THE CUCKOO.  
At, etiam cubat cuculus: surge amator, i domum.  
RICHARDUS NICCOLS, in Artibus Bac. Oxon. Aulae Mag.  
AT LONDON, Printed by F. K. and are to be sold by W. C. 1607.   

TO HIS WORSHIPFUL GOOD FRIEND, MASTER THOMAS WROTH an affecter and favourer of the Muses.  

THis Cuckoo's poem let me thus excuse  
To you (dear friend, the Patron of my verse)  
Though some blind night-born Momus it abuse,  
As but a jest unworthy to rehearse:  
Yet who such jests, as this shall idly blame,  
Shall for their meed merit a Cuckoo's name.   

I speak not this; but that in future time,  
When as my wit with riper fruit shall grow,  
My Muse may speak to thee in sweeter rhyme,  
And for thy worth some graver poem show:  
Mean time accept of what I here do bring,  
Though Cuckow-like my Muse doth harshly sing.   
Yours at command, R. NICCOLLS.   

TO THE READER.  
I Know that the nature of our Cuckoo is a thing so well known, that I need not despair of any man's knowledge herein; and there●…ore for me (especially in these parts where it is so well known) to present only a Cuckoo, were to bring an Owl to Athens, a bird better known there then a Cuckoo. Wherefore (gentle Reader) lea●…ing the literal exposition to him, that is better skilled in the nature of a Cuckoo, than myself, I remit the cause of my affect in this subject, to thy deeper consideration. To the prodigal want-wits of our age, that are either too curious to contemn all, or too free to affect all, let them know, that I neither despair at the furious frowns of the one, neither rely upon the fawning fancy of the other: only I submit myself to the censure of him, that is more than a mere reader, to whom I do impart part of my poor poetical skill, upon which I have bestowed some idle hours; idle I call them, not in disgrace of so famous a skill: but to give the world notice, that I make it not the chief part of my profession: but rather place it amongst those things of accomplishment required in a scholar, or gentleman; which if (gentle Reader) thou shalt gently accept, my new born Muse, that now sings harsh and hoarse in the shape of a Cuckoo, may by thy encouragement hereafter sing to thee in a more pleasing note. And so wishing, that her obscurity and unacquaintance with thee, be not the bar of her good entertainment in thy conceit, as being but a stranger: yet as friend, I bid thee Farewell.   

THE CUCKOO.  

WHen Perseus bride, that star of heaven had fled  
The Dragon's paw by help of Gorgon's head,  
And on the sea-gods golden-edged brim  
Her gold-out-glistring locks began to trim:  
Then did the lusty Ram with horned crest  
Rouse up Europa's grim-curl'd-headed beast,  
Who loudly bellowing did chase away  
The tedious night, and called back cheerful day.  
For than Hyperions son, the days bright king  
In pomp did court the Lady of the spring;  
And she again in all her rich array  
Did wanton with him in lascivious play,  
Until her womb with loves sweet fruit did grow,  
The sweetest fruit, that womb did ever show:  
For it brought forth the world's admired birth,  
The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Flora, 〈◊〉 fairest child on earth;  
Who in short time did grow so great in fame  
For needle work, that never any dame,  
Although her cu●…ing were exceeding rare  
With fair 〈◊〉 Flora's skill might make compare:  
To show the which, the world she set on wing  
Of sweet delight, to welcome in the spring:  
The mountain tops she clad in coat of green,  
And spotted them with gold as they had been  
Starry Olympi; and the vales below  
She decked with daintier work, than art can show;  
Upon the ground mantled in verdant hue,  
Out of her fruitful lap each day she threw,  
The choicest flowers, that any curious eye  
In nature's garden ever did espy:  
The lofty trees, whose levy locks did shake  
And with the wind did dalliance seem to make,  
She with sweet breathing blossoms did adorn,  
That seemed to laugh the winter past to scorn,  
Who when mild Zephyrus did gently blow  
Delightful odours round about did throw;  
While joyous birds beneath the levy shade,  
With pleasant singing sweet respondence made  
unto the murmuring streams, that seemed to play  
With silver shells, that in their bosom lay:  
Thus with delight did Flora deck each thing  
To welcome in her mother joyful spring,  
Who had not long triumphed in this our clime  
Before the tidings of her joyous prime  
Were spread abroad, which, when those birds that shrunk  
Into the wooden walls of hollow trunk,  
For truth did hear, abroad they boldly came  
To welcome Lady Ver, that lovely dame;  
'Mongst whom two chief there were, Dan Cuckoo hight;  
In whom god Vulcan's love took most delight,  
The other that sweet singer Philomela,  
Or Casta hight, whom Phoebe loved well:  
These two were chief, that in contention stood  
Amongst the pleasant singers of the wood  
To be chief carroler and lead the ring,  
Of all the rest to welcome in the spring.  
Dan Cuckoo was a bird hatched in that hour,  
When Mars did sport in Cytherea's bower,  
Whereby the note, which his hoarse voice doth bear  
Is harsh and fatal to the wedded ear:  
But little Philomela far more blest  
Was fostered in fair Phoebe's own dear breast,  
Whom she no more the Nightingale did name;  
But to consort her nature to the same  
She called her Casta, word of much import,  
And made her chief of birds in their consort.  
Betwixt Dan Cuckoo and this little bird  
Th'approach of spring a great contention stirred,  
Who should be deemed the chief of birds to bring  
The happy tidings of th'approaching spring:  
For Philomela once in a pearly morn,  
When heaven with sunbright looks did earth adorn  
Hearing each bird record her curious lay,  
Unto the wood with speed did take her way,  
Where she did press into the thickest throng  
And did so sweetly in delicious song  
chant out aloud her welcome to the spring,  
That all the birds did cease to hear her sing:  
But as she sat admired of every one,  
Redoubling quavers in division,  
And sweetly warbling out that chaste set song,  
Which Phoebe taught to her when she was young,  
Dan Cuckoo came, and from his greedy throat  
breathing out ditties of an unchaste note,  
As wroth that other birds should seek to make  
Her mistress of the quire, thus boldly spoke:  
Thou wretch (said he) what high aspiring spirit  
Doth harbour in thy breast? what is thy merit  
That thou shouldst be chief carroler to sing  
Amongst us all to welcome in the spring?  
Is not my dame the goddess of delight,  
And Queen of Love, whose altars are bedight  
With broad blown blossoms of the blooming spring,  
Of budding youth: then cease and let me sing;  
For I of birds am chiefest in her sight  
And in my ditties she takes most delight:  
Then cease thou fondling cease, and let me sing  
A pleasing welcome to the wanton spring.  
This said, he chanted out his wont lay,  
Which did in woods all wedded birds affray:  
But little Casta nought at all dismayed,  
Being safely shrouded in the levy shade  
Returned this short reply: (Cuckoo) (quoth she)  
What thou hast said, I grant; yet now hear me.  
Where dainty dames are dight to wanton sin  
Loosely arrayed youths wandering eyes to win,  
Whom slick-haired slipper-lossels do despoil  
Of beauties, bud with loves sweet seeming toil,  
While smock sworn boys stand by and keep account,  
How oft aloft they lustily do mount;  
There with good right may thy harsh sounding throat  
Without control record thy bastard note.  
But in all woods, where my fair virgin dame  
With her chaste Nymphs did keep laborious game  
To slack the strength of loves bow-bending string,  
Thou must not speak thy welcome to the spring:  
For Phoebe's self with all her Nymphs consent  
Did make me chief of birds, for that intent.  
This said, Dan Cuckoo perfect in the sleight  
Of cunning guile, and knowing loves delight  
Had thrilled their hearts, that in fair Phoebe's grove  
Once ranged at will in scorn of Lady love,  
Made this reply: (quoth he) seeing thou dost vaunt  
Of Phoebe and her Nymphs, thereby to daunt  
My courage in this claim, I do agree,  
That they decide the cause 'twixt thee and me;  
And if they judge thy note the sweeter sound,  
Chief singer of the quire, thou shalt be crowned:  
But if to them my song more pleasing be,  
To make me che●…fe in woods, thou shalt agree.  
Casta being swift to give such counsel ear  
Supposing Phoebe's Nymphs, such love did bear  
To chaster thoughts, that they would all detest  
The unchaste ditty of Dan Cuckoo's breast,  
Was well contented that it should be so  
And with Dan Cuckoo for this cause did go,  
Unto the bower of bliss, for so it hight,  
Where then those Nymphs to be did most deligh●….  
It is a place, that thoughts cannot devise  
A plot more like unto a Paradise;  
Shall I compare it to Cithaeron green,  
On which the warre-god did compress loves queen,  
Or to Adonis' garden far renowned,  
In which eternal spring is ever found?  
O far more pleasant is this pleasant place,  
Then all the blissful bowers beneath heavens face!  
