Introduction
xli
by Sir Thomas Challoner, Ambassador to the Low Countries in 1559-60, and to Spain in 1561-65. These renderings in a variety of metres are so spirited as to make us wish Sir Thomas had translated the whole of the metres, as he says he was willing to do, if the burdensome duties of his office had allowed him. He also alludes to a prose version of the Consolation recently made, doubtless Colvile's.
Book i, metr. i.
(1)
When Phoebus in the Crabb on hye
Doth make the landes to reeke
With parching heatt:
Then he that loweth the fforowes drye
Must for his harvest seeke
To Akorne meate.
Doth make the landes to reeke
With parching heatt:
Then he that loweth the fforowes drye
Must for his harvest seeke
To Akorne meate.
(2)
Seeke never to the pleasant wood
The violettes to gether
Of purple hewe;
When wynter wyndes have waxen, woodd
And ffildes with frosen wether
Ar hore besnewe.
The violettes to gether
Of purple hewe;
When wynter wyndes have waxen, woodd
And ffildes with frosen wether
Ar hore besnewe.
(3)
Nor seeke to croppe with greedy haste,
For grapes in Springingtyde,
The budding vine:
For he that will of Baccus taste,
He mast till harvest byde,
That rypes the wyne.
For grapes in Springingtyde,
The budding vine:
For he that will of Baccus taste,
He mast till harvest byde,
That rypes the wyne.
(4)
The tymes hath God himself so bounde
To kepe their season due,
By turne assignde,
To kepe their season due,
By turne assignde,
Nor
