The xu Books of P. ovidius Naso, entituled Metamorphosis, translated out of Latin into English meeter, by Arthur Golding Gentleman, A work very pleasant and delectable.  
With skill, heed, and judgement, this work must be read, For else to the Reader it stands in small stead.  
Imprinted at London, by William Seres.   

To the right Honourable and his singular good Lord, Robert earl of Leycester, Baron of Denbygh, knight of the most noble order of the Garter. etc. Arthur Golding Gent. wisheth continuance of health, with prosperous estate and felicity.  
AT length my chariot wheel about the mark hath found the way,  
And at their weighed razes end, my breathless horses stay.  
The work is brought too end by which the author did account  
(And rightly) with eternal fame above the stars too mount.  
For whatsoever hath been writ of ancient time in greek  
By sundry men dispersedly, and in the latin ●eke,  
Of this same dark Philosophy of turned shapes, the same  
Hath Ovid into one whole mass in this book brought in frame.  
Four kind of things in this his work the Poet doth contain.  
That nothing under heaven doth ay in steadfast state remain.  
And next that nothing perisheth: but that each substance takes  
Another shape than that it had. Of these two points he makes  
The proof by showing through his work the wonderful exchange  
Of Gods, men, beasts, and elements, too sundry shapes right strange,  
Beginning with creation of the world, and man of slime,  
And so proceeding with the turns that happened till his tyme.  
Then showeth he the soul of man from dying to be free,  
By samples of the noblemen, who for their virtues be  
Accounted and canonised for Gods by heathen men,  
And by the pains of Limbo lake, and blissful state again  
Of spirits in th'Elysian fields. And though that of these three  
He make discourse dispersedly: yet specially they be  
Discussed in the latter book in that oration where  
He bringeth in Pythagoras dissuading men from fear  
Of death, and preaching abstinence from flesh of living things.  
But as for that opinion which Pythagoras there brings  
Of souls removing out of beasts too men, and out of men  
Too birds and beasts both wild and tame, both too and fro again:  
It is not too be understand of that same soul whereby  
We are endued with reason and discretion from on high:  
But of that soul or life the which brute beasts as well as we  
Enjoy. Three sorts of life or soul (for so they termed be)  
Are found in things. The first gives power too thrive, increase & grow,  
And this in senseless herbs and trees and shrubs itself doth show.  
The second giveth power too move and use of senses five,  
And this remains in brutish beasts, and keepeth them alive.  
Both these are mortal, as the which received of the air  
By force of Ph●bus, after death do thither eft repair.  
The third gives understanding, wit, and reason: and the same  
Is it alonely which with us of soul doth bear the name.  
And as the second doth contain the first: even so the third  
Containeth both the other twain. And neither beast, nor bird,  
Nor fish, nor herb, nor tree, nor shrub, nor any earthly wight  
(Save only man) can of the same partake the heavenly might.  
I grant that when our breath doth from our bodies go away,  
It doth eftsoons return too air: and of that air there may  
Both bird and beast participate, and we of theirs likewise.  
For while we live, (the thing itself appeareth to our eyes)  
Both they and we draw all one breath. But for too deem or say  
Our noble soul (which is divine and permanent for a●)  
Is common to us with the beasts, I think it nothing less  
Than for too be a point of him that wisdom doth profess.  
Of this I am right well assured there is no Christian Wight  
That can by fondness be so far seduced from the right.  
And finally he doth proceed in showing that not all  
That bear the name of men (how strong, fierce, stout, bold, hardy, tall,  
How wise, fair, rich, or highly borne, how much renowned by fame,  
So ere they be, although on earth of Gods they bear the name)  
Are for too be accounted men: but such as under awe  
Of reasons rule continually do live in virtues law:  
And that the rest do differ nought from beasts, but rather be  
Much worse than beasts, because they do abase their own degree.  
To natural philosophy the formest three pertain,  
The fourth too moral: and in all are pitthye, apt and plain  
Instructions which import the praise of virtues, and the shame  
Of vices, with the due rewards of either of the same.  
¶ As for example, 
Out of the first book.  in the tale of Daphnee turned too bay,  
A mirror of virginity appear unto us may,  
Which yielding noyther unto fear, nor force, nor flattery,  
Doth purchase everlasting fame and immortality.  
¶ In Phaeton's fable unto sight the Poet doth express 
Out of the second.   
The natures of ambition blind, and youthful wilfulness.  
The end whereof is misery, and bringeth at the last  
Repentance when it is to late that all redress is past.  
And how the weakness and the want of wit in magistrate  
Confoundeth both his common weal and eke his own estate.  
This fable also doth advise all parents and all such  
As bring up youth, too take good heed of cockering them too much.  
It further doth commend the mean: and willeth too beware  
Of rash and hasty promises which most pernicious are,  
And not too be performed: and in fine it plainly shows  
What sorrow too the parents and too all the kindred grows  
By disobedience of the child: and in the child is meant  
The disobedient subject that against his prince is bend.  
The transformations of the Crow and Raven do declare  
That Clawback's and Colcariers' ought wisely too beware  
Of whom, to whom, and what they speak. For sore against his will  
Can any friendly heart abide too hear reported ill  
The party whom he favoureth. This tale doth eke bewray  
The rage of wrath and jealousy too have no kind of stay:  
And that light credit too reports in no wise should be given.  
For fear that men too late too just repentance should be driven.  
The fable of Ocyroee by all such folk is told  
As are in searching things too come too curious and too bold.  
A very good example is described in Battus tale  
For covetous people which for gain do set their tongues too sale.  
¶ All such as do in flattering freaks, and hawks, and hounds delight,  
And dice, 
Out of the iij.  and cards, and for too spend the time both day and night  
In foul excess of chamberworke, or too much meat and drink:  
Upon the piteous story of Actaeon ought too think.  
For these and their adherents used excessive are in deed  
The dogs that daily do devour their followers on with speed.  
Tiresias wills inferior folk in any wise too shun  
Too judge between their betters lest in peril they do run.  
Narcissus is of scornfulness and pride a mirror clear,  
Where beauties fading vanity most plainly may appear.  
And Echo in the self-same tale doth kindly represent  
The lewd behaviour of a bawd, and his due punishment.  
¶ The piteous tale of Pyramus and Thisbee doth contain 
Out of the iiij.   
The heady force of frentick love whose end is woe and pain.  
The snares of Mars and Venus show that time will bring too light  
The secret sins that folk commit in corners or by night.  
Her maphrodite and Salmacis declare that idleness  
Is chiefest nurse and cherisher of all voluptuous,  
And that voluptuous life breeds sin: which linking all toogither  
Make men too be effeminate, unweeldy, weak and lither.  
¶ Rich Piers daughters turned too Pies do openly declare,  
That none so bold too vaunt themselves as blindest bayards are. 
Out of the v.   
The Muses plainly do declare again a toother side,  
That whereas chiefest wisdom is, most mildness doth abide.  
¶ Arachnee may example be that folk should not contend  
against their betters, 
Out of the vj.  nor persist in error too the end.  
So doth the tale of Niobee and of her children: and  
The transformation of the Carls that dwelled in Lycie land,  
Toogither with the fle●ing of of piper Marsies skin.  
The first do also show that long it is ere God begin  
Too pay us for our faults, and that he warns us oft before  
Too leave our folly: but at length his vengeance striketh sore.  
And therefore that no Wight should strive with God in word nor thought  
Nor deed. But pride and fond desire of praise have ever wrought  
Confusion too the parties which account of them do make.  
For some of such a nature be that if they once do take  
Opinion (be it right or wrong) they rather will agree  
To die, than seem to take a foil: so obstinate they be.  
The tale of Tereus, Philomele, and Prognee doth contain  
That folk are blind in things that too their proper weal pertain.  
And that the man in whom the fire of furious lust doth reign  
Doth run too mischief like a horse that getteth lose the re●ne▪  
It also shows the cruel wreak of women in their wrath  
And that no heinous mischief long delay of vengeance hath.  
And lastly that distress doth drive a man too look about  
And seek all corners of his wits, what way too wind him out.  
¶ The good success of jason in the land of Colchos, 
Out of the seven.  and  
The doings of Medea since, do give too understand  
That nothing is so hard but pain and travel do it win,  
For fortune ever favoureth such as boldly do begin:  
That women both in helping and in hurting have no match  
When they too either bend their wits: and how that for too catch  
An honest meener under fair pretence of friendship, is  
An easy matter. Also there is warning given of this,  
That men should never hastily give ear too fugitives,  
Nor into hands of sorcerers commit their state or lives.  
It shows in fine of stepmoothers the deadly hate in part,  
And vengeance most unnatural that was in mothers heart.  
The deeds of Theseus are a spur too prowess, and a glass▪  
How princes sons and noblemen their youthful years should pass.  
King Minos shows that kings in hand no wrongful wars should take▪  
And what provision for the same they should before hand make.  
King Aeacus gives also there example how that kings  
Should keep their promise and their leagues above all other things.  
His grave description of the plague and end thereof, express  
The wrath of God on man for sin: and how that ne'ertheless  
He doth us spare and multiply again for goodman's sakes.  
The whole discourse of Shafalus and Procris mention makes  
That married folk should warily shun the vice of jealousy  
And of suspicion should avoid all causes utterly.  
Reproving by the way all such as causeless do misdeem  
The chaste and guiltless for the deeds of those that faulty seem.  
¶ The story of the daughter of king Nisus setteth out 
Out of the viij.   
What wicked lust dr●ues folk unto too bring their wills about.  
And of a righteous judge is given example in the same,  
Who for no meed nor friendship will consent too any blame.  
We may perceive in Dedalus how every man by kind  
Desires too be at liberty, and with an earnest mind  
Doth seek too see his native soil, and how that straight distress  
Doth make men wise, and sharps their wits to find their own redress.  
We also learn by Icarus how good it is too be  
In mean estate and not too clymb too high, but too agree  
Too wholesome counsel: for the hire of disobedience is  
Repentance when it is too late forthinking things amiss.  
And Partridge tells that excellence in any thing procures  
Men envy, even among those friends whom nature most assures.  
Philemon and his fear are rules of godly patient life,  
Of sparing thrift, and mutual love between the man and wife,  
Of due obedience, of the fear of God, and of reward  
For good or evil usage showed too wandering strangers ward.  
In Erisychthon doth appear a lively image both  
Of wickedness and cruelty which any Wight may loath,  
And of the hire that longs thereto. He showeth also plaint  
That whereas prodigality and gluttony doth reign,  
A world of riches and of goods are ever with the least  
Too satisfy the appetite and eye of such a beast  
¶ In Hercules and Acheloyes encounters is set out 
Out of the ix.   
The nature and behaviour of two wooers that be stout.  
Wherein the Poet covertly taunts such as being base  
Do seek by forged pedigrees too seem of noble race.  
Who when they do perceive no truth upon their side too stand,  
In stead of reason and of right use force and might of hand.  
This fable also signifies that valiantness of heart  
Consisteth not in words, but deeds: and that all slight and Art  
Give place too prowess. Furthermore in Nessus we may see  
What breach of promise cometh too, and how that such as be  
Unable for too wreak their harms by force, do oft devise  
Too wreak themselves by policy in far more cruel wise.  
And Deianeira doth declare the force of jealousy  
deceived through too light belief and fond simplicity.  
The process following peinteth out true manliness of heart  
Which yieldeth neither unto death, too sorrow, grief, nor smart.  
And finally it shows that such as live in true renown  
Of vortue here, have after death an everlasting crown  
Of glory. Cawne and Byblis are examples contrary:  
The Maid of most outrageous lust, the man of chastity.  
¶ The tenth book chiefly doth contain one kind of argument  
Reproving most prodigious lusts of such as have been bend 
Out of the x.   
Too incest most unnatural. And in the latter end  
It showeth in Hippomenes how greatly folk offend,  
That are ingrate for benefits which God or man bestow  
Upon them in the time of need. Moreover it doth show  
That beauty (will they nill they) aye doth men in danger throw:  
And that it is a ●oolyshnesse too strive against the thing  
Which God before determineth too pass in time too bring.  
And last of all Ado●s death doth show that manhood strives  
Against sorewa●ning though men see the peril of their lives.  
¶ The death of Orphey showeth God's just vengeance on the vile  
And wicked sort which horribly with incest them defile. 
Out of the xj.   
In Midas of a covetous wretch the image we may see  
Whose riches justly too himself a hellish torment be,  
And of a fool whom neither proof nor warning ●an amend,  
Until he feel the shame and smart that folly doth him send.  
His Barbour represents all blabs which seem with child too be  
Until that they have blaazd abroad the things they hear or see.  
In Ceyx and Al●yone appears most constant love,  
Such as between the man and wife too be it doth behove.  
This Ceyx also is a light of princely courtesy  
And bounty toward such whom need compelleth for too fly.  
His voyage also doth declare how vainly men are led.  
Too utter peril through fond toys and fancies in their head.  
For Idols doubtful oracles and soothsayres prophecies  
Do nothing else but make fools feign and blind their bleared eyes.  
Dedalions' daughter warns too use the tongue with modesty  
And not too vaunt with such as are their betters in degree.  
¶ The siege of Troy, 
Out of the xij.  the death of men, the razing of the city,  
And slaughter of king Priam's stock without remorse of pity,  
Which in the xij. and xiij. books be written, do declare  
How heinous wilful perjury and filthy whoredom are  
In sight of God. The frentick fray between the Lapiths and  
The Centaurs is a note whereby is given too understand  
The beastly rage of drunkenness. 
Out of the xiij.  ¶ Ulysses doth express  
The image of discretion, wit, and great advisedness.  
And Ajax on the other side doth represent a man  
Stout, heady, ireful, haut of mind, and such a one as can  
Abide too suffer no repulse. And both of them declare  
How covetous of glory and reward men's natures are.  
And finally it showeth plain that wisdom doth prevail  
In all attempts and purposes when strength of hand doth fail  
The death of fair Polyxena doth show a princely mind  
And firm regard of honour rare engraft in woman kind.  
And Polymnestor king of Thrace doth show himself to be  
A glass for wretched covetous folk wherein themselves to see  
This story further witnesseth that murder crieth ay  
For vengeance, and itself one time or other doth bewray.  
The tale of Giant Polypheme doth evidently prove  
That nothing is so fierce and wild, which yieldeth not to love.  
And in the person of the self same Giant is set out  
The rude and homely wooing of a country cloyne and lout.  
¶ The tale of Apes reproves the vice of wilful perjury, 
Out of the xiv.   
And willeth people too beware they use not for too lie.  
Aeneas going down too hell doth show that virtue may  
In saufty travel where it will, and nothing can it stay.  
The length of life in Sibyl doth declare it is but vain  
Too wish long life, sith length of life is also length of pain.  
The Graecian Achemenides doth learn us how we ought  
Be thankful for the benefits that any man hath wrought.  
And in this Achemenides the Poet doth express  
The image of exceeding fear in danger and distress.  
What else are Circe's witchcrafts and enchantments than the vyl●  
And filthy pleasures of the flesh which do our souls defile?  
And what is else herb Moly than the gift of staidness  
And temperance which doth all fowl concupiscence repress?  
The tale of Anaxaretee wills dames of high degree  
Too use their lovers courteously how mean so ere they be.  
And Iphis lernes inferior folks too fond not too set  
Their love on such as are too high for their estate too get.  
¶ Alemons son declares that men should willingly obey 
Out of the xv.   
What God commands, and not upon exceptions se●me to stay.  
For he will find the means too bring the purpose well about,  
And in their most necessity dispatch them saufly out  
Of danger. The oration of Pythagoras implies  
A sum of all the former work. What person can devise  
A notabler example of true love and godliness  
Too once own native countryward than Cippus doth express?  
The turning to a blazing star of julius Cesar shows,  
That fame and immortality of virtuous doing grows.  
And lastly by examples of Augustus and a few  
Of other noble prince's sons the author there doth show  
That noblemen and gentlemen should strive too pass the fame  
And virtues of their ancestors, or else too match the same.  
These fables out of every book I have interpreted,  
Too show how they and all the rest may stand a man in stead.  
Not adding over curiously the meening of them all,  
For that were labour infinite, and tediousness not small  
Both unto your good Lordship and the rest that should them reed  
Who well might think I did the bounds of modesty exceed,  
If I this one epistle should with matters overcharge  
Which scarce a book of many quyres can well contain at large.  
And whereas in interpreting these few I attribute  
The things too one, which heathen men to many Gods impute,  
Concerning mercy, wrath for sin, and other gifts of grace:  
Described for examples sake in proper time and place.  
Let no man marvel at the same. For though that they as blind  
Through unbelief, and led astray through error even of kind,  
Knew not the true eternal God, or if they did him know,  
Yet did they not acknowledge him, but vainly did bestow  
The honour of the maker on the creature: yet it doth  
behove all us (who rightly are instructed in the sooth)  
Too think and say that God alone is he that rules all things  
And worketh all in all, as lord of lords and king of kings,  
With whom there are none other Gods that any sway may bear,  
No fatal law too bind him by, no fortune for too fear.  
For Gods, and fate, and fortune are the terms of heathennesse,  
If men usurp them in the sense that Paynims do express.  
But if we will reduce their sense too right of Christian law,  
Too signify three other things these terms we well may draw.  
By Gods we understand all such as God hath plaast in chief  
Estate to punish sin, and for the godly folks relief.  
By fate the order which is set and established in things  
By Gods eternal will and word, which in due season brings  
All matters too their falling out. Which falling out or end  
(Because our curious reason is too weak too comprehend  
The cause and order of the same, and doth behold it fall  
Unwares to us) by name of chance or fortune we it call.  
If any man will say these things may better learned be  
Out of divine philosohie or scripture, I agree  
That nothing may in worthiness with holy writ compare.  
howbeit so far forth as things no whit impeachment are  
Too virtue and too godliness but furtherers of the same,  
I trust we may them sau●●y use without desert of blame.  
And yet there are (and those not of the rude and vulgar sort.  
But such as have of godliness and learning good report)  
That think the Poets took their first occasion of these things  
From holy writ as from the well from whence all wisdom springs.  
What man is he but would suppose the author of this book  
The first foundation of his work from Moses' wryghting took▪  
Not only in effect he doth with Genesis agree,  
But also in the order of creation, save that he  
Makes no distinction of the days. For what is else at all  
That shapeless, rude, and pestered heap which Chaos he doth call,  
Than even that universal mass of things which God did make  
In one whole lump before that each their proper place did take.  
Of which the Bible saith that in the first beginning God  
Made heaven and earth: the earth was waste, and darkness yet abode  
Upon the deep: which holy words declare unto us plain  
That fire, air, water, and the earth did undistinct remain  
" In one gross body at the first. ¶ For God the father that  
" Made all things, framing out the world according too the plat,  
" conceived everlastingly in mind, made first of all  
" Both heaven and earth uncorporal and such as could not fall  
" As objects under sense of sight: and also air likewise,  
" And emptiness: and for these twain apt terms he did devise.  
" He called air darkness: for the air by kind is dark.  
" And emptiness by name of depth full aptly he did mark:  
" For emptiness is deep and waste by nature. Ouermor●  
" He formed also bodylesse (as other things before)  
" The natures both of water and of spirit. And in fine  
" The light: which being made too be a pattern most divine  
" Whereby too form the fixed stars and wandering planets seven,  
" With all the lights that afterward should beautify the heaven,  
" Was made by God both bodylesse and of so pure a kind,  
" As that it could alonely be perceived by the mind.  
To this effect are Philos words. And certainly this same  
Is it that Poets in their work confused Chaos name.  
Not that Gods works at any time were pact confusedly  
Toogither: but because no place nor outward shape whereby  
To show them too the feeble sense of man's deceitful sight  
Was yet appointed unto things, until that by his might  
And wondrous wisdom God in time set open too the eye  
The things that he before all time had everlastingly  
Decreëd by his providence. But let us further see  
How Ovid's scantlings with the whole true pattern do agree.  
The first day by his mighty word (saith Moses') God made light,  
The second day the firmament, which heaven or welkin height.  
The third day he did part the earth from sea and made it dry,  
Commanding it too bear all kind of fruits abundantly.  
The fourth day he did make the lights of heaven to shine from high,  
And established a law in them too rule their courses by.  
The fifth day he did make the whales and fishes of the deep,  
With all the birds and feathered fowls that in the air do keep.  
The sixth day God made every beast both wild and tame, and worms  
That creep on ground according too their several kinds and foormes.  
And in the image of himself he formed man of clay  
Too be the Lord of all his works the very self-same day.  
This is the sum of Moses' words. And Ovid (whether it were  
By following of the text aright, or that his mind did bear  
Him witness that there are no Gods but one) doth plain uphold  
That God (although he knew him not) was he that did unfold  
The former Chaos, putting it in form and fashion new,  
As may appear by these his words which underneath ensue.  
" This strife did God and nature break and set in order dew.  
" The earth from heaven the sea from earth he parted orderly,  
" And from the thick and foggy air he took the lightsome sky.  
In these few lines he comprehends the whole effect of that  
Which God did work the first three days about this noble plat.  
And then by distributions he entreateth by and by  
More largely of the self-same things, and paints them out too eye  
With all their bounds and furniture: And whereas we do find  
The term of nature joined with God: (according too the mind  
Of learned men) by joining so, is meant none other thing,  
But God the Lord of nature who did all in order bring.  
The distributions being done right learnedly, anon  
Too show the other three days works he thus proceedeth on.  
" The heavenly soil too Gods and stars and planets first he gave  
" The waters next both fresh and salt he let the fishes have.  
" The subtle air to flickering fowls and birds he hath assigned,  
" The earth too beasts both wild and tame of sundry sorts and kind.  
Thus partly in the outward phrase, but more in very deed,  
He seems according too the sense of scripture too proceed.  
And when he comes to speak of man, he doth not vainly say  
(As sum have written) that he was before all time for ay,  
Ne mentioneth more Gods than one in making him. But thus  
He both in sentence and in sense his meening doth discuss.  
" Howbe●it yet of all this while the creature wanting was  
" far more divine, of nobler mind, which should the resdew pass  
" In depth of knowledge, reason, wit and high capacity,  
" And which of all the resdew should the Lord and ruler be.  
" Then either he that made the world and things in order set,  
" Of heavenly seed engendered man: or else the earth as yet  
" But late before, the seeds thereof as yet held inwardly.  
" The which Prometheus tempering straight with water of the spring,  
" Did make in likeness to the Gods that govern every thing.  
What other thing meenes Ovid here by term of heavenly seed,  
Than man's immortal soul, which is divine, and comes in deed  
From heaven, and was inspired by God, as Moses showeth plain?  
And whereas of Prometheus he seems too add a vain  
device, as though he meant that he had form man of clay,  
Although it be a tale put in for pleasure by the way:  
Yet by thinterpretation of the name we well may gather,  
He did include a mystery and secret meening rather.  
This word Prometheus signifies a person sage and wise,  
Of great foresight, who headily will nothing enterprise.  
It was the name of one that first did images invent:  
Of whom the Poets do report that he too heaven up went,  
And there stole fire, through which he made his images alive:  
And therefore that he formed men the Paynims did contrive.  
Now when the Poet red perchance that God almighty by  
His providence and by his word (which everlastingly  
Is ay his wisdom) made the world, and also man to bear  
His image, and too be the lord of all the things that were  
Erst made, and that he shaped him of earth or slimy clay:  
He took occasion in the way of fabling for too say  
That wise Prometheus tempering earth with water of the spring,  
Did form it like the Gods above that govern every thing.  
Thus may Prometheus seem too be th'eternal word of God,  
His wisdom, and his providence which formed man of clod.  
" And where all other things behold the ground with groveling eye:  
" He gave too man a stately look replete with majesty:  
" And willed him too behold the heaven with countenance cast on high,  
" Too mark and understand what things are in the starry sky.  
In these same words, both parts of man the Poet doth express  
As in a glass, and giveth us instruction too address  
Ourselves too know our own estate: as that we be not borne  
Too follow lust, or serve the paunch like brutish beasts forlorn,  
But for too life our eyes as well of body as of mind  
Too heaven as too our native soil from whence we have by kind  
Our better part: and by the sight thereof too learn too know  
And knowledge him that dwelleth there: and wholly too bestow  
Our care and travel too the praise and glory of his name  
Who for the sakes of mortal men crated first the same.  
Moreover by the golden age what other thing is meant,  
Than Adam's time in paradise, who being innocent  
Did lead a blessed and happy life until that thurrough sin  
He fell from God? From which time forth all sorrow did begin.  
The earth accursed for his sake, did never after more  
Yield food without great toil. Both heat and cold did vex him sore.  
Disease of body, care of mind, with hunger, thirst and need,  
Fear, hope, joy, grief, and trouble, fell on him and on his seed.  
And this is termed the silver age. Next which there did succeed  
The brazen age, when malice first in people's hearts did breed,  
Which never ceased growing till it did so far outrage,  
That nothing but destruction could the heat thereof assuage  
For why men's stomachs waxing hard as steel against their God,  
Provoked him from day too day too strike them with his rod.  
Proud Giants also did arise that with presumptuous wills  
Heaped wrong on wrong, and sin on sin like huge and lofty hills  
Whereby they strove too cl●mb too heaven and God from thence too draw,  
In scorning of his holy word and breaking nature's law.  
For which anon ensewd the 'slud which overflowed all  
The whole round earth and drowned quyght all creatures great and small,  
Excepting few that God did save as seed whereof should grow  
Another offspring. All these things the Poet here doth show  
In colour, altering both the names of persons, time and place.  
For where according too the truth of scripture in this case,  
The universal flood did fall but sixteen hundred years  
And six●nd fifty after the creation (as appears  
By reckoning of the ages of the fathers) under Noy,  
With whom seven other persons more like safeguard did enjoy  
Within the ark, which at the end of one whole year did stay  
Upon the hills of Armenia: The Poet following ay  
The fables of the glorying greeks (who shamelessly did take  
The praise of all things too themselves) in fabling wise doth make  
It happen in Deu●alions time, who reigned in Thessaly  
Eight hundred winters since Noyes flood or thereupon well nigh,  
Because that in the reign of him a mighty flood did fall,  
That drowned the greater part of Greece, towns, cattle, folk, and all,  
Save few that by the help of boats attained unto him,  
And too the highest of the forked Parnasos top did swim.  
And for because that he and his were driven a while to dwell  
Among the stonny hills and rocks until the water fell,  
The Poets hereupon did take occasion for too feign,  
That he and Pyrrha did repair mankind of stones again.  
So in the sixth book afterward Amphion's harp is said  
The first foundation of the walls of Thebee too have laid,  
Because that by his eloquence and justice (which are meant  
By true accord of harmony and musical consent)  
He gathered into Thebee town, and in due order knit  
The people that dispersed and rude in hills and rocks did sit.  
So Orphey in the tenth book is reported too delight  
The savage beasts, and for too hold the fleeting birds from flight,  
Too move the senseless stones, and stay swift rivers, and too make  
The trees too follow after him and for his music sake  
Too yield him shadow where he went. By which is signifyde  
That in his doctrine such a force and sweetness was implied,  
That such as were most wild, stowre, fierce, hard, witless, rude, and bend  
against good order, were by him persuaded too relent,  
And for too be conformable too live in reverent awe  
Like neighbours in a common weal by justice under law.  
Considering then of things before rehearsed the whole effect,  
I trust there is already showed sufficient too detect  
That Poets took the ground of all their chiefest fables out  
Of scripture: which they shadowing with their gloss went about  
Too turn the truth too toys and lies. And of the self-same rate  
Are also these: Their Phlegeton, their Styx, their blissful state  
Of spirits in th'Elysian fields. Of which the former twain  
Seem counterfeited of the place where damned souls remain,  
Which we call hell. The third doth seem too fetch his pedigree  
From paradise which scripture shows a place of bliss too be.  
If Poets then with leese and with fables shadowed so  
The certain truth, what letteth us too pluck those visers fro  
Their doings, and too bring again the darkened truth too light,  
That all men may behold thereof the clearness shining bright?  
The readers therefore earnestly admonished are too be  
Too seek a further meening than the letter gives too se●.  
The travel ●ane in that behalf although it have sum pain  
Yet makes it double recompense with pleasure and with gain.  
With pleasure, for variety and strangeness of the things,  
With gain, for good instruction which the understanding brings.  
And if they happening for too meet with any wanton word  
Or matter lewd, according as the person doth aboard  
In whom the evil is described, do feel their minds thereby  
provoked too vice and wantonness, (as nature commonly  
Is pro●e to evil) let them thus imagine in their mind.  
Behold, by sent of reason and by perfect sight I find  
A Panther here, whose painted cote with yellow spots like gold  
And pleasant smell allure mine eyes and senses too behold.  
But well I know his face is grim and fierce, which he doth hide  
Too this intent, that while I thus stand gazing on his hide,  
He may devour me unbewares. Ne let them more offend  
At vices in this present work in lively colours p●●d,  
Than if that in a crystal glass fowl images they found,  
Resembling folks fowl visages that stand about it round.  
For sure these fables are not put in wryghting to th'intent  
Too further or allure too vice: but rather this is meant,  
That men beholding what they be when vice doth reign in stead  
Of virtue, should not let their lewd affections have the head.  
For as there is no creature more divine than man as long  
As reason hath the sovereignty and standeth firm and strong:  
So is there none more beastly, vile, and deu●lish, than is he,  
If reason giving over, by affection mated be.  
The use of this same book therefore is this: that every man  
(endeavouring for too know himself as nearly as he can,)  
(As though he in a chariot sat well ordered,) should direct  
His mind by reason in the way of virtue, and correct  
His fierce affections with the bit of temperance, lest perchance  
They taking bridle in the teeth like wilful jades do prance  
A way, and headlong carry him to every filthy pit  
Of vice, and drinking of the same defile his soul with it:  
Or else do headlong harry him upon the rocks of sin,  
And overthrowing forcibly the chariot he sits in,  
Do tear him worse than ever was Hippolytus the son  
Of Theseus when he went about his father's wrath too shun.  
This worthy work in which of good examples are so many,  
This Ortyard of Alcimous in which there wants not any  
Herb, tree, or fruit that may man's use for health or pleasure serve,  
This plenteous horn of Acheloy which justly doth deserve  
Too bear the name of treasury of knowledge, I present  
Too your good Lordship once ageing not as a member rend  
Or par●ed from the resdew of the body any more:  
But fully now accomplished, desiring you therefore  
Too let your noble courtesy and favour countervail  
My faults where Art or eloquence on my behalf doth fail.  
For sure the mark whereat I shoot is neither wreaths of bay,  
Nor name of Poet, no nor meed: but chiefly that it may  
Bee liked well of you and all the wise and learned sort,  
And next that every wight that shall have pleasure for to sport  
Him in this garden, may as well bear wholesome fruit away  
As only on the pleasant ●●owres his reckless senses stay.  
But why seem I these doubts too cast, as if that he who took  
With favour and with gentleness a parcel of the book  
Would not likewise accept the whole? or even as if that they  
Who do excel in wisdom and in learning, would not weigh  
A wise and learned work aright? or else as if that I  
Ought ay too have a special care how all men do apply  
My doings to their own behoof? as of the former twain  
I have great hope and confidence: so would I also fain  
The other should according too good meening find success:  
If otherwise, the fault is theirs not my they must confess.  
And therefore briefly too conclude, I turn again to thee  
O noble Earl of Leycester, whose life God grant may be  
As long in honour, health and wealth as ancient Nestor's was,  
Or rather as Tithonussis: that all such students as  
Do travel too enrich our tongue with knowledge heretofore  
Not common too our vulgar speech, may daily more and more  
Proceed through thy good furtherance and favour in the same.  
Too all men's profit and delight, and thy eternal fame.  
And that (which is a greater thing) our native country may  
Long time enjoy thy counsel and thy travel too her stay.  
At Berwick the twenty of April. 1567. Your good L. most humbly too command Arthur Golding.   

Too the Reader.  
I Would not wish the simple sort offended for too be,  
When in this book the heathen names of feigned Gods they see.  
The true and everliving God the Paynims did not know:  
Which caused them the name of Gods on creatures too bestow.  
For nature being once corrupt and knowledge blinded quyght  
By Adam's fall, those little seeds and sparks of heavenly light  
That did as yet remain in man, endeavouring forth too burst  
And wanting grace and power too grow too that they were at furst,  
Too superstition did decline: and drove the fearful mind,  
Strange worships of the living God in creatures for too find.  
The which by custom taking root, and growing so too strength,  
Through Satan's help possessed the hearts of all the world at length.  
Some woorshipt all the host of heaven: some deadman's ghosts & bones:  
Sum wicked fiends: sum worms & fowls, herbs, fishes, trees & stones.  
The fire, the air, the sea, the land, and every roonning brook,  
Each queachie grove, each cragged cliff the name of Godhead took.  
The night and day, the fléeting hours, the seasons of the year,  
And every strange and monstrous thing, for Gods mistaken wéere.  
There was no virtue, no nor vice: there was no gift of mind  
Or body, but some God thereto or Goddess was assigned.  
Of health and sickness, life and death, of neediness and wealth,  
Of peace and war, of love and hate, of murder, craft and stealth,  
Of bread and wine, of slothful sleep, and of their solemn games,  
And every other trifling toy their Gods did bear the names.  
And look how every man was bend too goodness or too ill,  
He did surmise his foolish Gods inclining too his will.  
For God perceiving man's perverse and wicked will too sin  
Did give him over too his lust too sink or swim therein.  
By means whereof it cam● too pass (as in this book ye see)  
That all their Gods with whoredom, theft, or murder blotted be.  
Which argues them too be no Gods, but worser in effect  
Than they whoose open po●●nishment their wooing doth detect.  
Who seeing jove whom heathen folk do arm with triple fire  
In shape of Eagle, ●●ll or swan too win his foul desire?  
Or grisly Mars their God of war entangled in a net  
By Venus' husband purposely too trap him warily set?  
Who seeing Saturn eating up the children he begat?  
Or Venus dallying wanton with every lusty mate?  
Who seeing juno play the scold? or Phoebus' mourn and rue  
For loss of her whom in his rage through jealous mood he slew?  
Or else the subtle Mercury that bears the charmed rod  
Conveying neat and hiding them would take him for a God?  
For if these faults in mortal men do justly merit blame,  
What greater madness can there be than too impute the same  
Too Gods, whoose nature's ought too be most perfect, pure and bright,  
Most virtuous, holly, chaste, and wise, most full of grace and light?  
But as there is no Christian man that can surmise in mind  
That these or other such are Gods which are no Gods by kind:  
So would too God there were not now of christian men professed,  
That worshipped in their deeds these Gods whose names they do detest.  
Whose laws we keep his thralls we be, and he our God indeed.  
So long is Christ our God as we in christian life proceed.  
But if we yield too fleshly lust, too lucre, or too wrath,  
Or if that Envy, Gluttony, or Pride the mastery hath.  
Or any other kind of sin the thing the which we serve,  
Too be accounted for our God most justly doth deserve.  
Then must we think the learned men that did these names frequent,  
Some further things and purposes by those devices meant.  
By jove and juno understand all states of princely port:  
By Ops and Saturn ancient folk that are of elder sort:  
By Phoebus' young and lusty brutes of hand and courage stout:  
By Mars the valeant men of war that love too fight it out:  
By Pallas and the famous troop of all the Muses nine,  
Such folk as in the sciences and virtuous arts do shine.  
By Mercury the subtle sort that use too filch and lie,  
With thieves, and Merchants who too gain their travel do apply.  
By Bacchus all the meaner trades and handicrafts are meant:  
By Venus such as of the flesh too filthy lust are bend.  
By Neptune such as keep the seas: By Phebe maidens chaste,  
And Pilgrims such as wandringly their time in travel waste.  
By Pluto such as delve in mines, and Ghosts of persons dead:  
By Vulcan smiths and such as work in iron, tin or lead.  
By Herat witches, Conjurers, and Necromancers reed:  
With all such vain and deulish arts as superstition breed.  
By satires, Sylvans, Nymphs and Fauns with other such beside,  
The plain and simple country folk that every where abide.  
I know these names too other things oft may and must agree  
In declaration of the which I will not tedious be.  
But leave them too the Readers will too take in sundry wise,  
As matter rising giveth cause constructions too devise.  
Now when thou readst of God or man, in stone, in beast, or tree  
It is a mirror for thyself thine own estate too see.  
For under feigned names of Gods it was the Poet's guise,  
The vice and faults of all estates too taunt in covert wise.  
And likewise too extol with praise such things as do deserve.  
Observing always comeliness from which they do not serve.  
And as the person greater is of birth, renown or fame,  
The greater ever is his laud, or fouler is his shame.  
For if the States that on the earth the room of God supply,  
Decline from virtue unto vice and live disorderly,  
Too Eagles, Tigers, Bulls, and Bears, and other figures strange  
Both too their people and themselves most hurtful do they change,  
And when the people give themselves too filthy life and sin,  
What other kind of shape thereby than filthy can they win?  
So was Lycaon made a Wolf: and jove became a Bull:  
The tone for using cruelty, the toother for his trull.  
So was Elpenor and his mates transformed into swine,  
For following of their filthy lust in women and in wine.  
Not that they lost their manly shape as too the outward show.  
But for that in their brutish breasts most beastly lusts did grow.  
For why this lump of flesh and bones this body is not we.  
We are a thing which earthly eyes denied are too see.  
Our soul is we endued by God with reason from above:  
Our body is but as our house, in which we work and move.  
Tone part is common to us all, with God of heaven himself:  
The toother common with the beasts, a vile and stinking pelf.  
The ●one bedecked with heavenly gifts and endless: toother gross,  
Fraylie, filthy, weak, and borne too die as made of earthly dross.  
Now look how long this clod of clay too reason doth obey,  
So long for men by ●ust desert account ourselves we may.  
But if we suffer fl●shly lusts as lawless Lords too reign,  
Than are we beasts, we are no men, we have our name in vain.  
And if we be so drowned in vice that feeling once be gone,  
Then may it well of us be said, we are a block or stone.  
This surely did the Poet's mean when in such sundry wise  
The pleasant tales of turned shapes they studied too devise.  
There purpose was too profit men, and also too delight  
And so too hand●e every thing as best might like the sight.  
For as the Image portrayed out in simple white and black  
(Though well proportioned, true and fair) if comely colours lack,  
delighteth not the eye so much, nor yet contents the mind  
So much as that that shadowed is with colours in his kind:  
Even so a plain and naked tale or story simply told  
(Although the matter be in deed of value more than gold)  
Makes not the hearer so attended too print it in his heart,  
As when the thing is well declared, with pleasant terms and art.  
All which the Poets knew right well: and for the greater grace,  
As Persian kings did never go abroad with open face,  
But with some lawn or silken skarf, for reverence of their state:  
Even so they following in their works the self-same trade and rate,  
Did under covert names and terms their doctrines so emplye,  
As that it is right dark and hard their meaning too espy.  
But being found it is more sweet and makes the mind more glad,  
Than if a man of tried gold a treasure gained had.  
For as the body hath his joy in pleasant smells and sights:  
Even so in knowledge and in arts the mind as much delights.  
Whereof abundant hoards and heaps in Poets packed been  
So hid that (saving unto few) they are not too be seen.  
And therefore whooso doth attempt the Poets works too reed,  
Must bring with him a stayed head and judgement too proceed.  
For as there be most wholesome hests and precepts too be found,  
So are their rocks and shallow shelves too run the ship a ground.  
Some naughty person seeing vice showed lively in his hue,  
Doth take occasion by and by like vices too ensue.  
Another being more severe than wisdom doth require,  
beholding vice (too outward show) exalted in desire,  
Condemneth by and by the book and him that did it make.  
And wills it too be burnt with fire for lewd example sake.  
These persons overshoot themselves, and other folks deceive:  
Not able of the author's mind the meaning too conceive.  
The Author's purpose is too paint and set before our eyes  
The lively Image of the thoughts that in our stomachs rise.  
Each vice and virtue seems too speak and argue too our face,  
With such persuasions as they have their doings too embrace.  
And if a wicked person seem his vices too exalt,  
Esteem not him that wrote the work in such defaults too halt.  
But rather with an upright eye consider well thy thought:  
See if corrupted nature have the like within thee wrought.  
Mark what affection doth persuade in every kind of matter.  
judge if that even in heinous crimes thy fancy do not flatter.  
And were it not for dread of law or dread of God above,  
Most men (I fear) would do the things that fond affections move.  
Then take these works as fragrant flowers most full of pleasant juice.  
The which the be conveying home may put too wholesome use:  
And which the spider sucking on too poison may convert,  
Through venom spread in all her limbs and native in her heart.  
For too the pure and Godly mind, are all things pure and clean,  
And unto such as are corrupt the best corrupted been:  
Like as the finest meats and drinks that can be made by art  
In sickly folks too nourishment of sickness do convert.  
And therefore not regarding s●ch whose diet is so fine  
That nothing can digest with them unless it be divine,  
Nor such as too their proper harm do wrest and wring awry  
The things that too a good intent are written pleasantly,  
Through Ovid's work of turned shapes I have with painful pace  
Past on until I had atteynd the end of all my race.  
And now I have him made so well acquainted with our ●oong  
As that he may in English verse as in his own be song.  
Wherein although for pleasant style, I cannot make account,  
Too match mine author, who in that all other doth surmount:  
Yet (gentle Reader) do I trust my travel in this case  
May purchase favour in thy sight my doings too embrace:  
Considering what a sea of goods and jewels thou shalt find,  
Not more delyghtfull too the ear than fruitful too the mind.  
For this do learned persons deem, of Ovid's present work:  
That in no one of all his books the which he wrote, do lurk  
more dark and secret mysteries, more counsels wise and sage,  
more good ensamples, more reproves of vice in youth and age,  
more fine inventions too delight, more matters clerkly knit,  
No nor more strange variety too show a learned wit.  
The high, the low: the rich, the poor: the master, and the slave:  
The maid, the wife: the man, the child: the simple and the brave:  
The young, the old: the good, the bad: the warrior strong and stout:  
The wise, the fool: the country cloyne: the learned and the lout:  
And every other living wight shall in this mirror see  
His whole estate, thoughts, words and deeds expressly showed too be.  
Whereof if more particular examples thou do crave,  
In reading the Epistle through thou shalt thy longing have.  
Moreover thou mayst find herein descriptions of the times:  
With constellations of the stars and planets in their climes:  
The Sites of Countries, Cities, hills, seas, forests, plains and floods:  
The natures both of fowls, beasts, worms, herbs, metals, stones & woods,  
And finally what ever thing is strange and delectable,  
The same conveyed shall you find most featly in some fable.  
And even as in a chain each link within another wynds,  
And both with that that went before and that that follows binds:  
So every tale within this book doth seem too take his ground  
Of that that was rehearsed before, and enters in the bound  
Of that that follows after it: and every one gives light  
Too other: so that who so méenes too understand them right,  
Must have a care as well too know the thing that went before,  
As that the which he presently desires too see so sore.  
Now too th'intent that none have cause hereafter too complain  
Of me as setter out of things that are but light and vain,  
If any stomach be so weak as that it cannot brook,  
The lively setting forth of things described in this book,  
I give him counsel too abstain until he be more strong,  
And for too use Ulysses' feat against the Meremayds' song.  
Or if he needs will here and see and wilfully agree  
(Through cause misconstrued) unto vice alured for too be,  
Then let him also mark the pain that doth thereof ensue,  
And hold himself content with that that too his fault is due.  
FINIS.   

¶ The first book of Ovid's Metamorphosis, translated into english Meter.  
OF shapes transformed to bodies strange, I purpose t● entreat,  
Ye gods vouchsafe (for you are they y ywrought this wondrous feat)  
To further this mine enterprise. And from the world begun,  
Grant that my verse may to my time, his course directly run.  
Before the Sea and Land were made, and Heaven that all doth hide.  
In all the world one only face of nature did abide,  
Which Chaos hight, a huge rude heap, and nothing else but even  
A heavy lump and clottered clod of seeds together driven,  
Of things at strife among themselves, for want of order due.  
No sun as yet with lightsome beams the shapeless world did view.  
No Moon in growing did repair her horns with borrowed light.  
Nor yet the earth amids the air did hang by wondrous slight  
Just poised by her proper weight. Nor winding in and out  
Did Amphitrytee with her arms embrace the earth about.  
For where was earth, was sea and air, so was the earth unstable.  
The air all dark, the sea likewise to bear a ship unable.  
No kind of thing had proper shape, but each confounded other.  
For in one self same body strove, the hot and cold together.  
The moist with dry, the soft with hard, the light with things of weight.  
This strife did God and Nature break, and set in order straight.  
The earth from heaven, the sea from earth, he parted orderly,  
And from the thick and foggy air, he took the lightsome sky.  
Which when he once unfolded had, and severed from the blind  
And clodded heap. He setting each from other did them bind  
In endless friendship to agree. The fire most pure and bright,  
The substance of the heaven itself, because it was so light  
Did mount aloft, and set itself in highest place of all.  
The second room of right to air, for lightness did befall.  
The earth more gross drew down with it each weighty kind of matter,  
And set itself in lowest place. Again, the waving water  
Did lastly challenge for his place, the utmost coast and bound,  
Of all the compass of the earth, to close the steadfast ground.  
Now when he in this foresaid wise (what God so ere he was)  
Had broke and into members put this rude confused mass,  
Than first because in every part, the earth should equal be,  
He made it like a mighty ball, in compass as we see.  
And here and there he cast in seas, to whom he gave a law:  
To swell with every blast of wind, and every stormy flaw.  
And with their waves continually to beat upon the shore,  
Of all the earth within their bounds enclosed by them afore.  
Moreover, Springs and mighty Méeres and Lakes he did augment,  
And flowing streams of crooked brooks in winding banks he penned.  
Of which the earth doth drink up some, and some with rest less race,  
Do seek the sea: where finding scope of larger room and space,  
In stead of banks, they beat on shores. He did command the plain  
And champion grounds to stretch out wide: and valleys to remain  
Ay underneath: and eke the woods to hide them decently  
With tender leaves: and stony hills to lift themselves on high.  
And as two Zones do cut the Heaven upon the righter side,  
And other twain upon the left likewise the same divide,  
The middle in outrageous heat exceeding all the rest:  
Even so likewise through great foresight to God it seemed best,  
The earth included in the same should so divided be,  
As with the number of the Heaven, her Zones might full agree.  
Of which the middle Zone in heat, the utmost twain in cold  
Exceed so far, that there to dwell no creature dare be bold.  
Between these two so great extremes, two other Zones are fixed,  
Where temprature of heat and cold indifferently is mixed.  
Now over this doth hang the Air, which as it is more slighty  
Than earth or water: so again than fire it is more weighty.  
There hath he placed missed and clouds, and for to fear men's minds,  
The thunder and the lightning eke, with cold and blustering winds.  
But yet the maker of the world permitteth not always,  
The winds to use the air at will. For at this present day,  
Though each from other placed be in sundry coasts aside:  
The violence of their boisterous blasts, things scarcely can abide.  
They so turmoil as though they would the world in pieces rend,  
So cruel is those brother's wrath when that they do contend.  
And therefore to the morning grey, the Realm of Nabathie,  
To Persis and to other lands and countries that do lie  
far underneath the Morning star, did Eurus take his flight  
Likewise the setting of the Sun, and shutting in of night  
Belong to Zephyr. And the blasts of blustering Boreas reign,  
In Scythia and in other lands set under Charles his wain.  
And unto Auster doth belong the coast of all the South,  
Who beareth showers and rotten mists, continual in his month.  
Above all these he set aloft the clear and lightsome sky,  
Without all dregs of earthly filth or grossness utterly.  
The bounds of things were scarcely yet by him thus pointed out,  
But that appeared in the heaven, stars glistering all about,  
Which in the said confused heap had hidden been before,  
And to th'intent with lively things each Region for to store.  
The heavenly soil, to Gods and Stars and Planets first he gave.  
The waters next both fresh and salt he let the fishes have.  
The subtle air to flickering fowls and birds he hath assigned.  
The earth to beasts both wild and tame of sundry sort and kind.  
Howbeit yet of all this while, the creature wanting was,  
far more divine, of nobler mind, which should the residue pas●e  
In depth of knowledge, reason, wit, and high capacity,  
And which of all the residue should the Lord and ruler be.  
Then either he that made the world, and things in order set,  
Of heavenly seed engendered Man: or else the earth as yet  
Young, lusty, fresh, and in her flowers, and parted from the kie,  
But late before, the seed thereof as yet held inwardly.  
The which Prometheus tempering strait with wa●er of the spring,  
Did make in likeness to the Gods that govern every thing.  
And where all other beasts behold the ground with groveling eye,  
He gave to Man a stately look repl●●e with majesty.  
And willed him to behold the He●●en with countenance cast on high▪  
To mark and understand what things were in the starry sky.  
And thus the earth which late before had neither shape nor hue,  
Did take the noble shape of man, and was transformed new.  
Then sprang up first the golden age, which of itself maintained,  
The truth and right of every thing unforst and unconstrainde.  
There was no fear of punishment, there was no thr●●ining law  
In brazen tables nailed up, to ●éepe the folk in-law.  
There was no man would cronch or creep to judge with cap in hand,  
They lived safe without a judge, in every Realm and land.  
The lofty Pynetrée was not hewn from mountains where it stood,  
In seeking strange and foreign lands, to rove upon the flood.  
Men knew none other countries yet, than where themselves did keep:  
There was no town enclosed yet, with walls and ditches deep.  
No horn nor trumpet was in use, no sword nor helmet worn,  
The world was such, that soldiers help might easily be forborn.  
The fertile earth as yet was free, untouched of spade or plough,  
And yet it yielded of itself of every things enough.  
And men themselves contented well with plain and simple food,  
That on the earth of nature's gift without their travel stood,  
Did live by Raspis, heppes & haws, by cornelles, plums and cherries,  
By sloes and apples, nuts and pears, and loathsome bramble berries,  
And by the acorns dropped on ground, from Jove's broad tree in field.  
The spring-time lasted all the year, and Zephyr with his mild  
And gentle blast did cherish things that grew of own accord,  
The ground untilled, all kind of fruits did plenteously avorde.  
No muck nor tillage was bestowed on lean and barren land,  
To make the corn of better head, and ranker for to stand.  
Then streams ran milk, than streams ran wine, & yellow honey flowed  
From each green tree whereon the rays of fiery Phoebus' glowde.  
But when that into Limbo once Saturnus being thrust,  
The rule and charge of all the world was under jove unjust,  
And that the silver age came in, more somewhat base than gold,  
More precious yet than freckled brass, immediately the old  
And ancient Spring did jove abridge, and made thereof anon,  
Four seasons: Winter, summer, Spring, and Autumn of and on.  
Then first of all began the air with fervent heat to swelled.  
Then Isyeles hung roping down: then for the cold was felt  
Men 'gan to shroud themselves in house. their houses were the thicks,  
And bushy queaches, hollow caves, or hardels made of sticks.  
Then first of all were furrows drawn, and corn was cast in ground.  
The simple Ox with sorry sighs, to heavy yoke was bound.  
Next after this succeeded straight, the third and brazen age:  
More hard of nature, somewhat bend to cruel wars and rage.  
But yet not wholly past all grace. Of iron is the last  
In no part good and traetable as former ages past.  
For when that of this wicked Age once opened was the vain  
Therein all mischief rushed forth. then Faith and Truth were feign  
And honest shame to hide their heads: for whom stepped stoutly in,  
Craft, Treason, violence, Envy, Pride and wicked Lust to win.  
The shipman hoist his sails to wind, whose names he did not know:  
And ships that erst in tops of hills and mountains had ygrowe,  
Did leap and dance on uncouth waves: and men began to bond,  
With dowles and ditches drawn in length the free and fertile ground,  
Which was as common as the Air and light of Sun before.  
Not only corn and other fruits, for sustnance and for store,  
Were now exacted of the Earth: but eft thy 'gan to dig,  
And in the bowels of the ground unsatiably to rig.  
For Riches couched and hidden deep, in places near to Hell,  
The spurs and stirrers unto vice, and foes to doing well.  
Then hurtful iron came abroad, then came forth yellow gold,  
More hurtful than the iron far. then came forth battle bold,  
That feightes with both, and shakes his sword in cruel bloody hand.  
Men live by ravin and by stealth: the wandering guest doth stand  
In danger of his host: the host in danger of his guest:  
And fathers of their son in laws: yea seldom time doth rest,  
Between borne brothers such accord and love as aught to be.  
The goodman seeks the goodwives' death, and his again seeks she.  
The stepdames fell their husbands sons, with poison do assail.  
To see their fathers live so long the children do bewail.  
All godliness lies under foot. And Lady Astrey last  
Of heavenly virtues, from this earth in slaughter drowned past.  
And to th'intent the earth alone thus should not be oppressed,  
And heaven above in slothful ease and careless quiet rest,  
¶ Men say that Giants went about the Realm of Heaven to win  
To place themselves to reign as Gods and lawless Lords therein.  
And hill on hill they heaped up aloft unto the sky,  
Till God almighty from the Heaven did let his thunder fly.  
The dint whereof the airy tops of high Olympus broke,  
And pressed Pelion violently from under Ossa struck.  
When whelmed in their wicked work those cursed Ca●tiues lay,  
The Earth their mother took their blood yet warm and (as they say)  
Did give it life. And for because some imps should still remain  
Of that same stock, she gave it shape and limbs of men again.  
This offspring eke against the Gods did bear a native spite,  
In slaughter and in doing wrong was all their whole delight.  
Their deeds declared them of blood engendered for to be.  
The which as soon as Satur's son from Heaven aloft did see,  
He fetched a sigh, and therewithal revolving in his thought  
The shameful act which at a feast Lycaon late had wrought,  
As yet unknown or blown abroad: He 'gan thereat to storm  
And stomach like an angry jove. And therefore to reform  
Such heinous acts, he sommonde straight his Court of Parliament,  
Whereto resorted all the Gods that had their summons sent.  
High in the Welkin is a way apparent to the sight.  
In starry nights, which of his passing whiteness milky height:  
It is the street that to the Court and Princely Palace leads,  
Of mighty jove whose thunderclaps each living creature dreads.  
On both the sides of this same way do stand in stately port  
The sumptuous houses of the Peers. For all the common sort  
Dwell scattering here and there abroad: the face of all the sky,  
The houses of the chief estates and Princes do supply.  
And sure and if I may be bold to speak my fancy free  
I take this place of all the Heaven the Palace for to be.  
Now when the Gods assembled were, and each had ta'en his place,  
jove standing up aloft and leaning on his ivory Mace,  
Right dreadfully his bushy locks did thrice or four times shake.  
Wherewith he made both Sea and Land & Heaven itself to quake,  
And afterward in wrathful words his angry mind thus broke.  
I never was in greater care nor more perplexity,  
How to maintain my sovereign state and Princely royalty,  
When with their hundredth hands a piece the Addersooted rout,  
Did practise for to conquer Heaven and for to cast us out.  
For though it were a cruel foe: yet did that war depend  
Upon one ground, and in one stock it had his final end.  
But now as far as any sea about the world doth wind,  
I must destroy both man and beast and all the mortal kind.  
I swear by Styxes hideous streams that run within the ground,  
All other means must first be sought: but when there can be found  
No help to heal a festered sore, it must away be cut,  
Lest that the parts that yet are sound, in danger should be put.  
We have a number in the world that man's estate surmount,  
Of such whom for their private Gods the country folks account,  
As satires, Fauns, and sundry Nymphs, with Sylvans eke beside,  
That in the woods and hilly grounds continually abide.  
Whom into Heaven since that as yet we vouch not safe to take,  
And of the honour of this place copartners for to make,  
Such lands as to inhabit in, we erst to them assigned,  
That they should still enjoy the same, It is my will and mind?  
But can you think that they in rest and safety shall remain?  
When proud Lycaon lay in wait by secret means and train:  
To have confounded me your Lord, who in my hand do bear  
The dreadful thunder, and of whom even you do stand in fear?  
The house was moved at his words and earnestly required,  
The man that had so traitorously against their Lord conspired.  
Even so when Rebels did arise to stroy the Roman name,  
By shedding of our Caesar's blood, the horror of the same,  
Did pierce the hearts of all mankind, and made the world to quake.  
Whose fervent zeal in thy behalf (O August) thou did take,  
As thankfully as jove doth hear the loving care of his.  
Who beckoning to them with his hand, forbiddeth them to hiss.  
And therewithal through all the house attentive silence is.  
assoon as that his majesty all muttering had allayed,  
He broke the silence once again, and thus unto them said.  
Let pass this careful thought of yours: for he that did offend,  
Hath dearly bought the wicked Act, the which he did intend.  
Yet shall you hear what was his fault and vengeance for the same.  
A foul report and infamy unto our bearing came,  
Of mischief used in those times: which wishing all untrue  
I did descend in shape of man, th'infamed Earth to view.  
It were a process overlong to tell you of the sin,  
That did abound in every place where as I entered in.  
The brute was lesser than the truth, and partial in report.  
The dreadful dens of Menalus where savage beasts resort  
And Cyllen had I overpast, with all the Pynetrées hie,  
Of cold Lyceus, and from thence I entered by and by  
The herbroughlesse and cruel house of late Th'arcadian King,  
Such time as twilight on the Earth dim darkness 'gan to bring.  
I gave a sign that God was come, and straight the common sort  
Devoutly prayed, whereat Lycaon first did make a sport  
And after said by open proof, ere long I mind to see,  
If that this wight a mighty God or mortal creature be.  
The truth shall try itself: he meant (the sequel did declare)  
To steal upon me in the night, and kill me unbeware.  
And yet he was not so content: but went and cut the throat,  
Of one that lay in hostage there, which was an Epyrote:  
And part of him he did to roast, and part he did to stew.  
Which when it came upon the board, forthwith I overthrew,  
The house with just revenging fire upon the owner's head.  
Who seeing that, slipped out of doors amazed for fear, and fled  
Into the wild and desert woods, where being all alone,  
As he endevorde (but in vain) to speak and make his moan,  
He fell a howling: wherewithal for very rage and mood  
He ran me quite out of his wits and waxed furious wood.  
Still practising his wont lust of slaughter on the poor  
And stel●e cattle, thirsting still for blood as heretofore.  
His garments turned to shackie hair, his arms to rugged paws:  
So is he made a ravening Wolf: whose shape expressly draws  
To that the which he was before: his skin is hoary grey,  
His look still grim with glaring eyes, and every kind of way,  
His cruel heart in outward shape doth well itself bewray.  
Thus was one house destroyed quite. but that one house alone  
Deserveth not to be destroyed, in all the Earth is none,  
But that such vice doth reign therein, as that ye would believe,  
That all had sworn and sold themselves to mischief us to grieve.  
And therefore as they all offend: so am I fully bend,  
That all forthwith (as they deserve) shall have due punishment.  
These words 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 signs. Yet did it grieve them all  
That such destruction utterly on all mankind should fall.  
Demanding what he purposed with all the Earth to do,  
When that he had all mortal men so clean destroyed, and who  
On holy Altars afterward should offer frankincense,  
And whother that he were in mind to lea●e the Earth fro thence  
To savage beasts to waste and spoil, because of man's offence.  
The king of Gods bade cease their thought & questions in that case,  
And cast the care thereof on him. within a little space,  
He promised for to frame a new, an other kind of men  
By wondrous means, unlike the first to fill the world again.  
And now his lightning had he thought on all the earth to throw.  
But that he feared least the flames perhaps so high should grow  
As for to set the Heaven on fire, and burn up all the sky.  
He did remember furthermore how that by destiny,  
A certain time should one day come, wherein both Sea and land  
And Heaven itself should feel the force of Vul●ans scorching brand▪  
So that the huge and goodly work of all the world so wide  
Should go to wreck, for doubt whereof forthwith he laid aside  
His weapons that the Cyclops made, intending to correct,  
Man's trespass by a punishment contrary in effect.  
And namely with incessant showers from heaven ypoured down,  
He did determine with himself, the mortal kind to drown.  
In Aeölus prison by and by he fettered Boreas fast,  
With all such winds as chase the clouds or break them with their blast,  
And set at large the Southern wind: who strait with watery wings  
And dreadful face as black as pitch, forth out of prison flings.  
His beard hung full of hideous storms, all dankish was his head,  
With water streaming down his hair that on his shoulders shed.  
His ugly forehead wrinkled was with foggy mists full thick,  
And on his feathers and his breast a stilling dew did stick.  
assoon as he between his hands the hanging clouds had crushed,  
With rattling noise adown from heaven the rain full sadly gushed.  
The Rainbow junos' messenger bedecked in sundry hue,  
To maintain moisture in the clouds, great waters thither drew:  
The corn was beaten to the ground, the Tilmans hope of gain,  
For which he toiled all the year, lay drowned in the rain▪  
joves indignation and his wrath began to grow so hot.  
That for to quench the rage thereof, his Heaven sufficed not.  
His brother Neptune with his waves was feign to do him ease:  
Who strait assembling all the streams, that fall into the seas,  
Said to them standing in his house: Sirs get you home apace,  
(You must not look to have me use, long preaching in this case.)  
Pour out your fore (for so is need) your heads each one unpende,  
And from your open springs, your streams with flowing waters send.  
He had no sooner said the word, but that returning back,  
Each one of them unlosde his spring, and let his waters slack.  
And to the Sea with flowing streams yswolne above their banks,  
One rolling in another's neck, they rushed forth by ranks.  
Himself with his threetyned Mace, did lend the earth a blow,  
That made it shake and open ways for waters forth to flow.  
The floods at random where they list, through all the fields did stray,  
Men, beasts, trees, corn, & with their gods, were Churches washed away.  
If any house were built so strong, against their force to stand  
Yet did the water hide the top: and turret's in that pond  
Were overwhelmed: no difference was between the sea and ground,  
For all was sea: there was no shore nor landing to be found.  
Some climbed up to tops of hills, and some rowed to and fro  
In Botes, where they not long before, to plough and Cart did go,  
One over corn and tops of towns, whom waves did overwhelm,  
Doth sail in ship, an other sits a fishing in an Elm.  
In meadows green were Anchors cast (so fortune did provide)  
And crooked ships did shadow wines, the which the flood did hide.  
And where but other day before did feed the hungry ●ote,  
The ugly Seals and Porkepisces now to and fro did float.  
The Seanymphes wondered under waves the towns and groves to ●ée,  
And Dolphines played among the tops and boughs of every tree.  
The grim and greedy Wolf did swim among the siely sheep,  
The Lion and the Tiger fierce were borne upon the deep.  
It booted not the foaming Boar his crooked tusks to whet,  
The running Hart could in the stream by swiftness nothing get.  
The fléeting fowls long having sought for land to rest upon,  
Into the Sea with weary wings were driven to fall anon.  
Th'outrageous swelling of the Sea the lesser hillocks drowned,  
Unwonted waves on highest tops of mountains did rebownde.  
The greatest part of men were drowned, and such as scaped the flood,  
Forlorn with fasting overlong did die for want of food.  
Against the fields of Aonie and Attic lies a land,  
That Phocis hight, a fertile ground while that it was a land:  
But at that time a part of Sea, and even a champion field,  
Of sudden waters which the flood by forced rage did yield.  
Where as a hill with forked top the which Parnasus hight,  
Doth pierce the clouds and to the stars doth raise his head upright.  
When at this hill (for yet the Sea had whelmed all beside)  
Deucalion and his bedfellow, without all other guide,  
Arrived in a little Bark immediately they went,  
And to the Nymphs of Corycus with full devout intent  
Did honour due, and to the Gods to whom that famous hill  
Was sacred, and to Themis eke in whose most holy will  
Consisted then the Oracles. In all the world so round:  
A better nor more righteous man could never yet be found  
Than was Deucalion, nor again a woman maid nor wife,  
That feared God so much as she, nor led so good a life.  
When jove beheld how all the world stood like a plash of rain,  
And of so many thousand men and women did remain  
But one of each, howbeit those both just and both devout,  
He broke the Clouds, and did command that Boreas with his stout  
And sturdy blasts should chase the flood, that Earth might see the sky  
And Heaven the Earth: the Seas also began immediately  
Their raging fury for to cease. Their ruler laid away  
His dreadful Mace, and with his words their woodness did allay.  
He called Tryton to him strait his trumpeter, who stood  
In purple rob on shoulder cast, aloft upon the flood.  
And bade him take his sounding Trump and out of hand to blow  
Retreat, that all the streams might hear, and rease from thence to flow.  
He took his Trumpet in his hand, his Trumpet was a shell  
Of some great Whelke or other ●●she, in fashion like a Bell  
That gathered narrow to the mouth, and as it did descend.  
Did wax more wide and writhe still, down to the nether end:  
When that this Trump ami● the Sea was set to Triton's mouth,  
He blew so loud that all the streams both East, West, North & South,  
Might eas●y hear him blow retreat, and all that heard the sound  
Immediately began to ebb and draw within their bound.  
Then 'gan the Sea to have a shore, and brooks to find a bank,  
And swelling streams of flowing floods within her channels sank.  
Then hills did ●ise above the wa●es that had them overflow,  
And as the waters did decrease the ground did seem to grow.  
And after long and tedious time the trees did show their tops  
All bare, save that upon the boughs the mud did hang in knops.  
The world restored was again, which though Deucalion joyed  
Then to behold: yet forbecause he saw the earth was void  
And silent like a wilderness, with sad and weeping eyes  
And ruthful voice he then did speak to Pyrrha in this wise.  
O sister, O my loving spouse, O silly woman left,  
As only remnant of thy sex that water hath bereft.  
Whom Nature first by right of birth hath linked to me fast  
In that we brothers children been: and secondly the chaste  
And steadfast bond of lawful bed: and lastly now of all,  
The present perils of the time that lately did befall.  
On all the Earth from East to West where Phoebus shows his face  
There is no more but thou and I of all the mortal race.  
The Sea hath swallowed all the rest: and scarcely are we sure,  
That our two lives from dreadful death in safety shall endure.  
For even as yet the dusky clouds do make my heart adread.  
Alas poor wretched silly soul, what heart wouldst thou have had?  
To bear these heavy haps, if chance had let thee scape alone?  
Who should have been thy comfort then? who should have rued thy moan?  
Now trust me truly loving wife had thou as now been drowned,  
I would have followed after thee and in the sea been found.  
Would God I could my father's Art, of clay to fashion men  
And give them life that people might frequent the world again.  
Mankind (alas) doth only now within us two consist,  
As moulds whereby to fashion men. For so the Gods do ly●t.  
And with these words the bitter tears did trickle down their cheek,  
Until at length between themselves they did agree to seek  
To God by prayer for his grace, and to demand his aid  
By answer of his Oracle. wherein they nothing stayed.  
But to Cephisus sadly went, whose stream as at that time  
Began to run within his banks though thick with muddy ●●ime,  
Whose sacred liquor strait they took and sprinkled with the same  
Their heads and clothes: and afterward to Themis chapel came,  
The roof whereof with ci●drie moss was almost overgrown.  
For since the time the raging flood, the world had overflown,  
No creature came within the Church: so that the Altars stood  
Without one spark of holy fire or any stick of wood.  
assoon as that this couple came within the chapel door,  
They fell down flat upon the ground, and trembling kissed the floor.  
And said: if prayer that proceeds from humble heart and mind  
May in the presence of the Gods, such grace and favour find  
As to appease their worthy wrath, then vouch thou safe to tell  
(O gentle Themis) how the loss that on our kind befell,  
May now eftsoons recovered be, and help us to repair  
The world, which drowned under waves doth lie in great despair.  
The Goddess moved with their suit, this answer did them make:  
Depart you hence: Go hill your heads, and let your garments slake,  
And both of you your Graundames' bones behind your shoulders cast.  
They stood amazed at these words, till Pyrrha at the last,  
Refusing to obey the hest the which the Goddess gave,  
Broke silence, and with trembling cheer did meekly pardon crave.  
For sure she said she was afraid her Graundames' ghost to hurt  
By taking up her buried bones to throw them in the dirt.  
And with the answer here upon eftsoons in hand they go,  
The doubtful words whereof they scan and canvas to and fro.  
Which done, Prometheus' son began by counsel wise and sage  
His cousin germans fearfulness thus gently to assuage.  
Well, either in these doubtful words is hid some mystery,  
Whereof the Gods permit us not the meaning to espy,  
Or questionless and if the s●nce of inward sentence deem  
Like as the tenor of the words apparently do seem,  
It is no breach of godliness to do as God doth bid.  
I take our Graundame for the earth, the stones within her hid  
I take for bones, these are the bones the which are meaned here.  
Though Titan's daughter at this wise conjecture of her fere  
Were somewhat moved, yet none of both did steadfast credit give,  
So hardly could they in their hearts the heavenly hests believe.  
But what and if they made a proof? what harm could come thereby?  
They went their ways and veiled their heads, and did their coats untie.  
And at their backs did throw the stones by name of bones foretold.  
The stones (who would believe the thing, but that the time of old  
Reports it for a steadfast truth?) of nature tough and hard,  
Began to war both soft and smooth: and shortly afterward  
To win therewith a better shape: and as they did increase,  
A milder nature in them grew, and rudeness 'gan to cease.  
For at the first their shape was such, as in a certain sort  
Resembled man, but of the right and perfect shape came short.  
Even like to Marble images new drawn and roughly wrought,  
Before the Carver by his Art to purpose hath them brought.  
Such parts of them where any juice or moisture did abound,  
Or else were earthy, turned to flesh: and such as were so sound,  
And hard as would not bow nor bend did turn to bones: again  
The part that was a vain before, doth still his name retain.  
Thus by the mighty power of God ere longer time was past,  
The mankind was restored by stones, the which a man did cast.  
And likewise also by the stones the which a woman threw,  
The womankind repaired was and made again of new.  
Of these are we the crooked imps, and stony race in deed,  
Bewraying by our ●oyling life, from whence we do proceed.  
The lusty earth of own accord soon after forth did bring,  
According to their sundry shapes each other living thing.  
assoon as that the moisture once caught heat against the Sun,  
And that the fat and slimy mud in moorish grounds begun,  
To swell through warmth of Phoebus' beams, and that the fruitful seed  
Of things well cherished in the fat and lively soil in deed,  
As in their mother's womb, began in length of time to grow,  
To one or other kind of shape wherein themselves to show.  
Even so when that seven mouthed Nile the watery fields forsook▪  
And to his ancient channel eft his bridled streams betook.  
So that the Sun did heat the mud, the which he left behind,  
The husbandmen that tiled the ground, among the clods did find,  
Of sundry creatures sundry shapes: of which they spied some,  
Even in the instant of their birth but newly then begun.  
And some unperfect wanting breast or shoulders in such wise,  
That in one body oftentimes appeared to the eyes  
One half thereof alive to be, and all the rest beside  
Both void of life and seemly shape, stark earth to still abide.  
For when that moisture with the heat is tempered equally,  
They do conceive▪ and of them twain engender by and by  
All kind of things. For though that fire with water aye debateth  
Yet moisture mixed with equal heat all living things createth.  
And so those discords in their kind, one striving with the other,  
In generation do agree and make one perfect mother.  
And therefore when the miry earth bespread with slimy mud,  
Brought over all but late before by violence of the flood,  
Caught heat by warmness of the Sun, and culmenesse of the sky,  
Things out of number in the world, forthwith it did apply.  
Whereof in part the like before in former times had been,  
And some so strange and ugly shapes as never erst were seen.  
In that she did such Monsters breed, was greatly to her woe,  
But yet thou ugly Python wert engendered by her thoe.  
A terror to the new made folk, which never erst had known  
So foul a Dragon in their life, so monstrously foregrowed,  
So great a ground thy poison paunch did underneath thee hide.  
The God of shooting who nowhere before that present tide  
Those kind of weapons put in ure, but at the speckled dear,  
Or at the Roes so wight of foot, a thousand shafts well near,  
Did on that hideous serpent spend, of which there was not one,  
But forced forth the venomed blood along his sides to gone.  
So that his quiver almost void, he nailed him to the ground,  
And did him nobly at the last by force of shot confound.  
And lest that time might of this work deface the worthy fame,  
He did ordain in mind thereof a great and solemn game,  
Which of the serpent that he slew of Pythians bore the name.  
Where who so could the mastery win in feats of strength or sleight  
Of hand or foot or rolling wheel, might claim to have of right,  
An Oaken garland fresh and brave. There was not any where  
As yet a Bay, by means whereof was Phoebus feign to wear  
The leaves of every pleasant tree about his golden hear.  
Peneian Daphne was the first where Phoebus set his love,  
Which not blind chance but Cupid's fierce & cruel wrath did move.  
The Delian God but late before surprised with passing pride:  
For killing of the monstrous worm, the God of love espied,  
With bow in hand already bend and letting arrows go:  
To whom he said, and what hast thou thou wanton baby so  
With warlike weapons for to toy? It were a better sight,  
To see this kind of furniture on our two shoulders bright:  
Who when we list with steadfast hand both man and beast can wound,  
Who other day with arrows keen, have nailed to the ground,  
The serpent Python so forswolne, whose filthy womb did hide  
So many acres of the ground in which he did abide.  
Content thyself son, sorry loves to kindle with thy brand,  
For these our praises to attain thou must not take in hand.  
To him quoth Venus' son again, well Phoebus I agree  
Thy bow to shoot at every beast, and so shall mine at thee.  
And look how far that under God each beast is put by kind,  
So much thy glory less than ours in shooting shalt thou find.  
This said, with drift of feathered wings in broken air he slew,  
And to the forked and shady top of Mount Parnasus drew.  
There from his quiver full of shafts two arrows did he take  
Of sundry works: tone causeth Love, the t'other doth it slake.  
That causeth love, is all of gold with point full sharp and bright,  
That chaseth love is blunt, whose steel with leaden head is dight.  
The God this fixed in the Nymph Peneis for the nonce  
The t'other pierced Apollo's heart and overraft his bones.  
Immediately in smouldering heat● of Love the tone did swelled,  
Again the t'other in her heart no spark nor motion felt.  
In woods and forests is her joy, the savage beasts to chase,  
And as the price of all her pain● to take the skin and case.  
Unwedded Phebe doth she haunt and follow as her guide,  
Unordred do her tresses wave scarce in a fillet tide.  
Full many a wooer sought her love, she loathing all the rout,  
Impatient and without a man walks all the woods about.  
And as for Hymen, or for love, and wedlock often sought  
She took no care, they were the furthest end of all her thought.  
Her father many a time and oft would say, my daughter dear  
Thou owest me a sonneinlaw to be thy lawful fear.  
Her father many a time and oft would say my daughter dear,  
Of Nephews thou my debtor art, their Grandsires heart to cheer.  
She hating as a heinous crime the bond of bridely ●ed  
Demurely casting down her eyes, and blushing somewhat red,  
Did fold about her father's neck with rauning arms: and sed,  
Dear father grant me while I live my maidenhead for to have,  
As to Diana here tofore her father freely gave.  
Thy father (Daphne) could consent to that thou dost require,  
But that thy beauty and thy form impugn thy chaste desire:  
So that thy will and his consent are nothing in this case,  
By reason of the beauty bright that shineth in thy face.  
Apollo loves and longs to have this Daphne to his fear,  
And as he longs he hopes, but his foredoomes do fail him there.  
And as light hame when corn is reaped, or hedges burn with brands,  
That passers by when day draws near throw loosely fro their hands,  
So into flames the God is gone and burneth in his breast  
And feeds his vain and barren love in hoping for the best.  
Her hair unkembd about her neck down flaring did he see  
O Lord and were they trimmed (quoth he) how seemly would she be?  
He sees her eyes as bright as fire the stars to represent,  
He sees her mouth which to have seen he holds him not content.  
Her lily arms mid part and more above the elbow bare,  
Her hands, her fingers and her wrists, him thought of beauty rare.  
And sure he thought such other parts as garments than did hide,  
Excelled greatly all the rest the which he had espied.  
But swifter than the whirling wind she fleeth and will not stay,  
To give the hearing to these words the which he had to say.  
I pray thee Nymph Penaeis stay I chase not as a fo:  
Stay Nymph: the Lambs so flee the Wolves, the Stags the Lion's so.  
With flittering feathers ●ielie Doves so from the Goshawk fly,  
And every creature from his foe. Love is the cause that I  
Do follow thee: alas alas how would it grieve my heart,  
To see thee fall among the briars, and that the blood should start,  
Out of thy tender legs, I wretch the causer of thy smart,  
The place is rough to which thou run'st, take leisure I thee pray,  
Abate thy flight, and I myself my running pace will stay.  
Yet would I wish thee take advise, and wisely for to view  
What one he is that for thy grace in humble wise doth sew.  
I am not one that dwells among the hills and stony rocks,  
I am no shepherd with a Cur, attending on the flocks:  
I am no Carl nor country Clown, nor neathearde taking charge  
Of cattle grazing here and there within this Forest large.  
Thou dost not know poor simple soul, God wot thou dost nor know▪  
From whom thou fléest▪ For If thou knew, thou wouldst not flee me so.  
In Delphos is my chief abode, my Temples also stand  
At Glaros and at Patara within the Lycian land.  
And in the isle of Tenedos the people honour me.  
The king of Gods himself is known my father for to be.  
By me is known that was, that is, and that that shall ensue,  
By me men learn to sundry tunes to frame sweet ditties true▪  
In shooting have I steadfast hand, but sured hand had he  
That made this wound within my heart that heretofore was free.  
Of Physic and of surgery I found the Arts for need  
The power of every herb and plant doth of my gift proceed.  
Now woe is me that near an herb can heal the hurt of love  
And that the Arts that others help their Lord doth helpless prove.  
As Phoebus would have spoken more, away Penaeis stolen  
With fearful steps, and left him in the midst of all his tale.  
And as she ran the meeting winds her garments backward blue,  
So that her naked skin apearde behind her as she slew,  
Her goodly yellow golden hair that hanged lose and slack,  
With every puff of air did wave and toss behind her back.  
Her running made her seem more fair, the youthful God therefore  
Could not abide to waste his words in dalliance any more.  
But as his love advised him he 'gan to mend his pace,  
And with the better foot before the fleeing Nymph to chase.  
And even as when the greedy Grewnde doth course the silly Hare,  
amids the plain and champion field without all covert bare,  
Both twain of them do strain themselves and lay on footemanship,  
Who may best run with all his force the t'other to outstrip,  
The tone for safety of his life, the t'other for his prey,  
The Grewnde aye priest with open mouth to bear the Hare away,  
Thrusts forth his snout and girdeth out and at her loins doth snatch,  
As though he would at every stride between his teeth her latch:  
Again in doubt of being caught the Hare aye shrinking slips,  
Upon the sudden from his jaws, and from between his lips:  
So fared Apollo and the Maid: hope made Apollo swift,  
And fear did make the Maiden fleet devising how to shift.  
howbeit he that did pursue of both the swifter went,  
As furthred by the feathered wings that Cupid had him lent.  
So that he would not let her rest, but pressed at her heel  
So near that through her scattered hair she might his breathing feel.  
But when she saw her breath was gone and strength began to fail,  
The colour faded in her cheeks, and beginning for to quail,  
She looked to Penaeus stream and said now Father dear,  
And if you streams have power of Gods than help your daughter here.  
O let the earth devour me quick, on which I seem to fair,  
Or else this shape which is my harm by changing strait appair.  
This piteous prayer scarce said: her sinews waxed stark,  
And therewithal about her breast did grow a tender bark.  
Her hair was turned into leans, her arms in boughs did grow,  
Her feet that were ere while so swift, now rooted were as slow.  
Her crown became the top, and thus of that she erst had been,  
Remained nothing in the world, but beauty fresh and green.  
Which when that Phoebus did behold (affection did so move)  
The tree to which his love was turned he could no less but love.  
And as he softly laid his hand upon the tender plant,  
Within the bark new overgrown he felt her heart yet pant.  
And in his arms embracing fast her boughs and branches lieth,  
He proferde kisses to the tree, the tree did from him writhe.  
Well (quoth Apollo) though my fear and spouse thou can not be,  
Assuredly from this time forth yet shalt thou be my tree.  
Thou shalt adorn my golden looks, and eke my pleasant Harp,  
Thou shalt adorn my quiver full of shafts and arrows sharp.  
Thou shalt adorn the valiant knights and royal Emperors:  
When for their noble feats of arms like mighty conquerors,  
Triumphantly with stately pomp up to the Capitol,  
They shall ascend with solemn train that do their deeds extol.  
Before Augustus' Palace door full duly shalt thou ward,  
The Oak amid the Palace▪ yard ay faithfully to ga●de,  
And as my head is never ●oulde nor never more without  
A seemly bush of youthful hair that spreadeth round about,  
Even so this honour give I thee continually to have  
Thy branches clad from time to time with leaves both fresh & brave.  
Now when that Pean of this talk had fully made an end,  
The Laurel▪ to his just request did seem to condescend,  
By bowing of her new made boughs and tender branches down,  
and wagging of her seemly top, as if it were her crown.  
There is a land in Thessaly enclosed on every side  
With woody hills, that Timpe hight, through mid whereof doth glide  
Penaeus gushing full of froth from foot of Pindus' high.  
Which with his headlong falling down doth cast up violently,  
A misty steam like flakes of smoke, besprinkling all about  
The tops of trees on either side, and makes a roaring out  
That may be heard a great way off. This is the fixed seat,  
This is the house and dwelling place and chamber of the great  
And mighty river: Here he sits in Court of Péeble stone,  
And ministers justice to the waves and to the Nymphs each one,  
That in the Brooks and waters dwell. Now hither did resort,  
(Not knowing if they might rejoice and unto mirth exhort  
Or comfort him) his Country Brookes, Sperchius' well beséene,  
With sedgy head and shady banks of Poplars fresh and green.  
Enipeus restless swift and quick, old father Apidane,  
Amphrisus with his gentle stream, and Aeas clad with cane:  
With divers other Rivers more, which having run their race,  
Into the Sea their weary waves do lead with restless pace.  
From hence the careful Inachus absentes himself alone.  
Who in a corner of his cave with doleful tears and moan,  
Augments the waters of his stream, bewailing piteously  
His daughter Io lately lost. He knew not certainly  
And if she were a live or dead. But for he had her sought,  
And could not find her any where, assuredly he thought  
She did not live above the mould, ne drew the vital breath:  
Misgiving worser in his mind, if ought be worse than death.  
It fortuned on a certain day that jove espied this Maid  
Come running from her father's stream alone: to whom he said▪  
O Damsel worthy jove himself like one day for to make  
Some happy person whom thou list unto thy bed to take.  
I pray thee let us shroud ourselves in shadow here together,  
Of this or that (he pointed both) it makes no matter whither,  
Until the whotest of the day and Noon be overpast.  
And if for fear of ●auage beasts perchance thou be aghast  
To wander in the Woods alone, thou shalt not need to fear,  
A God shall be thy guide to save thee harmless everywhere.  
And not a God of meaner sort, but even the same that hath  
The heavenly sceptre in his hand, who in my dreadful wrath,  
Do dart down thunder wandringly: and therefore make no haste  
To run away. She ran apace, and had already past  
The Fen of Lerna and the field of Lincey set with trees:  
When jove intending now in vain no longer time to lose,  
Upon the Country all about did bring a foggy mist,  
And caught the Maiden whom poor fool he used as he list.  
Queen juno looking down that while upon the open field,  
When in so fair a day such mists and darkness she beheld,  
Did marvel much, for well she knew those mists ascended not  
From any river, moorish ground, or other dankish plot.  
She looked about her for her jove as one that was acquainted  
With such escapes and with the deed had often him attainted.  
Whom when she found not in the heaven, unless I guess amiss,  
Some wrong against me (quoth she) now my husband working is.  
And with that word she left the Heaven, and down to earth she came,  
Commanding all the mists away. But jove foresées the same,  
And to a Cow as white as milk his Leman he conveys.  
She was a goodly Hecfar sure: and juno did her praise,  
Although (God wots) she thought it not, and curiously she sought,  
Where she was bred? whose Cow she was, who had her thither brought?  
As though she had not known the truth. Her husband by and by  
(Because she should not search to near) devised a cleanly lie,  
And told her that the Cow was bred even now out of the ground.  
Then juno who her husband's shift at fingers ends had found,  
Desired to have the Cow of gift. What should he do as tho?  
Great cruelness it were to yield his Lover to her foe.  
And not to give would breed mistrust. As fast as shame provoked,  
So fast again a other side his Love his mind revoked.  
So much that Love was at the point to put all shame to flight.  
But that he feared if he should deny a gift so light,  
As was a Cow to her that was his sister and his wife,  
Might make her think it was no Cow, & breed perchance some strife.  
Now when that juno had by gift her husband's Leman got,  
Yet altogether out of fear and careless was she not.  
She had him in a jealousy and thoughtful was she still.  
For doubt he should invent some means to steal her from her: till  
To Argus' old Aristor's son she put her for to keep,  
This Argus had an hundredth eyes: of which by turn did sleep  
Always a couple, and the rest did duly watch and ward,  
And of the charge they took in hand had ever good regard,  
What way so ever Argus stood with face, with back, or side,  
To Iö ward, before his eyes did Io still abide.  
All day he let her graze abroad, the Sun once under ground,  
He shut her up and by the neck with writhen With her bound.  
With crops of trees and bitter weeds now was she daily fed,  
And in the stead of costly couch and good soft featherbed,  
She sat a nights upon the ground, and on such ground whereas  
Was not sometime so much as grass: and oftentimes she was  
Compelled to drink of muddy pits: and when she did devise,  
To Argus for to lift her hands in meek and humble wise,  
She saw she had no hands at all: and when she did assay  
To make complaint, she lowed out, which did her so affray,  
That oft she started at the noise, & would have run away.  
Unto her father Inach's banks she also did resort,  
Where many a time and oft before she had been wont to sport.  
Now when she looked in the stream, and saw her horned head,  
She was aghast and from herself would all in haste have fled.  
The Nymphs her sisters knew her not nor yet her own dear father,  
Yet followed she both him ●nd them, and suffered them the rather  
To touch and struck her where they list, as one that pressed still  
To set herself to wonder at and gaze upon their fill.  
The good old Inach pulze up grass and to her strait it bears.  
She as she kyst and licked his hands did shed forth dréerie tears.  
And had she had her speech at will to utter forth her thought,  
She would have told her name and chance and him of help besought.  
But for because she could not speak, she printed in the sand,  
Two letters with her foot, whereby was given to understand  
The sorrowful changing of her shape. Which seen strait cried out  
Her father Inach woe is me, and clasping her about  
Her white and seemly Hecfars neck and crystal horns both twain,  
He shricked out full piteously, Now woe is me again.  
Alas art thou my daughter dear, whom through the world I sought  
And could not find? and now by chance art to my presence brought?  
My sorrow certes lesser far a thousand fold had been  
If never had I seen thee more, than thus to have thee seen.  
Thou stand'st as dumb and to my words no answer can thou give,  
But from the bottom of thy heart full sorry sighs dost drive  
As tokens of thine inward grief, and doolefully dost mooe  
Unto my talk, the only thing lest in thy power to do.  
But I mistrusting nothing less than this so great mischance.  
By some great marriage earnestly did seek thee to advance,  
In hope somè issue to have seen between my son and thee.  
But now thou must a husband have among the Hoards I see,  
And eke thine issue must be such as other cattles be.  
Oh that I were a mortal wight as other creatures are,  
For then might death in length of time quite rid me of this care,  
But now because I am a God, and fate doth death deny,  
There is no help but that my grief must last eternally.  
As Inach made this piteous moan quick sighted Argus drove  
His daughter into further fields to which he could not have  
Access, and he himself a loof did get him to a hill,  
From whence he sitting at his ease viewed every way at will.  
Now could no longer jove abide his Lover so forlorn,  
And thereupon he called his son that Maia had him borne,  
Commanding Argus should be killed. He made no long abode,  
But tied his feathers to his feet, and took his charmed rod.  
(With which he bringeth things a sleep, and fetcheth souls from Hell)  
And put his Hat upon his head: and when that all was well  
He leapt from his father's towers, and down to earth he slew  
And there both Hat and wings also he lightly from him threw.  
Retaining nothing but his staff, the which he closely held  
Between his elbow and his side, and through the common field  
Went plodding like some good plain soul that had some flock to feed.  
And as he went he piped still upon an Oaten Reed.  
Queen junos' Heirdman far in love with this strange melody.  
Bespoke him thus: Good fellow mine, I pray thee heartily  
Come sit down by me on this hill, for better feed I know  
Thou shalt not find in all these fields, and (as the thing doth show)  
It is a cool and shadowy plot, for shéepeheirds very ●itte  
down by his elbow by and by did Atlas' nephew sit.  
And for to pass the time withal for seeming overlong,  
He held him talk of this and that, and now and than among,  
He played upon his merry Pipe to cause his watching eyes  
To fall a sleep. Poor Argus did the best he could devise  
To overcome the pleasant naps: and though that some did sleep,  
Yet of his eyes the greater part he made their watch to keep▪  
And after other talk he asked (for lately was it found)  
Who was the founder of that Pipe that did so sweetly sound.  
Then said the God, there dwelled sometime a Nymph of noble fame  
Among the hills of Arcady, that Syrinx had to name.  
Of all the Nymphs of Nonacris and Fairy far and near,  
In beauty and in parsonage this Lady had no peer.  
Full often had she given the slip both to the Satyrs quick  
And other Gods that dwell in Woods, and in the forests thick,  
Or in the fruitful fields abroad. It was her whole desire  
To follow chaste Diana's guise in Maidenhead and attire.  
Whom she did counterfeit so nigh, that such as did her see  
Might at a blush have taken her, Diana for to be,  
But that the Nymph did in her hand a bow of Eornell hold,  
Whereas Diana evermore did bear a bow of gold.  
And yet she did deceive folk so. Upon a certain day  
God Pan with garland on his head of Pinetrée, saw her stray  
From Mount Lyceus all alone, and thus to her did say.  
Unto a God's request, O Nymph, voucesafe thou to agree  
That doth desire thy wedded spouse and husband for to be.  
There was yet more behind to tell: as how that Syrinx fled,  
Through wayless woods and gave no ear to that that Pan had said,  
Until she to the gentle stream of sandy Ladon came,  
Where, for because it was so deep, she could not pass the same,  
She piteously to change her shape the water Nymphs besought:  
And how when Pan between his arms, to catch the Nymph had thought,  
In stead of her he caught the reeds new grown upon the brook,  
And as he sighed, with his breath the reeds he softly shook  
Which made a still and mourning noise, with strangeness of the which  
And sweetness of the feeble sound the God delighted mich,  
Said certes Syrinx for thy sake it is my full intent,  
To make my comfort of these reeds wherein thou dost lament:  
And how that there of sundry reeds with war together knit,  
He made the Pipe which of her name the Greeks call Syrinx yet.  
But as Cyllemus would have told this tale, he cast his sight  
On Argus, and behold his eyes had bid him all good night.  
There was not one that did not sleep, and fast he 'gan to nod,  
Immediately he ceased his talk, and with his charmed rod,  
So stroked all his heavy eyes that earnestly they slept.  
Then with his Woodknife by and by he lightly to him s●ept,  
And lent him such a perilous blow, where as the shoulders grew  
Unto the neck, that strait his head quite from the body slew.  
Then tumbling down the headlong hill his bloody coarse he sent,  
That all the way by which he rolled was stained and besprent.  
There list thou Argus under foot, with all thy hundredth lights,  
And all the light is clean extinct that was within those sights.  
One endless night thy hundred eyes hath now bereft for aye,  
Yet would not juno suffer so her Heirdmans' eyes decay:  
But in her painted Peacock's tail and feathers did them set,  
Where they remain like precious stones and glaring eyes as yet.  
She took his death in great despite and as her rage did move,  
Determined for to wréeke her wrath upon her husbands love.  
Forthwith she cast before her eyes right strange and ugly sights,  
Compelling her to think she saw some Fiends or wicked spirits.  
And in her heart such secret pricks and piercing stings she gave her,  
As though the world from place to place with restless sorrow drove her.  
Thou Nilus wert assigned to stay her pains and traveles past,  
To which as soon as Io came with much a do at last,  
With weary knuckles on thy brim she kneeled sadly down,  
And stretching forth her fair long neck and crystal horned crown,  
Such kind of countenance as she had she lifted to the sky,  
And there with sighing sobs and tears and lowing doolefully  
Did seem to make her moan to jove, desiring him to make  
Some end of those her troublous storms endured for his sake.  
He took his wife about the neck, and sweetly kissing prayed,  
That Io's penance yet at length might by her grant be stayed.  
Thou shalt not need to fear (quoth he) that ever she shall grieve thee  
From this day forth. And in this case the better to believe me,  
The Stygian waters of my words unpartial witness been.  
assoon as juno was appeased, immediately was seen  
That Io took her native shape in which she first was borne,  
And eke became the self same thing the which she was before.  
For by and by she cast away her rough and hairy hide,  
In steed whereof a soft smouth skin with tender flesh did bide.  
Her horns sank down, her eyes and mouth were brought in lesser room,  
Her hands, her shoulders, and her arms in place again did come.  
Her cloven Clées to fingers five again reduced were,  
On which the nails like polished Gems did shine full bright & clear.  
In fine, no likeness of a Cow save whiteness did remain  
So pure and perfect as no snow was able it to stain.  
She vaunst herself upon her feet which then was brought to two.  
And though she gladly would have spoke: yet durst she not so do,  
Without good heed, for fear she should have lowed like a Cow.  
And therefore softly with herself she 'gan to practise how  
Distinctly to pronounce her words that intermitted were.  
Now as a Goddess is she had in honour everywhere,  
Among the folk that dwell by Nile clad in linen weed.  
Of her in time came Epaphus begotten of the seed  
of mighty jove. This noble imp now jointly with his mother,  
Through all the Cities of that land have temples tone with toother.  
There was his match in heart and years the lusty Phaethon,  
A stalworth stripling strong and stout the golden Phoebus' son.  
Whom making proud and stately vaunts of his so noble race,  
And unto him in that respect in nothing giving place,  
The son of Io could not bear: but said unto him thus.  
No marvel though thou be so proud and full of words yw●s.  
For every fond and trifling tale the which thy mother makes  
Thy giddy wit and hairebrainde head forthwith for gospel takes.  
Well, vaunt thyself of Phoebus still, for when the truth is seen,  
Thou shalt perceive that father's name a forged thing to been.  
At this reproach did Phaethon wax as red as any fire:  
Howbeit for the present time did shame repress his ire.  
Unto his mother Clymen strait he goeth to detect  
The spiteful words that Epaphus against him did object.  
Yea mother (quoth he) and which ought your greater grief to be,  
I who at other times of talk was wont to be so free  
And stout, had near a word to say, I was ashamed to take  
So fowl a foil: the more because I could none answer make.  
But if I be of heavenly race exacted as ye say,  
Then show some token of that high and noble birth I pray.  
And vouch me for to be of heaven. With that he gently cast  
His arms about his mother's neck, and clasping her full fast,  
Besought her as she loud his life, and as she loud the life  
Of Merops, and had kept herself as undefiled wife,  
And as she wished wealthily his sisters to bestow,  
She would some token give whereby his rightful Sire to know  
It is a doubtful matter whither Clymen moved more  
With this her Phaëtons earnest suit exacting it so sore,  
Or with the slander of the brute laid to her charge before,  
Did hold up both her hands to heaven, and looking on the Sun,  
My right dear child I safely swear (quoth she to Phaethon)  
That of this star the which so bright doth glister in thine ey●:  
Of this same Sun that cheers the world with light indifferently  
Wert thou begot: and if I fain, then with my heart I pray,  
That never may I see him more unto my dying day.  
But if thou have so great desire thy father for to know,  
Thou shalt not need in that behalf much labour to bestow.  
The place from whence he doth arise adjoineth to our land.  
And if thou think thy heart will serve, then go and understand  
The truth of him. When Phaethon heard his mother saying so,  
He 'gan to leap and skip for joy. He fed his fancy tho,  
Upon the Heaven and heavenly things: and so with willing mind,  
From A●thiop first his native home, and afterward through Ind  
Set underneath the morning star he went so long, till as  
He found me where his father's house and daily rising was.  
Finis primi Libri.   

