Metamorphoses
Ovid
Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.
- The God now having laide aside his borrowed shape of Bull
- Had in his likenesse shewde himself: and with his pretie trull
- Tane landing in the Ile of Crete. When in that while hir Sire
- Not knowing where she was become, sent after to enquire
- Hir brother Cadmus, charging him his sister home to bring,
- Or never for to come againe: wherein he did a thing,
- For which he might both justly kinde and cruell called bee.
- When Cadmus over all the world had sought, (for who is hee
- That can detect the thefts of Jove?) and no where could hir see,
- Then as an outlaw (to avoyde his fathers wrongfull yre)
- He went to Phebus Oracle most humbly to desire
- His heavenly counsell, where he would assigne him place to dwell.
- An Heifer all alone in field (quoth Phebus) marke hir well,
- Which never bare the pinching yoke, nor drew the plough as yit,
- Shall meete thee. Follow after hir, and where thou seest hir sit,
- There builde a towne, and let thereof Beotia be the name.
- Downe from Parnasus stately top scarce fully Cadmus came,
- When royling softly in the vale before the herde alone
- He saw an Heifer on whose necke of servage print was none.
- He followde after leysurly as hir that was his guide,
- And thanked Phebus in his heart that did so well provide.
- Now had he past Cephisus forde, and eke the pleasant groundes
- About the Citie Panope conteinde within those boundes.
- The Heifer staide, and lifting up hir forehead to the skie
- Full seemely for to looke upon with homes like braunches hie
- Did with hir lowing fill the Ayre: and casting backe hir eie
- Upon the rest that came aloofe, as softly as she could
- Kneelde downe and laide hir hairie side against the grassie mould.
- Then Cadmus gave Apollo thankes, and falling flat bylow
- Did kisse the ground and haile the fields which yet he did not know.
- He was about to sacrifice to Jove the Heavenly King,
- And bad his servants goe and fetch him water of the spring.
- An olde forgrowne unfelled wood stoode neare at hand thereby,
- And in the middes a queachie plot with Sedge and Osiers hie,
- Where courbde about with peble stone in likenesse of a bow
- There was a spring with silver streames that forth thereof did flow.
- Here lurked in his lowring den God Mars his griesly Snake
- With golden scales and firie eyes beswolne with poyson blake.
- Three spirting tongues, three rowes of teeth within his head did sticke.
- No sooner had the Tirian folke set foote within this thicke
- And queachie plot, and deped downe their bucket in the well,
- But that to buscle in his den began this Serpent fell,
- And peering with a marble head right horribly to hisse.
- The Tirians let their pitchers slip for sodaine feare of this,
- And waxing pale as any clay, like folke amazde and flaight,
- Stoode trembling like an Aspen leafe. The specled serpent straight
- Commes trailing out in waving linkes, and knottie rolles of scales,
- And bending into bunchie boughts his bodie forth he hales.
- And lifting up above the wast himselfe unto the Skie,
- He overlooketh all the wood, as huge and big welnie
- As is the Snake that in the Heaven about the Nordren Pole
- Devides the Beares. He makes no stay but deales his dreadfull dole
- Among the Tirians. Whether they did take them to their tooles,
- Or to their heeles, or that their feare did make them stand like fooles,
- And helpe themselves by none of both, he snapt up some alive,
- And swept in others with his taile, and some he did deprive
- Of life with rankenesse of his breath, and other some againe
- He stings and poysons unto death till all at last were slaine.
- Now when the Sunne was at his heigth and shadowes waxed short,
- And Cadmus saw his companie make tarience in that sort,
- He marveld what should be their let, and went to seeke them out.
- His harnesse was a Lions skin that wrapped him about.
- His weapons were a long strong speare with head of yron tride,
- And eke a light and piercing Dart. And thereunto beside
- Worth all the weapons in the world a stout and valiant hart.
- When Cadmus came within the wood and saw about that part
- His men lie slaine upon the ground, and eke their cruell fo
- Of bodie huge stand over them, and licking with his blo
- And blasting tongue their sorie woundes: Well trustie friendes (quoth he)
- I eyther of your piteous deathes will streight revenger be,
- Or else will die my selfe therefore. With that he raughting fast
- A mightie Milstone, at the Snake with all his might it cast.
- The stone with such exceding force and violence forth was driven,
- As of a fort the bulwarkes strong and walles it would have riven.
- And yet it did the Snake no harme: his scales as hard and tough
- As if they had bene plates of mayle did fence him well inough,
- So that the stone rebounded backe against his freckled slough.
- But yet his hardnesse savde him not against the piercing dart.
- For hitting right betweene the scales that yeelded in that part
- Whereas the joynts doe knit the backe, it thirled through the skin,
- And pierced to his filthy mawe and greedy guts within.
- He fierce with wrath wrings backe his head, and looking on the stripe,
- The Javeling steale that sticked out, betwene his teeth doth gripe.
- The which with wresting to and fro at length he forth did winde,
- Save that he left the head therof among his bones behinde.
- When of his courage through the wound more kindled was the ire,
- His throteboll swelde with puffed veines, his eyes gan sparkle fire.
- There stoode about his smeared chaps a lothly foming froth.
- His skaled brest ploughes up the ground, the stinking breath that goth
- Out from his blacke and hellish mouth infectes the herbes full fowle.
- Sometime he windes himselfe in knots as round as any Bowle.
- Sometime he stretcheth out in length as straight as any beame.
- Anon againe with violent brunt he rusheth like a streame
- Encreast by rage of latefalne raine, and with his mightie sway
- Beares downe the wood before his breast that standeth in his way.
- Agenors sonne retiring backe doth with his Lions spoyle
- Defend him from his fierce assaults, and makes him to recoyle
- Aye holding at the weapons point. The Serpent waxing wood
- Doth crashe the steele betwene his teeth, and bites it till the blood,
- Dropt mixt with poyson from his mouth, did die the greene grasse blacke,
- But yet the wound was verie light bicause he writhed backe
- And puld his head still from the stroke: and made the stripe to die
- By giving way, untill that Cadmus following irefully
- The stroke, with all his powre and might did through the throte him rive,
- And naylde him to an Oke behind the which he eke did clive.
- The Serpents waight did make the tree to bend. It grievde the tree
- His bodie of the Serpents taile thus scourged for to bee.
- While Cadmus wondred at the hugenesse of the vanquisht foe
- Upon the sodaine came a voyce: from whence he could not know,
- But sure he was he heard the voyce. Which said: Agenors sonne,
- What gazest thus upon this Snake? the time will one day come
- That thou thy selfe shalt be a Snake. He pale and wan for feare,
- Had lost his speach: and ruffled up stiffe staring stood his heare.
