red with new colours , [ and ] before that the chattering swallow hangeth vp her neast in the rafters [ of the house . ] f ‖ in the meane time ‖ [ his ] moisture being made warme in [ his ] tender bones waxeth hote ; and liuing creatures to be seene ‖ in maruellous * manner , * lacking [ their ] feete at first , * and straightway flickering [ as ] with * wings , * are mingled together , * and take in thinne aire more and more , vntill they haue burst [ out of the hide ] euen as a ‖ shower powred out of summer clouds , or as the ‖ shafts * out of the bow , * if at any time the parthians light of foote do giue the first onset . g ‖ oh [ ye ] muses , [ tell me ] what god [ ‖ hath beaten out ] this [ art , ] who hath ‖ beat out this * skill for vs. ‖ from whence this new ‖ experience of men hath taken her beginning . the ‖ sheepheard arist●us * forsaking quite * the pleasant fields of ‖ thessaly named tempe neare the riuer penous , * hauing lost [ his ] bees ( as the report goeth ) by ‖ sicknesse and by ‖ famishment , stood * pensiue at the sacred head of the * vtmost part of [ this ] riuer , complaining * much , and speaking to * [ his ] mother in his sort : mother cyrene , * mother [ mine , ] * who dwellest in * the deepest bottomes ‖ of this same ‖ gulfe , why hast thou * bred me [ comming ] of the noble linage of the gods , ( if so be that ‖ thymbraeus apollo be my father as thou sayest , ) * [ to be ] hated of the heauenly destinies ? or whither [ is ] ‖ thy loue of vs ‖ driuen * from thee ? why didst thou bid me ‖ t'hope for heauen ? * loe also i do leaue ( although * thou be my mother ) this very honour of [ my ] mortall life , which [ my ] * carefull keeping both of fruites & cattell , * had beaten out to me , making triall of all things . but go to , and thou thy selfe plucke vp ‖ my happy woods with [ thine owne ] hand . ‖ bring mischieuous fire to my stalls [ of cattell ] and * destroy my corne . burne vp [ my ] plants and * thrust thy strong two edged hooke into [ my ] vines . * if thou be so wearie of my praise . h but [ his ] mother perceiu'd ‖ a [ mournfull ] sound in [ her ] bedchamber vnder [ the bottome ] of the deepe riuer : * the nymphs about her ‖ toosed * milesian wooll * died * al. in a deepe glassie colour . both [ the nymph ] * drymo and also zantho , and lygea and philodoce , * hauing [ their ] ‖ faire haire spred about their white neckes . nesea [ likewise ] and spio , and cke thalia and cymodoce , and also cydippo * and yellow haired lycorias : the one of them a virgin , * the other hauing then first felt the pangs ‖ of bearing child . and clio and beroe [ her ] sister , both of them the daughters of oceanus . both of them * cloth'd in gold , * and in spotted skins [ of hindes . ] * and in like manner ephyre and also opis , * asia [ and ] deiopeia , and arethusa very swift , * hauing at length layed away her shafts . * amongst which , clymene * told * the idle care of vulcan , * the craftie sleights of mars , and their * pleasant thefts . * and numbred vp the thicke and threefold loues of th' gods , ‖ [ euen ] from the chaos . i * with which discourse the nymphs being * caught * whilst that they spin , * the dolefull moane of aristeus pierst into his mothers eares , and all the nymphes were amazed * [ sitting on ] ‖ [ their ] glassie seates ; but arethusa looking forth before her other sisters , lift vp [ her ] ‖ yellow head * aboue th' top of the * water . * and being farre off [ thus she spake , ] oh sister cyrene , * affrighted not without [ iust ] cause , * for so great a wailing : aristeus himself , thy greatest care , sad * for thy sake , stands weeping at the * waues of peneus [ thy ] father , and cals thee cruel by name . the mother * ‖ smitten in her mind with a new feare , saith * to her , go to , bring [ him hither ] bring him vnto vs , [ it may be ] ‖ lawfull for him to touch the thresholds of the gods : [ and ] withall she commands the deepe riuers ‖ to depart all abroad where the yong man * should enter in . but the * water stood round about ‖ bowed after the manner of a hill . ‖ and entertained [ him ] in her vast bosome , and sent [ him ] vnderneath the ‖ riuer . k and now * admiring his mothers house and her watery * realmes , and also the ‖ lakes shut vp in caues , and the ‖ sounding groues ▪ he went [ forward , ] and being astonied at the ‖ mightie mouing of the waters , * beheld all the riuers * flowing vnder the ‖ great earth , both phasis and lycus , and th● head from whence the deepe e●ipeus first ▪ al. bursts forth [ and shewes ] it selfe . * from what place ‖ father tiberine , and from whence the streams of ‖ anien [ do come . ] and hipanis * making a great sound amongst the stones , and ‖ caicus flowing out of mysia . * and eke eridanus hauing two golden hornes in a buls face : * then which not any other riuer * flowes more violently thorough the fertile fields into ‖ the ‖ purple sea . l * after that he was come vnder the roofe of the bed-chamber [ of his mother cyrene ] hanging all with pumish stone , and [ that ] cyrene knew the * needlesse weeping of [ her ] sonne : * [ her ] sister nymphes giue in order faire spring water for his hands , ▪ and bring [ him ] towels with * the nap shorne off . part [ of them ] * furnish the tables with * dainties : * and oft do fill the cups : m * the altars ‖ waxe full sweete with fiers of panchean wood . and [ then his ] mother [ said , ] take thou these ‖ cups of * lydian wine , * let vs offer to god oceanus , quoth she . * and herewith she prayes both vnto * oceanus ‖ the father of all things , and to the nymphs [ her ] sisters , * a hundred [ of them ] which ‖ [ keepe ] the woods , [ and also ] an hundred which keep the riuers . * thrise did she sprinkle the burning * fire with pure sweete wine . thrise the flame being ‖ vnderneath , flasht backe againe to th' top of the house . with which luckie signe ‖ she confirming her mind , began thus . n there is a prophet * of the sea ‖ in the carpathian gulfe , [ called ] ‖ the skie coloured proteus , who ‖ measures out the great sea * [ borne vpon ] fishes backs , * and in a chariot drawne ‖ by two footed horses . * he is now gone to renew the ports of ‖ emathia , and [ his ] countrey palene . * him do the nymphs adore , and ancient ‖ nereus himself , for ‖ [ that ] prophet * knoweth all things , which are , which haue bene , [ and ] ‖ which may be protracted to come ere long . because it hath so seemed good ‖ to neptune , whose ‖ monstrous heards of cattell , and * huge sea-calues he feeds ‖ vnderneath the gulfe . o * this [ prophet ] ( [ my ] sonne ) is to be bound of thee before [ thou aske him any thing ] that he may * speedily tell thee * euery cause of the diseases [ of thy bees , ] * and may giue thee good successe . for ‖ he will not giue [ thee ] any precepts without * constraint ; neither shalt thou * moue him * by intreatie . * lay hard hands and bonds vpon him being caught : ‖ his deceits about these things * will at length be vtterly frustrate . * i my selfe [ about the noone-tide ] ‖ whenas the sunne hath kindled [ his ] middle heate , when the herbes * are thirstie , and the shadow is more ‖ welcome to the cattell , will bring thee into the secret [ places ] of th' ‖ old man , * al. whither he being wearie , * doth retire himselfe from the waues ; that thou mayest easily ‖ set vpon him * lying fast asleepe . p but when thou shalt hold [ him ] * taken with hands and bands , then diuers ‖ shapes will delude [ thee , ] and * faces of wilde beasts ; * for he will be of a sudden a rough bristled swine , and a ‖ blacke tiger , and also ‖ a scaly dragon ‖ and a lionesse * with a tawnie yellow necke : * or else he will giue forth a crackling noise of fire : and so he will * escape out of [ thy ] bands ; * or slipping aside [ from thee ] he will go quite away into the thin waters . * but how much more he ‖ turnes himselfe into all * shapes : * so much the more ( my sonne ) tie hard his bands to hold him fast : vntill he shall be such a one , his bodie being changed [ againe , ] * as thou sawest him , when he * closed [ his ] eyes * beginning first to sleepe . q ‖ these things she * spake , ‖ and * cast abroad * a pure odour of r ‖ ambrosia , * wherewith she al. sok't the bodie of [ her ] sonne throughout : but * a sweete sent blew to him ; hauing his haire neatly drest , and ‖ an able vigour * entred into [ his ] lims . s there is ‖ a huge caue in the side * of a hill eaten all away , whereinto ‖ very much water * is driuen by the wind , * and parts it selfe into reflowing creakes , * [ which ] sometime [ was ] a most safe harbour for sea-men caught [ by tempest . ] * within [ it ] doth proteus * close himselfe with the * couer of a * huge great stone . * here doth the nymph [ cyrene ] place the yong man turned from the light , ‖ within the lurking holes : ‖ [ and ] she her selfe al. went backe farre off * obscured with clouds . t * now the wood dog-starre called ‖ syrius broyling the thirstie indians * burned in the skie , and the fierie sunne * had gone halfe his daily course : herbes withered , and ‖ the sun-beames boyled the hollow riuers warmed to the mud , their * vpper parts being drie . u when proteus went from the * riuers , * going vnto [ his ] wonted caues ; ‖ the waterish nation of the ‖ vast sea ‖ leaping about him , sprinkled ‖ the bitter dew ‖ all abroad . ‖ the sea-calues * lay themselues asleepe on euery shore . ‖ himselfe ( euen as the keeper of a heard sometimes in th'mountaines , ‖ when the euening tide brings home [ his ] bullockes from feeding to [ their ] houses ; and [ when ] the lambs * do whet on the wolues ‖ [ their ] bleatings being heard , ‖ ) * sate downe * full in the midst vpon a rocke and ‖ counts the number of them . x * of whom because there was so fit an occasion offered to aristeus , he scarcely * suffering ‖ the old man * to settle his wearie limmes [ to rest , ] * rusheth [ vpon him ] with a great outcrie , and ties him with manicles lying all along . ‖ he * on the other side , not vnmindfull * of his skill , ‖ transformes himselfe * into all wonderments of things , ‖ both into fire , and into a most horrible wild beast , and into a cleare riuer . * but when he could find no meanes to escape by any * shift , being ouercome * he returned into his owne shape again . y and at the length he spake ‖ with the [ very mouth ] of a man. * o boldest of all youths , for who ( quoth he ) * bad thee ‖ to come vnto our * house ? or what doest thou fetch hence ? but * he [ made answer , ] oh proteus ‖ thou knowest ; euen thou thy selfe knowest ; neither is it [ * possible ] for any man ‖ to deceiue thee : * but leaue thou off to seeke [ to beguile me . ] * we following the commandements of the gods ‖ haue come hither * to enquire of the oracles concerning our decayed estate . z * thus much spake [ aristeus . ] * at these words at last the prophet [ proteus ] with great enforcement * rolled his eyes burning with a ‖ red fierie light , and * gnashing his teeth discōtentedly , ‖ thus opened he his mouth * in oracles . * the wrath of no base power doth trouble thee , * thou art punished for thy hainous faults : ‖ miserable orpheus * raiseth vp these stormes , [ and yet ] * nothing according to thy desert , * if the fates did not resist : and rageth grieuously * for villanie offered to his wife . she indeed [ poore ] * wench * being neare vnto her death , * whilst headlong [ she ] fled from thee * by the riuers side , saw not a * fell serpent before her feet , ‖ keeping the bankes in the deepe * grasse . but the companie of nymphs called dryades * being of like age , ‖ filled the highest mountaines with [ their ] crie : * the rhodopeian hils did weepe , * and the high pangean tops , * yea the warlike countrey of rhesus , and also ‖ the getes , and the riuer ‖ hebrus , * and likewise orithya the athenian nymph . a [ but ] he himselfe * asswaging [ his ] sorowfull loue with [ his ] hollow lute , ( o sweete wife ) ‖ [ did sing of ] thee , [ he sang of ] thee by himselfe [ alone ] in the * desert shore : [ he sang of ] thee * at the comming of the day ; he sang of thee * at the departing of the same : * and entring into the iawes of * tenarus , the deepe ‖ doores * of pluto [ the god of hell , ] and into * a groue all blacke with fearfull darknes , he went both to the ‖ spirits , and ‖ to the dreadfull king , and to the hearts * that know not to waxe gentle at the prayers of men . * but yet the slender ghosts being moued with [ his ] song , ‖ went from the lowest seates of * hell , and [ so many ] likenesses * of [ folks ] lacking the light of life , * as thousands of birds hide themselues in woods , * when as the euening or ‖ a winters shower doth driue [ them ] from the * hils . * [ both ] mothers and husbands , and the bodies of couragious noble men ‖ discharged of life , ‖ boyes and vnmarried girles , and yong men ‖ put into the fiers * before [ their ] parents faces , [ all ] which the black mud and foule ill fauoured reeds of * cocytus , and the fenne being * al. lothsome thorough her continuall standing water compasseth about , * and the [ infernall ] styx ‖ nine times powred betweene [ the liuing and the departed ] keepeth in [ or includeth , compassing them nine times about . ] moreouer ‖ the very [ hellish ] houses themselues * were astonied , & also * the deepest dungeons of death , * and the furies of hell hauing their haire all intangled with blackish snakes : and likewise * cerberus the gaping curre of hell , * stayd his three mouthes . and the wheele * of ixions torture stood still with the winde [ thereof . ] b and now [ orpheus ] * returning backe [ from hell ] ‖ had escaped all * dangers , and [ his wife ] euridice ‖ being restored [ vnto him ] ‖ came into the vpper aire , following behind [ him , ] ( for why ‖ proserpina [ the queene of hell ] had giuen this law . ) c whenas a sudden ‖ madnesse * had caught away the vnwarie louer , ( [ * a folly ] indeed to be ‖ pardoned , if the [ infernall ] spirits knew ‖ to pardon [ any thing . ] [ he ] stood still , and * alas forgetfull [ man , ] and ‖ ouercome in mind , * he looked backe vpon his owne euridice , now * about the verie entrance into the light . there [ was ] all [ his ] labour * lost , and the * couenants of the * mercilesse tyrant * all made voide , d and thrice ‖ a broken noise [ was ] heard from the auerne ponds . [ then ] shee spake [ thus , ] o orpheus who hath * vndone both * me miserable wretch , & thee [ likewise . ] * what so great a madnesse ! loe ‖ the cruell destinies call me backe againe : and sleepe [ of death ] * doth couer [ my ] dazeling eyes . and now ‖ farewell : [ for ] * i am borne [ away ] compassed about * with a dreadfull darknesse . * and stretching out to thee ( alacke not thine ) ‖ [ my ] feeble hands . [ thus ] she spake , * and [ vanished ] suddenly out of his sight , euen as the smoake being mixt together flies diuers wayes into the thin aire : neither saw she him * after catching at [ her ] * ghost all in vain , * and desirous to speake many things vnto her , nor yet ‖ the ferriman of hell * would suffer [ him ] to passe ouer any more ‖ the fen * set betweene [ the liuing and the infernall ghosts . ] e what should he do ? whither should he * betake himselfe , his wife being * violently taken from him twise ? with what * lamenting ‖ should he moue * the fiends , [ or ] with what voice [ might he * intreate ] the gods ? * but she ‖ now cold , * swims [ back ] in the stygian ferriboate . f * they say that he [ then ] mourn'd seuen whole moneths * together [ without rest , ] * vnder a verie loftie rocke in the open aire , * neare vnto the streames of strymon forsaken [ of all people ] , * and that he oft repeated these same things vnder [ those ] cold caues , * taming the tigers , and ‖ mouing the okes with [ his ] * song . g * like as the nightingale mourning vnder the shade of a poplar tree , ‖ complaines for her yong ones being lost : * which the * hard hearted plowman ‖ obseruing , drew forth out of [ their ] neast * vnfledge ; but she * wailes [ all ] the night , and sitting * on a bough , renews afresh ‖ her miserable * note , and fils the places * farre and neare with [ her ] * dolefull complaints . h * no loue : * no new mariages could moue his mind . * he all alone wandered about the frozen scythian coasts , and the riuer tanais * couered with snow , * and eke the fields neuer without the rhiphean frosts , complaining for ‖ [ his ] euridice taken [ from him ] violently , and the * grant of pluto vtterly made voide ; * in regard of which most precious gift , the women of the ‖ cycones being * scorned , ‖ * dragged and scattered the yong man pluckt all in peeces thorough the broade fields , amongst * the sacrifices of [ their ] gods , and * the night ceremoniall rites of bacchus . and then withall whēas the riuer * hebrus oeagrius [ of thracia ] carying [ his ] head plucked away from [ his ] white marble necke , * tumbled [ it ] in the midst of the streame , * [ his ] very voice and tongue now cold called euridice , ‖ ah miserable euridice , * euen when his soule was flying away . the banks ‖ resounded euridice * thorough the whole riuer . i * these things [ spake ] proteus , and cast himselfe * into the depth of the sea . * and where he threw in himselfe , he whirl'd about the * foming waues vnder the round turning of the streame . k but cyrene [ departed ] not : for why , she of her own accord spake vnto [ her sonne ] ‖ fearing [ much : ] [ my ] sonne , [ quoth shee ] * thou mayest put away sorrowful cares out of thy mind . ‖ shee [ of whom proteus spake , is ] ‖ all the cause of the disease : * hereon the nymphes with whom * she vsed to dance in the high ‖ groues ‖ haue sent [ this ] miserable destruction * on thy bees . * thou [ therefore ] humbly offer gifts ‖ crauing peace , and ‖ worship ‖ the nymphes of the woods [ which are ] easie to bee intreated . * for they will grant [ thy ] requests , and qualifie [ their ] wrath . l but i will first tell thee in order , what is the maner of intreating [ them . ] choose out foure * speciall bulls ‖ of excellent body , * which feed for thee now vpon the tops of green ‖ lyceus mount , and as many heifers * of necke vntouched . * make for these also foure altars neare vnto the stately temples ‖ of the goddesses : ‖ and let out the sacred bloud forth of [ their ] throates . and also leaue the very bodies * of the buls in a groue full of greene leaues . after * whenas the ninth morning shall appeare , thou shalt send vnto orpheus [ some ] ghostly sacrifices , [ namely ] * poppies causing forgetfulnesse : and thou shalt [ likewise ] * offer a blacke sheepe , and shalt go see ‖ the groue againe . [ there ] shalt thou ‖ worship euridice appeased with a heifer slaine . m * there was 〈◊〉 no delay , [ but ] ‖ he ●orth ▪ with * obeyed ‖ the precepts of his mother : comes vnto the temples , [ and ] ‖ reareth vp the altars , ‖ shewed [ vnto him . ] [ and ] brings foure * chosen buls of * excellent bodie , and as many heifers * of vntouched necke . afterwards * whenas the ninth morning did appeare , * aristeus ] sends to orpheus the ghostly sacrifices , * and went again vnto the groue . n [ and ] here indeed they do behold a sudden * wonder ▪ and ●aruellous to be spoken , bees ‖ for to make a buzzing noise * throughout the dissolued bowels * of the beasts in their whole * bellies , * and [ as it were ] * with heat to issue boyling out from their bursten ribs . * and mightie clouds [ of bees ] t' be drawne [ in length ] and now ‖ to flow together knitting * in the top of a tree , and ‖ to send downe * a cluster like a grape from the * limber boughes . o * these things i sang ‖ vpon the tillage of the fields , and [ ordering ] of cattell . * and concerning trees , whilst * that great caesar ‖ thundereth with warre ‖ at the deepe euphrates , * and [ as ] a victorious conquerour giueth lawes amongst a willing people , and [ thus ] * prepares a way for heauen . sweete naples * entertained at that time me virgil flourishing in the studies * of vnrenowned vacancie . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a14494-e430 ‖ pastorals or heardmens songs . they are called bucolica of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bubulcus or armentari● , whereof comes bucolicus , a , um , pertaining to neate or to beasts , or pertaining to heardmen or pastorall : and so bucolica ( carmina ) neatheards songs or heardmens songs , and by a synecd . sheepheards songs . ‖ these are also called eclogs of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 electio , quasi electum poëma , a choyse poeme : or here signifying , collocutio , because most of them are set downe in manner of dialogues , viz. in talke betweene two or moe parties . * to which [ or whereto ] the name is tityrus . ‖ the name tityrus seemeth to be taken out of the greeke poet theocritus , whom virgil specially imitates in these eclogues , where it is the name of a sheepheard most expert in countrey musicke . thus is this first eclogue named tityrus of this fained sheepheard , whose felicitie is here chiefly recorded , and vnder his name virgil is meant . ‖ the matter of this eclogue or the substance hereof . ‖ melibeus a sheepheard & familiar friend of tityrus . * by the name of whom we vnderstand any mantuan sheepheard . * driuen away from his bounds [ viz. his fields or possessions . ] ‖ by an ancient souldier , viz. by one to whom his possessions were giuen for his long seruice . * deplores [ or laments ] ‖ his misery or mishap : * and exaggerates his owne miseries by collation [ viz. by comparison ] of the felicitie of tityrus . * contrarily tityrus who sustaines the person of virgil [ viz. vnder whose ame virgil is meant . ] ‖ without care of feare . * his farmes [ viz. his lands ] being recouered . * lifts vp into heauen augustus [ casar the emperour . ] ‖ the principall cause of his peace . * maruellous or wonderfull . * about the end [ or a little before the end : ] * night now imminent [ viz. approching apace : ] * he inuites melibeus to [ his ] entertainment [ viz. to giue him entertainement : * with a certaine countrey-like ] or homely curtesie [ or kindnesse . ] 1 tityrus a fained name of a sheepheard , most expert in countrey musicke ( as was said , ) here signifieth virgil the famous poet restored to his possessions by the commandement of augustus . 2 melibeus a heardman so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because he had care of cattell , representing a townsman of mantua , cast out of his possessions by the romane souldiers , to whō their lands were giuen . a in this eclogue ( as was shewed in the argument ) melibeus laments his owne calamitie , and the estate of the rest of the townsmen of mantua , by comparing their misery with the fortunate estate of tityrus , which he admireth with a secret indignation : that he might lie at his ease vnder the shade , and play his country ditties vpon his pipe . * lying downe [ viz. lying at thy ease or resting quietly . ] * cover [ viz. shade or shadow . 3 tegmen ] q. tegimen à tegend● . syne●d . ge● . * the beech tree spreading largely , [ viz. with great armes or branches . ] 4 patul● ] à patendo . 5 fagi . ] syn. spec . * meditate . ‖ tune . ‖ a song fit to be sung in the woods [ or a rurall or country song , or a heard●ans or sheepheards ditty . 6 musam ] metonymia efficientis . * with a small oate . 7 a●ena ] metalepsis , an oate for a pipe made of oaten straw , met. materi● & met. 〈◊〉 , and taken for any pipe , syn. spec . b when they contrarily were enforced to leaue their countrey and pleasant fields : ‖ forsake , or are driuē to leaue or forgo . * ends or coasts . ‖ pleasant grounds or lands . 8 arv●m ab arando , such a field properly as is ready to be sowne , now plowed or tilled , syn. spec . and glad to flie their natiue soyle , ye● he lying at his ease vnder the coole shade , might sing his songs in praise of his loue faire amaryl , to cause the very woods with their echo to resound the same . ‖ flie from , or are driuen out and banished from ‖ our natiue soyle . * tityrus , thou being sluggish [ viz. secure or lying at thy rest , or idle and carelesse . * shadow . ‖ makest . ‖ to found backe ( as the echo in the woods ) faire amaryl : viz. thy songs of thy loue faire amaryl : or to sing songs in praise of rome and thy fauourers there . 9 amaryllis a fained loue of virgils , hauing the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , splendeo , here it may seeme to be taken for rome , and virgil hauing friends there ; metaphora , or being put for songs of amaryl , it is meton . subiect . c tit. ] tityrus answereth him , reioycing that the emperour augustus , whom he called god , had granted him all that happy peace . 10 by god he meaneth the emperour augustus who had granted him his lands and liberties , for so the romans flatteringly made their emperours gods . or he meaneth that he would honour him as god , for the greatnesse of the benefit which he receiued . deus deus , in the beginning and the end , epa●lepsis . * made these rests to vs. * idlenesse [ viz. quietnesse or securitie and freedome . ] 11 ille , illius ] polyp●ton . * be euer a god to merviz . whilst i liue and after my death . d yea that he would offer vnto him many a sacrifice , as the manner of the romans was to do to their gods . ‖ delicate , fat and yong . * sheepefoulds . * imbrue , colour , moysten or poure about , viz be offered on his altar . * the altar of him . e for that he had granted him free libertie & safetie for the keeping of his cattell where he would , and of playing and singing at his will. ‖ suffered my cattell . 12 kine for any kind of cattell . syn. spec . * to wander [ viz. to leasow or to go where i will. ] 13 errare ] syn. gen. ‖ sing . 14 l●dere ] syn. gen. ‖ countrey pipe . * what things or what songs . 15 ca● ] syn. spec . & met. mat. * reede or straw , viz. on my countrey oaten pipe . f melib. replying , telleth him that he did not enuie him , but rather admireth his felicitie , considering what troubles were at cremona & mantua and in all the countrey about , by the romane souldiers , to whom their lands were giuen : whereby the poore inhabitants were driuen out . and he himselfe become very feeble , yet was faine to driue his goates farre off whither he could , to find pasture for them , hauing nothing else left him ; and had one of them so weake as he could hardly drag her after him . ‖ grudge at or repine against thy happinesse or prosperitie . ‖ i wonder at it with delight . * it is troubled so very greatly , viz. there are so very great troubles amongst vs by the souldiers . 16 turbatur [ à militibus , 〈◊〉 turbamur . enal . * in our whole fields , or throughout all our bounds or lands . * see or behold . 17 aeger , ago . paran . * sicke [ viz. sorrowfull ▪ pensiue or heauie . ] * do. 18 protenus , [ à porr● & tenus . longè vel procul . adv. loci . * [ my ] litle goates . * far [ from our coasts ] or being so farre before me that i cannot ouertake them . 19 ag● , duco epanod . * and also . g then giues the reason thereof , for that she had newly eaned vpon a bare flint stone , in stead of some better place of succour , and had there left two twins the hope of repairing his flocke againe . * i leade scarsly this [ goate . ] ‖ two yong kids . h afterwards he complayneth of their foolishnesse , that they could not be warned to pre●ent these mischiefes by so many prodigious signes : as hauing seene the oakes smitten with the lightning , which did portend some great euil to come vnto them by the displeasure of the emperour , as by the thunderbolt of iupiter himselfe . 20 the oake which sometime ministreth food● to man by the mast of it , was said to be in the protection of iupiter ; and therefore by this diuination was signified the displeasure of caesar , to take away their fields , as of iupiter smiting the oakes . * enforced her selfe to bring forth , or brought forth erewhile . 21 coelum pro aere , 〈◊〉 pro tempestate aeris . metaleps . * touched ▪ [ viz. ] scorched , or blasted , or smitten with the lightning or thunderbolt . ‖ out of the aire . ‖ euill hap . * to f●retell ●s . if we had not bene vnhappie . * left , foolish . 22 pr● . metaph. i also the chough chattring from the hollow holme tree on the left hand , which he accounteth another prodigious signe . 23 s●pe , s●pe . anaph . * the chough , crow , or daw on the left hand . al. the chough hath foretold vnhappy tidings frō the hollow holme tree , [ or vnhappie things . ] 24 sinistra cornix the chough sitting on the left hand , [ viz. sitting north when they looked towards the east or sunne rising ; which they accounted vnluckie . this verse is omitted by sundry interpreters , as none of virgils , for that it seemes contrary to the diuinations of those times , wherein they tooke this signe to be luckie : vnlesse it be attributed to the sheepheards rudenesse . k yet seeing there was now no remedy , ●e desireth to know who this god was . ‖ neuerthelesse . * giue vs [ viz. shew vs. ] l tit. tityrus in stead of answering directly , beginneth sheepheard ▪ like to extoll the citie where that god dwelt : describing it both by the name , & also the greatnesse and state of it , which he amplifieth by his owne foolishnesse : that he was wont to imagine it to be like their citie mantua , whither they vsed to driue their lambes to sell , but onely that he thought it somewhat bigger . ‖ i foolish sheepheard ‖ imagined that , that citie which men call rome , was like this our citie mantua . 25 mantua is a little citie in gallia cisalpina , where virgil was borne ▪ * ar● wont oft times * to put away [ or to driue away to be sold , or to the market ] * the tender yong ones of our sheepe , [ viz ▪ our lambs wained frō their dams . ] m euen as he had knowne whelpes like the dams , kids like to the goates , & had bene wont thus to compare the greater thing● with lesse . 26 sic , si● , anaph . * i had knowne or seene . 27 canibus catulos . pa●sia . * to the bitches . * i had knowne . 28 catul●s , h●dos . epa●dos . * to their dams . 29 matribus . metaph. 〈◊〉 syn. spec . 30 noram , sol●bam . epanal . ‖ with little . n but now he acknowledgeth he saw indeed , that this citie did so far exceed all others in state and greatnesse , * this [ city rome . ] ‖ hath so much aduanced [ or lift vp the head aboue [ all ] other cities . * so much . 31 alias inter . anastrophe . as the high cypresse trees do the low shrubs . * how much . * bending or pl●ant , viz. limber . ‖ bindeweede or shrubs . o mel. ] melibeus replying againe , demandeth of him the cause , which made him so desirous to see rome . 32 ecquae pro quaenam , more antiquo . * a cause of seeing rome hath bene to thee . p tit. ] whereunto tityrus answereth , that desire of freedome was the cause , and also hope of recouering his lands , which he there obtained though long before . ‖ euen liberty [ viz. a desire of liberty . * [ though it was ] late [ before it came ] * respected me ] or behold me fauourably . ‖ sluggish or slouenlike and vnhansome . * rude and without art . q and not vntill his beard began to be white , viz. that he was growne well in yeares . the sence is , after that my beard began to be white . 33 a white beard , either as the first downe is whitish in many ; or as some imagine by his yeares ; or rather by cares for the losse of his lands ; for that melibeus calleth him after , fortunate old man. which speech may yet respect the time to come : what he was like to be . vid. infrâ . ‖ yet neuerthelesse [ liberty ] respected me [ viz. i became a free-man . ] * to ●e p●ling [ or barbing ] viz ▪ as the barber was cutting my beard . r yet at length he obtained it after long looking and waiting . 34 respexit tamen ] epan . ‖ a long time after . s and then he sheweth that since that time that he came in fauour at rome , he had left mantua altogether . ‖ since that i began to be in esteeme at rome , i left mantua . * hath vs. ‖ mantua . t and also giueth the reason of it : because whilst he was at mantua he had neither hope of freedome , nor meanes of recouering or increasing his substance . * for. ‖ i will confesse the truth . ‖ whilst i abode at mantua , 35 nec , nec , anaph . * was there to me hope of liberty nor care of my substance of estate . 36 a mans substance or goods was called peculium , because of ancient time it consisted chiefly in ca●ell , pecus . u although there 〈◊〉 many a sacrifice out 〈◊〉 his foulds . * much sacrifice [ viz. many a lambe was fetched from my foulds for sacrifice . 37 victima , is properly sacrifice for victory obtained , à victoria . as hostia pro hostibus superandis , a sacrifice for the ouercoming of enemies , viz. in hope to ouercome . 38 septum à sepio . syn. gen. pro ouili . ‖ i made good fat cheeses . and many a good 〈◊〉 cheese went forth of 〈◊〉 dairie to that ●full mantua . * pressed . 39 ingratae ] vnthankful to the sheepheards by whom it was maintained . 40 vrbi . syn. gen. met. subi . yet still his purse came empty home . * [ my ] right hand did not returne to me home at any time loaden with money [ viz. i neuer brought any store of mony home for ●ine owne selfe : or for mine owne vse , but euer returned empty handed , 41 aere ] because in old time they made money of brasse . met. mat. x melibeus againe applauding his happinesse , telleth him that he wondered why his loue amaryl , so called vpon the gods in such pensiue manner for him . 42 amarylli ] apostrophe ad amicam . * being pensiue ] or sorrowfull , or heauie , as forelorne , or sad . * didst call . ‖ for whose sake . that he suffered his apples to hang vpon his trees , not regarding to gather them , but pining away with longing after him . * their owne tree . 43 tityrus , tityre , ipse , ipsi , ipsa . anaph . polypt . that the pine trees , fountaines , and euen the very groues did seeme to call for him in mourning wise . ‖ farre away from . ‖ the very water springs . 44 arbustum is a groue of trees either for fruite or pleasure , or onely for bearing vp vines , to which the vines are said to be married : but chiefly of such trees as beare fruite . y tityrus answering , sheweth him the cause of his going to rome , and of his tarrying there so long . for that he could neuer otherwise haue gotten out of seruitude ; nor haue seene the gods , ( meaning the chiefe states of rome , whom he flatteringly calleth gods , ) in such manner as he now did being present with them , and to haue them so bountifull vnto him . * was it lawfull for me to go forth from [ or get out of ] seruice or bondage . ‖ the worthy nobles so fauourable and so ready to helpe . z there he telleth him , that he saw moreouer that renowned augustus whom he made his god : ‖ we offer sacrifice twelue dayes euery yeare , viz. at the calends of each moneth * that yong man [ or that yong gallant , viz. augustus caesar the emperour who began his empire very yong . 