Metamorphoses
Ovid
Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.
- 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.
- The Matrone of the thundring Jove had inckling of the fact,
- Delaying till convenient time the punishment to exact.
- There is no cause of further stay. To spight hir heart withall,
- Hir husbands Leman bare a boy that Arcas men did call.
- On whome she casting lowring looke with fell and cruell minde
- Saide: Was there, arrant strumpet thou, none other shift to finde
- But that thou needes must be with barne? that all the world must see
- My husbandes open shame and thine in doing wrong to mee?
- But neyther unto heaven nor hell this trespasse shalt thou beare.
- I will bereve thee of thy shape through pride whereof thou were
- So hardy to entyce my Feere. Immediatly with that
- She raught hir by the foretop fast and fiercely threw hir flat
- Against the grounde. The wretched wench hir armes up mekely cast,
- Hir armes began with griesly haire to waxe all rugged fast.
- Hir handes gan warpe and into pawes ylfavordly to grow,
- And for to serve in stede of feete. The lippes that late ago
- Did like the mightie Jove so well, with side and flaring flaps
- Became a wide deformed mouth. And further lest perhaps
- Hir prayers and hir humble wordes might cause hir to relent:
- She did bereve hir of hir speach. In steade whereof there went
- An yreful, horce, and dreadfull voyce out from a threatning throte:
- But yet the selfesame minde that was before she turnde hir cote,
- Was in hir still in shape of Beare. The griefe whereof she showes
- By thrusting forth continuall sighes, and up she gastly throwes
- Such kinde of handes as then remainde unto the starrie Skie.
- And forbicause she could not speake she thought Jove inwardly
- To be unthankfull. Oh how oft she daring not abide
- Alone among the desert woods, full many a time and tide
- Would stalke before hir house in grounds that were hir owne erewhile?
- How oft oh did she in the hilles the barking houndes beguile
- And in the lawndes where she hir selfe had chased erst hir game,
- Now flie hirselfe to save hir life when hunters sought the same?
- Full oft at sight of other beastes she hid hir head for feare,
- Forgetting what she was hir selfe. For though she were a Beare,
- Yet when she spied other Beares she quooke for verie paine:
- And feared Wolves although hir Sire among them did remaine.
- Beholde Lycaons daughters sonne that Archas had to name
- About the age of fiftene yeares within the forrest came
- Of Erymanth, not knowing ought of this his mothers case.
- There after pitching of his toyles, as he the stagges did chase,
- Upon his mother sodenly it was his chaunce to light,
- Who for desire to see hir sonne did stay hirselfe from flight.
- And wistly on him cast hir looke as one that did him know.
- But he not knowing what she was began his heeles to show.
- And when he saw hir still persist in staring on his face,
- He was afrayde, and from hir sight withdrew himselfe apace,
- But when he coulde not so be rid, he tooke an armed pike,
- In full intent hir through the heart with deadly wound to strike.
- But God almighty held his hand, and lifting both away
- Did disapoint the wicked Act. For straight he did convay
- Them through the Ayre with whirling windes to top of all the skie,
- And there did make them neighbour starres about the Pole on hie.
- When Juno shining in the heaven hir husbands minion found,
- She swelde for spight: and downe she comes to watry Tethys round
- And unto olde Oceanus, whome even the Gods aloft
- Did reverence for their just deserts full many a time and oft,
- To whome demaunding hir the cause: And aske ye (quoth she) why
- That I which am the Queene of Goddes come hither from the sky?
- Good cause there is I warrant you. Another holdes my roome.
- For never trust me while I live, if when the night is coome,
- And overcasteth all the world with shadie darknesse whole,
- Ye see not in the heigth of heaven hard by the Northren Pole
- Whereas the utmost circle runnes about the Axeltree
- In shortest circuit, gloriously enstalled for to bee
- In shape of starres the stinging woundes that make me yll apayde.
- Now is there (trow ye) any cause why folke should be afrayde
- To do to Juno what they list, or dread hir wrathfull mood,
- Which only by my working harme doe turne my foes to good?
- O what a mightie act is done? How passing is my powre!
- I have bereft hir womans shape, and at this present howre
- She is become a Goddesse. Loe this is the scourge so sowre
- Wherewith I strike mine enimies. Loe here is all the spight
- That I can doe: this is the ende of all my wondrous might,
- No force. I would he should (for me) hir native shape restore,
- And take away hir brutish shape, like as he hath before
- Done by his other Paramour, that fine and proper piece
- Of Argos whom he made a Cow, I meane Phononeus Niece.
