THE FIRST ECLOGVE, which is called ( Tityrus a fained name of a sheepheard, most expert in countrey mu­sicke (as was said,) here signifieth Virgil the fa­mous Poet restored to his possessions by the commandement of Au­gustus.) TITYRVS.

In this Eclogue (as was shewed in the Ar­gument) Melibeus la­ments his owne calami­tie, and the estate of the rest of the townsmen of Mantua, by comparing their misery with the fortunate estate of Tity­rus, which he admireth with a secret indigna­tion: That he might lie at his ease vnder the shade, and play his coun­try ditties vpon his pipe. TItyrus, thou Lying downe [viz. lying at thy ease or resting quietly.] lying all along vnder the Cover [viz. shade or shadow. ( Tegmen] q. tegimen à tegend [...]. Syne [...]d. ge [...].) couert of The beech tree spreading largely, [viz. with great armes or branches.] the ( Patul [...]] à patendo.) broade ( Fagi.] Syn. spec.) beech tree, Doest Meditate. Tune. deuise A song fit to be sung in the woods [or a rurall or coun­try song, or a heard­ [...]ans or sheepheards ditty. a wood-land ( Musam] Metonymia efficientis.) song With a small oate. vpon a slender ( A [...]ena] Metalepsis, an oate for a pipe made of oaten straw, Met. ma­teri [...] & Met. [...], and taken for any pipe, Syn. spec.) oaten pipe.

When they con­trarily were enforced to leaue their countrey and pleasant fields: We Forsake, or are dri­uē to leaue or forgo. leaue the Ends or coasts. bounds of our countrey and [our] Pleasant grounds or lands. sweet ( Arv [...]m ab arando, such a field properly as is ready to be sowne, now plowed or tilled, Syn. spec.) fields: And glad to flie their natiue soyle, ye [...] he ly­ing at his ease vnder the coole shade, might sing his songs in praise of his loue faire Amaryl, to cause the very woods with their echo to re­sound the same.

We Flie from, or are driuen out and ba­nished from flie Our natiue soyle. our countrey: [but] Tityrus, thou be­ing sluggish [viz. se­cure or lying at thy rest, or idle and carelesse. thou ( Tityrus) lying securely in the Shadow. shade,

[Page 4] Makest. Teachest the woods To found backe (as the Echo in the woods) faire Ama­ryl: viz. thy songs of thy loue faire A­maryl: or to sing songs in praise of Rome and thy fa­uourers there. to re­sound faire ( Amaryllis a fained loue of Virgils, hauing the name of [...], splendeo, here it may seeme to be taken for Rome, and Virgil ha­uing friends there; Me­taphora, or being put for songs of Amaryl, it is Meton. subiect.) A­maryl.

Tit.] Tityrus answe­reth him, reioycing that the Emperour Augu­stus, whom he called God, had granted him all that happy peace. Oh Me­libeus [our] ( By God he meaneth the Emperour Augustus who had granted him his lands and liberties, for so the Romans flat­teringly made their Emperours gods. Or he meaneth that he would honour him as God, for the greatnesse of the be­nefit which he receiued. Deus Deus, in the begin­ning and the end, Epa­ [...]lepsis.) God hath Made these rests to vs. wrought this Idlenesse [viz. quietnesse or securi­tie and freedome.] peace for vs;

For ( Ille, illius] polyp [...]ton.) he shall Be euer a god to merviz. whilst I liue and after my death. alwaies be my god, Yea that he would offer vnto him many a sacrifice, as the manner of the Romans was to do to their gods. a Delicate, fat and yong. tender lambe [fetched] from our Sheepefoulds. foulds shall Imbrue, colour, moysten or poure a­bout, viz be offered on his altar. sprinkle The altar of him. ^‖ his altar of­tentimes.

For that he had gran­ted him free libertie & safetie for the keeping of his cattell where he would, and of playing and singing at his will. Hee hath Suffered my cat­tell. permitted my ( Kine for any kind of cattell. Syn. spec.) kine To wander [viz. to leasow or to go where I will.] ( Errare] Syn. Gen.) to pasture freely all abroad, as thou seest, and my self to Sing. ( L [...]dere] Syn. Gen.) play what tunes I please, with my Countrey pipe. fielden What things or what songs. ( Ca [...]] Syn. spec. & Met. Mat.) pipe.

Reede or straw, viz. on my countrey oaten pipe. Melib. Replying, tel­leth him that he did not enuie him, but rather admireth his felicitie, considering what trou­bles were at Cremona & Mantua and in all the countrey about, by the Romane souldiers, to whom their lands were giuen: whereby the poore inhabitants were driuen out. And he him­selfe become very fee­ble, yet was faine to driue his goates farre off whither he could, to find pasture for them, hauing nothing else left him; and had one of them so weake as he could hardly drag her after him. In truth I do not Grudge at or re­pine against thy happinesse or prospe­ritie. enuie [thy feli­citie,] I wonder at it with delight. I ad­mire it rather. [Page 5] It is troubled so very greatly, viz. there are so very great troubles a­mongst vs by the souldiers. We [of Man­tua] ( Turbatur [à militi­bus, [...] turbamur. Enal.) are mi­serably molested on euery side in In our whole fields, or throughout all our bounds or lands. al our grounds. See or behold. Lo, I my selfe being ( AEger, ago. Paran.) feeble Sicke [viz. sor­rowfull▪ pensiue or heauie.] do driue Do. my goats ( Protenus, [à porr [...] & tenus. longè vel pro­cul. Adv. loci.) far off, [My] litle goates. and moreouer, Tityrus Far [from our coasts] or being so farre before me that I cannot ouertake them. I can scarsly ( Ag [...], duco Epanod.) And also. drag after me this weake goate.

Then giues the rea­son thereof, for that she had newly eaned vpon a bare flint stone, in stead of some better place of succour, and had there left two twins the hope of repairing his flocke againe. For she ha­uing I leade scarsly this [goate.] eaned e­uen now (alasse) vpon a bare flint stone, hath left Two yong kids. twins the hope of [my] flocke, here amongst the thicke hazels.

Afterwards he com­playneth of their foo­lishnesse, that they could not be warned to pre­ [...]ent these mischiefes by so many prodigious signes: As hauing seene the oakes smitten with the lightning, which did portend some great euil to come vnto them by the displeasure of the Emperour, as by the thunderbolt of Iupiter himselfe. I remember the ( The oake which sometime ministreth food [...] to man by the mast of it, was said to be in the protection of Iu­piter; and therefore by this diuination was sig­nified the displeasure of Caesar, to take away their fields, as of Iupiter smiting the oakes.) oakes Enforced her selfe to bring forth, or brought forth ere­while. smitten from ( Coelum pro aere, [...] pro tempestate aeris. Me­taleps.) heauen Touched▪ [viz.] scorched, or blasted, or smitten with the lightning or thun­derbolt. to haue foretold vs this Out of the aire. mischiefe oftentimes, Euill hap. if * To f [...]retell [...]s. that our mind If we had not bene vnhappie. had not bene [Page 6] Left, foolish. besotted. 22 Pr [...]. Metaph.

Also the Chough chattring from the hol­low holme tree on the left hand, which he ac­counteth another pro­digious signe. ( S [...]pe, s [...]pe. Anaph.) Oft times The chough, crow, or daw on the left hand. Al. The chough hath foretold vnhappy tidings frō the hollow holme tree, [or vnhappie things.] the ( Sinistra cornix the chough sitting on the left hand, [viz. sitting North when they loo­ked towards the East or Sunne rising; which they accounted vnluckie.) vn­luckie chough foretold it from the hollow holme. This verse is omitted by sundry interpreters, as none of Virgils, for that it seemes contrary to the diuinations of those times, wherein they tooke this signe to be luckie: vnlesse it be attributed to the sheep­heards rudenesse.

Yet seeing there was now no remedy, [...]e de­sireth to know who this god was. But Neuerthelesse. not­withstanding Ti­tyrus Giue vs [viz. shew vs.] tell vs who this god is.

Tit. Tityrus in stead of answering directly, beginneth sheepheard▪ like to extoll the citie where that god dwelt: describing it both by the name, & also the great­nesse and state of it, which he amplifieth by his owne foolishnesse: That he was wont to imagine it to be like their citie Mantua, whi­ther they vsed to driue their lambes to sell, but onely that he thought it somewhat bigger. Oh Melibeus I foolish sheep­heard I foole Imagined that, that citie which men call Rome, was like this our citie Man­tua. though [that] city which [men] call Rome, to be like to this our [ Mantua is a little ci­tie in Gallia Cisalpina, where Virgil was borne▪) Mātua] whi­ther [we] sheep­hea [...] ▪ Ar [...] wont oft times are of­ten wont To put away [or to driue away to be sold, or to the mar­ket] to driue The tender yong ones of our sheepe, [viz▪ our lambs wai­ned frō their dams.] our tender lambs.

Euen as he had knowne whelpes like the dams, kids like to the goates, & had bene wont thus to compare the greater thing [...] with lesse. ( Sic, si [...], Anaph.) So I had knowne or seene. had I knowne ( Canibus catulos. Pa­ [...]sia.) whelpes like To the bitches. to the dams, [and] thus [ I had knowne. had known] ( Catul [...]s, h [...]dos. Epa­ [...]dos.) kids like To their dams. vnto the ( Matribus. Metaph. [...] Syn. spec.) goates: thus was I ( Noram, sol [...]bam. E­panal.) wont [Page 7] to compare great things With little. to small.

But now he acknow­ledgeth he saw indeed, that this citie did so far exceed all others in state and greatnesse, But This [city Rome.] this Hath so much ad­uanced [or lift vp the head aboue [all] other cities. hath lifted vp the head So much. so high ( Alias inter. Ana­strophe.) amongst As the high cypresse trees do the low shrubs. [all] other ci­ties;

How much. As the cy­presse trees are wont among the Bending or pl [...] ­ant, viz. limber. weake Bindeweede or shrubs. wilde vines.

Mel.] Melibeus reply­ing againe, demandeth of him the cause, which made him so desirous to see Rome. ( Ecquae pro quaenam, more antiquo.) And what so great A cause of seeing Rome hath bene to thee. a cause hadst thou of seeing Rome?

Tit.] Whereunto Ti­tyrus answereth, that de­sire of freedome was the cause, and also hope of recouering his lands, which he there obtai­ned though long be­fore. Euen liberty [viz. a desire of liberty. Li­berty: which [Though it was] late [before it came] though it were long first, yet at length Respected me] or behold me fauoura­bly. looked backe vnto me, being altogether Sluggish or slouen­like and vnhansome. Rude and with­out art. vnprofitable [before.]

And not vntill his beard began to be white, viz. that he was growne well in yeares. After that The sence is, After that my beard be­gan to be white. ( A white beard, ei­ther as the first downe is whitish in many; or as some imagine by his yeares; or rather by cares for the losse of his lands; for that Melibeus calleth him after, fortu­nate old man. Which speech may yet respect the time to come: what he was like to be. Vid. infrâ.) Yet neuerthelesse [liberty] respected me [viz. I became a free-man.] a whiter beard fell To [...]e p [...]ling [or barbing] viz▪ as the Barber was cutting my beard. from me in trimming.

Yet at length he ob­tained it after long loo­king and waiting. Notwith­standing [Page 8] ( Respexit tamen] E­pan.) it looked backe vn­to [me] & came A long time after. after a long while.

And then he sheweth that since that time that he came in fauour at Rome, he had left Man­tua altogether. [But] Since that I be­gan to be in esteeme at Rome, I left Mantua. since that time, that Amaryllis Hath vs. hath got vs, Mantua. Galatea hath left [vs:]

And also giueth the reason of it: because whilst he was at Mantua he had neither hope of freedome, nor meanes of recouering or in­creasing his substance. For. And why ( I will confesse the truth. for I will con­fesse) Whilst I abode at Mantua, whilst Ga­latea held me,

( Nec, nec, Anaph.) Neither Was there to me hope of liberty nor care of my substance of estate. had I any hope of freedome, nor care of mine ( A mans substance or goods was called pecu­lium, because of ancient time it consisted chiefly in ca [...]ell, pecus.) estate.

Although there [...] many a sacrifice out [...] his foulds. Although Much sacrifice [viz. many a lambe was fetched from my foulds for sacrifice. many a ( Victima, is proper­ly sacrifice for victory obtained, à victoria. As hostia pro hostibus supe­randis, a sacrifice for the ouercoming of ene­mies, viz. in hope to o­uercome.) sa­crifice went out of my ( Septum à sepio. Syn. Gen. pro ouili.) folds.

And I made good fat cheeses. fat cheese And many a good [...] cheese went forth of [...] dairie to that [...] ­full Mantua. was Pressed. made [by me] for that ( Ingratae] vnthankful to the sheepheards by whom it was maintai­ned.) vnthankfull ( Vrbi. Syn. Gen. Met. subi.) citie: Yet still his purse came empty home.

Yet [My] right hand did not returne to me home at any time loaden with money [viz. I neuer brought any store of mony home for [...]ine owne selfe: or for mine owne vse, but euer returned emp­ty handed, my right hand returned not home loaden with ( Aere] because in old time they made money of brasse. Met. Mat.) money [Page 9] at any time.

Melibeus againe ap­plauding his happinesse, telleth him that he won­dered why his loue A­maryl, so called vpon the gods in such pensiue manner for him. Oh ( Amarylli] Apostro­phe ad amicam.) Amaryl, I wondered why thou Being pensiue] or sorrowfull, or hea­uie, as forelorne, or sad. so pen­siuely Didst call. calledst vpon the gods.

For whose sake. For whom That he suffered his ap­ples to hang vpon his trees, not regarding to gather them, but pining away with longing after him. thou sufferedst [his] apples to hang vpon Their owne tree. their trees:

( Tityrus, Tityre, ipse, ipsi, ipsa. Anaph. Polypt.) Tityrus was That the pine trees, fountaines, and euen the very groues did seeme to call for him in mourning wise. Farre away from. absent hence: oh Tityrus the very pinetrees called thee:

The very water springs. The foun­taines themselues [did call] thee: [yea] these same very ( Arbustum is a groue of trees either for fruite or pleasure, or onely for bearing vp vines, to which the vines are said to be married: but chiefly of such trees as beare fruite.) groues cald for thee.

Tityrus answering, sheweth him the cause of his going to Rome, and of his tarrying there so long. What For that he could neuer otherwise haue gotten out of seruitude; nor haue seene the gods, (meaning the chiefe States of Rome, whom he flatteringly calleth gods,) in such manner as he now did being present with them, and to haue them so boun­tifull vnto him. should I do? for neither could I get out of Was it lawfull for me to go forth from [or get out of] ser­uice or bondage. sla­uerie,

Nor know The worthy no­bles so fauourable and so ready to helpe. the gods so present otherwhere.

[Page 10] There he telleth him, that he saw moreouer that renowned Augu­stus whom he made his god: Oh Meli­beus, here I saw We offer sacrifice twelue dayes euery yeare, viz. at the Ca­lends of each moneth That yong man [or that yong gal­lant, viz. Augustus Caesar the Emperour who began his Em­pire very yong. ( Augustus Caesar the second Emperour of Rome, sonne to Octa­ [...]ius a Senator, and Ne­phew to Iulius Caesar, a wise and mercifull Prince, in whose reigne Christ was borne.) that re­nowned Youth, To whom he offered sacrifices twelue times euery yeare: From whom he recei­ued this comfortable answer, as from an O­racle: To whom. for whom Cattell. our altars smoake twise sixe dayes euery yeare.

( Hic, hic, Anaph.) Here he first gaue this an­swer to me Requesting [or making suite vnto him. hum­bly petitioning: That he should follow his cattell and his hus­bandry, enioying them as he did before.

( Puer is taken pro­perly for a boy, viz as it is opposite to puella a girle. Secondly, it is ta­ken for the childish age, and thirdly, for a ser­uant or bo [...]dman which were commonly boyes or yong men: so it is here vsed.) Ye Boyes or lads [viz. seruants, slaues or drudges] ser­uants feede [your] Happy old man that thou shalt be! oxen As before▪ as in former time, Submittite ta [...]s, q. sub i [...]ga mittite.) Put vnder [your] buls viz. vnder the yoakes, that is, yoake your oxen as before. yoak [your] buls [againe.]

( Fortunate senex] Melibeus is thought here [...]o call him thus in re­gard of the time to come, that be might liue to be a happy old man.) ( Fortunate, &c. Ex­clamatio admirationis.) Thou shalt enioy thy grounds or pos­sessions. O Melibeus hereupon breaking out into an exclamation of wonde­ring, calleth him fortu­nate old man, because he should enioy his pos­sessions and his grounds which were large e­nough for him, fortu­nate old man! Therefore then Pastures suffici­ent for thy cattell. shall thy Countries. grounds re­maine to thee,

And Although it be fenced in with a stone wall & a fenne ditch, or with stonie hils or rocks or ma­rish grounds, & not very great [or seeing that it is. &c. large enough for thee, Albeit they were com­passed about with a stone wall & a fen ditch full of bulrushes, and were not very great. With slimy bulru­shes [viz. with flags growing in the mud. although a bare stone and a fen­nie ditch Compasseth about [viz. limiteth.] inclo­seth all [thy] pa­stures with Limos [...] i [...]nco, Syn. spec. sing. proplural. E­pan. the slimie bulrush.

[Page 11] Yet hereby he should receiue this benefit; that his cattell should not be indangered to receiue hurt, by such grounds as they were not acquain­ted with; Al. [Yet] Al [Therefore.] Vnaccustomed pa­stures, [or f [...]dder, or feeding. vnwonted pa­sturing shall not Tain [...]. annoy thy cat­tel ( Foetas Metony [...]. ad­iuncti.) great with yong:

Nor yet the Nor by the contagious diseases of other cattell, but might pasture by themselues. Ill contagions, [or catching diseases. contagious dis­eases of [thy] Cattell neare vn­to thee [or of the cattell of thy neigh­bour.] neighbours cat­tell shall hurt [them.]

And further also ad­mires his fortunate estate, for the pleasures which he should now enioy: That he might spend all his dayes lying at his ease vnder the coole shade, and amongst the knowne riuers of his owne countrey. O fortunate old man, thou Shalt catch oft times here mayest catch here oft times ( Frigus opacum. Met. adi [...]ncti.) the coole aire in the shade, Betweene Padu [...] and Mincius which were dedicated to the Nymphes. amongst the knowne riuers & the ( Sacros propter Nym­phas Naiades quibus s [...] ­crisunt.) sacred fountaines.

That on the one side he might heare the sweete hūming of bees, feeding continually vp­pon the palmes of the sallow trees, in the hed­ges of his neighbours bounds, which would oft [...]ull him on sleepe by their pleasant noise. The shady cold. On the one side the hedge which is From hence [ [...] one part. on thy neighbours bound, ( Hybla is a towne of Sicily, and a mountaine neare vnto it, where was store of thime and sal­low trees, and so most excellent for bee [...].) be­ing fed vpon con­tinually by the bees of ( Depasta florem [h. e. secundum florem, Syn. membri.) ( Hybleis apibus [Syn. spec.) Hybla, From the neare bound,] viz. on the next meere, or in the next fence, or the hedge betweene thee and thy neighbour. [for] the flower of the Eaten vpon [or ea­ten vp] alwaies by the bees of Hybla. According to [or in regard of] the palmes, [or flowers, or bloomes of the sallow trees.] [Page 12] ( Salicetum locus sali­cibu [...] consitus, & per Sy [...]copen salictum.) sallow groue will Perswade [or cause thee. moue thee oftentimes To go into sleepe, or to sleepe. to fall asleepe with their Light sound, [or humming noise. pleasant ( Susurrus is any soft or still noise, as of leaues or branches of trees; and here of bees, a word fai­ned per [...]nomatopeiam.) humming noise.

On the other side he might heare the loppers of trees singing loud to the skies, so as to make the heauens to ring; as he lay at his ease vnder the rocks. Fr [...] hence the lopper of trees [or corder of wood lop­ping and shread [...]g of the boughes. On the o­ther side ( Frondator [qui fron­des a [...]putat.) the tree lopper shall sing To the blasts [viz. aloud piercing the skies. aloud From vnder the hi [...] rocke [viz. lying vnder it.] from the high rocke.

Neither yet. ( Nec, nec, Anaph.) Ney And that he might heare the ringdoues singing after their man­ner, wherein sheep­heards take chiefe de­light. yet in the meane time the hoarse Stocke-doues Being thy care, [viz. thy delight, or that in which thou delightest,] shall ceasse to sing. [which are] thy delight,

Nor the turtle And likewise the turtles mourning continually in the high elmes. shall ceasse To sing after her manner as it were mourning. to mourne from the Aierie elme, viz. the elme tree moun­ting vp into the aire ( Aeria Meton. subj. high elme.

Tityr.] Tityrus answe­ring professeth, that in regard of all this happi­nesse which he enioyed by Augustus, he would neuer forget him; which he amplifieth by three comparisons of impos­sibilities, and from the lesse to the greater. There­fore The Hart so light of foote. the Light. swift stags shall feede first in the skie:

And ( Fretum à feruendo, a narrow sea betweene two lands here put for a­ny sea. Syn. memb. or Syn. spec.) the Seas. narrow seas Shall be fed before, or shall feede, like a common. shall leaue the fishes Shall forsake or leaue destitute. bare vpon 1. That the stags should feede in the skie before. * Naked [viz. vn­couered or drie in the shoare or banke of the sea for lacke of water. [Page 13] the shoare. 2. That the seas should be dried vp, and the fishes dye for lack of wa­ter.