It seated is far in a pleasa●…t wood,  
Where many a lofty jovial tree hath stood,  
Not much unlike, that wood by thorny grove  
Full of the tree erected unto jove,  
Which seated is upon the Northern Strand,  
Where Saxon Segberts sacred tower doth stand,  
By which the Prince of Albion's watery deeps  
From the French Ocean with swift currant sweeps,  
Wafting each year by his Labrynthian strand,  
More than a thousand keel from foreign land,  
Who oft, when Boreas at their safety raves,  
And with proud blasts doth cuff the silver waves,  
Do nimbly fe●…ch Lauolto●…s up and down  
Upon the waves in scorn●… of Boreas frown:  
And ●…uch a famous w●…od, ●…s that, is this,  
In wh●…ch doth stand th●… pl●…sant bower of bliss:  
V●…to the which, wh●… as Dan Cuckoo came  
Knowing each w●…y, 〈◊〉 led throughout the same,  
With Philomela h●… 〈◊〉 the r●…ady way,  
Which to the bow●…r of bliss dir●…ctly lay;  
Where in the way they both amazed stood  
To see the pleasance of tha●… 〈◊〉 wood,  
There many blissful bowers they did behold;  
Whose dwelle●…s nei●…her vexed with heat nor cold  
Did there enjoy all things, that might delight  
The cu●…ious ●…ie of any living wight:  
For pl●…ntie th●…e to lavish in her gift  
Furnished each place in scorn of niggard thrift;  
There many Nymphs of more than heavenly hue  
Had their abode; although alas but few  
Amongst them all did come of heavenly kind,  
So hard it is to gain the gifts of mind:  
Yet stately portance, unto them was given  
And in proportion like the stars of heaven  
They bore thems●…lues: yet want both will and power  
From loves assault to shield fair beauties bower  
And more to beautify the goodly frames,  
Which God and nature gave these goodly dames,  
Gentry th●…ir cradles at their birth did rock  
And drew their lineage from an ancient stock:  
But what alas a●…ailes the vading flower  
Of beauty's bud in those, that have no power  
To guide the least part of the weaker sense  
And learn the lesson of pure continence?  
Or what is birth to those, that so they win  
The seeming sweetness of alluring sin?  
Bastard their birth and all their stock deprau●…  
To gain the thing, which appetite doth crave:  
Beauty in such, though much, is but disgrace,  
And high borne birth, though kingly, yet but base.  
For fair is foul, where virtue is unknown,  
And birth is base, where gifts of grace are none.  
From hence Dan Cuckoo with fair Philomela,  
(Acquainted with each passage very well)  
Forward proceeded in this pleasant wood  
Until they came unto that place, where stood  
The bower of bliss itself, so fairly decked,  
That never eye beheld so fair aspect:  
In th'ou●…er porch sat many a slick-heared Squire  
Of pleasing semblance, full of loose desire,  
Of feature fit to feast a Lady's e●…e;  
But manly exercise unfit to try:  
Their cunning did consist in sleights of love,  
With which from loy●…ltie they oft did move  
Ladies frail hea●…s: for unto many a one  
They vowed themselves; though faithful unto none,  
Unto the secrets of the vnc●…aste she●…t  
They sworn were, an oath for ●…ch unmeet:  
For which their service ofte●…imes they fed  
On ransacked swee●…nes of the nup●…iall bed:  
But let not such disco●…rse d●…file my pen  
With argument▪ of s●…ch reproachful men;  
Let it suffice that 〈◊〉, as they ●…o bring  
Dan Cuckoo here to welcome in our spring.  
'Mongst these, there was a squire of greatest place  
And chiefest held in that great Lady's grace,  
Which dwelled in this same bower: for many a night  
With her he stole a snatch of loves delight:  
For he was lusty, young, fit for her tooth,  
And her great wealth did well content his youth.  
Yet he was false, disloyal to his dame;  
For in his common talk devoid of shame  
He of his Lady's favour was too frank,  
For which I con that lover little thank;  
He was the usher to this dainty dame  
And Vanity men gave him unto name,  
To whom Dan Cuckoo often louting low  
By his obsequious signs his mind did show  
And chanted out to Philomel's disgrace  
His unchaste note, well known in that same place:  
For this same Squire full well I wot did know  
Dan Cuckoo's note and unto him did go,  
Where seeing little Casta by him stand,  
Cause of their coming friendly did demand:  
Dan Cuckoo proud of such an entertain  
Did tell the jar begun betwixt them twain,  
Who should be chief of all the birds to sing  
As herbenger to welcome in the spring,  
And now to end the same, they both were come  
Agreed to stand unto the wood-Nymphes doom;  
Wherefore they craved access unto his dame,  
That with her Nymphs she might decide the same:  
This gentle Squire soon granted their requests  
And kindly did conduckt his new come guests  
Into an in ward court, where they should stay,  
Till to his dame their message he did say;  
Where, while they stayed, with great delight they spent  
The time in viewing this fair continent,  
This bower of bliss, this paradise of pleasure,  
Where lavish plenty did exceed all measure;  
The inner porch seemed entrance to entice,  
It fashioned was with such acquaint rare device,  
The top with canopy of green was spread  
Thickened with leaves of th'ivies wanton head,  
About the which the Eglantine did twine  
His prickling arms the branches to combine,  
Bearing sweet flowers of more than fragrant odour,  
Which stellified the roof with painted colour;  
On either side the vine did broad dilate  
His swollen veins with wreathe intricate,  
Whose bunches to the ground did seem t'incline,  
As freely offering of their luscious wine:  
Through this same porch went many a worthy wight  
Unto the bower of bliss, both day and night,  
Who at their entrance fresh and flush as May  
Did bear themselves adorned in rich array:  
But few returned without the common curse  
Of strange disease of emptiness in purse,  
Who wanting golden showers for Danae's lap,  
As discontented with their sad mishap  
Walked to and fro, forlorn in deep disdain  
With willow branch, for prize of all their pain.  
From this same porch, a walk directly lay,  
Which to the bower itself did lead the way  
With fruit-trees thick beset on either side,  
Whose goodly fruit themselves did seem to hide  
Beneath the leaves, as lurking from the eyes  
Of strangers greedy view, fearing surprise,  
Whose arched bows and levy twigs together  
With true love knots entangled each in other,  
Seemed painted walls, on which when Zephir blew  
They spread themselves, disclosing unto view  
The blossoms, buds, the birds and painted flies,  
That in their leaves lay hid from stranger's eyes;  
This walk of people never empty was:  
For to the bower of bliss one could not pass;  
But that the way did swarm with jetting jacks,  
Who bore upon their french diseased backs,  
Whole manners, castles, towns and Lordships sold  
Cut out in clippings and in shreds of gold:  
Their chambering fortitude they did descry  
By their soft maiden voice and flickering eye,  
Their woman's manhood by their clothes perfumed,  
Coy looks, curled locks, and thin beards half consumed,  
Whose nice, effeminate and base behaviour  
Was counted comely, neat and cleanly gesture;  
This pleasant walk, when gentle Philomela  
And Cuckoo her proud foe had viewed well  
Passing forth, one lo there they did behold  
High lifted up with lofty roof of gold  
The bower of bliss, in which there did abide  
The Lady's self, that should their cause decide,  
On which the heavens still in a steadfast state  
Looked alway blithe, diverting ●…roward fate,  
Not suffering y●…ie frost, or s●…rching sun  
To vex th'in habitants, that there did won:  
For there eternal spring doth ever dwell,  
Nay they of other season aught can tell,  
They labour not with hands of industry  
To furrow up the earths fertility,  
Bubbles of sweat decline not from their brow,  
Ne stooping labour makes their backs to bow:  
Yet plenty of all fruits upon their ground,  
Seedlesse and artless every where is found:  
Unto this bower Dan Cuckoo and his mate  
Approaching nigh, lo standing at the gate,  
Which framed was of purest ivory  
All painted over with many a history,  
So sweetly wrought, that art in them did seem  
To mock at nature as of no esteem,  
eftsoons they heard a pleasing harmony  
Of musics most melodious minstrelsy,  
Where sweet voiced birds, soft winds and waters fall,  
With voice and Viol made agreement all,  
The birds unto the voice did sweetly sing,  
The voice did speak unto the Viols string,  
That to the wind did sound now high now low,  
The wind to waters fall did gently blow;  
Thus birds, voice, Viol, winds and waters all  
Did sing, did speak, did sound, did blow, did fall:  
As thus Dan Cuckoo and his opposite,  
The Nightingale stood hearkening with delight  
Unto this music, lo that Squire came  
Hight Vanity with answer from his dame,  
That'gainst the morn themselves they should prepare,  
Their cause in ample manner to declare;  
For with her Nymphs in judgement she would sit,  
And which of them, they should esteem most fit,  
She would denounce for chief in woods to sing,  
As harbinger unto the joyful spring:  
This news did glad them both; for both did feed  
Themselves with hope: although but one could speed  
And both prepared each other to excel  
In the next morn, to bear away the bell:  
The little Philomela with curious care,  
Sitting alone her ditties did prepare,  
And many tunes, whose harmony did pass  
All music else that ere invented was;  
One while the mean part she did sweetly warble,  
The tenor now, the Base and then the treble:  
Then all at once with many parts in one,  
Dividing sweetly in division;  
Now some sweet strain to mind she doth restore,  
Which all the winter she had conned before,  
And with such cunning deskants thereupon,  
That curious art near doctrined any one  
With Lute, with Viol, or with voice in quire,  
That to her matchless music might aspire:  
Mean time Dan Cuckoo, knowing that his voice  
Had no variety, no change, no choice:  
But through the weasand pipe of his harsh throat  
Cried only Cuckoo, that prodigious note,  
That want with wits supply he did amend,  
And made that Squire, Vanity his friend,  
Who did so work for him, as it befell,  
That judgement went against poor Philomela.  
