¶ The triumphs of France's Petrarcke, translated out of Italian into English by Henrye Parker knight, Lord Morley.  
The triumph 


Of love.  
Of Chastity.  
Of Death.  
Of Fame.  
Of Time.  
Of Divinity.     
I. C.   

❧ Unto the most toward young gentle Lord Matravers, son and heir apparent to the worthy and noble Earl of Arundel, your poor friend Henry Parker knight, Lord Morley, prayeth to God that the virtue which doth flourish in you in this your tender age, may more and more increase in you, to the comfort of all that love you, unto the last age.  
THe fables of Isope (most toward young Lord) are not only had in come mendation among the Phi losophers, as with Plato, Ariosto stotle, & diverse other of the most excellent of them: but also the divines, when in their preachings there cometh to their purpose any matter, to rehearse to the rude people, they allege the allegory sense of them, to the much edification of the hearers. I say therefore, that among other his witty fables (not to you noble gentleman unknown) he telleth, how that the cock scraping on a doungehill, found a precious stone, and when he saw it, disdaining, he spurned it from him, saying, what have I to do with thee, thou canst not serve me to no kind of use, and so despising it, left it where as it lay on the dongehyll still.  
Even so there be a number of that sort, that percase when they shall either hear red, or themself read this excellent triumphs, of this famous clerk Petrarcha, shall little set by them, and peradventure cast it from them, desiring rather to have a tale printed of Robin Hood, or some other dongehyll matter then of this, which I dare affirm, yea, and the Italians do the same, that the divine works set apart, there was never in any vulgar speech or language, so notable a work, so clerckely done as this his work. And albeit that he setteth forth these sixth wonderful made triumphs all to the laud of his Lady Laura, by whom he made so many a sweet sonnet, that never yet no poet nor gentleman could amend, nor make the like, yet who that doth understand them, shall see in them comprehended all moral virtue, all philosophy, all storyall matters, and briefly many divine sentences theological secrets declared. But alas who is he that will so read them, that he will mark them, or what printer will not say, that he may win more gain in printing of a merry jest, than such like excellent works, surely (my good Lord) very few or none, which I do lament at my heart, considering that aswell in French, as in the italian (in the which both tongues I have some little knowledge) there is no excellent work in the latin, but that straight ways they set it forth in the vulgar, most commonly to their kings and noble princes of their region and countries: As one of late days that was groom of the chamber with that renowned and valiant Prince of high memory, France's the French king, whose name I have forgotten, that did translate these triumphs to that said king, which he took so thankfully, that he gave to him for his pains an hundred crowns, to him and to his heirs of inheritance to enjoy to that value in land for ever, and took such pleasure in it, that wheresoever he went among his precious jewels, that book was always carried with him for his pastime to look upon, and as much esteemed by him, as the richest Diamond he had: which said book, when I saw the copy of it, I thought in my mind, how I being an english man, might do aswell as the French man, did translate this said work into our maternal tongue, and after much debating with myself, did as your lordship doth see, translate the said book to that most worthy king our late sovereign Lord of perpetual memory king Henrye theyghte, who as he was a Prince above all other most excellent, so took he the work very thankfully, marveling much how I could do it, and thinking verily I had not done it, without help of some other, better knowing the italian tongue than I: but when he knew the very truth, that I had translated the work myself, he was more pleased therewith then he was before, and so what his highness did with it, is to me unknown, one thing is, that I did it in such haste, that doubtless in many places (if it were again in my hands) I think I could well amend it, albeit that I profess, I have not erred moche from the letter, but in the rhyme, which is not possible for me to follow in the translation, nor touch the least point of the elegancy that this elegant Poet hath set forth in his own maternal tongue. But as it is, if in the translation there be any thing to be amended, or any will deprave it, I shall, pray you (most noble young Lord) the very mirror of all the young noble gentlemen of this realm in virtue, in learning, and in all other feats appertaining to such a Lord as you be, to defend it again those that will more by envy than by know ledge deprave it, and then I do not fear but those that know and can speak the Italian, will bear with the simple translation, and commend the work, as it is so much commendable, that it can not be to dear bought, I desire god noble young gentleman, to make the lord Matravers an old gentleman, and then thy worthy father the Earl of Arundel my most special good Lord and friend, shall make an old Earl and live usque in senium et senectum.  
Dixi Henry Morelye.   


¶ The first Chapter of the Triumph of love.  

IN the time of the renewing of my suspyres  
By the sweet remembrance of my lovely desires  
That was the beginning of so long a pain  
The fair Phoebus the bull did attain  
And warmyd had the tone and other horn  
Whereby the cold winter storms were worn  
And Titan's child with her frosty face  
Ran from the heat to her ancient place  
Love, grief, and complaint, out of reason  
Had brought me in such a case that season  
That mine eyes closed, and I fell to rest  
The very Remedy to such as be oppressed  
And there on the green, as I reposed fast  
Suddenly me thought, as I mine eyes up cast  
I saw afore me a marvelous great light  
wherein as well comprehend then, I might  
Was dolour enough with small sport & play  
And thus in my dream musing, as I lay  
I saw a great Duke victorious to behold  
Triumphing on a chair, shining as gold  
Much after the old ancient sage wise  
That the bold romans used in there guise  
When to the capitol the vyctors were brought  
With right rich Robes curiously were wrought  
I that such sights was not wont to see  
In this noyous world wherein I find me  
Void from the old valour & yet more in pride  
saw coming towards me there on every side  
diverse men with strange and quaint array  
Not used among us at this present day  
Which made me wonder what people theishuld be  
As one glad to learn, and some new things to see  
There saw I a boy on a fiery chair on hight  
Drawn with four coursers all milk white  
With bow in hand and arrows sharp & keen  
Against whom no shield nor helm so sheen  
Might in no wise the mortale stroke withstand  
When he shoot with his most dreadful hand  
To this also a strange sight to see  
Two wings upon his shoulders had he  
with colours more than I can write or tell  
A thousand divers this I noted well  
And all the rest were naked to the skin  
About the chair where that this boy was in  
Some lay there dead gaping on the ground  
Some with his darts had taken many a wound  
Some were prisoners and could not scape away  
But followed still the chair night and day  
I that saw this wonderful strange sight  
To know what it mente, did that I might  
Till at the last I did perceive and see  
Myself to be among that company  
So had love led me on that dance  
That as it liked her, so must I take the chawnce  
I then among that great number in that place  
Looking here and there in each man's face  
If any of mine Acquaintance I could see  
But none was there except perchance that he  
By age or death or pain was changed quite  
As that I never had him known by sight  
With following that great king in that hour  
That is the ground and cause of all dolowre  
Thus all astonished as I looked here and there  
All suddenly afore me then did there appear  
A shadow much more sad for to regard  
Than all the rest that I had seen or hard  
This said shadow called me by name  
And said by love is gotten all this fame  
Whereat I marveled and said to him again  
How knowest thou me, to learn I would be feign  
For who thou art I do not know at all  
So wondrous dark is here this air and all  
That I can neither perceive nor yet well see  
What man thou art nor whence that thou should be  
To that anon this shadow to me said  
I am thy friend thou needest not be dismayed  
And borne in Toscane where thou was borne pardie  
Thine ancient friend if that thou list to see  
His words which that I knew by days paste  
By his speech, I knew him at the last  
All though his face, I could not then well see  
And thus in talking together went we  
And he began and thus to me did say  
It is right long and thereto many a day  
That I have looked the my friend to see  
Among us here in this our company  
For thy face was to me a token plain  
That once thou shouldest know loves pain  
To whom I made answer and said  
These words by me they cannot be denayed  
But the sorrow the danger and the dread  
That lovers have at the end for their mead  
So put me in fear, that I left all aside  
lest that my service should be clean denied  
Thus said I and when he well perceived  
Mine intention and my words conceived  
Smiling he said what flame of fire  
Hath love kindled in thy hearts desire  
I understood then little what he meant  
For his words unto my head then went  
As firm and fast sure set anon  
As they had been printed in a marble stone  
And thus for the new game that I began  
I prayed him tell me of very gentleness than  
What people these were that afore me went  
He answered bryfely to mine intent  
That I should know what they should be  
And be shortly one of their company  
And that it was my destany and lot  
That love should tie for me such a knot  
That I should first change my head to grey  
Or that I could unclose that knot away  
But to fulfil thy young desire saith he  
I shall declare what kind of men they be  
And first of the captains of them all  
His manner plain declare the I shall  
This is he that love the world doth name  
Bitter as thou shalt well conceive the same  
And much the more when the time shall be  
That thou shalt be among this company  
A meek child in his lusty young age  
And in eld one all full of rage  
Well knoweth he that this hath proved  
When thou by him art heaved and shoved  
Thyself shall well see and understand  
What a master thou hast then in hand  
This god hath his first birth of idleness  
nourished with mankyndes folly and wantonness  
And of vain thoughts pleasant and sweet  
To a sage wise man nothing meet  
called a god of the people most vain  
All be it he giveth for their reward and pain  
Some the death forthwith out of hand  
Some along time in misery to stand  
To love I say them that loves not him  
Fast tied and fettered both cheek and chin  
Now have I declared to the this gods feast  
Now will. I tell the in order of the rest  
Him that thou seest that so lordly doth go  
And leadeth with him his love also  
It is the valiant Cesar, julius  
With him is queen Cleopatra the beutiouse  
She triumphs of him and that is good right  
That he that overcame the world by might  
Should himself over comen be  
By his love even as thou mayest see  
The next unto him is his son dear  
The great Augustus that never had pear  
That lovyde more justly than Cesar plain  
By request his Lynya he did obtain  
The third is the despiteful tyrant Nero  
That furiously as thou seest doth go  
And yet a woman him overcame  
With her regards Lo she made him tame  
Behold the same, is the good Marcus  
Worthy to have praise for his life virtuous  
Full of philosophy both the tongue and breast  
Yet for Fausteyn he standeth as arrest  
The other two that stand him by.  
That look both twain so fearfully  
The tone is Denyse the other Alexander  
That well was rewarded for his slander  
The t'other was he that sore complained  
Under Autander with tears unfeigned  
The death of Crensa and took away  
The love from him as the poet doth say  
That took from Enander his sone dear  
Among the rest thou mayest see him here  
Hast thou hard ever reason heretofore  
Of one that never would consent more  
To his stepmothers foul and shameful desires  
But fly from her sight and her attires  
But woe alas that same chaste honest mind  
Was his death as thou mayst plainly find  
Because she changed her love unto hate  
Phedra she height that caused the debate  
And yet was it her own Death also  
A sore punishment unto both them two  
To the sens that deceived Adryan  
Wherefore it is full often found than  
That one that blameth another pard  
He himself is more to blame than he  
And who so he be withouten any doubt  
That by fraud or craft doth go about  
Another that trusteth him for to beguile  
It is good reason that with that self wile  
He be served with that same sauce  
Lo what it is a lover to be false,  
This is he the famous worthy knight  
That betwixt two sisters standeth upright  
The tone by him was cruelly slain  
The t'other his love in joy did remain:  
He that goeth with him in the rout  
It is Hercules, the strong, fierce, and stout  
That love caused to follow her dance:  
The t'other which in loving had hard chance  
It is Achilles the Greek so bold  
That for Polexemes love died, as it is told.  
There mayst thou see also Demophone  
And Phylys his love, that sore did moon  
His absence, whereby that she died.  
Lo those that stand upon the other side  
Is jason, and Medea that for his love  
Deceived her father his truth to prove  
The more ungentle is jason in deed  
That gave her such reward for her meed.  
Hysyphyle followeth and she doth wail also  
For the barbarous love was taken her fro  
Next in order there cometh by and by  
He that hath the name most excellently  
Of beauty, and with him cometh she  
that oversoon beheld his beauty  
Whereby ensued innumerable of harms  
through out the world by Mars charms  
Behold I pray the among the company  
Enone complaining full heavily  
For Paris that did her falsely betray  
And took in her stead fair Helen awape  
See also Menelaus the Grekysse king  
For his wife Helen in great mourning  
And Hermon the fair Horestes for to call  
And Laodome that standeth all appall  
Cry for her love the good Protheossolaus  
And Irgia the faithful for Pollynisus  
Here I pray thee, the grievous lamentynges  
The sighs, the sorrows, and the bewailings  
Of the miserable lovers in this place  
That are brought into so dolorous case  
That there spirits they are about to render  
Unto the false God that is so sclendre  
I can not now tell the all the names  
That the false God of love thus tames  
Not only men that borne be mortal  
But also the high great Gods supernal  
Are here in this great and dark press  
What should I any more now rehearse  
See where Venus doth stand with Mars  
Whose head and legs the iron doth enbrase  
And Pluto and Preserpyne on the other side  
And juno the ielyous for all her pride  
And Apollo with his gay golden locks  
That gave unto Venus' scorns and mocks  
yet in Thessalia with this boys fiery dart  
This great God was pierced to the heart  
And for conclusion, the Gods and Goddesses all  
Of whom Uarro doth make rehearsal  
Behold how afore loues'chayre they go  
Fast fettered and chained from top to too  
And jupiter himself, the great mighty king  
Among the other, which is a marvelous thing.    

¶ The second Chapter of the Triumph of love.  

