Metamorphoses
Ovid
Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.
- Now in this while gan Daedalus a wearinesse to take
- Of living like a banisht 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 assurde he cannot stop the Aire and open Skie.
- To make my passage that way then my cunning will I trie.
- Although that Minos like a Lord held all the world beside:
- Yet doth the Aire from Minos yoke for all men free abide.
- This sed: to uncoth Arts he bent the force of all his wits
- To alter natures course by craft. And orderly he knits
- A rowe of fethers one by one, beginning with the short,
- And overmatching still eche quill with one of longer sort,
- That on the shoring of a hill a man would thinke them grow.
- Even so the countrie Organpipes of Oten reedes ir row
- Ech higher than another rise. Then fastned he with Flax
- The middle quilles, and joyned in the lowest sort with Wax.
- And when he thus had finisht them, a little he them bent
- In compasse, that the verie Birdes they full might represent.
- There stoode me by him Icarus, his sonne, a pretie Lad.
- Who knowing not that he in handes his owne destruction had,
- With smiling mouth did one while blow the fethers to and fro
- Which in the Aire on wings of Birds did flask not long ago:
- And with his thumbes another while he chafes the yelow Wax
- And lets his fathers wondrous worke with childish toyes and knacks.
- As soon as that the worke was done, the workman by and by
- Did peyse his bodie on his wings, and in the Aire on hie
- Hung wavering: and did teach his sonne how he should also flie.
- I warne thee (quoth he), Icarus, a middle race to keepe.
- For if thou hold too low a gate, the dankenesse of the deepe
- Will overlade thy wings with wet. And if thou mount too hie,
- The Sunne will sindge them. Therfore see betweene them both thou flie.
- I bid thee not behold the Starre Bootes in the Skie.
- Nor looke upon the bigger Beare to make thy course thereby,
- Nor yet on Orions naked sword. But ever have an eie
- To keepe the race that I doe keepe, and I will guide thee right.
- In giving counsell to his sonne to order well his flight,
- He fastned to his shoulders twaine a paire of uncoth wings.
- And as he was in doing it and warning him of things,
- His aged cheekes were wet, his hands did quake, in fine he gave
- His sonne a kisse the last that he alive should ever have.
- And then he mounting up aloft before him tooke his way
- Right fearfull for his followers sake: as is the Bird the day
- That first she tolleth from hir nest among the braunches hie
- Hir tender yong ones in the Aire to teach them for to flie.
- So heartens he his little sonne to follow teaching him
- A hurtfull Art. His owne two wings he waveth verie trim,
- And looketh backward still upon his sonnes. The fishermen
- Then standing angling by the Sea, and shepeherdes leaning then
- On sheepehookes, and the Ploughmen on the handles of their Plough,
- Beholding them, amazed were: and thought that they that through
- The Aire could flie were Gods. And now did on their left side stand
- The Iles of Paros and of Dele and Samos, Junos land:
- And on their right, Lebinthos and the faire Calydna fraught
- With store of honie: when the Boy a frolicke courage caught
- To flie at randon. Whereupon forsaking quight his guide,
- Of fond desire to flie to Heaven, above his boundes he stide.
- And there the nerenesse of the Sunne which burnd more hote aloft,
- Did make the Wax (with which his wings were glewed) lithe and soft.
- As soone as that the Wax was molt, his naked armes he shakes,
- And wanting wherewithall to wave no helpe of Aire he takes.
- But calling on his father loud he drowned in the wave:
- And by this chaunce of his those Seas his name for ever have.
- His wretched Father (but as then no father) cride in feare:
- O Icarus, O Icarus, where art thou? tell me where
- That I may finde thee, Icarus. He saw the fethers swim
- Upon the waves, and curst his Art that so had spighted him.
- At last he tooke his bodie up and laid it in a grave,
- And to the Ile the name of him then buried in it gave.
- And as he of his wretched sonne the corse in ground did hide,
- The cackling Partrich from a thicke and leavie thorne him spide,
- And clapping with his wings for joy aloud to call began.
- There was of that same kinde of Birde no mo but he as than.
- In times forepast had none bene seene. It was but late anew
- Since he was made a bird: and that thou, Daedalus, mayst rew:
- For whyle the world doth last thy shame shall thereupon ensew.
- For why thy sister, ignorant of that which after hapt,
- Did put him to thee to be taught full twelve yeares old and apt
- To take instruction. He did marke the middle bone that goes
- Through fishes, and according to the paterne tane of those
- He filed teeth upon a piece of yron one by one
- And so devised first the Saw where erst was never none.
- Moreover he two yron shankes so joynde in one round head,
- That opening an indifferent space, the one point downe shall tread,
- And tother draw a circle round. The finding of these things,
- The spightfull heart of Daedalus with such a m lice stings,
- That headlong from the holy towre of Pallas downe he thrue
- His Nephew, feyning him to fall by chaunce, which was not true.
- But Pallas (who doth favour wits) did stay him in his fall
- And chaunging him into a Bird did clad him over all
- With fethers soft amid the Aire. The quicknesse of his wit
- (Which erst was swift) did shed it selfe among his wings and feete.
- And as he Partrich hight before, so hights he Partrich still.
- Yet mounteth not this Bird aloft ne seemes to have a will
- To build hir nest in tops of trees among the boughes on hie
- But flecketh nere the ground and layes hir egges in hedges drie.
- And forbicause hir former fall she ay in minde doth beare,
- She ever since all lofty things doth warely shun for feare.
- And now forwearied Daedalus alighted in the land
- Within the which the burning hilles of firie Aetna stand.
- To save whose life King Cocalus did weapon take in hand,
- For which men thought him merciful. And now with high renowne
- Had Theseus ceast the wofull pay of tribute in the towne
- Of Athens. Temples decked were with garlands every where,
- And supplications made to Jove and warlicke Pallas were,
- And all the other Gods, to whome more honor for to show,
- Gifts, blud of beasts, and frankincense the people did bestow
- As in performance of their vowes. The right redoubted name
- Of Theseus through the lande of Greece was spred by flying fame.
- And now the folke that in the land of rich Achaia dwelt,
- Praid him of succor in the harmes and perils that they felt.
- Although the land of Calydon had then Meleager:
- Yet was it faine in humble wise to Theseus to prefer
- A supplication for the aide of him. The cause wherfore
- They made such humble suit to him was this. There was a Bore
- The which Diana for to wreake hir wrath conceyvde before
- Had thither as hir servant sent the countrie for to waast.
- For men report that Oenie when he had in storehouse plaast
- The full encrease of former yeare, to Ceres did assigne
- The firstlings of his corne and fruits: to Bacchus, of the Wine:
- And unto Pallas Olife oyle. This honoring of the Gods
- Of graine and fruits who put their help to toyling in the clods,
- Ambitiously to all, even those that dwell in heaven did clime.
