Utopia. Thomas More (1515)
Utopos ha Boccas peu la chama polta chamaan.
Bargol he maglomi baccan soma gymnosophaon.
Agrama gymnosophon labarem bacha bodamilomin.
Volvala barchin heman la lavolvala dramme pagloni.
Which verses the translator, according to his simple knowledge and mean understanding in the Utopian tongue, hath thus rudely englished.
My king and conqueror Utopos by name,
A prince of much renown and immortal fame,
Hath made me an isle that erst no island was,
Full fraught with worldly wealth, with pleasure and solace.
I one of all other without philosophy
Have shaped for man a philosophical city.
As mine I am nothing dangerous to impart,
So better to receive I am ready with all my heart.
Me Utopie cleped Antiquity,
Void of haunt and herborough,
Now am I like to Plato’s city,
Whose fame flieth the world thorough;
Yea, like, or rather more likely Plato’s plat to excel and pass.
For what Plato’s pen hath platted briefly
In naked words, as in a glass,
The same have I performed fully,
With laws, with men, and treasure fitly.
Wherefore not Utopie, but rather rightly
My name is Eutopie: a place of felicity.
Doth pleasure please? Then place thee here, and well thee rest;
Most pleasant pleasures thou shalt find here.
Doth profit ease? Then here arrive, this isle is best.
For passing profits do here appear.
Doth both thee tempt, and wouldst thou grip both gain and pleasure ?
This isle is fraught with both bounteously.
To still thy greedy intent, reap here incomparable treasure
Both mind and tongue to garnish richly.
The hid wells and fountains both of vice and virtue
Thou hast them here subject unto thine eye.
Be thankful now, and thanks where thanks be due:
Give to Thomas More London’s immortal glory.
Wilt thou know what wonders strange be in the land that late was found?
Wilt thou learn thy life to lead by divers ways that godly be?
Wilt thou of virtue and of vice understand the very ground?
Wilt thou see this wretched world, how full it is of vanity?
Then read and mark and bear in mind for thy behoof, as thou may best,
All things that in this present work, that worthy clerk Sir Thomas More,
With wit divine full learnedly unto the world hath plain exprest,
In whom London well glory may, for wisdom and for godly lore.