LONDON

AT THE DE LA MORE PRESS

The . X V. Rookes

P.Ou id ius Na so,entytu led

Metamorphosis, translated oute of

L a tin into 87zglz'

5 b meeter,by d r

thur Go lding G entleman,

A worke very plea saunt

a nd delefia é/e.

W i th ski ll, h eede, and judgem ent, t h i s worke m ust be read ,For else to the Reade r i t st andes in smal l stead.

Imprynted at London,by

H/ z'

llyamSerey .

As the soni c of Euphorbus was thought to l ive i n Pythagoras,so the witty soule of Ovid l ives i n mell ifluous andShakespeare.

!—FramisMares,1 5 78.

Ovidius the man ; and why i ndeed but forell ing out th e odoriferous flowers of fancy

, the j erks of invent ion .”

Loves Labour’

s Lost.

C O N T E N T S

PAGE

Epistle

Preface (too th e Reader)

First Booke of Ovids Metamorphosis

Seconde Booke

Th ird Booke

Fourth Booke

Fyft Booke

Seven th Booke

Eleventh Booke

SHAKESPEARE AND OVID .-Amongst the direc t sources of Shakes

peare’s works,after North ’s Pluta re/z and Hol inshed, probably the most importan t

was Ovid. The Fa sti, the Heroides, and theMetamorphoses were just such works aswould be most l ikely to impress a young mind ; and Shakespeare

’s early ambitionseems to have been to be the English Ovid, whilst accident made h im a dramati st .Thus i n h is Luerece and his Venus and Adam'

s he direc tly challenges comparison .His themes are of the same romantic and imaginative stufl' ; h i s method the samer ich and picturesque description ; and the motto upon the title of the Venus and

Adam'

s shows that he took the attempt seriously. I n th is respect he j udged trulyof h is powers

,although he enormously underestimated them . Other dramati sts

have pourtrayed the doing s and the fate of men so as to move our souls ; but noother has taken us i nto fai ry land, and made imps and fays l ive before u s asShakespeare has done . Ben Jonson and Middleton have done someth ing fordemons and witches ; Goeth e has realized a devil ; but with Shakespeare alonethe world of faery seems to be real and reasonable a s flesh and blood.

Professor T. S . Baynes has shown by a detailed examination,that Shakes

peare k: -ew the grammar-schoo l course. ‘ I n Holofernes, th e poet represents thepedantic teach ing wh ich migh t have been heard i n many a country schoolroomand shows h i s famil iar i ty wi th the various methods of instruction then i n vogue

,

the technical terms of rhetoric,and the favouri te authors. There are bes ides

many references and allusions i n Shakespeare to the classical authors, whichin part may, but need not be due to floati ng knowledge. I n particular, i t i scl ear that he knew Ovid in the origi nal . On the ti tle page of Venus and Adam

'

s,

one of the three works wh ich he publi shed h imself under h i s own name,he

places the following motto taken from the Amores (I . XV. 3 5 which was not

yet translated into Engli shVi lia m iretu r vu s : mih i flavus Apollopocu la Castali a p cm ministret aqua .

He makes two quotations from the Heroides,and one from the Metamorpboses.

’

The selection of Ti tania as the name of h i s Fai ry Queen seems to be due to thetext of the Metamorphoses, where i t frequently occurs as an epi thet of variousgoddesses, such as Diana, Latona , Circe, Hecate.3 The name does not occur i nGolding’s translation , where i t i s always paraphrased and i t happily sums up th emagi cal and mystic as soc iations of mythology. A large number of tales andepisodes found i n Ovid are referred to or used by Shakespeare, especially i nh is earl ier lays. I n Titus Andronieus, for instance, the treatment of Lavin ia i sborrowed rom the “ tragic tale of To enter now upon detailedexamination of h is allusions wou ld be ou t of place.

-u v

1 T. S. Baynes, Skates/Jean Stud ” (Longman, Green 8c Co ., 1 896) 1 78 fl!

. H is essay on Waa tSoakespeare Lean t at Sefiool occupies a la rge part of the volume. The latest researches on the subjec tare summed up and supplemen ted by H . R. D. Anders, Sfiakespeare’s B oob : A Dissertationon Shakespeare

’s Read ing and a: Immedia te sourcesqis Works (Berl in : Re imer, Schriften der

Deutschen Shakespea re-Gese llschaft Bd . I .f Her. i ., 3 3 -4 in Tamingmt: Sérew i i i ., x. 28 Her. 11. 66 in 3 ; Hen. V I ., i ., 3 . 48 Met. i .

1 50 i n Tit Andr, VI ., 3 . 4 ; Anders, p . 2 1 .

3 Baynes, p . 2 10.

4 Baynes, p. 2 16 . For deta ils of Shakespeare’s debt to Ov id, and the c lassica l wri ters genera lly,see Bayn es 2 2 3 ii i , and Anders 24 who introduces one or two new po ints.

THE BODLEIAN OVID.—There is however another piece of evidence

which deserves to be mentioned. In the Bodleian l ibrary i s a copy of Ovid’sMetamorp/zases, printed byAldus i n 1 502 ,which bears on the title page the signature‘Wm

.and opposi te i s wri tten i n what appears to be a seventeenth centu ry

hand : This l i ttle Booke of Ovid was giuen to me by W. Hall who sayd i t wasonce Will . Shaksperes T.N. John Hall , i t will be remembered,married Shakespeare

’s daughter Susanna. The genuineness of the inscription shas of course been questioned, but there i s nothin

gabout them to suggest

forgery. I t has been pe rti nen tly remarked that a orger would hardly haveabbreviated the name . He would have been l ikely, we may add, to wri teJ . Hal l i nstead ofW. Hall, and to

give more i nformation than the i n i tials T.N.

The vague all usiveness i s in their vour ; and probably they would have beenat once accepted

,but that the find was felt to be too good to be true. The

book has been u sed by more than one person for study. One has wri tteni n a fine minute hand meanings and paraphrases i n Lati n above the textthroughout th e earl ier part of the volume. Many verses have been underli ned,espec ially in the earlier books, and very few pages but show some marks of use .There are also marginal scribblings and cari catures, which are carelessly done,and do not appear to be so old as the rest.

EARLY TRANSLATIONS OF OVID .—Ovid was a favourite with th e

early translators. Caxton prepared for the press, but did not p ri n t, a translationof theMetamorp/zoses ; and Wynkyn de Worde printed in 1 5 1 3 , select ions fromthe Art of Love. After th e middle of th e sixteenth centu ry there are (besidesGolding) Turberv ille

'

s Heroides Underdowne’

s Ibis and Churchyard’s Tn'

stia ( 1 Later we haveMarlowe'sElegies, theAntares ( 1 Browne’sR emedie af Low and others in the early years of the seven teenth century.

GOLDING’S OVID .—Besides these

, two pamphlets deserve mention asforerunners of Golding. One i s “The Pleasan t Fable of Hermaphrodi tu s andSalmacis,

! translated by Thomas Peend The ti tle of the second deservesquoting in full.The Fable of Ovid treting of Narc issus

,translated ou t of Latin i nto

Englysh Mytre, with a moral therunto, very pleasante to rede. MDLX.

God resysteth the proud in every place,But unto the humble he geveth graceTherefore trust not to riches

,beauti nor strength

All these be vayne and shall consume at length .Imprynted at London by Thomas H acketh ,

and are to be sold at hys sh0pi n Cannynge Strete, over agaynste the thre Cranes.

The contents of this pamphlet, which is not paged, are these : The Prenter tothe Booke (1 The Argument of the Fable ( 1 Ovid’s Fable (4. pp. in couplets,l ines of 1 : syllab les and 14. syllables a lterna tely) ; The Mora l iza tion of the Fab le inOvid of Narc issus (26 pp. in seven-l ine stanza). Imprint : on reverseWoodcut ofHunters with bows and dogs.

The ti tle suggests Golding’s own, so

‘

pleasan t and delectable,’ with i ts

doggrell couplet. The publication of the pamphlet may have suggested th ework to young Golding ; perhaps he may even have owed something to themetre, wh i ch d ifl

'

ers from Golding’s own by a pause i n place of a foot i n the fi rstSee an

’article (kindly po inted out to me byMr. Madam) by F. A. Leo in 1 4mm der Ska tes

peare-Geselfsefiafl X VI., 362 ff. The name does not appea r to me to be Séakspare, as Leo wri tes it.The two e 3 , though defect ive seem to be there, but the r is slurred.

i i .

line of each couplet. The long line had however already been u sed for asim ilar purpo se by Thomas Phaer i n h is Sevenfirst Bookes of the Eneides of Vig il]1 5 5 8, continued in 1 5 62 . But if Golding owed a suggestion to h i s predecessor,he owed little else

,as a brief extract will show.

Th is man the fearefu ll hartes, inforcynge to hys nettesThe caulyng nimphe one daye, beheld that nether ever lettesTo talke to those that speake, nor yet bathe power of speechcBefore by Ecco th i s I mene

, the dobbeler of skreeche.

F ive years after the publi cation of the Fable of Ov id treting of Na rcissus,

Golding pri nted h i s first attempt on the Metamorp lzoses under the followi ng t i tleThe Fyrst Fower Boc kes of P Ou idiu s Nasos Worke, i nti tled

Metamorphosi s,translated oute ofLati n i nto Engl ishe meter by Arthur

Goldi

‘

r

;gGent. A woorke very pleasant and delectable.ith skill

,heede

,and judgmen t

,thys woorke must bee red For

els too th e reader i t s tands i n sma ll stead.Impri nted at London by Willyam Seres . Anno. 1 565 .

This i s followed by a prose dedication to R obert Earl ofLei cester.Too the R ight Honourable and h i s singular good Lorde R obert Earle

of Leycester,Baron of Denbygyh, Knyght of the moste noble order of the

Garter etc .,Arthur Go ldyng gent. wisheth conti nuance of h ealth, with

prosperous estate and fuel icitie.I f th i s woorke wa s fully performed with lyke eloquence and connyng

of endyting by me in Engl ishe, as i t was wri tten by Thau thor thereof in h i smoo ther toonge, i t might perchaunce delight your honor too bestowe somevacant tyme i n the reading of i t, for the nomber of excellent devi ses andfyne i nven tions contrived i n the same, purporting outwardly moste pleasantta les and delec table h istori es

,and fraughted inwardlye with most pithth ie

i n structions and wholsome examples, and conteyn ng bothe wayes mosteex u isite connynge and decpc knowledge. Wheref

yore too countervayle my

de ult, I request mos te humblye the benefyte of your L. favor, wherebyyou are wont not oulye too beare wi th the want of skill and rudenes se ofsuch e as commit thei r doo inges too your protection, but also are woont tooencourage them to proceede i n th ei r paynfull exercises attempted of a zealeand desyre too enryche their native language wi th thinges not hertoofore

publi sh ed in the same. Thassured hope and confidence wherof, (furtheredby the privi ledge of the new yeere, which of an auncient and laudablecustome, l icenceth men too tes tifye thei r good willes, not only too theirfriendes and acquain tance, but al so too their betters and superiours, bypresentes though never so simple,) giueth me boldnesse too dedicate th i s mym aymed and imperfect translation of th e firs te fower bookes of OvidesMetamorphosis untoo your honor, and too offer i t unto you for a pooreNeweyeres gi ft, I confesse not correspondent too your worthynes se, or mydesyre, bu t yet agreable too the state of the giuer. The which if i t mayeplease you too take in good part, I accompt my former travel] heri nsufli crently recompensed, and th ink myself greatly enforced too perseveri n the fu ll accomplishement of all th e whole woorke. And thus beseechingGod to send your Honor many prosperous and

'

oyfu ll Newyeres : I ceasetoo trowble you any further at th i s ryme. At ecill House

,the xxiij . of

December, Anno 1 5 64 .

Your good L. most humbly too commandArthur Goldyng.

The preface i n verse,To the R eader, appears i n the same form as i n the

complete work,with a few smal l differences, the omission of two l i nes ( 1 97

and the following four in place of li nes 1 74-7I purpose nowe (i f God permit) as here I have beegonneSo through al Ovids turned shapes with restl es se race to ronneUntill such time as bringing h im acquainted with ou r toong,He may a lyke in Engli sh verse as i n h i s owne bee soong.

When the task was done, these lines had need to be altered to sui t the ease. Thetext of the four books is substantially the same as that of the later edi tions ; thech ief variants are noted in the Appendix. Each book i s separately numbered byfolios. The pecul iarities of spell ing more resemble the first ( 1 5 67) than thesecond edi tionA comparison of the Fower Bookes and the two first edi tions will show that

th e workwas revi sed. There are a very large number of small changes, i n wordsand i n order

,and corrections of defective metre, which make the second edit ion

on the whole better than the fi rst. Sometimes the second introduces new faultsof i ts own ; but these are all due to careless printing. I n a few cases a li ne or acouplet has been recast.

To take a few examplesDs rz cr xvx LINES.

I I . 65 3 Ed. i . omits o ther VI I. 3 1 8 Ed i omits tryple109 1 Ed. 11 the 1 107 the befire LoveI I I . 809 you

Some errors are repea ted from the Fower B ookes, others (as I I I . 809) were correct inthat issue. There are a lso a considerable number of sma ller m isprints, such as theom ission of a letter (IV. 256 daugher).

Excessive l ine : V. 794 Ed. i . inserts thereof after part .'

Wow s Cnanc z o

I . 1 1 5 Ed. i ferti le1 34, Autumne

5 2 2 apphe

5 66 workes

I I . 3 24 brakes626 G od

IX . 45 : brestsPnna sz s s sw .

I . 1 50 Ed i had ygrowe Ed 11. high d id growe302 He d id remember furthermore And furthermore he cald to myud3 1 0 He d id determ ine H e ful l determ ind

LINES RECAST.

Ed i The stepdames fel l their husbands sonnes w i th poyson doTo see their fa thers l ive so long the chi ldren doe bewayle.

Ed 11 With grisly poyson stepdames fel l the ir husbands Sonnes assayle.

The Son inquyres aforehand when h is fa thers lyfe sha ll fayle.

Thus hy ‘

the m ightie powre ofGods ere longer t ime was past,And thus by Gods almyghtie powre, before long tyme was past,(The bloud by force of that same hea te drawne to the outer partAnd there adust from tha t time forth) became so blacke and swart

Ed. i i . (By reason tha t their bloud was drawne foorth to the owter partAnd there bescorched) d id becomme ay after black and swart.O thou envious wa l l (they sayd,) why letst those loversthus ?0 spyteful l wall (sayd they) why doost part us lovers thus ?Whome thou vouchsafest for thy w ife and bedfellow for tooWhom thou thy wyfe and bedfel low vouchsafest for too bee.

iv.

The d ifferences of Spell ing between the two ed itions have not been recorded in thenotes, but they are suffic iently interesting to deserve notice. Ed. i i . affec ts double vowelsas bee, bee, sbee, wee, doo, too, mootber, moome, loobes locks), belee/e, gree/Z', cleere,fierce,field,Jeere. The symbo ls 00 and t‘e in the black letter are ea ch a compos i te type, the latter beingaccented as a ru le ; but the same pecul iari ties show themse lves in the Epistle to Fower

B ook s, where Roman type is used and the two symbo ls 00, ee are separate. This must

therefore be regarded as a spell ing defin i tely preferred. O ther pecu l iarit ies are : bin, blud,breta, Jetti , beare, ba rt, bir, wex (almost a lways for wax), voutsafe. For the above typesEd. i . prefers the fo llowing : be, be, stie, we, Joe, to, motber, moume, lobes, beliefi, griefi,

eleare,feiree, (fierce,fiers) ,field, year, berie, blond,fiend breatb, dea tb, ba it-e, beart,

bar, wax , oouebsafe. But Ed. i i . is no t cons istent, and probab ly every variety of spel l ing is tobe found there. It is a lso to be not iced that in the seventh book of Ed. i . a change takesplace in the spe ll ing, which approximates the la tter ha lf of Ed. i . to Ed. 11. Some of the

pecul iari t ies of Ed. i ., VI I .-X V. and Ed . i i . appear a lso in the Epistle and Prefate to Ed. i .Fower B ookes uses the double letters, but partakes of the pecul iar i ties of bo th.

The ‘ Fower Bookes ’ present another pecu l iari ty, in beginn ing many l ines with a sma llletter. Th is is done very frequently when the sentence runs on from l ine to l ine ; and itsprinc iple may be seen from a comparison of the passage I., 707-809 , where a smal l letterbegins the fol lowing lines : 709 -7 14. inclusive, 7 2 3 , 729, 7 3 5 , 7 38, 740, 74 1 , 744, 748,7 50, 7 54, 75 5 . 7 5 7-6 1 , 766, 769, 774, 777. 778, 780. 784

-788.790. 79 1 , 793 . 79 5 , 797

799, 803 , 805-807 .

In the complete ed itions, the in itial sma ll letter is found now and aga in, butapparen tly by acc ident.

SHAKESPEARE AND GOLDING .-There i s no doubt that Shakes

peare u sed Golding . ‘ I n the Temest,’ Prospero cri es

Ye elves of h ills, brooks, standing lakes and groves !echoing the words of Golding.3

Ye Ayres and windes : ye Elves of Hill es, of Brookes, of Woods al one

Of standing Lakes, and of the Night approche ye everychone.

I n Venus and Adonis ,‘ there i s a desc ription of the BoarOn h is bow-back he hath a battl e se tOf bri stly pikes, that ever threa t h is foesHi s eyes

'

, l ike glow-worms, sh ine when he doth fretHis brawny sides

,with hai ry bri stles arm ’d

,

Are better proof than thy spear’s po int can enter.which compare Golding : 5His c ies did gli ster blud and fire : righ t dreadq was to seeHis brawned necke, right dredfull was h i s haire which grew as th ickeWith pricking points as one of them cou ld well by other sticke.And like a front of armed Pikes set close in ba ttell ray

,

The sturd ie bri stles on h i s back stoode stari ng up alway.A description of the storm in Otlzello also recals Golding.‘s

See Malone’s Variorum ed i tion xv. 160 ; Anders p. 2 3 , from whom I take thequota tions.Tempest V., i . 3 3 .

3 Gold ing, vi i . 265 OvidMet. v i i . 1 97.

4 Y ard A 6 1 9 if.

5 Go lding, vi i i . 3 76 Ovid Met. vi i i . 284 ff.6 Otbello I I ., i . 1 88 ff, cp . Go ld ing xi. 5 50 ff.

GOLDING'S LIFE AND WORKS .—Little i s known of the translator’sli fe

.Arth ur Golding was born about 1 5 3 6, and died early i n the seventeenth

century.He was connected by marriage with John de Vere, Earl of Oxford,

and a fiend of Si r Ph ilip Sidney. He seems to have wri tten noth ing originalexce t “A Discourse upon the Earthquake that hapened th rough th i s realme ofEnglande and other places of Chri stendom, the sixt of April] , and a copyof verses i n prai se of Baret’s Alvea re, prefixt to that work i n the same year.But h is translations were many. Amongst them are several of Calvin’s worksa ‘Treati se concerning ofl'

ences’ Commentaries upon the Prophet Daniell

Sermons upon the Book of Job Sermons upon the Epi stle of5 . Panic too the Ephesians and from Nicholas Hemm i ng, ‘A Postill orExpo si tion of the Gospel ’ ( 1 He also completed Si r P. Sidney’s translationof de Mornay’s ‘History of Christian ity ’ One of these was dedicatedto the Earl of Leicester. From David Chytraeu s he translated ‘A Postil ororders Di sposing of certaine Epistles usuall y red in the Church of God ’

He touches the drama with h i s version of Theodore Beza’s “Tragedie of

Abraham’s Sacrifice fin ished at Powles Belchamp, in Essex, the 1 1 thday of August

, 1 5 75 . His classical translations are Ovid’s Metamorpboses

( 1 5 65 -7, 1 5 75 , 1 5 87, 1 603 , Justi n Pomponius MelaSeneca on Benefits ( 1 5 78) and Caesar ( 1 5 63 , 1 5 65 , He also translateda number of other works

,on h i stori cal and theologi cal subj ects.

THIS EDITION.— This i s a reprint of a copy of the First Edition ( 1 5 67)

in the Cambridge Un iversi ty Library, the original spell ing being reta ined, exceptthat j and 'v are written for i and it according to modern custom

,and an occasional

small letter at the beginning of a l ine has been replaced by a capi tal . But allmi spri nts have been corrected, usually from my own copy of the second edition ;the exact reading of the first being recorded in the cri t ical notes . Names wh ichthe origi nal prints i n R oman letters are here printed in I tal ic

,and words wrongly

run together have been separated. Abbreviations are expanded : ‘ and,

’

and W“, y“, y‘, and so forth unless there was no room in the l ine.The punctuation i s mainly that of the original , but not always . A few faultsescaped in the printing are corrected in the notes . These are all mistakes i nspelling ; i t can hardly be hoped that there are no other such , but the text i sbelieved to be accurate. Enmy stands once or twice for emuy, th e sheets havingbeen printed off before I discovered that th is spell ing was deliberately adopted.I t remains to thank my friend

,Professor Gol lancz

,for h i s assistance and

cri t i c i sm i n the compilation of th is I ntroduction .

TO THE RYGHT HONORABLE AND HIS SINGULAR

GOOD LORD ,ROBERT ERLE OF LEYCESTER ;

BARON OF DENBYGH ,KNYGH

’

I‘

OF THE MOST NOBLEORDER OF THE GARTER ,

St e. ARTHUR GOLDINGGENT. W I SH ETH CONT INUANCE OF

HEALTH,W ITH PR O SPE R OU S

E STATE AND FEL IC ITIE .

THE EPISTLE

length my chariot wheele about the mark hath found the way,And at their weery races end, my brea thlesse horses stay.The woork i s brought too end by wh ich the author did account(And righ tly) with eternall fame above the starres too mount,For whatsoever hath bene wri t of auncient ryme in greekeBy sundry men di spersedly, and i n the lati n eeke,Of th i s same dark Ph ilosoph ie of turned shapes

,the same

Hath Ovid into one whole masse i n th i s booke brought i n frame.Powre kynd Of th ings i n th i s h i s worke the Poet doo th conteyne.

That nothing under heaven doo th ay i n stedfast state remayne .

And next that noth ing peri sheth : but that eche substance takesAnother shape than that i t had . Of thei s twoo points he makesThe proof by shewing through h i s woorke the wonderful] exchau ngeOf Coddes, men, beasts, and elements, too sund shapes righ t straunge,Begi nni ng wi th creation of the world

,and man o

r

gslyme,

And so proceeding with the turnes that happened ti ll h i s tyThen sheweth he the soule of man from dying to be free

,

By samples of the noblemen,who for thei r vertues bee

Accounted and canonized for Goddes by heathen m en,

And by the peynes of Lymbo lake, and blysfull state agenOf spiri ts i n th ’ Elysian feelds . And thou h that of thei s threeHe make di scourse dispersedly : yit spec ially they beeDiscussed in the latter booke in that oration whereHe bringeth i n Pythagoras d isswading men from feareOf death , and preach ing abstinence from flesh of l iving things .But as for that Opinion which Pythagoras there bringsOf soules removing ou t of beasts too m en

,and ou t ofmen

Too b irdes and beasts both w 1d and tame,both too and fro agen :

I t i s not too be understand 0 that same soule wherebyWee are endewd with reason and di scretion from on h ieBut of that soule or lyfe the which brute bea sts as well as weeEnjoyThree so rtes of lyfe or soule (for so they termed bee)

Are ound i n th i ngs . The first 'ves powre too thryve, encrease and grow,And th i s in senselesse herbes an trees and shrubs itself dooth show.

The second giveth powre too move and use of senses fyve,And th i s remaynes i n bruti sh beasts, and keepeth them alyve.

Both th ei s are mortal] , as the which receyvéd of the aireBy force of Phebus

,after death , doo th i ther eft repayre.

The th ird gives understanding,wit, and reason : and the same

I s i t alonly which with us of soule dooth beare the name .And as the second doo th conteine the first : even so the th irdConteyneth both the other twa ine. And neyther beast, nor bird,Nor fish

,nor herb, nor tree, nor shrub, nor any earthly wyght

(Save only man) can of the same partake the heavenly myght.I graunt that when our breath dooth from our bodies go away,I t doo th eftsoones returne too ayre : and of that ayre there mayBoth bi rd and beast participate, and wee of thei rs l ikewyse.

For whyle wee lyve, (the th ing i tself appeereth to our eyes)Bothe they and wee draw all one breath . But for too deeme or sayOur noble soule (which is divine and permanent for ay)I s common too us with the beasts, I th ink i t noth ing lesseThan for too bee a poynt of him that wisdome doo th professe .Of thi s I am ryght well assurde there is no Chri sten wyghtThat can by fondnesse be so farre seduced from the ryghtAnd finally hee dooth procede i n shewing that not allThat beare the name ofmen (how strong, feerce, stout, bold, hardy, tall,H ow wyse

,fayre

,rych , or hyghly borne, how much renownd by fame,

So ere they bee, although on earth of Coddes they beare the name)Are for too be accounted men : but such as under aweOf reasons rule continually doo l ive i n vertues lawAnd that the rest doo difl’

er nought from beasts,but rather bee

Much woorse than beasts,bicau se they doo abace theyr owne degree .

To natural] phiIOSOphye the formest three perteyne,The fowrth too moral] : and in all are pitthye, apt and pleyneInstructions which import the prayse of vertues

,and the shame

Of vices, with the due rewardes of eyther of the same .1l As for example, i n the tale ofDaphnee turud to BayA myrror of v irginitie appeere untoo us may,Which yeelding neyther u ntoo feare

,nor force

,nor flatterye,

Doth purchace everlast ing fame and immortal itye.

I n Phaetons fable untoo syght the Poet doo th expresseThe natures of ambi tion blynd, and youthful] wilfulnesse.

The end whereof i s miserie, and bringeth at the last

R epentance when i t i s to late that all redresse i s past.And how the weaknesse and the want ofwit i n magi strateConfoundeth both h i s common weale and eeke h i s owne estate.This fable also dooth advyse al l parents and all suchAs bring up youth , too take good heede of cockering them too much .I t further dooth commende the meane : and willeth too bewareOf rash and hasty promises wh ich most pern icious are

,

And not too bee performed : and in fine i t playnly showesWhat sorrow too the parents and too all the kinred growesBy disobedience of the chyld : and in the chyld i s mentThe disobedient subj ect that ageinst h i s prince i s bent .The transformations of the Crow and R aven doo declareThat Clawbacks and Colcariers ought wysely too bewareOf whom, too whom, and what they speake. For sore against h i s wi ll

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I t also shewes the cruel] wreake of women i n thei r wrathAnd that no ha inous m isch iefe long delay of vengeance hath .And lastly that distresse doth drive a man too looke aboutAnd seeke all corners of h i s wits, what way too wind h im ou t.

ut of the (l The good successe of Jason i n the land of Colcho s, andThe doo ings ofMedea si nce, doo give too understandThat nothing i s so hard but peyne and travel] doo i t win ,

For fortune ever favoreth such as boldly doo beginThat women both in helping and i n hurting have no matchWhen they too eyther bend thei r wits : and how that for too catchAn honest meener under fayre pretence of freend ship, isAn easie matter. Also there i s warn ing given of th i s,That men should never hastely give eare too fugi tives,Nor i n to handes of sorcerers commit thei r state or lyves .

I t shewes i n fine of stepmoo thers the deadly hate i n part,And vengeaunce most unnatural] that was i n moothers hart.The deedes of Theseus are a Spurre too prowesse, and a glasseHow princes sonnes and noblemen thei r youthful] yeeres should passe.King Mi nos shewes that kings i n hand no wrongful] wars should takeAnd what provi sion for the same they should before hand make.King Aeacus gives also there example how that kingsShould keepe thei r promise and thei r leages above all other th ings .His grave description of the plage and end thereof, expresseThe wrath of God on man for s in : and how that nerethelesseHe dooth us spare and multiply ageine for goodmens sakes .The whole di scourse of Cephalus and Procri s mention makesThat maried folke should warely shunne the vice of jealoz ieAnd of suspicion should avoyd all causes utterly.R eproving by the way all such as cau selesse doo m isdeem e

The chaste and giltlesse for the deedes of those that fau ltie seeme .(IThe storie of the daughter of King Ni sus setteth ou tWhat wicked lust drives folk u ntoo too bring their wi ll s about .And of a rightuou s j udge is given example i n the same,Who for no meede nor frendship will consent too any blame .Wee may perceyve i n Dedalus how every man by kyndDesyres to bee at l ibertie, and with an earnest myudDooth seeke too see h i s native soyle

,and how that streight di stresse

Dooth make men wyse, and sharpes thei r wi ts to fynd their owne redresse .Wee also lerne by Icarus how good i t i s too beeI n meane estate and not too clymb too hygh , but too agreeToo wholsom e counsel] : for the hyre of di sobedience i sR epentance when i t is too late forth inking th ings ami sse .And Partrich telles that excellence i n any th ing procuresMen envie, even among those frendes whom nature most assures .Philemon and h i s feere are rules of godly pacient lyfe,Of spari ng thrift, and mutual] love betweene the man and wyfe,Of due obedience, of the feare of God, and of rewardFor good or evil] usage shewd too wandring straungers ward .In Eris icthc n dooth appeere a lyvely image bo thOfwickednes se and cruel tie which any wyght may lothe,And of the hyre that longs theretoo . He sheweth also playne

That Whereas prodigal itie and gluttony dooth reigne,A world of riches and of goods are ever wi th the leastToo satisfye the appeti te and eye of such a beast.1] I n Hercules and Acheloyes encounters i s set outThe nature and behaviour of twoo wooers that be stout.Wherei n the Poet covertly taunts such as beeing baceDoo seeke by forged pedegrees to seeme of noble race .Who when they doo perceyve no truth uppon thei r syde too stand,I n stead of reason and of ryght u se force and myght of hand .Thi s fable al so signifies that val iantnesse of hartConsisteth not i n woo rds

,but deedes : and that all s lyght and Art

Give place too rowesse. Furthermore in Nessus wee may seeWhat brea ch ofPpromise commeth too

,and how that such as bee

Unable for too wreake theyr barmes by force, doo oft devyse

Too wreake themselves by pollicie in farre more cruel] wyse.And Deyanira doo th declare the force of jealoz ieDeceyved through too lyght beleef and fond s impl icitie.

The processe following peinteth ou t true manlynesse of hartWhich yeeldeth neyther u ntoo death , too sorrow, greef, nor smart .And finally i t shewes that such as l ive i n true renowneOf vertue heere

,have after death an everlasti ng crowne

Of glorie . Cawne and Bybli s are examples contrarie :The Mayd of most outrageous lust

,the man of chastitie.

1] The tenth booke cheefly dooth conta ine one kynd of argument,R eprovi ng most prod igious lusts of such as have bene bentToo incest most unnatural] . And i n the latter endI t sheweth in Hippomenes how greatly folk offend,That are ingrate for benefits which God or man bestowUppon them in the tyme of neede . Moreover i t doo th showThat beawty (will they n il] they) aye dooth men in da unger th rowAnd that i t is a foolyshnesse too stryv e ageinst the th ingWhich God before determ ineth too passe i n tyme too bring.And last of all Adon is death dooth shew that manhod stryv es

Against forewarn ing though men see the peril] of theyr lyves .

1] The death of Orphey sheweth Gods j ust vengeaunce on the vyleAnd wicked sort which horribly with i ncest them defyle.

In Midas of a covetous wretch the image wee may seeWhose riches j ustly too h imself a hell i sh torment bee

,

And of a foo le Whom neyther proof nor warning can amend,Unti l] he feele the shame and smart that folly doth h im send.His Barbour represents all blabs which seeme wi th chyld too beeUnti l] that they have blaaz d abrode the th ings they heare or see

,

I n Ceyx and Alcyone appeeres most constant love,Such as be tweene the man and wyfe too bee i t dooth behove.Thi s Ceyx al so i s a lyght of princely cou rtes ieAnd bou ntie toward such whom neede compelleth for too flye .His viage al so doo th declare how vainly men are ledToo utter peri l] through fond toyes and fa nsies i n thei r head.For Idols doubtful] oracles and soo thsayres propheciesDo noth ing else but make foo les fayne and blynd their bleared eyes .Deda l ions daughter warnes too use the toong Wi th modes tee

And not too vaunt with such as are thei r betters i n degree.ut or the 1] The seege of Troy, the death of men , the razing of the citie,

And slaughter of king Priams stock wi thout remors of-piti e,Which in the xii. and x i i i . bookes bee wri tten, doo declareHow heynou s wilful] pe?

n rie and filthie whoredome areIn syght of God . The rentick fray betweene the Lapithes andThe Centaures i s a note wherby i s given too understand

at of the The beastl y rage of drunkennesse. 1] Ulysses dooth expresseThe image of discretion , wit, and great adv isédnesse.

And Ajax on the other syde doth represent a manStout

,head ie, irefu ll, hault of myud, and such a one as can

Abyde too suffer no repulse. And both of them declareH ow covetouse of glori e and reward mens natures are .And finally i t sheweth playne that wisdome dooth prevayle

I n all attempts and purposes when strength of hand dooth fayle.

The death of fayre Polyxena dooth shew a princely myndAnd firme regard of honor rare engraft i n woman kynd .And Polymnestor king ofThrace doo th shew himself to beeA glasse for wretched covetous folke wherei n themselves to see .

This storie further witnesseth that murther cryeth ayFor vengeance

,and i tself one tyme o r other dooth bewray.

The tal e of Gyant Polypheme doth evidently proveThat noth ing is so feerce and wyld, which yeeldeth not to love .And in the person of the selfsame Gyant i s set ou tThe rude and homely wooing of a country cloyne and lout.

ut of the 1] The tale of Apes reproves the vyce of wilful] perju rie ,xii ij o And willeth people too beware they use not for too lye .Aeneas going downe too hell dooth shew that vertue mayIn saufty trauell where i t will, and nothing can i t stay.The length of lyfe i n Sybil] dooth declare i t i s but vayneToo wish long lyfe, syth length of lyfe i s also length of payne .The grecian Achemen ides dooth lerne us how we oughtBee thankful] for the benefi ts that any man hath wrought.And i n th i s Achemenides the Poet dooth expresseThe image of exceeding feare i n dau nger and di stresse .What else are Circes wi tchcrafts and enchauntments than the vyleAnd fil thy pleasures of the flesh which doo ou r soules defyle ?And What i s else herbe Moly than the gift of stayednesse

-And temperance wh ich doo th all fowle concupisence expresse ?The tale ofAnaxaretee wi lles dames of hygh degreeTo use thei r lovers courteously how meane so ere they bee.And Iph i s lernes i nferior folkes too fondly not too set

Thei r love on such as are too hygh for thei r estate too get.M of the 1] Al emons sonne declares that men should will ingly obayxv. What God commaundes, and not uppon exceptions seeme to stay.For he will find the meanes too bring the purpose well about

,

And i n thei r most necess itie di spatch them saufly ou t

Of daunger. The oration of P ithagora s implyesA sum of all the former woorke . What person can devyseA notabler example of true love and godlynesseToo ones owne na tyve countryward than Cippus dooth expresse ?

6

The turning to a blazing starre of Julius Cesar showes,

That fam e and immorta litie of vertuous doing growes .

And lastly by examples of Augustus and a fewOf other noble princes sonnes the author there dooth shewThat noblemen and gentlemen shou lde s tryve to passe the fameAnd vertues of their aunceters, or else too match the same .Thei s fables ou t of every booke I have i nterpreted

,

Too shew how they and all the rest may stand a man in sted.Not adding over curiously the m eening of them all

,

Fo r that were labor infini te, and ted iou snesse not smallBothe untoo your good Lordsh ip and the rest that should them reedeWho well myght th inke I did the bounds of modestie exceede,If I th i s one epistle should with matters overchargeWhich scarce a booke of many quyres can wel] conteyne at large.And whereas i n interpreting thei s few I attr ibuteThe things too one, which heathen men to many Gods impute,Concerning mercy

,wrath for s in

,and other gi ftes of grace

,

Described for examples sake i n proper time and place :Le t no man marvel] at the same. For though that they as blyndThrough unbeleefe

,and led astray through error even of kynd

,

Knew not the true eternall God, or if they did h im know,Yet did they not acknowledge h im ,

but vaynly did bestowThe honor of the maker on the creature : yi t i t doo thBehove all us (who rygh tly are i nstructed i n the sooth)Too th i nk and say that God al one i s he that rules al l thingsAnd worketh all in al l

,as lord of lords and king of kings

,

With whom there are none other Gods that any sway may beare,

No fatal] law too bynd h im by,no fortune for too feare.

For Gods,and fate

,and fortune are the termes of hea thennesse

,

I f men usurp them in the sense that Paynims doo expres se .But ifwee will reduce thei r sence too rygh t of Chri stian law,

Too s ignifie three other th ings thei s termes wee well may draw.

By God s wee understand all such as God hath plaas t i n cheefEstate to puni sh sin , and for the godly folkes releef.By fate the order wh ich i s set and stabli shed in th ingsBy Gods eternal] will and word, which i n due season bri ngsAll matters too thei r fall ing ou t, which fall i ng ou t or end(B icau se our curious reaso n is too weake too comprehendThe cause and order of the same, and doo th behold i t fallUnwares too us) by name of chaunce or fortune wee i t call .I f any man will say thei s th ings may better lernéd beeOut of divi ne philosophic or scripture

,I agree

That noth i ng may in worthinesse with holy wri t compare.H owbeeit so farre foorth as th i ng s no whi t impeachment areToo vertue a nd too godlynes se but fu rtherers of the same,I trust we may them saufly u se without desert of blame.And yet there are (and those no t of the rude and vulga r sort.But such as have of godlynesse and lerning good report)That th inke the Poet s tooke their first occas ion of thei s th ingsFrom holy wri t as from the well from whence all wisdome springs .What man i s he but would suppose the author of th i s booke

The first foundation of h i s woorke from Moyses wryghtings tooke ?Not only in effect he dooth with Genesi s agree ,But al so i n the order of creation , save that heeMakes no disti nction of the dayes . For what i s else at allThat shapelesse, rude, and pestred heape which Chaos he dooth call ,Than even that universal] masse of th ings which God did makeIn one whole lump before that ech thei r proper place did take.Of wh ich the Byble saith that in the first begi nning GodMade heaven and earth : the earth was waste, and darknesse yi t abodUppon the deepe : which holy wordes declare unto us playneThat fyre, ayre, water, and the earth did undisti nct remayne“ I n one grosse bodie at the first : 1] For God the father thatMade all th ings

,framing ou t the world according too the plat,

Conceyved everlastingly i n mynd , made first of allBoth heaven and earth uncorpora ll and such as could not fallAs objects under sense of s ight : and also ai re lykewyse,And emptynesse : and for thei s twa ine apt termes he did devyse.

He called ayer darknesse : for the ayre by kynd i s darke .And emptynesse by name of depth full aptly he did markeFor emptynesse i s deepe and waste by nature . OvermoreHe formed also bodylesse (as other thi ngs before)The natures both of water and of spi ri t . And i n fy

“The lyght : which beeing made too bee a patterne most divineWhereby too forme the fixed starres and wandring planets seven,With all the lyghts that afterward should beawtifie the heaven ,Was made by God both bodylesse and of so pure a kynd,As that i t could alonly bee perceyved by the mynd .

To thys effect are Philos words . And certai nly th i s sameI s i t that Poets i n thei r worke confused Chaos name .Not that Gods woorkes at any tyme were pact confusedlyToogither : but b icau se no place nor outward shape wherebyTo shew them too the feeble sense ofmans deceytfu ll syghtWas yi t appointed u ntoo th ings

,unti l] that by h i s myght

And wondrous wisdome God i n tyme set open too the eyeThe th ings that he before all tyme had everlastinglyDecreed by h is providence. But let us fiarther seeH ow Ovids scantlings with the whole true patterne doo agree .The first day by h i s mighty word (sayth Moyses) God made lyght,The second day the firmam ent, which heaven or welkin hyght.The third day he did part the earth from sea and made i t drie

,

Commaunding i t too beare all kynd of frui ts abundantly.The fowrth day he did make the lyghts of heaven to shyne from hye,And stabli shed a law in them too rule their courses by.The fifth day he did make the whales and fishes of the decpc,With all the birds and fethered fowles that i n the aire doo keepe.

The sixth day God made every beast,both wyld and tame

,and woormes.

That creepe on ground according too their several] kynds and formes,And in the image of h imself he formed man of clayToo bee the Lord of a ll h i s woorkes the very selfsame day.This i s the sum ofMoyses woords . And Ovid (whether it wereBy fol lowing of the text aright

, or that his mynd did beare

8

Him witnesse that there are no Gods but one) doo th playne upholdThat God (although he knew it not) was he that did unfoldThe former Chaos

,putting i t i n forme and facion new

,

As may appeere by thei s h i s words which underneath ensew.

“This stryfe did God and nature breake and set i n order dew.

The earth from heaven the sea from earth he parted orderly,

And from the th icke and foggie aire he tooke the ly htsome skye.I n thei s few lynes he comprehends the whole effect 0 thatWhich God did woork the first three dayes about th i s noble plat .And then by distributions he entreateth by and byMore largely of the selfsame th ings, and paynts them out too eyeWi th all thei r bounds and furn iture : And whereas wee doo fyndThe terme of nature joynd with God : (according to the myndOf lerned men) by jczy

ning so,i s ment none other th ing

,

But God the Lord 0 nature who did all i n order bring .The distribut ions being doone right lernedly, anonToo shew the other three dayes workes he thus proceedeth on .

“The heavenly soyle too Coddes and starres and planets first he gaveThe waters next both fl esh and salt he let the fishes have

,

The suttle ayre to fl ickring fowles and bi rds he hath ass ignd,The earth too beasts both wylde and tame of sundry sorts and kynd

,

Thus partly i n the outward phrase,but more in veric deede

,

He seem es according too the sense of scri pture too proceede.

And when he commes to speake ofm an,he doo th not va inely say

(As sum have wri tten) that he was before all tyme for ay,Ne mencioneth mo Gods than one i n making h im . But thusHe both i n sentence and i n sense h i s m een ing dooth discusse .“H owbeeit yit of all th i s whyle the creature wanting wasFarre more divine, of nobler mynd, which shou lde the resdew passeI n dept h of knowlege, reas on, wit and hygh capacitee,And which of all the resdew should the Lord and ruler bee .Then eyther he that made the world and th ings in order set,Of heavenly scede engendred man : or else the earth as yetYoong

,lu stie

,fresh

,and in her fiowre

,and parted from the skye

But late before,the seedes therof as yi t h i ld i nwardly.

The which Prometheus tempring streyght with water of the spring,Did make i n l ikenesse to the Coddes that governe every th ing. !What other th ing meenes Ovid heere by terme of heavenly scede,Than mans immortal ] sowle

,which i s divi ne, and commes i n deede

From heaven,and was inspyrde by God, as Moyses sheweth playne ?

And whereas of Prometheus he seemes too adde a vayneDevyce, as though he ment that he had formed man of clay,Although it bee a tale put i n for pleasure by the wayYit by thinterpretation of the name we well may gather

,

He did include a m isterie and secret meening rather.This woord Prometheus signifies a person sage and wyse

,

Of great foresyght, who headily will noth ing enterpryse.

I t was the name of one that first did images invent :Of whom the Poets doo report that he too heaven up went,And there stole fyre, through which he made h is images alyveAnd therefore that he formed men the Paynims did contryve.

9

Now when the Poet red perchau nce that God almyghty byHis providence and by his woord (which everlastinglyI s ay h i s wisdome) made the world, and al so man to beareHis image

,and too bee the lord of al l the th i ngs that were

Erst made,and that he shaped him of earth or slymy clay :

Hee tooke occasion in the way of fabling for too sayThat wyse Prometheus tempring earth wi th water of the spring,Did forme i t lyke the Gods above that governe every th ing .Thus may Prometheus seeme too bee theternal l woord of God,His wisdom

,and h i s providence which formed man of clod.

“And where all other th ings behold the ground with groveli ng eyeHe gave too man a stately looke replete wi th maj estyAnd willd h im too behold the heaven wi th countnance cast on hye

,

Too mark and understand what th ings are i n the starrie skye.”I n thei s same woordes , both parts of man the Poet dooth expresseAs in a glasse

,and giveth us i n struction too addresse

Oa r selves too know ou r owne estate : as that wee bee not borneToo followe lust

,or serve the paunch lyke bruti sh beasts forlorne,

But for too lyft our eyes as well of body as ofmyndToo heaven as too ou r native soyle from whence wee have by kyndOur better part : and by the sight thereof too lerne too knowAnd knowledge h im that dwelleth there : and wholly too bestowOur care and travell too the prayse and glorie of h is nameWho for the sakes of mortal] men created first the same.Moreover by the golden age what other th ing i s ment,Than Adams tyme i n Paradyse, who beeing i nnocentDid lead a bli st and happy lyfe until] that thurrough s in

He fell from God ? From which ryme foorth a ll sorrow did begin .The earth accursed for his sake

,did never after more

Yeeld foode without great toyle. Both heate and cold did vexe him sore.Disease of body

,care ofmynd , with hunger, th irst and neede,

Feare, hope, joy, greefe, and trouble, fell on h im and on his seedeAnd th i s i s termd the si lver age . Next wh ich there did su cceedeThe brazen age

,when mal ice first i n peoples harts did breede

,

Which never ceased growing t ill i t did so farre outrage,That nothing but destruction could the hea te thereof asswageFor why mens stomackes wex i ng hard as steele ageinst their God,Provoked h im from day too day too strike them with h i s rod .Prowd Gyants also did aryse that with presumptuous will sH eapt wrong on wrong, and si n on sin lyke bowge and lofty hillesWhereby they strove too clym b too heaven and God from thence too draw,I n scorn ing of hi s holy woord and breaking natures law.

For which anon ensewd the flood wh ich overflowéd allThe whole round earth and drowned quyght all creatures great and smal ,Excepting feaw that God did save as seede whereof should growAnother offspring. All these th ings the Poet heere dooth showI n colour, altring both the names of ersons, tyme and place.For where according too the truth 0 scripture i n th i s cace

,

The universal] flood did fal l but sixteene hundred yeeresAnd sixandfifty after the creation (as appeeresBy reckening of the ages of the fathers) under Noy,

I O

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And i f they happen ing for to meete with any wanton woordOr matter lewd

,according as the person doo th avoord

I n whom the evil] i s describde , doo feele thei r myndes therbyProvokte too vyce and wantonnesse, (as nature commonlyI s prone to evi ll) let them thus imagin i n thei r m nd .

Behold,by sent of reason and by perfect sigh t I nd

A Panther heere,whose peinted cote with yellow spots li ke gold

And pleasant smell al lure myne eyes and senses too behold .But well I know hi s face i s grim and feerce, which he dooth hydeTo th i s i ntent, that whyle I thus stand gazing on h i s hyde,He may devour mee unbewares . Ne let them more offendAt vices i n th is presen t woork i n lyvely colours pend,Than if that i n a chrystall glasse fowle images they found,R esembling folkes fowle vi sages that stand about i t round .For sure thei s fables are not put in wryghting to thententToo further or allure too vyce : but rather th i s i s ment,That men beholding what they bee when vyce dooth reigne i n steadOf vertue

,should not le t their lewd affections have th e head

,

For as there i s no creature more divine than man as longAs reason hath the sovereintie and standeth firme and strongSo is there none more beastly

,vyle

,and devel ish , than i s hee,

I f reason giving over,by affection mated bee.

The use of th i s same booke therefore i s th i s : that every man(Endevoring for too know h imself as neerly as he can,As though he i n a chariot sat well ordered) should directHi s mynd by reason i n the way of vertue, and correctHis feerce affections wi th the bi t of temprance, least perchaunceThey taking bridle i n the teeth lyke wilful] jades doo praunceAway

,and headlong carie h im to eve fi lthy pi t

Of vyce, and dri nking of the same de le h i s soule wi th i tOr else al l headlong harrie h im uppon the rockes of s in,And overthrowing forcibly the chariot he si ts in

,

Doo teare h im woorse than ever was H ippol itus the sonneOf Theseus when he went about h i s fathers wrath too shun .This worth ie worke i n which of good examples are so many,Th i s Ortyard ofAlcinous i n which there wants no t anyHerb

,tree

,or fru te that may mans use for health or pleasure serve,

Th is plen teous hom e ofAcheloy wh ich j ustly dooth deserveToo beare the name of treasorie of knowledge, I presentToo your good Lordship once ageine not as a member rentOr parted from the resdew of the body any moreBut fully now accompli shed, desir i ng you thereforeToo let your noble cou rtes ie and favor cou ntervayleMy faults where Art or eloquence on my behal f dooth fayle.

For sure the marke whereat I shoote i s neyther wreathes of bay,Nor name ofPoet

,no nor meede : but checfly that i t may

Bee lykéd well of you and all the wi se and lerned sort,And next that every wyght that shall have pleasure for to sportHim in thi s gardeine, may as well beare wholsome frute awayAs only on the pleasant flowres his rech lesse sen ses stay.But why seeme I thei s doubts too cast, as if that he who tooke

[ 2

With favor and with gentlenesse a parcel] of the bookeWould not l ikewyse accept the whole ? or even as i f that theyWho doo excel] i n wisdome and in lerning, would not weyA wyse and lerned woorke arygh t ? or else as if that IOught ay too have a special] care how all men doo applyMy doo ings too the ir owne behoof ? as of the former twayneI have great hOpe and confidence : so would I also fayneThe other should according too good meening find successeI f otherwyse, the fault i s theyrs not not myne they must confesse

,

And therefore breefly too conclude, I turne ageine too theeO noble Erle of Leycester

,whose lyfe God graunt may bee

As long i n honor, helth and welth as auncient Nestors wa s ,Or rather as Tithonu ss is : that al l such students asDoo travel] too enri ch our toong with knowledge heretoforeNot common too our vulgar speech

,may dayly more and more

P roceede through thy good furtherance and favor i n the same,

Too all mens profit and delyght, and thy eternall fame.And that (wh ich i s a greater th ing) our natyv e country mayLong tyme enjoy thy counsel] and thy travel] too her stay.

At Barwicke the xx. ofApril],I 5 67 .

Your good L . most humbly too commaund

ARTHUR GOLDING.

I 3

THE PREFACE .

TOO THE R EADER .

WOULD not wish the simple sort offended for too bee,

When in th i s booke the heathen names offeynéd Godds they seeThe trewe and everlivi ng God the Payn ims did not knoweWhich caused them the name ofCodds on creatures too bestowe.

For nature beeing once corrupt and knowledge blyndedquyghtBy Adam: fal l, those l i ttle seedes and sparkes of heavenly lyghtThat did as yi t remayne i n man , endevering foorth to burst

And wanting grace and powre too growe too that they were at furst,Too supersti tion did decli ne : and drave the fearefu ll mynd ,Straunge woorshippes of the l iving God i n creatures for too fynd .

The which by cu stome taking roote,and growing so too strength

,

Through Sathans help po ssest the hartes of all the world at length .Some woo rshipt a] the hoste of heaven : some deadmens ghostes 8c bonesSum wicked feends : sum woo rmes fowles, herbes, fishes

,trees 8: stones.

The fyre, the ayre, the sea, the land, and every roonning brooke,Eche quea chie grove, eche c ragged elifle th e name of Godhead tooke.The nyght and day, the fleeti ng howres , the seasons of the yeere,And every straunge and monstruous thing, for Codds mistaken weere.There was no vertue

,no nor vi ce : there was no gift ofmynd

Or bodye, but some God thertoo or Goddesse wa s assignde.

Of health and s icknesse, lyfe and death , of need inesse and wealth ,Of peace and warre

,of love and hate

,of murder, craft and stealth ,

Of bread and wyne,of slou thfull sleepe , and of theyr solemne games,

And every other tryfl ing toy theyr Coddes did beare the names .And looke how every man was bent too goodnes se or too ill

,

He did surmysc h i s fool i sh Coddes enclyn ing too h i s will.For God perceyv ing mannes pervers and wicked will too sinneDid give h im over too his lust too si nke or swim therin .By meanes wherof i t came too passe (as i n th i s booke yee see)That all theyr Coddes with whoo rdome

,theft

,or murder blotted bee

,

Which argues them too bee no Goddes , but woorser i n effectThan they whoose open poonishment theyr doo ings dooth detect.Whoo seei ng Jo've (whom heathen folke dob arme with triple fyre)I n shape of Eagle, bull or swan too winne h i s foul e desyre ?Or gryslyMa r: theyr God of warre intangled i n a netBy Venus husband purpos ely too trappe h im warely set ?Whoo seei ng Sa tum e eati ng up the ch ildren he begate ?Or Venus dalying wantonl y wi th every lu stie mate ?Whoo seein Juno play the scold ? or w bus moorne and rewFor losse of

gh ir whom i n h is rage through j ealous moode he slew ?

Or else the suttle Mercuria that beares the charmed rodConveying neate and byding them woul d take h im for a God ?For if thei s fa u ltes i n mortal] men doo j ustly merit blame,What greater m adnesse can there bee than too impute the sameToo Coddes

, whoose natures ought too bee most perfect, pure and bright,

I 5

Most vertuous, holly, chaast, and wyse, most full of grace and lyght ?But as there i s no Christen man that can su rmyse i n myndThat theis or other such are Coddes which are no Coddes by kyndSo woul d too God there were no t now of christen men profest,That worshipt i n theyr deedes thei s Codds whose names they doo detest.Whoose lawes wee keepe h i s thralles wee bee, and he our God indeede .

So long i s Chri st ou r God as wee i n chri sten lyfe proceede.

But if wee yeeld too fleshlye lust, too lucre, or too wrath ,Or if that Envy

,Gluttony, or Pryde the maystry hath ,

Or any other kynd of si nne the th i ng the which wee serve,Too bee accounted for ou r God most j ustly dooth deserveThen must wee th inke the learned men that did thei s names frequent,Some further th i ngs and purposes by those devi ses mentBy l aw and Juno understand all states of pri ncely portBy Op : and Sa turne auncient folke that are of elder sortBy P/zzebus yoong and lusty brutes of hand and courage stoutBy Ma rs the valeant men of warre that love too feight i t ou t :By Pa l/a s and the famous troupe of all the Muses nyne,Such folke as i n the sciences and vertuous artes doo shyne .By Mercurie the suttle sort that use too filch and lye,With theeves , and Merchants whoo too gayne theyr travel] doo applye.

By Ba cchus all the meaner trades and handycraftes are mentBy Venus such as of the fleshe too fil th ie lust are bent,By Nep tune such as keepe the seas : By Phebe maydens chast,And P i lgrims such as wandringly theyr tym e i n t ravel] waste.By Pluto such as delve i n mynes , and Ghostes of persones deadBy Vulcane smythes and such as woorke i n yron , tynne or lead .By Heca t witches

,Conj urers, and Necromancers reede

With all such vayne and devl ish artes as supersti t ion breede.By Sa tyres, Sylvanes,Mmpbes and Futures with other such besyde,The playne and simple country folke that every where abyde.

I know thei s names too other th inges oft may and must agreeI n declaration of the which I will not tedious bee,But leave them too the R eaders will too take i n sundry wyse,As matter rys ing giveth cause constructions too devyse.

Now when thou readst of God or man, i n stone, i n beast, or treeI t i s a myrrour for thy self thyne owne estate too see.

For under feyned names of Coddes i t was the Poets guyse,The vice and faul tes of all estates too taunt i n covert wyse .And l ikewyse too extol] with prayse such th ings as doo deserve.Observing alwayes com lynesse from wh ich they doo not swarve.And as the persone greater i s of bi rth

,renowne or fame

,

The greater ever i s h i s laud, or fouler i s hi s shame.For if the States that on the earth the roome of God supply,Declyne from vertue untoo vice and live disorderly,Too Eagles, Tygres , Bull es, and Beares, and other figures straunge,Bothe too theyr people and themselves most hurtful] doo they chaunge,And when

,the people give themselves too fil thie l i fe and si nne,

What other kinde of shape thereby than filthie can they winne ?So was Lica on made a Woolfe : and Jove became a BullThe tone for using crueltie, the toother for his trull .

I 6

So was Elp enor and h i s mates transformed intoo swyne,For following of theyr filth ie lust i n women and in wyne .Not that they lost theyr manly shape as too the outward showe :But for that i n their bruti sh brestes most beastly lustes did growe.

For why thi s lumpe of flesh and bones, th i s bodie i s not wee :Wee are a th ing which earthly eyes denyed are too see .

Our soule i s wee,endewd by God with reason from above :

Our bodie i s but as our house, i n which wee woorke and move .Tone part i s common too us all, with God of heaven h imself :The toother common with the bea stes

,a vyle and sti nking pe lf.

The tone bedect with heavenl y giftes and endlesse : toother grosse,

Frayl ie, filth ie, weake, and borne too dye as made of earthly drosse.Now looke how long thi s clod of clay too reason dooth obey

,

So long for men by j ust desert account our selves wee may.But if wee suffer fleshly lustes as lawlesse Lordes too reigne,Than are we bea stes

,wee are no m en , wee have our name in vaine .

And if wee be so drownd i n vice that feel ing once bee gone,

Then may i t well of us bee sayd,wee are a block or stone .

This surely did the Poets meene when i n such sundry wyseThe pleasant tales of turned shapes they studyed too devyse .

There purpose was too profite men , and also too delyghtAnd so too handle every th ing as best might like the sight .For as the Image portrayd ou t i n sim le wh ight and blacke(Though well propo rtiond , trew and aire) i f comly colours lacke,Delyghteth not the eye so much

,nor yet contentes the mynde

So much as that that shadowed i s with colours i n h i s kyndeEven so a playne and naked tale or storie s imply told(Although the matter bee i n deede of valewe more than gold)Makes not the hearer so attent too print i t in hi s hart,As when the thi ng i s well declarde

,with pleasant termes and art .

All which the Poets knew right well : and for the greater grace,

As Persian kings did never go abrode with open face,

But with some lawne or silken skarf, for reverence of theyr stateEven so they folowing in thei r woorkes the selfsame trade and rate,Did under covert names and termes theyr doctri nes so emplye,As that i t is ryght darke and hard theyr m eening too espye.

But beeing found i t i s more sweete and makes the myud more glad,Than if a man of tryed gold a treasure gayned had.For as the body hath h i s joy i n pleasant sm el les and syghtsEven so i n knowledge and in artes the myud as much delights .Wherof aboundant hoordes and heapes in Poets packed beeneSo hid that (saving untoo fewe) they are not too bee seene .And therfore whoo so doo th attempt the Poets woorkes too reede,Must bring with h im a stayed head and j udgement too proceede.

For as there bee most wholsome hestes and precepts too bee found,So are theyr rockes and shal lowe shelves too ronne the sh ip a ground .Some naughtie persone seeing vyce shewd lyv ely i n h i s hew,Dooth take occasion by and by like vices too ensew .

Another beeing more severe than wisdom e dooth requyre,B eeholding vice (too outward shewe) exalted in desyre,Condemneth by and by the booke and h im that did i t make ,

I 7

And willes i t too be burnd with fyre for lewd example sake .These persons overshoote themselves, and other folkes deceyv eNo t able of the authors mynd the meening too conceyve.

The Authors purpose i s too pai nt and set before our eyesThe lyvely Image of the thoughts that i n ou r stomackes ryse.Eche vice and vertue seemes too speake and argue too our face

,

With such perswas ions as they have theyr doo inges too embrace .And i f a wicked persone seeme h i s vices too exalt,Esteeme not h im that wrate the woorke in such defau l tes too hal t

,

But rather wi th an upryght eye consyder well thy thought :See if corrupted nature hane the like with i n thee wron htMarke what affection dooth perswade i n every kynd o matter :Judge if that even in heynous crymes thy fancy doo not flatter.And were i t not for dread of lawe or dread of God above

,

Most men (I feare) would doo the th ings that fond affections move.Then take thei s woorkes as fragrant flowers most full of pleasant juceThe which the Bee conveying home may put too wholsome useAnd which the spyder sucking on too poyson may convert

,

Through venym spred i n all her limbes and nat ive i n h i r hart.For too the pure and Godly mynd, are al l th ings pure and cleene,And untoo such as are corrupt the best corrupted beene :Lyke as the fynest mea tes and drinkes that can bee made by art

,

I n sickly folkes too nouri shment of sicknesse doo convert.And therefore not rega rding snch whose dyet i s so fyneThat noth ing can digest with them onlesse i t bee devine

,

Nor such as too theyr proper harme doo wrest and wring awryeThe th inges that too a good inten t are wri tten pleasantly :Through Ovids woorke of turned shapes I have wi th peinfull pacePast on

,unti l] I had a tteynd the end of all my race.

And now I have h im made so well acquainted with our toong,

As that he may i n Engli sh verse as i n h i s owne bee soong.Wherein although for pleasan t style

,I cannot make account

,

Too match myne author, who i n that all other dooth surmountYit (gentle R eader) I doo trust my travel] i n th i s caceMay purchace favour in thy sight my doo ings too embraceCons idring what a sea of goodes and Jewelles thou shal t fynd,Not more delyghtfu ll too the care than fru tefu l l too the myndFor th i s doo lerned persons deeme, of Ov ids presen t woorke :That i n no one of all h i s bookes the wh ich he wrate, doo lurkeMo darke and secret misteries , mo counselles wyse and sage

,

Mo good ensamples,mo reprooves of vyce i n youth and age,

Mo fyne i nventions too del ight, mo matters clerkly kni t,No nor more straunge varietie too shew a lerned wit.The h igh

,the lowe : the riche

,the poore : the mayster, and the slave

The mayd, the wife : the man, the chyld : the s imple and the brave :The yoong, the o ld : the good, the bad : the warriou r strong and stoutThe wyse

,the foo le : the countrie cloyne : the lerned and the lout :

And every other l iving W igh t shall i n th i s m irrou r see

His whole estate, thoughtes , woordes and deedes expresly shewd too bee.Whereof i f more part icular examples thou doo crave,I n reading the Epi stle through thou shalt thy longing have.

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https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

llTHE FIRST BOOKE OF OVIDS METAMORPHOSIS,

tr a nsla ted in to EflgZysfie Meter .

apes transformde to bodies straunge,I purpose to entreate

Ye gods vouchsafe (foryou are theyywrought th i sw6drou s feate)To further th i s mine enterprise. And from the world begunne,Graunt that my verse may to my time

,h i s course directly runne

Before the Sea and Landweremade,andHeaven that all doth hide

,

I n al l the worlde one onely face of nature did abide,

Which C/za os hight, a huge rude heape, and nothing else but evenA heav ie lump and clottred clod of seedes togither drivenOf things at strife among themselves for want of order due.No sunne as yet with lightsome beames the shapelesse world did vew.

No Moone i n growing did repayre hi r hom es with borowed l ight .Nor yet the earth am iddes the ayre did hang by wondrous sligh tJust peysed by h ir proper weight. Nor winding i n and ou t

Did Amp/zifiytee with h ir armes embrace the earth about.For where was earth , was sea and ayre : so was the earth unstable

,

The ayre all darke,the sea l ikewi se to beare a ship unable .

No kinde of thing had proper shape,but ech confounded other .

For in one self same bodie strove the hote and co lde togither,The moyst with drie, the soft with hard, the light with th ings of weight .This stri fe did God and Nature breake

,and set i n order streight .

The ea rth from heaven,the sea from earth he parted orderly

,

And from the thicke and foggie ayre,he tooke the l ightsome skie

,

Which when he. once unfolded had, and severed from the bl indeAnd clodded heape

,He setting ech from other did them binde

I n endlesse freendsh ip too agree . The fire most pure and bright,The substance of the heaven i t self, b icau se i t was so l ightDid mount aloft

,and set i t selfe i n h ighest place of al l .

The second roume of righ t to ayre,for l ightnesse did befall .

The earth more grosse drew down wi th i t eche weighty kinde of matter,

And set i t self i n lowest place . Aga ine, the waving waterDid lastly chalenge for his place the utmost coast and bound,Of all the compasse of the earth

,to close the stedfast ground.

Now when he i n th i s foresaid wi se (what God so ere he was)Had broke a nd i nto members put th i s rude confused masseThen first b icau se i n every part

,the earth should equal] bee

,

He made i t l ike a mighty ball,i n compasse as we see.

And here and there he cast i n seas,to whome he gave a lawe

To swell with every blast ofwinde,and every stormie flawe

,

And with their waves conti nual ly to beate upon the shoreOf all the earth with in their bou ndes enclosde by them afore .Moreover, Spri ngs and mighty Meeres and Lakes he did augment ,And flowing streames of crooked brookes i n winding bankes he pent .Of which the earth doth dri nke up some

, and some with restlesse race,Do seeke the sea : where finding scope of larger roume and space,I n steade of bankes

,they beate on shores . He did c6m aund the plai ne

2 1

And champion groundes to stretch ou t wide : and valleys to rema ine

Ay underneath : and eke the woods to h ide them decentlyWith tender leaves : and stonie h i lles to l ift themselves on h ie .And as two Zones doe cut the Heaven upon the righter syde,And other twa ine upon the left l ikewise the same devide,The middle i n outragion s heat exceeding all the rest :Even so l ikewise through great foresight too God i t seemed best,The earth encluded i n the same should so dev ided bee,As with the number of the Heaven, hi r Zones myght full agree .Of wh ich the middle Zone in beate, the utmost twa ine i n coldeExceede so farre

,that there to dwell no creature dare be bolde .

B etweene these two so great extremes, two other Zones are fixt,Where temprature of heate and colde i ndifferently i s m ixt .Now over th i s doth hang the Ayre, which as i t i s more fleightieThan earth or water : so ageine than fire i t i s more weightie.

There hath he placed mist and cloudes, and for to feare mens m indes,The thunder and the l ightning eke

,with colde and blustring windes,

But yet the maker of the worlde perm itteth not alway,The windes to u se the ayre at wi ll . For at th i s present day,Though ech from other placed be in sundry coasts asideThe violence of their boystrou s blasts th i ngs scarsly can abide .They so turmoyle as though they would the world i n p ieces rend,So cruel] i s those brothers wrath when that they doe contend .And therefore to the morning graye, the R ea lme ofNa ba t/zie

,

To Persis and to other lands and countri e s that doe l i eFarre underneath the Morning s tarre, did Eurus take h i s fl ightL ikewi se the setting of the Sunne and shutting i n of n ightBelong to Zephyr. And the blasts of blu string B orea s ra igneI n Seyt/zia and i n other landes set under C/za rles h i s waine .And unto d uster doth belong the coast of all the South ,Who beareth shoures and rotten m istes

,continual] i n h i s mouth .

Above all these he set aloft the cleere and lightsome skie,Without all dre of earthly fi lth or grossenesse u tterl ie.

The boundes 0 th ings were scarcely yet by h im thus pointed out,But that appeared in the heaven starres gl istring all about,Which i n the said confused heape had h idden bene before .And to th intent with l ively th ings eche R egion for to store,The heavenly soyle

,to Gods and Starres and Planets first he gave .

The waters next both fresh and Salt he let the fi shes have .The suttle ayre to flickring fowles and birdes he hath assignde.

The earth to beasts both W i lde and tame of sundrie sort and kinde.Howbei t yet of all th i s wh ile the creature wanting was,Farre more devine

,of nobler minde

,which should the residue passe

In depth of knowledge, reason, wit, and h igh capacitie,And wh ich of all the residue should the Lord and ru ler bee .Then eyther he that made the worlde, and th ings i n order set,Of heavenly scede engendred Man or else the earth as yetYong

, lustie, fresh, and in h ir flou res, and parted from the skie,But late before, the scede thereof as yet held inwardl ie.

The wh ich Prometheus tempring straigh t with water of the spri ngDid make i n l ikenesse to the Gods that governe everie th ing.

22

And where all other beasts behold the ground with groveling eie,He gave to Man a stately looke replete with majestic .

And willde h im to behold the Heaven wyth countnance cast on h ie,To marke and understand what th ings were in the starrie skye .And thus the earth wh ich late before had meythet shape nor hewDid take the noble shape of man and was transformed new.

Then sprang up fir st the golden age,which of i t selfe m a inta inde,

The tru th and ri ht of every th i ng unforst and u nconstra inde.

There was no feare of5 punishment,there was no threa tning lawe

In brazen tables nayled up, to keepe the folke in awe .There was no man would crouch or creepe to Judge with cap in hand,They lived safe without a Judge in every R ealme and lande .The loftie Pynetree was no t hewen from mounta ines where i t stood

,

I n seeking straunge and forren landes to rove upon the flood .Men knew none other countrie s yet, than were themselves did keepeThere was no towne enclosed yet, with wall es and ditches decpc .

No hom e nor trumpet was i n u se, no sword nor helmet worme .The worlde was suche, that souldiers helpe might easly be forborne.The fertile earth as yet was free, untoucht of spade or plough,And yet i t yeelded of i t selfe of every th ings inough .

And men themselves contented wel l with plaine and simple foode,

That on the ear th by natures gi ft without their t ravel] stoode,Did live by R aspi s

,heppes and hawes

,by cornelles

, plummes and cherries,

By sloes and apples, nu ttes and peares, and loth some bramble berri es,And by the acornes dropt on ground from Joves brode tree i n fielde.

The Spri ngtime las ted all the yeare, and Zep/zyr with hi s mildeAnd gentle bla st did cheri sh th ings that grew of owne accorde .The ground unti lde

,all kinde of fruits did plenteously avorde.

No mucke nor t illage was bestowde on leane and barren land,

To make the com e of better head and ranker for too stand .Then streames ran milke

,then streames ran wi ne

,and yellow honny flowde

From ech greene tree whereon the rayes of firie P/zebus glowde .

But when that i nto Lymbo once Sa tumus being thrust,The rule and charge of all th e worlde was under l ow unj ust,

And that the silver age came in more somewhat base than golde,

More prec ious yet than freckled brasse,immediatly the olde

And auncient Spring did Jo've abridge and made therof anon,Foure season s : Winter, Sommer, Spri ng, and Au tumne of and on.

Then first of all bega n the ayre with fervent beate to swelt.Then [sycles hung ropi ng downe : then for the colde was feltMen gan to shroud themse lves i n house thei r houses were the thickes

,

And bushie ueaches , hol low caves, or hardel s made of stickes.

Then fi rst 0 all were furrowes drawne, and com e was cast i n groundThe simple Oxe with sorie sighes, to heavie yoke was bound .

Next after th i s succeeded streight , the th i rd and brazen ageMore hard of nature

,somewhat bent to cruel] warres and rage,

But yet not wholy past all grace . Of yron i s the lastI n no part and trac table as former ages past.For when t at of th i s wicked age once opened was the veyneTherein all mi sch ief ru shed forth

,then Fayth and Truth were faine

And honest shame to h ide thei r heades : for whom stept stoutly i n,

23

Craft,Treason

,Violence, Envie, Pryde and wicked Lust to win .

The sh ipman hoyst h i s sai les to wind, whose names he did not knoweAnd sh ippes thet erst i n toppes of h ille s and mou nta ines had ygrowe,Did leape and daunce on uncouth waves : and men began to bound,With dowles and d iches drawen i n length the free and fertile ground ,Which was as common as the Ayre and light of Sunne before .No t onely com e and other fru ites, for su stnance and for store ,Were now exacted of the earth : but eft they gan to d iggeAnd in the bowels of the ground unsaciably to rigge,For R iches coucht and h idden decpc i n places nere to Hell,The spurres and sti rrers unto vice, and foes to doing well .Then hurtful] yron came abrode, then came forth yellow goldeMore hurtful] than the yron farre, then came forth battle boldeThat feightes with both , and shakes h i s sword in cruel] blondy hand .Men l ive by ravine and by stelth : the wandring guest doth standI n daunger of hi s host : the host i n daunger of h i s guest :And fathers of thei r sonne i n laws : yea seldome t ime doth restB etweene borne brothers such accord and love as ought to bee,The goodman seekes the goodwives death , and h i s againe seekes shee .The stepdames fell their husbands sonnes wi th poyson do assayle .

To see thei r fathers l ive so long the children doe bewayle.

All godlynesse lyes under foote. And Ladie Astrey lastOf heavenly vertues from th i s earth i n slaughter drowned past .And to thintent the earth alone thus should not be Opprest,And heaven above i n slouthfu ll ease and carelesse quiet rest

,

1]Men say that G iantes went about the R ealme ofHeaven to winTo place themselves to ra igne as Gods and lawlesse Lordes therei n .And h i ll on h ill they heaped up aloft unto th e skie,Till God almighty from the Heaven did let h i s thunder fl ie,The dint whereof the ayrie to s on h igh Olympus brake,And pressed Pelion violently ffom under Ossa strake .When whelmed i n their wicked worke those cursed Caitives lay,The Earth their mother tooke their b loud yet warme and (as they say)Did give i t l ife . And for b icau se some ympes should sti ll rema ine

Of that same stocke,she gave i t shape and l immes ofmen aga ine.

This ofl’

s pring eke against the Gods did beare a native spight ,I n slaughter and i n doing wrong was all their whole delightThei r deedes declared them of blond engendred for to bee .The which as soone as Sa tums sonne from heaven aloft did see

,

He fetcht a sigh,and therewithall revolving in h i s thought

The shameful] act wh ich at a feast Lyca on late had wrought,As yet u nknowne or blowne abrode : He gan thereat to storme

And stomacke l ike an angry Jove. And therefore to reformeSuch haynou s actes, he sommonde streight h i s Court of Parliament,Whereto resorted all the Gods that had their sommons sent .H ighe i n the Welkin i s a way apparant too the sight .In starrie nights, which of h i s passing wh itenesse m ilkie h ightI t is the streete that too the Court and Princely Pall ace leades ,Of m ightie Ja rve whose thunderclaps eche living creature dreades .

On both the sides of th i s same waye do stand in stately portThe sumptuous houses of the Pieres. For all the common sort

24

Dwell sca ttrin here and there abrode : the face of all the skie,

The houses 0 the ch iefe estates and Princes doe supplie.And sure and if I may be bolde too speake my fancie freeI take thi s place of all the Heaven the Pall ace for to bee.Now when the Gods assembled were, and eche had tane h i s placeJove standin

gjfipaloft and lean ing on h i s yvorie Mace,

R ight dread y h i s bushie lokes did thrise or foure tymes shake,

Wherewith he made both sea and land and Heaven i t self to quake,

And afterward in wrathfu ll wordes h i s angrie minde thus brake .I never was i n greater care nor more perplexitie,H ow to mainta ine my sovera igne state and Princel ie royaltie,

When with thei r hundredth handes a peece the Adderfooted routDid pract i se for to conquere Heaven and for to cast us ou t.For though it were a cruel] foe : yet did that warre dependeUpon one ground, and i n one stocke i t had h i s final] ende ;But now as farre as any sea about the worlde doth winde,I must destroy both man and beast and all the mortal] kinde

,

I sweare by Slyxes h ideous streames that run with i n the ground,

All other meanes must first be sought : but when there can be foundNo helpe to bea le a festred sore, i t must away be cut,Least that the partes that yet are sound, i n daunger should be put,We have a number i n the worlde that man s estate surmount

,

Of such whom for their private Gods the countrie folkes account,

As Sevres, Fa unes, and sundry Nymphes, with Silvanes eke beside,That i n the woods and h illie grounds conti nually abide .Whome i nto heaven since that as yet we vouch not safe to take

,

And of the honour of th i s place copartners for to make,

Such landes as to inhabite i n , we erst to them assignde,That they should still enj oye the same

,I t i s my will and minde ?

But can you th inke that they i n rest and safetie shall t emaineWhen proud Lyca on laye i n waite by secret meanes and trai ne,To have confounded me your Lorde, who i n my hand doe beareThe dreadful] thunder, and of whom even you doe stand in feare ?The house was moved at h i s words and earnestly requ irde,The man that had so tra iterou sly aga inst theyr Lord conspirde.

Even so when R ebels did ari se to stroy the Romane nameBy shedding of our Cesa rs bloud

,the horror of the same

Did perce the hea rtes of all mankind, and made the world to quake,Whose fervent zeal e i n thy behalfe (O August) thou didst takeAs thankfully as Jove doth heere the loving care of h i sWho beckn ing to them with h i s hand, forbiddeth them to h isse,And therewithall through all the house attentive si lence i s.Assoo ne as that h is majestie all mu ttring had alayde,He brake the si lence once aga ine, and thus unto them sayde :

Let passe th i s careful] thought of yours : for he that did offende,Hath dearely bought the wicked Act the wh ich hee did entende.

Yet shall you heare what was h is fault and vengeance for the same.A foule repo rt and i nfamie unto our heari ng cameOf m ischiefe used in those times : which wishi ng all untrewI did descend in shape of man

,th

' i nfamed Earth to vew.

I t were a processe overlong to tell you of the sinne,

2 5

That did abound in every place where as I entred i n .The brute was lesser than the truth and partial] i n report.The dreadful] dennes ofMend /us where savage beasts resort,And Gyllen had I overpast, with all the Pynetrees h ieOf cold Lyceus, and from thence I cutt ed by and byThe herbroughlesse and cruel] house of late Th

'

arcadian King,Such time as twilight on the Earth dim darknesse gan to bring.I gave a signe that God was come, and streight the common sortDevoutly prayde, whereat Lyca on first did make a sportAnd after said : by Open proufe ere long I minde to see,I f that th is W ight a m igh God of mortal] creature bee.The truth shall trie i t sel e : he ment (the sequele did declare)To steale upon me in the night and kyll me unbeware.And yet he was not so content : but went and cut the throte,Of one that laye in hostage there which was an EpyroteAnd part of h im he did to rost

,and part he did to stew.

Which when i t came upon the borde, forthwith I overthrewThe house with j ust revengin

gfire upon the owners hed

,

Whoo seei ng that, slipt ou t o doores am az de for feare,and fled

Into the wild and desert woods, where being all alone,As he endevorde (but i n vai ne) to speake and make h i s mone,He fell a howling : wherewitha l] for veri c ra e and moodeHe ran me quite ou t of h i s wits and waxed rion s woode,Sti ll practi sing h is wonted lust of slaughter on the pooreAnd s iel ie cattle

,th irsting sti ll for bleud as heretofore .

His garments tu rnde to shackie heare,h i s armes to rugged pawes

So i s he made a ravening Woolf : whose shape expressely drawesTo that the wh ich he was before : h is skinne i s hori e graye,His looke sti ll grim with glaring eyes, and every ki nde of wayeHis cruel] hart in outward shape dooth well i t self bewraye.

Thus was one house destroyed quite : but that one house aloneDeserveth no t to bee destroyde : i n all the Earth is none,But that such vice doth ra igne therein, as that ye would beleve,That al l had sworne and solde themselves too m ischiefe, us to greve.And therefore as they all offende : so am I fully bent,That al l forthwith (as they deserve) shall have due puni shment .These wordes of Jove some of the Gods did openly approve,And with their sayings more to wrath his angry courage move.

And some did give assent by signes. Yet did i t grieve them allThat such destruction utterly on all mankinde should fal l .Demaunding what he purposed with all the Earth to doe,When that he had all mortal] men so cleane destroyde, and whoeOn hol ic Altars afterward should offer frankinsence,And whother that he were i n minde to leave the Earth from thenceTo savage beasts to wast and spoyle bicause of mans offence.The king of Gods bade cease thei r thought and questions i n thatAnd cast the care thereof on h im : W i th in a li ttle space,

He prom ist for to frame a newe, an other kinde of menBy wondrous meanes

,unlike the first to fill the world agen .

And now h i s ligh tning he had thought on all the earth to throw,But that he feared least the flames perhaps so h ie should grow

26

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The ugly Seales and Porkepisces now to and fro did flote .The Seanymphes wondred under waves the townes and groves to see,

And Dolphines playd among the tops and boughes of every tree .The grim and greedy Wolfe did swim among the siely sheepe,The Lion and the Tyger fierce were borne upon the deepe.

I t booted not the fom ing Boare h i s crooked tuskes to whet,The running Hart could i n the streame by swiftnesse noth ing get .The fleeting fowles long having sought for land to rest upon

,

I nto the sea with werie wings were driven too fall anon .Th

’

ou tragious swelling of the Sea the lesser h il lockes drownde.

Unwonted waves on highest tops ofmou ntaynes did rebownde.

The greatest part of men were drownde, and such as scapte the floodeForlorne with fasting overlong did die for want of foode .

Against the fieldes ofAonie and Atticke lyes a lande,That P/zocz's h ight, a ferti le ground .

while that i t was a landeBut at that time a part of Sea

,and even a champion fielde

Of sodaine waters which the floud by forced rage did yeelde.

Where as a h ill with forked top the which Pa rna sus hight,Doth pierce the cloudes and to the starres doth raise h is head upright.When at th is h i ll (for yet the sea had whelmed all beside)Deuca lz

’

ou and h is bedfellow, without all other guide,Arrived in a little Barke immediatly they went

,

And to the Nymphes of Cofycus with full devout intentDid honor due

,and to the Gods to whom that famous h ill

Was sacred, and too T/zemis eke i n whose most hol ie willConsisted then the Oracles. I n all the world so roundeA better nor more righteous man could never yet be foundeThan was Deuca lion, nor againe a woman mayde nor wife,That feared God so much as shee, nor led so good a life.When Jove behelde how all the world stoode lyke a plash of raine,And of so many thousand men and women did rem aine

But one of eche,howbeit those both j ust and both devout,

He brake the cloudes , and did commaund that Borea s with h i s stoutAnd stu rd ie blasts should chase the floud, that Earth might see the skieAnd Heaven the Earth : the Seas also began immediatlyTheir raging furie for to cease. Their ruler laid awayeHis dreadful] Mace

,and with h i s wordes thei r woodnesse did alaye .

He called Taytou too h im straight h is trumpetter, who stoode

I n purple robe on shoulder cast,aloft upon the floud .

And bade h im take h i s sounding Trump and ou t of hand too blowR etreat, that all the streames might heare, and cease from thence to flowHe tooke h is Trumpet i n h i s hand

,hys Trumpet was a shell

Of some great Whelke or other fishe,i n fac ion l ike a Bell

That gathered narrow too the mouth , and as i t did descendeDid waxe more wide and wri then still

,downe to the nether ende

When that th i s Trump amid the Sea was set to Trytous mouth ,He blew so loude that all the stream es both East, West, North and South ,Might easly heare h im blow retreate, and all that heard the soundImmediatly

: began to ebbe and draw with in thei r bound.Then gan the Sea to have a shore, and brookes too fynde a bank ,And swelli ng streames of flowing flouds within thei r chanel s sanke.

28

Then h ils did ryse above the waves that had them overflow,

And a s the waters did decrease the ground did seeme to grow.

And after long and tediou s time the trees did shew their topsAl l bare

,save that upon the boughes the mud did hang in knops.

The worlde restored was aga ine, which though Deuca lion joydeThen to beholde : yet forbica u se he saw the earth wa s voydeAnd silent like a Wildernesse

,with sad and weeping eyes

And ruthful] voyce he then di d speake to Byrr/za i n th i s wise .O sister

,O my loving spouse

,O s iel ie woman left

,

As onely remnant of thy sex that water hath bereft,

Whom e Nature first by right of birth hath li nked to me fastI n that we brothers children bene : and secondly the chastAnd stedfast bond of lawful] bed : and lastly now of all

,

The presen t perils of th e time that latelye did befall .On a ll the Earth from East to West where P/zeous shewes h is faceThere is no moe but thou and I of all the mortal] race .The Sea hath swall owed all the rest : and scarsly are we sure,That ou r two l ives from dreadfufl death i n safetie shall endure .Fo r even as yet the du skie cloudes doe make my hart adrad .Alas poore wretched s iel ie soule

,what heart wouldst thou have had

To beare these heav ie happes, i f chaunce had let thee scape alone ?Who should have bene thy comfort then ? who should have rewd thy mone ?Now trust me truly loving wyfe had thou as now bene drownde,I would have fol lowed after thee and i n the sea bene fownde.

Would God I could my fathers Arte,of claye too facion men

And give them life that people might frequent the world agen .Mankinde (alas) doth onely now wi th in us two consi st,As m ouldes whereby too fac ion m en . For so the Gods doe l i st .

And with these words the bitter teares did trickle down their checke,

Unti l] at length be tweene themselves they did agree too seeke

To God by pra er for h i s grace,and to demau nd h i s ayde

By au nswere 0 h i s Oracle ; wherei n they noth ing stayde,But to Cop/zisus sadl y went, whose streame as at that timeBegan to run with i n h is bankes though th icke with mudd ie slime,Whose sacred l iquor straight they tooke and spri nkled with the sameThei r heads and clothes : and afterward too T/zemis chappell came

,

The roofe whereof with cindrie mosse was almost overgrowne.

For since the time the raging floud , the yvorlde had overflowne,No creature came with in the Chu rche : so that the Al tars stoodWithout one sparke of holic fyre or any sticke of wood.As soone as that th i s couple came wi th i n the chappell doore

,

They fell downe flat upon the ground,and trembling ki st the floore.

And sayde : i f prayer that proceedes from humble hart and mindeMay i n the presence of the Gods such grace and favor findeAs to appease their worth ie wrath , then vouch thou safe to tell(O gentle Themz

'

s) how the losse that on our kinde befell,May now eftsoones recovered bee, and helpe us too repaireThe world, which drowned under waves doth lie i n great d ispaire.

The Goddesse moved with their sute,th i s answere did them make

Depart you hence : Go h i lle your heads, and let your garmentes slake,And both of you your Grau ndames bones behind your shoulders cast.

29

They stoode amazed at these wordes, tyll Pyrr/za at the last,R efusing too pbey the hest the whych the Goddesse gave,Brake silence

, and with trembling cheere did meekely pardon crave .For sure she said she was afraid h i r Graundames ghost to hurtBy taking up h i r buried bones to throw them i n the durt.And with the aunswere here upon eftsoones i n hand they go,The doubtful] woordes wherof they scan a nd canvas to and fro .

Which done,Prometheus sonne began by counsel] wise and sage

His cousi n germanes fearfu lnesse thus gently too asswage .Well, eyther i n these doubtful] words i s h id some misterie,Whereof the Gods permit us not the mea ning to espie,Or questionlesse and i f the sence of i nward sentence deemeL ike as the tenour of the words apparantly doe seeme,I t i s no breach of godlynesse to doe as God doth bid .I take our Graundame for the earth , the stones wi th in h i r h idI take for bones

,these are the bones the which are meaned heere.

Though Titans daughter at th i s wi se conjecture of h ir fereWere somewhat moved : yet none of both did stedfast credi t geve,So hardly could they in thei r hartes the heavenly bestes beleve .But what and if they made a prou fe ? what harme could come therby ?They went their wayes , and veild thei r beades, and did their cote s unt i eAnd at their backes did throw the stones by name of bones foreto lde.

The stones (who would beleve the th ing, but that the time of oldeR eportes i t for a stedfast truth ? ) of nature tough and harde,Bega n too warre both soft and smoothe : and shortly afterwardeToo winne therwith a better shape : and as they did encrease,A mylder nature i n them grew, and rudenesse gan to cease .For at the first thei r shape was such

,as in a certai ne sort

R esembled man,but of the right and perfect shape came short .

Even like to Marble ymages new drawne and roughly wrought ,Before the Carver by h i s Arte to purpose hath them brought .Such partes of them where any j uice or moystu re did abound ,Or else were earth ie

,turnd too flesh : and such as were so sound

And harde as would no t bow nor bende did turne too bones : aga ine,The part that was a veyne before, doth sti ll h i s name reta ine .

Thus by the might ie powre of Gods ere longer time was past,The mankinde was restorde by stones the which a man did cast.And likewise also by the stones the wh ich a woman threw

,

The womankinde repayred was and made aga ine of new.

Of these are we the crooked ympes,and stonie race i n deede,

Bewraying by ou r toyl ing l ife, from whence we doe proceede.

The l ustie earth of owne accorde soone after forth did bri ng,According to their sundrie shapes eche other living th ing,

Assoone as that the moysture once caught beate against the Sunne,And that the fat and sl im ie mud in moori sh grou ndes begunneTo swell through warmth of Plzebus beames

,and that the fruitful] seede

Of th ings wel l cherisht i n the fat and l ively soyle indeede,

As i n thei r mothers wombe,bega n in length of t ime too grow,

To one or other kinde of shape wherei n themselves to show.

Even so when that the seven mouthed Nile the watrie fieldes forsooke,And to his auncient chanell eft h i s bridled streames betooke,

30

So that the Sunne did heate the mud,the which he left beh inde,

The husbandmen that ti lde the ground,among the cloddes did finde

,

Of sundrie creatures sundrie shapes : of which they spied someEven in the instant of their birth but newly then begonne,And some unperfect wanting brest or shoulders i n such wise

,

That in one bodie oftentymes appeared to the eyesOne halfe thereof al yve too bee, and al l the rest besideBoth voyde of lyfe and seemely shape, starke earth to sti ll abyde.

For when that moystu re with the hea te is tempred equa lly,They doe conceyv e, and of them twa ine engender by and byAll kinde of th ings . For though that fire with water aye deba tethYet moystu re mixt with equal] beate all l ivi ng th ings createth .And so those discordes in thei r ki nde

, one striving wi th the other,I n generation doe agree and make one perfect mother.And therefore when the miric earth bespred with sl im ie mudBrought over all but late before by violence of the find

,

Caught beate by warmnesse of the Sunne and culm enesse of the skieTh ings out of number i n the worlde

,forthwith i t did applic .

Whereof in part the like before i n former times had bene,

And some so straunge and ougly shapes as never erst were sene.I n that she did such Monsters breede

,was greatly to h ir woe

,

But yet thou ougly Python wert engendred by h i r thoe,A terror to the newmade folke

,which never erst had knowne

So foule a Dragon i n thei r lyfe, so monstrously foregrowne ;5 0 great a ground thy poyson paunch did underneath thee h ide.The God of shooting who no where before that present tideThose kinde of weapons put in ure

,but at the speckled Deare,

Or at the R oes so Wigh t of foote,a thousand shaftes well meere,

Did on that h ideous serpent spende : of wh ich there was not one,But forced forth the venimd bloud along h i s sydes to gone .So that h is quiver almost voyde, he na ilde h im to the grounde,And did h im nobly at the last by force of shot confou nde.

And leas t that t ime might of thi s worke deface the worthy fame,He did ordeyne i n mynde thereof a great and solemne game,Which of the serpent that he slue of Pythz

'

ans ba re the name .Where who so could the m a istrie winne in fea tes of strength , or sleigh tOf hande or foote or rol l i ng wheele

,might cla ime to have of righ t,

An Oken garland fresh and brave . There was no t any wheareAs yet a Bay : by meanes whereof was Phebus faine to weareThe leaves of every pleasant tree about h i s golden heare .

Peneia n Daphne was the first where Phebus set h i s love,Which no t blind chaunce but Cup ids fierce and cruel wrath did move .

The Delian God but late before su rprisde wi th passing prideFor killi ng of the monstrous worme

,the God of love espide,

With bowe in hand al redy bent and lett ing arrowes goTo whome he sayd, and what hast thou thou wanton baby soWith warlike weapon s for to toy ? I t were a better sight,To see thi s kinde of furn iture on my two shoulders brightWho when we li st with stedfast hand both man and beast can wound,Who tother day wyth arrowes keene

,have nayled to the ground

The serpent Python so forswolne, whose fil th ie wombe did h ide

3 1

So many acres of the grounde i n which he did abide.Content thy selfe sonne, sorie loves to kindle with thy brand,For these our prayses to attaine thou must not take in hand .To h im quoth Venus sonne aga ine, well Phebus I agreeThy bow to shoote at every beast, and so shall mine at thee.And looke how far that under God eche beast i s put by kinde

,

So much thy glorie lesse than ours i n shooting shalt thou finde.

Thi s saide,wi th drift of fethered wings in broken ayre he flue

,

And up the forkt and shadie top ofMount Pa rna sus drue.There fi'om hys quiver full of shafts two arrowes did he takeOf sundrie workes : tone causeth Love, the tother doth i t slake.That causeth love

,i s all of golde with point full sharpe and brigh t

,

That chaseth love i s blunt, whose steele with leaden head is dight .The God th i s fired i n the Nymph Penez's for the nonesThe tother perst Apollos hart and overraft h is bones .Immediatly i n smoldring beate ofLove the tone did swelt,

ine the tother i n h i r heart no sparke nor motion felt .I n woods and forrests i s h ir joy the savage beasts to chase,And as the price of all h i r paine too take the skinne and case.Unwedded Phebe doth she haunt and follow as h i r guide

,

Unordred doe h ir tresses wave scarce i n a fillet t ide .Full many a wooer sought h ir love : she loth ing all the rout

,

Impacient and without a man walkes all the woods about .And as for Hymen, or for love, and wedlocke often sought,She tooke no care

,they were the furthest end of all h i r thought .

