The Shepherds Hunting, Eclogue 3

The Shepherds Hunting · Eclogue 3

The third Eglogue.

ARGVMENT.

ROGET set with his three friends,

Here his hunting story ends;

Kind ALEXIS with much ruth,

Wailes the banish'd Shepheards youth:

But he slighteth Fortunes stings,

And in spight of Thraldome sings.

ROGET.

CVDDY.

ALEXIS.

WILLY.

SO now I see y'are Shepheards of your word,

Thus were you wont to promise, and to do.

CVDDY.

More then our promise is we can afford,

We come our selues, and bring another to:

Alexis whom thou know'st well, is no foe

Who loues thee much, and I doe know that hee

Would faine a hearer of thy Hunting be.

ROGLI.

Alexis you are welcome, sor you know

You cannot be but welcome where I am,

You euer were a friend of mine in show:

And I hauehave found you are indeed the same,

VponUpon my first restraint you hither came,

And proffered me more tokens of your louelove,

Then it were fit my small deserts should proue.

ALEXIS.

T'is still your vse to vnderprise your merit,

Be not so coy to take my proffered louelove;

T'will neither vnbeseeme your worth nor spirit,

To offer curt…sie doth thy friend behoue,

And which are so, this is a place to proue:

Then once againe I say, if cause there be,

First make a tryall, if thou please, of me.

ROGET.

Thankes good Alexis; sit downe by me heere,

I hauehave a taske, these Shepheards know, to doe;

A Tale already told this Morne well neere.

With which I very fayne would forward go,

And am as willing thou shouldst heare it to:

But thou canst neuer vnderstand this last,

Till I hauehave also told thee what is past.

WILLY.

Roget it shall not need, for I presum'd,

Your loues to each were firme, and was so bold,

That so much on my selfe I hauehave assum'd,

To make him know what is already told:

If I hauehave done amisse then you may scolde.

But in my telling I preuised this,

Hee knowes not whose, nor to what end it is:

ROGET.

Well now he may, for here my Tale goes on,

My eager Dogges and I to Wood are gon,

Where beating through the Couerts eueryevery Hound

A seuerall Game had in a moment found:

I rated them▪ but they pursu'd their pray,

And as it fell (by happe) tooke all one way.

Then I began with quicker speed to sollow,

And …az'd them on with a more cheerfull hallow,

That soone we passed many weary miles,

Tracing the subtile game through all these wiles.

These doubl'd, they redoubled on the sent,

Still keeping in …ull chase where ere they went,

Vp Hilles, downe …, through Bogges, and ouer

Stretching their … to the highest strains (Plains,

That when some Thicket hid them from mine eye,

My care was rauish'd with their melody.

Nor crost we onelyonly Ditches, Hedges, Furrowes,

But Hamlets. …hings, Parishes, and Burrowes.

They followed where so eu'r the game did goe

Through Kitchin, Parler, Hall, and Chamber too,

And as they pass'd the City and the Court,

My Prince look'd out, and daign'd to view my sport,

Which then (although I suffer for it now)

(If some say true) hee liking, did allow;

And so much (had I had but wi… to stay)

I might my selfe (perhaps) hauehave heard him say,

But I that time, as much as any daring,

More for my pleasure then my safety caring;

Seeing fresh game from eueryevery loope-hole rise,

Crossing by thousands still before their eyes.

After I rush'd, and following close my Hounds

Some Beastes I found lye dead, some full of wounds

Among the Willows, scarce with strength to moue

One I found here, another there, whom LoueLove

Had grip'd to death: and in the selfe-same state,

Lav one deuour'd by Enuy, one by Hate,

Lust had bit some, but I soone past beside them,

Their festered wounds so stuncke, none could ablde

Choller hurt diuers, but Reuenge kil'd more,

Feare srighted all, behind him and before:

… droue on a huge and mighty heape,

Forcing some downe from Roc…es and Hils to leape:

Some into water, some into the fire,

So on themselues hee made them wreake his ire:

But I remember as I pass'd that way,

Where the great Kin… and Prince of Shepheards lay,

About the walles were hid some once more knowne,

That my fell Curre Ambition had o'rethrowne.

Many I heard pursu'd by Pitty cry,

And oft I say my Bloud-Hound Cruelty,

Eating her passage euen to the hart,

Whither once gotten, shee is loath to part.

All pl…'d it well, and made so loud a plea,

T'was heard through Britan▪ and beyond the Sea;

Some rated them, some storm'd, some lik'd the game,

Some thoght me worthy praise, some worthy blame.

