Metamorphoses
Ovid
Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.
- Peneian Daphne was the first where Phebus set his love,
- Which not blind chaunce but Cupids fierce and cruel wrath did move.
- The Delian God but late before surprisde with passing pride
- For killing of the monstrous worme, the God of love espide,
- With bowe in hand alredy bent and letting arrowes go:
- To whome he sayd, and what hast thou thou wanton baby so
- With warlike weapons for to toy? It were a better sight,
- To see this kinde of furniture on my two shoulders bright:
- Who when we list with stedfast hand both man and beast can wound,
- Who tother day wyth arrowes keene, have nayled to the ground
- The serpent Python so forswolne, whose filthie wombe did hide
- So many acres of the grounde in which he did abide.
- Content thy selfe sonne, sorie loves to kindle with thy brand,
- For these our prayses to attaine thou must not take in hand.
- To him quoth Venus sonne againe, well Phebus I agree
- Thy bow to shoote at every beast, and so shall mine at thee
- And looke how far that under God eche beast is put by kinde,
- So much thy glorie lesse than ours in shooting shalt thou finde.
- This saide, with drift of fethered wings in broken ayre he flue,
- And to the forkt and shadie top of Mount Parnasus drue.
- There from hys quiver full of shafts two arrowes did he take
- Of sundrie workes: t'one causeth Love, the tother doth it slake.
- That causeth love, is all of golde with point full sharpe and bright,
- That chaseth love is blunt, whose stele with leaden head is dight.
- The God this fired in the Nymph Peneis for the nones:
- The tother perst Apollos heart and overraft his bones.
- Immediatly in smoldring heate of Love the t'one did swelt,
- Againe the tother in hir heart no sparke nor motion felt.
- In woods and forrests is hir joy, the savage beasts to chase,
- And as the price of all hir paine to take the skinne and case.
- Unwedded Phebe doth she haunt and follow as hir guide,
- Unordred doe hir tresses wave scarce in a fillet tide.
- Full many a wooer sought hir love, she lothing all the rout,
- Impacient and without a man walkes all the woods about.
- And as for Hymen, or for love, and wedlocke often sought
- She tooke no care, they were the furthest end of all hir thought.
- Hir father many a time and oft would saye: My daughter deere,
- Thow owest me a sonneinlaw to be thy lawfull feere.
- Hir father many a time and oft would say: My daughter deere,
- Of Nephewes thou my debtour art, their Graundsires heart to cheere.
- She hating as a haynous crime the bonde of bridely bed
- Demurely casting downe hir eyes, and blushing somwhat red,
- Did folde about hir fathers necke with fauning armes: and sed:
- Deare father, graunt me while I live my maidenhead for to have,
- As to Diana here tofore hir father freely gave.
- Thy father (Daphne) could consent to that thou doest require,
- But that thy beautie and thy forme impugne thy chaste desire:
- So that thy will and his consent are nothing in this case,
- By reason of the beautie bright that shineth in thy face.
- Apollo loves and longs to have this Daphne to his Feere,
- And as he longs he hopes, but his foredoomes doe fayle him there.
- And as light hame when corne is reapt, or hedges burne with brandes,
- That passers by when day drawes neere throwe loosely fro their handes,
- So into flames the God is gone and burneth in his brest
- And feedes his vaine and barraine love in hoping for the best.
- Hir haire unkembd about hir necke downe flaring did he see,
- O Lord and were they trimd (quoth he) how seemely would she bee?
- He sees hir eyes as bright as fire the starres to represent,
- He sees hir mouth which to have seene he holdes him not content.
- Hir lillie armes mid part and more above the elbow bare,
- Hir handes, hir fingers and hir wrystes, him thought of beautie rare.
- And sure he thought such other parts as garments then did hyde,
- Excelled greatly all the rest the which he had espyde.
- But swifter than the whyrling winde shee flees and will not stay,
- To give the hearing to these wordes the which he had to say:
- I pray thee Nymph Penaeis stay, I chase not as a fo:
- Stay Nymph: the Lambes so flee the Wolves, the Stags the Lions so.
- With flittring feathers sielie Doves so from the Gossehauke flie,
- And every creature from his foe. Love is the cause that I
- Do followe thee: alas alas how would it grieve my heart,
- To see thee fall among the briers, and that the bloud should start
- Out of thy tender legges, I, wretch, the causer of thy smart.