Either the Par­thian &c. [viz. The Parthian outlaw [remaining in Par­thia] shall drinke of the riuer Sagona in France, & the Ger­maine, &c. or the Parthian being dri­uen out of his coun­trey. ( Antè, antè, Anaph.) [And also] ( The Parthian in the Scythian language is said to signifie an out­law.) the Parthian outlaw 3. That the Parthian re­maining in Parthia should drinke of the ri­uer Ara [...]is in France, and the Germaine in Ger­manie should drinke of Tigris in Asia, the one of them running into the other, before he would forget him. Or that they being driuen out of their bounds should wander about the farthest places of the earth. shall either drink of [the riuer] A­raris, or the ( Germania pro Ger­mano. Met. subj.) Germaine shall Al. The Parthians shall be driuen into Germa­nie, and the Germanes into Mesopotamia, Fris­kiline. drinke of [the ri­uer] ( Tigris a riuer in A­sia passing by Mesopo­tamia, and so running through Armenia.) Tigris; The bounds of thē both being wandered through [viz. hauing trauelled about thē both, that is, the Germaine hauing trauelled through all the coasts of the Parthians, and the Parthian of the Germaines. the bounds of both of them gone round a­bout, Before we shall forget him. before Then his counte­nance shall, &c. his countenance shal slide out of our breast.

Melibeus contrarily bewaileth the miserable estate both of himselfe, and of the rest of them who were driuen forth, that they should be en­forced to flie into all the quarters of the earth, some to Africa Southward; others into Scythia Northward, o­thers into Creete which he maketh to be in the East; others into Bri­taine remote from all the world Westward. But we shall go from hence, Some [of vs shall go or wander] to the thirsty Africanes, [viz towards the scorching South where Africa lyeth, which is called thir­stie in regard of the heate there. some vnto the thirsty ( Afro [...]. Syn. spec. Met. Adi.) Africanes:

Part [of vs] shall Come in our tra­uels into Scythia [viz towards the cold North. come into ( Scythia put▪ for the North, Syn. spec. Oaxes is thought to be a swift riuer of Mesopotamia towards the East, put for the East part: named here a riuer of Creete, according to the sheep­heards skill: or so cal­led because the earth of it is chalkie, as some thinke.) Scythia, and [part] vnto Oaxes towards the East. O­axes the swift [riuer] of Creete:

And [we shall come] To the Britaines [viz. to the furthest parts of the Wes [...] se­parated wholly by the seas from the rest of the world [viz. from the continent or firme land of Eu­rope and Asia. vnto the Britaines being diuided altoge­ther [Page 14] from the whole world.

Afterwards he brea­keth out into a new la­mentation for the lea­uing of his houses and grounds, complaining that when he should see them againe after many yeares he should neuer admire them, reioycing in them as he had bene wont. Behold I seeing euer after a long time the coasts of my countrey: Loe, I euer beholding my country bounds After many years, or a long time after my leauing of them. after a long time;

And Looking vpon or reuiewing. seeing after Some beards or eares of corne: viz. sommers wherein they are ripe. some ( Arista is properly the beard or the [...]e of the corne; taken here first for the whole eare of corne, then the eare for the haruest, where in it is ripe; the haruest for the sommer; the som­mer for the whole yeare, which make a Metalepsis, viz. many [...]ropes in one, thus passing as by degrees from one to another. See Butlers Rhet.) Sommers, the top of my poore cottage Heaped vp with turfe, viz. couered with tu [...]fes heaped one on another. thacked with turfe, Which is now or was before to me as my kingdome. ^‖ Shall I wonder be­ing in loue with it, as in former time? being [now] ( Regna] Metap.) my Kingdomes. kingdome, ( Mirabor pro admi­rabor. shall I admire [it?]

Thereupon he also bemoneth their lamen­table estate, by an ex­clamation of commise­ration: That now the impious souldier should possesse those the [...] fields so finely husban­ded and prepared fo [...] seede. And that the bar­barous stranger should haue their crops of corne. Shall the The vngodly [viz. wicked or prophane] souldier, shall he haue these new bro­ken vp grounds so well ordered or til­led, or dressed, [viz. these fallow fields so well prepared for seede. impious soul­dier haue these so well husban­ded ( Novaie, vbi satum f [...]it, & antequam secun­da satione ren [...]vetur, qui [...]scit.) grounds new broken vp?

The barbarous [or rude souldier] or the rude fellow, or the barbarian [shall he haue] these standing corne [viz. these crops of corne? Shall the barbarous stran­ger haue these crops of corne? [Page 15] ( En quo] Exclamat [...] commiserationis.) Thus he proceedeth complaining of their discord whither it had brought them, and for whom they had sowne their fields. Behold to what a state, contention [or warre] hath brought vs the vn­happy inhabitants of Mantua. Lo whi­ther discord hath brought [vs] mi­serable citizens! ( En, en. Anaph.) See for whom we haue sowne our fields!

Yet after by turning the speech vnto him­selfe, he comforts him­selfe herein notwithstan­ding: That he might plant pea [...]e trees and vines otherwhere. Or rather complaines of his folly in planting. O Melibeus, ( Insere nunc,] Apo­strophe, viz. a turning of the speech to himselfe.) Plantor set peare­trees. greift pearetrees now, Set vines in order plant vines.

And then withall speaking to his goates which had in time past bene his chiefe delight, bids them farewell; la­menting this, that he might not see them any more to feede (as it were hanging) vpon the tops of the rocks, like as sometimes he had done, lying vnder them in the greene val­leys farre remote. Go ye, or get ye gone. ( Ite] Apostrophe to the goates.) Fare­well my [goates] (a Sometime my hap­pie cattell. happy cattell in time past:) ( Ite, ite. Epan.) farewell my little goates.

I cast downe. I shall not hereaf­ter lying all along in a greene valley see you as I haue bene wont. I lying along in a greene Den or caue. val­ley, shall not see you hereafter To hang [viz. be­cause the goates seeme to hang vpon the steepe rocks whē they feede on them. to hang [feeding] a far off vpon the bushie rocke.

He should sing no moe songs following them, neither should they crop the flourish­ing trifoly, or bitter wil­lowes, or other such like shrubs, as they had bene wont. I shall sing No songs or verses. no moe songs: Oh my goates ye shall not Eate or brouze vpon the blooming shrubs. crop the flou­rishing ( Cythisus is a kind of trifoly called tetrifoly, a plant greatly increa­sing milke, and good a­gainst the rot in cattell, taken here for any such kind of hearbe or shrub, good for goates. Syn. sp [...].) ci­thise, and the ( Amaras hominibus, capris su [...]es.) Sallowes, which are bitter to our taste, though plea­sant vnto goates. bitter wil­lowes [Page 16] Me feeding [you] viz. hauing me to tend you, or to follow you, hauing me to feede you.

Not withstanding. Tityru [...] here concludeth the dialo­gue, in [...]iting Melibe [...] to tarrie with him all night, and to rest and re­fresh himselfe; and that by sundry reasons. Yet Tit. thou mayest Stay, tarrie, or a­bide with me. rest here with me this night,

Vpon a bed made of tender boughes of trees, or leaues, or flowers, or vpon the soft greene grasse, as sheepheards in that hot countrey vsed. Vpon a greene leafe. Vpon greene ( Fronde] Syn. spec.) leaues There are to vs mellow apples. we 1. For the commodi­ousnesse of his lodging there vpon the greene leaues. haue Soft, ripe, or plea­sant. mellow apples, There are] soft chestnuts [viz. fully ripe, or very plea­sant. dainty chestnuts, And plenty of pressed milke, [viz. turned to cheese, or of curds and creame. and 2. Because he had good prouision to giue a sheepheard entertaine­ment, both of mellow apples, ripe chestnuts, & of curds and creame and cheese enough. good store of cheese.

And now The chimneyes of the townes and farmes about do smoke as toward supper time. the highest tops of the villages do 3. For that it now [...] towards night, which [...] setteth out and amplifi­eth by the smoking of chimneyes, the increa­sing of the shadowes of the hils both in length and greatnesse, as they are wont to do toward [...] the euening. smoke farre off.

And [likewise] The shadowes waxing bigger do shew it to be neare tonight. For the nea­rer it is to the Sunne setting, the greater the shadowes are. greater sha­dowes fall from the high hils.

THE SECOND ECLOGVE To whom the name is [viz, which hath the name Alexis. [CAL­LED] ALEXIS.

[Page 18] Corydon a sheepheard: THe sheepheard▪ Corydon Burned [viz. was inflamed with the loue of faire Alexis: [or [...]ehe­mently loued: impa­tiently loued Beautifull or well fauoured Alexis: faire Alexis:

Being the Delights or dainties [viz. the one­ly solace of his maister. delight of [his] maister; Neither could he haue what he might hope: [viz. yet he obtained not any thing but onely a vaine hope of him. but yet he could not haue that which he hoped for.

Onely he came Continually [viz. vsually or very often, or day by day. dai­ly among the thicke bee­ches Being shadie tops [viz. broade & spreading, and so making a shade with their tops. [hauing] shadie tops: there all alone He reuolued, or rolled, or vainely vttered. he tossed these [Verses] [viz. rimes or words] ill set together, or ill composed or disor­dered. rude [mee­ters] to the mountaines and woods, With a vaine study [viz. vainely or all in vaine.] with la­bour spent in vaine.

O cruell Alexis Thou carest for nothing or not at all [viz. thou carest not for. thou nought regardest my Verses. songs:

Thou hast no compassion of me. Thou takest no pit­tie of vs: To conclude. In a word, Thou compellest me to die [viz. thou killest my heart.] Thou wilt compell [viz. cause me to die or hasten my death.] thou causest me to die.

Now Also the cattell or the very cattell: euen the cat­tle Do endeauour or seeke to take the shades and colds, [viz. shadie and coole places or the shady cold. seeke after shades & coole places.

Now The bushes of thornes, [viz. thorny places or shrubs] also do hide do the thorny thickets likewise hide the greene serpents like newtes. lizards.

And Thestylis a countrey woman, Syn. spec. Thestilis Doth stampe [or pun] together gar­licke and wilde thime being strong smelling hearbes. puns strong smelling hearbs [as] garlicke and Wilde betany smelling like wilde marioram, or wilde thime. wilde betany for the Mowers or haruest men. reapers [Page 19] wearied With the snatching heate, [viz. the violent or vehement heate. in the scorch­ing heate. Al. But [yet] the groues [or thic­kets] do resound [my songs] with me, [together] with hoarse grashoppers, whilst I spie on euery side, thy foot­steps vnder the burning Sunne.

Al. But the groues Do sound backe as the echo, [or do giue an echo. do ring with me With hoarse singing grashoppers, or grashoppers singing hoarsly vnder the scorching heate. with hoarse grashoppers [ly­ing] vnder the burning Sunne, whilst I go about to seeke or view euery way. I spie out The treadings or prints of thy feete. thy footesteps [on eue­ry side.]

Hath it not, &c. Had it not bene bet­ter [for me] to Abide or endure. suffer Tristes iras,] Met. Effecti. The sorrowfull angers, [viz. the frowning lookes. the heauy looks of A­maryl,]

And [her] proud Disdaines. dis­daine? Whether or no Menalcas? [viz. were it not better to loue Menalcas, or to endure Menalcas to frowne vp­pon me, or to disdaine me. were it not bet­ter to endure Menal­cas?

Although he [be] Foule, or at least not so faire, or of a swart colour. blacke, and albeit thou wert White [viz. beautifull. passing faire.

O well fauoured youth. Oh faire boy, trust not thy Colour [viz. fairenesse.] beauty ouer­much!

Ligustra [Met. subj. pro floribus ligustri. The white priuet or prime-print: White priuet flowers Fall downe and are lost. fall, Violets of purple colour, near [...] to blacke, [or blacke hurtle berries, or bramble berries] are gathered. blacke vio­lets are gathered.

Alexis, Thou despisest me, and askest not after me. I am Scorned. de­spised of thee, neither Al. How rich I am in cattle, how plent [...]us in milke as white as snow. askest thou who I am,

Al. What my wealth and state [...]. How rich [I am] Of snow-white cattell, viz. in sheepe hauing their wooll as white as driuen snow, which he accounts most excellent. in cattell white as snow, How abounding of milke [I am.] what plenty of milke [Page 20] I haue.

I haue a thousand ewe lambs [viz. which are most excellent for breede. My thousand ewe lambes Stray or wander, viz. feede at li­berty where they will. pasture freely In the Sicilian mountaines. in the mountaines of Sicily:

New milke [ [...] not wanting to me] in Sommer, neither is it lacking in the cold [viz. in Winter.] I want not new milke in the Sommer, not yet in the cold.

I sing the same songs, &c. I sing [the songs] which Amphion Dirce was wont [to sing] If at any time [viz. whensoeuer he gathered together his heards or flockes of cattell. whensoeuer he called [his] Armenta are heards of greater cattell. heards In the hill Aracinthus butting on the shoar [...], or being neare to Athens, for so also the word Actctaeus may be taken. vpon the hill Aracinthus but­ting vpon the shoare.

Neither am I so Hard fauoured. de­formed: He speaketh after the manner of sheep­heards, who in stead of a glasse vse oft times to behold themselues in the water. I saw my selfe of late [ In the shoare [viz. as I stood vpon the sea shoare, I saw my shadow in the water.] as I stood] vpon the Banke or side. shoare:

When as the sea Was calme [viz. quiet, not stirred by the winds. stood calme from winds. I will not feare To compare with Daphnis ^‖ for beauty, though thou thy selfe be iudge Daphnis, thy selfe be­ing iudge, if the Likenesse, or counterfeit, or image. shadow [in the water] do neuer Beguile vs. deceiue.

Oh that onely it may like [or lift] thee to inhabite the countries base [or homely] to thee [but pleasant vnto me] with me, [or to inhabite with me: Oh that it might but like [thee]▪ [to dwell] with me in the countrey [though] base to thee, And to inhabite [our] low cotages. and in [our] low cot­tages, And to fasten in the ground, [or to driue do [...]e] forked stakes, [or as some thinke, to s [...]ite through [viz. to kill] stags or harts. and to pitch [Page 21] downe Cer [...]i are taken for forked props like harts hornes, to hold vp their little sheepheards hou­ses. forked stakes.

And for to driue [my] flocke of kids To the greene marsh-mallowes or water mallowes, for so some take hi­biscus. vnto Viridi hibisco, for, ad viridem hibiscum. the greene Bulrush. bulrushes.

Thou shalt imitate Pan, [that is, euen Pan himselfe.] [Then] shouldest thou imitate Pan is called the god of sheepheards, because as the Poets say, he ordained first the sheepheards life, & was most excellent in such musicke as the sheepheards vse. Pan, In singing together with me. in singing with me in the woods.

Pan deuised piping, or the sheep­heards pipe. Pan Appointed or ordained. deuised first to ioyne together Diuers or sundry reedes. moe reedes with waxe. Pan is the Protector both of sheepe and sheepheards. Pan cares for sheepe, and for the maisters of the sheepe.

Neither can it repent thee To haue put a pipe to thy lip [or to thy mouth.] to haue worne Thy little lip with a reede. thy lip with a reeden pipe.

What did not A­myntas Trie or assay. do, That he might learne this [...]kill of piping. that he might know These same things. these things?

There is to me a pipe compact [or framed] of seuen vnlike hemlocks, [viz. hollow stalkes of hemlocks or reeds, whereof each was bigger then other in order, both in greatnesse and in sound. I haue a pipe made of seuen different reeds, which Dametas Gaue me for a gift or for a iewell. gaue me long ago:

And dying said; This [pipe.] This hath thee now The second [maister, viz. thou art the second possess [...]r of this pipe. the se­cond.

[Thus] spake Dame­tas; foolish Amyntas E [...]ied, [viz. that I should h [...] this pipe. en­uied [it.]

[Page 22] There are to me moreouer two kids [or yong wilde goates or roes,] found of me in no safe valley [or place, or not without some perill] their skins also being sprinkled with white [viz. full of little white spots, like stars, or of diuers colours white and blacke. [I haue] moreo­uer two kids which I found in a perillous dale, whose skins are also speckled now with white.

They drie [or sucke dry] either of them two teates of a sheepe [viz. ei­ther of them anewe] in a day, or sucke twise a day. Each of which sucks dry two sheepes dugs e­uery day, Which [kids.] which I [al­so] keepe for thee.

Thestilis Intreateth [or desireth] now of late, [or a good while ago.] intreated lately To leade [or haue them] away, [viz. that she might haue them. to haue them a­way from me:

And She shall do it. she shall, be­cause Thou esteemest so basely of our gifts. our gifts Are so base to thee [or with thee.] are so basely esteemed of thee.

Come hither oh welfauoured youth. Oh faire boy come hither. Loe or see. Behold Nympha is properly a new maried wife, a Nymph: here by the Nymphes are meant goddesses of the me­dowes or woods. A­mongst the heathens they were taken for goddesses haunting ri­uers, trees, mountaines, medowes, or the like. the Nymphes bring thee Baskets full of lillies. lillies in full baskets: White or faire Nais. beautifull Nais is taken for one of the Nymphes or Fairies haunting the riuers and fountaines. Nais Cropping. ga­thering for thee pale vio­lets The heads [or tops] of poppies for thee. and poppie flo­wers,

Ioynes [or knits together] Tyes together the Primrose peerelesse, or flower▪ de­luce as some will. white daffodill and the flowers of pleasant smel­ling Auisse. dill:

Then Weauing them in or making gar­lands of them. platting them with Cassia is commonly taken for Cina­mon, here it is taken for a kind of hearbe. cassia and with o­ther sweete hearbes,

She Paints [or sets pleasantly] soft violets with the yellow marigold. sets in fine or­der dainty violets With yellow marigolds. with [Page 23] the yellow marigold.

I my selfe will gather Hoarie apples with a tender downe [or cotten] [meaning quinces being hoary.] apples hauing cotten coates:

And chestnuts which my Amaryllis Especially commended. loued.

I will adde, or adioyne: or put to them. I will [withall] bring Plums as soft as waxe, or fine yel­low plums. plums as yellow as waxe, And honour shall be also to this ap­ple, [viz. this apple shall be set by for his fairenesse,] or this quince by Synecd. or plum by a Metamor. and this apple shall be in high esteeme.

And o [...] ye lawrels, I will crop [or plucke] you. Oh lawrels, I will plucke branches euen from you: and Thou next mirtle [viz. next to the lawrell in sweetnesse. thou mirtle [which art] next in [sweetnesse I will plucke branches from thee also. I will like­wise crop thee.]

Because ye being So put [or set in order.] so composed Do mixe or mingle. do make sweete smels.

Corydon thou art A rusticke or rude fellow. a clowne, neither doth A­lexis regard [thy] gifts.

Neither can Iôlas grant [viz. suf­fer himselfe to be ouercome of thee by gifts.] Ney will Iolas was another▪ sheepheard which stroue for the [...] of Alexis. Iolas yeeld [to thee] if thou contend with gifts.

What would I to me poore wretch, [viz. what meant I poore wretch. [Alasse] for me poore wretch! what meant I▪ [for] being Lost [or vndone, or vtterly cast a­way or out of hope. vt­terly forlorrie, I haue Sent in. let in the South-wind to [my] flowers, and the boares into my Liquid [ [...] [...]] [...], [...] cleare waters. liquid [Page 24] springs.

A [...] Mad youth. mad [ Alexis] whom doest thou flie? for euen the gods haue Dwelt in. inhabited the woods,

And Paris the sonne of Pri [...]mus king of Troy, descended from Dar­d [...] the sonne of Iu­piter & Electrae, which Dardanus was the first builder of Troy, cal­ling it with the coun­trey where it stood, Dardania. Paris descen­ded from Dardanus. Pall [...]s her selfe let her inhabite, [viz. delight in the towers or castles which her selfe hath built. Let Pallas delight in the towers which her selfe hath built: [but] let the woods Content vs best. please vs Before all other things. aboue all [other] things.

The Fell, fierce or terrible. sterne lionesse doth Follow [in chase. pursue the wolfe, the wolfe himselfe [pur­sues] the goate,

The lasciui [...]us or ranke yong goate. The wanton goate, seekes after the blooming cythisus:

Oh Alexis, Corydon followeth after thee: His owne pleasure draweth euery one, [viz. euery one followes his owne delight. e­uery ones owne pleasure draweth him.

See, the bullockes Bring backe the plowes, [viz. the [...]mes [or plowes] come home. bring [home] the plowes hanged To the yoake. to their yoakes:

And the Sun Departing, [viz. going downe­ward. going downe doubleth [his] Increasing longer and bigger. increasing shadowes:

Although the heate of the Sunne [...], yet the [...] of my loue [...] increased. Yet loue doth still burne me for what mea­sure [Page 25] Can be to loue. can there be in loue?

Ah Corydon, Corydon, what madnesse hath Taken, viz. ouertaken thee. caught thee?

There is to thee a vine. Thou hast a vine halfe pruned In an elme tree full of boughes or leaues. in a thicke branching elme.

