The zodiake of life written by the godly and zealous poet Marcellus Pallingenius stellatus, wherein are conteyned twelue bookes disclosing the haynous crymes [and] wicked vices of our corrupt nature: and plainlye declaring the pleasaunt and perfit pathway vnto eternall lyfe, besides a numbre of digressions both pleasaunt [and] profitable, ; newly translated into Englishe verse by Barnabæ Googe.

❧ The fyrst Booke of Pallingen, entituled Aries.

MY minde with fury fierce in flamd of late I know not how, Doth burne Parnasus hylles to see, adournd wyth Laurell bow, The Camps so cleare of Castaly, where Muses sweete do sing: The towne Cyrrha doth me delight, and trees that euer spring. What darknesse oh shall I now flie? to me appeareth playne The blissefull beames of Eous bright, the day returnes agayne. O darknesse fade thy way from hence, hyde thou thy selfe in hell. The loue of Muse and hie Iehoue, doth both within me dwell. And vertue doth not labour feare, the way though hard it be, O Phebus father Poets helpe, disclose the doubtes to me, With Aganippes holsome fode, replenish thou my dayes: Thy temple eke to come vnto, do thou direct my wayes. Defend me from the common sorte, that seeke me to disprayse.

Not worse vnlikde now shall I be, if that thou wylt me blesse, That I thy priest vnknowne and new, my selfe to labour dresse. Thou liftest men from base estate, to honours them to call, Without thy grace, the wit of man, would perish sone and fall: His voyce and al would ware full horce nothing would swetely sound, All swete and pleasaunt melody, would fal vnto the ground. And if thou wilte me fauour nowe, I wyll ascend the Skies, And there thy hie and Godly workes contemplate with mine eyes. Oh fauour me, thou Phebus hie, take thou from ground away: Thy Poet prostrate here on earth, if that by fates I may. And you (O Nimphes) of Castaly, if wyth vnfayned harte I haue approcht your learned dores, if riottes fylthy arte Could not w^tdraw my youthful yeares, from honoring of your name, Ne fylthy lust of beastlinesse coulde euer me defame:

Then let my fame go flye abrode, least that vnworthyly, I shal be after thought to liue, and so my name shal dye. For hope of glory and renowne, a man for to obtayne, Hath caused men in vertuousnesse to take both care and payne. And thou O famous worthy Prince that Hercule hast to name, Amongs the doughty Italian Dukes, of most renowned fame. And of the hie Estensian bloud, the chiefe illuster floure: Whom Pallas in Parnafus caues, hath nourisht euery houre, Whome Muses nine wyth sacred milke from tender yeres haue fed, Whereby a fame they hope to haue that neuer shall be deade: Of Cyrrha eke the Laurell tree, shall spring they trust agayne, Though Mars doth let in spite of them, and seeketh to retayne Your noble heart into his tentes by al the meanes he may: In tents where honour you shal haue

that neuer shall decay, Wheras your armes as right requires shall richly decked be With triumphes due to such a Prince of lusty Laurell tree. Drawe nere and wyth a ioyful face thy Poete loke vpon, Willing to treade vnproued pathes that haue not yet bene gone. And shewe-thy fauour to a wight that nowe abashed is: So may Ferrarra see thee long in perfect ioy and blis, Till after this thy ioyfull life, a long and happy time, Departing from the earth thou shalt the starry heauen clime. And if my Fatal yeares be long, in time shal come the day, When as your grace and worthy dedes I shal at large display, When Indie aye with Tartesse brinkes thy name shall cause to sound: Thy fame shall flye in euery place of Hiperbores ground. In vtter partes of Africke to, you shall be knowen by me:

Then I wyth greater rage of Muse, encouraged shall be, And shal declare vnto al men, how that you do embrace Justice, and eke what Godlinesse and fayth is in your grace, What counsayle doth in you abound, what valeant worthy powre, How liberall with gentlenesse, you are at euery howre: By me shall also wonder much, the world in euery place, To see what wyt and manners mylde, consisteth in your grace. But now the things that I you giue, receiue wyth gentle harte, And take my present doing here, a while as in good parte. My minde desyreth sore to wryte of much and diuers things, And not alwayes to stay at one, but as the sprite me brings I go now here, now there I swimme amid the waters deepe, Sometime I tosse the boistrous waues sometyme to shore I creepe. And though sometimes by reasons rule

I shall assay to finde, The secret wayes by nature hyd, and bring them vnto minde: Those things yet will I follow most, whereby a profyt shall Aryse, and adde a holy life, to men that be mortal. A life alas now banisht cleane, if I the truth may say In this our age, than which a worse was neuer seene the day. Such things I say, that shall expel the vices of the minde: A thing that more the Muses fyttes, than this I can not finde. This makes a man for to be sound, of witte both prompt and fine, Although by nature he be dull, and do no whitte decline Ungodly, and neglecting right, that horedome doth not spare, Or on whome earthly auarice, hath caused for to care, Or he whome enuy in his hearte, doth euermore possesse, Unconstant, or a lying man, or takes in drinke excesse,

In fine what euer vice he hath, by this he may forsake, The hurtful harmes of peruerse mind, a Godly life to take. This worthy men doth cause to be, and fyt for honours hie: Which to themselues, their house, and realme can councel prudently, And vnto doubtful things they can bring present remedy. So much the face of beauty fayre, ought not estemed to be, The pleasaunt eyes with shining locks, eche parte of royall blee, As maners wel composed, and a pure and honest minde, Where vertue beares so great a stroke that vice is harde to finde. Doth not the righteous man or he, that vertues much doth loue, Liue al in myrth, and hopes for helpe of only God aboue? He nothing cares whē whispring wor∣de•• be closely spoke in eare, When iudge, or King, doth for him cal his heart doth nothing feare. Contrarywise the wicked man,

defamed feares to be, And when the lightnings thūder rores, then gilty trembleth he. If men doe chaunce in eares to rounde, or whisper when they walke, Alas then cries he to himselfe, of me these men do talke, What shal I do? the Judge or King doth cal, and shall I goe, Or rather flie the perils great of wretched life? now loe, By fyxed law of GOD doth feare the wicked men torment, And though sometime the euil man to myrth doth seeme as bent, As Strongilos amyd the seas, yet doth he boyle within, Or Etna when his flaming dartes, Pyrackmon doth begin. But were it better to declare, with thousand shippes assaylde The cursed chaunce of Pergamus that folishly bewaylde The periurde chaunce of Sinons deede? or else Ogiges towne, Which by the cruel chaunce of warre, was raced cleane adowne?

Or shal I prayse, as Poetes wont, some man wyth forging lyes? And iudge a colour fayre to be, contrary to mine eyes? Or were it better here to fayne, how Dedalus did flie, The woful hap of Icarus that fell out of the Skie? The bodies oft transfourmed aye, of Gods and eke of men: And so delude the ydle eares, with trifles of my pen? Or had I better to declare the wanton toyes of youth, And slaunder Gods wyth prophane acts which is a greater ruth? For what do these our frantick heads now feare at any houre? The Gods (we say) with lecherous luste, both boyes and maydes defloure. A hore in heauens hie to be, a lechoure to they say: O shame, is this a Godlinesse, or right to vse such way? Are these the thankes we owe to God? be these our odoures swete? Be these the duties that we owe,

or prayses for him meete? What thing will now the witte of man forbeare to fayne or lye: By meanes whereof they may obtayne in sinne a liberty? Of writers vayne both leud and yll, O rude vnruly route, You nede to take Elleborus to pourge your humours out. To you I speake that others harme whose tongs do spare no man: If lightning should you all consume, what maruell were it than? Shew me the cause both night and day, why do you take such payne? Is it but only for your selues? why then no prayse you gayne. For he that only priuate wealth regardeth alwayes still, And laughes to scorne an others harme whilste he enioyes his will. A sauage beast by right desert, deserueth calde to be: And not a man for to be namde, for so to write ought we, That men may get some good thereby, and not complaine to spend:

Their times in trifling trickes & toyes that haue no certaine end. And fyrst ought to be knowen that we, do good in three deuide: In pleasure and vtilitie, and honesty chiefe beside. Some one of these or greater parte, may Poets alway vse: So that the bondes of honesty, to breake they shall refuse. But O what titles and what crowne, did he deserue to haue, Which things not only vaine & nought good fruite that neuer gaue, But wrot such things as might corrupt the life of any man, And make him worser ten to one, than when he first began? He left behinde him monuments, of wanton wicked wayes: And left such foolish doting things, to men of latter dayes. O Lord how much doth wanton words to wicked life entice And with a feruent poyson great, doth draw men vnto vice. From eares a wanton wicked voice,

dare pearce the secrete thought. And vnto mischiefe moue thereby, the members bent to nought. A noble man such things delight, (some man perhaps wyll say:) Who in his house a lusty route doth kepe in rich aray, Whome for to feare, excessiue goods compels a man thereto, With any parte of worthy wyt who neuer had to do. What then may these be suffred thoe, or praysd, bycause they please The rich, or else the noble men that alwayes liue in ease? Not so, for what a sorte there be of twolegd Asses clothed In Golde and Silke, and Purple fayre to al men is not shewed. There be, there be ful many now, whome Pearls haue puft with pride, And whome the Asians haue beset with Silke on euery syde, Whose fingers fayre with rings of gold be dasht and deckt about, With precious stones & pearles of price that India sendeth out.

Those men a man would almost swear, that Plato they excell, Or Socrates who (Phaebus iudge) of wisdome bare the bell. And yet these Princely paynted walles do nought wythin contayne, A blather ful implete with winde springs they may be termed playne. Where Fortune fawnes, there pleasure and pleasure bringeth folly: And so the light of reasons rule is darkned vtterly, Whereby it happes that seldome wyse, these children chaunce to be. To suffer payne for vertues sake, who wil, if so be he Haue no rewarde? rewarde who sekes, but he whome nede constraynes? The rich man followes ioyful things, and liueth void of paynes, He hates the prycking thorny wayes, the clyffes both sharp and sowre, By which we do assay to clime, to Lady learnings towre. I can not stay my selfe as now, when anger cōmes vpon, But needes I must defye both verse,

and Poets al as one, When boyes we see decline to nought, whome maisters do embewe, With verses filthy to be namde, which most they should eschew. Their first possessed shame fastnesse, to see them cleane forsake: And eke how apt and prone they be a noughty way to take, And foster mischiefe so in youth, that he may alwayes dwell In them, whereby they may prepare in age a way to hell. But yet it doth me good to see, how hoping al for praise, They get themselues immortall shame, that neuer more decayes. For who wil iudge them voyd of vice, or that they liude not so, As they themselues did giue precepts to others for to go? The talke it selfe doth wel declare, the nature of the minde, And euery man doth moste frequent things propre to his kinde. Of Oxen, rake, and culter sharpe the plowmans ••ong doth walke,

Of Sayle and Cable, Mast and Ore, is all the Seamans talke. Of Horses, harnesse, Speare & Shielde, the Captayne styl wil boste: So bawdy mates of bawdy things, their tongs do clatter moste. I warne you syrs aboue the rest, of youth that takes the cure, Whose parte it is the tender mindes of boyes for to allure, To bertue and to Godlinesse, like waxe do them prepare, Hate you the wicked workes of those, for greater matters care. Reade not such things as are but vayne vnworthy to be tolde: But teach the worthy histories of auncient fathers olde. Herein let children nouseled be, let these be borne away: Here of may spring a Godly fruite, direct their life that may. They shew what things we folow shuld and what we should reiect: And fables al among the rest we may not wel neglect. For oftentimes a Comody,

may holesome doctrine bring: And monish men by pleasant wordes, to leaue some noughty thing. There be I graunt some Poets workes not altogither vayne, Which with a plesaunt sugred style, procede from sobre brayne. These things do helpe, and voyd of vic these workes do profit much: In youth bring vp your scholers wyth none other foode but such. And when their yong and tender age they once haue passed out: Then may they safely voyd of harm, go range the fieldes about, And gather floures where they list, for daunger is away. But now a while for to discusse, I thinke it best assay, Of which of these is nedefull most, or moste to be estemed: The man that good and honest is, or he that well is learned. The good or else the learned man, of two which is the best: Learning is hie, becōmes the meke, and doth the proude infest.