- Behold (mans helper at his neede) Dame Pallas gliding through
- The vacant Ayre was straight at hand, and bade him take a plough
- And cast the Serpents teeth in ground, as of the which should spring
- Another people out of hand. He did in every thing
- As Pallas bade, he tooke a plough, and earde a furrow low
- And sowde the Serpents teeth whereof the foresaid folke should grow.
- Anon (a wondrous thing to tell) the clods began to move,
- And from the furrow first of all the pikes appearde above,
- Next rose up helmes with fethered crests, and then the Poldrens bright,
- Successively the Curets whole, and all the armor right.
- Thus grew up men like corne in field in rankes of battle ray
- With shields and weapons in their hands to feight the field that day.
- Even so when stages are attirde against some solemne game,
- With clothes of Arras gorgeously, in drawing up the same
- The faces of the ymages doe first of all them showe,
- And then by peecemeale all the rest in order seemes to grow,
- Untill at last they stand out full upon their feete bylow.
- Afrighted at this new found foes gan Cadmus for to take
- Him to his weapons by and by resistance for to make.
- Stay, stay thy selfe (cride one of them that late before were bred
- Out of the ground) and meddle not with civill warres. This sed,
- One of the brothers of that brood with launcing sworde he slue.
- Another sent a dart at him, the which him overthrue.
- The third did straight as much for him and made him yeelde the breath,
- (The which he had receyvde but now) by stroke of forced death.
- Likewise outraged all the rest untill that one by one
- By mutuall stroke of civill warre dispatched everychone,
- This broode of brothers all behewen and weltred in their blood,
- Lay sprawling on their mothers womb, the ground where erst they stood,
- Save only five that did remaine. Of whom Echion led
- By Pallas counsell, threw away the helmet from his head,
- And with his brothers gan to treat attonement for to make.
- The which at length (by Pallas helpe) so good successe did take,
- That faithfull friendship was confirmd and hand in hand was plight.
- These afterward did well assist the noble Tyrian knight,
- In building of the famous towne that Phebus had behight.
- Now Thebes stoode in good estate, now Cadmus might thou say
- That when thy father banisht thee it was a luckie day.
- To joyne aliance both with Mars and Venus was thy chaunce,
- Whose daughter thou hadst tane to wife, who did thee much advaunce,
- Not only through hir high renowne, but through a noble race
- Of sonnes and daughters that she bare: whose children in like case
- It was thy fortune for to see all men and women growne.
- But ay the ende of every thing must marked be and knowne.
- For none the name of blessednesse deserveth for to have
- Onlesse the tenor of his life last blessed to his grave.
- Among so many prosprous happes that flowde with good successe,
- Thine eldest Nephew was a cause of care and sore distresse.
- Whose head was armde with palmed homes, whose own hounds in the wood
- Did pull their master to the ground and fill them with his bloud.
- But if you sift the matter well, ye shall not finde desart
- But cruell fortune to have bene the cause of this his smart.
- For who could doe with oversight? Great slaughter had bene made
- Of sundrie sortes of savage beastes one morning: and the shade
- Of things was waxed verie short. It was the time of day
- That mid betweene the East and West the Sunne doth seeme to stay.
- When as the Thebane stripling thus bespake his companie,
- Still raunging in the waylesse woods some further game to spie:
- Our weapons and our toyles are moist and staind with bloud of Deere:
- This day hath done inough as by our quarrie may appeare.
- As soone as with hir scarlet wheeles next morning bringeth light,
- We will about our worke againe. But now Hiperion bright
- Is in the middes of Heaven, and seares the fieldes with firie rayes.
- Take up your toyles, and cease your worke, and let us go our wayes.
- They did even so, and ceast their worke. There was a valley thicke
- With Pinaple and Cipresse trees that armed be with pricke.
- Gargaphie hight this shadie plot, it was a sacred place
- Tochast Diana and the Nymphes that wayted on hir grace.
- Within the furthest en ereof there was a pleasant Bowre
- So vaulted with the leavie trees the Sunne had there no powre:
- Not made by hand nor mans devise: and yet no man alive,
- A trimmer piece of worke than that could for his life contrive.
- With flint and Pommy was it wallde by nature halfe about,
- And on the right side of the same full freshly flowed out
- A lively spring with Christall streame: whereof the upper brim
- Was greneawith grasse and matted herbes that smelled verie trim.
- Whe hebe )elt hir selfe waxe faint, of following of hir game,
- It was oi-etrsfome for to come and bath hir in the same.
- That day she, having timely left hir hunting in the chace,
- Was entred with hir troupe of Nymphes within this pleasant place.
- She tooke hirrquiveLad hir bow the which she had unbent,
- And eke hir Javelin to a Nymph that served that intent.
- Another Nymph t ttaie hir clothes among hir traine she chose,
- Two losde hir buskins from hir legges and pulled off hir hose.
- The Thebane Ladie Crocale more cunnig than the rest
- Did trusse hir tresses handsomly which hung behind undrest.
- And yet hir owne hung waving still. Then Niphe nete and cleene
- With Hiale glistring like the grass in beautie fresh and sheene,
- And Rhanis clearer of hir skin than are the rainie drops,
- And little bibling Phyale, and Pseke that pretie Mops
- Powrde water into vessels large to washe their Ladie with.
- Now while she keepes this wont, behold, by wandring in the frith
- He wist not whither (having staid his pastime till the morrow)
- Comes Cadmus Nephew to this thicke: and entring in with sorrow
- (Such was his cursed cruell fate) saw Phebe where she washt.
- The Damsels at the sight of man quite out of countnance dasht,
- (Bicause they everichone were bare and naked to the quicke)
- Did beate their handes against their breasts, and cast out such a shricke,
- That all the wood did ring thereof: and clinging to their dame
- Did all they could to hide both hir and eke themselves fro shame.
- But Phebe was of personage so comly and so tall,
- That by the middle of hir necke she overpeerd them all.
- Such colour as appeares in Heaven by Phebus broken rayes
- Directly shining on the Cloudes, or such as is alwayes
- The colour of the Morning Cloudes before the Sunne doth show,
- Such sanguine colour in the face of Phoebe gan to glowe
- There standing naked in his sight. Who though she had hir gard
- Of Nymphes about hir: yet she turnde hir bodie from him ward.
- And casting back an angrie looke, like as she would have sent
- An arrow at him had she had hir bow there readie bent,
- So raught she water in hir hande and for to wreake the spight
- Besprinckled all the heade and face of this unluckie knight, r
- And thus forespake the heavie lot that should upon him light:
- Now make thy vaunt among thy Mates, thou sawste Diana bare.
- Tell if thou can: I give thee leave: tell hardily: doe not spare.
- This done she makes no further threates, but by and by doth spread
- A payre of lively olde Harts homes upon his sprinckled head.
