Metamorphoses
Ovid
Ovid. The XV bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis. Golding, Arthur, translator. London: W. Seres (printer), 1567.
- 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.
- The day starre now beginning to disclose the Morning bright
- And for to dense the droupie Skie from darkenesse of the night,
- The Easterne wind went downe and flakes of foggie Clouds gan show,
- And from the South a merrie gale on Cephals sayles did blow.
- The which did hold so fresh and large, that he and all his men
- Before that he was looked for arrived safe agen
- In wished Haven. In that while King Minos with his fleete
- Did waste the cost of Megara. And first he thought it meete
- To make a triall of the force and courage of his men
- Against the towne Alcathoe where Nisus reigned then.
- Among whose honorable haire that was of colour gray,
- One scarlet haire did grow upon his crowne, whereon the stay
- Of all his Kingdome did depende. Sixe times did Phoebe fill
- Hir homes with borrowed light, and yet the warre hung wavering still
- In fickle fortunes doubtfull scaales: and long with fleeting wings
- Betwene them both flew victorie. A Turret of the Kings
- Stood hard adjoyning to the Wall which being touched rings,
- For Phoebus (so men say) did lay his golden Violl there,
- And so the stones the sound thereof did ever after beare.
- King Nisus daughter oftentimes resorted to this Wall
- And strake it with a little stone to raise the sound withall,
- In time of peace. And in the warre she many a time and oft
- Behelde the sturdie stormes of Mars from that same place aloft.
- And by continuance of the siege the Captaines names she knew,
- Their armes, horse, armor and aray in everie band and crew.
- Bit specially above the rest she noted Minos face.
- She knew inough and more than was inough as stoode the case.
- For were it that he hid his head in Helme with fethered crest,
- To hir opinion in his Helme he stayned all the rest.
- Or were it that he tooke in hand of steele his target bright,
- She thought in weelding of his shielde he was a comly Knight.
- Or were it that he raisde his arme to throw the piercing Dart,
- The Ladie did commend his force and manhode joynde with Art.
- Or drew he with his arrow nockt his bended Bow in hand
- She sware that so in all respectes was Phoebus wont to stand.
- But when he shewde his visage bare, his Helmet laid aside,
- And on a Milke white Steede brave trapt, in Purple Robe did ride,
- She scarce was Mistresse of hir selfe, hir wits were almost straught.
- A happie Dart she thought it was that he in fingars caught,
- And happie called she those reynes that he in hand had raught.
- And if she might have had hir will, she could have founde in hart,
- Among the enmies to have gone. She could have found in hart,
- From downe the highest Turret there hir bodie to have throwne,
- Among the thickest of the Tents of Gnossus to have flowne,
- Or for to ope the brazen gates and let the enmie in,
- Or whatsoever else she thought might Minos favor win.
- And as she sate beholding still the King of Candies tent,
- She said: I doubt me whether that I rather may lament
- Or of this wofull warre be glad. It grieves me at the hart
- That thou O Minos unto me thy Lover enmie art.
- But had not this same warfare bene, I never had him knowne.
- Yet might he leave this cruell warre, and take me as his owne.
- A wife, a feere, a pledge for peace he might receive of me.
- O flowre of beautie, O thou Prince most pearlesse: if that she
- That bare thee in hir wombe were like in beautie unto thee,
- A right good cause had Jove on hir enamored for to bee.
- Oh happie were I if with wings I through the Aire might glide
- And safely to King Minos Tent from this same Turret slide.
- Then would I utter who I am, and how the firie flame
- Of Cupid burned in my brest, desiring him to name
- What dowrie he would aske with me in loan of his love,
- Save only of my Fathers Realme no question he should move.
- For rather than by traitrous meanes my purpose should take place,
- Adue, desire of hoped Love. Yet oftentimes such grace
- Hath from the gentle Conqueror proceeded erst, that they
- Which tooke the foyle have found the same their profit and their stay.
- Assuredly the warre is just that Minos takes in hand,
- As in revengement of his sonne late murthered in this land.
- And as his quarrell seemeth just, even so it cannot faile,
- But rightfull warre against the wrong must (I beleve) prevaile.
- Now if this Citie in the ende must needes be taken, why
- Should his owne sworde and not my Love be meanes to win it by?
- It were yet better he should speede by gentle meanes without
- The slaughter of his people, yea and (as it may fall out)
- With spending of his owne bloud too. For sure I have a care
- O Minos lest some Souldier wound thee ere he be aware.
- For who is he in all the world that hath so hard a hart
- That wittingly against thy head would aime his cruell Dart?
- I like well this devise, and on this purpose will I stand:
- To yeelde my selfe endowed with this Citie to the hand
- Of Minos: and in doing so to bring this warre to ende.
