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
- Thus ended his advertisment: and yet the wilfull Lad
- Withstood his counsell urging still the promisse that he had,
- Desiring for to have the chare as if he had been mad.
- His father having made delay as long as he could shift,
- Did lead him where his Chariot stood, which was of Vulcans gift.
- The Axeltree was massie golde, the Bucke was massie golde,
- The utmost fellies of the wheeles, and where the tree was rolde.
- The spokes were all of sylver bright, the Chrysolites and Gemmes
- That stood uppon the Collars, Trace, and hounces in their hemmes
- Did cast a sheere and glimmering light, as Phoebus shone thereon.
- Now while the lustie Phaeton stood gazing here upon,
- And wondered at the workemanship of everie thing: beeholde
- The earely morning in the East beegan mee to unfolde
- Hir purple Gates, and shewde hir house bedeckt with Roses red.
- The twinckling starres withdrew which by the morning star are led:
- Who as the Captaine of that Host that hath no peere nor match,
- Dooth leave his standing last of all within that heavenly watch.
- Now when his Father sawe the worlde thus glister red and trim,
- And that his waning sisters hornes began to waxen dim,
- He had the fetherfooted howres go harnesse in his horse.
- The Goddesses with might and mayne themselves thereto enforce.
- His fierifoming Steedes full fed with juice of Ambrosie
- They take from Maunger trimly dight: and to their heades doe tie
- Strong reyned bits: and to the Charyot doe them well appoint.
- Then Phoebus did with heavenly salve his Phaetons heade annoint,
- That scorching fire coulde nothing hurt: which done, upon his haire
- He put the fresh and golden rayes himselfe was wont to weare.
- And then as one whose heart misgave the sorrowes drawing fast,
- With sorie sighes he thus bespake his retchlesse sonne at last:
- (And if thou canst) at least yet this thy fathers lore obay:
- Sonne, spare the whip, and reyne them hard, they run so swift away
- As that thou shalt have much adoe their fleeing course to stay.
- Directly through the Zones all five beware thou doe not ride,
- A brode byway cut out askew that bendeth on the side
- Contaynde within the bondes of three the midmost Zones doth lie:
- Which from the grisely Northren beare, and Southren Pole doth flie.
- Keepe on this way: my Charyot rakes thou plainely shalt espie
- And to th'intent that heaven and earth may well the heate endure,
- Drive neyther over high nor yet too lowe. For be thou sure,
- And if thou mount above thy boundes, the starres thou burnest cleane.
- Againe beneath thou burnst the Earth: most safetie is the meane.
- And least perchaunce thou overmuch the right hand way should take,
- And so misfortune should thee drive upon the writhen Snake,
- Or else by taking overmuche upon the lefter hand
- Unto the Aultar thou be driven that doth against it stand:
- Indifferently betweene them both I wish thee for to ride.
- The rest I put to fortunes will, who be thy friendly guide,
- And better for thee than thy selfe as in this case provide.
- Whiles that I prattle here with thee, behold the dankish night
- Beyond all Spaine hir utmost bound is passed out of sight.
- We may no lenger tariance make: my wonted light is cald,
- The Morning with hir countnance cleare the darknesse hath appald.
- Take raine in hand, or if thy minde by counsell altred bee,
- Refuse to meddle with my Wayne: and while thou yet art free,
- And doste at ease within my house in safegarde well remaine,
- Of this thine unadvised wish not feeling yet the paine,
- Let me alone with giving still the world his wonted light,
- And thou thereof as heretofore enjoy the harmelesse sight.
- Thus much in vaine: for Phaeton both yong in yeares and wit,
- Into the Chariot lightly lept, and vauncing him in it
- Was not a little proud that he the brydle gotten had.
- He thankt his father whom it grievde to see his childe so mad.
- While Phebus and his rechelesse sonne were entertalking this,
- Aeous, Aethon, Phlegon, and the firie Pyrois,
- The restlesse horses of the Sunne, began to ney so hie
- Wyth flaming breath, that all the heaven might heare them perfectly.
- And with their hoves they mainly beate upon the lattisde grate.
- The which when Tethis (knowing nought of this hir cousins fate)
- Had put aside, and given the steedes the free and open scope
- Of all the compasse of the Skie within the heavenly Cope:
- They girded forth, and cutting through the Cloudes that let their race,
- With splayed wings they overflew the Easterne winde apace.