Hir father many a t ime and oft would saye,my daughter deere

Thow owest mee a sonneinlaw too bee thy lawful] feere.Hir father many a tym e and oft would say, my daughter deereOfNephewes thou my debtour art, their Graunds ires heart to cheere.

She hating as a haynou s crime the bond of bridely bed,Demurely casting downe h ir eyes

,and blushing somwhat red,

Did folde about h i r fathers necke with fau ning armes : and sed,Deere father

,graunt me whyle I l ive my maidenhead for to have,

As too Diana heretofore h ir father freely gave .Thy father (Daphne) could consent to that thou doest require,But that thy beautie and thy forme impugne thy chaste desire ;So that thy will and h i s consent are noth ing in th i s case,By reason of the beau tie bright that sh i neth i n thy face.Apollo loves and longs too have th is Daphne to h i s Feere,And as he longs he hopes, but h i s foredoomes doe fayle h im there.And as ligh t hame when com e i s reapt, or hedges burne wi th brandes,That passers by when day drawes neere th rowe loosely fro thei r bandes ;So intoo flames th e God i s gone and burneth i n h i s brest,And feedes h is vaine and barra ine love i n hoping for the bestHir heare unkembd about h i r necke downe flaring did he see0 Lord and were they trimd (quoth he) how seemely would shee bee ?He sees h ir eyes as bright as fire the starres to represent,He sees h ir mouth wh ich to have seene he holdes h im not content.Hir l i ll i e armes mid part and more above the elbow bare,Hir bandes

,h i r fingers and h ir wrystes , h im thought of beau tie rare .

And sure he thought such other partes as garments then did hyde,

3 2

Excell ed greatly all th e rest the which he had espyed .

But swifter than the whyrl ing winde shee flees and will no t stay,To give the hearing to these wordes the wh ich he had to say.

I pray thee Nymph P tffl d ’if stay,I chase no t as a fo z

Stay Nymph : the Lambes so flee yWolves, the Stags yL ions so :With fl ittring fethers s iel ie Doves so from the Gossehauke fl ie,And every creature from h i s foe . Love i s the cause that IDo followe thee : alas al as how wou lde i t grieve my heart

,

To see thee fal l among the briers,and that the bloud should start

Out of thy tender legges, I wretch the causer of thy smart.The place i s rough to which thou runst

,take leysu re I thee pray,

Abate thy fl igh t,and I my selfe my runn ing pace will stay.

Yet would I wishe th ee take advise,and wisely for to v iewe

What one he i s that for thy grace i n humble wise doth sewe .I am not one that dwel les among the h illes and stonie rockes

,

I am no sheepehearde with a Curre, attending on the flockesI am no Carle nor countrie Clowne

,nor neathea rde taking charge

Of cattle grazing here and there with i n th i s Forrest large .Thou doest not know poore simple soule

,God wote thou dost no t knowe

,

From whome thou fleest. For i f thou knew,thou wou ldste no t flee me so .

In Delphos i s my chiefe abode, my Temples also standeAt Gla ros and at Pa ta ra with in the Lycia n lande .And i n the Ile of Tenea’os the people honour mee .The ki ng of Gods h imself i s knowne my father for to bee .By me i s knowne that was

,that i s

,and that that shall ensue

,

By mee men lea rne to su ndrie tunes to frame sweete di tties true .In shooting I have stedfast hand

,but surer hand had hee

That made th is wound with in my heart that heretofore was free .Of Ph is icke and of su rgerie I found the Artes for needeThe powre of everie herbe and plant doth of my gift proceede.

Nowe wo i s me that nea re an herbe can beale the hurt of loveAnd that the Ar tes that others helpe their Lord doth helpelesse prove .As Phoebus would have spoken more

,away Pefl cf ff stale

With fearefu ll steppes,and left h im i n the midst of all h i s tale .

And as shee ran the meeting windes h ir garments backewa rde blue,So that hi r naked skinne apearde behinde h ir as she flue,Hir goodly yel lowe golden haire that hanged loose and slacke,With e v ery puffe of ayre did wa v e and tosse beh ind h ir backe .Hir running made h ir seeme more fayre . The youthful] God thereforeCou lde no t abyde to waste h i s wordes i n dalyance a ny more .But as h is love advysed h im he gan to mende h i s pace,And with the better foote before the fleeing Nymph to chace .And e v en as when the gr eedie Grewnde doth course the s iel ie HareAm iddes the plai ne and champion fielde without all covert bare,Both twa ine of them do stra ine themselves and lay on footemanship,Who may best runne wi th all h i s force the tother to outstrip,The tone for safetie of h is lyfe, the tother for h is pray,The Grewnde aye prest with open mouth to beare the Hare away,Thrusts forth h i s snou te, and gyrdeth ou t

,and at h i r loynes doth snatch ,

As though he would at everie stride betweene h is teeth h ir latchAga ine i n doubt of being caugh t the Hare aye shrinking sl ips,

3 3

Upon the sodaine from h i s Jawes, and from betweene h i s l ipsSo farde Apollo and the Mayde : hope made Ap ollo swift,And feare did make the Mayden flecte devi sing how to shift.H owebeit he that did pursue of both the swifter went,As fu rthred by the fea thred wings that Cup id had h im lentSo that he would not let h i r rest, but preased at h ir beeleSo neere that through h ir sca ttred haire shee migh t h is breath in

gfeele.

But when she sawe h i r breath was gone a nd strength began to yle,The colour faded in h i r cheekes

,and ginning for to quayle

,

Shee looked too Pene us streame, and sayde, nowe Father dere,And if you streames have powre of Gods, then help your daugh ter here.0 let the earth devour me qu icke, on which I seeme to fayre,Or else th i s shape wh ich i s my harme by chaunging straigh t appayre.

Thi s pi teous prayer scarsly sed h ir sinewes waxed starke,

And therewithall about h ir breast did grow a tender barke .Hir haire was turned into leaves, h ir armes i n boughes did growe,Hir feete that were ere wh ile so swift, now rooted were as slowe.Hir crowne became the toppe, and thus of that she earst had beene,R emayned noth ing i n th e worlde, but beau tie fresh and greene .Which when that Phoebus did beholde (affection did so move)The tree to which h i s love was turnde he cou lde no lesse but love.And as he softly layde h i s hand upon the tender plan t,With in the barke newe overgrowne he felt h ir heart yet pan t.And in h i s armes embracing fast h i r boughes and braunches lythe

,

He proferde kisses too the tree : the tree did from h im wri the .Well (quoth Apollo) though my Feere and spouse thou can no t bee,Assuredly from thi s t ime forth yet shal t thou be my tree.Thou shal t adorne my golden lockes

,and eke my pleasan t Harpe,

Thou shal t adorne my Quyver full of shaftes and arrowes sharpe,Thou shal t adorne the val ian t knyghts and royal] Emperou rsWhen for their noble fea tes of armes like m ightie conquerours,Triumphantly with stately pompe up to the Capi tol] ,They shall ascende with solemne traine that doe their deedes extol] .Before Augustus Pal lace doore full duely shalt thou warde,The Oke amid the Fallace yarde aye faythfully to garde,And as my heade i s never oulde nor never more withoutA seemely bushe of you thffll l haire that spreadeth rounde aboutEven so th i s honour give I thee continually to haveThy braunches clad from time to tyme with leaves both fresh and brave .Now when that Pea n of th i s talke had fully made an ende

,

The Lawrell to h i s j ust request did seeme to condescende,

By bowing of h ir newe made boughes and tender braunches downe,And wagging of h ir seemely toppe, as i f i t were h ir crowne.

There i s a lande i n Thessa lie enclosd on every sydeWith wooddie h illes

,that Timp e h igh t, th rough mid whereof doth glide

Penee'

us gush ing full of froth from foote of Pindus hye,Which wi th h i s headlong fall i ng downe doth cast up violently

,

A mistie steame lyke flakes of smoke,besprinckling all about

The toppes of trees on eyther side, and makes a roaring outThat may be heard a great way off. This i s the fixed seate

,

This i s the house and dwell ing place and chamber of the greate

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(Bycause she should no t search to neare) dev isde a cleanly lie,And tolde h ir that the Cow was bred e v en nowe ou t of the grounde.

Then Juno who h i r husbands sh ift at fingers endes had founde,Des irde to have the Cow of gift. What should he doe as tho ?Great cruelnesse i t were too yeelde h is Lover to h ir so .

And no t to give would breede mistrust. As fast as shame provoked,So fast agayne a tother side h i s Love h i s minde revoked :So much that Love was at the poynt to put all shame to flyght,But that he feared if he should denie a gift so l ight

,

As was a Cowe to ‘ h ir that was h i s si ster and h i s wyfe,Might make h ir thinke i t wa s no Cow, and breede perchaunce some str ife.

Now when that Juno had by gift h ir husbands Leman go t,Yet altogether ou t of feare and carelesse was she no t.

She had h im in a jelou sie, and thoughtful] was she sti ll,For doubt he should i nvent some meanes to steale h ir from hir : tillTo Argus olde Aristors sonne she put h i r for to keepe.

This Argus had an hundreth eyes : of which by turne did sleepeAlwayes a couple, and the rest did duely watch and warde,And of the charge they tooke in hande had ever good regarde .What way so ever Argus stood with face, wi th backe, or side,To I owarde

,before h i s eyes did 1 5 sti ll abide.

All day he let h ir graze abroade : the Sunne once under ground,

He shut h ir up and by the necke with wrythen With h ir bound .With croppes of trees and bitter weedes now was she dayly fed,And i n the stead of costly couch and good soft featherbed,She sate a nightes upon the ground, and on such ground whereasWas no t sometime so much as grasse : and oftentymes she wasCompeld to drinke of muddie pittes : and when she did devi se,To Argus for to lift h ir handes i n mecke and humble wise,She sawe she had no bandes at al l : and when she did assayTo make complaint

,she lowed out

,which did h i r so affray

,

That oft she started at the noyse, and would have runne away.Unto h i r father Ina chs banckes she a lso did resorte,Where many a tym e and oft before she had beene wont to sporte.Now when she looked in the streame, and sawe h ir horned hed,She was agast and from h ir selfe would all i n hast have fled .The Nymphes h ir s i sters knewe h ir not nor yet h ir owne deare father

,

Yet followed she both h im and them , and suffred them the ratherTo touch and stroke h ir where they l ist, as one that preaced stillTo set h ir selfe to wonder at and gaze upon their fi ll .The good olde Ina ch pu lz e up grasse and too h i r straigh t i t bea res.She as she kyst and l ickt h i s bandes did shed forth dreerie tearesAnd had she had h i r speach at will to utter forth h i r though t

,

She would have tolde h ir name and chaunce and h im of helpe besought.But for bicau se she could not speake, she pri nted i n the sande,Two letters wi th h ir foote

,whereby was given to understande

The sorrowful] chaunging of h ir shape. Wh ich seene,straight cryed ou t

Hir father Ina ch, wo is me, and clasping h i r about

Hir white and seemely H ecfars necke and chri stal hornes both twaine,

He shricked ou t full pi teously, Now wo is me again .Alas art thou my daughter deare

, whome through the worlde I sought

3 6

And could not finde ? and’

now by chaunce art to my presence brought ?My sorrow certesse lesser farre a thou sande folde had beeneIf never had I scene thee more

,than thus to have thee secne.

Thou standst as dombe and to my wordes no answere can thou give,

But from the bottom of thy heart full sorie sighes dost driveAs tokens of th ine inwarde griefe

,and doolefu lly dost mooe

Unto my talke, the onely thing leaft i n thy powre to dooe .

But I mistrusting noth ing lesse than th is so great m ischaunce,By some great mariage earnestly did seeke thee to advau nce,I n hope some yssu e to have scene betweene my sonne and thee .But now thou must a husband have among the H eirds I see,And eke th i ne i ssue must be such as other ca ttels bee .Oh that I were a mortal] Wigh t as other creatures are

,

For then migh t death in length of time quite rid mee of th i s care.But now byca use I am a God, and fate doth death denie,There i s no helpe but that my griefe must las t eternall ie.

As Inoch made th i s piteous mone quick sigh ted Argus draveHis daughter into further fieldes to which he could no t have

Accesse,and he h im selfe a loof did get h im to a h ill

,

From whence he si tt ing at h is ca se v iewd every way at will.Now could no lenger Jove abide h i s Lover so forlorneAnd thereupon he cald h i s sonne that Ma ia had h im borne,Commaund i Argus should be kild. He made no long abod,But tyde h is

n

fea thers to h i s feete,and tooke h is charmed rod,

(With which he bri ngeth th ings a sleepe, and fetcheth soules from Hell)And put h i s Hat upon h is head : and when that al l was wellHe leaped from h i s fathers towres

,and downe to earth he flue

And there both Hat and winges al so he ligh tly from h im thrue,

R etayning noth ing but h is staffe, th e which he closely heldeBetweene h i s elbowe and h is side

,and through the common fielde

Went ploddi ng lyke some good plaine sou le that had some flocke to feede.

And a s he went he pyped stil l upo n an O ten R eede .Queene Junos H eirdmann farre i n love with th is straunge melodic

Bespake h im thus : Go od fellow mine, I pray thee heartelyCome si tte downe by me on th i s h ill, for better feede I knoweThou shal t not finde i n all these fieldes, and (as the th ing doth showe)I t i s a coole and shadowie plot, for sheepeheirds veri c fitte.

Downe by h is elbow by and by did Atla s nephew si t .And for to passe the me withall for seeming overlong,He helde h im talke 0 th i s and that, and now and than among,He layd upon h is merrie Pipe to cause h i s watch ing eyesTo fil l] a sleepe . Poore Argus di d the best he could devi seTo overcome the pleasant nappes : and though that some did sleepe,Yet of h is eyes the greater part he made their watch to keepe .

And after other tal ke he askt (for lately was i t founde)Who was the founder of that Pype that did so sweetely sounde.

Then sayde the God , th ere dwelt sometime a Nymph of noble fameAmong the h illes ofArca die

,that Syrinx had to name.

Of all the Nymphes ofNona cris and Fa irie farre and neere,I n bea u tie and i n parsonage th s Ladie h ad no peere.Full often had she given the sli

'

ppe both to the Sa tyrs qu icke

3 7

And other Gods that dwell i n Woods,and i n the Forrests th icke

,

Or in the frui tful] fieldes abrode . I t was h i r whole desireToo follow chaste Diana s gui se in Maydenhead and atti re .Whome she did counterfa itc so n ighe, that such as did h i r seeMigh t at a blush have taken h i r, Diana for to bee,But that the Nymph did i n h ir hande a bowe of Cornell holde,Whereas D iana evermore did b eare a bowe of golde .And yet she did deceyve folke so . Upon a certai ne dayGod Pan with garland on h is heade of P inetree, sawe h ir strayFrom Mount Lyceus all al one, and thus to h ir did say.

Unto a Gods request, 0 Nymph , voucesafe thou to agreeThat doth desire thy wedded spouse and husband for to bee .

There was yet more behinde to tell : as how that Syrinx fledThrough waylesse woods and gave no care to th at that Pa n had sed,

Until] she to the gentle streame of sandie La don came,Where

,for bicau se i t was so decpc , she could no t passe the same,

She pi teously to chaunge h ir shape the water 'Nymphes besoughtAnd how when Pan betweene h i s armes, to catch y Nymph had thought,I n steade of h i r he caught the R eedes newe growne upon the brooke,And as he sighed

,with h i s breath the R eedes he softly shooke,

Which made a sti ll and mourni ng noyse, with straungnesse of the wh ichAnd sweetenesse of the feeble sounde the God del igh ted m ich,Saide certesse Syrinx for thy sake i t i s my full i ntentTo make my comfort of these R eedes wherein thou doest lamentAnd how that there of sundrie R eedes with wax together kni t,He made the P i pe wh ich of h ir name the Greekes call Syrinx yet.But as Cyllenius would have tolde th i s tale, he cast h i s sightOn Argus, and beholde h i s eyes had bid h im all good n ight.

There was not one that one that did no t sleepe : and fast he gan to nodde.

Immediately he ceast h is talke,and with h i s charmed rodde

So stroked al l h i s heav ie eyes that earnestly they slept.Then with h is Woodknife by and by he ligh tly to h im stept

,

And lent h im such a perlous blowe,where as the shoul ders grue

Unto the necke, that straight h i s heade qu ite from the bodie flueThen tombl ing downe the headlong h ill h i s bloudie coarse he sent,That all the way by which he rolde was stayned and besprent

,

There liste thou Aqus under foote, with all thy hundreth lights,And all the ligh t is cleane extinct that was within those sights

,

One endelesse n ight thy hundred eyes hath nowe bereft for aye.Yet would not Juno suffer so h i r H eirdmans eyes decayBut i n h i r painted Peacocks tayle and feathers did them set,Where they remayne lyke precious stones and glaring eyes as yet .She tooke h i s death in great d ispight and as h ir rage did move,Determ inde for to wreeke h ir wrath upon h ir hu sbandes Love.

Forthwi th she cast before h i r eyes right straunge and ugly s ightes,Compell ing h i r to thinke she sawe some Fiendes or wicked sprightes .

And in h ir heart such secret prickcs and piercing stings she gave h i r,As through the worlde from place to place with restlesse sorrow drave h ir.Thou Nylus wert assignd to stay h ir paynes and travelles past,To which as soone as I 5 came wi th much a doe at last

,

With wearie knockl es on thy brim she kneeled sadly downe,

3 8

And stretchin foorth h i r faire long necke and chri stal ] horned crowne,

Such kinde ofgcou ntnau nce as she had she li fted to the skie

,

And there with sigh ing sobbes and teares and lowing doo lefu llyDid seeme to make h ir mone to Jove

,desiring him to make

Some ende of those h ir troublous stormes endured fo r h i s sake,Hee tooke h i s wife about the necke

,and sweetely ki ssing prayde,

That I o's penance yet at length might by h ir graunt be s tayde.

Thou shalt no t neede to feare (quoth he) that ever she shall grieve theeFrom thi s day forth . And i n th i s case the better to beleve mee

,

The Stygia n waters of my wordes u nparciall witnesse beene .Assoone as Juno was appeasde, immediately was scene

That I o' tooke h i r native shape in which she first was borne,

And eke became the selfe same th ing the which she wa s beforne.

For by and by she cast away h ir rough and ha irie hyde,

I n steede whereof a soft smou th skinne with tender flesh did byde .Hir hornes sank down

,h ir eies and mouth were brought i n lesser roome,

Hir handes,hi r shoulders

,and h i r armes i n place aga ine did come.

Hir cloven Clees to fingers fi ve aga ine reduced were,On which the nayles lyke pol l ish t Gemmes did shi ne full bright and clere.In fine

,no l ikenesse of a Cow save whitenesse did rem a ine

So pure and perfect as no snowe was able i t to staine.She vaunst h ir selfe upon h ir feete which then was brought to two,And though she gladly woul d have spoke : yet durst she no t so do ,Without good heede

,for feare she should have lowed like a Cow.

And therefore softly with h ir selfe she gan to practise howDisti nctly to pronounce h ir wordes that in termitted were.Now as a Goddesse i s she had in honour ever ie where,Among the folke that dwell by Nyle yclad in linnen weede .Of her in tyme came Ep aphus begotten of the scedeOf mygh tie Jove. This noble ympe nowe joyntly with his mother,Through all the Cities of that lande have temples tone with toother.There was h i s match in heart and yeares the lu stie Phaeton,A stalworth stripl ing strong and stout the golden Phcehus sonne .

Whome making proude and stately vauntcs of h is so noble race,And unto h im i n that respect i n noth ing giving place,The sonne of 1 5 could no t beare : but sayde unto h im thus.No marvel] though thou be so proude and full of wordes ywu s .

For everie fonde and trifl ing tale the wh ich thy mother makesThy gyddie wit and ha irebra inde heade forthwith for gospel] takes.Well

,vaunt thy selfe of Phcehus still

,for when the truth i s scene,

Thou shalt perceyve that fathers name a forged th ing to beene.At thi s reproch did Phaeton wax as red as any fire :Howbei t for the present tym e did shame represse h i s i re.Unto hi s mother Clymen straigh t he goeth to detectThe spi teful] wordes that Ep aphus against h im did object.Yea mother (quoth he) and wh ich ought your greater griefe to bee,I who at other times of talke was wont too be so freeAnd stoute

,had neere a worde to say

,I was a shamde to take

So fowle a foyle : the more because I could none answere make .But if I be of heavenly race exacted as ye say

,

en shewe some token of that h ighe and noble byrth I pray,

3 9

And vouche mee for to be of h eaven . With that he ently castHis armes about h is mothers necke, and clasping h ir fi ll fast,Besought h i r as she lovde h is life, and as she lovde the lyfeOfMerop s, and had kept h i r selfe as undefiled wyfe,And as she wished wel th ily h i s si sters to bestowe,She would some token give whereby h i s righ tful] Syre to knoweI t i s a doubtful] matter wh ither Clymen moved moreWith th is h it Phaetons earnest sute exacting i t so sore

,

Or with the slaunder of the brute layde to h ir charge before,Did holde up both h i r handes to heaven

,and looking on the Sunne

,

My right deare ch ilde I safely sweare (quoth she to Phaeton)That of th i s starre the wh ich so brigh t doth gli ster i n th ine eyeOf th is same Sunne that cheares the world with ligh t indifferentlyWert thou begot : and if I fayne

,then with my heart I pray

,

That never may I see h im more unto my dying day.B u t i f thou have so great desire thy father for to knowe,Thou shalt not neede in that beha lfe much labou r to bestowe.

The place from whence he doth ari se adjoyneth to ou r lande .And if thou thinke thy heart will serve, then go and understandeThe truth of h im . When Phaeton heard h is mother saying so

,

He gan to leape and skip for j oye . He fed h i s fans ie tho,

Upon the Heaven and heavenly th ings : and so with will ing minde,

From Aethiop fi rst h i s native home,and afterwarde through Inde

Set underneath the morning starre he went so long,till as

He founde me where h i s fathers house and dayly ri sing was.

Finis p rimi Lihn’

.

TH E S EC OND E BOOK E

of Ov ia’s Meta morphosis .

HE Princely Pall ace of the Sunne stood gorgeous to beho ldeOn stately Pillars builded high of yellow bu rnisht golde,Beset with spa rckl ing Carbuncles that l ike to fire did shine .The roofe was framed curiously ofYvorie pure and fine.

The two doore leaves of silver cleare a radiant light did castBut yet the cunning workem anship of th ings therein farre pastThe stuffewherofthe dooresweremade . For therc a perfect plat

,

Had Vulcane drawne of all the worlde : Both of the sou rges thatEmbrace the earth with wi nding waves

,and of the stedfast ground

,

And of the hea ven i t selfe also that both enclo seth round .And first a nd form est in the Sea the Gods thereof did standeLoude sounding Tryfan with h i s sh i rle and writhen Trumpe i n handeUnstable Protew chaunging aye h i s figure and h is hue

,

From shape to shape a thou sande si thes as li st h im to renn eAegeon leaning boystrou sly on backes of m ightie WhalesAnd Doris with her daughters all : of which some cut the wa lesWith spla ied armes, some sate on rockes and dr ide their goodly haire,And some did ryde uppon the backes of fishes here and theare.

No t one i n all poyntcs fully lyke an other could ye see,Nor veri c farre unl ike, but such as sisters ought to bee.The Earth had townes

,men , beasts, and Woods with sundrie trees and rods,

And runn ing Ryv ers with thei r Nymphes and other countrie Gods .Directly over all these same the plat of h eaven was pight

,

Upon the two doo re leaves, the signes of all the Z odiak brigh t,l ndifferently s ix on the left and s ix upon the right .When Clymens sonne had climbed up at length wi th weerie pace,And set h i s foote W i th i n h i s doubted fath ers dwelling place,Immediately he rcaced forth to put h im selfe i n sight,And stoode aloo e . For neere at hande he could no t bide the light.In purple Robe and roya l] Throne of Emeraudes fresh and greeneDid Phaehus si tte, and on eche hande stoode wayting well beseene,Dayes

,Monthes , yea res , ages , seasons, times, and eke the equal] honres .

There s toode the springtime with a crowne of fresh and fragrant flouresThere wayted Sommer naked star ke all save a Wheaten Hat :And Au tumne smerde with treading grapes late at the pressing Fa t.And lastly quaking for th e colde, stood Winter all forlorne,With rugged heade as white as Dove, and garments all to torne,Forladen with the Isycles that dangled up and downeUppon h is gray and boarie bearde and snowie frozen crowne.

The Sunne thus si tting in the middes did cas t h i s piercing eye,(With which full lightly when he li st he all thinges doth espye)Upon hi s ch ilde that stood aloofe agast and trembling soreAt sigh t of such unwoonted thinges , and thus bespake h im thore .O noble ympe, O Phae'ton which art no t such (I see)Of whom e thy father should have cause ashamed for to beeWhy hast thou traveld to my court ? what i s thy will with mee ?

Then answerde he, of all the worlde O onely perfect ligh t,O Father Phe bus

, (i f I may usurpe that name of right,And that my mother for to save hir selfe from worldely shame,Hyde not h ir fault with false pretence a nd colour of thy name)Some signe apparant graunt whereby I may be knowne thy Sonne,And let mee hang no more in doubt. He had no sooner donne,But that h is father putting off the brigh t and fierie beamesThat gl istred rounde about h i s heade like cleare and golden streames ,

Commaunded him to drawe h im neere,and h im embraci ng sayde

To take mee for thy rightful] Si re thou neede no t be afrayde.

Thy mother Clynzen of a truth from fa lshood standeth free .And for to put thee ou t of doubt, aske what thou wilt of mee,And I will give thee thy desire, the Lake whereby of oldeWe Gods do sweare (the which mine eyes did never yet beeholde)Beare witnesse with thee of my graunt : he scarce th i s tale had tolde,But that the fooli sh Phae'ton straight for a day did craveThe guyd ing of h i s winged S teedes, and Chariot for to have .Then did h i s Father by and by forethinke h im of his o th .

And shaking twentie tymes h i s heade, as one that was full wroth,Beespake him thus : thy wordes have made me rashly to consentTo that which shortly both of us (I feare mee) shall repent.Oh that I might retract my graunt

,my sonne I doe protest

I would den ie thee noth ing else save th i s thy fond request.I may d isswade

,there lyes herei n more peril] than thou weene

The th ings the wh ich thou doest desire of great importance beeneMore than thy weakenesse well can wielde, a charge (as well appeares)Of greater weight

,than may agree with these thy tender yeeres .

Thy state i s mortal],weake and frayle, the th ing thou doest desire

I s such,Whereto no mortal] man i s able to aspire .

Yea fooli sh boy thou doest desire (and all for want ofwit)A greater charge than any God conlde ever have as yi t.For were there any of them all so overseene and bli ndeTo take upon h im th i s my charge

,full quickly should he finde

That none but I could si t upon the fierie Axeltree.

No not even he that rules th i s wast and endlesse space we see,No t he that darts wi th dreadq hande the thunder from the Skie,Shall drive th i s chare. And yet what th ing in all the world perdieI s able to compare with Jove ? Now first the morning wayLyes steepe uprigh t, so that the steedes in coolest of the dayAnd beeing fresh have much a doc to cl imbe against the H yll .Am iddes the heaven the gastly heigth augm enteth terror sti ll .My heart doth waxe as colde as yse full many a tyme and oftFo r feare to see the Sea and land from that same place aloft.The Even ing way doth fal l plump downe requiring strength to guideThat Tethis who doth harbrowgh mee wi th i n h i r sou rges wideDoth stand i n feare least from the heaven I headlong down should slide.Besides all thi s

,the Heaven aye swimmes and wheeles about full swift

And wi th h i s rolling dryv es the starres thei r proper course to sh ift.Yet doc I keepe my native course against th i s brunt so stout,Not iv ing place as others doe : but boldely bea ri ng ou tThe force and swiftnesse of that heaven that whyrlcth so about .

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Now while the lustie Pha tton stood gazing here upon ,And wondered at the workemanship of everie th ing : becholdeThe carely morn ing i n the East beegan mee to u nfo ldeHir purple Gates

,and shewde h i r house bedeckt wi th R oses red.

The twinckl ing starres withdrew which by the morning star are ledWho as the Capta ine of that Host that hath no peere nor match ,Doo th leave h is standing last of all with i n that heavenly watch .Now when h i s Father sawe the wo rlde thus glister red and trim,And that h is waning sisters hornes began to waxen dim,He had the fetherfoo tcd howres go harnesse i n h i s horse .The Goddesses wi th might and mayne themselves thereto enforce.H i's fierifom ing Steedes full fed with ju ice ofAmbrosieThey take from Maunger trimly dight : and to thei r heades doe tieStrong reyned bits : and to the Charyo t doe them well appoint.Then Pha hus did with heavenly sal ve h i s Pha e'tons head anno int,That scorch ing fire coulde noth ing hurt : which done, upon h i s haireHe put the fresh and golden rayes h im selfe was wont to weare.And then as one whose heart misgave the sorrowes drawing fast,With sorie sighes he thus bespake h i s retchlesse sonne at last .

(And i f thou can st) at least yet th i s thy fathers lore obaySonne

,spare the whip

,and reyne them hard

,they run so swift away

As that thou shalt hav e much a doe their fleeing course to stay.Di rectly through the Zones all five beware thou doe ~ not ride,A brode byway cut ou t a skew that bendeth on the side

,

Contaynde with in the bondes of three the midmost Zones doth l ieWhich from the gri sely Northren beare

,and Sou thren Pole doth flie.

Keepe on th i s way : my Charyo t rakes thou pla inely shalt espie .And to thintent that hea ven and earth may well the beate endure,Drive neyther over h igh nor yet too lowe. For be thou sure,And if thou mount above thy boundes, the starres thou bu rnest cleane.Aga ine beneath thou burnst the Earth : most safetie i s the meane.And least perchaunce thou overmuch the right hand way should takeAnd so misfortune should thee drive upon the writhen Snake

,

Or else by taking overmuche upon the lefter hand,Unto the Au ltar thou be driven that doth against i t standI ndifferently betweene them both I wish thee for to ride .The rest I put to fortunes will

,who be thy friendly guide

,

And better for thee than thy selfe as in th i s case provide.Whiles that I prattle here wi th thee

,behold the danki sh nigh t

Beyond all Sp a ine h ir utmost bound is passed ou t of sigh t.We may no lenger tar iance make : my wonted ligh t i s cald,The morning with h ir countnance cleare the darknesse hath appald .

Take raine i n hand, or i f thy minde by counsel] al tred bee,R efuse to meddle wi th my Wayne : and while thou yet art free

,

And doste at ease wi th i n my house i n safegarde well rema ine,Of th i s th ine unadvi sed wish not feeling yet the paine

,

Let me alone with giving still the world h is wonted l ight,

And thou thereof as heretofore enjoy the harmelesse sigh t.Thus much in vaine : for Phaeton both yong i n yeares and wi t,I nto the Char iot lightly lept, and vauncing h im i n i t

Was not a l itl e proud that he the brydl c gotten had.

44

He thankt h i s father whom it grievde to see h i s ch i lde so mad . 200

While Phehus and h i s rechelesse sonne were entertalking th i s,Acous, Aethon, Phlegon, and the firie PyroisThe restlesse horses of the Sunne began to ney so h ieWyth flaming breath

,that all the heaven might heare them perfectly

,

And wi th thei r hoves they mainly beate upon the lattisde grate .The which when Tethis (knowing nought of th i s h ir cousins fate)Had put aside

,and given the steedes the free and open scope

Of all the compasse of the Skie with i n the heavenly CopeThey girded forth , and cutting through the Cloudes that let their race,With splayed wings they overflew the Easterne winde a pace.The burthen was so lyght as that the Genets felt i t not.The wonted weight was from t he Waine

,the which they well did wot.

For like as sh ips amids the the Seas that scant of ba llace have,

Doe reele and totter with the wynde, and yeeld to every waveEven so the Wa i ne for want of weight i t erst was wont to beare

,

Did hoyse aloft and scaylc and reele, as though it empty were.Which when the Cartware did perceyve, they left the beaten way,And taking bridle i n the teeth began to run astray.The rider was so sore agast

,he knew no use of R eyne

,

Nor yet h is way : and though he had, yet had i t ben in vayne,B icau se he wanted powre to rule the horses and the Wayne .Then firs t did sweat cold Charles h is Wain through force ofPhehusAnd in the Sea forbidden h im to dive in vaine a ssayes .

The Se rpen t at the frozen Pole both co lde and slow by kinde,

Through heat waxt wroth , and stird about a cooler place to finde.

And thou Boo/es though thou be but slow of footemanship,Yet wert thou faine (as Fame reports) about thy Waine to skip .Now when unhappy Pha eton from top of all the SkieB ehelde the Earth that underneath a great way off did lie

,

He waxed pale for sodaine feare,h i s 'oints and sinewes quooke,

The grea tnesse of the gl istring light i s eyesigh t from h im tooke .Now wish t he that he never had h i s fathers horses see,I t yrkt h im that he thus had sought to lea rne h i s piedegre.

I t grievde him that he had preva ildc i n gain ing h is request .To have bene counted Merops sonne he thought i t now the best .Thus th inking was he headlong driven

,as when a sh ip i s borne

By blu string windes, h ir sa ileclo thes rent, h ir sterne i n pieces torne,And tacl ing brust, the which the Pilote trusting all to prayreAbandons who ly to the Sea and fortune of the ayre .What should he doc ? much of the heaven he passed had behindeAnd more he saw before : both whiche he m easu rde i n h is minde,Eft looking forward to the West which to approch as thenMight not betide

,and to the East eft looking backe agen .

He wist not what was best to doe, his wittes were rav isht so .

For nei ther could he hold the R eynes,nor yet durst let them go ,

And of h is horses names was none that he remembred tho .

Straunge u ncoth Monsters did he see dispersed here and thereAnd dreadfun shapes of ugly beasts that i n the Welki n were.There i s a certaine place in which the h idiou s Scorpion throwesHis armes i n compasse far abrode

,much like a couple of bowes,

4 5

With writhen tayle and clasping cles, whose poyson l immes doe stretchOn every side, that of two signes they full the roume doe retch .Whome when the Lad beheld all moyst with blacke and lothly swet,With sharpe and nedlepo inted sting as though he seemdc to thret,He was so sore astraught for feare, he let the bridels slacke.

Which when the horses felt l ie lose upon thei r sweating backe,

At rovers straigh t throughout the Ayre by wayes u nknowne they ranWhereas they never came before since that the worlde began .For looke what way th eir lawlesse rage by chaunce and fortune drueWithout controlment or restrain t that way they freely flue.Among the starres that fixed are wi th i n the firmament

They snatcht the Chariot here and there. One while they coursing wentUpon the top of all the skie anon aga ine fu ll roundThey troll me downe to lower wayes and neerer to th e ground .So that the Moone was i n a Maze to see h ir brothers WaineR u n under h irs : the singed clouds began to smoke amaine .Eche ground the h igher that i t was and nearer to the Skie,The sooner was i t set on fire

,and made therewith so drie,

That every where i t gan to ch inke . The Medes and Pastures greeneDid scare away : and with the leaves, the trees were burned cleene.

The parched corne did yeelde Wherewith to worke h i s owne deca ie.

Tu she,these are trifles . Migh tie townes did peri sh that same daie

Whose countries with their folke were burnt : and forests full of woodWere turnde to ashes with the rocks and mountain s where they stood .

Then Athe, Cilician Ta ure, and Tmole, and Oeta flamed h ie,

And In’e erst full of flowing springs was then made utter dri e.The learned virgins daily haunt

,the sacred Helicon

,

And Thracian Hemus (no t as yet surnamde Oeagrion,)Did smoke both twaine : and Aetna hote of nature aye before,Encrea st by force ofPhebus flame

,now raged ten times more

The forkt Pa rna sus, Eryx, Cynth, and Othtys then did sweltAnd all the snow of Rhodop e did at that present melt .The like outrage Mount D indymus, and Mime and Mica le felt.Cytheron borne to sacred u se, with Osse, and Pindus h ieAnd Olymp greater than them both did burne excess ively.The passing colde that Scithie had defended no t the sameBut that the barren Ca uca sus was partner of th i s flame .And so were eke the Airie Alpes and App ennyne beside,For all the Cloudes conti nuall y thei r snowie tops doe h idThen wheresoever Pha eton did chaunce to cast h i s vew,

The world was all on flaming fire . The breath the which he drew ,Came smooking from h i s scalding mouth as from a seeth ing pot.His Chariot also under h im began to waxe red hot .He could no lenger dure the sparkes and ci nder flyeng out .Aga ine th e cu lme and smou ldring smoke did wrap h im round about .The pitchie darkenesse of the wh ich so wholy had h im hent,As that he wist not where he was , nor yet wh ich way he went .The winged horses forcibly did drawe h im where they woldeThe Aethiopians at that time (as men for truth upholde)(The blond by force of that same beate drawne to the outer partAnd there adust from that time forth) became so blacke and swart .

The moystu re was so dried up i n Lyhie land that timeThat al togi ther drie and scorcht continueth yet that Clymc .

The Ntymphes with haire about their cares bewayld their springs and lakes .

B eotia or h ir Dyrces losse great lamentation makes .For Amimone Aqos wept, and Corinth for the springlyrene, at whose sacred streame the Muses u sde to si ng.The R ivers further from the place were not i n better case.By Ta na is i n h i s deepest streame did boyle and steme apace.Old Penew and Caycus of the countrie Teuthra nie,And swift Ismenos i n their bankes by like misfortune frie.Then bu rnde the Psophian Eryma nth : and (which should burne ageine)The Trojan X a nthus and Lycorma s with h i s yell owe veine .Meander playing i n his bankes aye winding to and fro

,

MigdonianMela s with h is waves as blacke as any 5 10,

Eurota s running by the foote of Tena re boyled tho .

Then sod Euphra tes cutti ng through the middes of B a hilonThen sod Orontes, and the Scith ian swift Thermodoon,Then Ganges, Colchian Pha sis, and the noble Istre,Alpheus and Sp erchius bankes with flaming fire did gl istrc .

The golde that Tagus streame did beare did in the chanell melt.Amid Cayster of th i s fire the raging heat was feltAmong the quieres of singing Swannes that with their pleasant layAlong the bankes of L idian brakes from place to place did stray.And Nyle fo r feare did run away i nto the furthest Clyme

Of all the world, and h id h i s heade, which to th i s present tym e

Is yet unfound : h i s mouthes all seven cleane voyde of water beene.Like seven eat valleys where (save dust) could nothing else be scene,By like mis ortuno Hehrus dride and Snymon both of Thra ce.

The Westerne R ivers R hine and Rhone and Po were in like caseAnd Tyher unto whome the Coddes a faithful] promise gaveOf all the world the Monarchie and sovera igne state to have .The ground did cran i c everie where

,and ligh t did pierce to hell

And made afra ide the King and Queene that i n that R ea lme doe dwell .The Sea did shrinke and where as waves did late before rem a ine

,

Became a Champion field of dust and even a sandy plaine .The hilles erst h id farre under waves l ike Ilelandes did appeareSo that the scattred Cyclades for the time augmented wereThe fishes drew them to the deepes : the Dolph ines durst not playAbove the water as before

,the Scales and P orkpis la

gWith bell ies upward on the waves starke dead, and me doth goThat Nereus with h i s wife and daughters all were faine as thoTo dive with i n the scalding waves. Thrise Nep tune did advaunceHis armes above the scalding Sea with sturdy countenaunceAnd thrise for hotenesse of the Ayre

,was faine him selfe to h ide.

But yet the Earth the Nurce of th ings enclosde on every side(Betweene the waters of the Sea and Springs that now had hiddenThemselves with in thei r Mothers wombe) for all the paine abidden ,Up to the necke put forth h ir head, and casting up h i r hand,B etweene h i r forehead and the sunne as panti ng she did standWith dreadful] quaking al l that was she fearfully did shake,And shrinking somewhat lower downe with sacred voyce thus spake.

47

0 King of Gods, and i f th i s be thy will and my desart,Why do ste thou stay with deadly dint thy thunder downe to dart ?

And i f that needes I peri sh must th rough force of firie flame,

Let thy celestial] fire 0 God I pray thee doe the same.A comfort shall i t be to have thee Author of my death .I scarce have powre to speak these words (the smoke had stopt h i r breath)Behold my singed hai re : behold my dim and bleared eye

,

See how about my scorched face the scal ding embers fl ie.

Is th i s the guerdon wherewithal] ye quite my fru itfu lnesse ?I s th i s the honor that yee gave me for my plenteousnesseAnd du tie done with true i ntent ? for su ffring of the ploughTo draw decpc woundes upon my backe, and rakes to rend me through ?For that I over a ll the yeare conti nually am wrough t ?For giving foder to the beasts and cattell all for nought ?For yeeld ing com e and other foode Wherewi th to keepe m ankinde ?And that to honor you withal l sweete frankinsence I finde ?But put the case that my desert destruction duely craveWhat hath thy brother : what the Seas deserved for to have ?Why doe the Seas h i s lotted part thus ebbe and fall so low,

Withdrawing from thy Skie to which i t ought most neare to grow ?But if thou neyther doste regarde thy brother, neyther mee,At least have mercy on thy heaven

,looke round about and see

How both the Poles begin to smoke : which i f the fire appall,

To utter ruine (be thou sure) thy pallace needes must fal l .Behold how Atla s ginnes to fai n t, h i s shoulders though full strong,Unneth are able to uphold the sparkl i ng Extrec long.I f Sea and Land doe go to wreckc , and heaven i t selfe doe burne :To olde confused Cha os then of force we must returne.

Put to thy helping hand therefore to save the l ittle left,

I f ought remaine before that al l be qui te and cleane bereft .When ended was th i s pi teous plai nt, the Earth did hold h ir peaceShe could no lenger dure th e beate but was compelde to cease.

I nto h ir bosome by and by she shrunke h ir c inged headeMore nearer to the Stygian caves, and gho stes of persones deade .The Sire of heaven protesti ng al l th e Gods and h im alsoThat lent the Chariot to h i s ch ild

,that all of force must go

To havocke i f he helped not, went to the h ighest partAnd top of all the Heaven from whence h is cu stome was to dartHis thunder and h i s l ightning downe. But neyther did remaine

A Cloude Wherewith to shade the Earth , nor yet a showre of raine.Then with a dreadful] thunderclap up to h i s care he bentHis fist

,and at the Wagoner a flash of l ightn ing sent

,

Which strake h i s bodie from the l ife and th rew i t over wheeleAnd so with fire he quenched fire . The Steedes did al so reeleUpon thei r knees, and starting up sprang violently, one here,And there another, that they brast i n i n pieces al l thei r gere .They threw the Collars from thei r neckes

,and breaking qui te a sunder

The Trace and Harness, flang away : here lay the bridles : yonderThe Extrec plucked from the Naves : and i n another placeThe shevered spokes of broken wheeles : and so at every paceThe pieces of th e Chariot torne lay strowed here and there.

48

But Pha eton (fire yet blasing sti l among his yellow hai re)Shot headlong downe, and glid along the R egion of the AyreL ike to [a] Starre in Winter nightes (the wether cleare and fayre)Which though it doe not fall indeede

,yet fal leth to ou r sight.

Whome almost i n another world and from h i s countrie quiteThe R iver Pa clus did receyv e, and qu encht h is burn ing head.The water Nymphes of Ita lie did take h i s carkasse deadAnd buried i t yet smoking still

,with Joves threeforked flame

,

And wrate th i s Epitaph in the stone that lay upon the same.Here l ies the lusty Pha eton which tooke i n hand to guideHi s fathers Chariot : from the which although he chaunst to slide :Yet that he gave a proud attempt i t cannot be denide.

With ru thfu ll cheere and heav ie heart h is father made great mone .And would not shew h im selfe abrode

,but mournd at home alone.

And i f i t be to be belev ed,as bruted is by fame

,

A day did passe wi thout the Sunne . The brightnesse of the flameGav e light : and so unto some kinde of u se that m isch iefe came.But Clymen having spoke as much as mothers usuall yArc wonted in such wretched case, d iscomfortab lely,And halfe beside h ir selfe fo r wo

,with tom e and scratched brest

,

Sercht through the universal] world, from East to furthest West,First seeking for h ir sonnes dead coarse

,and after for h i s bones .

She found them by a forren streame, entumbled under stones.Then fell she groveling on h i s grave, and reading there hi s name,Shed teares thereon

,and layd h i r brest all bare upon the same .

The daughters also of the Sunne no lesse than did their mother,Bewa ild i n vaine with flonds of teares

,the fortune of their brother

And beating pi teously their breasts,i ncessan tly did call

The buri ed Pha eton day and n ight , who heard them no t at al l,

About whose tumbe they prostrate lay. Foure times the Moone had fildeThe Circle of h it joyncd hom es , and yet the si sters h ildeTheir cu stome of lamenting sti ll : (for now continual] useHad made i t cu stome.) Of the wh ich the eldest Pha etuseAbout to kneele upon the ground, complaynde h ir feete were nom .

To whom as fayre Lampetie was rising for to com ,

Hir feete were held with sodaine rootes . The th ird about to teareHir ruffled lockes

,filde both h i r bandes with leaves i n s teade of heare.

One wept to see h ir legges made wood : another did repineTo see h ir armes become long boughes . And shortly to define,While th us they wondred at themselves

,a tender barke began

To grow about their th ighes and loynes, which shortly overranThe ir bellies,brestes , and shoulders eke, and hands successively,

That noth ing (save their mouthes) rema indc,aye call i ng piteously

Upon the wofull mothers helpe . What could the mother doe,But ru nne now here now there

,as force of nature drue h ir too,

And deale h ir kisses whi le she might ? she was no t so con tent :But tare their tender braunches downe : and from the slivers wentR ed drops of blond as from a wound . The daughter that was rentCride spare us mother spare I pray

,fo r i n the shape of tree

The bodies and the flesh of u s your daughters wounded bee .

49

And now farewell . That word once said, the barke grew over al l .Now from these trees flow gummy teares that Amber men doe call .Which hardened with the beate of sunne as from the boughs they fa],The trickl ing R iver doth receyve, and sends as th ings of priceTo decke the da intie Dames of R ome and make them fine and n ice.

Now present at th i s monstruous hap was Cygnus Stenels sonWho being by the mothers side a kinne to Pha eton

Was in condicion more a kinne . He leaving up h i s charge,

(For i n the land ofLigurie h i s Kingdome stretched large)Went mourn ing all al one the bankes and pleasan t streame of PoAmong the trees encreased by the si sters late ago .

Annon his voyce became more small and shri ll than for a man .Gray fethers mufll ed i n h is face : h i s necke i n length beganFar from h i s shoulders for to stretche : and furthermore there goesA fine red string a crosse the joyntes i n knitt ing of h is toesWith fethers closed are h i s sides : and on h i s mouth there grewA brode blunt byll : and final ly was Cygnus made a newAnd uncoth fowle that h ight a Swan, who neither to the winde,The Ayre

,nor Jove betakes h imselfe, as one that bare i n minde

The wrongful] fire sent late agai nst h i s cousin Pha eton.

I n Lakes and R ivers i s h is j oy : the fi re he aye doth shonAnd chooseth h im the contrary conti nually to won .

Forlorne and altogether voyde of that same bodie sheneWas Phaetons father i n that while which erst had in h im bene,

L ike as he looketh i n Theclypse . He hates the yrkesome l igh t,He hates h im selfe, he hates the day, and settes h i s whole del ightIn making sorrowe for h i s sonne, and i n h i s griefe doth storm e

And chaufe denying to the worlde h i s dutie to performe .My lot (quoth he) hath had inough of th i s unquiet stateFrom first beginning of the worlde. I t yrkes me (though too late)Of restlesse toyles and thankelesse paines. Let whoso will for meGo drive the Chariot in the which the light should caried be,If none dare take the charge in hand

,and all the Gods persi st

As insufl‘i cient, he h imself go drive it i f he li st.That at the least by venturing ou r bridles for to guide,His lightning making childlesse Si res he once may lay aside .By that time that he hath assayde the unappal led forceThat doth remaine and rest with i n my firiefooted horse,I trow he shall by tried proufe be able for to tellHow that he did not meri t death that could not rul e them well .The Goddes stoode al l about the Sunne thus storming in h i s rage,Beseching h im i n humble wise h i s sorrow to asswage,And that he would not on the world continual] darkenesse bring,Jove eke excu sde h im of the fire the which he chaunst to fl i ng

,

And with entrea tance mingled threates as did become a King .Then Phebus gathered up h i s steedes that yi t for feare did runL ike fla ighted fiendes, and in h i s moode without respect begunTo beate his whipstocke on their pates and lash them on the sides .I t was no neede to bid h im chaufe

,for ever as he r ides

He sti ll upbra ides them with h is sonne, and layes them on the h ides .

50

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Oh Lord how hard a matter i st for gu iltie hearts to sh ift,And kepe their countnance ? from the ground h i r eyes scarce durst sheShe prankes not by h i r m istres sc side, she preases not to beeThe foremost of the companie, as when she erst was free,She standeth muet : and by chaunging of h i r colour ay,The treading of h ir shooe awrie she pla inely doth bewrayDiana might have founde the fault but that she was a May.

A thousand tokens did appeare apparant to the eye,By which the Nymphes themselves (men say) h ir fault did well espie.Ni ne times the Moone full too the worlde had shewde h i r horned faceWhen fainti ng through h i r brothers flames and hunting i n the chace

,

She found a coole and shadie lawnde, through midst wherof she spideA shallowe brooke with trickl ing streame on gravel] bottom glide

,

And l i king well the pleasant place, upon the upper brimShe dipt h i r foote, and finding there the water coole and trim

,

Away (she sayd) with standers by : and let us bath us here.Then Pa rrha sis cast downe h i r head with sad and bashful] chere.The rest did strip them to their skinnes : she only sough t delay,Unti l] that would or would she not h ir clothes were pluckt away.Then with h i r naked body straigh t h i r crime was brought to light .Which yl l ashamde as with h i r hands she would have h id from sight,Fie beast (quoth Cynthia ) get thee hence thou shalt not here defileTh is sacred spring

,and from h ir trai ne she did hir qu ite ex i le .

The Matrone of the thundring Jove had incl ing of the fact,Delaying til] convenient time the punishment to exact .

There is no cause of further stay. To spight h i r heart withall ,Hir husbands Leman bare a boy that Arca s men did cal l .On whome she casting lowring looke with fell and cruel] mindeSaide : was there, arrant strumpet thou , none other sh ift to finde,But that thou needes must be with barne

,that all the world must see

My hu sbandes open shame and th ine i n doing wrong to mee ?But neyther unto heaven nor hell th i s trespasse shalt thou beare.I will bereve thee of thy shape through pride whereof thou wereSo hardy to entyce my Feere. Immediatly with thatShe raught h i r by the foretop fast and fiercely threw h i r flatAgainst the grounde. The wretched wench h ir armes up m ekely cast,Hir armes began with griesly heare too waxe all rugged fast .Hir bandes gan warpe and i n to pawes ylfavordly to grow,And for to serve in stede of feete. The lippes that late agoDid like the m ightie Jove so well, with side and flaring flappesBecame a wide deformed mouth

,and further least perhaps

Hir prayers and h i r humble wordes migh t cause h i r to relentShe did bereve h ir of h i r speach . In steade whereof there wentAn yrefu ll borce and dreadful] voyce o ut from a threatning throteBut yet the selfe same minde that was before she turnde h ir cote,Was in h ir still i n shape of Beare. The griefe whereof she showesBy thrusting forth continual] s ighes and up she gastly throwesSuch kinde of bandes as then remainde unto the starrie Skie .And forb ica use she could no t speake

,she thought Jove i nwardly

To be unthankfull . Oh how oft she daring not abideAlone among the desert woods

,ful] many a time and tide

,

5 2

Wou lde sta lke before h ir house i n grounds that were hi r owne erewhi le ?How oft oh did she i n the h illes the barking hou ndes beguile ?And i n the lawndes where she h i r selfe had chased erst h ir game

,

Now fl ie h irselfe to save h i r lyfe when hunters sought th e same ?Full oft at sight of other bea stes she h id h i r head for feare

,

Forgetting what she was h ir selfe,for though she were a Beare

,

Yet when she spied other Beares she quooke for veri c pai neAnd feared Wolves although h i r Si re among them did rem a ine .

Beholde Lyca ons daughters sonne that Archa s had to nameAbout th e age of fiftene yeares with in the forrest came

Of Erymanth, not knowing ought of th i s h i s mothers case .There after pi tch i ng of h i s toyles, as he the stagges did chase,Upon h i s mother sodenly i t was h i s chaunce to light,Who for desire to see h i r sonne did stay h irselfe from fl ight

,

And wistly on h im cast h i r looke as one that did h im know .

But he not knowing what shee was began h is heeles to show .

And when he saw hi r still persi st i n staring on h i s face,He was afrayde, a nd from h ir s ight withdrew h im selfe a pace

,

But when he could not so be rid,he tooke an armed pike

,

I n ful l i ntent h ir th rough the hart with deadly wound to strike.But God almigh ty held h is hand, and lift ing both awayDid disappoint the wicked Act . For straight he did convayThem through the Ayre with wh irling windes to top of all the skie

,

And there did make them neighbour starres about the Pole on h ie .When Juno sh i n i ng i n th e heaven h i r husbands minion found,She swelde for spight : and downe she comes to watry Teth is round

And unto olde Oceanus, whome even the Gods aloftDid reverence for thei r j ust deserts full many a t ime and oft.To whom demaund ing h i r the cause : And aske ye (quoth she) whyThat I which am the Queene of Coddes come h ither from the sky ?Good cause there i s I warrant you . Another holdes my roome .For never trust me wh ile I l ive, i f when the nigh t i s come,And overca steth all the world with shad ie darkenesse whole,Ye see not i n the heigth of heaven hard by the Northren PoleWhereas the utmost circle runnes about the AxeltreeIn shortest ci rcui t

,gloriously enstal led for to bee

In shape of starres th e sti nging woundes that make me yll apayde.

Now i s there (trow ye) any cause why folke should be afraydeTo do to Juno what they li st, or dread h ir wrathfu ll mood,Which only by my working harme doe turne my foes to good ?0 what a m igh tie act i s done ? how passi ng i s my powreI have bereft h ir womans shape

,and at th i s present howre

She i s become a Goddesse. Lo e th i s i s the scourge so sowre

Wherew i th I strike mine en im ies . Loe here i s all the spigh tThat I can doe : th i s i s the ende of all my wondrous might .No force . I would he should (for me) h i r native shape restore,And take away h ir bru ti sh shape, Like as he hath beforeDone by h is other Paramour that fine and proper pieceOfArgos whom he made a Cow, I meane Phoronews Ni ece .Why makes he no t a full devorce from me, and in my steadStraigh t take h is Sweetheart to hi s wife

,and coll h i r i n my bed ?

5 3

He can not doe a better deede (I thinke) than for to takeLyca on to h is fatheri nlaw. But if that you doe makeAccompt of me your foster ch i lde, then graunt that for my sake,The Oxen and the wicked Waine of starres i n number seven ,For whoredome sake but late ago receyvcd i nto heaven ,May never dive with i n your waves . Ne let that strumpet vyleBy bath ing of h i r fil th ie l immes your waters pure defile .The Gods did graunt h i r h i r request : and straight to heaven she flue

,

In hadsome Chariot through the Ayre, which painted peacocks drueAs well beset with blasing eyes late tane from Argus hed,As thou

,thou prating R aven wh ite by nature being bred

,

Hadst on thy fethers j ustly late a coly colour spred .For thi s same birde i n aunc ient time had fethers fai re and wh ightAs ever was the driven snow

,or si lver cleare and bright .

He might have well comparde h imselfe i n beautie with the DovesThat have no blemish, or the Swan that running water loves :Or with the Geese that afterward should with their gagl ing outPreserve the R omaine Capitol] beset wi th foes about .His tongue was cause of al l h i s harme

,h i s tatl ing tongue did make

His colour wh ich before was whi te,became so foule and blake .

Coronis ofLa rissa was the fai rest maide of face,I n all the land of Thessa lie. Shee stoode i n Phebus graceAs long as that she kept h i r chast

,or at the least as long

As that she scaped unespide i n doing Phebus wrong.But at the last Apollos bi rde h i r priv ie packing spide,Whom no entreatance could persuade

,but that he swiftly h ide

Him to h i s maister,to bewray the doings of h i s love .

Now as he flue, the pra tl ing Crow hir wings apace did moveAnd overtaking fell in talke and was i nquisit iveFor what i ntent and to what place he did so swiftly drive .And when she heard the cause thereof

,she said : now trust me sure

,

Thi s message on the wh ich thou goste no goodnesse will procure .And therefore hearken what I say : d isda ine thou not at all,To take some warn ing by thy friende i n th ings that may befallConsider what I erst have bene

,and what thou seest me now

And what hath bene the ground hereof. I bodly dare avow,That thou shal t finde my fa ithfu lnesse imputed for a crime .For Pa llas i n a wicker chest had h id upon a timeA ch ilde calde Ericthonius

,whome never woman bare,

And tooke i t unto Maiden s three that Cecrop s daughters were,Not telling them what was wi th in

,but gave them charge to keepe

The Casket shut, and for no cause with i n the same to peepe.I standing close among the leaves upon an Elme on h ie

,

Did marke their doings and their wordes,and there I did espie

H ow Pandrosos and Herse kept thei r promi se fai thfully.Agla uros cal les them Cowardes both , and makes no more a doe,But takes the Casket i n h ir hand

,and doth the knots undooe .

And there they saw a childe whose partes beneath were l ike a Snake .Straigh t to

_the Goddesse of thi s deede a j ust report I make .

For which she gave me th is reward that never might I moreAccompt h ir for my Lady and my Mistresse as before .

54

And in my roume she put the fowle that fl ies not but by night.A warning unto other birdes my lucke should be of right

,

To holde thei r tongues for bei ng shent. But you will say perchaunce,I came unsentfor of my selfe, she did me no t advau nce.

I dare well say, though Pa lla s now my heav ie Mistresse stand,Yet if perhaps ye shou ld demaund the question at h i r hand

,

As sore displeased as she i s, she would no t th i s denieBut that she chose me first hirself to beare h ir companie.For (well I know) my father wa s a pri nce of noble fame,Of Phocis King by long d iscent, Coronew was h i s name.I was h i s darling and h i s joy, and many a welthie Piere(I would no t have you thinke disda ine) did seeke me for thei r Fere .My forme and bea u tie did me hurt. For as I leysu relyWent j etting up and downe the shore upon the gravel] drie,As yet I customably doe : the God that rul es the seasEspying me fell straight i n love . And when he saw none caseI n sute

,but losse of wordes and t ime he ofl'red violence

,

And after me he runnes apace . I skudde as fast fro thence,

From sand to shore,from shore to sand, still playing Foxe to hole,

Unti l] I was so tirde that he had almost got the gole .Then cald I ou t on God and man . But (as i t did appea re)There was no man so meare at hand that could my crying heare .A Virgi n Goddesse pit ied me b ica use I was a maydeAnd at the utter plunge and pinche did send me present ayde .

I cast mine armes to heaven, mine armes waxt l ight with fethers black,I went about to cast i n hast my garments from my back,And all was fethers . I n my skinne the rooted fethers stack.I was about wi th violen t hand to strike my naked breast,But nether had I hand nor breast that naked more did reast.I ran

,but of my feete as erst remai ned not the pri nt,

Me thought I glided on the ground . Anon wi th sodaine dint,I rose and hovered i n the Ayre . And from that i nstant timeDid wai t on Pa lla s faithful ly without offence or crime .But what availes all th i s to me, and if that in my placeThe wicked wretch Nyctyminee (who late for lacke of graceWas tu rned to an odious bi rde) to honor cal led bee ?I pray thee didst thou never heare how fa lse Nyctyminee(A thing all over Lesbos knowne) defil de h i r fathers couch ?The beast i s now become a birde : whose lewdnesse doth so touchAnd pricke h i r gu iltie conscience , that she dares no t come in sight,Nor shewe h irselfe abrode a days, but fleeteth i n the nightFor shame leas t folke should see h i r faul t : and every other bi rdeDoth i n the Ayre and Ivie toddes with wondring at h ir girde.A m isch iefe take thy tatl ing tongue the R aven answerde tho .Thy vaine forspeaking moves me not. And so he forth did goAnd tels h i s Lorde Ap ollo how he saw Coronis l ieWith Isthyis a Gentleman that dwelt i n Thessa lie.

When Phebus hard h is lovers fault, he fiersly gan to frowne,And cast h is ga rlond from h i s head, and threw hi s vial] downe.

His colour chaungde, hi s face lookt pale, and as the rage of yreThat boyled i n h is belking breast had set h is heart on fy

5 5

He caught me up h i s wonted tooles, and bent h is golden bow,

And by and by with deadly stripe of u navoyded blowStrake through the breast the which h is owne had toucht so oft afore.She wounded gave a piteous shrike

,and (drawing from the sore

The deadly Dart the wh ich the bloud pursuing after fastUpon h i r wh ite and tender l immes a scarlet colour cast)Saide Phebus, well, thou might have wreakt th i s trespasse on my headAnd yet forborne me till the time I had bene brought a bed .Now i n one body by thy meanes a couple shall be dead.Thus muche she saide : and with the bloud h ir l ife did fade away.The bodie being voyde of soule became as colde as clay.Than all too late, alas too late gan Phebus to repentThat of h i s lover he had tane so cruel] puni shment.He blames him selfe for giving care so unadvi sedly.He blames himselfe i n that he tooke it so ou tragiou sly.

He hates and bannes h i s fai thful] birde b icau se he did enforme

Him of h is lovers naughtinesse that made h im so to storme .

He hates h is bow, he hates h is shaft that rashly from i t wentAnd eke he hates h i s hasty hands by whom the bow was bent .He takes h i r up betweene h is armes endevoring all too lateBy plai ster made of precious herbes to stay h i r helplesse fate .But when he saw there was no sh ift but that she needes must burne

,

And that the solemn sacred fire was prest to serve the turne :Then from the bottome of h is heart full sori e sighes he fet,(For heavenly powres with watrie teares their cheekes may never wet)I n case as when a Cow beho ldes the cruel] butcher standWith launcing Axe embrewd with bloud

,and l ifting up h i s hand

Aloft to snatch h ir sucking Calfe that hangeth by the heeles,

And of the Axe the deadly dint upon h i s forehead feeles .

Howbeit after sweete perfumes bestowde upon h i r corse,And much embracing

,having sore bewa ilde h ir wrong d ivorse,

He followed to the place ass ignde h ir bodie for to burne .There cou lde he not abide to see h i s scede to ashes turne,But tooke the baby from hir wombe and from the firie flame

,

And unto double Chyrons den conveyed straigh t the same .The R aven hoping for h is truth to be rewarded well

,

He maketh blacke,forbidding h im with whiter birdes to dwell .

The Centaure Chyron i n the while was glad of Phebus boy,And as the burthen brought some care

,the honor brought h im joy.

Upon a time with golden lockes about h ir shoulders spred,

A daughter of the Centaurs (whome a certaine Nymph had bred,About the brooke Caycus bankes) that h ight Ocyroe'Came th i ther. Thi s same fayre yong Nymph could not contented beTo learne the craft of Su rgerie as perfect as h i r Sire,Bu t that to learne the secret doom es of Fate she must aspire .And therfore when the furious rage of frenzic had h i r cought,And that the sprigh t of Prophecie enflamed had h ir thought

,

She lookt upon the ch ilde and saide : sweete babe the Gods thee makeA man, for all the world shall fare the better for thy sake .All sores and s icknesse shalt thou cure : thy owre shall eke be syche,To make the dead alive agai n . For doing 0 the whiche

5 6

Against the pleasure of the Gods,thy Graunds ire shall thee strike

So wi th h i s fire, that never more thou shalt performe the l ike .And of a God a bludlesse corse

,and of a corse (full straunge)

Thou sha l t become a God aga ine, and twice thy nature chaunge .And thou my father liefe and deare

, who now by destin ie,

Art borne to l ive for evermore and never for to die,

Shalt suffer such ou tragiou s paine throughout thy members all,By wounding of a venimde dart that on thy foote shall fall

,

That oft thou sha lt desi re to die,and in the latter end

The fatal ] dames shall breake thy threede,and thy desire thee send .

There was yet more behinde to tel l,when sodenly she fet

A sore decpc sigh , and downe hi r cheekes the teares did trickle wet.Mine owne misfortune (quoth she) now hath overtake me sure .I cannot utter any more, for wordes waxe ou t of ure .My cunning wa s not worth so much as that i t should procureThe wrath of God . I feele by proufe fa r better had i t beneIf that the chaunce of th ings to come I never had forescene .For now my native shape withdrawes . Me th inkes I have delightTo feede on grasse and fl i ng i n fieldes : I feele my selfe so light .I am transformed to a Mare l ike other of my kinne .But wherefore should thi s bruti sh shape all over wholy winne ?Considering that although both horse and man my father bee :Yet i s h is better part a man as plainly i s to see .The latter ende of th i s complaint was fumbled in such wise

,

As what she meant the standers by could scarcely well devise .Anon she neyther semde to speake nor fully for to ney,But like to one that counterfe ites i n sport the Mare to play.Within a whi le she neyed plai ne, and downe h i r armes were pightUpon the ground al l clad with hai re

,and bare h i r bodie right :

Hir fingers joyncd a ll i n one,at ende whereof did grow

In stede of nayles a round tough hoofe of welked horne bylow.

Hir head and necke shot forth in length,h ir kirtle trayne became

A faire long tai le . Hir flaring haire was made a hanging Mane .And as h ir native shape and voyce most monstrously did passe,So by the u ncoth name ofMarc she after termed was .The Centaure Chyron wept hereat : and piteously d isma ide

Did call on thee (although in vaine) thou Delph ian God for ayde.

For neyther lay i t i n thy hande to breake Joves mighty hestAnd though i t had

,yet in thy state as then thou did not rest .

I n Elis did th ou then abide and in Messene lande .I t was the t ime when under shape of shepehierd with a wandeOf C lyve and a pipe of reedes thou kept Admetus sheepe.

Now i n th i s t ime that (save of Love) thou tooke none other keepe,And m adste thee merrie with thy pipe, the glistring Ma ia s sonneBy chaunce abrode the fields ofPyle spide certaine cattle runneWithout a h icrd

,the which he stole and closely did them hide

Among the woods . This pretie sligh t no earthly creature spide,Save one old chu rle that B a ttus h ight . Th is B a ttus had the chargeOf welthie Neleus feeding grou ndes, and all h is pastures large,

5 7

And kept a race of goodly Mares . Of h im he was afraide.

And least by h im h i s priv ie theft should chaunce to be bewra ide,He tooke a bribe to stop h i s mouth , and thus unto h im saide .My friend I pray thee i f perchaunce that any man enqui reThi s cattell say thou saw them no t. And take thou for thy h ireTh i s faire yong Bu llocke. Tother tooke the B u llocke at h i s hand.And shewing h im a certaine stone that lay upon the landeSayd

, go thy way : Assoone th i s stone thy doings shall bewray,As I shall doe. So Mercurie did seeme to go h i s way.

Annon he c'ommes me backe againe, and al tred both in specheAnd outward shape, saide Countrieman I ch heartely bez eche,And if thou z awest any Kie come royl ing through thi s grounde,Or driven away

,tell what he was and where they may be vownde.

And I ch i ll gethee vor thy paine an H ecfar an h i r match .The Carle perceyv ing double gaine, and greedy for to catch ,Sayde : under yonsame h ill they were, and under yonsame h illCham zure they are, and with h is hand he poynted thereuntill ,At that Mercurius laugh ing saide : false knave, and doste bewrayMe to my selfe ? doste thou bewray me to my selfe I say ?And with that word straight to a stone he tu rnde h i s double heart

,

I n wh ich the slaunder yet rem aines without the stones desart.The bearer of the charmed R od the suttle Mercurie

This done arose with waving winges and from that place did flie.

And as he hovered in the Ayre,he v iewde the fieldes bylow

Of Attiche and the towne i t selfe with all the trees that growIn Lycey where the learned Clarkes did whol som e preceptes show.

By chaunce the veric selfe same day,the virgins of the towne

Of olde and auncient cu stome bare i n baskets on their crowneBeset with garlands fresh and gay and strowde with flowres sweete

,

To Pa llas towre such sacrifice as was of cu stome meete.

The winged God beholding them return ing i n a troupe,

Continued not di rectly forth, but gan me downe to stoupe,And fetch a wyndlasse rounde about . And as the hungry KiteBeholding unto sacrifice a B ullocke redic dight,Doth sore about h i s wished pray desirous for to snatche,But that he dareth not for such as stand about and watchSo Mercurie with n imble wings doth keepe a lower gateAbout Minerva s loftie towres i n round and wheel ing rate.

As far as doth the Morn ing starre i n cleere and streaming ligh tExcel] al l other starres i n heaven . as far also as bright

Dame Phebe d imm es the Morn ing starre, so farre did Herses face

Staine all the Ladies of h ir troupe : she was the veric graceAnd beau tie of that solemne pompe

,and all that traine so fayre

Joves sonne was rav isht with the sight,and hanging 1n the ayre

Began to swelt with i n h imself, i n case as when the poulderHath driven the Pellet from the Gunne

,the Pellet gi nnes to smoulder,

And in h is flying waxe more hote. In smoking brest he shrowdesHis flam es not brought fr6 heaven above but caught beneath the clouds .He leaves h i s j orney toward heaven

,and takes another race

Not minding any lenger time to h ide h is present case .

5 8

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Of Snakes and Todes, the filthie foode that keepes h i r vices fresh .I t lothde h ir to beholde the sight. Anon the Elfe aroseAnd left the gnawed Adders flesh , and slou thfu lly she goesWith lumpish leysure l i ke a Snayle : and when she saw the faceOf Pa lla s and h i r faire att i re adou rnde with heavenly grace,She gave a sigh a sorie sigh from bottome of h ir heart .Hir lippes were pale

,h i r cheekes were wan

,and all h ir face was swart :

Hir bodie leane as any R ake . She looked eke a skewHir teeth were furde with filth and drosse

,h i r gums were waryish blew.

The working of h ir festered ga ll had made h i r stomacke greene .And all bevenimde was h ir tongue . No sleepe h ir eyes had scene.

Continual ] Carke and cancred care did keepe h ir waking st ill :Of laughter (save at others harmes) the H elhound can no skill .I t i s ainst h ir will that men have any good successe.And i they have, she frettes and fumes with i n h ir minde no lesseThan if h i r selfe had taken harme . I n seeking to annoyAnd worke distresse to other folke, h i r selfe she doth destroy .Thus is she torment to h i r selfe . Though Pa lla s did h ir hate,Yet spake she briefly these few wordes to h i r without h i r gate .I nfect thou with thy venim one of Cecrop s daughters three,I t i s Aglauros whome I meane : for so i t needes must bee.This said

,she ight h ir speare i n ground, and tooke h i r ri se thereon .

And winding ffom that wicked W ight did take h i r fl ight anon .The Ca itife cast h ir eye aside, and seeing Pa lla s gon,Began to mumble with h ir selfe the Divels Paternoster,And fretting at h i r good successe

,began to blow and bluster.

She takes a crooked staffe in hand bewrea thde with knubbed prickc s ,And covered with a coly cloude

,where ever that she stickes

Hir fil thie feete she tramples downe and scares both rasse and com e :That all the fresh and fragrant fieldes seeme utterly érlorne.

And with h ir stafl’e she tippeth of the h ighest poppie heades .

Such poyson also every where ungraciously she sheades,

That every Cottage where she comes, and every Towne and CitieDoe take infection at h ir breath . At length (the more i s pit ie)She found the faire Ath en ian towne that flowed freshly thenI n feastfull peace and j oyful] welth and learned wi tts ofm en .

And forbicause she noth ing saw that might provoke to weepe,I t was a corsie to hit heart h i r hateful] teares to keepe.

Now when she came with i n the Court, she went wi thout delay,

Directly to the lodgings where King Cecrop s daughters lay.There did she as Minerva bad : she laide h i r scu rv ie fistB csmerde with venim and wi th filth upon Aglauros bri st .The which she fil lde with hooked thornes : and breath ing on h i r face,Did shead the poyson in h i r bones : which spred i t selfe apace,As blacke as ever virgin pi tch through Lungs and L ights and all.And to th intent that cause of griefe abundantly should fal l ,She placed ay before h ir eyes h i r si sters happie chaunceI n being wedded to the God

,and made the God to glaunce

Continual ly i n heavenly shape before hi r wounded thought .And al l these th ings she painted out : which i n conclusion wroughtSuch corsies i n Agla uros brest, that sigh ing day and n ight

6o

[000

I O I O

She gnawde and fretted in h ir selfe for very cankred spight .And like a wretche she wastes hirselfe with restlesse care and pine,L ike as the yse whereon the Sunne with gl imering light doth sh ine.Hir si ster Herses good successe doth make hi r heart to yerne,In case as when that fire i s put to greenefeld wood or fearne,Which giveth neyther l ight nor beate, but smulders quite away.Sometime she minded to her Sire h ir si ster to bewray

,

Who (wel l she knew) would yl l abide so lewde a part to play.And oft she thought with wilful] hande to brust h ir fatal] threede

,

B icau se she wou lde no t see the th ing that made h i r heart to blecde.

At last she sate h i r i n the doore,and leaned to a post

,

To let the God from entring in . To whome now having lostMuch talke and gentle wordes i n vayne

, she said : Sir leave I prayFor hence I will not (be you sure) onlesse you go away.I take thee at thy word (quoth he) and therewithall he pushtHis rod against the barred doore

,and wide i t open rusht .

She making proffer for to ri se,did feele so great a waigh t

Through all h ir l imm es, that for hi r life she could no t stretch h ir straigh t .She strove to set h irself upright : but striving booted not.Hir hamstrings and h i r knees were stiffe

,a ch ill ing colde had got

In at h ir nayles , th rough all h i r l immes,and eke h ir veynes began

For want of bloud and lively heate,to waxe both pale and wan .

And as the freting Fistula fo rgrowne and past all cureRunnes in the flesh from place to place

,and “makes the sound and pure

As bad or worser than the rest : even so the cold of death ,Strake to h i r heart, and clo sde h ir veines, and lastly stopt h i r breathShe made no profer for to speake

,and though she had done so

,

I t had bene vaine . For way was none for language forth to go .

Hir thro te congealed i nto stone : h i r mouth became hard stone,And l ike an image sate she sti ll

,h i r bloud was clearely gone .

The wh ich the ven im of h ir heart so fowly did infect,That ever after all the stone with freckled spots was spect.When Mercurie had pu n isht thus Agla uros spightfu ll tungAnd cancred heart immediatly from Pa lla s towne he flung.

And flying up with fl ittering wings did pierce to heaven above.His father calde h im straight aside (but shewing not h i s love)Said : sonne

,my tru stie messenger and worker of my will

,

Make no delay,but ou t of hand fl ie downe in hast unti l]

The land that on the left side lookes upon thy mother’s l ight,

Yonsame where standeth on the coast the towne that Sialon hight.The king hath there a heirde ofNcate that on the m ounta ines feede :

Go take and drive them to the sea with all conven ient speede.

He had no sooner said the worde but that the heirde begunDriven from the m ounta ine to the shore appointed for to run,Whereas the daughter of the king was wonted to resortWith other Ladies of the Court there for to play and sport .Betweene the state ofMaj esti c and love i s set such oddcs ,As that they can not dwell i n one. The Sire and king of GoddesWhose hand i s armd with triplefire, who only with h i s frowneMakes Sea and Land and heaven to quake, doth lay h is scepter downeWith all the grave and stately port belonging thereunto

,

6 1

1 020

And putting on the shape of bull (as other cattell doe)Goes lowing gently up and downe among them in the fieldThe fai rest beast to looke upon that ever man beheld .For why ? h i s colour was as whi te as any winters snowBefore that eyther trampli ng feete or Sou therne winde i t thow .

His necke was brawnd with rolles of flesh,and from h i s chest before

,

A dangling dewlap hung me downe good halfe a foote and more .H is hom es were smal l, but yet so fine as that ye would have thoughtThey had bene made by cunn ing hand

,or out ofwaxe bene wrought .

More cleare they Were a hundreth fold than i s the Chri stal] stone .I n all h i s forehead fearful] frowne or wrinkle there was none .No fierce

,no grim, no griesly looke as other cattle have

But a ltogether so demure as friendship seemdc to crave .Agenors daughter marveld much so tame a beast to see

,

But yet to touche h im at the first too bolde she durst not bee.Annon she reaches to h i s mouth h ir hand with herbes and flowres .

The loving beast was glad thereof,and nei ther frownes nor lowres .

But till the hoped joy might come with glad and faun ingcheare

He liekes h i r hands,and scarce ah scarce the resdue he orbeare.

Sometime he friskes and skippes about, and showes h ir sport at hand :Annon he layes h is snowie side against the golden sand .So feare by li ttl e driven away, he offred eft h i s brestTo stroke and coy, and eft h i s hom es with flowers to be drest.At last Europ a knowing not (for so the Maide was calde)On whome she venturde for to ride

,was nerawh it appalde

To set h i r selfe upon h i s backe . Then by and by the GodFrom maine drie land to maine moyst Sea gan leysu rly to plod.At first h e did but dip h is feete with in the outmost wave

,

And backe inc : then further i n another plunge he gave,And so still rther, t i l] at the last he had h i s wi shed prayAmid the decpc

,where was no meanes to scape with life away.

The Ladie quaking all for feare, with ru fu ll countnance castAy toward shore from whence she came, held wi th hir righthand fastOne of h i s hom es : and wi th the left did stay upon h is backe .The weather flaskt and whisked up h i r garments being slacke.

Fi nis secunai Libri .

TH E TH IRD BOO K E

of Ov ia’s Metamorphosis .

HE God now having laide aside h is borrowed shape of Bull,

Had in h i s l ikenesse shewde him selfe Andwith h i s pretie trullTane landing in the I sle of Crete . When in that while h ir S ireNot knowing where she was become

,sent after to enquire

Hir brother Ca a’mus,charging h im h i s si ster home to bring

,

Or never for to come aga ine : wherei n he did a th ing,For wh ich he might both j ustly kinde

,and cruel] called bee .

When Cadmus over all the world had sought, (for who i s hee

That can detect the thefts of Jove and no where could h it seeThen as an outlaw (too avoyde h is fathers wrongful] yre)He went to Phebus Oracle most humbly to desireHis heavenly counsel] , where he would assigne h im place to dwell.An H ecfar all alone in field (quoth Phebus) marke h ir well,Which never bare the pinch ing yoke

,nor drew the plough as yit

,

Shall meete thee : follow after hi r,and where thou seest h ir s it

,

There bu ilde a towne,and le t thereof Beotia be the name.

Downe from Pa rna sus stately top scarce fully Ca dmus came,When royl ing softly in the vale before the herde aloneHe saw an H ecfar on whose necke of servage print was none.He followde after leysu rly as h ir that was h i s guide ,And thanked Phebus i n h is h eart that did so well provide.Now had he past Cephisus forde, and eke the pleasant groundesAbout the Citie Panope conteinde with in the boundes .

The H ecfar sta ide, and l ifting up h i r forehead to the skieFull seemely for to looke upo n with hom es li ke braunches h ie,Did with h ir lowing fi ll the Ayre : and casting backe h i r eieUpon the rest that came al oofe

,as softly as she could

Kneelde down , and laide h i r ha irie side aga inst the grassie mould.Then Ca dmus gave Apollo thankes, and falling flat bylow,

Did kisse the ground and haile the fields wh ich yet h e did not know.

He was about to sacrifice to Jove the Heavenly King,And bad h i s servants goe and fetch h im water of the spring.An olde forgrowne unfelled wood stood neare at hand thereby,And i n the middes a queach ie plot with Sedge and Oys iers h ie.

Where courbde about with peble stone in l ikenesse of a bowThere was a spring with silver streames that forth thereof did flow.

Here lurked in h is lowring den God Ma rs h is griesly SnakeWith golden scales and firie eyes beswolne with poyson blake .Three spitting tongues , three rowes of teeth wi th i n h i s head did sticke.No sooner had the Ti rian folke set foote with i n th is th ickeAnd qu each ie plot, and deped downe the ir bucket in the well,But that to bu scle i n h is den began th is Serpent fell,And peering with a marble head ri

ght horribly to h isse.

The Tirians let their pitchers slip or sodaine feare of th i s,And wax ing pale as any clay

,l ike folke am az de and flaight,

Stoode trembling like an Aspen leafe . The speeled serpent straigh t

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Comes trai l ing ou t i n waving li nkes, and knottic rolles of scales,And bending into bunchie boughts h i s bodie forth he hales .And l ifting up above the wast h imselfe unto the Skie,He overlooketh all the wood , as huge and big weln ieAs is the Snake that i n the heaven about the Nordren poleDev ides the Beares. He makes no stay but deales h is dreadful] doleAmong the Tirians . Whether they did take them to thei r tooles

,

Or to thei r heeles , or that their feare did make them stand like fooles,And helpe themselves by none of both : he snapt up some alive,And swept in others with h i s tai le, and some he did depriveOf life with rankenesse of h is breath , and other some aga ineHe stings and poysons unto death til l all at last were sla inc .

Now when the Sunne was at h i s heigth and shadowes waxed short,And Ca dmus saw h i s company make tarience i n that sort

,

He marveld what should be their let, and went to seeke them out.His harnesse was a Lion s skin that wrapped h im about.His weapons were a long strong speare with head of yron tride

,

And eke a light a nd piercing Dart . And thereunto besideWorth al l the weapons in the world a stout and v al iant hart.When Cadmus came with i n the wood, and saw about that partH is m en l i e sla ine upon the ground, and eke thei r cruel] foOf bodie huge stand over them

,and l icki ng with his b lo

And blasting tongue thei r sorie wou ndes : well tru s tie friendes (quoth he)I eyther of your piteous deathes wi ll streigh t revenger be,Or else will die my selfe therefore . With that he raugh ting fastA m ightie Mi lstone, at the Snake wi th all h i s m igh t i t cast .The stone with such exced ing force and violence forth was driven,As of a fort th e bu lwarkes strong and walles i t would have riven .And yet i t d id the Snake no harme : h i s scales as hard and toughAs i f they had bene plates of mayle did fence h im well inough ,So that the stone rebounded backe against his freckl ed slough .But yet h i s hardnesse savde h im no t again st the pierc ing dart .For h i tting right betweene th e scales that yeelded i n that partWhereas the joynts doe knit the backe, i t th irled through the skin,And pierced to h is fi lthy mawe a nd greedy gu ts with i n .He fierce with wrath wrings backe h is head , and looking on th e stripeThe Javel ing steale that st icked out, betweene h i s teeth doth gripe .The which wi th wresting to and fro at length he forthe did winde

,

Save that he left the head thereof among hi s bones beh inde.

When of his courage through the wound more kindled was the i re,

His thro teboll sweld with puffed veines, h i s eyes gan sparkle fire .There stoode about h i s smeared chaps a lothly fom ing froth .His skaled brest ploughes up the ground, the stinking breath that gothOut from h i s blacke and helli sh mouth infectes the herbes full fowle .Sometime he windes himselfe in knots as round as any Bowle .Sometime he stretcheth ou t i n length as straight as any beame .Anon aga ine with violent brunt he rusheth l ike a streameEncreast by rage of latefalne raine, and with h i s m ightie swayBeares downe the wood before h i s breast that standeth in h i s way.

Agenors sonne retiring backe doth wi th his L ion s spoyleDefend h im from hi s fierce assaults, and makes h im to recoyle

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Aye holding at the weapons poynt. The Serpent wax ing woodDoth crashc the steele betwene h is teeth

,and bites i t ti ll the blood

Dropt mixt with poyson from h is mouth,did die the greene grasse blacke .

But yet the wound was veric ligh t b icau se he wri th ed backeAnd pu ld h i s head still from the stroke : and made the stripe to dieBy giving way, unti l] th at Cadmus following i refullyThe stroke

,with all h is powre and migh t did through if throte h im rive,

And naylde h im too an Oke beh ind the which he eke did clive .The Serpents waigh t did make the tree to bend . I t grievde the treeHis bodie of th e Serpen ts tai le thus scourged for to bee .While Ca dmus wondred at the hugenesse of the vanqu isht foeUpon th e sodaine came a voyce : from whence he could not know.

But sure he was he heard the voyce. Which said,Agenors sonne

What ga z est thus upon th is Snake ? the time will one day comeThat thou thy selfe shal t be a Snake. He pale and wan for feare,Had lost h i s speach : and rufll ed up stiffe staring stood h is heare.Behold (mans helper at h i s neede) Dame Pa lla s gliding throughThe vacant Ayre was straigh t at hand

,and bade h im take a plough

And cas t th e Serpents teeth i n ground as of the wh ich shoul d springAnoth er people ou t of hand . He did in every th ingAs Pa lla s bade, he tooke a plough , and carde a forrow lowAnd sowde th e Serpents teeth whereof the foresaid folke shoul d grow.

Anon (a wondrous th ing too tell) the clods began to move,And from the forrow first of all the pikes appea rde above,Next rose up helmes wi th fethered crests, and then the Poldrens bright,Succes sively the Curets whole, and all the armor righ t .Thus grew up men like com e i n field i n rankes of battle rayWith sh ieldes and weapons i n their hands to feigh t the field that dayEven so when stages are a ttirde against some solemne game,With clothes ofArras gorgeously

,i n drawing up th e same

The faces of the ym ages doe first of all them show,And then by peeccmeale all the rest i n order seemes too grow,Until ] at last th ey stand out full u 11 their feete bylow.

Afrighted at th i s new found oes gan Cadmus for to takeHim to h i s weapons by and by resi stance for to make.

Stay,stay thy selfe (cride one of them that late before were bred

Out of the ound) and meddl e no t with civil] wa rres . This sed,One of theBiothers of that brood wi th launcing sworde he slue .Another sent a dart at h im

,the wh ich h im overthrue.

The th i rd did straigh t as much for h im and made h im yeelde the breath ,(The which he had receyvde but now) by stroke of forced death .L ikewi se outraged all th e rest until] that one by oneBy mutual] stroke of civil] warre dispa tched everychone,This broode of brothers all behewen and wel tred i n thei r blood,Lay sprawling on th ei r mothers womb, the ground where erst they stood,Save only five that did rema ine . Of whom Echion ledBy Pa lla s counsel]

,th rew away the helmet from hi s head,

And with h is brothers gan to treat a ttonem ent for to make .The wh ich at length (by Pa lla s helpe) so good successe did take,

65

100

That fai thful friendsh ip was confirmd and hand i n hand was pligh t .These afterward did well assi st the noble Tyrian knigh t

,

I n building of the famous towne that Phebus had beh igh t.Now Thebes stood in good estate, now Cadmus migh t th ou sayThat when thy father banisht thee i t was a luckie day.

To joyne al iance both wi th Ma rs and Venus was thy chaunce,

Whose daughter thou hadst tane to wife,who did thee much advaunce,

Not only th rough h ir h igh renowne, but through a noble raceOf sonnes and daughters that she bare : whose ch ildren i n like caseI t was thy fortune for to see all men and women growne .

But ay th e ende of every th ing must marked be and knowne,For none the name of blessednesse deserveth for to have,Unlesse the tenor of th i s l ife last blessed to h is grave .Among so many prosprous happes that flowde with good successe,Thine eldest Nephew was a cause of care and sore distresse .Whose head was armde with palmed hornes

,whose own hounds i n ywood

D id pull their master to the ground and fill them with h i s blond.But if you sift the matter well, ye shall not finde desartBut cruel] fortune to have bene the cause of th i s h i s smart.For who could doe with oversigh t ? Great slaughter had bene madeOf su ndrie sortes of savage beastes one morning, and the shadeOf th ings was waxed veric short. I t was the time of dayThat mid betweene the East and West the Sunne doth seeme to stay ;When as the Thebane stripling thus bespake h is compan ie,Sti ll raunging in the waylesse woods some further game to spie.Our weapons and ou r toyles are moi st and sta ind with blond of DeareTh is day hath done inough as by our quarrie may appea re .

Assoone as wi th h i r scarlet wheeles next morning bringeth ligh t,We will about our worke aga ine. But now H ip erion brigh tIs in the middes of Heaven

,and sca res the fieldes wi th firie rayes .

Take up your toyles, and ceasse your worke, and let us go our wayes .They did even so

,and ceast their worke. There was a val ley thicke

With P inaple and Cipresse trees that armed be with pricke .Ga rgaphie h igh t th is shadie plot, i t was a sacred placeTo chast Diana and the Nymphes that wayted on h i r grace.With i n the furthest end thereof th ere was a pleasant BowreSo vaul ted wi th th e leav ie trees

,the Sunne had there no powre

No t made by hand nor mans devise,and yet no man

A trimmer piece ofworke than that could for h is l ife contrive.With fl i nt and Pommy was i t wal lde by nature halfe about,And on the righ t side of th e same full fresh ly flowed ou tA lively spring with Christal] streame : whereof the upper brimWas greene wi th grasse and matted herbes that smelled veri c trim .

When Phebe felt h i r selfe waxe faint,of following of h ir game,

I t was h ir custom e for to come and bath h i r in the same.That day she having timely left h i r hunting i n the chace,Was entred with h ir troupe ofNymphes wi th i n th is pleasant place .She tooke h i r quiver and h ir bow the wh ich she had unbent,And eke ‘

h ir Javeli n to a Nymph that served that i ntent .Another Nymph to take hi r clo thes am ong h ir traine she chose,Two losde h i r buskin s from h ir legges and pull ed of h ir hose.

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Dyd follow freshly i n the chase more swifter than the winde,Spy

, Eatea l, Scalecl iffe, th ree good houndes comne all ofArea s kinde.Strong Kilbucke, curri sh Savage, Spring, and Hunter fresh of smell,And Lightfoote who to lead a chase did beare away the bellFierce Woodman hurte not long ago i n hunting of a BoreAnd Shepeheird woont to follow sheepe and neate to fielde afore.And Laund a fell and eger bi tch that had a Wolfe to Syre :Another brach callde Greedigut with two h ir Puppies by h i r.And Ladon gant as any Grecwnd a hownd i n Sycion bred,Blab, Fleetewood,

‘Patch whose flecked skin wsundrie spots was spredWight

,Bowman, R oyster, beau tie faire and whi te as winters snow,

And Tawn ie full of du skie hai res that over all did grow,

With lu stie R uffler passing all the resdu e there i n strength ,And Tempest best of footemanshipe i n holding out at length .And Cole

,and Swift

,and li ttle Woolfe, as wigh t as any other,

Accompanide with a Cip rian hound that was h i s native brother,And Snatch amid whose forehead stoode a starre as white as snowe

,

The resdue being all as blacke and sl icke as any Crowe,And shaggie R ugge wi th other twaine that had a Syre of Crete,And dam of Sp a rta : Tone of them call de Jollyboy, a greatAnd large flewd hound : the to ther Chorle who ever gnoorring went,And R i ngwood wi th a shyrle loud mouth the wh ich he freely spen t,With divers mo whose names to tel l i t were but losse of tym e.

Th is fellowes over h ill and dale i n hope of pray doe clyme.

Through th ick and th i n and craggie cliffes where was no way to go,He flyes th rough groundes where oftentymes he chased had ere tho

,

Even from his owne folke i s he faine (alas) to flee away.He strayncd oftentym es to speake

,and was about to say,

I am Acteon : know your Lorde and Mayster sirs I pray.But use of wordes and speach did want to utter forth h i s minde.Their crie did ring through all the Wood redoubled wi th the winde.First 810 did pi nch h im by the haunch , and next came Kildeere i n ,And H ylbred fastned 011 his shoulder, bote h im through the skinne.

These came forth later than the rest,but coasting thwart a h ill

,

They did ga inecope h im as he came, and helde their Master still,Unti l] that all the rest came in

,and fastned on h im to .

