THE Pleasant Fable of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis. by T. Peend Gent. With a moral in English Verse.  
¶ Anno Domini. 1565. Mense Decembris.   

¶ To M. Nycholas Sentleger Esquyer.  
WHen I had employed sometime in translating Ovid's Metamorphos●s, and had achieved my purpose in part thereof, intending to have travailed further: I understood that another had prevented me. And so, after that I had received copies thereof from the printer, I was resolved to stay my labour, & to reserve that to the use and behoof of my private friend: which I intended to have made comen to every man. How be it because I know myself on divers causes alleged to your worship, being no less learned yourself, than affectioned to every commendable faculty, having nothing more fit at this time: I thought it good to gratefye you with some part thereof, and that not altogether under the note and figure according to the text. Aplyenge also a moral to the Fable. And because it hath pleased you upon your good will, rather than for the worthiness hereof, to accept & commend my Copy in writing: I am now therefore bold to publish it in print under the patronage of your name. The rather to amend the volume of this other history. And thus neither my first labours shall altogether sink: nor I shall seem to abuse the writer, or reader of those four books of Metamorphosis, which be so learnedly translated all ready. Thus yours for his small power assured. Wisheth you galen's health, the good fortune which Polycrates enjoyed for the most part of his life, and Nestor's years.  
T. Peend. ¶ From my Chamber over against Sergeant's Inn in Chancery lane. 1564.   

¶ The pleasant Fable of Hermaphroditus and Salmacis, by T. Peend. With a moral in English Verse.  

SAME Venus once by Mercury  
compress, a child did bear:  
For beauty far excelling all  
that erff before him wear.  
This noble child by name was called  
Hermaphroditus so,  
Of both his parents names it is  
derived, 
Herm●s and Aphrodite, Andrognus.  as ye kn●.  
His shape it did so far exceed  
the graces of all other:  
That then the countenance of the child  
might well dyserye his mother.  
His portraiture bevyne, it was  
so perfect in each point,  
His noble limbs so fair to sight,  
so set in every joint,  
That he might seem Dame Nature's work '  
as far for to excel:  
As do the Gods the shape of men,  
as ancient stories tell.  
As to his face it was so fair,  
and bright with bewtyes shine:  
That it excelled the glistering beams  
in Phoebus' face divine.  
A pattern plain to mend her moold  
Dame Nature there might see.  
Thereby appeared how marvelous  
the works of god they be.  
The Phrygian boy, 
●amini●es son ●f Trois 〈◊〉 king of proye.  by Thegle caught  
on jove tattend and weight.  
Liri●pes▪ son Narsisus fair,  
Nymph Echo her dainty bait,  
Not Atis fine, which was sometime  
accepted well with love,  
Nor yet the boy in incest got  
which Venus so did love. 
Adonis' ●●nne of Mirr●a 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 ●in●ra●.   
All these were not to be compared  
with young Hermaphrodite.  
Nor Cupid sure his brother blind,  
if Poets truly write,  
Might not with him in shape compare,  
but yet to fortune he  
Was subject more than this, as we  
by th'end may plainly see.  
For Cupid he doth yet now live  
a stubborn witless boy:  
But Hermaphrodite death at last  
had power for to destroy.  
How be it by doleful doom, he lost  
himself before he died.  
Such was his lot. Yet seems it strange  
one from himself to s●yed.  
Some would not think that any man,  
might change his nature so,  
That from himself by destiny,  
he might depart or go.  
How be it the stranger that it seemed,  
the rather did I choose  
To write of him whose lot it was  
by ill luck himself to lose.  
Among a thousand stories which  
are worthy to be scanned,  
In golden verse by skilful pen,  
I took this same in hand,  
To show my ready will to you  
till greater power in me:  
As corespondent to my mind  
like wise it may agree.  
Wherefore the whilst I shall desire  
your mastership to take  
This same, in worth of worthy work,  
and full account to make,  
That want of will is not in me,  
Though power thereto do not agree.  
¶ But now this son of Mercuryes  
in Ida mount was fed,  
And fostered: there, full fifteen years  
his life also he led.  
And then desirous for to know  
the state of countries strange,  
All Licia land, by travail great  
to Caria he did range.  
Whereas upon a time, what with  
his travail that was great,  
And eke the weather being hot  
he wearied then with heat,  
And ready for to rest himself,  
by chance he did espy  
A well, with water fair and clear  
as Crystal to the eye.  
Which nether bush at any time  
nor weed it over grew.  
Much like unto the well it was,  
whereto Actaeon drew,  
When that Diana, and her Nymphs  
all naked in the same  
He saw, by chance as he did seek  
his lately coursed game.  
