A Critical Edition of Menaphon E-Book

Robert Greene

• Herausgeber: Seltzer Books
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Seitenzahl: 497

Beschreibung

This dissertation presents the first critical edition of Menaphon by Robert Greene with the Preface by Thomas Nashe. The work was originally published in 1589 in London and was reprinted four times in the sixteenth and seven­teenth centuries (1599, 1605, 1610, and 1616). For this edition three copies of the first edition and copies of all the other early editions have been collated. None of the later editions contains any revisions or additions that can be ascribed to either Nashe or Greene. Therefore the first edition is used in this edition as the copy-text. A full textual apparatus records all substantive variants and emendations of the text. The Introduction Includes bibliographic descriptions of the various early editions and discusses the relationship between the texts of the early editions. An essay on Nashe’s Preface places it in the context of his developing prose style. Greene’s Menaphon is treated in a separate essay concerned with the self-consciousness of the work, and its relation to various sources and influences such as Greek romance, Euphuism, and Sidney’s Old Arcadia. The Glossary at the end includes words which might not be easily understood, either because of peculiarity of spelling or because of specialized, archaic, or obsolete meaning.

Leseprobe

A CRITICAL EDITION OF MENAPHON BY ROBERT GREENE WITH THE PREFACE BY THOMAS NASHE

ADISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OFYALE UNIVERSITY INCANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY BYARDELLE COWIE AKA ARDELLE COWIE SHORT

YALE UNIVERSITY, 1977

© Copyright by Ardelle Cowie AKA Ardelle Cowie Short

The author can be reached at [email protected]

The canonical version of this book which should be used for scholarly references is the pdf, a photographic reproduction of the original. That version, which includes page numbers and the index is available online at http://www.seltzerbooks.com/menaphoncomplete.pdf and also at the Internet Archive https://archive.org/details/menaphoncomplete

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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ABSTRACT

This dissertation presents the first critical edition of Menaphon by Robert Greene with the Preface by Thomas Nashe. The work was originally published in 1589 in London and was reprinted four times in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (1599, 1605, 1610, and 1616). For this edition three copies of the first edition and copies of all the other early editions have been collated. None of the later editions contains any revisions or additions that can be ascribed to either Nashe or Greene. Therefore the first edition is used in this edition as the copy-text. A full textual apparatus records all substantive variants and emendations of the text.

The Introduction Includes bibliographic descriptions of the various early editions and discusses the relationship between the texts of the early editions. An essay on Nashe’s Preface places it in the context of his developing prose style. Greene’s Menaphon is treated in a separate essay concerned with the self-consciousness of the work, and its relation to various sources and influences such as Greek romance, Euphuism, and Sidney’s Old Arcadia.

The Commentary identifies literary allusions, clarifies stylistic obscurities, and discusses difficult passages. Contemporary writers, such as John Lyly, are quoted for comparison.

The Glossary at the end includes words which might not be easily understood, either because of peculiarity of spelling or because of specialized, archaic, or obsolete meaning.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For supplying me with xerographic copies of essential texts, I thank the staffs of the Folger Shakespeare Library, University Microfilms, the British Museum, the Sion College Library, the Trinity College Library, and Beinecke Library. The staff of the Huntington was very helpful in allowing me to examine their copy of 1589. I appreciate Miss Pantzer's help in providing me with necessary information concerning the early editions of Menaphon. I wish to express my thanks for the guidance and inspiration afforded by Mr. Richard S. Sylvester during the course of my work on this project.

My family has been most understanding in a variety of ways, and I particularly wish to thank my husband, Herbert Short, for his steadfast support and assistance.

Yale University September, 1977

PART I. The Text

PART II

The Introduction

Bibliographical Description

Nashe's Preface To Menaphon

Menaphon: Its Context And Accomplishment

Note On The Text

The Commentary

Bibliography

Commentary Notes

Glossary

PART I THE TEXT

[*l] MENAPHON

Camillas alarum to

slumbering Euphues, in his

melancholie Cell at Si-

lexedra.

Wherein are deciphered the variable effectsof Fortune, the wonders of Loue, the tri-

umphes of inconstant Time.

Displaying in sundrie conceipted passions (figured in a continuate Historie) the Trophees that

Vertue carrieth triumphant, maugrethe wrath of Enuie, or the reso-lution of Fortune.

A worke worthie the youngest earesfor pleasure, or the grauest censures

for principles.

Robertus Greene in Artibus magister.

Omne tulit punctum.

[Device]LONDON

Printed by T. 0. for Sampson Clarke, and are to be sold behinde the Royall Exchange. 1589.

Textual Notes to Page 1

1MENAPHON] GREENES / ARCADIA. / OR / MENAPHON: 1610I616

2-3 Camillas alarum to / slumbering Euphues.J CAMIL- / laes Alarum to slumber Eu- / phues 1610 1616

9-13 Displaying . . . Fortune] omitted 1610 1616

21-23 Printed . . . 1589] See descriptions of various editions in Introduction.

[*2J To the right Worshipfull and ver-tuous Ladie, the Ladie Hales, wife to the late

deceased Sir James Hales; Robert Greene

wisheth increase of Worship and vertue.

WHen Alexander (right worshipfull) was troubled with hottest 5

feuers, Phillip the phisition broght him the coldest potions; extreams haue ther Antidotes, & the driest melancholy hath a moistest sanguin; wise Hortenzia midst hir greatest dumpes, either playd with hir Children, or read some pleasant verses: such as sorrow hath pinched mirth must cure. This considered; 10

hearing (madam) of the passions your Ladiship hath vttered a late for the losse of your husband, a Knight in life worshipfull, vertuous, and full of honourable thoghts; discouering by such passionate sorowes the patterne of a louing and vertuous wife, whose ioyes lined in hir husbands weale, and 15

ended with his. life, I thought it my dutie to write this pastorall historie, conteyning the manifclde iniuries of fortune, that both your Ladiship might see her inconstant follies, and beare hir frownes with more patience, and when your dumpes were most deepe, then to looke on this little treatise for 20

recreation: wherein there be as well humors to delight, as discourses to aduise. Which if your Ladiship shall vouch to accept, couering my presumption and faultes with your wonted courtesie; I haue the wished end of my labors. In which hope

Textual Notes to Page 2

1-24 epistle] entire epistle omitted 1599 1610 1616, leaf wanting 1605

23 with] which 1589

resting, I commit your Ladiship to the Almightie.

Yours in all humble seruice,

Robert Greene,

[*2VJ To the Gentlemen Rea-ders, health.