The time came on, and th'opal coloured morn,  
Bright-cheek●… Aurora leaning all sorlorne  
Old Tytho●… in his bed, did up arise  
Opening the gates of the oriental skies,  
Through which the days bright king came dancing out  
With glorious golden locks bespread about  
His s●…oulders broad; from whence such lustre came,  
That all the world did seem a golden flame:  
For than Aurora's trump, the peasant's clock,  
Days harbinger, the bloody crested cock  
With flaggie wings had beat black night away,  
And sung sweet tidings of approaching day,  
At which both birds up starting from their rest  
Quaintly to plead their cause, themselves addressed,  
Which with her Nymphs, that day in solemn state  
The Lady of this bower should debate,  
Which flying fame upon her wings did bear,  
Making it vulgar news in every ear,  
And with her silver trump did Echo out  
Report thereof, in all the woods about;  
Which once being blown abroad, all the whole quire  
Of singers in the wood with great desire,  
(To know in this same strife, who should prevail  
Dan Cuckoo, or the little Nightingale)  
Came flocking through the air, and as they flew,  
Their divers warbling notes about they threw;  
There came the Lark, who still as she did fly  
With outstretched ' wings aspired the cloud browed sky,  
There Progne came who did present for food  
In tragic feast, her own dear ●…tis blood  
To bloody Tereus, in avengment fell  
Of sister dear pandion's Philomela,  
Who now transformed unto the sent-strong Swallow,  
Shaftlike did fly through the airs concave hollow;  
With these there came the Thrush, that loves the grape,  
The speckled Spinck, that lives by gummy sap,  
The redbreast sweet, that loves the looks of men,  
The lustful Sparrow and the little Wren,  
The chattering Pie, the quick conceited Stare,  
The golden Finch and Linnot singing rare  
With many more, whose notes the air did fill  
With true consort, sweet work of nature's skill,  
Who to the bower of bliss did take their way,  
To h●…are the jar decided, that same day,  
Which the approach of spring did late excite  
Be●…wixt Dan Cuckoo and his opposite:  
The place, in which this matter should be tried  
Was in a green pailde round on every side,  
In which was pight a stately cannopi●…;  
For that great 〈◊〉 and her company,  
Many a 〈◊〉 Nymph of great estate,  
That should that day Dan Cuckoo's cause debate;  
Who being pearch●… aloft in open sight  
Upon a 〈◊〉 branch, had well ydight  
And decked his plumes to make a pleasant show,  
When he should plead his cause against his foe,  
Who on the other side herself did place,  
In hope Dan Cuckoo foully to disgrace,  
Not doubting but those Nymphs for Phoebe's sake  
In this so justa cause, her part would take:  
The time being come, lo like as when Ioues bride,  
heavens ivory fingered queen in pomp doth ride  
To heavens high court, above the Planets seven,  
To sit in counsel with the gods of heaven:  
Even so forth comes that fair renowned dame,  
Chiefest of all the bower of bliss, that came  
To judge the controversy that befell,  
Betwixt Dan Cuckoo and fair Philomela,  
She was a Ladi●… gaudy in attire  
And to content th'affect of her desire,  
Th'earths golden bowels often wounded were  
And th'Indian slave with steel did often tear  
The hard rocks ruby ribs in hope to find  
Treasure to pleasure her disdainful mind:  
Proudly she passed it with a princely gate,  
As earth had been too mean for her estate,  
Looking to heaven with her disdain●…ull eyes;  
For humble object she did still despise:  
Yet was her birth but mean, and her esteem  
Respectively compa●…'d, but base did seem,  
Loosely she was arrayed in wanton weed  
Which wander●…s eyes did with enticement feed,  
For she was clad in rob of tissue thin,  
Through which so brim appeared her snowy skin,  
That it did seem to those, that did it see,  
No whit obscured, but far more white to be;  
Her ivory breasts did ever open lie  
To ready spoil of gazer's greedy eye,  
And both her lily paps were bare to win  
Her lovers melting heart to wanton sin;  
Her name the which was Meehafasto hight  
Her double nature did express aright:  
With her there hither came a goodly crew  
Of lovely Nymphs of seeming Angels hue,  
Featured each where in body's li●…eament,  
As if they late had left the firmament,  
Or as if heavens divine triplicity,  
Out of some fifth unknown simplicity,  
For 〈◊〉 complexions hue had framed some mixture,  
Passing 〈◊〉 homely gift of common nature:  
But pi●…ie 'twas, such angell-seeming creatures  
With ulcerous minds deformed such heavenly features:  
For they were wanton, full of loose desire  
And in their heart did nourish lustful fire,  
With glancing looks, like summer's evening lights  
They could allure the rash beholders sights,  
And Heliotropon-like with sunlike skill  
Could cause soft hearts to turn unto their will,  
When they list speak, their words like to a lake  
Breaking through rocks of ruby, seemed to make  
Celestial music with their pleasing sound,  
Amongst the silver pearls, that stood around,  
With which they Syren-like could often move  
Modest Hippolytus to wanton love,  
They all acoutered were in sundry fashion,  
Seeming t'have been all of a several nation,  
Some in the antic Roman Lords attire  
Did shape themselves, as seeming to aspire  
Some captains place, or as if they had been  
Symiramis, that manlike monster queen,  
In Persian loose array, some did delight,  
Or rather disarray, so loosely dight,  
In the french doublet some again did i●…t  
wanting but slops to make a man complete,  
Some on their heads did bear the fatal sign,  
Which of fools future fortune did divine,  
Others again Morisko caps did wear  
Maid-marrian-like with brooches in each ear  
And Indian-like did paint inch thick in view;  
Though natures red and white were Angels hue.  
Thus with their fashions strange variety,  
They did bewray their mind's enormity:  
For things external sought with strong affect,  
Internal thoughts both good and bad detect,  
Which, when the little Casta did behold  
Poor bird her fearful heart did wax stone cold:  
But now too late she did repent, that she  
Had made them judges of her cause to be:  
For thither now, they were already come  
According to their minds to give their doom,  
Where heaps of people thronging in the way  
Did early wait for them by break of day  
To know, what bird should bear away the bell  
The bastard Cuckoo or fair Philomela:  
The judges being set, up strait did stand,  
The crier of the court who did command  
High, with shrill voice and great authority  
A general silence through the company;  
Which done forth stepped the little Casta hight,  
Who being perched aloft in open sight  
After obeisance to those damsels made,  
That were as judges set, thus boldly said:  
(Fairest of fair) who from the joyous prime  
Of your great birth, until this very time,  
Have trained been in this celestial place,  
This bower of bliss in virtue and in grace,  
For virtues sake vouchsafe with silent pause  
To hear poor Philomela plead her cause.  
What once I have been, now I need not tell,  
Nor what I am, I know, ye know it well:  
Ye know, that once, when in great Athens town  
My Sire, good king Pandion wore the crown,  
A Lady than I was, as now ye be  
And daughter to a king, till woe is me,  
The Thracian king, whose lust-burnt thoughts did flame  
And burn in foul desire, did work my shame:  
In Thracian woods (O ever be forgot  
The place in which mine honour he did blot)  
In Thracian woods (I say) the tyrant fell  
Unto his will did force poor Philomela,  
And lest his wicked act I should des●…rie  
The cruel edged steel he did apply  
Unto my tongue, and with most bitter smart  
Did rob me of the Echo of my heart:  
All this and more than this, ye all do know  
So common is poor Philomela's woe.  
Ye know likewise how in avengement fell  
My furious sister, Progne did compel  
The lustful Tereus in a fatal feast  
To swallow down into his lust-burnt breast  
His own dear son, his Itis, that sweet youth,  
Whose death breeds in my heart eternal ruth:  
For which when as the tyrant did decree  
With wrathful sword to wreak revenge on me  
Heaven pity took and gave to me this shape,  
By which his fell intent I did escape,  
And as an exile from all men's abode  
I since have lived in the desert wood,  
Where sitting once on humble thorn alone  
And in my woeful di●…ties making moan  
For my old Sire, Pandion, that good King,  
Whose timeless death my sad mischance did bring;  
Lo●…, That great Huntress of renowned fame,  
The Lady Phoebe following the game,  
In the wild wood hath silent stood in pity  
To hear the sad tunes of my doleful 〈◊〉,  
And being mo●…'d with deep remorse of mind  
That fates had been so 〈◊〉 and vnk●…d  
Against me poor wretch, she did vou●…hsafe to show  
Compassion towards me in my bitter woe.  