No part of h im was free from wound . He coul d none other doBut sigh

,and in the shape of Hart wi th voyce as Hartes are woont,

(For voyce of man wa s none now left to helpe h im at th e brunt)By braying show h i s secret grief among the Mountaynes h ie,And kneeling sadl y on h i s knees wi th dreerie teares i n eye

,

As one by humbling of h im selfe that mercy seemdc to crave,

With pi teous looke i n stead of bandes h i s head abou t to wave .Not knowing th at i t was their Lord

,the huntsmen cheere their hounds

With wonted noyse and for Acteon looke about th e grounds.They hallow who could lowdest crie sti ll call ing h im by nameAs though he were not there

,and much h i s absence they do blame

,

I n that he came not to the fal l,but slackt to see the game.

As often as they named him he sadly shooke h is head,

And fai ne he would have beene away thence i n some other stead,

But there he was. And well he could have found i n heart to see

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H is dogges fell deedes, so that to feele i n place he had not bee.They hem h im in on everie side

,and i n the shape of Stagge,

With greed ie teeth and griping pawes thei r Lord in peeces dragge.So fierce was cruel] Phe bes wrath

,i t could no t be alayde,

Til] of h is faul t by b i tter death the ra unsom e he had payde.Much m uttring was upon th is fact. Some thought there was extended

A great deale more extrem itie than neded. Some commendedDia na s doing : saying that i t was but worthelyFor safegarde of h i r womanhod . Eche partie did appli cGood reasons to defende their case . Al one the wife of Jove

,

Of lyking or misl iking i t not all so greatly strove,

As secretly rejoyst i n heart that such a plague was ligh tOn Cadmus l i nage : turning all the malice and the spi htConceyved earst against the wench that Jove had fet ifo Tyre,Upon the kinred of the wench . And for to fierce h ir i re

,

Another th ing cleane overthwart there commeth i n the n ickeThe Ladie Semel l great wi th ch ilde by Jove as then was qu icke.

Hereat she gan to freat and fume,and for to ease h i r h eart

,

Which else wou ld burst,she fell i n hande with scolding out h ir part.

And what a goodyea re have I woo n by scolding erst ? (she sed)I t i s that arrant qu eane h i r selfe, against whose wicked hed

I must as say to give assault : and if (as men me cal l)I be th at Juno who i n heaven beare greatest swing of al l

,

If i n my hand I worth ie bee to holde the royal] Mace,

And if I be th e (Lueene of Heaven and sovera igne of th i s place,

Or wife and si ster un to Jov e, (h i s sister well I know

But as for wife that name i s vayne,I serve but for a show

,

To cover other priv ie skapes) I will confound that Whore .Now (with a m isch iefe) i s she bagd and bea reth ou t beforeH ir open shame to all the world , and shortly hopes to beeThe mother of a sonne by Jove, the which hath hapt to meeNo t passing once i n all my time : so sore she doth presumeUpon hir beau tie. But I trowe h ir h0pe sha ll soone consume .Fo r never let me counted be for Sa turns daughter more,I f by h ir owne deare darling Jove on whom she trustes so sore,I sende hir no t to Styxes streame . This ended up she roseAnd covered in golden cloud to Semelles house she goes.And ere she sen t away the cloud

,she takes an olde wyves shape

With boarie haire and ri veled skinne,with slow and crooked gate.

As though she had the Pal sey had h i r feeble l immes did shake,And eke she fo ltred i n the mouth as often as she spake .She seemd olde Beldame B eroe’ ofEp ida ure to bee,This Ladie Semelles Nourse as right as though i t had beene shee .

So when that after mickle talke of purpose m inistred,Joves name was upned : by and by she gave a sigh and sed,

I wi sh wi th all my heart that Jove bee cause to thee of th i s.But daughter deare I dreade the worst

,I feare i t be amisse .

For manie Varlets under name of Gods,to serve their lust

,

Have into undefil ed beddes themselves full often thrust.And though it bene the m ightie Jove yet doth no t that sufli z e,Onlesse he also make the same apparant to ou r eyes.

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And if i t be even veri c h ee, I say i t doth behove,He prove i t by some Open signe and token of h is love .And th erefore pray h im for to graunt that looke i n what degree,What order

,fash ion

,sort and state he use to compan ie

With m ightie Juno, i n the same in everie poynt and caceTo all i ntents and purposes he thee l ikewise embrace,And that h e also bring wi th h im h i s brigh t threeforked mace .With such i nstructions Juno had enformed Ca dmus NeeceAnd she poore s ielie simple soule immediately on th i s

R equested Jove tograunt a boone the wh ich she did not name .Aske what thou wilt sweete heart (quoth he) thou shalt not misse the same,And for to make thee sure hereof

,the gri sely Stygian Lake,

Which i s the feare and God of Gods beare witnesse for thy sake.She j oying i n h ir owne m ischaunce

,not having any powre

To rule h ir selfe, but making speede to hast h ir fatal] howre,I n wh ich she through h i r Lovers helpe should worke h i r owne decay,Sayd : Such as Juno findeth you when you and she doe playThe games of Venus, such I pray thee shew thy selfe to meeIn everie case. The God wou ld faine have stopt h i r mouth . But sheeHad made such hast that out i t was . Which made h im s i h full sore

,

For neyther she could then unwish the th ing she wish t beffxe,Nor he revoke h i s solemne o th . Wherefore with sorie hartAnd heavy countnance by and by to Heaven he doth depart.And makes to follow after h im wi th looke full grim and stoureThe flakie clouds all grisly blacke

,as when they threat a shoure.

To which he added mixt wi th winde a fierce and flash ing flame,

With drie and dreadful] thunderclaps and lightning to th e sameOf deadly unavoyded dynt . And yet as much as mayHe goes about h i s vehement force and fiercenesse to allay.He doth no t arme h im with the fire wi th wh ich he did removeThe Giant wi th the hundreth bandes Typhoe'us from above :I t was too cruel] and too sore to u se agaynst h is Love .The Cyclops made an other kinde of l igh tning farre more ligh t

,

Wherei n they put much lesse of fire,lesse fiercenesse

,lesser migh t.

I t h igh t i n Heaven the second Mace . Jove armes him selfe with th is,

And enters in to Ca a’mus house where Semelles chamber i s.She being morta l] was too weake and feeble to withstandeSuch troublous tumultes of the Heavens : and therefore ou t of handeWas burned in h i r Lovers armes . But yet he tooke awayHis infant from the mothers wombe unperfect as i t lay

,

And ( i f a man may credi t i t) did in h is thigh i t sowe,Where byding ou t the mothers tyme

,i t did to ripenesse growe.

And when th e time of birth was come,h i s Aunt the Ladie Ine

Did nourse h im for a wh ile by steal th and kept h im trym and fine.The Nymphes ofNysa afterwarde did i n thei r bowres h im h ide,And brought h im up with Mi lke ti ll tym e he might abrode be spyde.

Now while these th ings were done on earth,and that by fatal doome

The twice borne Ba cchus had a tyme to mannes estate to come :They say’ that Jove disposde to myrth as h e and Juno sateA drinking Nectar after meate i n sport and pleasant rate

,

Did fall a jeasting with h is wife, and saide : a greater pleasure

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In Venus games ye women have than men beyonde al l measure.She answerde no . To trie the truth

,they both of them agree

The wise Tyresia s i n th i s case i ndifferent -j udge to bee,Who both the man and womans joyes by tryall understood.For finding once two m ightie Snakes engendr ing i n a Wood,He strake them overthwart the backs

,by meanes whereof beholde

(As straunge a th ing to be of truth as ever yet was tolde)He being made a woman straigh t

,seven winter l ived so .

The eigh t he finding them aga ine did say unto them thoAnd i f to strike ye have such powre as for to turne their shapeThat are th e givers of the stripe

,before you hence escape,

One stri pe now will I lende you more . He strake them as beforneAnd s traigh t retu rnd h i s former shape m wh ich he first was borne.

ia s therefore being tane to j udge th i s j esting stri fe,

Gave sentence on the side of Jove. The wh ich the Queene his wifeDid take a great deale more to heart than needed

,and m spigh t

To wreake h ir teene upon h i r Judge,bereft h im of h i s sigh t.

But Jove (for to the Gods i t i s unl eeful to undocThe th ings wh ich other of the Gods by any meanes have doe)Did gi ve h im sigh t i n th i ngs to come for losse of sigh t of eye,And so h i s gri evous puni shment with honour did supplie .By meanes whereof wi th in a wh ile i n Citie

,fielde

,and towne

Through all the coast ofAony was bruted h i s renowne .

And folke to have thei r fortunes read that dayly did resorte,Were au nswerde so as none of them could give h im m isreporte.

The first that of h i s soothfast wordes had proufe.

i n all the Realme,

Was freckled Lyriop ,whom sometime surprised 1n h i s streame

,

The floud Cephisus did enforce . This Lady bare a sonneWhose beau tie at h is veric birth mi h t j ustly love have wonne .Na rcissus did she call h i s name . O whom the Prophet sageDemaunded i f the ch ilde should l ive to many cares of age

,

Made aunswere,yea full long

,so that h im sel e he doc no t know.

The Sooth sayers wordes seemdc long but vaine,until] the end did show

His sayi ng to be t rue in deede by straungenesse of the rage,

And straungenesse of the kinde of death that did abridge h i s ageFor when yea res three times five and one he fully lyved had,So that he seemdc to stande beetwene the state of man and Lad,The hearts of divers trim yong men h i s beau tie gan to move,And many a Ladie fresh and faire was taken i n h i s love .But in that grace ofNatures gift such passing pride did ra igne,That to be toucht ofm an or Mayde he wholy did disda ine .

A bab l ing Nymph that Echo h ight : who hearing others talke,By no meanes can restra inc h ir tongue but that i t needes must walke,Nor of h ir selfe hath powre to ginne to speake to any W igh t,Espyde h im dryv ing i nto toyles the fearefu ll stagges of fl ight .This Echo was a body then and not an onely voyce,Yet of h ir speach she had that time no more than now the choyce,That i s to say of many wordes the latter to repeate.

The cause thereof was Junos wrath . For when that wi th the feateShe might have often taken Jove i n daliance with h is Dames,And that by stealth and unbewares i n middes of all h i s games

7 1

Thi s elfe wou ld with h ir ta tling talke deteine h i r by the way,Until] that Jove had wrought h is will and they were fled away.The wh ich when Juno did perceyve, she said wi th wra thfu ll mood ,This tongue that hath deluded me shall doe thee l ittle goodFor of thy speach but simple u se hereafter shal t thou have.The deede i t selfe did straigh t confirmc the threatnings that she gave.Yet Echo of the former talke doth double oft the endeAnd backe aga ine with j ust report the wordes earst spoken sende .

Now when she sawe Na rcissus stray about th e Forrest wyde,

She waxed warme and step for step fast after h im she hyde .The more she followed after h im and neerer that she came

,

The whoter ever did she waxe as neerer to h i r flame.Lyke as th e lively Brimstone doth which dipt about a match ,And put but softly to the fire

,the flame doth l igh tly catch .

O Lord how often would she faine (i f nature woul d have let)Entreated h im with gentle wordes some favour for to get ?Bu t nature would not suffer h ir nor give h i r leave to ginne.

Yet (so farre forth as she by graunt at natures hande could winne)Ay readie wi th attentive care she harkens for some sounde,Whereto she migh t replie h ir wordes

,from wh ich she i s not bounde .

By chaunce th e stripling being strayde from all h i s companie,Sayde : i s there any bodie n ie ? straigh t Echo answerde : I .Amaz de he castes h i s eye aside

,and looketh round about

,

al l the Forrest roong) aloud h e calleth out.(1 seeing no man followe,

Why fl iste, he cryeth once aga ine : and she the same doth hallowe.

He still persi stes, and wondring much what kinde of th ing i t wasFrom wh ich that answering voyce by turne so duely seemdc to passe,Sayd : let us j oyne. She (by h ir will desirous to have said,I n fayth with none more will ingly at any time or stead)Sayd : let us j oyne. And standing somewhat i n h i r owne concei t,Upon these wordes she left the Wood, and forth she yeedeth strei t,To coll the lovely necke for which she longed had so much .He runnes h i s way, and will not be imbraced of no such .And sayth : I first will die ere thou shal t take of me thy pleasure .She answerde noth ing else thereto

,but take of me thy pleasure.

Now when she saw h i r selfe thus mockt, she gate h ir to the Woods,And h id h i r head for veric shame among the leaves and buddes.And ever sence she lyves alone in dennes and hollow Caves .Yet s tacke h ir love still to h ir heart

,th rough wh ich she dayly raves

The more for sorrowe of repulse . Through restlesse carke and careHi r bodie pynes to skinne and bone, and waxeth wonderous bare .The bloud doth vani sh i nto ayre from out of all h i r veynes,And nought i s left but voyce and bones : the voyce yet stil l remaynes

Hir bones they say were turnde to stones. From thence she lurking stil]I n Woods

,wi ll never shewe h ir head i n field nor yet on' h ill .

Yet i s she heard of every man : i t i s h i r onely sound,

And noth ing else that doth rem ayne al ive above the ground.Thus had .he mockt th i s wretched Nymph and many mo beside

,

That i n the waters,Woods

,and groves

,or Mountaynes did abide .

Thus had he mocked many men . Of which one, miscontent

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To see h im selfe deluded so , h is handes to Heaven up bent,And sayd : I pray to God he may once feele fierce Cup icls fireAs I doe now

,and yet not joy the th ings he doth desire .

The Goddesse R amnuse (who doth wreake on wicked people take)Assented to h i s j ust request for ruth and pi ties sake .There was a Spring wi thouten mudde as silver cleare and stil l

,

Which neyther sheepeheirds, nor the Goates that fed upon the h il l,Nor other cattell troubled had, nor savage beast had styrd ,Nor braunch

,nor sticke, nor leafe of tree, nor any foule nor byrd .

The moystu re fed and kept aye fresh the grasse that cw about,

And with their leaves the trees did keepe the bea te o Phe bus ou t.The stripling wearie with the beate and hunting in the chace

,

And much delighted with the spri ng and coolenesse of the place,

Did lay h im downe upon the brimme : and as h e stooped loweTo stau nche h i s thurst, another thurst of worse effect did growe .

For as he dranke, he chaunst to spie the Image of h i s face,The wh ich he did immediately with fervent love embrace.He feedes a hope without cause why. For like a fool ishe noddie

He thinkes the shadow that he sees, to be a l ively boddie.Astraughted like an ym agc made ofMarble stone he lyes,There gazing on h i s shadow still with fixed stari ng eyes .Stretcht all along upon the ground, i t doth h im good to seeHis ardent eyes which like two starres full brigh t and shyning bee,And eke h i s fingars, finga rs such as B a cchus migh t besceme

,

And hai re that one might worthely Ap ollos hai re i t deeme.

His bea rdl esse ch inne and yvorie necke, and eke the perfect graceOf white and red indifferently bepainted in h is face .All these he woondreth to beholde, for which (as I doe gather)H imselfe was to be wondred at, or to be pi tied rather.He is enamored of h im selfe for want of taking heede .And where he lykes another th ing

,he lykes h im selfe i n deede.

He is the partie whome he wooes , and suter that doth wooe,He is the flame that settes on fi re

,and th ing that burneth tooc .

O Lord how often did he kisse that false deceitful] th ing ?How often did he thrust h i s armes midway into th e spring,To have embraste the necke he saw and could no t catch h im selfe ?

He knowes not what i t was he sawe. And yet the fool ishe elfeDoth burne i n ardent love thereof. The veri c selfe same th ingThat doth bewitch and blinde h is eyes, encrea seth all h i s sting,Thou fondling thou

,why doest thou raught the fickle image so ?

The th ing thou seekest i s not there . And i f a side thou go,The th ing thou lovest strai h t i s gone . I t i s none other matterThat thou dost see

,than 0 thy selfe th e shadow in the water.

The th ing i s noth ing of i t selfe : with thee i t doth abide,With thee i t would departe if thou withdrew thy selfe aside .

No care of meate could draw h im thence, nor yet desire of rest.But lyi ng flat against the ground

,and leaning on h i s brest,

With greedie eyes he ga z eth still uppon the falced face,And through h i s sight i s wrought h i s bane . Yet for a l i ttle spaceHe turnes and settes h im selfe upright, and holding up h is handsWith pi teous voyce unto the wood that round about h im stands,

Cryes out and ses : alas ye Woods, and was there ever any,That loovde so cruelly as I ? you know : for unto manyA place of harbrough have you beene, and fort of refuge strong.Can you remember any one i n al l your tyme so long

,

That hath so pinde away as I ? I see and am full fai ne,Howbei t that I li ke and see I cannot yet attai ne :So great a blindnesse i n my heart through doting love doth ra igne.

And for to spigh t me more withal l,i t i s no j ourney farre,

No drench ing Sea,.

no Mou nta ine h ie, no wall, no locke, no barre,I t is but even a l i ttle droppe that keepes us two asunder.He would be had. For looke how oft I kisse the water under,5 0 oft aga ine with upwarde mouth he ryseth towarde mee,A man would thinke to touch at least I should yet able bee.I t i s a trifle in respect that lettes us of our love .What wight soever that thou art come h ither up above.0 pierlesse piece, why dost thou mee thy lover thus delude ?Or wh ither fl i ste thou of thy friende thus earnestly pursude ?Iwi s I neyther am so fowle nor yet so growne in yeares,That i n th is wise thou shouldst me shoon . To have me to their Feeres

,

The Nymphes themselves have sude ere th i s . And yet (as should appeere)Thou dost pretende some kinde of hope of friendship by the cheere.

For when I stretch mine armes to thee, thou stretchest th i ne likewise,And if I smile thou sm iles t too : And when that from mine eyesThe teares doe drop, I well perceyve the water stands i n th ine.L i ke gesture also dost thou make to everie becke of mine.And as by moving of thy sweete and lovely l ippes I weene,Thou speakest words al though mine cares conceive not what they beene.I t i s my selfe I well perceyve, i t i s mi ne Image sure,That i n th i s sort deludin me, th i s furie doth procure .I am inamored of my sel e

,I doe both set on fi re

,

And am the same that swel teth too, through impotent desire.What shall I doe ? be woode or wo ? whome shall I wo therefore ?The th ing I seeke i s i n my selfe, my plentie makes me poore.0 would to God I for a while might from my bodie part.This wish i s straunge to heare a Lover wrapped all in smart,To wish away the thing the which he loveth as h i s heart.My sorrowe takes away my strength . I have not long to l ive,But in the floure of youth must die . To die it doth not grieve,For that by death shall come the ende of a ll my griefe and paineI wou lde th is yongling whome I love might lenger l ife ob ta ineFor i n one soule s hall now delay we stedfast Lovers twa ine.

This saide in rage he turnes againe unto the fo resa ide shade,And rores the water with the teares and sloubring that he madeThat through h i s troubling of the Well h i s ym agc gan to fade.

Which when he saw to vanish so,Oh whi ther dost thou fl ie ?

Abide I pray thee heartely, aloud he gan to crie.Forsake me no t so cruel ly that loveth thee so deere,But give me leave a li ttle wh ile my daz led eyes to cheere

With s igh t’

of that wh ich for to touch i s utter] denide,

Thereby to feede my wretched rage and furie fhr a tide.As i n th is wi se he made h is mone

,he stripped off h i s cote

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And for to reade thee what they are that shall perfourme the deede,I t i s thy mother and th ine Auntes that thus shall make th ee bleede.

I know i t shall so come to passe, for why thou shal t d isda ine,To honour Ba cchus as a God : and then thou shal t wi th pai neFeele how that blinded as I am , I sawe for thee too much .As olde Tiresia s did pronounce these wordes and other such ,Echions sonne did trouble h im . His wordes prove true i n deede

,

For as the P rophet did forespeake, so fell i t ou t wi th speede.

Anon th i s newefound Ba cchus commes : the woods and ficldes rebound,

With noyse of shouts and howling ou t, and such confused sound .The folke runne flocking ou t by heapes, men, Mayds, and wives togitherThe noble men and rascal] sorte ran gadding al so th ither

,

The Orgies of th i s unknowne God full fondely to performe,The wh ich when Penthey did perceyve, he gan to rage and storme

,

And sayde unto them . O ye ympes ofMa rs h is snake by kinde,

What ayleth you ? what fiend of hell doth thus enrage your minde ?Hath ti nking sound of pottes and pannes ? hath noyse of crooked hom e ?Have fonde illusions such a force, that them whom heretoforneNo arming sworde, no bloudie trumpe, no men in battai l rayCou lde cause to shrinke

,no sheepi sh shriekes of simple women fray ?

And dronken woodnesse wrough t by wine ? and roughts offilthie freakes ?And sound of toying timpancs dauntes ? and quite thei r courage breakes ?Shal l I at you yee auncient men wh ich from the towne of Tyre,To bring your housholde Gods by Sea, i n safetie did aspyre,And setl ed them with in th i s place the wh ich ye nowe doe yeeldeI n bondage qui te wi thout all force and fighting in the fielde :Or woonder at you yonger sorte approch ing unto meeMore heare in courage and in yeares ? whome meete i t were to seeWith speare and not with thirse in hande, with gl ittring helme on hed,And not with leaves ? Now call to minde ofwhome ye all are bred

,

And take the stomackes of that Snake, which being one alone,R igh t stoutly i n h i s owne defence confounded many one.

He for h is harbrough and h is spring h i s lyfe did nobly spend.Doe you no more but take a heart your Countrie to defend .He put to death righ t val ea nt Knightes. Your batta ile i s wi th suchAs are but Meicocks i n cfl'

ect : and yet ye doe so muchI n conquering them

,that by the deede the olde renowne ye save,

Which from your fathers by discent th i s present time ye have .If fatal] destnies doe forbid that Theba long shal l stande,Would God that men with Canon shot might raze i t out of hande.Would God the noyse of fire and sworde did i n ou r hearing soundFor then in th i s our wretchednesse th ere could no fault be foundThen might we j ustly wa ile our case that all the world might seeWee should not neede of sheading teares ashamed for to bee.But now our towne is taken by a naked beardelesse boy,Who doth not i n the feates of armes nor horse nor armour joy.

But for to moyst h i s hai re with Mirrhe, and put on garlands gay,And in soft Purple silke and golde h i s bodie to aray.But put to you your helping hande, a nd straigh t without delayI will compel] h im poynt by poynt h i s lewdnesse to bewray,Both in usurping Joves h igh name i n making h im h is sonne

,

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And forging of these Ceremonies lately now b onne .Hath King Acrisius heart inough th i s fondl ing

e

ér to hate,That makes h im selfe to be a God ? and for to sh i t the gateOfArgus at h i s comm ing th ere ? and shall th is rover makeKing Penthey and the noble towne of Theba thus to quake ?Go quickly sirs (these wordes he spake unto h i s servaunts) goAnd bring the Capta ine h i ther bound with speede, why stay ye so ?His Grandsire Ca dmus, Athama s and others of h i s kinneR eproved h im by gentl e meanes : but noth ing could they winne.

The more intrea ta nce that they made,the fiercer wa s he still .

The more h i s friendes did go about to breake h im of h i s wi llThe more they did provoke h i s wrath

,and set h i s rage on fire .

They made h im worse i n that they sought to bridl e h i s desire.So have I seenc a brooke ere th i s, where noth ing let the streame,R unne smoo th with littl e noyse or none : but where as any beameOr cragged stones did let h i s course

,and make h im for to stay :

I t went more fiercely from the stoppe wi th fomie wroth away.B eholde all blondie come h i s men, and straigh t he th en demau nded

Where B a cchus was, a nd why they had no t done as he commaunded

Sir (aunswerde they) we saw h im no t,but th i s same fell ow heere

A ch iefe companion i n h is traine and worker i n th i s geere,Wee tooke by force : And therewithal l presented to their LordA certai ne man of Tirrhene lande

,h is bandes fast bound with cord,

Whome they,frequenting B a cchus rites had found but late before .

A grim and cruel] looke which yre did make to seeme more sore,Did Penthey cast upon the man . And though he scarcely staydFrom putting h im to tormentes strai t : O wretched man (he sayde)Who by thy worth ie death shal t be a sample unto other,Declare to me the names of thee, thy father and thy mother,And in what Countrie thou wert borne

,and what hath caused thee,

Of these straunge ri tes and sacrifice,a follower for to bee .

He voyd of feare made aunswere thus, Acetis i s my nameOf Parentes but of lowe degree i n Lidy land I came .

No ground for painfu l] Oxe to till, no sheepe to beare me woollMy father left me : no nor horse

,nor Asse, nor Cow nor Booll .

God wote he was but poore h im selfe,With li ne and bayted hooke

The fri sking fishes i n the pooles upon h i s R eede he tooke .His handes did serve i n steade of landes, h i s substance was h i s craft.Now have I made you true accompt of all that he me laft,As well of ryches as of t rades, i n which I was h i s heireAnd successou r. For when that death bereft h im use of aire,Sa ve water he me nothing left. I t i s the th ing aloneWhich for my lawful] heri tage I clayme

,and other none .

Soone after I (bicau se that loth I was to ay abideI n that poore state) did lea rne a sh ip by cunning hande to guide,And for to knowe the rayn ie signe, that h ight th

’

Olenien Gote,Which with h i r milke did nouri sh Jove. And al so I did noteThe Pleiads and the Hia a’s moyst, and eke the s iely Plough ,With all the dwell ings of the winds that made the seas so rough,And eke such Havens as are m eete to harbrough vessels in,With everie starre and heavenl y signe that guides to shipmen bin .

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Now as by chaunce I late ago did toward Dilos sayle,I came on coast of Scios I le, and seeing day to fayle,Tooke harbrough there and went a lande . Assoone as that the nightWas spent

,and morning gan to peere wi th ruddie glari ng l ight

,

I rose and bad my companie fresh water fetch aboord .

And poin ting them the way that led directly to the foorde,I went me to a li t tle h ill, and viewed round aboutTo see what weather we were lyke to have eresetting out .Which done, I cald my watermen and a ll my Mates togither,And willde them all to go a boord my selfe first going th i ther.Loe here we are (Opheltes sayd) (he was the Maysters Mate)And (as he thought) a bootie found i n desert fields a late,He dragd a boy upon h i s hande that for h is beau tie sheene,A mayden rather than a boy appeared for to beene .This ch i lde

,as one

_

forelade with wine,and dre in t with drou sie sleepe

Did reele, as though he scarcely cou lde h im selfe from falling keepe.

I markt h i s countnance, weede, and pace, no inckl ing could I see,By which I might conj ecture h im a mortal] W igh t to bee .I thought

,and to my fellowes sayd : what God I can not tell

,

But in th i s bodie that we see some Godhead sure doth dwell .What God so ever that thou art, thy favour to us showe,And in our labours us assi st, and pardone these a lso.Pray for thy selfe and not for us (quoth Dictys by and by.)A nimbler fellow for to cl imbe upon the Mast on h ieAnd by the Cable downe to sl ide

,there was no t in our keele.

Swart Mela nth patrone of the shippe did li ke h is saying weele.

So also did Alcimedon : and so did Libys to ,And blacke Epop eus eke whose charge i t did belong untoTo see the R owers at their tymes their dueties duely do .And so did all the rest of them : so sore mennes eyes were bl indedWhere covetou senesse of filth ie gaine i s more than reason minded .Well si rs (quoth I) but by your leave ye shall not have i t soI will not suffer sacriledge with i n th i s sh ippe to go .

For I have here the most to doe. And with that worde I steptUppon the Hatches, all the rest from entrance to have kept.The rankest R ufli an of the rout that Lycab had to name,(Who for a murder being late driven out of Tuscane cameTo me for succor) waxed woode, and with h is sturdie fi stDid give me such a churli sh blow bycau se I did resist,That over boord he had me sent, but that with much adoI caught the tackl ing i n my hand and helde me fast thereto .The wicked Varlets had a sport to see me handled so .

Then B a cchus (for i t B a cchus was) as though he had but thoBene waked with their noyse from sleepe, and that h is drou s ie braineDischarged of the wine

,begon to gather sence aga ine

Said : what a doe ? what noyse i s th i s ? h ow came I here I pray ?Sirs tell me whether you doe meane to carie me away.Feare not my boy (the Patrone sayd) no more but tell me WhereThou does't desi re to go a lande, and we will set thee there.To Naxus ward (quoth B a cchus tho) set sh i upon the fome.There woul d I have yow harbrough take, fgr Na xus i s my home .

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L ike perju rde Ca itifs, by the Sea and all'

the Gods thereof,

They fa lsly sware i t should be so , and therewithall i n scoffeThey bade me hoyse up sai le and go . Upon the righ ter handI cast about to fetch the winde

,for so did Nanus stand .

What meanst ? art mad ? Opheltes cride, and therewithal l begunA feare of loo si ng of thei r pray through every man to run .The greater part with head and hand a signe did to me make

,

And some did whisper i n mine ca re the left hand way to take .I was amaz de and said take charge henceforth who will for meFor of your craft and wickednesse I will no fu rthrer be.Then fell they to revi ling me, and all the route gan grudgeOf which Etha lion said i n scorne : by like in you Sir snudgeConsi stes the savegard of us all

,and wyth that word he takes

My roume, and leaving Na xus quite

,to other countries makes.

The God then dalying with these mates, as though he had at lastBegon to smell thei r sut tle craft

, out of the foredecke castHis eye upon the Sea

,and then as though he seemdc to weepe,

Sayd : sirs to bring me on th i s coas t ye doe not promise keepe,I see that th i s i s not the land the wh ich I did request.Fo r what occas ion i n th is sort deserve I to be drest ?What comm endation can you win ,

or prai se thereby receyve,I f men a Lad

,i f many one ye compasse to deceyv e ?

I wept and sobbed al l th i s while,the wicked villai nes laught,

And rowed forth with might and maine,as though they had bene straught.

Now even by h im (for sure than he i n all the worlde so wide.There i s no God more heare at hande at every time and tide),I swea re unto you that the th ings the wh ich I shall declare

,

Like as they seeme incredible, even so most true they are .The ship stoode sti ll amid the Sea as i n a dustie docke .They wondring at th i s miracle, and making but a mocke,Persi st i n bea ti ng wi th thei r Ores

,and on with al l thei r sayles

To make their Gal ley to remove, no Art nor labor fayles,But Ivie troubled so thei r Ores that forth they could not rowAnd both wi th B eries and with leaves their sai les did overgrow.

And he him selfe with clu strcd grapes about h is temples round,Did shake a Javel ing i n h is hand that round about was boundWith leaves of Vines : and at h i s feete there seemed for to couchOfTygers , Lynx, and Pan thers shapes most ougly for to touch .I cannot tell you whether feare or woodnesse were th e cause,But every person leapeth up and from h i s labor drawes .

And there one Medan fi rst of all began to waxen blacke,And having lost h i s former shape did take a courbed backe .What Monster shall we have of thee (quoth Lica b) and with thatThi s Licabs chappes did waxen wide, hi s noseth rils waxed flat,His skin waxt tough , and scal es thereon began anon to grow.

And Libis as he went about the Ores away to throw,Perceived how h i s hands did shrinke and were become so short,That now for finnes and not for hands he might them well report.Another as he would have claspt h is arme about the corde,Had nere an arme

,and so bema imd i n bodie

,over boord

He leapeth downe among the waves, and forked is h is tayle

79

As are the hornes of Phebes face when halfe h i r light doth fayle.

They leape about and sprinkle up much water on the sh ip,One wh ile they swim above, and downe aga ine anon they slip .They fetch thei r friskes as i n a daunce, and wantonly they writheNow here now there, among the waves thei r bodies bane and li the .And with thei r wide and hollow nose the water i n they snuffc,And by their noses ou t aga ine as fast they doe i t puffe .Of twentie persons (for our sh ip so many men did beare)I only did remaine n igh straugh t and trembling sti ll for feare .The God could scarce recomfort me, and yet he said go too,Feare not but saile to Dia ward. His wil l I gladly doe.And so assoone as I came there, wi th righ t devout i nten t,His Chapla ine I became. And thus h i s Orgies I frequent .Thou makste a processe veri c long (quoth Penthey) to th intentThat (choler being coolde by time) mine anger migh t relent.

But Si rs (he spake i t to h i s men) go take h im by and by,With cruel] torments ou t of hand goe cause h im for to die .Immediatly they led away Acetes ou t of sight,And put h im i nto pri son strong from wh ich there was no fl i ght

,

But wh ile the cruel] i nstruments of death as sword and fireWere i n prepari ng wherewithal] t' accomplish Pentheys yre,I t i s reported that th e doores did of thei r owne accordeBurst open , and h i s chaines fall off. And yet th i s cruel] LordePersisteth ficrcer than before, not bidding others goBut goes himselfe un to the h ill Cytheron, which as thoTo Ba cchus being consecrate did ring of chaunted songs,And other loud confused sounds of B a cchus drunken throngs.And even as when the bloudie Trumpe doth to the battell sound ,The lu stie horse streigh t neying out bestirres h im on the ground,And taketh courage thereupon t’ assa ile h i s enm ie proud :Even so when Penthey heard a farre the noyse and howling loudThat Ba cchus franticke folke did make, i t set h is heart on fire

,

And kindled fiercer than before the sparks of settl ed i re .There i s a goodly plaine about the middle of th e h ill,Env irond i n wi th Woods

,where men may view eche way at will.

Here looking on these holi c r i tes wi th lewde prophaned eyesKing Pentheys moother first of all h i r foresaid sonne espies.And l ike a B edl em first of all she doth upon h im runne,And with h ir Javel ing furiously she fi rst doth wound h i r sonne .Come h ither si sters come she cries

,here is that migh ty Bore

,

Here i s th e Bore that stroyes our fieldes, h im will I strike therefore.With that they fall upon h im all as though they had bene mad

,

And clu string all upon a heape fast after h im they gad.He quakes and shakes : h i s words are now become more mecke and colde,He now condemnes h i s owhe defaul t

,and sayes he was too bolde,

And wounded as he was he cries helpe Aunt Autonoe,

Now for Acteons blessed soule some mercie show to me .She wist not who Acteon was, but rent wi thout delay

80

His right hand off : and [no tare his tother hand away.To lift unto h i s mother tho the wretch had nere an armeBut shewing h i r h is maimed corse

,and woundes yet bleeding warme

,

0 mother, see, he sayes : wi th that Aga ve howleth ou t :

And wri thed with h ir necke awrie, and shooke h ir haire about.And holding from h i s bodie torne h is head i n bloudie hands,She cries : O fellowes i n th is deede our noble conquest stands .No sooner could the winde have blowen the rotten leaves fro trees,When Winters frost hath bi tten them

,then did the hands of th ese

Most wicked women Pentheys l immes from one another teare .The Thebanes being now by th is example brought in feare,Frequent th is newfound sacrifice

,and wi th sweete frankinsence

God B a cchus Al tars lode with gifts i n every place doe cense.

term Libri .

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1] TH E FOURTH BOOK E

of Ov ids Metamorphosis .

ET would no t stout Alcithoé'Duke Mineus daughter bowThe Orgies of th i s newfound God i n consci ence to allowBut still she stifliy doth denie that Ba cchus i s the sonneOf Jove ; and i n this beresie h i r s i sters wi th h i r runne.The Priest had bidden holiday

,and that as well the Maide

As Mi stress (for the time aside all other bu sinesse layde)l n Buckskin co tes,with tresses loose, andga rlondes on thei r heare,

Should in thei r hands the leavi e speares (surnamed Thyrsis) beare .Foretell ing them that if they did the Goddes commaundement breake,He would with sore and grievous plagues h i s wrath upon them wreake.The women straight both yong and olde doe thereunto obay.Their yarne, thei r baskets, and thei r flax u nsponne aside they lay,And burne to Ba cchus frankinsence. Whome solemly they cal lBy all the names and titles h igh that may to h im befall .As Bromius

,and Lycus eke, begotten of th e flame,

Twice borne,the sole and only ch ilde that of two mothers came.

Unshorne Thyoney, Nisens, Lené'

us,and the setter

Of Vines,whose pleasant liquor makes all tables fare the better.

Nyctileus and th’

E/elea n Si re, Ia cchus, Evan eke,With divers other glorious names that th rough the land of GrekeTo thee O Liber wonted are to attributed bee .

Thy youthful yeares can never wast : there dwel leth ay i n theeA ch ildhod tender, fresh and faire : I n Heaven we doe thee seeSurmounting every other th ing in beau tie and in graceAnd when thou standste Wi thout thy hornes thou hast a Maidens face .To thee obeyeth all the East as far as Ganges goes,Which doth the scorched land of Inde with tawnie folke enclose.Lycurgus with h i s twibill sharpe, and Penthey who of prideThy Godhead and thy m ightie owcr rebell iously denide,Thou right redowtcd didst confhunde : Thou into Sea didst sendThe Tyrrhene sh ipmen . Thou with bi ttes the sturdy neckes doste bendOf spotted Lynxes : Throngs of Frowes and Sa tyres on thee tend,And that olde Hag that with a staffe his staggering l immes doth stayScarce able on h is Asse to si t for reeling every way.Thou commest not i n any place but that i s hearde the noyseOf gagl ing womens tatl ing tongues and showting ou t of boyes.With sound of Timbrels

,Tabors

,Pipes

,and Brazen pannes and pots

Confusedly among the rout that i n th ine Orgies trots .The Thebane women for thy grace and favour humbly sue,And (as the Priest did bid) frequent thy ri tes wi th reverence due .AlonlyMineus daughters bent ofwilfu lnesse, with workingQuite out of time to breake the feast, are i n their houses lurkingAnd there doe fall to spinning yarne, or weaving in the frame,And kepe their maidens to thei r worke . Of wh ich one pleasan t dameAs she with n imble hand did draw hi r slender threede and fine,Said : whyle that others idelly doe serve the God of wine

,

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Thus having where they stoode i n vaine complayned of thei r woe,When night drew nere

,they bade adew and eche gave kisses sweete

Unto the parget on thei r side, the which did never meete.

Next morn ing with h ir cherefu ll l igh t had driven the starres asydeAnd Phebus wi th h i s burn ing beames the dewie grasse had drideThese lovers at thei r wonted place by foreappointment met .Where after much complaint and mone they covenanted to getAway from such as watched them, and i n the Even ing lateTo steale ou t of thei r fathers house and eke the Citie gate .And to thentent that i n the feeldes they strayde not up and downe,They did agree at Ninus Tumb to m eete without the towne,And tarie underneath a tree that by the same did growWhich was a faire h igh Mu lberie with frui te as wh i te as snow,Hard by a coole and trickl ing Spring. This barga ine pleasde them both ,And so dayligh t (which to thei r thought away but slowly goth)Did i n the Ocean fall to rest : and n igh t from thence doth r i se .Assoone as darkenesse once was come, straight Thisbe did devi seA sh ift to wind h i r ou t of doores, that none that were with i nPerceyved h ir : And mufll ing h ir wi th clothes about h ir ch i n,That no man might discerne h i r face, to Ninus Tumb she cameUnto the tree, and sat h i r downe there underneath the same .Love made h ir bold . But see the chafice, there comes besmerde with bloodAbout the chappes a Lionesse all fom ing from the wood,From slaughter lately made of kine

,to staunch h ir bloudie thurst

With water of the foresaid Spring . Whome Thisbe spying furstA farre by moonel ight, thereupon with fearful] steppes gan fl ie,And in a darke and yrkesome cave did h ide hirselfe thereby.And as she fled away for hast she let h i r mantle fallThe whych for feare she left behi nd not looking backe at all .Now when the cruel] Lionesse hir thurst had stanched well,I n going to the Wood she found the slender weede that fellFrom Thisbe

,which wi th bloud ie teeth i n pieces she did teare.

The night was somewhat further spent ere Pyramus came thereWho seeing in th i s suttle sande the pri nt of L ions paw,Waxt pale for feare. But when also the blondie cloke he sawAll rent and torne

,one n ight (he sayd) shall lovers two confounde,

Of wh ich long life deserved she of all that live on ground .My soule deserves of th i s m ischaunce the peri l] for to beare .I wretch have bene the death of thee

,which to th i s place of feare

Did cause thee i n the n ight to come, and came not here before.My W icked l immes and wretched guttes with cruel] teeth therforeDevour ye O ye L ions all that i n th i s rocke doe dwell .But Cowardes use to wish for death . The slender weede that fellFrom Thisbe up he takes, and streigh t doth beare it to the tree,Which was appointed erst the place of meeti ng for to bee.And when he had bewept and kist the garment which he knew

,

R eceyve thou my bloud too (quoth he) and therewitha ll he drewHis sworde, the which among h i s guttes he thrust, and by and byDid draw it ~from the bleeding wound beginn ing for to dieAnd cast h imselfe upon h i s backe . The bloud did spin on h ieAs when a Conduite pipe i s crackt, the water bursti ng ou t

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Doth shote itselfe a great way off and pierce the Ayre about.The leaves that were upon the tree besprincled with his bloodWere died blacke. The roote also bestained as i t stoode,A decpc darke purple colour straight upon the Berries cast.Anon scarce ridded of hi r feare with which shee was aga st,For doubt of disapo inting h im commes Thisbe forth i n hast,And for h i r lover lookes about, rejoycing for to tellH ow hardly she had scapt that n igh t the dau nger that befellAnd as she knew righ t well the place and facion of the tree(As whych she saw so late before even so when she did seeThe colour of the Berries turnde, shee was u ncerta ine whi therI t were the tree at which they bo th agreed to m eete togither.

While i n th i s doubtful] stounde she stood, shee cast h ir eye asideAnd there bewel tred i n h is bloud h i r lover she espide

Lie sprawling with h i s dying l immes : at which she started backe,

And looked pal e as any Box, a shuddring through h ir stracke,Even like the Sea which sodenly wi th whissing noyse doth move,When wi th a li t tle blast of winde i t i s but toucht above .But when approching nearer h im shee knew it was hi r love,She beate h ir brest

,she shricked out

,she tare h i r golden heares

,

And taking h im betweene h ir armes did wash h is wounds with teares.She meynt h ir weeping with h i s blond

,and ki ss ing all h i s face

(Which now became as colde as yse) she cride i n wofu ll caseAlas what chaunce my Pyramus hath parted thee and mee ?Make aunswere O my Pyramus : I t i s thy Thisb, even sheeWhome thou doste love most hea rtely that speaketh unto thee .Give care and rayse thy heav ie heade . He hearing Thisbes name,Li ft up h is dyi ng eyes, and having scene h ir closde the same .But when she knew hir mantle there and saw his scabberd l i eWithout the swoorde : Unhappy man thy love hath made thee dieThy love (she sai d) hath made thee slea thy selfe . This hand of mineI s strong inou h to doc th e l ike. My love no lesse than thineShal l give me force to worke my wound. I will pursue the dead.And wretched woman a s I am ,

i t shall of me be sedThat like as of thy death I was the only cause and blame,So am I thy compa nion eke and partner i n the same .For dea th which onl y cou lde alas a sunder part us twaine,Shall never so di ssever us but we will meete aga ine .

And you the Parentes of us both , most wretched folke alyve,Let th i s request that I shal l make in both ou r names bylive,Entrea te you to permit that we whome chaste and stedfast loveAnd whome even death hath '

oynde i n one, may as i t doth behoveIn one grave be together laycf. And thou u nhappie treeWh ich shroudest now the corse of one, and shalt anon throShroude two, of th i s same slaughter holde the sicker signesBlacke be the colour of thy fru i te and mou rn inglike alway,Such as the murder of us twaine may evermore bewray.This said , she tooke the sword yet warme with slaughter of h i r loveAnd setti ng i t beneath h i r brest

,did too h i r heart i t shove.

Hir prayer with the Gods and wi th their Parentes tooke effect.For when the fru te i s throughly ripe , the Berrie i s bespect

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With colour tending to a blacke . And that which after fireR emained, rested in one Tumbe as Thisbe did desire .This tale thus tolde

,a l i ttle space of pawsing was betwist,

And then began Leucothoé' thus, h ir sisters being whist.

This Sunne that with h i s streaming ligh t a] worldly things doth cheareWas tane in love . Of Phebus loves now l i st and you shall heare.I t i s reported that th is God did first of al l espie(For everie thi ng i n Heaven and Earth is open to h is eie)H ow Venus with the warlike Ma rs advou trie did commit.I t grieved h im to see the fact and so discovered i t,He shewed h i r husband Junos sonne th ’ advoutrie and the placeIn which th i s priv ie scape was done. Who was i n such a caseThat heart and hand and al l did fai le in working for a space .Anon he featly forgde a net ofWire so fine and sligh tThat neyther knot nor nooz e there i n apparant was to s ight .This piece ofworke was much more fine than any handwarpe oofe

Or that whereby the Spider hangs i n sliding from the roofe .And furthermore the su ttlenesse and sligh t thereofwa s such,I t followed every little pull and closde with every touch ,And so he set i t handsomly about the haunted couch .Now when that Venus and h ir mate were met i n bed togitherHir husband by h i s newfound snare before convayed th ither,Did snarle them both togither fast i n middes of all theyr playAnd setting ope the Ivorie doores, ca llde all the Gods streight wayTo see them : they with shame inough fast lockt togither lay.A certaine God among the rest d i sposed for to sportDid wish that he him selfe also were shamed in that sort .The resdue laught and so i n heaven there was no talke a while,But of th i s Pageant how the Smith the lovers did beguile .Dame Venus h ighly stomacking th i s great displeasure, thoughtTo be revenged on the part by whome the spight was wrought.

And like as he h ir secret loves and meetings had bewraydSo she with wound of raging love h is guerdon to h im payd .What now avayles (Hyp erions sonne) thy forme and beau tie bright ?What now avayle thy glistring eyes with cleare and piercing sigh t ?For thou that with thy gleames art wont all countrie s for to burne

,

Art burnt thy selfe with other gleames that serve not for thy turne .And thou that oughtst thy cherefu l l looke on all th ings for to show,Alonly on Leucothoe'doste now the same bestow .

Thou fastnest on that Maide alone the eyes that thou doste oweTo all the worlde. Sometime more rathe thou risest in the East

,

Sometime aga ine thou makste i t late before thou fall to reast .And for desi re to looke on h ir

,thou often doste prolong

Our winter nightes. And in thy ligh t thou faylest eke among.The fancie of thy fau ltie mind infectes thy feeble sight

,

And so thou makste mens hearts afrayde by daunting of thy ligh t.Thou looxte no t pale bycau se the globe of Phebe is betweeneThe Earth and thee : but love doth cause th i s colour to be scene.

Thou lovest th i s Leucothoe so far above a ll other,

That neyther now for Clymene, for Rhodos, nor the motherOf Circe, nor for Clytie'(who at that present tyde

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But forasmuch as destenie so great attempts denies,He sprincles both the corse i t selfe and place wherei n it lyesWith fragrant Necta r. And therewith bewayl ing much h i s chaunceSayd : yet above the starrie skie thou shalt thy selfe advau nce .

Anon the body in th is heavenly l iquor steeped wellDid melt

,and moisted all the earth with sweete and pleasant smell .

And by and by first taking roote among the cloddes with in,By li ttle and by little did with growing top begi nA pretie spirke ofFrankinsence above the Tumbe to win.

Although that Clytie might excuse h i r sorrow by h ir love,And seeme that so to play the blab h i r sorrow did h i r move

Yet would the Author of the ligh t resort to h ir no moreBut did withholde the pleasant sportes of Venus u sde before .The Nymph no t able of h ir selfe the fra ntike fume to stay,With restlesse care and pens ivenessc did pine h ir selfe away.Bareheaded on the bare cold ground with flaring haire unkemptShe sate abrode both n igh t and day, and clearly did exemptH irselfe by space of thrise three dayes from sustnance and repast,Save only dewe

,and save h i r teares with wh ich she brake h ir fast .

And in that wh ile shee never rose but stared on th e SunneAnd ever tu rnde h ir face to h is as he h i s corse did runne .Hir l immes stacke fast wi th in the ground, and all h ir upper partDid to a pale a shcolourd herbe cleane voyde of bloud convart.

The floure whereof part red part Wh ite beshadowed with a blewMost l ike a Violet i n the shape h i r countenance overgrew.

And now (though fastned with a roote) shee turnes h ir to the SunneAnd keepes ( i n shape of herbe) the love wi th wh ich she first begunne.

She made an ende : and at h i r tale all wondred some denideHir saying to bee possible : and other some repl ide

That such as are i n deede true Gods may all th ings worke at willBut B a cchus i s not any such . Th is arguing once made still,To tell h i r tale as others had Alcithoes turne was come,Who with h i r shettle shooting through h i r web wi th in the Loome

,

Said : Of the shepherd Daphnyes love of Ida whom erewh ileA jealouse Nymph (bicau se he did wi th Lemans h ir beguile)For anger turned to a stone (such furie love cloth sendeI will not speake : i t i s to knowe : ne yet I doe entendeTo tell how Scython variably digressing from h i s kinde,Was sometime woman

,sometime man

,as l iked best h i s m inde.

And Celmus also will I passe, who for bicau se he cloongMost fai thfully to Jup iter when Jupiter was yoong,I s now become an Adamant. So wi ll I passe th i s howreTo shew you how the Curets were ingendred of a showreOr how that Crocus and h i s love fai re Smylax turned wereTo little flowres, with pleasan t newes your m indes now will I chere.Learne why the fountaine Sa lma cis diffamed i s of yore

,

Why wi th h is waters overstrong i t weakneth men so soreThat whoso bathes h im there

,commes thence a perfect man no more .

The operation of th i s Well i s knowne to every W igh t :But few can tell the cause thereof

,th e which I wi ll rec i te.

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The waternymphes did nurce a sonne ofMercuries i n IdeBegot on Venus, i n whose face such beau tie did abide

,

As well therein h i s father both and mother might be knowne,

Of whome he also tooke h i s name . Assoone as he was growneTo fiftene yeares of age, he left the Countrie where he dweltAnd Ida that had fostered h im . The pleasure that he feltTo travel] Countries, and to see straunge rivers with the stateOf forren landes, all pa infu lnesse of travel] did abate .He travelde through the lande of Lycie to Ca rie that doth boundNext un to Lycia . There he saw a Poole wh ich to the groundWas Chri stal] cleare . No fennie sedge

,no barren reeke

,no reede

Nor rush wi th pricking poyn t was there, nor other moorish weede .The water was so pure a nd shere, a man might well have seeneAnd numbred all the gravel] stones that i n the bottome beene .The utmost borders from the brim env irond were with clowresBeclad with herbes ay fresh and greene and pleasant smelling flowres .A Nymph did haunt th i s goodl y Poole : but such a Nymph as neytherTo hunt

, to run , nor yet to shoote, had any kinde of pleasure .Of all the Wa terfa ries she alonly was u nknowneTo swift Diana . As the brute of fame abrode hath blowne ,Hir si sters oftentimes would say : take ligh tsome Dart or bow,And in some pa inefu ll exerci se th i ne ydl e time bestow.

But never coul d they h i r persuade to runne,to shoote or hunt

,

Or any other exerci se as Phebes knightes are wont .Sometime h ir faire welfo rmed l imbes shee ba theth i n h i r springSometime she downe h ir golden hai re with Boxen combe doth bring.And at the water as a glasse she taketh counsel] ayHow every thing becommeth h i r. Erewh ile i n fine arayOn soft sweete hearbes or soft greene leaves h ir selfe she n icely layesErewhil e agai n a gatheri ng flowres from place to place she strayes .

And (as i t chaunst) the selfe same time she was a sorti ng gayesTo make a Po isie

,when she fi rs t the yongman did espie

,

And i n beholding h im des irde to have h i s companie .But though she thou

fght she s toode on thornes until] she went to him

Yet went she not be ore she had bedect h ir neat and trim,And ride and peerd upon hir clothes that noth ing sat awric ,And framde h ir countna nce as migh t seeme most amrous to the eie.

Which done shee thus begon : O chi lde most worthie for to beeEstemde and taken for a God

,

‘

if (as thou seem ste to mee)Thou be a God , to Cup ids name thy beau tie doth agree .

Or if thou be a mortal] W igh t, righ t happie folke are they,By whome thou cam ste i nto th is worlde, righ t happy i s (I say)Thy mother and thy si ster too (i f any bee good hapThat woman had that was thy Nurce and gave thy mouth hi r pap .But farre above all other

,far more bli st than these i s shee

Whome thou vouch safes t for thy wife and bedfellow for too bee.Now i f thou have alredy one

,let me by stelth obtaine

That which shall pleasure bo th of us . Or if thou doe rema ine

A Maiden free from wedlocke bonde , let me then be thy spouse,And let us in th e bridel ie bed ou r selves togither rouse .

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Thi s sed,the Nymph did hold h i r peace, and therewithal l the boy

Waxt red : he wist no t what love was : and sure it was a joyTo see i t how exceeding well h i s blush ing h im became .For i n h i s face the colour fresh appeared like the sameThat i s i n Apples wh ich doe hang upon the Sunn ie sideOr Ivorie shadowed wi th a red : or such as i s espideOf white and scarlet colours mixt appeari ng in the MooneWhen folke i n vaine wi th sounding brasse would ease unto h i r done.When at the last the

,Nymph des irde most i nstantly but th i s,

As to his si ster brotherly to give hi r there a kisse,And therewitha ll was clasping h im about the Ivorie neckeLeave of (quoth he) o r I am gone, and lceve thee at a beckeWith all thy trickes . Then Sa lma cis began to be afra ide,And to your pleasure leave I free th i s place my friend shee sayde.

With that she turnes h i r backe as though she would have gone h i r wayBut evermore she looketh backe

,and (closely as she may)

She h ides her in a bushie queach , where kneeling on h i r kneeShe alwayes hath h i r eye on h im . He as a ch ilde and free,And thinking not that any W igh t had watched what he did,R omes up and downe the pleasant Mede : and by and by amidThe flattring waves he d ippes h is feete, no more but first the soleAnd to the ancles afterward both feete he plungc th whole .And for to make the matter short

,he tooke so great deligh t

I n cooleness of the pleasant spring,that streigh t he stripped quigh t

Hi s garments from his tender skin . When Sa lma cis beh ildeHis naked beau tie

,such strong pangs so arden tly h i r h ilde,

That utterly she was astraught. And even as Phebus beamesAgain st a myrrour pure and clere rebound with broken gleames

Even so h ir eyes did sparcle fire . Scarce could she tarience makeScarce could she any time delay h ir pleasure for to take.She wolde have run , and in h ir armes embraced him streight way :She was so far beside h i r selfe

,that scarsly could she stay.

He clapping with h i s hollow hands against h i s naked sides,

I nto the water li the and baine wi th armes displayed glydes .

And rowing with his hands and legges swimm es i n the water cleareThrough which h i s bodie fai re and whi te doth gl istringly appeare,As if a man an Ivorie Image or a Li ll ie wh iteShould overlay or close wi th glasse that were most pure and bright.The price i s won (cride Sa lma cis aloud) he i s mine owne.

And therewithall i n all post hast she having lightly throwneHir garments off, flew to the Poole and cast h i r therei nto

,

And caught h im fast betweene h i r armes for ought that he could doe.

Yea maugre all h i s wrestl ing and h is struggling to and fro,She held h im still, and kissed h im a hundred times and mo .And willde he nillde he with hir bandes she tou ch t h i s naked brestAnd now on th is side now on that (for all he did resi s tAnd strive to wrest h im from h ir gripes) she clung unto him fast,And wound about h im like a Snake

,which snatched up in hast

And being by the Prince of B irdes borne l ightly up aloft,Doth wri the h i r selfe about hi s necke and griping talants oft,And cast h i r tai le about h is wings di splayed i n the winde :

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And slender finnes i n stead of handes thei r shortned armes enclose .But how they lost thei r former shape of certa intie to knowThe da rknesse would no t suffer them . No feathers on them growAnd yet with shere and velume wings they hover from the ground .And when they goe about to speake they make but l i ttle sound ,According as their bodies give, bewayl ing thei r despightBy chi rping shirlly to themselves . I n houses they deligh tAnd not i n woods : detesting day th ey fl itter towards n igh tWherethrough they of the Evening late in Lati n take thei r name

,

And we i n English language Backes o r R cerm ice call the same.Then B a cchus name was reverenced through all the Theban coast.And [no of h i r Nephewes powre made every where great boast.

Of Ca dmus daughters she alone no sorowes tasted had,

Save only that h i r si sters haps perchaunce had made h ir sad.Now Juno noting how shee waxt both proud and ful l of scorne

,

As well by reason of the sonnes and daughters she had borne,

As ‘ also that she was advaunst by mariage in that towneTo Achama s King Aeolus sonne a Prince of great renowne,But ch iefly that h ir s i sters sonne who nourced was by h i rWas then exalted for a God : began thereat to stirAnd frea ting at i t i n h irselfe said : cou lde th i s harlots burdTransforme the Lydian watermen , and drowne them in the foord ?And make the mother teare the guttes i n pieces of h i r sonne ?And Mineus a] three daughters clad with wings, bicau se they sponneWhiles others howl ing up and down l ike fra ntick folke did ronneAnd can I Juno noth ing else save su ndrie woes bewa ile ?I s that sufficient ? can my powre no more than so availe ?He teaches me what way to worke . A man may take (I see)Example at h is enm ies hand the wiser for to bee .He shewes inough and overmuch the force of furious wrathBy Pentheys death : why should not Ine be taught to tread the pathThe which h i r si sters heretofore and kinred troden hath ?There i s a steepe and irksome way obscure with shadow fellOf baleful l yewgh , all sad and st ill

,that leadeth down to hell .

The foggie Styx doth breath up m istes : and downe th i s way doe waveThe ghostes of persons lately dead and buried i n the grave .Continual ] colde and gastly feare possesse th i s queachie plotOn eyther side. The s iely Ghost new parted knoweth notThe way that doth directly leade h im to the Stygian CitieOr where blacke Pluto keepes h i s Court that never sheweth pi tie .A thousand wayes, a thousand gates that alwayes open stand ,This Citie hath : and as the Sea the streames of all the landeDoth swallow in h is gred ie gulfe, and yet i s never fullEven so that place devoureth sti ll and h ideth i n h i s gullThe soules and ghostes of al l the world : and though that nere so manyCome thither, yet the place i s voyd as if there were not any.The ghostes without flesh, bloud , or bones, there wander to and fro .

Of which some haunt the j udgement place : and other come and goTo Plutos Court : and some fre u ent th e former trades and ArtesThe which they used in their life : and some abide th e smartesAnd tormentes for thei r wickednesse and other yll desartes .

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So cruel ] hate and spightfull wrath did boyle i n Junos brestThat i n the h igh and noble Court of Heaven she coulde not rest

But that she needes must h ither come : whose feete no sooner touchtThe thresholde, but i t gan to quake. And Cerberus erst couchtStart sternely up with three fell heades which barked all togither.

Shee callde the daughters of the night the cruel] furies th i ther.They sate a kembing foule blacke Snakes from of thei r filth ie heareBefore the dungeon doore, the place where Caitives punish t were,The which was made of Adamant : when in the darke in pa rtThey knew (Lueen Juno, by and by upon their feete they start .There Titius stretched ou t (at least) nine acres ful l i n length ,Did wi th h i s bowels feede a Grype that tare them ou t by strength .The water fled from Ta nta lus that touch t h i s heather lip

,

And Apples hanging over h im did ever from him sli p.There also labored Sisyphus that drave against the h il lA roll i ng stone that from the top came tumbling downeward still .l otion o n h i s restlesse wheele to which h i s l immes were boundDid fl ie and follow both at once in turni ng ever round.And Dana us daughters forbica u se they d id their cousin s kill

,

Drew water i nto running tubbes which evermore did spill .When Juno wi th a louring looke had vewde them all th roughoutAnd on Ixion speci ally before the oth er rout :

She turnes from him to Sisyphus, and with an angry cheereSayes : wherefore shoul d th i s man endure continual ] penance here

,

And Athamas h i s brother reigne i n wel th and pleasure free,Who th rough h is pride hath ay d isda inde my husband Jove and mee ?And therewi tha ll she poured out th ’

occas ion of h ir hate,And why she came and what she would . She would that Cadmus stateShoul d wi th the ru ine of h is house be brought to swyft decay,And that to m ischiefe Achama s the Fiendes should force some way,She b iddes

,she prayes , she promises , and all i s wi th a breth ,

And moves the fur i es earnes tly : and as these th ings she seth,The bateq Hag Tisiphone wi th hori e ruffled heare,R emovi ng from hi r face the Snakes that loosely dangled there,Sayd thus : Madame there i s no neede long circumstance to make.Suppose your wil l al ready done. This loth some place forsake,And to the ho lsome Ayre of heaven your se lfe agayne retire(b eene Juno went right glad away wi th graunt of h ir des ire .And as she woulde have entred heaven , th e Ladie Iris cameAnd u rged h i r wi th streaming drops . Anon upon the sameThe fiu iou s P iende Tisip hone doth cloth h ir ou t of handIn ga rment s treaming gori c bloud, and taketh i n h i r handA burning Cresse t steept i n bloud , and gi rdeth h i r aboutWi th wrea th ed Snakes

, and so goes forth . And at h i r going ou t,Fcare

,terror

,griefe and pens ivenes sc for companie she tooke,

And also madness e wi th h is flaight, and gastly staring looke .

With i n the house ofAchama s no sooner foote she set,But that the postes began to quake and doores looke blacke as Jet.

The sonne wi thdrew him,Achama s and eke h i s wife were cast

With ougly s ightes i n such a feare, that out of doo res agastThey wou ld have fled . There stoode the Fiend, and stopt their passage

And splaying forth h i r filth ie armes bekn i t with Snakes about,Did tosse and wave h i r hateful] heade . The swarme of scaled snakesD id make an i rksome noyse to heare as she h ir tresses shakes .About h i r shoulders some did crau le : some trayl ing downe h i r brestDid h issc and spi t out poyson greene, and Spi rt with tongues i nfest.Then from amyd h i r haire twoo snakes wi th venymd hand she drewOf which she one at Achamas and one at [no threw.

The snakes did crau le about thei r breasts, i n spiring i n thei r hear“.Most grievous motions of the minde : th e bodie had no smartOf any wound : i t was the minde that felt the cruel] sti ngs.A poyson made i n Syrup wise shee also with h i r brings,The fil th ie fame of Cerberus, the casting of the SnakeEchidna , bred among the Fennes about the Stygia n Lake,Desi re of gadding foorth abroad, forgetfulnesse of minde,Delight i n m isch iefe, woodnesse, teares, and purpose whole inclindeTo cruel] murther : al l the wh ich shee did togither grinde,And mingling them with newe shed bloud had boyled them in brasseAnd stird them with a Hemlock stalke . Now whyle that Athama sAnd [no stoode and quakte for feare, th i s poyson ranke and fellShee tourned i nto both their breastes and made thei r heartes to swell.Then wh i sking often round about h i r head h ir balefu ll brand,Shee made i t soone by gathering winde to kindle i n h i r hand.Thus as i t were i n triumph wi se accomplish i ng h ir hest

,

To Du skie Plutos emptie R ealme shee gettes h i r home to rest,And putteth of the snarled Snakes that gi rded i n h i r brest .Immediatly King Aeolus sonne stark madde comes crying outThrough all the court

,what meane yee Sirs ? why go yee not about

To pi tch our toyles with in th i s chace . I sawe even nowe, here ranA Lyon with h i r two yong whelpes . And there withall he ganTo chase h i s wyfe as if i n deede shee had a Lyon beene.And lyke a Bedlem boystousl ie he snatched from betweeneThe mothers armes h i s li ttle babe La a rchus smyl ing on h imAnd reaching foorth h i s preatie armes, and floong h im fiercely from h imA twice or thrice as from a slyng : and dash t h is tender headAgainst a hard and rugged stone unti l] h e sawe h im dead .The wretched mother (whither griefe did move h i r thereunto ;Or that the poyson spred with i n did force h ir so to doe)H ould ou t and frantikly with scat tered hai re about h ir caresAnd with h i r li ttle Mel icert whom hastily shee bearesI n naked armes shee cryeth out hoe B a cchus. At the nameOf B a cchus Juno gan to laugh

,and scorning sayde i n game,

Thi s guerden lo thy foster ch ild requiteth for the same.There hangs a rocke above the Sea

,the foote whereof is cate

So hollow with the saltish wav es which on the same doe beate,That l ike a house i t keepeth off th e m oysting showers of rayneThe toppe is rough and shootes h is front am iddes the open mayne .Dame Ino (madnesse made h i r strong) did climb th i s cliffe anonAnd headlong downe (without regarde of hurt that boong thereon)Did throwe ‘ h ir burden and h i r selfe

, the water where shee dash tIn sprincl ing upwarde gl isterd red . But Venus sore abashtAt th i s h ir Neeces great m ischaunce wi thout offence or fault

,

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Drawen out i n length upon my wombe then traile I l ike a snake .He had no sooner sayde the worde but that he gan to glideUpon h is belly l ike a Snake . And on h is hardened sideHe felt the scales new budding ou t, the wh ich was wholy fretWith speccled droppes of blacke and gray as th icke as could be set.He falleth groveli ng on h i s brest, and both h i s shankes doe groweI n one round spindle Bodki nwise wi th sharpned poi nt below.

His armes as yet remayned sti ll : h is armes that did remayne,He stretched out

, and sayde with teares that plentuou sly did rai neA downe h i s face

,which yet d id keepe the native fashion sownd,

Come h ither wyfe, come h ither wight most wretched on the ground,And whyle that ought of m e rem aynes vouchsafe to touche the same.Come take mee by the hand as long as hand may have h is name

,

Before th is snaki sh shape doe whole m body over runne.He would have spoken more when soclz

'

i inely h i s tongue begunneTo spl it i n two and Speache did fayle : and as he did attemptTo make h i s mone

,he h i st : for nature now had cleane exempt

All other speach . His wretched wyfe h i r naked stomack beetc ,And cryde, what meaneth th i s ? deare Ca dmus where are now thy feete ?Where are thy shoulders and thy handes , thy hew and manly face ?With all the other th i ngs that did thy princely person grace ?Which nowe I overpasse . But why yee Coddes doe you delayMy bodie unto lyke misshape of Serpent to convay

?

When th is was spoken,Cadmus l ickt h i s wyfe about the lippes

And (as a place wi th which he was acquaynted well) he sl ippesI nto h i r boo some, lovingly embracing h ir, and castH im selfe about h ir necke

,as oft he had in tyme forepast .

Such as were there (thei r folke were there) were flaighted at the sight,For by and by they sawe thei r meckes did glister sl icke and bright .And on their snaki sh heades grew crests : and finally they bothWere into veri c Dragons turnd , and foorth together gothTone trayl ing by the tothers side unti l] they gaynd a wood,The wh ich di rect against the place where as they were then stood.And now remembring what they were themselves i n tymes forepast,They neyther shonne nor hurten men wi th sti nging nor with blast.But yet a comfort to them both in th is their al tred hewBecame that noble impe of thei rs that Indie did subdew,Whom a] Acha ia worsh ipped with temples builded new.

All only Acrise Aba s sonne (though of the selfe same stocke)R emaind, who o ut ofArgos wall es unkindly did h im locke .And moved wilful] warre again st his Godhead : th i nking thatThere was not any race of Goddes : for he beleved not

That Persey was the sonne of Jov e or that he was conceyvedBy Dana e of golden shower through which shee was deceived.But yet ere long (such present force hath truth) he doth repentAs well h is great impietie against God B a cchus meantAs also that he did d isda ine h i s Nephew for to knowe .But Ba cchus now ful l gloriously h im selfe i n Heaven doth showe .And Perseybeari ng in h is hand the monster Gorgons head,That famous spoyle which here and there with snaki sh haire was spread,Doth beat the ayre with wavyng wings. And as he overflew

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The Lybiche sandes, the droppes of blond that from the head did sewOf Gog on being new cut off

,upon the ground did fal .

Which taking them (and as i t were conceyv ing therwithall,)Engendred sundrie Snakes and wormes : by meanes wherof that clyme

Did swarme with Serpents ever since,even to thi s present tyme.

From thence he lyke a watrie cloud was caried with the weather,

Through all the heaven , now here, now there, as l ight as any feather.And from aloft h e v iewes the earth that underneath doth lyeAnd swiftly over all the worlde doth i n conclusion fl ie .

Three times the ch ill ing beares,three t imes if crabbes fell cleas he

Oft times to Weast, oftimes to East, did drive h im many a flaw.

Now at such time as unto rest the sunne began to drawe,

B icau se he did not th inke i t good to be abroad all n igh t,

With in King Atla sWesterne R ea lme he ceased from h i s fl ight,

R equesting that a li ttle space of rest enjoy he might,

Unti l] such tyme as Lucifer shou lde bri ng the morn ing gray,And morning bring the l ightsome Sunne that guides the cherefu ll day.Thi s Atla s Jap ets Nephewe, was a man that did excel]I n statu re ev erie other wight that i n the worlde did dwell.The utmost coa st of all the ea rth and all that Sea WhereinThe tyred steedes and wearied Wayne ofPhebus dived bin

,

Were in subj ection to thi s King . A thousande flockes of sheepe,A thousand heirdes of Rother beas tes he i n h is fields did keepe.

And not a neighbor did ahoy h is ground by dwelling nie.

To h im the wandring Persey thus h i s language did appli c .I f high renowne of royal] race thy noble heart may move

,

I am the sonne of Jove h im selfe : o r if thou more approveThe val ian t deedes and hault exploytes , thou shalt perceive i n meeSuch doings as deserve wi th prayse extolled for to bee.I pray thee of thy courtes ie receive mee as thy guest,And let mee only for th i s n ight wi th in thy palace rest.King Atla s called straigh t to minde an auncient prophes ieMade by Pa rna ssian Themys, which th i s sentence did impl ie.

The time shall one day Atla s come in which thy golden treeShall of h i r fa re and prec ious fruite d ispoyld and robbed bee .And he shall the sonne of Jove that shall enjoy the prayFor feare hereof he did enclose h is Orchard everie wayWith m ightie h illes, and put an ougly Dragon in the sameTo keepe i t. Further he forbad that any strau nger cameWithin h is R ea lme

,and to th is knight he sayde presum tuouslie,

Avoyd my land, o nlesse thou wilt by utter peril] trieThat all thy glorious actes whereo f thou doest so loudly lieAnd Jov e thy father be too farre to helpe thee at thy neede .To these h i s wordes he added force, and went about in deedeTo drive h im out by strength of hand . To speake was losse of windeFor neyther could intreating faire nor s tou tnesse tourne h i s minde .Well then (quoth Persey) si th thou doest mine honour set so l ight,Take here a presen t : and with that he turnes away h i s sight,And from h i s left side drewe mee out Medusa s lothly head.As huge and big as Atla s was he tou rned i n that steadI nto a m ounta ine In to trees h is beard and locks did passe

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His hands and shoulders made the ridge : that part wh ich lately wasHis head

,became the h ighest top of all the h i ll : h i s bones

Were turnd to stones : and therewi thall he grew mee all at onesBeyond all measure up i n heigth (For so God though t i t best)So farre that Heaven with all the starres did on h i s shoulders rest.

In endlesse pri son by that time had Ac'olus lockt the windAnd now th e cheerely morn ing starre that putteth folke i n mind

To ri se about the dayl ie worke shone brigh tly i n the skie .Then Persey unto both h is feete did streight h i s feathers tieAnd gi rt h i s Woodknife to h i s side, and from the earth did stieAnd leaving nations nomberlesse beneath him everie wayAt last upon King Cepheyes fields i n Aethiop did he stay.Where cleane against all righ t and law by Joves commaundementAndromed for h i r mothers tongue did suffer pun i shment,Whome to a rocke by both the armes when fa stned hee had scene,He would have thought ofMarble stone shee had some image beeneBut that h i r tresses to and fro the whisking winde did blowe

,

And trickl ing teares warme from hir eyes a downe h i r cheeks did flow.

Unwares hereat gan secret sparkes wi th i n h i s breast to glow.

His wi ttes were straugh t at sight thereof and rav isht i n such wise,That how to hover with h i s win he sca rsly could devise .Assoone as he had stayd h imsel e, O Ladie fai re (quoth hee)Not worthie of such bands as these, but such Wherewi th we seeTogither knit i n lawful] bed the earnest lovers bee,I pray thee tell mee what thy selfe and what th i s lande i s namedAnd wherefore thou dost weare these Chains ? the Ladie ill ashamedWas at the sodaine striken domb : and lyke a fearful] maidShee durst not Speake unto a man . Had not h ir bandes beene sta idShe would have h id h ir bashful] face. Howbei t as she mightWith great abundance of h i r teares shee stopped up h i r sight.But when that Persey oftentimes was earnestly i n handTo learne the matter, for b icau se shee wou lde not seeme to standI n stubborne sil ence of h ir fau ltes, shee tolde h im what the landAnd what she h ight : and how hir mother for h i r beauti es sakeThrough pride did unadvisedly too much upon h i r take.And ere shee fu ll had made an ende, the water gan to roreAn ougly monster from the decpc was making to the shoreWhich bare the Sea before h i s breast. The Virgi n shrieked out.Hir father and h i r mother both stood mourn ing thereaboutIn wretched ca se both twa ine, but not so wretched as the maidWho wrongly for h ir mothers fault the bi tter raunsome paid.They brought not with them any help : but (as the time and caceR equ ird) they wept and wrang thei r hands, and streightly did embraceHir bodie fastened to the rock. Then Persey them bespakeAnd sayde : the time may serve too long this sorrow for to makeBut time of helpe must eyther now or never else be take.Now i f I Persey sonne of h ir whome i n h i r fathers towreThe m ightie Jove begat with chi lde i n shape of golden showre,Who cut bff ougly Goqons head bespred with snaki sh heare,And in the Ayre durst trust these winges my body for to beare

,

Perchaunce should save your daughters l ife, I th ink ye shou ld as then

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Soft leaves and certa i ne tender twigs that on the water grew,And laid Medusa s head thereon : the twigs yet being newAnd quieke and ful l ofju icie pi th full lightly to them drewThe nature of th i s monstrous head, for both the leafe and boughFull straungely at the touch thereof became both hard and tough .The Sea nymphes tride th i s wondrous fact i n divers other roddesAnd were full glad to see the chaunge, b icau se there was no oddes

Of leaves or twigs or of the seedes new shaken from the coddes.For still l ike nature ever since is i n our Cora l l foundeThat looke how soone i t toucheth Ayre i t waxeth hard and sounde,And that which under water was a sticke, above i s s tone .Three altars to as many Gods he makes ofTurfe anonUpon the left hand Mercuries : Minerv a s on the righ tAnd in the middle Jup iters : to Pa l/a s he did digh tA Cow : a Calfe to Mercurie : a Bull to royall Jove.

Forthwi th he tooke Andromade the price for wh ich he stroveEndowed with h ir fathers R ealme. For now the God of LoveAnd Hyman unto mariage h i s minde i n hast did move.Great fires were made of sweete perfumes, and curious garlandes hungAbout the house

,which every where ofm irthfu ll mus icke rung

The gladsome signe of merie m indes . The Fallace gates were setWide open : none from comm ing i n were by the Porters let.All Noblemen and Gentlemen that were of any portTo th i s same great and royall feast of Cop/my did resort.When having taken their repast as well of meate as wineTheir hearts be n to pleasant mirth by leysure to encline,

The val iant Persey o the folke and facions of the landBegan to be i nquisi tive . One Lincide ou t of handThe rites and maners of the folke did doe h im t'understand .

Which done he sayd : O worthie knight I pray thee tell u s byWhat force or wile thou go tst the head with hai res of Adders slic .

Then Persey tolde how underneath colde Atlas lay a plaineSo fenced in on every side with mounta ines h igh , that vaineWere any force to win the same . I n entrance of the wh ichTwo daugh ters of King P/zoroz's dwelt whose chaunce and hap was suchThat one eye served both their turnes : whereof by wil ie slightAnd stealth i n putting forth h i s hand he did bereve them quight,As they from tone to tother were del ivering of the same.From whence by long blind crooked wayes unhandsom ly he cameThrough gastly groves by ragged cliffes unto the drerie placeWhereas the Gorgons dwelt : and there he saw (a wretched case)The shapes as well of men as beasts l ie scattered everie whereI n open fields and common wayes, the which transformed wereFrom living things to stones at sight of foule Medusa s heareBut yet that he through brightnesse of h i s monstrous brazen sh ieldThe which he i n h i s left hand bare

,Medusa s face beheld.

And wh ile that i n a sound dead sleepe were all h i r Snakes and she,He softly pared of h it head : and how that he did seeSwift Pega sus the winged horse and eke hi s brother growOut of thei r mothers new shed blond. Moreover he did show

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A long di scourse of all h i s happes and not so long a s trewAs namely ofwhat Seas and landes the coasts he overflew,

And eke what sta rres wi th stying wings he i n the wh ile did vew.

But yet h i s tale was at an ende ere any l ookt therefore .Upon occasion by and by of wordes reherst beforeThere was a certai ne noble man demaunded h im whereforeShee only of the si sters th ree haire mixt wi th Adders bore

Sir (aunswerde Persey) si th you aske a matter worth reportI graunt to tell you your demau nde : she both in comly po rtAnd beau tie, every other wight surmounted in such sort,That many suters unto h ir did earnestly resort.And though that whole fi'

om top to toe most bewtifull she were,

I n all h ir bodie was no part more goodly than h ir heare.I know some parties yet al i v e

,that say they did h ir see.

I t i s repo rted how she shoul d abu sde by Nep tune beeI n Pa lla s Church : from wh ich fowle faete Joves daughter turndeAnd with h ir Target h id h ir face from such a villan ie.And least i t shou ld unpun isht be, she turnde h i r seemely heare

Snakes : the wh ich (the more to put h ir foes in feare)brest continually she i n h i r sh ield doth beare.

qua rtz'

Liari .

fllT H E F Y F T B O O K E

of Ov ids Metamorpaos is .

OW while that Dana es noble sonne was tell ing of these th ingsAmid a throng of Cep izeys Lordes, th rough al the Falla ce ringsA noyse of people noth ing like the sound of such as singAt wedding fea stes, but l ike th e rore of such as tidings bringOf cruell warre . This sodaine chaunge from feasti ng unto frayMigh t well be l ikened to the Sea : whych standing at a stayThe woodnesse of the windes makes rough by raising of thewave.

King Cep/zeys brother P/zyney was the man that rashly gaveThe first occasion of th i s fray. Who shaking i n h i s handA Dart ofAsh wi th head of steele, sayd loe, loe here I standTo cha lenge thee that wrongfully my rav isht s ouse doste holde.Thy wings nor yet thy forged Dad in shape 0 feyned goldeShall now not save thee fi'

om my hands. - As wi th that word he bentHis arme aloft

,the foresaid Dart at Persey to have sent :

What do ste thou brother (Cep/zey cride) what madnesse moves thy mindeTo doe so foule a deede ? i s th i s the friendsh ip he shall findeAmong us for h i s good deserts ? And wilt thou needes requiteThe saving of thy Neeces life wi th such a foule despigh t ?Whome Persey hath not from thee tane : but ( i f thou be advi sde)But Nep tunes heav ie wrath bicau se h i s Seanymphes were despisde,But horned Hammon : but the beast wh ich from the Sea arrivedOn my deare bowels for to feede. That t ime wert thou deprivedOf thy betroothed, when h ir life upon the losing stoode :Onlesse perchaunce to see h ir lost i t wou lde have done thee good

,

And ea sde thy heart to see me sad . And may i t not sufficeThat thou didst see h ir to the rocke fast bound before th ine eyes

,

And didst not helpe h i r beyng both h i r husband and h ir Eame,

Onlesse thougrudge that any man should come wi th i n my R ealme

To save h ir li e ? and seeke to rob h im of h is j ust rewarde ?Which if thou th inke to be so great

,thou shouldst have had regarde

Before,to fetch i t from the rocke to whichthou sawste i t bound .

I pray thee brother seeing that by h im the meanes i s foundThat i n mine age without my ch ilde I go not to the grounde,Permi t h im to enjoy the price for wh ich we did compounde,And which he hath by due desert of purchace deerely bough t.For brother let i t ’never si nke nor enter i n thy thought,That I set more by h im than thee : but th i s may well be sed,I rather had to give h ir h im than see my daugh ter dead .He gave h im not a worde aga ine : But looked eft on h im,And eft on Persey i refully wi th countnance stoure and grim,Not knowing wh ich were best to h it : And after l i ttle stayHe shooke h is Dart, and flung it forth wi th all the powre and swayThat Anger gave at Perseys head . But harme i t did h im none,I t sticked inthe B edsteddes head that Persey sate upon .Then Persey sternely starting up and pull i ng ou t the Dart,Did throw i t at h i s foe agayne, and therewithall h is hart

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To make approch . With both h is handes a great and massie cupEmbost with cunnyng portrayture a loft he taketh up,And sendes i t at h im . He spewes up red bloud : and fall ing downeUpon h i s backe, against the ground doth knocke h is dying crowne.

Then downe he Polydemon th rowes extrac t of royall raceAnd Aba ris the Scith ian, and Clytus i n lyke case,And Eliee with h i s unshorne lockes, and also Plzlegia s,And Lyeet olde Sperelzest

'

es sonne, with divers other mo,

That on the heapes of corses sla ine he treades as he doth go .

And P/zyney dari ng not presume to meete h i s foe at handDid cast a Dart : which hapt to ligh t on Ida s who did stand

Aloofe as neuter (though in vaine) not medling with the Fray.Who casting backe a frowning looke at P/zyney, thus did say.Si th whether that I will or no compeld I am perforceTo take a part, have P/zyney here him whome thou dost enforceTo be thy foe, and with th i s wound my wrongfu ll wound requite .But as he from h i s body pu llde the Dart, with a ll h i s mightTo throw i t at h is foe aga ine, h is l immes so feebled wereWith losse of blond, that downe he fell and coul d not after steare .There also lay Odites sla ine the chiefe in all the landNext to King Cop/my, put to death by force of Clymens hand.Protenor was by Hypsey killde, and Lyneia’e did as muchFor Hypsey. In the throng there was an auncient man and suchA one as loved righteousnesse and greatly feared God :Ema t/zion called was h i s name : whome si th h i s yeares forbodTo pu t on armes, he feights wi th tongue, inveying earnestlyAga i nst that wicked war the wh ich h e banned bitterly.As on the Altar he h imselfe with quivering handes did stay,One Cromis t ipped of h i s head : h is head cut ofi’ streigh t wayUpon the Al tar fell, and there h i s tongue not fully dead,Did bable sti ll the banning wordes the wh ich i t erst had sed,And breathed forth h is fain ting ghost among the burn ing brandes.Then B rote and Hammon brothers

,twins

,stout champions of their hands

In wrestling Pierlesse (i f so be that wrestling could susta ineThe furious force of sl ic ing swordes) were both by Payne] sla ine.

And so was Alp/zit Ceres Priest that ware upon h i s crowneA stately Miter faire and wh ite with Tables hanging downe.Thou a lso Japets sonne for such affaires as these u nm eete

But m eete to tune th ine i nstrument wi th voyce and Ditie sweete

The worke of peace, were th i ther ca llde th’

assembl ie to rejoyceAnd for to set the 'mariage forth wi th pleasant singing voyceAs with h i s Viall i n h is hand h e stoode a good way off,There commeth to h im Peta/us and sayes in way of scoffeGo sing the resdue to the ghostes about the S tygian Lake,And in the left side of h i s heade h is dagger poynt he strake.He sanke downe deade wi th fingers still yet warbl ing on the string

,

And so m ischaunce kni t up wi th wo the song that h e did sing.But fierce Lyeorma s coul d no t beare to see h im murdred so

Without rev'engement. Up h e caugh t a m ightie Leaver thoThat wonted was to barre the doore a righ t side of the house

,

And therewithal l to Peta/us he lendeth such a souse

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Full i n the noddle of the necke,that l ike a snetched Oxe

Streigh t tumbli ng downe, against the ground h is grovel ing face he knox .

And Pela tes a Ga rama nt attempted to have caugh tThe left doore barre : but as thereat wi th stretched hand he raught

,

One Cotyt sonne ofMa rma ra s did with a Javelin strickeHim through the hand, that to the wood fast nayled did i t sticke.As Pela tes stoode fas tned thus, one Aba s goard h i s sideHe could no t fall, but hanging still upon the poste there dideFast nayled by the hand. And there was overthrowne a Knigh tOf Perseyes band call de Mela ney, and one that Dori/l h igh tA man of greatest landes i n all the Realme ofNa samone.

That occupide so large a grounde as Dori/1 was there none,

Nor none that had such store of com e : there came a Dart a skewAnd lighted in h i s Coddes the place where present dea th doth sew.

When Alcian of Ba reey he that gave th i s deadly woundBeheld h im yesking forth h is ghost and fa ll ing to the groundWith wa trie eyes th e wh ite tu rnde up : content thy selfe he saidWith that same li t tle plot of grounde whereon thy corse i s layde,In steade of all the large fat fieldes which late thou didst possesse .And with that word he left h im dead . Perseus to redresseThis slaughter and th is spigh tfu ll taunt, streigh t snatched ou t the DartThat sticked in the fresh warme wound

,and with an angrie hart

Did send i t at the throwers head : the Dart did spli t h i s noseEven in the middes, and at h is necke aga ine the head out goesSo that i t peered both the wayes . Whiles fortune doth supportAn d further Persey th us, he killes (but yet i n sundrie sort)Two brothers by the mother : tone ca llde Clytie tother Dane.

For on a dart th rough both h i s th ighes did Clytie take h is baneAnd Danus with another Dart was stri ken in the mouth .There died al so Cela don a G ips ie of the South :And so did bas tard Asl rey too , whose mother was a JewAnd sage Etbion well foresc ene i n th ings that should ensew

,

But utterly begu ilde as then by Birdes that aukly flew.

King Cep/zeyes harnessebea rer ca llde s oa etes lost h is l ife,

And Agyrt whom for m u rdring late h is father wi th a kn ifeThe worlde spake shame ofii Nathelesse much more rema inde behinde

Than was dispa tched of of hand : for a ll were full in mindeTo murder one

,the wicked throng had sworne to spend thei r blood

'

nst the righ t, and such a man as had deserved good .A to thers ide (although in vaine) of mere affection stoodThe Father and the Motherinlaw

,and eke the heav ie bride,

Who fill ed wi th thei r pi teous playnt the Court on everie side.But now the cla ttring of the swordes and harnesse at that tideWi th grie vous grones and sighes of such as wounded were o r dide,Did rai se up such a cruell rore that noth ing could be heard.For fierce Bellona so renewde the ba ttell afterward,That all the house did swim in blood . Duke Pfiyney with a routOf moe than of a thousand men env irond round aboutThe valian t Persey all a lone . The Dat tes of P/zyneys bandeCame th icker than the Winters hayle doth fall upon the lande,By both h i s sides h is eyes and cares. He warely thereupon

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Withdrawes,and leanes h i s backe agai nst a h uge grea t arche of stone

And being safe beh ind,he settes h i s face against h is foe

Withs ta nd i all their fierce assau l tes . There did assa ile h im thoeUpon the l

l

ej

fiside Molpbeus a Prince of C/zoanie,And on the right Etlzemon borne hard by i n Arabie.Like as the Tyger when he heares the lowing out ofNeateI n sundry Medes, enforced sore through abstinence from meate,Would faine be doing with them both , and can no t tell at whichWere best to give adventure first : So Persey who did i tchTo be at host wi th both of them, and doub tfull whether sideTo turne h im on

,the righ t or left, upon advantage spide

Did wound me Molp/zey on the leg, and from h im quight h im drave.He was contented with h i s fl igh t : fo r wh Et/zemon gaveNo respite to h im to pursue : but l ike a fiXanticke manThrough egernesse to wou nde h is necke, without regarding whanOr how to strike for haste, he burst h i s bri ttl e sworde i n twa ineAga inst the Arche : the poynt whereof rebounding backe aga ine,Did hi t h im selfe upon the thro te. Howbei t that same woundWas unsufli cient for to sende Et/zemon to the ground .He trembled holding up h i s handes for mercie, but i n vaine .For Persey thrust h im th rough the hart with Hermes hooked skaine.

But when he saw that val iantnesse no lenger could avayle,By reason of the multi tude that did h im sti ll assayle,

Sith you your selves me force to ca ll mine cumic to mine ayde,I will do so : i f any friend of mine be here (he sayd)Si rs turne your faces all away : and therewithal l he drewOut Gorgons head . One T/zessa lus streight raging to h im flew

,

And sayd : go seeke some other man whome thou mayst make abashtWith these thy fooli sh j uggling toyes. And as h e would have dashtHis Javel ing i n h im with that worde to ki ll h im out of hand,With gesture throwing forth his Dart all Marble did he stand.His sworde th rough Lyncids noble hart had Amp/xix thought to shoveHis hand was stone

,and neyther one nor other way coul d move

But Nile! who did vaunt him selfe to be th e R ivers sonneThat through the boundes of Aegyp t land in channels seven doth runne,And i n h is sh ielde had graven part of si lver, part of goldeThe said seven channels of the Nile, sayd : Persey here beholdeFrom whence we fetch our piedegree : i t may rejoyce thy hartTo die of such a noble hand as mine. The latter partOf these h i s words could scarce be heard : the dint therofwas drowndeYe would have thought h im speaking still with Open mouth : but soundDid none forth passe : there was for speache no passage to be found.R ebuking them cries Eryx : Sirs i t i s not Gorgons faceI t i s your owne fai nt heartes that make you ston ie i n th is case.Come let us on thi s fellow run and to the grounde h im beareThat feightes by witchcraft : as wi th that h i s feete forth stepping were,They stacke sti ll fas tened to the floore : he could not move a side,An armed image al l of stone he speachlesse did abide .All these were j ustly puni shed. But one there wa s a knightOf Perseys band, i n whose defence as Aeont stoode to feight,He waxed overgrowne wi th stone at ugly Gorgons sigh t.

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As in h is Graunds ires j ust defence he fall es i n hand with PreteWho like no brother but a foe did late before defeateKing Acrise of h i s townes by warre and of h i s royall seate .But neyther could h is men of warre nor fortresse won by wrongDefend h im from the griesly looke of grim Medusa long.And yet thee fool i sh Polya’eet o f l i ttle Serip/z King,Such rooted rancor i nwardly continually did sting,That neyther Perseys prowesse tride i n such a sort of broyles,Nor yet the perils he endurde, nor all th i s troublous toylesCould cause thy stomacke to relent . With i n thy stonie brestWorkes such a kinde of festred hate as cannot be represt.Thy wrongful l malice hath none ende . Moreover thou of spi teR epi ni ng at h is worthy praise , h i s doings doste backbi te,Upholding that Medusa s death was but a forged lieSo long t i ll Persey for to shewe the truth apparantly,Desi ring such as were h i s friendes to turne away there eye,Drue out Medusa s ougly head . At sigh t whereof anonThe hatefu ll Tyran Polydeet was turned to_

a stone .The Goddesse Pa lla s all th i s wh ile did keepe conti nuallyHi r brother Persey companie, till now that she did stie

From Serip/z i n a hol low cloud, and leaving on the righ tThe I sles of Seyre and Gya ros, she made from thence h ir fl ightDirectly over that same Sea as neare as eye could ameTo l ebe and Mount Helicon. And when she th ither came

,

She stayde h ir selfe, and thus bespake the learned si sters n ine,A rumor of an uncouth spring did pierce these eares of mine,The wh ich the winged steede should make by stampi ng wi th h i s hoofe .Thi s i s the cause of my repai re ; I would for certai ne proofeBe glad to see the wondrous th ing. For present there I stoodeAnd saw the selfe same Pega sus spring of h is mother

’s blood .Dame Ura nie did enterta ine and aunswere Pa lla s thus .What cause so ever moves your grace to come and vi si t u s,Most heartely you welcome are : and certaine i s the fameOf th i s ou r Spring

,that Pega sus was causer of the same .

And with that worde she led h ir foorth to see the sacred spring,Who musing greatly with h ir selfe at straungeness of the th ing,Surveyde the Woodes and groves about of auncient stately port.And when she saw th e Bowres to wh ich the Muses did resort,And pleasant fields beclad with herbes of sundrie hew and sort,She said that for thei r studies sake they were i n happie caceAnd also that to serve their turne they had so trim a place .Then one of them replied thus . O nob le Ladie who(But that your vertue greater workes than these are, calles you to)Should else have bene of th i s ou r troupe

,your saying i s full true.