45 augustus caesar the second emperour of rome , sonne to octa●ius a senator , and nephew to iulius caesar , a wise and mercifull prince , in whose reigne christ was borne . to whom he offered sacrifices twelue times euery yeare : from whom he receiued this comfortable answer , as from an oracle : * to whom . ‖ cattell . 46 hic , hic , anaph . * requesting [ or making suite vnto him . that he should follow his cattell and his husbandry , enioying them as he did before . 47 puer is taken properly for a boy , viz as it is opposite to puella a girle . secondly , it is taken for the childish age , and thirdly , for a seruant or bo●dman which were commonly boyes or yong men : so it is here vsed . * boyes or lads [ viz. seruants , slaues or drudges ] ‖ happy old man that thou shalt be ! * as before ▪ 48 submittite ta●s , q. sub i●ga mittite . * put vnder [ your ] buls viz. vnder the yoakes , that is , yoake your oxen as before . 49 fortunate senex ] melibeus is thought here ●o call him thus in regard of the time to come , that be might liue to be a happy old man. 50 fortunate , &c. exclamatio admirationis . ‖ thou shalt enioy thy grounds or possessions . a melibeus hereupon breaking out into an exclamation of wondering , calleth him fortunate old man , because he should enioy his possessions and his grounds which were large enough for him , * therefore ‖ pastures sufficient for thy cattell . * countries . ‖ although it be fenced in with a stone wall & a fenne ditch , or with stonie hils or rocks or marish grounds , & not very great [ or seeing that it is . &c. albeit they were compassed about with a stone wall & a fen ditch full of bulrushes , and were not very great . ‖ with slimy bulrushes [ viz. with flags growing in the mud . * compasseth about [ viz. limiteth . ] 51 limos● i●nco , syn. spec . sing . proplural . epan . b yet hereby he should receiue this benefit ; that his cattell should not be indangered to receiue hurt , by such grounds as they were not acquainted with ; ‖ al [ therefore . ] * vnaccustomed pastures , [ or f●dder , or feeding . * tain● . 52 foetas metony● . adiuncti . nor by the contagious diseases of other cattell , but might pasture by themselues . * ill contagions , [ or catching diseases . * cattell neare vnto thee [ or of the cattell of thy neighbour . ] c and further also admires his fortunate estate , for the pleasures which he should now enioy : that he might spend all his dayes lying at his ease vnder the coole shade , and amongst the knowne riuers of his owne countrey . * shalt catch oft times here 53 frigus opacum . met. adi●ncti . ‖ betweene padu● and mincius which were dedicated to the nymphes . 54 sacros propter nymphas naiades quibus s●crisunt . d that on the one side he might heare the sweete hūming of bees , feeding continually vppon the palmes of the sallow trees , in the hedges of his neighbours bounds , which would oft ●ull him on sleepe by their pleasant noise . * the shady cold . * from hence [ 〈◊〉 one part . 54 hybla is a towne of sicily , and a mountaine neare vnto it , where was store of thime and sallow trees , and so most excellent for bee● . 55 depasta florem [ h. e. secundum florem , syn. membri . 56 hybleis apibus [ syn. spec . * from the neare bound , ] viz. on the next meere , or in the next fence , or the hedge betweene thee and thy neighbour . * eaten vpon [ or eaten vp ] alwaies by the bees of hybla . * according to [ or in regard of ] the palmes , [ or flowers , or bloomes of the sallow trees . ] 57 salicetum locus salicibu● consitus , & per sy●copen salictum . * perswade [ or cause thee . * to go into sleepe , or to sleepe . * light sound , [ or humming noise . 58 susurrus is any soft or still noise , as of leaues or branches of trees ; and here of bees , a word fained per ●nomatopeiam . e on the other side he might heare the loppers of trees singing loud to the skies , so as to make the heauens to ring ; as he lay at his ease vnder the rocks . * fr● hence the lopper of trees [ or corder of wood lopping and shread ●g of the boughes . 59 frondator [ qui frondes a●putat . * to the blasts [ viz. aloud piercing the skies . * from vnder the hi● rocke [ viz. lying vnder it . ] * neither yet . 60 nec , nec , anaph . and that he might heare the ringdoues singing after their manner , wherein sheepheards take chiefe delight . * being thy care , [ viz. thy delight , or that in which thou delightest , ] shall ceasse to sing . and likewise the turtles mourning continually in the high elmes . ‖ to sing after her manner as it were mourning . * aierie elme , viz. the elme tree mounting vp into the aire 61 aeria meton . subj . f tityr . ] tityrus answering professeth , that in regard of all this happinesse which he enioyed by augustus , he would neuer forget him ; which he amplifieth by three comparisons of impossibilities , and from the lesse to the greater . ‖ the hart so light of foote . * light. 62 fretum à feruendo , a narrow sea betweene two lands here put for any sea . syn. memb . or syn. spec . ‖ seas . * shall be fed before , or shall feede , like a common . * shall forsake or leaue destitute . 1. that the stags should feede in the skie before . * naked [ viz. vncouered or drie in the shoare or banke of the sea for lacke of water . 2. that the seas should be dried vp , and the fishes dye for lack of water . * either the parthian &c. [ viz. the parthian outlaw [ remaining in parthia ] shall drinke of the riuer sagona in france , & the germaine , &c. or the parthian being driuen out of his countrey . 63 antè , antè , anaph . 64 the parthian in the scythian language is said to signifie an outlaw . 3. that the parthian remaining in parthia should drinke of the riuer ara●is in france , and the germaine in germanie should drinke of tigris in asia , the one of them running into the other , before he would forget him . or that they being driuen out of their bounds should wander about the farthest places of the earth . 65 germania pro germano . met. subj . al. the parthians shall be driuen into germanie , and the germanes into mesopotamia , friskiline . 66 tigris a riuer in asia passing by mesopotamia , and so running through armenia . * the bounds of thē both being wandered through [ viz. hauing trauelled about thē both , that is , the germaine hauing trauelled through all the coasts of the parthians , and the parthian of the germaines . ‖ before we shall forget him . * then his countenance shall , &c. g melibeus contrarily bewaileth the miserable estate both of himselfe , and of the rest of them who were driuen forth , that they should be enforced to flie into all the quarters of the earth , some to africa southward ; others into scythia northward , others into creete which he maketh to be in the east ; others into britaine remote from all the world westward . * some [ of vs shall go or wander ] to the thirsty africanes , [ viz towards the scorching south where africa lyeth , which is called thirstie in regard of the heate there . 67 afro● . syn. spec . met. adi . ‖ come in our trauels into scythia [ viz towards the cold north. 68 scythia put ▪ for the north , syn. spec . oaxes is thought to be a swift riuer of mesopotamia towards the east , put for the east part : named here a riuer of creete , according to the sheepheards skill : or so called because the earth of it is chalkie , as some thinke . ‖ oaxes towards the east . * to the britaine 's [ viz. to the furthest parts of the wes● separated wholly by the seas from the rest of the world [ viz. from the continent or firme land of europe and asia . h afterwards he breaketh out into a new lamentation for the leauing of his houses and grounds , complaining that when he should see them againe after many yeares he should neuer admire them , reioycing in them as he had bene wont . * behold i seeing euer after a long time the coasts of my countrey : after many years , or a long time after my leauing of them . ‖ looking vpon or reuiewing . * some beards or eares of corne : viz. sommers wherein they are ripe . 69 arista is properly the beard or the ●e of the corne ; taken here first for the whole eare of corne , then the eare for the haruest , where in it is ripe ; the haruest for the sommer ; the sommer for the whole yeare , which make a metalepsis , viz. many ●ropes in one , thus passing as by degrees from one to another . see butlers rhet. * heaped vp with turfe , viz. couered with tu●fes heaped one on another . ‖ which is now or was before to me as my kingdome . ‖ shall i wonder being in loue with it , as in former time ? 70 regna ] metap . * kingdomes . 71 mirabor pro admirabor . i thereupon he also bemoneth their lamentable estate , by an exclamation of commiseration : that now the impious souldier should possesse those the● fields so finely husbanded and prepared fo● seede . and that the barbarous stranger should haue their crops of corne . * the vngodly [ viz. wicked or prophane ] souldier , shall he haue these new broken vp grounds so well ordered or tilled , or dressed , [ viz. these fallow fields so well prepared for seede . 72 novaie , vbi satum f●it , & antequam secunda satione ren●vetur , qui●scit . * the barbarous [ or rude souldier ] or the rude fellow , or the barbarian [ shall he haue ] these standing corne [ viz. these crops of corne ? 73 en quo ] exclamat● commiserationis . k thus he proceedeth complaining of their discord whither it had brought them , and for whom they had sowne their fields . ‖ behold to what a state , contention [ or warre ] hath brought vs the vnhappy inhabitants of mantua . 74 en , en . anaph . l yet after by turning the speech vnto himselfe , he comforts himselfe herein notwithstanding : that he might plant pea●e trees and vines otherwhere . or rather complaines of his folly in planting . 75 insere nunc , ] apostrophe , viz. a turning of the speech to himselfe . ‖ plantor set peare-trees . * set vines in order m and then withall speaking to his goates which had in time past bene his chiefe delight , bids them farewell ; lamenting this , that he might not see them any more to feede ( as it were hanging ) vpon the tops of the rocks , like as sometimes he had done , lying vnder them in the greene valleys farre remote . * go ye , or get ye gone . 76 ite ] apostrophe to the goates . ‖ sometime my happie cattell . 77 ite , ite . epan . * i cast downe . ‖ i shall not hereafter lying all along in a greene valley see you as i haue bene wont . * den or caue . ‖ to hang [ viz. because the goates seeme to hang vpon the steepe rocks whē they feede on them . n he should sing no moe songs following them , neither should they crop the flourishing trifoly , or bitter willowes , or other such like shrubs , as they had bene wont . * no songs or verses . ‖ eate or brouze vpon the blooming shrubs . 78 cythisus is a kind of trifoly called tetrifoly , a plant greatly increasing milke , and good against the rot in cattell , taken here for any such kind of hearbe or shrub , good for goates . syn. sp● . 79 amaras hominibus , capris su●es . ‖ sallowes , which are bitter to our taste , though pleasant vnto goates . * me feeding [ you ] viz. hauing me to tend you , or to follow you , ‖ not withstanding . o tityru● here concludeth the dialogue , in●iting melibe● to tarrie with him all night , and to rest and refresh himselfe ; and that by sundry reasons . tit. ‖ stay , tarrie , or abide with me . ‖ vpon a bed made of tender boughes of trees , or leaues , or flowers , or vpon the soft greene grasse , as sheepheards in that hot countrey vsed . * vpon a greene leafe . 80 fronde ] syn. spec . * there are to vs mellow apples . 1. for the commodiousnesse of his lodging there vpon the greene leaues . * soft , ripe , or pleasant . * there are ] soft chestnuts [ viz. fully ripe , or very pleasant . * and plenty of pressed milke , [ viz. turned to cheese , or of curds and creame . 2. because he had good prouision to giue a sheepheard entertainement , both of mellow apples , ripe chestnuts , & of curds and creame and cheese enough . ‖ the chimneyes of the townes and farmes about do smoke as toward supper time . 3. for that it now 〈◊〉 towards night , which 〈◊〉 setteth out and amplifieth by the smoking of chimneyes , the increasing of the shadowes of the hils both in length and greatnesse , as they are wont to do toward● the euening . ‖ the shadowes waxing bigger do shew it to be neare tonight . for the nearer it is to the sunne setting , the greater the shadowes are . * to whom the name is [ viz , which hath the name alexis . ‖ a sheepheard called corydon . * being taken or caught with the loue of the lad alexis [ viz. being exceedingly affectioned to him : * pretermitteth nothing of those things [ viz. ouerslippeth no oportunitie or meanes . ] * appertaine or belong . * to stroke softly [ viz. to win by smoothing or flattery , or to intice . ] ‖ to gaine from him mutuall loue [ viz. to cause alexis to loue him ●gaine . ] * vnderstandeth himselfe , neither to profit any thing . * flatteries or alluring words . * or by his little gifts or presents . * returning to himselfe [ viz. be thinking himselfe better . * madnesse . * that he must returne [ viz. to returne . ] * to the intermitted [ or omitted ] care [ viz. the care which for a time he had left off . ] * of his houshold estate or matters belonging to his family or domesticall businesse . ‖ cast off or remoue , or put away , or driue away . * tediousnesse [ viz. wearinesse or griefe . ] ‖ vnfortunate loue . * grow or spring . * and [ viz. and indeed or and also . ] * we take [ viz. vnderstand ] virgil by corydon . * beleeue [ viz. may giue credit to . ] * by alexis [ we vnderstand ] alexander the boy of pollio ▪ [ vnder the name of alexis is meant , &c. ] * whom he receiued of him [ viz. of pollio ] after for a gift [ or a reward ] viz. bestowed vpon him freely . * corydon a sheepheard : * burned [ viz. was inflamed with the loue of faire alexis : [ or ●ehemently loued : ‖ beautifull or well fauoured alexis : * delights or dainties [ viz. the onely solace of his maister . * neither could he haue what he might hope : [ viz. yet he obtained not any thing but onely a vaine hope of him . * continually [ viz. vsually or very often , or day by day . * being shadie tops [ viz. broade & spreading , and so making a shade with their tops . ‖ he reuolued , or rolled , or vainely vttered . * [ verses ] [ viz. rimes or words ] ill set together , or ill composed or disordered . * with a vaine study [ viz. vainely or all in vaine . ] * thou carest for nothing or not at all [ viz. thou carest not for . * verses . ‖ thou hast no compassion of me . * to conclude . * thou compellest me to die [ viz. thou killest my heart . ] al. thou wilt compell [ viz. cause me to die or hasten my death . ] * also the cattell or the very cattell : * do endeauour or seeke to take the shades and colds , [ viz. shadie and coole places or the shady cold . * the bushes of thornes , [ viz. thorny places or shrubs ] also do hide ‖ serpents like newtes . a thestylis a countrey woman , syn. spec . * doth stampe [ or pun ] together garlicke and wilde thime being strong smelling hearbes . ‖ wilde betany smelling like wilde marioram , or wilde thime . ‖ mowers or haruest men . * with the snatching heate , [ viz. the violent or vehement heate . al. but [ yet ] the groues [ or thickets ] do resound [ my songs ] with me , [ together ] with hoarse grashoppers , whilst i spie on euery side , thy footsteps vnder the burning sunne . * do sound backe as the echo , [ or do giue an echo . ‖ with hoarse singing grashoppers , or grashoppers singing hoarsly vnder the scorching heate . * i go about to seeke or view euery way . ‖ the treadings or prints of thy feete . * hath it not , &c. ‖ abide or endure . b tristes iras , ] met. effecti . * the sorrowfull angers , [ viz. the frowning lookes . * disdaines . * whether or no menalcas ? [ viz. were it not better to loue menalcas , or to endure menalcas to frowne vppon me , or to disdaine me . ‖ foule , or at least not so faire , or of a swart colour . * white [ viz. beautifull . ‖ o well fauoured youth . * colour [ viz. fairenesse . ] c ligustra [ met. subj . pro floribus ligustri . * the white priuet or prime-print : ‖ fall downe and are lost . ‖ violets of purple colour , near● to blacke , [ or blacke hurtle berries , or bramble berries ] are gathered . ‖ thou despisest me , and askest not after me . ‖ scorned . al. how rich i am in cattle , how plent●us in milke as white as snow . ‖ what my wealth and state 〈◊〉 . * of snow-white cattell , viz. in sheepe hauing their wooll as white as driuen snow , which he accounts most excellent . * how abounding of milke [ i am . ] ‖ i haue a thousand ewe lambs [ viz. which are most excellent for breede . * stray or wander , viz. feede at liberty where they will. * in the sicilian mountaines . * new milke [ ● not wanting to me ] in sommer , neither is it lacking in the cold [ viz. in winter . ] ‖ i sing the same songs , &c. * if at any time [ viz. whensoeuer he gathered together his heards or flockes of cattell . d armenta are heards of greater cattell . * in the hill aracinthus butting on the shoar● , or being neare to athens , for so also the word actctaeus may be taken . ‖ hard fauoured . e he speaketh after the manner of sheepheards , who in stead of a glasse vse oft times to behold themselues in the water . * in the shoare [ viz. as i stood vpon the sea shoare , i saw my shadow in the water . ] ‖ banke or side . ‖ was calme [ viz. quiet , not stirred by the winds . ‖ to compare with daphnis ‖ for beauty , though thou thy selfe be iudge ‖ likenesse , or counterfeit , or image . ‖ beguile vs. * oh that onely it may like [ or lift ] thee to inhabite the countries base [ or homely ] to thee [ but pleasant vnto me ] with me , [ or to inhabite with me : * and to inhabite [ our ] low cotages . * and to fasten in the ground , [ or to driue do●e ] forked stakes , [ or as some thinke , to s●ite through [ viz. to kill ] stags or harts . f cer●i are taken for forked props like harts hornes , to hold vp their little sheepheards houses . ‖ to the greene marsh-mallowes or water mallowes , for so some take hibiscus . g viridi hibisco , for , ad viridem hibiscum . * bulrush . * thou shalt imitate pan , [ that is , euen pan himselfe . ] h pan is called the god of sheepheards , because as the poets say , he ordained first the sheepheards life , & was most excellent in such musicke as the sheepheards vse . * in singing together with me . ‖ pan deuised piping , or the sheepheards pipe . * appointed or ordained . ‖ diuers or sundry reedes . ‖ pan is the protector both of sheepe and sheepheards . ‖ to haue put a pipe to thy lip [ or to thy mouth . ] * thy little lip with a reede . ‖ trie or assay . ‖ that he might learne this ●kill of piping . * these same things . * there is to me a pipe compact [ or framed ] of seuen vnlike hemlocks , [ viz. hollow stalkes of hemlocks or reeds , whereof each was bigger then other in order , both in greatnesse and in sound . * gaue me for a gift or for a iewell . * this [ pipe . ] * the second [ maister , viz. thou art the second possess●r of this pipe . ‖ e●ied , [ viz. that i should h● this pipe . * there are to me moreouer two kids [ or yong wilde goates or roes , ] found of me in no safe valley [ or place , or not without some perill ] their skins also being sprinkled with white [ viz. full of little white spots , like stars , or of diuers colours white and blacke . * they drie [ or sucke dry ] either of them two teates of a sheepe [ viz. either of them anewe ] in a day , or sucke twise a day . * which [ kids . ] * intreateth [ or desireth ] now of late , [ or a good while ago . ] * to leade [ or haue them ] away , [ viz. that she might haue them . * she shall do it . ‖ thou esteemest so basely of our gifts . * are so base to thee [ or with thee . ] ‖ come hither oh welfauoured youth . ‖ loe or see . i nympha is properly a new maried wife , a nymph : here by the nymphes are meant goddesses of the medowes or woods . amongst the heathens they were taken for goddesses haunting riuers , trees , mountaines , medowes , or the like . ‖ baskets full of lillies . * white or faire nais . k nais is taken for one of the nymphes or fairies haunting the riuers and fountaines . * cropping . * the heads [ or tops ] of poppies for thee . * ioynes [ or knits together ] * primrose peerelesse , or flower ▪ deluce as some will. * auisse . * weauing them in or making garlands of them . ‖ cassia is commonly taken for cinamon , here it is taken for a kind of hearbe . * paints [ or sets pleasantly ] soft violets with the yellow marigold . ‖ with yellow marigolds . * hoarie apples with a tender downe [ or cotten ] [ meaning quinces being hoary . ] ‖ especially commended . * i will adde , or adioyne : or put to them . ‖ plums as soft as waxe , or fine yellow plums . * and honour shall be also to this apple , [ viz. this apple shall be set by for his fairenesse , ] or this quince by synecd . or plum by a metamor . * and o● ye lawrels , i will crop [ or plucke ] you . * thou next mirtle [ viz. next to the lawrell in sweetnesse . ‖ i will plucke branches from thee also . * so put [ or set in order . ] * do mixe or mingle . * a rusticke or rude fellow . * neither can iôlas grant [ viz. suffer himselfe to be ouercome of thee by gifts . ] l iolas was another ▪ sheepheard which stroue for the 〈◊〉 of alexis . * what would i to me poore wretch , [ viz. what meant i poore wretch . * lost [ or vndone , or vtterly cast away or out of hope . * sent in . * liquid [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 cleare waters . ‖ mad youth . ‖ dwelt in . m paris the sonne of pri●mus king of troy , descended from dard● the sonne of iupiter & electrae , which dardanus was the first builder of troy , calling it with the countrey where it stood , dardania . * pall●s her selfe let her inhabite , [ viz. delight in the towers or castles which her selfe hath built . ‖ content vs best . * before all other things . ‖ fell , fierce or terrible . * follow [ in chase . ‖ the lasciui●us or ranke yong goate . * his owne pleasure draweth euery one , [ viz. euery one followes his owne delight . * bring backe the plowes , [ viz. the ●mes [ or plowes ] come home . * to the yoake . * departing , [ viz. going downeward . ‖ increasing longer and bigger . ‖ although the heate of the sunne 〈◊〉 , yet the 〈◊〉 of my loue 〈◊〉 increased . * can be to loue . * taken , viz. ouertaken thee . * there is to thee a vine . * in an elme tree full of boughes or leaues . * thou doest prepare rather . * to wea●e or plot something . * of those things whereof neede requireth . * with twigs and a soft bulrush . ‖ loue. * disdaine thee , [ or despise th●e . ] * which is ●tituled ] palemon ▪ * menalcas and dametas being sheepheards , first do striue by mutuall taunts [ or reproches or scoffes ] betweene themselues . * forthwith [ or anon ] palemon coming betweene [ as ] a iudge , * they dispute [ or debate the contention for victorie , ] ‖ a song [ or rime ] answered by turnes , viz. first by one , then the other . * either [ or both of them ] is made [ or found ] equall . ‖ iudgement . * dametas tell me whose cattell [ is it ? ] or are they ? a pe● , ●men collectinum pro grege . * whether [ is it , or whether are they the cattell ] of melibeus ? [ or melibeus flocke ? ] * but [ they are the cattell ] of egon . * deliuered [ them ] to me [ to keep ] or to 〈◊〉 te●ding . b o●is for o●es . sy●ecd . speci● , sing●l . pro plur . o semper 〈◊〉 ] 〈◊〉 . al. o the cattell [ or flocke ] of sheepe alwayes vnhappie . ‖ i 〈◊〉 himselfe the maister . * cherish [ or make much of , or seek● to win the loue of ] neera . * to himselfe . ‖ keeping or tending another man● cattell . c succ● is the naturall moisture that a healthfull bodie receiueth from the meate . * iuyce or moisture is drawne away , * to [ viz ▪ from the cattell . * milk [ is drawne away or withdrawne ] to the lambes . * these things to be obiected more sparingly to men . ‖ to such as i am . * who you . ellipsis . al. al. the corners of your eyes looking awrie [ or ouerthwartly ] viz. when you looked a squint . ‖ disdaining . d transuersa pr● transuersim , adiecti●m pr● aduerbi● . ‖ thou hadst the nymphes f●ourable , which did not straightway be●ray thee , but onely smile at thee . * easie to be pacified . ‖ spoile . * the groue of mycon . e arbust● is 〈◊〉 such a groue o● ▪ trees , ●s where 〈◊〉 grow vp by trees . * cut , or cut off ▪ viz. thee●ishly . * very new or yong . ‖ a bad vinehooke ▪ [ viz. marring the vines , or a hooke thee●ishly vsed . * or [ who saw thee ] here , [ or they smiled at thee here . ‖ beeches . ‖ daphnis bow and arrowes or shafts . * per●erseor froward menalcas . * grieuedst for [ viz. didst repine at with e●ie . * and thou wouldst haue died if thou hadst not hurt him some way . ‖ thou wouldest haue burst with anger . * what the maisters shall do when theeues dare aduenture such things ? ‖ theeuish seruants dare be bold to do [ or attempt ] such things , or play such pranks . * thou worst [ or vile fellow . ] * to catch by craft the he-goate of micon [ or micons gelded goate . ] * his wolfe-dog [ or band-dog ] barking much [ or loud . ] f lycisca a dog bred of a wolfe & a bitch , with which they vsed to keepe their flocks . * i cried . * doth he snatch away [ viz. get or conuey himselfe so speedily ] or whither trudgeth he ? ‖ ho tityrus , looke to thy cattell : thou hid'st thy selfe behind the flags or sheere-grasse . * thou l●yest hid . * whether he being ouercome in singing , should not restore [ or giue . ] ‖ in our triall for maistery in singing and piping . * which my pipe had deserued by [ my verses , [ viz. which i had wonne by piping and singing . ‖ the reward of my victorie . * himselfe to be able to restore [ him ] viz. the goate . * [ deseruedst ] thou [ or didst thou win ] him by singing [ viz. thou so vnskilfull , of him so skilfull . * or was there euer to thee a pipe ioyned [ or set together ] with waxe , [ viz. any pipe that was ought worth ? * oh vnlearned [ viz. thou rude fellow . ] * to lose altogether for nothing ] viz. to play for nothing , as those do whom none regard . * miserable [ or sory or silly ] song [ or verse . ] * with a whizzing or hissing stubble . * in places where three wayes meet , [ viz. in the comr●on high wayes , or where country fellowes vse to meete , or sitting by the high way side . * therefore wilt thou [ that ] we trie by experience . ‖ one after another . * both [ or both each after other . ‖ i wil play with thee for this heis●r . * i put downe , viz. will stake downe or lay for gage . ‖ flinch , or despise the wager [ or offer ] any way . ‖ she is milked twise [ in a day . ] * she nourisheth two young ones with her vdder [ or paps , viz. with the milke in her vdder . ] * say thou , or tell me . * thou mayest striue , viz. trie for the maistery is playing with me . * lay downe [ or stake downe , viz. play for ] with thee . * lay downe [ or stake downe , viz. play for ] with thee . * any thing of [ my ] flocke , or from my flocke . * and for [ or , and why ] ‖ they straightly count all my cattell that i cannot play for any one , but it will be missed . * for there is a seuere or straight father to me , there is an vniust [ or hard stepmother . * do number [ or count [ our ] cattell twise in a day . * and one of them [ tels ] the kids . ‖ which were cunningly carued by that excellent or famous workman alcimedon . ‖ excelling or most skilfull . * ( because [ or sith that ] it l●steth thee to be mad , [ viz. that thou darest thus chalenge me ▪ or thou art disposed to be so lustie . g tornu● ] is a toole or instrument with which turners vse to make things round . * greater then thy heifer by much . * [ to wit ] conon , [ viz. the picture of conon . ] * to which a limber vine added aboue [ it ] with an easie [ or fine cutting . ] turning toole . h conon a famous egyptiā mathematiciā . the poet brings in the shepherd speaking thus rudely , as most 〈◊〉 his ignorāce . * doth clothe [ or co●er ] the iuie berries spread [ or scattered ] abroad with a pale [ or wa● ] iuie . * the other man. * signes [ viz. images grauen [ or carued . ‖ the famous mathematician , who hath po●rtrayed or set out in tables the whole world , to wit , archimedes , or as some thinke , hipparchus , or some other . i radius is here taken for an instrument with which geometricians vse to measure , as the iacobs staffe , or the like : so called for the proportion it hath to the sun beame , which radius signifieth more properly . * geometricall instrument . * [ who also hath described [ viz set out to the capacitie of the h●bandman ] ‖ the times both of sowing and haruest . * the reaper or mower should haue . k the plow man is called crooked , because they commonly go crooked or sto●ping in holding the plow. * neither yet haue i moued [ my ] lips to them but keepe them layed vp . l put my lips to them , for , put them to my lips ▪ hypa●age . ‖ drunke in them [ or so much as put them to my lips . * and the same alcimedon hath made two cups for vs [ also ▪ ] * and embraced [ or compassed them ] about the stoukes , viz. eares or handles . * soft bearefoot● . * and hath set orpheus , &c. m orpheus a notable poet cunning on the harpe , whom the poets faine to haue bene able by his excellent musick to draw wilde beasts , woods and mountaines after him . ‖ following [ him ] viz. dancing after his musicke . * keepe [ them ] layed vp . ‖ if thou compare them to my heifer , or in regard of the heifer . * there is nothing , [ viz they are not to be compared to my heifer . ‖ brag of . * thou shalt ne●er sti● away to day . ‖ to what place , or to what iudge soeuer . ‖ at least let euen him that comes , heare these things [ viz. our verses . ] ‖ [ our neighbour ] palemon who comes . * i will make that thou neuer prouoke any man hereafter in voice [ or by thy voice , [ viz. that thou darest not . * but go to [ or begin . ] ‖ any thing worth the hearing . * stay. * do i flie or shrinke from any man. * [ see that ] thou lay vp these things in thy lowest [ or deepest ] senses , [ viz. marke diligently the skill of it seuerally . ‖ wager , or matter of our contention . * say ye [ or speake ye , viz. sing ye . ] * in the soft her be . * euery field [ bringeth forth ] now euery tree brings forth or buds . * beare leaues . * the yeare [ viz. time of the yeare , is in the fairest hu● . * dametas begin thou . ‖ by mutuall courses [ viz. by turnes . n camoenae the ●ine muses . * first the one ▪ then the other . ‖ i will begin my song from iupiter , viz. by calling vpon and honouring iupiter , that i may haue better successe : or of iupiter . * full of iupiter , [ viz. of iupiters diuine power . * he inhabites [ or loues to inhabite ] the earths or lands . * my verses [ are ] a care , [ viz. of speciall regard ] to him , o phoebus a name of apollo ▪ frō the brightnes of the sun , which the poets call phoebus . * his owne , [ or the proper gifts to phoebus , [ viz. the gifts peculiar to apollo ] are alwayes with me . * [ to wit ] bay trees , and hyacinthus sweetly red . [ or thus , lawrels and hyacynthus pleasantly red ▪ being the proper gifts to apollo , are euer with me . p hyacinthus is taken by some for a purple flower which we call crowtoes , by others for the red lilly . ‖ galatea my louer . ‖ nice or toying . * seekes [ viz. throwes at me ] with an apple . * flies . ‖ behind the willowes or sallowes . * and she desireth her seife to be seene before , [ viz. whereby she shew●s her loue to me . ] ‖ meets me . * that not euen delia is now better knowne . ‖ delia a name of diana , to wit , the hunting goddesse . * gifts are gotten [ of me ] for my venus . * i my selfe haue noted [ viz ▪ obserued ] the place whither the airie stockdoues [ viz. building in the aire or abroad ] haue caried or heaped together [ their nests . ] q palu●bes seeme to be called aër●ae , because they build and haunt in trees and in the woods ▪ and not in houses as the pigeons . ‖ ringdoues or stockdoues . * boy , viz. amyntas . * i haue bene able [ to get . ] * [ to wit ] ten golden apples [ viz. orenges . * gathered or picked out of a tree belonging to the wood or wilde . * and what things hath galatea spoken to vs ? * o ye winds [ i wish ] that ye carry [ or see that you carry . ] or ye may carrie . * what doth it profit [ me ] viz. what am i the better . ‖ contemne [ or thinke basely of me . * m●nd . * if i keepe the nets whilest , &c. * followest after in chase , viz. huntest or chasest . ‖ i onely keepe the nets , and enioy thee not further ? q iolas is said to be a name of menalcas . * send phyllis to me . ‖ i now celebrate my birth day . r vpon their birth-dayes they vsed yearly to feast for a remembrance thereof . * when i shall make with a yong heifer [ viz. shall sacrifice a heifer . s this sacrifice was called sacrificium ambervalle , because it was first led about the fields , and then sacrificed to ceres . ‖ corne. * before other [ loues or maids . * me to depart , [ viz. ‖ when i departed [ forth of the citie ] or to thinke that i should depart . * oh faire iolas , a long farewell [ be to thee ] farewell . t the first vale is here put as a word of art , and so a nowne substantiue newter vndeclined . u the last vale hathe short and vncut off by a grecisme . * sorrowfull or grieuous , viz. terrible or horrible . x stabulum a staule or place where beasts stand . the generall name of all places where cattell abide . * the showres [ are a dreadful thing ] to the ripe corne , viz. corne when it is full ripe . the winds [ are horrible ] to the trees : the angers of amaryllis [ are grieuous ] to vs. [ viz. amaryllis displeasure or lowring . * fields sowne , [ viz. lately sowne . y the seruice is a tree bearing fruite much like to cheries or haw● * arbute [ is pleasant ] * kids put from their dams . ‖ sallow or ozier . * [ is pleasant ] or delight some . ‖ pleaseth , or delighteth me . * muse , [ viz. verse . ‖ homely or vnpolished . z picrides ] the muses were called pierides for the pleasantnesse and solitarinesse of the h●l pierius for students . like as they had sundry other names of other hils and fountains . ‖ for him that shall reade your verses , viz. for pollio . * and euen pollio himselfe . ‖ stately heroicall verses , which were w●nt to haue a bull for their praemium . * s●ake , viz. ●ub or push . * sprinkle abroad , or cast about , or throw about . ‖ attaine that dignitie . * whither he reioyceth [ thee to haue come also . * let hony flow to him , [ viz. let him haue plentie of all good things , [ or , i wish he may haue . ] ‖ sharpe or prickie . ‖ ●ush or shrub . ‖ rose of ierusalem , or our ladies gloues . * hates not . * he that hates not bauius , let him loue thy verses [ or songs . ] * and let the same man [ that is delighted with thy verses . ] * ioyne [ or tie ] foxes [ to the plow. [ viz. let him do th●se things which are most absurd . ‖ children . * oh ye boyes or lads . * growing . * flie ye from hence . * a cold snake lieth hid , [ viz. a venemous snake . the snake is called cold , because he makes the part cold which is bitten or stung by it . * al. ye sheepe spare [ viz. be afraid ] to go