- But smally it availeth me the matter to intende.
- The gates and yssues of this towne are kept with watch and warde,
- And of the Keyes continually my Father hath the garde.
- My Father only is the man of whome I stand in dreede,
- My Father only hindreth me of my desired speede.
- Would God that I were Fatherlesse. Tush, everie Wight may bee
- A God as in their owne behalfe, and if their hearts be free
- From fearefulnesse. For fortune works against the fond desire
- Of such as through faint heartednesse attempt not to aspire.
- Some other feeling in hir heart such flames of Cupids fire
- Already would have put in proofe some practise to destroy
- What thing so ever of hir Love the furtherance might anoy
- And why should any woman have a bolder heart than I?
- Through fire and sword I boldly durst adventure for to flie.
- And yet in this behalfe at all there needes no sword nor fire,
- There needeth but my fathers haire to accomplish my desire. I
- That Purple haire of his to me more precious were than golde:
- That Purple haire of his would make me blest a thousand folde:
- That haire would compasse my desire and set my heart at rest.
- Night (chiefest Nurce of thoughts to such as are with care opprest)
- Approched while she spake these words, and darknesse did encrease
- Hir boldnesse. At such time as folke are wont to finde release
- Of cares that all the day before were working in their heds,
- By sleepe which falleth first of all upon them in their beds,
- Hir fathers chamber secretly she entered: where (alasse
- That ever Maiden should so farre the bounds of Nature passe)
- She robde hir Father of the haire upon the which the fate
- Depended both of life and death and of his royall state.
- And joying in hir wicked prey, she beares it with hir so
- As if it were some lawfull spoyle acquired of the fo.
- And passing through a posterne gate she marched through the mid
- Of all hir enmies (such a trust she had in that she did)
- Untill she came before the King, whom troubled with the sight
- She thus bespake: Enforst, O King, by love against all right
- I Scylla, Nisus daughter, doe present unto thee heere
- My native soyle, my household Gods, and all that else is deere
- For this my gift none other thing in recompence I crave
- Than of thy person which I love, fruition for to have.
- And in assurance of my love receyve thou here of mee
- My fathers Purple haire: and thinke I give not unto thee
- A haire but even my fathers head. And as these words she spake,
- The cursed gift with wicked hand she profered him to take.
- But Minos did abhorre hir gift: and troubled in his minde
- With straungenesse of the heynous act so sore against hir kinde,
- He aunswerde: O thou slaunder of our age, the Gods expell
- Thee out of all this world of theirs and let thee no where dwell.
- Let rest on neither Sea nor Land be graunted unto thee.
- Assure thy selfe that as for me I never will agree
- That Candie, Joves owne foster place (as long as I there raigne),
- Shall unto such a monstruous Wight a Harbrow place remaine.
- This said, he like a righteous Judge among his vanquisht foes
- Set order under paine of death. Which done he willed those
- That served him to go aboorde and Anchors up to wey.
- When Scylla saw the Candian fleete aflote to go away,
- And that the Captaine yeelded not so good reward as shee
- Had for hir lewdnesse looked for: and when in fine she see
- That no entreatance could prevaile, then bursting out in ire
- With stretched hands and scattred haire, as furious as the fire
- She shraming cryed out aloud: And whither doste thou flie
- Rejecting me, the only meanes that thou hast conquerde by?
- O cankerde Churle preferde before my native soyle, preferd
- Before my father, whither flyste, O Carle of heart most hard?
- Whose conquest as it is my sinne, so doth it well deserve
- Reward of thee, for that my fault so well thy turne did serve.
- Doth neither thee the gift I gave, nor yet my faithfull love,
- Nor yet that all my hope on thee alonly rested, move?
- For whither shall I now resort forsaken thus of thee?
- To Megara the wretched soyle of my nativitie?
- Behold it lieth vanquished and troden under foote.
- But put the case it flourisht still: yet could it nothing boote.
- I have foreclosde it to my selfe through treason when I gave
- My fathers head to thee. Whereby my countriefolke I drave
- To hate me justly for my crime. And all the Realmes about
- My lewde example doe abhorre. Thus have I shet me out
- Of all the world that only Crete might take me in, which if
- Thou like a Churle denie, and cast me up without relief,
- The Ladie Europ surely was not mother unto thee:
- But one of Affricke Sirts where none but Serpents fostred bee,
- But even some cruell Tiger bred in Armen or in Inde,
- Or else the Gulfe Charybdis raisde with rage of Southerne winde.
- Thou wert not got by Jove: ne yet thy mother was beguilde
- In shape of Bull: of this thy birth the tale is false compilde.