It doth refuse the belly gods, and such as sleepe hath trainde: Without long time and labour great, it wyll not be obtainde. This Citie rules and moueth Mars, and this can warres refell: It sheweth the earth and goodly starres and sicknesse doth expell. Thys teacheth figures faire to frame, of sundry sorce and kinde: This teacheth vs to number well, and musicke calles to minde. This doth ascende the heauens and bring hidden things to light: No perfit man without this same, may called be of right. Unlike to beastes and like to gods, this causeth vs to be: Sometime and yet of little price, his vertue lost we see. As oft as with the dregges of vice, defylde he doth put on: Deformed hewe amid the durte, as doth the Jasper stone. Or as the Sunne behinde the cloude, or shadowe of the Moone: Ne is it onely vile in sight,

but hurtfull very soone. For if a wicked man it haue, then may it be comparde: Unto a frentyke foole that hath a sworde wythout regarde. Whereby hee many doth destroy, and runneth more astray: But he that voide of harme and hurte, to liue doth well assay. Obseruing well the law of God, and of the hygher powre: And synne doth flye as open throte, of dragon to deuoure. The shepe, the moyle or horses kept, whose office is to see: Though he be one, if learning lacke, estemde he ought to bee. Such one I say no man nor God, can euer well despise: But he that vertue doth enuie, at least that is not wise. For who but such wyll not hym loue, and worthily commende: That feareth God and righteousnes, obserueth to hys ende. Whom golde can neuer ouercome, who willeth no mans wrong:

Who helpes the poores afflicted case, who flyeth the naughty throng. He feedes the humble and the meke yll tongues hee doth reiect: No man to hurt he doth reioice, but rather to protect. And that which is the worthyest praise at euery time he can: In euery thing a modestye, vse, happy is that man. More happy yet I doe him iudge, that doth in both excell: Who that is good and learned to, a crowne deserueth well. For other men he farre exceedes, as golde doth copper passe: And as the flaming Piropus, excelles the duskey glasse. And seldome synne thou shalt discerne, a man of learned fame: At least not much, vnto the rude, there is no heede of shame. But headlong rushe they into vice, which they forbidden bee: And holy lawes be laught to scorne, by foolishe fonde decree. Lyke as the blinde cannot beware,

but fal in ditches deepe: As men amid the darke be hurt, when Proserpine doth sleepe. So minde of man, which is but blinde take learning once away: In euery vice it doth not doubt to fall and runne astray. Except it be comprest by feare, of paine that may ensue: No things but those that pleasaunt bee, it iudgeth right or true. Yet many times it may be sene, that nature doth supply: The maisters roume and giueth grace, in youth abundantly. Whereby that schoole did neuer teache, by grace they may obtaine: What letteth such to leade a life, as vertue teacheth plaine. The greater thankes be due to him, for euermore to giue: Whose booke doth shew a Methode true declaring how to liue. O famous Gods of hie renoume, which rule the forked hyll: To whom my yeares I alwayes gaue, and dedicate them styll.

If that such waighty things a wretche, may safely you desire: In this my worke I take in hande, your aide I now require. Let not dishonour me deface, nor in his blasing rage: Let limping Uulcan me destroye, at any time or age. And thus an ende the ramme that kepes the entraunce of our doore: Doth leaue his place vnto the bull, that hasteth here afore. The booke approching next at hande, doth will mee to haue done: In hast and biddes me finishe now, that I of late begonne.