forward too farre . * spare . * [ your ] sheep to go too far [ towards the brinke [ of the riuer ] it is not trusted well to the banke [ viz. it is not safe trusting the banke . * fleeces . a rei●ce capellas . pe● pro celeusmaticu● ex quatuor breuibu● . pro dactylo . or rather by a syn●resis , reice capellas . * cast away [ viz driue far away ] thy litle goates seeding [ or pasturing * i my selfe . ‖ euery one . ‖ spring . * shall be . * [ ye ] boyes . ‖ the scorching heate of the mid day . * catch before . * presse hard in vaine [ in milking ] [ their ] paps with the palmes of our bands . * alas how leane a bull is to me in fat pulse , [ or in a fat field , [ or ranke pasture . b ar●o , some reade er●o . er●um is a kind of pulse good to fat cattell in a short space . * a destruction . * to the maister of the cattell . * neither certainly loue is the cause * to these [ sheepe ] viz. loue is not the cause of their l●nnesse . * [ their skins ] scarce cleaue to [ their ] bones [ for lacke of flesh . ] * i know not . ‖ what witch with her malicious eie , * bewitcheth my tender lambes [ to me ] c this is vnderstood of a chimney , and thus propounded to make it more darke . * earths , or lands , or grounds . ‖ compasse of heauen , viz. the heauen * lieth open [ or extends it selfe ] three elnes . ‖ and i will esteeme of thee as of the oracle of apollo . d apollo had principally the power of diuining and declaring obscure matters . e by the flowers are thought to be meant hyacinthus , or the red lilly , so named of hyacinthus being slaine , & turned into a flower of his name , hauing as it were the first letter of his name written vpon ●t , whereof we may see the fable in the 10. book of ou●ds met. for both these riddles see ramus comment . * written on [ or intituled [ according ] to the names of kings , [ viz. wherein are written names of kings ] ‖ and then if thou tell me this , take thee phyllis as thine owne , for whom we contended before . * and thou alone haue phyllis . * it is not of vs , viz. in our power or abiliti● . al. thus some take the speech to be diuided after non ▪ nostrum inter vos , &c. al. no , [ it is not your office , but ] it is ours to compose so great controuersies , viz. i to end so great a contentiō . ‖ in my iudgement both of you haue deserued the heifer , [ viz. the wager first offered . ] palemon speaking of being afraid of sweete loue , seemes to aliude to those verses of menalcas , dulce satis humor , &c. and to speake it for menalcas cause : and of the b●ter loue for dametas , who had said , tris●e ●upus stabulis . * either shall feare sweete loues , or shall trie by experience bitter [ loues . * ye boyes shut now [ your ] * riuers , &c. viz. we haue had sport enough , now make an end . * a sonne is borne to asinius pollio captaine of the germaine armie , the same yeare in which he conquered salone a citie of dalmatia , whom he called saloninus , from the name of the citie taken . a those things which sibyl prophecied concerning christ , virgil turneth and applieth to saloninus pollios sonne now borne ; and to the felicitie of augustus gouernment . * the poet singeth a genethliacum to him [ viz. maketh a poeme of his natiuitie and future hopes , ] in this eclogue , wresting thither those things which sibyl had sung of the future felicitie of the golden age . ‖ incidently or vpon occasion . ‖ intermingleth or putteth betweene here and there . ‖ father of salonicus . * of augustus himselfe . ‖ ye muses , or ye goddesses of sicil● viz. of theocritus . b sicelides , casus graecanicus pro sicilienses . * let vs sing greater things by a litle , [ viz. let vs handle an argument somewhat more stately or loftie then our pasiorals , and so writtē in a stile somewhat more loftie , as two other eclogues are . * groues of trees , or thickets , or bushe● and shrubs , [ viz. verses of such base matters . * wilde tamariske . ‖ all are not delighted in such base matters as our pastorall songs are . * all [ men . ] ‖ our pastorals . * may be worthy of a consull [ viz. not vnmeete or vnbeseeming a consull . c the iron age ▪ wherof sibyl the prophetesse of cuma writ long before , is now come and gone . * of the cumean verse [ or song ] viz. wherof sibyl of cuma writ in verse ] or foretold . * hath come now , and is as it were past . d the foure ages of the world ( which sibyl is said to haue set out by foure kind of mettals , viz the golden , siluer , brazen , and iron age , wherof see ouid in his metamorphosis ) are now beginning again . * is borne from the whole , [ viz. is begun or restored againe anew , as it was from the very first beginning of the world , [ or is renewed . ] e [ now ] viz. now that saloninus is borne . * the virgin also doth returne [ to the earth ] to wit , iustice being banished long before and gone to heauē . f virgo ] by virgo here may seem to be meant the virgin ma● bearing our sauior , thogh the poet take it for erigone or astraea , which as the poets faine , was the last of these , which went to heauen , being placed among the hea uenly signes . * kingdomes returne . [ viz. the golden age wherin saturne first reigned . * now [ that ] new progenie [ viz. whereof sibyl spake ] is sent downe from the high heauen . ‖ issue . ‖ from god. g lucina ] diana , who is therfore named lucina , because she and iuno are said to bring forth the birth into the light . ‖ preserue . * the child being now in the birth , [ or to be now presently borne . ] * who [ being safely borne ] [ or , who liuing and being in saf●tie ] * nation [ or people ] shall end first . * shall arise in the whole world . ‖ caesar augustus the true apollo of this age . h by apollo he meaneth augustus the emperour , who was as it were the apollo of that age , hauing then the chiefe empire of all the world . or because he was thought to be descended from apollo . apollo and diana being the children of iupiter by latona . ‖ and thus . * this renowne [ or honour ] of the age , viz. this golden age . ‖ shall first begin . * thee [ being consull ] i say ] thee being consull . i by the great moneths are either meant iuly and august , which before were called quintilis and sextilis , and had not yet taken their names of iulius and augustus , to maintaine the memorie in their names : or else thereby are vnderstood the moneths of the great yeare , wherein all the starres should returne to their first placing or constitution . * to proceed [ or go forward . * thee being captaine or guide . * footsteps , tracks , or traces , or remainders . ‖ [ of the ciuill warres by augustus , viz. ] the punishments and plagues due vnto vs for our former wickednes * made voide or frustrate [ viz. purged . ‖ deliuer all nations . ‖ from feare of vengeance , which was continuall before . * he [ viz. augustus , or saloninus pollios sonne . ‖ liue as a god , or be made a god. ‖ worthy nobles of rome . * mixed [ or mingled ] with the gods. * and he himselfe shall be seene to them . k this he vnderstandeth of augustus caesar , that he should thus gouerne the world , subdued and quieted by iulius caesar his father , by whom he was adopted . * rule the [ whole ] world being quieted * by his fathers vertues . ‖ brought to quietnesse by the valour and wisedome of his father . l these things which follow , the poet meaneth of saloninus , whose infancie he maketh the infancie of the golden age , wherein all good things should begin to abound of their owne accord . * but , oh child , [ viz. oh salo●ine ] the earth shall powre out vnto thee her first litle gifts with no tillage [ or dressing ] viz. of her owne accord . * erring [ or wandring ivies . ] * some call it nardus rusticus : others , sage of ierusalem , others london buttons . * and [ it shall powre forth ] egyptian beanes , &c. * smiling bearefoote . * the litle goate themselues shall be take [ them ] home [ or bring backe [ themselues ] home , referent [ se ] domum . * or the litle goates shall bring home their vdders [ or dugs or teates ] stret●ed out with milke [ or filled with milke . * neither shall the heards of cattell feare , &c. ‖ fierce or cruell lions . ] * great lions , [ viz. * the cradles themselues shall powre out to thee fawning [ or flattering , viz. sweete ] flowers . [ that is , in the time of thy infancie shall be all pleasant delights . * also . * die. * and the deceitfull herbe of venim [ or poison ] shall die , viz. all euill shall depart , as venimous herbs & serpents . * the rose of ierusalem [ or our ladies rose , or the grape of armenia , [ viz. all kind of most excellent plants shall spring vp in all countries . m here saloninus youth and first yeares are decribed by his studies and acts , and in it a second degree of the golden age by the adiuncts of it , viz. abundance of all good things . * commonly . * but as soone as th● shalt be able now to reade the praises of noble men , [ viz. men noble for the loue of vertue , which were reputed halfe gods. * and the deeds of thy parent , [ viz. his renowned acts . ‖ to vnderstand true and heauenly vertue . * vertue . n campu● pro arisr● campi flaues●ent . hypallage . ‖ the tender eares of corne shall wax yellow in the fields by litle and litle of their owne accord . * with the soft beard of corne . the beard being put for the eare in the corne , and so for the whole corne , and finally for many cornes . metalepsis . * and the red grape shall hang vpon the great brambles vnhusbanded [ or vntrimmed , or not cut ] but wilde . * sen●is is the great blamble or blacke berry bush . ‖ shall drop . * dewy hony [ viz hony made of the dew of heauen [ shall hang vpon the oakes ] or hony falling with the dew . o a third degree of the golden age followeth . * yet a few footsteps of the old deceit [ or fraud , or wickednesse ] shall be vnder [ or continue closely . * old ] viz. of the former ages . ‖ inforce men to go to sea through couetousnes , or to vse nauigation again . p thetys a goddesse of the sea , wise of neptune , put for the s●a . met. 〈◊〉 . * which [ prints ] * floatboates or lighters made of peeces of timber pinned together for a shift . * which [ may command ] to compasse &c. * which may command to cut in furrowes to the earth , [ viz. to plow or tre●h the earth . q tiphys was a notable shipwright , and gouernour of the ship which caried the noble grecians into colchis . * then there shall be another tiphys , &c. [ viz. other notable shipwrights and mariners . syn. spe . * argo was a famous ship , wherein iaso● and 54 chosen nobles of greece sailed to colchis , [ here put for other excellent ships . ] ‖ new warres . * great [ or worthy ] achilles shall be sent , &c. ‖ there shall be valiant souldiers and renowned warres againe . syn. spec . * from hence [ or afterwards ] when [ thy ] confirmed age [ or age confirmed , viz thy ●iper àge shall make thee a man. * the very carier [ by sea ] [ or ●e that is car●ed . ] * shall giue place to the sea . * neither the pine tree belonging to ships [ or seruing to make ships ] shall change her wares . al. the conquerour by sea . * euery earth shall beare [ or bring forth ] all things ▪ viz all things shall grow euery where abundantly . r na●tiça pinus pro ●aui , nauis pro nautis . metalepsis . * suffer or endure . * harrowes , [ viz. rakes , or any thing wherewith the cl●ds are broken . ] * the vineyard [ shall ] not [ suffer ] the hooke , viz the vinehooke . * strong or lastie pl●wer [ or husband man. ] * the wooll shall learne to lie [ viz. to make shew of , or be coloured into ] diuers colours , that is , it shall not need to be died . * n●w [ or one while ] shall change his fleeces with [ or into ] a purple colour sweetly red : now [ or another while ] he shall change 〈◊〉 fleeces ] with a saffarnish [ or saffron coloured ] yellow . ‖ shall vnyoke his buls [ or oxen ] viz shall leaue off his husbandrie , for that there shall be no need thereof . l●tum is an herbe wherewith yellow is died : some take it for the marsh marigold . s murex is a shel-fish , of the licour whereof purple is made , here put for the purple colour it selfe . t cro●o luto for luteo ●roco . ‖ a fine red colour shall adorne [ or beautifie ] of it owne accord the feeding lambes , viz. the sheepe shall change their colours of their owne accord . u sand● is a colour called pa●se-red or arsenick , made of ceruse or white lead and rudd●e , taken here for an herbe . x parcae are the three ladies of destinie , clotho , lachesis and atropos , whereof the first is said to beare the distaff ▪ the second to spin the thread of mans life , the third to cut off the same thread , according to that verse ▪ fert clotho ipsa colum , lachesis net , at atropos occat . called parcae , à non parcendo , quia nomini parcant ; or a par●u , qua●i partae , because they conferre good or euill to them that are borne . they are said to be three , as there are three times , viz past , present , to come ; or three principall ages , childhood or youth , middle age , and old age , in which they cut off mans life . * the three ladies of destinie , or the goddesses of life . * diuine power . * haue said . ‖ spin ye , or draw ye out . * such ages . ‖ oh the renowned sonne of iupiter . * vndertake [ or take in hand ] [ thy ] great honours . * the time [ ordained ] will be present now . * nodding , [ viz. staggering , or inclining as readie to fall ] with a weight bending downeward , [ that is , with the present euils . ] * earths or lands . * the tracts [ or coasts ] of the sea . * deepe or profound . ‖ time. * about to come [ or now comming ] by thee , or with thee . ] ‖ oh that i might liue so long . * and how much breath , [ viz. so much breath as ] shall be enough [ or suffice ] to tell thy deeds . * neither the thracian orpheus shall ouercome me in verses , [ viz. in setting forth thy praises . y orpheus an ancient poet , and very cunning on the harpe : sonne to apollo and calliope , who as the poets report , could by his excellent musick draw the wilde beasts , woods & mountaines after him , meaning that by his eloquence he could perswade all sorts . * neither linus , although [ his ] mother [ be present ] to this , viz. to orpheus , and the father [ be presens ] to this [ viz. to linus . z linus a most ancient thebane poet , son to apollo and vrania . ‖ though calliope one of the nine muses , mother of orpheus were present to helpe him , and glorious apollo the father of linus were present to assist him likewise . ‖ yea though pan the god of the sheepheards and first inuenter of the rurall verse . * should striue with me [ in verse . ] ‖ archadia [ the country where pan is worshipped , put for the archadians who were excellent musicians . * oh litle boy begin to know [ viz to acknowledge ] thy mother by laughing , [ viz. by smiling at her , [ so to comfort her after her wearinesse and paine . ‖ thy mother hath endured ten moneths wearinesse in going with child with thee . * lothsomnesse , as in lothing meate or drinke . * to [ thy ] mother . ‖ begin to comfort thy parents by smiling at them . * [ for ] neither the god [ genius ] hath vouchsafed ] him [ his table , nor the goddesse [ iuno ] hath accounted [ him ] worthy of [ her ] bed , at whom [ his ] parents haue not laughed [ or smiled . ] a the heathen● ascri bed their pleasures and delights in feasting and belly cheare vnto genius , whom they made the god thereof : and the preseruation of chil dren in their birth and ●nfancie , vnto iuno , and likewise the mariage bed . whence , as the most learned think , by the god here is meant genius , & by the goddesse iuno : that nei ther of thē vouchsafed the childe a●y fauour , because he liued not long after he was born . whereupon also some thinke that these two verses were added by virgil after the death of the child : and that god suffred him not to liue , because the poet , of so great authoritie , had turned and applied that to this child , viz. to salonin● pollio's sonne , which sibyl had proph●d concerning christ the son of god. * which is intituled . * do bewaile or mourne for . ‖ verses to be set vpon his graue or tombe , or his funerall song . ‖ his putting into the number of the gods. * who thinke caesar the dictator stabbed in with three and twentie wounds in the court , a litle before then that the poet writ these things , to be vnderstood [ or meant . ] ‖ three bands of souldiers . ‖ a full legion consisted of 6100 footmen and 730 hors●n . * will roth●r . * of thy [ brother ] flaccus in daphnis , thou makest equall thy brother [ viz. thou makest thy brother nothing inferiour ] to the immortall gods , or doest 〈◊〉 him for a god. a here beginneth first a preparation vnto the songs following . * why do we not sit downe here , [ viz. why do we not rest vs here a while , to delight our selues in musicke ? ‖ mingled . * good , viz. cunning . * thou being skilful to blow vp , &c. viz. in piping . * i skilfull to speake [ or vtter ] verses , viz. in singing . * thou art greater , [ viz. elder , or more ancient or worthier , [ or my better . ] * it is equall me to obey thee , [ viz. that i should obey thee , or be ruled by thee . ] * succeed , [ or go vnder ] the shadowes . ‖ vnconstant or vnstable . * by the west windes mouing [ or blowing ] lightly . ‖ yonder caue [ or hollow place . ] * we go vnder . * behold [ or l● ] how the vine which groweth in the woods hath spread [ or couered ouer ] &c. * with rare clusters of grapes [ viz. with bunches scattered here and there ] or thinly . * what if he may trie to excell [ or surpasse . * onely amyntas can striue [ or may trie with thee . ] viz. none but amyntas [ or i know no sheepheard but amyntas that ] dare play with thee in our countrey . * can striue to thee . graecismus . * can striue or go beyond apollo in song [ or singing ] [ viz. in musicke ] * begin thou the former , or first [ to sing . ] * fiers [ viz. burning , or raging , or mad loues , that i● , songs 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 continent loues ] of phillis . b phyllis daughter of 〈◊〉 ly●rgus , who 〈◊〉 her selfe for● by demoph●n 〈◊〉 of the king of athens , hanged her selfe , and was turned into a tree . d codrus a king of athens , who in warre against the laconians ( hauing receiued this answer from the oracle , that that side should get the victorie whose king was slaine ) changed his attire , and rushed in amongst the enemies , wonderfully pro●oking them , and was killed by them . * shall keepe . * thy kids [ now ] pasturing [ or feeding . ] b alcon an excellent archer of ●reete , who with an arrow slue a serpent wrapped about his sonne , and neuer touched the child . * verses . * of a beech tree . * and tuning [ these verses . ] * by course , [ viz. one while tuning , another while noting . * [ that ] amyntas striue , [ viz. trie what he can do . * how much . ‖ bending willow or ozier . * giues place . ‖ to the goodly oliue tree . of these three stories see ramus vpon this place more at large . ‖ spike . * red rose gard●ns . * amyntas giues place so much vnto thee in our iudgement . * oh boy ceasse [ viz. leaue off ] [ to speake ] 〈◊〉 things ▪ we haue succeeded [ viz. we h●ue approched or come vnder ] the ca● . f here beginneth the epicedion or funerall song for daphn● as yet vnburied : whereof are three parts : the first from the mourning of his mother , of the nymphes , the cattell , and the very lions . * wept for . * extinct , or put out , [ viz. taken away ] * by a cruell funerall . * ye hazels are witnesses , and ye riuers [ are witnesses ] to the nymphs . * hauing embraced . ‖ the wofull corpes . * [ doth call ] both the gods [ cruell ] and also calls the starres cruell . ‖ cruell , because they suffered her sonne to be so cruelly murdered . ‖ no heardmen . * oxen or kine . * being fed . * cold riuers . [ viz waters . ] ‖ in those dayes when this slaughter was committed . * an herbe [ viz. a blade or leafe ] of grasse . ‖ cruell , hard , or desolate . * do speake or say . * euen the carthaginian lions to haue groned [ or sighed for ] thy death , [ viz. because of thy cruell death . * destruction . g the second part of the epicedion of daphnis , concerning his acts . ‖ appointed or ordained first at rome . ‖ to draw the chariot of triumph with tigres ▪ ‖ to bring in these at rome : though it appeareth by histories , that the bacchanalia were vsed in rome long before iulius caesars time . h thyasus was a most filthy dance vs●d in the 〈◊〉 of bacchus . i in bacchus sacrifice they vsed to beare a iauelin wrapped with ivie , called thy●sis . * to weaue in , or wrap about . ‖ bending , quiuering , or shiuering speares . * soft . k the third part of the epicedion , from the honour and happinesse which the romanes receiued by daphnis while he liued , being adorned by foure ●militudes . * grace or ornament . * are [ the ornament . ] * flockes . ‖ the corne now ripe . * [ are. ] * fat. ‖ vnto thy family ▪ or vnto the romanes , whose empire caesar wonderfully enlarged : or else , vnto sheepheards . l and amplified by the contrary euil● that followed after his death . * after that the destinies haue taken thee away [ so cruelly . ] * pales [ the godd●sse of shepheards ] her selfe [ hath left the fields , ] and apollo himselfe hath left the fields [ likewise . ] * vnhappie or vnluckie darnell [ or tares . ] ‖ light or vnprofitable oates . * do rule ouer all [ or almost onely grow and run ouer all ▪ ] ‖ vpon the tilled land , where we haue sowne the best and greatest , or fullest corne . ‖ cast or throwne . ‖ flower de luce , as some thinke . * we haue committed eft . * the thistl● [ doth arise or grow ] and the whit● thorne with sharpe prickes springs vp , for the soft violet , [ and ] for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ‖ the holly tree , or rather 〈◊〉 or g●sce . ‖ scatt● [ or co●er ] the ground with flowers , [ viz adorne the place of his sepulcher with flowers . m hitherto his funerall song , whereunto is adioyned his epitaph , viz. verses concerning his sepulcher , to be set vpon his tombe . ‖ hitherto his funerall song , whereunto is adioyned his epitaph , viz. verses concerning his sepulcher , to be set vpon his tombe . * bring in the shades to the fountaines , [ that is , make gr●es about the fountaines wherein his soule may dwell : [ for they thought that the soules of such worthy nobles dwelt in the woods and about the fountaines . ] ‖ a sepulchre or hearse . * and adde aboue , this verse vnto the tombe . * i am daphnis knowne in the woods from hence euen vnto the starres or skies . [ i was ] a keeper of faire cattell , i my selfe being fairer [ then they . ] viz. the most renow●d emperour of the noble romanes . n thus farre 〈◊〉 the epitaph of daphnis : now followeth the commendation thereof by menalcas : and then his deifying or canonization , viz his referring of him into the number of the gods , which menalcas vndertakes . * such [ or of such sort . ] * of what sort sleepe [ is ] to [ men ] being wearie [ lying downe ] in the grasse , [ and ] of what sort it is [ a man ] to quench [ his ] thirst with a bubbling streame of sweete water . * leaping riuer [ or springing streame . ] ‖ maister , viz. 〈◊〉 , whom virgil i●tated . * with [ thy ] reeds , [ viz. thy pip● and playing thereon , ] but with [ thy ] voice , viz. in singing . * boy [ or youth ▪ ] * another from him , [ viz. the next vnto 〈◊〉 i● skill of pastorall 〈◊〉 . ] * howbeit we will say these our [ verses ] to thee by course , after 〈◊〉 manner , and we will lift vp thy daphnis vnto the signes of heauen [ viz vnto the starres . ] ‖ as well as we can . * lift vp . * daphnis loued vs also [ or made much of vs. ] * whether can any thing be greater to vs. * the boy [ viz. daphnis ▪ this cannot be vnderstood of caesar , who was slain in his mans estate . ] ‖ stimichon the famous po●t . al. ‖ a while ago , or not long ago , or of late . * white [ or shining daphnis . * admires , or maruels at . * threshold or entrance 〈◊〉 heauen . * oly●pus a hill in greece , so high that of the poets it is vsed for heauen . * signes of heauen . * pleasure doth hold the merria woods . viz. the woods and countries do reioyce . ‖ and the rest of the countries [ viz. all are quiet and plentifull . ] ‖ the ny●hs of the woods , which solace themselves amongst the 〈◊〉 , whereof in the second eclogue . * neither the 〈◊〉 doth 〈◊〉 wiles [ or 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 ] to the cattell , 〈◊〉 any nets deuis● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the stags [ or h●rts . ] * al. merrie pleasure doth possesse . ‖ foulds . ‖ hunters with nets do seeke ●o catch the stags . * quietnesse , viz. concord and rest . * the very hils vnshorne [ viz. full of greene trees replenished with leaues . ] cast vp [ or send forth ] their voices , viz ▪ do exceedingly reioyce . * do sound [ he is ] a god , he [ is ] a god. * oh [ daphnis . ] * happie [ or bountifull ] to thine . viz. to them that adore and honour thee n●w made a god. ‖ foure altars erected . * daphnis behold two altars for thee . o altare quod à terrae erectum & exaltatum est . ara qua in terra sta●itur . ara etiam 〈◊〉 dei , altare a●then ▪ tici . ‖ i will offer vnto thee yearely sacrifices two pots of milke , &c. * i will appoint . ‖ foaming full . * goblets or ka●s . ‖ and feasting merrily . ‖ pleasant . * with much bacchus . * if [ it shall be ] harnest . * shadow . * new nectar ▪ viz. a pleasant liquor fained to be the drinke of the gods. * ar●isian wines , viz. of aruisia , a place in the isle chi● . p dametas and egon two notable shepherds * of lyctus , which was a towne of creete , whence he had his name . * shall sing vnto me , viz. they shall play , and alphesibeus shall dance . q alphesibeus a fained name of a shepheard , of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , inuenio , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , bos , velut inuentor boum . ‖ the satyre is a kind of beast in the furthest parts of lybia , hauing the face of a man : they are called seruants of bacchus for their beastly wantonnesse , and named gods of the woods . r the time of his sacrifices , viz. twise solemnly euery yeare . * these [ holy duties ] * shall be alwayes to thee . * restore or giue . ‖ wonted once euery yeare . * when we shall view , [ viz. ‖ go about the fields with much deuotion , as in the feasts called amberuallia , spoken of in the second eclogue . s the perpetuitie of his deitie . * [ thy ] honour and thy name and praises shall remaine alwayes , whilest the boare [ shall loue ] the top of a hill , whilest the fish shall loue [ or delight in ] the riuers . * and whilest the bees shall be fed with thyme , whilest the grashoppers [ shall be fed ] with dew . ‖ vpon the thyme flowers . * shall vow . ‖ condemne them [ or hold them guiltie ] for not performing their vowes : or bind them with their vowes , that they performe them when thou hast granted their petitions , and punish them if they do not . t mopsus to requite menalcas , commends his verses of the de●fication of daphnu , by three comparisons of the lesse . * what [ gifts ] ‖ for this thy song . * for ●either the hizzing [ or whizzing blast ] of the southwind coming . * s●itten or dashed against with the waue . * nor the flouds which run downeward . ‖ dales or bankes . * we will present thee before with this brittle hemlocke , [ viz. pipe made of hemlocke . ] ‖ vpon this pipe i learned those two songs , viz. the second and the third eclogue . * whether are they the cattell of melibee ? ‖ my shepheards staffe . ‖ being very fine [ or tri●s . ] * with euen [ or equall knots ] and with brasse , viz. either brazen studs or tacks , in euery knot one , [ or the hoope ●ade of brasse , or with a hoope ●nd pike of brasse . * tooke not , or bore not away . * when he oft asked me it . ‖ although he was well worthy to be loued . * to which the name is silenus . ‖ virgil in this eclogue bringeth in silenus , [ and ] him indeed drunke , as it became a bringer vp of bacchus , &c. ‖ he bringeth him in singing very skilfully . ‖ of the beginnings of things , viz. the first forming or framing of things . ‖ to the grace or honour of quintilius varus . * who , donate being witnesse , together with virgil , gaue his endeuour to this sect , vnder silon the philosopher . * agree . ‖ to the lownesse , or low pitch of , &c. * of a bucolicke verse . * he prayeth for pardon straightway from [ or after ] the beginning : neither hauing taried so much in that argument , be passeth straightway vnto fables . a thalia is properly one of the three graces , whose names were aglaia , thalia , and euphrosune , supposed to be the daughters of iupiter and venus . ‖ to sing . ‖ in pa●torall verse , in imitation of theocritus , who dwelt in syracuse a famous citie in sicilia . b for syracusio some write syracosio , lest it comming of ou , should be contracted . and it is syracusi for syracusano after the maner of the 〈◊〉 , as sicelides for sicilienses , eclog . 4. * to inhabite the woods . * when i did sing . ‖ battels or skirmishes . * cynthius , [ apollo is called cynthius of cynthus a mountaine in the isle delos , where apollo and dians were borne . * puid [ my ] eare , and admonished me . * it behoueth a sheepheard to feed fat sheepa , and to speake [ or sing ] a verse drawne out , [ viz. a pastorall song of a low or meane kind , drawne out small like wooll in spinning . ] * now will i meditate a fielden muse , [ viz. a pastorall song ] with my slender reed . ( for , varus , there shall be aboue to thee , [ viz. there shall remaine enow to thee ] who may desire to vtter thy praises . * to build [ viz. to set out or declare ] thy sorrowfull warres . * things vncommanded , without the command [ viz. of pollio or augustus . ] * taken with the loue of thee , or ‖ if any one be enamoured , let him reade these things . * our wilde tamariske [ or ling ] shal sing of thee . ‖ groue or forrest , most properly a groue for pleasure . ‖ shall praise thy deeds . * neither is there . * page [ or booke . ] a page is properly a side of a leafe in a booke . ‖ to be learned . * which hath prescribed the name of varus vnto it selfe , [ viz. which is written in the praises of varus ] or hath the title of varus . * oh ye [ nine ] muses borne in pierius in thessalie , go ye on . ‖ the two youths chromis & mnas . ‖ bacchus schoolemaister , a famous poet. * lying [ ouerwhelmed or buried ] in sleepe . * blowne vp [ in respect of his veins ] with yesterdayes wine , as alwayes . * bacchus . [ iachos a name of bacchus , of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying a crie , groaning or belching , taken from the filthy noises which drunkards make commonly . ‖ onely fallen downe from his head , viz. otherwise whole , and not broken nor hurt . * a farre off . * to his head . ‖ a pot or iug that held a great deale of wine . * and a great [ viz. a heauie or mightie ] tankard , with the handle [ or stouke all worne ] hanged on his necke or at his girdle , neare vnto him . ‖ this old silenus . * they inuading or assailing him . ‖ promising to sing them songs . ‖ bind him with hands made of the garlands themselues . * addeth her selfe a fellow . * and came vpon them being fearfull , [ viz. came ( as we say ) in the nicke , or in the very fit oportunitie , to helpe them , being timorous or doubtfull . * naiades are the fairies , haunting riuers and fountaines . ‖ and painted [ both ] his browes and temples with bloud red mulberies , she seeing him . * [ to him , viz ▪ to silenus ] now seeing [ her ] viz. being awaked , and looking on her . ] ‖ loose me , ye boyes . ‖ the subtill iest . c silenus makes himselfe a halfe god , which were seene but when they listed ; and thus he speaketh as followeth . * me to haue bene able to be seene [ of you , ] being seene but when i list . * know ye what verses you will. * verses [ shall be ] to you . * another reward shact be to this [ egle. ] * he begins withall . ‖ when silenus began to sing . ‖ the gods of the woods . * to play [ or skip ] in number , viz. according to the harmony of the tune . * stiffe oakes to moue oft and shake * neither the parnassian rocke , [ viz. the mount parnassus in thessalie , consecrated to apollo ] * doth so much [ delight and ] ioy in phoebus , viz. apollo . * nor rhodope doth wonder at so much , nor ismarus [ so greatly admire ] orpheus . d rhodope and ismarus mountains in thracia , wherein orpheus was wont to play . e the argument or subiect matter of silenus songs . f the epicures thoght all these to be made of motes and such little bodies concurring . * of the earths , and of the soule , and also of the sea , and withall of the liquid fire had bene gathered together . ‖ cleare or pure . * thorough the great emptinesse . al. how all beginnings [ growed vp together ] from these first seeds , and the very tender globe of the world growed together . ‖ yong , pliant delectable , or tender at the first . ‖ growed fast and strong in euery part . * nereus [ a god of the sea , the sonne of oceanus , whereof the ocean had the name . here put for the ocean . * pontus the sea betweene meotis and tenedos , so called of pontus the sonne of nercus . ‖ how things began to be formed of the earth . * formes , viz. diuers shapes . * and now the earths [ or lands ] are amazed at the new sunne to begin to shine . ‖ the sunne newly formed with the other heauenly lights . ‖ the raine doth fall . * the clouds being remoued more high [ or very high . ] ‖ how. * do begin . * to rise [ viz to spring vp . ] * and when the liuing creatures do erre [ or wander ] thorough [ or amongst ] the mountaines , [ viz when the mountaines and valleys began to be replenished with new creatures . ] g of the framing of the world in the beginning , and of the repairing it after the floud , especially for the repairing of mankind by pyrrha and deucalion , and so the other stories , see ouid in his metamorphosis . * after this [ he reports or relates ] the stones cast to pyrrha [ viz. of or by pyrrha ] [ and also he relates ] saturnes kingdomes . * also he reports [ or shewes ] the birds of caucasus and the theft of prometheus . for the rest of this eclogue , i referre the ingenuous reader to ramus and other commenters . * to whom the name i● [ viz. which is intituled or named . ] * b●coliasts . * melibeus a shepheard , [ or rather a neatheard . ] * a strife [ or triall for maisteries ] of corydon and thyrsis , &c. * wandered away . * he had came betweene by chance . * sent for of daphnis . * contention . * nods to [ or signifies by the beckning of his head ] to haue pronounced according to corydon . * i remember these things . ‖ and thyrsis being outmatched , to haue contended in vaine . * by hap [ or by chance ] daphnis had ●it downe together . * shrill by the mouing of the leaues . the holme is a kind of oake . * had driuen together ▪ [ or had gathered together ] their flockes into one [ flocke . ] * thyrsis [ had gathered his ] sheepe , [ and ] corydon [ had gathered his ] litle she goates stretched [ or strouted out ] viz. hauing their vdders full of milke . * both of them [ were ] flourishing in their ages , viz. flourishing