Metamorphoses
Ovid
Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.
- And now in ship of Pagasa the Mynies cut the seas.
- And leading under endlesse night his age in great disease
- Of scarcitie was Phiney seene, and Boreas sonnes had chaste
- Away the Maidenfaced foules that did his victels waste.
- And after suffring many things in noble Jasons band,
- In muddie Phasis gushing streame at last they went aland.
- There while they going to the King demaund the golden fleece
- Brought thither certaine yeares before by Phryxus out of Greece,
- And of their dreadfull labors wait an answere to receive:
- Aeetas daughter in hir heart doth mightie flames conceyve.
- And after strugling verie long, when reason could not win
- The upper hand of rage: she thus did in hir selfe begin:
- In vaine, Medea, doste thou strive: some God what ere he is
- Against thee bendes his force. For what a wondrous thing is this?
- Is any thing like this which men doe terme by name of Love?
- For why should I my fathers hestes esteeme so hard above
- All measure? sure in very deede they are too hard and sore.
- Why feare I lest yon straunger whome I never saw before
- Should perish? what should be the cause of this my feare so great?
- Unhappie wench (and if thou canst) suppresse this uncouth heat
- That burneth in thy tender brest: and if so be I coulde,
- A happie turne it were, and more at ease then be I shoulde.
- But now an uncouth maladie perforce against my will
- Doth hale me. Love persuades me one, another thing my skill.
- The best I see and like: the worst I follow headlong still.
- Why being of the royall bloud so fondly doste thou rave,
- Upon a straunger thus to dote, desiring for to have
- An husband of another world? at home thou mightest finde
- A lover meete for thine estate on whome to set thy minde.
- And yet it is but even a chaunce if he shall live or no:
- God graunt him for to live. I may without offence pray so,
- Although I lovde him not: for what hath Jason trespast me?
- Who woulde not pitie Jasons youth onlesse they cruell be?
- What creature is there but his birth and prowesse might him move?
- And setting all the rest asyde, who woulde not be in love
- With Jasons goodlie personage? my heart assuredly
- Is toucht therewith. But if that I provide not remedie,
- With burning breath of blasting Bulles needes sindged must he bee.
- Of seedes that he himselfe must sow a harvest shall he see
- Of armed men in battell ray upon the ground up grow
- Against the which it hoveth him his manhode for to show.
- And as a pray he must be set against the Dragon fell.
- If I these things let come to passe, I may confesse right well
- That of a Tyger I was bred: and that within my brest
- A heart more harde than any steele or stonie rocke doth rest.
- Why rather doe I not his death with wrathfull eyes beholde?
- And joy with others seeing him to utter perill solde?
- Why doe I not enforce the Bulles against him? Why, I say,
- Exhort I not the cruell men which shall in battell ray
- Arise against him from the ground? and that same Dragon too
- Within whose eyes came never sleepe? God shield I so should doo.
- But prayer smally bootes, except I put to helping hand.
- And shall I like a Caytife then betray my fathers land?
- Shall I a straunger save whome we nor none of ours doth know?
- That he by me preserved may without me homeward row?
- And take another to his wife, and leave me, wretched wight,
- To torments? If I wist that he coulde worke me such a spight,
- Or could in any others love than only mine delight,
- The Churle should die for me. But sure he beareth not the face
- Like one that wold doe so. His birth, his courage, and his grace
- Doe put me clearly out of doubt he will not me deceyve,
- No nor forget the great good turnes he shall by me receyve.
- Yet shall he to me first his faith for more assurance plight
- And solemly he shall be sworne to keepe the covenant right.
- Why fearste thou now without a cause? step to it out of hand:
- And doe not any lenger time thus lingring fondly stand.
- For ay shall Jason thinke himselfe beholding unto thee:
- And shall thee marrie solemly: yea honored shalt thou bee
- Of all the Mothers great and small throughout the townes of Greece
- For saving of their sonnes that come to fetch the golden fleece.
- And shall I then leave brother, sister, father, kith and kin?
- And household Gods, and native soyle, and all that is therein?
- And saile I know not whither with a straunger? Yea: why not?
- My father surely cruell is, my Countrie rude God wot:
- My brother yet a verie babe: my sister I dare say
- Contented is with all hir heart that I should go away:
- The greatest God is in my selfe: the things I doe forsake
- Are trifles in comparison of those that I shall take.
- For saving of the Greekish ship renoumed shall I bee.
- A better place I shall enjoy with Cities riche and free,
- Whose fame doth florish fresh even here, and people that excell
- In civill life and all good Artes: and whome I would not sell
- For all the goods within the worlde, Duke Aesons noble sonne.
- Whome had I to my lawfull Feere assuredly once wonne,
- Most happie yea and blest of God I might my selfe account,
- And with my head above the starres to heaven I should surmount.
- But men report that certaine rockes (I know not what) doe meete
- Amid the waves, and monstrously againe asunder fleete:
- And how Charybdis, utter foe to ships that passe thereby,
- Now sowpeth in, now speweth out the Sea incessantly:
- And ravening Scylla being hemde with cruell dogs about,
- Amids the gulfe of Sicilie doth make a barking out.
- What skilleth that? As long as I enjoy the thing I love,
- And hang about my Jasons necke, it shall no whit me move
- To saile the daungerous Seas: as long as him I may embrace
- I cannot surely be afraide in any kinde of case.
- Or if I chaunce to be afraide, my feare shall only tende
- But for my husband. Callste thou him thy husband? Doste pretende
- Gay titles to thy foule offence, Medea? nay not so:
- But rather looke about how great a lewdnesse thou doste go,
- And shun the mischiefe while thou mayst. She had no sooner said
- These wordes, but right and godlinesse and shamefastnesse were staid
- Before hir eyes, and frantick love did flie away dismaid.
- She went me to an Altar that was dedicate of olde
- To Perseys daughter Hecate (of whome the witches holde
- As of their Goddesse) standing in a thicke and secrete wood
- So close it coulde not well be spide: and now the raging mood
- Of furious love was well alaide and clearely put to flight:
- When spying Aesons sonne, the flame that seemed quenched quight
- Did kindle out of hand againe. Hir cheekes began to glowe,
- And flushing over all hir face the scarlet bloud did flowe.
- And even as when a little sparke that was in ashes hid,
- Uncovered with the whisking windes is from the ashes rid,
- Eftsoones it taketh nourishment and kindleth in such wise,
- That to his former strength againe and flaming it doth rise:
- Even so hir quailed love which late ye would have thought had quight
- Bene vanisht out of minde, as soone as Jason came in sight
- Did kindle to his former force in vewing of the grace
- With which he did avaunce himselfe then comming there in place.
- And (as it chaunced) farre more faire and beautifull of face
- She thought him then than ever erst, but sure it doth behove
- Hir judgement should be borne withall bicause she was in love.
- She gapte and gazed in his face with fixed staring eyen
- As though she never had him seene before that instant time.
- So farre she was beside hir selfe she thought it should not bee
- The face of any worldly wight the which she then did see.
- She was not able for hir life to turne hir eyes away,
- But when he tooke hir by the hand and speaking gan to pray
- Hir softly for to succor him, and promisde faithfully
- To take hir to his wedded wife, she falling by and by
- A weeping, said: Sir, what I doe I see apparantly.
- Not want of knowledge of the truth but love shall me deceive.
- You shalbe saved by my meanes. And now I must receive
- A faithfull promise at your hand for saving of your life.
- He made a solemne vow, and sware to take hir to his wife,
- By triple Hecates holie rites, and by what other power
- So ever else had residence within that secret bower,
- And by the Sire of him that should his Fathrinlaw become
- Who all things doth behold, and as he hopte to overcome
- The dreadfull daungers which he had soone after to assay.
- Duke Jason being credited receivde of hir streight way
- Enchaunted herbes: and having learnde the usage of the same,
- Departed thence with merrie heart, and to his lodging came.