While in these woods and 〈◊〉 she did use,  
'Mongst all the quire for chief, she 〈◊〉 me c●…use  
To be her bird, and while she was my dame  
Not Philomela, but Casta was my name,  
And, for I was the daughter of a King,  
She made me chief of all the quire to sing,  
And in her woods ordained me the shade  
To shroud myself from Tereus' bloody blade:  
But lo alas, what time hath brought to pass,  
Lo here a tyrant, worse than Ter●…us was,  
Lo here Dan Cuckoo my stern enemy  
Claiming my right with proud authority,  
Who this same blissful place as death did shun,  
When as my dame in these same woods did won.  
(O) how it 〈◊〉 me, that a bird so base  
Pandion's princely daughter should disgrace,  
Who by condition of his quality  
Unto the world descries his basta●…die:  
Is't not enough, that once I being a dame  
Y borne o●… ancient Kings of worthy fame,  
Now live a bird loathing man's company  
In desert woods for love to chastity,  
And in the echoing mountains loudly sing  
Phoebe's chaste song, when as the lusty spring  
Stirs up young bloods, that with my chaster lays  
I may recall them from their wanton ways?  
But must a bird the basest of the crew  
In all the woodstand up to wrest my due  
Unto his lot, which Phoebe did ordain  
Should unto me for evermore remain?  
Nor is it yet enough alas, that I  
From stately palaces of kings do fly,  
Still dreading Tereus loathsome luxury  
To live in woods far from all company?  
But must another Tereus seek t'expel  
From woods likewise the forlorn Philo●…el?  
Alas if so, where shall I hide my head,  
Where shall I shun th'inevitable dread  
Of bloody Tereus' hot lust-sparkling face,  
If nor in woods, nor house I shall have place?  
To you therefore (fair Nymphs) to your just doom  
That as the umpiers of my cause are come  
I do appeal, not doubting but the love  
You bear to Phoebe's name your hearts will move  
In this so just a cause to pity me,  
That was as dear to her as dear might be;  
Which if ye do, your fame shall never die  
And Castas ●…elfe shall sing your praise on high.  
This said, she breathed from her breast so clear  
The sweetest lays, that ear did ever hear,  
To which all other birds about the place  
Did tune their divers notes to do her grace,  
As in approvance of her worth to sing  
As chief in woods to welcome in the spring,  
Which did so daunt Dan Cuckoos daring pride,  
That of the thought his shameful head to hide:  
But knowing well that he had friends in place  
That of those partial Nymphs had got him grace,  
Fear set aside, and his obeisance made,  
Unto those Nymphs these words he boldly said:  
(Ye glorious offspring of great honours bed,  
virtues fair●… imps, mirrors of womanhood,  
Bright Angellike sweet Nymphs, whose beauties blaze  
Adorns the world like Titan's golded rays)  
Vouchsafe with gentle patience for a space  
Your gracious silence, while I plead my case.  
The jar begun b●…twixt my foe and me,  
The subject of my purpsed speech should be;  
But fi●…st both words and wit, I must apply  
To make an answer to mine enemy.  
Though of my birth no boaster I will be  
Seeing in this cause it nought availeth me;  
Yet, that I may, that scandalisme refute,  
Which my ●…al●…e foe doth unto me impute,  
Know that Ioues bird, the Eagle prince of air  
Did foster me being young with tender care,  
In whose proud neasty built, in jovial tree  
My dame by secret stealth conveyed me.  
In that same clime, where AEstas sits in pride  
Beneath the tropic of hot summers guide,  
The crabbed Cancer, where in earths cool cells,  
The hot sun painted people ever dwells,  
Not far from whence great Nilus evermore  
With fruitful waves doth wash th'Egyptian shore,  
There was I bred, and there my fame first grew,  
Which thence long since about the wide world flew.  
For South from thence the land of Cyprus lies,  
Whereas the people use to sacrifice  
To lo●…es fair Queen, of whom I won great grace,  
When she was wroth with people o●… that place:  
For once being sore offended with them all  
And musing with he●…selfe, what plague should fall  
Upon their heads, she chanced to cast he●… eye  
Upon an home, which she did soon apply  
Unto their brows, whereby they strait forsook  
Their former shape, and Oxe-like was their look:  
But they blind buzzards could not see the same,  
Whereby the lesser was their grief and shame,  
Till o'er their goodly heads, I waved my wing  
And cuckoo in their ears aloud did sing;  
Which when they heard, like raging Bulls they bore  
Their lo●…tie heads, and with loud bellowing roar  
Did show their jealous thoughts: for which men say  
They called are Cerastes to this day:  
And for this fact of mine the Cyprian dame,  
The Queen of love did give to me for name  
The song, which I did sing and did decree,  
That I thence forth her only bird should be;  
She bore me to that garden of great fame,  
Which yet of her Adonis bears the name,  
Where she herself did teach me how to sing,  
Her sweet delights unto the youthful spring;  
And did appoint, that the years youthly prime  
Should be the season of my singing time:  
For well she knew, that season did belong  
Unto the nature of my pleasant song;  
As for my foe, although her lays be sweet:  
Yet be they sad pathetical unmeet  
To be recorded, when the lusty spring  
Tidings of pleasure to the world doth bring,  
More fit with little redbreast on a thorn  
To bear a part, and help her for to mourn  
For loss of summer, when cold winter's breath  
To all our pleasures threatens hateful death:  
Then (gentle dames, great Ladies of delight)  
Who in this bower of bliss both day and night  
have your abode, where winter never lowers  
N●… on your heads powers down his stormy showers;  
Let it be seen that ye have need of none  
The summer passed in winter to bemoan:  
So s●…all Dan Cuckoo sing your lasting praise  
Before loves Queen in his delightful lays.  
This said, he chanted out his Cuckoos song,  
Which laughter bred amongst the thickest throng,  
Nor any pretty bird about the place  
Would in their song vouchsafe to do him grace.  
But see the chance the Nymphs being in a pause  
And in consult how to decide this cause,  
And each one being hushed with greedy ear  
To hear that sentence, which they least did fear,  
Of all the Nymphs up stood the chiefest dame  
And thus this unjust sentence did proclaim:  
(O all ye singers of the woods sweet quire)  
Hear now the doom, which ye did long desire,  
And (ye) twixt whom the jar begun but late,  
As yet hangs in suspense without debate,  
Know that each others cause doth now abide  
In equal balance, which we thus decide.  
Seeing to the nature of each others song,  
Two parts of all the year seem to belong,  
That part in equal doom we will ordain,  
Which is most meet for either of you twain;  
First touching Philomela, seeing that her ditty  
Is always passionate and moving pity,  
Seeing with her, when she sings in wo●…ull wise  
The echoing mountains seem to sympathise,  
And rocks do weep, and trees do seem to groan,  
When in lamenting lays she list to moon  
In that sad time, when Boreas winged scouts  
Locks up the fruitful Terras water spouts,  
And with congealing puffs do crystallize  
The cloudlike waves of Neptune's liquid skies;  
Let Philomela in her pathetike strain  
For summers loss in leavelesse woods complain,  
Lest, when her doleful ditties she doth sing  
She do disturb the pleasance of our spring:  
But for Dan Cuckoo seeing he never sings,  
But when sweet Zephyrus on gentle wings,  
Breathing good morrows to the fair Aurora,  
Begins each day to kiss his wanton Flora;  
We think it meet, that he be chief to sing,  
Where ere he meets the Lady of the spring.  
And seeing, when earth hath lost her flowering May  
He cannot sing for grief of her decay,  
Here let him stay, where he may ever sing  
Seeing here with us we have eternal spring.  
This is our doom and thus we do debate  
The cause betwixt Dan Cuckoo and his mate.  
