Chapter 50

Canto VII.Pealing, fromIoue,toNatur’sBar,boldAlterationpleadesLarge Euidence: butNaturesooneher righteous Doome areads.

Canto VII.

Pealing, fromIoue,toNatur’sBar,boldAlterationpleadesLarge Euidence: butNaturesooneher righteous Doome areads.

Pealing, fromIoue,toNatur’sBar,

boldAlterationpleades

Large Euidence: butNaturesoone

her righteous Doome areads.

Ah! whither doost thou now thou greater MuseiMe from these woods and pleasing forrests bring?And my fraile spirit (that dooth oft refuseThis too high flight, vnfit for her weake wing)Lift vp aloft, to tell of heauens King(Thy soueraine Sire) his fortunate successe,And victory, in bigger noates to sing,Which he obtain’d against thatTitanesse,That him of heauens Empire sought to dispossesse.Yet sith I needs must follow thy behest,iiDoe thou my weaker wit with skill inspire,Fit for this turne; and in my feeble[615]brestKindle fresh sparks of that immortall fire,Which learned minds inflameth with desireOf heauenly things: for, who but thou alone,That art yborne of heauen and heauenly Sire,Can tell things doen in heauen so long ygone;So farre past memory of man that may be knowne.Now, at the time that was before agreed,iiiThe Gods assembled all onArlohill;As well those that are sprung of heauenly seed,As those that all the other world doe fill,And rule both sea and land vnto their will:Onely th’infernall Powers might not appeare;Aswell for horror of their count’naunce ill,As for th’vnruly fiends which they did feare;YetPlutoandProserpinawere present there.And thither also came all other creatures,ivWhat-euer life or motion doe retaine,According to their sundry kinds of features;ThatArloscarsly could them all containe;So full they filled euery[616]hill and Plaine:And had notNaturesSergeant (that isOrder)Them well disposed by his busie paine,And raunged farre abroad in euery border,They would haue caused much confusion and disorder.Then forth issewed (great goddesse) great dameNature,vWith goodly port and gracious Maiesty;Being far greater and more tall of statureThen any of the gods or Powers on hie:Yet certes by her face and physnomy,Whether she man or woman inly were,That could not any creature well descry:For, with a veile that wimpled euery where,Her head and face was hid, that mote to none appeare.That some doe say was so by skill deuized,viTo hide the terror of her vncouth hew,From mortall eyes that should be sore agrized;For that her face did like a Lion shew,That eye of wight could not indure to view:But others tell that it so beautious was,And round about such beames of splendor threw,That it the Sunne a thousand times did pass,Ne could be seene, but like an image in a glass.That well may seemen true: for, well I weeneviiThat this same day, when she onArlosat,Her garment was so bright and wondrous sheene,That my fraile wit cannot deuize to whatIt to compare, nor finde like stuffe to that,As those three sacredSaints, though else most wise,Yet on mountThaborquite their wits forgat,When they[617]their glorious Lord in strange disguiseTransfigur’d sawe; his garments so did daze their eyes.In a fayre Plaine vpon an equall Hill,viiiShe placed was in a pauilion;Not such as[618]Craftes-men by their idle skillAre wont for Princes states to fashion:But th’earth her self of her owne motion,Out of her fruitfull bosome made to groweMost dainty trees; that, shooting vp anon,Did seeme to bow their bloosming heads full lowe,For homage vnto her, and like a throne did shew[619].So hard[620]it is for any liuing wight,ixAll her array and vestiments to tell,That oldDan Geffrey(in whose gentle sprightThe pure well head of Poesie did dwell)In hisFoules parleydurst not with it mel,But it transferd toAlane, who he thoughtHad in hisPlaint of kindes[621]describ’d it well:Which who will read set forth so as it ought,Go seek he out thatAlanewhere he may be sought.And all the earth far vnderneath her feetexWas dight with flowres, that voluntary grewOut of the ground, and sent forth odours sweet;Tenne thousand mores[622]of sundry sent and hew,That might delight the smell, or please the view:The which, the Nymphes, from all the brooks therebyHad gathered, which[623]they at her foot-stoole threw;That richer seem’d then any tapestry,That Princes bowres adorne with painted imagery.AndMolehimselfe, to honour her the more,xiDid deck himself in freshest faire attire,And his high head, that seemeth alwaies horeWith hardned frosts of former winters ire,He with an Oaken girlond now did tire,As if the loue of some new Nymph late seene,Had in him kindled youthfull fresh desire,And made him change his gray attire to greene;Ah gentleMole! such ioyance hath thee well beseene.Was neuer[624]so great ioyance since the day,xiiThat all the gods whylome assembled were,OnHæmushill in their diuine array,To celebrate the solemne bridall cheare,TwixtPeleus[625], and dameThetispointed there;WherePhœbusself, that god of Poets hight,They say did sing the spousall hymne full cleere,That all the gods were rauisht with delightOf his celestiall song, and Musicks wondrous might.This great Grandmother of all creatures bredxiiiGreatNature, euer young yet full of eld,Still moouing, yet vnmoued from her sted;Vnseene of any, yet of all beheld;Thus sitting in her throne as I haue teld,Before her came dameMutabilitie;And being lowe before her presence feld,With meek obaysance and humilitie,Thus gan her plaintif Plea, with words to amplifie;To thee O greatest goddesse, onely great,xivAn humble suppliant loe, I lowely flySeeking for Right, which I of thee entreat;Who Right to all dost deale indifferently,Damning all Wrong and tortious Iniurie,Which any of thy creatures doe to other(Oppressing them with power, vnequally)Sith of them all thou art the equall mother,And knittest each to each[626], as brother vnto brother.To thee therefore of this sameIoueI plaine,xvAnd of his fellow gods that faine to be,That challenge to themselues the whole worlds raign;Of which, the greatest part is due to me,And heauen it selfe by heritage in Fee:For, heauen and earth I both alike do deeme,Sith heauen and earth are both alike to thee;And, gods no more then men thou doest esteeme[627]:For, euen the gods to thee, as men to gods do seeme.Then weigh, O soueraigne goddesse, by what rightxviThese gods do claime the worlds whole souerainty;And that is onely dew vnto thy[628]mightArrogate to themselues ambitiously:As for the gods owne principality,WhichIouevsurpes vniustly; that to beMy heritage,Ioue’sself cannot deny,From my great GrandsireTitan, vnto mee,Deriv’d by dew descent; as is well knowen to thee.Yet maugerIoue, and all his gods beside,xviiI doe possesse the worlds most regiment;As, if ye please it into parts diuide,And euery parts inholders to conuent,Shall to your eyes appeare incontinent.And first, the Earth (great mother of vs all)That only seems vnmov’d and permanent,And vntoMutabilitynot thrall;Yet is she chang’d in part, and eeke in generall.For, all that from her springs, and is ybredde,xviiiHow-euer fayre it flourish for a time,Yet see we soone decay; and, being dead,To turne again vnto their earthly slime:Yet, out of their decay and mortall crime,We daily see new creatures to arize;And of their Winter spring another Prime,Vnlike in forme, and chang’d by strange disguise:So turne they still about, and change in restlesse wise.As for her tenants; that is, man and beasts,xixThe beasts we daily see massacred dy,As thralls and vassalls vnto mens beheasts:And men themselues doe change continually,From youth to eld, from wealth to pouerty,From good to bad, from bad to worst of all.Ne doe their bodies only flit and fly:But eeke their minds (which they immortall call)Still change and vary thoughts, as new occasions fall.Ne is the water in more constant case;xxWhether those same on high, or these belowe.For, th’Ocean moueth stil, from place to place;And euery Riuer still doth ebbe and flowe:Ne any Lake, that seems most still and slowe,Ne Poole so small, that can his smoothnesse holde,When any winde doth vnder heauen blowe;With which, the clouds are also tost and roll’d;Now like great Hills; and, streight, like sluces, them vnfold.So likewise are all watry liuing wightsxxiStill tost, and turned, with continuall change,Neuer abyding in their stedfast plights.The fish, still floting, doe at randon range,And neuer rest; but euermore exchangeTheir dwelling places, as the streames them carrie:Ne haue the watry foules a certaine grange,Wherein to rest, ne in one stead do tarry;But flitting still doe flie, and still their places vary.Next is the Ayre: which who feeles not by sensexxii(For, of all sense it is the middle meane)To flit still? and, with subtill influenceOf his thin spirit, all creatures to maintaine,In state of life? O weake life! that does leaneOn thing so tickle as th’vnsteady ayre;Which euery howre is chang’d, and altred cleaneWith euery blast that bloweth fowle or faire:The faire doth it prolong; the fowle doth it impaire.Therein the changes infinite beholde,xxiiiWhich to her creatures euery minute chaunce;Now, boyling hot: streight, friezing deadly cold:Now, faire sun-shine, that makes all skip and daunce:Streight, bitter storms and balefull countenance,That makes them all to shiuer and to shake:Rayne, hayle, and snowe do pay them sad penance,And dreadfull thunder-claps (that make them quake)With flames and flashing lights that thousand changes make.Last is the fire: which, though it liue for euer,xxivNe can be quenched quite; yet, euery day,Wee see his parts, so soone as they do seuer,To lose their heat, and shortly to decay;So, makes himself his owne consuming pray.Ne any liuing creatures doth he breed:But all, that are of others bredd, doth slay;And, with their death, his cruell life dooth feed;Nought leaning, but their barren ashes, without seede.Thus, all these fower (the which the ground-work beexxvOf all the world, and of all liuing wights)To thousand sorts ofChangewe subiect see:Yet are they chang’d (by other wondrous slights)Into themselues, and lose their natiue mights;The Fire to Aire, and th’Ayre to Water sheere,And Water into Earth: yet Water fightsWith Fire, and Aire with Earth approaching neere:Yet all are in one body, and as one appeare.So, in them all raignesMutabilitie;xxviHow-euer these, that Gods themselues do call,Of them doe claime the rule and souerainty:As,Vesta, of the fire æthereall;Vulcan, of this, with vs so vsuall;Ops, of the earth; andIunoof the Ayre;Neptune, of Seas; and Nymphes, of Riuers all.For, all those Riuers to me subiect are:And all the rest, which they vsurp, be all my share.Which to approuen true, as I haue told,xxviiVouchsafe, O goddesse, to thy presence callThe rest which doe the world in being hold:As, times and seasons of the yeare that fall:Of all the which, demand in generall,Or iudge thy selfe, by verdit of thine eye,Whether to me they are not subiect all.Naturedid yeeld thereto; and by-and-by,BadeOrdercall them all, before her Maiesty.So, forth issew’d the Seasons of the yeare;xxviiiFirst, lustySpring, all dight in leaues of flowresThat freshly budded and new bloosmes did beare(In which a thousand birds had built their bowresThat sweetly sung, to call forth Paramours):And in his hand a iauelin he did beare,And on his head (as fit for warlike stoures)A guilt engrauen morion he did weare;That as some did him loue, so others did him feare.Then came the iollySommer, being dightxxixIn a thin silken cassock coloured greene,That was vnlyned all, to be more light:And on his head a girlond well beseeneHe wore, from which as he had chauffed beenThe sweat did drop; and in his hand he boreA boawe and shaftes, as he in forrest greeneHad hunted late the Libbard or the Bore,And now would bathe his limbes, with labor heated sore.Then came theAutumneall in yellow clad,xxxAs though he ioyed in