- Next Morne had chaste the streaming stars: and folke by heapes did flocke
- To Marsis sacred field, and there stoode thronging in a shocke,
- To see the straunge pastimes. The King most stately to beholde
- With yvorie Mace above them all did sit in throne of golde.
- Anon the brazenhoved Bulles from stonie nostrils cast
- Out flakes of fire: their scalding breath the growing grasse did blast.
- And looke what noise a chimney full of burning fewell makes,
- Or Flint in softning in the Kell when first the fire it takes
- By sprincling water thereupon: such noyse their boyling brests
- Turmoyling with the firie flames enclosed in their chests,
- Such noise their scorched throtebolles make. Yet stoutly Jason went
- To meete them. They their dreadfull eyes against him grimly bent, '
- And eke their homes with yron tipt: and strake the dust about
- In stamping with their cloven clees: and with their belowing out
- Set all the fielde upon a smoke. The Mynies seeing that
- Were past their wits with sodaine feare, but Jason feeled nat
- So much as any breath of theirs: such strength hath sorcerie.
- Their dangling Dewlaps with his hand he coyd unfearfully.
- And putting yokes upon their neckes he forced them to draw
- The heavie burthen of the plough which erst they never saw,
- And for to breake the fielde which erst had never felt the share.
- The men of Colchos seeing this, like men amazed fare.
- The Mynies with their shouting out their mazednesse augment,
- And unto Jason therewithall give more encouragement.
- Then in a souldiers cap of steele a Vipers teeth he takes,
- And sowes them in the new plowde fielde. The ground then soking makes
- The seede foresteepte in poyson strong, both supple lithe and soft,
- And of these teeth a right straunge graine there growes anon aloft.
- For even as in the mothers wombe an infant doth begin
- To take the lively shape of man, and formed is within
- To due proportion piece by piece in every limme, and when
- Full ripe he is, he takes the use of Aire with other men:
- So when that of the Vipers teeth the perfect shape of man
- Within the bowels of the earth was formed, they began
- To rise togither orderly upon the fruitefull fielde:
- And (which a greater wonder is) immediatly they wielde
- Their weapons growing up with them, whom when the Greekes behilde
- Preparing for to push their Pikes (which sharply headed were)
- In Jasons face, downe went their heades, their heartes did faint for feare:
- And also she that made him safe began abasht to bee.
- For when against one naked man so huge an armie shee
- Beheld of armed enmies bent, hir colour did abate
- And sodainly both voyd of bloud and livelie heate she sate.
- And lest the chaunted weedes the which she had him given before
- Should faile at neede, a helping charme she whispred overmore,
- And practisde other secret Artes the which she kept in store.
- He casting streight a mightie stone amid his thickest foes,
- Doth voyde the battell from him selfe and turnes it unto those.
- These earthbred brothers by and by did one another wound
- And never ceased till that all lay dead upon the ground.
- The Greekes were glad, and in their armes did clasp their Champion stout,
- And clinging to him earnestly embraced him about.
- And thou fond Medea too couldst well have found in hart
- The Champion for to have embraste, but that withheld thou wart
- By shamefastnesse, and yet thou hadst embraced him, if dread
- Of stayning of thine honor had not staid thee in that stead.
- But yet as far forth as thou maist, thou doste in heart rejoyce,
- And secretly (although without expressing it in voyce)
- Doste thanke thy charmes and eke the Gods as Authors of the same.
- Now was remaining as the last conclusion of this game,
- By force of chaunted herbes to make the watchfull Dragon sleepe
- Within whose eyes came never winke: who had in charge to keepe
- The goodly tree upon the which the golden fleeces hung.
- With crested head, and hooked pawes, and triple spirting tung,
- Right ougly was he to beholde. When Jason had besprent
- Him with the juice of certaine herbes from Lethey River sent,
- And thrice had mumbled certaine wordes which are of force to cast
- So sound a sleepe on things that even as dead a time they last,
- Which make the raging surges calme and flowing Rivers stay,
- The dreadfull Dragon by and by (whose eyes before that day
- Wist never erst what sleeping ment) did fall so fast asleepe
- That Jason safely tooke the fleece of golde that he did keepe.
- Of which his bootie being proud, he led with him away
- The Author of his good successe another fairer pray:
- And so with conquest and a wife he loosde from Colchos strand,
- And in Larissa haven safe did go againe aland.
- The auncient men of Thessalie togither with their wives
- To Church with offrings gone for saving of their childrens lives.
- Great heapes of fuming frankincense were fryed in the flame
- And vowed Bulles to sacrifice with homes faire gilded came.
- But from this great solemnitie Duke Aeson was away,
- Now at deathes door and spent with yeares. Then Jason thus gan say:
- O wife to whome I doe confesse I owe my life in deede,
- Though al things thou to me hast given, and thy deserts exceede
- Beleife: yet if enchauntment can, (for what so hard appeares
- Which strong enchauntment can not doe?) abate thou from my yeares,
- And add them to my fathers life. As he these wordes did speake,
- The teares were standing in his eyes. His godly sute did breake
- Medeas heart: who therewithall bethought hir of hir Sire
- In leaving whome she had exprest a far unlike desire.
- But yet bewraying not hir thoughts, she said: O Husband fie,
- What wickednesse hath scapt your mouth? Suppose you then that I
- Am able of your life the terme where I will to bestow?
- Let Hecat never suffer that. Your sute (as well you know)
- Against all right and reason is. But I will put in proofe
- A greater gift than you require and more for your behoofe.
- I will assay your father's life by cunning to prolong,
- And not with your yeares for to make him yong againe and strong:
- So our threeformed Goddesse graunt with present helpe to stand
- A furthrer of the great attempt the which I take in hand.
- Before the Moone should circlewise close both hir homes in one
- Three nightes were yet as then to come. As soon as that she shone
- Most full of light, and did behold the earth with fulsome face,
- Medea with hir haire not trust so much as in a lace,
- But flaring on hir shoulders twaine, and barefoote, with hir gowne
- Ungirded, gate hir out of doores and wandred up and downe
- Alone the dead time of the night. Both Man, and Beast, and Bird
- Were fast asleepe: the Serpents slie in trayling forward stird
- So softly as ye would have thought they still asleepe had bene.
- The moysting Ayre was whist. No leafe ye could have moving sene.
- The starres alonly faire and bright did in the welkin shine
- To which she lifting up hir handes did thrise hirselfe encline:
- And thrice with water of the brooke hir haire besprincled shee:
- And gasping thrise she opte hir mouth: and bowing downe hir knee
- Upon the bare hard ground, she said: O trustie time of night
- Most faithfull unto privities, O golden starres whose light
- Doth jointly with the Moone succeede the beames that blaze by day
- And thou three headed Hecate who knowest best the way
- To compasse this our great attempt and art our chiefest stay:
- Ye Charmes and Witchcrafts, and thou Earth which both with herbe and weed
- Of mightie working furnishest the Wizardes at their neede:
- Ye Ayres and windes: ye Elves of Hilles, of Brookes, of Woods alone,
- Of standing Lakes, and of the Night approche ye everychone.
- Through helpe of whom (the crooked bankes much wondring at the thing)
- I have compelled streames to run cleane backward to their spring.
- By charmes I make the calme Seas rough, and make the rough Seas plaine,
- And cover all the Skie with Cloudes and chase them thence againe.
- By charmes I raise and lay the windes, and burst the Vipers jaw.
- And from the bowels of the Earth both stones and trees doe draw.
- Whole woods and Forestes I remove: I make the Mountaines shake,
- And even the Earth it selfe to grone and fearfully to quake.
- I call up dead men from their graves: and thee lightsome Moone
- I darken oft, though beaten brasse abate thy perill soone.
- Our Sorcerie dimmes the Morning faire, and darkes the Sun at Noone.
- The flaming breath of firie Bulles ye quenched for my sake
- And caused their unwieldie neckes the bended yoke to take.
- Among the Earthbred brothers you a mortall war did set
- And brought asleepe the Dragon fell whose eyes were never shet.
- By meanes whereof deceiving him that had the golden fleece
- In charge to keepe, you sent it thence by Jason into Greece.