But I not fearing th'one, misteeming t'other,

Both, in shrill hallowes and loud …ernings smother:

Yea, the strong me…ed and my long-breath'd crew,

Seeing the … encreasing in their view,

Grew the more frolicke, and the courses length

Gaue better breath, and added to their strength;

Which Ioue perceiuing, for Ioue heard their cryes

Rumbling amongst the Spheares concauities:

He mark'd their course and courages encrease,

Saving, t'were pitty such a chase should cease;

And therewith swore their mouthes should neuer wast

But hunt as long's mortalitie did last.

Soone did they feele the power of his great gift,

And I began to finde their pace more swift:

I follow'd, and I rated, but in vaine,

Striu'd to o'retake, or take them vp againe;

They neuer stay'd since, neither nights nor dayes,

But to and fro still runne a thousand wayes:

Yea often to this place where now I lye,

They'l wheel about to cheere me with their cry;

And one day in good time will vengeance take

On some offenders, for their Masters sake:

For know, my Friends, my freedome in this sort

For them I lose, and making my selfe sport.

WILLY.

VVhy Roget, was there any harme in this?

ROGET.

No Willy, and I hope yet none there is.

WILLY.

How comes this then?

ROGET.

Note and I'le tell thee how.

Thou know'st that Truth and Innocency now,

If plac'd with meanenesse, suffers more despight

Then Uillanies, accompan'ed with might:

But thus it fell, while that my Hound pursu'd

Their noysome pray, and eueryevery field lay strew'd

With Monsters, hurt and slaine mongst many a beast,

Some viler, and more subtile then the rest,

On whom the Bitch cal'd Enuy, hap't to light:

And as her won… is, did so surely b…te,

That though she left behind small outward smarts,

The wounds were deepe, and wrankled to their harts.

Then ioyning to some other that of late

Were very eagerly pursu'd by Hate,

To fit their purpose hauing taken leasure,

Did thus conspire to worke me a displeasure.

For imitation farre supassing Apes,

They layd aside their Foxe, and Wooluish shapes.

And shrowded in the skinnes of harmelesle she…pe

Into by-wayes, and open-pathes did creepe,

Where they (as hardly drawing breath) did ly,

Shewing their wounds to eueryevery pas…r by;

To make them thinke that they were sheepe so foi…'d

And by my dogges in their late hunting spoyl'd.

Beside some other that enuy'd my game,

And for thei… pastime kept such Monsters tame:

As you doe know there's many for their pleasure,

Keepe Foxes, Beares, and Wolues, as some great treasure:

Yea, many get their liuing by them to,

And so did store of these, I speake of do,

VVho seeing that my Kennell had affrighted,

Or …urt som… Uermine wherein they delighted,

And finding their owne power by much too weake

Th…ir Malice on my Innocence to wreake,

Swolne with the deepest rancour of despight,

Some of our greatest Shepheards foldes by night

They closely entred; and there hauing stain'd

Their hands in …, of me they plain'd,

Affirming, without shame or honesty,

I and my Dogges had done it purposely:

Whereat they stor…'d, and call'd me to a tryall,

Where Inn…cence preuails not, nor denyall,

But for that … here in this place I ly,

Where none so merry as my dogges and I.

CVDD….

Beleeue it, here's a Tale will su…en …,

For … in another Age to tell.

WIIIY.

And Roget shall be thought on with delight,

For this hereafter many a Winters night,

For of this sport another Age will ring:

Yea, Nymphes vnborne now, of the same shall sing,

When not a beauty on our greenes shall play

That hath not heard of Rogets hunting day.

ROG…T.

It may be so, for it that gentle Sw…ine,

Who wonnes by Ta…y, on the westerne plaine,

Would make the Song, such life his ver…e can giuegive,

Then I doe know my Nam… might euer liue.

ALEXIS.

But tell me; are our Playnes and Nimphes forgot,

And canst thou … in thy trouble be?

ROG…T.

Can I Alexis savst thou? Can I not

That am resolu'd to scorne more m…sery?

AIEXIS.

Oh, but thy youth's yet greene, and young bloud hot,

And liberty must n…eds be sweet to thee,

But now most s…eet whil'st eueryevery bushy …,

And Grone and …, rings of the Nightingale.

Me thinkes when thou remembrest those sweet iayes,

Which thou would'st lead thy Shepheardesse to heare

E…ch euening forth among the Leau… sprayes,

The thoght of that should make thy freedom deere;

For now whil'st euer… Nimph on Holy-da…es

… with some … Lad, and maketh cheere,

Thine sighes for thee, and mew'd vp from resort,

Will neither play her selfe, nor see their sport.

There's Shepheards that were many a morning wont

VntoUnto their Boyes to leaue the …ender Heard,

And beare thee company when thou didst hunt,

Cannot their songs thou hast so gladly heard,

Northy m…st pleasure make thee thinke vpon't,

But seemes all vayne, now that was once indear'd.