- The place is rough to which thou runst, take leysure I thee pray,
- Abate thy flight, and I my selfe my running pace will stay.
- Yet would I wishe thee take advise, and wisely for to viewe
- What one he is that for thy grace in humble wise doth sewe.
- I am not one that dwelles among the hilles and stonie rockes,
- I am no sheepehearde with a Curre, attending on the flockes:
- I am no Carle nor countrie Clowne, nor neathearde taking charge
- Of cattle grazing here and there within this Forrest large.
- Thou doest not know, poore simple soule, God wote thou dost not knowe,
- From whome thou fleest. For if thou knew, thou wouldste not flee me so.
- In Delphos is my chiefe abode, my Temples also stande
- At Glaros and at Patara within the Lycian lande.
- And in the Ile of Tenedos the people honour mee.
- The king of Gods himselfe is knowne my father for to bee.
- By me is knowne that was, that is, and that that shall ensue,
- By mee men learne to sundrie tunes to frame sweete ditties true.
- In shooting have I stedfast hand, but surer hand had hee
- That made this wound within my heart that heretofore was free.
- Of Phisicke and of surgerie I found the Artes for neede,
- The powre of everie herbe and plant doth of my gift proceede.
- Nowe wo is me that nere an herbe can heale the hurt of love
- And that the Artes that others helpe their Lord doth helpelesse prove.
- As Phoebus would have spoken more, away Penaeis stale
- With fearefull steppes, and left him in the midst of all his tale.
- And as she ran the meeting windes hir garments backewarde blue,
- So that hir naked skinne apearde behinde hir as she flue,
- Hir goodly yellowe golden haire that hanged loose and slacke,
- With every puffe of ayre did wave and tosse behinde hir backe.
- Hir running made hir seeme more fayre, the youthfull God therefore
- Coulde not abyde to waste his wordes in dalyance any more.
- But as his love advysed him he gan to mende his pace,
- And with the better foote before, the fleeing Nymph to chace.
- And even as when the greedie Grewnde doth course the sielie Hare,
- Amiddes the plaine and champion fielde without all covert bare,
- Both twaine of them doe straine themselves and lay on footemanship,
- Who may best runne with all his force the tother to outstrip,
- The t'one for safetie of his lyfe, the tother for his pray,
- The Grewnde aye prest with open mouth to beare the Hare away,
- Thrusts forth his snoute and gyrdeth out and at hir loynes doth snatch,
- As though he would at everie stride betweene his teeth hir latch:
- Againe in doubt of being caught the Hare aye shrinking slips
- Upon the sodaine from his Jawes, and from betweene his lips:
- So farde Apollo and the Mayde: hope made Apollo swift,
- And feare did make the Mayden fleete devising how to shift.
- Howebeit he that did pursue of both the swifter went,
- As furthred by the feathred wings that Cupid had him lent,
- So that he would not let hir rest, but preased at hir heele
- So neere that through hir scattred haire she might his breathing feele.
- But when she sawe hir breath was gone and strength began to fayle
- The colour faded in hir cheekes, and ginning for to quayle,
- Shee looked to Penaeus streame and sayde: Nowe Father dere,
- And if yon streames have powre of Gods then help your daughter here.
- O let the earth devour me quicke, on which I seeme too fayre,
- Or else this shape which is my harme by chaunging straight appayre.
- This piteous prayer scarsly sed: hir sinewes waxed starke,
- And therewithall about hir breast did grow a tender barke.
- Hir haire was turned into leaves, hir armes in boughes did growe,
- Hir feete that were ere while so swift, now rooted were as slowe.
- Hir crowne became the toppe, and thus of that she earst had beene,
- Remayned nothing in the worlde, but beautie fresh and greene.
- Which when that Phoebus did beholde (affection did so move)
- The tree to which his love was turnde he coulde no lesse but love,
- And as he softly layde his hande upon the tender plant,
- Within the barke newe overgrowne he felt hir heart yet pant.
- And in his armes embracing fast hir boughes and braunches lythe,
- He proferde kisses to the tree, the tree did from him writhe.
- Well (quoth Apollo) though my Feere and spouse thou can not bee,
- Assuredly from this tyme forth yet shalt thou be my tree.
- Thou shalt adorne my golden lockes, and eke my pleasant Harpe,
- Thou shalt adorne my Quyver full of shaftes and arrowes sharpe.