youths . ‖ both of them borne in arcadia , and right arcadians ▪ for their musicke , [ viz. very skilfull musicians . * and equall to sing , and ready to answer [ viz. in verse ] whosoeuer should chalenge them . * the man [ or husband ] of the flocke [ viz. the high goate ] himselfe had wandered away to me [ viz. from me ] hither , whilst i defend [ viz. do fence ] [ my ] myrtle trees from the cold [ viz. my yong myrtles . * and i see [ or behold ] daphnis . * he ( when he seeth me against [ him ] ) saith quickly [ or very quickly . ] * or spake , o melibeus come hither quickly . * o melibeus come hither [ thy ] goate is safe for thee , [ or the he goate to thee is safe ] and [ thy ] kids [ are safe . ] * ceasse any thing [ viz. if thou haue any leisure . ] * shadow . * the very bullocks will come hither , &c. a mincius is called greene , for green trees & reeds with the sedge growing about it . al. here mincius hath couered his green banks with a tender re●d , [ viz. with yong reeds . ] ‖ make a humming noise from the oake consecrated to iupiter . al. which might shut vp at home [ my ] lambes weaned from [ their ] milke , [ viz. from their dams . ] ‖ shut vp [ within the foulds . ] * driuen away from the milke . * a great contention [ or strife for maisteries . * corydon [ did striue [ or play for a wager ] with thyrsis , or to corydon with thyrsis . b prolepsis implicit● . * neuerthelesse i set after mine own earnest matters to their play , [ viz. i preferred their sport before mine own serious [ or weightie ] businesse [ of seeking my goate . ] ‖ their contention in musicke . ‖ corydon and thyrsis . * to contend . ‖ one after another by turnes . c in this eclogue they sing by turnes , either of them foure verses , like as in the third by couples , 〈◊〉 two & two , and in the fift by twentie fiue a peece . * verses by course . ‖ corydon began , and rehearsed the foure first verses . * these [ verses . ] d lybethris a fountain where those nymphs are worshipped . * being our loue [ or delight . ] ‖ almost equall to apollos verses . * phoebus . ‖ i will hang vp the instruments of my profession , as hauing serued out my time . ‖ the pine tree consecrated to cybele the mother of the gods. e poets were crowned with ivie , either as being consecrated to liber , and inspired with a furious spirit , as in the feasts of bacchus ; or else because as ivies are alwayes greene , so verses deserue eternitie , as seruius thinketh . ‖ decke ye , viz. crowne , with a pastorall garland of ivie , though not with a lawrell crowne . ‖ [ me your ] poet. ‖ that codrus may burst for enuie , [ viz. that i should be preferred before him for my musicke . * that the small guts may be bursten to codrus with enuie . f the heathen feared to be praised ouermuch , especially of enemies , thinking that praise to haue the force of witchcraft , against which they accounted the herbe bacchar to haue speciall vertue . ‖ or if he shall be inforced to praise me . * beyond [ his ] liking . * gird about [ my ] forehead . ‖ ladies gloues . ‖ codrus [ or corydons ] euill tongue . * about to be a poet , [ viz. which ar● in hope to be a poet , or , your poet that shall be . g corydon to the end that he may obtaine his desire for poetry , offers vnto diana the sister of apollo and goddesse of hunting , these gifts befitting her th●s set out . * oh delia. ‖ my litle sonne mycon . ‖ presents or giues . h the boare and the stag are amongst the principall beasts of the chase in hunting . i pli●ie and others report that the stags liue very long . ‖ if this victorie or praise shall be mine , that i shal be next vnto codrus in musicke or poetrie . ‖ i will make thee a picture of marble . * whole . k e●incta sur●s foe [ vsque ] sur●s , synecd●che . or , secundum sur●s . * tied about [ euen vnto ] the calues of the legs with a purple buskin . l priapus the god of the gardens or orchard ‖ i hope thou wilt be contented with me , if according to my poore estate i offer vnto thee a boll of milke , &c. ‖ of the simple garden . * we haue made thee a picture of marble . ‖ for the present . * but if bringing forth of yong , shall supply [ or fill ] [ our ] flocke : ‖ then thou shalt be golden , viz. haue a picture made of gold . ‖ then the hony of hybla , of which before in the first eclogu● . ‖ then the fairest 〈◊〉 . ‖ the cattel being filled shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * shall seeke againe their stals , [ or go againe vnto their stals . ] * come tho● if any care of thy corydon ha●e [ or possisse ] th●e . m these herbes of sardinia are taken for a kind of crow-foote , which being eaten do take away the vnderstanding , and do shrink vp the sinewes in the face in such sort , that a man shall seeme to die laughing : whereupon came that adage of the sardinian laughter . * sardois pro sardinijs , casus graecus . ‖ the herbes that grow in sardinia . * more horrible . ‖ butchers broome is a prickly shrub . ‖ contemptible . * then sea weed cast forth [ of the sea . ] n alga , is called of some lauer or sea-girdle , it seemeth to be a sea herb growing on the rocks , hauing leaues like lettice , though here it is taken for whatsoeuer weeds the sea casteth out . * this light . * now. * go ye [ home , if there be any shame [ to you . ] ‖ oh fountaines [ or springs ] greene ouer with mosse . * and oh herbe more soft [ or pleasant ] to sleepe , [ viz. vnto sleepe . o mollior som no , for ad somnum . * arbute , or sernice tree , or crab tree . ‖ with the shadow of her branches spred here and there . * shadow . * defend ye [ or keepe away ] the solstice to the cattel , viz from the cattel : that is , saue the cattell from the heate of the sunne in the solstice . hypallage . met. effic . p the solstice in the sommer , is when the sun ascends no higher towards vs : of solis statio , which is about the 11 or 12 of iune : like as contrary the winter solstice , when it is at the lowest from vs. ‖ the vine buds . ‖ burning heate . * do swell . * ioyfull [ or rank● ] vine branch . q teda is taken most properly for the middle or the heart of the pine tree , which ( thorough the licour in it ) being kindled burneth like a torch , and generally for any kinde of fat and gummy wood , and so for a torch , or whatsoeuer the torch is made of . ‖ fat torches . * very much fire , a great fire . ‖ smoke . ‖ here by reason of our good f●ors . * colds . * the flouds running violently , [ or vehement , or boisterous . * the rough chest-nut trees [ stand full . ] ‖ are plenteous , or waxe ripe . * their owne seuerall apples lie euery where scattered vnder the tree . * all things do laugh now , [ viz. do seeme to reioyce because of the plentie and our prosperitie . ‖ should depart . ‖ thou shouldest then see the very riuers drie . * also the flouds drie . * is drie [ or is parched with heate , or is very drie . * the herbe [ viz grasse ] dying thorough the felt [ or vnseasonablenesse ] of the aire [ or weather ] thirsteth [ for raine . ] ‖ hath grudged , or denied , or disdained . * the shadowes made of the vine branches , [ viz. the vines haue lost their leaues through the scorching heate . ‖ groue [ or all trees . ] * shall be greene [ againe . ] at the coming of o●r phillis , [ viz. if she shall come vnto vs. ] * and very much iupiter , [ viz. sweete and pleasant aire . r iupiter is put for the 〈◊〉 , by a meton . effic . which ●ire being thickned , tur●eth into raine . s iupeter q. iuuans pa● , or iuuans ac● . * with a merry [ or ioyfull ] shower , viz. with raine making 〈◊〉 ioyfull and merry . * most acceptable [ or best pleasing , or dedicated . t alcides put for hercules . patronym . ab alc●o 〈◊〉 . the poplar is dedicated to him , because being crowned with poplar when ●e went downe to hell ( as the poets faine ) part of the leaues which stucke close to the temples of his head , remained still white , but the outward part of them remained blacke with the soote of hell , which colour still abides in the leaues * alcides . * the vine [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pleasing ] or most delight s●ms . * iacchus . * faire . the lawrell being apolloos owne tree . * [ is most pleasing ] to apollo . * to ph●bus . * ouercome , [ viz. go beyond in estimation . ] my loue . the ●ilberd tree . * nor the bay 〈◊〉 of apollo [ shall passe them . * the fairest [ tree growing ] to the woods . * the pine tree [ is the fairest tree . ] * the poplar [ is the fairest tree . ] ● gardens . * in the 〈◊〉 , [ by the ri●ers side . ] * if 〈◊〉 see 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●ft . * shall yeeld [ viz. shall be inferiour to thee . * in the orchards [ shall yeeld to thee . ] * i remember [ well ] these [ songs . ] * being ouercome , to contend in vaine . * corydon is the noble conquerour , ] viz. corydon is for vs , [ viz. corydon is for our money , ] or in our iudgement . * pharmaceutria of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , venenum sine 〈◊〉 , vnde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , veneno inficio , medeor , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , veneficus , 〈◊〉 , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 venefica 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . * former [ part . ] * taken with the loue . ‖ mopsus a fained name of a shepheard . * he 〈◊〉 forth . * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ‖ idyllium is a poets worke consisting of few verses . ‖ called pharmace●tria . * in which . * to call back● . al. ende● by medicines and incantations to recall . * by drugs [ or remedies ] and incantations or ●antments . * we will speake of , or relate . * whom stri●ing [ viz. contending in singing . ] ‖ a h●fer forgetting her grasse , [ or lea●ing off to eate ] maruelled at . * of herbes . * with the vers● [ or song , ] of which [ two ] the lynces [ were ] amazed . * the flouds or streames . * rested [ viz. slaked , as inforced to rest . ‖ turned or hauing changed their courses . * we will speake of . * the st●es . ‖ al. renowned pollio . ‖ made famous by my verses . ‖ thou passest o●r . b timauus a riuer of venice , or the riuer brenta neare aquileia in italy . ‖ thou gatherest neare vnto , or passest by the coast . * illyrian . * when it may be lawfull for me to speake of thy worthy acts [ or deeds . ] * that it may be lawfull for me , * to carry through the whole world , ‖ the verses written of thy renowned acts . * being alone worthy of sophocles buskin , viz. to haue bene penned in sophocles stately style . c because sophocles tragedies were acted in buskins , therefore his loftie style is termed by this name , by a metonvmie of the adiunct . d he promiseth in all his verses to set foorth the praises of augustus . ‖ of these my songs . ‖ of thee , or by thy command . * to thee , viz. to thy praise . ‖ vndertaken . * by thy commandements . ‖ let this garland made of the branches of the ivie and lawrell , be set vpon thy head . e some apply this to pollio , because he was an excellent poet ( to whom the ivie garland appertained ) as well as a worthy gouernour . ivie in respect of the poets worke , lawrell for augustus famous victories . ‖ the night ( wherein it is ordinarily more cold then in the day , thorough the absence of the sunne ) was scarcely past , and the day n●w appearing . * from heauen . * in the tender herbe . ‖ leaning sheepheard-like vpon his staffe . * leaning vpon [ or against ] a long smooth oliue . f teres , tereti● , signifieth any thing long , smooth and round . ‖ oh day-starre . * nourishing , because it is most nourishing and comfortable to all creatures . ‖ bring it forth after thee . ‖ with the loue of nisa , which she was vnworthy of . ‖ vnkind loue . ‖ of nisa whom i thought sure vnto me to be my wife . * and although i haue profited nothing , they being witnesses , yet i dying speake vnto the gods in my last houre . ‖ about to die with griefe . ‖ that they are my witnesses that she had so o●t sworne by them that she would be my wife . this he seemeth ●o speake according to the iudgement of the epicures , who held that the gods cared not for mortall things . * my pipe begin menalian verses with me . g by menalian verses the poet meaneth excellent verses , such as were sung in menalus , a hill of arcadia . so that there is in it a metalepfis , menalian for arcadian , and arcadian verses for excellent verses . viz. syn. membri & m●t subj . ‖ in the hill menalus sheepheards do alwayes sing of their loues , whereby the woods do ring , and as it were answer to their voice , or menalus hath euer the trees sounding by their rustling with the winds . * and [ it heares ] pan , viz. the god of sheepheards , who is said to haue inuented the fielden musicke . * suffered not , &c. [ viz first inuented pipes of reeds . this verse oft repeated by damon in his complaint , is called versus intercalaris , a verse oft interlaced , like the foot of a song . ‖ to lie idle . ‖ began to play menalian tunes . * verses . ‖ nisa that fine 〈◊〉 is gi●en in marriage to that il-favoured lubber mopsus . * what [ we ] louing may not hope . i some take here sperem●s for timeamus , by a catachresis , as in the first of the eneads , at sperate deos memores fandi atque nefandi . ‖ griffins shall now be , &c. k griffins are like vnto lions , saue that they seeme to haue the head and wing● of eagles , being most spitefull against horses , and are dedicated to apollo . some thinke them to be meerly fabulous , like as the pegasi . * following . * timerous bucks or d●es . ‖ shall associate or sort themselues . * to pots [ viz. to banket , or to drinke at the water . ‖ prepare or sharpen peeces of gummie wood , that they may better kindle and burne . l faces were peeces of gummie wood cut like torches , wont to be vsed in stead of torches at weddings solemnized and kept at nights . * a wife is maried to thee [ viz. thou must wed a wife for others ] m carrying torches & throwing nuts about the house , were amōgst their ceremonies vsed at mariages . * sprinkle nuts , viz. cast nuts amongst the boyes , [ or scatter walnuts at the thresholds . n the starres do seem to rise from the tops of most high mountaines . ‖ doth rise ouer oeta . [ viz. the euening is come , now that the euening starre is risen . o oeta is a mount of thessaly , so high that the starres do seeme to rise there . * to thee . * begin with me . * verses . * ioyned [ viz. married to a worthy husband . p all these things are spoken in flouting and scornfull manner . * my pipe is a hate to thee . [ viz odious , or out of fauour . * and whilst my litle goates . * hairie ‖ eyebrowes . * my long beard . ‖ are a hate , [ viz. contemned or despised . ] * any god [ or any of the gods ] to care for mortall things [ viz. to be auenged for thy periury . ] * verses or songs . q damon complaineth of his error in falling in loue with nisa , which he setteth out by the occasion , time and place , and by his owne age and stature . ‖ when thou wast but a little one . * bedewed apples [ wet with the dew in the morning , lying vnder the trees in our orchards . ] * the other [ viz. the second ] yeare from eleuen had euen then taken me . * now [ viz at that time . ] ‖ reach the boughes of the trees as i stood vpon the ground . * as [ viz after that ] i beheld [ thee ] how perished i ? [ viz. how was i cast away , or vtterly vndone ? * that ill error [ viz. raging loue ] carried me away , [ viz. made me besides myselfe . ] * my pipe begin [ to sound ] menalian tunes with me . ‖ what a cruell thing loue is . r damen inueyeth against the sauage nature of loue , by the procreant causes thereof , because of the many mis●ries which it brings . ‖ ismarus and rhodope are hils mentioned before in the 6 eclogue . * the vtmost garamants . ‖ the garamants are a sauage people in the vtmost parts of africa . * do breed [ or bring forth ] that boy [ viz. cupid the god of loue . ] * in the hard clifts , [ viz. rockes of stone , of which whet stones are made . ‖ being of another nature different from vs. * verses . ‖ cruell cupid . ‖ medea , who being despised by lason , slueher owne children . * to defile [ staine or soyle . ] * her hands with the bloud , &c. ‖ thou medea wast cruell as well as cupid the blinded boy . * mischieuous or naughtie . ‖ cupid was wicked , enforcing thee . * also . ‖ now let the whole order of nature be subuerted . * the wolfe also of his owne accord let him flie from the sheepe , the hard oakes let them beare golden apples , the alder tree let it flourish with narcissus [ or the white daffadill . ] * the wilde tamariske [ or heath ] let them sweate , &c. ‖ drop downe gummie amber out of their barkes . * the owles let them contend [ in singing ] with swans , viz. let them excell the swans . ‖ let tityrus with his fielden pipe , passe orpheus with his harpe amongst the wilde beasts , and arion amongst the dolphins , [ viz alluring them with their harmonie . * verses . * all things now let them be made euen midst of the sea , viz. let waters couer me with all other things . * liue ye . * i will be caried downe . ‖ i will cast my selfe downe headlong into the sea from the top of some high mountaine , to dispatch my selfe . ‖ ready to die with griefe . * the highest top , from whence men may looke round about . * high in the aire . * haue thou . ‖ ceasse [ now . ] * verses . ‖ thus farre damon . s 〈◊〉 . ‖ each of vs. ] t of the muses called pi●rides , see before eclogu● 6. * say ye . * we all , viz. * all things . u here begin the verses of alphesibeus , b●nging in a witch seeking by her forceries to allure her louer againe , who had began to forsake her . and that she speaketh to her maide . * bring out . ‖ bind about , or gird . ‖ do sacrifice with burning sweete things , as fat veruein , ‖ and the best frankincense . ‖ that i may make an experiment or essay : ‖ to turne away from others to my selfe : * the sound senses , [ viz. that i may enamour him , or bewitch him with mad loue . ] * sacred things [ or sacred rites . ] ‖ all other things but charmes are prepared [ or ready ] * my verses . ‖ my husband or louer . * charmes can draw downe the moone euen from heauen . ‖ fetch downe . * changed the companions of vlysses [ into swine ] with her inchantments , [ or the companions to vlysses . x vlysseus ▪ ei & contractè vlissi . 2. declin . vel mutauit vlyssi . 3. declin . y for this story see ouids metamorph. with sab. an●otations in the 14. booke . * is bursten by singing ▪ [ viz. by charmes or inchantments . ] * i compasse about [ or i tie fast about ] to thee . * these three threeds of the shittle wherewith the sel●edges of the web are made . * diuers with a threefold colour . ‖ image or counterfet of waxe or clay . ‖ round about . * reioyceth [ or is delighted ] in an vnequall number , [ viz. an odde number ] as three , fiue or seuen . * verses [ whereby she did charme or inchant . ] z the witch thus speakes vnto her maid . * with [ viz. on three knots . al. knit the knots . a some bookes haue nodos , where , if it be so , ● . must be cut off , by a grecisme , and no in nodos be short : but it is to be read modò . * euen now or straightway . * bonds of venus , or venus bonds , [ viz. to procure loue againe . ] b the witch hauing made two pictures of daphnis , one of clay , the other of waxe , and setting them before the fire , thus she conjures . ‖ slime or mud . * doth waxe hard . ‖ the same heate of the fire . ‖ so let daphnis be hardned against all others , and melt in loue to vs. * so daphnis [ let him be hardened and sof●ned ] by our loue . * sprinkle [ or strew about ] meale and salt . c with meale and salt they did vse to sprinkle their sacrifices . ‖ kindle . d bitumen is a kind of clay like pitch , & something of the nature of brimstone , burning like it . ‖ slime . * euill or wicked . ‖ tormenteth me with loue of him . * lawrell or bay . * in daphnis , [ viz. vpon hi● in●age or counterfet , to be reuenged of him , in making him feele like torment to mine . * verses . * such a loue let it hold daphnis what a one [ is , ] or doth hold a yong heifer ] when the heifer , &c. * being lost [ or vndone , or cast away with loue . ] * for [ or because of ] a riuer of water . * reed or sea-grasse . * nor doth remember , * to giue place to the late night , [ or the darke night . ] ‖ daphnis . * neither let there be any care to me to cure [ him . ] * perfidi● or false of promise . * left these spoiles [ viz. apparell ] to 〈◊〉 once [ or in time past . ] * being deare pledges of him [ or remembrances of his loue . ] ‖ which garments ▪ ‖ i betake or commend to thee , burying them in thee . * in the very threshold , [ viz. at the entrance of my house . ‖ meris a notable sorcerer . * do owe daphnis , [ that is , do make it e●ident that daphnis is mine , due onely vnto me , and shall bring him backe to me ▪ ] * poisonfull or venemous herbes seruing for inchantments . * to me . * very many do grow . ‖ by these herbes or inchantments . * to be made a wolfe [ viz. to seeme to be changed into a wolfe . ] * and [ i haue seene him ] to hide . e thus they were deluded by diuels appearing , which they tooke to be the soules of the departed . * to call out soules out of the lowest graues , [ viz. the soules of the dead ] or spirits . f messes , haruests , for the sowne corne , is a meto● . of the effect , or adiunct . * carry the ashes without the doores . * to carry ouer [ viz. to remoue ] the sowne haruests other where , [ viz. from one place to another . ‖ the ashes [ of the inchanted fire . ] al. carry them to the flowing riuer . ‖ ouer thy head backward . * to the flowing riuer [ or water . ] g to looke back , [ viz. to behold the gods , or rather diuels in such kind of working , was thought to be dangerous . see ramus com. or to looke backe , the gods forbidding or disliking . * thou shalt not looke behind thee , [ or thou shalt not looke backe . ] ‖ i will assay to bring daphnis . * by these [ inchantments or means . ] * he cares for the gods nothing , he cares for verses nothing . [ viz. he thinkes they can do nothing . ‖ imbers . * hath taken hold of the altars . * i tarry or delay , [ viz. prolong or protract the time , or linger [ to beare [ them o●t . ] * let it be good [ lucke . ] ‖ what [ lucke ] viz. whether good or bad . * and also our dog barkes in the threshold , [ viz. at some body coming towards the doore . h hylax is a fained name of a dog , which wee may call ring , chanter , or barker , of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , latro . ‖ may we beleeue . ‖ do they who dote with loue , imagine things which are nothing so , [ viz. as they would haue them . * spare ye . i the witch supposing that daphnis was come home , and entring into the house , at whom the dog barked , thus stayes her charmes . * whereunto the name [ is ] meris . ‖ philippi a citie in thessalie , where caesar and pompey fought , and also augustus with ●rutus and cassius , as saith seruius . ‖ trium viri were magistrates in rome , which being three together , had equall authoritie . ‖ padus is now called po , a riuer in italy . ‖ lands and possessions . * pollio helping him . ‖ president or lieutenant of the region beyond the riuer po. ‖ arrius a captaine ouer an hundred souldiers . * it was away [ but ] a litle , [ viz. he had bene in danger to be slaine . ] * him to whom he had committed the charge of all his businesse . * with the very least his detriment he could , [ viz. with as litle hurt to virgil. * he therefore , viz meris , virgils bayliffe or o●erseer of his goods . * commandement . * of his patron . * some little gift . * hauing goten occasion , laments for the calamitie [ or miserie of those times . ] * oh meris , whither [ do ] thy feete [ carry ] thee ? whether whither the way leades , into the citie , [ viz. to mantua ] ‖ directs . * o lycidas , we haue come aliue , that the stranger being the possessor of our litle field ( which we neuer feared ) should say , these [ goods ] are mine : ye old inhabitants flit ye . ‖ that strangers possessing our lands , should driue vs out , [ viz. the romane souldiers . ‖ our farmes or fields . ‖ ancient husbandmen [ or farmers ] ‖ get ye out . * now we being ouercome [ and ] sad ( because chance turnes all things vpside downe ) do send these kids vnto him , ( which present ) let not [ god ] turne well , [ viz. god grant he may haue no good of . ] a these kids were sent for a present to arrius the captaine , who had their lands . * which [ gift . ] ‖ in truth [ or certainly ] i had heard reported . * your menalcas [ viz. virgil ] to haue kept all things by his verses . * from what [ part ] the hils begin to withdraw themselues , and to send downeward their top [ viz. to descend ] with a soft [ or easie ] turning banke , [ viz. with an easie descent or going downe . * vnto the water , and to the tops of the old beech tree now broken [ or decayed . ] ‖ myncius . * thou hadst heard [ it , ] and the fame hath bene , [ or it was the fame . ‖ talke , noise , or report . ‖ amongst warlike weapons [ or amongst souldiers in warre . ] b martiall darts for weapons of wa●re , and they put for the souldiers vsing those weapons , and also for the time of warre . metalep . * how much they say the pigeons of chaonia [ to preuaile ] the eagle comming . ‖ doues . c chaonia a region of epeirus . d of this prediction by the chough on the left hand , see the first eclogue . the chough at the left hand , and the crow at the right hand , are said to be luckie , forewarning dangers to auoid them . ‖ that vnlesse i had bin admonished by a happy diuination [ or prediction ] by the chough sitting on my left hand , foreshewing some danger towards me , and therefore to cut off all new occasions of contention , &c. * neither this thy [ old friend ] meris [ should liue ] nor menalcas himselfe [ viz. virgil my maister ] should liue [ could haue escaped the souldiers hands . ] * alas , doth so great a wickednesse [ or so foule a deed ] fall vpon any man [ viz. that he should intend to kill virgil , or thinke of such a matter ? ] ‖ ioyes or comforts . * snatch away to vs , [ viz. from vs. ] ‖ who should celebrate [ or extoll ] the nymphs in song [ or verse . ] * sprinkle [ viz. set or decke ] the ground with flourishing herbes ? or who should bring in [ viz. couer or inclose ] the fountaines [ or springs ] with a greene shade ? [ viz who should sing of the ground so strewed , and the springs so couered ? * or [ who should sing those ] * verses which i stole away being silent [ or holding my peace ] of late , when as thou didst carry thy selfe to amaryl our dainties , [ viz. our loue , kind to vs both ? ] ‖ ioy. ‖ o tityrus ●end [ or keepe ] * my litle goates . * and also ▪ * driue them to drinke being fed : and betweene to do [ viz. as thou art driuing them , * to meete often the high goate . ‖ he will tub [ or rush ] with his hornes . ‖ which menal● as himselfe did sing , &c. * to varus . * not as yet perfect , viz. not fully finis●ed . ‖ for vs [ to inhabite . ] e the poet thus laments mantua , because it came to be spoiled by meanes of the nearnesse to cremon . al. oh mantua , too neare to cremon , alas [ for thee ] poore miserable [ citie . ] ‖ keepe farre from the yeugh trees which are hurtf●ll to bee● of a venemous nature , and dangerous in some parts to sleepe vnder . * the cyrnean yeugh trees . f cyrne is an 〈◊〉 of the tyr●hene sea , called corsica : it signifieth also an yeugh tree in greeke . ‖ with the best grasse , stuffe their vdders [ with milke . ] g cithysus a kinde of trifoly or three leaued grasse much increasing milke . see before . * stretch forth their vdders or dugs . ‖ begin to sing some songs . * the pierides : see before in the third eclogue . * haue made me also a poet. * there are both verses . * a prophet . * but i am not credulous , [ viz. easie to beleeue them , or i do not beleeue them . * to speake [ or sing songs ] worthy of varus , [ or i do not seeme so to varus , ] nor to speake things worthy of cinna [ viz. worthy for cinna to reade , ] but to make a noise [ as ] a goose amongst the shrill swans . * i do that in truth , [ viz. i prepare my selfe to sing . ] * i being silent reuol● it with my selfe , [ viz. am thinking of it in silence . ‖ meditate [ or am bethinking my selfe of it . ] * if i could call it to mind [ or recall it . ] * an vn●oble song ▪ [ or of no estimation , or meane ] viz. that which he writ concerning galatea . * galatea come hither . ‖ see what sport here is in the waters . ‖ the spring flourishing with purple flowers . * the ground doth powre out here diuers flowers about the streames . ‖ here grow abundantly . ‖ the white poplar tree hangs ouer the caue , couering it . * weaue litle shadowes , [ viz. make a pleasant shade . * and suffer [ that ] the , &c. * mad [ viz. outragious or exceeding great ] waues strike the shores . ‖ which i had heard thee singing alone in a p●re [ viz. a cleare or bright ] night or e●ening . * the n●bers [ viz. the rime or note ] if i could hold the words . ‖ the dittie or song it selfe . h these verses were made in the praise of iulius caesar or of augustus . * looke vpon [ or so carefully obserue . i the signes consist of many starres , of which sort 47 are obserued in the whole heauen . 20 northren , 12 of the zodiack , 15 southerne . * signes . * the signe [ consisting of many stars ] * of caesar [ descended ] of dione the mother of venus , and so of aeneas , of whom they say iulius caesar came . k at the playes made at the funerall of iulius caesar , a blazing starre appeared about eleuen a clocke of the day , and continued for 7 whole dayes , being thought by the romanes to be the soule of iulius caesar . * hath gone forward [ or the moneth of iuly is now begun ] which was so called of iulius caesar. l the signe vnder which the corne and grapes begin to be ripe , meaning in iuly , hauing the name of iulius caesar , or august , hauing the name of augustus caesar. * might ioy [ do make men to reioyce ] in their [ ripe ] fruites . * the grape drawes [ her ] colour , [ viz. the grapes begin to ripen . ] * lying open to the sunne , not shadie . ‖ plant orchards , [ viz. giue thy selfe to planting . ‖ thy posteritie . * shall plucke thy apples , [ viz shall gather the fruite of thy planting . ] m fert pro au●ert . ‖ depriues vs of . * and also [ it taketh away ] the mind . * i remember my selfe being a boy , to hide oft times long suns with singing , [ viz ▪ to be able to sing all the day vntill after sun-set . ] n condere pro abscondere . o soles pro diebus . met. ●ffic . * now so many verses [ are ] forgotten of me . p oblitus is here vsed pasaiuely , as oft in deponen●s . * verses . * also the voice it selfe now doth flie meris , [ viz. i haue now lost euen my voice by reason of my age , no otherwise thenof the wolfes had spied me first . q this seemeth to haue bin a receiued obseruation , that if the wolfe espied the shepherd first before he spied the wolf , that then his voice was taken away for the present that he could not ●rie against the wolfe ; and contrarily , that if the sheepheard spied him first , then the wolfe was weakened & scared by a certain antipathy : whence came the prouerbe , lupus est in fabula , which we vse when he comes in , of whom the speech is , & so the speech is cut off . * being the former . ‖ relate , or record to thee . * lyc. thou drawest on our loues into a long [ time ] by alledging causes [ or making delayes ] by knitting causes , viz. excuses , that thou may est not sing . * also now all the sea being layed , [ viz. made calme ] is silent to thee , [ viz. to heare thee sing . * and ( behold . ) * of the windie noise [ viz. the winds making a noise ] haue fallen [ viz. are now layed and downe . * from hence moreouer is the mid way to vs [ viz. we are now in the mid way to mantua . * the sepulcher [ or graue ] of byaenor [ who built mantua , and called it by the name of his mother mantus . ‖ i see byanors tombe . * [ let vs sing ] here where the husbandmen do bind [ or do lop and cut downe ] the thicke boughes , [ viz. do coard wood , or make fagots ] meris let vs sing here . ‖ the kids which thou bearest . ‖ time enough , or soone enough . ‖ lest the night gather raine before . * continually [ till we come there . ] ‖ the way will be lesse grieuous . * bundle , [ viz. i will carry thy kids . ] * o lad ceasse [ to say ] any moe things . ‖ let vs looke to the businesse we haue in hand , [ viz. to deliuer our present in time . * which is instant . * we shall sing verses better then when [ menalcas ] himselfe shall come . ‖ virgil. * a choise poet. ‖ president or lieutenant . ‖ he was euen mad with the loue of cytheris an harlot or where . * desperately or outragiously loued . * one who was lately a seruant , now set free . * neither she answered his mutuall loue , [ viz. loued him not againe . * but he being despised ▪ she had followed anthonie into france , [ viz. anthonies armie . * he is beleeued , or credibly reported . ‖ whereupon . ‖ vplandish , rurall , homely , or taken from matters of the countrey . * and also this whole . ‖ the first idy●ion of theocritus called thyrsis . ‖ followes or sets out . a the poet in this last pastoral being to celebrate the memory of another famous poet called cornelius gallus , inuocates the nymphs of syracusa to help him * oh arethusa . ‖ arethusa is a fountaine of sweete water of syracusa , where theocritus liued . whereby he meaneth the muses of syracusa and of theocritus , whom he inuocates to helpe him therein . ] * a few verses are to be said [ or sung ] to my gallus [ or of my gallus ] [ viz. of the loues of my gallus towards cytheris , whom here he calls lycoris . ] 1 the fountaine arethuse is numbred among the wonders of waters , that it hauing the head in peloponnesus is thought to run maruellous farre vnder the sea , and to breake soorth againe at this fountaine . * so bitter doris [ viz. the bitter or brackie sea ] let her not intermingle [ or mixe ] her waue [ viz her water ] to thee [ viz. with thy sweete water ] whenas thou shalt slide vnder the sicanian flouds [ or streames ] [ viz. the waues of the sea of sicily . ‖ as thou shalt fauour and helpe vs , so let thy sweet● waters be kept pure from the salt waters of the sea , which th● ru●st vnder . 2 doris a goddesse of the sea , daughter to oceanus , and wife of nere● mother of the nymphs , put for the sea by a me● . 〈◊〉 . 3 sicani people of spaine or sicily , which came from spaine , from whom the sea is so-named . b here first begins the proposition of the eclogue , wherin the poet stirres vp himselfe and his muse to sing some songs of gallus and his carefull loues . and this from the time and his leisure , and also from the audience which they should haue . * [ o nymph ] begin , let vs speake of [ or report ] the carefull loues of gallus . ‖ do nip or brouze the yong shootes , or twigs , or new sprouts . * do answer all things [ by their eccho , or by other shepheards . ] c secondly , he accuseth the muses that they were so carelesse of gallus , to let him so to leaue his studies , and to perish in such vnbeseeming loue , that they could not be found to reclaime or pitie him , no not in any hill , nor about any fountaine . * o ye girles [ called ] naiades , [ viz. ye nymphs of the fountaines . [ these were fairies haunting about such places . ] ‖ groues . ‖ forrests or parks . * had you , [ viz. kept you away . ] ‖ by vnbefitting or disdai●full loue . * for neither the ridges of parnassus [ haue made or caused delay ] to you , for neither any [ ridges ] of the hill pindus haue made delay to you [ or stayed you , ] nor aganippe [ the fountaine of aonia or boetia . 