But Thou doest prepare rather. prepare thou rather at least To wea [...]e or plot something. to make something, Of those things whereof neede re­quireth. whereof there is neede: With twigs and a soft bulrush. with oziers and soft bulru­shes.

Thou shalt find ano­ther Loue. [companion] if this Alexis Disdaine thee, [or despise th [...]e.] do thinke scorne of thee.

THE THIRD ECLOGVE Which is [...]tituled] Palemon▪ [viz.] PALEMON.

Dametas tell me whose cattell [is it?] or are they? TEll me Da­metas, whose Pe [...], [...]men collecti­num pro grege. cattell are these? Whether [is it, or whether are they the cattell] of Melibeus? [or Meli­beus flocke?] Are they Me­libees?

No, But [they are the cattell] of Egon. but they are Egons cattell; Egon lately Deliuered [them] to me [to keep] or to [...] te [...]ding. cōmitted [them] to me.

[...]. O O [...]is for o [...]es. Sy [...]ecd. speci [...], sing [...]l. pro plur. O semper [...]] [...]. sheepe Al. O the cattell [or flocke] of sheepe alwayes vnhappie. [Page 27] alwayes an vnfortunate cattell! whilest I [...] himselfe the maister. he him­selfe doth Cherish [or make much of, or seek [...] to win the loue of] Neera. woo Neera, and is afraid lest she should preferre me To himselfe. be­fore him.

This fellow Keeping or tending another man [...] cattell. being an­other mans sheepherd, milks his sheepe twise in an houre:

And both the Succ [...] is the naturall moisture that a health­full bodie receiueth from the meate. Iuyce or moisture is drawne away, flesh is plucked off To [viz▪ from the cattell. from the ewes, and the Milk [is drawne away or with­drawne] to the lambes. milke [is stolen] from the lambes.

Yet remember These things to be obiected more sparingly to men. that these things ought to be more sparingly ob­iected To such as I am. vnto men.

We know both Who you. Ellipsis. who [saw] you, Al. The corners of your eyes looking awrie [or ouerthwartly] viz. when you looked a squint. [your] hegoates Disdaining. looking [at you] Transuersa pr [...] trans­uersim, Adiecti [...]m pr [...] Aduerbi [...]. asquint,

And in what chappel; ‖ Thou hadst the Nymphes f [...]oura­ble, which did not straightway be­ [...]ray thee, but onely smile at thee. but the Easie to be pacified. gentle Nymphs did [onely] smile.

Then I beleeue, when they saw me [ Spoile. cut] The groue of Mycon. Mycons Arbust [...] is [...] such a groue o [...] ▪ trees, [...]s where [...] grow vp by trees. groue,

And to Cut, or cut off▪ viz. thee [...]ishly. spoile his Very new or yong. tender yong vines with A bad vinehooke▪ [viz. mar­ring the vines, or a hooke thee [...]ishly vsed. a naughtie hooke.

Or [who saw thee] here, [or they smiled at thee here. Or here at the [Page 28] old Beeches. beech trees, when thou brakest Daphnis bow and arrowes or shafts. the bow and arrowes of Daphnis, which thou Per [...]erseor froward Menalcas. peeuish Menalcas Grieuedst for [viz. didst repine at with e [...]ie. grudgedst at, euen when thou sawest them giuen to the boy:

And thou wouldst haue died if thou hadst not hurt him some way. And if thou hadst not hurt [him] some way, Thou wouldest haue burst with anger. thou wouldest haue died [with spite.]

What the maisters shall do when theeues dare aduenture such things? What shall maisters doe, when Theeuish seruants dare be bold to do [or attempt] such things, or play such pranks. theeues dare be so bold?

O Thou worst [or vile fellow.] thou leud fellow, did not I see thee To catch by craft the he-goate of Micon [or Micons gelded goate.] steale Micons goate, His wolfe-dog [or band-dog] bar­king much [or loud.] when his Lycisca a dog bred of a wolfe & a bitch, with which they vsed to keepe their flocks. wolfe-dog barkt [...] ­pace▪

And when I cried. I cried out, whither now Doth he snatch away [viz. get or conuey himselfe so speedily] or whi­ther trudgeth he? runs the theefe?

Ho Tityrus, looke to thy cattell: thou hid'st thy selfe behind the flags or sheere-grasse. Tityrus gather [thy] cattell: Thou l [...]yest hid. thou lurked [...] behind the sedges.

Whether he being ouercome in singing, should not restore [or giue.] Should not he, being ouercome In our triall for maistery in sing­ing and piping. in singing, restore to me

[My] goate, ^‖ which my pipe Which my pipe had deserued by [my verses, [viz. which I had wonne by piping and singing. had wonne by play?

[Page 29]If thou knowest not, that goate was The reward of my victorie. mine, and Damon himselfe con­fessed it to me, but de­nied Himselfe to be able to restore [him] viz. the goate. that he had power to restore it me.

[Deseruedst] thou [or didst thou win] him by singing [viz. thou so vnskilfull, of him so skilfull. Thou him by play? Or was there euer to thee a pipe ioyned [or set together] with waxe, [viz. any pipe that was ought worth? or euer hadst thou a pipe [but onely] set together with waxe?

Oh vnlearned [viz. thou rude fel­low.] Oh thou vnskilfull fellow, wast not thou wont To lose altogether for nothing] viz. to play for nothing, as those do whom none regard. to lauish out [thy] Miserable [or sory or silly] song [or verse.] pitifull With a whizzing or hissing stubble. musicke In places where three wayes meet, [viz. in the comr [...]on high wayes, or where country fellowes vse to meete, or sitting by the high way side. vpon a creaking stub­ble pipe in the common crosse wayes?

Therefore wilt thou [that] we trie by experience. Wilt thou therefore that we make triall between our selues One after another. by course, what Both [or both each after other. each of vs can do? I wil play with thee for this heis [...]r. I put downe, viz. will stake downe or lay for gage. Ile lay down this heifer to stake; ([and] lest peraduenture thou shouldest Flinch, or despise the wager [or offer] any way. refuse,) She is milked twise [in a day.] she comes twise [a day] to the milking paile, [and besides] She nourisheth two young ones with her vdder [or paps, viz. with the milke in her vdder.] she brings vp two calues. Say thou, or tell me. Speake thou, for what wager Thou mayest striue, viz. trie for the maistery is playing with me. thou darest play with me.

I dare not Lay downe [or stake downe, viz. play for] with thee. lay Lay downe [or stake downe, viz. play for] with thee. any thing with thee of my flocke,

Any thing of [my] flocke, or from my flocke. For I haue a father at home, [yea] I haue a cruell stepmother,

And both of them And for [or, and why] They straightly count all my cattell that I cannot play for any one, but it will be missed. do tell the cattell twise a day, For there is a seuere or straight father to me, there is an vniust [or hard stepmother. and one of them the kids.

Do number [or count [our] cattell twise in a day. But (because tho [...] wilt needs be so lustie) [I will lay that which thou thy selfe shalt con­fesse to be And one of them [tels] the kids. farre greater▪ [to wit, two] beech [...] cups, Which were cunningly carued by that excellent or famous workman Alcimedon. the carued works of [that] Excelling or most skilfull. diuine [...] ­medon:

(Because [or sith that] it l [...]steth thee to be mad, [viz. that thou darest thus chalenge me▪ or thou art disposed to be so lustie. In which a [...] vine flourished [...] with a fine Tornu [...]] is a toole or instrument with which Turners vse to make things round. caruing toole,

Greater then thy heifer by much. Doth decke the ber­ries scattered ouer it here and there, with a pale i [...] ­uie branch.

In the midst [of them * [To wit] Conon, [viz. the picture of Conon.] are] two To which a limber vine added a­boue [it] with an easie [or fine cut­ting.] turning toole. pictures Conon a famous E­gyptiā Mathematiciā. The Poet brings in the shepherd speaking thus rudely, as most [...] his ignorāce. Doth clothe [or co [...]er] the iuie ber­ries spread [or scattered] abroad with a pale [or wa [...]] iuie. Co­non; * The other man. and who was Signes [viz. images grauen [or carued. th [...] other?

The famous Mathematician, who hath po [...]rtrayed or set out in tables the whole world, to wit, Archimedes, or as some thinke, Hipparchus, or some other. [He] who hath de­scribed [Page 31] the whole world to the nations with [ Radius is here taken for an instrument with which Geometricians vse to measure, as the Iacobs staffe, or the like: so called for the proportion it hath to the Sun beame, which radius signifieth more properly. his] Geometricall instrument. Iacobs staffe.

[Who also hath described [viz set out to the capacitie of the h [...]band­man] The times both of sowing and har­uest. The times which The reaper or mower should haue. the reaper [and] which the The plow man is called crooked, be­cause they commonly go crooked or sto [...] ­ping in holding the plow. crooked plowman should haue.

Neither yet haue I moued [my] lips to them but keepe them layed vp. Neither haue I Put my lips to them, for, put them to my lips▪ Hypa [...]age. Drunke in them [or so much as put them to my lips. put my lips to them as yet▪ but reserue them layd vp safe.

And the same Alcimedon hath made two cups for vs [also▪] The same Al­cimedon hath made like­wise two cups for vs,

And embraced [or compassed them] about the stoukes, viz. eares or handles. And bordered [them] about the stouks with Soft bearefoot [...]. pleasant branke vrsine.

And hath set Orpheus, &c. And hath set Orpheus a notable Poet cunning on the harpe, whom the Poets faine to haue bene a­ble by his excellent musick to draw wilde beasts, woods and mountaines after him. Or­pheus in the midst, and [...]he woods Following [him] viz. dancing af­ter his musicke. following him.]

Neither as yet haue I put my lips vnto them, put Keepe [them] layed vp. reserue [them] layd [...]p safe.

[But yet] If thou compare them to my hei­fer, or in regard of the heifer. if thou [...]ookst to [my] heifer, There is nothing, [viz they are not to be compared to my heifer. there is no cause that [...]hou shouldst Brag of. praise [thy] cups.

Thou shalt ne [...]er sti [...] away to day. Thou shalt [Page 32] neuer [so] escape this day: I will come To what place, or to what iudge soeuer. whi­ther soeuer thou shalt call [me:]

At least let euen him that comes, heare these things [viz. our verses.] Let [any] heare these things, [Our neighbour] Palemon who comes. at least euen he that comes [yonder,] lo Palemon.

I will make that thou neuer pro­uoke any man hereafter in voice [or by thy voice, [viz. that thou darest not. I will make thee that thou shalt neuer hereafter challenge any man to sing.

But go to [or begin.] Go to then, if thou hast Any thing worth the hearing. any thing, there shall be no Stay. delay in me.

Neither Do I flie or shrinke from any man. feare I any man: onely, neighbour Palemon,

[See that] thou lay vp these things in thy lowest [or deepest] senses, [viz. marke diligently the skill of it seuerally. Weigh these things with thy best thoughts▪ the Wager, or matter of our contention. matter is not small▪

Say ye [or speake ye, viz. sing ye.] Begin then▪ seeing that we sit toge­ther In the soft her be. vpon the [...] grasse:

And now Euery field [bringeth forth] now euery tree brings forth or buds. all the field [is beautifull,] now eue­ry tree, puts forth:

Now woods Beare leaues. wa [...] greene, [yea] now The yeare [viz. time of the yeare, is in the fairest hu [...]. the year [...] [is] the faire [...]

[Page 33] Dametas begin thou. Begin Dametas, and then Menalcas thou shalt follow.

You shall speake By mutuall courses [viz. by turnes. by [turnes] one after ano­ther: the Camoenae the [...]ine Muses. Muses loue [songs] First the one▪ then the other. that go by turnes.

I will begin my song from Iupiter, viz. by calling vpon and honouring Iupiter, that I may haue better suc­cesse: or of Iupiter. The beginning of my song [shall be] from Iupiter: all things are Full of Iupiter, [viz. of Iupiters diuine power. filled with Ioue.

He inhabites [or loues to inhabite] the earths or lands. He preserues the earth: My verses [are] a care, [viz. of speciall regard] to him, he respects my songs.

And Phoebus a name of Apollo▪ frō the bright­nes of the Sun, which the Poets call Phoebus. Apollo loueth me. His owne, [or the proper gifts to Phoebus, [viz. the gifts peculiar to Apollo] are alwayes with me. Apollos owne gifts are euermore with me, [To wit] bay trees, and Hyacin­thus sweetly red. [Or thus, Lawrels and Hyacynthus pleasantly red▪ being the proper gifts to Apollo, are euer with me. [both] lawrels and the pleasant red Hyacinthus is taken by some for a purple flower which we call Crowtoes, by others for the red lilly. Hyacinthus.

Galatea my louer. Galatea that Nice or toying. wanton girle Seekes [viz. throwes at me] with an apple. hits me with apples [often­times.]

And [then] Flies. runnes Behind the willowes or sallowes. to the sallow trees, And she desireth her seife to be seene before, [viz. whereby she shew [...]s her loue to me.] but she desireth to be seene before.

But my loue A­myntas offers Meets me. himself to me of his owne accord:

[Page 34] That not euen Delia is now better knowne. That Delia a name of Diana, to wit, the hunting Goddesse. Diana is not now better knowne vnto our dogs.

Gifts are gotten [of me] for my Venus. I haue prepa­red gifts for my loue: for why, I I my selfe haue noted [viz▪ obser­ued] the place whither the airie stockdoues [viz. building in the aire or abroad] haue caried or heaped to­gether [their nests.] my selfe haue marked a place where the Palu [...]bes seeme to be called aër [...]ae, be­cause they build and haunt in trees and in the woods▪ and not in houses as the pigeons. Ringdoues or stockdoues. woodculuers haue made their nests.

I haue sent to to the Boy, viz. Amyntas. Youth what I haue bene able [to get.] I could [get] [To wit] ten golden apples [viz. o­renges. ten fine o­renges Gathered or picked out of a tree belonging to the wood or wilde. chosen out of a tree of the wood; I will send other ten to mor­row.

Oh how oft And what things hath Galatea spoken to vs? and what sweete spee­ches hath Galatea vsed to vs!

O ye winds [I wish] that ye carry [or see that you carry.] or ye may carrie. [Ye] windes carrie some part [of them] to the eares of the Gods.

Amyntas, What doth it profit [me] viz. what am I the better. what good doth it [me] that thou doest not Contemne [or thinke basely of me. despise me in thy M [...]nd. heart:

If I keepe the nets whilest, &c. If, whilest thou Followest after in chase, viz. hun­test or chasest. pur­suest the boares in chase, I onely keepe the nets, and enioy thee not further? I [onely] keepe the nets?

Iolas is said to be a name of Menalcas. Iolas Send Phyllis to me. send me Phyllis, I now celebrate my birth day. it is my Vpon their birth­dayes they vsed yearly to feast for a remem­brance thereof. birth day:

When I shall make with a yong heifer [viz. shall sacrifice a heifer. When I shall This sacrifice was called Sacrificium Am­bervalle, because it was first led about the fields, and then sacrifi­ced to Ceres. offer sacrifice with an heifer for my Corne. fruites, then come thou.

I loue Phyllis Before other [loues or maids. aboue [all] other [maides,] for she wept, Me to depart, [viz. When I departed [forth of the ci­tie] or to thinke that I should depart. that I should de­part;

And said, Oh faire Iolas, a long farewell [be to thee] farewell. Oh faire Iolas, The first Vale is here put as a word of art, and so a Nowne sub­stantiue newter vnde­clined. farewell for euer, The last vale hathe short and vncut off by a Grecisme. farewell [ Iolas.]

The wolfe [is] a Sorrowfull or grieuous, viz. terri­ble or horrible. dreadfull thing to the Stabulum a staule or place where beasts stand. The generall name of all places where cattell abide. foulds, The showres [are a dreadful thing] to the ripe corne, viz. corne when it is full ripe. the showres to the corne [full] ripe;

The windes to the The winds [are horrible] to the trees: the angers of Amaryllis [are grieuous] to vs. [viz. Amaryllis displeasure or lowring. trees, the frowning looks of Amaryl to vs.

The moisture [is] a pleasant thing to the Fields sowne, [viz. lately sowne. [new] sowne fields, The Seruice is a tree bearing fruite much like to cheries or haw [...] the Arbute [ is pleasant] Seruice tree to the Kids put from their dams. wained kids;

The limber Sallow or ozier. willow [Is pleasant] or delight some. to the cattell great with yong: onely Amyntas [ Pleaseth, or delighteth me. is pleasing] vnto me.

Pollio loueth [Page 36] our Muse, [viz. verse. song, though it be [but] Homely or vnpolished. countrey like.

Ye Picrides] the Muses were called Pierides for the pleasantnesse and solitarinesse of the h [...]l Pierius for students. Like as they had sun­dry other names of o­ther hils and fountains. Muses of the hill Pierius, feed a heifer For him that shall reade your ver­ses, viz. for Pollio. for your reader.

And euen Pollio himselfe. Pollio also himselfe maketh Stately heroicall verses, which were w [...]nt to haue a bull for their praemium. new songs: feed ye a bull,

Which may S [...]ake, viz. [...]ub or push. put with his horne, and Sprinkle abroad, or cast about, or throw about. scrape abroad the sand with his feete.

Pollio, he that loueth thee, let him Attaine that dignitie. come [to that honour] Whither he reioyceth [thee to haue come also. whereunto he reioy­ceth [that thou likewise art come.

Let hony flow to him, [viz. let him haue plentie of all good things, [or, I wish he may haue.] Let him haue hony abundantly, and let the Sharpe or prickie. rough [...]ush or shrub. bramble beare him Rose of Ierusalem, or our Ladies gloues. Amomus.

Meuius, let him that Hates not. abhorres not Bauius, loue thy verses.

He that hates not Bauius, let him loue thy verses [or songs.] And let the same man And let the same man [that is de­lighted with thy verses.] yoke foxes toge­ther [for the plow] and milke he goates.

Ye Ioyne [or tie] foxes [to the plow. [viz. let him do th [...]se things which are most absurd. Children. boyes that gather flowers and strawberries Oh ye boyes or lads. creeping * Growing. [Page 37] vpon the ground: Flie ye from hence. get ye hence, A cold snake lieth hid, [viz. a venemous snake. The snake is called cold, because he makes the part cold which is bitten or stung by it. there is a cold snake lying hid in the grasse.

[ Al. Ye sheepe spare [viz. be afraid] to go forward too farre. Ye sheep­herds] Spare. suffer not [ [Your] sheep to go too far [towards the brinke [of the riuer] it is not trusted well to the banke [viz. it is not safe trusting the banke. your] sheepe to go too neare the riuer, it is not good to trust the banke, [for] euen the Ram himselfe now dri­eth [his] Fleeces. fleece.

Tityrus Rei [...]ce capellas. Pe [...] pro celeusmaticu [...] ex quatuor breuibu [...]. pro dactylo. or rather by a Syn [...]resis, reice ca­pellas. Cast away [viz driue far away] thy litle goates seeding [or pasturing driue away [thy] grazing goates from the riuer side,

I my selfe. My selfe will wash [them] Euery one. all in a [faire] Spring. fountaine, when time Shall be. shall serue.

[Ye] boyes. Lads gather [your] sheepe, if The scorching heate of the mid day. heate Catch before. drie vp [their] milke,

We shall Presse hard in vaine [in milking] [their] paps with the palmes of our bands. wring [their] teates in vaine, as [we did] of late.

Alas how leane a bull is to me in fat pulse, [or in a fat field, [or ranke pasture. Alas how leane a bull haue I in such a fer­tile Ar [...]o, some reade er [...]o. Er [...]um is a kind of pulse good to fat cattell in a short space. field!

The same loue is A destruction. a spoiling to the cattel To the maister of the cattell. and to their maister [too.]

Neither certainly loue is the cause Certainly loue is not the cause To these [sheepe] viz. loue is not the cause of their l [...]nnesse. in these, [Their skins] scarce cleaue to [their] bones [for lacke of flesh.] they scarcely hang together by the bones.

I know not. I wot not What witch with her malicious eie, what eye Bewitcheth my tender lambes [to me] bewitcheth my tender lambes.

This is vnderstood of a chimney, and thus propounded to make it more darke. Tell [me] in what Earths, or lands, or grounds. countrey the Compasse of heauen, viz. the hea­uen space of heauen Lieth open [or extends it selfe] three elnes. is three elnes wide and no more, And I will esteeme of thee as of the oracle of Apollo. and thou shalt be [as] great Apollo had princi­pally the power of di­uining and declaring obscure matters. Apollo vnto me.

[And] tell thou [me] in what coun­trey By the flowers are thought to be meant Hyacinthus, or the red lilly, so named of Hya­cinthus being slaine, & turned into a flower of his name, hauing as it were the first letter of his name written vpon [...]t, whereof we may see the fable in the 10. book of Ou [...]ds Met. For both these riddles see Ramus comment. flowers grow, Written on [or intituled [accor­ding] to the names of kings, [viz. wherein are written names of kings] ha­uing written on them the names of kings, And then if thou tell me this, take thee Phyllis as thine owne, for whom we contended before. And thou alone haue Phyllis. and thou alone take Phyllis [for thy labour.]

No, It is not of vs, viz. in our power or abiliti [...]. it is our Al. Thus some take the speech to be diui­ded after Non▪ nostrum inter vos, &c. part to end so great a Al. No, [it is not your office, but] it is ours to compose so great controuer­sies, viz. I to end so great a contentiō. strife.