THE second BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
THe Princely Palace of the Sun stood gorgeous to behold  
On stately Pillars builded high of yellow burnished gold,  
Beset with sparkling Carbuncles that like to fire did shine.  
The roof was framed curiously of Ivory pure and fine.  
The two door leaves of silver clear a radiant light did cast:  
But yet the cunning workmanship of things therein far past  
The stuff whereof the doors were made. For there a perfect plat,  
Had Vulcan drawn of all the world: Both of the surges that  
Embrace the earth with winding waves, and of the steadfast ground,  
And of the heaven itself also that both encloseth round.  
And first and formest in the Sea the Gods thereof did stand  
Loud sounding Tryton with his shirle & writhe Trump in hand:  
Unstable Protew changing aye his figure and his hue,  
From shape to shape a thousand scythes as list him to renew:  
Aëgeon leaning boisterously on backs of mighty Whales  
And Doris with her daughters all: of which some cut the wales  
With splaied arms, some sat on rocks and dried their goodly hair,  
And some did ride upon the backs of fishes here and there.  
Not one in all points fully like an other could ye see,  
Nor verse far unlike, but such as sisters ought to be.  
The Earth had towns, men, beasts & Woods with sundry trees & rods,  
And running Rivers with their Nymphs and other country Gods.  
Directly over all these same the plat of heaven was pight,  
Upon the two door leaves, the signs of all the Zodiac bright,  
Indifferently six on the left and six upon the right.  
When Clymen's son had climbed up at length with weary pace,  
And set his foot within his doubted fathers dwelling place,  
Immediately he pressed forth to put himself in sight,  
And stood aloof. For near at hand he could not bide the light.  
In purple rob and royal Throne of Emeralds fresh and green  
Did Phoebus sit, and on each hand stood waiting well beséene,  
Days, Months, years, ages, seasons, times, & eke the equal hours.  
There stood the spring-time with a crown of fresh and fragrant flowers.  
There waited Summer naked stark all save a wheaten Hat:  
And Autumn smerde with treading grapes late at the pressing Fat.  
And las●●y quaking for the cold, stood Winter all forlorn,  
With rugged head as white as Dove, and garments all to torn.  
Forladen with the Isycles that dangled up and down  
Upon his grey and hoary beard and snowy frozen crown.  
The Sun thus sitting in the mids did cast his piercing eye,  
(With which full lightly when he list he all things doth espy)  
Upon his child that stood aloof aghast and trembling sore  
At sight of such unwonted things, and thus bespoke him thore.  
O noble imp, O Phaethon which art not such (I see)  
Of whom thy father should have cause ashamed for to be:  
Why hast thou traveled to my court? what is thy will with me?  
Then answered he, of all the world O only perfect light,  
O Father Phoebus, (if I may usurp that name of right,  
And that my mother for to save herself from worldly shame,  
Hide not her fault with false pretence and colour of thy name)  
Some sign apparent grant whereby I my be known thy Son,  
And let me hang no more in doubt. He had no sooner done,  
But that his father putting off the bright and fiery beams  
That glistered round about his head like clear and golden streams,  
Commanded him to draw him near, and him embracing said:  
To take me for thy rightful Sire thou need not be afraid.  
Thy mother Clymen of a truth from falsehood standeth free.  
And for to put thee out of doubt ask what thou wilt of me,  
And I will give thee thy desire, the Lake whereby of old  
We Gods do swear (the which mine eyes did never yet behold)  
Bear witness with thee of my grant: he scarce this tale had told,  
But that the foolish Phaethon strait for a day did crave  
The guiding of his winged steeds, and Chariot for to have.  
Then did his Father by and by forethink him of his oath.  
And shaking twenty times his head, as one that was full wrath,  
Béespake him thus: thy words have made me rashly to consent  
To that which shortly both of us (I fear me) shall repent.  
Oh that I might retract my grant, my son I do protest  
I would deny thee nothing else save this thy fond request.  
I may dissuade, there lies herein more peril than thou ween:  
The things the which thou dost desire of great importance been:  
More than thy weakness well can wield, a charge (as well appears)  
Of greater weight, than may agree with these thy tender years.  
Thy state is mortal, weak and frail, the thing thou dost desire  
Is such, whereto no mortal man is able to aspire.  
Yea foolish boy thou dost desire (and all for want of wit)  
A greater charge than any God could ever have as yet.  
For were there any of them all so overseen and blind.  
To take upon him this my charge, full quickly should he find  
That none but I could sit upon the fiery Axeltrée.  
No not even he that rules this waist and endless space we see  
Not he that darts with dreadful hand the thunder from the Sky,  
Shall drive this char. And yet what thing in all the world perdie  
Is able to compare with jove? Now first the morning way  
Lies steep upright, so that the steeds in coolest of the day  
And being fresh have much a do to climb against the Hill.  
amids the heaven the ghastly height augmenteth terror still.  
My heart doth wax as cold ice full many a time and oft  
For fear to see the Sea and land from that same place aloft.  
The Evening way doth fall plump down requiring strength to guide  
That Tethis who doth harbrowgh me within her surges wide  
Doth stand in fear lest from the heaven I headlong down should slide  
Besides all this the Heaven aye swims and wheels about full swift  
And with his rolling drives the stars their proper course to shift.  
Yet do I keep my native course against this brunt so stout,  
Not giving place as others do: but boldly bearing out  
The force and swiftness of that heaven that whyrleth so about.  
Admit thou had my winged steeds and Chariot in thine hand:  
What couldst thou do? dost think thyself well able to withstand  
The swiftness of the whyrled Pools? but that their brunt and sway  
(Yea do the best and worst thou can) shall bear thee quite away?  
Perchance thou dost imaginee there some towns of Gods to ●inde,  
With groves and Temples riched with gifts as is among mankind.  
Thou art deceived utterly: thou shalt not find it so.  
By blind bywayes and ugly shapes of monsters must thou go.  
And though thou knew the way so well as that thou could not stray,  
Between the dreadful bulls sharp horns yet must thou make thy way.  
Against the cruel Bow the which the Aemonian archer draws:  
Against the ramping Lion armed with greedy teeth and paws:  
Against the Scorpion stretching far his fell and venymd claws:  
And eke the Crab that casteth forth his crooked clées awry  
Not in such sort as th'other doth, and yet as dreadfully.  
Again thou neither hast the power nor yet the skill I know  
My lusty coursers for to guide that from their nostrils throw  
And from their mouths the fiery breath that breedeth in their breast.  
For scarcely will they suffer me who knows their nature best  
When that their cruel courages begin to catch a heat.  
That hardly should I deal with them, but that I know the ●eate.  
But lest my gift should to thy grief and utter peril tend  
My Son beware and (while thou mayst) thy fond request amend.  
Because thou would be known to be my child thou seemst to crave  
A certain sign: what surer sign I pray thee canst thou have?  
Than this my fear so fatherly the which I have of thee?  
Which proveth me most certainly thy father for to be?  
Behold and mark my countenance? O would to God thy sight  
Could pierce within my woeful breast, to see the heavy plight,  
And heaps of cares within my heart. Look through the world so round  
Of all the wealth and goods therein: if aught there may be found  
In Heaven or Earth or in the Sea, ask what thou likest best,  
And sure it shall not be denied. This only one request  
That thou hast made I heartily beseech thee to relent,  
Which for to term the thing aright is even a punishment,  
And not an honour as thou thinkest: my Phaethon thou dost crave  
In stead of honour even a scourge and punishment for to have.  
Thou fondling thou, what dost thou mean with fawning arms about  
My neck thus flattringly to hang? Thou needest not to doubt.  
I have already sworn by Styx, ask what thou wilt of me  
And thou shalt have. Yet let thy next wish somewhat wiser be.  
Thus ended his advertisement: and yet the wilful Lad  
Withstood his counsel urging still the promiss that he had,  
Desiring for to have the char as if he had been mad▪  
His father having made delay as long as he could shift,  
Did lead him where his Chariot stood, which was of Vulcan's gift.  
The Axeltrée was massy gold, the Buck was massy gold,  
The utmost fellies of the wheels, and where the tree was rolled.  
The spokes were all of silver bright, the Chrysolites and Gems  
That stood upon the Collars, Trace, and hounces in their hems  
Did cast a sheer and glimmering light, as Phoebus shone thereon.  
Now while the lusty Phaethon stood gazing here upon,  
And wondered at the workmanship of every thing: behold  
The early morning in the East began me to unfold  
Her purple Gates, and showed her house bedecked with Roses red.  
The twinkling stars withdrew which by the morning star are led:  
Who as the Captain of that Host that hath no peer nor match,  
Doth leave his standing last of all within that heavenly watch.  
Now when his Father saw the world thus glister red and trim,  
And that his waning sisters horns began to waxed dim,  
He had the fetherfooted hours go harness in his horse.  
The Goddesses with might and main themselves thereto enforce.  
His fierifoming steeds full fed with juice of Ambrosia  
They take from Manger trimly dight: and to their heads do tie  
Strong rained ●its: and to the Chariot do them well appoint.  
Then Phoebus did with heavenly salve his Phaëtons' head anoint,  
That scorching fire could nothing hurt: which done, upon his hair  
He put the fresh and golden rays himself was wont to wear.  
And then as one whose heart misgave the sorrows drawing fast,  
With sorry sighs he thus bespoke his reckless son at last.  
(And if thou canst) at least yet this thy father's lore obey:  
Son, spare the whip, & rain them hard, they run so swift away  
As that thou shalt have much a do their fleeing course to stay  
Directly through the Zones all ●iue beware thou do not ride,  
A broad byway cut out a skew that bendeth on the side,  
Contained within the bonds of three the midmost Zones doth lie:  
Which from the grisly Northern bear, & Southrens Pole doth fly.  
Keep on this way: my Chariot rakes thou plainly shalt espy  
And to th'intent that heaven and earth may well the heat endure,  
drive neither over high nor yet too low. For be thou sure,  
And if thou mount above thy bounds, the stars thou burnest clean.  
Again beneath thou burnest the Earth: most safety is the mean.  
And lest perchance thou overmuch the right hand way should take,  
And so misfortune should thee drive upon the writhe Snake,  
Or else by taking overmuch upon the lefter hand.  
Unto the Altar thou be driven that doth against it stand:  
Indifferently between them both I wish thee for to ride.  
The rest I put to fortunes will, who be thy friendly guide,  
And better for th●e than thyself as in this case provide.  
Whiles that I prattle here with thee, behold the dankish night  
Beyond all Spain her utmost bound is passed out of sight.  
We may no longer tarriance make: my wont light is called,  
The Morning with her countenance clear the darkness hath paid▪  
Take rain in hand, or if thy mind by counsel altered be,  
Refuse to meddle with my Wain: and while thou yet art free,  
And dost at ease within my house in safeguard well remain,  
Of this thine unadvised wish not feeling yet the pain,  
Let me alone with giving still the world his wont light,  
And thou thereof as heretofore enjoy the harmless sight.  
Thus much in vain: for Phaeton both young in years and wit,  
Into the Chariot lightly leapt, and vauncing him in it.  
Was not a little proud that he the bridle gotten had.  
He thanked his father whom it grieved to see his child so mad.  
While Phoebus and his reckless son were entertalking this,  
Aeöus, Aethon, Phlegon, and the fiery Pyrois  
The restless horses of the Sun began to neigh so high  
With flaming breath, that all the heaven might hear them perfectly.  
And with their hooves they mainly beat upon the lattisde grate.  
The which when Tethis (knowing nought of this her cousin's fate)  
Had put aside, and given the steeds the free and open scope  
Of all the compass of the Sky within the heavenly Cope:  
They girded forth, and cutting through the Clouds that let their race.  
With splayed wings they ouerfl●w the Eastern wind a pace.  
The burden was so light as that the Genets felt it not.  
The wont weight was from the Wain, the which they well did wots.  
For like as ships amids the Seas that scant of ballast have,  
Do reel and totter with the wind, and yield to every wave:  
Even so the Wain for want of weight it erst was wont to bear,  
Did hoist aloft and scayle and reel, as though it empty were.  
Which when the Cartware did perceive, they left the beaten way  
And taking bridle in the teeth began to run astray.  
The rider was so sore aghast, he knew no use of rain,  
Nor yet his way: and though he had, yet had it been in vain,  
Because he wanted power to rule the horses and the Wain.  
Then first did sweat cold Charles his Wain through force of Phoebus' rays  
And in the Sea forbidden him to dive in vain assays.  
The Serpent at the frozen Pole both cold and slow by kind,  
Through heat waxed wroth, and stirred about a cooler place to find.  
And thou Boots though thou be but slow of footemanship,  
Yet wert thou feign (as Fame reports) about thy Wain to skip.  
Now when unhappy Phaeton from top of all the Sky  
Beheld the Earth that underneath a great way off did lie.  
He waxed pale for sudden fear, his joints and sinews quooke,  
The greatness of the glistering light his eyesight from him took.  
Now wished he that he never had his father's horses see  
It yrkt him that he thus had sought to learn his piedegre.  
It grieved him that he had prevailed in gaining his request.  
To have been counted Merops' son he thought it now the best.  
Thus thinking was he headlong driven, as when a ship is borne  
by blustering winds, her saileclothes rend, her stern in pieces torn,  
And tacling burst, the which the Pilot trusting all to prayer  
Abandons wholly to the Sea and fortune of the air.  
What should he do? much of the heaven he passed had behind  
And more he saw before: both which he measured in his mind,  
Eft looking forward to the West which to approach as then  
Might not betide, and to the East eft looking back again.  
He witted not what was best to do, his wits were ravished so.  
For neither could he hold the reins, nor yet durst let them go.  
And of his horses names was none that he remembered tho.  
Strange uncouth Monsters did he see dispersed here and there  
And dreadful shapes of ugly beasts that in the Welkin were.  
There is a certain place in which the hideous Scorpion throws  
His arms in compass far abroad, much like a couple of bows,  
With writhe tail and clasping cles, whose poison limbs do stretch  
On every side, that of two signs they full the room do reach,  
Whom when the Lad beheld all moist with black and loathly sweat,  
With sharp and nedlepointed sting as though he seemed to threat,  
He was so sore astraught for fear, he let the bridles slack.  
Which when the horses felt lie lose upon their sweeting back,  
At rovers strait throughout the Air by ways unknown they ran  
Whereas they never came before since that the world began.  
For look what way their lawless rage by chance and fortune drew.  
Without controlment or restraint that way they freely ●lue  
Among the stars that fixed are within the firmament  
They snatched the Chariot here and there. One while they coursing went  
Upon the top of all the sky: anon again full round  
They troll me down to lower ways and nearer to the ground.  
So that the Moon was in a Maze to see her brother's Wain  
Run under hers: the singed clouds began to smoke amain.  
Each ground the higher that it was and nearer to the Sky.  
The sooner was it set on fire, and made therewith so dry.  
That every where it 'gan to chink. The Medes and Pastures green▪  
Did sear away: and with the leaves, the trees were burned clean.  
The parched corn did yield wherewith to work his own decay.  
Tush these are trifles. Mighty towns did perish that same day.  
Whose countries with their folk were burnt: and forests full of woo●  
Were turned to ashes with the ●ocks & mountains where they stood.  
Then A'the, Cilician, Taure and Tm●le and Oeta flamed high,  
And Ide erst full of flowing springs was then made utter dry.  
The learned virgins daily haunt, the sacred Helicon  
And Thracian Hemus (not as yet surnamed Oeagrion,)  
Did smoke both twain: and Aetna hot of nature aye before,  
Increased by force of Phoebus' flame now raged ten times more.  
The forked Parnasus, Eryx, Cynth, and Othrys then did swelled  
And all the snow of Rhodope did at that present melt.  
The like outrage Mount Dindymus, and Mime and Micale felt.  
Cithaeron borne to sacred use with Osse, and Pindus' high  
And Olymp greater than them both did burn excessively.  
The passing cold that Scithie had defended not the same  
But that the barren Caucasus was partner of this flame.  
And so were eke the Airy Alpes and Appennyne beside,  
For all the Clouds continually their snowy tops do hide.  
Then wheresoever Phaeton did chance to cast his view,  
The world was all on staining fire. The breath the which he drew,  
Came smooking from his scalding mouth as from a séething pot.  
His Chariot also under him began to wax red hot.  
He could no longer dure th● sparks and cinder flying out,  
Again the culm and smouldering smoke did wrap him round about.  
The pitchy darkness of the which so wholly had him he●t  
As that he witted not where he was nor yet which way he went.  
The winged horses forcibly did draw him where they would.  
The Aethiopians at that time (as men for truth uphold)  
(The blood by force of that same heat drawn to the outer part  
And there adust from that time forth) became so black and swart.  
The moisture was so dried up in Lybie land that time  
That altogether dry and scorched continueth yet that Clime.  
The nymphs with hair about their ears bewailed their springs & lakes  
Beötia for her Dy●ces loss great lamentation makes.  
For Amimone Argos wept, and Corinth for the spring  
Pyrene, at whose sacred stream the Muses used to sing.  
The Rivers further from the place were not in better case.  
For Tanais in his deepest stream did boil and esteem apace.  
Old Penew and Cay●us of the country Teuthranie,  
And swift Ismenos in their banks by like misfortune frie.  
Then burnt the Psophian Erymanth: and (which should burn again)  
The Trojan Xanthus and Lycormas with his yellow vein.  
Meander playing in his banks aye winding to and fro.  
Migdonian Melas with his waves as black as any slow.  
Eurotas running by the foot of Tenare boiled tho.  
Then sod Euphrates cutting through the mids of Babylon  
Then sod Orontes, and the Scythian swift Thermodoon.  
Then Ganges, Colchian Phasis, and the noble Istre  
Alpheus and Sperchins banks with flaming fire did glistre.  
The gold that Tagus' stream did bear did in the channel melt.  
Amid Cayster of this fire the raging heat was felt.  
Among the quieres of singing Swans that with their pleasant lay  
Along the banks of Lydian brakes from place to place did stray.  
And Nile for fear did run away into the furthest Clime  
Of all the world, and hid his head, which to this present time  
Is yet unfound: his mouths all seven clean void of water been.  
Like seven great valleys where (save dust) could nothing else be seen.  
By like misfortune Hebrus dried and Strymon both of Thrace.  
The Western Rivers Rhine and Rhone and Po were in like●case:  
And Tiber unto whom the Gods a faithful promise gave  
Of all the world the Monarchy and sovereign state to have.  
The ground did cranny everywhere and light did pierce to hell  
And made afraid the King and Queen that in that Realm do dwell.  
The Sea did shrink and where as waves did late before remain,  
Became a Champion field of dust and even a sandy plain.  
The hills erst hid far under waves like Ilelandes did appear  
So that the scattered Cyclades for the time augmented were.  
The fishes drew them to the deeps: the Dolphines durst not play  
Above the water as before, the Seals and Porkpis lay  
With bellies upward on the waves stark dead▪ and fame doth go  
That Nereus with his wife and daughters all were feign as tho  
To dine within the scalding waves. Thrice Neptune did advance  
His arms above the scalding Sea with sturdy countenance:  
And thrice for hotness of the Air, was feign himself to hide.  
But yet the Earth the Nurse of things enclosed on every side  
(Between the waters of the Sea and Springs that now had hidden  
Themselves within their Mother's womb) for all the pain abidden,  
Up to the neck put forth her head and casting up her hand,  
Between her forehead and the sun as panting she did stand  
With dreadful quaking all that was, she fearfully did shake,  
And shrinking somewhat lower down with sacred voice thus spoke.  
O King of Gods and if this be thy will and my desert,  
Why dost thou stay with deadly dint thy thunder down to dart?  
And if that needs I perish must through force of fiery flame,  
Let thy celestial fire O God I pray thee do the same.  
A comfort shall it be to have thee Author of my death.  
I scarce have power to speak these words (the smoke had stopped her breath)  
Behold my singed hair: behold my dim and bleared eye,  
See how about my scorched face the scalding embers fly.  
Is this the guerdon wherewithal ye quite my fruitfulness?  
Is this the honour that ye gave me for my plenteousness  
And duty done with true intent? for suffering of the plough  
To draw deep wounds upon my back and rakes to rend me through?  
For that I over all the year continually am wrought?  
For giving fodder to the beasts and cattle all for nought?  
For yielding corn and other food wherewith to keep mankind?  
And that to honour you withal sweet frankincense I find?  
But put the case that my desert destruction duly crave,  
What hath thy brother: what the Seas deserved for to have?  
Why do the Seas his lotted part thus ebb and fall so low,  
Withdrawing from thy Sky to which it ought most near to grow?  
But if thou neither dost regard thy brother, neither me,  
At least have mercy on thy heaven, look round about and see  
How both the Poles begin to smoke which if the fire appall  
To utter ruin (be thou sure) thy palace needs must fall.  
Behold how Atlas gins to faint▪ his shoulders though ●ull strong,  
Unneth are able to uphold the sparkling Extrée long.  
If Sea and Land do go to wreck, and heaven itself do burn  
To old confused Chaos then of force we must return.  
Put to thy helping hand therefore to save the little left  
If ought remain before that all be quite and clean bereft.  
When ended was this piteous plaint, the Earth did hold her peace  
She could no longer dure the heat but was comp●lde to cease.  
Into her bosom by and by she shrunk her cinged head  
More nearer to the Stygnan caves, and ghosts of persons dead.  
The Sire of Heaven protesting all the Gods and him also  
That lent the Chariot to his child, that all of for●e must go  
To havoc if he helped not, went to the highest part  
And top of all the Heaven from whence his custom was to dart,  
His thunder and his lightning down. But neither did remain  
A Cloud wherewith to shade the Earth, nor yet a shower of rain.  
Then with a dreadful thunderclap up to his ear he bent  
His fist, and at the Wagoner a flash of lightning sent,  
Which struck his body from the life and threw it over wheel  
And so with fire he quenched fire. The steeds did also reel  
Upon their knees, and starting up sprang violently, one here,  
And there another, that they braced in pieces all their gear.  
They threw the C●llars from their necks, and breaking quite a sunder  
The Trace and Harness flung away: here lay the bridles: yonder  
The Extrée plucked from the Naves: and in another place  
The shivered spokes of broken wheels: and so at every pace  
The pieces of the Chariot torn lay strewed here and there  
But Phaeton (fire yet blazing still among his yellow hair)  
Shot headlong down, and glid along the Region of the Air  
Like to star in Winter nights (the wether clear and fair)  
Which though it do not fall in deed, yet falleth to our sight.  
Whom almost in another world and from his country quite  
The River Padus did receive, and quenched his burning head.  
The water Nymphs of Italy did take his carcase dead  
And buried it yet smoking still, with Jove's thréeforked flame.  
And wrote this Epitaph in the stone that lay upon the same.  
Here lies the lusty Phaeton which took in hand to guide  
His father's Chariot, from the which although he chanced to slide:  
Yet that he gave a proud attempt it cannot be denied.  
With ruthful cheer and heavy heart his father made great mo●e.  
And would not show himself abroad, but mourned at home alone.  
And if it be to be believed, as bruited is by fame.  
A day did pass without the Sun. The brightness of the flame  
Gave light: and so unto some kind of use that mischief came.  
But Clymen having spoke, as much as mothers usually,  
Are wonted in such wretched case, discomfortablely,  
And half beside herself for woe, with torn and scratched breast,  
Searched through the universal world, from East to furthest West,  
First seeking for her sons dead coarse, and after for his bones.  
She found them by a foreign stream, entumbled under stones.  
There fell she groveling on his grave, and reading there his name,  
Shed tears thereon, and laid her breast all bare upon the same.  
The daughters also of the Sun no less than did their mother,  
Bewailed in vain with floods of tears, the fortune of their brother:  
And beating piteously their breasts, incessantly did call  
The buried Phaeton day and night, who heard them not at all,  
About whose tomb they prostrate lay. Four times the Moon had filled  
The Circle of her joined horns, and yet the sister's hold  
Their custom of lamenting still: (for now continual use  
had made it custom.) Of the which the eldest Phaetuse  
About to kneel upon the ground, complained her feet were nom.  
To whom as fair Lampetie was rising for to come,  
Her feet were held with sudden roots. The third about to tear  
Her ruffled locks, filled both her hands with leaves in stead of hear.  
One wept to see her legs made wood: another did repine  
To see her arms become long boughs. And shortly to define,  
While thus they wondered at themselves, a tender bark began  
To grow about their thighs and loins, which shortly overran  
Their bellies, breasts, and shoulders eke, and hands successively,  
That nothing (save their mouths) remained, aye calling piteously  
Upon the woeful mother's help. What could the mother do?  
But run now here now there, as force of nature drew her to?  
And deal her kisses while she might? she was not so content:  
But tore their tender branches down: and from the slivers went  
Red drops of blood as from a wound. The daughter that was rend  
Cried spare us mother spare I pray, for in the shape of tree  
The bodies and the flesh of us your daughters wounded be.  
And now farewell. That word once said, the bark grew over all.  
Now from these trees flow gummy tears that Amber men do call.  
Which hardened with the heat of sun as from the boughs they fall.  
The trickling River doth receive, and sends as things of price  
To deck the dainty Dames of Rome and make them fine and nice.  
Now present at this monstrous ●hap was Cygnus S●e●cls son  
Who being by the mother's side a kin to Phaeton  
Was in condition more a kin. He leaving up his charge.  
(For in the land of Ligurie his Kingdom stretched large)  
Went mourning all alone the banks and pleasant stream of Po  
Among the trees increased by the sister's late age.  
Anon his voice became more small and shrill than for a man.  
Gray feathers muffled in his face: his neck in length began  
Far from his shoulders for to stretch: and furthermore there goes  
A fine red string a cross the joints in knitting of his toes:  
With feathers closed are his sides: and on his mouth there grew  
A broad blunt bill: and finally was Cygnus made a new  
and uncouth fowl that hight a Swan, who neither to the wind,  
The Air, nor jove betakes himself, as one that bore in mind  
The wrongful fire sent late against his cousin Phaeton.  
In Lakes and Rivers is his joy: the fire he aye doth shone.  
And chooseth him the contrary continually to won.  
Forlorn and altogether void of that same body sheen  
Was Phaeton's father in that while which erst had in him bene,  
Like as he looketh in The●lypse. He hates the irksome light,  
He hates himself, he hates the day, and sets his whole delight  
In making sorrow for his son, and in his grief doth storm  
And chaufe denying to the world his duty to perform.  
My lot (quoth he) hath had enough of this unquiet state  
From first beginning of the world. It irks me (though too late)  
Of restless toils and thankless pains. Let who so will for me  
Go drive the Chariot in the which the light should carried be.  
If none dare take the charge in hand, and all the Gods persist  
As insufficient, he himself go drive it if he list.  
That at the least by venturing our bridles for to guide  
His lightning making childless Sires he once may lay aside.  
By that time that he hath assayed the unappalled force  
That doth remain and rest within my f●riefooted horse,  
I trow he shall by tried proof be able for to tell  
How that he did not merit death that could not rule them well.  
The Gods stood all about the Sun thus storming in his rage  
Beseeching him in humble wise his sorrow to assuage.  
And that he would not on the world continual darkness bring,  
jove eke excused him of the fire the which he chanced to sting.  
And with entreatance mingled threats as did become a King.  
Then Phoebus gathered up his steeds that yet for fear did run  
Like flaighted fiends, and in his mood without respect begun  
To beat his whipstock on their pa●es and lash them on the sides.  
It was no need to bid him chaufe▪ for ever as he rides  
He still upbraids them with his son, and lays them on the hides.  
And jove almighty went about the walls of heaven to try,  
If aught were perished with the fire, which when he did espy  
Continuing in their former state, all strong and safe and sound,  
He went to view the works of men, and things upon the ground.  
Yet for his land of Arcady he took most care and charge.  
The Springs and streams that durst not run he set again at large.  
H● clad the earth with grass, the trees with leaves both fresh and green  
Commanding woods to spring again that erst had burned been.  
Now as he often went and came it was his chance to light  
Upon a Nymph of Nonacris whose form and beauty bright  
Did set his heart on flaming fire. She used not to spin  
Nor yet to curl her frisked hair with bodkin or with pin.  
A garment with a buckled belt fast girded did she wear  
And in a white and slender Call slight trussed was her hear.  
Sometime a dart sometime a bow she used for to bear.  
She was a knight of Phebe's troup. There came not at the mount  
Of Menalus of whom Diana made so great account.  
But favour never lasteth long. The Sun had gone that day  
A good way past the point of Noon: when weary of her way  
She drew to shadow in a wood that never had been cut.  
Here off her shoulder by and by her quiver did she put.  
And hung her how unbent aside, and couched her on the ground  
Her quiver underneath her head▪ whom when that jove had found  
Alone and weary sure (he said) my wife shall never know  
Of this escape, and if she do, I know the worst I trow.  
She can but chide, shall fear of chiding make me to foreslow?  
He counterfeiteth Phebe straight in countenance and array.  
And says O virgin of my troup, where didst thou hunt to day?  
The Damsel started from the ground and said hail Goddess dear,  
Of greater worth than jove (I think) though jove himself did hear.  
jove heard her well and smiled thereat, it made his heart rejoice  
To hear the Nymph prefer him thus before himself in choice.  
He fell to kissing: which was such as out of square might seem,  
And in such sort as that a maid could nothing less beseem.  
And as she would have told what woods she ranged had for game,  
He took her fast between his arms, and not without his shame,  
Bewrayed plainly what he was and wherefore that he came  
The wench against him strove as much as any woman could  
I would that juno had it seen. for than I know thou would  
not take the deed so heinously: with all her might she strove.  
But what poor wench or who alive could vanquish mighty jove?  
jove having sped slew strait to heaven. She hateth in her heart  
The guiltless fields and wood where jove had played that naughty part,  
Away she goes in such a grief as that she had wellnigh,  
Forgot her quiver with her shafts and bow that hanged by,  
Dictynna guarded with her train and proud of killing Dear,  
In ranging over Menalus espying called her near.  
The Damsel hearing Phebe call did run away amain,  
She feared least in Phebe's shape that jove had come again,  
But when she saw the troup of Nymphs that guarded her about,  
She thought there was no more deceit, and came among the rout.  
Oh Lord how hard a matter is't for guilty hearts to shift?  
And keep their countenance? from the ground her eyes scarce durst she lift.  
She pranks not by her mistress side, she presses not to be  
The foremost of the company, as when she erst was free.  
She standeth muët: and by changing of her colour ay.  
The treading of her shoe awry she plainly doth bewray,  
Diana might have found the fault but that she was a May.  
A thousand tokens did appear apparent to the eye,  
By which the Nymphs themselves (they say) her fault did well espy.  
Nine times the Moon full to the world had showed her horned face  
When fainting through her brother's flames and hunting in the chase,  
She found a cool and shady lawnde through midst whereof she spied  
A shallow brook with trickling stream on gravel bottom glide.  
And liking well the pleasant place, upon the upper brim  
She dipped her foot, and finding there the water cool and trim,  
Away (she said) with standers by: and let us bathe us here.  
Then Parrhasis cast down her head with sad and bashful cheer.  
The rest did strip them to their skins▪ she only sought delay,  
Until that would or would she not her clothes were plucked away.  
Then with her naked body strait her crime was brought to light.  
Which ill ashamed as with her hands she would have hid from sight,  
Fie beast (quoth Cynthia) get thee hence thou shalt not here defile  
This sacred Spring, and from her train she did her quite exile.  
The Matron of the thundering jove had inkling of the fact,  
Delaying till convenient time the punishment to exact.  
There is no cause of further stay. To spite her heart withal,  
Her husband's Leman bore a boy that Arcas men did call.  
On whom she casting lowering look with fell and cruel mind  
Said: was there, arrant strumpet thou, none other shift to find?  
But that thou needs must be with barn? that all the world must see  
My husbands open shame and thine in doing wrong to me?  
But neither unto heaven nor hell this trespass shalt thou bear.  
I will bereave thee of thy shape through pride whereof thou were  
So hardy to entice my fear. Immediately with that  
She reached her by the foretop fast and fiercely threw her flat  
Against the ground. The wretched wench her arms up meekly cast,  
Her arms began with griefly hair to wax all rugged fast.  
Her hands 'gan warp and into paws ylfavordly to grow.  
And for to serve in stead of feet. The lips that late ago  
Did like the mighty jove so well, with side and flaring   
Became a wide deformed mouth, and further lest perhaps  
Her prayers and her humble words might cause her to relent:  
She did bereave her of her speech. In stead whereof there went  
An ireful horse and dreadful voice out from a threatening throat:  
But yet the self same mind that was before she turned her cote,  
Was in her still in shape of Bear▪ the grief whereof she shows  
by thrusting forth continual sighs, and up she ghastly throws  
Such kind of hands as then remained unto the starry Sky.  
And forbecause she could not speak she thought jove inwardly  
To be unthankful. Oh how oft she daring not abide,  
Alone among the desert woods, full many a time and tide,  
Would stalk before her house in grounds that were her own erewhile?  
How oft oh did she in the hills the barking hounds beguile?  
And in the lawns where she herself had chased erst her game,  
Now fly herself to save her life when hunters sought the same?  
Full oft at sight of other beasts she hide her head for fear,  
Forgetting what she was herself▪ for though she were a Bear,  
Yet when she spied other Bears she quooke for very pain:  
And feared Wolves although her Sire among them did remain.  
Behold Lycaon's daughters son that Archas had to name  
About the age of fifteen years within the forest came  
Of Erymanth, not knowing ought of this his mother's case.  
There after pitching of his toils▪ as he the stags did chase,  
Upon his mother suddenly it was his chance to light,  
Who for desire to see her son did stay herself from flight.  
And wistly on him cast her look as one that did him know.  
But he not knowing what she was began his heels to show.  
And when he saw her still persist in staring on his face,  
He was afraid, and from her sight withdrew himself a pace,  
But when he could not so he rid▪ he took an armed pike,  
In full intent her through the heart with deadly wound to strike.  
But God almighty held his hand, and lifting both away  
Did disappoint the wicked Act. For strait he did convey  
Them through the Air with whirling winds to top of all the sky,  
And there did make them neighbour stars about the Pole on high.  
When juno shining in the heaven her husband's minion found,  
She swelled for spite: and down she comes to watery Tethys' round  
And unto old Oceanus, whom even the Gods aloft  
Did reverence for their just deserts full many a time and oft  
To whom demanding her the cause: And ask ye (quoth she) why  
That I which am the Queen of Gods come hither from the sky?  
Good cause there is I warrant you. Another holds my room.  
For never trust me while I live, if when the night is come,  
And overcasteth all the world with shady darkness whole,  
Ye see not in the height of heaven hard by the Northern Pole  
Whereas the utmost circle runs about the Axeltrée  
In shortest circuit, gloriously installed for to be  
In shape of stars the stinging wounds that make me ill apaid.  
Now is there (trow ye) any cause why folk should be afraid  
To do to juno what they list? or dread her wrathful mood?  
Which only by my working harm do turn my foes to good?  
O what a mighty act is done? how passing is my power?  
I have bereft her woman's shape, and at this present hour  
She is become a Goddess. Lo this is the scourge so sour  
Wherewith I strike mine enemies▪ Lo here is all the spite  
That I can do: this is the end of all my wondrous might.  
No force. I would he should (for me) her native shape restore,  
And take away her brutish shape, Like as he hath before  
Done by his Paramour that fine and proper piece  
Of Argos whom he made a Cow, I mean Phoronews' Niece.  
Why makes he not a full divorce from me? and in my stead  
Strait take his Sweetheart to his wife, and coll her in my bed?  
He can not do a better deed (I think) than for to take  
Lycaon to his fatherinlaw. But if that you do make  
Account of me your foster child, then grant that for my sake,  
The Oxen and the wicked Wain of stars in number seven,  
For whoredom sake but late ago received into heaven,  
May never dive within your waves. Ne let that strumpet vile  
By bathing of her filthy limbs your waters pure defile.  
The Gods did grant her her request: & strait to heaven she slew,  
In handsome Chariot through the Air. which painted peacocks drew  
As well beset with blazing eyes late ta'en from Argus' head,  
As thou thou prating Raven white by nature being bred,  
Hadst on thy feathers justly late a colly colour spread.  
For this same bird in ancient time had feathers fair and white  
As ever was the driven snow, or silver clear and bright.  
He might have well compared himself in beauty with the Doves  
That have no blemish, or the Swan that running water loves:  
Or with the Geese that afterward should with their gaggling out  
Preserve the Roman Capitol beset with foes about.  
His tongue was cause of all his harm, his tattling tongue did make  
His colour which before was white, became so foul and black.  
Coronis of Larissa was the fairest maid of face,  
In all the land of Thessaly. She stood in Phoebus' grace  
As long as that she kept her chaste, or at the least as long  
As that she scaped unespide in doing Phoebus' wrong.  
But at the last Apollo's bird her privy packing spied.  
Whom no entreatance could persuade but that he swiftly hide  
Him to his master, to bewray the doings of his love.  
Now as he slew, the prattling Crow her wings apace did move:  
And overtaking fell in talk and was inquisitive  
For what intent and to what place he did so swiftly drive.  
And when she heard the cause thereof, she said: now trust me sure,  
This message on the which thou ghost no goodness will procure.  
And therefore hearken what I say: disdain thou not at all,  
To take some warning by thy friend in things that may befall.  
Consider what I erst have been and what thou seest me now:  
And what hath been the ground hereof. I boldly dare a●ow,  
That thou shalt find my faithfulness imputed for a crime.  
For Pallas in a wicker chest had hid upon a time  
A child called Ericthonius, whom never woman bore,  
And took it unto Maidens three that Cecrops daughters were.  
Not telling them what was within, but gave them charge to keep  
The Casket shut, and for no cause within the same to peep.  
I standing close among the leaves upon an Elm on high,  
Did mark their doings and their words, and there I did espy  
How Pandrosos and hearse kept their promise faithfully.  
Aglauros calls them Cowards both, and makes no more a do,  
But takes the Casket in her hand and doth the knots undo.  
And there they saw a child whose parts beneath were like a Snake.  
Strait to the Goddess of this deed a just report I make.  
For which she gave me this reward that never might I more,  
Account her for my Lady and my Mistress as before.  
And in my room she put the fowl that flies not but by night.  
A warning unto other birds my luck should be of right  
To hold their tongues for being shent. But you will say perchance.  
I came unsentfor of myself, she did me not advance.  
I dare well say though Pallas now my heavy Mistress stand.  
Yet if perhaps ye should demand the question at her hand,  
As sore displeased as she is, she would not this deny:  
But that she chose me first herself to bear her company.  
For (well I know) my father was a Prince of noble fame,  
Of Phocis' King by long descent, Coronew was his name:  
(I was his darling and his joy, and many a wealthy Pier  
(I would not have you think disdain) did seek me for their Fere.  
My form and beauty did me hurt. For as I leisurely  
Went jetting up and down the shore upon the gravel dry.  
As yet I customably do the God that rules the Seas  
Espying me fell strait in love. And when he saw none ease  
In suit, but loss of words and time, he offered violence,  
And after me he runs apace. I scud as fast fro thence,  
From sand to shore from shore to sand, still playing Fox to hole,  
Until I was so tired that he had almost got the goal.  
Then called I out on God and man. But (as it did appear)  
There was no man so near at hand that could my crying hear.  
A Virgin Goddess pitied me because I was a maid:  
And at the utter plunge and pinch did send me present aid.  
I cast mine arms to heaven, mine arms waxed light with feathers black  
I went about to cast in haste my garments from my back,  
And all was feathers. In my skin the rooted feathers s●ack.  
I was about with violent hand to strike my naked breast,  
But nether had I hand nor breast that naked more did rest▪  
I ran. but of my feet as erst remained not the print.  
Me thought I glided on the ground. Anon with sudden dint,  
I rose and hovered in the Air. And from that instant time  
Did wait on Pallas faithfully without offence or crime.  
But what avails all this to me, and if that in my place  
The wicked wretch Nyctyminee (who late for lack of grace  
Was turned to an odious bird) to honour called be?  
I pray thee didst thou never hear how false Nyctyminee  
(A thing all over Lesbos known) defiled her father's couch?  
The beast is now become a bird. whose lewdness doth so touch  
And prick her guilty conscience, that she dares not come in sight,  
Nor show herself abroad a days. but fleeteth in the night  
For shame least folk should see her fault. and every other bird  
Doth in the Air and ivy toddes with wondering at her gird.  
A mischief take thy tattling tongue the Raven answered tho.  
Thy vain forspeaking moves me not. And so he forth did go  
And tells his Lord Apollo how he saw Coronis lie  
With Isthyis a Gentleman that dwelled in Thessaly.  
When Phoebus heard his lovers fault, he fiercely 'gan to frown,  
And cast his garland from his head, and threw his vial down.  
His colour changed, his face looked pale, and as the rage of ire  
That boiled in his belching breast had set his heart on fire,  
He caught me up his wont tools, and bend his golden bow,  
And by and by with deadly stripe of unavoided blow  
Strake through the breast the which his own had touched so oft afore.  
She wounded gave a piteous shriek, and (drawing from the sore  
The deadly Dart the which the blood pursuing after fast  
Upon her white and tender limbs a scarlet colour cast)  
Said Phoebus well, thou might have wreaked this trespass on my head  
And yet forborn me till the time I had been brought a bed.  
Now in one body by thy means a couple shall be dead.  
Thus much she said: and with the blood her life did fade away.  
The body being void of soul became as cold as clay.  
Than all too late, alas too late 'gan Phoebus to repent  
That of his lover he had ta'en so cruel punishment.  
He blames himself for giving ear so unadvisedly.  
He blames himself in that he took it so outrageously.  
He hates and bannes his faithful bird because he did inform  
Him of his lovers naughtiness that made him so to storm.  
He hates his bow, he hates his shaft that rashly from it went:  
And eke he hates his hasty hands by whom the bow was bend.  
He takes her up between his arms endeavouring all too late  
By plaster made of precious herbs to stay her helpless fate.  
But when he saw there was no shift: but that she needs must burn,  
And that the solemn sacred fire was priest to serve the turn,  
Then from the bottom of his heart full sorry sighs he fet,  
(For heavenly powers with watery tears their cheeks may never wet)  
In case as when a Cow beholds the cruel butcher stand  
With lancing Axe imbrued with blood and lifting up his hand  
Aloft to snatch her sucking Calf that hangeth by the heels  
And of the Axe the deadly dint upon his forehead feels.  
Howbeit after sweet perfumes bestowed upon her corpse  
And much embracing, having sore bewailed her wrong divorce,  
He followed to the place assigned her body for to burn.  
There could he not abide to see his seed to ashes turn.  
But took the baby from her womb and from the fiery flame,  
And unto double Chyrons' den conveyed strait the same.  
The Raven hoping for his truth to be rewarded well,  
He maketh black, forbidding him with whiter birds to dwell.  
The Centaur Chiron in the while was glad of Phoebus' boy,  
And as the burden brought some care the honour brought him joy.  
Upon a time with golden locks about her shoulders spread,  
A daughter of the Centaurs (whom a certain Nymph had bred  
About the brook Caycus banks) that hight Ocyroe  
Came thither. This same fair young Nymph could not contented be  
To learn the craft of Surgery as perfect as her Sire,  
But that to learn the secret dooms of Fate she must aspire.  
And therefore when the furious rage of frenzy had her caught,  
And that the sprite of Prophecy inflamed had her thought,  
She looked upon the child and said: sweet babe the Gods thee make  
A man. for all the world shall far the better for thy sake.  
All sores and sickness shalt thou cure: thy power shall eke be such,  
To make the dead alive again. For doing of the which  
Against the pleasure of the Gods, thy Grandsire shall thee strike  
So with his fire, that never more thou shalt perform the like.  
And of a God a bludlesse corpse, and of a corpse (full strange)  
Thou shalt become a God again, and twice thy nature change.  
And thou my father lief and dear, who now by destiny,  
Art borne to live for evermore and never for to die,  
Shalt suffer such outrageous pain throughout thy members all,  
By wounding of a venimde dart that on thy foot shall fall,  
That oft thou shalt desire to die, and in the latter end  
The fatal dames shall break thy thread and thy desire thee send.  
There was yet more behind to tell, when suddenly she fet  
A sore deep sigh, and down her cheeks the tears did trickle wet.  
Mine own misfortune (quoth she) now hath overtake me sure.  
I cannot utter any more, for words wax out of ure  
My cunning was not worth so much as that it should procure  
The wrath of God. I feel by proof far better had it been:  
If that the chance of things to come I never had foreseen.  
For now my native shape withdraws. Me thinks I have delight  
To feed on grass and fling in fields: I feel myself so light.  
I am transformed to a Mare like other of my kin.  
But wherefore should this brutish shape all over wholly win?  
Considering that although both horse and man my father be:  
Yet is his better part a man as plainly is to see.  
The latter end of this complaint was fumbled in such wise,  
As what she meant the standers by could scarcely well devise.  
Anon she neither seemed to speak nor fully for to neigh,  
But like to one that counterfeits in sport the Mare to play.  
Within a while she neyed plain, and down her arms were pight,  
Upon the ground all clad with hair, and bore her body tied.  
Her fingers joined all in one, at end whereof did grow  
In stead of nails a round tough hoof of welked horn bylow.  
Her head and neck shot forth in length, her kirtle train became  
A fair long tail. Her flaring hair was made a hanging Mane.  
And as her native shape and doyce most monstrously did pass,  
So by the uncouth name of Mare she after termed was.  
The Centaur Chiron wept hereat: and piteously dismayed  
Did call on thee (although in vain) thou Delphian God for aid.  
For neither lay it in thy hand to break Jove's mighty hest,  
And though it had, yet in thy state as then thou did not rest.  
In Elis did thou then abide and in Messene land.  
It was the time when under shape of shepehierde with a wand  
Of olive and a pipe of reeds thou kept Admetus' sheep.  
Now in this time that (save of Love) thou took none other keep,  
And mad'st thee merry with thy pipe, the glistering Maia's son  
By chance abroad the fields of Pyle spied certain cattle run  
Without a hierde, the which he stole and closely did them hide  
Among the woods. This pretty slight no earthly creature spied,  
Save one old churl that Battus hight. This Battus had the charge  
Of wealthy Neleus feeding grounds, and all his pastures large,  
And kept a race of goodly Mares. Of him he was afraid.  
And least by him his privy theft should chance to be bewrayed,  
He took a bribe to stop his mouth, and thus unto him said.  
My friend I pray thee if perchance that any man inquire  
This cattle say thou saw them not. And take thou for thy hire  
This fair young Bullock. T'other took the Bullock at his hand,  
And showing him a certain stone that lay upon the land  
Said, go thy way: assoon this stone thy doings shall bewray,  
As I shall do. So Mercury did seem to go his way.  
Anon he comes me back again, and altered both in speech  
And outward shape, said Countryman Ich heartily bezeche,  
And if thou zawest any Kie come roiling through this ground,  
Or driven away, tell what he was and where they may be vownde.  
And I chill gethée vor thy pain an Hecfar an her match.  
The Carl perceiving double gain, and greedy for to catch,  
Said: under yonsame hill they were, and under yonsame hill  
Chamzure they are, and with his hand he pointed thereuntill.  
At that Mercurius laughing said: false knave: and dost bewray  
Me to myself? dost thou bewray me to myself I say?  
And with that word straight to a stone he turned his double heart,  
In which the slander yet remains without the stones desert.  
The Bearer of the charmed Rod the subtle Mercury  
This done arose with waving wings and from that place did fly.  
And as he hovered in the Air he viewed the fields bylow  
Of Attic and the town itself with all the trees that grow  
In Lycey where the learned Clerks did wholesome precepts show.  
By chance the very self same day the virgins of the town  
Of old and ancient custom bare in baskets on their crown  
Beset with garlands fresh and gay and strewed with flowers sweet  
To Pallas tower such sacrifice as was of custom meet.  
The winged God beholding them returning in a troop  
Continued not directly forth, but 'gan me down to stoop.  
And fetch a wyndlasse round about. And as the hungry Kite  
Beholding unto sacrifice a Bullock ready dight,  
Doth sore about his wished prey desirous for to snatch  
But that he dareth not for such as stand about and watch:  
So Mercury with nimble wings doth keep a lower gate  
About Minerva's lofty towers in round and whéeling rate.  
As far as doth the Morning star in clear and streaming light  
Excel all other stars in heaven: as far also as bright  
Dame Phebe dims the Morning star, so far did Hearses face  
Stain all the Ladies of her troop: she was the very grace  
And beauty of that solemn pomp, and all that train so fair.  
Jove's son was ravished with the sight, and hanging in the air  
Began to swelled within himself, in case as when the powder  
Hath driven the Pellet from the Gun, the Pellet gins to smoulder  
And in his flying wax more hot. In smoking breast he shrouds  
His flames not brought from heaven above but caught beneath the clouds.  
He leaves his journey toward heaven and takes another race  
Not minding any longer time to hide his present case.  
So great a trust and confidence his beauty to him gave  
Which though it seemed of itself sufficient force to have.  
Yet was he curious for to make himself more fine and brave.  
He combed his head and stroked his beard, and pried on every side  
To see that in his furniture no wrinkle might be spied.  
And forbicause his Cloak was fringde and guarded broad with gold,  
He cast it on his shoulder up most seemly to behold.  
He takes in hand his charmed rod that bringeth things asleep  
And wakes them when he list again. And lastly taketh keep  
That on his fair well-formed feet his golden shoes sit clean,  
And that all other things thereto well correspondent been.  
In Cecrops Court were Chambers three set far from all resort  
With ivory beds all furnished in far most royal sort.  
Of which Aglauros had the left and Pandrose had the right,  
And Hearse had the middlemost. She that Aglauros hight  
First marked the coming of the God, and ask him his name  
Demanded him for what intent and cause he thither came.  
Pleiones' Nephew Maia's son did make her answer thus.  
I am my father's messenger his pleasure to discuss  
To mortal folk and hellish fiends as list him to command.  
My father is the mighty jove. To that thou dost demand  
I will not feign a false excuse. I ask no more but grant  
To keep thy sister's counsel close, and for to be the Aunt  
Of such the issue as on her my chance shallbe to get.  
Thy sister Hearse is the cause that hath me hither fet.  
I pray thee bear thou with my love that is so firmly set.  
Aglauros' cast on Mercury her scornful eyes aside,  
With which against Minerva's will her secrets late she spied,  
Demanding him in recompense a mighty mass of Gold:  
And would not let him enter in until the same were told.  
The warlike Goddess cast on her a stern and cruel look,  
And fetched such a cutting sigh that forcibly it shook  
Both breast and breastplate, wherewithal it came unto her thought  
How that Aglauros' late ago against her will had wrought  
In looking on the Leman child contrary to her oath,  
The which she took her in the chest. for which she waxed wroth.  
Again she saw her cankered heart maliciously repine  
Against her sister and the God. And furthermore in fine  
How that the gold which Mercury had given her for her meed,  
Would make her both in wealth and pride all others to exceed.  
She goes me strait to envies house, a foul and irksome cave  
Replete with black and loathly filth and stinking like a grave.  
It standeth in a hollow dale where neither light of Sun  
Nor blast of any wind or Air may for the deepness come.  
A dreyrie sad and doleful den ay full of slothful cold  
As which ay dimmed with smouldering smoke doth never fire behold,  
When Pallas that same manly Maid approached near this plot,  
She staid without, for to the house in enter might she not.  
And with her javelin point did give a push against the door.  
The door slew open by and by and fell me in the floor.  
There saw she Envy sit within fast gnawing on the flesh  
Of Snakes and Toads the filthy food that keeps her vices fresh.  
It lothde her to behold the sight. Anon the Elf arose  
And left the gnawed Adders flesh, and slothfully she goes  
With lumpish leisure like a Snail, and when she saw the face  
Of Pallas and her fair attire adournde with heavenly grace,  
She gave a sigh a sorry sigh from bottom of her heart.  
Her lips were pale, her cheeks were wan, and all her face was swart:  
Her body lean as any Rake. She looked eke a skew.  
Her teeth were furde with filth and dross, her gums were waryish blue,  
The working of her festered gall had made her stomach green.  
And all bevenimde was her tongue. No sleep her eyes had seen.  
Continual cark and cankered care did keep her waking still:  
Of laughter (save at others harms) the Hellhound can no skill.  
It is against her will that men have any good success.  
And if they have, she frets and fumes within her mind no less  
Than if herself had taken harm. In seeking to annoy:  
And work distress to other folk, herself she doth destroy.  
Thus is she torment to herself. Though Pallas did her hate,  
Yet spoke she briefly these few words to her without her gate.  
Infect thou with thy venom one of Cecrops daughters three,  
It is Aglauros whom I mean, for so it needs must be,  
This said, she pight her spear in ground, and took her rise thereon.  
And winding from that wicked wight did take her flight anon.  
The Caitiff cast her eye aside, and seeing Pallas gone,  
Began to mumble with herself the devils Paternoster.  
And fretting at her good success, began to blow and bluster.  
She takes a crooked staff in hand bewreathde with knubbed pricks,  
And covered with a colly cloud, where ever that she sticks  
Her filthy feet, she tramples down and sears both grass and corn:  
That all the fresh and fragrant fields seem utterly forlorn.  
And with her staff she tippeth of the highest poppy heads.  
Such poison also everywhere ungraciously she sheades,  
That every Cottage where she comes▪ ●nd every Town and City  
Do take infection at her breath. At length (the more is pity)  
She found the fair Athenian town that flowed freshly then  
In feastful peace and joyful wealth and learned wits of men.  
And forbecause she nothing saw that might provoke to weep,  
It was a corsie to her heart her hateful tears to keep.  
Now when she came within the Court, she went without delay,  
Directly to the lodgings where King Cecrops daughters lay,  
There did she as Minerva bad. she laid her scurvy fist  
besmeared with venom and with filth upon Aglauros' brist,  
The which she filled with hooked thorns: and breathing on her face  
Did shed the poison in her bones: which spread itself apace,  
As black as ever virgin pitch through Lungs and Lights and all.  
And to th'intent that cause of grief abundantly should fall,  
She placed ay before her eyes her sister's happy chance  
In being wedded to the God, and made the God to glance  
Continually in heavenly shape before her wounded thought.  
And all these things she painted out. which in conclusion wrought  
Such corsies in Aglauros' breast that sighing day and night  
She gnawde and fretted in herself for very cankered spite.  
And like a wretch she wastes herself with restless care and pine  
Like as the ice whereon the Sun with glimmering light doth shine.  
Her sister Hearses good success doth make her heart to yearn.  
In case as when that fire is put to gréenefeld wood or fern  
Which giveth neither light nor heat, but smulders quite away:  
Sometime she minded to her Sire her sister to bewray.  
Who (well she knew) would ill abide so lewd a part to play.  
And oft she thought with wilful hand to burst her fatal thread,  
Because she would not see the thing that made her heart to bleed.  
At last she sat her in the door and leaned to a post.  
To let the God from entering in. To whom now having lost  
Much talk and gentle words in vain, she said: Sir leave I pray  
For hence I will not (be you sure) unless you go away.  
I take thee at thy word (quoth he) and therewithal he pushed  
His rod against the barred door, and wide it open rushed.  
She making proffer for to rise, did feel so great a weight  
Through all her limbs, that for her life she could not stretch her strait.  
She strove to set hirself upright: but striving booted not.  
Her hamstrings and her knees were stiff, a chilling cold had got  
In at her nails, through all her limbs. and eke her veins began  
For want of blood and lively heat, to wax both pale and wan.  
And as the fretting Fistula forgrowne and passed all cure  
Runs in the flesh from place to place, and makes the sound and pure  
As bad or worse than the rest, even so the cold of death,  
Strake to her heart, and closed her veins, and lastly stopped her breath:  
She made no proffer for to speak, and though she had done so  
It had been vain. For way was none for language forth to go.  
Her throat congealed into stone: her mouth became hard stone,  
And like an image sat she still, her blood was clearly gone.  
The which the venom of her heart so foully did infect,  
That ever after all the stone with freckled spots was spect.  
When Mercury had punished thus Aglauros' spiteful tongue  
And cankered heart immediately from Pallas town he fling.  
And flying up with flittering wings did pierce to heaven above.  
His father called him strait aside (but showing not his love)  
Said: son, my trusty messenger and worker of my will  
Make no delay but out of hand fly down in haste until  
The land that on the left side looks upon thy mother's light.  
Yonsame where standeth on the coast the town that Sidon hight.  
The King hath there a herd of Neat that on the Mountains feed,  
Go take and drive them to the sea with all convenient speed.  
He had no sooner said the word but that the herd begun  
Driven from the mountain to the shore appointed for to run.  
Whereas the daughter of the King was wonted to resort  
With other Ladies of the Court there for to play and sport.  
Between the state of Majesty and love is set such odds,  
As that they can not dwell in one. The Sire and King of Gods  
Whose hand is armed with triplefire, who only with his frown  
Makes Sea and Land and Heaven to quake, doth lay his sceptre down  
With all the grave and stately port belonging thereunto:  
And putting on the shape of Bull (as other cattle do)  
Goes lowing gently up and down among them in the field  
The fairest beast to look upon that ever man beheld.  
For why? his colour was as white as any winter's snow  
Before that either trampling feet or Southern wind it thou.  
His neck was brawnd with rolls of flesh, and from his chest before,  
A dangling dewlap hung me down good half a foot and more.  
His horns were small, but yet so fine as that ye would have thought  
They bade been made by cunning hand or out of wax been wrought.  
More clear they were a hundredth fold than is the crystal stone  
In all his forehead fearful frown or wrinkle there was none.  
No fierce, no grim, nor griefly look as other cattle have.  
But altogether so demure as friendship seemed to crave.  
Agenor's daughter marveled much so tame a beast to see,  
But yet to touch him at the first too bold she durst not be.  
Anon she reaches to his mouth her hand with herbs and flowers.  
The loving beast was glad thereof and neither frowns nor lowers.  
But till the hoped joy might come with glad and fawning cheer  
He licks her hands and scarce ah scarce the resdue he forbear.  
Sometime he frisks and skips about and shows her sport at hand  
Anon he lays his snowy side against the golden sand.  
So fear by little driven away, he offered eft his breast  
To stroke and coy, and eft his horns with flowers to be dressed.  
At last Europa knowing not (for so the Maid was called)  
On whom she ventured for to ride, was nerawhit appalled  
To set herself upon his back. Then by and by the God  
From main dry land to main moist Sea 'gan leysurly to plod.  
At first he did but dip his feet within the outmost wave,  
And back again, then further in another plunge he gave.  
And so still further till at the last he had his wished prey  
Amid the deep where was no means to scape with life away.  
The Lady quaking all for fear with rueful countenance cast,  
Ay toward shore from whence she came, held with her right-hand fast  
One of his horns: and with the left did stay upon his back.  
The weather flaskt and whisked up her garments being slack.  
Finis secundi Libri.   

¶ THE THIRD BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
THe God now having laid aside his borrowed shape of Bull,  
Had in his likeness showed himself: And with his pretty trull  
Ta'en landing in the isle of Crete. When in that while her Sire  
Not knowing where she was become, sent after to inquire  
Her brother Cadmus, charging him his sister home to bring.  
Or never for to come again: wherein he did a thing,  
For which he might both justly kind and cruel called be.  
When Cadmus over all the world had sought, (for who is he.  
That can detect the thefts of jove?) and no where could her see.  
Then as an outlaw (to avoid his father's wrongful ire)  
He went to Phoebus' Oracle most humbly to desire  
His heavenly counsel, where he would assign him place to dwell.  
An Hecfar all alone in field (quoth Phoebus) mark her well,  
which never bore the pinching yoke, nor drew the plough as yet,  
Shall meet thee. follow after her, and where thou seest her sit,  
There build a town, and let thereof Beotia be the name.  
down from Parnasus stately top scarce fully Cadmus came,  
When roiling softly in the vale before the herd alone  
He saw an Hecfar on whose neck of servage print was none.  
He followed after leysurly as her that was his guide,  
And thanked Phoebus in his heart that did so well provide.  
Now had he passed Cephifus ford, and eke the pleasant grounds,  
About the City Panope conteinde within those bounds.  
The Hecfar staid, and lifting up her forehead to the sky  
Full seemly for to look upon with horns like branches high  
Did with her lowing fill the Air: and casting back her eye  
Upon the rest that came aloof, as softly as she could  
Knéelde down and laid her hairy side against the grassy mould.  
Then Cadmus gave Apollo thanks, and falling flat bylow  
Did kiss the ground and hail the fields which yet he did not know.  
He was about to sacrifice to jove the Heavenly King,  
And bad his servants go and fetch him water of the spring.  
An old forgrowne unfelled wood stood near at hand thereby,  
And in the mids a queachie plot with Sedge and Oysiers hie.  
Where courbde about with pebble stone in likeness of a bow  
There was a spring with silver streams that forth thereof did ●low.  
Here lurked in his lowering den God Mars his grisly Snake  
With golden scales and fiery eyes beswolne with poison black.  
Three spirting tongues, three rows of teeth within his head did stick.  
No sooner had the Tyrian folk set foot within this thick  
And queachie plot, and deped down their bucket in the well,  
But that to buscle in his den began this Serpent fell.  
And péering with a marble head right horribly to hiss.  
The Tirians let their pitchers slip for sudden fear of this.  
And waxing pale as any clay, like folk amazed and flaight,  
Stood trembling like an Aspen leaf. The specled serpent strait  
Comes trailing out in waving links, and knotty rolls of scales,  
And bending into bunchie boughts his body forth he hales.  
And lifting up above the waist himself unto the Sky,  
He overlooketh all the wood, as huge and big wellnigh  
As is the Snake that in the Heaven about the Nordrens Pole  
Divides the Bears. He makes no stay but deals his dreadful dole  
Among the Tirians. Whether they did take them to their tools,  
Or to their heels, or that their fear did make them stand like fools,  
And help themselves by none of both, he snapped up some alive,  
And swept in others with his tail, and some he did deprive  
Of life with rankness of his breath, and other some again  
He stings and poisons unto death till all at last were stain.  
Now when the Sun was at his height and shadows waxed short,  
And Cadmus saw his company make tarience in that sort,  
He marveled what should be their let, and went to seek them out.  
His harness was a Lion's skin that wrapped him about.  
His weapons were a long strong spear with head of iron tried,  
And eke a light and piercing Dart. And thereunto beside  
Worth all the weapons in the world a stout and valiant heart.  
When Cadmus came within the wood and saw about that part  
His men lie slain upon the ground, and eke their cruel foe  
Of body huge stand over them, and licking with his blo  
And blasting tongue their sorry wounds, well trusty friends (quoth he)  
I either of your piteous deaths will straight revenger be,  
Or else will die myself therefore. With that he raughting fast  
A mighty Millstone, at the Snake with all his might it cast.  
The stone with such exceeding force and violence forth was driven,  
As of a fort the bulwarks strong and walls it would have riven.  
And yet it did the Snake no harm: his scales as hard and tough  
As if they had been plates of mail did fence him well enough,  
So that the stone rebounded back against his freckled slough.  
But yet his hardness saved him not against the piercing dart.  
For hitting right between the scales that yielded in that part  
Whereas the joints do knit the back, it thirled through the skin,  
And pierced to his filthy maw and greedy guts within.  
He fierce with wrath wrings back his head, and looking on the stripe  
The javelin steal that sticked out, between his teeth doth gripe.  
The which with wresting to and fro at length he forth did wind,  
Save that he left the head thereof among his bones behind.  
When of his courage through the wound more kindled was the ire,  
His throteboll swelled with puffed veins, his eyes 'gan sparkle fire.  
There stood about his smeared chaps a loathly foaming froth.  
His scaled breast ploughs up the ground, the stinking breath that goth  
Out from his black and hellish mouth infects the herbs full fowl.  
Sometime he winds himself in knots as round as any Bowl.  
Sometime he stretcheth out in length as strait as any beam.  
Anon again with violent brunt he rusheth like a stream  
Increased by rage of latefalne rain, and with his mighty sway  
Bears down the wood before his breast that standeth in his way.  
Agenor's son retiring back doth with his Lion's spoil  
Defend him from his fierce assaults, and makes him to recoil  
Ay holding at the weapons point. The Serpent waxing wood  
Doth crash the steel between his teeth, and bites it till the blood  
Dropped mixed with poison from his mouth, did die the green grass black  
But yet the wound was very light because he writhed back  
And pulled his head still from the stroke: and made the stripe to die  
By giving way, until that Cadmus following irefully  
The stroke, with all his power and might did through the throat him rive,  
And naylde him to an Oak behind the which he eke did clive.  
The Serpent's weight did make the tree to bend. It grieved the tree  
His body of the Serpent's tail thus scourged for to be.  
While Cadmus wondered at the hugeness of the vanquished foe  
Upon the sudden came a voice: from whence he could not know.  
But sure he was he heard the voice. Which said, Agenor's son  
What gazest thus upon this Snake? the time will one day come  
That thou thyself shalt be a Snake. He pale and wan for fear,  
Had lost his speech: and ruffled up stiff staring stood his hear.  
Behold (man's helper at his need) Dame Pallas gliding through  
The vacant Air was strait at hand, and bade him take a plough  
And cast the Serpent's teeth in ground, as of the which should spring  
Another people out of hand. He did in every thing  
As Pallas bade, he took a plough, and earde a sorrow low  
And sowed the Serpent's teeth whereof the foresaid folk should grow.  
Anon (a wondrous thing to tell) the clods began to move,  
And from the sorrow first of all the pikes appeared above,  
Next rose up helms with feathered crests, and then the Poldrens' bright,  
Successively the Curets whole, and all the armour right.  
Thus grew up men like corn in field in ranks of battle ray  
With shields and weapons in their hands to fight the field that day.  
Even so when stages are attired against some solemn game,  
With clothes of Arras gorgeously, in drawing up the same  
The faces of the images do first of all them show,  
And then by piecemeal all the rest in order seems to grow,  
Until at last they stand out full upon their feet below.  
Affrighted at this new found foes 'gan Cadmus for to take  
Him to his weapons by and by resistance for to make.  
Stay, stay thyself (cried one of them that late before were bred  
Out of the ground) and meddle not with civil wars. This sed,  
One of the brothers of that brood with lancing sword he slew.  
Another sent a dart at him, the which him overthrow.  
The third did strait as much for him and made him yield the breath,  
(The which he had received but now) by stroke of forced death.  
Likewise outraged all the rest until that one by one  
By mutual stroke of civil war dispatched everichone,  
This brood of brothers all behewen and weltered in their blood,  
Lay sprawling on their mother's womb the ground where erst they stood,  
Save only five that did remain. Of whom Echion led  
By Pallas counsel, threw away the helmet from his head,  
And with his brothers 'gan to treat atonement for to make.  
The which at length (by Pallas help) so good success did take,  
That faithful friendship was confirmed and hand in hand was plight.  
These afterward did well assist the noble Tyrian knight,  
In building of the famous town that Phoebus had behight.  
Now Thebes stood in good estate, now Cadmus might thou say  
That when thy father banished thee it was a lucky day.  
To join alliance both with Mars and Venus was thy chance,  
Whose daughter thou hadst ta'en to wife, who did thee much advance,  
Not only through her high renown, but through a noble race  
Of sons and daughters that she bore: whose children in like case  
It was thy fortune for to see all men and women grown.  
But ay the end of every thing must marked be and known.  
For none the name of blessedness deserveth for to have  
unless the tenor of his life last blessed to his grave.  
Among so many prosperous haps that flowed with good success,  
Thine eldest Nephew was a cause of care and sore distress.  
Whose head was armed with palmed horns, whose own hounds in the would  
Did pull their master to the ground and fill them with his blood.  
But if you sift the matter well, ye shall not find desert  
But cruel fortune to have been the cause of this his smart.  
For who could do with oversight? great slaughter had been made  
Of sundry sorts of savage beasts one morning: and the shade  
Of things was waxed very short. It was the time of day  
That mid between the East and West the Sun doth seem to stay.  
When as the Theban stripling thus bespoke his company,  
Still ranging in the wayless woods some further game to spy.  
Our weapons and our toils are moist and stained with blood of Dear:  
This day hath done enough as by our quarry may appear.  
assoon as with her scarlet wheels next morning bringeth light,  
We will about our work again. But now Hyperion bright  
Is in the mids of Heaven, and sears the fields with fiery rays.  
Take up your toils, and cease your work, and let us go our ways.  
They did even so, and ceased their work. There was a valley thick  
With Pinaple and Cypress trees that armed be with prick.  
Gargaphy hight this shady plot, it was a sacred place  
To chaste Diana and the Nymphs that waited on her grace.  
Within the furthest end thereof there was a pleasant Bower  
So vaulted with the levy trees the Sun had there no power:  
Not made by hand nor man's devise: and yet no man alive,  
A trimmer piece of work than that could for his life contrive.  
With flint and Pommy was it wallde by nature half about,  
And on the right side of the same full freshly flowed out  
A lively spring with Crystal stream: whereof the upper brim  
Was green with grass and matted herbs that smelled very trim.  
When Phebe felt herself wax faint, of following of her game,  
It was her custom for to come and bathe her in the same.  
That day she having timely left her hunting in the chase,  
Was entered with her troop of Nymphs within this pleasant place.  
She took her quiver and her bow the which she had unbent,  
And eke her javelin to a Nymph that served that intent.  
Another Nymph to take her clothes among her train she chose,  
Two losde her buskins from her legs and pulled of her hose.  
The Theban Lady Crocale more cunning than the rest  
Did truss her tresses handsomely which hung behind undressed.  
And yet her own hung waving still. Then Niphe neat and clean,  
With Hiale glistering like the grash in beauty fresh and sheen,  
And Rhanis clearer of her skin than are the rainy drops,  
And little bibling Phyale, and Pseke that pretty Mops,  
Powered water into vessels large to wash their Lady with.  
Now while she keeps this wont, behold, by wandering in the frith  
He witted not whither (having stayed his pastime till the morrow)  
Comes Cadmus' Nephew to this thick: and entering in with sorrow  
(Such was his cursed cruel fate) saw Phebe where she washed.  
The Damsels at the sight of man quite out of countenance dashed,  
(Because they everyone were bare and naked to the quick)  
Did beat their hands against their breasts, and cast out such a shricke,  
That all the wood did ring thereof: and clinging to their dame  
Did all they could to hide both her and eke themselves fro shame.  
But Phebe was of parsonage so comely and so tall,  
That by the middle of her neck she overpéerd them all.  
Such colour as appears in Heaven by Phoebus' broken rays  
Directly shining on the Clouds, or such as is always  
The colour of the Morning Clouds before the Sun doth show,  
Such sanguine colour in the face of Phoebe 'gan to glow  
There standing naked in his sight. Who though she had her guard  
Of Nymphs about her: yet she turned her body from him ward.  
And casting back an angry look, like as she would have sent  
An arrow at him had she had her bow there ready bend.  
So reached she water in her hand and for to wreak the spite  
Besprinkled all the head and face of this unlucky Knight,  
And thus forespoke the heavy lot that should upon him light.  
Now make thy vaunt among thy Mates, thou sawfte Diana bare.  
Tell if thou can: I give thee leave: tell heardly: do not spare.  
This done she makes no further threats, but by and by doth spread  
A pair of lively old Hearts horns upon his sprinkled head.  
She sharps his ears, she makes his neck both slender, long and lank▪  
She turns his fingers into feet, his arms to spindle shank.  
She wraps him in a hairy hide beset with speckled spots,  
And planteth in him fearfulness. And so away he trots.  
Full greatly wondering to himself what made him in that case  
To be so wight and swift of foot. But when he saw his face  
And horned temples in the brook, he would have cried alas,  
But as for then no kind of speech out of his lips could pass.  
He sight and brayed: for that was then the speech that did remain,  
And down the eyes that were not his, his bitter tears did rain.  
No part remained (save his mind) of that he erst had been.  
What should he do? turn home again to Cadmus and the Queen?  
Or hide himself among the Woods? Of this he was afraid,  
And of the t'other ill ashamed. While doubting thus he stayd.  
His hounds espied him where he was, and Blacksoote first of all  
And Stalker special good of scent began aloud to call.  
This latter was a hound of Crete, the other was of Sparta.  
Then all the kennel fell in round, and every for his part,  
Did follow freshly in the chase more swifter than the wind,  
Spy, Eateal, Scalecliffe, three good hounds comen all of Arcas kind.  
Strong Kilbucke, currish Savage, Spring, and Hunter fresh of smell,  
And Lightfoot who to lead a chase did bear away the bell.  
Fierce Woodman hurt not long ago in hunting of a Boar,  
And Shepeheird wont to follow sheep and neat to field afore.  
And Land a fell and eager bitch that had a Wolf to Sire:  
Another brach called Gréedigut with two her Puppies by her.  
And Ladon gaunt as any Gréewnd a hound in Sycion bred,  
Blab, Fléetewood, Patch whose flecked skin with sundry spots was spread:  
Wight, Bowman, Roister, beauty fair and white as winter's snow,  
And Tawny full of dusky hairs that over all did grow,  
With lusty Ruffler passing all the resdue there in strength,  
And Tempest best of footemanshipe in holding out at length.  
And Cole and Swift, and little Wolf, as wight as any other.  
Accompanied with a Cyprian hound that was his native brother,  
And Snatch amid whose forehead stood a star as white as snow,  
The resdue being all as black and slick as any Crow.  
And shaggy Rug with other twain that had a Sire of Crete,  
And Dam of Sparta: Tone of them called jollyboy, a great  
And large flewed hound: the other Chorle who ever gnoorring went,  
And Ringwood with a shrill loud mouth the which he freely spent.  
With divers more whose names to tell it were but loss of tyme.  
This fellows over hill and dale in hope of pray do climb,  
Through thick and thin and craggy cliffs where was no way to go,  
He flies through grounds where oftentimes he chased had ere tho.  
Even from his own folk is he feign (alas) to flee away.  
He strained oftentimes to speak, and was about to say.  
I am Actaeon: know your Lord and Master sirs I pray.  
But use of words and speech did want to utter forth his mind.  
Their cry did ring through all the Wood redoubled with the wind,  
First Slo did pinch him by the haunch, and next came Kildéere in,  
And Hylbred fastened on his shoulder, boat him through the skin.  
These came forth later than the rest, but coasting thwart a hill,  
They did gainecope him as he came, and held their Master still  
Until that all the rest came in, and fastened on him to.  
No part of him was free from wound. He could none other do  
But sigh, and in the shape of heart with voice as Hearts are wont,  
(For voice of man was none now left to help him at the brunt)  
By braying show his secret grief among the Mountains hie,  
And kneeling sadly on his knees with dréerie tears in eye,  
As one by humbling of himself that mercy seemed to crave,  
With piteous look in stead of hands his head about to wave.  
Not knowing that it was their Lord, the huntsmen cheer their hounds  
With wont noise and for Actaeon look about the grounds.  
They hollow who could loudest cry still calling him by name,  
As though he were not there, and much his absence they do blame  
In that he came not to the fall, but slacked to see the game.  
As often as they named him he sadly shook his head,  
And feign he would have been away thence in some other stead.  
But there he was. And well he could have found in heart to see  
His dogs fell deeds, so that to feel in place he had not be.  
They hem him in on every side, and in the shape of Stag,  
With greedy teeth and griping paws their Lord in pieces drag.  
So fierce was cruel Phoebe's wrath, it could not be allayed,  
Till of his fault by bitter death the ransom he had paid.  
Much muttering was upon this fact. Some thought there was extended  
A great deal more extremity than needed. Some commended  
Diana's doing: saying that it was but worthily  
For safeguard of her womanhod. Each party did apply  
Good reasons to defend their case. Alone the wife of jove,  
Of liking or misliking it not all so greatly strove,  
As secretly rejoiced in heart that such a plague was light  
On Cadmus' lineage: turning all the malice and the spite  
conceived erst against the wench that jove had set fro tire,  
Upon the kindred of the wench, and for to fierce her ire,  
Another thing clean overthwart there cometh in the nick:  
The Lady Semell great with child by jove as then was quick.  
Hereat she 'gan to fret and fume, and for to ease her heart,  
Which else would burst, she fell in hand with scolding out her part.  
And what a goodyeare have I won by scolding erst? (she said)  
It is that arrant quean herself, against whose wicked head  
I must assay to give assault: and if (as men me call)  
I be that juno who in heaven bear greatest swing of all,  
If in my hand I worthy be to hold the royal Mace,  
And if I be the Queen of heaven and sovereign of this place,  
Or wife and sister unto jove, (his sister well I know:  
But as for wife that name is vain, I serve but for a show,  
To cover other privy scapes) I will confound that Whore.  
Now (with a mischief) is she bagd and beareth out before,  
Her open shame to all the world? and shortly hopes to be  
The mother of a son by jove, the which hath happed to me.  
Not passing once in all my time, so sore she doth presume  
Upon her beauty. But I trow her hope shall soon consume.  
For never let me counted be for Satur's daughter more,  
If by her own dear darling jove on whom she trusts so sore,  
I send her not to Styxes stream. This ended up she rose  
And covered in golden cloud to Semelles house she goes.  
And ere she sent away the cloud, she takes an old wives shape  
With hoary hair and riveled skin, with slow and crooked gate.  
As though she had the Palsy had her feeble limbs did shake,  
And eke she foltred in the mouth as often as she spoke.  
She seemed old Beldame Beroe of Epidaure to be,  
This Lady Semelles Nurse as right as though it had been she.  
So when that after much talk of purpose ministered  
Jove's name was upned: by and by she gave a sigh and sed,  
I wish with all my heart that jove be cause to thee of this.  
But daughter dear I dread the worst, I fear it be amiss.  
For many Uarlets under name of Gods to serve their lust,  
Have into undefiled beds themselves full often thrust.  
And though it been the mighty jove yet doth not that suffice,  
unless he also make the same apparent to our eyes.  
And if it be even very he, I say it doth behove,  
He prove it by some open sign and token of his love.  
And therefore pray him for to grant that look in what degree,  
What order, fashion, sort and state he use to company  
With mighty juno, in the same in every point and case,  
To all intents and purposes he thee likewise embrace,  
And that he also bring with him his bright thréeforked Mace:  
With such instructions juno had informed Cadmus' niece:  
And she poor silly simple soul immediately on this  
Requested jove to grant a boon the which she did not name.  
Ask what thou wilt sweet heart (quoth he) thou shalt not miss the same,  
And for to make thee sure hereof, the grisly Stygian Lake,  
Which is the fear and God of Gods bear witness for thy sake.  
She joying in her own mischance, not having any power  
To rule herself, but making speed to hast her fatal hour,  
In which she through her lovers help should work her own decay,  
Said: Such as juno findeth you when you and she do play,  
The games of Venus, such I pray thee show thyself to me  
In every case. The God would feign have stopped her mouth. But she  
Had made such haste that out it was. Which made him sigh full sore,  
For neither she could then unwish the thing she wished before,  
Nor he revoke his solemn oath. Wherefore with sorry heart  
And heaume countenance by and by to Heaven he doth departed.  
And makes to follow after him with look full grim and stour  
The flaky clouds all gris●y black, as when they threat a shower.  
To which he added mixed with wind a fierce and flashing flame,  
With dry and dreadful thunderclaps and lightning to the same  
Of deadly unavoided dint. And yet as much as may  
He goes about his vehement force and fierceness to allay.  
He doth not arm him with the fire with which he did remove  
The Giant with the hundredth hands Typhoëus from above:  
It was too cruel and too sore to use against his love.  
The Cyclops made an other kind of lightning far more light,  
Wherein they put much less of fire, less fierceness, lesser might.  
It hight in Heaven the second Mace. jove arms himself with this  
And enters into Cadmus' house where Semelles chamber is.  
She being mortal was too weak and feeble to withstand  
Such troublous tumults of the Heavens: and therefore out of hand  
Was burned in her lovers arms. But yet he took away  
His infant from the mother's womb unperfect as it lay,  
And (if a man may credit it) did in his thigh it sow,  
Where biding out the mother's time it did to ripeness grow.  
And when the time of birth was come his Aunt the Lady Ine  
Did nurse him for a while by stealth and kept him trim and fine.  
The Nymphs of Nysa afterward did in their bowers him hide,  
And brought him up with Milk till time he might abroad be spied.  
Now while these things were done on earth, and that by fatal doom  
The twice borne Bacchus had a time to man's estate to come,  
They say that jove disposed to mirth as he and juno sat  
A drinking Nectar after meat in sport and pleasant rate,  
Did fall a jesting with his wife, and said: a greater pleasure  
In Venus' games ye women have than men beyond all measure.  
She answered no. To try the truth, they both of them agree  
The wise Tiresias in this case indifferent judge to be,  
Who both the man and woman's joys by trial understood.  
For finding once two mighty Snakes engendering in a Wood,  
He struck them overthwart the backs, by means whereof behold  
(As strange a thing to be of truth as ever yet was told)  
He being made a woman strait, seven winter lived so.  
The eight he finding them again did say unto them tho:  
And if to strike ye have such power as for to turn their shape  
That are the givers of the stripe, before you hence escape,  
One stripe now will I lend you more. He struck them as before  
And strait returned his former shape in which he first was borne.  
Tiresias therefore being ta'en to judge this jesting strife,  
Gave sentence on the side of jove. The which the Queen his wife  
Did take a great deal more to heart than needed, and in spite  
To wreak her teen upon her judge, bereft him of his sight.  
But jove (for to the Gods it is unléefull to undo  
The things which other of the Gods by any means have do)  
Did give him sight in things to come for loss of sight of eye,  
And so his grievous punishment with honour did supply.  
By means whereof within a while in City, field, and town  
Through all the coast of Aöny was bruited his renown.  
And folk to have their fortunes read that daily did resort  
Were answered so as none of them could give him misreport.  
The first that of his soothfast words had proof in all the Realm  
Was freckled Lyriop, whom sometime surprised in his stream,  
The flood Cephisus did enforce. This Lady bore a son  
Whose beauty at his very birth might justly love have won.  
Narcissus did she call his name. Of whom the Prophet sage  
Demanded if the child should live to many years of age.  
Made answer, yea full long, so that himself he do not know.  
The Soothsayers words seemed long but vain, until the end did show  
His saying to be true in deed by strangeness of the rage,  
And strangeness of the kind of death that did abridge his age.  
For when years three times five and one he fully lived had,  
So that he seemed to stand béetwene the state of man and Lad,  
The hearts of divers trim young men his beauty 'gan to move  
And many a Lady fresh and fair was taken in his love.  
But in that grace of Nature's gift such passing pride did reign,  
That to be touched of man or Maid he wholly did disdain.  
A babbling Nymph that Echo hight: who hearing others talk,  
By no means can restrain her tongue but that it needs must walk,  
Nor of herself hath power to gin to speak to any wight,  
Espied him driving into toils the fearful stags of flight.  
This Echo was a body then and not an only voice.  
Yet of her speech she had that time no more than now the choice.  
That is to say of many words the latter to repeat.  
The cause thereof was junos' wrath. For when that with the feat  
She might have often taken jove in dalliance with his Dames,  
And that by stealth and unbewares in mids of all his games.  
This elf would with her tattling talk detain her by the way,  
Until that jove had wrought his will and they were fled away.  
The which when juno did perceive, she said with wrathful mood,  
This tongue that hath deluded me shall do thee little good,  
For of thy speech but simple use hereafter shalt thou have.  
The deed itself did strait confirm the threatenings that she gave.  
Yet Echo of the former talk doth double oft the end  
And back again with just report the words erst spoken send.  
Now when she saw Narcists stray about the Forest wide,  
She warred warm and step for step fast after him she hide.  
The more she followed after him and nearer that she came,  
The whoter ever did she wax as nearer to her flame.  
Like as the lively Brimstone doth which dipped about a match,  
And put but softly to the fire, the flame doth lightly catch.  
O Lord how often would she feign (if nature would have let)  
Entreated him with gentle words some favour for to get?  
But nature would not suffer her nor give her leave to gin.  
Yet (so far forth as she by grant at nature's hand could win)  
Ay ready with attentive ear she harkens for some sound,  
Whereto she might reply her words, from which she is not bound.  
By chance the stripling being strayed from all his company,  
Said: is there any body nigh? strait Echo answered: I.  
Amazed he casts his eye aside, and looketh round about,  
And come (that all the Forest rung) aloud he calleth out.  
And come (saith she:) he looketh back, and seeing no man follow,  
Why fliste, he crieth once again: and she the same doth hallow,  
He still persistes and wondering much what kind of thing it was  
From which that answering voice by turn so duly seemed to pass,  
Said: let us join. She (by her will desirous to have said,  
In faith with none more willingly at any time or stead)  
Said: let us join. And standing somewhat in her own conceit,  
Upon these words she left the Wood, and forth she yéedeth straight,  
To coll the lovely neck for which she longed had so much,  
He runs his way and will not be embraced of no such.  
And saith: I first will die ere thou shalt take of me thy pleasure.  
She answered nothing else thereto, but take of me thy pleasure.  
Now when she saw herself thus mocked, she gate her to the Woods,  
And hide her head for very shame among the leaves and buds.  
And ever sense she lives alone in dens and hollow Caves.  
Yet stack her love still to her heart, through which she daily raves  
The more for sorrow of repulse. Through restless cark and care  
Her body pines to skin and bone, and waxeth wondrous bare.  
The blood doth vanish into air from out of all her veins,  
And nought is left but voice and bones: the voice yet still remains:  
Her bones they say were turned to stones. From thence she lurking still  
In Woods, will never show her head in field nor yet on hill.  
Yet is she heard of every man: it is her only sound,  
And nothing else that doth remain alive above the ground.  
Thus had he mocked this wretched Nymph and many more beside,  
That in the waters, Woods and groves, or Mountains did abide  
Thus had he mocked many men. Of which one miscontent  
To see himself deluded so, his hands to Heaven up bend,  
And said: I pray to God he may once feel fierce Cupid's fire  
As I do now, and yet not joy the things he doth desire.  
The Goddess Ramnuse's (who doth wreak on wicked people take)  
Assented to his just request for ruth and pity's sake.  
There was a spring withouten mud as silver clear and still,  
Which neither shéepeheirds, nor the Goats that fed upon the hill,  
Nor other cattle troubled had, nor savage beast had stirred,  
Nor branch nor stick, nor leaf of tree, nor any foul nor bird.  
The moisture fed and kept aye fresh the grass that grew about,  
And with their leaves the trees did keep the heat of Phoebus out.  
The stripling weary with the heat and hunting in the chase,  
And much delighted with the spring and coolness of the place,  
Did lay him down upon the brim: and as he stooped low  
To staunch his thirst, another thirst of worse effect did grow.  
For as he drank, he chanced to spy the Image of his face,  
The which he did immediately with fervent love embrace.  
He feeds a hope without cause why. For like a foolish noddy  
He thinks the shadow that he sees, to be a lively body.  
Astraughted like an image made of Marble stone he lies,  
There gazing on his shadow still with fixed staring eyes.  
Stretched all along upon the ground, it doth him good to see  
His ardant eyes which like two stars full bright and shining be.  
And eke his fingers, fingers such as Bacchus might beseem,  
And hair that one might worthily Apollo's hair it deem.  
His beardless chin and ivory neck, and eke the perfect grace  
Of white and red indifferently bepainted in his face.  
All these he woondreth to behold, for which (as I do gather)  
Himself was to be wondered at, or to be pitied rather.  
He is enamoured of himself for want of taking heed.  
And where he likes another thing, he likes himself in deed.  
He is the party whom he woos, and su●er that doth woo,  
He is the flame that sets on fire, and thing that burneth too.  
O Lord how often did he kiss that false deceitful thing?  
How often did he thrust his arms midway into the spring?  
To have embraced the neck he saw and could not catch himself?  
He knows not what it was he saw. And yet the foolish elf  
Doth burn in ardent love thereof. The very self same thing  
That doth bewitch and blind his eyes, increaseth all his sting.  
Thou fondling thou, why dost thou reached the fickle image so?  
The thing thou seekest is not there. And if a side thou go?  
The thing thou lovest strait is gone. It is none other matter  
That thou dost see, than of thyself the shadow in the water.  
The thing is nothing of itself: with thee it doth abide,  
With thee it would depart if thou withdrew thyself aside.  
No care of meat could draw him thence, nor yet desire of rest.  
But lying flat against the ground, and lea●ing on his breast,  
With gréed●e eyes he gazeth still upon the falced face,  
And through his sight is wrought his bane. Yet for a little space  
He turns and sets himself upright, and holding up his hands  
With piteous voice unto the wood that round about him stands,  
Cries out and says: alas ye Woods, and was there ever any?  
That looude so cruelly as I? you know: for unto many  
A place of harbour have you been, and fort of refuge strong.  
Can you remember any one in all your time so long?  
That hath so pined away as I? I see and am full feign,  
Howbeit that I like and see I can not yet attain:  
So great a blindness in my heart through doting love doth reign.  
And for to spite me more withal, it is no journey far,  
No drenching Sea, no Mountain high, no wall, no lock, no bar,  
It is but even a little drop that keeps us two a sunder.  
He would be had. For look how oft I kiss the water under,  
So oft again with upward mouth he riseth toward me.  
A man would think to touch at least I should yet able be.  
It is a trifle in respect that lets us of our love.  
What wight soever that thou art come hither up above.  
O pierlesse piece, why dost thou me thy lover thus delude?  
Or whither fliste thou of thy friend thus earnestly pursued?  
Iwis I neither am so fowl nor yet so grown in years  
That in this wise thou shouldst me shoes. To have me to their Fears,  
The Nymphs themselves have sued ere this. And yet (as should appear)  
Thou dost pretend some kind of hope of friendship by thy cheer.  
For when I stretch mine arms to thee, thou stretchest thine likewise.  
And if I smile thou smilest too: And when that from mine eyes  
The tears do drop, I well perceive the water stands in thine.  
Like gesture also dost thou make to every beck of mine.  
And as by moving of thy sweet and lovely lips I ween,  
Thou speakest words although mine ears conceive not what they been  
It is myself I well perceive, it is mine Image sure,  
That in this sort deluding me, this fury doth procure.  
I am mamored of myself, I do both set on fire,  
And am the same that swelteth too, through impotent desire.  
What shall I do? be wood or woe? whom shall I woe therefore?  
The thing I seek is in myself, my plenty makes me poor.  
O would to God I for a while might from my body part.  
This wish is strange to hear a Lover wrapped all in smart,  
To wish away the thing the which he loveth as his heart.  
My sorrow takes away my strength. I have not long to live,  
But in the flower of youth must die. To die it doth not grieve.  
For that by death shall come the end of all my grief and pain  
I would this youngling whom I love might longer life obtain:  
For in one soul shall now decay we steadfast Lovers twain.  
This said in rage he turns again unto the foresaid shade,  
And rores the water with the tears and sloubring that he made,  
That through his troubling of the Well his image 'gan to fade.  
Which when he saw to vanish so, Oh whither dost thou fly?  
Abide I pray thee heartily, aloud he 'gan to cry.  
Forsake me not so cruelly that loveth thee so dear,  
But give me leave a little while my dazzled eyes to cheer  
With sight of that which for to touch is utterly denied,  
Thereby to feed my wretched rage and surie for a tide.  
As in this wise he made his moan, he stripped off his cote  
And with his fist outrageously his naked stomach smote.  
A ruddy colour where he smote rose on his stomach sheer,  
Like Apples which do partly white and striped red appear.  
Or as the clusters ere the grapes to ripeness fully come:  
An Orient purple here and there begins to grow on some.  
Which things assoon as in the spring he did behold again,  
He could no longer bear it out. But fainting strait for pain,  
As lithe and supple wax doth melt against the burning flame,  
Or morning dew against the Sun that glareth on the same:  
Even so by piecemale being spent and wasted through desire,  
Did he consume and melt away with Cupid's secret fire.  
His lively hue of white and red, his cheerfulness and strength  
And all the things that liked him did wanze away at length.  
So that in fine remained not the body which of late  
The wretched Echo loved so. Who when she saw his state,  
Although in heart she angry were, and mindful of his pride,  
Yet ruing his unhappy case, as often as he cried  
Alas, she cried alas likewise with shirle redoubled sound.  
And when he beat his breast, or struck his feet against the ground,  
She made like noise of clapping too. These are the words that last  
Out of his lips beholding still his wonted image past.  
Alas sweet boy beloved in vain, farewell. And by and by  
With sighing sound the self same words the Echo did reply.  
With that he laid his weary head against the grassy place  
And death did close his gazing eyes that wondered at the grace  
And beauty which did late adorn their Master's heavenly face.  
And afterward when into Hell received was his sprite  
He goes me to the Well of Styx, and there both day and night  
Stands tooting on his shadow still as fondly as before  
The water Nymphs his sisters wept and wailed for him sore  
And on his body strowde their hair clipped off and shorn therefore.  
The Woodnymphes also did lament. And Echo did rebound  
To every sorrowful noise of theirs with like lamenting sound.  
The fire was made to burn the corpse, and waxed Tapers light.  
A Hearse to lay the body on with solemn pomp was dight.  
But as for body none remained: In stead thereof they found  
A yellow flower with milk white leaves new sprung upon the ground.  
This matter all Achaia through did spread the Prophet's fame:  
That everywhere of just desert renowned was his name.  
But Penthey old Echions' son (who proudly did disdain  
Both God and man) did laugh to scorn the Prophet's words as vain,  
Upbrading him most spitefully with losing of his sight,  
And with the fact for which he lost fruition of this light.  
The good old father (for these words his patience much did move)  
Said● O how happy shouldest thou be and blessed from above,  
If thou wert blind as well as I, so that thou might not see  
The sacred rytesof Bacchus' band? For sure the time will be,  
And that full shortly (as I guess) that hither shall resort  
Another Bacchus Semelles son, whom if thou not support  
With pomp and honour like a God, thy carcase shall be tattered,  
And in a thousand places eke about the Woods be scattered.  
And for to read thee what they are that shall perform the deed,  
It is thy mother and thine Aunts that thus shall make thee bleed.  
I know it shall so come to pass, for why thou shalt disdain,  
To honour Bacchus as a God: and then thou shalt with pain  
Feel how that blinded as I am I saw for thee too much.  
As old Tiresias did pronounce these words and other such,  
Echions' son did trouble him. His words prove true in deed,  
For as the Prophet did forespeak so fell it out with speed.  
Anon this newefound Bacchus comes: the woods and fields rebound,  
With noise of shouts and howling out, and such confused sound.  
The folk run flocking out by heaps, men, Maids and wives together  
The noble men and rascal sort ran gadding also thither.  
The Orgies of this unknown God full fondly to perform,  
The which when Penthey did perceive, he 'gan to rage and storm.  
And said unto them. O ye imps of Mars his snake by kind  
What aileth you? What fiend of hell doth thus enrage your mind?  
Hath tinking sound of pots and pans? hath noise of crooked horn?  
Have fond illusions such a force? that them whom heretoforne  
No arming sword? no bloody trump? no men in battle ray  
Could cause to shrink? no shéepish shrieks of simple women fray?  
And drunken woodness wrought by wine? & roughts of filthy freaks?  
And sound of toying timpanes daunts? & quite their courage breaks?  
Shall I at you ye ancient men which from the town of tire?  
To bring your household Gods by Sea, in safety did aspire?  
And settled them within this place the which ye now do yield  
In bondage quite without all force and fight in the field?  
Or wonder at you younger sort approaching unto me  
More near in courage and in years? whom meet it were to see  
With spear and not with thirse in hand? with glittering helm on head,  
And not with leaves? Now call to mind of whom ye all are bred,  
And take the stomachs of that Snake, which being one alone,  
Right stoutly in his own defence confounded many one.  
He for his harbour and his spring his life did nobly spend.  
Do you no more but take a heart your County to defend.  
He put to death right valeant Knights. Your battle is with such  
As are but Meicocks in effect: and yet ye do so much  
In conquering them, that by the deed the old renown ye save,  
Which from your fathers by descent this present time ye have.  
If fatal destinies do forbid that Thebae long shall stand,  
Would God that men with Canon shot might raze it out of hand.  
Would God the noise of fire and sword did in our hearing sound.  
For then in this our wretchedness there could no fault be found.  
Then might we justly wail our case that all the world might see  
We should not need of shedding tears ashamed for to be.  
But now our town is taken by a naked beardelesse boy,  
Who doth not in the feats of arms nor horse nor armour joy.  
But for to moist his hair with Myrrh, and put on garlands gay,  
And in soft Purple silk and gold his body to array.  
But put to you your helping hand and strait without delay  
I will compel him point by point his lewdness to bewray,  
Both in usurping Jove's high name in making him his son  
And forging of these Ceremonies lately now begun.  
Hath King Atrisius heart enough this fondling for to hate?  
That makes himself to be a God? and for to shit the gate  
Of Argus at his coming there? and shall this rover make  
King Penthey and the noble town of Thebae thus to quake?  
Go quickly sirs (these words he spoke unto his servants) go  
And bring the Captain hither bound with speed, why stay ye so?  
His Grandsire Cadmus, Athamas and others of his kin  
Reproved him by gentle means but nothing could they win:  
The more-intreatance that they made the fiercer was he still:  
The more his friends did go about to break him of his will.  
The more they did provoke his wrath, and set his rage on fire:  
They made him worse in that they sought to bridle his desire.  
So have I seen a brook ere this, where nothing let the stream,  
Run smooth with little noise or none, but where as any beam  
Or cragged stones did let his course, and make him for to stay:  
It went more fiercely from the stop with ●omie wrath away.  
Behold all bloody come his men, and strait he them demanded  
Where Bacchus was, and why they had not done as he commanded?  
Sir (answered they) we saw him not, but this same fellow here  
A chief companion in his train and worker in this gear,  
We took by force: And therewithal presented to their Lord  
A certain man of Tirrhene land, his hands fast bound with cord,  
Whom they, frequenting Bacchus' rites had found but late before.  
A grim and cruel look which ire did make to seem more sore,  
Did Penthey cast upon the man. And though he scarcely stayed  
From putting him to torments straight. O wretched man (he said)  
Who by thy worthy death shalt be a sample unto other,  
Declare to me the names of thee, thy father and thy mother.  
And in what Country thou wert borne, and what hath caused thee,  
Of these strange rites and sacrifice, a follower for to be.  
He void of fear made answer thus. Acetis is my name:  
Of Parents but of low degree in Lidy land I came.  
No ground for painful Ox to till, no sheep to bear me wool  
My father left me: no nor horse, nor Ass, nor Cow nor Booll.  
God wot he was but poor himself, With line and baited hook  
The frisking fishes in the pools upon his Reed he took  
His hands did serve in stead of lands, his substance was his craft.  
Now have I made you true account of all that he me laft,  
As well of riches as of trades, in which I was his heir  
And successor. For when that death bereft him use of air,  
Save water he me nothing left. It is the thing alone  
Which for my lawful heritage I claim, and other none.  
Soon after I (because that loath I was to ay abide  
In that poor state) did learn a ship by cunning hand to guide,  
And for to know the rainy sign, that hight th' Olenien Goat  
Which with her milk did nourish jove. And also I did note  
The Pleiads and the Hiads moist, and eke the siely Plough  
With all the dwellings of the winds that make the Seas so rough.  
And eke such havens as are meet to harbour vessels in:  
With every star and heavenly sign that guides to shipmen been.  
Now as by chance I late ago did toward Dilos sail,  
I came on coast of Scios' Isle, and seeing day to fail,  
took harbour there and went a land. assoon as that the night  
Was spent, and morning can to peer with ruddy glaring light,  
I rose and bade my company fresh water fetch aboard.  
And pointing them the way that led directly to the ford,  
I went me to a little hill, and viewed round about  
To see what weather we were like to have eresetting out.  
Which done, I called my watermen and all my Mates together,  
And willed them all to go a board myself first going thither.  
Lo here we are (Opheltes said) (he was the masters Mate)  
And (as he thought) a booty found in desert fields a late,  
He dragged a boy upon his hand that for his beauty shéene,  
A maiden rather than a boy appeared for to been.  
This child, as one forelade with wine, and dreint with drowsy sleep  
Did reel, as though he scarcely could himself from falling keep.  
I marked his countenance, weed and pace, no inkling could I see,  
By which I might conjecture him a mortal wight to be.  
I thought, and to my fellows said: what God I can not tell  
But in this body that we see some Godhead sure doth dwell.  
What God so ever that thou art, thy favour to us show,  
And in our labours us assist, and pardon these also.  
Pray for thyself and not for us (quoth Dictys by and by.)  
A nimbler fellow for to climb upon the Mast on high  
And by the Cable down to slide, there was not in our keel.  
Swart Melanth patron of the ship did like his saying we'll.  
So also did Alcimedon: and so did Libys to,  
And black Epopeus eke whose charge it did belong unto  
To see the Rowers at their times their duties duly do.  
And so did all the rest of them: so sore men's eyes were blinded  
Where covetousness of filthy gain is more than reason minded.  
Well sirs (quoth I) but by your leave ye shall not have it so,  
I will not suffer sacrilege within this ship to go.  
For I have here the most to do. And with that word I stepped  
Upon the Hatches, all the rest from entrance to have kept.  
The rankest Ruffian of the rout that Lycab had to name,  
(Who for a murder being late driven out of Tuscan came  
To me for succour) waxed wood, and with his sturdy fist  
Did give me such a churlish blow because I did resist,  
That over board he had me sent, but that with much ado  
I caught the tackling in my hand and held me fast thereto:  
The wicked Uarlets had a sport to see me handled so.  
Then Bacchus (for it Bacchus was) as though he had but th●,  
Bene waked with their noise from sleep, and that his drowsy brain  
Discharged of the wine, begun to gather sense again)  
Said: what a do? what noise is this? how came I here I pray?  
S●rs tell me whether you do mean to carry me away.  
Fear not my boy (the Patron said) no more but tell me where  
Thou dost desire to go a land, and we will set thee there.  
To Naxus ward (quoth Bacchus tho) set ship upon the ●ome.  
There would I have harbour take, for Naxus is my home.  
Like perjured Caitiffs by the Sea and all the Gods thereof,  
They falsely swore it should be so, and therewithal in scoff  
They bade me hoist up sail and go. Upon the righter hand  
I cast about to fetch the wind, for so did Naxus stand.  
What meanest? art mad? Opheltes cried, and therewithal begun  
A fear of losing of their prey through every man to run.  
The greater part with head and hand a sign did to me make,  
And some did whisper in mine ear the left hand way to take.  
I was amazed and said take charge henceforth who will for me:  
For of your craft and wickedness I will no furthrer be.  
Then fell they to reviling me, and all the rout 'gan grudge:  
Of which Ethalion said in scorn: by like in you Sir snudge  
Consists the safeguard of us all▪ and with that word he takes  
My room, and leaving Naxus quite to other countries makes.  
The God then dallying with these mates, as though he had at last  
Begun to smell their subtle craft, out of the foredecke cast  
His eye upon the Sea: and then as though he seemed to weep,  
Said: sirs to bring me on this coast ye do not promise keep.  
I see that this is not the land the which I did request.  
For what occasion in this sort deserve I to be dressed?  
What commendation can you win, or praise thereby receive?  
If men a Lad, if many one ye compass to deceive?  
I wept and sobbed all this while, the wicked villains laughed,  
And rowed forth with might & main, as though they had been 'straught.  
Now even by him (for sure than he in all the world so wide  
There is no God more near at hand at every time and tide.)  
I swear unto you that the things the which I shall declare,  
Like as they seem incredible, even so most true they are,  
The ship stood still amid the Sea as in a dusty dock.  
They wondering at this miracle, and making but a mock,  
Persist in beating with their Oars, and on with all their sails.  
To make their Galley to remove, no Art nor labour fails.  
But ivy troubled so their Oars that forth they could not row:  
And both with Berries and with leaves their ●ailes did overgrow  
And he himself with clustered grapes about his temples round,  
Did shake a javelin in his hand that round about was bound  
With leaves of Uines: and at his feet there seemed for to couch  
Of Tigers, Lynx, and Panther's shapes most ugly for to touch.  
I cannot tell you whether fear or woodness were the cause,  
But every person leapth up and from his labour draws.  
And there one Medon first of all began to waxed black,  
And having lost his former shape did take a courbed back.  
What Monster shall we have of thee (quoth Licab) and with that  
This Licabs chaps did waxen wide, his nostrils waxed flat,  
His skin waxed tough, and scales thereon began anon to grow.  
And Libis as he went about the Oars away to throw,  
Perceived how his hands did shrink and were become so short,  
That now for fins and not for hands he might them well report.  
Another as he would have clasped his arm about the cord:  
Had near an arm, and so bemaimd in body, over board  
He leapeth down among the waves, and forked is his tail  
As are the horns of Phebe's face when half her light doth fail.  
They leap about and sprinkle up much water on the ship,  
One while they swim above, and down again anon they slip.  
They fetch their frisks as in a dance, and wanton they writhe  
Now here now there among the waves their body's bane and lithe.  
And with their wide and hollow nose the water in they snuff,  
And by their noses out again as fast they do it puff.  
Of twenty persons (for our ship so many men did bear)  
I only did remain nigh 'straught and trembling still for fear.  
The God could scarce recomfort me, and yet he said go too,  
Fear not but sail to Dia ward. His will I gladly do.  
And so assoon as I came there with right deuou● intent,  
His Chaplain I became. And thus his Orgies I frequent.  
Thou mak'st a process very long (quoth Penthey) to th'intent  
That (choler being cooled by time) mine anger might relent.  
But Sirs (he spoke it to his men) go take him by and by,  
With cruel torments out of hand go cause him for to die.  
Immediately they led away Acetes out of sight,  
And put him into prison strong from which there was no flight.  
But while the cruel instruments of death as sword and fire  
Were in preparing wherewithal t'accomplish Pentheys ire,  
It is reported that the doors did of their own accord  
Burst open and his chains fall off. And yet this cruel Lord  
Persisteth fiercer than before, not bidding others go  
But goes himself unto the hill Cithaeron, which as tho  
To Bacchus being consecrate did ring of chanted songs,  
And other loud confused sounds of Bacchus' drunken throngs.  
And even as when the bloody Trump doth to the battle sound,  
The lusty horse straight neighing out bestirs him on the ground,  
And taketh courage thereupon t'assail his emnie proud:  
Even so when Penthey heard a far the noise and howling loud  
That Bacchus' frantic folk did make, it set his heart on fire,  
And kindled fiercer than before the sparks of settled ire.  
There is a goodly plain about the middle of the hill,  
Environed in with Woods, where men may view each way at will.  
Here looking on these holy rites with lewd profaned eyes  
King Pentheys mother first of all her foresaid son espies,  
And like a Bedlam first of all she doth upon him run,  
And with her javelin furiously she first doth wound her son.  
Come hither sisters come she cries, here is that mighty Boar,  
Here is the Boar that stroyes our fields, him will I strike therefore.  
With that they fall upon him all as though they had been mad,  
And clustering all upon a heap fast after him they gad.  
He quakes and shakes: his words are now become more meek and cold:  
He now condemns his own default, and says he was too bold.  
And wounded as he was he cries help Aunt Autonoë,  
Now for Actaeon's blessed soul some mercy show to me.  
She witted not who Actaeon was, but rend without delay  
His right hand off: and Ino tore his other hand away.  
To lift unto his mother th● the wretch had near an arm:  
But showing her his maimed corpse, and wounds yet bleeding warm,  
O mother see he says: with that Agauë howleth out:  
And writhed with her neck awry, and shook her hair about.  
And holding from his body torn his head in bloody hands,  
She cries: O fellows in this deed our noble conquest stands.  
No sooner could the wind have blown the rotten leaves fro trees,  
When Winter's frost hath bitten them, than did the hands of these  
Most wicked women Pentheys limbs from one another tear.  
The Thebans being now by this example brought in fear,  
Frequent this new-found sacrifice, and with sweet frankincense  
God Bacchus' Altars load with gifts in every place do cense.  
Finis 〈◊〉 Libri.   