About this spring an idle Nymph,  
fair Salmacis did use:  
Which even as soon as with her eyes,  
the young man fair she views,  
Straight set on fire: The smouldering heat  
doth strike unto her heart,  
And thorough pierced by the dint,  
of cruel Cupydes' dart.  
She straight desires with him to join,  
her lust for to fulfil.  
She tryms herself, & goes forth with  
for to declare her will.  
To whom when that she came: straight way  
With comely grace she 'gan to say.  
O worthy child, whose shape doth show,  
(as it doth seem to me.)  
That surely thou some god, and not  
a earthly wight should be.  
Right happy are thy parents sure,  
and eke the Nurse in lap  
Which hath the laid oft times, & given  
thy lovely lips the pap.  
But happiest of them both I say,  
a blessed one is she,  
Which as thy wife within one bead  
might join herself with thee.  
My deer, vouch●efe to here my ●ute,  
grant my request I pray,  
That if you be not married yet  
then, then grant this I say,  
That I may rest my happy limbs  
in blessed bed with thee,  
So I with juno for to change  
my state would not agree,  
If thou be married, let me steal  
one turn. My heart, my joy,  
She said, and therewith held her peace.  
But lo the shame fast boy  
Was dashed, and out of countenance clean.  
he blushed as red as blood,  
He wist not then what love did mean.  
it would have done one good,  
To see how well the blushing shame,  
The amazed boy as it became.  
¶ Such was his lively countenance,  
such was his comely hue.  
Whom when the Nymph had long beheld,  
not able to subdue  
Her heat affection and desire.  
not able to sustain,  
The force of those so fervent flames,  
she doth attempt again  
By other means to try the boy,  
each practyce doth she prove.  
But nought at all could move his heart  
being rude, as yet to love.  
She seeketh to embrace his neck,  
and asketh for a kiss.  
But then the boy resisting her  
was moved much with this,  
And said leave of these wanton tricks,  
no longer trouble me,  
Else will I soon be gone, and leave  
the place and all with thee.  
Then Salmacis afraid, did make  
as thence she would be gone.  
But in a bush hard by the same,  
she hid herself anon.  
The boy thought now that all was safe  
from shame as yet now free  
Does of his clothes, and thinketh sure  
that none the same doth see.  
And like a wanton Kid he skyppes  
and in the mead doth run.  
Then in the well, to bathe his feet,  
he so at first began  
But thus at last the water clear  
it doth delight him so.  
He gives his body to the streams  
and wadeth to and fro,  
And further forth with softly foot  
he doth begin to go.  
¶ At last with arms out stretched he  
his body clean doth dip.  
By swimming, through the silver streams  
his ivory corpse doth slip.  
The Nymph this while, beholding him,  
no longer then could stay,  
But of her mantle being thrown  
she would leap in straight way.  
The boy amid the waves doth swim  
as white as any snow.  
No swan could seem more white than he  
that ever any saw.  
The Nymph her heart doth pant troy ●oy,  
she scant abides to stay,  
until her garments all were of.  
she plyeth so her pray.  
Even as the eager mastyve Dog,  
whom scant his keeper stays,  
But at the baited Bear he strives  
for to be gone always.  
Even as the Hawk doth ba●e, when that  
she sees the Partryge sprung:  
So Salmacis, to her it seems  
Each time it is to long,  
That lets her from the prey. But lo,  
as merry as a Pie,  
The boy doth frisk and play, he thyncks  
that none may him espy.  
But as the ●are within her form,  
when she doth fear no ill:  
The hound is on her suddenly,  
then priest the fool to kill.  
So Salmacis unto her pray,  
into the water goes:  
As though that then for all the world  
her lust she would not lose.  
Not to persuade him how she means,  
as she did erst before:  
But now sheys priest her lust to serve,  
or else to die therefore.  
She it to folly so full inclined:  
That nothing then might change her mind.  
¶ But lo the boy, as soon as he  
did there the Nymph espy,  
Even as the little Roche with sins  
out wretched fast both fly,  
The rau●nyng Pike, which after him  
in greater haste doth high:  
So up and down the springe they fleet,  
the one himself to save.  
The Nymph, her joy by spoil doth seek  
of tother for to have.  
The flightful boy, like as the Hare,  
for life the Hound doth fly,  
The Nymph always even as the hound,  
when he doth come so nigh,  
That even his nose may touch her heel's:  
he girdeth forth amain,  
With gaping mouth, being always like  
his prey for to obtain.  