4 parnassus is a mount of phocis . 5 pindus of thessaly , both consecrated to apollo . 6 aganippe a fountain o● boetia , dedicated to the muses . d when all things seemed to mourne for him , both bay trees , shrubs . * euen the lawrell trees [ haue wept for ] him , and also the tamaruke [ or beath ] haue wept [ viz. bewailed his misfortune . * also menalus bearing pine-trees [ bewailed ] him . ‖ a solitary rocke , or a bare rocke , all alone . hils . and sheepe . ‖ rockes . ‖ lycaeus a mountaine of arcadia , dedicated to pan. of which , by an apostrophe , he professeth himselfe not to be ashamed , like as the sheepe were not ashamed of him . and so moues gallus not to be abashed of tending sheepe , for that ado● is did the same . * haue bewailed him . * neither doth it repent [ or shame ] them of vs , [ they are not ashamed of ●s to tend them ▪ [ or it repe●ts them not to mourne for our cause ] or by an hypallage , it repe●ts not vs of them . * neither . * let it repent thee of cattell , [ viz. be not ashamed or grieued to tend cattell . ] * also faire adonis fed sheepe at the riuers . after he shewes how shepheards came . ‖ adonis sonne of cinyra king of cyprus , beloued of venus for his beautie . ‖ tended . * the shepheard . 7 vpilio pro opilio , & opilio q. ouilio , qui o●es custodit . neat-heards . ‖ heardmen . swineheards , [ or those who looked to ●eed swine ] as menalcas who came wringing wet . al. swineheards or hogheards . * menalcas being wet [ or all wet ] came from the winter acorne [ viz. from gathering acornes in the winter for his swine . all these wondered at this mad loue of gallus , enquiring whence it was . ‖ all of them aske how gallus should fall into this franticke loue . e yea the gods themselues who had had experience of the power of loue , came to comfort him ; as apollo , who in rebuking wise askes him , why he did so torment himselfe , seeing lycoris was runne after another man , viz. after m. antonius a captaine into france . * [ and ] said , gallus , why art thou mad ? * lycoris [ all ] thy care . ‖ ouer the alpes , where snow lieth almost all the yeare long . * the horrible campes [ or tents of 〈◊〉 souldiers . ] secondly syluanus the god of the woods , who is described by his adiuncts , how he came adorned with a garland on his head , and shaking ferule branches and lillies in his hand . ‖ with a garland on his head , which is the pompe [ or honour of the countrey ] ‖ shaking in his hands branches of ferule . ‖ the ferule is a kind of shrub or big herbe like vnto fennel giant , with the branches whereof schoole-maisters vsed to i●rt children on the hands , whence came the name of the f●rula . ferulaeque tristes , sceptra paedagogorum . mart. * great lillies . thirdly , pan the god of shepheards musicke came likewise to comfort him , who is set out also by his adiuncts : how he was painted all red with elder berries and with vermilion . who comforts gallus as apollo did , rebuking him louingly : that sorrow was no meanes to cure loue , but the more he wept , the more he might . and this he illustrates by three similitudes or arguments à pari . that as grasse cannot be satisfied by riuers running by , nor bees with the flower of cythisus , nor goates with tender sprigs of trees , so nor loue with teares . * being red with bloudie berries of the ebull [ or low elder , ] [ it is a tree like the elder tree in leafe and berry , but not so big in growth . ] ‖ red lead . * and what measure shall there be , quoth he ? ‖ loue is nothing moued with sorrow or griefe . ‖ content or satisfied . * nor the grasse [ is satiate . ] * with riuers watering them . ‖ filled or satiate , * with cythisus [ viz. with the flowers of it . ] of this herb in the first eclogue . * nor the little goates [ are satisfied ] * with a bough or tender sprig of a tree . syn. sp ▪ f hither to hath virgil spoken in his owne person : now is gallus brought in answering , and comforting himselfe . first , that the arcadians the onely skilfull musitians of the world , should record his loues , and then how sweetly his bones should rest thereby . * but he [ viz. gallus ] being sad [ or pensiu● ] said , ye arcadians , &c. * being alone skilfull to sing [ or in singing : ] ch how softly the bones may rest to me then , [ viz how sweetly shall my bones rest [ in my graue . ] ‖ song . ‖ may speake of . * in time to come , or hereafter . ‖ i would to god. secondly , that gallus detesting his owne estate , wisheth that he had bene a countreyman , either a shepherd or a dresser of vines , for the delights and companie which such haue to sport withall , as of phillis and amyntas . that although amyntas was blacke , yet so are violets and bramble berries also . * a keeper . * a gatherer of your ripe grapes , [ viz. a dresser of your vines . * certainly [ or surely ] whether phillis were [ a louer ] to me , or else amyntas [ were ] [ a louer , ] or whatsoeuer furie [ or raging loue , viz. louer causing raging loue ] ( what then if amyntas be browne [ viz. swart or blacke ? ] * the berries of the great bramble . and he could delight himselfe with them . ‖ should rest . phillis should make him garlands , amyntas should sing . * phillis should gather garlands for me , [ viz. flowers to make garlands for me . ] thirdly , he in a new and sudden passion of loue , turneth his speech to lycoris , whom he seeketh to call backe by the pleasantuesse of the places where he was . as coole fountaines , sweet medowes and woods . * o lycoris [ my loue ] here [ are ] cold springs . * cold as ice . ‖ here in the countrey . * soft medowes . * a wood . * here i could be spent with thee for eternitie [ or for euer ] g nunc insanus , &c. ] here gallus breaks ou● to bewaile the miserie both of himselfe and of lycoris his loue . that as she was now , so his heart was with her in the midst of the enemies and warres : and thus he falleth into exclamations , commiserating her hard heart and wofull case , by an apostrophe , turning his speech vnto her . * i could be consumed . * mad loue . * detaines [ or holds ] me , [ viz. in affection or my affections . ] * in the weapons [ viz. among the weapons of hard [ viz. cruell ] mars . * and aduerse enemies , [ viz. violently bent against vs. ] * thou ( ah hard ) [ lycoris . ] * let it not be for me to beleeue . that she was now in france , farre off from her countrey , or about the alpes , readie to perish by the coldnesse of the countrey , caused both by the snowes and frosts , and riuers , and none to care for her . * the snowes of the alpes [ viz. of mountaines whereby italy is diuided from france and germanie , ] called alpes , q. albes , because they are almost alwayes white with snow . * ah [ take heed ] lest the sharpe ice cut the tender soles of the feete to thee . and so perswades her in regard of the cold & sharpnesse of the countries , rather to returne into italy againe . h in the 12 next verses gall● propounds vnto himselfe the remedies which he wil vse for the ●uring of his loue , by contrary studies . * i will go , and will tune [ or play ] the songs which are made of me in calcidian verse , with an oaten pipe of a sicilian shepheard . * with an oate . ‖ by the sicilian shepheard , ●e meaneth theocritus . * songs which are made to me , [ viz. of me . ] ‖ in the verse of euphor●on the poet of chalchis , whom gallus translated forth of greeke into latin. * it is determined [ of me ] to will rather to suffer [ any miserie . ] as first by giuing his minde to the studie of poetrie , wherein he propounds to imitate euphorion and theocritus . and so to liue solitarie in woods , there to write his songs of loue , and to ca●e them in trees , that they may grow vp with the trees . * to cut in [ or car●e ] my loues , [ viz. songs of my loue ] in tender trees [ viz. barks of trees . ] the second remedie of his loue , should be by his trauelling , and seeking new loues . * in the meane while i will view the hils called menalus , the nymphs being mixt , [ or frequent there . ] the third remedie , by giuing himselfe to hunting , and by enduring therein whatsoeuer annoyance ; and this is set out by the places and delights which he seemed to enioy in the very conceit thereof . * the fierce beares . * not any colds shall forbid me to compasse about the partheniā launds [ or forrests ] with dogs . ‖ parthenius is a mountaine of arcadia , so call'd of the virgins which vsed to hunt there , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . ‖ now me thinks i go , ‖ through [ or amongst ] the rockes and sounding groues [ viz. sounding with the eccho . ] as going amongst the rockes and groues , shooting with most excellent bowes and arrowes , that so he may asswage the furie of his raging loue . * it listeth me to whirle [ or shoote forth ] cydonian darts with a parthian horne , [ viz a bow tipped with horne : ] as if this may be the medicine of our furie , [ viz. the remedie of our furious [ or ouer passionate ] loue . ] 8 cydon is a citie of creete , where are most excellēt reeds to make arrowes . 9 the parthians were most notable archers . ‖ cupid the god of loue . * to waxe milde by the euils of men , [ viz. by our miseries . ] i here the poet suddenly disliking the former remedies , setteth out the inconstancie of loue , and that no remedies can cure it , neither the pleasures of the woods , no● the studie of poetrie , no no● any musicke , no● yet any toyles can asswage the rage thereof ▪ * now againe neither the hamadryades [ do please vs , ] nor [ our ] verses themselues do please vs. ‖ hamadryades are nymphs breeding and dying with the ●akes . ‖ songs . * yeeld ye [ to loue ] [ viz. because ye cannot cure it . ] ‖ all our toyles and trauels cannot change [ or turne ] * him [ viz. cupid ] that is , cannot asswage our loue . ] nor enduring of any hardnesse , set out 1 by drinking vp the coldest riuer . * if we both drinke . ‖ hebrus the riuer of thracia . * in the cold , being in the midst [ or in the midst of the cold , or amidst the cold . * and vndergo , [ viz endure to trauell in the snowes of scythia in the winter . and secondly by abiding the deepest snows ▪ ‖ al. snowes of sithon a mountaine of thracia . * nor if we oft turne about [ viz. do tend ] the sheepe of the ethiopians vnder the signe of cancer , [ viz. in the hotest scorching heate . thirdly , by suffering the most scorching heate in the hottest countries of the world , neare the burning line , and in the patching sunne , when all things seeme to begin to die with heate . ‖ whenas the highest trees do seeme to scorch and die with heate . ‖ euery thing [ viz. euery liuing creature , to make them yeeld to satisfie it . ] whence gallus concludeth that loue ouercometh all things , and therfore he must needs yeeld to loue . ‖ let vs yeeld to loue , [ viz. let vs also suffer our selues to be ouercome by it , or we may also yeeld to loue . k here virgil speakes himselfe , and concludeth this eclogue with an apostrophe and inuocation of the muses , that gallus might accept of his homely verse ; that the muses themselues wold make these verses meete for gallus , whilst ●e is still making vp his wicker stuffe , viz. perfecting his other pastorals . ‖ ye muses . ‖ it shall suffice that your poet [ virgil ] hath sung these songs [ viz. verses . ] * whilst he sits and weaues [ or plats ] a little pannier [ or maund ] with a slender bulrush . ‖ of the pierides see before in the 3 6. and 8. eclogues . * greatest [ verses ] viz. fit and meete for gallus , [ viz. that he may receiue them with the like affection as i haue written them . ] l and thence he laboureth to expresse his loue to gallus , how his loue towards him did increase continually ; & this by an argument à pari . that is increased as much each houre , as the alder trees shootes foorth in the prime of the spring . * the loue of whom increaseth so much to me in houres , [ viz. euerie houre . ] * how much the greene alder tree subiects it selfe [ viz. growes spreading abroad downeward and each way ] in the new spring [ or in the beginning of the spring , or in the flourishing spring . ] m afterward taketh occasion to end this eclogue from the danger of the place where he sat , viz. vnder a iuniper tree , the shadow whereof is especially hurtfull , as the shadows of all trees are to things growing vnder them , and therfore he should arise . * grieuous to [ men ] singing , [ viz. to shepheards when they sing , lying vnder the shadowes of trees . ] ‖ noisome [ or hurtfull , [ viz. is especially hurtfull . * the fruites also , [ viz. corne or whatsoeuer groweth vnder them . ] n and finally he shuts vp all by turning his speech vnto his goates , that they might now go home , both being full , and the euening starre now shewing it selfe . * being full . * the euening starre comes , [ viz. doth shew it selfe . ] * go ye [ my ] little goates . ite , ●te . apost● . & epan . notes for div a14494-e36780 * there are foure bookes of virgil called georgica , meaning georgica carmina , or documenta georgica , that is , instructions of husbandrie , of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , terra , whereof is made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , opus , of which comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , agricola , an husbandman , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , ●gri colendi peritus , viz. skilfull in husbandrie . the first of these bookes is concerning corne ; the second of trees , especially of vines ; the third of cattell ; this fourth of bees . * [ virgil ] doth prosecute most copiously the care of bees , and the reason of mellification in this fourth booke . ‖ the subiect matter of this booke . * was so straight [ or narrow . ] * consumed or spent . ‖ enlargeth it . ‖ by matters [ from the point . ] ‖ borrowed speeches and comparisons . * 〈◊〉 of their chiefe 〈◊〉 , or common halls . * studies or delights . * exceeds . * ●dfull of . * his 〈◊〉 translations . * and this booke . * cut. * for he prosecutes the care of defending , &c. in the former part of it . * he prosecutes [ or accomplisheth ] the reason [ or way ] whereby they may be repaired againe , when they shall die vtterly , in the latter [ part . ] * from the foundation . * who is beleeued to haue repaired first his lost bees , [ viz his bees being dead . ] * forthwith [ or now afterwards ] the kingdomes smelling againe [ or sweete smelling kingdomes . ] * of ●iery h●ny [ viz. falling from , or made , or gathered in the aire . * and also the bees of hybla , syn●d . * chosen . * [ he shewes ] also the moist hony combes , being heauenly gifts . ‖ by the meanes of certaine beasts which he killed , and vsed to that purpose . ● their hony combes . ‖ what swarmes of bees . ‖ a counseller at the law. a these words contain 〈◊〉 proposition of this fourth booke , according to the distribution in the very entrance of the first booke . onely the tran●ition is more obscure then in the former bookes ▪ thus in effect . hauing dispatched my verse concerning cattell , which was my third part , i will now proceed to the ordering of bees , which is the last . wherein by an apostrophe or turning his speech to maecenas , to whom he dedicated these bookes , he stirres him vp , and so all who shall reade it , to attention , from the admirablenesse of these things whereof he is to speake ( being so smal in shew ) concerning the whole gouernment of bees , their captaines , manners , studies , people , skirmishes , and the like . * i will execute [ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ] forthwith . ‖ gifts sent from heauen , and of a very heauenly or excellent nature . * of aierie hony . ‖ accept fauo●rably this part of my worke of husbandrie concerning bees , like as the former . * behold also . * i will speake [ or shew ] to thee . * wonderfull spectacles [ or shewes , as in playes ] of light things , [ viz. things but small , or not so much accounted of . ‖ valorous leaders [ or guides or kings . ] * and also [ i will shew vnto you . ] * and studies [ viz. endeuours or exercises . ] * and people . ‖ duly or plainly . ‖ [ viz. ] in the care about the ordering of bees , yet the glory which comes to the husbandman is not small . i the old romanes vsed to pray vnto certain gods to help them , and to others not to hurt them , as to 〈◊〉 , du● & robigus , &c. * battels or warres . * left [ viz. ouerthwart , vnluckie , noisome , shrewd , or hurting diuine powers . secondly , that though 〈◊〉 labour be but in a small matter , yet the glorie coming of the skill ▪ is not small , so that the gods be fauourable , and hinder not . * do suffer any man. b and that he may proceed in order , he sheweth that first a fit standing is to be sought out for bees ; & 〈◊〉 describes the place meete for them , first by the things which are hurtfull to bees , that they may not be annoyed thereby , but stand remote from them ; as first the winds hindring that they cannot bring home their prouision . * doth heare , [ viz. do direct and prosper . * in the beginning a seate [ is to be sought ] for the bees , and a standing is to be sought . ‖ passage . * whither neither an entrance can be the winds . * do forbid . * food , [ viz. nourishment 〈◊〉 maintenance . ‖ may oft bounce on the flowers , and tread them downe . ‖ the wandring heifer , [ viz. cattell going vp and downe . * and the lizzards painted [ in regard of their fo●te backes [ or vpon their foule backes ] let them be away , [ viz. let them not be neare . ‖ may smite the dew from off the herbes , and weare or spoile the herbes which should rise vp . secondly , cattell , as sheepe , kids , bullockes , or he●fers , eating vp or treading downe the flowers , on which they should labour , or smiting off the hony dew from them . ‖ filthy or horrible , as with painted circles in their backes . * meropes , birds haunting bee hiues , and deuouring the bees and their hony , called wood-peckers or eate-bees . thirdly , venemous beasts , as newts , lizards or the like . * progne . how progne pandious daughter was changed into a swallow , see the sixt book of ouids metam . with sabines com. at large . she was turned into a swallow , as her husband pursued her for the slaughter of her sonne it is , the markes whereof are on her breast . * signed [ in regard of her ] brest . syn. fourthly birds , as bee-eaters , spoyling both bees and hony ▪ and swallowes deuouring them as they flie vp and downe , and also carrying them to their yong . * for they waste all things all abroad , and they carry in [ their ] mouth them [ viz. the bees ] flying , being a pleasant meate to their vngentle nests , [ viz to their yong ones which deuour the bees brought by their dams ▪ ] ‖ from the full hiues fat with hony . secondly , he set● out the place by the thing● which are good for bees , or by the efficient causes of their prospering , as first cleare springs and fountaines , faire standing ponds greene with mosse , or little streames running through the grasse for the watering of the bees , viz. where they may drinke most conueniently . ‖ cruell , hard hearted , [ viz nourished with the death of other creatures . ‖ weeds growing in it , and after a sort couering it . * but liquid sountaines and standing waters greene with mosse , let be present [ viz. let them haue , &c. ] * riuer flying [ viz. running ] by the grasse [ let it be present . ] ‖ see that there be palme trees [ viz. date trees or the like . * the porch . secondly , trees , plants or herbes . trees , as the palme ouershadowing the entrance of their hiues , or the wilde oliue to the same purpose . ‖ great oliue tree , [ viz. some other great trees which the bees like best . also banks of herbs or lesse plants to allure the yong ones in the spring to sport abroad and to get them out of the heate . * in their spring , [ viz. the time meet for their first going out . * yong bees . * the banke neare may inuite [ viz. allure or entice them ] to depart [ or giue place ] to [ or from ] the heate [ of the sunne into the shadow . ] * and the tree meeting [ them ] may hold [ or receiue them . ] and great trees in the way to serue them to light and rest vpon . thirdly , that they should haue boughes of trees , as of ●allowes or the like , to be layed ouerthwart in the water . ‖ with her boughes full of greene leaues , for the yong bees to light vpon . * whether the mo●sture [ viz. water ] shall stand sluggish , [ viz. still , not mouing , ] or whether it flow [ viz. run ] continually : ‖ cast into the midst [ thereof ] willowes layed acrosse and big stones . or great stones to be set therein , for the bee● to saue themselues 〈◊〉 for to rest vpon . ‖ into the midst of the water for the bees to light vpon . * that [ the bees ] may stand sure vpon . and that they may spread their wings , laying them open against the sunne , if the windes shall plunge any of them into the water . * often bridges [ viz. lying thicke together , or many . ‖ spread abroad . * the headlong east wind . fourthly , that they should haue store of sweete smelling herbes to be planted round about the waters , and about the hiues , as namely cassia , wilde marioram , winter sauorie . ‖ staying long abroad . * or shall drowne [ viz. dip them ] into neptune , [ viz shall cast them headlong into the water . * let greene cassi ▪ [ flourish ] about these [ places ] or bee-gardens . ] * of cassia see before in the second eclogue . also bankes of violets , &c. * wilde bett●nie [ smelling like wilde marjoram , or it may be taken for sauorie . ] ‖ hysope . * casting out a sauour grieuously , [ viz. smelling very strong , or being strong of sent . * beds [ or borders ] of violets . * drinke the watering [ or maistening ] spring , [ viz. let them be planted neare the water sides , where they may draw moisture . ] c hitherto the poet hath described the bee-garden , viz. the place fit for the stāding of bees : now he commeth to a second precept concerning the hiues , to shew what ones they must be , both for the matter and fashion . * whether [ they shall be ] sowed to them with hollowed barks , [ viz. whether you shall make them of barkes of trees sewed together , ] or whether they shall be wouen with a limber twig [ or ozier ] viz. made of rods . first , for the matter , that they be made of hollow barks sewed together , or of rods or twigs . secondly , for the entrance● of the hiues , that they be narrow , to keep our both cold and heate : because the winter cold hardens the hony , and summer heate dissolues it . * doth make thick [ or doth thicken ] or make hard ] the honies . * and heate remits [ viz. dissolues ] the same [ honies ] being molten [ viz. made thin , that is , heate ●elts and dissolues them . that the violence and danger of both these is to be feared & prenented alike he proues further , frō the endeuo●rs of the bees themselues against such iniuries of the weather . * both the violence [ of cold and heate ] is to be feared . ‖ to be feared to bees , [ viz. to be preuented . ] * neither they do da●be in vaine , or without iust c●se . * daub● ouer . that they stop close all the little holes and tifts in their hiues with waxe , mosse , flowers , and with a kind of glue more slimie then birdlime or pitch . * striuingly or by strife . * in the roofes [ or houses ] ‖ and stop . * vtmost parts [ or skirts , viz. clifts or chinkes . ] * with fucus : some take this to be meant of a counterfet kind of waxe , but more pitchie , gathered of the gums of trees ; others for a kinde of mosse . * keepe or saue . * offices or businesses . ‖ tough or gummie . ‖ the pitch of the pitch trees of ida [ an hill in phrygia , ] * the phrygian ida. ] and that for more safetie against all such perill , they haue bene found to haue made their houses within the ground . * haue digged [ their ] house in holes digd out vnder the ground . and in pumeise stones all eaten . and so in trunkes of hollow trees . * altogether [ or deeply . ] thirdly , for the better preseruing the hiues from all such violence of weather and other inconueni●ces , to daub them smoothly with mud , & to strew leaues thereon to keepe the hiues moist from chopping . * caue , [ viz. the hollownesse * of a tree all eaten with rottennesse . ‖ howbeit . * annoint thou [ their ] lodgings full of clifts [ or rifts , or chinkes . ] * with smooth raud , [ viz. smoothed on the outside , or finely tempered . ] ‖ oxe dung or the like . * cherishing [ them , ] [ viz. to preserue them from all violence both of heate and cold . ] ‖ and moreouer cast vpon the hiues thus daubed , leaues here and there , [ viz. to keepe the mud or dung moist and from chinking . ] d after he proceedeth to giue warning of such things as are noisome to the hiues , like as he had before for the bee-gardens : as that the good husband should not suffer yough trees to grow too neare them ; nor to burne the shels of sea-crabs neare vnto them : nor to let them stand ouer neare to deepe fens or standing waters . * neither suffer . * nearer to [ their ] roofes , [ viz. hiues . ] ‖ crabs or creuisses , which are red when they are sod or burnt . * in [ thy ] hearth [ or chimney , ] whereby the smell may come to the bees . ‖ let not your bees stand neare vnto a moore or watery place being deepe . * or where the smell of mud [ or dirt ] is grieucus . nor neare vnto any filthy smell of mud , nor any great sounding of waters . nor where there is a loud ●ccho . * stones . ‖ do make a noise . * by beating vpon . e here now followeth a third precept concerning the worke of the bees in the spring and in the summer time . where first the poet describes the spring by the efficient cause of it , to wit , the sunne , viz. when the sunne coming nearer vnto vs , hath with his light chased away the winter , and begins to bring the summer ; that then the bees trauell forthwith far and neare thorough forrests and woods , and all other places where they may gather their prouision . ‖ vnto the antipodes , where it is winter when it is summer with vs. * the image of the voice offended leapes backe [ viz. where there is a great eccho , which comes by the beating backe of the voice . ‖ the [ bees ] presently passe through vplands or launds . * hath vnshut [ or opened ] heauen with the summer light , [ viz. the pleasant sunne in the spring . ] how they sucke it chitfly from the pleasant flowers . * reape [ viz. gather the nourishment or the prouision vpon ] the flowers . and being light of body , they sip water whersoeuer they find it . and hauing so done , they returne home chearfully . * do taste lightly the vpmost flouds , [ viz. the vpmost parts of the waters . libare q. labiare , i. e. primis labris attingere . ‖ nourish . and both cherish their brood , and maintaine their hiues . * sweetnesse . * ofspring or issue . * [ their ] nest ● ▪ how hereupon they artificially frame their combes of waxe and hony . * from hence they beate out as with a hammer or weild , viz. frame . * fresh waxe by art . * frame their . * you shall now see aloft a troupe [ of bees ] sent forth out of [ their ] caues vnto the flarres of heauen , to swimme through the liquid summer , [ viz. the cleare aire in the summer . ] ‖ cleauing , glu●sh , gummie . f afterwards vpon this occasion of their flying abroad , he cometh to a fourth precept , for the retaining of their swarmes with sweete smels of herbes , and with sounds . * behold , [ or marke it well : ] for ] they . that when the keepers of them see a great swarme of them gathered like a cloud , and wauing in the skie , they then seeke waters , and a new house amongst the boughes of trees . ‖ wonder at . ‖ a swarme of bees gathered round together like a darke cloud . ‖ caried or moued . * and branching roofes , [ viz. to make their abode amongst the greene boughes of trees . * balme gently bruzed . this is an herbe wherewith bees are delighted . therefore to the end that they may settle , they are to sprinkle the places with the vsuall iuyces of certain herbs , as of balme , honysuccles , and the like ; or to rub them with those herbes , and withall to ring or tinkle with basons , cimbals , and other such like sounding things , to keepe them from flying quite away . ‖ wonted or vsuall . * vnnoble [ or vile , because it growes euery where . ] * a tinkling noise as of basons . * and shake the cymbals of [ cybele ] mother [ of the gods ] round about . * to [ or in ] their seates medicined , [ viz. prepared with such iuyces and herbes as are mentioned . ] ‖ the cymbals are tinkling instruments which were vsed in the sacrifices of cybele . because by these meanes they will settle vpon the places so sprinkled . al. of mars . * they will hide [ or betake ] themselues . and will easily be gotten into new hiues thus rubbed and prepared . * cradles [ viz hiues fitted for them . ] ‖ by nature of their owne accord . g and hence he proceedeth to a fifth precept , concerning the battels of the bees , which he setteth out by a principall cause thereof , and by signes . the chiefe cause is discord arising betweene the kings or maister-bees . * hath gone with a stately pace as in kings [ viz. marched or crept ] to two kings with a great motion [ or stirre , ] for that their kingdome is impatient of any consort , or they cannot endure two kings . * the minds of the common people . the signes whereby any one may foreknow their stomackes , and their trembling hearts prepared for warre , and so their skirmishes are . * know. ‖ their hearts stirring [ or rising ] to battle . you shall heare the night before a warlike noise , as of a sounding trumpet , calling all forth to warre , and withall sundry broken sounds , as of trumpets . * of hoarse sounding brasse . * doth chide [ viz. rebuke or prouoke and hasten forward . * [ the bees ] lingring long [ or making no haste . ] * imitating . * then they go together among themselues trembling , [ viz. quiuering with anger or with violence . and then the next day they go hastily together , glistering with their wings , as souldiers in armour . ‖ and shine as souldiers in armour . * pens or feathers . * and also they sharpen [ their ] darts with [ their ] bils [ or nibs . ] they will also sharpen their stings with their snouts , and fit themselues to fight . * and make fit [ their ] armes , [ viz. prepare them . * they are mingled thicke about [ their ] king [ for his preseruation . ] then they gather thick about their king , as the romanes were wont about the emperours pauilion , and call forth their enemy with loud cries . * to the very places of their pretor [ or emperour . ] it is an allusion to the maner of the romanes to desire to be nearest to the emperours tent or pauilion . ‖ challenge [ or prouoke . ] ‖ mightie or loud humming . and thus when they haue got a faire calme sunny day in the spring , they rush out of their hiues , and runne violently together as souldiers to battell : * a cleare spring , [ viz. a faire day in the spring or summer . ] ‖ large and wide fields , [ viz roome enough . ] * it is runne together , [ viz. they skirmish . ] whereby there is a great sound made in the aire ; ‖ a great noise is heard forth of the aire . * in the high skie [ or aire . ] * they being mingled together , and all the bees are gathered thicke into a great round heape . and straightway they fall downe killed or wounded out of the aire , as thicke as haile . * are w●un round like a clew or ball into a great orbe or circle [ after the manner of an armie . ] ‖ they fall downe as dead . * from the aire . so that the acornes fall not downe so fast from the shaken oake . * nor so much of the acorne doth raine , [ viz. fall like raine ] from the oake being smitten . ‖ ilex is taken for a kind of oake . the kings in the meane time flie thorough the midst of their armies with their gallant wings , al. with wings like ensignes , * do turne oft great courages in a narrow breast : and shew their braue mindes , encouraging their armies , * striuing [ or encouraging themselues with all their might ] so verie greatly not to yeeld . stoutly enforcing themselues with all their power not to yeeld , * the grieuous conquerours [ or heauie , as we say , an heauie enemie . ] ● vntill the one side being ouercome , be caused violently to turn their backs in flight . ‖ enforced . * to giue their backes , being turned by flight . h vpon this occasion the poet cometh to a sixth precept , concerning the recalling and quieting of the bees in these broyles ; ‖ these their furious rages . * strifts or battels . * shall rest [ or be quiet . ] which is , by casting vp a little dust , viz. by throwing vp a few molds into the aire , which may be felt as raine in the midst amongst them . ‖ supprest or appeased . * with casting . ‖ kings , [ viz. king or maister-bees . * from the forefront of the battell . and withall teacheth how to continue their peace after , which is , by killing the worse of the two kings , viz. of those two maister bees , which were the cause of the battell . * giue him to death , [ viz. kill that of them two ] which [ shall ] seeme the wor●e , lest being prodigall he hurt , [ viz. lest he proue a robber , or liue onely in consuming the hony , and getting nothing . * [ but ] suffer [ that ] the better may reigne . and he giues a reason of it , lest he proue a robber . * in the emptie hall , [ viz. the emperours pallace free from enemie , as sole king . but to preserue th● better of them , that he may reigne alone , without any other to prouoke him . * one will be burning with spots foule with gold , [ viz. shewing yellow like gold . catachrefis . and here for more clearenes , he describeth the kings or maister bees . that as there are two kinds of kings , so one of them which is the better , is of a burning red colour bright with gliftering specks , and of a more notable countenance . ‖ 〈◊〉 , or notably knowne . * in mouth . ‖ cleare or shining . * with red scales [ viz. with golden spots shining as scales in fishes . * horrible , vgly or lothsome . the other is vgly through his sloth , dragging his broad belly , creeping in a base maner before or about the hiues mouth . ‖ idlenesse or lazinesse . * and without all glory , [ viz base ] drawing his broade belly [ vpon the hiues mouth . ] ‖ broade , not round as in the other . ‖ in a base maner . and moreouer sheweth , that as there are such differences in the kings ; so there are two principal differences in the common sort likewise . * as the faces [ or formes ] of [ their ] kings are two , so the bodies of the nation [ or common sort of bees ] [ are different . ] * of the nation [ of the bees . ] ‖ are of two sorts , differing one from another , euen as the bodies of the kings . for that some of them are rough and illfauoured , as if they were all dustie ouer ; which he illustrateth by a similitude : that they haue on them a filthinesse like the spittle which the thirstie traueller coming out of the deepe dust spits vpon the ground , and this is the worst kind . * being filthy [ or foule ] are vgly and lothsome . * drie with thirst . ‖ passenger , or wayfaring man. * with his mouth being drie [ with thirst and dust . ] ‖ others are of a cleare and bright shining colour . the other sort of them shines and glisters with a cleare brightnesse like gold : * burning with gold . * smeared or annointed , * with like or euen drops , [ viz. spots of euen bignesse . ] and haue their bodies dasht with equall spot● . this latter he sheweth to be the better brood . ‖ from these bees . * of heauen , [ viz. at a meete season . ] and that these make the most liquid and excellent 〈◊〉 . * you shall presse out , [ viz. 