- The burthen was so lyght as that the Genets felt it not.
- The wonted weight was from the Waine, the which they well did wot.
- For like as ships amids the Seas that scant of ballace have,
- Doe reele and totter with the wynde, and yeeld to every wave:
- Even so the Waine for want of weight it erst was wont to beare,
- Did hoyse aloft and scayle and reele, as though it empty were.
- Which when the Cartware did perceyve, they left the beaten way
- And taking bridle in the teeth began to run astray.
- The rider was so sore agast, he knew no use of Rayne,
- Nor yet his way: and though he had, yet had it ben in vayne,
- Because he wanted powre to rule the horses and the Wayne.
- Then first did sweat cold Charles his Wain through force of Phebus rayes
- And in the Sea forbidden him, to dive in vaine assayes.
- The Serpent at the frozen Pole both colde and slow by kinde,
- Through heat waxt wroth, and stird about a cooler place to finde.
- And thou Bootes though thou be but slow of footemanship,
- Yet wert thou faine (as Fame reports) about thy Waine to skip.
- Now when unhappy Phaeton from top of all the Skie
- Behelde the Earth that underneath a great way off did lie,
- He waxed pale for sodaine feare, his joynts and sinewes quooke,
- The greatnesse of the glistring light his eyesight from him tooke.
- Now wisht he that he never had his fathers horses see:
- It yrkt him that he thus had sought to learne his piedegre.
- It grievde him that he had prevailde in gaining his request.
- To have bene counted Merops sonne he thought it now the best.
- Thus thinking was he headlong driven, as when a ship is borne
- By blustring windes, hir saileclothes rent, hir sterne in pieces torne,
- And tacling brust, the which the Pilote trusting all to prayre
- Abandons wholy to the Sea and fortune of the ayre.
- What should he doe? much of the heaven he passed had behinde
- And more he saw before: both whiche he measurde in his minde,
- Eft looking forward to the West which to approch as then
- Might not betide, and to the East eft looking backe agen.
- He wist not what was best to doe, his wittes were ravisht so.
- For neither could he hold the Reynes, nor yet durst let them go.
- And of his horses names was none that he remembred tho.
- Straunge uncoth Monsters did he see dispersed here and there
- And dreadfull shapes of ugly beasts that in the Welkin were.
- There is a certaine place in which the hidious Scorpion throwes
- His armes in compasse far abrode, much like a couple of bowes,
- With writhen tayle and clasping cles, whose poyson limmes doe stretch
- On every side, that of two signes they full the roume doe retch,
- Whome when the Lad beheld all moyst with blacke and lothly swet,
- With sharpe and nedlepointed sting as though he seemde to thret,
- He was so sore astraught for feare, he let the bridels slacke,
- Which when the horses felt lie lose upon their sweating backe,
- At rovers straight throughout the Ayre by wayes unknowne they ran
- Whereas they never came before since that the worlde began.
- For looke what way their lawlesse rage by chaunce and fortune drue
- Without controlment or restraint that way they freely flue
- Among the starres that fixed are within the firmament
- They snatcht the Chariot here and there. One while they coursing went
- Upon the top of all the skie: anon againe full round
- They troll me downe to lower wayes and nearer to the ground,
- So that the Moone was in a Maze to see hir brothers Waine
- Run under hirs: the singed cloudes began to smoke amaine.
- Eche ground the higher that it was and nearer to the Skie
- The sooner was it set on fire, and made therewith so drie
- That every where it gan to chinke. The Medes and Pastures greene
- Did seare away: and with the leaves, the trees were burned cleene.
- The parched corne did yeelde wherewith to worke his owne decaie.
- Tushe, these are trifles. Mightie townes did perish that same daie.
- Whose countries with their folke were burnt: and forests ful of wood
- Were turnde to ashes with the rocks and mountains where they stood.
- Then Athe, Cilician, Taure and Tmole and Oeta flamed hie,
- And Ide erst full of flowing springs was then made utter drie.
- The learned virgins daily haunt, the sacred Helicon,
- And Thracian Hemus (not as yet surnamde Oeagrion,)
- Did smoke both twaine: and Aetna hote of nature aye before,
- Encreast by force of Phebus flame now raged ten times more.
- The forkt Parnasus, Eryx, Cynth, and Othrys then did swelt
- And all the snow of Rhodope did at that present melt.
