The. xv. bookes of P. Ouidius Naso, entytuled Metamorphosis, translated oute of Latin into English meeter, by Arthur Golding Gentleman, a worke very pleasaunt and delectable. 1567.

¶THE .XV. BOOKE OF Ouids Metamorphosis. (Book 15)

A Persone in the whyle was sought sufficient too susteine The burthen of so great a charge, and woorthy for too reigne In stead of such a mighty prince. The noble Nume by fame (Whoo harped then vppon the truthe before too passe it came) Appoynted too the Empyre was. This Numa thought it not Inough that he the knowledge of the Sabine rites had got. The déepenesse of the noble wit too greater things was bent, Too serch of things the natures out. The care of this intent Did cause that he from Curie and his natiue Countrye went With peynfull trauell, too the towne where Hercules did hoste. And asking who it was of Greece that in th'Italian coast Had buylt that towne, an aged man well séene in storyes old, Too satisfye his mynd therin the processe thus him told. As Hercules enriched with the Spannish kyne did hold His voyage from the Ocean sea, men say with lucky cut He came a land on Lacine coast. And whyle he there did put His beace too grazing, he himself in Crotons house did rest The greatest man in all those parts and vntoo straungers best: And that he there refresht him of his tedious trauell, and That when he should depart, he sayd. where now thy house dooth stand, Shall in thy childers childrens tyme a Citie buylded bée. Which woordes of his haue proued trew as playnly now wée sée. For why there was one Myscelus a Greeke, Alemons sonne, A persone more in fauour of the Goddes than any one In those dayes was. The* 1.1 God that beares the boystous club did stay Uppon him being fast a sléepe, and sayd: go seeke streyght way The stonny streame of Aeserie. Thy natiue soyle for ay Forsake. And sore he threatned him onlesse he did obey. The God and sléepe departed both toogither. Up did ryse Al••mons sonne, and in himself did secretly deuyse Uppon this vision. Long his mynd stroue dowtfull too and fro. The God had go. His country lawes did say he should not go, And death was made the penaltie for him that would doo so. Cléere Titan in the Ocean sea had hid his lyghtsomme head,

And duskye nyght had put vp hers most thick with starres bespred. The selfsame God by Myscelus did séeme too stand ef••soone, Commaunding him the selfsame thing that he before had doone, And threatning mo and greater plages onlesse he did obey. Then being stricken sore in feare he went about streyghtway His household from his natyue lond too forreine too conuey. A rumor héerevppon did ryse through all the towne of Arge And disobedience of the lawe was layëd too his charge. Assoone as that the cace had first béene pleaded and the déede Apparantly perceyued, so that witnesse did not néede, Arreyned and ••orlorne too heauen he cast his handes and eyes, And sayd: O God whoose labours twelue haue purchaste thée the skyes, Assist mée I the pray. For thou art author of my cryme. When iudgement should bée giuen it was the guyse in auncient tyme With whyght stones too acquit the cléere, and éeke with blacke too cast The giltye. That tyme also so the heauy sentence past. The stones were cast vnmercifull all blacke intoo the pot. But when the stones were powred out too number, there was not A blacke among them. All were whyght. And so through Hercles powre A gentle iudgement did procéede, and he was quit that howre. Then gaue he thankes too Hercules, and hauing prosprous blast, Cut ouer the Iönian sea, and so by Tarent past Which Spartanes buylt, and Cybaris, and Neaeth salentine, And Thurine bay, and Emese, and éeke the pastures fyne Of Calabrye. And hauing scarce well sought the coastes that lye Uppon the sea, he found the mouth of fatall Aeserye. Not farre from thence, he also found the tumb in which the ground Did kiuer Crotons holy bones, and in that place did found The Citie that was willed him, and gaue theretoo the name Of him that there lay buryed. Such originall as this same This Citie in th'Italian coast is sayd too haue by fame. Héere dwelt a man of Samos Ile, who for the hate he had Too Lordlynesse and Tyranny, though vnconstreynd was glad Too make himself a bannisht man. And though this persone wéere Farre distant from the Goddes by site of heauen: yit came he néere Too them in mynd. And he by syght of soule and reason cléere Behild the things which nature dooth too fleshly eyes denye.

And when with care most vigilant he had assuredly Imprinted all things in his hart, he set them openly Abroade for other folk too lerne. He taught his silent sort (Which woondred at the heauenly woordes theyr mayster did report) The first fonndation of the world: the cause of euery thing: What nature was: & what was God: whence snow & lyghtning spring: And whither Ioue or else the wynds in breaking clowdes doo thunder: What shakes y^• earth: what law y^e starres doo kéepe theyr courses vnder: And what soeuer other thing is hid from common sence. ••e also is the first that did inioyne an abstinence Too feede of any lyuing thing. He also first of all Spake thus: although ryght lernedly, yit too effect but small. Yée mortall men forbeare too frank your flesh with wicked foode. Yée haue both corne & frutes of trées and grapes & herbes right good. And though that sum bée harsh and hard: yit fyre may make them well Both soft and swéete. Yée may haue milk, and honny which dooth smell Of flowres of tyme. The lauas earth dooth yéeld you plentiously Most gentle foode, and riches too content bothe mynd and ••ye. There néedes no slaughter nor no blood too get your liuing by. The beastes doo breake theyr fast with flesh: & yit not all beastes neyther. For horses, shéepe, and Rotherbeastes too liue by grasse had leuer. The nature of the beast that dooth delyght in bloody foode, Is cruell and vnmercifull. As Lyons féerce of moode, Armenian Tigers, Beares, and Woolues. Oh what a wickednesse It is too cra•• the mawe with mawe, and frank vp flesh with flesh, And for one liuing thing too liue by killing of another: As whoo should say, that of so great abundance which our moother The earth dooth yéeld most bountuously, none other myght delyght Thy cruell téethe too chawe vppon, than grisly woundes that myght Expresse the Cyclops guyse? or else as if thou could not stawnche The hunger of thy gréedye gut and euill mannerd pawnche, Onlesse thou stroyd sum other wyght. But that same auncient age Which wée haue naamd the golden world, cléene voyd of all such rage, Livd blessedly by frute of trées and herbes that grow on ground, And stayned not their mouthes w^t blood. Then birds might safe & sound Fly where they listed in the ayre. The hare vnscaard of hound Went pricking ouer all the féeldes. No angling hooke with bayt