To th i s our trade of l ife and place i s commendat ion due .And sure we have a luckie lot and if the world were suchAs that we might i n safetie l ive : but lewdnesse reignes so muchThat all th ings make us Ma ides afra ide. Me th inkes I yet do seeThe wicked Tyran Pyren sti ll : my heart i s yet scarce freeFrom that same feare wi th which i t hapt us slighted for to bee.Th is cruell Pyren was of l ra ee and wi th h i s men of war

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The land of Plzoeis had subdude, and from th i s place not farWith in the Citie Dawlis reignde by force of wrongfu ll hand.One day to Pltebus Temples warde that on Pa rna sus standAs we were going, i n our way he met us courteously,And by the name of Goddesses sal uting reverentlySaid : O ye Dames ofMeonie (for why he knew us well)I pray you stay and take my house untill th i s storme (there fellThat time a tempest and a showre) be past : the Gods a loftHave entred smaller sheddes than mine full many a time and oft.The rain ie weather and h i s wordes so moved us

,that wee

To go i n to an outer house of h i s did a ll agree .As soo ne as that the showre was past and heaven was voyded cleareOf all the Cloudes which late before did every where appeare,Untill that B orea s had subdude the ra in ie Sou therne windeWe wou lde have by and by bene gone . He shet the doores

,i n minde

To ravi sh us : but we with wings escaped from h is hands .He purposing to follow us

,upon a Turret stands

,

And sayth he needes will after us the same way we did fl ie.

And with that worde fu ll frantickly he leapeth downe from h ie,And pitch i ng evelong on h is face

,the bones a sunder cra sht

,

And dyi ng, a ll abrode the ground h is wicked bloud bedasht .Now as the Muse was telling th i s

,they herd a moyse of wings

,

And from the leav ie boughes aloft a sound of greeti ng rings .Minerva looking up thereat demaunded whence the soundeOf tongues that so di sti nc tly spake did come so plaine and rounde .She thought some woman or some man had greeted h i r that s tou nde.

I t was a fl i ht of B irdes . Nyne Pies bewailing thei r m ischa unce,I n counter-Petting everie th ing from bough to bough did dau nce .

As Pa lla s wondred at the sight,the Muse spake thus in summe .

These also bei ng late ago in chalenge overcome,Made o ne ki nde more of B irdes then was of auncient t ime beforne .

I n Ma cedone they were about the Citie Pella borneOf Pierus a great riche Chufl'

e and Euip , who by aydeOf strong Lueina t ravelling ninetimes

,n ine times was laide

Of daughters in h i r ch i ldbed safe . This fond and fooli sh routOf doltish si sters taking pride and wax i ng veri c stout,B ica use they were i n number n ine, came flocking al l togitherThrough a ll the townes of Thessa lt

'

e and all Aelza z'a h ither,And us wi th these or such like wordes to combate did provoke.Cease of ye Thesp ia n Goddesses to mocke the simple folkeWith fo ndnes se of your Melodie . And i f ye th inke i n deedeYe can doe aught

,contend with us and see how you shall speede.

I warrant you ye passe us no t i n cunni ng nor i n voyce .

Ye are here nine,and so are we . We put you to the choyce,

That e ther we will vanqui sh you and set you quight besideYour fbu nta ine made by Pega sus which i s your ch iefest pride,And Alga nz

'

ppe too : or else confounde you us, and weOf all the woods ofMa cedone will di spossessed be,As farre as snowie Peanz'e : and let the Nymphes be Judges .Now i n good sooth i t was a shame to cope with sa ch ie Drudges,But yet more shame i t was to yeeld . The chosen Nymphes d id sweare

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By Styx, and sate them downe on sea tes of stone that growed there.Then streight wi thout commission or election of the rest

,

The formost of them preasing forth undecently, profestThe chalenge to performe : and song the battels of the Coddes .She ga ve the Giants all the praise, the honor and the oddes,Abasing sore the worthie deedes of a ll the Gods . She tellesH ow TJp/zon i ssuing from the earth and from the deepest hellesMade all the Gods above afra ide, so greatly that they fledAnd never sta ide till Aeg9p t land and Nile whose streame i s shedI n channels seven

,received th em forwearied a ll togither

And how the H elhou nd T)p lton did pursue them also th i ther,By means whereof the Gods eche one were faine th emselves to h ideI n forged shapes . She saide that Jove the Prince of Gods was wrideI n shape of R am : wh ich i s th e cause that at th i s present tideJoves ymage which the Lyb ian folke by name ofHammon serve,I s made with crooked welked hom es that inward sti ll doe terv eThat Phebus i n a R aven lurkt, and B a cchus i n a Gea te,And Plzebus si ster i n a Cat, and Juno i n a Neate,And Venus i n the shape of Fi sh , and how that last of allMercurius h id h im i n a Bird which Ibis men doe call .This was the summe of all the tal e wh ich she with rolling tungAnd yell ing throteboll to h i r harpe before u s rudely sung .Our turne i s also come to speake, but that '

perchaunce your graceTo give the hearing to our song hath now no time nor space .

Yes yes (quoth Pa lla s) tell on forth i n order all your tale :And downe she sate among the trees which gave a pleasant swale .The Muse made aunswere thus : To one Ca lliope here by nameTh is chalenge we committed have and ordring of the same.Then rose up faire Ca lliope wi th goodly bush of heareTrim wreathed up with yv ie leaves, and with h ir thumbe gan steareThe quiveri ng stri ngs

,to trie them if they were in tune or no .

Which done, she playde upon h i r Lute, and song h ir B i t i e so .

Dame Ceres first to breake the Earth with plough the maner foundShe first made com e and stover soft to grow upon the ground,

She first made lawes : for al l these th ings we are to Ceres bound .Of h ir must I as now intreate : would God I could resoundHir worthie laude : she doubtlesse i s a Goddesse worth ie prai se .B icause the Giant Typ lzon gave presum tuou sly assayes

To conquer Heaven , the howgie I le o Trina eris i s laydUpon h i s l immes, by weight whereof perforce he downe is weyde.

He strives and strugles for to ri se full many a time and oft.But on h i s right hand toward R ome Pelorus standes aloftPa eltynnus standes upon h i s left : h i s legs wi th L ilybieAre pressed downe : h i s monstrous h ead doth under Aetna l i e.From whence he lying bolt upright wi th wrathfull mouth doth Spi tOut flames of fire : he wrestl eth oft and wall oweth for to witAnd if he can remove the weight of all that m ightie landOr tumble downe the townes and h i lles that on his bodie stand .By meanes

“

whereof i t commes to passe that oft the Earth doth shakeAnd even the King of Ghostes h im selfe for verie feare doth quake

,

Misdou ting least the Earth should cl ive so wide that light of day

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By name,to make away apace he doth them sti ll enforce

And shakes about thei r neckes and Manes thei r rustie bridle reynesAnd through the deepest of the Lake perforce he them constreynes .

And through the Pa lik pooles, the which from broken ground doe boyleAnd smell of Brimstone verie ranke : and also by the soyleWhere as the B a te/ties folke of Corint/z with the double Seas

,

B etweene unequal] Havons twaine did reere a towne for ease .Betweene the founta ines of Cyane and Aretlzuse of PiseAn arme of Sea that meetes enclosde with narrow hornes thei r l ies .

Of th i s the Poole callde Cyane which beareth greatest fameAmong the Nymphes of Sicilie did Algates take the name.Who dauncing h i r u nto the waste amid h i r Poole did knowDame Proserp ine, and said to Dis : ye shall no further goYou cannot Ceres sonneinlawe be, will she so o r no .

You should have sought h i r courteously and not enforst hit so .

And if I may with great estates my simple th ings compare,

Anapus was i n love with me : but yet he did not fareAs you do now with Proserp ine. He wa s content to wooAnd I u nforst and u nconstreind consented h im untoo .

Thi s said, she spreaded forth h ir armes and stopt h im of his way.

His hastie wrath Sa turnus sonne no lenger then could stay.But chearing up h is dreadful] Steedes did smight h i s royall maceWith violence i n the bottome of the Poole i n that same place .The ground streigh t yeelded to h i s stroke and made h im way to Hell,And downe the open gap both horse and Chariot headlong fell .Dame Cya n taking sore to heart as well th e ravishmentOf Proserp ine against h ir will , as al so the contemptAgainst h ir fountaines privi ledge, did shrowde i n secret hartAn inward corsie comfortlesse, which never did departUnti ll she melting into teares consumde away with smart.The selfe same waters of the which she was but late agoThe migh ty Goddesse, now she pines and wastes h irselfe i nto .Ye might have seene h ir l immes wex l i the

,ye might have ben t h ir bones

Hir nayles wex t soft : and first of all did melt the smallest onesAs haire and fingars, legges and feete : for these same slender partsDoe quickly into water turne

,and afterward converts

To water, shoulder, backe, brest, side : and finally i n steadOf lively bloud, within h ir veynes corrupted there was spredTh inne water : so that nothing now remained whereuponYe migh t take holde

,to water all consumed was anon .

The carefu ll ’mother i n the wh ile did seeke hi r daughter deareThrough al l the world both Sea and Land

,and yet was nere the neare.

The Morn ing wi th h i r deawy haire h i r slugging never found,

Nor yet the Even ing star that bri ngs the night upon the ground .Two seasoned Pynetrees at the mount ofAetna did she l ightAnd bare them restlesse i n h i r bandes through all the danki sh night .Aga ine as soone as chierfu ll day did dim the starres, she soughtHir daughter stil l from East to West . And being overwroughtShe caught

’

a th irst : no lyquor yet had come wi th i n h ir throte.

By chaunce she spied nere at hand a pelting thatched CoteWyth peevi sh doores : she knockt thereat, and out there commes a trot .

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The Goddesse asked h ir some drinke and she denide i t notBut out she brought h i r by and by a draught of merrie go downeAnd therewithal l a Hotchpotch made of steeped Earlie browneAnd Flaxe and Coriander seede

,and other simples more

The which she i n an Earthen pot together sod before .Whiles Ceres was a eating th is

,before h ir gazing stood

A hard faaste boy a shrewde pert wag that could no maners goodHe laughed at h i r and i n scorne did cal l h ir greed ie gut.The Goddesse being wroth therewith , did on the Hotchpotch putThe liquor ere that all was eate

,and in h i s face i t threw .

Immediatly the skinne thereof became of speckled hew.

And i nto legs h i s armes did turne : and in h i s al tred h ideA wrigling tayle streight to h is l immes wa s added more beside

,

And to th’

intent he shoul d not have much powre to worken scathe,

His bodie in a l i ttle t oume togither kni t she bathe.For as with pretie Lueerts he in facion doth agreeSo than the Lueert somewhat lesse i n every poynt is he .The poore o ld woman was amaz de : and bitterly she weptShe durst no t touche the uncouth worme

,who i nto corners crept.

And of the flecked spottes li ke starres that on h i s h ide are setA name agreei ng thereunto i n Latine doth he get.I t i s our Swift whose skinne wi th gray and yellow specks is fret .What Lands and Seas the Goddesse sought i t were too long to saine.The worlde did want. And so she went to Sieill backe againe .

And as in going every where she serched busily,

She also came to Cya ne : who would assuredlyHave tolde h ir all th ings , had shee not transformed bene before .But mouth and tongue for u ttrance now would serve h i r tu rne no more .Howbeit a token manifest she gave h ir for to knowWhat was become ofProserp ine. Hir girdle she did showSti ll hoveri ng on h i r hol ie poole

,which sligh tly from hir fell

As she th at way did passe : and that h i r mother knew too well .For when she saw it

,by and by as though she had but than

Bene new advertisde of h i r chaunce,she pi teously began

To rend h ir rufli ed hai re, and beate hi r bandes again st h i r brest.As yet she knew no t where she was . But yet with rage opprest,She curst all landes

, and said they were unthankfu l l everychoneYea and unworthy of the fru ites bestowed them upon .But bitterly above the rest she banned Sicilie,In which the mention of h i r losse she pla inely did espie .And th erefore there wi th cruell hand the caring ploughes she brake,And man and beast that tilde the ground to death i n anger strake .She marrde the seede, and eke forbade the fieldes to yeelde their fru te.

The plenteou snes se of that same I le of which there went such bruteThrough all the world

,lay dead : the corne was killed i n the blade :

Now too much drought,now too much wet d id make i t for to fade .

The starres and blasting wi ndes did hurt, the hungry foules did cateThe com e in ground : the Tines and Briars did overgrow the Wheate,And other wicked weedes the corne continually annoy,Which neyther tylth nor toyle of man was able to destroy.

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Then Aret/zuse floud Alp lteys love li fts from h ir Elea n wavesHir head

,and shedding to h ir cares h ir deawy haire that waves

About h i r foreheade sayde : O thou that art the mother deareBoth of the Maiden sought through al l the worlde both far and neare

,

And eke of all the earthly fru ites , forbeare th i ne endlesse toyle,And be not wroth without a cause wi th th i s thy fai thful] soyle .The Lande deserves no puni shment, unwill ingly God woteShe opened to the R avi sher that violently h ir smote .I t i s not sure my native soyle for which I thus entreate.

I am but here a sojourner, my native soyle and seateI s Pisa and from Ely towne I fetch my first discent.I dwell but a s a straunger here, but sure to my i ntentTh is Countrie likes me better farre than any other land .Here now I Aretlzusa dwell : here am I setled : andI humbly you beseche extend your favour to the same .A time will one day come when you to mirth may better frame

,

An d have your heart more free from care, which better serve me mayTo tell you why I from my place so great a space doe stray

,

And unto Ortygie am brough t through so great Seas and waves.The ground doth give me passage free, and by the lowest cavesOf all the Earth I make my way, and here I rai se my head,And looke upon the starres agayne neare out of knowledge fledNow while I underneath the Earth the Lake of Styx did passe,I saw your daughter Proserp ine with these same eyes . She wasNot merrie

,neyther rid of feare as seemed by h ir cheere.

But yet a (b eene, but yet of great God D is the stately FeereBut yet of that same droupie R ealme the chiefe and sovereigne Peere.Hir mother s toode as starke as stone, when she these newes did heare,And long she was l ike one that i n another worlde had beene.

But when h ir great amaz ednesse by grea tnesse of h ir teeneWas put aside, she gettes h ir to h ir Chariot by and byAnd up to Heaven in all post haste immediatly doth stieAnd there bes lowbred al l h ir face ; h i r haire about h ir eares,To royall Jove i n way of plain t th i s Spightfu ll tale she beares .As well for thy bloud as for mine a suter unto theeI h ither come

,i f no regard may of the mother bee,

Yet let the ch ilde h i r father move,and have not lesser care

Of h i r (I pray) bicau se that I h i r in my bodie bare .Behold o ur daughter whome I sought so long i s found at last :I f finding you i t terme, when of recoverie meanes i s past.Or if you finding do i t call to have a knowledge whereShe i s become . Hir ravi shment we might consent to beare,So restitution might be made. And though there were to meNo i nterest i n h ir at all

,yet forasmuche as she

I s yours, i t i s u nmeete she be bestowde upon a theefe .

Jove au nswerde thus . My daughter i s a Jewell deare and leefeA collup of mine owne flesh cut as well as ou t of th i ne.But if we in our heartes can finde th ings righ tly to define,This i s not’ spight, but love . And yet Madame i n fai th I seeNo cause of such a sonne in law ashamed for to bee

,

So you contented were therewith . For put the case that hee

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Sad even to Dis, h i r cou ntnance now i s full of mirth and grace,

Even like as Plzebus having put the watrie cloudes to chace,

Doth shew h imselfe a Conqueror with bright and sh in ing face .Then fruitful] Ceres voide of care in that she did recoverHi r daughter

, prayde thee Ara /ruse the stori e to discoverWhat caused thee to fleete so farre and wherefore thou becameA sacred spring

,the waters wh i st. The Goddesse of the same

Did from the bottome of the Well h i r goodly head up reare .And having dried with hir hand hi r faire greene hanging heare,The R iver Alp/zeys auncient loves she thus began to tell .I was (quoth she) a Nymph of them that i n Aclza ia dwell .There was not one that earnester the Lawndes and forests sought

,

Or pitch t h i r toyles more handsom ly. And though that of my though tI t was no part

,to seeke the fame of beau tie : though I were

All courage : yet the pricke and prise of beau tie I did beare .My overmuch commended face was unto me a spight.This gift of bodie i n the wh ich another would delight

,

I rudesbye was ashamed off : me thought i t was a crimeTo be bel ikte . I beare i t well in minde that on a timeIn comm ing wearie from the chase of Styrnp lza lus, the beateWas fervent

,and my travell ing had made i t twice as great .

I found a water neyther deepe nor shallow which did glideWithout all noyse, so calme that scarce the movi ng might be spide.And throughly to the very ground i t was so cri spe and cleare

,

That every l ittle stone therei n did plai ne aloft appeare.

The horie Sallowes and the Poplars growing on the brimUnset, upon the shori ng bankes did cast a shadow trim .

I entred in,and first of all I deeped but my feete :

And after to my knees . And not content to wade so flecte,I put off al l my clothes, and hung them on a Sal low by,And threw my selfe amid the streame : which as I dallyi nglyDid beate and draw, and with my selfe a thousand maistries trie,In casting of mine armes abrode and swimming wantonlyI felt a bubl ing i n the streame I wist not how or what,And on the R ivers nearest brim I stept for feare : with thatO Aretlzusa whither runst ? and wh ither runst thou crideFloud Ago/my from hi s waves aga ine with hollow voyce. I h ideAway unclothed as I was . For on the further s ideMy clothes hung still . So much more hote and eger then was heAnd for I naked was

,I seemde the readier for to be .

My runn ing and h i s fierce pu rsu ite was li ke as when ye seThe s ill ie Doves with quiveri ng wings before the Gossehauke stie,The Gossehauke sweeping after them as fast as he can flie.

To Ore/zomen, and Psop/zy land, and Cyllen I did holdeOut well

,and thence to Mena lus and Erymantlz the colde,

And so to Ely : all th i s way no ground of me he wonne .But being no t so strong as he, th i s restlesse race to runneI could not long endure, and he could hold i t out at length .Yet over pla ines and woodd ie h illes (as long as lasted strengt h)And stones

,and rockes

,and desert groundes I sti ll ma inta ind my race.

The Sunne was full upon my backe. I saw before my face

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A laz ie shadow : were i t no t that feare did make me seeteBut certenly he feared me with trampling of h i s feete :And of h i s mouth the boystou s breath upon my hai rlace blewForwearied with the toyle of fl ight : Helpe Dia ne, I thy trueAnd tru stie Squire (I said) who oft have caried after theeThy bow and arrowes, now am like attached for to bee .The Goddesse moved, tooke a cloude of such as scattred wereAnd cast upon me . Hidden thus i n mistie darkenesse thereThe R i v er po ard upon me still and hunted round aboutThe hollow cloude, for feare perchau nce I should have scaped out.And twice no t knowing what to doe he sta lkt about the cloudeWhere D ia ne had me hid, and twice he called out a loudeHoe Aretlzuse

,hoe Aretlzuse, What heart had I poore wretch then ?

Even such as hath the s ill ie Lambe that dares not sti rre nor quetchHe heares the howling of the Wolfe about or neare the foldes .Or such as hath the squatted Hare that i n h ir foorme beholdes

The hunting houndes on every side, and dares no t move a whi t.He would not thence, for why he saw no footing ou t as yi t.And therefore wa tcht he narrowly the cloud and eke the place.

A chill colde sweat my sieged l immes opprest, a nd downe a paceFrom all my bodie steaming drops did fall ofwatrie hew.

Which way so ere I s tird my foote the place was like a stew .

The deaw ran tr i ckl ing fi'

om my hai re . In halfe the while I thenWas turnde to water, that I now have tolde the tale agen .His loved waters Alp/i cy knew, and putting off the shapeOf man the which he tooke before

, bicau se I should no t scape,R eturned to hi s proper shape of water by and by,Of purpose for to joyne with me and have my companie .But Delia brake the ground, at wh ich I si nking i nto bli ndeBycorners , up againe my selfe at Ortigie doe winde,R ight deare to me bicau se i t doth D ia na s surname beare,And for bicau se to light aga ine I first was raysed there.Thus far did Aretlzusa speake : and then the frui tful] DameTwo Dragons to h ir Chariot put, and reyning hard the same,

Midway betweene the Heaven and Earth she i n the Ayer went,And unto Pri nce Trip tolemus h i r lightsome Chariot sentTo Pa lla s Citie lode wi th corne, comma unding h im to soweSome part i n ground new broken up, and some thereof to strowIn ground long tillde before . Anon the yong man up did stieAnd flyi ng over Europe and the R ea lm e ofAsia s h ie,Alighted i n the Sc ith ian land. There reyned i n that coastA King ca llde Lynea s, to whose house he entred for to host .And being there dem aunded how and why he th i ther came,And al so of h is native soyle and of h i s proper name,I h ight (quoth he) Trip tolemus, and borne was i n the towneOf Athens i n the land of Greece, that place of h igh renowne.

I neyther came by Sea no r Lande , but through the open AireI brin wi th me Dame Ceres giftes, which being sowne i n faireAnd er tile fields may fru i tful] Harvests yeelde and finer fare .The sava

ge Kin had spight : and to the th intent that of so rare

And grac10u s gias him selfe might seeme first founder for to be,

He enterta inde h im in h i s house, and when a sleepe was he,He came upon h im with a sword : but as he would have killde h im

,

Dame Ceres turnde h im to a Lynx, and waking tother willde h imHis sacred Teemeware through the Ayre to drive abrode agen .The ch iefe of us had ended th is h i r learned song, and thenThe Nymphes with one consent did j udge that we the Goddesses

OfHelicon had wonne the day. But when I sawe that theseUnnu rtred Damsels overcome began to fall a scolding,I sayd : so l i ttle si th to us you th inke your selves beholding

,

For bearing with your malapertnesse i n making chalenge, thatBesides your former fault, ye eke doe fall to rayl ing flat

,

Abusing thus our gentlenesse : we wil l from hence proceedeThe punishment

,and of our wrath the rightful] humor feede .

Euippyes daughters gri nd and jeerde and set our threatnings l igh t.But as they were about to prate, and bent thei r fistes to smightTheyr wicked handes with h ideous noyse, they saw the stumps of quillesNew budding at their nayles , and how thei r armes soft feather h il les .Eche saw how others mouth did purse and harden into Bill,And so becomming uncouth B irdes to haunt the woods at wil l .For as they would have clapt their handes thei r wings did up them heave

,

And hanging i n the Ayre the scoldes of wood s did Pies them leave .Now also being turnde to B irdes they are as eloquentAs ere were, as chattring st i ll , as much to babl ing bent.

Finis quinti

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I would she heard these wordes of mine : I am not such a Daw,

But that without thy teach ing I can well ynough adviseMy selfe . And least thou shouldest thinke thy words i n any wiseAvaile

,the selfe same minde I keepe with which I first begonne .

Why commes she not h irselfe I say ? th i s matche why doth she shonne ?Then said the Goddesse : here she is . And therewithall she castHir o ldewives riveled shape away, and shewde h i r selfe at lastMinerva l ike. The Nymphes did streight adore h ir Majestie,So did the yong newmaried wives that were ofMzgdonie.

The Maiden only unabasht wou lde nought at all relent.But yet she blusht and sodenly a ruddynesse besprentHir cheekes which wanz d away aga ine, even like as doth the SkieLooke sanguine at the b reake of day, and turneth by and byTo white at ri sing of the Sunne. As hote as any fireShe sticketh to h it tackli ng still. And through a fond desireOf glorie

,to h i r owne decay all headlong forth she runnes .

For Pa lla s now no lenger warnes, ne now no lenger shunnesNe seekes the chalenge to delay. Immediatly they cameAnd tooke their places severally, and in a several] frameEche streynde a web, the warpe whereofwas fine . The web was tideUpon a Beame . Betweene the warpe a stay of reede did slide .The woofe on sharpened pinnes was put betwixt the warp

,and wrought

With fingars . And as oft as they had through the warpe i t brought,

They strake i t with a Boxen combe. Both twayne of them made hast,And girding close for handsomnesse thei r garments to their wast

,

B estirde thei r cunn ing bandes apace . Thei r earnestnesse was suchAs made them never th inke of paine . They weaved veric muchFine Purple that was dide i n Tyre, and colours set so trimThat eche i n shadowing other seemde the very same with h im .

Even l ike as after showres of rai ne when Phebus broken beamesDoe strike upon the Cloudes , appeares a compast bow of gleames

Which bendeth over all the Heaven : wherei n although there sh ineA thousand sundry colours, yet the shadowing i s so fine

,

That looke men nere so wistly,yet begu ileth i t thei r eyes

So l ike and even the self same th ing eche colour seemes to ri seWhereas they meete, which further o i? doe d ifl

'

er more and more .Of glittring golde with silken threede was weaved there good store,And stories put i n portrayture of things done long afore .Minerva painted Athens towne and Ma rsis rocke therei n,And all the strife betweene h irselfe and Neptune, who should win

The honor for to give the name to that same noble towne .I n loftie thrones on eyther s ide of Jove were settled downeSix Peeres of Heaven wi th cou ntnance grave and full ofMajes tie,And every of them by his face di scerned well might be .The Image of the m ightie Jove was Kinglike . She had madeNep tunus standing striking with h is long threetyned bladeUpon the ragged R ocke : and from the middle of the cl iftShe portrayd i ssui ng ou t a horse, which was the noble giftFor which he chalengde to h imselfe the naming of the towne .She picturde ou t hirselfe with sh ielde, and Morion on h ir crowne,With Curet on h i r brest

,and Speare i n hand with sharpened ende.

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She makes the Earth (the which h it Speare doth seeme to strike) to sendeAn Olyf tree with fru ite thereon : and that the Gods thereatDid wonder : and wi th victorie she finisht up that plat.Yet to th intent examples olde might make i t to be knowneTo h it that for desi re of praise so stoutly helde h ir owne,

What guerdon she shoul de hope to have for hi r attempt so madde

,

Foure like contentions i n the oure last corners she did adde .The Th racians Heme and R odop e the form ost corner badde :Who being sometime mortal ] folke u surpt to them the nameOf Jove and Juno, and were turnde to mounta ines for the same.A Pigmie womans piteous chaunce the second corner shewde,Whome Juno turned to a Crane (b icau se she was so lewde

As for to stand at str ife wi th h i r for beau tie) charging h irAga in st h i r native countriefolke conti nual] war to sti r.The th irde had proude Antigonewho durst of pride contendeIn beau tie with the wife of Jove : by whome she i n the endeWas turn ed to a Storke, no whit ava i led h i r the towneOf Troy, or that La omedon h i r father ware a crowne,But that she clad i n feathers white h i r laz ie wings must flapAnd wi th a bobbed Bill bewayle the cause of h ir m issehap.

The last had chyldelesse Cinyra s : who being turnde to stone,Was pictu rde prostrate on the grounde, and weeping al l al one,And cu ll ing fast be tweene h is armes a Temples greeces fineTo which h i s da ughters bodies were transformde by wrath divine .The u tmost borders had a wreath of Olyf round about :And th i s i s all the worke the which Minerva portrayd ou t.

For with the tree that she hirselfe had made but late aforeShe bounded i n h i r Arras cloth

,and then did worke no more.

The Lydian maiden in h i r web did portray to the fullHow Europ e was by royal] Jove beguilde i n shape of Bull

A swimming Bul l, a swell ing Sea , so l ively had she wroughtThat Bull and Sea in very deede ye might them well have thought .The Ladie seemed looking backe to landwarde and to crieU pon h i r women

,and to feare the water spri nkl ing h ie,

And shri nking up h i r fea rfu ll feete . She portrayd also thereAsteriee struggling wi th an Erne which did away hi r beare.And over Leda she had made a Swan h i s wings to splay.She added also how by Jove i n shape of Sa tyr gayeThe faire Antiope with a pa i re of children wa s bespedAnd how he tooke Amphitrios shape when i n Alcmena s bedHe gate the worth ie Hercules : and how he al so cameTo Dana e like a shoure of golde, to Aegine l ike a flame,A sheepeherd to Mnemosyne, and like a Serpent slyTo Proserp ine. She also made Neptunus lea i ng byUpon a Maide ofAeolus race i n l ikenesse o a Bull ,And in the streame Enipeus shape begetting on a trullThe Giants Othe and Ephia lt, and i n the shape of R amBegetti ng one Theopha ne B isa lties ympe wi th Lam,

And in a lu stie Stal ions shape she made h im covering thereDame Ceres wi th the yellow lockes, and h i r whose golden heareWas tu rnde to crawling Snakes : on _whom e he gate the winged horse .

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She made him in a Dolphins shape Melantho to enforce.Of all these th i ngs she missed not their proper shapes, nor yitThe full and j ust resemblance of thei r places for to h i t.I n l ikenesse of a Countrie cloyne was Phebus picturde there,And how he now ware Go ssehauke’s wings , and now a Lion s heare.And how he in a shepeherdes shape wa s practising a wileThe daughter of one Ma ca rie dame Issa to beguile.And how the fai re Erygone by chaunce did sufl

'

er rapeBy B a cchus who deceyved h ir i n l ikenesse of a grape.And how that Sa turne i n the shape of Genet did begetThe double Chiron. R ound about the utmost Verdge was setA narrow Tra ile of pretie floures wi th leaves of Ivie fret.

No t Pa lla s, no nor Spight i t selfe could any quarrel] pickeTo th i s h i r worke : and that did touch Minerva to the quieke.

Who thereupon did rende the cloth i n pieces every wh it,Bicause the lewdnesse of the Gods was blased so i n i t.And with an Arras weavers combe of Box she fiercely smi tAra chne on the forehead full a dozen times and more .The Maide impacient i n h i r heart, did stomacke th i s so sore,That by and by she hung hirselfe. Howbei t, as she h ing,Dame Pa lla s pi tying h i r estate, did stay h ir i n the stringFrom death

,and said lewde Callet l ive : but hang thou still for mee.

And least hereafter from th i s curse that t ime may set thee free,I will that th i s same pun i shment enacted firmely bee,As well on thy posteritie for ever as on thee .And after when she should depart, with j uice ofHeca ts flowre

She spri nkled h i r : and by and by the poyson had such powre,That with the touch thereof h i r haire

,h i r eares

,and nose did fade,

And veric small i t both h i r heade and all h ir bodie made .I n sted of legs

,to both h i r s ides sticke fingars long and fine

The rest i s bell ie. From the wh ich she nerethelesse dooth twi neA slender threede

,and practiseth i n shape of Spider still

The Spinners and the Websters crafts of which she erst had skill.Al l Lydia did repi ne hereat, and of th i s deede the fameThrough Phrygie ran , and through the world was talking of the same.

Before h i r marriage Mohe had knowen h i r veric well,When yet a Maide i n as Meonie and Sipyle she did dwell .And yet Ara chnes puni shment at home before h i r eyes,To use discreeter kinde of talke i t could h ir not advise

,

Nor (as behoveth) to the Gods to yeelde i n humble wise.For many th ings did make h i r proud. But neyther did the towneThe wh ich h ir husband builded had

,nor houses of renowne

Of which they both descended were,nor yet the puissance

Of that great R ealme wherei n they reignde so much h ir minde enhaunce(Although the l iking of them all did greatly h ir del ight)As did the offspring of h ir selfe. And certenl y she mightHave bene of mothers counted well most happie, had she not

So thought h ir selfe. For she whome sage Tyresia s had begotThe Prophet Manto through insti nct of heavenly power

,did say

These kinde of wordes i n open strete. Ye Thebanes go your wayApace, and unto La ton and to La tons ch i ldren pray,

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Of thys my bowge and populous race surmise you that i t werePossible some of them should misse : yet can I never beSo spoyled, that no mo than two shall tarie styll with me.Leave quickly th is lewde sacrifice, and put me off th i s BayThat on your beades i s wreathed thus . They laide i t streight awayAnd left their holi c r ites undone, and closely as they mayWith secret whispring to themselves to La ton they did pray.How much from utter barrennesse the Goddesse was : so muchDisdeind she more : and in the top of Cynthus framed such

Complai n t as th is to both h i r twinnes . Lo I your mother deare,

Who i n my bodie once you twa ine with painefull travel] beere,Lo I whose courage i s so stout as for to yeelde to noneOf all the other Goddesses except Joves wife alone,Am lately doubted whether I a Goddesse be or no .

And if you helpe not ch i ldren mine, the case now standeth soThat I the honor must from hence of Altars quigh t forgo.But th is is not mine only griefe. Besides h i r wicked fact,Most rai li ng words hath Niobe to my defacing rackt.She durst prefer h i r Barnes to you . And as for mee, she naamde

Me barren i n respect of h i r, and was no whi t a shaamdeTo shewe h ir fathers wicked tongue which she by birth doth take.Thi s said : La tona was about entreatance for to make .Cease off (quoth Phebus) long complain t i s noth ing but delayOf puni shment : and the selfe same wordes did Phebe also say.

And by and by they through the Ayre both gliding swiftly downe,

On Ca dmus pal lace h id i n cloudes did ligh t i n Thebe towne.A fielde was underneath the wall both level]

,large and wide

,

B etrampled every day with horse that man therei n did ride,Where store of Carres and Horses hoves the cloddes to dust had trode .A couple ofAmphions sonnes on lu stie coursers rodeI n th i s same place. Thei r horses fai re C0perisons did weareOf scarlet : and their bridles brave with golde bedecked were .Ofwhome as Niobs eldest sonne Ismenos hapt to bringH is horse about

,and reynd h im i n to make h im keepe the ring.

He cride alas : and i n h i s brest with that an arrow stacke.

nd by and by hys dying hand did let the bridle slacke.

And on the right s ide of the horse he sl ipped to the ground .The second brother Sipylus did chaunce to heare the soundOf (Ql ivers clattring i n the Ayre, and giving streight the reyneAnd spur togither to h is horse, began to fl ie amayne,As doth the master of a sh ip, who when he sees a shoureApproching, by some mistie cloud that ginnes to gloome and loure,Dooth clap on a ll h i s sayles bicau se no winde should scape h im byThough nere so small . Howbei t as he turned for to fl ie,He was not able for to scape the Arrow which did strickeHim through the necke . The nocke thereof did shaking upward sticke,The head appeared at h i s throte. And as he forward gaveH im selfe i n flying : so to ground he grovel ing al so drave,And toppled’ by the horses mane and feete amid hi s race,And with h i s warme neweshedded blond berayed all the place .But Phedimus

,and Tanta lus the heiér of the name

1 24.

Of Tanta lus h i s Graundfa ther, who customably cameFrom other da il ie exerci se to wrestling

,had begun

To close, and eache at other now with brest to brest to run,When Phebus Arrow be ing sent with force from streyned stringDid str ike through both of them a s they did fast to i ther cling.And so they sighed both at once

,and both at once for paine

Fell downe to ground, and both of them at once their eyes did streineTo see th eir latest l ight, and both at once the ir ghostes did yeelde.

Alphenor th i s m ischau nce of theirs with heav ie hart behelde,

And scracht and beate h i s wofull brest : and therewith flying outTo take them up betweene h i s armes, was as he went aboutTh i s worke of kindly pitie

,killde. For Phebus with a Dart

Of deadl y dint did rive h im through the Bulke and brake h i s hart .And when the steale was plucked ou t, a percell of h is l iverDid hang upon the hooked heade : and so he did deliverHis li fe and bloud i nto the Ayre departi ng both togither.

But Dama sicthon (on whose heade came never siz z er) feltMo woundes than one. I t was h i s chaunce to have a grievous peltUpon the veri c place at which the leg i s first begun,And where the hamstrings by the joynt with supple sinewes run .And wh ile to draw th i s arrow out he wi th h is hand assa ide

,

Another th rough h i s wez ant went,and at the feathers staide.

The bloud did drive out th i s aga ine, and spinning h igh did spoutA grea t way OR,and piers t the Ayre with spri nkl ing all about,The last of all I lionie wi th stretched handes , and specheMost humble (but i n vaine) did say, 0 Gods I you besecheOf mercie all i n general] . He wist not what he saideNe how that unto all of them he ought not to have pra ide.

The God that helde the Bow i n hande was moved : but as thenThe Arrow was alred ie gone so farre, that backe agenHe cou ld not cal l i t . Nerethel esse the wound was verie smallOf whi ch he dide

,for why h is heart i t did but lightly ga ll .

The rumor of the m isch iefe selfe,and mone of people, and

The weeping of h i r servants gave the mother t’understande sodai ne stroke of th is mischau nce. She wondred verie muchAnd stormed al so that the Gods were able to doe suchA deede

,or durst attempt it

,yea she thought i t more than right

That any of them over h i r shoulde have so mickle might.Amphion had fordone h im selfe alread ie with a knife,And ended all h i s sorrowes quite togither with h is l ife .Alas

,alas how greatly doth thi s Niohe differ here,

From tother Niobe who a late disda in ing any Pere,Did from Lamna s Altars drive h ir folke, and through the towneWith haul tie looke and stately gate went pranking up and downe,Then spighted at among h ir owne, but pi teous now to thoseThat heretofore for h i r des erts had bene h i r greatest foes.She fall eth on the corses co lde, and taking no regard,B estowde h i r kysses on h i r sonnes as whome she afterwardeDid know she never more shou lde kisse. From whome she l ifting thoeHir blew and broosed armes to heaven sayd : O thou cruell foeLa tona , feede, yea feede thy selfe I say upon my woe

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And overgorge thy stomacke, yea and glut thy cruell hartWi th these my present paineful l pangs of bi tter gri pi ng smart .I n corses seven I seven times deade am caried to my grave :R ejoyce thou foe and tri umph now i n that thou seemste to haveThe upper hande . What ? upper hand ? no no i t i s not so .

As wretch ed as my cas e doth seeme , yet have I left me mo

Then thou for a ll thy happinesse canst of th ine owne account :Even after all th ese corses yet I still doo thee surmount.Upon the ende of these same wordes the twanging of the str ingI n letting of the Arrow fl ie was clearly h eard : wh ich th ingMade every one save Mohe afra ide. Hir heart was soWith sorrowe hardned, that she grew more bolde . Hir daughters thoWere standing al l with mourning weede and hangi ng haire beforeTheir brothers cofli ns . One of th em i n pull i ng from the soreAn Arrow sti cking in h i s heart, sanke downe upon h i r broth erWi th mouth to mouth , and so did yeelde h ir fleeti ng ghost. Anoth erI n comfort ing the wretched case and sorrow of h ir motherU pon the sodaine helde h ir peace. She stri cken was wi th inWith double wound : wh ich caused h i r h ir tal ki ng for to bli nAnd shut h ir mouth : But fi rst h i r ghost was gone . One all i n vaineAttempting for to scape by fl igh t was i n h i r flyi ng slaine.

Another on h ir s i sters corse doth tumble downe starke dead .Thi s quakes and trembles pi teously

,and she doth h ide h ir hea d.

And when that s ixe with sundrye wounds dispatched were and gon e,At last as yet remained one : and for to save that one,Hir mother wi th h ir bodie whole did cling abo ut h ir fas t,And wrying h ir d id over h ir h ir garments wholy castAnd cried out : 0 leave me one : th i s l i ttle one yet save :Of many but th i s only one th e least of all I crave .But wh ile she prayd, for whome she prayd was kild . Then downe sheBereft of all h ir ch ildren quite

,and drawing to h i r fate

,

Among h ir daughters and h i r sonnes and husband newly dead.Hir cheekes waxt hard

,the Ayre coul d sti rre no hai re upon h i r h ead .

The colour of h ir face was dim and cleerly voide of blood,And sadly under Open l ids h i r eyes unmoved stood .I n all h ir bodie was no l i fe. For even h ir verie tungAnd palat of h ir mouth was hard

,and eche to oth er clung.

Hir Pul ses ceased for to beate,h ir necke did cease to bow

,

Hir armes to stir,h i r feete to go, all powre forwent as now,

And i nto stone h i r very wombe and bowels al so bind .But yet she wept : and being hoyst by force of whirli ng wind ,Was carried into Phrygie. There upon a m ou nta ines topShe weepeth sti ll i n stone : from stone the drerie teares do drop .Then all both men and women fearde La tona a s open ire

,

And far wi th greater sumptuou snesse and earnes ter desireDid worship the great majestie of th i s thei r Goddesse

, who

Did beare at once both Phebus and h i s s ister Phebe to .And th rough occas ion of th i s chaunce, (as men are wont to doI n cases l ike) the people fell to tell ing th ings of o ldOfwhome a man among th e rest th i s tale ensuing told .

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And sure I wi ll confesse I have received life of you .Yea i n your giving of a drop of water unto mee,The case so standeth as you shall preserve the lives of three .Alas let these same sill ie soules that i n my bosome stretchThei r l i ttle armes (by chaunce h i r babes their pretie dolles did retch)To pi tie move you . What i s he so hard that would not yeeldTo th i s the gentle Goddesses entreatance meeke and m eeld ?

Yet they for all the humble wordes she could devi se to say,Conti nued i n thei r wi llq moode of churli sh saying nay,And threatned for to sende h i r thence onlesse she went away,R eviling h ir most spightfu lly. And not contented so

,

With handes and feete the standing Poole they troubled to and fro,Untill wi th trampli ng up and downe malic iously, the softAnd sl im ie mud that lay beneath was rai sed up aloft.With that the Goddesse was so wroth that th i rst was quigh t forgot,And unto such u nworthie Carles hirselfe she humbleth not

,

Ne speaketh meaner wordes than might beseeme a Goddesse well .But holding up h ir bandes to heaven : for ever mought you dwellIn th i s same Pond, she said . Hir wish did take effect wi th speedeFor underneath the water they delight to be in deede .Now dive th ey to the bottome downe, now up thei r heades they pop,Another wh ile with sprawli ng legs they swim upon the top.

And oftentimes upon the bankes they have a mind to stond,

And oftentimes from thence aga ine to leape i n to the Pond .And there they now doe practi se sti ll thei r filthy tongues to scold .And shamelessely (though underneath the water) they doe holdThei r former wont of brawling sti ll amid the water cold.Their voices sti l are hoarse and harsh , their throtes have pull ed goawles,Thei r chappes with brawling widened are, thei r hammer headed JoawlesAre joyned to thei r shoulders j ust, the neckes of them doe seemeCut off, the ridgebone of thei r backe stickes up of colour greene.Thei r paunch wh ich i s the greatest part of all their trunch is gray,And so they up and downe the Pond made newly Frogges doe play.When one ofLyce (I wote not who) had spoken in th is sort,Another of a Sa tyr streight began to make report,

Whome Phebus overcomm ing on a pipe (made late agoBy Pa lla s) put to puni shment . Why fleaest thou me so,Alas h e cride i t irketh me . Alas a sorie pipeDeserveth not so cruelly my skin from me to stripe .For all h i s crying ore h i s eares quight pulled was h i s skin .Nought else he was than one whole wounde. The griesly bloud did spi nFrom every part, the s inewes lay discovered to the eye,The quivering veynes without a skin lay beating nakedly.The panti ng bowels i n h i s bulke ye might have numbred well,And in h i s brest the shere small stri ngs a man might easly tell .The Country Faunes, the Gods of Woods, the Sa tyrs of h i s kin,The Mount Olympus whose renowne did ere that time begin,And all the Nymphes, and all that i n those mounta ines kept their sheepe,Or grazed c'attell thereabouts

,did for th i s Sa tyr weepe .

The frui tful] earth waxt moyst therewi th , and moysted did receyveThei r teares, and i n h i r bowels deepe did of the same conceyve.

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And when that she had turned them to water,by and by

She sent th em forth aga ine aloft to see the open Skie .The R iver that doth ri se thereof beginning there h i s race

,

In veric deepe and shoring bankes to Seaward runnes a paceThrough Phrygie, and according as the Sa tyr, so the streameI s called Ma rsia s, of the brookes the cleerest i n that R ealme.

With such examples as these same the common folke returndeTo present th ings, and every man through all the Citie moornde

For that Amphion was destroyde with all h i s i ssue so .

But all the fault and blame was laide upon the mother tho .For hir alonly Pelop s mournde (as men report) and heeIn open ing of h i s clothes did shewe that everie man might seeHis shoulder on the left side bare of Ivorie for to bee .This shoul der at h i s birth was l ike h i s tother both in hueAnd flesh , unti l] h i s fathers handes most wickedly h im slue,And that the Gods when they h i s l immes aga ine togither drue,To 'oyne them in their proper place and forme by nature due

,

D igfinde out all the other partes, save only that which grueB etweene the thro tebo ll and the arme

,which when they could not get

,

Thi s other made of Ivori e white i n place thereof they set,And by that meanes was Pelops made aga ine both whole and sound .The neyghbor Princes th ither came, and al l the Cities roundAbout besought thei r Kings to go and comfort The

And Spa rta , and Mycene which was under Pelop s charge.And Ca lydon unhated of the frowning Phebe yit,The wel thie towne Orchomenos, and Corinth which i n i tHad famous men for workmansh ip i n mettals : and the stoutMessene which fu ll twentie yeares did hold bes iegers out.And Pa tre, and the lowly towne Cleona , Nelies Pyle,And Troyz en not surnamed yet Pittheia for a wh ile.And all the other Bo rough townes and Ci ti es which doe standWith in the narrow balke at which two Seas doe meete at hand,Or which do bound upon the ba lke wi thout i n maine firme land .Alonly Athens (who would th inke did nei ther come nor send :Warre barred them from courtesie the wh ich they did entend .The King ofPontus with an host of savage people layI n s ie e before thei r famous walles and curstly did them fray.Un t

' that Tereus King of Thra ce approch ing to their ayde,Did vanqui sh h im

, and with renowne was for h i s labor payde.And sith he was so puissant i n men and ready coyne,And came of m ightie Ma rsis race, Pandion sought to joyneAl iance with h im by and by, and gave h im to h i s FeereHis daughter Progne. At th i s match (as after will appeare)Was neyther Juno, President of mariage wont to bee,Nor Hymen, no nor any one of all the graces three .The Furies snatch ing Tapers up that on some Herce did standeDid ligh t them

,and before the Bride did beare them i n their hande .

The Furies made the B ridegroomes bed . And on the house did ruckeA c ursed Ow le the messen er of yll successe and lucke .And all the n ight time wh ile that they were lying in their beds,She sate upon the bedsteds top right over both their heds .

Such handsell Progne had the day that Tereus did h i r wedSuch handsell had they when that she was brought of chi lde a bed.All Thra cia did rejoyce at them, and thankt thei r Gods, and wildThat both the day of Prognes match with Tereus should be h ildFor feastfu ll

,and the day likewise that Itys first was borne

So little know we what behoves . The Sunne had now ou tworne

F ive Harvests, and by course five times had runne h is yearly race,When Progne flattring Tereus saide : I f any love or graceB etweene us be, send eyther me my si ster for to see

,

Or finde the meanes that h i ther she may come to vis i t mee .You may assure your Fathrinlaw she shall aga ine returne

With i n a while . Ye doe to me the h ighest great good turneThat can be

,i f you bring to passe I may my si ster see.

Immediately the K ing commaundes his shippes a flote to bee.And shortly after

,what with sayle and what wi th force of Ores

,

In Athens haven he arrives and landes at Pyrey shores.Assoone as of hi s fathrinlaw the presence he obtainde,And had of h im bene courteously and friendly enterta inde,Unhappie handsell entred with thei r talking first togither.

The errandes of his wife the cause of h is then comm ing th i therHe had but new begon to tell, and promised that whenShe had h i r s i ster seene, she should with speede be sent agenWhen (see the chaunce) came Philomele i n raiment very rich,And yet i n beautie farre more rich , even like the Fairies whichR eported are the pleasant woods and water springs to haunt,So that the like apparel] and atti re to them you graunt .King Tereus at the sigh t of h i r did burne i n h i s desire,As if a man should chaunce to set a gulfe of com e on fire,Or burne a stacke of hay. Hir face i n deede deserved love.But as for h im

, to fleshy lust even nature h im did move.For of those countries commonly the people are aboveAll measure prone to lecherie. And therefore both by kindeHis flame encreast, and by his owne default of vicious minde.He purposde fully to corrupt h ir servants with rewardOr for to bribe h i r Nu rce, that she should slenderly regardHir du tie to h i r m istresseward . And rather then to fayle,The Ladie even hirsel fe with giftes he minded to assayle,And all h i s kingdome for to spend : or else by force of handTo take h ir

,and i n maintenance thereof by sword to stand.

There wa s not under heaven the th i ng but that he durst i t prove,So far unable was he now to stay h i s lawlesse love.Delay was deadly : Backe aga ine with greedie minde he came,Of Prognes errands for to tal ke : and underneath the sameHe workes h i s owne un raciousnesse. Love gave h im power to frameH is talke at will . As oi as he demaunded out of square,Upon h is wives importunate desire h im selfe he bare.He also wept : as though his wife had wil led that likewise.O God

,what blindnesse doth the heartes of morta l] men di sgui se ?

By working 'm isch iefe Tereus gets h im credi t for to seemeA loving man

,and winneth prai se by wickednesse extreeme.

Yea and the fooli sh Philomele the selfe same th ing desires.

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With hooked talants trussing up a Hare among the Ferne,

Hath laid h ir i n h is nest, from whence the pri soner can not scapeThe raven ing fowle wi th greedie eyes upon h i s pray doth gape.Now was the i r j ourney come to ende : '

now were they gone a landI n Thra cia , when that Tereus tooke the Ladie by the hand,And led h ir to a pelting graunge that peakishly did standIn woods forgrowen. There waxi ng pale and trembling sore for feareAnd dreading all th ings, a nd with teares demaunding sadly whereHir si ster was, he shet h i r up : and therewithall bewraideHis wicked lust

,and so by force bicau se she was a Maide

And all alone he vanqu isht h i r. I t booted nought at allThat she on si ster, or on Sire, or on the Gods did call .She quaketh l ike the wounded Lambe wh ich from the Wolves hore tee thNew shaken, thinkes h ir selfe not safe : or as the Dove that seethHir fethers with h ir owne bloud staynde, who shuddring still doth feareThe greedie Hauke that did h ir late with griping talants teare.Anon when that th i s maz ednesse was somewhat overpast

,

She ren t h ir haire, and beate h i r brest, and up to heavenward castHir hands i n mou rningwise, and said : O cankerd Carle, O fellAnd cruell Tyrant

,neyther could the godly teares that fell

A downe my fathers cheekes when he did give thee charge of mee,Ne of my sister that regarde that ought to be in thee

,

Nor yet my chaast virginitie, nor consci ence of the laweOfwed locke, from th i s villan ie thy barbrous heart withdraw ?B eholde thou hast confounded all . My si ster thorough meeIs made a Cu cqueane : and thy selfe through th is offence of theeArt made a husband to us both , and unto me a foe,A just deserved puni shment for lewdly doing so .

But to thintent O perjurde wretch no m isch iefe may t emaineUnwrought by thee

, why doest thou from murdring me refra ine ?Would God thou had it done before th is wicked rape. From henceThen should my soule most blessedly have gone wi thout offence.But if the Gods doe see th i s deede, and if the Gods I sayBe ou ht

,and i n th i s wicked worlde beare any kinde of sway,

And ifwith me all other th i ngs decay not,sure the day

Wil l come that for th i s wickednesse full dearly thou shal t pay.

Yea I my selfe rej ecting shame thy doings will bewray.And if I may have power to come abrode, them blase I wi llI n open face of all the world : or i f thou keepe me stillAs pri soner in these woods

,my voyce the veric woods shall fill,

And make the stones to understand . Let Heaven to th i s give eareAnd all the Gods and powers therein if any God b e there.The cruel] tyrant be ing chaaft

,and also put i n feare

With these and other such h i r wordes bo th causes so h im stung,That drawing out h i s naked sworde that at h i s girdle hung,He tooke h i r rudely by the hai re

,and wrung h ir hands beh ind h ir,

Compell i ng hit to holde them there wh i le he h im selfe did binde hi r.When Philomela sawe the sworde she hoapt she should have dide,And for the ssame h i r naked thro te she gladly did provide.But as she yirnde and called ay upon h ir fathers name,And strived to have spoken sti ll, the cruel] tyrant came,

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And with a paire of pinsons fast did catch h ir by the tung,And with h i s sword did cut i t off. The stumpe whereon i t hungDid patter sti ll . The tip fell downe

,and quivering on the ground

As though that i t had murmured i t made a certaine sound,

And as an Adders tayle cut off doth skip a wh ile : even soThe tip ofPhilomela a s tongue did wriggle to and fro

,

And nearer to h ir m istres seward i n dying sti ll did go .

And after th i s most cruell act,for certaine men report

That he (I scarcely dare beleve) did oftentimes resortTo maymed Philomela and abusde h i r at h i s will.Yet after all th i s wickednes se he keeping cou ntnance still,Durst unto Progne home repai re . And she immediatlyDemau nded where h i r si ster was . He sighi ng feynedlyDid tell h ir falsly she was dead : and with h i s suttle tearesHe maketh all his tale to seeme of credi t i n h ir cares.Hir garments glittring all with golde she from h ir shoulders tearesAnd puts on blacke, and setteth up an emptie Herce, and keepesA solemne obite for h ir soule

,and piteously she weepes

And wa ileth for h i r si sters fate who was no t i n such wi seAs that was

,for to be bewailde. The Sunne had in the Skies

Past th rough the twelve celestial] signes,and finisht fu ll a yeare.

But what should Philomela doe ? She watched was so neareThat start she could not for hi r li fe

,the walles of that same graunge

Were made so h igh of mai ne hard stone,that out she could not raunge .

Aga ine h ir tunglesse mouth did want the utterance of the fact.Great i s the wit of pensivenesse, and when the head is raetWi th hard misfortu ne, sharpe forecast of practise entereth i n .A warpe ofwh ite upon a frame of Thra cia she did pin,And weaved purple letters i n betweene i t, which bewra ideThe wicked deede of Tereus. And having done, she praideA certai ne woman by h i r signes to beare them to h ir m istresscShe bare them and del ivered them not knowing nerethelesseWhat was i n them. The Tyrants wife unfolded all the clout,And of h i r wretched fortune red the processe whole th roughout.She held h i r peace (a wondrous thing i t i s she should so doe)But sorrow tide h ir tongue

,and wordes agreeable unto

Hir great di splea sure were not at comm aundment at that stound,And weepe she could not. Ryght and wron she reckeneth to confound,And on revengement of the deede h ir heart oth wholy ground.I t wa s the time that wives of Thra ce were wont to celebrateThe three yea re ri tes of Ba cchus which were done a n ighttimes late.

A n ighttimes soundeth Rhodope of tincl ing pannes and potsA nighttimes giving up h i r house, abrode (meene Progne trots,Disgu isd e l ike Ba cchus other froes, and armed to th e proofeWith all the frenticke furni ture that serves for that behoofe.

Hir head was covered wi th a vine. About h ir loose was tucktA R eddeeres skin, a ligh tsome Launce upon h ir shoulder ruckt.I n t gaddes terrible Progne through the woods, and at h ir heelesA ocke of froes : and where the sti ng of sorrow wh ich she feelesEnforceth h ir to fu riou snesse, she feynes i t to proceedeOf B a cchus motion . At the length she finding out i n deede

The outset Graunge, howlde out, and cride now well, and open brakeThe gates

,and streigh t h i r si ster thence by force of hand did take

,

And veyl ing h ir i n like atti re of B a cchus h id h ir headWith Ivi e leaves, and home to Court h i r sore amazed led.

Assoone as Philomela wist she set h ir foote with i nThat cursed house, the wretched soul e to shudther did begin

,

And all h ir face waxt pa le . Anon h i r si ster getting placeDid pull off B a cchus mad atti re, and making bare h ir faceEmbraced h i r betweene h ir armes. But she considering thatOg eene Progne was a Cucqueane made by meanes of h i r, durst natOnce raise h ir eyes : but on the ground fast fixed helde the same.And where she woulde have taken God to witnesse that the shameAnd villan ie was wrough t to h i r by violence, she was fa neTo u se h i r hand instead of speache. Then Progne ch a maineAnd was not able i n h i r selfe h ir choler to restra inc,But blaming Philomela for h ir weeping, said these wordes .Thou must not deal e i n th i s behalfe with weeping

,but wi th swordes,

Or’ with some th ing of greater force than swords. For my part,I

Am readie, yea and fully bent all m ischiefe for to trieTh is pallace will I eyther set on fire

,and i n th e same

Bestow the cursed Tereus th e worker of ou r shame :Or pull away h i s tongue : or pu t out both his eyes : or cutAway those members wh ich have thee to such dishonor pu tOr with a thousand woundes expulse that sinfu l] soule of h i s.The th ing that I doe purpose on

,i s great what ere i t i s.

I know not what i t may be yet. While Progne hereuntoDid set h i r minde, came Itys in, who taugh t h ir what to doe.She stari ng on h im cruelly, said. Ah

,how l ike thou art

Thy wicked fath er,and wi thout moe wordes a sorrowfu l] part

She purposed, such inward i re was boyl ing i n h ir heart.But notwi thstanding when h i r sonne approched to h ir neare,And lovingly had greeted h i r by name of mother deare,And with h is pretie armes about the necke had hugde h i r fast,And flattring wordes with ch i ldi sh toyes i n kissi ng forth had castThe mothers h eart of hirs was then constreyned to relent,Asswaged wholy was the rage to wh ich she erst was bent,And from h ir eyes against h ir will the teares enforced went.But when she saw how pi tie did compel] h ir heart to yeelde,She turned to h i r si sters face from Itys, and beheldeNow tone, now to ther earnestly and said, why tattles he,And she s ittes dumbe bereft of tongue ? as well why cal les not sheMe si ster

,as th i s boy doth call me mother ? Seest thou not

Thou daughter ofPandion what a h usband thou hast got ?Thou growest wholy out of kinde . To such a husband asI s Tereus, p i t ie i s a sinne. No more del ay there was .

She dragged Itys after h ir as when i t happes i n IndeA Tyger gets a l i ttle Calfe that suckes upon a Hynde,And drags h im through the shadie woods. And when that th ey had foundA place with in the house far off and far above the ground,Then Progne strake h im wi th a sword now plai nly seeing whotherHe shoul d, and holding up h i s handes, and crying mother, mother,

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A happie wife. The Thracians and King Tereus were a letTo Borea s : so that long i t wa s before the God could getHis dearbeloved Ori thya , while trifl i ng he did standWith faire entrea tance rather than did use the force of hand.But when he saw he no rel iefe by gentle meanes could finde

,

Then turn ing unto boystou s wrath (which unto that same windeI s too familiar and too much accustomed by ki nde)He said : I served am but well : for why laid I a partMy proper weapons, fiercenesse, force, and i re, and cruel] hart ?And fell to fauning

‘

l ike a foole, wh ich did me but di sgrace ?For me i s violence meete. Through th i s the pestred cloudes I chace .Through th is I tosse the Seas . Through th i s I turne up knottie Okes

,

And harden Snow,and beate the ground i n hayle with stu rd ie strokes.

When I my brothers chaunce to get in open Ayre and Skie,

(For that i s my fielde i n th e which my m aisteries I doe trie)I charge upon them with some brunt, that of our meeting smartThe Heaven betweene us soundes, and from the hollow Cloudes doth sta rtEnforced fire. And when I come i n holes of hollow ground

,

And fiersely in those empty caves do rouse my backe up round,I trouble even the ghostes, and make the veri c world to quakeThi s helpe in wooing of my wife (to speede) I should have take,Erecthey should not have bene prayde my Fatherinl aw to beHe should have bene compelde thereto by stout extrem itie.

In speaking these or other wordes as sturdie, Borea s ganTo flaske h is wings. With waving of the wh ich he raysed than

So great a gale, that all the earth was blasted therewithall ,And troubled was the mai ne brode Sea. And as he traylde his pal]Bedusted over h ighest t0ps of th ings

,he swept the ground,

And having now i n smokie cloudes h im selfe enclosed round,Betweene h i s du skie wings he caught Ori thya straught for feare,And like a lover, veric soft and easly did h i r beare .And as h e flew

,the flames of love enkindled more and more

By meanes of sti rring. Nei ther did he stay h i s fl igh t beforeHe came with i n the land and towne of Cicons with h is prayAnd there soone after being made h i s wife

, she hapt to layHir belly

,and a paire of boyes she at a burthen bri ngs,

Who else i n all resembled full their mother,save i n wings

The wh ich they of their father tooke . Howbeit (by report)They were not borne wi th wings upon their bodies i n th i s sort.While Ca la is and Zetes had no beard upon thei r ch in

,

They both were callow . But assoone as haire did once beginIn l ikenesse of a yellow Downe upon their cheekes to sprout,Then (even as comes to passe i n B irdes) the feathers budded ou tTogither on th ei r pi nyon s too , and spreaded round aboutOn both thei r s ides. And finally when childhod once was spen tAnd youth come on ,

togither they wi th other Minyes wentTo Colchos i n the Galley that was first devisde i n Greece,Upon a sea as then unknowen, to fetch the golden fleece .

Finis sexti Libri.

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TH E S EVENTH BOO K E

of Ov ids Metamorphosis .

now i n sh ip of Paga sa the Mynies cut the seas,And leading under endlesse n igh t h is age in great diseaseOf scarcitie was Phiney scene, and Borea s sonnes had chasteAway th e Maidenfaced foul es that did h i s v ittels waste .And after sufli i ng many th ings i n noble Ja sons band,I n muddie Pha sis gush ing streame at last they went a land.There wh ile they going to the King demaund the golden fleece

Brough t th i ther certaine yea res before by Phryxus out of Greece,And of their dreadful] labors wai t an answere to receive

,

Ace'

ta s daughter i n h ir h eart doth m ightie flames conceyve.

And after strugl in verie long , when reason could not winThe upper hand 0 rage : she thus did in h ir selfe begin .I n vai ne Medea doste thou strive : some God what ere he i sAgainst thee bendes h i s force, for what a wondrous th ing i s th i s ?

Is any th i ng like th is wh ich men doe terme by name of Love ?For why should I my fathers bestes es teeme so hard aboveAll measure ? sure i n very deede they are too hard and sore.Why feare I least yon straunger whome I never saw beforeShould pe ri sh ? what should be th e cause of th i s my feare so great ?Unhappie wench (and if thou canst) suppresse th i s uncouth hea thThat burneth i n thy tender brest. And if so be I cou lde,A happie turne i t were, and more at ease then be I shou lde.

But now an uncouth maladie perforce against my willDoth hale me. Love pe rsuades me one, another th ing my skillThe best I see and l ike : the worst I follow headlong still .Why being of th e royal] b loud so fondly doste thou rave,Upon a strau er thus to dote, desi ri ng for to haveAn husband 0 anoth er world ? at home thou mightest findeA lover m eete for th i ne estate on whome to se t thy minde.And yet i t i s but even a chaunce if he shall l ive or noGod graunt h im for to l ive. I may wi thout ofl'

ence pray so,Al though I lovde h im not : for what hath Ja son trespast me ?Who woulde not pi tie Ja sons youth onlesse they cruell be ?What crea ture i s ther e but h i s bi rth and prowesse might h im move ?And setting all th e rest asyde, who woulde not be in loveWith Ja sons goodl ie perso e ? my heart assuredl yI s toucht therewith . But i that I provide no t remedie,With burn ing brea th of blasti ng Bulles needes s indged must he bee.Of seedes that h e himselfe must sow a harvest shall h e seeOf armed men i n ba ttell ray upon the ground up grow,Aga i nst the which i t hoveth h im h i s manhode for to show.

And as a pray he must be set again st the Dragon fell.

I f I these th ings let come to passe, I may con esse right wellThat of a Tyger I was bred : and that wi th i n my brestA heart more harde than any steele or ston ie rocke doth rest .Why rather doe I not h i s death with wra thfu ll eyes beho lde ?

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And joy wi th others seeing h im to utter peri l] solde ?Why doc I not enforce the Bul les agai nst h im ? why I sayExhort I no t the cruel] men wh ich shall i n battell rayAri se again st h im from the ground ? and that same Dragon tooWithin whose eyes came never sleepe ? God sh ield I so should doo .

But prayer smally bootes, except I put to helping hand .And shall I l ike a Caytife then betray my fathers land ?Shall I a straunger save, whome we nor none of ours doth know ?That he by me preserved may without me homewa rd row ?And take another to h i s wife, and leave me wretched wightTo torments ? I f I wist that h e cou lde worke me such a sp igh t

,

Or could i n any others love than only mine del igh t,

The Chu rle should die for me. But sure he beareth not the faceL i ke one that wold doe so . His bi rth

,h i s cou rage

,and h i s grace

Doe put me clearly out of doubt he wi ll no t me deceyv e,No nor forget th e great good turnes he shall by mee receyve.

Yet shal l he to me first h i s fai th for more assurance pligh t,

And solem ly he shall be sworne to keepe the covenant ri h t.Why fearste thou now without a cause ? ste to i t out 0 handAnd doe not any lenger time thus l ingring fdndly stand.For ay shall Jason thinke him selfe beholding unto theeAnd shall thee marri e solemly : yea honored shalt thou beeOf all the Mothers greate and small throughout the townes of GreeceFor saving of their sonnes that come to fetch the golden fleece.And shal l I then leave brother

,si ster

,father

,kith and kin,

And household Gods, and native soyle, and all that i s therein,And saile I know not wh i ther with a straunger ? yea : why not?

My father surely cruell is, my Countrie rude God wotMy brother yet a veri c babe : my sister I dare sayContented i s with all h ir heart that I should go awaThe greatest God i s i n my selfe : the th ings I doe fbrsakeAre trifles i n compari son of those that I shall take.For saving of the Greekish sh ip renoumed shall I bee .A better place I shall enjo with Cities riche and free,Whose fame doth flori sh resh even here

,and people that excel]

I n c ivi l] l ife and all good Ar tes : and whome I would not sellFor all the goods wi th i n the worlde Duke Aesons noble sonne.Whome had I to my lawful] Feere assured ly once wonne,Most happie yea and blest of God I might my selfe account,And with my head above the starres to heaven I should surmount.But men report that certa i ne rockes (I know no t what) doe meetoAmid the waves, and monstru ou sly aga ine a sunder flecte :And how Cha rybdis utter foe to sh ips that passe th erebyNow sowpeth i n, now speweth ou t the Sea incessantly :And ravening Scylla being hemde with cruell dogs about,Amids the gulfe of Sicilie doth make a barking out.What skilleth that ? As long as I enj oy the th ing I love

,

And hang about my Jasons necke,i t shall no whit me move

To saile the daungerous Seas : as long as h im I may embraceI cannot surely be afr a ide in any kinde of case.Or if I chaunce to be afra ide, my feare shall only tende

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Out flakes of fire : their scalding breath the growing grasse did bla s t,

And looke what noise a ch imney full of burn ing fewell makes,Or Flin t i n softning i n the Kell when first the fire i t takesBy sprincl ing water thereupon : such noyse thei r boyl ing brestsTurmoyling with the firie flames enclosed i n thei r chests

,

Such noise their scorched throtebo lles make : yet stou tly Ja son wentTo meeto them . They their dreadful] eyes against h im grimly bent

,

And eke the ir hom es wi th yron tipt : and strake the dust aboutI n stamping wi th th ei r cloven clees : and with thei r belowing outSet al l the fielde upon a smoke. The Myneis seeing thatWere past their wits wi th sodaine feare

,but Ja son feeled nat

So much as any breath of theirs : such strength hath sorcerie.

Their dangli ng Dewlaps wi th h i s hand he coyd unfearfully,And putting yokes upon their neckes he forced them to drawThe heav ie burthen of the plough wh ich erst they never saw,

And for to breake the fielde which erst had never felt the share.The men of Colchos seeing th is, l ike men amazed fare .The Myneis with thei r shouting out their maz ednesse augment

,

And unto Ja son therewithall give more encouragement.Then in a souldiers cap of steele a Vi pers teeth he takes

,

And sowes them in the new plowde fielde : the ground then soking makesThe seede foresteepte i n poyson strong, both supple li the and soft,And of these teeth a right straunge graine there growes anon aloft.For even as i n the mothers wombe an infant doth beginTo take the lively shape ofman

, and formed i s with i nTo due proportion piece by piece i n every l imme, and whenFull ripe he is

,he takes the use ofAire with other men :

So when that of the Vipei s teeth the perfect shape of manWith in the bowels of the earth was formed, they beganTo ri se togither orderly upon the fru itefull fieldeAnd (which a greater wonder is) immediatly they wieldeTheir weapons growing up wi th them : whom when the Greekes behildePreparing for to push their Pikes (which sharply headed were)I n Ja sons face, downe went their heades, their heartes did faint for feareAnd also she that made h im safe began aba sht to bee .For when against one naked man so huge an arm ie sheeBeheld of armed enm ies bent

,h ir colour did abate

And sodainly both voyd of blond and l ivel ie hea te she sate.And least the chaunted weedes the which she had h im given beforeShould faile at neede

,a helping charme she wh ispred overmore,

And practisde other secret Artes the wh ich she kept i n store.He casting streight a m ightie stone amid h i s thickest foes,Doth voyde the battell from h im selfe and turnes i t unto those.These earthbred brothers by and by did one another woundAnd never ceased till that all lay dead upon the ground.The Greekes were glad, and i n their armes did clasp their Champion stout,And clingi ng to h im earnestly embraced h im about.And thou O. fond Medea too couldst well have found in hartThe Champion for to have embraste, but that withhelde thou wartBy shamefastnesse : and yet thou hadst embraced h im, i f dreadOf stayn ing of th ine honor had not staid thee i n that stead.

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But yet as far forth as thou maist,thou dost i n heart rejoyce,

And secretly (although without expressing i t i n voyce)Doste thanke thy charmes and eke the Gods as Authors of the same.

Now was remain ing as the last conclusion of th i s game,

By force of chaunted herbes to make the watchful] Dragon sleepeWith in whose eyes came never winke : who had in charge to keepeThe goodl y tree upon the which the golden fleeces hung.With crested head, and hooked pawes, and triple spirting tung.R igh t ougly was he to beho lde. When Ja son had besprentHim with the '

u ice of certa ine herbes from Lethey R i v er sent,And th rice ha mumbled cer taine wordes wh ich are of force to castSo sound a sleepe on th ings that even as dead a time they last

,

Which make the raging surges calme,and flowi R ivers stay

The dreadq Dragon by and by (whose eyes hi re that dayWist never erst what sleeping ment) did fall so fast a sleepeThat Ja son safely too ke the fleece of golde that he did keepe.

Of wh ich h i s bootie be ing proud, he led with h im awayThe Author of h is good successe

,another fairer pray.

And so with conquest and a wife he loosde from Colchos strond,And in La rissa haven safe did go aga ine a lond.The auncient men of Thessa lie togither with their wivesTo Church with ofli 'ings gone for saving of their ch ildrens lives.

Great heapes of fuming frankincense were fryed i n the flame,And vowed Bulles to sacrifice with hom es faire gilded came .But from th i s great so lemnitie Duke Aeson was away,Now at deathes doore and spent with yea res . Then Ja son thus gan say.

0 wife to whome I doe confesse I owe my life in deede,Thou h a] th ings thou to me hast given, and thy deserts exceedeBeleifg yet if enchau ntment can

, (for what so hard appearesWhich strong enchauntment ca n not doe ? ) abate thou from my yeares,And adde them to my fathers l ife. As he these wordes did speake,The teares were standing in h is eyes. His godly sute did breakeMedea s heart : who therewithal l bethought hir of h ir Si re,I n leavi ng whome she had exprest a fa r unlike desire.But yet bewraying not h it thoughts she sa id : O Husband, fie,What wickednesse hath scapt your mouth ? suppose you then that IAm able of your li fe the terme where I wi ll to bestow ?Let Heca t never suffer that. Your sute (as well you know)Again st all right and reason i s. But I wi ll put i n proofeA greater gift than you re u ire, and more for your behoofe.

I will as say your fathers l i e by cunning to prolong,And not with your yeares for to make h im yong aga ine and strongSo ou r threeformed Goddes se graunt with present helpe to standA furthrer of the gr eat attempt the wh ich I take i n hand.Before the Moone should ci rclewise close both h i r hom es i n oneThree n ightes were yet as then to come. Assoone as that she shone

ost full of l igh t, and d id behold the earth with fil lsome face,Medea wi th h i r hai re not trust so much as in a lace,But flari ng on h ir shou lders twaine

,and barefoo te, with hir gowne

Ungirded,te h i r out of doores and wandred up and downe

Al one the ead t ime of the nigh t : both Man, and Beast, and B ird

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200

Were fast a sleepe : the Serpents sl ie i n trayl ing forward stirdSo softly as you would have thought they still a sleepe had bene .The moystizg

Ayre was whi st : no leafe ye could have moving sene.The starres only faire and brigh t did i n the welki n sh ine.To which she l ifti ng up h ir handes did thrise hirselfe encl ine,And th rice with water of the brooke h i r haire besprincled sheeAnd gasping thrise she 0pte h ir mouth : and bowing downe h i r kneeUpon the bare hard ground, she sa id : O tru stie time of n igh tMost fai thful] unto privities, 0 golden starres whose ligh tDoth join tly wi th the Moone succeede the beames that blaze by dayAnd thou th ree headed Heca te‘who knowest best the wayTo compasse th i s our grea t attempt and art ou r ch iefest stayYe Charmes and Witchcrafts

,and thou Earth wh ich both wi th herbe and weed

Of m ightie working furn ishest the Wiz ardes at thei r neede :Ye Ayres and windes : ye Elves ofHilles, of Brookes, ofWoods alone,Of standing Lakes, and of the Nigh t approche ye everychone.

Through helpe of whom (the crooked bankes much wondring at the th ing)I have compelled s treames to run cleane backward to thei r spring.By charmes I make the calme Seas rough

,and make if rough Seas plai ne

And cover all the Skie wi th Cloudes, and chase them thence aga ine.

By charmes I rayse and lay the windes,and burst the Vipers jaw,

And from the bowels of the Earth both stones and trees doe drawe.Whole woods and Forestes I remove : I make the Mountaines shake,And even the Earth i t selfe to grone and fearfully to quake.I call up dead men from thei r graves : and thee O ligh tsome MooneI darken oft

,though beaten brasse abate thy peri l] soone

Our Sorcerie dimmes the Morn ing faire,and darkes ySun at Noone .

The flaming breath offirie Bulles ye quenched for my sake .And caused there unwieldie neckes the bended yoke to take .Among the Earthbred brothers you a mortall war did setAnd brought a sleepe the Dragon fell whose eyes were never shet.By meanes whereof deceivi ng h im that had the golden fleeceIn charge to keepe, you sen t i t thence by Ja son i nto Greece.

Now have I neede of herbes that can by vertue of their j u iceTo flowring prime of lustie youth old withred age reduce .I am assurde ye will i t graunt . For not i n vaine have shoneThese twincl ing starres, ne yet i n vaine th i s Chariot all aloneBy draugh t of Dragons h ither comes . With that was fro the SkieA Chariot soft ly glaunced downe, and stayed hard thereby.

Assoone as she had gotten up, and with h i r hand had coydThe Dragons reined neckes, and with th ei r bridles somewhat toyd,

They mounted with h ir i n the Ayre whence looking downe she sawThe pleasant Temp of Thessa lie, and made h i r Dragon s drawTo places further from resort : and there she tooke the viewWhat herbes on h igh mount Pelion

,and what on Ossa grew,

And what on mounta ine Othris, and on Pyndus rowing were,And what Olympus (greater than mount Pyndus ar) did beare.Such herbes of them as l iked h i r she pu l lde up roote and ri nde,Or cropt them with a hooked knife . And many did she findeUpon the bankes ofAp idane agreei ng to h i r minde :And many at Amphrisus foords : and thou Enipeus eke

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The singles also of a aleWolfe wh ich when he l i st coul d takeThe shape of man, and when he li st the same aga ine forsakeAnd from the R iver Cyniphis which i s i n Lybie landeShe had the fine sheere scaled filmes of water snayles at handAnd of an endlessel ived heart the liver had she got.To which she added of a Crowe that then had lived notSO l i ttle as n ine hundred yea res the head and Bill also.

Now when Medea had with these and with a thousand mo

Such other kinde of namelesse th ings bestead h ir purpose throughFor lengthning of the old mans li fe, she tooke a wi thered boughCut lately from an Olyf tree, and j umbling all togitherDid rai se the bottome to the brim : and as she sti rred h i therAnd th i ther with the withered sticke, behold i t waxed greene,Anon the leaves came budding out : and sodenly were seeneAs many berries danglin downe as wel l the bough could beare.And where the fire had rom the pan the scumming cast

,or where

The scalding drops did fall , the ground did spri nglike flori sh there,And flowres wi th fodder fine and soft immediatly arose.Which when Medea did behold

,with naked knife she goes

And cuttes th e olde mans thro te : and letting all h i s Old bloud go,Supplie s i t with the boyled j uice : the wh ich when Aeson thoHad at h i s mouth or at h is wounde receyved in, h i s heareAs well of head as beard, from gray to coleblacke turned were .His leane, pale, hore, and wi thered corse grew fulsome, fai re and freshHis furrowed wrincl es were fulfilde with yong and lu stie flesh .His l immes waxt fro l icke, baine and li the : at wh ich h e wondr ing much,R emembred that at forti c yeares he was th e same or such .And as from dull unwieldsome age to youth he backward drewEven so a l ively youthful] spright did in h is h eart renew .

The wonder of th i s monstruous act had Ba cchus seene from h ieAnd finding that to youthful] yeares h i s Nurses might thereby

R estored bee, did at h i r hand receive i t as a gift.And lea st decei tful] guile should cease, Medea found a sh iftTo feyne that Ja son and h i r selfe were falne at oddes i n wrothAnd thereupon i n humble wise to Pelia s Court she goth .

Where forbicau se the King him selfe was feebled sore with age,His daughters enterta inde h i r : whome Medea being sage,With i n a wh ile through false pretence of feyned friendsh ip, broughtTo take h ir bai te. For as she tolde what pleasures she had wroughtFor Ja son, and among the rest as greatest, sadly toldeH ow she had made h i s father yong that with red was and olde

,

And taried long upon that point : they hoped glad and fai neThat their olde father might l ikewise h is youthful] yeares rega ine.

And th i s they craving instantly did profl'

er for h i r pai neWhat recompence she would desire. She helde h i r peace a wh ileAs though she doubted what to doe : and wi th h ir suttle guileOf counterfetted gravit ic more eger did them make .Assoone as

.

she had prom isde them to doe i t for thei r sake,For more assurance of my graun t, your selves (quoth she) shall seeThe oldest R am i n all your flocke a Lambe streight made to beeBy force ofmy confections strong. Immediatly a R am

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So olde that no man thereabouts remembred h im a Lam,

Was th i ther by h i s warped hom es,which turned inward to

His hollow Temples, drawne : whose withred throte she sli t i n two .And when she cleane had drayned out that l i ttle b loud that wasUpon the fire with herbes of strength she set a pan of brasse

,

And cast h i s carcasse thereinto . The Medcine did abateThe largenesse of h i s l immes

, and sea rd h is dossers from hi s pate,And with h i s hornes abridgde his yeares . Anon was plainly heardThe bleati ng of a new eand Lambe from mid the Ketleward .

And as th ey wondred or to heare the bleating,streight the Lam

Leapt ou t, and frisking ran to seeke th e udder of some Dam .

King Pelia s daughters were amaz de, and when they did beholdeHir promi se come to such efl'

ect, they were a thousand foldeMore earnest at h ir than before . Thrise Phcebus having plucktThe Col lars fi'

om h i s horses neckes,i n Iber had them duckt.

And now in Heaven the streaming starres the fourth nigh t sh i ned cleare :When false Medea on the fire had hanged water shere

,

With herbes that had no powre at all . The K ing and all h i s gardeWhich had the ch arge that nigh t about h i s person for to warde,Were through h i r n ightspels and h ir charmes i n deadly sleepe all cast.And Pelia s daughters with the Witch wh ich eggde them forward, pastI nto h i s chambe r by the watch

,and compast in his bed .

Then : wherefore stand ye doubting thus l ike fooles, Medea sed .On : draw your swordes , and let ye out h i s old bloud, that I mayFil l up h is emptie veynes aga ine with youthful] blond streigh t way.Your fathers l i fe i s i n your handes : i t l i eth now in youTo have h im olde and withred still

,or yong and lustie. Now

I f any nature i n ye be,and that ye doe not feede

A fru itel esse hope, your du tie to your father doe with speede.

Expulse h is age by sword,and let the fil thy matter out.

Through thes e rsuasions which of them so ever went aboutTo shew h i rsel e most natural]

,became th e first that wrought

Again st all nature : and for feare she should be wicked thought,She executes the wickednesse which most to shun she sought .Yet was no t any one of them so bolde that durst abideTo looke upon thei r father when she strake, but wride asideHir eyes : and so thei r cruell handes no t marking where they hi tWith faces turnde another way at all aven ture smit.He all beweltred i n h i s blond awaked wi th the smart,And maimde and mangled as he was did give a sodeyne startEndevoring to have ri sen up, but when he did beholdeH im selfe among so many swordes , he lifting up h i s oldePale waryish arme

'

s,said : daughters mine what doe ye ? who hath put

These wicked weapons i n your hands your fathers thro te to cut ?With that thei r heartes and bandes did fai nt. And as he talked yet,Medea breakin of h i s wordes

,h i s windpipe quickly sli t,

And in the ding liquor torne did drowne h im by and by.But had she not with winged wormes streight mounted i n the skieShe had not scaped puni shment

,but stying up o n h ie

She over shadie Pelion flew where Chyron erst did dwell,And over Othrys and the grounds renowmde for that befell

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To auncient Ceramb : who such time as old Deuca lions floodUpon the face of all the Earth l ike one maine water stood,By helpe ofNymphes wi th fethered wings was i n the Ayer l i ft,And so escaped from the floud undrowned by the sh ift.She left Aeolian Pytanie upon h i r left hand : andThe Serpent that became a stone upon the Lesbian sand.And Ida woods where B a cchus h id a B u llocke (as i s sayd)I n shape of Stag the wh ich h i s sonne had theevishly convayde.

And where the Si re of Corytus l ies buried in the dust.The fieldes which Mera s (when he first d id i n to barking brust)Afli 'a ide with straungenesse of the noyse. And eke Euryp ils towneIn wh ich the wives of Cos had hom es l ike Oxen on thei r crowneSuch time as Hercles with hi s hoste departed from the I le.And Rhodes to Phcebus consecrate : and Ia lyse where ere wh ileThe Telchines with their noysome sigh t did every th in bewitch .At wh ich their ha inous wickednesse Jove takihg righ t I pri tch ,Did drowne them in h is brothers waves. Moreover she did pas seBy Ceos and olde Ca rthey walles where Sir Alcidama sDid wonder how h i s daugh ter should be turned to a Dove .The Swannie Temp and Hyries Poole she viewed from above,The wh ich a sodeine Swan did haunt. For Phyllie th ere for loveOfHyries sonne did at h i s bidding Birdes and L ions tame,And being will de to breake a Bull performed streight th e sameTi ll wrothfull that h i s love so oft so streightly should h im use,When for h is last reward he askt the Bull

,he did refuse

To give i t h im . The boy displeasde, said : well : thou wilt anonR epent thou gave i t not : and leapt downe headlong from a stone.They all supposde he had bene falne : but being made a SwanWith snowie feathers in the Ayre to flacker he began .His mother Hyrie knowing not he was preserved so,R esolved into melting teares for pens ivenesse and wo,And made the Poole that beares h ir name. No t far from hence dothThe Citie B rauron

,where sometime by mounting from the land

Wi th waving pin ions Ophies ympe dame Combe d-id eschue

Hir ch ildren wh ich wi th naked swordes to slea h i r did pursue.Anon she kend Ca la urie fieldes which did sometime pertaineTo chast Diana

,where a K ing and eke h i s wife both twaine

Were turnde to Birdes . Cyllene h ill upon h ir righ t hand stood,In which Menephron l ike a beast of wilde and savage moode,To force h i s mother did attempt . Far thence he spide where sadCephisus mourned for h is Neece whome Phebus turned hadTo ugly shape of swell ing Seale : and Eurnelles pallace fai reLamenting for h i s sonnes m ischau nce wi th whewl ing in the Aire.At Corinth with h ir winged Snakes at length she did arrive.Here men (so auncient fathers said that were as then alive)Did breede of deawie Mushrommes . But after that h i r teeneWith burn ing of h i r husbands bride by wi tchcraft wreakt had beene,And that King Creons pallace she on blasi ng fire had seene,And i n h i r owne deare ch ildrens blond had bathde h i r wicked knife,No t l i ke a mother but a beast berev ing them of l ife :Least Ja son should have pun isht h ir, she tooke h i r winged Snakes,

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Of Vulcane dea d. By thee likewise th e countrie that doth runneAl ong Cephisus bankes behelde the fell Procrustes sla ine.

The dwelling place of Ceres our Eleusis glad and faineBeheld the death of Cercyon. That o rpid Sinis whoAbusde h i s strength in bending trees and tyi ng folke thereto,Thei r l immes a sunder for to teare

,when loosened from the stops,

The trees unto their proper place d id trice their streyned tops,Was killde by thee. Thou made the way that leadeth to the towneAlca thoe i n Beotia cleare by putting Scyron downe.To th i s same outlawes sca ttred bones th e land denied rest

,

And l ikewise did the Sea refuse to harbrough such a guestTill after floting to and fro long wh ile, as men doe say,At length they hardened into stones : and at th i s presen t dayThe stones are ca lled Scyrons cl iffes. Now i fwe should accountThy deedes togither with thy yea res , thy deedes would far surmountThy yeares . For thee most valiant Prince these publike vowes we keepe,For thee with cherefu l heartes we qu afl

'

e these bolles Of wine so deepe.

The Fallace also of the noyse and shouting did resoundeThe wh ich the people made for j oy. There was -not to be foundoI n all the Citie any place of sadnesse. Nathelesse(So hard i t is of perfect joy to find so great excesse

,

But that some sorrow therewithall i s medled more or lesse),us had not i n h i s sonnes recoverie such deli h t,

But that there followed i n the necke a pi ece of ortunes Spight.KingMinos was preparing war : who though he had great storeOf ships and souldiers, yet the wrath the wh ich he had before

Conceyved i n h is fathers brest for murthring of h i s sonneAndrogeus, made h im farre more s trong and fiercer for to ronneTo rightful] battell to revenge the great displeasure donne.Howbei t he thought i t best ere he h is warfare did begin

,

TO finde the meanes of forreine aides some friendsh ip for to win .

And thereupon wi th flying fleete where passage did permi tHe went to vi si t all the Isles that in those seas doe si t.Anon the I les Astypa ley and Anaphey both twaine,The first constreynde for feare ofwar, the last i n hope of gai ne,Tooke part with h im . LowMyconey did al so with h im holdSo did the chalkie Cymoley, and Syphney which of oldeWas veric ri che with veynes of golde, and Scyros full of boldeAnd val iant men, and Seryphey the smooth or rather fell,And Pa rey which for Marblestone doth beare away the bell,And Sythney which a wicked wench callde Arne did betrayFor mony : who upon receit therof without delayWas turned to a bi rde which yet of golde i s gripple sti ll,And i s as blacke as any cole

,both fethers feete and bil l

A Cadowe i s the name of h ir. But yet Olya rey,And Didymey, and Andrey eke, and Tene, and Gya rey,And Pepa reth where Olive trees most plenteously doe grow,I n no wise would agree their h el pe on Minos to bestow.

Then Minos turn ing lefthandwise did sayle to Oenop eWhere reignde that t ime King Aea cus. Th i s I le had called be

Of Old by name of Oenope : but Aea cus turnde the name

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And after of h i s moth ers name Aegina callde the same.The common folke ran out by heapes desirous for to see

A man of such renowne as Minos bruted was to bee.The Kings three sonnes Duke Tela rnon Duke Peley, and the yongDuke Phocus went to meete with h im . Old Aea cus also clungWith age, came after leysu re] and asked h im the causeOf h is repaire. The ruler of

ythe hundred Sh i res gan pause

And musing on the i nward griefe that nipt h im at the hartDid shape h im au nswere thus. 0 Prince vouchsafe to take my partI n th is same godly warre of mine : assist me i n the j ustR evengement of my murthred sonne that sleepeth i n th e dust.I crave your comfort for h i s dea th . Aegina s sonne repl ide,Thy suite i s vai ne : and of my R ealm e perforce must be denide.

For unto Athens i s no lande more sure than th i s al ide.Such leagues betweene us are

,which shall infringde for me abide.

Away went Minos sad : and said : full dearly sha lt thou bieThy leagues . He though t i t for to be a better pollicieTo threaten war than war to make, and there to spend h is storeAnd strength wh ich in h is other needes might much availe h im more.

As yet might from Oenop ia wall es the Cretish flecte be kend,

When th ithe rward with pufl'

ed sayles and wind at will did tendA sh i p from Athens

,which anon arrivi ng at the strand

Set Cepha l with Ambassade from h i s Countrimen a land.The Kings three so nnes thou h long i t were si nce last they had h im seeneYet knew they h im . And af

gter olde acquai ntance eft had beene

R enewde by shaking hands, to Court they did h im streight convayThis P rince which did all ure the eyes of all men by the way,As i n whose stately person stil l remained to be seeneThe markes of beautie which i n flowre of former yeares had beene,Went holding ou t an Olife braunch that grew i n Attiche landeAnd for the reverence of h is age, there went on eyther handA nobleman of yonger yeares . Sir Clytus on the righ tAnd Butes on the left, the sonnes of one that Pa lla s h igh t.When greeting fi rst had pas t betweene these Nobles and the King,Then Cepha l se tt ing streight a broche the message he did bring,Desired aide : and shewde what leagues stoode then in force betweeneHis countrie and the Aeginites, and al so what had beeneDecreed betwixt their au nceters, concluding i n the endeThat under colour of th i s war which Minos did pretendeTo only Athens, he i n deede the conquest did intendeOf all Acha ia . When he thus by helpe of learned skillHis countrie message furthred had , King Aea cus leaning stillHis left hand on h is scepter, sa ide . My Lordes, I would not haveYour state ofAthens seeme so straung e as succor here to crave .I pray commaund. For be ye sure that what th i s I le can make,I s yours . Yea all that ere I have shall hazard for your sake .

I want no strength . I have such store of souldiers, that I mayBoth vex my foes and al so keepe my R ealme i n quiet stay.And now I th inke me blest of God, that time doth serve to showeWithout excuse the grea t good will that I to Athens owe .God holde i t sir (quoth Cepha lus) God make the number grow

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Of people in th i s towne of yours : i t did me good a lateWhen such a goodly sort of youth Of all one age and rateDid meete me in the streete, but yet me thinkes that many misseWh ich at my former being here I have beheld ere th i s.At that the king did sigh , and thus with pla intfu ll voice did say.

A sad beginning afterward i n better lucke did stay,I would I plai nly cou ld the same before your faces lay.Howbeit I will d i sorderly repeate i t as I may.And leas t I seeme to wearie on with overlong delay

,

The men that you”

so m indefiil ly enqui re for l i e i n ground,And nough t of them save bones and dust remayneth to be found.But as i t hapt what losse th ereby did unto me redound ?A cruell plague through Junos wrath who dreadfully did hateTh i s land that of h ir husbands Love did take th e name a late

,

Upon my people fell : as long as that the maladieNone other seemde than such as haunts mans nature usual ly

,

And of so great mortal itie the hurtful] cause was h id ,We strove b Ph isicke of the same the Pacients for to rid .The m ischiefovermaistred Art : yea Ph isick was to seeke

To doe i t selfe good . Fi rst the Aire with foggi e stinking reekeDid daily overdreepe the earth : and close cu lme Clouds did makeThe wether fain t : and while the Moone foure times h ir ligh t did takeAnd fil lde h i r emptie hornes therewith , and did as often slakeThe warme South windes wi th deadly hea te conti nually did blow .

Infected were the Springs, and Ponds, and streames that ebbe and flow.

And swarmes of Serpents crawld about the fieldes that lay untillde,Which with their poi son even the brookes and runn ing waters fill de.

I n soda i ne dropping downe of Dogs, ofHorses, Sheepe and Kine,Of Birds and Beasts both wi ld and tame as Oxen, Wolves, and Swine,

The m ischiefe of th i s secret sore first outwardly appeeres .

The wretched Plowman was amaz de to see h is sturd ie SteeresAmid the forrow sinking downe ere hal fe h i s worke was donne .Whole flocks of sheepe did fain tly bleate, and therewitha ll begonneTheir fleeces for to fa ll away and leave the naked skin,And all their bodies wi th th e rot attainted were with i n .The lustie Horse that erst was fierce i n field renowne to win

,

Again st h i s kinde grew cowardl y, and now forgetting qui gh tThe auncient honor wh ich he preast so oft to et i n figh t,Stoode sigh in sadly at the Ra cke as wayting for to yeel deHis wearie l if

ge without renowne of combat i n the fielde.

