Metamorphoses
Ovid
Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.
- Then fruitfull Ceres voide of care in that she did recover
- Hir daughter, prayde thee, Arethuse, the storie to discover,
- What caused thee to fleete so farre and wherefore thou became
- A sacred spring? The waters whist. The Goddesse of the same
- Did from the bottome of the Well hir goodly head up reare.
- And having dried with hir hand hir faire greene hanging heare,
- The River Alpheys auncient loves she thus began to tell.
- I was (quoth she) a Nymph of them that in Achaia dwell.
- There was not one that earnester the Lawndes and forests sought
- Or pitcht hir toyles more handsomly. And though that of my thought
- It was no part, to seeke the fame of beautie: though I were
- All courage: yet the pricke and prise of beautie I did beare.
- My overmuch commended face was unto me a spight.
- This gift of bodie in the which another would delight,
- I, rudesbye, was ashamed of: me thought it was a crime
- To be belikte. I beare it well in minde that on a time
- In comming wearie from the chase of Stymphalus, the heate
- Was fervent, and my traveling had made it twice as great.
- I founde a water neyther deepe nor shallow which did glide
- Without all noyse, so calme that scarce the moving might be spide.
- And throughly to the very ground it was so crispe and cleare,
- That every little stone therein did plaine aloft appeare.
- The horie Sallowes and the Poplars growing on the brim
- Unset, upon the shoring bankes did cast a shadow trim.
- I entred in, and first of all I deeped but my feete:
- And after to my knees. And not content to wade so fleete,
- I put off all my clothes, and hung them on a Sallow by
- And threw my selfe amid the streame, which as I dallyingly
- Did beate and draw, and with my selfe a thousand maistries trie,
- In casting of mine armes abrode and swimming wantonly:
- I felt a bubling in the streame I wist not how nor what,
- And on the Rivers nearest brim I stept for feare. With that,
- O Arethusa, whither runst? and whither runst thou, cride
- Floud Alphey from his waves againe with hollow voyce. I hide
- Away unclothed as I was. For on the further side
- My clothes hung still. So much more hote and eger then was he,
- And for I naked was, I seemde the readier for to be.
- My running and his fierce pursuite was like as when ye se
- The sillie Doves with quivering wings before the Gossehauke stie,
- The Gossehauke sweeping after them as fast as he can flie.
- To Orchomen, and Psophy land, and Cyllen I did holde
- Out well, and thence to Menalus and Erymanth the colde,
- And so to Ely. All this way no ground of me he wonne.
- But being not so strong as he, this restlesse race to runne
- I could not long endure, and he could hold it out at length.
- Yet over plaines and wooddie hilles (as long as lasted strength)
- And stones, and rockes, and desert groundes I still maintaind my race.
- The Sunne was full upon my backe. I saw before my face
- A lazie shadow: were it not that feare did make me see't.
- But certenly he feared me with trampling of his feete:
- And of his mouth the boystous breath upon my hairlace blew.
- Forwearied with the toyle of flight: Helpe, Diane, I thy true
- And trustie Squire (I said) who oft have caried after thee
- Thy bow and arrowes, now am like attached for to bee.
- The Goddesse moved, tooke a cloude of such as scattred were
- And cast upon me. Hidden thus in mistie darkenesse there
- The River poard upon me still and hunted round about
- The hollow cloude, for feare perchaunce I should have scaped out.
- And twice not knowing what to doe he stalkt about the cloude
- Where Diane had me hid, and twice he called out aloude:
- Hoe Arethuse, hoe Arethuse. What heart had I poore wretch then?
- Even such as hath the sillie Lambe that dares not stirre nor quetch when
- He heares the howling of the Wolfe about or neare the foldes,
- Or such as hath the squatted Hare that in hir foorme beholdes
- The hunting houndes on every side, and dares not move a whit,
- He would not thence, for why he saw no footing out as yit.
- And therefore watcht he narrowly the cloud and eke the place.
- A chill colde sweat my sieged limmes opprest, and downe apace
- From all my bodie steaming drops did fall of watrie hew.
- Which way so ere I stird my foote the place was like a stew.
- The deaw ran trickling from my haire. In halfe the while I then
- Was turnde to water, that I now have tolde the tale agen.
- His loved waters Alphey knew, and putting off the shape
- Of man the which he tooke before bicause I should not scape,
- Returned to his proper shape of water by and by
- Of purpose for to joyne with me and have my companie.
- But Delia brake the ground, at which I sinking into blinde
- Bycorners, up againe my selfe at Ortigie doe winde,
- Right deare to me bicause it doth Dianas surname beare,
- And for bicause to light againe I first was raysed there.
- Thus far did Arethusa speake: and then the fruitfull Dame
- Two Dragons to hir Chariot put, and reyning hard the same,
- Midway beweene the Heaven and Earth she in the Ayer went,
- And unto Prince Triptolemus hir lightsome Chariot sent
- To Pallas Citie lode with come, commaunding him to sowe
- Some part in ground new broken up, and some thereof to strow
- In ground long tillde before. Anon the yong man up did stie
- And flying over Europe and the Realme of Asias hie,
- Alighted in the Scithian land. There reyned in that coast
- A King callde Lyncus, to whose house he entred for to host.
- And being there demaunded how and why he thither came,
- And also of his native soyle and of his proper name,
- I hight (quoth he) Triptolemus and borne was in the towne
- Of Athens in the land of Greece, that place of high renowne.
- I neyther came by Sea nor Lande, but through the open Aire
- I bring with me Dame Ceres giftes which being sowne in faire
- And fertile fields may fruitfull Harvests yeelde and finer fare.
- The savage King had spight, and to th'intent that of so rare
- And gracious gifts himselfe might seeme first founder for to be,
- He entertainde him in his house, and when asleepe was he,
- He came upon him with a sword: but as he would have killde him,
- Dame Ceres turnde him to a Lynx, and waking tother willde him
- His sacred Teemeware through the Ayre to drive abrode agen.
- The chiefe of us had ended this hir learned song, and then
- The Nymphes with one consent did judge that we the Goddesses
- Of Helicon had wonne the day. But when I sawe that these
- Unnurtred Damsels overcome began to fall a scolding,
- I sayd: so little sith to us you thinke your selves beholding,
- For bearing with your malapertnesse in making chalenge, that
- Besides your former fault, ye eke doe fall to rayling flat,
- Abusing thus our gentlenesse: we will from hence proceede
- The punishment, and of our wrath the rightfull humor feede.
- Euippyes daughters grinnd and jeerde and set our threatnings light.
- But as they were about to prate, and bent their fistes to smight
- Theyr wicked handes with hideous noyse, they saw the stumps of quilles
- New budding at their nayles, and how their armes soft feather hilles.
- Eche saw how others mouth did purse and harden into Bill,
- And so becomming uncouth Birdes to haunt the woods at will.
- For as they would have clapt their handes their wings did up them heave,
- And hanging in the Ayre the scoldes of woods did Pies them leave.
- Now also being turnde to Birdes they are as eloquent
- As ere they were, as chattring still, as much to babling bent.
- Tritonia unto all these wordes attentive hearing bendes,
- And both the Muses learned song and rightfull wrath commendes.
- And thereupon within hir selfe this fancie did arise:
- It is no matter for to prayse: but let our selfe devise
- Some thing to be commended for: and let us not permit
- Our Majestie to be despisde without revenging it.