¶ THE FOURTH BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
YEt would not stout Alcitho●● Duke Mineus daughter bow  
The Orgies of this new found God in conscience to allow  
But still she stiffly doth deny that Bacchus is the son  
Of jove: and in this heresy her 〈◊〉 with her run.  
The Priest had bidden holiday, and that as well the Maid  
As Mistress (for the time aside all other business laid)  
In Buckskin coats, with tresses lose, and garlands on their hear,  
Should in their hands the levy spea●es (surnamed Thyrsis) bear,  
Foretelling them that if they did the Gods commandment break,  
He would with sore and grievous plagues his wrath upon them wreak.  
The women strait both young and old do thereunto obey.  
Their yarn, their baskets, and their flax unsponne aside they lay,  
And burn to Bacchus' frankincense. Whom solemnly they call  
By all the names and titles high that may to him befall.  
As Bromius, and Lyeus eke, begotten of the flame,  
Twice borne, the sole and only child that of two mothers came.  
Unshorn Thyoney, Niseus, Leneus, and the s●tter  
Of Uines, whose pleasant liquor makes all tables far the better.  
Nyctileus and th' Elelean Sire, jacchus, evan eke,  
With divers other glorious names that through the land of Greek  
To thee O Liber wont are to attributed be.  
Thy youthful years can never waste: there dwelleth ay in thee  
A childhod tender, fresh and fair: In Heaven we do thee see  
Surmounting every other thing in beauty and in grace  
And when thou standst without thy horns thou hast a Maiden's face.  
To thee obeyeth all the East as far as Ganges goes,  
Which doth the scorched land of Ind with tawny folk enclose.  
Lycurgus' with his twibill sharp, and Penthey who of pride  
Thy Godhead and thy mighty power rebelliously denied,  
Thou right redowted didst confound: Thou into Sea didst send  
The Tyrrhene shipmen. Thou with bits the sturdy necks dost bend  
Of spotted Lynxes: Throngs of Frowes and satires on thee tend,  
And that old Hag that with a staff his staggering limbs doth stay  
Scarce able on his Ass to sit for réeling every way.  
Thou comest not in any place but that is heard the noise  
Of gaggling women's tattling tongues and shouting out of boys.  
With sound of Timbrels, Tabors, Pipes, and Brazen pans and pots  
Confusedly among the rout that in thine Orgies trots.  
The Theban women for thy grace and favour humbly sue,  
And (as the Priest did bid) frequent thy rites with reverence due.  
Alonely Mineus daughters bend of wilfulness, with working  
Quite out of time to break the feast, are in their houses lurking:  
And there do fall to spinning yarn, or weaving in the frame,  
And keep their maidens to their work. Of which one pleasant dame  
As she with nimble hand did draw her slender thread and fine,  
Said: while that others idly do serve the God of wine,  
Let us that serve a better Saint Minerva, find some talk  
To ease our labour while our hands about our profit walk.  
And for to make the time seem short, let each of us recite,  
(As every body's turn shall come) some tale that may delight.  
Her saying lik●e the rest so well that all consent therein,  
And thereupon they pray that first the eldest would begin.  
She had such store and choice of tales she witted not which to tell▪  
She doubted if she might declare the fortune that befell  
To Dircetes of Babylon whom now with scaly hide  
In altered shape the Philistine believeth to abide  
In watery Pools: or rather how her daughter taking wings  
In shape of Dove on tops of towers in age now sadly sings:  
Or how a certain water Nymph by witchcraft and by charms  
Converted into fishes dumb, of youngmen many swarms,  
Until that of the self same sauce herself did taste at last:  
Or how the tree that used to bear fruit white in ages past,  
Doth now bear fruit in manner black, by sprinkling up of blood.  
This tale (because it was not stolen nor common) seemed good  
To her to tell: and thereupon she in this wise begun.  
Her ●●sie hand still drawing out the flaxen thread she spun.  
Within the town (of whose huge walls so monstrous high & thick  
The fame is given Semiramis for making them of brick)  
Dwelled hard together two young folk in houses joined so near  
That under all one roof well nigh both twain conveyed were.  
The name of him was Pyramus, and Thisbe called was she.  
So fair a man in all the East was none alive as he,  
Nor near a woman maid nor wife in beauty like to her.  
This neighbrod bred acquaintance first, this neyghbrod first did stir  
The secret sparks, this neighbrod first an entrance in did show,  
For love to come to that to which it afterward did grow.  
And if that right had taken place they had been man and wife,  
But still their Parents went about to let which (for their life)  
They could not let. For both their hearts with equal flame did burn.  
No man was privy to their thoughts. And for to serve their turn  
In stead of talk they used signs, the closelier they suppressed  
The fire of love, the fiercer still it raged in their breast.  
The wall that parted house from house had riven therein a cranny  
Which shrunk at making of the wall▪ this fault not marked of any  
Of many hundred years before (what doth not love espy.)  
These lovers first of all found out, and made a way whereby  
To talk together secretly, and through the same did go  
Their loving whisper very light and safely to and fro.  
Now as a tonefide Pyramus and This be on the t'other  
Stood often drawing one of them the pleasant breath from other  
O thou envious wall (they said) why lettest thou lovers thus?  
What matter were it if that thou permitted both of us  
In arms each other to embrace? Or if thou think that this  
Were overmuch, yet mightest thou at least make room to kiss.  
And yet thou shalt not find us churls: we think ourselves in de●  
For this same piece of courtesy, in vouching safe to let  
Our sayings to our friendly ears thus freely come and go,  
Thus having where they stood in vain complained of their woe,  
When night drew near, they bade adieu and each gave kisses sweet  
Unto the parget on their side, the which did never meet.  
Next morning with her cheerful light had driven the stars aside  
And Phoebus with his burning beams the dews grass had dried.  
These lovers at their wont place by foreappointment met.  
Where after much complaint and moan they covenanted to get  
Away from such as watched them, and in the Evening late  
To steal out of their father's house and eke the City gate.  
And to th'intent that in the fields they strayde not up and down  
They did agree at Ninus Tumb to meet without the town,  
And tarry underneath a tree that by the same did grow  
Which was a fair high Mulberry with fruit as white as snow,  
Hard by a cool and trickling spring. This bargain pleased them both  
And so daylight (which to their thought away but slowly goth)  
Did in the Ocean fall to rest, and night from thence doth rise.  
assoon as darkness once was come, strait Thisbe did devise  
A shift to wind her out of doors, that none that were within  
perceived her: And muffling her with clothes about her chin,  
That no man might discern her face, to Ninus Tumb she came  
Unto the tree, and sat her down there underneath the same.  
love made her bold. But see the chance, there comes besmeared with blood,  
About the chaps a Lioness all foaming from the wood  
From slaughter lately made of Kine to staunch her bloody thirst  
With water of the foresaid spring. Whom Thisbe spying furst  
A far by moonlight, thereupon with fearful steps 'gan fly,  
And in a dark and irksome cave did hide herself thereby.  
And as she fled away for hast she let her mantle fall  
The which for fear she left behind not looking back at all.  
Now when the cruel Lioness her thirst had staunched well,  
In going to the Wood she found the slender weed that fell  
From Thisbe, which with bloody teeth in pieces she did tear  
The night was somewhat further spent ere Pyramus came there  
Who seeing in the subtle sand the print of Lion's paw,  
Waxed pale for fear. But when also the bloody cloak he saw  
All rent and torn, one night (he said) shall lovers two confound,  
Of which long life deserved she of all that live on ground.  
My soul deserves of this mischance the peril for to bear.  
I wretch have been the death of thee, which to this place of fear  
Did cause thee in the night to come, and came not here before.  
My wicked limbs and wretched guts with cruel teeth therefore  
Devour ye O ye Lions all that in this rock do dwell.  
But Cowards use to wish for death. The slender weed that fell  
From Thisbe up he takes, and straight doth bear it to the tree,  
Which was appointed erst the place of meeting for to be.  
And when he had bewept and kissed the garment which he knew,  
receive thou my blood too (quoth he.) and therewithal he drew  
His sword, the which among his guts he thrust, and by and by  
Did draw it from the bleeding wound beginning for to die,  
And cast himself upon his back, the blood did spin on high  
As when a Conduit pipe is cracked, the water bursting out  
Doth shoot itself a great way off and pierce the Air about.  
The leaves that were upon the tree besprinkled with his blood  
Were died black. The root also bestained as it stood,  
A deep dark purple colour strait upon the Berries cast.  
Anon scarce ridded of her fear with which she was aghast,  
For doubt of disappointing him comes Thisbe forth in haste,  
And for her lover looks about, rejoicing for to tell  
How hardly she had scaped that night the danger that befell.  
And as she knew right well the place and fashion of the tree  
(As which she saw so late before): even so when she did see  
The colour of the Berries turned, she was uncertain whither  
It were the tree at which they both agreed to meet together.  
While in this doubtful stound she stood, she cast her eye aside  
And there beweltred in his blood her lover she espied  
Lie sprawling with his dying limbs: at which she started back,  
And looked pale as any Box, a shuddering through her stracke,  
Even like the Sea which suddenly with whissing noise doth move,  
When with a little blast of wind it is but touched above.  
But when approaching nearer him she knew it was her love.  
She beat her breast, she shricked out, she tore her golden hears,  
And taking him between her arms did wash his wounds with tears,  
She meynt her weeping with his blood, and kissing all his face  
(Which now became as cold as ice) she cried in woeful case  
Alas what chance my Pyramus hath parted thee and me?  
Make answer O my Pyramus: It is thy Thisb, even she  
Whom thou dost love most heartily that speaketh unto thee.  
Give ear and raise thy heavy head. He hearing Thisbe's name,  
Lift up his dying eyes and having seen her closed the same.  
But when she knew her mantle there and saw his scabbard lie  
Without the sword: Unhappy man thy love hath made thee die:  
Thy love (she said) hath made thee slay thyself. This hand of mine  
Is strong enough to do the like. My love no less than thine  
Shall give me force to work my wound. I will pursue the dead.  
And wretched woman as I am, it shall of me be said  
That like as of thy death I was the only cause and blame,  
So am I thy companion eke and partner in the same,  
For death which only could alas asunder part us twain,  
Shall never so dissever us but we will meet again.  
And you the Parents of us both, most wretched folk alive,  
Let this request that I shall make in both our names belive  
Entreat you to permit that we whom chaste and steadfast love  
And whom even death hath joined in one, may as it doth behove  
In one grave be together laid. And thou unhappy tree  
Which shroudest now the corpse of one, and shalt anon through me  
Shroud two, of this same slaughter hold the sicker signs for ay  
Black be the colour of thy fruit and mourninglike always,  
Such as the murder of us twain may evermore bewray.  
This said, she took the sword yet warm with slaughter of her love  
And setting it beneath her breast, did to her heart it shove.  
Her prayer with the Gods and with their Parents took effect.  
For when the fruit is thoroughly ripe, the Berrie is bespect  
With colour tending to a black. And that which after fire  
Remained, rested in one tomb as Thisbe did desire.  
This tale thus told a little space of pausing was betwist,  
And then began Leucotho● thus, her sisters being whist.  
This Sun that with his streaming light all worldly things doth cheer  
Was ta'en in love. of Phoebus loves now list and you shall hear.  
It is reported that this God did first of all espy,  
(For every thing in Heaven and Earth is open to his eye)  
How Venus with the warlike Mars adultery did commit.  
It grieved him to see the fact and so discovered it,  
He showed his husband junos' son th' adultery and the place  
In which this privy escape was done. Who was in such a case  
That heart and hand and all did fail in working for a space.  
Anon he featly forged a net of Wire so fine and slight,  
That neither knot nor noose therein apparent was to sight.  
This piece of work was much more fine than any handwarpe oofe  
Or that whereby the Spider hangs in sliding from the roof.  
And furthermore the suttlenesse and slight thereof was such.  
It followed every little pull and closed with every touch,  
And so he set it handsomely about the haunted couch.  
Now when that Venus and her mate were met in bed together  
Her husband by his new-found snare before conveyed thither  
Did snarl them both together fast in mids of all their play  
And setting ope the I●orie doors, called all the Gods straight way,  
To see them: they with shame enough fast locked together lay,  
A certain God among the rest disposed for to sport  
Did wish that he himself also were shamed in that sort.  
The resdue laughed and so in heaven there was no talk a while,  
But of this Pageant how the Smith the lovers did beguile.  
Dame Venus highly stomacking this great displeasure, thought  
To be revenged on the part by whom the spite was wrought.  
And like as he her secret loves and meetings had bewrayed.  
So she with wound of raging love his guerdon to him paid.  
What now avails (Hyperions son) thy form and beauty bright?  
What now avail thy glistering eyes with clear and piercing sight?  
For thou that with thy gleams art wont all countries for to burn,  
Art burnt thyself with other gleams that serve not for thy turn.  
And thou that oughtest thy cheerful look on all things for to show  
Alonely on Leucothoë dost now the same bestow.  
Thou fastnest on that Maid alone the eyes that thou dost owe  
To all the world. Sometime more rathe thou risest in the East,  
Sometime again thou mak'st it late before thou fall to rest.  
And for desire to look on her, thou often dost prolong  
Our winter nights. And in thy light thou failest eke among.  
The fancy of thy faulty mind infects thy feeble sight,  
And so thou mak'st men's hearts afraid by daunting of thy light,  
Thou looxte not pale because the globe of Phebe is between  
The Earth and thee: but love doth cause this colour to be seen.  
Thou lovest this Leucothoë so far above all other,  
That neither now for Clymen●, for Rhodos, nor the mother  
Of Circé, nor for Clytië (who at that present tide  
Rejected from thy company did for thy love abide  
Most grievous torments in her heart: thou seemest for to care.  
Thou mindest her so much that all the rest forgotten are.  
Her mother was Eurynome of all the fragrant clime  
Of Arabia esteemed the flower of beauty in her time.  
But when her daughter came to age the daughter past the mother  
As far in beauty, as before the mother past all other.  
Her father was king Orchamus and ruled the public weal  
Of Persey, counted by descent the vij from ancient Bele.  
Far underneath the Western clime of Hesperus do run  
The pastures of the fiery steeds that draw the golden Sun.  
There are they fed with Ambrosia in stead of grass all night  
Which doth refresh their weary limbs and keepeth them in plight  
To bear their daily labour out: now while the steeds there take  
Their heavenly food and night by turn his timely course doth make,  
The God disguised in the shape of Queen Eurynome  
Doth press within the chamber door of fair Leucothoë  
His lover, whom amid xii Maids he found by candlelight  
Yet spinning on her little Rock, and went me to her right.  
And kissing her as mothers use to kiss their daughters dear,  
Said Maids withdraw yourselves a while and sit not listening here.  
I have a secret thing to talk. The Maids avoid each one.  
The God then being with his love in chamber all alone,  
Said: I am he that meats the year, that all things do behold,  
By whom the Earth doth all things see, the Eye of all the world.  
Trust me I am in love with thee. The Lady was so nipped  
With sudden fear that from her hands both rock and spindle slipped  
Her fear became her wondrous well. he made no more delays,  
But turned to his proper shape and took his glistering rays.  
The damsel being sore abashed at this so strange a sight,  
And overcome with sudden fear to see the God so bright,  
Did make no outcry nor no noise, but held her patience still,  
And suffered him by forced power his pleasure to fulfil.  
Hereat did Clytie sore repine. For she beyond all measure  
Was then enamoured of the Sun: & stung with this displeasure  
That he another Leman had, for very spite and ire  
She plays the blab, and doth defame Leucothoë to her Sire.  
He cruel and unmerciful would no excuse accept,  
But holding up her hands to heaven when tenderly she wept,  
And said it was the Sun that did the deed against her will:  
Yet like a savage beast full bend his daughter for to spill,  
He put her deep in delved ground, and on her body laid  
A huge great heap of heavy sand. The Sun full ill appaide  
Did with his beams disperse the sand and made an open way  
To bring thy buried face to light, but such a weight there lay  
Upon thee, that thou couldst not raise thine hand aloft again,  
And so a corpse both void of blood and life thou didst remain.  
There never chanced since Phaeton's fire a thing that grieved so sore  
The ruler of the winged steeds as this did. And therefore  
He did attempt if by the force and virtue of his ray  
He might again to lively heat her frozen limbs convey.  
But forasmuch as destiny so great attempts denies,  
He sprincles both the corpse itself and place wherein it lies  
With fragrant Nectar. And therewith bewailing much his chance  
Said: yet above the starry sky thou shalt thyself advance.  
Anon the body in this heavenly liquor steeped well  
Did melt, and moisted all the earth with sweet and pleasant smell.  
And by and by first taking root among the clods within  
By little and by little did with growing top begin  
A pretty spirke of Frankincense above the tomb to win.  
Although that Clytie might excuse her sorrow by her love  
And seem that so to play the blab her sorrow did her move,  
Yet would the Author of the light resort to her no more  
But did withhold the pleasant sports of Venus used before.  
The Nymph not able of herself the frantic fume to stay.  
With restless care and pensiveness did pine herself away.  
Bareheaded on the bare cold ground with flaring hair unkempt  
She sat abroad both night and day: and clearly did exempt  
Herself by space of thrice three days from sustnance and repast  
Save only dew and save her tears with which she broke her fast.  
And in that while she never rose but stared on the Sun  
And ever turned her face to his as he his corpse did run.  
Her limbs stack fast within the ground, and all her upper part  
Did to a pale ashcolourd herb clean void of blood convert.  
The flower whereof part red part white beshadowed with a blew  
Most like a Violet in the shape her countenance overgrew.  
And now (though fastened with a root) she turns her to the Sun  
And keeps (in shape of herb) the love with which she first begun.  
She made an end: and at her tale all wondered: some denied  
Her saying to be possible: and other some replied  
That such as are in deed true Gods may all things work at will:  
But Bacchus is not any such. This arguing once made still.  
To tell her tale as others had Alcithoes turn was come.  
Who with her shettle shooting through her web within the Loom,  
Said: Of the shepeheird Daplynis love of Ida whom erewhile  
A jealous Nymph (because he did with leman's her beguile)  
For anger turned to a stone (such fury love doth send:)  
I will not speak: it is to know: ne yet I do intend  
To tell how Scython variably digressing from his kind,  
Was as sometime woman, sometime man, as liked best his mind.  
And Celmus also will I pass, who for because he clung  
Most faithfully to jupiter when jupiter was young,  
Is now become an Adamant. So will I pass this hour  
To show you how the Curets were engendered of a shower:  
Or how that Crocus and his love fair Smylar turned were  
To little flowers. with pleasant news your minds now will I cheer.  
Learn why the fountain Salmacis defamed is of yore,  
Why with his waters overstrong it weakeneth men so sore  
That whoso baths him there comes thence a perfect man no more.  
The operation of this Well is known to every wight.  
But few can tell the cause thereof, the which I will recite.  
The waternymphes did nurse a son of Mercuries in I'd  
Begot on Venus, in whose face such beauty did abide,  
As well therein his father both and mother might be known,  
Of whom he also took his name. assoon as he was grown  
To fifteen years of age, he left the Country where he dwelled  
And Ida that had fostered him. The pleasure that he felt  
To travel Countries, and to see strange rivers with the state  
Of foreign lands, all painfulness of travel did abate.  
He travelde through the land of Lycie to Carry that doth bound  
Next unto Lycia. There he saw a Pool which to the ground  
Was Crystal clear. No fenny sedge, no barren reek, no reed  
Nor rush with pricking point was there, nor other moorish weed.  
The water was so pure and shear a man might well have seen  
And numbered all the gravel stones that in the bottom been.  
The utmost borders from the brim environed were with clowres  
Beclad with herbs ay fresh and green and pleasant smelling flowers.  
A Nymph did haunt this goodly Pool: but such a Nymph as neither  
To hunt, to run, nor yet to shoot, had any kind of pleasure.  
Of all the Waterfairies she alonely was unknown  
To swift Diana. As the brute of fame abroad hath blown,  
Her sisters oftentimes would say: take lightsome Dart or bow,  
And in some painful exercise thine idle time bestow.  
But never could they her persuade to run to shoot or hunt,  
Or any other exercise as Phebe's knights are wont.  
Sometime her fair well-formed limbs she batheth in her spring:  
Sometime she down her golden hair with Boxen comb doth bring.  
And at the water as a glass she taketh counsel ay  
How every thing becometh her. Erewhile in fine array  
On soft sweet herbs or soft green leaves herself she nicely lays:  
Erewhile again a gathering flowers from place to place she strays.  
And (as it chanced) the self same time she was a sorting gayes.  
To make a Poisie, when she first the youngman did espy,  
And in beholding him desired to have his company.  
But though she thought she stood on thorns until she went to him:  
Yet went she not before she had bedecked her neat and trim,  
And pride and péerd upon her clothes that nothing sat awry.  
And framed her countenance as might seem most amrous to the eye.  
Which done she thus begun: O child most worthy for to be  
esteemed and taken for a God, if (as thou séemste to me)  
Thou be a God, to Cupid's name thy beauty doth agree.  
Or if thou be a mortal wight, right happy folk are they,  
By whom thou camest into this world, right happy is (I say)  
Thy mother and thy sister too (if any be:) good hap  
That woman had that was thy Nurse and gave thy mouth her pap.  
But far above all other, far more blessed than these is she  
Whom thou vouchsafest for thy wife and bedfellow for to be.  
Now if thou have already one, let me by stealth obtain  
That which shall pleasure both of us. Or if thou do remain  
A Maiden free from wedlock bond, let me then be thy spouse,  
And let us in the bridelie bed ourselves together rouse.  
This sed, the Nymph did hold her peace, and therewithal the boy  
Waxed red: he witted not what love was: and sure it was a joy  
To see it how exceeding well his blushing him became.  
For in his face the colour fresh appeared like the same  
That is in Apples which do hang upon the Sunny side:  
Or ivory shadowed with a red: or such as is espied  
Of white and scarlet colours mixed appearing in the Moon  
When folk in vain with sounding brass would ease unto her done.  
When at the last the Nymph desired most instantly but this,  
As to his sister brotherly to give her there a kiss.  
And therewithal was clasping him about the ivory neck:  
Leave of (quoth he) or I am gone and leave thee at a beck  
With all thy tricks. Then Salmacis began to be afraid,  
And to your pleasure leave I free this place my friend she said.  
With that she turns her back as though she would have gone her way:  
But evermore she looketh back, and (closely as she may)  
She hides her in a bushy queach, where kneeling on her knee  
She always hath her eye on him. He as a child and free,  
And thinking not that any wight had watched what he did  
Rome's up and down the pleasant Mede: and by and by amid  
The flattering waves he dips his feet, no more but first the sole  
And to the ankles afterward both feet he plungeth whole.  
And for to make the matter short, he took so great delight  
In coolness of the pleasant spring, that straight he stripped quite  
His garments from his tender skin. When Salmacis behold  
His naked beauty, such strong pangs so ardently her hold,  
That utterly she was astraught. And even as Phoebus' beams  
Against a mirror pure and clear rebound with broken gleams:  
Even so her eyes did sparkle fire. Scarce could she tarience make:  
Scarce could she any time delay her pleasure for to take:  
She would have run, and in her arms embraced him straight way:  
She was so far beside herself, that scarcely could she stay.  
He clapping with his hollow hands against his naked sides,  
Into the water lithe and baine with arms displayed glides.  
And rowing with his hands and legs swims in the water clear:  
Through which his body fair and white doth glistringly appear,  
As if a man an ivory Image or a Lily white  
Should overlay or close with glass that were most pure and bright.  
The price is won (cried Salmacis aloud) he is mine own.  
And therewithal in all post hast she having lightly thrown  
Her garments off, flew to the Pool and cast her thereinto  
And caught him fast between her arms, for aught that he could do:  
Yea maugre all his wrestling and his struggling to and fro,  
She held him still, and kissed him a hundred times and more.  
And willed he nillde he with her hands she touched his naked breast:  
And now on this side now on that (for all he did resist  
And strive to wrest him from her gripes) she clung unto him fast:  
And wound about him like a Snake which snatched up in haste,  
And being by the Prince of Birds borne lightly up aloft,  
Doth writhe herself about his neck and griping talants oft:  
And cast her ●aile about his wings displayed in the wind:  
Or like as ivy runs on trees about the utter rind:  
Or as the crab-fish having caught his enemy in the Seas,  
Doth clasp him in on every side with all his crooked cleas.  
But Atlas' Nephew still persistes, and utterly denies  
The Nymph to have her hoped sport: she urges him likewise.  
And pressing him with all her weight, fast cleaving to him still,  
Strive, struggle, wrist and writhe (she said) thou froward boy thy fill:  
Do what thou canst thou shalt not scape. Ye Gods of Heaven agree  
That this same wilful boy and I may never parted be.  
The Gods were pliant to her boon. The bodies of them twain  
Were mixed and joined both in one. To both them did remain  
One countenance: like as if a man should in one bark behold  
Two twigs both growing into one and still together hold.  
Even so when through her hugging and her grasping of the other  
The members of them mingled were and fastened both together,  
They were not any longer two: but (as it were) a toy  
Of double shape. Ye could not say it was a perfect boy,  
Nor perfect wench: it seemed both and none of both to been  
Now when Hermaphroditus saw how in the water shéene  
To which he entered in a man, his limbs were weakened so  
That out fro thence but half a man he was compelled to go.  
He lifteth up his hands and said (but not with manly réere)  
O noble father Mercury, and Venus' mother dear.  
This one petition grant your son which both your names doth bear,  
That whoso comes within this Well may so be weakened there,  
That of a man but half a man he may fro thence retire.  
Both Parents moved with the chance did establish this desire  
The which their doubleshaped son had made: and thereupon  
Infected with an unknown strength the sacred spring anon.  
Their tales did end and Mineus daughters still their business ply  
In spite of Bacchus whose high feast they break contemptuously.  
When on the sudden (seeing nought) they heard about them round  
Of rubbish Timbrels perfectly a hoarse and jarring sound.  
With shraming shawms and jingling bells. and furthermore they felt  
A cent of Saffron and of Myrrh that very hotly smelled.  
And (which a man would ill believe) the web they had begun  
Immediately waxed fresh and green, the flax the which they spun  
Did flourish full of ivy leaves. And part thereof did run  
Abroad in Uines. The thread itself in branches forth did spring.  
Young burgeous full of clustered grapes their distaffs forth did bring.  
And as the web they wrought was died a deep dark purple hue,  
Even so upon the painted grapes the self same colour grew.  
The day was spent, and now was come the time which neither night  
Nor day, but even the bound of both a man may term of right.  
The house at sudden seemed to shake, and all about it shine  
With burning lamps, and glittering fires to flash before their eyen.  
And likenesses of ugly beasts with gastfull noises yield.  
For fear whereof in smoky holes the sisters were compelled  
To hide their heads, one here and there another, for to shun  
The glistering light. And while they thus in corners blindly run,  
Upon their little pretty limbs a fine crisp film there goes,  
And slender fins in stead of hands their shortened arms enclose.  
But how they lost their former shape of certainty to know  
The darkness would not suffer them. No feathers on them grow,  
And yet with shear and velume wings they hover from the ground  
And when they go about to speak they make but little sound,  
According as their bodies give, bewailing their despite  
By chirping shirlly to themselves. In houses they delight  
And not in woods: detesting day they flitter towards night:  
Wherethrough they of the Evening late in Latin take their name,  
And we in English language Backs or Réermices call the same.  
Then Bacchus name was reverenced through all the Theban coast.  
And Ino of her nephews power made every where great boast.  
Of Cadmus' daughters she alone no sorrows tasted had,  
Save only that her sister's haps perchance had made her sad.  
Now juno nothing how she waxed both proud and full of scorn,  
As well by reason of the sons and daughters she had borne,  
As also that she was advanced by marriage in that town  
To A●hamas King Aeolus son a Prince of great renown,  
But chief that her sister's son who nursed was by her  
Was then exalted for a God: began thereat to stir,  
And fretting at it in herself said: could this harlot's bird  
Transform the Lydian watermen, and drown thee in the ford?  
And make the mother tear the guts in pieces of her son?  
And Mineus all three daughters clad with wings, because they spun  
Whiles others howling up and down like frantic folk did run?  
And can I juno nothing else save sundry woes bewail?  
Is that sufficient? can my power no more than so avail?  
He teaches me what way to work. A man may take (I see)  
Example at his enemies hand the wiser for to be.  
He shows enough and overmuch the force of furious wrath  
By Pentheys death: why should not Ine be taught to tread the path  
The which her sisters heretofore and kindred trodden hath?  
There is a steep and irksome way obscure with shadow fell  
Of baleful yewgh, all sad and still, that leadeth down to hell.  
The foggy Styx doth breath up mists: and down this way do wave  
The ghosts of persons lately dead and buried in the grave.  
Continual cold and ghastly fear possess this queachie plot  
On either side: the siely Ghost new parted knoweth not  
The way that doth directly lead him to the Stygian City  
Or where black Pluto keeps his Court that never showeth pity.  
A thousand ways, a thousand gates that always open stand,  
This City hath: and as the Sea the streams of all the land  
Doth swallow in his greedy gulf, and yet is never full:  
Even so that place devoureth still and hideth in his gull  
The souls and ghosts of all the world: and though that near so many  
Come thither, yet the place is void as if there were not any.  
The ghosts without flesh, blood, or bones, there wander to and fro.  
Of which some haunt the judgement place: and other come and go  
To Pluto's Court: and some frequent the former trades and Arts  
The which they used in their life: and some abide the smarts  
And torments for their wickedness and other ill deserts.  
So cruel hate and spiteful wrath did boil in junos' breast,  
That in the high and noble Court of Heaven she could not rest:  
But that she needs must hither come: whose feet no sooner touched  
The threshold, but it ga● to quake. And Cerberus erst couched  
Start sternly up with three fell heads which barked all together.  
She called the daughters of the night the cruel furies thither:  
They sat a kembing foul black Snakes from of their filthy hear  
Before the dungeon door, the place where Caitiffs punished were,  
The which was made of Adamant. when in the dark in part  
They knew Queen juno, by and by upon their feet they start.  
There Titius stretched out (at least) nine acres full in length,  
Did with with his bowels feed a Gripe that tore them out by strength.  
The water stead from Tantalus that touched his neither lip,  
And Apples hanging over him did ever from him slip.  
There also laboured Sisyphus that drove against the hill  
A rolling stone that from the top came tumbling downward still▪  
Ixion on his restless whaile to which his limbs were bound  
Did fly and follow both at once in turning ever round.  
And Danaus' daughters forbecause they did their cousins kill,  
Drew water into running tub which evermore did spill.  
When juno with a louring look had v●wde them all throughout,  
And on Ixion specially before the other rout,  
She t●rnes from him to Sisyphus, and with an angry cheer  
Says: wherefore should this man endure continual penance here?  
And Athamas his brother reign in wealth and pleasure free?  
Who through his pride hath ay dis●ainde my husband jove and me.  
And therewithal she poured out th'occasion of hirhate,  
And why she came and what she would. She would that Cadmus' state  
Should with the ruin of his house be brought to swift decay.  
And that to mischief Athamas the Fiends should force some way,  
She bids, she prays, she promises, and all is with a breath.  
And moves the furies earnestly: and as these things she seth,  
The hateful Hag Tisiphone with hoary ruffled hear,  
Removing from her face the Snakes that loosely dangled there,  
Said thus: Madame there is no need long circumstance to make.  
Suppose your will already done. This loathsome place forsake,  
And to the wholesome Air of heaven yourself again retire.  
Queen juno went right glad away with grant of her desire.  
And as she would have entered heaven, the Lady Iris came  
And purged her with streaming drops. Anon upon the same  
The furious Friend tisiphone doth clothe her out of ●and  
In garment streaming gory blood, and taketh in her hand  
A burning Cresset steepte in blood, and girdeth her about  
with wreathed Snakes and so goes forth. And at her going out,  
Fear, terror, grief and pensiveness for company she took,  
And also madness with his slaight, and ghastly staring look.  
Within the house of Athamas no sooner foot she set,  
But that the posts began to quake and doors look black as jet.  
The son withdrew him, Athamas and eke his wife were cast  
With ugly sighies in such a fear, that out of doors aghast  
They would have fled. There stood the Fiend, and stopped their passage out,  
And splaying forth her filthy arms beknit with Snakes about,  
Did toss and wave her hateful head. The swarm of s●aled snakes  
Did make an irksome noise to hear as she her tresses shakes.  
About her shoulders some did crawl: some trailing down her breast  
Did hiss and spit out poison green, and spirit with tongues infest.  
Then from amid her hair two snakes with venymd hand she drew  
Of which she one at Athamas and one at Ino threw.  
The snakes did crawl about their breasts, inspiring in their heart  
Most grievous motions of the mind: the body had no smart  
Of any wound: it was the mind that felt the cruel stings.  
A poison made in Syrup wise, she also with her brings.  
The filthy fame of Cerberus, the casting of the Snake  
Echidna, bred among the Fens about the Stygian Lake:  
Desired of gadding forth abroad: forgetfulness of mind:  
Delight in mischief: woodness: tears: and purpose whole inclined:  
To cruel murder: all the which she did together grind:  
And mingling them with new shed blood had boiled them in brass,  
And stirred them with a Hemlock stalk, Now while that Athamas  
And Ino stood and quakte for fear, this poison rank and fell  
She turned into both their breasts and made their hearts to swell.  
Then whisking often round about her head her baleful brand,  
She made it soon by gathering wind to kindle in her hand.  
Thus as it were in triumph wise accomplishing her hest,  
To dusky Pluto's empty Realm she gets her home to rest,  
And putteth of the snarled Snakes that girded in her breast.  
Immediately King Aeolus son stark mad comes crying out,  
Through all the court what mean ye Sirs? why go ye not about  
To pitch our toils within this chach. I saw even now here ran  
A Lion with her two young whelps. And there withal he 'gan  
To chase his wife as if in deed she had a Lion been  
And like a Bedlam boystouslie he snatcheth from between  
The mother's arms his little babe Loearchus smile on him  
And reaching forth his pretty arms & flung him fiercely from him  
A twice or thrice as from a sling: and dashed his tender head  
Against a hard and rugged stone until he saw him dead.  
The wretched mother (whither grief did move her thereunto  
Or that the poison spread within did force her so to do)  
Hold out and frantikly with scattered hair about her ears  
And with her little Melicert whom hastily she hears  
In naked arms she crieth out ho Bacchus. At the name  
Of Bac●hus juno 'gan to laugh and scorning said in game,  
This guerdon lo thy foster child requiteth for the same.  
There hangs a rock about the Sea the foot whereof is eat  
So hollow with the saltish waves which on the same do beat.  
That like a house it keepeth off the moisting showers of rain  
The top is rough and shoots his front amids the open main.  
Dame Ino (madness made her strong) did climb this cliff anon  
And healong down (without regard of hurt that hung thereon)  
Did throw her burden and herself, the water where she dashed  
In sprinkling upward glistered red. But Venus sore abashed  
At this her nieces great mischance without offence or fault,  
Her Uncle gently thus bespoke. O ruler of the haut  
And swelling Seas, O noble Neptune whose dominion large  
Extendeth to the Heaven, whereof the mighty jove hath charge,  
The thing is great for which I sew. But show thou for my sake  
Some mercy on my wretched friends whom in thine endless lake  
Thou seest tossed to and fro. Admit thou them among  
Thy Gods. Of right even here to me some favour doth belong  
At least wise if amid the Sea engendered erst I were  
Of Froth, as of the which yet still my pleasant name I bear.  
Neptunus' granted her request, and by and by bereft them  
Of all that ever mortal was. In stead whereof he left them  
A haut and stately majesty: and altering them in hue  
With shape and names most meet for Gods he did them both endew.  
Leucothoë was the mother's name, Palemon was the son.  
The Theban Ladies following her as fast as they could run,  
Did of her feet perceive the print upon the utter stone.  
And taking it for certain sign that both were dead and gone,  
In making moan for Cadmus' house, they wrang their hands and tore  
Their hair, and rend their clothes, and railed on juno out of square,  
As nothing just, but more outrageous far than did behove  
In so revenging of his self upon her husband's love.  
The Goddess juno could not bear their railing. And in faith  
You also will I make to be as witnesses (she saith)  
Of my outrageous cruelty. And so she did in deed.  
For she that loved Ino best was following her with speed  
Into the Sea. But as she would herself have downward cast.  
She could not stir, but to the rock as nailed sticked fast.  
The second as she knocked her breast, did feel her arms wax stiff.  
Another as she stretched out her hands upon the cliff,  
Was made a stone, and there stood still ay stretching forth her hands  
Into the water as before. And as an other stands  
A tearing of her ruffled locks, her fingers hardened were  
And fastened to her frizzled top still tearing of her hear,  
And look what gesture each of them was taken in that tide,  
Even in the same transformed to stones, they fastened did abide.  
And some were altered into birds which Cadmies called be  
And in that goolfe with flittering wings still to and fro do flee.  
Nought knoweth Cadmus that his daughter and her little child  
Admitted were among the Gods that rule the surges wild.  
Compellde with grief and great mishaps that had ensewd together,  
And strange foretokens often seen since first his coming thither,  
He utterly forsakes his town the which he builded had,  
As though the fortune of the place so hardly him bestead,  
And not his own. And fleeting long like pilgrims, at the last  
Upon the coast of Illirie his wife and he were cast.  
Where nigh forpind with cares and years, while of the chances passed  
Upon their house, and of their toils and former travails ta'en  
They sadly talked between themselves, was my spear head the bane  
Of that same ugly Snake of Mars (ꝙ Cadmus) when I fled  
From Sidon? or did I his teeth in ploughed pasture spread?  
If for the death of him the Gods so cruel vengeance take,  
Drawn out in length upon my womb then trail I like a snake.  
He had no sooner said the word but that he 'gan to glide.  
Upon his belly like a Snake. And on his hardened side  
He felt the s●ales new budding out, the which was wholly fret  
With speccled drops of black and grey as thick as could be set.  
He falleth groveling on his breast, and both his shanks do grow  
In one round spindle Bodkinwise with sharpened point below.  
His arms as yet remained still: his arms that did remain,  
He stretched out, and said with tears that plenteously did rain  
A down his face, which yet did keep the native fashion sound,  
Come hither wife, come hither wight most wretched on the ground,  
And while that ought of me remains vouchsafe to touch the same.  
Come take me by the hand as long as hand may have his name,  
Before this snakish shape do whole my body over run.  
He would have spoken more when suddenly his tongue begun  
To split in two and speech did fail: and as he did attempt  
To make his moan, he hist: for nature now had clean exempt  
All other speech. His wretched wife her naked stomach beet:  
And cried, what meaneth this? dear Cadmus' where are now thy feet?  
Where are thy shoulders and thy hands? thy hue and manly face?  
With all the other things that did thy princely person grace?  
Which now I overpass. But why ye Gods do you delay?  
My body into like misshape of Serpent to convey?  
When this was spoken, Cadmus licked his wife about the lips:  
And (as a place with which he was acquainted well) he slips  
Into her bosom, lovingly embracing her, and cast  
Himself about her neck, as oft he had in time forepast.  
Such as were there (their folk were there) were flaighted at the ●ight,  
For by and by they saw their necks did glister slick and bright.  
And on their snakish heads grew crests? and finally they both  
Were into very Dragons turned, and forth together goth  
Lone trailing by the tother side, until they gained a wood,  
The which direct against the place where as they were then stood.  
And now remembering what they were themselves in times forepast,  
They neither shun nor hurten men with stinging nor with blast.  
But yet a comfort to them both in this their altered hue  
Became that noble imp of theirs that Indie did subdue,  
Whom all Achaia worshipped with temples builded new.  
All only Acrise Abas son (though of the self same stock)  
Remained, who out of Argos walls unkindly did him lock.  
And moved wilful war against his Godhead: thinking that  
There was not any race of Gods for he believed not  
That Persey was the son of jove: or that he was conceived  
By Danae of golden shower through which she was deceived.  
But yet ere long (such present force hath truth) he doth repent  
As well his great impiety against God Bacchus meant,  
As also that he did disdiane his Nephew for to know.  
But Bacchus now full gloriously himself in Heaven doth show.  
And Persey bearing in his hand the monster Gorgon's head,  
That famous spoil which here and there with snakish hair was spread,  
Doth beat the air with waving wings. And as he overflew  
The Lybicke sands, the drops of blood that from the head did sew  
Of Gorgon being new cut off, upon the ground did fall.  
Which taking them (and as it were conceiving therewithal,)  
Engendered sundry Snakes and worms: by means whereof that clime  
Did swarm with Serpents ever since, even to this present tyme.  
From thence he like a watery cloud was carried with the weather,  
Through all the heaven, now here, now there as light as any feather.  
And from aloft he views the earth that underneath doth lie,  
And swiftly over all the world doth in conclusion fly,  
Three times the chilling bears, three times the crabs fell cleas he saw:  
Oft times to West, oftimes to East did drive him many a flaw.  
Now at such time as unto rest the son began to draw,  
Because he did not think it good to be abroad all night,  
Within King Atlas western Realm he ceased from his flight,  
Requesting that a little space of rest enjoy he might,  
Until such time as Lucifer should bring the morning grey,  
And morning bring the lightsome Sun that guides the cheerful day.  
This Atlas japets' Nephew, was a man that did excel  
In stature every other wight that in the world did dwell.  
The utmost coast of all the earth and all that Sea wherein  
The tired steeds and wearied Wain of Phoebus dived been,  
Were in subjection to this King. A thousand flocks of sheep,  
A thousand herds of Rother beasts he in his fields did keep:  
And not a neighbour did annoy his ground by dwelling nigh.  
To him the wandering Persey thus his language did apply.  
If high renown of royal race thy noble heart may move,  
I am the son of jove himself: or if thou more approve  
The valiant deeds and haut exploits, thou shalt perceive in me  
Such doings as deserve with praise extolled for to be.  
I pray thee of thy courtesy receive me as thy guest,  
And let me only for this night within thy palace rest.  
King Atlas called strait to mind an ancient prophesy  
Made by Parnassian Themies, which this sentence did imply.  
The time shall one day Atlas come in which thy golden tree  
Shall of her fair and precious fruit despoiled and rob be.  
And he shall be the son of jove that shall enjoy the prey.  
For fear hereof he did enclose his Orchard every way.  
With mighty hills, and put an ugly Dragon in the same  
To keep it. Further he forbade that any stranger came  
Within his Realm, and to this knight he said presumtuouslie:  
Avoid my land, unless thou wilt by utter peril try  
That all thy glorious acts whereof thou dost so loudly lie  
And jove thy father be too far to help thee at thy need.  
To these his words he added force, add went about in deed  
To drive him out by strength of hand. To speak was loss of wind  
For neither could entreating fair nor stoutness turn his mind.  
Well then (ꝙ Persey) sith thou dost mine honour set so light,  
Take here a present: and with that he turns away his sight,  
And from his left side drew me out Medusa's loathly head.  
As huge and big as Atlas was he turned in that stead  
Into a mountain: Into trees his beard and locks did pass:  
His hands and shoulders made the ridge: that part which lately was  
His head, became the highest top of all the hill: his bones  
Were turned to stones: and therewithal he grew me all at ones  
Beyond all measure up in height (For so God thought it best)  
So far that Heaven with all the stars did on his shoulders rest.  
In endless prison by that time had Aëolus locked the wind  
And now the cheerly morning star that putteth folk in mind  
To rise about their daily work shone brightly in the sky.  
Then Persey unto both his feet did straight his feathers tie  
And gird his Woodknife to his side, and from the earth did sty.  
And leaving nations nomberlesse beneath him every way  
At last upon King Cepheyes fields in Aethiop did he stay.  
Where clean against all right and law by Jove's commandment  
Andromad for her mother's tongue did suffer punishment.  
Whom to a rock by both the arms when fastened he had seen,  
He would have thought of Marble stone she had some image been,  
But that her tresses to and fro the whisking wind did blow,  
And trickling tears warm from her eyes a down her cheeks did flow  
Unwares hereat 'gan secret sparks within his breast to glow.  
His wits were 'straught at sight thereof and ravished in such wise,  
That how to hover with his wings he scarcely could devise.  
assoon as he had stayed himself, O Lady fair (ꝙ he)  
Not worthy of such bands as these, but such wherewith we see  
Together, kn●t in lawful bed the earnest lovers be  
I pray thee tell me what thyself and what this land is named  
And wherefore thou dost wear these Chains? the Lady ill ashamed  
Was at the sudden stricken dumb: and like a fearful maid  
She durst not speak unto a man. Had not her hands been stayed  
She would have hid her bashful face. Howbeit as she might  
With great abundance of her tears she stopped up her sight  
But when that Persey oftentimes was earnestly in hand  
To learn the matter, for because she would not seem to stand  
In stubborn silence of her faults, she told him what the land  
And what she hight: and how her mother for her beauty's sake  
Through pride did unadvisedly too much upon her take.  
And ere she full had made an end, the water ga● to roar:  
An ugly monster from the deep was making to the shore  
Which bore the Sea before his breast. The Virgin shrieked out.  
Her father and her mother both stood mourning thereabout,  
In wretched ease both twain, but not so wretched as the maid  
Who wrongly for her mother's fault the bitter ransom paid.  
They brought not with them any help: but (as the time and case  
Required) they wept and wrong their hands, and straightly did embrace  
Her body fastened to the rock. Then Persey them bespoke,  
And said: the time may serve too long this sorrow for to make:  
But time of help must either now or never else be take  
Now if I Persey son of her whom in her father's tower  
The mighty jove begat with child in shape of golden shower,  
Who cut off ugly Gorgon's head bespread with snakish hear,  
And in the air durst trust these wings my body for to bear,  
Perchance should save your daughter's life, I think ye should as then  
Accept me for your son in law before all other men.  
To these great thews (by the help of God) I purpose for to add  
A just desert in helping her that is so hard bestead.  
I covenant with you by my force and manhood for to save her,  
Conditionly that to my wife in recompense I have her.  
Her parents took his offer straight: for who would stick thereat  
And prayed him fair, and promised him that for performing that  
They would endow him with the right of all their Realm beside.  
Like as a Galley with her nose doth cut the waters wide,  
Enforced by the sweeting arms of Rowers with the tide  
Even so the monster with his breast did bear the waves aside,  
And was now come as near the rock as well a man might s●ing  
Amid the pure and vacant air a pellet from a s●ing.  
When on the sudden Persey pushed his foot against the ground,  
And stied upward to the clouds his shadow did rebound  
Upon the sea: the beast ran fierce upon the passing shade.  
And as an Eagle when he sees a Dragon in a glade  
Lie beaking of his bluish back against the sunny rays,  
Doth cease upon him unbeware, and with his talants lays  
Sure hold upon his scaly neck lest writhing back his head  
His cruel teeth might do him harm: So Persey in that stead  
Descending down the air a main with all his force and might  
Did cease upon the monsters back: and underneath the right  
fin hard unto the very hilt his hooked sword did smite.  
The monster being wounded sore did sometime leap aloft,  
And sometime under water dive, bestirring him full oft  
As doth a chaufed Boar beset with barking Dogs about.  
But Persey with his lightsome wings still keeping him without  
The monsters reach, with hooked sword doth sometime hue his back  
Where as the hollow scales give way: and sometime he doth hack  
The ribs on both his maled sides: and sometime he doth wound  
His spindle tail where into fish it grows most small and round.  
The Whale at Persey from his mouth such waves of water cast,  
Bemixed with the purple blood, that all bedreint at last  
His feathers very heavy were: and doubting any more  
To trust his wings now waxing wet, he strait began to sore  
Up to a rock which in the calm above the water stood:  
But in the tempest evermore was hidden with the flood.  
And leaning thereunto and with his left hand holding just  
The top thereof a dozen times his weapon he did thrust  
Among his guts. The joyful noise and clapping of their hands  
The which were made for loosening of Andromad from her bands,  
Filled all the coast and heaven itself. The parents of the Maid  
Cassiope and Cepheus were glad and well appaid:  
And calling him their son in law confessed him to be  
The help and safeguard of their house. Andromade the fee  
And cause of Perseys enterprise from bonds now being free,  
He washed his victorious hands. And lest the Snaky head  
With lying on the gravel hard should catch some harm, he spread  
Soft leaves and certain tender twigs that in the water grew,  
And laid Medusa's head thereon: the twigs yet being new  
And quick and full of juicy pith full lightly to them drew  
The nature of this monstrous head. for both the leaf and bough  
Full strangely at the touch thereof became both hard and tough.  
The Seanymphes tried this wondrous fact in divers other rods  
And were full glad to see the change, because there was no odds  
Of leaves or twigs or of the seeds new shaken from the cods.  
For still like nature ever since is in our Coral found:  
That look how soon it toucheth Air it waxeth hard and sound.  
And that which under water was a stick, above is stone,  
Three altars to as many Gods he makes of Turf anon.  
Upon the left hand Mercury's: Minerva's on the right:  
And in the middle jupiter's: to Pallas he did dight  
A Cow: a Calf to Mercury: a Bull to royal jove.  
Forthwith he took Andromade the price for which he strove  
Endowed with her father's Realm. For now the God of Love  
And Hymen unto marriage his mind in haste did move.  
Great fires were made of sweet perfumes, and eurious garlands hung  
About the house, which every where of mirthful music rung  
The gladsome sign of merry minds. The Palace gates were set  
Wide open▪ none from coming in were by the Porters let.  
All Noblemen and Gentlemen that were of any port  
To this same great and royal feast of Cephey did resort.  
When having taken their repast as well of meat as wine  
Their hearts began to pleasant mirth by leisure to incline,  
The valiant Persey of the folk and nations of the land  
Began to be inquisitive. One Lincide out of hand  
The rites and manners of the folk did do him t'understand.  
Which done he said: O worthy knight I pray thee tell us by  
What force or wile thou go●st the head with hairs of Adders sly.  
Then Persey told how underneath cold Atlas lay a plain  
So fenced in on every side with mountains high, that vain  
Were any force to win the same. In entrance of the which  
Two daughters of King Phorcis dwelled whose chance and hap was such  
That one eye served both their turns: whereof by wily slight  
And stealth in putting forth his hand he did bereave them quite,  
As they from tone to other were delivering of the same.  
From whence by long blind crooked ways unhandsomly he came  
Through ghastly groves by ragged cliffs unto the dreary place  
Whereas the Gorgon's dwelled: and there he saw (a wretched case)  
The shapes as well of men as beasts lie scattered every where  
In open fields and common ways, the which transformed were  
From living things to stones at sight of foul Medusa's hear  
But yet that he through brightness of his monstrous brazen shield  
The which he in his left hand bare, Medusa's face beheld.  
And while that in a sound dead sleep were all her Snakes and she,  
He softly pared of her head: and how that he did see  
Swift Pegasus the winged horse and eke his brother grow  
Out of their mother's new shed blood. Moreover he did show  
A long discourse of all his haps and not so long as true:  
As namely of what Seas and lands the coasts he overflew,  
And eke what stars with stying wings he in the while did view.  
But yet his tale was at an end ere any looked therefore.  
Upon occasion by and by of words rehearsed before  
There was a certain noble man demanded him wherefore  
She only of the sisters three hair mixed with Adders bore.  
Sir (answered Persey) sith you ask a matter worth report  
I grant to tell you your demand. she both in comely port  
and beauty, every other wight surmounted in such sort,  
That many suitors unto her did earnestly resort.  
And though that whole from top to toe most beautiful she were,  
In all her body was no part more goodly than her hear.  
I know some parties yet alive, that say they did her see.  
It is reported how she should abused by Neptune be  
In Pallas Church: from which fowl fact Jove's daughter turned her eye,  
And with her Target hide her face from such a villainy.  
And lest it should unpunished be, she turned her seemly hear  
To loathly Snakes: the which (the more to put her foes in fear)  
Before her breast continually she in her shield doth bear.  
Finis quarti Libri.   

¶ THE fift BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
NOw while that Danae's noble son was telling of these things  
Amid a throng of Cepheys Lords, through all the Palace rings  
A noise of people nothing like the sound of such as sing  
At wedding feasts, but like the roar of such as tidings bring  
Of cruel war. This sudden change from feasting unto fray  
Might well be likened to the Sea: which standing at a stay  
The woodness of the winds makes rough by raising of the wave.  
King Cepheys brother Phyney was the man that rashly gave  
The first occasion of this fray. Who shaking in his hand  
A Dart of Ash with head of steel, said lo: lo here I stand  
To challenge thee that wrongfully my ravished spouse dost hold.  
Thy wings nor yet thy forged Dad in shape of feigned gold  
Shall now not save thee from my hands. As with that word he bent  
His arm aloft, the foresaid Dart at Persey to have sent  
What dost thou brother (Cephey cried) what madness moves thy mind  
To do so foul a deed? is this the friendship he shall find  
Among us for his good deserts? And wilt thou needs requi●e  
The saving of thy nieces life with such a foul despite?  
Whom Persey hath not from thee ta'en: but (if thou be advised)  
But Neptune's heavy wrath because his Seanymphes were despised  
But horned Hammon: but the beast which from the Sea arrived  
On my dear bowels for to feed. That time wert thou deprived  
Of thy betroothed, when her life upon the losing stood:  
unless perchance to see her lost it would have done thee good,  
And eased thy heart to see me sad. And may it not suffice  
That thou didst see her to the rock fast bound before thine eyes  
And didst not help her being both her husband and her eme?  
unless thou grudge that any man should come within my Realm  
To save her life? and seek to rob him of his just reward?  
Which if thou think to be so great, thou shouldst have had regard  
Before, to fetch it from the rock to which thou sawst it bond,  
I pray thee brother seeing that by him the means is found  
That in mine age without my child I go not to the ground,  
Permit him to enjoy the price for which we did compound,  
And which he hath by due desert of purchase dearly bought.  
For brother let it never sink nor enter in thy thought  
That I set more by him than thee: but this may well be said  
I rather had to give her him than see my daughter dead.  
He gave him not a word again: But looked eft on him,  
And eft on Persey irefully with countenance stour and grim,  
Not knowing which were best to hit: And after little stay  
He shook his Dart, and fling it forth with all the power and sway  
That Anger gave at Perseys head. But harm it did him none,  
It sticked in the Bedsteddes' head that Persey sat upon.  
Then Persey sternly starting up and pulling out the Dart  
Did throw it at his foe again, and therewithal his heart  
Had cliven a sunder, had he not behind an Altar start.  
The Altar (more the pity was) did save the wicked wight.  
Yet threw he not the Dart in vain: it hit one Rhetus right  
Amid the forehead: who therewith san●e down, and when the steel  
Was plucked out, he sprawlde about and spurned with his heel,  
And all berayd the board with blood. Then all the other rout  
As fierce as fire flung Darts: and some there were that cried out  
That Cephey with his son in law was worthy for to die.  
But he had wound him out of doors protesting solemnly  
As he was just and faithful Prince, and swearing eke by all  
The Gods of Hospitality, that thatsame broil did fall  
Full sore against his will. At hand was warlie Pallas straight  
And shadowed Persey with her shield, and gave him heart in fight.  
There was one Atys borne in Ind, (of fair Lymniace  
The River Ganges daughter thought the issue for to be,)  
Of passing beauty which with rich array he did augment.  
He ware that day a scarlet Cloak, about the which there went  
A guard of gold: a chain of gold he ware about his neck:  
And eke his hair perfumed with Myrrh a costly crown did deck.  
Full sixteen years he was of age: such cunning skill he could  
In darting, as to hit his mark far distant when he would.  
Yet how to handle Bow and shafts much better did he know.  
Now as he was about that time to bend his horned Bow,  
A firebrand Persey reached that did upon the Altar smoke,  
And dashed him overthwart the face with such a violent stroke,  
That all bebattred was his head the bones a sunder broke.  
When Lycabas of Assur land his most assured friend  
And dear companion being no dissembler of his miend  
Which most entirely did him love, beheld him on the ground  
Lie weltering with disfigured face, and through that grievous wound  
Now gasping out his parting ghost, his death he did lament,  
And taking hastily up the Bow that Atys erst had bend,  
Encounter thou with me (he said) thou shalt not long enjoy  
Thy triumphing in bravery thus, for killing of this boy,  
By which thou getst more spite than praise. All this was scarcely said,  
But that the arrow from the string went strained to the head.  
Howbeit Persey (as it happed) so warily did it shun,  
As that it in his coteplights hung. then to him did he run  
With Harp in his hand bestaind with grim Medusa's blood,  
And thrust him through the breast therewith▪ he quothing as he stood  
Did look about where Atys lay with dim and dazzling eyes,  
Now waving under endless night: and down by him he lies,  
And for to comfort him withal together with him dies.  
Behold through greedy haste to fight one Phorbas Methions son  
A Swevite: and of Lybie land one called Amphimedon  
By fortune sliding in the blood with which the ground was we●,  
Fell down: and as they would have r●se, Perseus' falchion met  
With both of them, Amphimedon upon the ribs he smote,  
And with the like celerity he cut me Phorbas throat.  
But unto Erith Actors son that in his hand did hold  
A broad brown Bill, with his short sword he durst not be too bold  
To make approach. With both his hands a great and massy cup  
Embossed with cunning portraiture aloft he taketh up,  
And sends it at him. He spews up red blood: and falling down  
Upon his back, against the ground doth knock his dying crown.  
Then down he Polydemon throws extract of royal race  
And Abaris the Scythian, and Clitus in like case.  
And Elice with his unshorn locks, and also Phlegias,  
And Lycet old Spe●chefies son, with divers other more,  
That on the heaps of corpses slain he treads as he doth go.  
And Phyney daring not presume to meet his foe at hand,  
Did cast a Dart: which happed to light on Idas who did stand  
Aloof as neuter (though in vain) not meddling with the Fray.  
Who casting back a frowning look at Phyney, thus did say.  
Sith whether that I will or no compelled I am perforce  
To take a part, have Phyney here him whom thou dost enforce  
To be thy ●oe, and with this wound my wrongful wound requite.  
But as he from his body pulled the Dart, with all his might  
To throw it at his foe again, his limbs so feebled were  
With loss of blood, that down he fell and could not after steer.  
There also lay Odites slain the chief in all the land  
Next to King Cephey, put to death by force of Clymen's hand.  
Protenor was by Hypsey killde, and Lyncide did as much  
For Hypsey. In the throng there was an ancient man and such  
a one as loved righteousness and greatly feared God:  
Emathion called was his name: whom sith his years forbade  
To put on arms, he fights with tongue, inveighing earnestly  
Against that wicked war the which he banned bitterly.  
As on the Altar he himself with quivering hands did stay,  
One Cromis tipped of his head: his head cut off straight way  
Upon the Altar fell, and there his tongue not fully dead,  
Did babble still the banning words the which it erst had said,  
And breathed forth his fainting ghost among the burning brands.  
Then Brote & Hammon brothers, twins, stout champions of their hands  
In wrestling Pierlesse (if so be that wrestling could sustain  
The furious force of slicing sword) were both by Phyney slain.  
And so was Alphit Ceres' Priest that ware upon his crown  
A stately Mitre fair and white with Tables hanging down.  
Thou also japets' son for such affairs as these unmeet  
But meet to tune thine instrument with voice and ditty sweet  
The work of peace, wert thither called th'assembly to rejoice  
And for to set the marriage forth with pleasant singing voice.  
As with his Uiall in his hand he stood a good way off,  
There cometh to him Petalus and says in way of scoff:  
Go sing the resdue to the ghosts about the Stygian Lake,  
And in the left side of his head his dagger point he struck.  
He sank down dead with fingers still yet warbling on the string  
And so mischance knit up with woe the song that he did sing.  
But fierce Lycormas could not bear to see him murdered so  
Without revengement. Up he caught a mighty leaver though  
That wont was to bar the door a right side of the house  
And therewithal to Petalus he dareth such a sauce  
Full in the noddle of the neck, that like a snetched Ox  
Straight tumbling down, against the ground his groveling face he knox.  
And Pelates a Garamant attempted to have caught  
The left door bar: but as thereat with stretched hand he reached,  
One Coryt son of Marmarus did with a javelin strick  
Him through the hand, that to the wood fast nailed did it stick.  
As Pelates stood fastened thus, one Abas gored his side:  
He could not fall, but hanging still upon the post there died  
Fast nailed by the hand. And there was overthrown a Knight  
Of Perseyes band called Melaney, and one that Dorill hight  
A man of greatest lands in all the Realm of Nasamone.  
That occupied so large a ground as Dorill was there none,  
Nor none that had such store of corn. there came a Dart a skew  
And lighted in his cods the place where present death doth sew.  
When Altion of Barcey he that gave this deadly wound  
Beheld him yesking forth his ghost and falling to the ground  
With warrie eyes the white turned up: content thyself he said  
With that same little plot of ground whereon thy corpse is laid,  
In stead of all the large fat fields which late thou didst possess.  
And with that word he left him dead. Per●eus to redress  
This slaughter and this spiteful taunt, straight snatched out the Dart  
That sticked in the fresh warm wound, and with an angry heart  
Did send it at the throwers head: the Dart did split his nose  
Even in the mids, and at his neck again the head out goes:  
So that it péered both the ways. Whiles fortune doth support  
And further Persey thus, he kills (but yet in sundry sort)  
Two brothers by the mother: tone called Clytie other Dane.  
For on a Dart through both his thighs did Clytie take his bane:  
And Danus with another Dart was stricken in the mouth.  
There died also Celadon a Gyps●e of the South:  
And so did bastard Astrey too, whose mother was a jew:  
And sage Ethion well foreseen in things that should ensue,  
But utterly beguiled as then by Birds that aukly flew.  
King Cepheyes harnessebearer called Thoactes lost his life,  
And Agyrt whom for murdering late his father with a knife  
The world spoke shame off. Nevertheless much more remained behind  
Than was dispatched of of hand: for all were full in mind  
To murder one. the wicked throng had sworn to spend their blood  
Against the right, and such a man as had deserved good.  
A totherside (although in vain) of mere affection stood  
The father and the Mother-in-law, and eke the heavy bride,  
Who filled with their piteous plaint the Court on every side.  
But now the clattering of the sword and harness at that ●●de  
With grievous groans and sighs of such as wounded were or died,  
Did raise up such a cruel roar that nothing could be heard.  
For fierce Bellona so renewed the battle afterward,  
That all the house did swim in blood. Duke Phyney with a rout  
Of more than a thousand men environed round about  
The valiant Persey all alone. The Darts of Phyneys' band  
Came thicker than the Winter's hail doth fall upon the land,  
By both his sides his eyes and ears. He warily thereupon  
Withdraws, and leans his back against a huge great arch of stone:  
And being safe behind, he ●ettes his face against his foe  
Withstanding all their fierce assaults. There did assail him though  
Upon the left side Molpheus a Prince of Choanie,  
And on the right Ethemon borne hard by in Arabia.  
Like as the Tiger when he hears the lowing out of Neat  
In sundry Medes, enforced sore through abstinence from meat,  
Would feign be doing with them both, and can not tell at which  
Were best to give adventure first: So Persey who did itch  
To be at host with both of them, and doubtful whether side  
To turn him on, the right or left, upon advantage spied  
Did wound me Molphey on the leg, and from him quite him drove.  
He was contented with his flight: for why Ethemon gave  
No respite to him to pursue: but like a frantic man  
Through eagerness to wound his neck, without regarding when  
Or how to strike for haste, he burst his brittle sword in twain  
Against the Arch: the point whereof rebounding back again,  
Did hit himself upon the throat. Howbeit that same wound  
Was unsufficient for to send Ethemon to the ground.  
He trembled holding up his hands for mercy, but in vain.  
For Persey thrust him through the heart with Hermes hooked skaine.  
But when he saw that valiantness no longer could avail,  
By reason of the multitude that did him still assail,  
Sith you yourselves me force to call mine enemy to mine aid,  
I will do so: if any friend of mine be here (he said)  
Sirs turn your faces all away: and therewithal he drew  
Out Gorgon's head. One Thessalus straight raging to him flew,  
And said: go seek some other man whom thou mayst make abashed  
With these thy foolish juggling toys. And as he would have dashed  
His javelin in him with that word to kill him out of hand,  
With gesture throwing forth his Dart all Marble did he stand.  
His sword through Lyncids' noble heart had Amphix thought to shove:  
His hand was stone, and neither one nor other way could move:  
But Niley who did vaunt himself to be the rivers son  
That through the bounds of Egypt land in channels vij doth run,  
And in his shield had graven part of silver, part of gold  
The said vij channels of the Nile, said: Persey here behold  
From whence we fetch our piedegrée: it may rejoice thy heart  
To die of such a noble hand as mine▪ The latter part  
Of these his words could scarce be heard: the dint thereof was drowned:  
Ye would have thought him speaking still with open mouth: but sound  
Did none forth pass: there was for speech no passage to be found.  
Rebuking them cries Eryx: Sirs it is not Gorgon's face  
It is your own faint hearts that make you stony in this case.  
Come let us on this fellow run and to the ground him bear  
That feightes by witchcraft: as with that his feet forth stepping were,  
They stack still fastened to the floor: he could not move a side,  
An armed image all of stone he speechless did abide.  
All these were justly punished. But one there was a knight  
Of Perseys band, in whose defence as Acont stood to fight,  
He waxed overgrown with stone at ugly Gorgon's sight.  
Whom still as yet Astyages supposing for to live,  
Did with a long sharp arming sword a washing blow him give.  
The sword did clink against the stone and out the sparkles drive.  
While all amazed Astyages stood wondering at the thing,  
The self same nature on himself the Gorgon's head did bring.  
And in his visage which was stone a countenance did remain  
Of wondering still. A weary work it were to tell you plain  
The names of all the common sort. Two hundred from that fray  
Did scape unslain: but none of them did go alive away.  
The whole two hundred every one at ●ight of Gorgon's hear  
Were turned into stocks of stone. Then at the length for fear  
Did Phyney of his wrongful war forthink himself full sore.  
But now (alas) what remedy? he saw there stand before  
His face, his men like Images in sundry shapes all stone.  
He knew them well, and by their names did call them everychone:  
Desiring them to succour him: and trusting not his sight  
He feels the bodies that were next, and all were Marble quite.  
He turns himself from Persey ward and humbly as he stands  
He wries his arms behind his back: and holding up his hands,  
O noble Persey thou hast got the upper hand he said.  
Put up that monstrous shield of thine: put up that Gorgon's head  
That into stones transformeth men: put up I thee desire.  
Not hatred, nor because to reign as King I did aspire,  
Have moved me to make this fray. The only force of love  
In seeking my betrothed spouse, did hereunto me move.  
The better title seemeth thine because of thy desert:  
And mine by former promise made. It irks me at the heart  
In that I did not give the place. None other thing I crave  
O worthy knight, but that thou grant this life of mine to save.  
Let all things else beside be thine. As he thus humbly spoke  
Not daring look at him to whom he did entreatance make,  
The thing (quoth Persey) which to grant both I can find in heart,  
And is no little courtesy to show without desert  
Upon a Coward, I will grant O fearful Duke to thee.  
Set fear a side: thou shalt not hurt with any weapon be.  
I will moreover so provide as that thou shalt remain  
An everlasting monument of this days toil and pain.  
The palace of my Fathrinlaw shall henceforth be thy shrine  
Where thou shalt stand continually before my spouses eyen.  
That of her husband having ay the Image in her sight,  
She may from time to time receive some comfort and delight.  
He had no sooner said these words but that he turned his shield  
With Gorgon's head to that same part where Phyney with a mielde  
And fearful countenance set his face. Then also as he wride  
His eyes away, his neck waxed stiff, his tears to stone were dried.  
A countenance in the stony stock of fear did still appear  
With humble look and yielding hands and ghastly ruthful cheer.  
With conquest and a noble wife doth Persey home repair  
And in revengement of the right against the wrongful heir,  
As in his Grandsires just defence he falls in hand with Prete  
Who like no brother but a foe did late before defeat  
King Acrise of his towns by war and of his royal seat.  
But neither could his men of war nor fortress won by wrong  
Defend him from the grisly look of grim Medusa long.  
And yet thee foolish Polydect of little Seriph King,  
Such rooted rancour inwardly continually did sting,  
That neither Perseys prowess tried in such a sort of broils  
Nor yet the perils he endured, nor all his troublous toils  
Can cause thy stomach to relent. Within thy stony breast  
Works such a kind of festered hate as cannot be repressed.  
Thy wrongful malice hath none end. Moreover thou of spite  
Kepining at his worthy praise, his doings dost backbite:  
Upholding that Medusa's death was but a forged lie:  
So long till Persey for to show the truth apparently,  
Desiring such as were his friends to turn away their eye,  
Drue out Medusa's ugly head. At sight whereof anon  
The hateful Tyrant Polydect was turned to a stone.  
The Goddess Pallas all this while did keep continually  
Her brother Persey company, till now that she did sty  
From Seriph in a hollow cloud, and leaving on the right  
The Isles of Scyre and Gyaros, she made from thence her flight  
Directly over that same Sea as near as eye could aim  
To Thebes and Mount Helicon. and when she thither came,  
She stayed herself, and thus bespoke the learned sisters nine.  
A rumour of an uncouth spring did pierce these ears of mine  
The which the winged steed should make by stamping with his hoof.  
This is the cause of my repair: I would for certain proof  
Be glad to see the wondrous thing. For present there I stood  
And saw the self same Pegasus spring of his mother's blood.  
Dame Uranie did entertain and answer Pallas thus.  
What cause so ever moves your grace to come and visit us,  
Most heartily you welcome are: and certain is the fame  
Of this our Spring, that Pegasus was causer of the same.  
And with that word she led her forth to see the sacred spring.  
Who musing greatly with herself at strangeness of the thing,  
surveyed the Woods and groves about of ancient stately port.  
And when she saw the Bowers to which the Muses did resort,  
And pleasant fields beclad with herbs of sundry hue and sort,  
She said that for their study's sake they were in happy case  
And also that to serve their turn they had so trim a place.  
Then one of them replied thus. O noble Lady who  
(But that your virtue greater works than these are calls you to)  
Should else have been of this our troop, your saying is full true.  
To this our trade of life and place is commendation due.  
And sure we have a lucky lot and if the world were such  
As that we might in safety live. but lewdness reigns so much  
That all things make us Maids afraid: methinks I yet do see  
The wicked Tyrant Pyren still: my heart is yet scarce free  
From that same fear with which it happed us flighted for to be.  
This cruel Pyren was of Thrace and with his men of war  
The land of Phocis had subdued, and from this place not far  
Within the City Dawlis reignde by force of wrongful hand,  
One day to Phoebus' Temples ward that on Parnasus stand  
As we were going, in our way he met us courteously,  
And by the name of Goddesses saluting reverently  
Said: O ye Dames of Meonie (for why he knew us well)  
I pray you stay and take my house until this storm (there fell  
That time a tempest and a shower) be passed: the Gods aloft  
Have entered smaller sheds than mine full many a time and oft.  
The rainy weather and his words so moved us, that we  
To go into an outer house of his did all agree.  
As soon as that the shower was past and heaven was voided clear●  
Of all the Clouds which late before did everywhere appear,  
Until that Boreas had subdued the rainy Southern wind.  
We would have by and by been gone. He shut the doors in mind  
To ravish us: but we with wings escaped from his hands.  
He purposing to follow us, upon a Turret stands,  
And saith he needs will after us the same way we did 〈◊〉.  
And with that word full frantically he leapeth down from high,  
And pitching evelong on his face the bones a sunder crasht,  
And dying, all abroad the ground his wicked blood bedashed.  
Now as the Muse was telling this, they heard a noise of wings  
And from the levy boughs aloft a sound of greeting rings▪  
Minerva looking up thereat demanded whence the sound  
Of tongues that so distinctly spoke did come so plain and round?  
She thought some woman or some man had gréeted her that stound.  
It was a flight of Birds. Nine Pies bewailing their mischance,  
In counterfeiting every thing from bough to bough did dance.  
As Pallas wondered at the sight, the Muse spoke thus in sum.  
These also being late ago in challenge overcome,  
Made one kind more of Birds than was of ancient time before.  
In Macedon they were about the City Pella borne  
Of Pierus a great rich chuff and Euip, who by aid  
Of strong Lucina traveling ninetimes, nine times was laid  
Of daughters in her childbed safe. This fond and foolish rou●  
Of doltish sisters taking pride and waxing very stout,  
Because they were in number nine came flocking all together  
Through all the towns of Thessaly and all Achaia hither,  
And us with these or such like words to combat did provoke.  
Cease off ye Thespian Goddesses to mock the s●mple folk  
With fondness of your Melody. And if ye think in deed  
Ye can do aught, contend with us and see how you shall speed.  
I warrant you ye pass us not in cunning nor in voice.  
Ye are here nine, and so are we. We put you to the choice,  
That either we will vanquish you and set you quite beside  
Your fountain made by Pegasus which is your chiefest pride,  
And Aganippe too: or else confound you us, and we  
Of all the woods of Macedon will dispossessed be  
As far as snowy Peonie: and let the Nymphs be judges.  
Now in good sooth it was a shame to cope with suchie Drudges,  
But yet more shame it was to yield. The chosen Nymphs did swear  
By Styx, and sat them down on seats of stone that growed there.  
Then straight without commission or election of the rest,  
The foremost of them pressing forth undecently, professed  
The challenge to perform: and song the battles of the Gods.  
She gave the Giants▪ all the praise, the honour and the odds,  
Abasing sore the worthy deeds of all the Gods. She tells  
How Typhon issuing from the earth and from the deepest hells,  
Made all the Gods above afraid, so greatly that they fled  
And never staid till Egypt land and Nile whose stream is shed  
In channels seven, received them forwearied all together:  
And how the Hellhound Typhon did pursue them also thither.  
By means whereof the Gods each one were feign themselves to hide  
In forged shapes. She said the jove the Prince of Gods was wride  
In shape of Ram: which is the cause that at this present tide  
Jove's image which the Lybian folk by name of Hammon serve,  
Is made with crooked welked horns that inward still do terve:  
That Phoebus in a Raven lurked, and Bacchus in a Geate,  
And Phoebus' sister in a Cat, and juno in a Neat,  
And Venus in the shape of Fish, and how that last of all  
Mercurius hide him in a Bird which Ibis men do call.  
This was the sum of all the tale which she with rolling tongue  
And yelling throteboll to her harp before us rudely sung.  
Our turn is also come to speak, but that perchance your grace  
To give the hearing to our song hath now no time nor space.  
Yes yes (quoth Pallas) tell on forth in order all your tale:  
And down she sat among the trees which gave a pleasant small.  
The Muse made answer thus: To one Calliope here by name  
This challenge we committed have and ordering of the same.  
Then rose up fair Calliope with goodly bush of hear  
Trim wreathed up with ivy leaves, and with her thumb 'gan steer  
The quivering strings, to try them if they were in tune or no.  
Which done, she played upon her Lute and song her ditty so.  
Dame Ceres first to break the Earth with plough the manner found,  
She first made corn and stover soft to grow upon the ground,  
She first made laws. For all these things we are to Cer●s bound.  
Of her must I as now entreat: would God I could resound  
Her worthy laud: she doubtless is a Goddess worthy praise.  
Because the Giant Typhon gave presumptuously assays  
To conquer Heaven, the howgie I'll of Trinacris is laid  
Upon his limbs, by weight whereof perforce he down is weighed.  
He strives and struggles for to rise full many a time and oft.  
But on his right hand toward Rome Pelorus stands aloft:  
Pachynnus stands upon his left: his legs with Lilybie  
Are pressed down: his monstrous head doth under Aetna lie.  
From whence he lying bolt upright with wrathful mouth doth spit  
Out flames of fire▪ he wrestleth oft and walloweth for to wit  
And if he can remove the weight of all that mighty land  
Or tumble down the towns and hills that on his body stand.  
By means whereof it comes to pass that oft the Earth doth shake:  
And even the King of Ghosts himself for very fear doth quake,  
Misdoubting lest the Earth should clive so wide that light of day  
Might by the same pierce down to Hell and there the Ghosts affray  
Forecasting this, the Prince of Fiends forsook his darksome hole,  
And in a Chariot drawn with steeds as black as any coal  
The whole foundation of the isle of Sicill warily viewed.  
When thoroughly he had searched each place that harm had none ensewde,  
As carelessly he raungde abroad, he chanced to be seen  
Of Venus sitting on her hill: who taking straight between  
her arms her winged Cupid, said: my son, mine only stay,  
My hand, mine honour and my might, go take without delay  
Those ●ooles which all wights do subdue, and strike them in the heart  
Of that same God that of the world enjoys the lowest part.  
The Gods of Heaven, and jove himself, the power of Sea & Land  
And he that rules the powers on Earth obey thy mighty hand:  
And wherefore then should only Hell still unsubdued stand?  
Thy mother's Empire and thine own why dost thou not advance.  
The third part of all the world now hangs in doubtful chance.  
And yet in heaven too now, their deeds thou seest me feign to bear.  
We are despised: the strength of love with me away doth wear.  
Séeste not the Darter Diane and dame Pallas have already  
Exempted them from my behests? and now of late so heady  
Is Ceres' daughter too, that if we let her have her will,  
She will continue all her life a Maid unwedded still.  
For that is all her hope, and mark whereat she minds to shoot.  
But thou (if ought this gracious turn our honour may promote,  
Or ought our Empire beautify which jointly we do hold,)  
This Damsel to her uncle join. No sooner had she told  
These words, but Cupid opening straight his quiver chose therefrom  
One arrow (as his mother bade) among a thousand more.  
But such a one it was, as none more sharper was than it,  
Nor none went straighter from the Bow the amed mark to hit.  
He set his knee against his Bow and bent it out of hand,  
And made his forked arrows steal in Pluto's heart to stand.  
Near Enna walls there stands a Lake Pergusa is the name.  
Cayster heareth not more songs of Swans than doth the same.  
A wood environs every side the water round about,  
And with his leaves as with a veil doth keep the Sun heat out.  
The boughs do yield a cool fresh Air: the moistness of the ground  
yields sundry flowers: continual spring is all the year there found.  
While in this garden Proserpina was taking her pastime,  
In gathering either Violets blue, or Lilies white as Lime,  
And while of Maidenly desire she filled her Maund and Lap,  
endeavouring to outgather her companions there. By hap  
Dis spied her: loud her: caught her up: and all at once well near.  
So hasty, hot, and swift a thing is Love as may appear.  
The Lady with a wailing voice affright did often call  
Her Mother and her waiting Maids, but Mother most of all.  
And as she from the upper part her garment would have rend,  
By chance she let her lap slip down, and out her flowers went.  
And such a silly simpleness her childish age yet bears,  
That even the very loss of them did move her more to tears.  
The Catcher drives his Chariot forth, and calling every horse  
By name, to make away apace he doth them still enforce:  
And shakes about their necks and Manes their rusty bridle reins  
And through the deepest of the Lake perforce he them constreynes.  
And through the Palik pools. the which from broken ground do boil  
And smell of Brimstone very rank: and also by the soil  
Where as the Bacchies' folk of Corinth with the double Seas,  
Between unequal havens twain did réere a town for ease.  
Between the fountains of Cyane and Arethuse of Pisa  
An arm of Sea that meets enclosed with narrow horns there lies.  
Of this the Pool called Cyane which beareth greatest fame  
Among the Nymphs of Sicily did Algates take the name.  
Who vauncing her unto the waste amid her Pool did know  
Dame Proserpina, and said to Dis: ye shall no further go  
You cannot Ceres sonneinlawe be, will she so or no.  
You should have sought her courteously and not enforced her so.  
And if I may with great estates my simple things compare,  
Anapus was in love with me: but yet he did not far  
As you do now with Proserpina. He was content to woe  
And I unforst and unconstreind consented him unto.  
This said, she spreaded forth her arms and stopped him of his way.  
His hasty wrath Saturnus son no longer than could stay.  
But cheering up his dreadful steeds did smite his royal mace  
With violence in the bottom of the Pool in that same place.  
The ground straight yielded to his stroke and made him way to Hell,  
And down the open gap both horse and Chariot headlong fell.  
Dame Cyan taking sore to heart as well the ravishment  
Of Proserpina against her will, as also the contempt  
Against her fountains privilege, did shroud in secret heart  
An inward corsie comfortless, which never did departed  
Until she melting into tears consumed away with smart.  
The self same waters of the which she was but late ago  
The mighty Goddess, now she pines and wastes herself into.  
Ye might have seen her limbs were lithe, ye might have bend her bones.  
Her nails wext soft: and first of all did melt the smallest ones:  
As hair and fingers, legs and feet: for these same slender parts  
Do quickly into water turn. and afterward converts  
To water, shoulder, back, breast, side: and finally in stead  
Of lively blood, within her veins corrupted there was spread  
Thin water: so that nothing now remained whereupon  
Ye might eke hold, to water all consumed was anon.  
The careful mother in the while did seek her daughter dear  
Through all the world both Sea & Land, and yet was near the near.  
The Morning with her dewy hair her slugging never found,  
Nor yet the Evening star that brings the night upon the ground.  
Two seasoned Pynetrées at the mount of Aetna did she light  
And bore them restless in her hands through all the dankish night.  
Again as soon as cheerful day did dim the stars, she sought  
Her daughter still from East to West. And being overwrought  
She caught a thirst: no liquor yet had come within her throat.  
By chance she spiëd near at hand a pelting thatched Coat  
With peevish doors: she knocked thereat, and out there comes a trot.  
The Goddess asked her some drink and she denied it not:  
But out she brought her by and by a draft of merry go down  
And therewithal a hodge-podge made of steeped Barley brown  
And Fla●e and Coriander seed and other simples more  
The which she in an Earthen pot together sod before.  
While Ceres was a eating this, before her gazing stood  
A hard faaste boy a shrewd pert wag that could no manners good:  
He laughed at her and in scorn did call her greedy gut.  
The Goddess being worth therewith, did on the hodge-podge put  
The liquor ere that all was eat, and in his face it threw.  
Immediately the skin thereof became of speckled hue.  
And into legs his arms did turn: and in his altered hide  
A wriggling tail straight to his limbs was added more beside.  
And to th'intent he should not have much power to worken scathe,  
His body in a little room together knit she hath.  
For as with pretty Lucerts he in fashion doth agree:  
So than the Lucert somewhat less in every point is he.  
The poor old woman was amazed: and bitterly she wept:  
She durst not touch the uncouth worm, who into corners crept.  
And of the flecked spots like stars that on his hide are set  
A name agreeing thereunto in Latin doth he get.  
It is our Swift whose skin with grey and yellow specks is fret.  
What Lands & Seas the Goddess sought it were too long to sane.  
The world did want. And so she went to Sicill back again.  
And as in going every where she searched busily,  
She also came to Cyane: who would assuredly  
Have told her all things, had she not transformed been before.  
But mouth and tongue for utterance now would serve her turn no more.  
Howbeit a token manifest she gave her for to know  
What was become of Proserpina. Her girdle she did show  
Still hovering on her holy pool, which slightly from her fell  
As she that way did pass: and that her mother knew too well.  
For when she saw it, by and by as though she had but than  
Been new advertisde of her chance, she piteously began  
To rend her ruffled hair, and beat her hands against her breast.  
As yet she knew not where she was. But yet with rage oppressed.  
She cursed all lands, and said they were unthankful everichone  
Yea and unworthy of the fruits bestowed them upon.  
But bitterly above the rest she banned Sicily,  
In which the mention of her loss she plainly did espy.  
And therefore there with cruel hand the ear-ring ploughs she broke,  
And man and beast that tiled the ground to death in anger struck.  
She marrde the feed, and eke forbade the fields to yield their fruit.  
The plenteousness of that same I'll of which there went such brute  
Through all the world, lay dead: the corn was killed in the blade:  
Now too much drought, now too much wet did make it for to fade.  
The stars and blasting winds did hurt, the hungry souls did eat  
The corn in ground: the Tines and Briars did overgow the Wheat.  
And other wicked weeds the corn continually annoy,  
Which neither tilth nor toil of man was able to destroy.  
Then Arethuse flood Alpheys love lifts from her Elean waves  
Her head, and shedding to her ears her dewy hair that waves  
About her forehead said: O thou that art the mother dear  
Both of the Maiden sought through all the world both far and near,  
And eke of all the earthly fruits, forbear thine endless toil,  
And be not wroth without a cause with this thy faithful soil,  
The Land deserves no punishment. unwillingly God wo●e  
She opened to the Ravisher that violently her smote.  
It is not sure my native soil for which I thus entreat.  
I am but here a sojourner, my native soil and seat  
Is Pisa and from Ely town I fetch my first descent.  
I dwell but as a stranger here. but sure to my intent  
This Country likes me better far than any other land.  
Here now I Arethusa dwell: here am I settled: and  
I humbly you beseech extend your favour to the same.  
A time will one day come when you to mirth may better frame,  
And have your heart more free from care, which better serve me may  
To tell you why I from my place so great a space do stray.  
And unto Ortygie am brought through so great Seas and waves.  
The ground doth give me passage free, and by the lowest caves  
Of all the Earth I make my way, and here I raise my head,  
And look upon the stars again near out of knowledge fled.  
Now while I underneath the Earth the Lake of Styx did pass,  
I saw your daughter Proserpina with these same eyes. She was  
Not merry, neither rid of fear as seemed by her cheer.  
But yet a Queen, but yet of great God Dis the stately fear:  
But yet of that same droupie Realm the chief and sovereign Peer.  
Her mother stood as stark as stone, when she these news did hear,  
And long she was like one that in another world had been.  
But when her great amazedness by greatness of her teen  
Was put aside, she gets her to her Chariot by and by  
And up to heaven in all post haste immediately doth sty.  
And there bes●owbred all her face: her hair about her ears,  
To royal jove in way of plaint this spiteful tale she bears.  
As well for thy blood as for mine a suitor unto thee  
I hither come. if no regard may of the mother be  
Yet let the child her father move, and have not lesser care  
Of her (I pray) because that I her in my body bare.  
Behold our daughter whom I sought so long is found at last:  
If finding you it term, when of recovery means is past.  
Or if you finding do it call to have a knowledge where  
She is become. Her ravishment we might consent to bear,  
So restitution might be made. And though there were to me  
No interest in her at all, yet forasmuch as she  
Is yours, it is unmeet she be bestowed upon a thief.  
jove answered thus. My daughter is a jewel dear and lief:  
A collup of mine own flesh cut as well as out of thine.  
But if we in our hearts can find things rightly to define,  
This is not spite but love. And yet Madame in faith I see  
No cause of such a son in law ashamed for to be,  
So you contented were therewith. For put the case that he  
Were destitute of all things else, how great a matter ist  
Jove's brother for to be? but sure in him is nothing mist.  
Nor he inferior is to me save only that by lot  
The Heavens to me, the Helles to him the destinies did allot.  
But if you have so sore desire your daughter to divorce,  
Though she again to Heaven repair I do not greatly force.  
But yet conditionly that she have tasted there no food:  
For so the destinies have decreed. He ceaste: and Ceres stood  
Full bend to fetch her daughter out: but destinies her withstood,  
Because the Maid had broke her fast. For as she happed one day  
In Pluto's Ortyard rechlessely from place to place to stray,  
She gathering from a bowing tree a ripe Pownegarnet, took  
Seven kernels out and sucked them. None chanced hereon to look.  
Save only one Ascalaphus whom Orphne erst a Dame  
Among the other Elves of Hell not of the basest fame  
Bare to her husband Acheron within her dusky den.  
He saw it, and by blabbing it ungraciously as then,  
Did let her from returning thence. A grievous ●igh the Queen  
Of Hell did fetch, and of that wight that had a witness bée●e  
Against her made a cursed Bird. Upon his face she shed  
The water of the Phleg●ton: and by and by his head  
Was nothing else but Beak and Down, and mighty glaring eyes.  
Quite altered from himself between two yellow wings he flies.  
He groweth chief into head and hooked talants long  
And much a do he hath to flask his lazy wings among.  
The messenger of Morning was he made, a filthy fowl,  
A sign of mischief unto men, the sluggish skreching Owl.  
This person for his lavas tongue and telling tales might seem  
To have deserved punishment. But what should men esteem  
To be the very cause why you Acheloes' daughters wear  
Both feet and feathers like to Birds, considering that you bear  
The upper parts of Maidens still? and comes it so to pass?  
Because when Lady Proserpina a gathering flowers was,  
Ye Meremaides kept her company? whom after you had sought  
Through all the Earth in vain, anon of purpose that your thought  
Might also to the Seas be known, ye wished that ye might  
Upon the waves with hovering wings at pleasure rule your flight,  
And had the Gods to your request so pliant, that ye found  
With yellow feathers out of hand your bodies clothed round?  
Yet lest that pleasant tune of yours ordained to delight  
The hearing, and so high a gift of Music perish might  
For want of utterance, humane voice to utter things at will  
And countenance of virginity remained to you still.  
But mean between his brother and his heavy sister goth  
God jove, and parteth equally the year between them both.  
And now the Goddess Proserpina indifferently doth reign  
Above and underneath the Earth, and so doth she remain  
One half year with her mother and the resdue with her Féere  
Immediately she altered is as well in outward cheer  
As inward mind. for where her look might late before appear  
Sad even to Dis, her countenance now is full of mirth and grace  
Even like as Phoebus' having put the watery clouds to chase,  
Doth show himself a Conqueror with bright and shining face.  
Then fruitful Ceres void of care in that she did recover  
Her daughter, prayed thee Arechuse the story to discover  
What caused thee to fleet so far and wherefore thou became  
A sacred spring? the waters whist. The Goddess of the same  
Did from the bottom of the Well her goodly head up rear.  
And having driëd with her hand her fair green hanging hear,  
The River Alpheys ancient loves she thus began to tell.  
I was (quoth she) a Nymph of them that in Achaia dwell.  
There was not one that earnester the Lawns and forests sought  
Or pitched her toils more handsomely. And though that of my thought  
It was no part, to seek the fame of beauty: though I were  
All courage: yet the prick and prize of beauty I did bear  
My overmuch commended face was unto me a spite.  
This gift of body in the which another would delight,  
I rudesbye was ashamed off: me thought is was a crime  
To be belikte. I bear it well in mind that on a time  
In coming weary from the chase of Stymphalus, the heat●  
Was fervent, and my traveling had made it twice as great.  
I found a water neither deep nor shallow which did glide  
Without all noise, so calm that scarce the moving might be spied.  
And thoroughly to the very ground it was so crisp and clear,  
That every little stone therein did plain aloft appear.  
The hoary Sallowes and the Poplars growing on the bri●  
Unset, upon the shoring banks did cast a shadow trim.  
I entered in, and first of all I déeped but my ●eete:  
And after to my knees. And not content to wade so fleet,  
I put off all my clothes, and hung them on a Sallow by  
And threw myself amid the stream▪ which as I ●allyingly  
Did beat and draw, and with myself a thousand masteries tr●e,  
In casting of mine arms abroad and swimming wanton:  
I felt a bubbling in the stream I witted not how nor what,  
And on the rivers nearest brim I stepped for fear. With that  
O Arethusa whither run'st? and whither run'st thou cried  
Flood Alphey from his waves again with hollow voice. I hide  
Away unclothed as I was. For on the further side  
My clothes hung still. so much more hot and eager then was he,  
And for I naked was, I seemed the readier for to be.  
My running and his fierce pursuit was like as when ye see  
The silly Doves with quivering wings before the Goshawk sty,  
The Goshawk sweeping after them as fast as he can fly,  
To Orchomen, and Psophy land, and Cyllen I did hold  
Out well, and thence to Menalus and Erymanth the cold,  
And so to Ely. all this way no ground of me he won.  
But being not so strong as he, this restless race to run  
I could not long endure, and he could hold it out at length.  
Yet over plains and woody hills (as long as lasted strength)  
And stones, and rocks, and desert grounds I still maintained my race.  
The Sun was full upon my back. I saw before my face  
A lazy shadow: were it not that fear did make me seet.  
But certainly he feared me with trampling of his feet:  
And of his mouth the boisterous breath upon my hairlace blue.  
For wearied with the toil of ●light: Help Diane, I thy tru●  
And trusty Squire (I said) who oft have carried after thee  
Thy bow and arrows, now am like attached for to be.  
The Goddess moved, took a cloud of such as scattered were  
And cast upon me. Hidden thus in misty darkness there  
The River poard upon me still and hunted round about  
The hollow cloud, for fear perchance I should have scaped out.  
And twice not knowing what to do he stalk● about the cloud  
Where Diane had me hid, and twice he called ou● a loud  
Hoe Arethuse, ho Arethuse▪ What heart had I poor wretch then?  
Even such as hath the silly Lamb that dares not stir nor quetch when  
He hears the howling of the Wolf about or near the folds.  
Or such as hath the squatted Hare that in her form beholds  
The hunting hounds on every side, and dares not moon a whit.  
He would not thence, for why he saw no footing out as yet.  
And therefore watched he narrowly the cloud and eke the place.  
A chill cold sweat my sieged limbs oppress, and down a pace  
From all my body steaming drops did fall of watr●e hue.  
Which way so ere I stirred my foot the place was like a st●w.  
The dew ran trickling from my hair. In half the while I then  
Was turned to water, that I now have told the tale again.  
His loved waters Alphey knew, and putting off the shape  
Of man the which he took before because I should not scape,  
Returned to his proper shape of water by and by  
Of purpose for to join with me and have my company.  
But Delia broke the ground, at which I sinking into blind  
Bycorners, up again myself at Ortigie do wind,  
Right dear to me because it doth Diana's surname bear,  
And for because to light again I first was raised there.  
Thus far did Arethusa speak: and then the fruitful Dame  
Two Dragons to her Chariot put, and reyning hard the same,  
Midway bewéene the Heaven and Earth she in the Air went,  
And unto Prince Triptolemus her lightsome Chariot sent  
To Pallas City load with corn, commanding him to sow  
Some part thereof in ground new broken up, and some thereof to strew  
In ground long tillde before. Anon the young man up did sty  
And flying over Europe and the Realm of Asia's high,  
Alighted in the Scythian land. There rained in that coast  
A King called Lyncus, to whose house he entered for to host.  
And being there demanded how and why he thither came,  
And also of his native soil and of his proper name,  
I hight (quoth he) Triptolemus and borne was in the town  
Of Athens in the land of Gréece, that place of high renown  
I neither came by Sea nor Land, but through the open Air  
I bring with me Dame Ceres' gifts which being sown in fair  
And fertile fields may fruitful Harvests yield and finer fare.  
The savage King had spite. and to th'intent that of so rare  
And gracious gifts himself might seem first founder for to be,  
He entertained him in his house, and when a sleep was he,  
He came upon him with a sword. but as he would have killde him,  
Dame Ceres turned him to a Lynx, and waking other willed him  
His sacred Téemeware through the Air to drive abroad again.  
The chief of us had ended this her learned song. and then  
The Nymphs with one consent did judge that we the Goddesses  
Of Helicon had won the day. But when I saw that these  
Unnurtred Damsels overcome began to fall a scolding,  
I said: so little sith to us you think yourselves beholding,  
For bearing with your malapertness in making challenge, that  
Besides your former fault, ye eke do fall to railing flat,  
Abusing thus our gentleness: we will from hence proceed  
The punishment, and of our wrath the rightful humour feed.  
Euippyes daughters grind and ●éerde and set our threatenings light.  
But as they were about to prate, and bend their fists to smite  
Their wicked hands with hideous noise, they saw the stumps of quills  
New budding at their nails, and how their arms soft feather hills.  
Each saw how others mouth did purse and harden into Bill,  
And so becoming uncouth Birds to haunt the woods at will.  
For as they would have clapped their hands their wings did up them heave,  
And hanging in the Air the scolds of woods did Pies them leave.  
Now also being turned to Birds they are as eloquent  
As ere they were, as chattering still, as much to babbling bent.  
Finis quinti Libri.   