Did hang the séely fish that bote mistrusting no deceyt. All things were voyd of guylefulnesse: no treason was in trust: But all was fréendshippe loue and peace. But after that the lust Of one (what God so ere he was) disdeyning former fare, Too cram that cruell croppe of his with fleshmeate did not spare, He made a way for wickednesse. And first of all the knyfe Was staynd with blood of sauage beastes in ridding them of lyfe. And that had nothing béene amisse, if there had béene the stay. For why wée graunt, without the breach of godlynesse wée may By death confound the things that séeke too take our lyues away. But as too kill them reason was: euen so agein theyr was No reason why too eate theyr flesh. This leawdnesse thence did passe On further still. Wheras there was no sacrifyse beforne, The Swyne (bycause with) hoked groyne he wrooted vp the corne, And did deceyue the tillmen of theyr hope next yéere thereby) Was déemed woorthy by desert in sacrifyse too dye. The Goate for byghting vynes was slayne at Bacchus altar whoo Wreakes such misdéedes. Theyr owne offence was hurtful to theis twoo. But what haue you poore shéepe misdoone a cattell méeke and méeld, Created for too maynteine man, whoose fulsomme duggs doo yéeld Swéete Nectar, whoo dooth clothe vs with your wooll in soft aray? Whoose lyfe dooth more vs benefite than dooth your death farreway? What trespasse haue the Oxen doone? a beast without all guyle Or craft, vnhurtfull, simple, borne too labour euery whyle? In fayth he is vnmyndfull and vnwoorthy of increace Of corne, that in his hart can fynd his tilman too releace From plowgh, too cut his throte: that in his hart can fynde (I say) Those neckes with hatchets of too strike, whoose skinne is worne away With labring ay for him: whoo turnd so oft his land most tough, Whoo brought so many haruestes home. yit is it not ynough That such a great outrageousenesse committed is. They father Theyr wickednesse vppon the Goddes. And falsly they doo gather That in the death of peynfull Ox the hyghest dooth delyght. A sacrifyse vnblemished and fayrest vntoo syght, (For beawtye woorketh them theyr bane) adornd with garlonds, and With glittring gold, is cyted at the altar for too stand. There héeres he woordes (he wotes not what) y^• which y^• préest dooth pray,

And on his forehead suffereth him betwéene his hornes too lay The eares of corne that he himself hath wrought for in the clay, And stayneth with his blood the knyfe that he himself perchaunce Hathe in the water shéere ere then behild by soodein glaunce. Immediatly they haling out his hartstrings still aliue, And poring on them, séeke therein Goddes secrets too re••ryue. Whence commes so gréedy appetyte in men, of wicked meate? And dare yée O yée mortall men aduenture thus too eate? Nay doo not (I beséeche yée) so. But giue good ••are and héede Too that that I shall warne you of, and trust it as your créede, That whensoeuer you doo eate your Oxen, you deuowre Your husbandmen. And forasmuch as God this instant howre Dooth moue my toong too speake, I will obey his heauenly powre. My God Apollos temple I will set you open, and Disclose the woondrous heauens themselues, and make you vnderstand The Oracles and secrets of the Godly maiestye. Greate things, and such as wit of man could neuer yit espye, And such as haue béene hidden long, I purpose too descrye. I mynd too leaue the earth, and vp among the starres too slye. I mynd too leaue this grosser place, and in the clowdes too flye, And on stowt Atlas shoulders strong too rest my self on hye, And looking downe from heauen on men that wander heere and there In dreadfull feare of death as though they voyd of reason were, Too giue them exhortation thus: and playnely too vnwynd The whole discourse of destinie as nature hath assignd. O men amaazd with dread of death, why feare yée Limbo Styx, And other names of vanitie, which are but Poets tricks? And perrills of another world all false surmysed géere? For whither fyre or length of tyme consume the bodyes héere, Yee well may thinke that further harmes they cannot suffer more. For soules are frée from death. Howbéet, they liuing euermore Theyr former dwellings are receyud and liue ageine in new. For I myself (ryght well in mynd I beare it too be trew) Was in the tyme of Troian warre Euphorbus Panthevves sonne Quyght through whoose hart the deathfull speare of Menelay did ronne. I late age in Iunos Church at Argos did behold