- Thou shalt adorne the valiant knyghts and royall Emperours:
- When for their noble feates of armes like mightie conquerours,
- Triumphantly with stately pompe up to the Capitoll,
- They shall ascende with solemne traine that doe their deedes extoll.
- Before Augustus Pallace doore full duely shalt thou warde,
- The Oke amid the Pallace yarde aye faythfully to garde,
- And as my heade is never poulde nor never more without
- A seemely bushe of youthfull haire that spreadeth rounde about,
- Even so this honour give I thee continually to have
- Thy braunches clad from time to tyme with leaves both fresh and brave.
- Now when that Pean of this talke had fully made an ende,
- The Lawrell to his just request did seeme to condescende,
- By bowing of hir newe made boughs and tender braunches downe,
- And wagging of hir seemely toppe, as if it were hir crowne.
- There is a lande in Thessalie enclosd on every syde
- With wooddie hilles, that Timpe hight, through mid whereof doth glide
- Penaeus gushing full of froth from foote of Pindus hye,
- Which with his headlong falling downe doth cast up violently
- A mistie streame lyke flakes of smoke, besprinckling all about
- The toppes of trees on eyther side, and makes a roaring out
- That may be heard a great way off. This is the fixed seate,
- This is the house and dwelling place and chamber of the greate
- And mightie Ryver: Here he sittes in Court of Peeble stone,
- And ministers justice to the waves and to the Nymphes eche one,
- That in the Brookes and waters dwell. Now hither did resorte
- (Not knowing if they might rejoyce and unto mirth exhort
- Or comfort him) his Countrie Brookes, Sperchius well beseene
- With sedgie heade and shadie bankes of Poplars fresh and greene,
- Enipeus restlesse, swift and quicke, olde father Apidane,
- Amphrisus with his gentle streame, and Aeas clad with cane:
- With dyvers other Ryvers moe, which having runne their race,
- Into the Sea their wearie waves doe lead with restlesse pace.
- From hence the carefull Inachus absentes him selfe alone,
- Who in a corner of his cave with doolefull teares and mone,
- Augments the waters of his streame, bewayling piteously
- His daughter Io lately lost. He knewe not certainly
- And if she were alive or deade. But for he had hir sought
- And coulde not finde hir any where, assuredly he thought
- She did not live above the molde, ne drewe the vitall breath:
- Misgiving worser in his minde, if ought be worse than death.
- It fortunde on a certaine day that Jove espide this Mayde
- Come running from hir fathers streame alone: to whome he sayde:
- O Damsell worthie Jove himselfe, like one day for to make
- Some happie person whome thou list unto thy bed to take,
- I pray thee let us shroude our selves in shadowe here togither,
- Of this or that (he poynted both) it makes no matter whither,
- Untill the hotest of the day and Noone be overpast.
- And if for feare of savage beastes perchaunce thou be agast
- To wander in the Woods alone, thou shalt not neede to feare,
- A God shall bee thy guide to save thee harmelesse every where.
- And not a God of meaner sort, but even the same that hath
- The heavenly scepter in his hande, who in my dreadfull wrath,
- Do dart downe thunder wandringly: and therefore make no hast
- To runne away. She ranne apace, and had alreadie past
- The Fen of Lerna and the field of Lincey set with trees:
- When Jove intending now in vaine no lenger tyme to leese,
- Upon the Countrie all about did bring a foggie mist,
- And caught the Mayden whome poore foole he used as he list.
- Queene Juno looking downe that while upon the open field,
- When in so fayre a day such mistes and darkenesse she behelde,
- Dyd marvell much, for well she knewe those mistes ascended not
- From any Ryver, moorishe ground, or other dankishe plot.
- She lookt about hir for hir Jove as one that was acquainted
- With such escapes and with the deede had often him attainted.
- Whome when she founde not in the heaven: Onlesse I gesse amisse,
- Some wrong agaynst me (quoth she) now my husbande working is.
- And with that worde she left the Heaven, and downe to earth shee came,
- Commaunding all the mistes away. But Jove foresees the same,
- And to a Cow as white as milke his Leman he convayes.
- She was a goodly Heifer sure: and Juno did hir prayse,
- Although (God wot) she thought it not, and curiously she sought,
- Where she was bred, whose Cow she was, who had hir thither broughte
- As though she had not knowne the truth. Hir husband by and by
- (Bycause she should not search too neare) devisde a cleanly lie,
- And tolde hir that the Cow was bred even nowe out of the grounde.