¶ THE sixth BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
TRitonia unto all these words attentive hearing bends,  
And both the Muses learned song and rightful wrath commends.  
And thereupon within herself this fancy did arise.  
It is no matter for to praise: but let ourself devise  
Some thing to be commended for: and let us not permit  
Our Majesty to be despised without revenging it.  
And therewithal she purposed to put the Lydian Maid  
Arachne to her neckeverse who (as had to her been said)  
Presumed to prefer herself before her noble grace  
In making cloth. This Damsel was not famous for the place  
In which she dwelled, nor for her stock, but for her Arte. Her Sire  
Was Idmon one of Colophon a pelting Purple Dier.  
Her mother was deceased: but she was of the base sort,  
And equal to her Make in birth, in living, and in port.  
But though this Maid were meanly borne, and dwelled but in a shed  
At little Hypep: yet her trade her fame abroad did spread  
Even all the Lydian Cities through. To see her wondrous work  
The Nymphs that underneath the Uines of shady Tmolus lurk  
Their Uineyards oftentimes forsook. So did the Nymphs also  
About Pactolus oftentimes their golden streams forego.  
And evermore it did them good not only for to see  
Her clothes already made, but while they eke a making be  
Such grace was in her workmanship. For were it so that she  
The newshorne fleeces from the sheep in bundles deftly makes,  
Or afterward doth comb the same, and draws it out in flakes  
Along like clouds, or on the Rock doth spin the handwarpe woof,  
Or else embroydreth, certainly ye might perceive by proof  
She was of Pallas bringing up. which thing she nevertheless  
denieth, and disdaining such a Mistress to confess,  
Let her contend with me she said: and if she me amend  
I will refuse no punishment the which she shall extend.  
Minerva took an old wives shape and made her hair seem grey,  
And with a staff her feebled limbs pretended for to stay.  
Which done, she thus began to speak. Not all that age doth bring  
We ought to shun. Experience doth of long continuance spring.  
Despise not mine admonishment. Seek fame and chief report  
For making cloth, and Arras work, among the mortal sort.  
But humbly give the Goddess place: and pardon of her crave  
For these thine unadvised words. I warrant thou shalt have  
Forgiveness, if thou ask it her▪ Arachne bent her brews  
And lowering on her, left her work: and hardly she eschews  
From flying in the Lady's face. Her countenance did bewray  
Her moody mind: which bursting ●orth in words she thus did say.  
Thou comest like a doting fool: thy wit is spent with years:  
Thy life hath lasted over long as by thy talk appears.  
And if thou any daughter have, or any daughtrinlawe,  
I would she heard these words of mine: I am not such a Daw,  
But that without thy teaching I can well enough advise  
Myself. And lest thou shouldest think thy words in any wise  
Avail, the self same mind I keep with which I first begun.  
Why comes she not herself I say? this match why doth she shun?  
Then said the Goddess: here she is. And therewithal she cast  
Her oldewives riveled shape away, and showed herself at last  
Minerva like. The Nymphs did straight adore her Majesty.  
So did the young newmaried wives that were of Migdonie.  
The Maiden only unabasht would nought at all relent.  
But yet she blushed and suddenly a ruddiness besprent  
Her cheeks which wanzd away again, even like as doth the Sky  
Look sanguine at the break of day, and turneth by and by  
To white at rising of the Sun. As hot as any fire  
She sticketh to her tackling still. And through a fond desire  
Of glory, to her own decay all headlong forth she runs.  
For Pallas now no l●nger warns, ne now no longer shuns  
Ne seeks the challenge to delay. Immediately they came  
And took their places severally, and in a several frame  
Each streind a web, the warp whereof was fine. The web was tied  
Upon a Beam. Between the warp a slay of reed did sl●de.  
The woof on sharpened pings was put betwixt the warp, and wrought  
With fingers. And as oft as they ●ad through the warp it brought,  
They struck it with a Bo●en comb. Both twain of them made has●:  
And girding close for handsomeness their garments to their waist  
Bestirred their cunning hands apace. Their earnestness was such  
As made them never think of pain. They weaved very much  
Fine Purple that was died in tire, and colours set so trim  
That each in shadowing other seemed the very same with him.  
Even like as after showers of rain when Phoebus' broken beams  
Do strike upon the Clouds, appears a compassed bow of gleams  
Which bendeth over all the Heaven: wherein although there shine  
A thousand sundry colours, yet the shadowing is so fine,  
That look men near so wistly, yet beguileth it their eyes:  
So like and even the self same thing each colour seems to rise  
Whereas they meet, which further off do differ more and more.  
Of glittering gold with silken thread was weaved there good store,  
And stories put in portraiture of things done long afore.  
Minerva painted Athens town and Marsis rock therein,  
And all the strife between herself and Neptune, who should win  
The honour for to give the name to that same noble town.  
In lofty thrones on either side of jove were settled down  
Six Peers of Heaven with countenance grave and full of Majesty,  
And every of them by his face discerned well might be.  
The Image of the mighty jove was King like. She had made  
Neptunus' standing striking with his long thréetyned blade  
Upon the ragged Rock: and from the middle of the cleft  
She portrayed issuing out a horse, which was the noble gift  
For which he chalengde to himself the naming of the town.  
She pictured out herself with shield and Morion on her crown  
With Curet on her breast, and Spear in hand with sharpened end.  
She makes the Earth (the which her Spear doth seem to strike) to send●  
An Olyf tree with fruit thereon: and that the Gods thereat  
Did wonder: and with victory she finished up that plat.  
Yet to th'intent examples old might make it to be known  
To her that for desire of praise so stoutly held her own,  
What guerdon she should hope to have for her attempt so mad,  
Four like contentions in the four last corners she did add.  
The Thracians He●●e and Rhodope the foremost corner had:  
Who being sometime mortal folk usurped to them the name  
Of jove and juno, and were turned to mountains for the same.  
A Pigmy woman's piteous chance the second corner showed,  
Whom juno turned to a Crane (because she was so lewd  
As for to stand at strife with her for beauty) charging her  
Against her native countriefolke continual war to stir.  
The third had proud Antigone who durst of pride contend  
In beauty with the wife of jove: by whom she in the end  
Was turned to a Stork, no whit availed her the town  
Of Troy, or that Laomedon her father ware a crown,  
But that she clad in feathers white her lazy wings must s●ap  
And with a bobbed Bill bewail the cause of her mishap.  
The last had childless Cinyras: who being turned to stone,  
Was pictured prostrate on the ground, and weeping all alone,  
And culling fast between his arms a Temples grée●es fine  
To which his daughter's bodies were transformed by wrath divine.  
The utmost borders had a wreath of Olyf round about,  
And this is all the work the which Minerva portrayed out.  
For with the tree that she herself had made but late afore  
She bounded in her Arras cloth, and then did work no more.  
The Lydian maiden in her web did portray to the full  
How Europe was by royal jove beguiled in shape of Bull.  
A swimming Bull, a swelling Sea, so lively had she wrought,  
That Bull and Sea in very deed ye might them well have thought.  
The Lady seemed looking back to landward and to cry  
Upon her women, and to fear the water sprinkling high,  
And shrinking up her fearful feet. She portrayed also there  
Asteriee struggling with an Erne which did away her bear.  
And over Leda she had made a Swan his wings to splay.  
She added also how by jove in shape of satire gay  
The fair Antiope with a pair of children was besped:  
And how he took Amphitrios' shape when in Al●menas bed  
He gate the worthy Hercules: and how he also came  
To Danae like a shower of gold, to Aegine like a flame,  
A shepherd to Mnemosyne, and like a Serpent ●ly  
To Proserpina. She also made Neptu●●s leaping by  
Upon a Maid of Aeolus race in likeness of a Bull,  
And in the stream Enipeus shape begetting on a trull  
The Giant's Oath and Ephialt, and in the shape of Ram  
Begetting one Theophane Bisalties imp with Lam,  
And in a lusty Stallions shape she made him hovering there  
Dame Ceres with the yellow locks, and her whose golden hear  
Was turned to crawling Snakes: on whom he gate the winged horse.  
She made him in a Dolphin's shape Melantho to enforce.  
Of all these things she miss not their proper shapes, nor yet  
The full and just resemblance of their places for to ●it.  
In likeness of a Country cloyne was Phoebus pictured there,  
And how he now ware Gossehaukes' wings, and now a Lions hear.  
And how he in a shepherds shape was practising a wile  
The daughter of one Macarie dame Issa to beguile.  
And how the fair Erygone by chance did suffer rape  
By Bacchus who deceived her in likeness of a grape.  
And how that Saturn in the shape of Jennet did beget  
The double Chiron. Round about the utmost Uerdge was set  
A narrow Trail of pretty flowers with leaves of ivy fret.  
Not Pallas, no nor spite itself could any quarrel pick  
To this her work: and that did touch Minerva to the quick.  
Who thereupon did rend the cloth in pieces every whit,  
Because the lewdness of the Gods was blazed so in it.  
And with an Arras weavers comb of Box she fiercely smit  
Arachne on the forehead full a dozen times and more.  
The Maid impatient in her heart, did stomach this so sore,  
That by and by she hung herself. Howbeit as she hang,  
Dame Pallas pitying her estate, did stay her in the string  
From death, and said lewd Callet live: but hang thou still for me.  
And lest hereafter from this curse that time may set thee free,  
I will that this same punishment enacted firmly be,  
As well on thy posterity for ever as on thee.  
And after when she should departed, with juice of Hecate's flower  
She sprinkled her: and by and by the poison had such power,  
That with the touch thereof her ha●re, her ears, and nose did fade:  
And very small it both her head and all her body made.  
In stead of legs, to both her sides stick fingers long and fine:  
The rest is belly. From the which she ne'ertheless doth twine  
A slender thread, and practiseth in shape of Spider still  
The Spinners and the Websters' crafts of which she erst had s●●ll.  
All Lydia did repine hereat, and of this deed the fanie  
Through Phrygie ran, & through the world was talking of the ●ame.  
Before her marriage Niobe had known her very well,  
When yet a Maid in 
* Lydia.  Meonie and Sipyle she did dwell.  
And yet Arachne's punishment at home before her eyes,  
To use discreter kind of talk it could her not advise,  
Nor (as behoveth) to the Gods to yield in humble wise.  
For many things did make her proud. But neither did the town  
The which her husband builded had, nor houses of renown  
Of which they both descended were, nor yet the puissance  
Of that great Realm wherein they reignde so much her mind enhance  
(Although the liking of them all did greatly her delight)  
As did the offspring of herself. And certainly she might  
Have been of mothers counted well most happy, had she not  
So thought herself. For she whom sage Tiresias had begot  
The Prophet Manto through instinct of heavenly power, did say  
These kind of words in open street. Ye Thebans go your way  
Apace, and unto Lato● and to Latons' children pray,  
And offer godly Frankincense, and wreathe your hair with Bay.  
Latona by the mouth of me commands you so to do.  
The Theban women by and by obeying thereunto,  
Decked all their heads with Laurel leaves as Ma●to did require.  
And praying with devout intent threw incense in the fire.  
Behold out cometh Niobe environed with a guard  
Of servants and a solemn train that followed afterward.  
She was herself in raiment made of costly cloth of gold  
Of Phrygia fashion very brave and gorgeous to behold.  
And of herself she was right fair and beautiful of face,  
But that her wrathful stomach than did somewhat stain her grace.  
She moving with her portly head her hair the which as then  
Did hang on both her shoulders lose, did pause a while. and when  
With lofty look her stately eyes she rolled had about,  
What madness is it (quoth she) to prefer the heavenly rout  
Of whom ye do but hear, to such as daily are in sight?  
Or why should Laton honoured be with Altars? Never wight  
To my most sacred Majesty did offer incense. Yet  
My Father was that Tantalus whom only as most fit  
The Gods among them at their boards admitted for to sit.  
A sister of the Pleyades is my mother. Finally  
My Grandsire on the mother's side is that same Atlas' hi●  
That on his shoulders beareth up the heavenly Axeltrée.  
Again my other Grandfather is jove. and (as you see)  
He also is my Fathrinlawe. wherein I glory may.  
The Realm of Phrygia here at hand doth unto me obey.  
In Cadmus' palace I thereof the Lady do remain  
And jointly with my husband I as peerless Princess reign  
Both over this same town whose walls my husband's harp did frame,  
And also over all the folk and people in the same.  
In what soever corner of my house I cast mine eye,  
A world of riches and of goods I eurywhere espy.  
Moreover for the beauty, shape, and favour grown in me,  
Right well I know I do deserve a Goddess for to be.  
Besides all this, seven sons I have and daughters seven likewise,  
By whom shall shortly sonneinlawes and daughtrinlawes arise.  
judge you now if that I have cause of stateliness or no.  
How dareye then prefer to me Latona that same fro  
The Titan Ceus imp, to whom then ready down to lie  
The howgie Earth a little plot to child on did deny?  
From Heaven, from Earth, & from the Sea your Goddess banished was,  
And as an outcast through the world from place to place did pass,  
Until that Delos pitying her, said thou dos●e fleet on land  
And I on Sea, and thereupon did lend her out of hand  
A place unstable. Of two twins there brought a bed was she:  
And this is but the seventh part of the issue borne by me.  
Right happy am I. who can this deny? and shall so still  
Continu● who doth doubt of that? abundance hath and will  
Preserve me. I am greater thau that froward fortune may  
impeach me. For although she should pull many things away,  
Yet should she l●aue me many more. My state is out of fear.  
Of this my huge and populous race surmise you that it were  
Possible some of them should miss: yet can I never be  
So spoiled that no m● than two shall ●a●ie still with me.  
Leave quickly this lewd sacrifice, and put me off this Bay  
That on your heads is wreathed thus. They laid it straight away  
And left their holy rites undone, and closely as they may  
With secret whispering to themselves to Laton they did pray.  
How much from utter barrenness the Goddess wa●: so much  
Di●deind she more: and in the top of Cy●thus framed such  
Complaint as this to both her twins. Lo I your mother dear,  
Who in my body once you twain with painful travel bear,  
Lo I whose courage is so stout as for to y●●lde to none  
Of all the other Goddesses except Jove's wife alone,  
Am lately doubted whether I a Goddess be or no▪  
And if you help not children mine, the case now standeth so  
That I the honour must from hence of Altars quite forg●.  
But this is not mine only grief. Besides her wicked fact  
Most railing words hath Niobe to my defacing racked.  
She durst prefer her Barns to you. And as for me, she naamde  
Me barren in respect of her, and was no whit ashaamde  
To show her father's wicked tongue which she by birth doth take  
This said: Latona was about entreatance for to make.  
Cease off (quoth Phoebus) long complaint is nothing but delay  
Of punishment. and the self same words did Phebe also say.  
And by and by they through the Air both gliding swiftly down,  
On Cadmus' palace hid in clouds did light in Thebes town.  
A field was underneath the wall ●oth level, large and wide,  
Betrampled every day with horse tha● men therein did ride,  
Where store of Carres and Horses hooves the clods to dust had trod  
A couple of Amphion's sons on lusty coursers road  
In this same place. Their horses fair Coper is●ns did wear  
Of scarlet: and their bridles brave with gold bedecked were.  
Of whom as Niobs' eldest son Ismenos happed to bring  
His horse about, and reined him in to make him keep the ring,  
He cried alas: and in his breast with that an arrow stack  
And by and by his dying hand did let the bridle slack.  
And on the right side of the horse he slipped to the ground.  
The second brother Sipylus did chance to hear the sound  
Of Quivers clattering in the Air, and giving straight the rain  
And spur together to his horse, began to fly amain:  
As doth the master of a ship: who when he sees a shower  
Approaching, by some misty cloud that ginnis to gloume and louvre  
Doth clap on all his sails because no wind should scape him by  
Though near so small: Howbeit as he turned for to fly,  
He was not able for to scape the Arrow which did strick  
Him through the neck. The neck thereof did shaking upward stick▪  
The head appeared at his throat. And as he forward gave  
Himself in flying: so to ground he groveling also drove,  
And toppled by the horse's mane and feet amid his race,  
And with his warm newshedded blood berayëd all the place.  
But Phedimus, and Tantalus the he●●r of the name  
Of Tantalus his Grandfather, who customably came  
From other daily exercise to wrestling, had begun  
To close, and each at other now with breast to breast to run,  
When Phoebus' Arrow being sent with force fr●m strained string  
Did strike through both of them as they did fast together cling.  
And so they sighed both at once, and both at once for pain  
Fell down to ground, and both of them at once their eyes did strain  
To see their latest light, and both at once their ghosts did yield.  
Alphenor this mischance of theirs with heavy heart beheld,  
And scratched and beat his woeful breast: and therewith flying out  
To take them up between his arms, was as he went about  
This work of kindly pity, killde. For Phoebus with a Dart  
of deadly dint did rive him through the Bulk and broke his heart.  
And when the steal was plucked out, a parcel of his liver  
Did hang upon the hooked head: and so he did deliver  
His life and blood into the Air departing both together.  
But Damasicthon (on whose head came never sizzer) felt  
more wounds than one. It was his chance to have a grievous pelt  
Upon the very place at which the leg is first begun  
And where the hamstrings by the joint with supple sinews run  
And while to draw this arrow out he with his hand assayed,  
Another through his wezant went, and at the feathers staid.  
The blood did drive out this again, and spinning high did spout  
A great way off, and pierced the Air with sprinkling all about.  
The last of all Ilionie with stretched hands, and speech  
Most humble (but in vain) did say▪ O Gods I you beseech  
Of mercy all in general. He witted not what he said  
Ne how that unto all of them he ought not to have prayed.  
The God that held the Bow in hand was moved: but as then  
The Arrow was already gone so far, that back again  
He could not call it. Ne'ertheless the wound was very small  
Of which he died, for why his heart it did but lightly gall.  
The rumour of the mischief self, and moan of people, and  
The weeping of her servants gave the mother t'understand  
The sudden stroke of this mischance. She wondered very much  
And stormed also that the Gods were able to do such  
A deed, or durst attempt it, yea she thought it more than right  
That any of them over her should have so much might.  
Amphion had fordone himself already with a knife,  
And ended all his sorrows quite together with his life.  
Alas, alas how greatly doth this Niobe differ here  
From other Niobe who a late disdaining any Pere  
Did from Latona's Altars drive her folk, and through the town  
With haughty look and stately gate went pranking up and down,  
Then spited at among her own, but piteous now to those:  
That heretofore for her deserts had been her greatest foes.  
She falleth on the corpses cold, and taking no regard,  
Bestowed her kisses on her sons as whom she afterward  
Did know she never more should kiss. From whom she lifting th●e  
Her blue and bruised arms to heaven said: O thou oruell foe  
Latona feed, yea feed thyself I say upon my woe  
And overgorge thy stomach, yea and glut thy cruel heart  
With these my present painful pangs of bitter griping smart.  
In corpses seven I seven times dead am carried tomy grave.  
Rejoice thou foe and triumph now in that thou séemste to have  
The upper hand. What? upper hand? no no it is not so.  
As wretched as my case doth seem, yet have I left me more  
Than thou for all thy happiness canst of thine own account  
Even after all these corpses yet I still do thee surmount.  
Upon the end of these same words the twanging of the ●tring  
In letting of the Arrow fly was clearly heard: which thing  
Made every one save Niobe afraid. Her heart was so  
With sorrow hardened, that she grew more bold. Her daughters though  
Were standing all with mourning weed and hanging hair before  
Their brother's coffins. One of them in pulling from the sore  
An Arrow sticking in his heart, sank down upon her brother  
With mouth to mouth, and so did yield her fléeting ghost. Another  
In comforting the 〈…〉 and sorrow of her mother  
Upon the sudden held her peace. She stricken was within  
With double wound: which caused hi● her talking for to blind  
And shut her mouth: But first her ghost was gone. One all in vain  
Attempting for to scape by flight was in her flying slain.  
Another on her sister's corpse doth tumble down stark dead.  
This quakes and trembles piteously, and she doth hide her head.  
And when that six with sundry wounds dispatched were and gone▪  
At last as yet remained one: and for to save that one,  
Her mother with her body whole did cling about her fast,  
And wrying her did over her her garments wholly cast:  
And cried out: O leave me one: this little one yet save:  
Of many but this only one the least of all I crave.  
But while she prayed, for whom she prayed was killed. Then down she sat  
Bereft of all her children quite, and drawing to her fate,  
Among her daughters and her sons and husband newly dead.  
Her cheeks waxed hard, the Air could stir no hair upon her head.  
The colour of her face was dim and clearly void of blood,  
And sadly under open lids her eyes unmoved stood.  
In all her body was no life. For even her very tongue  
And palate of her mouth was hard, and each to other clung.  
Her Pulses ceased for to bea●e, her neck did cease to bow,  
Her arms to stir, her feet to go, all power forewent as now.  
And into stone her very womb and bowels also bind.  
But yet she wept: and being hoist by force of whirling wind  
Was carried into Ph●ygie. There upon a mountains top  
She weepeth still in stone. from stone the dreary tears do drop.  
Then all both men and women feared▪ Latonaas open ire  
And far with greater 〈…〉 and earnest●r desire  
Did w●rship the great majesty of this their Goddess who  
Did bear at once both Phoebus and his sister Phebe to  
And through occasion of this chance, (as men are wont to do  
In cases like) the people fell to telling things of old  
Of whom a man among the rest this tale 〈◊〉 told.  
The 〈◊〉 folk that in the field 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Ly●ia dwelled  
Du● 〈◊〉 also for their spite to this ●ame Goddess felt.  
The baseness of the parties make the thing itself obscure.  
Yet is the matter wonderful. Myself I you assure  
Did presently behold the Pond, and saw the very place  
In which this wondrous thing was done. My father then in case,  
Not able for to travel well by reason of his age,  
To fetch home certain Oxen thence made me to be his page,  
Appointing me a countryman of Lycia to my guide.  
With whom as I went plodding in the pasture grounds, I spied  
Amids a certain Pond an old square Altar coloured black  
With cinder of the sacrifice that still upon it stack.  
About it round grew wavering reeds. My guide anon did stay:  
And softly, O be good to me, he in himself did say.  
And I with like soft whispering did say be good to me.  
And then I asked him whether that the Altar we did see  
Belonged to the Waternymphes, or Fauns or other God  
Peculiar to the place itself upon the which we yod.  
He made me answer thus. My guest no God of country race  
Is in this Altar worshipped. That Goddess claims this place.  
From whom the wife of mighty jove did all the world forfend:  
When wandering restless here and there full hardly in the end  
Unsettled Delos did receive then floating on the wave,  
As tide and weather to and fro the swimming Island drove.  
There maugre juno (who with might and main against her strove)  
Latona staying by a Date and Olyf tree that stead  
In travel, of a pair of twins was safely brought a bed.  
And after her deliurance folk report that she for fear  
Of junos' wrath did fly from hence, and in her arms did bear  
Her babes which afterward became two Gods. In which her travel  
In Summer when the scorching Sun is wont to burn the gravel  
Of Lycie country where the fell chimera hath his place,  
The Goddess weary with the long continuance of her race,  
Waxed thirsty by the means of drought with going in the Sun.  
Her babes had also sucked her breasts as long as milk would run.  
By chance she spied this little Pond of water here below.  
And country Carls were gathering there these Oysyer twigs that grow  
So thick upon a shrubby stalk: and of these rushes green:  
And flags that in these moorish plots so rife of growing been.  
She coming hither kneeled down the water up to take  
To cool her thirst. The churlish cloynes forfended her the Lake.  
Then gently said the Goddess: Sirs why do you me forfend  
The water? Nature doth to all in common water send.  
For neither Sun, nor Air, nor yet the Water private be  
I seek but that which natures gift hath made to all things free.  
And yet I humbly crave of you to grant it unto me.  
I did not go about to wash my weary limbs and skin,  
I would but only quench my thirst. My throat is scalt within  
For want of moisture: and my chaps and lips are parching dry:  
And scarcely is there way for words to issue out thereby.  
A draft of water will to me be heavenly Nectar now.  
And sure I will confess I have received life of you.  
Yea in your giving of a drop of water unto me,  
The case so standeth as you shall preserve the lives of three.  
Alas let these same silly souls that in my bosom stretch  
Their little arms (by chance her babes their pretty dolles did re●ch)  
To pity move you. What is he so hard that would not yield  
To this the gentle Goddesses entreatance meek and méeld?  
Yet they for all the humble words she could devise to say,  
Continued in their wilful mood of churlish saying nay,  
And threatened for to send her thence unless she went away,  
Reviling her most spitefully. And not contented so.  
With hands and feet the standing Pool they troubled to and fro,  
Until with trampling up and down maliciously, the soft  
And ●●imie mud that lay beneath was raised up aloft.  
With that the Goddess was so wroth that thirst was quite forgot▪  
And unto such unworthy Carls herself she humbleth not:  
Ne speaketh meaner words than might beseem a Goddess well.  
But hol●ing up her hands to heaven: for ever mought you dwell  
In this same Pond, she said: her wish did take effect with speed.  
For underneath the water they delight to be in deed.  
Now dive they to the bottom down, now up their heads they pop,  
Another wh●le with sprawling legs they swim upon the top.  
And oftentimes upon the banks they have a mind to stand,  
And oftentimes from thence again to leap into the Pond.  
And there they now do practise still their filthy tongues to scold.  
And shamelessly (though underneath the water) they do hold  
Their former wont of brawling still amid the water cold.  
Their voices still are hoarse and harsh, their throats have puffed goawles,  
Their chaps with brawling widened are, their hammer headed joawles  
Are joined to their shoulders just, the necks of them do seem  
cut off, the ridgebone of their back sticks up of colour green.  
Their paunch which is the greatest part of all their trunch is grey,  
And so they up and down the Pond made newly Frogs do play.  
When one of Lice (I wo●e not who) had spoken in this sort,  
Another of a satire straight began to make report,  
Whom Phoebus overcoming on a pipe (made late ago  
By Pallas) put to punishment. Why fleaëst thou me so,  
Alas he cried it irketh me. Alas a sorry pipe  
Deserveth not so cruelly my skin from me to stripe.  
For all his crying over his ears quite pulled was his skin.  
Nought else he was than one whole wound. The grisly blood did spin  
From every part, the sinews lay discovered to the eye,  
The quivering veins without a skin lay beating nakedly.  
The panting bowels in his bulk ye might have numbered well,  
And in his breast the shear small strings a man might easily tell.  
The Country Fauns, the Gods of Woods, the Satyrs of his kin,  
The Mount Olympus whose renown did ere that time begin,  
And all the Nymphs, and all that in those mountains kept their sheep,  
Or grazed cattle thereabouts, did for this satire weep.  
The ●●u●tfull earth waxed moist therewith, and moisted did receive  
Their tears, and in her bowels deep did of the same conceive.  
And when that she had turned them to water, by and by  
She sent them forth again aloft to see the open Sky.  
The River that doth rise thereof beginning there his race,  
In very deep and shoring banks to Seaward runs a pace  
Through Phrygie, and according as the satire, so the stream  
Is called Marsias, of the brooks the clearest in that Realm.  
With such examples as these same the common folk returned  
To present things, and every man through all the City moornde  
For that Amphion was destroyed with all his issue so.  
But all the fault and blame was laid upon the mother tho.  
For her alonely Pelops mourned (as men report) and he  
In opening of his clothes did show that every man might see  
His shoulder on the left side bare of ivory for to be.  
This shoulder at his birth was like his other both in hue  
And flesh, until his father's hands most wickedly him slew,  
And that the Gods when they his limbs again together drew,  
To join them in their proper place and form by nature due,  
Did find out all the other parts, save only that which grew  
Between the throteboll and the arm. which when they could not get  
This other made of ivory white in place thereof they set  
And by that means was Pelops made again both whole and sound  
The neighbour Princes thither came, and all the Cities round  
About besought their Kings to go and comfort Thebes: as Arge  
And Sparta, and Mycenae which was under Pelops charge.  
And Calydon unhated of the frowning Phebe yet,  
The wealthy town Orchomenos, and Corinth which in it  
Had famous men for workmanship in metals: and the stout  
Messene which full twenty years did hold besiegers out.  
And Patre, and the lowly town Cleona, Nelies Pyle,  
And Troyzen not surnamed yet Pittheia for a while.  
And all the other Borough towns and Cities which do stand  
Within the narrow baulk at which two Seas do meet at hand,  
Or which do bound upon the baulk without in main firm land.  
Alonely Athens (who would think?) did neither come nor send.  
War barred them from courtesy the which they did intend.  
The King of Pontus with an host of savage people lay  
In siege before their famous walls and curstly did them fray.  
Until that Tereus' King of Thrace approaching to their aid,  
Did vanquish him, and with renown was for his labour paid▪  
And sith he was so puissant in men and ready coin,  
And came of mighty Marsis race, Pandion sought to join  
Alliance with him by and by, and gave him to his fear  
His daughter Progne. At this match (as after will appear)  
Was neither juno, Precedent of marriage wont to be,  
Nor Hymen, no nor any one of all the graces three.  
The Furies snatching Tapers up that on some Hearse did stand  
Did light them, and before the Bride did bear them in their hand.  
The Furies made the bridegrooms bed. And on the house did rucke  
A cursed Owl the messenger of ill success and luck.  
And all the night time while that they were lying in their beds,  
She sat upon the bedsteads top right over both their heads.  
Such handsel Progne had the day that Tereus did her wed.  
Such handsel had they when that she was brought of child a bed.  
All Thracia did rejoice at them, and thanked their Gods, and wild  
That both the day of Progne's match with Tereus should be held  
For feastful, and the day likewise that Itys first was borne:  
So little know we what behoves. The Sun had now outworn  
Five Harvests, and by course five times had run his yearly race,  
When Progne flattering Tereus said: If any love or grace  
Between us be, send either me my sister for to see,  
Or find the means that hither she may come to visit me.  
You may assure your Fathrinlaw she shall again return  
Within a while. Ye do to me the highest great good turn  
That can be, if you bring to pass I may my sister see.  
Immediately the King commands his ships a float to be.  
And shortly after, what with sail and what with force of Oars,  
In Athe●s haven he arrives and lands at Pyrey shores.  
assoon as of his fathrinlaw the presence he obtained,  
And had of him been courteously and friendly entertained,  
Unhappy handsel entered with their talking first together.  
The errands of his wife the cause of his then coming thither  
He had but new begun to tell, and promised that when  
She had her sister seen, she should with speed be sent again:  
When (see the chance) came Philomele in raiment very rich,  
And yet in beauty far more rich, even like the Fairies which  
Reported are the pleasant woods and water springs to haunt,  
So that the like apparel and attire to them you grant.  
King Tereus at the sight of her did burn in his desire,  
As if a man should chance to set a gulf of corn on fire,  
Or burn a stack of hay. Her face in deed deserved love.  
But as for him, to fleshly lust even nature did him move.  
For of those countries commonly the people are above  
All measure prone to lechery. And therefore both by kind  
His flame increased, and by his own default of vicious mind  
He purposed fully to corrupt her servants with reward:  
Or for to bribe her Nurse, that she should slenderly regard  
Her duty to her mistresseward. And rather than to fail,  
The Lady even herself with gifts he minded to assail,  
And all his kingdom for to spend. or else by force of hand  
To take her, and in maintenance thereof by sword to stand.  
There was not under heaven the thing but that he durst it prove,  
So far unable was he now to stay his lawless love.  
Delay was deadly. Back again with greedy mind he came  
Of Prognes ●rrands for to talk: and underneath the same  
He works his own ungraciousness. Love gave him power to frame  
His talk at will. As oft as he demanded out of square,  
Upon his wives importunate desire himself he bore.  
He also wept: as though his wife had willed that likewise.  
O God, what blindness doth the hearts of mortal men disguise?  
By working mischief Tereus gets him credit for to seem  
A loving man, and winneth praise by wickedness extreme.  
Yea and the foolish Philomele the self same thing desires.  
Who hanging on her father's neck with flattering arms, requires  
Against her life and for her life his licence for to go  
To see her sister. Tereus beholds her wistly tho,  
And in beholding handles her with heart. For when he saw  
Her kiss her father, and about his neck her arms to draw,  
They all were spurs to prick him forth, and wood to feed his fire,  
And food of forcing nourishment to further his desire.  
As oft as she her father did between her arms embrace,  
So often wished he himself her father in that case.  
For nought at all should that in him have wrought the greater grace.  
Her father could not say them nay they lay at him so sore.  
Right glad thereof was Philomele and thanked him therefore.  
And wretched wench she thinks she had obtained such a thing,  
As both to Progne and herself should joy and comfort bring,  
When both of them in very deed should afterward it rue.  
To endward of his daily race and travel Phoebus drew,  
And on the shoring side of Heaven his horses downward flew.  
A princely supper was prepaarde, and wine in gold was set:  
And after meat to take their rest the Princes did them get.  
But though the King of Thrace that while were absent from her sight,  
Yet swelted he: and in his mind revolving all the night  
Her face, her gesture, and her hands, imagined all the rest  
(The which as yet he had not seen) as liked his fancy best.  
He feeds his flames himself. No wink could come within his eyes,  
For thinking ay on her. assoon as day was in the skies,  
Pandion holding in his hand the hand of Tereus priest  
To go his way, and shedding tears betook him thus his guest.  
Dear sonneinlaw I give thee here (sith godly cause constrains)  
This Damsel. Bythe faith that in thy Princely heart remains▪  
And for our late alliance sake, and by the Gods above,  
I humbly thee beseech that as a Father thou do love  
And maintain her. and that as soon as may be (all delay  
Will unto me seem over long) thou let her come away  
The comfort of my careful age on whom my life doth stay.  
And thou my daughter Philomele (it is enough iwis  
That from her father set so far thy sister Progne is)  
If any spark of nature do within thy heart remain,  
With all the haast and speed thou canst return to me again.  
In giving charge he kissed her: and down his cheeks did rain  
The tender tears. and as a pledge of faith he took the right  
Hands of them both, and joining them did each to other plight.  
Desiring them to bear in mind his commendations to  
His daughter and her little son. And then with much a do  
For sobbing, at the last he bade adieu as one dismayed.  
The foremisgiving of his mind did make him sore afraid.  
assoon as Tereus and the Maid together were a board,  
And that their ship from land with Oars was haled on the ford,  
The field is ours he cried aloud, I have the thing I sought  
And up he skipped, so barbarous and so beastly was his thought,  
That scarce even there he could forbear his pleasure to have wrought  
His eye went never off of her: as when the scarefull Erne  
With hooked talants trussing up a Hare among the fern,  
Hath laid her in his nest, from whence the prisoner can not scape,  
The ravening fowl with greedy eyes upon his prey doth gape.  
Now was their journey come to end: now were they gone a land  
In Thracia, when that Tereus took the Lady by the hand,  
And led her to a pelting grange that peakishly did stand  
In woods forgrown. There waxing pale and trembling sore for fear,  
And dreading all things, and with tears demanding sadly where  
Her sister was, he shut her up: and therewithal bewrayed  
His wicked lust, and so by force because she was a Maid  
And all alone he vanquished her, It booted nought at all  
That she on sister, or on Sire, or on the Gods did call.  
She quaketh like the wounded Lamb which from the Wolves hore t●th  
New shaken thinks herself not safe: or as the Dove that feéth  
Her feathers with her own blood stained, who shuddering still doth fear  
The greedy Hawk that did her late with griping talants tear.  
Anon when that this mazednesse was somewhat overpast,  
She rend her hair, and beat her breast, and up to heavenward cast  
Her hands in mourningwise, and said▪ O cankered Carl, O fell  
And cruel Tyrant, neither could the godly tears that fell  
A down my father's cheeks when he did give thee charge of mee,  
Ne of my sister that regard that ought to be in thee,  
Nor yet my chaste virginity, nor conscience of the law  
Of wedlock, from this villainy thy barbarous heart withdraw?  
Behold thou hast confounded all. My sister through me  
Is made a Cucqueane: and thyself through this offence of thee  
Art made a husband to us both, and unto me a foe  
A just deserved punishment for lewdly doing so.  
But to th'intent O perjured wretch no mischief may remain  
Unwrought by thee, why dost thou from murdering me refrain?  
Would God thou had it done before this wicked rape. From hence  
Then should my soul most blessedly have gone without offence.  
But if the Gods do see this deed, and if the Gods I say  
Be aught, and in this wicked world bear any kind of sway  
And if with me all other things decay not, sure the day  
Will come that for this wickedness full dearly thou shalt pay.  
Yea I myself rejecting shame thy doings will bewray.  
And if I may have power to come abroad, them blaze I will  
In open face of all the world. or if thou keep me still  
As prisoner in these woods, my voy●e the very woods shall fill,  
And make the stones to understand. Let Heaven to this give ear  
And all the Gods and powers therein if any God be there.  
The cruel tyrant being chaaft and also put in fear  
With these and other such her words, both causes so him stung,  
That drawing out his naked sword that at his girdle hung,  
He took her rudely by the hair, and wrung her hands behind her,  
Compelling her to hold them there while he himself did bind her.  
When Philomela saw the sword, she hoapt she should have died,  
And for the fame her naked throat she gladly did provide.  
But as she yirnde and called ay upon her father's name,  
And strived to have spoken still, the cruel tyrant came  
And with a pair of pinsons fast did catch her by the tongue,  
And with his sword did cut it off. The stump whereon it hung  
Did patter still. The tip fell down and quivering on the ground  
As though that it had murmured it made a certain sound.  
And as an Adder's tail cut off doth skip a while: even so  
The tip of Philomelaas tongue did wriggle to and fro,  
And nearer to her mistresseward in dying still did go.  
And after this most cruel act, for certain men report  
That he (I scarcely dare believe) did oftentimes resort  
To maimed Philomela and abused her at his will:  
Yet after all this wickedness he keeping countenance still,  
Durst unto Progne home repair. And she immediately  
Demanded where her sister was. He sighing feignedly  
Did tell her falsely she was dead: and with his subtle tears  
He maketh all his tale to seem of credit in her ears.  
Her garments glittering all with gold she from her shoulders tears  
And puts on black, and setteth up an empty Hearse, and keeps  
A solemn obite for her soul, and piteously she weeps  
And waileth for her sister's fate who was not in such wise  
As that was, for to be bewailed. The Sun had in the Skies  
Past through the twelve celestial signs, and finished full a year.  
But what should Philomela do? She watched was so near  
That start she could not for her life. the walls of that same grange  
Were made so high of main hard stone, that out she could not range.  
Again her tunglesse mouth did want the utterance of the fact.  
Great is the wit of pensiveness, and when the head is racked  
With hard misfortune, sharp forecast of practice entereth in.  
A warp of white upon a frame of Thracia she did pin,  
And weaved purple letters in between it, which bewrayed  
The wicked deed of Tereus. And having done, she prayed  
A certain woman by her signs to bear them to her mistress.  
She bore them and delivered them not knowing ne'ertheless  
What was in them. The Tyrant's wife unfolded all the clout,  
And of her wretched fortune red the process whole throughout.  
She held her peace (a wondrous thing it is she should so do)  
But sorrow tied her tongue and words agreeable unto  
Her great displeasure were not at commandment at that stound.  
And weep she could not. Right and wrong she reckoneth to confound,  
And on revengement of the deed her heart doth wholly ground.  
It was the time that wives of Thrace were wont to celebrate  
The three year rites of Bacchus which were done a nighttimes late.  
A nighttimes soundeth Rhodope of tincling pans and pots:  
A nighttimes giving up her house abroad Queen Progne trots  
Disguised like Bacchus other froes and armed to the proof  
With all the frenticke furniture that serves for that behoof.  
Her head was covered with a vine. About her lose was tucked  
A Reddéeres skin. a lightsome Lance upon her shoulder ruckt.  
In post gads terrible Progne through the woods, and at her heels  
A flock of froes. and where the sting of sorrow which she feels  
Enforceth her to furiousness, she feigns it to proceed  
Of Bacchus' motion. At the length she finding out in deed  
The outset grange howled out, and cried now well, and open broke  
The gates, and straight her sister thence by force of hand did take,  
And veiling her in like attire of Bacchus, hid her head  
With ivy leaves, and home to Court her sore amazed led.  
assoon as Philomela witted she set her foot within  
That cursed house, the wretched soul to shudther did begin▪  
And all her face waxed pale. Anon her sister getting place  
Did pull off Bacchus ●●ad attire, and making bare her face  
Embraced her between her arms. But she considering that  
Queen Progne was a Cucqueane made by means of her, durst nat  
Once raise her eyes: but on the ground fast fixed held the same.  
And where she would have taken God to witness that the shame  
And villainy was wrought to her by violence, she was fain  
To use her hand in stead of speech. Then Progne chaaft a main.  
And was not able in herself her choler to restrain.  
But blaming Philomela for her weeping, said these words.  
Thou must not deal in this behalf with weeping, but with sword:  
Or with some thing of greater force than swords. For my part, I  
Am ready, yea and fully bend all mischief for to try.  
This palace will I either set on fire, and in the same  
Bestow the cursed Tereus the worker of our shame:  
Or pull away his tongue: or put out both his eyes: or cut  
Away those members which have thee to such dishonour put:  
Or with a thousand wounds expulse that sinful soul of his.  
The thing that I do purpose on is great, what ere it is.  
I know not what it may be yet. While Progne hereunto  
Did set her mind, came Itys in, who taught her what to do.  
She staring on him cruelly, said. Ah, how like thou art  
Thy wicked father, and without more words a sorrowful part  
She purposed, such inward ire was boiling in her heart.  
But notwithstanding when her son approached to her near,  
And lovingly had gréeted her by name of mother dear,  
And with his pretty arms about the neck had hugde her fast,  
And flattering words with childish toys in kissing forth had cast,  
The mother's heart of hers was then constrained to relent,  
Assuaged wholly was the rage to which she erst was bend,  
And from her eyes against her will the tears enforced went.  
But when she saw how pity did compel her heart to yield,  
She turned to her sister's face from Itys, and beheld  
Now tone, now other earnestly and said. why tattles he  
And she sits dumb bereft of tongue? as well why calls not she  
Me sister, as this boy doth call me mother? Seest thou not  
Thou daughter of Pandion what a husband thou hast got?  
Thou growest wholly out of kind. To such a husband as  
Is Tereus, pity is a sin. No more delay there was.  
She dragged Itys after her, as when it haps in Ind  
A Tiger gets a little Calf that sucks upon a Hind  
And drags him through the shady woods. And when that they had found  
A place within the house far off and far above the ground,  
Then Progne struck him with a sword now plainly seeing whother  
He should, and holding up his hands, and crying mother, mother,  
And flying to her neck: even where the breast and side do bound,  
And never turned away her face. Enough had been that wound  
Alone to bring him to his end. The other sister slit  
His throat. And while some life and soul was in his members yet,  
In gobbets they them rend: whereof were some in Pipkins boiled,  
And other some on hissing spits against the fire were broiled,  
And with the gelid blood of him was all the chamber foiled.  
To this same banquet Progne bade her husband knowing nought  
Nor nought mistrusting of the harm and lewdness she had wrought.  
And feigning a solemnity according to the guise  
Of Athens, at the which there might be none in any wise  
Besides her husband and herself, she banished from the same  
Her household folk and sojourners, and such as guestwise came.  
King Tereus s●tting in the throne of his forefathers, fed  
And swallowed down the self same flesh that of his bowels bred.  
And he (so blinded was his heart) fetch Itys hither, sed.  
No longer her most cruel joy dissemble could the Queen.  
But of her murder coveting the messenger to been,  
She said: the thing thou askest for, thou hast within. About  
He looked round, and asked where? To put him out of doubt,  
As he was yet demanding where, and calling for him: out  
Leapt Philomele with scattered hair aflaight like one that fled  
Had from some fray where slaughter was, and threw the bloody head  
Of Itys in his father's face. And never more was she  
Desirous to have had her speech, that able she might be  
Her inward joy with worthy words to witness frank and free.  
The tyrant with a hideous noise away the table shoves:  
And reeres the fiends from Hell. One while with yawning mouth he proves  
To parbreak up his meat again, and cast his bowels out.  
Another while with wring hands he weeping goes about.  
And of his son he terms himself the wretched grave. Anon  
With naked sword and furious heart he followeth fierce upon  
Pandions' daughters. He that had been present would have déemd●  
Their bodies to have hovered up with feathers. As they seemed:  
So hovered they with wings in deed. Of whom the one away  
To woodward flies, the other still about the house doth stay.  
And of their murder from their breasts not yet the token goth,  
For even still yet are stained with blood the feathers of them both.  
And he through sorrow and desire of vengeance waxing wight,  
Became a Bird upon whose top a tuft of feathers light  
In likeness of a Helmets crest doth trimly stand upright.  
In stead of his long sword, his bill shoots out a passing space:  
A Lapwing named is this Bird, all armed seems his face.  
The sorrow of this great mischance did stop Pandions' breath  
Before his time, and long ere age determined had his death.  
Erecthey reigning after him the government did take:  
A Prince of such a worthiness as no man well can make  
Resolution, if he more in arms or justice did excel.  
Four sons, and daughters four he had Of which a couple well  
Did each in beauty other match. The one of these whose name  
Was Procris unto Shafalus King Aeolus son became  
A happy wife. The Thracians and King Tereus were a let  
To Boreas: so that long it was before the God could get  
His dear-beloved Orithy a, while trifling he did stand  
With fair entreatance rather than did use the force of hand.  
But when he saw he no relief by gentle means could find,  
Then turning unto boisterous wrath (which unto that same wind  
Is too familiar and too much accustomed by kind)  
He said I served am but well: for why laid I a part  
My proper weapons, fierceness, force, and ire, and cruel heart?  
And fell to fawning like a fool, which did me but disgrace?  
For me is violence meet. Through this the pestered clouds I chase.  
Through this I toss the Seas. Through this I turn up knotty Okes,  
And harden Snow, and beat the ground in hail with sturdy strokes.  
When I my brother's chance to get in open Air and Sky.  
(For that is my field in the which my masteries I do try)  
I charge upon them with such brunt, that of our meeting smart  
The Heaven between us sounds, & from the hollow Clouds doth start  
Enforced fire. And when I come in holes of hollow ground,  
And fiercely in those empty caves do rouse my back up round,  
I trouble even the ghosts, and make the very world to quake.  
This help in wooing of my wife (to speed) I should have take.  
Erecthey should not have been prayed my Fatherinlaw to be:  
He should have been compelled thereto by stout extremity.  
In speaking these or other words as sturdy, Boreas 'gan  
To flask his wings. With waving of the which he raised than  
So great a gale, that all the earth was blasted therewithal,  
And troubled was the main broad Sea. And as he traylde his pall  
Bedusted over highest tops of things, he swept the ground.  
And having now in smoky clouds himself enclosed round,  
Between his dusky wings he caught Orithya 'straught for fear,  
And like a lover, very soft and easily did her bear.  
And as he flew, the flames of love enkindled more and more  
By means of stirring. Neither did he stay his flight before  
He came within the land and town of Cicons with his prey.  
And there soon after being made his wife she happed to lay  
Her belly, and a pair of boys she at a burden brings,  
Who else in all resembled full their mother, save in wings  
The which they of their father took. Howbeit (by report)  
They were not borne with wings upon their bodies in this sort.  
While Calais and Zetes had no beard upon their chin,  
They both were callow. But assoon as hair did once begin  
In likeness of a yellow down upon their cheeks to sprout,  
Then (even as comes to pass in Birds) the feathers budded out  
Together on their pinyons too, and spreaded round about  
On both their sides. And finally when childhod once was spent  
And youth come on, together they with other Minyes went  
To Colchos in the Galley that was first devised in Greece,  
Upon a sea as then unknown, to fetch the golden fleece.  
Finis sexti Libri.   

¶ THE SEVENTH BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
ANd now in ship of Pagasa the Mynies cut the seas.  
And leading under endless night his age in great disease  
Of scarcity was Phiney seen. and Boreas sons had chaste  
Away the Maidenfaced fowls that did his victels' waste.  
And after suffering many things in noble jasons band,  
In muddy Phasis gushing stream at last they went a land.  
There while they going to the King demand the golden fleece  
Brought thither certain years before by Phryxus out of Greece,  
And of their dreadful labours wait an answer to receive:  
Aeëtas daughter in her heart doth mighty flames conceive.  
And after struggling very long, when reason could not win  
The upper hand of rage: she thus did in herself begin.  
In vain Medea dost thou strive. some God what ere he is  
Against thee bends his force. for what a wondrous thing is this?  
Is any thing like this which men do term by name of Love?  
For why should I my father's hests esteem so hard above  
All measure? sure in very deed they are too hard and sore.  
Why fear I least you stranger whom I never saw before  
Should perish? what should be the cause of this my fear so great?  
Unhappy wench (and if thou canst) suppress this uncouth heat  
That burneth in thy tender breast. and if so be I could,  
A happy turn it were, and more at case then be I should.  
But now an uncouth malady perforce against my will  
Doth hale me. Love persuades me one, another thing my skill.  
The best I see and like: the worst I follow headlong still.  
Why being of the royal blood so fond dost thou rave,  
Upon a stranger thus to dote, desiring for to have  
An husband of another world? at home thou mightest find  
A lover meet for thine estate on whom to set thy mind.  
And yet it is but even a chance if he shall live or no:  
God grant him for to live. I may without offence pray so,  
Although I loud him not: for what hath jason trespassed me?  
Who would not pity jasons youth unless they cruel be?  
What creature is there but his birth and prowess might him move?  
And setting all the rest aside, who would not be in love  
With jasons goodly parsonage? my heart assuredly  
Is touched therewith. But if that I provide not remedy,  
With burning breath of blasting Bulls needs singed must he be.  
Of seeds that he himself must sow a harvest shall he see  
Of armed men in battle ray upon the ground up grow  
Against the which it hoveth him his manhood for to show.  
And as a pray he must be set against the Dragon fell.  
If I these things let come to pass, I may confess right well  
That of a Tiger I was bred: and that within my breast  
A heart more hard than any steel or stony rock doth rest.  
Why rather do I not his death with wrathful eyes behold?  
And joy with others seeing him to utter peril sold?  
Why do I not enforce the Bulls against him? why I say  
Exhort I not the cruel men which shall in battle ray  
Arise against him from the ground? and that same Dragon too  
Within whose eyes came never sleep? God shield I so should do.  
But prayer smally boots, except I put to helping hand.  
And shall I like a Caitiff then betray my father's land?  
Shall I a stranger save whom we nor none of ours doth know?  
That he by me preserved may without me homeward row?  
And take another to his wife, and leave me wretched wight  
To torments? If I witted that he could work me such a spite,  
Or could in any others love than only mine delight,  
The Churl should die for me. But sure he beareth not the face  
Like one that would do so. His birth, his courage, and his grace  
Do put me clearly out of doubt he will not me deceive,  
No nor forget the great good turns he shall by me receive.  
Yet shall he to me first his faith for more assurance plight  
And solemnly he shall be sworn to keep the covenant right.  
Why fearste thou now without a cause? step to it out of hand:  
And do not any longer time thus lingering fond stand.  
For aye shall jason think himself beholding unto thee:  
And shall thee marry solemnly: yea honoured shalt thou be  
Of all the Mother's great and small throughout the towns of Gréece  
For saving of their sons that come to fetch the golden fleece.  
And shall I then leave brother, sister, father, kith and kin?  
And household Gods, and native soil, and all that is therein?  
And sail I know not whither with a stranger? yea: why not?  
My father surely cruel is, my Country rude God wots:  
My brother yet a very babe: my sister I dare say  
Contented is with all her heart that I should go away:  
The greatest God is in myself: the things I do forsake  
Are trifles in comparison of those that I shall take.  
For saving of the Greekish ship renowned shall I be.  
A better place I shall enjoy with Cities rich and free,  
Whose fame doth flourish fresh even here, and people that excel  
In civil life and all good Arts: and whom I would not sell  
For all the goods within the world Duke Aesons noble son.  
Whom had I to my lawful fear assuredly once won,  
Most happy yea and blessed of God I might myself account,  
And with my head above the stars to heaven I should surmount.  
But men report that certain rocks (I know not what) do meet  
Amid the waves, and monstrously again a sunder fleet:  
And how Charybdis utter foe to ships that pass thereby  
Now sowpeth in now speweth out the Sea incessantly:  
And ravening Scylla being hemmed with cruel dogs about,  
Amids the gulf of Sicily doth make a barking out.  
What skilleth that? As long as I enjoy the thing I love,  
And hang about my jasons neck, it shall no whit me move  
To sail the dangerous Seas: as long as him I may embrace  
I cannot surely be afraid in any kind of case.  
Or if I chance to be afraid, my fear shall only tend  
But for my husband. Callste thou him thy husband? dost pretend  
Gay titles to thy foul offence Medea? nay not so:  
But rather look about how great a lewdness thou dost go.  
And shun the mischief while thou mayst. She had no sooner said  
These words, but right and godliness and shamefastness were stayed  
Before her eyes, and frantic love did fly away dismayed.  
She went me to an Altar that was dedicated of old  
To Perseys daughter Hecate (of whom the witches hold  
As of their Goddess) standing in a thick and secret wood  
So close it could not well be spied: and now the raging mood  
Of furious love was well alaide and clearly put to flight:  
When spying Aesons son, the flame that seemed quenched quite  
Did kindle out of hand again. Her cheeks began to glow,  
And flushing over all her face the scarlet blood did flow.  
And even as when a little spark that was in ashes hid,  
Uncovered with the whisking winds is from the ashes rid,  
Eftsoons it taketh nourishment and kindleth in such wise,  
That to his former strength again and flaming it doth rise:  
Even so her quailed love which late ye would have thought had quite  
Been vanished out of mind, as soon as jason came in sight  
Did kindle to his former force in viewing of the grace  
With which he did advance himself then coming there in place.  
And (as it chanced) far more fair and beautiful of face  
She thought him then than ever erst. but sure it doth behove  
Her judgement should be borne withal because she was in love.  
She gaped and gazed in his face with fixed staring eyen  
As though she never had him seen before that instant time.  
So far she was beside herself ●he thought it should not be  
The face of any worldly wight the which she then did see.  
She was not able for her life to turn her eyes away.  
But when he took her by the hand and speaking 'gan to pray  
Her softly for to succour him, and promised faithfully  
To take her to his wedded wife, she falling by and by  
A weeping, said. Sir, what I do I see apparently.  
Not want of knowledge of the truth, but love shall me deceive.  
You shallbe saved by my means. And now I must receive  
A faithful promise at your hand for saving of your life.  
He made a solemn vow, and swore to take her to his wife,  
By triple Hecate's holy rites, and by what other power  
So ever else had residence within that secret bower.  
And by the Sire of him that should his Fathrinlaw become  
Who all things doth behold, and as he hoped to overcome  
The dreadful dangers which he had soon after to assay.  
Duke jason being credited received of her straight way  
Enchanted herbs: and having learned the usage of the same,  
Departed thence with merry heart, and to his lodging came.  
Next Morn had chast● the streaming stars: & folk by heaps did flock  
To Marsis sacred field, and there stood thronging in a shock,  
To see the strange pastimes. The King most stately to behold  
With ivory Mace above them all did sit in throne of gold.  
Anon the brazenhoved Bulls from stony nostrils cast  
Out flakes of fire: their scalding breath the growing grass did blast.  
And look what noise a chimney full of burning fuel makes,  
Or Flint in softening in the Kell when first the fire it takes  
By sprinkling water thereupon: such noise their boiling breasts  
turmoiling with the fiery flames enclosed in their chests,  
Such noise their scorched throtebolles make. yet stoutly jason went  
To meet them. They their dreadful eyes against him grimly bend,  
And eke their horns with iron tipped: and struck the dust about  
In stamping with their cloven clees: and with their bellowing out  
Set all the field upon a smoke. The Myneis' seeing that  
Were past their wits with sudden fear. but jason féeled nat  
So much as any breath of theirs: such strength hath sorcery.  
Their dangling Dewlaps with his hand he coyed unfearfully.  
And putting yokes upon their necks he forced them to draw  
The heavy burden of the plough which erst they never saw,  
And for to break the field which erst had never felt the share.  
The men of Colchos seeing this, like men amazed fare.  
The Mynies with their shouting out their mazednesse augment.  
And unto jason therewithal give more encouragement.  
Then in a soldiers cap of steel a vipers teeth he takes,  
And sows them in the new plowde field. the ground them soaking makes  
The seed forestéepte in poison strong, both supple lithe and soft,  
And of these teeth a right strange grain there grows anon aloft.  
For even as in the mother's womb an infant doth begin  
To take the lively shape of man, and form is within  
To due proportion piece by piece in every limb, and when  
Full ripe he is, he takes the use of Air with other men:  
So when that of the vipers teeth the perfect shape of man  
Within the bowels of the earth was form, they began  
To rise together orderly upon the fruitful field:  
And (which a greater wonder is) immediately they wield  
Their weapons growing up with them. whom when the Greeks behold  
Preparing for to push their Pikes (which sharply headed were)  
In jasons face, down went their heads, their hearts did faint for fear:  
And also she that made him safe began abashed to be.  
For when against one naked man so huge an army she  
Beheld of armed enemies bend, her colour did abate  
And suddenly both void of blood and lively heat she sat.  
And lest the chanted weeds the which she had him given before  
Should fail at need, a helping charm she whispered overmore,  
And practised other secret Arts the which she kept in store.  
He casting straight a mighty stone amid his thickest foes,  
Doth void the battle from himself and turns it unto those.  
These earthbred brothers by and by did one another wound  
And never ceased till that all lay dead upon the ground.  
The Greeks were glad, & in their arms did clasp their Champion stout,  
And clinging to him earnestly embraced him about.  
And thou O fond Medea too couldst well have found in heart  
The Champion for to have embraced, but that withheld thou wart  
By shamefastness. and yet thou hadst embraced him, if dread  
Of staining of thine honour had not stayed thee in that stead.  
But yet as far forth as thou mayst, thou dost in heart rejoice,  
And secretly (although without expressing it in voice)  
Dost thank thy charms and eke the Gods as Authors of the same.  
Now was remaining as the last conclusion of this game,  
By force of chanted herbs to make the watchful Dragon sleep  
Within whose eyes came never wink: who had in charge to keep  
The goodly tree upon the which the golden fleeces hung.  
With crested head, and hooked paws, and triple spirting tongue.  
Right ugly was he to behold. When jason had besprent  
Him with the juice of certain herbs from Lethey River sent,  
And thrice had mumbled certain words which are of force to cast  
So sound a sleep on things that even as dead a time they last,  
Which make the raging surges calm and flowing Rivers stay.  
The dreadful Dragon by and by (whose eyes before that day  
Wist never erst what sleeping meant) did fall so fast a sleep  
That jason safely took the fleece of gold that he did keep.  
Of which his booty being proud, he led with him away  
The Author of his good success another fairer prey:  
And so with conquest and a wife he loosed from Colchos strand,  
And in Larissa ●auen safe did go again a land.  
The ancient men of Thessaly together with their wives  
To Church with offerings gone for saving of their children's lives.  
Great heaps of fuming frankincense were fried in the flame  
And vowed Bulls to sacrifice with horns fair gilded came.  
But from this great solemnity Duke Aeson was away,  
Now at deaths door and spent with years. Then jason thus 'gan say.  
O wife to whom I do confess I own my life in deed,  
Though all things thou to me hast given, and thy deserts exceed  
Belief: yet if enchantment can, (for what so hard appears  
Which strong enchantment can not do?) abate thou from my years,  
And add them to my father's life. As he these words did speak,  
The tears were standing in his eyes. His godly suit did break  
Medea's heart: who therewithal be thought her of her Sire  
In leaving whom she had expressed a far unlike desire.  
But yet bewraying not her thoughts, she said: O Husband fie,  
What wickedness hath scaped your mouth? suppose you then that I  
Am able of your life the term where I will to bestow?  
Let Hecat never suffer that. Your suit (as well you know)  
Against all right and reason is. But I will put in proof  
A greater gift than you require and more for your behoof.  
I will assay your father's life by cunning to prolong,  
And not with your years for to make him young again and strong:  
So our thréeformed Goddess grant with present help to stand  
A furthrer of the great attempt the which I take in hand.  
Before the Moon should circlewise close both her horns in one  
Three nights were yet as then to come. assoon as that she shone  
Most full of light, and did behold the earth with fulsome face,  
Medea with her hair not trust so much as in a lace,  
But flaring on her shoulders twain, and barefoot, with her gown  
Ungirded, gate her out of doors and wandered up and down  
Alone the dead time of the night. both Man, and Beast, and Bird  
Were fast a sleep: the Serpent's sly in trailing forward stirred  
So softly as ye would have thought they still a sleep had been.  
The moisting Air was whist. no leaf ye could have moving seen.  
The stars alonely fair and bright did in the welkin shine  
To which she lifting up her hands did thrice herself incline:  
And thrice with water of the brook her hair besprinkled she:  
And gasping thrice she oped her mouth: and bowing down her knee  
Upon the bare hard ground, she said: O trusty time of night  
Most faithful unto privities, O golden stars whose light  
Doth jointly with the Moon succeed the beams that blaze by day  
And thou three headed Hecàté who knowest best the way  
To compass this our great attempt and art our chiefest stay:  
Ye Charms & Witchcrafts, & thou Earth which both with herb & weed  
Of mighty working furnish●st the Wizard's at their need:  
Ye Airs and winds: ye Elves of Hills, of Brooks, of Woods alone,  
Of standing Lakes, and of the Night approach ye everichone.  
Through help of whom (the crooked banks much wondering at the thing)  
I have compelled streams to run clean backward to their spring.  
By charms I make the calm Seas rough, & make the rough Seas plain▪  
And cover all the Sky with Clouds and chase them thence again.  
By charms I rasse and lay the winds, and burst the vipers law.  
And from the bowels of the Earth both stones and trees do draw.  
Whole woods and forests I remove: I make the Mountains shake,  
And even the Earth itself to groan and fearfully to quake.  
I call up dead men from their graves: and thee O light some Moon  
I darken oft, though beaten brass abate thy peril soon.  
Our Sorcery dims the Morning fair, and darks the Sun at Noon.  
The flaming breath of fiery Bulls ye quenched for my sake  
And caused their unwieldy necks the bended yoke to take.  
Among the Earthbred brothers you a mortal war did set  
And brought a sleep the Dragon fell whose eyes were never shut.  
By means whereof deceiving him that had the golden fleece  
In charge to keep, you sent it thence by jason into Greece.  
Now have I need of herbs that can by virtue of their juice  
To flowering prime of lusty youth old withered age reduce.  
I am assured ye will it grant. For not in vain have shone  
These twinkling stars, ne yet in vain this Chariot all alone  
By draft of Dragons hither comes. With that was fro the Sky  
A Chariot softly glanced down, and stayed hard thereby.  
assoon as she had gotten up, and with her hand had coyed  
The Dragon's reined necks, and with their bridles somewhat toyd,  
They mounted with her in the Air, whence looking down she saw  
The pleasant Temp of Thessaly, and made her Dragons draw  
To places further from resort: and there she took the view  
What herbs on high mount Pelion, and what on Ossa grew.  
And what on mountain Othris and on Pyndus growing were,  
And what Olympus (greater than mount Pyndus far) did bear.  
Such herbs of them as liked her she pulled up root and rind  
Or cropped them with a hooked knife. And many she did find  
Upon the banks of Apidane agreeing to her mind:  
And many at Amphrisus' fords: and thou Enipeus eke  
Didst yield her many pretty weeds of which she well did like.  
Peneus and Sperchius' streams contributary were,  
And so were Boebes' rushy banks of such as growed there.  
About Anthedon which against the isle Euboea stands,  
A certain kind of lively grass she gathered with her hands,  
The name whereof was scarcely known or what the herb could do  
Until that Glau●us afterward was changed thereinto.  
Nine days with winged Dragons drawn, nine nights in Chariot swift  
She searching every field and frith from place to place did shift.  
She was no sooner home returned but that the Dragons fell  
Which lightly of her gathered herbs had taken but the smell,  
Did cast their sloughs and with their sloughs their riveled age forego.  
She would none other house than heaven to hide her head as though:  
But kept her still without the doors: and as for man was none  
That once might touch her. Altars twain of Turf she builded: one  
Upon her left-hand unto Youth, another on the right  
To Herat. Both the which assoon as she had dight  
With Ueruin and with other shrubs that on the fields do rise,  
Not far from thence she diggeth two pits: and making sacrifice  
Did cut a couple of black Rams throats and filled with their blood  
The open pits, on which she poured of warm milk pure and good  
A bowl full, and another bowl of honey clarifide.  
And babbling to herself therewith full bitterly she cried  
On Pluto and his ravished wife the sovereign states of Hell,  
And all the Elves and Gods that on or in the Earth do dwell,  
To spare old Aesons life a while, and not in haste deprive  
His limbs of that same aged soul which kept them yet alive.  
Whom when she had sufficiently with mumbling long besought,  
She bade that Aesons ●éebled corpse should out of doors be brought  
Before the Altars. Then with charms she cast him in so deep  
A slumber, that upon the herbs he lay for dead a sleep.  
Which done she willed jason thence a great way off to go  
And likewise all the Ministers that served her as though:  
And not presume those secrets with unhallowed eyes to see.  
They did as she commanded them. When all were voided, she  
With scattered hair about her ears like one of Bacchus' froes  
Devoutly by and by about the burning Altars goes:  
And dipping in the pits of blood a sort of clif●ed brands  
Upon the Altars kindled them that were on both her hands.  
And thrice with brimstone, thrice with fire, and thrice with water pure  
She purged Aesons aged corpse that slept and slumbered sure.  
The medicine séething all the while a wallop in a pan  
Of brass, to spirit and leap a fit and gather froth began.  
There boiled she the roots, seeds, flowers, leaves, stalks & juice together  
Which from the fields of Thessaly she late had gathered thither.  
She cast in also precious stones fetched from the furthest East  
And which the ebbing Ocean washed fine gravel from the West.  
She put thereto the dew that fell upon a Monday night:  
And flesh and feathers of a Witch a cursed odious wight  
Which in the likeness of an Owl abroad a nights did fly,  
And Infants in their cradles change or suck them that they die.  
The singles also of a 
* A Ware wolf.  Wolf which when he list could take  
The shape of man, and when he list the same again forsake.  
And from the River Cyniphis which is in Lybie land  
She had the fine sheer scaled films of water snails at hand.  
And of an endlesselived heart the liver had she got.  
To which she added of a Crow that then had lived not  
So little as nine hundred years the head and Bill also.  
Now when Medea had with these and with a thousand more  
Such other kind of nameless things bestead her purpose through  
For lengthening of the old man's life, she took a withered bough  
Cut lately from an Olyf tree, and jumbling all together  
Did raise the bottom to the brim: and as she stirred hither  
And thither with the withered stick, behold it waxed green.  
Anon the leaves came budding out: and suddenly were seen  
As many berries dangling down as well the bough could bear.  
And where the fire had from the pan the scumming cast, or where  
The scalding drops did fall, the ground did springlike flourish there,  
And flowers with fodder fine and soft immediately arose.  
Which when Medea did behold, with naked knife she goes  
And cuts the old man's throat: and letting all his old blood go  
Supplies it with the boiled juice: the which when Aeson though  
Had at his mouth or at his wound received in, his hear  
As well of head as beard from grey to coal-black turned were.  
His lean, pale, hoar, and withered corpse grew fulsome, fair and fresh:  
His furrowed wrinkles were fulfilleth with young and lusty flesh.  
His limbs waxed frolic, bane and lithe: at which he wondering much,  
Remembered that at forty years he was the same or such.  
And as from dull unwieldsome age to youth he backward drew:  
Even so a lively youthful sprite did in his heart renew.  
The wonder of this monstrous act had Bacchus seen from high.  
And finding that to youthful years his Nurses might thereby  
Restored be, did at her hand receive it as a gift.  
And lest deceitful guile should cease, Medea found a shift  
To feign that jason and herself were fallen at odds in wroth:  
And thereupon in humble wise to Pelias Court she goth.  
Wh●re forbicause the King himself was feebled sore with age,  
His daughters entertained her whom Medea being sage,  
Within a while through false pretence of feigned friendship brought  
To take her bait. For as she told what pleasures she had wrought  
For jason, and among the rest as greatest sadly told  
How she had made his father young that withered was and old,  
And tarried long upon that point: they hoped glad and feign  
That their old father might likewise his youthful years regain.  
And this they craving instantly did proffer for her pain  
What recompense she would desire. She held her peace a while  
As though she doubted what to do: and with her subtle guile  
Of counterfeited gravity more eager did them make.  
assoon as she had promised them to do it for their sake,  
For more assurance of my grant, yourselves (quoth she) shall see  
The oldest Ram in all your flock a Lamb straight made to be  
By force of my confections strong. Immediately a Ram  
So old that no man thereabouts remembered him a Lam▪  
Was thither by his warped horns which turned inward to  
To his hollow Temples, drawn: whose withered throat she slit in two.  
And when she clean had drained out that little blood that was  
Upon the fire with herbs of strength she set a pan of brass,  
And cast his carcase thereinto. The Medicine did abate  
The largeness of his limbs and seared his dossers from his pate,  
And with his horns abridged his years. Anon was plainly heard  
The bleating of a new yea●d Lamb from mid the Ketleward.  
And as they wondered for to hear the bleating, straight the Lam  
Leapt out, and frisking ran to seek the udder of some Dam.  
King Pelias daughters were amazed and when they did behold  
Her promise come to such effect, they were a thousand fold  
More earnest at her than before. Thrice Phoebus having plucked  
The Collars from his horses necks, in Iber had them ducked.  
And now in Heaven the streaming stars the fourth night shined clear:  
When false Medea on the fire had hanged water shear.  
With herbs that had no power at all. The King and all his guard  
Which had the charge that night about his person for to ward  
Were through her nightspells and her charms in deadly sleep all cast.  
And Pelias daughters with the Witch which egged them forward, past  
Into his chamber by the watch, and compassed in his bed.  
Then: wherefore stand ye doubting thus like fools Medea sed.  
On: draw your sword: and let ye out his old blood, that I may  
Fill up his empty veins again with youthful blood straight way.  
Your father's life is in your hands: it lieth now in you  
To have him old and withered still or young and lusty. Now  
If any nature in ye be, and that ye do not feed  
A fruitless hope, your duty to your father do with speed.  
Expulse his age by sword, and let the filthy matter out.  
Through these persuasions which of them so ever went about  
To show herself most natural, became the first that wrought  
Against all nature: and for fear she should be wicked thought,  
She executes the wickedness which most to shun she sought.  
Yet was not any one of them so bold that durst abide  
To look upon their father when she struck, but wride aside  
Her eyes: and so their cruel hands not marking where they hit  
With faces turned another way at all adventure 〈◊〉.  
He all beweltred in his blood awaked with the smart,  
And maimed and mangled as he was did give a sudden start  
endeavouring to have risen up. but when he did behold  
Himself among so many sword, he lifting up his old  
Pale waryish arms, said: daughters mine what do ye? who hath put  
These wicked weapons in your hands your father's throat to cut?  
With that their hearts and hands did faint. And as he talked yet,  
Medea breaking of his words, his windpipe quickly slit,  
And in the scalding liquor torn did drown him by and by.  
But had she not with winged worms straight mounted in the sky  
She had not scaped punishment. but stying up on high  
She over shady Pelion flew where Chiron erst did dwell,  
And over Othrys and the grounds renowinde for that befell  
To ancient Ceramb: who such time as old Deucalion's flood  
Upon the face of all the Earth like one main water stood,  
By help of Nymphs with feathered wings was in the Air lift,  
And so escaped from the flood undrowned by the shift.  
She left Aeolian Pytanie upon her left hand: and  
The Serpent that became a stone upon the Lesbian sand.  
And Ida woods where Bacchus hide a Bullock (as is said)  
In shape of Stag the which his son had théevishly conveyed.  
And where the Sire of Corytus lies buried in the dust.  
The fields which Meras (when he first did into barking burst)  
Afraid with strangeness of the noise. And eke Eurypils town  
In which the wives of Cos had horns like Oxen on their crown  
Such time as Hercles' with his host departed from the isle.  
And Rhodes to Phoebus consecrate: and jalyse where ere while  
The Telchines with their noisome sight did every thing bewitch.  
At which their heinous wickedness jove taking rightful pritch,  
Did drown them in his brother's waves. Moreover she did pass  
By Ceos and old Carthey walls where Sir Alcidamas  
Did wonder how his daughter should be turned to a Dove.  
The Swannie Temp and Hyries' Pool she viewed from above,  
The which a sudden Swan did haunt. For Phyllie there for love  
Of Hyries' son did at his bidding Birds and Lions tame,  
And being willed to break a Bull performed straight the same:  
Till wrathful that his love so oft so straightly should him use,  
When for his last reward he asked the Bull, he did refuse  
To give it him. The boy displeased, said: well: thou wilt anon  
Repent thou gave it not: and leapt down headlong from a stone.  
They all supposed he had been fallen: but being made a Swan  
With snowy feathers in the Air to flacker he began.  
His mother Hyrie knowing not he was preserved so,  
Resolved into melting tears for pensiveness and woe,  
And made the Pool that bears her name. Not far from hence doth stand  
The City Brauron, where sometime by mounting from the land  
With waving pinions Ophyes' imp dame Combe did eschew  
Her children which with naked sword to slay her did pursue.  
Anon she kend Calaurie fields which did sometime pertain  
To chaste Diana where a King and eke his wife both twain  
Were turned to Birds. Cyllene hill upon her right hand stood,  
In which Menephron like a beast of wild and savage mood  
To force his mother did attempt. Far thence she spied where sad  
Cephisus mourned for his Niece whom Phoebus turned had  
To ugly shape of swelling Seal: and Eumelles palace fair  
Lamenting for his sons mischance with whewling in the Air.  
At Corinth with her winged Snakes at length she did arrive.  
Here men (so ancient fathers said that were as then alive)  
Did breed of dewy Mushrommes. But after that her teen  
With burning of her husband's bride by witchcraft wreaked had been  
And that King Creon's palace she on blazing fire had seen,  
And in her own dear children's blood had bathed her wicked knife  
Not like a mother but a beast bereaving them of life:  
Lest jason should have punished her she took her winged Snakes,  
And flying thence again in haste to Pallas City makes,  
Which saw the ancient Periphas and righteous Phiney to  
Together flying, and the niece of Polypemon who  
Was fastened to a pair of wings as well as other two.  
Aegeus enterteinde her wherein he was too blame  
Although he had no further gone but stayed upon the same,  
He thought it not to be enough to use her as his guest  
unless he took her too his wife. And now was Thesey priest,  
Unknown unto his father yet, who by his knightly force  
Had set from robbers clear the baulk that makes the straight divorce  
Between the seas Iönian and Aegean. To have killde  
This worthy knight, Medea had a Goblet ready filled  
With juice of Flintwoort venomous the which she long ago  
Had out of Scythie with her brought. The common brute is so  
That of the teeth of Cerberus this Flintwoort first did grow.  
There is a cave that gapeth wide with darksome entry low,  
There goes a way slope down by which with triple chain made new  
Of strong and sturdy Adamant the valiant Her●le drew  
The currish Hellhound Cerberus: who dragging arsward still  
And writhing back his scowling eyes because he had no skill  
To see the Sun and open day, for very moody wroth  
Three barkings yelled out at once, and spit his slavering froth  
Upon the gréenish grass. This froth (as men suppose) took root  
And thriving in the batling soil in burgeous forth did shoot,  
To bane and mischief men withal: and forbicause the same  
Did grow upon the bare hard Flints, folk gave the foresaid name  
Of Flintwoort thereunto. The King by egging of his Queen  
Did reach his soon this bane as if he had his enemy been.  
And Thesey ●f this treason wrought not knowing aught had ta'en  
The Goblet at his father's ha●d which held his deadly bane:  
When suddenly by the Iuor●e hi●●s that were upon his sword  
Aegeus knew he was his son: and rising from the board  
Did strike the mischieve from his mouth. Medea with a charm  
Did cast a mist and so scaped death deserved for the harm  
Intended. Now albeit that Aegeus were right glad  
That in the saving of his son so happy chance he had,  
Yet grieved it his heart full sore that such a wicked wight  
With treason wrought against his son should scape so clear & quite.  
Then fell he unto kindling fire on Altars every where  
And glutted all the Gods with gifts. The thick necked Oxen were  
With garlands wreathd about their horns knocked down for sacrifice.  
A day of more solemnity than this did never rise  
Before on Athens (by report.) The ancients of the Town  
Made feasts: so did the meaner sort, and every common clown.  
And as the wine did sharp their wits, they sung this song. O knight  
Of peerless prowess Theseus, thy manhood and thy might  
Through all the coast of Marathon with worthy honour sounds,  
For killing of the Cretish Bull that wasted those same grounds.  
The folk of Cremyon think themselves beholden unto thee.  
For that without disquietting their fields may tilled be.  
By thee the land of Epidaure beheld the clubbish son  
Of Vulcan dead. By thee likewise the country that doth run  
Along Cephisus banks beheld the fell Procrustes slain.  
The dwelling place of Ceres our Eleusis glad and feign  
Beheld the death of certion. That orpid Sinis who  
Abused his strength in bending trees and tying folk thereto,  
Their limbs asunder for to tear when loosened from the stops  
The trees unto their proper place did trice their strained tops,  
Was killed by thee. Thou made the way that leadeth to the town  
Alcathoe in Beotia clear by putting Scyron down.  
To this same outlaws scattered bones the land denied rest,  
And likewise did the Sea refuse to harbour such a guest:  
Till after floating to and fro long while as men do say  
At length they hardened into stones: and at this present day  
The stones are called Scyron's cliffs. Now if we should account  
Thy deeds together with thy years, thy deeds would far surmount  
Thy years. For thee most valiant Prince these public vows we keep  
For thee with cheerful hearts we quaff these bowls of wine so deep.  
The Palace also of the noise and shouting did resound  
The which the people made for joy. There was not to be found  
In all the City any place of sadness. Nevertheless  
(So hard it is of perfect joy to find so great excess,  
But that some sorrow therewithal is meddled more or less,)  
Aegeus had not in his sons recovery such delight,  
But that there followed in the neck a piece of fortune's spite.  
King Minos was preparing war. who though he had great store  
Of ships and soldiers yet the wrath the which he had before  
conceived in his father's breast for murdering of his son  
Androgeus made him far more strong and fiercer for to run  
To rightful battle to revenge the great displeasure done.  
Howbeit he thought it best ere he his warfare did begin  
To find the means of foreign aides some friendship for to win.  
And thereupon with flying fleet where passage did permit  
He went to visit all the Isles that in those seas do fit.  
Anon the Isles Astypaley and Anaphey both twain  
The first constreind for fear of war the last in hope of gain  
took part with him. Low Myconey did also with him hold  
So did the chalky Cymoley, and Syphney which of old  
Was very rich with veins of gold, and Scyros' full of bold  
And valiant men, and Seryphey the smooth or rather fell,  
And Parey which for Marblestone doth bear away the bell.  
And Sythney which a wicked wench called Arne did betray  
For money: who upon receipt thereof without delay  
Was turned to a bird which yet of gold is gripple still,  
And is as black as any coal, both feathers, feet and bill.  
A Cadowe is the name of her. But yet Olyarey,  
And Didymey, and Andrey eke, and Tene, and Gyarey,  
And Pepareth where Olive trees most plenteously do grow,  
In no wise would agree their help on Minos to bestow.  
Then Minos turning lefthandwise did sail to Oenope  
Where reignde that time King Aeacus. This Isle had called be  
Of old by name of Oenope: but Aeacus turned the name  
And after of his mother's name Aegina called the same.  
The common folk ran out by heaps desirous for to see  
A man of such renown as Minos bruited was to be.  
The Kings three sons Duke Telamonius Duke Peley, and the young  
Duke Phocus went to meet with him. Old Aeacus also clung  
With age, came after leisurely, and asked him the cause  
Of his repair. The ruler of the hundred Shires 'gan pause:  
And musing on the inward grief that nipped him at the heart,  
Did shape him answer thus. O Prince vouchsafe to take my part  
In this same godly war of mine: assist me in the just  
Revengement of my murdered son that sleepeth in the dust.  
I crave your comfort for his death. Aeginas' son replied:  
Thy suit is vain: and of my Realm perforce must be denied.  
For unto Athens is no land more sure than this allied:  
Such leagues between us are which shall infringde for me abide.  
Away went Minos sad: and said: full dearly shalt thou buy  
Thy leagues. He thought it for to be a better policy  
To threaten war than war to make, and there to spend his store  
And strength which in his other needs might much avail him more.  
As yet might from Oenopia walls the Cretish fleet be kend.  
When thitherward with puffed sails and wind at will did tend  
A ship from Athens, which anon arriving at the strand  
Set Cephal with Ambassade from his Countrymen a land.  
The Kings three sons though long it were since last they had him seen:  
Yet knew they him. And after old acquaintance eft had been  
Renewed by shaking hands, to Court they did him straight convey  
This Prince which did allure the eyes of all men by the way,  
As in whose stately person still remained to be seen  
The marks of beauty which in flower of former years had been  
Went holding out on Olife branch that grew in Attic land  
And for the reverence of his age there went on either hand  
A Nobleman of younger years. Sir Clitus on the right  
And Butes on the left, the sons of one that Pallas h●ght.  
When greeting first had passed between these Nobles and the King,  
Then Cephal setting straight a brooch the message he did bring,  
Desired aid: and showed what leagues stood then in source between  
His country and the Aeginites, and also what had been  
Decreed betwixt their ancestors, concluding in the end  
That under colour of this war which Minos did pretend  
To only Athens, he in deed the conquest did intend  
Of all Achaia. When he thus by help of learned skill  
His country message furthred had, King Aeacus leaning still  
His left hand on his sceptre, said. My Lords, I would not have  
Your state of Athens seem so strange as succour here to crave.  
I pray command. For be ye sure that what this Isle can make  
Is yours. Yea all that ere I have shall hazard for your sake.  
I want no strength. I have such store of soldiers, that I may  
Both vex my foes and also keep my Realm in quiet stay.  
And now I think me blessed of God that time doth serve to show  
Without excuse the great good will that I to Athens owe.  
God hold it sir (ꝙ Shafalus) God make the number grow  
Of people in this town of yours: it did me good a late  
When such a goodly sort of youth of all one age and rate  
Did meet me in the street. but yet me thinks that many miss  
Which at my former being here I have beheld ere this.  
At that the King did ●igh, and thus with plaintfull voice did say.  
A sad beginning afterwards in better luck did stay.  
I would I plainly could the same before your faces lay.  
Howbeit I will disorderly repeat it as I may.  
And lest I seem to weary you with overlong delay,  
The men that you so mindefully inquire for lie in ground  
And nought of them save bones and dust remaineth to be found.  
But as it happed what loss thereby did unto me redound?  
A cruel plague through junos' wrath who dreadfully did hate  
This Land that of her husband's Love did take the name of late,  
Upon my people fell: as long as that the malady  
None other seemed than such as haunts man's nature usually,  
And of so great mortality the hurtful cause was hid,  
We strove by Physic of the same the Patients for to rid.  
The mischief overmastered Art: yea Physic was to seek  
To do itself good. First the Air with foggy stinking reek  
Did daily overdréepe the earth: and close culm Clouds did make  
The wether faint: and while the Moon four time her light did take  
And filled her empty horns therewith, and did as often slake:  
The warm South winds with deadly heat continually did blow.  
Infected were the Springs, and Ponds, and streams that ebb & flow.  
And swarms of Serpents crawled about the fields that lay untillde  
Which with their poison even the brooks and running waters filled.  
In sudden dropping down of Dogs, of Horses, Sheep and Kine,  
Of Birds & Beasts both wild & tame as Oxen, Wolves, & Swine,  
The mischief of this secret sore first outwardly appeareth.  
The wretched Ploughman was amazed to see his sturdy steers  
Amid the ●orrow sinking down ere half his work was done.  
Whole flocks of sheep did faintly bleat, and therewithal begun  
Their fleeces for to fall away and leave the naked skin,  
And all their bodies with the rot attainted were within.  
The lusty Horse that erst was fierce in field renown to win  
Against his kind grew cowardly: and now forgetting quite  
The ancient honour which he pressed so oft to get in fight,  
Stood sighing sadly at the Rack as waiting for to yield  
His weary life without renown of combat in the field.  
The Boar to chafe, the Hind to run, the cruel Bear to fall  
Upon the herds of Rother beasts had now no lust at all.  
A languishing was fallen on all. In ways, in woods, in plains,  
The filthy carious lay, whose stench, the Air itself distaines.  
(A wondrous thing to tell) not Dogs, not ravening Fowls, nor yet  
Horec●ted Wolves would once attempt to taste of them a bit.  
Look where they fell, there rotted they: and with their savour bred  
More harm, and further still abroad the foul infection spread.  
With loss that touched yet more near, on Husbandmen it crept,  
And ragingly within the walls of this great City ●●ept.  
It took men first with swelting heat that scalt their guts within:  
The signs whereof were steaming breath and fiery coloured skin  
The tongue was harsh & swollen, the mouth through drought of burning veins  
Lay gaping up to hale in breath, and as the patient strains,  
To draw it in, he sucks therewith corrupted Air beside.  
No bed, no clothes though near so thin the patients could abide.  
But laid th●ir hardened stomachs flat against the bare cold ground  
Yet no abatement of the heat therein their bodies found:  
But h●t the earth, and as for leech was none that help could height  
The Surgians and Physicians too were in the self same plight.  
Their cureless cunning hurt themselves. The nearer any man  
Approacheth his diseased friend, and doth the best he can  
To succour him most faithfully, the sooner did he catch  
His bane. All hope of health was gone. No easement nor dispatch  
Of this disease except in death and burial did they find.  
Look whereunto that each man's mind and fancy was inclined,  
That followed he. he never passed what was for his behoof.  
For why? that nought could do them good was felt too much by proof.  
In every place without respect of shame or honesty  
At Wells, at brooks, at ponds, at pits, by swarms they thronging lie:  
But sooner might they quench their life than staunch their thirst thereby.  
And therewithal so heavy and unwieldy they become,  
That wanting power to rise again, they died there. Yet some  
The self same waters guzled still without regard of fear,  
So weary of their loathsome beds the wretched people were,  
That out they leapt: or if to stand their feeble force denied,  
They wallowed down and out of doors immediately them hide:  
It was a death to every man his own house to abide.  
And for they did not know the cause whereof the sickness came,  
The place (because they did it know) was blamed for the same.  
Ye should have seen some half sord●ad go plundering here and there  
By highways sides while that their legs were able them to bear.  
And some lie weeping on the ground or rolling piteously  
Their weary eyes which afterwards should never see the Sky:  
Or stretching out their l●●mes to Heaven that overhangs on high,  
Some here, some there, and yonder some, in what so ever cost  
Death finding them enforced them to yield their fainting Ghost.  
What heart had I suppose you then, or ought I then to have?  
In faith I might have lothde my life, and wished me in my grave  
As other of my people were. I could not cast mine eye  
In any place, but that dead folk there strewed I did spy  
Even like as from a shaken twig when rotten Apples drop,  
Or Mast from Beeches, Holmes or Okes when Poles do scare their top.  
Yo● stately Church with gréeces long against our Court you see:  
It is the shrine of jupiter. What Wight was he or she  
That on those Altars burned not their frankincense in vain?  
How oft, yea even with Frankincense that partly did remain  
Still unconsumed in their hands, did die both man and wife?  
As each of them with mutual care did pray for others life?  
How often died the mother there in sewing for her son,  
Unheard upon the Altarstone, her prayer scarce begun?  
How often at the Temple door even while the Priest did bid  
His Beads, and pour pure wine between their horns, at sudden slid  
The Oxen down without stroke given? Yea once when I had thought  
Myself by offering sacrifice Jove's favour to have sought,  
For me, my Realm, and these three ymps, the Ox with grievous groan  
Upon the sudden sunk me down: and little blood or none  
Did issue scarce to stain the knife with which they slit his throat.  
The sickly inwards eke had lost the signs whereby we note  
What things the Gods for certainty would warn us of before:  
For even the very bowels were attainted with the sore.  
Before the holy Temple doors, and (that the death might be  
The more despiteful) even before the Altars did I see  
The stinking corpses scattered. Some with halter's slopped their wind,  
By death expulsing fear of death: and of a wilful mind  
Did haste their end, which of itself was coming on a pace.  
The bodies which the plague had slain were (O most wretched case)  
Not carried forth to burial now. For why such store there was  
That scarce the gates were wide enough for Coffins forth to pass.  
So either loathly on the ground unburied did they lie,  
Or else without solemnity were burnt in bonfires hie  
No reverence nor regard was had. Men fell together by  
The ears for firing. In the fire that was prepared for one  
Another strangers corpse was burnt. And lastly few or none  
Were left to mourn. The filly souls of Mothers with their small  
And tender babes, and age with youth as Fortune did befall  
Went wandering ghastly up and down unmourned for at all.  
In fine so far outrageously this helpless Murrain raves,  
There was not wood enough for fire, nor ground enough for graves.  
Astnoied at the stourenesse of so stout a storm of ills  
I said O father jupiter whose mighty power fulfils  
Both Heaven and Earth, if flying fame report thee not amiss  
In vouching that thou didst embrace in way of Love ere this  
The River Asops' daughter fair Aegina even by name,  
And that to take me for thy son thou count it not a shame:  
Restore thou me my folk again, or kill thou me likewise.  
He gave a sign by sudden flash of lightning from the Skies,  
And double peal of Thundercracks. I take this same (ꝙ I)  
And as I take it for a true and certain sign whereby  
Thou dost confirm me for thy son: so also let it be  
A handsel of some happy luck thou mindest unto me.  
Hard by us as it happed that time, there was an Oaken tree  
With spreaded arms as bare of boughs as lightly one shall see.  
This tr●e (as all the rest of Okes) was sacred unto jove  
And sprouted of an acorn which was fet from Dodon grove.  
Here marked we how the pretty Ants the gatherers up of grain  
One following other all along in order of a train,  
Great burdens in their little mouths did painfully sustain▪  
And nimbly up the rugged bark their beaten path maintain.  
As wondering at the swarm I stood, I said, O father dear  
As many people give thou me, as Ants are creeping here.  
And fill mine empty walls again. Anon the Oak did quake,  
And unconstreind of any blast, his lofty branches shake,  
The which did yield a certain sound. With that for dreadful fear  
A shuddering through my body struck and up stood stiff my hear.  
But yet I kissed reverently the ground and eke the tree.  
Howbeit I durst not be so bold of hope acknown to be.  
Yet hoped I: and in my heart did shroud my secret hope.  
Anon came night: and sleep upon my careful carcase crope.  
Me thought I saw the self same Oak with all his boughs and twigs,  
And all the Pismeres creeping still upon his tawnts and sprigs.  
Which trembling with a sudden brayed these Harvest folk of threw  
And shed them on the ground about, who on the sudden grew  
In bigness more and more. and from the earth themselves did lift:  
And stood upright against the tree: and therewithal did shift  
Their meygernesse, and coal-black hue, and number of their feet:  
And clad their limbs with shape of man. Away my sleep did fleet.  
And when I woke, misliking of my dream I made my moan  
That in the Gods I did perceive but slender help or none.  
But strait much trampling up and down and shuffling did I hear  
And (which to me that present time did very strange appear)  
Of people talking in my house me thought I heard the rear.  
Now while I musing on the same supposed it to have been  
Some fancy of the foolish dream which lately I had seen,  
Behold, in comes me Telamonius in haste, and thrusting ope  
My Chamber door, said: Sir, a sight of things surmounting hope  
And credit shall you have: come forth. Forth came I by and by  
And even such men for all the world there standing did I spy  
As in my sleep I dreamt of, and knew them for the same.  
They coming to me gréeted me their sovereign Lord by name.  
And I (my vows to jove performed) my City did divide  
Among my new inhabiters: and gave them land beside  
Which by decease of such as were late owners of the same  
Lay waste. And in remembrance of the race whereof they came,  
The name of Emmets I them gave. Their persons you have seen:  
Their disposition is the same that erst in them hath been.  
They are a sparing kind of folk, on labour wholly set,  
A gatherer, and an hoarder up of such as they do get.  
These fellows being like in years and courage of the mind,  
Shall go a warfare wy assoon as that the Eastern wind  
Which brought you hither luckily, (the Eastern wind was it  
That brought them thither) turning, to the Southern coast do 〈◊〉.  
With this and other such like talk they brought the day to end.  
The Even in feasting, and the night in sleeping they did spend.  
The Sun next Morrow in the heaven with golden beams did burn,  
And still the Eastern wind did blow and hold them from return.  
Sir Pallas sons to Cephal came (for he their elder was)  
And he and they to Aeacus Court together forth did pass.  
The King as yet was fast a sleep. Duke Phocus at the gate  
Did meet them, and received them according to their state.  
For Telamonius and Peleus already forth were gone,  
To muster Soldiers for the wars. So Phocus all alone  
Did lead them to an inner room, where goodly Parlours were,  
And caused them to sit them down. As he was also there  
Now sitting with them, he beheld a Dart in Cephals hand  
With golden head, the steal whereof he well might understand  
Was of some strange and unknown tree. when certain talk had passed  
A while of other matters there, I am (quoth he) at last  
A man that hath delight in woods and loves to follow game  
And yet I am not able sure by any means to aim  
What would your javelin steal is of. Of Ash it can not be.  
For then the colour should be brown. and if of cornel tree,  
It would be full of knubbed knots. I know not what it is:  
But sure mine e●es did never see a fairer Dart than this.  
The one of those same brethren twain replying to him said:  
Nay then the special property will make you more dismayed,  
Than doth the beauty of this Dart. It hitteth whatsoever  
He throws it at. The stroke thereof by Chance is ruled never.  
For having done his feat, it flies all bloody back again  
Without the help of any hand. The Prince was earnest then  
To know the truth of all: as whence so rich a present came,  
Who gave it him, and whereupon the party gave the same.  
Duke Cephal answered his demand in all points (one except)  
The which (as known apparently) for shame he overlept:  
●is beauty namely, for the which he did receive the Dart.  
And ●or the loss of his dear wife right pensive at the heart.  
He thus began with weeping eyes. This Dart O Goddess son  
(Ye ill would think it) makes me yirne, & long shall make me done,  
If long the Gods do give me life. This weapon hath undone  
My dear beloved wife and me. O would to God this same  
Had never unto me been given. There was a noble Dame  
That Procris hight (but you perchance have oftener heard the name  
Of great Orythia whose renown was bru●ed so by fame,  
That blustering Boreas ravished her.) To this Orythia she  
Was sister. If a body should compare in each degree  
The face and natures of them both, he could none other deem  
But Procris worthier of the twain of ravishment should seem.  
Her father and our mutual love did make us man and wife.  
Men said I had (and so I had in deed) a happy life.  
Howbeit God's will was otherwise. for had it pleased him  
Of all this while, and even still yet in pleasure should I swim.  
The second Month that she and I by band of lawful bed  
Had joined together been, as I my masking Toils did spread,  
To overthrow the horned Stags, the early Morning grey  
Then newly having chased night and gun to break the day,  
From Mount Hymettus' highest tops that freshly flourish ay,  
Espied me, and against my will conveyed me quite away.  
I trust the Goddess will not be offended that I say  
The troth of her. Although it would delight one to behold  
Her ruddy cheeks: although of day and night the bounds she hold:  
Although on juice of Ambrosia continually she feed:  
Yet Procris was the only Wight that I did love in deed.  
On Procris only was my heart: none other word had I  
But Procris only in my mouth: still Procris did I cry.  
It upned what a holy thing was wedlock: and how late  
It was ago since she and I were coupled in that state.  
Which band (and specially so soon) it were a shame to break.  
The Goddess being moved at the words that I did speak,  
Said: cease thy plaint thou Carl, and keep thy Procris still for me.  
But (if my mind deceive me not) the time will shortly be  
That wish thou wilt thou had her not. And so in anger she  
To Procris sent me back again. in going homeward as  
Upon the Goddess sayings with myself I musing was,  
I 'gan to dread bad measures lest my wife had made some escape.  
Her youthful years begarnished with beauty, grace and shape,  
In manner made me to believe the deed already done.  
Again her manners did forbid mistrusting over soon.  
But I had b●ne away: but even the same from whom I come  
A shrewd example gave how lightly wives do run in blame:  
But we poor Lovers are afraid of all things. Hereupon  
I thought to practise feats: which thing repented me anon:  
And shall repent me while I live. The purpose of my drifts  
Was for tassault her honesty with great rewards and gifts.  
The Morning fooding this my fear, to further my device,  
My shape (which thing me thought I felt) had altered with a trice.  
By means whereof anon unknown to Pallas town I came,  
And entered so my house: the house was clearly void of blame:  
And showed signs of chastity in mourning ever sith  
Their master had been rapt away. A thousand means wherewith  
To come to Procris speech had I devised: and scarce at last  
Obteinde I it. assoon as I mine eye upon her cast,  
My wits were ravished in such wise that nigh I had forgot  
The purposed trial of her troth. right much a do God wo●  
I had to hold mine own that I the truth bewrayed not.  
To keep myself from kissing her full much a do I had  
As reason was I should have done. She looked very sad.  
And yet as sadly as she looked, no Wight alive can show  
A better countenance than did she. Her heart did inward glow  
In longing for her absent spouse. How beautiful a face  
Think you Sir Phocus was in her whom sorrow so did grace?  
What should I make report how oft her chaste behaviour strove  
And overcame most constantly the great assaults I gave?  
Or tell how oft she shut me up with these same words? To one  
(Where ere he is) I keep myself, and none but he alone  
Shall sure enjoy the use of me. What creature having his  
Wits perfect would not be content with such a proof as this  
Of her most steadfast chastity? I could not be content:  
But still to purchase to myself more woe I further went.  
At last by proffering endless wealth, and heaping gifts on gifts,  
In overlading her with words I drove her to her shifts.  
Then cried I out: Thine evil heart myself I tardy take.  
Where of a strange adulterer the countenance I did make,  
I am in deed thy husband. O unfaithful woman thou,  
Even I myself can testify thy lewd behaviour now.  
She made none answer to my words, but being stricken dumb  
And with the sorrow of her heart alonely overcum,  
Forsaketh her entangling house, and naughty husband quite:  
And hating all the sort of men by reason of the spite  
That I had wrought her, strayed abroad among the Mountains hie,  
And exercised Diana's feats. Then kindled by and by  
A fiercer fire within my bones than ever was before,  
When she had thus forsaken me by whom I set such store.  
I prayed her she would pardon me, and did confess my fault.  
Affirming that myself likewise with such a great assault  
Of richesse might right well have been enforced to yield to blame,  
The rather if performance had ensued of the same.  
When I had this submission made, and she sufficiently  
Revenged her wronged chastity, she then immediately  
Was reconciled: and afterward we lived many a year  
In joy and never any jar between us did appear.  
Besides all this (as though her love had been to small a gift)  
She gave me eke a goodly Grewnd which was of foot so swift,  
That when Diana gave him her, she said he should out go.  
All others. and with this same Grewnd she gave this Dart also  
The which you see I hold in hand. Perchance ye feign would know  
What fortune to the Grewnd befell. I will unto you show  
A wondrous case. The strangeness of the matter will you move.  
The krinkes of certain Prophecies surmounting far above  
The reach of ancient wits to read, the Brookenymphes did expound:  
And mindless of her own dark doubts Dame Themis being found,  
Was as a reckless prophetess thrown flat against the ground.  
For which presumptuous deed of theirs she took just punishment.  
To Thebes in Boeotia straight a cruel beast she sent,  
Which wrought the bane of many a Wight. The countryfolk did feed  
Him with their cattle and themselves, until (as was agreed)  
That all we youthful Gentlemen that dwelled there about  
Assembling pitched our corded toils the champion fields throughout.  
But Net ne toil was none so high that could his wightnesse stop,  
He mounted over at his ease the highest of the top.  
Then every man let slip their Grewnds, but he them all outstripped  
And even as nimbly as a bird in dalliance from them whipped.  
Then all the field desired me to let my Laelaps go:  
(The Grewnd that Procris unto me did give was named so)  
Who struggling for to wrest his neck already from the band  
Did stretch his collar. Scarcely had we let him of of hand  
But that where Laelaps was become we could not understand.  
The print remained of his feet upon the parched sand,  
But he was clearly out of sight. Was never Dart I trow,  
Nor Pellet from enforced Sling, nor shaft from Cretish bow,  
That flew more swift than he did run. There was not far fro thence  
About the middle of the Land a rising ground, from whence  
A man might overlook the fields. I gate me to the knap  
Of this same hill, and there beheld of this strange course the hap  
In which the beast seems one while caught, and ere a man would think,  
Doth quickly give the Grewnd the slip, and from his bighting shrink:  
And like a wily Fox he runs not forth directly out,  
Nor makes a windlasse over all the champion fields about,  
But doubling and indenting still avoids his enemies lips,  
And turning short, as swift about as spinning wheel he whips,  
To disappoint the snatch. The Grewnd pursuing at an inch  
Doth coat him, never losing ground: but likely still to pinch  
Is at the sudden shifted of. continually he snatches  
In vain: for nothing in his mouth save only Air he latches.  
Then thought I for to try what help my Dart at need could show.  
Which as I charged in my hand by level aim to throw,  
And set my fingers to the thongs, I lifting from bylow  
Mine eyes, did look right forth again, and strait amids the field  
(A wondrous thing) two Images of Marble I beheld:  
Of which ye would have thought the tone had fled on still a pace  
And that with open barking mouth the t'other did him chase.  
In faith it was the will of God (at least if any Gods  
Had care of them) that in their pace there should be found none odds.  
Thus far: and then he held his peace. But tell us ere we part  
(Quoth Phocus) what offence or fault committed hath your Dart?  
His Darts offence he thus declared. My Lord the ground of all  
My grief was joy. those joys of mine remember first I shall.  
It doth me good even yet to think upon that blissful time  
(I mean the fresh and lusty years of pleasant youthful Prime)  
When I a happy man enjoyed so fair and good a wife,  
And she with such a loving Make did lead a happy life.  
The care was like 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 that could of me have won the love,  
No though Dame Venus had herself descended from above.  
The glowing brands of love did burn in both our breasts alike.  
Such time as first with crazed beams the Sun is wont to strike  
The tops of Towers and mountains high, according to the wont  
Of youthful men, in woody Parks I went abroad to hunt.  
But neither horse nor Hounds to make pursuit upon the scent.  
Nor Servingman, nor knotty toil before or after went.  
For I was safe with this same Dart. when weary waxed mine arm  
With striking Dear, and that the day did make me somewhat warm▪  
Withdrawing for to cool myself I sought among the shades  
For Air that from the valleys cold came breathing in at glades.  
The more excessive was my heat the more for Air I sought.  
I waited for the gentle Air: the Air was that that brought  
Refreshing to my weary limbs. And (well I bear't in thought)  
Come Air I wont was to sing. come ease the pain of me  
Within my bosom lodge thyself most welcome unto me,  
And as thou heretofore art wont abate my burning heat.  
By chance (such was my destiny) proceeding to repeat▪  
more words of dalliance like to these, I used for to say  
Great pleasure do I take in thee: for thou from day to day  
Dost both refresh and nourish me. Thou makest me delight  
In woods and solitary grounds. Now would to God I might  
Receive continual at my mouth this pleasant breath of thine.  
Some man (I wot not who) did hear these doubtful words of mine,  
And taking them amiss supposed that this same name of Air  
The which I called so oft upon, had been some Lady fair:  
He thought that I had looude some Nymph. And thereupon straight way  
He runs me like a Harebrained blab to Procris, t● bewray  
This fault as he surmised it: and there with lavas tongue.  
Reported all the wanton words that he had heard me sung.  
A thing of light belief is love. She (as I since have hard)  
For sudden sorrow swooned down: and when long afterward  
She came again unto herself, she said she was accursed  
And borne to cruel destiny: and me she blamed worst  
For breaking faith: and treating at a vain surmised shame  
She dreaded that which nothing was: she feared a headless name.  
She witted not what to say or think. The wretch did greatly fear  
Deceit: yet could she not believe the tales that talked were.  
unless she saw her husband's fault apparent to her eye,  
She thought she would not him condemn of any villainy.  
Next day as soon as Morning light had driven the night away,  
I went abroad to hunt again: and speeding, as I lay  
Upon the grass, I said come air and ease my painful heat.  
And on the sudden as I spoke there seemed for to beat  
A certain sighing in mine ears of what I could not guess.  
But ceasing not for that I still proceeded nevertheless:  
And said O come most pleasant Air. with that I heard a sound  
Of rustling softly in the leaves that lay upon the ground.  
And thinking it had been some beast I threw my flying Dart.  
It was my wife. who being now sore wounded at the heart,  
Cried out alas. assoon as I perceived by the shrieke  
It was my faithful spouse, I ran me to the voiceward lieke  
A madman that had lost his wits. There found I her half dead  
Her scattered garments staining in the blood that she had bled,  
And (wretched creature as I am) yet drawing from the wound  
The gift that she herself had given. Then softly from the ground  
I lifted up that body of hers of which I was more char  
Than of mine own. and from her breast her clothes in hast I tore.  
And binding up her cruel wound I strived for to stay  
The blood, and prayed she would not thus by passing so away  
Forsake me as a murderer: she waxing weak at length  
And drawing to her death a pace, enforced all her strength  
To utter these few words at last. I pray thee humbly by  
Our bond of wedlock, by the Gods as well above the Sky  
As those to whom I now must pass, as ever I have aught  
Deserved well by thee, and by Love which having brought  
Me to my death doth even in death unfaded still remain  
To nestle in thy bed and mine let never Air obtain.  
This sed, she held her peace, and I received the same  
And told her also how she was beguiled in the name.  
But what availed telling then? she quoathde: and with her blood  
Her little strength did fade. Howbeit as long as that she could  
See aught, she stared in my face and gasping still on me  
Even in my mouth she breathed forth her wretched ghost. But she  
Did seem with better cheer to die for that her conscience was  
Discharged quite and clear of doubts. Now in conclusion as  
Duke Cephal weeping told this tale to Phocus and the rest  
Whose eyes were also moist with tears to hear the piteous gest,  
Behold King Aeacus and with him his eldest sons both twain  
Did enter in and after them there followed in a train  
Of well appointed men of war new levied: which the King  
Delivered unto Shafalus to Athens town to bring.  
Finis septimi Libri.   