And knew the target which I in my left hand there did hold. Al things doo chaūge. But nothing sure dooth perrish. This same spright Dooth fléete, and fisking héere and there dooth swiftly take his flyght From one place too another place, and entreth euery wyght, Remouing out of man too beast, and out of beast too man. But yit it neuer perrisheth nor neuer perrish can. And euen as supple wax with ease receyueth fygures straunge, And kéepes not ay one shape, ne bydes assured ay from chaunge, And yit continueth alwayes wax in substaunce: So I say The soule is ay the selfsame thing it was and yit astray It fléeteth intoo sundry shapes. Therfore least Godlynesse Bée vanquisht by outragious lust of belly beastlynesse, Forbeare (I speake by prophesie) your kinsfolkes ghostes too chace By slaughter: neyther nourish blood with blood in any cace. And sith on open sea the wynds doo blow my sayles apace, In all the world there is not that that standeth at a stay. Things eb and flow: and euery shape is made too passe away. The tyme itself continually is fléeting like a brooke. For neyther brooke nor lyghtsomme tyme can tarrye still. But looke As euery waue dryues other foorth, and that that commes behynd Bothe thrusteth and is thrust itself: Euen so the tymes by kynd Doo fly and follow bothe at once, and euermore renew. For that that was before is left, and streyght there dooth ensew Anoother that was neuer erst. Eche twincling of an eye Dooth chaunge. Wée see that after day commes nyght and darks the sky, And after nyght the lyghtsum Sunne succéedeth orderly. Like colour is not in the heauen when all things wéery lye At midnyght ••ound a sléepe, as when the daystarre cléere and bryght Commes foorth vppon his milkwhyght stéede. Ageine in other plyght The morning Pallants daughter fayre the messenger of lyght Deliuereth intoo Phebus handes the world of cléerer hew. The circle also of the sonne what ••yme it ryseth new And when it setteth, looketh red▪ but when it mounts most hye, Then lookes it whyght, bycause that there the nature of the skye Is better, and from filthye drosse of earth dooth further flye The image also of the Moone that shyneth ay by nyght, Is neuer of one quantitie. For that that giueth lyght

Too day, is lesser than the next that followeth, till the full. And then contrarywyse eche day her lyght away dooth pull. What? seest thou not how that the yéere as representing playne The age of man, departes itself in quarters fowre? first bayne And tender in the spring it is, euen like a sucking babe. Then gréene, and voyd of strength, and lush, and foggye, is the blade▪ And chéeres the husbandman with hope. Then all things florish gay. The earth with flowres of sundry hew then seemeth for too play, And vertue small or none too herbes there dooth as yit belong. The yeere from spring tyde passing foorth too sommer, wexeth strong, Becommeth lyke a lusty youth. For in our lyfe through out There is no tyme more plentifull, more lusty whote and stout. Then followeth Haruest when the heate of youth growes sumwhat cold, Rype, méeld, disposed meane betwixt a yoongman and an old, And sumwhat sprent with grayish heare. Then vgly winter last Like age steales on with trembling steppes, all bald, or ouercast With shirle thinne heare as whyght as snowe. Our bodies also ay Doo alter still from tyme too tyme, and neuer stand at stay. Wée shall not bée the same wée were too day or yisterday. The day hath béene wée were but séede and only hope of men, And in our moothers womb wée had our dwelling place as then, Dame Nature put too conning hand and suffred not that wée Within our moothers streyned womb should ay distressod bée, But brought vs out too aire, and from our prison set vs frée. The chyld newborne lyes voyd of strength. Within a season tho He wexing fowerfooted lernes like sauage beastes too go. Then sumwhat foltring, and as yit not firme of foote, he standes By getting sumwhat for too helpe his sinewes in his handes. From that tyme growing strong and swift, he passeth foorth the space Of youth: and also wearing out his middle age a pace, Through drooping ages stéepye path he ronneth out his race This age dooth vndermyne the strength of former yeares, and throwes It downe. which thing old Milo by example playnely showes. For when he sawe those armes of his (which héeretoofore had béene As strong as euer Hercules in woorking deadly téene Of biggest beastes) hang flapping downe, and nought but empty skin, He wept. And Helen when shée saw her aged wrincles in

A glasse wept also: musing in herself what men had séene, That by twoo noble princes sonnes shée twyce had rauisht béene. Thou tyme the eater vp of things, and age of spyghtfull téene. Destroy all things. And when that long continuance hath them bit, You leysurely by lingring death consume them euery whit. And theis that wée call Elements doo neuer stand at stay. The enterchaunging course of them I will before yée lay. Giue héede thertoo. This endlesse world conteynes therin I say Fowre substances of which all things are gendred. Of theis fower The Earth and Water for theyr masse and weyght are sunken lower. The other cowple Aire, and Fyre the purer of the twayne Mount vp, & nought can kéepe thē downe. And though there doo remayne A space betwéene eche one of them: yit euery thing is made Of themsame fowre, and intoo them at length ageine doo fade. The earth resoluing leysurely dooth melt too water shéere. The water fyned turnes too aire. The aire éeke purged cléere From grossenesse, spyreth vp aloft, and there becommeth fyre. From thence in order contrary they backe ageine retyre. Fyre thickening passeth intoo Aire, and Ayër wexing grosse, Returnes too water: Water éeke congealing intoo drosse, Becommeth earth. No kind of thing kéepes ay his shape and hew. For nature louing euer chaunge repayres one shape a new Uppon another▪ neyther dooth there perrish aught (trust mée) In all the world, but altring takes new shape. For that which wée Doo terme by name of being borne, is for too gin too bée Another thing than that it was: And likewise for too dye, Too cease too bée the thing it was. And though that varyably Things passe perchaunce from place too place: yit all from whence they came Returning, doo vnperrisshed continew still the same. But as for in one shape, bée sure that nothing long can last. Euen so the ages of the world from gold too Iron past. Euen so haue places oftentymes exchaunged theyr estate. For I haue séene it sea which was substanciall ground alate, Ageine where sea was, I haue séene the same become dry lond, And shelles and scales of Seafish farre haue lyen from any strond. And in the toppes of mountaynes hygh old Anchors haue béene ••ound. Déepe valleyes haue by watershotte béene made of leuell ground,