- The like outrage Mount Dindymus, and Mime and Micale felt.
- Cytheron borne to sacred use with Osse, and Pindus hie
- And Olymp greater than them both did burne excessively.
- The passing colde that Scithie had defended not the same
- But that the barren Caucasus was partner of this flame.
- And so were eke the Airie Alpes and Appennyne beside,
- For all the Cloudes continually their snowie tops doe hide.
- Then wheresoever Phaeton did chaunce to cast his vew,
- The world was all on flaming fire. The breath the which he drew,
- Came smoking from his scalding mouth as from a seething pot.
- His Chariot also under him began to waxe red hot.
- He could no lenger dure the sparkes and cinder flyeng out,
- Againe the culme and smouldring smoke did wrap him round about,
- The pitchie darkenesse of the which so wholy had him hent
- As that he wist not where he was nor yet which way he went.
- The winged horses forcibly did draw him where they wolde.
- The Aethiopians at that time (as men for truth upholde)
- (The bloud by force of that same heate drawne to the outer part
- And there adust from that time forth) became so blacke and swart.
- The moysture was so dried up in Lybie land that time
- That altogither drie and scorcht continueth yet that Clyme.
- The Nymphes with haire about their eares bewayld their springs and lakes.
- Beotia for hir Dyrces losse great lamentation makes.
- For Amimone Argos wept, and Corinth for the spring
- Pyrene, at whose sacred streame the Muses usde to sing.
- The Rivers further from the place were not in better case,
- For Tanais in his deepest streame did boyle and steme apace,
- Old Penew and Caycus of the countrie Teuthranie,
- And swift Ismenos in their bankes by like misfortune frie.
- Then burnde the Psophian Erymanth: and (which should burne ageine)
- The Trojan Xanthus and Lycormas with his yellow veine,
- Meander playing in his bankes aye winding to and fro,
- Migdonian Melas with his waves as blacke as any slo.
- Eurotas running by the foote of Tenare boyled tho.
- Then sod Euphrates cutting through the middes of Babilon.
- Then sod Orontes, and the Scithian swift Thermodoon.
- Then Ganges, Colchian Phasis, and the noble Istre
- Alpheus and Sperchius bankes with flaming fire did glistre.
- The golde that Tagus streame did beare did in the chanell melt.
- Amid Cayster of this fire the raging heat was felt
- Among the quieres of singing Swannes that with their pleasant lay
- Along the bankes of Lidian brakes from place to place did stray.
- And Nyle for feare did run away into the furthest Clyme
- Of all the world, and hid his heade, which to this present tyme
- Is yet unfound: his mouthes all seven cleane voyde of water beene,
- Like seven great valleys where (save dust) could nothing else be seene.
- By like misfortune Hebrus dride and Strymon, both of Thrace.
- The Westerne Rivers Rhine and Rhone and Po were in like case:
- And Tyber unto whome the Goddes a faithfull promise gave
- Of all the world the Monarchie and soveraigne state to have.
- The ground did cranie everie where and light did pierce to hell
- And made afraide the King and Queene that in that Realme doe dwell.
- The Sea did shrinke and where as waves did late before remaine,
- Became a Champion field of dust and even a sandy plaine.
- The hilles erst hid farre under waves like Ilelandes did appeare
- So that the scattred Cyclades for the time augmented were.
- The fishes drew them to the deepes: the Dolphines durst not play
- Above the water as before, the Seales and Porkpis lay
- With bellies upward on the waves starke dead: and fame doth go
- That Nereus with his wife and daughters all were faine as tho
- To dive within the scalding waves. Thrise Neptune did advaunce
- His armes above the scalding Sea with sturdy countenaunce:
- And thrise for hotenesse of the Ayre, was faine himselfe to hide.
- But yet the Earth the Nurce of things enclosde on every side
- (Betweene the waters of the Sea and Springs that now had hidden
- Themselves within their Mothers wombe) for all the paine abidden,
- Up to the necke put forth hir head and casting up hir hand,
- Betweene hir forehead and the sunne as panting she did stand
- With dreadfull quaking, all that was she fearfully did shake,
- And shrinking somewhat lower downe with sacred voyce thus spake:
- O king of Gods and if this be thy will and my desart,
- Why doste thou stay with deadly dint thy thunder downe to dart?