The Boare to chafe, the Hinde to runne, the cruell Beare to fallUpon the herdes of R other heastes had now no lus t at al l .A langui sh ing wa s falne on all . I n wayes , i n wood s, i n plai nes,The fil thie carions lay, whose sti nche th e Aire i t selfe dista ines .

(A wondrous th ing to tell) not Dogges, not ravening Foules, nor yi tH orecoted Wolves would once attempt to tast of th em a bit .Looke where they fell, there rotted they : and with their favor bredMore harme, and further sti ll abrode the foule i nfection spred .With losse that touched yet more nere, on Husbandmen i t crept,And ragingly wi thi n the walles of th i s great Citie stept.

I t tooke men first with swelting heate that scalt their guts wi th in,

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His Beades, and poure pure wine betwene thei r hom es, at sodaine slidThe Oxen downe without stroke given ? Yea once when I had thoughtMy selfe by ofl

'

ring sacrifice Joves favor to have sought,For me, my R ealme, and these three ymps, the Oxe with grievous groneUpon the soda ine sunke me downe : and l i ttl e blond or noneDid i ssue scarce to staine th e knife with wh ich they sli t h i s throteThe sickly inwardes eke had lost the signes whereby we noteWhat th ings the Gods for certa intie would warne us of beforeFor even the verie bowels were attainted with the sore.Before the hol ic Temple doores, and (that the death might beeThe more dispitefu ll) even before the Altars did I seeThe stinking corses scattred . Some with haltars stopt thei r winde

,

By death expul sing feare of death and of a wilful] mindeDid haste their ende, wh ich of i t selfe was coming on a pace .The bodies wh ich the plague had sla ine were (0 most wretched case)Not caried forth to burial] now. For wh such store there wasThat scarce the gates were wyde inough or Cofli ns forth to passe.So eyther lothly on the ground unburied did they lie,Or else withou t solemnitie were burn t i n bonfires h ie .No reverence or regard was had. Men fell togither byThe cares for firing. I n the fire that was prepared for oneAnother straungers corse was burnt . And lastly few or noneWere left to mourne. The sill ie soul es ofMothers wi th th eir smallAnd tender babes

,and age with youth as Fortune did befal l

Went wandring gastly up and downe unmourned for at all .I n fine, so farre outrageously th i s helpelesse Murren raves,There was not wood inough for fire

,nor ground inough for graves .

Aston ied at the stou renesse of so stout a storme of i ll sI said

,O father Jup iter whose m ightie power fulfill s

Both H eaven'

and Earth , i f flying fame report thee not amisseI n vouch ing that thou didst embrace in way of Love ere th i sThe R iver Asops daughter faire Aegina even by name,And that to take me for thy sonne thou count i t not a shameR estore thou me my folke aga ine, or kill thou me likewise.He gave a signe by sodaine flash of l igh tning from the Skies,And double peale ofThundercracks . I take th i s same (quoth I)And as I take i t for a true and certaine signe wherebyThou doest confirme me for thy sonne : so also let i t beA hansell of some happie lucke thou mindest unto me .Hard by us as i t hapt that t ime, there was an Oken treeWi th spreaded armes as bare of boughes as l ightly one shall see.

Th is tree (as all the rest of Okes) wa s sacred unto JoveAnd sprouted of an Acorne which was fet from Dodon grove.Here markt we how the pretie Ants the

fga therers up of grai ne

One fol lowing other all along i n order 0 a trai ne,Great burthens i n thei r li ttle mouth es did painfully su sta ine,And n imbly up the rugged barke thei r beaten path mainta ine.

As wondring at the swarme I stoode, I said, O father deereAs many people give thou me, as Ants are creeping h eere,And fill mine emp ty walles aga ine. Anon the Oke did quake,And unconstreynde of any blast, h is loftie braunches shake,

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The wh ich did yeeld a certaine sound. With that for dreadq feareA shuddring th rough my bodie strake and up stoode stifl

‘

e my heare.But yet I kissed reverently the ground and eke the tree.Howbei t I durst not be so bolde of hope acknowne to bee.Yet hoped I : and in my heart did shroude my secret hope.Anon came n ight : and sleepe upon my careful] carcasse crope .Me thought I saw the selfe same Oke wi th all h i s boughes and twigs

,

And all the Pismeres creeping still upon h i s tawnts and sprigs.Which trembling wi th a sodaine brayd these Harvest folke of th rew,And shed them on the ground about

,who on the sodaine grew

I n bignesse more and more, and from th e earth themselves did l ift,And stoode upright aga in st the tree, and therewithall did sh iftTheir meygernesse, and coleblacke hue, and number of thei r feete,And clad their l immes wi th shape of man . Away my sleepe did fleete.

And when I wooke, misliki ng ofmy dreame I made my moneThat i n th e Gods I did perceive but slender helpe or none.But straight much trampling up and downe and shufll ing I did heare,And (wh i ch to me that present time did veric straunge appeare)Of people talking in my house me though t I herd the reare.Now while I musin on th e same supposde i t to have beenSome fancie of the fooli sh dreame which lately I had seen

,

Behold,i n comes me Telamon i n hast

,and thrusting ope

My Chamber doore, said : Si r, a s i ht of things surmounting hopeAnd credi t shall you have : come orth . Forth came I by and byAnd even such men for all the world there standing did I spi eAs i n my sleepe I dreamed of, and knew them for the same.They comm ing to me greeted me thei r sovereigne Lord by name .And I (my vowes to Jov e performde), my Citie did devideAmong my new i nhabi ters : and gave them land besideWh ich by decease of such as were late owners of the sameLay wast. And i n remembrance Of the race whereof they came,The name of Emets I them gave. Their persons you have seenThei r di sposi tion i s the same that erst i n them hath been .They are a sparing ki nde of folke, on labor wholy set,

A gatherer,and an hoo rder up of such as they doe get.

These fellowes being like i n yeares and courage of the minde,Shall go a warfare ny assoone as that the Easterne windeWhich brough t you h i ther luckely, (the Easterne winde was i tThat brought them th i ther) turning, to the Sou therne coast doe fl i t .With thi s and oth er such like talke they brought the day to endeThe Even i n feasting

, and the night i n sleeping they did spende.The Sunne nex t Morrow i n the heaven with golden beames did burne,And sti ll the Easterne winde did blow and hold them from returne.

Sir Pa lla s sonnes to Cepha l came (for he th eir elder was)And he and they to E a cus Court togither forth did passe .The King as yet was fast a sleepe . Duke Phocus at the gateDid meete them

,and receyved them according to their s tate.

For Telamon and Peleus alreadie forth were gone,

TO muster Souldiers for the warres . So Phocus all aloneDid leade them to an inner t oume

,where goodly Parlours were,

And caused them to s it them downe. As he was also there

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Now si tti ng wi th them,he beheld a Dart i n Cepha ls hand,

With golden head,the steale whereof he well migh t understand

Was of some straunge and u nknowne tree. When certai ne talkeA while of other matters there, I am (quoth he) at lastA man that hath deligh t i n woods and loves to follow game

,

And yet I am not able sure by any meanes to ameWhat wood your Javel ing steale i s of. Of Ash i t can no t bee,For then the colour should be browne : and if of Cornell treeI t would be ful l of knubbed knots. I know not what i t i sBut sure mine eies did never see a fairer Dart than th is.The one of those same brethren twa ine replyi ng to h im saidNay then the special] propertie will make you more d isma id,

Than doth the beau tie of th i s Dart. I t h itteth whatsoeverHe throwes i t at. The stroke thereof by Chaunce i s ruled never.For having done h i s feate, i t fl i es al l bloudie backe agenWithout the helpe of any hand . The Prince was earnest thenTo know the truth of all : as whence so riche a present came,Who gave i t h im, and whereupon the parti e gave the same.Duke Cepha l answerde his demau nd i n all points (one except)The wh ich (as knowne apparantly) for shame he overlept :His beau tie namely, fo r the which he did receive the Dart .And for the losse of h i s deare wife righ t pensive at the hart,He thus began with weepi ng eies . Th is Dart O Goddesse sonne(Ye ill would thinke i t) makes me yirne, and long shall make me donneIf long the Gods doe give me life . Th is weapon hath undonneMy deare beloved wife and me. O would to God th i s sameHad never unto me bene given . There was a noble DameThat Procris h ight (but you perchau nce have oftner heard the nameOf gr eat Orythia whose renowne was bruted so by fame,That blustring Borea s rav ish t her) . To th is Orythia sheeWas sister. I f a bodie should compare i n ech degreeThe face and natures of them both, he could none other deeme

But Procris worth ier of the twa ine of ravishment should seeme.Hir father and our mutual] love did make us man and wife.Men said I had (and so I had in deede) a happie l ife .Howbei t Gods will was otherwi se, for had i t pleased h imOf all th i s wh i le

,and even sti ll yet i n pleasure should I swim.

The second Month that she and I by band of lawful] bedHad joynde togither bene, as I my masking Toyles did spred,To overthrow the horned Stags, the early Morning grayThen newly having chased n igh t and gun to breake the day,From Mount Hymettus h ighest tops that fresh ly flourish ay,Espide me, and against my will conveyde me quigh t away.I trust the Goddesse will no t be offended that I sayThe troth of h i r. Although i t would delight one to beholdeHir ruddie cheekes : although of day and night the bounds she holde :Although on j uice of Ambrosie conti nually she feede :Yet Procris was the only Wigh t that I did love i n deede.On Procris only was my heart : none other word had IBut Procris only i n my mouth : sti ll Procris did I crie .I upned what a holy th ing was wedlocke : and how late

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Forsaketh h i r entangling house,and naughtie husband quight

And hating all the sort of men by reason of the spigh tThat I had wrought h i r, s tra ide abrode amon the Mounta ines h ie

,

And exercisde Diana s feates . Then kindled y and byA fiercer fi re with in my bones than ever was before

,

When she had thus forsaken me by whome I set such store .I prayde h ir she wou lde pardon me, and did confesse my fau l t,Afli rm ing that my selfe likewise wi th such a great assaul tOf richesse might r i ght well have bene enforst to yeelde to blame,The rather if performance had ensewed of the same.When I had thi s submission made, and she sufficientlyRevengde h ir wronged chastitie, she then immediatlyWas reconcilde : and afterward we l ived many a yeareIn joy, and never any jarre betweene us did appeare.

Besides all th i s (as though h ir love had bene to small a gift)She gave me eke a good ly Grewnd wh ich was of foote so swift,That when Diana gave h im h ir

,she said h e should out go

All others : and wi th th is same Grewnd she gave th i s Dart alsoThe wh ich you see I hold i n hand. Perchaunce ye faine would knowWhat fortune to the Grewnd befell. I will unto you showA wondrous case . The stra ungenesse of the matter will you move.The krinkes of certa ine Prophesies surmounting farre aboveThe reach of auncient wits to read, the B rookenymphes did expounAnd m indlesse of h i r owne darke doubts Dame Themis being found

,

Was as a rechelesse Prophetisse throwne flat against th e ground .For wh ich presumptuous deede of theirs she tooke j ust punishment.

To Thebes i n B zeotia streigh t a cruel] beast she sen t,

Which wrought the bane of many a Wight . The countryfolk did feedHim with thei r cattell and themselves

,untill (as was agreed)

That al l we youthful] Gentlemen that dwelled there aboutAssembling pitcht our corded toyles the champion fields throughout.But Net no toyle was none so h ie that could h is wightnesse stop,He mounted over at h is ease the h ighest of the top.

Then everie man let slip their Grewnds, but he them all outstriptAnd even as n imbly as a b irde i n dal iance from them whipt.Then al l th e field desired me to let my L e lap s go : 1 000

(The Grewnd that Procris unto me did giv e was named so)Who strugl ing for to wrest his necke already from the bandDid stretch h i s coll ar. Scarsly had we let h im of of handBut that where Leelap s was become we could not understand.The prin t remained of h is feete upon the parched sand,But he was clearly out of sigh t . Was never Dart I trow,Nor Pellet from enforced Sl ing

,nor shaft from Cretish bow,

That flew more swift than he did runne . There wa s not farre fro thenceAbout the middle of the Laund a ri sing ground, from whenceA man migh t overlooke the fieldes . I gate me to the knap 1 0 1 0

Of th is same h ill,and there beheld of th is straunge course the hap,

I n wh ich the beast seem es one wh ile caugh t, and ere a man woul d th ink,Doth quickly give the Grewnd the sli and from h is b ighting shri nk.And like a wil i e Foxe he runnes no t orth di rectly out,Nor makes a windl asse over all the champion fieldes about,

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But doubli ng and indenting still avoydes h i s enm ies l ips,And turning short, as swift about as spinning wheele he wh ipsTo disapo int the snatch . The Grewnd pursu ing at an inchDoth cote h im, never losing ground : but l ikely sti ll to pi nchIs at the sodaine shifted of : continually he snatchesl n vaine : for noth ing i n h i s mouth save only Aire he latches .Then thought I for to trie what helpe my Dart at neede could show.

Which as I charged in my hand by level] aime to throw,

And set my finga rs to the thongs, I l ifting from bylowMi ne cies

,did looke righ t forth aga ine, and straight amids the field

(A wondrous th i ng) two Images ofMarble I beheldOf wh ich ye would have though t the tone had fled on still a paceAnd that with open barking mouth the tother did h im chase.I n fai th i t was the will of God (at least i f any GoddesHad care of them) that i n their pace there shoul d be found none oddes .

Thus fa rre : and then he held h i s peace. But tell us ere we part(t h Phocus) what Offence or faul t committed hath your Dart ?

His Darts Offence he thus declarde. My Lorde the ground of allMy griefe was j oy. Those j oyes of mine remember first I shal l .I t doth me good even yet to th inke u n that bli ssful] t ime( I meane the fresh and lu stie yea res o pleasant youthful] P rime)When I a happie man enjoyde so faire and good a wife,And she wi th such a loving Make did lead a happie l ife.The care was l ike of both of us

,the mutual] love all one.

She would not to have line with Jove my presence have foregone.Ne was there any Wight th at cou ld of me have wonne the love,No though Dame Venus had h ir selfe descended from above .The glowing brands of love did burne in both o ur brests al ike.Such time as first wi th erased beames the Sunne is wont to strikeThe tops ofTowres and mounta ines h igh , according to the wontOf youthfu l] men

,i n woodie Parkes I went abrode to hunt .

But nei ther horse nor Hounds to make pursui t upon the sent,Nor Serv ingman

,nor knottie toyle before o r after went .

For I was safe with th i s same Dart . When wearie waxt mine armeWith striking Deere

,and that the day did make me somewhat warme,

Withdrawi ng for to coole my selfe I sought among the shadesFor Aire that from the va lleyes colde came breath ing i n at glades.The more excessive was my hea te

,the more for Aire I sought.

I waited for the gentle Aire : the Aire was that that broughtRefi-esh ing to my wea rie l immes . And (well I heart in thought)Come Aire

,I wonted was to sin Come ease the paine of me

With in my bosom lodge thy selfe most welcome unto me,And as thou heretofore ar t wont, abate my burning hea te.

By chaunce (such was my destin ie) proceeding to repea te

Mo words of dal iance like to these, I used for to sayGreat pleasure doe I take in thee : for thou from day to dayDoste bo th refresh and nouri sh me . Thou makest me deligh tIn woods and soli tari e grounds. Now would to God I migh tR eceive continual] at my mouth th i s pleasant breath of th ine.Some man (I wote not who) did heare these doubtfu ll words of mine,And taking them amisse supposde that th i s same name of Aire

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The wh ich I callde so oft upon , had bene some Ladie faireHe though t that I had loovde some Nymph . And thereupon streightHe runnes me like a H arebra inde blab to Procris, to bewrayTh is fault as h e surmised i t : and there wi th lavas tung

,

R eported all the wanton words that h e had h eard me sung.A thing of l igh t bel iefe i s love. She (as I since have harde)For sodeine sorrow swounded downe : and when long afterwardeShe came aga ine unto h ir selfe, she said she was accurstAnd borne to cruell desti n ie z and me she blamed wurstFor breaking faith : and freating at a vaine surmised shameShe dreaded that wh ich nothi ng was : she fearde a headlesse name.She wist not what to say or thinke. The wretch did greatly feareDecei t : yet could she not beleve the tales that talked were.Onlesse she saw h i r h usbands faul t apparant to h ir ele,She thought she would not h im condemne of any villan ie .Next day as soone as Morn ing ligh t had driven the nigh t away

,

I went abrode to hunt againe : and speeding, as I layUpon the grasse

,I said, come Aire and ease my painful] heate .

And on the sodaine as I spake there seemed for to beateA certaine sigh ing i n mine cares of what I could not gesse.But ceasing not for that

,I sti ll proceeded nathelesse

And said,0 come most pleasan t Aire . With that I h eard a sound

Of t ussling softly i n the leaves that lay u pon the ground .And th inking i t had bene some beast

,I threw my flying Dart.

I t was my wife : who being now sore wounded at the hart,Cride out al as . Assoone as I perceyv ed by the shriekeI t was my fai thfu l] spouse

,I ran me to the voiceward l ieke

A madman that had lost h i s wits. There found I h i r h alfe deadHir scattred garments staining in the bloud that she had bled,And (wretched creature as I am) yet drawing from the woundThe gift that she h ir selfe had given . Then softly from the groundI l i fted up that bodie of h irs of which I was more chareThan of mine owne, and from h ir brest h ir clothes i n hast I tare.And binding up h ir cruell wound, I strived for to stayThe bloud, and prayd she would not thus by passi ng so awayForsake me as a murtherer. She wax ing weake at lengthAnd drawing to h i r death a pace, enforced all h ir strengthTo utter these few wordes at last. I pray thee humbly byOur bond ofwedlocke, by the Gods as well above the SkieAs those to whome I now must passe, as ever I have oughtDeserved wel l by thee, and by the Love wh ich hav i ng broughtMe to my death doth even i n death unfaded stil] remaine,

To nestl e i n thy bed and mine let never Aire obta ine.

Thi s sed, she held h i r peace, and I perceyved by the sameAnd tolde h ir also how she was beguiled i n the name.But what avayled tell ing then ? she quoathde : and wi th h i r bloudHir little strength did fade . Howbei t as long as that she coudSee ough t

,she s tared i n my face, and gasping st il l on me,

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T H E E I G H T B O O K E

of Ov ids Metamorphosis .

HE day starre now beginning to disclose the Morn ing brightAnd for to clense the droupie Skie from darkenesse of the nigh t,TheEasternewindwent downe8cflakes offoggie cloudsgan showAnd from the South a merrie ga le on Cepha ls sayles did blow.

The which did hold so fresh and large,that he and all h i s men

Before that he was looked for arrived safe agenI n wished Haven . I n that wh ile King Minos wi th h is fleete

Did wast the cost ofMega ra . And first he thought i t m eete

To make a trial ] of the force and courage of h i s menAgainst the towne Alca thoe where Nisus reigned then .Among whose honorable haire that was of colour gray,One scarlet hai re did grow upon h is crowne, whereon the stayOf all h i s Kingdome did depende. Sixe t imes did Phcebe fil lHir hom es with borrowed ligh t, and yet the warre hung waveri ng stillI n fickle fortunes doubtful] scoa les : and long wi th fleeting wingsB etwene them both flew victori e. A Turret of th e KingsStood hard adjoyn ing to the Wall, which being touched rings .For Phoebus (so men say) did lay h i s golden Vial] there,And so the stones the sound thereof did ever after beare .King Nisus daughter oftentimes resorted to th i s Wa ll,And strake i t wi th a li t tle stone to rai se the sound withallI n time of peace : And in the warre she many a time and oftB ehelde the sturdie stormes ofMa rs from that same place aloft.And by conti nuance of the siege the Captaines names she knew,Thei r armes, horse, armor and aray in everie band and crew.

But specially above the rest she noted Minos face.She knew inough and more than was inough as s toode the case.For were i t that he h id h i s head i n Helme with fethered crest

,

To h i r opin ion in h i s Helme he stayned all the rest.Or were i t that he tooke 1n hand of steele h i s target brigh t,She thought 1n weeld ing of h i s shielde he was a comly Kn igh t.Or were i t that he ra isde h i s arme to throw the pierc i ng Dart,The Ladie did commend h is force and manhode joynde with Art .Or drew he with h i s arrow nockt h i s bended Bow i n hand,She sware that so i n all respectes was Phcebus wont to stand .But when he shewde h is visage bare wi th Helmet laid aside,And on a Mi lke white Steede brave trapt, i n Purple R obe did ride,She scarce was Mistresse of h ir selfe, h ir wits were almost straught .A happie Dart she thought i t was that he i n fingars caugh t,And happie called she those reynes that he 1n hand had raught.And if she might have had hi t will, she could have founde 1n hart

,

Among the enm ies to have gone : she could have found in har t,From downe the h igher Turret there h ir bodie to have throwne,Among the th ickest of the Tents of Gnossus to have flowne :Or for to ope the brazen gates and let the enm ie i n,

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Or whatsoever else she though t might Minos favor win .

And as she sate beholding sti ll the King of Candies tent,She said : I doubt me whether that I rather may lamentOr of thi s wofull warre be glad . I t grieves me at th e hart

That thou O Minos unto me thy Lover enmie art .But had not th i s same warfare bene

,I never had h im knowne.

Yet might he leave th i s cruell warre, and take me as h i s owne.

A wife,a feere, a pledge for peace he might receive of me .

O flowre of bea utie, O thou Prince most pearlesse : i f that sheThat bare thee i n h ir wombe were l ike i n beau tie unto thee

,

A right good cause had Jove on h i r enamored for to bee.Oh hap

fpie were I i f with wings I through the Aire might gl ide

And sa ely to King Minos Tent from th i s same Turret sliThen would I utter who I am

,and how the firie flame

Of Cup id burned i n my brest, desi ri ng h im to nameWhat dowrie he would aske with me i n loan of h is love,Save only of my Fathers R ealm e no question he should move .For rather than by tra itrous meanes my purpo se should take place,Adue desire of hoped Love . Yet often times such graceHath from the gentle Conqueror proceeded erst

,that they

Which tooke the foyle have found the same thei r profit and their stay.Assuredly the warre i s j ust that Minos takes i n hand,As in revengement of h is sonne late murthered in th i s land .And as h i s quarrel] seemeth just, even so i t cannot faile,But rightfil ll warre against the wrong must (I beleve) prevaile.

Now i f th i s Citie i n the ende must needes be taken : whyShould h i s owne sworde and not my Love be meanes to win i t by ?I t were yet better he should speede by gentle meanes, withoutThe slaughter of h is people, yea and (as i t may fall out)With spending Of h i s owne blond too . For sure I have a care0 Minos leas t some Soul dier wound thee ere h e be aware .For who i s he i n all the world that hath so hard a hart,That wi tt ing ly again st thy head would aime h i s cruell Dart ?I l ike well th1s devi se, and on th i s purpose will I sta nd,To yeelde my selfe endowed with th i s Citie to the handOfMinos : and in doing so to bring th i s warre to ende .But smally i t availeth me the matter to i ntende.The ga tes and yssues of th i s towne are kept with watch and warde,And of the Keyes continually my Father hath the gardeMy Father only is the man ofwhome I stand i n dreede,My Father only h indreth me of my des ired speede.

Would God that I were Fatherlesse. Tush everie Wi h t may beeA God as in th ei r owne behalfe

,and i f their hea rts be gee

From fearefu ln esse. For fortune works again st the fond desi reOf such as through faint hea rtednesse attempt not to aspi re.Some other feel ing i n h i r h eart such flames of Cup ids fire,Already would have put i n proofe some practise to destroyWhat th ing so ev er of hir Love the furtherance might anoy.

And why should any woman have a ho lder heart than I ?Throw fire and sword I boldly durst adventure for to fl ie.

And yet in th i s behalfe at all there needes no sword nor fire,

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There needeth but my fathers haire to accomplish my desi re.That Purple hai re of h i s to me more precious were than goldeThat Purple haire of h i s would make me blest a thousand foldeThat hai re would compasse my desi re a nd set my heart at rest.

Nigh t (ch iefest Nurce of thoughts to such as are with care opprest,)Approched while she spake these words, and darknes se did encrease

Hir boldnesse. At such time as folke are wont to finde releaseOf cares that all the day before were working in thei r heds

,

By sleepe which falleth first of all upon them in th ei r beds,

Hir fathers chamber secretly she entered : where (alasseThat ever Maiden should so farre the bounds of nature passe)She robde h ir Father of the haire upon the which the fateDepended both of l ife and death and of h i s royall state .And '

oying i n h ir wicked pray, she beares i t with h i r soAs if

1i t were some lawful] spoyle acqui red of the fo .

And passing through’ a pos terne gate she marched through the midOf all h i r cumies (such a trust she had i n that she did)Unti ll she came before the King : whom troubled with the sightShe thus bespake . Enforst 0 King by love agai nst al l righ tI Scylla Nisus daughter doe present unto thee heereMy native soyle, my household Gods, and all that else i s deere.For thi s my gift none other th i ng in recom ence I crave

,

Than of thy person , which I love, frui tion or to have .And i n assurance of my love receyve thou here of meeMy fathers Purple haire : and thinke I give not unto theeA haire but even my fathers head. And as these words she spake

,

The cursed gift wi th wicked hand she profered h im to take .But Minos did abhorre h i r gift : and troubled i n h i s mindeWith strau ngenesse of the heynous act so sore against h ir kinde,He aunswerde. O thou slaunder of our age the Gods expel]Thee out of all th i s world of thei rs and let thee no where dwell.Let rest on nei ther Sea nor Land be graunted unto thee.Assure thy selfe that as for me I never will agreeThat Candie Joves owne foster place (as long as I there ra igne)Sha ll unto such a monstruous Wigh t a H arbrow place rema ine.

Th i s said,he l ike a righteous Judge among h is vanqu isht foes

Set order under paine of death . Which done, he willed thoseThat served h im to go a boorde and Anchors up to wey.

When Scylla saw the Candian fleete a flote to go away,And that the Captaine yeelded not so good reward as sheeHad for h i r lewdnesse looked for : and when in fine she seeThat no entreatance could preva ile : then bursting ou t i n i reWith stretched hands and scattred hai re, as furious as the fi reShe shram ing cry

'

e'

d out aloud. And wh i ther doste thou fl ieR ej ecti ng me the only meanes that thou hast con u erde by ?O cankerde Churle preferde before my native soy e, preferdBefore my father

,whither flyste O Carle of heart most hard ?

Whose conquest as i t i s my sinne, so doth i t well deserve

R eward of thee, for that my fault so well thy turne did serve .Doth nei ther thee the gift I gave

,nor yet my fai thful] love,

Nor yet that all my hope on thee alonly rested, move ?

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And for b icau se l ike cli pped haire h ir head doth beare a marke,The Greekes i t Cyris call, and we doe name the same a Larke.

Assoone as Minos came a land i n Crete, he by and byPerformde h i s vowes to Jup iter i n causing for to die

A hundred Bulles for sacrifice . And then he did adorneHis Pallace with the enm ies spoyles by conquest wonne beforne.

The slau nder of h is house encrea st : and now appeared moreThe mothers filthie whoredome by the monster that she boreOf double shape, an ugly th ing. Th is shameful] i nfamie,Th is monster borne him by h is wife he m indes by polli cieTo put away : and i n a house with many nookes and krinksFrom all mens sights and speach of folke to shet i t up he th inks.Immediatly one De da lus renowm ed i n that landeFor fine devi se and workmansh ip i n buildi ng

,went i n hand

To make i t. He confounds h i s worke wi th sodaine stops and stayes,And with the great u ncerta intie of sundrie winding wayesLeades i n and out, and to and fro, at divers doores astray.And as wi th trickling streame the Brooke Me a nder seemes to playI n Phrygia , and wi th doubtfu ll race runnes counter to and fro,And meeting with himselfe doth looke i f all h i s streame or noCome after

,and reti ring eft cleane backward to his spring

And marching eft to open Sea as streight as any string,

Indenteth wi th reversed streame : even so of winding wayesUnnumerable Dct’dd l ll .‘ with in h i s worke convayes .

Yea scarce h imselfe could find the meanes to winde h imselfe well ou tSo busie and so i ntricate the house was all about.With in th i s Maze did Minos shet the Monster that did beareThe shape of man and Bull . And when he twise had fed h im there

With blond ofAttiche P ri nces sonnes that given for tribute were :The th i rd t ime at the n inth yeares end th e lot did chaunce to l ightOn Theseus King Aege us sonne : who l ike a valiant KnightDid overcome the Minota ur : and by the poll ic ieOfMinos eldest daughter (who had taugh t h im for to t ieA clew ofL innen at the doore to guide him selfe thereby)As busie as the turnings were

,h i s way he ou t did finde,

Which never man had done before. And streigh t h e having winde,With Minos daugh ter sa ilde away to Dia : where (unkindeAnd cruell creature that he was) he left h ir post al oneUpon the shore . Thus desolate and making dolefu ll moneGod Ba cchus did both comfort h i r and take h i r to h i s bed .And with an everlastin s tarre the more h ir fame to Spred,He tooke the Chaplet i om h i r head

,a nd up to Heaven i t th rew.

The Chaplet th irled through the Aire : and as i t gliding flew,The precious stones were tu rnd to starres wh ich b lased cleare and brigh t,And tooke thei r place (conti nuing like a Chaplet stil l to s ight)Amid betweene the kneeler downe and h im that gripes the Snake.

Now i n th i s while gan Daeda lus a wearinesse to takeOf living l ike a banisht man and pri soner such a time

I n Crete, and longed i n h is heart to see h i s native Clime.But Seas enclosed h im as if he had i n pri son be.Then thought he : though both Sea and land K ing Minos stop fro me,

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I am assurde he cannot stop the Aire and open SkieTo make my passage that way then my cunning will I trieAlthough that Minos l i ke a Lord held all th e world besideYet doth the Aire from Minos yoke for al l men free abide.This sed : to uncoth Arts he bent the force o f all h i s wi tsTo alter natures course by craft . And orderly he kni tsA rowe of fethers one by one, beginn ing with the short,And overma tch ing still eche quill with one of longer sort

,

That on the shoring of a h ill a man would th inke them growEven so the countrie Orga npipes ofO ten reedes i n rowEch h igher than another ri se . Then fa stned he with FlaxThe middle qu ill es

,and '

oyned i n the lowest sort with Wax.

And when he thus had n ish t them , a l i ttle he them bentI n compasse, that the verie B irdes they full might represent.There stoode me by h im Ica rus h i s sonne a pretie LadWho knowing not that he i n handes h i s owne destruction had

,

With smiling mou th did one while blow the fethers to and froWhich in the Aire on wings of Birds did flask not long ago :And with h is thumbes another wh ile he chafes the yelowWax

And lets h i s fathers wondrous worke wi th ch ildish toyes and knax.

Assoone as that th e worke was done, the workman by and byDid peyse h i s bodie on h i s wings

,and i n the Aire on hie

Hung waveri ng : and did teach h i s sonne how he should also flie.

I warne thee uoth he) Ica rus a middle race to keepe.

For if thou hold to low a ga te, the dankenesse of the deepeWill overlade thy wings with wet. And if thou mount to h ie

,

The Sunne will s indge them . Therefore see betweene th em both thou fl ie.

I bid thee not behol the Starre Bo '

o'

tes i n th e Skie,

Nor looke upon the bigger Beare to make thy course thereby,Nor yet on Orions naked sword. But ever have an eieTo keepe the race that I doe keepe, and I wi ll guide thee righ t.In giving counsel ] to h i s sonne to order well his fl ight

,

He fas tned to h i s shoulders twa ine a paire of uncoth wings .

And as he was in doing i t and warning h im of th ings,

His aged cheekes were wet, hi s bandes did uake,i n fine he gave

His sonne a ki sse the last that he al ive shou d ever have.And then he mounti n

gup aloft before h im tooke h is way

R ight fearfufl for h is o ll owers sake : as i s the Bird the dayThat fi rst she tolleth from h ir nest among the braunches h ieHir tender yong ones i n the Aire to teach them fo r to flie.

SO heartens he h i s li ttle sonne to foll ow teach ing h imA hurtfu l] Art. H is owne two wings he waveth verie trim ,

And looke th backward still u pon h is sonnes. The fishermenThen standing ang lin by the Sea, and shepeherdes leaning thenOn sheepehookes, an the Ploughmen on the handles of thei r Plough,Beholding them

,amazed were : and thought that they that through

The Aire cou ld fl ie were Gods. And now did on thei r left side standThe Iles ofPa ros and ofDele

,and Sa rnas, Junos land :

And on thei r righ t, Lebinthos, and the faire Ca lydna fraughtWi th store of hon ie : when the Boy a frol icke courage caughtTo fl i e at randon . Whereupon forsaking quight h i s guide,

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Of fond desire to fl ie to Heaven, above h i s boundes he stide.

And there the nerenesse of the Sunne which burnd more hote aloft,

Did make the Wax (with wh ich h i s wings were glewed) l i the and soft.Assoone as that the Wax was molt, h is naked armes he shakes,And wanting wherewith al] to wave, no helpe of Aire he takes.But calling on h i s father loud he drowned i n the waveAnd by th is chaunce of h i s, those Seas h is name for ever have .His wretched Father (but as then no father) cride i n feareO Ica rus O Ica rus where art thou ? tell me whereThat I may find‘

e thee Ica rus. He saw the fethers swimUpon the waves, and curst h i s Art that so had spighted h im .

At last he tooke h i s bodie up and laid i t i n a grave,

And to the I le the name of h im then buried i n i t gave .And as h e Of h i s wretched sonne the corse i n ground did h ide

,

The cackl ing Partrich from a th icke and leav ie thorne h im sp ide,And clapping with h is wings for j oy aloud to cal l began .There was of that same kinde of Birde no mo but he as thanIn times forepast had none bene seene . I t was but late anewSince he was made a bird : and that thou Daeda lus maist rew :For whyle the world doth last, thy shame shall thereupon ensew .

For why thy si ster ignorant of that which after hapt,Did pu t h im to thee to be taught ful l twelve yeares old, and aptTo take instruction . He did marke the middle bone that goesThrough fishes, and according to the paterne tane of thoseHe filed teeth upon a piece of yron one by one,And so devised first the Saw where erst was never none.Moreover he two yron shankes so joynde i n one round head ,That opening an indifferent space the one point downe shall tread,And tother draw a ci rcle round . The finding of these th i ngs,The spightfu ll hart ofDct’dd lll ! with such a mal ice stings,That headlong from the holye towre of Pa lla s downe he thrueHis Nephew, feyning h im to fa ll by chaunce, which was not true .But Pa llas (who doth favour wits) did stay h im in h i s fall,And chaunging h im into a Bird did clad h im over allWith fethers soft amid the Aire. The qu icknesse of h i s wit(Which erst was swift) did shed i t selfe among h i s wings and feete.

And as he Partrich h ight before, so h ights he Partrich still .

Yet mounteth not th is Bird aloft ne seemes to have a wil lTo build h i r nest i n tops of trees among the boughes on h ie,But flecketh nere the ground and layes h i r egges i n hedges drie.And forbicause h ir former fall she ay i n minde doth beare,She ever si nce al l lofty th ings doth warely shun for feare.And now forweari ed Daeda lus alighted i n the landWith in the which the burn ing h illes offirie Aetna stand.

To save whose l ife King Coca lus did weapon take i n hand,For which men thought h im merciful . And now wi th h igh renowneHad Theseus cea st th e wofu ll pay of tribute i n the towneOfAthens. Temples decked were with garlands every where,And supp l ications made to Jove and warl icke Pa lla s were,And all th e other Gods . To whome more honor for to show,Gifts

,blud of beasts

,and frankincense the people did bestow

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And Ja son, he that first of al l the Ga ll ie did inventAnd Theseus with Pirithous, betwene wh ich two there went

ppie leage of ami tie : And ale two of Thesties race55 Tom “ And Lynce the sonne ofApha rie, and Ida s swift of pace.

And fierce Leucyppus, and the brave Aca stus wi th h i s Dart,I n handling of th e wh ich he had the perfect skil l and Art .And Cd ny who by bi rth a wench , the shape of man had wonne.And Dri a s and H ippothous : and Phoenix eke the sonneOf olde Amyntor : and 116 a pai re ofActors ympes : and PhyleWho came from ‘

E/is. Telamon was also there that wh ileAnd so was also Peleus the grea t Achilles Sire

d rum : And as Pherets sonne : and Io'

lay the Thebane, who wi th fire,

Helpt Hercules the monstruous heades ofHydra of to scare.

The lively Lad Eurytion and Echion who did beareThe pricke and pri se for footmansh ip, were present also there,And Lelex ofNa rytium to . And Panop ie besideAnd Hyle : and cruel] Hipp a sus : and Ne stor who that t ideWas in the Prime of lustie youth : Moreover th i ther wentale Three ch ildren ofH ipp ocob

'

n from olde Amiele sent.And 1“ he that of Penelope the fathrinlaw became,And eke the sonne of Pa rrha sus Ancceus cald by name.There was as the sonne ofAmpycus of great forecasting witAnd 1’ Oeclies sonne who of h i s wife was unbetrayed yi t.And from the Citie Tegea there came the ParagoneOf Lycey forrest, Ata lant, a goodly Ladie, oneOf Schcenyes daughters, then a Maide. The garment sh e did weareA brayded button fastned at h ir gorget. All h i r heareUntrimmed in one only knot was trussed. From h ir leftSide hanging on h ir shoulder was an Ivorie quiver deftWh ich being full of arrowes, made a cla ttring as she went.And i n h it right hand shee did beare a Bow already bent.Hir furni ture was such as th is. Hir countnance and h i r graceWas such as i n a Boy might well be cal d a Wenches face,And in a Wench be cald a Boyes. The Prince of Ca lydonNo sooner cast h i s eie on h ir, but being caugh t anonIn love

,he wish t h ir to h i s wife : but unto th i s desire

God Cup id gave not h i s consen t. The secret flames of fireHe haling inward sti ll did say : 0 happy man i s heWhom th i s same Ladie shall vouchsafe h ir husband for to be.The shortnesse of the time and shame would give h im leave to sayNo more : a worke of greater weigh t did draw h im then away.A wood th ick growen with trees wh ich stoode unfelled to that dayBeginning from a plaine

,had thence a large prospect th roughout

The fall ing grounds that every way did muster round about.Assoone as that the men came there

,some p i tched up the toyles,

Some tooke the couples from the Dogs, and some pu rsude the foyles

I n places where the Swine had tract : desiring for to spieThei r owne destruction . Now there wa s a hollow bottom by,To which the watershots of raine from all the h igh grounds drew.

With i n the compasse of th is pond great store of Oysyers grewAnd Sallowes l ithe, and flackring Flags, and moori sh R ushes eke,

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And laz ie R eedes on l i ttle shankes, and other baggage l ike .From hence the Bore wa s rowz ed out, and fiersly forth he fl iesAmong the th ickest of h i s foe s like thunder from the Skies

,

When Clouds i n meeti ng force the fire to burst by violence out.He beares the trees before h im downe

,and a ll the wood about

Doth sound of crash ing. Al l the youth with h ideous noyse and shoutAgai nst h im bend thei r Boarspeare points wi th hand and courage stout.He rushes forth among the Dogs that h eld h im at a bay

,

And now on th is side now on that, as any come in way,He rippes their skinnes and splitteth them ,

and chaseth thEchion fi rst of all the rout a Dart at h im did throw

,

Which mist,and i n a Maple tree did give a l it tle blow .

The next (i f he that threw the same had used lesser might,)The backe at which he aimed it was l ikely for to smight .I t overflew h im . Ja son was the man that cast the Dart .With that th e sonne ofAmpycus sayd : Phcebus (i f wi th hartI have and sti ll doe worsh ip thee) now graunt me for to h i tThe th ing that I doe level] at. Apollo graunts h im itAs much as lay in h im to graunt. He hi t the Swine i n deedeBut neyther entred he h i s h ide nor caused h im to bleede,For why D iana (as the Dart was flyin tooke awayThe head of i t : and so the Dart coulcl headlesse beare no sway.But yet the moodie beas t thereby was set the more on fireAnd chafing li ke the lightn ing swift he u ttreth forth h i s i re .

The fire did sparkle from h i s e es : and from h i s boyling brestHe breath ed flaming flakes of re conceyved in h i s chest.And looke with what a violent brunt a migh tie Bullet oes

From engi nes bent against a wall , or bulwarks full of fges

With even such vi olence rush t the Swine among the Hunts a mayne,

And overthrew Eup a lamon and Pelagon both twa ineThat i n the right wing placed were. Thei r fellowes steppi ng toAnd drawing them away, did save their l ives wi th much a do .But as for poore Enesimus H ippocoons sonne had notThe lucke to scape the deadly dint . He woul d away have got,And trembling turnde h i s backe for feare . The Swine h im overtooke,And cut h is hamstrings, so that streigh t h i s going h im forsooke.

And Ne stor to have lost h i s li fe was l ike by fortune ereThe siege of Troie, but that he tooke h i s ri s t upon h i s speareAnd leapin quickly up upon a tree that s toode hard by,Did safely i om the place behold h i s foe whome he did flie.

The Boa re th en whett ing sharpe h i s tuskes against the Oken wood,To m isch iefe did prepare h imselfe with fierce and cruel] mood .And t rusti ng to h i s weapons which he sharpened had a new,

I n great Orithya s thigh a wound with hooked groyne he drewThe val iant brothers those same twinnes of Tynda rus (not yetCelestial] signes) did both of them on goodly coursers si tAs white as snow : and ech of them had shaking i n h i s fi stA lightsome Dart with h ead of steele to th row i t where he lystAnd for to wound the bri stled Bore they surely had no t mist,But that he still recovered so the coverts of the wood,That neyther horse could follow h im, nor Dart doe any good.

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Still after followed Telamon : whom taking to h is feeteNo heede at all for eagernesse, a Maple roote did meete,

Which tripped up h i s heeles , and flat again st the ground h im laid.And wh ile h is brother Peleus rel ieved h im, the MaidOf Tegea tooke an arrow swift, and shot i t from h ir how.

The arrow lighting underneath the havers ea re bylow,

And somewhat rasing of the skin,did make the blond to show.

The Maid hirselfe no t gladder was to see that luckie blow,Than was the Prince Meleager. He was the first that saw,And first that shewed to his Mates the blud that she did drawAnd said

,for th i s thy valiant act due honor shalt thou have.

The men did blush,and chearing up ech other, courage gave

With shouting,and disorderly their Darts by heaps they threw

The number of them hindred them,no t sufli 'ing to ensew

That any l ighted on the marke at wh ich they all did ame .Behold

,enragde against h i s ende, the hard ie Knight that came

From Arca die,rush t rashly with a Pollax i n his fi st

,

And said,you yongl ings learne of me what difference is betwist

A wenches weapons and a mans : and all of you give placeTo my redoubted force. For though D iana in th i s chaseShould with h i r owne sh ielde h im defend

,yet should th i s hand of mine

,

Even maugre Dame Diana as heart, confound th i s orped Swine.Such boasting words as these through pride presumptuously he crakesAnd streyning ou t him selfe upon h is tiptoes, streight he takesHis Pollax up with both h i s hands . But as th i s bragger mentTo fetch h is blow

,the cruel] beast h i s mal ice did prevent

And in h i s coddes (the speeding place of death) his tushes puts,And rippeth up his paunche. Downe falles Anaeus and h i s gutsCome tumbling out besm earde with bloud and foyled all the plot.Pirithous Ixions sonne at that abashed no tBut shaking i n h i s val iant hand h i s hunti ng stafl'e did goeSti ll stoutly forward face to face t’encounter wi th his foe.

To whome Duke Theseus cride a farre. O dearer unto meeThan i s my selfe

,my soule I say, stay : lawful] we i t see

For valiant men to keepe aloofe. The over hardie hartI n rash adventring of h im selfe hath made Ancreus smart .Th is sed, he threw a weightie Dart of Cornell with a headOf brasse : which . being leveld well was likely to have sped,But that a bough of Chestnut tree th icke leaved by the wayDid latch i t, and by meanes therof th e din t of i t did stay.Another Dart that Ja son threw

,by fortune mist the Bore,

And ligh t betwene a Ma istifes chaps, and through h i s guts did gore,And na ild him to the earth . The hand of Prince Meleager

Plaid hittym issie. Of two Darts h is first did fl ie so far,And lighted i n the ground : the next amid h i s backe stickt fast.And while the Bore did play the fiend and turned round agast,And grunting flang h i s fome about togither mixt wi th bloodThe giver of the wound (the more to st i rre h i s enm ies mood,)Stept i n, “and underneath the sh ield did thrust h i s Boarspeare th rough .Then all the Hunters shouting out demeaned joy inough,And glad was he that first might come to take h im by the hand.

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As moother and as sister both she strove what way to goThe divers names drew diversly h ir stomacke to and fro.Hir face waxt often pale for feare ofm ischiefe to ensue :And often red about the eies through hea te of i re she grew.

One while h i r looke resembled one that threa tned cruelnesse

Another wh ile ye would have thought she minded pitiou snesse .

And though the cruel] burning of h ir heart did dri e h i r teares,Yet burst ou t some. And as a Boate wh ich tide contrari e bearesAgainst the winde

,feeles double force, and i s compeld to yeelde

To both : So Thesties daugh ter now unable for to weeldeHir doubtfull passions, diversly i s caried of and onAnd chaungeably she waxes calme, and stormes aga ine anon .But better si ster ginneth she than mother for to be.And to thintent h ir brothers ghostes with bloud to honor, sheIn meaning to be one way kinde, doth worke another wayAgainst kinde. When the plagie fire waxt strong, she thus did say :Let th i s same fire my bowels burne . And as in cursed handsThe fatal] wood she holding at the Hell i sh Al tar stands

,

She said : ye triple Goddesses of wreake, ye H elhounds three,Beholde ye all th i s furious fact and sacrifice of mee.I wreake

,and do against all right : with death must death be payde

On m isch iefe m ischiefe must be heapt : on corse must corse be laideConfounded let th i s wicked house with heaped sorrowes bee.Shall Cenic j oy h is happy sonne i n honor for to see,And Thestie mourne bereft of his ? Nay : better yet i t were,That eche wi th other compan ie i n mou rn in you should beare .Ye brothers Ghostes and soules new dead, wish no more, but youTo feele the solemne obsequies which I prepare as nowAnd that mine ofl'r ing you accept, which dearly I have bought,The yssue of my wretched wombe . Alas, al as what thoughtI for to doe ? 0 brothers I besech you beare with meI am h i s mother : so to doe my hands unable be.H is trespasse I confesse deserves the stopping of h i s breathBut yet I doe not l ike that I be Author of h i s death .And shall h e then with li fe and limme

,and honor to, scape free,

And vaunting i n h i s good successe the King of Ca lidon bee,And you deare soules l ie raked up but i n a li ttle dust ?I will not surely suffer it . But let the vi l laine trustThat he shall die

,and draw with h im to m i ne and decay

His Kingdome, Countri e, and h is Sire that doth upon h im stay.Why, where is now the mothers h eart and pitie that should ra igneI n Parents ? and the ten Monthes pai nes that once I did sustaine ?0 would to God thou burned had a babie i n th is brand ,And that I had not tane i t ou t and quencht i t wi th my hand.That a ll th i s wh ile thou lived hast

,my goodnesse i s the cause,

And now most j ustly unto death th ine owne desert thee drawes .

R eceive the guerdon of thy deede : and render thou agenThy twice given l ife

,by bearing first

,and secondarly when

I caught thi s firebrand from the flame : or else come deale wi th meAs with my brothers, and with them let me entumbed be.I would, and cannot. What then shall I stand to i n th i s case ?

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One wh ile my brothers corses seeme to prease before my faceWi th l ively Image of thei r death s. Another wh ile my mindeDoth yeelde to pi t ie, and the name of mother doth me blinde.Now wo i s me. To let you have th e upper hand i s s i nneBut nerethel es se the upper hand 0 brothers doe you win ,Condicionly that when that I to comfort you withallHave wrought th is fea te, my selfe to you resort i n person shall .Thi s sed

,she turnde away h i r face

,and with a trembling hand

Did cast the dea thful l brand amid the burning fire . The brandDid eyther sigh , or seeme to sigh in burning i n the flame,Which sori e and unwill ing wa s to fasten on the same.Meleager being absent and not knowing ought at all ,Was burned with th i s flame : and felt h i s bowels to appallWith secret fire. He bare ou t long the paine wi th courage stout.But yet i t gri eved h im to die so cowardl y

,without

The shedding of h i s bloud . He thought Anceus for to beA happie man that dide of wound. With sigh ing cal led heUpon h i s aged father, and h i s sisters, and h is brother,And las tly on h i s wife to, and by chaunce upon h i s mother.His paine encreased wi th the fire, and fell therewith aga ine :And at the selfe same instant quigh t extingu ish t were bo th twa ine.

And as the ashes so ft and bore by leysu re overgrewThe glowing coales : so leysurly his spiri t from h im drew.

Then drouped stately Ca lydon. Both yong and olde did mourneThe Lords and Commons did lament : and m aried wives wi th torne

And ta ttred haire did crie a las . H is father did berayHis hori e head and face wi th dust, and on the earth flat lay

,

Lamenti ng that h e l ived had to see that wofull day.For now h i s mothers giltie hand had for that cursed crimeDone execution on hirselfe by sword before h i r time.If God to me a hundred mouthes wi th sounding tongues should send,And reason able to conceyv e, and thereunto should lendMe all th e grace of eloquence that ere the Muses had,I cou ld not shew the wo Wherewi th h is si sters were bestad .Unm indfu ll of thei r h igh es tate, thei r naked brests they smit,Untill th ey made them blacke and blew . And while h is bodie yi tR emained

, they did cheri sh i t, and cheri sh i t aga ine,They ki st h i s bodi e : yea they ki st the ch i st that did conta ine

His corse . And after that the corse was burnt to ashes, theyDid pres se h is ash es with their brests : and downe along they layUpon h i s tumb

,and there embraste h is name upon the stone,

And fil lde the letters of the same wi th teares that from them gone.At length Dia na sa tisfide with slaughter brough t uponThe house of Oenie, l ifts them up wi th fethers everichone(Sa ve Goqee and the dau htrinlaw of noble Alcmene) andMakes wings to stretch ong their sides, and horned nebs to standUpon thei r mouthes. And finally she al tr ing quight their fai reAnd native shape , i n shape of Birds dooth send them th rough the Aire.The noble Theseus in th i s while wi th others havi donneHi s part i n ki ll i ng of th e Boare, too Athens ward onne

Too take h i s way. But Acheloy then being swolne with raine

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Did stay h im of h is journey, and from passage h im res tra ine.

OfAthens val ian t knigh t (quoth he) come underneath my roofe,And for to passe my ragi ng streame as yet attempt no proofe.

This brooke i s woont whole trees too beare and evelong stones too carryWith h ideous roring down h i s streame . I oft have seene h im harryWhole Shepco tes standing nere h i s banks, with flocks of sheepe therinNought booted buls thei r strength , nought steedes by swiftnes there could win.

Yea many lu stie men th i s brooke hath swallowed, when the snowFrom mounta ines molten, caused h im h i s banks too overflow .

The best is for you for too rest until] the R iver fallWith in hi s boundes : and runne ageine with i n h i s chanell small.Content (quoth Theseus) : Acheloy, I will no t sure refuseThy counsel] nor thy house. And so he both of them did u se.

Of Pommy hollowed diversly and ragged Pebble stoneThe walles were made . The floore with Mosse wa s soft to tread upon .The roofe thereof was checkerwise with shelles of Purple wrough t‘

And Perle . The Sunne then full two parts of day to end had brought,

And Theseus downe to table sate with such as late beforeHad friendly borne h im compan ie at ki ll i ng of the Bore.A tone side sate Ixions sonne, and on th e other sateThe Prince of Troyz en, Lelex, with a th in hearde horie pate,And then such other as th e brooke ofAca rnania didVouchsafe th e honor to h i s boord and table for to bid,Who was righ t glad of such a guest. Immediatly there cameBarefooted Nymphes who brough t in meate. And when that of th e sameThe Lords had taken their repast, the meate away they tooke,And set downe wine i n precious stones. Then Theseus who did lookeUpon the Sea that underneath did lie with i n their sigh t

,

Said : tell us what is yonsame place, (and with h i s fingar righ tHee poynted thereuntoo) I pray, and what that Iland h igh t,Although it seemeth mo than one. The R iver answerd thus,I t i s not one mayne land alone that kenned i s of us :There are uppon a fyve of them . The distau nce of the place,Dooth h inder too di scerne betweene eche I le the perfect space .And that the les se yee woonder m ay at Phcebees act a late,To such as had neglected h ir uppon contempt or hate,Theis I les were sum tyme Waternimphes : who having ki lled Neate,Twyce fyve, and cal led too theyr feast the Country Gods too cate,Forgetting mee kept frol icke cheere . At that gan I too swell,And ran more large than ever erst : and being over fellI n stomacke and i n streame

,I ren t th e wood from wood, and feeld

From feeld, 811 wi th the ground the Nymphes as then with stomacks meeld 7 50

R emembring mee, I tumbled to the Sea. The waves of meeAnd of the sea the ground that erst al l whole was wont too beeDid rend a sunder into al l the I les you yonder see,And made a way for waters now too passe between them free .They now of Urchins have theyr name. But of thei s Ilands, oneA great way of (behold yee) stands a great way of alone,As you may see. The Mariners doo call i t Perimell .With her (she was as then a Nymph) so farre in love I fell ,That of her m aydenhod I h ir spoyld : which th ing di splea sd so sore

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And shewed i t no th inge to bee repyned at at all .I t skilles not whether there for Hyndes or Mai ster you doo call,For all the houshold were but two : and both of th em obeyde,And bo th commaunded . When the Gods at th is same Co tage s taid,And ducking downe thei r heads, with in the low made Wicket came,P/zilemorz bringing ech a stoole, bade rest upon the sameThei r l immes : and busie B aucis brought them qu ishons homely geere.

Which done,th e embers on the harth she gan abtode to steere

,

And laid the coal es togither that were raakt up overnigh t,And with th e brands and dried leaves did make them gather might

,

And with the blowing of h ir mouth did make them kindle brigh t .Then from an inner house she fetch t seare sticks and clifted brands

,

And put them broken underneath a Skillet with h i r hands.Hir Husband from their Gardenplo t fetch t Coleworts. Of the wh ichShe shreaded small the leaves, and with a Forke tooke downe a fl i tchcOf restie Bacon from the Balke made blacke with smoke

,and cut

A peece thereof,and in the pan to boyling did i t put.

And while th i s meate a seeth i ng was, the t ime in talke they spen t,By meanes whereof away wi thout much tedou snesse i t wen t .There hung a Boawle of Becche upon a spirget by a ring .The same wi th warmed water filld the twoo o ld folke did bri ngTo bathe their guests foule feete therein . Amid the house there stoodA Couch whose bottom sides and feete were al l of Sall ow wood

,

And on the same a Mat of Sedge . They cast upon th is bedA covering wh ich was never wont upon i t too be spredExcept i t were at solemne fea stes : and yet the same was oldeAnd of the cou rsest, wi th a bed of sallow meete to holde .The Gods sate downe . The aged wife righ t chare and busie asA Bee

,set out a table, of th e wh ich the th irde foote was

A little shorter than the rest . A tylesherd made i t evenAnd tooke away the shoringnesse : and when they had it drivenTo stand up levell, wi th greene Mintes they by and by i t wipte.

Then set they on i t ale Pa /las fru i te wi th dubble colour stripte,And Cornels kept i n pickle moyst, and Endive , and a rooteOf R adi sh

,and a j olly lump of Butter fresh and soote,

And Egges reare rosted . All these Cates in earthen di shes came .Then set they downe a graven cup made also of the sameSelfe kinde of Plate

,and Mazers made of Beech , whose i nner syde

Was rubd with yellow wax . And when they pawsed had a tyde,Whote meate came pyping from the fyre. And shortly thereuponA cup of greene hedg wyne was brought. This tane away, anonCame i n the latter course

,wh ich was ofNuts, Dates, dryed figges,

Sweete smell i ng Apples i n a Mawnd made flat of Oysyer twigges .

And Prunes and Plums and Purple grapes cut newly from the tree,And in the midst a honnycomb new taken from the Bee .B esydes all th i s there did ensew good countnance overmore,With will not poore nor nigardly. Now all the whyle before,As often as Plzilemon and Dame B a ucis did perceyveThe emptie Cup to fi ll alone, and wyne too still receyve,Amazed at the straungenesse of the th i ng, th ey gan streyght wayWith fearfull harts and hands b illd up too frame themselves too pray,

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Desyring for theyr slender cheere and fare too pardoned beeThey had but one poore Goose which kept theyr l i ttle Tennantree,And th i s too offer too the Gods theyr gu estes they did intend .The Gander wyght of wing did make the slow old folke too spendTheyr paynes i n vayne, and m okt them long. At length he seemd tooFor succor too th e Gods t hemselves, who bade he should no t dye,For wee bee Gods (quoth they) and all th i s wicked towneship shallAbye thei r g'ylt. On you alone th i s m ischeef sha ll not fall .No more but give you up your house, and follow up thi s h illther

,and upon the top thereof abyde ou r will.

They bothe obeyd . And as th e Gods did lead the way before,They lagged slowly after with theyr staves, and labored soreAgeinst the rysing of the h ill . They were not mickle moreThan full a flyghtshot from the top, when looking backe they sawHow all the towne wa s drowned save thei r lyttl e shed of strawAnd as they woondred at th e th ing and did bewayle the ca seOf those that had their neyghbours beene, the old poore Cote so baseWhereof they had beene owners erst, became a Church . The prOppesWere turned into p illa rs howge : The straw uppon the toppesWas yellow

,so that al l the roo f did seeme of bu rn isht gold :

The floore wi th Marble paved was : The doo res on eyther foldWere graven . At the sigh t hereof Philemon and h i s makeBega n too pray in feare . Then Jove thus gently them bespake .Declare thou ryghtuowse man , and thou O woman m eete too haveA ryghtuowse howsband what yee would most checfly wish or crave .Philemon taking conference a li ttle with h i s wyfe,Declared bothe theyr m eenings thus. We covet during lyfe,Your Chapleynes for too bee too keepe your Temple . And bycause

Our yeeres i n concord wee have spent, I pray when death meere drawesLet bothe of us toogither leave our l ives : that neyther IBehold my wyves decea ce, nor shee see myne when I doo dye.Theyr wish had sequele to theyr wyll . As long as lyfe did last,They kep t th e Church . And beeing spent wi th age of yeares forepast,By chaunce as standing on a ryme wi thout th e Temple dooreTh ey told the fortune of the place

,Philemon old and poore

Saw Ba ucis floo rish greene with leaves,and B a ucis saw l ikewyse

Philemon braunch ing ou t in boughes and twi before h ir eyes .And as the Bark did overgrow the beades o bothe

,eche spake

Too other whyle they myght. At last they eche of them did takeTheyr leave of other bothe at once, and therewithall the barkDid hyde theyr faces both at once. The Phrygia n: i n that pa rkDoo at th i s present day still sh ew the trees that shaped wereOf theyr twoo bodies, growing yit togither joyntly there .Thei s th i ngs did auncient men report of credi t veric good .For why th ere was no cause why they should lye . As I there stoodI saw the garlands hangi ng on the boughes , and adding newI sayd let them whom God doo th love be Gods, and honor dgiven to such as honor h im with feare and reverence trew .

He hilld h i s peace, and bothe the th ing and he that did i t tell

Did move them all,but Theseus most. Whom being mynded well

To heere of wondrous th ings,the brooke of Ca lydon thus bespake.

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There are 0 val iant knyght sum folke that had the powre too takeStraunge shape for once

,and all their lyv es continewed i n the same,

And o thersum to sundrie shapes have power themselves to frame,As thou 0 Promo dwell i ng i n the sea that c leepes the land.For now a yoonker, now a boare, anon a Lyon , andStreyght way thou didst become a Snake, and by and by a Bull,That people were afrayd of thee too see thy horned skull .And oftentymes thou seemdc a stone, and now and then a tree,And counterfetting water sheere thou seemedst oft to beeA R iver : and another whyle contrarie thereuntooThou wart a fyre. No lesser power than also thus too dooHad Erisiethons daughter whom Awtolyehus tooke to wyfe.

Hir father was a person that despysed al l h is lyfeThe powre of Gods

,and never did vouch sauf them sacrifyse.

He also i s re orted too have heawen in wicked wyseThe grove o Ceres

,and to fell her holy woods which ay

Had und im inisht and unhackt continewed to that day.There stood in i t a warri e Oke wh ich was a wood alone.Uppon i t round hung fil lets, crownes, and tables, many o ne,The vowes of such as had obteynd theyr hearts desyre. Full oftThe Woodnymphes underneath th i s tree did fetch theyr fri sks aloft,And oftentymes with hand i n hand they dau nced i n a roundAbout the Trunk

,whose bignesse was of timber good and sound

Ful l fifteene fadom . All the trees W i th in the wood besyde,Were u ntoo th i s, as weedes to them : so farre i t did them hyde.Yit could no t th i s move Triops sonne h is axe therefro too hold,But bade h i s servants cut i t downe . And when he did beholdThem stunting at h i s hest

,he snatcht an axe with furious mood

From one of them,and wickedly sayd thus. Although thys wood

Not only were the derl ing of the Goddesse, but alsoThe Goddesse even herself : yet would I make i t ere I goToo kisse the clowers wi th h ir top that pranks wi th braunches so .

Thi s spoken, as he sweakt h i s axe a syde to fetch h is blow,The manast Oke did quake and sygh , the Acornes that did growThereon toogither with the leaves too wex fu ll pale bega n ,And shri nking i n for feare the boughes and braunches looked wan .

Assoone as that h is cursed hand had wounded once the tree,

The blood came spinn ing from the carf,a s freshly as yee see

I t i ssue from a Bullocks necke whose thro te i s newly cutBefore the Altar, when h i s flesh to sacrifyse i s pu t.They were amazed everychone. And one among them allToo let the wicked act

,durst from the tree h i s hatchet call.

The lewd Thessa lian faci ng h im sayd : Take thou heere too theeThe guerdon of thy godlynesse : and turning from the tree,H e chopped of the fellowes head . Which done

,he went agen

And heawed on the Oke . Streight from amid the tree as thenThere i ssued such a sound as th i s. With in th is tree dwell IA Nym h too Ceres very deere, who now before I dyeI n com oi't of my death doo give th ee warning thou shalt byeThy doo ing deere wi th in a whyle. He goeth wilful lyStill thorrough with h is wickednesse, unt ill at length the Oke

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The caytifs chamber where he slept (i t was i n tyme of nyght)Shee hugged h im betweene her armes there snorting bolt upryght.And breath ing her into h im, blew uppon h i s face and brest,That hungar i n h i s emptie veynes myght woorke as hee did restAnd when she had accom l ished her charge, shee then forsookeThe fru tefull Clymates o the world, and home ageine betooke 1 020

H erselfe u ntoo her frutelesse feeldes and former dwell ing place.The gen tle sleep did all th i s whyle with fethers soft embraceThe wretched Erisiethons corse . Who dreaming streight of meateDid sti rre h i s hungry jawes i n vayne as though he had too cate :And chanking tooth on tooth a pace he gryndes them i n h i s head,And occupies his emptie throte with swallowing, and in steadOf food devoures the li ther ayre. But when that sleepe with nyghtWas shaken of, immediatly a furious appeti teOf feeding gan too rage i n h im, which in h i s greedy gummes

And in h is meatlesse maw dooth reigne u nstauncht. Anon there cummes 1 030

Before h im whatsoever l ives on sea,i n ai re or land

And yi t he crieth still for more. And though the platters standBefore h i s face ful l furni shed, yi t dooth he sti ll complayneOf hungar

,craving meate at m eal e . The food that would su steine

Whole householdes, Towneships, Shyres and R ealmes suffyce not h im aloneThe more h is pampred paunch consumes the more i t maketh mone.And as the sea receyves the brookes of all the worldly R ealmes

,

And yi t i s never satisfyde for al l the forreine streames

And as the fell and ravening fyre refuseth never wood,But burneth faggots numberlesse, and wi th a furious moodThe more i t hath , the more i t st i ll desyreth evermore,Encrea cing i n devouring through encreasement of the store :So wicked Erisiethons mouth i n swallowing of h is meateWas ever hungry more and more, and longed ay to cate.Meate tolld i n meate : and as he ate the place was empty still .The hungar of h i s brinklesse Maw the gulf that nowght migh t fillHad brought h is fathers goods too nowght. But yi t continewed ayHis cursed hungar unappeasd : and nothing could alayThe flaming of h is starved throte. At length when all was spen t,And intoo h i s unfilled Maw both goods and lands were sentAn only daughter did remayne unworthy too have hadSo lewd a father. Hir he sold

, so hard he was bestad.But shee of gentle courage could no bondage well abyde.

And therfore stretch ing out her hands too seaward there besyde,Now save mee quoth shee from the yoke of bondage I thee pray,O thou that my v irginitie enjoyest as a pray.Nep tunus had i t : Who too th i s her prayer did consent.And though her maister looking backe (for after h im shee went)Had newly seene her : yit he turud h i r shape and made h ir man,And gave her looke of fisherman . Her mayster looking thanUpon h ir, sayd. Good fellow thou that on the shore doost standWith angling rod and bayted hooke and hanging lyne i n hand,I pray thee as thou doost desyre the Sea ay calme too thee,And fishes for to byght thy bayt, and stri ken sti ll too bee,Tell where the fi-iz z letopped wench i n course and sluttish geere,

x80

That stoode right now uppon th i s shore (for well I wote that heereI saw her standing) i s become . For further than th i s placeNo footestep i s a peri ng. Shee perceyv ing by the caceThat Nep tunes gi t made well wi th her, and beeing glad too see

H erselfe en

guyrd for of herselfe, sayd thus : who ere you bee

I pray you or too pardon mee . I turned not myne eyeA tonesyde ne a toother from th i s place, but did applyMy labor hard. And that you may the lesser stand in dowt,So Nep tune further sti ll th e Art and craft I go abowt,As now a whyle no l ivi ng Wyght uppon th i s levell sand(Mysel f excepted) neyther man nor woman heere did stand .Her mai ster did beleeve her words : and turning backward wentHi s way beguyld : and streigh t too her her native shape was sent.But when her father did perceyv e h i s daughter for too haveA bodye so t ransformable, he oftentymes her gaveFor monny, but th e damz ell sti ll escaped, now a Mare,And now a Cow, and now a Bird, a Hart, a Hynd, or Hare,And ever fed her hungry Syr e wi th undeserved fare .But after that the maladie had wasted all th e m eates

As well of store as that which shee had pu rchast by h ir featesMost cursed keytife as he was

,wi th bighting hee did rend

His flesh,and by dimin ish ing h i s bodye did intend

To feede his bodye, till that death did speed h i s fatal l end .

But what meene I too bu sye mee i n forreine matters thus ?Too alter shapes wi th i n preci nct i s lawfu ll even too usMy Lords . For sum tim e I am such as you doo now mee seeSum tyme I nd mee in a Snake : and oft I seeme too beeA Capteine o the herd wi th hom es . For taking hom es on mee,I lost a tyne wh ich heeretoofore did arme mee, as the pri ntDooth playnly shew . Wi th that same word he syghed and did sti nt.

Finis octa 'v i Libri .

T H E N I N T H B O O K E

of Ov ids Metamorphos is .

HAT ayleth thee (quoth Theseus) too sygh so sore ? a nd howBefell i t thee to get th i s mayme that i s uppon thy brow ?The noble streame of Ca lydon made answer, who did weareA Garland made of reedes and flags upon h is sedgie heare .A greevou s pennance you enjoyne, for who would gladly showThe combats i n the wh ich h imself did take the overthrow ?Yit wi ll I make a just report i n order of the same.

For why ? too have the woorser hand wa s no t so great a shame,As was the honor such a match too undertake . And muchI t comforts mee that h e who did mee overcome, was suchA valiant champi on. I f perchaunce you erst have heard the nameOfDeyanyre : the fayrest Mayd that ever God did frameShee was in myne opin ion . And the hope too win her loveDid mickle envy and debate among h ir wooers move.With whom e I entring too the house of h im that should have beeMy fathrilaw, Pa rtha ons sonne (I sayd) accept thou meeThy Sonnylaw. And Hercules i n selfe same sort did woo .

And all the other suters streight gave place untoo us twoo .He vaunted of h i s father l ove, and of h i s famous deedes,And how ageinst h i s stepdames spyght h i s prowesse sti ll proceedes .

And I ageine a toother side sayd thus . I t i s a shameThat God should yeeld too man . (Thi s stryfe was long ere he becameA God). Thou sec i st me a Lord of waters i n thy R ealme

Where I i n wyde and wynding banks doo beare my flowing stream e.No straunger shal t thou have of mee sen t farre from forreine land :But one of household, or at least a neyghbou r heere at hand.Alonly let i t bee too mee no h indrance that the wyfeOf Jove abhorres mee not

,ne that upon the paine of lyfe

Shee sets mee not too task . For where thou bostest thee too beeAlcmena s sonne

,Jo've eyther 18 not father unto thee :

Or if he bee,i t i s by s i n . I n making l ove thy fath er,

Thou maakst thy moo ther but a whoore . Now choose thee wh ither ratherThou had too raunt th i s tale ofk m surmised for too bee,Or else thy sel?e bego t in shame and borne 1n bastardee.At that he grimly bendes h i s browes, and much a doo he hathToo hold h i s hands

,so sore h i s hart inflamed is wi th wrath .

He said no more but thus : My hand dooth serve mee better thanMy toong . Content I am (so I i n feighting vanqui sh can)That thou shalt overcome i n wordes . And therewithall he ganMee feercely to assa ile . Mee thought i t was a shame for meeThat had even now so stoutly talkt

,i n doo ings fain t to bee .

I casti ng of my(green i sh

cloke thrust stifly out at lengthMi ne armes, an streynd my pawing bandes too hold h im out by strength ,And framed every limme too cope . With both h i s hollow handsHe caught up dust and sprincked mee : and I likewise with sands

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Did drag mee backe,and made mee p i tch my hom es agai nst the ground,

And in the deepest of th e sand he overthrew mee round .And yit not so con ten t, such hold h i s cruell hand did takeUppon my welked hom e, that he a sunder quight i t brake,And pu lld i t from my m aymed brew . The waterfayries cameAnd fill i ng i t with fru te and flowres did consecrate the same,And so my hom e the Tresory of plenteousnesse became.

Assoone as Acheloy had told thi s tale a wayting MaydWith flari ng heare that lay on both h i r shoulders, and arayd

L ike one ofDame Dianas Nymphes, with solemne grace forth cameAnd brought that rich and precious hom e, and heaped in the sameAll kynd of frutes that Harvest sendes, and specially such fruteAs serves for latter course at meales of every sort and sute.

Assoone as daylight came a eine, and that the Sunny rayesDid shyne upon the tops 0 th ings, the Princes went thei r wayes .

They would not tarry ti ll the floud were al togither falne,And that the R iver i n h i s banks ran low a eine and calme.Then Acheloy amid h i s waves h i s Crabtree i ce did hydeAnd head disarmed of a hom e. And though he did abydeI n al l parts else bothe sauf and sound, yi t th i s deform ityeDid cut h i s comb : and for to hyde th i s blemish from the eye

,

He hydes hi s hurt with Sallow leaves, or else with sedge and reede .But of the selfsame Mayd the love kil ld thee feerce Nesse i n deede

,

When perci ng swiftly th rough thy back an arrow made thee bleede.

For as Jo'ves i ssue wi th h is wyfe was onward on h i s wayI n going too h i s countryward, enforst he was too stayAt swift Euenus bank, bycause the streame was ri sen soreAbove h is bounds through rage of rayne that fell but late before .Agcin so full ofwhoorlpooles and of gull es the channell was,That scarce a man could any where fynd place of passage . AsNot caring for h imself but for hys wyfe he there did stand,This Nessus came unto h im (who was strong of body andKnew well the use thou thy strength 0 Hercules

I n swimming. eanes th i s Ladie shall with easeBee set uppon the further bank . 5 0 Hercules betooke

His wyfe too Nessus. Shee for feare of him and of the brookeLoc kte pale . Her husband as he had h i s quiver by h i s sydeOf arrowes full

,and on h i s backe h i s heavy Lyon s hyde,

(For too the further bank he u rst h i s club and bow had cast)Said. Sith I have begonne, th i s brooke bothe must and shal bee past.He never casteth fu rther douts

, nor seekes the ca lmest place,But through the roughest of the streame he cuts h i s way a pace .Now as he on the fu rthersyde was taking up h i s bow,

He heard h i s wedlocke shreeking out,and did h i r call ing know

And cryde to Nesse (who went about to deale unfaythfu llyI n running with h i s charge away) H oawe whi ther doost thou flyThou Royster thou, uppon vai ne hope by swiftnesse too escapeMy hands ? I say give ea re thou Nesse for all thy double sha e,And meddle not wi th that thats myne . Thou h no regard o meeMight move thee too refrayne from rape, thy fa ther yi t might beeA warning, who for ofl

'

r ing shame too Juno now dooth feele

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Conti nual] torment i n h i s limbes by turning on a wheele.

For all that thou hast horses feete which doo so bolde thee make,

Yit shalt thou not escape m hands . I will thee overtakeWith wound and not with eete. He did according as he spake .For with an arrow as he fled he strake h im th rough the backe

,

And out before h i s bri st ageine the hooked iron stacke,And when the same was -pulled ou t, the bloo d a ma yne ensewdAt both the holes wi th poyson foule of Lerna Snake embrewdThis blood did Nessus take, and said with i n h imselfe : wel l : si thI needes must dye, yet will I not dye unrevendgd . And withThe same he staynd a sh irt, and gave i t unto Dyanyre,Assu ri ng hir i t had the powre too kindl e Cup ids fyre.

A greate whyle after when the deedes of worthy Hercules

Were such as fill ed all the world,and also did appease

The hatred of h i s stepmother : As he uppon a dayWith conquest from Oecha lia came, and was abowt to ayHis vowes to Jove upon the Mount of Cenye : ta tl ing me(Who i n report ing

th ings of truth delyghts too sauce th e sameWith tales

,and o a th ing of nowght dooth ever greater grow

Through false and newly forged lyes that shee hirself dooth sow)Told Dyanyre that Hercules did cast a liking tooA Ladie cal led Jolee. And Dyanj ra (whooWas j ealous over Hercules,) gave credi t too the same .And when that of a Leman fi rs t the tidings too h ir came,She being striken too the hart , did fall too teares alone,And in a lamentable wi se did make most wofu ll mone.Anon she sa id : what meene thei s teares thus gush ing from myneMy husbands Leman will rejoyce at thei s same teares of myne .sith she i s too come, the best i t were too shonne delay,for too woork sum new devyce and pra ctyse whyle I may,

B eefore that i n my bed hi r l imbes the fi lthy strumpet lay.And sha ll I then complayne ? or shall I hold my toong with skill ?Shall I returne too Ca lydon ? or shall I tarry still ?Or shal l I get me ou t of doores , and let them have their will ?What if that I (Meleager) rem embring mee too beeThy suster

,too attempt sum act notorious did agree ?

And in a harlots death did shew (that all the world myght see)What greef can cause the womankynd too enterpryse among ?And 3 iall y when thereu ntoo they forced are by wrong.

i th waveri ng thoufghts ry ht violen tly h ir mynd was tossed long.

At last shee did pre erre be ore all others,for too send

The shi rt bes tayned with the blood ofNessus, too the endToo quicken up the quayling love. And so not knowing whatShe ga ve

,she gave her owne remorse and greef too Lycha s, that

Did know as li ttl e as herself : and wretched woman, sheeDesyrd h im gently too h er Lord presented i t too see .The noble Prince receyv i ng i t wi thout mi strust therei n ,Did weare the poyson of the Snake of Lerna nex t h i s skin .

Too ofl'

er i ncense and too pra too Jo've he did begin ,And on the Marble Altar he 11 boawles of wyne did shed,

When as the poyson wi th the hea te resolving, largely spred

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Through all the l imbes ofHercules. As long as ere he could,

The s toutnesse of h is hart was such, that sygh no whi t he wouldBut when the m ischeef grew so great all pacience too surmount,He thrust the al tar from h im streigh t, and fi lled all the mountOf Oeta with h i s roring ou t. He went about too teareThe deathfu ll garment from hi s backe : but where he pulled, thereHe pu ll d away the skin : and (which is lothsum too report)I t eyther cleaved to h i s l imbes and members i n such sortAs that he could no t pull i t of, o r else i t tare awayThe flesh

,that bare h i s myghty bones and gri sly s inewes lay.

The scalding venim boyling i n h is blood, did make i t h i sse,As when a gad of steele red whot i n water uenched is.

There was no measure of h is paine . The frying venim hentHis i nwards

,and a purple swet from all h i s body went.

His s indged sinewes shri nking crakt, a nd with a secret strengthThe poyson even with in h i s bones the Maree melts at length .Then holding up h i s hands too heaven he sayd wi th h ideous reereO Sa turnes daughter feede thy selfe on my distresses heere.Yea feede, and cruell wyght th i s plage behold thou from above,

And glut thy savage hart therewith . Or if th fo may moveThee untoo pitie, (for too thee I am an utter iii)Bereeve mee of my hatefu ll soule di strest with helplesse wo ,And borne too endlesse toyle. For death shal l u ntoo mee bee sweete

,

And for a cruell stepmother is death a gift most meete.

And is i t I that d id destroy Busiris who did foyleHis temple floores with straungers blood ? I st I that did dispoyleAnce us of h i s moo thers help ? Ist I that could not beeAbashed at the Spanyard who i n one had bodies three ?Nor at the trypleheaded shape O Cerberus of thee ?Are you the hands that by the hom es the Bull of Ca ndie drew ?Did you king Augies stable clenze whom afterward yee slew ?Are you the same by whom the fowles were scaard from Stympha ly?Caught you the Stag i n Maydenwood which did no t run but fly ?Are you the hands whose puissance receyved for your payThe golden belt of Thermodon ? Did you convey awayThe Apples from the Dragon fell that waked nygh t and day ?Ageinst the force of mee, defence the Centa ures coul d not make.Nor yit the Boare ofArcadie : nor yi t the ougly SnakeOf Lerna , who by losse did grow and dooble force st ill take.What ? i s i t I that did behold the pampred Jades of Thra ceWith Maungers full of flesh of men on which they fed a pace ?I st I that downe at syght thereof theyr greaz y Maungers threw,And bothe the fatted Jades themselves and eke the ir mayster slew ?The Nemean Lyon by thei s armes lyes dead uppon the ground.Theis armes the monstruous Giant Cake by Tyher did confound.Uppon the i s shoulders have I borne the weyght of all the skie.Jo'ves cruell wyfe i s weerye of commaunding mee. Yit IUnweerie am of dooing sti ll. But now on mee i s lyghtAn unco th plage, which neyther force of hande, nor vertues myght,Nor Arte i s able too resi st . L i ke wasti ng fyre i t spreedesAmong myne inwards

,and through out on all my body feedes .

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For as he hath all other th ings, so shall he them surmount.Save only on that part that he hath taken of h i s mother,The fyre shall have no power at all. ,

Eternall i s the tother,

The which he takes of mee, and cannot dye, ne yeeld too fyre.

When th is i s rid from earthly drosse, then will I l i ft i t hygher,And take i t intoo heaven : and I beleeve th i s deede of myneWill gladsome bee to all the Gods . If any doo repyne,If any doo repyne I say that Hercule should becomeA God

,repyne he still for mee, a nd looke he sowre and glum .

But let h im know that Hercules deserveth thi s reward,And that he shall ageinst h i s will alow i t afterward .The Gods assented everychone. And Juno seemd too makeNo cv ill countnance too the rest, unti ll h i r husband spakeThe last

,for then her looke was such as well they might perceyve,

Shee did her husbands noti ng her i n cv ill part conceyv e.

Whyle Jove was talking with the Gods, as much as fyre could wasteSo much had fyre consumde. And now 0 Hercules th ou haste

No carkesse for too know thee by. That part i s quyght bereftWh ich of thy mother thou didst take. Alonly now i s leftThe l ikenesse that thou tookst of Jove. And as the Serpent slyeI n casting of h is withered slough

,renewes h i s yeeres thereby,

And wexeth lustyer than before, and looketh cri sp and bryghtWith scoured scales : so Hercules as soone as that h i s spryghtHad left h i s mortall l imbes

,gan i n h i s better part too thryve,

And for too seeme a greater th ing than when he was alyve,And with a stately majestic ryght reverend too appeere.

His myghty father tooke h im up above the cloudy spheere,And in a charyot placed h im among the streaming starres.H owge Atlas felt the weyght thereof. But noth ing th is d isbarresEurysthyes malice. Cruelly he prosecutes the hateUppon the oflspring, which he bare ageinst the father late.But yit too make her mone untoo and wayle her mi serieAnd tell her sonnes great woorkes, which all the world could testifie,

Old Alcmen had Dame Iolee. By Hercules last willIn wedlocke and i n bartie love shee joyned was too H ill,By whome shee then was big with chyld : when thus Alcmena sayd,The Gods at least bee mercifu ll and send thee then theyr ayd,And short thy labor

,when the fru te the wh ich thou goste withall

Now beeyng rype enforceth thee with fearfu l l voyce too callU pon I lithya president of chyldbirthes, whom the i reOf

)

Juno at my travelling made deaf too my desire.For when the Sun through twyce fyve signes h i s course had fully run ,And that the paynfull day of birth approched of my sonne :My burthen strayned out my wombe, and that that I did beareBecame so greate that of so bowge a masse yee well myght sweareThat Jove was father. Neyther was I able too endureThe travell any lenger tyme. Even now I you assureI n tell ing i t a shuddring cold through all my limbes dooth strike,And partl y it renewes my peynes too thinke uppon the like .I beeing i n most cruell throwes nyghts seven and dayes eke seven ,And tyred with continuall pangs, did l ift my hands too heaven ,

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And crying ou t aloud did call Lucina too myne ayd,

Too loose th e burthen from my wombe . Shee came as I had praydBut so corrupted long before by Juno my most fo

,

That for too mart i r mee too death with peyne she pu rposde tho .

For when shee heard my piteous pla i nts and gronings , downe shee sateOn yon same altar wh ich you see there standing at my gate .Upon h ir left knee shee had pitcht h i r righ t ham, and besydeShee stayd the bi rth with finga rs one with i n another tydeIn lattiswyse. And secretly she wh isperde W itch ing spell sWh ich h indred my deliverance more then all her doo ings ell s .I labord still : and forst by payne and torments of my fitts

,

I rayld on Jove (although in vayne) as o ne besyde her witts.And ay I wished for too dye. The woords that I did speake,Were such as even the hardest stones of very fl i nt myght breake.

The wyves of Thehee beeing there, for sauf del iverance praydAnd giving cheerefu ll woords , did bid I shoul d not bee dismayd.Among the other women there that too my labor came

,

There was an honest yeomans wyfe, Ga la ntis was her name.Her heare was yellow as the gold, she was a

'olly Dame,

And stoutly served mee,and I did love her for the same.

This wyfe (I know not how) did smell some packing gone aboutOn Junos part. And as she oft was passing in and out

,

Shee spyde Lucina set uppon the altar holding fastHer armes toogither on her knees, and wi th her fingars castWith in ech other on a knot, and sayd u ntoo her thus.I pray you who so ere you bee

,rejoyce you now with us,

My Lady Alcmen hath her wi sh , and sauf i s brought a bed.Lucina leaped up ama z de at that that shee had sed ,And let her hands a sunder sl ip. And I immediatlyWith loosening of th e knot, had sauf del iverance by and by.They say that i n deceyv ing Dam e Lucina Ga lant laught .And therfore by the yellow locks the Goddesse wroth h ir caught,And dragged her. And as she would have ri sen from the ground,Shee kept her downe

,and i nto legges her armes shee did confound.

Hir former stou tnes se stil l remaynes : h ir backe doo th keepe the hewThat erst was i n her heare : her shape i s only altered new.

And for with lying mouth shee helpt a woman laboring, sheeDoo th kindl e also at h er mouth . And now she haunteth freeOur houses as sh ee did before, a Weasle as wee see.

With that shee syghes too th ink uppon her servants hap , and thenHer dau htrinlaw immediatly replied thus agen .

But mother,shee whose al tred shape dooth move your hart so sore,

Was neyther kith nor ki n too you . What will ou say therefore,If of myne owne deere suster I the woondrou s fhrtune show ?Although my sorrow and the teares that from myne eyes doo flow,Doo h inder mee

, and stop my speechc . Her mother (you must knowMy father by another wyfe had mee) ba re never moBut this same Ladie Dryopee, the fayres t Ladye thoIn al l the land of Oecha lye. Whom beeing then no mayd(For why the as God of Delos and ofDelphos had h i r frayd)

taketh too h i s wyfe, and thinkes h im well apayd.

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There i s a certaine leaning Lake whose bowing banks doo showA l ikenesse of the salt sea shore. Uppon the brim doo growAll round about i t Mirtletrees . My suster th i ther goesUnwares what was her des tin ie

,and (which you may suppose

Was more too bee disdeyned at) the cause of comm ing thereWas too the fayries of the Lake fresh garlonds for too beare.And i n her armes a babye, her sweete burthen shee did hold,Who sucki ng on her brest was yi t not full a twelvemoonth old .Not farre from th is same pond did grow a Late tree florisht gayWith purple flowres and beries sweete, and leaves as greene as Bay.Of thei s same flowres too please her boy my suster gathered sum ,

And I had thought too doo so too, for I was th i ther cum .

I saw how from the slivered flowres red drops of blood did fal l,

And how that shuddring horribly the braunches u aakt withall .

You must perceyve that (as too late the Countryc

folk declare)A Nymph cald Lotos flying from fowle Piyap s fi lthy ware

,

Was turned intoo th i s same tree reserving sti ll her name.ster d id not know so much

, who when shee backward cameat that that shee had scene, and having sadly prayd

The Nymphes of pardon, too have gone her way agen assayd

Her feete were fa stned downe with rootes . Shee stryved all she myghtToo plucke them up, but they so sure with i n the earth were pyght,That noth ing save h it 11 per partes shee could that present move .A tender barke growes om beneath up leysu rly above,And softly overspreddes her loynes : which when shee saw,

shee wentAbout too teare her heare

,and full of leaves her hand shee hent.

Her head was overgrowen with leaves . And li ttle Amphise (soHad Emytus h i s Gra undsyre naamd h ir sonne not long ago)Did feele h is mothers du ges wex hard. And as h e sti ll them drewI n sucking, not a wh it o milke nor moystu re did ensew .

I standing by thee did behold thy cruell chaunce : but noughtI could releeve thee suster myne : yi t too my powre I wroughtToo stay the growing of thy trunk and of thy braunches , byEmbracing thee . Yea I protest I would ryght will inglyHave in the selfe same barke wi th thee bene closed up . Behold,Her husband good Andreemon and h it wretched father oldSi r Eurytus came th i ther and enquyrd for DryopeeAnd as they askt for Dryopee, I shewd them Lote the tree.They ki st the wood which yit was warme, and falling downe bylow,

Did hug the rootes of that their tree. My suster now could showNo part which was not wood except her face. A deawe of tearesDid stand uppon the wretched leaves late formed of her heares .And whyle shee might, and whyle her mouth did give h i r way too speake,With such complaynt as th i s, her mynd shee last of all did breakeI f credi t may bee given too such as are i n wretchednesse,I swea re by God I never yi t deserved th i s di stresse.I sufl'er peyne without desert. My lyfe hath gu iltlesse beene.And if I lye

,I would thei s boughes of myne which now are greene,

Myght withered bee, and I heawen downe and bu rned in the fyre.

This i nfant from h i s mothers brests remove you I desyreAnd put h im forth too nurce

,and cause h im underneath my tree

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And Vul cane would have cal ld ageine the yeeres long spent beforeBy Ericthonius. And the nyce Dame Venus having careOf tyme too come, the making yong of old Anchises swareSo every God had one too whom he special] favor bare.And th rough this partial l love of theyrs sedi tiously increastA hurlyburly

,til l the time that Jove among them preast,

And sayd . So smally doo you stand in awe of mee th i s howre,As thus too rage ? Th inkes any of you h im selfe too have such powre,As for too alter destinye ? I tell you [alayR ecovered hath by destinye h i s yeeres erst past away,Ca llirrhoe's ch ildren must retu rne too youth by destiny,And not by force of armes, or sute su steynd ambitiously.And too th

’

entent with meelder myndes yee may th is matter beare,Even I myself by destinyes am ru l de : which if I wereOf power too alter, thinke you that our Aea cus should stoopeBy rea son of h is feeble age ? or R adamanth should droope ?OrMinos, who by reason of h i s age i s now disdeynd,And lives not i n so sure a state as heretoofore h e reygnd ?The woords of Jove so movd the Gods that none of them complaynd,S ith R adamanth and Aea cus were both with age constreynd

And Minos also : who (as long as lus ty youth did last)Did even wi th terror of hi s name make myghty R ealmes agastBut then was Minos weakened sore, and greatly stood in feareOfMilet one ofDeyons race : who proudly did h im beareUppon h i s father Phcehus and the stou tnesse of h i s youth .And though he feard he would rebell yi t durst he not his mouthOnce open for too ban i sh h im h i s R ealm e : untill at lastDeparting of his owne accord, Miletus swiftly pastThe Gotesea, and did build a towne uppon the Asian ground,Which sti ll reteynes the name of h im that first the same did found .And there the daughter of th e brooke Me ander which dooth goSo often backward

,Cyane a Nymph of body so

Exceeding comly as the lyke was seldome heard of, asShee by her fathers wynding bankes for pleasure walking was,Was knowen by Miles : unto whom a payre of twinnes shee brought,And of the twinnes the names were Ca une and Byblis. Byblis oughtToo bee a mirror untoo Maydes i n lawfull wyse too love.This Byblis cast a myud too Ca une. But not as did behoveA suster too her brotherward. When first of all the fyre

Did kindle, shee perceyvd i t not. Shee thought i n her desyreOf kissing h im so oftentymes no sin ,

ne yit no harmeI n cleeping h im about the necke so often with her arme.The glittering glosse of godlynesse beguyld her long. Her loveBegan from ev ill untoo woorse by l it tle too remove.Shee commes too see her brother deckt i n brave and trim attyre,And for too seeme exceeding fayre i t was her whole desyre.

And if that any fayrer were i n all the flocke than sheeI t spyghts h ir. I n what case she wa s as yi t shee did not see.

Her heaie exceeded not so farre as for too vow : and yi tShee sufl'red i n her troubled brist full many a burning fi t .Now calleth shee h im mayster

,now shee utter hateth all

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The names of kin . Shee rather had he should her Byhlis cal l,Than suster. Yi t no fil thy hope shee durst permi t too creepe

With in her mynd awake. But as shee lay in quiet sleepe,Shee oft beh ild her love : and oft she thought her brother cameAnd lay wi th her, and (though a sleepe) shee blushed at the_ same.When sleepe was gone, she long lay dumb still musing on. the syght,And sa id with wavering m

fynd . Now wo i s mee m ost wretched wyght.

What meenes the image 0 th i s dreame that I have seene thi s nyght ?I would not wi sh it should bee trew . Why dreamed I then so ?Sure hee 1s fayre although hee should bee j udged by h i s fo .

Hee likes m ee wel l, and were he not my brother, I myght setMy love on h im, and he were mee ryg

ht woorthy for too get,But unto thi s same match the name 0 kinred 1s a let.Well. 5 0 that I awake doo still mee u ndefyled keepe,Let come as often as they wi ll such dreamings i n my sleepe.

I n sleepe there i s no wi tnesse by. I n sleepe yi t may I takeAs greate a pleasure (i n a sort) as i f I were awake .Oh Venus and thy tender sonne Si r Cup id, what delyght,How esent feel ing of your spo rt hath touched mee th i s n ight ?H ow liry I as i t were reso lvd both maree, flesh

,and bo ne ?