- Then Juno who hir husbands shift at fingers endes had founde,
- Desirde to have the Cow of gift. What should he doe as tho?
- Great cruelnesse it were to yeelde his Lover to hir so.
- And not to give would breede mistrust. As fast as shame provoked,
- So fast agayne a tother side his Love his minde revoked.
- So much that Love was at the poynt to put all shame to flight.
- But that he feared if he should denie a gift so light
- As was a Cowe to hir that was his sister and his wyfe,
- Might make hir thinke it was no Cow, and breede perchaunce some strife.
- Now when that Juno had by gift hir husbands Leman got,
- Yet altogether out of feare and carelesse was she not.
- She had him in a jelousie and thoughtfull was she still
- For doubt he should invent some meanes to steale hir from hir: till
- To Argus, olde Aristors sonne, she put hir for to keepe.
- This Argus had an hundreth eyes: of which by turne did sleepe
- Alwayes a couple, and the rest did duely watch and warde,
- And of the charge they tooke in hande had ever good regarde,
- What way so ever Argus stood with face, with backe, or side,
- To Io warde, before his eyes did lo still abide.
- All day he let hir graze abroade, the Sunne once under ground
- He shut hir up and by the necke with wrythen Withe hir bound.
- With croppes of trees and bitter weedes now was she dayly fed,
- And in the stead of costly couch and good soft featherbed,
- She sate a nightes upon the ground, and on such ground whereas
- Was not sometime so much as grasse: and oftentymes she was
- Compeld to drinke of muddie pittes: and when she did devise
- To Argus for to lift hir handes in meeke and humble wise,
- She sawe she had no handes at all: and when she did assay
- To make complaint, she lowed out, which did hir so affray,
- That oft she started at the noyse, and would have runne away.
- Unto hir father Inachs banckes she also did resorte,
- Where many a tyme and oft before she had beene wont to sporte.
- Now when she looked in the streame, and sawe hir horned hed,
- She was agast and from hir selfe would all in hast have fled.
- The Nymphes hir sisters knewe hir not nor yet hir owne deare father,
- Yet followed she both him and them, and suffred them the rather
- To touch and stroke hir where they list, as one that preaced still
- To set hir selfe to wonder at and gaze upon their fill.
- The good old Inach puls up grasse and to hir straight it beares.
- She as she kyst and lickt his handes did shed forth dreerie teares.
- And had she had hir speach at will to utter forth hir thought,
- She would have tolde hir name and chaunce and him of helpe besought.
- But for bicause she could not speake, she printed in the sande,
- Two letters with hir foote, whereby was given to understande
- The sorrowfull chaunging of hir shape.
- Which seene straight cryed out
- Hir father Inach, Wo is me, and clasping hir about
- Hir white and seemely Heifers necke and christal hornes both twaine,
- He shrieked out full piteously: Now wo is me, again.
- Alas art thou my daughter deare, whome through the worlde I sought
- And could not finde, and now by chaunce art to my presence brought?
- My sorrow certesse lesser farre a thousande folde had beene
- If never had I seene thee more, than thus to have thee seene.
- Thou standst as dombe and to my wordes no answere can thou give,
- But from the bottom of thy heart full sorie sighes dost drive
- As tokens of thine inwarde griefe, and doolefully dost mooe
- Unto my talke, the onely thing leaft in thy powre to dooe.
- But I mistrusting nothing lesse than this so great mischaunce,
- By some great mariage earnestly did seeke thee to advaunce,
- In hope some yssue to have seene betweene my sonne and thee.
- But now thou must a husband have among the Heirds I see,
- And eke thine issue must be such as other cattels bee.
- Oh that I were a mortall wight as other creatures are,
- For then might death in length of time quite rid mee of this care,
- But now bycause I am a God, and fate doth death denie,
- There is no helpe but that my griefe must last eternallie.
- As Inach made this piteous mone quicke sighted Argus drave
- His daughter into further fieldes to which he could not have
- Accesse, and he himselfe aloof did get him to a hill,
- From whence he sitting at his ease viewd everie way at will.
- Now could no lenger Jove abide his Lover so forlorne,
- And thereupon he cald his sonne that Maia had him borne,
- Commaunding Argus should be kild. He made no long abod,
- But tyde his feathers to his feete, and tooke his charmed rod.
