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And by his belt his book he hanging had ;
Sober he seem'd, and very sagely sad,

And to the ground his eyes were lowly bent,
Simple in shewe, and void of malice bad,

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,
Was sluggish Idleness, the nurse of sin;
Upon a slothful ass he chose to ride,
Arraid in habit black, and amis thin,
Like to an holy monk the servis to begin.

And in his hand a portesse still he bare,
That much was worne, but therein little red;
For of nevotion he had little care,
Still drown'd in sleep, and most of his days dead,
Scarce could he once uphold his heavy head
To looken whether it were night or day.
May seem the waine was very evil led,
When such an one had guiding of the way,
That knew not whether right he went, or else
astray.

From worldly cares himself he did esloine,
And greatly shunned manly exercise

For every work he challenged effoine,
For contemplation sake: yet otherwise,
His life he led in lawless riotise:

By which he grew to grievous maladie;
For in his lustless limbs through evil guise
A shaking feaver raign'd continually;
Such one was Idleness, first of this company.

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But very uncouth sight was to behold
How he did fashion his untoward pace:
For as he forward mov'd his footing old,
So backward still was turn'd his wrinkled face;
Unlike to men, who ever as they trace,

Both feet and face one way are wont to lead;
This was the ancient keeper of that place,
And foster father of the giant dead,
His name Ignaro did his nature right aread.

$81. Inconstancy.

The Wandring Islands: therefore do them
shonne;
[wight
For they have oft drawn many a wandring
Into most deadly danger and distressed plight.
Yet well they seem to him, that farre doth
view,

Both faire and fruitful, and the ground dispred
With grassie green of delectable hew,
And the tall trees with leaves unparelled,
Are deckt with blossoms dyed in white and red,
That mote the passengers thereto allure;
But whosoever once hath fastened

His foot thereon, may never it recure,
But wandreth evermore uncertain and unsure.

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In a green gowne he clothed was full faire
Which underneath did hide his filthiness,

And in his hand a burning heart did bare,
Full of vaine follies, and new fangleness,
For he was false, and fraught with fickleness,

And learned had to love with secrett lookes,
And well could dance and sing with ruefulness,
And fortunes tell, and read in loveing books,
And thousand other waies, to bait his fleshly
hooks.

And lusted after all that he did love,
Inconstant man, that loved all he saw,

Ne would his looser life be tied to law,
But joy'd weak women's hearts to tempt and

prove,

If from their loyal loves he might them move;
Which lewdness fill'd him with reproachful
Of that foule evill which all men reprøve; (paine
That rots the marrow and consumes the
braine:

FOR those same islands, seeing now and then,
Are not firmne land, or any certein wonne,
But straggling plots; which to and fro do ronne Such' one was Lechery, the third of all this

In the wide waters: therefore are they hight

traine. Z24

§ 91.

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$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.

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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.

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§ 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,
And comely courted with meet modestie,
Ne in her speech, ne in her haviour,
Was lightness seen, or looser vanitie,
But gratious womanhood, and gravitie,
Above the reason of her youthful years:
Her golden locks she roundly did uptie

In braided trammells, that no looser hares
Did out of order stray about her dainty eares.
Betwixt them both the fair Medina sate,
With sober grace, and goodly cariage:
With equall measure she doth moderate
The strong extremities of their outrage;
That forward pair she ever would asswage,
When they would strive due reason to exceed;
But that same froward twaine would accourage,
And of her plenty adde unto their need:
So kept she them in order, and herself in heed.

§ 90. Mercy.

HEY, passing by, were guided by degree
Unto the pressunce of that gratious queen:
Whosate on high, that she might all men see,
And might of all men royally be seene,
Upon a throne of gold full bright and sheene;
Adorned all with gemmes of endless price,
As either might for wealth have gotten been,
Or could be fram'd by workman's rare device;
And all embost with lyons and with flowre

delice.