- Now have I neede of herbes that can by vertue of their juice
- To flowring prime of lustie youth old withred age reduce.
- I am assurde ye will it graunt. For not in vaine have shone
- These twincling starres, ne yet in vaine this Chariot all alone
- By drought of Dragons hither comes. With that was fro the Skie
- A Chariot softly glaunced downe, and stayed hard thereby.
- As soone as she had gotten up, and with hir hand had coyd
- The Dragons reined neckes, and with their bridles somewhat toyd,
- They mounted with hir in the Ayre, whence looking downe she saw
- The pleasant Temp of Thessalie, and made hir Dragons draw
- To places further from resort: and there she tooke the view
- What herbes on high mount Pelion, and what on Ossa grew,
- And what on mountaine Othris and on Pyndus growing were,
- And what Olympus (greater than mount Pyndus far) did beare.
- Such herbes of them as liked hir she pullde up roote and rinde
- Or cropt them with a hooked knife. And many she did finde
- Upon the bankes of Apidane agreeing to hir minde:
- And many at Amphrisus foords: and thou Enipeus eke
- Didst yeelde hir many pretie weedes of which she well did like.
- Peneus and Sperchius streames contributarie were,
- And so were Boebes rushie bankes of such as growed there.
- About Anthedon which against the Ile Euboea standes,
- A certaine kind of lively grasse she gathered with her handes,
- The name whereof was scarsly knowen or what the herbe could doe
- Untill that Glaucus afterward was chaunged thereinto.
- Nine dayes with winged Dragons drawen, nine nights in Chariot swift
- She searching everie field and frith from place to place did shift.
- She was no sooner home returnde but that the Dragons fell
- Which lightly of hir gathered herbes had taken but the smell,
- Did cast their sloughes and with their sloughes their riveled age forgo.
- She would none other house than heaven to hide hir head as tho:
- But kept hir still without the doores: and as for man was none
- That once might touch hir. Altars twayne of Turfe she builded: one
- Upon hir left hand unto Youth, another on the right
- To tryple Hecat. Both the which as soone as she had dight
- With Vervain and with other shrubbes that on the fieldes doe rise,
- Not farre from thence she digde two pits: and making sacrifice
- Did cut a couple of blacke Rams throtes and filled with their blood
- The open pits, on which she pourde of warme milke pure and good
- A boll full, and another boll of honie clarifide.
- And babling to hir selfe therewith full bitterly she cride
- On Pluto and his ravisht wife the sovereigne states of Hell,
- And all the Elves and Gods that on or in the Earth doe dwell,
- To spare olde Aesons life a while, and not in hast deprive
- His limmes of that same aged soule which kept them yet alive.
- Whome when she had sufficiently with mumbling long besought,
- She bade that Aesons feebled corse should out of doores be brought
- Before the Altars. Then with charmes she cast him in so deepe
- A slumber, that upon the herbes he lay for dead asleepe.
- Which done she willed Jason thence a great way off to go
- And likewise all the Ministers that served hir as tho:
- And not presume those secretes with unhallowed eyes to see.
- They did as she commaunded them. When all were voyded, shee
- With scattred haire about hir eares like one of Bacchus froes
- Devoutly by and by about the burning Altars goes:
- And dipping in the pits of bloud a sort of clifted brandes
- Upon the Altars kindled them that were on both hir handes.
- And thrise with brimstone, thrise with fire, and thrise with water pure
- She purged Aesons aged corse that slept and slumbred sure.
- The medicine seething all the while a wallop in a pan
- Of brasse, to spirt and leape aloft and gather froth began.
- There boyled she the rootes, seedes, flowres, leaves, stalkes and juice togither
- Which from the fieldes of Thessalie she late had gathered thither.
- She cast in also precious stones fetcht from the furthest East
- And, which the ebbing Ocean washt, fine gravell from the West.
- She put thereto the deaw that fell upon a Monday night:
- And flesh and feathers of a Witch, a cursed odious wight
- Which in the likenesse of an Owle abrode a nightes did flie,
- And Infants in their cradels chaunge or sucke them that they die.
- The singles also of a Wolfe which when he list could take
- The shape of man, and when he list the same againe forsake.
- And from the River Cyniphis which is in Lybie lande
- She had the fine sheere scaled filmes of water snayles at hand.
- And of an endlesselived hart the liver had she got,
- To which she added of a Crowe that then had lived not
- So little as nine hundred yeares the head and Bill also.
- Now when Medea had with these and with a thousand mo
- Such other kinde of namelesse things bestead hir purpose through
- For lengthning of the old mans life, she tooke a withered bough
- Cut lately from an Olyf tree, and jumbling all togither
- Did raise the bottome to the brim: and as she stirred hither
- And thither with the withered sticke, behold it waxed greene.
- Anon the leaves came budding out: and sodenly were seene
- As many berries dangling downe as well the bough could beare.
- And where the fire had from the pan the scumming cast, or where
- The scalding drops did fall, the ground did springlike florish there,
- And flowres with fodder fine and soft immediatly arose.
- Which when Medea did behold, with naked knife she goes
- And cuttes the olde mans throte: and letting all his old bloud go
- Supplies it with the boyled juice: the which when Aeson tho
- Had at his mouth or at his wounde receyved in, his heare
- As well of head as beard from gray to coleblacke turned were.
- His leane, pale, hore, and withered corse grew fulsome, faire and fresh:
- His furrowed wrincles were fulfilde with yong and lustie flesh.
- His limmes waxt frolicke, baine and lithe: at which he wondring much,
- Remembred that at fortie yeares he was the same or such.
- And as from dull unwieldsome age to youth he backward drew:
- Even so a lively youthfull spright did in his heart renew.
- The wonder of this monstrous act had Bacchus seene from hie,
- And finding that to youthfull yeares his Nurses might thereby
- Restored bee, did at hir hand receive it as a gift.
- And lest deceitfull guile should cease, Medea found a shift
- To feyne that Jason and hir selfe were falne at oddes in wroth:
- And thereupon in humble wise to Pelias Court she goth.
- Where forbicause the King himselfe was feebled sore with age,
- His daughters entertainde hir, whome Medea, being sage,
- Within a while through false pretence of feyned friendship brought
- To take hir baite. For as she tolde what pleasures she had wrought
- For Jason, and among the rest as greatest sadly tolde
- How she had made his father yong that withred was and olde,
- And taried long upon that point: they hoped glad and faine
- That their olde father might likewise his youthful yeares regaine.
- And this they craving instantly did proffer for hir paine
- What recompence she would desire. She helde hir peace a while
- As though she doubted what to doe: and with hir suttle guile
- Of counterfetted gravitie more eger did them make.
- As soone as she had promisde them to doe it for their sake,
- For more assurance of my graunt, your selves (quoth she) shall see
- The oldest Ram in all your flocke a Lambe streight made to bee
- By force of my confections strong. Immediatly a Ram
- So olde that no man thereabouts remembred him a Lam
- Was thither by his warped homes which turned inward to
- His hollow Temples, drawne: whose withred throte she slit in two.
- And when she cleane had drayned out that little bloud that was,
- Upon the fire with herbes of strength she set a pan of brasse,
- And cast his carcasse thereinto. The Medcine did abate
- The largenesse of his limmes and seard his dossers from his pate,
- And with his homes abridgde his yeares. Anon was plainly heard
- The bleating of a new yeand Lambe from mid the Ketleward.
- And as they wondred for to heare the bleating, streight the Lam
- Leapt out, and frisking ran to seeke the udder of some Dam.
- King Pelias daughters were amazde. And when they did beholde
- Hir promise come to such effect, they were a thousand folde
- More earnest at hir than before. Thrise Phoebus having pluckt
- The Collars from his horses neckes, in Iber had them duckt.
- And now in Heaven the streaming starres the fourth night shined cleare:
- When false Medea on the fire had hanged water shere,
- With herbes that had no powre at all. The King and all his garde
- Which had the charge that night about his person for to warde
- Were through hir nightspels and hir charmes in deadly sleepe all cast.