IT fareth with mee Gentlemen, as with Batillus the ouerbold poet of Rome, that at euerie winke of Caesar would deliuer vp an hundred verses, though neuer a one plausible, thinking 5

the Emperours smile a priuiledge for his ignorance: so I hauing your fauor in letting passe my Pamphlets, feare not to trouble your patience with many works, and such as if Batillus had liued, hee might well haue subscribed his name to. But resting vpon your fauors I haue thus farre aduentured 10

to let you see Camillas alarum to Euphues, who thought it necessarie not to let Euphues censure to Phllautus, passe without requitall. If Gentlemen you finde my stile either magis humile in some place, or more sublime in another, if you finde darke AEnigmaes or strange conceipts as if Sphinx 15

on the one side, and Roscius on the other were playing the wagges; thinke the metaphors are well ment, and that I did it for your pleasures, whereunto I euer aymed my thoughts: and desire you to take a little paines to prie into my imagination. Wherein if you shall rest mine, I shall euer as 20

I haue done rest yours; and so I bid you farewell.

Textual Notes to Page 4

1-21 epistleentire epistle omitted 1599 1610 1616 leaf wanting 1605

[**1] To the Gentlemen. Students

of both Vniuersities.

CVrteous and wise, whose iudgements (not entangled with enuie) enlarge the deserts of the Learned by your liberall censures; vouchsafe to welcome your scholler-like Shepheard with such 5

Vniuersitie entertainement, as either the nature of your bountie, or the custome of your common ciuilitie may affoord. To you he appeales that knew him ab extrema pueritia, whose placet he accounts the plaudite of his paines; thinking his daie labour was not altogether lauisht sine linea, if there 10

be anie thing of all in it, that doth olere atticum in your estimate. I am not ignorant how eloquent our gowned age is growen of late; so that euerie moechanicall mate abhorres the english he was borne too, and plucks with a solemne periphrasis, his vt vales from the inkhorne: which I impute not 15

so much to the perfection of arts, as to the seruile imitation of vainglorious tragoedians, who contend not so serious- lie to excell in action, as to embowell the clowdes in a speach of comparison; thinking themselues more than initiated in poets immortalitie, if they but once get Boreas by the 20

beard, and the heauenlie bull by the deaw-lap. But herein I cannot so full-y bequeath them to follie, as their'idiote art- masters, that intrude themselues to our eares as the alcu- mists of eloquence; who (mounted on the stage of arrogance) think to cutbraue better pens with the swelling bumbast of 254

a bragging blanke verse. Indeed it may be the ingrafted

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1-25 text] leaf wanting; 1605

11 of all in it] at all in it 1599 1610 1616

13 abhorres] abhorreth 1599 1610 1616

23-24  alcumists] acumists 1599 » Alcumists 1610 1616

25-26 of a bragging] of bragging 1610 1616

ouerflow of some kilcow conceipt, that ouercloieth their imagination with a more than drunken resolution, beeing not extemporall in the inuention of anie other meanes to vent their manhood, commits the disgestion of their cholerick incumbrances, to the spacious volubilitie of a drumming 5

decasillabon. Mongst this kinde of men that repose eternitie in the mouth of a player, [**1V] I can but ingrosse some deepe read Grammarians, who hauing no more learning in their scull, than will serue to take vp a commoditie; nor Art in their brain, than was nourished in a seruing mans idlenesse, 10

will take vpon them to be the ironicall censors of all, when God and Poetrie doth know, they are the simplest of all. To leaue these to the mercie of their mother tongue, that feed on nought but the crummes that fal from the translators trencher, I come (sweet friend) to thy Arcadian Menaphon; 15

whose attire though not so statelie, yet comelie, dooth entitle thee aboue all other, to that temperatum dicendi genus, which Tullie in his Orator tearmeth true eloquence.

Let other men (as they please) praise the mountaine that in seauen yeares brings foorth a mouse, or the Italionate pen, 20

that of a packet of pilfries, affoordeth the presse a pamphlet or two in an age, and then in disguised arraie, vaunts Quids and Plutarchs plumes as their owne; but giue me the man, whose extemporall vaine in anie humor, will excell our greatest Art-masters deliberate thoughts; whose inuention 25

quicker than his eye, will challenge the proudest Rethoritian, to the contention of like perfection, with like expedition.

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8 Grammarians3 Schoolmen or Grammarians l6l0 1616

13 these] all these 1599 1610 1616

20 brings] bringeth 1599 1610 l6l6

25 inuention] inuentions 1599 1610 1616

What is he amongst Students so simple, that cannot bring forth (tandem aliquando) some or other thing singular, sleeping betwixt euerie sentence? Was it not Maros xij. yeares toyle, that so famed his xij. AEneidos? or Peter Ramus xvj. yeares paines, that so praised his pettie Logique? 5

Howe is it then, our drowping wits should so wonder at an exquisite line, that was his masters day labour? Indeede I must needes say, the descending yeares from the Philosophers Athens, haue not been supplied with such present Orators, as were able in anie English vaine to be eloquent of their 10

owne, but either they must borrow inuention of Ariosto, and his Countreymen, take vp choyce of words by exchange in Tullies Tusculane, and the Latine Historiographers storehouses; similitudes, nay whole sheetes and tractacts verbatim, 15

from the plentie of [**2] Plutarch and Plinie; and to conclude, their whole methode of writing, from the libertie of Comical fictions, that haue succeeded to our Rethoritians, by a second imitation: so that, well may the Adage, Nil dictum quod non dictum prius. bee the most iudiciall estimate, of our latter Writers. But the hunger of our vnsatiate humorists, 20

beeing such as it is, readie to swallowe all draffe without indifference, that insinuates it selfe to their senses vnder the name of delight, imployes oft times manie thred bare witts, to emptie their inuention of their Apish deuices, and talke most superficiallie of Pollicie, as those that 25

neuer ware gowne in the Vniuersitie; wherein they reuiue the olde saide Adage, Sus Mineruam, & cause the wiser to quippe

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1-27 text-] leaf wanting 1605

1 amongst] among 1610 1616

3 Was it] What is 1599 1610 1616

6 our] 1599 1610 1616, out 1589

13 Tusculane] Tusculans 1610 1616

20 latter] later 1599

22 indifference] difference 1610 1616

23 delight] delights 1599 1610 1616

them with Asinus ad Lyram. Would Gentlemen & riper iudgements admit my motion of moderation in a matter of follie, I wold perswade them to phisicke their faculties of seeing & hearing, as the Sabaeans doo their dulled senses with smelling; who (as Strabo reporteth) ouer-cloyed with such odoriferous 5

sauours, as the naturall encrease of their Countrey, (Balsamum, Amomum, with Myrrhe and Frankencense) sends foorth, refresh their nosthrills with the vnsauorie sent, of the pitchie slime, that Euphrates casts vp, and the contagious fumes of Goates beardes burnt; so woulde I haue them, beeing surfetted 10

vnawares with the sweete sacietie of eloquence, which the lauish of our copious Language maie procure, to vse the remedie of contraries; and recreate their rebated witts, not as they did, with the senting of slyme or Goates beardes burnt, but with the ouer-seeing of that sublime dicendi 15

genus, which walkes abroad for wast paper in each seruing mans pocket, and the otherwhile perusing of our Gothamists barbarisme; so shoulde the opposite comparison of Puritie, expell the infection of absurditie; and their ouer-rackte Rhethorique, bee the Ironicall recreation of the Reader. But 20

so farre discrepant is the idle vsage [**2V] of our vnexperienst punies from this prescription, that a tale of Ihon a Brainfords will, and the vnluckie furmentie, wilbe as soon interteined into their libraries, as the best poeme that euer Tasso eternisht: which being the effect of an vndescerning 25

iudgement, makes drosse as valuable as gold, and losse as welcome as gaine, the Glow-worme mentioned in AEsops

