Classic Poem

Egloga quinta.

[The Fifth Eclogue.]

Mopsus Egon

Some doleful thing there is at hand
thy countenance doth declare:
Thy face, good Egon, void of blood,
thine eyes amazed stare.
I see thy tears, how they do still
disclose thy secret mind:
Hath Fortune frowned late on thee?
Hath Cupid been unkind? Egon

A piteous thing to be bewailed,
a desperate act of love, —
O Destinies! such cruel broils
how have you power to move?
Here lived a lady fair of late,
that Claudia men did call,
Of goodly form, — yea such a one
as far surmounted all.
The stately dames that in this Court
to show themselves do lie,
There was not one in all the crew
that could come Claudia nigh.
A worthy knight did love her long,
and for her sake did feel
The pangs of love, that happen still
by frowning Fortune's wheel.
He had a page, Valerius named,
whom so much he did trust,
That all the secrets of his heart
to him declare he must,
And made him all the only means
to sue for his redress,
And to entreat for grace to her
that caused his distress.
She whenas first she saw his page
was straight with him in love,
That nothing could Valerius' face
from Claudia's mind remove.
By him was Faustus often heard,
by him his suits took place,
By him he often did aspire
to see his lady's face.
This passed well, till at the length,
Valerius sore did sue,
With many tears beseeching her
his master's grief to rue;
And told her that if she would not
release his master's pain,
He never would attempt her more,
nor see her once again.
She then with mazed countenance there
and tears that gushing fell,
Astonied answered thus, " Lo now,
alas, I see too well,
" How long I have deceived been
by thee, Valerius, here.
" I never yet believed before
nor till this time did fear
" That thou didst for thy master sue,
but only for my sake
" And for my sight, I ever thought
thou didst thy travail take.
" But now I see the contrary:
thou nothing car'st for me,
" Since first thou knew'st the fiery flames
that I have felt by thee.
" O Lord, how ill thou dost requite
that I for thee have done!
" I curse the time that friendship first
to show I have begun.
" O Lord I Thee beseech, let me
in time revenged be,
" And let him know that he hath sinned
in this misusing me.
" I cannot think but Fortune once
shall thee reward for all,
" And vengeance due for thy deserts
in time shall on thee fall.
" And tell thy master Faustus now,
if he would have me live,
" That never more he sue to me:
this answer last I give.
" And thou, O traitor vile,
and enemy to my life,
" Absent thyself from out my sight;
procure no greater strife.
" Since that these tears had never force
to move thy stony heart,
" Let never these my wearied eyes
see thee no more. Depart."
This said, in haste she hieth in,
and there doth vengeance call,
And strake herself with cruel knife
and bloody down doth fall.
This doleful chance when Faustus heard,
lamenting loud he cries,
And tears his hair and doth accuse
the unjust and cruel skies.
And in this raging mood away
he stealeth out alone,
And gone he is no man knows where:
each man for him doth moan.
Valerius, when he doth perceive
his master to be gone,
He weeps and wails in piteous plight
and forth he runs anon.
No man knows where he is become:
some say the woods he took,
Intending there to end his life,
on no man more to look.
The Court laments, the Princess eke
herself doth weep for woe.
Lo, Faustus fled, and Claudia dead,
Valerius vanished so.
Finis Eglogae quintae .