Englands Parnassus: or the choysest flowers of our moderne poets, with their poeticall comparisons Descriptions of bewties, personages, castles, pallaces, mountaines, groues, seas, springs, riuers, &c. Whereunto are annexed other various discourses, both pleasaunt and profitable.

Fortitude.

Rich buskind Seneca, that did declaime And first in Rome our tragicke pompe compile, Saith Fortitude is that, which in extreame, And certaine hazard all base feare exile. It guides saith he, the noble minde from farre, Through frost and fire, to conquer honours warre. I. Markham.

Honey tong'd Tully Marmaid of our eares, Affirmes, no force can force true Fortitude: It with out bodies no communion beares. The soule and spirit, soly it doth include. It is that part of honestie, which reares The heart to heauen, and euer doth obtrude, Faint feare and doubt, still taking his delight In pe••ills, which exceed all perils might. Patience, perseuerance, greatnes, and strong trust, These Pages are to Fortitude their King: Patience that suffers, and esteemeth iust,

What euer we for vertue fortunes brine. Perseuerance holds constant what we must, Greatnes that effects the guilded thing, And armed trust which neuer can dispaire, And hopes good happe how euer fatall deare. Idem.

The man that hath of Fortitude and might, And thereto hath a Kingdome voyd withall, Except he also guide himselfe aright, His power and strength preuaileth but a small, He cannot scape at length, an haplesse fall. I. H. M. of M.

The Romaine Sergius hauing lost his hand, Slew with one hand foure in a single fight, A thing all reason euer did withstand, But that bright Fortitude spreads forth her light. Pompey by shore held from th'Italian Land, And all his saylors quaking in his sight, First hoysed sailes, and cried amidst the strife, Ther's need I goe, no need to saue my life. I. Markeham.

Force without wisedome, is of little worth. G. Gascoigne.

Greater force there needs to maintain wrōg thē right. Ed. Spencer.

Agis that guilt the Lacedemon streete, Entending one day battaile with his foes, By counsell was repeld as thing vnmeete, The enemie being ten to one in shoes, But he replied, tis needfull that his feete With many heads, should lead to many blowes.

And one being good, an armie is for ten: Foes to Religion, and knowne naughtie men, To him that told Dineceus how his foes Couered the sunne with darts and armed speares. He made replie, thy newes is ioy in woes, Wee'le in the shadow fight, and conquer foes. I. Markham.

— As to loue, the life for vertues flame, Is the iust act of a true noble will: So to contemne it, and her hopes exclude Is basenesse, rashnesse, and no Fortitude. Idem.

Rash Isadas the Lacedemon Lord, That naked fought against the Theban power, Although they chain'd his valour by a cord, Yet was he finde for rashnes in that hower. And those which most his carelesse praise afford, Did most condemne what folly did deuoure: For in attempting, prowesse is not ment, But wisely doing what we do attempt. Idem.