Classic Poem

[The Seventh Eclogue.]


Silvanus Sirenus Selvagia
Sirenus, shepherd good, and thou,
that hast ill luck in love,
The cause of all my hurt by whom
my suits could never prove,
God never let that I should seek
to be revenged of thee,
For when I might have been with ease,
yet would not suffer me
The love that I Diana bare,
on thee to show my spite,
On thee in whom my lady fair
had once her whole delight.
If thy mishaps do not me grieve,
my mischiefs never end.
Think not, Sirenus, that because
Diana was thy friend,
I bear thee worser will; assure thyself
so base my love never seemed
That only I should favour her,
but all that she esteemed.
Thou either art, Silvanus, born
example for to give
To us that know not how
when Fortune frowns to live,
Or else hath Nature placed in thee
so strong and stout a mind,
Sufficing not, thine ills alone
to bear, but means to find
That may the griefs of others help.
I see thou art so bent
That Fortune can thee not amaze,
for all her mischiefs meant.
I promise thee, Silvanus, here,
time plain in thee doth show,
How daily she discovers things
that erst did men not know.
I cannot bear the griefs I feel,
my force is all too faint,
I never could, as thou canst, stint
the tears of my complaint.
Diana hath procured the pains
that I shall never end;
When first she falsed her troth to me,
she killed a faithful friend.
I marvel how she could so soon
put thee out of her mind.
I well remember since thou went'st
alone I did her find
In place that sorrow seemed to shape,
where no man stood her nigh,
But only I (unhappy wretch)
that heard her woeful cry.
And this with tears aloud she said,
" O wretch in ill time born,
" What chance hast thou, that thus thou hast
Sirenus sweet forlorn?
" Give over pleasures now,
let never joy thee please,
" Seek all the cruel means thou canst
that may thy heart disease.
" When thou dost him forget I wish
all mischiefs on thee light,
" And after death, the fiends of hell
torment thy living sprite."
What man would here believe
that she that thus could speak,
In so short time as I have been
away, would promise break?
O steadfastness and constancy,
how seldom are you found
In women's hearts to have your seats,
or long abiding ground?
Who look how much more earnest they
at first their hearts do set,
So much more sooner evermore,
where late they loved, forget.
Full well could ever I believe
all women guilty of this,
Save her alone, in whom I judge
never nature wrought amiss.
But since her marriage how she speeds
Silvan I pray thee tell?
Some say she likes it very ill,
and I believe it well;
For Delius, he that hath her now,
although he wealthy be,
Is but a lout, and hath in him
no handsome quality.
For as for all such things wherein
we shepherds have delight,
As in quoiting, leaping, singing or
to sound a bagpipe right,
In all these things he is but an ass,
and nothing do he can.
They say 'tis qualities, but tush,
it's riches makes a man.
What woman is that that cometh here,
Silvanus, canst thou tell?
It's one hath sped as well in love
as we: I know her well.
She is one of fair Diana's friends,
who keeps her beasts below
Not far from hence; by her thou maist
Diana's state well know.
She loved here a shepherd, called
Alanius, long ago,
Who favours one Ismenia now,
the cause of all her woe.
No place so fit for thee as this:
lo, here Silvanus stands,
Who hath received like luck to thine
at cruel Fortune's hands;
This company beseems thee well.
Fair shepherds both, good-den.
To thee Selvagia eke, of hope
whom Love hath spoiled clean,
A thousand better days I wish
than thou hast had before.
At length may better fortune fall,
for worse cannot be more.
To trust the feigned words of men,
lo, thus poor women speeds.
And men do smart not through your words,
but your unconstant deeds.
For you when earnestliest you love,
nothing can chance so light,
But if a toy come in your brain,
your mind is altered quite.
If we but once absent ourselves
the shortest time we may,
So much unconstant is your minds
love soareth straight away.
Example take Sirenus here,
whom once Diana loved,
As all we know, and look how soon
her mind is now removed.
No, no, there is not one of you
that constant can remain.
You judge but of malicious heart,
and of a jealous brain.
All things you do yourselves esteem,
and men must bear no blame.
Of your dissembling noughty deeds
we women bear the shame.
Fair damsel, if you can perceive,
Silvanus true doth say:
There is not one amongst you all
but doth from reason stray.
What is the cause that women thus
in their unconstancy,
Do cast a man from highest hap
to deepest misery?
It's nothing else, I you assure,
but that you know not well
What thing is love, and what you have
in hand you cannot tell.
Your simple wits are all too weak
unfeigned love to know,
And thereof doth forgetfulness
in you so shortly grow.
Sirenus, judge not so of us;
our wits be not so base,
But that we know as well as you
what's what in every case;
And women eke, there are enow
that could if they were brought
Teach men to live, and more to love,
if love might well be taught.
And for all this, yet do I think
nothing can worser be
Than women's state: it is the worst,
I think, of each degree.
For if they show but gentle words
you think for love they die;
And if they speak not when you list
then straight you say, they are high,
And that they are disdainful dames;
and if they chance to talk,
Then count you them for chattering pies
whose tongues must always walk;
And if perhaps they do forbear,
and silence chance to keep,
Then tush, she is not for company,
she is but a simple sheep;
And if they bear good will to one
then straight they are judged nought,
And if ill name to shun they leave
unconstant they are thought.
Who now can please these jealous heads?
The fault is all in you,
For women never would change their minds
if men would still be true.
Lo, this I well could answer you,
but time doth bid me stay.
And women must the last word have,
no man may say them nay.
Pass over this, and let us hear
what luck you have had in love,
And show if ever love of man
your constant heart could move.
No fitter place can be than this,
here may you safely rest,
Thus sitting here, declare at large
the secrets of your breast.
Nay, longer here we may not bide,
but home we must away.
Lo, how the sun denies his beams,
depriving us of day.
Finis Eglogae septimae.