- And therewithall she purposed to put the Lydian Maide
- Arachne to hir neckeverse who (as had to hir bene saide)
- Presumed to prefer hir selfe before hir noble grace
- In making cloth. This Damsell was not famous for the place
- In which she dwelt, nor for hir stocke, but for hir Arte. Hir Sier
- Was Idmon, one of Colophon, a pelting Purple Dier.
- Hir mother was deceast: but she was of the baser sort,
- And egall to hir Make in birth, in living, and in port.
- But though this Maide were meanly borne, and dwelt but in a shed
- At little Hypep: yet hir trade hir fame abrode did spred
- Even all the Lydian Cities through. To see hir wondrous worke
- The Nymphes that underneath the Vines of shadie Tmolus lurke
- Their Vineyards oftentimes forsooke. So did the Nymphes also
- About Pactolus oftentimes their golden streames forgo.
- And evermore it did them good not only for to see
- Hir clothes already made, but while they eke a making bee
- Such grace was in hir workmanship. For were it so that shee
- The newshorne fleeces from the sheepe in bundels deftly makes,
- Or afterward doth kemb the same, and drawes it out in flakes
- Along like cloudes, or on the Rocke doth spinne the handwarpe woofe,
- Or else embroydreth, certenly ye might perceive by proofe
- She was of Pallas bringing up, which thing she nathelesse
- Denyeth, and disdaining such a Mistresse to confesse,
- Let hir contend with me, she saide: and if she me amend
- I will refuse no punishment the which she shall extend.
- Minerva tooke an olde wives shape and made hir haire seeme gray,
- And with a staffe hir febled limmes pretended for to stay.
- Which done, she thus began to speake: Not all that age doth bring
- We ought to shonne. Experience doth of long continuance spring.
- Despise not mine admonishment. Seeke fame and chiefe report
- For making cloth, and Arras worke, among the mortall sort.
- But humbly give the Goddesse place: and pardon of hir crave
- For these thine unadvised wordes. I warrant thou shalt have
- Forgivenesse, if thou aske it hir. Arachne bent hir brewes
- And lowring on hir, left hir worke: and hardly she eschewes
- From flying in the Ladies face. Hir countnance did bewray
- Hir moodie minde: which bursting forth in words she thus did say:
- Thou commest like a doting foole: thy wit is spent with yeares:
- Thy life hath lasted over long as by thy talke appeares.
- And if thou any daughter have, or any daughtrinlawe,
- I would she heard these wordes of mine: I am not such a Daw,
- But that without thy teaching I can well ynough advise
- My selfe. And lest thou shouldest thinke thy words in any wise
- Availe, the selfesame minde I keepe with which I first begonne.
- Why commes she not hirselfe I say? this matche why doth she shonne?
- Then said the Goddesse: Here she is. And therewithall she cast
- Hir oldewives riveled shape away, and shewde hir selfe at last
- Minerva like. The Nymphes did streight adore hir Majestie.
- So did the yong newmaried wives that were of Migdonie.
- The Maiden only unabasht woulde nought at all relent.
- But yet she blusht and sodenly a ruddynesse besprent
- Hir cheekes which wanzd away againe, even like as doth the Skie
- Looke sanguine at the breake of day, and turneth by and by
- To white at rising of the Sunne. As hote as any fire
- She sticketh to hir tackling still. And through a fond desire
- Of glorie, to hir owne decay all headlong forth she runnes.
- For Pallas now no lenger warnes, ne now no lenger shunnes
- Ne seekes the chalenge to delay. Immediatly they came
- And tooke their places severally, and in a severall frame
- Eche streynde a web, the warpe whereof was fine. The web was tide
- Upon a Beame. Betweene the warpe a stay of reede did slide.
- The woofe on sharpened pinnes was put betwixt the warp, and wrought
- With fingars. And as oft as they had through the warpe it brought,
- They strake it with a Boxen combe. Both twayne of them made hast:
- And girding close for handsomnesse their garments to their wast
- Bestirde their cunning handes apace. Their earnestnesse was such
- As made them never thinke of paine. They weaved verie much
- Fine Purple that was dide in Tyre, and colours set so trim
- That eche in shadowing other seemde the very same with him.
- Even like as after showres of raine when Phebus broken beames
- Doe strike upon the Cloudes, appeares a compast bow of gleames
- Which bendeth over all the Heaven: wherein although there shine
- A thousand sundry colours, yet the shadowing is so fine,
- That looke men nere so wistly, yet beguileth it their eyes:
- So like and even the selfsame thing eche colour seemes to rise
- Whereas they meete, which further off doe differ more and more.
- Of glittring golde with silken threede was weaved there good store.
- And stories put in portrayture of things done long afore.
- Minerva painted Athens towne and Marsis rocke therein,
- And all the strife betweene hirselfe and Neptune, who should win
- The honor for to give the name to that same noble towne.
- In loftie thrones on eyther side of Jove were settled downe
- Six Peeres of Heaven with countnance grave and full of Majestie,
- And every of them by his face discerned well might be.
- The Image of the mightie Jove was Kinglike. She had made
- Neptunus standing striking with his long thre tyned blade
- Upon the ragged Rocke: and from the middle of the clift
- She portrayd issuing out a horse, which was the noble gift
- For which he chalengde to himselfe the naming of the towne.
- She picturde out hirselfe with shielde and Morion on hir crowne
- With Curet on hir brest, and Speare in hand with sharpened ende.
- She makes the Earth (the which hir Speare doth seeme to strike) to sende
- An Olyf tree with fruite thereon: and that the Gods thereat
- Did wonder: and with victorie she finisht up that plat.
- Yet to th'intent examples olde might make it to be knowne
- To hir that for desire of praise so stoutly helde hir owne,
- What guerdon she shoulde hope to have for hir attempt so madde,
- Foure like contentions in the foure last corners she did adde.
- The Thracians Heme and Rodope the formost corner hadde:
- Who being sometime mortall folke usurpt to them the name
- Of Jove and Juno, and were turnde to mountaines for the same.
- A Pigmie womans piteous chaunce the second corner shewde,
- Whome Juno turned to a Crane (bicause she was so lewde
- As for to stand at strife with hir for beautie) charging hir
- Against hir native countriefolke continuall war to stir.
- The thirde had proude Antigone, who durst of pride contende
- In beautie with the wife of Jove: by whome she in the ende
- Was turned to a Storke. No whit availed hir the towne
- Of Troy, or that Laomedon hir father ware a crowne,
- But that she, clad in feathers white, hir lazie wings must flap.
- And with a bobbed Bill bewayle the cause of hir missehap.
- The last had chyldelesse Cinyras: who being turnde to stone,
- Was picturde prostrate on the grounde, and weeping all alone,
- And culling fast betweene his armes a Temples greeces fine
- To which his daughters bodies were transformde by wrath divine.
- The utmost borders had a wreath of Olyf round about,
- And this is all the worke the which Minerva portrayd out.
- For with the tree that she hirselfe had made but late afore
- She bounded in hir Arras cloth, and then did worke no more.
- The Lydian maiden in hir web did portray to the full
- How Europe was by royall Jove beguilde in shape of Bull.
- A swimming Bull, a swelling Sea, so lively had she wrought,
- That Bull and Sea in very deede ye might them well have thought.