his plentious store,Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full gladThat he had banisht hunger, which to-foreHad by the belly oft him pinched sore.Vpon his head a wreath that was enroldWith eares of corne, of euery sort he bore:And in his hand a sickle he did holde,To reape the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold.Lastly, cameWintercloathed all in frize,xxxiChattering his teeth for cold that did him chill,Whil’st on his hoary beard his breath did freese;And the dull drops that from his purpled billAs from a limbeck did adown distill.In his right hand a tipped staffe he held,With which his feeble steps he stayed still:For, he was faint with cold, and weak with eld;That scarse his loosed limbes he hable was to weld.These, marching softly, thus in order went,xxxiiAnd after them, the Monthes all riding came;First, sturdyMarchwith brows full sternly bent,And armed strongly, rode vpon a Ram,The same which ouerHellespontusswam:Yet in his hand a spade he also hent,And in a bag all sorts of seeds ysame,Which on the earth he strowed as he went,And fild her womb with fruitfull hope of nourishment.Next came freshAprillfull of lustyhed,xxxiiiAnd wanton as a Kid whose horne new buds:Vpon a Bull he rode, the same which ledEuropafloting through th’Argolickfluds:His homes were gilden all with golden studsAnd garnished with garlonds goodly dightOf all the fairest flowres and freshest budsWhich th’earth brings forth, and wet he seem’d in sightWith waues, through which he waded for his loues delight.Then came faireMay, the fayrest mayd on ground,xxxivDeckt all with dainties of her seasons pryde,And throwing flowres out of her lap around:Vpon two brethrens shoulders she did ride,The twinnes ofLeda; which on eyther sideSupported her like to their soueraine Queene.Lord! how all creatures laught, when her they spide,And leapt and daunc’t as they had rauisht beene!AndCupidselfe about her fluttred all in greene.And after her, came iollyIune, arraydxxxvAll in greene leaues, as he a Player were;Yet in his time, he wrought as well as playd,That by his plough-yrons mote right well appeare:Vpon a Crab he rode, that him did beareWith crooked crawling steps an vncouth pase,And backward yode, as Bargemen wont to fareBending their force contrary to their face,Like that vngracious crew which faines demurest grace.Then came hotIulyboyling like to fire,xxxviThat all his garments he had cast away:Vpon a Lyon raging yet with ireHe boldly rode and made him to obay:It was the beast that whylome did forrayThe Nemæan forrest, till th’AmphytrionideHim slew, and with his hide did him array;Behinde his back a sithe, and by his sideVnder his belt he bore a sickle circling wide.The sixt wasAugust, being rich arraydxxxviiIn garment all of gold downe to the ground:Yet rode he not, but led a louely MaydForth by the lilly hand, the which was croundWith eares of corne, and full her hand was found;That was the righteous Virgin, which of oldLiv’d here on earth, and plenty made abound;But, after Wrong was lov’d and Iustice solde,She left th’vnrighteous world and was to heauen extold.Next him,Septembermarched eeke on foote;xxxviiiYet was he heauy laden with the spoyleOf haruests riches, which he made his boot,And him enricht with bounty of the soyle:In his one hand, as fit for haruests toyle,He held a knife-hook; and in th’other handA paire of waights, with which he did assoyleBoth more and lesse, where it in doubt did stand,And equall gaue to each as Iustice duly scann’d.Then cameOctoberfull of merry glee:xxxixFor, yet his noule was totty of the must,Which he was treading in the wine-fats see,And of the ioyous oyle, whose gentle gustMade him so frollick and so full of lust:Vpon a dreadfull Scorpion he did ride,The same which byDianaesdoom vniustSlew greatOrion: and eeke by his sideHe had his ploughing share, and coulter ready tyde.Next wasNouember, he full[629]grosse and fat,xlAs fed with lard, and that right well might seeme;For, he had been a fatting hogs of late,That yet his browes with sweat, did reek and steem,And yet the season was full sharp and breem;In planting eeke he took no small delight:Whereon he rode, not easie was to deeme;For it a dreadfullCentaurewas in sight,The seed ofSaturne, and faireNais,Chironhight.And after him, came next the chillDecember:xliYet he through merry feasting which he made,And great bonfires, did not the cold remember;His Sauiours birth his mind so much did glad:Vpon a shaggy-bearded Goat he rode,The same wherewithDan Iouein tender yeares,They say, was nourisht by th’Idæan[630]mayd;And in his hand a broad deepe boawle he beares;Of which, he freely drinks an health to all his peeres.Then came oldIanuary, wrapped wellxliiIn many weeds to keep the cold away;Yet did he quake and quiuer like to quell,And blowe his nayles to warme them if he may:For, they were numbd with holding all the dayAn hatchet keene, with which he felled wood,And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray:Vpon an huge great Earth-pot steane he stood;From whose wide mouth, there flowed forth the Romane floud.And lastly, came coldFebruary, sittingxliiiIn an old wagon, for he could not ride;Drawne of two fishes for the season fitting,Which through the flood before did softly slydeAnd swim away: yet had he by his sideHis plough and harnesse fit to till the ground,And tooles to prune the trees, before the prideOf hasting Prime did make them burgein round:So past the twelue Months forth, and their dew places found.And after these, there came theDay, andNight,xlivRiding together both with equall pase,Th’one on a Palfrey blacke, the other white;ButNighthad couered her vncomely faceWith a blacke veile, and held in hand a mace,On top whereof the moon and stars were pight,And sleep and darknesse round about did trace:ButDaydid beare, vpon his scepters hight,The goodly Sun, encompast all with beames bright.Then came theHowres, faire daughters of highIoue,xlvAnd timelyNight, the which were all endewedWith wondrous beauty fit to kindle loue;But they were Virgins all, and loue eschewed,That might forslack the charge to them fore-shewedBy mightyIoue; who did them Porters makeOf heauens gate (whence all the gods issued)Which they did dayly watch, and nightly wakeBy euen turnes, ne euer did their charge forsake.And after all cameLife, and lastlyDeath;xlviDeathwith most grim and griesly visage seene,Yet is he nought but parting of the breath;Ne ought to see, but like a shade to weene,Vnbodied, vnsoul’d, vnheard, vnseene.ButLifewas like a faire young lusty boy,Such as they faineDan Cupidto haue beene,Full of delightfull health and liuely ioy,Deckt all with flowres, and wings of gold fit to employ.When these were past, thus gan theTitanesse;xlviiLo, mighty mother, now be iudge and say,Whether in all thy creatures more or lesseCHANGEdoth not raign and beare the greatest sway:For, who sees not, thatTimeon all doth pray?ButTimesdo change and moue continually.So nothing here long standeth in one stay:Wherefore, this lower world who can denyBut to be subiect still toMutabilitie?Then thus ganIoue; Right true it is, that thesexlviiiAnd all things else that vnder heauen dwellAre chaung’d ofTime, who doth them all disseiseOf being: But, who is it (to me tell)ThatTimehimselfe doth moue and still compellTo keepe his course? Is not that namely weeWhich poure that vertue from our heauenly cell,That moues them all, and makes them changed be?So them we gods doe rule, and in them also thee.To whom, thusMutability: The thingsxlixWhich we see not how they are mov’d and swayd,Ye may attribute to your selues as Kings,And say they by your secret powre are made:But what we see not, who shall vs perswade?But were they so, as ye them faine to be,Mov’d by your might, and ordred by your ayde;Yet what if[631]I can proue, that euen yeeYour selues are likewise chang’d, and subiect vnto mee?And first, concerning her that is the first,lEuen you faireCynthia, whom so much ye makeIouesdearest darling, she was bred and nurstOnCynthushill, whence she her name did take:Then is she mortall borne, how-so ye crake;Besides, her face and countenance euery dayWe changed see, and sundry forms partake,Now hornd, now round, now bright, now brown and gray:So thatas changefull as the Moonemen vse to say.Next,Mercury, who though he lesse appeareliTo change his hew, and alwayes seeme as one;Yet, he his course doth altar euery yeare,And is of late far out of order gone:SoVenuseeke, that goodly Paragone,Though faire all night, yet is she darke all day;AndPhœbusself, who lightsome is alone,Yet is he oft eclipsed by the way,And fills the darkned world with terror and dismay.NowMarsthat valiant man is changed most:liiFor, he some times so far runs out of square,That he his way doth seem quite to haue lost,And cleane without his vsuall sphere to fare;That euen these Star-gazers stonisht areAt sight thereof, and damne their lying bookes:So likewise, grim SirSaturneoft doth spareHis sterne aspect, and calme his crabbed lookes:So many turning cranks these haue, so many crookes.But youDan Ioue, that only constant are,liiiAnd King of all the rest, as ye do clame,Are you not subiect eeke to this misfare?Then let me aske you this withouten blame,Where were ye borne? some say inCreteby name,Others inThebes, and others other-where;But wheresoeuer they comment the same,They all consent that ye begotten were,And borne here in this world, ne other can appeare.Then are ye mortall borne, and thrall to me,livVnlesse the kingdome of the sky yee makeImmortall, and vnchangeable to bee;Besides, that power and vertue which ye spake,That ye here worke, doth many changes take,And your owne natures change: for, each of youThat vertue haue, or this, or that to make,Is checkt and changed from his nature trew,By others opposition or obliquid view.Besides, the sundry motions of your Spheares,lvSo sundry waies and fashions as clerkes faine,Some in short space, and some in longer yeares;What is the same but alteration plaine?Onely the starrie skie doth still remaine:Yet do the Starres and Signes therein still moue,And euen it self is mov’d, as wizards saine[632].But all that moueth, doth mutation loue:Therefore both you and them to me I subiect proue.Then since within this wide greatVniuerselviNothing doth firme and permanent appeare,But all things tost and turned by transuerse:What then should let, but I aloft should reareMy Trophee, and from all, the triumph beare?Now iudge then (O thou greatest goddesse trew!)According as thy selfe doest see and heare,And vnto me addoom that is my dew;That is the rule of all, all being rul’d by you.So hauing ended, silence long ensewed,lviiNeNatureto or fro spake for a space,But with firme eyes affixt, the ground still viewed.Meane while, all creatures, looking in her face,Expecting th’end of this so doubtfull case,Did hang in long suspence what would ensew,To whether side should fall the soueraigne place:At length, she looking vp with chearefull view,The silence brake, and gaue her doome in speeches few.I well consider all that ye have sayd,lviiiAnd find that all things stedfastnes doe hateAnd changed be: yet being rightly waydThey are not changed from their first estate;But by their change their being doe dilate:And turning to themselues at length againe,Doe worke their owne perfection so by fate:Then ouer them Change doth not rule and raigne;But they raigne ouer change, and doe their states maintaine.Cease therefore daughter further to aspire,lixAnd thee content thus to be rul’d by me:For thy decay thou seekst by thy desire;But time shall come that all shall changed bee,And from thenceforth, none no more change shall see.So was theTitanessput downe and whist,AndIoueconfirm’d in his imperiall see.Then was that whole assembly quite dismist,AndNatur’sselfe did vanish, whither no man wist.