¶ THE EIGHT BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
THe day star now beginning to disclose the Morning bright  
And for to cleanse the droupie Sky from darkness of the night.  
The Eastern wind went down & flakes of foggy Clouds 'gan show,  
And from the South a merry gale on Cephals sails did blow.  
The which did hold so fresh and large, that he and all his men  
Before that he was looked for arrived safe again  
In wished Haven. In that while King Minos with his fleet  
Did waste the cost of Megara. And first he thought it meet  
To make a trial of the force and courage of his men  
Against the town Alcathoe where Nisus reigned then.  
Among whose honourable hair that was of colour grey,  
One scarlet hair did grow upon his crown, whereon the stay  
Of all his Kingdom did depend. Six times did Phoebe fill  
Her horns with borrowed light, and yet the war hung wavering still  
In fickle fortunes doubtful scoales: and long with fléeting wings  
Between them both flew victory. A Turret of the Kings  
Stood hard adjoining to the Wall which being touched rings  
For Phoebus (so men say) did lay his golden Uiall there,  
And so the stones the sound thereof did ever after bear.  
King Nisus daughter oftentimes resorted to this Wall  
And struck it with a little stone to raise the sound withal,  
In time of peace. And in the war she many a time and oft  
Beheld the sturdy storms of Mars from that same place aloft.  
And by continuance of the siege the captains names she knew  
Their arms, horse, armour and array in every band and crew.  
But specially above the rest she noted Minos' face.  
She knew enough and more than was enough as stood the case.  
For were it that he hide his head in Helm with feathered crest,  
To her opinion in his Helm he stained all the rest.  
Or were it that he took in hand of steel his target bright,  
She thought in wéelding of his shield he was a comely Knight.  
Or were it that he raised his arm to throw the piercing Dart,  
The Lady did commend his force and manhood joined with Art.  
Or drew he with his arrow nockt his bended Bow in hand  
She swore that so in all respects was Phoebus wont to stand.  
But when he showed his visage bore his Helmet laid aside,  
And on a Milk white Steed brave trapped, in Purple rob did ride,  
She scarce was Mistress of herself her wits were almost 'straught.  
A happy Dart she thought it was that he in fingers caught,  
And happy called she those reins that he in hand had reached  
And if she might have had her will, she could have found in heart,  
Among the enemies to have gone. she could have found in heart,  
From down the highest Turret there her body to have thrown,  
Among the thickest of the Tents of Gnossus to have flown.  
Or for to ope the brazen gates and let the enemy in,  
Or whatsoever else she thought might Minos' favour win.  
And as she sat beholding still the King of Candy's tent,  
She said: I doubt me whether that I rather may lament  
Or of this woeful war be glad. It grieves me at the heart  
That thou O Minos unto me thy Lover enemy art.  
But had not this same warfare been, I never had him known.  
Yet might he leave this cruel war, and take me as his own.  
A wife, a fear, a pledge for peace he might receive of me.  
O flower of beauty, O thou Prince most peerless: if that she  
That bore thee in her womb were like in beauty unto thee,  
A right good cause had jove on her enamoured for to be.  
Oh happy were I if with wings I through the Air might glide  
And safely to King Minos' Tent from this same Turret slide.  
Then would I utter who I am, and how the fiery flame  
Of Cupid burned in my breast, desiring him to name  
What dowry he would ask with me in loän of his love,  
Save only of my Father's Realm no question he should take place,  
Adieu desire of hoped love. Yet oftentimes such grace  
Hath from the gentle Conqueror proceeded erst, that they  
Which took the foil have found the same their profit and their stay.  
Assuredly the war is just that Minos takes in hand,  
As in revengement of his son late murdered in this land.  
And as his quarrel seemeth just, even so it cannot fail,  
But rightful war against the wrong must (I believe) prevail.  
Now if this City in the end must needs be taken, why  
Should his own sword and not my Love be means to win it by?  
It were yet better he should speed by gentle means without  
The slaughter of his people, yea and (as it may fall out)  
With spending of his own blood too. For sure I have a care  
O Minos lest some Soldier wound thee ere he be aware.  
For who is he in all the world that hath so hard a heart  
That wittingly against thy head would aim his cruel Dart▪  
I like well this devise. and on this purpose will I stand:  
To yield myself endowed with this City to the hand  
Of Minos: and in doing so to bring this war to end.  
But smally it availeth me the matter to intend.  
The gates and issues of this town are kept with watch and ward,  
And of the Keys continually my Father hath the guard.  
My Father only is the man of whom I stand in dread,  
My Father only hindereth me of my desired speed.  
Would God that I were Fatherless. Tush every Wight may be  
A God as in their own behalf, and if their hearts be free  
From fearfulness. For fortune works against the fond desire  
Of such as through faint heartedness attempt not to aspire.  
Some other feeling in her heart such flames of Cupid's fire.  
Already would have put in proof some practice to destroy  
What thing so ever of her Love the furtherance might annoy  
And why should any woma● have a bolder heart than I?  
Throw fire and sword I boldly durst adventure for to fly.  
And yet in this behalf at all there needs no sword nor fire,  
There needeth but my father's hair to accomplish my desire.  
That Purple hair of his to me more precious were than gold:  
That Purple hair of his would make me ble●t a thousand fold:  
That hair would compass my desire and set my heart at rest.  
Night (chiefest Nurse of thoughts to such as are with care oppressed.)  
Approached while she spoke these words, and darkness did increase  
Her boldness. At such time as folk are wont to find release  
Of cares that all the day before were working in their heads,  
By sleep which falleth first of all upon them in their beds,  
Her father's chamber secretly she entered: where (alas  
That ever Maiden should so far the bounds of Nature pass)  
She robbed her Father of the hair upon the which the fate  
Depended both of life and death and of his royal state.  
And joying in her wicked prey, she bears it with her so  
As if it were some lawful spoil acquired of the foe.  
And passing through a postern gate she marched through the mid  
Of all her enemies (such a trust she had in that she did)  
Until she came before the King▪ whom troubled with the sight  
She thus bespoke. Enforced O King by love against all right  
I Scylla Nisus daughter do present unto thee here  
My native soil, my household Gods, and all that else is dear  
For this my gift none other thing in recompense I crave  
Tha● of thy person which I love, fruition for to have.  
And in assurance of my love receive thou here of me  
My father's Purple hair: and think I give not unto thee  
A hair but even my father's head. And as these words she spoke.  
The cursed gift with wicked hand she proffered him to take.  
But Minos did abhor her gift: and troubled in his mind  
With strangeness of the heinous act so sore against her kind,  
He answered. O thou slander of our age the Gods expel  
Thee out of all this world of theirs and let thee nowhere dwell.  
Let rest on neither Sea nor Land be granted unto thee.  
Assure thyself that as for me I never will agree  
That Candie Jove's own foster place (as long as I there reign)  
Shall unto such a monstrous Wight a Harbrow place remain.  
This said, he like a righteous judge among his vanquished foes  
Set order under pain of death. Which done he willed those  
That served him to go a board and Anchors up to weigh.  
When Scylla saw the Candian fleet a float to go away,  
And that the Captain yielded not so good reward as she  
Had for her lewdness looked for: and when in fine she see  
That no entreatance could prevail, then bursting out in ire  
With stretched hands and scattered hair, as furious as the fire  
She shraming cryëd out aloud. And whither dost thou fly  
Rejecting me the only means that thou hast conquered by?  
O cankerde Churl preferred before my native soil, preferred  
Before my father, whither flyste O Carl of heart most hard?  
Whose conquest as it is my sin, so doth it well deserve  
Reward of thee, for that my fault so well thy turn did serve.  
Doth neither thee the gift I gave, nor yet my faithful love,  
Nor yet that all my hope on thee alonely rested, move?  
For whither shall I now resort forsaken thus of thee?  
To Megara the wretched soil of my nativity?  
Behold it lieth vanquished and trodden under foot.  
But put the case it flourished still: yet could it nothing boot.  
I have foreclosde it to myself through treason when I gave  
My father's head to thee. Whereby my countriefolke I drove  
To hate me justly for my crime. And all the Realms about  
My lewd example do abhor. Thus have I shut me out  
Of all the world that only Crete might take me in▪ which if  
Thou like a Churl deny, and cast me up without relief,  
The Lady Europe surely was not mother unto thee:  
But one of Afric Sirtss where none but Serpents fostered be  
But even some cruel Tiger bred in Armen or in Ind,  
Or else the Gulf Charybdis raised with rage of Southern wind  
Thou wert not got by jove: ne yet thy mother was beguiled  
In shape of Bull: of this thy birth the tale is false compiled.  
But rather some vnwield●e Bull even altogether wild  
That never lowed after Cow was out of doubt thy Sire.  
O father Nisus put thou me to penance for my hire.  
Rejoice thou in my punishment thou town by me betrayed.  
I have deserved (I confess) most justly to be paid  
With death. But let some one of them that through my lewdness smart▪  
Destroy me, why dost thou that by my crime a gainer art,  
Commit like crime thyself? Admit this wicked act of me  
As to my land and Fatherward in deed most heinous be.  
Yet oughtest thou to take it as a friendship unto thee.  
But she was meet to be thy wife, that in a Cow of tree  
Can play the Harlot with a Bull, and in her womb could bear  
A Barn, in whom the shapes of man and beasts confounded were.  
How sayest thou Carle? compel not these my words thine ears to glow?  
Or do the winds that drive thy ships, in vain my sayings blow?  
In faith it is no wonder though thy wife Pasiphaë  
Preferred a Bull to thee for thou more cruel wert than he.  
Now woe is me. To make more haste it standeth me in hand.  
The water sounds with Oars, and hales from me and from my land.  
In vain thou strivest O thou Churl forgetful quite of my  
Deserts: for even in spite of thee pursue thee still will I.  
Upon thy courbed Keel will I take hold: and hanging so  
Be drawn along the Sea with thee where ever thou do go.  
She scarce had said these words, but that she leapt on the wave  
And getting to the ships by force of strength that Love her gave  
Upon the King of Candy's Keel in spite of him she clave.  
Whom when her father spied (for now he hovered in the air,  
And being made a Hobby Hawk did soar between a pair  
Of nimble wings of iron Mail) he soused down a main  
To seize upon her as she hung, and would have torn her feign  
With bowing Beak. But she ●or fear did let the Caricke go:  
And as she was about to fall, the lightsome Air did so  
Uphold her that she could not touch the Sea as seemed tho.  
Anon all ●ethers she became, and forth away did fly  
Transformed to a pretty Bird that ●●●eth to the Sky.  
And for because like clipped hair her head doth bear a mark,  
The Greeks it 〈…〉, and we do name the same a Lark.  
assoon as M●nos came a land in Crete, he by and by  
Performed his vows 〈◊〉 jupiter in causing for to die  
A hundred Bulls for sacrifice. And then he did adorn  
His Palace with the enemies spoils by conquest won before.  
The slander of his house increased: and now appeared more  
The mother's filthy whoredom by the monster that she bore  
Of double shape, an ugly thing. This shameful infamy,  
This monster borne him by his wife he minds by policy  
To put away, and in a house with many nooks and krinks  
From all men's sights and speech of folk to shut it up he thinks.  
Immediately one Daedalus renowned in that land  
For fine devise and workmanship in building, went in hand  
To make it. He confounds his work with sudden stops and stays,  
And with the great uncertainty of sundry winding ways  
Leads in and out, and to and fro, at divers doors astray.  
And as with trickling stream the Brook Maeander seems to play  
In Phrygia, and with doubtful race runs counter to and fro,  
And meeting with himself doth look if all his stream or no  
Come after, and retiring eft clean backward to his spring  
And marching eft to open Sea as straight as any string,  
Indenteth with reversed stream: even so of winding ways  
Unnumerable Daedalus within his work conveys.  
Yea scarce himself could find the means to wind himself well out:  
So busy and so intricate the house was all about.  
Within this Maze did Minos shut the Monster that did bear  
The shape of man and Bull. And when he twice had fed him there  
With blood of Attic Princes sons that given for tribute were,  
The third time at the ninth years end the lot did chance to light  
On Theseus' King Aegaeus son: who like a valiant Knight  
Did overcome the Minotaur: and by the policy  
Of Minos' eldest daughter (who had taught him for to tie  
A clew of 〈◊〉 at the door to guide himself thereby)  
As busy as the turnings were, his way he out did find,  
Which never man had done before. And straight he having wind,  
With Minos' daughter sailed away to Dia: where  
And cruel creature that he was) he left her post alone unkind  
Upon the shore. Thus desolate and making doleful moan  
God Bacchus did both comfort her and take her to his bed.  
And with an everlasting star the more her fame to spread,  
He took the Chaplet from her head, and up to Heaven it threw.  
The Chaplet thirled through the Air: and as it gliding flew,  
The precious stones were turned to stars which blazed clear & bright,  
And took their place (continuing like a Chaplet still to sight)  
Amid between the knéeler down and him that gripes the Snake.  
Now in this while 'gan Daedalus a weariness to take  
Of living like a banished man and prisoner such a time  
In Crete, and longed in his heart to see his native Clime.  
But Seas enclosed him as if he had in prison be.  
Then thought he: though both Sea and Land King Minos stop fro me.  
I am assured he cannot stop the Air and open Sky.  
To make my passage that way then my cunning will I try.  
Although that Minos like a Lord held all the world beside:  
Yet doth the Air from Minos' yoke for all men free abide.  
This sed: to uncouth Arts he bent the force of all his wits  
To alter nature's course by craft. And orderly he knits  
A row of feathers one by one, beginning with the short,  
And overmatching still each quill with one of longer sort,  
That on the shoring of a hill a man would think them grow.  
Even so the country Organpipes of Oaten reeds in row  
Each higher than another rise. Then fastened he with Flax  
The middle quills, and joined in the lowest sort with Wax.  
And when he thus had finished them, a little he them bend  
In compass, that the very Birds they full might represent.  
There stood me by him Icarus his son a pretty Lad.  
Who knowing not that he in hands his own destruction had.  
With similing mouth did one while blow the feathers to and fro  
Which in the Air on wings of Birds did flask not long ago:  
And with his thumbs another while he chafes the yellow Wax  
And let's his father's wondrous work with childish ●oyes and knax.  
assoon as that the work was done, the workman by and by  
Did poise his body on his wings, and in the Air on high  
Hung wavering: and did teach his son how he should also fly.  
I warn thee (quoth he) Icarus a middle race to keep.  
For if thou hold to low a gate, the dankenesse of the deep  
Will over ●ade thy wings with wet. And if thou mount to high,  
The Sun will ●indge them. Therefore see between them both thou fly.  
I bid thee not behold the Star Boötes in the Sky.  
Nor look upon the bigger Bear to make thy course thereby,  
Nor yet on Orion's naked sword. But ever have an eye  
To keep the race that I do keep, and I will guide thee right.  
In giving counsel to his son to order well his flight,  
He fastened to his shoulders twain a pair of uncouth wings.  
And as he was in doing it and warning him of things,  
His aged cheeks were wet, his hands did quake, in fine he gave  
His son a kiss the last that he alive should ever have.  
And then he mounting up aloft before him took his way  
Right fearful for his followers sake: as is the Bird the day  
That first she tolleth from her nest among the branches hie  
Her tender young ones in the Air to teach them for to fly▪  
So heartens he his little son to follow teaching him  
A hurtful Art. His own two wings he waveth very trim,  
And looketh backward still upon his sons. The fishermen  
Then standing angling by the Sea, and shepherds leaning then  
On shéepehookes, and the Ploughmen on the handles of their Plough,  
Beholding them, amazed were: and thought that they that through  
The Air could fly were Gods. And now did on their left side stand  
The Isles of Paros and of Deal and Samos junos' land:  
And on their right, Lebinthos and the fair Calydna fraught  
With store of home: when the Boy a frolic courage caught  
To fly at random. Whereupon forsaking quite his guide,  
Of fond desire to fly to Heaven, above his bounds he stide.  
And there the nearness of the Sun which burnt more hot alo●t,  
Did make the Wax (with which his wings were glued) lithe and soft.  
assoon as that the Wax was moult, his naked arms he shakes,  
And wanting wherewithal to wave no help of Air he takes.  
But calling on his father loud he drowned in the wave:  
And by this chance of his those Seas his name for ever have.  
His wretched Father (but as than no father) cried in fear  
O Icarus O Icarus where art thou? tell me where  
That I may find thee Icarus. He saw the feathers swim  
Upon the waves, and cursed his Art that so had spited him.  
At last he took his body up and laid it in a grave,  
And to the isle the name of him then buried in it gave.  
And as he of his wretched son the corpse in ground did hide,  
The cackling Partridge from a thick and levy thorn him spied.  
And clapping with his wings for joy aloud to call began.  
There was of that same kind of Bird no more but he as than.  
In times forepast had none been seen. It was but late anew  
Since he was made a bird: and that thou Daedalus mayst rue:  
For while the world doth last thy shame shall thereupon ensue.  
For why thy sister ignorant of that which after happed,  
Did put him to thee to be taught full twelve years old and apt  
To take instruction. He did mark the middle bone that goes  
Through fishes, and according to the pattern ta'en of those  
He filled teeth upon a piece of iron one by one  
And so devised first the Saw where erst was never none.  
Moreover he two iron shanks so joined in one round head,  
That opening an indifferent space, the one point down shall tread,  
And other draw a circle round. The finding of these things,  
The spiteful heart of Daedalus with such a malice stings,  
That headlong from the holy tower of Pallas down he threw  
His Nephew feigning him to fall by chance. which was not true.  
But Pallas (who doth favour wits) did stay him in his fall  
And changing him into a Bird did clad him over all  
With feathers soft amid the Air. The quickness of his wit  
(Which erst was swift) did shed itself among his wings and feet.  
And as he Partridge hight before, so heights he Partridge still.  
Yet mounteth not this Bird aloft ne seems to have a will  
To build her nest in tops of trees among the boughs on high  
But flecketh near the ground and lays her eggs in hedges dry.  
And forbicause her former fall she ay in mind doth bear.  
She ever since all lofty things doth warily shun for fear.  
And now forwearied Daedalus alighted in the land  
Within the which the burning hills of fiery Aetna stand.  
To save whose life King Cocalus did weapon take in hand,  
For which men thought him merciful. And now with high renown  
Had Theseus ceased the woeful pay of tribute in the town  
Of Athens. Temples decked were with garlands every where,  
And supplications made to jove and warlike Pallas were.  
And all the other Gods. To whom more honour for to show,  
Gifts, blood of beasts, and frankincense the people did bestow  
As in performance of their vows. The right redoubted name  
Of Theseus through the land of Gréece was spread by flying fame.  
And now the folk that in the land of rich Achaia dwelled,  
Prayed him of succour in the harms and perils that they felt.  
Although the land of Calydon had then Meleager:  
Yet was it feign in humble wise to Theseus to prefer  
A supplication for the aid of him. The cause wherefore  
They made such humble suit to him was this. There was a Boar  
The which Diana for to wreak her wrath conceived before  
Had thither as her servant sent the country for to waast.  
For men report that Oenie when he had in storehouse plaast  
The full increase of former year, to Ceres did assign  
The firstlings of his corn and fruits: to Bacchus, of the vine:  
And unto Pallas Olife oil. This honouring of the Gods  
Of grain and fruits who put their help to ●oyling in the clods,  
Ambitiously to all, even those that dwell in heaven did climb.  
Diannas' Altars (as it happed) alonely at that time  
Without reward of Frankincense were overskipt (they say)  
Even Gods are subject unto wrath. He shall not scape away  
Unpunished. Though unworshipped he passed me with spite:  
He shall not make his vaunt he scaped me unrevenged quite,  
Quoth Phoebe. And anon she sent a Boar to Oenies ground  
Of such a hugeness as no Bull could ever yet be found,  
In Epire: But in Sicily are Bulls much less than he  
His e●es did glister blood and fire: right dreadful was to see  
His brawned neck, right dreadful was his hair which grew as thick  
With pricking points as one of them could well by other ●●icke.  
And like a front of armed Pikes set close in battle ray  
The sturdy bristles on his back stood staring up always.  
The scalding ●ome with gnashing hoarse which he did cast aside,  
Upon his large and brawned shield did white as Curds abide.  
Among the greatest Elephants in all the land of Ind,  
A greater tush than had this Boar, ye shall not lightly find.  
Such lightning flashed from his chaps, as seared up the grass.  
Now trampled he the spindling corn to ground where he did pass  
Now ramping up their riped hope he made the Plowmen weep.  
And chankt the kernel in the ear. In vain their floors they sweep:  
In vain their Barns for Harvest long, the likely store they keep.  
The spreaded Uines with clustered Grapes to ground he rudely sent,  
And full of Berries laden boughs from Olife trees he rend.  
On cattle also did he rage. The shepherd nor his dog,  
Nor ●et the Bulls could save the herds from outrage of this Hog.  
The folk themselves were feign to fly. And yet they thought them not  
In safety when they had themselves within the City got.  
Until their Prince Meleager, and with their Prince a knot  
O● Lords and lusty gentlemen of hand and courage stout,  
With chosen fellows for the non●● of all the Lands about,  
Inflamed were to win renown. The chief that thither came  
Were both 
* Castor & 〈◊〉.  the twins of Tyndarus of great renown and fame,  
The one in all activity of manhood, strength and force,  
The other for his cunning skill in handling of a horse.  
And jason he that first of all the Galley did invent:  
And Theseus with Pirithous between which two there wont  
A happy league of amity: And 
* Plexippus & Toxeus.  two of Thesties' race:  
And Lynce the son of Apharie and Ida's swift of pace.  
And fierce Leucyppus and the brave Acastus with his Dart  
In handling of the which he had the perfect skill and Art.  
And Caeny who by birth a wench, the shape of man had won  
And Drias and Hippothous: and Phoenix eke the son  
Of old Amyntor: and 
* Eurytus & C●eatus  a pair of Actors imps: and Phyle  
Who came from Elis. Telamonius was also there that while:  
And so was also Peleus the great Achilles' Sire:  
And 
* Admetus.  Pherets son: and Iölay the Theban who with fire  
Helped Hercules the monstrous heads of Hydra of to ●eare.  
The lively Lad Eurytion and Echion who did bear  
The prick and prize for footemanship, were present also there.  
And Lelex of Narytium to. And Panopie beside:  
And Hyle: and cruel Hippasus: and Naestor who th●t tide  
Was in the Prime of lusty youth: Moreover thither went  

* Enesimus, Alc●n, & Dexippus.  Three children of Hippocoön from old Amicle sent.  
And 
† La●rtes.  he that of Penelope the fathrinlaw became.  
And eke the son of Parrhasus Ancaeus called by name.  
There was 
* Mopsus.  the son of Ampycus of great forecasting wit:  
And 
† Amphiaraus.  Oeclies son who of his wife was unbetrayed yet.  
And from the City Tegea there came the Paragon  
Of Lycey forest, Atalant, a goodly Lady, one  
Of Schoenyes daughters, than a Maid. The garment she did wear  
A braided button fastened at her gorget. All her hear  
Untrimmed in one only knot was trussed. From her left  
Side hanging on her shoulder was an ivory quiver deft:  
Which being full of arrows, made a clattering as she went.  
And in her right hand she did bear a Bow already bend.  
Her furniture was such as this. Her countenance and her grace  
Was such as in a Boy might well be called a Wenches face,  
And in a Wench be called a Boys. The Prince of Calydon  
No sooner cast his e●e on her, but being caught anon  
In love, he wished her to his wife. but unto this desire  
God Cupid gave not his consent. The secret flames of fire  
He haling inward still did say: O happy man is he  
Whom this same Lady shall vouchsafe her Husband for to be.  
The shortness of the time and shame would give him leave to say  
No more: a work of greater weight did draw him then away.  
A wood thick grown with trees which stood unfelled to that day  
Beginning from a plain, had thence a large prospect throughout  
The falling grounds that every way did muster round about.  
assoon as that the men came there, some pitched up the toils,  
Some took the couples from the Dogs, and some pursued the foils  
In places where the Swine had tract: desiring for to spy  
Their own destruction. Now there was a hollow bottom by,  
To which the watershots of rain from all the high grounds drew.  
Within the compass of this pond great store of Oysyers' grew:  
And Sallowes lithe, and flackring Flags, and moorish Rushes eke,  
And lazy reeds on little shanks, and other baggage like.  
From hence the Boar was roused out, and fiercely forth he flies  
Among the thickest of his foes like thunder from the Skies,  
When Clouds in meeting force the fire to burst by violence out.  
He bears the trees before him down, and all the wood about  
Doth sound of crashing. All the youth with hideous noise and shout  
Against him bend their Boarspeare points with hand & courage stout.  
He rushes forth among the Dogs that held him at a bay,  
And now on this side now on that, as any come in way,  
He rippes their skins and splitteth them, and chaseth them away,  
Echion first of all the rout a Dart at him did throw,  
Which mist and in a Maple tree did give a little blow  
The next (if he that threw the same had used lesser might,)  
The back at which he aimed it was likely for to smite.  
It overflew him. jason was the man that cast the Dart.  
With that the son of Ampycus said: 
Mopsus.  Phoebus (if with heart  
I have and still do worship thee) now grant me for to hit  
The thing that I do level at. Apollo grants him it  
As much as lay in him to grant. He hit the Swine in deed.  
But neither entered he his hide nor caused him to bleed.  
For why Diana (as the Dart was flying) took away  
The head of it: and so the Dart could headless bear no sway.  
But yet the moody beast thereby was set the more on fire  
And cha●ing like the lightning swift he uttreth forth his ire.  
The fire did sparkle from his eyes: and from his boiling breast  
He breathed flaming flakes of fire conceived in his chest.  
And look with what a violent brunt a mighty Bullet goes  
From engines bend against a wall, or bulwarks full of foes:  
With even such violence rushed the Swine among the Hunts a main,  
And overthrew Eupalamon and Pelagon both twain  
That in the right wing placed were. Their follows stepping to  
And drawing them away, did save their lives with much a do.  
But as for poor Enesimus Hippocoons son had not  
The luck to scape the deadly dint. He would away have got,  
And trembling turned his back for fear. The Swine him overtook,  
And cut his hamstrings, so that straight his going him forsook.  
And Naestor to have lost his life was like by fortune ere  
The siege of Troy, but that he took his rist upon his spear:  
And leaping quickly up upon a tree that stood hard by,  
Did safely from the place behold his foe whom he did fly.  
The Boar then whetting sharp his tusks against the Oaken wood  
To mischief did prepare himself with fierce and cruel mood.  
And trusting to his weapons which he sharpened had a new,  
In great Orithyas thigh a wound with hooked groin he drew.  
The valiant brothers those same twins of Tyndarus (not yet  
Celestial signs) did both of them on coursers sit  
As white as snow: 
Castor & Pollux.  and each of them had shaking in his fist  
A lightsome Dart with head of steel to throw it where he list.  
And for to wound the bristled Boar they surely had not mist  
But that he still recovered so the coverts of the wood,  
That neither horse could follow him, nor Dart do any good.  
Still after followed Telamonius, whom taking to his feet  
No heed at all for eagerness, a Maple root did meet,  
Which tripped up his heels, and flat against the ground him laid  
And while his brother Peleus relieved him, the Maid  
Of Tegea took an arrow swift, and shot it from her bow.  
The arrow lighting underneath the havers' ear below,  
And somewhat rasing of the skin, did make the blood to show.  
The Maid herself not gladder was to see that lucky blow,  
Than was the Prince Meleager. He was the first that saw,  
And first that showed to his Mates the blood that she did draw:  
And said for this thy valiant act due honour shalt thou have.  
The men did blush, and cheering up each other courage gave.  
With shouting, and disorderly their Darts by beaps they threw.  
The number of them hindered them, not suffering to ensue  
That any lighted on the mark at which they all did aim.  
Behold, enraged against his end the hardy Knight that came  
From Arcady, rushed rashly with a polar in his fist  
And said you younglings learn of me what difference is betwist  
A wench's weapons and a man's: and all of you give place  
To my redoubted force. For though Diana in this chase  
Should with her own shield him defend, yet should this hand of mine  
Even ma●gre Dame Dianaas heart confound this orped Swine.  
Such boasting words as these through pride presumptuously he cracks:  
And straining out himself upon his tiptoes straight he takes  
His polar up with both his hands. But as this bragger meant  
To fetch his blow, the cruel beast his malice did prevent:  
And in his cods (the sp●●ding place of death) his tusshes puts,  
And rippeth up his paunch. down falls Ancaeus and his guts  
Come tumbling out besmearde with blood, and foiled all the plot.  
Pirithous ixion's son at that abashed not:  
But shaking in his valiant hand his hunting staff did go  
Still stoutly forward face to face t'encounter with his foe  
To whom Duke Theseus cried a far. O dearer unto me  
Than is myself, my soul I say, stay: lawful we it see  
For valiant men to keep aloof. The over hardy heart  
In rash adventring of himself hath made Ancaeus smart.  
This sed, he threw a weighty Dart of cornel with a head  
Of brass: which being leveled well was likely to have sped,  
But that a bough of Chestnut tree thick leaved by the way  
Did latch it, and by means thereof the dint of it did stay.  
Another Dart that jason threw, by fortune missed the Boar,  
And light between a Mastiffs chaps, and through his guts did gore,  
And nailed him to the earth. The hand of Prince Meleager  
Played hittymissie. Of two Darts his first did fly to far,  
And lighted in the ground: the next amid his back sticked fast.  
And while the Boar did play the fiend and turned round aghast,  
And grunting flung his foam about together mixed m●●h blood  
The giver of the wound (the more to stir his enemies mood,)  
Stepped in, and underneath the shield did thrust his Boarspeare through.  
Then all the Hunters shouting out demeaned joy enough.  
And glad was he that first might come to take him by the hand.  
About the ugly beast they all with gladness gazing stand  
And wondering what a field of ground his carcase did possess,  
There durst not any be so bold to touch him. Ne'ertheless,  
They every of them with his blood their hunting staves made red.  
Then stepped forth Meleager, and treading on his head  
Said thus: O Lady Atalant, receive thou here my fee,  
And of my glory vouch thou safe partaker for to be.  
Immediately the ugly head with both the tusshes brave  
And eke the skin with bristles stur right grisly, he her gave.  
The Lady for the givers sake, was in her heart as glad  
As for the gift. The rest repined that she such honour had.  
Through all the rout was murmuring. Of whom with roaring rear  
And arms displayed that all the field might easily see and hear,  
The Thesties cried Dame come of and lay us down this gear.  
And thou a woman offer not us men so great a shame,  
As we to toil and thou to take the honour of our game.  
Ne let that fair smooth face of thine beguile thee, lest that he  
That being doted in thy love did give thee this our fee,  
Be over far to rescue thee. And with that word they took  
The gift from her, and right of gift from him. He could not brook  
This wrong: but gnashing with his teeth for anger that did boil  
Within, said fiercely: learn ye you that other folks despoil  
Of honour given, what difference is between your threats, and deeds,  
And therewithal Plexippus breast (who no such matter dréedes)  
With wicked weapon he did pierce. As Toxey doubting stood  
What way to take, desiring both t'aduenge his brother's blood,  
And fearing to be murdered as his brother was before,  
Meleager (to dispatch all doubts of musing any more)  
Did heat his sword for company in blood of him again,  
Before Plexippus blood was cold that did thereon remain.  
Althaea going toward Church with presents for to yild  
Due thanks and worship to the Gods that for her son had killed  
The Boar, beheld her brothers brought home dead: and by and by  
She beat her breast, and filled the town with shrieking piteously,  
And shifting all her rich array, did put on mourning weed  
But when she understood what man was doer of the deed,  
She left all mourning, and from tears to vengeance did proceed.  
There was a certain firebrand which when Oenies wife did lie  
In childbed of Meleager, she chanced to espy  
The Destinies putting in the fire: and in the putting in,  
She heard them speak these words, as they his fatal thread did spin  
O lately borne, like time we give to thee and to this brand.  
And when they so had spoken, they departed out of hand.  
Immediately the mother caught the blazing bough away,  
And quenched it. This bough she kept full charyly many a day:  
And in the keeping of the same she kept her son alive.  
But now intending of his life him clearly to deprive,  
She brought it forth, and causing all the coals and shivers to  
Be layëd by, she like a foe did kindle fire thereto.  
Four times she was about to cast the firebrand in the flame:  
Four times she pulled back her hand from doing of the same.  
As mother and as sister both she strove what way to go:  
The divers names drew diversly her stomach to and fro.  
Her face waxed often pale for fear of mischief to ensue:  
And often red about the eyes through heat of ire she grew.  
One while her look resembled one that threatened cruelness:  
Another while ye would have thought she minded pitiousnesse.  
And though the cruel burning of her heart did dry her tears,  
Yet burst out some. And as a Boat which tide contrary bears  
Against the wind, feels double force, and is compelled to yield  
To both. So Thesties' daughter now unable for to wield  
Her doubtful passions, diversly is carried of and on,  
And chaungeably she waxes calm, and storms again anon.  
But better sister ginneth she than mother for to be:  
And to th'intent her brother's ghosts with blood to honour, she  
In meaning to be one way kind, doth work another way  
Against kind. When the plaguy fire waxed strong she thus did say  
Let this same fire my bowels burn. And as in cursed hands  
The fatal wood she holding at the Hellish Altar stands:  
She said ye triple Goddesses of wreak, ye Hellhounds three  
Behold ye all this furious fact and sacrifice of me.  
I wreak, and do against all right: with death must death be paid:  
On mischief mischief must be heaped: on corpse must corpse be laid.  
Confounded let this wicked house with heaped sorrows be  
Shall Oenie joy his happy son in honour for to see  
And Thestie mourn bereft of his? Nay: better yet it were,  
That each with other company in mourning you should bear.  
Ye brothers Ghosts and souls new dead I wish no more, but you  
To feel the solemn obsequies which I prepare as now:  
And that mine offering you accept, which dearly I have bought  
The issue of my wretched womb. Alas, alas what thought  
I for to do? O brothers I beseech you bear with me.  
I am his mother: so to do my hands unable be  
His trespass I confess deserves the stopping of his breath:  
But yet I do not like that I be Author of his death.  
And shall he then with life and limb, and honour to, scape free?  
And vaunting in his good success the King of Calydon be?  
And you dear soul's 〈◊〉 raked up but in a little dust?  
I will not surely suffer it. But let the villain trust  
That he shall die, and draw with him to ruin and decay  
His Kingdom, Country and his Sire that doth upon him stay.  
Why where is now the mother's heart and pity that should reign  
In Parents? and the ten Months pains that once I did sustain?  
O would to God thou burned had a baby in this brand,  
And that I had not ta'en it out and quenched it with my hand.  
That all this while thou lived haste, my goodness is the cause.  
And now most justly unto death thine own desert thee draws.  
Receive the guerdon of thy deed: and render thou again  
Thy twice given life, by bearing first, and secondarly when  
I caught this firebrand from the flame: or else come deal with me  
As with my brothers, and with them let me entumbed be.  
I would, and cannot. What then shall I stand to in this case?  
One while my brother's corpses seem to press before my face  
With lively Image of their deaths. Another while my mind  
Doth yield to pity, and the name of mother doth me blind  
No● woe is me. To let you have the upper hand is sin:  
But ne'ertheless the upper hand O brothers do you win▪  
Cond●cio●ly that when that I to comfort you withal.  
Have wrought this feat, myself to you resort in person shall.  
This sed, she turned away her face, and with a trembling hand  
Did cast the deathful brand amid the burning fire. The brand  
Did either sigh, or seem to sigh in burning in the flame,  
Which sorry and unwilling was to fasten on the same.  
Meleager being absent and not knowing ought at all  
Was burned with this flame: and felt his bowels to appall  
With secret fire. He bore out long the pain with courage stout.  
But yet it grieved him to die so cowardly without  
The shedding of his blood. He thought Anceus for to be  
A happy man that died of wound. With sighing called he  
Upon his aged father, and his sisters, and his brother,  
And lastly on his wife to, and by chance upon his mother.  
His pain increased with the fire, and fell therewith again:  
And at the self same instant quite extinguished were both twain.  
And as the ashes soft and door by leisure overgrew  
The glowing coals: so leisurely his spirit from him drew.  
The drouped stately Calydon. Both young and old did mourn  
The Lords and Commons did lament. and married wives with torn  
And tattered hair did cry alas. His father did bewray  
His hoary head and face with dust, and on the earth flat lay,  
Lamenting that he lived had to see that woeful day  
For now his mother's guilty hand had for that cursed crime  
Done execution on herself by sword before her time.  
If God to me a hundred mouths with sounding tongues should send,  
And reason able to conceive, and thereunto should lend  
Me all the grace of eloquence that ere the Muses had,  
I could not show the woe wherewith his sisters were bestead.  
Unmindful of their high estate, their naked breasts they smit,  
Until they made them black and blue. And while his body yet  
Remained, they did cherish it, and cherish it again.  
They kissed his body: yea they kissed the chest that did contain  
His corpse. And after that the corpse was burnt to ashes, they  
Did press his ashes with their breasts: and down along they lay  
Upon his tumb, and there embraced his name upon the stone,  
And filled the letters of the same with tears that from them gone.  
At length Diana satisfied with slaughter brought upon  
The house of Oenie, lifts them up with father's everyone,  
(Save Gorgee and the daughtriulaw of noble Al●mene) and  
Makes wings to stretch along their sides, and horned nebs to stand.  
Upon their mouths. And finally she altering quite their fair  
And native shape, in shape of Birds doth send them through the Air.  
The noble Theseus in this while with others having done  
His part in killing of the Boar, too Athens ward begun  
Too take his way. But Acheloy then being swollen with rain  
Did stay him of his journey, and from passage him restrain.  
Of Athens valiant knight (quoth he) come underneath my roof,  
And for to pass my raging stream as yet attempt no proof.  
This brook is wont whole trees too bear and evelong stones too carry  
With hideous roaring down his stream. I oft have seen him harry  
Whole Shepcotes standing near his banks, with flocks of sheep therein.  
Nought booted bulls their strength: nought steeds by swiftness there could win,  
Yea many lusty men this brook hath swallowed, when the snow  
From mountains melted, caused him his banks too overflow.  
The best is for you for too rest until the River fall  
Within his bounds: and run again within his channel small.  
Content (quoth Theseus): Acheloy, I will not sure refuse  
Thy counsel nor thy house. And so he both of them did use.  
Of Pommy hollowed diversly and ragged Pibble stone  
The walls were made. The floor with Moss was soft to tread upon.  
The roof thereof was checkerwise with shells of Purple wrought  
And Pearl. The Sun then full two parts of day to end had brought,  
And Theseus down to table sat with such as late before  
Had friendly borne him company at killing of the Boar.  
A tone side sat Ixion's son, and on the other sat  
The Prince of Troyzen Lelex with a thin heard hoary pate.  
And then such other as the brook of Acarnania did  
Vouchsafe the honour to his board and table for to bid,  
Who was right glad of such a guest. Immediately there came  
Barefooted Nymphs who brought in meat. And when that of the same  
The Lords had taken their repast, the meat away they took,  
And set down wine in precious stones. Then Theseus who did look  
Upon the Sea that underneath did lie within their sight,  
Said: tell us what is yonsame place, (and with his fingar right  
He pointed thereunto) I pray, and what that Island hight,  
Although it seemeth more than one. The River answered thus,  
It is not one main land alone that kenned is of us.  
There are upon a five of them. The distance of the place,  
Doth hinder too discern between each I'll the perfect space.  
And that the less ye wonder may at Phoebees' act a late,  
To such as had neglected her upon contempt or hate,  
These Isles were sometime Waternimphes: who having killed Neat,  
Twice five, and called too their feast the Country Gods too eat,  
Forgetting me kept frolic cheer. At that 'gan I too swell,  
And ran more large than ever erst, and being over fell  
I●stomacke and in stream, I rend the wood from wood, and field  
From field, & with the ground the Nymphs as then with stomachs méeld  
Remembering me, I tumbled to the Sea. The waves of me  
And of the sea the ground that erst all whole was wont too be  
Did rend a sunder into all the Isles you yonder see,  
And made a way for waters now too pass between them free.  
They now of Urchins have their name. But of these islands, one  
A great way of (behold ye) stands a great way of alone,  
As you may see. The Mariners do call it Perimell.  
With her (she was as then a Nymph) so far in love I fell,  
That of her maydenhod I her spoiled: which thing displeased so sore  
Her father Sir Hippodamas, that from the craggy shore  
He threw her headlong down to drown her in the sea. But I  
Did latch her straight, and bearing her a float did loud thus cry.  
O Neptune with thy thréetind Mace who hast by lot the charge  
Of all the waters wild that bound upon the earth at large,  
To whom we holy streams do run, in whom we take our end,  
Draw near, and gently to my boon effectually attend.  
This Lady whom I bear a float myself hath hurt. be meek  
And upright. If Hippodamas perchance were fatherleeke,  
Or if that he extremity through outrage did not seek,  
He oughted too have pitied her and for too bear with me.  
Now help us Neptune I thee pray, and condescend that she  
Whom from the land her father's wrath and cruelness doth chase  
Who through her father's cruelness is drowned: may find the grace  
To have a place: or rather let herself become a place.  
And I will still embrace the same. The King of Seas did move  
His head, and as a token that he did my suit approve,  
He made his surges all too shake, The Nymph was sore afraid.  
Howbéet she swum, and as she swum, my hand I softly laid  
Upon her breast which quivered still. And while I touched the same,  
I sensibly did feel how all her body hard became:  
And how the earth did overgrow her bulk. And as I spoke,  
New earth enclosed her swimming limbs, which by and by did take  
Another shape, and grew into a mighty I'll. With that  
The River ceased and all men there did wonder much thereat.  
Pirithous being over haut of mind and such a one  
As did despise both God and man, did laugh them everichone  
Too scorn for giving credit, and said thus. The words thou spaakst  
Are feigned fancies Acheloy: and overstrong thou maakst  
The Gods: to say that they can give and take way shapes. This scoff  
Did make the héeres all amazed, for none did like thereof.  
And Lelex of them all the man most ripe in years and wit,  
Said thus. Unmeasurable is the power of heaven, and it  
Can have none end. And look what God doth mind too bring about,  
Must take effect. And in this case too put ye out of doubt,  
Upon the hills of Phrygie near of Teyle there stands a tree  
Of Oak enclosed with a wall. Myself the place did see.  
For Pithey unto Pelops fields did send me where his father  
Did sometime reign. not far fro thence there is a pool which rather  
Had been dry ground inhabited. But now it is a mere  
And Moorecocks, Cootes, and Cormorants do breed and nestle there.  
The mighty jove and Mercury his son in shape of men  
Resorted thither on a tyme. A thousand houses when  
For room too lodge in they had sought, a thousand houses barred  
Their doors against them. Ne'ertheless one Cottage afterward  
received them, and that was but a pelting one in deed.  
The roof thereof was thatched all with straw and fennish reed.  
Howbéet two honest ancient folk, (of whom she Baucis hight  
And he Philemon) in that Coat their faith in youth had plight:  
And in that Coat had spent their age. And for they patiently  
Did bear their simple poverty, they made it light thereby,  
And showed it no thing to be repined at atall.  
It skills not whether there for Hinds or Master you do call.  
For all the household were but two: and both of them obeyed,  
And both commanded. When the Gods at this same Cottage stayed,  
And ducking down their heads, within the low made Wicket came,  
Philemon bringing each a stool, bade rest upon the same  
Their limbs: and busy Baucis brought them quishons homely gear.  
Which done, the embers on the hearth she 'gan abroad to steer,  
And laid the coals together that were raak● up over night,  
And with the brands and dried leaves did make them gather might,  
And with the blowing of her mouth did make them kindle bright.  
Then from an inner house she fetched sear sticks and clifted brands,  
And put them broken underneath a Skillet with her hands.  
Her Husband from their Gardenplot fetched Coleworts. Of the which  
She shreaded small the leaves, and with a Fork took down a flitch  
Of resty Bacon from the baulk made black with smoke, and cut  
A piece thereof, and in the pan to boiling did it put.  
And while this meat a seething was, the time in talk they spent,  
By means whereof away without much tedousnesse it went.  
There hung a Bowl of beech upon a spirget by a ring.  
The same with warmed water filled the two old folk did bring  
Too bathe their guests foul feet therein. Amid the house there stood  
A Couch whose bottom sides and feet were all of Sallow wood,  
And on the same a Mat of Sedge. They cast upon this bed  
A covering which was never wont upon it too be spread  
Except it were at solemn feasts: and yet the same was old  
And of the coarsest, with a bed of sallow meet too hold.  
The Gods sat down. The aged wife right char and busy as  
A be, s●t out a table. of the which the third foot was  
A little shorter than the rest. A tylesh●rd made it even  
And took away the shormgnesse: and when they had it driven  
To stand up level, with green Mints they by and by it wiped.  
Then set they on it 
* Olyss.  Pallas fruit with double colour stripte.  
And Cornels kept in pickle moist, and Endive, and a root  
Of Radish, and a jolly lump of Butter fresh and ●oote,  
And Eggs rear roasted. All these Eats in earthen dishes came.  
Then set they down a graven cup made also of the same  
Self kind of Plate, and Mazer's made of Béech whose inner side  
Was rubbed with yellow wax. And when they paused had a tide,  
Hot meat came piping from the fire. And shortly thereupon  
A cup of green hedge wine was brought. This ta'en away, anon  
Came in the latter course, which was of Nuts, Dates, dried figs  
Sweet smelling Apples in a Maund made flat of Oysyer twigs,  
And Prunes and Plums and Purple grapes cut newly from the tree,  
And in the mids a honnycomb new taken from the Bée.  
Besides all this there did ensue good countenance overmore,  
With will not poor nor niggardly. Now all the while before,  
As often as Philemon and Dame Baucis did perceive  
The empty Cup to fill alone, and wine too still receive,  
Amazed at the strangeness of the thing, they 'gan straight way  
With fearful hearts and hands hilld up too frame themselves too pray.  
desiring for their slender cheer and far too pardoned be.  
They had but one 〈◊〉 Goose which kept their little Tennantrée,  
And this too offer too the Gods their guests they did intend.  
The Gander wight of wing did make the slow old folk too spend  
Their pains in vain, and mokt them long. At length he seemed too fly  
For succour too the Gods themselves, who bade he should not die.  
For we be Gods (quoth they) and all this wicked towneship shall  
Abye their guilt. On you alone this mischief shall not fall.  
No more but give you up your house, and follow up this hill  
Toogither, and upon the top thereof abide our will.  
They both obeyed. And as the Gods did lead the way before,  
They lagged slowly after with their staves, and laboured sore  
against the rising of the hill. They were not much more  
Than full a flyghtshot from the top, when looking back they saw  
How all the town was drowned save their little shed of straw.  
And as they wondered at the thing and did bewail the case  
Of those that had their neighbours been, the old poor Coat so base  
Whereof they had been owners erst, became a Church. The props  
Were turned into pillars huge. The straw upon the tops  
Was yellow, so that all the roof did seem of burnished gold:  
The floor with Marble paved was. The doors on either fold  
Were graven. At the sight hereof Philemon and his make  
Began too pray in fear. Then jove thus gently them bespoke.  
Declare thou ryghtuowse man, and thou O woman meet too have  
A ryghtuowse howsband what ye would most chiefly wish or crave.  
Philemon taking conference a little with his wife,  
Declared both their méening thus. We covet during life,  
Your chaplains for too be too keep your Temple. And because  
Our years in concord we have spent, I pray when death near draws,  
Let both of us toogither leave our lives: that neither I  
Behold my wives deceace, nor she see mine when I do die.  
Their wish had sequel to their will. As long as life did last,  
They kept the Church. And being spent with age of years forepast,  
By chance as standing on a time without the Temple door  
They told the fortune of the place, Philemon old and poor  
Saw Baucis flourish green with leaves, & Baucis saw likewise  
Philemon branching out in boughs and twigs before her eyes.  
And as the Bark did overgrow the heads of both, each spoke  
Too other while they might. At last they each of them did take  
Their leave of other both at once, and therewithal the bark  
Did hide their faces both at once. The Phrygians in that park  
Do at this present day still show the trees that shaped were  
Of their two bodies, growing yet together jointly there.  
These things did ancient men report of credit very good.  
For why there was no cause why they should lie. As I there stood  
I saw the garlands hanging on the boughs, and adding new  
I said let them whom God doth love be Gods. and honour due  
be given to such as honour him with fear and reverence true.  
He ●●lld his peace, and both the thing and he that did it tell  
Did move them all, but Theseus most. Whom being minded well  
To here of wondrous things, the brook of Calydon thus bespoke.  
There are O valiant knight sum folk that had the power too take  
Strange shape for once, and all their lives continued in the same.  
And othersum too sundry shapes have power themselves to frame.  
As thou O Protew dwelling in the sea that cléepes the land.  
For now a yoonker, now a boar, anon a Lion, and  
Straight way thou didst become a Snake, and by and by a Bull  
That people were afraid of thee too see thy horned skull.  
And oftentimes thou seemed a stone, and now and then a tree,  
And counterfeiting water sheer thou seemedst ott to be  
A River: and another while contrary thereunto  
Thou wart a fire. No less power than also thus too do  
Had Erisicthons' daughter whom Awtolychus took too wife.  
Her father was a person that despised all his life  
The power of Gods, and never did vouchsauf them sacrifice.  
He also is reported too have hewn in wicked wise  
The grove of Ceres, and to fell her holy woods which aye  
Had undiminisht and unhackt continued to that day  
There stood in it a warrie Oak which was a wood alone.  
Upon it round hung fillets, crowns, and tables, many one,  
The vows of such as had obteynd their hearts desire. Full oft  
The Woodnymphes underneath this tree did fetch their frisks aloft  
And oftentimes with hand in hand they danced in a round  
About the Trunk, whose bigness was of timber good and sound  
Full fifteen fathom. All the trees within the wood beside,  
Were unto this, as weeds to them: so far it did them hide.  
Yet could not this move Triops' son his axe therefrom too hold,  
But bade his servants cut it down. And when he did behold  
Them stunting at his hest, he snatched an axe with furious mood  
From one of them, and wickedly said thus. Although this would  
Not only were the darling of the Goddess, but also  
The Goddess even herself: yet would I make it ere I go  
Too kiss the clowers with her top that pranks with branches so.  
This spoken, as he sweakt his axe aside to fetch his blow,  
The manast Oak did quake and sigh, the Acorns that did grow  
Thereon toogither with the leaves too wax full pale began,  
And shrinking in for fear the boughs and branches looked wan.  
assoon as that his cursed hand had wounded once the tree,  
The blood came spinning from the carf, as freshly as ye see  
It issue from a Bullocks neck whose throat is newly cut  
Before the Altar, when his flesh to sacrifice is put.  
They were amazed everychone. And one among them all  
Too let the wicked act, durst from the tree his hatchet call.  
The lewd Thessalian facing him said: Take thou here too thee  
The guerdon of thy godliness. and turning from the tree,  
He chopped of the fellows head. Which done, he went again  
And heawed on the Oak. straight from amid the tree as then  
There issued such a sound as this. Within this tree dwell I  
A Nymph too Ceres very dear, who now before I die  
In comfort of my death do give thee warning thou shalt buy  
Thy doing dear within a while. he goeth wilfully  
Still thorough with his wickedness, until at length the Oak  
Pulled partly by the force of ropes, and cut with axis stroke,  
Did fall, and with his weight bore down of under wood great store.  
The Woodnymphes with the losses of the woods and theirs right sore  
Amazed, gathered on a knot, and all in mourning weed  
Went sad too Ceres, praying her too wreak that wicked deed  
Of Erisicthons'. Ceres was content it should be so.  
And with the moving of her head in nodding too and fro,  
She shook the fields which laden were with fruitful Harvest tho.  
And therewithal a punishment most piteous she proceeds  
Too put in practise: were it not that his most heinous deeds,  
No pity did deserve too have at any body's hand.  
With helpless hunger him too pine, in purpose she did stand▪  
And forasmuch as she herself and famine might not meet.  
(For fate forbiddeth famine too abide within the leete  
Where plenty is) she thus bespoke a fairy of the hill.  
There lieth in the utmost bounds of Tartary the chill  
A Dréerie place, a wretched soil, a barren plot: no grain,  
No fruit, no tree, is growing there: but there doth ay remain  
Unwéeldsome cold, with trembling fear, and paleness white as clout,  
And foodless famine. Will thou her immediately without  
Delay too shed herself into the stomach of the wretch,  
And let no plenty staunch her force. but let her working stretch  
Above the power of me. And lest the longness of the way  
May make thee weary, take thou here my chariot: take I say  
My dragons for to bear thee through the air. In saying so  
She gave her them. The Nymph mounts up, and flying thence as the  
Alyghts in Scythy land, and up the cragged top of high  
Mount Caucasus did cause her Snakes with much a do too sty.  
Where seeking long for famine, she the gaptoothd elf did spy  
Amid a barren stony field a ramping up the grass  
With ugly nails, and chanking it. Her face pale coloured was.  
Her hear was harsh and shirle, her eyes were sunken in her head.  
Her lips were hoar with filth, her t●●th were fu●d and rusty read.  
Her skin was starched, and so sheer a man might well espy  
The very bowels in her bulk how every one did lie.  
And eke above her courbed loins her withered hips were seen.  
In stead of belly was a space where belly should have been.  
Her breast did hang so sagging down as that a man would ween  
That scarcely to her ridgebone had her ribs been fastened well.  
Her leanness made her joints bollen big, and knéepannes for too swell.  
And with exceeding mighty knubs her heels behind boynd out.  
Now when the Nymph behild this elf a far, (she was in doubt  
Too come too near her:) she declared her Lady's message. And  
In that same little while although the Nymph aloof did stand,  
And though she were but newly come, yet seemed she too feel  
The force of famine. whereupon she turning back her wheel  
Did rain her dragons up aloft: who straight with courage free  
Conveyed her into Thessaly. Although that famine be  
Ay contrary too Ceres work, yet did she then agree  
Too do her will. and gliding through the Air supported by  
The wind, she found th'appointed house: and entering by and by  
The caytifs chamber where he slept (it was in time of night)  
She hugged him between her arms there snorting bolt upright.  
And breathing her into him, blew upon his face and breast,  
That hunger in his empty veins might work as he did rest.  
And when she had accomplished her charge, she then forsook  
The fruitful Climates of the world, and home again betook  
Herself unto her fruitless fields and former dwelling place.  
The gentle sleep did all this while with feathers soft embrace  
The wretched Erisicthons' corpse. Who dreaming straight of meat  
Did stir his hungry jaws in vain as though he had too eat  
And chanking tooth on tooth a pace he gryndes them in his head,  
And occupies his empty throat with swallowing, and in stead  
Of food devours the lither air. But when that sleep with night  
Was shaken of, immediately a furious appetite  
Of feeding 'gan too rage in him, which in his greedy gums  
And in his meatlesse maw doth reign unstauncht. Anon there cummes  
Before him whatsoever lives on sea, in air or land:  
And yet he crieth still for more. And though the platters stand  
Before his face full furnished, yet doth he still complain  
Of hunger, craving meat at meal. The food that would sustain  
Whole households, Towneships, Shires and Realms suffice not him alone  
The more his pampered paunch consumes, the more it maketh moan  
And as the sea receives the brooks of all the worldly Realms,  
And yet is never satisfied for all the foreign streams.  
And as the fell and ravening fire refuseth never wood,  
But burneth faggots numberless, and with a furious mood  
The more it hath, the more it still desireth evermore,  
Encreacing in devouring through increasement of the store:  
So wicked Erisicthons' mouth in swallowing of his meat  
Was ever hungry more and more, and longed ay to eat.  
Meat told in meat: and as he ate the place was empty still.  
The hunger of his brinklesse Maw the gulf that nowght might fill  
Had brought his father's good too nowght. But yet continued ay:  
His cursed hunger unappeasd: and nothing could allay  
The flaming of his starved throat. At length when all was spent,  
And into his unfilled Maw both goods and lands were sent,  
An only daughter did remain unworthy too have had  
So lewd a father. her he sold, so hard he was bestead.  
But she of gentle courage could no bondage well abide.  
And therefore stretching out her hands too seaward there beside,  
Now save me quoth she from the yoke of bondage I thee pray,  
O thou that my virginity enjoyest as a pray.  
Neptunus' had it. Who too this her prayer did consent.  
And though her master looking back (for after him she went)  
Had newly seen her: yet he turned her shape and made her man,  
And gave her look of fisherman. Her master looking than  
Upon her, said. Good fellow thou that on the shore dost stand  
With angling rod and baited hook and hanging line in hand,  
I pray thee as thou dost desire the Sea ay calm too thee,  
And fishes for to byght thy bait, and stricken still too be,  
Tell where the frizzle topped wench in course and sluttish gear  
That stood right now upon this shore (for well I wot that here  
I saw her standing) is become. For further than this place  
No footestep is appearing. She perceiving by the case  
That Neptune's gift made well with her, and being glad too see  
Herself enquyrd for of herself, said thus: who ere you be  
I pray you for too pardon me. I turned not mine eye  
A tonesyde ne a toother from this place, but did apply  
My labour hard. And that you may the lesser stand in doubt,  
So Neptune further still the Art and craft I go about,  
As now a while no living Wight upon this level sand  
(Myself excepted) neither man nor woman here did stand.  
Her master did believe her words: and turning backward went  
His way beguiled: and straight to her her native shape was sent.  
But when her father did perceive his daughter for too have  
A body so transformable, he oftentimes her gave  
For money. but the damsel still escaped now a Mare  
And now a Cow, and now a Bird, a Hart, a Hind, or Hare,  
And ever fed her hungry Sire with undeserved fare.  
But after that the malady had wasted all the meats  
As well of store as that which she had purchased by her feats:  
Most cused keytife as he was with bighting he did rend  
His flesh, and by diminishing his body did intend  
Too seed his body, till that death did speed his fatal end.  
But what mean I too busy me in foreign matters thus?  
Too altar shapes within precinct is lawful even to us  
My Lords. For sumtime I am such as you do now me see  
sometime I wind me in a Snake: and oft I seem too be  
A captain of the herd with horns. For taking horns on me  
I lost a tyne which heretofore did arm me as the print  
Doth plainly show. with that same word he sighed and did stin●.  
Finis octavi Libri.   

¶ THE NINTH BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
WHat aileth thee (quoth Theseus) too sigh so sore? and how  
Befell it thee too get this maim that is upon thy brow?  
The noble stream of Calydon made answer, who did wear  
A Garland made of reeds and flags upon his sedgy hear.  
A grievous penance you enjoin. for who would gladly show  
The combats in the which himself did take the overthrow?  
Yet will I make a just report in order of the same.  
For why? too have the worser hand was not so great a shame,  
As was the honour such a match too undertake. And much  
It comforts me that he who did me overcome, was such  
A valiant champion. If perchance you erst have heard the name  
Of Deyanyre the fairest Maid that ever God did frame  
She was in mine opinion. And the hope too win her love  
Did much envy and debate among her wooers move.  
With whom I entering too the house of him that should have be  
My fathrilaw, Parthaons' son (I said) accept thou me  
Thy Sonnylaw. And Hercules in self same sort did woe.  
And all the other suitors straight gave place unto us two.  
He vaunted of his father jove, and of his famous deeds,  
And how against his stepdame's spite his prowess still proceeds.  
And I again a toother side said thus It is a shame  
That God should yield too man. (this strife was long ere he became  
A God). Thou séeist me a Lord of waters in thy Realm  
Where I in wide and winding banks do bear my flowing stream.  
No stranger shalt thou have of me sent far from foreign land:  
But one of household, or at least a neighbour here at hand.  
Alonely let it be too me no hindrance that the wife  
Of jove abhors me not, ne that upon the pain of life  
She sets me not too task. For where thou boastest thee too be  
Al●menas son, jove either is not father unto thee:  
Or if he be it is by sin. In making jove thy father,  
Thou maakst thy mother but a whore. now choose thee whither rather  
Thou had too grant this tale of jove surmised for too be,  
Or else thyself begot in shame and borne in bastardée.  
At that he grimly bends his brows, and much a do he hath  
Too hold his hands. so sore his heart inflamed is with wrath.  
He said no more but thus. My hand doth serve me better than  
My tongue. Content I am (so I in fighting vanquish can)  
That thou shalt overcome in words. And therewithal he 'gan  
Me feercely to assail. Me thought it was a shame for me  
That had even now so stoutly talked, in doings faint too be.  
I casting of my gréenish cloak thrust stiffly out at length  
Mine arms and streynd my pawing arms too hold him out by strength,  
And framed every limb too cope. With both his hollow hands  
He caught up dust and sprincked me: and I likewise with sands.  
Made him all yellow too. One while he at my neck doth snatch  
Another while my clear crisp legs he striveth for too catch,  
Or trips at me: and everywhere the vantage he doth watch.  
My weightiness defended me, and clearly did disfeate  
His stout assaults as when a wave with hideous noise doth beat  
Against a Rock, the Rock doth still both safe and sound abide  
By reason of his massiness. We drew a while a side.  
And then encountering fresh again, we kept our places stout  
Full minded not too yield an inch, but for too hold it out.  
Now were we standing foot too foot. And I with all my breast  
Was leaning forward, and with head against his head did rest,  
And with my griping fingers I against his fingers thrust.  
So have I seen two mighty Bulls together féercely just  
In seeking as their prise to have the fairest Cow in all  
The field too be their make, and all the herd both great and small  
Stand gazing on them fearfully not knowing unto which  
The conquest of so great a gain shall fall. Three times a twitch  
Gave Hercules and could not wrinch my leaning breast him fro  
But at the fourth he shook me of and made me too let go  
My hold: and with a push (I will tell truth) he had a knack  
Too turn me of, and heavily he hung upon my back.  
And if I may believed be (as sure I mean not I  
To vaunt myself vayngloriusly by telling of a lie,)  
Me thought a mountain whelmed me. But yet with much a do  
I wrested in my sweeting arms, and hardly did undo  
His griping hands. He following still his vantage, suffered not  
Me once too breath or gather strength. but by and by he got  
Me by the neck. Then was I fayne too sink with knee too ground,  
And kiss the dust. Now when in strength too weak myself I found,  
I took me too my slights, and slipped in shape of Snake away  
Of wondrous length. And when that I of purpose him too fray  
Did bend myself in swelling rolls, and made a hideous noise  
Of hissing with my forked tongue, he smile at my toys,  
And laughing them too scorn said thus. It is my Cradle game  
To vanquish Snakes O Acheloy. Admit thou overcame  
All other Snakes, yet what art thou compared too the Snake  
Of Lerna, who by cutting of did still increasement take?  
For of a hundred heads not one so soon was paarde away,  
But that upon the stump thereof there budded other twain  
This sprouting Snake whose branching heads by slaughter did revive  
And grow by cropping, I subdued, and made it could not thrive.  
And thinkest thou (who being none wouldst seem a Snake) too scape?  
Who dost with foorged weapons fight and under borrowed shape?  
This said, his fingers of my neck he fastened in the nape  
Me thought he graand my throat as though he did with pinsons nip  
I struggled from his churlish thumbs my pinched chaps too slip  
But do the best and worst I could he overcame me so.  
Then thirdly did remain the shape of Bull. and quickly though  
I turning too the shape of Bull rebelld against my ●o.  
He stepping too my left side cloce, did fold his arms about  
My wattled neck, and following me then running mainly out  
Did brag me back, and made me pitch my horns against the ground,  
And in the deepest of the sand he overthrew me round.  
And yet not so content, such hold his cruel hand did take  
Upon my welked horn, that he a sunder quite it broke,  
And pulled it from my maimed brew. The waterfayries came  
And filling it with fruit and flowers did consecrate the same,  
And so my horn the treasury of plenteousness became.  
assoon as Acheloy had told this tale a waiting Maid  
With flaring hear that lay on both her shoulders and arrayed  
Like one of Dame Diana's Nymphs with solemn grace forth came  
And brought that rich and precious horn, and heaped in the same  
All kind of fruits that Harvest sends, and specially such fruit  
As serves for latter course at meals of every sort and suit.  
assoon as daylight came again, and that the Sunny rays  
Did shine upon the tops of things, the Princes went their ways.  
They would not tarry till the flood were altogether fallen  
And that the River in his banks ran low again and calm.  
Then Acheloy amid his waves his Crabtrée face did hide  
And head disarmed of a horn. And though he did abide  
In all parts else both safe and sound, yet this deformity  
Did cut his comb: and for too hide this blemish from the eye.  
He hides his hurt with Sallow leaves, or else with sedge and reed.  
But of the self-same Maid the love killed thee fierce Nesse in deed,  
When piercing swiftly through thy back an arrow made thee bleed.  
For as Jove's issue with his wife was onward on his way  
In going too his countryward, enforced he was too stay  
At swift Euenus' bank, because the stream was risen sore  
Above his bounds through rage of rain that fell but late before  
Again so full of whoorlpooles and of gulls the channel was,  
That scarce a man could anywhere find place of passage. As  
Not caring for himself but for his wife he there did stand,  
This Nessus came unto him (who was strong of body and  
Knew well the fords,) and said use thou thy strength O Hercules  
In swimming. I will find the means this Lady shall with ease  
be set upon the further bank. So Hercules betook  
His wife too Nessus. She for fear of him and of the brook  
Looked pale. Her husband as he had his quiver by his side  
Of arrows full, and on his back his heavy Lions hide,  
(For too the further bank he erst his club and bow had cast)  
Said. sith I have begun, this brook both must and shallbe past,  
He never casteth further doubts, nor seeks the calmest place,  
But through the roughest of the stream he cuts his way a pace.  
Now as he on the furthersyde was taking up his bow,  
He heard his wedlock shréeking out, and did her calling know:  
And cried to Nesse (who went about to deal unfaithfully  
In running with his charge away) Hoawe whither dost thou fly  
Thou Roister thou, upon a vain hope by swiftness too escape  
My hands? I say give ear thou Nesse for all thy double shape,  
And meddle not with that that's mine. Though no regard of me  
Might move thee too refrain from rape, thy father yet might be  
A warning, who for offering shame too juno now doth feel  
Continual torment in his limbs by turning on a wheel.  
For all that thou hast horses feet which do so bold thee make,  
Yet shalt thou not escape my hands. I will thee overtake  
With wound and not with feet. He did according as he spoke.  
For with an arrow as he fled he struck him through the back,  
And out before his brist again the hooked iron stack.  
And when the same was pulled out, the blood a main ensewd  
At both the holes with poison foul of Lerna Snake imbrued:  
This blood did Nessus take, and said within himself: well: sith  
I needs must die, yet will I not die unrevendgd. And with  
The same he stained a shirt, and gave it unto Dyanyre,  
Assuring her it had the power too kindle Cupid's fire.  
A great while after when the deeds of worthy Hercules  
Were such as filled all the world, and also did appease  
The hatred of his stepmother, As he upon a day  
With conquest from Oechalia came, and was about to pay  
His vows to jove upon the Mount of Cenye, tattling fame  
(Who in reporting things of truth delights too sauce the same  
With tales, and of a thing of nowght doth ever greater grow  
Through false and newly forged lies that she hirself doth sow)  
Told Dyanyre that Hercules did cast a liking too  
A Lady called Iölee▪ And Dyanyra (who  
Was jealous over Hercules,) gave credit too the same.  
And when that of a Leman first the tidings too her came,  
She being stricken too the heart, did fall too tears alone,  
And in a lamentable wise did make most woeful moan.  
Anon she said: what mean these tears thus gushing from mine eyen?  
My husband's Leman will rejoice at these same tears of mine.  
Nay, sith she is too come, the best it were too shun delay,  
And for too work sum new device and practise while I may,  
before that in my bed her limbs the filthy strumpet lay.  
And shall I then complain? or shall I hold my tongue with skill?  
Shall I return too Calydon? or shall I tarry still?  
Or shall I get me out of doors, and let them have their will?  
What if that I (Meleager) remembering me too be  
Thy sister, too attempt sum act notorious did agree?  
And in a harlot's death did show (that all the world might see)  
What grief can cause the womankind too enterprise among?  
And specially when thereunto they forced are by wrong.  
With wavering thoughts right violently her mind was tossed long.  
At last she did prefer before all others, for too send  
The shirt bestayned with the blood of Nessus too the end  
Too quicken up the quailing love. And so not knowing what  
She gave, she gave her own remorse and grief too Lychas that  
Did know as little as herself: and wretched woman, she  
Desyrd him gently too her Lord presented it too see.  
The noble Prince receiving it without mistrust therein,  
Did wear the poison of the Snake of Lerna next his skin.  
Too offer incense and too pray too jove he did begin,  
And on the Marble Altar he full boawles of wine did shed,  
When as the poison with the heat resolving, largely spread  
Through all the limbs of Hercules. As long as ere he could,  
The stoutness of his ha●t was such, that sigh no whit he would.  
But when the mischief grew so great all patience too surmount,  
He thrust the altar from him straight, and filled all the mount  
Of Oeta with his roaring out. He went about too tear  
The deathful garment from his back, but where he pulled, there  
He pulled away the skin: and (which is lothsum too report)  
It either cleaved too his limbs and members in such sort  
As that he could not pull it o●, or else it tore away  
The flesh, that bore his mighty bones and grisly sinews lay.  
The scalding venom boiling in his blood, did make it hiss,  
As when a gad of steel red hot in water quenched is.  
There was no measure of his pain. The frying venom hent  
His inwards, and a purple sweat from all his body went.  
His findged sinews shrinking cracked, and with a secret strength  
The poison even within his bones the Marée melts at length.  
And holding up his hands too heaven he said with hideous réere.  
O Saturn's daughter feed thyself on my distresses here.  
Yea feed. and cruel wight this plague behold thou from above  
And glut thy savage heart therewith. Or if thy foe may move  
Thee unto pity, (for too thee I am an utter so)  
Beréeve me of my hateful soul distressed with helpless woe,  
And borne too endless toil. For death shall unto me be sweet,  
And for a cruel stepmother is death a gift most meet.  
And is it I that did destroy Busiris who did foil  
His temple floors with strangers blood? Is't I that did despoil  
Antaeus of his mothers help? Is't I that could not be  
Abashed at the Spaniard who in one had bodies three?  
Nor at the trypleheaded shape O Cerberus of thee?  
Are you the hands that by the horns the Bull of Candie drew?  
Did you king Augies' stable clenze whom afterward ye slew?  
Are you the same by whom the fowls were scared from Stymphaly?  
Caught you the Stag in Maydenwood which did not run but fly?  
Are you the hands whose puissance received for your pay  
The golden belt of Thermodon? Did you convey away  
The Apples from the Dragon fell that waked night and day?  
against the force of me, defence the Centaurs could not make,  
Nor yet the Boar of Arcady: nor yet the ugly Snake  
Of Lerna, who by loss did grow and double force still take.  
What? is it I that did behold the pampered jades of Thrace  
With Maungers full of flesh of men on which they fed a pace?  
Is't I that down at sight thereof their greasy Maungers threw,  
And both the fatted jades themselves and ●ke their master slew?  
The Nemean Lion by these arms lies dead upon the ground.  
These arms the monstruous Giant Cake by Tiber did confound.  
Upon these shoulders have I borne the weight of all the sky.  
Jove's cruel wife is wéerye of commanding me. Yet I  
Unwéerie am of doing still. But now on me is light,  
An uncouth plague, which neither force of hand, nor virtues might,  
Nor Art is able too resist. Like wasting fire it spréedes  
Among mine inwards, and through out on all my body feeds.  
But all this while Eurysthye lives in health. And sum men may  
believe there be sum Gods in deed. Thus much did Hercule say.  
And wounded over Oeta high, he stalking 'gan too stray,  
As when a Bull in maimed bulk, a deadly Dart doth bear,  
And that▪ the doer of the deed is shrunk aside for fear.  
Oft sighing might you him have seen, oft trembling, oft about  
Too tear the 〈◊〉 with his hands from top too to throughout.  
And throwing down the mighty trees, and chaufing with the hills,  
Or casting up his hands too heaven where jove his father dwells.  
Behold as Lichas trembling in a hollow rock did lurk,  
He spied him. And as his grief did all in fury work,  
He said. Art thou sir Lichas he that broughtest unto me  
This plagye present? of my death must thou the worker be?  
He quaakt and shaakt, and looked pale, and fearfully 'gan make  
Excuse. But as with humbled hands he kneeling too him spoke,  
The furio●s Hercule caught him up, and swingeing him about  
His head a half a dozen times or more, he flung him out  
Into th' Euboyan sea with force surmounting any sling.  
He hardened into pebble stone as in the air he hang.  
And even as rain congealed by wind is said too turn too snow,  
And of the snow round rolled up a thicker mass too grow,  
Which falleth down in hail: so men in ancient time report,  
That Lichas being swindgd about by violence in that sort,  
(His blood then being drained out, and having left at all  
No moisture,) into pebble stone was turned in his fall.  
Now also in th' Euboyan sea appeareth a high short rock  
In shape of man against the which the shipmen shun too knock,  
As though it could them faéele▪ and they do call it by the name  
Of Lichas still. But thou Jove's imp of great renown and fame,  
Didst fell the trees of Oeta high, and making of the same  
A pile, didst give too 
* Philoctet●.  Paeans son thy quiver and thy bow,  
And arrows which should help again Troy town too overthrow.  
He put too fire, and as the same was kindling in the pile,  
Thyself didst spread thy lions skin upon the wood the while,  
And leaning with thy head against thy Club, thou laidest thee down  
As cheerfully, as if with flowers and garlands on thy crown  
Thou hadst been set a banqueting among full cups of wine.  
Anon on every side about those careless limbs of thine  
The fire began too gather strength, and crackling noise did make,  
Assailing him whose noble heart ●or dalliance did it take.  
The Gods for this defender of the earth were sore afraid  
Too whom with cheerful countenance jove perceiving it thus said.  
This fear of yours is my delight, and gladly even with all  
My heart I do rejoice O Gods that mortal folk me call  
Their king and father, thinking me ay mindful of their weal,  
And that mine offspring should do well yourselves do show such zeal.  
For though that you do attribute your favour too desert,  
Considering his most wondrous acts: yet I too for my part  
Am bound unto you. Ne'ertheless, for that I would not have  
Your faithful hearts without just cause in fearful passions wave,  
I would not have you of the flames in Oeta make account.  
For as he hath all other things, so shall he them surmount.  
Save only on that part that he hath taken of his mother,  
The fire shall have no power at all. Eternal is the t'other,  
The which he takes of me, and cannot die, ne yield too fire.  
When this is rid from earthly dross, then will I lift it higher,  
And take it into heaven: and I believe this deed of mine  
Will gladsome be too all the Gods. If any do repine,  
If any do repine I say that Hercule should become  
A God, repine he still for me, and look he sour and glum.  
But let him know that Hercules deserveth this reward,  
And that he shall against his will allow it afterward.  
The Gods assented everychone. And juno seemed too make  
No evil countenance too the rest, until her husband spoke  
The last. for then her look was such as well they might perceive,  
She did her husbands noting her in evil part conceive.  
While jove was talking with the Gods, as much as fire could waste  
So much had fire consumed. And now O Hercules thou haste  
No carcase for too know thee by. That part is quyght bereft  
Which of thy mother thou didst take. Alonely now is left  
The likeness that thou tookst of jove. And as the Serpent sly  
In casting of his withered slough, renews his years thereby,  
And waxeth lustyer than before, and looketh crisp and bright  
With scoured scales: so Hercules as soon as that his spright  
Had left his mortal limbs, 'gan in his better part too thrive,  
And for too seem a greater thing than when he was alive,  
And with a stately majesty right reverend too appear.  
His mighty father took him up above the cloudy sphéere,  
And in a chariot placed him among the streaming stars.  
huge Atlas felt the weight thereof. But nothing this disbarres  
Eurysthyes malice. Cruelly he prosecutes the hate  
Upon the offspring, which he bare against the father late.  
But yet too make her moan unto and wail her misery  
And tell her sons great works, which all the world could testify,  
Old Alcmen had Dame Iölee. By Hercules last will  
In wedlock and in hearty love she joined was too Hill,  
By whom she then was big with child: when thus Alcmene said▪  
The Gods at least be merciful and send thee then their aid,  
And short thy labour, when the fruit the which thou ghost withal  
Now being ripe enforceth thee with fearful voice too call  
Upon Ilithya precedent of chyldbirthes', whom the ire  
Of juno at my traveling made deaf too my desire.  
For when the Sun through twice five signs his course had fully run,  
And that the painful day of birth approached of my son,  
My burden strained out my womb, and that that I did bear  
Became so great, that of so huge a mass ye well might swear  
That jove was father. Neither was I able too endure  
The travel any longer tyme. Even now I you assure  
In telling it a shuddering cold through all my limbs doth strike,  
And partly it renews my pains too think upon the like.  
I being in most cruel throws night's seven and days eke seven,  
And tired with continual pangs, did lift my hands too heaven,  
And crying out aloud did call Lucina too mine aid,  
Too lose the burden from my womb. She came as I had prayed:  
But so corrupted long before by juno my most foe,  
That for too martyr me too death with pain she purposed tho.  
For when she heard my piteous plaints and groanings, down she sat  
On you same altar which you see there standing at my gate.  
Upon her left knee she had pitched her right ham, and beside  
She stayd the birth with fingers one within another tide  
In lattiswyse. And secretly she whisperde witching spells  
Which hindered my deliverance more than all her doings else.  
I laboured still: and forced by pain and torments of my fits,  
I railed on jove (although in vain) as one beside her wits.  
And ay I wished for too die. The words that I did speak,  
Were such as even the hardest stones of very flint might break.  
The wives of Thebee being there, for safe deliverance prayed  
And giving cheerful words, did bid I should not be dismayed.  
Among the other women there that too my labour came,  
There was an honest yeoman's wife, Galantis was her name.  
Her hear was yellow as the gold, she was a jolly Dame,  
And stoutly served me, and I did love her for the same.  
This wife (I know not how) did smell some packing gone about  
On junos' part. And as she oft was passing in and out,  
She spied Lucina set upon the altar holding fast  
Her arms toogither on her knees, and with her fingers cast  
Within each other on a knot, and said unto her thus.  
I pray you who so ere you be, rejoice you now with us,  
My Lady Alcmen hath her wish, and safe is brought a bed.  
Lucina leapt up amazed at that that she had said.  
And let her ●ands a sunder slip. And I immediately  
With loosening of the knot, had safe deliverance by and by.  
They say that in deceiving Dame Lucina Gallant laughed.  
And therefore by the yellow locks the Goddess wroth her caught,  
And dragged her. And as she would have risen from the ground,  
She kept her down, and into legs her arms she did confound.  
Her former stoutness still remains: her back doth keep the hue  
That ●rst was in her hear: her shape is only altered new.  
And for with lying mouth she helped a woman labouring, she  
Doth kindle also at her mouth. And now she haunteth free  
Our house's as she did before, a Weas●e as we see.  
With that she sighs too think upon her servants hap, and then  
Her daughtrinlaw immediately replied thus again.  
But mother, she whose altered shape doth move your heart so sore,  
Was neither kith●nor kin too you. What will you say therefore,  
If of mine own dear sister I the wondrous fortune show?  
Although my sorrow and the tears that from mine eyes do flow,  
Do hinder me, and stop my speech. Her mother (you must know  
My father by another wife had me) bore never more  
But this same Lady Dryopee, the fairest Lady though  
In all the land of Oechalye Whom being then no maid  
(For why the 
* 〈◊〉.  God of Delos and of Delphos had her frayed)  
Andraemon taketh too his wife, and thinks him well apaid.  
There is a certain leaning Lake whose bowing banks do show  
A likeness of the salt sea shore. Upon the brim do grow  
All round about it Mirtletrées. My sister thither goes  
Unwares what was her destiny, and (which you may suppose  
Was more too be disdained at) the cause of coming there  
Was too the fairies of the Lake fresh garlands for too bear.  
And in her arms a baby her sweet burden she did hold.  
Who sucking on her breast was yet not full a tweluemoonth old.  
Not far from this same pond did grow a Lote tree flourished gay  
With purple flowers and berries sweet, and leaves as green as Bay.  
Of these same flowers too please her boy my sister gathered sum,  
And I had thought too do so too, for I was thither cum.  
I saw how from the slivered flowers red drops of blood did fall,  
And how that shuddering horribly the branches quaakt withal,  
You must perceive that (as too late the Countryfolk declare)  
A Nymph called Lotos' flying from fowl Pryaps filthy ware,  
Was turned into this same tree reserving still her name.  
My sister did not know so much. who when she backward came  
Afraid at that that she had seen, and having sadly prayed  
The Nymphs of pardon, too have gone her way again assayed:  
Her feet were fastened down with roots. She strived all she might  
Too pluck them up. but they so sure within the earth were pight,  
That nothing save her upper parts she could that present move.  
A tender bark grows from beneath up leysurly above,  
And softly overspreddes her loins. which when she saw, she went  
About too tear her hear, and full of leaves her hand she hent.  
Her head was overgrown with leaves. And little Amphise (so  
Had Eurytus his Grandsire naamd her son not long ago)  
Did feel his mother's dugs wax hard. And as he still them drew  
In sucking, not a whit of milk nor moisture did ●ns●w.  
I standing by thee did behold thy cruel chance: but nought  
I could relieve thee sister mine. yet too my power I wrought  
Too stay the growing of thy trunk and of thy branches by  
Embracing thee. Yea I protest I would right willingly  
Have in the self same bark with thee been closed up. Behold,  
Her husband good Andraemon and her wretched father old  
Sir Eurytus came thither and enquyrd for Dryopee.  
And as they asked for Dryopee, I showed them Lote the tree.  
They kissed the wood which yet was warm, and falling down below,  
Did hug the roots of that their tree. My sister now could show  
No part which was not wood except her face. A dew of tears  
Did stand upon the wretched leaves late form of her hears.  
And while she might, and while her mouth did give her way too speak,  
With such complaint as this, her mind she last of all did break.  
If credit may be given too such as are in wretchedness,  
I swear by God I never yet deserved this distress.  
I suffer pain without desert. My life hath guiltless been.  
And if I lie, I would these boughs of mine which now are green,  
Might withered be, and I hewn down and burned in the fire.  
This infant from his mother's womb remove you I desire:  
And put him forth too nurse, and cause him underneath my tree  
Oft times too suck, and oftentimes too play. And when that he  
Is able for too speak I pray you let him greet me here,  
And sadly say in this same trunk is hid my mother dear.  
But learn him for too shun all ponds and pulling flowers from trees,  
And let him in his heart believe that all the shrubs he sees,  
Are bodies of the Goddesses. Adieu dear husband now,  
Adieu dear father, and adieu dear sister. And in you  
If any love of me remain, defend my boughs I pray  
From wound of cutting hook and axe, and bit of beast for ay.  
And for I cannot stoop too you, raise you yourselves too me,  
And come and kiss me while I may yet touched and kissed be.  
And lift me up my little boy. I can no longer talk,  
For now about my lily neck as if it were a stalk  
The tender rind begins too creep, and overgrowes my top.  
Remove your fingers from my face▪ the spreading bark doth stop  
My dying eyes without your help. She had no sooner left  
Her talking, but her life therewith toogither was bereft.  
But yet a good while after that her native shape did fade,  
Her newmade boughs continued warm. Now while that Iöle made  
Report of this same wondrous tale, and while Alcmene (who  
Did weep) was drying up the tears of Iöle weeping too,  
By putting too her thomb: there happed a sudden thing so strange.  
That unto mirth from heaviness their hearts it straight did change.  
For at the door in manner even a very boy as then  
With short soft Down about his chin, revoked back again  
Too youthful years, stood Iölay with countenance smooth and trim.  
Dame Hebee junos' daughter had bestowed this gift on him,  
Entreated at his earnest suit. Whom minding fully there  
The giving of like gift again too any too forswear,  
Dame Themis would not suffer. For (quoth she) this present hour  
Is cruel war in Thebee town, and none but jove hath power  
Too vanquish stately Canapey. The brothers shall a like  
Wound either other. And alive a Prophet shall go seek  
His own quick ghost among the dead, the earth him swallowing in.  
The son by taking vengeance for his father's death shall win  
The name of kind and wicked man, in one and self same case.  
And flayght with mischiefs, from his wits and from his native place  
The furies and his mother's ghost shall restlessely him chase,  
Until his wy●e demand of him the fatal gold for meed,  
And that his cousin Phegies sword do make his sides too bleed.  
Then shall the fair Callirrhoee Achelous daughter pray  
The mighty jove in humble wise too grant her children may  
Retire again too youthful years, and that he will not see  
The death of him that did revenge unvenged for too be.  
jove moved at her suit shall cause his daughtrinlaw too give  
Like gift, and back from age too youth Callirrhoës' children drive.  
When Themis through foresight had spoke these words of prophesy,  
The Gods began among themselves vain talk too multiply,  
They mooyld why others might not give like gift as well as she.  
First Pallants daughter grudged that her husband old should be.  
The gentle Ceres murmurde that her jasions hear was hore.  
And Vulcan would have called again the years long spent befor●  
By Ericthonius. And the nice Dame Venus having care  
Of time too come, the making young of old Anchises swore.  
So every God had ●ne too whom he special favour bare.  
And through this partial love of theirs seditiously increased  
A hurlyburly, till the time that jove among them priest,  
And said. So smally do you stand in awe of me this hour,  
As thus too rage? Thinks any of you himself too have such power,  
As for too alter destiny? I tell you Iölay  
Recovered hath by destiny his years erst passed away.  
Callirrhoës' children must return too youth by destiny,  
And not by force of arms, or suit susteynd ambitiously.  
And too th'intent with méelder minds ye may this matter bear,  
Even I myself by destinies am ruled. which if I were  
Of power too altar, think you that our Aeacus should stoop  
By reason of his feeble age? or Radamanth should droop?  
Or Minos, who by reason of his age is now disdeynd,  
And lives not in so sure a state as heretofore he reygnd?  
The words of jove so moved the Gods that none of them complained,  
Sith Radamanth and Aeacus were both with age constreynd:  
And Minos also: who (as long as lusty youth did last,)  
Did even with terror of his name make mighty Realms aghast.  
But than was Minos weakened sore, and greatly stood in fear  
Of Milet one of Deyons' race: who proudly did him bear  
Upon his father Phoebus and the stoutness of his youth.  
And though he feared he would rebel: yet durst he not his mouth  
Once open for too banish him his Realm: until at last  
Departing of his own accord, Miletus swiftly past  
The Gotes●a and did build a town upon the Asian ground,  
Which still reteynes the name of him that first the same did found.  
And there the daughter of the brook Maeander which doth go  
So often backward, Cyane a Nymph of body so  
exceeding comely as the like was seldom heard of, as  
She by her father's winding banks for pleasure walking was,  
Was known by Milet: unto whom a pair of twins she brought,  
And of the twins the names were Caune and Byblis▪ Byblis ought  
Too be a mirror unto Maids in lawful wise too love.  
This Byblis cast a mind too Caune. but not as did behove  
A sister to her brotherward. When first of all the fire  
Did kindle, she perceyud it not. She thought in her desire  
Of kissing him so oftentimes no sin, ne yet no harm  
In cléeping him about the neck so often with her arm.  
The glittering gloss of godliness beguiled her long. Her love  
Began from evil unto worse by little too remove.  
She comes too see her brother decked in brave and trim attire,  
And for too seem exceeding fair it was her whole desire.  
And if that any fairer were in all the ●locke than she,  
It spyghts her. In what case she was as yet she did not see.  
Her heat exceeded not so far as for too vow: and yet  
She suffered in her troubled brist full many a burning fit.  
Now calleth she him master, now she utter hateth all  
The names of kin. She rather had he should her Byblis call  
Than sister. yet no filthy hope she durst permit too creep  
Within her mind awake. But as she lay in quiet sleep,  
She oft behild her love: and oft she thought her brother came  
And lay with her, and (though a sleep) she blushed at the same.  
When sleep was gone, she long lay dumb still musing on the sight,  
And said with wavering mind. Now woe is me most wretched wight.  
What méenes the image of this dream that I have seen this night?  
I would not wish it should be true, Why dreamt I then so?  
Sure he is fair although he should be judged by his fo.  
He likes me well▪ and were he not my brother, I might set  
My love on him, and he were me right worthy for too get,  
But unto this same match the name of kindred is a let.  
Well. So that I wake do still me undefiled keep,  
Let come as often as they will such dreamings in my sleep.  
In sleep there is no witness by▪ In sleep yet may I take  
As great a pleasure (in a sort) as if I were awake.  
Oh Venus and thy tender son Sir Cupid, what delight,  
How present feeling of your sport hath touched me this night?  
How lay I as it were resolved both marée, flesh, and bone?  
How glads it me too think thereon? Alas too soon was gone  
That pleasure, and too hasty and despyghtfull was the night  
In breaking of my joys. O Lord if name of kindred might  
Between us two removed me, how well it would agree  
O Caune that of thy father I the daughtrinlaw should be?  
How fitly might my father have a sonneinlaw of thee?  
Would God that all save ancestors were common to us twain  
I would thou were of nobler stock than I▪ I cannot say  
O pearl of beauty what she is whom thou shalt make a mother.  
Alas how ill befalls it me that I could have none other  
Than those same parents which are 〈◊〉? So only s●ill my brother  
And not my husband mayst thou be. The thing that hurts us both  
Is one, and that between us ay inseparably goeth.  
what mean my dreams th●? what effect have dreams? & may there be  
Effect in dreams? The Gods are far in better case than we.  
For why? the Gods have matched with their sisters as we see.  
So Saturn did alley with Ops the nearest of his blood.  
So tethies with Oceanus: So jove did think it good  
Too take his sister juno too his wife▪ What then? the Gods  
Have laws and charters by themselves. And sith there is such odds  
Between the state of us and them, why should I sample take,  
Our worldly matters equal with the heavenly things too make?  
This wicked love shall either from my heart he driven away,  
Or if it can not be expulsed, God grant I perish may.  
And that my brother kiss me laid on Hearse ●oo go too grave.  
But my desire the full consent of both of us doth crave.  
Admit the matter liketh me. He will for sin it take.  
But yet the sons of Aeolus no scrupulousness did make  
In going too their sisters beds. And how come I too know  
The feats of them? Too what intent these samples do I show?  
Ah whither am I headlong driven? avaunt foul filthy fire:  
And let me not in otherwise than susterlyke desire  
My brother's love. Yet if that he were first in love with me,  
His fondness too incline unto perchaune I could agree.  
Shall I therefore who would not have rejected him if he  
Had sued to me, go sue too him? and canst thou speak in deed?  
And canst thou utter forth thy mind? and tell him of thy need?  
My love will make me speak. I can. Or if that shame do stay  
My tongue, a sealed letter shall my secret love bewray.  
This likes her best. upon this point now rests her doubtful mind  
So raising up herself upon her leftsyde she inclined,  
And leaning on her elbow said. Let him advise him what  
Too do, for I my frantic love will utter plain and flat.  
Alas too what ungraciousness intent I for too fall?  
What fury raging in my heart my senses doth appall?  
In thinking so, with trembling hand she framed her too write  
The matter that her troubled mind in musing did indyght.  
Her right hand holds the pen, her left doth hold the empty wax.  
She gins. She doubts, she wryghtes: she in the tables findeth lacks.  
She notes, she blurs, dislikes, and likes: and changeth this for that.  
She lays away the book, and takes it up. She wots not what  
She would herself. What ever thing she mindeth for too do  
Misliketh her. A shamefastness with boldness mixed thereto  
Was in her countenance. She had once writ Sister: Out again  
The name of Sister for too raze she thought it best. And then  
She snatched the ●ables up, and did these following words engrave.  
The health which if thou give her not she is not like too have  
Thy lover wisheth unto thee. I dare not ah for shame  
I dare not tell thee who I am, nor let thee hear my name.  
And if thou do demand of me what thing I do desire,  
Would God that nameless I might plead the matter I require,  
A●d that I were unknown to thee by name of Byblis, till  
Assurance of my suit were wrought according too my will.  
As tokens of my wounded heart might these to thee appear:  
My colour pale, my body lean, my heavy mirthless cheer,  
My watery eyes, my sighs without apparent causes why,  
My oft embracing of thee: and such kisses (if pardie  
Thou marked them) as very well thou might have felt and found  
Not for too have been Susterlike. But though with grievous wound  
I then were stricken too the heart. although the raging flame  
Did burn within: yet take I God too witness of the same,  
I did as much as lay in me this outrage for too tame.  
And long I strived (wretched wench) too scape the violent Dart  
Of Cupid. More I have endured of hardness & of smart,  
Than any wench (a man would think) were able too abide.  
Force forceth me too show my case which feign I still would hide,  
And mercy at thy gentle hand in fearful wise too crave.  
Thou only mayst the life of me thy lover spill or save.  
Choose which thou wilt. No enemy craves this thing: but such a one  
As though she be allied so sure as surer can be none,  
Yet covets she more surely yet allied for too be,  
And with a nearer kind of band too link herself too thee.  
Let aged folks have skill in law: too age it doth belong  
Too keep the rigour of the laws and search out right from wrong.  
Such youthful years as o●rs are yet rash▪ ●olly doth beseem.  
W●e know not what is lawful 〈◊〉. And therefore we may▪ 〈◊〉  
That all is lawful that 〈◊〉 list: ensuring in the same  
The doings of the mighty Gods. Not dread of worldly sham●  
Nor yet our father's roughness, no nor fearfulness should let  
Our purpose. Only let all fear aside be wholly set.  
We underneath the name of kin our pleasant 'scapes may hide.  
Thou knowest I have liberty too talk with thee a side.  
And openly we kiss and ●ull. And what is all the rest  
That wants? Have mercy on me now, who plainly have expressed  
My case: which thing I had not done, but that the utter rage  
Of love constreynes me thereunto the which I cannot suage.  
Deserve not on my tumb thy name subscribed for too have,  
That thou art he whose cruelness did bring me too my grave.  
Thus much she wrote in vain, and wax did want her too indyght,  
And in the margin she was fain the latter verse too write.  
Immediately too seal her shame she takes a precious stone,  
The which she moystes with tears: from tongue the moisture quite was gone.  
She called a servant shamefastly, and after certain fair  
And gentle words, my trusty man I pray thee bear this pair  
Of tables (quoth she) too my (and a great while afterward  
She added) brother. Now through chance or want of good regard  
The table slipped down too ground in reaching too him ward  
The handsel troubled sore her mind. But yet she sent them. And  
Her servant spying time did put them into Caunyes hand.  
mad'st nephew suddenly in anger flung away  
The tables ere he half had red, (scarce able for too stay  
His fistocke from the servants face who quaakt) and thus did say.  
Avaunt thou bawdy ribald while thou mayst. For were it not  
For shame I should have killed thee. Away afraid he got,  
And told his mistress of the fierce and cruel answer made  
By Caunye. By and by the hue of Byblis 'gan too fade,  
And all her body was benumbed with Icy cold for fear  
Too here of this repulse. assoon as that her senses were  
Returned again, her furious flames returned with her wits.  
And thus she said so oft that scarce her tongue the air hits  
And worthily. For why was I so rash as too discover  
By hasty wryghting this my wound which most I ought to cover.  
I shou●● with doubtful glancing words have felt his humour furst,  
And made a train too try him if pursue or no he durst.  
I should have viewed first the coast, too see the weather clear,  
And then I might have launched safe and boldly from the peer.  
But now I hoist up all my sails before I tried the wind:  
And therefore am I driven upon the rocks against my mind,  
And all the sea doth overwhelm me. Neither may I find  
The means too get too harbour, or from danger too retire.  
Why did not open tokens warn too bridle my desire,  
Then when the tables falling in delivering them declaard  
My hope was vain? And ought not I then either too have spaard  
From sending them as that day? or have changed whole my mind?  
Nay rather shifted of the day? For had I not been blind  
Even God himself by soothfast signs the sequel seemed too hit.  
Yea rather than too wryghting thus my secrets too commit,  
I should have gone and spoke myself, and presently have showed  
My fervent love. He should have seen how tears had from me flowed.  
He should have seen my piteous look right loverlike. I could  
Have spoken more than into those my tables enter would.  
About his neck against his will, mine arms I might have wound  
And had he shaakt me of, I might have seemed for too swoon.  
I humbly might have kissed his feet, and kneeling on the ground  
Besought him for too save my life. All these I might have proved,  
Whereof although no one alone his stomach could have moved.  
Yet all toogit●er might have made his hardened heart relent.  
Perchance there was some fault in him that was of message sent.  
He stepped unto him bluntly (I believe) and did not watch  
Convenient time, in merry kew at leisure him too catch.  
These are the things that hindered me. For certainly I know  
No sturdy stone nor massy steel doth in his stomach grow.  
He is not made of Adamant. He is no tigers whelp.  
He never sucked Lioness. He might with little help  
be vanquished. Let us give fresh charge upon him. While I live  
Without obtaining victory I will not over give.  
For firstly (i● it lay in me my doings too re●oke)  
I should not have begun at all. But seeing that the stroke  
Is given, the second point is now too give the push too win.  
For neither he (although that I mine enterprise should blind)  
Can ever while he li●es forget my deed. And sith I shrink,  
My love was light, or else I meant too trap him, he shall think.  
Or at the least he may suppose that this my rage of love  
Which broileth so within my breast, proceeds not from above  
By Cupid's stroke, but of some foul and filthy lust. In fine  
I cannot but too wickedness now more and more incline.  
By wryghting is my suit commenced: my meaning doth appear:  
And though I cease: yet can I not accounted be for clear.  
Now that that doth remain behind is much as in respect  
My fond desire too satisfy: and little in effect  
Too aggravate my fault withal. Thus much she said. And so  
Unconstant was her wavering mind still floating too and fro,  
That though it irkt her for too have attempted, yet pocéedes  
She in the self same purpose attempting, and exceeds  
All measure. and unhapy wench she takes from day too day  
Repulse upon repulse, and yet she hath not grace too stay.  
Soon after when her brother saw there was with her no end,  
He fled his country forbecause he would not so offend,  
And in a foreign land did build a City. Then men say  
That Byblis through despair and thought all wholly did dismay.  
She tore her garments from her breast, and furiously she wrong,  
Her hands, and beet her arms, and like a bedlam with her tongue  
Confessed her unlawful love. But being of the same  
Dispointed, she forsook her land and hateful house for shame,  
And followed after flying Caune. And as the Froes of Thrace  
In doing of the three year rites of Bacchus: in like case  
The married wives of Babasie saw Byblis howling out  
Through all their champion fields The which she leaving, ran about  
In Caria too the Lelegs who are men in battle slout,  
And so too Lycia. She had past Crag, Limyre, and the brook  
Of Xanthus, and the country where chimera that same pooke  
Hath Goatish body, Lion's head and brist, and Dragon's tail,  
When woods did want: and Byblis now beginning for too quail  
Through wéerynesse in following Caune, sank down and said her head  
against the ground, and kissed the leaves that wind from ●rées had shed.  
The Nymphs of Caria went about in tender arms too take  
Her often up. They oftentimes persuaded her too stake  
Her love. And words of comfort too her deaf card mind they spoke.  
She still lay dumb: and with her nails the gréenish herbs she held,  
And moisted with a stream of tears the grass upon the field.  
The waternymphes (so folk report) put under her a spring,  
Which never might be dried: and could they give a greater thing?  
Immediately even like as when ye wound a pitchtrée rind,  
The gum doth issue out in drops: or as the western wind  
With gentle blast toogither with the warmth of Sun, unbynd  
The ice: or as the clammy kind of cement which they call  
Bitumen issueth from the ground full fraughted therewithal:  
So Phoebus' niece Dame Byblis then consuming with her tears,  
Was turned too a fountain, which in those same valleys bears  
The title of the founder still, and gusheth freshly out  
From underneath a Sugarchest as if it were a spout.  
The fame of this same wondrous thing perhaps had filled all  
The hundred Towns of Candye had a greater not befall  
More nearer home by Iphys means transformed late before.  
For in the shire of Phestos' hard by Gnossus dwelled of yore  
A yeoman of the meaner sort that Lyctus had too name.  
His stock was simple, and his wealth according too the same.  
Howbéet his life so upright was, as noman could it blame.  
He came unto his wife then big and ready down too lie,  
And said: two things I wish thee. Tone, that when thou out shalt cry,  
Thou mayst dispatch with little pain: the other that thou have  
A Boay. For Girls too bring them up a greater cost do crave.  
And I have no ability. And therefore if thou bring  
A wench (it goes against my heart too think upon the thing)  
Although against my will, I charge it straight destroyed be.  
The bond of nature needs must bear in this behalf with me.  
This sed, both wept exceedingly, as well the husband who  
Did give commandment, as the wife that was commanded too.  
Yet Telethusa earnestly at Lyct her husband lay,  
(Although in vain) too have good hope, and of himself more stay.  
But he was full determined. Within a while, the day  
Approached that the fruit was ripe, and she did look too lay  
Her belly every minute: when at midnight in her rest  
Stood by her (or did seem too stand) the Goddess Isis, dr●st  
And trained with the solemn pomp of all her rites. Two horns  
Upon her forehead like the moo●e, with ears of rypened corns  
Stood glistering as the burnished gold. Moreover she did wear  
A rich and stately diadem. Attendant on her were  
The barking bug Anubis, and the saint of Bubast, and  
The pydecote Apis, and the God that gives too understand  
By fingar holden too his lips that men should silence keep,  
And Lybian worms whose stinging doth enforce continual sleep,  
And thou Osiris whom the folk of Egypt ever seek,  
And never can have sought enough, and Rittlerattles eke.  
Then even as though that Telethuse had fully been awake,  
And seen these things with open eyes, thus Isis too her spoke.  
My servant Telethusa, cease this care, and break the charge  
Of Lyct. And when Lucina shall have let thy fruit at large,  
Bring up the same what ere it be I am a Goddess who  
delights in helping folk at need. I hither come too do  
Thee good. thou shalt not have a cause hereafter too complain  
Of serving of a Goddess that is thankless for thy pain.  
When Isis had this comfort given, she went her way again.  
A joyful wight rose Telethuse, and lifting too the sky  
Her hardened hands, did pray her dream might work effectually.  
Her throws increased, and forth alone anon the burden came,  
A wench was borne too Lyctus who knew nothing of the same.  
The mother making him believe it was a boay, did bring  
It up, and none but she and nurse were privy too the thing.  
The father thanking God did give the child the Grandsires' name,  
The which was Iphys. joyful was the mother of the same,  
Because the name did serve alike too man and woman both,  
And so the lie through godly guile forth unperceived goeth.  
The garments of it were a boayes. The face of it was such  
As either in a boay or girl of beauty uttered much.  
When Iphys was of thirteen years, her father did insure  
The brown Iänthee unto her, a wench of look demure,  
Commended for her favour and her person more than all  
The Maids of Phestos: Telest, men her father's name did call.  
He dwelled in Dyctis. They were both of age and favour leek,  
And vn●er both one schoolmaster they did for nurture seek.  
And hereupon the hearts of both, the dart of Love did strike.  
And wounded both of them aléeke. But unlike was their hope.  
Both longed for the wedding day toogither for too cope.  
For whom Iänthee thinks too be a man, she hopes too see  
Her husband. Iphys loves whereof she thinks she may not be  
Partaker, and the self same thing augmenteth still her flame.  
Herself a Maiden with a Maid (right strange) in love became.  
She scarce could stay her tears. What end remains for me (ꝙ she)  
How strange a love? how uncouth? how prodigious reigns in me?  
If that the Gods did favour me, they should destroy me quyght.  
Or if they would not me destroy, at least wise yet they might  
Have given me such a malady as might with nature stand,  
Or nature were acquainted with. A Cow is never fond  
Upon a Cow, nor Mare on Mare. The Ram delights the ewe,  
The Stag the Hind, the Cock the Hen. But never man could show,  
That female yet was ●ane in love with female kind. O would  
Too God I never had been borne. Yet lest that Candy should  
Not bring forth all that monstrous were, the daughter of the Son  
Did love a Bull. Howbéet there was a Male too dote upon.  
My love is furio●ser than hers, if truth confessed be.  
For she was fond of such a lust as might be compassed. She  
Was served by a Bull beguiled by Art in Cow of tree.  
And one there was for her with whom adultery to commit.  
If all the cunning in the world and slyghts of subtle wit  
Were here, or if that Daedalus himself with uncowth wing  
Of Wax should hither fly again, what comfort should he bring?  
Can he with all his cunning crafts now make a boay of me?  
Or could he O Iänthee change the native shape of thee?  
Nay rather Iphys settle thou thy mind and call thy wits  
about thee: shake thou of these flames that foolishly by fits  
With out all reason reign. Thou seest what Nature hath thee made  
(unless thou wilt deceive thyself.) So far forth wisely wade,  
As right and reason may support, and love as women ought  
Hope is the thing that breeds desire, hope feeds the amorous thought.  
This hope thy sex denieth thee. Not watching doth restrain  
Thee from embracing of the thing whereof thou art so fain.  
Nor yet the Husband's jealousy, nor rowghnesse of her Sire,  
Nor yet the coyness of the Wench doth hinder thy desire.  
And yet thou canst not her enjoy. No though that God and man  
Should labour too their uttermost and do the best they can  
In they behalf, they could not make a happy wight of thee.  
I cannot wish the thing but that I have it. Frank and free  
The Gods have given me what they could. As I will, so will he  
That must become my fathrinlaw. so wills my father too.  
But nature stronger than them all consenteth not thereto.  
This hindereth me, and nothing else. Behold the blissful ●yme,  
The day of Marriage is at hand. Iänthee shallbe mine,  
And yet I shall not her enjoy. Amid the water we  
Shall thirst. O juno precedent of marriage, why with thee  
Comes Hymen too this wedding where no bridegroom you shall see,  
But both are Brides that must that day toogither coupled be?  
This spoken, she did hold her peace. And now the toother maid  
Did burn as hot in love as she. And earnestly she prayed  
The bridal day might come with speed. The thing for which she longed  
Dame Telethusa fearing sore, from day too day prolonged  
The time, oft feigning sickness, oft pretending she had seen  
Ill tokens of success. at length all shifts consumed been.  
The wedding day so oft delayed was now at hand. The day  
Before it, taking from her head the kerchéef quyght away,  
And from her daughter's head likewise, with scattered hear she laid  
Her hands upon the Altar, and with humble voice thus prayed.  
O Isis who dost haunt the town of Paretonie, and  
The fields by Maraeotis lake, and Pharos which doth stand  
By Alexandria, and the Nile divided into seven  
Great channels, comfort thou my fear, and send me help from heaven,  
Thyself O Goddess, even thyself, and these thy relics I  
Did once behold and knew them all: as well thy company  
As eke thy sounding rattles, and thy ●ressets burning by,  
And myndfully I marked what commandment thou didst give.  
That I escape unpunished, that this same wench doth live,  
Thy counsel and thy hest it is. Have mercy now on twain,  
And help us. With that word the tears ran down her cheeks amain.  
The Goddess seemed for too move her Altar: and in deed  
She moved it. The temple doors did tremble like a reed.  
And horns in likeness too the Moon about the Church did shine.  
And Rattles made a raughtish noise. At this same lucky sign,  
Although not wholly careless, yet right glad she went away.  
And Iphys followed after her with larger pace than ay  
She was accustomed. And her face continued not so white.  
Her strength increased, and her look more sharper was too sight.  
Her hear grew shorter, and she had a much more lively spright,  
Than when she was a wench. For thou O Iphys who right now  
A modther wert, art now a boay. With offerings both of you  
Too Church retire, and there rejoice with faith unfearful. They  
With offerings went too Church again, and there their vows did pay.  
They also set a table up, which this brief meeter had.  
The vows that Iphys vowed a wench he hath performed a Lad.  
Next morrow over all the world did shine with lightsome flame,  
When juno, and Dame Venus, and Sir Hymen jointly came  
Too Iphys marriage, who as then transformed too a boay  
Did take Iänthee too his wife, and so her love enjoy  
Finis noni Libri.   