- The Ladie seemed looking backe to landwarde and to crie
- Upon hir women, and to feare the water sprinkling hie,
- And shrinking up hir fearfull feete. She portrayd also there
- Asteriee struggling with an Erne which did away hir beare.
- And over Leda she had made a Swan his wings to splay.
- She added also how by Jove in shape of Satyr gaye
- The faire Antiope with a paire of children was besped:
- And how he tooke Amphitrios shape when in Alcmenas bed
- He gate the worthie Hercules: and how he also came
- To Danae like a shoure of golde, to Aegine like a flame,
- A sheepeherd to Mnemosyne, and like a Serpent sly
- To Proserpine. She also made Neptunus leaping by
- Upon a Maide of Aeolus race in likenesse of a Bull,
- And in the streame Enipeus shape begetting on a trull
- The Giants Othe and Ephialt, and in the shape of Ram
- Begetting one Theophane Bisalties ympe with Lam,
- And in a lustie Stalions shape she made him covering there
- Dame Ceres with the yellow lockes, and hir whose golden heare
- Was turnde to crawling Snakes: on whome he gate the winged horse.
- She made him in a Dolphins shape Melantho to enforce.
- Of all these things she missed not their proper shapes, nor yit
- The full and just resemblance of their places for to hit.
- In likenesse of a Countrie cloyne was Phebus picturde there,
- And how he now ware Gossehaukes wings, and now a Lions heare.
- And how he in a shepeherdes shape was practising a wile
- The daughter of one Macarie, dame Issa, to beguile.
- And how the faire Erygone by chaunce did suffer rape
- By Bacchus who deceyved hir in likenesse of a grape.
- And how that Saturne in the shape of Genet did beget
- The double Chiron. Round about the utmost Verdge was set
- A narrow Traile of pretie floures with leaves of Ivie fret.
- Not Pallas, no, nor spight it selfe could any quarrell picke
- To this hir worke: and that did touch Minerva to the quicke.
- Who thereupon did rende the cloth in pieces every whit,
- Bicause the lewdnesse of the Gods was biased so in it.
- And with an Arras weavers combe of Box she fiercely smit
- Arachne on the forehead full a dozen times and more.
- The Maide impacient in hir heart, did stomacke this so sore,
- That by and by she hung hirselfe. Howbeit as she hing,
- Dame Pallas pitying hir estate, did stay hir in the string
- From death, and said: Lewde Callet live: but hang thou still for mee.
- And lest hereafter from this curse that time may set thee free,
- I will that this same punishment enacted firmely bee,
- As well on thy posteritie for ever as on thee.
- And after when she should depart, with juice of Hecats flowre
- She sprinkled hir: and by and by the poyson had such powre,
- That with the touch thereof hir haire, hir eares, and nose did fade:
- And verie small it both hir heade and all hir bodie made.
- In steade of legs, to both hir sides sticke fingars long and fine:
- The rest is bellie. From the which she nerethelesse doth twine
- A slender threede, and practiseth in shape of Spider still
- The Spinners and the Websters crafts of which she erst had skill.
- All Lydia did repine hereat, and of this deede the fame
- Through Phrygie ran, and through the world was talking of the same.
- Before hir mariage Niobe had knowen hir verie well,
- When yet a Maide in Meonie and Sipyle she did dwell.
- And yet Arachnes punishment at home before hir eyes,
- To use discreter kinde of talke it could hir not advise,
- Nor (as behoveth) to the Gods to yeelde in humble wise.
- For many things did make hir proud. But neyther did the towne
- The which hir husband builded had, nor houses of renowne
- Of which they both descended were, nor yet the puissance
- Of that great Realme wherein they reignde so much hir minde enhaunce
- (Although the liking of them all did greatly hir delight)
- As did the offspring of hir selfe. And certenly she might
- Have bene of mothers counted well most happie, had she not
- So thought hir selfe. For she whome sage Tyresias had begot,
- The Prophet Manto, through instinct of heavenly powre, did say
- These kinde of wordes in open strete: Ye Thebanes go your way
- Apace, and unto Laton and to Latons children pray,
- And offer godly Frankinsence, and wreath your haire with Bay.
- Latona by the mouth of me commaundes you so to do.
- The Thebane women by and by obeying thereunto,
- Deckt all their heades with Laurell leaves as Manto did require,
- And praying with devout intent threw incense in the fire.
- Beholde out commeth Niobe environde with a garde
- Of servaunts and a solemne traine that followed afterward.
- She was hirselfe in raiment made of costly cloth of golde
- Of Phrygia facion verie brave and gorgeous to beholde.
- And of hir selfe she was right faire and beautifull of face,
- But that hir wrathfull stomake then did somewhat staine hir grace.
- She moving with hir portly heade hir haire the which as then
- Did hang on both hir shoulders loose, did pawse a while, and when
- Wyth loftie looke hir stately eyes she rolled had about:
- What madnesse is it (quoth she) to prefer the heavenly rout
- Of whome ye doe but heare, to such as daily are in sight?
- Or why should Laton honored be with Altars? Never wight
- To my most sacred Majestie did offer incense. Yit
- My Father was that Tantalus whome only as most fit
- The Gods among them at their boordes admitted for to sit.
- A sister of the Pleyades is my mother. Finally
- My Graundsire on the mothers side is that same Atlas hie
- That on his shoulders beareth up the heavenly Axeltree.
- Againe my other Graundfather is Jove, and (as you see)
- He also is my Fathrinlawe, wherein I glorie may.
- The Realme of Phrygia here at hand doth unto me obay.
- In Cadmus pallace I thereof the Ladie doe remaine
- And joyntly with my husbande I as peerlesse Princesse reigne
- Both over this same towne whose walles my husbands harpe did frame,
- And also over all the folke and people in the same.
- In what soever corner of my house I cast mine eye,
- A worlde of riches and of goods I everywhere espie.
- Moreover for the beautie, shape, and favor growen in me,
- Right well I know I doe deserve a Goddesse for to be.
- Besides all this, seven sonnes I have and daughters seven likewise,
- By whome shall shortly sonneinlawes and daughtrinlawes arise.
- Judge you now if that I have cause of statelynesse or no.
- How dare ye then prefer to me Latona that same fro
- The Titan Ceus ympe, to whome then readie downe to lie
- The hugy Earth a little plot to childe on did denie?
- From Heaven, from Earth, and from the Sea your Goddesse banisht was,
- And as an outcast through the world from place to place did passe,
- Untill that Delos pitying hir, sayde Thou doste fleete on land
- And I on Sea, and thereupon did lende hir out of hand
- A place unstable. Of two twinnes there brought abed was she:
- And this is but the seventh part of the issue borne by me.
- Right happie am I. Who can this denie? and shall so still I
- Continue. Who doth doubt of that? Abundance hath and will
- Preserve me. I am greater than that frowarde fortune may
- Empeache me. For although she should pull many things away,
- Yet should she leave me many more. My state is out of feare.
- Of thys my huge and populous race surmise you that it were
- Possible some of them should misse: yet can I never be
- So spoyled that no mo than two shall tarie styll with me.
- Leave quickly thys lewde sacrifice, and put me off this Bay
- That on your heads is wreathed thus. They laide it streight away
- And left their holie rites undone, and closely as they may
- With secret whispring to themselves to Laton they dyd pray.
