The Shepherds Hunting, Eclogue 4

The Shepherds Hunting · Eclogue 4

To his truely beloued louing Friend, M^r. VVILLIAM BROWNE, of the Inner Temple.

The fourth Eglogue.

ARGVMENT.

ROGET here on WILLY calls,

To sing out his Pastorals:

Warrants Fame shall orace his Rimes,

Spight of Enuy and the Times;

And shewes how in care he vses,

To take comfort from his Muses.

ROGET.

WILLY.

PRethy WILLY tell me this,

What new accident there is,

That thou (once the blythest Lad)

Art become so wondrous sad?

And so carelesse of thy quill,

As if thou had'st lost thy skill.

Thou wert wont to charme thy Flockes,

And among these rudest rockes

Hast so cheer'd me with thy Song,

That I hauehave forgot my wrong.

Something hath thee surely crost,

That thy old wont thou hast lost,

Tell me, HaueHave I ought mis-said

That hath made thee illa-paid?

Hath some Churle done thee a spight?

Dost thou m…le a Lambe to night?

Frownes thy fairest Shepheards Lasse?

Or how comes this ill to passe?

Is there any discontent

Worse then this my banishment?

WILLY.

Why, doth that so euill seeme

That thou nothing worse dost deeme?

Shepheard, there full many be,

That will change Contents with thee.

Those that choose their walkes at will,

On the Valley or the Hill.

Or those pleasures boast of can

Groues or fields may yeeld to man:

Neuer come to know the rest

Wherewithall thy minde is blest.

Many a one that oft resorts

To make vp the troope at sports,

And in company some while

Happens to straine sorth a smile:

Feeles more want, more outward smart

And more inward griefe of hart,

Then this place can bring to thee,

While thy minde remaineth free.

Thou condemn'st my want of mirth,

But what find'st thou in this earth,

Wherein ought may be beleeu'd,

Worth to make me ioy'd, or grieued?

And yet feele I (na…helesse)

Part of both I must confesse,

Sometime I of Mirth doe borrow,

Otherwhile as much of sorrow,

But my present state is such,

I'me nor Ioy'd, nor greeued much.

ROGET.

Why hath WILLY then so long

Thus forborn… his wonted song?

Wherefore doth he now let fall,

His well-tuned Pastorall?

And my cares that Musicke barre▪

Which I more long after farre,

Then the liberty I want.

WILLY.

That were very much to grant.

But doth this hold alway lad,

Those that sing not must be sad?

Did'st thou euer that bird heare

Sing well, that sings all the yeere?

Tom the Piper doth not play

Till he weares his Pipe away:

There's a time to slacke the string,

And a time to leaue to sing.

ROGET.

Yea, but no man now is still,

That can sing, or tune a quill.

Now to chant it, were but reason,

Song and Musicke are in season,

Now …n this sweet …olly tide,

Is the earth in all her pride.

The faire Lady of the May

Trim'd vp in her best array

Hath inuited all the Swaines,

With the Lasses of the Plaines

To attend vponupon her sport

At the places of resort.

Corridon (with his bold Rout)

Hath already beene about

For the elder Shepheards dole,

And fetch'd in the Summer-Pole:

Whilest the rest hauehave built a Bower,

To defend them from a shower,

Se…l'd so close with boughes all greene,

Tytan cannot pry betweene.

Now the Darrie Wenches dreame

Of their Stra… berries and Creame:

And each doth her selfe aduance

To be taken in, to dance▪

EueryEvery one that knowes to sing,

Fits him for his Carolling:

So doe those that hope for meede,

Eyther by the Pipe or Reede,

And though I am kept away,

I doe heare (this very day)

Many learned Groomes doe wend,

For the Garlands to contend.

Which a Nimph that hight Desart,

(Long a stranger in this part)

With her owne faire hand hath wrought

A rare worke (they say) past thought,

As appeareth by the name,

For she calles them Wreathes of fame.

She hath set in their due place

Eu'ry flower that may grace,

And among a thousand moe,

VVhereof some but serue for show)

She hath woue in Daphnes tree,

That they may not blasted bee.