It cannot be, for I could make relation,

How for lesle cause thou hast been deep in passion.

ROGET.

Ti… true: my tender heart was euer yet

Too cap…ble of such conoeits as these;

I neuer s…w that Obiect but from it,

The Passions of my LoueLove, I could encre…se

Those things which moue not other men a whi…,

I can, and doe make vse of, if I please:

VVhen I am sad, to sadnesse I apply,

Each Bird, and Tree, and Flower that I passe by.

So when I will be merry, I aswell

Something for mirth from eueryevery thing can draw,

From Misery, from Prisons, nay from Hell,

And as when to my minde, griefe giues a flaw,

Best comforts d…e but make my woes more fell,

So when I'me bent to M…rth, from mischiefes pawe

(Though ceas'd vponupon me) I would something cull,

That spight of care should make my ioyes more full.

I feele those wants Alexis thou doest name,

Which spight of …outh's affections I sustaine;

Or else for what is't I hauehave gotten fame,

And am more knowne then many an elder Swaine?

If such desires I had not learn'd to …ame,

Since many pipe much better on this Plaine:

But tune your Reedes, and I will in a Song

Expresse my Care, and how I take this wrong.

SONNET.

I That ere'st-while the worlds sweet Ayre did draw,

(Grac'd by the farrest euer Mortall sawe;)

Now closely pent, with walls of Ruth lesse stone,

Consume my Dayes, and Nights, and all-alone.

When I was wont to sing of Shepheards loues,

My walkes were Fields, and Downes, and Hilles, and Groues,

But now (alas) so sirict is my hard doome,

Fields, Downes, Hils, Groues, & al's but one poore roome.

Each Morne assoone as Day-light did appeare,

With Natures Musicke Birdes would charme mine eare;

Which now (in…ead) of their melodious straines,

Heare ratling shackles, gyues, and boults, and chaines.

But though that all the world's delight forsake me,

I hauehave a Mu…e and s…e … Musicke make me;

Whose a…y Notes inspight of … cages,

Shall giuegive content to me, and afterages,

Nor doe I passe for all this outward ill.

My heart's the …ame, and vnde…ected still;

And whic… is more then some in freedome winne;

I hau… true rest, and peace, and ioy within.

And then my Minde that s…ight of prison's free,

When er…e she pleases, any where can be;

Shee's in an houre in France, Roome, Turky, Spaine,

In Earth, in Hell, in Heauen, and here againe.

Yet there's another comfort in my w…e,

My ca…se is spread, and all …he world doth know

My …ault's no more but speaking Truth and Reason,

Nor Debt, nor Theft, nor Murther, …ape, nor Treason.

Nor shall my Foes with all their Might and Power,

Wi…e out their s…ame, nor yet this Fame of our

Which when they …inde they shall my Fate enuy,

Till they grow leane, and sicke, and mad, and dy….

Then though my Body here in Prisonrot,

And my poore … seeme a while forgot,

Yet when both Fame and Life hauehave left those men,

My … … … … and liue agen.

So thus …, I beare afflictions load,

But with mo…e true content then some abroad;

For whil…st … thoughts doe feele my scourges sting▪

In bands Ile leap…, and daunc… and laugh, and sing.

ALEXIS.

Why now I see thou dioup'st not with thy care,

Neither exclaim'st thou on thy hunting day,

But dost with vnchang'd resolution beare,

The heauy burthen of exile away,

All that did truly know thee did conceaue,

Thy actions with thy spirit still agree'd;

Their good conceit thou doest no whit bereaue,

But showest that thou art still thy selfe indeed.

If that thy minde to basenesse now descends,

Thou'lt iniure Vertue, and deceaue thy friends.

WILLY.

Alexi…, he will iniure Vertue much,

But more his friends, and most of all himselfe,

If on that common barre his minde but touch,

It wracks his same vponupon disgraces shelfe:

Yet Roget, if thou stere but on the course,

That in thy iust aduenture is begunne;

No thwarting Tide, nor aduerse blast shall force

Thy Barke without the Channels bounds to runne,

Thou art the same thou wert for ought I see,

When thou didst freely on the Mountaines hunt,

In nothing changed yet, vnlesse it be

More merrily dispos'd then thou wert wont,

Still keepe thee thus, so other men shall know,

Uertue can giuegive content in midst of woe.

And he though mightinesse with frownes doth threat,

To be yet Innocent is to be great.

Thriue and farewell.

ALEXIS.

In this thy trouble florish.

CVDDY.

While those that wish thee ill, fret, pine, and perist….

FINIS.