- How much from utter barrennesse the Goddesse was: so much
- Disdeind she more: and in the top of Cynthus framed such
- Complaint as this to both hir twinnes. Lo I your mother deare,
- Who in my bodie once you twaine with painefull travail beare,
- Loe I whose courage is so stout as for to yeelde to none
- Of all the other Goddesses except Joves wife alone,
- Am lately doubted whether I a Goddesse be or no.
- And if you helpe not, children mine, the case now standeth so
- That I the honor must from hence of Altars quight forgo.
- But this is not mine only griefe. Besides hir wicked fact
- Most railing words hath Niobe to my defacing rackt.
- She durst prefer hir Barnes to you. And as for me, she naamde
- Me barren in respect of hir, and was no whit ashaamde
- To shewe hir fathers wicked tongue which she by birth doth take.
- This said: Latona was about entreatance for to make.
- Cease off (quoth Phebus) long complaint is nothing but delay
- Of punishment, and the selfesame wordes did Phebe also say.
- And by and by they through the Ayre both gliding swiftly downe,
- On Cadmus pallace hid in cloudes did light in Thebe towne.
- A fielde was underneath the wall both levell, large and wide,
- Betrampled every day with horse that men therin did ride,
- Where store of Carres and Horses hoves the cloddes to dust had trode.
- A couple of Amphions sonnes on lustie coursers rode
- In this same place. Their horses faire Coperisons did weare
- Of scarlet: and their bridles brave with golde bedecked were.
- Of whome as Niobs eldest sonne Ismenos hapt to bring
- His horse about, and reynde him in to make him keepe the ring,
- He cride alas: and in his brest with that an arrow stacke
- And by and by hys dying hand did let the bridle slacke.
- And on the right side of the horse he slipped to the ground.
- The second brother Sipylus did chaunce to heare the sound
- Of Quivers clattring in the Ayre, and giving streight the reyne
- And spur togither to his horse, began to flie amayne:
- As doth the master of a ship: who when he sees a shoure
- Approching, by some mistie cloud that ginnes to gloume and loure
- Doth clap on all his sayles bicause no winde should scape him by
- Though nere so small. Howbeit as he turned for to flie,
- He was not able for to scape the Arrow which did stricke
- Him through the necke. The nocke thereof did shaking upward sticke,
- The head appeared at his throte. And as he forward gave
- Himselfe in flying: so to ground he groveling also drave,
- And toppled by the horses mane and feete amid his race,
- And with his warme newshedded bloud berayed all the place.
- But Phedimus, and Tantalus, the heir of the name
- Of Tantalus, his Graundfather, who customably came
- From other dailie exercise to wrestling, had begun
- To close, and eache at other now with brest to brest to run,
- When Phebus Arrow being sent with force from streyned string
- Did strike through both of them as they did fast togither cling.
- And so they sighed both at once, and both at once for paine
- Fell downe to ground, and both of them at once their eyes did streine
- To see their latest light, and both at once their ghostes did yeelde.
- Alphenor this mischaunce of theirs with heavie heart behelde,
- And scratcht and beate his wofull brest: and therewith flying out
- To take them up betweene his armes, was as he went about
- This worke of kindly pitie, killde. For Phebus with a Dart
- Of deadly dint did rive him through the Bulke and brake his hart.
- And when the steale was plucked out, a percell of his liver
- Did hang upon the hooked heade: and so he did deliver
- His life and bloud into the Ayre departing both togither.
- But Damasicthon (on whose heade came never scissor) felt
- Mo woundes than one. It was his chaunce to have a grievous pelt
- Upon the verie place at which the leg is first begun
- And where the hamstrings by the joynt with supple sinewes run
- And while to draw this arrow out he with his hand assaide,
- Another through his wezant went, and at the feathers staide.
- The bloud did drive out this againe, and spinning high did spout
- A great way off, and pierst the Ayre with sprinkling all about.
- The last of all Ilionie with streched handes, and speche
- Most humble (but in vaine) did say: O Gods I you beseche
- Of mercie all in generall. He wist not what he saide
- Ne how that unto all of them he ought not to have praide.
- The God that helde the Bow in hande was moved: but as then
- The Arrow was alredie gone so farre, that backe agen
- He could not call it. Neerthelesse the wound was verie small
- Of which he dide, for why his heart it did but lightly gall.
- The rumor of the mischiefe selfe, and mone of people, and
- The weeping of hir servants gave the mother t'understand
- The sodaine stroke of this mischaunce. She wondred verie much
- And stormed also that the Gods were able to doe such
- A deede, or durst attempt it, yea she thought it more than right
- That any of them over hir should have so mickle might.
- Amphion had fordone himselfe alreadie with a knife,
- And ended all his sorrowes quite togither with his life.
- Alas, alas how greatly doth this Niobe differ here
- From tother Niobe who alate disdaining any Pere
- Did from Latonas Altars drive hir folke, and through the towne
- With haultie looke and stately gate went pranking up and downe,
- Then spighted at among hir owne, but piteous now to those:
- That heretofore for hir deserts had bene hir greatest foes.
- She falleth on the corses colde, and taking no regard,
- Bestowde hir kysses on hir sonnes as whome she afterwarde
- Did know she never more shoulde kisse. From whome she lifting thoe
- Hir blew and broosed armes to heaven sayd: O thou cruell foe
- Latona, feede, yea feede thy selfe I say upon my woe
- And overgorge thy stomacke, yea and glut thy cruell hart
- With these my present painefull pangs of bitter griping smart.
- In corses seven I seven times deade am caried to my grave.
- Rejoyce thou foe and triumph now in that thou seemste to have
- The upper hande. What? upper hand? no no it is not so.
- As wretched as my case doth seeme, yet have I left me mo
- Than thou for all thy happinesse canst of thine owne account.
- Even after all these corses yet I still doe thee surmount.
- Upon the ende of these same wordes the twanging of the string
- In letting of the Arrow flie was clearly heard: which thing
- Made every one save Niobe afraide. Hir heart was so
- With sorrowe hardned, that she grew more bolde. Hir daughters tho
- Were standing all with mourning weede and hanging haire before
- Their brothers coffins. One of them in pulling from the sore
- An Arrow sticking in his heart, sanke downe upon hir brother
- With mouth to mouth, and so did yeelde hir fleeting ghost. Another
- In comforting the wretched case and sorrow of hir mother
- Upon the sodaine helde hir peace. She stricken was within
- With double wound: which caused hir hir talking for to blin
- And shut hir mouth: but first hir ghost was gone. One all in vaine
- Attempting for to scape by flight was in hir flying slaine.
- Another on hir sisters corse doth tumble downe starke dead.
- This quakes and trembles piteously, and she doth hide hir head.
- And when that sixe with sundrye woundes dispatched were and gone,
- At last as yet remained one: and for to save that one,
- Hir mother with hir bodie whole did cling about hir fast,
- And wrying hir did over hir hir garments wholy cast:
- And cried out: O leave me one: this little one yet save:
- Of many but this only one the least of all I crave.
- But while she prayd, for whome she prayd was kild. Then down she sate
- Bereft of all hir children quite, and drawing to hir fate,
- Among hir daughters and hir sonnes and husband newly dead.
- Hir cheekes waxt hard, the Ayre could stirre no haire upon hir head.
- The colour of hir face was dim and clearly voide of blood,
- And sadly under open lids hir eyes unmoved stood.
- In all hir bodie was no life. For even hir verie tung
- And palat of hir mouth was hard, and eche to other clung.