Which with Time she edg'd about,

Least the worke should rau…ll out.

And that it might wither neuer,

Intermixt it with Liue-euer.

These are to be shar'd among

Those that do excell for song:

Or their passions can rehearse,

In the smooth'st and sweetest verse.

Then for th…se among the rest,

That can play and pipe the best▪

There's a Kidling with the Damme,

A fat Weathe…, and a Lambe.

And for those that leapen farre,

Wrastle, Runne, and throw the Barre,

There's appointed guerdons to,

He that best the first can doe

Shall for his re…ard be paid,

With a Sheepe-hooke, faire in-laid

With fine bone, of a strange beast,

That men bring from out the west.

For the next, a Scrip of red,

Tassel'd with fine coloured thred.

There's prepared for their need,

That in running make most speed,

Or the cunning measures foot,

Cups of turned Maple-roote,

Whereupon the skilfull man

Hath i…grau'd the Loxes of Pan:

And the last hath for his due

A fine Napking wrought with blew.

Then my Willy why art thou

Carelesse of thy merit now?

VVhat dost here with a wight

That is shut vp from delight,

In a solitary den

As not fit to liue with men?

Goe my Willy get thee gone,

Leaue me in exile alone.

Hye thee to that merry throng,

And amaze them with thy Song,

Thou art young, yet such a Lay

Neuer grat'd the month of May,

As (if they prouoke thy skill)

Thou canst fit vntounto thy Quill.

I with wonder heard thee sing,

At our last yeeres Reuelling.

Then I with the rest was free,

VVhen vnknowne I noted thee:

And perceiu'd the ruder Swaines,

Enuy thy farre sweeter straines.

Yea, I saw the Lasses cling

Round about thee in a Ring:

As if each one …ealous were,

Any but her selfe should heare.

And I know they yet doe long

For the res'due of thy song.

Haste thee then to sing it forth,

Take the benefit of worth.

And Desert will sure bequeath

Fames faire garland for thy wreath.

Hye thee Willy, hye away.

WILLY.

Roget rather let me stay,

And be desolate with thee,

Then at those their Reuels be,

Nought such is my skill I wis,

As in deed thou deem'st it is.

But what ere it be, I must

Be content, and shall I trust.

For a song I doe not pass▪

Mong'st my friends, but what (alas)

Should I hauehave to doe with them

That my Musicke doe contemne?

Some there are, as well I wot,

That the same yet fauour not:

Yet I cannot well auow,

They my Car…ols disallow.

But such malice I hauehave spid,

Tis as much as if they did.

ROGET.

Willy, what may those men be

Are so ill to malice thee?

WILLY.

Some are worthy-well esteem'd

Some without worth are so deem'd▪

Others of so base a spirit,

They hauehave nor esteeme, nor merit.

ROGET.

What's the wrong?

WILLY.

A slight offence,

Wherewithall I can dispence;

But hereafter for their sake,

To my selfe I'le musicke make.

ROGET.

What, because some Clowne offends,

Wilt thou punish all thy friends?

WILLY.

Honest Roget vnderstand me,

Those that louelove me may command me▪

But thou know'st I am but young,

And the Pastorall I sung,

Is by some suppos'd to be,

(By a straine) too high for me:

So they kindely let me gaine,

Not my labour for my paine.

Trust me, I doe wonder why

They should me my owne deny.

Though I'me young, I scorne to fli…,

On the wings of borrowed wit.

I'le make my owne feathers reare me,

Whither others cannot beare me.

Yet I'le keepe my skill in store,

Till I'ue seene some Winters mo….

ROGET.

But in earnest mean'st thou so?

Then thou art not wise, I trow.

Better shall aduise thee Pan,

For thou dost not rightly than:

That's the ready …ay to blot

All the credit thou hast got.

Rather in thy Ages prime,

Get another start of Time:

And make those that so fond be,

(Spight of their owne dulnesse) see

That the sacred Muses can

Make a childe in yeeres, a man.