And hilles by force of gulling oft haue intoo sea béene worne. Hard grauell ground is sumtyme séene where marris was beforne, And that that erst did suffer drowght, becommeth standing lakes. Héere nature sendeth new springs out, and there the old in takes. Full many riuers in the world through earthquakes heretoofore Haue eyther chaundgd theyr former course, or dryde and ronne no more. Soo Lycus béeing swallowed vp by gaping of the ground, A greatway of fro thence is in another channell found. Euen so the riuer Erasine among the feeldes of Arge Sinkes onewhyle, and another whyle ronnes greate ageine at large▪ Caycus also of the land of Mysia (as men say) Misliking of his former head, ronnes now another way. In Sicill also Amasene ronnes sumtyme full and hye, And sumtyme stopping vp his spring, he makes his chanell drye. Men drank the waters of the brooke Anigrus heretoofore, Which now is such that men abhorre too towche them any more. Which commes too passe, (onlesse wée will discredit Poets quyght) Bycause the Centaures vanquisshed by Hercules in fyght Did wash theyr woundes in that same brooke. But dooth not Hypanis That springeth in the Scythian hilles, which at his fountaine is Ryght pleasant, afterward becomme of brackish bitter taste? Antissa, and Phenycian Tyre, and Pharos in tyme past Were compast all about with waues: but none of all theis thrée Is now an Ile. Ageine the towne of Levvcas once was frée From sea, and in the auncient tyme was ioyned too the land. But now enuirond round about with water it dooth stand. Men say that Sicill also hath béene ioynd too Italy Untill the sea consumde the bounds béetwéene, and did supply The roome with water. If yee go too séeke for Helicee And Burye which were Cities of Achaia, you shall sée Them hidden vnder water, and the shipmen yit doo showe The walles and stéeples of the townes drownd vnder as they rowe. Not farre from Pitthey Troyzen is a certeine high ground found All voyd of trées, which héeretoofore was playne and leuell ground, But now a mountayne for the wyndes a (woondrous thing too say) Inclosed in the hollow caues of ground, and séeking way Too passe therefro, in struggling long too get the open skye••

In vayne, (bycause in all the caue there was no vent wherby Too issue out,) did stretch the ground and make it swell on hye, As dooth a bladder that is blowen by mouth, or as the skinne Of horned Goate in bottlewyse when wynd is gotten in. The swelling of the foresayd place remaynes at this day still, And by continuance waxing hard is growen a pretye hill. Of many things that come too mynd by héersay, and by skill Of good experience, I a fewe will vtter too you mo. What? dooth not water in his shapes chaunge straungely too and fro: The well of horned Hammon is at noonetyde passing cold. At morne and euen it wexeth warme. At midnyght none can hold His hand therin for passing heate. The well of Athamane, Is sayd too kindle woode what tyme the moone is in the wane. The Cicons haue a certeine streame which béeing droonk dooth bring Mennes bowwelles intoo Marble hard: and whatsoeuer thing Is towcht therwith, it turnes too stone. And by your bounds behold The riuers Crathe and Sybaris make yellow heare like gold And Amber. There are also springs (which thing is farre more straunge) Which not the bodye only, but the mynd doo also chaunge. Whoo hath not hard of Salmacis that fowle and filthye sink? Or of the lake of Aethyop, which if a man doo drink, He eyther ronneth mad, or else with woondrous drowzinesse Forgoeth quyght his memorie. Whoo euer dooth represse His thirst with drawght of Clitor well, hates wyne, and dooth delyght In only water: eyther for bycause there is a myght Contrary vntoo warming wyne by nature in the well, Or else bycause (for so the folk of Arcadye doo tell) Melampus Amythaöns sonne (when he deliuered had King Prae••us daughters by his charmes and herbes from being mad,) Cast intoo that same water all the baggage wherewithall He purdgd the madnesse of theyr mynds. And so it did befall, That lothsomnesse of wyne did in those waters ay remayne. Ageine in Lyncest contrarie effect too this dooth reigne. For who ••o drinkes too much therof, he ••êeleth héere and there As if by quaffing wyne no whyt alayd he droonken were. There is a Lake in Arcadye which Pheney men did name In auncient tyme, whoose dowtfulnesse deserueth iustly blame.

A nyght tymes take thou héede of it, for if thou taste the same A nyghttymes, it will hurt. but if thou drink it in the day It hurteth not. Thus lakes and streames (as well perceyue yée may) Haue diuers powres and diuersly. Euen so the tyme hathe béene That Delos which stands stedfast now, on waues was floting séene. And Galyes haue beene sore afrayd of frusshing by the Iles Symplegads which toogither dasht vppon the sea erewhyles, But now doo stand vnmouable ageinst bothe wynde and tyde. Mount Aetna with his burning ••ouens of brimstone shall not byde Ay fyrye: neyther was it so for euer erst. For whither The earth a liuing creature bée, and that too breathe out hither And thither flame, great store of vents it haue in sundry places, And that it haue the powre too shift those vents in diuers caces, Now damming theis, now opening those, in mouing too and fro: Or that the whisking wynds restreynd within the earth bylowe, Doo beate the stones ageinst the stones, and other kynd of stuffe Of fyrye nature, which doo fall on fyre with euery puffe: Assoone as those same wynds doo cease, the caues shall streight bée cold. Or if it bée a Rozen mowld that soone of fyre takes hold, Or brimstone mixt with clayish soyle on fyre dooth lyghtly fall: Undowtedly assoone as that same soyle consumed shall No longer yéeld the fatty foode too féede the fyre withall, And rauening nature shall forgo her woonted nourishment, Then being able too abyde no longer famishment, For want of sustenance it shall cease his burning. I doo fynd By fame, that vnder Charlsis wayne in Pallene are a kynd Of people which by dyuing thryce thrée tymes in Triton lake Becomme all fethred, and the shape of birdes vppon them take. The Scythian witches also are reported for too doo The selfsame thing (but hardly I giue credit thervntoo) By smearing poyson ouer all theyr bodyes. But (and if A man too matters tryde by proof may saufly giue beléef,) Wée sée how flesh by lying still a whyle and ketching heate Dooth turne too little liuing beastes. And yit a further feate, Go kill an Ox and burye him, (the thing by proof man sées) And of his rotten flesh will bréede the flower gathering Bées, Which as theyr father did before, loue féeldes excéedingly,