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1-27 text] leaf wanting 1605

9 casts] cast 1599 1610 1616

21-22 vnexperienst punies] vnexperienced and illiterated punies 1610 1616

21-23 Ihon a Brainfords] Ioan a Brainfords 1599, Ioane of Brainfords 1610 1616

23 furmentie] frumenty 1610 1616

25 eternisht] eterniz'd 1616

fables, namelie the apes follie, to be mistaken for fire, when as God wot poore soules, they haue nought but their toyle for their heate, their paines for their sweate, and (to bring it to our english prouerbe) their labour for their trauaile. Wherin I can but resemble them to the Panther, who 5

is so greedie of mens excrements; that if they be hengd vp in a vessell higher than his reach, he sooner killeth him-selfe with the ouer-stretching of his windlesse bodie, than he wil cease from his intended enterprise. Oft haue I obserued what I now set downe; a secular wit that hath liued 10

all daies of his life by what doo you lacke, to bee more iudiciall in matters of conceit, than our quadrant crepundios, that spit ergo in the mouth of euerie one they meete: yet those & these are so affectionate to dogged detracting, as the most poysonous Pasquil, anie durtie mouthed Martin, or 15

Momus euer composed, is gathered vp with greedinesse before it fall to the ground, and bought at the deerest though they smell of the friplers lauander halfe a yeere after: for I know not how the minde of the meanest is fedde with this follie, that they impute singularitie, to him that slanders 20

priuelie, and count it a great peece of arte in an inkhorne man, in anie tapsterlie tearmes whatsoeuer, to oppose his superiours to enuie. I will not denie but in scholler-like matters of controuersie, a quicker stile may passe as commendable; and that a quippe to an asse is as good as a goad to 25

an oxe: but when an irregular idiot, that was vp to the eares in diuinitie, before euer he met with probabile in the

Textual Notes to Page 9

5 trauaile] trauell 1599 1610 1616

7 killeth] killes 1599 1610 l6l6

11 by what doo you lacke,] by, what . . . lack? 1599 1610 1616

12 crepundios] crepundious 1599 1610 1616

14 are so affectionate] are affectionate 1599

15 Pasquil] Pasquils 1599 1610 1616

18 after] 1599 1610 1616, afetr 1589

21 inkhorne] inkhorned 1599

22 oppose] expose 1610 1616

26 an irregular] the irregular 1599 1610 1616

Vniuersitie, shall leaue pro & contra before he can scarcely pronounce it, & come to correct Common weales, that neuer heard of the name of Magistrate before he came to [**3] Cambridge, it is no meruaile if euery alehouse vaunt the table of world turned vpside down; since the childe beats his father, 5

& the asse whippes his master. But least I might seeme with these night crowes, Nimis curiosus in aliena republica. I'le turne backe to my first text, of studies of delight; and talke a little in friendship with a few of our triuiall translators. It is a common practise now a daies amongst a 10

sort of shifting companions, that runne through euery arte and thriue by none, to leaue the trade of Nouerint whereto they were borne, and busie themselues with the indeuors of Art, that could scarcelie latinize their necke-verse if they should haue neede; yet English Seneca read by candle light 15

yeeldes manie good sentences, as Bloud is a begger, and so foorth: and if you intreate him faire in a frostie morning, he will affoord you whole Hamlets, I should say handfulls of tragical speaches. But o griefe!tempus edax rerum, what’s that will last alwaies? The sea exhaled by droppes will in 20

continuance be drie, and Seneca let bloud line by line and page by page, at length must needes die to our stage: which makes his famisht followers to imitate the Kidde in AEsop, who enamored with the Foxes newfangles, forsooke all hopes of life to leape into a new occupation; and these men renowncing 25

all possibilities of credit or estimation, to intermeddle with Italian translations: wherein how poorelie they

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5 "beats ] "beateth 1599 1610 1616

6 whippes] whippeth 1599 1610 l6l6

7 republica. I’le] republica, I will 1599 1610 1616

8 studies of delightj Studies of Delight 1599

18 Hamlets hamlets 1599

23 Kidde] Kid 1599 1610 1616

haue plodded, (as those that are neither prouenzall men, nor are able to distinguish of Articles,) let all indifferent Gentlemen that haue trauailed in that tongue, discerne by their twopenie pamphlets: & no meruaile though their home-born mediocritie be such in this matter; for what can be 5

hoped of those, that thrust Elisium into hell, and haue not learned so long as they haue liued in the spheares, the iust measure of the Horizon without an hexameter. Sufficeth them to bodge vp a blanke verse with ifs and ands, & other while for recreation after their candle stuffe, hauing starched 10

their beardes most curiouslie, to make a peripateticall path into the inner parts of the Citie, & spend two or three [**3V] howers in turning ouer French Doudie, where they attract more infection in one minute, than they can do eloquence all dayes of their life, by conuersing with anie Authors of 15

like argument. But least in this declamatorie vaine, I should condemne all and commend none, I will propound to your learned imitation, those men of import, that haue laboured with credit in this laudable kinde of Translation; In the forefront of Whom, I cannot but place that aged Father Erasmus, 20

that inuested most of our Greeke Writers, in the roabes of the auncient Romaines; in whose traces, Philip Kelancthon, Sadolet, Plantine, and manie other reuerent Germaines insisting, haue reedified the ruines of our decayed Libraries, and merueilouslie inriched the Latine tongue with the expence of 25

their toyle. Not long after, their emulation beeing transported into England, euerie priuate Scholler, William Turner,

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1-27 text] leaf wanting 1605

1 prouenzall men] pouerzal-men 1599, Pouerzal-men 1610 1616

3 trauailed] trauelled 1599 1610 1616

7 liued] lined 1599

13 Doudie] Dowdie 1599 1610 1616

and who not, beganne to vaunt their smattering of Latine, in English Impressions. But amongst others in that Age, Sir Thomas Eliots elegance did seuer it selfe from all equalls, although Sir Thomas Moore with his Comicall wit, at that instant was not altogether idle: yet was not Knowledge fullie 5

confirmed in hir Monarchie amongst vs, till that most famous and fortunate Nurse of all learning, Saint Iohns in Cambridge, that at that time was as an Vniuersitie within it selfe; shining so farre aboue all other Houses, Halls, and Hospitalls whatsoeuer, that no Colledge in the Towne, was able to 10

compare with the tythe of her Students; hauing (as I haue hearde graue men of credite report) more candles light in it, euerie Winter Morning before fowre of the clocke, than the fowre of clocke bell gaue stroakes; till Shee (I saie) as a pittying Mother, put too her helping hande, and sent from 15

her fruitefull wombe, sufficient Schollers, both to support her owne weale, as also to supplie all other inferiour foundations defects, and namelie that royall erection of Trinitie Colledge, which the Vniuersitie Orator, in an Epistle to the Duke of Somerset. aptlie tearmed Colonia 20

deducta, from the Suburbes of Saint Iohns. In which extraordinarie conception, vno partu in rempublicam prodiere the Exchequer of eloquence Sir Ihon Cheeke, a man of men, supernaturally traded in al tongues, Sir Ihon Mason, Doctor Watson, Redman, Aschame, Grindall, Leuer, Pilkington; all which, haue either by their priuate readings, or publique workes, repurged the errors of Artes, expelde from their