Thus having said, she ceased, and thereupon  
Such murmur, as we hear in woods, that groan,  
When winds roused up through hollow grounds do break,  
Such noise was heard heard those, that heard her speak;  
And all the quire of birds about the place  
Did droop and hang the head, for such disgrace  
To wronged Philomela, and for her sake,  
A mournful melody did seem to make:  
But what alas avails their discontent,  
Those partial judges rose, and with them went  
Dan Cuckoo singing his triumphant song,  
While Philomela bewails her helpelesle wrong,  
Who being unjustly robbed of her right  
And from the bower of bliss exiled quite,  
Calling to mind, how that she once had been  
The happy daughter of a King and Queen,  
And since that she in shape of bird did live,  
What honour Phoebe's self to her did give,  
Now from all future hope being quite cast down,  
O'ercome with grief, she fell in sudden swoon,  
And groveling in the dust on her sad breast,  
With deadly sorrow being sore oppressed,  
Poor bird she hung the wing and gasped for breath  
Seeming to yield unto the pangs of death;  
To whom her sister Progne standing by  
With speed to her recovery did fly,  
And hovering over her, made piteous plaint  
For to revive her, that began to faint,  
Dead was her heart, to see her sister lie  
In such a trance and often wish'●… to die,  
She strocked her temples with her pretty beak  
And raising up her limbs, that w●…re so weak,  
With gentle touch did feel each tender part,  
And strove to strengthen her now dying heart:  
Unto her aid the gentle redbreast came,  
The Wren, and fruitful Titmouse, that stern dame,  
Who did apply their help at need so well,  
That now the slitting life of Philomela  
Half conquered with cold death, did make retreat  
Unto the heart, the house of native heat;  
Which, when her sister Progne did espy  
These words of comfort, she did soon apply;  
(Ay me) quoth she, (dear sister) thou that art  
Now made the image of unpatient smart,  
Why dost thou not in these sad passions show  
Thy wont patience in afflicting woe,  
And to our counsel lend thy listening ear,  
The which may teach thee patiently to bear  
This rueful sorrow, which doth stop thy breath  
And seeks to hasten thy untimely death;  
Speak (o dear sister) speak, and tell us why  
Thy soul with grief oppressed should seek to die.  
She having said, the woeful Philomela,  
Whose sad soul all this while in trance did dwell,  
Did lift up th'heavy windows of her eyes  
And spoke these rueful words in woeful wise.  
Tempestuous chance her utmost spite hath spent,  
And at me wretch her utmost dart hath sent,  
Nor any plague is left, that she can tell,  
With which t'oppress the fo●…lorne Philomela.  
For since the time, that I, as well you know  
Was, (woe alas that now I am not so)  
pandion's daughter in my virgin's state,  
I have endured stern fortunes utmost hate;  
Can I forget my Thracian slavery  
Beneath false Tereus' lustful villainy,  
Or cease to think upon my virgin's rape,  
With loss of tongue and Ladies lovely shape?  
Yea can I live and leave to have in mind  
Fortunes last wrong, not least, but most unkind,  
Those Nymphs late doom, I mean, by whose decree  
A forlorn outcast I shall ever be?  
For from Dan Cuckoo's song my shame doth spring  
And where alas, will not Dan Cuckoo sing?  
Sith then, to me poor wretch by cru●…ll fate  
nought else is left of former princely state?  
But shame and ●…oe, why do I longer feed  
On loathed light, which woe afresh will breed?  
This said, she sunk again in deadly swoon:  
But Progne quickly raised her up from ground,  
Thrice did she sink as dead, and thrice again  
Did Progne raise her up with busy pain;  
At last, when life her settled place did take  
To comfort her, the little Wren thus spoke:  
Now certes madame Philomela, quoth she,  
You have great cause of plaint we all do see,  
The which I ween would pierce the stoutest heart  
And launch the boldest breast with bleeding smart;  
Yet comfort to you take, and do not you  
Let passions rage rob reason of her due;  
Think with yourself, as now too true it is,  
That in this pleasant place, this bower of bliss,  
Since that Dan Cuckoo findeth entertain,  
For us no certain safety doth remain:  
For well we see the Nymphs of this same place  
Have given over that same wont chase  
Of harmful beasts, which Phoebe did delight  
Following strange game with greedy appetite,  
Yea 'tis reported many Satyrs rude  
Into their company themselves intrude,  
By whose enticement you they did forsake  
In their false doom Dan Cuckoo's part to take:  
Then do not grieve at this their unjust doom,  
Ne think yourself disgraced as overcome  
Before such dames; for grace it seems to me  
To be disgraced of those, that graceless be:  
But suage your grief in this so rueful case,  
And go with us unto our dwelling place,  
Where though alone in desert place it be;  
Yet there from fear of foes you shall be free:  
For as dame Titmouse and redbreast can tell  
Dan Cuckoo seldom sings, where we do dwell,  
True, (neighbour Wren) the redbreast did reply,  
We live in safety, though in penury;  
And if dame Philomela with us will go,  
Such kindness as poor Robbins bower can show  
She shall command, and though in that same wood,  
None of the courtly birds have their abode;  
Yet there do many gentle singers dwell,  
That will be loving unto Philomela.  
Yea; quoth the Titmouse, neither shall she there  
Of proud Dan Cuckoos thieatning stand in fear.  
For all birds there his bastard note abhors  
And evermore do make him deadly wars,  
Twice six stout sons, at this same very hour  
I have now living in my little bower,  
All which shall serve the wronged Philomela  
Against Dan Cuckoo, if with us she dwell:  
Thus did these birds with gentle speech assay  
Sad Philomela's grief to drive away;  
But long it was, ere sorrow would depart,  
It was so deeply settled in her heart:  
Yet at the length the Swallow, Progne hight  
Did so persuade her, that she took her ●…light  
With little Titmouse, Robin and the W●…en  
To desert woods far from th'abodes of men:  
But Progne's self returned back again  
To Trinobant, where 〈◊〉 still ●…emaine:  
Thu●… from the ●…ower o●… 〈◊〉 ●…as Philomela  
Exiled for 〈◊〉 i●… 〈◊〉 woods to dwell  
While there D●…n Cuckoo as 〈◊〉 bird did sing  
To tell the pleasures of the youthful spring:  
The mansion house, in which poor Philomela,  
Did with her new companions daily dwell,  
Was in a rock, whose head itself did shroud  
In misty cloak of many a wandering cloud,  
And whose thick mossy sides and hollow womb  
To many a bird did yield much building room,  
It seated was down in a valley low,  
Where many a silver gliding stream did flow,  
And levy woods in arbour wise did stand,  
As made by art, and not by nature's hand.  
From right side of this rock, there issued out  
A crystal spring which slowed round about  
The bottom of the rock, whose upper brim  
Thick set with herbs and flowers smelled sweet and trim:  
In th'hollow of this rock the humming swarms  
Of honey flies, whose bodies nature arms  
With biting stings did bear a murmuring base  
unto the spring, that trickling down apace  
From of the rock did meanly seem to warbble  
Amongst the pebble stones unto the treble,  
Which many pretty birds did seem to sing,  
hovering about the rock with painted wing:  
This was the place of Philomel's abode  
With her companions in the desert wood,  
Where all the time of those long lasting hours,  
When as the heavenly crab with his eight oars  
Doth in the starry Zodiac softly row,  
Felicity did in abundance flow,  
Whereby fair Philomela did find no miss  
Of wont pleasure in the bower of bliss:  
For there where curious art her help denied,  
There nature's self, that want with store supplied:  
If Boreas did at any time offend her  
The hollow rock a remedy did lend her:  
If Phoe●…us hurt her with his fiery rays,  
She found redress beneath the levy sprays,  
To whose cool shades she safely might retreat,  
When earth did crack beneath heavens burning heat:  
If she did hunger after wont bait,  
The goodly fruit of every tree did wait  
Upon her will: yea much variety  
Of painted ●…lies for her sati●…tie  
At hand in this her dwelling place she found,  
So fruitful was this pleasant plot of ground:  
If she did thirst, or heat did her annoy,  
What pleasure did she take, what gladsome joy  
Unto the silver gliding stream to ●…lie,  
That rolled through the bordering wood fast by:  
For when she stooping steeped her tender beak  
Into the wave, it oft would seem to break,  
And feeling her soft bosom pant and beat  
Would bid her bath and quench her boiling heat:  
Mean time flowers seemed to laugh and buds to spring,  
Trees seemed to bloom and blossoms forth to bring,  
And winds to cool the scorching of the sun,  
While by the brink the currant smooth did run,  
Which oft did please this pretty bird so well,  
That in that place she still desired to dwell.  
But long alas, thi●… pleasure did not last;  
For long it was not, ere the earth defaced  
By winter's sad approach was forced to leave  
That pomp, which from the spring she did receive;  
For what thing is't subelementarie,  
That still continues and doth never vary?  
What thing retains one form that ever lives  
And place unto another never gives?  
Alas, nought permanent with us doth stay:  
For end and offspring have successive sway:  
Eternal time, that ancient enemy  
To vading nature's prodigality  
Remorseless of all things with scythe cuts down  
The growing glory of this earths renown;  
And as he flies with swift wings to and fro  
By his decree, all things do come and go.  
And so at length, where Philomela did dwell  
Sad winter came, and summer bad farewell.  