- But rather some unwieldie Bull even altogither wilde
- That never lowed after Cow was out of doubt thy Sire.
- O father Nisus, put thou me to penance for my hire.
- Rejoyce thou in my punishment, thou towne by me betrayd.
- I have deserved (I confesse) most justly to be payd
- With death. But let some one of them that through my lewdnesse smart
- Destroy me, why doste thou that by my crime a gainer art,
- Commit like crime thy selfe? Admit this wicked act of me
- As to my land and Fatherward in deede most hainous be.
- Yet oughtest thou to take it as a friendship unto thee.
- But she was meete to be thy wife, that in a Cow of tree
- Could play the Harlot with a Bull, and in hir wombe could beare
- A Barne, in whome the shapes of man and beasts confounded were.
- How sayst thou, Carle? compell not these my words thine eares to glow?
- Or doe the windes that drive thy shyps, in vaine my sayings blow?
- In faith it is no wonder though thy wife Pasiphae
- Preferrde a Bull to thee, for thou more cruell wert than he.
- Now wo is me. To make more hast it standeth me in hand.
- The water sounds with Ores, and hales from me and from my land.
- In vaine thou striveth, O thou Churle, forgetfull quight of my
- Desertes: for even in spight of thee pursue thee still will I.
- Upon thy courbed Keele will I take holde: and hanging so
- Be drawen along the Sea with thee where ever thou do go.
- She scarce had said these words, but that she leaped on the wave
- And getting to the ships by force of strength that Love hir gave
- Upon the King of Candies Keele in spight of him she clave.
- Whome when hir father spide (for now he hovered in the aire,
- And being made a Hobby Hauke did soare between a paire
- Of nimble wings of yron Mayle) he soused downe amaine
- To seaze upon hir as she hung, and would have tome hir faine
- With bowing Beake. But she for feare did let the Caricke go:
- And as she was about to fall, the lightsome Aire did so
- Uphold hir that she could not touch the Sea as seemed tho.
- Anon all fethers she became, and forth away did flie
- Transformed to a pretie Bird that stieth to the Skie.
- And for bicause like clipped haire hir head doth beare a marke,
- The Greekes it Cyris call, and we doe name the same a Larke.
- As soone as Minos came aland in Crete, he by and by
- Performde his vowes to Jupiter in causing for to die
- A hundred Bulles for sacrifice. And then he did adorne
- His Pallace with the enmies spoyles by conquest wonne beforne.
- The slaunder of his house encreast: and now appeared more
- The mothers filthie whoredome by the monster that she bore
- Of double shape, an ugly thing. This shamefull infamie,
- This monster borne him by his wife he mindes by pollicie
- To put away, and in a house with many nookes and krinks
- From all mens sights and speach of folke to shet it up he thinks.
- Immediatly one Daedalus renowmed in that lande
- For fine devise and workmanship in building, went in hand
- To make it. He confounds his worke with sodaine stops and stayes,
- And with the great uncertaintie of sundrie winding wayes
- Leades in and out, and to and fro, at divers doores astray.
- And as with trickling streame the Brooke Maeander seemes to play
- In Phrygia, and with doubtfull race runnes counter to and fro,
- And meeting with himselfe doth looke if all his streame or no
- Come after, and retiring eft cleane backward to his spring
- And marching eft to open Sea as streight as any string,
- Indenteth with reversed streame: even so of winding wayes
- Unnumerable Daedalus within his worke convayes.
- Yea scarce himselfe could find the meanes to winde himselfe well out:
- So busie and so intricate the house was all about.
- Within this Maze did Minos shet the Monster that did beare
- The shape of man and Bull. And when he twise had fed him there
- With bloud of Atticke Princes sonnes that given for tribute were,
- The third time at the ninth yeares end the lot did chaunce to light
- On Theseus, King Aegaeus sonne: who like a valiant Knight
- Did overcome the Minotaur: and by the pollicie
- Of Minos eldest daughter (who had taught him for to tie
- A clew of Linnen at the doore to guide himselfe thereby)
- As busie as the turnings were, his way he out did finde,
- Which never man had done before. And streight he having winde,
- With Minos daughter sailde away to Dia: where (unkinde
- And cruell creature that he was) he left hir post alone
- Upon the shore. Thus desolate and making dolefull mone
- God Bacchus did both comfort hir and take hir to his bed.
- And with an everlasting starre the more hir fame to spred,
- He tooke the Chaplet from hir head, and up to Heaven it threw.
- The Chaplet thirled through the Aire: and as it gliding flew,
- The precious stones were turnd to starres which biased cleare and bright,
- And tooke their place (continuing like a Chaplet still to sight)
- Amid betweene the Kneeler Downe and him that gripes the Snake.