〈◊〉 or crush out . ] * nor so much sweete as liquid , [ viz. pure , clarified , or cleare from dregs . * and to 〈◊〉 [ viz. fit to tame the hard taste of bacchus [ or of wine , met. effic . ‖ that is , to take away the vnpleasantnesse or sharpnesse of wine or the like : or to make sweete wine called mulsum , viz. bastard wine or metheglin , by seething wine and hony together . which will notably amend the ouermuch hatdnesse of wine , to make it most delicate . i here he repeats again the fourth precept , concerning the keeping of the swarmes , that they flie not away . ‖ the bees rising together . * vncertaine [ whither they will flie . * in heauen , or aboue , as in the skie . * and do contemne or neglect . first , that when they begin to sport in the aire , and to leaue their hiues , and so to offer to flie quite away , they be restrained and withdrawne after this manner following : viz. * cold roofes [ viz hiues . ] * you shall forbid , [ viz. withdraw or stay . ‖ wauering or vnstayed . * from vaine play or pastime . by plucking off the wings from their kings * to prohibite or stay them from flying away . * plucke thou off . for that then none of the rest dare be so bold to flie so high , ‖ none of the bees dare be so bold , or aduenture . * to go [ or vndertake ] a high iourney . or to offer to remoue their standards , viz. to prouoke their fellowes to flie away , so long as the kings stay behind . * to plucke vp [ to stirre yp the rest to flie away . this is a b●rowed speech , a metaphor taken from souldiers , who by plucking vp and remouing their standards , do shew to their fellowes that they are about to go from that place . * those , [ viz. the maister bees ] lingring . a second meanes of retaining them , is ▪ by the sweetnesse of trees and flowers growing about or neare vnto the hiues , whereof sundrie kinds are mentioned before and after . * your orchards or gardens , &c. let them . * breathing out , or sending out 〈◊〉 . i● 〈◊〉 delight . ‖ with all such flowers as where ▪ ‖ and let priapus who is the god and preseruer of the gardens , be set at the entry of the bee-garden , with his willow reaping hooke to driue away theeues and birds , and to preserue the bees . a third remedie , is by commending them to the guard of priapus whom they made the god of their gardens , and placed him at the entrie thereof , with his willow hooke , to keepe away both theeues and birds , and to saue the bees from all annoy . ‖ priapus , sonne of bacehus and venus . al. the keeper both of theeues and bees , with h● sallow hooke saue them . k but here he returneth again to the second remedie ; that he that hath a due regard of his bees to haue them to prosper , and himselfe to thriue , looke to that chiefly , to plant store of thyme and pine trees round about neare vnto his bees . al. and let him . * to whom such things are a care , [ viz. who hath a care of bees that they may prosper . ] ‖ yong pine trees . ‖ set them . * the roofes , [ viz. the bee gardens or the hiues . ] * let him weare his hand with hard labour , [ viz. with labouring hard . ] and that he labouring hard , set also other fruitfull trees about his grounds , being carefull in watering them till they take roote . * let him fasten downe fruitfull plants to [ or in ] the ground . ‖ sets of fruitfull trees . * let him water , [ viz. let him powre vpon them ] friendly showers , [ viz. wholesome water like showers , or in stead of showres . l vpon this occasion the poet maketh a profitable digression to the pleasantnesse and commoditie of orchards & gardens , which he professeth that he would haue prosecuted more fully , had be not purposed to be very briefe in this treatise , which he expresseth by an allegory taken from mariner● approching neare vnto the ha● . * i indeed but that i may draw [ downe ] [ my ] sailes , and may hasten to turne my prore [ viz. the forepart of my ship ] to the lands : [ that is , but that i desire to draw towards an end , as the weary mariner towards the land . * vnder [ or about ] the extreme ●nd of my labours . ‖ toiles or paines . * perhaps i would sing of , [ viz. would write of in verse after this ma●er ] what care of husbanding might adorne both the fat orchards [ or gardens ] and the r●siers [ or rose-gardens , or rose-beds of pestū [ a town of lucania ] bearing twise a yeare , [ viz. where through the temperature of the heauens , the ground beareth abundance of roses twise in the yeare , to wi● , in may and september . that otherwise ●e would haue handled the maner of husbanding of gardens and rose-yards , to make them ranke and fruitfull . * and after what manner endiue , [ viz. the herbes called endiue or suecory . ] might reioyce in the riuers well drunke of . also the manner of planting endiue and succorie neare water sides . ‖ greene parsly banks . and how to haue the greene bankes of parsly . ‖ a pium taken for common parsly , and not for garden parsly . * and the cucumber . likewise how to haue faire great cucumbers . * the herbe [ viz. herbes or weeds . * might increase into a belly . * had i held my peace of [ or said nothing of ] ▪ the narcissus or white daffadill bearing leaues [ or flowering ] late . with store of narcissus . * sera pro serò , a newter adiectiue for an aduerbe . * the twig [ viz. of the herbe called branke vrsine . ] * bowed or bent . branke vrsine . ‖ acanthus or beare ▪ breech . see before in the third eclogue . ivies . mi●le trees and the like . ‖ delighting to grow neare the sea-shores . this he confirmeth by the example of an old man of corycus neare vnto tarent . * for i remember me to haue seene [ viz. that i once saw ] an old corycian fellow vnder the high towers of oebalia , &c. ‖ by oebalia he meaneth tarent built by the oebalians , viz. the lacedemonians in the countrey of calabria . ‖ watereth . * the tilled [ fields ] waxing yellow [ with ripe c●rne . ] ‖ of cilicia : for corycus is a towne of cilicia : * to whom there were a few acres of the country left , [ viz after the diuision of the fields of tarent made by pompey to the old soldiers , not left & for saken as contemned by the owners . some thinke it is meant , left by his ancestors , and made fruitfull by his husbandrie . who hauing but a few acres of ground left after the diuision of the countrey . the soile whereof was neither fruitfull for grasse nor corne , nor yet commodious for vines . * neither was that [ ground ] fertile for bullockes , [ viz. for pasture , ] nor the corne growing on it [ or puise . ] ‖ good for other cattell , [ or thuu , nor a fit crop for cattell , viz for sheep . * neither [ was the ground . ] * to bacchus , [ viz. fit or good for vines . ] yet this old man planting herbes in that ground thinly here and there , ‖ yet this man , &c. * he pressing [ or pricking downe , ] viz. setting . * pot-herbes [ viz. herbes fit to be eaten , of diuers sorts ] thinne in the bushes . ‖ all herbes vsed about religious c●remonies , or to holy ends . ‖ meete to be eaten sparingly . thought himselfe as rich as a king thereby . * in [ his ] minds , [ viz. in conceit ] the wealth of kings [ because it is the mind , not the cheft that maketh rich . and could at any time furnish his table with dainties of his owne growing , without any further cost . ‖ meates , or pro●ision of his owne . * at late night [ or late in the euening . ] hauing abundance of roses in the spring , and 〈◊〉 in autumne , and those ripe with the first . * he loaded his tables . * [ he begun , or was w●nt ] to plu●ke roses first , [ viz. with the first . or carpere for carpebat . enal . * and also [ he plucked ] apples [ first ] [ viz. his were first ripe . and also store of greene herbes in the hardest winter , when all elsewhere were killed with the frost . * and when the sad [ or terrible ] winter euen now did burst the stones * with cold , and bridled the co●rses of 〈◊〉 , [ viz. of the ri●ers ] * with ice . thus he proceeded still , watching his oportunities , waiting on the time , and oft thinking i● long before it came . * euen now did he sheare the tops of soft branke vrsi●e [ viz. new sprung , ] that is , he had fresh herbes . ‖ late . * staying long , [ or making long delayes , ] because the west windes are the first messengers of the spring . hereby he was wont to abound with breeding bees and store of swarmes . * with bees full of yong ones , and with many a swarme . and plentie of hony . ‖ crushed , or strained . hauing all trees wherein the bees delight , as both linden trees and also pine-trees . * [ there were ] to him linden trees and the most plentifull pine tree , [ or great abundance of pine trees . ] ‖ most fruitfull [ or profitable ] [ viz. for making their ho●y combes . * and with how many apples [ each fruitfull tree had clothed [ or arayed ] it selfe in the new flower [ viz. at the first knotting ] it held euen so many ripe [ apples ] in autumne [ viz. at the gathering ] [ that is , they did all prosper . ] and maruellous increase of apples ; so that looke how many yong apples he had set on the trees presently after the blooming , so many ripe ones 〈◊〉 gathered in the autum●e ; all ●med to prosper . * he also remo●ed [ or translated ] into order , [ viz. into rowes , after the maner of a quineu●x ] late 〈◊〉 , [ viz. elmes that grow but showly . * very hard , [ or the 〈◊〉 and strong 〈◊〉 . he moreouer plan●ed 〈◊〉 . and withall peare-trees and pl●m trees , ‖ plums , or damosi●s , not sloes , because the nature of the trees were changed by the change of the ground through his husbandrie . and al●o pl●ne 〈◊〉 for shade . * now ministring [ viz. affoording ] a shadow to [ men ] drinking [ vnder the same . ] but he concludeth this digression , that he is enforced to cut off all lōger discourse of these things through lacke of time , & leaues them to be recorded by others . h ouerpasse or omit . * being separated [ or excluded ] by vnequall spaces , [ viz. being hindred from hauing the like , or from finishing the worke by the short time of my life , or of my leisure , compared to that old mans . * leaue them to others to be rehearsed hereafter . and first he toucheth a fable concerning the originall or their first receiuing of their excellent qualities , which they are said to haue had from iupiter , for a reward of feeding him when he was new born . m here he cometh to a seuenth precept concerning the nature and qualities of bees ; where their whole work is expressed in diuers parts . * the natures or gifts . ‖ hath giuen to bees besides what they had before . ‖ what reward the bees had for following , &c. and feeding iupiter . * of the curetes [ viz. of cybeles priests called corybantes , or of the people called curetes , being the first inhabitants of creet , who vndertooke the nursing of iupiter , to hide him and his crying , from his father saturne , in a caue at the foote of the hill dicte in candie . that bees following the shrill sound that cybeles priests made at his birth to the end that his crying should not be heard , found him in a caue of the hill dicte in creete , where he was hid from his father saturne , and fed him there with their hony . of which fable see ramus his com. more at large . * and [ their ] ratling brasses . ‖ iupiter . * vnder the dictean caue . n then he proceedeth to shew their admirable qualities ; as that they haue their yong ones in common , both bred in cōmon , and all hauing a common care of them : and also that they haue a citie and common halls , & leade their liues vnder worthy lawes . ‖ onely the bees of all other creatures haue their yong ones bred in common of them all , and haue a common care of them . * children [ viz. yong brood ] common . * [ they haue also ] roofes [ viz. some houses ] of [ their ] citie common , [ viz. common hals . * whereof they are alike partakers or partners in . * and oft passe ouer [ their ] time [ or the time of their life , ] viz. liue perpetually * vnder great lawes . * and [ the bees ] alone have knowne their natiue countrey , and their certaine houshold gods , [ or priuate and severall houses , viz. their owne hiues or cels . * and [ they ] being mindfull of &c. that ▪ they onely of all creatures know their natiue country & their certaine dwelling houses . * about to come . * they trie labour by experience , [ viz. they make experiēce of labours . ] * and lay vp things gotten in the midst . that they are mindfull of winter before it 〈◊〉 , and take great 〈◊〉 in summer to prouide and lay vp in store for the common vse against that time . * for some [ bees ] do watch diligantly for liuing [ or food , ] viz. do take all occasions to labour for liuing , and bring in pro●ision . victu for victui . * are exercised [ viz occupied . ] after he sheweth how they deuide their workes : ‖ by a certain appointment , or order . * agreed of , or 〈◊〉 . that some of them are busied in the fields to seeke and fetch in prouision , as by a couenant amongst themselues . ‖ other some [ of them . ] * hedges or bounds . * the teare of narcissus , [ alluding to the fable , because the boy narcissus was turned into a flower ; whereof before . * cleauing [ or sticking ] glue . others worke within their houses ; laying the first foundations of their hony combs with iuyces of herbes and gums of trees . * from the barke . ‖ as , or for the first foundations . ‖ to their hony combes . * and then they hang vpon [ them ] stiffe waxe , [ such as i● stiffe and clammy , called propolis , viz. bee-glue . and so build thereupon , framing and fashioning their combes . * other [ bees ] bring forth [ out of the huskes or skinnes wherein they are bred ] the yong ones growne to perfection , [ viz. as the hen hatcheth the chickens by sitting on them . ] [ or else do leade them abroad , and accustome them to labour . ] others breede and bring forth their yong , and leade them out , when they are come to perfect growth ; thus accustoming them to labour . * of the nation [ viz. of the continuance and increase of their swarmes or hiues . ] ‖ do fill the cel● or combes with the purest and finest hony . others of them fill vp their cels with the purest and finest 〈◊〉 hony . ‖ fill full , or stuffe out . * with liquid [ or pure ] ●ectar , [ viz. the 〈◊〉 and most excellent part of the hony . others are appointed to ward at their gates . * custodie , [ viz. keeping or watching ] at the gates , hath fallen to lot , [ viz. as to their lot or by lot , speaking after the maner , as it is in warre , to keepe out the enemie . * and they do behold [ or obserue ] by course the waters [ viz. drops of raine ] and clouds of heauen , [ that is , clouds ouercasting , and all signes of the w●ather , as of showers or stormes . and these by turnes do watch the raine and clouds . ‖ they receiue . or else take 〈◊〉 burdens of tho e which come loaden home , and work them in their hiues . ‖ loades ‖ of such bees as come loaden home , and do helpe them . or making an army doe driue away the drones . * or an armie [ of them ] being made [ viz. hauing gathered a troupe of them together . ] * stalls . metaph. ‖ the droane bees without stings . ‖ a sluggish or slothfuli beast , onely consuming their hony , and getting none . and generally he declare●h how all of them do bestirte themselues in their worke , cach in their proper place , as sweating at it . ‖ they plie their worke [ viz as men vntill they sweate . ] ‖ their hiues . * yeelds a sauour [ or a sweete sent . ] ‖ by the herbs from whence they gather their hony and waxe . o which diligence and haste of theirs , he illustrateth by a notable similitude taken from the cyclopians , vulcans smiths , framing thunderbolts for iupiter . * when the cyclopes [ viz. a people of sicily hauing but one eie in their forehead , fained to be vulcan● smiths , and to make thunderbolts for iupiter . ] * hasten . * lightnings . * out of masses [ or wedges [ of iron or other mettall ] softened [ in the fire , or pliant to worke on . ] that like as they making vp their bolts in haste out of the soft ned iron lumps . * some [ of them ] take in blasts [ or wind ] and send it forth againe with bellows of bull-hides . some of them blow the bellowes . * dip their mettals hizzing , [ viz. coming out of the glowing fier . ] others quench their mettals hizzing in the troughes . * brasses , in a lake [ or trough of water as smiths vse . ] * etna ] a mountaine in sicily burning with perpetuall fiers , through the abundance of brimstone and other matter in it : fained to be the shop or workhouse of vulcan and the cyclops for the often and great thundring and lightning in those parts . etna in the meane while groaning vnder the stithies that are placed thereon . * with the stithies . * layed vpon it . those among them , who weild the hammers , do lift vp their armes to smite in order , and oft with their pinsers turne the iron holding it fast . ‖ others of them . ‖ making as it were a musicall harmonie by the order of their strokes vpō the iron , to fashion it on the stithy * with a paire of pinsers holding fast [ the iron . ] euen so ( to compare small things with great ) * if it be lawfull to compare . a naturall loue of gathering and making hony , enforceth the litle bees to bestirre themselues , and euery bee in her owne place . ‖ with great . * a loue bred in [ them ] [ viz. a naturall loue . ] * of hauing . * doth vrge [ viz. vehemently presse or charge . ] * of cecropia , [ viz. of the citie athens , so called of cecrops builder and king of athens , where is most excellent hony in abundance , for the store of thyme neare vnto it . ‖ euery one in her owne office . p thus still going on in the former distribution of their workes , he she weth , that the elder bees haue the charge of the whole hiues committed to them . ‖ the ancient [ viz. elder bees ] haue the charge of the townes [ viz. of the whole hiues ] committed to them . * a care to the ancient . to fence their hony combes , and to make them houses in a most artificiall and exquisite maner . * to fortifie . * to fashion [ or frame them ] dedalian roofes [ viz. houses built with admirable art . * dedalus like [ viz. artificiall , like as if framed by dedalus that most cunning workman . the yonger labour abroad in the fields , & returne home wearie and loaden late at night . * but the lesser [ bees ] betake themselues [ home ] weary at late night , [ viz. late in the euening . how they seeke and trauell for their prouision euery where both on the blossomes of crab-trees on fallowes which we call palmes . * full [ in regard of or vpon their ] legs , syn. [ viz. loaden with hony or waxe made of iuyce suckt out of thyme and other flowers . ] ‖ they feed , or get their liuing or prouision all abroad . so vpon saffron . the linden trees . * the seruice trees [ or crab trees . ] the flower of the red hyacinthus and all other sweete flowers . * greenish or gray sallowes , which we call palme trees , on which bees vse to lie very much . ‖ of casia , see before . * fat tilly . * the h●acinth of a blacke red colour , like iron : of the flower so called , or red purple lilly , see before ecl. 3. q here he still goeth along , and to declare by the way what a com munitie they haue in labouring and resting together , and so likewise in sleepe and watching : that all of them rest together , and all of them labour together , that there seemes to be but one rest and one worke vnto them all . * of works to all , [ viz. they all rest from their labour together , and they all worke together . * they rush forth of the gates early in the morning : delay [ is ] no where : againe , when as the euening starre hath admonished , the same [ bees ] depart at length . how in the morning they rush out of their gates all together to worke , and so continue in labouring all the day till the euening admonish them to depart home . ‖ from seeking their prouision . * they seeke their roofes , [ viz. they returne to their ●iues . and then returne , and so refresh their wearie lim● . * then do they care for [ their ] bodies . how at that time when they are got into the hiue , there is made a great humming noise by one of them flying about the hiue ; who by her sound cōmandeth all to take their rest . ‖ there is made a sound or noise , [ viz. by one of them flying about , by her humming , commanding all to take their rest . ] ‖ do generally make a great noise . * vtmost parts [ viz. outsides ] and thresholds , * composed [ viz betaken themselues to rest . ] so that after when they haue all reposed themselues , there is a great silence among them , that no stirring or noise is heard all the night . ‖ there is no noise [ all ] the night . * into [ viz. for or through ] the whole night . * the owne sleepe [ of euery bee occupieth & c̄ . [ viz. euery bee refresheth their weary lims by their sleepe . thus euery one with rest and sleepe doth recreate it selfe . * wearied ioynts . r here is repeated their foreknowledge of the weather , and what they do therein . that if it be like to be rainie or windie , they wil not flie farre from their hiues . ‖ but they do not depart or flie abroad farre . * go backe longer from [ their ] stalls , [ viz. go farre off from home , * raine hanging ouer , [ viz. if there be any raine presently toward . ] * or do they trust the heauen , or skie . [ viz they dare not commit themselues vnto the aire to flie abroad . * the easterne windes approching , or comming neare , [ viz. when it will be wind . but they will seeke water neare them round about . ‖ they drinke or fetch water . * being safe . ‖ on euery side . and flie no further abroad then they may get home before the storme . * and they trie [ or assay ] short excursions , [ flights , walks or iourneys ] [ viz. to go no further then they may get home before the storme . ] or if they be ouertaken by the windes , they vse to take vp litle stones to peize and carry themselues euen and steadily : like as floating boates do take vp balasse , [ viz. do l●ade themselues with land or grauell ] in a rough water , to preserue them safe , and to go the better ; euen so do they take vp these litle stones to beare themselues euen through the emptie aire . * vnstable [ or wauering ] boates [ or barges . ] saburra , is the lastage or balasse wherewith ships are poized to make them go vpright , as grosse sand , grauell , or the like . * the floud [ viz. tide or surges , tossing , and so putting the ship in danger . * they peise themselues , [ viz. make themselues weightie to go steadily . ] * clouds or darke weather . s next hereunto the poet declareth the maner of the breeding of bees . * that maner to haue pleased , [ viz. that that custome hath so pleased , [ or that they are delighted with such a kind of procreation . ] * delight in companying together for the cause of generation , [ viz. take delight in ingendring . ] that they are not bred by ingendring , a● most other liuing creatures are . ‖ idle or sluggish , do loose , &c. or dissol●e , [ viz. spend or weaken their bodies with lust . * venus . or haue any lust . * or do bring foorth [ their ] yong ones with [ painfull ] endeuour or enforcement , as most other creatures . neither bring forth their yong with paine or inforcement . ‖ chuse . but that they gather their yong ones with their mouthes , from sweet flowers & herbes as they gather their hony . * sonnes [ viz. broed . ] ‖ mouthes . * suffice [ viz. supply or chuse a new king . ] and that hence they prouide their king , make supply of their stockes , and establish their kingdomes . * and their litle romanes [ viz yong to succeed in the place of the old . ] * festen againe or set vp . * [ common ] hall● . ‖ hi●es , or combes , made ●hiefly of waxe . t in this place is repeated the painfulnesse & diligence of these bees . * they haue worne , [ viz. rubd or worne away . that , they oft times weare their wings in earnest flying amongst stones & rocks , and oft die vnder their burdes . * erring farre away , [ or 〈◊〉 ] in hard whetstones [ viz. rockes or clefts , out of which whetstones are made ] amongst which they flie . the cause whereof is brought in by an epiphonema ; for that they haue so great a loue of flowers , and take such glorie in making hony . * haue giuen vp their soule , [ viz. haue died , or as we speake of men , haue yeelded vp the ghost . ] ‖ loade . * [ their ] loue of flowers [ is ] so great , and their glorie [ or pride ] of making hony i● [ so great , ] [ viz. they take such a delight in it . u here likewise is interposed the age of bees , and how long they liue . * therefore albeit the terme of a narrow age receiue them , [ viz. although the age of bees be but short . ] that they liue but a small time , not aboue seuen yeares commonly , ( which is much too , considering their industrie , ) yet their stocke ( if they be well looked to ) and so the prosperous state and honour of their houses remains almost immortall [ viz. for many yeares ] that the owners of them may recken the grandfathers & great grandsires of them . * for neither more then a seuenth summer is led of them . ‖ their race and progenie do not decay vtterly . ‖ the state or prosperitie of them being carefully looked into , abides very long . * stands by many yeares . ‖ a man may number their progeny for many descents . x vnto the natures of the bees , the poet addeth here their obseruance and honour towards their kings : which he illustrates by comparisons frō some dissimilitudes and sundrie effects . the dissimilitudes are these : that neither the egyptians , lydians , parthians , medes , nor indians , are so obseruant & carefull for their king , as the bees are for theirs . ‖ the people of egypt and of lydia . * nor the people of the parthians or ‖ the medes , [ viz. the people of media . * [ or ] hydaspes [ the riuer of india ] ‖ reuerence and carefully preserue . ‖ so long as their king bee is safe . * one mind is to all , [ viz. they are all of one mind . ] * [ but their king ] being lost , they haue broken their fidelitie , and they themselues haue plucked as under their hony built vp [ viz. layed or hoorded vp in the hony combes . ] for that their king being safe , all is in peace amongst them . * and haue loosed [ or dissolued ] the wattles of [ their ] hony combes : and so hauing destroyed all , they flie away . but if he be lost , they break their faith , spoile their hony , and all their owne work which they haue made . ‖ the king bee . * the keeper [ or preseruer . ] as he is the protector of their workes , so they admire him with all reuerence , guarding him thicke round about . * they admire him , or wonder at him with reuerence . * with a thicke humming noise . they oft lift him vp and carry him on their shoulders , putting their bodies betweene him and all dangers chearefully enduring wounds , and readily aduenturing their liues for his cause . ‖ being thicke about him . ‖ they bears him on their shoulders . * obi●ct their bodies in warre [ betweene his bodie and the danger ] viz. when they skirmish with other bees . ‖ a faire death . y hence the poet sheweth , that by these obseruations of their gouernment , and these former signes of their wisedome , some haue thought that bees haue reason and some part of diuine vnderstanding . * certaine men haue said by these signes , and following these examples , there to be a part of the diuine mind and airie breaths in bees . * draughts from the firmament [ or diuine draughts ] viz. such spirits as they draw from heauen . * god to go through all , [ viz. that god is a spirit , and i● in all the elements , and euery where , as the poet said before , iouis omnia plena . for that god is in all things , going thorough all , both earth , and seas , and heauen . * tracts . * the lesser cattell , heards [ or droues of beasts . ] and so euery creature to fetch their life from him , and so from heauen . * of wilde beasts . * euery [ man ] being borne to fetch [ or get ] to himselfe [ his ] thinne lines , [ viz. life or vitall spirits . ] yea that all things dying , surrender vp their liues backe againe thither . ‖ from god. * to wit. ‖ that all things are restored . * afterwards [ or in the end . ] ‖ dissolued by a separation of the soule from the bodie . * to be restored [ hither , ] viz. into the hea●ous , or to god. * neither [ any ] place to be for death . and that the spirits of all things that are dissolued , do flie vnto the starre● , euery one to his owne fatal starre ▪ and after returne from heauen into new bodies as need is , and thus keepe a continuall succession both in heauen and earth . * but [ all things ] to flie aliue into the number of a signe in heauen , [ viz. into their owne fatall starre , from which they came , ] * to succeed to the high heauen , [ viz. to succeed or follow againe in their place in heauen , whence they came . z and from hence he proceedeth to an eight precept , concerning the time of emptying their hiues . * vndaube , or vncouer , [ viz. to the end to take forth the hony combes , [ or , if you will take forth of the hiues . * and the hony kept in their treasures . that when the owners of them will take some of their hony forth , they first spurt vpō thē some draughts of water out of their mouthes , as if it rained , to cause them to keepe within their hiues , and smoake them with swampes , to cast them for the present into a kinde of swoone . * sprinkling before draughts of water , warme [ these draughts ] with [ your ] raouth . or make warme with [ your ] mouth draughts of water sprinkled [ on them , ] [ either sparsus for spargens , or sparsos . ‖ water sprinkled on them will cause them to keepe in for feare of raine , and smoke wil cast them into a swoon till you haue taken forth the hony . * fumes of swampe , or galbanum , or the like . ‖ the bees fill their hiues twise in the yeare , or the husbandman gathers the increase of the bees , viz. of hony and waxe twise , &c. this they do twise in the yeare , viz. in the spring and in the haruest , which two times are described by the rising and setting of the seuen starres . * heauie [ or loaden with increase . ] * there are two times of haruest , that is , of gathering their hony , viz. in the spring and in the haruest , i. e. twise in the yeare . ‖ first when . * together . ‖ taygete and pleias are two of the seuen starres called pleiades . by this speech following is meant , that the hony is to be gathered twise in the yeare , viz. at the rising and setting of the seuen starres . the first when the seuen stars called pleiades rise in the euening : which starres are set out by the names of two of them , taygete and pleias . ‖ and also when the same , &c. [ viz. at the setting of the seuen starres . * hath thrust backe . * the despised riuers of the ocean sea with [ her ] foote , [ viz. at the rising of the seuen starres . the second time is at the setting of the seuen starres , viz. when they go downe at the arising of pisces ouer against them . * flying from the signe of the waterish fish , [ viz. because at the setting of the seuen starres , piscis riseth ouer against them . ‖ sets seeming to descend into the ocean sea , and so more sorrowfull , or more sad by reason of the winter showers which then begin . a hitberto the poet hath set out the nature of bees , by their causes , works , subiects , adiu●cts : now he commeth to the euils and dangers belonging to them . * anger is to them , [ viz to the bees . ] as first , that they will be angry without measure , and being hurt , they will bite and sting . * they inspire poison into the bitings , [ viz. they send poison into the places which they bite , or they poison the place bitten . and with their biting will breathe in a kinde of poison into the place bitten ; and will also fasten their stings so deepe , that commonly they leaue them behind them , and their liues withall . ‖ short stings which can hardly be seene to be plucked forth . * darts . * and putting [ their ] liues in the wound , [ viz leauing oft their stings in the wound , and then they die presently after , because with the sting , if they lose it , they lose some of their entrals . a second euill , is their pouertie , through the lacke of hony in the winter time , and by reason of robbers , against which he teacheth the remedie : that if you feare a hard winter , and haue pitie on your bees , and care to preserue them : ‖ hard , because the bees get nothing that time , but onely spend . ‖ for [ the time ] to come , ] viz. lest the bees d●e through lacke of food , or being discouraged flie away . * minds or stomackes . * and shall haue pitie of [ their ] broken matters . that you perfume their hiues with the smoke of thyme , and also pare away all the emptie waxe . * but who can doubt . * to smoke [ their hiues ] with the smoke of thyme , with which the bees are much refreshed . and then he giues reasons why he would haue that waxe so taken away . * cut or take away the emptie wax . ‖ the waxe that hath no hony in it . * emptie [ viz. voide , superfluous , vnprofitable . * stellio is taken for the lizard , or a beast like the lizard , hauing spots in the necke like starres . * vnknowne [ viz. not perceiued . ] because that otherwise there wi●l new 〈◊〉 breed or get into it , which wil eate away the hony cōbs and likewise moathes . * eates vnto [ or into . ] * places to lie in [ or neasts ] are heaped vp to ●thes [ or by ●athes ] viz. ●oathes get into the hi●es and consume all ▪ or beetles . and also idle droanes will get into it , which will consume the prouision of the litle bees . * free , [ viz. idle , or partaker of no office or worke with the other bees . ‖ liuing ( as we speake ) at another man ▪ trencher , [ viz. on the labours of the litle bees ] * intermixeth himselfe . * the sharpe [ or stinging ] hornet , so called because nine of them ( as is said ) will kill a man. or hornets with their cruell stings . * hath intermixed himselfe with vnequall weapons , [ viz. with hi●sting far bigger then the stings of the bees . and finally spiders will be bred there ▪ which will weaue and spred their nets loose in the mouthes of the hiues , to hang the