- And Pelias daughters with the Witch which eggde them forward, past
- Into his chamber by the watch, and compast in his bed.
- Then: Wherefore stand ye doubting thus like fooles, Medea sed.
- On: draw your swordes: and let ye out his old bloud, that I may
- Fill up his emptie veynes againe with youthfull bloud streight way.
- Your fathers life is in your handes: it lieth now in you
- To have him olde and withred still or yong and lustie. Now
- If any nature in ye be, and that ye doe not feede
- A fruitelesse hope, your dutie to your father doe with speede.
- Expulse his age by sword, and let the filthy matter out.
- Through these persuasions which of them so ever went about
- To shewe hirselfe most naturall, became the first that wrought
- Against all nature: and for feare she should be wicked thought,
- She executes the wickednesse which most to shun she sought.
- Yet was not any one of them so bolde that durst abide
- To looke upon their father when she strake, but wride aside
- Hir eyes: and so their cruell handes not marking where they hit
- With faces turnde another way at all aventure smit.
- He all beweltred in his bloud awaked with the smart,
- And maimde and mangled as he was did give a sodeyne start
- Endevoring to have risen up. But when he did beholde
- Himselfe among so many swordes, he lifting up his olde
- Pale waryish armes, said: Daughters mine what doe ye? who hath put
- These wicked weapons in your hands your fathers throte to cut?
- With that their heartes and handes did faint. And as he talked yet,
- Medea breaking off his wordes, his windpipe quickly slit,
- And in the scalding liquor torne did drowne him by and by.
- But had she not with winged wormes streight mounted in the skie
- She had not scaped punishment, but stying up on hie
- She over shadie Pelion flew where Chyron erst did dwell,
- And over Othrys and the grounds renoumde for that befell
- To auncient Ceramb: who such time as old Deucalions flood
- Upon the face of all the Earth like one maine water stood,
- By helpe of Nymphes with fethered wings was in the Ayer lift,
- And so escaped from the floud undrowned by the shift.
- She left Aeolian Pytanie upon hir left hand: and
- The Serpent that became a stone upon the Lesbian sand.
- And Ida woods where Bacchus hid a Bullocke (as is sayd)
- In shape of Stag the which his sonne had theevishly convayde.
- And where the Sire of Corytus lies buried in the dust.
- The fieldes which Meras (when he first did into barking brust)
- Affraide with straungenesse of the noyse. And eke Eurypils towne
- In which the wives of Cos had homes like Oxen on their crowne
- Such time as Hercles with his hoste departed from the Ile,
- And Rhodes to Phoebus consecrate: and Ialyse where ere while
- The Telchines with their noysome sight did every thing bewitch.
- At which their hainous wickednesse Jove taking rightfull pritch,
- Did drowne them in his brothers waves. Moreover she did passe
- By Ceos and olde Carthey walles where Sir Alcidamas
- Did wonder how his daughter should be turned to a Dove.
- The Swannie Temp and Hyries Poole she viewed from above,
- The which a sodeine Swan did haunt. For Phyllie there for love
- Of Hyries sonne did at his bidding Birdes and Lions tame,
- And being willde to breake a Bull performed streight the same:
- Till wrothfull that his love so oft so streightly should him use,
- When for his last reward he askt the Bull, he did refuse
- To give it him. The boy displeasde, said: Well: thou wilt anon
- Repent thou gave it not: and leapt downe headlong from a stone.
- They all supposde he had bene falne: but being made a Swan
- With snowie feathers in the Ayre to flacker he began.
- His mother Hyrie knowing not he was preserved so,
- Resolved into melting teares for pensivenesse and wo,
- And made the Poole that beares hir name. Not far from hence doth stand
- The Citie Brauron, where sometime by mounting from the land
- With waving pinions Ophyes ympe, dame Combe, did eschue
- Hir children which with naked swordes to slea hir did pursue.
- Anon she kend Calaurie fieldes which did sometime pertaine
- To chast Diana where a King and eke his wife both twaine
- Were turnde to Birdes. Cyllene hill upon hir right hand stood,
- In which Menephron like a beast of wilde and savage moode
- To force his mother did attempt. Far thence she spide where sad
- Cephisus mourned for his Neece whome Phebus turned had
- To ugly shape of swelling Seale: and Eumelles pallace faire
- Lamenting for his sonnes mischaunce with whewling in the Aire.
- At Corinth with hir winged Snakes at length she did arrive.
- Here men (so auncient fathers said that were as then alive)
- Did breede of deawie Mushrommes. But after that hir teene
- With burning of hir husbands bride by witchcraft wreakt had beene
- And that King Creons pallace she on blasing fire had seene,
- And in hir owne deare childrens bloud had bathde hir wicked knife
- Not like a mother but a beast bereving them of life:
- Lest Jason should have punisht hir she tooke hir winged Snakes,
- And flying thence againe in haste to Pallas Citie makes,
- Which saw the auncient Periphas and rightuous Phiney too
- Togither flying, and the Neece of Polypemon who
- Was fastened to a paire of wings as well as t'other two.
- Aegeus enterteined hir wherein he was to blame
- Although he had no further gone but staid upon the same.
- He thought it not to be inough to use hir as his guest
- Onlesse he tooke hir to his wife.
- And now was Thesey prest,
- Unknowne unto his father yet, who by his knightly force
- Had set from robbers cleare the balke that makes the streight divorce
- Betweene the seas Ionian and Aegean. To have killde
- This worthie knight, Medea had a Goblet readie fillde
- With juice of Flintwoort venemous the which she long ago
- Had out of Scythie with hir brought. The common bruit is so
- That of the teeth of Cerberus this Flintwoort first did grow.
- There is a cave that gapeth wide with darksome entrie low,
- There goes a way slope downe by which with triple cheyne made new
- Of strong and sturdie Adamant the valiant Hercle drew
- The currish Helhounde Cerberus: who dragging arsward still
- And writhing backe his scowling eyes bicause he had no skill
- To see the Sunne and open day, for verie moodie wroth
- Three barkings yelled out at once, and spit his slavering froth
- Upon the greenish grasse. This froth (as men suppose) tooke roote
- And thriving in the batling soyle in burgeons forth did shoote,
- To bane and mischiefe men withall: and forbicause the same
- Did grow upon the bare hard Flints, folke gave the foresaid name
- Of Flintwoort thereunto. The King by egging of his Queene
- Did reach his sonne this bane as if he had his enmie beene.
- And Thesey of this treason wrought not knowing ought had tane
- The Goblet at his fathers hand which helde his deadly bane:
- When sodenly by the Ivorie hilts that were upon his sword
- Aegeus knew he was his sonne: and rising from the borde
- Did strike the mischiefe from his mouth. Medea with a charme
- Did cast a mist and so scapte death deserved for the harme
- Entended. Now albeit that Aegeus were right glad
- That in the saving of his sonne so happy chaunce he had,
- Yet grieved it his heart full sore that such a wicked wight
- With treason wrought against his sonne should scape so cleare and quight.
- Then fell he unto kindling fire on Altars everie where
- And glutted all the Gods with gifts. The thicke neckt Oxen were
- With garlands wreathd about their homes knockt downe for sacrifice.
- A day of more solemnitie than this did never rise
- Before on Athens (by report). The auncients of the Towne
- Made feastes: so did the meaner sort, and every common clowne.
- And as the wine did sharpe their wits, they sung this song: O knight
- Of peerlesse prowesse Theseus, thy manhod and thy might
- Through all the coast of Marathon with worthie honor soundes,
- For killing of the Cretish Bull that wasted those same groundes.
- The folke of Cremyon thinke themselves beholden unto thee.
- For that without disquieting their fieldes may tilled be.
- By thee the land of Epidaure behelde the clubbish sonne
- Of Vulcane dead. By thee likewise the countrie that doth runne
- Along Cephisus bankes behelde the fell Procrustes slaine.