- (With which he bringeth things asleepe, and fetcheth soules from Hell)
- And put his Hat upon his head: and when that all was well
- He leaped from his fathers towres, and downe to earth he flue
- And there both Hat and winges also he lightly from him thrue,
- Retayning nothing but his staffe, the which he closely helde
- Betweene his elbowe and his side, and through the common fielde
- Went plodding lyke some good plaine soule that had some flocke to feede.
- And as he went he pyped still upon an Oten Reede.
- Queene Junos Heirdman farre in love with this straunge melodie
- Bespake him thus: Good fellow mine, I pray thee heartely
- Come sitte downe by me on this hill, for better feede I knowe
- Thou shalt not finde in all these fieldes, and (as the thing doth showe)
- It is a coole and shadowie plot, for sheepeheirds verie fitte.
- Downe by his elbow by and by did Atlas nephew sit.
- And for to passe the tyme withall for seeming overlong,
- He helde him talke of this and that, and now and than among
- He playd upon his merrie Pipe to cause his watching eyes
- To fall asleepe. Poore Argus did the best he could devise
- To overcome the pleasant nappes: and though that some did sleepe,
- Yet of his eyes the greater part he made their watch to keepe.
- And after other talke he askt (for lately was it founde)
- Who was the founder of that Pype that did so sweetely sounde.
- Then sayde the God: There dwelt sometime a Nymph of noble fame
- Among the hilles of Arcadie, that Syrinx had to name.
- Of all the Nymphes of Nonacris and Fairie farre and neere,
- In beautie and in personage thys Ladie had no peere.
- Full often had she given the slippe both to the Satyrs quicke
- And other Gods that dwell in Woods, and in the Forrests thicke,
- Or in the fruitfull fieldes abrode: It was hir whole desire
- To follow chaste Dianas guise in Maydenhead and attire,
- Whome she did counterfaite so nighe, that such as did hir see
- Might at a blush have taken hir Diana for to bee,
- But that the Nymph did in hir hande a bowe of Cornell holde,
- Whereas Diana evermore did beare a bowe of golde.
- And yet she did deceyve folke so. Upon a certaine day
- God Pan with garland on his heade of Pinetree, sawe hir stray
- From Mount Lyceus all alone, and thus to hir did say:
- Unto a Gods request, O Nymph, voucesafe thou to agree
- That doth desire thy wedded spouse and husband for to bee.
- There was yet more behinde to tell: as how that Syrinx fled,
- Through waylesse woods and gave no eare to that that Pan had sed,
- Untill she to the gentle streame of sandie Ladon came,
- Where, for bicause it was so deepe, she could not passe the same,
- She piteously to chaunge hir shape the water Nymphes besought:
- And how when Pan betweene his armes, to catch the Nymph had thought,
- In steade of hir he caught the Reedes newe growne upon the brooke,
- And as he sighed, with his breath the Reedes he softly shooke
- Which made a still and mourning noyse, with straungnesse of the which
- And sweetenesse of the feeble sounde the God delighted mich,
- Saide: Certesse, Syrinx, for thy sake it is my full intent,
- To make my comfort of these Reedes wherein thou doest lament:
- And how that there of sundrie Reedes with wax together knit,
- He made the Pipe which of hir name the Greekes call Syrinx yet.
- But as Cyllenius would have tolde this tale, he cast his sight
- On Argus, and beholde his eyes had bid him all good night.
- There was not one that did not sleepe, and fast he gan to nodde,
- Immediately he ceast his talke, and with his charmed rodde,
- So stroked all his heavie eyes that earnestly they slept.
- Then with his Woodknife by and by he lightly to him stept,
- And lent him such a perlous blowe, where as the shoulders grue
- Unto the necke, that straight his heade quite from the bodie flue.
- Then tombling downe the headlong hill his bloudie coarse he sent,
- That all the way by which he rolde was stayned and besprent.
- There lyest thou Argus under foote, with all thy hundreth lights,
- And all the light is cleane extinct that was within those sights.
- One endelesse night thy hundred eyes hath nowe bereft for aye,
- Yet would not Juno suffer so hir Heirdmans eyes decay:
- But in hir painted Peacocks tayle and feathers did them set,
- Where they remayne lyke precious stones and glaring eyes as yet.
- She tooke his death in great dispight and as hir rage did move,
- Determinde for to wreeke hir wrath upon hir husbandes Love.
- Forthwith she cast before hir eyes right straunge and ugly sightes,
- Compelling hir to thinke she sawe some Fiendes or wicked sprightes.