- Why makes he not a full devorce from me, and in my stead
- Straight take his Sweetheart to his wife, and coll hir in my bed?
- He can not doe a better deede (I thinke) than for to take
- Lycaon to his fatherinlaw. But if that you doe make
- Accompt of me your foster childe, then graunt that for my sake,
- The Oxen and the wicked Waine of starres in number seven,
- For whoredome sake but late ago receyved into heaven,
- May never dive within your waves. Ne let that strumpet vyle
- By bathing of hir filthie limmes your waters pure defile.
- The Gods did graunt hir hir request: and straight to heaven she flue,
- In handsome Chariot through the Ayre, which painted peacocks drue
- As well beset with blasing eyes late tane from Argus hed,
- As thou thou prating Raven white by nature being bred,
- Hadst on thy fethers justly late a coly colour spred.
- For this same birde in auncient time had fethers faire and whight
- As ever was the driven snow, or silver cleare and bright.
- He might have well comparde himself in beautie with the Doves
- That have no blemish, or the Swan that running water loves:
- Or with the Geese that afterward should with their gagling out
- Preserve the Romaine Capitoll beset with foes about.
- His tongue was cause of all his harme, his tatling tongue did make
- His colour which before was white, become so foule and blake.
- Coronis of Larissa was the fairest maide of face,
- In all the land of Thessalie. Shee stoode in Phebus grace
- As long as that she kept hir chast, or at the least as long
- As that she scaped unespide in doing Phebus wrong.
- But at the last Apollos birde hir privie packing spide,
- Whome no entreatance could persuade but that he swiftly hide
- Him to his maister, to bewray the doings of his love.
- Now as he flue, the pratling Crow hir wings apace did move:
- And overtaking fell in talke and was inquisitive
- For what intent and to what place he did so swiftly drive.
- And when she heard the cause thereof, she said: Now trust me sure,
- This message on the whiche thou goste no goodnesse will procure.
- And therefore hearken what I say: disdaine thou not at all,
- To take some warning by thy friende in things that may befall.
- Consider what I erst have bene and what thou seest me now:
- And what hath bene the ground hereof. I boldly dare avow,
- That thou shalt finde my faithfulnesse imputed for a crime.
- For Pallas in a wicker chest had hid upon a time
- A childe calde Ericthonius, whome never woman bare,
- And tooke it unto Maidens three that Cecrops daughters were,
- Not telling them what was within, but gave them charge to keepe
- The Casket shut, and for no cause within the same to peepe.
- I standing close among the leaves upon an Elme on hie,
- Did marke their doings and their wordes, and there I did espie
- How Pandrosos and Herse kept their promise faithfully.
- Aglauros calles them Cowardes both, and makes no more adoe,
- But takes the Casket in hir hand and doth the knots undooe.
- And there they saw a childe whose partes beneath were like a snake.
- Straight to the Goddesse of this deede a just report I make.
- For which she gave me this reward that never might I more
- Accompt hir for my Lady and my Mistresse as before.
- And in my roume she put the fowle that flies not but by night,
- A warning unto other birdes my lucke should be of right
- To holde their tongues for being shent. But you will say perchaunce
- I came unsentfor of my selfe, she did me not advaunce.
- I dare well say though Pallas now my heavie Mistresse stand
- Yet if perhaps ye should demaund the question at hir hand,
- As sore displeased as she is, she would not this denie:
- But that she chose me first hir selfe to beare hir companie.
- For (well I know) my father was a Prince of noble fame,
- Of Phocis King by long discent, Coronew was his name:
- I was his darling and his joy, and many a welthie Piere
- (I would not have you thinke disdaine) did seeke me for their Fere.
- My forme and beautie did me hurt. For as I leysurely
- Went jetting up and downe the shore upon the gravell drie,
- As yet I customably doe, the God that rules the Seas
- Espying me fell straight in love. And when he saw none ease
- In sute, but losse of wordes and time, he offred violence,
- And after me he runnes apace. I skudde as fast fro thence,
- From sand to shore from shore to sand, still playing Foxe to hole,
- Untill I was so tirde that he had almost got the gole.
- Then cald I out on God and man. But (as it did appeare)
- There was no man so neare at hand that could my crying heare.