- Dianas Altars (as it hapt) alonly at that time
- Without reward of Frankincense were overskipt (they say).
- Even Gods are subject unto wrath. He shall not scape away
- Unpunisht, though unworshipped he passed me wyth spight:
- He shall not make his vaunt he scapt me unrevenged quight,
- Quoth Phoebe. And anon she sent a Bore to Oenies ground
- Of such a hugenesse as no Bull could ever yet be found,
- In Epyre: but in Sicilie are Bulles much lesse than hee.
- His eies did glister blud and fire: right dreadfull was to see
- His brawned necke, right dredfull was his haire which grew as thicke
- With pricking points as one of them could well by other sticke.
- And like a front of armed Pikes set close in battell ray
- The sturdie bristles on his back stoode staring up alway.
- The scalding fome with gnashing hoarse which he did cast aside,
- Upon his large and brawned shield did white as Curdes abide.
- Among the greatest Oliphants in all the land of Inde,
- A greater tush than had this Boare, ye shall not lightly finde.
- Such lightning flashed from his chappes, as seared up the grasse.
- Now trampled he the spindling come to ground where he did passe,
- Now ramping up their riped hope he made the Plowmen weepe.
- And chankt the kernell in the eare. In vaine their floores they sweepe:
- In vaine their Barnes for Harvest long, the likely store they keepe.
- The spreaded Vines with clustred Grapes to ground he rudely sent,
- And full of Berries loden boughes from Olife trees he rent.
- On cattell also did he rage. The shepeherd nor his dog,
- Nor yet the Bulles could save the herdes from outrage of this Hog.
- The folke themselves were faine to flie. And yet they thought them not
- In safetie when they had themselves within the Citie got.
- Untill their Prince Meleager, and with their Prince a knot
- Of Lords and lustie gentlemen of hand and courage stout,
- With chosen fellowes for the nonce of all the Lands about,
- Inflamed were to win renowne. The chiefe that thither came
- Were both the twinnes of Tyndarus of great renowne and fame,
- The one in all activitie of manhode, strength and force,
- The other for his cunning skill in handling of a horse.
- And Jason he that first of all the Gallie did invent:
- And Theseus with Pirithous betwene which two there went
- A happie leage of amitie: And two of Thesties race:
- And Lynce, the sonne of Apharie and Idas, 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 wonne
- And Drias and Hippothous: and Phoenix eke the sonne
- Of olde Amyntor: and a paire of Actors ympes: and Phyle
- Who came from Elis. Telamon was also there that while:
- And so was also Peleus, the great Achilles Sire:
- And Pherets sonne: and Iolay, the Thebane who with fire
- Helpt Hercules the monstruous heades of Hydra off to seare.
- The lively Lad Eurytion and Echion who did beare
- The pricke and prise for footemanship, were present also there.
- And Lelex of Narytium too. And Panopie beside:
- And Hyle: and cruell Hippasus: and Naestor who that tide
- Was in the Prime of lustie youth: moreover thither went
- Three children of Hippocoon from old Amicle sent.
- And he that of Penelope the fathrinlaw became.
- And eke the sonne of Parrhasus, Ancaeus cald by name.
- There was the sonne of Ampycus of great forecasting wit:
- And Oeclies sonne who of his wife was unbetrayed yit.
- And from the Citie Tegea there came the Paragone
- Of Lycey forrest, Atalant, a goodly Ladie, one
- Of Schoenyes daughters, then a Maide. The garment she did weare
- A brayded button fastned at hir gorget. All hir heare
- Untrimmed in one only knot was trussed. From hir left
- Side hanging on hir shoulder was an Ivorie quiver deft:
- Which being full of arrowes, made a clattring as she went.
- And in hir right hand she did beare a Bow already bent.
- Hir furniture was such as this. Hir countnance and hir grace
- Was such as in a Boy might well be cald a Wenches face,
- And in a Wench be cald a Boyes. The Prince of Calydon
- No sooner cast his eie on hir, but being caught anon
- In love, he wisht hir 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 Ladie shall vouchsave hir Husband for to be.
- The shortnesse of the time and shame would give him leave to say
- No more: a worke of greater weight did draw him then away.
- A wood thick growen with trees which stoode unfelled to that day
- Beginning from a plaine, had thence a large prospect throughout
- The falling grounds that every way did muster round about.
- As soone as that the men came there, some pitched up the toyles,
- Some tooke the couples from the Dogs, and some pursude the foyles
- In places where the Swine had tract: desiring for to spie
- Their owne destruction. Now there was a hollow bottom by,
- To which the watershots of raine from all the high grounds drew.
- Within the compasse of this pond great store of Osiers grew:
- And Sallowes lithe, and flackring Flags, and moorish Rushes eke,
- And lazie Reedes on little shankes, and other baggage like.
- From hence the Bore was rowzed out, and fiersly 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 beares the trees before him downe, and all the wood about
- Doth sound of crashing. All the youth with hideous noyse and shout
- Against him bend their Boarspeare points with hand and 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 skinnes 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 backe at which he aimed it was likely for to smight.
- It overflew him. Jason was the man that cast the Dart.
- With that the sonne of Ampycus sayd: Phoebus (if with hart
- I have and still doe worship thee) now graunt me for to hit
- The thing that I doe levell at. Apollo graunts him it
- As much as lay in him to graunt. He hit the Swine in deede.
- But neyther entred he his hide nor caused him to bleede.
- For why Diana (as the Dart was flying) tooke away
- The head of it: and so the Dart could headlesse beare no sway.
- But yet the moodie beast thereby was set the more on fire
- And chafing like the lightning swift he uttreth forth his ire.
- The fire did sparkle from his eyes: and from his boyling brest
- He breathed flaming flakes of fire conceyved in his chest.
- And looke with what a violent brunt a mightie Bullet goes
- From engines bent against a wall, or bulwarks full of foes:
- With even such violence rusht the Swine among the Hunts amayne,
- And overthrew Eupalamon and Pelagon both twaine
- That in the right wing placed were. Their fellowes stepping to
- And drawing them away, did save their lives with much ado.
- But as for poore Enesimus, Hippocoons sonne had not
- The lucke to scape the deadly dint. He would away have got,
- And trembling turnde his backe for feare. The Swine him overtooke,
- And cut his hamstrings, so that streight his going him forsooke.
- And Naestor to have lost his life was like by fortune ere
- The siege of Troie, but that he tooke his rist upon his speare:
- And leaping quickly up upon a tree that stoode hard by,
- Did safely from the place behold his foe whome he did flie.
- The Boare then whetting sharpe his tuskes against the Oken wood
- To mischiefe did prepare himselfe with fierce and cruell mood.
- And trusting to his weapons which he sharpened had anew,
- In great Orithyas thigh a wound with hooked groyne he drew.