- And in hir heart such secret prickes and piercing stings she gave hir,
- As through the worlde from place to place with restlesse sorrow drave hir.
- Thou Nylus wert assignd to stay hir paynes and travails past,
- To which as soone as Io came with much adoe at last,
- With wearie knockles on thy brim she kneeled sadly downe,
- And stretching foorth hir faire long necke and christall horned crowne,
- Such kinde of countnaunce as she had she lifted to the skie,
- And there with sighing sobbes and teares and lowing doolefully
- Did seeme to make hir mone to Jove, desiring him to make
- Some ende of those hir troublous stormes endured for his sake.
- He tooke his wife about the necke, and sweetely kissing prayde,
- That Ios penance yet at length might by hir graunt be stayde.
- Thou shalt not neede to feare (quoth he) that ever she shall grieve thee
- From this day forth. And in this case the better to beleve mee,
- The Stygian waters of my wordes unparciall witnesse beene.
- As soone as Juno was appeasde, immediately was seene
- That Io tooke hir native shape in which she first was borne,
- And eke became the selfesame thing the which she was beforne.
- For by and by she cast away hir rough and hairie hyde,
- Insteede whereof a soft smouth skinne with tender fleshe did byde.
- Hir hornes sank down, hir eies and mouth were brought in lesser roome,
- Hir handes, hir shoulders, and hir armes in place againe did come.
- Hir cloven Clees to fingers five againe reduced were,
- On which the nayles lyke pollisht Gemmes did shine full bright and clere.
- In fine, no likenesse of a Cow save whitenesse did remaine
- So pure and perfect as no snow was able it to staine.
- She vaunst hir selfe upon hir feete which then was brought to two.
- And though she gladly would have spoke: yet durst she not so do,
- Without good heede, for feare she should have lowed like a Cow.
- And therefore softly with hir selfe she gan to practise how
- Distinctly to pronounce hir wordes that intermitted were.
- Now, as a Goddesse, is she had in honour everie where
- Among the folke that dwell by Nyle yclad in linnen weede.
- Of her in tyme came Epaphus begotten of the seede
- Of myghtie Jove. This noble ympe nowe joyntly with his mother,
- Through all the Cities of that lande have temples t'one with toother.
- There was his match in heart and yeares, the lustie Phaeton,
- A stalworth stripling strong and stout, the golden Phoebus sonne.
- Whome making proude and stately vauntes of his so noble race,
- And unto him in that respect in nothing giving place,
- The sonne of Io coulde not beare: but sayde unto him thus:
- No marvell though thou be so proude and full of wordes ywus.
- For everie fonde and trifling tale the which thy mother makes,
- Thy gyddie wit and hairebrainde heade forthwith for gospell takes.
- Well, vaunt thy selfe of Phoebus still, for when the truth is seene,
- Thou shalt perceyve that fathers name a forged thing to beene.
- At this reproch did Phaeton wax as red as any fire:
- Howbeit for the present tyme did shame represse his ire.
- Unto his mother Clymen straight he goeth to detect
- The spitefull wordes that Epaphus against him did object.
- Yes mother (quoth he) and which ought your greater griefe to bee,
- I who at other tymes of talke was wont to be so free
- And stoute, had neere a worde to say, I was ashamde to take
- So fowle a foyle: the more because I could none answere make.
- But if I be of heavenly race exacted as ye say,
- Then shewe some token of that highe and noble byrth I pray.
- And vouche me for to be of heaven. With that he gently cast
- His armes about his mothers necke, and clasping hir full fast,
- Besought hir as she lovde his life, and as she lovde the lyfe
- Of Merops, and had kept hir selfe as undefiled wyfe,
- And as she wished welthily his sisters to bestowe,
- She would some token give whereby his rightfull Sire to knowe.
- It is a doubtful matter whither Clymen moved more
- With this hir Phaetons earnest sute, exacting it so sore,
- Or with the slaunder of the bruit layde to hir charge before,
- Did holde up both hir handes to heaven, and looking on the Sunne,
- My right deare childe I safely sweare (quoth she to Phaeton)
- That of this starre the which so bright doth glister in thine eye:
- Of this same Sunne that cheares the world with light indifferently
- Wert thou begot: and if I fayne, then with my heart I pray,
- That never may I see him more unto my dying day.
- But if thou have so great desire thy father for to knowe,
- Thou shalt not neede in that behalfe much labour to bestowe.
- The place from whence he doth arise adjoyneth to our lande.