ALl musing with great admiration  
As one astonied to see the fashion  
Now here, now there, I looked all about  
To see the order of this great huge rout  
And as my heart from thought to thought passed  
I saw twain together at a cast  
Hand in hand they went in the press  
Reasoning together they did not seize.  
Their strange habit, and their array  
And their language more strange I say  
Was unto me so dark and obscure  
That what they meant I know not be ye sure.  
Till my fellow by his interpretation  
Of that which they talked made declaration  
And then when I knew what they were  
Into their presence I drew me near  
And perceived that the one spirit was  
Friend to the Romans that there did pass  
The to their contrary a perpetual foo  
I left her then, and to the t'other did go  
and said: O Masinissa I the pray  
For Scypyons sake which thou didst love always  
And for Sophonysba that standeth the by  
That I am so bold be thou not angry  
To demand the what thou dost here  
Masinissa answered with a sad cheer  
I do desire to know what thou should be  
For it is I tell the a great wonder unto me  
That thou dost spy my great affection  
which that I be are with such dilection  
To this my love, and to my other friend  
That desire of me, and I will condescend  
To all that thing that thou wilt have me do  
I answered gently, O high prince not so  
My poor estate desireth no such meed  
A small little fire far of in deed  
Bringeth forth but a small light:  
But thy royal fame, O noble knight  
Is every where blown and spread  
This duke afore whom thou art led  
I pray the gently king express  
Whether he doth lead you both in peace  
You and Sophonysba, for I suppose  
That twain such lovers as together go  
In all the world were hard to find:  
He answered and said, thy words are so kind  
That although thou know hole the case  
Of all my love how grievous that it was  
Yet will I tell the thy fancy to appease  
And thy mind to set at rest and ease,  
That noble Duke that only had my heart  
So true and sure, and fast in every part  
That I in friendship with Lelins may compare  
wheresoever his worthy banner did far,  
There was I, with that most worthy knight  
But not so fortunate as he deserved by right  
For full of goodness and grace was he  
Aswell with soul as in the fair body  
Now after the Romans by singler honour  
Had spread their arms by might and power  
To the extreme parts of the occident  
Thither with this valiant Scipion I went  
There was I, in love first taken than  
With this Sophonisba this sweet woman  
And she with me in such a fervent guise  
That I affirm and with so true advise  
That never two lovers loved better  
Nor two true loving hearts nor sweeter  
Agreade in one nor yet never shall  
But the time of during alas it was but small  
For soon vanished away our lovely cheer  
As I tell the if that thou wilt me here  
For albeit, I took her to my wife  
And thought with her to have led my life  
The bond was broken forthwith in twain  
By his holy words that more might certain  
Than all the world in such faruente case  
The knot he loosed and I myself gave place  
And now wonder for I in him did see  
So high virtue in all kind of degree  
That as I may say by good comparison  
He is all blind that cannot see the son  
And albeit that justice was offence  
To our true love yet his high prudence  
And his dear friendship did me compel  
For to folo we his sage worthy council  
In honour a very father was he  
And in love a child in each degree  
A brother in years which me constrained  
With heavy heart with sighs deep pained  
Scipio to obey whereby my wife  
Was constrained for to lose her life  
And that willingly rather than she  
Into vile servitude brought should be  
And I myself the minister was  
To my great dolour to execute this case  
So ardently she desired the death  
That I myself as the truth sayeth  
To her prayer did then condescend  
To my great heaviness this was the end  
I sent her venom for to drink  
With such a sorrow as thou mayest think  
Y fever thou feltes of loves woe and pain  
That it seemeth my heart would breast in twain  
She knoweth this and so well know I  
Be thou the judge and think I do not lie  
Thus lost I my dear hope and lust  
To keep my faith and not to be unjust  
Unto my Scipio now seek if thou may  
If thou caused see in all this great array  
Or else perceive in all this lovers dance  
So wonderful and so strange a chance  
With these words that he declared to me  
Calling to mind as I might plainly see  
The hoot fiery love betwixt them twain  
My heart even there so relentyde plain  
As doth the snow against the fervent son  
When that his beams to spread he hath begun  
And this as these twain passed by  
I hard her say and that right hastily  
This fellow pleased me nothing at all  
I am determined ye and ever shall  
To hate him and all his nation  
When that I hard her speak of this fashion  
I said Sophonisba I pray the be in peace  
For bryfelye the truth to the to rehearse  
Two times the Romans thy cartage oppressed  
That as their subjects to be they all confessed  
The third time they destroyed it clean  
That now uneath thereof is nothing seen  
Sophonisba answered to me again  
With short words and in great disdain  
If Aufrike wept Italy had no need  
For to make boast of their lucky speed  
Ask those that your histories do write  
For they the truth of both perties do indite  
Thus they went both together in fere  
Among the great press here and there  
Smiling and talking that I ne might  
No more of them have after that a sight  
Then as one that at adventure doth ride  
To know the right way on every side  
Now standeth, now goeth, now hieth apace  
Even so my fancy at that time it was  
Doubtful and desiring to know by prove  
How faruently these twain did love  
Till at the last as I cast mine eye  
Upon the life hand I saw me by  
One that had this strange effect  
To seem angry because he did abject  
His wife which he loved above all other  
By pity to give her to another  
And rejoiced much so for to do  
And all together as lovers they did go  
Talking of this marvelous case  
And of Syrya that country where it was  
I drew me near to these spirits three  
That were about, as far as I can see  
To have gone from thence another way  
And to the first of them thus did I say  
I pray you said I, a while for to abide  
A none the first he did cast his head aside  
When that he hard me speak italian  
And with a right angry countenance than  
He stood still and straight began to tell  
That which I thought to be a great marvel  
Thou desirest my friend to know sayeth he  
What I am and what that I should be  
I am Selencus brifely to discus  
And this afore the is my son Antiocus  
Which had great war with the Romans nation  
But right against fierce hath no dominion  
This woman that thou sest was first my wife  
And after was his for to save his life  
It was then defull for us so to do  
Her name is Stratonica she was called so  
And our chance by love was thus divided  
And under this fashion the matter was guided  
My son was contented to release to my hand  
His great kingdom and all his large land  
I unto him my love and lady dear  
When that I saw him for to change his cheer  
And day by day to draw unto the death  
So that uneath he might not draw his breath.  
I marveled much what the cause should be  
Secretly my wife for truth loved he  
That not disclosing his woeful pain  
My dear son by love was well near slain  
And had been dead, but that the wise physician  
Disclosed to me the very cause than  
Of all his sickness which he kept close  
Surely this came of a virtuous purpose  
And of a wondrous fatherly pity of me  
saying these words away went he  
So that I could uneath bid him farewell  
And this was all that then he did me tell  
After that the shadow thus was gone  
sighing and sad, I made great moan  
Because I might not to him disclose my heart  
But still as I stood thus musing apart  
I know that Zerzes' the great king of Perce  
Which led an Army as histories rehearse  
Of men innumerable, had never such a sort  
As there was of lovers barren of comfort  
So that mine eyes could not well suffice  
To see their strange fashions and their guise  
Uaryable of tongues, and of so divers lands  
That among a thousand one that there stands  
I knew not, their person nor their name  
Nor yet in history could describe the same  
Parseus was one, and fain I would desire  
How Andromeda did her self so attire  
That although she black were pardie  
Borne in Ethiope that hot country  
yet her fair eyen, and her crisp hear  
This Parseus heart in love so did steer  
That as his love the virgin did he take  
And never after did that maid forsake  
There was also the foolish lover plain  
That loved his own pycter vain  
That thereby unwisely he was brought to death  
And after as the history plainly saith  
He was converted by the divine power  
Unto a fair goodly pleasant flower  
Without for to bring any fruit at all  
And by him among these lovers thrall  
Was she that was turned unto a stone  
And now aloud doth answer every one  
When she is called with voice clear  
Next unto this Echo that did appear  
Was yphies that had herself in hate  
With other divers, in a full piteous state  
Which were to long their names for to rehearse  
Either in prose, or else in rhyme or verse  
But yet of some I will declare and tell  
Of Alcione and Ceice that loved so well  
That love they had so joined for ever  
That nothing could make them to dissever  
Now cleping now kissing, as they did fly  
searching the kingdom of Esperye  
Now resting together on a salt stone  
And by the Sea their nests to make alone  
And I saw also among that great rout  
As here and there I looked me about  
The cruel daughter of king Nysus  
With flight she fled which is marvelous  
Allauta was among them in the press  
With their gay golden apples doubtless  
She was vanquished yea and overcome  
By Hyppomone lo this is all and some  
Glad he seemed to have had the victory  
And among the other of this company  
I saw Atys and Galathea in his lap  
And Poliphemon with great noise and clap  
And Glanco shoving among the sort  
Crying for his love without comfort  
Carmenite and Pico, of Italy sometime king  
Turn to a bird, which was a marvelous thing  
There saw I also Egeria complain  
Because Syllayn was turned certain  
Into a great hard rock of stone  
Which in the sea maketh many to moon  
Among the other that I have rehearsed  
Was Cavase, by her father oppressed  
In the tone hand a pen did she hold  
A sword in the t'other, with pale face and cold  
Pygmalion was there among the rest  
With his wife Alyf that he loved best  
And among these I hard a thousand sing  
In Castallia where these poets bring  
These lovers with them more than I rehearse  
In prose, in rhyme, in metre, and in verse  
And at the last Cydippe did I see  
Scorned with an apple there was she.    

¶ The third chapter of the triumph of love.  