- She sharpes his eares, she makes his necke both slender, long and lanke.
- She turnes his fingers into feete, his armes to spindle shanke.
- She wrappes him in a hairie hyde beset with speckled spottes,
- And planteth in him fearefulnesse. And so away he trottes,
- Full greatly wondring to him selfe what made him in that cace
- To be so wight and swift of foote. But when he saw his face
- And horned temples in the brooke, he would have cryde Alas,
- But as for then no kinde of speach out of his lippes could passe.
- He sighde and brayde: for that was then the speach that did remaine,
- And downe the eyes that were not his, his bitter teares did raine.
- No part remayned (save his minde) of that he earst had beene.
- What should he doe? turne home againe to Cadmus and the Queene?
- Or hyde himselfe among the Woods? Of this he was afrayd,
- And of the tother ill ashamde. While doubting thus he stayd.
- His houndes espyde him where he was, and Blackfoote first of all
- And Stalker speciall good of scent began aloud to call.
- This latter was a hounde of Crete, the other was of Spart.
- Then all the kenell fell in round, and everie for his part,
- Dyd follow freshly in the chase more swifter than the winde,
- Spy, Eateal, Scalecliffe, three good houndes comne all of Arcas kinde,
- Strong Bilbucke, currish Savage, Spring, and Hunter fresh of smell,
- And Lightfoote who to lead a chase did beare away the bell,
- Fierce Woodman hurte not long ago in hunting of a Bore,
- And Shepeheird woont to follow sheepe and neate to fielde afore.
- And Laund, a fell and eger bitch that had a Wolfe to Syre:
- Another brach callde Greedigut with two hir Puppies by her.
- And Ladon gant as any Greewnd, a hownd in Sycion bred,
- Blab, Fleetewood, Patch whose flecked skin with sundrie spots was spred:
- Wight, Bowman, Royster, Beautie faire and white as winters snow,
- And Tawnie full of duskie haires that over all did grow,
- With lustie Ruffler passing all the resdue there in strength,
- And Tempest best of footemanshipe in holding out at length.
- And Cole and Swift, and little Woolfe, as wight as any other,
- Accompanide with a Ciprian hound that was his native brother,
- And Snatch amid whose forehead stoode a starre as white as snowe,
- The resdue being all as blacke and slicke as any Crowe.
- And shaggie Rugge with other twaine that had a Syre of Crete,
- And Dam of Sparta: T'one of them callde Jollyboy, a great
- And large flewd hound: the tother Chorle who ever gnoorring went,
- And Kingwood with a shyrle loude mouth the which he freely spent,
- With divers mo whose names to tell it were but losse of tyme.
- This fellowes over hill and dale in hope of pray doe clyme.
- Through thicke and thin and craggie cliffes where was no way to go,
- He flyes through groundes where oftentymes he chased had ere tho.
- Even from his owne folke is he faine (alas) to flee away.
- He strayned oftentymes to speake, and was about to say:
- I am Acteon: know your Lorde and Mayster, sirs, I pray.
- But use of wordes and speach did want to utter forth his minde.
- Their crie did ring through all the Wood redoubled with the winde,
- First Slo did pinch him by the haunch, and next came Kildeere in,
- And Hylbred fastned on his shoulder, bote him through the skinne.
- These cam forth later than the rest, but coasting thwart a hill,
- They did gainecope him as he came, and helde their Master still
- Untill that all the rest came in, and fastned on him too.
- No part of him was free from wound. He could none other do
- But sigh, and in the shape of Hart with voyce as Hartes are woont,
- (For voyce of man was none now left to helpe him at the brunt)
- By braying shew his secret grief among the Mountaynes hie,
- And kneeling sadly on his knees with dreerie teares in eye,
- As one by humbling of himselfe that mercy seemde to crave,
- With piteous looke in stead of handes his head about to wave.
- Not knowing that it was their Lord, the huntsmen cheere their houndsi
- With wonted noyse and for Acteon looke about the grounds.
- They hallow who could lowdest crie still calling him by name,
- As though he were not there, and much his absence they do blame
- In that he came not to the fall, but slackt to see the game.
- As often as they named him he sadly shooke his head,
- And faine he would have beene away thence in some other stead.
- But there he was. And well he could have found in heart to see
- His dogges fell deedes, so that to feele in place he had not bee.
- They hem him in on everie side, and in the shape of Stagge,
- With greedie teeth and griping pawes their Lord in peeces dragge.
- So fierce was cruell Phoebes wrath, it could not be alayde,
- Till of his fault by bitter death the raunsome he had payde.
- Much muttring was upon this fact. Some thought there was extended
- A great deale more extremitie than neded. Some commended
- Dianas doing: saying that it was but worthely
- For safegarde of hir womanhod. Eche partie did applie
- Good reasons to defende their case. Alone the wife ofJe,
- Of lyking or misliking it not all so greatly strove,
- As secretly rejoyst in heart that such a plague was light
- On Cadmus linage: turning all the malice and the spight
- Conceyved earst against the wench that Jove had fet fro Tyre,
- Upon the kinred of the wench, and for to fierce hir ire,
- Another thing cleane overthwart there commeth in the nicke:
- The Ladie Semell great with childe by Jove as then was quicke.
- Hereat she gan to fret and fume, and for to ease hir heart,
- Which else would burst, she fell in hande with scolding out hir part:
- And what a goodyeare have I woon by scolding erst? (she sed)
- It is that arrant queane hir selfe, against whose wicked hed
- I must assay to give assault: and if (as men me call)
- I be that Juno who in heaven beare greatest swing of all,
- If in my hande I worthie bee to holde the royall Mace,
- And if I be the Queene of heaven and soveraigne of this place,
- Or wife and sister unto Jove, (his sister well I know:
- But as for wife that name is vayne, I serve but for a show,
- To cover other privie skapes) I will confound that Whore.
- Now (with a mischiefe) is she bagd and beareth out before
- Hir open shame to all the world, and shortly hopes to bee
- The mother of a sonne by Jove, the which hath hapt to mee
- Not passing once in all my time, so sore she doth presume
- Upon hir beautie. But I trowe hir hope shall soone consume.
- For never let me counted be for Saturns daughter more,
- If by hir owne deare darling Jove on whome she trustes so sore,
- I sende hir not to Styxes streame. This ended up she rose
- And covered in golden cloud to Semelles house she goes.
- And ere she sent away the cloud, she takes an olde wyves shape
- With hoarie haire and riveled skinne, with slow and crooked gate.
- As though she had the Palsey had, hir feeble limmes did shake,
- And eke she foltred in the mouth as often as she spake.
- She seemde olde Beldame Beroe of Epidaure to bee,
- This Ladie Semelles Nourse as right as though it had beene shee.