- The valiant brothers, those same twinnes of Tyndarus (not yet
- Celestiall signes), did both of them on goodly coursers sit
- As white as snow: and ech of them had shaking in his fist
- A lightsome Dart with head of steele to throw it where he lyst.
- And for to wound the bristled Bore they surely had not mist
- But that he still recovered so the coverts of the wood,
- That neyther horse could follow him, nor Dart doe any good.
- Still after followed Telamon, whom taking to his feete
- No heede at all for egernesse, a Maple roote did meete,
- Which tripped up his heeles, and flat against the ground him laid.
- And while his brother Peleus relieved him, the Maid
- Of Tegea tooke an arrow swift, and shot it from hir bow.
- The arrow lighting underneath the havers eare bylow,
- And somewhat rasing of the skin, did make the bloud to show.
- The Maid hirselfe not gladder was to see that luckie blow,
- Than was the Prince Meleager. He was the first that saw,
- And first that shewed to his Mates the blud that she did draw:
- And said: For this thy valiant act due honor shalt thou have.
- The men did blush, and chearing up ech other courage gave
- With shouting, and disorderly their Darts by heaps they threw.
- The number of them hindred them, not suffring to ensew
- That any lighted on the marke at which they all did ame.
- Behold, enragde against his ende the hardie Knight that came
- From Arcadie, rusht rashly with a Pollax in his fist
- And said: You yonglings learne of me what difference is betwist
- A wenches weapons and a mans: and all of you give place
- To my redoubted force. For though Diana in this chase
- Should with hir owne shield him defend, yet should this hand of mine
- Even maugre Dame Dianas heart confound this orped Swine.
- Such boasting words as these through pride presumptuously he crakes:
- And streyning out himselfe upon his tiptoes streight he takes
- His Pollax up with both his hands. But as this bragger ment
- To fetch his blow, the cruell beast his malice did prevent:
- And in his coddes (the speeding place of death) his tusshes puts,
- And rippeth up his paunche. Downe falles Ancaeus and his guts
- Come tumbling out besmearde with bloud, and foyled all the plot.
- Pirithous, Ixions sonne, at that abashed not:
- But shaking in his valiant hand his hunting staffe did goe
- Still stoutly forward face to face t'encounter with his foe
- To whome Duke Theseus cride afarre: O dearer unto mee
- Than is my selfe, my soule I say, stay: lawfull we it see
- For valiant men to keepe aloofe. The over hardie hart
- In rash adventring of him selfe hath made Ancaeus smart.
- This sed, he threw a weightie Dart of Cornell with a head
- Of brasse: which being leveld well was likely to have sped,
- But that a bough of Chestnut tree thick leaved by the way
- Did latch it, and by meanes therof the dint of it did stay.
- Another Dart that Jason threw, by fortune mist the Bore,
- And light betwene a Mastifes chaps, and through his guts did gore,
- And naild him to the earth. The hand of Prince Meleager
- Plaid hittymissie. Of two Darts his first did flie too far,
- And lighted in the ground: the next amid his backe stickt fast.
- And while the Bore did play the fiend and turned round agast,
- And grunting flang his fome about togither mixt with blood,
- The giver of the wound (the more to stirre his enmies mood,)
- Stept in, and underneath the shield did thrust his Boarspeare through.
- Then all the Hunters shouting out demeaned joy inough.
- And glad was he that first might come to take him by the hand.
- About the ugly beast they all with gladnesse gazing stand
- And wondring what a field of ground his carcasse did possesse,
- There durst not any be so bolde to touch him. Nerethelesse,
- They every of them with his bloud their hunting staves made red.
- Then stepped forth Meleager, and treading on his hed
- Said thus: O Ladie Atalant, receive thou here my fee,
- And of my glorie vouch thou safe partaker for to bee.
- Immediatly the ugly head with both the tusshes brave
- And eke the skin with bristles stur right griesly, he hir gave.
- The Ladie for the givers sake, was in hir heart as glad
- As for the gift. The rest repinde that she such honor had.
- Through all the rout was murmuring. Of whom with roring reare
- And armes displayd that all the field might easly see and heare,
- The Thesties cried: Dame, come off and lay us downe this geare.
- And thou a woman offer not us men so great a shame,
- As we to toyle and thou to take the honor of our game.
- Ne let that faire smooth face of thine beguile thee, lest that hee
- That being doted in thy love did give thee this our fee,
- Be over farre to rescow thee. And with that word they tooke
- The gift from hir, and right of gift from him. He could not brooke
- This wrong: but gnashing with his teeth for anger that did boyle
- Within, said fiersly: learne ye you that other folkes dispoyle
- Of honor given, what diffrence is betweene your threats, and deedes.
- And therewithall Plexippus brest (who no such matter dreedes)
- With wicked weapon he did pierce. As Toxey doubting stood
- What way to take, desiring both t'advenge his brothers blood,
- And fearing to be murthered as his brother was before,
- Meleager (to dispatch all doubts of musing any more)
- Did heate his sword for companie in bloud of him againe,
- Before Plexippus bloud was cold that did thereon remaine.
- Althaea going toward Church with presents for to yild
- Due thankes and worship to the Gods that for hir sonne had kild
- The Boare, beheld hir brothers brought home dead: and by and by
- She beate hir brest, and filde the towne with shrieking piteously,
- And shifting all hir rich aray, did put on mourning weede
- But when she understoode what man was doer of the deede,
- She left all mourning, and from teares to vengeance did proceede.
- There was a certaine firebrand which when Oenies wife did lie
- In childebed of Meleager, she chaunced to espie
- The Destnies putting in the fire: and in the putting in,
- She heard them speake these words, as they his fatall threede 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.
- Immediatly the mother caught the blazing bough away,
- And quenched it. This bough she kept full charely many a day:
- And in the keeping of the same she kept hir sonne alive.
- But now intending of his life him clearly to deprive,
- She brought it forth, and causing all the coales and shivers to
- Be layed by, she like a foe did kindle fire thereto.
- Fowre times she was about to cast the firebrand in the flame:
- Fowre times she pulled backe hir hand from doing of the same.
- As mother and as sister both she strove what way to go:
- The divers names drew diversly hir stomacke to and fro.
- Hir face waxt often pale for feare of mischiefe to ensue:
- And often red about the eies through heate of ire she grew.
- One while hir looke resembled one that threatned cruelnesse:
- Another while ye would have thought she minded pitiousnesse.
- And though the cruell burning of hir heart did drie hir teares,
- Yet burst out some. And as a Boate which tide contrarie beares
- Against the winde, feeles double force, and is compeld to yeelde
- To both, so Thesties daughter now unable for to weelde
- Hir doubtful passions, diversly is caried off and on,
- And chaungeably she waxes calme, and stormes againe anon.
- But better sister ginneth she than mother for to be.