- Hir Pulses ceased for to beate, hir necke did cease to bow,
- Hir armes to stir, hir feete to go, all powre forwent as now.
- And into stone hir verie wombe and bowels also bind.
- But yet she wept: and being hoyst by force of whirling wind
- Was caried into Phrygie. There upon a mountaines top
- She weepeth still in stone. From stone the drerie teares do drop.
- Then all both men and women fearde Latonas open ire I
- And far with greater sumptuousnesse and earnester desire
- Did worship the great majestie of this their Goddesse who
- Did beare at once both Phebus and his sister Phebe too.
- And through occasion of this chaunce, (as men are wont to do
- In cases like) the people fell to telling things of old
- Of whome a man among the rest this tale ensuing told.
- The auncient folke that in the fieldes of fruitfull Lycia dwelt
- Due penance also for their spight to this same Goddesse felt.
- The basenesse of the parties makes the thing it selfe obscure.
- Yet is the matter wonderfull. My selfe I you assure
- Did presently beholde the Pond, and saw the very place
- In which this wondrous thing was done. My father then in case,
- Not able for to travell well by reason of his age,
- To fetch home certaine Oxen thence made me to be his page,
- Appointing me a countryman of Lycia to my guide.
- With whome as I went plodding in the pasture groundes, I spide
- Amids a certaine Pond an olde square Aultar colourd blacke
- With cinder of the sacrifice that still upon it stacke.
- About it round grew wavering Reedes. My guide anon did stay:
- And softly, O be good to me, he in himselfe did say.
- And I with like soft whispering did say, Be good to mee.
- And then I askt him whether that the Altar wee did see
- Belonged to the Waternymphes, or Faunes or other God
- Peculiar to the place it selfe upon the which we yod.
- He made me aunswere thus: My guest, no God of countrie race
- Is in this Altar worshipped. That Goddesse claymes this place,
- From whome the wife of mightie Jove did all the world forfend:
- When wandring restlesse here and there full hardly in the end
- Unsetled Delos did receyve then floting on the wave,
- As tide and weather to and fro the swimming Iland drave.
- There maugre Juno (who with might and main against hir strave)
- Latona staying by a Date and Olyf tree that sted
- In travail, of a paire of twinnes was safely brought abed.
- And after hir delivrance folke report that she for feare
- Of Junos wrath did flie from hence, and in hir armes did beare
- Hir babes which afterwarde became two Gods. In which hir travell
- In Sommer when the scorching Sunne is wont to burne the gravell
- Of Lycie countrie where the fell Chymera hath his place,
- The Goddesse wearie with the long continuance of hir race,
- Waxt thirstie by the meanes of drought with going in the Sunne.
- Hir babes had also suckt hir brestes as long as milke wold runne.
- By chaunce she spide this little Pond of water here bylow.
- And countrie Carles were gathering there these Osier twigs that grow
- So thicke upon a shrubbie stalke: and of these rushes greene:
- And flags that in these moorish plots so rife of growing beene.
- She comming hither kneeled downe the water up to take
- To coole hir thirst. The churlish cloynes forfended hir the Lake.
- Then gently said the Goddesse: Sirs, why doe you me forfend
- The water? Nature doth to all in common water send.
- For neither Sunne, nor Ayre, nor yet the Water private bee,
- I seeke but that which natures gift hath made to all things free.
- And yet I humbly crave of you to graunt it unto mee.
- I did not go about to wash my werie limmes and skin,
- I would but only quench my thirst. My throte is scalt within
- For want of moysture: and my chappes and lippes are parching drie:
- And scarsly is there way for wordes to issue out thereby.
- A draught of water will to me be heavenly Nectar now.
- And sure I will confesse I have received life of you.
- Yea in your giving of a drop of water unto mee,
- The case so standeth as you shall preserve the lives of three.
- Alas let these same sillie soules that in my bosome stretch
- Their little armes (by chaunce hir babes their pretie dolles did retch)
- To pitie move you. What is he so hard that would not yeeld
- To this the gentle Goddesses entreatance meeke and meeld?
- Yet they for all the humble wordes she could devise to say,
- Continued in their willfull moode of churlish saying nay,
- And threatned for to sende hir thence onlesse she went away,
- Reviling hir most spightfully. And not contented so,
- With handes and feete the standing Poole they troubled to and fro,
- Until with trampling up and downe maliciously, the soft
- And slimie mud that lay beneath was raised up aloft.
- With that the Goddesse was so wroth that thirst was quight forgot.
- And unto such unworthie Carles hirselfe she humbleth not:
- Ne speaketh meaner wordes than might beseeme a Goddesse well.
- But holding up hir handes to heaven: For ever mought you dwell
- In this same Pond, she said: hir wish did take effect with speede.
- For underneath the water they delight to be in deede.
- Now dive they to the bottome downe, now up their heades they pop,
- Another while with sprawling legs they swim upon the top.
- And oftentimes upon the bankes they have a minde to stond,
- And oftentimes from thence againe to leape into the Pond.
- And there they now doe practise still their filthy tongues to scold
- And shamelessely (though underneath the water) they doe hold
- Their former wont of brawling still amid the water cold.
- Their voices stil are hoarse and harsh, their throtes have puffed goles,
- Their chappes with brawling widened are, their hammer headed Jowls
- Are joyned to their shoulders just, the neckes of them doe seeme
- Cut off, the ridgebone of their backe stickes up of colour greene.
- Their paunch which is the greatest part of all their trunck is gray,
- And so they up and downe the Pond made newly Frogges doe play.
- When one of Lyce (I wote not who) had spoken in this sort,
- Another of a Satyr streight began to make report,
- Whome Phebus overcomming on a pipe (made late ago
- By Pallas) put to punishment. Why flayest thou me so,
- Alas, he cride, it irketh me. Alas a sorie pipe
- Deserveth not so cruelly my skin from me to stripe.
- For all his crying ore his eares quight pulled was his skin.
- Nought else he was than one whole wounde. The griesly bloud did spin
- From every part, the sinewes lay discovered to the eye,
- The quivering veynes without a skin lay beating nakedly.
- The panting bowels in his bulke ye might have numbred well,
- And in his brest the shere small strings a man might easly tell.
- The Countrie Faunes, the Gods of Woods, the Satyrs of his kin,
- The Mount Olympus whose renowne did ere that time begin,
- And all the Nymphes, and all that in those mountaines kept their sheepe,
- Or grazed cattell thereabouts, did for this Satyr weepe.
- The fruitfull earth waxt moyst therewith, and moysted did receyve
- Their teares, and in hir bowels deepe did of the same conceyve.
- And when that she had turned them to water, by and by
- She sent them forth againe aloft to see the open Skie.
- The River that doth rise thereof beginning there his race,
- In verie deepe and shoring bankes to Seaward runnes apace
- Through Phrygie, and according as the Satyr, so the streame
- Is called Marsias, of the brookes the clearest in that Realme.
- With such examples as these same the common folke returnde
- To present things, and every man through all the Citie moornde
- For that Amphion was destroyde with all his issue so.
- But all the fault and blame was laide upon the mother tho.
- For hir alonly Pelops mournde (as men report) and hee
- In opening of his clothes did shewe that everie man might see
- His shoulder on the left side bare of Ivorie for to bee.