- And if thou thinke thy heart will serve, then go and understande
- The truth of him. When Phaeton heard his mother saying so,
- He gan to leape and skip for joye. He fed his fansie tho,
- Upon the Heaven and heavenly things: and so with willing minde,
- From Aethiop first his native home, and afterwarde through Inde
- Set underneath the morning starre he went so long, till as
- He founde me where his fathers house and dayly rising was.
- The Princely Pallace of the Sunne stood gorgeous to beholde
- On stately Pillars builded high of yellow burnisht golde,
- Beset with sparckling Carbuncles that like to fire did shine.
- The roofe was framed curiously of Ivorie pure and fine.
- The two doore leaves of silver cleare a radiant light did cast:
- But yet the cunning workemanship of things therein farre past
- The stuffe wherof the doores were made. For there a perfect plat
- Had Vulcane drawne of all the worlde: Both of the sourges that
- Embrace the earth with winding waves, and of the stedfast ground,
- And of the heaven it selfe also that both encloseth round.
- And first and formest in the Sea the Gods thereof did stande:
- Loude sounding Tryton with his shirle and writhen Trumpe in hande:
- Unstable Protew chaunging aye his figure and his hue,
- From shape to shape a thousande sithes as list him to renue:
- Aegeon leaning boystrously on backes of mightie Whales
- And Doris with hir daughters all: of which some cut the wales
- With splaied armes, some sate on rockes and dride their goodly haire,
- And some did ryde uppon the backes of fishes here and theare.
- Not one in all poyntes fully lyke an other coulde ye see,
- Nor verie farre unlike, but such as sisters ought to bee.
- The Earth had townes, men, beasts and Woods with sundrie trees and rods,
- And running Ryvers with their Nymphes and other countrie Gods.
- Directly over all these same the plat of heaven was pight,
- Upon the two doore leaves, the signes of all the Zodiak bright,
- Indifferently six on the left and six upon the right.
- When Clymens sonne had climbed up at length with weerie pace,
- And set his foote within his doubted fathers dwelling place,
- Immediately he preaced forth to put him selfe in sight,
- And stoode aloofe. For neere at hande he could not bide the light.
- In purple Robe and royall Throne of Emeraudes freshe and greene
- Did Phoebus sitte, and on eche hande stoode wayting well beseene,
- Dayes, Monthes, yeares, ages, seasons, times, and eke the equall houres.
- There stoode the springtime with a crowne of fresh and fragrant floures.
- There wayted Sommer naked starke all save a wheaten Hat:
- And Autumne smerde with treading grapes late at the pressing Vat.
- And lastly quaking for the colde, stood Winter all forlorne,
- With rugged heade as white as Dove, and garments all to torne,
- Forladen with the Isycles that dangled up and downe
- Uppon his gray and hoarie bearde and snowie frozen crowne.
- The Sunne thus sitting in the middes did cast his piercing eye,
- (With which full lightly when he list he all thinges doth espye)
- Upon his childe that stood aloofe, agast and trembling sore
- At sight of such unwonted things, and thus bespake him thore:
- O noble ympe, O Phaeton which art not such (I see)
- Of whome thy father should have cause ashamed for to bee:
- Why hast thou traveld to my court? what is thy will with mee?
- Then answerde he: Of all the worlde O onely perfect light,
- O Father Phoebus, (if I may usurpe that name of right,
- And that my mother for to save hir selfe from worldely shame,
- Hyde not hir fault with false pretence and colour of thy name)
- Some signe apparant graunt whereby I may be knowne thy Sonne,
- And let mee hang no more in doubt. He had no sooner donne,
- But that his father putting off the bright and fierie beames
- That glistred rounde about his heade like cleare and golden streames,
- Commaunded him to draw him neere, and him embracing sayde:
- To take mee for thy rightfull Sire thou neede not be afrayde.
- Thy mother Clymen of a truth from falshood standeth free.
- And for to put thee out of doubt aske what thou wilt of mee,
- And I will give thee thy desire, the Lake whereby of olde
- We Gods do sweare (the which mine eyes did never yet beeholde)
- Beare witnesse with thee of my graunt. He scarce this tale had tolde,
- But that the foolish Phaeton straight for a day did crave
- The guyding of his winged Steedes, and Chariot for to have.
- Then did his Father by and by forethinke him of his oth.