SO much was my heart a marveled of this sight  
That I stood still as one that had no might  
To speak or look but to hold his peace  
As desyreous to have some council doubtless  
When that my friend gently to me said  
Why dost thou muse? Why art thou dismayed?  
Show forth a better cheer and port  
And see how that I am one of the sort  
That will I, nill I, must follow the rest.  
Brother said I, and thou knowest best  
Mine intention, and the hot love I feal  
Which is so hot that it cannot keale  
So that such business doth travail my mind  
That what I would say I leave behind.  
He answered and said, I do hear it all  
And well understand by thy memorial  
Thou wouldst know yet what these other be  
And I shall show thee if thou wilt hear me  
Seest thou yondre great man of honour  
That is Pompeus so great of power  
That hath with him Cornelia the chaste  
Complaining of the vile Tholome the unsteadfast  
That betrayed so noble and worthy a man  
The t'other is the great and mighty Graecian  
Alexander the lord of lords all  
Aegisthus and Clytemistra see where they stall  
And how by them one may soon find  
Love unconstant wavering and blind  
More fast love found she that standeth by  
Ipermistra it is that fair sweet lady  
See also where Pyramus doth go  
And with him Thisbe that he loved so  
That in the dark met oft together  
Leander in the see and Ero at the fenester  
And him that thou dost see so pensyle and sad  
It is Ulixes that so chaste a wife had  
That did long abide his return from Troy  
Now on Cyres he hath all his joy  
And yonder man that thou dost advert  
That made all italy sore for to smart  
It is Amilcar son in very dead  
That made all the Romans to fear and dread  
And although he made each man to quake  
A vile wench prisoner doth him take  
And yonder woman with the short hear  
Look how she followeth here and there  
All though she were queen of Ponto  
Her husband wheresoever he doth go  
As a servant and not as a wife  
She led with him a full hard life  
The t'other thou seest is Porcia the true  
The chastiste wife that ever man knew  
Because that iron men did her forbid  
The fire she swallowed till she were deed  
Behold where is julia that sore complained  
That she best loved her husband unfeigned  
And yet he lovide his second wife better  
There could to her be no pain greater  
Turn thine eyes on the other side  
And see the old holy father beguiled  
And disdain not for to take the pain  
To serve seven years to have Rachel again  
O lively love that with labour doth increase  
See the father of this jacob nevertheless  
And the grandfather of Sara take delight  
Thus doth love with his power and might  
After look how love cruel and evil  
Overcame David and made him to kill  
His faithful servant which he repented sore  
In a dark place he did repentance therefore  
A like misty cloud pity to think upon  
So ●erkyd the great wisdom of Solomon  
That well near it quenched his high fame  
See also I pray the among the same  
He that lovyde and hated in a while  
And it is he that Thamar did beguile  
Wherefore she complained to Absolone  
Of her misfortune she made wondre moan  
And little afore him see there he went  
The strong Samson that sore did repent  
For putting his head in his loves lap  
Telling her his secrets he had hard hap  
After behold among sword and spears  
Judith that hent him by the hears  
The proud Holiferne vanquished by love  
Whereby she savyde her city from reprove  
There was no moo but she and he maid  
That did this wonders act at that abraid  
Dost thou not see Sychen afore thine eyes  
among the circumcised people how he dies  
Scorned in like manner as the t'other was  
This was love that brought him to that case  
Lo where thou mayest see the great Assuerus  
That for to heal his malady amarouse  
Left the tone and took him to a sweeter  
There is no remedy against love better  
Than one nail to knock out with another  
A strong example this is among the other  
But now wilt thou see in one tyrants heart  
Love and cruelty which is a divers part  
Behold Herodes how he doth complain  
This mischievous tyrant inhuman  
To late repented so doth divers more  
The dead ones done, it cannot be undo  
Maryamne his love he calleth and clepeth  
And all in vain wherefore he weepeth  
And lo there one may behold and see  
Three fair sweet Dameselles where they be  
Pocry and the good gentle Arthemesia  
And in there company there standeth Deidamin  
These were not so good but the other be as ill  
That followeth this loves triumph still  
Semiramis and Biblia, and Mirra, the gent  
That of their vile love do sore repent  
I am not advised their offences to name  
Therefore I leave it for very pure shame  
Now followeth then that fill books with lies  
Launslote and Trystram that for Ysode dies  
And Queen Queynor with other lovers more  
But specially the fair gentle Darmino  
That made for his love great complaint  
And she for him waxed pale and faint  
Thus spoke my friend, & I which hearkened well  
All these histories that he to me did tell  
Stood astonished as in dread and fear  
Of hurt to come that hastyth near and near  
Pale and wane as he that is so taken  
Out of his tomb new risen and awaken  
When that all suddenly by me there stood  
The fairest young maiden of face and mode  
That ever I saw whiter then a dove  
Which unprovided took me sore in love  
And although that I did pretend  
By strength against her me to defend  
And that I, would resist in the place  
A man of arms in such a sudden case  
Yet for her words and with her smile there  
She bound me fast and took me prisoner  
And even then for truth in that degree  
My friend drew near and smile said to me  
In my near wyspering now speak thou may  
What love is and all her nice play  
Now mayest thou know it as well as I  
Both we be spotted with one malady  
I than was one of this great array  
That more did lament the truth, I say  
Of other men's love that prospered well  
Then of mine own dolour of which I tell  
And as he that repenteth all to late  
Of hurt taken unwisely allgate  
So of my loves beauty did I make  
Mine own death which willingly I take  
By love, by jealousy, by envy also  
burning like fire thus did I love in woe  
The fire was kindled in that most fairest face  
Even as a sick man that an appetite base  
And desireth that to him seemeth sweet  
Yet to this health it is nothing meet  
Even so was I unto all other pleasure  
Deaf and blind, out of all measure  
Following her by so doubtful ways  
That it to remember, those times and days  
I tremble and quake when thereof I do think  
More than I can write with pen paper and ink  
So that from the time that this befell  
Mine eyes for moisture seemed a well  
My heart was pensive, my lodging was in deed  
brooks springs, and rivers, so did I lead  
My life in bushes, in grovets, and in woods  
Among the stones, I sought none other goods  
And to this so many papers white  
As in her praise I pained to indite  
When after I tore them into pieces small  
I was compelled again to write them all  
And all in loves cloister what is done  
I know it well it cannot be undone  
That there is fear, and there is hope also  
Who will it read, and take heed thereto  
In my forehead there may ye see it plain  
All my sorrow, my dolour, and my pain  
And for all this, that wild jolly dame  
That is the causer of all this same  
Goeth afore me and careth not at all  
Whether that I fleet, I sink, or fall  
So is she proud in virtue set so high  
That in her self she taketh glory  
To have me so fast her servant bound  
That I know not how to heal my wound  
And to this it is a marvelous thing  
The God of love this great mighty king  
It seemeth of her he is sore afeard  
When that she list to look hymin the beard  
So that hope doth me so oft forsake  
That love himself no remedy can make  
For when he will any thing with this maid  
She doth not as other do that are afraid  
But as one that is free she goeth in the race  
Not bound, but at lydertie with her fair face  
And no wondre for she doth appear  
among the stars as the Son clear  
Her port is singular her words are marvelous  
Her hear spread as the gold most beutiouse  
The eyen kindled with a celestial light  
That well content to burn is my delight  
Who can compare with her angelic demure  
It passeth my cunning ye may be sure  
As much as the Sea passeth a little broke  
For who on good manners doth pry and look  
A new thing it is, and not afore seen  
Nor after shall not so dulse and sheen  
So that all tongues her beauty to express  
Are and shallbe muete doubtless  
With such a one am I taken, and with her tide  
And she free from all love on every side  
O wicked star that my destanye doth lead  
How is it that I have no better speed  
Day and night upon her I do call  
But she nothing bouse to pity at all  
Nor scant will tarry to hear what I say  
Alas for pity well mourn I may  
A hard law it is thus to love be kind  
The way not right, but crooked for to find  
But yet to follow it why should I say nay  
When that not only men doth go that way  
But the Gods also that be celestial  
Are not free from this pain at all  
He that is a lover full well knows this  
How that the heart from the body departed is  
How now he is in war, and forthwith in peace  
How when his love doth show ungentleness  
He will not be acknown, but his malady hide  
Though that it prick him both back and side  
This evil feel I, and yet more there to  
When with my love I have to do  
The blood for fear runneth to my heart  
And straight abroad in my veins doth start  
I know also how hid under the flower  
The serpent lieth the lover to devour  
How always the lover lieth in dread and doubt  
In great suspect for to be put out  
By another, and so no rest I take  
Neither when I sleep, nor when I wake  
I know also how to seek the place  
Where my love is ay wont to pass  
And yet I stand in fear her to find  
Although her self is printed in my mind  
I know also myself how to beguile  
With loving and morning a great while  
Following the damosel it is even so  
That will burn me following, yet after I go  
I know moreover how love cries and calls  
And will not be shit out with doors nor walls  
But puts by reason, and will not go away  
Till he pierce the heart, and all I say  
I know also how s●●● a gentle heart  
Is tied with a small lace and cannot▪ start  
When the senses have the better hand  
And reason put by, and will not withstand  
I know to this how that love doth shoot  
How he flies and strikes without giving boot  
How he threateth and robbeth with force & might  
And thus wrongs his servants against alright  
and I am not ignorant how unstable is his wheel  
The hope doubtful always for to feel  
The dolour suit, his promise untrue  
Ay desirous to change for things new  
And how to this in the bones doth rest  
The hid fire that lieth so oppressed  
In the lovers veins, and that with such a wound  
That at the last it bringeth him to the ground  
In conclusion I know love so to be  
inconstant, wavering, and fearful trust me  
Having in it a little small sweetness  
mingled with extreme pain and bitterness  
When he would speak, cannot though he would  
Sudden silence when his tale should be told  
A short laughing with complaint still & long  
Gall tempered with honey this is the lovers song.    

¶ The fourth Chapter of the Triumph of love.  

AFter that my fortune thus hade me brought  
And love so sore in my heart wrought  
That cut were all my weak silly veins  
My liberty gone and I in woeful pains  
I that afore was wild as any heart  
Was made then tame for my part  
As well as all the other that were there  
And well knew their travail and their fere  
And with what wite, craft and chance  
I and they were brought to loves dance  
And then as that I looked all about  
If I might spy among that huge rout  
Any person of clear and high name  
That by writing have eternal fame  
I saw him that Erudyce did call  
upon Pluto the great god infernal  
And followed her as these histories tell  
Down unto the deep dungeon of hell  
And dying did his love clepe and call  
I saw also even among them all  
Alceo Macreon and the wise Pyndarus  
That in love were all three studious  
Uyrgyll was there. I say in like case  
With other excellent poets in that place  
The tone was Ovid the other Catullo  
Propercius also and eke Tubullo  
That of love wrote many a verse and song  
And with this excellent poets among  
Was a Grecian that with her sweet style  
Of love full many a song did file  
Ay looking thus about me here and there  
I saw in a green field with sad cheer  
People that of love reasoning went  
Dant with beatrice fair and gent  
Lo on the other side I might also see  
Cino of Piscoia with him trust me  
Guydo of Rezzo and in that place  
Two other Guydos in like manner and case  
The tone of them was borne in boleyne  
The t'other was a very right Cicelien  
Senicio and Francisco so gentle-of condition  
And arnold and Daniel in like fashion  
A great maker and dyvyser of love  
And did great honour to his City above  
There was Peter also the Clerk famous  
And Rambaldo with his style curious  
That wrote for his beatrice in mont ferrato  
The old Peter and with him Geraldo  
Filile to that in Marsill bore the name  
And the praise from Geneway by the same  
Geffray Rudell that sought his death Alas  
upon the water as he himself did pass  
There was also Wilbon at that hour  
That in writing to his paramour  
passed many other in his days  
Among these other that of love says  
Was Amerego, Bernardo, Hugo, and Anselme  
That in stead of spear, shield, and helm  
Was their tongue and their fair speech  
The love of their Ladies to beseech  
I turned mine eyes from that company  
And straight wise I did there espy  
The good Thomaso that gate great praise  
In Boleyne that city in his days  
O fleeing sweetness O painful weary life  
What chance hath taken with woe and strife  
These my dear friends away from me  
Why am I not still in their company  
Well may I perceive how feeble and frail  
Is man's life all full of travail  
Well may I say it is none other thing  
But as a dream or a shadow passing  
Or as a fable that when it is told  
The wind and whether doth it hold  
Unneth was a little past the rule  
Of the comen lernars in school  
When first I did Socrates works see  
And Lelius how fair they did agree  
With these men I intend still to go  
Which I have named hither unto  
As those whose laud: no man can well rehearse  
Neither in rhyme, in prose, nor yet in verse  
With these two and diverse other in my days  
Have I searched many divers ways  
And from these no man can me divide  
But for always I will with them abide  
until the hour come▪ that I shall die  
For with these two gotten yet have I  
The glorious Laurel wherewith my head  
As a garland all about is spread  
In memory of her of which I write  
Verses of praises as I can indite  
But of her which I so much commend  
For all my service that I do pretend  
I cannot get neither bough nor lief  
But pain, heaviness, dolour, and grief  
And or I write the cause why she doth so  
I will write of the pensive woe  
That these unwise lovers have to love  
The thing is so far my wit above  
That for great Omer or for wise Orpheus  
It were well meet they should it discuss  
Then in following of my golden pen  
I will declare how I and all these men  
Following this god by Dykes and by Dales  
With pains and business and with many tales  
This child unto his kingdom came  
Where Venus his mother was resident than  
But so overthwart thither was the ways  
By bushes and woods and other brayes  
That not one among all wist where he was  
Nor how it was with him nor in what case  
There lieth beyond Egeo that great see  
A delectable isle to behold and see  
Because the son softly doth it warm  
The birds there full sweetly charm  
In the mids of this isle now expressed  
Is there a mountain fair ydressed  
With fair flowers, and fair clear water  
That it taketh away all sad matter  
From the hearts of such as be there  
This is the land to Venus' most dear  
Wherein the old ancient men  
Made to this Venus a temple then  
And yet of virtue it is so barren I say  
That as it was, so it is at this day  
In that self same place triumpheth this Lord  
Of us and other that he doth bind in cord  
Of all nations, from Tile unto Ind  
Innumerable of all men one may find  
This Prince in token of his great victory  
That he hath obtained of lovers so gloriously  
carrieth with him of poor lovers the spoil  
To give to his wanton mother in that soil  
first of all the lovers thoughts in his lap  
He hath with him fast closed in a trap  
Uanytie embraceth him, and with him doth go  
fugitive pleasure doth follow him also  
In winter Roses he carrieth about  
In Summer ice, this great God so stout  
doubtful hope before and behind  
Short joy, wavering and blind  
Penance and sorrow doth follow the rest  
As in Rome and in Troy, when it was oppressed  
Thus with a noise and a huge shout  
Redounded the valley there all about  
With a consent of birds fair and sweet  
And the rivers that ran by the street  
Were of colour briefly to indite  
green, blue, red, yellow and white  
And ever the Ryvars running in that place  
When that the time of great heat was  
upon the fresh fair green flowers  
To comfort the herbers and the bowers  
Shadows soft to keep the son away  
The wether temperate by night and day  
The Son neither to hoot nor to cold  
Plenty of dainties eat who would  
And pleasures divers to make a simple wit  
Have an old feeble heart for to use it  
It was about the Equinoctial line than  
When the fair bright Phoebus began  
To chase the long winter nights away  
And prougne laughs early afore day  
In that time and in that self hour  
This great God of so high power  
Would triumph then, and there worshipped be  
O our unstable fortune for to see  
We ne could but as this God us lead  
Him to worship, see how we speed  
What death, what sorrow, woe and pain  
Hath the lover, his purpose to attain  
Now for to declare this matter by and by  
This Gods chair, where that they sat on high  
There was about it error and dreams  
And glozing images of all nations and realms  
False opinion was entering the gate  
And slipper hope stood by their ate  
Weary rest, and rest with woe and pain  
The more higher he clam the less he did obtain  
Damnable lucre was not wanting there  
Nor profitable hurt always in fere  
Clear dishonour, and glory obscure and dark  
False lealtie left not there to work  
Nor beguylding faith, nor furious business  
Nor slow reason lacked not in the press  
A prison open, entre who would  
When he was in gotten out he ne could  
Within trouble, confusion, and misery  
A sure sorrow a mirth uncertainly  
Lyppary nor Ischa, nor Uolcan boils not so  
Strongile and Mongebell put thereto  
As boiled the place where the castle was  
And briefly whosoever thither did pass  
Is there bound in hot and in cold  
In darkness everlasting in that hold  
Holden and tied and kept by force  
Crying for mercy till that he be horse  
In this castle sighing for Sorga and Arno  
Was I prisoner many a long day so  
That by my wit, I could no means find  
Out for to get there I was so blind  
One remedy at the least there I found  
Whiles that I was in love thus bound  
My wit on high things was evermore set  
To know what love is which was so great  
That I thereby could well discern  
What was to be done in such harm  
And thus having great compassion  
Of such that were in loves prison  
My heart relented even as doth the snow  
Against the hoot Son ye may me trow  
marveling to see so many noble men  
To be in so dark a prison there and then  
None otherwise but as one that doth see  
A picture well made in conformity  
Goeth the foot forward it for to espy  
And yet looketh backward with his eye  
So at that time I looked all about  
To consider this great company and rout.    
¶ The end of the Triumph of love.   