- This shoulder at his birth was like his tother both in hue
- And flesh, untill his fathers handes most wickedly him slue,
- And that the Gods when they his limmes againe togither drue,
- To joyne them in their proper place and forme by nature due,
- Did finde out all the other partes, save only that which grue
- Betwene the throteboll and the arme, which when they could not get
- This other made of Ivorie white in place therof they set
- And by that meanes was Pelops made againe both whole and sound.
- The neyghbor Princes thither came, and all the Cities round
- About besought their Kings to go and comfort Thebe: as Arge
- And Sparta, and Mycene which was under Pelops charge,
- And Calydon unhated of the frowning Phebe yit,
- The welthie towne Orchomenos, and Corinth which in it
- Had famous men for workmanship in mettals: and the stout
- Messene which full twentie yeares did hold besiegers out.
- And Patre, and the lowly towne Cleona, Nelies Pyle,
- And Troyzen not surnamed yet Pittheia for a while.
- And all the other Borough townes and Cities which doe stand
- Within the narrow balke at which two Seas doe meete at hand,
- Or which do bound upon the balke without in maine firme land.
- Alonly Athens (who would thinke?) did neither come nor send.
- Warre barred them from courtesie the which they did entend.
- The King of Pontus with an host of savage people lay
- In siege before their famous waHes and curstly did them fray.
- Untill that Tereus, King of Thrace, approching to their ayde,
- Did vanquish him, and with renowne was for his labor payde.
- And sith he was so puissant in men and ready coyne,
- And came of mightie Marsis race, Pandion sought to joyne
- Aliance with him by and by, and gave him to his Feere
- His daughter Progne. At this match (as after will appeare)
- Was neyther Juno, President of mariage wont to bee,
- Nor Hymen, no nor any one of all the graces three.
- The Furies snatching Tapers up that on some Herce did stande
- Did light them, and before the Bride did beare them in their hande.
- The Furies made the Bridegroomes bed. And on the house did rucke
- A cursed Owle the messenger of yll successe and lucke.
- And all the night time while that they were lying in their beds,
- She sate upon the bedsteds top right over both their heds.
- Such handsell Progne had the day that Tereus did hir wed.
- Such handsell had they when that she was brought of childe abed.
- All Thracia did rejoyce at them, and thankt their Gods, and willd
- That both the day of Prognes match with Tereus should be hild
- For feastfull, and the day likewise that Itys first was borne:
- So little know we what behoves. The Sunne had now outworne
- Five Harvests, and by course five times had run his yearly race,
- When Progne flattring Tereus saide: If any love or grace
- Betweene us be, send eyther me my sister for to see,
- Or finde the meanes that hither she may come to visit mee.
- You may assure your Fathrinlaw she shall againe returne
- Within a while. Ye doe to me the highest great good turne
- That can be, if you bring to passe I may my sister see.
- Immediatly the King commaundes his shippes aflote to bee.
- And shortly after, what with sayle and what with force of Ores,
- In Athens haven he arrives and landes at Pyrey shores.
- As soone as of his fathrinlaw the presence he obtainde,
- And had of him bene courteously and friendly entertainde,
- Unhappie handsell entred with their talking first togither.
- The errandes of his wife, the cause of his then comming thither,
- He had but new begon to tell, and promised that when
- She had hir sister seene, she should with speede be sent agen:
- When (see the chaunce) came Philomele in raiment very rich,
- And yet in beautie farre more rich, even like the Fairies which
- Reported are the pleasant woods and water springs to haunt,
- So that the like apparell and attire to them you graunt.
- King Tereus at the sight of hir did burne in his desire,
- As if a man should chaunce to set a gulfe of come on fire,
- Or burne a stacke of hay. Hir face in deede deserved love.
- But as for him, to fleshly lust even nature did him move.
- For of those countries commonly the people are above
- All measure prone to lecherie. And therefore both by kinde
- His flame encreast, and by his owne default of vicious minde.
- He purposde fully to corrupt hir servants with reward:
- Or for to bribe hir Nurce, that she should slenderly regarde
- Hir dutie to hir mistresseward. And rather than to fayle,
- The Ladie even hirselfe with gifts he minded to assayle,
- And all his kingdome for to spend, or else by force of hand
- To take hir, and in maintenance thereof by sword to stand.
- There was not under heaven the thing but that he durst it prove,
- So far unable was he now to stay his lawlesse love.
- Delay was deadly. Backe againe with greedie minde he came
- Of Prognes errands for to talke: and underneath the same
- He workes his owne ungraciousnesse. Love gave him power to frame
- His talke at will. As oft as he demaunded out of square,
- Upon his wives importunate desire himselfe he bare.
- He also wept: as though his wife had willed that likewise.
- O God, what blindnesse doth the heartes of mortall men disguise?
- By working mischiefe Tereus gets him credit for to seeme
- A loving man, and winneth praise by wickednesse extreeme.
- Yea and the foolish Philomele the selfesame thing desires.
- Who hanging on hir fathers necke with flattring armes, requires
- Against hir life and for hir life his licence for to go
- To see hir sister. Tereus beholdes hir wistly tho,
- And in beholding handles hir with heart. For when he saw
- Hir kisse hir father, and about his necke hir armes to draw,
- They all were spurres to pricke him forth, and wood to feede his fire,
- And foode of forcing nourishment to further his desire.
- As oft as she hir father did betweene hir armes embrace,
- So often wished he himselfe hir father in that case.
- For nought at all should that in him have wrought the greater grace.
- Hir father could not say them nay, they lay at him so sore.
- Right glad thereof was Philomele and thanked him therefore.
- And wretched wench she thinkes she had obtained such a thing,
- As both to Progne and hir selfe should joy and comfort bring,
- When both of them in verie deede should afterward it rew.
- To endward of his daily race and travell Phebus drew,
- And on the shoring side of Heaven his horses downeward flew.
- A princely supper was prepaarde, and wine in golde was set:
- And after meate to take their rest the Princes did them get.
- But though the King of Thrace that while were absent from hir sight,
- Yet swelted he: and in his minde revolving all the night
- Hir face, hir gesture, and hir hands, imaginde all the rest
- (The which as yet he had not seene) as likte his fancie best.
- He feedes his flames himselfe. No winke could come within his eyes,
- For thinking ay on hir. As soone as day was in the skies,
- Pandion holding in his hand the hand of Tereus prest
- To go his way, and sheading teares betooke him thus his guest:
- Deare sonneinlaw I give thee here (sith godly cause constraines)
- This Damsell. By the faith that in thy Princely heart remaines,
- And for our late aliance sake, and by the Gods above,
- I humbly thee beseche that as a Father thou doe love
- And maintaine hir, and that as soone as may be (all delay
- Will unto me seeme over long) thou let hir come away,
- The comfort of my carefull age on whome my life doth stay.
- And thou my daughter Philomele (it is inough ywis
- That from hir father set so farre thy sister Progne is)
- If any sparke of nature doe within thy heart remayne,
- With all the haaste and speede thou canst returne to me againe.
- In giving charge he kissed hir: and downe his cheekes did raine
- The tender teares, and as a pledge of faith he tooke the right
- Handes of them both, and joyning them did eche to other plight,
- Desiring them to beare in minde his commendations to
- His daughter and hir little sonne. And then with much adoe
- For sobbing, at the last he bad adew as one dismaid.
- The foremisgiving of his minde did make him sore afraid.