In my iudgement both of you haue deserued the heifer, [viz. the wager first offered.] Both thou [ Menal­cas] Palemon speaking of being afraid of sweete loue, seemes to aliude to those verses of Me­nalcas, Dulce satis hu­mor, &c. and to speake it for Menalcas cause: and of the b [...]ter loue for Dametas, who had said, Tris [...]e [...]upus sta­bulis. art worthy of the heifer, and also he, and whosoeuer Either shall feare sweete loues, or shall trie by experience bitter [loues. shall either be afraide of pleasant loue, or trie the bitter­nesse thereof.

[Page 39] Ye boyes shut now [your] Lads, shut vp [your] riuers, &c. viz. we haue had sport enough, now make an end. sluces now, the me­dowes haue drunke e­nough.

THE FOVRTH ECLOGVE [named] Pollio.

Ye Muses, or ye Goddesses of Sici­l [...] viz. of Theocritus. YE Sicelides, casus grae­canicus pro Sicilienses. Sicilian Mu­ses, Let vs sing greater things by a li­tle, [viz. let vs handle an argument somewhat more stately or loftie then our Pasiorals, and so writtē in a stile somewhat more loftie, as two other Eclogues are. let vs sing of matters somewhat more ^‖ high.

Groues of trees, or thickets, or bu­she [...] and shrubs, [viz. verses of such base matters. Groues and low Wilde Tamariske. heath All are not delighted in such base matters as our pastorall songs are. do not delight All [men.] all sorts.

[Notwithstanding] if we do sing of woods, Our pastorals. the [very] woods May be worthy of a Consull [viz. not vnmeete or vnbeseeming a Con­sull. may beseeme a Consull for to reade.

The iron age▪ wherof Sibyl the Prophetesse of Cuma writ long be­fore, is now come and gone. The last Of the Cumean verse [or song] viz. wherof Sibyl of Cuma writ in verse] or foretold. age of Si­byls song Hath come now, and is as it were past. is now alrea­die come.

The foure ages of the world (which Sibyl is said to haue set out by foure kind of met­tals, viz the golden, sil­uer, brazen, and iron age, wherof see Ouid in his Metamorphosis) are now beginning again. The great order of ages Is borne from the whole, [viz. is begun or restored againe anew, as it was from the very first beginning of the world, [or is renewed.] doth begin a­new.

[Now] viz. now that Saloninus is borne. Now The virgin also doth returne [to the earth] to wit, iustice being ba­nished long before and gone to heauē. euen Virgo] by virgo here may seem to be meant the virgin Ma [...] bea­ring our Sauior, thogh the Poet take it for E­rigone or Astraea, which as the Poets faine, was the last of these, which went to heauen, being placed among the hea uenly signes. the virgin doth returne, Sa­turnes Kingdomes returne. [viz. the gol­den age wherin Saturne first reigned. kingdome comes againe.

Now [that] new progenie [viz. whereof Sibyl spake] is sent downe from the high heauen. Now is [that] new Issue. of-spring sent downe From God. from heauen.

[Page 41]Oh chaste Lucina] Diana, who is therfore named Lu­cina, because she and Iuno are said to bring forth the birth into the light. Lucina, Preserue. fauour thou The child being now in the birth, [or to be now presently borne.] the babe that's now in birth, Who [being safely borne] [or, who liuing and being in saf [...]tie] by whom the iron Nation [or people] shall end first. [age] shall first haue end, and the golden age Shall arise in the whole world. shall be­gin again in all the world. Caesar Augustus the true Apollo of this age. Thy [brother] By Apollo he mea­neth Augustus the Em­perour, who was as it were the Apollo of that age, hauing then the chiefe Empire of all the world. Or because he was thought to be descended from Apollo. Apollo and Diana being the children of Iupiter by Latona. Apollo now reigneth.

And thus. And thus (oh Pollio) This renowne [or honour] of the age, viz. this golden age. this glorie of the world Shall first begin. shall enter in, Thee [being Consull] I say] thee being Consull. whilest thou art Consull, [I say] in thy Consulship, and By the great moneths are either meant Iuly and August, which be­fore were called Quin­tilis and Sextilis, and had not yet taken their names of Iulius and Augustus, to maintaine the memorie in their names: or else thereby are vnderstood the moneths of the great yeare, wherein all the starres should returne to their first placing or constitution. the great moneths shall begin To proceed [or go forward. to take their place.

Thee being Captaine or guide. In thy reigne the Footsteps, tracks, or traces, or re­mainders. prints [Of the ciuill warres by Augustus, viz.] the punishments and plagues due vnto vs for our former wickednes of our wicked­nesse, if any do remaine,

Made voide or frustrate [viz. pur­ged. Being vtterly taken away, shall Deliuer all nations. free the earth From feare of vengeance, which was continuall before. from perpetuall feare.

He [viz. Augustus, or Saloninus Pollios sonne. He shall Liue as a God, or be made a God. receiue the life of the [immor­tall] Gods, and shall see the Worthy Nobles of Rome. Nobles [of former ages] Mixed [or mingled] with the Gods. mixt in company amongst the Gods, And he himselfe shall be seene to them. and shall himselfe [likewise] be seene of them.

[Page 42] This he vnderstan­deth of Augustus Cae­sar, that he should thus gouerne the world, subdued and quieted by Iulius Caesar his fa­ther, by whom he was adopted. And he shall Rule the [whole] world being quieted go­uerne the world being set in peace By his fathers vertues. by his fa­thers Brought to quietnesse by the va­lour and wisedome of his father. valour.

These things which follow, the Poet mea­neth of Saloninus, whose infancie he ma­keth the infancie of the golden age, where­in all good things should begin to a­bound of their owne accord. But, oh child, [viz. oh Salo [...]ine] the earth shall powre out vnto thee her first litle gifts with no tillage [or dressing] viz. of her owne accord. But vnto thee [oh child] the earth shall send forth [her] first gifts without any labour, [to wit] Erring [or wandring ivies.] spreading ivies, with Some call it Nardus rusticus: o­thers, Sage of Ierusalem, others Lon­don buttons. Ladies gloues, and Egyptian beanes in­termixed with And [it shall powre forth] Egyp­tian beanes, &c. pleasant branke vrsine.

Smiling bearefoote. The litle goates shall returne home, The litle goate themselues shall be take [them] home [or bring backe [themselues] home, referent [se] do­mum. [hauing] their dugs strut out with milk: Or the litle goates shall bring home their vdders [or dugs or teates] stret­ [...]ed out with milke [or filled with milke. the herds of cattel shall not feare the Neither shall the heards of cattell feare, &c. Fierce or cruell Lions.] fell Lions.

Great Lions, [viz. Thy very cradle shal yeeld thee pleasant flow­ers.

The cradles themselues shall powre out to thee fawning [or flattering, viz. sweete] flowers. [That is, in the time of thy infancie shall be all plea­sant delights. Both the serpent shall Also. perish, Die. and the deceitfull And the deceitfull herbe of venim [or poison] shall die, viz. all euill shall depart, as venimous herbs & serpents. venimous herbe shall die; the As­fyrian vine shall grow The rose of Ierusalem [or our La­dies Rose, or the Grape of Armenia, [viz. all kind of most excellent plants shall spring vp in all countries. euery where.

Here Saloninus youth and first yeares are decribed by his studies and acts, and in it a second degree of the golden age by the adiuncts of it, viz. a­bundance of all good things. Commonly. But so soone as * But as soone as th [...] shalt be able now to reade the praises of noble men, [viz. men noble for the loue of vertue, which were reputed halfe Gods. [Page 43] euer thou shalt be able to reade the praises of worthy Nobles, And the deeds of thy parent, [viz. his renowned acts. and the famous acts of thy fa­ther; To vnderstand true and heauenly vertue. and to know what Vertue. valour is:

Campu [...] pro arisr [...] campi flaues [...]ent. Hy­pallage. The tender eares of corne shall wax yellow in the fields by litle and litle of their owne accord. The field shall wax yellow by little and little With the soft beard of corne. The beard being put for the eare in the corne, and so for the whole corne, and finally for many cornes. Metalepsis. with tender eares of corne:

And the red grape shall hang vpon the great brambles vnhusbanded [or vntrimmed, or not cut] but wilde. And the red grape shall hang vpon Sen [...]is is the great blamble or blacke berry bush. the rough bramble:

The hard oakes like­wise Shall drop. shall sweate Dewy hony [viz hony made of the dew of heauen [shall hang vpon the oakes] or hony falling with the dew. hony dewes.

A third degree of the golden age followeth. Yet a few footsteps of the old de­ceit [or fraud, or wickednesse] shall be vnder [or continue closely. Yet [some] few prints of ancient guile shall secretly remaine:

Old] viz. of the former ages. Which can Inforce men to go to sea through co­uetousnes, or to vse nauigation again. com­mand to trie the Thetys a Goddesse of the sea, wise of Nep­tune, put for the s [...]a. Met. [...]. Sea with Which [prints] ships, Floatboates or lighters made of peeces of timber pinned together for a shift. and com­passe townes with walls, [and] Which [may command] to com­passe &c. which [will in­force] to till the ground.

Which may command to cut in fur­rowes to the earth, [viz. to plow or tre [...]h the earth. Then shall there be another Tiphys was a notable shipwright, and gouer­nour of the ship which caried the noble Gre­cians into Colchis. Tiphys, and an­other * Then there shall be another Tiphys, &c. [viz. other notable shipwrights and mariners. Syn. spe. Argo too, which may carrie the chosen Nobles; there shall be al­so * Argo was a famous ship, wherein Iaso [...] and 54 chosen nobles of Greece sailed to Colchis, [here put for other excellent ships.] New warres. other warres:

[Page 44]And Great [or worthy] Achilles shall be sent, &c. valiant Achilles There shall be valiant souldiers and renowned warres againe. Syn. spec. shall be sent againe to Troy.

But From hence [or afterwards] when [thy] confirmed age [or age confir­med, viz thy [...]iper àge shall make thee a man. after this when thou shalt come to mans estate,

The very carier [by sea] [or [...]e that is car [...]ed.] Al. The Shall giue place to the sea. ship-man himselfe Neither the pine tree belonging to ships [or seruing to make ships] shall change her wares. shall leaue the Al. The conquerour by sea. sea. Euery earth shall beare [or bring forth] all things▪ viz all things shall grow euery where abundantly. The Na [...]tiça pinus pro [...]aui, nauis pro nautis. Metalepsis. ship of pine-tree shall not change her merchandize; Suffer or endure. euery countrey shall beare all things.

The ground shall not Harrowes, [viz. rakes, or any thing wherewith the cl [...]ds are broken.] need The vineyard [shall] not [suffer] the hooke, viz the vinehooke. harrowes, Strong or lastie pl [...]wer [or hus­band man.] nor the vineyard the The wooll shall learne to lie [viz. to make shew of, or be coloured into] diuers colours, that is, it shall not need to be died. pru­ning hooke.

And now the N [...]w [or one while] shall change his fleeces with [or into] a purple co­lour sweetly red: now [or another while] he shall change [...] fleeces] with a saffarnish [or saffron colou­red] yellow. stur­die plow man Shall vnyoke his buls [or oxen] viz shall leaue off his husbandrie, for that there shall be no need thereof. shall loose the yoakes from his buls.

Neither * shall the wooll learne to counter­fet diuers colours.

But the Ram himselfe in the medowes * shall L [...]tum is an herbe wherewith yellow is died: some take it for the marsh marigold. one while change his fleece with a sweete red Murex is a shel-fish, of the licour whereof purple is made, here put for the purple co­lour it selfe. purple, another while with Cro [...]o luto for luteo [...]roco. a yellow saffron colour.

A fine red colour shall adorne [or beautifie] of it owne accord the fee­ding lambes, viz. the sheepe shall change their colours of their owne ac­cord. Sand [...] is a colour called Pa [...]se-red or Arsenick, made of Ce­ruse or white lead and rudd [...]e, taken here for an herbe. Sandix shall clothe [Page 45] the lambes feeding, of it owne accord.

Parcae are the three Ladies of destinie, Clo­tho, Lachesis and Atro­pos, whereof the first is said to beare the distaff▪ the second to spin the thread of mans life, the third to cut off the same thread, according to that verse▪ Fert Clotho ipsa colum, Lachesis net, at Atropos occat. Called Parcae, à non parcendo, quia nomini parcant; or a par [...]u, qua [...]i partae, because they conferre good or euill to them that are borne. They are said to be three, as there are three times, viz past, present, to come; or three prin­cipall ages, childhood or youth, middle age, and old age, in which they cut off mans life. The three Ladies of destinie, or the Goddesses of life. The fatall Ladies agreeing in a stable Diuine power. de­cree of destinies, Haue said. haue spoken to their spindles [thus:] Spin ye, or draw ye out. Runne ye out Such ages. such like times.

Oh the renowned sonne of Iupiter. Oh deare of spring of the Gods, oh great increase of Ioue, Vndertake [or take in hand] [thy] great honours. enter vpon thy high renowne, The time [ordained] will be pre­sent now. now the time will be at hand.

Behold the world [now] Nodding, [viz. staggering, or in­clining as readie to fall] with a weight bending downeward, [that is, with the present euils.] reeling with a bending weight:

Both the Earths or lands. earth and The tracts [or coasts] of the sea. the sea coasts, and also the Deepe or profound. high heauen:

Behold how all things do reioyce for this [gol­den] Time. age About to come [or now comming] by thee, or with thee.] to come.

Oh that I might liue so long. Oh that the last part of [my] life may last so long to me:

And how much breath, [viz. so much breath as] shall be enough [or suffice] to tell thy deeds. [And] of my breath as may suffice to record thy worthy acts.

Neither the Thracian Orpheus shall ouercome me in verses, [viz. in setting forth thy praises. Neither Orpheus an ancient Poet, and very cunning on the harpe: sonne to Apollo and Calliope, who as the Poets report, could by his excellent musick draw the wilde beasts, woods & moun­taines after him, mea­ning that by his elo­quence he could per­swade all sorts. Orpheus of Thracia shal passe me [then] in song:

[Page 46] Neither Linus, although [his] mother [be present] to this, viz. to Orpheus, and the father [be presens] to this [viz. to Linus. Nor yet Linus a most anci­ent Thebane Poet, son to Apollo and Vrania. Li [...], al­though the mother of the one were by, and the father of the other.

[To wit, Though Calliope one of the nine Muses, mother of Orpheus were pre­sent to helpe him, and glorious Apollo the father of Linus were present to assist him likewise. though] Calliopeia [were present] vnto Orpheus, and faire Apollo to Linus.

Yea though Pan the God of the sheepheards and first inuenter of the rurall verse. [Yea though] Pan also Should striue with me [in verse.] should contend with me, Archadia [the country where Pan is worshipped, put for the Archadians who were excellent musicians. Archadia be­ing iudge:

Yet Pan would ac­knowledge himself ouer­come, euen Archadia being iudge.

Oh litle boy begin to know [viz to acknowledge] thy mother by laugh­ing, [viz. by smiling at her, [so to comfort her after her wearinesse and paine. Begin [oh litle boy] to know thy mother by [thy] smiling:

Thy mother hath endured ten mo­neths wearinesse in going with child with thee. [For] ten moneths haue brought long Lothsomnesse, as in lothing meate or drinke. wea­rinesse To [thy] mother. to her.

^‖ Oh litle boy Begin to comfort thy parents by smiling at them. begin, [For] neither the God [Genius] hath vouchsafed] him [his table, nor the Goddesse [Iuno] hath accounted [him] worthy of [her] bed, at whom [his] parents haue not laughed [or smiled.] at whom [his] parents haue not smiled,

Neither God [ The heathen [...] ascri bed their pleasures and delights in feasting and belly cheare vnto Ge­nius, whom they made the God thereof: and the preseruation of chil dren in their birth and [...]nfancie, vnto Iuno, and likewise the mariage bed. Whence, as the most learned think, by the God here is meant Genius, & by the God­desse Iuno: That nei ther of thē vouchsafed the childe a [...]y fauour, because he liued not long after he was born. Whereupon also some thinke that these two verses were added by Virgil after the death of the child: and that God suffred him not to liue, because the Poet, of so great authoritie, had turned and applied that to this child, viz. to Sa­lonin [...] Pollio's sonne, which Sibyl had pro­ph [...]d concerning Christ the Son of God. Ge­nius [vouchsafed] him [his] table, nor the God­desse [ Iuno] accounted [him] worthy of [her] bed.

THE FIFTH ECLOGVE [ Which is intituled. intituled] DAPHNIS.

Here beginneth first a preparation vnto the songs following. OH Mopsus, Why do we not sit downe here, [viz. why do we not rest vs here a while, to delight our selues in musicke? why sit we not downe here among the elmes Mingled. mixt with hazels? see­ing we haue met toge­ther, both of vs Good, viz. cunning. being skilfull, Thou being skilful to blow vp, &c. viz. in piping. thou to blow vp thy light pipes, [and] I skilfull to speake [or vtter] ver­ses, viz. in singing. I to sing in verse.

Menalcas, Thou art greater, [viz. elder, or more ancient or worthier, [or my better.] thou art mine ancient, It is equall me to obey thee, [viz. that I should obey thee, or be ruled by thee.] it is meete for me to yeeld to thee.

Whether [we Succeed, [or go vnder] the sha­dowes. go into] the shades being Vnconstant or vnstable. vncertaine By the West windes mouing [or blowing] lightly. thorough the wauing West winds:

Or rather if we enter into [ Yonder caue [or hollow place.] this] caue: We go vnder. See how the wilde vine hath ouerspread the caue, Behold [or l [...]] how the vine which groweth in the woods hath spread [or couered ouer] &c. with bunches of grapes dispersed here and there.

With rare clusters of grapes [viz. with bunches scattered here and there] or thinly. Let Amyntas onely trie maisteries with thee in [these] our hils. * What if he may trie to excell [or surpasse.

Onely Amyntas can striue [or may trie with thee.] viz. none but Amyn­tas [or I know no sheepheard but A­myntas that] dare play with thee in our countrey. What if he Can striue to thee. Graecismus. dare trie to go beyond * Can striue or go beyond Apollo in song [or singing] [viz. in musicke] [Page 49] Apollo in singing?

Mopsus Begin thou the former, or first [to sing.] be­gin thou first, if thou haue either any Fiers [viz. burning, or raging, or mad loues, that i [...], songs [...] [...] [...] continent loues] of Phillis. loues of Phyllis daughter of [...] Ly [...]rgus, who [...] her selfe for­ [...] by Demoph [...]n [...] of the king of A­thens, hanged her selfe, and was turned into a tree. Phillis, or the praises of c Alcon, or else the brawlings of Codrus a King of A­thens, who in warre a­gainst the Laconians (hauing receiued this answer from the Ora­cle, that that side should get the victorie whose King was slaine) changed his attire, and rushed in amongst the enemies, wonderfully pro [...]oking them, and was killed by them. Codrus.

Begin: Tityrus Shall keepe. shall [...]end Thy kids [now] pasturing [or fee­ding.] thy kids, whilst b Alcon an excellent archer of [...]reete, who with an arrow slue a serpent wrapped about his sonne, and neuer touched the child. that they feed.

Yea rather I will trie [to sing] these Verses. songs, which I wrote of late in the greene bark Of a beech tree. of a beech, And tuning [these verses.] and tu­ning noted them By course, [viz. one while tuning, another while noting. by course. Then bid thou [That] Amyntas striue, [viz. trie what he can do. Amyntas trie.

How much. As much as the Bending willow or ozier. limber willow Giues place. is inferiour To the goodly oliue tree. to the pale oliue:

[And] how much the Of these three stories see Ramus vpon this place more at large. low Spike. lauender [giues place] to the Red rose gard [...]ns. red rose borders:

Amyntas giues place so much vn­to thee in our iudgement. Amyntas in our opi­nion is so farre inferiour vnto thee.

But Oh boy ceasse [viz. leaue off] [to speake] [...] things▪ we haue succee­ded [viz. we h [...]ue approched or come vnder] the ca [...]. sirra, ceasse [to adde] moe words; we are come vnto the caue.

Here beginneth the Epicedion or funerall song for Daphn [...] as yet vnburied: whereof are three parts: The first from the mourning of his mother, of the Nymphes, the cattell, and the very Lions. The Nymphs Wept for. bewailed Daphnis Extinct, or put out, [viz. taken away] pe­rishing By a cruell funerall. by a cruel death: Ye hazels are witnesses, and ye riuers [are witnesses] to the Nymphs. ye hazels and ye riuers [too] are witnesses vnto the Nymphes.

When as [his] mo­ther Hauing embraced. embracing The wofull corpes. the miserable bodie of her sonne, [Doth call] both the gods [cruell] and also calls the starres cruell. calls both Gods and starres Cruell, because they suffered her sonne to be so cruelly murdered. cruell.

Oh Daphnis, No heardmen. not any [heardmen] draue their Oxen or kine. cattell, Being fed. hauing graz'd, vnto the Cold riuers. [viz waters.] coole streames In those dayes when this slaughter was committed. in those dayes: neither did any foure-footed beast taste of the riuer, nor touch An herbe [viz. a blade or leafe] of grasse. a chier of grasse.