¶ The excellent Triumph of Chastity.  

WHen that I saw even afore my face  
In one time and in one self place  
The high god that reigneth above  
And men mortal subdewede also by love  
By their example and by there great ●all  
Some profit to myself than did I call  
And some comfort it was also to me  
Even as other were I for to be  
When Phoebus a god was taken in that lure  
And the young Leader a man pure  
Both twain strycken with loves dart  
And juno and Dydo lasyd with that part  
Not that Dydo that men doth write  
That for Aeneas with death was dyte  
But that noble Lady true and just  
For Sychen her joy and hearts lust  
I ought not to morn though that unware  
I were taken in loves crafty snare  
Being but a very young man of age  
For to be vanquished with such a rage  
And if that my Lady that I love best  
Will not with love in no wise be oppressed  
But be mine enemies in such a thing  
I have no cause of great mourning  
For as much as I do call to mind  
What hurt by that, that she should find  
I know also that by her reason  
She doth so guide her in each season  
That love by her is so abated  
That it doth seem this god is hated  
Which when that love did plainly see  
He was so chafed trust ye well me  
That the lightning that falls from the sky  
And beareth down all even by and by  
Nor the lion so wood in his rage  
So assayed not that time for to assuage  
With all his arguments that he could make  
This Lady I reason of prisoner to take  
Nor she again I say for her part  
When that she well and wisely did advert  
What Cupyde was about with her to do  
The whurling wind flieth not so fast so  
As she against him with virtue went  
Tolet this great god of his intent  
What should I say Aetna that hill  
That boileth and burneth evermore still  
Maketh not a more terrible son  
When that Enchelado would shake it down  
Nor Sylla nor Carrybdys when angry they be  
Then love assayed you may trust me  
To wine my Lady in such wise  
When that he saw her love despise  
Each man there drew himself apart  
The great horrible strife for to advert  
Up to a place that were marvelously high  
To look to, what end this should apply  
This god that the vanquer as is told  
Of mortal men both of young and old  
Took in his right hand Arrow sharp and keen  
And in the other a bow bright and sheen  
And drew it up this Lady to fear  
In great haste and anger up to his ear  
And this did he in such great violence  
That a leopard that maketh pretence  
The fugytyfe heart for to cache and take  
Could not more hasty haste make  
Then love did with his fiery face  
This fair Lady with craft to compass  
I that saw the manner and the guise  
Was sore moved in double wise  
pity feared me lest that I should see  
So sweet a Creature vanquished for to be  
Desire again would have be glad  
That I my purpose might then have had  
But virtue that with the good is ever  
showed at that time that he did never  
Forsake him that him doth trust  
This fair Lady my hearts lust  
When she did see the stroke at hand  
Was never master that doth withstand  
In the ship on the parlous Rock to fall  
Then she that then and forth with all  
Did away from loves stroke glide  
With such a honesty one every part and side  
Which then appeared in her sweet face  
That loves fiery dart had there no place  
I that stood still with wondrous sad intent  
To see where unto this matter went  
Hoping the victory to me should fall  
And that I should he hyrse hole and all  
As one that hath or he would speak  
Written in his head and heart eke  
What he would say even so do I  
Think to say even by and by  
My lord if that you win the field  
Bind me with her for I do yield  
And let me never from her departed  
Whiles that the life is in my heart  
And if that unworthy that I be  
To be with this Lady in company  
All though for ever in love I dure  
Here still with you do tie me sure  
Whiles that I minded thus for to say  
She looked on me that most sweet may  
With such a grave and a wise sad cheer  
That for to speak it I dread and fear  
For I not only that have small wit  
But that man also for to declare it  
That had the most excellent wit and reason  
Should have marveled at that time & season  
For this loves golden and fiery shaft  
Even by itself there it fell apart  
Seeing the honesty as I have here told  
In my loves breast that then was cold  
So that Camilla that fair lady gent  
That with the lift breast to battle went  
Nor Cesar in Tessalia against Pompeus  
Was nothing to speak of so Ualerouse  
As she was against love there and than  
That every strong shield break it can  
Armed was she with all her rout  
With virtues compassed all about  
O what a glorious band there was  
That against love with her did pass  
Twain and twain and hand in hand  
This noble army together did stand  
Honesty and shamefastness they went before  
A great gift of God for evermore  
That made this Lady for to show and shine  
Not like no mortal but like divine  
Wit and soberness followed the trace  
Well set in her heart without arrace  
And perseverance came with the rest  
Which kept her honour not to be oppressed  
Fair entreating was not behind  
Nor clemesse nor courtesy that is so kind  
purity of heart and fear of shame  
Was there in presence love to tame  
Old wise thoughts in a young tender age  
And gracious concord all fury to assuage  
And beauty lacked not, with a chaste clean thought  
All these against love my Lady brought  
With the favour of heaven that halpe thereto  
And the blessed holy saynetes aid also  
That uneath my sight could well sustain  
To see such a company in that plain  
There saw I this fellowship take the spoil  
A thousand palms in that great soil  
Away from the hands of them that were  
Lovers in that company there and there  
The sudden throw that fierce Hannibal  
Had of Scipion the captain general  
Of the Romans when he had obtained  
So many victories so many maimed  
Nor the great Golyas was not more abashed  
When with the stone his head was dashed  
By David young and tender of age  
Nor Cirus more astonished in that rage  
When that the widow the vengeance did make  
For the death of Hermon, and for her loves sake  
As was love which stood in the place  
Much like after the fashion and case  
As he that thinks himself safe and sound  
And with a pang doth fall to the ground  
Even so there did love poorly stand  
Unto his eyes putting up his hand  
As he that both with anger and fear  
Even with a moment appeared there  
And he so chafed with his adventure  
That the ragyouse Sea ye may be well sure  
Nor Mongebello nor yet Enchelydo  
Never more chafed than he did tho  
Thus passed this great company glorious  
That I did see triumphing thus  
But their excellency for to declare  
My couning and my wit is all to bore  
I therefore will turn to my fair Lady  
And to the rest of her chaste company  
She had this excellent dame victorious  
A white vesture, gay and glorious  
The shield in hand of pure jasper clean  
That evil saw Medusa that Queen  
With a pillar in the mids finely set  
A chain with a Dyamount thereto was fret  
And a Thopasion a precious stone  
Used sometime and now clean gone  
I saw her there even afore mine eyes  
So bind love in such a wondrous wise  
That it seemed vengeance I say enough  
To make him stoop, to make him for to bow  
And I therefore did nothing then repent  
What my love did, I was therewith content  
What more should I now say or write  
It passeth my cunning, it passeth my might  
The sacred and holy virgins to tell  
Calliope and Clio I know it well  
With the rest of the muses nine  
Should lack eloquence that to define  
But part of them of most high honest  
I will declare what persons they should be  
Lucretia on the right hand there she stood  
And sweet Penolope so mild of mode  
These twain had broken in pecis small  
Loves bow his darts, arrows and all  
And pulled his wings quite from his back  
Thus this great God did go to wrack  
Uirginea with her fierce father was there  
With sword in hand and armed clear  
That changed the state of Rome town  
And raised up liberty that was put down  
And after that one might behold and see  
Of the germans maidens a huge company  
That for to save them from villainy  
Were all contented with good will to die  
judith the Hebrew the wise and the strong  
With the Greeks Lady she was among  
That leaped into the great perylious See  
To keep her body from all villainty  
With these sweet sort I saw divers more  
That in this triumph forth did go  
Triumphing of Love that triumphed before  
Yet among other there saw I more  
The meek virgin of Uesca there she was  
That proved her chastity by such a case  
She bore fair water in a large Seve  
Whereby she voided all and ill reprove  
Hersilia also passed with that rout  
With all her Sabyns that stood there about  
And among these other fair ladies free  
I saw her of much high state and degree  
That for her husband was content to die  
And not for Aeneas so affirm I  
Let the vulgar people then hold their peace  
It is that Dydo that I do here rehearse  
That honest love brought unto an end  
And not vain wanton love that did her offend  
At the last I did see one of that land  
Where as the large river of Arno doth stand  
Closed her self up in a secret place  
To keep her vyrgynitie, but woe alas alas  
Her fair thought by force it was let  
There among other I saw her set  
This excellent triumph whereof I write  
Went with great glory even forth right  
To Baia the season all soft and fair  
To the place sometime that Sibilla did repair  
called Cumana by her surname  
And from thence passing by the same  
Straight to Linterna that castle they went  
In that small city where it is bend  
Dwelled that valiant Roman than  
That was surnamed Scipion the African  
There the tone salutyd gently the t'other  
And evermore among the one and the other  
Not she that was fairest but chastyst and best  
Was most honoured among all the rest  
It pleased then this Roman for to go  
Among the other there in order also  
Unto the temple that Sulpicia made  
Where all the hole flame that love hade  
They quenched it out and from thence all went  
Unto that fair temple with good intent  
Of honourable chastity so is the right name  
Because there appertaineth unto the same  
To kindle good will in a gentle heart  
Speciaily to nobleness that thereto doth advert  
In that holy temple there offered this Lady  
The glorious spoil of her high victory  
And leaves of the Laurel tree there did she spread  
Of her fresh garland about her fair head  
There the young lover the Toscan left aside  
The wound that was both large and side  
That love had given him and all because  
To i'll the suspect to follow loves laws  
Where as was with him diverse other more  
The gentle and faithful true Ypolito  
And joseph the Ebrue honest and just  
That vanquished love and all his foul lust    

¶ The Triumph of the excellent Poet Frances Petrarcha, of fearful death most elegantly written, ye that read it, remember it.  


