A medicinable morall, that is, the two bookes of Horace his satyres, Englyshed accordyng to the prescription of saint Hierome. The wailyngs of the prophet Hieremiah, done into Englyshe verse. Also epigrammes. T. Drant. Perused and allowed accordyng to the Quenes Maiesties iniunctions

❧ THE POET SPEAKETH Reuerently to his patron Maecenas, bytterly con∣trolleth the vnconstancye of men, and their chaungeable affections, that none of them will con∣tente him with his share: and herevpon taking occa∣sion, he doeth bende a greate parte of his artillarye a∣gainst the couetous: whose rauenous and vnsatiable doings, he doeth egerly deteste and abhorre.

RIght drad Mecenas whats the cause that none contente abyde In trayn••d trade, that whylome choyse or chaunce to them affyed? But loues, and lykes, an others lote, and nouell lyfe pursues. Still flotes and flyts, from former fate Ne brookes the same to vse. Thunwyldye warryer waste with toyle wyth grouelyng elde for spente, O makelesse marchaunte mumbleth he O state with blisse Yblent. The fearefull marchaunt he again, When waltring wynd••s amayne With plunging puffes, from Sothren coste and hydiouse hissing rayne, Torments the Sea, hoistes vp the waues that doth surmounte the sayle, Saunce pere doth deme the souldyers guyse for why, they tugge▪ they hayle They pr••ase in plumpes on mortall yron where eftesones eyther bayne Is prest: or gladsum trumpets clang dooth blase tryumphante gayne. The counsailer for Meede, or fee that parles, and pledes the lawes When at cockes crow, his gats are pushte with hastinge Clyentes pawes.

Then happye farmer ofte sayth he for thou in golden sleepe Arte soust: of mout or suite vndreamde of barre thou beares no kepe. The chubbyshe gnof that toyles and moyles and delueth in the downe, If happlye he a suertie be, so sente for into towne; Who gapes, who gawes, who pores, who pries who proggs his mate but he? Perfaye (saith he), hers all things ryse, these people blessed be The resydue that rests vnroulde, the remnaunte that remayne, Of this new fanglde fickle flocke, woulde pose and put to paines * 1.1The fabling Fabies tatling toungue: to deskaunte and descriue The route, and rabble, all a rowe (a draughte to longe to dryue) But that no tracte neede trouble thee, nor ambage breede delaye, Harke well how I will coutche this gere, put case som god woulde saye Your lykings all, allowde shalbe, and thou that erste in feilde The maces keene, the grounded sworde, the Tucke, the targe, the sheilde, Was wunte to wilde, wyth passage moyst shall cutte the frothie playne, A merye marchaunte shalte thou row. and thou that didste disdayne To lyue and leade the Lawyers lyfe shalt mucker in the grounde. Be trudgging hence, your trades are turnde, why stande you still in stounde?

They wyll not tho, although they mighte accepte this blisfulle boune. Then whats the cause that Ioue thus mockd may not condinglye soone In irefull mode, and dyre reuenge engourge his puffed cheekes Gaynste all this sorte? and spreed no eare to them that hensforth seekes And suies with pratlynge prayer to chop and chaunge their proued plighte. But leste som man shoulde houlde me in hande my tretys is to lyghte, To muche with laughter interlasde (albeit the gester may Harpe on a soothe, (ells God for byd) and toyes may kepe and staye Sumtimes the reeder veray well, as those that teache in schooles, With buttred bread, or featusse knacks will lewre the little fooles, To learne a pase theyr A. B. C. I will be at a poynte Wyth nyfles now. Ile turne the leafe and waightye thinges disiointe. The Churle that shreds the earth, with share, and wreakes the yeeldynge leas, The marryner that shaues the streame and furrouse vncouthe seas: The Tauerner that falsethe othes and litle reckes to lye, The souldyer that doth deale the battes and makes his foes to flye They say the cause they trauayle thus, that thus they care and carke Is this: That when vnnimble age hath reste them of their warke:

When fumbling foote denyes to meeue when hande nil houlde or hente That then they might suffisaunce haue leste easles neede them shente. Not muche vnlyke the lytle ant (a beaste of tydye toyle) Who drawes and dragges her delycates ore wharte the hillie soyle By myghte of mouth, in all she may and placed in her cell, She stickleth, and bestirres her selfe She huswyfes it right well. She carues it fyne, and mings it thicke and shroudes it vnder roofe As one, that of the wynters wrathe Were not to learne the proofe, Ne yet to care for after clappes. Whereby when Ianyuere That myrethe all the costs wyth slete and saddes the ginning yeare. With aspere shours dooth cause the cloudes and welken aye to wepe Then Ladye Pismyer stirrs no where shees claspde in closset deepe. Shee keepes her Chrystenmasse in caue and there they make bone cheare. They feede and feele the fruit of that, which once they gott yfeare: And wyselye to, but the (alas) not Phebus flaminge brande, Nor greuouse, mumming could that maks the chillyng sen••elesse hande Nor fearefull fyer, that flusheth vp and fumes to pitchye smoke: Nor stormye seas whose oppen iawes suppes vp wythout all choke

The straglinge shippes: nor weapon whet Nor oughte canne the deterre From huntynge after hurtfull horde for whilste som such there are That swimme in wealthe, and the surpasse in rytches or in robes, Thy glutton mynde will neuer staye still, still thy stomake crobbs. What vayles it the so quakinglye to grubbe and grip the moulde, And there in hucker mucker hyde thy Idalle God thy goulde? If that thou spende and sparple it no dodkin wyll abyde: The deuille may daunce in crosslesse purse when coyne hathe tooke his tyde. And if thou snudge, and saue it sounde and cofferte from the sonne What shewe then hathe thy hidden hepe what luste is therebye wonn? Admit on flore thou haste in store an hundreth thousande mets Of corne dehuskde: what cums thereby? thy belly houldes nor getts No more then myne: as if in case to feelde thou shouldeste fayre With scrippe on backe, fulle frayghte with foode and straighte as thou cums theire The hungrye hunts muste haue it all, what makes thou by this matche? As much as he that carryeth noughte (certes a woorthye catche.) Or els per frendship answer this, to him that doothe propounde Nature his guyde, and treads her steppes, what booteth him of grounde

Whether an hundreth acres he or els a thousande tills: Thou saiste he feddes the eye the more, that from the huge hepe fills▪ Well syr no force, if that you will but condescende to this That our repaste doth ryot shun, and reasonable is To kepe the soule and Carcas cheyn•• to stynte the pyning stynge Of hungers gnaw, and that we haue a meane of euery thyng: Why thē what doste thou boste so much, thy plumes why doste thou spreade? What better is thy barnes, then our smale sackes that serue our neade? Muche lyke for southe, as if that thou a potte or pitcher muste With lykor lode, and mights it fille at fountayne hereby tuste, And yet for fonde affection, thou, to please thy gredye eye, Shouldste wende: vnto the flowing streame where greater gulfes do flye. At whiche whilste som haue reached farre and proferde ouer faste, The bācke hath burste, that down they lush, and so be drente at laste. But he that leanes to temperaunce, and anchoures on her lore, And takes so muche as serues his turne, and gapes to grype no more, Him needes not draw the drubbled dreggs of fawle by durtye poole, Nor yet for deuelishe thirste to haue (as one from vertues schoole

Exempted quite) fetche from the brim and ouerwhelming waues, Where now and then (O iust rewarde) in raginge surge sum taues. The Cristalle springe shall woorke his will and syluer channelde wells Shall yeelde ynoughe, where lurcks no dreade, where slyme ne slabber dwells. But out (alas) the greater parte, with sweete empoysned bate Of welthe bewitchde do weeue their wants aboundaunce in eache state For monye maks and mars (say they and coyne it keepes the coyle It byndes the beare, it rules the roste it putts all things to foyle. A mannes his money and no more, wherin confused is An heauen of happs, a worlde of weeles, an hunnye bath of blisse. O dottrells dome, and is it so▪ what guardon for these doultes Shall we deuyse? lets suffer still the foolishe frantycke foultes To wallowe in their wilfulnes, whose vnder eating myndes Is neuer crainde, but prools for more and swarues not from their kyndes. Such one we reade of in olde tyme that dwelte in Athins towne A man in substance passinge rytche nathlesse a niggerde cloune, At whose scarceheade and couetyce the worlde did outas make, But all in vayne, he forest it not he sought not howe to slake.