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14 of clocke] of the clock 1599 1610 1616

1589 1599

20-21 Colonia deducta] 1610 1616. Colona diducta 1589 1599

22 vno] vna1599

27 Artes] Arte 1599 1610 1616

puritie, and set before our eyes, a more perfect Methode of Studie. But howe ill their preceptes haue prospered with our idle Age, that leaue the fountaines of sciences, to follow the riuers of Knowledge, their ouer-fraught Studies, with trifling Compendiaries maie testifie: for I knowe not howe 5

it comes to passe, by the doating practise of our Diuinitie dunces, that striue to make their Pupills pulpet men, before they are reconciled to Priscian: but those yeares, which shoulde bee employed in Aristotle, are expired in Epitomes; and well too, they maye haue so much Catechisme vacation, 10

to rake vp a little refuse Philosophie. And heere could I enter into a large fielde of inuectiue, against our abiect abbreuiations of Artes, were it not growen to a newe fashion amongst our Nation, to vaunt the pride of contraction in euerie manuarie action: in so much, that the Pater noster, 15

which was woont to fill a sheete of paper, is written in the compasse of a pennies whereupon one merelie affirmed, that prouerb to be deriued, No pennie, no pater noster; which their nice curtailing, puts me in mind of the custome of the Scythians, who if they be at any time distressed with famin, 20

take in their girdles shorter, & swaddle themselues streighter, to the intent no vacuum beeing left in their intrayles, [**4V] hunger should not so much tirannize ouer their stomacks; euen so these men opprest with a greater penurie of Art, do pound their capacitie in barren Compendiums, and 25

bound their base humors, in the beggerly straites of a hungry Analysis, least longing after that infinitum which

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11 rake vp] take vp 1599-1616

11 could I] I could 1599-1616

14 amongst] among 160 5 1610 1616

17 affirmed] assumed 1599-1616

19 curtailing] curtailing 1599-1616

19 puts] putteth 1599-1616

20 be] had beene 1605 1610 1616

21 take] tooke 160$ 1610 1616

21 swaddle] swaddled 1610 1616

the pouertie of their conceit cannot compasse, they sooner yeeld vp their youth to destinie, than their heart to vnderstanding. How is it then, such bungling practitioners in principles, shuld euer profile the Common wealth by their negligent paines, who haue no more cunning in Logique or 5

Dialogue Latine, than appertains to the literall construction of either; neuerthelesse it is daily apparant to our domesticall eyes, that there is none so forward to publish their imperfections, either in the trade of glose or translations, as those that are more vnlearned than ignorance, 10

and lesse conceiuing than infants. Yet dare I not impute absurditie to all of that societie, though some of them haue set their names to their simplicitie. Who euer my priuate opinion condemneth as faultie, Master Gascoigne is not to bee abridged of his deserued esteeme, who first 15

beate the path to that perfection which our best Poets haue aspired too since his departure; whereto he did ascend by comparing the Italian with the English, as Tullie did Graeca cum Latinis. Neither was Master Turbeuile the worst of his time, although in translating he attributed too much 20

to the necessitie of rime. And in this page of praise, I cannot omit aged Arthur Golding, for his industrious toile in Englishing Ouids Metamorphosis, besides manie other exquisite editions of Diuinitie, turned by him out of the French tongue into our own. Master Phaer likewise is not to 25

be forgot in regard of his famous Virgil, whose heauenly verse had it not bin blemisht by his hautie thoghts England

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10 ignorance] ignorant 1605 16101616

12 though] although 159916051616

20 although] though 1599-1616

21 rime] time 1599, the time 160516101616

might haue long insulted in his wit, and corrigat qui potest haue been subscribed to his workes. But fortune the Mistres of change with a pitying compassion, respecting Master Stanihursts praise, would that Phaer shoulde fall that hee might rise, whose heroicall Poetrie infired, I [A 1] should 5

say inspired, with an hexameter furie, recalled to life, what euer hissed barbarisme, hath bin buried this hundred yeare; and reuiued by his ragged quill, such carterlie varietie, as no hodge plowman in a countrie, but would haue held as the extremitie of clownerie; a patterne whereof, I will 10

propounde to your iudgements, as neere as I can, being parte of one of his descriptions of a tempest, which is thus

Then did he make, heauens vault to rebounde, with rounce robble hobble

Of ruffe raffe roaring, with thwick thwack thurlery 15

bouncing

Which strange language of the firmament neuer subiect before to our common phrase, makes vs that are not vsed to terminate heauens moueings, in the accents of any voice, esteeme of their triobulare interpreter, as of some Thrasonical huffe 20

snuffe, for so terrible was his stile, to all milde eares, as would haue affrighted our peaceable Poets, from intermedling hereafter, with that quarrelling kinde of verse; had not sweete Master France by his excellent translation of Master Thomas Watsons sugred Amintas, animated their dulled 25

Textual Notes to Page 15

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12 thus] thus. 1599-1616

18 makes] make 16101616

19 moueings] moouing 1599-1616

spirits, to such high witted endeuors. But I knowe not how, their ouer timerous cowardise, hath stoode in awe of enuie, that no man since him, durst imitate any of the worste, of those Romane wonders in english, which makes methinke, that either the louers of mediocritie, are verie many, or 5

that the number of good Poets, are very small: and in trueth, (Master Watson except, whom I mentioned before) I knowe not almost any of late dayes that hath shewed himselfe singular in any speciall Latine Poem, whose Amintas, and translated Antigone may march in equipage of honour, with any of our 10

ancient Poets. I will not say but wee had a Haddon whose pen would haue challenged the Lawrell from Homer, together with Carre, that came as nere him, as Virgil to Theocritus. But Tho. Newton with his Leyland, and Gabriell Haruey, with two or three other, is almost all the store, that is left vs 15

at this hower. Epitaphers, and position Poets haue wee more than a good ma- [A 1V] ny, that swarme like Crowes to a dead carcas, but flie like Swallows in the Winter, from any continuate subiect of witte. The efficient whereof, I imagine to issue, from the vpstart discipline, of our reformatorie 20