- The dwelling place of Ceres, our Eleusis glad and faine,
- Beheld the death of Cercyon. That orpid Sinis who
- Abusde his strength in bending trees and tying folke thereto,
- Their limmes asunder for to teare when loosened from the stops
- The trees unto their proper place did trice their streyned tops,
- Was killde by thee. Thou made the way that leadeth to the towne
- Alcathoe in Beotia cleare by putting Scyron downe.
- To this same outlawes scattred bones the land denied rest,
- And likewise did the Sea refuse to harbrough such a guest:
- Till after floting to and fro long while as men doe say
- At length they hardened into stones: and at this present day
- The stones are called Scyrons cliffes. Now if we should account
- Thy deedes togither with thy yeares, thy deedes would far surmount
- Thy yeares. For thee, most valiant Prince, these publike vowes we keepe
- For thee with cherefull heartes we quaffe these bolles of wine so deepe.
- The Pallace also of the noyse and shouting did resounde
- The which the people made for joy. There was not to be founde
- In all the Citie any place of sadnesse.
- Nathelesse
- (So hard it is of perfect joy to find so great excesse,
- But that some sorrow therewithall is medled more or lesse),
- Aegeus had not in his sonnes recoverie such delight,
- But that there followed in the necke a piece of fortunes spight.
- King Minos was preparing war, who though he had great store
- Of ships and souldiers yet the wrath the which he had before
- Conceyved in his fathers brest for murthring of his sonne
- Androgeus made him farre more strong and fiercer for to ronne
- To rightfull battell to revenge the great displeasure donne.
- Howbeit he thought it best ere he his warfare did begin
- To finde the meanes of forreine aides some friendship for to win.
- And thereupon with flying fleete where passage did permit
- He went to visit all the Iles that in those seas doe sit.
- Anon the Iles Astypaley and Anaphey both twaine
- The first constreynde for feare of war, the last in hope of gaine,
- Tooke part with him. Low Myconey did also with him hold
- So did the chalkie Cymoley, and Syphney which of olde
- Was verie riche with veynes of golde, and Scyros full of bolde
- And valiant men, and Seryphey the smooth or rather fell,
- And Parey which for Marblestone doth beare away the bell.
- And Sythney which a wicked wench callde Arne did betray
- For mony: who upon receit thereof without delay
- Was turned to a birde which yet of golde is gripple still,
- And is as blacke as any cole, both fethers, feete and bill.
- A Cadowe is the name of hir. But yet Olyarey,
- And Didymey, and Andrey eke, and Tene, and Gyarey,
- And Pepareth where Olive trees most plenteously doe grow,
- In no wise would agree their helpe on Minos to bestow.
- Then Minos turning lefthandwise did sayle to Oenope
- Where reignde that time King Aeacus. This Ile had called be
- Of old by name of Oenope: but Aeacus turnde the name
- And after of his mothers name Aegina callde the same.
- The common folke ran out by heapes desirous for to see
- A man of such renowne as Minos bruited was to bee.
- The Kings three sonnes Duke Telamon, Duke Peley, and the yong
- Duke Phocus went to meete with him. Old Aeacus also clung
- With age, came after leysurely, and asked him the cause
- Of his repaire. The ruler of the hundred Shires gan pause:
- And musing on the inward griefe that nipt him at the hart,
- Did shape him aunswere thus: O Prince vouchsafe to take my part
- In this same godly warre of mine: assist me in the just
- Revengement of my murthred sonne that sleepeth in the dust.
- I crave your comfort for his death. Aeginas sonne replide:
- Thy suite is vaine: and of my Realme perforce must be denide.
- For unto Athens is no lande more sure than this alide:
- Such leagues betweene us are which shall infringde for me abide.
- Away went Minos sad: and said: full dearly shalt thou bie
- Thy leagues. He thought it for to be a better pollicie
- To threaten war than war to make, and there to spend his store
- And strength which in his other needes might much availe him more.
- As yet might from Oenopia walles the Cretish fleete be kend.
- When thitherward with puffed sayles and wind at will did tend
- A ship from Athens, which anon arriving at the strand
- Set Cephal with Ambassade from his Countrimen aland.
- The Kings three sonnes though long it were since last they had him seene,
- Yet knew they him. And after olde acquaintance eft had beene
- Renewde by shaking hands, to Court they did him streight convay.
- This Prince which did allure the eyes of all men by the way,
- As in whose stately person still remained to be seene
- The markes of beautie which in flowre of former yeares had beene,
- Went holding out an Olife braunch that grew in Atticke lande
- And for the reverence of his age there went on eyther hand
- A Nobleman of yonger yeares. Sir Clytus on the right
- And Butes on the left, the sonnes of one that Pallas hight.
- When greeting first had past betweene these Nobles and the King,
- Then Cephal setting streight abroche the message he did bring,
- Desired aide: and shewde what leagues stoode then in force betweene
- His countrie and the Aeginites, and also what had beene
- Decreed betwixt their aunceters, concluding in the ende
- That under colour of this war which Minos did pretende
- To only Athens, he in deede the conquest did intende
- Of all Achaia. When he thus by helpe of learned skill
- His countrie message furthred had, King Aeacus leaning still
- His left hand on his scepter, saide: My Lordes, I would not have
- Your state of Athens seeme so straunge as succor here to crave.
- I pray commaund. For be ye sure that what this Ile can make
- Is yours. Yea all that ere I have shall hazard for your sake.
- I want no strength. I have such store of souldiers, that I may
- Both vex my foes and also keepe my Realme in quiet stay.
- And now I thinke me blest of God that time doth serve to showe
- Without excuse the great good will that I to Athens owe.
- God holde it sir (quoth Cephalus) God make the number grow
- Of people in this towne of yours: it did me good alate
- When such a goodly sort of youth of all one age and rate
- Did meete me in the streete. But yet me thinkes that many misse
- Which at my former being here I have beheld ere this.
- At that the King did sigh, and thus with plaintfull voice did say:
- A sad beginning afterward in better lucke did stay.
- I would I plainly could the same before your faces lay.
- Howbeit I will disorderly repeate it as I may.
- And lest I seeme to wearie you with overlong delay,
- The men that you so mindefully enquire for lie in ground
- And nought of them save bones and dust remayneth to be found.
- But as it hapt what losse thereby did unto me redound?
- A cruell plague through Junos wrath who dreadfully did hate
- This Land that of hir husbands Love did take the name alate,
- Upon my people fell: as long as that the maladie
- None other seemde than such as haunts mans nature usually,
- And of so great mortalitie the hurtfull cause was hid,
- We strove by Phisicke of the same the Pacients for to rid.
- The mischief overmaistred Art: yea Phisick was to seeke
- To doe it selfe good. First the Aire with foggie stinking reeke
- Did daily overdreepe the earth: and close culme Clouds did make
- The wether faint: and while the Moone foure times hir light did take
- And fillde hir emptie homes therewith, and did as often slake:
- The warme South windes with deadly heate continually did blow.
- Infected were the Springs, and Ponds, and streames that ebbe and flow.
- And swarmes of Serpents crawld about the fieldes that lay untillde
- Which with their poison even the brookes and running water fillde.
- In sodaine dropping downe of Dogs, of Horses, Sheepe and Kine,
- Of Birds and Beasts both wild and tame as Oxen, Wolves, and Swine,
- The mischiefe of this secret sore first outwardly appeeres.
- The wretched Plowman was amazde to see his sturdie Steeres
- Amid the furrow sinking downe ere halfe his worke was donne.
- Whole flocks of sheepe did faintly bleate, and therewithall begonne
- Their fleeces for to fall away and leave the naked skin,
- And all their bodies with the rot attainted were within.
- The lustie Horse that erst was fierce in field renowne to win
- Against his kinde grew cowardly: and now forgetting quight
- The auncient honor which he preast so oft to get in fight,
- Stoode sighing sadly at the Racke as wayting for to yeelde
- His wearie life without renowne of combat in the fielde.