And over all her cloth of state was spred,
Not of rich tissew, nor of cloth of gold,
Nor of ought else that may be richest red,
But like a cloud, as likest may be told,
That her broad spreading wings did wide un-
fold;

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,
All lovely daughters of high Jove, that hight
Lite, by him begot in love's delight,

Upon the righteous Themis: those they say
Upon Jove's judgment-seat waite day and night,
And when in wrath he threats the world's
decay,
[stay.
They do his anger calme, and cruel vengeance
They also doe, by his divine permission,
Upon the thrones of mortal princes tend,

And often treat for pardon and remission
To suppliants through frailtie which offend;
Those did upon Marcille's throne attend:

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,
Some clerkes doe doubt in their deviceful art,
To weeten, mercy, be of justice part,
Or drawne forth from her by divine extreate.
This will I wote, that sure she is as great,
And meriteth to have as high a place,
Sith in th' Altnighties everlasting seat

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,
Which from just verdict will for nothing start,
But to preserve inviolated right,

So much more then is that of powre and art,
Oft spoils the principal to save the part;
That seekes to save the subject of her skill,

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,
And here and there shooting forth silver
[glittering gleames.
Mongst which crept the little angels thro' the
Seemed those little angels did uphold
The cloth of state, and on their purpled wings
Did bear the pendants, thro' their nimbless
Besides a thousand more of such, as sings [bold,
Hymnes to high God, and carols heavenly
things,

Encompassed the throne, on which she sate:
She angel-like, the heir of ancient kings

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.
As it is greater praise to save, thar spill;

§ 91. Minerva.
LIKE as Minerva, being late return'd

From slaughter of the giants conquered;
Where proud Encelade, whose wide nosetrils

burn'd

With breathed flames, like to a furnace red,
Transfixed with his spear, down tumbled dead
From top of Hemus, by him heaped hie,
Hath loos'd her helmet from her lofty head,

And her Gorgonian shield gins to untie
From her left arme, to rest in glorious victorie.

§ 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

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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,
By this, eternall lamps, where-with high Je
And the moist daughters of huge Atlas shere
Into the ocean deep to drive their wearied roce,
Now when as all the world in silence dep
Yshrowded was, and every mortal wight
Was drowned in the depth of deadly sleep.
Night, thou foule mother of annoyance sa
Sister of heavy death, and nurse of woe,

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,
And sheweth each thing as it is indeed;

The prayses of high God he fair displayes,
And his large bounty rightly doth areed,
Days blessed children be the blessed seed,
Which darkness shall subdue, and heaven
win:

Truth is his daughter, he her first did breed,
Most sacred virgin, without spot or sin:
Our life is day; but death with darkness doth
begin.

Now gan the humid vapour shed the ground
With pearly dew, and the earth's gloomy shade
Did dim the brightness of the welkin round,
That every bird and beast awarned made
To shrowd themselves, while sleep their senses
did invade.

$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,
Ju tagged robes, and filthy disarray;
Her other leg was lame, that she no'te walk,
But on a staff her feeble steps did
fer locks, that loathly were, and hoary grey,But first the tyger clawes thereon did lay;
Grew all afore, and loosely hung unroll'd;
3nt all behind was bald, and worn away,
That none thereof could ever taken hold, [old.
and eke her face ill-favour'd, fall of wrinkles
And ever as she went, her tongue did walk
a foul reproach, and terms of vile despight,
Provoking him, by her outrageous talk,
o heap more vengeance on that wretched
wight.
ometimes she raught him stones, wherewith

As when a tyger and lyoness
Are met a spoyling of some hungry prey.
Both challenge it with equal greediness:

And therefore, loth to loos her right away,
Doth in defence thereof full stoutly ston d
To which the lyon strongly gainsay,

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

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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 one faire fram'd with burnish'd ivory,

The other all with silver over-cast;
And wakefull dogges before them farre doe lye,
Watching to banish Care their enemy,
Who oft is wont to trouble gentle sleep.

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.
Which in th' earth's hollow caves hath long
And shut up fast within her prisons blind,
Makes the huge element against her kind
To move, and tremble as it were aghast,

Untill that it an issue forth may find,
Then forth it breakes, and with his furious blast
Confounds both land and seas, and sky doth

overcast.

$100. Sun. As when two Suns appear in th' azure sky.

Mounted in Phoebus' chariot fierie bright: Both darting forth faire beames to each man's

eve,

And both adorn'd with lamps of flaming light,
All that behold such strange prodigious sight,
Not knowing nature's work, nor what to

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,

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