How gladdes i t mee too th inke thereon ? Alas too soone was goneThat pleasure, and too has tye and despyghtfu ll was the nyghtI n breaking of my joyes . O Lord if name of ki nred myghtBetweene us twoo remooved bee, how well i t would agree0 Ca une that of thy father I the daugh trinlaw should bee ?How fitly myght my father have a sonne inlaw of thee ?Would God that al l save aunces ters were common too us twayneI would thou were of nobler stocke than I . I cannot fayneO perle of beau tie what shee i s whom thou shal t make a mother.Alas how i ll befalles i t mee that I could have none otherThan those same parents wh ich are thyne . So onl y still my brotherAnd not my husband mayst thou bee. The thing that hurts u s botheI s one, a nd that betweene us ay i n separably gothe.What meene my dreames then ? What effect have dreames . and may there beeEffect i n dreames ? The Gods are farre 1n better case than wee.

For why ? the Gods have matched wi th theyr susters as wee see .So Sa turne did alie wi th Ops the neeres t of h is blood .80 Tethys with Ocea nus : So Jov e did th ink i t goodToo take hi s suster Juno too h i s wyfe. What then ? the CoddesHave lawes and charters by themselves. And si th there i s such oddesBetweene th e state of us and them, why should I sample take,Our worldly matters equ all with the heavenly th ings too make ?This wicked love shal l e ther from my hart be driven away,Or if 1t cannot bee expulst, God graunt I peri sh may,And that my brother kisse me layd on Herce too go too grave.But my desyre the full con sent of both of us doo th crave.Adm i t the matter li keth me . He will for s in i t take .But yit the sonnes ofAeolus no scru pulousnes se did makeI n going too theyr susters beds. And how come I too knowThe feates of them ? Too what i ntent thei s samples doo I show ?Ah whi ther am I h eadl ong driven ? avaunt foule filthy fyre

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And let mee no t i n otherwyse than su sterlyke desyreMy brothers love. Yit if that he were fi rst i n love wi th mee,His fondness too inclyne untoo perchau nce I could agree.Shall I therefore who would not have rej ected h im if heeHad sude too mee, go sue too h im : and canst thou s ake in deede ?And canst thou utter forth thy mynd ? and tell h im 0 thy neede ?My love will make mee speake. I can . Or if that shame doo stayMy toong, a sealed letter sh all my secret love bewray.This likes hi r best : uppon th i s poynt now restes her doubtfu ll myud.So raysing up herself uppon her leftsyde shee enclynd,

And lean ing on her elbow sayd . Le t h im advyse h im whatToo doo

,for I my franticke love wi ll utter playne and flat.

Alas too what ungraciousnesse i ntend I for too fall ?What furie raging in my hart my senses dooth appa ll ?I n th inking so, with trembling hand shee framed her too wryghtThe matter that her troubled mynd i n musing did indyght.Her ryght hand holdes the pen, her left doo th hold the empty wax .

She ginnes . Shee doutes, shee wryghtes : shee in the tables findeth lacks.Shee notes

,shee blurres, dislikes, and likes : and chaungeth th i s for that.

Shee layes away the booke, and takes i t up. Shee wotes not whatShe would herself. What ever th ing shee myndeth for too dooMisl iketh h ir. A shamefastnesse with boldenesse mixt theretooWas in her cou ntnance. Shee had once wri t Suster. Out agenThe name of Suster for too raze shee thought i t best . And thenShee sna tcht the tables up

,and did thei s following woords i ngrave.

The health wh ich if thou give her not shee i s not l ike too have,

Thy lover wisheth untoo thee . I dare not ah for shameI dare not tell thee who I am , nor let thee heare my name .And if thou doo demaund of mee what th i ng I doo desyre,Would God that namelesse I myght pleade the matter I requyre,And that I were unknowen too thee by name of Byblis, t illAssurance of my sute were wrought according too my will.As tokens of my wounded hart myght thei s too thee appeereMy colour pale, my body leane, my heavy m irthlesse cheere,My watry eyes, my sighes wi thout apparant causes why,My oft embraci ng of thee : and such kisses ( if perd eThou marked them) as very well thou migh t have felt and foundNot for too have beene Su sterl ike. But though wi th greevous woundI then were striken too the hart , although the ragi ng flameDid burne with in : yit take I God too witnesse of the same,I did as much as lay in mee th i s outrage for too tame.And long I stryved (wretched wench) too scape the violent DartOf Cup id . More I have endu rde of hardnesse and of smart,Than any wench (a man would th ink) were able too abyde.

Force forceth mee too shew my case which faine I st ill would hyde,And mercy at thy gentle hand i n fearfu ll wyse too crave.Thou only mayst the lyfe of mee thy lover spi ll or save.Choosewh ich thou wilt. No enmy craves th i s th i ng : but such a oneAs though shee bee alyde so sure as surer can bee none,Yi t covets shee more surely yi t alyed for too bee,And with a neerer kynd of band too l i nk her selfe too thee.

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From sending them as that day ? or have chaunged whole my mynd ?Nay rather sh ifted of the day ? For had I not beene blynd,Even God himselfe by soothfast signes the sequel e seemd too h i t.Yea rather than too wryghting thu s my secrets too commit,I should have gone and spoke myself, and presently have showdeMy fervent love . He should have seene how teares had from mee flowde.

Hee should have seene my pi teous looke ryght loverl ike . I couldHave spoken more than intoo those my tables en ter would.About h i s necke agai nst h i s wil l, myne armes I myght have wound,And had he shaakt me of, I myght have seemed for too swound.I humbly myght have kist h i s feete, and kneeling on the groundBesought h im for too save my lyfe. All thei s I myght have provedWherof al though no one alone h is stomacke could have moved

,

Yit al l toogither myght have made h i s hardened hart relen t.Perchaunce there was some fault i n h im that was of message sen t.He stept untoo h i

'm bluntly (I beleeve) and did not watchConvenien t tyme, i n merrie kew at leysure h im too catch .Thei s are the th ings that h indred mee. For certeinly I knoweNo sturdy stone nor massy steele doo th i n h i s stomacke grow.

He is no t made of Adamant. He i s no Tygers whelp.He never sucked Lyonesse. He myght with l i ttle helpBee vanqu isht. Let us give fresh charge uppon h im . Whyle I l iveWithout obteyn ing victorie I will not over give.For firstly (i f i t lay i n mee my doo ings too revoke)I should no t have begonne at all . But seeing that the strokeIs given, the second poynt i s now too give the push too win .

For neyther he (al though that I myne enterpryse should bli n)Can ever whyle he lyves forget my deede. And sith I shrink,My love was lyght, or else I meant too trap h im, he shall th ink.Or at the least he may suppose that th is my rage of loveWhich broyleth so with i n my brest, proceedes no t from aboveBy Cup ids stroke, but of some foule and filthy lust. In fyneI cannot but too wickednesse now more and more inclyne.

By wryghting i s my sute commenst : my meening doo th appeere

And though I cease : yi t can I not accounted bee for cleere.Now that that dooth remayne behynd i s much as in respectMy fond desyre too satisfy : and li ttle i n effectToo aggravate my fault withall . Thus much shee sayd. And soUnconstant was her wavering mynd still flo ting too and fro,That though i t irkt h ir for too have attempted, yi t proceedesShee i n the self same purpose of attempti ng

,and exceedes

All measure, and unhapy wench shee takes from day too clayR epulse upon repulse, and yi t shee hath not grace too stay.Soone after when her brother saw there was with her no end,He fled h is countrie fo rbycau se he would not so ofl

'

end ,And in a forreine land did buyld a Citie. Then men sayThat Byblis through despayre and thought all wholy did dismay.Shee tare her garments from her bres t

,and furiously shee wroong

Her hands, and beete her armes, and l i ke a bedlem with her toongConfessed her unlawfu ll love. But beeing of the sameDispoynted, shee forsooke h er land and hatefull house for shame,

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And followed after flying Ca une. And as the Froes of Thra ceI n doo ing of the three yeere ri tes of Ba cchus : i n lyke caceThe maryed wyv es of Buha sie saw Byblis howli ng outThrough a ll theyr cham pion feeldes . The wh ich shee leavi ng, ran aboutI n Ca ria too the Lel egs who are men in battell stout,And so too Lycia . Shee had past Crag, Limyre, and the brookeOf X anthus, and the countrie where Chym a that same pookeHath Goa ti sh body, L ion s head and bri st, and Dragons tayle,When woods did want : and Byblis now beginni ng for too quayleThrough weerynes se i n followi ng Ca une, sank down and layd her hedAgeinst th e ground, and kist the leaves that wynd from trees had shed .The N mphes of Ca ria went about in tender armes too takeHer 0 en up. They oftentymes perswaded her too slakeHer love. And woords of comfort too h ir deafe eard mynd they spakeShee s ti ll lay dumbe : and with her nayles the greenish herbes shee h ildAnd moysted with a streame of teares the grasse upon the feeldThe waternymphes (so folk repo rt) put under her a spring,Whych never myght be dryde. And could they give a greater th ing ?Immediatly even l ike as when yee wound a pitchtree rynd,The gum doo th i ssue out in droppes : or as the wes terne wyndWith gentle blas t toogither wi th the warmth of Sunne, unbyndThe yee : or as the clammy kynd of cement which they callB itumen issueth from the ground ful l fraughted therewithallSo Phoebus neece Dame Byblis then consuming with her teares,Was turned too a founta ine, which in those same val lyes bearesThe tytle of the founder st ill , and u sheth fres hly outFrom undernea th a Sugarches t as ifit were a spowt.The fame of th i s same wondrous th ing perhappes had fil led allThe hundred Townes of Candye, had a greater not befa ll

More neerer home by Iphys meanes transformed late beforeFor i n the shyre of Phestos hard by Gnossus dwelt of yoreA yeoman of the meaner so rt that Lyctus had too name.His stocke was simple

,and h i s wel th according too the same .

H owbeet h is lyfe so upryght was, as noman could i t blame.He came untoo h i s wyfe then big and ready downe too lye,And sayd : twoo things I wi sh thee. Tone , that when thou ou t shalt crye,Thou mayst dispa tch with li ttle payne : the other that thou haveA Boay. For Cyrles too bring them up a greater cost doo crave,And I have no ab ilitie . And therefore if thou bringA wench (i t goes ageinst my heart too thinke uppon th e th ing)Although ageinst my will, I charge i t streygh t destroyed bee .The bo nd of nature needes must beare i n th i s behalf with mee.This sed, both wept exceedingly, as well th e husband whoDid give commaundement, as the wyfe that was commaunded too .

Yit Telethusa earnestly at Lyet her husband lay,(Al though i n vayne) too have good hope, and of him selfe more stay.But he was full determined . With in a whyle, the dayApproched that the fru te was rype, and shee did looke too layHer belly every mynu te : when at m idnyght i n her restStood by her (or did seeme too stand) the Goddesse Isis, drestAnd trayned with the solemne pomp of all her rytes . Twoo hornes

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Uppon her forehead lyke the moone, with cares of rypened cornesStood gl istring as the bu rn isht gold . Moreover shee did weareA rich and stately diademe. Attendant on her wereThe barking bug Anubis, and the sain t of Buha st, andThe pydeco te Ap is, and the God that gives too understandBy finga r holden too h is lippes that men should si lence keepe,And Lybian wormes whose stingin doo th enforce continua ll sleepe,And thou Osyris whom the folk 0 Aegypt ever seeke,And never can have sought inough, and R ittlera ttl es eke .Then even as though that Telethuse had ful ly beene awake,And scene thei s th ings wi th open eyes, th us Isis too her spake .M servant Telethusa , cease th i s care, and breake the charge0 Lyct. And when Lucina shall have let thy frute at large,Bring up the same what ere i t bee. I am a Goddesse whoDelyghts i n helping folke at neede. I h i ther come too dooThee good . ThOu shalt not have a cause hereafter too complayne

Of serving of a Goddesse that i s thanklesse for thy payne .When Isis had th i s comfort given , shee went her way agayne.

A joyful] wyght rose Telethuse, and lifting too the skyHer hardened hands

,did pray her dreame myght woorke effec tually. 830

Her throwes increast, and forth al one anon the burthen came,A wench was borne too Lyctus who knew noth ing of the sameThe mother making h im beleeve i t was a boay, did bringI t up, and none but shee and nurce were priv ie too the th ing.The father thanki ng God did give the chyld the Graundsyres name,The which was Iphys. Joyfull was the moo ther of the same,Bycause the name did serve alike too man and woman both e.And so the lye through godly guile forth unperceyv ed gothe.The garments of i t were a boayes . The face of i t was suchAs eyther i n a boay or gyrle of beawtie uttered much .When Iphys was of thirteene yeeres, her father did insureThe browne Ia'

nthee untoo h ir, a wench of looke demure,Commended for her favor and her person more than al lThe Maydes of Phestos : Telest, men her fathers name did call .He dwelt i n Dyctis. They were bothe of age and favor leeke,And under both one schoolcmayster they did for nurture seeke.

And hereupon the hartes of both,the dart of Love did strecke,

And wounded both of them a leeke. But unlike was th eyr hope.Both longed for the wedding day toogither for too cope .For whom I iinthce th inkes too bee a man

,shee hopes too see

Her husband . Iphys loves whereof shee thinkes shee may not beePartaker, and the selfe same th ing augmenteth still her flame.Herself a Mayden with a Mayd (ryght straunge) i n love became .Shee scarce could stay her teares . What end remaynes for mee (quoth shee)H ow straunge a love ? how u ncoth ? how prodigious reygnes i n mee ?

I f that the Gods did favor mee,they should destroy mee quygh t.

Or if they would not mee destroy,at lea stwyse yi t they myght

Have given mee such a maladie as myght with nature stond,Or nature were acquainted wi th . A Cow is never fondUppon a Cow, nor Mare on Mare. The R am delyghts the a e,

The Stag the Hynde,the Cocke the Hen . But never man could shew

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Thyself O Goddesse, even thyself, and thei s thy rel ikes ID id once behold and knew them all : as well thy companyAs eke thy sounding rattles, and thy cressets burning by,And myndfu lly I marked what commaundement thou didst give.That I escape unpun ished, that th i s same wench dooth l ive,Thy counsell and thy hest i t i s . Have mercy now on twayne,And help us. With that word the teares ran downe her cheekes amayne.

The Goddesse seemed for too move her Al tar : and i n deedeShe moved i t. The temple doores did tremble l ike a reede.

And hom es i n l ikenesse too the Moone about the Church did shyne,

And R attles made a ra ughtish noyse. At th i s same luckie signe,

Although not wholy carelesse, yi t ryght glad shee went away.And Iphys followed after her with larger pace than ayShee was accustomd . And her face conti nued not so whyght.Her strength encreased, and her look_e more sharper was too syght .

Her heare grew shorter, and shee had a much more l ively spryght,Than when shee was a wench . For thou O Iphys who ght now'

A moo ther wert, art now a boay. With ofl'

rings both or

fl

yow

Too Church rctyrc, and there rejoyce with fayth unfearful l . TheyWith ofli 'ings went too Church ageine, and there theyr vowes did pay.

They also set a table up, wh ich th i s breef meeter had.The vowes tha t Iphys vowd a wench, he ha th p erformd a Lad.

Next morrow over all the world did sh ine with l igh tsome flame,When Juno, and Dam e Venus, and S ir Hymen joyntly cameToo Iphys mariage, who as then transformed too a boayDid take Ia'

nthee too h i s wyfe, and so her love enjoy.

Finis noni

200

T H E T E N T H B O O K E

of Ov ia’s Metamorphosis.

ROM thence in safl'ron colourd robe flewHymen throughyayre,And into Thra cia beeing calld by Otphy did repayre .

He came in deede at Otphyes ca ll : but neyther did he singThe woordes of that so lemnitie

,nor merry cou ntnance bring,

Nor any handsell ofgood lucke. His torch wi th driz l ing smokeWasdim the same too hu rneou t cleere,no sti rr ing could provoke.The end was woo rser than the signe . For as the B rydc did rome

Abrode accompa nydc with a trayne ofNymphes too bring her home,A serpent lurking in th e grasse did sting her i n the ancle :Whereof shee dydc incontinent, so swift the bane did ranclc .

Whom when the Thra cian Poet had bewayld sufli cientlyOn earth , the Ghostes departed hence he minding for too tri e,Downe at the gate of Ta na rus did go too Limbo Lake.And thence by gastly folk and soules late buried he did takeHis j ourney too Persephonee and too the king of GhostsThat like a Lo rdly tyran reignes i n those unpleasant coasts.And playing on h i s tuned harp he thus began too sound.

0 you the Sovereines of the world set underneath the round,Too whome wee al l (what ev er th ing i s made of mortal kynd)

R epayre, i f by your leave I now may freely speake my mynd,I come not h i ther as a spye the shady Hell too see

Nor yet the foule th ree headed Curre whose heares all Adders beeToo tye i n cheynes . The cause of th i s my vyage i s my fe

Whose foote a Viper stinging did abridge her you thfu ll ly e .I would have borne i t paciently : and so too doo I strave .But Love surmounted powre. Th is God i s knowen great force too haveAbove on earth . And whether he reigne heere or no I clowt,But I beleeve hee reignes heere too. I f fame that fl ies abowtOf former rape report not wrong, Love coupled also yow.

By thei s same pla ces full of feare : by th i s bowge Cha os nowAnd by the stilnesse of th i s waste and emptye Kingdome, IBeseech yee of Eurydicee unreelc the destinye

That was so swiftly reeled up. All th ings too you belong.And though wee l ingring for a whyle ou r pageants doo prolong,Yit soone or late wee all too one abyding pla ce doo romeWee haste us h i th er all : th is pla ce becomes our latest homeAnd you doo over humai ne k nd reigne longest tyme. Now whenThis woman shall have lived ull her tyme

,shee shall agen

Become your owne. The use of her but for a whyle I crave.And if the Destnyes for my wyfe dcnye mee for too haveR eleace

, I fully am reso lvd for ever heere too dwell.R ejoyce you in the death of both . As he th is tale did tell,And played on h i s instrument

,the blood lesse ghostes shed teares

Too tyre on Titius growing hart the greedy Grype forbea rcsThe shunning water Tanta lus endevereth not too drinkAnd Dana us daughters ceast too fi ll th eyr tubbes that have no brink.

20 1

Ixions wheele stood still : and downe sate Sisyphus upponHis roll ing stone . Then first of all (so fame for truth hath gone)The Furies beeing striken there with pi ti e at h i s songDid weepe. And neyther Pluto nor h i s Ladie were so strongAnd hard of stomacke too withhold h i s j ust peti tion long.They called foo rth Eurydicee who was as yi t amongThe newcome Ghosts, and limped of her wound. Her husband tookeHer wi th condicion that he should not backe uppon her looke,Unti ll the tyme that hee were past the bounds of LimboquyghtOr else too lose h i s gyft. They tooke a path that s teepe upryght

R ose darke and ful l of foggye mist. And now they were with i nA kenning of the upper earth , when Orphye did beginToo dowt h im least shee followed no t, and th rough an eager loveDesyrou s for too see her

,he h i s eyes did backward move .

Immediatly shee slipped backe . He retch ing out h is hands,Desyrous too bee caugh t and for too ketch her grasping stands.But noth ing save the sl ippry aire (unhappy man) he caught .Shee dying now the second ryme complaynd of Otp hye naught.For why what had shee too complayne, onlesse i t were of love ?Which made her husband backe en h i s eyes uppon her move ?Her last farewell shee spake so so t

,that scarce he heard the sound

,

And then revolted too the place i n wh ich he had her found.Th is double dying of h i s wyfe set Otphye i n a stound,No lesse than h im who at the sygh t of Plutos dreadfu ll Hound

That on the middle necke of th ree doo th beare an iron cheyne,

Was striken i n a sodein feare and could i t not restrcync,Unti ll the tyme h is former shape and nature beeing gone,H is body quyght was overgrowne, and turned intoo stoneOr than the fooli sh Olenus

, who on h imself did takeAnothers fault

,and gi ltlesse needes h imself would giltic make,

Toogither with h is wretched wyfe Letha a , for whose prydeThey both becomm ing stones, doo stand even yit on watry Ide.He would have gone too Hel l ageine, and earnest sute did makeBut Cha ron would not suffer h im too passe the Stygi an lake .Seven dayes he sate forlorne uppon the bank and never cateA bi t of bread. Care, teares, and thought, and sorrow were h i s meateAnd crying ou t uppon the Gods of Hell as cruell, heeWithdrew too lofty Rhodop ee and Heme which beaten beeWi th Northern wynds. Three tymes the Sunne had passed through the sheere

And watry signe of Pisces and had fin isht full the yeere.

And Otphye (were i t that h i s i ll successe hee stil l did rew,Or that he vowed so too doo) did utterly eschewThe womankynd . Yit many a one desyrous were too matchWith h im

,but he them with repulse did all al ike dispatch .

He also taught the Thra cian folke a stewes ofMales too makeAnd of the flowring pryme of boaycs the pleasure for too take .There was a hyll , and on the hyll a veric levell plotFayre greene with grasse. But as for shade or covert was there not.

Assoone as that th i s Poet borne of Goddes, i n that same placeSate downe and toucht h is tuned stri ngs, a shadow came a pace.There wanted neyther Cha ons tree, nor yi t the trees too which

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The herdes of beasts,and flocks of Birds he sate amyds th e throng.

And when h i s thumbe suffi ciently had tryed every string,And found that though they severally in sundry sounds did ri ng

,

Yit made they all one Harmonie : He thus began too sing.O Muse my mother frame my song of Jove. For every th ingI s subject untoo royall Jove. Of Jove the heavenly King

I oft have shewed the glori ous power. I erst i n graver verseThe Gyants slayne i n Phleegra feeldes with thunder, did reherse.

But now I neede‘

a meelder style too tell of prettic boyesThat were the derl ings of the Gods : and of unlawful] j oyesThat burned i n the brests of G irles, who for theyr wicked lustAccording as they did deserve, receyved penance j ust.The King of Coddes did burne erewhyle i n love of GanymedThe Phrygian, and the th ing was found wh ich Jup iter that stedHad rath er bee th an that he was . Yit could he no t beteemeThe shape of any other Bird than Aegle for too seeme .And so he soring i n the ayre with borrowed wings trust upThe Trojane boay who st ill i n heaven even yi t dooth beare h i s cup,And brings h im Necta r though agai nst Dame Junos wi ll i t bee.

And thou Amyclys sonne ( had not thy heavy desti neeAbridged thee before thy tym e) hadst al so placed beene

By Phoebus i n the firmament. H ow bee i t (as i s scene)Thou art eternal] so farre forth as may bee. For as oftAs watrie Piscis giveth place too Aries that the softAnd gentle springtyde dooth succeede the winter sharp and stowreSo often thou renewest thyself

,and on the fayre greene clowre

Doost shoote out flowres . My father bare a spec ial l love too theeAbove all others . So that whyle the God went oft too see

Eurota s and unwalled Spa rt, he left h is noble towneOfDelphos (wh ich a mid the world is si tuate i n renowne)Without a sovereigne. Neyther Harp nor Bow regarded were .Unmyndfull of h is Godhead, he refused not too beareThe nets

,nor for too hold the hounds, nor as a peynfu ll mate

Too travel] over cragged h illes,through wh ich conti nual] gate

H is flames augmented more and more . And now the sunne did standWell neere midway betweene the nyghts last past and nex t at hand .They stript themselves and noyntcd them with oyle of Olyfe fat,And fell to th rowing of a Sledge that was ryght bowge and flat.Fyrst Phoebus peysing i t did throw i t fi'

om h im with such strength,As that the weyght drave downe the clouds i n flying. And at lengthI t fell upon substantial] ground, where plai nly i t did showAs well th e cunning as the force of h im that did i t throw.

Immediatly upon desyre h imself the sport too tri e,The Sp a rtane lad made haste too take u p unadvi sedlyThe Sledge before i t still did lye . But as he was i n handToo catch i t

,i t rebounding up ageinst the hardened land,

Did h it h im full upon the face . The God h imselfe did lookeAs pale as did the lad

,and up h i s swounding body tooke.

Now culles h e h im,now wypes he from the wound the blood away,

Anotherwhyle h i s fading lyfe he stryves with herbes too stay.Nought booted Leechcraft. H elplesse was the wound. And like as one

204

B roosd violet stalkes or Poppie stalkes or L i llies growing onBrowne spindles, streigh t they withering dr00pe with heavy heads and areNot able for too hold them up, but with their tops doo stareUppon the ground. So Hya cinth i n yeeldin of h i s breathChopt downe h i s head. His necke bereft ofstrength by meanes of deathWas even a burthen too i t self

,and downe did loosely wrythe

On both h i s shoulders, now a tone and now a toother lythe.Thou faadst away my Hya cinth defrauded of the prym e

Of youth (quoth Pha bus) and I see thy wound my heynous cryme.Thou art my sorrow and my fault : th i s hand of myne hath wroughtThy death : I l ike a murtherer have too thy grave thee brought.But what have I offended thow ? onlesse that too have playd,Or if that too have loved, an offence i t may be sayd.Wou ld God I render myght my lyfe wi th and i n stead of thee.Too which syth fata ll destinee denyeth too agree,Both i n my mynd and i n my mouth thou evermore shalt bee.My Vial] stri ken wi th my hand, my son 3 shall sound of thee

,

And in a newmade flowre thou shal t wi letters representOur syghings . And the tyme shall come ere many yeeres bee spent,That i n thy flowre a valea nt Pri nce shal] j oyne h imself with thee,And leave h i s name uppon the leaves for men too reede and see.

Whyle Phe bus thus did prophesie, behold th e blood of h imWhich dyde the grasse, c eas t blood too bee, and up there sprang a trimAnd goodl y flowre

,more orient than th e Purple clo th ingrayne,

In shape a Lillye, were i t not that Lil lyes doo remayne

Of sylver colour, whereas thei s of pu le hew arc scene .

Although that Phebus had the cause 0 th i s gr eate honor beene,Yit though t he not the same ynough . And therfore did he wryghtHis syghes uppon the leaves thereof : and so i n colour b ght

The flowre hath a c wri t theron, wh ich letters are of gree‘

f.ySo small the Sp a rta nes thought the bi rth ofHya cinth repreef

Unto them, that th ey woo rsh ip h im from that day untoo th i s.And as thei r fa thers did before

,so they doe never misse

With solemne pomp too celebrate h i s feast from yeere too yeere.

But i f perchau nce that Ama thus the rich i n metta ls, weereDemaunded i f i t would have bred the Prop el s i t would sweare,

Yea even as gladly as the folke whose brewes sum tyme did beareA payre ofwelked hornes : whereo f th ey Cera stes named are.Before theyr doore an Al tar stoo d of Jov e that takes the careOf alyents and of t ravel l ers , which loth some was too see,

For lewdnesse wrought theron . I f one that had a straunger beeHad lookt thereon , he would have thought there had on it beene killdSum sucking calves or Iambes . The blood of straungers there was spilld.

Dame Venus sore offended at th i s wicked sacrifyse,Too leave her Ci ties and the land of Cyprus did devyse.

But then beth inking her,shee sayd . What hath my pleasant ground

What have my Cities trespassed ? what fault i n them i s found ?Nay rather let th i s wicked race by exyle pu nnisht beene,Or death , or by sum other th ing that i s a meane betweeneBoth dea th and exyle. What is that ? save only for too chaungeTheyr shape . I n musing with herself what figure were most straunge,

205

Shee cast her eye uppon a hom e. And therewithall shee thoughtThe same too bee a shape ryght meete uppon them too bee brought.And so shee from theyr myghty l imbes theyr native figure tooke,And tu rnd them intoo boystous Bulles with grim and cruell lookeYit durst the fil thy Prop ets stand i n stifl

'

e opin ion thatDame Venus was no Goddesse, til] shee beeing wroth thereat,Too make theyr bodies common first compelld them everychone,And after chaungd theyr former kynd . For when that shame was gone,And that they wexed brazen faast, shee turned them too stone

,

I n wh ich betweene thei r former shape was difl'rence small or none.Whom forbycau se Pygma lion saw too leade theyr lyfe i n sin,Ofl

‘

ended with the vice whereof greate store i s packt with i nThe nature of the womankynd , he led a single lyfe.

And long it was ere he could fynd i n hart too take a wyfe.

Now in the whyle by wondrous Art an image he did graveOf such proportion, shape, and grace as nature never gaveNor can too any woman give . I n th i s h i s worke he tookeA certaine love. The looke of i t was ryght a Maydens looke,And such a one as that yee would beleeve had lyfe, and thatWould moved bee

,i f womanhod and reverence letted not

So artificial ] was the work . He woondreth at h is Art,And of h is counterfetted corse conceyveth love i n hart .He often touch t i t, feeli ng if the woork that he had madeWere veric flesh or Ivorye st ill . Yit could he no t perswadeHimself too th ink i t Ivory. For he oftentymes i t k ist,And thought i t k issed h im ageine. He hild i t by the fist

,

And talked too i t. He beleeved h i s fingars made a dintUppon her flesh, and feared least sum blacke or broosed printShould come by touch ing over hard. Sum tymc with pleasaunt boordsAnd wanton toyes he dal yingly doo th cast foorth am orous woords .

Sum timc (the giftes wherei n yong Maydes are wonted too delygh t)He brough t her owches

,fyne round stones, and Lillyes fayre and whyght,

And pretie singing birds, and flowrcs of thousand sorts and hew,And peynted balles, and Amber from the tree disti lled new.

In gorgeous garments furthermore he did her also decke,

And on her fingars put me rings, and cheynes about her necke.R iche perles were hanging at her cares, and tablets at her brest.All kynd of th ings became her well . And when she was undrest

,

Shee seemed not lesse beawtifu ll . He layd her in a bedThe which with scarlet dyde i n Tyre was richly overspred,And terming her h i s bedfellow

,he couched downe h ir h ead

Uppon a p il low soft, as though shee coul d have felt the same.The feast of Venus hall owed through the I le of Cyprus, cameAnd Bullocks whyght with gilden hom es were slayne for sacrifyse,

And up too heaven of frankincence th e smoky fume did ryse.When as Pygma lion having doone h i s dutye that same day,B eefore the altar standing, thus with fearefull hart did sayIf that you Coddes can all th ings give

,then let my wife (I pray)

(He dur’st no t say bee yoonsamc wench of Ivory, but) bee leeke

My wench of Ivory. Venus (who was nought at all to seekeWhat such a wish as that did meene) then present at her feast,

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Shee feeles her fil thye love, and stryv es ageynst i t, and with i nHerself sayde : whi ther roonnes my mynd ? what th inke I to begi n ?

Yee Gods (I pray) and godlynesse, yee holy ri tes and aweOf parents

,from th is heynou s cryme my vicious mynd withdrawe,

And d isappoynt my wickednesse. At leastwyse i f i t beeA wickednesse that I intend . As farre as I can see,This love infr indgeth not the bondes of godlynesse a wh it.For every other l iving wyght dame nature dooth permi tToo match without ofl’ence of sin . The H ecfer thinkes no shameToo beare her father on her backe : The Horse beestrydes the sameOf whom he i s the syre : The Gote dooth bucke the Kid that heeHimself begate : and birdes doo tread the self same b irdes wee see

Of whom they hatched were before . I n happye cace they areThat may doo so without offence . But man s malicious careHath made a brydlc for i t self, and spyghtfu ll lawes restrcyncThe th ings that nature setteth free : yit are thei r R ealmes (men sayne)I n which the m oother with the sonne, and daughter with the fatherDoo match, where through of godlynesse the bond augments the ratherWith doubled love. Now wo i s mee i t had not beene my lo tI n that same countrie too bee borne . And that th i s lucklesse plotShould h inder mee. Why thinke I th us ? Avaunt u nlawfull love.I ought too love h im I confesse : but so as dooth behoveHi s daughter : were not Cinyra s my father then , Iwi sI myght obtaine too lye wi th h im . But now bycau se he i sMyne owne, he cannot bee myne owne. The neerencsse of our ki nDooth hurt me . Were I further of perchaunce I more myght win .

And if I wist that I therby th i s wickednesse myght shunne,I woul d forsake my native soyle and farre from Cyp rus runne.Th is cv ill hea te dooth hold mee backe, that beeing present stillI may but tal ke with Cinyra s and looke on h im my fi ll,And touch

,and kisse h im

,if no more may further graunted bee .

Why wicked wench ? and canst thou hope for further ? doost not seeHow by thy fault thou doost confound the ryghts of name and kin ?And wilt thou make thy mother bee a Cucqueane by thy sin ?Wilt thou thy fathers leman bee ? wilt thou bee both the moo ther

And suster of thy chyld ? shall he bee both thy sonne and brother ?And standst thou not i n feare at all of those same su sters th reeWhose heads with crawling snakes i n stead of heare bemattcd bee ?Which pushing wi th theyr cruel l bronds folks eyes and mouthes, doo see

Theyr sinful] harts ? but thou now whyle thy body yi t i s free,Let never such a wickednesse once enter i n thy mynd .

Defyle not myghtye natures hest by lust ageinst thy kyndWhat though thy will were ful ly bent ? yi t even the very th ingI s such as will not suffer thee the same too end too bring .For why he beeing well disposde and godly, myndeth aySo much h i s dewtye, that from ryght and truth he will not stray.Would God lyke furie were i n h im as i s i n mee th i s day.This sayd, her father Cinyra s (who dowted what too dooBy reason of the worthy store of suters wh ich did woo

His daughter,) bringi ng all theyr names did will h ir for too showOn which of them shee had herself most fancie too bestow .

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At first shee h ild her peace a whyle, and looking wistly onHer fathers face, did boyle with i n : and scalding teares anonR an downe her vi sage. Cynira s, (who thought th em too proceedeOf tender harted shamefas tnesse) did say there was no needeOf teares, and dryed her cheekes , and kist her . Myrrha tooke of i tExceeding pleasure i n her selfe : and when that he did witWhat husband shee di d wish too have, shee sayd : one l ike too yow.

He unders tanding not h ir thought, did well her woordes allow.

And sayd : i n th i s thy godl y myud continew. At the nameOf godlynesse, shee cast mee downe her looke for very shame.For why her giltic hart did knowe shee well deserved blame .

Hygh mydnight came, and sleepe bothe care and carkesses opprest,But Myrrha lying brode awake could neyther sleepe nor rest.

Shee fryes i n Cup ids flames , and woorkes continewal ly uppon

Her furious love . One while shee s inkes i n decpc despayre. AnonShee fu lly myndes to give attempt, but shame doth hold her i n .Shee wisshes a nd shee wotes not what too doo

,nor how too gin .

And like as when a m ightye tree with axes heawed rownd ,Now recdye with a strype or twa ine to lye uppon the grownd,Uncerteine i s wh ich way to fall and tottrc th every way :Even so her mynd with dowtfu ll wound efl

'

eebled then did strayNow heere now there uncerteinely, and tooke of bothe encreace.

No measure of her love wa s found, no rest, nor yi t releacc ,Save onely death . Death likes her be st. Shee ryseth, full i n myndTo hang herself. About a post her girdle she doth bynd .And sayd farewell deere Cinyra s, and understand the causeOf th i s my death . And with that woord about her necke shee drawesThe nooz e. Her tru stye nu rce that i n another Chamber lay,By fortune heard the wh ispring sound of the is her woo rdes (folk say) .The aged woman rys ing up u nbo ltes the doore . And whanShee saw her i n that ply ht of death

,shee shreeking ou t began

Too smyght her self, an scra tcht her brest, and quickly too herAnd rent the girdle from her necke . Then weeping bi tterlyAnd holding her betweene her armes

,shee askt the question why

Shee went about to hang her self so unadvi sedl y.The Lad h illd her peace as dumb, and looking on th e groundUnmovably

,was sorye i n her hart for beeing found

Before shee had d ispa tcht hers elf. Her nu rce still at her lay,And shewing her her emptie dugges and naked head all gray,Besought her for the paynes shee tooke with her both n ight and dayIn rocking and i n feeding her, shee would vouch safe to sayWhat ere i t were that greeved her. The Ladye turnd awayDisplea sd e and fetcht a sygh . The nu rce was fully bent i n myndToo bowl t the matter ou t : for which not onely shee did byndHer fayth

,i n secret th ings to keepe : but also sayd, put mee

In trust too fynd a remedye. I am not ( thou shal t see)Yit al toogither dull d by age . I f furiousenesse i t bee,I have bothe charmes and chaunted herbes to help . I f any wyghtBewitcheth thee

,by witchcraft I will purge and set thee quyght .

Or if it bee the wrath of God , we shall with sacrifyseAppease the wrath of God right well. What may I more surmyse ?

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No theeves have broken i n uppon th i s house and spoyld the welth .

Thy mother and thy father bothe are l iving and i n b elth .

When Myrrha heard her father naamd , a greevou s sygh she fetEven from the bottom of her hart. H owbeet the nurce as yetMisdeemd no t any wickednesse. But nerethelesse shee gestThere was some love : and standing i n one purpose, made requestToo breake her mynd u ntoo her. And shee set her tenderlyUppon her lappe. The Ladye wept and sobbed bitterly.Then cu ll ing her i n feeble armes

,shee sayd I well eSpye

Thou art i n love. My diligence i n th i s behalf I swea reShall serv isable too thee bee . Thou shalt not neede too feareThat ere thy father shall i t knowe. At that same woord shee leptFrom nurces lappe l ike one that had beene past her witts, and steptWith fury to her bed, at which shee leaning downe h i r faceSayd, hence I pray thee : force mee not to shewe my shameful] cace .And when the nurce did urge her stil]

,shee answered eyther get

The hence, or ceace too aske mee why myself I thus doo fretThe th ing that thou desyrste too knowe i s wickednesse. The o ldPoore nu rce gan quake

,and trembling both for age and feare did hold

Her handes to her. And kneeli ng downe righ t humbly at her feete,One whyle shee fayre i ntreated her with gentle woordes and sweete,Another whyle (onlesse shee made her priv ie of her sorrow)Shee threa tned her

,and put her i n a feare shee would next morrow

Bewray her how shee went about to hang herself. But ifShee told her

,shee did plygh t her fayth and help too her releef.

Shee li fted up her head, and then with teares fast gu sshing ou t

Beesloobered all her nurces brest : and going oft aboutToo speake, shee often stayd : and with her garments h id her faceFor shame

,and lastly sayd : O happye i s my moothers cace

That such a husband hath : with that a greevous sygh shee gave,And h illd her peace. Thei s woordes of hers a trembling chilnesse draveI n nu rcis l imbes

,which perst her bones : (for now shee understood

The cace) and a ll her horye heare up stiffly staring stoodAnd many th ings she talkt to put away her cursed love,I f th at i t had beene possible the madnesse to remove .The Mayd herself to be fu ll trew the councell dooth espye

Yit if shee may not have her love shee fully myndes to dye.L ive still (quoth nurce) thou shal t obteine (shee durst not say thy father,But stayd at that .) And forbycau se that Myrrha should th e ratherBelceve her, shee conflrmd her woordes by othe. The ycerely feastOf gentle Ceres came, i n wh ich the wyv es bothe moste and leastAppareld all i n whyght, are woont the firstl ings of the feeldFyne arlonds made of cares of com e too Ceres for to yeeld .

And or the space of thryce th ree nyghts they counted i t a sinTo have the u se of any man, or once too touche h is skin .Among thei s women did the Q 1 eenc freequent the secret ri tes.Now whyle that of h i s lawfull w fe h i s bed was voyd a nyghtes,

The nurce was dooble diligent : and nding Cinyra sWell wash t wi th wyne, shee did surmyse there was a pretye lasseI n love with h im . And hyghly shee her beawty setteth ou t.And beeing asked of her yeeres, she sayd shee was about

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I am to take i t paciently. H ow bee i t too thententThat neyther with my lyfe the quick, nor with my death the deadAnoyed bee, from both of them exempt mee th i s same sted .And altring mee

,deny too mee both lyfe and death . We see

Too such as doo confesse theyr faults sum mercy shewd too bee.TheCoddes did graunt her th i s request, the last that she should make.The ground did overgrow h ir feete, and ancles as shee spake.And from her bursten toes went rootes, which wryth ing heere and thereDid fasten so the trunk with i n the ground, shee could not steare .Her bones did intoo t imber turne, whereof the marie wasThe pith

,and in to watrish sappe the blood of her did passe.

Her armes were turnd too greater boughes,her finga rs i nto twig,

Her ski n was hardned in to bark . And now her belly bigThe catch ing tree had overgrowen, and overtane her brest,And hasted for to win her neck

,and hyde i t wi th the rest.

Shee made no taryence nor delay,but met the comm ing tree,

And shroonk her face with i n the barke therof. Al though that sheeToogither with her former shape her senses all d id loose,Yit weepeth shee

,and from her tree warme droppes doo softly woose

The which her teares are had i n pryce and honour. And the MyrrheThat issueth from her gummy bark doo th beare the name of her

,

And shall doo whyle the world dooth last. The misbegotten chyldGrew still with i n the tree, and from h is mothers womb defyld

Sought meanes too bee delyvered . Her burthened womb did swellAmid the tree, and stretch t her out. But woordes wherwith to tellAnd utter foorth her greef did want . She had no u se of speechWith which Lucina i n her throwes shee m ight of help beseech .Yit like a woman labring was the tree, and bowwing downeGave often sighes

,and shed foorth teares as though shee there shoul d drowne.

Lucina to th i s wofu ll tree came gen tly downe, and laydHer hand theron

,and speaking woordes of ease, the midwife playd.

The tree did cranye, and the barke dev iding made away,And yeelded out the chyld alyve, which cryde and wayld streyght way.

The waternymphes uppon the soft sweete hearbes the chyld did lay,And ba thde h im with h i s mothers teares . His face was such , as spyghtMust needes have praysd . For such he was i n all condicions righ t

,

As are th e naked Cup ids that i n tables picturde bee.But too thentent he may wi th them i n every poyn t agree,Let eyther h im bee furnisshed with wings and quiver light,Or from the Cup ids take theyr wings and bowes and arrowes qui

ght.

Away sl ippes fleeting tyme unspyde and mocks u s too our cc ,

And noth ing may compare wi th yeares i n swiftnesse of theyr pace.That wretched imp whom wickedly h i s graundfa ther bega te,And whom h is cursed suster bare

,who h idden was alate

With in the tree,and lately borne

,became immediatly

The beawtyfu llyst babe on whom man ever set h i s eye .Anon a stripl ing hee became, and by and by a man,And every day more beawtifull than other he becam .

That i n 'the end Dame Venus fell i n love wi th h im : wherbyHe did revenge the outrage of h i s mothers v illanye.

For as the armed Cup id ki st Dame Venus, unbeware

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An arrow sticking out did raze h i r brest uppon the bare .The Goddesse being wounded, thrust away her sonne. The woundAppeered no t too bee so decpc as afterward was found.I t did deceyve her at th e first. The beawty of the ladInflaamd h ir. Too Cythera I le no mynd at all shee had,Nor u ntoo Paphos where the sea beats round about the shore,Nor fisshy Gnyde, nor Ama thus that hath of m etta lls store :Yea even from heaven shee did absteync . Shee Iovd Adonis moreThan heaven . To h im shee clinged ay, and bare h im companye.

And in the shadowe woont shee was too rest continually,And for too set her beawtye ou t most seemely too the eyeBy trimly decking of her self. Through bushy grounds and groves

,

And over Hill s and Dales,and Lawnds and stony rocks shee roves

,

Bare kneed with garment tucked up according too the woontOf Phebe

,and shee cheerd the hounds wi th hallowi ng like a hunt

,

Pursewing game of hu rtlesse sort, as Hares made lowe before,Or stagges wi th lofy

e heades,or bucks . But wi th the sturdy Boare

,

And raven ing wool and Bearewhelpes armd with ugly pawes, and eekeThe cruell Lyons which delyght i n blood, and slaughter seeke,Shee meddled no t. And of theis same shee warned also theeAdonis for too shoonne them

,i f thou wooldst have warned bee.

Bee bold on cowards (Venus sayd) for. whoso dooth advaunce

H imselfe against the bold, may hap too m eete with sum m ischaunce .

Wherfore I pray thee my sweete boy forbeare too bold too bee,For feare thy rashnes se hurt thy self and woork the we of mee.Encounter no t the kynd of beastes whom nature armed hath

,

For dowt thou buy thy prayse too deere procuring thee sum scath .Thy tender youth

,thy beawty bryght, thy countnance fayre and brave

Although they had the force too win the hart of Venus, haveNo powre ageinst the Lyons, nor ageinst the bri stled swyne.

The eyes and harts of savage beas ts doo nought too thei s inclyne.

The cruel] Boares beare thunder in theyr hooked tushes, andExceeding force and feercenesse is i n Lyons too withstand

,

And sure I hate them at my hart . Too h im demaunding why ?A monstrous chaunce (quoth Venus) I wi ll tell thee by and by,That hapned for a fault. But now unwoonted toyle hath madeMee weerye : and beholde, i n tyme th i s Poplar with his shadeAl lureth

,and the ground for cowch dooth serve too rest uppon.

I prey thee let us rest us heere. They sate them downe anon,And lying upward with her head uppon h i s lappe along,Shee thus began : and in her tale shee bussed h im among.

Perchaunce thou hast or th i s tyme hard of one that overcameThe swiftest men i n foo temansh ippe : no fable was that same.

She overcame them out of dowt. And hard i t i s to tellThee wh i ther she did in footemansh ippe or beawty more excel] .Uppon a season as she askt of Phebus, what he wasThat should her husba nd bee

,he sayd . For husband doo not passe,

O Ata la nta , thou at all of husband hast no neede :Shonne husbanding . But yi t thou canst not shonne i t I thee reede ;Al e thou shalt not be thy self. Shee being sore afrayd0 th i s Apollos Oracle , did keepe herself a mayd,

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And lived i n the shady woodes . When wooers to her came,And were of her importunate, shee drave away the sameWith boystou s woordes, and with the sore condit ion of the game .I am no t too be had (quoth shee) onlesse yee able beeI n ronning for too vanqui sh mee. Yee must contend wi th meeI n footemansh ippe. And who so winnes the wager, I agreeToo bee h is wife. But i f that he bee found too slowe, then heeShal l lose h i s head. This of your game the verrye law sha ll bee .Shee was i n deede u nmercifu ll . But such is beawties powre,That though the sayd condition were extreme and over sowre,Yi t many suters were so rash too undertake the same .Hippomenes as a locker on of th i s uncu rteou s game,Sate by

,and sayd : I s any man so mad to seeke a wyfe

With such apparant peri l] and th e hazard of h i s lyfe ?And utterly he did condemne the yongmens love . But whenHe saw her face and bodye bare, (for why the Lady thenDid strippe her too her naked skin) the which was li ke too myne,Or rather ( i f that thou Wert made a woman) l ike too thyneHe was amaz de. And holding up h i s hands too heaven

,he sayth

Forgive mee you with whom I found such fault even now : I n faythI did not know the wager that yee ran for. As h ee praysethThe beawty of her

,i n h im selfe the fyre of love he rayseth .

And through an envy fearing least shee shou ld a way be woonne,He wisht that nere a one of them so swift as shee might roonne.

And Wherfore (quoth hee) , put not I myself i n preace too t ryeThe fortune of th i s wager ? God h imself continuallyDooth help the bold and hardye sort . Now whyle H ippomenes

Debates thei s th i ngs with i n h im selfe and other l ike to these,

The Dam z ell ronnes as i f her feete were wings . And though that sheeD id fly as swift as arrow from a Tu rkye bowe : yit heeMore woondred at her beawtye than at swiftnesse of her paceHer ronning greatly did augment her beawtye and her grace.The wynd ay whisking from her feete the labells of her socksUppon her back as whyght as snowe did tosse her golden locks,And eeke thcmbroydred garters that were tyde benea thc her hA rednesse mixt wi th whyght uppon her tender bodye cam,As when a scarlet curta ine streynd ageinst a playstrcd wal lDooth cast l ike shadowe, making i t seeme ruddye therwithal] .Now whyle the straunger noted th i s, the race was fully ronne,And Ata lant (as shee that had the wager cleerely wonne)Was crowned with a garlond brave . The vanqu isht s ig

h ing sore,Did lose theyr lyves according too agreement made be ore.H owbeeit nought at all dismayd wi th thei s m ennes luckl esse caceHe stepped foorth , and looking full uppon the maydens face,Sayd : Wherfore doos t thou seeke renowne i n vanqu isshing of suchAs were but dastards ? cope wi th mee . I f fortune bee so muchMy freend too give mee victorie, thou needest not hold scorneToo yeeld too such a noble man as I am . I am borneThe sonne of noble Mega ree Onchestyes sonne, and heeWas sonne to Nep tune. Thus am I great graundchyld by degreeI n ryght descent, of h im that rules the waters . Neyther doo

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Of all the Cyp rian feelds : the same was consecrate too meeIn auncient tyme

,and of my Church the glebland woont too bee .

Amid th i s feeld,with golden leaves there growes a goodly tree

The crackl ing boughes whereof are all of yellew gold. I cameAnd ga thered golden Apples three : and bear ing thence the sameWith in my hand, immediatly too H ippomen I gatI nvisible too all wyghts else save h im and taught h im whatToo doo wi th them . The Trumpets blew : and girding forward

,both

Set foorth , and on the hovering dust with n imble feete eche goth .A man would think they able were uppon the Sea too goAnd never wet theyr feete, and on the ayles of com e alsoThat still i s growing in the feeld

,and never downe them tread .

The man tooke courage at the showt and woordes of them that sed,

Now now i s tyme H ipp omenes too ply i t, hye a paceEnforce thyself with all thy strength : lag not i n any caceThou shalt obteine. I t i s a th ing ryght dowtfull whither heeAt thei s well will i ng woordes of theyrs rejoysed more, or shee.O Lord how often when shee might ou tstrippe h im did shee stay,And gazed long uppon h i s face, righ t loth too go her way ?A weerye breath proceeded from theyr parched lippes, and farreThey had too ronne . Then Nep tunes imp her swiftnesse too disbarre,Trolld downe a tones ide of the way an Apple of the three.Amaz de thereat, and covetous of the goodly Apple, sheeDid step a syde and snatched up the roll i ng fru te of gold .With that H ipp omenes coted her. The folke that did beholdMade noyse with clapping of theyr hands . She recompenst her slo theAnd losse of ryme wi th foo temanshippe : and streigh t ageine ou tgothe

H ippomenes, leaving h im beh ind : and beeing stayd agenWith taking up the second, shee h im overtooke. And whenThe race was almost at an end : He sayd : O Goddesse, thouThat ar t the author of th is gift, ass i st mee freendly now.

And therwithal l, of purpose that she might the longer beeI n comm ing, hee with all h i s might did bowlc the last of threeA skew a toneside of the feelde. The Lady seemdc too makeA dowt in taking of i t up. I forced her too takeI t up

,and too the Apple I did put a heavy weyght,

And made i t of such massinesse shee could not l ift i t streigh t.And least that I i n tel ling of my tale may longer beeThan they in ronning of their race, outstripped quight was shee.And he that wan her, marying her enjoyd her fo r h i s fee .

Th inkst thou I was not woorthy thanks, Adonis, th i nkest thowI earned no t that he too mee should frankincence allow ?

But he forgetful] , neyther thanks nor frankincence did give.By meanes wherof too sooden wrath he j ustly did me drive,For beeing greeved with the spyght, bycau se I would not beeDespysd of such as were too come, I though t i t best for meeToo take such vengeance of them both as others might take heedeBy them . And so ageinst them both i n anger I proceede.

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A temple of the mother of the Coddes that vowwed wasAnd buylded by Echion in a darksome grove, they passe.There th rough my migh t H ipp omenes was toucht and stirred so,That needes he woul d too Venerie though ou t of season go.Not farre from th i s same temple wa s with li ttle light a denWith pommye vawltcd naturally, long con secrate ere thenFor old religion , not unlike a cave : wher priests of yoreBestowed had of Images of wooden C oddes good

_ store.H ippomenes entring herintoo defyld the holy placeWith h i s u nlawq lust : from which the Idolls turnd theyr face .And Cybell wi th the towred toppes disdeyning, dowted whitherShee i n the lake of Styx might drowne the wicked folk toogither .

The pennance seemed over lyght, and therefore shee did cawscThinne yel low manes to growe uppon theyr necks : and hooked pawesI n stead of fingars too su cceede. Theyr shoulders were the sameThey were before : with woo ndrou s force decpc brested they beecam e.

Theyr looke beecame feerce, cruell, grim, and sowre : a tufted tayle

Stretcht ou t i n length farre after them upon the ground dooth trayle.

I n stead of speech they rore : i n stead of bed they haunt the woodAnd dreadq unto others, they for all theyr cruell moodeWith tam ed teeth chank Cybell s bitts in shape ofLyons. Shonne

Thei s beastes, deere hart : and not from thei s alonely see thou ronne,But al so from eche other beast that turnes not backe too fl igh t

,

But ofl'reth with h is boystows brest too t ry the chaunce of fyghtAnem is leas t thy valeantncssc bee hurtq to us both .Thi s warning given, wi th yoked swa nnes away through aire she goth .But manhod by admoni shment restrcyned could not bee.

By chaunce hi s hounds in following of the tracke,a Boare did see,

And rowsed h im . And as the swync was comm ing from the woodAdonis h i t h im with a da rt a skew, and drew the blood .The Boare streyght with h i s hooked groyne the huntingstaffc out drewBes tayncd wi th h i s blood, and on Adonis did pursew,Who trembling and rc tyring back too place of refuge drew,And hyding i n h i s codds h i s tuskes as farre as he could thrustHe layd h im all along for dea d uppon the yellow dust.Dame Venus i n her chariot drawen with swannes was scarce arrivedAt Cyp rus, when shee knew a farre the sygh of h im depryvedOf lyfe. Shee turud her Cygnets backe, and when shee from the skyeBeehi h im dead, and i n h i s blood beweltred for to lye,Shee leaped downe

,and tare at once h i r garments from her brist,

And rent her heare, and beate uppon her stomack wi th her fis t,And blam i ng so re the des tnyes, sayd : Yit shal] they not obteineThei r will i n all th i ngs . Of my greefe remembrance shall remayne( Adonis) whyle the world doth last. From yeere too yeere shall groweA thing that of my heav inesse and of thy death shall showeThe l ively l ikenesse . I n a flowre thy blood I will bestowe.

Hadst thou the powre Persephonee rank sented Mints too makeOf womens l imbes ? and may not I lyke powre upon mee take

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Without disdeine and spyght, too turne Adonis too a flowre ?This sed, shee sprinckl ed Nectar on the blood, wh ich through the powreTherof did swell l ike bubbles sheere that ryse i n weather cleereOn water. And before that full an howre expyred weere,Of all one colour wi th the blood a flowre she there did fynd,Even like the flowre of that same tree whose frute i n tender ryndeHave pleasant graynes inclosde. H owbeet the u se of them is short.For why the leaves doo hang so loc ce through l ightnesse i n suchAs that the windes that al l th ings perce, with every li ttle blastDoo shake them of and shed them so

,as that they cannot last.

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The rugged stones did moorne for h im , the woods wh ich many a tyme

Had foll owed h im too heere h im sing, bewayled thi s same cryme .Yea even the trees lamenting h im did cast theyr leavy heare.The rivers also with theyr teares (men say) encreased were.Yea and the Nymphes of brookes and woods uppon theyr streames did sayleWith scattred heare about theyr cares, in boats with sable sayle.H is members lay in sundrie steds. His head and harp both camTo Hebrus and (a woondrou s th ing) as downe the streame they swam,His Harp did yeeld a moorn ing sound : h is l ivelesse toong did makeA certeine lamentable noyse as though i t still yi t spake

,

And bothe the banks i n moorn ing wyse made answer too the same.At length a downe theyr country streame too open sea they came,And lyghted on Methymnye shore i n Lesbos land. And thereNo sooner on the forreine coast now cast a land they were,But that a cruel] naturde Snake did streyght uppon them fly

,

And licking on his ruflled h eare the which was dropping drye,

Did gape too tyre uppon those lippes that had beene woont to singMost heavenly hymnes. But Phebus streyght preventing that sameDispoynts the Serpent of his hit, and turnes h im in to stoneWith gapi ng chappes . Already was the Ghost of Orphye goneTo Plutos realme, and there be all the places eft beeh il ldThe wh ich he heretoofore had scene. And as he sought the feeldOf fayre Elysion (where the soules of godly folk doo woonne,)He found h i s wyfe Eurydicee, to whom he streyght did roonneAnd h illd her i n imbracing armes . There now he one wh ile walksToogither with h i r checke by cheeke : another wh ile he stal ksBefore her, and another whyle he followeth her . And nowWithout all kinde of forfeyture he saufly myght avowHis looking bakward at h i s wyfe . But Ba cchus greeved atThe murther of the Chapleine of h i s Orgies

,suffred not

The m ischeef unrevengd too bee. For by and by be boundThe Thra cian women by the feete with wri then roote i n ground,As many as consenting too th i s wicked act were found.And looke how much that eche of them the prophet did pursew,So much he sharpenin of thei r toes

,with in the ground them drew.

And as the bird,thatgnds her leg besnarled i n the net

The wh ich the fowlers su ttlelyc bathe clocely for her set,And feeles shee cannot get away

,stands fl i ckering with her wings

And wi th her feareful l leaping up drawes clocer still th e stri ngsSo eche of thei s

,when i n the ground they fa stned were, assayd

Aflayghtcd for to fly away. But every one was staydWith winding roote which h illd her downe : her fri sking could not boote.And whyle she lookte what was become of TO , of nayle, and foote,Shee sawe her leggs growe round i n one, and turn ing intoo woode.And as her thyghes with violent hand shee sadly striki ng stoode,Shee felt them tree : her brest was tree : her shoulders eeke were tree.Her armes long boughes yee mygh t have thought, and not deceyved bee.But Ba cchus was not so conten t : he uyght forsooke their land,And with a better companye removedou t of hand

Unto the Vyneyarde of h i s owne mount Tmolus, and the riverPa ctolus though as yi t no streames of gold i t did deliver,

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Ne spygh ted was for precious sands . His olde accu stomd routOf woodwards and of franticke froes envyrond h im about.But old Silenus was away. The Phrygi an ploughmen foundHim reeli ng bothe for droonkennesse and age, and brought h im boundWith garlands, unto Mida s king of Phtygi a , unto whomThe Thra cia n Orphye and the preest Eumolphus comming fromThe towne ofAthens erst had taught the Orgies . When he knewH is fellowc and companion of the selfe same badge and crewU pon the comm ing of th is guest, he kept a feast the spaceOFtwyce fyve dayes and twyce fyv e nyghts toogither i n that place.

And now thelevcnth ryme Lucifer had mu stred i n the skyThe heavenly host, when Mida s commes too Lydia j ocundlyAnd yceldes the old Silenus too h is fosterchyld . He gladThat he h i s fosterfather had eftsoo nes recovered

,bad

Ki ng Mida s ask h im what he would . R igh t glad of that was hee,

But not a whi t at latter end the better should he bee.

He minding too misuse h i s giftes, sayd : graunt that all and someThe wh ich my bod y towcheth bare may yell ow gold become.

Ba cchus grauntin h i s reques t, h is hurtful] gift performd,And that he had no t tter wish t he i n h i s stomacke stormd.

R ejoycing i n h i s harme away full merye goes the king :And for too try h i s promi s true he towcheth every th ing

Scarce giving credi t too h imself, he pulled yoong greene twiggsFrom of an H o lmctree : by and by all golden were the spriggs .He tooke a flintstone from the ground, the stone l ikewyse becamePure gold. He towchcd nex t a clod of earth, and streigh t the sameBy force of towching did become a wedge of yellow gold .He gathered cares of rypened corne : immediatly, beholde,The corne was gold . An Apple then he pull ed from a treeYee woul d have thought the Hesperid s had given i t h im . I f heeOn Pil lars h igh h i s fingars layd , they glistred l ike the sonne .The water where he wash t h i s hands did from h i s hands so ronne,As Dana e might have beene therwi th beguyld . He scarce could holdH is pas s ing joyes with i n h i s hart, for making all th ings gold.Wh lc he thus joyd, h i s ofli cers did spred the boord anon,Ami

,

set downe sundry sorts of meate and manchea te theruppon .

Then whither his ha nd did towch the bread, the bread was massy goldOr wh i th er he chawde with hungry teeth h i s mea te, yee might beholdThe peece of meate betweene h is jawes a plate of gold too bee .In drinki ng wine and water mixt, yee myght di scerne and seeThe liquid gold ronne downe h i s th rote. Amazed at the s traungeMischaunce

,and being both a wretch and rich, he wi sh t too chaunge

H is ri ches for his former state, and now' he did abhorre

The th ing wh ich even but late before he cheefly longed for.No meate hi s hun er slakes : h i s throte i s shrunken up with thurstAnd j ustly doo th i s hatefu ll gold torment h im as accurst.Then lifti ng up his so ry armes and handes too heaven, he crydeO father B a cchus pa rdon mee . My sinne I will not hyde .Have mer cy I beseec h thee and vouchsauf too rid mee quyghtFrom thi s same harme that seemes so ood and glorious untoo sygh t.

The gentle Ba cchus streight uppon confession of h i s cryme

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[ I O

R estored Mida s too the state hee had i n former tyme.

And having made performance of h i s promis,hee beereft h im

The gift that he had graunted h im . And least he should have left h imB cedawbed with the drcgges of that same gold which wickedlyHee wisshed had, he willed h im too get h im by and byToo that great ryver which doo th ronne by Sa rdis towne, and thereAl ong the chanell up the streame h i s open armes to beareUntill h e comm eth too the spri ng : and then h i s head too putFull underneathe the fom ing spowt where greatest was the gut,And so i n wassh ing of h i s limbes too wash away h is cryme.The king (as was commaunded h im) ageinst the streame did clyme.

And streygh t the powre of making gold departing quyght from him,Infects the ryver, making i t with golden streame too swim .

The force whereof the bankes about so soked i n theyr veynes ,That even as yi t the yellow gold uppon the cloddes remaynes .

Then Mida s hating riches haunts th e pastu regrounds and groves,And up and down wi th Pan among the Lawnds and mountaines roves.

But still a head more fat than wyse,and dolti sh wit he bath ,

The wh ich as erst,yi t once aga ine must woork theyr mayster scath .

The mountayne Tmole from loftye toppe too seaward looketh downe,And spreading farre h i s boorely sydes, extendeth too the towneOf Sa rdis with the tonesydc and too Hypep with the toother.There Pan among the fayrye elves that dawnced round toogitherI n setting of his conning out for singing and for playUppon h is pype of reedes and wax, presuming for too say

musick was not l ike too h i s, did take i n handA farre unequa l] match

, wherof the Tmole for'

udge shoul d standThe auncient j udge si tts downe uppon his h ill, and ridds h i s caresFrom trees : and onely on h i s head an Oken garlond weares,Wherof the Acornes dangled downe about h i s hollow brow .

And looking on the God of neate he sayd : yee neede not nowToo tarry longer for your j udge . Then Pan blew lowd and strongHis count ry pype of reedes , and wi th his rude and homely songDelighted Mida s cares

,for he by chaunce was in the throng .

When Pan had doone, the sacred Tmole too Phebus turnd h i s looke,And with the turn ing of h is h ead h i s busshye heare he shooke.

Then Phebus with a crowne of Bay uppon h is golden heareDid sweepe th e ground with scarlet robe . I n left hand he did beareHis vial] made of precious stones and Ivorye i ntermix t,And in h i s righ t hand for too strike, h i s bowe was reedy fixtHe was th e verrye paterne of a good Musician ryght.Anon he gan with conn ing hand the tuned strings too smyght,The sweetenesse of the wh ich did so the judge of th em delyght,That Pan was wi lled for to pu t h is R eedepype i n h is caceAnd not too fiddle nor too s ing where v iall s were in placeThe j udgement of the holy h ill was lyked well of all,Save Mida s

, who found fault therwith and wrongfull did i t call .Apollo could not suffer well h i s fooli sh cares too keepeTheyr humaine shape, but drew them wyde, and made them long and decpc,And hlld them full ofwhytish heares, and made them downe too sag,And through too much unstablenesse conti nually too wag.

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For u ntoo watry Thetis thus old Protew did foretell .Go marry : thou shalt beare a sonne whose doo ings shall excel]His fathers farre in fea tes of armes

,and greater he shall bee

In honour,hygh renowme

,and fame, than ever erst was hee.

Th is caused Jove the watry bed of Thetis too forbeare,

Although hi s hart were more than warme wi th love of her,for feare

The world sum other greater th ing than Jove h imself should breede,

And willd the sonne ofAea'cus th i s Peleus to succeede

I n that which he h imself would fai ne have done,and for too take

The Lady of the sea i n armes a moother her too make .There i s a bay of Thessa ly that bendeth lyke a boawe .

The sydes shoote foorth, where if the sea of any depth did floweI t were a haven . Scarcely dooth the water hyde the sand .I t hath a shore so firme

,that if a man theron doo stand,

No pri nt of foote remaynes behynd : i t hindreth not ones pace,

Ne covered i s wi th hoveri ng reeke. Adjoyning too th i s place,There i s a grove ofMyrtletrecs with fru te of dowlc colour,And in the m idds thereof a Cave . I can not tell you whi therThat nature or the art of man were maker of th e same.I t seemed rath er made by arte. Oft Thetis h i ther cameStarke naked

,ryd ing bravely on a brydled Dolph in s backe.

There Peleus as shee lay a sleepe, uppon her often bracke.And forbycau se that at her handes entreatance noth ing winnes,He folding her about the necke wi th both h i s armes

,beginnes

Too offer force. And surely if shee had not falne too wyles,And sh ifted oftentymes her shape, he had ob teind erewhyles .

But shee became sum tymes a bird : He hilld her like a bi rd .Anon shee was a massye log : but Peleus never stirdAwhit for that. Then th irdly shee of speckled Tyger tookeThe ugly shape : for feare of whose most feerce and cruell loc ke,His armes he from her body twicht. And at h i s going thence,I n honour of the watry Goddes he burned frankincence,And powred wyne uppon the sea, with fat of neate and sheepeUntil] the prophet, that dooth dwell with i n Ca rp a thian decpc,Sayd thus. Thou sonne ofAeii cus, thy wish thou sure shalt haveAlonely when shee lyes a sleepe wi th in her pleasan t Cave .Cast grinnes too trappe her u nbewares : hold fast wi th snarling knotAnd though shee fayne a hundreth shapes, deceyve thee let her not,But sticke untoot what ere i t bee, untill the tym e that sheeR eturneth too the native shape shee erst was woont too bee.

When Protevv thus had sed, with in the sea he duckt h i s head,And suffred on h i s latter woordes the water for too Spred.The lyghtsum Titan downeward drew, and with declyning chayre

Approched too the westerne sea,when Neryes daughter fayre

R eturning from the sea, resorts too her accustomd cowch .

And Peleus scarcely had begon h i r naked limbes too towch,But that shee chaungd from shape to shape, until] at length shee foundHerself surprysd . Then stretch ing out her armes wi th sighes profoundShee sayd : Thou overcommest mee, and not without the aydOf God : and then she Thetis l i ke, appeerd i n shape of mayd.

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The noble pri nce imbracing her ob teynd her at h i s willToo both theyr j oyes, and with the great Achylles did her fill.A happye wyght was Peleus i n h i s wyfe A happy wyghtWas Peleus also in h i s sonne. And if yee h im acquight

Of mu rthrin Phocus, happy h im i n all th ings count yee myght.But gi ltyc 0 hi s brothers blood

,and bann isht fo r the same

From bothe h i s fathers house and R ealme,too Tra chin sad he came.

The sonne of lyghtsum Lucifer king Ceyx (who in faceExpres t the lively beawtye of h i s fathers heavenly grace,)Without all violent rigor and sharpe executions reigndI n Tra chin. He righ t sad that tyme unlike h imself

, remaynd

Yit moo rning for h i s brothers chaunce transformed late before .When Peleus th ither came, wi th care and travayle tyred sore,He left h i s cattell and hi s sheepe (whereof he brought great store)Behynd h im in a shady vale not farre from Trochin towne,And wi th a l ittle compa nye h imself went th i ther downe .As soo ne as leave too come too Court was graunted h im, he bareA braunche of Olyf i n h is hand, and humbly did declareHi s name and lynage . Onely of h i s crime no woord hee spake

,

B ut of h i s flyght another cause pretensedly did make :Desyring leave wi th i n h i s towne or cou ntrye too abyde.

The king of Tra chin gently thus too h im ageine replyde.

Our bownty too the meanest sort (0 Peleus) dooth extendWee are no t woont the desolate our countrye too forfend.And though I bee of nature most inclyned good too doo :Thyne owne renowme, thy graundsyre Jove are forcement s thereuntoo .

Mi sspend no longer ryme in sute. I gladl y doo agreeToo graunt thee what thou wilt desyre. Thei s th ings that thou doost seeI would thou shou ld account them as thyne owne z such as they beeI would they better were . With that h e weeped . Peleus andHis frecnds desyred of h i s grecf th e cause too understand.He answerd thus. Perchaunce yee th ink th is bi rd that l ives by prayAnd putts all other bi rds i n feare had wings and fethers ay.

He was a man . And as he was righ t feerce i n feats of armes,And stout and readye bothe too wreake and also offer harmesSo was he of a constan t mynd . De da lian men h im hyght.Our fa ther was that noble starre that brings the morning bryght,And in the welkin last of all gives place too Phebus lyght.My study was too mayntc ine peace, i n peace was my delyght,And for too keepe mee true too her too whom my fayth i s plyght.My brother had felic i te i n warre and bloody fyght.His prowesse and h is force which now doo th chase in cruell flyghtThe Dooves of Thisbye si nce h is shape was al tred thus a new,

Ryght puyssant Princes and theyr R ea lmes did heeretoofore subdew.

He had a chyld call d Chyone, whom nature did endewWith beawtye so ,

that when too age of fowreteene yeeres shee grew,A thousand Pri nces li king her did for h ir favour sew.

By fortune as brygh t Phebus and the sonne of Lady MayCame tone from Delohos, toother from mount Cyllen, by the waysaw her bothe at once

,and bothe at once where tane i n love.

till the tyme of nygh t d ifferd h i s sute too move.

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But Hermes could no t beare delay. He stroked on the faceThe mayden with h i s charmed rod which hath the powre too chaceAnd bring i n sleepe : the touch whereof did cast her i n so deadA sleepe, that Hermes by and by h i s purpose of her sped .Assoone as nyght with twinckling starres the welkin had beesprentApollo i n an old wyves shape too Chyon clocely went,And tooke the pleasure wh ich the sonne ofMaya had forehentNow when shee full her tyme had gon, shee bare by Mercutye

A sonne that hyght Awtolychus, who provde a wyly pye,And such a fellow as i n theft and fil ching had no peere .He was h is fathers owne sonne righ t : he could mennes eyes so bleere

,

As for too make it black th ings whygh t, and whyght th i ngs black appeere.

And by Ap ollo (for shee bare a payre) was borne h i s brotherPhilammon, who i n musick arte excelled farre all other,As well i n singing as i n play. But what avaylcd i tToo beare such twinnes , and of twoo Goddes i n favour too have sit,And that shee too her father had a stowt and valeant knight

,

Or that her graundsyre was the sonne of Jove that God of might ?Doo th glorie hurt too any folk ? I t surely hurted her.For standing in her owne conceyt shee did herself preferBefore Diana , and d ispraysd her face : who there wi th allInflaamd with wrath , sayd well, with deedes we better please her sha ll .Immediatly shee bent her bowe

,and let an arrow go,

Which strake her through the toong, whose spigh t deserved wounding so .

Her toong wext dumb, her speech gan fayle that erst was over ryfe,And as shee stryv ed for too speake, away went blood and lyfe.

H ow wretched was I then 0 God ? how strake i t too my hart ?What woordes of comfort did I speake too case my brothers smart ?Too wh ich he gave h is care as much as dooth the stonny rockeToo h ideous t oring of the waves that doo agai nst i t knocke .There was no measure nor none ende in making of h is mone

,

Nor i n bewayling comfortlesse his daughter that was gone .But when he saw her bodye burne, fowre tymes with all h i s myghtHe russhed foorth too thrust h imself amid the fyre i n syghtFowre tymes hee beeing thence repulst, did pu t h imself too flyght,And ran mee wheras was no way, as doo th a Bu llocke whenA hornet stings h im in the necke. Mee thought hee was as thenMore wyghter farre than any man . Yee would have thought h i s feeteHad had sum wings . So fled he quyght from all, and being fleeteThrough eagernessc too dye, he gat too mount Pa rna sos knappe,And there Ap ollo pi tying h im and rewing h i s m issehappe,When as De da lian from the cl iffe h imself had headlong floong,Transformd h im too a bird

,and on the soodaine as hee hung

Did give h im wings,and bowwing beake, and hooked talants keene,

And eeke a courage ful l as feerce as ever i t had beene.And furthermore a greater strength he lent h im therwithal l

,

Than one would th inke conveyd myght bee with i n a roome so small .And now i n shape of Gossehawke hee too none i ndifferent i s,But wreakes h is teene on all birds . And bycau se h im selfe ere th i sDid feele the force of sorrowes st ing wi th i n h i s wounded hart

,

Hee maketh others oftentymes too sorrow and too smart.

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The Oxen lying every where stark dead uppon the feelde,And eeke the cruel] stroygood with h i s bluddy mouth and heare .Then Peleus stretch ing foorth h i s bandes too Seaward, prayd i n feareToo watrish Psama th that she would her sore di spleasure stay

,

And help h im. She no wh it relents too that that he did pray.But Thetis for h ir husband made such earnest sute, that sheeObteynd h i s pardon . For anon the woo lfe (who would no t beeR evoked from the slaugh ter for the sweetenesse of the blood)Persi sted sharpe and eager still, until] that as he stoodFast byghting on a Bullocks necke, shee turnd h im intoo stoneAs well i n substance as i n hew, the name of woolf aloneR eserved. For al though i n shape hee seemed still yi t one,The verry colour of the stone beewrayd h im too bee none

,

And that he was not too bee feard . H ow be i t froward fatePerm itts not Peleus i n that land too have a setled state .He wandreth l ike an outlaw too th eMagnets. There at lastAca stus the Thessa lien purgd h im of h is murther past.I n th is meane ryme the Tra chine king sore vexed in h i s thoughtWith signes that both before and si nce h is brothers death were wrought

,

For counsell at the sacret Spelles (which are but toyes too foodeFond fancyes, and not counsellers i n peril] too doo goode)Did make h im reedy too the God of Cla ros for too go .

For heathenish Phorba s and the folk of Phlegia had as thoThe way too Delphos stopt, that none could travel] too or fro .

But ere he on h is j ourney went, he made h is faythfu l l makeAlcyone preevye too the th ing. Immediatly theyr strakeA ch ilnesse too her verry bones, and pale was all her faceL i ke box, and downe her heavy cheekes the teares did gush apace .Three times about too speake

,three times shee wash t her face wi th teares

,

And stintin oft with sobbes,shee thus complayned i n h i s cares.

What ault of myne O husband deere hath turnd thy hart fro mee ?Where i s that care of mee that erst was woont too bee i n thee ?

And canst thou having left thy deere Alcyone merrye bee ?

DOO journeyes long delygh t thee now ? doo th now myne absence pleaseThee better then my presence dooth ? Th ink I that thou at easeShal t go by land ? Sha ll I have cause but onely for too moorne ?

And not too bee afrayd ? And shall my care of thy retu rneBee voyd of feare ? No no. The sea mee sore afrayd dooth make.Too th ink uppon the sea doo th cause my flesh for feare too quake.I sawe the broken ribbes of shippes a late uppon th e shore.And oft on Tumbes I reade theyr names whose bodyes long beforeThe sea had swallowed . Let not fond vayne hope seduce thy mynd,That Ae'

o'

lus i s thy fath rinlaw who holdes the boystou s wyndI n pri son, and can calme the seas at pleasure. When the wyndsAre once let looce uppon the sea, no order then them bynds .

Then neyther land hathe priviledge, nor sea exemption fynds.Yea even the clowdes of heaven they vex, and with theyr meeting stou tEnforce the fyre with h ideous noyse too brust i n flasshcs out.The more that I doo know them, (for ryght well I know theyr powre,And saw them oft a l i ttle wench wi th i n m fathers howre)So much the more I th ink th em too bee card. But if thy will

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By no intrea tance may bee turnd at home too tarry still,

But that thou needes wilt go : then mee deere husband wi th thee take.So shal l the sea us equal ly toogither tosse and shakeSo woorser than I feele I shall bee certeine not too feare50 shall wee whatsoever happes toogither joyntly beareSo shall wee on the broad mayne sea toogither joyntly sayle.Thei s woo rdes and teares Wherewi th the imp ofAeolus did assayleHer hu sbond borne of heavenly race, did make h is hart relent

(For he lovd her no lesse than shee lovd h im) . But fully bentHe seemed, neyther for too leave the j ourney wh ich he mentToo take by sea, nor yi t too give Alcyone leave as thoCompan ion of hi s perlous course by water for too go.He many woordes of comfort spake her feare away too chace

,

But nought hee could perswade therein too make her like the cace.This last a sswagement of her grecf he added in the end ,Which was the onely th ing that made her loving hart too bendAll taryance will assuredly seeme over long too mee.And by my fathers blas ing beames I make my vow too thee

,

That at the furthest ere the tyme (if God thertoo agree)The moone doo fill her circle twyce, ageine I will heere bee.When in sum hope of h i s returne th i s promis had her set,He willd a sh ippe immediatly from harbrough too bee fet,And th roughly rigged for too bee

,that neyther maast, nor sayle,

Nor tackli ng, no nor other th ing shoul d apperteyning fayle.

Which when Alcyone did behold, as one whoo se hart misgaveThe happes at hand

,shee quaakt ageine, and teares out gussh ing drave.

And streyning Ceyx i n her armes wi th pale and piteous looke,Poore wretched soule

,her las t farewell at length shee sadl y tooke,

And swounded flat uppon the ground. Anon the watermen(As Ceyx sough t delayes and was i n dowt too turne agen),Set hand too Ores, of which there were twoo rowes on eyther syde,And all at once wi th equal] stroke the swelling sea devyde.

Shee lifting up her wa tryc eyes beh illd her h usband standUppon the hatches , making signes by beckening wi th h is handAnd shee made signes to h1m ageine. And after that the landWas farre removed from the sh ip and that the sight beganToo bee unable too di scerne the ace of any man ,As lon as ere shee could shee lookt u pon the rowing keele,And w en shee could no longer ryme for distance ken i t weele,Shee looked sti ll uppon th e sayles that flasked with the wyndUppon the maast. And when shee could the sayles no longer fyndShee gate her too her empty bed with sad and sorye hart,And la (1 her downe. The chamber did renew a fresh her smart,And of

? her bed did bri ng too mynd the deere departed part.From harbrough now theyquyght were gone : and now a plasant galDid blowe . The mayster made h i s men theyr Ores asyde too hale,

And hoysed up the toppesayle on the hyghest of the ma st,

And cla t on all h i s other sayles bycause no wind should waast.Scarce tone hal f

, (or sure no t much above) the shippe had ronneUppon the sea, and every way the land did farre them shonne,

When toward n ight the wallowing waves began too waxen whyght,

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And eeke the heady easterne wynd did blow with greater myghtAnon the Mayster cryed : strike the toppesayle, let the mayneShea te flye and fardle i t too the yard. Thus spake he

,but i n vayne .

For why so h ideous was the storme uppon the soodeinc brayd ,That no t a man was able there too heere what other sayd.And lowd the sea with meeting waves extreemely raging rores .Yi t fell they too i t of themselves . Sum haalde a syde the OresSum fcnsed i n the Ga llyes sydes, sum downe the sayleclo thes rendSum pump the water out, and sea too sea ageine doo send .Another h ales th e sayleyards downe. And whyle they did eche th ingDisorderly

,th e storme increast, and from eche quarter fl i ng

The wyndes with deadly foode, and bownce the raging waves toogitherThe Pilot being sore dismayd sayth playne, he knowes not wh itherToo wend h imself, nor what too doo or b id, nor i n what stateTh ings stood . So howge the mischeefwas, and did so overmatc

All arte. For why of ra tl ing ropes,of crying men and boyes

,

Of flu ssh ing waves and thundr ing ayre, confused was the noyse ;The surges mounting up aloft did seeme too mate the skye,And with theyr sprinckl in for too wet the clowdes that hang on hye.One whyle th e sea , when 50m the brink i t raysd the yellow sand,Was like i n colour too the same . Another whyle did standA colour on i t blacker than the Lake of Styx. AnonI t lyeth playne and loometh whyght wi th seeth ing froth thereon .And with the sea the Tra chin sh ippe ay alteration tooke.One whyle as from a mou ntaynes toppe i t seemed downe too lookeToo vallyes and the depth of hell . Another whyle besetWith swell ing surges round about wh ich neere above i t met,I t looked from the bottom of the whoorlcpoole up aloftAs if i t were from hel l too heaven . A h ideous flusshing oftThe waves did make i n beating full against the Ga llyes syde.The Gal lye being striken gave as great a sownd that tyde,As did sumtym e the Battellramb of steele, or now the GonneIn making battrye too a towre. And as feerce Lyons ronneFull bri st with all theyr force ageinst the armed men that standI n order bent too keepe them of with weapons i n theyr handEven so as often as the waves by force of wynd did rave,So oft uppon the netting of the shippe they maynely drave,And mounted farre above the same . Anon of fell the hoopesAnd having washt the pi tch away

,the sea made open loopes

Too let the deadly water i n . Behold the clowdes did melt,And showers large came pooring downe . The seamen that them feltMyght thinke that all th e heaven had fal ne uppon them that same tyme

,

And that the swell ing sea l ikewyse above the heaven would clyme .

The sayles were throughly wet with showers, and with the heavenly raineWas mix t the waters of the sea : no lyghts at all remayneOf sunne

,or moone

, or starres i n heaven . The darknesse of the nyghtAugmented with the dreadful] storme, takes dowble powre and myght.H owbeet the flasshing l ightnings oft doo put the same too flygh t,And with theyr glauncing now and then doo give a soodeinc lyght.The lightnings setts the waves on fyre. Above the netting skippeThe waves

,and with a violent force doo lyght with in the sh ippe.

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Too ope h is l ippes) he harped sti ll upon Alcyones name,And when he drowned i n the waves he mu ttred still the same.Behold

,even full uppon the wave a flake of water blacke

Did breake, and u nderneathe the sea the head of Ceyx stracke .That nyght the lyghtsum Lucifer for sorrowe was so dim ,

As scarcely could a man di scerne or thinke i t too bee h im .

And forasmuch as ou t of heaven he might not steppe a syde,With th ick and darksum clowds that nyght h i s countnance he d id hyde.

of so great m ischau nce no t knowing augh t as yi tDid keepe a reckening of the nyghts that i n the whyle did fl i t

,

And hasted garments both for h im and for herself l ikewyse,Too weare at h i s homecomm ing wh ich shee vaynely did surmyse.

Too all the Goddes devoutly shee did offer frankincenceBut most above them all the Church of Juno shee did sence.And for her husband (who as then was none) shee kneeld beforeThe Altar

,wissh ing health and soone arr ival l at the shore,

And that none other woman myght before her be preferd .

Of all her prayers th i s one peece effectually was heard.For Juno could not fynd i n hart i ntreated for too bccFor h im that was already dead . But too thentent that sheeFrom Dame Alcyones deadly hands migh t keepe her Altars free,Shee sayd : Most faythfu l l messenger of my commaundments

,0

Thou R aynebowe, too th e sluggu ish house of Slombcr swiftly go,And bid h im send a Dreamc i n shape of Ceyx too h i s wyfeAlcyone, for too sh ew her playne the losing of h i s lyfe.

Dame Iris takes her pall wherei n a thousand colours were,And bowwing lyke a s tri nged bow upon the clowdy sphere,Immediatly descended too the drowz ye house of Sleepe ,Whose Court the clowdes cont inually doo clocely overdreepe.

be house Among the darke Cimmeria ns i s a hollow mounta ine found,

And in the h ill a Cave that farre dooth ronnc with in the ground,

The chamber and the dwelling place where slou thfu ll sleepe dooth cowch ;The lygh t of Phebus golden beames th i s place can never towch .

A foggye mist wi th dimnesse mixt streames upwarde from the ground,And glimmering twylyght evermore wi th i n the same i s found .No watchful] bird with barbed bill and combed crowne dooth ca llThe morn ing foorth wi th crowing ou t. There is no noyse at al lOf waking dogge

,nor gagl ing goose more waker than the hound,

Too h inder sleepe. Of beast ne wyld ne tame there i s no sound.No bowghes are stird with blastes of wynd, no noyse of tatling toongOf man or woman ever yit wi th i n that bower roong.Dumb quiet dwelleth there . Yit from the R oches foote dooth goThe ryver of forgetfulnesse, wh ich ronneth trickl i ng soUppon the l ittle pebble stones which i n the channel] lye,That u ntoo sleepe a great deale more i t dooth provoke thereby.Before the entry of the Cave

,there growes of Poppye store,

With seeded beades,and other weedes i nnumerable more,

Out of.the m ilkye jewce of wh ich the n igh t dooth gather sleepes,

And over all the shadowed earth with danki sh deawe them dreepes.

Bycau se the craking h indgcs of the doore no noyse should make,There i s no doore i n all the house

,nor porter at the gate.

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Amid the Cave, ofEbonye a bedsted s tandeth hye,And on the same a bed of downe with keeverings blacke dooth lyeI n which the drowz ye God of sleepe h i s li ther limbes dooth rest.About h im, forging sundrye shapes as many dreames lye prest,As cares of com e doo stand i n feeldes i n harvest ryme, or leavesDoo grow on trees, or sea too shore of sandye ci nder heaves.Assoone as Iris came with i n th i s house , and with her handHad put asyde the daz el ing dreames that i n her way did stand,The brightnes se of her robe th rough all the sacred house did sh ine .The God of sleepe scarce able for too ra se h is heavy eyen

,

A three or fowre tymes at the least did fil l] ageine too rest,And with h i s nodding head did knocke h i s ch inne ageinst h is brest.At length he shaki ng of h imselfe

, 11a h i s elbowe lea nde.

And though he knew for what shee came : he askt her what shee meand.

O sleepe (quoth shee ,) the rest of th ings, 0 gentlest of the Coddes,Sweete sleepe, the peace of mynd , with whom crookt care i s aye at oddesWhich cherrishest m ennes weery limbes appalld with toyl ing sore,And makest them as fresh too woork and lu stye as beeforc ,Commaund a dreame that i n theyr kyndes can every thing expresse,

Hercles towne h imself th i s i nstant too addresse.

And let h im lively counterfct too (h i ecne AlcyoneaThe image of her husband who i s drowned in the seaBy shipwrecke. Juno willeth so . Her message b eeing told,Dame Iris went her way : shee could her eyes no longer holdFrom sleepe . But when shee felt i t come shee fled that i nstant tyme

,

And by the boawc that brought her downe too heaven ageine did clyme .

Among a thousand sonnes and mo th at father slomber had,He ca l ld up Morph the feyner of mannes shape, a craftye lad .

None other could so conningly expres se mans verrye face,H is gesture and h i s sound of voyce, and manner of h i s pace,Toogither with h is woonted weede, and woo nted phrase of talk .But th is same Morphye onely in the shape of man dooth walk.There i s another who the shapes of beast or bi rd doo th take,Or else appeereth untoo men i n likenesse of a snake.The Goddes doo cal l h im Icilos, and mortall folke h im namePhobetor. There is al so yi t a th ird who fi-om theis sameWoo rkes diversly

,and Pha nta sos he h ighteth . Intoo streames

This turnes himself, and intoo stones, and earth , and timber beames,

And intoo every other th ing that wanteth life. Theis threeGreat kings and Ca teines i n the n ight are woonted for too see.

The meaner and infériour sort of others haunted bee .Sir Slombcr overpast the rest, and of the brothers allToo doo dame Iris mes sage he did only Morphye call .Which doone he wax ing luskish , streyght layd downe h i s drowz y headAnd softly shroonk h i s l ayz ye l imbes wi th i n h i s sluggish bed .Away flew Morphye th rough the aire : no fl ickring made h i s wingsAnd came anon too Tra chine. There h is fethers of he fl ings,

And i n the shape of Ceyx standes before Alcyones bed,Pale, wan, stark naakt, and l ike a man that was but lately deade .His berde seemd wet

,and of h i s head the heare was dropping drye,

And leaning on her bed,with teares he seemed thus too cry.

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Most wretched woman knowest thou thy loving Ceyx now ?Or is my face by death d isformd ? behold mee well, and thowShal t know mee. For thy husband, thou thy hu sbandes Ghost shal t see.

No good thy prayers and thy vowes have done at all too mee.For I am dead. I n vayne ofmy retu rne no reckning make.The clowdy sowth amid the sea ou r shippe did tardy take,And tossing i t with violent blastes asunder did i t shake .And floodcs have filld my mouth which calld i n vayne uppon thy name .No persone whom thou mayst m isdeeme brings tydings of th e same

,

Thou hearest not thereof by false report of flying fameBut I myself : I presen tly my sh ipwreckc too thee showe .Aryse therefore, and wofu ll teares uppon thy spouse bestowe.

Put moorning rayment on, and let mee no t too Limbo goUnmoorned for. I n shewing of th i s shipwreckc Morphye so

Did feyne the voyce of Ceyx, that shee could none other deeme,

But that i t should bee h i s i n deede. Moreover he did seemeToo Weepe i n earnest : and h i s bandes the verry gesture hadOf Ceyx. (Luecne Alcyone did grone, and beeing sadDid sti rre her armes

,and thrust them foorth h i s body too embrace.

I n stead whereof shee caught but ayre. The teares ran downe her face.Shee cryed , tarry : whither flyste ? toogither let us go .

And all th i s whyle she was a sleepe . Both with her crying so,

And flayghted with th e image of her husbands gastly spryght,She started up : and sought about i f fynd h im there shee myght.(For why her Groomes awaking with the shrecke had brought a l ight) .And when shee no where could h im fynd, shee gan her face too smyght,And tare her nyghtclothes from her brest, and strake i t feercely, andNot passing too unty her h eare she rent i t wi th her hand.And when her nu rce of th i s her greef desyrde too understandThe cause : Alcoyne i s undoone, u ndoone and cast awaWith Ceyx her deare spouse (shee sayd) . Leave com orti ng I pray.By sh ipwreckc he i s perrisht : I have scene h im : and I knewHis handes . When i n departing I too hold h im did pursew,I caught a Ghost : but such a Ghost as well di scerne I myghtToo bee my husbands . Nathelesse he had not too my syghtH is woonted countenance, neyther did h i s vi sage shyne so bryght,As heeretoofore i t had beene woont. I saw him wretched wyghtStarke naked

, pale, and with h i s beare still wet : even verry heereI saw h im stand. With that shee lookes i f any print appeereOf footing where as he did stand uppon the floore behynd .

Thi s th i s i s i t that I did feare i n farre forecasting mynd,When flying mee I thee desyrde thou should not trust the wynd .But syth thou wenteth too thy death , I would that I had goneWith thee. Ah meete, i t meete had beene thou shouldst not go al oneWithout mee . So i t should have come to passe that neyther IHad overlived thee

,nor yi t beene forced twice too dye .

Already,absent i n the waves now tossed have I bee.

Already have I perrished . And yi t the sea hath theeWithout mee. But the cruelnesse were greater farre of meThan of the sea, if aft er thy decease I still would striveI n sorrow and i n anguish still too pyne away al ive .

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For Aeolus for h i s ofsprings sake the windes at home dooth keepe,And will not let them go abroade for troubling of the decpc .An auncient father seeing them about the brode sea fly

,

Did prayse theyr love for last ing too the end so stedfastly.H is neyghbour or the selfsame man made answer (such is chaunce)Even th i s fowle also whom thou seest uppon the surges glaunceWith sp i ndle shanks, (he poynted too the wydegoawld Cormorant)Before that he became a bi rd

,of royal] race might vaunt.

And i f thou covet l ineall y h i s pedegrce too seeke,

His Auncetors were Ilus, and Assa ra cus, and eekeFayre Ga nymed who Jup iter did ravish as h i s joy,La omedon and Priamus the last that reygnd i n Troy.