[Oh worthy] Daph­nis, both the Cruell, hard, or desolate. wilde mountains & the woods Do speake or say. report, Euen the Carthaginian Lions to haue groned [or sighed for] thy death, [viz. because of thy cruell death. that euen the African Lions mourned for thy Destruction. death.

The second part of the Epicedion of Daph­nis, concerning his acts. Daphnis both Appointed or ordained first at Rome. or­dained [first] To draw the chariot of triumph with Tigres▪ to tie the Armenian Tigres to the coach; [also he ap­pointed] To bring in these at Rome: though it appeareth by histories, that the Bacchanalia were vsed in Rome long before Iulius Caesars time. to bring in Thyasus was a most filthy dance vs [...]d in the [...] of Bacchus. dances vnto Bacchus.

[Page 51] In Bacchus sacrifice they vsed to beare a iauelin wrapped with ivie, called Thy [...]sis. And To weaue in, or wrap about. to bind about the Bending, quiuering, or shiuering speares. limber speares with Soft. pleasant leaues.

The third part of the Epicedion, from the honour and happinesse which the Romanes receiued by Daphnis while he liued, being adorned by foure [...] ­militudes. As the vine is the Grace or ornament. honour to the trees, [and] as the grapes [ Are [the ornament.] are] to the vines;

And the buls [are] to the Flockes. heards; as The corne now ripe. the stan­ding corne [ [Are.] is] to the Fat. fruitfull fields:

[So] thou art all the honour Vnto thy family▪ or vnto the Ro­manes, whose Empire Caesar wonder­fully enlarged: or else, vnto sheep­heards. vnto thine. And amplified by the contrary euil [...] that fol­lowed after his death. After that the destinies haue ta­ken thee away [so cruelly.] Since that the fates haue taken thee away,

Pales [the Godd [...]sse of shepheards] her selfe [hath left the fields,] and Apollo himselfe hath left the fields [likewise.] Pales her selfe and euen Apollo too hath left the fields:

Vnhappie or vnluckie darnell [or tares.] Mischieuous darnell and Light or vnprofitable oates. barren oates Do rule ouer all [or almost onely grow and run ouer all▪] do beare the sway Vpon the tilled land, where we haue sowne the best and greatest, or fullest corne. in the furrowes, whereto Cast or throwne. we haue Flower de luce, as some thinke. committed great barley oftentimes.

We haue committed eft. For the pleasant vio­let, [and] for the purple The thistl [...] [doth arise or grow] and the whit [...] thorne with sharpe prickes springs vp, for the soft violet, [and] for the [...] [...]. The holly tree, or rather [...] or g [...]sce. Narcissus,

The thistle and Scatt [...] [or co [...]er] the ground with flowers, [viz adorne the place of his sepulcher with flowers. white thorne grow▪ vp with [their] sharpe pricks.

Hitherto his funerall song, whereunto is adioyned his Epitaph, viz. verses concerning his sepulcher, to be set vpon his tombe. [Yee] sheepheards Hitherto his funerall song, whereunto is adioyned his Epitaph, viz. verses concerning his sepulcher, to be set vpon his tombe. strew the ground with [Page 52] leaues, Bring in the shades to the foun­taines, [that is, make gr [...]es about the fountaines wherein his soule may dwell: [for they thought that the soules of such worthy nobles dwelt in the woods and about the fountaines.] make shades a­bout the fountaines, Daphnis commands such things to be done for him.

And make A sepulchre or hearse. a tombe, And adde aboue, this verse vnto the tombe. and set this verse vpon the same.

I am Daphnis knowne in the woods from hence euen vnto the starres or skies. Daphnis I am, known in the woods from hence vnto the starres.

A keeper [loe] of cat­tell [I was] a keeper of faire cattell, I my selfe being fairer [then they.] viz. the most renow [...]d Emperour of the noble Romanes. faire, yet fairer am my selfe.

Thus farre [...] the E­pitaph of Daphnis: now followeth the com­mendation thereof by Menalcas: and then his deifying or canoniza­tion, viz his referring of him into the num­ber of the Gods, which Menalcas vndertakes. Oh diuine Poet, thy verse [is] Such [or of such sort.] so pleasant vnto vs,

Of what sort sleepe [is] to [men] being wearie [lying downe] in the grasse, [and] of what sort it is [a man] to quench [his] thirst with a bubbling streame of sweete water. As sleepe to wearie [men] [lying] in the grasse; [and] as in the heate,

To quench [ones] thirst with a Leaping riuer [or springing streame.] bubbling streame of sweete wa­ter.

Neither doest thou match [thy] Maister, viz. [...], whom Virgil i [...]tated. maister onely With [thy] reeds, [viz. thy pip [...] and playing thereon,] but with [thy] voice, viz. in singing. in thy pipe, but also in thy voice.

Oh fortuna [...] Boy [or youth▪] lad, thou now shalt be Another from him, [viz. the next vnto [...] i [...] skill of pastorall [...].] the next to him.

[Page 53] Howbeit we will say these our [verses] to thee by course, after [...] manner, and we will lift vp thy Daphnis vnto the signes of heauen [viz vnto the starres.] Yet notwithstanding we will tune these songs of ours to thee againe by course, As well as we can. in some fashion, and we will extoll thy Daphnis to the skies.

We will Lift vp. aduance Daphnis vnto the starres: [for] Daphnis loued vs also [or made much of vs.] Daphnis likewise loued vs.

Whether can any thing be greater to vs. Can any thing be dearer vnto vs then such a verse?

Both The boy [viz. Daphnis▪ This cannot be vnderstood of Caesar, who was slain in his mans estate.] the youth him­selfe was worthy to be sung of: and Stimichon the famous Po [...]t. Stimichon commended these verses Al. ‖ A while ago, or not long ago, or of late. vnto vs, al. now of late.

White [or shining Daphnis. Glorious Daph­nis Admires, or maruels at. wonders at the vn­accustomed Threshold or entrance [...] hea­uen. gate of Oly [...]pus a hill in Greece, so high that of the Poets it is vsed for hea­uen. heauen, and seeth the clouds and Signes of heauen. starres vnder his feete.

Therefore Pleasure doth hold the merria woods. viz. the woods and countries do reioyce. pleasure doth possesse the merrie woods, And the rest of the countries [viz. all are quiet and plentifull.] and other coun­tries, and Pan also & the sheepheards, and The Ny [...]hs of the woods, which solace themselves amongst the [...], whereof in the second Eclogue. those gir [...]es [called] Dryades. * Neither the [...] doth [...] wiles [or [...] to [...]] to the cattell, [...] any nets deuis [...] [...] [...] the stags [or h [...]rts.]

Al. merrie pleasure doth possesse. The wolfe [deui­seth] not any hurt vnto [Page 54] the Foulds. cattell, nor any Hunters with nets do seeke [...]o catch the stags. nets intend deceit vnto the stags; good Daphnis lo­ueth Quietnesse, viz. concord and rest. peace.

Oh Menalcas, The very hils vnshorne [viz. full of greene trees replenished with leaues.] cast vp [or send forth] their voices, viz▪ do exceedingly reioyce. the hils vnlopt lift vp their voices with ioy vnto the starres: the very rockes [do sound out] verses now, the groues them­selues Do sound [he is] a God, he [is] a God. do ring; he [is] a God, a God [he is.]

Oh [Daphnis.] O be thou good and Happie [or bountifull] to thine. viz. to them that adore and honour thee n [...]w made a God. gracious to thine. Be­hold Foure altars erected. foure altars.

Daphnis behold two altars for thee. Loe ( Daphnis) two for thee, and the [other] two Altare quod à terrae erectum & exaltatum est. Ara qua in terra sta [...]itur. Ara etiam [...] dei, altare a [...]then▪ tici. altars for Apollo.

I will offer vnto thee yearely sa­crifices two pots of milke, &c. I will appoint. I will prepare for thee euery yeare two pots Foaming full. foaming with new milke, and two Goblets or ka [...]s. great cups of fat oyle.

And feasting merrily. And making Pleasant. merry bankets, chiefly With much Bacchus. with good store of wine,

Before the fire if it shall be cold, If [it shall be] harnest. if hot, [then] in the Shadow. shade,

Will powre but New Nectar▪ viz. a pleasant li­quor fained to be the drinke of the Gods. a new and pleasant drinke [euen] Ar [...]isian wines, viz. of Aruisia, a place in the Isle Chi [...]. malmsey, with [Page 55] sacrificing cups.

Dametas and Egon two notable shepherds Dametas and Egon Of Lyctus, which was a towne of Creete, whence he had his name. of Creete Shall sing vnto me, viz. they shall play, and Alphesibeus shall dance. shall sing me songs:

Alphesibeus a fained name of a shepheard, of [...], inuenio, & [...], bos, velut inuentor boum. Alphesibeus shall i­mitate the dancing The Satyre is a kind of beast in the furthest parts of Lybia, hauing the face of a man: they are called ser­uants of Bacchus for their beastly wantonnesse, and named gods of the woods. Sa­tyres.

The time of his sa­crifices, viz. twise so­lemnly euery yeare. These [holy duties] These [sacred rites] Shall be alwayes to thee. shall euer be [perfor­med] to thee, both when we shall Restore or giue. pay our Wonted once euery yeare. so­lemne vowes vnto the Nymphs, and When we shall view, [viz. when we Go about the fields with much de­uotion, as in the feasts called Amber­uallia, spoken of in the second Eclogue. view the fields.

The perpetuitie of his deitie. [Thy] honour and thy name and praises shall remaine alwayes, whi­lest the Boare [shall loue] the top of a hill, whilest the fish shall loue [or delight in] the riuers. Whilest the Boare [shall loue] the ridges of the hils, [and] whilest the fish shall loue the streames:

And whilest the Bees shall be fed with thyme, whilest the grashoppers [shall be fed] with dew. And whilest the Bees shall be fed Vpon the thyme flowers. with thyme, [and] the grashoppers with the dew;

[Thy] honour and thy name and praises shall euermore remaine.

The husbandmen Shall vow. shal make vowes yearely vnto thee, like as vnto Bacchus and to Ceres. And thou shalt also Condemne them [or hold them guil­tie] for not performing their vowes: or bind them with their vowes, that they performe them when thou hast granted their petitions, and punish them if they do not. charge them with their vowes.

Mopsus to requite Menalcas, commends his verses of the de [...]fi­cation of Daphnu, by three comparisons of the lesse. What [gifts shall I bestow on] thee? What [gifts] what can I requite For this thy song. for such a song?

For [...]either the hizzing [or whiz­zing blast] of the Southwind coming. For neither doth the whisling of the South­wind rising, so much [de­light] me:

Nor the shores S [...]itten or dashed against with the waue. bea­ten on with the waues, do please me [so,] Nor the flouds which run downe­ward. nor yet the streames which do run downe amongst the stonie Dales or bankes. valleys.

We will present thee before with this brittle hemlocke, [viz. pipe made of hemlocke.] We will first bestow on thee this brit­tle pipe:

Vpon this pipe I learned those two songs, viz. the second and the third Eclogue. This [pipe taught] vs: Corydon impatiently loued faire Alexis.

This same taught vs: Whose cattell [are these?] Whether are they the cattell of Melibee? are they Me­libees?

But Menalcas, take thou [ My shepheards staffe. this] sheep­hooke, Being very fine [or tri [...]s.] being very faire, with With euen [or equall knots] and with brasse, viz. either brazen studs or tacks, in euery knot one, [or the hoope [...]ade of brasse, or with a hoope [...]nd pike of brasse. equall knots and studs of brasse, which Antigenes Tooke not, or bore not away. could not obtaine, When he oft asked me it. though he oft requested it of mee,

[Page 57] Although he was well worthy to be loued. and [yet] was he then worthy to be loued.

THE SIXTH ECLOGVE [ To which the name is Silenus. called] SILENVS.

OVr [Muse] Thalia is properly one of the three Gra­ces, whose names were Aglaia, Thalia, and Euphrosune, supposed to be the daughters of Iupiter and Venus. Tha­lia vouchsafed first To sing. to play In pa [...]torall verse, in imitation of Theocritus, who dwelt in Syracuse a famous citie in Sicilia. in For Syracusio some write Syracosio, lest it comming of ou, should be contracted. And it is Syracusi for Syracusa­no after the maner of the [...], as Siceli­des for Sicilienses, Ec­log. 4. Syracusian verse, and blushed not To inhabite the woods. to dwell a­mong the woods.

When I did sing. When as I sang of Kings and Battels or skirmishes. warres, Cynthius, [Apollo is called Cyn­thius of Cynthus a mountaine in the Isle Delos, where Apollo and Dians were borne. A­pollo Puid [my] eare, and admonished me. pluckt me by the care, and warned me: Oh Tityrus It behoueth a sheepheard to feed fat sheepa, and to speake [or sing] a verse drawne out, [viz. a pastorall song of a low or meane kind, drawne out small like wooll in spinning.] it becometh a sheepheard to fat [his] sheepe, [and] to sing a teased verse.

Now will I meditate a fielden Muse, [viz. a pastorall song] with my slender reed. Now will I play a countrey tune with my slender reeden pipe: (for Varus thou shalt haue [...] ­now who will desire to (For, Varus, there shall be aboue to thee, [viz. there shall remaine enow to thee] who may desire to vtter thy praises. speake of thy praises, and To build [viz. to set out or de­clare] thy sorrowfull warres. to describe thy dread­full warres.

I do not sing Things vncommanded, without the command [viz. of Pollio or Au­gustus.] vnbid­den things: yet if any one shall also [reade] these [verses,] if any one Taken with the loue of thee, or enamoured with the ‖ If any one be enamoured, let him reade these things. loue [of thee] will reade [Page 59] them. Oh Varus, Our wilde tamariske [or ling] shal sing of thee. our heath shall sing thy prai­ses.

Euery Groue or forrest, most properly a groue for pleasure. wood Shall praise thy deeds. shall sing of thee: Neither is there. for there is not any Page [or booke.] A page is pro­perly a side of a leafe in a booke. writing more pleasing To be learned. to Apollo, then that Which hath prescribed the name of Varus vnto it selfe, [viz. which is written in the praises of Varus] or hath the title of Varus. which beares the name of Varus.

Oh ye [nine] Muses borne in Pie­rius in Thessalie, go ye on. Yee Muses of the hill Pierius proceede. The two youths Chromis & Mnas. The lads Chromis and Mnasilus saw Bacchus schoolemaister, a famous Poet. Silenus ly­ing fast asleepe in a caue,

Lying [ouerwhelmed or buried] in sleepe. Hauing his veines blowne vp, Blowne vp [in respect of his veins] with yesterdayes wine, as alwayes. with wine the day before, as alwayes [hee was wont.]

[His] garlands lay Bacchus. [Iachos a name of Bac­chus, of [...] signifying a crie, groa­ning or belching, taken from the filthy noises which drunkards make com­monly. a good way off, Onely fallen downe from his head, viz. otherwise whole, and not bro­ken nor hurt. one­ly slipped A farre off. from his head,

To his head. And a great A pot or iug that held a great deale of wine. kan hanged by, hauing the eare all worne.

[ And a great [viz. a heauie or mightie] tankard, with the handle [or stouke all worne] hanged on his necke or at his girdle, neare vnto him. They] setting [on him] (for This old Silenus. the old man had oft times mocked * They inuading or assailing him. them both Promising to sing them songs. with hope of a song) Bind him with hands made of the garlands themselues. cast bonds vpon [Page 60] him [made] of his very garlands.

Egle Addeth her selfe a fellow. adioyned her selfe [as] a companion, And came vpon them being fear­full, [viz. came (as we say) in the nicke, or in the very fit oportunitie, to helpe them, being timorous or doubt­full. and came to helpe these timorous youths:

[Euen] Egle the fairest of the. Naiades are the Fairies, haunting riuers and fountaines. water Nymphs, And painted [both] his browes and temples with bloud red mulberies, she seeing him. and painted [both] the forehead and the tem­ples of the head [ [To him, viz▪ to Silenus] now see­ing [her] viz. being awaked, and looking on her.] of him] now ^‖ seeing [her,] with bloudie coloured mulberies.

Hee laughing at [ Loose me, ye boyes. their] subtiltie; to what end knit you these bands? quoth he.

The subtill iest. Yee boyes, loose me: Silenus makes him­selfe a halfe God, which were seene but when they listed; and thus he speaketh as followeth. it is enough Me to haue bene able to be seene [of you,] being seene but when I list. that I could be seene [of you.]

Know ye what verses you will. Chuse ye what songs you will haue, Verses [shall be] to you. you shall haue songs.

Another reward shact be to this [Egle.] She shall haue ano­ther reward. He begins withall. [And] so withall doth he begin.

When Silenus began to sing. And then indeede you might behold both the The Gods of the woods. Fawnes and wilde beasts too, To play [or skip] in number, viz. according to the harmony of the tune. to dance in measure and in time; [Page 61] then might you see the Stiffe oakes to moue oft and shake sturdie oakes to waue their tops.

Neither the Parnassian rocke, [viz. the mount Parnassus in Thessa­lie, consecrated to Apollo] So that Parnassus rock Doth so much [delight and] ioy in Phoebus, viz. Apollo. doth not so much reioyce in Phoebus:

Nor Rhodope doth wonder at so much, nor Ismarus [so greatly ad­mire] Orpheus. Nor Rhodope and Isma­rus mountains in Thra­cia, wherein Orpheus was wont to play. Rhodope and Is­marus do so admire Or­pheus.

The argument or subiect matter of Sile­nus songs. For he sang how the The Epicures thoght all these to be made of motes and such little bodies concurring. seeds Of the earths, and of the soule, and also of the sea, and withall of the li­quid fire had bene gathered together. of the earth and of the aire, and also of the water, and likewise of the Cleare or pure. liquid fire, were first gathered together Thorough the great emptinesse. tho­rough out the great vast space: How all beginnings [growed vp together] from these first seeds, and the very tender globe of the world growed together. how all things[tooke] their beginnings of the first [seeds,] and how the Yong, pliant delectable, or tender at the first. ^‖ Growed fast and strong in euery part. tender globe it selfe of the round world did grow together:

Then [loe] the earth began to harden and to separate Nereus [a god of the sea, the sonne of Oceanus, whereof the Ocean had the name. Here put for the Ocean. the Ocean sea from Pontus the sea betweene Meotis and Tenedos, so called of Pontus the sonne of Nercus. Pontus, How things began to be formed of the earth. and by litle and litle to take the Formes, viz. diuers shapes. shapes of things.

And now the earths [or lands] are amazed at the new Sunne to begin to shine. And also how the earth is now astonished [to see] The Sunne newly formed with the other heauenly lights. the new Sunne to begin to shine.

[Page 62]And [how] The raine doth fall. the showres do fall The clouds being remoued more high [or very high.] from clouds remoued on high [from th'earth,]

How. When first the woods Do begin. began To rise [viz to spring vp.] to grow vp, And when the liuing creatures do erre [or wander] thorough [or a­mongst] the mountaines, [viz when the mountaines and valleys began to be replenished with new creatures.] and at what time the beasts wandered vp and downe throughout the vnknowne mountaines.

Of the framing of the world in the be­ginning, and of the re­pairing it after the floud, especially for the repairing of man­kind by Pyrrha and Deucalion, and so the other stories, see Ouid in his Metamorphosis. After this [he reports or relates] the stones cast to Pyrrha [viz. of or by Pyrrha] [and also he relates] Sa­turnes kingdomes. After this [he sang of] the stones cast by Pyrrha, and of Saturnes kingdomes.

Also he reports [or shewes] the birds of Caucasus and the theft of Prometheus. And withall he sings of the birds of the hill Caucasus and the theft For the rest of this Eclogue, I referre the ingenuous Reader to Ramus and other Commenters. of Prometheus, &c.

THE SEVENTH ECLOGVE [ To whom the name i [...] [viz. which is inti­tuled or named.] called] Me­liboeus.

By hap [or by chance] Daphnis had [...]it downe together. DAphnis as it fell out, sate downe vn­der a Shrill by the mouing of the leaues. whizzing The holme is a kind of oake. holme:

And both Corydon and [Page 64] Thyrsis Had driuen together▪ [or had ga­thered together] their flockes into one [flocke.] had gathered their flockes into one,

Thyrsis [had gathered his] sheepe, [and] Corydon [had gathered his] li­tle she goates stretched [or strouted out] viz. hauing their vdders full of milke. Thyrsis [his] sheepe, Corydon his goates bagd with milke.

Both of them [were] flourishing in their ages, viz. flourishing youths. Both of them flou­rishing in age, Both of them borne in Arcadia, and right Arcadians▪ for their musicke, [viz. very skilfull musicians. both Ar­cadians.

And equall to sing, and ready to answer [viz. in verse] whosoeuer should chalenge them. Also matches in sin­ging, and prepared to answer [one another by turnes.]

The man [or husband] of the flocke [viz. the high goate] himselfe had wandered away to me [viz. from me] hither, whilst I defend [viz. do fence] [my] myrtle trees from the cold [viz. my yong myrtles. Whilst I was fen­cing my tender myrtles from the cold: the goate himselfe the leader of the flocke, had strayed from me hither: And I see [or behold] Daphnis. and then I spied Daphnis: He (when he seeth me against [him]) saith quickly [or very quick­ly.] who when he saw me ouer a­gainst him, Or spake, O Melibeus come hither quickly. spake quick­ly [thus vnto me.]