Churchmen, who account wit vanitie, and poetrie impietie; whose error, although the necessitie of Philosophie might confute, which lies couched most closely vnder darke fables profunditie, yet I had rather referre it, as a disputative plea to diuines, than set it downe as a determinate position, 25

in my vnexperienst opinion. But how euer their dissentious iudgements, should decree in their afternoone sessions of

Textual Notes to Page 16

10 our3 your 160516101616

16 haue wee] we haue 1599-1616

15 to] by 160516101616

an sit, the priuat trueth, of my discouered Creede in this controuersie is this, that as that beast, was thought scarce worthie to bee sacrifised, to the AEgiptian Epaphus, who had not some or other blacke spotte on his skinne: so I deeme him farre vnworthie of the name of a scholler, & so consequentlie, 5

to sacrifice his endeuors to art, that is not a Poet, either in whole or in a parte and here peraduenture, some desperate quipper, will canuaze my proposed comparison plus vltra, reconciling the allusion of the blacke spot, to the blacke pot; which makes our Poets vndermeale Muses so 10

mutinous, as euerie stanzo they pen after dinner, is full poynted with a stabbe. Which their dagger drunkennesse, although it might be excused, with Tam Marti quam Mercurio, yet will I couer it as well as I may, with that prouerbiall foecundi calices, that might wel haue been doorekeeper, to 15

the kanne of Silenus, when nodding on his Asse trapt with iuie, hee made his moist nosecloth, the pausing intermedium, twixt euerie nappe. Let frugale scholares, and fine fingerd nouices, take their drinke by the ownce, and their wine by the halpeworthes, but it is for a Poet, to examine the 20

pottle pottes, and gage the bottome of whole gallons; aui bene vult ποιειν, debet ante πινειν. A pot of blew burning ale, with a fierie flaming tost, is as good as Pallas with the nine Muses on Pernassus top: without the which, in vaine may they crie; o thou my muse inspire mee with some pen, 25

when they want cer- [A 2] taine liquid sacrifice, to rouze her foorth her denne. Pardon me Gentlemen, though somewhat

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5 of the name] the name 1599-1616

7 in a] in 1599-1616

8 proposed] purposed 1599-1616

10 makes] maketh 1599-1616

10-11 so mutinous] to mutinous 160 5 1616, to mutinons 1610

13 might] mighr 1610; Tam] jam 1605

20 halpeworthes] halfe penny-worths 1599-1616

22 ποιειν . . . πινειν] poiein . . . pinein 160516101616

merely I glaunce, at their imoderate follie, who affirms thatno man can write with conceit, except he take counsell of thecup: nor would I haue you thinke, that Theonino dente, Iarme my stile against all, since I doo knowe the moderationof many Gentlemen of that studie, to be so fαrre from infamie, 5

as their verse from equalitie: whose sufficiencie, were it aswell seene into, by those of higher place, as it wandersabroade vnrewarded, in the mouthes of vngratefull monsters,no double but the remembrance, of Moecenas liberalitie,extended to Maro, and men of like qualitie, would haue lefte 10

no memorie to that prouerb of pouertie, Si nihil attuleris,ibis Homere foras. Tut saies our English Italians, thefinest witts our Climate sends foorth, are but drie brainddoltes, in comparison of other countries: whom if youinterrupt with redde rationem, they will tell you of Petrache, 15

Tasso, Celiano, with an infinite number of others; to whomeif I should oppose Chaucer, Lidgate, Gower, with such like,that liued vnder the tirranie of ignorance, I do think theirbest louers, would bee much discontented, with the collationof contraries, if I should write ouer al their heads, Haile 20

fellow well met. One thing I am sure of, that each of thesethree, haue vaunted their meeters, with as much admirationin English, as euer the proudest Ariosto, did his verse inItalian. What should I come to our court, where the otherwhilevacations of our grauer Nobilitie, are prodigall of more 25

pompous wit, and choyce of words, than euer tragick Tassocould attaine too: but as for pastorall Poemes, I will not

Textual Notes to Page 18

2 can write] writes 1599-1616

12 Tut saies] Tush say 1599-1616

20 vaunted] vanted 1605. vented 16101616

make the comparison, least our countrimens credit should bee discountenanst by the contention, who although they cannot fare, with such inferior facilitie, yet I knowe would carrie the bucklers full easilie, from all forreine brauers, if their subiectum circa quod, should sauor of any thing 5

haughtie: and should the challenge ofdeepe conceit, be intruded by any forreiner, to bring our english wits, to the tutchstone [A 2V] of Arte, I would preferre, diuine Master Spencer, the miracle of wit to bandie line for line for my life, in the honor of England, gainst Spaine, France, Italie, 10

and all the worlde. Neither is he, the only swallow of our summer, (although Apollo, if his Tripos were vp again would pronounce him his Socrates) but he being forborne, there are extant about London, many most able men, to reuiue Poetrie, though it were executed ten thousand times, as in Platos, so in 15

Puritanes common wealth; as for example Mathew Roydon, Thomas Atchelow and George Peele, the first of whome, as hee hath shewed himselfe singular, in the immortall Epitaph of his be- loued Astrophel, besides many other most absolute comicke inventions (made more publique by euerie mans praise, than they can bee by my speache) so the second, hath more than once or twise manifested, his deepe witted schollership in places of credit; & for the last, thogh not the least of them all, I dare commend him to all that know him, as the chiefe supporter of pleasance nowe liuing, the Atlas of 25

Poetrie, & primus verborum Artifex: whose first encrease, the Arraignement of Paris, might plead to your opinions, his

Textual Notes to Page 19

8 tutchstone] tutcsthone 158,. touchstone 1599-1610

9 line for line] line by line 1599160516101616

10 gainst] against 1599-1616; Italie] Itale 1605

16 for] namely for 160516101616

24 to] vnto 1599-1616

pregnant dexteritie of wit, and manifold varietie of invention; wherein (me iudice) hee goeth a step beyond all that write. Sundrie other sweete Gentlemen I know, that haue vaunted their pens in priuate deuices, and trickt vp a companie of taffata fooles with their feathers, whose beautie if our 5

Poets had not peecte with the supply of their periwigs, they might haue antickt it vntill this time vp and downe the countrey with the King of Fairies, and dinde euerie dale at the pease porredge ordinarie with Delphrigus. But Tolossa hath forgot that it was sometime sackt, and beggers that euer 10

they caried their fardles on footback: and in truth no meruaile, when as the deserued reputation of one Roscius, is of force to inrich a rabble of counterfets; yet let subiects for all their insolence, dedicate a Deprofundis euerie morning to the preservation of their Caesar, least their 15

encreasing indignities returne them ere long to their [A 3] iuggling mediocritie, and they bewaile in weeping blankes, the wane of their Monarchie. As Poetrie hath been honored in those her forenamed professors; so it hath not been anie whit disparaged by William Warners absolute Albions. And 20

here Authoritie hath made a full point: in whose reuerence insisting, I cease to oppose to your sport the picture of those pamphleters and poets, that make a patrimonie of In Speech. and more than a yonger brothers inheritance of their Abcie. Read fauorablie to incourage me in the firstlings of 25

my follie; and perswade your selues, I’le persecute those idiots and their heires to the thirde generation, that haue