Ah! whither doost thou now thou greater Musei

Me from these woods and pleasing forrests bring?

And my fraile spirit (that dooth oft refuse

This too high flight, vnfit for her weake wing)

Lift vp aloft, to tell of heauens King

(Thy soueraine Sire) his fortunate successe,

And victory, in bigger noates to sing,

Which he obtain’d against thatTitanesse,

That him of heauens Empire sought to dispossesse.

Yet sith I needs must follow thy behest,iiDoe thou my weaker wit with skill inspire,Fit for this turne; and in my feeble[615]brestKindle fresh sparks of that immortall fire,Which learned minds inflameth with desireOf heauenly things: for, who but thou alone,That art yborne of heauen and heauenly Sire,Can tell things doen in heauen so long ygone;So farre past memory of man that may be knowne.

Yet sith I needs must follow thy behest,ii

Doe thou my weaker wit with skill inspire,

Fit for this turne; and in my feeble[615]brest

Kindle fresh sparks of that immortall fire,

Which learned minds inflameth with desire

Of heauenly things: for, who but thou alone,

That art yborne of heauen and heauenly Sire,

Can tell things doen in heauen so long ygone;

So farre past memory of man that may be knowne.

Now, at the time that was before agreed,iiiThe Gods assembled all onArlohill;As well those that are sprung of heauenly seed,As those that all the other world doe fill,And rule both sea and land vnto their will:Onely th’infernall Powers might not appeare;Aswell for horror of their count’naunce ill,As for th’vnruly fiends which they did feare;YetPlutoandProserpinawere present there.

Now, at the time that was before agreed,iii

The Gods assembled all onArlohill;

As well those that are sprung of heauenly seed,

As those that all the other world doe fill,

And rule both sea and land vnto their will:

Onely th’infernall Powers might not appeare;

Aswell for horror of their count’naunce ill,

As for th’vnruly fiends which they did feare;

YetPlutoandProserpinawere present there.

And thither also came all other creatures,ivWhat-euer life or motion doe retaine,According to their sundry kinds of features;ThatArloscarsly could them all containe;So full they filled euery[616]hill and Plaine:And had notNaturesSergeant (that isOrder)Them well disposed by his busie paine,And raunged farre abroad in euery border,They would haue caused much confusion and disorder.

And thither also came all other creatures,iv

What-euer life or motion doe retaine,

According to their sundry kinds of features;

ThatArloscarsly could them all containe;

So full they filled euery[616]hill and Plaine:

And had notNaturesSergeant (that isOrder)

Them well disposed by his busie paine,

And raunged farre abroad in euery border,

They would haue caused much confusion and disorder.

Then forth issewed (great goddesse) great dameNature,vWith goodly port and gracious Maiesty;Being far greater and more tall of statureThen any of the gods or Powers on hie:Yet certes by her face and physnomy,Whether she man or woman inly were,That could not any creature well descry:For, with a veile that wimpled euery where,Her head and face was hid, that mote to none appeare.

