Virgils Eclogues, vvith his booke De apibus, concerning the gouernment and ordering of bees, translated grammatically, and also according to the proprietie of our English tongue, so farre as grammar and the verse will well permit. Written chiefly for the good of schooles, to be vsed according to the directions in the preface to the painfull schoole maister, and more fully in the booke called Ludus literarius, or the grammar-schoole, chap. 8

THE SECOND ECLOGVE * 1.1 [CAL∣LED] ALEXIS.

THE ARGVMENT.

‖ 1.2 COrydon a sheepheard * 1.3 ena∣mored on a youth called A∣lexis, * 1.4 omitteth nothing which may * 1.5 helpe * 1.6 to allure his childish mind, and ‖ 1.7 to get mutuall loue. But when he * 1.8 perceiueth that he doth not any thing preuaile, nei∣ther by complaints, nor by [his] * 1.9 faire words, * 1.10 nor yet by his gifts; at length * 1.11 coming to himselfe, and ac∣knowledging his owne * 1.12 folly, he determineth * 1.13 to betake himselfe a∣gaine * 1.14 to the discontinued care * 1.15 of his priuate businesse at home: that he may ‖ 1.16 shake off by his accusto∣med labour, the * 1.17 ••kesomnesse of his ‖ 1.18 vnhappie loue, which is wont for most part to * 1.19 come of idle∣nesse. * 1.20 Moreouer * 1.21 by Corydon (if we * 1.22 giue credit to Donate) we vn∣derstand Virgil; * 1.23 by Alexis, A∣lexander Pollioes. sonne, * 1.24 whom he receiued of him after giuen vnto him freely.

* 1.25 THe sheepheard▪ Corydon * 1.26 impa∣tiently loued ‖ 1.27 faire Alexis:

Being the * 1.28 delight of [his] maister; * 1.29 but yet he could not haue that which he hoped for.

Onely he came * 1.30 dai∣ly among the thicke bee∣ches * 1.31 [hauing] shadie tops: there all alone ‖ 1.32 he tossed these * 1.33 rude [mee∣ters] to the mountaines and woods, * 1.34 with la∣bour spent in vaine.

O cruell Alexis * 1.35 thou nought regardest my * 1.36 songs:

‖ 1.37 Thou takest no pit∣tie of vs: * 1.38 In a word, * 1.39 Al. 1.40 thou causest me to die.

Now * 1.41 euen the cat∣tle * 1.42 seeke after shades & coole places.

Now * 1.43 do the thorny thickets likewise hide the greene ‖ 1.44 lizards.

And a 1.45 Thestilis * 1.46 puns strong smelling hearbs [as] garlicke and ‖ 1.47 wilde betany for the ‖ 1.48 reapers

wearied * 1.49 in the scorch∣ing heate.* 1.50

Al. But the groues * 1.51 do ring with me ‖ 1.52 with hoarse grashoppers [ly∣ing] vnder the burning Sunne, whilst * 1.53 I spie out ‖ 1.54 thy footesteps [on eue∣ry side.]

* 1.55 Had it not bene bet∣ter [for me] to ‖ 1.56 suffer b 1.57 * 1.58 the heauy looks of A∣maryl,]

And [her] proud * 1.59 dis∣daine? * 1.60 were it not bet∣ter to endure Menal∣cas?

Although he [be] ‖ 1.61 blacke, and albeit thou wert * 1.62 passing faire.

‖ 1.63 Oh faire boy, trust not thy * 1.64 beauty ouer∣much!

c 1.65 * 1.66 White priuet flowers ‖ 1.67 fall, ‖ 1.68 blacke vio∣lets are gathered.

Alexis, ‖ 1.69 I am ‖ 1.70 de∣spised of thee, neither* 1.71 askest thou who I am,

Al. ‖ 1.72 How rich [I am] * 1.73 in cattell white as snow, * 1.74 what plenty of milke

I haue.