O Melibeus come hither [thy] goate is safe for thee, [or the he goate to thee is safe] and [thy] kids [are safe.] Come hither Me­libeus, thy goate is safe, and so likewise thy kids.

And if thou canst Ceasse any thing [viz. if thou haue any leisure.] stay any whit, rest [with me] vnder the Shadow. shade.

The very bullocks will come hither, &c. The bullockes will come hither to drinke, thorough the medowes of their owne accord.

[Page 65] Al. Here Mincius is called greene, for green trees & reeds with the sedge growing about it. the greene Al. Here Mincius hath couered his green banks with a tender re [...]d, [viz. with yong reeds.] riuer Mincius hath coue­red his banks with tender reeds: and the swarmes of bees Make a humming noise from the oake consecrated to Iupiter. resound from the holy oake.

What should I do? for neither had I Alcippe [my wife] nor [my daughter] Phillis al. at Al. Which might shut vp at home [my] lambes weaned from [their] milke, [viz. from their dams.] home, which might Shut vp [within the foulds.] shut vp [my lambes] Driuen away from the milke. weaned from the milke.

And there was A great contention [or strife for maisteries. a great match to be tried Corydon [did striue [or play for a wager] with Thyrsis, or to Corydon with Thyrsis. Prolepsis implicit [...]. betweene Corydon and Thyrsis.

Neuerthelesse I set after mine own earnest matters to their play, [viz. I preferred their sport before mine own serious [or weightie] businesse [of seeking my goate.] Yet set I mine owne serious [businesses] after Their contention in musicke. their sport.

Then Corydon and Thyrsis. both of them began To contend. to trie with ver­ses sung One after another by turnes. by course. The Muses wold haue [them] record In this Eclogue they sing by turnes, either of them foure verses, like as in the third by couples, [...] two & two, and in the fift by twen­tie fiue a peece. [their Verses by course. songs by turnes.

Corydon began, and rehearsed the foure first verses. Corydon [rehearsed] These [verses.] these [first, and] Thyr­sis related in order those [that follow.]

O Nymphs of Lybethris a fountain where those Nymphs are worshipped. Ly­bethris, Being our loue [or delight.] [who are] our [Page 66] chiefe delight, either grant vnto me [such] a verse as [yee vouchsa­fed] to my Codrus; (for he makes [verses] Almost equall to Apollos verses. next vnto the verses of Phoebus. A­pollo:) or if all of vs can­not [make such,]

My shrill sounding pipe shall I will hang vp the instruments of my profession, as hauing serued out my time. hang here vpon [this] The pine tree consecrated to Cybele the mother of the Gods. sacred pine.

Poets were crowned with ivie, either as be­ing consecrated to Li­ber, and inspired with a furious spirit, as in the feasts of Bacchus; or else because as ivies are alwayes greene, so ver­ses deserue eternitie, as Seruius thinketh. Yee Arcadian sheepheards, Decke ye, viz. crowne, with a pa­storall garland of ivie, though not with a lawrell crowne. adorne with ivie [Me your] Poet. [your] Poet growing [in his skill,] That Codrus may burst for enuie, [viz. that I should be preferred be­fore him for my musicke. That the small guts may be bursten to Codrus with enuie. that Codrus guts may burst for enuie:

The heathen feared to be praised ouer­much, especially of e­nemies, thinking that praise to haue the force of witchcraft, against which they accounted the herbe Bacchar to haue speciall vertue. Or if he shall be inforced to praise me. Or if he shall praise [me] Beyond [his] liking. more then he would willingly, Gird about [my] forehead. com­passe yee my browes a­bout with Ladies gloues. ^‖ Codrus [or Corydons] euill tongue. Saint Iohns wort, lest [his] ill tongue should hurt [me] About to be a Poet, [viz. which ar [...] in hope to be a Poet, or, your Poet that shall be. now ready to be a Poet.

Corydon to the end that he may obtaine his desire for Poetry, offers vnto Diana the sister of Apollo and Goddesse of hunting, these gifts be­fitting her th [...]s set out. Oh Delia. Oh Diana [thou hunting God­desse,] [my] little Mycon ^‖ My litle sonne Mycon. [ Presents or giues.offers] vnto thee this head of the bristly The Boare and the Stag are amongst the principall beasts of the chase in hunting. boare, and [these] [Page 67] branched hornes Pli [...]ie and others re­port that the Stags liue very long. of the long liued Stag.

If this victorie or praise shall be mine, that I shal be next vnto Codrus in musicke or Poetrie. If this [wager] shall be mine owne, I will make thee a picture of marble. thou shalt stand [made] Whole. wholly of smooth mar­ble E [...]incta sur [...]s foe [vsque] sur [...]s, Synecd [...] ­che. or, secundum sur [...]s. Tied about [euen vnto] the calues of the legs with a purple buskin. in purple bus­kins.

Priapus the god of the gardens or orchard Priapus, I hope thou wilt be contented with me, if according to my poore estate I offer vnto thee a boll of milke, &c. it is enough for thee to ex­pect euery yeare a boll of milke and these cakes: thou art [but] the keeper Of the simple garden. of the poore orchard.

We haue made thee a picture of marble. Now we haue made thee of marble For the present. for the time: But if bringing forth of yong, shall supply [or fill] [our] flocke: but if increase of yong shall store [our] flocke, Then thou shalt be golden, viz. haue a picture made of gold. [then] be thou all of gold.

O Nymph Gala­tea, daughter of Nereus, sweeter to me Then the hony of Hybla, of which before in the first Eclogu [...]. then the thyme of Hybla [to the bees,]

Whiter then the swans, fairer Then the fairest [...]. then white ivie.

So soone as The cattel being filled shall [...] [...]. the buls being fed Shall seeke againe their stals, [or go againe vnto their stals.] shall returne vnto their stals, Come tho [...] if any care of thy Cory­don ha [...]e [or possisse] th [...]e. if thou haue any care of thy Co­rydon [then] come thou.

Yea let me seeme to thee more bitter then These herbes of Sardinia are taken for a kind of Crow-foote, which being eaten do take away the vnder­standing, and do shrink vp the sinewes in the face in such sort, that a man shall seeme to die laughing: where­upon came that Adage of the Sardinian laugh­ter. the Sardois pro Sardinijs, Casus Grae­cus. ^‖ The herbes that grow in Sardinia. Sardinian herbes, More horrible. more rough to touch then Butchers broome is a prickly shrub. butchers broome, more Contemptible. vile Then sea weed cast forth [of the sea.] then Alga, is called of some Lauer or Sea­girdle, it seemeth to be a sea herb growing on the rocks, hauing leaues like lettice, though here it is taken for whatso­euer weeds the sea ca­steth out. wrake cast vp on shore,

If that This light. this day be not Now. already longer to me then a whole yeare.

O bullockes fed [e­nough;] go home, Go ye [home, if there be any shame [to you.] if you haue any shame, be gone.

Oh fountaines [or springs] greene ouer with mosse. Oh mossie springs, And oh herbe more soft [or plea­sant] to sleepe, [viz. vnto sleepe. and [thou] O grasse Mollior som no, for ad somnum. most fost to sleep [vpon,];

And that greene Arbute, or sernice tree, or crab tree. wil­ding tree, which coue­reth you With the shadow of her branches spred here and there. with her thin Shadow. shade,

Defend ye [or keepe away] the sol­stice to the cattel, viz from the cattel: that is, saue the cattell from the heate of the Sunne in the solstice. Hypalla­ge. Met. Effic. Keepe off The solstice in the Sommer, is when the Sun ascends no higher towards vs: of Solis sta­tio, which is about the 11 or 12 of Iune: like as contrary the Winter solstice, when it is at the lowest from vs. the ve­hement heate from the cattell: now the The vine buds. scor­ching Summer comes, now Burning heate. the gemmes Do swell. break forth in the Ioyfull [or rank [...]] vine branch. pleasant vine branch.

Here [is] an herth and Teda is taken most properly for the mid­dle or the heart of the pine tree, which (tho­rough the licour in it) being kindled burneth like a torch, and gene­rally for any kinde of fat and gummy wood, and so for a torch, or whatsoeuer the torch is made of. fat gummie wood, ^‖ Fat torches. here [is] euer Very much fire, a great fire. good store [Page 69] of fire, and the posts blacke with continuall Smoke. soote.

Here by reason of our good f [...]ors. Here care we for the Colds. cold of the North­wind so much as either the wolfe cares for the number [of the sheepe,] or The flouds running violently, [or vehement, or boisterous. the raging streames [care for] the bankes.

Both the iuniper trees stand [full of fruite] and also The rough chest-nut trees [stand full.] the rough chest-nuts [ Are plenteous, or waxe ripe. doe a­bound.]

Their owne seuerall apples lie eue­ry where scattered vnder the tree. The apples lie euery where strewed vnder their trees:

All things do laugh now, [viz. do seeme to reioyce because of the plentie and our prosperitie. Now all things laugh: but is faire Alexis Should depart. depart from these hils, Thou shouldest then see the very riuers drie. [then] thou mayest Also the flouds drie. see the ve­ry riuers dried vp.

The field Is drie [or is parched with heate, or is very drie. is parcht, The herbe [viz grasse] dying tho­rough the felt [or vnseasonablenesse] of the aire [or weather] thirsteth [for raine.] the grasse thir­steth, dying through the distemper of the aire.

Bacchus Hath grudged, or denied, or disdai­ned. hath enuied The shadowes made of the vine branches, [viz. the vines haue lost their leaues through the scorching heate. the shades of the vine branches to the hils.

[But] euery Groue [or all trees.] wood Shall be greene [againe.] shal waxe green [again▪] [Page 70] At the coming of o [...]r Phillis, [viz. if she shall come vnto vs.] by the coming of our Phillis.

And very much Iupiter, [viz. sweete and pleasant aire. And good store of Iupiter is put for the [...], by a Meton. Effic. which [...]ire being thick­ned, tur [...]eth into raine. Iupeter q. iuuans pa­ [...], or iuuans ac [...]. pleasant aire shall [then] descend With a merry [or ioyfull] shower, viz. with raine making [...] ioyfull and merry. with comfortable showres.

The poplar tree [is] Most acceptable [or best pleasing, or dedicated. most pleasing to Alcides put for Her­cules. Patronym. ab Al­c [...]o [...]. The poplar is dedicated to him, be­cause being crowned with poplar when [...]e went downe to hell (as the Poets faine) part of the leaues which stucke close to the temples of his head, remained still white, but the outward part of them remained blacke with the soote of hell, which colour still abides in the leaues Alcides. Hercules, The vine [ [...] [...] pleasing] or most delight s [...]ms. the vine to Iacchus. Bacchus,

The myrtle tree to Faire. beautifull Venus, The lawrell being Apolloos owne tree. his [Is most pleasing] to Apollo. owne lawrell To Ph [...]bus. vnto Ouercome, [viz. go beyond in esti­mation.] Apollo.

[But] My loue. Phillis loueth The [...]ilberd tree. the hazels; whilest Phil­lis shall loue them:

Neither shal the myr­tle tree Nor the bay [...] of Apollo [shall passe them. surpasse the ha­zels, The fairest [tree growing] to the woods. nor the lawrell of Apollo.

The ash tree is The pine tree [is the fairest tree.] the fairest in the woods, The poplar [is the fairest tree.] the pine tree in the or­chards. [...] Gardens.

In the [...], [by the ri [...]ers side.] The poplar tree If [...] see [...] [...] [...] [...]ft. vp­on the riuer bankes, the [...]ir tree in the high moun­taines.

But oh faire Lycidas, * if thou oftener visit [...] me,

[Page 71]The ash in the woods Shall yeeld [viz. shall be inferiour to thee. shall stoope to thee, [and] the pine tree In the orchards [shall yeeld to thee.] in the orchards.

I remember [well] these [songs.] These things I remember [well,] and Thyrsis Being ouercome, to contend in vaine. ouer-matched to haue contended all in vaine.

Since that time Corydon is the noble conquerour,] viz. Corydon is for vs, [viz. Corydon is for our money,] or in our iudge­ment. Co­rydon, Corydon is for vs.

THE EIGHTH ECLOGVE [IN­tituled] Pharmaceutria of [...], venenum sine [...], vnde [...], ve­neno inficio, medeor, & [...], venefi­cus, [...], & [...] venefica [...] [...]. Pharmaceutria, [or the Witch or Sorceresse.]

[ We will speake of, or relate. We will record] a song of [two] sheepheards, [to wit] of Damon and Alphesibeus; Whom stri [...]ing [viz. contending in singing.] whom as they were try­ing maisteries [in sing­ing] A h [...]fer forgetting her grasse, [or lea [...]ing off to eate] maruelled at. a yong heifer Of herbes. much wondered at, vnmindfull With the vers [...] [or song,] of which [two] the Lynces [were] amazed. of [her] grasse; The flouds or streames. at whose song the Lynces stood amaz'd,

And Rested [viz. slaked, as inforced to rest. the riuers being Turned or hauing changed their courses. changed We will speake of. stayed their courses.

The st [...]es. We will record the song of Damon and Al­phesibey.

Thou▪ [oh Al. Renowned Pollio. great Au­gustus, shalt be Made famous by my verses. extolled] of me, whether Thou passest o [...]r. thou goest beyond * the rocks [Page 73] of great Timauus a riuer of Venice, or the riuer Brenta neare Aquileia in Italy. Timauus.

Or whether Thou gatherest neare vnto, or pas­sest by the coast. thou sai­lest [neare] the coast of the Illyrian. Sclauonian sea; loe, shall there euer be

That day, When it may be lawfull for me to speake of thy worthy acts [or deeds.] when I may record thy acts?

Loe, shall there be [that day] That it may be lawfull for me, when I may To carry through the whole world, beare throughout the world,

The verses written of thy renow­ned acts. Thy verses Being alone worthy of Sophocles buskin, viz. to haue bene penned in Sophocles stately style. which alone are worthy of Because Sophocles tra­gedies were acted in buskins, therefore his loftie style is termed by this name, by a Meto­nvmie of the Adiunct. So­phocles buskin?

He promiseth in all his verses to set foorth the praises of Augustus. The beginning [ Of these my songs. of my song hath bene] Of thee, or by thy command. from thee; it shall end To thee, viz. to thy praise. of thee: accept [my] verses Vndertaken. begun By thy commandements. at thy command, Let this garland made of the bran­ches of the ivie and lawrell, be set vpon thy head. and suffer thou this Some apply this to Pollio, because he was an excellent Poet (to whom the ivie garland appertained) as well as a worthy gouernour. ivie to creepe Ivie in respect of the Poets worke, Lawrell for Augustus famous victo­ries. about the temples of thy head, amongst the triumphant lawrell boughes.

The night (wherein it is ordina­rily more cold then in the day, tho­rough the absence of the Sunne) was scarcely past, and the day n [...]w appea­ring. The cold shadow of the night had scarce de­parted From heauen. from the skie,

Whenas the dew In the tender herbe. vp­on the tender grasse, is most pleasing to the cat­tell,

[Page 74] Damon Leaning sheepheard-like vpon his staffe. Leaning vpon [or against] a long smooth oliue. leaning vpon his Teres, tereti [...], signifi­eth any thing long, smooth and round. long smooth oliue staffe, began thus.

Oh Day-starre. O Lucifer a­rise, and coming before the Nourishing, because it is most nou­rishing and comfortable to all crea­tures. comfortable day, Bring it forth after thee. bring it [with thee,] whilest I complaine, be­ing deceiued With the loue of Nisa, which she was vnworthy of. with the Vnkind loue. vnworthy loue Of Nisa whom I thought sure vn­to me to be my wife. of Ni­sa my wife, And although I haue profited no­thing, they being witnesses, yet I dy­ing speake vnto the Gods in my last houre. and still e­uen About to die with griefe. dying do speake vnto the Gods at my last houre, although I haue not bene any thing hel­ped That they are my witnesses that she had so o [...]t sworne by them that she would be my wife. This he seemeth [...]o speake according to the iudgement of the Epicures, who held that the Gods cared not for mortall things. by hauing them my witnesses.

My pipe begin Menalian verses with me. My pipe begin [to sound] By Menalian verses the Poet meaneth ex­cellent verses, such as were sung in Mena­lus, a hill of Arcadia. So that there is in it a Metalepfis, Menalian for Arcadian, and Ar­cadian verses for ex­cellent verses. viz. Syn. membri & M [...]t Subj. Menalian tunes with me.

In the hill Menalus sheepheards do alwayes sing of their loues, whereby the woods do ring, and as it were answer to their voice, or Menalus hath euer the trees sounding by their rustling with the winds. Menalus hath euer­more both a shrill soun­ding wood, and speaking pine trees, it alwayes heares the loues of shep­heards:

And [it heares] Pan, viz. the God of sheepheards, who is said to haue in­uented the fielden musicke. And Pan himselfe who first of all Suffered not, &c. [viz first in­uented pipes of reeds. endured This verse oft repea­ted by Damon in his complaint, is called versus intercalaris, a verse oft interlaced, like the foot of a song. not the reeds [ To lie idle. to be] vnskilfull.

My pipe Began to play Menalian tunes. begin [to soūd] Menaliā Verses. tunes with me.

[Page 75] Nisa that fine [...] is gi [...]en in marriage to that il-favoured lubber Mopsus. Nisa is giuen to Mopsus. What [we] louing may not hope. What may not [we] louers Some take here spe­rem [...]s for timeamus, by a Catachresis, as in the first of the Eneads, At sperate Deos memores fandi atque nefandi. hope for?

Griffins shall now be, &c. Now Griffins are like vnto Lions, saue that they seeme to haue the head and wing [...] of Eagles, being most spitefull a­gainst horses, and are dedicated to Apollo. Some thinke them to be meerly fabulous, like as the Pegasi. Griffins shall be ioyned [in loue] with horses, and in the age Following. succeeding,

Timerous Bucks or D [...]es. The fearefull Deere Shall associate or sort themselues. shall come To pots [viz. to banket, or to drinke at the water. to drinke with dogs.

O Mopsus Prepare or sharpen peeces of gum­mie wood, that they may better kindle and burne. cut new Faces were peeces of gummie wood cut like torches, wont to be v­sed in stead of torches at weddings solemni­zed and kept at nights. torches: A wife is maried to thee [viz. thou must wed a wife for others] thou Carrying torches & throwing nuts about the house, were amōgst their ceremonies vsed at mariages. mar­riest a wife.

Thou married man Sprinkle nuts, viz. cast nuts a­mongst the boyes, [or scatter walnuts at the thresholds. cast nuts abroad; The starres do seem to rise from the tops of most high mountaines. the euening starre Doth rise ouer Oeta. [viz. the eue­ning is come, now that the euening starre is risen. doth leaue mount Oeta is a mount of Thessaly, so high that the starres do seeme to rise there. Oeta To thee. for thy sake.

My pipe Begin with me. begin [to sound] Menalian Verses. tunes with me.

Oh [ Nisa] Ioyned [viz. married to a worthy husband. All these things are spoken in flouting and scornfull manner. matcht to a worthy man, whilest thou despisest all [o­thers.]

And whilest My pipe is a hate to thee. [viz odi­ous, or out of fauour. thou disdain'st my pipe; And whilst my litle goates. yea whilest my silly goates, and Hairie ^‖ eyebrowes. rough eye-brow, and also My long beard. my beardgrowne in length, [Page 76] Are a hate, [viz. contemned or de­spised.] [are all scorned of thee,]

Nor yet beleeuest Any God [or any of the Gods] to care for mortall things [viz. to be auenged for thy periury.] that any God regards the things of mortall men.

My pipe begin with me [to sound] Menalian Verses or songs. tunes.

Damon complaineth of his error in falling in loue with Nisa, which he setteth out by the occasion, time and place, and by his owne age and stature. I saw thee When thou wast but a little one. being a little one gathering Bedewed apples [wet with the dew in the morning, lying vnder the trees in our orchards.] ap­ples wet with dew in our hedges, with [thy] mo­ther (I was your guide.)

The other [viz. the second] yeare from eleuen had euen then taken me. I then began to be about thirteene yeares of age.

I could Now [viz at that time.] then Reach the boughes of the trees as I stood vpon the ground. touch the brittle boughes from ground.

As [viz after that] I beheld [thee] how perished I? [viz. how was I cast away, or vtterly vndone? So soone as euer I saw thee, how was I vt­terly distract? how did That ill error [viz. raging loue] carried me away, [viz. made me be­sides myselfe.] that mischieuous error carry me quite away?

My pipe begin [to sound] Mena­lian tunes with me. Begin my pipe with me Menalian tunes.

Now know I What a cruell thing loue is. what loue is. Damen inueyeth a­gainst the sauage na­ture of loue, by the procreant causes there­of, because of the ma­ny mis [...]ries which it brings. Ismarus and Rhodope are hils men­tioned before in the 6 Eclogue. Ismarus, or Rhodope, or else The vtmost Garamants. The Garamants are a sauage peo­ple in the vtmost parts of Africa. the Garamants who dwell in the vttermost parts of [Page 77] the world, Do breed [or bring forth] that boy [viz. Cupid the God of loue.] haue bred that boy In the hard clifts, [viz. rockes of stone, of which whet stones are made. amongst the hard rockes, Being of another nature different from vs. being nei­ther of our kinde nor bloud.