¶ THE TENTH BOOK of Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
FRom thence in saffron coloured rob flew Hymen through the air,  
And into Thracia being call●d by Orphy did repair.  
He came in d●●de at Orphyes call: bu● neither did he sing  
The words of that solemnity, nor merry countenance bring,  
Nor any handsel of good luck. His torch with drizzling smoke  
Was dim: the same too burn out clear, no stirring could provoke.  
The end was worser than the sign. For as the ●ryde did roam  
Abroad accompanyde with a train of Nymphs too bring her home,  
A serpent lurking in the grass did 〈◊〉 her in the ankle:  
Whereof she died incontinent, so swift the 〈◊〉 did rankle.  
Whom when the Thracian Poet had bewayl● sufficiently  
On earth, the Ghosts departed hence he minding for too try,  
down at the gate of Taenarus did go too Limbo lake.  
And thence by ghastly folk and souls late buried he did take  
His journey too Persephon●e and too the king of Ghosts  
That like a Lordly tyrant reigns in those unpleasant coasts.  
And playing on his tuned harp he thus began too sound.  
O you the sovereigns of the world set underneath the ground,  
Too whom we all (what ever thing is made of mortal kind)  
Repair, if ●y your leave I now may freely speak my mind,  
I come not hither as a spy 〈…〉  
Nor yet the foul three headed Eurre whose hears all Adders be  
Too tie in chains. The cause of this my viage is my wife  
Whose foot a Uiper stinging did abridge her youthful life.  
I would have bor●e it patiently: and so too do I strove.  
But Love surmounted power. This God is known great force too have  
Above on earth. And whether he reign here or no I dow●.  
But I believe he reigns here too. If fa●●e that flies about  
Of former rape report not wrong, Love coupled also you.  
By these same places full of fear: by this huge Chaos now,  
And by the stillness of this waste and empty Kingdom, I  
Beseech ye of Eurydicee v●●éele the destiny  
That was so swiftly reeled up All things too you belong.  
And though we lingering for a while our pageants do prolong,  
Yet soon or late we all too one abiding place do room:  
We haste us hither all: this place becomes our latest home:  
And you do over humane kind reign longest tyme. Now when  
This woman shall have lived full her time, she shall again  
Become your own. The use of her but for a while I crave.  
And if the destinies for my wife deny me for too have  
Release, I fully am resolved for ever here too dwell.  
Rejoice you in the death of both. As he this tale did tell,  
And played on his instrument, the bloodless ghosts shed tears:  
Too tire on Titius growing heart the greedy Gripe forbears:  
The shunning water Tantalus endeavoureth not too drink:  
And Danaus' daughters ceased too fill their tub that have no brink:  
Ixion's wheel stood still: and down sat Sisyphus upon  
His rolling stone. Then first of all (so fame for truth hath gone)  
The Furies being stricken there with pity at his song  
Did weep. And neither Pluto nor his Lady were so strong  
And hard of stomach too withhold his just petition long.  
They called forth Eurydicee who was as yet among  
The newcome Ghosts. and limped of her wound. Her husband took  
Her with condition that he should not back upon her look,  
Until the time that he were past the bounds of Limbo quyght:  
Or else too lose his gift. They took a path that steep upright  
Rose dark and full of foggy mist. And now they were within  
A kenning of the upper earth, when Orphye did begin  
Too doubt him lest she followed not, and through an eager love  
Desirous for too see her he his eyes did backward move.  
Immediately she slipped back. He re●ching out his hands.  
Desirous too be caught and for too catch her grasping stands.  
But nothing save the slippery air (unhappy man) he caught.  
She dying now the second time compla●nd of Orphye nought.  
For why what had she too complain, unless it were of love?  
Which made her husband back again his eyes upon her move?  
Her last farewell she spoke so oft, that scarce he heard the sound,  
And then revolted too the place in which he had her found.  
This double dying of his wife set Orphye in a stound,  
No less than him who at the sight of Pluto's dreadful Hound  
That on the middle neck of three doth bear an iron chain,  
Was stricken in a sudden fear and could it not restrain,  
Until the time his former shape and nature being gone,  
His body quyght was overgrown, and turned into stone.  
Or than the foolish Olenus, who on himself did take  
Another's fault, and guiltless needs himself would guilty make,  
Toogither with his wretched wife Lethaea, for whose pride  
They both becoming stones, do stand even yet on watery Ide.  
He would have gone too Hell again, and ●arnest suit did make:  
But Charon would not suffer him too pass the Stygian lake.  
Seven days he sat forlorn upon the bank and never ●ate  
A bit of bread. Care, tears, and thought, and sorrow were his meat  
And crying out upon the Gods of Hell as cruel, he  
Withdrew too lofty Rhodopee and Heme which beaten be  
With Northern wynds. Three times the Sun had passed through the sheer  
And watery sign of Pisces and had finished full the year.  
And Orphye (were it that his ill success he still did rue,  
Or that he vowed so too do) did utterly eschew  
The womankind. Yet many a one desirous were too match  
With him, but he th●m with repulse did all alike dispatch.  
He also taught the Thracian folk a stews of Males too make  
And of the flowering prime of boayes the pleasure for too take.  
There was a hill, and on the hill a very level plot.  
Fair green with grass. But as for shade or covert was there not.  
assoon as that this Po●t borne of Gods, in that same place  
Sat down and touched his tuned strings, a shadow came a pace.  
There wanted neither Chaons' tree, nor yet the trees too which  
Fresh Phaeton's sisters turned were, nor beech, nor Holme, nor Which  
Nor gentle Asp, nor wifeless Bay, nor lofty Chestnuttrée.  
Nor Hazle spalt, nor Ash whereof the shafts of spears made be.  
Nor knotlesse Fir, nor cheerful Plane, nor Maple flecked grain.  
Nor Lote, nor Sallow which delights by waters too remain.  
Nor slender twigged Tamarisk▪ nor Borachia ay green of hue.  
Nor Figtrées laden with their fruit of colours brown and blue.  
Nor double coloured Myrtletrées. Moreover thither came  
The writhing ivy, and the vine that runs upon a frame.  
Elms clad with Uynes, and Ashes wild, and Pitchtrées black as coal,  
And full of trees with goodly fruit red striped, Ortyards whole.  
And Palmetrées lieth which in reward of conquest men do bear,  
And Pynapple with tufted top and harsh and prickling hear,  
The tree too Cybele mother of the Gods most dear. For why?  
Her minion Atys putting of the shape of man, did die,  
And hardened into this same tree. Among this companée  
Was present with a piked top the Cypress, now a tree,  
Sumtime a boay beloved of the God that with a string  
Doth arm his bow, and with a string in tune his Uiall bring.  
For, hallowed too the Nymphs that in the fields of Carthye were  
There was a goodly mighty Stag whose horns such breadth did bear,  
As that they shadowed all his head. His horns of gold did shine,  
And down his breast hung from his neck, a chine with jewels fine.  
Amid his fru●t with pretty strings a tablet being tied,  
Did waver as he went: and from his cares on either side  
Hung pearls of all one growth about his hollow temples bright.  
This goodly Spitter being void of dread, as having quyght  
Forgot his native fearfulness, did haunt men's houses, and  
Would suffer folk (yea though unknown) too coy him with their hand.  
But more than unto all folk else he dearer was too thee  
O Cyparisse the fairest Wight that ever man did see  
In Coea. Thou too pastures, thou too water springs him led,  
Thou wreathedst sundry flowers between his horns upon his head.  
sometime a horseman thou his back for pleasure didst bestryde,  
And haltring him with silken bit from place too place didst ride.  
In summer time about high noon when Titan with his heat  
Did make the hollow crabbed cleas of Cancer for too sweat,  
Unwéeting Cyparissus with a Dart did strike this Hart  
Quyght through. And when that of the wound he saw he must departed,  
He purposed for too die himself. What words of comfort spoke  
Not Phoebus too him? willing him the matter light too take  
And not more sorrow for it than was requisite too make.  
But still the Lad did sigh and sob, and as his last request  
Desired God he might thenceforth from morning never rest.  
Anon through weeping overmuch his blood was drained quyght:  
His limbs wert green: his hear which hung upon his forehead white  
Began too be a bristled bush: and taking by and by  
A stiffness, with sharpened top did face the starry sky  
The God did sigh, and sadly said. Myself shall mourn for thee,  
And thou for others: and ay one in morning thou shalt be.  
Such wood as this had Orphye drawn about him as among  
The herds of beasts, and flocks of Birds he sat amyds the throng.  
And when his thumb sufficiently had tried every string,  
And found that though they severally in sundry sounds did ring,  
Yet made they all one Harmony. He thus began too sing.  
O Muse my mother frame my song of jove. for every thing  
Is subject unto royal jove. Of jove the heavenly King  
I oft have showed the glorious power. I erst in graver verse  
The Giants slain in Phlaegra fields with thunder, did rehearse,  
But now I need a méelder style too tell of pretty boys  
That were the derlings of the Gods: and of unlawful joys  
That burned in the breasts of Girls, who for their wicked lust  
According as they did deserve, received penance just.  
The King of Gods did burn erewhile in love of Ganymed  
The Phrygian and the thing was found which jupiter that stead  
Had rather be than that he was. Yet could ●e not betéeme  
The shape of any other Bird than Eagle for too seem  
And so he soaring in the air with borrowed wings trust up  
The Trojan boay who still in heaven even yet doth bear his cup,  
And brings him Nectar though against Dame junos' will it be.  
And thou Amyclys son (had not they heavy destinée  
Abridged thee before thy time) hadst also placed been  
By Phoebus in the firmament. How be it (as is seen)  
Thou art eternal so far forth as may be. For as oft  
As warry Piscis giveth place too Aries that the soft  
And gentle springtyde doth succeed the winter sharp and stowre:  
So often thou renewest thyself, and on the fair green clowre  
Dost shoot out flowers. My father bore a special love to thee  
Above all others. So that while the God went oft too see  
Eurotas and unwalled Sparta, he left his noble town  
Of Delphos (which a mid the world is situate in renown)  
Without a sovereign▪ Neither Harp nor Bow regarded were.  
Unmyndfull of his Godhead he refused not too bear  
The nets, nor for too hold the hounds, nor as a painful mate  
Too travel over cragged hills, through which continual gate  
His flames augmented more and more. And now the sun did stand  
Well near midway between the night's last past and next at hand.  
They stripped themselves and nointed them with oil of olive fat.  
And fell to throwing of a Sledge that was right huge and flat.  
first Phoebus peysing it did throw it from him with such strength,  
As that the weight drove down the clouds in flying. And at length  
It fell upon substantial ground, where plainly it did show  
As well the cunning as the force of him that did it throw.  
Immediately upon desire himself the sport too try,  
The Spartan lad made haste too take up unadvisedly  
The Sledge before it still did lie. But as he was in hand  
Too catch it, it rebounding up against the hardened land,  
Did hit him full upon the face. The God himself did look  
As pale as did the lad, and up his swooning body took.  
Now culles he him, now wipes he from the wound the blood away,  
Anotherwhyle his fading life he strives with herbs too stay.  
Nought booted Léechcraft. Helpless was the wound. And like as one  
Broosd violet stalks or Poppy stalks or Lilies growing on  
Brown spindle's, straight they withering droop with heavy heads & are  
Not able for too hold them up, but with their tops do stare  
Upon the ground. So Hyacinth in yielding of his breath  
Chopped down his head. His neck bereft of strength by means of death  
Was even a burden too itself, and down did loosely writhe  
On both his shoulders, now a tone and now a toother lieth.  
Thou faadst away my Hyacinth defrauded of the prime  
Of youth (quoth Phoebus) and I see thy wound my heinous crime.  
Thou art my sorrow and my fault: this hand of my●e hath wrought  
Thy death: I like a murderer have too thy grave thee brought.  
But what have I offended thou? unless that too have played,  
Or if that too have loved, an offence it may be said.  
Would God I render might my life with and in stead of thee.  
Too which sith fatal destinée denieth too agree,  
Both in my mind and in my mouth thou evermore shalt be.  
My U●all stricken with my hand, my songs shall sound of thee,  
And in a newmade flower thou shalt with letters represent  
Our syghing▪ And the time shall come ere many years be spent,  
That in thy flower a valeant Prince shall join himself with thee,  
And lea●e his name upon the leaves for men too reed and see.  
While Phoebus thus did prophesy, behold the blood of him  
Which died the grass, ceased blood too be, and up there sprang a trim  
And goodly flower, more orient than the Purple cloth ingrayne,  
In shape a lily, were it not that lilies do remain  
Of silver colour, whereas these of purple hue are seen.  
Although that Phoebus had the cause of this great honour been,  
Yet thought he not the same enough. And therefore did he write  
His sighs upon the leaves thereof: and so in colour bright  
The flower hath 〈◊〉 writ thereon, which letters are of grief.  
So small the Spartans thought the birth of Hyacinth reprée●  
Unto them, that they worship him from that day unto this.  
And as their fathers did before, so they do never miss  
With solemn pomp too celebrate his feast from year too year.  
But if perchance that Amathus the rich in metals, wéere  
Demanded if it would have bred the Propets it would swear,  
Yea even as gladly as the folk whose brews sometime did bear,  
A pair of welked horns: whereof they Cerastes named are.  
Before their door an Altar stood of jove that takes the care.  
Of alyents and of travelers, which loathsome was too see,  
For lewdness wrought thereon. If one that had a stranger be  
Had looked thereon, he would have thought there had on it been killed  
Sum sucking calves or lambs. The blood of strangers there was spilld.  
Dame Venus sore offended at this wicked sacrifice,  
Too leave her Cities and the land of Cyprus did devise.  
But then bethinking her, she said. What hath my pleasant ground  
What have my Cities trespassed? what fault in them is found?  
Nay rather let this wicked race by exile punnisht been,  
Or death, or by sum other thing that is a mean between  
Both death and exile. what is that? save only for too change  
Their shape. In musing with herself what figure were most strange,  
She cast her eye upon a horn. And therewithal she thought  
The same too be a shape right meet upon them too be brought:  
And so she from their mighty limbs their native figure took,  
And turned them into boisterous Bulls with grim and cruel look  
Yet durst the filthy Propets stand in stiff opinion that  
Dame Venus was no Goddess till she being wroth thereat,  
Too make their bodies common first compelled them everichone  
And after changed their former kind. For when that shame was gone,  
And that they waxed brazen fast, she turned them too stone,  
In which between their former shape was difference small or none.  
Whom forbecause Pygmalion saw too lead their life in sin  
Offended with the vice whereof great store is packed within  
The nature of the womankind, he led a single life.  
And long it was ere he could find in heart too take a wife.  
Now in the while by wondrous Art an image he did grave  
Of such proportion, shape, and grace as nature never gave  
Nor can too any woman give. In this his work he took  
A certain love. The look of it was right a maidens look,  
And such a one as that ye would believe had life, and that  
Would moved be, if womanhod and reverence letted not:  
So artificial was the work. He woondreth at his Art  
And of his counterfeited corpse conceiveth love in heart.  
He often touched it, feeling if the work that he had made  
Were very flesh or ivory still. Yet could he not persuade  
Himself too think it ivory. For he oftentimes it kissed  
And thought it kissed him again. He held it by the fist,  
And talked too it. He believed his fingers made a dint  
Upon her flesh, and feared least sum black or bruised print  
Should come by touching over hard. sometime with pleasant boards  
And wanton toys he dalyingly doth cast forth amorous words.  
Sumtime (the gifts wherein young Maids are wonted too delight)  
He brought her ouches, fine round stones, and lilies fair & white▪  
And pretty singing birds, and flowers of thousand sorts and hue,  
And painted ball●s, and Amber from the tree distilled new.  
In gorgeous garments furthermore he did her also deck,  
And on her fingers put me rings, and chains about her neck.  
rich pearls were hanging at her ears, and tablets at her breast.  
All kind of things became her well. And when she was undressed,  
She seemed not less beautiful. He laid her in a bed  
The which with scarle● died in tire was richly overspread,  
And terming her 〈◊〉 bedfellow, he couched down her head  
Upon a 〈…〉 though she could have felt the same.  
The feast 〈◊〉 Venus hallowed through the isle of Cyprus, cam●  
And Bullocks white with gilden horns were slain for sacrifice,  
And up too heaven of frankincense the smoky fume did rise.  
When as Pygmalion having doo●e his duty that same day,  
before the altar standing, thus with fearful heart did say.  
If that you Gods can all things give, then let my wife (I pray)  
(He durst not say be yoonsame wench of ivory, but) be leek  
My wench of ivory. Venus (who was nought at all to seek  
What such a wish as that did mean) then present at her feast,  
For handsel of her friendly help did cause three times at least  
The fire to kindle and to spire thrice upward in the air.  
assoon as he came home, straight way Pygmalion did repair  
Unto the Image of his wench, and leaning on the bed,  
Did kiss her. In her body straight a warmness seemed too spread.  
He put his mouth again to hers, and on her breast did lay  
His hand. The ivory waxed soft: and putting quyght away  
All hardness, yielded underneath his fingers, as we see  
A piece of wax made soft against the Sun, or drawn too be  
In divers shapes by chaufing it between one's hands, and so  
To serve to uses. He amazed stood wavering too and fro  
'Tween joy, and fear too be béeguyld, again he burned in love,  
again with feeling he began his wished hope too prove.  
He felt it very flesh in deed. By laying on his thumb,  
He felt her pulses beating. Then he stood no longer dumb  
But thanked Venus with his heart. and at the length he laid  
His mouth to hers who was as then become a perfect maid.  
She felt the kiss, and blushed thereat: and lifting fearfully  
Her eyelidds up, her Lover and the light at once did spy.  
The marriage that herself had made the Goddess blessed so,  
That when the Moon with fulsum light nine times her course had go,  
This Lady was delivered of a Sun that Paphus height,  
Of whom the Island takes that name. Of him was borne a knight  
Called Cinyras who (had he had none issue) surely might  
Of all men underneath the sun been thought the happiest wight.  
Of wicked and most cursed things to speak I now commence.  
ye daughters and ye parents all go get ye far from hence.  
Or if ye minded be to here my tale, believe me nought  
In this béehalfe: ne think that such a thing was ever wrought.  
Or if ye will believe the deed, believe the vengeance too  
Which lighted on the party that the wicked act did do.  
But if that it be possible that any wight so much  
From nature should degenerate, as for to fall to such  
A heinous crime as this is, I am glad for Thracia, I  
Am glad for this same world of ours, yea glad exceedingly  
I am for this my native soil, for that there is such space  
Between it and the land that bred a child so void of grace.  
I would the land Panchaya should of Amomie be rich,  
And Cinnamom, and Costus sweet, and Incense also which  
Doth issue largely out of trees, and other flowers strange,  
As long as that it beareth Myrrh: not worth it was the change,  
New trees to have of such a price. The God of love denies  
His weapons too have hurted thee, O Myrrah, and he tries  
Himself unguilty by thy fault. One of the Furies three  
With poisoned Snakes and hellish brands hath rather blasted thee  
To hate one's father is a crime as heinous as may be.  
But yet more wicked is this love of thine than any hate.  
The youthful Lords of all the East and Peers of chief estate  
Desire to have thee too their wife, and earnest suit do make.  
Of all (excepting only one) thy choice O Myrrah take.  
She feels her filthy love, and strives against it, and within  
Herself said. whither roonnes my mind? what think I to begin?  
ye Gods (I pray) and godliness, ye holy rites and awe  
Of parents, from this heinous crime my vicious mind withdraw,  
And disappoint my wickedness. At leastwise if it be  
A wickedness that I intent. As far as I can see,  
This love infrindgeth not the bonds of godliness a whit.  
For every other living wight dame nature doth permit  
Too match without offence of sin. The Hecfer thinks no shame  
Too bear her father on her back: The Horse béestrydes' the same  
Of whom he is the sire: The Goat doth buck the Kid that he  
Himself begat: and birds do tread the self same birds we see  
Of whom they hatched were before. In happy case they are  
That may do so without offence. But man's malicious care  
Hath made a bridle for itself, and spiteful laws restrain  
The things that nature setteth free. yet are their Realms (men sayne)  
In which the mother with the son, and daughter with the father  
Do match, where through of godliness the bond augments the rather  
With doubled love. Now woe is me it had not been my lot  
In that same country too be borne. And that this luckless plot  
Should hinder me. Why think I thus? Avaunt unlawful love.  
I ought too love him I confess: but so as doth behove  
His daughter: were not Cinyras my father then, Iwis  
I might obtain too lie with him. But now because he is  
Mine own, he cannot be mine own. The nearness of our kin  
Doth hurt me. Were I further of perchance I more might win.  
And if I witted that I thereby this wickedness might shun,  
I would forsake my native soil and far from Cyprus run.  
This evil hea●e doth hold me back, that being present still  
I may but talk with Cinyras and look on him my fill,  
And touch, and kiss him, if no more may further granted be.  
Why wicked wench? and canst thou hope for further? dost not see  
How by thy fault thou dost confound the rights of name and kin?  
And wilt thou make thy mother be a Cucqueane by thy sin?  
Wilt thou thy father's leman be? wilt thou be both the mother  
And sister of thy child? shall he be both thy son and brother?  
And stand'st thou not in fear at all of those same sisters three  
Whose heads with crawling snakes in stead of hear bematted be?  
Which pushing with their cruel brands folks eyes and mouths, do see  
Their sinful hearts? but thou now while thy body yet is free,  
Let never such a wickedness once enter in thy mind.  
Defile not mighty nature's hest by lust against thy kind.  
What though thy will were fully bend? yet even the very thing  
Is such as will not suffer thee the same too end too bring.  
For why he being well disposed and godly, mindeth ay  
So much his duty that from right and truth he will not stray.  
Would God like fury were in him as is in me this day.  
This said, her father Cinyras (who doubted what too do  
By reason of the worthy store of suitors which did woe  
His daughter,) bringing all their names did will her for too show  
On which of them she had herself most fancy too bestow.  
At first she held her peace a while, and looking wistly on  
Her father's face, did boil within: and scalding tears anon  
Ran down her visage. Cyniras', (who thought them too proceed  
Of tender hearted shamefastness) did say there was no need  
Of tears, and dried her cheeks, and kissed her. Myrrah took of it  
exceeding pleasure in herself: and when that he did wit  
What husband she did wish too have, she said: one like too you.  
He understanding not her thought, did well her words allow.  
And said: in this thy godly mind continue. At the name  
Of godliness, she cast me down her look for very shame.  
For why her guilty heart did know she well deserved blame.  
High midnight came, and sleep both care and carcases oppressed.  
But Myrrah lying broad awake could neither sleep nor rest.  
She fries in Cupid's flames, and works continually upon  
Her furious love. One while she sinks in deep despair. Anon  
She fully minds to give attempt, but shame doth hold her in.  
She wishes and she wots not what too do, nor how too gin.  
And like as when a mighty tree with axes heawed round,  
Now reedy with a stripe or twain to lie upon the ground,  
Uncerteine is which way to fall and tottreth every way:  
Even so her mind with doubtful wound efféebled than did stray  
Now here now there uncerteinely, and took of both increase.  
No measure of her love was found, no rest, nor yet release,  
Save only death. death likes her best. She riseth, full in mind  
To hang herself. About a post her girdle she doth bind.  
And said farewell dear Cinyras, and understand the cause  
Of this my death. And with that word about her neck she draws  
The noose. Her trusty nurse that in another Chamber lay  
By fortune heard the whispering sound of these her words (folk say.)  
The aged woman rising up unboltes the door. And when  
She saw her in that plight of death, she shréeking out began  
Too smite herself, and scratched her breast, and quickly to her ran  
And rend the girdle from her neck. Then weeping bitterly  
And holding her between her arms, she asked the question why  
She went about too hang herself so unadvisedly.  
The Lady hilld her peace as dumb, and looking on the ground  
Unmovably, was sorry in her heart for being found  
Before she had dispatched herself. Hernurce still at her lay,  
And showing her her empty dugs and naked head all grey,  
Besought her for the pains she took with her both night and day  
In rocking and in feeding her, she would vouchsafe to say  
What ere it were that grieved her. The Lady turned away  
Displeased and fetched a sigh. The nurse was fully bend in mind  
Too bowlt the matter out: for which not only she did bind  
Her faith, in secret things to keep: but also said, put me  
In trust too find a remedy. I am not (thou shalt see)  
Yet altogether dulled by age. If furiousenesse it be,  
I have both charms and chanted herbs to help. If any wight  
Bewitcheth thee, by witchcraft I will purge and set thee quyght.  
Or if it be the wrath of God, we shall with sacrifice  
Appease the wrath of God right well. What may I more surmise?  
No thieves have broken in upon this house and spoiled the wealth.  
Thy mother and thy father both are living and in health.  
When Myrrah heard her father naamd, a grievous sigh she fet  
Even from the bottom of her heart. Howbeet the nurse as yet  
Misdéemd not any wickedness. But ne'ertheless she guessed  
There was some love: and standing in one purpose made request  
Too break her mind unto her, And she set her tenderly  
Upon her lap. The Lady wept and sobbed bitterly.  
Then culling her in feeble arms, she said I well espy  
Thou art in love. My diligence in this behalf I swear  
Shall serviceable too th●e be. Thou shalt not need too fear  
That ere thy father shall it know. At that same word she leapt  
From nurses lap like one that had been past her wits, and stepped  
With fury to her bed. at which she leaning down her face  
Said, hence I pray thee: force me not to show my shameful case.  
And when the nurse did urge her still, she answered either get  
The hence, or cease too ask me why myself I thus do fret.  
The thing that thou desyrste too know is wickedness. The old  
Poor nurse 'gan quake, and trembling both for age and fear did hold  
Her hands to her. And kneeling down right humbly at her feet,  
One while she fair entreated her with gentle words and sweet.  
Another while (unless she made her privy of her sorrow)  
She threatened her, and put her in a fear she would next morrow  
Bewray her how she went about to hang herself. But if  
She told her, she did plight her faith and help too her relief.  
She lifted up her head, and then with tears fast gushing out  
Béesloobered all her nurses breast: and going oft about  
Too speak, she often stayed: and with her garments hid her face  
For shame, and lastly said: O happy is my mothers case  
That such a husband hath. with that a grievous sigh she gave,  
And hilld her peace. These words of hers a trembling chillness drove  
In nurcis limbs, which pierced her bones: (for now she understood  
The case) and all her hoary hear up stiffly staring stood  
And many things she talked to put away her cursed love,  
If that it had been possible the madness to remove.  
The Maid herself to be full true the council doth espy:  
Yet if she may not have her love she fully minds to die.  
Live still (ꝙ nurse) thou shalt obtain (she durst not say thy father,  
But stayed at that.) And forbecause that Myrrah should the rather  
Believe her, she confirmed her words by oath. The yearly feast  
Of gentle Ceres came, in which the wives both most and least  
appareled all in white are wo●nt the firstlings of the field  
Fyne garlands made of ears of corn too Ceres for to yield.  
And for the space of thrice three night's they counted it a sin  
To have the use of any man, or once too touch his s●in.  
Among these women did the Queen fréequent the secret rites.  
Now while that of his lawful wife his bed was void a nights,  
The nurse was double diligent: and finding Cinyras  
Well washed with wine, she did surmise there was a pretty lass  
In love with him. And highly she her beauty setteth out.  
And being asked of her years, she said she was about  
The age of Myrrah. well (ꝙ he) then bring her too my bed.  
Returning home she said: be glad my nurcechilde: we have sped.  
Not all so wholly in her heart was wretched Myrrah glad,  
But that her fore misgiving mind did also make her sad.  
Howbéete she also did rejoice as in a certain kind,  
Such discord of affections was within her cumbered mind.  
It was the time that all things rest. And now Boötes bright  
The driver of the Oxen seven about the northpole pight.  
Had somewhat turned his wain aside, when wicked Myrrah sped  
About her buysnesse. Out of heaven the golden Phoebee fled.  
With clouds more black than any pitch the stars did hide their head.  
The night béecommeth utter void of all her wonted light.  
And first before all other hide their faces out of sight  
Good Icar and Erigonee his daughter, who for love  
Most virtuous to her fatherward, was take up above  
And made a star in heaven. Three times had Myrrah warning given  
By stumbling, to retire. Three times the deathful Owl that éeuen  
With doleful noise prognosticates unhappy luck. Yet came  
She forward still: the darkness of the night abated shame.  
Her left hand held her nurse, her right the dark blind way did grope.  
Anon she too the chamber came: anon the door was ope:  
Anon she entered in. with that her faltering hams did quake:  
Her colour died: her blood and heart did clearly her forsake.  
The nearer she approached too her wickedness, the more  
She trembled: Of her enterprise it irked her full sore:  
And fain she would she might unknown have turned back. Nurse led  
Her pausing forward by the hand: and putting her too bed,  
Here take this Damsel Cinyras, she is thine own she said.  
And so she laid them breast too breast. The wicked father takes  
His bowels into filthy bed, and there with words asslakes  
The maidens fear, and chéeres her up. And lest this crime of theirs  
Might want the rightful terms, by chance as in respect of years  
He daughter did her call, and she him father. Being sped  
With cursed seed in wicked womb, she left her father's bed,  
Of which soon after she became great bagged with her shame.  
Next night the lewdness doubled. And no end was of the same,  
Until at length that Cinyras desirous for to know  
His lover that so many night's upon him did bestow,  
Did fetch a light: by which he saw his own most heinous crime,  
And eke his daughter. nevertheless, his sorrow at that time  
Repressed his speech. Then hanging by he drew a Rapier bright.  
Away ran Myrrah, and by means of darkness of the night  
She was delivered from the death: and straying in the broad  
Datebearing fields of araby, she through Panchaya yode,  
And wandering full nine moons at length she rested being tired  
In Saba land. And when the time was near at hand expired,  
And that uneath the burden of her womb sh●e well could bear,  
Not knowing what she might desire, distressed between the fear  
Of death, and tediousness of life, this prayer she did make.  
O Gods, if of repentant folk you any mercy take,  
Sharp vengeance I confess I have deserved, and content  
I am to take it patiently. How be it too th'intent  
That neither with my life the quick, nor with my death the dead  
annoyed be, from both of them exempt me this same stead.  
And altering me, deny too me both life and death. we see  
Too such as do confess their faults sum mercy showed ●oo be.  
The Gods did grant her this request, the last that 〈◊〉 make.  
The ground did overgrow her feet, and ankles as she spoke.  
And from her bursten toes went roots, which writhing here and there  
Did fasten so the trunk within the ground she could not steer.  
Her bones did into timber turn, whereof the marry was  
The pith, and into waterish sap the blood of her did pass.  
Her arms were turned too greater boughs, her fingers into twig,  
Her skin was hardened into bark. And now her belly big  
The eatching tree had overgrown, and overta'en her breast,  
And hasted for to win her neck, and hide it with the rest.  
She made no taryence nor delay, but met the coming tree,  
And shroonk her face within the bark thereof. Although that she  
Toogither with her former shape her senses all did lose,  
Yet weepeth she, and from her tree warm drops do softly woose.  
The which her tears are had in price and honour. And the Myrrh  
That issueth from her gummy bark doth bear the name of her,  
And shall do while the world doth last. The misbegotten child  
Grew still within the tree, and from his mother's womb defyld  
Sought means too be delivered. Her burdened womb did swell  
Amid the tree, and stretched her out. But words wherewith to tell  
And utter forth her grief did want, She had no use of speech  
With which Lucina in her throws she might of help beseech.  
Yet like a woman labouring was the tree, and bowwing down  
Gave often sighs, & shed forth tears as though she there should drown.  
Lucina to this woeful tree came gently down, and laid  
Her hand thereon, and speaking words of ease the midwife played.  
The tree did cranye, and the bark dividing made away,  
And yielded out the child alive, which cried and wailed straight way.  
The waternymphes upon the soft sweet herbs the child did lay,  
And bathed him with his mother's tears. His face was such as spite  
Must needs have praised. For such he was in all conditions right,  
As are the naked Cupids that in tables pictured be.  
But too th'intent he may with them in every point agree,  
Let either him be furnished with wings and quiver light,  
Or from the Cupids take their wings and bows and arrows quite.  
Away slips fleeting time unspyde and mocks us too our face,  
And nothing may compare with years in swiftness of their pace▪  
That wretche●● 〈◊〉 whom wickedly his grandfather begat,  
And whom his cursed sister bare, who hidden was o'late  
Within the tree, and lately borne, became immediately  
The beawtyfullyst babe on whom man ever set his eye.  
Anon a stripling he became, and by and by a man,  
And every day more beautiful than other he became.  
That in the end Dame Venus fell in love with him: whereby  
He did revenge the outrage of his mother's villainy.  
For as the armed Cupid kissed Dame Venus, unbeware  
An arrow sticking out did raze her breast upon the bare.  
The Goddess being wounded, thrust away her son. The wound  
Apyeered not too be so deep as afterward was found.  
It did deceive her at the first. The beauty of the lad  
Inflaamd her. Too Cythera I'll no mind at all she had.  
Nor unto Paphos where the sea beats round about the shore,  
Nor 〈◊〉 Gnyde, nor Amathus that hath of metals store.  
Yea ●uen from heaven she did abstain. She loved Adonis more  
Than heaven▪ To him she clinged ay, and bore him company.  
And in the shadow wont she was too rest continually,  
And for too set her beauty out most seemly too the eye  
By trimly decking of herself. Through ●ushy grounds and groves,  
And over H●lls and Dales, and Lawn●s and stony rocks she roves,  
Bare knéed with garment tucked up according too the wont  
Of Phebe, and she chéerd the hounds with hallowing like a hunt,  
pursuing game of hurtless sort, as Hares made low before.  
Or stags with lofty heads, or bucks. But with the sturdy Boar  
And ravening wolf, and Bearewhelpes armed with ugly paws, and eke  
The cruel Lions which delight in blood, and slaughter seek,  
She meddled not. And of these same she warned also thee  
Adonis for too shoonne them, if thou would have warned be.  
be bold on cowards (Venus said) for whoso doth advance  
Himself against the bold, may hap too meet with sum mischance.  
Wherefore I pray thee my sweet boy forbear too bold too be.  
For fear thy rashness hurt thyself and work the woe of me  
Encounter not the kind of beasts whom nature armed hath,  
For doubt thou buy thy praise too dear procuring thee sum scathe.  
Thy tender youth, thy beauty bright, thy countenance fair and brave  
Although they had the force too win the heart of Venus, have  
No power against the Lions, nor against the brist led swine.  
The eyes and hearts of savage beasts do nought too these m●lyne.  
The cruel Boars bear thunder in their hooked tusks, and  
exceeding force and féercenesse is in Lions too withstand.  
And sure I hate them at my heart. Too him demanding why?  
A monstrous chance (ꝙ Venus) I will tell thee by and by,  
That happened for a fault. But now unwonted toil hath made  
Me wéerye: and behold, in time this Poplar with his shade  
Allureth, and the ground for couch doth serve too rest upon.  
I pray thee let us rest here. They sat them down anon.  
And lying upward with her head upon his lap along,  
She thus began: and in her tale she bussed him among.  
Perchance thou hast or this time hard of one that overcame  
The swiftest men in footemanshippe. no fable was that fame.  
She overcame them out of doubt. And hard it is to tell  
Thee whither she did in footemanshippe or beauty more excel.  
Upon a season as she asked of Phoebus, what he was  
That should her husband be, he said. For husband do not pass  
O Atalanta, thou at all of husband hast no need  
Shun husbanding. But yet thou canst not shun it I thee reed.  
alive thou shalt not be thyself. She being sore afraid  
Of this Apollo's Oracle, did keep herself a maid,  
And lived in the shady woods. When wooers to her came,  
And were of her importunate, she drove away the same  
With boisterous words, and with sore condition of the game.  
I am not too be had (ꝙ she) unless ye able b●e  
In ronning for too vanquish me. ye must contend with me  
In footemanshippe. And who so wins the wager, I agree  
Too be his wife. But if that he be found too slow, than he  
Shall lose his head. This of your game the very law shall be.  
She was in deed unmerciful. But such is beauties power,  
That though the said condition were extreme and over sour,  
Yet many suitors were so rash too undertake the same.  
Hippomenes as a looker on of this uncourteous game,  
Sat by, and said. Is any man so mad to seek a wife  
With such apparent peril and the hazard of his life?  
And utterly he did condemn the youngmen's love. But when  
He saw her face and body bare, (for why the Lady then  
Did strip her too her naked skin) the which was like too mine,  
Or rather (if that thou wert made a woman) like too thine:  
He was amazed. And holding up his hands too heaven, he saith:  
Forgive me you with whom I found such fault even now: In faith  
I did not know the wager that ye ran for. As he praiseth  
The beauty of her, in himself the fire of love he raiseth.  
And through an envy fearing lest she should a way be won,  
He wished that near a one of them so swift as she might roonne.  
And wherefore (ꝙ he) put not I myself in press too try  
The fortune of this wager? God himself continually  
Doth help the bold and hardy sort. now while Hippomenes  
Debates these things within himself and other like to these,  
The Damsel runs as if her feet were wings. And though that she  
Did fly as swift as arrow from a Turkey bow: yet he  
More wondered at her beauty than at swiftness of her pace  
Her ronning greatly did augment her beauty and her grace.  
The wind ay whisking from her feet the labels of her socks  
Upon her back as white as snow did toss her golden locks,  
And eke thembroidered garters that were tied beneath her ham.  
A redness mixed with white upon her tender body came,  
As when a scarlet curtain streynd against a plastered wall  
Doth cast like shadow, making it seem ruddy therewithal.  
Now while the stranger noted this, the race was fully run,  
And Atalant (as she that had the wager clearly won)  
Was crowned with a garland brave. The vanquished sighing sore,  
Did lose their lives according too agreement made before.  
howbeit nought at all dismayed with these men's luckless case  
He stepped forth, and looking full upon the maidens face,  
Said: wherefore dost thou seek renown in vanquisshing of such  
As were but dastards? cope with me. If fortune be so much  
My friend too give me victory, thou needest not hold scorn  
Too yield too such a noble man as I am. I am borne  
The son of noble Megaree Onchestyes son, and he  
Was son to Neptune. Thus am I great graundchyld by degree  
In right descent, of him that rules the waters. Neither do  
I out of kind degenerate from virtue meet thereto.  
Or if my fortune be so hard as vanquished for too be,  
Thou shalt obtain a famous name by overcoming me.  
In saying thus, Atlanta cast a gentle look on him  
And doubting whither she rather had too lose the day or win,  
Said thus. What God an enemy to the beautiful, is bend  
Too bring this person to his end, and therefore hath him sent  
Too seek a wife with hazard of his life? If I should be  
Myself the judge in this behalf, there is not sure in me  
That doth deserve so dearly too be earned. neither doth  
His beauty move my heart at all. yet is it such in sooth  
As well might move me. But because as yet a child he is,  
His person moves me not so much as doth his age Iwis.  
Béesydes that manhood is in him, and mind unfrayd of death:  
Béesydes that of the watery race from Neptune as he seth  
He is the fourth: béesydes that he doth love me, and doth make  
So great account too win me too his wife, that for my sake  
He is contented for too die, if fortune be so sore  
against him too deny him me. Thou stranger hence therefore.  
Away I say now while thou mayst, and shun my bloody bed.  
My marriage cruel is, and craves the losing of thy head.  
There is no wench but that would such a husband gladly catch.  
And she that wise were might desire too meet with such a match.  
But why now after heading of so many, do I care  
For thee? Look thou too that. For sith so many men as are  
Already put too slaughter can not warn thee too béeware,  
But that thou wilt be wéerye of thy life, die: do not spare.  
And shall he perish then because he sought to live with me?  
And for his love unworthily with death rewarded be?  
All men of such a victory will speak too foul a shame.  
But all the world can testify that I am not too blame.  
Would God thou wouldst desist. Or else because thou are so mad,  
I would too God a little more thy feet of swiftness had.  
Ah what a maidens countenance is in this childish face?  
Ah foolish boy Hippomenes, how wretched is thy case?  
I would thou never hadst me seen. Thou worthy art of life.  
And if so be I happy were, and that too be a wife  
The cruel destiny's had not me forbidden, sure thou art  
The only wight with whom I would be matched with all my heart.  
This spoken: she yet raw, and but new stricken with the dart  
Of Cupid, being ignorant, did love and knew it nat  
Anon her father and the folk assembled, willed that  
They should begin their wonted race. Then Neptune's issue prayed  
With careful heart and voice to me, and thus devoutly said.  
O Venus, favour mine attempt, and send me down thine aid  
Too compass my desired love which thou hast on me laid.  
His prayer moved me (I confess,) and long I not delayed  
Before I helped him. Now there is a certain field the which  
The Cyprian folk call Damasene, most fertile and most rich  
Of all the Cyprian fields: the same was consecrate too me  
In ancient time, and of my Church the glebland wont too be.  
Amid this field, with golden leaves there grows a goodly tree  
The crackling boughs whereof are all of yellow gold. I came  
And gathered golden Apples three: and bearing thence the same  
Within my hand, immediately too Hippomen I got  
Invisible too all wights else save him and taught him what  
Too do with them. The Trumpets blue: and girding forward, both  
Set forth, and on the hovering dust with nimble feet each goth.  
A man would think they able were upon the Sea too go  
And never wet their feet, and on the ails of corn also  
That still is growing in the field, and never down them tread.  
The man took courage at the shout and words of them that said,  
Now now is time Hippomenes too ply it, high a pace:  
Enforce thyself with all thy strength: lag not in any case:  
Thou shalt obtain. It is a thing right doubtful whither he  
At these well willing words of theirs rejoiced more, or she.  
O Lord how often when she might outstrip him did she stay,  
And gazed long upon his face, right loath too go her way?  
A wéerye breath proceeded from their parched lips, and far  
They had too run. Then Neptune's imp her swiftness too disbarre,  
Trolld down at oneside of the way an Apple of the three.  
Amazed thereat, and covetous of the goodly Apple, she  
Did step aside and snatched up the rolling fruit of gold.  
With that Hippomenes quoted her. The folk that did behold,  
Made noise with clapping of their hands. She recompensed her sloth  
And loss of▪ time with footemanshippe: and straight again outgothe  
Hippomenes, leaving him behind, and being stayed again  
With taking up the second, she him overtook. And when  
The race was almost at an end: He said: O Goddess, thou  
That art the author of this gift, assist me friendly now,  
And therewithal, of purpose that she might the longer be  
In coming, he with all his might did bowl the last of three  
A skew at oneside of the field. The Lady seemed too make  
A doubt in taking of it up. I forced her too take  
It up, and too the Apple I did put a heavy weight,  
And made it of such massiness she could not lift it straight.  
And lest that I in telling of my tale may longer be,  
Than they in ronning of their race, outstripped quite was she.  
And he that won her, marrying her enjoyed her for his fee.  
Thinkest thou I was not worthy thanks, Adonis thinks thou  
I earned not that he too me should frankincense allow?  
But he forgetful neither thanks nor frankincense did give.  
By means whereof too sooden wrath he justly did me drive.  
For being grieved with the spite, because I would not be  
Despysd of such as were too come, I thought it best for me  
Too take such vengeance of them both as others might take heed  
By them. And so against them both in anger I proceed.  
A temple of the mother of the Gods that vowwed was  
And builded by Echion in a darksome grove, they pass  
There through my might Hippomenes was touched and stirred so,  
That needs he would too venery though out of season go.  
Not far from this same temple was with little light aden  
With pommye vawlted naturally, long consecrate ere then  
For old religion, not unlike a cave: where priests of yore  
Bestowed had of Images of wooden God's good store.  
Hippomenes entering herintoo defyld the holy place.  
With his unlawful lust: from which the Idols turned their face.  
And cybel with the towered tops disdaining, doubted whither  
She in the lake of Styx might drown the wicked folk toogither.  
The penance seemed over light. and therefore she did cause  
Thin yellow manes to grow upon their necks: and hooked paws  
In stead of fingers too succeed. Their shoulders were the same  
They were before: with wondrous force deep breasted they became.  
Their look became fierce, cruel, grim, and sour: a tufted tail  
Stretched out in length far after them upon the ground doth trail.  
In stead of speech they roar: in stead of bed they haunt the wood:  
And dreadful unto others they for all their cruel mood  
With tamed teeth chank Cybells' bits in shape of Lions. Shun  
These beasts dear heart: and not from these alonely see thou run,  
But also from each other beast that turns not back too flight  
But offereth with his boystows breast too try the chance of fight:  
Anemis lest thy valiantness be hurtful to us both.  
This warning given, with yoked swans away through air she goth.  
But manhood by admonishment restrained could not be.  
By chance his hounds in following of the track, a Boar did see,  
And roused him. And as the swine was coming from the wood,  
Adonis hit him with a dart a skew, and drew the blood.  
The Boar straight with his hooked groin the huntingstaffe out drew  
Bestayned with his blood, and on Adonis did pursue  
Who trembling and retiring back, too place of refuge drew.  
And hiding in his cods his tusks as far as he could thrust  
He laid him all along for dead upon the yellow dust.  
Dame Venus in her chariot drawn with swans was scarce arrived  
At Cyprus, when she knew a far the sigh of him deprived  
Of life. She turned her Cygnets back. and when she from the sky  
Béehilld him dead, and in his blood beweltred for to lie:  
She leapt down, and tore at once her garments from her brist,  
And rend her hear, and beat upon her stomach with her fist,  
And blaming sore the destiny's, said. Yet shall they not obtain  
Their will in all things. Of my grief remembrance shall remain.  
(Adonis) while the world doth last. From year too year shall grow  
A thing that of my heaviness and of thy death shall show  
The lively likeness. In a flower thy blood I will bestow.  
Hadst thou the power Persephonee rank scented Mints too make  
Of women's limbs? and may not I like power upon me take  
Without disdain and spite, too turn Adonis too a flower?  
This sed, she sprinkled Nectar on the blood, which through the power  
Thereof did swell like bubbles sheer that rise in weather clear  
On water. And before that full an hour expired wéere,  
Of all one colour with the blood a flower she there did find  
Even like the flower of that same tree whose fruit in tender rind  
Have pleasant grains enclosed. Howbéet the use of them is short.  
For why the leaves do hang so loose through lightness in such sort,  
As that the winds that all things pierce, with every little blast  
Do shake them of and shed them so as that they cannot last.  
Finis decimi Libri.   

¶ THE. XI. BOOK OF Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
NOw while the Thracian Poet with this song delights the minds  
Of savage beasts, & draws both stones and trees against their kinds,  
Behold the wives of Ciconie with reddéerskinnes about  
Their furious brists as in the field they gadded on a rout,  
Espied him from a hillocks top still singing too his harp.  
Of whom one shook her head at him, and thus began to carp.  
Behold (says she) behold yoonsame is he that doth disdain  
Us women. And with that same word she sent her lawnce amain  
At Orphyes singing mouth. The Lawnce armed round about with leaves,  
Did hit him, and without a wound a mark behind it leaves.  
Another threw a stone at him, which vanquished with his sweet  
And most melodius harmony, fell humbly at his feet  
As sorry for the furious act it purposed. But rash  
And heady riot out of frame all reason now did dash,  
And frantic outrage reigned. Yet had the sweetness of his song  
Appeased all weapons, saving that the noise now growing strong  
With blowing shawms, and beating drums, & bedlam howling out,  
And clapping hands on every side by Bacchus drunken rout,  
Did drown the sound of Orphyes' harp Then first of all stones were  
Made ruddy with the prophet's blood, and could not give him ear.  
And first the flock of Bacchus' froes by violence broke the ring  
Of Serpents, birds, and savage beasts that for to here him sing  
Sat gazing round about him there. And then with bloody hands  
They ran upon the prophet who among them singing stands.  
They flocked about him like as when a sort of birds have found,  
An Owl a day times in a tod: and hem him in full round,  
As when a Stag by hungry hounds is in a morning found,  
The which forestall him round about and pull him to the ground.  
Even so the prophet they assail, and throw their Thyrses green  
At him, which for another use than that invented been.  
Sum cast me clods, sum boughs of trees, & sum threw stones. And lest  
That weapon wherewithal too wreak their woodness which increased  
Should want, it chanced that Oxen by were tilling of the ground  
And labouring men with brawned arms not far fro thence were found  
A digging of the hardened earth, and earning of their food,  
With sweeting brows. They seeing this same rout, no longer stood,  
But ran away and left their tools behind them. Every where  
Through all the field their mattocks, rakes, and shovels scattered were.  
Which when the cruel fiends had caught, and had a sunder rend  
The horned Oxen, back again to Orphy ward they went,  
And (wicked wights) they murdered him, who never till that hour  
Did utter words in vain, nor sing without effectual power.  
And through that mouth of his (oh lord) which even the stones had heard,  
And unto which the witless beasts had often given regard,  
His ghost then breathing into air, departed. Even the fowls  
Were sad for Orphye, and the beast with sorry sighing howls:  
The rugged stones did mourn for him, the woods which many a time  
Had followed him too here him sing, bewailed this same crime.  
Yea even the trees lamenting him did cast their levy hear  
The rivers also with their tears (men say) increased were.  
Yea and the Nymphs of brooks & woods upon their streams did sail  
With scattered hear about their ears, in boats with sable sail.  
His members lay in sundry steds. His head and harp both came  
To Hebrus. and (a wondrous thing) as down the stream they swum,  
His Harp did yield a morning sound: his lifeless ●oong did make  
A certain lamentable noise as though it still yet spoke,  
And both the banks in morning wise made answer too the same.  
At length a down their country stream too open sea they came,  
And lighted on Methymnye shore in Lesbos land. There  
No sooner on the foreign coast now cast a land they were,  
But that a cruel natured Snake did straight upon them fly,  
And licking on his ruffled hear the which was dropping dry,  
Did gape too tire upon those lips that had been wont to sing  
Most heavenly hymns. But Phoebus straight preventing the same thing,  
Dispoynts the Serpent of his bit, and turns him into stone  
With gaping chaps▪ Already was the Ghost of Orphye gone  
To Pluto's realm, and there he all the places ●ft béehilld  
The which he heretofore had seen. And as he sought the field  
Of fair Elysion (where the ●oules of godly folk do won,)  
He ●ound his wife Eury dicee, to whom he straight did run  
And hilld her in embracing arms. There now he one while walks  
Toogither with her cheek by cheek: another while he stalks  
Before her. and another while he followeth her. And now  
Without all kind of forfeiture he saufly might a●ow  
His looking backward at his wife. But Bacchus grieved at  
The murder of the Chaplain of his Orgies, suffered not  
The mischief unrevengd too be. For by and by he bond,  
The Thracian women by the feet with writhe root in ground,  
As many as consenting too this wicked act were found.  
And look how much that each of them the prophet did pursue,  
So much he sharpening of their toes, within the ground them drew.  
And as the bird that finds her leg besnarled in the net  
The which the fowlers suttlelye hath clocely for her set,  
And feels she cannot get away, stands flickering with her wings,  
And with her fearful leaping up draws clocer still the strings:  
So each of these when in the ground they fastened were, assayed  
Aflayghted for to fly away. But every one was stayed  
With winding root which hilld her down. her frisking could not boot.  
And while she looked what was become of To, of nail, and foot,  
She saw her legs grow round in one, and turning into wood.  
And as her thighs with violent hand she sadly striking stood,  
She felt them tree: her breast was tree: her shoulders eke were tree.  
Her arms long boughs ye might have thought, and not deceived be.  
But Bacchus was not so content: he quyght forsook their land:  
And with a better company removed out of hand  
Unto the Uyneyarde of his own mount Tmolus, and the river  
Pactolus though as yet no streams of gold it did deliver,  
Ne spyghted was for precious sands. His old accustomed rout  
Of woodwards and of frantic froes enuyrond him about.  
But old Silenus was away. The Phrygian ploughmen found  
Him réeling both for drunkenness and age, and brought him bound  
With garlands, unto Midas' king of Phrygia, unto whom  
The Thracian Orphye and the priest Eumolphus coming from  
The town of Athens erst had taught the Orgies. When he knew  
His fellow and companion of the self same badge and crew.  
Upon the coming of this guest, he kept a feast the space  
Of twice fine days and twice five night's toogither in that place  
And now theleventh time Lucifer had mustered in the sky  
The heavenly host, when Midas comes too Lydia iocundly  
And yields the old Silenus too his fosterchyld. He glad  
That he his foster-father had eftsoons recovered, bad  
King Midas ask him what he would. Right glad of that was he,  
But not a whit at latter end the better should he be.  
He minding too misuse his gifts, said: grant that all and some  
The which my body toucheth bare may yellow gold become.  
God Bacchus granting his request, his hurtful gift performed,  
And that he had not better wished he in his stomach stormed.  
Rejoicing in his harm away full merry goes the king:  
And for too try his promise true he toucheth every thing.  
Scarce giving credit too himself, he pulled young grieve twigs  
From of an Holmetrée: by and by all golden were the sprigs  
He took a flintstone from the ground, the stone likewise became  
Pure gold. He touched next a cold of earth, and straight the same  
By force of touching did become a wedge of yellow gold.  
He gathered ears of rypened corn: immediately behold  
The corn was gold. An Apple than he pulled from a tree:  
ye would have thought the Hesperids had given it him. If he  
On Pillars high his fingers laid, they glistered like the son.  
The water where he washed his hands did from his hands so run,  
As Danae might have been therewith beguiled. He scarce could hold  
His passing joys within his heart, for making all things gold.  
While he thus joyed, his officers did spread the board anon,  
And set down sundry sorts of meat and mancheate thereupon.  
Then whither his hand did touch the bread, the bread was massy gold:  
Or whither he chawde with hungry teeth his meat, ye might behold  
The piece of meat between his ●awes a plat of gold too be.  
In drinking wine and water mixed, ye might discern and see  
The liquid gold run down his throat. Amazed at the strange  
Mischance, and being both a wretch and rich, he wished too change  
His riches for his former state, and now he did abhor  
The thing which even but late before he chiefly longed for.  
No meat his hunger slakes: his throat is shrunken up with thirst:  
And justly doth his hateful gold torment him as accursed.  
Then lifting up his sorry arms and hands too heaven, he cried:  
O father Bacchus pardon me. My sin I will not hide.  
Have mercy I beseech thee and vouchsauf too rid me quyght  
From this same harm that seems so good and glorious unto sight.  
The gentle Bacchus straight upon confession of his crime  
Restored Midas too the state he had in former tyme.  
And having made performance of his promise, he béereft him  
The gift that he had granted him. And lest he should have left him  
Béedawbed with the dregs of that same gold which wickedly  
He wished had, he willed him too get him by and by  
Too that great river which doth run by Sardis town, and there  
Along the channel up the stream his open arms to bear  
Until he cometh too the spring: and then his head too put  
Full underneath the foaming spout where greatest was the gut,  
And so in washing of his limbs too wash away his crime.  
The king (as was commanded him) against the stream did climb.  
And straight the power of making gold departing quyght from him,  
Infects the river, making it with golden stream too swim.  
The force whereof the banks about so soaked in their veins,  
That even as yet the yellow gold upon the clods remains.  
Then Midas hating riches haunts the pasturegrounds and groves,  
And up & down with Pan among the Lands & mountains roves.  
But still a head more fat than wise, and doltish wit he hath,  
The which as erst, yet once again must work their master scathe.  
The mountain Tmole from lofty top too seaward looketh down,  
And spreading far his boorely sides, extendeth too the town  
Of Sardis with the tonesyde and too Hypep with the toother.  
There Pan among the fairy elves that dawneed round toogither  
In setting of his cunning out for singing and for play  
Upon his pipe of reeds and war, presuming for too say▪  
Apollo's music was not like too his, did take in hand  
A far unequal match, whereof the Tmole for judge should stand.  
The ancient judge sits down upon his hill, and ridds his ears  
From trees, and only on his head an Oaken garland wears,  
Whereof the Acorns dangled down about his hollow brow.  
And looking on the God of neat he said: ye need not now  
Too tarry longer for your judge. Then Pan blew loud and strong  
His country pipe of reeds, and with his rude and homely song  
Delighted Midas' ears, for he by chance was in the throng.  
When Pan had done, the sacred Tmole too Phoebus turned his look,  
And with the turning of his head his bushy hear he shook.  
Then Phoebus with a crown of ●ay upon his golden hear  
Did sweep the ground with scarlet rob. In left hand he did bear  
His vial made of precious stones and ivory intermirt.  
And in his right hand for too strike, his bow was réedy fixed.  
He was the very pattern of a good Musician right  
Anon he 'gan with cunning hand the tuned strings too smite.  
The sweetness of the which did so the judge of them delight,  
That Pan was willed for to put his Réedepype in his case,  
And not too fiddle nor too sing where vials were in place.  
The judgement of the holy hill was liked well of all,  
Save Midas, who found fault therewith and wrongful did it call.  
Apollo could not suffer well his foolish ears too keep  
Their humane shape, but drew them wide, & made them long & deep.  
And filled them full of whitish hears, and made them down too sag.  
And through too much unstableness continually too wag.  
His body keeping in the rest his manly figure still,  
Was ponnisht in the part that did offend for want of skill.  
And so a slow paaste Asses ears his head did after bear.  
This shame endeavoureth he too hide. And therefore he did wear  
A purple nyghtcappe ever since. But yet his Barber who  
Was wont to not him spy●d it: and being eager too  
Disclose it, when he neither durst too utter it, nor could  
It keep in secret still, he went and digged up the mould,  
And whispering softly in the pit, declaard what ears he spied  
His master have, and turning down the clowre again, did hide  
His blabbed words within the ground, and closing up the pit  
Departed thence and never made more words at all of it.  
Soon after, there began a tuft of quivering reeds too grow  
Which being ripe bewrayed their seed and him that did them sow.  
For when the gentle sowtherne wind did lightly on them blow,  
They uttered forth the words that had been buried in the ground  
And so reproved the Asses ears of Midas with their sound.  
Apollo after this revenge from Tmolus took his flight:  
And sweeping through the air, did on the self-same side alight  
Of Hellespontus, in the Realm of king Laomedon.  
There stood upon the right side of Sigaeum, and upon  
The left of Rhetye cliff that time, an Altar built of old  
Too jove that heareth all men's words. Here Phoebus did behold  
The foresaid king Laomedon beginning for too lay  
Foundation of the walls of Troy: which work from day too day  
Went hard and slowly forward, and requyrd no little charge,  
Then he toogither with the God that rules the surges large,  
Did put themselves in shape of men, and bargaynd with the king  
Of Phrygia for a sum of gold his work too end too bring.  
Now when the work was done, the king their wages them denayed,  
And falsely faaste them down with oaths it was not as they said.  
Thou shalt not mock us unrevendgd (ꝙ Neptune.) And anon  
He caused all the surges of the sea too rush upon  
The shore of covetous Troy, and made the country like the deep.  
The goods of all the husbandmen away he quite did sweep,  
And overwhelmed their fields with waves. And thinking this too small  
A penance for the falsehood, he demanded therewithal  
His daughter for a monster of the Sea. whom being bound  
unto a rock, stout Hercules delivering ●aufe and sound,  
Requyrd his stéeds which were the hire for which he did compound.  
And when that of so great desert the king denied the hire,  
The twice forsworn false town of Troy he sacked in his ire.  
And Telamonius in honour of his service did enjoy  
The Lady Hesion daughter of the covetous king of Troy.  
For Peleus had already got a Goddess too his wife,  
And lived unto both their joys a right renowned life.  
And sure he was not prouder of his grandsire, than of thee  
That wert become his fathrinlaw. For many more than he  
Have had the hap of mighty jove the nephews for too be.  
But never was it heretofore the chance of any one  
Too have a Goddess too his wife, save only his alone.  
For unto watery Thetis thus old Protew did foretell.  
Go marry: thou shalt bear a son whose doings shall excel  
His fathers far in feats of arms, and greater he shall be  
In honour, high renown, and fame, than ever erst was he.  
This caused jove the watery bed of Thetis too forbear  
Although his heart were more than warm with love of her, for fear  
The world sum other greater thing than jove himself should breed,  
And willed the son of Aeäcus this Peleus to succeed.  
In that which he himself would feign have done, and for too take  
The Lady of the sea in arms a mother her too make.  
There is a bay of Thessaly that bendeth like a boawe.  
The sides shoot forth, where if the sea of any depth did flow  
It were a haven. Scarcely doth the water hide the sand.  
It hath a shore so firm, that if a man thereon do stand,  
No print of foot remains behind: it hindereth not one's pace  
Ne covered is with hovering reek. Adjoining too this place,  
There is a grove of Myrtletrées with fruit of dowl colour,  
And in the mids thereof a Cave. I can not tell you whither  
That nature or the art of man were maker of the same.  
It seemed rather made by art. Oft Thetis hither came  
Stark naked, riding bravely on a bridled Dolphins back.  
There Peleus as she lay a sleep upon her often brack.  
And forbecause that at her hands entreatance nothing wins,  
He folding her about the neck with both his arms, begins  
Too offer force. And surely if she had not fallen too wiles  
And shifted oftentimes her shape, he had obtained erewhiles.  
But she became sometimes a bird: He hilld her like a bird.  
Anon she was a massy log: but Peleus never stirred  
Awhit for that. Then thirdly she of speckled Tiger took  
The ugly shape: for fear of whose most fierce and cruel look,  
His arms he from her body twicht. And at his going thence,  
In honour of the watery Gods he burned frankincense,  
And powered wine upon the sea, with fat of neat and sheep:  
Until the prophet that doth dwell within Carpathian deep,  
Said thus. Thou son of Aeäcus, thy wish thou sure shalt have  
Alonely when she lies a sleep within her pleasant Cave,  
Cast grins too trap her unbewares: hold fast with snarling knot:  
And though she feign a hundredth shapes, deceive thee let her not.  
But stick vn●oot what ere it be, until the time that she  
Returneth too the native shape she erst was wont too be.  
When Protew thus had said, within the sea he ducked his head,  
And suffered on his latter words the water for too spread.  
The lyghtsum Titan downward drew, and with declining chair  
Approached too the western sea, when Neryes daughter fair  
Returning from the sea, resorts too her accustomed couch.  
And Peleus scarcely had begun her naked limbs too towch,  
But that she changed from shape to shape, until at length she found  
Herself surprysd. Then stretching out her arms with sighs profound,  
She said: Thou overcomest me, and not without the aid  
Of God: and then she Thetis like, appéerd in shape of maid.  
The noble prince embracing her obteynd her at his will,  
Too both their joys, and with the great Achilles did her fill.  
A happy wight was Peleus in his wife: A happy wight  
Was Peleus also in his son. And if ye him acquight  
Of murdering Phocus, happy him in all things count ye might.  
But guilty of his brother's blood, and banished for the same  
From both his father's house and Realm, too Trachin sad he came.  
The son of lyghtsum Lucifer king Ceyx (who in face  
Expressed the lively beauty of his father's heavenly grace,)  
Without all violent rigour and sharp executions reigned  
In Trachin. He right sad that time unlike himself, remained  
Yet morning for his brothers chance transformed late before.  
When Peleus thither came, with care and travail tired sore,  
He left his cattle and his sheep (whereof he brought great store)  
Behind him in a shady vale not far from Trachin town,  
And with a little company himself went thither down.  
assoon as leave too come too Court was granted him, he bore  
A branch of Olyf in his hand, and humbly did declare  
His name and lineage. Only of his crime no word he spoke,  
But of his slight another cause pretensedly did make:  
desiring leave within his town or country too abide.  
The king of Trachin gently thus to him again replied.  
Our bownty too the meanest sort (O Peleus) doth extend:  
We are not wont the desolate our country too forfend.  
And though I be of nature most inclined good too do:  
Thine own renown, thy grandsire jove are forcements thereunto.  
mis-spend no longer time in suit. I gladly do agree  
Too grant thee what thou wilt desire. These things that thou dost see  
I would thou should account them as thine own, such as they be  
I would they better were. With that he wéeped. Peleus and  
His friends desired of his grief the cause too understand.  
He answered thus. Perchance ye think this bird that lives by prey  
And puts all other birds in fear had wings and feathers ay.  
He was a man. And as he was right fierce in feats of arms,  
And stout and ready both too wreak and also offer harms:  
So was he of a constant mind. Daedalion men him height.  
Our father was that noble star that brings the morning bright,  
And in the welkin last of all gives place too Phoebus' light.  
My study was too maintain peace, in peace was my delight,  
And for too keep me true to her too whom my faith is plight.  
My brother had felicity in war and bloody fight.  
His prowess and his force which now doth chase in cruel flight  
The doves of Thisbye since his shape was altered thus a new,  
Right puissant Princes and their Realms did heretofore subdue.  
He had a child called Chyone, whom nature did endue  
With beauty so, that when too age of fowretéene years she grew,  
A thousand Princes liking her did for her favour sew.  
By fortune as bright Phoebus and the son of Lady May  
Came tone from Delphos, toother from mount Cyllen, by the way  
They saw her both at once, and both at once where ta'en in love.  
Apollo till the time of night differed his suit too move.  
But Hermes could not bear delay. He stroked on the face  
The maiden with his charmed rod which hath the power too chase  
And bring in sleep: the touch whereof did cast her in so dead  
A sleep, that Hermes by and by his purpose of her sped.  
assoon as night with twinkling stars the welkin had béesprent,  
Apollo in an old wives shape too Chyon clocely went,  
And took the pleasure which the so●ne of Maya had forehent.  
Now when she full her time had gone, she bore by Mercury  
A son that height Awtolychus who proud a wily pie,  
And such a fellow as in theft and filching had no peer.  
He was his fathers own son right: he could men's eyes so bléere,  
As for too make the black things white, & white things black appear.  
And by Apollo (for she bore a pair) was borne his brother  
Philammon, who in music arte excelled far all other,  
As well in singing as in play. But what availed it  
Too bear such twins, and of two Gods in favour too have sit.  
And that she too her father had a stout and valeant knight,  
Or that her grandsire was the son of jove that God of might?  
Doth glory hurt too any folk? It surely hurted her.  
For standing in her own conceit she did herself prefer  
Before Diana, and dispraysd her face. who there with all  
Inflaamd with wrath, said: well, with deeds we better please her shall.  
Immediately she bent her bow, and let an arrow go,  
Which struck her through the tongue, whose spite deserved wounding so.  
Her tongue wext dumb, her speech 'gan fail that erst was over rife,  
And as she strived for too speak, away went blood and life.  
How wretched was I then O God? how struck it too my heart?  
What words of comfort did I speak too ease my brother's smart?  
Too which he gave his ear as much as doth the stonny rock  
Too hideous roaring of the waves that do against it knock.  
There was no measure nor none end in making of his moan,  
Nor in bewailing comfortless his daughter that was gone.  
But when he saw her body burn, four times with all his might  
He rushed forth too thrust himself amid the fire in sight.  
Four times he being thence repulsed, did put himself too flight.  
And ran me whereas was no way, as doth a Bullock when  
A hornet stings him in the neck. Me thought he was as then  
More wyghter far than any man. ye would have thought his feet  
Had had sum wings. So fled he quyght from all, and being fleet  
Through eagerness too die, he got too mount Parnasos knap  
And there Apollo pitying him and ruing his mishap,  
When as Daedalion from the cliff himself had headlong flung,  
Transformed him too a bird, and on the soodaine as he hung  
Did give him wings, and bowwing beak, and hooked talants keen,  
And eke a courage full as fierce as ever it had been.  
And furthermore a greater strength he lent him therewithal,  
Than one would think conveyed might be within a room so small.  
And now in shape of Gossehawke he to none indifferent is,  
But wreaks his teen on all birds. And because himself ere this  
Did feel the force of sorrows sting within his wounded heart,  
He maketh others oftentimes too sorrow and too smart.  
As Caeyx of his brother's chance this wondrous story seth,  
Comes ronning thither all in haste and almost out of breath  
Anaetor the Phocayan who was Pelyes' herdman. He  
Said: Pelye Pelye I do bring sad tidings unto thee.  
Declare it man (ꝙ Peleus) what ever that it be.  
King Ceyx at his fearful words did stand in doubtful stowne.  
Thiz noontide (ꝙ the herdman) Iche did drive your cattle down  
Too zoea, and zum a them did zit upon the yellow zand  
And looked on the large main pool of water near at hand.  
Zum roayled zoftly up and down, and zum a them did zwim  
And bare their jolly horned heads above the water trim.  
A Church stondes near the zoea not decked with gold nor marble stone  
But made of wood, and hid with trees that dréeping hang thereon.  
A vissherman that zat and dried hiz nets uppo the zhore  
Did tellz that Nereus and his Nymphs did haunt the place of yore,  
And how that they been Gods a zoea. There butts a plot vorgrowne  
With zallow trees upon the zame, the which is overblown  
With tides, and is a marsh. Urom thence a wolf an orped wight  
With hideous noise of rustling made the grounds near hand afryght.  
Anon he comes me buskling out bezmeared all his chaps  
With blood daubaken and with vome as uéerce as thunder claps.  
Hiz eyen did glaster red as vyre, and though he raged zore  
Uor vamin and vor madness both, yet raged he much more  
In madness. Uor he cared not his hunger vor too zlake,  
Or i the death of oxen two or three an end too make.  
But wounded all the herd and made a havoc of them all,  
And zum of us too, in devence did happen for too fall,  
In danger of his deadly chaps, and lost our lives. The zhore  
And zoea is stained with blood, and all the ven is on a roar.  
Delay breeds loss. The case denies now doubting for too stand,  
While ought remains let all of us take weapon in our hand.  
Let's arm our zelues, and let vz altogether on him fall.  
The herdman hilld his peace. The loss moved Peleus not at all.  
But calling his offence too mind, he thought that Neryes daughter  
The childless Lady Psamathe determynd with that slaughter.  
Too keep an Obits too her son whom he before had killed.  
Immediately upon this news the king of Trachin willed  
His men too arm them, and too take their weapons in their hand,  
And he addressed himself too be the leader of the band.  
His wife Alcyone by the noise admonished of the same,  
In dressing of her head, before she had it brought in frame,  
Cast down her hear, and ronning forth caught Ceyx fast about  
The neck, desiring him with tears too send his folk without  
Himself, and in the life of him too save the lives of twain.  
O Princess, cease your godly fear (ꝙ Peleus then again.)  
Your offer doth deserve great thanks. I mind not war to make  
against strange monsters. I as now another way must take.  
The seagods must be pacified. There was a Castle high,  
And in the same a lofty tower whose top doth face the sky,  
A joyful mark for mariners too guide their vessels by.  
Too this same Turret up they went, and there with sighs behilld  
The Oxen lying every where stark dead upon the field  
And eke the cruel stroygood with his bloody mouth and hear.  
Then Peleus stretching forth his hands too Seaward, prayed in fear  
Too waterish Psamath that she would her sore displeasure stay,  
And help him. She no whit relents too that that he did pray.  
But Thetis for her husband made such earnest suit, that she  
Obteynd his pardon. For anon the wolf (who would not be  
Revoked from the slaughter for the sweetness of the blood)  
Persisted sharp and eager still, until that as he stood  
Fast byghting on a Bullocks neck, she turned him into stone  
As well in substance as in hue, the name of wolf alone  
Reserved. For although in shape he seemed still yet one,  
The very colour of the stone béewrayd him too be none,  
And that he was not too be feared. How be it froward fate  
permits not Peleus in that land too have a settled state.  
He wandereth like an outlaw too the Magnets. There at last  
Acastus the Thessalien purged him of his murder past.  
In this mean time the Trachine king sore vexed in his thought  
With signs that both before & since his brother's death were wrought,  
For counsel at the sacred Spells (which are but toys too food  
Fond fancies, and not counsellors in peril too do good)  
Did make him réedy too the God of Claros for too go.  
For heathenish Phorbas and the folk of Phlegia had as though  
The way too Delphos stopped, that none could travel too or fro.  
But ere he on his journey went, he made his faithful make  
Alcyone préevye too the thing. Immediately their struck  
A chillness too her very bones, and pale was all her face  
Like box and down her heavy cheeks the tears did gush a pace.  
Three times about too speak, three times she washed her face with tears,  
And stinting oft with sobs, she thus complained in his ears.  
What fault of mine O husband dear hath turned thy heart fro me?  
Where is that care of me that erst was wont too be in thee?  
And canst thou having left thy dear Alcyone merry be?  
Do journeys long delight thee now? doth now mine absence please  
Thee better than my presence doth? Think I that thou at ease  
Shalt go by land? Shall I have cause but only for too mourn?  
And not too be afraid? And shall my care of thy return  
be void of fear? No no. The sea me sore afraid doth make.  
Too think upon the sea doth cause my flesh for fear too quake.  
I saw the broken ribs of ships a late upon the shore.  
And oft on tombs I read their names whose bodies long before  
The sea had swallowed. Let not fond vain hope ●educe thy mind,  
That Aeölus is thy fathrinlaw who holds the boisterous wind  
In prison, and can calm the seas at pleasure. When the wynds  
Are once let loose upon the sea, no order then them bynds.  
Then neither land hath privilege, nor sea exemption finds.  
Yea even the clouds of heaven they vex, and with their meeting stout  
Enforce the fire with hideous noise too burst in flasshes out.  
The more that I do know them, (for right well I know their power,  
And saw them oft a little wench within my father's bower)  
So much the more I think them too be feared. But if thy will  
By no entreatance may be turned at home too tarry still,  
But that thou needs wilt go: then me dear husband with thee take.  
So shall the sea us equally toogither toss and shake.  
So worser than I feel I shall be certain not too fear.  
So shall we whatsoever haps toogither jointly bear.  
So shall we on the broad main sea toogither jointly sail.  
These woo●des and tears wherewith the imp of Aeölus did assail  
Her husband borne of heavenly race, did make his heart relent.  
(For he loved her no less than she loved him.) But fully bend  
He seemed, neither for too leave the journey which he meant  
Too take by sea, nor yet too give Alcyone leave as though  
Companion of his perilous course by water for too go.  
He many words of comfort spoke her fear away too chase.  
But nought he could persuade therein too make her like the case.  
This last assuagement of her grief he added in the end,  
Which was the only thing that made her loving heart too bend.  
All taryante will assuredly seem over long too me.  
And by my father's blazing beams I make my vow too thee  
That at the furthest ere the time (if God thereto agree)  
The moon do fill her circle twice, again I will here be.  
When in sum hope of his return this promise had her set,  
He willed a ship immediately from harbour too be fet,  
And thoroughly rigged for too be, that neither maast, nor sail,  
Nor tackling, no nor other thing should appertaining fail.  
Which when Alcyone did behold, as one whoose heart misgave  
The haps at hand, she quaakt again, and tears out gushing drove.  
And straining Ceyx in her arms with pale and piteous look,  
Poor wretched soul, her last farewell at length she sadly took,  
And swooned flat upon the ground. Anon the watermen  
(As Ceyx sought delays and was in doubt too turn again)  
Set hand too Oars, of which there were two rows on either side,  
And all at once with equal stroke the swelling sea divide.  
She lifting up her watery eyes behilld her husband stand  
Upon the hatches making signs by beckoning with his hand:  
And she made signs to him again. And after that the land  
Was far removed from the ship, and that the sight began  
Too be unable too discern the face of any man,  
As long as ere she could she looked upon the rowing keel.  
And when she could no longer time for distance ken it we'll,  
She looked still upon the sails that flasked with the wind  
Upon the maast. And when she could the sails no longer find,  
She gate her too her empty bed with sad and sorry heart,  
And laid her down. The chamber did renew a fresh her smart,  
And of her bed did bring too mind the dear departed part.  
From harbour now they quyght were gone: & now a plasant gale  
Did blow. The master made his men their Oars aside too hale,  
And hoist up the toppesayle on the highest of the maast,  
And clapped on all his other sails because no wind should waast.  
Scarce full tone half, (or sure not much above) the ship had run  
Upon the sea, and every way the land did far them shun,  
When toward night the wallowing waves began too waxed white,  
And eke the heady eastern wind did blow with greater might,  
Anon the Master cried strike the toppesayle, let the main  
Sheate fly and farthel it too the yard. Thus spoke he, but in vain.  
For why so hideous was the storm upon the soodeine brayed,  
That not a man was able there too here what other said.  
And loud the sea with meeting waves extremely raging rores.  
Yet fell they too it of themselves. Sum haalde aside the Oars:  
Sum fenced in the Galleys sides, sum down the sayleclothes rend:  
Sum pump the water out, and sea too sea again do send.  
Another hales the sayleyards down. And while they did each thing  
Disorderly, the storm increased, and from each quarter ●●ing  
The winds with deadly food, and bounce the raging waves toogither.  
The Pilot being sore dismayed saith plain, he knows not whither  
Too wend himself, nor what too do or bid, nor in what state  
Things stood. So huge the mischief was, and did so overmate  
All art. For why of rattling ropes, of crying men and boys,  
Of flusshing waves and thundering air, confused was the noise.  
The surges mounting up aloft did seem too mate the sky,  
And with their sprinkling for too wet the clouds that hang on high.  
One while the sea, when from the brink it raised the yellow sand,  
Was like in colour too the same. Another while did stand  
A colour on it blacker than the Lake of Styx. Anon  
It l●eth plain and loometh white with seething froth thereon▪  
And with the sea the Trachin ship ay alteration took.  
One while as from a mountains top it seemed down too look  
Too valleys and the depth of hell. Another while beset  
With swelling surges round about which near above it met,  
It looked from the bottom of the whoorlepoole up aloft  
As if it were from hell too heaven. A hideous flusshing oft  
The waves did make in beating full against the Galleys side.  
The Gallye b●ing stricken gave as great a sound that ●yde  
As did sometime the Battellramb of steel, or now the Gone  
In making battrye too a tower. And as féerre Lions run  
Full brist with all their force against the armed men that stand  
In order bend too keep them of with weapons in their hand,  
Even so as often as the waves by force of wind did rave:  
So oft upon the netting of the ship they mainly drove,  
And mounted far above the same. Anon of fell the hoops:  
And having washed the pitch away, the sea made open loops  
Too let the deadly water in. Behold the clouds did melt,  
And showers large came pouring down. The seamen that them felt  
Might think that all the heaven had fallen upon them that same time,  
And that the swelling sea likewise above the heaven would climb.  
The sails were thoroughly wet with showers. and with the heavenly rain  
Was mixed the waters of the sea. no lights at all remain  
Of sun, or moon, or stars in heaven. The darkness of the night  
Augmented with the dreadful storm, takes double power and might.  
Howbéet the flashing lightnings oft do put the same too flight,  
And with their glancing now and then do give a soodeme light.  
The lightnings sets the waves on fire. Above the netting skip  
The waves, and with a violent force do light within the ship.  
And as a soldier stowter than the rest of all his band  
That oft assails a city walls defended well by hand,  
At length atteines his hope, and for too purchase praise withal  
Alone among a thousand men gets up upon the wall:  
So when the lofty waves had long the Galleys sides assayed,  
At length the tenth wave rising up with howger force and brayed,  
Did never cease assaulting of the weary ship, till that  
Upon the hatches like a foe victoriously it got.  
A part thereof did still as yet assault the ship without,  
And part had gotten in. The men all trembling ran about,  
As in a City comes too pass, when of the enemies sum  
Dig down the walls without, and sum already in are come.  
All art and couning was too seek. Their hearts and stomachs fail:  
And look how many furges came their vessel too assail,  
So many deaths did seem too charge and break upon them all.  
One weeps: another stands amazed: the third them blessed doth call  
Whom burial doth remain. Too God another makes his vow,  
And holding up his hands too heaven the which he sees not now,  
Doth pray in vain for help. The thought of this man is upon  
His brother and his parents whom he clearly hath foregone.  
Another calls his house and wife and children unto mind,  
And every man in general the things he left behind.  
Alcyone moveth Ceyx's heart. In Ceyx's mouth is none  
But only one Alcyone. And though she were alone  
The wight that he desired most, yet was he very glad  
She was not there. Too Trachin ward too look desire he had,  
And homeward fain he would have turned his eyes which never more  
Should see the land. But when he knew not which way was the shore,  
Nor where he was. The raging sea did roll about so fast:  
And all the heaven with clouds as black as pitch was over cast,  
That never night was half so dark. There came a flaw at last,  
That with his violence broke the mast, and struck the stern away.  
A billow proudly pranking up as vaunting of his prey  
By conquest gotten, walloweth hole and breaketh not a sunder,  
Beholding with a lofty look the waters working under.  
And look as if a man should from the places where they grow  
Rend down the mountains A'the & Rind, and whole them overthrow  
into the open sea: so soft the Billow tumbling down,  
With weight and violent stroke did sink and in the bottom drown  
The Gallye. And the most of them that were within the same  
Went down therewith and never up too open a●er came,  
But died strangled in the gulf. Another sort again  
Caught pieces of the broken ship. The king himself was fain  
A shiver of the sunken ship in that same hand to hold,  
In which he erst a royal mace had hilld of yellow gold.  
His father and his fathrinlawe he calls upon (alas  
In vain.) But chiefly in his mouth his wife Alcyone was.  
In heart was she: in tongue was she: He wished that his corpse  
Too land where she might take it up the surges might enforce:  
And that by her most loving hands he might be laid in grave.  
In swimming still (as often as the surges leave him gave  
Too ope his lips) he harped still upon halcyons name,  
And when he drowned in the waves he muttered still the same.  
Behold, even full upon the wa●● a 〈◊〉 of water black  
Did break, and underneath the sea the head of Ceyx's stracke.  
That night the lyghtsum Lucifer for sorrow was so dim,  
As scarcely could a man discern or think it too be him.  
And forasmuch as out of heaven he might not step aside,  
With thick and darksum clouds that night his countenance he did hid▪  
Alcyone of so great mischance not knowing aught as yet,  
Did keep a reckoning of the night's that in the while did flit,  
And hasted garments both for him and for herself likewise,  
Too wear at his homecomming which she vainly did surmise.  
Too all the Gods devoutly she did offer frankincense:  
But most above them all the Church of juno she did sense.  
And for her husband (who as then was none) she knéeld before  
The Altar, wishing health and soon arrival at the shore,  
And that none other woman might before her be preferred.  
Of all her prayers this one piece effectually was heard.  
For juno could not find in heart entreated for too be  
For him that was already dead. But too th'intent that she  
From dame halcyons deadly hands might keep her Altars free,  
She said. Most faithful messenger of my commandments, O  
Thou rainbow, too the slugguish house of Slumber swiftly go.  
And bid him send a Dream in shape of Ceyx's too his wife  
Alcyone, for too show her plain the losing of his life.  
Dame Iris takes her pall wherein a thousand colours were  
And bowwing like a stringed bow upon the cloudy sphere,  
Immediately descended too the drowzye house of Sleep  
Whose Court the clouds continually do closely overdréepe.  
Among the dark Cimmerians is a hollow mountain found  
And in the hill a Cave that far doth run within the ground, 
The house of sleep.   
The Chamber & the dwelling place where slothful sleep doth couch.  
The light of Phoebus' golden beams this place can never touch.  
A foggy mist with dimness mixed streams upward from the ground,  
And glimmering twilight evermore within the same is found.  
No watchful bird with barbed bill, and combed crown doth call  
The morning forth with crowing out. There is no noise at all  
Of waking dog, nor gaggling goose more waker than the hound  
Too hinder sleep. Of beast ne wild ne tame there is no sound.  
No boughs are stirred with blasts of wind. no noise of tattling tongue  
Of man or woman ever yet within that bower rung  
Dumb quiet dwelleth there. Yet from the Roches foot doth go  
The river of forgetfulness. which runneth trickling so  
Upon the little pebble stones which in the channel lie,  
That unto sleep a great deal more it doth provoke thereby.  
Before the entry of the Cave, there grows of poppy store.  
With séeded heads, and other weeds innumerable more,  
Out of the milky juice of which the night doth gather sleeps,  
And over all the shadowed earth with dankish dew them dréepes.  
Because the craking hinges of the door no noise should make,  
There is no door in all the house, nor porter at the gate.  
Amid the Cave, of Ebonye a bedstead standeth high,  
And on the same a bed of down with kéeverings black doth lie:  
In which the drowzye God of sleep his lither limbs doth rest.  
About him, forging sundry shapes as many dreams lie priest,  
As ears of corn do stand in fields in harvest time, or leaves  
Do grow on trees, or sea too shore of sandy cinder heaves.  
assoon as Iris came within this house, and with her hand  
Had put aside the dazzling dreams that in her way did stand,  
The brightness of her rob through all the sacred house did shine.  
The God of sleep scarce able for too raise his heavy eyen,  
A three or four times at the least did fall again too rest,  
And with his nodding head did knock his chin against his breast.  
At length he shaking of himself, upon his elbow leaned.  
And though he knew for what she came: he asked her what she meant.  
O sleep (ꝙ she,) the rest of things, O gentlest of the Gods,  
Sweet sleep, the peace of mind, with whom crooked care is aye at odds:  
Which cherrishest men's weighed limbs appalld with toiling sore,  
And makest them as fresh too work and lusty as before,  
Command a dream that in their kinds can every thing express,  
Too Trachine Hercles' town himself this instant too address.  
And let him lively counterfeit too Queen Alcyonea  
The image of her husband who is drowned in the sea  
By shipwreck. juno willeth so. Her message being told,  
Dame Iris went her way▪ she could her eyes no longer hold  
From sleep. But when she felt it come she fled that instant time,  
And by the boawe that brought her down too heave again did climb.  
Among a thousand sons and more that father slumber had  
He called up Morph the feyner of man's shape a crafty lad.  
None other could so cunningly express man's very face,  
His gesture and his sound of voice, and manner of his pace,  
Toogither with his wonted weed, and wonted phrase of talk.  
But this same Morphye only in the shape of man doth walk.  
There is another who the shapes of beast or bird doth take,  
Or else appeareth unto men in likeness of a snake.  
The Gods do call him Icilos, and mortal folk him name  
Phobetor. There is also yet a third who from these same  
Works diversly, and Phantasos he highteth. into streams  
This turns himself, and into stones, and earth, and timber beams,  
And into every other thing that wanteth life. These three.  
Great kings and Captains in the night are wonted for too see.  
The meaner and inferior sort of others haunted be.  
Sir Slumber overpast the rest, and of the brothers all  
Too do dame Iris message he did only Morphye call.  
Which done he waxing luskish, straight laid down his drowsy head  
And softly shroonk his layzye limbs within his sluggish bed.  
Away flew Morphye through the air: no flickering made hi● wings▪  
And came anon too Trachine. There his feathers of he flings,  
And in the shape of Ceyx stands before halcyons bed,  
Pale, wan, stark naakt, and like a man that was but lately dead.  
His beard seemed wet, and of his head the hear was dropping dry,  
And leaning on her bed, with tears he seemed thus too cry.  
Most wretched woman knowest thou thy loving Ceyx now  
Or is my face by death disformd? behold me well, and thou  
Shalt know me. For thy husband, thou thy husbands Ghost shalt see.  
No good thy prayers and thy vows have done at all too me.  
For I am dead. In vain of my return no reckoning make.  
The cloudy sowth amid the sea our ship did tardy take,  
And tossing it with violent blasts asunder did it shake.  
And floods have filled my mouth which called in vain upon thy name.  
No person whom thou mayst misdeem brings tidings of the same  
Thou hearest not thereof by false report of flying fame.  
But I myself: I presently my shipwreck too thee show.  
Arise therefore and woeful tears upon thy spouse bestow.  
Put morning raiment on, and let me not too Limbo go  
Unmoorned for. In showing of this shipwreck Morphye so  
Did feign the voice of Ceyx, that she could none other deem,  
But that it should be his in deed. Moreover he did seem  
Too weep in earnest: and his hands the very gesture had  
Of Ceyx. Queen Alcyone did groan, and being sad  
Did stir her arms, and thrust them forth his body too embrace.  
In stead whereof she caught but air. The tears ran down her face.  
She cried, tarry: whither flyste? toogither let us go.  
And all this while she was a sleep. Both with her crying so,  
And flayghted with the image of her husband's ghastly spright,  
She started up: and sought about if find him there she might.  
(For why her Grooms awaking with the shréeke had brought a light.)  
And when she no where could him find, she 'gan her face too smite,  
And tore her nyghtclothes from her breast, and struck it féercely, and  
Not passing too untie her hear she rend it with her hand.  
And when her nurse of this her grief desyrde too understand  
The cause: Alcyone is undone, undone and cast away  
With Ceyx her dear spouse (she said.) Leave comforting I pray.  
By shipwreck he is perished: I have seen him: and I knew  
His hands. When in departing I too hold him did pursue,  
I caught a Ghost: but such a Ghost as well discern I might  
Too be my husbands Nevertheless he had not too my sight  
His wonted countenance, neither did his visage shine so bright,  
As here toofore it had been wont. I saw him wretched wight  
Stark naked, pale, and with his hear still wet: even very here  
I saw him stand. with that she looks if any print appear  
Of footing where as he did stand upon the floor behind.  
This this is it that I did fear in far forecasting mind,  
When flying me I thee desyrde thou shouldst not trust the wind.  
But sith thou wentest too thy death, I would that I had gone  
With thee▪ ah meet, it meet had been thou shouldst not go alone  
Without me. So it should have come too pass that neither I  
Had overlived thee, nor yet been forced twice too die.  
Already, absent in the waves now tossed have I be.  
Already have I perished. And yet the sea hath thee  
Without me. But the cruelness were greater far of me  
Than of the sea, if after thy decease I still would strive  
In sorrow and in anguish still too pine away alive.  
But neither will I strive in care too lengthen still my life,  
Nor (wretched wight) abandon thee: but like a faithful wife  
At leastwise now will come as thy companion. And the hearse  
shall join us, though not in the self-same coffin: yet in verse.  
Although in tumb the bones of us toogither may not couch,  
Yet in a graven Epitaph my name thy name shall touch.  
Her sorrow would not suffer her too utter any more.  
She sobbed and sight at every word, until her heart was sore.  
The morning came, and out she went right pensif too the shor●  
Too that same place in which she took her leave of him before.  
While there she musing stood, and said, he kissed me even here,  
Here weyëd he his Anchors up, here loosed he from the peer,  
And while she called too mind the things there marked with her eyes:  
In looking on the open sea, a great way of she spies  
A certain thing much like a corpse come hovering on the wave.  
At first she doubted what it was. As tide it nearer drove,  
Although it were a good way of, yet did it plainly show  
Too be a corce. And though that whose it was she did not know,  
Yet forbecause it seemed a wreck, her heart thereat did rise:  
And as it had sum stranger been, with water in her eyes  
She said, alas poor wretch who ere thou art, alas for her  
That is thy wife, if any be. And as the waves did stir,  
The body floated nearer land: the which the more that she  
Behilld, the less began in her of stayed wit too be.  
Anon it did arrive on shore. Then plainly she did see  
And know it, that it was her fear. She shréeked it is he.  
And therewithal her face, her hear, and garments she did tear,  
And unto Ceyx's stretching out her trembling hands with fear,  
Said: cumst thou home in such a plight to me O husband dear?  
Returnest in such a wretched plight? There was a certain peer  
That builded was by hand, of waves the first assaults too break,  
And at the havens mouth too cause the tide too enter weak.  
She leapt thereon. (A wonder sure it was she could do so)  
She flew, and with her newgrowen wings did beat the air as tho.  
And on the waves a wretched bird she whisked too and fro.  
And with her crocking neb then grown too slender bill and round,  
like one that wailed and mourned still she made a moaning sound.  
Howbéet as soon as she did touch his dumb and bloodless flesh,  
And had embraast his loved limbs with wings made new and fresh,  
And with her hardened neb had kissed him coldly, though in vain,  
Folk doubt of Ceyx's feeling it too raise his head did strain,  
Or whither that the waves did lift it up. But surely he  
It felt: and through compassion of the Gods both he and she  
Were turned too birds. The love of them eke subject too their fate,  
Continued after: neither did the faithful bond abate  
Of wedlock in them being birds: but stands in steadfast state.  
They tread, and lay, and bring forth young and now the 
* The king's fisher.  halcyon sits  
In winter-time upon her nest (which on the water flits  
A sevennyght. During all which time the sea is calm and still,  
And every man may too and fro sail saufly at his will.  
For Aeölus for his offsprings sake the winds at home doth keep,  
And will not let them go abroad for troubling of the deep.  
An ancient father seeing them about the broad sea fly,  
Did praise their love for lasting too the end so steadfastly.  
His neighbour or the self-same man made answer (such is chance)  
Even this fowl also whom thou seest upon the surges glance  
With spindle shanks, (he pointed too the wydegoawld Cormorant)  
Before that he became a bird, of royal race might vaunt.  
And if thou covet lineally his pedigree too seek,  
His ancestors were Ilus, and Assaracus, and eke  
Fair Ganymed who jupiter did ravish as his joy,  
Laomedon and Priamus the last that reygnd in Troy.  
Stout Hector's brother was this man. And had he not in prime  
Of lusty youth been ta'en away, his deeds perchance in time  
Had purchaast him as great a name as Hector, though that he  
Of Dymants' daughter Hecuba had fortune borne too be.  
For Acsacus reported is begotten to have been  
By escape, in shady Ida on a maiden fair and sheen  
Whose name was Alyxothoe, a poor man's daughter that  
With spade and mattock for himself and his a living got.  
This Aesacus the City hates, and gorgeous Court doth shun,  
And in the unambicious fields and woods alone doth won.  
He séeldoom haunts the town of Troy, yet having not a rude  
And blockish wit, nor such a heart as could not be subdued  
By love, he spied Eperie (whom oft he had pursewd  
Through all the woods) then sitting on her father Cebrius brim  
A drying of her hear against the son, which hanged trim  
Upon her back. assoon as that the Nymph was ware of him,  
She fled as when the grisild wolf doth scare the fearful hind  
Or when the Falcon far from brooks a Mallard haps too find.  
The Trojan knight runs after her, and being swift through love,  
Purseweth her whom fear doth force apace her feet to move.  
Behold an Adder lurking in the grass there as she fled,  
Did byght her foot with hooked tooth, and in her body spread  
His venom. She did cease her flight and soodein fell down dead.  
Her lover being past his wits her carcase did embrace,  
And cried, alas it irketh me, it irks me of this chase.  
But this I feared not. neither was the gain of that I willed  
Worth half so much. Now two of us thee (wretched soul) have killed.  
The wound was given thee by the snake, the cause was given by me.  
The wickedder of both am I: who for too comfort thee  
Will make thee satisfaction with my death. With that at last  
Down from a rock (the which the waves had undermined) he cast  
Himself into the sea. Howbéet dame Tethys pitying him,  
Receyud him softly, and as he upon the waves did swim,  
She covered him with feathers. And though fain he would have died,  
She would not let him. Wroth was he that death was him denied,  
And that his soul compelled should be against his will too bide  
Within his wretched body still, from which it would departed,  
And that he was constreynd too live perforce against his heart.  
And as he on his shoulders now had newly taken wings,  
He mounted up, and down upon the sea his boddye dings.  
His feathers would not let him sink. In rage he dyveth down,  
And despratly he strives himself continually too drown.  
His love did make him lean, long legs: long neck doth still remain.  
His head is from his shoulders far: of Sea he is most fain.  
And for he underneath the waves delighteth for too drive  
A name according thereunto the Latins do him give.  
Finis undecimi Libri.   