Then forth issewed (great goddesse) great dameNature,v

With goodly port and gracious Maiesty;

Being far greater and more tall of stature

Then any of the gods or Powers on hie:

Yet certes by her face and physnomy,

Whether she man or woman inly were,

That could not any creature well descry:

For, with a veile that wimpled euery where,

Her head and face was hid, that mote to none appeare.

That some doe say was so by skill deuized,viTo hide the terror of her vncouth hew,From mortall eyes that should be sore agrized;For that her face did like a Lion shew,That eye of wight could not indure to view:But others tell that it so beautious was,And round about such beames of splendor threw,That it the Sunne a thousand times did pass,Ne could be seene, but like an image in a glass.

That some doe say was so by skill deuized,vi

To hide the terror of her vncouth hew,

From mortall eyes that should be sore agrized;

For that her face did like a Lion shew,

That eye of wight could not indure to view:

But others tell that it so beautious was,

And round about such beames of splendor threw,

That it the Sunne a thousand times did pass,

Ne could be seene, but like an image in a glass.

That well may seemen true: for, well I weeneviiThat this same day, when she onArlosat,Her garment was so bright and wondrous sheene,That my fraile wit cannot deuize to whatIt to compare, nor finde like stuffe to that,As those three sacredSaints, though else most wise,Yet on mountThaborquite their wits forgat,When they[617]their glorious Lord in strange disguiseTransfigur’d sawe; his garments so did daze their eyes.

That well may seemen true: for, well I weenevii

That this same day, when she onArlosat,

Her garment was so bright and wondrous sheene,

That my fraile wit cannot deuize to what

It to compare, nor finde like stuffe to that,

As those three sacredSaints, though else most wise,

Yet on mountThaborquite their wits forgat,

When they[617]their glorious Lord in strange disguise

Transfigur’d sawe; his garments so did daze their eyes.

In a fayre Plaine vpon an equall Hill,viiiShe placed was in a pauilion;Not such as[618]Craftes-men by their idle skillAre wont for Princes states to fashion:But th’earth her self of her owne motion,Out of her fruitfull bosome made to groweMost dainty trees; that, shooting vp anon,Did seeme to bow their bloosming heads full lowe,For homage vnto her, and like a throne did shew[619].

In a fayre Plaine vpon an equall Hill,viii

She placed was in a pauilion;

Not such as[618]Craftes-men by their idle skill

Are wont for Princes states to fashion:

But th’earth her self of her owne motion,

Out of her fruitfull bosome made to growe

Most dainty trees; that, shooting vp anon,

Did seeme to bow their bloosming heads full lowe,

For homage vnto her, and like a throne did shew[619].

So hard[620]it is for any liuing wight,ixAll her array and vestiments to tell,That oldDan Geffrey(in whose gentle sprightThe pure well head of Poesie did dwell)In hisFoules parleydurst not with it mel,But it transferd toAlane, who he thoughtHad in hisPlaint of kindes[621]describ’d it well:Which who will read set forth so as it ought,Go seek he out thatAlanewhere he may be sought.

So hard[620]it is for any liuing wight,ix

All her array and vestiments to tell,

That oldDan Geffrey(in whose gentle spright

The pure well head of Poesie did dwell)

In hisFoules parleydurst not with it mel,

But it transferd toAlane, who he thought

Had in hisPlaint of kindes[621]describ’d it well:

Which who will read set forth so as it ought,

Go seek he out thatAlanewhere he may be sought.

And all the earth far vnderneath her feetexWas dight with flowres, that voluntary grewOut of the ground, and sent forth odours sweet;Tenne thousand mores[622]of sundry sent and hew,That might delight the smell, or please the view:The which, the Nymphes, from all the brooks therebyHad gathered, which[623]they at her foot-stoole threw;That richer seem’d then any tapestry,That Princes bowres adorne with painted imagery.

And all the earth far vnderneath her feetex

Was dight with flowres, that voluntary grew

Out of the ground, and sent forth odours sweet;

Tenne thousand mores[622]of sundry sent and hew,

That might delight the smell, or please the view:

The which, the Nymphes, from all the brooks thereby

Had gathered, which[623]they at her foot-stoole threw;

That richer seem’d then any tapestry,

That Princes bowres adorne with painted imagery.

AndMolehimselfe, to honour her the more,xiDid deck himself in freshest faire attire,And his high head, that seemeth alwaies horeWith hardned frosts of former winters ire,He with an Oaken girlond now did tire,As if the loue of some new Nymph late seene,Had in him kindled youthfull fresh desire,And made him change his gray attire to greene;Ah gentleMole! such ioyance hath thee well beseene.

AndMolehimselfe, to honour her the more,xi

Did deck himself in freshest faire attire,

And his high head, that seemeth alwaies hore

With hardned frosts of former winters ire,

He with an Oaken girlond now did tire,

As if the loue of some new Nymph late seene,

Had in him kindled youthfull fresh desire,

And made him change his gray attire to greene;

Ah gentleMole! such ioyance hath thee well beseene.

Was neuer[624]so great ioyance since the day,xiiThat all the gods whylome assembled were,OnHæmushill in their diuine array,To celebrate the solemne bridall cheare,TwixtPeleus[625], and dameThetispointed there;WherePhœbusself, that god of Poets hight,They say did sing the spousall hymne full cleere,That all the gods were rauisht with delightOf his celestiall song, and Musicks wondrous might.

Was neuer[624]so great ioyance since the day,xii

That all the gods whylome assembled were,

OnHæmushill in their diuine array,

To celebrate the solemne bridall cheare,

TwixtPeleus[625], and dameThetispointed there;

WherePhœbusself, that god of Poets hight,

They say did sing the spousall hymne full cleere,

That all the gods were rauisht with delight

Of his celestiall song, and Musicks wondrous might.

This great Grandmother of all creatures bredxiiiGreatNature, euer young yet full of eld,Still moouing, yet vnmoued from her sted;Vnseene of any, yet of all beheld;Thus sitting in her throne as I haue teld,Before her came dameMutabilitie;And being lowe before her presence feld,With meek obaysance and humilitie,Thus gan her plaintif Plea, with words to amplifie;

This great Grandmother of all creatures bredxiii

GreatNature, euer young yet full of eld,

Still moouing, yet vnmoued from her sted;

Vnseene of any, yet of all beheld;

Thus sitting in her throne as I haue teld,

Before her came dameMutabilitie;

And being lowe before her presence feld,

With meek obaysance and humilitie,

Thus gan her plaintif Plea, with words to amplifie;

To thee O greatest goddesse, onely great,xivAn humble suppliant loe, I lowely flySeeking for Right, which I of thee entreat;Who Right to all dost deale indifferently,Damning all Wrong and tortious Iniurie,Which any of thy creatures doe to other(Oppressing them with power, vnequally)Sith of them all thou art the equall mother,And knittest each to each[626], as brother vnto brother.

To thee O greatest goddesse, onely great,xiv

An humble suppliant loe, I lowely fly

Seeking for Right, which I of thee entreat;

Who Right to all dost deale indifferently,

Damning all Wrong and tortious Iniurie,

Which any of thy creatures doe to other

(Oppressing them with power, vnequally)

Sith of them all thou art the equall mother,

And knittest each to each[626], as brother vnto brother.

To thee therefore of this sameIoueI plaine,xvAnd of his fellow gods that faine to be,That challenge to themselues the whole worlds raign;Of which, the greatest part is due to me,And heauen it selfe by heritage in Fee:For, heauen and earth I both alike do deeme,Sith heauen and earth are both alike to thee;And, gods no more then men thou doest esteeme[627]:For, euen the gods to thee, as men to gods do seeme.

To thee therefore of this sameIoueI plaine,xv

And of his fellow gods that faine to be,

That challenge to themselues the whole worlds raign;

Of which, the greatest part is due to me,

And heauen it selfe by heritage in Fee:

For, heauen and earth I both alike do deeme,

Sith heauen and earth are both alike to thee;

And, gods no more then men thou doest esteeme[627]:

For, euen the gods to thee, as men to gods do seeme.

Then weigh, O soueraigne goddesse, by what rightxviThese gods do claime the worlds whole souerainty;And that is onely dew vnto thy[628]mightArrogate to themselues ambitiously:As for the gods owne principality,WhichIouevsurpes vniustly; that to beMy heritage,Ioue’sself cannot deny,From my great GrandsireTitan, vnto mee,Deriv’d by dew descent; as is well knowen to thee.