Blacke fame, that frisked euerye wheare and bounsed at ytche ear••, A figge for them ({quod} brasen face) I force not howe I heare. They hauke, they hem, they hisse at me, I weygh it not an hawe, Whilste I may harbor in mine arke, and lodge wythin my lawe. My darlynge goulde, my leaueste gueste, my solace and my glee, He is the bone companion, its he that cheares vp me. Ah simple cheare consyderynge all, graue Tantale in thyn hearte, His fee dyd feede his fatalle falle, his mucke procured his smarte. Whose lippes as drye as any kykkes dothe ofte assay to taste, The licker, to allay the droughte? that hathe nye, all to waste His intralls sterude for lacke of moyste, the fluds to be his paine They clim vnto his veray chinne and then declyne againe. He catcheth and he snatcheth aye, and stille he grates in teene, And stille shall do, for panges stille springe and freatinge sorowes grene. I pray the now what cause haste thou to sporte and pleasaunce take? To faune vppon thy foolishe goulde whiche endlesse greefe doth make. For thou induriste Tantalls fate, and takynge but his name, This tale maye well be toulde of the thou arte the veray same.

Thy house, the hell, thy good the flood, which thoughe it doe not starte, Nor stirre from the, yet hath it so in houlde thy seruyle hearte, That though in foysonne fulle thou swimmes, and rattles in thy bagges, Yet toste thou arte with dreadefulle dreames, thy mynde it waues and wagges, And wisheth after greater things, and that, thats woorste of all, Thou sparest it, as an hollye thynge, and doste thy selfe in thralle Unto thy lowte, and cockescome lyke thou doste but fille thine eye With that, which shoulde thy porte preserue and hoyste thyne honor hye. Thou scannes it, and thou toots vpponte as thoughe it were a warke By practysde painters hande portrayde with shaddowes suttle darke. Is this the perfytte ende of coyne? be these the veray vayles That money hath, to serue thy syghte? fye fye thy wysedome fayles. Tharte misse insenste, thou canste not vste thou wotes not what to do Withall, by cates, bye breade bye drincke, in fyne disburse it so, That nature neede not moue her selfe, nor with a betments scant Distrainte, and prickd, passe forth her dayes in pyne and pinchinge want. To wake all nyghte, with shiueringe corpse, both nighte and day to quake, To set in dreade, and stande in awe of theeues, leste they shoulde breake

Perforce thy dores, and robb thy chests, and carue thy weasaunte pype: Leste flickeryng fyer shoulde stroye thy denne, and sease wyth wastefull grype, Uppon thyne house leste runagats should pilfer ought from thee, Be these thy gaines, by rytches repde? then this beheste to me. O Ioue betake, that I may be deuoyde of all those gooddes That brewes such banefull broyles, or bring•• of feare suche gastfull fluddes. But if so bene the pauling colde thy limmes dooth ouergo. Or els sum other worse disease hath daunte thy body so, That downe thou must, and byde in bed, thy vauntage then is great, At elbowe preste thou hast thy frendes who will prouide the meate. And tender the euen as them selues, confections sweete or tarte Theylle minge for the, such as beste lykes thy quasye wamblynge hearte. Theyle treate the fyne physition with potions sounde and sure, By force and vertue of his skill thy corps for to recure, And to restore thee to thy sonnes and kyndely fryndes againe. Alas the whyle its no pointe so, thy wyfe she workes thy bayne, Thy sonne he inlye lothes thy lyfe, his regreate and his plainte Is euer freshe, because that death doth linger to attaynte