The Nymph did drive him up so near,  
that even of force at last  
He is compelled for to resist,  
and strive for him as fast,  
Her rage by strength for to suppress.  
she forceth on him so,  
That wearied nigh the tender boy,  
he wots not what to do.  
To strive he is compelled, or else  
to yield against his will  
Unto his foe, which forceth so,  
her lust for to fulfil.  
And yet some women say, that they  
be innocentes, god wots.  
This nycy Nymph doth now display  
whether it be true or not.  
In goodness simple sure they be,  
Else subtle enough I warrant ye  
¶ So nice and fine, before the time  
this weaking Nymph did seem,  
That force and might to break an egg  
in her ye would scantly dame.  
And yet by force, she keepeth now  
the young man at a bay:  
As in a corner doth a dog  
keep up the striving grey.  
And then at last espying well  
advantage fit thereto,  
She catcheth him about the neck  
as loath to let him go.  
Even as the ivy winds about  
the tree, so doth she clasp  
The body of the striving boy:  
which trembled like the Asp.  
Even as the Crab in cruel claws  
when he hath caught his foe:  
With gripe doth gird him so as though  
he should not scape him fro.  
Even so the Nymph (though Venus' son  
do as he may resist.  
In words protesting plain how that  
she shall not have her list.)  
Yet hoping well, with pre●●yng weight  
she cleaveth to him so:  
That though he strive and writhe, she swears  
he shall not from her go.  
Wherefore (thou froward hoy) the says,  
now strogle on t●y fill.  
But now by force I will obtain,  
that shall content my will.  
Thou shalt not scape me sure. Go to  
with stoberne striving still.  
With pressed lips perforce to him  
an hundred kisses she  
Doth give, whereby it may appear,  
she liked his company.  
This said. Unto the heavens on high  
she lifteth up her eyes,  
And saith, o Gods that see all things  
and sit above the skies,  
●raunt that this wilful boy  
may never part fro me.  
But let us still in one remain.  
the Gods they did agree  
To her request. And Venus then  
being moved with their moan,  
She did vouchsafe to join  
their bodies both in one.  
One countenance did set forth  
a thing full strange to see,  
A man and woman both  
with one corpse to agree:  
And yet the same no perfect man,  
nor woman for to be.  
¶ But now, when that Hermaphrodite  
did see in water plain,  
He entered like a man therein,  
and should come forth again  
But half a man. Himself he lost.  
His fortune it was so.  
Wherefore he lifted up his hands,  
and prayed his parents to,  
That who so ever entereth here,  
his lot likewise may be:  
That he to man and woman both,  
in shape may so agree.  
Their parents hard the plaint, the which  
their double shaped son  
Had made, And so with virtue strange,  
the spring was spread anon.  
Thus both in wish they did agree:  
And now contented well they be.   

NOw, Ovid here might seem to some,  
a trifling tale to tell.  
But yet it shows a worthy s●nce,  
if it be marked we●l.  
The Poets use in pleasant toys  
great wisdom for to s●ew.  
A subtle sense this tale doth bear,  
all be it perceived of few.  
By Venus, son here understand,  
such Youths as yet be green,  
And from the spot of filthy lust  
the sprynglynges that be clean,  
which yet have not enthralled themselves  
unto affection vile.  
Nor know the poison strong, the subtle bait,  
which lovers doth beguile.  
Even such as newly have cast of  
a boy, and entered in  
A young man's age. Such one as doth  
to know himself begin.  
Of age well able for to rule  
himself without agu●de.  
Such one as first into world  
beginneth for to slide,  
To learn and see the trades of men,  
to choose the good from ill.  
By young Hermaphrodite, such one  
here understand we will.  
By C●●ia, sygny●ye the world  
where all temptations be.  
Whereas the good and i●, always  
together we may see.  
By Salmacis, intend each vice  
that moves one to ill.  
And by the spring the pleasant sport,  
that doth content the will.  
So that when any young man first  
without a guide or stay,  
Doth enter in the world so wide,  
unskilful of the way,  
Not knowing yet the wily bait,  
nor the temptations vile,  
Whereby the subtle sort oft times  
the ●ely do beguile:  
He blindly runneth on each where,  
and doubtring of none ill:  
Because himself he meaneth none,  
he thynckes that no man will  
(do otherwise.)  
And so, by pleasant shape of vice  
deceived all unware,  
He drowns himself in filthy sin,  
● taken in the snare.  
The more he strives, entangled once  
the faster he is in.  
Such is the nature of the ●ayte,  
and sleight of that same begin.  
But after that he is deceived:  
by practice to his pain,  
More wise, always he will beware  
to come in like again.  