It is knowne what thou canst doe,

For it is not long agoe,

When that CVDDY, Thou, and I

Fach the others skill to try,

At Saint Dunstanes charmed Well,

(As some present there can tell)

Sang vponupon a sudden Theame,

Sitting by the Crimson streame.

Where, if thou didst well or no,

Yet remaines the song to show.

Much experience more I'ue had

Of thy skill (thou happy Lad)

And would make the world to know it;

But that time will further show it:

Enuy makes their tongues now runne,

More then doubt of what is done,

For that needs must be thy owne,

Or to be some others knowne:

But how then wilt suit vntounto

What thou shalt hereafter do?

Or I wonder where is hee,

Would with that song part to thee:

Nay, were there so mad a Swaine,

Could such glory'sell for gaine;

Phoebus would not hauehave combin'd,

That gift with so base a mind.

Neuer did the Nine impart

The sweet secrets of their Art

VntoUnto any that did scorne

We should see their sauors worne,

Therefore vntounto those that say,

Where they pleas'd to sing a Lay,

They could doo't, and will not tho;

This I speake, for this I know:

None ere drunke the Thespian spring,

And knew how, but he did sing.

For that once infus'd in man,

Makes him shew't, doe what he can,

Nay those that doe onelyonly sip

Or but eu'n their fingers dip

In that sacred Fount (poore Elues)

Of that brood will shew themselues;

Yea, in hope to get them fame,

They will speake though to their shame,

Let those then at thee repine,

That by their wits measure thine,

Needs those Songs must be thine owne,

And that one day will be knowne,

The same imputation to,

I my selfe doe vndergoe:

But it will appeare ere long,

I'me abus'd, and thou hast wrong,

Who at twice ten hast sung more,

Then some will doe at fourescore.

Cheere thee (honest Willy) then,

And begin thy song agen.

WILLY.

Faine I would, but I doe feare

When againe my Lines they heare,

If they yeeld they are my Rimes,

They will faine some other Crimes,

And 'tis no safe ventring by,

Where we see Detraction ly.

For doe what I can, I doubt,

She will picke some quarrell out,

And I ost hauehave heard defended,

Little said, and soone amended.

ROGET.

See'st thou not in cleerest dayes

Oft thick fogges cloud Heauens rayes?

And the vapours that doe breath

From the earths grosse wombe …e eath,

Seeme they not with their blacke steames,

To pollute the Sunnes bright beames,

And vet vanish into aire.

Leauing it (vnblemisht) faire?

So (my Willy) shall it be

With Detractions breath and thee.

It shall neuer rise so hie,

As to staine thy Poesie.

As that Sunne doth oft exhale,

Vapours from each rotten Vale,

Poesie so sometime draines,

Grosse conceits from muddy braines;

Mists of Enuy, fogs of spight,

Twixt mens iudgements and her light:

But so much her power may doo,

That she can dissolue them too.

If thy verse do brauely tower,

As she makes wing, she gets power.

Yet the higher she doth sore,

Shee's affionted still the more:

Till she to the high'st hath past,

Then she rests with fame at last.

Let nought therefore thee affright,

But make forward in thy flight:

For if I could match thy Rime,

To the very starres l'de clime.

There begin againe and flye

Till I reach'd Aeternity.

But (alas) my Muse is slow:

For thy pace she flagges too low:

Yes, the more's her haplesse fate,

Her short wings were clipt of late.

And poore I, her fortune ruing,

Am my selfe put vp a muing.

But if I my Cage can rid,

I'le flye where I neuer did.

And though for her sake l'me crost,

Though my best hopes I hauehave lost,

And knew she would make my trouble,

Ten times more then ten times double:

I would louelove and keepe her to,

Spight of all the world could doe.

For though banisht from my flockes,

And confin'd within these rockes,

Here I waste away the light,

And consume the sullen Night,

She doth for my comfort stay,

And keepes many cares away.