Thy hatefull heade, thy neyghbours, and thy cheefe acquaintaunce all Thy sacke, thy gille, thy kith, thy kinne doth prosecute thy fall. What maruayle ist, when thou hast loude thy syluer as thy lorde, If none loue the, whose loutishe lyfe deserude no louinge worde? But if thou thinckes thy alyes to linke in frindshippe and in faythe, And wenste thou maiste with smale a do from breache and folishe wrathe Kepe tyde the knot that nature knit: Ah sillye manne, in vayne Thou doste surmise this fruitlesse fetche, its farre beyonte thy brayne: Perseueraunce in amitie, and duraunce still in loue Discordeth muche from fickle man, thou maiste as well aboue The sluggishe asse a saddle couche, with golde and perle befret, And strayne his iawes, with brydle braue with goldsmithrye ybet, And so to make him praunce, and plunge, to friske, and gamballs fetche, To chewe vppon the spewinge bit, and at his foes to retche, With harneste house: as thou causte learne the fraile retyryng man To treade in trace of trouthe outryghte in truth as he beganne. In fyne, suppresse thy lewde desyre: the more thou haste in store The lesse passe thou for pouertye, do trauaile for no more

Sence thou accomplishde haste thy wille, and purchesde wealthe at ease: O be not lyke Vmidius▪ whose rauenouse disease. It is not longe for to discourse, he that he myght vpturne His coumed coyne, with shoules wyde, him selfe durste not adorne With any weede that wealthe besettes, but lyke a miser ryghte, More ragged then a tatterde coulte did passe the poreste wyghte In peces and in tatter wagges: whylste that he had his wynde, And drewe his breathe: he spent no iote, afraide that he shoulde fynde Neade in oulde age: but (loe his wyfe of greakishe dames most stoute: With grounded axe cutte him in twaine, and rifted him throughoute. What? is it beste lyke Meuius * 1.2the make away, to lyue? prodigall personnes. Or shalle I lyke Nomen••anus my gooddes to giglotts geue? A goodlye dishe, who taughte the this? * 1.3why doste thou thus compare Extremyties? Is there no shifte, all spende, or els all spare? I woulde the not a nipfarthinge, nor yet a niggarde haue, Wilte thou therefore, a drunkard be, a dingthrifte, and a knaue? There is a difference betwixte the gelded Eunuke ••aue: And ••erniosus, hote as coles that rancke vnclenly swaine.

A meane there is in matters all, and certaine bondes be pyghte, On this syde or beyonde the whiche no thinge thats good canne lyghte. But after longe vagaryes fetchde, to come to my requeste, How happeneth it, his owne estate that no man lyketh beste? But teenes if that his neyghbours goate a bygger bagge doth beare Then his, or yeeldes her mylke sum deale more flowyng and more cleare: Nor euer will compare him selfe vnto the greater sorte, Whose state is base, and bad as his, who lyues in meane apporte. But roues, and shoots at further marks, now him he doth contende To passe in coyne: now him again, and so there is no ende. For he that thincks to coate all men and all to ouergoe, In runnyng shall sum ritcher fynde who still will bid him hoe. Suche posters may be likened well vnto the carters oulde Of forayne worlde, on mounte Olimpe whose carts when they were roulde With gyrefull sway, by course swyfters, to winne the glistring branche. They ierted vp their horse with whippes, that forth they made them launche, With boysterouse noyse, lyke thunder clappes, they made the quaueryng soyle To dindle and to shake againe, in hope of lawrell spoyle.

They neuer had respecte to those that once were caste behynde, But scourde to geue the reste the slip, wyth course as wyghte as wynde. Ryght semblablye, this carkynge kynde of men, doe neuer eye The route that they haue ouerrun in goodes but haste, and hye To retche the resydue and soe do ayme aboue theyr strengthe To pricke, and pearse those marks, and whyts that lye withoute their lengthe. Loe this is euen the veray grounde, this is the perfytte cause, That most mislyke them selues so muche, and can no season pause In blesfulnes: and this is it. why very selde we fynde A man so cloyed with the worlde as he that new hathe dynde Is with his meate, and that thers none which in their extreame dayes Will parte from lyfe, as full from feaste to goe theyr homewarde wayes. To bannish all excesse of talke, let this suffyce as now, And leste thou shouldste suppose by space my talke myghte ouergrow In bulke the bleare eyde Crispins roole * 1.4whose tounge on pattans free Did retchlesse run, euen here I cease not one worde more of me.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Fabie a com∣mon pratler.
• * 1.2

  Couetouse.
• * 1.3

  Poet.
• * 1.4

  Crispine a writer against couetouse to excessiue in talke.