0.1theatre.commendatory_poem.1.0.1 0.2theatre.commendatory_poem.1.0.2 0.3theatre.commendatory_poem.1.0.3 0.4theatre.commendatory_poem.1.0.4 0.5theatre.commendatory_poem.1.0.5 0.6theatre.commendatory_poem.1.0.6 1theatre.commendatory_poem.1.1 2theatre.commendatory_poem.1.2 3theatre.commendatory_poem.1.3 4theatre.commendatory_poem.1.4 5theatre.commendatory_poem.1.5 6theatre.commendatory_poem.1.6 7theatre.commendatory_poem.1.7 8theatre.commendatory_poem.1.8 9theatre.commendatory_poem.1.9 10theatre.commendatory_poem.1.10 11theatre.commendatory_poem.1.11 12theatre.commendatory_poem.1.12 13theatre.commendatory_poem.1.13 14theatre.commendatory_poem.1.14 15theatre.commendatory_poem.1.15 16theatre.commendatory_poem.1.16 17theatre.commendatory_poem.1.17 18theatre.commendatory_poem.1.18 19theatre.commendatory_poem.1.19 20theatre.commendatory_poem.1.20 21theatre.commendatory_poem.1.21 22theatre.commendatory_poem.1.22 23theatre.commendatory_poem.1.23 24theatre.commendatory_poem.1.24 25theatre.commendatory_poem.1.25 26theatre.commendatory_poem.1.26 27theatre.commendatory_poem.1.27 28theatre.commendatory_poem.1.28 29theatre.commendatory_poem.1.29 0.1theatre.commendatory_poem.2.0.1 0.2theatre.commendatory_poem.2.0.2 0.3theatre.commendatory_poem.2.0.3 1theatre.commendatory_poem.2.1 2theatre.commendatory_poem.2.2 3theatre.commendatory_poem.2.3 4theatre.commendatory_poem.2.4 5theatre.commendatory_poem.2.5 6theatre.commendatory_poem.2.6 7theatre.commendatory_poem.2.7 8theatre.commendatory_poem.2.8 9theatre.commendatory_poem.2.9
In commendationem operis ab Nobiliss. &et virtutis Studiosissimo Domino,Domino, Ioanne van der Noodt Patricio Antuerpiensiæditi, Carmen. M.RABILAE. Poetę Brabant.
HÆcHæc Babylon legat, &et discat sustollere cœlo
Hactenus addictum terræ caput, hic rata vitæ
Semita, quam specimen NothϾ nobile gentis
Dat legere, ille domo patria, certisquecertisque triumphis
Contemptis, &et quæ poterant spondere Curules,
Conscius haud vlloullo virtutem sanguine condi,
Ad maiora animum tulit, &et dat noscere mundo,
Hoc opere insignem luctum, tristesquetristesque labores
Vitæ huius: legat hæc Babylon, legat, imbuat aures
Illius hoc opus, &et si cui calligine cæca
Mens cooperata iacet, qui deuiadevia saxa pererrat
Rectum oblitus iter: licet illi hic nube redusta
Summum vestigare bonum: doctrina Sophorum
Ventilat, &et falso verum confundit inani.
O stolidas hominum mentes! non iste Deorum
Cultus: &et quando hos crudeli fune flagellans
Conscia mens corruptum animŭanimum ad meliora reducet!
VtUt iaceant idola! suus, quo cuncta mouenturmoventur,
Restituatur honos! aliquando benignior astris,
Deciderit fortuna tamen, nostrosquenostrosque labores,
Terrarum vtut fremitent furiata mente Tyranni,
Respiciet miserans summi regnat or Olympi.
At veræ quicunquequicunque viæ dinoscere Sydus,
ArdescisueArdescisve ducem, doctos euolueevolve labores,
Quos doctus tibi Nothæus vigilauitvigilavit ad vnguemunguem,
EqueEque vaporato fumo, qui corda tenebat,
Cultor agri tristes nebulas, vtiuti sole fugari
Aspicit, &et campos risum renouarerenovare iacentes,
Lucem ita conspicies tibi diluxisse serenam.
DOCTOR GERARDVSGERARDUS GOOSSENIVSGOOSSENIUS Medicus, Physicus, &et Poeta Brabant. moder. in Zoilum Octastichon.
ZOileZoile cur palles? cur vultus semper amarus?
Triste supercilium fronsquefronsque caprata tibi?
Displicet vtut video luci datus iste libellus:
Sed rogo cur oculis displicet iste tuis?
An quia papicolum ritus &et sacra reuellitrevellit
Idolis, viduam nec Babylona dolet?
Zoile, non curat morsus, nam sufficit illi,
Perplacuisse bonis, displicuisse malis.
Inoffensibilis Goosseni.
1.0.1–1.0.6 In commendationem . . . Brabant: ‘Poem in commendation of the work set forth by the most noble and virtuous Lord, John van der Noot, patrician of Antwerp, by “M. Rabilae”, poet of Brabant.’ ‘M. Rabilae’ is probably an anagram of the name of Melchior van Baerle (Barlaeus), Antwerp author of a number of Latin poems on mythological subjects.
2.0.1

Haec . . . serenam: ‘Let Babylon read these things and learn to rear its earth-bound head as far as heaven: here is the sure path to life, which the noble example of van der Noot gives to men to read. Scorning his homeland, certain victories, and official rewards, aware that virtue has no foundation in blood, he has raised his mind to greater things and, by this work, lets the world know of his uncommon suffering and of his life's sad labors.