Then weigh, O soueraigne goddesse, by what rightxvi

These gods do claime the worlds whole souerainty;

And that is onely dew vnto thy[628]might

Arrogate to themselues ambitiously:

As for the gods owne principality,

WhichIouevsurpes vniustly; that to be

My heritage,Ioue’sself cannot deny,

From my great GrandsireTitan, vnto mee,

Deriv’d by dew descent; as is well knowen to thee.

Yet maugerIoue, and all his gods beside,xviiI doe possesse the worlds most regiment;As, if ye please it into parts diuide,And euery parts inholders to conuent,Shall to your eyes appeare incontinent.And first, the Earth (great mother of vs all)That only seems vnmov’d and permanent,And vntoMutabilitynot thrall;Yet is she chang’d in part, and eeke in generall.

Yet maugerIoue, and all his gods beside,xvii

I doe possesse the worlds most regiment;

As, if ye please it into parts diuide,

And euery parts inholders to conuent,

Shall to your eyes appeare incontinent.

And first, the Earth (great mother of vs all)

That only seems vnmov’d and permanent,

And vntoMutabilitynot thrall;

Yet is she chang’d in part, and eeke in generall.

For, all that from her springs, and is ybredde,xviiiHow-euer fayre it flourish for a time,Yet see we soone decay; and, being dead,To turne again vnto their earthly slime:Yet, out of their decay and mortall crime,We daily see new creatures to arize;And of their Winter spring another Prime,Vnlike in forme, and chang’d by strange disguise:So turne they still about, and change in restlesse wise.

For, all that from her springs, and is ybredde,xviii

How-euer fayre it flourish for a time,

Yet see we soone decay; and, being dead,

To turne again vnto their earthly slime:

Yet, out of their decay and mortall crime,

We daily see new creatures to arize;

And of their Winter spring another Prime,

Vnlike in forme, and chang’d by strange disguise:

So turne they still about, and change in restlesse wise.

As for her tenants; that is, man and beasts,xixThe beasts we daily see massacred dy,As thralls and vassalls vnto mens beheasts:And men themselues doe change continually,From youth to eld, from wealth to pouerty,From good to bad, from bad to worst of all.Ne doe their bodies only flit and fly:But eeke their minds (which they immortall call)Still change and vary thoughts, as new occasions fall.

As for her tenants; that is, man and beasts,xix

The beasts we daily see massacred dy,

As thralls and vassalls vnto mens beheasts:

And men themselues doe change continually,

From youth to eld, from wealth to pouerty,

From good to bad, from bad to worst of all.

Ne doe their bodies only flit and fly:

But eeke their minds (which they immortall call)

Still change and vary thoughts, as new occasions fall.

Ne is the water in more constant case;xxWhether those same on high, or these belowe.For, th’Ocean moueth stil, from place to place;And euery Riuer still doth ebbe and flowe:Ne any Lake, that seems most still and slowe,Ne Poole so small, that can his smoothnesse holde,When any winde doth vnder heauen blowe;With which, the clouds are also tost and roll’d;Now like great Hills; and, streight, like sluces, them vnfold.

Ne is the water in more constant case;xx

Whether those same on high, or these belowe.

For, th’Ocean moueth stil, from place to place;

And euery Riuer still doth ebbe and flowe:

Ne any Lake, that seems most still and slowe,

Ne Poole so small, that can his smoothnesse holde,

When any winde doth vnder heauen blowe;

With which, the clouds are also tost and roll’d;

Now like great Hills; and, streight, like sluces, them vnfold.

So likewise are all watry liuing wightsxxiStill tost, and turned, with continuall change,Neuer abyding in their stedfast plights.The fish, still floting, doe at randon range,And neuer rest; but euermore exchangeTheir dwelling places, as the streames them carrie:Ne haue the watry foules a certaine grange,Wherein to rest, ne in one stead do tarry;But flitting still doe flie, and still their places vary.

So likewise are all watry liuing wightsxxi

Still tost, and turned, with continuall change,

Neuer abyding in their stedfast plights.

The fish, still floting, doe at randon range,

And neuer rest; but euermore exchange

Their dwelling places, as the streames them carrie:

Ne haue the watry foules a certaine grange,

Wherein to rest, ne in one stead do tarry;

But flitting still doe flie, and still their places vary.

Next is the Ayre: which who feeles not by sensexxii(For, of all sense it is the middle meane)To flit still? and, with subtill influenceOf his thin spirit, all creatures to maintaine,In state of life? O weake life! that does leaneOn thing so tickle as th’vnsteady ayre;Which euery howre is chang’d, and altred cleaneWith euery blast that bloweth fowle or faire:The faire doth it prolong; the fowle doth it impaire.

Next is the Ayre: which who feeles not by sensexxii

(For, of all sense it is the middle meane)

To flit still? and, with subtill influence

Of his thin spirit, all creatures to maintaine,

In state of life? O weake life! that does leane

On thing so tickle as th’vnsteady ayre;

Which euery howre is chang’d, and altred cleane

With euery blast that bloweth fowle or faire:

The faire doth it prolong; the fowle doth it impaire.

Therein the changes infinite beholde,xxiiiWhich to her creatures euery minute chaunce;Now, boyling hot: streight, friezing deadly cold:Now, faire sun-shine, that makes all skip and daunce:Streight, bitter storms and balefull countenance,That makes them all to shiuer and to shake:Rayne, hayle, and snowe do pay them sad penance,And dreadfull thunder-claps (that make them quake)With flames and flashing lights that thousand changes make.

Therein the changes infinite beholde,xxiii

Which to her creatures euery minute chaunce;

Now, boyling hot: streight, friezing deadly cold:

Now, faire sun-shine, that makes all skip and daunce:

Streight, bitter storms and balefull countenance,

That makes them all to shiuer and to shake:

Rayne, hayle, and snowe do pay them sad penance,

And dreadfull thunder-claps (that make them quake)

With flames and flashing lights that thousand changes make.

Last is the fire: which, though it liue for euer,xxivNe can be quenched quite; yet, euery day,Wee see his parts, so soone as they do seuer,To lose their heat, and shortly to decay;So, makes himself his owne consuming pray.Ne any liuing creatures doth he breed:But all, that are of others bredd, doth slay;And, with their death, his cruell life dooth feed;Nought leaning, but their barren ashes, without seede.

Last is the fire: which, though it liue for euer,xxiv

Ne can be quenched quite; yet, euery day,

Wee see his parts, so soone as they do seuer,

To lose their heat, and shortly to decay;

So, makes himself his owne consuming pray.

Ne any liuing creatures doth he breed:

But all, that are of others bredd, doth slay;

And, with their death, his cruell life dooth feed;

Nought leaning, but their barren ashes, without seede.

Thus, all these fower (the which the ground-work beexxvOf all the world, and of all liuing wights)To thousand sorts ofChangewe subiect see:Yet are they chang’d (by other wondrous slights)Into themselues, and lose their natiue mights;The Fire to Aire, and th’Ayre to Water sheere,And Water into Earth: yet Water fightsWith Fire, and Aire with Earth approaching neere:Yet all are in one body, and as one appeare.

Thus, all these fower (the which the ground-work beexxv

Of all the world, and of all liuing wights)

To thousand sorts ofChangewe subiect see:

Yet are they chang’d (by other wondrous slights)

Into themselues, and lose their natiue mights;

The Fire to Aire, and th’Ayre to Water sheere,

And Water into Earth: yet Water fights

With Fire, and Aire with Earth approaching neere:

Yet all are in one body, and as one appeare.

So, in them all raignesMutabilitie;xxviHow-euer these, that Gods themselues do call,Of them doe claime the rule and souerainty:As,Vesta, of the fire æthereall;Vulcan, of this, with vs so vsuall;Ops, of the earth; andIunoof the Ayre;Neptune, of Seas; and Nymphes, of Riuers all.For, all those Riuers to me subiect are:And all the rest, which they vsurp, be all my share.

So, in them all raignesMutabilitie;xxvi

How-euer these, that Gods themselues do call,

Of them doe claime the rule and souerainty:

As,Vesta, of the fire æthereall;

Vulcan, of this, with vs so vsuall;

Ops, of the earth; andIunoof the Ayre;

Neptune, of Seas; and Nymphes, of Riuers all.

For, all those Riuers to me subiect are:

And all the rest, which they vsurp, be all my share.