Stout Hectors brother was th i s man. And had he not i n prymeOf lusty youth beene tane away

,h is deedes perchaunce i n tyme

Had purchaast h im as great a name as Hector,though that hee

OfDyma nts daughter Hecuba had fortune borne too bee.For Aesa cus reported i s begotten to have beeneBy scape, i n shady Ida on a mayden fayre and sheeneWhose name wa s Alyxothoe, a poore mans daughter thatWith spade and mattockc for h im selfe and h is a livi ng gat.Th i s Aesa cus the Citie hates, and gorgions Court doo th shonne

,

And in the unamb icious feeldes and woods alone doo th wonne.He sceldoom haunts the towne of Troy, yi t h aving not a rudeAnd blocki sh wit

,nor such a hart as could not be subdewd

By love,he spyde Eperie (whom oft he had pursewd

Through a ll the woodes) then sitting on her father Cebrius brimA drying of her heare ageinst the sonne, wh ich hanged trimUppon her back . Assoone as that the Nymph was ware of h im,She fled as when the grisild woolf dooth scare the fearefu ll hynd,Or when the Fawcon farre from brookes a Mal lard happes too fynd .

The Trojane knyght ronnes after her, and beeing swift through love,Purseweth her whom feare dooth force apace her feete to move.Behold an Adder lurking i n the grasse th ere as shee fled

,

Did byght her foote with hooked tooth , and i n her bodye SpredHi s venim . Shee did cease her flyght and soodein fell downe dead.Her lover being past his witts her carkesse did embrace,And cryde, alas i t irketh mee, i t irkes mee of th i s chace.But th i s I feard not : neyther was the gaine of that I wil ldWoorth halfe so much . Now twoo of us thee (wretched soule) have killdThe wound was given thee by the snake, the cause was given by mee.The wickedder of both am I who for too comfort theeWill make thee satisfaction with my death . With that at lastDowne from a rocke (the which the waves had u ndermynde) he castHimself intoo the sea . H owbeet dame Tethys pi tying h im,

R eceyvd h im softly, and as he uppon the waves did swim,Shee covered h im with fethers . And though fayne he woul d have dydc,Shee would not let h im . Wroth was he that death was h im denydc,And that h i s soule compelld should bee ageinst h i s will too byde

23 6

With in h is wretched body still,from which i t would depart

,

And that he was constreynd too l ive perforce ageinst h i s hart.And as he on his shoulders now had newly taken wings

,

He mounted up, and downe uppon the sea h i s boddye dings .His fethers wou ld not let h im sinke. I n rage he dyveth downe,And despratl

-

y he strives h im self continually too drowne.H is love did make h im leane, long leggs, long neck dooth st il l remayne.

H is head i s from h is shoul ders farre : of Sea he i s most fayne.And for he undernea th the waves delyghteth for too drive,A name according thereuntoo the Lati ns doo h im give.

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T H E TW E L F T H B O O K E

of Ov ids Metamorphosis .

ING Priam beeing ignorant that Aesacus h i s sonneDid l ive i n shape of bi rd, did moorne : and at a tumb wheronHis name was written

,Hector and h i s brother soleml y

Did keepe an Obi t. Pa ri s was not at th i s obsequye.

Within a whyle with rav isht wyfe he brought a lasting warreHome unto Troy. There followed h im a thowsand shippes no t farreConspyrd toogither,with the

‘

ayde that all the Greekes could fynd :And vengeance had beene tane foorthwith bu t that the cruel] wyndDid make the seas unsaylable, so that theyr shippes were fayneAt rode at fisshye Awlys i n Be otia too remayne.

Heere as the Creches according too thei r woont made sacrifyseToo Jove, and on the Altar o ld the flame aloft did ryse,They spyde a speckled Snake creepe up uppon a planetree bye,Uppon the toppe whereof there was among the braunches hyeA nest, and i n the nest eyght birdes : All which and eeke theyr damThat fl ickering flew about her losse

,the hungry snake did cram

With i n h is mawe. The standers by were al l amaz de thera t.

But Ca lcha s Thestors sonne who knew what meening was i n that,Sayd

,wee shall win . R ejoyce yee Creches, by us shall peri

But long the tyme will bee before wee may our will enjoy.And then he told them how the birds nyne yeeres did signifieWhich they before the towne of Troy not taking i t should lye .The Serpent as he wound about the boughes and braunches greene,Became a stone, and sti ll i n stone h is snaki sh shape i s scene .The seas continewed verry rough and suffred not theyr hosteImbarked for too passe from thence too take the further coast.

Sum thought that Nep tune favored Troy bycau se h imself did buyldThe wa lles therof. But Ca lcha s (who both knew, and never h illdHis peace i n tyme) declared that the Goddesse Phebe mustAppeased bee with virgin s blood for wrath conceyved j ust .Assoone as pi t ie yeelded had too cace of pupl ickc weale,And reason got the upper hand of fathers loving zeale,So that the Ladye Iph igen before the altar stoodAmong the weeping min i sters

, too give her maydens bloodThe Goddesse taking pit ie

,cast a mist before theyr eyes,

And as they prayd and stird about too make the sacrifyse,Conveyes her quight away, and with a Hynd her roome supplyes .

Thus with a slaughter m eete for her D iana beeing plea sd,The raging surges wi th her wrath toogither were appeasd,The thousand sh ippes had wynd at poope . And when they had abodeMuch trouble, at the length all safe they gat the Phtygian rode .Amid the world tweene heaven , and earth , and sea , there i s a place,Set from the bounds of eche of them indifferently i n space,

From whence i s scene what ever th ing i s practisd any where,Al though the R ealme bee nere so farre and roundly too the careCommes whatsoever spoken is . Fame hath h i s dwelling there,

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Myself, and yi t unrazed will I passe without all harme.I t i s too sum effect, not borne too bee ofNetyes race,5 0 that a man be borne of h im that wi th threeforked maceR ules Nereus and h i s daughters too, and al l the sea besyde.

This sayd,he at Achilles sent a dart that should abyde

Uppon h i s sheeld . I t perced through the steele and through nyne foldOf Oxen hydes, and stayd uppon the tenth . Achilles boldDid wrest i t out, and forcybly did throwe the same agayne.

His bodye beeing h it ageine, unwounded did remayne,And cleere from any print ofwound. The th ird went eeke i n vayne,And yi t did Cygnet too the same give full h is naked bri st.Achilles chafed like a Bull that i n the open l is tWith dreadq hornes doo th push ageinst the scarlet clothes that thereAre hanged up too make h im feerce, and when he would them teareB ooth fynd h i s wounds deluded . Then Achilles lookt upponHis Javel ings socket, i f the h ead thereof were looce or gone.The head s tacke fast. My hand byleeke is weakened then (quoth hee) ,And all the force i t had before is spent on one I see.

For sure I am it was of strength , both when I first downe threwLyrnessus wal les, and when I did I le Tenedos subdew,And eeke Ae'tions Thebe with her proper blood embrew .

And when so many of the folke of Tewthranie I slew,That with theyr blood Caycus streame became of purple hew,And when the noble Telephus did of m Dart of steeleThe dowble force, of woundi ng and o h eal ing al so feeleYea even the heapes of men slayne heere by mee, that on th i s strondAre lying sti ll too looke uppon , doo give too u nderstond

That th i s same hand of myne both had and still hath strength . Th i s sed,(As though he had distrusted all h i s doo ings ere that sted),He threw a Dart ageinst a man of Lycia land that hyghtMenetes, th rough whose Curets and h is brest h e strake h im quyght.And when he saw with dying limbes him sprawling on the ground,He stepped too h im streyght, and pu lld the Javel ing from the wound

,

And sayd alowd : This i s the hand, th i s i s the self same dartWith wh ich my hand did str ike even nowMenetes too th e hart.Ageinst my toother Copemate will I use the same : I prayToo God i t may have like successe. Th is sed

,without delay

He sent i t toward Cygnet, and the weapon did not stray,Nor was not shunned . I nsomuch i t l ighted full upponHis shoulder, and i t gave a rappe as if uppon sum stonI t lyghted had, rebownd ing backe. H owbeeit where i t h i t,Achilles saw i t bloodye, and was vaynly glad of i t.For why there was no wound. I t was Menetes blood. Then leptHe hastly from h i s Charyot downe, and like a madman steptToo carelesse Cygnet with h i s swoord . He sawe h i s swoord did pareHi s Target and h is morion bothe. But when i t toucht the bare,His bodye was so hard, i t did the edge thereof abate.He could no lenger suffer h im to tryumph i n that rate,But with the pommell of h i s swoord did thump h im on the pate,And bohd h im well about the brewes a dooz en tymes and more,And preacing on h im as he sti ll gave backe amaaz d h im sore,

240

And troubled him wi th bufl’etting, not respetting a wh i t.Then Cygnet gan too bee afrayd, and m istes beegan too fl i tBefore h i s eyes, and d imd h i s syght. And as he still d id yeeld,I n givi ng back, by chaunce he met a stone amid the feeld,Ageinst the wh ich Achilles thrust h im back with all h i s myght,And throwing h im ageinst the ground, did cast h im bolt upryght.Then bearing bostowsely with both h i s knees ageinst h i s chest,And lean ing with h i s elbowes and h is target on h i s brest

,

He shet h is headpeccc cloce and j ust, and u nderneathe h is ch in

So hard i t streynd, that way for breath wa s neyther out nor i n,And closed up the vent of lyfe. And havi ng gotten soThe upper hand , he went about too spoyle h i s vanqu isht fo .

But nought he i n h i s armour found . For Nep tune had as thoTransformd h im too the fowle whose name he bare but late ago .

Thi s labour, th i s encounter brought the rest of many dayes,And eyther partye i n theyr strength a whyle from battell stayes.

Now whyle the Phrygia ns watch and ward uppon the wal les of Troy,And Creches l ikewyse with in theyr trench , there came a day of joy,

I n wh ich Achilles for h is luck i n Cygnets overth row,A Cow i n way of sacrifyse on Pa lla s did bes towe.

Whose inwards when he had uppon the burning altar castAnd that the acceptable fume had th rough the ayer pastToo Godward, and the holy rytes had had theyr dewes, the restWas set on boords for men too cate in d isshes fynely drest .The princes si tting downe, did feede uppon the rosted flesh

,

And both theyr th i rst and presen t cares with wyne they did refresh .NotH arpes, nor songs, nor holl owe flutes too heere did them delyght.They talked ti ll they nye had spent the greatest part of nyght.And a ll theyr communication was of fea tes of armes i n fyghtThat had beene doone by them or by theyr foes. And every wygh tDelyghts too uppen oftentymes by turne as came aboutThe perill s and the narrow brunts h imself had sh ift ed out.For what th in shoul d bee talkt beefore Achilles rather ? OrWhat kynd 0 th ings than such as thei s could seeme more meeter forAchilles too bee talking of? But i n theyr talk most breeme

Was then Achilles victory of Cygnet. I t did seemeA woonder that the flesh of h im should bee so hard and toughAs that no weapon myght have wre too raze or percc i t through ,But that i t did abate the edge 0 steele : I t was a th ingThat bo th Achilles and the Creches i n woondrous maze did bring.Then Nestor sayd : Thi s Cygnet i s the person now aloneOf your ryme that defyed steele, and could bee perst of none .But I have scene now long ago one Cene of Perrhebye,I sawe one Cene of Perrhebye a thousand wou ndes defyeWith unatteynted bodye. I n mount Othris he did dwell,And was renowmed for h i s deedes : (and which i n h im ryght wellA greater woonder did appeere) he was a woman borne.This uncouth made them all much more amazed than beforne,And every man desyred h im to tell i t . And amongThe rest

, Achilles sayd : Declare I pray thee (for wee longToo heare i t ev ery one of us) 0 eloquent o ld man

24 1

The wisedome of our age : what was that Cene, and how he wanAnother than h i s native shape, and i n what rode, or i nWhat fyght or skirmish, tweene you first acquaintance did beegin,And who i n fyne did vanqui sh h im if any vanqu isht h im .

Then Nestor . Though the length of tyme have made my senses dim,

And dyvers th ings erst scene i n youth now ou t of myud be goneYi t beare I st ill mo th in s i n mynd : and of them all i s none

ong so many both ofpeace and warre, that yi t dooth takeMore stedfast roote i n m em orye. And if that tyme may makeA man great store of th ings through Ion conti nuance for too see,

Two hundred yeeres already of my lyfeall passed bee,And now I go uppon the th ird. Th is foresayd Ccny wasThe daughter of one Ela tey. In beawty shee did passeThe maydens all of Thessa ly. From all the Cities byeAnd from thy Cities also O Achilles came (for whySheewas thy countrywoman) store of wooers, who 1n vayneI n hope too win her love did take great travell sute and payne.Thy father also had perchau nce attempted heere too matcht,But that thy moothers maryage was al readye then d ispatcht,Or shee at least affyanced . But Ccny matcht with none .H owbeeit as shee on the shore was walking all alone

,

The God of sea did ravi sh her, (so fame dooth make report) ,And Nep tune for the grea t deligh t he had i n Venus sport,Sayd : Ceny, aske mee what thou wilt, and I will give i t thee.(Th is also bruted i s by fame) . The wrong heere doone too mee(t h Ccny) makes mee wish great th ings. And therefore too thententI may no more constreyned bee too such a th ing, consentI may no more a woman bee . And if thou graunt theretoo,I t is even al l that I desyre, or wish thee for too doo.I n bacet tune thei s latter woordes were u ttred , and her voyceDid seeme a mannes voyce as i t was i n deede . For too her choyceTheGod of sea had given consent. He graunted h im besydeThat free from wounding and from hurt he should from thence abyde,And that he should no t dye of steele. R igh t glad of th i s same grauntAway went Ceny, and the feeldes of Thessa ly did haunt ;And in the fea tes of Chevalrye from that tyme spent h is lyfe.

The overbold ale Ixions sonne had taken too h i s wyfeH ippodame. And kevcring boordes i n bowres of boughes of trees,

His Clowdbred brothers one by one he placed in degrees.There were the Lordes of Thessa ly . I a lso was amongThe rest

,a cheereful l noyse of feast through all the Pallace roong.

Sum made the altars smoke, and sum the brydale carrolls soong.Anon commes in the mayden bryde a goodly wench of face,With wyves and maydens following her with comly gate and grace.Wee sayd that sir Pirithous was happy i n h i s wyfeWhich handsell had deceyved us wellneere th rough soodeinc stryfe.

For of the cruel] Centawres thou most cruell Ewryt, thoLi ke as thy stomacke was with wyne farre over charged : so

Assoone as thou beh illdst the bryde, thy hart began too frayne,And doubled with thy droonkennesse thy ragi ng lust did reigne.

The feast was troubled by and by with tables overthrowen.

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A blow that crackt h is skull . The blaze among h i s yellow heareR an s indging up, as if dry com e wi th l igh tning blasted were.And in h i s wound the seared blood did make a greevous sound,As when a peece of steele red whot tane up wi th tongs i s drowndIn water by the smith , i t Spirts and h isscth i n the trowgh .

Cha raxus from h is curled heare did shake the fyre, and thowghHe wounded were, yi t caught he up uppon h i s shoulders twayneA stone the Jawme of eyther doore that well would loade a wayne.The masse therof was such as that i t would not let h im h i tTh i s fo . I t lighted short : and wi th the falling downe of i tA mate of h i s that Comet hyght, i t al l i n peeces smi t.Then R hiete restrcyning no t h i s joy, sayd thus : I would the rowtOf all thy mates myght in the selfsame maner prove them stowt.

And with h i s halfeburnt brond the wound he searched new agayne,Not ceasing for to lay on loade uppon h i s pate amayne,Unti ll h i s head was cru sht, and of h is scalp the bones did swimAmong hi s braynes . I n j olly ruffe he passed streyght from himToo Cotyt, and Euagrus, and too Dtyant on a roweOf whom when Coryt (on whose cheekes yoong mossy downe gan grow)Was slayne, what prayse or honor (quoth Euagrus) hast thou gotBy kill ing of a boy ? mo woordes h im Rhetus suffred notToo speake, but i n h i s open mouth did thrust h i s burn ing brand,And downe h is throteboll too h i s chest. Then wh isking i n h i s handHis fyrcbrand round about h i s head he feercely did assayleThe valeant Dryant, but with h im he could not so prevayle.

For as he triumpht i n h i s lucke, proceeding for too makeContinual] slaughter of h i s foes

,s ir Dryant with a stake

(Whose poynt was ha rdned i n the fyre) did cast at h im a foyneAnd thrust h im through the place i n wh ich the neck and shoul ders j oyn e.He groand and from h is cannel l bone could scarcely pull the stake,And beeing foyled with h i s blood too flyght he did h im take.Arna us al so ran away, and Lycida s l ikewyse .

And Medan (whose ryght shou lderplate was also wounded) flycs .

So did Pisenor, so did Cawne, and so did Mermeros,Who late ou tronning every man

,now wounded slower goes

And so did Phole, and Menela s, and Aba s who was woontToo make a spoyle among wylde Boares as oft as he did hunt :And eeke the zarde Astylos who counselled his matesToo leave that ray : but he too them in vayne of leaving prates.He eeke too Nessus (who for feare of wounding seemed shye)Sayd : fly not

,thou shalt scape th i s fray ofHercles bowe too dye .

But Lycid and Ewrinomos, and Imbreus, and AreEscapte not death . Sir Drya nts hand did all a li ke them spare.Cayneius also (though that he i n flying were not slacke)Yit was he wounded on the face : For as he looked backe,A weapons poynt did h i t h im full midway betweene the eyes,t ras the noze and forehead m eete. For all th i s deane, yit lyesAphipna s snorting fast a sleepe not mynd ing for to wake,Wrapt in a cloke of B earskinnes which i n Ossa mount were take,And i n h i s l ither hand he hilld a potte of wyne. Whom whenThat Phorba s saw (although in vayne) not medl ing with them, then

244

He set h i s fingars too th e thong, and saying : thou shalt drinkThy wyne wi th water taken from the Stygian fountaynes brink,He threw h i s dart at h im . The dart (as he that tyme, by chaunceLay bolt uprigh t uppon h is backe) did th rough h i s thro teboll glaunce.

He dyde and felt no payne at all . The blacke swart blood gusht out,And on the bed and i n the potte fell flush ing lyke a spout.I saw Petreius go about too pull out of the groundAn Oken tree. But as he had h i s armes about i t round

,

And sh aakt i t too and fro too make it looce, Pirithous castA Dart which nayled too the tree h i s wrything stomacke fast.Through prowesse of Pirithous (men say) was Lycus slayne .

Through prowesse ofPirithous dyde Crome. But they both twayneLesse honour too theyr conquerou r were, than Dyctis was , or thanWas Helop s. Helop s with a dart was striken which through ranHis head, and entring at the ryght ca re too the left care went :And Dyctis from a sl ipprye knappe downe slyding, as he mentToo shone Perithous preacing on , fell h eadlong downe, and withHis howgcnesse brake the greatest Ash that was i n all the fri th

,

And goard h is gutts uppon the stump. Too wreake his death commes Pha re,

And from the mount a mighty rocke with bothe his bandes he tareWhich as he was about too throwe, Duke Theseus did prevent,And with an Oken plant uppon h is migh ty elbowe lentHim such a blowe

,as that he brake the bones

,and past no further

,

For leysure would not se rve h im then h i s maymed corse too murther.He lept on h igh B ia nors bac ke, who none was woont too beareBesydes h imself. Ageinst h i s sydes h i s knees fast n ipping were,And with h i s left hand taking hold uppon h i s forctOppe heareHe cuft him with h i s knubbed plant about the frowning face,And ma de h i s wattled browes too breake. And with h i s Oken maceHe overthrew Nedimnus : and Lycesp es with h i s dart,And Hipp a sus whose beard did hyde h i s brest the greater partAnd R ip hey tallar tha n the trees, and Therey who was woontAmong the h ill es of Thessa ly for cruell Beares too h untAnd beare them angry home alyve. I t did Demo/eon

That Theseus had so good successe and fortune in h i sAn old long Pynetree rooted fast he strave with all h i s myghtToo pluck up whole bothe trunk and roote which when he couldToo passe

,he brake i t of

,and at h i s emnye did i t fl i ng.

But Theseus by admonishment of heavenly Pa lla s (soHe wou ld have folke beleve i t were) start backe a great way froThe weapon as i t came . Yit fell i t not without some harmeI t cut from Crantors left syde bulke, hi s shoulder, brest and arme.Thi s Crantor was th fathers Squyre (Achilles) and was givenHim by Amyntor rulbr of the Dolop s, who was drivenBy ba ttell for too give h im as an hostage for the peaceToo bee obse rved faythful ly. When Peleus i n the preaceA great way of beh i h im thus fal ne dead of th i s same wound,O Grantor cleeres t man too mee of all above the ground,Hold heere an ob itgift, hee sayd : and both wi th force of hartAnd hand

,at stout Demo/eons h ead he threw an asshcn dart,

Which brake the watling of h is ribbes, and sticking i n the bone,

24 5

Did shake. He pulled out the steale with much a doo alone .The head therof stacke still behynd among h i s lungs and lyghtsEnforst too courage wi th h i s payne, he ryseth streight uprights,And pawing at h i s cmny with h i s hors ish feete, he smyghtsUppon h im . Peleus bare h i s strokes uppon h i s burganetAnd fcnst h i s shoulders with h i s sheeld, and evermore did setHis weapon upward wi th the poynt, which by h i s shoulders perstThrough both h i s brestes at one fiall blowe. H owbeet your father erstHad k illed Hyle and Phlegtye, and H iphin

'

o

'

us aloof,And Danes who boldly durst at hand h i s manhod put i n proof.Too thei s was added Doty la s, who ware uppon h i s headA cap ofwoolves skinne. And the hom es of Oxen dyed redWith blood were th en h i s weapon . I (for then my courage gaveMee strength) sayd see how much thy hornes lesse force than I ron haveAnd therewithal l with manly migh t a dart at h im I drave.Which when he could no t shonne

,he clapt h i s right hand flat uppon

His forehead,where the wound should bee. For why h i s hand anon

Was nayled too h i s forehead fast. Hee roared out amayne.

And as he stood amazed and began too faynt for payne,Your father Peleus (for h e stood hard by h im) strake h im underThe middl e belly with h is swoord

,and ript h i s womb asunder.

Out girdes mee Dorill streyght, and trayles h is guttes uppon the ground,And trampl ing underneath h i s feete did breake them, and they woundAbout his leggs so snarling

,that he could 'no further go,

But fell downe dead wi th empty womb . Nought booted Cylla r thoH is beawtye i n that frentick fray, (at lea stwyse i fwee grauntThat any myght i n that straunge shape, of natures beawtye vaunt) .His beard began but then too bud : h i s beard wa s l ike the gold ;80 also were h i s yellowe lokes, which goodly too beholdMidway beneath h is shoulders hung. There rested in h i s faceA sharpe and lively cheerfulnesse with sweete and pleasant grace.H is necke

,brest

,shoulders

,armes

,and hands

,as farre as he was man,

Were such as never carvers woork yi t stayne them could or can .His neather part l ikewyse (which was a horse) was every wh itFull equal] with h i s upper part, or l i ttle woorse than i t .For had yee given h im horses necke

,and head, he was a beast

For Ca stor too have ridden on. So bourly was h i s brest,So handsome was h i s backe too beare a saddle, and h i s h eareWas blacke as jeate, but that h is tayle and feete mylk whygh tish were.Full many Females of his race did wish h im too theyr make,But only dame Hylonome for lover he did take.Of all the halfbru tes i n the woodes there did not any dwellMore comly than Hylonome. She u sde herself so wellI n da lyance, and in loving, and i n u ttring of her love,That shee alone hilld Cylla rus. As much as did behoveIn su chye l imbes, shee trimmed them as most the eye might move .With combing

,smoothe shee made her heare : shee wallowed her full oft

I n R oses and i n R osem arye, or Violets sweete and soft :Sumtymc shee caryed Lillyes whyght : and twyce a day shee wash tHer visage in the spri ng that from the toppe ofPaga se past :And in the streame shee twyce a day did bath her l imbes : and on

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Fyve men had Cene al read slayne : theyr wounds I cannot sayThe names and nomber o them all ryght well I beare away.The names of them were Stiphelus, and B rome, and Helimus,Pyra cmon with h i s forest bill, and stout Antima chus.

Out steppes the biggest Centawre there howge La treus armed i nAlesus of Aema thia s spoyle slayne late before by h im .

His yeeres were mid tweene youth and age, h i s courage still was yoong,And on h i s abrun head horc heares peerd heere and there am oong.

His furn iture was then a swoord , a target and a lawnce,Aema thian l ike. Too bothe th e parts h e did h i s face advaunce,And brandish ing h i s weapon brave, i n circlewyse did prawnceAbout, and stoutly spake thei s woordes : And must I beare with yowDame Cenye ? for none other than a moother (I avow)No better than a moo ther will I count thee whyle I l ive.Remembrest not what shape by bi rth dame nature did the give ?Forgettst thou how thou pu rchasedst th i s counterfetted shapeOf man ? Consyderest what thou art by birth ? and how for rapeThou art become the th ing thou art ? Go take thy d istaffe, andThy spindle

,and in spinnin yarne go exercysc thy hand.

Let men alone with fea tes ofarmcs . As La treus made th i s stoutAnd scornefull taunting

,i n a ring still turn ing h im about

,

This Cenye wi th a dart did h i t h im full uppon the sydeWhere as the horse and man were '

oynd toogither i n a hyde.The strype made La treus mad : an wi th h i s lawnce i n rage he strackeUppon s ir Cenyes naked ribbes. The lawnce rebounded backeL ike haylestoncs from a tyled house, or as a man should patSmal l stones uppon a drom slets head . He came more neere with that,And in h is brawned syde did stryv e too thrust h i s swoord . There wasNo way for swoord too enter i n . Yi t shalt thou not so passeMy handes (sayd he) . Well sith the poynt i s blunted thou shalt dyeUppon the edge : and with that woord he fetch t his blow awrye,And sydling with a sweepi ng stroke along h i s belly smit.The strype did give a cl inke as if i t had on marble h i t.And therewithall the swoord did breake, and on h i s necke did lygh t.When Ccny had sufficiently given La treus leave too smyght

His flesh which was unmaymeable. Well now (quoth he) lets see,I f my swoord able bee or no too byght the flesh of thee .I n saying so

,h i s dreadfu ll swoord as farre as i t would go

He undernea the h i s shoulder thrust, and wrinching too and froAmong h i s gu tts, made wound i n wound . Behold, with hydeous crycThe dowblemembred Centawres sore abasht uppon h im flye,And throwe theyr weapon s al l at h im . Theyr weapons downe did fallAs i f they had rebated beene, and Cenye for them allAbydes unstriken th rough . Yea none was able blood too drawe .The straungenesse of the cace made all amazed that i t sawe .Fy

,fy for shame (quoth Monychus) that such a rable can

Not overcome one wyght al one, who scarcely i s a man .

Although (too say the very tru the) he i s the man, and weeThrough fayntnesse, that that he was borne by nature for too bee.

What profits thei s huge limbes of ours ? what helpes our dowble force ?Or what avayles our dowble shape of man as well as horse

248

By pui ssant nature joynd i n one ? I can not thinke that weeOf sovereigne Goddesse Juno were begot

, or that wee beeIxions sonnes, who was so stout of courage and so hault

,

As that he durst on Junos love attempt too give assault.The cmny that dooth vanqui sh us i s scarcely half a man .Whelme blocks, and stones, and mou ntaynes whole uppon h i s hard brayneAnd presse yee out h i s l ivel ghoste with trees . Let timber chokeHis chappes, let weyght enfhrce his death i n stead of wounding stroke .Thi s sayd, by chaunce he gets a tree blowne downe by blu string blastsOf Southerne wynds, and on h i s fo wi th all h i s myght i t casts,And gave example too the rest too doo the like . With inA whyle the shadowes which did hyde mount Pelion waxed th inAnd no t a tree was left uppon mount Othri s ere they went .Sir Cenye undernea the th i s great bowge pylc of t imber pent

,

Did chanf and on h i s shoulders hard the h eavy logges did beareBut when above h i s face and h ead the trees up stacked were

,

So that he had no venti ng place too drawe h i s breth : One whyleHe faynted : and ano therwyle he heaved at the pyle,Too tumble downe the loggs that lay so heavy 011 h i s backe,And for too winne the open ayre ageine above the stackeAs if the mountayne Ida (10) which yoonder we doo seeSo hygh , by earth quake at a tyme should chaunce to shaken bee.Men dowt what did become of h im . Sum hold Opinion thatThe burthen of the woodes had driven h i s soule too Limbo flat.But Mop sus sayd i t was not so . For he did see a browneBird flying from amid the stacke and towring up and downe.I t was the fi rst tyme and the last that ever I beh ildThat fowle . When Mop sus softly saw h im soring in the feeld,He loo ked wi stly after h im

,and cryed out on hye,

Hayle peerlesse perle of Lap ith race, hayle Ccny, late agoA valea nt knygh t, and now a bi rd of whom there is no mo .

The author caused men beleeve the matter too bee so .

Our sorrow set us i n a rage . I t was too us a grcefThat by so many foes one knyght was killd without releef.Then cea st wee no t too wreake ou r teene ti ll most was sla ine i n fyght,And that the res t d iscomfited were fled away by nyght.As Nestor al l the processe of this battell did rehcrceBetweene the valea nt Lap ithes and misshapen Centawres ferce,

Tlepolemus displeased sore that Hercules was pastWith si lence

,could not hold h is peace, but ou t thei s woordes did cast.

My Lord, I muse you should forget my fathers prayse so quyght.For often u ntoo mee h imself was woonted too recite,How that the clowdbred folk by h im were checfly put too flyght.

Ryght sadly Nestor answerd thus . Why should you mee. constreyneToo call too mynd forgotten greefs ? and for to reere ageme

The so rrowes now ou tworne by tyme ? or force mee too declareThe hatred and displeasure which I too your father bare ?In sooth h i s doo ings eater were than myght bee well beleeved .

He fild the world wi h igh renowme which nobly he atchceved,Which th ing I would I could denye. For neyther set wee outDe

’

iphobus, Polydama s, nor Hector that most stout

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And valeant knyght, the strength of Troy. For whoo will prayse h i s fo ?Your father overthrew the walles ofMessen long ago

,

And razed Ibrle, and Ely townes unwoorthye serving so,And feerce ageinst my fathers house hee u sde bothe swoord and fyre.

And (not too speake of others whom he killed in h i s i re)Twyce s ix wee were the sonnes ofNele

, all lusty gentlemenTwyce s ix of us (excepting mee) by h im were mu rthred then .The death of all the rest myght seeme a matter not so straungeBut straunge was Peri clymens death whoo had the powre to chaungeAnd leave and take what shape he li st (by Nep tune too h im given ,The founder of the house of Nele) . For when he had beene drivenToo try all shapes

,and none could help : he last of all became

The fowle that i n h i s hooked feete dooth beare the flasshing flameSent downe from heaven by Jup iter. He practi sing those birdsWith flapping wings

,and bowwing beake, and hooked talants g1rds

At Hercle, and bccscratcht h i s face. Too certeine (I may say)Thy father amde h i s shaft at h im . For as hee towring layAmong the clowdes, he hi t h im underneath the wing . The strokeWas small : H owbeet

,bycau se therwith the sinewes being broke,

He wanted strength to m ayntcine flyght, he fell mee too the groundThrough weakenesse of h is wing. The shaft that sticked in the woundBy reason of the burthen of his bodye perst h i s syde,And at the leftsyde of h is necke all bloodye foorth did glyde .Now tell mee O thou beawtyfull Lord Am irall of the fleetcOf Rhodes, i f mee too speake the prayse of Hercle i t bee meete.

But least that of my brothers deathes men think I doo desyreA further vendge than si lence of the prowesse of thy syre,I love thee even with all my hart

,and take thee for my freend

When Nestor of h i s pleasan t tales had made th is freendly end,They called for a boll of wyne, and from the table went,And all the resdew of the nyght i n sleeping soundly spent.But neptune l ike a father tooke the matter sore too hart,That Cygnet too a Swan he was constreyned to convert.

And hating feerce Achilles, he did wreake h i s cruell teeneUppon h im more uncourteously than had beseeming beene.For when the warres well nccre full twyce fyve yeeres had lasted. HeeUnshorne Apollo thus bespake. O nevew untoo meeMost cleere of all my brothers impes , who helpedst mee too layFoundation of the walles of Troy for which we had no pay,And canst thou syghes forbeare too see the Asian Empyre fal l ?And dooth i t not lament thy hart when thou too mynd doost callSo many thousand people slayne i n keeping I lion wal l ?Or (too thentent particlcrly I doo not speake of all)R emembrest thou not Hectors Ghost whoo harryed was aboutHis towne of Troy ? where nerethelesse Achilles that same stoutAnd farre i n fyght more butcherly, whoo stryves with all h i s myghtToo stroy the woorke of mee and thee, l ives still i n healthq plyght

?

I f ever hee doo come wi th in my daunger he shall feeleWhat force i s in my tryple mace. But si th with swoord of steeleI may not meete h im as my fo, I pray thee u nbecwareGo kill h im with a sodeine shaft and rid mee of my care .

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TH E TH IRTE ENTH BOOK E

of Ov ids Metamorphosis .

HE Lordes and Capteyncs being set toogither with the King,And all the souldiers standing round about them in a ri ng

,

The owner of the sevenfold sheeld, too thei s did Ajax

And throwinguph ishandcs,OGodandmu stweeplead(quothhee)Our case before our shippes ? and must Ulysses stand with mee ?

But l ike a wretch h e ran h is way when Hector came with fyre,Which I defending from thei s shippes did force h im too retyre.

I t easyer i s therefore with woordes i n pri nt too mayntc ine stryfe,Than for too fyght i t ou t with fists. But neyther I am ryfeIn woordes, nor hee in deedes . For looke how farre I h im excellI n battell and in fea tes of armes : so farre beares hee the bellFrom mee i n talking. Neyther th ink I requ i site too tellMy actes among you . You your selve s have scene them verry well .But let Ulysses tell you h i s doone all i n hudther mud ther,And wheruntoo the only nygh t i s privy and none other.The pryse i s great (I doo confesse) For wh ich wee stryve. But yi tI t i s dishonour untoo mee, for that i n claym ing i tSo bace a person standeth in conten tion for the same .Too th ink i t myne already ought too counted bee no shameNo r pryde i n mee : although the th ing of rygh t great valew beeOf wh ich Ulysses standes in hope. For now alreadye heeHath wonne the honour of th i s pryse

,i n that when he shall sit

Besydes the qu isshon, he may brag he strave with mee for i t .And though I wanted val iantnesse, yit should nobiliteeMake with mee. I of Telamon am knowne the sonne too beeWho under valeant Hercules the wal les of Troy did scale,And in the shippe of Paga sa too Colchas land did sayle.His father was that Aeacus whoo executeth ryghtAmong the ghostes where Sisyphus heaves up wi th all h i s my

fght

The massye stone ay tumbling downe. The hyghest Jove 0 allAcknowledgeth th i s Aeacus, and dooth h i s sonne h im call .Thus am I Aj ax th ird from Jove.

’ Yit let th i s PcdegrceO Achyves i n th i s case of myne avaylable not bee,Onlesse I proove i t fully wi th Achylles too agree .He was my brother

,and I clayme that was my brothers. Why

Shouldst thou that art of Sisyphs blood, and for too fil ch and lyeExpressest h im in every poynt, by foorged pedegreeAly thee too the Aea cyds, as though we did not seeThee too the house ofAeacus a strau nger for too bee ?And is i t reason that you should th i s armour mee denyeBycause I former was i n armes, and needed not a spyeToo fetch mee foorth ? Or th ink you h im more woorthye i t too have,That came too warrefare h indermost

,and feynd h imself too rave,

Bycau se he would have shund the warre ? until] a suttler head

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And more unprofitable for h imself, s ir Pa lamedEscryde th e crafty fetches of h i s fearefu ll hart , and drewHim foorth a warfare wh ich he sought so cowardly too eschew ?Must he now needes enjoy the best and richest armour ? whooWould none at all have worne onlesse he forced were thertoo ?And I with shame bee

fput

besyde my cousin germanes gifts,Bycau se too shun the ormest brunts of warrcs I sought no shifts ?Would God th i s m ischeef mayster had i n verrye deede beene mad,Or else beleeved so too bee : and that wee never hadBrought such a panion untoo Troy. Then shoul d not B eans sonneIn Lemnos like an ou tlawc too the shame of all us wonne.Who lurking now (as men report) i n woodes and caves, dooth moveThe verry fl ints with syghes and grones, and prayers too God aboveToo send Ulysses h i s desert. Which prayer (i f there beeA God) must one day take effect . And now bechold how heeBy othe a Souldier of our Camp

,yea and as well as wee

A Capteine too , alas, (who was b Hercules assignde

the keepin of h i s shafts) with payne and hungar pynde,I s clad and fed with owles

, and dribs h i s arrowes up and downeAt birds

,which were by destinye prepa rdc too stroy Troy towne.

Yit liveth hee bycau se hee i s not still i n companieWith sly Ulysses. Pa lamed that wretched knyght perdie,Would eeke he had abandond beene. For then should sti ll the sameHave beene alyv e : or at the least have dyde without our shame .But thi s companion beari ng (ah) too well i n wicked myndHis madnesse which s ir Pa lamed by wisdome out did fynd,Appeached h im of treason that he practysdc too betrayThe Greeki sh hoste . And for too vouch the fact, he shewd streyght wayA masse of goo ld that h e himself had h idden in h is tent,And forged Letters wh ich he feynd from Priam too bee sent .Thus eyther by h i s mu rthring men or else by bani shmentAba teth hee the Greeki sh strength . This i s Ulysses fyght :This i s th e feare he pu ttes men in . But though he had more mightThan Nestor hath in eloquence

,he shalnot compasse mee

Too th ink h i s leawd abandoning ofNestor for too beeNo fault : who boeing cast behynd by wounding of h i s horse,And slowe wi th c , with call ing on Ulysses wax ing hoarcc,Was nerethelesse

a

i etrayd by h im . Si r Diomed knowes th i s c rymeIs unsurmysde. For he h im selfe did at that present rymeR ebuke h im oftentymes by name, and feercely h im upbrayd

With flying from h i s fellowc so who stood in neede of ayd.With rygh tfu ll eyes doo th God behold the deedes of m ortall men .Lo

, he that helped not his fi'

eend wants helph imself agen .

And as he did forsake h i s freend i n tyme o neede : so heeDid in th e selfsame perri ll fall forsaken for too bee .He mad e a rod too beat h imself. He ca ll d and cryed outUppon h is fellowes . Streigh t I came : and there I saw the loutBothe quake and shake for feare of death , and looke as pale as clout.I se t my sheeld betweene h im and h i s foes, and him bestrid

0

And sa vde the dastards lyfe : small prayse redoundes of that I d 1d.

But if thou wil t contend with mee, lets to the selfe same place

2 5 3

A ein : bee wounded as thou wart : and i n the foresayd case0 feare

,beset about wi th foes : cowch underneath my sheeld

And then contend thou wi th mee there amid the open feeldH owbeet, I had no sooner rid th i s champion of h i s foes,But where for wou ndes he scarce before could totter on h i s toes

,

He ran away apace,as though he nough t at all did ayle.

Anon commes Hector too the feeld and bringeth at h is tayleThe Coddes. Not only thy hart there ( Ulysses) did the fayleBut even the stowtcst courages and stomacks gan too uaylc

So great a terrour brought he in . Yit i n the m idds ofallHis bloody ruffe

,I coapt wi th h im , and with a foyling fall

Did overthrowc h im too the ground . Another tyme,when hee

Did make a chalcndge, you my Lordes by lot did choose o u t mee,And I did match h im hand too hand. Your wisshes were not vayne.For if you aske mee what successe our combate did obteine,I came away unvanqui shed . Behold

,th e men of Troy

Brought fyre and swoord, and all the feendes our navye too destroy.And where was slye Ulysses then with all h i s tal k so smooth ?This brest of myne was fayne too fence your thousand shippes forsoothThe hope of your returning home. For saving that same daySo many shippes, this armour give . But (i f that I shall sayThe truth)

'

the greater honour now th i s armour beares away,And our renownes toogither l i nk . For (as of reason ought)An Ajax for th is armour, not an armour now is soughtFor Afiax. Let Dulychius match with thei s, the horses whyghtOf Rhesus

,dastard Dolon

,and the coward carpetknyght

King Priams Helen,and the stelth ofPa lladye by nyght.

Of all thei s th ings was nothing doone by day nor noth ing wroughtWithout the helpe ofDiomed. And therefore if yee thoughtToo give them too so small deserts

,devyde the same, and let

Si r B iomed have th e greater part . But what should Itha cus getAnd if he had them ? Who dooth all h i s matters in the dark,Who never weareth armour, who shootes ay at h i s owne markToo trappe h i s fo by stel th unwares ? The very headpeccc mayWith brightnesse of the gl istring gold h i s priv ie feates bewrayAnd shew h im lurking. Neyther well of force Dulychius wereThe weyght of great Achilles helme uppon h i s pate too weare.I t cannot but a burthen bee (and that ryght great) too beare(With those same shrimpi sh armes of h is) Achilles myghty speare .Agen h i s target graven with the whole howge world theron

ecs not with a fearefu ll hand, and checfly such a oneAs taketh fil ch ing even by kynd. Thou Lozel l thou doo st seekeA gift that wi ll but weaken thee : which if the folk of GreekeShall give thee through theyr oversyght, i t will bee u ntoo theeOccasion , of thyne emnyes spoyld no t feared for too bee .And flyght (wherin thou coward, thou all others mayst outbrag)Will hindred bee when after thee such masses thou shal t drag.Moreover th i s thy sheeld that feeles so seeld the force of fyghtIs souhd. But myne i s gasht and hakt and stricken thurrough quyghtA thou sand tymes, with bearing blowes . And therefore myne must walkAnd pu t another in h i s stead . But what needes all th i s talk ?

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Foreknowing that her sonne should dye, The Lady Thetis h idAchilles i n a maydes a ttyre. By which fyne slyght shee didAll men deceyve, and Aj ax too . Th is armour i n a packeWith other womens tryflyng toyes I caryed on my backe

,

A bayte too treyne a manly hart. Appareld l ike a maydAchilles tooke the speare and sheeld i n hand, and with them playd .

Then sayd I : O thou Goddesse sonne, why shouldst thou bee afraydToo raze great Troy, whoose overthrowc for thee i s onely stayd ?And laying hand uppon h im I did send h im (as you see)Too va leant dooings meete for such a valeant man as hee .And therfore all the deedes of h im are my deedes . I did woundKing Teleph with h is speare, and when he lay uppon the ground,I was i ntreated with the speare too beale h im safe and sound .That Thebe lyeth overthrowne, i s my deede : you must th inkI made the folk of Tenedos and Lesbos for too shri nk .Both Chryse and Cilla s Phebus townes and Scyros I did take,And my ryght hand Lyrnessus walles too ground did levell make.I gave you h im that should confound (besydes a number mo)The valeant Hector. Hector that our most renowmed fo

I s slayne by mee . Thi s armour heere I sew agc i n too have,Th is armour by the which I found Achilles. I i t gaveAchilles whyle he was al ive : and now that he i s goneI clayme i t i s myne owne agcin . What tyme the greefe of oneHad perst the harts of all the Greekes

,and that our thousand sayle

At Awlis by Ewboya stayd, bycause the wyndes did fayle,Continewing eyther none at all or cleene ageinst us long,And that our Agamemnon was by destnyes overstrongCommaunded for too sacrifyse h is giltlesse daughter tooD ia na

,which her father then refusing for too doo

Was angry with the Godds themselves, and though he were a kingContinued al so fatherlyke : by reason, I did bringH is gentle nature too relent for publike profits sake.I must confesse (whereat h i s grace shall no di spleasure take)Before a parciall j udge I undertooke a ryght hard cace.H owbeeit for h i s brothers sake, and for the royal] maceCommitted, and h is peoples weale , at length he was contentToo purchace prayse wyth blood . Then was I too the moother sent,Who not perswaded was too bee, but compast with sum guyleHad Aj ax on th i s errand gone, our sh ippes had all th i s whyleLyne still there yi t for want of wynd . Moreover I was sentToo Ilion as ambassadour. I boldly th ither went,And entred and behilld the Court, wherin there was as thenGreat store of princes

,Dukes

,Lords

,knyghts , and other valeant men .

And yi t I boldly nerethelesse my message did at large,The which the whole estate of Greece had given mee erst i n charge .I made complaint of Pa ris, and accu sde h im too h is head,Demau nding resti tution of Q! ueene Helen that same sted,And of the bootye with her tane . Both Priamus the kingAnd eeke Antenor h i s alye the woordes of mee did sting.And Pa ris and h i s brothers , and the resdew of h i s tra

cyne

That under h im had made the spoyle, could hard an scarce refrayne

There wicked hands. You Menelay doo know I doo not feyne.And that day was the first in which wee joyntly gan su steyneA tast of perrill s , store whereof did then behind remayne.

I t would bee overlong too tell eche profi table th ingThat during th i s long lasting warre I well too passe did bring

,

By force as well as pol lycie. For after that the furstEncounter once was over ast

,ou r emnyes never durst

Give battel l i n the openfield,but hild themselves with in

Theyr walles and bulwarks ti ll the tyme the tenth yeere did begi n .Now what didst thou of all that whyle, that canst doo nought but strecke ? 260Or too what purpose servedst thou ? For if thou my deedes seeke,I prae sd sundry pollycies too trappe our foes unware :I forti dc our Camp with trench which heretoofore lay bareI hartned our compan ions wi th a quiet mynd too beareThe longnesse of the weery warre : I taught us how wee wereBothe too bee fed and furni shed : and too and fro I wentToo places where th e Counsel] thought most meete I should bee sent .Behold the king deceyved in h i s dreame by false pretenceOf Joves commaundement, bade us rayse our secdge and get us hence.The author of h i s doo ing so may well bee h i s defence .Now Ajax shou ld have letted this, and ca lld them backe ageineToo sacke the towne of Troy : he should have fought with myght and maine.Why did he not res trcync them when they ready were too go ?Why tooke he not h i s swoo rd i n hand ? why gave he not as thoSum counse l] for the fleeting folk too follow at the brunt ?I n fayth i t had a tryfl e beene too h im that ay i s woontSuch vaunting in h i s mouth too have . But he h imself did flyAs well oth ers . I did see, and was ashamed IToo see thee when thou fledst, and didst prepare so cowardlyToo sayle away. And theruppon I thus aloud did cry.What meene yee si rs ? what madnesse dooth you move too go too sh ippe ?

And suffer Troy as good as tane,thus out of hand too slippe ?

What else th i s ten th yeere beare yee home than shame ? with such l ike woordAnd other, (which the eloquence of so rrowe did avoo rd,)I brought them from theyr flying ship es . Then Agamemnon calld

Toogi ther all the capteines who with fizare were yi t appal ld .

But Aj ax durst not then once creake . Yi t durst Thersites beeSo bold as rayle uppon the kings, and he was payd by meeFor playing so th e sawcye Jacke . Then stood I on my toesAnd too my fearefu ll countrymen gave hart ageinst theyr foes,And shed new courage i n theyr mynds through talk that fro mee goes .From that tyme foo rth what ever th i ng hath valea ntly a tchceved

By this good fell ow beene,i s myne

, who h im from flyght repreeved .And now too touche thee : which of all the Greekes commendeth thee ?Or seeketh thee ? But D iomed communicates with meeHis doo ings , and alloweth mee, and th inkes h im well apaydToo have Ulysses ever as corn nion at the brayd .

And sumwhat woo rth you will3

i t graunt (I trow) alone for meeOut of so many thousand Greekes by D iomed pikt too bee .No lot compelled mee too go, and yit I setting lyght,As well th e per ril l of my foes as daunger of the nyght,

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Kill d Dolon who about the self same feate that nyght did stray,That wee went out for. But I first compelld h im too bewrayAll th ings concern ing faythlessc Troy, and what i t went about.When all was learnd

,and noth ing left behynd too harken ou t,

I myght have then come home with prayse : I was not so content.Proceeding further too the Camp ofRhesus streyght I went,And killed bothe h imself and all his men about h i s tent

,

And taking bothe his chariot and h i s horses which were whyght,R eturned home i n tryumph l ike a conquerour from fyght.Denye you mee the armour of the man whoose steedes the foR equyred for h i s playing of the spye a nyght, and soMay Ajax bee more kynd too mee than you are. What should IDeclare u ntoo you how my sword did waste ryght valeantlySa rpedons hoste ofLycia I by force did overthrowcAla stor, Crome, and Cera nos, and Ha ly on a rowe.Alca nder

,and Noiimon too

,and Prytanis besyde,

And Thoon and Theridama s,and Cha rops al so dyde

By mee,and so did Ewnomos enforst by cruell fate .

And many mo i n syght of Troy I slew of bacer state.There also are (0 countrymen) about mee woundings, wh ichThe place of them make beawtyfu ll . See here (h i s hand did twichH is sh irt asyde) and credi t no t vayne woordes . Lo heere the bri stThat alwayes too bee one i n your affayres hath never mi st.And yi t of all th i s whyle no droppe of blood hath Ajax spentUppon h i s fellowes. Woundlesse i s his body and unrent.But what ski lls that

,as long as he i s able for to vaunt

He fought against bothe Troy and Jove too save our fleete ? I grauntHe did so . For I am not of such nature as of Spygh tWell dooings too deface : so that he chalcndge not the ryghtOf al l men too h imself alone

,and that he yeeld too mee

Sum share,whoo of the honour looke a partener for too bee.

Pa troclus also having on Achilles armour, sentThe Trojans and theyr leader hence, too burne ou r navye bent .And yit th inks hee that none durst m eete with Hector saving hee.Forgetting bothe the king

,and eeke h i s brother, yea and mee,

Where hee h imselfwas but the nyneth , appoynted by the king,And by the fortune of his lot preferd too doo the th ing.But now for all your valeantncssc, what Issue had I prayYour combate ? shall I tell ? forsooth , that Hector went h i s wayAnd had no harme. Now wo i s mee, how greeveth i t my hartToo th ink uppon that season when the bulwark of ou r partAchilles dyde ? When neyther teares, nor greef, nor feare could makeMee for too stay, but that uppon thei s shoulders I d id take,I say uppon thei s shoulders I Achilles body tooke,And th i s same armour claspt theron

,which now too weare I looke.

Sufficient strength I have too beare as great a weyght as th is,And eeke a hart wherei n regard of honour rooted is .

Think you that Thetis for her sonne so i nstantly besoughtSi r Vulcane th i s same heavenly gift too give her, which i s wroughtWith such exceeding cunn ing

,too thentent a souldier that

Hath neyther wit nor knowledge should i t weare ? He knowes not what

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Too fetch th ee h ither once ageine . And ( i f that fortune sayAmen) , I wi ll as well have thee and eeke thyne arrowes, asI have the Trojane prophet whoo by mee su rprysed was,Or as I did the Oracles and Trojane fates di sclose,Or as I from her chappell through the th ickest of her foesThe Phrygian Pa l/ads image fetcht : a nd yi t doo th Aj ax sti llCompare h imself with mee. Yee knowe i t was the destnyes willThat Troy should never taken bee by any force, unti l]This Image first were got : and where was then our valeant knightSi r Ajax ? where the stately woordes of such a hardy wyght ?Why feareth hee why dares Ulysses ventring through the watchCommit h i s persone too the nyght h i s buysnesse too d i spatch ?And through the pykes no t only for too passe the garded wa ll ?But al so for too enter too the strongest towre of all ?And for too take the Idol] from her Chappell and her shryne ?And beare her thence amid h i s foes ? For had th i s deede of myneBeene left undoone

,in vayne h i s sheeld of Oxen hydes seven fold

Should yit the sonne of Telamon have i n h i s left hand hold.That nyght subdewed I Troy towne, that nyght did I i t win,And opened i t for you l ikewyse with case too enter in .

Cease too upbrayd mee by thei s lookes and mumbling woordes of thyneWith B iomed : h i s prayse i s i n th i s fact as well as myne.And thou thy selfe when for our sh ippes thou diddest i n reskew stand,Wart not al one : the multi tude were helping thee at hand.I had but only one with mee. Whoo (i f h e had not thoughtA wyseman better than a strong

,and that preferment ough t

Not alway fol lowe force of hand) would now h imself have soughtTh is Armour. So would toother Aj ax better stayed doo,And feerce Ewrypyle, and the sonne of hault Andremon too.

No lesse mygh t eeke Idominey, and eeke Meriones

His countryman,and Menelay. For every one of these

Are valeant men of hand, and not i nferior untoo theeI n martial] feates. And yit they are contented ru lde too beeBy myne advyce. Thou hast a hand that serveth well i n fyght,Thou hast a wit that stands i n neede of my direction ryght.Thy force i s witl csse : I have care of that that may ensew.

Thou well canst fyght : the king dooth choose the tymes for fyghting dewBy myne advyce. Thou only with thy body canst avayle,But I with bodye a nd with mynd too profite doo not fayle.

And looke how much the mayster doo th excel] the gall y slave,Or looke how much preheminence the Capteine ought too haveAbove h i s sou ldyer : even so much excel] I also thee.A wit farre passing strengt h of hand inclosed i s i n mee.I n wit rests checfly all my force. My Lo rdes I pray bestoweTh i s ift on h im who ay hath beene your watchman as yee knowe .And or my tenne yeeres cark and care endured for your sake,Full recompence for my deserts with th i s same honour make .Our labour draweth too an end, all lets are now by meeDi spatched. And by bringing Troy i n cace too taken bee,I have already taken i t. Now by the hope that yeeConceyve, with in a whyle of Troy the ruine for too see,

260

And by the Goddes of whom a late ou r emnyes I bereft,And as by wisedome too bee doone yi t any th ing i s left,I f any bold aventrou s deede

,or any perlous th i ng

,

That asketh hazard both of lyfe and limb too passe too bring,Or if yee think of Trojane fates there yi t dooth ought remayne,R emember mee : or i f from mee th i s armour you restrayne,Bestow i t on thi s same. With that he shewed with h i s handMiner va s fatal l image, which hard by in syght did stand.The Lords were moved with h i s woordes

,and then appeered playne

The force that i s i n eloquence. The lerned man did gayneThe armour of the valea nt. He that did oft su steineAlone both fyre, and swoord , and Jove, and Hector could not byde .One brunt of wrath . And whom no force could vanquish ere that tyde

,

Now only angui sh overcommes . He drawes h i s swoord and sayesWell

,th i s i s myne yit. Untoo th i s no c laym e Ulysses layes.

This must I use ageinst myself : th i s blade that heretooforeHath bath ed beene in Trojane blood, must now h i s mayster gore,That none may Ajax overcome save Aj ax. With that woord

,

Intoo h i s brest (not wounded erst) he thrust h i s deathfull swoord .

His hand too pul l i t ou t ageine unable was . The bloodDid spout i t out. Anon the ground bestayned where he stood,Did breede the pretye purple flowre uppon a clowre of greene,Which of the wound ofHya cinth had ers t engendred beene .The selfsame letters eeke that for th e chyld were wri tten than,Were now aga ine amid the flowre new wri tten for the man .The former tyme complaynt, the last a name did represent.

Ulysses having wonne the pryse, within a whyle was sent

Too Thoants and Hypsip hiles real me the la nd dcfamde of oldFor murthering all the men therin by women over bold .At length attayning land and lucke according too h i s mynd,Too carry Hercles arrowes backe he set h i s sayles too wynd.Which when he with the lord of them among the Greekes had brought,And of the cru el ] warre at len h the utmost fea te had wron ht,At once both Troy and Priam ell . And Priams wretched wifeLost (after all) her womans shape, and barked all her lyfeI n forreine countrye. I n the place that bringeth too a streightThe long spred sea ofHellespont, did I lion burne in height.The kindled fyre wi th blaz ing flame continewed u nal ayd,And Priam with h i s aged blood Jov es Al tar had berayd .

And Phebus prees tes se casting up her h andes too heaven on hyeWas dragd and baled by the heare. The Grayes most spyghtfully(As eche of them had pri soners tane in meede of v ictoryc)Did drawe the Trojane wyves away, whoo l ingring whyle they moughtAmong the burning temples of theyr Goddes, did hang aboutTheyr sacred shrynes and images. Astyanax downe was castFrom that same tu rret from the which h i s moother i n tyme pastH ad shewed h im hi s father stand oft fyghting too defendHimself and that same famous realm c of Troy, that did descendFrom many noble auncetors . And now the northerne wyndWith prosperous blasts

,too get them thence did put the Greekes i n mynd.

The sh ipmen went aboord, and hoyst up sayles, and made fro thence .

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A decw deere Troy (the women cryde) wee bal ed are from hence.And therwithall they ki st the round, and left yi t smoking stillTheyr native houses. Last ofall tooke sh ippe ageinst her will(l ueene Hecub : who (a pi teous cace too see) was found amidThe tumbes i n wh ich her sonnes were layd . And there as Hecub didEmbrace theyr chists and kisse theyr bones, Ulysses voyd of careDid pull her thence . Yit raugh t shee up, and in her boosom bareAway a crum ofHectors dust, and left on Hectors graveHer hory heares and teares

,which for poore offrings shee h im gave.

Ageinst the place where Ilion was, there i s another landManured by the B iston men . I n th i s same R ealme did stand

King Polemnestors palace ri che, too whom king Priam sentH is l ittle i nfant Polydore too foster, too thententHe might bee ou t of daunger from the warres : wherin he mentRyght wysely, had he not with h im great riches sent, a baytToo sti rre a wicked covetous mynd too treason and dcceyt.For when the state of Troy decayd, the wicked king of Thra ceDid cut h i s nurcechylds weaz ant, and (as though the sinfii l l caceToogither with th e body could have quyght beene put away)He threw h im al so in the sea. I t happened by the way,That Agamemnon wa s compeld with all h i s flecte too stayUppon the coast of Thra ce, unti ll the sea were wexen calme,And till the h ideous stormes did cease

,and furious wynds were fal ne .

Heere rys ing gastly from the ground which farre about h im brake,Achilles with a threatning looke did like resemblance make,As when at Agamemnon he h i s wrongfull swoord did shake,And sayd : Unmyndfu ll part yee hence of mee O Greekes ? and mustMy merits thanklesse thus with mee be buryed i n the dust ?Nay, doo not so . But too thentent my death dew honour haveLet Polyxene i n sacrifyse bee slayne uppon my grave .Thus much be sayd : and shortly h i s companions dooing asBy vision of hi s cruell ghost commaundment given them was,Did fetch her from her mothers lappe, whom at that tyme

, well heere,In that most great adversitie alonly shee did cheere .

The haultye and unhappye mayd, and rather too bee thoughtA man than woman

, too the tumb with cruell bands was brought,Too make a cursed sacrifyse. Whoo mynding constantlyHer h onour, when shee standing at the Altar prest too dye,P erceyvd the savage ceremonies i n making ready, andThe cruell Neop tolemus with naked swoord i n hand,Stand staring with ungentle eyes uppon her gentl e face,Shee sayd : Now use thou when thou wilt my gentle blood . The caceR equyres no more delay. Bestow thy weapon in my chest,

Or i n my throte : (i n saying so shee profered bare her brest,And eeke her throte) . Assure your selves i t never shal bee scene,That any wyght shall (by my will) have slave of Polyxeene.H owbeet with such a sacrifyse no God yee can delyght.I would desyre no more but that my wretched moo ther myght

Bee ignorant of th i s my death . My moother hindreth mee,And makes th e pleasure of my death much lesser for too bee.

H owbeeit not the death of mee should j ustly greeve her hart

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But though too others Troy be gone, yi t stands i t sti ll too meeMy sorrowes ronne as fresh a race as ever and as free .I late a go a sovereine state, advaunced wi th such storeOf daughters

,sonnes

,and sonneinlawes

,and husband over more

And daughtrinlawes , am caryed l ike an ou tlawe bare and poore,By force and violence haled from my ch i ldrens tumbes

,to bee

Presented too Penelop e a gift, whoo shewing meeI n spinning my appoynted taske , shall say : th i s same i s sheeThat was sum tyme king Priams wyfe, th i s was the famous moo ther

OfHector. And now after losse of such a sort of other,

Thou (whoo a lonly i n my greefe my comfort didst remayne) ,Too pacifye our emn

tyes wrath upon h i s tumb art slayne.

Thus bare I dea thgy ts for my foes. Too what intent am IMost wretched wyght remayning sti ll ? why doo I l i nger ? whyDoo th hurtful] age preserve mee sti ll al ive ? too what i n tentYee cruell Goddes reserve yee mee that hath already spentToo many yeeres ? onlesse i t bee new buryalls for too see ?

And whoo would th ink that Priamus myght happy counted beeSith Troy i s razed ? Happy man i s hee i n being dead .His lyfe and kingdoome he forwent toogither : and th i s steadHe sees not thee h i s dau hter slaine . But peradventure thouShall l ike the daughter ofa king have sumptuous bu ryall now,

And with thy noble auncetors thy bodye layd shall bee.Our l inage hath not so good lucke : the most that shal l too theeBee yeelded are thy moothers teares

,and in th i s forreine land

Too hyde thy murthered corce withall a li ttl e heape of sand .For all i s lost . Nay yi t remaynes (for whome I well can fyndIn hart too lyve a li ttle whyle) an imp u ntoo my myndMost deere

,now only left alone, sum tyme of many mo

The yoongest, l i ttle Polydore, delivered late agoToo Polemrzestor king of Thra ce, whoo dwelles with in thei s bounds .But Wherfo re doo I stay so long i n wasshing of her wounds,And face berayd with gory blood ? I n saying thus, shee wentToo seaward with an aged pace and hory heare beerent.And (wretched woman) as shee calld for pitchers for too draweUp water, shee of Polydoro on shore the carkesse sawe,And eeke the myghty wounds at wh ich the Tyrants swoord went thurrow.

The Trojane Ladyes shreeked ou t. But shee was dumb for sorrow.

The angui sh of her hart forclosde as well her speech as eekeHer teares devowring them with in . Shee stood astonyed leekeAs if shee had beene stone . One whyle the ground shee staard uppon .

Another whyle a gastly looke shee kest too heaven . AnonShee looked on the face of h im that lay before her kil ld .

Sum tymes h is woundes (h i s woundes I sa shee special ly beh illd,And therwithal l shee armd her selfe and u rnisht her with i re :Wherethrough assoone as that her hart was fully set on fyre,As though shee sti ll had beene a Q

!ueene

,too vengeance shee her bent,

Enforcing all her wi tts too fynd some kynd of ponnishment.

And as '

a Lyon robbed of her whelpes becommeth wood,And taking on th e footing of her emnye where hee stood,P urseweth h im though out of syght : even so (Lueene Hecuhee

264

(Now having meynt her teares with wrath) forgettingquyght that sheeWas old, but no t her princely hart, too Polymnestor wentThe cursed murtherer, and desyrde h i s presence too thententToo shew too h im a masse of gold (so made shee her pretence),Which for her lyttle Polydore was h id not farre from thence.The Thracian king beleeving her, as eager of the pray,Went with her too a secret place . And as they there did stay,With flattring and deceytfu l l toong he thus too her did sayMake speede I prey thee Hecuba

,and give thy sonne th i s gold

I sweare by God i t shall bee h is,as well that I doo hold

Al ready, as that thou shalt give . Uppon h im speaking so ,And swearing and forsweari ng too

,shee looked sternely tho,

And beeing sore inflaamd with wrath , caught hold uppon h im ,and

Streyght cal lying out for succor too the wyves of Troy at hand,Did i n the traytors face bestowe her nayles , and scratched ou tHis eyes : her anger gave her hart and made her strong and stout.Shee th rust her fingars i n as farre as could bee, and did boreNot now his eyes (for why hi s eyes were pulled out before),But bothe the places of hi s eyes berayd with wicked blood .The Thracians at theyr Tyrannes harme for anger wex ing wood,Began too scare the Trojane wyv es with darts and stones . Anon

Q!ueene Hecub ronn ing at a stone, with gnarring seaz d theron ,And wirryed i t beetwecne her teeth . And as shee 0pte her chappeToo speake, i n stead of speechc shee barkt. The place of th is m issehappeR emayneth sti ll, and of the th ing there done beares yit the name .Long myndfu l] of her former illes , shee sadly for the sameWent howling in the feeldes of Thra ce. Her fortune moved no tHer Trojans only

,but the Greekes her foes too ruthe : Her lot

Did move even all the Coddes to ruthe : and so effectually,That Hecub too deserve such end even Juno did denye.

Al though the morning of the selfsame warres had favorer beene,Shee had no leysu re too lament the fortune of the (b eene,

Nor on the slaughters and the fal l of [lion for too th ink .A household care more neerer home did i n her stomacke s ink,For Memnon her beloved sonne, Whom dying shee behildUppon the feerce Achilles speare amid the Ph rygian feeld .Shee saw i t

,and her ruddy hew with wh ich shee woonted was

Too dye the breaking of the day, did intoo palenesse passe :And all the skye was h id with clowdes . But when h i s corce was goneToo bu rningward , shee could not fynd i n hart too looke theron,But wi th her heare about her eares shee kneeled downe beforeThe myghtye l ove, and thus gan speake unto h im weeping sore .Of al that have theyr dwelli ng place uppon the golden skye,The lowest (for through al l the world the feawest shrynes have I),

But yi t a Goddesse, I doo come, no t that thou shouldst decreeThat Al tars

,shrynes, and holydayes bee made too honour mee.

Yit if thou marke how much that I a woman doo for thee,I n keepin nygh t with in her bo undes , by bringing i n thee l igh t,Thou we] mayst thinke mee worthy sum reward too claym e of ryght.

But neyther now is that the th ing the morning cares too have,Ne yi t her state i s such as now dew honour fo r too crave .

Bereft ofmy deere Mermzon who i n fyghting val ea ntlyToo help h i s uncle, (so i t was your wil l 0 Coddes) did dyeOf stout Achilles stu rdye speare even in h i s flowring pryme

,

I sew too thee 0 king of Coddes too doo h im at th i s tyme

Sum honour as a comfort of h i s dea th , and ease th i s hartOf myne wh ich greatly greeved i s with wound of percing smart.

No sooner Jo've had raunted dame Aurora her desyre,But that the flame o Memh ons corce that burned in the fyre

Did fall : and flaky rolles of smoke did dark the day,as when

mist steames upward from a R iver or a fen,And sufl

'

reth not the Sonne too shyne with i n i t. Blacke as coleThe ci nder rose : and intoo one round lump assembling whole

,

Grew grosse,and tooke bothe shape and hew . The fyre did lyfe i t send,

The lyghtnesse of th e substance self did wings u ntoo i t lend.And at the first i t fl ittred l ike a bi rd : and by and byI t flew a fethered bird i n deed . And with that one gan flyInnumerable mo of selfsame brood : whoo once or twyceDid sore about the fyre, and made a pi teous shreeking thryce.

The fowrthtyme i n theyr flying round,themselves they all withdrew

I n battells twayne, and feercely foorth of eyther syde one flewToo fyght a combate. With theyr billes and hooked talants keeneAnd with theyr wings couragiou sly they wreakt theyr wra thfull teene.And myndfu ll of the val eant man of whom they i ssued beene,They never ceased °

obb ing eche uppon the others brest,Until l they fall ing hoth downe dead with fygh ting overprest,Had ofl'

r ed up theyr bodyes as a woorthy sacrifyse

Untoo theyr cousi n Memnon who too Asshes burned lyes .Thei s soodeinc bi rds were named of the founder of theyr stocke :For men doo call them Memnoh s birds. And every yeere a flockeR epayre too Memrzons tumb, where twoo doo in the foresayd wyseI n manner of a yeeremynd slea themselves i n sacrifyse.

Thus where as oth ers did lament that Dymcmts daughter barkt,Auroras owne greef busyed her, that smally shee i t markt.Which th ing shee too th i s present tyme with pi teous teares dooth shewe

For through the universal] world shee sheadeth moysting deawe.

Yit suffred not the destinyes al l hope too perrish quyghtToogither with th e towne of Troy . That good and godly knyght

The sonne of Venus bare away by nyght uppon h i s backeHis aged father and h is Coddes, an honorable packe .Of all the riches of the towne that only pray he chose,So godly was h i s mynd : and like a bannish t man he goesBy water with h i s owne yoong sonne Ascanius from the I leAntandros

,and he shonnes the shore of Thra cia which ere whyle

The wicked Tyrants treason did wi th Polydores blood defyle.

And having wynd and tyde at wil l,he saufly with h is trayne

Arryved at Ap ollos towne where Anius then did reigneWhoo being both Ap ollos preest and of that place the king,Did enterteyne h im i n h i s house and untoo church h im bring,And she

'

wd h im both the Citie and the temples knowen of old,And eeke the sacred trees by wh ich La tona once tooke hold,When shee of chyldbirth t ravelled. Assoone as sacrifyse

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Did send i t out of Thessa ly: but Alcon one ofMyleDid make the cuppe. And hee theron a sto ry portrayd out.

I t was a Citie with seven gates i n c ircui t round about,Which men myght easly all di scerne . The gates did represen tThe Cities name

,and shewed playne what towne thereby was ment.

Without th e towne were funeralls a doo ing for the dead,With herces, tapers, fyres, and tumbes. The wyves wi th rufll ed headAnd stomacks bare pretended greef. The nymphes seemd teares too shead,And wayle the drying of theyr wel les. The leaveless trees did seare .And licking on the parched stones Goats romed heere and there .Behold amid this Thebane towne was lyvely portrayd ou t

Echions daughters twayne, of which the one with courage stoutDid profer bothe her naked thro te and stomacke too the knyfeAnd toother with a manly hart did also spend her lyfe,For saufgard of her countryfolk : And how that therupponThey both were caryed solem ly on berces, a nd anonWere burned i n the cheefest place of al l the Thebane towne .Then(least theyr l inage should decay whoo dyde wi th such renowne

Out 0 the Asshes of the maydes there i ssued twoo yong men,

And they untoo theyr moothers dust did obsequies agen .Thus much was graved curiously i n auncient prec ious brasse,And on the brim a trayle of flowres of bearbrich gilded was.

The Trojans also gave too h im as costly giftes agen .Bycau se he was Ap ollos preest they gave too h im as thenA Chi st too keepe i n frankincence . They gave h im furthermoreA Crowne of gold wherin were set of precious stones great store .Then calling too remembrance that the Trojans i ssued wereOf Tewcers blood, they sayld too Crete. But long they could not there

Abyde th’

infection of the aire : and so they did forsakeThe hundred Cities

,and wi th speede to Itayleward did make.

The win ter wexed hard and rough , and tost them verry sore .And when theyr shippes arrived were uppon the perlous shoreAmong the Strophaa

' I les,the bird Aello did them feare .

The costes of B a lich, Itha ca , and Same they passed were,And eeke the Court ofNeritus where wyse Ulysses reignd ,And came too Amhra ce for the which the Gods strong stryfe maynteind .

There sawe they turned into stone the j udge whoose image yi tAt Actium i n Appollos Church in signe therof dooth sit .They vewed also Dodon grove where Okes spake : and the coastOf Chaon where the sonnes of king Molossus scapt a mostUngracious fyre by taking wings . From thence they coasted byThe countrye of the Pheahs fraught with frute abundantly.Then tooke they land i n Epyre, and too Buthrotos they wentWheras the Trojane prophet dwelt, whoose reigne did representAn image of th eyr auncient Troy. There being certifydeOf th ings too come by Helen (whoo whyle th ere they did abyde

I nformed them ryght faythfully of all that should betyde)They passed into Sicilie. With corners three th is landShootes’ out intoo the Sea : of wh ich Pa chinnus front dooth standAgeinst the southcoast : Lilihye doo th face the gen tle west,And Pelare untoo Chor/sis wayne dooth northward beare h is brest.

268

The Trojanes under Pelare gate with ores and prosprou s tydes,And in the even by Z a nclye shore theyr fleete at anchor rydes.Uppon the leftsyde restlessely Charyha

’is ay doo th beate them,And swalloweth sh ippes and spewes them up as fast as i t doo th eate them .

And Scylla beateth on theyr ryght : wh ich from the navel] downeI s patched up with cruell curres : and upward too the crowneDooth keepe the countnance of a mayd : And (if that all bee trewThat Poets fayne) shee was sum tym e a mayd ryght fayre of hew .

Too her made many wooers sute : a ll which shee did eschew.

And going too the salt Sea nymphes (too whom shee was ryght deere)Shee vaunted, too how many men shee gave the sl ippe that yeere.

Too whom the Lady Ga la te i n kembing of her heareSayd thus wi th syghes . But they that sought too thee (0 Lady) wereNone other than of humane kynd

,too whom without a ll feare

Of harme, thou m ghtest (as thou doost) give nay. But as for meeAl thou h that I onereus and gray Dori s daughter bee,And 0 my susters have wi th mee continually a gard

,

I could not scape the Cyclop s love, but too my greef full hard .(Wi th that her teares did stoppe her speech c.) Assoone as that the maydH ad dryde them with her marble thomb, and moande the nymph , she sayd :Deere Goddesse tell mee all your greef, and hyde i t not from meeFor trust mee I wil l untoo you bo the true and secret bee .Then untoo Cra tyes daughter thus the nymph her playnt did frame.Of Fawne and nymph Simethis borne was Acis, whoo becameA joy too bothe h i s parents, but too mee the greater joy.

For be ing but a sixteene yeeres of age, th i s fayre sweete boyDid take mee too his love, what tyme about h i s chyld ish ch inThe tender heare like mossy downe too Sprowt did first begin .I loved him beyond all Coddes forbod, and l ikewyse meeThe Giant Cyclops, neyther (if demaunded i t should bee)I well were able for too tell you whi ther that the loveOfAcis

,or the Cyclop s hate did more my stomacke move.

There was no oddes betweene them . Oh deere Goddesse Venus, whatA powre haste thou ? Behold how even th is owgly Giant thatNo Sparke of meekenes se in h im hath, whoo i s a terrour tooThe verrye woodes , whom never guest nor strau nger came untooWithout displeasure

,whoo the heaven s and all the Coddes despyseth,

B oo th fee le what th ing is love . The love of mee h im so surpryseth ,That Polypheme regarding not h is sheepe and hollowe Cave,But having care too please, doo th go about too make h im brave .His sturt e stifl'

e heare he kembeth nowe with strong and sturdy rakes,And with a the doo th marcusso tte h i s bri stled herd : and takesDelyght tm

g

fw ke uppon h imself i n waters, and too frameHis countnance. Of h is mu rtherous hart the wyldnesse wexeth tame.H is una staunched thyrst of blood is quenched : shippes may passeAnd repa s se sa ufly. I n the whyle that he i n love thus was ,One Telemus Ewrjymea

's sonne a man of passing skill

I n birdfly ht, taking land that ryme in Sicill, went untillThe orpe Gyant Pobpheme, and sayd : This one round eyeThat now amid thy forehead stands shal] one day ere thou dyeBy sly Ulysses blinded bee. The Gyant laught therat,

And sayd O fool ish soothsayre thou deceyved art i n that.For why another (even a wench) already hathe i t blynded.

Thus skorning h im that told h im tru the bycause he was hygh mynded,He eyther made the ground too shake in walking on the shore,Or rowz d h im in h is shadye Cave . With wedged poynt beforeThere shoots a h ill intoo the Sea : whereof the sea doo th beateOn eyther syde. The one eyd feend came up and made h i s seateTheron

,and after came h is sheepe undriven . Assoone as hee

Had at h i s foote layd downe h i s stafl‘

e which was a whole Pyne treeWell able for too bee a maast too any shippe, he takesHis pype compact of fyvescore reedes, and therwithal l he makesSo loud a noyse that all the h ille s and waters therabou tMyght easly heere the shirlnesse of th e shepeherds whistl ing ou t.I lying u nderneathe th e rocke, and lean ing in the lappeOfAcis markt theis woordes of h i s wh ich farre I heard by happe.More whyght thou art th en Primrose leaf my Lady Ga la tee,More fresh than meade, more tall and s treyght than lofty Al dertree, 930

More brigh t than glasse, more wanton than the tender kid forsooth ,Than Cockleshelles continually with water worne, more smoothe,More cheerefull than the W in ters Sun, or Sommers shadowe cold,More seemely and more comly than the P lanetree too beholdOf valew more than Apples bee although they were of goldMore cleere than frozen yce, more sweete than Grape through rype ywis,More soft than butter newly made, or downe of Cygnet i s ;And much more fayre and beawtyq than gardein too myne eye

,

But that thou from my companye continually doost flye.And thou the selfsame Ga la te, art more tettish for too frameThan Oxen of the wildernesse whom never wyght did tame :More fleeting than the waves, more hard than warryed Oke too twyne,More tough than willow twiggs, more lyth than is th e wyld whyght vyneMore than th i s rocke unmovable, more violen t than a streame,More prowd than Peacocke praysd, more feerce than fyre and more extreemeMore rough than Breers, more cruell than the new del ivered Beare,More m ercilesse than troden snake, th an sea more deafe of eare :And wh ich (and if i t lay i n m ee I cheefly would res trayne)No t only swifter paced than th e stag in chace on playne,But also swifter than the wynd and flyghtfu ll ayre. But ifThou knew me well, i t wou ld thee irke to flye and bee a greefToo tarrye from mee. Yea thou wouldst endevor all thy powreToo keepe mee wholly too thy self. The (h arry i s my bowreH eawen ou t of whole mayne stone . No Sun i n sommer there can swelt

,

No nipping cold in wintertyme with in the same is felt.Gay Apples weying downe the boughes have I , a nd Grapes l ike gold,And purple Grapes on spreaded Vynes as many as can hold,Bothe wh ich I doo reserve for thee . Thyself shal t with thy handThe soft sweete strawbryes gather, wh ich in wooddy shadowe stand.The Cornell berryes also from the tree thy self shalt pull,And pleasant plommes, sum yellow lyke new wax, sum blew, sum fullOf ruddy jewce . Of Chestnu tts eeke (i f my wyfe thou wilt bee)Thou shalt have store : and fru tes all sortes : All trees shall serve for thee.

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And if I catch h im he shal l feele that in my body i sThe force that should bee . I shall paunch h im quieke. Those l imbes of h isI will i n peeces teare, and strew them i n the feeldes , and inThy waters

,i f he doo thee haunt . For I doo swelt with in

,

And being chaafte the flame dooth burne more feerce too my unrest.Mee th i nks mount Aetna with h is force i s closed i n my brest . 1 020

And yi t i t noth ing moveth thee . Assoone as he had talktThus much i n vayne

, (I sawe well all) he rose : and fuming sta lktAmong h i s woodes and woonted Lawndes , as doo th a Bulch in, when

The Cow i s fromh im tane . He could h im no where rest as then .Anon the feend espyed mee and Acis where wee lay,Before wee wist or feared i t : and crying ou t gan sayI see yee, and confounded myght I bee wi th endlesse shame,But if I make th i s day the last agreement of your game .Thei s wordes were spoke wi th such a reere as verry well becameAn angry Giant. Aetna shooke with lowdnesse of the same .I scaa rd therwith dopt u nderneathe the water, and the knyghtSimethus turning streyght h i s backe, did give h imself too flyght,And cryed help mee Ga la te, help parents I you pray,And in your kingdome mee receyve whoo perri sh must streyghtway.

The roundeyd devil] made pu rsewt : and rending up a fleeceOf Aetna R ocke, th rew after h im : of wh ich a l ittl e peeceD id Acis overtake, and yit as l i ttle as i t was ,I t overwhelmed Acis whole . I wretched wyght (alas)Did that wh ich destnyes would permit. Foorthwith I brought too passeThat Acis should receyve the force h i s father had before.His scarlet blood did i ssue from the lump

,and more and more

With i n a whyle th e rednesse gan too vannish : and the hewR esembled at the first a brooke wi th rayne distroubled new,

Which wexeth cleere by length of tym e. Anon the lump did clyve,

And from the hollow cl ifl'

e therof hygh reedes sprang up alyv e

And at the hollow i ssue of the stone the bubling waterCame trickling ou t. And by and by (which i s a woondrou s matter)The stripli ng with a wreath of reede about h i s horned headAvaunst h is body too the waste. Whoo (save he was that steadMuch bigga r than he erst had beene, and altoogither gray)Was Acis sti ll and being tu rnd too water, at th i s dayI n shape of ryver still he beares h i s former name away.The Lady Ga la t cea st her talk and streyght the companye brakeAnd Neryes daughters parting thence, swam in the gentle lake .

Dame Scylla home ageine retu rnd . (Shee durst not her betakeToo open sea) and eyther roamd uppon the sandy shoreStark naakt, or when for weerinesse shee could not walk no more,Shee then withdrew her out of sygh t, and gate her too a poole,And in the water of the same, her heated l imbes did coole .Behold the fortune. Gla ucus (whoo then being late beforeTransformed in Ewboya I le uppon Anthedon shore,Was new becomne a dweller i n the sea) as he did swimAlong the coast

, was tane in love at syght of Scylla trim,And spake such woordes as h e did th i nk myght make her tarry sti llYi t fled shee still

, and swift for feare shee gate her too a h ill

272

That butted on the sea . Ryght steepe and upward sharp did shooteA loftye toppe wi th trees, benea thc was hollowe at the foote .Heere Scylla stayd and being sauf by strongnesse of the place,(Not knowing if he monster were, or God, that d id her chace),Shee looked backe. And woondr ing at h i s colour and h is heare,With wh ich h i s shoulders and h i s backe all wholly covered were

,

Shee saw h i s nea ther parts were like a fish with tayle wrythde round,Who lean ing too the neerest R ocke, sayd thus with lowd cleere soundFayr e mayd

,I neyther monster am nor cruell savage beast

But of th e sea a God,whoo se powre and favour i s not least.

For neyther Protew i n the sea nor Triton have more myght,Nor yi t the sonne ofAthamas that now Pa le mon hyght.Yit once I was a mortal] man . But you must know that IWas given too seawoo rkes

,and i n them mee only did apply

For sum tym e I did draw the drag i n which the fishes were,

And sum tym e si ttingon the cl ifl

'

es I angled heere and there .There butteth on a ayre greene mede a ba nk

,wherof tone half

I s cloasd with sea, the rest i s clad wi th herbes wh ich never calfNor horned Ox, nor seely sheepe, nor shakhea rd Coate did feedeThe bu sye Bee did never there of flowres sweete smell ing speede,No gladsum garlonds ever there were gathered for the head,No hand those flowers ever yi t wi th hooked sythe did shred.I was th e firs t th at ever set my foo te uppon that plot .Now as I dryde my dropping netts, and layd abt ode my lotte,Too tel l how many fishes had bychaunce too net beene sent,Or through theyr owne too lyght beleefe on bayted hooke beene hent(The matter seemeth lyke a lye, but what avayles too lye ? )Assoone as that my pray had towch t the grasse, i t by and byBegan too move, and flask theyr finnes , and swim uppon the drye,As i n th e Sea . And as I pawsd and woondred at the syght,My draugh t of fishes everychone too seaward tooke theyr flyght,And leaping from the shore, forsooke thei r newfound mayster quyghtI was amazed at the th ing : and standing long i n dowt,I sought th e cause if any God had brought th is same abowt,Or else sum jewce of herbe . And as I so did musing stand,What herb (quoth I) hath such a powre ? and gathering with my handThe grasse

,I bote it with my too th e. My throte had scarcely yi t

Wel l swallowed downe the uncouth jewce, when like an agew fi tI felt myne inwards soodeinly too shake, and with the same,A love of other nature i n my brest wi th violence came.And long I could i t not resi st, but sayd : deere land adeew,

For never shall I haunt thee more. And with that woord I threwMy bodye i n the sea . The Coddes thereof receyv ing mee,Vouchsaved i n theyr order mee installed for too bee.Desyring old Oceanus and Thetis for theyr sakeThe rest of m morta l itie away from mee too take,They hallow mee

,and having sayd nyne tymes the holy ryme

That purgeth all prophanednesse, they charged mee that tyme

Too u t my bres tbulk u ndernea the a hundred stream es . AnonThe rookes from sundry coastes and all the seas did ryde upponMy head . From whence as soone as I returned, by and by

1 1 00

1 1 1 0

I felt my self farre o therwyse through all my limbes , than IHad beene before, and i n my mynd I was another man .Thus farre of al l that mee befell make j ust report I can,Thus farre I beare i n mynd. The rest my mynd perceyvedThen first of all th i s hory greene gray grisild beard I got,And th i s same bush of heare wh ich all along the seas I sweepe.

And thei s same myghty shoulders, and thei s grayi sh armes, and feeteCoonfounded intoo finned fish . But what avayleth meeTh i s goodly shape, and of the Coddes of sea too loved bee,Or for too be a God my self, i f th ey delyght not thee ?As he was speaki ng thi s, and still about too utter more,Dame Scylla h im forsooke : whera t he wex i ng angry

And haeing qu ickned with repulse, i n rage hee tooke h i sToo Titans daughters Court wh ich full of monsters

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Not hurt h is persone beeing falne i n love with h im, ne wouldShee spyghted her that was preferd before her. And uppon

Displeasure tane of th i s repulse, shee went her way anon .And wicked weedes of grisly jewce toogither shee did bray,And i n the braying

,W i tch ing charmes shee over them did say

And putting on a russet cloke, shee passed through the rowtOf savage bea stes that i n her court came fawning round abowt,And going untoo R hegion cliffe which standes ageinst the shoreOf Zancle, entred by and by the waters that doo roreWith violent rydes, uppon the which shee stood as on firme land

,

And ran and never wet her feete awh it. There was at handA li ttle plash that bowwed l ike a bowe that standeth ben t

,

Where Scylla woonted was too rest herself, and th i ther wentFrom rage of sea and ayre

,what tyme the sonne amid the skye

I s whotest, making shadowes short by mounti ng up on hye .This plash did Circe then infect ageinst that Scylla came,And with her poysons which had powre most monstrous shapes too frame

,

Defyled i t . Shee sprincled there the jewce of venymd weedes,And thryce nyne tymes wi th W i tch ing mouth shee softly mumbli ng, reedesA charme ryght darke of uncouth woordes . No sooner Scylla cameWith in th is plash

,and too the waast had waded in the same,

But that shee sawe her h inderloynes with barking buggs attein t .And at the first, not th inking with her body they were meyntAs parts therof

,shee started back

,and rated them . And sore

Shee was afrayd the eager curres should byght her. But the moreShee shonned them

,the surer still shee was too have them there.

I n seeking where her loynes,and thyghes , and feete and ancles were,

Chappes l ike the chappes of Cerberus i n stead of them shee found.Nought else was there than cruell curres from belly downe too ground .5 0 undernea the misshapen loynes and womb remayn ing sound,Her manni sh mastyes backes were ay with in the water drownd .Her lover Glaucus wept thera t, and Circes bed refu sdeThat had so passi ng cruelly her herbes on Scylla u sde.

But Scylla i n that place abode. And for the hate shee boreToo Circeward , (assoone as meete occasion servde therfore)Shee spoyld Ulysses of his mates . And shortly after, sheeHad also drownd the Trojane fleete

,but that (as yit wee see)

Shee was transformd too rock of stone, which sh ipmen warely shonne .

When from th is R ocke the Tro'ane fleete by force of Ores had wonne,And from Cha rybdis greedye gulf, and were i n manner readyeToo have arryvde i n Ita ly, the wynd did ryse so heady,As that i t drave them backe uppon the coast ofAfi iche. ThereThe Tyrian Q l eene (whoo afterward u npaciently should beareThe going of thi s Trojane prince away) did enterteineAentea s i n her house, and was ryght glad of h im and fayne.Uppon a Pyle made underneathe pretence of sacrifyseShee goard herself upon a swoord , and i n most wofull wyseAs shee herself had beene beguyld : so shee beguyled all.EftsooneAenaea s flying from the newly reered wallOf Ca rthage i n that sandy land, retyred backe agenToo Sicill , where h is faythq freend Acestes reignd. And when

2 76

He there had doone his sacrifyse, and kept an Obit atH i s fathers tumb, he out of hand did mend h i s Gallyes thatDame Iris Junos messenger had burned up almost.And sayling thence he kept h is course aloof along the coastOfAeolye and of Va lcanes I les the which of brimston smoke

,

And passing by the Meremayds rocks, (His P i lot by a strokeOf tempest bei ng drownd in sea) he sayld by Prochite, andIna rime, and (which uppon a barreine h ill dooth stand)The land ofApe I le, which doo th take that name of people slyeThere dwell ing. For the Syre of Coddes abhorri ng utterlyThe leawdnesse of the Cercop s, and theyr wilful] perjurye,And eeke theyr guylefu ll deal ing, did transforme them everycho

Intoo an evill favored kynd of beast : that beeing none,They myght yi t stil l resemble men . He kni t i n lesser spaceTheyr members, and he beate mee flat theyr noses too theyr face,The wh ich he fi lled furrowlike with wrinckles every where.He clad theyr bodyes over all with fallow cou lourd heare,And put them intoo th i s same Ile too dwell for ever there.But first he did bereeve them of the use of speech c and toong

,

Which they too cursed perj urye did u se bothe old and yoong.Too chatter hoarcely, and too shreeke, too j abber, and too squeakeHe hath them left

,and for too m oppe and mowe, but not too speake.

Aene a s bavin past th i s I le,and on h i s ryght hand left

The towne o Nap les, and the tumb ofMysen on h i s left,Toogi ther with th e fenny grounds : at Cumye landed, andWent u ntoo longlyvde Cyhill s house , with whom he went in hand,That he too see h is fathers ghoste mygh t go by Averne decpc .Shee long uppon the earth in stownd her eyes did fixed keepeAnd at the length assoone as that th e spryght of prophesyeWas entred her, shee raysing them did thus ageine reply :0 most renowmed mygh t, of whom the godlynesse by fyre,And va leantncssc i s tryde by swoo rd , great th ings thou doost requyre.

But feare not Trojan e : for thou shal t bee lord of thy desyre.

Too see the reverend ymagc of thy deerebeeloved syre,Among the fayre Elysian feeldes where godly folke abyde,And all the lowest kingdoomes of the world I will thee guydeNo way too vertue i s res trcynd . This spoken, shee did showeA golden bowgh that i n th e wood of Proserp ine did growe,And wil led h im too pull i t from the tree . He did obey,And sawe the powre of dreadful l hell, and where h is graundsyres lay,And eeke the aged Ghost of stowt Anchises. FurthermoreHe lerud the customes of the land arryvd at late before,And what adven tures should by warre betyde him in that place.From thence retyring up ageine a slow and weery pace,He did asswage the ted iou snesse by talking with h is guydeFor as he i n the twylyght dim th i s dreadfull way did ryde,He sayed : whi ther present thou thyself a Goddesse bee,Or such a one as God doo th love most deerly, I wil l theeFor ever as a Goddesse take, and will acknowledge meeThy servant

,for saufguyd ing mee the place of death too see,

And for thou from the place of death haste brought mee sauf and free.

For wh ich desert,what tyme I shal l a tteyne too open ayre,

I will a temple to thee buyld ryght sumptuous, large, and fayre,And honour thee wi th frankincence. The prophetisse did castHer eye uppon Aene a s backe, and syghing sayd at lastI am no Goddesse. Neyther th ink thou canst wi th conscience ryght,With holy incence honour give too any mortall wyght.

But too thentent through ignorance thou erre not, I had beeneE ternal] , and of worldly lyfe I should none end have seene,I f that I would my maydenhod on Phebus have bestowde .

H owbeeit whyle he stood i n hope too have the same, and trowdeToo overcome mee with h is gifts : thou mayd of Cumes (quoth hee)Choose what thou wilt, and of thy wish the owner thou shalt bee.I taking full my hand of dust, and shewing it h im there,Desyred l ike a foole too live as many yeeres as wereSmal l graynes of ci nder i n that heape. I quigh t forgot too craveImmediately

,the race of all those yeeres i n youth too have.

Yi t did he graun t mee also that, uppon condicion IWould let h im have my maydenhod , which th i ng I did denye.

And so rej ecting Phebus gift a single lyfe I led .But now the blesseful] tyme of youth is al toogither fled

,

And irksome age with trembling pace i s stolne uppon my head,Which long I must endure. For now already as you seeSeven hundred cares are come and gone : and that th e number beeFull matched of

,

th e granes of dust, th reehundred harvestes mo,I must three hundred vintages see more

,before I go .

The day will come that length of tyme shall make my body small,

And l i ttle of my withered limbes shall leave or naught at all ,And none shall th ink that ever God was tane i n love with mee.Even ou t of Phebus knowledge th en perchaunce I growen shal l bee,Or at the least that ever he mee lovde he shal l denye,So sore I shall be al tered. And then shall no mannes eyeDiscerne mee. Only by my voyce I shal l bee knowen . For whyThe fates shall leave mee sti ll my voyce for folke too know mee by.As Sybill i n the vaulted way such talk as th i s did frame,The Trojane knyght Aene a s up at Cumes fro Limbo came,

And having doone the sacrifyse accustomd for the same,He tooke h i s journey too the coast

,which had no t yit the name

R eceyved of h is nu rce . I n th i s same place he found a mateOf wyse Ulysses, Ma cure ofNeri tas, whoo lateBefore, had after all h i s long and tediou se toyles, there stayd .

