And by his belt his book he hanging had ; And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent, And all the way he prayed as he went, [pent. And often knockt his breast, as one that did re OF § 79. Idleness. which the first, that all the rest did guide, And in his hand a portesse still he bare, From worldly cares himself he did esloine, For every work he challenged effoine, By which he grew to grievous maladie; But very uncouth sight was to behold Both feet and face one way are wont to lead; $81. Inconstancy. The Wandring Islands: therefore do them Both faire and fruitful, and the ground dispred His foot thereon, may never it recure, In a green gowne he clothed was full faire And in his hand a burning heart did bare, And learned had to love with secrett lookes, And lusted after all that he did love, Ne would his looser life be tied to law, prove, If from their loyal loves he might them move; FOR those same islands, seeing now and then, In the wide waters: therefore are they hight traine. Z24 § 91. $84. Life. WHY doe wretched men so much desire To draw their days unto the utmost date, And doe not rather wish them soon expire, Knowing the misery of their estate, And thousand perils which them still awaite, Tossing themselves like a boat amid the maine That every hour they knock at deathes gate? And he that happy seemes, and least in paine, Yet is as nigh his end, as he that most doth plaine. The whiles some one did chaunt this lovely lay: Ah see, who so faire thing dost faine to see, In springing flowre the image of thy day; All see thy virgin rose, how sweetly shee Doth first peep forth with bashful niodestie, That fairer seems, the less you see her may; Lo, see soon after, how more bold and free Her bared bosom she doth broad display;Lo, sce soon after, how she fades and falls away.. So passeth in the passing of a day, Of mortal life the leafe, the bud, the flowre, Ne more doth flourish after first decay, That earst was sought to deck both bed and bowre Of many a lady, and many a paramoure : Gather the rose of love, whilst yet is time, Whilst loving thou mayst loved be with equal crime. Well did antiquitie a god thee deeme, That ever mortal minds has so great might, To order them as best to thee doth seeme, And all their actions to direct aright; The fatal purpose of divine foresight Thou dost effect in destined descents, Through deep impression of thy secret might And stirredst up the heroes high intents, Which the late world admires for wondro monuments. Wondrous it is to see in diverse mindes, How diversely Love doth his pageants play, And shews his power in variable kinds: The baser wit, whoes idle thoughts alway, Are wont to cleave unto the lowly clay, It stirreth up to sensual desire, And in lewd sloth to wast its careless day; But in brave sprite it kindles goodly fire, That to all high desert and honour doth aspi Ne suffereth uncomely idleness In his free thought to build her sluggish nest, Ne suffereth it thought of ungentleness, Ever to creep into his noble brest; But to the highest and the worthiest Lifteth it up, that else would lowly fall: It lets not fall, it lets it not to rest: It lets not scarce this prince to breath ata But to his first pursuit him forward still de call. § 88. Mastiff. salvage bull, whoes cruel hornes do thre IKE as a mastiffe, having at a bay A Desperate danger, if he them assay, Traceth his ground, and round about doth bea To spy where he may some advantage get: The whilst the beast doth rage and loudly ro § 89. Mediocrity. OE second sister, who did far excel The other two; Medina was her name, A sober, sad, and comely courteous dame; Who rich array'd, and yet in modest guize, In goodly garments, that her well became, Faire marching forth in honourable wise, Him at the threshold met, and well did enterprize. She She led him up into a goodly bowre, In braided trammells, that no looser hares § 90. Mercy. HEY, passing by, were guided by degree delice. And over all her cloth of state was spred, And round about before her feet there sate A beautie of faire virgins clad in white, That goodly seem'd t'adorne her royal state, Upon the righteous Themis: those they say And often treat for pardon and remission Just Dice, wise Eunomie, mild Eirene; And them amongst, her glory to commend, Sate goodly Temperance, in garments clene, And sacred Reverance, yborne of heavenly strene. home this heavenly thing, whereof 1 treat, She first was bred, and borne of heavenly race; From thence pour'd down on men, by influ ence of grace. For if that virtue be of that great might, So much more then is that of powre and art, Whose skirts were bordered with bright sun-Yet never doth for doom of right depart: ny beames, streames, Glistring like gold, amongst the plights enrold, Encompassed the throne, on which she sate: And mighty conquerors, in royal state, Whilst kings and Caesars