- And if that needes I perish must through force of firie flame,
- Let thy celestiall fire O God I pray thee doe the same.
- A comfort shall it be to have thee Author of my death.
- I scarce have powre to speak these words (the smoke had stopt hir breath).
- Behold my singed haire: behold my dim and bleared eye,
- See how about my scorched face the scalding embers flie.
- Is this the guerdon wherewithall ye quite my fruitfulnesse?
- Is this the honor that ye gave me for my plenteousnesse
- And dutie done with true intent? for suffring of the plough
- To draw deepe woundes upon my backe and rakes to rend me through?
- For that I over all the yeare continually am wrought?
- For giving foder to the beasts and cattell all for nought?
- For yeelding corne and other foode wherewith to keepe mankinde?
- And that to honor you withall sweete frankinsence I finde?
- But put the case that my desert destruction duely crave,
- What hath thy brother? what the Seas deserved for to have?
- Why doe the Seas, his lotted part, thus ebbe and fall so low,
- Withdrawing from thy Skie to which it ought most neare to grow?
- But if thou neyther doste regarde thy brother, neyther mee,
- At least have mercy on thy heaven, looke round about and see
- How both the Poles begin to smoke which if the fire appall
- To utter ruine (be thou sure) thy pallace needes must fall.
- Behold how Atlas ginnes to faint. His shoulders though full strong,
- Unneth are able to uphold the sparkling Extree long.
- If Sea and Land doe go to wrecke, and heaven it selfe doe burne
- To olde confused Chaos then of force we must returne.
- Put to thy helping hand therfore to save the little left
- If ought remaine before that all be quite and cleane bereft.
- When ended was this piteous plaint, the Earth did hold hir peace.
- She could no lenger dure the heate but was compelde to cease.
- Into hir bosome by and by she shrunke hir cinged heade
- More nearer to the Stygian caves, and ghostes of persones deade.
- The Sire of Heaven protesting all the Gods and him also
- That lent the Chariot to his child, that all of force must go
- To havocke if he helped not, went to the highest part
- And top of all the Heaven from whence his custome was to dart
- His thunder and his lightning downe. But neyther did remaine
- A Cloude wherewith to shade the Earth, nor yet a showre of raine.
- Then with a dreadfull thunderclap up to his eare he bent
- His fist, and at the Wagoner a flash of lightning sent,
- Which strake his bodie from the life and threw it over wheele
- And so with fire he quenched fire. The Steedes did also reele
- Upon their knees, and starting up sprang violently, one here,
- And there another, that they brast in pieces all their gere.
- They threw the Collars from their neckes, and breaking quite asunder
- The Trace and Harnesse flang away: here lay the bridles: yonder
- The Extree plucked from the Naves: and in another place
- The shevered spokes of broken wheeles: and so at every pace
- The pieces of the Chariot torne lay strowed here and there.
- But Phaeton (fire yet blasing stil among his yellow haire)
- Shot headlong downe, and glid along the Region of the Ayre
- Like to a starre in Winter nights (the wether cleare and fayre)
- Which though it doe not fall in deede, yet falleth to our sight,
- Whome almost in another world and from his countrie quite
- The River Padus did receyve, and quencht his burning head.
- The water Nymphes of Italie did take his carkasse dead
- And buried it yet smoking still, with Joves threeforked flame,
- And wrate this Epitaph in the stone that lay upon the same:
- Here lies the lusty Phaeton which tooke in hand to guide
- His fathers Chariot, from the which although he chaunst to slide:
- Yet that he gave a proud attempt it cannot be denide.
- Wyth ruthfull cheere and heavie heart his father made great mone
- And would not shew himselfe abrode, but mournd at home alone.
- And if it be to be beleved, as bruited is by fame
- A day did passe without the Sunne. The brightnesse of the flame
- Gave light: and so unto some kinde of use that mischiefe came.
- But Clymen having spoke, as much as mothers usually
- Are wonted in such wretched case, discomfortablely,
- And halfe beside hir selfe for wo, with torne and scratched brest,
- Sercht through the universall world, from East to furthest West,
- First seeking for hir sonnes dead coarse, and after for his bones.
- She found them by a forren streame, entumbled under stones.
- There fell she groveling on his grave, and reading there his name,
- Shed teares thereon, and layd hir breast all bare upon the same.