- A Virgin Goddesse pitied me bicause I was a mayde:
- And at the utter plunge and pinche did send me present ayde.
- I cast mine armes to heaven, mine armes waxt light with fethers black,
- I went about to cast in hast my garments from my back,
- And all was fethers. In my skinne the rooted fethers stack.
- I was about with violent hand to strike my naked breast,
- But nether had I hand nor breast that naked more did reast.
- I ran, but of my feete as erst remained not the print.
- Me thought I glided on the ground. Anon with sodaine dint,
- I rose and hovered in the Ayre. And from that instant time
- Did wait on Pallas faithfully without offence or crime.
- But what availes all this to me, and if that in my place
- The wicked wretch Nyctyminee (who late for lacke of grace
- Was turned to an odious birde) to honor called bee?
- I pray thee didst thou never heare how false Nyctyminee
- (A thing all over Lesbos knowne) defilde hir fathers couch?
- The beast is now become a birde, whose lewdnesse doth so touch
- And pricke hir guiltie conscience that she dares not come in sight,
- Nor shewe hirselfe abrode a dayes, but fleeteth in the night
- For shame lest folke should see hir fault: and every other birde
- Doth in the Ayre and Ivie toddes with wondring at hir girde.
- A mischiefe take thy tatling tongue, the Raven answerde tho.
- Thy vaine forspeaking moves me not. And so he forth did go
- And tels his Lorde Apollo how he saw Coronis lie
- Wyth Isthyis, a Gentleman that dwelt in Thessalie.
- When Phebus heard his lovers fault, he fiersly gan to frowne,
- And cast his garlond from his head, and threw his violl downe.
- His colour chaungde, his face lookt pale, and as the rage of yre
- That boyled in his belking breast had set his heart on fyre,
- He caught me up his wonted tooles, and bent his golden bow
- And by and by with deadly stripe of unavoyded blow
- Strake through the breast the which his owne had toucht so oft afore.
- She wounded gave a piteous shrike, and (drawing from the sore
- The deadly Dart the which the bloud pursuing after fast
- Upon hir white and tender limmes a scarlet colour cast)
- Saide: Phebus, well, thou might have wreakt this trespasse on my head
- And yet forborne me till the time I had bene brought abed.
- Now in one body by thy meanes a couple shall be dead.
- Thus muche she saide: and with the bloud hir life did fade away.
- The bodie being voyde of soule became as colde as clay.
- Than all too late, alas too late gan Phebus to repent
- That of his lover he had tane so cruell punishment.
- He blames himselfe for giving eare so unadvisedly.
- He blames himselfe in that he tooke it so outragiously.
- He hates and bannes his faithfull birde bicause he did enforme
- Him of his lovers naughtinesse that made him so to storme.
- He hates his bow, he hates his shaft that rashly from it went:
- And eke he hates his hasty hands by whom the bow was bent.
- He takes hir up betweene his armes endevoring all too late
- By plaister made of precious herbes to stay hir helplesse fate.
- But when he saw there was no shift: but that she needes must burne,
- And that the solemne sacred fire was prest to serve the turne,
- Then from the bottome of his heart full sorie sighes he fet,
- (For heavenly powres with watrie teares their cheekes may never wet)
- In case as when a Cow beholdes the cruell butcher stand
- With launching Axe embrewd with bloud and lifting up his hand
- Aloft to snatch hir sucking Calfe that hangeth by the heeles
- And of the Axe the deadly dint upon his forehead feeles.
- Howbeit after sweete perfumes bestowde upon hir corse
- And much embracing, having sore bewailde hir wrong divorse,
- He followed to the place assignde hir bodie for to burne.
- There coulde he not abide to see his seede to ashes turne.
- But tooke the baby from hir wombe and from the firie flame,
- And unto double Chyrons den conveyed straight the same.
- The Raven hoping for his truth to be rewarded well,
- He maketh blacke, forbidding him with whiter birdes to dwell.
- The Centaure Chyron in the while was glad of Phebus boy,
- And as the burthen brought some care the honor brought him joy.
- Upon a time with golden lockes about hir shoulders spread,
- A daughter of the Centaurs (whome a certaine Nymph had bred
- About the brooke Caycus bankes) that hight Ocyroe
- Came thither. This same fayre yong Nymph could not contented be
- To learne the craft of Surgerie as perfect as hir Sire,
- But that to learne the secret doomes of Fate she must aspire.