- The Boare to chafe, the Hinde to runne, the cruell Beare to fall
- Upon the herdes of Rother beastes had now no lust at all.
- A languishing was falne on all. In wayes, in woods, in plaines,
- The filthie carions lay, whose stinche, the Ayre it selfe distaines.
- (A wondrous thing to tell) not Dogges, not ravening Foules, nor yit
- Horecoted Wolves would once attempt to tast of them a bit.
- Looke, where they fell, there rotted they: and with their savor bred
- More harme, and further still abrode the foule infection spred.
- With losse that touched yet more nere, on Husbandmen it crept,
- And ragingly within the walles of this great Citie stept.
- It tooke men first with swelting heate that scalt their guts within:
- The signes whereof were steaming breath and firie colourde skin.
- The tongue was harsh and swolne, the mouth through drought of burning veines
- Lay gaping up to hale in breath, and as the pacient streines
- To draw it in, he suckes therewith corrupted Aire beside.
- No bed, no clothes though nere so thinne the pacients could abide.
- But laide their hardened stomackes flat against the bare colde ground
- Yet no abatement of the heate therein their bodies found:
- But het the earth, and as for Leache was none that helpe could hight.
- The Surgians and Phisitions too were in the selfesame plight.
- Their curelesse cunning hurt themselves. The nerer any man
- Approcheth his diseased friend, and doth the best he can
- To succor him most faithfully, the sooner did he catch
- His bane. All hope of health was gone. No easment nor dispatch
- Of this disease except in death and buriall did they finde.
- Looke, whereunto that eche mans minde and fancie was enclinde,
- That followed he. He never past what was for his behoofe.
- For why? that nought could doe them good was felt too much by proofe.
- In everie place without respect of shame or honestie
- At Wels, at brookes, at ponds, at pits, by swarmes they thronging lie:
- But sooner might they quench their life than staunch their thirst thereby.
- And therewithall so heavie and unwieldie they become,
- That wanting power to rise againe, they died there. Yet some
- The selfesame waters guzled still without regard of feare,
- So weary of their lothsome beds the wretched people were,
- That out they lept: or if to stand their feeble force denide,
- They wallowed downe and out of doores immediatly them hide:
- It was a death to every man his owne house to abide.
- And for they did not know the cause whereof the sicknesse came,
- The place (bicause they did it know) was blamed for the same.
- Ye should have seene some halfe fordead go plundring here and there
- By highways sides while that their legges were able them to beare.
- And some lie weeping on the ground or rolling piteously
- Their wearie eyes which afterwards should never see the Skie:
- Or stretching out their limmes to Heaven that overhangs on hie,
- Some here, some there, and yonder some, in what so ever coste
- Death finding them enforced them to yeelde their fainting Ghoste.
- What heart had I, suppose you, then, or ought I then to have?
- In faith I might have lothde my life, and wisht me in my grave
- As other of my people were. I could not cast mine eie
- In any place, but that dead folke there strowed I did spie
- Even like as from a shaken twig when rotten Apples drop,
- Or Mast from Beches, Holmes or Okes when Poales doe scare their top.
- Yon stately Church with greeces long against our Court you see:
- It is the shrine of Jupiter. What Wight was he or shee
- That on those Altars burned not their frankincense in vaine?
- How oft, yet even with Frankincense that partly did remaine
- Still unconsumed in their hands, did die both man and wife,
- As ech of them with mutuall care did pray for others life?
- How often dyde the mother there in suing for hir sonne,
- Unheard upon the Altarstone, hir prayer scarce begonne?
- How often at the Temple doore even while the Priest did bid
- His Beades, and poure pure wine betwene their homes, at sodaine slid
- The Oxen downe without stroke given? Yea once when I had thought
- My selfe by offring sacrifice Joves favor to have sought,
- For me, my Realme, and these three ymps, the Oxe with grievous grone
- Upon the sodaine sunke me downe: and little bloud or none
- Did issue scarce to staine the knife with which they slit his throte.
- The sickly inwardes eke had lost the signes whereby we note
- What things the Gods for certaintie would warne us of before:
- For even the verie bowels were attainted with the sore.
- Before the holie Temple doores, and (that the death might bee
- The more dispitefull) even before the Altars did I see
- The stinking corses scattred. Some with haltars stopt their winde,
- By death expulsing feare of death: and of a wilfull minde
- Did haste their ende, which of it selfe was coming on apace.
- The bodies which the plague had slaine were (O most wretched case)
- Not caried forth to buriall now. For why such store there was
- That scarce the gates were wyde inough for Coffins forth to passe.
- So eyther lothly on the ground unburied did they lie,
- Or else without solemnitie were burnt in bonfires hie.
- No reverence nor regard was had. Men fell togither by
- The eares for firing. In the fire that was prepared for one
- Another straungers corse was burnt. And lastly few or none
- Were left to mourne. The sillie soules of Mothers with their small
- And tender babes, and age with youth as Fortune did befall
- Went wandring gastly up and downe unmourned for at all.
- In fine so farre outrageously this helpelesse Murren raves,
- There was not wood inough for fire, nor ground inough for graves.
- Astonied at the stourenesse of so stout a storme of ills
- I said: O father Jupiter whose mightie power fulfills
- Both Heaven and Earth, if flying fame report thee not amisse
- In vouching that thou didst embrace in way of Love ere this
- The River Asops daughter, faire Aegina even by name,
- And that to take me for thy sonne thou count it not a shame:
- Restore thou me my folke againe, or kill thou me likewise.
- He gave a signe by sodaine flash of lightning from the Skies,
- And double peale of Thundercracks. I take this same (quoth I)
- And as I take it for a true and certaine signe whereby
- Thou doest confirme me for thy sonne: so also let it be
- A hansell of some happie lucke thou mindest unto me.
- Hard by us as it hapt that time, there was an Oken tree
- With spreaded armes as bare of boughes as lightly one shall see.
- This tree (as all the rest of Okes) was sacred unto Jove
- And sprouted of an Acorne which was fet from Dodon grove.
- Here markt we how the pretie Ants, the gatherers up of graine,
- One following other all along in order of a traine,
- Great burthens in their little mouthes did painfully sustaine:
- And nimbly up the rugged barke their beaten path maintaine.
- As wondring at the swarme I stoode, I said: O father deere
- As many people give thou me, as Ants are creeping heere.
- And fill mine empty walles againe. Anon the Oke did quake,
- And unconstreynde of any blast, his loftie braunches shake,
- The which did yeeld a certaine sound. With that for dreadfull feare
- A shuddring through my bodie strake and up stoode stiffe my heare.
- But yet I kissed reverently the ground and eke the tree.
- Howbeit I durst not be so bolde of hope acknowne to bee.
- Yet hoped I: and in my heart did shroude my secret hope.
- Anon came night: and sleepe upon my carefull carcasse crope.
- Me thought I saw the selfesame Oke with all his boughes and twigs,
- And all the Pismeres creeping still upon his tawnts and sprigs,
- Which trembling with a sodaine brayd these Harvest folke off threw
- And shed them on the ground about, who on the sodaine grew
- In bignesse more and more, and from the earth themselves did lift:
- And stoode upright against the tree: and therewithall did shift
- Their maygernesse, and coleblacke hue, and number of their feete:
- And clad their limmes with shape of man. Away my sleepe did fleete.
- And when I wooke, misliking of my dreame I made my mone
- That in the Gods I did perceive but slender helpe or none.
- But straight much trampling up and downe and shuffling did I heare,
- And (which to me that present time did verie straunge appeare)
- Of people talking in my house me thought I heard the reare.
- Now while I musing on the same supposde it to have been
- Some fancie of the foolish dreame which lately I had seen,
- Behold, in comes me Telamon in hast, and thrusting ope
- My Chamber doore, said: Sir, a sight of things surmounting hope
- And credit shall you have: come forth. Forth came I by and by
- And even such men for all the world there standing did I spie
- As in my sleepe I dreamed of, and knew them for the same.
- They comming to me greeted me, their sovereigne Lord, by name.