- So when that after mickle talke of purpose ministred
- Joves name was upned: by and by she gave a sigh and sed:
- I wish with all my heart that Jove bee cause to thee of this.
- But daughter deare I dreade the worst, I feare it be amisse.
- For manie Varlets under name of Gods to serve their lust,
- Have into undefiled beddes themselves full often thrust;
- And though it bene the mightie Jove yet doth not that suffise,
- Onlesse he also make the same apparant to our eyes.
- And if it be even verie hee, I say it doth behove,
- He prove it by some open signe and token of his love.
- And therefore pray him for to graunt that, looke, in what degree,
- What order, fashion, sort and state he use to companie
- With mightie Juno, in the same in everie poynt and cace,
- To all intents and purposes he thee likewise embrace,
- And that he also bring with him his bright threeforked Mace.
- With such instructions Juno had enformed Cadmus Neece:
- And she poore sielie simple soule immediately on this
- Requested Jove to graunt a boone the which she did not name.
- Aske what thou wilt sweete heart (quoth he) thou shalt not misse the same,
- And for to make thee sure hereof, the grisely Stygian Lake,
- Which is the feare and God of Gods beare witnesse for thy sake.
- She joying in hir owne mischaunce, not having any powre
- To rule hir selfe, but making speede to hast hir fatall howre,
- In which she through hir Lovers helpe should worke hir owne decay,
- Sayd: Such as Juno findeth you when you and she doe play
- The games of Venus, such I pray thee shew thy selfe to mee
- In everie case. The God would faine have stopt hir mouth. But shee
- Had made such hast that out it was. Which made him sigh full sore,
- For neyther she could then unwish the thing she wisht before,
- Nor he revoke his solemne oth. Wherefore with sorie heart
- And heavie countnance by and by to Heaven he doth depart,
- And makes to follow after him with looke full grim and stoure
- The flakie clouds all grisly blacke, as when they threat a shoure.
- To which he added mixt with winde a fierce and flashing flame,
- With drie and dreadfull thunderclaps and lightning to the same
- Of deadly unavoyded dynt. And yet as much as may
- He goes about his vehement force and fiercenesse to allay.
- He doth not arme him with the fire with which he did remove
- The Giant with the hundreth handes, Typhoeus, from above:
- It was too cruell and too sore to use against his Love.
- The Cyclops made an other kinde of lightning farre more light,
- Wherein they put much lesse of fire, lesse fierceness, lesser might.
- It hight in Heaven the seconde Mace. Jove armes himselfe with this
- And enters into Cadmus house where Semelles chamber is.
- She being mortall was too weake and feeble to withstande
- Such troublous tumultes of the Heavens: and therefore out of hande
- Was burned in hir Lovers armes. But yet he tooke away
- His infant from the mothers wombe unperfect as it lay,
- And (if a man may credit it) did in his thigh it sowe,
- Where byding out the mothers tyme it did to ripenesse growe.
- And when the time of birth was come his Aunt the Ladie Ine
- Did nourse him for a while by stealth and kept him trym and fine.
- The Nymphes of Nysa afterwarde did in their bowres him hide,
- And brought him up with Milke till tyme he might abrode be spyde.
- Now while these things were done on earth, and that by fatal doome
- The twice borne Bacchus had a tyme to mannes estate to come,
- They say that Jove disposde to myrth as he and Juno sate
- A drinking Nectar after meate in sport and pleasant rate,
- Did fall a jeasting with his wife, and saide: A greater pleasure
- In Venus games ye women have than men beyonde all measure.
- She answerde no. To trie the truth, they both of them agree
- The wise Tyresias in this case indifferent Judge to bee,
- Who both the man and womans joyes by tryall understood.
- For finding once two mightie Snakes engendring in a Wood,
- He strake them overthwart the backs, by meanes whereof beholde
- (As straunge a thing to be of truth as ever yet was tolde)
- He being made a woman straight, seven winter lived so.
- The eight he finding them againe did say unto them tho:
- And if to strike ye have such powre as for to turne their shape
- That are the givers of the stripe, before you hence escape,
- One stripe now will I lende you more. He strake them as beforne
- And straight returnd his former shape in which he first was borne.
- Tyresias therefore being tane to judge this jesting strife,
- Gave sentence on the side of Jove. The which the Queene his wife
- Did take a great deale more to heart than needed, and in spight
- To wreake hir teene upon hir Judge, bereft him of his sight.
- But Jove (for to the Gods it is unleefull to undoe
- The things which other of the Gods by any meanes have doe)
- Did give him sight in things to come for losse of sight of eye,
- And so his grievous punishment with honour did supplie.
- By meanes whereof within a while in Citie, fielde, and towne
- Through all the coast of Aony was bruited his renowne.
- And folke to have their fortunes read that dayly did resorte
- Were aunswerde so as none of them could give him misreporte.
- The first that of his soothfast wordes had proufe in all the Realme
- Was freckled Lyriop, whom sometime surprised in his streame
- The floud Cephisus did enforce. This Lady bare a sonne
- Whose beautie at his verie birth might justly love have wonne.
- -Narcissus did she call his name. Of whome the Prophet sage,
- -Demaunded if the childe should live to many yeares of age,
- Made aunswere: Yea full long, so that him selfe he doe not know.
- The Soothsayers wordes seemde long but vaine, untill the end did show
- His saying to be true in deede by straungenesse of the rage,
- And straungenesse of the kinde of death that did abridge his age.
- For when yeares three times five and one he fully lyved had,
- So that he seemde to stande beetwene the state of man and Lad,
- The hearts of dyvers trim yong men his beautie gan to move
- And many a Ladie fresh and faire was taken in his love.
- But in that grace of Natures gift such passing pride did raigne,
- That to be toucht of man or Mayde he wholy did disdaine.
- A babling Nymph that Echo hight, who hearing others talke,
- By no meanes can restraine hir tongue but that it needes must walke,
- Nor of hir selfe hath powre to ginne to speake to any wight,
- Espyde him dryving into toyles the fearefull stagges of flight.
- This Echo was a body then and not an onely voyce.
- Yet of hir speach she had that time no more than now the choyce,
- That is to say, of many wordes the latter to repeate.
- The cause thereof was Junos wrath. For when that with the feate
- She might have often taken Jove in daliance with his Dames,
- And that by stealth and unbewares in middes of all his games,
- This elfe would with hir tatling talke deteine hir by the way,
- Untill that Jove had wrought his will and they were fled away.
- The which when Juno did perceyve, she said with wrathfull mood:
- This tongue that hath deluded me shall doe thee little good,
- For of thy speach but simple use hereafter shalt thou have.
- The deede it selfe did straight confirme the threatnings that she gave.
