A CONCEITED FABLE OF THE OLD COMEDIAN ESOP. AN ant and a grasshopper, walking together on a green, the one carelessly skipping, the other carefully prying what winter's provision was scattered in the way; the grasshopper scorning (as wantons will) this needless thrift, as he termed it, reproved him thus; The greedy miser thirsteth still for gain; His thrift is theft, his weal works others woe: That fool is fond which will in caves remain, When 'mongst fair sweets he may at pleasure go. To this, the ant, perceiving the grasshopper's meaning, quickly replied; The thrifty husband spares what unthrifts spends, His thrift no theft, for dangers to provide; Trust to thyself; small hope in want yield friends: A cave is better than the deserts wide. In short time these two parted, the one to his pleasure, the other to his labour. Anon harvest grew on, and reft from the grasshopper his wonted moisture. Then weakly skips he to the meadows' brinks, where till fell winter he abode. But storms continually pouring, he went for succour to the ant, his old acquaintance, to whom he had scarce discovered his estate, but the little worm made this reply; Pack hence, quoth he, thou idle, lazy worm; Thou scorn'd'st to toil, and now thou feel'st the storm, For toiling labour hates an idle guest. The grasshopper, foodless, helpless, and strengthless, got into the next brook, and in the yielding sand digged himself a pit: by which likewise he engraved this epitaph; н 2 When spring's green prime arrayed me with delight, And dry the morning's tears from herbs and grass, And then day lost I mourned, spring past I wailed; Then blest are they that, like the toiling ant, With this the grasshopper, yielding to the weather's extremity, died comfortless without remedy. WE FROM CICERONIS AMOR.* VERSES. HEN gods had framed the sweet of women's face, And locked men's looks within their golden hair, That Phoebus blushed to see their matchless grace, And heavenly gods on earth did make repair; Ciceronis Amor. Tully's Love. Wherein is discoursed the prime of Cicero's youth, setting out in lively pourtraitures how young gentlemen that aim at honor should level the end of their affections, holding the love of country and friends in more esteem than those fading blossoms of beauty, that only feed the curious survey of the eye. A work full of pleasure as following Cicero's vein, who was as conceited To quip fair Venus' overweening pride, VERSUS. VITA que tandem magis est jucunda, Vel viris doctis magis expetenda, Vita quæ tandem magis est dolenda, Nulla eam tollit medicina pestem, MARS SONG. ARS in a fury 'gainst love's brightest queen, Put on his helm, and took him to his lance; On Erycinus' mount was Mavors seen, And there his ensigns did the god advance, And by heaven's greatest gates he stoutly swore, Venus should die for she had wronged him sore. Cupid heard this, and he began to cry, And wished his mother's absence for a while: 'Peace, fool,' quoth Venus, is it I must die? Must it be Mars?' with that she coined a smile; in his youth, as grave in his age; profitable, as containing precepts worthy so famous an orator. Robert Greene, in Artibus Magister. Omne tulit punctum qui miscuit utile dulci. 1589. She trimmed her tresses, and did curl her hair, She passed the place where furious Mars did stand, He vowed repentance for his rash misdeed, But charged him not to threaten beauty so, ROUNDELAY. FOND, feigning poets make of love a god, And leave the laurel for the myrtle boughs, When Cupid is a child not past the rod, And fair Diana Daphne most allows: I'll wear the bays, and call the wag a boy, And think of love but as a foolish toy. Some give him bow and quiver at his back, Some make him blind to aim without advice, When, naked wretch, such feathered bolts he lack, And sight he hath, but cannot wrong the wise; For use but labour's weapon for defence, And Cupid, like a coward, flieth thence. He's god in court, but cottage calls him child, LENTULUS'S DESCRIPTION OF TERENTIA IN LATIN. Qualis in eximio corpore forma fuit: UALIS in aurora splendescit lumine Titan, Lumina seu spectes radiantia, sive capillos, THUS IN ENGLISH. BRIGHTSOME Apollo in his richest pomp, Was not like to the trammels of her hair; Her cheeks, rich strewed with roses and with white, THE SHEPHERD'S ODE. WALKING in a valley green, Spread with Flora, summer queen, Where she heaping all her graces, Niggard seemed in other places; |