bees as they enter in . * vengible [ or cruell . ] * of worme breeding in hi●es . ‖ the spider is said to be enuied of minerua , because being a girle of lydia , she durst challenge minerua in spinning , and so was changed by her into a spider . * enuied . * hath hanged her loose [ or wide ] nets , [ viz. her webs wherein the bees are hanged . ] * in the doores or gates . lastly he addes this reason for the cleane taking away of all the emptie waxe . because the emptier the hiues shall be , the more eagerly will the bees bestirre themselues to repaire their decayes , and to fill vp their emptie roomes . * by how much the bees shall be more exhausted , [ viz. drawne emptie of hony , or more emptied . ] * by so much . * sharply or fiercely . * will apply [ themselues ] to amend ▪ ‖ the losses or damages * of their kind , being sliden , [ viz. spent or wasted . ] * will fill together . * foros , hatches , [ a metaphor borowed of mariners , who loade their ships with merchādize by the hatches . ‖ and make vp their combes with waxe and like matter gathered from flowers . * make like wea●ers worke . b then followeth a third annoyance or euil of bees , which is by disease , for that they vse to be diseased as well a● other cattell . ‖ shall pi● away ▪ * with a sad ▪ or sorowfull disease . * chances . * you may know now by signes not doubtfull [ viz. certaine or manifest . ] whereof he giueth fixe signes , viz. whereby to know that they are sicke . ‖ so soone as they are sicke , they are straight way of another colour [ viz. a bad colour ] as first , that they wil be then of a bad dustie colour . ‖ in them , [ or the sicke bees are of another colour . secondly , they will be of an vgly leannesse . * horrible [ viz. ill fauoured . ] ‖ marre [ their ] * countenance , or visage . * then they carry forth out of [ their ] roofes [ or houses ] the bodies of [ the bees ] wanting light , and leade sad [ or sorrowfull ] funerals or burials . thirdly , by their carying out of dead bees . fourthly ▪ their hanging together ●unged by their feete at the mouth of their hiues . * or they do hang , knit together by [ their ] feete at the thresholds of their hiues . ‖ clustered , or wrapped , or tangled together . fiftly , their lingring in their hiues , and sloth , thorough famishment or cold . ‖ all of the● linger [ or loyter ] ‖ in their hiues , [ as if it were shut vp . * famine or hunger . * through cold contracted or drawne vpon them . sixtly , by their heauie noise , humming in a trailing maner , as oft drawing their breath . ‖ drawing out their noise weakly , [ or oft drawing their breath , as in them that are readie to die , or more broken . which last signe is illustrated by three similitudes : that their noise is then as the noise of the southwind in the woods . ‖ the south wind being cold or coole , [ viz. because it is cold , as all other winds in their owne nature . ‖ doth make a low noise in the woods . or as of the sea being troubled with her rebounding waues . * with [ her ] waues [ or surges ] flowing backe againe . * fierce [ or scorching ] fire burnes , making a hollow sound . o● finally like a vehement fire sounding hollowly in close fornaces . * the fornaces or ouens being shut vp . c whereunto ●e adioyneth nine remedies . as first , to perfume or smoke their hiues with sweete smels , as by burning galbanum , or the like . secondly to hearten them , by laying hony in troughes of reed for them to feed vpon , in the hiues mouth , or before the hiues . thirdly , to mingle with the hony the decoction of bruised gals . fourthly , to mixe therewith drie roses . fifthly , or to mingle with it new wine boyled thicke in stead of the former . sixtly , to lay them bunches of raisins of the sunne of the best vines for the bees to suck vpon , or to make them decoctions thereof . seuenthly , decoctions made with thyme . eightly , decoction of centaury . the ninth and last by the decoction of the flower called amello , which h●be the poet describeth 〈◊〉 large by sundry circumstances : as first , that it groweth in medowes . * i will perswade [ or counsell you ] to burne odours of galbanum [ which is a kind of gu● issuing out of a certaine herbe in the summer time ] viz. to smoke and perfume their hiues with galbanum . ] * exhorting [ viz. encouraging them [ that is ] ‖ to hearten and reuiue your bees by seeding them with hony . * and calling them . * weary or weake . * vnto their knowne nourishment or sustenance , [ viz. to encourage them to labour againe . * in reeden chancels or pipes . * it shall profit [ them , ] also to mingle [ with the hony ] the bruised taste of gals , [ viz. the decoction of gals . * new wine boiled to the halfe . ‖ botled till it be very thicke , or sod to a third part . ‖ of the best vine or grape , [ viz. to make another decoction ] * fat with much fire . * or bunches of grapes layed open [ or dried well in the sunne ] gathered ] from the psithian vine . ‖ and a decoction made of thyme and centaury . * of cecropia . ‖ in medow grounds . * of this herbe are two kindes , the great and the small . the physitians thinke the greater to be here vnderstood . ‖ which the husbandmen call amell● , [ as some thinke , of mella ● riuer in france , neare vnto which much of it groweth , [ or rather a riuer of lucania , as followeth after . ‖ which the husbandmen call amell● , [ as some thinke , of mella ● riuer in france , neare vnto which much of it groweth , [ or rather a riuer of lucania , as followeth after . secondly that the husbandmen call it amellus . * easie to [ men ] seeking [ it . ] thirdly , that it is an herbe easie to be found of them that seeke it . * for i● lifts vp [ or shootes out . ] * a huge wood [ viz. great store of stalks ] and leaues or many branches out of one stalke or roote . in that first it sends foorth many branches out of one roote . and secondly for that the flower is of a golden colour , the leaues of a purple hue , somewhat like a blacke violet spread very thicke round about . ‖ but the leaues are of a purple colour , somewhat like a blacke violet . * but a purple colour . ‖ shines somewhat duskishly . * which [ leaues ] are powred out very many round about , [ viz. which grow very thicke about . thirdly , that the altars of their gods were wont to be deckt with garlands made thereof . * are oft adorned . * collars or chaines [ viz. garlands ] knit [ or tied together with a threed . ] fourthly , it is set out by the taste , that it is sharpe in the mouth . fifthly by the place more particularly where sheepheards vse to gather it , viz. in valleys wont to be mown , and specially neare vnto the riuer mella , where it groweth plentifully . * in mowne valleys [ viz. where no woods grow , or in medowes before they be mowne . ] * flouds of mella . * mella ( as was said ) i● thought to be a riuer of france , or rather of lucania , which is nearer vnto naples , where virgil writ this worke , as m●yen iudgeth . lastly he teacheth the manner of the decoction of it , to wit , by boyling the rootes thereof in the most odoriferous wine , and then to set it as meane for the weake bees in ●ll ●roughes in the entrie of their hi● . * in wine smelling sweete [ or mixed with spices smelling sweet . ] * bacch● . * wicker b●kets or panniers [ or other vessels , a● treys , pipes , or the like . ] * in the doores . d after all this , now towards the end of the worke , he sheweth the maner of the restoring and repairing of bees againe , if all the whole brood shall faile , viz. by the putrified bloud of a beast . * the issue or stocke , &c. [ viz. if any mans bees shall die wholly . * neither shall he haue from whence the kind of a new stocke [ or brood ] may be recalled . to which purpose he brings in a long fabulous storie concerning the memorable inuention of aristeus a king of arcadia , in finding out this deuice of restoring bees , by the bloud of a bullocke newly killed . ‖ to shew in like manner . ‖ the deuice of aristaeus worth remembring . ‖ aristaeus is said to haue bene king of arcadia , and the first finder out of this inuention of repairing bees decayed , and sundrie other concerning bees . * by what meanes foule [ or vncleane , or not pure ] bloud . * bullocks being new killed . where he first vseth a short exordium to a very long narration : that he will dispatch the whole report hereof , rehearsing it at large frō the first beginning . * all the fame of it . * repeating [ viz. fetching it ] more deeply from the first originall . then he enters into the narration , first by describing the place where this was first inuented , viz. canopus pelleus in egypt , neare the mouthes of nilus , where the bees being vtterly lost by the ouerflowings of nilus , were repaired by this deuice . * the fortunate nation [ viz. the wealthy people ] of canopus pelleus , a citie of egypt neare alexandria , which canopus , alexander the great built , and is called pellaeus , because alexander who built it , was borne in pella . vid mein . * dwelleth neare vnto nilus standing as a pond [ his ] streame being powred out [ or let out . ] ramus and frischli● do take it that alexandria built by alexander , is here meant , being neare vnto canopus a litle iland by one of the seuen mouthes of nilus . which ouerflowing● of nilus are thus set out : that they make that part of egypt neare thereto , for the time of the ouerflowing like a standing pond . so that the people there are for that time faine to be carried about their grounds and countrey in boates . * and [ the people ] is caried about their countreys [ or fields ] in painted brigandines , or galliots , [ viz. for all the time that the countrey is ouerflowed by nilus , which is for almost fourescore dayes , beginning at the rising of the dog-starre , watering and fatting all their grounds . vid. mein . & ram. and whence . and secondly the place is more particularly set out to be ; where nilus turning downeward from ethiopia , washeth vpon the countries neare vnto the warlike persian . * bending downeward , welnigh from , &c. * vrgeth [ or pressethon , or cometh neare vnto , or troubleth . ] ‖ the ethiopians , not the east indians . see hereof mein . and 〈◊〉 . * the neare places of persia , [ viz. the places not farre off from persia. ] * wearing a quiuer , [ viz. louing archerie . ] and where by the mud which it leaues behind it , it makes egypt fruitfull . * and makes fruitfull egypt being greene , [ viz. more greene then other countries through this ouerflowing of nilus . * doth lay her safetie , [ viz. for the preseruing of her bees in this art of the repairing of them . and so rushing downward , deuides it selfe into 7 diuers mouthes , whereby it is emptied into the sea . ‖ with the blacke mud which it leaueth behind it when it hath ouerflowne . ‖ diuides it selfe into seuen diuers mouthes , whereby it is emptied into the sea . euen all that region vpon the occasion of this experiment , relies vpon this art for the repairing of their bees . * first a very little place . ‖ sure experience of this skill or practise of repairing bees . e and so he proceeds vnto a full description of this art it selfe . first for the place where this feate may be wrought : that there must be a place made streight of purpose with walls . * drawne together [ or made streight or narrow ] for the same vses . ‖ roome . * they presse this place , [ viz. they make it close ] with a roofe tile of a narrow roofe . * they adde . and couered close with narrow roofe tiles . * with an oblique [ viz. thwart or slope ] light , [ that is , not full outright but descending downewards . which place must haue foure windowes , whereby to let in the light aslope downward from the foure winds . * then a calfe now crooking his hornes in his two yeare old forehead is sought for this purpose . secondly for the matter , that there must be a bullocke of two yeares old , taken for this purpose . ‖ they stop his nosthrils and his breath , though he struggle much , and kill him with bruising his flesh thoroughout his whole hide . * the double nosthrils , [ viz. both the nosthrils ] are stopped ] and the breath of the mouth is stopped to this [ bullocke ] striuing against it [ or struggling ] much . which bullock must be strangled by stopping his nosthrils and mouth . and all his flesh within his hide must be bruised with blowes & bangs . * bowels [ viz. all his inward parts . ] * beaten . multa pro multum . * throughout his hide being whole , [ viz remaining whole . ] * are vnloosed [ to him , ] being killed with strokes or blowes . thirdly , that he must be left lying in the place so inclosed with peeces of greene boughes , and also store of thyme and casia newly gathered vnderneath him . * put. ‖ in the place shut vp . * and put vnder his ribs branchie fragments [ viz. peeces of branches or boughes of trees . fourthly , it is described by the time when it is to be done , viz. in the beginning of the spring ; which is set out by sundrie other circumstances , as first , when the west winde begins to blow . al. fresh , recentes , [ viz. newly gathered . ] ‖ of casia see before . * this thing is done [ or effected , ] the west windes first driuing forward , [ viz. thawing or stirring ] the waues , [ that is , in the first beginning of the spring . * medowes . secondly , before the medow grounds be decked with flowers . thirdly , before the building of the swallow . f after , followeth the euent hereof , that the moisture of the bullocke thus waxing hot and purrifying , by the meanes aforesaid , liuing creatures will appeare in a maruellous multitude and manner , without feete at first like little wormes . ‖ before the coming , or at least before the building of the swallow . ‖ in the meane while . ‖ the bloud being warmed in the bones all bruised , [ viz. by the meanes of the time and place . ‖ in wonderfull sorts . by and by they will flicker as with wings . * manners . after receiuing more liuelinesse from the thinne aire , * cut short [ viz. as it were mai●ed and vnperfect ] of their feete like litle wormes . * and by and by making a noise , as it were , with fins , or wings . they burst out of the hide abundantly ; which bursting out of them in such an admirable number , is illustrated by two similitudes : * pens or fethers , al. with fins . * are mixed . * and catch in thin aire , [ viz. gather vitall spirits or life . ] that they powre out as thicke as drops of raine out of the clouds in a great summer shower : ‖ a vehement shower powred out of the clouds in the summer time . or as the shafts are sent out of the bowes when the parthians giue the first onset in battell . ‖ arrowes , * [ are sent out ] * the sinew , [ viz. the bow-string which was wont to be made of sinewes ] driuing [ them . ] * if at any time [ viz. whensoeuer ] the light parthians enter their first battels , [ viz conflicts or skirmishes with their enemies . ] g here the poet to procure more attentiō to that which followeth , turnes his speech vnto the muses , and inuocates them to helpe him in finding out and relating this great matter ; what god inuented this skill . ‖ oh ye daughters of iupiter , who remember all things . ‖ hath inuented or found out . ‖ found out this skill or cunning . * art. ‖ vpon what occasion . from whence this new experience came . ‖ practise or triall . then he proceeds to his long narration concerning aristeus , and the recouerie of his bees . how he went vnto his mother cyrene a nymph for aduice , who sent him to pro●eus a god of the sea , of whom he learned this art . where first he describes aristeus by his calling ; that he was a shepheard , viz a great maister of husbandry , chiefly of bees ; and secondly by his countrey , tempe , those pleasant fields of thessaly , neare the riuer peneis ; and thirdly , in that he hauing lost his bees by sicknesse and by famishment , did quite forsake that his pleasant countrey . ‖ the great husband aristeus being skilfull about cattell , trees and bees , as followeth after . * flying from , * the peneian tempe , [ viz. tempe neare the riuer peneus in thessaly , running betweene ossa and olympus . * [ his ] bees being lost ( as the fame [ is ] ) by , &c. [ or when his bees were lost . ] and went to the head of the riuer peneis ; where standing verie penfiue at that sacred fountaine , he makes a grieuous complaint vnto his mother cyrene . ‖ diseases comming of famishment . hysteron proteron . ‖ hunger . * sad. speaking in this maner as followeth , in the words of the poet. * vtmost riuer , [ viz. at the fountaine of peneus . mother cyrene , &c. where first he calls his mother by her name ; and secondly describes her by her habitation , that she dwelt in the deepest bottoms of that riuer . * many things . * [ his ] parent in this voice [ or speech . ] * [ my ] mother . * which holdest , [ viz. inhabitest . ] secondly he aggrauates his complaint by the wrong which she had done him ; that she had bred him , and that of the noble linage of the gods , ( if apollo was his father , as she said ) yet to liue enuied of the gods or fates . * the lowest bottomes or places of , &c. ‖ cyrene was thought to dwell in a caue of pindus , whence peneus springs , there to be worshipped as a nymph or goddesse . ‖ riuer . * begotten me being odius to the fates ‖ apollo was called thymbraeus , either of thymbra a towne of phrygia , where was great store of the herbe thymbra , viz. sauorie ; or of thymber a riuer of troas , neare which apollo had a temple . and so expostulates with her , asking what was become of her loue towards him , and why she had put him in hope to be receiued into the number of the gods , or to liue that heauenly life , seeing he could not be permitted the honour of this mortall life , which he had attained by his owne wisdom , industry and experience in his carefull ordering both of cattell and fruites . * being odious to the fates , [ viz. that i should liue enuied or odious to the gods. ] ‖ the loue wherewith thou wast wont to loue vs. ‖ departed . * to thee . ‖ to hope to be receiued into the number of the gods. * behold or see also . * thee being [ my ] mother . * wittie custodie . and after he wisheth her , if she enuied his prosperous estate , that she should then destroy all the fruites and hopes or his labours , as if pluking them vp with her owne hands . * had beaten out to me , [ viz. had inuented or prouided for me , ] trying all things . ‖ my fruitfull trees , [ viz. destroy all the fruites and hopes of my labours . that she would consume with fire all his cattell , corne , and store . ‖ set fire vpon my stalls of cattell , or roomes of store , [ viz. burne vp all my cattell and store . ] yea that she would burne vp his plants , and destroy his vines if she was weary of his praise . * kill [ viz. waste ] [ my ] haruests or graine . * moue [ thy ] strong twibill , axe , or vinehooke vnto my vines . * if so great tediousnesse [ or wearinesse ] of my praise haue taken thee , [ viz. taken hold vpon thee , ] or if it ●rke thee of my praise . h the poet hauing thus described aristaeus and his complaint , descends to the nymph cyrene the mother of aristeus , and her answer : wherein first he sheweth how she perceiued a dolefull voice , and then describes her both by the place wher she was , viz. in her bedchamber , vnder the deep riuer peneus ; and also by her attendants , the nymphs round about her . which nymphs are againe set out by their work , that they toosed milesian wooll of a deepe glassie colour ; and by their names , to wit , drymo , zantho , ligea , philodoce : and these like wise commended by their beautie in their haire , viz. hauing their faire haire spred about their white neckes . ‖ a dolefull noise , [ viz. the complaint of her sonne aristeus . * the nymphs [ standing ] about her . ‖ caried . * milesian fleeces [ viz. of the citie miletum . ] * counterfeited . * with a full colour of glasse . al. a saturan colour , of saturum a citie neare tarent , where such colours were much died . * for the reason of these names set ramus com on this place . * being powred out [ or spred ] in regard of [ their ] bright haire [ or locks ] by [ or about ] their white necks . ‖ gay , or gallant . and with these nesea , spio , thalia , cymodoce , cydippe and lycorias , which two last are noted , that one of them was a virgin : * and yellow lycorias , [ viz. lycorias with her golden lockes . the other of them hauing had one onely child . * th' other then first hauing tried by experience the labours [ or trauels ] of lucina . by lucina is vnderstood iuno or diana , so called because they two ruled the trauell of women , and helped in bringing the child to light . ‖ where the poet counts adulterie theft . vnto these are added clio and beroe , which two are honoured by their descent , that they were the daughters of oceanus . * girded in with gold . and also by their attire , that they were clothed in gold , and spotted skins . * and with painted skins , [ viz. garments or girdles made of speckled deere skins . with these in like manner are numbred others , as ephyre , opis , asia and deiopeia . * and also . * and deiopeia of asia [ or asia goddeslike . ] and also arethusa , who is commended for her swiftnesse , hauing layed away her shafts wherewith she pursued the chase . * her shafts being layed away at last , [ viz. after that she had layed away her shafts , and left off her hunting . ] * amongst which [ nymphs ] [ the nymph ] clymene * shewed [ or related ] viz. sang of , * the vaine [ or needlesse ] care of vulcan . * the deceits of mars . hereof see ouids met. and amongst them all clymene , who told them merrie tales to passe away the time , & make their work more pleasant . of which tales some few are noted , to giue a ●aste to the rest . * sweet thefts , [ viz. stolne delights ] betweene mars and venus . * and clymene numbred the thicke loues . ‖ from the beginning of the world . metam . i. i but here the poet returns to declare the effect of aristeus moane , that thogh the nymphs were caught with much delight , whilest they were spinning , through the pleasantnesse of her discourse and her pretie tales , yet the dolefull moan of aristeus pierst into his mothers eares . * with which verse . * catched or taken [ with delight . ] * whilst they roll downe or twist the soft yarne with their spindles . * the mourning of aristeus inforced [ or entered violently into ] his mothers eares . and that all the nymphes sitting on their glassie seates were much amazed therewith . * from [ their ] glassie seates . ‖ their seates being bright like glasse [ as water which is shining , that it may be discerned thorough . ] and thirdly how arethusa looking forth before her other sisters to know the noise and what it meant , lift vp her golden head aboue the top of the water . ‖ shining head , or golden head . * from the vppermost waue , [ viz. the vppermost part of the water . * waue . * and farre off . and that she perceiuing what it was , thogh standing a far off , spake vnto her sister cyrene , ( who was exceedingly affrighted at the dolefull moane ) & shewed her the whole matter . * exceedingly terrified . * by so great a groane , [ viz. pitifull mourning . * to [ or for thee . ] how her son aristeus who was her greatest care , being very sad for her cause , stood weeping at the riuer side , & called her cruell . * waue , [ viz. at the side of [ the riuer ] peneus . * smitten in regard of her minde . synech . ‖ astonished . wherunto the answer of cyr●nes his mother is adioyned , and first is set downe a preparatiō to her speech : how she being smitten with a new feare , returned againe this answer vnto arethusa : that she should go and bring him in vnto her . that it might be lawfull for him to approch and enter within the thresholds of the gods , sith he was the sonne of a nymph and of a god. * to this [ arethusa . ] ‖ for him [ because he was the sonne of a god and of a nymph . ] and withall how she commanded the waters to depart , and to make way where her sonne should enter in . ‖ to auoide , or giue place , [ viz. to make a way . how thereupon the waters obeyed , stood about him . * should bring in his steps , [ or the going of the yong man might bring him in . * the waue . ‖ crooked [ or bowed crooks ] into the face [ viz. after the maner or fashion of a mountaine or hill . and receiued him accordingly , and sent him vnderneath the riuer vnto his mothers house . ‖ and receiued him in her huge chanell . ‖ streame . k then the poet shews his wondering at the things he saw in this his passage amongst the waters . how he admired his mothers house , her watery realmes , the great : standing ponds within ●he ground , frō whence the fountaines and di●ers riuers issued , and also how he wondered at the sounding groues . * maruelling [ or wondering ] at the house of his mother which had bred him . * kingdomes . ‖ these are fained to be the theaters of the nymphes . ‖ huge motion or tumbling . ‖ large or spacious . how he still going forward , was asto●ied at the huge tumbling of the waters , and 〈◊〉 great riuers flowing vnder●e at● the earth . * and [ admiring ] the lakes , [ viz. standing ponds or meeres , the receptacles of the fountains or from whence the heads of diuers riuers issued . * sliding . * and did behold . ‖ issues forth . a● phasis and lycus . and to behold the heads of diuers great riuers , 〈◊〉 both of the deepe riuer e●ipous , al snatcheth forth it selfe . * from whence . and also of the ancient riuer tiber. ‖ the ancient riuer tiber [ doth burst forth . ] and so likewise the head of anien , of hipanis , caicus & eridanus . which three riuers are set forth by their seuerall circumstances . as hipanis for making a great sound , running amongst stones : caicus flowing out of mysia . ‖ anio a riuer neare tibur . * sounding as amongst stones , [ viz. roughly and vehemently , ] saxosum pro saxo● . ‖ caicus a riuer of phrygia , coming out of mysia . eridanus , that it hath two golden hornes in a buls face . * and eridanus being golden [ in regard of his ] double hornes in [ or with ] a buls countenance . synec . it seemeth to be called golden , either in regard of the signe in heauen so called , golden with ●larre : or for the riches of it by the ca●tell feeding on the banks thereof ; or the townes and cities neare vnto it . and it is said to be bull faced , for the roaring or violence thereof . it is now called padus . and that it floweth most violently into the sea through the fertile fields . * then which [ riuer . ] * flowes in [ or runnes ] more violent into the purple sea thorough the fat well tilled fields . ‖ the adriaticall sea called purple for the blacknesse , in regard of the depth . the sea i● commonly called ●ceruleum , viz. azure , or skie coloured . ‖ and bring him fine towels . l then followeth a second part of the na●ration of the maner of his receiuing into his mothers house , and entertainment there ; and also his sending vnto pro● for his entertainment . how after he was entred into his mothers house , ( which is described that it was roofed o●er with hanging pumish stone , ) and after that she knew that the cause of her sons weeping might easily be remedied ▪ the nymphs which attended vpon her ( each in their order , ) some of them brought him sweet water for his hands , * after that [ it was ] throughly come [ of him ] into the roofes , [ viz. vnder the roofes ] of the bed-chamber hanging with pumish stone , [ viz. being of pumish stone hanging ouer their heads . ] * vaine [ viz hurtfull to him , and which might be helped . ] * [ her ] naturall sisters giue liquid fountaines to [ his ] hands in order , [ viz. each in order , or many of them attending in order . ] * the naps shorne . * loade . and fine towels to wipe withall . * meate or delicates . others of them furnish the table with dainties , and oft fill the cups . * and set againe full pots . m for his sending to proteus , the poe● sheweth what holy rites were vsed . how the nymphs first burnt vpon the altars great store of incense made with sweet panchean wood . * the altars grow great with panchean fiers , [ viz. with fiers of sweete wood or of frankincense of panchea a countrey in arabia where is store thereof . ‖ are incensed , or haue great store of frankincense burnt on them . ‖ pots , goblet● , or sacrificing cups . * meonian wine . ● and then how his mother filling certaine sacrificing cups of lydian wine , inc●tes him to offer to oceanus the great god of the sea . * let vs sacrifice or touch lightly . * together . and how withall she prayes both vnto that great oceanus , whom she calls the father of all things , and to the nymphs her sisters . * oceanus the great god of the sea , sonne to 〈◊〉 and vesta . ‖ the poet followes the opinion of them which thought all things to be made of the water . * a hundred [ whereof there are ] which , &c. ‖ are goddesses of the woods , a hundred of the riuers . which sister nymphs are described by their number and their charges ; that a hundred of them kept the woods , and another hundred kept the riuers . * she powred [ or all to sprinkled ] about thrise the burning fire with liquid nectar , [ viz. that excellent drinke of the gods. * vesta the goddesse of the fire , put for fire . and thirdly how she thrise sprinkled the fires vpon the altars with most pure nectar . ‖ vnder the wine cast on , it flasht backe to the top of the house . finally , how the flame thereof flashed vp three times to the top of the house . with which good signe of happy successe she comforting & assuring her selfe , as if she had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the spirit of 〈◊〉 began to direct her so● aristeus for his going and seeking vnto prote●s , as followeth . ‖ she assuring her selfe , as being inspired by oceanus , began to speake thus . n that there was a prophet of neptune in the 〈◊〉 sea , * of neptune . ‖ in the gulfe of the carpathian sea , which is so named of an i le betweene rhodes and creete , called carpathus . ‖ proteus of the colour of the sea . whose name was the skie coloured proteus , which prophet vsed to be carred ouer the sea on fishes backs . ‖ swims ouer the huge sea . * by fishes . and in a chariot drawn by two footed horses . * and with a chariot of two footed horses ioyned [ or tied thereunto ] viz. with a chariot tied to the horses . how this prophet was at this time gone to review the ports of emathia and his countrey palene . ‖ the gods of the sea were fained to be of the forepart horses , fishes of the hinder . * he now hath visited againe the hauens of emathia . and how for his diuine knowledge the very nymphs did adore him , and euen nereus that ancient god of the sea did honour him , for that he foreknew all things both past , present , and to come . ‖ emathia is taken for thessaly , wherein proteus is said to haue reigned first . * both the nymphs do worship him , and also the great aged nereus [ who is the father of the nymphes ] [ doth worship him . ] ‖ nereus a god of the sea . ‖ that proteus . * hath knowne all things . then for the confirmatiō hereof , she giues the reason of his diuine knowledge : that it seemed good to neptune thus to grate him therwith , for his good seruice done vnto him , in tending of his beards of cattell , to wit , both his sea-calues and all other monsters of the sea . ‖ or which may be drawne on , [ or prolonged ] to come by and by [ or hereafter . ] ‖ to neptunes grace . ‖ by these monstrous heards , he meanes the huge fishes and sea monsters , as whales and the like . * filthy , [ viz. ugly , great . ‖ vnder the gulfe , [ viz. in the depth of the seas . ] o after she shewes him the maner how he must consult with this proteus : that first he must bind him before he ask any question of him , to the end that he might the more speedily make knowne vnto him the causes of the diseases of his bees . * my sonne , this [ prophet proteus ] is to be catched of thee before with bonds , [ viz. thou must bind him first because he will tell thee nothing , but being inforced . * dispatch readily . * all the cause of the disease . and grant him good successe for the repairing of them . * and may prosper the euents [ or falling out of things . because he would not teach him any thing but by constraint . ‖ he will not tell thee any thing . for that he could not moue him by any intreatie . * force . * bow him . and therfore she aduiseth to catch him of a sudden , and to bind him by force . * stretch out hard force [ or violence ] to [ him ] taken . ‖ his subtill deuices about , &c. and then howsoeuer he would for a time vse sundry deceits to escape his bonds , yet at length all his shifts would be frustrate , and he should certainly preuaile . * shall be broken [ as ] vaine at length , [ viz. that he will tell thee ] * i my selfe will leade thee into the secret places [ or walkes ] of the old man , [ viz. proteus . ] ‖ whenas the sun doth parch in the middle of the day . also to this purpose she promiseth that she her selfe will conduct him to the very place where he may finde proteus asleepe . that about the noone time of the day , when as the sunne is most hote , so that the herbs begin to parch , and that the cattell seeke after the shadow to stand vnder , to saue them from the heate , she would guide him to the secret place of this old man. * do thirst [ or parch , as crying for water . ] ‖ pleasant or delight some . ‖ gods of the sea are fained to be old men and gray haired , because of the foame of the sea . * al. whither he being wearied of the waues , or with the water . * doth receiue or betake himselfe . whither he being wearied by reason of his age & toyling amongst the waues , retires himselfe to rest . ‖ come vpon him . * lying in sleepe . p and here she rehearseth againe the maner how her son should inforce him , when he had caught him . that he must hold him fast and binde him sure , because he would change himselfe into diuers shapes , to the end to delude him , or to affright him , so to cause him to let him go . * catched with . that so he might come vpon him of a sudden , lying fast asleep . ‖ shewes or likenesses . * mouthes . * for he will be made suddenly a horrible [ or dreadfull ] swine . ‖ a cruell tiger . that he would be turned of a sudden into a swine , and to a blacke tiger . ‖ a dragon full of scales . ‖ a she lion . likewise into a scaly dragon . * with a necke of a deepe yellow shining like gold . and into a fierce lionesse . * or else he will giue a sharpe [ or shrill ] sound of a flame of fire . or else he would seeme like a flame of fire , making a crackling noise to escape out of his bonds . * fall out , [ viz. get away . ] * or sliding away , he will go into the thin waters . or to slip away into the water . * but by how much more he shall turne himselfe . against all which she forewarneth him , to looke well to it , that the more he should so change himselfe , he should tie and hold him so much the harder , ‖ change. * formes . * my sonne stretch more , by so much the bands holding him fast . vntill he come vnto his right shape againe , as he was at the first . * what