Which to approuen true, as I haue told,xxviiVouchsafe, O goddesse, to thy presence callThe rest which doe the world in being hold:As, times and seasons of the yeare that fall:Of all the which, demand in generall,Or iudge thy selfe, by verdit of thine eye,Whether to me they are not subiect all.Naturedid yeeld thereto; and by-and-by,BadeOrdercall them all, before her Maiesty.

Which to approuen true, as I haue told,xxvii

Vouchsafe, O goddesse, to thy presence call

The rest which doe the world in being hold:

As, times and seasons of the yeare that fall:

Of all the which, demand in generall,

Or iudge thy selfe, by verdit of thine eye,

Whether to me they are not subiect all.

Naturedid yeeld thereto; and by-and-by,

BadeOrdercall them all, before her Maiesty.

So, forth issew’d the Seasons of the yeare;xxviiiFirst, lustySpring, all dight in leaues of flowresThat freshly budded and new bloosmes did beare(In which a thousand birds had built their bowresThat sweetly sung, to call forth Paramours):And in his hand a iauelin he did beare,And on his head (as fit for warlike stoures)A guilt engrauen morion he did weare;That as some did him loue, so others did him feare.

So, forth issew’d the Seasons of the yeare;xxviii

First, lustySpring, all dight in leaues of flowres

That freshly budded and new bloosmes did beare

(In which a thousand birds had built their bowres

That sweetly sung, to call forth Paramours):

And in his hand a iauelin he did beare,

And on his head (as fit for warlike stoures)

A guilt engrauen morion he did weare;

That as some did him loue, so others did him feare.

Then came the iollySommer, being dightxxixIn a thin silken cassock coloured greene,That was vnlyned all, to be more light:And on his head a girlond well beseeneHe wore, from which as he had chauffed beenThe sweat did drop; and in his hand he boreA boawe and shaftes, as he in forrest greeneHad hunted late the Libbard or the Bore,And now would bathe his limbes, with labor heated sore.

Then came the iollySommer, being dightxxix

In a thin silken cassock coloured greene,

That was vnlyned all, to be more light:

And on his head a girlond well beseene

He wore, from which as he had chauffed been

The sweat did drop; and in his hand he bore

A boawe and shaftes, as he in forrest greene

Had hunted late the Libbard or the Bore,

And now would bathe his limbes, with labor heated sore.

Then came theAutumneall in yellow clad,xxxAs though he ioyed in his plentious store,Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full gladThat he had banisht hunger, which to-foreHad by the belly oft him pinched sore.Vpon his head a wreath that was enroldWith eares of corne, of euery sort he bore:And in his hand a sickle he did holde,To reape the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold.

Then came theAutumneall in yellow clad,xxx

As though he ioyed in his plentious store,

Laden with fruits that made him laugh, full glad

That he had banisht hunger, which to-fore

Had by the belly oft him pinched sore.

Vpon his head a wreath that was enrold

With eares of corne, of euery sort he bore:

And in his hand a sickle he did holde,

To reape the ripened fruits the which the earth had yold.

Lastly, cameWintercloathed all in frize,xxxiChattering his teeth for cold that did him chill,Whil’st on his hoary beard his breath did freese;And the dull drops that from his purpled billAs from a limbeck did adown distill.In his right hand a tipped staffe he held,With which his feeble steps he stayed still:For, he was faint with cold, and weak with eld;That scarse his loosed limbes he hable was to weld.

Lastly, cameWintercloathed all in frize,xxxi

Chattering his teeth for cold that did him chill,

Whil’st on his hoary beard his breath did freese;

And the dull drops that from his purpled bill

As from a limbeck did adown distill.

In his right hand a tipped staffe he held,

With which his feeble steps he stayed still:

For, he was faint with cold, and weak with eld;

That scarse his loosed limbes he hable was to weld.

These, marching softly, thus in order went,xxxiiAnd after them, the Monthes all riding came;First, sturdyMarchwith brows full sternly bent,And armed strongly, rode vpon a Ram,The same which ouerHellespontusswam:Yet in his hand a spade he also hent,And in a bag all sorts of seeds ysame,Which on the earth he strowed as he went,And fild her womb with fruitfull hope of nourishment.

These, marching softly, thus in order went,xxxii

And after them, the Monthes all riding came;

First, sturdyMarchwith brows full sternly bent,

And armed strongly, rode vpon a Ram,

The same which ouerHellespontusswam:

Yet in his hand a spade he also hent,

And in a bag all sorts of seeds ysame,

Which on the earth he strowed as he went,

And fild her womb with fruitfull hope of nourishment.

Next came freshAprillfull of lustyhed,xxxiiiAnd wanton as a Kid whose horne new buds:Vpon a Bull he rode, the same which ledEuropafloting through th’Argolickfluds:His homes were gilden all with golden studsAnd garnished with garlonds goodly dightOf all the fairest flowres and freshest budsWhich th’earth brings forth, and wet he seem’d in sightWith waues, through which he waded for his loues delight.

Next came freshAprillfull of lustyhed,xxxiii

And wanton as a Kid whose horne new buds:

Vpon a Bull he rode, the same which led

Europafloting through th’Argolickfluds:

His homes were gilden all with golden studs

And garnished with garlonds goodly dight

Of all the fairest flowres and freshest buds

Which th’earth brings forth, and wet he seem’d in sight

With waues, through which he waded for his loues delight.

Then came faireMay, the fayrest mayd on ground,xxxivDeckt all with dainties of her seasons pryde,And throwing flowres out of her lap around:Vpon two brethrens shoulders she did ride,The twinnes ofLeda; which on eyther sideSupported her like to their soueraine Queene.Lord! how all creatures laught, when her they spide,And leapt and daunc’t as they had rauisht beene!AndCupidselfe about her fluttred all in greene.

Then came faireMay, the fayrest mayd on ground,xxxiv

Deckt all with dainties of her seasons pryde,

And throwing flowres out of her lap around:

Vpon two brethrens shoulders she did ride,

The twinnes ofLeda; which on eyther side

Supported her like to their soueraine Queene.

Lord! how all creatures laught, when her they spide,

And leapt and daunc’t as they had rauisht beene!

AndCupidselfe about her fluttred all in greene.

And after her, came iollyIune, arraydxxxvAll in greene leaues, as he a Player were;Yet in his time, he wrought as well as playd,That by his plough-yrons mote right well appeare:Vpon a Crab he rode, that him did beareWith crooked crawling steps an vncouth pase,And backward yode, as Bargemen wont to fareBending their force contrary to their face,Like that vngracious crew which faines demurest grace.

And after her, came iollyIune, arraydxxxv

All in greene leaues, as he a Player were;

Yet in his time, he wrought as well as playd,

That by his plough-yrons mote right well appeare:

Vpon a Crab he rode, that him did beare

With crooked crawling steps an vncouth pase,

And backward yode, as Bargemen wont to fare

Bending their force contrary to their face,

Like that vngracious crew which faines demurest grace.

Then came hotIulyboyling like to fire,xxxviThat all his garments he had cast away:Vpon a Lyon raging yet with ireHe boldly rode and made him to obay:It was the beast that whylome did forrayThe Nemæan forrest, till th’AmphytrionideHim slew, and with his hide did him array;Behinde his back a sithe, and by his sideVnder his belt he bore a sickle circling wide.

Then came hotIulyboyling like to fire,xxxvi

That all his garments he had cast away:

Vpon a Lyon raging yet with ire

He boldly rode and made him to obay:

It was the beast that whylome did forray

The Nemæan forrest, till th’Amphytrionide

Him slew, and with his hide did him array;

Behinde his back a sithe, and by his side

Vnder his belt he bore a sickle circling wide.

The sixt wasAugust, being rich arraydxxxviiIn garment all of gold downe to the ground:Yet rode he not, but led a louely MaydForth by the lilly hand, the which was croundWith eares of corne, and full her hand was found;That was the righteous Virgin, which of oldLiv’d here on earth, and plenty made abound;But, after Wrong was lov’d and Iustice solde,She left th’vnrighteous world and was to heauen extold.

The sixt wasAugust, being rich arraydxxxvii

In garment all of gold downe to the ground:

Yet rode he not, but led a louely Mayd

Forth by the lilly hand, the which was cround

With eares of corne, and full her hand was found;

That was the righteous Virgin, which of old

Liv’d here on earth, and plenty made abound;

But, after Wrong was lov’d and Iustice solde,

She left th’vnrighteous world and was to heauen extold.