- As soone as Tereus and the Maide togither were aboord,
- And that their ship from land with Ores was haled on the foord,
- The fielde is ours, he cride aloude, I have the thing I sought
- And up he skipt, so barbrous and so beastly was his thought,
- That scarce even there he could forbeare his pleasure to have wrought.
- His eye went never off of hir: as when the scarefull Erne
- With hooked talants trussing up a Hare among the Ferne,
- Hath laid hir in his nest, from whence the prisoner can not scape,
- The ravening fowle with greedie eyes upon his pray doth gape.
- Now was their journey come to ende: now were they gone aland
- In Thracia, when that Tereus tooke the Ladie by the hand,
- And led hir to a pelting graunge that peakishly did stand
- In woods forgrowen. There waxing pale and trembling sore for feare,
- And dreading all things, and with teares demaunding sadly where
- Hir sister was, he shet hir up: and therewithall bewraide
- His wicked lust, and so by force bicause she was a Maide
- And all alone he vanquisht hir. It booted nought at all
- That she on sister, or on Sire, or on the Gods did call.
- She quaketh like the wounded Lambe which from the Wolves hore teeth
- New shaken thinkes hir selfe not safe: or as the Dove that seeth
- Hir fethers with hir owne bloud staynde, who shuddring still doth feare
- The greedie Hauke that did hir late with griping talants teare.
- Anon when that this mazednesse was somewhat overpast,
- She rent hir haire, and beate hir brest, and up to heavenward cast
- Hir hands in mourningwise, and said: O cankerd Carle, O fell
- And cruell Tyrant, neyther could the godly teares that fell
- Adowne my fathers cheekes when he did give thee charge of mee,
- Ne of my sister that regarde that ought to be in thee,
- Nor yet my chaaste virginitie, nor conscience of the lawe
- Of wedlocke, from this villanie thy barbrous heart withdraw?
- Is made a Cucqueane: and thy selfe through this offence of thee
- Art made a husband to us both, and unto me a foe,
- Behold thou hast confounded all. My sister thorough mee
- A just deserved punishment for lewdly doing so.
- But to th'intent, O perjurde wretch, no mischiefe may remaine
- Unwrought by thee, why doest thou from murdring me refraine?
- Would God thou had it done before this wicked rape. From hence
- Then should my soule most blessedly have gone without offence.
- But if the Gods doe see this deede, and if the Gods, I say,
- Be ought, and in this wicked worlde beare any kinde of sway
- And if with me all other things decay not, sure the day
- Will come that for this wickednesse full dearly thou shalt pay.
- Yea I my selfe rejecting shame thy doings will bewray.
- And if I may have power to come abrode, them blase I will
- In open face of all the world. Or if thou keepe me still
- As prisoner in these woods, my voyce the verie woods shall fill,
- And make the stones to understand. Let Heaven to this give care
- And all the Gods and powers therein if any God be there.
- The cruell tyrant being chaaft and also put in feare
- With these and other such hir wordes, both causes so him stung,
- That drawing out his naked sworde that at his girdle hung,
- He tooke hir rudely by the haire, and wrung hir hands behind hir,
- Compelling hir to holde them there while he himselfe did bind hir.
- When Philomela sawe the sworde, she hoapt she should have dide,
- And for the same hir naked throte she gladly did provide.
- But as she yirnde and called ay upon hir fathers name,
- And strived to have spoken still, the cruell tyrant came
- And with a paire of pinsons fast did catch hir by the tung,
- And with his sword did cut it off. The stumpe whereon it hung
- Did patter still. The tip fell downe and quivering on the ground
- As though that it had murmured it made a certaine sound.
- And as an Adders tayle cut off doth skip a while: even so
- The tip of Philomelaas tongue did wriggle to and fro,
- And nearer to hir mistresseward in dying still did go.
- And after this most cruell act, for certaine men report
- That he (I scarcely dare beleve) did oftentimes resort
- To maymed Philomela and abusde hir at his will:
- Yet after all this wickednesse he keeping countnance still,
- Durst unto Progne home repaire. And she immediatly
- Demaunded where hir sister was. He sighing feynedly
- Did tell hir falsly she was dead: and with his suttle teares
- He maketh all his tale to seeme of credit in hir eares.
- Hir garments glittring all with golde she from hir shoulders teares
- And puts on blacke, and setteth up an emptie Herce, and keepes
- A solemne obite for hir soule, and piteously she weepes
- And waileth for hir sisters fate who was not in such wise
- As that was, for to be bewailde. The Sunne had in the Skies
- Past through the twelve celestiall signes, and finisht full a yeare.
- But what should Philomela doe? She watched was so neare
- That start she could not for hir life. The walles of that same graunge
- Were made so high of maine hard stone, that out she could not raunge.
- Againe hir tunglesse mouth did want the utterance of the fact.
- Great is the wit of pensivenesse, and when the head is rakt
- With hard misfortune, sharpe forecast of practise entereth in.
- A warpe of white upon a frame of Thracia she did pin,
- And weaved purple letters in betweene it, which bewraide
- The wicked deede of Tereus. And having done, she praide
- A certaine woman by hir signes to beare them to hir mistresse.
- She bare them and deliverde them not knowing nerethelesse
- What was in them. The Tyrants wife unfolded all the clout,
- And of hir wretched fortune red the processe whole throughout.
- She held hir peace (a wondrous thing it is she should so doe)
- But sorrow tide hir tongue, and wordes agreeable unto
- Hir great displeasure were not at commaundment at that stound.
- And weepe she could not. Ryght and wrong she reckeneth to confound,
- And on revengement of the deede hir heart doth wholy ground.
- It was the time that wives of Thrace were wont to celebrate
- The three yeare rites of Bacchus which were done a nighttimes late.
- A nighttimes soundeth Rhodope of tincling pannes and pots:
- A nighttimes giving up hir house abrode Queene Progne trots
- Disguisde like Bacchus other froes and armed to the proofe
- With all the frenticke furniture that serves for that behoofe.
- Hir head was covered with a vine. About hir loose was tuckt
- A Reddeeres skin, a lightsome Launce upon hir shoulder ruckt.
- In post gaddes terrible Progne through the woods, and at hir heeles
- A flocke of froes. And where the sting of sorrow which she feeles
- Enforceth hir to furiousnesse, she feynes it to proceede
- Of Bacchus motion. At the length she finding out in deede
- The outset Graunge howlde out, and cride, Now well, and open brake
- The gates, and streight hir sister thence by force of hand did take,
- And veyling hir in like attire of Bacchus, hid hir head
- With Ivie leaves, and home to Court hir sore amazed led.
- As soone as Philomela wist she set hir foote within
- That cursed house, the wretched soule to shudther did begin,
- And all hir face waxt pale. Anon hir sister getting place
- Did pull off Bacchus mad attire, and making bare hir face
- Embraced hir betweene hir armes. But she considering that
- Queene Progne was a Cucqueane made by meanes of hir, durst nat
- Once raise hir eyes: but on the ground fast fixed helde the same.
- And where she woulde have taken God to witnesse that the shame
- And villanie was wrought to hir by violence, she was fayne
- To use hir hand in stead of speache. Then Progne chaaft amaine,
- And was not able in hir selfe hir choler to restraine.
- But blaming Philomela for hir weeping, said these wordes:
- Thou must not deale in this behalfe with weeping, but with swordes:
- Or with some thing of greater force than swords. For my part, I
- Am readie, yea and fully bent all mischiefe for to trie.