a one thou hast seene him . * couered . * with sleepe begun , [ or [ his ] sleepe begun ] [ viz. beginning to sleepe . ] q cyrene hauing thus directed her sonne , she moreouer prouides that he may be liuely & valorous against the time of this his conflict with proteus , the better to preuaile . and to this purpose she cast vpon him a pure odour of ambrosia . ‖ thus she spake . * sa●d . ‖ and [ withall ] * powred abroad . * a liquid smell [ or sauour , or iuyce . ] r ambrosia ab a pri●atiua , & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mortalis , because it is ●aid to make them immortall who taste thereof , as nectar of 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , occido , non occido , ramus . ‖ by ambrosia is either meant an herbe commonly called oke of ierusalem , or oke of paradise ; or else it is taken for the meate of the gods , as vsually in the poets , like as nectar is the drinke of the gods. * with which she powred [ or wet ] throughout the whole bodie of [ her ] sonne . * a sweete winde [ or blast ] breathed vnto him , his haires being composed , [ viz combed , and neatly set in order . ] ‖ a liuely ablenesse . al. throughly annointed , or led thoroughout . * came. s after all this , doth the poet describe the place of proteus re●t , more fully , where cyrene sets her sonne to catch him in such sort as she had directed . ‖ a mightie great ho●e . * of a mountaine all eaten away [ with the waters . ] wherewith she soked his whole bodie thoroughout , & blew vpon with so sweete a sent , that a liuely vigour entred into his lims . ‖ great store of water . * is gathered by the wind . * and [ the waue ] doth cut or deuide it selfe into bosomes brought backe , [ viz. hollow turnings of water banks , where the water is beate backe . ] * in time past a most safe standing [ or rode ] to the mariners being catched . * within proteus doth couer , [ viz. is wont to couer , or hide himselfe for his retire . ] that there is a huge caue in the side of a hill eaten with the water , where the waues driuen in by the windes are beaten backe . * barre or shut . * vaste or mightie . * here the nymph [ his mother ] doth place the yong man [ viz. aristeus ] turned from the light [ that is , aside from the caues mouth , whereby the light came into the caue , that proteus should not see him . which place was sometime a most safe harbour for sea-men caught by tempest . ‖ in a secret place . how within this ca●e proteus vsed to retire & rest himselfe , couering the mouth of it with a very great stone . ‖ she also withdrew her selfe a far off , couered with a cloud . and how within a creake hereof she placed her sonne secretly , that he might stand close ▪ and not be seene . al. resistit , stands backe , [ viz. stood aside . * obscure with clouds , [ viz. much hidden . t then he declares the effect of her aduice , how all things came to passe accordingly ; and first sets out the time of his surprising him in such sort , that it was the beginning of the dog-days , viz when the dog-star burnes in the skie , and about the midtime of the day , which is thus set forth by causes and effects : that the sunne had gone halfe his daily course , the herbes withered , the hollow riuers waxed warme euen vnto the mud , hauing their banks drie . * now syrius vehement [ in burning ] parching or scorching . ‖ syrius is a starre in the mouth of the signe called the dog , at the arising whereof are great and intemperate heates . that she withdrew her selfe farre off , obscuted with a cloud . * did burne in the heauen , [ viz. did cast his fiery influence from heauen . * had drawne halfe the orbe , [ viz. had past halfe the world , that is , was come to the midst or height of heauen , viz , to the noonesteed . ‖ the scorching sun had warmed the riuers to the mud . * iawes [ viz. mouthes or tops of the riuers ] viz. their banks drie all about the tops . u secondly , proteus his going to sleepe , is amplified by the place whither he went , viz. to his wonted caues ; * flouds . * seeking his accustomed holes , [ or priuie lurking places . ] ‖ the fishes of the sea . ‖ huge great sea . ‖ bounsing about him , as triumphing for excessiue ioy . ‖ the seawater which is bitter in taste . ‖ far abroad , like as fishes do when they leape . ‖ the sea monsters . * strew themselues in sleepe in a diuers shore . and likewise by his attendants , the sea-calues bounsing vp about him as reioycing at his presence , and sprinkling the water all abroad . ‖ proteus himselfe . ‖ whenas his cattell go home from feeding . and thirdly by the sea monsters , laying themselues to sleep on euery shoare . lastly , proteus reposing himselfe to rest in the midst amongst them . which the poet illustrates by a fit similitude taken from a heardman in the mountaines : that as he , when his bullocks returne from feeding in the euening , at what time the lambes by their bleating set the teeth of th ▪ ●olues on edge , doth then sit downe vpon some rocke or some other high place , and counts the number of his cattell : * do sharpen the wolues [ or set their teeth on edge . ‖ by their bleating in the euening . ‖ sits downe on a rocke , and tels his cat tell , euen so proteus * sate downe together [ in the midst of his great troupes of fishes . ] * being the middle . euen so did proteus set downe himselfe to rest in the midst of his great troupes of fishes . ‖ rehearseth the number of them , [ or numbers them . ] x then followeth the aduenturing vpon him by aristeus , and the whole manner of it for the speedinesse and violence thereof . * of [ taking ] whom [ viz. which proteus ] because a facultie [ or libertie ] is offered to aristeus , * hauing suffered how he seeing now his fit opportunitie , scarcely suffereth the old man to repose his weary lims to rest , ‖ proteus , * to compose his wearied lims . * rusheth with a great crie , and takes before [ or preuents him ] lying downe with manicles [ viz. bonds [ or gives ] for his hands . but rusheth vpon him with a great outcrie , catcheth him lying all along to sleepe , ties him fast . ‖ proteus . * contrarily . how proteus on the other side remembring his skill , * of his [ deceitfull ] art . ‖ disguiseth and changeth himselfe , transformes himselfe into maruellous shapes . * into all miracles [ or maruellous likenesses ] of things . as both into fire , ‖ both into the likenesse of fire , and of fierce wilde beasts , and a liquid floud [ or streame . ] and into the likenesse of a horrible wild beast , and also into a cleare riuer . finally , when he can finde no meanes to escape by any delusion or deuice , * but when he found flight by no deceit . * deceit , [ viz. sleight or deuice . being ouercome he returnes into his owne shape againe . * he returnes into himselfe , [ viz. he came to his owne likenesse . y and then he at length speakes with a mans voice : demanding of him the causes how he durst be so bold ? ‖ with a man● voice . who bad him come vnto his house ? or what he fetched thence ? * o thou most confident [ yong man ] of [ all ] yong men . * commanded thee , ‖ to enter into my dwelling house . vnto which demands aristeus makes answer . * houses . that he knew the causes well enough . * he answered . that it was not possible for any man to go beyond him by decei● . ‖ thou knowest why i came , and what i would . and therefore wisheth him to leaue off either to seek to beguile him , or to enquire the cause . for that he was come thither , following the command of the gods ; and moreouer that he came to enquire of the oracles of the gods , euen of himselfe , ( who at that time gaue their answers ) what he was to do for the repairing of his decayed estate , viz. for the recouerie of his bees . * granted ] to any man. ‖ to outreach thee by deceit . * but ceasse thou to be willing [ to deceiue me with thy sleights , or to know why i am come . * we hauing followed [ or obeyed . ] ‖ are come hither . * to seeke the oracles [ of the gods ] my things being sliden , [ viz. mine estate or stocke being decayed . ] z aristeus hauing thus spokē , proteus strangely rapt by a diuine furie , ( as prophets haue bene wont to be in giuing their answere ) speakes vnto him as an oracle . but first his fury is described notably . how he rolled his fierie eyes with great enforcement ; * he spake [ or vttered ] thus much , [ viz. aristeus answered thus . * the prophet rolled his eyes burning [ or flaming ] with red fiery light , at these words . * writhed or turned . ‖ glaucus here seemeth to be taken for a fiery rednesse , a● in the eyes of lions . * gnashing [ or grinning ] grieu●sly [ being enforced . gnashed his teeth discontentedly , and then thus began to manifest the oracle , concerning the cause of the losse of his bees . that it was for the death of euridice , which he had caused ; for which the nymphs her sisters killed his bees . which he vtters thus by the contrary more particularly how it was not the displeasure of any meane power , but euen of a god that did him that annoy . that he was punished for his hainous fact : and that orpheus the famous musitian ( worthy of all commi●eration ) had raised vp all that euill against him , yet nothing so great as his desert , ( as he should find if the fates did not resist ) for villanie offered vnto his tender wise . ‖ thus he began to shew the destinies of the gods. * in destinies . * the angers not of no diuine power , [ viz. of none of the meanest gods , or of no lesse a power then a god ] do exercise thee . * luis , not lues , [ viz. thou abidest punishment for , [ or thou redeemest or purgest by thy punishment ] thy ] great offe●es committed . ‖ orpheus the poet worthy of much commiseration , stirreth vp against thee all these euils . * raiseth vp to thee those punishments . * nothing at all for thy merit , [ viz. nothing so much as thou deseruest . ] * except that [ or but that the destinies resist , ] viz. of apollo thy father , and cyrene thy mother . * for his wife being rauished , [ or in danger to be rauished by aristeus , [ or for his wife being violently taken away [ from him . ] * yong wench or girle . * readie to die [ with feare of thee . ] * whilst she fled from thee all headlong , [ viz. in haste without regard . ] * by the flouds [ or riuers ] * a cruell [ fierce or huge ] water serpent or adder . for that whilst ●he fled away from him , as for her life , and almost dead with feare , running headlong by a riuers side , was stung to death of a sudden by a most fell adder , which there lay watching in the deepe grasse . ‖ watching . * herbe , [ herbes or weeds by the riuer side . * being equall [ in age ] with orpheus wife ] viz. all the yong nymphs . ‖ made the mountaines ring with their crie . whereupon all the whole company of the yong nymphs called the dryades that were of equal age with her , filled the highest mountaines with their crie : in so much as the very mountaines themselues did seeme to mourne and weepe ; * the rhodopeian towers haue wept , [ viz. the tops of the mountaine rhodope in thracia being like towers , lamented ] viz. by reason of the nymphs there hauing their abode . as both rhodopey , * and the high mountaines called pangea [ in thracia neare macedonia . ] and pangea , and the countrey of rhesus , * and the warlike earth of rhesus , [ viz. of thracia where king rhesus reigned after . and also the getes , the riues hebrus in like manner : and so orythia the athenian nymph . ‖ the scythians called massagets . ‖ a riuer of thracia . * and actias orithya [ viz. orithya of acte or athens the daughter of erichthonius king of athens . a but yet how orpheus himselfe though exceedingly bewailing his deare wife , yet labored to asswage his sorowful loue with doleful songs & with his hollow iute . which harmony of his is set out both by the places and times , and things on which it wrought , and how farre it did auaile . that he sang of his sweete wife , both by himselfe all alone in the desert shore , and also how he sang of her in the morning , at the breaking of the day & in the eurning likewise at the departure of the same , still sounding out e●ridice in most 〈◊〉 sort . * comforting [ his ] sicke [ or pensiue ] loue with [ his ] hollow lute made of a torteise shell , [ or after the fashion of a torteise shell , for thence was ( as they say ) the first inuention of the lute . ] ‖ he sang of thee continually . * louely shore . * the day coming . * [ the day ] departing . * and hauing entred into the tenarian iawes , [ or mouthes , or gaping holes . * tenarus is a promont●ry in laconia , where for the deepe concauities , is thought to be the descent into hell . ‖ dungeons . * of dis. and so entring into the very iawes of hell , and into the deep dungeons of pluto , and into a groue all blacke with fearfull darknesse , he went to the infernall spirits , and to the dreadfull king , euen vnto pluto himselfe . * a groue or wood dark with a black feare , [ because there is perpatuall and most dread full darknesse . ‖ infernall spirits , ghosts , or diuels . ‖ to pluto . * not knowing [ or being ignorant how ] to waxe gentle [ or 〈◊〉 ] by humane prayers , [ viz. that 〈◊〉 can be quieted or appeased by any prayers or meanes . this appeasing them by orpheus was extraordinary and onely for a time , by the sweetnesse of his melodie . and vnto the ghosts which cannot be appeased or quieted by any prayers of men . * but the thinne shadowes moued together . but yet were moued by the sweetnesse of his harmonie . so that they came from the lowest seates of hel to heare him l●te and sing . ‖ came and flocked to heare orphe●s to sing and play . * erebus is properly a certain darknesse , vsed for a riuer of hell , here for hell it selfe . which comming of theirs , is amplified by their multitudes , and also by their sorts . * of [ men . ] * how many thousands of birds , [ viz as many or as thicke as birds which flie to the woods , &c. that they came in such numbers , as birds flocking to the woods in the euening time . * when the euening [ doth driue them ] or when a winter shower driues them from the hils . ‖ a wet or sharpe storme . and for the sorts of them , that there came both mothers and husbands , couragious nobles , boyes and girles . * mountaines . * [ these ghosts are ] mothers and husbands . ‖ departed . yong men also which had bene burnt to ashes before their parents faces . ‖ lads . ‖ burnt to ashes in the fiers made for that purpose . * before the faces of [ their ] parents . euen all the ghosts of all sorts whith were within the bounds of hel , came to heare him : which bounds are limited by cocytus that lothsome riuer of hell , made so noisome , for that the water neuer moueth . * cocytus is a riuer of hell , flowing out of styx . * vnlouely with slow water , [ viz. because the water neuer moueth . al. vnfit to be sw●mme in . and by styx the infernall fen compassing all nine times about . * styx is said to be a fountaine [ or fen ] of arcadia , so cold , that it kills whatsoeuer ●rinketh of it : here taken for the fen of hell , à nomine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , tristis . ‖ for the vnderstanding of these words , nou●es styx interfusa , seruius saith , that by the nine circles are meant the seuen circles of the seuen plannets and the two circles of fire and aire , which nine circles compasse the earth , intermixt with water , and so this styx which is said to be in the midst of the earth : but for this i leaue it to better iudgement . this is yet further amplified , that not only thes● , but also the very hel●ish houses théselues were astonied therewith , & the deepest dungeons called tarta●a . and not they alone , but that euen the hellish furies were wrapt therewith . which furies are described as hauing their haire all intangled with blackish snakes . ‖ the fiends inhabiting the hellish houses . * haue bene astonied or amazed . * the inmost [ deep ] dungeons called tartara . * and the eumenides [ furies or hags of hell , daughters to acheron and nox , ] being intangled [ or hauing intangled or wrapped ] skie coloured snakes with [ their ] haires , stood astonied to heare orpheus . yea that cerberus the gaping curre of hell left off his yolping . and moreouer , that the very wheele of ixion , whereon he was tormented , stood still ; and euen the wind did stay , whereby it was whi●lde about before . * cerberus a dog with three heads , which as the poets fained was porter of hell . * kept [ viz. left off his yolping . ] * of ixions orbe , viz. the round engine whereon he was tormented by iupiters appointment , because he had sollicited iuno to adultery ] stood still [ or stayed ] with the wind [ viz. together with the winde of it , by which winde it rolled about before ] to the end that they might heare orpheus . b and finally the prophet sheweth , that his musick so farre preuailed , as that he had recouered his euridice againe , vpon this condition and law , that he looke ●ot behind him vnto her , vntil they were both quite forth of hel : wherunto they had proceeded , which is thus set forth by the poet. that he was returning back from hell , had escaped al dangers , with his wife restored vnto him , and was coming out of the infernall darknesse into the light of this world ; and yet euen there ouerthrew all his labours and hopes again , onely forgetting that law of proserpina the queene of hel , in looking back vnto his euridice . * carrying backe [ or plucking backe ] [ his ] foote . ‖ was past . * chances 〈◊〉 misfortunes . ‖ whom he had recouered againe . ‖ was comming into the vpper aire , [ viz. into the light of the world , out of the darknesse of hell . ‖ proserpina plutoes wife had giuen this law , that if orpheus looked backe vpon his wife vntill she was quite out of hell , and in the vpper light of the world , he should lose her againe , for that she should returne backe into hell . c which is also further amplified by the causes and manner thereof . that a sudden madnes through the vehemencie of his affection , caught away his vnwarie minde to looke backe vnto his euridice ( which though it was a great fault against such a law and vpon such a perill , yet was it a fault that in that case might wel haue bin pardoned if the infernall spirits could pardō any thing . notwithstanding hee onely standing still , and but casting his eye behind him to her at the first glimpse of the light lost all his hope ; the grant of the mercilesse tyrant being vtterly made voide . ‖ folly of too much loue . * tooke [ viz had surprised or caught away the minde of orpheus at vnawares . * [ a madnesse , ] [ viz. a passion of loue to be forgiuen . ‖ to shew any pitie . ‖ conquered or surprized of minde , [ viz. by the passion of [ his ] mind . * alacke . ‖ a great noise of many voices together [ was ] heard from the standing waters of auernus , [ viz. the lake of hell , ] the fiends reioycing at the returns of euridice . * he looked backe vnto his [ wife ] euridice . * about the very light , [ viz. somewhat before full light , or so soone as he was come within the glimpse of any light . ] * powred out [ or spilt . ] * leagues [ viz. grant . ] * vngentle [ viz. pitilesse ] tyrant [ pluto . ] * burst [ or broken . ] d then followeth the lamentable moane and woe of both of them thereupon . ‖ the commandement of pluto calls me backe . * lost [ or vtterly cast away or destroyed . ] * wretched woman . that though the fiends did exceedingly reioyce thereat , so that there was heard a great broken noise at of many voices together , of those infernall spirits from the 〈◊〉 ponds , yet they both lament ; and first she poore wretch cries out vnto her husband that he had vndone both her and himselfe , demanding what so great a madnesse in him had vndone them both ? for that the cruel 〈◊〉 now called her backe to hell againe . * what madnesse , [ ah ] so great [ hath vndone vo● ] ‖ the commandement of pluto calls me backe . * doth hide my lights [ viz. eyes ] swimming [ in teares . ] and the sleepe of death began to couer her dazeling eyes . ‖ o orpheus farewell . and so she bids him farewell , for that she perceiued her selfe to be borne away , being compassed about with a dreadfull darknesse . and then stretching out her feeble hands vnto him , which she told him were none of his : * i am caried . * with a huge great night . * and i alas not thy [ wife ] [ as thou imaginedst . ] it is an answer to that before , euridicem suam respexit . ‖ the weake [ or feeble ] palmes of my hands . hauing spoken , she vanished suddenly out of his sight , like smoke vanishing into the thin ●ire , so that she saw him not after . * and fled away diuerse [ or asunder from him ] suddenly out of his eyes , euen as the smoke mixt together flieth into the thi● winds or blasts . and he poore man catching at her shadow all in vaine , and desirous to haue spoken many things vnto her , and to haue gone after her , yet could not . * furthermore [ or further . ] * shadowes . * willing . for that the ferriman of hell would not suffer him any more to passe the fen betweene the liuing in this world and the infernall ghosts . ‖ charon that caried soules oúer the three riuers of hell , acheron , cocythus and styx , as the poets faine : whence some of the heathen haue bene wont to put a litle peece of mony into the mouthes of the dead to pay for their feriage or fare . * suffered him . ‖ styx . * set against [ them . ] e this wofull distresse of orpheus , the prophet 〈◊〉 amplifieth againe , adorning it with this demand , what he should haue done in this case , whither he should haue betaken himselfe , hauing his wife thus violently taken away from him twise ? by what lamentations be could 〈◊〉 possibly either moue the fiends , or intreate the gods. * carry himselfe . * snatched away . * weeping . ‖ could he moue , and that she now being cold , swims back in the stygian ferryboate . * the infernall spirits or diuels . * moue the [ infernall ] powers . * she indeed . ‖ being dead , * did swim [ or was caried backe in the ferry boate of hell . f for orpheus likewise . proteus amplifies and sets out his lamentation both by the time , places and effects , and finally by his miserable death . for the time ; that men say that he mourned seuen whole moneths together without euer taking rest . * [ men ] shew [ or report ] him [ viz. orpheus ] to haue w●pt . * in order [ without intermission . ] * vnder an airie rocke , [ viz. high in the aire . ] and for the place , that this he did vnder a high rocke neare vnto the riuer strymon a place little inhabited through lakes & fens , oft repeating his old song . * at the waue [ viz water ] of strymon a riuer of thracia , hauing in some places no people neare vnto it by meanes of fens and lakes by it , and oft ouer flowings . * and to haue oft rolled ouer these things . also for the effect of his song , that there he tamed the tigers with his 〈◊〉 , and made the very okes to moue . * asswaging the tigers , [ viz. the fiercenesse of the tigers , or delighting the cruell wilde beasts . ] ‖ making the very okes to moue . * verse . g this ●e illustrates by a most apt ●imilitude taken from the nightingale . that like as she mourning vnder the shade of a poplar tree , 〈◊〉 in most dolefull ●ort for the taking away of her yong ones by a hard hearted plow man , who finding them drawes them out of their ●east vnfledgd , euen so did he . * what a one [ or as ] the nightingale sorrowing [ or lamenting ] vnder a poplar shade . ‖ bewailes her yong ones being lost . * which [ yong ones . ] * hard plowman . ‖ marking . * fetherlesse , [ viz. before they had fethers . ] and like as she wailes all night long , and sitting vpon some branch euer renewes afresh her wofull note , filling all places farre and neare with her dolefull complaints , so likewise did orpheus . * weepes . * in a branch , [ viz. on a bough of that tree from whence her yong were taken ] begins againe . ‖ her dolefull song . * verse . * all abroad . * sorowfull [ mourning or lamentable ] complaints . h afterwards he enlargeth and sets out yet further , the excesse of his mourning , that it was so great , as no new loue or mariages could moue his mind at all : * no venus [ or lust . ] * no mariages haue bowed , [ viz. moued or inclined [ his ] mind . but that he wandred pensiue all alone in the most cold countries , both through the frozen scythiā coasts , and neare the riuer tanais , which is vsually couered with snow ; and vp and downe the cold rhiphean mountaines neuer free from frost , alwayes dolefully complaining for his euridice so taken from him violently , and the grant of pluto thus vtterly made voide . * he viewed all alone the hyperborian ice , [ viz. the cold countries of the north towards the north pole . ] * snowish [ or white with snow , or euer mixed with snow . ] * and also [ he wandered thorough ] the fields neuer depriued of as a widow , [ viz. neuer voide of ] the rhiphean hoare frosts [ viz. the frosts vpon the rhiphean hils . ] ‖ his wife euridice . * gifts of dis , [ the god of hell ] all in vaine . * for which gift [ viz. in respect of which euridice ] the mothers of the cycones being despised . and finally , that his mourning was so excessiue and so endlesse , that he came to despise all other women in regard of his euridice . whereupon followed his miserable death by the women of the cyconians , who seeing themselues and all other women scorned by him , pluckt him in peeces amongst them , yea they dragd & strewed his quarters through the broade fields , at the time of the sacrifices of their gods , euen at their bac-chanalia , when they celebrated their night ceremoniall rites to bacchus in most odious manner . ‖ the cycones are a people of thracia dwelling neare the riuer hebrus . * despised [ by orpheus . ] ‖ pluckt orpheus in peeces being then but a youth , and strewed his quarters thorough the broad fields at the time of the sacrifices and night ceremonies which they vsed at their feasts of bacchus . * spread [ or scattered . ] * the holy things of the gods. and which is of all other most memorable , that yet his loue remained such to his euridice , that when as his head being pluckt off from his white marble neck , was throwne into the riuer hebrus , as it tumbled vp and downe in the midst of the stream , his voice and tongue , though he was now cold , called still euridice . * the rites or ceremonies of bac●hus [ wont to be celebrated in the night at their bacchanalia or feasts of bacchus . ] * hebrus a riuer of thracia , called oeagrius of oeagrus king of thracia , and father of orpheus as i● thought . * rolled [ it ] in the middle gulfe [ viz. midst of the gulfe [ or streame . ] ah miserable euridice ; euen whē his soule was flying away . * the voice it selfe and the cold tongue did call euridice . so that the bankes throughout the whole riuer resounded still euridice . ‖ alacke euridice p●re wretch . * [ his ] soule flying away [ or departing ] viz. when his ghost vtterly departed . ‖ resounded with the eccho . * in the whole floud . i this was the summe of the answer of proteus . and when he had made an end of his speech , the poet sheweth how he cast himselfe into the depth of the sea . * proteus spake [ or answered ] these things , and gaue himselfe by a throw * into the deepe sea , [ viz. leapt into the depth of the sea , or maine sea . and how where he threw in himselfe , the waters whirld about their foming waues vnder the round turning of the streame . * and which way he gaue [ himselfe . ] * fr●thing waue [ or water ] vnder the whirlepit [ or vpper crowne of the waters . ] k yet that his mother cyrene who had secretly withdrawne her selfe to hearken , and carefully to looke to the comfort of her sonne , departed not from him so as proteus did ; but seeing him in much perplexed feare , spake vnto him most chearefully : that he might now put away all sorrowfull cares out of his mind , for that he vnderstood the cause of all his woe . ‖ being very fearfull . * but cyrene [ the mother of aristeus [ did ] not [ so , ] [ viz. cast not her selfe likewise into the sea , nor yet feared . ‖ euridice orpheus wife . ‖ the whole cause . that all his losses were for that violence offered to euridice , and for her death ensuing thereupon , for whose sake the nymphs with whō she vsed to dance in the greene woods , sent all that miserable destruction vpon his bees . * it is lawfull to put away sad cares out of [ thy ] heart . * from hence . ‖ wood● . ‖ haue thus destroyed [ thy ] bees . * she practised dances . * to [ thy ] bees . ‖ seeking reconciliation . ‖ adore . after also hauing thus manifested vnto him the cause , she shewes him likewise the remedie . ‖ the gentle nymphs of the woods , [ viz. the goddesses of herbs and flowers , gentle or easie to be intreated . that he must humbly offer gifts vnto those nymphs of the woods , ( which as she ●els him were easie to be intreated ) and that he must adore them , crauing peace : because they would easily be appeased so , and grant him his requests . * thou being suppliant reach [ out ] gifts . * for they will giue leaue vnto [ thy ] vowes or wishes ] and will remit their angers , [ viz. they will be pacified . ] l and withal she directs him in order what the maner of his intreating them must be . * of praying [ or making supplication ] vnto them . * ch●ise [ or pickt out . ] ‖ of body peerlesse or matchlesse . * which now feed vpon the tops of greene lyceus for thee . that he must chuse foure principall buls of most excellent bodies of all those which feed vpon mount lyceus in arcadia , and as many heifers which neuer had borne yoke . ‖ lyceus a hill of arcadia . * with necke vntouched , [ viz. which neuer bare yoke , ] [ because the sacrifices must be whole and vntouched . ] * appoint to these foure altars at the high temples . foure , as it may seeme according to the number of the foure windowes and windes mentioned before . and that he must make for these foure altars neare vnto the tēples of the nymphs , ‖ of these nymphs . ‖ and kill these buls . where he must kill them , so letting out the sacred bloud out of their throates . also that he must leaue the bodies of these in a groue full of greene leaues . * of the exen in a leauie groue . and that the ninth morning after he must offer some ghostly sacrifices to orphe●s , * whenas the ninth morning shall shew her risings , [ viz. in the morning of the ninth day . ] as namely of poppies , causing forgetfulnesse . orphei casus graec. * deadly poppies , [ viz. causing forgetfulnesse vnto death , if they be verie much . ] and also a blacke sheepe . * kill [ for a sacrifice ] a black sheep ] [ because the infern●ll spirits are delighted with blacke sacrifices . ] and then go and visite the groue againe where their bodies lie . ‖ the groue where the bodies of the 〈◊〉 are . there to adore euridice , offering to her a heifer to 〈◊〉 her likewise . ‖ adore euridice being appeased , [ viz. seeking to appease her with a heifer offered to her . m all which things the po● sheweth how aristeus did according ●y without delay , obeying in all things the precepts of his mother . * [ there was ] not [ any ] delay . ‖ aristeus . * dispatcheth [ or puts in execution . ] ‖ the commandements . how he came into the temple , erected foure such altars as she had directed him . ‖ erecteth or buildeth the altars . ‖ directed [ by his mother . and also how he brought foure such choise buls & as many ●heifers of vntouched necke . * buls pickt out [ viz. singular . * excelling or notable . * their necke being vntouched , [ viz. which neuer bare the yoke . ] and after when the ninth morning did appeare , he sacrificed to orpheus as he was commanded , and went againe vnto the groue . * whenas the ninth morning had brought in her risings , [ viz early in the morning on the ninth day after . * he sends the infernall sacrifices to orpheus , [ viz. he sacrificed to orpheus . ] * and visited againe the groue , [ viz. where the bodies of the beasts were left . ] n then the poet relates the effects of all , how euery thing an swered his desire . * monster . that here they did behold a sudden wonder , and almost vncred●ble to be spoken . ‖ stridere & effervere tertiae co●iugationis vt olim . * throughout the molten bowels , [ viz. di●solued by putrefacti● . ] that first bees made a buzzing noise thoroughout all the bodies of the beasts . * of the oxen . * wombe [ viz. bodie ] * to boyle out [ viz. to issue out 〈◊〉 it were boyling . ] and then issued as it were boiling out of their bursten ribs and 〈◊〉 * and ●asurable clouds to 〈◊〉 drawne along , [ viz. swar●es lik● clouds . ] 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they s● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rudes of them , 〈◊〉 mightie clouds 〈◊〉 out in length , 〈◊〉 in the aire , ●d for to swarme together knitting in the tops of tree● , to h●ng downe like great clusters of grapes from the li●ber boughs . ‖ to swarme and 〈◊〉 . * in a chiefe [ or high tree , ] [ viz. high in a tree . ] ‖ to let downe , * a grape , [ viz. to hang downe in a great cluster like a huge bunch of grapes . * bowing or bending , &c. o thus the poet hauing made an end of his long storie of aristeus , concerning the recouery of his bees , and for the manner of repairing them when all the stocke is v●terly decayed , comes to the conclusiō of the whole work of his georgicks , with a briefe rehearfall of all the things contained therein , and also of the time and place in which hee wrote . that these things he had sung of the ●illage of the fields , and of orde●g of cattell , and concerning trees . * i sang these verses , [ viz. i writ these things in verse . ] ‖ of or concerning the manner of the tillage of the field● , * and vpon trees . * that great [ viz. mightie and most renowned [ augustus ] casar . ‖ fighteth valiantly and terribly like the thunder , against the parthians , hauing ouercome the armenians . ‖ neare the riuer euphrates . * and being a conquerour ordaines lawes amongst a people willing to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to submit themselues . * 〈◊〉 , a way to heauen , [ viz. 〈◊〉 by v●lorous acts . * 〈◊〉 , [ viz. naples a most famous citie of campania , called first parthenope of one of the syrenes so named buried there . ] and this at the time whenas augustus 〈◊〉 thundered 〈◊〉 wa●e ●gainst the 〈◊〉 hauing subdued the 〈◊〉 menians , and was ●daining good 〈◊〉 among● a wicked ●ple ; and so was preparing a way for heauen , or at least for diuine honours in the earth . * of v●noble idlenesse , [ viz. of poetrie , which requires a kinde of idlenesse in vacant time from businesse , according to that of the poet , caemina secessum scribentis & otia quaerunt . it is also called v●noble , because learning commonly brings so little honour or riches through mens v●thankfulnesse , or lacke of respect , or for that idlenesse brings no honour . * nourished me . and finally that he wrote these bookes of his georgicks at naples , flourishing in his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 po●trie , which he calls ignoble vacancie .