- Yet Echo of the former talke doth double oft the ende
- And backe againe with just report the wordes earst spoken sende.
- Now when she sawe Narcissus stray about the Forrest wyde,
- She waxed warme and step for step fast after him she hyde.
- The more she followed after him and neerer that she came,
- The hoter ever did she waxe as neerer to hir flame.
- Lyke as the lively Brimstone doth which dipt about a match,
- And put but softly to the fire, the flame doth lightly catch.
- O Lord how often woulde she faine (if nature would have let)
- Entreated him with gentle wordes some favour for to get?
- But nature would not suffer hir nor give hir leave to ginne.
- Yet (so farre forth as she by graunt at natures hande could winne)
- As readie with attentive eare she harkens for some sounde,
- Whereto she might replie hir wordes, from which she is not bounde.
- By chaunce the stripling being strayde from all his companie,
- Sayde: Is there any body nie? Straight Echo answerde: I.
- Amazde he castes his eye aside, and looketh round about,
- And Come (that all the Forrest roong) aloud he calleth out.
- And Come (sayth she:) he looketh backe, and seeing no man followe,
- Why fliste, he cryeth once againe: and she the same doth hallowe.
- He still persistes and wondring much what kinde of thing it was
- From which that answering voyce by turne so duely seemde to passe,
- Said: Let us joyne. She (by hir will desirous to have said
- In fayth with none more willingly at any time or stead)
- Said: Let us joyne. And standing somewhat in hir owne conceit,
- Upon these wordes she left the Wood, and forth she yeedeth streit,
- To coll the lovely necke for which she longed had so much,
- He runnes his way and will not be imbraced of no such,
- And sayth: I first will die ere thou shalt take of me thy pleasure.
- She aunswerde nothing else thereto, but Take of me thy pleasure.
- Now when she saw hir selfe thus mockt, she gate hir to the Woods,
- And hid hir head for verie shame among the leaves and buddes.
- And ever sence she lyves alone in dennes and hollow Caves,
- Yet stacke hir love still to hir heart, through which she dayly raves
- The more for sorrowe of repulse. Through restlesse carke and care
- Hir bodie pynes to skinne and bone, and waxeth wonderous bare.
- The bloud doth vanish into ayre from out of all hir veynes,
- And nought is left but voyce and bones: the voyce yet still remaynes:
- Hir bones they say were turnde to stones. From thence she lurking still
- In Woods, will never shewe hir head in field nor yet on hill.
- Yet is she heard of every man: it is hir onely sound,
- And nothing else that doth remayne alive above the ground.
- Thus had he mockt this wretched Nymph and many mo beside,
- That in the waters, Woods and groves, or Mountaynes did abyde.
- Thus had he mocked many men. Of which one miscontent
- To see himselfe deluded so, his handes to Heaven up bent,
- And sayd: I pray to God he may once feele fierce Cupids fire
- As I doe now, and yet not joy the things he doth desire.
- The Goddesse Ramnuse (who doth wreake on wicked people take)
- Assented to his just request for ruth and pities sake.
- There was a spring withouten mudde as silver cleare and still,
- Which neyther sheepeheirds, nor the Goates that fed upon the hill,
- Nor other cattell troubled had, nor savage beast had styrd,
- Nor braunch nor sticke, nor leafe of tree, nor any soule nor byrd.
- The moysture fed and kept aye fresh the grasse that grew about,
- And with their leaves the trees did keepe the heate of Phoebus out.
- The stripling wearie with the heate and hunting in the chace,
- And much delighted with the spring and coolenesse of the place,
- Did lay him downe upon the brim: and as he stooped lowe
- To staunche his thurst, another thurst of worse effect did growe.
- For as he dranke, he chaunst to spie the Image of his face,
- The which he did immediately with fervent love embrace.
- He feedes a hope without cause why. For like a foolishe noddie
- He thinkes the shadow that he sees, to be a lively boddie.
- Astraughted like an ymage made of Marble stone he lyes,
- There gazing on his shadowe still with fixed staring eyes.
- Stretcht all along upon the ground, it doth him good to see
- His ardant eyes which like two starres full bright and shyning bee,
- And eke his fingars, fingars such as Bacchus might beseeme,
- And haire that one might worthely Apollos haire it deeme,
- His beardlesse chinne and yvorie necke, and eke the perfect grace
- Of white and red indifferently bepainted in his face.
- All these he woondreth to beholde, for which (as I doe gather)
- Himselfe was to be woondred at, or to be pitied rather.
- He is enamored of himselfe for want of taking heede,
- And where he lykes another thing, he lykes himselfe in deede.
- He is the partie whome he wooes, and suter that doth wooe,
- He is the flame that settes on fire, and thing that burneth tooe.
- O Lord how often did he kisse that false deceitfull thing?
- How often did he thrust his armes midway into the spring
- To have embraste the necke he saw and could not catch himselfe?
- He knowes not what it was he sawe. And yet the foolish elfe
- Doth burne in ardent love thereof. The verie selfsame thing
- That doth bewitch and blinde his eyes, encreaseth all his sting.
- Thou fondling thou, why doest thou raught the fickle image so?
- The thing thou seekest is not there. And if aside thou go,
- The thing thou lovest straight is gone. It is none other matter
- That thou doest see, than of thy selfe the shadow in the water.
- The thing is nothing of it selfe: with thee it doth abide,
- With thee it would departe if thou withdrew thy selfe aside.
- No care of meate could draw him thence, nor yet desire of rest.
- But lying flat against the ground, and leaning on his brest,
- With greedie eyes he gazeth still uppon the falced face,
- And through his sight is wrought his bane. Yet for a little space
- He turnes and settes himselfe upright, and holding up his hands
- With piteous voyce unto the wood that round about him stands,
- Cryes out and ses: Alas ye Woods, and was there ever any
- That loovde so cruelly as I? you know: for unto many
- A place of harbrough have you beene, and fort of refuge strong.
- Can you remember any one in all your tyme so long
- That hath so pinde away as I? I see and am full faine,
- Howbeit that I like and see I can not yet attaine:
- So great a blindnesse in my heart through doting love doth raigne.
- And for to spight me more withall, it is no journey farre,
- No drenching Sea, no Mountaine hie, no wall, no locke, no barre,
- It is but even a little droppe that keepes us two asunder.
- He would be had. For looke how oft I kisse the water under,
- So oft againe with upwarde mouth he riseth towarde mee.
- A man would thinke to touch at least I should yet able bee.
- It is a trifle in respect that lettes us of our love.
- What wight soever that thou art come hither up above.
- O pierlesse piece, why dost thou mee thy lover thus delude?
- Or whither fliste thou of thy friende thus earnestly pursude?
