The seauenth Chapter, of the English Elegeick verse.
THe Elegeick verses challenge the next place, as being of all compound verses the simplest. They are deriu'd out of our owne naturall numbers as neere the imitation of the Greekes and Latines, as our heauy sillables will permit. The first verse is a meere licentiate Iambick; the second is fram'd of two united Dimeters. In the first Dimeter we are tyed to make the first foote either a Trochy or a Spondee, the second a Trochy, and the odde sillable of it alwaies long. The second Dimeter consists of two Trochyes (because it requires more swiftnes then the first) and an odde sillable, which being the last, is euer common. I will giue you an example both of Elegye and Epigramme, in this kinde.
An Elegye
Constant to none, but euer false to me,
Traiter still to loue through thy faint desires,
Not hope of pittie now nor vaine redresse
Turns my griefs to teares, and renu'd laments
Too well thy empty vowes, and hollow thoughts
Witnes both thy wrongs, and remorseles hart.
Rue not my sorrow, but blush at my name,
Let thy bloudy cheeks guilty thoughts betray.
My flames did truly burne, thine made a shew,
As fires painted are which no heate retayne,
Or as the glossy Pirop faines to blaze,
But touches cold appeares, and an earthly stone,
True cullours deck thy cheeks, false foiles thy brest,
Frailer then thy light beawty is thy minde.
None canst thou long refuse, nor long affect,
But turn'st feare with hopes, sorrow with delight,
Delaying, and deluding eu'ry way
Those whose eyes are once with thy beawty chain'd.
Thrice happy man that entring first thy loue,
Can so guide the straight raynes of his desires,
That both he can regard thee, and refraine:
If grac't, firme he stands, if not easely falls.
Example of the Epigrams, in Elegeick verse.
The firstEpigramme.
Arthure brooks only those that brooke not him,
Those he most regards, and deuoutly serues:
But them that grace him his brau'ry skornes,
Counting kindnesse all duty, not desert:
Arthure wnats forty pounds, tyres eu'ry friend,
But finds none that holds twenty due for him.
The second Epigramme.
If fancy can not erre which vertue gaides,
In thee Laura then fancy can not erre.
The third Epigramme.
Drue feasts no Puritans, the churles he faith
Thanks no men, but eate, praise God, and depart
The fourth Epigramme.
A wiseman wary liues, yet most secure,
Sorowes moue not him greatly, nor delights.
Fortune and deathe he skorning, only makes
Th'earth his sober Inne, but still heau'n his home
The fift Epigramme.
Thou telst me Barnzy Dawson hath a wife,
Thine he hath I graunt, Dawson hath a wife.
The sixtEpigramme.
DrueGiues thee money, yet thou thankst not him,
But thankst God for him, like a Godly man.
Suppose rude Puritan thou begst of him,
And he saith God help, who's the godly man?
The seauenth Epigramme.
All wonders Barnzy speakes, all grosely faind,
Speake some wonder once Barnzy, speake the truth.
The eight Epigramme.
None then shouldst through thy beawty Laura pine,
Might sweet words alone ease a loue-ick heart:
But your sweet words alone that quit so well
Hope of friendly deeds kill the loue-sick heart.
The ninth Epigramme.
All thou frankly throwst, while Frank thy wife
Bears not Luke the mayn, Oteny barre the bye.
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