- And to th'intent hir brothers ghostes with bloud to honor, she
- In meaning to be one way kinde, doth worke another way
- Against kinde. When the plagie fire waxt strong she thus did say:
- Let this same fire my bowels burne. And as in cursed hands
- The fatall wood she holding at the Hellish Altar stands:
- She said: Ye triple Goddesses of wreake, ye Helhounds three
- Beholde ye all this furious fact and sacrifice of mee.
- I wreake, and do against all right: with death must death be payde:
- In mischiefe mischiefe must be heapt: on corse must corse be laide.
- Confounded let this wicked house with heaped sorrowes bee.
- Shall Oenie joy his happy sonne in honor for to see
- And Thestie mourne bereft of his? Nay: better yet it were,
- That eche with other companie in mourning you should beare.
- Ye brothers Ghostes and soules new dead I wish no more, but you
- To feele the solemne obsequies which I prepare as now:
- And that mine offring you accept, which dearly I have bought
- The yssue of my wretched wombe. Alas, alas what thought
- I for to doe? O brothers, I besech you beare with me.
- I am his mother: so to doe my hands unable be.
- His trespasse I confesse deserves the stopping of his breath:
- But yet I doe not like that I be Author of his death.
- And shall he then with life and limme, and honor too, scape free?
- And vaunting in his good successe the King of Calidon bee?
- And you deare soules lie raked up but in a little dust?
- I will not surely suffer it. But let the villaine trust
- That he shall die, and draw with him to ruine and decay
- His Kingdome, Countrie and his Sire that doth upon him stay.
- Why where is now the mothers heart and pitie that should raigne
- In Parents? and the ten Monthes paines that once I did sustaine?
- O would to God thou burned had a babie in this brand,
- And that I had not tane it out and quencht it with my hand.
- That all this while thou lived hast, my goodnesse is the cause.
- And now most justly unto death thine owne desert thee drawes.
- Receive the guerdon of thy deede: and render thou agen
- Thy twice given life, by bearing first, and secondarly when
- I caught this firebrand from the flame: or else come deale 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 brothers corses seeme to prease before my face
- With lively Image of their deaths. Another while my minde
- Doth yeelde to pitie, and the name of mother doth me blinde.
- Now wo is me. To let you have the upper hand is sinne:
- But nerethelesse the upper hand O brothers doe you win.
- Condicionly that when that I to comfort you withall
- Have wrought this feate, my selfe to you resort in person shall.
- This sed, she turnde away hir face, and with a trembling hand
- Did cast the deathfull brand amid the burning fire. The brand
- Did eyther sigh, or seeme to sigh in burning in the flame,
- Which sorie 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 bare out long the paine with courage stout.
- But yet it grieved him to die so cowardly without
- The shedding of his bloud. He thought Anceus for to be
- A happie man that dide of wound. With sighing called he
- Upon his aged father, and his sisters, and his brother,
- And lastly on his wife too, and by chaunce upon his mother.
- His paine encreased with the fire, and fell therewith againe:
- And at the selfe same instant quight extinguisht were both twaine.
- And as the ashes soft and hore by leysure overgrew
- The glowing coales: so leysurly his spirit from him drew.
- Then drouped stately Calydon. Both yong and olde did mourne,
- The Lords and Commons did lament, and maried wives with tome
- And tattred haire did crie alas. His father did beray
- His horie head and face with dust, and on the earth flat lay,
- Lamenting that he lived had to see that wofull day
- For now his mothers giltie hand had for that cursed crime
- Done execution on hir selfe by sword before hir time.
- If God to me a hundred mouthes with sounding tongues should send,
- And reason able to conceyve, and thereunto should lend
- Me all the grace of eloquence that ere the Muses had,
- I could not shew the wo wherewith his sisters were bestad.
- Unmindfull of their high estate, their naked brests they smit,
- Untill they made them blacke and blew. And while his bodie yit
- Remained, they did cherish it, and cherish it againe.
- They kist his bodie: yea they kist the chist that did containe
- His corse. And after that the corse was burnt to ashes, they
- Did presse his ashes with their brests: and downe along they lay
- Upon his tumb, and there embraste his name upon the stone,
- And filde the letters of the same with teares that from them gone.
- At length Diana satisfide with slaughter brought upon
- The house of Oenie, lifts them up with fethers everichone,
- (Save Gorgee and the daughtrinlaw of noble Alcmene) and
- Makes wings to stretch along their sides, and horned nebs to stand
- Upon their mouthes. And finally she altring quight their faire
- And native shape, in shape of Birds dooth sent them through the Aire.
- The noble Theseus in this while with others having donne
- His part in killing of the Boare, to Athens ward begonne
- To take his way. But Acheloy then being swolne with raine
- Did stay him of his journey, and from passage him restraine.
- Of Athens valiant knight (quoth he) come underneath my roofe,
- And for to passe my raging streame as yet attempt no proofe.
- This brooke is wont whole trees to beare and evelong stones to carry
- With hideous roring down his streame. I oft have seene him harry
- Whole Shepcotes standing nere his banks, with flocks of sheepe therin.
- Nought booted buls their strength: nought steedes by swiftnes there could win.
- Yea many lustie men this brooke hath swallowed, when the snow
- From mountaines molten, caused him his banks to overflow.
- i The best is for you for to rest untill the River fall
- Within his boundes: and runne ageine within his chanell small.
- Content (quoth Theseus): Acheloy, I will not sure refuse
- Thy counsell nor thy house. And so he both of them did use.
- Of Pommy hollowed diversly and ragged Pebble stone
- The walles were made. The floore with Mosse was soft to tread upon.
- The roofe thereof was checkerwise with shelles of Purple wrought
- And Perle. The Sunne then full two parts of day to end had brought,
- And Theseus downe to table sate with such as late before
- Had friendly borne him companie at killing of the Bore.
- At one side sate Ixions sonne, and on the other sate
- The Prince of Troyzen, Lelex, with a thin hearde horie pate.
- And then such other as the brooke of Acarnania did
- Vouchsafe the honor to his boord and table for to bid,
- Who was right glad of such a guest. Immediatly there came
- Barefooted Nymphes who brought in meate. And when that of the same
- The Lords had taken their repast, the meate away they tooke,
- And set downe wine in precious stones. Then Theseus who did looke
- Upon the Sea that underneath did lie within their sight,
- Said: tell us what is yon same place, (and with his fingar right
- Hee poynted thereunto) I pray, and what that Iland hight,
- Although it seemeth mo than one. The River answerd thus,
- It is not one mayne land alone that kenned is of us.
- There are uppon a fyve of them. The distaunce of the place,
- Dooth hinder to discerne betweene eche Ile the perfect space.