- And therfore when the furious rage of frenzie had hir cought,
- And that the spright of Prophecie enflamed had hir thought,
- She lookt upon the childe and saide: Sweete babe the Gods thee make
- A man. For all the world shall fare the better for thy sake.
- All sores and sicknesse shalt thou cure: thy powre shall eke be syche,
- To make the dead alive again. For doing of the whiche
- Against the pleasure of the Gods, thy Graundsire shall thee strike
- So with his fire, that never more thou shalt performe the like.
- And of a God a bludlesse corse, and of a corse (full straunge)
- Thou shalt become a God againe, and twice thy nature chaunge.
- And thou my father liefe and deare, who now by destinie,
- Art borne to live for evermore and never for to die,
- Shalt suffer such outragious paine throughout thy members all,
- By wounding of a venimde dart that on thy foote shall fall,
- That oft thou shalt desire to die, and in the latter end
- The fatall dames shall breake thy threede and thy desire thee send.
- There was yet more behinde to tell, when sodenly she fet
- A sore deepe sigh, and downe hir cheekes the teares did trickle wet.
- Mine owne misfortune (quoth she) now hath overtake me sure.
- I cannot utter any more, for words waxe out of ure.
- My cunning was not worth so much as that it should procure
- The wrath of God. I feele by proufe far better had it bene:
- If that the chaunce of things to come I never had foreseene.
- For now my native shape withdrawes. Me thinkes I have delight
- To feede on grasse and fling in fieldes: I feele my selfe so light.
- I am transformed to a Mare like other of my kinne.
- But wherfore should this brutish shape all over wholy winne?
- Considering that although both horse and man my father bee:
- Yet is his better part a man as plainly is to see.
- The latter ende of this complaint was fumbled in such wise,
- As what she meant the standers by could scarcely well devise.
- Anon she neyther semde to speake nor fully for to ney,
- But like to one that counterfeites in sport the Mare to play.
- Within a while she neyed plaine, and downe hir armes were pight
- Upon the ground all clad with haire, and bare hir bodie right.
- Hir fingers joyned all in one, at ende wherof did grow
- In stede of nayles a round tough hoofe of welked horne bylow.
- Hir head and necke shot forth in length, hir kirtle trayne became
- A faire long taile. Hir flaring haire was made a hanging Mane.
- And as hir native shape and voyce most monstrously did passe,
- So by the uncoth name of Mare she after termed was.
- The Centaure Chyron wept hereat: and piteously dismaide
- Did call on thee (although in vaine) thou Delphian God for ayde.
- For neyther lay it in thy hande to breake Joves mighty hest,
- And though it had, yet in thy state as then thou did not rest.
- In Elis did thou then abide and in Messene lande.
- It was the time when under shape of shepehierde with a wande
- Of Olyve and a pipe of reedes thou kept Admetus sheepe.
- Now in this time that (save of Love) thou tooke none other keepe,
- And madste thee merrie with thy pipe, the glistring Maias sonne
- By chaunce abrode the fields of Pyle spide certaine cattle runne
- Without a hierde, the which he stole and closely did them hide
- Among the woods. This pretie slight no earthly creature spide,
- Save one old churle that Battus hight. This Battus had the charge
- Of welthie Neleus feeding groundes, and all his pastures large,
- And kept a race of goodly Mares. Of him he was afraide.
- And lest by him his privie theft should chaunce to be bewraide,
- He tooke a bribe to stop his mouth, and thus unto him saide:
- My friend I pray thee if perchaunce that any man enquire
- This cattell say thou saw them not. And take thou for thy hire
- This faire yong Bullocke. Tother tooke the Bullocke at his hand,
- And shewing him a certaine stone that lay upon the lande,
- Sayd, go thy way: Assoone this stone thy doings shall bewray,
- As I shall doe. So Mercurie did seeme to go his way.
- Annon he commes me backe againe, and altred both in speche
- And outward shape, saide: Countrieman Ich heartely bezeche,
- And if thou zawest any kie come royling through this grounde,
- Or driven away, tell what he was and where they may be vownde.
- And I chill gethee vor thy paine an Hecfar and hir match.
- The Carle perceyving double gaine, and greedy for to catch,
- Sayde: Under yon same hill they were, and under yon same hill
- Cham zure they are, and with his hand he poynted thereuntill.