¶ THE. XII. BOOK OF Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
RIng Priam being ignorant that Aesacus his son  
Did live in shape of bird, did mourn: and at a tumb whereon  
His name was written, Hector and his brother solemnly  
Did keep an Obits. Paris was not at this obsequy.  
Within a while with ravished wife he brought a lasting war  
Home unto Troy. There followed him a thousand ships not far  
Conspyrd toogither, with the aid that all the Greeks could find:  
And vengeance had been ta'en forthwith but that the cruel wind  
Did make the seas unsaylable, so that their ships were fain  
At road at fisshye Awlies in Boeotia too remain.  
Here as the Greeks according too their wont made sacrifyse  
Too jove, and on the Altar old the flame aloft did rise,  
They spied a speckled Snake creep up upon a planetrée buy  
Upon the top whereof there was among the branches high  
A nest, and in the nest eight birds, All which and eke their dam  
That flickering flew about her loss, the hungry snake did cram  
Within his maw. The standers by were all amazed thereat.  
But Calchas Thestors' son who knew what meaning was in that,  
Said▪ we shall win. Rejoice ye greeks by us shall perish Troy  
But long the time will be before we may our will enjoy.  
And then he told them how the birds nine years did signify  
Which they before the town of Troy not taking it should lie.  
The Serpent as he wound about the boughs and branches green,  
Became a stone, and still in stone his snakish shape is seen.  
The seas continued very rough and suffered not their host  
Embarked for too pass from thence too take the further coast.  
Sum thought that Neptune favoured Troy because himself did build  
The walls thereof. But Calchas (who both knew, and never hilld  
His peace in time) declared that the Goddess Phebe must  
Appeased be with virgin's blood for wrath conceived just.  
assoon as pity yielded had too case of puplicke weal,  
And reason got the upper hand of father's loving zeal,  
So that the Lady Iphigeneia before the altar stood  
Among the weeping ministers, too give her maidens blood:  
The Goddess taking pity, cast a mist before their eyes,  
And as they prayed and sti●d about too make the sacrifice,  
conveys her quite away, and with a Hind her room supplies  
Thus with a slaughter meet for her Diana being pleased,  
The raging surges with her wrath toogither were appeased,  
The thousand ships had wind at poop. And when they had abode  
Much trouble, at the length all safe they got the Phrygian road.  
Amid the world 'tween heaven, and earth, and sea, there is a place,  
Set from the bounds of each of them indifferently in space,  
From whence is seen what ever thing is practised any where,  
Although the Realm be near so far, and roundly too the ear  
Comes whatsoever spoken is▪ Fame hath his dwelling there.  
Who in the top of all the house is lodged in a tower.  
A thousand entries, glades, and holes are f●amed in this bower.  
There are no doors too shut. The doors stand open night and day.  
The house is all of sounding brass, and roareth every way,  
Reporting double every word it heareth people say.  
There is no rest within, there is no silence any where.  
Yet is there not a yelling out: but humming, as it were  
The sound of surges being heard far of, are like the sound  
That at the end of thunderclaps long after doth redound,  
When jove doth make the clouds too crack, within the courts is press  
Of common people, which too come and go do never cease.  
And millions both of troths and lies run gadding everywhere,  
And words confusely fly in heaps. Of which, sum fill the ●are  
That heard not of them erst, and sum Colearyers' part do play  
Too spread abroad the things they heard. And ever by the way  
The thing that was invented grows much greater than before,  
And every one that gets it by the end adds somewhat more.  
Light credit dwelleth there. There dwells rash error: There doth dwell  
vain joy: There dwelleth heartless fear, and Brute that loves too tell  
Uncertain news upon report, whereof he doth not know  
The author, and Sedition who fresh rumours loves too sow.  
This Fame beholdeth what is done in heaven, on sea, and land,  
And what is wrought in all the world he lays to understand.  
He gave the Trojans warning that the Greeks with valeant men  
And ships approached, that unwares they could not take them then.  
For Hector and the Trojan folk well armed were at hand  
Too keep the coast and bid them base before they came a land.  
Protesilay by fatal doom was first that died in field  
Of Hector's spear: and after him great numbers more were killed  
Of valeant men. That battle did the Greeks full dearly cost.  
And Hector with his Phrygian folk of blood no little lost,  
In trying what the Greeks could do. The shore was red with blood.  
And now king Cygnet Neptune's son had killed where he stood  
A thousand Greeks. And now the stout Achilles caused to stay  
His Chariot: and his lawnce did ●lea whole bands of men that day.  
And seeking Cygnet through the field or Hector, he did stray.  
At last with Cygnet he did meet. For Hector had delay  
Until the tenth year afterward. Then hasting forth his horses  
With flaxen manes, against his foe his Chariot he enforces.  
And brandisshing his shaking dart, he said: O noble wight  
A comfort let it be too thee that such a valeant knight  
As is Achilles killeth thee. In saying so he threw  
A mighty dart, which though it hit the mark at which it flew,  
Yet pierced it not the skin at all. Now when this blunted blow  
Had hit on Cygnets breast, and did no print of hitting show,  
Thou Goddess son (ꝙ Cygnet) for by fame we do the know)  
Why woondrest at me for too see I can not wounded be?  
(Achilles wondered much thereat.) This helmet which ye see  
Bedecked with horses yellow manes, this shield that I do bear,  
Defend me not. For ornaments alonely I them wear.  
For this same cause arms Mars himself likewise. I will disarm  
Myself, and yet unrazed will I pass without all harm.  
It is too sum effect, not borne too be of Neryes race,  
So that a man be borne of him that with thréeforked mace  
Rules Nereus and his daughters too, and all the sea beside.  
This said, he at Achilles sent a dart that should abide  
Upon his shield. It pierced through the steel and through nine fold  
Of Oxen hides, and stayed upon the tenth. Achilles' bold  
Did wrest it out, and forcybly did throw the same again.  
His body being hit again, unwounded did remain,  
And clear from any print of wound. The third went eke in vain.  
And yitdid Cygnet too the same give full his naked brist.  
Achilles' chafed like a Bull that in the open list  
With dreadful horns doth push against the scarlet clothes that ther●  
Are hanged up too make him fierce, and when he would them tear  
Doth find his wounds deluded. Then Achilles looked upon  
His javelins socket, if the head thereof were loose or gone.  
The head stack fast. My hand byléeke is weakened then (ꝙ he).  
And all the force it had before is spent on one I see.  
For sure I am it was of strength, both when I first down threw  
Lyrnessus walls, and when I did Isle Tenedos subdue,  
And eke Axëtions Thebes with her proper blood imbrue.  
And when so many of the folk of Tewthranie I slew,  
That with their blood Caycus stream became of purple hue.  
And when the noble Telephus did of my Dart of steel  
The double force, of wounding and of healing also feel.  
Yea even the heaps of men slain here by me, that on this strand  
Are lying still too look upon, do give too understand  
That this same hand of mine both had and still hath strength. This sed,  
(As though he had disinherited all his doings ere that stead,)  
He threw a Dart against a man of Lycia land that height  
Menetes, through whose Curets and his breast he struck him quyght.  
And when he saw with dying limbs him sprawling on the ground,  
He stepped too him straight, and pulled the javelin from the wound,  
And said aloud: This is the hand, this is the self same dart  
With which my hand did strike even now Menetes too the heart.  
against my toother Copemate will I use the same: I pray  
Too God it may have like success. This sed, without delay  
He sent it toward Cygnet, and the weapon did not stray,  
Nor was not shunned. Insomuch it lighted full upon  
His shoulder: and it gave a rap as if upon sum stone  
It lighted had, rebownding back. howbeit where it hit,  
Achilles saw it bloody, and was vainly glad of it.  
For why there was no wound. It was Menetes blood. Then leapt  
He hastily from his Chariot down, and like a madman stepped  
Too careless Cygnet with his sword. He saw his sword did pair  
His Target and his morion both. But when it touched the bare,  
His body was so hard, it did the edge thereof abate.  
He could no lengar suffer him too triumph in that rate,  
But with the pommel of his sword did thump him on the pate,  
And bobbed him well about the brews a dozen times and more,  
And preacing on him as he still gave back amaazd him sore,  
And troubled him with buffeting, not respetting a whit.  
Then Cygnet 'gan too be afraid, and mistress began too flit  
Before his eyes, and dimmed his sight. And as he still did yield,  
In giving back, by chance he met a stone amid the field,  
against the which Achilles thrust him back with all his might,  
And throwing him against the ground, did cast him bolt upright.  
Then bearing bostowsely with both his knees against his chest,  
And leaning with his elbows and his target on his breast,  
He shut his headpiece cloce and just, and underneath his chin  
So hard it strained, that way for breath was neither out nor in,  
And closed up the vent of life. And having gotten so  
The upper hand, he went about too spoil his vanquished foe.  
But nought he in his armour found, For Neptune had as though  
Transformed him too the fowl whose name he bore but late ago.  
This labour, this encounter brought the rest of many days,  
And either party in their strength a while from battle stays.  
Now while the Phrygians watch & ward upon the walls of Troy,  
And Greeks likewise within their trench, there came a day of joy,  
In which Achilles for his luck in Cygnets overthrow,  
A Cow in way of sacrifice on Pallas did bestow.  
Whose inwards when he had upon the burning altar cast  
And that the acceptable fume had through the air passed  
Too Godward, and the holy rites had had their dews, the rest  
Was set on boards for men too eat in dishes finely dressed.  
The princes sitting down, did feed upon the roasted flesh,  
And both their thirst and present cares with wine they did refresh.  
Not haps, nor songs, nor hollow flutes too here did them delight.  
They talked till they nigh had spent the greatest part of night.  
And all their communication was of feats of arms in fight  
That had been done by them or by their foes. And every wight  
delights too uppen oftentimes by turn as came about  
The perils and the narrow brunts himself had shifted out.  
For what thing should be talked before Achilles rather? Or  
What kind of things than such as these could seem more meeter for  
Achilles too be talking of? But in their talk most bréeme  
Was then Achilles' victory of Cygnet. It did seem  
A wonder that the flesh of him should be so hard and tough  
As that no weapon might have power too raze or pierce it through,  
But that it did abate the edge of steel: It was a thing  
That both Achilles and the Greeks in wondrous maze did bring.  
Then Nestor said: This Cygnet is the person now alone  
Of your time that defied steel, and could be pierced of none.  
But I have seen now long ago one Cene of Perrhebye,  
I saw one Cene of Perrhebye a thousand wonders defy  
With unatteynted body. In mount Othris he did dwell:  
And was renowned for his deeds: (and which in him right well  
A greater wonder did appear) he was a woman borne.  
This uncouth made them all much more amazed than before,  
And every man desired him to tell it. And among  
The rest, Achilles said. Declare I pray thee (for we long  
Too hear it every one of us) O eloquent old man  
The wisdom of our age: what was that Cene and how he won  
Another than his native shape, and in what road, or in  
What fight or skirmish, 'tween you first acquaintance did béegin,  
And who in fine did vanquish him if any vanquished him.  
Then Nestor. Though the length of time have made my senses dim,  
And divers things erst seen in youth now out of mine be gone:  
Yet bear I still more things in mind: and of them all is none  
Among so many both of peace and war, that yet doth take  
More steadfast root in memory. And if that time may make  
A man great store of things through long continuance for too see,  
Two hundred years already of my life full passed be,  
And now I go upon the third. This foresaid Ceny was  
The daughter of one Elatey. In beauty she did pass  
The maidens all of Thessaly. From all the City's buy  
And from thy Cities also O Achilles came (for why  
She was thy countrywoman) store of wooers who in vain  
In hope too win her love did take great travel suit and pain.  
Thy father also had perchance attempted here too matched  
But that thy mothers marriage was already then dispatched,  
Or she at least affyanced. But Ceny match with none,  
howbeit as she on the shore was walking all alone,  
The God of sea did ravish her. (so fame doth make report)  
And Neptune for the great delight he had in Venus' sport,  
Said: Ceny, ask me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.  
This also bruited is by fame.) The wrong here done to me  
(ꝙ Ceny makes me wish great things. And therefore too th'intent  
I may no more constrained be too such a thing, consent  
I may no more a woman be. and if thou grant thereto,  
It is even all that I desire, or wish thee for too do.  
In bacer tune these latter words were uttered, and her voice  
Did seem a man's voice as it was in deed. For too her choice  
The God of sea had given consent. He granted him beside  
That free from wounding and from hurt he should from thence abide,  
And that he should not die of steel. Right glad of this same grant  
Away went Ceny, and the fields of Thessaly did haunt,  
And in the feats of chivalry from that time spent his life.  
The over bold 
* Piritho●s.  Ixion's son had taken too his wife  
Hippodame. And kevering boards in bowers of boughs of trees  
His Clowdbred brothers one by one he placed in degrees.  
There were the Lords of Thessaly. I also was among  
The rest, a cheerful noise of feast through all the Palace rung.  
Sum made the altars smoke, and sum the bridal carols song.  
Anon comes in the maiden bride a goodly wench of face,  
With wives and maidens following her with comely gate and grace.  
We said that sir Pirithous was happy in his wife:  
Which handsel had deceived us wellnéere through soodeine strife.  
For of the cruel Centawres thou most cruel Ewryt, though  
Like as thy stomach was with wine far over charged: so  
assoon as thou behilldst the bride, thy heart began too fray,  
And doubled with thy drunkenness thy raging lust did reign.  
The feast was troubled by and by with tables overthrown.  
The bride was hailed by the head, so far was fury grown.  
fierce Ewryt caught Hippodame, and every of the rest  
Caught such as sommed next to hand, or such as liked him best.  
It was the lively image of a City ta'en by foes.  
The house did ring of women's shréekes▪ we all up quickly rose.  
And first said Theseus thus. What ail'st? art mad O Ewrytus?  
That darest (seeing me alive) mis●se Pirithöus?  
Not knowing that in one thou dost abuse us both? And lest  
He might have seemed too speak in vain, he thrustway such as priest  
About the bride, and took her from them fretting sore thereat.  
No answer made him Ewrytus: (for such a deed as that  
Defended could not be with words) but with his saucy fist  
He flew at gentle Theseus' face, and b●●d him on the brist.  
By chance hard by, an ancient cup of image work did stand.  
Which being huge himself more huge sir Theseus took in hand,  
And threwt at Ewryts head. He spewed as well at mouth as wound  
Mirt clods of blood, and brain and wine, and on the soiled ground  
Lay sprawling bolt upright. The death of him did set the rest  
His dowblelimbed brothers so on fire, that all the quest  
With one voice cried out kill kill. The wine had given them heart.  
Their first encounter was with cups & Cans thrown overthwart,  
And brittle tankards, and with boawles, pans, dishes, pots, & trays,  
Things serving late for meat and drink, and then for bloody frays.  
First Amycus Ophions' son with out remorse began  
Too reave and rob the brydehouse of his furniture. He ran  
And pulled down a Lampbeame full of lights, and lifting it  
Aloft like one that with an Axe doth fetch his blow too slit  
An Oxis' neck in sacrifice, He on the forehead hit  
A Lapith named Celadon, and crushed so his bones  
That none could know him by the face: both eyes flew out at ones.  
His nose was beaten back and too his palate battered flat.  
One Pelates a Macedon exceeding wrath thereat,  
Pulled out a maple tressles foot, and napped him in the necks,  
That bobbing with his chin against his breast too ground he becks,  
And as he spitted out his teeth with blackish blood, he lent  
Another blow too Amycus which straight too hell him sent.  
Gryne standing by and lowering with a fell grim visage at  
The smoking Altars, said: why use we not these same? with that  
He caught a mighty altar up with burning fire thereon,  
And it among the thickest of the Lapiths threw anon.  
And two he over whelmed therewith called Brote and Orion.  
This Orion's mother Mycale is known of certeintye  
The Moon resisting too have drawn by witchcraft from the sky.  
Full dearly shalt thou by it (ꝙ Exadius) may I get  
A weapon: and with that in stead of weapon, he did set  
His hand upon a vowed heart's horn that on a Pynetrée high  
Was nailed, and with two tynes thereof he struck out either eye  
Of Gryne: whereof sum stack upon the horn, and sum did fly  
Upon his beard, and there with blood like jelly mixed did lie,  
A flaming firebrand from amids an Altar Rhaetus snatched.  
With which upon the leftsyde of his head Charaxus latcht  
A blow that cracked his skull. The blaze among his yellow hear  
Ran singeing up, as if dry corn with lightning blasted were.  
And in his wound the seared blood did make a grievous sound,  
As when a piece of steel red who● ta'en up with tongues is drowned  
In water by the smith, it spirits and hisseth in the trough.  
Charaxus from his curled hear did shake the fire. and though  
He wounded were, yet caught he up upon his shoulders twain.  
A stone the jawme of either door that well would load a wain.  
The mass thereof was such as that it would not let him hi●  
His fo. I● lighted short: and with the falling down of it  
A mate of his that Comet height, it all in pieces smit.  
Then Rhaete restraining not his joy, said thus: I would the rout  
Of all thy mates might in the self-same manner prove them s●owt.  
And with his halfeburnt brand the wound he searched new again,  
Not ceasing for to lay on load upon his pate amain,  
Until his head was crushed, and of his scalp the bones did swim  
Among his brains. In jolly ruff he passed straight from him  
Too Coryt, and Euagrus, and too Dryant on a row.  
Of whom when Coryt (on whose cheeks young mossy down 'gan grow)  
Was slain, what praise or honour (ꝙ Euagrus) hast thou got  
By killing of a boy? more words him Rhetus suffered not  
Too speak, but in his open mouth did thrust his burning brand,  
And down his throteboll too his chest. Then whisking in his hand  
His firebrand round about his head he féercely did assail  
The valiant Dryant. but with him he could not so prevail.  
For as he triumphed in his luck, proceeding for too make  
Continual slaughter of his foes, sir Dryant with a stake  
(Whose point was hardened in the fire) did cast at him a ●oyne  
And thrust him through the place in which the neck and shoulders join.  
He groaned and from his cannell bone could scarcely pull the stake.  
And being foiled with his blood too flight he did him take.  
Arnaeus also ran away, and Lycidas likewise.  
And Medon (whose right shoulderplate was also wounded) flies.  
So did Pisenor, so did Cawne, and so did Mermeros  
Who late outronning every man, now wounded slower goes:  
And so did Phole, and Menelas, and Abas who was wont  
Too make a spoil among wild Boars as oft as he did hunt:  
And eke the wyzarde Astylos who counseled his mates  
Too leave that fray: but he too them in vain of leaving prates.  
He eke too Nessus (who for fear of wounding seemed shy)  
Said, fly not thou shalt scape this fray of Hercles' bow too die.  
But Lycid and Ewrinomos, and Imbreus, and Are  
Escaped not death. Sir Dryants' hand did all alike them spare.  
Cayneius also (though that he in flying were not slack,  
Yet was he wounded on the face: For as he looked back,  
A weapons point did hit him full midway between the eyes,  
Whereas the nose and forehead meet. For all this dean, yet lies  
Aphipnas snorting fast a sleep not minding for to wake,  
Wrapped in a cloak of Bearskinnes which in Ossa mount were take.  
And in his lither hand he hilld a pot of wine. Whom when  
That Phorbas saw (although in vain) not meddling with them, than  
He set his fingers too the thong: and saying, thou shalt drink  
Thy wine with water taken from the Stygian fountains brink,  
He threw his dart at him. The dart (as he that time by chance  
Lay bolt upright upon his back) did through his throteboll glance.  
He died and felt no pain at all. The black swart blood gushed out,  
And on the bed and in the pot fell flushing like a spout.  
I saw Petreius go about too pull out of the ground  
An Oaken tree. But as he had his arms about it round,  
And shaakt it too and fro too make it loose, Pirithous cast  
A Dart which nailed too the tree his writhing stomach fast.  
Through prowess of Pirithous (men say) was Lycus slain.  
Through prowess of Pirithous died Crome. But they both twain  
Less honour too their conqueror were, than Dyctis was, or than  
Was Helops. Helops with a dart was stricken which though ran  
His head, and eutring at the right ear too the left ear went.  
And Dyctis from a slipprye knap down sliding, as he meant  
Too shun Perithöus preaching on, fell headlong down, and with  
His howgenesse broke the greatest Ash that was in all the frith,  
And gored his guts upon the stump. Too wreak his death comes Phare:  
And from the mount a mighty rock with both his hands he tore:  
Which as he was about too throw, Duke Theseus did prevent,  
And with an Oaken plant upon his mighty elbow lent  
Him such a blow, as that he broke the bones, and past no further.  
For leisure would not serve him then his maimed corce too murder.  
He leapt on high Bianors back, who none was wont too bear  
Besides himself. against his sides his knees fast nipping were,  
And with his left hand taking hold upon his foretop hear  
He cuffed him with his knubbed plant about the frowning face,  
And made his wattled brows too break. And with his Oaken mace  
He overthrew Nedimnus: and Lycespes with his dart,  
And Hippasus whose beard did hide his breast the greater part:  
And Riphey tallar than the trees, and Therey who was wont  
Among the hills of Thessaly for cruel Bears too hunt,  
And bear them angry home alive. It did Demoleon spite  
That Theseus had so good success and fortune in his fight.  
An old long Pynetrée rooted fast he strove with all his might  
Too pluck up whole both trunk & root. which when he could not bring  
Too pass, he broke it of, and at his emnye did it fling.  
But Theseus by admonishment of heavenly Pallas (so  
He would have folk believe it were) start back a great way fro  
The weapon as it came. Yet fell it not without some harm.  
It cut from Crantors left side bulk, his shoulder, breast, and arm.  
This Crantor was thy father's Squire (Achilles) and was given  
Him by Amyntor ruler of the Dolops, who was driven  
By battle for too give him as an hostage for the peace  
Too be observed faithfully. When Peleus in the press  
A great way of behilld him thus fallen dead of this same wound,  
O Crantor dearest man to me of all above the ground,  
Hold here an obitgift he said: and both with force of heart  
And hand, at stout Demoleons' head he threw an ashen dart,  
Which broke the watling of his ribs, and sticking in the bone,  
Did shake. He pulled out the steal with much a do alone.  
The head thereof stack still behind among his lungs and lights  
Enforced too courage with his pain, he riseth straight uprights,  
And pawing at his enemy with his horsish feet, he smyghts  
Upon him. Peleus' bare his strokes upon his burganet,  
And fenced his shoulders with his shield, and evermore did set  
His weapon upward with the point, which by his shoulders pierced  
Through both his breasts at one full blow. Howbéet your father erst  
Had killed Hyle and Phlegrye, and Hiphinöus aloof  
And Danes who boldly durst at hand his manhood put in proof.  
Too these was added Dorylas, who ware upon his head  
A cap of wolves skin. And the horns of Oxen dy●d red  
With blood were then his weapon. I (for then my courage gave  
Me strength said: see how much thy horns less force than Iron have.  
And therewithal with manly might a dart at him I d●aue.  
Which when he could not shun, he clapped his right hand flat upon  
His forehead where the wound should be. For why his hand anon  
Was nailed too his forehead fast. He roared out amain.  
And as he stood amazed and began too faint for pain,  
Your father Peleus (for he stood hard by him) struck him under  
The middle belly with his sword, and ripped his womb asunder.  
Out girds me Dorill straight, and trails his guts upon the ground  
And trampling underneath his feet did break them, and they wound  
About his legs so snarling, that he could no further go,  
But fell down dead with empty womb Nought booted Cyllar though  
His beauty in that frentick fray, (at leastwise if we grant  
That any might in that strange shape, of nature's beawtye vaunt.)  
His beard began but then too bud: his beard was like the gold:  
So also were his yellow looks, which goodly too behold  
Midway beneath his shoulders hung. There rested in his face  
A sharp and lively cheerfulness with sweet and pleasant grace.  
His neck, breast, shoulders, arms, and hands, as far as he was man,  
Were such as never carvers work yet stain them could or can.  
His neither part likewise (which was a horse) was every whit  
Full equal with his upper part, or little worse than it.  
For had ye given him horses neck, and head, he was a beast  
For Castor too have ridden on. So burly was his breast:  
So handsome was his back too bear a saddle; and his hear  
Was black as ieate, but that his tail and feet milk whyghtish were.  
Full many Females of ●is race did wish him too their make.  
But only dame Hylonome for lover he did take.  
Of all the halfbrutes in the woods there did not any dwell  
More comely than Hylonome. She vi●e herself so well  
In dalliance, and in loving, and in uttering of her love,  
That she alone hilid Cyllarus. As much as did behove  
In suchye limbs, she trimmed them as most the eye might move.  
With combing, smooth she made her hear: she wallowed her full oft  
In Roses and in rosemary, or Violets sweet and soft:  
sometime she carried lilies white: and twice a day she washed  
Her visage in the spring that from the top of Pagase passed:  
And in the stream she twice a day did bathe her limbs: and on  
Her leftsyde or her shoulders came the comeliest things, And none  
But finest skins of choicest beasts. Alike each loved other:  
Toogither they among the hills roamd up and down: toogither  
They went too covert: and that time toogither they did enter  
The Lapiths house, and there the fray toogither did adventure.  
A dart on Cyllars left side came, (I know not who it sent)  
Which somewhat underneath his neck his breast a sunder splent.  
As lightly as his heart was raazd, no sooner was the dart  
Plucked out, but all his body wext stark cold and dyëd swart.  
Immediately Hylonome his dying limbs up stayed,  
And put her hand upon the wound too stop the blood, and laid  
Her mouth too his, and laboured sore too stay his passing spright.  
But when she saw him thoroughly dead, then speaking words which might  
Not too my hearing come for noise, she stikt herself upon  
The weapon that had gored him, and died with him anon  
Embracing him between her arms. There also stood before  
Mine eyes the grim Pheöcomes both man and horse who wore  
A lions skin upon his ●acke fast knit with knots afore.  
He snatching up a timber log (which scarcely two good téeme  
Of Oxen could have stirred) did throw the same with force extreme  
At Phonolenyes son. The log him all in fitters struck,  
And of his head the braynepan in a thousand pieces broke,  
That at his mouth, his ears, and eyes, and at his nosethrills too,  
His crushed brain came roping out as cream is wont too do  
From sieves or riddles made of wood, or as a Cullace out  
From streyner or from Colender. But as he went about  
Too strip him from his harness as he lay upon the ground,  
(Your father knoweth this full well) my sword his guts did wound,  
Teleboäs and Cthonius both, were also slain by me.  
Sir Cthonius for his weapon had a forked bough of tree.  
The toother had a dart. His dart did wound. me you may see  
The scar thereof remaining yet. Then was the time that I  
Should sent have been too conquer Troy. Then was the time that I  
Might through my force and prowess, if not vanquish Hector stout,  
Yet at the least have hilld him wag, I put you out of Dout.  
But than was Hector no body: or but a babe. And now  
Am I forspent and worn with years. What should I tell you how  
Piretus died by Periphas? Or wherefore should I make  
Long process for too tell you of sir Ampycus that struck  
The fowrefoote Oecle on the face with dart of cornel tree.  
The which had neither head nor point? Or how that Macaree  
Of Mountain Pelithronye with a leaver lent a blow  
Too Erigdupus on the breast which did him overthrow?  
Full well I do remember that Cymelius threw a dart  
Which lighted full in Nesseyes' flank about his privy part.  
And think not you that Mops the son of Ampycus could do  
No good but only prophesy. This stout Odites who  
Had both the shapes of man and horse, by Mopsis dart was slain,  
And labouring for too speak his last he did but strive in vain.  
For Mopsis dart toogither nailed his tongue and neither chap,  
And piercing through his throat did make a wide and deadly gap.  
five men had Cene already slain: their wounds I cannot say:  
The names and number of them all right well I bear away.  
The names of them were Stiphelus, and Brome, and Helimus,  
Pyracmon with his forest bill, and stout Antimachus.  
Out steps the biggest Centawre there huge Latreus armed in  
Alesus of Aemathias spoil slain late before by him.  
His years were mid 'tween youth and age, his courage still was young,  
And on his abrun head hoar hears péerd here and there amoong  
His furniture was then a sword, a target and a lawnce  
Aemathian like. Too both the parts he did his face advance,  
And brandishing his weapon brave, in circlewyse did prawnce  
About, and stoutly spoke these words. And must I bear with you  
Dame Cenye? for none other than a mother (I avow)  
No better than a mother will I cou●t thee while I live.  
Remember'st not what shape by birth dame nature did the give  
Forgettst thou how thou purchasedst this counterfeited shape  
Of man? Consyderest what thou art by birth? and how for rape  
Thou art become the thing thou art? Go take thy distaff, and  
Thy spindle, and in spinning yarn go exercise thy hand.  
Let men alone with feats of arms. As Latreus made this stout,  
And scornful taunting in a ring still turning him about,  
This Cenye with a dart did hit him full upon the side  
Where as the horse and man were joined toogither in a hide.  
The stripe made Latreus mad: and with his lawnce in rage he stracke  
Upon sir Cenyes naked ribs. The lawnce rebounded back  
Like hailstones from a tiled house, or as a man should pat  
Small stones upon a dromslets head. He came more near with that,  
And in his brawned side did strive too thrust his sword. There was  
No way for sword too enter in. Yet shalt thou not so pass  
My hands (said he.) Well sith the point is blunted thou shalt die  
Upon the edge: and with that word he fetched his blow awry,  
And sydling with a sweeping stroke along his belly smit.  
The stripe did give a clink as if it had on marble hit.  
And therewithal the sword did break, and on his neck did light.  
When Ceny had sufficiently given Latreus leave too smite  
His flesh which was unmaymeable. Well now (ꝙ he) let's see,  
If my sword able be or no too byght the flesh of thee.  
In saying so, his dreadful sword as far as it would go  
He underneath his shoulder thrust, and wrinching too and fro  
Among his guts, made wound in wound Behold with hideous cry  
The dowblemembred Centawres sore abashed upon him fly,  
And throw their weapons all at him. Their weapons down did fall  
As if they had rebated been, and Cenye for them all  
Abides unstriken through. Yea none was able ●lood too draw.  
The strangeness of the case made all amazed that it saw.  
Fie, fie for shame (ꝙ Monychus) that such a rabble can  
Not overcome one wight alone, who scarcely is a man.  
Although (too say the very truth) he is the man, and we  
Through faintness that that he was borne by nature for too be.  
What profits these huge limbs of ours? what helps our double force?  
Or what avails our double shape of man as well as horse  
By puissant nature joined in one? I can not think that we  
Of sovereign Goddess juno were begot, or that we be  
Ixion's sons, who was so stout of courage and so haut,  
As that he durst on junos' love attempt too give assault.  
The enemy that doth vanquish us is scarcely half a man.  
Whelm blocks, & stones, & mountains whole upon his hard brain pan:  
And press ye out his lively ghost with trees. Let timber choke  
His chaps, let weight enforce his death in stead of wounding stroke.  
This said: by chance he gets a tree blown down by blustering blasts  
Of Southern wynds, and on his foe with all his might it casts,  
And gave example too the rest too do the like. Within  
A while the shadows which did hide mount Pehon waxed thin:  
And not a tree was left upon mount Othris ere they went.  
Sir Cenye underneath this great huge pile of timber penned,  
Did chauf and on his shoulders hard the heavy logs did bear.  
But when above his face and head the trees up stacked were,  
So that he had no venting place too draw his breath: One while  
He fainted: and anotherwhyle he heaved at the pile,  
Too tumble down the logs that lay so heavy on his back,  
And for too win the open air again above the stack:  
As if the mountain Ida (lo) which yoonder we do see  
So high, by earth quake at a time should chance to shaken be.  
Men doubt what did become of him. Sum hold opinion that  
The burden of the woods had driven his soul too Limbo flat.  
But Mopsus said it was not so. For he did see a brown  
Bird flying from amid the stack and towering up and down.  
It was the first time and the last that ever I behild  
That fowl. When Mopsus softly saw him soaring in the field,  
He looked wistly after him, and cried out on high.  
Hail peerless pearl of Lapith race, hail Ceny, late ago  
A valeant knight, and now a bird of whom there is no more.  
The author caused men believe the matter too be so.  
Our sorrow set us in a rage. It was too us a grief  
That by so many foes one knight was killed without relief.  
Then ceased we not too wreak our ●éene till most was slain in fight,  
And that the rest discomfited were fled away by night.  
As Nestor all the process of this battle did rehearse  
Between the valeant Lapithes and misshapen Centawres fierce,  
Tlepolemus displeased sore that Hercules was passed  
With silence, could not hold his peace, but out these words did cast.  
My Lord, I muse you should forget my father's praise so quyght.  
For often unto me himself was wonted too recite,  
How that the clowdbred folk by him were chiefly put too flight.  
Right sadly Nestor answered thus. Why should you me constrain  
Too call too mind forgotten griefs? and for to réere again  
The sorrows now outworn by time? or force me too declare  
The hatred and displeasure which I too your father bare?  
In soothe his doings greater were than might be well believed.  
He filled the world with high renown which nobly he achieved.  
Which thing I would I could deny. For neither set we out  
Deïphobus, Polydamas, nor Hector that most stout  
And valeant knight the strength of Troy. For who will praise his foe?  
Your father overthrew the walls of Messen long ago,  
And razed Pyle, and Ely towns unworthy serving so.  
And fierce against my father's house he used both sword and fire.  
And (not too speak of others whom he killed in his tre)  
Twice six we were the sons of Nele all lusty gentlemen.  
Twice six of us (excepting me) by him were murdered then.  
The death of all the rest might seem a matter not so strange:  
But strange was Periclymens' death who had the power too change  
And leave and take what shape he list (by Neptune too him given,  
The founder of the house of Nele.) For when he had been driven  
Too try all shapes, and none could help: he last of all became  
The fowl that in his hooked feet doth bear the flashing flame  
Sent down from heaven by jupiter. He practising those birds,  
With flapping wings, and bowwing beak, and hooked talants girds  
At Hercle, and béescratcht his face. Too certain (I may say)  
Thy father amde his shaft at him. For as he towering lay  
Among the clouds, he hit him underneath the wing. The stroke  
Was small: Howbéet because therewith the sinews being broke,  
He wanted strength too maintain flight, he fell me too the ground,  
Through weakness of his wing. The shaft that sticked in the wound,  
By reason of the burden of his body pierced his side,  
And at the leftsyde of his neck all bloody forth did glide.  
Now tell me O thou beautiful Lord admiral of the fleet  
Of Rhodes, if me too speak the praise of Hercle it be meet.  
But least that of my brother's deaths men think I do desire  
A further vendge than silence of the prowess of thy sire,  
I love thee even with all my heart, and take thee for my friend.  
When Nestor of his pleasant tales had made this friendly end,  
They called for a bowl of wine, and from the table went,  
And all the resdew of the night in sleeping sound spent.  
But neptune like a father took the matter sore too heart  
That Cygnet too a Swan he was constrained too convert.  
And hating fierce Achilles, he did wreak his cruel teen  
Upon him more uncourteously than had beseeming been.  
For when the wars well near full twice five years had lasted. He  
Unshorn Apollo thus bespoke. O nephew unto me  
Most dear of all my brother's imps, who helpedst me too lay  
Foundation of the walls of Troy for which we had no pay,  
And canst thou sighs forbear too see the Asian Empire fall?  
And doth it not lament thy heart when thou too mind dost call  
So many thousand people slain in keeping Ilium wall?  
Or (to th'intent particlerly I do not speak of all)  
Remember'st thou not Hector's Ghost who harryed was about  
His town of Troy? where ne'ertheless Achilles that same stout  
And far in fight more butcherly, who strives with all his might  
Too stroy the work of me and thee, lives still in healthful plight▪  
If ever he do come within my danger he shall feel  
What force is in my triple mace. But sith with sword of steel  
I may not meet him as my foe, I pray thee unbéeware  
Go kill him with a sudden shaft and rid me of my care.  
Apollo did consent: as well his uncle for too please,  
As also for a private grudge himself had for too ease.  
And in a cloud he down among the host of Troy did slide,  
Where Paris' dribbling out his shafts among the Greeks he spied:  
And telling him what God he was, said wherefore dost thou waast  
Thine arrows on the simple sort? It any care thou haste  
Of those that are thy friends, go turn against Achilles' head,  
And like a man revenge on him thy brothers that are dead.  
In saying this, he brought him where Achilles with his brand  
Was beating down the Trojan folk, and leveled so his hand  
As that Achilles tumbled down stark dead upon the land.  
This was the only thing whereof the old king Priam might  
Take comfort after Hector's death. That stout and valeant knight  
Achilles who had overthrown so many men in fight,  
Was by that coward carpet knight béeréeved of his life.  
Who like a caitiff stolen away the Spartan prince's wife.  
But if of weapon womanish he had foreknown it had  
His destnye been too lose his life, he would have been more glad  
That Queen Penthesileas bill had slain him out of hand.  
Now was the fear of Phrygian folk, the only glory, and  
Defence of Greeks, that peerless prince in arms, Achilles turned  
Too ashes. That same God that had him armed, him also burnt.  
Now is he dust: and of that great Achilles bideth still.  
A thing of nought, that scarcely can a little coffin fill.  
Howbéet his worthy fame doth live, and spreadeth over all  
The world, a measure meet for such a person too béefall.  
This matcheth thee Achilles' full. And this can never die.  
His target also (to th'intent that men might plainly spy  
What wights it was) did move debate, and for his armour burst  
Out deadly food. Not Diomed, nor Ajax Oily durst  
Make claim or challenge too the same, nor Atreus' younger son,  
Nor yet his elder, though in arms much honour they had won.  
Alone the sons of Telamonius and Laërt did assay  
Which of them two of that great prise should bear the bell away.  
But Agamemnon from himself the burden puts, and cléeres  
His hands of envy, causing all the Captains and the Peers  
Of Greece too meet amid the camp toogither in a place,  
Too whom he put the héering and the judgement of the case.  
Finis duodecimi Libri.   

¶ THE. XIII. BOOK OF Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
THe Lords and captains being set toogither with the King,  
And all the soldiers standing round about them in a ring,  
The owner of the sevenfold shield, too these did Ajax rise.  
And (as he could not bridle wrath) he cast his frowning eyes  
Upon the shore and on the fleet that there at Anchor lies  
And throwing up his hands, O God and must we plead (ꝙ he)  
Our case before our ships? and must Ulysses stand with me?  
But like a wretch he ran his way when Hector came with fire,  
Which I defending from these ships did force him too retire.  
It easier is therefore with words in print too maintain strife,  
Than for too fight it out with fists. But neither I am rife  
In words, nor he in deeds. For look how far I him excel  
In battle and in feats of arms: so far bears he the bell  
From me in talking. Neither think I requisite too tell  
My acts among you. You yourselves have seen them very well.  
But let Ulysses tell you his done all in hudther mudther,  
And whereunto the only night is privy and none other.  
The prise is great (I do confess.) For which we strive. But yet  
It is dishonour unto me, for that in claiming it  
So base a person standeth in contention for the same.  
Too think it mine already, ought too counted be no shame  
Nor pride in me: although the thing of right great value be  
Of which Ulysses stands in hope. For now already he  
Hath won the honour of this prise, in that when he shall sit  
Besides the quisshon, he may brag he strove with me for it.  
And though I wanted valiantness, yet should nobility  
Make with me. I of Telamonius am known the son too be  
Who under valeant Hercules the walls of Troy did scale,  
And in the ship of Pagasa too Colchos land did sail.  
His father was that Aeäcus who executeth right  
Among the ghosts where Sisyphus heaves up with all his might  
The massy stone ay tumbling down. The highest jove of all  
Acknowledgeth this Aeäcus, and doth his son him call.  
Thus am I Ajax the third from jove. Yet let this pedigree  
O Achyves in this case of mine available not be,  
unless I prove it fully with Achilles too agree  
He was my brother, and I claim that was my brothers. Why  
Shouldst thou that art of Sisyphs blood, and for too filch and lie  
Expressest him in every point, by foorged pedigree  
ally thee too the Aeacyds, as though we did not see  
Thee too the house of Aeäcus, a stranger for too be?  
And is it reason that you should this armour me deny  
Because I former was in arms, and needed not a spy  
Too fetch me forth? Or think you him more worthy it too have,  
That came too warfare hindermost, and feynd himself too rave,  
Because he would have shunned the war? until a sutler head  
And more unprofitable for himself, sir Palamed  
Escryde the crafty fetches of his fearful heart, and drew  
Him forth a warfare which he sought so cowardly too eschew?  
Must he now needs enjoy the best and richest armour? who  
Would none at all have worn unless he forced were thereto?  
And I with shame be put beside my cousin germans gifts  
Because too shun the formest brunt of wars I sought no shifts?  
Would God this mischief master had in very deed been mad,  
Or else believed so too be: and that we never had  
Brought such a panion unto Troy. Then should not Paeans son  
In Lemnos like an outlaw too the shame of all us won.  
Who lurking now (as men report) in woods and caves, doth move  
The very flints with sighs and groans, and prayers too God above  
Too send Ulysses his desert. Which prayer (if there be  
A God) must one day take effect. And now behold how he  
By oath a Soldier of our Camp, yea and as well as we  
A captain too, alas, (who was by Hercules assigned  
Too have the keeping of his shafts,) with pain and hunger pinned,  
Is clad and fed with fowls, and dribs his arrows up and down  
At birds, which were by destiny prepared too stroy Troy town.  
Yet liveth he because he is not still in company  
With sly Ulysses. Palamed that wretched knight perdie,  
Would eke he had abandoned been. For than should still the same  
Have been alive: or at the least have died without our shame.  
But this companion bearing (ah) too well in wicked mind  
His madness which sir Palamed by wisdom out did find,  
Appeached him of treason that he practysde too betray  
The Greekish host. And for too bouch the fact, he showed straight way  
A mass of goold that he himself had hidden in his tent,  
And forged Letters which he feynd from Priam too be sent.  
Thus either by his murdering men or else by banishment  
Abateth he the Greekish strength. This is Ulysses' fight.  
This is the fear he puts men in. But though he had more might  
Than Nestor hath, in eloquence he shall not compass me  
Too think his lewd abandoning of Nestor for too be  
No fault: who being cast behind by wounding of his horse,  
And slow with age, with calling on Ulysses' waxing hoarse,  
Was ne'ertheless betrayed by him. Sir Diomed knows this crime  
Is unsurmysde. For he himself did at that present time  
Rebuke him oftentimes by name, and féercely him upbraid  
With flying from his fellow so who stood in need of aid.  
With rightful eyes doth God behold the deeds of mortal men.  
Lo, he that helped not his friend wants help himself again.  
And as he did forsake his friend in time of need: so he  
Did in the self-same peril fall forsaken for too be.  
He made a rod too beat himself. He called and cried out  
Upon his fellows. Straight I came: and there I saw the lout  
Both quake and shake for fear of death, and look as pale as clout.  
I set my shield between him and his foes, and him bestrid:  
And saved the dastards life. small praise redounds of that I did.  
But if thou wilt contend with me, let's to the self same place  
Again: be wounded as thou wart: and in the foresaid case  
Of fear, beset about with foes: couch underneath my shield:  
And then contend thou with me there amid the open field.  
Howbéet, I had no sooner rid this champion of his foes,  
But where for wounds he scarce before could totter on his toes,  
He ran away apace, as though he nought at all did ail.  
Anon comes Hector too the field and bringeth at his tail  
The Gods. Not only thy heart there (Ulysses) did the fail,  
But even the stoutest courages and stomachs 'gan too quail.  
So great a terror brought he in. Yet in the mids of all  
His bloody ruff, I coped with him, and with a foiling fall  
Did overthrow him too the ground. Another time, when he  
Did make a challenge, you my Lords by lot did choose out me,  
And I did match him hand too hand. Your wishes were not vain.  
For if you ask me what success our combat did obtain,  
I came away unvanquished. Behold the men of Troy  
Brought fire and sword, and all the fiends our navy too destroy.  
And where was sly Ulysses then with all his talk so smooth?  
This breast of mine was fain too fence your thousand ships forsooth  
The hope of your returning home. For saving that same day  
So many ships, this armour give. But (if that I shall say  
The truth) the greater honour now this armour bears away.  
And our renowns toogither link. For (as of reason ought)  
An Ajax for this armour, not an armour now is sought  
For Ajax. Let Dulychius match with these, the horses white  
Of Rhesus, dastard Dolon, and the coward carpetknyght  
King Priam's Helen, and the stealth of Palladye by night.  
Of all these things was nothing done by day nor nothing wrought  
Without the help of Diomed. And therefore if ye thought  
Too give them too so small deserts, divide the same, and let  
Sir Diomed have the greater part. But what should Ithacus get  
And if he had them? Who doth all his matters in the dark,  
Who never weareth armour, who shoots ay at his own mark  
Too trap his ●o by stealth unwares? The very headpiece may  
With brightness of the glistering gold his privy feats bewray  
And show him lurking. Neither well of force Dulychius were  
The weight of great Achilles' helm upon his pate too wear  
It cannot but a burden be (and that right great) too bear  
(With whose same shrimpish arms of his) Achilles mighty spear.  
Again his target graven with the whole huge world thereon  
Agrees not with a fearful hand, and chiefly such a one  
As taketh filching even by kind. Thou Lozel thou dost seek  
A gift that will but weaken thee▪ which if the folk of Greek  
Shall give thee through their oversight, it will be unto thee  
Occasion, of thine emnyes spoiled not feared for too be  
And flight (wherein thou coward, thou all others mayst outbrag)  
Will hindered be when after thee such masses thou shalt drag.  
Moreover this thy shield that feels so seld the force of fight  
Is sound. But mine is gashed and hakt and stricken thurrough quyght  
A thousand times, with bearing blows. And therefore mine must walk  
And put another in his stead. But what needs all this talk?  
Let's now be seen another while what each of us can do.  
The thickest of our armed foes this armour throw into,  
And bid us fetch the same fro thence. And which of us doth fetch  
The same away, reward ye him therewith. Thus far did stretch  
The words of Ajax. At the end whereof there did ensue  
A muttering of the soldiers, till Laertis' son the prew  
Stood up, and raised soberly his eyliddes from the ground  
(On which he had a little while them pitched in a stound)  
And looking on the noblemen who longed his words too here  
He thus began with comely grace and sober pleasant cheer.  
My Lords, if my desire and yours might erst have taken place,  
It should not at this present time have been a doubtful case,  
What person hath most right too this great prise for which we strive.  
Achilles should his armour have, and we still him alive.  
Whom sigh that cruel destiny too both of us denies,  
swith that same word as though he wept, he wiped his watery eyes)  
What wight of reason rather ought too be Achilles' heir,  
Than he through whom too this your camp Achilles did repair?  
Alonely let it not avail sir Ajax here, that he  
Is such a dolt and grossehead, as he shows himself too be  
Ne let my wit (which ay hath done you good O Greeks) hurt me.  
But suffer this mine eloquence (such as it is) which now  
Doth for his master speak, and oft ere this hath spoke for you,  
be undisdeynd. Let none refuse his own good gifts he brings.  
For as for stock and ancestors, and other such like things  
Whereof ourselves no founders are, I scarcely dare them grant  
Too be our own. But forasmuch as Ajax makes his vaunt  
Too be the fourth from jove: even jove the founder is also  
Of my house: and than four descents I am from him no more.  
Laertes is my father, and Arcesius his, and he  
Begotten was of jupiter. And in this pedigree  
Is neither any damned soul, nor outlaw as ye see.  
Moreover by my mothers side I come of Mercuree,  
Another honour too my house. Thus both by father's side  
And mothers (as you may perceive) I am too Gods allied.  
But neither for because I am a better gentleman  
Than Ajax by the mothers side, nor that my father can  
Avouch himself unguilty of his brother's blood, do I  
This armour claim. weigh you the case by merits uprightly.  
provided no prerogative of birthryght Ajax bear,  
For that his father Telamonius, and Peleus' brothers were.  
Let only prowess in this prise the honour bear away.  
Or if the case on kinrid or on birthryght seem too stay,  
His father Peleus is alive, and Pyrrhus eke his son.  
What title then can Ajax make. This gear of right should won  
Too Phthya, or too Scyros I'll. And Tewcer is as well  
Achilles' uncle as is he. Yet doth not Tewcer mell.  
And if he did, should he obtain? well sith the case doth rest  
On trial which of us can prove his doings too be best,  
I needs must say my deeds are more than well I can express:  
Yet will I show them orderly as near as I can guess.  
Foreknowing that her son should die, The Lady Thetis hide  
Achilles in a maids attire. By which fine slight she did  
All men deceive, and Ajax too. This armour in a pack  
With other women's trifling toys I carried on my back,  
A bait too train a manly heart. appareled like a maid  
Achilles took the spear and shield in hand, and with them played.  
Then said I: O thou Goddess son, why shouldst thou be afraid  
Too raze great Troy, whoose overthrow for thee is only stayed?  
And laying hand upon him I did send him (as you see)  
Too valeant doings meet for such a valeant man as he.  
And therefore all the deeds of him are my deeds. I did wound  
King Teleph with his spear, and when he lay upon the ground,  
I was entreated with the spear too heal him safe and sound.  
That Thebes lieth overthrown, is my deed you must think  
I made the folk of Tenedos and Lesbos for too shrink.  
Both Chryse and Cillas Phoebus' towns and Scyros I did take.  
And my right hand Lyrnessus walls too ground did level make.  
I gave you him that should confound (besides a number more)  
The valeant Hector. Hector that our most renowned foe  
Is slain by me. This armour here I sew again too have  
This armour by the which I found Achilles. I it gave  
Achilles while he was alive: and now that he is gone  
I claim it as mine own again. What time the grief of one  
Had pierced the hearts of all the Greeks, and that our thousand sail  
At Awlis by Ewboya stayd, because the winds did fail,  
continuing either none at all or clean against us long,  
And that our Agamemnon was by destiny's overstrong  
Commanded for too sacrifyse his guiltless daughter too  
Diana, which her father then refusing for too do  
Was angry with the Gods themselves, and though he were a king  
Continued also fatherlike: by reason, I did bring  
His gentle nature too relent for public profits sake.  
I must confess (whereat his grace shall no displeasure take)  
Before a partial judge I undertook a right hard case.  
howbeit for his brother's sake, and for the royal mace  
Committed, and his people's weal, at length he was content  
Too purchase praise with blood. Then was I too the mother sent,  
Who not persuaded was too be, but compassed with sum guile.  
Had Ajax on this errand gone, our ships had all this while  
line still there yet for want of wind. Moreover I was sent  
Too Ilium as ambassador. I boldly thither went,  
And entered and behilld the Court, wherein there was as then  
Great store of princes, Dukes, Lords, knights, and other valeant men.  
And yet I boldly ne'ertheless my message did at large  
The which the whole estate of Greece had given me erst in charge.  
I made complaint of Paris, and accused him too his head.  
Demanding restitution of Queen Helen that same stead  
And of the booty with her ta'en. Both Priamus the king  
And eke Antenor his ally the words of me did sting.  
And Paris and his brothers, and the resdew of his train  
That under him had made the spoil, could hard and scarce refrain  
There wicked hands. You Menelay do know I do not feign.  
And that day was the first in which we jointly 'gan sustain  
A taste of perils, store whereof did then behind remain.  
It would be overlong too tell each profitable thing  
That during this long lasting war I well too pass did bring,  
By force as well as policy. For after that the furst  
Encounter once was overpast, our emnyes never durst  
Give battle in the open field, but held themselves within  
Their walls and bulwarks till the time the tenth year did begin,  
Now what didst thou of all that while, that canst do nought but stréeke?  
Or too what purpose servedst thou? For if thou my deeds seek,  
I practysd sundry policies too trap our foes unware:  
I fortifyde our Camp with trench which heretofore lay bare:  
I heartened our companions with a quiet mind too bear  
The longness of the weary war: I taught us how we were  
Both too be fed and furnished: and too and fro I went  
Too places where the Counsel thought most meet I should be sent.  
Behold the king deceived in his dream by false pretence  
Of Jove's commandment, bade us raise our séedge and get us hence.  
The author of his doing so may well be his defence.  
Now Ajax should have letted this, and called them back again  
Too sack the town of Troy. he should have fought with might & main.  
Why did he not restrain them when they ready were too go?  
Why took he not his sword in hand? why gave he not as though  
Sum counsel for the fléeting folk too follow at the brunt?  
In faith it had a trifle been to him that ay is wont.  
Such vaunting in his mouth too have. But he himself did fly  
As well as others. I did see, and was ashamed I  
Too see thee when thou fledst, and didst prepare so cowardly  
Too sail away. And thereupon I thus aloud did cry.  
What mean ye sirs? what madness doth you move too go too ship?  
And suffer Troy as good as ta'en, thus out of hand too slip?  
What else this tenth year bear ye home than shame? with such like word  
And other, (which the eloquence of sorrow did aboard,)  
I brought them from their flying ships. Then Agamemnon called  
Toogither all the captains who with fear were yet appalld.  
But Ajax durst not then once cre●ke. Yet durst Thersites be  
So bold as rail upon the kings, and he was paid by me  
For playing so the saweye jacke. Then stood I on my toes  
And too my fearful countrymen gave heart against their foes.  
And shed new courage in their minds through talk that fro me goes.  
From that time forth what ever thing hath valiantly achieved  
By this good fellow been, is mine, who him from flight repréeved.  
And now too touch thee: which of all the Greeks commendeth thee?  
Or seeketh thee? But Diomed communicates with me  
His doings, and alloweth me, and thinks him well apaid  
Too have Ulysses ever as companion at the brayed.  
And somewhat worth you will it grant (I trow) alone for me  
Out of so many thousand Greeks by Diomed pikt too be.  
No lot compelled me too go, and yet I setting light,  
As well the peril of my foes as danger of the night,  
Killed Dolon who about the self same fear that night did stray,  
That we went out for. But I first compelled him too bewray  
All things concerning faithless Troy, and what it went about.  
When all was learned, and nothing left behind too hearken out,  
I might have then come home with praise. I was not so content.  
Proceeding fruther too the Camp of Rhesus straight I went,  
And killed both himself and all his men about his tent.  
And taking both his chariot and his horses which were white,  
Returned home in triumph like a conqueror from fight.  
Deny you me the armour of the man whoose steeds the foe  
Required for his playing of the spy a night, and so  
May Ajax be more kind to me than you are what should I  
Declare unto you how my sword did waste right valeantly  
Sarpedons host of Lycia? I by force did overthrow  
Alastor, Crome▪ and Ceranos, and Haly on a row.  
Alcander, and Noëmon too, and Prytanis beside,  
And Thoön and Theridamas, and Charops also died  
By me, and so did Ewnomos enforced by cruel fate.  
And many more in sight of Troy I slew of bacer state.  
There also are (O countrymen) about me wound, which  
The place of them make beautiful. See here (his hand did twitch  
His shirt aside) and credit not vain words. Lo here the bri●t  
That always too be one in your affairs hath never mist.  
And yet of all this while no drop of blood hath Ajax spent  
Upon his fellows. Woundless is his body and unrent.  
But what skills that, as long as he is able for to vaunt  
He fought against both Troy and jove too save our fleet? I grant  
He did so. For I am not of such nature as of spite  
Well doings too deface: so that he challenge not the right  
Of all men too himself alone, and that he yield too me  
Sum share, who of the honour look a partner for too be.  
Patroclus also having on Achilles' armour, sent  
The Troyans' and their leader hence, too burn our navy bend.  
And yet thinks he that none durst meet with Hector saving he.  
Forgetting both the king, and eke his brother, yea and me.  
Where he himself was but the nineth, appointed by the king,  
And by the fortune of his lot preferred too do the thing.  
But now for all your valiantness, what Issue had I pray  
Your combat? shall I tell? forsooth, that Hector went his way  
And had no harm. Now woe is me how grieveth it my heart  
Too think upon that season when the bulwark of our part  
Achilles died? When neither tears, nor grief, nor fear could make  
Me for too stay, but that upon these shoulders I did take,  
I say upon these shoulders I Achilles' body took,  
And this same armour clasped thereon, which now too wear I look.  
Sufficient strength I have too bear as great a weight as this,  
And eke a heart wherein regard of honour rooted is.  
Think you that Thetis for her son so instantly besought  
Sir Vulcan this same heavenly gift too give her, which is wrought  
With such exceeding cunning, too th'intent a soldier that  
Hath neither wit nor knowledge should it wear? He knows not wha●  
The things engraven on the shield do mean. Of Ocean see,  
Of land, of heaven, and of the stars no skill at all hath he.  
The Bear that never dives in sea he doth not understand,  
The Pleiads, nor the Hyads, nor the Cities that do stand  
Upon the earth, nor yet the sword that Orion holds in hand.  
He seeks too have an armour of the which he hath no skill.  
And yet in finding fault with me because I had no will  
Too follow this same painful war and sought too shun the same,  
And made it somewhat longer time before I thither came,  
He sees not how he speaks reproach too stout Achilles' name.  
For if too have dissembled in this case, ye count a crime,  
We both offenders be. Or if protracting of the time  
ye count blame worthy, yet was I the tymelyer of us twain.  
Achilles' loving mother him, my wife did me detain.  
The former time was given to them, the rest was given too you.  
And therefore do I little pass although I could not now  
Defend my fault, sith such a man of prowess, birth and fame  
As was Achilles, was with me offender in the same.  
But yet was he espyëd by Ulysses' wit, but nat  
Ulysses by sir Ajax wit▪ And lest ye wonder at  
The railing of this foolish dolt at me, he doth object  
reproach too you. For if that I offended too detect  
Sir Palamed of forged fault, could you without your shame  
Arreyne him, and condemn him eke too suffer for the same?  
But neither could sir Palamed excuse him of the crime  
So heinous and so manifest: and you yourselves that time  
Not only his indictment hard, but also did behold  
His deed avouched too his face by bringing in the gold.  
And as for Philoctetes, that he is in Lemnos, I  
Deserve not too be touched therewith. Defend your crime: for why  
You all consented thereunto. Yet do I not deny,  
But that I gave the counsel too convey him out of way  
From toil of war and travel that by rest he might assay  
Too ease the greatness of his pains. He did thereto obey  
And by so doing is alive. Not only faithful was  
This counsel that I gave the man, but also happy, as  
The good success hath showed since. Whom sigh the destiny's do●  
Require in overthrowing Troy, Appoint not me thereto:  
But let sir Ajax rather go. For he with eloquence  
Or by some subtle policy, shall bring the man fro thence  
And pacify him raging through disease, and wrathful ire.  
Nay. first the river Simois shall too his spring retire,  
And mountain Ida sha●l thereon have standing never a tree,  
Yea and the faithless town of Troy by Greeks shall rescued be,  
Before that Ajax blockish wit shall aught at all avail,  
When my attempts and practises in your affairs do fail.  
For though thou Philoctetes with the king offended be,  
And with thy fellows everichone, and most of all with me,  
Although thou curse and ban me too the hellish pit for ay,  
And w●sshest in thy pain that I by chance might cross thy way,  
Of purpose for too draw my blood: yet will I give assay  
Too fetch thee hither once again. And (if that fortune say  
Amen,) I will as well have thee and eke thine arrows, as  
I have the Trojan prophet who by me surprised was,  
Or as I did the Oracles and Trojan fa●es disclose,  
Or as I from her chapel through the thickest of her foes  
The Phrygian Pallads image fetched: And yet doth Ajax still  
Compare himself with me. ye know it was the destiny's will  
That Troy should never taken be by any force, until  
This Image first were got. and where was then our valeant knight  
Sir Ajax? where the stately words of such a hardy wight?  
Why feareth he? why dares Ulysses venturing through the watch  
Commit his person too the night his buysnesse too dispatch?  
And through the pikes not only for too pass the guarded wall?  
But also for too enter too the strongest tower of all?  
And for too take the Idol from her Chapel and her shrine?  
And bear her thence amid his foes? For had this deed of mine  
Been left undone, in vain his shield of Oxen hides seven fold  
Should yet the Son of Telamonius have in his left hand hold.  
That night subdued I Troy town. that night did I it win.  
And opened it for you likewise with ease too enter in.  
Cease too upbraid me by these looks and mumbling words of thine  
With Diomed: his praise is in this fact as well as mine.  
And thou thyself when for our ships thou didst in rescue stand,  
Wart not alone: the multitude were helping thee at hand.  
I had but only one with me. Who (if he had not thought  
A wiseman better than a strong, and that preferment ought  
Not always follow force of hand) would now himself have sought  
This Armour. So would toother Ajax better stayëd do,  
And fierce Ewrypyle, and the son of haut Andremon too.  
No less might eke Idominey, and eke Meriones  
His countryman, and Menelay. For every one of these  
Are valeant men of hand, and not inferior unto thee  
In martial feats. And yet they are contented ruled too be  
By mine advice. Thou hast a hand that serveth well in fight.  
Thou hast a wit that stands in need of my direction right.  
Thy force is witless. I have care of that that may ensue.  
Thou well canst fight: the king doth choose the times for fighting dew  
By mine advice. Thou only with thy body canst avail.  
But I with body and with mind too profit do not fail,  
And look how much the master doth excel the galley slave,  
Or look how much pre-eminence the captain aught too have  
Above his soldier: even so much excel I also thee.  
A wit far passing strength of hand enclosed is in me.  
In wit rests chiefly all my force. My Lords I pray bestow  
This gift on him who ay hath been your watchman as ye know.  
And for my ten years cark and care endured for your sake  
Full recompense for my deserts with this same honour make.  
Our labour draweth too an end, all lets are now by me  
Dispatched. And by bringing Troy in case too taken be  
I have already taken it. Now by the hope that ye  
conceive, within a while of Troy the ruin for too see,  
And by the Gods of whom a late our emnyes I bereft,  
And as by wisdom too be done yet any thing is left,  
If any bold aventrous deed, or any perilous thing,  
That asketh hazard both of life and limb too pass too bring,  
Or if ye think of Trojan fates there yet doth aught remain,  
Remember me. or if from me this armour you restrain,  
Bestow it on this same. With that he showed with his hand  
Minerva's fatal image, which hard by in sight did stand.  
The Lords were moved with his words, & then appeared plain  
The force that is in eloquence. The learned man did gain  
The armour of the valeant. He that did so oft sustain  
Alone both fire, and sword, and jove, and Hector could not bide  
One brunt of wrath. And whom no force could vanquish ere that tide,  
Now only anguish overcommes. He draws his sword and says:  
Well: this is mine yet. unto this no claim Ulysses lays.  
This must I use against myself: this blade that heretofore  
Hath bathed been in Trojan blood, must now his master gor●  
That none may Ajax overcome save Ajax. With that word.  
into his breast (not wounded erst) he thrust his deathful sword.  
His hand too pull it out again unable was. The blood  
Did spout it out. Anon the ground bestayned where he stood,  
Did breed the pretty purple flower upon a clowre of green,  
Which of the wound of Hyacinth had erst engendered been.  
The self-same letters eke that for the child were written than,  
Were now again amid the flower new written for the man.  
The former time complaint, the last a name did represent.  
Ulysses' having won the prise, within a while was sent  
Too Thoants and Hypsiphiles realm the land defamed of old  
For murdering all the men therein by women over bold.  
At length attaining land and luck according too his mind,  
Too carry Hercles' arrows back he set his sails too wind.  
Which when he with the lord of them among the Greeks had brought,  
And of the cruel war at length the utmost feat had wrought,  
At once both Troy and Priam fell. And Priam's wretched wife  
Lost (after all) her woman's shape, and barked all her life  
In foreign country. In the place that bringeth too a straight  
The long spread sea of Hellespont, did Ilium burn in height.  
The kindled fire with blazing flame continued unalayd,  
And Priam with his aged blood Jove's Altar had berayed.  
And Phoebus' préestesse casting up her hands too heaven on high,  
Was dragged and haled by the hear. The Gray's most spitefully  
(As each of them had prisoners ta'en in meed of victory)  
Did draw the Trojan wives away, who lingering while they mought  
Among the burning temples of their Gods, did hang about  
Their sacred shrines and images. Astyanax down was cast  
From that same turret from the which his mother in time past  
Had showed him his father stand oft fighting too defend  
Himself and that same famous realm of Troy that did descend  
From many noble ancestors. And now the northern wind  
With prosperous blasts, too get them thence did put the Greeks in mind.  
The shipmen went aboard, and hoist up sails, and made fro thence.  
A déew dear Troy (the women cried) we haled are from hence.  
And therewithal they kissed the ground, and left yet smoking still  
Their native houses. Last of all took ship against her will  
Queen Hecub: who (a piteous case too see) was found amid  
The tombs in which her sons were laid. And there as Hecub did  
Embrace their chists and kiss their bones, Ulysses' void of care  
Did pull her thence. Yet reached she up, and in her boosom bore  
Away a crumb of Hector's dust, and left on Hector's grave  
Her hoary hears and tears, which for poor offerings she him gave.  
against the place where Ilium was, there is another land  
Manured by the Biston men. In this same Realm did stand  
King Polemnestors' palace rich, too whom king Priam sent  
His little infant Polydore too foster, too th'intent  
He might be out of danger from the wars: wherein he meant  
Right wisely, had he not with him great riches sent, a bait  
Too stir a wicked covetous mind too treason and deceit.  
For when the state of Troy decayed, the wicked king of Thrace  
Did cut his nur●echylds weazant, and (as though the sinful case  
Toogither with the body could have quyght been put away)  
He threw him also in the sea. It happened by the way,  
That Agamemnon was compelled with all his fleet too stay  
Upon the coast of Thrace, until the sea were wexen calm,  
And till the hideous storms did cease, and furious wynds were fallen.  
Here rising ghastly from the ground which far about him broke,  
Achilles with a threatening look did like resemblance make,  
As when at Agamemnon he his wrongful sword did shake,  
And said: Unmyndfull part ye hence of me O Greeks? and must  
My merits thankless thus with me be buried in the dust?  
Nay, do not so. But too th'intent my death dew honour have,  
Let Polyxena in sacrifice be slain upon my grave.  
Thus much he said: and shortly his companions doing as  
By vision of his cruel ghost commandment given them was,  
Did fetch her from her mother's lap, whom at that time, well near,  
In that most great adversity alonely she did cheer.  
The haultye and unhappy maid, and rather too be thought  
A man than woman, too the tumb with cruel hands was brought,  
Too make a cursed sacrifice. Who minding constantly  
Her honour, when she standing at the Altar priest too die,  
Perceyud the savage ceremonies in making ready, and  
The cruel Neöptolemus with naked sword in hand,  
Stand staring with ungentle eyes upon her gentle face,  
She said. Now use thou when thou wilt my gentle blood. The case  
Requires no more delay. bestow thy weapon in my chest,  
Or in my throat: (in saying so she proffered bare her breast,  
And eke her throat.) Assure yourselves it never shallbe seen,  
That any wight shall (by my will) have slave of Polyxeene.  
Howbéet with such a sacrifyse no God ye can delight.  
I would desire no more but that my wretched mother might  
be ignorant of this my death. My mother hindereth me,  
And makes the pleasure of my death much lesser for too be.  
howbeit not the death of me should justly grieve her heart:  
But her own life. Now too th'intent I freely may departed  
Too Limbo, stand ye men aloof: and sith I ask but right  
Forbear too touch me. So my blood unstained in his sight  
Shall far more acceptable be what ever wight he be  
Whom you prepare too pacify by sacrifysing me.  
Yet (if that these last words of mine may purchase any grace,)  
I daughter of king Priam erst, and now in prisoners case,  
Béeseeche you all unraunsomed too render too my mother  
My body: and for burial of the same too take none other  
Reward than tears: for while she could she did redeem with gold.  
This said: the tears that she forbore the people could not hold.  
And even the very priest himself full sore against his will  
And weeping, thrust her through the breast which she held stoutly still.  
She sinking softly too the ground with fainting legs, did bear  
Even too the very latter gasp a countenance void of fear.  
And when she fell, she had a care such parts of her too hide,  
As womanhod and chastity forbiddeth too be spied.  
The Trojan women took her up, and morning reckoned  
King Priam's children, and what blood that house alone had shed.  
They sight for fair Polyxeene: they sighed eke for thee  
Who late wart Priam's wife, who late wart counted for too be  
The flower of Asia in his flower, and Queen of mothers all:  
But now the booty of the so as evil lot did fall,  
And such a booty as the sly Ulysses did not pass  
Upon her, saving that erewhile she Hector's mother was.  
So hardly for his mother could a master Hector find.  
Embracing in her aged arms the body of the mind  
That was so stout, she powered thereon with sobbing sighs unsoft  
The tears that for her husband and her children had so oft  
And for her country shedded been. She wéeped in her wound  
And kissed her pretty mouth, and made her brist with strokes too sound,  
According too her wonted guise, and in the iellyed blood  
Béerayëd all her grisild hear, and in a sorrowful mood  
Said these and many other words with bre●t bescratcht and rend.  
O daughter mine, the last for whom thy mother may lament,  
(For what remains?) O daughter thou art dead and gone. I see  
Thy wound which at the very heart strikes me as well as thee.  
And lest that any one of mine unwounded should departed,  
Thou also gotten haste a wound. Howbéet because thou wart  
A woman, I believed thee from weapon too be free.  
But notwithstanding that thou art a woman, I do see  
Thee slain by sword. Even he that killed thy brothers killeth thee,  
Achilles the decay of Troy and maker bore of me.  
What time that he of Paris shaft by Phoebus' means was slain,  
I said of fierce Achilles now no fear doth more remain.  
But then, even than he most of all was feared for too be.  
The ashes of him rageth still against our race I see.  
We feel an enemy of him dead and buried in his grave  
Too feed Achilles' fury, I a fruitful issue gave.  
Great Troy lies under foot, and with a right great grievous fall  
The mischiefs of the common weal are fully ended all.  
But though too others Troy be gone, yet stands it still too me:  
My sorrows run as fresh a race as ever and as free.  
I late a go a sovereign state, advanced with such store  
Of daughters, sons, and sonneinlawes, and husband over more  
And daughtrinlawes, am carried like an outlaw bare and poor,  
By force and violence haled from my children's tombs, too be  
Presented too Penelope a gift, who showing me  
In spinning my appointed task, shall say: this same is she  
That was sometime king Priam's wife, this was the famous mother  
Of Hector. And now after loss of such a sort of other,  
Thou (who alonely in my grief my comfort didst remain,)  
Too pacify our emnyes wrath upon his tumb art slain.  
Thus bore I deathgyfts for my foes. Too what intent am I  
Most wretched wight remaining still? why do I linger? why  
Doth hurtful age preserve me still alive? too what intent  
ye cruel Gods reserve ye me that hath already spent  
Too many years? unless it be new buryals for too see?  
And who would think that Priamus might happy counted be  
Sith Troy is razed? Happy man is he in being dead.  
His life and kingdoome he forewent toogither: and this stead  
He sees not thëe his daughter slain. But peradventure thou  
Shall like the daughter of a king have sumptuous burial now,  
And with thy noble ancestors thy body laid shall be.  
Our lineage hath not so good luck. the most that shall too thee  
be yielded are thy mothers tears, and in this foreign land  
Too hide thy murdered corce withal a little heap of sand.  
For all is lost. Nay yet remains (for whom I well can find  
In heart too live a little while) an imp unto my mind  
Most dëere, now only left alone, sometime of many more  
The youngest, little Polydore, delivered late ago  
Too Polemnestor king of Thrace who dwells within these bounds  
But wherefore do I stay so long in washing of her wounds,  
And face berayed with gory blood? in saying thus, she went  
Too seaward with an aged pace and hoary hear béerent.  
And (wretched woman) as she called for pitchers for too draw  
Up water, she of Polydore on shore the carcase saw,  
And eke the mighty wounds at which the Tyrant's sword went thurrow.  
The Trojan Ladies shréeked out. But she was dumb for sorrow.  
The anguish of her heart forclosde as well her speech as eke  
Her tears devouring them within. She stood astonied leek  
As if she had been stone. One while the ground she staard upon.  
Another while a ghastly look she kest too heaven. Anon  
She looked on the face of him that lay before her killed.  
sometimes his wounds, (his wounds I say) she specially behilld.  
And therewithal she armed herself and furnished her with ire:  
Wherethrough as soon as that her heart was fully set on fire,  
As though she still had been a Queen, too vengeance she her bend  
Enforcing all her wits too find some kind of ponnishme●t.  
And as a Lion rob of her whelps becometh wood,  
And taking on the footing of her emnye where he stood,  
Purs●weth him though out of sight: even so Queen Hecubee  
(Now having meynt her tears with wrath) forgetting quyght that see  
Was old, but not her princely hard, too Polemnestor went  
The cursed murderer, and desyrde his presence too th'intent  
Too she● to him a mass of gold (so made she her pretence)  
Which for her little Polydore was hid not far from thence.  
The Thracian king believing her, as eager of the pray,  
Went with her too a secret place. And as they there did stay,  
With flattering and deceitful tongue he thus too her did say.  
Make speed I pray thee Hecuba, and give thy son this gold.  
I swear by God it shall be his, as well that I do hold  
Already, as that thou shalt give. Upon him speaking so,  
And swearing and forswearing too, she looked sternly tho,  
And being sore inflaamd with wrath, caught hold upon him, and  
Straight calling out for succour too the wives of Troy at hand  
Did in the traitors face bestow her nails, and scratched out  
His eyes, her anger gave her heart and made her strong and stout.  
She thrust her fingers in as far as could be, and did bore  
Not now his eyes (for why his eyes were pulled out before)  
But both the places of the eyes berayed with wicked blood.  
The Thracians at their tyrants harm for anger waxing wood,  
Began too scare the Trojan wives with darts and stones. Anon  
Queen Hecub ronning at a stone, with gnarring seized thereon,  
And wirryed it between her teeth. And as she oped her chap  
Too speak, in stead of speech she barked. the place of this missehapp●  
Remaineth still, and of the thing there done bears yet the name.  
Long mindful of her former ills, she sadly for the same  
Went howling in the fields of Thrace. Her fortune moved not  
Her Troyans' only, but the Greeks her foes too ruth: Her lot  
Did move even all the Gods to ruth: and see effectually,  
That Hecub too deserve such end even juno did deny.  
Although the morning of the self-same wars had favourer been:  
She had no leisure too lament the fortune of the Queen,  
Nor on the slaughters and the fall of Ilium for too think.  
A household care more nearer home did in her stomach sink,  
For Memnon her beloved son, whom dying she behild  
Upon the fierce Achilles' spear amid the Phrygian f●●ld.  
She saw it, and her ruddy hue with which she wonted was  
Too die the breaking of the day, did into paleness pass:  
And all the sky was hid with clouds. But when his corce was gone  
Too burning ward, she could not find in heart too look thereon:  
But with her hear about her ears she kneeled down before  
The mighty jove, and thus 'gan speak unto him weeping sore.  
Of all that have their dwelling place upon the golden sky  
The lowest (for through all the world the feawest shrines have I)  
But yet a Goddess, I do come, not that thou shouldst decree  
That Altars, shrines, and holidays be made too honour me.  
Yet if thou mark how much that I a woman do for thee,  
In keeping night within her bounds, by bringing in thee light,  
Thou well mayst think me worthy sum reward too claim of right.  
But neither now is that the thing the morning cares too have,  
Ne yet her state is such as now due honour for too crave.  
Bereft of my dear Memnon who in fighting valiantly  
Too help his uncle, (so it was your will O Gods) did die  
Of stout Achilles sturdy spear even in his flowering prime,  
I sew too thee O king of Gods too do him at this time  
Sum honour as a comfort of his death, and ease this heart  
Of mine which greatly grieved is with wound of piercing smart.  
No sooner jove had granted dame Aurora her desire  
But that the flame of Memnon's corce that burned in the fire  
Did fall: and flaky rolls of smoke did dark the day, as when  
A foggy mist steams upward from a River or a fen,  
And suffereth not the Son too shine within it. Black as coal  
The cinder rose: and into one round lump assembling whole  
Grew gross, and took both shape and hue. The fire did life it send,  
The lightness of the substance self did wings unto it lend.  
And at the first it flittred like a bird: and by and by  
It flew a feathered bird in deed. And with that one 'gan fly  
Innumerable more of self-same brood: who once or twice  
Did sore about the fire, and made a piteous shréeking thrice.  
The fowrthtyme in their flying round, themselves they all withdrew  
In battles twain, and feercely forth of either side one flew  
Too fight a combat. With their bills and hooked talents keen  
And with their wings courageously they wreaked their wrathful teen.  
And mindful of the valeant man of whom they issued been,  
They never ceased jobbing each upon the others breast,  
Until they falling both down dead with fighting overpressed,  
Had offered up their bodies as a worthy sacrifice  
unto their cousin Memnon who too Ashes burned lies.  
These soodeine birds were named of the founder of their stock:  
For men do call them Memnon's birds. And every year a flock  
Repair too Memnon's tumb, where two do in the foresaid wise  
In manner of a yeeremynd slay themselves in sacrifice.  
Thus where as others did lament that Dymants' daughter bark●,  
Aurora's own grief busied her, that smally she it marked  
Which thing she too this present time with piteous tears doth show:  
For through the universal world she sheddeth moisting dew.  
Yet suffered not the destinies all hope tooperrish quyght  
Toogither with the town of Troy. That good and godly knight  
The son of Venus bore away by night upon his back  
His aged father and his Gods an honourable pack.  
Of all the riches of the town that only pray he chose,  
So godly was his mind: and like a banished man he goes  
By water with his own young son Ascanius from the isle  
Antandros, and he shonnes the shore of Thracia which ere while  
The wicked Tyrant's treason did with Polydores blood defile.  
And having wind and tide at will, he saufly with his train  
arrived at Apollo's town where Anius then did reign.  
Who being both Apollo's priest and of that place the king,  
Did entertain him in his house and unto church him bring,  
And showed him both the City and the temples known of old,  
And eke the sacred trees by which Latona once took hold  
When she of chyldbirth traveled assoon as sacrifice  
Was done with Oxens inwards burned according too the guise,  
And casting incense in the fire, and shedding wine thereon,  
They joyful too the court returned, and there they took anon  
Repast of meat and drink. Then said the good Anchyses this  
O Phoebus sovereign priest, unless I take my marks amiss,  
(As I remember) when I first of all this town did see,  
Four daughters and a son of thine thou hadst here with thee.  
King Anius shook his head whereon he ware a mitre white,  
And answered thus. O noble prince, in faith thou gessest right.  
Of children five a father then, thou didst me behold,  
Who now (with such unconstancy are mortal matters rolld)  
Am in a manner childless quyght. For what avails my son  
Who in the isle of Anderland a great way hence doth won?  
Which country takes his name of him, and in the selfsayd place,  
In stead of father, like a king he holds the royal mace.  
Apollo gave his lot too him: And Bacchus for too show  
His love, a greater gift upon his susters did bestow,  
Than could be wished or credited. For whatsoever they  
Did touch, was turned into corn, and wine, and oil straightway.  
And so their was rich use in them. assoon as that the fame  
Hereof too Agamemnon's ears the squorge of Troyans' came,  
Lest you might taste your storms alone and we not feel the same  
In part, an host he hither sent, and whither I would or no  
Did take them from me, forcing them among the Greeks too go  
Too feed the Greekish army with their heavenly gift. But they  
Escaped whither they could by flight. A couple took their way  
Too I'll Ewboya: toother two too Anderland did fly  
Their brother's Realm. An host of men pursewd them by and by,  
And threatened war unless they were delivered. Force of fear  
Subduing nature, did constrain the brother (men must bear  
With fearfulness) too render up his sisters too their foe.  
For neither was Aenaeas there, nor valeant Hector (who  
Did make your war last ten years long) the country too defend.  
Now when they should like prisoners have been fettered, in the end  
They casting up their hands (which yet were free) too heaven, did cry  
Too Bacchus for too secure them, who helped them by and by.  
At leastwise if it may be termed a help, in wondrous wise  
Too alter folk. For never could I learn ne can surmise  
The manner how they lost their shape▪ The thing itself is known.  
With feathered wings as white as snow they quyght away are flown  
Transformed into doou●house dove's thy wife dame Venus' birds.  
When that the time of meat was spent with these & such like words,  
The table was removed straight, and then they went too sleep.  
Next morrow rising up assoon as day began too peep,  
They went too Phoebus' Oracle, which willed them too go  
unto their mother country and the coasts their stock came fro.  
King Anius bore them company. And when away they should,  
He gave them gifts. Anchises had a sceptre all of gold.  
Ascanius had a quiver and a Cloak right brave and tr●●.  
Aenaeas had a standing Cup presented unto him.  
The Theban Therses who had been king Anius guest erewhile  
Did send it out of Thessaly: but Alcon one of Mile  
Did make the cup. And he theron●a story portrayed out.  
It was a City with seven gates in circuit round about,  
Which men might easily all discern. The gates did represent  
The City's name, and showed plain what town thereby was meant.  
Without the town were funerals a doing for the dead,  
With herces, tapers, fires, and tombs. The wives with ruffled head  
And stomachs bare pretended grief. The nymphs seemed tears too shed,  
And wail the drying of their wells. The leavelesse trees did sear.  
And licking on the parched stones Goats roamed here and there.  
Behold amid this Theban town was lively portrayed out  
Echions daughters twain, of which the one with courage stout  
Did proffer both her naked throat and stomach too the knife:  
And toother with a manly heart did also spend her life,  
For saufgard of her countryfolk: And how that thereupon  
They both were carried solemnly on herces, and anon  
Were burned in the chiefest place of all the Theban town.  
Then (lest their lineage should decay who died with such renown,)  
Out of the Ashes of the maids there issued two young men,  
And they unto their mothers dust did obsequies again.  
Thus much was graved curiously in ancient precious brass,  
And on the brim a trail of flowers of bearbrich gilded was.  
The Troyans' also gave too him as costly gifts again.  
Because he was Apollo's priest they gave too him as then  
A Chest too keep in frankincense. They gave him furthermore  
A Crown of gold wherein were set of precious stones great store.  
Then calling too remembrance that the Troyans' issued were  
Of Tewcers' blood, they sailed too Crete. But long they could not there  
Abide th'infection of the air: and so they did forsake  
The hundred Cities, and with speed to italy ward did make.  
The winter waxed hard and rough, and tossed them very sore.  
And when their ships arrived were upon the perilous shore  
Among the Strophad Isles, the bird Aëllo did them fear.  
The costs of Dulich, Ithaca, and Same they passed were,  
And eke the Court of Neritus where wise Ulysses reigned,  
And came too Ambrace for the which the Gods strong strife maintain.  
There saw they turned into stone the judge whoose image yet  
At Actium in Apollo's Church in sign thereof doth sit.  
They viewed also Dodon grove where Okes spoke: and the coast  
Of Chaön where the sons of king Molossus s●apt a most  
Ungracious fire by taking wings. From thence they coasted by  
The country of the Pheäks fraught with fruit abundantly.  
Then took they land in Epire, and too Buthrotos they went  
Whereas the Trojan prophet dwelled, whoose reign did represent  
an image of their ancient Troy. There being certifyde  
Of things too come by Helen (who while there they did abide  
Informed them right faithfully of all that should betide)  
They passed into Sicily. With corners three this land  
Shoots out into the Sea: of which Pachinnus front doth stand.  
against the southcoast: Lilibye doth face the gentle west,  
And Pelore unto Charlsis wain doth northward bear his breast.  
The Trojans under Pelore gate with oars and prosperous tides  
And in the even by Zanclye shore their fleet at anchor rides.  
Upon the leftsyde restlessely Charybdis ay doth beat them.  
And swalloweth ships & spews them up as fast as it doth eat them.  
And Scylla beateth on their right: which from the navel down  
Is patched up with cruel curs: and upward too the crown  
Doth keep the countenance of a maid, And (if that all be true  
That Poets feign) she was sometime a maid right fair of hue.  
Too her made many wooers suit: all which she did eschew.  
And going too the salt Sea nymphs (to whom she was right dear)  
She vaunted, too how many men she gave the slip that year.  
Too whom the Lady Galate in kembing of her hear  
Said thus with sighs. But they that sought too thee (O Lady) were  
None other than of human kind, too whom without all fear  
Of harm, thou mightest (as thou dost) give nay. But as for me  
Although that I of Nereus and grey Doris daughter be,  
And of my sisters have with me continually a guard,  
I could not scape the Cyclops love, but too my grief full hard.  
(With that her tears did stop her speech.) assoon as that the maid  
Had dried them with her marble thomb, & moande the nymph, she said.  
Dear Goddess tell me all your grief, and hide it not from me:  
For trust me I will unto you both true and secret be.  
Then unto Cratyes daughter thus the nymph her plaint did frame.  
Of Fawn and nymph Simethis borne was Acis, who became  
A joy too both his parents, but too me the greater joy.  
For being but a sixteen years of age, this fair sweet boy  
Did take me too his love, what time about his childish chin  
The tender hear like mossy down too sprout did first begin.  
I loved him beyond all Gods forbade, and likewise me  
The Giant Cyclops. neither (if demanded it should be)  
I well were able for too tell you whither that the love  
Of Acis, or the Cyclops hate did more my stomach move.  
There was no odds between them. Oh dear Goddess Venus, what  
A power haste thou? Behold how even this owgly Giant that  
No spark of meekness in him hath, who is a terror too  
The very woods, whom never guest nor stranger came unto  
Without displeasure, who the heavens and all the Gods despiseth,  
Doth feel what thing is love. The love of me him so surpryseth,  
That Polypheme regarding not his sheep and hollow Cave,  
And having care too please doth go about too make him brave.  
His stir stiff hear he kembeth now with strong and sturdy rakes,  
And with a sith doth marcussotte his bristled beard: and takes  
Delight too look upon himself in waters, and too frame  
His countenance. Of his murderous heart the wildness waxeth tame▪  
His unastaunched thirst of blood is quenched: ships may pass  
And repass saufly. In the while that he in love thus was,  
One Telemus Ewrymeds' son a man of passing skill  
In birdflyght, taking land that time in Sicill, went until  
The orped Giant Polypheme, and said: This one round eye  
That now amid thy forehead stands shall one day ere thou die  
By sly Ulysses blinded be. The Giant laughed thereat,  
And said O foolish soothsayre thou deceived art in that.  
For why another (even a wench) already hath it blinded.  
Thus scorning him that told him truth because he was high minded,  
He either made the ground too shake in walking on the shore,  
Or roused him in his shady Cave. With wedged point before  
There shoots a hill into the Sea: whereof the sea doth beat  
On either side. The one eyed fiend came up and made his seat  
thereon, and after came his sheep undriven. assoon as he  
Had at his foot laid down his staff which was a whole Pine tree  
Well able for too be a maast too any ship, he takes  
His pipe compact of fyvescore reeds, and therewithal he makes  
So loud a noise that all the hills and waters thereabout  
Might easily ●éere the shirlnesse of the shepherds whistling out.  
I lying underneath the rock, and leaning in the lap  
Of Acis marked these words of his which far I heard by hap.  
More white thou art then Primrose leaf my Lady Galatee.  
More fresh than mead, more tall and straight than lofty Aldertrée▪  
Moore bright than glass, more wanton than the tender kid forsooth.  
Than Cockleshelles continually with water worn, more smooth.  
More cheerful than the winter's Sun, or summers shadow cold,  
More seemly and more comely than the Planetrée too behold.  
Of value more than Apples be although they were of gold.  
More clear than frozen yea, more sweet than Grape through ripe iwis,  
More soft than butter newly made, or down of Cygnet is.  
And much more fair and beautiful than garden too mine eye,  
But that thou from my company continually dost fly.  
And thou the self-same Galate art more tettish for too frame  
Than Oxen of the wilderness whom never wight did tame.  
More fleeting than the waves, more hard than warryed Oak too twine,  
More tough than willow twigs, more lieth than is the wild white vine.  
More than this rock unmovable, more violent than a stream.  
More proud than Peacock praised, more fierce than fire & more extreme.  
More rough than Bréers, more cruel than the new delivered Bear,  
More merciless than trodden snake, than sea more deaf of ear.  
And which (and if it lay in me I chiefly would restrain)  
Not only swifter paced than the stag in chase on plain,  
But also swifter than the wind and flightful air. But if  
Thou knew me well, it would thee irk too fly and be a grief  
Too tarry from me. Yea thou wouldst endeavour all thy power  
Too keep me wholly too thyself. The Quarry is my bower  
Hewn out of whole main stone. No Sun in summer there can swelled.  
No nipping cold in wintertyme within the same is felt.  
Gay Apples weighing down the boughs have I, and▪ Grapes like gold,  
And purple Grapes on spreaded Uynes as many as can hold.  
Both which I do reserve for thee. Thyself shalt with thy hand  
The soft sweet strawbryes gather, which in woody shadow stand.  
The cornel berries also from the tree thyself shalt pull:  
And pleasant plumbs, sum yellow like new wax, sum blue, sum full  
Of ruddy ●ewce. Of Chestnutts eke (if my wife thou wilt be)  
Thou shalt have store: and frutex all sorts: All trees shall serve for thee.  
This cattle here is all mine own. And many more beside  
Do either in the bottoms feed, or in the woods them hide,  
And many standing at their stalls do in my Cave abide.  
The number of them (if a man should ask) I cannot show.  
Tush beggars of their cattle use the number for too know.  
And for the goodness of the same, no whit believe thou me.  
But come thyself (and if thou wilt) the truth there of too see.  
See how their udders full do make them straddle. Lesser ware  
Shut up at home in cloce warm péends, are Lambs. There also are  
In other pinfolds Kids of self-same yeaningtyme. Thus have  
I always milk as white as snow. whereof I sum do save  
Too drink, and of the rest is made good cheese. And furthermore  
Not only stolen and common gifts and pleasures whereof store  
Is too be had at each man's hand, (as Leverets, Kids, and Dots,  
A pair of pigeons, or a nest of birds new found, or Roes,)  
Shall unto thee presented be. I found this toother day  
A pair of Bearewhelpes, each so like the other as they lay  
Upon a hill, that scarce ye each discern from other may.  
And when that I did find them I did take them up, and say  
These will I for my Lady keep for her therewith too play.  
Now put thou up thy fair bright head good Galat I thee pray  
Above the gréenish waves: now come my Galat, come away.  
And of my present take no scorn. I know myself too be  
A jolly fellow. For even now I did behold and see  
Mine image in the water sheer, and sure me thought I took  
Delight too see my goodly shape, and favour in the brook.  
Behold how big I am not ●oue in heaven (for so you men  
Report one ●oue too reign, of whom I pass not for too ken)  
Is howger than this doughty corce of mine. A bush of hear  
Doth overdréepe my visage grim, and shadows as it were  
A grove upon my shoulders twain. And think it not too be  
A shame for that with bristled hear my body rough ye see.  
A fowl ill-favoured sight it is too see a leavelesse tree  
A lothly thing it is, a horse without a mane too keep.  
As feathers do become the birds, and wool becometh sheep,  
Even so a beard and bristled skin becometh also men.  
I have but one eye, which doth stand amid my frunt. what then?  
This one round eye of mine is like a mighty target. Why?  
Uewes not the Sun all things from heaven? Yet but one only eye  
Hath he. moreover in your Seas my father bears the sway.  
Him will I make thy fathrinlaw. Have mercy I the pray,  
And hearken too mine humble suit. For only unto thee  
Yield I. Even I of whom both heaven and jove despised be  
And eke the piercing thunderbolt, do stand in awe and fear  
Of thee O Nerye. Thine ill will is grievouser too bear  
Than is the deadly Thunderclappe. Yet could I better find  
In heart too suffer this contempt of thine with patient mind  
If thou didst shun all other folk as well as me. But why  
Rejecting Cyclops dost thou love dwarf Acis? why say I  
Preferst thou Acis unto me? well let him liked be  
Both of himself, and also (which I would be loath) of thee.  
And if I catch him he shall feel that in my body is  
The force that should be. I shall paunch him quick. Those limbs of his  
I will in pieces tear, and strew them in the fields, and in  
Thy waters, if he do thee haunt. For I do swelled within.  
And being chaafte the flame doth burn more fierce too my unrest.  
Me thinks mount Aetna with his force is closed in my breast.  
And yet it nothing moveth thee. assoon as he had talked  
Thus much in vain, (I saw well all) he rose: and fuming stalked  
Among his woods and wonted Lawns, as doth a Bulchin, when  
The Cow is from him ta'en. He could him no where rest as then.  
Anon the fiend espied me and Acis where we lay,  
Before we witted or feared it: and crying out 'gan say  
I see ye. and confounded might I be with endless shame,  
But if I make this day the last agreement of your game.  
These words were spoke with such a réere as very well became  
An angry Giant. Aet●a shook with loudness of the same.  
I scared therewith 'dopt underneath the water, and the knight  
Simethus turning straight his back, did give himself too flight,  
And cryëd help me Galate, help parents I you pray,  
And in your kingdom me receive who perish must straightway.  
The roundeyd devil made pursewt: and rending up a fleece  
Of Aetna Rock, threw after him: of which a little piece  
Did Acis overtake. and yet as little as is was,  
It overwhelmed Acis whole. I wretched wight (alas)  
Did that which destiny's would permit. Forthwith I brought too pass  
That Acis should receive the force his father had before.  
His scarlet blood did issue from the lump, and more and more  
Within a while the redness 'gan too vanish: and the hue  
Resembled at the first a brook with rain distroubled new,  
Which waxeth clear by length of tyme. Anon the lump did clive,  
And from the hollow cliff thereof high reeds sprung up alive.  
And at the hollow issue of the stone the bubbling water  
Came trickling out. And by and by (which is a wondrous matter)  
The stripling with a wreath of reed about his horned head  
Auaunst his body too the waste. Who (save he was that stead  
Much biggar than he erst had been, and altogether grey)  
Was Acis still. and being turned too water, at this day  
In shape of river still he bears his former name away.  
The Lady Galat ceased her talk and straight the company broke.  
And Neryes daughters parting thence, swum in the gentle lake.  
Dame Scylla home again returned. (She durst not her betake  
Too open sea) and either roamd upon the sandy shore  
Stark naakt, or when for weariness she could not walk no more,  
She then withdrew her out of sight and gate her too a pool,  
And in the water of the same, her heated limbs did cool.  
Behold the fortune. Glaucus (who then being late before  
Transformed in Ewboya I'll upon Anthedon shore,  
Was new becomne a dweller in the sea) as he did swim  
Along the coast was ta'en in love at sight of Scylla trim,  
And spoke such words as he did think might make her tarry still.  
Yet fled she still, and swift for fear she gate her too a hill  
That butted on the Sea. right steep and upward sharp did shoot  
A lofty top with trees, beneath was hollow at the foot.  
Here Scylla stayd and being safe by strongness of the place,  
(Not knowing if he monster were, or God, that did her chase,)  
She looked back. And wondering at his colour and his hear  
With which his shoulders and his back all wholly covered were,  
She saw his neither parts were like a fish with tail wrythde round  
Who leaning too the nearest Rock, said thus with loud créere sound.  
Fair maid, I neither monster am nor cruel savage beast:  
But of the sea a God, whoose power and favour is not least.  
For neither Protew in the sea nor Triton have more might  
Nor yet the son of Athamas that now Palaemon height.  
Yet once I was a mortal man. But you must know that I  
Was given too seawoorkes, and in them me only did apply.  
For sometime I did draw the drag in which the fishes were,  
And sometime sitting on the clisses I angled here and there.  
There butteth on a fair green meed a bank whereof tone half  
Is closed with sea, the rest is clad with herbs which never calf,  
Nor horned Ox, nor silly sheep, nor shakheard Goat did feed.  
The busy be did never there of flowers sweet smelling speed.  
No gladsum garlands ever there were gathered for the head.  
No hand those flowers ever yet with hooked sith did shred.  
I was the first that ever set my foot upon that plot.  
Now as I dried my dropping nets, and laid abroad my lot,  
Too tell how many fishes had bychaunce too net been sent,  
Or through their own too light béeléefe on baited hook been hent:  
(The matter seemeth like a lie, but what avails too lie?)  
assoon as that my prey had towcht the grass, it by and by  
Began too move, and flask their fins, and swim upon the dry,  
As in the Sea. And as I pawsd and wondered at the sight,  
My ●raught of fishes everichone too seaward took their flight,  
And leaping from the shore, forsook their new-found master quyght.  
I was amazed at the thing: and standing long in doubt,  
I sought the cause if any God had brought this same about,  
Or else sum juice of herb. And as I so did musing stand,  
What herb (ꝙ I) hath such a power? and gathering with my hand  
The grass, I boat it with my tooth. My throat had scarcely yet,  
Well swallowed down the uncouth juice, when like an ague fit  
I felt mine inwards soodeinly too shake, and with the same,  
A love of other nature in my breast with violence came.  
And long I could it not resist: but said dear land adéew▪  
For never shall I haunt thee more. And with that word I thre●▪  
My body in the sea. The Gods thereof receiving me,  
Uouchsaved in their order me installed for too be.  
desiring old Oceänus and Thetis for their sake,  
The rest of my mortality away from me too take.  
They hallowed me, and having said nine times the holy rhyme  
That purgeth all prophanednesse, they charged me that time  
Too put my brestbulk underneath a hundred streams. Anon  
The brooks from sundry coasts and all the Seas did ride upon  
My head. From whence as soon as I returned, by and by  
I felt myself far otherwise through all my limbs, than I  
Had been before. and in my mind I was another man.  
Thus far of all that me befell make just report I can.  
Thus far I bear in mind. The rest my mind perceived not.  
Then first of all this hoary green grey grisild beard I got,  
And this same bush of hear which all along the seas I sweep,  
And these same mighty shoulders, and these grayish arms, and feet  
Coonfounded into finned fish. But what availeth me  
This goodly shape, and of the Gods of sea too loved be?  
Or for too be a God myself? if they delight not thee?  
As he was speaking this, and still about too utter more,  
Dame Scylla him forsook: whereat he waxing angry sore.  
And being quickened with repulse, in rage he took his way  
Too Circe's Titans daughters Court which full of monsters lay.  
Finis Libri decimi tertij.   

