5 JOSEPH HALL FROM VIRGIDEMIARUM LIBRI SEX BOOK I, SATIRE VI Another scorns the home-spun thread of rhymes, "Manhood and garboils" shall he chaunt with chaungèd feet, And head-strong dactyls making music meet; The drawling spondees pacing it below; The ling'ring spondees labouring to delay ΙΟ If Jove speak English in a thund'ring cloud, "Thwick thwack" and "riff raff" roars he out aloud. Fie on the forgèd mint that did create New coin of words never articulate! 15 1597. BOOK III, SATIRE I Time was, and that was termed the time of gold, Time was that, whiles the autumn fall did last, Could no unhuskèd acorn leave the tree But there was challenge made whose it might be. ΙΟ 15 20 25 30 5 But when, by Ceres' huswif'ry and pain, 35 Then farewell fairest age, the world's best days, 40 Then crept in pride and peevish covetise, And men grew greedy, discordous, and nice. Now, man, that erst hail-fellow was with beast, Wox on to ween himself a god at least. 45 No aëry fowl can take so high a flight, Though she her daring wings in clouds have dight; Nor fish can dive so deep in yielding sea, Though Thetis' self should swear her safety; Nor fearful beast can dig his cave so low, 50 All could he further than earth's center go; As that the air, the earth, or ocean Should shield them from the gorge of greedy man. Hath utmost Inde aught better than his own? Then utmost Inde is near, and rife to gone. 55 Thy grandsire's words savoured of thrifty leeks 60 The drunken draughts of sweet autumnity. Or homespun russet, void of foreign pride; But thou canst mask in garish gaudery, To suit a fool's far-fetchèd livery: 65 A French head joined to neck Italian; Thy thighs from Germany, and breast from Spain; Many in one, and one in several. Then men were men; but now the greater part 70 Beasts are in life, and women are in heart. Good Saturn's self, that homely emperour, As is the undergroom of the ostlery, Lo, the long date of those expired days Which the inspirèd Merlin's word foresays: Then farewell fairest age, the world's best days, 1597. JOHN MARSTON THE SCOURGE OF VILLAINY FROM SATIRE VII "A man, a man, a kingdom for a man!" Thou Cynic dog, see'st not the streets do swarm And muddy dirt of sensuality. These are no men, but apparitions, 75 80 5 ΙΟ Ignes fatui, glow-worms, fictions, Meteors, rats of Nilus, fantasies, 15 Colosses, pictures, shades, resemblances." “A man, a man!” “Peace, Cynic, yon 's a man! Behold yon sprightly dread Mavortian; With him I stop thy currish barking chops." "What, mean'st thou him that in his swaggering slops Wallows unbraced all along the street? 20 He that salutes each gallant he doth meet With 'Farewell, sweet captain; kind heart, adieu'; 25 Cries out, 'Que va la? zounds, que?' and out doth draw 30 Swart snout, big looks, misshapen Switzers' clothes: 35 And wasted clean away his martial sprite; Hath eaten out that sacred influence "Peace "Peace, Cynic; see, what yonder doth approach: 40 A cart? a tumbrel? No, a badgèd coach. What's in 't? Some man. No, nor yet womankind, But a celestial angel, fair, refined." "The devil as soon! Her mask so hinders me 'Tis the right resemblance of old Janus' brow. Her mask, her vizard, her loose-hanging gown (For her loose-lying body), her bright-spangled crown, Her long slit sleeve, stiff busk, puff verdingal, Is all that makes her thus angelical. 55 Alas! her soul struts round about her neck; Her seat of sense is her rebato set; Her intellectual is a feignèd niceness, Nothing but clothes and simpering preciseness." |