With cold th'airs lower region 'gan to shiver  
And daily to the earth did down deliver  
The fleece-like ivory flakes of heavenly snow,  
Which from the neighbour region fast did flow:  
For then from heavens point perpendicular  
Hyperion in his sphere o●…bicular  
Running his wont race with oblique course,  
His repercusse beams beat with lesser force  
Upon his butt, the ball of earth, whereby  
A weak reflection, to our air did fly:  
Then did the fruitful earth begin to faint,  
When that warm wont comfort it did want,  
Which from the gentle breathing air should come,  
To cherish up the fruit of her big womb,  
Whose sorrows wrathful winter to augment  
Did muster up his forces with intent  
To spoil her daughter sweet pomona's loves  
With her Autumnus in the shady groves,  
Whom to withstand bold Auster, that brave Knight  
Joined ●…orces with Autumnus for the fight,  
And oftentimes braved Boreas in the field  
Pomona's ●…uits from his proud blasts to shield:  
But raging Hiems to enforce the war  
All his bold Legions did revoke from far,  
Which in three battles he did thus divide  
To quell stout Auster and Autumnus pride,  
The hidio●…s storms, that beat down brazen walls  
And horrid tempests that make tennis balls  
Of mighty mountains in the vanguard went  
To give the onset with bold hardiment,  
Who●…e stubborn ranks with hailshot did abound  
And drifts of snow their foe-men to confound,  
Whom lusty Bore●…s full of daunting dread  
Did unto boisterous battle boldly lead:  
The middle ward, great Hiems self did guide,  
Who to the field like great god Mars did ●…ide:  
For on a winged cloud he sat on high  
Decked in strange armour dreadful to the ei●…,  
Upon his breast a curac●… he did bear  
Ofycie metal made, which far more clear  
Than crystal shone: for like the c●…ystall sky  
It could subdue the gazer's greedy eye,  
Thereby his blade did hang in snowwhite sheath,  
With which he used t'employ works of cold death  
'Mongst those, that needy were, and could not arm  
themselves to sh●…n the stroke of his strong arm,  
His y●…ie Helmet powdered with white snow  
Great terror and bright glory both did show,  
And in the stead of plume stood thereupon  
A bunch ofysacles by nature grown;  
Which with pure snow being sprinkled 〈◊〉  
Did seem to dance and leap for jollity:  
His shield, which at his back parts he did settle,  
Was neatly framed of Diamondlike metal,  
Hewn out ofycie rocks in Scythian land  
By nature wrought, and not by Artists hand,  
On which for badge did stand in ramping p●…ide  
Cold Capricorn the shiue●…ing winters guide.  
In such like arms was wrathful Hiems clad,  
Whose looks a terror to his arms did add:  
His brows contract above his gloomy eyes,  
On which the hoary hear●…s did bristled ●…ise,  
And jove-like look with grim stiff buggle beard  
Made his own powers, that marched by him, afeard,  
To gu●…rd his person round about him stood  
Whole hosts of mists and many a roaring ●…loud▪  
And thus to field the second battle went  
Under conduct of Hiems regiment.  
The third Battalion to the field did go  
Beneath great Eurus standard against the foe,  
Who being Lord of th'eastern parts, that lie,  
Where great Apollo first doth mount the sky:  
Many bold bands of soldiers brought from far;  
To serve the mighty Hiems in this war;  
In service with him for light horsemen came,  
Those light swift winged winds, that bear the name  
Of Boreas and of Eurus both; for whom  
To serve in these same wars they all were come,  
With these th'humorous vapours joined their powers  
The gloomy fogs, and dusky drizeling showers,  
Whole troops of drowsy mists, of dew and frost,  
Who of themselves could make a mighty h●…ast▪  
And thus did Hiems his whole powers divide,  
Which winged were with clouds on either side;  
Of whose approach when Autumn first did hear,  
His heart struck dead, began to faint for fear:  
Yet calling mighty Auster to his aid  
And gentle Zephyrus, his part he made,  
As able as he could, and boldly went  
To frustrate winter of his proud intent;  
Unto his aid the King of forests all  
Came backed with his consorts, whom some do call  
The tree of jove, with whom there came from far  
Fields, forests, woods, and groves unto this war:  
Thus did both parts prepare with all their might  
To meet each other in th'appointed fight.  
The time being come, before the fight b●…gan  
Down from the hills the torrents swiftly ran,  
As scouts from Hiems camp to take survey  
Of autumns host, that in the valleys lay,  
Which all the birds about both near and far  
took as a warning of th'approaching war,  
And for themselves provided all in haste  
Until the danger of the war were passed:  
'Mongst whom the little redbreast with great care  
Of Philomela her friend did make repair  
Unto the rock, where she and Philomela  
This dangerous time might both in safety dwell:  
Then came proud Hiems forward to the ●…ight  
Down from the airy mountains that are pight  
In th'articke side, whereas the Dragon's train  
Divides the wrathful bears by Charles his wain:  
The battles joined, and both the hosts did meet,  
Whe●…e lusty Austere cuff for cuff did ●…reet  
The migh●…ie Boreas self, whose very breath  
Did powder-like blast other foes to death:  
Then came the storms and tempests to the fight  
In black, fresh, gloomy horror all bedight,  
With smouldering fume, thick drifts of drizeling rain,  
Commixed with hailshot, ●…ull of deadly bane,  
Who at the first their foes did soon confound,  
Rending up woods and forests from the ground,  
Whose levy heads dispersed about did fly,  
Tossed to and fro, like ●…eathers in the sky:  
Then to the rescue with the western King  
Mild Zephyrus, came Autumn, who did bring  
Many swift winged winds, who with great might  
At first in counter did renew the fight:  
For many justling clouds, that came in course  
With bold intent to bear their violent force  
Being hemmed in round about, could not abide,  
But deadly wounded were on every side,  
Who fearing in their cloudy shapes to die  
In humorous thin drops away did fly:  
But now to gain the glo●…ie of the day,  
Lo, Eurus came, who at his first assay  
By violent force did end the doubtful fight  
And turned his foes into inglorious flight.  
Mean time, great Autumn took his love aside,  
His fair pomona's self, whom he did hide  
In wooden walls of forests, woods and groves,  
From mighty Hiems false inveigling loves,  
While he with Zephyrus and Auster flew  
To Titan's Western house, there to renew  
Their powers against Aries should the year recall  
To free Pomona from great Hiems thrall:  
Mean time great winter in triumphant wise  
Over his captive foes did tyrannize,  
The silver brooks that sweetly wound about  
The pleasant banks with wreathe in and out,  
With Adamantine-like strong icy bands,  
He fast did bind within the hollow lands:  
The Crystal springs, that from the mountains side  
With pleasing sound to ground did gently glide  
And brackish streams, that gushed from the rock  
With strong congealed frost he up did lock:  
The slowring fields, woods, hills and mountains green  
And valleys, that before to laugh were seen,  
In stead of fresh green colour, now were clad  
In h●…arie hue, that made them look full sad;  
Yea every thing, for want of heat half dead  
In winter's 〈◊〉, drooped and hung the head:  
Yet all this time of winter's wrathful reign,  
When all things did in deep distress complain,  
Dan Cuckoo in the bower of bliss did sing  
His joyful note, where dwells eternal spring:  
Where, while that he did live both day and night  
Drenched in the dainty dregs of deep delight,  
With little redbreast forlorn Philomela  
In hollow rock in consolate did dwell,  
Where she poor bird in many a doleful strain  
The Nymphs late unjust doom did much complain,  
Which was the cause of all her misery,  
That lived before in chief felicity.  
The state, which fortune erst to her did give  
Compared to this, in which she now did live,  
Did treble sorrow on her dying heart  
A fresh reviving her forgotten smart,  
For misery to those most bitter is,  
That tasted once the sweets of happy bliss,  
Which little redbreast did perceive right well  
In her companion gentle Philomela:  
For once when Philomela and she together  
In hollow rock sat shrouded from the weather  
Still as the redbreast in sweet notes did sing  
A sad complaint for absence of the spring,  
So did poor Philomela her grief to show  
In sad record recount her former woe:  
To whom the redbreast moved with melting pity  
To hear the sad tunes of her doleful ditty,  
These words of comfort spoke: (sister) quoth she,  
I see that winter's blasts dispeasant be,  
And in your thoughts renews the memory  
Of your precedent lives felicity,  
Whereby I know, your sorrow is the more,  
That hapless now lived happy heretofore:  
But now unto my words your listening lend,  
By which perhaps your sorrows may have end:  
Each year, when winter cause of all our woe,  
Upon these woods with cold keen breath doth blow,  
From hence compelled I usually do fly,  
To famous Trynobantum, here fast by,  
Whereas your sister Progne builds her bowers,  
Safe from the threats of winter's stormy showers,  
For heaven that here looks grim with gloomy face  
With mild aspect beholds that happy place,  
There, not as here th'inhabitants do know  
Cold winter's rage, nor doth proud Bore●… blow  
So sharp and keen: but in the welkin fair  
The milder winds do toss the gentle air;  
There also many gentle Nymphs do dwell,  
That may compare with those that do excel  
In beauty bright; for eye did never see  
More fair than in great Trynobantum be,  
To whom I do not doubt, if that we go,  
But they to Philomela will favour show,  
And though those Nymphs, that in the bower of bliss  
Have their abode, against thee have done amiss:  
Yet they no doubt will pity thy complaint  
And drive Dan Cuckoo from great Trynobant;  
And in our way, as we together sly  
Lest we be destitute of company,  
In this our journey with us well I know  
Our neighbour's Titmouse and dame Wren will go:  
Then be not sad, help never comes too late,  
And time perhaps may turn your froward fate.  