- And I (my vowes to Jove performde) my Citie did devide
- Among my new inhabiters: and gave them land beside
- Which by decease of such as were late owners of the same
- Lay wast. And in remembrance of the race whereof they came,
- The name of Emets I them gave. Their persons you have seen:
- Their disposition is the same that erst in them hath been.
- They are a sparing kinde of folke, on labor wholy set,
- A gatherer, and a hoorder up of such as they doe get.
- These fellowes being like in yeares and courage of the minde,
- Shall go a warfare ny as soone as that the Easterne winde
- Which brought you hither luckely, (the Easterne winde was it
- That brought them thither) turning, to the Southerne coast doe flit.
- With this and other such like talke they brought the day to ende.
- The Even in feasting, and the night in sleeping they did spende.
- The Sunne next Morrow in the heaven with golden beames did burne,
- And still the Easterne winde did blow and hold them from returne.
- Sir Pallas sonnes to Cephal came (for he their elder was)
- And he and they to Aeacus Court togither forth did passe.
- The King as yet was fast asleepe. Duke Phocus at the gate
- Did meete them, and receyved them according to their state.
- For Telamon and Peleus alreadie forth were gone,
- To muster Souldiers for the warres. So Phocus all alone
- Did leade them to an inner roume, where goodly Parlours were,
- And caused them to sit them downe. As he was also there
- Now sitting with them, he beheld a Dart in Cephals hand
- With golden head, the stele whereof he well might understand
- Was of some straunge and unknowne tree. When certain talke had past
- A while of other matters there, I am (quoth he) at last
- A man that hath delight in woods and loves to follow game
- And yet I am not able sure by any meanes to ame
- What wood your Javeling stele is of. Of Ash it can not bee.
- For then the colour should be browne. And if of Cornell tree,
- It would be full of knubbed knots. I know not what it is:
- But sure mine eies did never see a fairer Dart than this.
- The one of those same brethren twaine replying to him said:
- Nay then the speciall propertie will make you more dismaid,
- Than doth the beautie of this Dart. It hitteth whatsoever
- He throwes it at. The stroke thereof by Chaunce is ruled never.
- For having done his feate, it flies all bloudie backe agen
- Without the helpe of any hand. The Prince was earnest then
- To know the truth of all: as whence so riche a present came,
- Who gave it him, and whereupon the partie gave the same.
- Duke Cephal answerde his demaund in all points (one except)
- The which (as knowne apparantly) for shame he overlept:
- His beautie namely, for the which he did receive the Dart.
- And for the losse of his deare wife right pensive at the hart,
- He thus began with weeping eies: This Dart, O Goddesse sonne,
- (Ye ill would thinke it) makes me yirne, and long shall make me donne,
- If long the Gods doe give me life. This weapon hath undonne
- My deare beloved wife and me. O would to God this same
- Had never unto me bene given. There was a noble Dame
- That Procris hight (but you perchaunce have oftner heard the name
- Of great Orythia whose renowne was bruited so by fame,
- That blustring Boreas ravisht hir.) To this Orythia shee
- Was sister. If a bodie should compare in ech degree
- The face and natures of them both, he could none other deeme
- But Procris worthier of the twaine of ravishment should seeme.
- Hir father and our mutuall love did make us man and wife.
- Men said I had (and so I had in deede) a happie life.
- Howbeit Gods will was otherwise, for had it pleased him
- Of all this while, and even still yet in pleasure should I swim.
- The second Month that she and I by band of lawfull bed
- Had joynde togither bene, as I my masking Toyles did spred,
- To overthrow the horned Stags, the early Morning gray
- Then newly having chased night and gun to breake the day,
- From Mount Hymettus highest tops that freshly flourish ay,
- Espide me, and against my will conveyde me quight away.
- I trust the Goddesse will not be offended that I say
- The troth of hir. Although it would delight one to beholde
- Hir ruddie cheekes: although of day and night the bounds she holde:
- Although on juice of Ambrosie continually she feede:
- Yet Procris was the only Wight that I did love in deede.
- On Procris only was my heart: none other word had I
- But Procris only in my mouth: still Procris did I crie.
- I upned what a holy thing was wedlocke: and how late
- It was ago since she and I were coupled in that state.
- Which band (and specially so soone) it were a shame to breake.
- The Goddesse being moved at the words that I did speake,
- Said: Cease thy plaint, thou Carle, and keepe thy Procris still for me.
- But (if my minde deceyve me not) the time will shortly be
- That wish thou wilt thou had hir not. And so in anger she
- To Procris sent me backe againe. In going homeward as
- Upon the Goddesse sayings with my selfe I musing was,
- I gan to dreade bad measures lest my wife had made some scape.
- Hir youthfull yeares begarnished with beautie, grace and shape,
- In maner made me to beleve the deede already done.
- Againe hir maners did forbid mistrusting over soone.
- But I had bene away: but even the same from whom I came
- A shrewde example gave how lightly wives doe run in blame:
- But we poore Lovers are afraide of all things. Hereupon
- I thought to practise feates: which thing repented me anon:
- And shall repent me while I live. The purpose of my drifts
- Was for t'assault hir honestie with great rewards and gifts.
- The Morning fooding this my feare, to further my device,
- My shape (which thing me thought I felt) had altered with a trice.
- By meanes whereof anon unknowne to Pallas towne I came,
- And entred so my house: the house was clearely voide of blame:
- And shewed signes of chastitie in mourning ever sith
- Their maister had bene rapt away. A thousand meanes wherewith
- To come to Procris speach had I devisde: and scarce at last
- Obteinde I it. As soone as I mine eie upon hir cast,
- My wits were ravisht in such wise that nigh I had forgot
- The purposde triall of hir troth. Right much adoe God wot
- I had to holde mine owne that I the truth bewrayed not.
- To keepe my selfe from kissing hir full much adoe I had
- As reason was I should have done. She looked verie sad.
- And yet as sadly as she lookte, no Wight alive can show
- A better countenance than did she. Hir heart did inward glow
- In longing for hir absent spouse. How beautifull a face
- Thinke you, Sir Phocus, was in hir whome sorrow so did grace?
- What should I make report how oft hir chast behaviour strave
- And overcame most constantly the great assaults I gave?
- Or tell how oft she shet me up with these same words? To one
- (Where ere he is) I keepe my selfe, and none but he alone
- Shall sure enjoy the use of me. What creature having his
- Wits perfect would not be content with such a proofe as this
- Of hir most stedfast chastitie? I could not be content:
- But still to purchase to my selfe more wo I further went.
- At last by profering endlesse welth, and heaping gifts on gifts,
- In overlading hir with wordes I drave hir to hir shifts.
- Then cride I out: Thine evill heart my selfe I tardie take.
- Where of a straunge advouterer the countenance I did make,
- I am in deede thy husband. O unfaithfull woman thou,
- Even I my selfe can testifie thy lewde behavior now.
- She made none answere to my words, but being stricken dum
- And with the sorrow of hir heart alonly overcum,
- Forsaketh hir entangling house, and naughtie husband quight:
- And hating all the sort of men by reason of the spight
- That I had wrought hir, straide abrode among the Mountaines hie,
- And exercisde Dianas feates. Then kindled by and by
- A fiercer fire within my bones than ever was before,
- When she had thus forsaken me by whome I set such store.
- I prayde hir she woulde pardon me, and did confesse my fault.
- Affirming that my selfe likewise with such a great assault
- Of richesse might right well have bene enforst to yeelde to blame,
- The rather if performance had ensewed of the same.
- When I had this submission made, and she sufficiently
- Revengde hir wronged chastitie, she then immediatly
- Was reconcilde: and afterward we lived many a yeare
- In joy and never any jarre betweene us did appeare.
- Besides all this (as though hir love had bene too small a gift)
- She gave me eke a goodly Grewnd which was of foote so swift,
- That when Diana gave him hir, she said he should outgo
- All others, and with this same Grewnd she gave this Dart also
- The which you see I hold in hand. Perchaunce ye faine would know
- What fortune to the Grewnd befell. I will unto you show
- A wondrous case. The straungenesse of the matter will you move.