- At that Mercurius laughing saide: False knave: and doste bewray
- Me to my selfe? doste thou bewray me to my selfe I say?
- And with that word strayt to a stone he turnde his double heart,
- In which the slaunder yet remaines without the stones desart.
- The Bearer of the charmed Rod, the suttle Mercurie,
- This done, arose with waving wings and from that place did flie.
- And as he hovered in the Ayre he viewde the fieldes bylow
- Of Atticke and the towne it selfe with all the trees that grow
- In Lycey where the learned Clarkes did wholsome preceptes show.
- By chaunce the verie selfesame day the virgins of the towne
- Of olde and auncient custome bare in baskets on their crowne
- Beset with garlands fresh and gay and strowde with flowres sweete
- To Pallas towre such sacrifice as was of custome meete.
- The winged God beholding them returning in a troupe
- Continued not directly forth, but gan me downe to stoupe,
- And fetch a wyndlasse round about. And as the hungry kite
- Beholding unto sacrifice a Bullocke redie dight,
- Doth sore about his wished pray desirous for to snatche
- But that he dareth not for such as stand about and watch:
- So Mercurie with nimble wings doth keepe a lower gate
- About Minervas loftie towres in round and wheeling rate.
- As far as doth the Morning starre in cleare and streaming light
- Excell all other starres in heaven: as far also as bright
- Dame Phebe dimmes the Morning starre, so far did Herses face
- Staine all the Ladies of hir troupe: she was the verie grace
- And beautie of that solemne pompe, and all that traine so fayre.
- Joves sonne was ravisht with the sight, and hanging in the ayre
- Began to swelt within himselfe, in case as when the poulder
- Hath driven the Pellet from the Gunne, the Pellet ginnes to smoulder:
- And in his flying waxe more hote. In smoking brest he shrowdes
- His flames not brought from heaven above but caught beneath the clouds.
- He leaves his jorney toward heaven and takes another race
- Not minding any lenger time to hide his present case.
- So great a trust and confidence his beautie to him gave
- Which though it seemed of it selfe sufficient force to have,
- Yet was he curious for to make himselfe more fine and brave.
- He kembd his head and strokt his beard, and pried on every side
- To see that in his furniture no wrinkle might be spide.
- And forbicause his Cloke was fringde and garded brode with golde,
- He cast it on his shoulder up most seemely to beholde.
- He takes in hand his charmed rod that bringeth things asleepe
- And wakes them when he list againe. And lastly taketh keepe
- That on his faire welformed feete his golden shooes sit cleene,
- And that all other things therto well correspondent beene.
- In Cecrops Court were Chambers three set far from all resort
- With yvorie beddes all furnished in far most royall sort.
- Of which Aglauros had the left and Pandrose had the right,
- And Herse had the middlemost. She that Aglauros hight
- First markt the comming of the God, and asking him his name
- Demaunded him for what entent and cause he thither came.
- Pleiones Nephew, Maias sonne, did make hir aunswere thus:
- I am my fathers messenger, his pleasure to discusse
- To mortall folke and hellish fiendes as list him to commaund.
- My father is the mightie Jove. To that thou doste demaund
- I will not feyne a false excuse. I aske no more but graunt
- To keepe thy sisters counsell close, and for to be the Aunt
- Of such the issue as on hir my chaunce shalbe to get.
- Thy sister Herse is the cause that hath me hither fet.
- I pray thee beare thou with my love that is so firmely set.
- Aglauros cast on Mercurie hir scornfull eyes aside,
- With which against Minervas will hir secretes late she spide,
- Demaunding him in recompence a mighty masse of Golde:
- And would not let him enter in until the same were tolde.
- The warlike Goddesse cast on hir a sterne and cruell looke,
- And fetched such a cutting sigh that forcibly it shooke
- Both brest and brestplate, wherewithall it came unto hir thought
- How that Aglauros late ago against hir will had wrought
- In looking on the Lemman childe contrarie to hir othe,
- The whiche she tooke hir in the chest, for which she waxed wrothe.
- Againe she saw hir cancred heart maliciously repine
- Against hir sister and the God. And furthermore in fine
- How that the golde which Mercurie had given hir for hir meede,
- Would make hir both in welth and pride all others to exceede.
- She goes me straight to Envies house, a foule and irksome cave,
- Replete with blacke and lothly filth and stinking like a grave.