He spying Achemenides (whom late ago afraydThey had among mount Aetnas Cliffs abandond when they fledFrom Polypheme) : and woondring for too see he was not dead,Sayd thus : 0 Achemenides, what chaunce, or rather whatGood God ha the savde the lyfe of thee ? What i s the reason thatA barbrou s sh ippe beares thee a Greeke ? or whither saylest thou ?

Too h im thus Achemenides, h i s owne man freely now,

And not forgrowen as one forlorne, nor clad i n bri stled hyde,Made answer : Yit ageine I would I should in perril l bydeOf Polypheme, and that I myght those chappes of h i s beholdB eesmeared with the blood of men, but if that I doo hold

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At every moyse, and dreading death , and wisshing for too dye ,Appeasing hunger with the leaves of trees, and herbes and mast,Alone

,and poore

,and foo telesse, and too death and pennance cast,

A long ryme after I espyde th i s shippe a farre at last,And ronning downeward too the sea by signes did succour seeke,Where fynding grace, th i s Trojane shippe receyved mee a Greeke.

But now I prey thee gentle freend declare thou untoo meeThy Capteines and thy fellowes lucke that tooke the sea with thee.He told h im how that Ae'

o

'

lus the sonne ofHippot, heaThat keepes

“ the wyndes i n pryson cloce did reigne i n Tu skane sea,

And how Ulysses having at h i s hand a noble gift,The wynd enclosde i n leather bagges, did sayle with prosperous driftNyne dayes toogither : i n somuch they came with in th e syghtOf home : but on the tenth day when the morning gan give lyght,His fellowes being somewhat toucht with covetousenesse and spygh t,Supposing that i t had been gold, did let the wyndes outquyght :The which return ing whence they came

,did drive them backe a mayne

,

That i n the R ealme ofAeolus they went a land agayne .

From thence (quoth he) we came untoo the auncient Lamyes towne,Of wh ich the feerce Antipha tes that season ware the crowne.

A cowple of my mates and I were sent untoo h im : and

A mate of myne and I cou ld scarce by flyght escape h i s hand,The thi rd of us did with h is blood embrew the wicked faceOf leawd Antipha te, whoo with swoord us flyi ng thence did chace,And following after wi th a rowt th rew stones and loggs which drowndBoth men and shippes . H owbeeit one by chaunce escaped sound,Which bare Ulysses and my self. So having lost most partOf all our deare companions

, we with sad and sory hartAnd much complayning, did arryve at yoonder coast, which yowMay ken farre hence . A great way hence (I say) wee see i t now,

But trust mee trul y over meere I saw i t once . And thowAene a s Goddesse Venus sonne the justest kn ight of allThe Trojane race (for si th the warre i s doone, I can not cal lThee fo) I warne thee get thee far from Circes dwell i ng place.For when ou r shippes a rryved there, remembring eft the caceOf cruel l king Antipha tes, a nd of that helli sh wyghtThe round eyed gyant Polypheme, wee had so small delygh tToo vi si t uncowth places, that wee sayd wee would not go .

Then cast we Iotts. The lot fell out uppon myself as tho,And Polyte, and Eurylocus, and on Elp enor, whoDelyghted tootoomuch i n wyne, and eyghteene other mo .

All wee did go too Circes house . Assoone as wee came th i ther,And i n the portal] of the Hall had set our feete toogither,A thousand Lyon s woolves and beares did put u s i n a feareBy meeti ng us . But none of them was too bee feared there.For none of them could doo us harme : but with a gentle lookeAnd following us with fawning feete theyr wanton tayles they shooke.

Anon did Damz ell s welcome us and led us through the hall(The wh ich was made of marble stone, floore, arches, roof, and wall)Too Circe. Shee sate undernea the a traverse in a chayreAloft ryght rich and stately, i n a chamber large and fayre.

280

Shee ware a goodl y long treynd gowne : and all her rest attyreWas every wh i t of goldsmithes woork. There sate mee a lso by herThe Seanymphes and her Ladyes whoo se fyne fingers never knewWhat too z ing wool] did meene, nor threede from whorled spindle drew .

They sorted herbes, and picking out the flowers that were mixt,Did put them intoo mawnds , and with indifl

'

erent space betwixt,

Did lay the leaves and s talks on h ea pes according too theyr hew,And shee herself th e woork of them did oversee and vew.

The vertue and the use of them ryght perfectly shee knew,And i n what leaf it lay, and which in mixture woul d agree .And so perusing every herb by good advysement, sheeD id wey them ou t. Assoone as shee us entring i n did see,And greeting had bothe given and tane

,shee looked cheerefully,

And graunting all that wee desyrde, commaunded by and byA certeine potion too bee made of barly parched drye

,

And wyne and hony mixt with cheese,and with the same shee slye

Had meynt the jewce of certeine herbes wh ich unespyde did lyeBy reason of the sweetenes se of the dri nk . Wee tooke the cupDel ivered by her wicked hand

,and quaft i t cleerely up

With th irs tye throtes . Which doone,and that the cursed witch had smit

Our h ighest h eare tippes with her wand, (i t i s a shame, but yi tI wi ll declare th e truth) I wext all rough with bristled heare,And coul d not make complai nt with woordes . I n stead of speech I thereDid make a rawghtish grunting, and with groveling face gan beareMy vi sage downeward too the ground. I felt a hooked groyneToo wexen hard uppon my mouth, and brawned neck too joyneMy head and shou lders . And the handes with which I late agoHad taken up the charmed cup, were turnd too feete as tho .Such force th ere i s i n So rcerie. I n fyne wyth other moThat tasted of the selfsame sawce, th ey shet mee i n a Stye.From th i s m issehappe Eurilochus alonly scapte. For whyHe only would not tas te the cup, which had he not fled fro,He should have beene a bri stled beast as well as we . And soShould none ha v e borne Ulysses woorde of our m ischaunce, nor heeHave comme too Circe too revenge our harmes and set us free.The peaceprocurerMercuric had given too h im a whyghtFayre flowre whoose roote i s black, and of the Coddes i t Moly hyght.

Assurde by th i s and heavenly bestes, he entred Circes howre,And beei ng bidden for too drink the cup of baleq powre,As Circe was about too stroke her wand uppon h i s heare,He th rust her ba cke

,and put her with h i s naked swoo rd i n feare.

Then fel l they too agreement streyght, and fayth i n hand was plyght.And beeing made her bedfel lowe, he claymed as i n ryghtOf dowrye, for too have h i s men ageine i n perfect plyghtShee sprincled u s wi th better jewce of uncowth herbes, and strakeThe awk end of her charmed rod uppon our beades, and spakeWoo rdes too the former contrarie. The more shee charmd, the moreArose wee upward from the ground on which wee daarde before .Our bri stles fell away

,the cl ift our cloven clees forsooke

Our shoulders did retu rne agein : and next our elbowes tookeOur armes and handes theyr former place . Then weeping we embrace

281

Our Lord,and h ing about h is necke whoo also wept apace .

And not a woord wee rather spake than such as mygh t appeereFrom harts most thankful] too proceede . We ta ryed there a yeere.

I i n that whyle sawe many th ings, and many th ings did heere.I marked also th i s one th ing with store of other geet e

Which one of Circes fowre cheefmaydes (whoose ofli ce was alwayUppon such hallowes too attend) did secretly bewrayToo mee . For i n the whyle my Lord with Circe kept alone,Thi s mayd a yoongmannes image sheawd of fayre whyght marble stoneWith in a Chauncel l . On the head therof were garlonds storeAnd eeke a woodspecke. And as I demaunded her WherforeAnd whoo i t was they honord so i n holy Church , and whyHe bare that bird uppon h is head : Shee answeering by and by,Sayd : lerne hereby s ir Ma ca re too understand the powreMy Lady bathe, and marke thou well what I shal l say th i s howre.There reignd erewhyle i n Ita ly one Picus Sa turnes sonneWhoo loved warlike horse and had delyght too see them ronne.

He was of feature as ee see. And by th is image heereThe verry beawtye of

ythe man dooth lyv elely appeere.

His courage matcht his personage. And scarcely had he wellSeene twentye yeeres. His countnance did allure the nymphes that dwellAmong the La tian h illes. The nymphes of fou nta ines and of brookes

,

As those that haunted ale Albula were rav isht with h i s lookes,And so were they that Numiche beares

,and Ania too

,and Alme

That ronneth short,and heady Na r

,and Fa rfa r coole and calme.

And al l the nymphes that u sde too haunt Diana s shadye poole,Or any lakes or meeres neere hand, or other waters coole.But he disdeyning all the rest did set h i s love upponA lady whom Venilia bare (so fame reporteth) onThe stately mountayne Pa la tine by Janus that dooth beareThe dowble face . Assoone as that her yeeres for maryage wereThought able, shee preferring h im before all other men

,

Was wedded too th i s Picus whoo was king ofLawrents then .Shee was in beawtye excellent, but yit i n singing, muchMore excellent : and theruppon they naamd her Singer. SuchThe sweetenesse of her mu s icke was , that shee therwith delyghtsThe savage beastes

,and caused birdes too cease theyr wandring flyghts,

And moved stones and trees,and made the ronn ing streames too stay.

Now whyle that shee i n womans tune recordes her pleasant layAt home

,her husband rode abrode uppon a lustye horse

Too hunt the Boare,and bare i n hand twoo hunting staves of force.

His cloke was crym z en bu tned wi th a golden button fast.Intoo the selfsame forest eeke was Phebus daughter

past

From those same feeldes that of herself the name 0 Circe beare,Too gather uncowth herbes among the fru tefu ll h illocks there.Assoone as lurking in the shrubbes shee did the king espye,Shee was astrawght. Downe fell her herbes too ground. And by and byThrough all her bones the flame of love the maree gan too frye .And when s hee from th is forced beate had cald her witts agen,Shee purposde too bewray her mynd . But untoo h im as thenShee could not come for swiftnesse of h i s horse and for h is men

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Dame Circe. (For by that tyme shee had made the ayer sheere,

And suffred both the sonne and wyndes the m istye streames too cleere)And charging her with matter trew

,demaunded for theyr kyng,

And ofl'

ring force, began theyr darts and Javel ings for too fl i ng.Shee sprincl ing noysom venim streyght and jewce of poyson ing myght,Did cal] toogither Eribus and Cha os, and the nyght,And all the feendes of darknesse, and wi th howling out alongMade prayers untoo Heca te. Scarce ended was her song

,

But that (a woondrou s th ing too tell) the woodes lept from theyr place,The ground did grone : the trees neere hand lookt pale i n all the chaceThe grasse besprent with droppes of blood lookt red : the stones did seemeToo roare and bellow hoarce : and doggs too howle and raze extreeme

And all the ground too crawle with snakes blacke scaald : and gastly spryghtsFly whisking up and downe . The folke were flayghted at thei s sygh ts .

And as they woondring stood am aaz d,shee strokte her W i tch ing wand

Uppon theyr faces. At the touche wherof, there ou t of handCame woondrou s shapes of savage heastes uppon them all. Not one

R eteyned stil] h i s native shape . The setting sonne was goneBeyond the utmost coast of Sp a ine, and Singer longd i n vayneToo see her husband. Bothe her folke and people ran agayneThrough all the woodes . And ever as they went, they sent theyr eyesBefore them for too fynd h im ou t

,but no man h im espyes .

Then Singer thought i t not ynough too weepe and teare her heare,And beat herself (all wh ich shee d id)

. Shee gate abrode,and there

R aundgd over all the broade wyld eelds l ike one besyds her wittsS ix nyghts and full as many dayes (as fortune led by fitts)She strayd mee over h illes and dales, and never tasted rest,Nor meate

,nor dri nk of all the whyle. The seventh day, sore opprest

And tyred bothe with travel] and with sorrowe, downe shee sateUppon cold Tybers bank, and there with teares i n moorning rateShee warbling on her greef i n tune not sh i rle nor over hye,Did make her moane

,as dooth the swan : whoo ready for too dye

Dooth sing h i s burial ] song before . Her maree molt at lastWith moorning, and shee pynde away : and finally shee pastToo l i ther ayre . But yi t her fame remayned i n the placeFor why the auncient h usbandmen according too the caceDid name it Singer of the nymph that dyed in the same.Of such as these are, many th ings that yeere by fortune cameBothe too my heering and my sigh t. We wexi ng resty thenAnd sluggs by discontinuance, were commau nded yi t agenToo go a boord and boyse up sayles . And Circe told us allThat long and dowtfull passage and rowgh seas should us befall .I promis thee those woordes of hers mee throughly made afrayd,And therfore h ither I mee gat

,and heere I have mee stayd.

This was the end ofMa ca rs tale. And ere long tyme was gone,Aene a s Nurce was buryed i n a tumb of marble stone,

And th is short verse was set theron . I n th i s same verry placeMy Nurcechyld whom the world dooth know too bee a chyld of grace,Delivering’ mee Ca ieta qu icke from burning by the Grayes,H athe burnt mee dead with such a fyre as j ustly winnes h im prayse.

Theyr Cables from the grassye strond were looz de, and by and by

284.

From Circes slaunderou s house and from her treasons farre they fly.

And making too the thickgrowen groves where through th e yellow dustThe shady Tyber intoo sea h is gussh ing streame doe th thrust,Aene a s got the R ealm e of king La tinus Fawna s sonneAnd eeke his daughter, whom in feyght by force of armes he wonne.He enterprysed warre einst a Nation feerce and strong

,

And Turne was wro thea

gor holding of his wyfe away by wrong .Ageinst the Shyre of La tium met all Tyrrhene, and longWith bu sye care bawlt victorie by force of armes was sought .Eche partie too augment theyr force by forreine succour wrought .And many sen t the Rutills help, and many came too aydThe Trojanes : neyther was the good Aene a s i ll apaydOf goi ng too Evanders towne. But Venula s i n vayneToo outcast Diomeds ciri e went h i s succour too obteine.

This D iomed under Dawnus king of Ca la brye did foundA myghtye towne, and with h i s wyfe i n dowrye h ild the ground.

Now when from Turnus, Venulus h i s message had declaard,Desyring help : Th

'

Aetolian knyght sayd none could well bee spaard .

And i n excuce, he told h im how he neyther durst be boldToo prest h i s fathers folke too warre

,of whom he had no hold

,

Nor any of h i s countrymen had left as then alyveToo arme : And least yee th i nk (quoth hee) I doo a sh ift contryve,Altho h by uppening of the th ing my bi tter greef revyve,I will a de too make a new rehersall . After thatThe Greekes had burned Troy and on the ground had layd i t flat,And that th e Prince ofNa rix by h i s ravish ing the maydI n Pa lla s temple

,on us all the pennance had displayd

Which he h imself deservd alone : Then sca ttred heere and thereAnd harryed over all the seas, wee Greekes were fayne too beareNyght, thunder, tempest, wrath of heaven and sea, and last of allSo re sh ipwreckc at mount Capha rey too mend our harmes withall .

And leas t that mee too make too long a processe yee myght deeme

I n setting forth our heavy happes , the G reekes myght that tyme seemeRyght rewq even too Priamus . H owbeet Minerva sheeThat weareth armour tooke mee fi'

om the waves and saved mee .But from my fathers R ea lme ageine by violence I was driven .For Venus beari ng stil l i n mynd the wound I had her givenLong tyme before

,did woork revendge . By meanes wherof such toyle

Did tos se mee on the sea , and on the land I found such broyleBy warres

,th at i n my hart I thought them bli st of God whom erst

The violence of the ragi ng sea and h ideous wynds had perst,And whom the wra thq Capha rey by shipwreckc did confoundOft wi ssh ing al so I had there among the rest beene drownd,My company now having felt the woorst that sea or warreCo uld woorke

,did faynt, and wisht an end of straying out so farre .

But Agmon who t‘

of nature and too feerce th rough slaughters made,Sayd : What remayneth si rs through wh ich our pacience cannot wade ?What furth er spyght hath Venus yi t too woork ageinst us more ?When woo rse misfortu nes may bee feard than have beene felt before,Then prayer may advau ntadge men , and vowwing may them boote .But when the woorst i s past of th ings, then feare i s under foote .

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And when that bal e i s hyghest growne, then boote must next ensew.

Al though shee heere mee, and doo hate us all (wh ich th ing i s trew)That serve heere under B iomed : Yit set wee lyght her hate .And deerely i t should stand us on too purchase hygh estate.With such stowt woordes did Agman sti rre dame Venus untoo i re,And raysd ageine her settled grudge. No t many had desyreToo heere h im talk thus ou t of square . The moste of us that areHis freendes rebukte h im for h i s woordes . And as he did prepareToo answere, both h is voyce and throte by wh ich h i s voyce should go,Were smal] : h i s h eare too feathers turnd : h i s necke was clad as thoWith feathers ; so was bri st and backe. The greater fethers stacke

Uppon h i s armes, and intoo wings h i s elbowes bowwed backe .The greatest portion of h is feete was turned intoo toes :A hardened bill of hom e did growe uppon hi s mouth and noze,And sharpened at th e neather end . His fellowes Lycus, Ide,R ethenor, Nyct, and Aba s all stoode woondrin by h i s syde .And as they woondred, they receyvd the seléame shape and hew,And finally the greater part of all my hand up flew,And clapping with theyr newmade wings, about the ores did gi rd .And i f yee doo demaund the shape of th i s same dowtful l bird,Even as they bee not verry Swannes

, so drawe they verry neereThe shape of Cygnets whyght. With much a doo I settled heere,And with a l ittle remnant ofmy people doo obteyneThe drygrownds of my fathrinlaw King Dawnus whoo did reigneI n Ca labty . Thus much the sonne of Oenye sayd . AnonSi r Venulus returning from the king of Ca lydon,Forsooke the coast of Puteoll and the feeldes of

I n wh ich hee saw a darksome denne forgrowne with bu sshes hye,And watred with a l i ttle spring. The hal fegoate Pan that howrePossessed i t : but heertoofore i t was the fayryes howre.A she cherd ofAppulia from that countrye scaard th em furst :But afierward recovering hart and hardynesse, they durstDespyse h im when he chaced them , and with theyr nimble feeteContinewed on their dawncing sti ll i n tyme and measure m eete.

The shepeherd fownd mee faul t wi th them : and wi th h i s lowtlike leapesDid cou nterfette theyr minyon dawnce, and rapped ou t by heapesA rabble of unsavery taunts even l ike a country cloyne,Too which , most leawd and fil thy termes .of purpose he did j oyne .And after h e had once begon, he could no t hold h i s toong,Untill that i n the timber of a tree h i s throte wa s cloong.

For now he i s a tree,and by h is '

ewce discerne yee mayHi s manners . For the Olyf wyld dooth sensibly bewrayBy berryes full of bitternesse h i s rayling toong. For ayThe harshnesse of h i s bi tter woordes the berryes beare away.

Now when the Kings Ambassadour returned home withoutThe succour of th ’Aetolian prince

,the R uti lls being stout

Made luckelesse warre without thei r help, and much on eyther sydeWas shed of blood . Behold king Turne made burn ing bronds too glydeUp on theyr sh ippes, and they that had escaped water, s toodeI n fhare of fyre. The flame had sindgd the pi tch, the wax, and wood,And other th ings that nouri sh fyre, and ronn ing up the maste

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That may expresse a Citie sakt, yea and the Ci ties nameR emayned still u ntoo the bi rd. And now the verrye sameWith H ernesewes fethers doo th bewayle the towne wherof i t came.And now Aene as prowesse had compel led all the GoddesAnd Juno also (whoo wi th h im was most of all at oddes)

Too cease theyr old displeasure quygh t. And now he having laydGood ground wheron the growing wel th of Julymyght be stayd,Was rype for heaven . And Venus had great sute already madeToo all the Coddes, and cleepi ng Jove did thus with h im perswadeDeere father whoo hast never beene u ncu rtuous u ntoo mee

,

Now shewe the greatest courtesie (I pray thee) that may bee.And on my sonne Aene a s (whoo a graundchyld u ntoo theeHath got of my bloode) i f thou wilt vouchsafe h im awght at allVouchsafe sum Godhead too bestowe, although i t bee bu t small .I t i s ynough that once he hathe alreadye scene the R ealme

OfPluto utter pleasurelesse, and passed Styxis streame .The Coddes assented : meythet did (l ueene Juno then appeereI n cou ntnance straunge

,but did consent with glad and merry cheere.

Then Jove : Aene as woorthy i s a saynct i n heaven too bee.Thy wish for whom thou doost i t wi sh I graunt thee frank and free .This graunt of h i s made Venus glad . Shee thankt h im for the same.And glyd ing th rough the aire uppon her yoked doves, shee cameToo Lawrent shore, where clad wi th reede the r iver Numiche decpcToo seaward (which i s neere at hand) with steal ing pace dooth creepe.

Shee bade th i s river wash away whatever mortall wereI n good Aene a s bodye, and them under sea too beare.The horned brooke fu lfilld her hest

,and with h i s water sheere

Did purge and clenze Aene a s from h i s mortal] bodye cleere.The better porcion ofh im did remayne untoo h im sownd.His moother having hal lowed h im did noynt h i s bodye rowndWith heavenly odours

,and did touch h i s mouth wi th Ambrosie

,

The wh ich was mix t with Nectar sweete, and made h im by and byA God too whom the R omanes give the name of Indiges,Endevering with theyr temples and theyr altars h im too please.

Ascanius with the dowble name from thence began too reigne,I n whom the rul e ofAlba and ofLa tium did remayne.

Next h im succeeded Silv ius, whoose sonne La tinus h ildThe au ncient name and scepter wh ich h is grau ndsyre erst d id weeld .

The famous Ep it after th i s La tinus did succeede,Then Capys and king Capetus. But Capys was indeedeThe formest of the twoo. From th i s the scepter of the Realme

Descended untoo Tyberine, whoo drowning i n the streameOf Tyber left that name theretoo . Thi s Tyberine begatFcerce R emulus and Acrota . By chaunce i t hapned thatThe elder brother R omulus for counterfetting oftThe thunder, with a thunderbolt was killed from aloft.From Acrota

,whose stayednesse did passe h i s brothers skill,

The crowne did comme too Aventine, whoo in the selfsame h illI n wh ich he reygned buryed lyes, and left thertoo h i s name.The rule of nation Pa la tine at length too Proca came.

288

01 ; may be I n th is kings reigne ale Pomona l ivd. There was not too bee foundAmong the woodnymphes any one in all the La tian ground

That was so connin

fg for too keepe an Ortyard as was shee,

Nor none so payne ull too preserve the fru te of every tree.And theruppon shee had her name . Shee past not for the woodesNor rivers, but the vi llages and boughes that bare both buddesAnd plentu ous h'ute. I n sted of dart a shredding hooke shee bare

,

With which the overlusty boughes shee eft away did pareThat spreaded out too farre, and eft did make therwith a riftToo grefl

'

e another imp uppon the stocke with in the clift.And least her trees should die through drought

,with water of th e springsShee moysteth of theyr sucking roots the l i ttl e crumpled stri ngs.

Th i s was her love and whole delygh t. And as for Venus deedesShee had no mynd at all of them . And forbycause shee dreedesEnforcement by the countrye folke, shee wall d her yards about,No t sufl

'

ring any man at all too enter i n or ou t .What have not those same n imble laddes so apt too fi'isk and dau nceThe Sa tyrs doone ? or what the Pannes that wantonly doo praunceWith horned forheads ? and the old Silenus whoo is ayMore you thfull than h i s yea res ? and eeke the feend that scares awayThe theeves and robbers with h is hooke , or with h i s privy part,To winne her love ? But yit than theis a farre more constant hartHad sly as Vertumnus, though he sped no better than the rest .0 Lo rd, how often being in a moawers garment drest

,

Bare he i n bundells sheaves of com e ? and when he so was dyght,He was the verry pa tterne of a harvest moawer rygh t.

Oft bynding newmade hay about h i s temples he myght seemeA haymaker. Oft tymes in hand made hard with woork extreeme

He bare a goade, that men would sweere he had but newly thenUnyoakt h is weerye Oxen . Had he tane in hand agenA shredding hooke

,yee would have thought hee had a gardener beene

,

Or proyner of sum vynes . Or had you h im with ladder seeneUppon h i s necke, a gatherer of fru te yee would h im deeme

With swoo rd a souldier, with h i s rod an Angler he did seeme .And finally i n many shapes he sought too fynd accesse

Too joy th e beawty but by syght, that did hi s hart oppresse.Moreover

,putting on h i s head a womans wimple gay,

And staying by a stafl'

e,graye heares he foorth too syght did lay

Uppo n h is forehead, and did feyne a beldame for too bee .By meanes whereof he came with in her goodly ortyards freeAnd woo ndring at the fru te, sayd Much more skill hast thou I seeThan all the Nymphes ofAlbula . Hayle Lady myne, the flowreUnspotted of pure maydenhod i n all the world thi s howre .And with that word he kissed her a li ttle : but h i s kisseWas such as trew old women would have never given ywys .

Then si tting downe uppon a bank, he looked upward atThe braunches bent with harvests weyght. Ageinst h im where he sa tA goodly Elme wi th gl istring grapes did growe : which after heeHad praysed , and the vyne l ikewyse that ran uppo n the treeBut if (quoth he) th i s Elme without the vyne did single stand,I t should have noth ing (saving leaves) too bee desyred : and

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Ageine i f that the vyne which ronnes uppon th e Elme had natThe tree too leane untoo, i t should uppon the ground ly flat .Yit art not thou admonisht by example of th i s treeToo take a husband, neyther doost thou passe too maryed beeBut would too God thou wouldest. Sure (Lueene Helen never hadMo suters

,nor the Lady that did cause the ba ttel l mad

Betweene the hal fbrute Centawres and the Lapythes, nor the wyfeOf bold Ulysses whoo was eeke ay feareq of h is lyfe,Than thou shouldst have . For thousands now (even now most checfly whenThou seemest suters too abhorre) desyre thee, both of men,And Coddes and halfgoddes, yea and all the fayryes that doo dwel lIn Albane h illes . But if thou wilt bee wyse, and myndest wellToo match thy self, and wilt give care too th i s old woman heere,(Too whom thou more than too them all art (trust mee) leef and deere,And more than thou thyself beleev st) the common matches flee,And choose Vertumnus too thy make. And take thou mee too beeHis pledge . For more he too h imself not knowen i s

,than too mee .

He roves not like a ronneaga te through all the world abrode,This countrye heerabou t (the which i s large) i s his abode .He dooth not (l ike a nomber of thei s common wooers castHis love to every one he sees . Thou art the first an lastThat ever he set mynd uppon . Al only untoo th eeHee vowes h imself as long as lyfe dooth last. Moreover heeI s you thfu ll , and wi th beawtye sheene endewd by natures gift,And aptly intoo any shape h i s persone he can sh ift.Thou canst not bid h im bee the th ing

, (though all th ings thou shouldst name)But that he fitly and with ease will streyght becomme the same.Besydes all th i s, i n al l one th ing bothe twayne of you delyght,And of the fru tes that you love best the firstl ings are h i s ryghtAnd gladly he receyves thy gifts. But neyther covets heeThy Apples, Plommes, nor other frutes new gathered from the tree,Nor yit the herbes of pleasant sen t that i n thy gardynes bee,Nor any other kynd of th ing i n all the world, but thee .Have mercy on h is ferven t love

,and th ink h imself too crave

Heere present by the mouth of mee,the th ing that he would have.

And feare the God that may revenge : as Venus whoo dooth hateHard harted folkes, and Rhamnuse whoo dooth eyther soone or lateExpresse her wrath with myndfu ll wreake. And too thentent thou mayThe more beware

,of many th ings wh ich ryme by long delay

H a the taught mee, I will shewe thee one which over all the landOf Cyp rus blazed i s abrode, which being ryght] skand

May easly bow thy hardned hart and make i t or too yild .

One Iphis borne of lowe degree by fortune had beh ildThe Ladye Anaxa rete descended of th e race

Of Tewcer, and i n vewwing her the fyre of love a paceDid spred i t self th rough all h i s bones . With wh ich he stryv ing long,When reason could no t conquer rage bycau se i t was too strong,Came humbly too the Ladyes house : and one whyle laying opeHis wretched love before

'

her nurce, besough t her by the hopeOf Lady Ana xa rete her nurcechylds good successeShee would not bee ageinst h im in that cace of h i s di stresse.

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The house ofAnaxa rete by chaunce was neere the wayBy wh ich th is pi teous pomp did

fpasse

, and of the doolefull layThe sound came too the cares 0 her, whom God a lreadye ganToo s tr ike . Yit let u s see (quoth shee) the bu ryal l of th is maAnd up th e hygh wyde windowde house in saying so, shee ran .Scarce had shee well on Iphis lookt that on the beere did lye,But that her eyes wext stark, and from her limbes the blood gan flyeI n stead therof came palenesse i n . And as shee backeward wasIn mynd too go, her feete stacke fast and could not sti rre . And asShee would have east her countnance backe, shee coul d not doo i t. AndThe stonny hardnesse wh ich a late did i n her stomacke stand

,

With in a whyle did overgrow her whole from sole too crowne.

And least you th ink th i s geere su rmysde, even yi t i n Sa lamin towneOf Lady Anaxa rete the image standeth playne.The temple also i n the which the image dooth remayne,I s untoo Venus consecrate by name of looker out.And therfore weying well thei s th ings, I prey thee looke aboutGood Lady

,and away with pryde

,and be content too frame

Thy self too h im that loveth thee and cannot quench h i s flame.So neyther may the Lentons cold thy budding fru tetrees kill ,Nor yi t the sharp and boystous wyndes thy flowring Ga rdynes spi ll.The God that can uppon h im take what kynd of shape he l i s tNow having sayd thus much in vayne, omitted too persi st

I n beldames shape,and shewde h imself a lusty gentleman

,

Appeering too her cheerefully, even l ike as Phe bus whanHee having overcomme the clowdes that did with stand h is myght,Dooth blaze h is brightsum beames agein with fial ler beate and lyght.He ofl'

red force, but now no force was needful] i n the cace.For why shee beeing caught i n love wi th beawty of h i s face,Was wounded then as well as hee, and gan too yeeld a pace .

Next Proca reignd Amulius i n Awsonye by wrong.Till Numitor the ryghtfu l heyre deposed verry long,

Was by h i s daughters sonnes restorde. And on the feastfull dayOf Pa le, founda tion of the walles of R ome they gan too lay,Soone after Ta cye, and the Lordes of Sa bine stird debateAnd Ta ip ey for her traytrou s deede i n opening of the gateOf Ta rp ey towre, was prest too death according too desertWith armour heapt uppon her head . Then feerce and stowt of hartThe Sabines li ke too toonglesse woolves without all noyse of talkeAssayld the R omanes i n theyr sleepe, and too the gates gan stalkeWhich Ilias sonne had closed fast wi th lockes and barres. But yi tDame Juno had set open one, and as shee opened i tHad made no noyse of craking with the hindges, so that nonePerceyvd the opening of the gate but Venus al lal one.

And shee had shet i t up, but that i t i s not lawful l tooOne God too undoo any th ing another God hath doo .

The wa ternym hes ofAwsonie h ild all th e groundes aboutThe Church o Janus where was store of springs fresh flowing out.Dame Venus prayd thei s nymphes of help . And they consideri ng thatThe Goddesse did request no more but ryght, denydc i t nat.They opened all theyr fountayne veynes and made them flowe apace.

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H owbeet the passage was not yi t too Janus open ‘ faceForclosed : neyth er had as yi t the water stopt the way.They put rank brimstone underneathe the flowing spring that day

,

And eeke with smokye rozen set theyr veynes on fyre for ay.

Through force of thei s and other th ings, the vapour perced loweEven downe unto the verry rootes on which the springs did growe,So that the waters which a late i n coldnesse myght compareEven wi th the frozen Alp es, now whot as burn ing furnace are .The twoo gate posts with sprinkling of the fyry water smoakt,Wherby the ga te beehyghted too the Sabines quyght was choaktWith rysing of th is fountaine straunge, u ntil] that Ma rsis knyght

Had armed h im . Then R omulus did boldly ofl'er fyght.The R omane ground wi th Sabines and with R omanes bothe were spred

,

And with the blood of fa thrinlawes which wicked swoord had shed,

Flowde mixt the blood of sonneinl awes . H owbeet i t seemed bestToo bothe the partyes at the length from battell for too rest,And not too fyght too u ttrance : And that Ta cye should becoome

Copartner with king R omulus of sovereintye i n R oome.

With i n a whyle king Ta cye dyde : And bothe the Sabines andThe R omanes under R omulus i n equal] ryght did stand.The God of battell putting of h i s glittring helmet then,With such like woo rdes as thei s bespake the syre of Coddes and men .The tyme O father (i n as much as now the R omane stateI s wexen s trong uppon the good foundation layd al ate

,

Depending on the stay of one) i s comme for thee too makeThy promis good which thou of mee and of thy graundchyld spakeWhich was too take h im from the earth and i n the heaven h im stay.Thou once (I markt thy grac ious woordes and bare them well away)Before a grea t as sembly of the Coddes didst too mee say,There shalbee one whom thou shalt rayse above the starry skye .Now let thy saying take effect. Jaw graunting by and by,The ayre was h id with da rksom clowdes , and thunder foorth did fly,And lyghtn ing made the world agast. Which Ma rs perceyv ing too

luckye tokens for h imself h is enterpryse too doo,Did take h is ri st uppon h is speare and boldly lept intooHis bloodye charyot. And he len t h is horses with h is wh ippeA yirking lash

, and through the ayre full smoothely downe did sl ippe.

And staying on the woody toppe ofmountayne Pa la tine,He tooke away king R omulus whoo there did then defyneThe pryvate caces of h is folk unseemly for a king.And as a leaden pellet broade enforced from a sling,I s woont too dye amid the skye : even so h is mortal l fleshSank from h im downe the suttle ayre : I n sted wherof a freshAnd goodly shape more stately and more m eete for sacred shryneSucceed ed , l ike ou r Quirin that in stately robe dooth shyne.

Hersilia for her feere as lost, ofmoorning made none end,Unti l] Og eene Juno did commaund dame Iris too discend

Uppon th e R aynebowe downe, and thus her message for too doo .

O of the Latian country and the Sabine nacion tooThou peerlesse perle ofwomanhod, most woorthy for too beeThe wyfe of such a noble prince as heertoofore was hee,

And stil l too bee the wyfe of h im canonized by nameOf Quirin : ceas e th teares. And if thou have desyre the sameThy holy husba nd or too see

,ensew mee too the queache

That groweth greene on Quirins h ill , whoose shadowes overreache

The temple of the R omane King. Dame Iris did obeyAnd slyd ing by her paynted bowe, i n former woordes did sayHer errand too Hersilia . Shee scarce li fting up her eyes,With sober countnance answerd : O thou Goddesse (for surmyseI cannot whoo thou art, but yi t I well may understandThou art a Goddesse) leede mee O deere Goddesse leede mee, andMy hu sband too mee shewe. Whom if the fa tal] susters th reeWill of theyr gracious goodnesse graun t mee leave but once too see,

I sha ll account mee intoo heaven receyved for too bee.Immediatly wi th Thawmants imp too Quirins h i ll shee went.There glyding from the sky a starre streyght downe too ground was sent,The sparkes ofwhoose bryght blazing beames did burne Hersilias heareAnd with the starre the ayre did up her heare too heavenward beare.The buylder of the towne of R oome receyving streyght the sameBetweene h i s old acquaynted handes, did a lter bo th her nameAnd eeke her bodye, call ing her dame Ora . And by th i sShee joyntly with her husband for a Goddesse woorshipt i s.

Libri decimi oua rti .

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Assi st mee I the pray. For thou art author of my cryme.When judgement should bee given i t was the guyse i n auncient tyme

With whygh t stones too acqui t th e cleere, and eeke wi th blacke too castThe giltye. That tyme also so the heavy sentence past.The stones were cast unmerc iful l all blacke intoo the pot.But when the stones were powred ou t too number

,there was no t

A blacke among them . All were whyght. And so through Hercles powreA gentle j udgement did proceede, and he was quit that howre .Then gave he thankes too Hercules

,and having prosprou s blast,

Cut over the Ionian sea,and so by Ta rent past

Wh ich Spartanes buylt, and Cyba ris, and Nee th sa lentine,And Thurine bay, and Emese, and eeke the pastures fyneOf Ca la brye. And having scarce well sought the coastes that lyeUppon the sea , he found the mouth of fatal] Aeserye.

Not farre from thence, he also found the tumb in wh ich th e groundDid kiver Crotons holy bones, and in that place did foundThe Citie that was willed h im, and gave theretoo the nameOf him that there lay bu ryed . Such original] as th i s sameTh is Citie in th

’

Ita lian coast i s sayd too have by fame.Heere dwelt a man of Samos I le, who for the hate he hadToo Lordlynesse and Tyranny, though u nconstreynd was glad

Too make h imself a bannisht man . And though thi s persone weereFarre di stan t from the Coddes by site of heaven : yit came he neereToo them i n mynd . And he by syght of soule and reason cleereB eh ild the th ings wh ich nature dooth too flesh ly eyes denye.

And when with care most vigi lant h e had assuredlyImprinted al l th ings in h is hart

,he set them openly

Abroade for other folk too lerne. He taught h i s si len t sort(Which woondred at the heavenly woordes theyr mayster did report)The first foundation of the world : the cause of every th i ngWhat nature was : and what was God : whence snow and lyghtning springAnd whither Jove or else the wynds in breaking clowdes doo thunderWhat shakes the earth : what law the starres doo keepe theyr courses underAnd what soever other th i ng i s h id from common sence .He also i s the first that did injoyne an absti nenceToo feede of any lyving th i ng. He also first of allSpake thus, although rygh t lernedly, yi t too effect but smallYee mortal l men forbeare too frank your flesh with wicked foode.

Yee have both com e and frutes of trees and grapes and herbes righ t good,And though that sum bee harsh and hard, yit fyre may make them wellBoth soft and sweete. Yee may have milk , and bonny wh ich dooth smellOf flowres of tym e. The lavas earth dooth yeeld you plentiou slyMost gen tle foode, and riches too content bothe mynd and eye .There needes no slaughter nor no blood too get your l iving by.The heastes doo breake theyr fast with flesh : and yi t not all beastes neythFor horses, sheepe, and R otherbeastes too l ive by grasse had lever.The nature of the beast that dooth delyght i n bloody foode,I s cruel] and u nmercifu l l . As Lyons feerce of moode,Armenian Tigers, Beares, and Woolves . Oh what a wickednesseI t i s to cram the mawe wi th mawe

,and frank up flesh with flesh ,

And for one l iving th ing too l ive by kill i ng of another :

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As whoo shoul d say, that of so great abundance wh ich our moother

The earth doo th yeeld most bountuou sly, none other myght delyghtThy cruell teethe too chawe uppon, than gri sly wou ndes that myghtExpresse the Cyclop s guyse : or else as if thou could no t stawncheThe hunger of thy greedye gut and evil] mannerd pawnche,Onlesse thou stroyd sum other wyght. But that same auncient ageWhich wee have naamd the golden world

,cleene voyd of all such rage,

Livd blessedl y by fru te of trees and herbes that grow on ground,

And stayned not their mouthes wi th blood . Then birds might safe and soundFl where they li sted in the ayre . The hare unscaa rd of houndent pricking over all the feeldes . No angling hooke with baytD id hang the seely fish that bote mistrusting no deceyt.All th ings were voyd of guylefulnesse : no treason was in trustBut al l was freendshippe, love, and peace. But after that the lustOf one (what God so ere he was) d isdeyning former fare,Too cram that cruell croppe of h i s wi th fleshmeate did not spare

,

He made a way for wickednesse. And first of all the knyfeWas staynd with bloo d of savage heastes i n ridding them of lyfe.

And that h ad noth ing beene amisse, i f there had beene the stay.For why wee

fgraunt, without the breach ofgodlynesse wee may

By death con ound the th ings that seeke too take our lyves awayBut as too kill them reason was : even so agcin theyr wasNo reason why too cate theyr flesh . Thi s leawdnesse thence did passeOn furth er sti ll . Wheras there was no sacrifyse beforne,The S ne (bycause with hoked groyne he wrooted up the com e,And di deceyv e the ti l lmen of theyr hope next yeere thereby)Was deemed woo rthy by deser t i n sacrifyse too dye .The Coa te for byghting vynes was slayne at Ba cchus altar, whooWreakes such m isdeedes . Theyr owne offence was hurtful to thei s twoo.But what have you po ore sheepe m isdoone, a cattell meeke and meeld

,

Created for too mayntc ine man , whoose fu lsomme duggs doo yeeldSweete Nectar, whoo doo th clothe us wi th your wool] i n soft aray,Whoo se lyfe doo th more us benefite than dooth your death farreway ?What trespasse have the Oxen doone

,a beast without all guyle

Or craft, unhurtfull , simple, borne too labour every whyle ?

In fayth he i s unmyndfull and unwoorthy of increace

Of com e,that i n h i s hart can fynd h i s ti lman too releace

From plowgh, too cu t h is throte : that in h i s hart can fynde (I say)Those neckes with hatchets of too strike, whoose skinne i s worne awayWith labring ay for h im : whoo turnd so oft hi s land most tough,Whoo brought so ma ny harv estes home. Yi t i s i t not ynoughThat such a great ou trageousenesse committed i s. They fatherTheyr wickednesse uppon the Coddes . And fa lsly they doo gatherThat i n the death of peynq Ox the hyghest dooth delygh t .A sacrifyse unblemished and fayrest u ntoo sygh t,

(For beawtye woorketh them theyr bane) adornd with garlonds, andWith gli ttring gold, i s cyted at the alta r for too stand .There heeres he woo rdes (he wo tes not what) the which the preest dooth pray,And on h i s forehead suffereth h im betweene h i s hornes too layThe cares of com e that he himself hath wrought for in the clay,And stayneth wi th h i s blood the knyfe that he h imself perchaunce

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H athe i n th e water sheere ere then beh ild by soodein glau nce.

Immediatly they hal i ng out h i s hartstrings sti ll al ive,And poring on them, seeke therei n Coddes secrets too retryve.

Whence commes so greedy appetyte i n men of wicked meate ?And dare yee O yee morta ll men adventure thus too eate ?

Nay doo not (I beseeche yee) so . But give good care and heedeToo that that I shall warne you of, and trust i t as your creede,That whensoever you doo eate your Oxen

,you devowre

Your husbandmen . And forasmuch as God th i s i nstant howreDoo th move my toong too speake, I will obey h i s heavenly powre.My God Apol los temple I will set you open, andDisclose the woondrou s heavens themselves

,and make you understan d

The Oracles and sec rets of th e Godly majestye.

Greate things,and such as wit of man coul d never yi t espye,

And such as have beene h idden long,I purpose too descrye.

I mynd too leave the earth , and up among the starres too s tye,I myud too leave th i s grosser place

,and i n the clowdes too flye

,

And on stowt Atla s shoulders strong too rest my self on hye,

And looking downe from heaven on men that wander heere and thereI n dreadfull feare of death as though they voyd of reason were,Too give them exhortation thus

,and playnely too unwynd

The whole discourse of destinie as nature hath assignd .

0 men amaaz d with dread of death, why feare yee Limbo Styx,And other names of vanitie, which are but Poets tricks ?And perrills of another world, al l fal se surmysed geet e ?For wh ither fyre or length of ryme consume the bodyes heere,Yee well may th inke that further harmes they cannot suffer more.For soules are free from death . H owbeet

,they leaving evermore

Theyr former dwellings, are receyvd and l ive ageine i n new.

For I myself (ryght well i n mynd I beare i t too be trew)Was i n the tyme of Trojan warre Euphorbus, Panthewes sonne,Q i yght through whoose hart the deathfull speare ofMenelay did ronne.I late ago i n Junos Church at Argos did beholdAnd knew the target wh ich I i n my left hand there did hold.All th ings doo chaunge. But noth ing sure dooth perri sh . This same sprigh tDooth fleete, and fisking heere and there dooth swiftly take h i s flyghtFrom one place too another place, and entreth every wyght,R emoving ou t of man too bea st , and ou t of beast too man .But yi t i t never perrisheth nor never perrish can .And even as supple wax with ease receyveth fygures

' straunge,

And keepes not ay one shape,ne bydes assured ay from chaunge,

And yi t conti nueth alwayes wax i n substaunce : So I sayThe soule i s ay the selfsame th ing i t was, and yi t astrayI t fleeteth intoo sundry shapes . Therfore least GodlynesseBee vanqu isht by ou tragious lust of belly beastlynesse,Forbeare (I speake by prophes ie) your kinsfolkes ghostes too chaceBy slaugh ter : neyther nourish blood wi th blood in any cace.And si th on open sea the wynds doo blow my sayles apace,I n all the World there i s not that that standeth at a stayTh ings eh and flow,

and every shape i s made too passe away.The tyme i tself continually i s fleeting like a brooke.

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I t downe : which th ing old Milo by example playnely showes.For when he sawe those armes of h i s (which heeretoofore had beeneAs strong as ever Hercules i n woorking deadly teeneOf biggest heastes) hang flapping downe, and nough t but empty skin,He wept. And Helen when shee saw her aged wrincles i nA glasse

,wept also : musing in herself what men had seene

,

That by twoo noble pri nces sonnes shee twyce had rav isht beene.Thou tyme, the eater up of th ings, and age of spyghtfu ll teene,Destroy all th ings .

,And when that long continuance hath them bi t

You leysurely by li ngt ing death consume them every whi t.And thei s that wee call Elements doo never stand at stay.The enterchaunging course of them I will before yee lay.Give heede thertoo . This endlesse world conteynes therin I sayFowre substances of wh ich all th i ngs are gendred . Of theis fowerThe Earth and Water for theyr masse and weyght are sunken lower.The other cowple Aire and Fyre the purer of the twayneMount up

,and nought can keepe them downe. And though there doo remayne

A space betweene eche one of them : yi t every th ing is madeOf themsame fowre, and intoo them at length ageine doo fade .The earth resolving leysurely dooth melt too water sheere,The water fyned turnes too aire . The ai re eeke purged cleereFrom grossenesse, spyreth up aloft, and there becommeth fyre.

From thence i n order contrary they backe ageine retyre.

Fyre th icken ing passeth intoo Aire, and Ayer wex i ng grosseR eturnes to water : Water eeke congealing intoo drosse,B ecommeth earth . No kind of th ing keepes ay h i s shape and hew.

For nature loving ever chaunge repayres one shape a newUppon another, neyther dooth there perri sh augh t (trust mee)I n all the world

,but altring takes new shape. For that which wee

Doo terme by name of being borne,i s for too

gin too bee

Another th ing than that i t was : And likewise or too dye,Too cease too bee the th i ng i t was . And though that varyablyTh ings passe perchaunce from place too place : yit all from whence they cameR eturning

,doo unperrisshed continew sti ll the same .

But as for i n one shape,bee sure that noth ing long can last

Even so the ages of the world from gold too I ron past ;Even so have places oftentym es exchaunged theyr estate.For I have scene i t sea wh ich was sub stanciall ground al ate,Ageine where sea was, I have scene the same become dry lond,And shell es and scales of Seafish farre have lyen from any strond,And in the toppes of mountaynes hygh old Anchors have beene found.Deepe val leyes have by watershotte beene made of level] ground,And hilles by force of gulling oft have intoo sea beene worne.

Hard gravel] ground is sum tyme seene where marri s was beforne,And that that erst d id sufl’

er drowght, becommeth standing lakes .Heere nature sendeth new springs ou t

,and there the old i n takes.

Ful] many rivers i n the world through earthquakes heretooforeHave eyther chau ndgd theyr former course, or dryde and ronne no more .$00 Lycus bee ing swallowed up by gaping of the ground,A grea tway of fro thence is i n another channell found.Even so the river Era sine among the feeldes ofArge

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Sinkes onewh le, and another whyle ronnes greate ageine at large.Caycus also of

ythe land ofMysia (as men say)

Mi sl iking of h i s former head,ronnes now another way

In Sicill also Amesene ronnes sum tyme fu ll and hye,And sum tyme stopping up h i s spring

,he makes h i s chanell drye .

Men drank the waters of the brooke Anlgrus heretoofore,Which now is such that men abhorre too towche them any more .Which commes too passe (onlesse wee will discredi t Poets quyght)Bycause the Centa ures vanqu isshed by Hercules i n fyghtDid wash theyr woundes i n that same brooke. But dooth not HypanisThat spri ngeth in the Scyth ian h illes

,wh ich at h i s fountaine i s

Ryght pleasant, afterward becomme of brackish bi tter tas te ?Antissa

,and Phenycian Tyre, and Pha ros i n tyme past

Were compast all about with waves, but none of al l thei s th reeI s now an I le. Ageine the towne of Lesoca s once was freeFrom sea, and i n th e auncient tyme was joyned too the land,But now environd round about with water i t dooth stand.Men say that Sicill also hath beene joynd too Ita ly,Until] th e sea consumde the bounds beetweene, and did supplyThe roome with water. If yee 0 too seeke for Helicee

And Butj e, which were Cities 0 Acha ia,you shall see

Them h idden under water,and the shipmen yit doo showe

The wal l es and steeples of the townes drownd under as they rowe .No t farre from Pitthey Troyz en i s a certeine hygh ground foundAll voyd of trees, which heeretoofore was playne and level] ground,But now a mou ntayne : for the wyndes (a woondrous th ing too say)Inclosed i n the hollow caves of ground

,and seeking way

Too pa sse therefro , in struggling long too get the open skye,I n vayne (bycauSe i n all the cave there wa s no vent wherbyToo issue ou t) did stretch the ground and make i t swell on hye,As doo th a bladder that i s blowen by mouth , or as the skinneOf horned Coate i n bo ttlewyse when wynd i s gotten in .

The swell ing of the foresayd place remaynes at th is day sti ll,And by conti nuance wax i ng hard i s growen a pretye h i ll.Of many th ings that come to mynd by heersay, and by skillOf good experience, I a fewe will utter too you m o .

What ? doo th no t water i n h i s shapes chaunge straungely too and fro ?The well of horned Hammon i s at noo netyde passi ng cold,At morne and even i t wexeth warme . At midn ght none can holdHis ha nd theri n for passing beate. The well 0 Athamane

I s sayd too ki ndl e woode what tyme the moone i s i n the wane.The Cicons have a certeine streame wh ich beeing droonk doo th bringMennes bowwell es intoo Marble hard : and whatsoever th ingI s towcht therwith , i t turnes too stone . And by your bounds beholdThe rivers Cra the and Syba ris make yellow heare like g

oldAnd Amber . There are also spri ngs (which th ing i s rre more straunge)Which not the bodye only, but the m nd doo also chaunge .Whoo hath no t hard of Sa lma cis that owle and filthye sink ?Or of the lake ofAethyop , which i f a man doo drinkHe eyther ronneth mad, or else with woondrou s drowz inesseForgoeth quyght h i s memorie . Whoo ever doo th represse

3 0 1

His th irst wi th drawght of Clitor well, hates wyne, and dooth delyghtI n only water : eyther for bycau se there i s a myghtContra ry untoo warming wyne by nature in th e well,Or else bycause (for so the folk ofArcadye doo tel l)Melampus Amythao

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ns sonne (when he del ivered hadK ing Pre tus daughters by h i s charmes and herbes from beeing mad),Cast intoo that same water all the baggage wherewi thal]He purdgd the madnesse of theyr mynds . And so i t did befallThat loth somnesse ofwyne did in those waters ay remayne.

Ageine i n Lyncest contrarie effect too th i s doo th reigne.

For whoo so drinkes too much therof,he reeleth here and there

,

As if by quafli ng wyne no whyt alayd he droonken were.There i s a Lake i n Arcadye which Pheney men did nameI n auncient tyme, whose dowtfu lnesse deserveth j ustly blame .A nyght tymes take thou heede of i t, for if thou taste th e sameA nygh ttymes , i t will hurt, but if thou drink i t i n the dayI t hu rteth not. Thus lakes and streames (as well perceyve yee may)Have divers powres and diversly. Even so the tyme bathe beeneThat Delos which stands stedfast now, on waves was floting seene.And Galyes have beene sore afrayd of frussh ing by the I lesSymp lega cls wh ich toogither dash t uppon the sea erewhyles,But now doo stand unmovable ageinst bothe wynde and tyde .Mount Aetna with h i s burn in C ovens of brimstone shall not bydeAy fyrye : neyther was i t so fi r ever erst. For wh i therThe earth a l iving creature bee

,and that too breathe ou t h ither

And th i ther flame, great store of vents i t have i n sundry places,And that i t have th e powre too sh ift those vents i n divers caces,Now damming thei s, now open ing those, i n moving too and fro ;Or that the wh i sking wynds restreynd with in the earth bylowe,Doo beate the stones ageinst the stones, and other kynd of stuffeOf fyrye nature, which doo fall on fyre with every pufl

'

e ;

Assoone as those same wynds doo cease, the caves sha ll streight bee cold .Or if i t bee a R ozen mowld that soone of fyre takes hold,Or brimstone mixt wi th clayi sh soyle on fyre dooth lyghtly fal lUndowtedly assoone as that same soyle consumed shal]No longer yeeld the fatty foode too feede the fyre withall,And ravening nature sha ll forgo her woonted nourishment,Then being able too abyde no longer famishment,For want of sustenance i t shall cease h i s burning. I doo fyndBy fame

,that under Cha rlsis wayne in Pa llene are a kynd

Of people wh ich by dyv ing thryce three tymes i n Triton lakeB ecomme all fethred , and the shape of b irdes uppon them take .The Scythian witches al so are reported for too dooThe selfsame thing (but hardly I give credi t theru ntoo)By smearing poyson over al l theyr bodyes . But (and ifA man too matters tryde by proof may saufly give beleef),Wee see how flesh by lying still a whyle and ketch ing hea teDooth turne too l i ttle l ivi ng beastes . And yi t a further fea te,Go kil l an Ox and burye h im, (the th ing by proof man sees)And of h i s rotten flesh wil l breede the flower gathering Bees,Wh ich as theyr father did before, love feeldes exceedingly,

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The creature also which dooth l ive by only ai re and wynd,Al l colours that i t leaneth to dooth counterfet by kynd .The Grapegod Ba cchus, when he had subdewd the land of Inde,Did fynd a spotted beast called Lynx, whoose urine (by report)By towch ing of the Open aire congeal eth i n such sortAs that i t dooth becomme a stone. So Coral l (which as longAs water hydes i t

,i s a shrub and soft) becommeth strong

And hard as soone as i t dooth towch the ayre. The day would endAnd Phebus panti ng steedes should in the Ocean decpc descend,Before all alterations I i n woordes could comprehend.5 0 see wee all th i ngs chaungeable. One nation gathereth strength

,

Another wexeth weake, and both doo make exchaunge at length .So Troy which once was great and strong as well i n welth as men ,And able tenne yeeres space too spare such store of blood as then,Now beeing bace hath noth ing left of all her welth too showe,Save ruines of the auncient woorkes which grasse dooth overgrowe,And tumbes wherin theyr auncetours lye bu ryed on a rowe .Once Sp a rta was a famous towne : great Mycene florisht trimBothe Athens and Amphions towres i n honor once did swim .

A pelting plot is Sp a rta now : great Mycene lyes on ground .Of Theah the towne of Oedipus what have we more than sound ?OfAthens king Pandions towne what resteth more than name ?Now also of the race of Troy i s rysing (so sayth fame)The Citie Roome, which at the bank of Tyber that dooth ronneDowne from the h ill ofAppennyne already hath begonneWith great advysement for too lay foundation of her state .This towne then chaungeth by increase the forme i t had alate,And of the universal] world in ryme to comme shall holdThe sovereintye, so prophesies and lotts (men say) have told.And (as I doo remember mee) what tyme that Troy decayd,The prophet Helen Priams sonne thei s woordes ensewing saydBefore Aene a s dowting of h is life i n weeping plyght :O Goddesse sonne, beleeve mee (i f thou th ink I have foresyghtOf th ings too comme) Troy shalnot quyght decay whyle thou doost l ive .Bothe fyre and swoord shal l u ntoo thee thy passage freely give .Thou must from hence : and Troy with thee convey away i n haste,Until] that bothe thyself and Troy i n forreine land bee plaastMore freendly than thy native soyle. Moreover I foresee,A Citie by the ofspring of the Trojans buylt shall bee,So great as never in the world the lyke was seene beforeNor i s th is present

,neyther shall be seene for evermore .

A number ofmost noble peeres for manye yeeres aforeShal l make i t strong and puyssant : But hee that shall i t makeThe sovereine Ladye of the world

,by ryght descen t shall take

His first beginning from thy sonne the li ttle Iule. And whenThe earth ha the had her tyme of h im

,the sky and welkin then

Shall have h im up for evermore, and heaven sha ll bee h i s end.Thus farre (1 wel l remember mee) did Helens woordes extendToo good

‘

Aene a s. And i t i s a pleasure u ntoo meeThe Citie of my countrymen increasi ng thus too see,And that the Grecians victorie becommes the Troj ans weale .

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But least forgetting quyght themselves our horses happe too stealeBeyond the mark : the h eaven and al l that under heaven i s found,B ooth al ter shape . So doe th the ground and all that i s i n ground.And wee that of the world are part (cons idring how wee beeNot onl y flesh , but also fowles, which may with passage freeR emove th em intoo every kynd of beast both tame and wyld)Let l ive in saufty honestly with slaughter undefyld,The bodyes which perchaunce may have the spiri ts of our brothers,Our sisters, or our parents, or the spi ri ts of sum othersAlyed too us eyther by sum freendshippe or sum kin,Or at th e least the soules of men abyding them with in .And let us no t Thye

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steslyke th us furni sh up our boordesWith bloodye bowel l s. Oh how leawd example he avoordes ?How wickedly prepareth he h imself too murther manThat wi th a cruel] knyfe doo th cut the throte of Calf

, and can

Unmova bly give heering too the lowing of th e dam,

Or sticke the kid that wayleth lyke the l i ttle babe, or cateThe fowle that he h imself before had often fed with meate ?What wants of utter wickednesse i n woorking such a feate ?What may he after passe too doo ? well eyther let your steeresWeare out themselves with woork

,or else impute theyr death too yeeres .

Ageinst the wynd and weather cold let Wethers yeeld yee cotes,And udders full of batl ing milk receyve yee of the Goates.Away wi th sprindges, snares, and grinnes, away with R i sp and net,Awa with guyleful l fea tes : for fowles no lymetwiggs see yee set.No fa

r

m ed fethers pitche yee up too keepe the Reddeere in,Ne with deceytfull bayted hooke seeke fishes for too win .

If awght doo harme, des troy i t, but destroyt and doo no more.Forbea re the flesh , and feede your mouthes with fitter foode therfore .

Men say that Numa furnisshed with such ph ilosophyeAs thi s and l ike

,retu rned too h i s native soyle, and by

Entrea tance was conten t of R oome too take the sovereintye.

Ryght happy in h i s wyfe which was a nymph , ryght happy inHis guydes wh ich were the Muses nyne, th i s Numa did begi nToo teach R eligion, by the meanes whereof hee shortly drewThat people u ntoo peace whoo erst of nought but battell knew.

And when through age he ended had h i s reigne and eeke h i s lyfe,Through La tium he was moorned for of man and chyld and wyfe

As wel l of hygh as low degree. His wyfe forsaking quyghtThe Citie, i n vale Aricine did hyde her out of syght,Among the th ickest groves

,and there with syghes and playnts d1d let

The sacrifyse ofDiane whom Orestes erst had fetFrom Ta uri ca i n Chersonese, and in that place had set.How oft ah did the woodnymphes and the waternymphes perswadefor too cease her mone ? What meanes of comfort madeAh how often Theseus sonne her weeping thus bespake ?

O Nymph , thy moorning moderate, thy sorrow sumwhat slakeNo t onl y thou hast cause too hart thy fortune for too take.

Behold like happes of other folkes, and th i s m ischau nce of thyneShall greev e thee les se . Woul d God examples (so they were not m ne)Myght comfort thee . But myne perchaunce may comfort thee. I thou

3 05

I n talk by hap haste heard of one H ippolytus ere now,

That th rough h i s fa thers lyght beleefe, and stepdames craft wa s slayne,I t will a woonder seeme too thee, and I shall have much payneToo make thee too beleeve the th i ng. But I am very hee.The daughter of Pa sypha e i n vayne oft tempti ng meeMy fathers chamber too defyle, surmysde mee too have soughtThe th ing that shee with a] her hart would fayne I should have wrought.And wh ither i t were for feare I shou ld her wickednesse bewray

,

Or else for spyght bycau se I had so often sayd her nay,Shee chardgd mee wi th her owne offence . My father by and byCondemning mee

,did banish mee h is R ealme wi thout cause whye,

And at my going like a fo did ban me bi tterly.Too Pitthey Troyz en outlawel ike my chariot streight tooke I .My way lay hard uppon the shore of Corinth . SoodeinlyThe sea did ryse, and like a mount th e wave did swell on hye,And seemed howger for too growe i n drawing ever nye,And roring clyved i n the toppe. Up starts immediatlyA horned bu llocke from amid the broken wave, and byThe brest d id rayse h im in th e ayre . And at h i s nosethrills andHis platter mouth did pufl

'

e out part of sea uppon the land.My servants harts were sore afrayd . But my hart musing ayUppon my wrongfu ll ban ishment, did nought at al l di smay.My horses setting up theyr eares and snorting wexed shye,And beeing gr eatly flayghted with the monster i n theyr eye,Turnd downe too sea , and on the rockes my wagon drew. I n vayneI stryv ing for too hold them backe, layd hand uppon the reyneAl l whyght with fome, and hal ing backe lay almost bolt upryght.And sure the feercenesse of the steedes had yeelded too my might,But that the wheele that ronneth ay about the Extree round,Did breake by dash ing on a stub, and overthrew too ground.Then from the Charyot I was snatcht, the brydles beeing castAbout my limbes. Yee myght have seene my sinewes sticking fastUppon the stub ; my ga tts drawen out alyve ; my members, par tStill left uppon the stump, and part foorth harryed with the cart :The crassh ing of my broken bones ; and with what passing peyneI breathed ou t my weery ghoste. There did not whole remayneOne peece of all my corce by wh ich yee myght discerne as thoWhat lump or part it was . For all was wound from toppe too to .Now canst thou nymph , or darest thou compare thy barmes wi th myne ?Moreover I the l ightlesse R ealme beh ild with thei s same eynAnd bathde my tattred bodye i n the river Phlegeton.

And had not bright Ap ollos sonne h i s cunning shewde uppon

My bodye by h i s surgery, my lyfe had quyght bee gone .Which after I by force of herbes and leechecraft had ageineR eceyvd by Aesculap ius meanes, though Pluto did disdeine,Then Cynthia (least th i s gift of hers myght woorke mee greater spyght)Thicke clowds did round about mee cast. And too thentent I myghtBee saufe myself, and harmelessely appeere too others syght,Shee made mee old. And for my face

,shee left i t i n such plyght,

That none can knowe mee by my looke. And long shee dowted whith erToo give mee Dele or Crete. At length refusing bothe toogither,

3 06

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With that h e stepping back h i s foote, did turne h i s frowning faceFrom R oomeward, saying : Farre, O farre the Goddes such handsel chace.More ryght i t were I all my lyfe a bannisht man should bee,Than that the holy Capi tol] mee reigning there should see.Thus much he sayd : and by and by toogither he di d callThe people and the Senators . But yi t he first of al lDid hyde h i s hom es with Lawrel l leaves : and then

,without the wall

He standing on a mount th e wh ich his men had made of soddes,

And having after auncient guyse made prayer too the Goddes,Sayd : heere i s one that shal l (onlesse yee bannish h im your towneImmediatly) bee king of R oome and weare a royal] crowne.

What man i t is,I wil l by signe, but not by name bewray.

He hath uppon his brow twoo hom es. The wizard heere doo th say,That if h e enter R oome

, you shall lyke servants h im obey.He myght have entred at your gates wh ich open for h im lay,But I did stay h im thence . And yi t there i s not untoo meeA neerer freend i n all the world. H owbeet forbid h im yeeO R omanes that he comme not once wi th i n your walles . Or ifHe have deserved, bynd h im fast i n fetters l ike a theef.Or i n th is fatal] Tyrants death

,of feare dispatch your mynd .

Such noyse as Pynetrees make what tyme the heady easterne wyndeDooth whiz amongst them

,or as from the sea dooth farre rebound :

Even such among the folk of R oome that present was the sound.H owbeet i n that confused roare of fearefu ll folk, did fal lBut one voyce asking : whoo is hee ? And stari ng therewithallUppon theyr foreheads, they did seeke the foresayd hornes. Agen(Ch i oth Cippus) : lo , yee have the man for whom yee seeke. And thenHe pu lld (ageinst h is peoples will) his garlond from hi s h ead,And shewed them the twoo fayre hom es that on h is browes were spred.At that the people dassheth downe theyr lookes and sygh ing, i sRygh t sorye (whoo would th ink i t trew too see that head of h i sMost famous for h is good deserts. Yit did they not forgetThe honour of h i s personage, but wi lli ngly did setThe Lawrell garlond on h is head ageine. And by and byThe Senate sayd

,Well Cippus, si th untill the tyme thou dye

Thou mayst not comme with i n thei s walles, wee give thee as much groundI n honour of thee

,as a teem e of steeres can plough thee round,

B etweene the dawning of the day, and shetting in of nyght.Moreover on the brazen gate at which th i s Cippus myghtHave entred R oome, a payre of hom es were gravde too representHi s woondrou s shape, as of h i s deede an endl esse monument.Yee Muses

,whoo too Poets are the present springs of grace,

Now shewe (for you knowe, neyther are you du lld by tyme or space)H ow Aesculapius i n the Ile that i s i n Tyber decpcAmong the sacred sayncts of R oome had fortune for too creepe.

A cruell plage did heertoofore i nfect the La tian aire,And peoples bodyes pyning pale the murreine did appayre.

When tyred with the burial] of theyr freends, they did perceyveThemselves no helpe at mannes hand nor by Ph isicke too receyve.

Then seeking help from heaven,they sen t too Delphos (which dooth s tand

Amid the world) for counsell too bee had at Phebus hand,

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Beseeching h im wi th hel thfu ll ayd too succour theyr distresse,And of the myghtye Citie R oome the m ischeef too redresse .The quivers wh ich Ap ollo bryght h imself was woont too beare,The B aytrees, and the place i tself toogither shaken were.And by and by the table from the furthest part of allThe Chauncel] spake theis woords

,which did theyr harts with feare appal.

The th ing yee R omans seeke for heere, yee shoul d have sought more nyYour countrye. Yea and neerer home go seeke i t now. Not IApollo, but Apollos sonne i s hee that must redresseYour sorrowes . Take your j ourney with good handsell of successe

,

And fetch my sonne among you . When Ap ollos hest was toldAmong the prudent Senators, they sercht what towne did holdHis sonne, and untoo Ep idawre a Gall ye for h im sent.Assoone as that th'Amba ssadour arryved there they wentUntoo the counsel] and the Lordes of Greekland : whom they prayToo have the God the present plages of R omanes for too stay,And for themse lves the oracle of Phebus foorth they lay.The Counsel] were of sundry mynds and could not wel l agree.Sum thought that succour i n such neede denyed should no t bee,And divers did pe rswade too keepe theyr helpe, and not too sendTheyr Coddes away si th they themselves myght neede them in the end.Whyle dowtfu lly they of and on debate th is curious cace

,

The ev en i ng twylyght utterly the day away did chace,And on the world the shadowe of the earth had darknesse brought.That nyght the Lord Ambas sadou r as sleepe uppon h im wrought,Did dreame he saw before h im stand the God whose help he sought

,

I n shape as i n h i s chappell he was woo nted for too stand,With ryght hand stroking downe h i s herd, and staffe i n toother hand,And meekely saying : feare not, I wi ll comme and leave my shryne.

Th is se rpent wh ich doo th wreath with knottes about th is stafl'

e of mineMark well

,and take good heede therof : that when thou sha lt i t see,

Thou mayst i t knowe . For intoo i t transformed will I bee.But bigger I wi ll bee : for I will seeme of such a syse,As may celes tial] bodyes well too turne intoo sufli se.

Streyght wi th the vqyce, the God : and with the voyce and God , awayWent sleepe : and a ter sleepe was gone ensewed cheerful] day.Nex t morn ing having cleerely put the fyrye starres too flyght,The Lordes not knowing what too doo , assembled all foorthryghtWith in the sumptuous temple of the God that was requyred,And of h i s mynd by heavenly signe sum knowledge they desyred .

They scarce had doo ne theyr prayers, when the God in shape of snakeWith loftye cres t of gold, began a h issing for too make,Which was a warn ing given . And with h i s presence he did shakeThe Al tar

,shryne, doores, marble floore, and roofe all layd with gold,

Aud vauncing up h is brest h e stayd ryght stately too beholdAm id the Church

,and round about h is fyrye eyes he rold.

The syght did fray the people. But the wyvelesse preest (whoose heareWas trussed in a fayre whyght Call) did knowe the God was there,And sayd : behold tiz God, tiz God . As many as bee heerePray both wi th mouth and mynd . O thou o ur glorious God, appeereToo our beehoofe, and helpe thy folke that keepe thy hallowes ryght.

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The people present woorshipped h i s Godhead there i n syght,R epeating dowble that the preest did say. The R omaynes eekeDevoutly d id wi th Godly voyce and hart h i s favour seeke.

The God by nodding did consent, and gave assured signeBy shaking of h i s golden crest that on h i s h ead did shyne

,

And h issed twyce wi th spi rting toong . Then trayld he downe the fyneAnd gl istring greeces of h i s church . And turning backe h i s eyen,He looked too h i s al tarward and too h i s former shryneAnd temple

,as too take h i s leave and bid them al l fare well.

From thence ryght howge uppon the ground (which sweete of flowres did smellThat people strewed i n h i s way) , he passed stately downe,And bending intoo bowghts went through the hart of all the towne,Unti l] that hee the bowwing wharf besyde the haven tooke.Where stayin when he had (as seemd) dismist with gentle lookeHis trayne o Chapleynes and the folke that wayted on h im thi ther

,

Hee layd h im in the R omane sh i'

e too sayle away too i ther.The shippe did feel the burthen of

)

h i s Godhed too the full,And for the heavye weyght of h im did after passe more dull .The R omanes being glad of h im , and having killd a steereUppon the shore, untyde theyr ropes and cables from the peere.The lyghtsum wynd did dryve the shippe. The God avauncing hye,And leaning wi th h i s necke uppon the Gal lyes syde, did lye

And looke uppon the green ish waves, and cutting easly throughTh

’

Io'

nian sea with l ittle gales ofwesterne wynd not rough ,The sixt day morning came uppon the coast of I taly.And passing foorth by Junos Church that mustreth too the eyeUppon the head of La cine, he was caryed a lso byThe rocke of Scylley : then he left the land of Ca la bryeAnd rowing softly by the rocke Zephyrian, he did drawToo Celen cl iffs the wh ich uppon th e ryghtsyde have a flawe.

By R omeche and by Cawlon,and by Na rice thence he past,

And from the streyghtes of Sicily gate quyght and cleere at last .Then ran he by th’Aeolian I les and by the metal] myneOf Temp sa , and by Lewcosye, and temprate Pest where fyAnd pleasant R oses florish ay. From thence by Cap rea sAnd Atheney the headlond ofMinerva he did passeToo Surrent, where with gen tle vynes the h ill es bee overcladAnd by the towne ofHercules and Stabye i l l bestad,And Nap les borne too Idlenesse, and Cumes where Sybell hadHir temples

,and the scalding bathes

,and L interne where growes store

Of masticke trees,and Vulturne which beares sand apace from shore

And Sinuesse where as Adders are as whyght as any snowe,And Minturne of infected ayre bycause i t stands so lowe,And Ca iete where Aenea s did h i s nu rce i n tumbe bestowe,And Formy where Antipha tes the Lestrlgon did keepe,And Tra che envyrond wi th a fen , and Circes mountayne steepe,Too Ancon with the boystous shore. Assoone as that the sh ippeArryved heere, (for now the sea was rough,) the God let sl ippeHis ci rcles

,and in bending bowghts and wallowing waves did glyde

Intoo h is fathers temple which was buylded there besydeUppon the shore : and when the sea was calme and pacifyde,

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I meene the th i ng that only now remayneth u ntoo meeOf Iule the Trojans race . Must I then only ever beeThus vext with undeserved cares ? H ow seemeth now the payneOfDiomeds speare of Ca lydon too wound my hand ageyne ?H ow seemes i t mee that Troy ageine i s lost through ill defence ?How seem es my sonne Aene a s l ike a bannisht man, from thenceToo wander farre ageine, and on the sea too tossed bee,And warre with Turnus for too make ? or rather (truth too say)With Juno ? what meene I about harmes passed many a dayAgeinst myne ofspring, thus too stand ? Thi s present feare and woPermi t mee no t too th ink on th ings now past so long ago .

Yee see how wicked swoordes ageinst my head are whetted. IB eseeche yee keepe them from my throte, and set the traytors byTheyr purpose, neyther suffer you dame Vesta a s fyre too dyeBy murthering of her b isshop . Thus went Venus wofullyComplayning over all the heaven, and moovde the Coddes therby,And for they could not breake the strong decrees of destinye,They shewed signes most manifest of sorrowe too ensew .

For battell s feygh ting i n the clowdes with crasshing armour flew,And dreadful] trumpets sownded in the aire

,and hom es eeke blew

,

As warning men before hand of the m ischeef that did brew.

And Phebus also looking dim did cast a drowz y lyghtUppon the earth, which seemd lykewyse too bee i n sorye plyght.From underneathe amid the starres brands oft seemd burning bryghtI t often rayned droppes of blood . The morn ing starre lookt blew,And was bespotted heere and there with specks of rusty hew.

The moone had also spottes of blood . The Screeche owle sent from hellDid with her tune unfortunate i n every corner yell.Salt teares from Ivory images i n sundry places fell

,

And in the Chappells of th e Coddes was s in '

ng heard, and woordesOf threatning. Not a sacrifyse one signe 0?good avoordes .

But greate turmoyle too bee at hand theyr hartstrings doo declare .And when the beast i s ri pped u p the i nwards headl esse are.About the Court

,and every house , and Churches i n the nyghts

The doggs did howle, and every where appeered gastly spryghtsAnd with an earthquake shaken was the towne. Yit could not a llThei s warn ings of the Coddes d ispoynt the treason that should fall,Nor overcomme the destin ies . The naked swoordes were broughtIntoo the temple. For no place i n all the towne was though tSo m eete too woork the m ischeef in , or for them too commitThe heynou s murder, as the Court i n which they u sde too s it

I n counsell. Venus then with both her hands her stomacke smi t,And was about too hyde h im with the cl owd i n wh ich shee h idAene a s, when shee from the swoord ofD iomed did h im rid,Or Pa ris, when from Menelay shee did h im saufe conveyBut Jo've her father staying her did thus untoo h i r sayWhy daughter myne, wilt thou alone bee stryv ing too preventUnvan u ishable destinie ? I n fayth and if thou wentThysel intoo the house i n which the fatal] su sters th reeDoo dwell

,thou shouldest there of brasse and steele substantial] see

The regi sters of th ings so strong and massye made too bee,

3 1 2

That sauf and everlasting, th ey doo neyther stand in feareOf thunder, nor of lyghtning, nor of any ru ine there.The des tnyes of thyne ofspring thou shal t there fynd graven decpcI n Adamant . I red them, and in myud I doo them keepe.

And forbycau se th ou shalt not be quyght ignorant of all,I wi l l declare what th ings I markt herafter too befall .The man for whom thou makest sute

,hath lived full h i s tyme,

And having ronne h i s race on earth,must now too heaven up clyme.

Where thou shal t make a God of h im ay honord for too beeWith temples and with Altars on th e earth . Moreover heeThat i s h i s heyre and beares h i s name

,shall allalone su steyne

Th e burthen layd uppo n h is backe, and shall our help obteyneHis fathers murther too revenge. The towne ofMutinye

Beseedged by h i s powre, shall yeeld. The feelds of Pha rsa lyShall feele h im

,and Philipp as i n the Realme ofMa cedonne

Shall once ageine bee staynd with blood . The greate Pompeius sonneShall vanqu isht be by h im u pon the sea of Sicilye.

The R omane Capteynes e the Q ICCHC ofAegyp t through her hyePresumption trusting too her match too much, shal] threate i n vayneToo make her Canop over our hygh Capitol] too reigne .

What shoul d I tell thee of the wyld and barbrou s nacions thatAt bothe the Ocea ns dwelli ng bee ? The universal] platOf all the earth i nhabi ted, shal l all be h is. The seaShall u ntoo h im obedient bee l ikewyse. And when that heH athe stabl isht peace i n all the world, then shall he set h i s myudToo civil] matters, upryght lawes by j ustice for too fynd,And by example of h imself all others he shall bynd.Then having care of tyme too comme, and of po steritye,A holy e shall beare too h im a sonne that may supplyHis care I] charge and beare h i s name . And lastly i n the endHe shall too heaven amon the starres h i s auncetors ascend,But not before h i s lyfe by length too drooping age doo tend .And therfore from the murthred corce of Julius Ce sa r takeHis sowle with speede, and of the same a burn ing cressed make,That from our heavenly pall ace he may evermore looke downeUppon our royal] Capitol] and Court with in R oome towne .He scarcely ended had thei s woo rdes, but Venus out of handAmid the Senate house of R oome i nvisible did stand,

And from her Ce sa rs bodye tooke h i s new expulsed spryght,The which shee no t permitting too resolve too ayer quyght,Did place i t i n the skye among the starres that gli ster bryght,And as shee bare i t, she did feele i t gath er heavenly myght,And for too wexen fyrye. Shee no sooner let i t flye,But that a goodly shyn ingt

starre i t up a loft d id styeAnd drew a greate way a er i t bryght beames l ike burnmg heareWhoo looking on h i s sonnes good deedes confessed that they wereFarre greater than h i s owne, and glad he was too see that heeExcell ed h im . Al though h i s sonne in no wyse would agreeToo have h i s deedes referd before h i s fathers : yi t dooth fame,(Whoo ay is free, an bound too no commaund) with stand the same,And stryving i n that one behalf ageinst h i s hest and W111,

3 1 3

Proceedeth too preferre h i s deedes before h i s fathers sti l] .Even so too Agamemnons great renowne gives Atreus placeEven so Achilles deedes, the deedes of Peleus doo abace.

Even so beyond Aege us farre dooth Theseyes prowesse go.

And (that I may examples use ful l match in th eis) even soI s Sa turne lesse i n fame than Jo've. Jove rules the heavenly spheres,And all th e tryple shaped world . And our Augustus bearesDomin ion over al l the earth . They both e are fathers : TheyAre rulers both . Yee Coddes too whom both fyre and swoord gave way,What ryme yee wi th Aene a s came from Troy : yee Goddes that wereOf mortal] men canonyz ed : Thou Quirin who didst reereThe walles ofR oome : and Ma rs whoo wart the val eant Quirins syre,And Vesta of the household Coddes of Ce sa r wi th thy fyreMost holy : and thou Phebus whoo with Vesta al so artOf household : and thou Jup iter whoo i n the hyghest partOf mountayne Ta rp ey haste thy Church : and all yee Goddes that mayWith conscience sauf by Poets bee appealed too : I pray,Let that same day bee slowe too comme and after I am dead

,

I n wh ich Augustus (whoo as now of all the world i s head)Og yght giving up the care therof ascend too heaven for ay,There (absent hence) to favour such as untoo h im shal] pray.

Now have I brought a woork too end which nei ther Jo'ves feerce wrath,Nor swoord, nor fyre, nor frea ting age with all the force i t hath

Are able too aboli sh quyght. Let comme that fatal] howreWh ich (saving of th i s bri ttle flesh) hath over mee no powre,And at h is pleasure make an end of m ne uncerteyne ryme.Yit shall the better part of mee assure bee too clyme

Al oft above the starry skye. And all the world shall neverBe able for too quench my name. For looke how farre so everThe R omane Em yre by the ryght of conquest shall ex tend,So farre shal l all olke reade th i s woork. And tyme without all end(I f Poets as by prophesie about the truth may ame)My lyfe shall everlastingly bee lengthened still by fame.

Finis Libri decimi quinti .

LAUS 69’ HONOR SOLI DEO.

IMPRINTED AT LONDON BY WILLYAM SERESDWELLING AT THE WEST END OF PAULES

CHURCH ,AT THE S IGNE OF

THE HEDGEHOGGE.

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BOOK I.—continued.

3 10 Ed. ii. He full determined .3 1 6 on bothe h i sfor that on his .

3 23 down to for to the.3 3 4 the waterfor h i s waters3 9 1 go blowfir too blow.

43 3 fortoo crave fir to demaund.

43 5 sadly too C.for to C. sadly.478 wexfor warre ; IV.B .wax.

489And thus by Gods almygh tie powre, before long

ryme was past.503 Ed. i i . 5 0 lykewise when the

sevenmou thd for Evenso when that sevenmouthed.

5 10 their eyesfor the eyes.5 1 4 streyghtfor doe.5 2 1 All three cop ies cu lmenesse.

5 22 Ed. i i . supplyfor applie.

5 29 poysond .

5 5 3 I l i stfor we l is t.5 5 7 somefbr sonne.5 64 IV.B . too for up.5 65 Ed. i i . he d idfor did he.5 66 powresfor workes .

5 70 overrawghtfor overraft .

600 he didfor did he.60 1 IV.B . quodfor _q, i .e. quoth .606 Ed. i i . hee thought for h im

though t.wh ich Phebus for thewh ich he.

622 IV.B . Cloyne.628 Claros.63 3 Ed. i . sured, a misp rint.649 Grownde.

67 1 Ed . i . scarse ; Ed. 11 . scarsly ;IV. B . skarsly ; which

shows sca rse to be a misp rint.

685 Ed. i . and Ed. 11. lookes ; IV. B.

lokes.This should be restored to the

text, as it appears to be a

variant spell ing for lockeselsewhere in this worki i .

ww814

81 6

86 1

888

909

9 7-5

934

9 5 5

984

Ed. 11. rom ingfir runn ing.thou canstfor can thou .greefesfor griefe .u ntoo for to the.

Ed . i . and Ed. i i . Cyllemus, a

misp rint.

Ed. i . though, a misp rint.Ed . 11. so for eke.were for was .

shame brydled then fordid shame represse.am for was .

begotten for exacted,which appea rs to be a

misprint for extracted,IV. B .

inserts that after whither.that charged h i rfbr laydeto h i r charge.Andfor He.

IV. B . adds imp rint :

3 588

1 87

222

25 8

273

278

292

3 00- 1

Imprin ted a t London by Wyllyam Seresdwel l ing at the west ende of Pauleschurche, a t the si gne of the hedgehogge . Cumprivilegioadimprint endurn

BOOK I I .Ed. 11. Harvestfor Au tumne.

Ed . i . omits as before yse.

I thus fbr that I .Ed. 11. Charlz iz for Charles h is .

firstfor that.IV. B . Whole for Whose, p rob

a bly the true reading.

Ed . 11. Thefor And .

the for a .

(By reason tha t their blud was drawne foorth toothe owter part

And there bescorched) did becomme ay afterblacke and swart.

3 20 Ed. i . Sperchins , a misp rint.3 24 Ed . 11. brookesfor brakes.3 62

3 72

givefor gave .the Skiefor thy Skie .

3 86 Ed. i . Stygnan, a misp rint.

BOOK I I—continued.

406 Q. L ike to a Starre :editions omit a.

409 Ed . 11. quench fbr quencht.426 intumbed ; IV. B Ed. i .

entumbled .

4 5 9 Ed . 11 . Stenell es ; Ed . i . Steuels,a misp rint for Stenels

(so IV.

Butfor Yet.sayd for says.IV. B . , Ed. i i . didst.

626 Jovefir God.

642 IV. B ., Ed . 11. thoufor that.

65 3 Ed . i . omits other by mistake (IV.

B . h i s tother) .748 Ed. ii . flyeth for fleeteth .

75 3 th efor h is .

75 7 allfor as .878 And intoo touch stone by

and byfal sefor that, p roba bly the

944 he wexedfor she waxed.9 5 7 Javel ingfor Javelin .972 otherfor others.1 072 IV.B . was therefor there was.

1 09 1 Ed . i i . omits the.1 093

-4 did holde h i r righ t hand

fast Uppon h i s hom e.IV. B . i s paged : fol. 1 - 1 1

,1 1

, 1 3 , 1 4

( 1 4 b bla nk) : imp rint a s before.

BOOK nr

23 Ed . 11. That of the Citie P anopiedoo lye.

IV. B . those boundes.

3 5 Ed . ii . stones for stone.3 7 Mars iz for Mars h is.43 did for to .1 90 with following for of fol

lowing.2 1 3

247 IV.1B . the tother.2 5 9 Ed. i i . Blaunche as for beau tie .

3 1 7

BOOK IV.

9 1 Ed . 1i

O spytefull wa l l (sayd they) why doost thoupart us lovers thus.96 Ed . i i . vowtingfor vouch ing.1 3 2 when that he the bluddie

mantle209 d iscoveringfbr discovered2 5 6 Ed . i . daugher (second time), a

misp rint.

269 Ed. 11. gnarringfbr gnoorring.

281 fastningfor fastned .

445 hadfor hath .46 1 Ed . i . Narci sts

, a misprint.

481 , 483 Ed. 11. m eetefor joyne.

506 Ed. i i . th ingfor th ings.5 42 still for all .67 1 Ed. 11.Marsiz for Mars h is .

690 Ed. i. Countie, a misp rint ; IV B .

honour.7 1 0 shetfor sh it.724 froth for wroth .762 Ed. i . can for gan .773 Ed. 11. forlodefor forelade.

788 arefor were.803 beganfir begon .809 omits yow (so IV B890 IV. B .

, Ed. 1 . emnie (whichshould be restored in text)for enm ie.

896 Ed . 1i . and heatheni sh for prophaned.

IV. B fol . 1 -5 , 1 0, 7, 1 1 , 9,1 2 ( 1 2 b blank) : imp rint a s

25 9268 xn.

3 06 Ed . 11.p la ces steeped after body.3 3 5 Ed. i . Daplynis, a misp rint.

3 3 8 Ed . 1i . knowne for knowe ; IVB . knowe.

3 46 Ed . i . Smylar, a misp rint.3 60 Ed . 11. Through Lycie land he

traveled too Ca rie.

3 76 thefor hir (spring).

Wghbm thdii thy wyfe and bedfellow vouchsa fest for too bee.

5 3 2

5 66

5 76

63 3644

694

7'

s I

754

763

BOOK IV.-continued.

Ed . i . d isplayde.

Ed. 11. to for in .

Ed. i . burgeous , a misprint.Ed. i 1. too for i t.Ed . i . thee for them , a misp rint

(see M.,IV.,

IV. B . emnys.

Ed . i . repea ts with, by error.

Ed . 1i . But yi tfor And on .Ed. i . chach

,a misprint.

Both editions heares,a misp rint

M.,IV.

, 5 22,erens) .

Ed. i . chflde,a misprint.

Ed . 11. of a .Ed. i . disdiane, a misp rint.Ed . 11. too th i s same for even to

th is.streyght becamefor tourned in .A m ightiefor Into a.he did.omits the .waters.When Andromadewas nowe set free .

omits full bcybre lightly, andu ice.

BOOK V.

Ed . 11. he didfor did he .that he did .Labelles Tables .i t didfor did i t.th i s Clytie tooke .

Ed. i . omits of after than, by error.Ed . 11 . he did.DukePhyneythought

And for As .

i f thatfor and if.The th ird part now of all

the world doth hang.howfor the.fountaines Cyanee.

3 1 8

5 1 4 Ed. 11. tooke aunciently h ir name5 43 Ed . i . cakefor take, a misprint.5 48 Ed . 11. she did .64 1 no for not.

702 shee doo th .

723 Ed . i . a nd Ed . i i . i sfor i t, a misp rint.

794 Ed . i . inserts thereof after part, amisp rint.

BOOK VI .77 Ed. 11. there commesfor appeares1 46 Ed . i . hovering, a misprint.1 7 1 Ed. 11

And lea st that tyme may from this curse herafter.

548 Ed. 11. scenefor wont.66 1 -2

Anon their journey came too end, anon theywent a landIn Thrace, and stre ight King Tertw70 1 -2 Ed. 11.

wordes wh ich n ippingly h im stung,Did drawe out stre ight703 Ed. 11. H efor And .7 1 1 quivered .7 1 2 i t stillfor that i t .723 th i s tale.744 agreei ng fitly too.

75 8 feynds for feynes .

85 3 i sfor seemes.

85 8 Assurance wh ither forR esolution

, if.

BOOK VI I .Ed. 11. thefor h i s.did then .wandring.

Ed. i . omits tryple.

Ed . 11 . i n for by.Ed . i . To h i s.Ed . 11. th i sfor h i s.thencefor hence .Were bred .

Ed. i . enterteinde.

Ed . 11. sung.prowdnesse.

hathe seenefor behelde.

https://www.forgottenbooks.com/join

BOOK X I.—continued.

Ed . 11. make.no woordes .

on h im .

were.thou doo .fi t.no ende.what ever th ing.

Ed. i . and Ed. i i . uppo .Ed. i i . of zea .

nowght.

wandred .

ioyes .

they wi ll .lenger.wynd for wend .l ightning.

Ed . i . when .Ed . i i . water.

aryv ed .

l ike a the stringedupon a cloudy sphere.barble .keevering.

dreame.

Queene of.sic. : the Latin is fa lso tibi me

p romittere noli .—XI .

, 662 .

Query now ?Ed . 11. too shoore.

Ed . i . of Ceyx .

Ed . 11 . whom .

BOOK XI I .

Ed . i 1 . th i ngs i s practisd everywhere.

Ed . i . are l ike.Ed . 11. rebound.Ed. i . and Ed. i i . confusely.

Ed. i 1. For every .woondring.

3 20

1 1 8 Ed. i . Axétions, a misp ri nt.205 myne .2 1 7 Ed . 11. match .3 20 mossy ground.3 54 The wyne .3 9°

407

43 2 the yellowe.

50 1 The stout.5 23 become i n the th ing art.5 6 1 enmy.

5 9 1 were slaine.

63 3 death .644 bespoke.650, 686 thintent.

664 Ed . i . I t any, a misp rint.687 Ed . ii.wyght.

BOOK XI I I .

Ed . i . the th ird.Ed. 11. prayse.

th i s one mark.Ed. i . whose same

, a mimrint.Ed . 11 . doo seeke.

enmyes.

With store of womans.enmyes .

had for ha th .Ed. i . fru ther, a misp rint.Ed. 11 . the tent.makes.

Ed . i . wha, a mi spri nt.Ed . 11. from .

was got.hence amid h i r.upbray.enmyes .

one clayme.

th intent.

aswhen thatAgamemnonbethintent.

rage yi t still.enmy.

enmyes .

the wasshing.

Troyans.

Pach innus ful l.

Ed. i . creerej brcleere, a misprint1 089 Ed. 11 . lay.

BOOK X IV.

Ed. i . An for And , a misp rint.Ed . 11 . yee .

Ed. i . thé.

Ed . 11. portion .and when for and that.

Ed. i . and Ed. i i . Furilochus , a

treason .inserts shyre afl erTyrrhene .

3 2 1

BOOK XV.

Ed. 11. Nereth .Emesus.

Troyane.

A late.lesserfor better.thy yeare.

wex ing.had.a channell .Then .name is.Cynnamon.

R ead sowles .]Ed. i i . heerefore.

Read Ambassadours.]Ed . i i . they did of.werefor well .boughes.vynds .

welcomb

peercelesse.

hirfor theyr.

quyght bee.glistred.

HERE ENDS OVID’

S METAMORPHOSES, PRINTEDA L E X ANDE R MO R I NG , L IM I T ED

, AT 2 9 8

R E G E NT S T R E E T , I N TH E C OUN TYOF LONDON, IN THE MONTH S OF

JUNE TO DECEMBER MDCCCCIIIAND JANUARY TO APRIL

M D C C C C I V . x