- And shaking twentie tymes his heade, as one that was full wroth,
- Bespake him thus: Thy wordes have made me rashly to consent
- To that which shortly both of us (I feare mee) shall repent.
- Oh that I might retract my graunt, my sonne I doe protest
- I would denie thee nothing else save this thy fond request.
- I may disswade, there lyes herein more perill than thou weene:
- The things the which thou doest desire of great importance beene:
- More than thy weakenesse well can wielde, a charge (as well appeares)
- Of greater weight, than may agree with these thy tender yeares.
- Thy state is mortall, weake and frayle, the thing thou doest desire
- Is such, whereto no mortall man is able to aspire.
- Yea, foolish boy, thou doest desire (and all for want of wit)
- A greater charge than any God coulde ever have as yet.
- For were there any of them all so overseene and blinde,
- To take upon him this my charge, full quickly should he finde
- That none but I could sit upon the fierie Axeltree.
- No not even he that rules this wast and endlesse space we see,
- Not he that darts with dreadfull hande the thunder from the Skie,
- Shall drive this chare. And yet what thing in all the world perdie
- Is able to compare with Jove? Now first the morning way
- Lyes steepe upright, so that the steedes in coolest of the day
- And beeing fresh have much adoe to climbe against the Hyll.
- Amiddes the heaven the gastly heigth augmenteth terror still.
- My heart doth waxe as colde as yse full many a tyme and oft
- For feare to see the Sea and land from that same place aloft.
- The Evening way doth fall plump downe requiring strength to guide,
- That Tethis who doth harbrowgh mee within hir sourges wide
- Doth stand in feare lest from the heaven I headlong down should slide.
- Besides all this the Heaven aye swimmes and wheeles about full swift
- And with his rolling dryves the starres their proper course to shift.
- Yet doe I keepe my native course against this brunt so stout,
- Not giving place as others doe: but boldely bearing out
- The force and swiftnesse of that heaven that whyrleth so about.
- Admit thou had my winged Steedes and Chariot in thine hande:
- What couldste thou doe? dost thinke thy selfe well able to withstande
- The swiftnesse of the whyrled Poles, but that their brunt and sway
- (Yea doe the best and worst thou can) shall beare thee quite away?
- Perchaunce thou dost imagine there some townes of Gods to finde,
- With groves and Temples richt with giftes as is among mankinde.
- Thou art deceyved utterly: thou shalt not finde it so.
- By blinde bywayes and ugly shapes of monsters must thou go.
- And though thou knewe the way so well as that thou could not stray,
- Betweene the dreadful bulles sharp hornes yet must thou make thy way.
- Agaynst the cruell Bowe the which the Aemonian archer drawes:
- Against the ramping Lyon armde with greedie teeth and pawes:
- Against the Scorpion stretching farre his fell and venymd clawes:
- And eke the Crab that casteth forth his crooked clees awrie
- Not in such sort as th'other doth, and yet as dreadfully.
- Againe thou neyther hast the powre nor yet the skill I knowe
- My lustie coursers for to guide that from their nostrilles throwe
- And from their mouthes the fierie breath that breedeth in their brest.
- For scarcely will they suffer mee who knowes their nature best
- When that their cruell courages begin to catch a heate,
- That hardely should I deale with them, but that I know the feate.
- But lest my gift should to thy griefe and utter perill tend
- My Sonne beware and (whyle thou mayst) thy fonde request amend.
- Bycause thou woulde be knowne to bee my childe thou seemst to crave
- A certaine signe: what surer signe I pray thee canst thou have
- Than this my feare so fatherly the which I have of thee
- Which proveth me most certainly thy father for to bee?
- Beholde and marke my countenaunce. would to God thy sight
- Could pierce within my wofull brest, to see the heavie plight,
- And heapes of cares within my heart. Looke through the worlde so round
- Of all the wealth and goodes therein: if ought there may be found
- In Heaven or Earth or in the Sea, aske what thou lykest best,
- And sure it shall not be denide. This onely one request
- That thou hast made I heartely beseech thee to relent,
- Which for to tearme the thing aright is even a punishment,
- And not an honour as thou thinkest: my Phaeton thou dost crave
- In stead of honour even a scourge and punishment for to have.
- Thou fondling thou, what dost thou meane with fawning armes about
- My necke thus flattringly to hang? Thou needest not to dout.
- I have alreadie sworne by Styx, aske what thou wilt of mee
- And thou shalt have. Yet let thy next wish somewhat wiser bee