‖ 1.75 My thousand ewe lambes * 1.76 pasture freely * 1.77 in the mountaines of Sicily:

* 1.78 I want not new milke in the Sommer, not yet in the cold.

‖ 1.79 I sing [the songs] which Amphion Dirce was wont [to sing] * 1.80 whensoeuer he called [his] d 1.81 heards * 1.82 vpon the hill Aracinthus but∣ting vpon the shoare.

Neither am I so ‖ 1.83 de∣formed: e 1.84 I saw my selfe of late [* 1.85 as I stood] vpon the ‖ 1.86 shoare:

When as the sea ‖ 1.87 stood calme from winds. I will not feare ‖ 1.88 Daphnis, thy selfe be∣ing iudge, if the ‖ 1.89 shadow [in the water] do neuer ‖ 1.90 deceiue.

* 1.91 Oh that it might but like [thee]▪ [to dwell] with me in the countrey [though] base to thee, * 1.92 and in [our] low cot∣tages, * 1.93 and to pitch

downe f 1.94 forked stakes.

And for to driue [my] flocke of kids ‖ 1.95 vnto g 1.96 the greene * 1.97 bulrushes.

* 1.98 [Then] shouldest thou imitate h 1.99 Pan, * 1.100 in singing with me in the woods.

‖ 1.101 Pan * 1.102 deuised first to ioyne together ‖ 1.103 moe reedes with waxe. ‖ 1.104 Pan cares for sheepe, and for the maisters of the sheepe.

Neither can it repent thee ‖ 1.105 to haue worne * 1.106 thy lip with a reeden pipe.

What did not A∣myntas ‖ 1.107 do, ‖ 1.108 that he might know * 1.109 these things?

* 1.110 I haue a pipe made of seuen different reeds, which Dametas * 1.111 gaue me long ago:

And dying said; * 1.112 This hath thee now * 1.113 the se∣cond.

[Thus] spake Dame∣tas; foolish Amyntas ‖ 1.114 en∣uied [it.]

* 1.115 [I haue] moreo∣uer two kids which I found in a perillous dale, whose skins are also speckled now with white.

* 1.116 Each of which sucks dry two sheepes dugs e∣uery day, * 1.117 which I [al∣so] keepe for thee.

Thestilis * 1.118 intreated lately * 1.119 to haue them a∣way from me:

And * 1.120 she shall, be∣cause ‖ 1.121 our gifts * 1.122 are so basely esteemed of thee.

‖ 1.123 Oh faire boy come hither. ‖ 1.124 Behold i 1.125 the Nymphes bring thee ‖ 1.126 lillies in full baskets: * 1.127 beautifull k 1.128 Nais * 1.129 ga∣thering for thee pale vio∣lets * 1.130 and poppie flo∣wers,

* 1.131 Tyes together the * 1.132 white daffodill and the flowers of pleasant smel∣ling * 1.133 dill:

Then * 1.134 platting them with ‖ 1.135 cassia and with o∣ther sweete hearbes,

She * 1.136 sets in fine or∣der dainty violets ‖ 1.137 with

the yellow marigold.

I my selfe will gather * 1.138 apples hauing cotten coates:

And chestnuts which my Amaryllis ‖ 1.139 loued.

* 1.140 I will [withall] bring ‖ 1.141 plums as yellow as waxe, * 1.142 and this apple shall be in high esteeme.

* 1.143 Oh lawrels, I will plucke branches euen from you: and * 1.144 thou mirtle [which art] next in [sweetnesse ‖ 1.145 I will like∣wise crop thee.]

Because ye being * 1.146 so composed * 1.147 do make sweete smels.

Corydon thou art * 1.148 a clowne, neither doth A∣lexis regard [thy] gifts.

* 1.149 Ney will l 1.150 Iolas yeeld [to thee] if thou contend with gifts.

* 1.151 [Alasse] for me poore wretch! what meant I▪ [for] being * 1.152 vt∣terly forlorrie, I haue * 1.153 let in the South-wind to [my] flowers, and the boares into my * 1.154 liquid

springs.