This said, sad Philomela no answer made  
But making doubt of that, which redbreast said,  
Sometimes she thought it best to live content  
In th'hollow rock all danger to prevent:  
But when proud Boreas blasts her heart did daunt,  
She thought it best to fly to Trynobant.  
Thus divers doubts did in her thoughts arise,  
Nor what was best to do could she devise,  
Until her neighbour's Wren and Titmouse came,  
Who with persuasive speech her mind did frame  
To Trynobant with them along to go,  
Unto the fair Nymphs there, her cause to show,  
To try if they for casta's sake would chase  
The unchaste Cuckoo from their dwelling place:  
Thus by persuasion of those pretty birds,  
The gentle Philomela soon accords  
To go with them, though, as it came to pass,  
The sequel proved their labour fruitless was.  
For in their journey lo, as they did flee,  
Taking their covert slight from tree to tree,  
Not daring to be seen in open sky,  
About great Trynobant they did espy  
The swift-winged swallow making her strong flight,  
Sister to Philomela, Progne hight;  
To whom right glad they took their ready way  
Each one recording her deligh●…some lay,  
Which did so loudly echo in the air,  
That Progne heard it, as they came from far,  
And drawing nigh to know what it might be  
Staying her swift strong flight lo, she did see  
Her sister Philomela with other birds,  
To whom with wonderment she spoke these words;  
(O heavens) what chance is this, what see I here  
pandion's Philomela, my sister dear?  
Alas, what sad mishap is now befell,  
That you have left the place where you did dwell,  
Great peril, which I wot you little know,  
In coming hither, you do undergo.  
Sister, (said Philomela) no great mischance  
Hath happened unto me, nor ignorance  
Of peril in the way hath made me bold:  
But forced by stormy winters bitter cold.  
My friends and I have lately left our home  
And for relief to Trynobant a●…e come,  
Where you do live in chief felicity,  
Free from the thrall of winter's tyranny.  
Alas, (good sister) Progne did reply,  
Let not that vain opinion in your eye  
Go currant, which the idiot multitude  
Out of blind ignorance doth still conclude,  
That mean estate is greatest misery  
And high esteem the chief felicity:  
For high or low, rich are not rich indeed,  
And great states still on discontent do feed.  
What dreadful danger dogs him at the heel,  
That proudly vaunts on top of Fortune's wheel?  
What daunting dread his Stealing steps attend,  
Whose climbing thoughts do aim at honours end?  
Who fears to fall, but he that sits on high,  
Or feels th'infection of an envious eye?  
For envy evermore her poison spits  
At those, that most in fortune's favour sits,  
The heavy care, that wounds the mind with woe  
Seldom forsakes the giddy feet that go,  
Where treads the steps of high authority,  
So fleeting is this earths felicity:  
For wavering chance about him still doth fly,  
That proudly seeks to build his hopes on high,  
Of which a precedent, I well may be  
Unto you all, such is my chance you see:  
For fate and nature having both decreed,  
That I in lofty tops of towers should breed,  
While you my happy sister Philomela  
Should in the woods and forests safely dwell,  
About the bower of bliss once did not I,  
A long time safely build my bowers on high,  
Till by my foes, they all were overthrown  
And young ones slain, which I shall ever moon:  
For those false Nymphs which sentence gave against thee  
On proud Dan Cuckoo's side, did all agree,  
Because beneath the windows of their towers  
My custom was to build my secret bowers,  
That I for ever should be chased thence  
To seek my fortunes though for no offence:  
For lo no crime against me they could object,  
But that because, they said I did detect  
Their chamber sports, and truth to say mine eye  
Such obscene sports did oft times there espy,  
That very shame bids me forbear to tell  
The nuptial band-breake play, that there befell:  
Wherefore from thence long since they did me chase,  
Since when I lived have in this same place,  
Whereas you say, I build my lowly bowers  
Safe from the threats of winter's stormy showers:  
Yet in such fear of those, that use to feed  
On beauty's spoil, about whose bowers I breed:  
That would my fate had been to live alone  
In forests wide, though winter made me moan.  
She having said, this answer redbreast made:  
Certes (dame Progne) you have wisely said,  
For better 'tis to live we all agree  
In mean estate content, from danger free,  
Then in the blind worlds deemed felicity  
In trouble, care and minds perplexity;  
But we to Trynobant not only come,  
For that we grieve at winter's blasts at home:  
But seeing many a bright cheeked gentle dame  
Dwells here in Trynobant we hither came,  
That so thy sister Philomela might try,  
If they for love to honoured chastity  
Would drive Dan Cuckoo from this place with shame  
And raise again sad casta's dying name.  
To this thus Progne did return reply.  
Alas (good redbreast) thy frail shallow eye  
Nought but th'external species doth behold,  
Deeming all things that gl●…ster perfect gold:  
Each winter, when thou ●…ither dost repair  
Our Nymphs being spree●…ly vigorous and fair,  
Thou deemest their minds to be as wise and witty,  
As in proportion, they be ●…aire and pretty:  
But thou art blind; for do but mark with me  
Their witless actions, and thou soon shalt see  
Their fair but foul; their wit, but wanton will,  
Their wisdoms quintessence loves idle skill,  
For here in Trynobant with their consent  
Dan Cuckoo sings his lays with merriment,  
Venus no more on Ida hills is seen,  
In Paphos' temples, nor Cithaeron green:  
But long ago hath bid them all farewell  
here in great Trynobant with us to dwell:  
For here the lusty Queen of love adorns  
The poor Cer●…stes with the welked horns,  
Here the Propoetides devoid of sense,  
Those women pictures of true impudence,  
By the great power of loves luxurious Queen  
Are turned to stones, women no more are seen.  
For which Pygmalion leads a single life  
And fears strange things, not daring weda wife.  
She 〈◊〉 spoken, all the other birds  
Long sil●…nt stood amazed at those her words  
Till I it mouse spoke, quoth she, what you do tell  
Is very ●…range and we perceive right well,  
That gentle Casta here shall find small 〈◊〉,  
Seeing such strange Nymphs do d●…ll in this same place:  
But what doth cause them with such impudence  
In spite of modesties pure excellence,  
So much degenerate from heavenly kind?  
Sure pinching want doth much oppress the mind:  
Or el●…e with Danae for love of g●…ld  
They kindly suffer friends to be too bold.  
No certes (Titmouse) Progne did repli●…,  
Nor love of gold, nor pinching penury:  
But plenty, pleasure, ease and idleness,  
Is cause of their dear deemed voluptuousness,  
Whereby they oft times rather give then take  
The golden gifts, that minds immodest make,  
here need not love come take a sleepless nap  
With golden showers in Danae's lovely lap.  
For here our lusty Danae's, if he want  
Will shower down gold on him, if he but grant:  
In night's black vail, he need not hide his head  
If he intent to got ' Amphytrions bed,  
For th' Alcmena's here both day and night  
Will meet him any where for loves delight,  
If Daphne here do run, she slacks her pace  
Till Phoebus catch her, whom she must embrace,  
And here if lovely Syrinx do intend  
To run from rugged Pan: yet in the end  
She seeming faint her swifter course will stay,  
That she may be the pipe, when Pan doth play:  
For neither Pans high horns nor rugged beard  
Can make the Nymphs in this same place afeard.  
Fie, fie (dame Progne) quoth the little Wren,  
In sooth against them, thou hast too bitter been,  
I do not think that such incontinence  
Can lurk beneath the glorious excellence  
Of such rare beauty, which doth seem t'exce●…  
In these fair dames, that in this place do dwell;  
Yet if in them such light demeanour be,  
Doubtless they do not make it known to thee,  
How then canst thou such things, as these relate  
With their close deeds not being intimate?  
Progne replied; unwisely have you said  
Me with untruth ungently to upbraid;  
For know dame Wren, that what I late did show  
Is nothing in respect of that I know:  
For in my nest built wondrous by my wit  
Beneath their chamber-windowes I do sit,  
Where if yourself were present but one day,  
You would speak more then lately I did say.  
For there oft times I do both see and hear  
Those things that shame to tell bids me forbear.  