‘Let Babylon read these things; let it read and fill its ears with this work. And if anyone's mind is shrouded in dark mists and, forgetful of the right path, wanders across trackless rocks, here, the mists removed, he may find out the Supreme Good. The teachings of the ‘Wise’ disperse the truth and jumble it with empty falsehood. O senseless minds of men! Not that Church of the Gods but the alerted mind, lashing these Learned ones with a harsh rope, will lead the corrupted soul to better things.

‘O that the idols lay overthrown! May His honor, which moves all things, be restored. Yet sometimes a kinder fortune will drop from the stars and the piteous rulers of most high Olympus will behold our struggles, behold how the tyrants of all lands rage with furious mind. But whoever is inflamed to discover the star that points out the true path, read here these learned, late-night labors which learned van der Noot has wrought for you. Like the Ploughman who watches the clouds chased away by the sun and the fields renew their smiling, so will you see a tranquil light shine out, through the dense smoke, for you.’

2.0.1 GERARDVS GOOSSENIVS: Like van der Noot, the author of this commendatory poem was a member of the Dutch refugee community in England, having left the Netherlands in 1566. Shortly after the publication of the Theatre, van Goossens fell foul of the authorities of the Dutch Church owing to a dispute with one of the elders, John Engelram, after which he moved to Canterbury.
2.0.1–2.0.3 DOCTOR . . . Zoilum: ‘Doctor Gerard Goosens, Physician, Scientist, and Poet, Governor of Brabant; an Octastich on Zoilus’. Zoilus was a literary scholar of the fourth century B.C.E., notorious for the harshness of his criticism of Homer.
2.0.3 Ocastichon: An octastich is an eight-line poem.
Close
Building display . . .
Re-selecting textual changes . . .

Introduction

The toggles above every page allow you to determine both the degree and the kind of editorial intervention present in the text as you read it. They control, as well, the display of secondary materials—collational notes, glosses, and links to commentary.

Textual Changes

The vagaries of early modern printing often required that lines or words be broken. Toggling Modern Lineation on will reunite divided words and set errant words in their lines.

Off: That a large share it hewd out of the rest, (blest.And glauncing downe his shield, from blame him fairely (FQ I.ii.18.8-9)On: That a large share it hewd out of the rest,And glauncing downe his shield, from blame him fairely blest.

Toggling Expansions on will undo certain early modern abbreviations.

Off: Sweet slõbring deaw, the which to sleep them biddes:(FQ I.i.36.4)On: Sweet slombring deaw, the which to sleep them biddes:

Toggling Modern Characters on will convert u, v, i, y, and vv to v, u, j, i, and w. (N.B. the editors have silently replaced ſ with s, expanded most ligatures, and adjusted spacing according contemporary norms.)

Off: And all the world in their subiection held,Till that infernall feend with foule vprore(FQ I.i.5.6-7)On: And all the world in their subjection held,Till that infernall feend with foule uprore

Toggling Lexical Modernizations on will conform certain words to contemporary orthographic standards.

Off: But wander too and fro in waies vnknowne(FQ I.i.10.5)On: But wander to and fro in waies vnknowne.

Toggling Emendations on will correct obvious errors in the edition on which we base our text and modernize its most unfamiliar features.

Most lothsom, filthie, foule, and full of vile disdaine(FQ I.i.14.9)14.9. Most lothsom] this edn.;Mostlothsom 1590

(The text of 1590 reads Mostlothsom, while the editors’ emendation reads Most lothsom.)

Apparatus

Toggling Collation Notes on will highlight words that differ among printings.

And shall thee well rewarde to shew the place,(FQ I.i.31.5)5. thee] 1590; you 1596, 1609

(The text of 1590 reads thee, while the texts of 1596 and 1609 read you.)

Toggling Commentary Links on will show links to the editors’ commentary.

Toggling Line Numbers on will show the number of the line within each stanza.

Toggling Stanza Numbers on will show the number of the stanza within each canto.

Toggling Glosses on will show the definitions of unfamiliar words or phrases.

To my long approoved and singular good frende, Master G.H.(Letters I.1)1. long aprooved: tried and true,found trustworthy over along period
v2026-4-14_13:20