A•• ‖ 1.155 mad [Alexis] whom doest thou flie? for euen the gods haue ‖ 1.156 inhabited the woods,

And m 1.157 Paris descen∣ded from Dardanus. * 1.158 Let Pallas delight in the towers which her selfe hath built: [but] let the woods ‖ 1.159 please vs * 1.160 aboue all [other] things.

The ‖ 1.161 sterne lionesse doth * 1.162 pursue the wolfe, the wolfe himselfe [pur∣sues] the goate,

‖ 1.163 The wanton goate, seekes after the blooming cythisus:

Oh Alexis, Corydon followeth after thee: * 1.164 e∣uery ones owne pleasure draweth him.

See, the bullockes * 1.165 bring [home] the plowes hanged * 1.166 to their yoakes:

And the Sun * 1.167 going downe doubleth [his] ‖ 1.168 increasing shadowes:

‖ 1.169 Yet loue doth still burne me for what mea∣sure

* 1.170 can there be in loue?

Ah Corydon, Corydon, what madnesse hath * 1.171 caught thee?

* 1.172 Thou hast a vine halfe pruned * 1.173 in a thicke branching elme.

But * 1.174 prepare thou rather at least * 1.175 to make something, * 1.176 whereof there is neede: * 1.177 with oziers and soft bulru∣shes.

Thou shalt find ano∣ther ‖ 1.178 [companion] if this Alexis * 1.179 do thinke scorne of thee.

Notes

• * 1.1

  To whom the name is [viz, which hath the name Alexis.
• ‖ 1.2

  A sheepheard called Corydon.
• * 1.3

  Being taken or caught with the loue of the lad Alexis [viz. being exceedingly affectioned to him:
• * 1.4

  Pretermitteth nothing of those things [viz. ouerslippeth no oportunitie or meanes.]
• * 1.5

  Appertaine or belong.
• * 1.6

  To stroke softly [viz. to win by smoo∣thing or flattery, or to intice.]
• ‖ 1.7

  To gaine from him mutuall loue [viz. to cause Alexis to loue him ••gaine.]
• * 1.8

  Vnderstandeth himselfe, neither to pro∣fit any thing.
• * 1.9

  Flatteries or alluring words.
• * 1.10

  Or by his little gifts or presents.
• * 1.11

  Returning to himselfe [viz. be thinking himselfe better.
• * 1.12

  Madnesse.
• * 1.13

  That he must returne [viz. to returne.]
• * 1.14

  To the intermitted [or omitted] care [viz. the care which for a time he had left off.]
• * 1.15

  Of his houshold estate or matters be∣longing to his family or domesticall bu∣sinesse.
• ‖ 1.16

  Cast off or remoue, or put away, or driue away.
• * 1.17

  Tediousnesse [viz. wearinesse or griefe.]
• ‖ 1.18

  Vnfortunate loue.
• * 1.19

  Grow or spring.
• * 1.20

  And [viz. and indeed or and also.]
• * 1.21

  We take [viz. vnderstand] Virgil by Corydon.
• * 1.22

  Beleeue [viz. may giue credit to.]
• * 1.23

  By Alexis [we vnderstand] Alexander the boy of Pollio▪ [vnder the name of A∣lexis is meant, &c.]
• * 1.24

  Whom he receiued of him [viz. of Pol∣lio] after for a gift [or a reward] viz. be∣stowed vpon him freely.
• * 1.25

  Corydon a sheepheard:
• * 1.26

  Burned [viz. was inflamed with the loue of faire Alexis: [or ••ehe∣mently loued:
• ‖ 1.27

  Beautifull or well fauoured Alexis:
• * 1.28

  Delights or dainties [viz. the one∣ly solace of his maister.
• * 1.29

  Neither could he haue what he might hope: [viz. yet he obtained not any thing but onely a vaine hope of him.
• * 1.30