And vntoo woork in hope of gayne theyr busye limbes apply. The Hornet is engendred of a lustye buryed Stéede. Go pull away the cleas from Crabbes that in the sea doo bréede, And burye all the rest in mowld, and of the same will spring A Scorpion which with writhen tayle will threaten for too sting. The Caterpillers of the féelde the which are woont too weaue Hore filmes vppon the leaues of trées, theyr former nature leaue, (Which thing is knowen too husbandmen) and turne too Butterflyes. The mud hath in it certeine séede wherof gréene frosshes ryse. And first it brings them footelesse foorth. Then after, it dooth frame Legges apt too swim: and furthermore of purpose that the same May serue them for too leape a farre, theyr hinder part is mych More longer than theyr forepart is. The Bearwhelp also which The Beare hath newly littred, is no whelp immediatly. But like an euill fauored lump of flesh alyue dooth lye. The dam by licking shapeth out his members orderly Of such a syse, as such a péece is able too conceyue. Or marke yée not the Bées of whom our hony wée receyue, How that theyr yoong ones which doo lye within the sixsquare wax Are limblesse bodyes at the first, and after as they wex In processe take bothe féete and wings? What man would think it trew That Ladye Venus simple birdes the Dooues of siluer hew, Or Iunos bird that in his tayle beares starres, or Ioues stowt knyght The Earne, and euery other fowle of whatsoeuer flyght, Could all bée hatched out of egges, onlesse he did it knowe? Sum folk doo hold opinion when the backebone which doothe growe In man, is rotten in the graue, the pith becommes a snake. Howbéete of other things all theis theyr first beginning take. One bird there is that dooth renew itself and as it were Beget it self continually. The Syrians name it there A Phoenix. Neyther corne nor herbes this Phoenix liueth by. But by the iewce of frankincence and gum of Amomye. And when that of his lyfe well full fyuehundred yéeres are past, Uppon a Holmerrée or vppon a Date trée at the last He makes him with his talants and his hardened bill a nest. Which when that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with Casia swéete and Nardus soft hathe drest, And strowed it with Cynnamom and Myrrha of the best,

He rucketh downe vppon the same, and in the spyces dyes. Soone after, of the fathers corce men say there dooth aryse Another little Phoenix which as many yéeres must liue As did his father. He (assoone as age dooth strength him giue Too beare the burthen) from the trée the weyghty nest dooth lift, And godlyly his cradle thence and fathers herce dooth shift. And flying through the suttle aire he gettes too Phebus towne, And there before the temple doore dooth lay his burthen downe. But if that any noueltye woorth woondring bée in theis, Much rather may we woonder at the Hyën if we please. Too sée how interchaungeably it one whyle dooth remayne A female, and another whyle becommeth male againe. The creature also which dooth liue by only aire and wynd, All colours that it leaneth too dooth counterfet by kynd. The Grapegod Bacchus, when he had subdewd the land of Inde, Did fynd a spotted beast cald Lynx, whoose vrine (by report) By towching of the open aire congealeth in such sort, As that it dooth becomme a stone. So Corall (which as long As water hydes it is a shrub and soft) becommeth strong And hard assoone as it dooth towch the ayre. The day would end, And Phebus panting stéedes should in the Ocean déepe descend, Before all alterations I in woordes could comprehend. So sée wée all things chaungeable. One nation gathereth strength: Another wexeth weake: and bothe doo make exchaunge at length. So Troy which once was great and strong as well in welth as men, And able tenne yéeres space too spare such store of blood as then, Now béeing bace hath nothing left of all her welth too showe, Saue ruines of the auncient woorkes which grasse dooth ouergrowe, And tumbes wherin theyr auncetours lye buryed on a rowe. Once Sparta was a famous towne: Great Mycene florisht trim: Bothe Athens and Amphions towres in honor once did swim. A pelting plot is Sparta now: great Mycene lyes on ground. Of Theab the towne of Oedipus what haue we more than sound? Of Athens king Pandions towne what resteth more than name? Now also of the race of Troy is rysing (so sayth fame) The Citie Roome, which at the bank of Tyber that dooth ronne Downe from the hill of Appennyne) already hath begonne

With great aduysement for too lay foundation of her state. This towne then chaungeth by increase the forme it had alate, And of the vniuersall world in tyme to comme shall hold The souereintye so prophesies and lotts (men say) haue told. And as (I doo remember mee) what tyme that Troy decayd, The prophet Helen Priams sonne theis woordes ensewing sayd Before Aenaeas dowting of his lyfe in wéeping plyght: O Goddesse sonne, beléeue mée (if thou think I haue foresyght Of things too comme) Troy shalnot quyght decay whyle thou doost liue. Bothe fyre and swoord shall vntoo thée thy passage fréely giue. Thou must from hence: and Troy with thée conuey away in haste, Untill that bothe thyself and Troy in forreine land bée plaast More fréendly than thy natiue soyle. Moreouer I foresée, A Citie by the ofspring of the Troians buylt shall bée, So great as neuer in the world the lyke was séene before Nor is this present, neyther shall be séene for euermore. A number of most noble péeres for manye yéeres afore Shall make it strong and puyssant: But hée that shall it make The souereine Ladye of the world, by ryght descent shall take His first beginning from thy sonne the little Iule. And when The earth hathe had her tyme of him, the sky and welkin then Shall haue him vp for euermore, and heauen shall bée his end. Thus farre I (well remember mée) did Helens woordes extend Too good Aenaeas. And it is a pleasure vntoo mée The Citie of my countrymen increasing thus too sée: And that the Grecians victorie becommes the Troians weale. But least forgetting quyght themselues our horses happe too steale Beyond the mark: the heauen and all that vnder heauen is found, Dooth alter shape. So dooth the ground and all that is in ground. And wée that of the world are part (considring how wée bée Not only flesh, but also sowles, which may with passage frée Remoue them intoo euery kynd of beast both tame and wyld) Let liue in saufty honestly with slaughter vndefyld, The bodyes which perchaunce may haue the sprits of our brothers, Our sisters, or our parents, or the spirits of sum others Alyed too vs eyther by sum fréendshippe or sum kin, Or at the least the soules of men abyding them within.