My pipe begin [to sound] Menalian Verses. tunes with me.

Cruell Cupid. Cruell loue taught Medea, who being despised by la­son, slueher owne children. the mother To defile [staine or soyle.] to embrue Her hands with the bloud, &c. her hands in the bloud of her [owne] children. Thou Medea wast cruell as well as Cupid the blinded boy. Thou likewise [wast] a cruell mother,

Whether [was] the mother more cruell, or that boy more Mischieuous or naughtie. wicked?

Cupid was wicked, enforcing thee. He [was] a wicked boy, and thou Also. likewise a cruell mother.

My pipe begin with me [to sound] Menalian [tunes.]

Now let the whole order of nature be subuerted. Now The wolfe also of his owne accord let him flie from the sheepe, the hard oakes let them beare golden apples, the alder tree let it flourish with Narcissus [or the white Daffadill.] let euen the wolfe flie from the sheep of his o [...]ne accord: let the hard oakes beare o­renges; let the alder tree flourish with Narcissus.

The wilde tamariske [or heath] let them sweate, &c. Let shrubs Drop downe gummie amber out of their barkes. sweate fat amber from [their] barks:

[Page 78] The owles let them contend [in singing] with swans, viz. let them ex­cell the swans. And let owles con­tend [in song] with swans, let Tytirus [now] be Orpheus.

Let Tityrus with his fielden pipe, passe Orpheus with his harpe amongst the wilde beasts, and Arion amongst the Dolphins, [viz alluring them with their harmonie. [Let him be] Orpheus in the woods, [and] A­rion amongst the Dol­phins.

My pipe begin with me [to sound] Menalian Verses. tunes.

All things now let them be made euen midst of the sea, viz. let waters couer me with all other things. Let all things [now] be made maine sea; Liue ye. farewell ye woods.

I will be caried downe. I will cast my selfe downe head­long into the sea from the top of some high mountaine, to dispatch my selfe. I will be throwne downe Ready to die with griefe. headlong into the waues, from The highest top, from whence men may looke round about. the top of an High in the aire. high moun­taine.

[ Nisa] Haue thou. take thou this last gift of me [now] Ceasse [now.] dying.

[My] pipe leaue off [to sound] Menalian Verses. tunes, [my] pipe [at length] Thus farre Damon. leau [...]ff.

[...]. Each of vs.] Damon sung these [songs:] Of the Muses called Pi [...]rides, see before Eclogu [...] 6. ye Muses of Pi­crius [now] Say ye. report what Alphesibeus answered. We all, viz. ‖ All of vs cannot do All things. euery thing.

Here begin the ver­ses of Alphesibeus, b [...]n­ging in a witch seeking by her forceries to al­lure her louer againe, who had began to for­sake her. And that she speaketh to her maide. Bring out. Bring water, and Bind about, or gird. compasse these altars with a soft fil­let.

And also Do sacrifice with burning sweete things, as fat veruein, burne fat vervein, And the best frankincense. and male fran­kincense,

That I may make an experiment or essay: That I may trie To turne away from others to my selfe: to turne away The sound senses, [viz. that I may enamour him, or bewitch him with mad loue.] the right wits of my husband by magicall Sacred things [or sacred rites.] ceremonies. All other things but charmes are prepared [or ready] Nothing but charmes are wanting here.

My verses. My charmes bring [ My husband or louer. Daphnis] home from the citie, bring Daphnis [home.]

Charmes can draw downe the Moone euen from heauen. Charmes can euen Fetch downe. draw downe the Moon from heauen.

Circe [the witch] Changed the companions of Vlysses [into swine] with her inchantments, [or the companions to Vlysses. changed the compani­ons Vlysseus▪ ei & con­tractè Vlissi. 2. declin. vel mutauit Vlyssi. 3. de­clin. For this story see O­uids Metamorph. with Sab. an [...]otations in the 14. booke. of Vlysses with [her] charmes.

The cold snake in the medowes Is bursten by singing▪ [viz. by charmes or inchantments.] is burst by charmes.

My charmes bring [ Daphnis] home from th' Citie, bring Daphnis [home.]

First of all I compasse about [or I tie fast a­bout] to thee. I twist [Page 80] for thee These three threeds of the shittle wherewith the sel [...]edges of the web are made. these t [...]e sel­uedge threeds, Diuers with a threefold colour. being of three diuers colours, and I draw thy Image or counterfet of waxe or clay. picture thrise Round about. about these altars: God Reioyceth [or is delighted] in an vnequall number, [viz. an odde number] as three, fiue or seuen. delighteth in an odde number.

My Verses [whereby she did charme or inchant.] charmes bring [ Daphnis] home from th' citie, bring Daphnis home.

The witch thus speakes vnto her maid. O Amaryl knit three [diuers] colours With [viz. on three knots. in three knots.

Amaryl Al. knit Al. Knit the knots. [them] Some bookes haue nodos, where, if it be so, [...]. must be cut off, by a Grecisme, and no in no­dos be short: but it is to be read modò. Euen now or straightway. by and by, and say, I knit Bonds of Venus, or Venus bonds, [viz. to procure loue againe.] true-loues knots.

My charmes bring Daphnis▪ home from th' citie, bring Daphnis [home.]

The witch hauing made two pictures of Daphnis, one of clay, the other of waxe, and setting them before the fire, thus she conjures. As this same Slime or mud. clay Doth waxe hard. doth harden, and this same waxe doth soften,

By one The same heate of the fire. and self same fire, So let Daphnis be hardned against all others, and melt in loue to vs. So Daphnis [let him be hardened and sof [...]ned] by our loue. so Daphnis by our loue.

Sprinkle [or strew about] meale and salt. With meale and salt they did vse to sprinkle their sacrifices. Cast meale about, and Kindle. set on fire these brit­tle bay boughes with Bitumen is a kind of clay like pitch, & some­thing of the nature of brimstone, burning like it. Slime. brimstone.

[Page 81]That Euill or wicked. naughtie Daph­nis Tormenteth me with loue of him. burneth me; [I will burne] this Lawrell or bay. lawrell bough In Daphnis, [viz. vpon hi [...] in [...]age or counterfet, to be reuenged of him, in making him feele like torment to mine. vpon the picture of Daphnis.

My Verses. charmes bring [ Daphnis] home from th' citie, bring Daphnis [home.]

Such a loue let it hold Daphnis what a one [is,] or doth hold a yong heifer] when the heifer, &c. Let such a loue pos­sesse Daphnis,] as when a heifer being weary in see­king a bull, thorough the woods and high groues, Being lost [or vndone, or cast away with loue.] hauing lost her selfe, doth lie downe For [or because of] a riuer of wa­ter. neare a riuer side in the greene Reed or sea-grasse. sedge, Nor doth remember, and doth not re­member To giue place to the late night, [or the darke night.] to depart away because of the late night.

Let such a loue possesse [ Daphnis. him,] Neither let there be any care to me to cure [him.] and let me not haue any care of his re­liefe.

My charmes bring [ Daphnis] home from th' citie, bring Daphnis [home.]

That Perfidi [...] or false of promise. faithlesse [ Daph­nis] Left these spoiles [viz. apparell] to [...] once [or in time past.] left me these gar­ments long ago, Being deare pledges of him [or re­membrances of his loue.] as deare pledges of him: [Page 82] Which garments▪ which now O earth I betake or commend to thee, bu­rying them in thee. I commit to thee In the very threshold, [viz. at the entrance of my house. at the very threshold: these pledges ^‖ owne Daph­nis.

My charmes bring [ Daphnis] home from th' Citie, bring Daphnis [home.]

Meris a notable sorcerer. Meris himselfe gaue [me] these herbes, and these Do owe Daphnis, [that is, do make it e [...]ident that Daphnis is mine, due onely vnto me, and shall bring him backe to me▪] inchanting drugs gathered Poisonfull or venemous herbes ser­uing for inchantments. for me in Pon­tus: To me. very many of them do grow in Pontus.

I haue oft times [seen] Meris Very many do grow. to become a wolfe By these herbes or inchantments. by these, To be made a wolfe [viz. to seeme to be changed into a wolfe.] and to hide himself in woods, [and] oftentimes And [I haue seene him] to hide. to raise vp Thus they were de­luded by diuels appea­ring, which they tooke to be the soules of the departed. soules out of the deepest graues.

And also I haue seene [him] To call out soules out of the lowest graues, [viz. the soules of the dead] or spirits. to conuey Messes, haruests, for the sowne corne, is a Meto [...]. of the effect, or adiunct. the corne new sowne, from one field to another.

My charmes bring [ Daphnis] home from th' citie, bring Daphnis [home.] * Carry the ashes without the doores.

O Amaril, To carry ouer [viz. to remoue] the sowne haruests other where, [viz. from one place to another. bring The ashes [of the inchanted fire.] the ashes forth, Al. and Al. Carry them to the flowing riuer. [Page 83] cast [them] Ouer thy head backward. ouer [thy] head To the flowing riuer [or water.] into the running streame: To looke back, [viz. to behold the Gods, or rather diuels in such kind of working, was thought to be dange­rous. See Ramus Com. Or to looke backe, the Gods forbidding or disliking. Thou shalt not looke behind thee, [or thou shalt not looke backe.] see thou looke not behind thee.

I will assay to bring Daphnis. I wil set vpon Daphnis By these [inchantments or means.] with these: He cares for the Gods nothing, he cares for verses nothing. [viz. he thinkes they can do nothing. he nothing cares for Gods nor charmes.

My charmes bring [ Daphnis] home from th' citie, bring Daphnis [home.]

See, the very Imbers. ashes Hath taken hold of the altars. haue caught hold vpon the altars with trembling flames, of their owne ac­cord, whilst I tarry or delay, [viz. prolong or protract the time, or linger [to beare [them o [...]t.] I deferre to carry them forth: Let it be good [lucke.] good lucke may it be: surely I know not What [lucke] viz. whether good or bad. what it is: And also our dog barkes in the threshold, [viz. at some body coming towards the doore. and also [our] Hylax is a fained name of a dog, which wee may call Ring, chanter, or barker, of [...], latro. dog barkes at the doore.

May we beleeue. Do we beleeue [that he is comming?] or Do they who dote with loue, ima­gine things which are nothing so, [viz. as they would haue them. do they that loue faine dreames vnto them­selues?

Spare ye. Ceasse [my charmes,] The witch supposing that Daphnis was come home, and entring into the house, at whom the dog barked, thus stayes her charmes. Daphnis comes from the Citie, ceasse now [my] charmes.

THE NINTH ECLOGVE [ Whereunto the name [is] Meris. called] Meris.

Oh Meris, whither [do] thy feete [carry] thee? whether whither the way leades, into the citie, [viz. to Mantua] Meris, whither goest thou? [Goest thou] whither [this] way Directs. leades, into the citie?

O Lycidas, we haue come aliue, that the stranger being the possessor of our litle field (which we neuer fea­red) should say, These [goods] are mine: ye old inhabitants flit ye. O Lycidas, we haue liued vnto this vn­happie day, That strangers possessing our lands, should driue vs out, [viz. the Romane souldiers. that the stranger (which we ne­uer feared) being made the possessor of Our farmes or fields. our lit­tle land, should say: These things are mine, ye Ancient husbandmen [or farmers] old inhabitants Get ye out. pack ye hence.

Now we being ouercome [and] sad (because chance turnes all things vp­side downe) do send these kids vnto him, (which present) let not [God] turne well, [viz. God grant he may haue no good of.] Now quite ouer­come, full sad (sith for­tune turnes all things vp­side downe) These kids were sent for a present to Arrius the Captaine, who had their lands. we send him these kids; Which [gift.] which yet we pray that he may haue no great good of.

In truth [or certainly] I had heard reported. I in very deed had heard Your Menalcas [viz. Virgil] to haue kept all things by his verses. that your Menalcas had preserued all by his verses, From what [part] the hils begin to withdraw themselues, and to send downeward their top [viz. to de­scend] with a soft [or easie] turning banke, [viz. with an easie descent or going downe. from whence the hils begin to abate their height, and to bow downewards with an easie descent,

Vnto the water, and to the tops of the old beech tree now broken [or de­cayed.] Euen vnto the Myncius. riuer and the late broken tops of the old beech tree.

Thou hadst heard [it,] and the fame hath bene, [or it was the fame. Thou hear­dedst it, and [in truth] the Talke, noise, or report. fame was so: but O Lycidas, our verses do so much auaile Amongst warlike weapons [or a­mongst souldiers in warre.] amongst the Martiall darts for weapons of wa [...]re, and they put for the souldi­ers vsing those wea­pons, and also for the time of warre. Metalep. Martiall darts, How much they say the pigeons of Chaonia [to preuaile] the Eagle com­ming. as men do vse to say that the Doues. pigeons of Chaonia a region of Epeirus. Chao­nia do, when as the Eagle cometh.

Of this prediction by the chough on the left hand, see the first Eclogue. The chough at the left hand, and the crow at the right hand, are said to be luckie, forewarning dangers to auoid them. That vnlesse I had bin admonished by a happy diuination [or prediction] by the chough sitting on my left hand, foreshewing some danger towards me, and therefore to cut off all new occasions of contention, &c. That vnlesse the chough sitting on my left hand had admoni­shed me before from the hollow holme tree, to cut off new contentions by any meanes whatso­euer I could,

Neither this thy [old friend] Me­ris [should liue] nor Menalcas him­selfe [viz. Virgil my maister] should liue [could haue escaped the souldiers hands.] Neither this thy Meris nor Menalcas himselfe had liued.

Alas, doth so great a wickednesse [or so foule a deed] fall vpon any man [viz. that he should intend to kill Virgil, or thinke of such a mat­ter?] Alacke, can so great a wickednesse fall on any man? Alacke, Me­nalcas thy Ioyes or comforts. solaces [had bene] almost Snatch away to vs, [viz. from vs.] pluckt a­way perforce from vs to­gether with thy selfe.

For, Who should celebrate [or extoll] the Nymphs in song [or verse.] who should sing of the Nymphes? who should Sprinkle [viz. set or decke] the ground with flourishing herbes? or who should bring in [viz. couer or in­close] the fountaines [or springs] with a greene shade? [viz who should sing of the ground so strewed, and the springs so couered? strew the ground with pleasant flowers? or who should couer the fountaines with shade of greene trees?

Or [who should sing those] Or [who should sing those] Verses which I stole away being silent [or holding my peace] of late, when as thou didst carry thy selfe to Amaryl our dainties, [viz. our loue, kind to vs both?] songs, which I closely stole from thee of late,

When as thou wen­test to Amaril our Ioy. de­light?

O Tityrus [...]end [or keepe] O Tityrus feed My litle goates. my goates till I returne, (the way is short,)

And also▪ And likewise Tity­rus Driue them to drinke being fed: and betweene to do [viz. as thou art driuing them, driue them to the water when they haue fed well: and as thou dri­uest them,

Take heed To meete often the high goate. of meeting the maister goate, He will tub [or rush] with his hornes. he striketh with his horne.

Yea [who should sing] these [songs] Which Menal [...] as himselfe did sing, &c. which he did sing To Varus. of Varus, Not as yet perfect, viz. not fully finis [...]ed. not perfected as yet?

Varus, the singing swans shall beare thy name aloft vnto the starres, so that [our citie] Mantua may remaine For vs [to inhabite.] to vs.

Al. The Poet thus la­ments Mantua, because it came to be spoiled by meanes of the near­nesse to Cremon. O Mantua, too Al. Oh Mantua, too neare to Cremon, alas [for thee] poore miserable [ci­tie.] neare (alas) to miserable Cremon.

So let thy swarms of bees Keepe farre from the yeugh trees which are hurtf [...]ll to bee [...] of a vene­mous nature, and dangerous in some parts to sleepe vnder. flie from The Cyrnean yeugh trees. the yeughs of Cyrne is an [...] of the Tyr [...]hene sea, called Corsica: it signifieth also an yeugh tree in Greeke. Cyrne.

So let thy kine full fed With the best grasse, stuffe their vdders [with milke.] with Cithysus a kinde of trifoly or three leaued grasse much increasing milke. See before. Cithyse, Stretch forth their vdders or dugs. strut out their teates.

Begin to sing some songs. Begin, if thou haue any thing; [for] The Pierides: see before in the third Eclogue. the Muses of Pierius Haue made me also a Poet. haue made me a Poet too:

There are both verses. Both I haue verses, and the sheepheards call me A Prophet. a Poet; But I am not credulous, [viz. ea­sie to beleeue them, or I do not beleeue them. but I giue no credit to them.

For neither do I seeme as yet To speake [or sing songs] worthy of Varus, [or I do not seeme so to Va­rus,] nor to speake things worthy of Cinna [viz. worthy for Cinna to reade,] but to make a noise [as] a goose amongst the shrill swans. to sing any songs worthy the reading of Varus or Cinna, but [Page 89] to gaggle as a goose a­mongst sweete singing swans.

I do that in truth, [viz. I prepare my selfe to sing.] I do so in­deed: and Lycidas, I being silent reuol [...] it with my selfe, [viz. am thinking of it in si­lence. I se­cretly Meditate [or am bethinking my selfe of it.] thinke of it with my selfe:

If I could call it to mind [or re­call it.] If I could remem­ber it: neither is it An vn [...]oble song▪ [or of no esti­mation, or meane] viz. that which he writ concerning Galatea. any base song.

Galatea come hither. Come hither Galatea; See what sport here is in the waters. for, ^‖ what sport is [here] in the waues?

Here is The spring flourishing with purple flowers. the purple Spring: The ground doth powre out here diuers flowers about the streames. the ground Here grow abundantly. doth here affoord sun­drie sorts of flowers round about the riuers: here The white poplar tree hangs ouer the caue, couering it. the white poplar hangs ouer a caue, and limber vines Weaue litle shadowes, [viz. make a pleasant shade. make shade [...].

Come hither, And suffer [that] the, &c. and let the Mad [viz. outragious or excee­ding great] waues strike the shores. raging waues dash against the shores.

What [sayest thou of those songs,] Which I had heard thee singing a­lone in a p [...]re [viz. a cleare or bright] night or e [...]ening. which I heard thee sing­ing all alone in a faire cleare euening? I remem­ber The n [...]bers [viz. the rime or note] if I could hold the words. the t [...]ne, if I could call to mind The dittie or song it selfe. the words.

These verses were made in the praise of Iulius Caesar or of Au­gustus. O Daphnis, why doest thou Looke vpon [or so carefully ob­serue. behold the ancient risings of the The signes consist of many starres, of which sort 47 are obserued in the whole heauen. 20 Northren, 12 of the Zodiack, 15 Southerne. Signes. staires?

Loe, The signe [consisting of many stars] the signe Of Caesar [descended] of Dione the mother of Venus, and so of Aeneas, of whom they say Iulius Caesar came. At the playes made at the funerall of Iulius Caesar, a blazing starre appeared about eleuen a clocke of the day, and continued for 7 whole dayes, being thought by the Romanes to be the soule of Iulius Cae­sar. of Dioneus Caesar Hath gone forward [or the mo­neth of Iuly is now begun] which was so called of Iulius Caesar. is come abroad.

The signe vnder which the corne and grapes begin to be ripe, meaning in Iuly, hauing the name of Iu­lius Caesar, or August, hauing the name of Augustus Caesar. The signe in which the standing corne Might ioy [do make men to re­ioyce] in their [ripe] fruites. re­ioyce in [their ripe] fruites, and wherein The grape drawes [her] colour, [viz. the grapes begin to ripen.] the grape gathers her colour in the Lying open to the Sunne, not sha­die. sunnie hils.

Daphnis Plant orchards, [viz. giue thy selfe to planting. graft thou peare-trees, [ Thy posteritie. thy] ne­phewes Shall plucke thy apples, [viz shall gather the fruite of thy planting.] shall gather thy fruite.

Age Fert pro au [...]ert. Depriues vs of. taketh away all things, And also [it taketh away] the mind. euen the ve­rie vnderstanding and memorie: I remember my selfe being a boy, to hide oft times long suns with sing­ing, [viz▪ to be able to sing all the day vntill after sun-set.] I do remem­ber [that I haue bene wont] when I was a boy, oft times Condere pro abscon­dere. to spend long Soles pro diebus. Met. [...]ffic. dayes in singing.

Now so many verses [are] forgot­ten of me. Now Oblitus is here vsed pasaiuely, as oft in De­ponen [...]s. I haue for­got [those] so many Verses. songs: Also the voice it selfe now doth flie Meris, [viz. I haue now lost euen my voice by reason of my age, no o­therwise thenof the wolfes had spied me first. and euen voice it selfe doth now faile Meris: This seemeth to haue bin a receiued obserua­tion, that if the wolfe espied the shepherd first before he spied the wolf, that then his voice was taken away for the present that he could not [...]rie against the wolfe; and contrarily, that if the sheepheard spied him first, then the wolfe was weakened & scared by a certain an­tipathy: whence came the prouerbe, Lupus est in fabula, which we vse when he comes in, of whom the speech is, & so the speech is cut off. the wolfes haue spied Meris Being the former. first.

But yet Menalcas [Page 91] shall oft enough Relate, or record to thee. re­hearse to thee these [songs.]