- It standeth in a hollow dale where neyther light of Sunne
- Nor blast of any winde or Ayre may for the deepenesse come.
- A dreyrie sad and dolefull den ay full of slouthfull colde
- As which ay dimd with smoldring smoke doth never fire beholde,
- When Pallas, that same manly Maide, approched nere this plot,
- She staide without, for to the house in enter might she not,
- And with hir Javelin point did give a push against the doore.
- The doore flue open by and by and fell me in the floore.
- There saw she Envie sit within fast gnawing on the flesh
- Of Snakes and Todes, the filthie foode that keepes hir vices fresh.
- It lothde hir to beholde the sight. Anon the Elfe arose
- And left the gnawed Adders flesh, and slouthfully she goes
- With lumpish laysure like a Snayle, and when she saw the face
- Of Pallas and hir faire attire adournde with heavenly grace,
- She gave a sigh, a sorie sigh, from bottome of hir heart.
- Hir lippes were pale, hir cheekes were wan, and all hir face was swart:
- Hir bodie leane as any Rake. She looked eke askew.
- Hir teeth were furde with filth and drosse, hir gums were waryish blew.
- The working of hir festered gall had made hir stomacke greene.
- And all bevenimde was hir tongue. No sleepe hir eyes had seene.
- Continuall Carke and cankred care did keepe hir waking still:
- Of laughter (save at others harmes) the Helhound can no skill.
- It is against hir will that men have any good successe,
- And if they have, she frettes and fumes within hir minde no lesse
- Than if hir selfe had taken harme. In seeking to annoy
- And worke distresse to other folke, hir selfe she doth destroy.
- Thus is she torment to hir selfe. Though Pallas did hir hate,
- Yet spake she briefly these few wordes to hir without hir gate:
- Infect thou with thy venim one of Cecrops daughters three,
- It is Aglauros whome I meane, for so it needes must bee.
- This said, she pight hir speare in ground, and tooke hir rise thereon.
- And winding from that wicked wight did take hir flight anon.
- The Caitife cast hir eye aside, and seeing Pallas gon,
- Began to mumble with hir selfe the Divels Paternoster,
- And fretting at hir good successe, began to blow and bluster.
- She takes a crooked staffe in hand bewreathde with knubbed prickes,
- And covered with a coly cloude, where ever that she stickes
- Hir filthie feete, she tramples downe and seares both grasse and corne:
- That all the fresh and fragrant fieldes seeme utterly forlorne.
- And with hir staffe she tippeth off the highest poppie heades.
- Such poyson also every where ungraciously she sheades,
- That every Cottage where she comes and every Towne and Citie
- Doe take infection at hir breath. At length (the more is pitie)
- She found the faire Athenian towne that flowed freshly then
- In feastfull peace and joyfull welth and learned witts of men.
- And forbicause she nothing saw that might provoke to weepe,
- It was a corsie to hir heart hir hatefull teares to keepe.
- Now when she came within the Court, she went without delay
- Directly to the lodgings where King Cecrops daughters lay,
- There did she as Minerva bad. She laide hir scurvie fist
- Besmerde with venim and with filth upon Aglauros brist,
- The whiche she filde with hooked thornes: and breathing on hir face
- Did shead the poyson in hir bones: which spred it selfe apace,
- As blacke as ever virgin pitch through Lungs and Lights and all.
- And to th'intent that cause of griefe abundantly should fall,
- She placed ay before hir eyes hir sisters happie chaunce
- In being wedded to the God, and made the God to glaunce
- Continually in heavenly shape before hir wounded thought.
- And all these things she painted out, which in conclusion wrought
- Such corsies in Aglauros brest that sighing day and night
- She gnawde and fretted in hir selfe for very cancred spight.
- And like a wretche she wastes hir selfe with restlesse care and pine
- Like as the yse whereon the Sunne with glimering light doth shine.
- Hir sister Herses good successe doth make hir heart to yerne,
- In case as when that fire is put to greenefeld wood or fearne
- Whych giveth neyther light nor heate, but smulders quite away:
- Sometime she minded to hir Sire hir sister to bewray,
- Who (well she knew) would yll abide so lewde a part to play.
- And oft she thought with wilfull hande to brust hir fatall threede,
- Bicause she woulde not see the thing that made hir heart to bleede.