And let vs not Thyëstes lyke thus furnish vp our boordes With bloodye bowells. Oh how leawd example he auoordes? How wickedly prepareth he himself too murther man? That with a cruell knyfe dooth cut the throte of Calf, and can Unmouably giue héering too the lowing of the dam? Or sticke the kid that wayleth lyke the little babe? or eate The fowle that he himself before had often fed with meate? What wants of vtter wickednesse in woorking such a feate? What may he after passe too doo? well eyther let your stéeres Weare out themselues with woork, or else impute theyr death too yéeres. Ageinst the wynd and weather cold let Wethers yéeld yée cotes. And vdders full of batling milk receyue yée of the Goates. Away with sprindges, snares, and grinnes, away with Risp and net. Away with guylefull feates: for fowles no lymetwiggs sée yée set. No feared fethers pitche yée vp too kéepe the Reddéere in, Ne with deceytfull bayted hooke séeke fishes for too win. If awght doo harme, destroy it. but destroyt and doo no more. Forbeare the flesh: and féede your mouthes with fitter foode therfore. Men say that Numa furnisshed with such philosophye As this and like, returned too his natiue soyle, and by Entreatance was content of Roome too take the souereintye. Ryght happy in his wyfe which was a nymph, ryght happy in His guydes which were the Muses nyne, this Numa did begin Too teach Religion. by the meanes whereof hée shortly drew That people vntoo peace whoo erst of nought but battell knew. And when through age he ended had his reigne and éeke his lyfe, Through Latium he was moorned for of man and chyld and wyfe As well of hygh as low degrée. His wyfe forsaking quyght The Citie, in vale Aricine did hyde her out of syght, Among the thickest groues▪ and there with syghes and playnts did let The sacrifyse of Diane whom Orestes erst had fet From Taurica in Chersonese, and in that place had set. How oft ah did the woodnymphes and the waternymphes perswade Egeria for too cease her mone? what meanes of comfort made They? Ah h••w often Theseus sonne her wéeping thus bespake? O Nymph, thy moorning moderate: thy sorrow sumwhat slake: Not only thou hast cause too hart thy fortune for too take.

Behold like happes of other folkes, and this mischaunce of thyne Shall gréeue thée lesse. would God examples (so they were not myne) Myght comfort thée. But myne perchaunce may comfort thée. If thou In talk by hap haste heard of one Hippolytus ere now, That through his fathers lyght beleefe, and stepdames craft was slayne, It will a woonder séeme too thée, and I shall haue much payne Too make thée too beléeue the thing. But I am very hée. The daughter of Pasyphae in vayne oft tempting mée My father chamber too defyle, surmysde mée too haue sought The thing that shée with al her hart would fayne I should haue wrought. And whither it were for feare I should her wickednesse bewray, Or else for spyght bycause I had so often sayd her nay, Shée chardgd mée with hir owne offence. My father by and by Condemning mée, did banish mée his Realme without cause whye. And at my going like a fo did ban me bitterly. Too Pitthey Troyzen outlawelike my chariot streight tooke I My way lay hard vppon the shore of Corinth. Soodeinly The sea did ryse, and like a mount the waue did swell on hye, And séemed howger for too growe in drawing euer nye, And roring clyued in the toppe. Up starts immediatly A horned bullocke from amid the broken waue, and by The brest did rayse him in the ayre, And at his nosethrills and His platter mouth did puffe out part of sea vppon the land. My seruants harts were sore afrayd. But my hart musing ay Uppon my wrongfull banishment, did nought at all dismay. My horses setting vp theyr eares and snorting wexed shye, And béeing greatly flayghted with the monster in theyr eye, Turnd downe too sea: and on the rockes my wagon drew. In vayne I stryuing for too hold them backe, layd hand vppon the reyne All whyght with ••ome, and haling backe lay almost bolt vpryght. And sure the feercenesse of the stéedes had yéelded too my might, But that the whaele that ronneth ay about the Extrée round, Did breake by dashing on a stub, and ouerthrew too ground. Then from the Charyot I was snatcht the brydles béeing cast About my limbes. Yée myght haue séene my sinewes sticking fast Uppon the stub: my gu••ts drawen out alyue: my members, part Still left vppon the stump, and part foorth harryed with the cart:

The crasshing of my broken bones: and with what passing peyne I breathed out my wéery ghoste. There did not whole remayne One peece of all my corce by which yée myght discerne as tho What lump or part it was. For all was wound from toppe too to. Now canst thou nymph, or darest thou compare thy harmes with myne? Moreouer I the lightlesse Realme behild with theis same eyne, And bathde my tattred bodye in the riuer Phlegeton. And had not bright Apollos sonne his cunning shewde vppon. My bodye by his surgery, my lyfe had quyght bée gone. Which after I by force of herbes and lée••hecraft had ageine Receyud by Aes••ulapius meanes, though Pluto did disdeine, Then Cynthia (least this gift of hers myght woorke mée greater spyght) Thicke clowds did round about mée cast. And too thentent I myght Bée saufe myself, and harmelessely appéere too others syght: Shée made mee old. And for my face, shée left it in such plyght, That none can knowe mée by my looke. And long shee dowted whither Too giue mée Dele or Crete. At length refusing bothe toogither, Shée plaast mée héere. And therwithall shée bade me giue vp quyght The name that of my horses in remembrance put mée myght. For whereas erst* 1.2 Hippolytus hath béene thy name ({quod} shée) I will that* 1.3 Virbie afterward thy name for euer bée. From that tyme foorth within this wood I kéepe my residence, As of the meaner Goddes, a God of small magnificence And héere I hyde mée vnderneathe my souereine Ladyes wing Obeying humbly too her hest in euery kynd of thing. But yit the harmes of other folk could nothing help nor boote Aegerias sorrowes too asswage. Downe at a mountaines foote Shée lying melted intoo teares, till Phebus sister shéene For pitie of her greate distresse in which shee had her séene, Did turne her too a fountaine cléere, and melted quyght away Her members intoo water thinne that neuer should decay. The straungenesse of the thing did make the nymphes astonyed: and The Ladye of Amazons sonne amaazd therat did stand, As when the Tyrrhene Tilman sawe in earing of his land The fatall clod first stirre alone without the help of hand, And by and by forgoing quyght the earthly shape of clod, Too take the séemely shape of man, and shortly like a God

Too tell of things as then too comme. The Tyrrhenes did him call By name of Tages. He did teach the Tuskanes first of all Too gesse by searching bulks of beastes what after should befall. Or like as did king Romulus when soodeinly he found His lawnce on mountayne Palatine fast rooted in the ground, And bearing leaues, no longer now a weapon but a trée, Which shadowed such as woondringly came thither for too sée. Or else as Cippus when he in the ronning brooke had séene His hornes. For why he saw them, and supposing there had béene No credit too bée giuen vntoo the glauncing image, hée Put oft his fingers too his head, and felt it so too bée. And blaming now no more his eyes, incomming from the chase With conquest of his foes, he stayd. And lifting vp his face And with his face, his hornes too heauen, he sayd: what euer thing Is by this woonder meant O Goddes, If ioyfull newes it bring I pray yée let it ioyfull too my folk and countrye bée: But if it threaten euill, let the euill light on mée. In saying so, an altar gréene of clowwers he did frame, And offred fuming frankincence in fyre vppon the same, And powred boawles of wyne theron, and searched therwithall The quiuering inwards of a shéepe too know what should befall. A Tyrrhene wizard hauing sought the bowelles, saw therin Great chaunges and attempts of things then readye too begin, Which were not playnly manifest. But when that he at last His eyes from inwards of the beast on Cippus hornes had cast, Hayle king (he sayd.) For vntoo thée O Cippus, vntoo thée, And too thy hornes shall this same place and Roome obedyent bée. Abridge delay: and make thou haste too enter at the gates Which tarrye open for thée. So commaund the soothfast fates. Thou shalt bée king assoone as thou hast entred once the towne, And thou and thyne for euermore shalt weare the royall crowne. With that he stepping back his foote, did turne his frowning face From Roome ward, saying. Farre, O farre, y^e Goddes such handsel chace. More ryght it were I all my lyfe a bannisht man should bée, Than that the holy Capitoll mée reigning there should sée Thus much he sayd: and by and by toogither he did call The people and the Senators, But yit he first of all

Did hyde his hornes with Lawrell leaues: and then without the wall▪ He standing on a mount the which his men had made of soddes, And hauing after auncient guyse made prayer too the Goddes Sayd: héere is one that shall (onlesse yée bannish him your towne Immediatly) bée king of Roome and weare a royall crowne. What man it is, I will by signe, but not by name bewray. He hath vppon his brow twoo hornes. The wizard héere dooth say, That if he enter Roome, you shall lyke seruants him obey. He myght haue entred at your gates which open for him lay, But I did stay him thence. And yit there is not vntoo mée A néerer fréend in all the world. Howbéet forbid him yée O Romanes that he comme not once within your walles. Or if He haue deserued, bynd him fast in fetters like a théef. Or in this fatall Tyrants death, of feare dispatch your mynd. Such noyse as Pynetrées make what tyme the heady easterne wynde Dooth whiz amongst them, or as from the sea dooth farre rebound: Euen such among the folk of Roome that present was the sound. Howbéet in that confused roare of fearefull folk, did fall Out one voyce asking, whoo is hée? And staring therewithall Uppon theyr foreheads, they did séeke the foresayd hornes. Agen ({quod} Cippus) lo, yée haue the man for whom yée séeke. And then He pulld (ageinst his peoples will) his garlond from his head, And shewed them the twoo fayre hornes ••hat on his browes were spred. At that the people dassheth downe theyr lookes and syghing, is Ryght sorye (whoo would think it trew?) too sée that head of his Most famous for his good deserts. Yit did they not forget The honour of his personage, but willingly did set The Lawrell garlond on his head ageine. And by and by The Senate sayd. Well Cippus, sith vntill the tyme thou dye Thou mayst not cōme within theis walles, wée giue thée as much groūd In honour of thée, as a téeme of stéeres can plough thée round, Betwéene the dawning of the day, and shetting in of nyght. Moreouer on the brazen gate at which this Cippus myght Haue entred Roome, a payre of hornes were graude too represent His woondrous shape, as of his déede an endlesse monument. Yée Muses whoo too Poets are the present springs of grace, Now shewe (for you knowe, neyther are you dulld by tyme or space)