- And that the lesse yee woonder may at Phoebees act alate,
- To such as had neglected her uppon contempt or hate,
- Theis Iles were sumtyme Waternimphes: who having killed Neate,
- Twyce fyve, and called to theyr feast the Country Gods to eate,
- Forgetting mee kept frolicke cheere. At that gan I to swell,
- And ran more large than ever erst, and being over fell
- In stomacke and in streame, I rent the wood from wood, and feeld
- From feeld, and with the ground the Nymphes as then with stomacks meeld
- Remembring mee, I tumbled to the Sea. The waves of mee
- And of the sea the ground that erst all whole was woont to bee
- Did rend asunder into all the Iles you yonder see,
- And made a way for waters now to passe betweene them free.
- They now of Urchins have theyr name. But of theis Ilands, one
- A great way off (behold yee) stands a great way off alone,
- As you may see. The Mariners doo call it Perimell.
- With her (shee was as then a Nymph) so farre in love I fell,
- That of her maydenhod I her spoyld: which thing displeasd so sore
- Her father Sir Hippodamas, that from the craggy shore
- He threw her headlong downe to drowne her in the sea. But I
- Did latch her streight, and bearing her aflote did lowd thus crie:
- O Neptune with thy threetynde Mace who hast by lot the charge
- Of all the waters wylde that bound uppon the earth at large,
- To whom wee holy streames doo runne, in whome wee take our end,
- Draw neere, and gently to my boone effectually attend.
- This Ladie whome I beare aflote myselfe hath hurt. Bee meeke
- And upright. If Hippodamas perchaunce were fatherleeke,
- Or if that he extremitie through outrage did not secke,
- He oughted to have pitied her and for to beare with mee.
- Now help us Neptune, I thee pray, and condescend that shee
- Whom from the land her fathers wrath and cruelnesse dooth chace
- Who through her fathers cruelnesse is drownd: may find the grace
- To have a place: or rather let hirselfe 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 sute approve,
- He made his surges all to shake. The Nymph was sore afrayd.
- Howbee't shee swam, and as she swam, my hand I softly layd
- Upon her brest which quivered still. And whyle I toucht the same,
- I sensibly did feele how all her body hard became:
- And how the earth did overgrow her bulk. And as I spake,
- New earth enclosde hir swimming limbes, which by and by did take
- Another shape, and grew into a mighty Ile.
- With that
- The River ceast and all men there did woonder much thereat.
- Pirithous being over hault of mynde and such a one
- As did despyse bothe God and man, did laugh them everychone
- To scorne for giving credit, and sayd thus: The woords thou spaakst
- Are feyned fancies, Acheloy: and overstrong thou maakst
- The Gods: to say that they can give and take way shapes. This scoffe
- Did make the heerers all amazde, for none did like thereof.
- And Lelex of them all the man most rype in yeeres and wit,
- Sayd thus: Unmeasurable is the powre of heaven, and it
- Can have none end. And looke what God dooth mynd to bring about,
- Must take effect. And in this case to put yee out of dout,
- Upon the hilles of Phrygie neere a Teyle there stands a tree
- Of Oke enclosed with a wall. Myself the place did see.
- For Pithey untoo Pelops feelds did send mee where his father
- Did sumtyme reigne. Not farre fro thence there is a poole which rather
- Had bene dry ground inhabited. But now it is a meare
- And Moorecocks, Cootes, and Cormorants doo breede and nestle there.
- The mightie Jove and Mercurie his sonne in shape of men
- Resorted thither on a tyme. A thousand houses when
- For roome to lodge in they had sought, a thousand houses bard
- Theyr doores against them. Nerethelesse one Cotage afterward
- Receyved them, and that was but a pelting one in deede.
- The roofe therof was thatched all with straw and fennish reede.
- Howbee't two honest auncient folke, (of whom she Baucis hight
- And he Philemon) in that Cote theyr fayth in youth had plight:
- And in that Cote had spent theyr age. And for they paciently
- Did beare theyr simple povertie, they made it light thereby,
- And shewed it no thing to bee repyned at at all.
- It skilles not whether there for Hyndes or Maister you doo call,
- For all the houshold were but two: and both of them obeyde,
- And both commaunded. When the Gods at this same Cotage staid,
- And ducking downe their heads, within the low made Wicket came,
- Philemon bringing ech a stoole, bade rest upon the same
- Their limmes: and busie Baucis brought them cuishons homely geere.
- ihich done, the embers on the harth she gan abrode to steere,
- And laid the coales togither that were raakt up over night,
- And with the brands and dried leaves did make them gather might,
- And with the blowing of hir mouth did make them kindle bright.
- Then from an inner house she fetcht seare sticks and clifted brands,
- And put them broken underneath a Skillet with hir hands.
- Hir Husband from their Gardenplot fetcht Coleworts. Of the which
- She shreaded small the leaves, and with a Forke tooke downe a flitch
- Of restie Bacon from the Balke made blacke with smoke, and cut
- A peece thereof, and in the pan to boyling did it put.
- And while this meate a seething was, the time in talke they spent,
- By meanes whereof away without much tedousnesse it went.
- There hung a Boawle of Beeche upon a spirget by a ring.
- The same with warmed water filld the two old folke did bring
- To bathe their guests foule feete therein. Amid the house there stood
- A Couch whose bottom sides and feete 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 to be spred
- Except it were at solemne feastes: and yet the same was olde
- And of the coursest, with a bed of sallow meete to holde.
- The Gods sate downe. The aged wife right chare and busie as
- A Bee, set out a table, of the which the thirde foote was
- A little shorter than the rest. A tylesherd made it even
- And tooke away the shoringnesse: and when they had it driven
- To stand up levell, with greene Mintes they by and by it wipte.
- Then set they on it Pallas fruite with double colour stripte.
- And Cornels kept in pickle moyst, and Endive, and a roote
- Of Radish, and a jolly lump of Butter fresh and soote,
- And Egges reare rosted. All these Cates in earthen dishes came.
- Then set they downe a graven cup made also of the same
- Selfe kinde of Plate, and Mazers made of Beech whose inner syde
- Was rubd with yellow wax. And when they pawsed had a tyde,
- Hot meate came pyping from the fyre. And shortly thereupon
- A cup of greene hedg wyne was brought. This tane away, anon
- Came in the latter course, which was of Nuts, Dates, dryed figges,
- Sweete smelling Apples in a Mawnd made flat of Osier twigges,
- And Prunes and Plums and Purple grapes cut newly from the tree,
- And in the middes a honnycomb new taken from the Bee.
- Besydes all this there did ensew good countnance overmore,
- With will not poore nor nigardly. Now all the whyle before,
- As ofen as Philemon and Dame Baucis did perceyve
- The emptie Cup to fill alone, and wyne to still receyve,
- Amazed at the straungenesse of the thing, they gan streyght way
- With fearfull harts and hands hilld up to frame themselves to pray.
- Desyring for theyr slender cheere and fare to pardoned bee.