Next him,Septembermarched eeke on foote;xxxviiiYet was he heauy laden with the spoyleOf haruests riches, which he made his boot,And him enricht with bounty of the soyle:In his one hand, as fit for haruests toyle,He held a knife-hook; and in th’other handA paire of waights, with which he did assoyleBoth more and lesse, where it in doubt did stand,And equall gaue to each as Iustice duly scann’d.

Next him,Septembermarched eeke on foote;xxxviii

Yet was he heauy laden with the spoyle

Of haruests riches, which he made his boot,

And him enricht with bounty of the soyle:

In his one hand, as fit for haruests toyle,

He held a knife-hook; and in th’other hand

A paire of waights, with which he did assoyle

Both more and lesse, where it in doubt did stand,

And equall gaue to each as Iustice duly scann’d.

Then cameOctoberfull of merry glee:xxxixFor, yet his noule was totty of the must,Which he was treading in the wine-fats see,And of the ioyous oyle, whose gentle gustMade him so frollick and so full of lust:Vpon a dreadfull Scorpion he did ride,The same which byDianaesdoom vniustSlew greatOrion: and eeke by his sideHe had his ploughing share, and coulter ready tyde.

Then cameOctoberfull of merry glee:xxxix

For, yet his noule was totty of the must,

Which he was treading in the wine-fats see,

And of the ioyous oyle, whose gentle gust

Made him so frollick and so full of lust:

Vpon a dreadfull Scorpion he did ride,

The same which byDianaesdoom vniust

Slew greatOrion: and eeke by his side

He had his ploughing share, and coulter ready tyde.

Next wasNouember, he full[629]grosse and fat,xlAs fed with lard, and that right well might seeme;For, he had been a fatting hogs of late,That yet his browes with sweat, did reek and steem,And yet the season was full sharp and breem;In planting eeke he took no small delight:Whereon he rode, not easie was to deeme;For it a dreadfullCentaurewas in sight,The seed ofSaturne, and faireNais,Chironhight.

Next wasNouember, he full[629]grosse and fat,xl

As fed with lard, and that right well might seeme;

For, he had been a fatting hogs of late,

That yet his browes with sweat, did reek and steem,

And yet the season was full sharp and breem;

In planting eeke he took no small delight:

Whereon he rode, not easie was to deeme;

For it a dreadfullCentaurewas in sight,

The seed ofSaturne, and faireNais,Chironhight.

And after him, came next the chillDecember:xliYet he through merry feasting which he made,And great bonfires, did not the cold remember;His Sauiours birth his mind so much did glad:Vpon a shaggy-bearded Goat he rode,The same wherewithDan Iouein tender yeares,They say, was nourisht by th’Idæan[630]mayd;And in his hand a broad deepe boawle he beares;Of which, he freely drinks an health to all his peeres.

And after him, came next the chillDecember:xli

Yet he through merry feasting which he made,

And great bonfires, did not the cold remember;

His Sauiours birth his mind so much did glad:

Vpon a shaggy-bearded Goat he rode,

The same wherewithDan Iouein tender yeares,

They say, was nourisht by th’Idæan[630]mayd;

And in his hand a broad deepe boawle he beares;

Of which, he freely drinks an health to all his peeres.

Then came oldIanuary, wrapped wellxliiIn many weeds to keep the cold away;Yet did he quake and quiuer like to quell,And blowe his nayles to warme them if he may:For, they were numbd with holding all the dayAn hatchet keene, with which he felled wood,And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray:Vpon an huge great Earth-pot steane he stood;From whose wide mouth, there flowed forth the Romane floud.

Then came oldIanuary, wrapped wellxlii

In many weeds to keep the cold away;

Yet did he quake and quiuer like to quell,

And blowe his nayles to warme them if he may:

For, they were numbd with holding all the day

An hatchet keene, with which he felled wood,

And from the trees did lop the needlesse spray:

Vpon an huge great Earth-pot steane he stood;

From whose wide mouth, there flowed forth the Romane floud.

And lastly, came coldFebruary, sittingxliiiIn an old wagon, for he could not ride;Drawne of two fishes for the season fitting,Which through the flood before did softly slydeAnd swim away: yet had he by his sideHis plough and harnesse fit to till the ground,And tooles to prune the trees, before the prideOf hasting Prime did make them burgein round:So past the twelue Months forth, and their dew places found.

And lastly, came coldFebruary, sittingxliii

In an old wagon, for he could not ride;

Drawne of two fishes for the season fitting,

Which through the flood before did softly slyde

And swim away: yet had he by his side

His plough and harnesse fit to till the ground,

And tooles to prune the trees, before the pride

Of hasting Prime did make them burgein round:

So past the twelue Months forth, and their dew places found.

And after these, there came theDay, andNight,xlivRiding together both with equall pase,Th’one on a Palfrey blacke, the other white;ButNighthad couered her vncomely faceWith a blacke veile, and held in hand a mace,On top whereof the moon and stars were pight,And sleep and darknesse round about did trace:ButDaydid beare, vpon his scepters hight,The goodly Sun, encompast all with beames bright.

And after these, there came theDay, andNight,xliv

Riding together both with equall pase,

Th’one on a Palfrey blacke, the other white;

ButNighthad couered her vncomely face

With a blacke veile, and held in hand a mace,

On top whereof the moon and stars were pight,

And sleep and darknesse round about did trace:

ButDaydid beare, vpon his scepters hight,

The goodly Sun, encompast all with beames bright.

Then came theHowres, faire daughters of highIoue,xlvAnd timelyNight, the which were all endewedWith wondrous beauty fit to kindle loue;But they were Virgins all, and loue eschewed,That might forslack the charge to them fore-shewedBy mightyIoue; who did them Porters makeOf heauens gate (whence all the gods issued)Which they did dayly watch, and nightly wakeBy euen turnes, ne euer did their charge forsake.

Then came theHowres, faire daughters of highIoue,xlv

And timelyNight, the which were all endewed

With wondrous beauty fit to kindle loue;

But they were Virgins all, and loue eschewed,

That might forslack the charge to them fore-shewed

By mightyIoue; who did them Porters make

Of heauens gate (whence all the gods issued)

Which they did dayly watch, and nightly wake

By euen turnes, ne euer did their charge forsake.

And after all cameLife, and lastlyDeath;xlviDeathwith most grim and griesly visage seene,Yet is he nought but parting of the breath;Ne ought to see, but like a shade to weene,Vnbodied, vnsoul’d, vnheard, vnseene.ButLifewas like a faire young lusty boy,Such as they faineDan Cupidto haue beene,Full of delightfull health and liuely ioy,Deckt all with flowres, and wings of gold fit to employ.

And after all cameLife, and lastlyDeath;xlvi

Deathwith most grim and griesly visage seene,

Yet is he nought but parting of the breath;

Ne ought to see, but like a shade to weene,

Vnbodied, vnsoul’d, vnheard, vnseene.

ButLifewas like a faire young lusty boy,

Such as they faineDan Cupidto haue beene,

Full of delightfull health and liuely ioy,

Deckt all with flowres, and wings of gold fit to employ.

When these were past, thus gan theTitanesse;xlviiLo, mighty mother, now be iudge and say,Whether in all thy creatures more or lesseCHANGEdoth not raign and beare the greatest sway:For, who sees not, thatTimeon all doth pray?ButTimesdo change and moue continually.So nothing here long standeth in one stay:Wherefore, this lower world who can denyBut to be subiect still toMutabilitie?

When these were past, thus gan theTitanesse;xlvii

Lo, mighty mother, now be iudge and say,

Whether in all thy creatures more or lesse

CHANGEdoth not raign and beare the greatest sway:

For, who sees not, thatTimeon all doth pray?

ButTimesdo change and moue continually.

So nothing here long standeth in one stay:

Wherefore, this lower world who can deny

But to be subiect still toMutabilitie?

Then thus ganIoue; Right true it is, that thesexlviiiAnd all things else that vnder heauen dwellAre chaung’d ofTime, who doth them all disseiseOf being: But, who is it (to me tell)ThatTimehimselfe doth moue and still compellTo keepe his course? Is not that namely weeWhich poure that vertue from our heauenly cell,That moues them all, and makes them changed be?So them we gods doe rule, and in them also thee.

Then thus ganIoue; Right true it is, that thesexlviii

And all things else that vnder heauen dwell

Are chaung’d ofTime, who doth them all disseise

Of being: But, who is it (to me tell)

ThatTimehimselfe doth moue and still compell

To keepe his course? Is not that namely wee

Which poure that vertue from our heauenly cell,

That moues them all, and makes them changed be?