- The daughters also of the Sunne no lesse than did their mother,
- Bewaild in vaine with flouds of teares, the fortune of their brother:
- And beating piteously their breasts, incessantly did call
- The buried Phaeton day and night, who heard them not at all,
- About whose tumbe they prostrate lay. Foure times the Moone had filde
- The Circle of hir joyned hornes, and yet the sisters hilde
- Their custome of lamenting still: (for now continuall use
- Had made it custome.) Of the which the eldest, Phaetuse,
- About to kneele upon the ground, complaynde hir feete were nom.
- To whome as fayre Lampetie was rising for to com,
- Hir feete were held with sodaine rootes. The third about to teare
- Hir ruffled lockes, filde both hir handes with leaves in steade of heare.
- One wept to see hir legges made wood: another did repine
- To see hir armes become long boughes. And shortly to define,
- While thus they wondred at themselves, a tender barke began
- To grow about their thighes and loynes, which shortly overran
- Their bellies, brestes, and shoulders eke, and hands successively,
- That nothing (save their mouthes) remainde, aye calling piteously
- Upon the wofull mothers helpe. What could the mother doe
- But runne now here now there, as force of nature drue hir to
- And deale hir kisses while she might? She was not so content:
- But tare their tender braunches downe: and from the slivers went
- Red drops of bloud as from a wound. The daughter that was rent
- Cride: Spare us mother spare I pray, for in the shape of tree
- The bodies and the flesh of us your daughters wounded bee.
- And now farewell. That word once said, the barke grew over all.
- Now from these trees flow gummy teares that Amber men doe call,
- Which hardened with the heate of sunne as from the boughs they fal
- The trickling River doth receyve, and sendes as things of price
- To decke the daintie Dames of Rome and make them fine and nice.
- Now present at this monstruous hap was Cygnus, Stenels son,
- Who being by the mothers side akinne to Phaeton
- Was in condicion more akinne. He leaving up his charge
- (For in the land of Ligurie his Kingdome stretched large)
- Went mourning all along the bankes and pleasant streame of Po
- Among the trees encreased by the sisters late ago.
- Annon his voyce became more small and shrill than for a man.
- Gray fethers muffled in his face: his necke in length began
- Far from his shoulders for to stretche: and furthermore there goes
- A fine red string acrosse the joyntes in knitting of his toes:
- With fethers closed are his sides: and on his mouth there grew
- A brode blunt byll: and finally was Cygnus made a new
- And uncoth fowle that hight a Swan, who neither to the winde,
- The Ayre, nor Jove betakes himselfe, as one that bare in minde
- The wrongfull fire sent late against his cousin Phaeton.
- In Lakes and Rivers is his joy: the fire he aye doth shon,
- And chooseth him the contrary continually to won.
- Forlorne and altogether voyde of that same bodie shene
- Was Phaetons father in that while which erst had in him bene,
- Like as he looketh in Th'eclypse. He hates the yrkesome light,
- He hates him selfe, he hates the day, and settes his whole delight
- In making sorrow for his sonne, and in his griefe doth storme -
- And chaufe denying to the worlde his dutie to performe.
- My lot (quoth he) hath had inough of this unquiet state
- From first beginning of the worlde. It yrkes me (though too late)
- Of restlesse toyles and thankelesse paines. Let who so will for me
- Go drive the Chariot in the which the light should caried be.
- If none dare take the charge in hand, and all the Gods persist
- As insufficient, he himselfe go drive it if he list,
- That at the least by venturing our bridles for to guide
- His lightning making childlesse Sires he once may lay aside.
- By that time that he hath assayde the unappalled force
- That doth remaine and rest within my firiefooted horse,
- I trow he shall by tried proufe be able for to tell
- How that he did not merit death that could not rule them well.
- The Goddes stoode all about the Sunne thus storming in his rage
- Beseching him in humble wise his sorrow to asswage.
- And that he would not on the world continuall darkenesse bring,
- Jove eke excusde him of the fire the which he chaunst to sling,
- And with entreatance mingled threates as did become a King.
- Then Phebus gathered up his steedes that yet for feare did run
- Like flaighted fiendes, and in his moode without respect begun
- To beate his whipstocke on their pates and lash them on the sides.
- It was no neede to bid him chaufe; for ever as he rides
- He still upbraides them with his sonne, and layes them on the hides.