¶ THE. XIIII. BOOK OF Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
NOw had th' Ewboyan fisherman (who lately was become  
A God of sea too dwell in sea for ay,) already swam  
Past Aetna which upon the face of Giant Typho lies,  
Toogither with the pasture of the Cyclops which defies  
Both Plough and harrowe, and by téemes of Oxen sets no store:  
An Zancle, and cracked Region which stands a toother shore:  
And eke the rough and shipwreck sea which being hemmed in  
With two main lands on either side, is as a bound betwin  
The fruitful Realms of Italy and Sicill. From that place  
He cutting through the Tyrrhene sea with both his arms a pace,  
arrived at the grassy hills and at the Palace high  
Of Circe Phoebus' imp which full of sundry beasts did lie.  
When Glaucus in her presence came, and had her gréeted, and  
received friendly welcoming and greeting at her hand,  
He said. O Goddess pity me a God I thee desire.  
Thou only (if at least thou think me worthy so great hire)  
Canst ease this love of mine. No wight doth better know than I  
The power of herbs, who late ago transformed was thereby.  
And now too open unto thee of this my grief the ground,  
Upon th' italian shore against Messene walls I found  
Fair Scylla. Shame it is too tell how scornful she did take  
The gentle words and promises and suit that I did make.  
But if that any power at all consist in charms, then let  
That sacred mouth of thine cast charms: or if more force be set  
In herbs too compass things withal, then use the herbs that have  
Most strength in working. Neither think, I hither come too crave  
A medicine for too heal myself and cure my wounded heart:  
I force no end. I would have her be partner of my smart.  
But Circe (for no natures are more lightly set on fire  
Than such as she is) (whither that the cause of this desire  
Were only in herself, or that Dame Venus bearing ay  
In mind her father's deed in once disclosing of her play,  
Did stir her here unto) said thus. It were a better way  
For thee too fancy such a one whoose will and whole desire  
Is bend too thine, and who is singed with self-same kind of fire.  
Thou worthy art of suit to thee. and (credit me) thou shouldst  
be wood in deed, if any hope of speeding give thou wouldst.  
And therefore doubt not. Only of thy beawtye liking have.  
Lo, I who am a Goddess and the imp of Phoebus' brave,  
Who can so much by charms, who can so much by herbs, do vow  
Myself too thee. If I disdain, disdain me also thou.  
And if I yield, yield thou likewise: and in one only deed  
Avenge thyself of twain. Too her entreating thus too speed,  
First trees shall grow (ꝙ Glaucus) in the sea, and reek shall thrive  
On tops of hills, ere I (as long as Scylla is alive)  
Do change my love. The Goddess wext right wrath: & sith she could  
Not hurt his person being fallen in love with him, ne would:  
She spyghted her that was preferred before her. And upon  
Displeasure ta'en of this repulse, she went her way anon.  
And wicked weeds of grisly juice toogither she did bray,  
And in the braying, witching charms she over them did say.  
And putting on a russet cloak, she passed through the rout  
Of savage beasts that in her court came fawning round about,  
And going unto Region clift which stands against the shore  
Of Zancle, entered by and by the waters that do roar  
With violent tides, upon the which she stood as on firm land,  
And ran and never wet her feet a whit. There was at hand  
A little plash that bowwed like a bow that standeth bend,  
Where Scylla wonted was to rest herself, and thither went  
From rage of sea and air, what time the son amid the sky  
Is whotest making shadows short by mounting up on high.  
This plash did Circe then infect against that Scylla came,  
And with her poisons which had power most monstrous shapes too frame  
Defiled it. She sprinkled there the juice of venymd weeds.  
And thrice nine times with witching mouth she softly mumbling, reeds  
A charm right dark of uncouth words. No sooner Scylla came  
Within this plash, and too the waast had waded in the same,  
But that she saw her hinderloynes with barking bugs attaint.  
And at the first, not thinking with her body they were meynt  
As parts thereof, she started back, and rated them. And sore  
She was afraid the eager curs should byght her. But the more  
She shonned them, the surer still she was too have them there.  
In seeking where her loins, and thighs, and feet and ankles were,  
Chaps like the chaps of Cerberus in stead of them she found.  
Nought else was there than cruel curs from belly down too ground.  
So underneath misshapen loins and womb remaining sound,  
Her mannish mastyes backs were ay within the water drowned.  
Her lover Glaucus wept thereat, and Circe's bed refused  
That had so passing cruelly her herbs on Scylla used.  
But Scylla in that place abode. And for the hate she bore  
Too Circe ward, (assoon as meet occasion served therefore)  
She spoiled Ulysses of his mates. And shortly after, she  
Had also drowned the Trojan fleet, but that (as yet we see)  
She was transformed too rock of stone, which shipm●n warily shun.  
When from this Rock the Trojan fleet by force of Oars had won,  
And from Charybdis greedy gulf, and were in manner ready  
Too have arryude in Italy, the wind did rise so heady,  
As that it drove them back upon the coast of Africa. There  
The Tyrian Queen (who afterward unpatiently should bear  
The going of this Trojan prince away) did entertain  
Aenaeas in her house, and was right glad of him and fain.  
Upon a Pyle made underneath pretence of sacrifice  
She gored herself upon a sword, and in most woeful wise  
As she herself had been beguiled: so she beguiled all.  
Eftsoon Aenaeas flying from the newly réered wall  
Of Carthage in that sandy land, retired back again  
Too Sicill, where his faithful friend Acestes reigned. And when  
He there had done his sacrifice, and kept an Obits at  
His father's ●umb, he out of hand did mend his Galleys that  
Dame Iris junos' messenger had burned up almost.  
And sailing thence he kept his course aloof along the coast  
Of Aeolye and of Vulcan's Isles the which of brimstone smoke.  
And passing by the Meremayds' rocks, (His Pilot by a struck  
Of tempest being drowned in sea) he sailed by Prochite, and  
Inarime, and (which upon a barren hill doth stand)  
The land of Ape I'll, which doth take that name of people sly  
There dwelling. For the Sire of Gods abhorring utterly  
The lewdness of the Cercops, and their wilful perjury,  
And eke their guileful dealing did transform them everychone  
into an evillfavored kind of beast: that being none  
They might yet still resemble men. He knit in lesser space  
Their members, and he beat me flat their noses too their face,  
The which he filled furrowlike with wrinkles every where.  
He clad their bodies over all with fallow coloured hear,  
And put them into this same I'll too dwell for ever there.  
But first he did bereave them of the use of speech and tongue,  
Which they too cursed perjury did use both old and young.  
Too chatter hoarsely, and too shriek, too iabber, and too squeak,  
He hath them left, and for too mop and mow, but not too speak.  
Aenaeas having past this isle, and on his right hand left  
The town of Naples, and the tumb of Mysen on his left,  
Toogither with the fenny grounds: at Cumye landed, and  
Went unto longlyude Cybills' house, with whom he went in hand  
That he too see his father's ghost might go by Avernus deep.  
She long upon the earth in stound her eyes did fixed keep.  
And at the length assoon as that the spright of prophesy  
Was entered her, she raising them did thus again reply.  
O most renowned wight, of whom the godliness by fire  
And valiantness is tried by sword, great things thou dost require.  
But fear n●t Trojan. for thou shalt be lord of thy desire.  
Too see the reverend image of thy dear beloved sire,  
Among the fair Elysian fields where godly folk abide,  
And all the lowest kingdoomes of the world I will thee guide.  
No way too virtue is restreynd. This spoken, she did show  
A golden bowgh that in the wood of Proserpina did grow,  
And willed him too pull it from the tree. He did obey:  
And saw the power of dreadful hell, and where his grandsires lay  
And eke the aged Ghost of stout Anchises. Furthermore  
He lernd the customs of the land arryud at late before,  
And what adventures should by war betide him in that place.  
From thence retiring up again a slow and weary pace,  
He did assuage the tediousness by talking with his guide.  
For as he in the twilight dim this dreadful way did ride,  
He sayëd: whither present thou thyself a Goddess be.  
Or such a one as God doth love most dearly, I will thee  
For ever as a Goddess take, and will acknowledge me  
Thy servant, for saufguyding me the place of death too see,  
And for thou from the place of death haste brought me safe and free.  
For which desert, what time I shall attain too open air,  
I will a temple to thee build right sumptuous, large, and fair,  
And honour thee with frankincense. The prophetess did cast  
Her eye upon Aenaeas back, and sighing said at last.  
I am no Goddess. Neither think thou canst with conscience right,  
With holy incense honour give too any mortal wight.  
But too th'intent through ignorance thou err not, I had been  
Eternal and of worldly life I should none end have seen,  
If that I would my maydenhod on Phoebus have bestowed.  
howbeit while he stood in hope too have the same, and trowde  
Too overcome me with his gifts, thou maid of Cumes (ꝙ he)  
Choose what thou wilt, and of thy wish the owner thou shalt be.  
I taking full my hand of dust, and showing it him there,  
Desired like a fool too live as many years as were  
Small grains of cinder in that heap. I quite forgot too crave  
Immediately, the race of all those years in youth too have.  
Yet did he grant me also that, upon condition I  
Would let him have my maydenhod, which thing I did deny.  
And so rejecting Phoebus' gift a single life I led.  
But now the blessefull time of youth is altogether fled,  
And irksome age with trembling pace is stolen upon my head.  
Which long I must endure. For now already as you see  
Seven hundred years are come and gone and that the number be  
Full matched of the grains of dust, thréehundred harvests more  
I must three hundred vintages see more before I go.  
The day will come that length of time shall make my body small,  
And little of my withered limbs shall leave or nought at all.  
And none shall think that ●uer God was ta'en in love with me.  
Even out of Phoebus' knowledge then perchance I grown shall be.  
Or at the least that ever he me lov●e he shall deny.  
So sore I shall be altered. And then shall no man's eye  
Discern me. Only by my voice I shall be known. For why  
The fates shall leave me still my voice for folk too know me by.  
As Sibyl in the vaulted way such talk as this did frame,  
The Trojan knight. Aenaeas up at Cumes fro Limbo came,  
And having done the sacrifice accustomed for the same,  
He took his journey too the coast which had not yet the name  
received of his nurse. In this same place he found a mate  
Of wise Ulysses Macare of Neritus who late  
Before, had after all his long and tedious toils, there stayed.  
He spying Achemenides (whom late ago afraid  
They had among mount Aetna's Cliffs abandoned when they fled  
From Polypheme:) and wondering for too see he was not dead,  
Said thus. O Achemenides▪ what chance, or rather what  
Good God hath saved the life of thee? What is the reason that  
A barbarous ship bears thee a Greek? or whither sailest thou?  
Too him thus, Achemenides his own man freely now  
And not forgrown as one forlorn, nor clad in bristled hide,  
Made answer. Yet again I would I should in peril bide  
Of Polypheme, and that I might those chaps of his behold  
Béesmeared with the blood of men, but if that I do hold  
This ship more dear than all the Realm of wise Ulysses, or  
If lesser of Aenaeas I do make account than for  
My father. neither (though I did as much as done might be,)  
I could enough be thankful for his goodness towards me.  
That I still speak and breath: That I the Sun and heaven do see:  
Is his gift. Can I thankless then or myndlesse of him be?  
That down the round eyed giants throat this soul of mine went not?  
And that from henceforth when too die it ever be my lot  
I may be laid in grave, or sure not in the giants maw?  
What heart had I that time (at least if fear did not withdraw  
Both heart and sense) when left behind, you taking ship I saw?  
I would have called after you but that I was afraid  
By making outcry too my to myself too have béewrayd.  
For even the noise that you did make did put Ulysses' ship  
In danger. I did see him from a cragged mountain strip  
A mighty rock, and into sea it throw midway and more.  
again I saw his giant's paw throw huge big stones great store  
As if it were a sling. And sore I feared lest your ship  
Should drowned by the water be that from the stones did skip,  
Or by the stones themselves, as if myself had been therein.  
But when that flight had saved you from death, he did begin  
On Aetna sighing up and down too walk: and with his paws  
Went groping of the trees among the woods. And forbecause  
He could not see, he knocked his shins against the rocks each where.  
And stretching out his grisly arms (which all beegrymed were  
With baken blood) too seaward, he the Greekish nation band,  
And said. O if that sum good chance might bring unto my hand  
Ulysses or sum mate of his, on whom too wreak mine ire.  
Upon whose bowels with my teeth I like a Hawk might tire:  
Whose living members might with these my talants teared been.  
Whose blood might bubble down my throat: whose flesh might pant between  
My jaws: how light or none at all this losing of mine eye  
Would seem? These words and many more the cruel fiend did cry.  
A shuddering horror pierced me too see his smudged face,  
And cruel hands, and in his frunt the fowl round eyeless place,  
And monstrous members, and his beard bestowbered with the blood  
Of man. Before mine eyes then death the smallest sorrow stood.  
I looked every minute too be seized in his paw.  
I looked ever when he should have crammed me in his maw.  
And in my mind I of that time me thought the image saw  
When having dinged a dozen of our fellows too the ground  
And lying like a Lion fierce or hunger starved hound  
Upon them, very eagerly he down his greedy gut  
Their bowwels and their limbs yet more than half alive did put,  
And with their flesh toogither crasht the bones and marée white.  
I trembling like an aspen leaf stood sad and bloodless quyght.  
And in beholding how he fed and belked up again  
His bloody vittells at his mouth, and uttered out amain  
The clottered gobbets mixed with wine, I thus surmysde: like lot  
Hangs over my head now, and I must also go too pot.  
And hiding me for many days, and quaking horribly  
At every noise, and dreading death, and wishing for too die,  
Appeasing hunger with the leaves of trees, and herbs and mast,  
Alone, and poor, and footel●sse, and too death and penance cast,  
A long time after I espied this sh●ppe a far at last,  
And ronning downward too the sea by signs did succour seek.  
Where finding grace, this Troianeshippe received me a Greek.  
But now I pray thee gentle friend declare thou unto me  
Thy Captains and thy fellows luck that took the sea with thee.  
He told him how that Aeölus the son of Hippot, hea  
That keeps the winds in prison cloce did reign in Tuskane sea,  
And how Ulysses having at his hand a noble gift  
The wind enclosed in leather bags, did sail with prosperous drift  
nine days toogither: insomuch they came within the sight  
Of home: but on the tenth day when the morning 'gan give light,  
His fellows being somewhat touched with covetousness and spite.  
Supposing that it had been gold, did let the winds out quyght.  
The which returning whence they came, did drive them back a main  
That in the Realm of Aeölus they went a land again.  
From thence (ꝙ he) we came unto the ancient Lamyes' town  
Of which the fierce Antiphates that season ware the crown.  
A cowple of my mates and I were sent unto him: and  
A mate of mine and I could scarce by flight escape his hand.  
The third of us did with his blood imbrue the wicked face  
Of lewd Antiphate, who with sword us flying thence did chase,  
And following after with a rout threw stones and logs which drowned  
Both men and ships. howbeit one by chance escaped sound,  
Which bore Ulysses and myself. So having lost most part  
Of all our dear companions, we with sad and sorry heart  
And much complaining, did arrive at yoonder coast which you  
May ken far hence. A great way hence (I say) we see it now  
But trust me truly over near I saw it once. And thou  
Aenaeas Goddess Venus' son the justest knight of all  
The Trojan race (for sith the war is done, I can not call  
thee to) I warn thee get thee far from C●rces dwelling place.  
For when our ships arrived there, remembering eft the case  
Of cruel king Antiphates, and of that hellish wight  
The round eyed giant Polypheme, we had so small delight  
Too visit uncowth places, that we said we would not go.  
Then cast we lots. The lot fell out upon myself as though,  
And Polyte, and Eurylocus, and on Elpenor who  
delighted tootoomuch in wine, and eighteen other more.  
All we did go too Circe's house. assoon as we came thither,  
And in the portal of the Hall had set our feet toogither,  
A thousand lions wolves and bears did put us in a fear  
By meeting us. But none of them was too be feared there.  
For none of them could do us harm: but with a gentle look  
And following us with fawning feet their wanton tails they shook.  
Anon did Damzells welcome us and led us through the hall  
(The which was made of marble stone, floor, arches, roof, and wall)  
Too Circe. She sat underneath a traverse in a chair  
Aloft right rich and stately, in a chamber large and fair.  
She ware a goodly longtreynd gown: and all her rest attire  
Was every whit of goldsmiths work. There sat me also by her  
The Seanymphes and her Ladies whoose fine fingers never knew  
What boozing wool did mean, nor thread from whorled spindle drew,  
They sorted herbs, and picking out the flowers that were mixed,  
Did put them into mawnds, and with indifferent space betwixt,  
Did lay the leaves and stalks on heaps according too their hue.  
And she herself the work of them did oversee and view.  
The virtue and the use of them right perfectly she knew,  
And in what leaf it lay, and which in mixture would agree.  
And so perusing every her● by g●od advisement, she  
Did weigh them out. assoon as she us entering in did see,  
And greeting had both given and ta'en, she looked cheerfully,  
And granting all that we desyrde, commanded by and by  
A certain potion too be made of barley parched dry  
And wine and honey mixed with cheese. and with the same she sly  
Had meynt the juice of certain herbs which unespyde did lie  
By reason of the sweetness of the drink. We took the cup  
Delivered by her wicked hand, and quaffed it clearly up  
With thirsty throats. Which done, and that the cursed witch had smit  
Our highest hear tips with her wand, (it is a shame, but yet  
I will declare the truth) I wext all rough with bristled hear,  
And could not make complaint with words. In stead of speech I there  
Did make a rawghtish grunting, and with groveling face 'gan bear  
My visage downward too the ground. I felt a hooked groin  
Too wexen hard upon my mouth, and brawned neck too join  
My head and shoulders. And the hands with which I late ago  
Had taken up the charmed cup, were turned t●o feet as tho.  
Such force there is in Sorcery. In fine with other more  
That tasted of the self-same sauce, they shut me in a Sty.  
From this mishap Furilochus alonely scaped. For why  
He only would not taste the cup. which had he not fled fro,  
He should have been a bristled beast as well as we. And so  
Should none have borne Ulysses' word of our mischance, nor he  
Have come too Circe too revenge our harms and set us free.  
The peaceprocurer Mercury had given to him a white  
Fair flower whoose root is black, and of the Gods it Moly height  
assured by this and heavenly hests, he entered Circe's bower.  
And being bidden for too drink the cup of baleful power,  
As Circe was about too struck her wand upon his hear,  
He thrust her back, and put her with his naked sword in fear.  
Then fell they too agreement straight, and faith in hand was plight.  
And being made her bedfellow, he claimed as in right  
Of dowry, for too have his men again in perfect plight.  
She sprinkled us with better juice of uncowth herbs, and struck  
The awk end of her charmed rod upon our heads, and spoke  
Words too the former contrary. The more she charmed, the more  
Arose we upward from the ground on which we daarde before.  
Our bristles fell away, the ●lift our cloven elées forsook.  
Our shoulders did return again: and next our elbows took  
Our arms and hands their former place. Then weeping we embrace  
Our Lord, and hang about his neck who also wept apace.  
And not a word we rather spoke than such as might appear  
From hearts most thankful too proceed. We tarried their a year  
I in that while saw many things, and many things did here.  
I marked also this one thing with store of other gear  
Which one of Circe's four chief maids (whose's office was always  
Upon such hallows too attend) did secretly bewray  
Too me. For in the while my Lord with Circe kept alone,  
This maid a yoongmannes' image sheawd of fair white marble stone  
Within a Chancel. On the head thereof were garlands store  
And eke a woodspecke. And as I demanded her wherefore  
And who it was they honoured so in holy Church, and why  
He bore that bird upon his head: She answéering by and by  
Said: learn hereby sir Macare too understand the power  
My Lady hath, and mark thou well what I shall say this hour.  
There reigned erewhile in Italy one Picus Saturn's son  
Who loved warlike horse and had delight too see them run.  
He was of feature as ye see. And by this image here  
The very beauty of the man doth lyvelely appear.  
His courage matched his parsonage. And scarcely had he well  
Seen twenty years. His countenance did allure the nymphs that dwell  
Among the Latian hills. The nymphs of fountains and of brooks,  
As those that haunted 
* Now called Tiber.  Albula were ravished with his looks  
And so were they that Numicke bears, and Anio too, and Alme  
That runneth short, and heady Nar, and Farfar cool and calm.  
And all the nymphs that used too haunt Diana's shady pool,  
Or any lakes or méeres near hand, or other waters cool.  
But he disdaining all the rest did set his love upon  
A lady whom Venilia bore (so fame reporteth) on  
The stately mountain Palatine by janus that doth bear  
The double face. assoon as that her years for marriage were  
Thought able, she preferring him before all other men,  
Was wedded too this Picus who was king of Lawrents then.  
She was in beawtye excellent. but yet in singing, much  
More excellent: and thereupon they naamd her Singer. Such  
The sweetness of her music was, that she therewith delights  
The savage beasts, and caused birds too cease their wandering flyghts,  
And moved stones and trees, and made the running streams too stay.  
Now while that she in woman's tune records her pleasant lay  
At home, her husband road abroad upon a lusty horse  
Too hunt the Boar, and bare in hand two hunting staves of force.  
His cloak was crymzen butned with a golden button fast.  
into the self-same forest eke was Phoebus' daughter passed  
From those same fields that of herself the name of Circe bear,  
Too gather uncowth herbs among the fruitful hillocks there.  
assoon as lurking in the shrubs she did the king espy,  
She was a●trawght. down fell her herbs too ground. And by and by  
Through all her bones the flame of love the marée 'gan too fry.  
And when she from this forced heat had called her wits again,  
She purposed too bewray her mind. But unto him as then  
She could not come for swiftness of his horse and for his men  
That guarded him o● every side. Yet shalt thou not (ꝙ she)  
So shift thee fro my hands although the wind should carry thee,  
If I do know myself, if all the strength of herbs fail not,  
Or if I have not quyght and clean my charms and spells forgot.  
In saying these same words, she made the likeness of a Boar  
Without a body, causing it too swiftly pass before  
King Picus eyes, and for too seem too get him too the wood,  
Where for the thickness of the trees a horse might do no good.  
Immediately the king unwares a who●e pursuit did make  
Upon the shadow of his prey, and quickly did forsake  
His foaming horses sweeting back: and following vain wanhope,  
Did run a foot among the woods, and through the bushes crope.  
Then Circe fell a mumbling spells, and praying like a witch  
Did honour strange & uncowth Gods with uncowth charms, by which  
She used too make the moon look dark, and wrap her father's head  
In watery clouds. And then likewise the heaven was overspread  
With darkness, and a foggy mist steamd upward from the ground.  
And near a man about the king too guard him could be found,  
But every man in blind by ways ran scattering in the chase,  
Through her enchantments. At the length she getting time & place,  
Said▪ By those lyghtsum eyes of thine which late have ravished mine,  
And by that goodly parsonage and lovely face of thine,  
The which compelleth me that am a Goddess too incline  
Too make this humble suit to thee that art a mortal wight,  
Assuage my flame, and make this son (who by his heavenly sight  
Foresées all things) thy fathrinlawe: and hardly hold not scorn  
Of Circe who by long descent of Titan's stock am borne.  
Thus much said Circe. He right fierce rejecting her request,  
And her, said: whooso ere thou art go set thy heart at rest.  
I am not thine, nor will not be. Another holds my heart:  
And long God grant she may it hold, that I may never start  
Too lewdness of a foreign lust from bond of lawful bed,  
As long as janus daughter my sweet singer is not dead.  
Dame Circe having oft renewed her suit in vain before,  
Said: dearly shalt thou by thy scorn. For never shalt thou more  
Return too Singer. Thou shalt learn by proof what one can do  
That is provoked, and in love, yea and a woman too.  
But Circe is both stirred too wrath, and also ta'en in love,  
Yea and a woman. Twice her fa●e too westward she did move,  
And twice too Eastward. Thrice she laid her rod upon his head.  
And therewithal three charms she cast. Away king Picus fled.  
And wondering that he fled more swift than ●arst he had been wont,  
He saw the feathers on his skin, and at the sudden brunt  
Became a bird that haunts the woods. whereat he taking spite,  
With angry bill did job upon hard Oaks with all his might,  
And in his mood made hollow holes upon their boughs. The hue  
Of Crimzen which was in his cloak, upon his feathers grew.  
The gold that was a clasp and did his cloak toogither hold,  
Is feathers, and about his neck goes circlewyse like gold.  
His servants luring in that while oft over all the ground  
In vain, and finding nowhere of their king no inkling, found.  
Dame Circe. (For by that time she had made the air sheer,  
And suffered both the son and winds the misty steams too clear)  
And charging her with matter true, demanded for their king,  
And offering force, began their darts and javelins for too fling.  
She sprinkling noisome venom straight and juice of poisoning might,  
Did call toogither Eribus and Chaos, and the night,  
And all the fiends of darkness, and with howling out along  
Made prayers unto Hecate. Scarce ended was her song,  
But that (a wondrous thing too tell) the woods leapt from their place  
The ground did groan: the trees near hand looked pale in all the chase:  
The grass besprent with drops of blood looked red: the stones did séem●  
Too roar and bellow hoarse: and dogs too howl and raze extreme:  
And all the ground too crawl with snakes black scaald: & ghastly sprites  
Fly whisking up and down. The folk were flayghted at these sights.  
And as they wondering stood amaazd, she stroked her witching wand  
Upon their faces. At the touch whereof, there out of hand  
Came wondrous shapes of savage beasts upon them all. Not one  
Retained still his native shape. The setting son was gone  
Beyond the utmost c●ast of Spain, and Singer longed in vain  
Too see her husband. Both her folk and people ran again  
Through all the woods. And ever as they went, they sent their eyes  
Before them for too find him out, but no man him espies.  
Then Singer thought it not enough too weep and tear her hear,  
And beat herself (all which she did.) She gate abroad, and there  
Raundgd over all the broad wild fields like one besyds her wits.  
Six night's and full as many days (as fortune led by fits)  
She strayed me over hills and dales, and never tasted rest,  
Nor meat, nor drink of all the while. The seventh day, sore oppressed  
And tired both with travel and with sorrow, down she sat  
Upon cold Tiber's bank, and there with tears in morning rate  
She warbling on her grief in tune not shirle nor over high,  
Did make her moan, as doth the swan: who ready for too die  
Doth sing his burial song before. Her marée molt at last  
With morning, and she pinned away: and finally she passed  
Too lither air. But yet her fame remained in the place.  
For why the ancient husbandmen according too the case,  
Did name it Singer of the nymph that died in the same.  
Of such as these are, many things that year by fortune came  
Both too my héering and my sight. We we●ing resty then  
And slugs by discontinuance, were commanded yet again  
Too go a board and hoist up sails. And Circe told us all  
That long and doubtful passage and rough seas should us befall.  
I promise thee those words of hers me thoroughly made afraid:  
And therefore hither I me gate, and here I have me stayed.  
This was the end of Macars tale. And ere long time was gone,  
Aenaeas Nurse was buried in a tumb of marble stone,  
And this short verse was set thereon. In this same very place  
My Nurcechyld whom the world doth know too be a child of grace  
Delivering me Ca●eta quick from burning by the Gray's,  
Hath burnt me dead with such a fire as justly wins him praise.  
Their Cables from the grassy strand were loozde, and by and by  
From Circe's slanderous house and from her treasons far they fly.  
And making too the thickgrowen groves where through the yellow dust  
The shady Tiber into sea his gushing stream doth thrust,  
Aenaeas got the Realm of king Latinus Fawnus son  
And eke his daughter, whom in f●yght by force of arms he won.  
He enterprised war against a Nation fierce and strong.  
And Turn was wroth for holding of his wife away by wrong.  
against the Shire of Latium met all Tyrrhene, and long  
With busies car● hawlt victory by force of arms was sought.  
Each party too augment their force by foreign succour wrought.  
And many sent the Rutills' help, and many came too aid  
The Trojans: neither was the good Aenaeas ill apaid  
Of going too evander's town. But Venulus in vain  
Too outcast Diomedes' city went his succour too obtain.  
This Diomed under Dawnus king of Calabrye did found  
A mighty town, and with his wife in dowry held the ground.  
Now when from Turnus, Venulus his message had declaard,  
desiring help: Th' Actolian knight said none could well be spaard.  
And in excuse, he told him how he neither durst be bold  
Too priest his father's folk too war of whom he had no hold,  
Nor any of his countrymen had left as then alive  
Too arm. And lest ye think (ꝙ he) I do a shift contrive,  
Although by uppening of the thing my bitter grief revive  
I will abide too make a new rehearsal. After that  
The Greeks had burned Troy and on the ground had laid it flat,  
And that the Prince of Narix by his ravishing the maid  
In Pallas temple, on us all the penance had displayed  
Which he himself deserved alone: Then scattered here and there  
And harryed over all the seas, we Greeks were fain too bear  
Night, thunder, tempest, wrath of heaven and sea, and last of all  
Sore shipwreck at mount Capharey too mend our harms withal.  
And lest that me too make too long a process ye might deem  
In setting forth our heavy haps, the Greeks might that time seem  
Right rueful even too Priamus. Howbéet Minerva she  
That weareth armour took me from the waves and saved me.  
But from my father's Realm again by violence I was driven.  
For Venus bearing still in mind the wound I had her given  
Long time before, did work revenge. By means whereof such toil  
Did toss me on the sea, and on the land I found such broil  
By wars, that in my heart I thought them blessed of God whom erst  
The violence of the raging sea and hideous wynds had pierced,  
And whom the wrathful Capharey by shipwreck did confound:  
Oft wishing also I had there among the rest been drowned.  
My company now having felt the worst that sea or war  
Can work, did faint, and wished an end of straying out so far.  
But Agmon hot of nature and too fierce through slaughters made  
Said. What remaineth sirs through which our patience cannot wade?  
What further spite hath Venus yet too work against us more?  
When worse misfortunes may be feared than have been felt before,  
Then prayer may advauntadge men, and vowwing may them boot.  
But when the worst is passed of things, than fear is under foot.  
And when that bale is hygh●st grown, than boot must next ensue.  
Although she here me, and do hate us all (which thing is true)  
That serve here under Diomed: Yet set we light her hate.  
And dearly it should stand us on too purchase high estate.  
With such stout words did Agmon stir dame Venus unto ire  
And raised again her settled grudge. Not many had desire  
Too here him talk thus out of square. the most of us that are  
His friends rebuk●e him for his words. And as he did prepare  
Too answer, both his voice and throat by which his voice should go,  
Were small: his hear too feathers turned: his neck was clad as though  
With feathers: so was brist and back. The greater feathers stack  
Upon his arms: and into wings his elbows bowwed back.  
The greatest portion of his feet was turned into toes.  
A hardened bill of horn did grow upon his mouth and noze,  
And sharpened at the neither end. His fellows Lycus, Ide,  
Rethenor, Nyct, and Abas all stood wondering by his side.  
And as they wondered, they receyud the self-same shape and hue.  
And finally the greater part of all my band up flew,  
And clapping with their newmade wings, about the oars did gird.  
And if ye do demand the shape of this same doubtful bird,  
Even as they be not very Swans: so draw they very near  
The shape of Cygnets white. 
The Elk.  With much a do I settled here,  
And with a little remnant of my people do obtain  
The drygrownds of my fathrinlaw king Dawnus who did reign  
In Calabry. ●hus much the son of Oenye said. Anon  
Sir Venulus returning from the king of Calydon,  
Forsook the coast of Puteoll and the fields of Messapie,  
In which he saw a darksome den forgrowne with bushes high▪  
And watered with a little spring. The halfegoate Pan that hour  
Possessed it: but héertoofore it was the fairies bower.  
A shepherd of Appulia from that country scared them fur●●.  
But afterward recovering heart and hardiness they durst  
Despise him when he chased them, and with their ●●mble feet  
Continued on their dawncing still in time and measure meet  
The shepherd found me fault with them: and with his lowtlike leaps  
Did counterfette their minion dance, and rapped out by heaps  
A rabble of unsavoury taunts even like a country cloyne,  
Too which, most lewd and filthy terms of purpose he did join.  
And after he had once begun, he could not hold his tongue,  
Until that in the timber of a tree his throat was clung.  
For now he is a tree, and by his juice discern ye may  
His manners. For the Olyfwyld doth sensibly bewray  
By berries full of bitterness his railing tongue. For ay  
The harshness of his bitter words the berries bear away.  
Now when the king's Ambassador returned home without  
The succour of th' Aetolian prince, the Rutills being stout  
Made luckless war without their help: and much on either side  
Was shed of blood. Behold king Turn made burning brands too glide  
Upon their ships, and they that had escaped water, stood  
In fear of fire. The flame had singed the pitch, the wax, and wood,  
And other things that nourish fire, and ronning up the mast  
Caught hold upon the sails, and all the tackling 'gan too waste,  
The Rowers seats did also smoke: when calling too her mind  
That these same ships were pynetrées erst and shaken with the wind  
On Ida mount, the mother of the Gods dame Cybel filled  
The air with sound of bells, and noise of shawms. And as she hilld  
The reins that ruled the lions tame which drew her chariot, She  
Said thus. O Turnus all in vain these wicked hands of thee  
Do cast this fire. for by myself dispointed it shall be.  
I will not let the wasting fire consume these ships which are  
A parcel of my forest Ide of which I am most char.  
It thundered as the Goddess spoke, and with the thunder came  
A storm of rain and skipping hail. and soodeyne with the same  
The sons of Astrey meeting fierce and feyghting very sore,  
Did trouble both the sea and air and set them on a roar.  
Dame Cybel using one of 〈…〉 serve her turn that tide,  
Did break the Cables at 〈◊〉 which the Trojan ships did ride,  
And bore them pro●e, 〈◊〉 underneath the water did them drive  
The Timber of them softening ●urnd 〈◊〉 bodies straight alive.  
The stems were turned too heads, the 〈◊〉 too swimming feet & toes,  
The sides too ribs, the keel that through the middle galley goes  
Became the ridgebone of the back, the sails and tackling, hear:  
And into arms on either side the sayleyards turned were.  
Their hue is dusky as before, and now in shape of maid  
They play among the waves of which even now they were afraid.  
And being Seanymphes, whereas they were bred in mountains hard,  
They haunt for ay the water soft, and never afterward  
Had mind too see their native soil. But yet forgetting not  
How many perils they had felt on sea by luckless lot,  
They often put their helping hand too ships distressed by wind,  
unless that any carried Greeks. For bearing still in mind  
The burning of the town of Troy, they hate the Greeks by kind.  
And therefore of Ulysses' ships right glad they were too see  
The shivers. and as glad they were as any glad might be,  
Too see Alcinous ships wax hard and turned into stone.  
These ships thus having gotten life and being turned each one  
Too nymphs, a body would have thought the miracle so great  
Should into Turnus wicked heart sum godly fear have beat,  
And made him cease his wilful war. But he did still persist.  
And either party had their Gods their quarrel too assist,  
And courage also: which as good as Gods might well be thought.  
In fine they neither for the Realm nor for the sceptre sought,  
Nor for the Lady Lavine: but for conquest. And for shame  
Too seem too shrink in leaving war, they still prolonged the same.  
At length dame Venus saw her son obtain the upper hand  
King Turnus fell, and eke the town of Ardea which did stand  
Right strong in high estate as long as Turnus lived. But  
assoon as that Aenaeas sword too death had Turnus put,  
The town was set on fire: and from amid the embers flew  
A fowl which till that present time no person ever knew,  
And beet the ashes féercely up with flapping of his wing.  
The leanness, paleness, doleful sound, and every other thing  
That may express a City sakt, yea and the City's name  
Remained still unto the bird. And now the very same  
With Hernesewes feathers doth bewail the town whereof it came.  
And now Aenaeas prowess had compelled all the Gods  
And juno also (who with him was most of all at odds)  
Too cease their old displeasure quyght. And now he having laid  
Good ground whereon the growing wealth of july might be stayed,  
Was ripe for heaven. And Venus had great suit already made  
Too all the Gods. and cléeping jove did thus with him persuade.  
Dear father who haste never been uncurtuous unto me,  
Now show the greatest courtesy (I pray thee) that may be.  
And on my son Aenaeas (who a graundchyld unto thee  
Hath got of my blood) if thou wilt vouchsafe him awght at all)  
Vouchsafe sum Godhead too bestow, although it be but small.  
It is enough that once he hath already seen the Realm  
Of Pluto utter pleasurelesse, and passed Styxis stream.  
The Gods assented: neither did Queen juno then appear  
In countenance strange, but did consent with glad and merry cheer.  
Then jove. Aenaeas worthy is a saint in heaven too be.  
Thy wish for whom thou dost it wish I grant thee frank and free.  
This grant of his made Venus glad. She thanked him for the same.  
And gliding through the air upon her yoked doves, she came  
Too Lawrent shore, where clad with reed the river Numicke deep  
Too seaward (which is near at hand) with stealing pace doth creep.  
She bade this river wash away what ever mortal were  
In good Aenaeas body, and them under sea too bear.  
The horned brook fulfilld her hest, and with his water sheer  
Did purge and clenze Aenaeas from his mortal body clear.  
The better portion of him did remain unto him sound.  
His mother having hallowed him did anoint his body round  
With heavenly odours, and did touch his mouth with Ambrosia  
The which was mixed with Ne●ar sweet, and made him by and by  
A God too whom the Romans give the name of Indiges,  
endeavouring with their temples and their altars him too please.  
Ascanius with the double name from thence began too reign,  
In whom the rule of Alba and of Latium did remain.  
Next him succeeded Silvius, whoose son Latinus held  
The ancient name and sceptre which his grandsire erst did wield.  
The famous Ep●t after this Latinus did succeed.  
Then Capys and king Capetus. But Capys was indeed  
The formest of the two. From this the sceptre of the Realm  
Descended unto Tyberine, who drowning in the stream  
Of Tiber left that name thereto. This Tyberine begat  
fierce Remulus and Acrota. By chance it happened that  
The elder brother Remulus for counterfeiting oft  
The thunder, with a thunderbolt was killed from aloft.  
From Acrota whoose stayëdnesse did pass his brother's skill,  
The crown did come too Aventine, who in the self-same hill  
In which he reigned buried lies, and left thereto his name.  
The rule of nation Palatine at length too Proca came.  
In this King's reign 
* It may be interpreted Applebee.  Pomona lived. There was not too be found  
Among the woodnymphes any one in all the Latian ground  
That was so cunning for too keep an Ortyard as was she,  
Nor none so painful too preserve the fruit of every tree.  
And thereupon she had her name. She passed not for the woods  
Nor rivers, but the villages and boughs that bore both buds  
And plenteous fruit. In stead of dart a shredding hook she bore,  
With which the overlusty boughs she eft away did pair  
That spreaded out too far, and eft did make therewith a rift  
Too greffe another imp upon the stock within the cleft.  
And lest her trees should die through drought, with water of the springs  
She moystech of their sucking roots the little crumpled strings.  
This was her love and whole delight. And as for Venus' deeds,  
She had no mind at all of them. And forbecause she dréedes  
Enforcement by the country folk, she walled her yards about,  
Not suffering any man at all too enter in or out.  
What have not those same nimble lads so apt too frisk and dance  
The Satyrs done? or what the Pans that wanton do prance,  
With borned foreheads? and the old Silenus who is ay  
More youthful than his years? and eke the fiend that scares away  
The thieves and robbers with his hook, or with his privy part?  
Too win her love? But yet than these a far more constant heart  
Had sly 
* Turner.  Vertumnus, though he sped no better than the rest.  
O Lord, how often being in a moawers' garment dressed,  
Bore he in bundles sheaves of corn? and when he so was dight,  
He was the very pattern of a harvest moawer right.  
Oft binding newmade hay about his temples he might seem  
A haymaker. Oft times in hand made hard with work extreme  
He bore a goad, that men would sweere he had but newly then  
Unyoakt his wéerye Oxen. Had he ta'en in hand again  
A shredding hook, ye would have thought he had a gardener been,  
Or proyner of sum wines. Or had you him with ladder seen  
Upon his neck, a gatherer of fruit ye would him deem.  
With sword a soldier, with his rod an Angler he did seem.  
And finally in many shapes he sought too find access  
Too joy the beauty but by sight, that did his heart oppress.  
Moreover, putting on his head a woman's wimple gay,  
And staying by a staff, grey hears he forth too sight did lay  
Upon his forehead, and did feign a beldame for too be.  
By means whereof he came within her goodly ortyards free.  
And wondering at the fruit, said. Much more skill hast thou I see  
Than all the Nymphs of Albula. Hail Lady mine, the flower  
Unspotted of pure maydenhod in all the world this hour.  
And with that word he kissed her a little: but his kiss  
Was such as true old women would have never given iwis.  
Then sitting down upon a bank, he looked upward at  
The branches bend with harvests weight. against him where he sat  
A goodly Elm with glistering grapes did grow: which after he  
Had praised, and the vine, likewise that ran upon the tree,  
But if (ꝙ he) this Elm without the vine did single stand,  
It should have nothing (saving leaves) too be desired: and  
again if that the vine which runs upon the Elm had nat  
The tree too lean unto, it should upon the ground lie flat.  
Yet art not thou admonished by example of this tree  
Too take a husband, neither dost thou pass too married be.  
But would too God thou wouldst. Sure Queen Helen never had  
more suitors, nor the Lady that did cause the battle mad  
Between the halfbrute Centawres and the Lapythes, nor the wife  
Of bold Ulysses who was eke ay fearful of his life,  
Than thou shouldst have. For thousands now (even now most chiefly when  
Thou seemest suitors too abhor) desire thee, both of men,  
And Gods and halfgoddes, yea and all the fairies that do dwell  
In Alban hills. But if thou wilt be wise, and myndest well  
Too match thyself, and wilt give ear too this old woman here,  
(Too whom thou more than too them all art (trust me) léef and dear,  
And more than thou thyself believ'st) the common matches flee,  
And choose Vertumnus too thy make. And take thou me too be  
His pledge. For more he too himself not known is, than too me.  
He roves not like a ronneagate through all the world abroad,  
This country héerabout (the which is large) is his abode.  
He doth not (like a number of these common wooers) cast  
His love to every one he sees. Thou art the first and last  
That ever he set mind upon. Alonely unto thee  
He vows himself as long as life doth last. Moreover he  
Is youthful, and with beawtye sheen endued by nature's gift,  
And aptly into any shape his person he can shift.  
Thou canst not bid him be the thing, (though all things thou shouldst name)  
But that he fitly and with ease will straight become the same.  
Besides all this, in all one thing both twain of you delight,  
And of the fruits that you love best the firstlings are his right:  
And gladly he receives thy gifts. But neither covets he  
Thy Apples, plumbs, nor other fruits new gathered from the tree,  
Nor yet the herbs of pleasant sent that in thy gardens be:  
Nor any other kind of thing in all the world, but thee.  
Have mercy on his fervent love, and think himself too crave  
Here present by the mouth of me, the thing that he would have.  
And fear the God that may revenge: as Venus who doth hate  
Hard hearted folks, and Rhamnus' who doth either soon or late  
Express her wrath with mindful wreak. And too th'intent thou may  
The more beware, of many things which time by long delay  
Hath taught me, I will show thee one which over all the land  
Of Cyprus blazed is abroad, which being rightly skand  
May easily bow thy hardened heart and make it for too yild.  
One Iphis borne of low degree by fortune had behild  
The Lady Anaxarete descended of the race  
Of Tewcer, and in vewwing her the fire of love a pace  
Did spread itself through all his bones. With which he striving long,  
When reason could not conquer rage because it was too strong,  
Came humbly too the ladies house: and one while laying ope  
His wretched love before her nurse, besought her by the hope  
Of Lady Anaxarete her nurcechylds' good success,  
She would not be against him in that case of his distress.  
Anoother while entreating fair sum friend of hers, he prayed  
Him earnestly with careful voice, of furtherance and of aid.  
oft-times he did prefer his suit by gentle letters sent.  
Oft garlands moisted with the dew of tears that from him went  
He hanged on her posts. Oft times his tender sides he laid  
against the threshold hard, and oft in sadness did upbraid  
The lock with much ungentleness. The Lady crueler  
Than are the rising narrow seas, or falling kids, and far  
More hard than steel of Noricum, and than the stonny rock  
That in the quarry hath his root, did him despise and mock.  
Beside her doings merciless, of stateliness and spite  
She adding proud & scornful words, defrauds the wretched wight  
Of very hope. But Iphis now unable any more  
Too bear the torment of his grief, still standing there before  
Her gate, spoke these his latest words, well Anaxarete,  
Thou hast the upper hand. Henceforth thou shalt not need too be  
aggrieved any more with me. Go triumph hardly:  
Go vaunt thyself with joy: go sing the song of victory:  
Go put a crown of glittering bay upon thy cruel head.  
For why thou hast the upper hand, and I am gladly dead.  
Well stéely hearted well: rejoice. Compelled yet shalt thou be  
Of somewhat in me for too have a liking. Thou shalt see  
A point wherein thou mayst me deem most thankful unto thee,  
And in the end thou shalt confess the great desert of me.  
But yet remember that as long as life in me doth last,  
The care of thee shall never from this heart of mine be cast.  
For both the life that I do live in hope of thee, and toother  
Which nature giveth, shall have end and pass away toogither.  
The tidings neither of my death shall come too thee fame.  
Myself (I do assure thee) will be bringer of the same.  
Myself (I say) will present be that those same cruel eyen  
Of thine may feed themselves upon this linelesse corce of mine.  
But yet O Gods, (if you behold men's deeds) remember me.  
(My tongue will se●ue too pray no more) and cause that I may be.  
Longtyme hereafter spoken of: and length the life by fame  
The which ye have abridgd in years. In saying of this same  
He lifted up his watery eyes and arms that waxed wan  
Too those same stulpes which oft he had with garlands decked ere than,  
And fastening on the top thereof a halter thus did say.  
Thou cruel and ungodly wight, these are the wreaths that may  
Most pleasure thee. And with that word he thrusting in his head,  
Even than did turn him towards her as good as being dead,  
And wretchedly did totter on the post with strangled throat.  
The wicket which his féerefull feet in sprawling mainly smote,  
Did make a noise: and flying ope bewrayed his doing plain.  
The servants shrieked, and lifting up his body, but in vain,  
Conveyed him too his mothers house, his father erst was slain.  
His mother laid him in her lap, and cléeping in her arms  
Her sons cold body, after that she had bewailed her harms  
With words and doings mootherlyke, the corce with morning cheer  
Too burial sadly through the town was borne upon a beer.  
The house of Anaxarete by chance was near the way  
By which this piteous pomp did pass, and of the doleful lay  
The sound came too the ears of her, whom God already 'gan  
Too strike▪ Yet let us see (ꝙ she) the burial of this man.  
And up the high wide windowde house in saying so, she ran.  
Scarce had she well on Iphis looked that on the beer did lie,  
But that her eyes wert stark: and from her limbs the blood 'gan fly.  
In stead thereof came paleness in. And as she backward was  
In mind too go, her feet stack fast and could not stir. And as  
She would have cast her countenance back, she could not do it. And  
The stonny hardness which a late did in her stomach stand,  
Within a while did overgrow her whole from sole too crown.  
And lest you think this gear surmysde, even yet in Salamin town  
Of Lady Anaxarete the image standeth plain.  
The temple also in the which the image doth remain,  
Is unto Venus consecrate by name of looker out.  
And therefore weighing well these things, I pray thee look about  
Good Lady, and away with pride: and be content too frame  
Thyself too him that loveth thee and cannot quench his flame.  
So neither may the Lentons' cold thy budding frutetrées kill  
Nor yet the sharp and boisterous winds thy flowering gardens spill.  
The God that can upon him take what kind of shape he list  
Now having said thus much in vain, omitted too persist  
In beldames shape, and showed himself a lusty gentleman,  
appearing too her cheerfully, even like as Phoebus' when  
He having overcome the clouds that did withstand his might,  
Doth blaze his brightsum beams again with fuller heat and light.  
He offered force. but now no force was needful in the case.  
For why she being caught in love with beauty of his face,  
Was wounded then as well as he, and 'gan to yield a pace.  
Next Proca reigned Amulius in Awsonye by wrong.  
Till Numitor the rightful heir deposed very long,  
Was by his daughter's sons restored. And on the feastful day  
Of Pale, foundation of the walls of Rome they 'gan too lay.  
Soon after Tacye, and the Lords of Sabine stirred debate:  
And Tarpey for her traitorous deed in opening of the gate  
Of Tarpey tower was priest too death according too desert  
With armour heaped upon her head. Then fierce and stout of heart  
The Sabines like too toonglesse wolves without all noise of talk  
Assailed the Romans in their sleep, and too the gates 'gan stalk  
Which Ilias' son had closed fast with locks and bars. But yet  
Dame juno had set open one, and as she opened it  
Had made no noise of craking with the hinges, so that none  
Perceyud the opening of the gate but Venus' allalone.  
And she had shut it up, but that it is not lawful too  
One God too undo any thing another God hath do.  
The waternymphes of Awsonie held all the grounds about  
The Church of janus where was store of springs fresh flowing out.  
Dame Venus prayed these nymphs of help. And they considering that  
The Goddess did request no more but right, denied it nat.  
They opened all their fountain veins and made them flow apace.  
Howbéet the passage was not yet too janus open face  
Forclosed: neither had as yet the water stopped the way.  
They put rank brimstone underneath the flowing spring that day,  
And eke with smoky resin set their veins on fire for ay.  
Through force of these and other things, the vapour pierced low  
Even down unto the very roots on which the springs did grow.  
So that the waters which a late in coldness might compare  
Even with the frozen Alpes, now hot as burning furnace are.  
The two gate posts with sprinkling of the fiery water smoked.  
Whereby the gate béehyghted too the Sabines quyght was choked  
With rising of this fountain strange, until that Marsis knight  
Had armed him. Then Romulus did boldly offer fight.  
The Roman ground with Sabines & with Romans both were spread.  
And with the blood of fathrinlawes which wicked sword had shed  
Flowed mixed the blood of sonn●inlawes. Howbéet it seemed best  
Too both the parties at the length from battle for too rest,  
And not too fight too utterance: And that Tacye should becoome  
Copartner with king Romulus of sovereinty in Room.  
Within a while king Tacye died: And both the Sabines and  
The Romans under Romulus in equal right did stand.  
The God of battle putting of his glittering helmet then,  
With such like words as these bespoke the fire of Gods and men.  
The time O father (in as much as now the Roman state  
Is wexen strong upon the good foundation laid o'late,  
Depending on the stay of an●) is come for thee too make  
Thy promise good which thou of me and of thy graundchyld spoke.  
Which was too take him from the earth and in the heaven him stay.  
Thou once (I marked thy gracious words and bore them well away)  
Before a great assembly of the Gods didst too me say.  
There shallbe one whom thou shalt raise above the starry sky.  
Now let they saying take effect. jove granting by and by  
The air was hid with darksome clouds, and thunder forth did fly,  
And lightning made the world aghast. Which Mars perceiving too  
be lackye tokens for himself his enterprise too do,  
Did take his 〈◊〉 upon his spear and boldly leapt into  
His bloody chariot. And he lent his horses with his whip  
A yirking lash, and through the air full smoothly down did ●lippe.  
And staying on the woody top of mountain Palatine,  
He took away king Romulus who there did then define  
The private caces of his folk unseemly for a king.  
And as a leaden peller broad enforced from a ●ling  
Is wont too die amid the sky: even so his mortal flesh  
Sank from him down the subtle air. In stead whereof a fresh  
And goodly shape more stately and more meet for sacred shrine.  
succeeded, like our Quirin that in stately rob doth shine.  
Hersilia for her fear as lost, of morning made none end,  
Until Queen juno did command dame Iris too descend  
Upon the rainbow down, and thus her message for too do.  
O of the Latian country and the Sabine nation too  
Thou peerless pearl of womanhod, most worthy for too be  
The wife of such a noble prince as héertoofore was he,  
And still too be the wife of him canonised by name,  
Of Quirin: cease thy tears. And if thou have desire the same  
Thy holy husband for too see, ensue me too the queache  
That groweth green on Quirins' hill, whoose shadows overreach  
The temple of the Roman King. Dame Iris did obey.  
And ●yding by her painted bow, in former words did say  
〈…〉 too Hersilia. She scarce lifting up her eyes,  
With sober countenance answered. O thou Goddess (for surmise  
I cannot who thou art, but yet I well may understand  
Thou art a Goddess) lead me O dear Goddess léede me, and  
My husband too me show. Whom if the fatal sisters three  
Will of they: gracious goodness grant me leave but once too see,  
I shall account me into heaven received for too be.  
Immediately with Thawmants' imp too Quirins hill she went.  
There gliding from the sky a star straight down too ground was sent,  
The sparks of whoose bright blazing beams did burn Hersilias hear.  
And with the star the airs did uher hear too heavenward bear.  
The builder of the town of Room receiving straight the same  
Between his old acquainted hands, did alter both her name  
And eke her body, calling her dame Ora. And by this  
She jointly with her husband for a Goddess woorshipt is.  
Finis Libri decimi quarti.   

¶ THE. XV. BOOK OF Ovid's Metamorphosis.  
A Person in the while was sought sufficient too sustain  
The burden of so great a charge, and worthy for too reign  
In stead of such a mighty prince. The noble Nun by fame  
(Who harped then upon the truth before too pass it came)  
Appointed too the Empire was. This Numa thought it not  
Enough that he the knowledge of the Sabine rites had got.  
The deepness of the noble wit too greater things was bend,  
Too search of things the natures out. The care of this intent  
Did cause that he from Curie and his native Country went  
With painful travel, too the town where Hercules did host.  
And ask who it was of Greece that in th' Italian coast  
Had built that town, an aged man well seen in stories old,  
Too satisfy his mind therein the process thus him told.  
As Hercules enriched with the Spanish kine did hold  
His voyage from the Ocean sea, men say with lucky cut  
He came a land on Lacine coast. And while he there did put  
His beace too grazing, he himself in Crotons' house did rest  
The greatest man in all those parts and unto strangers best:  
And that he there refreshed him of his tedious travel, and  
That when he should departed, he said. where now thy house doth stand,  
Shall in thy childers children's time a City builded be.  
Which words of his have proved true as plainly now we see.  
For why there was one Myscelus a Greek, Alemons son,  
A person more in favour of the Gods than any one  
In those days was. The 
* Hercules.  God that bears the boisterous club did stay  
Upon him being fast a sleep, and said: go seek straight way  
The stonny stream of Aeserie. Thy native soil for ay  
Forsake. And sore he threatened him unless he did obey.  
The God and sleep departed both toogither. Up did rise  
Al●mons son, and in himself did secretly devise  
Upon this vision. Long his mind strove doubtful too and fro.  
The God had go. His country laws did say he should not go,  
And death was made the penalty for him that would do so.  
Clear Titan in the Ocean sea had hid his lyghtsomme head,  
And dusky night had put up hers most thick with stars bespread.  
The self-same God by Myscelus did seem too stand eftsoon,  
Commanding him the self-same thing that he before had done,  
And threatening more and greater plagues unless he did obey.  
Then being stricken sore in fear he went about straightway  
His household from his native land too foreign too convey.  
A rumour hereupon did rise through all the town of Arge  
And disobedience of the law was layëd too his charge.  
assoon as that the case had first been pleaded and the deed  
Apparently perceived, so that witness did not need,  
Arreyned and forlorn too heaven he cast his hands and eyes,  
And said: O God whoose labours twelve have purchased thee the skies,  
Assist me I the pray. For thou art author of my crime.  
When judgement should be given it was the guise in ancient time  
With white stones too acquit the clear, and eke with black too cast  
The guilty. That time also so the heavy sentence past.  
The stones were cast unmerciful all black into the pot.  
But when the stones were powered out too number, there was not  
A black among them. All were white. And so through Hercles' power  
A gentle judgement did proceed, and he was quit that hour.  
Then gave he thanks too Hercules, and having prosperous blast,  
Cut over the Iönian sea, and so by Tarent past  
Which Spartans built, and Cybaris, and Neaeth salentine,  
And Thurine bay, and Emese, and eke the pastures fine  
Of Calabrye. And having scarce well sought the coasts that lie  
Upon the sea, he found the mouth of fatal Aeserye.  
Not far from thence, he also found the tumb in which the ground  
Did kiver Crotons' holy bones, and in that place did found  
The City that was willed him, and gave thereto the name  
Of him that there lay buried. Such original as this same  
This City in th' Italian coast is said too have by fame.  
Here dwelled a man of Samos I'll, who for the hate he had  
Too lordliness and Tyranny, though unconstreynd was glad  
Too make himself a banished man. And though this person wéere  
far distant from the Gods by site of heaven: yet came he near  
Too them in mind. And he by sight of soul and reason clear  
Behild the things which nature doth too fleshly eyes deny.  
And when with care most vigilant he had assuredly  
Imprinted all things in his heart, he set them openly  
Abroad for other folk too learn. He taught his silent sort  
(Which wondered at the heavenly words their master did report)  
The first foundation of the world: the cause of every thing:  
What nature was: & what was God: whence snow & lightning spring:  
And whither jove or else the wynds in breaking clouds do thunder:  
What shakes the earth: what law the stars do keep their courses under:  
And what soever other thing is hid from common sense.  
●e also is the first that did enjoin an abstinence  
Too feed of any living thing. He also first of all  
Spoke thus: although right learnedly, yet too effect but small.  
ye mortal men forbear too frank your flesh with wicked food.  
ye have both corn & fruits of trees and grapes & herbs right good.  
And though that sum be harsh and hard: yet fire may make them well  
Both soft and sweet. ye may have milk, and honey which doth smell  
Of flowers of tyme. The lavas earth doth yield you plenteously  
Most gentle food, and riches too content both mind and ●ye.  
There needs no slaughter nor no blood too get your living by.  
The beasts do break their fast with flesh: & yet not all beasts neither.  
For horses, sheep, and Rotherbeastes too live by grass had liefer.  
The nature of the beast that doth delight in bloody food,  
Is cruel and unmerciful. As lions fierce of mood,  
Armenian Tigers, Bears, and Wolves. Oh what a wickedness  
It is too cra● the maw with maw, and frank up flesh with flesh,  
And for one living thing too live by killing of another:  
As who should say, that of so great abundance which our mother  
The earth doth yield most bountuously, none other might delight  
Thy cruel teeth too chaw upon, than grisly wounds that might  
Express the Cyclops guise? or else as if thou could not stawnche  
The hunger of thy greedy gut and evil mannered pawnche,  
unless thou stroyd sum other wight. But that same ancient age  
Which we have naamd the golden world, clean void of all such rage,  
Lived blessedly by fruit of trees and herbs that grow on ground,  
And stained not their mouths with blood. Then birds might safe & sound  
Fly where they listed in the air. The hare unscaard of hound  
Went pricking over all the fields. No angling hook with bait  
Did hang the seely fish that boat mistrusting no deceit.  
All things were void of guylefulnesse: no treason was in trust:  
But all was friendship love and peace. But after that the lust  
Of one (what God so ere he was) disdaining former fare,  
Too cram that cruel crop of his with fleshmeate did not spare,  
He made a way for wickedness. And first of all the knife  
Was stained with blood of savage beasts in ridding them of life.  
And that had nothing been amiss, if there had been the stay.  
For why we grant, without the breach of godliness we may  
By death confound the things that seek too take our lives away.  
But as too kill them reason was: even so again their was  
No reason why too eat their flesh. This lewdness thence did pass  
On further still. Whereas there was no sacrifice before,  
The Swine (because with) hooked groin he wrooted up the corn,  
And did deceive the tillmen of their hope next year thereby)  
Was deemed worthy by desert in sacrifice too die.  
The Goat for byghting wines was slain at Bacchus' altar who  
Wreaks such misdeeds. Their own offence was hurtful to these two.  
But what have you poor sheep misdone a cattle meek and méeld,  
Created for too maintain man, whoose fulsomme dugs do yield  
Sweet Nectar, who doth cloth us with your wool in soft array?  
Whose life doth more us benefit than doth your death farreway?  
What trespass have the Oxen done? a beast without all guile  
Or craft, unhurtful, simple, borne too labour every while?  
In faith he is unmindful and unworthy of increase  
Of corn, that in his heart can find his tilman too release  
From plough, too cut his throat: that in his heart can find (I say)  
Those necks with hatchets of too strike, whoose skin is worn away  
With labouring ay for him: who turned so oft his land most tough,  
Who brought so many harvests home. yet is it not enough  
That such a great outrageousenesse committed is. They father  
Their wickedness upon the Gods. And falsely they do gather  
That in the death of painful Ox the highest doth delight.  
A sacrifice unblemished and fairest unto sight,  
(For beauty worketh them their bane) adorned with garlands, and  
With glittering gold, is cited at the altar for too stand.  
There héeres he words (he wots not what) the which the priest doth pray,  
And on his forehead suffereth him between his horns too lay  
The ears of corn that he himself hath wrought for in the clay,  
And staineth with his blood the knife that he himself perchance  
Hath in the water sheer ere then behild by soodein glance.  
Immediately they haling out his heartstrings still alive,  
And poring on them, seek therein God's secrets too re●ryue.  
Whence comes so greedy appetite in men, of wicked meat?  
And dare ye O ye mortal men adventure thus too eat?  
Nay do not (I beseech ye) so. But give good ●are and heed  
Too that that I shall warn you of, and trust it as your creed,  
That whensoever you do eat your Oxen, you devour  
Your husbandmen. And forasmuch as God this instant hour  
Doth move my tongue too speak, I will obey his heavenly power.  
My God Apollo's temple I will set you open, and  
Disclose the wondrous heavens themselves, and make you understand  
The Oracles and secrets of the Godly majesty.  
Great things, and such as wit of man could never yet espy,  
And such as have been hidden long, I purpose too descry.  
I mind too leave the earth, and up among the stars too sly.  
I mind too leave this grosser place, and in the clouds too fly,  
And on stout Atlas' shoulders strong too rest myself on high,  
And looking down from heaven on men that wander here and there  
In dreadful fear of death as though they void of reason were,  
Too give them exhortation thus: and plainly too unwynd  
The whole discourse of destiny as nature hath assigned.  
O men amaazd with dread of death, why fear ye Limbo Styx,  
And other names of vanity, which are but Poet's tricks?  
And perils of another world all false surmised gear?  
For whither fire or length of time consume the bodies here,  
Ye well may think that further harms they cannot suffer more.  
For souls are free from death. Howbéet, they living evermore  
Their former dwellings are receyud and live again in new.  
For I myself (right well in mind I bear it too be true)  
Was in the time of Trojan war Euphorbus Panthewes son  
Quyght through whoose heart the deathful spear of Menelay did run.  
I late age in junos' Church at Argos did behold  
And knew the target which I in my left hand there did hold.  
All things do change. But nothing sure doth perish. This same sprite  
Doth fleet, and fisking here and there doth swiftly take his flight  
From one place too another place, and entereth every wight,  
Removing out of man too beast, and out of beast too man.  
But yet it never perrisheth nor never perish can.  
And even as supple wax with ease receiveth figures strange,  
And keeps not ay one shape, ne bides assured ay from change,  
And yet continueth always wax in substance: So I say  
The soul is ay the self-same thing it was and yet astray  
It fleeteth into sundry shapes. Therefore lest Godliness  
be vanquished by outrageous lust of belly beastliness,  
Forbear (I speak by prophesy) your kinsfolks ghosts too chase  
By slaughter: neither nourish blood with blood in any case.  
And sith on open sea the wynds do blow my sails apace,  
In all the world there is not that that standeth at a stay.  
Things ebb and flow: and every shape is made too pass away.  
The time itself continually is fleeting like a brook.  
For neither brook nor lyghtsomme time can tarry still. But look  
As every wave drives other forth, and that that comes behind  
Both thrusteth and is thrust itself: Even so the times by kind  
Do fly and follow both at once, and evermore renew.  
For that that was before is left, and straight there doth ensue  
Anoother that was never erst. Each twincling of an eye  
Doth change. We see that after day comes night and darks the sky,  
And after night the lyghtsum Sun succeedeth orderly.  
Like colour is not in the heaven when all things weary lie  
At midnight ●ound a sleep, as when the daystarre clear and bright  
Comes forth upon his milkwhyght steed. again in other plight  
The morning Pallants daughter fair the messenger of light  
Delivereth into Phoebus' hands the world of clearer hue.  
The circle also of the son what ●yme it riseth new  
And when it setteth, looketh red▪ but when it mounts most high,  
Then looks it white, because that there the nature of the sky  
Is better, and from filthy dross of earth doth further fly  
The image also of the Moon that shineth ay by night,  
Is never of one quantity. For that that giveth light  
Too day, is lesser than the next that followeth, till the full.  
And then contrariwise each day her light away doth pull.  
What? seest thou not how that the year as representing plain  
The age of man, departs itself in quarters four? first bayne  
And tender in the spring it is, even like a sucking babe.  
Then green, and void of strength, and lush, and foggy, is the blade▪  
And chéeres the husbandman with hope. Then all things flourish gay.  
The earth with flowers of sundry hue than seemeth for too play,  
And virtue small or none too herbs there doth as yet belong.  
The year from spring tide passing forth too summer, waxeth strong,  
Becometh like a lusty youth. For in our life through out  
There is no time more plentiful, more lusty hot and stout.  
Then followeth Harvest when the heat of youth grows somewhat cold,  
Ripe, méeld, disposed mean betwixt a yoongman and an old,  
And somewhat sprent with grayish hear. Then ugly winter last  
Like age steals on with trembling steps, all bald, or overcast  
With shirle thin hear as white as snow. Our bodies also ay  
Do alter still from time too time, and never stand at stay.  
We shall not be the same we were too day or yisterday.  
The day hath been we were but seed and only hope of men,  
And in our mothers womb we had our dwelling place as then,  
Dame Nature put too cunning hand and suffered not that we  
Within our mothers strained womb should ay distressod be,  
But brought us out too air, and from our prison set us free.  
The child newborn lies void of strength. Within a season though  
He waxing fowerfooted lernes like savage beasts too go.  
Then somewhat faltering, and as yet not firm of foot, he stands  
By getting somewhat for too help his sinews in his hands.  
From that time growing strong and swift, he passeth forth the space  
Of youth: and also wearing out his middle age a pace,  
Through drooping ages stéepye path he runneth out his race  
This age doth undermine the strength of former years, and throws  
It down. which thing old Milo by example plainly shows.  
For when he saw those arms of his (which heretofore had been  
As strong as ever Hercules in working deadly teen  
Of biggest beasts) hang flapping down, and nought but empty skin,  
He wept. And Helen when she saw her aged wrinkles in  
A glass wept also: musing in herself what men had seen,  
That by two noble princes sons she twice had ravished been.  
Thou time the eater up of things, and age of spiteful teen.  
Destroy all things. And when that long continuance hath them bit,  
You leisurely by lingering death consume them every whit.  
And these that we call Elements do never stand at stay.  
The enterchaunging course of them I will before ye lay.  
Give heed thereto. This endless world contains therein I say  
Four substances of which all things are gendered. Of these four  
The Earth and Water for their mass and weight are sunken lower.  
The other cowple Air, and Fire the purer of the twain  
Mount up, & nought can keep them down. And though there do remain  
A space between each one of them: yet every thing is made  
Of themsame four, and into them at length again do fade.  
The earth resolving leisurely doth melt too water sheer.  
The water fyned turns too air. The air eke purged clear  
From grossness, spyreth up aloft, and there becometh fire.  
From thence in order contrary they back again retire.  
Fire thickening passeth into Air, and Ayër waxing gross,  
Returns too water: Water eke congealing into dross,  
Becometh earth. No kind of thing keeps ay his shape and hue.  
For nature loving ever change repairs one shape a new  
Upon another▪ neither doth there perish aught (trust me)  
In all the world, but altering takes new shape. For that which we  
Do term by name of being borne, is for too give too be  
Another thing than that it was: And likewise for too die,  
Too cease too be the thing it was. And though that varyably  
Things pass perchance from place too place: yet all from whence they came  
Returning, do unperrisshed continue still the same.  
But as for in one shape, be sure that nothing long can last.  
Even so the ages of the world from gold too Iron past.  
Even so have places oftentimes exchanged their estate.  
For I have seen it sea which was substantial ground o'late,  
again where sea was, I have seen the same become dry land,  
And shells and scales of Seafish far have lain from any strand.  
And in the tops of mountains high old Anchors have been ●ound.  
Deep valleys have by watershotte been made of level ground,  
And hills by force of gulling oft have into sea been worn.  
Hard gravel ground is sometime seen where marris was before,  
And that that erst did suffer drowght, becometh standing lakes.  
Here nature sendeth new springs out, and there the old in takes.  
Full many rivers in the world through earthquakes heretofore  
Have either chaundgd their former course, or dried and run no more.  
So Lycus being swallowed up by gaping of the ground,  
A greatway of fro thence is in another channel found.  
Even so the river Erasine among the fields of Arge  
Sinks onewhyle, and another while runs great again at large▪  
Caycus also of the land of Mysia (as men say)  
Misliking of his former head, runs now another way.  
In Sicill also Amasene runs sometime full and high,  
And sometime stopping up his spring, he makes his channel dry.  
Men drank the waters of the brook Anigrus heretofore,  
Which now is such that men abhor too touch them any more.  
Which comes too pass, (unless we will discredit Poet's quyght)  
Because the centaurs vanquished by Hercules in fight  
Did wash their wounds in that same brook. But doth not Hypanis  
That springeth in the Scythian hills, which at his fountain is  
Right pleasant, afterward become of brackish bitter taste?  
Antissa, and Phenycian tire, and Pharos in time past  
Were compassed all about with waves: but none of all these three  
Is now an isle. again the town of Lewcas once was free  
From sea, and in the ancient time was joined too the land.  
But now environed round about with water it doth stand.  
Men say that Sicill also hath been joined too Italy  
Until the sea consumed the bounds between, and did supply  
The room with water. If ye go too seek for Helicee  
And bury which were Cities of Achaia, you shall see  
Them hidden under water, and the shipmen yet do show  
The walls and stéeples of the towns drowned under as they row.  
Not far from Pitthey Troyzen is a certain high ground found  
All void of trees, which heretofore was plain and level ground,  
But now a mountain for the winds a (wondrous thing too say)  
Enclosed in the hollow caves of ground, and seeking way  
Too pass therefrom, in struggling long too get the open skye●  
In vain, (because in all the cave there was no vent whereby  
Too issue out,) did stretch the ground and make it swell on high,  
As doth a bladder that is blown by mouth, or as the skin  
Of horned Goat in bottlewyse when wind is gotten in.  
The swelling of the foresaid place remains at this day still,  
And by continuance waxing hard is grown a pretty hill.  
Of many things that come too mind by héersay, and by skill  
Of good experience, I a few will utter too you more.  
What? doth not water in his shapes change strangely too and fro:  
The well of horned Hammon is at noontide passing cold.  
At morn and even it waxeth warm. At midnight none can hold  
His hand therein for passing heat. The well of Athamane,  
Is said too kindle wood what time the moon is in the wane.  
The Cicons have a certain stream which being drunk doth bring  
men's bowwelles into Marble hard: and whatsoever thing  
Is towcht therewith, it turns too stone. And by your bounds behold  
The rivers Crathe and Sybaris make yellow hear like gold  
And Amber. There are also springs (which thing is far more strange)  
Which not the body only, but the mind do also change.  
Who hath not hard of Salmacis that fowl and filthy sink?  
Or of the lake of Aethiop, which if a man do drink,  
He either runneth mad, or else with wondrous drowsiness  
foregoeth quyght his memory. Who ever doth repress  
His thirst with drawght of Clitor well, hates wine, and doth delight  
In only water: either for because there is a might  
Contrary unto warming wine by nature in the well,  
Or else because (for so the folk of Arcady do tell)  
Melampus Amythaöns son (when he delivered had  
King Prae●us daughters by his charms and herbs from being mad,)  
Cast into that same water all the baggage wherewithal  
He purdgd the madness of their minds. And so it did befall,  
That loathsomeness of wine did in those waters ay remain.  
again in Lyncest contrary effect too this doth reign.  
For who ●o drinks too much thereof, he ●êeleth here and there  
As if by quaffing wine no whit allayed he drunken were.  
There is a Lake in Arcady which Pheney men did name  
In ancient time, whoose dowtfulnesse deserveth justly blame.  
A night times take thou heed of it, for if thou taste the same  
A nyghttymes, it will hurt. but if thou drink it in the day  
It hurteth not. Thus lakes and streams (as well perceive ye may)  
Have divers powers and diversly. Even so the time hath been  
That Delos which stands steadfast now, on waves was floating seen.  
And Galyes have been sore afraid of frusshing by the Isles  
Symplegadss which toogither dashed upon the sea erewhiles,  
But now do stand unmovable against both wind and tide.  
Mount Aetna with his burning ●ouens of brimstone shall not bide  
Ay fiery: neither was it so for ever erst. For whither  
The earth a living creature be, and that too breath out hither  
And thither flame, great store of vents it have in sundry places,  
And that it have the power too shift those vents in divers caces,  
Now damning these, now opening those, in moving too and fro:  
Or that the whisking wynds restreynd within the earth below,  
Do beat the stones against the stones, and other kind of stuff  
Of fiery nature, which do fall on fire with every puff:  
assoon as those same wynds do cease, the caves shall straight be cold.  
Or if it be a resin mould that soon of fire takes hold,  
Or brimstone mixed with clayish soil on fire doth lightly fall:  
Undowtedly assoon as that same soil consumed shall  
No longer yield the fatty food too feed the fire withal,  
And ravening nature shall forego her wonted nourishment,  
Then being able too abide no longer famishment,  
For want of sustenance it shall cease his burning. I do find  
By fame, that under Charlsis wain in Pallene are a kind  
Of people which by diving thrice three times in Triton lake  
Become all feathered, and the shape of birds upon them take.  
The Scythian witches also are reported for too do  
The self-same thing (but hardly I give credit thereunto)  
By smearing poison over all their bodies. But (and if  
A man too matters tried by proof may saufly give belief,)  
We see how flesh by lying still a while and catching heat  
Doth turn too little living beasts. And yet a further feat,  
Go kill an Ox and bury him, (the thing by proof man sees)  
And of his rotten flesh will breed the flower gathering Bees,  
Which as their father did before, love fields exceedingly,  
And unto work in hope of gain their busy limbs apply.  
The Hornet is engendered of a lusty buried Steed.  
Go pull away the cleas from Crabs that in the sea do breed,  
And bury all the rest in mould, and of the same will spring  
A Scorpion which with writhe tail will threaten for too sting.  
The Caterpillars of the field the which are wont too weave  
hoar films upon the leaves of trees, their former nature leave,  
(Which thing is known too husbandmen) and turn too Butterflies.  
The mud hath in it certain seed whereof green frosshes rise.  
And first it brings them footelesse forth. Then after, it doth frame  
Legs apt too swim: and furthermore of purpose that the same  
May serve them for too leap a far, their hinder part is much  
More longer than their forepart is. The Bearwhelp also which  
The Bear hath newly littred, is no whelp immediately.  
But like an evil favoured lump of flesh alive doth lie.  
The dam by licking shapeth out his members orderly  
Of such a size, as such a piece is able too conceive.  
Or mark ye not the Bees of whom our honey we receive,  
How that their young ones which do lie within the sixsquare wax  
Are limbless bodies at the first, and after as they wax  
In process take both feet and wings? What man would think it true  
That Lady Venus simple birds the doves of silver hue,  
Or junos' bird that in his tail bears stars, or Jove's stout knight  
The Earn, and every other fowl of whatsoever flight,  
Can all be hatched out of eggs, unless he did it know?  
Sum folk do hold opinion when the backbone which doth grow  
In man, is rotten in the grave, the pith becomes a snake.  
Howbéetes of other things all these their first beginning take.  
One bird there is that doth renew itself and as it were  
Beget itself continually. The Syrians name it there  
A Phoenix. Neither corn nor herbs this Phoenix liveth by.  
But by the juice of frankincense and gum of Amomye.  
And when that of his life well full fyvehundred years are past,  
Upon a Holmerrée or upon a Date tree at the last  
He makes him with his talants and his hardened bill a nest.  
Which when that 〈◊〉 with Casia sweet and Nardus soft hath dressed,  
And strewed it with Cynnamom and Myrrah of the best,  
He rucketh down upon the same, and in the spices dies.  
Soon after, of the fathers corce men say there doth arise  
Another little Phoenix which as many years must live  
As did his father. He (assoon as age doth strength him give  
Too bear the burden) from the tree the weighty nest doth lift,  
And godlily his cradle thence and fathers hearse doth shift.  
And flying through the subtle air he gets too Phoebus' town,  
And there before the temple door doth lay his burden down.  
But if that any novelty worth wondering be in these,  
Much rather may we wonder at the Hyën if we please.  
Too see how interchangeably it one while doth remain  
A female, and another while becometh male again.  
The creature also which doth live by only air and wind,  
All colours that it leaneth too doth counterfeit by kind.  
The Grapegod Bacchus, when he had subdued the land of Ind,  
Did find a spotted beast called Lynx, whoose urine (by report)  
By touching of the open air congealeth in such sort,  
As that it doth become a stone. So Coral (which as long  
As water hides it is a shrub and soft) becometh strong  
And hard assoon as it doth touch the air. The day would end,  
And Phoebus' panting steeds should in the Ocean deep descend,  
Before all alterations I in words could comprehend.  
So see we all things changeable. One nation gathereth strength:  
Another waxeth weak: and both do make exchange at length.  
So Troy which once was great and strong as well in wealth as men,  
And able ten years space too spare such store of blood as then,  
Now being base hath nothing left of all her wealth too show,  
Save ruins of the ancient works which grass doth overgrow,  
And tombs wherein their ancestors lie buried on a row.  
Once Sparta was a famous town: Great Mycenae flourished trim:  
Both Athens and Amphion's towers in honour once did swim.  
A pelting plot is Sparta now: great Mycenae lies on ground.  
Of Theab the town of Oedipus what have we more than sound?  
Of Athens king Pandions' town what resteth more than name?  
Now also of the race of Troy is rising (so saith fame)  
The City Room, which at the bank of Tiber that doth run  
down from the hill of Appennyne) already hath begun  
With great advisement for too lay foundation of her state.  
This town than changeth by increase the form it had o'late,  
And of the universal world in time to come shall hold  
The sovereinty so prophecies and lots (men say) have told.  
And as (I do remember me) what time that Troy decayed,  
The prophet Helen Priam's son these words ensuring said  
Before Aenaeas doubting of his life in weeping plight:  
O Goddess son, believe me (if thou think I have foresight  
Of things too come) Troy shalnot quyght decay while thou dost live.  
Both fire and sword shall unto thee thy passage freely give.  
Thou must from hence: and Troy with thee convey away in haste,  
Until that both thyself and Troy in foreign land be plaast  
More friendly than thy native soil. Moreover I foresee,  
A City by the offspring of the Troyans' built shall be,  
So great as never in the world the like was seen before  
Nor is this present, neither shall be seen for evermore.  
A number of most noble peers for many years afore  
Shall make it strong and puissant: But he that shall it make  
The sovereign Lady of the world, by right descent shall take  
His first beginning from thy son the little jule. And when  
The earth hath had her time of him, the sky and welkin than  
Shall have him up for evermore, and heaven shall be his end.  
Thus far I (well remember me) did Helen's words extend  
Too good Aenaeas. And it is a pleasure unto me  
The City of my countrymen increasing thus too see:  
And that the Grecians victory becomes the Troyans' weal.  
But least forgetting quyght themselves our horses hap too steal  
Beyond the mark: the heaven and all that under heaven is found,  
Doth alter shape. So doth the ground and all that is in ground.  
And we that of the world are part (considering how we be  
Not only flesh, but also souls, which may with passage free  
Remove them into every kind of beast both tame and wild)  
Let live in saufty honestly with slaughter undefyld,  
The bodies which perchance may have the spirits of our brothers,  
Our sisters, or our parents, or the spirits of sum others  
Allied to us either by sum friendship or sum kin,  
Or at the least the souls of men abiding them within.  
And let us not Thyëstes like thus furnish up our boards  
With bloody bowels. Oh how lewd example he avoordes?  
How wickedly prepareth he himself too murder man?  
That with a cruel knife doth cut the throat of Calf, and can  
Unmovably give hearing too the lowing of the dam?  
Or stick the kid that waileth like the little babe? or eat  
The fowl that he himself before had often fed with meat?  
What wants of utter wickedness in working such a feat?  
What may he after pass too do? well either let your steers  
Wear out themselves with work, or else impute their death too years.  
against the wind and weather cold let Wethers yield ye coats.  
And udders full of batling milk receive ye of the Goats.  
Away with sprindges, snares, and grins, away with Risp and net.  
Away with guileful feats: for fowls no lymetwiggs see ye set.  
No feared feathers pitch ye up too keep the Reddéere in,  
Ne with deceitful baited hook seek fishes for too win.  
If awght do harm, destroy it. but destroyt and do no more.  
Forbear the flesh: and feed your mouths with fit food therefore.  
Men say that Numa furnished with such philosophy  
As this and like, returned too his native soil, and by  
Entreatance was content of Room too take the sovereinty.  
Right happy in his wife which was a nymph, right happy in  
His guides which were the Muses nine, this Numa did begin  
Too teach Religion. by the means whereof he shortly drew  
That people unto peace who erst of nought but battle knew.  
And when through age he ended had his reign and eke his life,  
Through Latium he was mourned for of man and child and wife  
As well of high as low degree. His wife forsaking quyght  
The City, in vale Aricine did hide her out of sight,  
Among the thickest groves▪ and there with sighs and plaints did let  
The sacrifice of Diane whom Orestes erst had fet  
From Taurica in Chersonese, and in that place had set.  
How oft ah did the woodnymphes and the waternymphes persuade  
Egeria for too cease her moan? what means of comfort made  
They? Ah h●w often Theseus' son her weeping thus bespoke?  
O Nymph, thy morning moderate: thy sorrow somewhat slake:  
Not only thou hast cause too heart thy fortune for too take.  
Behold like haps of other folks, and this mischance of thine  
Shall grieve thee less. would God examples (so they were not mine)  
Might comfort thee. But mine perchance may comfort thee. If thou  
In talk by hap haste heard of one Hippolytus ere now,  
That through his father's light belief, and stepdame's craft was slain,  
It will a wonder seem too thee, and I shall have much pain  
Too make thee too believe the thing. But I am very he.  
The daughter of Pasyphae in vain oft tempting me  
My father chamber too defile, surmysde me too have sought  
The thing that she with all her heart would feign I should have wrought.  
And whither it were for fear I should her wickedness bewray,  
Or else for spite because I had so often said her nay,  
She charged me with her own offence. My father by and by  
Condemning me, did banish me his Realm without cause why.  
And at my going like a foe did ban me bitterly.  
Too Pitthey Troyzen outlawelike my chariot straight took I  
My way lay hard upon the shore of Corinth. Soodeinly  
The sea did rise, and like a mount the wave did swell on high,  
And seemed howger for too grow in drawing ever nigh,  
And roaring clyved in the top. Up starts immediately  
A horned bullock from amid the broken wave, and by  
The breast did raise him in the air, And at his nosethrills and  
His platter mouth did puff out part of sea upon the land.  
My servants hearts were sore afraid. But my heart musing ay  
Upon my wrongful banishment, did nought at all dismay.  
My horses setting up their ears and snorting waxed shy,  
And being greatly flayghted with the monster in their eye,  
Turned down too sea: and on the rocks my waggon drew. In vain  
I striving for too hold them back, laid hand upon the rain  
All white with ●ome, and haling back lay almost bolt upright.  
And sure the feercenesse of the steeds had yielded too my might,  
But that the whaele that runneth ay about the Extrée round,  
Did break by dashing on a stub, and overthrew too ground.  
Then from the Chariot I was snatched the bridles being cast  
About my limbs. ye might have seen my sinews sticking fast  
Upon the stub: my gu●ts drawn out alive: my members, part  
Still left upon the stump, and part forth harryed with the cart:  
The crasshing of my broken bones: and with what passing pain  
I breathed out my weary ghost. There did not whole remain  
One piece of all my corce by which ye might discern as though  
What lump or part it was. For all was wound from top too to.  
Now canst thou nymph, or darest thou compare thy harms with mine?  
Moreover I the sightless Realm behild with these same eyen,  
And bathed my tattered body in the river Phlegeton.  
And had not bright Apollo's son his cunning showed upon.  
My body by his surgery, my life had quyght be gone.  
Which after I by force of herbs and lée●hecraft had again  
Receyud by Aes●ulapius means, though Pluto did disdain,  
Then Cynthia (lest this gift of hers might work me greater spite)  
Thick clouds did round about me cast. And too th'intent I might  
be safe myself, and harmelessely appear too others sight:  
She made me old. And for my face, she left it in such plight,  
That none can know me by my look. And long she doubted whither  
Too give me Deal or Crete. At length refusing both toogither,  
She plaast me here. And therewithal she bade me give up quyght  
The name that of my horses in remembrance put me might.  
For whereas erst 
* Horses●aine.  Hippolytus hath been thy name (ꝙ she)  
I will that 
* Twice man.  Virbie afterward thy name for ever be.  
From that time forth within this wood I keep my residence,  
As of the meaner Gods, a God of small magnificence  
And here I hide me underneath my sovereign ladies wing  
Obeying humbly too her hest in every kind of thing.  
But yet the harms of other folk could nothing help nor boot  
Aegerias' sorrows too assuage. down at a mountains foot  
She lying melted into tears, till Phoebus' sister shéene  
For pity of her great distress in which she had her seen,  
Did turn her too a fountain clear, and melted quyght away  
Her members into water thin that never should decay.  
The strangeness of the thing did make the nymphs astonied: and  
The Lady of Amazons son amaazd thereat did stand,  
As when the Tyrrhene Tilman saw in ear-ring of his land  
The fatal clod first stir alone without the help of hand,  
And by and by foregoing quyght the earthly shape of clod,  
Too take the seemly shape of man, and shortly like a God  
Too tell of things as then too come. The Tyrrhenes did him call  
By name of Tages. He did teach the Tuskanes first of all  
Too guess by searching bulks of beasts what after should befall.  
Or like as did king Romulus when soodeinly he found  
His lawnce on mountain Palatine fast rooted in the ground,  
And bearing leaves, no longer now a weapon but a tree,  
Which shadowed such as woondringly came thither for too see.  
Or else as Cippus when he in the running brook had seen  
His horns. For why he saw them, and supposing there had been  
No credit too be given unto the glancing image, he  
Put oft his fingers too his head, and felt it so too be.  
And blaming now no more his eyes, incomming from the chase  
With conquest of his foes, he stayd. And lifting up his face  
And with his face, his horns too heaven, he said: what ever thing  
Is by this wonder meant O Gods, If joyful news it bring  
I pray ye let it joyful too my folk and country be:  
But if it threaten evil, let the evil light on me.  
In saying so, an altar green of clowwers he did frame,  
And offered fuming frankincense in fire upon the same,  
And powered boawles of wine thereon, and searched therewithal  
The quivering inwards of a sheep too know what should befall.  
A Tyrrhene wizard having sought the bowels, saw therein  
Great changes and attempts of things then ready too begin,  
Which were not plainly manifest. But when that he at last  
His eyes from inwards of the beast on Cippus horns had cast,  
Hail king (he said.) For unto thee O Cippus, unto thee,  
And too thy horns shall this same place and Room obedient be.  
Abridge delay: and make thou haste too enter at the gates  
Which tarry open for thee. So command the soothfast fates.  
Thou shalt be king assoon as thou hast entered once the town,  
And thou and thine for evermore shalt wear the royal crown.  
With that he stepping back his foot, did turn his frowning face  
From Room ward, saying. far, O far, the Gods such handsel chase.  
More right it were I all my life a banished man should be,  
Than that the holy Capitol me reigning there should see  
Thus much he said: and by and by toogither he did call  
The people and the Senators, But yet he first of all  
Did hide his horns with Laurel leaves: and then without the wall▪  
He standing on a mount the which his men had made of sods,  
And having after ancient guise made prayer too the Gods  
Said: here is one that shall (unless ye banish him your town  
Immediately) be king of Room and wear a royal crown.  
What man it is, I will by sign, but not by name bewray.  
He hath upon his brow two horns. The wizard here doth say,  
That if he enter Room, you shall like servants him obey.  
He might have entered at your gates which open for him lay,  
But I did stay him thence. And yet there is not unto me  
A nearer friend in all the world. Howbéet forbidden him ye  
O Romans that he come not once within your walls. Or if  
He have deserved, bind him fast in fetters like a thief.  
Or in this fatal Tyrant's death, of fear dispatch your mind.  
Such noise as Pynetrées make what time the heady eastern wind  
Doth whiz amongst them, or as from the sea doth far rebound:  
Even such among the folk of Room that present was the sound.  
Howbéet in that confused roar of fearful folk, did fall  
Out one voice ask, who is he? And staring therewithal  
Upon their foreheads, they did seek the foresaid horns. Again  
(ꝙ Cippus) lo, ye have the man for whom ye seek. And then  
He pulled (against his people's will) his garland from his head,  
And showed them the two fair horns ●hat on his brows were spread.  
At that the people dasheth down their looks and sighing, is  
Right sorry (who would think it true?) too see that head of his  
Most famous for his good deserts. Yet did they not forget  
The honour of his parsonage, but willingly did set  
The Laurel garland on his head again. And by and by  
The Senate said. Well Cippus, sith until the time thou die  
Thou mayst not come within these walls, we give thee as much ground  
In honour of thee, as a téeme of steers can plough thee round,  
Between the dawning of the day, and shetting in of night.  
Moreover on the brazen gate at which this Cippus might  
Have entered Room, a pair of horns were graude too represent  
His wondrous shape, as of his deed an endless monument.  
ye Muses who too Poets are the present springs of grace,  
Now show (for you know, neither are you dulled by time or space)  
How Aesculapius in the isle that is in Tiber deep  
Among the sacred saints of Room had fortune for too creep.  
A cruel plague did héertoofore infect the Latian air,  
And people's bodies pining pale the murrain did appair.  
When tired with the burial of their friends, they did perceive  
Themselves no help at man's hand nor by Physic too receive.  
Then seeking help from heaven, they sent too Delphos (which doth stand  
Amid the world) for counsel too be had at Phoebus' hand.  
Beseeching him with healthful aid too secure their distress,  
And of the mighty City Room the mischief too redress.  
The quivers which Apollo bright himself was wont too bear,  
The Baytrées, and the place itself toogither shaken were.  
And by and by the table from the furthest part of all  
The Chancel spoke these words, which did their hearts with fear appal.  
The thing ye Romans seek for here, ye should have sought more nigh  
Your country. Yea and nearer home go seek it now. Not I  
Apollo, but Apollo's son is he that must redress  
Your sorrows. Take your journey with good handsel of success,  
And fetch my son among you. When Apollo's hest was told  
Among the prudent Senators, they searched what town did hold  
His son, and unto Epidawre a Gallye for him sent.  
assoon as that th'ambassador arrived there they went  
unto the counsel and the Lords of Gréekland: whom they pray  
Too have the God the present plagues of Romans for too stay,  
And for themselves the Oracle of Phoebus forth they lay.  
The Counsel were of sundry minds and could not well agree.  
Sum thought that succour in such need denied should not be.  
And divers did persuade too keep their help, & not too send  
Their Gods away sith they themselves might need them in the end.  
While dowtfully they of and on debate this curious case,  
The evening twylyght utterly the day away did chase,  
And on the world the shadow of the earth had darkness brought.  
That night the Lord Ambassador as sleep upon him wrought,  
Did dream he saw before him stand the God whose help he sought,  
In shape as in his chapel he was wonted for too stand,  
With right hand stroking down his beard, and staff in toother hand,  
And meekly saying: fear not, I will come and leave my shrine.  
This serpent which doth wreath with knots about this staff of mine  
Mark well, and take good heed thereof: that when thou shalt it see,  
Thou mayst it know. For into it transformed will I be.  
But bigger I will be. for I will seem of such a size,  
As may celestial bodies well too turn into suffice.  
Straight with the voice, the God: and with the voice and God, away  
Went sleep: and after sleep was gone ensued cheerful day.  
Next morning having clearly put the fiery stars too flight,  
The Lords not knowing what too do, assembled all foorthryght  
Within the sumptuous temple of the God that was required,  
And of his mind by heavenly sign sum knowledge they desired.  
They scarce had done their prayers, when the God in shape of snake  
With lofty crest of gold, began a hissing for too make,  
Which was a warning given. And with his presence he did shake  
The Altar, shrine, door, marble floor, and roof all laid with gold,  
And vauncing up his breast he stayd right stately too behold  
Amid the Church, and round about his fiery eyes he rolled.  
The sight did fray the people. But the wifeless priest (whose's hear  
Was trussed in a fair white Call) did know the God was there.  
And said, behold tiz God, tiz God. As many as be here  
Pray both with mouth and mind. O thou our glorious God, appear  
Too our béehoofe, and help thy folk that keep thy hallows right.  
The people present worshipped his Godhead there in sight,  
Repeating double that the priest did say. the Romans eke  
Devoutly did with Godly voice and heart his ●auour seek.  
The God by nodding did consent, and gave assured sign  
By shaking of his golden crest that on his head did shine,  
And hissed twice with spirting tongue. Then trayld he down the fine  
And glistering gréeces of his church. And turning back his eyen,  
He looked too his altarward and too his former shrine  
And temple, as too take his leave and bid them all far well  
From thence right huge upon the ground (which sweet of flowers did smell  
That people strewed in his way,) he passed stately down,  
And bending into bowghts went through the heart of all the town,  
Until that he the bowwing wharf beside the haven took.  
Where s●aying, when he had (as seemed) dismissed with gentle look  
His train of chaplains and the folk that waited on him thither,  
He laid him in the Roman ship too sail away toogither.  
The ship did feel the burden of his Godhead too the full,  
And for the heavy weight of him did after pass more dull.  
The Romans being glad of him, and having killed a steer  
Upon the shore, untyde their ropes and cables from the peer.  
The lyghtsum wind did drive the ship. The God advancing high,  
And leaning with his neck upon the Galleys side, did lie  
And look upon the gréenish waves, and cutting easily through  
Th' Iönian sea with little gales of western wind not rough,  
The sixth day morning came upon the coast of Italy.  
And passing forth by junos' Church that mustreth too the eye  
Upon the head of Lacine he was carried also by  
The rock of Scylley. than he left the land of Calabrye  
And rowing softly by the rock Zephyrion, he did draw  
Too Celen cliffs the which upon the ryghtsyde have a flaw.  
By Romeche and by Cawlon, and by Narice thence he passed,  
And from the straights of Sicily gate quyght and clear at last.  
Then ran he by th' Aeölian Isles and by the metal mine  
Of Tempsa, and by Lewcosye, and temprate Pest where fine  
And pleasant Roses flourish ay. From thence by Capreas  
And Atheney the headlond of Minerva he did pass  
Too Surrent, where with gentle wines the hills be overclad,  
And by the town of Hercules and Stabye ill bestead  
And Naples borne too Idleness, and Cumes where Sibyl had  
Her temples, and the scalding baths, and Linterne where grows store  
Of mastic trees, and Vulturne which bears sand apace from shore,  
And Sinuesse where as Adders are as white as any snow,  
And Minturne of infected air because it stands so low,  
And Caiete where Aeneas did his nurse in tomb bestow,  
And Formy where Antiphates the Lestrigon did keep,  
And Trache enuyrond with a fen, and Circe's mountain steep:  
Too Ancon with the boisterous shore. assoon as that the ship  
arrived here, (for now the sea was rough,) the God let slip  
His circles, and in bending bowghts and wallowing waves did glide  
into his father's temple which was builded there beside  
Upon the shore. and when the sea was calm and pacified,  
The foresaid God of Epidawre, his father's Church forsook,  
(The lodging of his nearest friend which for a time he took,)  
And with his crackling scales did in the sand a furrow cut,  
And taking hold upon the stern did in the Galy put  
his head, and rested till he came past Camp and Lavine sands,  
And entered Tiber's mouth at which the City Ostia stands.  
The folk of Room came hither all by heaps both men and wives  
And eke the Nuns that keep the fire of Vesta as their lives,  
Too meet the God, and welcomed him with joyful noise. And as  
The Galley rowed up the stream, great store of incense was  
On altars burnt on both the banks, so that on either side  
The fuming of the frankincense the very air did hide,  
And also slain in sacrifice full many cattle died.  
Anon he came too Room the head of all the world: and there  
The serpent lifting up himself, began his head too bear  
Right up along the maast, upon the top whereof on high  
He looked round about, a meet abiding place too spy  
The Tiber doth divide itself in twain, and doth embrace  
A little pretty Island (so the people term the place)  
From either side whereof the banks are distant equal space.  
Apollo's Snake descending from the maast conveyed him thither,  
And taking eft his heavenly shape, as one repairing hither  
Too bring our City healthfulness, did end our sorrows quyght.  
Although too be a God with us admitted were this wight.  
Yet was he borne a foreigner. But Caesar hath obteynd.  
His Godhead in his native soil and City where he reigned.  
Whom peerless both in peace and war, not more his wars up knit  
With triumph, nor his great exploits achieved by his wit,  
Nor yet the great renown that he obteynd so speedily,  
Have turned too a blazing star, than did his progeny.  
For of the acts of Caesar, none is greater than that he  
Left such a son behind him as Augustus is, too be  
His heir. For are they things more hard too overcome thy Realm  
Of Britain standing in the sea? or up the sevenfold stream  
Of Nile that beareth Paperréede victorious ships too row?  
Or too rebellious Numidye too give an overthrow?  
Or juba king of moors, and Pons (which proudly did it bear  
Upon the name of Mythridate) too force by sword and spear  
Too yield them subjects unto Room? or by his just desert  
Too merit many triumphs, and of sum too have his part?  
Than such an heir too leave béehynd, in whom the Gods do show  
exceeding favour unto men for that they do bestow  
So great a prince upon the world? Now too th'intent that he  
Should not be borne of mortal seed, the other was too be  
canonized for a God. Which thing when golden Venus see,  
(She also saw how dreadful death was for the bishop then  
Prepaard, and how conspiracy was wrought by wicked men)  
She looked pale. And as the Gods came any in her way,  
She said unto them one by one. Behold and see I pray,  
With how exceeding eagerness they seek me too betray,  
And with what wondrous craft they strive too take my life away,  
I mean the thing that only now remaineth unto me  
Of jule the Troyans' race. Must I then only ever be  
Thus vexed with undeserved cares? How seemeth now the pain  
Of Diomedes' spear of Calydon too wound my hand again?  
How seems it me that Troy again is lost through ill defence?  
How seems my son Aenaeas like a banished man, from thence  
Too wander far again, and on the sea too tossed be,  
And war with Turnus for too make? or rather (truth too say)  
With juno? what mean I about harms passed many a day  
against mine offspring, thus too stand? This present fear and woe  
Permit me not too think on things now passed so long ago.  
ye see how wicked swords against my head are whetted. I  
Beseech ye keep them from my throat, and set the traitors by  
Their purpose. neither suffer you dame Vestaas fire too die  
By murdering of her bishop. Thus went Venus woefully  
Complaining over all the heaven, and moved the Gods thereby.  
And for they could not break the strong decrees of destiny,  
They showed signs most manifest of sorrow too ensue.  
For battles feyghting in the clouds with crasshing armour flew.  
And dreadful trumpets sounded in the air, and horns eke blue,  
As warning men before hand of the mischief that did brew.  
And Phoebus also looking dim did cast a drowsy light.  
Upon the earth, which seemed likewise too be in sorry plight.  
From underneath amid the stars brands oft seemed burning bright  
It often rained drops of blood. The morning star looked blue,  
And was bespotted here and there with specks of rusty hue.  
The moon had also spots of blood. The Scréeche owl sent from hell  
Did with her tune unfortunate in every corner yell.  
Salt tears from ivory images in sundry places fell.  
And in the chapels of the Gods was singing heard, and words  
Of threatening. Not a sacrifice one sign of good avoordes.  
But great turmoil too be at hand their heartstrings do declare.  
And when the beast is ripped up the inwards headless are.  
About the Court, and every house, and Churches in the nyhgts  
The dogs did howl, and every where appeared ghastly sprites.  
And with an earthquake shaken was the town. Yet could not all  
These warnings of the Gods dispoynt the treason that should fall,  
Nor overcome the destinies. The naked swords were brought  
into the temple. For no place in all the town was thought  
So meet too work the mischief in, or for them too commit  
The heinous murder, as the Court in which they used too sit  
In counsel. Venus then with both her hands her stomach smit,  
And was about too hide him with the cloud in which she hide  
Aenaeas, when she from the sword of Diomed did him rid.  
Or Paris, when from Menelay she did him safe convey.  
But jove her father staying her did thus unto her say.  
Why daughter mine, wilt thou alone be striving too prevent  
Unuanquishable destiny? In faith and if thou went  
Thyself into the house in which the fatal sisters three  
Do dwell, thou shouldest there of brass and steel substantial see  
The registers of things so strong and massy made too be,  
That ●au● and everlasting, they do neither stand in fear  
Of thunder, nor of lightning, nor of any ruin there.  
The destiny's of thine offspring thou shalt there find graven deep  
In Adamant. I read them: and in mind I do them keep.  
And forbecause thou shalt not beiquyght ignorant of all,  
I will declare what things I marked hereafter too befall.  
The man for whom thou makest suit, hath lived full his time  
And having run his race on earth must now too heaven up climb.  
Where thou shalt make a God of him ay honoured for too be  
With temples and with Altars on the earth. Moreover he  
That is his heir and bears his name, shall allalone sustain  
The burden laid upon his back, and shall our help obtain  
His father's murder too revenge. The town of Mutinye  
Beséedged by his power, shall yield. The fields of Pharsaly  
Shall feel him, and Philippos in the Realm of Macedonne  
Shall once again be stained with blood. The great Pompeius' son  
Shall vanquished be by him upon the sea of Sicily.  
The Roman captains wife the Queen of Egypt through her high  
Presumption trusting too her match too much, shall threat in vain  
Too make her Canop over our high Capitol too reign.  
What should I tell thee of the wild and barbarous nations that  
At both the Ocean's dwelling be? The universal plat  
Of all the earth inhabited, shall all be his. The sea  
Shall unto him obedient be likewise. And when that he  
Hath stablished peace in all the world, then shall he set his mind  
Too civil matters, upright laws by justice for too find,  
And by example of himself all others he shall bind.  
Then having care of time too come, and of posterity,  
A holy wife shall bear too him a son that may supply  
His careful charge and bear his name. And lastly in the end  
He shall too heaven among the stars his ancestors ascend,  
But not before his life by length too drooping age do tend.  
●nd therefore from the murdered corce of julius Caesar take  
●is soul with speed, and of the same a burning cressid make,  
That from our heavenly palace he may evermore look down  
Upon our royal Capitol and Court within Room town.  
He scarcely ended had these words, but Venus out of hand  
Amid the Senate house of Room invisible did stand,  
And from her Caesar's body took his new expulsed spright  
The which she not permitting too resolve too air quyght,  
Did place it in the sky among the stars that glister bright  
And as she bore it, she did feel it gather heavenly might,  
And for too wexen fiery. She no sooner let it fly,  
But that a goodly shining star it up a lost did sty  
And drew a great way after it bright beams like burning hear.  
Who looking on his sons good deeds confessed that they were  
far greater than his own, and glad he was too see that he  
Excelled him. Although his son in no wise would agree  
Too have his deeds preferred befor● his fathers: yet doth fame,  
(Who ay is free, and bound too no command) withstand the same  
And striving in that one behalf against his hest and will,  
proceedeth too prefer his deeds before his fathers still.  
Even so too Agamemnon's great renown gives Atreus' place  
Even so Achilles' deeds, the deeds of Peleus do abase.  
Even so beyond Aegaeus far doth Theseyes' prowess go.  
And (that I may examples use full matching these) even so  
Is Saturn less in fame than jove. jove rules the heavenly spheres,  
And all the tr●ple shaped world. And our Augustus bears  
Dominion over all the earth. They both are fathers: They  
Are rulers both. Ye Gods too whom both fire and sword gave way,  
What time ye with Aenaeas came from Troy: ye Gods that were  
Of mortal men canonized: Thou Qui●in who didst réere  
The walls of Room: and Mars who wart the valcant Quirins' sire  
And Vesta of the household Gods of Caesar with thy fire  
Most holy: and thou Phoebus who with Vesta also art  
Of household: and thou jupiter who in the highest part  
Of mountain Tarpey haste thy Church: and all ye Gods that may  
With conscience safe by Poets be appealed too: I pray  
Let that same day be slow too come and after I am dead,  
In which Augustus (who as now of all the world is head)  
Quyght giving up the care thereof ascend too heaven for ay  
There (absent hence,) to favour such as unto him shall pray.  
Now have I brought a work too end which neither Jove's fierce wrath,  
Nor sword, nor fire, nor freating age with all the force it hath  
Are able too abolish quyght. Let come that fatal hour  
Which (saving of this brittle flesh) hath over me no power,  
And at his pleasure make an end of mine uncertain tyme.  
Yet shall the better part of me assured be too climb  
Aloft above the starry sky. And all the world shall never  
Be able for too quench my name. For look how far so ever  
The Roman Empire by the right of conquest shall extend,  
So far shall all folk read this work. And time without all end  
(If Poets as by prophesy about the truth may aim)  
My life shall everlastingly be lengthened still by fame.  
Finis Libri decimi quinti. Laus & honour soli Deo.   

❧ IMPRINTED AT LONdon by William Seres dwelling at the west end of Paul's church, at the sign of the Hedgehog.