Then will be joy to see his wish,  
on others in like sort,  
Which plunged be in pensive pain,  
whilst that they seek for sport.  
A man is said to lose himself,  
when reason quite exiled,  
Enthralled in slavysh we, he is  
constrained for to yield  
To lust, and will. dame reasons rules  
(which still should rule our race.)  
Rejected quite, to affec●yons:  
we give the ground and place.  
And like to beasts, esteeming more  
to serve our sensual ●ust,  
And to adorn the body brave,  
which shall consume to dust,  
More lief than for to deck the mind  
which is immortal sure.  
Such is our beastly nature blind:  
so is our lust unpure.  
So we our chief and greatest Good,  
the treasure of our mind,  
Do lose, and so to slavysh lust,  
our nature free we bind.  
And servants bond unto our will,  
we work our wretched woe.  
So one may lose himself, and be  
unto himself a foe.  
So do we change the happy hope  
of everlasting joy,  
Even for the present pastime, which  
ourselves doth moste annoy.  
We change our nature clean,  
being made effemynat.  
When we do yield to serve our lust,  
we lose our former state.  
It is the nature of that well,  
that filthy loathsome lake,  
Of lust, the strength from lusty men  
by hidden force to take:  
And so it may now plain appear,  
the Poet thus did tell.  
As many as hereafter shall  
once enter in this well  
Of vice. He shallbe weakened so.  
His nature sure he shall forego.  
¶ Thus much here of, as my rude Muse  
doth understand the mind  
Of Ovid, by this pleasant tale,  
no further sense I find.   

BUt now the fleeting fancies fond,  
and eke the shuttle wits:  
The mad desires of women now,  
their rage in foolish fits  
I will display. This Nymph, the boy,  
did for his bewry love,  
For even the sudden sight of him,  
did her affection move.  
And Echo she Narcissus young  
even for his bewtyes sake,  
Did choose among all other youths  
to be her faithful make.  
Medea and Hypsiph●le,  
did love ●ason so,  
Even for his lovely face, that they  
would from their countries go,  
And leave their parents & their friends  
to go, and be with him,  
Which to them both, not long a go  
had erst a stranger bene.  
Demophon by his seemly shape,  
did like fair Phyllys eyes.  
And Dido she Aeneas brave  
therefore did love likewise.  
And in like sort did end her life,  
when that she might no more  
Enjoy her joyful lust as she  
was wont some time before.  
It seemed death, what so did them  
divorce their lovers fro.  
Fair Helen, Menelaus wy●e.  
To Paris fine also  
Did ye●ld, with him to Phrygian town  
a stranger for to go.  
To Paris arms herself she took:  
And Menelaus old forsook.  
¶ The lusty girl began to loath,  
such sage pastime as he  
Can make. She rather chose  
with Paris young to be.  
The learned Sappho did some time  
to comely Phaon sue  
For grace. And Biblis, she  
her brother did pursue  
(For bew●ye that in him did shine.  
She followed him therefore  
So long: till that her fainting limbs  
could carry her no more.  
King Nisus d●ughter dear also,  
fair Sylla was beguiled,  
By Minos' yellow shining hear,  
which as her foe in field:  
Against the walls of Megaris,  
did be are his seemly shield.  
And yet king Minos' wife,  
was of another mind.  
In Taurus' black ill faced ●yre,  
more pleasure she did find,  
The captains rousy skuffe, black pol,  
to her so fair did seem▪  
That she her husbands go●den hear  
did not so much esteem.  
The Emperor Othons' daughter dear  
A delasie did so  
Regard the lively Al●ran,  
that she with him did go  
To countries strange▪ content  
by hazard of her life,  
Against the will of all her friends,  
for to become his wife.  
With pryncelyke life, for him alone  
an Empire she would lose.  
With him to lead a simple life  
much rather she did chose.  
All pleasures in the world, in him  
alone she then did take.  
All friends, for him alone also  
she gladly did forsake.  
With him for need right well she was  
contented coals to make.  
To couch in cottage low,  
on simple food to far.  
For all the world, excepted him,  
she took no kind of care.  
He was her bliss. Her joy was he.  
And nothing else esteemed she.  
¶ And Hero fair unto her fear,  
Leander fine did take.  
And Thishe she did kill herself  
for comely Pirames sake.  
Orestes lively looks, did much  
Hermione delight.  
King Tancred's, daughter Gysmond, did  
love Guistardes' beauty bright.  
The Nymphs did Hiacinthus, for  
his seemly shape desire.  
His lovely cheer full, soon did set  
their youthly hearts on fire.  
And juliet, Romeus young,  
for beauty did embrace,  
Yet did hy● manhood well agree,  
unto his worthy grace.  