- Iwis I neyther am so fowle nor yet so growne in yeares
- That in this wise thou shouldst me shoon. To have me to their Feeres,
- The Nymphes themselves have sude ere this. And yet (as should appeere)
- Thou dost pretende some kinde of hope of friendship by thy cheere.
- For when I stretch mine armes to thee, thou stretchest thine likewise.
- And if I smile thou smilest too: and when that from mine eyes
- The teares doe drop, I well perceyve the water stands in thine.
- Like gesture also dost thou make to everie becke of mine.
- And as by moving of thy sweete and lovely lippes I weene,
- Thou speakest words although mine eares conceive not what they beene,
- It is my selfe I well perceyve, it is mine Image sure,
- That in this sort deluding me, this furie doth procure.
- I am inamored of my selfe, I doe both set on fire,
- And am the same that swelteth too, through impotent desire.
- What shall I doe? be woode or woo? whome shall I woo therefore?
- The thing I seeke is in my selfe, my plentie makes me poore.
- I would to God I for a while might from my bodie part.
- This wish is straunge to heare, a Lover wrapped all in smart
- To wish away the thing the which he loveth as his heart.
- My sorrowe takes away my strength. I have not long to live,
- But in the floure of youth must die. To die it doth not grieve.
- For that by death shall come the ende of all my griefe and paine
- I would this yongling whome I love might lenger life obtaine:
- For in one soule shall now decay we stedfast Lovers twaine.
- This saide in rage he turnes againe unto the forsaide shade,
- And rores the water with the teares and sloubring that he made,
- That through his troubling of the Well his ymage gan to fade.
- Which when he sawe to vanish so: Oh whither dost thou flie?
- Abide I pray thee heartely, aloud he gan to crie.
- Forsake me not so cruelly that loveth thee so deere,
- But give me leave a little while my dazled eyes to cheere
- With sight of that which for to touch is utterly denide,
- Thereby to feede my wretched rage and furie for a tide.
- As in this wise he made his mone, he stripped off his cote
- And with his fist outragiously his naked stomacke smote.
- A ruddie colour where he smote rose on his stomacke sheere,
- Lyke Apples which doe partly white and striped red appeere,
- Or as the clusters ere the grapes to ripenesse fully come:
- An Orient purple here and there beginnes to grow on some.
- Which things as soon as in the spring he did beholde againe,
- He could no longer beare it out. But fainting straight for paine,
- As lith and supple waxe doth melt against the burning flame,
- Or morning dewe against the Sunne that glareth on the same:
- Even so by piecemale being spent and wasted through desire,
- Did he consume and melt away with Cupids secret fire.
- His lively hue of white and red, his cheerefulnesse and strength
- And all the things that lyked him did wanze away at length.
- So that in fine remayned not the bodie which of late
- The wretched Echo loved so. Who when she sawe his state,
- Although in heart she angrie were, and mindefull of his pride,
- Yet ruing his unhappie case, as often as he cride
- Alas, she cride, Alas likewise with shirle redoubled sound.
- And when he beate his breast, or strake his feete against the ground,
- She made like noyse of clapping too. These are the woordes that last
- Out of his lippes beholding still his woonted ymage past:
- Alas sweete boy belovde in vaine, farewell. And by and by
- With sighing sound the selfesame wordes the Echo did reply.
- With that he layde his wearie head against the grassie place
- And death did doze his gazing eyes that woondred at the grace
- And beautie which did late adorne their Masters heavenly face.
- And afterward when into Hell receyved was his spright
- He goes me to the Well of Styx, and there both day and night
- Standes tooting on his shadow still as fondely as before.
- The water Nymphes, his sisters, wept and wayled for him sore
- And on his bodie strowde their haire clipt off and shorne therefore.
- The Wood nymphes also did lament. And Echo did rebound
- To every sorrowfull noyse of theirs with like lamenting sound.
- The fire was made to burne the corse, and waxen Tapers light.
- A Herce to lay the bodie on with solemne pompe was dight.
- But as for bodie none remaind: in stead thereof they found
- A yellow floure with milke white leaves new sprong upon the ground.
- This matter all Achaia through did spreade the Prophets fame:
- That every where of just desert renowned was his name.
- But Penthey, olde Echions sonne (who proudely did disdaine
- Both God and man) did laughe to scorne the Prophets words as vaine,
- Upbrading him most spitefully with loosing of his sight,
- And with the fact for which he lost fruition of this light.
- The good olde father (for these wordes his pacience much did move)
- Saide: how happie shouldest thou be and blessed from above,
- If thou wert blinde as well as I, so that thou might not see
- The sacred rytes of Bacchus band. For sure the time will bee,
- And that full shortely (as I gesse) that hither shall resort
- Another Bacchus, Semelles sonne, whome if thou not support
- With pompe and honour like a God, thy carcasse shall be tattred,
- And in a thousand places eke about the Woods be scattred.
- And for to reade thee what they are that shall perfourme the deede,
- It is thy mother and thine Auntes that thus shall make thee bleede.
- I know it shall so come to passe, for why thou shalt disdaine,
- To honour Bacchus as a God: and then thou shalt with paine
- Feele how that blinded as I am I sawe for thee too much.
- As olde Tiresias did pronounce these wordes and other such,
- Echions sonne did trouble him. His wordes prove true in deede,
- For as the Prophet did forespeake so fell it out with speede.
- Anon this newefound Bacchus commes: the woods and fieldes rebound
- With noyse of shouts and howling out, and such confused sound.
- The folke runne flocking out by heapes, men, Mayds and wives togither
- The noble men and rascall sorte ran gadding also thither,
- The Orgies of this unknowne God full fondely to performe,
- The which when Penthey did perceyve, he gan to rage and storme.
- And sayde unto them: O ye ympes of Mars his snake by kinde
- What ayleth you? what fiend of hell doth thus enrage your minde?
- Hath tinking sound of pottes and pannes, hath noyse of crooked home,
- Have fonde illusions such a force that them whome heretoforne
- No arming sworde, no bloudie trumpe, no men in battail ray
- Could cause to shrinke, no sheepish shriekes of simple women fray,
- And dronken woodnesse wrought by wine and roughts of filthie freakes
- And sound of toying timpanes dauntes, and quite their courage breakes?
- Shall I at you, yee auncient men which from the towne of Tyre
- To bring your housholde Gods by Sea, in safetie did aspyre,
- And setled*hem within this place the which ye nowe doe yeelde
- In bondage quite without all force and fighting in the fielde,
- Or woonder at you yonger sorte approching unto mee
- More neare in courage and in yeares? whome meete it were to see
- With speare and not with thirse in hande, with glittring helme on hed,
- And not with leaves. Now call to minde of whome ye all are bred,
- And take the stomackes of that Snake, which being one alone,
- Right stoutly in his owne defence confounded many one.