THis most noble and most glorious Lady  
That now is a spirite & in the earth doth lie  
And sometime was the high pillar of valour  
Turned from her war with laud and honour  
Glad to have over comen an enemy so great  
That with his wit turneth all men under feet  
With none other armour she did this dead  
But with a chaste heart at the time of need  
With a sweet face and with a clean thought  
And with an honest speech this hath she wrought  
It was a new wondre for to behold and see  
Love to be overcome in such wise and degree  
His bow broken his arrows cast aside  
That slain had so many men of pride  
And taken prisoners infinite of men  
This noble Lady with her company then  
Turned (as said is) from that high victory  
All together going under a fair canapye  
There was but few no marvel at all  
Virtuous glory is rath and ever shall  
But those that were present in that place  
Each one by themselves it is a plain case  
Seemed well worthy of laud to rehearse  
Of Poet or Orator in prose or verse,  
Her vyctoriouse standard was this  
In a green field a white armyne is  
With a chain of gold about his neck  
A fair Topazion thereto did it deck  
Nothing after mortal men's rate  
Was neither their speech nor yet their gate  
But all divine for to behold and see  
Happy are those that have such destanye  
They seemed all fair bright stars  
The Son in the mids that not debars  
The light away, but giveth them light  
Having on their fair heads on height  
Rose garlands and violets fresh and gay  
And as a loving gentle heart alway  
Getteth honour for his virtuous life  
So past this company without debate or strife  
When that all suddenly there did appear  
A sad black banner that approached near  
And a woman wrapped all in black  
With such a fury and with such a wrack.  
That uneath I cannot the truth tell  
In the time of the great mighty giants fell  
Were any so loathsome for to behold and see  
Unto this Lady so ghastly moved he  
And said O sweet and excellent maid  
That goest here most perfitly arrayed  
With youth and beauty and dost not see  
The term that I shall present arrest the  
I am the same importune cruel best  
called death fearful that doth arrest  
All creatures with my great force and might  
Or the day end● making it the night  
It is I that hath quite and clean wasted  
The great greeks nation and also hasted  
The noble Trojans unto their decline  
And last of all hath made to end and fine  
The Romans glory with this blade keen  
That pricketh and cutteth all away clean  
And infinite of other barbarous nations  
Using evermore these ways and fashions  
When that they look not for me at all  
With sudden stroke I make them down to fall  
A thousand thoughts of men frail and vain  
I have broken this is true and certain  
And now to you when life seemeth best  
Here am I comen your body to arrest  
Or any hard fortune to you chance to fall  
I will you take and end not one but all  
This excellent Lady having no pear  
In all the world with sad and wise cheer  
Answered unto death there present again  
In these chaste companies this is true & plain  
Thou hast no reason nor yet no power  
And less of all other in me at this hour  
Only the spoil that thou shalt have  
It is my chaste body unto the grave  
That well knoweth one as well as I  
That take well my death most heavily  
His life on my health all doth depend  
But unto the this is thy small end  
It shallbe to me no displeasure at all  
To depart the frail world lo this is all  
This cruel beast with her wise reason  
Was no less marveled at that time and season  
Than one that doth a thing in sudden haste  
And when the deed is so done and paste  
Doth blame himself of that that he hath done  
Even so did this terrible monster soon  
And when he had himself paused a while  
With a more soft speech, and gentle style  
Thou (says he) that present here dost guide  
This fair chaste band on every side  
That hast not yet my fearful stroke assayed  
By my council be not so sore afraid  
For that I will now do is for the best  
To make the i'll (O maid) from age oppressed  
Which hath always longing thereunto  
Much grief and dolour with pain & long woe  
And to this now present, disposed I am  
Thou fair creature and sweet woman  
To do the such honour present in this place  
That thy spirit shall from the body pass  
Without fear, dolour, or grief at all  
Be of good comfort O maid, I have said all  
This angelic creature when she had hard  
What death had said, again answered  
As it pleaseth Christ our Lord almighty  
That ruleth and tempereth all things eternally  
Do thou unto her as thou dost to all men  
Thus this fair Lady answered there and then  
And lo even there present all suddenly  
Full of dead bodies their great place did lie  
In such a number that them for to rehearse  
It cannot be counted in prose nor yet in verse  
Of Cateya of Marrow of Spain and Ind  
Innumerable dead of all mankind  
There were those that men happy did call  
Kings Emperors and bishops all  
Now be they poor as poor as beggars be stones  
Where is there riches & honour trow ye  
Their sceptres their crowns with their precious  
Their miters of purple dected for the noon  
Gone is all their glory and their fresh lust  
A fool is he that to such things doth trust  
But those that will needs hope thereunto  
At length shall see the matter to be so  
Themselves utterly scorned and beguiled  
When all their fancies shallbe quite exiled  
O blind fools even worse than mad  
For all the pleasures and joys ye have had  
To your old mother ye must needs pass  
And your names forgotten and turned to was  
What profit hath it then been unto you  
With sword and blood strong nations to subdue  
To muck up treasure and your souls to defile  
It had been better to have lived a while  
poorly in this world with browen bread & water  
But now will I return again to my matter  
I say than when the extreme hour was come  
Of this fair Lady this is all and some  
And that she must the doubtful pass assay  
That puts all the world in dread and fray  
There came to see her of women many one  
To know and see or that the life were gone  
What pain the fair Creature did abide  
Both friends and neighbours divers on each side  
And so as they her great beauty did behold  
Death dissolved the fair here of gold  
And so the fairest flower that ever was  
He did root up Alas I say Alas  
Not for no hate that he to her than had  
But in heaven for to make her spirit glad  
O how many complaints and bewailings  
sighs and tears and other lamentinges  
Were there than among the women all  
When that, that fair bright eyes celestial  
For which many a sweet song I made  
Many a sonete many a fresh ballad  
Were closed and shot up Alas O woe is me  
This fair Creature what trow ye then did she  
Sit still and glade in quiet and pease  
And gather the fruit of her virtuousness  
Go thy ways O dear gods well content  
In peace and quiet with all thy virtues excellent  
But little it availed against deaths might  
Then if he have against such a one right  
What shall it be trow ye of the rest  
O human hope with all misery oppressed  
In a few mights so sweet a maid  
gone and passed in so short a brayed  
So many tears for her death spread  
Thou that seste it or heryst it red  
Think what it is the world for to trust  
When such a creature is turned unto dust  
It was for truth the six day of Apryll  
That love to love her did me compel  
And even that same self hour and day  
Death did take my love and joy away  
And now as fortune is wont for to change  
Hath broken the knot and eke the range  
With such sorrow unto my woeful heart  
That I am afraid I say, as for my part  
To tell it either in verse or in rhyme  
It was to me so sorrowful a time  
Virtue said they that were present there  
Excellent beauty and most womanly cheer  
Now is dead and gone what shall we be  
When she is past the death as we do see  
Where shall her peer or like be seen again  
So great perfection in one for to remain  
So sweet a speech so angelic a voice  
This above all other was the choice  
And the spirit when it should departed  
As they might see and periytly advert  
With all other virtues gatheredin one  
Where as it went the air most brightly shone  
None evil adversary was so hardy there  
Afore her presence to stand or appear  
With foul semblant to put her in dread  
Till death his assault had done in deed  
But after that when all the fear was past  
And by desperation they sure at the last  
Each one did behold that most sweet face  
How precious it was, how full of grace  
Not dissolved with no violent pain  
But passing away with an easy vain  
Even as a sweet light that cometh to decay  
little and little consuming away  
When that the birth liquor is past and gone  
The flame extinct then light is there none  
Not pale she lay but whiter then the snow  
That the wind against the hill doth blow  
As he that weary is, and would have rest  
So she lay when death had her oppressed  
And as one that sleepeth soft and quietly  
So might they all then and there espy  
Dreadful death that fools have in disgrace  
Fair and beautiful in that sweetest face.    

¶ The second Chapter of the Triumph of death.  

THe night following the this horrible chance Fell, to my hartesioye & pleasance  
That made in manner the son lose his light  
And from the earth took also all delight  
And the fair flower in heaven on high set  
My guide gone and I with sorrow fret  
And blind left from all joy and pleasure  
The sweet soft season pleasant be ye sure  
With the cold that spread was in the air  
Afore Aurora most delicate and fair  
Taketh away with his wholesome streams  
All untrue and feigned false dreams  
Even at that time to me did appear  
semblant to that season a maid fair & clear  
Crowned with rich orient pearls white  
And for to increase the more my delight  
Her fair hand stretch forth then did she  
And softly sighing gently spoke to me  
Dost thou not know me saith she me tell  
Her that sometime thou didst love so well  
Of whom thy heart was all set on fire  
And made the forsake all foul and vile desire  
Thus saying with a sad sober countenance  
She sat her down my joy and my pleasance  
And made me sit by her even there  
upon a bank me thought we twain were  
Which was shadowed with the Laurel tree  
A great beech thereby well might I see  
And I so set much like in such a case  
As he that speaketh and weepeth a great pace  
So did I answer unto this Lady dear  
O thou fair creature without to have a pear  
How should it be that I the should forget  
Sythyns that ever my heart on the was set  
Art thou alive or dead I long to know  
I am alive says she thou mayst me trow  
And thou art dead and so still shallbe  
Till that the last hour that taketh the  
From the earth, now mark well what I say  
The time is short, and our will alway  
Is long, and therefore I the read  
What thou wilt say that it be said with speed  
Lest that the day that cometh at the hand  
Make thou shalt not here no longer stand  
Then said I O Lady sweet and peerless  
That hast proved I see it doubtless  
What life and death are both certain  
Tell me if death be so great a pain  
She answered forthwith and to me said  
men's blind opinion makes it to be frayed  
But for to tell the what it is in dead  
Death is dissolving of all doubt and dread  
And clean delyvers us from a prison dark  
Specially to him that gently doth work  
But unto him that hath done amiss  
And all on covetousness his heart set is  
It is a pain and dolour infinite  
But I that from that am free and quite  
For this death which I did assay  
For which thou hast mourned to this day  
Would make the merry and all thy sores heal  
If half the joy thou hadst that I do feal  
Thus spoke she, and her celestial eyes  
Devoutly she lift up unto the skies  
And that rodye lips more sweet than rose  
She held them still till I did purpose  
Silla, Nero, Cayus, and Maryus  
With these tyrants put Maxentius  
sickness in the breast and in the flanks  
pain of burning, fevers and cranckes  
Makes the death more bitter than gall  
She answered me then forthwith all  
I cannot (says she) for truth deny  
But that the pain most certainly  
That goeth afore that the death doth come  
Is wonder grievous this is all and some  
But that which grieveth most of all  
Is the fear of loss of the life eternal  
But the spirit that comforts him in good  
And with his heart doth dread his rod  
Unto him I say what is the death  
But even a sight and a short stopping breath  
This by myself did I well know and see  
At the last hour when death did take me  
The body was sick but the soul was well  
When that I hard one by me there tell  
O how wretched and miserable is he  
That counteth the days of the infenyte  
That Laura is in and thinketh every day  
A thousand days I dare right well say  
Her excellent person to see and to behold  
And never after see, his comfort should  
Seeks for her the water and the land  
And never for her in quiet doth stand  
But always following one manner of style  
How that he may in every time and while  
On her to think on her with pen to write  
On her to speak on high for to indite  
This bearing casting mine eyes aside  
Her among the other there I espied  
That often moved me, the for to love  
And kindled in thy heart far above  
The love I bore always unto the  
I know her well that it was very she  
That much comforted me or I died  
With her wise words on every side  
And plainly to the when that I was  
In my best time, and in that honest case  
In youth but tender, and unto the most dear  
Which made many and divers here and there  
To speak both and oft of the and me  
The life wherein thou sawest me for to be  
Was but bitter I swear now on my faith  
To the respect of my most pleasant death  
Which to men mortal is very rare  
So that when my life away did fare  
Even at that point I was most merry and glad  
Saving that of the great pity I had  
To depart this world trust thou me  
As one in exile his own country to see  
Then said I to her even there again  
On the faith Madam which you are certain  
That I ought you without for to change  
Tell me now and be not to me strange  
For you know all saying that glorious sight  
Above our knowledge the eternal light  
Had you ever pity in your heart  
Of my great sorrows, and pains smart  
Not leaving apart your high chaste ways  
Which that you used with me always  
Now showing to me a sweet disdain  
Now a sweet anger to double my pain  
Now showing a peax written in your eyes  
That held me so tied and in such wise  
That doubtful I was in what case I stood  
Many years thus I in love abode  
Scant had I these words to her said  
When that I saw even at a braid  
That sweet smiling and fair countenance  
That sometime was my joy and pleasance  
My comfort, my lust, and my rejoicing  
In this wise to me most gracious speaking  
From the my heart was never divided  
Nor never shall but that I provided  
divers times with my wise regard  
I tempered thy love that well near thou had marred  
Because there was as than none other way  
Our fervent love with honest for to stay  
Therefore in like case as thou sest a mother  
correct her dear child for no nother  
But all to bring her to good frame  
Even so did I then use the same  
And said to myself full many a season  
This man not Louis but burns out of reason  
Wherefore it behoveth me for to provide  
In this hard dangerous case on every side  
And surely full evil provideth he  
That looketh outward and doth not see  
What is inward in such a perilous case  
This in my pitiful heart took then place  
And this to the as a bridle was than  
As thou seest by a horse reuled by a man  
Wherefore sometime I showed me wonders glade  
Sometime again to be as sober and sad  
And yet I loved as hoot and true as you  
Always saving the chosen honest dough  
Which so my will than and ever oppressed  
That reason reulde my desire at the jest  
And when that again I did behold and see  
Thy sorrow to grievous and painful for to be  
Sweetly and gently on the mine eyes I set  
Thy health and welfayre again for to get  
This was ever my wise honest ways  
That I honestly used with the in those days  
And when I saw the tears dropping avail  
Down thy pale cheeks like unto the hail  
Than I did pray and softly than I said  
Here it is necessary I give anon an aid  
And when that thou were forthwith again  
Into to much hope my love for to attain  
Anon unto myself even thus said I  
Here of necessity must be had a remedy  
A hard and straight bit I must now put to  
Thus with divers colours many more  
Myth hoot with green with gold with white  
I kept the always still in honest plight  
Thou knowest this well and hast it told  
And in many a sweet sonnet it encolde  
When she had said these words to me plain  
With trembling voice I said to her again  
Your words to me should be passing were  
For the great love and most fetuant here  
That I have ever borne my joy to you  
If I belevyde them faithfully to be true  
O unfaithful man than answered she  
Why should I say these words unto the  
If that my words were not true and just  
Now then I tell the disclose my heart I must  
If in this world living to my sight  
I took in the lust pleasure and delight  
I kept it secret where thou I say again  
Thy love to all men didst make it plain  
There was no difference in our love at all  
But that my true love was joined all  
In most honest wise so for to be  
But now one thing I will demand of the  
When that thy sweet balettes I did sing  
didst thou then doubt of me in any thing?  
I think plainly nay and therefore thus  
Though for a time I was contrarius  
By loving strange and seeming so to be  
A thousand times thou mayst trust me  
With my thought always so I fared  
Thou hadst of me an inward sweet regard  
And more thy mind at that time to appease  
I will tell the that thing that shall the please  
It grieveth me sore that I was not borne  
By thy fair city I say to the therforne  
Although my country full pleasant be  
I would my nest had been near to the  
Lest that percase thy mind should change  
And love some other among so great a range  
To these words no word than I said  
The third celestial spear had so arrayed  
And lift in love so sore my loving thought  
That answer her at that time could I nought  
Then she to me with a benign love and cheer  
I have in this world by the great honour here  
And shall have alway mark well what I shall say  
The night is passed now cometh the bright day  
If that to me thou wilt more say sweet heart  
Be short I bid the for I must hence depart  
O said I, mine own sweet Lady dear  
For all the sorrow and pain I have had here  
In loving you these words so fair and sweet  
Doth recompense my love and makes all meet  
But from you thus for to be separate plain  
Is unto me a deadly mortal pain  
But one thing now to me you must declare  
Or that ye from my woeful presence fare  
Shall I live long tell me after you  
Or shortly as I would O Lady you ensue  
She answered gently as far as she could tell  
Long after her on earth here should I dwell    
¶ The end of the Triumph of Death.   

❧ The excellent Triumph of Fame.  