So seemly shape did love procure:  
And Venu● birds came to the lure.  
¶ 〈◊〉 Aphrodite dame so coy  
〈◊〉 love Adonis so,  
〈◊〉 she with him, always  
●●●tented was to go▪  
In slender hand, the craggy bow  
she did vouchsafe to bear,  
And run a hunting after him,  
to kill the flightful Deare.  
The stoberne boy, blind Cupid here,  
with shaft, did strike his mother dear.  
¶ sith bewtyes grace, as pleasant bait,  
these ladies did deceive.  
What did Adonis' mother, in  
her father old perceive:  
Why she should seek by incest vile,  
Her mother's bed for to defile.  
¶ What flinging fit did force her so?  
what mad desire doth move  
Her thus? why should she seek an old  
and cankered lad to love?  
And why did Phaedra sue unto  
her boisterous son in law,  
Hypolite blunt (being rude to love)  
unto her lust to draw.  
Why did his fierce & frowning face,  
his hard complexion seem  
To her a fair and manlike hew.  
what made her so to dame?  
Sith beutyes goodly grace, sometime  
so well it liked her,  
That the above her country, did  
young Theseus prefer.  
Her sister Ariadne aye,  
his shape esteemed so:  
That she her brother did betray,  
and fled her parents fro.  
Such be the fond and frantic fits  
which in the blinded brain  
Of wanton women often times,  
with swinging sway doth reign.  
And Venus eke, which liked so  
Ad●nis lovely grace,  
Tha● she from him would not  
abide in any place.  
In warlike Mars that bloody knight:  
Sometime also she did delight.  
¶ Sith she for comely beauty then,  
these lusty youths did love.  
To marry with dame juno's son  
what odd conceit did move  
Her so: to serve that grisly sire,  
the Coper●mith deformed.  
Whom Nature neither with good grace,  
nor learning had adorned.  
But even a rude & boisterous carl.  
whose colour in his face:  
A Croyden sangwine right did seem.  
This is a doubtful case.  
That she which erst did seek so much  
for bewtyes goodly grace,  
To love Adonis fair alone,  
should seek sometime to embrace  
Sir Vulcan, wi●h his drowsy poll,  
A smith which did on stythy, towl,  
¶ I dare not sure dissolve this doubt.  
I fear to judge on this.  
To have to do with gods above,  
how do unge●ous it is:  
Tiresias old, which was sometime  
a judge of juno's game.  
In jesting strife, for telling truth  
the judge did bear the blame.  
He lost his sight, for judging right.  
O judge unwise, thou knowest the price  
Of telling truth, more was y ● ●uoth.  
Tiresias, thou Prophet old,  
which hadst the grace, for to unfold,  
the secrets hid of things to come:  
Though juno she, did make the blind,  
Yet love to thee, was not unkind.  
He did restore, as good therefore.  
Thy lack of sight, thy knowledge doth  
Right well aquight. That is the troth.  
For by the same, unto the skies,  
Thy worthy name, it did arise.  
How be it I, am not so bold  
With judgement this for to unfold.  
The Goddess gra●e I more regard:  
Then hope, to have of loves reward.  
For doubt of blame, I dare not say  
Or show the same, which erst always  
I thought. For sure, if I may choose,  
Dame Venus' love I will not lose.  
Sith men bear blame, for telling troth:  
To show the same I would be loath.  
Wherefore now I, will cease to writ.  
And you hardly, by judgement right,  
As one exempt from Venus' might:  
May be more bold, this to unfold.  
And so to you, I leave it now,  
that this most weighty doubt:  
At further leisure (when you list)  
yourself may find it out.   T. D. Peend.  

¶ That the unlearned might the better understand these, I have compendeouslye noted the histories, & names not familiar to our english phrase.  
Venus', 
Venus.  wife to Vulcan, feigned of the Poets to be the Goddess of love. And by another name is called Aphrodite.  
MErcurye, 
Mercury  the son of jupiter and Maia, one of the daughters of Atlas. Whom the Poets called god of eloquence, and is called Hermes, otherwise the messenger of jupiter.  
Phaebus', Apollo. 
Phoebus.  And is taken for the Son.  
Narcissus', 
Narcissus  son of ●iriope, a child of passing beauty, which did so much delight in his own shape, as the Poets feigned, that he died for love of his own shadow, and was turned into a flower.  
Phrygian. 
Phrygian.  One of the Land of Phrigia.  
CVpide, 
Cupid.  son of Bacchus and Venus, and is feigned of the Poets, to be the God of love. And is called blind: because lust blindeth judgements of men.  