- At last she sate hir in the doore and leaned to a post
- To let the God from entring in. To whome now having lost
- Much talke and gentle wordes in vayne, she said: Sir, leave I pray
- For hence I will not (be you sure) onlesse you go away.
- I take thee at thy word (quoth he) and therewithall he pusht
- His rod against the barred doore, and wide it open rusht.
- She making proffer for to rise, did feele so great a waight
- Through all hir limmes, that for hir life she could not stretch hir straight.
- She strove to set hirself upright: but striving booted not.
- Hir hamstrings and hir knees were stiffe, a chilling colde had got
- In at hir nayles, through all hir limmes. And eke hir veynes began
- For want of bloud and lively heate, to waxe both pale and wan.
- And as the freting Fistula forgrowne and past all cure
- Runnes in the flesh from place to place, and makes the sound and pure
- As bad or worser than the rest, even so the cold of death
- Strake to hir heart, and closde hir veines, and lastly stopt hir breath:
- She made no profer for to speake, and though she had done so
- It had bene vaine. For way was none for language forth to go.
- Hir throte congealed into stone: hir mouth became hard stone,
- And like an image sate she still, hir bloud was clearely gone,
- The which the venim of hir heart so fowly did infect,
- That ever after all the stone with freckled spots was spect.
- When Mercurie had punisht thus Aglauros spightfull tung
- And cancred heart, immediatly from Pallas towne he flung.
- And flying up with flittering wings did pierce to heaven above.
- His father calde him straight aside (but shewing not his love)
- Said: Sonne, my trustie messenger and worker of my will,
- Make no delay but out of hand flie downe in hast untill
- The land that on the left side lookes upon thy mothers light,
- Yon same where standeth on the coast the towne that Sidon hight.
- The King hath there a heirde of Neate that on the Mountaines feede,
- Go take and drive them to the sea with all convenient speede.
- He had no sooner said the word but that the heirde begun
- Driven from the mountaine to the shore appointed for to run,
- Whereas the daughter of the King was wonted to resort
- With other Ladies of the Court there for to play and sport.
- Betweene the state of Majestie and love is set such oddes,
- As that they can not dwell in one. The Sire and King of Goddes
- Whose hand is armd with triplefire, who only with his frowne
- Makes Sea and Land and Heaven to quake, doth lay his scepter downe
- With all the grave and stately port belonging thereunto:
- And putting on the shape of Bull (as other cattell doe)
- Goes lowing gently up and downe among them in the field
- The fairest beast to looke upon that ever man beheld.
- For why? his colour was as white as any winters snow
- Before that eyther trampling feete or Southerne winde it thow.
- His necke was brawnd with rolles of flesh, and from his chest before
- A dangling dewlap hung me downe good halfe a foote and more.
- His hornes were small, but yet so fine as that ye would have thought
- They had bene made by cunning hand or out of waxe bene wrought.
- More cleare they were a hundreth fold than is the Christall stone,
- In all his forehead fearfull frowne or wrinkle there was none.
- No fierce, no grim, nor griesly looke as other cattle have,
- But altogether so demure as friendship seemde to crave.
- Agenors daughter marveld much so tame a beast to see,
- But yet to touche him at the first too bolde she durst not bee.
- Annon she reaches to his mouth hir hand with herbes and flowres.
- The loving beast was glad thereof and neither frownes nor lowres.
- But till the hoped joy might come with glad and fauning cheare
- He lickes hir hands and scarce ah scarce the resdue he forbeare.
- Sometime he friskes and skippes about and showes hir sport at hand
- Annon he layes his snowie side against the golden sand.
- So feare by little driven away, he offred eft his brest
- To stroke and coy, and eft his hornes with flowers to be drest.
- At last Europa knowing not (for so the Maide was calde)
- On whome she venturde for to ride, was nerawhit appalde
- To set hir selfe upon his backe. Then by and by the God
- From maine drie land to maine moyst Sea gan leysurly to plod.
- At first he did but dip his feete within the outmost wave,
- And backe againe, then further in another plunge he gave.
- And so still further till at the last he had his wished pray
- Amid the deepe where was no meanes to scape with life away.
- The Ladie quaking all for feare with rufull countnance cast
- Ay toward shore from whence she came, held with hir righthand fast
- One of his hornes: and with the left did stay upon his backe.
- The weather flaskt and whisked up hir garments being slacke.