  Continually [viz. vsually or very often, or day by day.
• * 1.31

  Being shadie tops [viz. broade & spreading, and so making a shade with their tops.
• ‖ 1.32

  He reuolued, or rolled, or vainely vttered.
• * 1.33

  [Verses] [viz. rimes or words] ill set together, or ill composed or disor∣dered.
• * 1.34

  With a vaine study [viz. vainely or all in vaine.]
• * 1.35

  Thou carest for nothing or not at all [viz. thou carest not for.
• * 1.36

  Verses.
• ‖ 1.37

  Thou hast no compassion of me.
• * 1.38

  To conclude.
• * 1.39

  Thou compellest me to die [viz. thou killest my heart.]
• Al. 1.40

  Thou wilt compell [viz. cause me to die or hasten my death.]
• * 1.41

  Also the cattell or the very cattell:
• * 1.42

  Do endeauour or seeke to take the shades and colds, [viz. shadie and coole places or the shady cold.
• * 1.43

  The bushes of thornes, [viz. thorny places or shrubs] also do hide
• ‖ 1.44

  serpents like newtes.
• a 1.45

  Thestylis a countrey woman, Syn. spec.
• * 1.46

  Doth stampe [or pun] together gar∣licke and wilde thime being strong smelling hearbes.
• ‖ 1.47

  Wilde betany smelling like wilde marioram, or wilde thime.
• ‖ 1.48

  Mowers or haruest men.
• * 1.49

  With the snatching heate, [viz. the violent or vehement heate.
• * 1.50

  Al. But [yet] the groues [or thic∣kets] do resound [my songs] with me, [together] with hoarse grashoppers, whilst I spie on euery side, thy foot∣steps vnder the burning Sunne.
• * 1.51

  Do sound backe as the echo, [or do giue an echo.
• ‖ 1.52

  With hoarse singing grashoppers, or grashoppers singing hoarsly vnder the scorching heate.
• * 1.53

  I go about to seeke or view euery way.
• ‖ 1.54

  The treadings or prints of thy feete.
• * 1.55

  Hath it not, &c.
• ‖ 1.56

  Abide or endure.
• b 1.57

  Tristes iras,] Met. Effecti.
• * 1.58

  The sorrowfull angers, [viz. the frowning lookes.
• * 1.59

  Disdaines.
• * 1.60

  Whether or no Menalcas? [viz. were it not better to loue Menalcas, or to endure Menalcas to frowne vp∣pon me, or to disdaine me.
• ‖ 1.61

  Foule, or at least not so faire, or of a swart colour.
• * 1.62

  White [viz. beautifull.
• ‖ 1.63

  O well fauoured youth.
• * 1.64

  Colour [viz. fairenesse.]
• c 1.65

  Ligustra [Met. subj. pro floribus ligustri.
• * 1.66

  The white priuet or prime-print:
• ‖ 1.67

  Fall downe and are lost.
• ‖ 1.68

  Violets of purple colour, near•• to blacke, [or blacke hurtle berries, or bramble berries] are gathered.
• ‖ 1.69

  Thou despisest me, and askest not after me.
• ‖ 1.70

  Scorned.
• * 1.71

  Al. How rich I am in cattle, how plent••us in milke as white as snow.
• ‖ 1.72

  What my wealth and state 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.73

  Of snow-white cattell, viz. in sheepe hauing their wooll as white as driuen snow, which he accounts most excellent.
• * 1.74

  How abounding of milke [I am.]
• ‖ 1.75

  I haue a thousand ewe lambs [viz. which are most excellent for breede.
• * 1.76

  Stray or wander, viz. feede at li∣berty where they will.
• * 1.77

  In the Sicilian mountaines.
• * 1.78

  New milke [•• not wanting to me] in Sommer, neither is it lacking in the cold [viz. in Winter.]
• ‖ 1.79

  I sing the same songs, &c.
• * 1.80

  If at any time [viz. whensoeuer he gathered together his heards or flockes of cattell.
• d 1.81