- This pallace will I eyther set on fire, and in the same
- Bestow the cursed Tereus the worker of our shame:
- Or pull away his tongue: or put out both his eyes: or cut
- Away those members which have thee to such dishonor put:
- Or with a thousand woundes expulse that sinfull soule of his.
- The thing that I doe purpose on is great, what ere it is.
- I know not what it may be yet. While Progne hereunto
- Did set hir minde, came Itys in, who taught hir what to doe.
- She staring on him cruelly, said: Ah, how like thou art
- Thy wicked father, and without moe wordes a sorowfull part
- She purposed, such inward ire was boyling in hir heart.
- But notwithstanding when hir sonne approched to hir neare,
- And lovingly had greeted hir by name of mother deare,
- And with his pretie armes about the necke had hugde hir fast,
- And flattring wordes with childish toyes in kissing forth had cast,
- The mothers heart of hirs was then constreyned to relent,
- Asswaged wholy was the rage to which she erst was bent,
- And from hir eyes against hir will the teares enforced went.
- But when she saw how pitie did compell hir heart to yeelde,
- She turned to hir sisters face from Itys, and behelde
- Now t'one, now tother earnestly and said: Why tattles he
- And she sittes dumbe bereft of tongue? as well why calles not she
- Me sister, as this boy doth call me mother? Seest thou not,
- Thou daughter of Pandion, what a husband thou hast got?
- Thou growest wholy out of kinde. To such a husband as
- Is Tereus, pitie is a sinne. No more delay there was.
- She dragged Itys after hir, as when it happes in Inde
- A Tyger gets a little Calfe that suckes upon a Hynde
- And drags him through the shadie woods. And when that they had found
- A place within the house far off and far above the ground,
- Then Progne strake him with a sword now plainly seeing whother
- He should, and holding up his handes, and crying mother, mother,
- And flying to hir necke: even where the brest and side doe bounde,
- And never turnde away hir face. Inough had bene that wound
- Alone to bring him to his ende. The tother sister slit
- His throte. And while some life and soule was in his members yit,
- In gobbits they them rent: whereof were some in Pipkins boyld,
- And other some on hissing spits against the fire were broyld,
- And with the gellied bloud of him was all the chamber foyld.
- To this same banquet Progne bade hir husband knowing nought
- Nor nought mistrusting of the harme and lewdnesse she had wrought.
- And feyning a solemnitie according to the guise
- Of Athens, at the which there might be none in any wise
- Besides hir husband and hir selfe, she banisht from the same
- Hir householde folke and sojourners, and such as guestwise came.
- King Tereus sitting in the throne of his forefathers, fed
- And swallowed downe the selfesame flesh that of his bowels bred.
- And he (so blinded was his heart) Fetch Itys hither, sed.
- No lenger hir most cruell joy dissemble could the Queene.
- But of hir murther coveting the messenger to beene,
- She said: The thing thou askest for, thou hast within. About
- He looked round, and asked where? To put him out of dout,
- As he was yet demaunding where, and calling for him: out
- Lept Philomele with scattred haire aflaight like one that fled
- Had from some fray where slaughter was, and threw the bloudy head
- Of Itys in his fathers face. And never more was shee
- Desirous to have had hir speache, that able she might be
- Hir inward joy with worthie wordes to witnesse franke and free.
- The tyrant with a hideous noyse away the table shoves:
- And reeres the fiends from Hell. One while with yawning mouth he proves
- To perbrake up his meate againe, and cast his bowels out.
- Another while with wringing handes he weeping goes about.
- And of his sonne he termes himselfe the wretched grave. Anon
- With naked sword and furious heart he followeth fierce upon
- Pandions daughters. He that had bene present would have deemde
- Their bodies to have hovered up with fethers. As they seemde,
- So hovered they with wings in deede. Of whome the one away
- To woodward flies, the other still about the house doth stay.
- And of their murther from their brestes not yet the token goth,
- For even still yet are stainde with bloud the fethers of them both.
- And he through sorrow and desire of vengeance waxing wight,
- Became a Bird upon whose top a tuft of feathers light
- In likenesse of a Helmets crest doth trimly stand upright.
- In stead of his long sword, his bill shootes out a passing space:
- A Lapwing named is this Bird, all armed seemes his face.
- The sorrow of this great mischaunce did stop Pandions breath
- Before his time, and long ere age determinde had his death.
- Erecthey reigning after him the government did take:
- A Prince of such a worthinesse as no man well can make
- Resolution, if he more in armes or justice did excell.
- Foure sonnes, and daughters foure he had. Of which a couple well
- Did eche in beautie other match. The one of these whose name
- Was Procris unto Cephalus, King Aeolus sonne, became
- A happie wife. The Thracians and King Tereus were a let
- To Boreas: so that long it was before the God could gt
- His dearbeloved Orithya, while trifling he did stand
- With faire entreatance rather than did use the force of hand.
- But when he saw he no reliefe by gentle meanes could finde,
- Then turning unto boystous wrath (which unto that same winde
- Is too familiar and too much accustomed by kinde)
- He said: I served am but well: for whylaid I apart
- My proper weapons, fiercenesse, force, and ire, and cruell hart?
- And fell to fauning like a foole, which did me but disgrace?
- For me is violence meete. Through this the pestred cloudes I chace.
- Through this I tosse the Seas. Through this I turne up knottie Okes,
- And harden Snow, and beate the ground in hayle with sturdie strokes,
- When I my brothers chaunce to get in open Ayre and Skie.
- (For that is my fielde in the which my maisteries I doe trie)
- I charge upon them with such brunt, that of our meeting smart
- The Heaven betweene us soundes, and from the hollow Cloudes doth start
- Enforced fire. And when I come in holes of hollow ground,
- And fiersly in those emptie caves doe rouse my backe up round,
- I trouble even the ghostes, and make the verie world to quake.
- This helpe in wooing of my wife (to speede) I should have take.
- Erecthey should not have bene prayde my Fatherinlaw to bee:
- He should have bene compelde thereto by stout extremitie.
- In speaking these or other wordes as sturdie, Boreas gan
- To flaske his wings. With waving of the which he raysed than
- So great a gale, that all the earth was blasted therewithall,
- And troubled was the maine brode Sea. And as he traylde his pall
- Bedusted over highest tops of things, he swept the ground.
- And having now in smokie cloudes himselfe enclosed round,
- Betweene his duskie wings he caught Orithya straught for feare,
- And like a lover, verie soft and easly did hir beare.
- And as he flew, the flames of love enkindled more and more
- By meanes of stirring. Neither did he stay his flight before
- He came within the land and towne of Cicons with his pray.
- And there soone after being made his wife she hapt to lay
- Hir belly, and a paire of boyes she at a burthen brings,
- Who else in all resembled full their mother, save in wings
- The which they of their father tooke. Howbeit (by report)
- They were not borne with wings upon their bodies in this sort.
- While Calais and Zetes had no beard upon their chin,
- They both were callow. But as soone as haire did once begin
- In likenesse of a yellow Downe upon their cheekes to sprout,
- Then (even as comes to passe in Birdes) the feathers budded out
- Togither on their pinyons too, and spreaded round about
- On both their sides. And finally when childhod once was spent
- And youth come on, togither they with other Minyes went
- To Colchos in the Galley that was first devisde in Greece,
- Upon a sea as then unknowen, to fetch the golden fleece.