AFter that death had triumphed in that face  
Which often of me had triumphed in like case  
And that the son of our world was dead and past  
This ugly and despiteful beast at the last  
Pale and horrible and proud for to see  
With her black banner away goeth she  
When that she had extinct our quite  
Of perfit beauty the very clear light  
Then as I did look about on every part  
Coming towards me there I did advert  
Her that man's life for ever doth save  
And pulleth him out alive from his grave  
This glorious fair Lady much like was she  
Unto that bright star that goeth trust me  
In the orient or the clear day appear  
Even in like manner was this ladies cheer  
So that there is no master in no Scole  
Can take upon them to descrybt that Sole  
That I go about with simple words to tell  
So much great in glory this Lady did excel  
That all the element about her did shine  
Not as a mortal but like a thing divine  
graven in their foreheads were the names  
Of the honourable people whose high fames  
By valour and virtue can never die  
Following this noble fame there saw I  
Many of those of which I tofore have rehearsed  
That by love (as said is) were sore oppressed  
On her right hand there first in my sight  
Was Cesar and Scipion that honourable knight  
But which of them twain next to fame was  
I do not remember but there they both did pass  
The tone in virtue the t'other in love  
Was taken though he seemed somewhat above  
And then forthwith was showed unto me  
After these twain captains that so excellent be  
Men of high valour armed full bright  
As unto the capital they went full right  
By that self way that sacra called was  
Or by via lata whereunto they did pass  
They came in such an honest order as I say  
And had written and graved this is no nay  
Their excellent names in their foreheads on high  
And even as I beheld them thus attentyfely  
Their manner, their port, their cheer & every thing  
To these twain most highest in order following  
Ensued the tone his nephew to hymdere  
The t'other his son that never yet had peer  
And those that thou seest with the sword in the hand  
The twain fathers & the sons that by him stand  
Against these enemies that Italy did invade  
Armed in bright steel they no dread had  
Two there followed first, and twain after past  
But he that in order was seeming to be last  
In deed of the three was worthiest of fame  
And after these of excellent and renowned name  
Even as the Ruby most oriently doth shine  
Went he with his hand and with his council fine  
It was Claudius that with his wise foresight  
As a'swyft bird that taketh his flight  
So did he go to the field at Metaurus  
And pulled up the weed, this knight glorious  
He had eyes and times convenient for to spy  
And wings as a bird to execute it by and by  
There followed then after in that worthy race  
The great old captain that let not to bid base  
Unto the fierce captain Hannibal and theridamas unto  
Adjoined unto him was another Fabio  
Twain named Catones with these also went  
And two noble Paulus wise to all intent  
Two Brutus and also twayve Marcellus  
And one renowned worthy captain Regulus  
That more truly laid Rome then I say that he  
Loved his own self exceeding in degree  
There was there also Curio and Fabricius  
That with their wise poverty marvelous  
Were more praise worthy then myde was  
Or Crassus with all the great gold that he has  
For gold made them virtue to expel  
And poverty these twain in glory to excel  
There followed these twain even side by side  
Cincinato to whom the Romans cried  
For help in their extreme danger and need  
He was equal to the other twain in deed  
Camillus ensued the noble valiant knight  
That had liver die for the maintenance of right  
Then otherwise to do but as a bertuouse man  
The favour of heaven brought him to Rome than  
Where envy had banished him from the town  
Home to his country this knight of high renown  
There was also the valiant & fresh Torquatus  
That slew his own well-beloved son Chevalerus  
Rather than he would knightly order break  
He would be childless thus the old stories speak  
Both the twain Decius were also in the place  
That their cruel enemies clean for to deface  
Uowed themselves alas, and that willingly  
O cruel vow themselves forth with to die  
No less did he the valiant hardy Curio  
That entered unto the great large hole so  
That horribly was opened in Rome the rial towen  
willingly himself therein he entered down  
Munnio Lenio went also in order there  
And the good noble Attibio with a manly cheer  
Titus Flamius that the greeks did subdue  
Most with gentle pity there did he ensue  
There was also there in the press he that made  
A great large circle in Syria with his road  
And with his hardy and fierce look & countenance  
To his will & intent so was this romen chance  
He the great and pussaunt king so constrained  
That all his hole request thereby he obtained  
And by him in good order theridamas was also he  
That kept as he was armed most variantly  
The hill from his cruel enemies all  
And after in that same place himself had a fall  
And with this company was the most valiant man  
That kept the bridge from all Toscan  
And next in order unto this hardy knight  
Stood that fierce warrear that in great despite  
Burnt his right hand because he failed  
To flay the king his enemy which he then assailed  
Even in the mides of all his noble men  
This was a marvelous hardy deed there & then  
And I saw also there in the hugh press  
He that first vanquished on the great Cheese  
The Cathagines and scattered all abroad  
By Cycell and Sardinia by evil chanse all that road  
I saw among the others him with the grave sight  
Called Appius that with his force and might  
Kept the men bulgar people in great bread & awe  
So straight and hard he bound poor men to a law  
And after as all about I did cast mine eye  
I did that person among other rest espy  
That with his sweet fashions used him so  
That next the first in fame he might go  
But that the end turned unto blame  
Wherefore I may right well affirm the same  
That often it is seen a long prolonged life  
Turneth good renown into pain and strife  
And certainly he was no less in fame and might  
But as Bacus and great Alcides by right  
Or as to Thebus the good Impaminundawas  
Among the other nobly he did there pass  
And after this great and worthy mighty man  
I saw following among the other than  
Him that in his young flowering age  
Had great laud and praise for his vassalage  
And even asmuch as this fierce champion  
Was terrible and cruel in his natural region  
He that followed him was as merciable  
I know no Duke to be more commendable  
There went in order after by and by  
He that with his wisdom sapiently  
The noble volumines he was there in the press  
His laud is praised and shall never seize  
Cosso was there Philon and Rutilio  
And the hardy captain Lucio Dentato  
With Marco, Sergio and Sceva the bold  
In arms as lightening one might them behold  
Their harness broken their shield in twenty places  
Persyde thorough with sword darts & mazes  
The last of them that there was in deed  
With no little fame the rest did succeed  
And after these noble men afore rehearsed  
Did follow fierce Marius which reversed  
Ingurta of Numedy the mighty king  
And the Cymbers that with them did bring  
The Almains in fury and in rage  
This Marius did their great might assuage  
There went by the Marius by and by  
Fuluius Faccus that with witty policy  
Destroyed those that at Rome did rebel  
But he that followed did far passing exell  
It was Fulvio so was his very name  
Well worthy among other to follow fame  
There was also one Roman named Graccus  
that had among the people much matter contrarious  
To his ruin at the last in Rome town  
There was he this knight of high renown  
And he also that much fortunate semyde  
Though by me he cannot so be demyde  
Was there and after him there came  
The two worthy Marcelles in order than  
That kept all close in their hearts I say  
Their secrets they went about always  
These two had great praise in Numyddia  
In Macedon also and in the Y le of Creta  
And inlyke manner in the Realm of Spain  
Three valiant famous Knights for certain  
And I saw also even at that tide  
The good Uaspacian and by his famous side  
His eldest son but not his cruel brother  
He was not worthy to be among the other  
And so followed after in good order than  
Narua the ancient and gentle trajan  
Helio and Adrian and the merciful Antonius  
With fair succession unto Macronius  
That were no more covetous of crown imperial  
Then desirous for to live in virtuous natural  
And whiles that I thus looked all about  
I saw five Kings amongs that rout  
The sixth an evil hap did him take  
As one that followeth vice & virtue doth forsake    

¶ The second Chapter of Fame.  

FUll of great and infinite marvel  
I stood beholding these noble Romans well  
Which of all other bad never no peer  
And as I revolved their famous acts clear  
Which I have seen in books written and told  
More was there of them divers and manifold  
Then I have here in this place set in by name  
Therefore I now for this time pass the same  
To look upon strangers virtuous and excellent  
The first was Hannybal that in order went  
The next was he that singing made his men  
To have the victory, and there followed then  
Achilles the Greek, that in his having days  
Gate by his prows a great laud and praise  
Twain noble worthy Trojans were there also  
And twain hardy Persiens' in order there did go  
Philip of Macedon, and his son Alexander  
That did bring down the Persiens' great power  
Unto subjection, as in old books we find  
And conquered thereunto all the region of Ind  
After noble fame they passed in that place  
And another named Alexander followed a pace  
Not far from the t'other that went before  
But O fortune how dost thou evermore  
Dynyde those that in the put their trust  
From true honour thou art so unjust  
There ensued in order there by and by  
The glorious captain valiant and worthy  
Of Thebes that rial City of high renown  
There was also he that had the famous crown  
And twain Achilles, and the wise Ulixes  
And the hardy valiant greek Dyomedes  
Nestor the sage that lived so many years  
There was the old king among his peers  
Agamenon the great and the king Menelaus  
That both his two wives to to ungracious  
Much hurt unto the hole world did they  
Followed hardy Leonydes that purposed I say  
To his men a hard dinner, but hardyest of all  
Was the supper whereto he did them call  
With a few men he did a marvelous deed  
Among the other there this captain go  
There was also the fair knight Alcibiades  
That did strange & great wonders in Athenes  
With his fair eloquent speech and fair face  
Among the rest he was there in that place  
Melciedes was next that made all Grece free  
His son followed the example ofpytye  
That alive and dead his father did ensue  
And among the other in press there I knew  
The nustoctes and the valiant Theseus  
Arystides and the good faithful Fabricius  
Which their unkind country I do say  
Would not suffer their bodies to lie in clay  
Alas this was a foul and an unkind deed  
So to reward them for their well doing meed  
The good Photion followed whom I did regard  
For his good deeds they gave him like reward  
And as I turned here and there my sight  
I saw Pyrrus that noble warlike knight  
And the good gentle king Masinises  
That seemed angry because that doubtless  
Among the Romans that he was not set  
With him I knew jero of Syracuse the great  
And cruel Amylcar divided from these twain  
It was he that issued from the fire and rain  
A manifest token that neither helm nor shield  
Against false fortune can never win the field  
There was Sciphas much after that rate & sort  
and Brennius for all his great pride and port  
That was cast down by Apollo's temple side  
after the other in order there he hide  
In divers strange garments and array  
Went this triumph onward on their way  
And I that chanced to cast my look aside  
I saw a great huge number go and ride  
among them one that would God's temple make  
and he first began it for his love and sake  
This was the first I say in all that rout  
But he that finished that work out of doubt  
That holy building of which that I do mean  
Was not inward so virtuous nor so clean  
as the first good king whereon I do say  
Now he that followed him in that great array  
Was he that spoke to God face to face  
There was few or none that ever had such grace  
And after him in like order by and by  
Came he that stayed the Son so wonderly  
Till he his enemies had taken and slain  
O gentle trust most sure and certain  
In serving God as did this noble knight  
With simple word to stay the heavenly light,  
I saw after hymwhere that there went  
Our old father which for good intent  
God bad he should his land forsake  
And he for that should possess and take  
The place that was healthful to all mankind  
Elect of God there did he that country find  
Followed after this father his son most dear  
And his well-beloved nephew also he was there  
Which had the yoke in having wives two  
There was with him the chaste joseph also  
That from his father went full many a day  
Thus here and there casting mine eyes alway  
I saw the just and good king Ezethias  
And Samson that so strong and mighty was  
And not far distant from him there went he  
That made the great wonderful ship of Noah  
And he also that the great high tower began  
Charged with sin and with error than  
The good valiant judas that noble knight  
He there followed after in order right  
That would not his holy godly law forsake  
Alas he for justice the death did take  
My desire with seeing all these noble men  
Was well near fully satisfied there and then  
When that suddenly I did there espy  
Of worthy ladies a more gorgeous company  
That pleased my sight as much or more  
As all the sight that I had seen before  
There saw I going together in a band  
Antiope and Arithia well armed stand  
And fair sweet Ipolita sorry and sad  
Because that no comforth of her son she had  
And Manylipe that vanquished Hercules  
And her Sister alsowas there in press  
The tone Hercules took unto his wife  
The t'other with Theseus led her life  
There followed the hardy widow that did see  
Her dear son slain most constantly  
And revenged his death upon king Cyrus  
It was a noble hardy act and valerouse  
She abated thereby so his glorious fame  
That well near it blotted his deeds & eke his name  
There was also she herself that lost her joy  
By great misfortune coming unto Troy  
And among other that bold Lady of italy  
That domagid by arms the Troyans' marvelously  
And even by her went that hardy Lady  
That half her fair here bound up curiously  
And let the t'other for to hang beside  
Till she abated the Babylonical pride  
Cleopatra that was burnt with loves fire  
There she was with all her hot desire  
And among the thickest of the press  
Was Xenobia which was doubtless  
Wondre fair and sweet for to behold  
So much of hardiness her high heart did hold  
That with her helm of steel on her head  
She put in danger in fear and eke in dread  
The high mighty Emperor of Rome town  
Till fortune unkind did thrawe her down  
That at the last she was made I say  
Unto the Romans a great huge prey  
And albeit that I do here forget  
Both men and women that were high and great  
Yet the chaste Judith will I call to mind  
That slew drunken Holyferne in love blind  
And drunken as he lay routing in his bed  
With his own sword she smote of his head  
But alas why do I present her forget  
That noble gentleman among the rest to set  
Which pride brought from his throne dove oppressed  
To live seven years as a brutish best  
Or why do I not remember in this place  
Zorastro that the first Inventor was  
Of art magic of Error the ground  
Or why art not this twain here found  
That passed Euphrates and put italy to sorrow  
Or Metridates that both even and morrow  
To the Romans was enemy perpetual  
And winter and summer fled over all  
Great things in few words I do tell  
Where is king Arthur that did excel  
And the three Cesares surnamed Augustus'  
One was of Aufryke a Prince glorious  
The t'other he was of the Regyone of Spain  
And the third of the country of Lorraine  
But setting this nobles for a while a side  
The good Godsrey after fame fast hide  
Surnamed Bulleyne that took with his hand  
Iherusalem the City and eke the holy land  
Now alas I say a place neclect of us  
Wherefore right well I may say thus  
Go ye proud and wretched christian men  
And consume the tone the t'other then  
And care not for shame among you at all  
Though dogs possess the sepulchre royal  
Alas why do you suffer it for pity  
But after these as far as I could see  
Few or none was that deserved fame  
Saving that behind there went by name  
One Sarracene that did much pain and woe  
To christian men it is even plainly so  
and Saladyne after did follow a great pace  
and one Duke of Lancaster after there was  
That with shield, and sword, and bow & lance  
Was a sharp scourge unto the realm of france  
and thus marvelling as I'lokte all about  
as one that was desirous amongst the rout  
To see more of these valiant men  
At the last I did behold there and then  
Twain worthy men that lately alas did die  
There they went in that honourably company  
The good king Robert of cecyl he was there  
That with his wise sight saw far and near  
and my good Columns went in that array  
Uallyaunt and free and constant always.    