- They had but one poore Goose which kept theyr little Tennantree,
- And this to offer to the Gods theyr guestes they did intend.
- The Gander wyght of wing did make the slow old folke to spend
- Theyr paynes in vayne, and mokt them long. At length he seemd to flye
- For succor to the Gods themselves, who bade he should not dye.
- For wee bee Gods (quoth they) and all this wicked towneship shall
- Abye their gylt. On you alone this mischeef shall not fall.
- No more but give you up your house, and follow up this hill
- Togither, and upon the top therof abyde our will.
- They bothe obeyd. And as the Gods did lead the way before,
- They lagged slowly after with theyr staves, and labored sore
- Ageinst the rysing of the hill. They were not mickle more
- Than full a flyghtshot from the top, when looking backe they saw
- How all the towne was drowned save their lyttle shed of straw.
- And as they wondred at the thing and did bewayle the case
- Of those that had theyr neyghbours beene, the old poore Cote so base
- Whereof they had beene owners erst, became a Church. The proppes
- Were turned into pillars huge. The straw uppon the toppes
- Was yellow, so that all the roof did seeme of burnisht gold:
- The floore with Marble paved was. The doores on eyther fold
- Were graven. At the sight hereof Philemon and his make
- Began to pray in feare. Then Jove thus gently them bespake:
- Declare thou ryghtuowse man, and thou woman meete to have
- A ryghtuowse howsband, what yee would most cheefly wish or crave.
- Philemon taking conference a little with his wyfe,
- Declared bothe theyr meenings thus: We covet during lyfe,
- Your Chapleynes for to bee to keepe your Temple. And bycause
- Our yeeres in concord wee have spent, I pray when death neere drawes,
- Let bothe of us togither leave our lives: that neyther I
- Behold my wyves deceace, nor shee see myne when I doo dye.
- Theyr wish had sequele to theyr will. As long as lyfe did last,
- They kept the Church. And beeing spent with age of yeares forepast,
- By chaunce as standing on a tyme without the Temple doore
- They told the fortune of the place, Philemon old and poore
- Saw Baucis floorish greene with leaves, and Baucis saw likewyse
- Philemon braunching out in boughes and twigs before hir eyes.
- And as the Bark did overgrow the heades of both, eche spake
- To other whyle they myght. At last they eche of them did take
- Theyr leave of other bothe at once, and therewithall the bark
- Did hyde theyr faces both at once. The Phrygians in that park
- Doo at this present day still shew the trees that shaped were
- Of theyr two bodies, growing yit togither joyntly there.
- Theis things did auncient men report of credit verie good.
- For why there was no cause why they should lye. As I there stood
- I saw the garlands hanging on the boughes, and adding new
- I sayd: Let them whom God dooth love be Gods, and honor dew
- Bee given to such as honor him with feare and reverence trew.
- He hilld his peace, and bothe the thing and he that did it tell
- Did move them all, but Theseus most. Whom being mynded well
- To heere of woondrous things, the brooke of Calydon thus bespake:
- There are, O valiant knyght, sum folke that had the powre to take
- Straunge shape for once, and all their lyves continewed in the same.
- And other sum to sundrie shapes have power themselves to frame,
- As thou, O Protew, dwelling in the sea that cleepes the land.
- For now a yoonker, now a boare, anon a Lyon, and
- Streyght way thou didst become a Snake, and by and by a Bull
- That people were afrayd of thee to see thy horned skull.
- And oftentymes thou seemde a stone, and now and then a tree,
- And counterfetting water sheere thou seemedst oft to bee
- A River: and another whyle contrarie thereunto
- Thou wart a fyre. No lesser power than also thus to doo
- Had Erisicthons daughter whom Awtolychus tooke to wyfe.
- Her father was a person that despysed all his lyfe
- The powre of Gods, and never did vouchsauf them sacrifyse.
- He also is reported to have heawen in wicked wyse
- The grove of Ceres, and to fell her holy woods which ay
- Had undiminisht and unhackt continewed to that day.
- There stood in it a warrie Oke which was a wood alone.
- Uppon it round hung fillets, crownes, and tables, many one,
- The vowes of such as had obteynd theyr hearts desyre. Full oft
- The Woodnymphes underneath this tree did fetch theyr frisks aloft
- And oftentymes with hand in hand they daunced in a round
- About the Trunk, whose bignesse was of timber good and sound
- Full fifteene fadom. All the trees within the wood besyde,
- Were unto this, as weedes to them: so farre it did them hyde.
- Yit could not this move Triops sonne his axe therefro to hold,
- But bade his servants cut it downe. And when he did behold
- Them stunting at his hest, he snatcht an axe with furious mood
- From one of them, and wickedly sayd thus: Although thys wood
- Not only were the derling of the Goddesse, but also
- The Goddesse even herself: yet would I make it ere I go
- To kisse the clowers with her top that pranks with braunches so.
- This spoken, as he sweakt his axe asyde to fetch his blow,
- The manast Oke did quake and sygh, the Acornes that did grow
- Thereon togither with the leaves to wex full pale began,
- And shrinking in for feare the boughes and braunches looked wan.
- As soone as that his cursed hand had wounded once the tree,
- The blood came spinning from the carf, as freshly as yee see
- It issue from a Bullocks necke whose throte is newly cut
- Before the Altar, when his flesh to sacrifyse is put.
- They were amazed everychone. And one among them all
- To let the wicked act, durst from the tree his hatchet call.
- The lewd Thessalian facing him sayd: Take thou heere to thee
- The guerdon of thy godlynesse, and turning from the tree,
- He chopped off the fellowes head. Which done, he went agen
- And heawed on the Oke. Streight from amid the tree as then
- There issued such a sound as this: Within this tree dwell I
- A Nymph to Ceres very deere, who now before I dye
- In comfort of my death doo give thee warning thou shalt bye
- Thy dooing deere within a whyle. He goeth wilfully
- Still thorrough with his wickednesse, untill at length the Oke
- Pulld partly by the force of ropes, and cut with axis stroke,
- Did fall, and with his weyght bare downe of under wood great store.
- The Wood nymphes with the losses of the woods and theyrs ryght sore
- Amazed, gathered on a knot, and all in mourning weede
- Went sad to Ceres, praying her to wreake that wicked deede
- Of Erisicthons. Ceres was content it should bee so.
- And with the moving of her head in nodding to and fro,
- Shee shooke the feeldes which laden were with frutefull Harvest tho,
- And therewithall a punishment most piteous shee proceedes
- To put in practyse: were it not that his most heynous deedes
- No pitie did deserve to have at any bodies hand.
- With helpelesse hungar him to pyne, in purpose shee did stand.