Textual Notes to Page 20

3 know] doe knowe 1599-1616;  haue] we haue 16051610

5 taffata] taffaty 16101616

6 peeetej pecked 1599-1616

9 Tolossa] Tolasso 1605 1610 1616

10 forgot] forgotten 1599-1616

16-17 to their iuggling mediocritie] their iugling to mediocrity 1610 1616

21 Authorities] Auhtoritie 1616 :

22 to oppose] 0 oppose 1599. to expose 16101616

26 I’le] I will 1599-1616

27 to] vnto 1599-1616

made Art banquerout of her ornaments, & sent Poetrie a begging vp & down the countrey. It may be my Anatomie of absurdities, may acquaint you ere long with my skill in surgerie; wherein the diseases of Art more merely discouered, may make our maimed poets put together their blankes to the 5

building of an Hospitall. If you chance to meet it in Poules shapte in a new sute of similitudes, as if like the eloquent apprentise of Plutarch it were popt at 7. yeres olde in double apparaile; thinke his master hath but fulfilled couenants, and onely cancelled the Indentures of dutie. If I please, 10

Ile thinke my ignorance indebted to you that applaud it; if not, what rests, but that I be excluded from your courtesie, like Apocripha from your Bibles. How euer. Yours euer;

THOMAS NASH.

Textual Notes to Page 21

3 may] way 1605

5 to] vnto 1599-1616

8 popt] popped 1599t propped 1605-1616

8 olde] end 1599-1616

9 but fulfilled] fulfilled 1599-1616

11 Ile] I wil 1599-1616

11 to] vnto 1599-1616

[A 4] In laudem Authoris,

Distichon amoris.

DElicious words, the life of wanton wit,

That doo enspire our soules with sweete content;

Why have your father Hermes thought it fit 5

My eyes should surfet by my hearts consent?

Full twentie Summers haue I fading seene,

And twentie Floras in their golden guise:

Yet neuer viewd I such a pleasant Greene

As this, whose garnisht gleades, compare denies. 10

Of all the flowers a Lillie once I lou’d,

Whose labouring beautie branch! it selfe abroade;

But now old age his glorie hath remoud,

And Greener obiectes are my eyes aboade.

No countrey to the downes of Arcadie, 15

Where Aganippes euer springing wells

Doo moyst the meades with bubling melodie;

And makes me muse, what more in Delos dwelles;

There feedes our Menaphons celestiall Muse,

There makes his pipe his pastorall reporte; 20

Which strained now a note aboue his vse,

Foretels, he’le nere more chaunt of Choas sporte.

Textual Notes to Page 22

1-2 title-] title omitted 1599-1616

4 doo] doth 1605 1610 1616

5 haue] hath 1599-1616

6 My] Mine 1599-1616

10 compare denies] comparde deuise 1599-1616

14 Greener] greener 1599-1616

14 my] mine 1599-1616

14 aboade] abroad 1605 1610 1616

16 Aganippes] Aganippos 1599 1605

19 Menaphons] Menaphon 1599

22 more] come 160 5 1610 1616

22 Choas] Thoaes 1599-1616

Reade all that list, and reade till you mislike;

Condemne who can, so enu.ie be no iudge:

No reede can swell more higher, lesse it shrike.

Robin thou hast done well, care not who grudge.

HENRIE VPCHEAR Gentleman.

Textual Notes to Page 23

3 No reede can] No, reade who can 1599-1616

5 HENRIE VPGHEAR Gentleman"] Henrie Vpcher 1599-1616

[A 4v] Thomas Brabine Gent.

in praise of the Author.

COme foorth you witts that vaunt the pompe of speach,

And striue to thunder from a Stage-mans throate:

View Menaphon a note beyond your reach;

Whose sight will make your drumming descant doate:

Players auant, you know not to delight;

Welcome sweete Shepheard, worth a Schollers sight.

Smirna is drie, and Helicon exhal’d,

Caballian founts haue left their springing sourse,

Parnassus with his Lawrell stands appal'd;

And yet His Muse keepes on her wonted course:

Wonted said I? I wrong his paines too much,

Since that his pen before brought foorth none such.

One writes of loue, and wanders in the aire;

Another stands on tearmes of trees and stones:

When heauens compare yeeldes but the praise of faire,

And christall can describe but flesh and bones:

Yet countrey swaynes, whose thoughts are faith and troth,

Will shape sweete words of wooll and russet cloth.

Mongst whom if I my Tityrus should chuse,

Whose warbling tunes might wanton out my woes;

To none more oftner would my solace vse,

Textual Notes to Page 24

1-25/4 text-] entire poem omitted 1599-1616

Than to his Pastoralls their mortall foes.

Sweete verse, sweete prose, how haue you plesde my vaine?

Be thou still Greene, whiles others glorie waine.

Finis.

[B 1] Arcadia.

The reports of the

Shepheards.

AFter that the wrath of mightie Ioue, had wrapt Arcadia with noysome pestilence, in so much that the ayre yeelding 5

preiudiciall sauors, seemd to be peremptory in some fatall resolution. Democles soueraigne and King of that famous Continent pitying the sinister accidents of his people, being a man as iust in his censures as royall in his possessions, as carefull for the weale of his country, as the continuance 10

of his diadem, thinking that vnpeopled Cities were Corasiues to Princes consciences, that the strength of his subiects was the sinnews of his dominions, and that euery crowne, must conteyne a care, not onely to winne honour by forrayne conquests, but in mainteining dignitie with ciuill and domestical 15

insights: Democles grounding his arguments vpon these premisses, coueting to be counted Pater Patriae, calling a Parliament together, whether all his Nobilitie incited by summons made their repaire, elected two of his chiefe Lordes to passe vnto Delphos, at Apollos Oracle to heare the fatall 20

sentence, either of their future miserie or present remedie. They hauing their charge, posting from Arcadia to the Tripos where Pithia sate, the sacred Nymph that deliuered out Apollos Dylonimas, offering as their manner is their orizons & presents, as wel to intreate by deuotion, as to perswade 25

by bountie, they had returned from Apollo this doome.

Textual Notes to Page 26

1 Arcadia") Greene's Arcadia 1 $99-1605. omitted 16101616

6 sauors] sauour 1616

7 resolution. Democles] resolution, Democles 1599-1616

10 continuance] countenance 1599-1616

12 to] in 1605-1616

When Neptune riding on the Southerne seas

shall from the bosome of his Lemman yeeld

Th' arcadian wonder, men and Gods to please:

Plentie in pride shall march amidst the field,

  Dead men shall warre, and vnborne babes shall frowne, 5

  And with their fawchens hew their foemen downe.

[B 1V] When Lambes haue Lions for their surest guide,

and Planets rest vpon th' arcadian hills: 10

When swelling seas haue neither ebbe nor tide.