  Armenta are heards of greater cattell.
• * 1.82

  In the hill Aracinthus butting on the shoar••, or being neare to Athens, for so also the word Actctaeus may be taken.
• ‖ 1.83

  Hard fauoured.
• e 1.84

  He speaketh after the manner of sheep∣heards, who in stead of a glasse vse oft times to behold themselues in the water.
• * 1.85

  In the shoare [viz. as I stood vpon the sea shoare, I saw my shadow in the water.]
• ‖ 1.86

  Banke or side.
• ‖ 1.87

  Was calme [viz. quiet, not stirred by the winds.
• ‖ 1.88

  To compare with Daphnis ^‖ for beauty, though thou thy selfe be iudge
• ‖ 1.89

  Likenesse, or counterfeit, or image.
• ‖ 1.90

  Beguile vs.
• * 1.91

  Oh that onely it may like [or lift] thee to inhabite the countries base [or homely] to thee [but pleasant vnto me] with me, [or to inhabite with me:
• * 1.92

  And to inhabite [our] low cotages.
• * 1.93

  And to fasten in the ground, [or to driue do••e] forked stakes, [or as some thinke, to s••ite through [viz. to kill] stags or harts.
• f 1.94

  Cer••i are taken for forked props like harts hornes, to hold vp their little sheepheards hou∣ses.
• ‖ 1.95

  To the greene marsh-mallowes or water mallowes, for so some take hi∣biscus.
• g 1.96

  Viridi hibisco, for, ad viridem hibiscum.
• * 1.97

  Bulrush.
• * 1.98

  Thou shalt imitate Pan, [that is, euen Pan himselfe.]
• h 1.99

  Pan is called the god of sheepheards, because as the Poets say, he ordained first the sheepheards life, & was most excellent in such musicke as the sheepheards vse.
• * 1.100

  In singing together with me.
• ‖ 1.101

  Pan deuised piping, or the sheep∣heards pipe.
• * 1.102

  Appointed or ordained.
• ‖ 1.103

  Diuers or sundry reedes.
• ‖ 1.104

  Pan is the Protector both of sheepe and sheepheards.
• ‖ 1.105

  To haue put a pipe to thy lip [or to thy mouth.]
• * 1.106

  Thy little lip with a reede.
• ‖ 1.107

  Trie or assay.
• ‖ 1.108

  That he might learne this ••kill of piping.
• * 1.109

  These same things.
• * 1.110

  There is to me a pipe compact [or framed] of seuen vnlike hemlocks, [viz. hollow stalkes of hemlocks or reeds, whereof each was bigger then other in order, both in greatnesse and in sound.
• * 1.111

  Gaue me for a gift or for a iewell.
• * 1.112

  This [pipe.]
• * 1.113

  The second [maister, viz. thou art the second possess••r of this pipe.
• ‖ 1.114

  E••ied, [viz. that I should h•• this pipe.
• * 1.115

  There are to me moreouer two kids [or yong wilde goates or roes,] found of me in no safe valley [or place, or not without some perill] their skins also being sprinkled with white [viz. full of little white spots, like stars, or of diuers colours white and blacke.
• * 1.116

  They drie [or sucke dry] either of them two teates of a sheepe [viz. ei∣ther of them anewe] in a day, or sucke twise a day.
• * 1.117

  Which [kids.]
• * 1.118

  Intreateth [or desireth] now of late, [or a good while ago.]
• * 1.119

  To leade [or haue them] away, [viz. that she might haue them.
• * 1.120

  She shall do it.
• ‖ 1.121

  Thou esteemest so basely of our gifts.
• * 1.122

  Are so base to thee [or with thee.]
• ‖ 1.123

  Come hither oh welfauoured youth.
• ‖ 1.124

  Loe or see.
• i 1.125

  Nympha is properly a new maried wife, a Nymph: here by the Nymphes are meant goddesses of the me∣dowes or woods. A∣mongst the heathens they were taken for goddesses haunting ri∣uers, trees, mountaines, medowes, or the like.
• ‖ 1.126