- And forasmuch as shee herself and Famin myght not meete
- (For fate forbiddeth Famin to abyde within the leete
- Where plentie is) shee thus bespake a fayrie of the hill:
- There lyeth in the utmost bounds of Tartarie the chill
- A Dreerie place, a wretched soyle, a barreine plot: no grayne,
- No frute, no tree, is growing there: but there dooth ay remayne
- Unweeldsome cold, with trembling feare, and palenesse white as clowt,
- And foodlesse Famin. Will thou her immediatly withowt
- Delay to shed herself into the stomacke of the wretch,
- And let no plentie staunch her force but let her working stretch
- Above the powre of mee. And lest the longnesse of the way
- May make thee wearie, take thou heere my charyot: take I say
- My draggons for to beare thee through the aire.
- In saving so
- She gave hir them. The Nymph mounts up, and flying thence as tho
- Alyghts in Scythy land, and up the cragged top of hye
- Mount Caucasus did cause hir Snakes with much adoo to stye.
- Where seeking long for Famin, shee the gaptoothd elfe did spye
- Amid a barreine stony feeld a ramping up the grasse
- With ougly nayles and chanking it. Her face pale colourd was.
- Hir heare was harsh and shirle, her eyes were sunken in her head.
- Her lyppes were hore with filth, her teeth were furd and rusty red.
- Her skinne was starched, and so sheere a man myght well espye
- The verie bowels in her bulk how every one did lye.
- And eke above her courbed loynes her withered hippes were seene.
- In stead of belly was a space where belly should have beene.
- Her brest did hang so sagging downe as that a man would weene
- That scarcely to her ridgebone had hir ribbes beene fastened well.
- Her leannesse made her joynts bolne big, and kneepannes for to swell.
- And with exceeding mighty knubs her heeles behynd boynd out.
- Now when the Nymph behild this elfe afarre, (she was in dout
- To come too neere her:) shee declarde her Ladies message. And
- In that same little whyle although the Nymph aloof did stand,
- And though shee were but newly come, yit seemed shee to feele
- The force of Famin. Wheruppon shee turning backe her wheele
- Did reyne her dragons up aloft: who streyght with courage free
- Conveyd her into Thessaly. Although that Famin bee
- Ay contrarye to Ceres woork, yit did shee then agree
- To do her will and glyding through the Ayre supported by
- The wynd, she found th'appoynted house: and entring by and by
- The caytifs chamber where he slept (it was in tyme of nyght)
- Shee hugged him betweene her armes there snorting bolt upryght,
- And breathing her into him, blew uppon his face and brest,
- That hungar in his emptie veynes myght woorke as hee did rest.
- And when she had accomplished her charge, shee then forsooke
- The frutefull Clymates of the world, and home ageine betooke
- Herself untoo her frutelesse feeldes and former dwelling place.
- The gentle sleepe did all this whyle with fethers soft embrace
- The wretched Erisicthons corse. Who dreaming streight of meate
- Did stirre his hungry jawes in vayne as though he had to eate
- And chanking tooth on tooth apace he gryndes them in his head,
- And occupies his emptie throte with swallowing, and in stead
- Of food devoures the lither ayre. But when that sleepe with nyght
- Was shaken off, immediatly a furious appetite
- Of feeding gan to rage in him, which in his greedy gummes
- And in his meatlesse maw dooth reigne unstauncht. Anon there cummes
- Before him whatsoever lives on sea, in aire or land:
- And yit he crieth still for more. And though the platters stand
- Before his face full furnished, yit dooth he still complayne
- Of hungar, craving meate at meale. The food that would susteine
- Whole householdes, Towneships, Shyres and Realmes suffyce not him alone.
- The more his pampred paunch consumes, the more it maketh mone
- And as the sea receyves the brookes of all the worldly Realmes,
- And yit is never satisfyde for all the forreine streames,
- And as the fell and ravening fyre refuseth never wood,
- But burneth faggots numberlesse, and with a furious mood
- The more it hath, the more it still desyreth evermore,
- Encreacing in devouring through encreasement of the store:
- So wicked Erisicthons mouth in swallowing of his meate
- Was ever hungry more and more, and longed ay to eate.
- Meate tolld in meate: and as he ate the place was empty still.
- The hungar of his brinklesse Maw, the gulf that nowght might fill,
- Had brought his fathers goods to nowght. But yit continewed ay
- His cursed hungar unappeasd: and nothing could alay I
- The flaming of his starved throte. At length when all was spent,
- And into his unfilled Maw bothe goods and lands were sent,
- An only daughter did remayne unworthy to have had
- So lewd a father. Hir he sold, so hard he was bestad.
- But shee of gentle courage could no bondage well abyde.
- And therfore stretching out her hands to seaward there besyde,
- Now save mee, quoth shee, from the yoke of bondage I thee pray,
- O thou that my virginitie enjoyest as a pray.
- Neptunus had it. Who to this her prayer did consent.
- And though her maister looking backe (for after him shee went)
- Had newly seene her: yit he turnd hir shape and made hir man,
- And gave her looke of fisherman. Her mayster looking than
- Upon her, sayd: Good fellow, thou that on the shore doost stand
- With angling rod and bayted hooke and hanging lyne in hand,
- I pray thee as thou doost desyre the Sea ay calme to thee,
- And fishes for to byght thy bayt, and striken still to bee,
- Tell where the frizzletopped wench in course and sluttish geere
- That stoode right now uppon this shore (for well I wote that heere
- I saw her standing) is become. For further than this place
- No footestep is appeering. Shee perceyving by the cace
- That Neptunes gift made well with her, and beeing glad to see
- Herself enquyrd for of herself, sayd thus: Who ere you bee
- I pray you for to pardon mee. I turned not myne eye
- A t'one syde ne a toother from this place, but did apply
- My labor hard. And that you may the lesser stand in dowt,
- So Neptune further still the Art and craft I go abowt,
- As now a whyle no living Wyght uppon this levell sand
- (Myself excepted) neyther man nor woman heere did stand.
- Her maister did beleeve her words: and turning backward went
- His way beguyld: and streight to her her native shape was sent.
- But when her father did perceyve his daughter for to have
- A bodye so transformable, he oftentymes her gave
- For monny. But the damzell still escaped, now a Mare
- And now a Cow, and now a Bird, a Hart, a Hynd, or Hare,
- And ever fed her hungry Syre with undeserved fare.
- But after that the maladie had wasted all the meates
- As well of store as that which shee had purchast by her feates:
- Most cursed keytife as he was, with bighting hee did rend
- His flesh, and by diminishing his bodye did intend
- To feede his bodye, till that death did speede his fatall end.
- But what meene I to busye mee in forreine matters thus?
- To alter shapes within precinct is lawfull even to us,
- My Lords. For sumtime I am such as you do now mee see,
- Sumtyme I wynd mee in a Snake: and oft I seeme to bee
- A Capteine of the herd with homes. For taking homes on mee
- I lost a tyne which heeretofore did arme mee as the print
- Dooth playnly shew. With that same word he syghed and did stint.