at her feet did them prostrate. Thus she did sit in sovereign majestie, Holding a sceptre in her royal hand, The sacred pledge of peace and clemencie, With which high God had blest her happy land, Maugre so many foes which did withstand. And better to reforme, than to cut off the ill. § 91. Minerva. From slaughter of the giants conquered; burn'd With breathed flames, like to a furnace red, And her Gorgonian shield gins to untie § 92. Morning. AT last fair Hesperus, in his highest sky Had spent his lamp, and brought forth dawning light. Then up he rose, and clad him hastily; The dwarfe him brought his steed: so both away did fly Another. But at her feet her sword was likewise layd, Whoes long rest rusted the bright steely brand, Yet when as foes enforc't, or friends sought [naide. Now when the rosy-finger'd morning fire, She could it sternly draw, that all the world dis-Weary of aged Tithon's saffron bed, avde, Had Where she all day did hide her hated hew. Before the door her iron charot stood, Already harnessed for journey new; And cole-black steeds yborne of hellish brood, That on their nasty bits did champ, as the were wood. Doth light the world, were half yspent, Which was begot in heaven, but for thy h And brutish shape, thrust downe to hell bele, Where, by the grim floud of Cocytus slowe, That dwelling is Herebus' black hous, (Black Herebus, thy husband, is the foe Of all the Gods) where thou ungracious, Half of thy days doest lead in horrour hedeoc What had th' Eternal Maker need of the, The world in his continual course to keep, That doest all things deface, ne leitest see The beautie of his work? Indeed in sleep The slothful body doth love to steep His lustless limbs, and drowne his baser min Doth praise thee oft, and oft from Stygian d Calls thee his goddess, in his errour blin great dame Nature's hand-maid chear4| every kind. And But well I wote, that to an heavy heart Thou art the root and nurse of bitter cares, Breeder of new, renewer of old smarts; Instead of rest, thou lendest rayling tears, And dreadful visions, in the which alive, The dreary image of sad death appears: So from the warie spirits thou dost drive Desired rest, and men of happiness deprive. Under thy mantle black there hidden lye, Light-shunning theft, and trayterous intent, Abhorred bloudshed, and vile felony, Shamefull deceipt, and danger iminent: Foule horror, and eke hellish dreriment: All these (I wote) in thy protection bet, And light doe shunne, for fear being shent: For, light ylike is loth'd of them and ther And all that lewdness love, doe hate the light to see. For For day discovers all dishonest wayes, The prayses of high God he fair displayes, Truth is his daughter, he her first did breed, Now gan the humid vapour shed the ground $96. Occasion. stay; And ever drizling raine upon the loft, [sound Mixt with a murmuring wind, much like the Of swarming bees, did cast him in a swoone: No other noise, nor peoples troublous cryes, As still are wont t' annoy the walled town, Might there be heard : but careless quiet lies, Wrapt in eternal silence, farre from enemies. § 98. Tyger. Α' s when two tygers, pinch'd with hunger's rage, Have by good fortune found some beast's fresh spoyle, On which they ween their famin to asswage, And gaine a feasiful guerdon of their toy le Both falling out, do stir up strife-fall broyle. And cruell battell 'twixt themselves do make. Whiles neither lets the other touch the spoyle, But either 'sdeignes with other to partake. Another. A him behind, a wicked bagg did stalke, As when a tyger and lyoness And therefore, loth to loos her right away, to smite, Sometimes her staff, tho' it her own leg were, Withouten which she could not go upright; Ne evil means she did forbeare, [tion reare. hat might him move to wrath, and indigna lis dwelling is; there Thetys his wet bed Doth ever wash, and Cynthia still doth steep n silver dew his ever drouping head, Whiles sad night over him her mantle black doth spread, Whose double gates he findeth locked fast, The other all with silver over-cast; By them the spright doth pass in quietly, [deep, That she to hunt the beast first took in hond: And therefore ought it have, where ever she it found. § 99. Winds. LIKE as a boist'rous wind, [been hid. Untill that it an issue forth may find, overcast. $100. Sun. As when two Suns appear in th' azure sky. Mounted in Phoebus' chariot fierie bright: Both darting forth faire beames to each man's eve, And both adorn'd with lamps of flaming light, weene, Are wrapt with wonder and with rare affright § 101. Phaeton. EXCEEDING shone, like Phoebus' fairest childe, And unto Morpheus comes, whom drowned That did presume his father's fierie waine, In drowsic fit he finds: of nothing he takes keep. And flaming mouthes of steeds unwonted And more to lull him in his slumbers soft, A trickling stream from high rock tumbling down, |