- He for his harbrough and his spring his lyfe did nobly spend.
- Doe you no more but take a heart your Countrie to defende.
- He put to death right valeant knightes. Your battaile is with such
- As are but Meicocks in effect: and yet ye doe so much
- In conquering them, that by the deede the olde renowne ye save,
- Which from your fathers by discent this present time ye have.
- If fatall destnies doe forbid that Thebae long shall stande,
- Would God that men with Canon shot might raze it out of hande.
- Would God the noyse of fire and sworde did in our hearing sound.
- For then in this our wretchednesse there could no fault be found.
- Then might we justly waile our case that all the world might see
- We should not neede of sheading teares ashamed for to bee.
- But now our towne is taken by a naked beardelesse boy,
- Who doth not in the feates of armes nor horse nor armour joy,
- But for to moyste his haire with Mirrhe, and put on garlands gay,
- And in soft Purple silke and golde his bodie to aray.
- But put to you your helping hand and straight without delay
- I will compell him poynt by poynt his lewdnesse to bewray,
- Both in usurping Joves high name in making him his sonne
- And forging of these Ceremonies lately now begonne.
- Hath King Atrisius heart inough this fondling for to hate
- That makes himselfe to be a God? and for to shut the gate
- Of Argus at his comming there? and shall this rover make
- King Penthey and the noble towne of Thebae thus to quake?
- Go quickly sirs (these wordes he spake unto his servaunts) go
- And bring the Captaine hither bound with speede. Why stay ye so?
- His Grandsire Cadmus, Athamas and others of his kinne
- Reproved him by gentle meanes but nothing could they winne:
- The more intreatance that they made the fiercer was he still:
- The more his friendes did go about to breake him of his will,
- The more they did provoke his wrath, and set his rage on fire:
- They made him worse in that they sought to bridle his desire.
- So have I seene a brooke ere this, where nothing let the streame,
- Runne smooth with little noyse or none, but where as any beame
- Or cragged stones did let his course, and make him for to stay:
- It went more fiercely from the stoppe with fomie wroth away.
- Beholde all bloudie come his men, and straight he them demaunded
- Where Bacchus was, and why they had not done as he commaunded.
- Sir (aunswerde they) we saw him not, but this same fellow heere
- A chiefe companion in his traine and worker in this geere,
- Wee tooke by force: and therewithall presented to their Lord
- A certaine man of Tirrhene lande, his handes fast bound with cord,
- Whome they, frequenting Bacchus rites had found but late before.
- A grim and cruell looke which yre did make to seeme more sore,
- Did Penthey cast upon the man. And though he scarcely stayd
- From putting him to tormentes strait, O wretched man (he sayde)
- Who by thy worthie death shalt be a sample unto other,
- Declare to me the names of thee, thy father and thy mother,
- And in what Countrie thou wert borne, and what hath caused thee,
- Of these straunge rites and sacrifice, a follower for to bee.
- He voyd of feare made aunswere thus: Acetis is my name:
- Of Parentes but of lowe degree in Lidy land I came.
- No ground for painfull Oxe to till, no sheepe to beare me wooll
- My father left me: no nor horse, nor Asse, nor Cow nor Booll.
- God wote he was but poore himselfe. With line and bayted hooke
- The frisking fishes in the pooles upon his Reede he tooke.
- His handes did serve in steade of landes, his substance was his craft.
- Nowe have I made you true accompt of all that he me laft,
- As well of ryches as of trades, in which I was his heire
- And successour. For when that death bereft him use of aire,
- Save water he me nothing left. It is the thing alone
- Which for my lawfull heritage I clayme, and other none.
- Soone after I (bicause that loth I was to ay abide
- In that poore state) did learne a ship by cunning hande to guide,
- And for to know the raynie signe, that hight th'Olenien Gote
- Which with hir milke did nourish Jove. And also I did note
- The Pleiads and the Hiads moyst, and eke the siely Plough
- With all the dwellings of the winds that make the Seas so rough.
- And eke such Havens as are meete to harbrough vessels in:
- With everie starre and heavenly signe that guides to shipmen bin.
- Now as by chaunce I late ago did toward Dilos sayle,
- I came on coast of Scios Ile, and seeing day to fayle,
- Tooke harbrough there and went alande. As soone as that the night
- Was spent, and morning gan to peere with ruddie glaring light,
- I rose and bad my companie fresh water fetch aboord.
- And pointing them the way that led directly to the foorde,
- I went me to a little hill, and viewed round about
- To see what weather we were lyke to have ere setting out.
- Which done, I cald my watermen and all my Mates togither,
- And willde them all to go aboord my selfe first going thither.
- Loe here we are (Opheltes sayd) (he was the Maysters Mate)
- And (as he thought) a bootie found in desert fields alate,
- He dragd a boy upon his hande that for his beautie sheene
- A mayden rather than a boy appeared for to beene.
- This childe, as one forelade with wine, and dreint with drousie sleepe
- Did reele, as though he scarcely coulde himselfe from falling keepe.
- I markt his countnance, weede and pace, no inckling could I see,
- By which I might conjecture him a mortall wight to bee.
- I thought, and to my fellowes sayd: What God I can not tell
- But in this bodie that we see some Godhead sure doth dwell.
- What God so ever that thou art, thy favour to us showe,
- And in our labours us assist, and pardone these also.
- Pray for thy selfe and not for us (quoth Dictys by and by).
- A nimbler fellow for to climbe upon the Mast on hie
- And by the Cable downe to slide, there was not in our keele.
- Swart Melanth patrone of the shippe did like his saying weele.
- So also did Alcimedon: and so did Libys too,
- And blacke Epopeus eke whose charge it did belong unto
- To see the Rowers at their tymes their dueties duely do.
- And so did all the rest of them: so sore mennes eyes were blinded
- Where covetousenesse of filthie gaine is more than reason minded.
- Well sirs (quoth I) but by your leave ye shall not have it so,
- I will not suffer sacriledge within this shippe to go.
- For I have here the most to doe. And with that worde I stept
- Uppon the Hatches, all the rest from entrance to have kept.
- The rankest Ruffian of the rout that Lycab had to name,
- (Who for a murder being late driven out of Tuscane came
- To me for succor) waxed woode, and with his sturdie fist
- Did give me such a churlish blow bycause I did resist,
- That over boord he had me sent, but that with much ado
- I caught the tackling in my hand and helde me fast thereto:
- The wicked Varlets had a sport to see me handled so.
- Then Bacchus (for it Bacchus was) as though he had but tho
- Bene waked with their noyse from sleepe, and that his drousie braine
- Discharged of the wine, begon to gather sence againe,
- Said: What adoe? what noyse is this? how came I here I pray?