- What ayleth thee (quoth Theseus) to sygh so sore? and how
- Befell it thee to get this mayme that is uppon thy brow?
- The noble streame of Calydon made answer, who did weare
- A Garland made of reedes and flags upon his sedgie heare:
- A greeveus pennance you enjoyne. For who would gladly show
- The combats in the which himself did take the overthrow?
- Yit will I make a just report in order of the same.
- For why? to have the woorser hand was not so great a shame,
- As was the honor such a match to undertake. And much
- It comforts mee that he who did mee overcome, was such
- A valiant champion. If perchaunce you erst have heard the name
- Of Deyanyre, the fayrest Mayd that ever God did frame
- Shee was in myne opinion. And the hope to win her love
- Did mickle envy and debate among hir wooers move.
- With whome I entring to the house of him that should have bee
- My fathrilaw: Parthaons sonne (I sayd) accept thou mee
- Thy Sonnylaw. And Hercules in selfsame sort did woo.
- And all the other suters streight gave place unto us two.
- He vaunted of his father Jove, and of his famous deedes,
- And how ageinst his stepdames spyght his prowesse still proceedes.
- And I ageine a toother syde sayd thus: It is a shame
- That God should yeeld to man. (This stryfe was long ere he became
- A God). Thou seeist mee a Lord of waters in thy Realme
- Where I in wyde and wynding banks doo beare my flowing streame.
- No straunger shalt thou have of mee sent farre from forreine land:
- But one of household, or at least a neyghbour heere at hand.
- Alonly let it bee to mee no hindrance that the wyfe
- Of Jove abhorres mee not, ne that upon the paine of lyfe
- Shee sets mee not to talk. For where thou bostest thee to bee
- Alcmenas sonne, Jove eyther is not father unto thee:
- Or if he bee it is by sin. In making Jove thy father,
- Thou maakst thy mother but a whore. Now choose thee whither rather
- Thou had to graunt this tale of Jove surmised for to bee,
- Or else thy selfe begot in shame and borne in bastardee.
- At that he grimly bendes his browes, and much adoo he hath
- To hold his hands, so sore his hart inflamed is with wrath.
- He said no more but thus: My hand dooth serve mee better than
- My toong. Content I am (so I in feighting vanquish can)
- That thou shalt overcome in wordes. And therewithall he gan
- Mee feercely to assaile. Mee thought it was a shame for mee
- That had even now so stoutly talkt, in dooings faint to bee.
- I casting off my greenish cloke thrust stifly out at length
- Mine armes and streynd my pawing armes to hold him out by strength,
- And framed every limme to cope. With both his hollow hands
- He caught up dust and sprincked mee: and I likewise with sands
- Made him all yelow too. One whyle hee at my necke dooth snatch
- Another whyle my cleere crisp legges he striveth for to catch,
- Or trippes at mee: and everywhere the vauntage he dooth watch.
- My weightinesse defended mee, and cleerly did disfeate
- His stoute assaults as when a wave with hideous noyse dooth beate
- Against a Rocke, the Rocke dooth still both sauf and sound abyde
- By reason of his massinesse. Wee drew a whyle asyde.
- And then incountring fresh ageine, wee kept our places stowt
- Full minded not to yeeld an inch, but for to hold it owt.
- Now were wee stonding foote to foote. And I with all my brest
- Was leaning forward, and with head ageinst his head did rest,
- And with my gryping fingars I ageinst his fingars thrust.
- So have I seene two myghtie Bulles togither feercely just
- In seeking as their pryse to have the fayrest Cow in all
- The feeld to bee their make, and all the herd bothe greate and small
- Stand gazing on them fearfully not knowing unto which
- The conquest of so greate a gayne shall fall. Three tymes a twich
- Gave Hercules and could not wrinch my leaning brest him fro
- But at the fourth he shooke mee off and made mee to let go
- My hold: and with a push (I will tell truthe) he had a knacke
- To turne me off, and heavily he hung upon my backe.
- And if I may beleeved bee (as sure I meene not I
- To vaunt my selfe vayngloriusly by telling of a lye,)
- Mee thought a mountaine whelmed me. But yit with much adoo
- I wrested in my sweating armes, and hardly did undoo
- His griping hands. He following still his vauntage, suffred not
- Mee once to breath or gather strength, but by and by he got
- Mee by the necke. Then was I fayne to sinke with knee to ground,
- And kisse the dust. Now when in strength too weake myself I found,
- I tooke mee to my slights, and slipt in shape of Snake away
- Of wondrous length. And when that I of purpose him to fray
- Did bend myself in swelling rolles, and made a hideous noyse
- Of hissing with my forked toong, he smyling at my toyes,
- And laughing them to scorne sayd thus: It is my Cradle game
- To vanquish Snakes, O Acheloy. Admit thou overcame
- All other Snakes, yet what art thou compared to the Snake
- Of Lerna, who by cutting off did still encreasement take?
- For of a hundred heades not one so soone was paarde away,
- But that uppon the stump therof there budded other tway.
- This sprouting Snake whose braunching heads by slaughter did revive
- And grow by cropping, I subdewd, and made it could not thryve.
- And thinkest thou (who being none wouldst seeme a Snake) to scape?
- Who doost with foorged weapons feyght and under borowed shape?
- This sayd, his fingars of my necke he fastned in the nape.
- Mee thought he graand my throte as though he did with pinsons nip.
- I struggled from his churlish thumbes my pinched chappes to slip
- But doo the best and worst I could he overcame mee so.
- Then thirdly did remayne the shape of Bull, and quickly tho
- I turning to the shape of Bull rebelld ageinst my fo.
- He stepping to my left syde cloce, did fold his armes about
- My wattled necke, and following mee then running maynely out
- Did drag mee backe, and made mee pitch my homes against the ground,
- And in the deepest of the sand he overthrew mee round.
- And yit not so content, such hold his cruell hand did take
- Uppon my welked horne, that he asunder quight it brake,
- And pulld it from my maymed brew. The waterfayries came
- And filling it with frute and flowres did consecrate the same,
- And so my horne the Tresory of plenteousnesse became.
- As soone as Acheloy had told this tale a wayting Mayd
- With flaring heare that lay on both hir shoulders and arrayd
- Like one of Dame Dianas Nymphes with solemne grace forth came
- And brought that rich and precious home, and heaped in the same
- All kynd of frutes that Harvest sendes, and specially such frute
- As serves for latter course at meales of every sort and sute.
- As soone as daylight came ageine, and that the Sunny rayes
- Did shyne upon the tops of things, the Princes went their wayes.
- They would not tarry till the floud were altogither falne
- And that the River in his banks ran low ageine and calme.
- Then Acheloy amid his waves his Crabtree face did hyde
- And head disarmed of a home.