Echo. 
Echo.  A Nymph, which loved Narcissus. And the sound that cometh from the valleys and hollow places, & doth sound again six or seven words, in some places, by reason of the reverberation of the air. (as some say.)  
Jove, 
jove.  son of Saturn and Ops. King of Creta, and was feigned chief of the Gods.  
Juno. 
juno.  Sister & wife of jove or jupiter.  
MEdea, 
Medea.  daughter of Oeta, King of Cholcus, which loved jason. Who, when he had sworn never to forsake her. She did help him to kill the Serpent, and win the golden fleece. And so when she did privily go away with jason, she kyled her young brother Absirtus, and did pluck him in pieces, to stay her father which pursued after her: & when she had lived many years in Grece, with jason, and had children by him. At last jason forsook her, and married Glauca, daughter of king Creon. Medea so refused, slew the sons which she had by jason, & setting his Palace on fire: she burned Glauca, and her father therein.  
HIpsiphile, 
Hipsiphil  daughter of Thoas, King of Lemnus, which lo●ed jason exceedingly, & bore him two children at a burden.  
IAson, 
jason.  son of Aeson, whom Pelias his Unkell being king of thessaly, did send with many other valyente Gentlemen, to fetch the Golden Fleece. Which (the adventers there of achyeved,) by the help of Medea, he won, and brought it away.  
DEmophon, 
Demophon  son of Theseus & Phaedra. Which returning from the battle of Troy, was by tempest brought into Thracia, where Phillis daughter of Lycurgus, than Queen, received him, and after married him, which from thence went to Athens, promising her to return shortly. Which when he performed not, Phillis not able to sustain the raging fits of so fervent love. Hung herself on an Almond tree.  
And so the Poets feigned that she was turned into an Almond tree.  
DIdo, 
Dido.  daughter of Belus, king of Tirus. And wife of Sichaeus: whom when Pygmalion the king, & brother to Dido had s●a●ne for his richesses. Dido sailed into Africa with his treasure, and there builded the famous City of Carthage. And afterward in love with Aeneas, when he had departed from her, to seek the land of italy: (according to Cassandra her prophesy.) she broke her neck for sorrow, falling into the fire. etc. Or according to Virgil flew herself with Aeneas his sword.  
AEneas. 
Aeneas  A noble man of Troy, sonn● of Anchises and Venus. Which escaping with his father, wife, and other his country men. After great travail, and many chances: arrived in Italy, where after great battle he slew king Turnus, and married Lavinia, daughter to king Latinus. And so became king of Italy.  
HElena. 
Helena.  Begotten of jupiter, in the likeness of a Swan, on Leda wife of Tindar●s, king of Laconia. And was for her passing beauty iwyse stolen first by Th●s●us, being but a girl: & the second time being wife to Menelaus, by Paris. For whom the Grecians warred ten years space with the Trojans. And so Troy being burned, received her again.  
Parish. 
Paris.  Son of Priam king of Troy, by his wife Hecuba, with whom when she was great with child, she dreamt that she had brought forth a firebrand, which should burn Troy: whearfore the king afraid, commanded that the child should be killed as soon as he was borne. His mother Hecuba, moved with motherly pity, did privily send him to a Shepherd to be brought up. And when he waxed a young man, juno, Pallas, and Venus, Goddesses, striving in beauty for a golden Apple, whereon was written: be it given to the fairest They were sent by jupiter, to the judgement of Paris. To whom when juno had promised rule and kingdom, Pallas wisdom, and Venus' pleasure, and the fairest woman in the world. He gave the apple to Venus. And so after came in favour with his father, and sailing to Sparta, he brought fair Helen away with him. And so the battle of Troy began.  
SApho. 
Sappho.  A woman of the isle Lesbos, learned in poetry, being forsaken of a young man, called Phaon, whom she loved: she cast herself from the hill Leucates, into the Sea, & so perished by love of him.  
PHaon. 
Phaon.  When he had carried Veenus over a Ferry: she gave him to be the fairest, and best shaped man alive.  
BIblis. 
Biblis.  daughter of Miletus, which inflamed with detestable love of her brother Caunus, when he forsook his country to avoid that mischief: she followed him till she died for fayn●nes.  
SCylla. 
Scylla.  Daughter of Nisus, king of Megaris. Which for the love of Minos then besieging the City of Megaris, she brought to him a purple hear, which she cut of from her father's head. And that hear being on his head, he could not be overcome, and by like destiny: with the hear, he lost his kingdom. And Minos despised her for her mischievous deed. And tyenge her with a cord to the end of his ship: he hanged her in the water.  
Minos'. 