- Sirs tell me whether you doe meane to carie me away.
- Feare not my boy (the Patrone sayd) no more but tell me where
- Thou doest desire to go alande, and we will set thee there.
- To Naxus ward (quoth Bacchus tho) set ship upon the fome.
- There would I have yow harbrough take, for Naxus is my home.
- Like perjurde Caitifs by the Sea and all the Gods thereof,
- They falsly sware it should be so, and therewithall in scoffe
- They bade me hoyse up saile and go. Upon the righter hand
- I cast about to fetch the winde, for so did Naxus stand.
- What meanst? art mad? Opheltes cride, and therewithall begun
- A feare of loosing of their pray through every man to run.
- The greater part with head and hand a signe did to me make,
- And some did whisper in mine eare the left hand way to take.
- I was amazde and said: Take charge henceforth who will for me:
- For of your craft and wickednesse I will no furthrer be.
- Then fell they to reviling me, and all the rout gan grudge:
- Of which Ethalion said in scorne: By like in you Sir snudge
- Consistes the savegard of us all. And wyth that word he takes
- My roume, and leaving Naxus quite to other countries makes.
- The God then dalying with these mates, as though he had at last
- Begon to smell their suttle craft, out of the foredecke cast
- His eye upon the Sea: and then as though he seemde to weepe,
- Sayd: Sirs, to bring me on this coast ye doe not promise keepe.
- I see that this is not the land the which I did request.
- For what occasion in this sort deserve I to be drest?
- What commendation can you win, or praise thereby receyve,
- If men a Lad, if many one ye compasse to deceyve?
- I wept and sobbed all this while, the wicked villaines laught,
- And rowed forth with might and maine, as though they had bene straught.
- Now even by him (for sure than he in all the worlde so wide
- There is no God more neare at hand at every time and tide)
- I sweare unto you that the things the which I shall declare,
- Like as they seeme incredible, even so most true they are.
- The ship stoode still amid the Sea as in a dustie docke.
- They wondring at this miracle, and making but a mocke,
- Persist in beating with their Ores, and on with all their sayles.
- To make their Galley to remove, no Art nor labor fayles.
- But Ivie troubled so their Ores that forth they could not row:
- And both with Beries and with leaves their sailes did overgrow.
- And he himselfe with clustred grapes about his temples round,
- Did shake a Javeling in his hand that round about was bound
- With leaves of Vines: and at his feete there seemed for to couch
- Of Tygers, Lynx, and Panthers shapes most ougly for to touch.
- I cannot tell you whether feare or woodnesse were the cause,
- But every person leapeth up and from his labor drawes.
- And there one Medon first of all began to waxen blacke,
- And having lost his former shape did take a courbed backe.
- What Monster shall we have of thee (quoth Licab) and with that
- This Licabs chappes did waxen wide, his nosetrils waxed flat,
- His skin waxt tough, and scales thereon began anon to grow.
- And Libis as he went about the Ores away to throw,
- Perceived how his hands did shrinke and were become so short,
- That now for finnes and not for hands he might them well report.
- Another as he would have claspt his arme about the corde:
- Had nere an arme, and so bemaimd in bodie, over boord
- He leapeth downe among the waves, and forked is his tayle
- As are the homes of Phebes face when halfe hir light doth fayle.
- They leape about and sprinkle up much water on the ship,
- One while they swim above, and downe againe anon they slip.
- They fetch their friskes as in a daunce, and wantonly they writhe
- Now here now there among the waves their bodies bane and lithe.
- And with their wide and hollow nose the water in they snuffe,
- And by their noses out againe as fast they doe it puffe.
- Of twentie persons (for our ship so many men did beare)
- I only did remaine nigh straught and trembling still for feare.
- The God could scarce recomfort me, and yet he said: Go too,
- Feare not but saile to Dia ward. His will I gladly doe.
- And so as soone as I came there with right devout intent,
- His Chaplaine I became. And thus his Orgies I frequent.
- Thou makste a processe verie long (quoth Penthey) to th'intent
- That (choler being coolde by time) mine anger might relent.
- But Sirs (he spake it to his men) go take him by and by,
- With cruell torments out of hand goe cause him for to die.
- Immediately they led away Acetes out of sight,
- And put him into prison strong from which there was no flight.
- But while the cruell instruments of death as sword and fire
- Were in preparing wherewithall t'accomplish Pentheys yre,
- It is reported that the doores did of their owne accorde
- Burst open and his chaines fall off. And yet this cruell Lorde
- Persisteth fiercer than before, not bidding others go
- But goes himselfe unto the hill Cytheron, which as tho
- To Bacchus being consecrate did ring of chaunted songs,
- And other loud confused sounds of Bacchus drunken throngs.
- And even as when the bloudie Trumpe doth to the battell sound,
- The lustie horse streight neying out bestirres him on the ground,
- And taketh courage thereupon t'assaile his emnie proud:
- Even so when Penthey heard afarre the noyse and howling loud
- That Bacchus franticke folke did make, it set his heart on fire,
- And kindled fiercer than before the sparks of settled ire.
- There is a goodly plaine about the middle of the hill,
- Environd in with Woods, where men may view eche way at will.
- Here looking on these holie rites with lewde prophaned eyes
- King Pentheys mother first of all hir foresaid sonne espies,
- And like a Bedlem first of all she doth upon him runne,
- And with hir Javeling furiously she first doth wound hir sonne.
- Come hither sisters come, she cries, here is that mighty Bore,
- Here is the Bore that stroyes our fieldes, him will I strike therefore.
- With that they fall upon him all as though they had bene mad,
- And clustring all upon a heape fast after him they gad.
- He quakes and shakes: his words are now become more meeke and colde:
- He now condemnes his owne default, and sayes he was too bolde.
- And wounded as he was he cries: Helpe, Aunt Autonoe,
- Now for Acteons blessed soule some mercie show to me.
- She wist not who Acteon was, but rent without delay
- His right hand off: and Ino tare his tother hand away.
- To lift unto his mother tho the wretch had nere an arme:
- But shewing hir his maimed corse, and woundes yet bleeding warme,
- O mother see, he sayes: with that Agaue howleth out:
- And writhed with hir necke awrie, and shooke hir haire about.
- And holding from his bodie tome his head in bloudie hands,
- She cries: fellowes in this deede our noble conquest stands.
- No sooner could the winde have blowen the rotten leaves from trees,
- When Winters frost hath bitten them, then did the hands of these
- Most wicked women Pentheys limmes from one another teare.
- The Thebanes being now by this example brought in feare,
- Frequent this newfound sacrifice, and with sweete frankinsence
- God Bacchus Altars lode with gifts in every place doe cense.