When equall bankes the Ocean margine fills.

Then looke Arcadians for a happie time,

And sweete content within your troubled Clyme.

No sooner had Pithia deliuered this scroll to the 15

Lordes of Arcadie, but they departed and brought it to Democles, who causing the oracle to be read amongst his distressed commons, found the Delphian censure more full of doubts to amaze, than fraught with hope to comfort; thinking rather that the angrie God sent a peremptorie presage of  20

ruine, than a probable ambiguitie to applaud any hope of remedie: yet loath to haue his carefull subiects fall into the balefull laborinth of despaire, Democles began to discourse vnto them, that the interpreters of Apollos secretes, were not the conceipts of humane reason, but the successe of 25

Textual Notes to Page 27

17 his] the 16101616

20 the angrie God] the anger of God 160516101616

long expected euents; that Comets did portend at the first blaze, but tooke effect in the dated bosome of the destinies; that oracles were foretold at the Delphian Caue, but were shapte out and finished in the Counsell house. With such perswasiue arguments Democles appeased the distressed 5

thoughtes of his doubtful countrimen, and commanded by proclamation that no man should prie into the quiddities of Apollos answere, least sundrie censures of his diuine secrecie, shoulde trouble Arcadia with seme sodaine mutinie. The King thus smoothing the heate of his cares, rested a 10

melancholy man in his Courts; hiding vnder his head the double faced figure of Ianus, as well to cleare the skies of other mens conceiptes with smiles, as to furnish out his owne dumps with thoughts. But as other beasts leuell their lookes at the countenance of the Lion, and birdes make wing 15

as the Eagle flyes: so Regis ad arbitrium totus componitur orbis: the people were measured by the minde of the souereigne, and what stormes soeuer they smoothed in priuate conceipt, yet they made haye, [B 2] and cried holiday in outward appearance: insomuch that euerie man repaired to his 20

owne home, and fell either vnto pleasures or labours, as their liuing or content allowed them.

Whiles thus Arcadia rested in a silent quiet, Menaphon the Kings Shepheard, a man of high account among the Swaines of Arcadie, loued of the Nymphes, as the paragon of all their 25

countrey youngsters, walking solitarie downe to the shore, to see if any of his ewes and lambes were straggled downe

Textual Notes to Page 28

11 Courts] courte 16101616

15 wing] wings 16101616

16 Eagle flyes] Eagles flie 1599-1616

17-18 the souereigne] theyr soueraigne 160516101616

18 smoothed] smothered 1599-1816

to the strond to brouse on sea iuie, whereof they take speciall delight to feede; he found his flockes grazing vpon the Promontorie Mountaines hardlie: whereon resting himselfe on a hill that ouer-peered the great Mediterraneum, noting how Phoebus fetched his Laualtos on the purple Plaines 5

of Neptunus, as if he had meant to haue courted Thetis in the royaltie of his roabes: the Dolphines (the sweete conceipters of Musicke) fetcht their carreers on the calmed waues, as if Arion had touched the stringes of his siluer sounding instrument: the Mermaides thrusting their heades from the 10

bosome of Amphitrite, sate on the mounting bankes of Neptune, drying their waterie tresses in the Sunne beames. AEolus forbare to throwe abroad his gustes on the slumbering browes of the Sea-God, as giuing Triton leaue to pleasure his Queene with desired melodie, and Proteus libertie to followe 15

his flockes without disquiet.

Menaphon looking ouer the champion of Arcadie to see if the Continent were as full of smiles, as the seas were of fauours, sawe the shrubbes as in a dreame with delightfull harmonie, and the birdes that chaunted on their braunches 20

not disturbed with the least breath of a fauourable Zephirus. Seeing thus the accord of the Land and Sea, casting a fresh gaze on the water Nimphs, he began to consider how Venus was feigned by the Poets to spring of the froathe of the Seas; which draue him straight into a deepe coniecture 25

of the inconstancie of Loue: that as if Luna were his [B 2V] load-starre, had euerie minute ebbes and tides,

1 on] on the 16101616

1 whereof] 1599-1616, wherfore 1589

2 grazing] gazing 1599-1616

5 purple] pupple 1610

13 gustes] guestes 1599 1605 1610

15 Proteus] Porteus 1599 1605

18 Continent were] continent was 1610 1616

19 fauours] sauours 1610

sometime ouerflowing the banks of Fortune with a gracious look lightened from the eyes of a fauorable louer, otherwhiles ebbing to the dangerous shelfe of despaire, with the piercing frowne of a froward Mistresse. Menaphon in this browne studie, calling to mince certaine Aphorismes that 5

Auarreon had pend downe as principles of loues follies, being as deepe an enemie to fancie, as Narcissus was to affection, began thus to scoffe at Venus Deitie.

Menaphon thy mindes fauours, are greater than thy wealths fortunes, thy thoughtes higher than thy birth, & 10

thy priuate conceipt better than thy publique esteeme. Thou art a shepheard Menaphon, who in feeding of thy flockes findest out natures secrecie, and in preuenting thy lambes preiudice conceiptest the Astronomicall motions of the heauens: holding thy sheep-walkes to yeeld as great 15

Philosophie, as the Ancients discourse in their learned Academies. Thou countest labour as the Indians doo their Chrisocolla wherwith they trie euerie mettall, and thou examine euerie action. Content sitteth in thy minde as Neptune in his Sea-throne, who with his trident mace 20

appeaseth euerie storme. When thou seest the heauens frowne thou thinkest on thy faults, and a cleere skie putteth thee in minde of grace; the summers glorie tels thee of youths vanitie, the winters parched leaues of ages declining weaknes. Thus in a myrrour thou measurest thy deedes with 25

equall and considerate motions, and by being a shepheard findest that which Kings want in their royalties. Enuie

Textual Notes to Page 30

12 flockesj flock 160516101616

ouerlooketh thee, renting with the windes the Pine trees of Ida; when the Affrick shrubs waue not a leafe with the tempestes. Thine eyes are vaylde with content that thou canst not gaze so high as ambition: & for loue, and with that in naming of loue, the shepheard fell into a great laughter. 5

Loue Menaphon, why of all follies that euer Poets fained, or men euer faulted with, this foolish imagination of loue is the greatest: Venus forsooth for her wanton escapes must be a Goddesse, & her bastard a Deitie: Cu- [B 3] pide must be yong and euer a boy to prooue that loue is fond and witlesse, 10

wings to make him inconstant, and arrowes whereby to shew him feareful: blinde (or all were not worth a pinne) to prooue that Cupides leuell is both without aime and reason: thus is the God, and such are his Votaries. As soone as our shepheards of Arcadie settle themselues to fancie, and weare 15

the characters of Venus stampte in their forheads, straight their attire must bee quaint, their lookes full of amours, as their Gods quiuer is full of arrowes; their eyes holding smiles and teares, to leape out at their Mistres fauours or her frownes: sighes must flie as figures of their thoughts, 20

and euerie wrinckle must be tempred with a passion: thus suted in outward proportion, and made excellent in inward constitution, they straight repairs to take viewe of their Mistres beautie. She as one obseruant vnto Venus principles, first tieth loue in her tresses, and wraps affection in the 25

tramels of her haire; snaring our swains in her locks as Mars in the net, holding in her forhead Fortunes Calender,