So them we gods doe rule, and in them also thee.

To whom, thusMutability: The thingsxlixWhich we see not how they are mov’d and swayd,Ye may attribute to your selues as Kings,And say they by your secret powre are made:But what we see not, who shall vs perswade?But were they so, as ye them faine to be,Mov’d by your might, and ordred by your ayde;Yet what if[631]I can proue, that euen yeeYour selues are likewise chang’d, and subiect vnto mee?

To whom, thusMutability: The thingsxlix

Which we see not how they are mov’d and swayd,

Ye may attribute to your selues as Kings,

And say they by your secret powre are made:

But what we see not, who shall vs perswade?

But were they so, as ye them faine to be,

Mov’d by your might, and ordred by your ayde;

Yet what if[631]I can proue, that euen yee

Your selues are likewise chang’d, and subiect vnto mee?

And first, concerning her that is the first,lEuen you faireCynthia, whom so much ye makeIouesdearest darling, she was bred and nurstOnCynthushill, whence she her name did take:Then is she mortall borne, how-so ye crake;Besides, her face and countenance euery dayWe changed see, and sundry forms partake,Now hornd, now round, now bright, now brown and gray:So thatas changefull as the Moonemen vse to say.

And first, concerning her that is the first,l

Euen you faireCynthia, whom so much ye make

Iouesdearest darling, she was bred and nurst

OnCynthushill, whence she her name did take:

Then is she mortall borne, how-so ye crake;

Besides, her face and countenance euery day

We changed see, and sundry forms partake,

Now hornd, now round, now bright, now brown and gray:

So thatas changefull as the Moonemen vse to say.

Next,Mercury, who though he lesse appeareliTo change his hew, and alwayes seeme as one;Yet, he his course doth altar euery yeare,And is of late far out of order gone:SoVenuseeke, that goodly Paragone,Though faire all night, yet is she darke all day;AndPhœbusself, who lightsome is alone,Yet is he oft eclipsed by the way,And fills the darkned world with terror and dismay.

Next,Mercury, who though he lesse appeareli

To change his hew, and alwayes seeme as one;

Yet, he his course doth altar euery yeare,

And is of late far out of order gone:

SoVenuseeke, that goodly Paragone,

Though faire all night, yet is she darke all day;

AndPhœbusself, who lightsome is alone,

Yet is he oft eclipsed by the way,

And fills the darkned world with terror and dismay.

NowMarsthat valiant man is changed most:liiFor, he some times so far runs out of square,That he his way doth seem quite to haue lost,And cleane without his vsuall sphere to fare;That euen these Star-gazers stonisht areAt sight thereof, and damne their lying bookes:So likewise, grim SirSaturneoft doth spareHis sterne aspect, and calme his crabbed lookes:So many turning cranks these haue, so many crookes.

NowMarsthat valiant man is changed most:lii

For, he some times so far runs out of square,

That he his way doth seem quite to haue lost,

And cleane without his vsuall sphere to fare;

That euen these Star-gazers stonisht are

At sight thereof, and damne their lying bookes:

So likewise, grim SirSaturneoft doth spare

His sterne aspect, and calme his crabbed lookes:

So many turning cranks these haue, so many crookes.

But youDan Ioue, that only constant are,liiiAnd King of all the rest, as ye do clame,Are you not subiect eeke to this misfare?Then let me aske you this withouten blame,Where were ye borne? some say inCreteby name,Others inThebes, and others other-where;But wheresoeuer they comment the same,They all consent that ye begotten were,And borne here in this world, ne other can appeare.

But youDan Ioue, that only constant are,liii

And King of all the rest, as ye do clame,

Are you not subiect eeke to this misfare?

Then let me aske you this withouten blame,

Where were ye borne? some say inCreteby name,

Others inThebes, and others other-where;

But wheresoeuer they comment the same,

They all consent that ye begotten were,

And borne here in this world, ne other can appeare.

Then are ye mortall borne, and thrall to me,livVnlesse the kingdome of the sky yee makeImmortall, and vnchangeable to bee;Besides, that power and vertue which ye spake,That ye here worke, doth many changes take,And your owne natures change: for, each of youThat vertue haue, or this, or that to make,Is checkt and changed from his nature trew,By others opposition or obliquid view.

Then are ye mortall borne, and thrall to me,liv

Vnlesse the kingdome of the sky yee make

Immortall, and vnchangeable to bee;

Besides, that power and vertue which ye spake,

That ye here worke, doth many changes take,

And your owne natures change: for, each of you

That vertue haue, or this, or that to make,

Is checkt and changed from his nature trew,

By others opposition or obliquid view.

Besides, the sundry motions of your Spheares,lvSo sundry waies and fashions as clerkes faine,Some in short space, and some in longer yeares;What is the same but alteration plaine?Onely the starrie skie doth still remaine:Yet do the Starres and Signes therein still moue,And euen it self is mov’d, as wizards saine[632].But all that moueth, doth mutation loue:Therefore both you and them to me I subiect proue.

Besides, the sundry motions of your Spheares,lv

So sundry waies and fashions as clerkes faine,

Some in short space, and some in longer yeares;

What is the same but alteration plaine?

Onely the starrie skie doth still remaine:

Yet do the Starres and Signes therein still moue,

And euen it self is mov’d, as wizards saine[632].

But all that moueth, doth mutation loue:

Therefore both you and them to me I subiect proue.

Then since within this wide greatVniuerselviNothing doth firme and permanent appeare,But all things tost and turned by transuerse:What then should let, but I aloft should reareMy Trophee, and from all, the triumph beare?Now iudge then (O thou greatest goddesse trew!)According as thy selfe doest see and heare,And vnto me addoom that is my dew;That is the rule of all, all being rul’d by you.

Then since within this wide greatVniuerselvi

Nothing doth firme and permanent appeare,

But all things tost and turned by transuerse:

What then should let, but I aloft should reare

My Trophee, and from all, the triumph beare?

Now iudge then (O thou greatest goddesse trew!)

According as thy selfe doest see and heare,

And vnto me addoom that is my dew;

That is the rule of all, all being rul’d by you.

So hauing ended, silence long ensewed,lviiNeNatureto or fro spake for a space,But with firme eyes affixt, the ground still viewed.Meane while, all creatures, looking in her face,Expecting th’end of this so doubtfull case,Did hang in long suspence what would ensew,To whether side should fall the soueraigne place:At length, she looking vp with chearefull view,The silence brake, and gaue her doome in speeches few.

So hauing ended, silence long ensewed,lvii

NeNatureto or fro spake for a space,

But with firme eyes affixt, the ground still viewed.

Meane while, all creatures, looking in her face,

Expecting th’end of this so doubtfull case,

Did hang in long suspence what would ensew,

To whether side should fall the soueraigne place:

At length, she looking vp with chearefull view,

The silence brake, and gaue her doome in speeches few.

I well consider all that ye have sayd,lviiiAnd find that all things stedfastnes doe hateAnd changed be: yet being rightly waydThey are not changed from their first estate;But by their change their being doe dilate:And turning to themselues at length againe,Doe worke their owne perfection so by fate:Then ouer them Change doth not rule and raigne;But they raigne ouer change, and doe their states maintaine.

I well consider all that ye have sayd,lviii

And find that all things stedfastnes doe hate

And changed be: yet being rightly wayd

They are not changed from their first estate;

But by their change their being doe dilate:

And turning to themselues at length againe,

Doe worke their owne perfection so by fate:

Then ouer them Change doth not rule and raigne;

But they raigne ouer change, and doe their states maintaine.

Cease therefore daughter further to aspire,lixAnd thee content thus to be rul’d by me:For thy decay thou seekst by thy desire;But time shall come that all shall changed bee,And from thenceforth, none no more change shall see.So was theTitanessput downe and whist,AndIoueconfirm’d in his imperiall see.Then was that whole assembly quite dismist,AndNatur’sselfe did vanish, whither no man wist.

Cease therefore daughter further to aspire,lix

And thee content thus to be rul’d by me:

For thy decay thou seekst by thy desire;

But time shall come that all shall changed bee,

And from thenceforth, none no more change shall see.

So was theTitanessput downe and whist,

AndIoueconfirm’d in his imperiall see.

Then was that whole assembly quite dismist,

AndNatur’sselfe did vanish, whither no man wist.

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