This said, the other birds all silent sat  
As modestly for bearing, t'ask of that  
Which Progne's self did seem half shamed to tell,  
Until at last spoke gentle Philomela,  
And said (dear sister) hide not what you know;  
Because the thing breeds shame which thou shalt show  
For to the author of the sin be shame,  
Not unto him, that's guiltless in the same,  
Nor should examples of immodesty  
Offend the modest ears of chastity,  
For virtues glorious shine, then shines most bright,  
When 'tis opposed to vice her opposite,  
As whitest things seem fair●…st to the eye,  
When they be matched with black their contrary.  
Wherefore (dearesister) speak and boldly tell  
The shameless deeds of dames that here do dwell,  
So shall we sing about the world so wide,  
That which their chamber walls now seem to hide,  
Of which perhaps when they hereafter hear  
To do the like hence forth they will forbear.  
She having said, thus Progne made reply:  
If that ye will (yebirds) that I descry  
And draw the curtains of the unchaste bed,  
Where Mars and Venus horns old Vulcan's head,  
Come near and listen, lest the obscene sound  
Of my strange speech do in the air abound,  
And in the same do breed corruption,  
From whence may spring a foul infection  
Of those hot furious, fiery, lustful beasts,  
That toiled with lust, do loath loves vulgar feasts,  
Whom nature cannot furnish with excess  
In kind-like game: but that some monstrous mess  
They do affect, I will not here speak much  
Lest I offend; my meaning is of such  
As imitate Rome's Semiramida,  
Or that Italian Cortigiana,  
And put in practice th'u'rt of Aretine,  
At which both heaven and nature doth repine,  
And with that Lybian lustful soul Syrena,  
That woman monster Dodecamechana  
In Venus' act devise twelve sundry measures  
With lusty lads at full to take their pleasures;  
Nor will I tell, though many be of these  
That with Athlanta and Hyppomenes  
Do Stalion-like run madding out of season  
To quench their lust, against nature and against reason;  
Nor here to show to you is my intent  
That execrable squirtlike instrument,  
Which lust burned, fiery, female monsters use  
In fruitless lust, to nature's vile abuse:  
For these are things not fitting speech of birds:  
But best befitting roughest Salyrs words.  
I only here intend to make report  
Of that same common counted cuckoo sport,  
Which by our dames is deemed a lawful game,  
Though impudence itself blush at the same,  
(I mean of th'old malbecco's of our age)  
Who justly bear Cornuted Vulcan's badge.  
In Trynobant as to and fro I fly  
It hath been oftentimes my chance t'espie  
An old cold januarie jet before  
A fresh young May, a spreetly Helinore,  
Unequal both in years and in affection,  
And also far unlike in their condition;  
Yet to the blind-eyed world it did appear,  
That May did love her januarie dear;  
Which I scarce trusting with a curious eye  
Have closely tracked their steps the truth to try:  
And lo, while he hath set his thoughts upon  
His hoarded heaps, his May being left alone,  
He being close at his accounts above,  
While she beneath sits longing after love,  
In steps me March clad like a lusty Knight,  
Or pleasant April full of sweet delight,  
Who in loves wanton art, not wanting skill  
Hath slights enough t'assault fresh May at will;  
But what needs long assault where none doth shield;  
For gentle heart she is as prone to yield,  
As he t'assault, which well this younker knows,  
Though seeming strange a while with her he gloze,  
For by her touching, stroking, gentle pressing,  
Her rubbing, wring, wrestling, wanton thrusting,  
Coy looking, culling and kind inte●…taine  
He finds enough and knows he●… meaning plain:  
For gentle May no proffered time will lose,  
When as from home old Ianuar●…e goes,  
And then the unchaste kisses common flies,  
Which Hymen's strongest nuptial bands unties,  
Then beauty sets the e●…es of lust on fire,  
And fancy breaks forth into strong desire,  
And lastly lust doth in a moment space  
Make januaries brows bud forth apace,  
Which neither he, nor any else do 〈◊〉,  
Though it be commonly well known to me:  
For these be objects common to my sight,  
As in my bowers I sit, both day and night.  
Then say ye birds, if in this place can dwell  
My sister Casta gentle Philomela.  
Ay me, quoth Philomela, the more my grief,  
That I poor wretch can no where find relief:  
For where alas, shall Casta find a place,  
Where proud Dan Cuckoo sings not her disgrace?  
Great Phoebe's name is now extincted quite,  
Whose fame whilom the golden stars did smite,  
Where else are her fair Nymphs, whose beauties blaze  
Did deck the world with like to Phoebus' rays,  
Who with the slower of heavenly chastity  
Their beauty's garland did so dignify,  
That Venus brat, though deemed a god of power,  
With all his flames could never scorch their flower?  
But now alas, fair Phoebe's dainty rose,  
Which many Nymphs did in their breasts enclose,  
And with great care did tender it more dear,  
Then dearest life, doth no where now appear,  
Else why doth Casta suffer such disgrace,  
While that the Cuckoo sings in every place.  
As thus she spoke, not far they did espy,  
How proud Dan Cuckoo to and fro did fly,  
Who vaunting in the air with outstretched wing  
His bastard note triumphantly did sing;  
At whom the Swallow, Robin and the Wren,  
And Titmouse, as if they enraged had been,  
With eager thoughts did fly, whom they in chase  
A long time did pursue from place to place,  
Oft did they flap him with their feathered quills,  
And pecked and beat him with their tender bills,  
Until from out of sight he quite was fled  
And in some covert place had hid his head:  
But they returning back, where making moan,  
They late had left poor Philomela alone,  
Lo, they beheld, how she poor bird did sit  
Half dead with torment of her woeful fit,  
To whom poor birds being moved with inelting pity  
Each one did strive to tune her doleful ditty,  
Long sat they sympathising in their song  
The woeful record of poor casta's wrong,  
Nor of sweet comfort could they ought partake,  
Until at length the little Wren thus spoke:  
(My loving friends and fellow birds) quoth she,  
Great grief doth vex your troubled thoughts I see:  
But fond it is in sorrow still to dwell  
And seek no means sad sorrow to expel:  
For grief, that breeds despair, near finds relief,  
When good advice doth master greatest grief;  
Then know, that though no Nymph of this same place  
Nor of the bower of bliss will take to grace,  
The forlorn Casta, Phoebe's only bird,  
Yet meaner places may perchance afford  
Some gentle dame, although of mean degree,  
That unto Philomela would gracious be;  
And well do I remember, in that place  
There wonnes a virtuous Nymph of goodly grace;  
Where I do safely build my lowly bowers  
To shroud myself from winters stormy showers:  
In humble cottage she doth still remain,  
The happy daughter of a country swain,  
And though she live upon mean maintenance,  
Yet with such grace and goodly governance,  
She doth demean herself, that many be  
Of greater state, that want her genterie,  
For little would ye ween, that such great grace  
Had any lodging in so mean a place,  
She hath to wit hight Virgina to name,  
Who though but mean, yet of exceeding fame:  
For lo, that squire, that lives in deep despair  
Of gaining grace of Columbel the fair,  
Unto an endless task by her being tied  
To wander each where, through the world so wide,  
To prove how many damsels he could find,  
That chastely did retain a constant mind,  
Did of three hundred dames find but this one,  
That unto loves delight would not be won:  
Then (gentle Philomela) lay by thy grief,  
And of this dame let us go seek relief,  
Upon whose bosom thou mayest sit and sing  
The virgin beauty of her youthful spring,  
Where proud Dan Cuckoo dares not come in place,  
Much less dares sing his lays in thy disgrace.  
The Wren thus having spoke, the other birds  
With casta's self did like well of her words,  
And with the Wren would strait unto that wood,  
Where that same virgin dame had her abode:  
But gentle Progne she must stay behind,  
As being forbidden by the fates unkind;  
Since her in shape of bi●…d they first did hide,  
Near to frequent the woods and forests wide;  
Parting therefore ●…rom her with weeping e●…es  
Her sister Philomela spoke in this wise.  
Sister (quoth she) the stubbome fates decree,  
That from each other we must parted be:  
For thou alas mayest not frequent the wood,  
Nor may I come, where thou hast thy abode:  
For now (ay me) hard hap doth me compel  
Unto the bower of bliss, to bid farewell,  
And unto Trynobant, where woe is me  
My dearest sister thou shalt live and see  
My hateful foe, Dan Cuckoo proudly sing  
In my despite to welcome in the spring:  
But must we then alas, for ever part,  
The thought of which augments our woeful smart,  
Must thus pandion's daughters bid farewell,  
For ever in the world apart to dwell?  
We must alas: wherefore compelled by fate,  
Whose malice heaven itself may not abate,  
Unto the world and thee I bid farewell  
In desert woods for evermore to dwell.  
Thus having said, both did with woeful heart  
Each from the other heavily depart,  
Sad Progne back to Trynobant did fly,  
And gentle Philomela in company  
Of little redbreast, Titmouse and the Wren,  
Did take her way far from the abodes of men  
Unto that place, where dwelled that gentle dame,  
Of whom the Wren did speak: where when she came,  
Of that fair Nymph she found such entertain,  
That never more she thence returned again.   
FINIS.