¶ The third Chapter of Fame.  

I Could not in no wise away put my sight  
From these great honourable men of might  
When as me thought one to me did say  
Look on the left hand there see thou may  
The divine Plato that goeth I say full nigh  
Unto the mark of fame even by and by  
Next unto Plato Aristotle there he is  
Pythagoras followeth that meekly called iwis  
Philosophy he did give it that name  
Socrates and Xenophontes followed the same  
And that fiery old ancient man  
To whom the musies were so fraudely than  
That dyscryved Argo Micena and Troy  
How that for Helen they lost all their joy  
And he did write of Laertes son also  
And of Achilles that was the Troyanes' woe  
He was the first painter it is so told  
Of the ancient and venerable acts old  
There went with him in that place hand in hand  
The Mantuan poet I do well understand  
striving which of them should go before  
And there followed after in haste more and more  
He that as he passyde in that noble pass  
It seemed the flowers did spring on the grass  
It is he the most eloquent Marcus Tullius  
The self same eyes and the tongue glorious  
Unto all the latins there there was he  
And after him there came Demostyne  
That seemed to be not very well content  
Because he was not accounted most excellent  
To go himself next unto worthy fame  
He took it to be to him great wrong and shame  
He seemed to be alyghtning all one fire  
But next unto him all full of great desire  
Went Eschyves which might perceive and see  
How unmeet he was unto Demostyne  
I cannot say in order neither write nor tell  
Of one and other that did there exell  
Nor how I did them see nor when  
Nor who went foremost nor hynmost then  
For it were so to do to great a wondre  
They went not far these clerks a sondre  
But so thick that both eye and mind  
In looking on them their names I could not find  
But well I know that Solon he was there  
That planted so good wholesome fruit to bear  
And yet to little effect at length it was  
With him the six wise sage greeks did pass  
Which Grece doth boast of for their wit  
In one band together they were knit  
and I did with these also well behold  
Uarro which all our nacione had enrolled  
As their Duke the third in place was he  
Of all the Romans in that high degree  
The more that I lokte upon him there  
The more his face seemed fair and clear  
Crispo Salustius went with him hand in hand  
And Tytus Livius by him did there stand  
Scant contented but looking very sad  
Because the first honour there he ne had  
And as I looked fast on this Tytus Livius  
Came by me the excellent natural Plwius  
Quick in writing but quycker to the death  
To much boldness did stop alas his breath  
I saw after him the great clerk Plotinus  
That weening by his life solytariouse  
To have prevented his hard chance & destiny  
yet fell he therein for truth this is no lie  
His sage foresight did profit him nothing  
When necessity thereto did him bring  
There was in likewise among the rest also  
Crasso, Antonio, and sage Hortensio  
Sergius, Galba, and the disdaining Licinius  
Which were to much proud and to to curious  
For with their tongues untrue and unjust  
They slandered Cicero they were the less to trust  
There followed after Lucides in that pres  
That ordained with wisdom the hours doubtless  
And wrote of the batrels & where they were done  
And Herodotus with his style wholesome  
And he began the crafty sciense of Geometre  
The triangle and the round Arball in degree  
And of the quadrant firm and fast also  
The Sophistical Porphirus next him did go  
And falsely disputed against our religion  
And he of ●oo that with his disputation  
Made much matter in his Amphorisomis  
Apollo and Esculapius with him is  
Howbeit they were so ancient and old  
That scant I could decern what they would  
There was one in that press of Pargamo  
His science is now passed it is very so  
But in his time it was much set by  
Anaxarco without dread most hardy  
And Denocrates more firm than a stone  
So that there could no evil temptation  
Move him to any thing that was vile  
Or by uncleanness his chaste body defile  
There followed himself there Archemenides  
With sad regard he stood in that pres  
And the pensive Democryte next in order there  
Blind of both his eyes he had no peer  
There was Hyppia also of great ancient age  
That durst affirm that he was so wise and sage  
That he knew and understood all thing  
Archisilao ensued not much unlike such reckoning  
That he accounted by his science plain  
All thing to be doubtful and certain  
I saw Heraclito with words covert and close  
And Diogenes following his sensual purpose  
That little shamed his desire to ensue  
Among the other this strange clerk I knew  
And he that showed a glad merry cheer  
When all his lands were lost and other gear  
There was also Dicearco the curious  
Quintilian, Sceneke, and Plutarch the famous  
And after these excellent and cunning men  
I saw a great number together then  
disputing of divers sundry cases  
Not to know but to find secret places  
One contrary unto the t'other always  
That it seemed there clattering was like jays  
With a rambling as the ships that be  
In a reign tempest upon the large see  
Even as Lions and serpents hurl together  
Without profit now hither now thither  
Was there disputation and after these than  
Wyttye Carneades that well learned man  
That could with speech a case so file  
That were it true or false his subtle style  
It was hard his craft to know and discern  
He lived long without all sickness and harm  
Till false envy against him did so arise  
That he could not although he were wise  
resist the fury of them that him hated  
Nor the veneme that against him was debated  
There was also the bablyuge Epicurus  
That against Cirus was greatly contrarious  
That affirmed our souls never to die  
This Epycure clean contrary did deny  
And said that our souls were very mortal  
And perysshes as best souls do with the body all  
Whereby he deserved to have reprove and blame  
And scant worthy for to follow fame  
I saw divers other following this sect  
Lyppo and Metrodorus and Aristippus the elect  
For their excellent conniuge that they then had  
Praised greatly though their sayings were bad  
There was also that Phylozopher that in very deed  
Spune the subtle and wondrous crafty thread  
His wit was so excellent and his learning so fine  
That he seemed to have a knowledge divine  
zemone the Father of the stoics sect  
Above the rest he was best elect  
Well declared he as he did there stand  
By the palm and closing of his hand  
How the truth was in each season and case  
For he so declared it with his wise face  
The vain arguments from the true even so  
That many after him did ensue and go  
Here I do leave to speak more of the rest  
And now will tell of that thing which is best.    
¶ The end of the Triumph of Fame.   

❧ The excellent and most divine Triumph of Time.  

From his golden harborough & resting place  
The fair Aurora going afore his face  
Yssewed out the son so clear & syrmely set  
With radiant and bright beams burnished & bet,  
That thou wouldest have said even with a thought  
This fair sweet planet was gotten up a fit  
Thus up risen in like manner and guise  
As do these sage men sober sad and wise  
He looked all about and to himself he said  
What dost thou now I see well at this brayed  
If to thine one self thou take no better heed  
All thy great glory willbe gone in deed  
Take thou then I advise the good and wise cure  
For if that it be very certain and sure  
That worthy men by fame dying do not die  
This universal and firm course eternally  
Of the large heaven most sure and certain  
Shallbe accounted at the last but vain  
And if fame mortal forever do increase  
That a little short hour should cause to scase  
I see my great excellence shall soon decline  
And how can I have a worse end and fine  
Than to have no more in the heavenly sky  
Than man in earth that dying cannot die  
That thinks myself equal by special grace  
Above all other to have the highest place  
In the great wide and large see ocean  
Four horses of mine are there and than  
That with great study. I nourish and dress  
In their running course of infinity switenesse  
And yet for all their great wonderful host  
Cannot a mortal man that is dead and past  
Put in forgetting neither his laud nor fame  
It must needs grieve and anger me that same  
Not only I myself the chief in my degree  
But the third or second would thereat grieved be  
I must than hast myself with a great zeal  
Against these men for the wrong that I feel  
In doubling my course to there double harm  
For I do envy there same that is so farm  
That after a thousand and a thousand years  
Their high renow me and their glory cleres  
Much more after their death then in their life  
Which plain is unto me a perpetual strife  
That am now no higher nor in no better rate  
Than I was or the earth was in his first state  
Going in compass with my beams bright  
By this great to und bull which is infinite  
When this fair beautiful son had thus said  
disdaining forth with and even at a braid  
She took her course far more swifter I say  
Then Faukon that from a high flieth to the pray  
Her wonders swiftness I can neither tell nor write  
For it is not possible for me it to indite  
No I say with my thought to express it in deed  
So that to remember it I am in fear and dread  
Than I say when that wittily I minded this  
I counted our life to be a vile thing as it is  
and none other nor no better but a terrible vanity  
To put our hearts on that which soon doth i'll  
So fast away that even with a thought  
weening to hold him we hold him nought  
He whosoever doth look unto his state  
Let him soon provide for himself algate  
Whiles he hath his free will in his proper might  
In things that be stable to set his delight  
For when I saw the time go so fast  
After his guide that maketh post haste  
I will not say it, for tell it I ne can  
For I saw even at one very point than  
The ice and the rose one after the other  
Now cold now hot even with the t'other  
That for to tell it is a marvelous case  
How after the tone the t'other hieth apace  
He that with a wise judgement this marks  
Shall see by true experience all these work  
Which little I noted in my young lusty age  
And that maketh me now with myself to rage  
For then I confess all my hole delight  
Was in following my foolish appetite  
But now afore my feeble eyes is a glass  
Wherein I spy my great fault that was  
Still going downward to my last end & fine  
Remembering thereto how fast it doth decline  
I was a child even this same present day  
And now an old man priest to pass away▪  
So that for a very truth to tell it I shall  
Less than a silly day is our life mortal  
Cloudy and cold, and full of woe and pain  
That seemeth to be fair, and yet is but vain  
This is the unstable hope of all our kind  
Why are we then so proud why are we so blind?  
When no man knoweth his life nor his death  
And this note only as the sage man sayeth  
Doth not touch me but all that be alive  
The fast course of the Son doth away drive  
That plainly and manifestly the truth note I shall  
The ruin of the world is known to us all  
Then ye young men that be in your fresh lust  
Measure the time long and put thereto your trust  
foolishly I say plainly why call ye not to mind  
Afore considered hurt less hurteth by kind  
Unless I blow these words to you in vain  
But I do tell you note it for truth and certain  
ye that do not mind, nor well remember this  
With a sleepy lethargy your brains cumbered is  
For the hours flies a pace, so doth the days  
The months and the years, follows always  
Together in a brief short distance and time  
So that if ye well and wisely note this rhyme  
We must all mortal men to another country pass  
And all our great glory shallbe turned to was  
God ye not then again the truth I do say  
But amend your evil lives whiles that ye may  
Do not abide till dreadful death you take  
As the most part of the unwitty doth I undertake  
O that ye will not this well understand  
Of fools there is doubtless an infinite band  
Sithence than I do know and plainly see  
This great planet how fast it doth i'll  
Which time when I might, by folly I have not taken  
But with much great loss this time forsaken  
I saw among these unwise fools all  
A nation that by their science little cared at all  
Nor feared not oft time the course rabidouse  
These I say removed and people most glorious  
Which hystorians hath taken in their guard  
And poets also that wrote how that they fared  
Of this it seemed then the son had envy  
Which by themself so mounted to high glory  
Passing away from the mad vulgar quite  
By the honourable virtuous ways noble & right  
He hasted then this Son a wonders speedy pass  
With moche more force than ever there was  
And to his swift horses he doubled the meat  
Passing by the great bear this planet great  
So that the queen of whom I have said  
Would have departed from the son at the braid  
I have hard say, I wot not well of whom  
That even as a weed wasteth our glory is gone  
And that all our fame is but blind and dark  
And a perpetual forgetfulness all our labour & work  
And he said further that all the long years  
And the process also of the lustres and spears  
And of worlds infinite hereafter for to come  
Shall vanish away our fame all and some  
Doubtless of as many it is plain even so  
As are betwixt these places Peneo and Hebro  
Or as far asunder as that river of zanto  
Is distant by measure from the valley of Thebrs  
And that our glory is to be said by right  
Even as we see the air fair and bright  
Made dark and hid with a misty cloud  
And briefly this always note well we should  
A hasty long running away of the time  
As a poison to fame to cause it to decline  
Our Triumphs shall pass our pomps shall decay  
Our lordships our kingdoms shall all away  
And all thing also that we account mortal  
Time at the length shall clean deface it all  
And to this those that are but meanly good  
They affirm and say plain that who so understood  
Not only our bodies soon away doth pass  
But all our wits and eloquence in like case  
Thus not going but flying the world doth go  
Nor resisteth nor tarrieth not it is plain so  
Till he have brought all false worldly lust  
To no better thing but to bare ashes and dust  
Why than hath human glory so much by pride  
When that it is very plain seen on every side  
Although the vulgar doth not this thing mark  
We should well by right experience know this wark  
That these fools do babble they wot not what  
If that the case were our short life declined not  
So soon nor so swiftly unto the last end  
Al the high fame where to that men pretend  
Even as the smoke doth vanish away  
So at the last all things do plain decay  
This hearing me think it stands with good reason  
Not for to deny the truth at no season  
But to agree to that thing we do well know  
Even by comparison as the son melteth the snow  
So doth the time put away and shall  
Not a thousand famous but at the last them all  
Though that the most part think it be not so  
O therefore I say, how blind are they thereto  
That think it much better for to die in age  
Then lying in the cradle to go that passage  
To how many men had it been far passing better?  
Yea: and I affirm it a. M. times more sweeter  
To have died being young then to have died old  
Many excellent clarks doth it by reason hold  
That much more fortunate the unborn childer  
Than children that be borne such pain to see  
But the great number hath always greatest error be  
If it were so certain and there unto so sure  
That after a long life should come a long fame  
Who be they I pray you that will follow the same  
The covetous time turneth all thing up so down  
And our great fame that doth so highly son  
It is no nother to be named but a second death  
Nor stay is there none as the true truth saith  
Thus triumpheth time and hasteth so a pace  
That all our glory and same it doth deface.   
¶ The end of the Triumph of time.   