M●nos.  begotten by Iupit●r in the likeness of a white Bull, on the fair Europa, daughter to Agenor king of Phoenicia. And for his justice is feigned of the Poets to be a judge in Hell.  
Adonis'. 
Adonis.  A young man of passing beauty, whom Cinaras' king of Phoenicia, made drunk by policy of his daughter, & a Nurse, ●egat on his own daughter M●rrha. whom Venus loved.  
Hippolytus. 
Hippolytus.  Son of Theseus, duke of Athens, by Hippolyta. Whom when his stepmother Phaedra could not win to her lust, she accused him to Theseus, as though he would have oppressed her by force. Thes●us then trusting his wife to much, desired his father Aegeus, a God of the Sea, that he would kill his son. Wherefore when Hippolytus did ride in a Chariot by the Sea side, Aegeus sent out certain monsters of the Sea, called Phoces, wherewith his horses afraid, broke the Chariot, and rent him in pieces. But at the request of Diana, Goddess of chastity (loving her chaste knight Hippolytus,) Aesculapius, the first that invented physic: restored him to life again.  
Menelaus'. 
Menelaus.  Son of A●reus, brother to Agamemn●n, and king of the City of Sparta.  
Wlcane. 
Vulcan.  Son of jupiter & juno, which being borne ill favoured, and liked not juno: he was cast into the isle Lemnus, who are being nourished with Apes, he became lame of one foot thereby. And he is feigned to be the god of fire, and the Smyth to make thunder bolts for Iupit●r. Which asking to marry Minerva, jupiter's daughter, and Goddess of wisdom: he was denied. Wherefore Virgil 〈◊〉 
* The Gods would not vouchsafe, 
Ne● deus hunc men sa, Dea nec dignata cubili est.  that he  
should at their table fit.  
And to her bed, the Goddess she  
would never him admit:  But afterward, this gay squire married to Venus, when he had taken her a bed with lusty Ma●s, the god of battle. He had framed such fine chains to bind them, that they could not get a sunder: till he had brought all the Gods to laugh at the game.  
PAsiphae. 
Pasiphae  Wy●e of Minos' king of Creta, which loved a stout Captain called Taurus, and conceived by him the cruel and deformed Minotaurus, whom for his fierceness, and ill shape, the Poets feigned to have been half a man, and half a bull: & therefore was enclosed in a labyrinth, (made by the co●ynge Dedalus,) and there fed who flesh of men.  
HEro. 
Hero.  A maiden of singular beauty, of the city Sestos, in hellespont.  
LEander. 
Leander.  A young gentleman of the City Abydos, which a great river did divide from Sestos, who are he was wont to swim by night, to his lover Hero, and so at last was drowned.  
PIramus. 
Pyramus.  A young gentleman of Babylon which loved Thisbe.  
THisbe. 
Thisbe.  A maid of singular beauty, which when she loved P●riamus exceedingly: And they were kept a sunder by their parents, yet o●e night they escaped out, and had agreed before, to have met under a tree without the town: Thisbe coming thither first, seeing a Lion? did fly into the wood, her rail being fallen of, the Lion 〈◊〉 it in pieces. Pyramus coming after, finding the cloth ren●e, thought that Thisbe had been devoured of some beast, and so 〈◊〉 himself. Which when Thisbe returning again did see: she killed herself with the same swe●de.  
OReste●. 
Orestes.  Son of king Agame●●ion. Which ●lew his mother Clitemnestia, because that she for love of Aegisthus, had slain his father. And he married H●rmione. And after being 〈◊〉, (his most faithful friend Pylades keeping him) he came into the country of Tauric●: Where, according to the custom, he should have been slain, and sacryfysed. But being known of his sister Iphigenia, he slew the king Thoas, and escaped with his sister. And after had his wits perfect again.  
HErmione. 
Hermione.  Daughter of Menelaus, and that Helen: so renowned for her beauty, Which being a girl was married to Orestes. And when king Pyrrhus, son of the valyante. Achilles, had married her afterward. Hermione by letters required him humbly, to claim his right and deliver her. And so Orestes slew Pyrrhus, & received Hermione again.  
HIacinthus. 
Hiacinthus.  A young man, of passing beauty.  
MArs. 
Mars.  God of war, and son of jupiter and juno.  
Theseus'. 