Though I misse the flowry Fields,

With those sweets the Spring-tide yeelds,

Though I may not see those Groues,

Where the Shepheards chaunt their Loues,

And the Lasses more excell,

Then the sweet-voyc'd Philomel,

Though of all those pleasures past,

Nothing now remaines at last,

But Remembrance (poore reliefe)

That more makes, then mends my griefe:

She's my minds companion still,

Maugre Enuies euill will.

(Whence she should be driuen to,

Wer't in mortals power to do.)

She doth tell me where to borrow

Comfort in the mid'st of sorrow;

Makes the desolatest place

To her presence be a grace;

And the blackest discontents

Be her fairest ornaments.

In my former dayes of blisse,

Her diuine skill taught me this,

That from eueryevery thing I saw,

I could some inuention draw:

And raise pleasure to her height,

Through the meanest obiects fight,

By the murmur of a spring,

Or the least boughes rusteling.

By a Dazie whose leaues spred

Shut when Tytan goes to bed,

Or a shady bush or tree,

She could more infuse in mee,

Then all Natures beauties can,

In some other wiser man.

By her helpe I also now,

Make this churlish place allow

Somethings, that may sweeten gladnesse

In the very gall of sadnesse.

The dull loanesse, the blacke shade,

That these hanging vaults hauehave made,

The strange Musicke of the waues,

Beating on these hollow Caues.

This black den which Rockes embosse,

Ouer-growne with eldest mosse.

The rude portals that giuegive light,

More to Terror then Delight.

This my Chamber of Neglect,

Wal'd about with Disrespect,

From all these, and this dull aire,

A fit obiect for Despaire,

Shee hath taught me by her might

To draw comfort and delight.

Therefore thou best earthly blisse

I will cheris… thee for this.

Poesie; thou sweet'st content

That ere Heau'n to mortals lent.

Though they as a trifle leaue thee

Whose dull thoughts can not conceiue th…

Though thou be to them a scorne

That to nought but earth are borne:

Let my life no longer be,

Then I am in louelove with thee.

Though our wise ones call it madnesse,

Let me neuer taste of gladnesse

If I l…ue not thy mad'st sits

Aboue all their greatest … its.

And though some too seeming holy

Doe account thy raptures folly:

Thou dost teach me to contemne

What makes Knaues and Fooles of them.

O high power that oft doth carry

Men aboue,

WILLY.

Good Roget carry

I doe feare thou wilt be gon

Quite aboue my reach anon,

The kinde flames of Poesy

HaueHave now borne thy thoughts so high,

That they vp in Heauen be

And hauehave quite forgotten mee.

Call thy selfe to minde againe

Are these Raptures for a Swaine,

That attends on lowly sheepe

And with simple heards doth keepe?

ROGET.

Thank…s my Willy, I had runne

Till that Time had log'd the Sunne,

If thou had'st not made me stay;

But thy pardon heere I pray.

Lou'd Apollo's sacred sire

Has rais'd vp my spirits higher

Through the louelove of Poesy,

Then indeed they vse to flye.

But as I said, I say still,

If that I had Will… 's skill

Enuy nor Detractions tongue,

Should ere make me leaue my song:

But I'de sing it eueryevery day

Till they pin'd themselues away.

Bee thou then adui…'d in this

Which both …ust and fitting is,

Finish what thou hast begunne

Or at least still forward runne:

… and Thu…der ill he'le beare

That a blast of winde doth feare:

And if w…rds will thus afray thee,

Prethee how will deeds dismay thee?

Doe not thinke so rathe a song

Can passe through the vulgar throng,

And escape without a touch,

Or that they can hurt it much:

Frosts we see d…e … that thing

Which is for…ard's in the Spring:

Yet at last for all such lets

Somewhat of the rest … gets:

And I'me sure that so …aist thou,

Therefore my kinde Willy now,

S…nce thy folding time … on

And I see thou mu…t be gon,

T…ee I earnestly b…seech

To rememb…r this m… s…ech,

And some little couns…ll …,

For thy poore friend Rogets sake:

And I more of this will …,

If th…u come next Holy-day.

FINIS.