¶ The excellent and most divine Triumph of divinity.  

SYthyns that under the heaven nothing I see  
Stable and firm but all mere vanity  
I remembered myself and to myself did say  
In whom dost that trust tell me I the pray  
Softly I am answered unto that lord I trust  
That of his promise is so faithful and just  
That who so in him hath a true perfect saith  
Shall never be deceived so his words saith  
For well I see the false world did me but scorn  
And I know what I am & what I was before  
And I see the time not for to go but to fly  
And I know not in dread of whom to be sorry  
But of myself that have deserved blame  
That have not or now remembered the same  
The fault is in me that long I say or this  
Should have considered my great folly I wis  
And so opened mine eyes & not fallen to sloth  
To have perceived and known the trough  
In differing my life unto the last cumbrous age  
Which by course of time continually do assuage  
But slow was never the divine grace  
To call me to goodness and virtue apace  
In him I put my trust that yet in me shall be  
High operation from all evil to fly  
Thus with myself disputing to and froo  
I thought even very thus if that it be so  
These things that in this wise turn about the skis  
And guides & governs it in order so merueloussi  
After so much turning and revolving to and froo  
What end shall I have I would fain know so  
And as that I was solitary in this meditacione  
It seemed to me I saw a wonderful fashion  
I new fair world stable and eterne  
And this old world that seemeth so farm  
The son and the stars and the heaven round  
And the great se also with the earth and ground  
To vanish clean away & in their room & place  
A new merrier world made by gods grace  
What great trow ye then admiration had I  
When I saw the son firmament and the sky  
Stand firm on one foot sure stable and fast  
That with his swift course running at the last  
Changed all things mortal and then restrained  
His three parts brought to one part unfeigned  
And then no distinction no difference of them at all  
But the herb and grass and flowers with all  
All barren and bare before and behind  
Which variation doth naturally behind  
Much bitter sorrow to our nature frail  
All at ones together then and there to fail  
Then the thought passeth as the son the glass  
And much more for nothing the power hast  
It for to hold or else for to restrain  
O what grace shall that be for man to attain  
To see in that place the everlasting god  
And none evil at all which of the time wood  
Only cometh and goeth here and there  
To be out of doubt of all dread and fear  
The son than shall have no more his place  
Neither in the hornyd bull nor in like case  
In the fish in which two variable signs  
Uarieth the yerbes the season and the times  
Now we do sow and after we do reap  
Now creasing now discresing so is our heap  
But happy and blessed be those spirits certainly  
That be found in that holy state eternally  
Sure and very certain in honour to increase  
Without term or time never to seize  
O how happy is he that findeth that way  
To pass this Rabidus and dull passage I say  
That is called in this unstable world a life  
And is so troublous and so full of strife  
Blind and wretched I say are the mortal  
That hoopeth in things that soon doth fall  
Which time taketh away with a thought  
And turneth all our fancis and folly to nought  
Surely they are both unwise deaf and frail  
Poor of judgement and of Counsel  
Yea & worse than like in dead & wretched thereto  
That doth not as our duty is regard him so  
That with his beck may trouble and appease  
The clementes all as it doth him please  
Whom to honour we are not bound only  
But the Angels that sit in the heaven high  
Are contented of the thousand parts as one  
With the sight of his godhead in his glorious throne  
And so stand steadfast with a fervent Intention  
Are not our minds then worthy of reprehension  
To look on that which in the very end  
cometh to no profit thereunto to pretend  
For that which we so fast gather together  
With much pain in many years hither & thither  
With great and troubles cumbrance of mind  
To day and to morrow at the last we find  
As the shadow doth pass away and glide  
Even at the point so shall all our pride  
Then remember ye well I truly counsel this  
That after god's great dreadful judgement is  
Was and shallbe shall have no more time and place  
But one eternity together in one self space  
Nor further there shallbe none object at all  
To hurt by our sight our weak memorial  
Which is the occasion and the very cause  
Many an unprudent person in vanity to pause  
That the life present seemeth but a play  
Thinking they are to morrow as to day  
But then all otherwise shallbe no division at all  
But little and little the hole universal  
Shallbe together and winter and summer passed  
And time quiet gone and no longer last  
Nor these years that we do now presently name  
Shall have no more the dominion of fame  
But once their famous that shall never dissever  
But in eternity to endure famous forever  
O happy are those souls that are in that way  
Of which so much I now speak of and say  
In joy glory and rest still to Endure  
That are and shallbe perpetually, so sure  
And among the other that so gracious be  
Most blessed of all other plainly is she  
That cruel death killed or she came to age  
There shallbe seen in that angelic visage  
The honest words the thought clean and chaste  
That nature had set in her in old times past  
And forbecause that every thought and thing  
Is plain and manifest to the eternal king  
When the blessed elect souls turned be  
Unto the most happy state of their first degree  
With the pointing of the finger even then  
Shallbe said how, where, and also when  
Lo this is he which that love detained  
And long and many a day lamented & complained  
And yet was most fortunate for to see the cheer  
Above all other joys in the world of his lady dear  
And she also of whom that weeping I sing  
Shall of herself have great marveling  
To behold and feel in every wise and degree  
Herself above all other in joy and felicity  
When this shallbe God wot I cannot tell  
But she that is nigh of the great god's council  
This high privy secret in part doth know  
And for to declare and tell that I trow  
It is as I do imagine very nigh at hand  
And when that cometh men shall understand  
How evil they their wanton time have spent  
In getting worldly goods lands and rent  
weening for ever them to hold and possess  
And yet for the final conclusion it is doubtless  
They shall see themselves in very deed  
Mocked and scorned to trust unto such meed  
No secret nor hid thing shallbe then and there  
But all secrets unshote open plain and clear  
All our conscience whether it be bright or dark  
Before all the world shall appear our work  
And then the mighty and glorious king celestial  
That in his fearful judgement is not percial  
As reason is and as it ought to be  
His wise judgement thereto shall agree  
And when that sentence is both gone and passed  
Each man his voyage with great dread and haste  
As the wild beasts that hast them fast to fly  
Afore the barking doges for fear they in be  
Even in like wise scattered here and there  
Shallbe these proud men with all there gay gear  
And plainly perceive that to there hurt it was  
All such lucre when these things come to pass  
But those that by grace have bridled such delight  
In refraining their vain and covetous appetite  
And measured false fortune with an honest use  
Be merry together without fraud and abuse  
Those be sure and certain for to be  
With the saints in perpetual joy and felicity  
These five Triumphs that I have here rehearsed  
And under a strange colour them expressed  
Have new by gods sufferance an end  
With this the sixth whereto I did pretend  
Then ye that read this think this state eterne  
and think that the time that doth discern  
This unstable world turning to and froo  
and fearful ghastly death it is plain so  
all shall vanish doubtless forever away  
Believe me this is sure after the last day  
And those that have worthily by virtuous fame  
Spent well there time living without blame  
And by virtue made both death & time to fere  
Whiles that they lived in this frail world here  
In their most fresh and lusty young courage  
They shall arise triumphantly about that age  
With beauty immortal and high fame eterne  
Never after that time for to feel no harm  
But then afore all other that there shall be  
In that endless glory we shall behold and see  
My fair sweet lady of whom so much I writ  
More beauteous than the son in his highest light  
There is a little river Gebenna men it call  
Where first in love I changed for to fall  
There love did make me so long a cruel aware  
That yet I dread to think upon that star  
Happy is that stone that covereth that sweat face  
Wherein there resteth so much beauty and grace  
If that then I were happy in this life it to see  
Here on this vile earth so perfect in degree  
After that this sweet gracious Lady hath taken  
That same fair despoil that seemeth now forsaken  
What shall it be I pray you to tell me this  
Then to behold her eternal bliss.   
The end of the Triumphs of France's Petrarcke.   

¶ Uyrgyll in his Epigrams of Cupid and drunkenness.  
¶ Nec vivi nec tu veneris capiares Amore  

THat wondrous witty Virgil that so well cold endight  
The ways to wine to virtue right hard for to attain  
In his sentensiouse verses declareth with reason right  
How that both wine and women doth put a man to pain  
He saith in passing measure with either of these twain  
It is a thing abominable. Now here what he doth tell  
Although my rhyme be rude to touch so high a vain  
If that ye mark this doctrine doubtless ye shall do well.   

Thus sayeth our famous poet love not to much wine  
Nor yet on wanton Venus set not to much thy mind  
For like as wanton Cupid thy strength doth quite decline  
So doth this wine thy force and all thy senses bind  
Maketh a man to slacker and stumble as the blind  
That he forgetes himself his enemy to repel  
Altereth and defaseth man's nature and his kind  
If that ye mark this doctrine doubtless ye shall do well   

Venus is full of pleasure who can to this say nay  
But if it fall to rage's then reason goeth aside  
Then turneth it to weariness and to a grievous play  
Most painful to himself when he is most in pride  
Unneth his secret pastimes the fool he doth not hide  
No more than doth the drunkard that all on wine doth smell  
They are not much unlike when reason hath them tried  
If that ye note this doctrine doubtless ye shall do well   

Who that with wine is whittled no counsel will he keep  
Aswell his friend as foo shall know all his intent  
Who so with Lady Venus in brased arms doth sleep  
Doth now and then disclose that thing he doth repent  
And this is not the worse that on this twain is meant  
These bring in war and woe the one the other to quell  
Sometime but for a trifle till life and all be spent  
If that ye note this doctrine doubtless ye shall do well.   

Paris by Venus' council brought Helen unto Troy  
Though that the price was sweat the end was passing sour  
For many a worthy warryor thereby did lose their joy  
And Troy turned unto Ashes both castle wall and tower  
This wanton wilful dalyeng raised so great a shower  
That of that hap that happened the world doth speak & tell  
Loo how Venus can flatter when she thinketh to devour  
If that ye note this doctrine doubtless ye shall do well.   

Then if that wine and Venus have once the upper hand  
And on the one or both the mind set in a rage  
All honesty is excluded and wit tied in a band  
And virtue fair and dread fast locked in a cage  
Although he be a lord yet serves he as a page  
Two periouse naughty vices worse than a fend of hell  
Where that these monsters rule right hard for to assuage  
If that ye note this doctrine doubtless ye shall do well.   

Will ye then be wise and learn to rule these twain  
Do as our Virgil counseles and ye shall live in rest  
Tie up both wine and Venus fast fetered with a chain  
Lest that with their rewards the mind be not oppressed  
Let wine but quench thy thirst so is that liquor best  
Let Venus serve to multiply our nature that doth excel  
But and ye pass these bonds than is the goodness ceased  
If that ye note this doctrine, doubtless ye shall do well   

Measure is more worth than gold or precious stone  
And in forsaking measure a good thing turns to vice  
To to much at length hath caused many a one  
For to descend as fast as they did up arise  
Then thus for to conclude I count him perfit wise  
That rules himself in measure and toto doth repel  
So use both wine and women that ye be not to nice  
If that ye note this doctrine doubtless ye shall do well   
Finis.   

Epitaphium Henrici Parkeri Equitis Domini Morley, quod ipse adhuc vivens composuit & suo sepulchro inscribi viscit.  
Clste parum quaeso viator & pauca he verbalege, cum inter-mor tales dalcius nihil est quam amicitia, vera teste invoco jesum Christum eternum judicem me inclitum Henricum Comite Arundel, tam ardenter dum vita comes fuit amass Vt moriens hoc cor meum sibi familieque sue comen dabam felicem me rudicans quod nec ipsa mors qui cuncta consumit rapit calcat suppeditat non potuit qui pars mei corporis divinissima ut puta sedes animi immorta les in loco ubi tam fidelis & Carus amicus quiesset ibi, & cor meum quiesseret. Divi dei pari virgine Mariae praecare quietem. Vive & vale.  

Auctores incerte.  
Transit honor mundi, non transit gloria cells  
Ipse simul fugies; si fugitiva tenes  
Nil tibi continuum brevitas mutabilis any  
Nil patitur tutum, mortis amara dies   

The english of these verses.  
The honour of the false world doth pass  
But the glory of heaven none end has  
If then thou follow false fugitive felicity  
Thyself shallbe fugitive it must so be  
Then remember nothing continueth ever  
The short mutable time that tarrieth never  
Suffers to no man no surety for to have  
Till bitter death doth lay him in his grave   
Finis.   

❧ Printed at London in Paul's churchyard at the sign of the holy Ghost, by john Cawood, printer to the queens highness.  
Cum privilegio Regiae Maiestatis.