Textual Notes to Page 31

2-3 tempestesj tempest 16101616

7 euer faulted] faulted 1616

15 weare] were 15991605

19 to leaped to leapt 1605

either to assigne dismal influence, or some favourable aspect. If a wrinckle appeare in her brow, then our shepheard must put on his working day face, & frame nought but dolefull Madrigalls of sorrowe; if a dimple grace her cheeke, the heauens cannot prooue fatal to our kinde hearted louers; if 5

she seeme coy, then poemes of death mounted vppon deepe drawne sighes, flie from their master to sue for some fauour, alledging how death at the least may date his miserie: to be briefe, as vppon the shoares of Lapanthe the winds continue neuer one day in one quarter, so the thoughtes of a louer 10

neuer continue scarce a minute in one passion; but as Fortunes globe, so is fancies seate variable and inconstant. If louers sorrowes then be like Sisiphus turmoyles, & their fauours like honnie bought with gall; let poore Menaphon then liue at labour, and make esteeme of Venus as of Mars 15

his concubine; and as the Cimbrians hold their idols in account but in euerie tempest, so make Cupide a God, but when thou art ouer-pained with passions, and that Menaphon wil [B 3V] neuer loue, for as long as thou temperest thy handes with labours, thou canst not fetter thy thoughts with 20

loues. And in this Satyricall humor smiling at his owne conceipts, hee tooke his pipe in his hand, and betweene euerie report of his instrument sung a stanzo to this effect.

Menaphons Song.

25

Some say Loue

Textual Notes to Page 32

12 seate] case 1599-1616

18 that] then 1610 1616

Foolish Loue

Doth rule and gouerne all the Gods,

I say Loue,

Inconstant Loue

Sets mens senses fame at ods. 5

Some sweare Loue

Smooth’d face Loue

Is sweetest sweete that men can haue:

I say Loue,

Sower Loue 10

Makes vertue yeeld as beauties slaue.

Abitter sweete, a follie worst of all

That forceth wisedome to be follies thrall.

Loue is sweete.

Wherein sweete? 15

  In fading pleasures that doo paine,

Beautie sweete.

Is that sweete

  That yeeldeth sorrow for a gaine?

If Loues sweete, 20

Heerein sweete

  That minutes ioyes are monthlie woes.

Tis not sweete,

That is sweete

Nowhere, but where repentance growes. 25

Then loue who list if beautie be so sower:

Labour for me, Loue rest in Princes bower

Textual Notes to Page 33

2 rule] rue 1616

11 vertue] vertues 16101616

16 paine] faine 1610 l6l6

19 yeeldeth] yeelds 1599-1616

[B  4] Menaphon hauing ended his roundelay, rising vp, thinking to passe from the mountaine downe to the valley, casting his eye to the sea side, espied certain fragments of a broken ship floating vpon the waues, and sundrie persons driuen vpon the shore with a calme, walking all wet and 5

weary vpon the sands, wondring at this strange sight he stood amazed; yet desirous to see the euent of this accident, he shrowded himself to rest vnespied til he might perceiue what would happen: at last he might descrie it was a woman holding a childe in her armes, and an olde man directing her 10

as it were her guide. These three (as distressed wrackes) preserued by some further forepoynting fate, coueted to clime the mountaine, the better to vse the fauor of the Sunne, to drie their drenched apparaile; at last crawled vp where poore Menaphon lay close, and resting them vnder a 15

bush, the old man did nothing but sende out sighes, and the woman ceased not from streaming foorth riuolets of teares, that hung on her cheekes like the droppes of pearled deaw vppon the riches of Flora. The poore babe was the touch-stone of his mothers passions; for when he smiled and lay laughing 20

in hir lappe, were her heart neuer so deeply ouercharged with her present sorrowes; yet kissing the pretie infant, shee lightened out smiles from those cheekes, that were furrowed with continual sources of teares: but if he cried, then sighes as smokes, and sobbes as thundercracks, foreranne 25

those showers, that with redoubled distresse distilled from her eyes: thus with pretie inconstant passions trimming vp

Textual Notes to Page 39

1 rising] rose 1599-1616

5 with] like 1599-1616

26 with] which 1599-1616

her table, and at last to lull him a sleepe, she warbled out of her wofull breast this dittie.

Sephestias song to her childe.

Weepe not my wanton smile vpon my knee,

When thou art olde ther's griefe inough for thee.

Mothers wagge, pretie boy,

Fathers sorrow, fathers ioy:

[B 4V] When thy father first did see

Such a boy by him and mee,

He was glad, I was woe,

Fortune changde made him so,

When he left his pretie boy,

Last his sorowe, first his ioy.

Weepe not my wanton smile vpon my knee:

When thou art olde ther's griefe inough for thee.

Streaming teares that neuer stint,

Like pearle drops from a flint

Fell by course from his eyes,

That one anothers place supplies:

Thus he grieud in euerie part,

Teares of bloud fell from his hart,

When he left his pretie boy,

Fathers sorrow, fathers ioy.

Weepe not my wanton smile vpon my knee:

When thou art olde ther's griefe inough for thee.

Textual Notes to Page 35

12 left his pretie boy] had left his prettie 1599, had left his prettie boy 160516101616

The wanton smilde, father wept;

Mother cride, babie lept:

More he crowde, more we cride;

Nature could not sorowe hide.

He must goe, he must kisse 5

Childe and mother, babie blisse:

For he left his pretie boy,

Fathers sorowe, fathers ioy.

Weepe not my wanton smile vpon my knee:

When thou art olde ther's griefe inough for thee. 10

With this lullaby the babie fell a sleepe, and Sephestia laying it vpon the greene grasse couered it with a mantle, & then leaning her head on her hand, and her elbow on her lap she fell a fresh to poure foorth abundaunce of plaintes, which Lamedon the old man espying, although in his 15

face appeared the mappe of discontent, and in euerie wrinckle was a catalogue of woes; yet to cheere vp Sephestia, shrowding [C 1] his inward sorrow with an outward smile, he began to comfort her in this manner.

Sephestia. thou seest no Phisick preuailes against the 20

gaze of the Basilisckes, no charme against the sting of the Tarantula, no preuention to diuert the decree of the Fates, nor no meanes to recall backe the balefull hurt of Fortune: Incurable sores are without Auicens Aphorismes, and therefore no salue for them but patience. Then my Sephestia sith thy 25

fal is high, and fortune low; thy sorrowes great, and thy

Textual Notes to Page 36

2 crowdej crownde 1599

3 we cride] he cride 160516101616

hope little: seeing me partaker of thy miseries, set all thy rest vppon this, Solamen miseris, socios habuisse doloris. Chaunce is like Ianus