Lyc. Thou drawest on our loues into a long [time] by alledging cau­ses [or making delayes] by knitting causes, viz. excuses, that thou may est not sing. Thou increa­sest our longing, by ma­king excuses;

Also now all the sea being layed, [viz. made calme] is silent to thee, [viz. to heare thee sing. And now euery sea being calme, keepes si­lence for thy cause:

And (behold.) Yea (see) [how] all the blasts Of the windie noise [viz. the winds making a noise] haue fallen [viz. are now layed and downe. of th' stormie winds haue fallen.

From hence moreouer is the mid way to vs [viz. we are now in the mid way to Mantua. Moreouer, from hence we haue but halfe the way to go: for why, The sepulcher [or graue] of Byae­nor [who built Mantua, and called it by the name of his mother Mantus. I see Byanors tombe. Byanors tombe begins t'appeare.

[Let vs sing] here where the hus­bandmen do bind [or do lop and cut downe] the thicke boughes, [viz. do coard wood, or make fagots] Meris let vs sing here. Here where the hus­bandmen do coard thick boughes, here Meris let vs sing.

Here lay downe [ The kids which thou bearest.thy] kids, yet we shall come [ Time enough, or soone enough. betime] into the ci­tie.

Or if we be afraid, Lest the night gather raine before. lest it proue rainie to­wards night,

We may go singing Continually [till we come there.] all along, The way will be lesse grieuous. the way will hurt [vs] lesse.

That we may go sing­ing, [Page 92] I will ease thee of this Bundle, [viz. I will carry thy kids.] burden.

O lad ceasse [to say] any moe things. O lad leaue off to vrge me any more; and now Let vs looke to the businesse we haue in hand, [viz. to deliuer our present in time. let vs do that Which is instant. which we haue in hand.

We shall sing verses better then when [Menalcas] himselfe shall come. We shall sing better then, when Virgil. he himselfe shall come.

THE TENTH ECLOGVE [intituled] Gallus.

The Poet in this last pastoral being to cele­brate the memory of another famous Poet called Cornelius Gallus, inuocates the Nymphs of Syracusa to help him Oh Arethusa. ONymph of the fountaine Arethusa is a fountaine of sweete water of Syracusa, where Theocritus liued. Whereby he meaneth the Muses of Syracusa and of Theocritus, whom he inuocates to helpe him therein.] A­rethuse, grant me this last labour.

A few verses are to be said [or sung] to my Gallus [or of my Gallus] [viz. of the loues of my Gallus to­wards Cytheris, whom here he calls Lycoris.] I am to vtter a few verses to my Gallus, but which Lycoris her selfe may reade. Can any one denie verses vnto Gel­lus?

The fountaine A­rethuse is numbred a­mong the wonders of waters, that it hauing the head in Pelopon­nesus is thought to run maruellous farre vnder the sea, and to breake soorth againe at this fountaine. So bitter Doris [viz. the bitter or brackie sea] let her not intermingle [or mixe] her waue [viz her water] to thee [viz. with thy sweete water] whenas thou shalt slide vnder the Si­canian flouds [or streames] [viz. the waues of the sea of Sicily. As thou shalt fauour and helpe vs, so let thy sweet [...] waters be kept pure from the salt waters of the sea, which th [...] ru [...]st vnder. So let not bitter Doris a Goddesse of the sea, daughter to O­ceanus, and wife of Ne­re [...] mother of the Nymphs, put for the sea by a Me [...]. [...]. Doris intermixe her streames with thee, when thou shalt runne vnder the Sicani people of Spaine or Sicily, which came from Spaine, from whom the sea is so-named. Sicanian waues.

Here first begins the proposition of the Ec­logue, wherin the Poet stirres vp himselfe and his Muse to sing some songs of Gallus and his carefull loues. And this from the time and his leisure, and also from the audience which they should haue. [O Nymph] begin, let vs speake of [or report] the carefull loues of Gal­lus. Begin, let vs record the carefull loues of Gal­lus.

[Page 94]Whilst that the little flat noz'd goates Do nip or brouze the yong shootes, or twigs, or new sprouts. doe crop the tender sprigs.

We sing not to the deafe, the woods Do answer all things [by their ec­cho, or by other shepheards.] do answer euery thing.

Secondly, he accuseth the Muses that they were so carelesse of Gallus, to let him so to leaue his studies, and to perish in such vnbesee­ming loue, that they could not be found to reclaime or pitie him, no not in any hill, nor about any fountaine. O ye girles [called] Naiades, [viz. ye Nymphs of the fountaines. [These were Fairies haunting about such places.] O Naiades, yee Nymphs, what Groues. woods or what Forrests or parks. launds Had you, [viz. kept you away.] held you, when Gallus perished By vnbefitting or disdai [...]full loue. by vnworthy loue?

For neither the ridges of Parnassus [haue made or caused delay] to you, for neither any [ridges] of the hill Pindus haue made delay to you [or stayed you,] nor Aganippe [the foun­taine of Aonia or Boetia. For neither any tops of Parnassus is a mount of Phocis. Parnassus, nor yet of Pindus of Thessaly, both consecrated to A­pollo. Pindus stayed you, no nor Aganippe a fountain o [...] Boetia, dedicated to the Muses. Aganippe [the fountaine] of Aonia.

When all things see­med to mourne for him, both bay trees, shrubs. Euen the lawrell trees [haue wept for] him, and also the tamaruke [or beath] haue wept [viz. bewailed his misfortune. Yea the very law­rell trees [bewailed] him, and euen the low shrubs wept for [him.]

Also Menalus bearing pine-trees [bewailed] him. And in like manner mount Menalus full of pine trees [made moane for] him, lying vnder A solitary rocke, or a bare rocke, all alone. a Hils. louely rocke, yea and And sheepe. the Rockes. stones of cold Lycaeus a mountaine of Arcadia, dedicated to Pan. Ly­caeus Of which, by an A­postrophe, he profes­seth himselfe not to be ashamed, like as the sheepe were not asha­med of him. And so moues Gallus not to be abashed of tending sheepe, for that Ado [...] is did the same. [ Haue bewailed him. bemoaned] him.

The sheepe likewise stand round about; Neither doth it repent [or shame] them of vs, [they are not ashamed of [...]s to tend them▪ [or it repe [...]ts them not to mourne for our cause] or by an Hypallage, it repe [...]ts not vs of them. they are not ashamed of vs.

[Page 95] Neither. Ne yet oh diuine Poet, Let it repent thee of cattell, [viz. be not ashamed or grieued to tend cattell.] be thou ashamed of cattell.

Also faire Adonis fed sheepe at the riuers. For euen that faire After he shewes how shepheards came. Adonis sonne of Cinyra king of Cy­prus, beloued of Venus for his beautie. Adonis Tended. grazed sheepe by the riuers sides.

There came also The shepheard. Vpilio pro opilio, & opilio q. ouilio, qui o [...]es custodit. the sheepheards, the slow Neat-heards. Heardmen. Al. neat-heards [like­wise] Swineheards, [or those who looked to [...]eed swine] as Menalcas who came wringing wet. came. Al. Swineheards or hogheards.

[ Menalcas being wet [or all wet] came from the Winter acorne [viz. from gathering acornes in the Winter for his swine. And] Menalcas wringing wet, came from gathering Winter a­cornes; All these wondered at this mad loue of Gal­lus, enquiring whence it was.

All of them aske how Gallus should fall into this franticke loue. All ask, from whence this loue [should be?] Yea the Gods them­selues who had had ex­perience of the power of loue, came to com­fort him; as Apollo, who in rebuking wise askes him, why he did so tor­ment himselfe, seeing Lycoris was runne after another man, viz. after M. Antonius a Captaine into France. [and euen] Apollo came to thee:

[And] said, Gallus, why art thou mad? Gallus, why art thou mad, quoth he? Lycoris [all] thy care. Thy loue Lycoris

Follows another [man] both Ouer the Alpes, where snow lieth almost all the yeare long. through the snow and through The horrible campes [or tents of [...] souldiers.] the dread­full campes.

Syluanus also came Secondly Syluanus the God of the woods, who is described by his Adiuncts, how he came adorned with a garland on his head, and sha­king ferule branches and lillies in his hand. With a garland on his head, which is the pompe [or honour of the coun­trey] with the country honor of [his] head,

Shaking in his hands branches of ferule. Shaking flourishing The ferule is a kind of shrub or big herbe like vnto fennel giant, with the branches whereof schoole-maisters v­sed to i [...]rt children on the hands, whence came the name of the F [...]rula. Ferulaeque tristes, sceptra paedago­gorum. Mart. ferule branches, and Great lillies. faire lillies [ in his hand.

[Page 96] Pan the God of Arca­dia Thirdly, Pan the God of shepheards musicke came likewise to com­fort him, who is set out also by his Adiuncts: how he was painted all red with elder berries and with vermilion. Who comforts Gallus as Apollo did, rebuking him louingly: That sorrow was no meanes to cure loue, but the more he wept, the more he might. And this he illustrates by three similitudes or ar­guments à pari. That as grasse cannot be sa­tisfied by riuers run­ning by, nor bees with the flower of Cythisus, nor goates with tender sprigs of trees, so nor loue with teares. came [withal,] whom we our selues saw

Being red with bloudie berries of the ebull [or low elder,] [it is a tree like the elder tree in leafe and berry, but not so big in growth.] [Coloured] red, with bloud-red berries of the ebull tree, and with Red lead. ver­milion.

And what measure shall there be, quoth he? And will there be no measure, quoth he, [of this thy heauinesse?] Loue is nothing moued with sorrow or griefe. Loue regards not any such things.

Neither [is] cruell loue [ Content or satisfied.satiate] with teares, Nor the grasse [is satiate.] nor grasse With riuers watering them. with water streames;

Nor yet the bees are Filled or satiate, satisfied With Cythisus [viz. with the flow­ers of it.] Of this herb in the first Ec­logue. with Cythise flowers, Nor the little goates [are satisfied] nor litle goates With a bough or tender sprig of a tree. Syn. sp▪ with tender sprigs of trees.

Hither to hath Virgil spoken in his owne per­son: now is Gallus brought in answering, and comforting him­selfe. First, that the Arca­dians the onely skilfull musitians of the world, should record his loues, and then how sweetly his bones should rest thereby. But he [viz. Gallus] being sad [or pensiu [...]] said, ye Arcadians, &c. But yet, quoth he, [though] very pensiue▪ ye Arcadians shall sing these [songs] in your mountaines; yee Arca­dians [I say] Being alone skilfull to sing [or in singing:] ch how softly the bones may rest to me then, [viz how sweet­ly shall my bones rest [in my graue.] being the onely cunning musitians; oh how sweetly shall my bones rest then, if that your Song. pipe May speake of. may record my loues In time to come, or hereafter. in future times?

[Page 97] I would to God. And I do wish I had Secondly, that Gallus detesting his owne e­state, wisheth that he had bene a countrey­man, either a shepherd or a dresser of vines, for the delights and com­panie which such haue to sport withall, as of Phillis and Amyntas. That although Amyn­tas was blacke, yet so are violets and bramble berries also. bene one of you, and ei­ther A keeper. a tender of your flocke, or A gatherer of your ripe grapes, [viz. a dresser of your vines. a gatherer of [your] ripe grapes.

Certainly [or surely] whether Phil­lis were [a louer] to me, or else A­myntas [were] [a louer,] or whatso­euer furie [or raging loue, viz. louer causing raging loue] (what then if Amyntas be browne [viz. swart or blacke?] Certainly whether Phillis were my loue, or else Amyntas, or any fu­rie whasoeuer: (what then, though Amyntas be blacke?

Both violets are black, and The berries of the great bramble. hurtle berries too [are] blacke.) And he could delight himselfe with them.

Should rest. He [yet] should lie downe with me amongst the willowes, vnder the limber vine. Phillis should make him garlands, Amyntas should sing.

Phillis should gather garlands for me, [viz. flowers to make gar­lands for me.] Phillis should gather me garlands, Amyntas should sing [me songs.] Thirdly, he in a new and sudden passion of loue, turneth his speech to Lycoris, whom he seeketh to call backe by the pleasantuesse of the places where he was. As coole foun­taines, sweet medowes and woods.

O Lycoris [my loue] here [are] cold springs. Here, O Lycoris, [are] Cold as ice. coole springs; Here in the countrey. here are Soft medowes. pleasant medowes: here [is] A wood. a groue: here Here I could be spent with thee for eternitie [or for euer] I could wish to spend [euen] all my dayes with thee.

Nunc insanus, &c.] Here Gallus breaks ou [...] to bewaile the miserie both of himselfe and of Lycoris his loue. That as she was now, so his heart was with her in the midst of the ene­mies and warres: and thus he falleth into ex­clamations, commi­serating her hard heart and wofull case, by an Apostrophe, turning his speech vnto her. Now I could be consumed. raging loue Mad loue. keepes me Detaines [or holds] me, [viz. in affection or my affections.] in armes of warlicke Mars, a­mongst * In the weapons [viz. among the weapons of hard [viz. cruell] Mars. the midst of [Page 98] weapons And aduerse enemies, [viz. vio­lently bent against vs.] and enemies bent against [vs.]

Thou (ah hard) [Lycoris.] Thou (oh hard and vnkind loue) being farre off from thy countrey ( Let it not be for me to beleeue. which I wish that I could not beleeue) [and] That she was now in France, farre off from her countrey, or about the Alpes, readie to pe­rish by the coldnesse of the countrey, caused both by the snowes and frosts, and riuers, and none to care for her. alone without me doest onely see The snowes of the Alpes [viz. of mountaines whereby Italy is diuided from France and Germanie,] called Alpes, q. albes, because they are al­most alwayes white with snow. the Alpine snowes, and the cold of the riuer Rhene. ^‖ Ah, let not the cold hurt thee!

Ah [take heed] lest the sharpe ice cut the tender soles of the feete to thee. Ah, let not the And so perswades her in regard of the cold & sharpnesse of the coun­tries, rather to returne into Italy againe. sharpe ice cut thy tender feete!

In the 12 next verses Gall [...] propounds vnto himselfe the remedies which he wil vse for the [...]uring of his loue, by contrary studies. I will go, and will tune [or play] the songs which are made of me in Calcidian verse, with an oaten pipe of a Sicilian shepheard. I will be gone, and will tune With an oate. with By the Sicilian shepheard, [...]e mea­neth Theocritus. a Sicilian pipe, Songs which are made to me, [viz. of me.] songs which I haue made In the verse of Euphor [...]on the Poet of Chalchis, whom Gallus translated forth of Greeke into Latin. in Calcidian verse.

It is determined [of me] to will rather to suffer [any miserie.] I am determined ra­ther As first by giuing his minde to the studie of Poetrie, wherein he propounds to imitate Euphorion and Theocri­tus. And so to liue soli­tarie in woods, there to write his songs of loue, and to ca [...]e them in trees, that they may grow vp with the trees. to endure [any mi­serie] in the woods a­mongst the dens of wilde beasts, and To cut in [or car [...]e] my loues, [viz. songs of my loue] in tender trees [viz. barks of trees.] to write my loues in tender trees: the [trees] will grow, [and so ye my] loues shall grow. The second remedie of his loue, should be by his trauelling, and seeking new loues.

In the meane while I will view the hils called Menalus, the Nymphs be­ing mixt, [or frequent there.] In the meane time I wil view the mountaine [Page 99] Menalus, where the Nymphs frequent. The third remedie, by giuing himselfe to hunting, and by endu­ring therein whatsoe­uer annoyance; and this is set out by the places and delights which he seemed to enioy in the very conceit thereof.

Or I will hunt The fierce beares. the fierce wilde boares: Not any colds shall forbid me to compasse about the Partheniā launds [or forrests] with dogs. no colds shall hinder me to range about the Parthenius is a mountaine of Ar­cadia, so call'd of the virgins which vsed to hunt there, [...]. Parthe­nian launds with dogs.

Now me thinks I go, Now I seeme vnto my selfe to go Through [or amongst] the rockes and sounding groues [viz. sounding with the Eccho.] by th' As going amongst the rockes and groues, shooting with most ex­cellent bowes and ar­rowes, that so he may asswage the furie of his raging loue. rockes and sounding groues; It listeth me to whirle [or shoote forth] Cydonian darts with a Par­thian horne, [viz a bow tipped with horne:] as if this may be the medicine of our furie, [viz. the remedie of our furious [or ouer passionate] loue.] I take delight to shoote Cydon is a citie of Creete, where are most excellēt reeds to make arrowes. Cydonian arrows with a The Parthians were most notable archers. Parthian bow; as if this were the medicine of our raging loue.

Or else that Cupid the God of loue. that God may learne To waxe milde by the euils of men, [viz. by our miseries.] to become more gentle by th' mis­haps of men.

Here the Poet sud­denly disliking the for­mer remedies, setteth out the inconstancie of loue, and that no reme­dies can cure it, neither the pleasures of the woods, no [...] the studie of Poetrie, no no [...] any musicke, no [...] yet any toyles can asswage the rage thereof▪ Now againe neither the Hama­dryades [do please vs,] nor [our] verses themselues do please vs. [But] now againe neither Hamadryades are Nymphs bree­ding and dying with the [...]akes. those Nymphs of the woods, no nor our Songs. verses themselues do giue vs any content: yee very woods Yeeld ye [to loue] [viz. because ye cannot cure it.] giue place againe.

All our toyles and trauels cannot change [or turne] Our labours cannot change Him [viz. Cupid] that is, cannot asswage our loue.] that God of loue. Nor enduring of any hardnesse, set out 1 by drinking vp the coldest riuer.

Neither If we both drinke. if we should both drinke vp the riuer [Page 100] Hebrus the riuer of Thracia. Heber In the cold, being in the midst [or in the midst of the cold, or amidst the cold. in the midst of Winter.

And vndergo, [viz endure to tra­uell in the snowes of Scythia in the Winter. And should vndergo And secondly by abi­ding the deepest snows▪ Al. Snowes of Sithon a mountaine of Thracia. the Al. Scythian snowes of the watery Winter [season.]

Nor if we oft turne about [viz. do tend] the sheepe of the Ethiopians vn­der the signe of Cancer, [viz. in the hotest scorching heate. No nor yet if we Thirdly, by suffering the most scorching heate in the hottest countries of the world, neare the burning line, and in the patching Sunne, when all things seeme to begin to die with heate. should tend the sheepe of the Blackamoores, when the Sun is in Can­cer; Whenas the highest trees do seeme to scorch and die with heate. whenas the barke dying, parcheth in the high elme.

Loue ouercometh Euery thing [viz. euery liuing creature, to make them yeeld to satis­fie it.] all Whence Gallus con­cludeth that loue ouer­cometh all things, and therfore he must needs yeeld to loue. things, Let vs yeeld to loue, [viz. let vs also suffer our selues to be ouercome by it, or we may also yeeld to loue. and [therefore] let vs [likewise] yeeld to loue.

Here Virgil speakes himselfe, and conclu­deth this Eclogue with an Apostrophe and in­uocation of the Muses, that Gallus might ac­cept of his homely verse; that the Muses themselues wold make these verses meete for Gallus, whilst [...]e is still making vp his wicker stuffe, viz. perfecting his other Pastorals. Oh Ye Muses. ye Goddesses, It shall suffice that your Poet [Vir­gil] hath sung these songs [viz. ver­ses.] it shall [now] be e­nough for your Poet to haue sung these [son­nets.]

Whilst he sits and weaues [or plats] a little pannier [or maund] with a slender bulrush. Whilst he sits still, and makes a little bas­ket of small limber twigs.

Oh Muses of Of the Pierides see before in the 3 6. and 8. Eclogues. Pie­rius, ye shall make these [my] Greatest [verses] viz. fit and meete for Gallus, [viz. that he may receiue them with the like affection as I haue written them.] chiefest [songs] [most acceptable] vnto Gallus.

And thence he la­boureth to expresse his loue to Gallus, how his loue towards him did increase continually; & this by an argument à pari. That is increased as much each houre, as the alder trees shootes foorth in the prime of the Spring. To Gallus [I say] [Page 101] The loue of whom increaseth so much to me in houres, [viz. euerie houre.] whose loue growes so much in mee euerie houre,

How much the greene alder tree subiects it selfe [viz. growes sprea­ding abroad downeward and each way] in the new spring [or in the be­ginning of the spring, or in the flou­rishing spring.] As the greene al­der tree spreads it selfe a­broad in the prime of the Spring.

Afterward taketh occasion to end this Eclogue from the dan­ger of the place where he sat, viz. vnder a iuni­per tree, the shadow whereof is especially hurtfull, as the shadows of all trees are to things growing vnder them, and therfore he should arise. Let vs arise: the shade is wont to be Grieuous to [men] singing, [viz. to shepheards when they sing, lying vnder the shadowes of trees.] noisome vnto them that sing;

The shadow of the iuniper tree is Noisome [or hurtfull, [viz. is espe­cially hurtfull. grieuous: shadowes [of trees] do hurt The fruites also, [viz. corne or whatsoeuer groweth vnder them.] euen the verie fruites.

And finally he shuts vp all by turning his speech vnto his goates, that they might now go home, both being full, and the euening starre now shewing it selfe. [Oh ye my little goates] Being full. full fed, go home, The euening starre comes, [viz. doth shew it selfe.] the euening comes, Go ye [my] little goates. Ite, [...]te. Apost [...]. & Epan. get you gone [my] goates.