Theseus.  Son of Aegeus king of Athens, & of Aethra, daughter to Pytheus, king of the city Troezen. A puissant knight, which did many great feats a●d adventures: As Hercules did. Being but a young man, he fought with Hercules against the Amazons, warfull women. He slew Creon king of Thebes, which suffered not men slain in war to be buried. He slew Minotaurus, and delivered his country, from the tribute of fourteen noble children, every nine years, sent to Creta to be slain, for that the citizens of Athens had slain Androgeus, son of Minos' king of Creta. He slew a monstrous Bull which had spoiled the country Attica. He slew heyron, and Procustes, robbers. And afterward with his faithful friend Pirithous he went to Hell to fetch Proserpina, whom Pluto had stolen, from her mother C●res, Goddess of corn, and Queen of Sicily.  
But Pirith●uis being slain by the three headed Hound Cerberus, Porter of Hell: Theseus was kept in prison there, till he was delivered by mighty Hercules.  
ARiadne. 
Ariadne  Daughter to Minos, king of Creta, which by a bottom of thread, taught Theseus to come out of the labyrinth, after he had killed her brother Minotaurus. She forsook her country and followed him, whom he left in the isle of Naxus▪ So Bacchus the God of wine, took her to wife. And Venus gave her a crown, whereon Bacchus' se● nine stars, & fired it in the sky. And so the star is called the Gnossian crown.  
PHaed●a. 
Phaedia.  Daughter of king Minos, and Pasiphae, with her sister Ariadne did fly her country, with Theseus: and became his wife, after he had forsaken Ariadne.  
ADelasie 
Adelasie.  Daughter and only child of the Emperor Otho the third, so exceedingly she was enamoured of the most valiant Aleran, son of a Duke of Saxony that she procured him privily to convey her away, which by the help of an old lady her nurse, he brought to pass●. And afterward being robed of such money as they had provided, they lived long in a wood, and made coals for their living, and bore him seucn sons there, and afterward by the valiant feats of her eldest son, they were known to the Emperor▪ and so had his favour again, and enjoyed the Empire after him.  
IVliet. 
juliet.  A noble maiden of the city Ve●ona in italy, which loved Romeus, eldest son of the Lord Montesche, and being privily married together: he at last poisoned himself for love of her. she for sorrow of his death, slew herself in the same Tomb, with his dagger▪  
TIresias. 
Tiresias.  An old Prophet of the City Thebes, in Boetia, a country in Attica. And is now called Vanda●ia.  
DIana. 
Diana.  Daughter of jupiter and Latona, and sy●er of Apollo, & is called goddess of hunting, and chastity. & is the Moon also.  
Nymphs, 
nymphs  were maidens which followed Diana, and worshipping her, did live solitary, in woods, by rivers sides, and other pleasant places: to avoid company. And chiefly used hunting: to subdue the tediousness of tyme.  
ACteon. 
Actaeon.  Son of Aristaeus, by A●tonoe daughter of Camus, builder of the city Thebes, which after he had been a hunting, came by chance to a secret well or spring, where he saw Diana naked, washing of herself. Whereat she taking displeasure, turned him into a Heart, and so, as he would have returned home, 
Inscius Acteon vidit sine vest Dianan, Atque suis canibus▪ etc.  he was rent in pieces of his own hounds. Ovid Epist. 
Actaeon once ●vnwyttyng, did  
Dian● naked▪ see:  
Wherefore unto his Hounds, she made  
Him then a pray to be.  ¶ All which was ●ained, for that he had spent his substance, and undone himself by hun●ynge, and keeping of hounds.  
GYsmonde. 
Gysmond  Only daughter of Tanc●ede, king of Sa●e●ne: which loved a servant of her fathers: & being taken in adultery together, in a Cave in the ground the king caused her lover Guistarde to be hanged therefore, and sent his heart unto her▪ which embracing it, laid it on her breast, against her own heart, and drank a cup of poison immediately, whereof dying: she desired that they might be buried together.  
FINIS.   

¶ Faults escaped  
In A. the .6. page, in the margin, for Gaminides, read .  
In the same page, the .7. line, for Narsisus read Narcissus. In A. the .7. page, the .19. line, for worthy work read worthier work. In A. the .12. page, the .25. line, for how read now. In A. the .14. page the 13. line, for the read that. In the same page, the .14. line for weaking read weakling.  
In B. the first page, the .16, line for springlinges read striplings. In the same page, the .27. line, for into world read into the world.  
In B. the .4. page, the .22. line, for the Poet thus did tell, read the Poet truth did tell. In B. the .6. page, the last vers, for Sylla, read Scylla. In B. the .15. page, the 21. line, for adventers read adventures. In C. the .12. page, the 15. line for Antonoc read Autonoe. In the same page, the same line, for Camus read Cadmus.   

¶ Imprinted at London in Fletestreat beneath the conduit, at the sign of S. john evangelist, by Thomas Col (well.)