VIRGIL'S BVCOLICKS E …

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 'tis (they say)
That never can resolve to pay:
[Page] 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 [Page] 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,
[Page] 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
[Page] —'Twas 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.
[Page]
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.
[Page] 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
[Page] 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.
Twas 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?
[Page] If Thou knowst not, 'twas Mine, confest to Me
By Damon, but surrendred could not be.
Me.
Thou, Him, in singing—hadst a Pipe e'r glude
With waxe? wast 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,
[Page] Nor reake I any. Only this I pray,
Neighbour Palaemon peiz it; 'tis 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 'tis:)
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.
[Page]
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.
[Page] 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 ('twill 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!
[Page] 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. MOPSƲS.
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.
[Page]
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,
[Page] 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.
[Page] 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.
[Page] 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,
[Page] 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
[Page] 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;
[Page] 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.
[Page]
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:
[Page] 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;
[Page] 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.
[Page]
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,
[Page] 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 'tis) 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
[Page] 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; 'Twas 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:
[Page] 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;
'Tis 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.
[Page] 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.
[Page] 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)
[Page] 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, O …

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,
[Page] 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. 'Tis foolish Pitty, when
You meet so many Poets every where,
A little worth-lesse paper for to spare.
[Page] 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;
[Page] 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:
[Page] 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,
[Page] 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:
[Page] 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,
[Page] 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.
[Page] 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, 'Tis 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.
[Page] 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.
[Page] 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.
[Page] 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,
[Page] (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,
Whose 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 'twas bought.
But if the sleep-drownd Lawes be rowzed, Than,
Above All, ought the sharpe Scantinian.
[Page] 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, 'tis 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
[Page] 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: 'Tis 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.
'Tis 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;
[Page] 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.
[Page] 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)
[Page] 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
[Page] 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)
'Tis 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
[Page] 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.
[Page] 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 'twas 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.

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