- And Jove almighty went about the walles of heaven to trie
- If ought were perisht with the fire, which when he did espie
- Continuing in their former state, all strong and safe and sound,
- He went to vew the workes of men, and things upon the ground.
- Yet for his land of Arcadie he tooke most care and charge.
- The Springs and streames that durst not run he set againe at large.
- He clad the earth with grasse, the trees with leaves both fresh and greene
- Commaunding woods to spring againe that erst had burned bene.
- Now as he often went and came it was his chaunce to light
- Upon a Nymph of Nonacris whose forme and beautie bright
- Did set his heart on flaming fire. She used not to spinne
- Nor yet to curle hir frisled haire with bodkin or with pinne.
- A garment with a buckled belt fast girded did she weare
- And in a white and slender Call slight trussed was hir heare.
- Sometimes a dart sometime a bow she used for to beare.
- She was a knight of Phebes troope. There came not at the mount
- Of Menalus of whome Diana made so great account.
- But favor never lasteth long. The Sunne had gone that day
- A good way past the poynt of Noone: when werie of hir way
- She drue to shadowe in a wood that never had bene cut.
- Here off hir shoulder by and by hir quiver did she put,
- And hung hir bow unbent aside, and coucht hir on the ground,
- Hir quiver underneth hir head. Whom when that Jove had found
- Alone and wearie: Sure (he said) my wife shall never know
- Of this escape, and if she do, I know the worst I trow.
- She can but chide, shall feare of chiding make me to forslow?
- He counterfeiteth Phebe streight in countnance and aray.
- And says: O virgine of my troope, where didst thou hunt to day?
- The Damsell started from the ground and said: Hayle Goddesse deare,
- Of greater worth than Jove (I thinke) though Jove himselfe did heare.
- Jove heard hir well and smylde thereat, it made his heart rejoyce
- To heare the Nymph preferre him thus before himselfe in choyce.
- He fell to kissing: which was such as out of square might seeme,
- And in such sort as that a mayde coulde nothing lesse beseeme.
- And as she would have told what woods she ranged had for game,
- He tooke hir fast betweene his armes, and not without his shame,
- Bewrayed plainly what he was and wherefore that he came.
- The wench against him strove as much as any woman could:
- I would that Juno had it seene. For then I know thou would
- Not take the deede so heynously: with all hir might she strove.
- But what poore wench or who alive could vanquish mighty Jove?
- Jove having sped flue straight to heaven. She hateth in hir hart
- The guiltlesse fields and wood where Jove had playd that naughty part,
- Alwaye she goes in such a griefe as that she had welnie
- Forgot hir quiver with hir shaftes and bow that hanged by.
- Dictynna, garded with hir traine and proude of killing Deere,
- In raunging over Menalus, espying, cald hir neere.
- The Damsell hearing Phebe call did run away amaine,
- She feared lest in Phebes shape that Jove had come againe,
- But when she saw the troope of Nymphes that garded hir about,
- She thought there was no more deceyt, and came among the rout.
- Oh Lord how hard a matter ist for guiltie hearts to shift
- And kepe their countnance? from the ground hir eyes scarce durst she lift.
- She prankes not by hir mistresse side, she preases not to bee
- The foremost of the companie, as when she erst was free.
- She standeth muet: and by chaunging of hir colour ay
- The treading of hir shooe awrie she plainely doth bewray,
- Diana might have founde the fault but that she was a May.
- A thousand tokens did appeare apparant to the eye,
- By which the Nymphes themselves (they say) hir fault did well espie.
- Nine times the Moone full to the worlde had shewde hir horned face
- When fainting through hir brothers flames and hunting in the chace.
- She found a coole and shadie lawnde through midst whereof she spide
- A shallow brooke with trickling streame on gravell bottom glide.
- And liking well the pleasant place, upon the upper brim
- She dipt hir foote, and finding there the water coole and trim,
- Away (she sayd) with standers by: and let us bath us here.
- Then Parrhasis cast downe hir head with sad and bashfull chere.
- The rest did strip them to their skinnes. She only sought delay,
- Untill that would or would she not hir clothes were pluckt away.
- Then with hir naked body straight hir crime was brought to light.
- Which yll ashamde as with hir hands she would have hid from sight,
- Fie beast (quoth Cynthia) get thee hence, thou shalt not here defile
- This sacred Spring, and from hir traine she did hir quite exile.