  Baskets full of lillies.
• * 1.127

  White or faire Nais.
• k 1.128

  Nais is taken for one of the Nymphes or Fairies haunting the riuers and fountaines.
• * 1.129

  Cropping.
• * 1.130

  The heads [or tops] of poppies for thee.
• * 1.131

  Ioynes [or knits together]
• * 1.132

  Primrose peerelesse, or flower▪ de∣luce as some will.
• * 1.133

  Auisse.
• * 1.134

  Weauing them in or making gar∣lands of them.
• ‖ 1.135

  Cassia is commonly taken for Cina∣mon, here it is taken for a kind of hearbe.
• * 1.136

  Paints [or sets pleasantly] soft violets with the yellow marigold.
• ‖ 1.137

  With yellow marigolds.
• * 1.138

  Hoarie apples with a tender downe [or cotten] [meaning quinces being hoary.]
• ‖ 1.139

  Especially commended.
• * 1.140

  I will adde, or adioyne: or put to them.
• ‖ 1.141

  Plums as soft as waxe, or fine yel∣low plums.
• * 1.142

  And honour shall be also to this ap∣ple, [viz. this apple shall be set by for his fairenesse,] or this quince by Synecd. or plum by a Metamor.
• * 1.143

  And o•• ye lawrels, I will crop [or plucke] you.
• * 1.144

  Thou next mirtle [viz. next to the lawrell in sweetnesse.
• ‖ 1.145

  I will plucke branches from thee also.
• * 1.146

  So put [or set in order.]
• * 1.147

  Do mixe or mingle.
• * 1.148

  A rusticke or rude fellow.
• * 1.149

  Neither can Iôlas grant [viz. suf∣fer himselfe to be ouercome of thee by gifts.]
• l 1.150

  Iolas was another▪ sheepheard which stroue for the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Alexis.
• * 1.151

  What would I to me poore wretch, [viz. what meant I poore wretch.
• * 1.152

  Lost [or vndone, or vtterly cast a∣way or out of hope.
• * 1.153

  Sent in.
• * 1.154

  Liquid [〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉] 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cleare waters.
• ‖ 1.155

  Mad youth.
• ‖ 1.156

  Dwelt in.
• m 1.157

  Paris the sonne of Pri••mus king of Troy, descended from Dar∣d•• the sonne of Iu∣piter & Electrae, which Dardanus was the first builder of Troy, cal∣ling it with the coun∣trey where it stood, Dardania.
• * 1.158

  Pall••s her selfe let her inhabite, [viz. delight in the towers or castles which her selfe hath built.
• ‖ 1.159

  Content vs best.
• * 1.160

  Before all other things.
• ‖ 1.161

  Fell, fierce or terrible.
• * 1.162

  Follow [in chase.
• ‖ 1.163

  The lasciui••us or ranke yong goate.
• * 1.164

  His owne pleasure draweth euery one, [viz. euery one followes his owne delight.
• * 1.165

  Bring backe the plowes, [viz. the ••mes [or plowes] come home.
• * 1.166

  To the yoake.
• * 1.167

  Departing, [viz. going downe∣ward.
• ‖ 1.168

  Increasing longer and bigger.
• ‖ 1.169

  Although the heate of the Sunne 〈◊〉〈◊〉, yet the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of my loue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 increased.
• * 1.170

  Can be to loue.
• * 1.171

  Taken, viz. ouertaken thee.
• * 1.172

  There is to thee a vine.
• * 1.173

  In an elme tree full of boughes or leaues.
• * 1.174

  Thou doest prepare rather.
• * 1.175

  To wea••e or plot something.
• * 1.176

  Of those things whereof neede re∣quireth.
• * 1.177

  With twigs and a soft bulrush.
• ‖ 1.178

  Loue.
• * 1.179

  Disdaine thee, [or despise th••e.]