- The krinkes of certaine Prophesies surmounting farre above
- The reach of auncient wits to read, the Brookenymphes did expound:
- And mindlesse of hir owne darke doubts Dame Themis being found,
- Was as a rechelesse Prophetisse throwne flat against the ground.
- For which presumptuous deede of theirs she tooke just punishment.
- To Thebes in Baeotia streight a cruell beast she sent,
- Which wrought the bane of many a Wight. The countryfolk did feed
- Him with their cattell and themselves, untill (as was agreed)
- That all we youthfull Gentlemen that dwelled there about
- Assembling pitcht our corded toyles the champion fields throughout.
- But Net ne toyle was none so hie that could his wightnesse stop,
- He mounted over at his ease the highest of the top.
- Then everie man let slip their Grewnds, but he them all outstript
- And even as nimbly as a birde in daliance from them whipt.
- Then all the field desired me to let my Laelaps go:
- (The Grewnd that Procris unto me did give was named so)
- Who strugling for to wrest his necke already from the band
- Did stretch his collar. Scarsly had we let him off of hand
- But that where Laelaps was become we could not understand.
- The print remained of his feete upon the parched sand,
- But he was clearly out of sight. Was never Dart I trow,
- Nor Pellet from enforced Sling, nor shaft from Cretish bow,
- That flew more swift than he did runne. There was not farre fro thence
- About the middle of the Laund a rising ground, from whence
- A man might overlooke the fieldes. I gate me to the knap
- Of this same hill, and there beheld of this straunge course the hap
- In which the beast seemes one while caught, and ere a man would think,
- Doth quickly give the Grewnd the slip, and from his bighting shrink:
- And like a wilie Foxe he runnes not forth directly out,
- Nor makes a windlasse over all the champion fieldes about,
- But doubling and indenting still avoydes his enmies lips,
- And turning short, as swift about as spinning wheele he whips,
- To disapoint the snatch. The Grewnd pursuing at an inch
- Doth cote him, never losing ground: but likely still to pinch
- Is at the sodaine shifted off. Continually he snatches
- In vaine: for nothing in his mouth save only Aire he latches.
- Then thought I for to trie what helpe my Dart at neede could show.
- Which as I charged in my hand by levell aime to throw,
- And set my fingars to the thongs, I lifting from bylow
- Mine eies, did looke right forth againe, and straight amids the field
- (A wondrous thing) two Images of Marble I beheld:
- Of which ye would have thought the t'one had fled on still apace
- And that with open barking mouth the tother did him chase.
- In faith it was the will of God (at least if any Goddes
- Had care of them) that in their pace there should be found none oddes.
- Thus farre: and then he held his peace. But tell us ere we part
- (Quoth Phocus) what offence or fault committed hath your Dart?
- His Darts offence he thus declarde: My Lorde, the ground of all
- My grief was joy. Those joyes of mine remember first I shall.
- It doth me good even yet to thinke upon that blissfull time
- ( meane the fresh and lustie yeares of pleasant youthfull Prime)
- When I a happie man enjoyde so faire and good a wife,
- And she with such a loving make did lead a happie life.
- The care was like of both of us, the mutuall love all one.
- She would not to have line with Jove my presence have forgone.
- Ne was there any Wight that could of me have wonne the love,
- No though Dame Venus had hir selfe descended from above.
- The glowing brands of love did burne in both our brests alike.
- Such time as first with crased beames the Sunne is wont to strike
- The tops of Towres and mountaines high, according to the wont
- Of youthfull men, in woodie Parkes I went abrode to hunt.
- But neither horse nor Hounds to make pursuit upon the scent.
- Nor Servingman, nor knottie toyle before or after went,
- For I was safe with this same Dart. When wearie waxt mine arme
- With striking Deere, and that the day did make me somewhat warme,
- Withdrawing for to coole my selfe I sought among the shades
- For Aire that from the valleyes colde came breathing in at glades.
- The more excessive was my heate the more for Aire I sought.
- I waited for the gentle Aire: the Aire was that that brought
- Refreshing to my wearie limmes. And (well I bear't in thought)
- Come Aire I wonted was to sing, come ease the paine of me
- Within my bosom lodge thy selfe most welcome unto me,
- And as thou heretofore art wont abate my burning heate.
- By chaunce (such was my destinie) proceeding to repeate
- Mo words of daliance like to these, I used for to say
- Great pleasure doe I take in thee: for thou from day to day
- Doste both refresh and nourish me. Thou makest me delight
- In woods and solitarie grounds. Now would to God I might
- Receive continuall at my mouth this pleasant breath of thine.
- Some man (I wote not who) did heare these doubtfull words of mine,
- And taking them amisse supposde that this same name of Aire
- The which I callde so oft upon, had bene some Ladie faire:
- He thought that I had lovde some Nymph. And thereupon streight way
- He runnes me like a Harebrainde blab to Procris, to bewray
- This fault as he surmised it: and there with lavish tung
- Reported all the wanton words that he had heard me sung.
- A thing of light beliefe is love. She (as I since have harde)
- For sodeine sorrow swounded downe: and when long afterwarde
- She came againe unto hir selfe, she said she was accurst
- And borne to cruell destinie: and me she blamed wurst
- For breaking faith: and freating at a vaine surmised shame
- She dreaded that which nothing was: she fearde a headlesse name.
- She wist not what to say or thinke. The wretch did greatly feare
- Deceit: yet could she not beleve the tales that talked were.
- Onlesse she saw hir husbands fault apparant to hir eie,
- She thought she would not him condemne of any villanie.
- Next day as soone as Morning light had driven the night away,
- I went abrode to hunt againe: and speeding, as I lay
- Upon the grasse, I said: Come, Aire, and ease my painfull heate.
- And on the sodaine as I spake there seemed for to beate
- A certaine sighing in mine eares of what I could not gesse.
- But ceasing not for that I still proceeded nathelesse:
- And said, O come, most pleasant Aire. With that I heard a sound
- Of russling softly in the leaves that lay upon the ground.
- And thinking it had bene some beast I threw my flying Dart.
- It was my wife. Who being now sore wounded at the hart,
- Cride out, Alas. As soone as I perceyved by the shrieke
- It was my faithfull spouse, I ran me to the voiceward lieke
- A madman that had lost his wits. There found I hir halfe dead,
- Hir scattred garments staining in the bloud that she had bled,
- And (wretched creature as I am) yet drawing from the wound
- The gift that she hir selfe had given. Then softly from the ground
- I lifted up that bodie of hirs of which I was more chare
- Than of mine owne, and from hir brest hir clothes in hast I tare.
- And binding up hir cruell wound I strived for to stay
- The bloud, and prayd she would not thus by passing so away
- Forsake me as a murtherer: she waxing weake at length
- And drawing to hir death apace, enforced all hir strength
- To utter these few wordes at last: I pray thee humbly by
- Our bond of wedlocke, by the Gods as well above the Skie
- As those to whome I now must passe, as ever I have ought
- Deserved well by thee, and by the Love which having brought
- Me to my death doth even in death unfaded still remaine,
- To nestle in thy bed and mine let never Aire obtaine.
- This sed, she held hir peace, and I perceyved by the same
- And tolde hir also how she was beguiled in the name.
- But what avayled telling then? she quoathde: and with hir bloud
- Hir little strength did fade. Howbeit as long as that she coud
- See ought, she stared in my face and gasping still on me
- Even in my mouth she breathed forth hir wretched ghost. But she
- Did seeme with better cheare to die for that hir conscience was
- Discharged quight and cleare of doubtes. Now in conclusion as
- Duke Cephal weeping told this tale to Phocus and the rest
- Whose eyes were also moyst with teares to heare the pitious gest,
- Behold King Aeacus and with him his eldest sonnes both twaine
- Did enter in and after them there followed in a traine
- Of well appointed men of warre new levied: which the King
- Delivered unto Cephalus to Athens towne to bring.