How Aesculapius in the Ile that is in Tyber déepe Among the sacred sayncts of Roome had fortune for too créepe. A cruell plage did héertoofore infect the Latian aire, And peoples bodyes pyning pale the murreine did appayre. When tyred with the buriall of theyr fréends, they did perceyue Themselues no helpe at mannes hand nor by Phisicke too receyue. Then séeking help from heauen, they sent too Delphos (which dooth stand Amid the world) for counsell too bée had at Phebus hand. Beséeching him with helthfull ayd too succour theyr distresse, And of the myghtye Citie Roome the mischéef too redresse. The quiuers which Apollo bryght himself was woont too beare, The Baytrées, and the place itself toogither shaken were. And by and by the table from the furthest part of all The Chaūcell spake theis woords, which did theyr harts with feare appal. The thing yée Romanes séeke for héere, yée should haue sought more ny Your countrye. Yea and néerer home go séeke it now. Not I Apollo, but Apollos sonne is hée that must redresse Your sorrowes. Take your iourney with good handsell of successe, And fetch my sonne among you. When Apollos hest was told Among the prudent Senators, they sercht what towne did hold His sonne, and vntoo Epidavvre a Gallye for him sent. Assoone as that th'Ambassadour arryued there they went Untoo the counsell and the Lordes of Gréekland: whom they pray Too haue the God the present plages of Romanes for too stay, And for themselues the Oracle of Phebus foorth they lay. The Counsell were of sundry mynds and could not well agrée. Sum thought that succour in such néede denyed should not bée. And diuers did perswade too keepe theyr helpe, & not too send Theyr Goddes away sith they themselues myght néede them in the end. Whyle dowtfully they of and on debate this curious cace, The euening twylyght vtterly the day away did chace, And on the world the shadowe of the earth had darknesse brought. That nyght the Lord Ambassadour as sléepe vppon him wrought, Did dreame he saw before him stand the God whose help he sought, In shape as in his chappell he was woonted for too stand, With ryght hand stroking downe his berd, and staffe in toother hand, And méekely saying: feare not, I will comme and leaue my shryne.

This serpent which dooth wreath with knottes about this staffe of mine Mark well, and take good héede therof: that when thou shalt it sée, Thou mayst it knowe. For intoo it transformed will I bee. But bigger I will bée. for I will séeme of such a syse, As may celestiall bodyes well too turne intoo suffise. Streyght with the voyce, the God: and with the voyce and God, away Went sléepe: and after sléepe was gone ensewed chéerfull day. Next morning hauing cléerely put the fyrye starres too flyght, The Lordes not knowing what too doo, assembled all foorthryght Within the sumptuous temple of the God that was requyred, And of his mynd by heauenly signe sum knowledge they desyred. They scarce had doone theyr prayers, when the God in shape of snake With loftye crest of gold, began a hissing for too make, Which was a warning giuen. And with his presence he did shake The Altar, shryne, doore, marble floore, and roofe all layd with gold, And vauncing vp his brest he stayd ryght stately too behold Amid the Church, and round about his fyrye eyes he rold. The syght did fray the people. But the wyuelesse préest (whoose heare Was trussed in a fayre whyght Call) did know the God was there. And sayd, behold tiz God, tiz God. As many as bée héere Pray both with mouth and mynd. O thou our glorious God, appéere Too our béehoofe, and helpe thy folke that keepe thy hallowes ryght. The people present woorshipped his Godhead there in syght, Repeating dowble that the préest did say. the Romaynes éeke Deuoutly did with Godly voyce and hart his ••auour séeke. The God by nodding did consent, and gaue assured signe By shaking of his golden crest that on his head did shyne, And hissed twyce with spirting toong. Then trayld he downe the fyne And glistring gréeces of his church. And turning backe his eyen, He looked too his altarward and too his former shryne And temple, as too take his leaue and bid them all fare well From thence ryght howge vppon the ground (which swéete of flowres did smell That people strewed in his way,) he passed stately downe, And bending intoo bowghts went through the hart of all the towne, Untill that hée the bowwing wharf besyde the hauen tooke. Where s••aying, when he had (as séemd) dismist with gentle looke His trayne of Chapleynes and the folke that wayted on him thither,

Hée layd him in the Romane shippe too sayle away toogither. The shippe did féele the burthen of his Godhed too the full, And for the heauye weyght of him did after passe more dull. The Romanes being glad of him, and hauing killd a stéere Uppon the shore, vntyde theyr ropes and cables from the péere. The lyghtsum wynd did dryue the shippe. The God auauncing hye, And leaning with his necke vppon the Gallyes syde, did lye And looke vppon the gréenish waues, and cutting easly through Th'Iönian sea with little gales of westerne wynd not rough, The sixt day morning came vppon the coast of Italy. And passing foorth by Iunos Church that mustreth too the eye Uppon the head of Lacine he was caryed also by The rocke of Scylley. then he left the land of Calabrye And rowing softly by the rocke Zephyrion, he did draw Too Celen cliffs the which vppon the ryghtsyde haue a flawe. By Romeche and by Cavvlon, and by Narice thence he past, And from the streyghtes of Sicily gate quyght and cléere at last. Then ran he by th'Aeölian Iles and by the metall myne Of Tempsa, and by Levvcosye, and temprate Pest where fyne And pleasant Roses florish ay. From thence by Capreas And Atheney the headlond of Minerua he did passe Too Surrent, where with gentle vynes the hilles bée ouerclad, And by the towne of Hercules and Stabye ill bestad And Naples borne too Idlenesse, and Cumes where Sybell had Hir temples, and the scalding bathes, and Linterne where growes store Of masticke trées, and Vulturne which beares sand apace from shore, And Sinuesse where as Adders are as whyght as any snowe, And Minturne of infected ayre bycause it stands so lowe, And Caiete where Aeneas did his nurce in tumbe bestowe, And Formy where Antiphates the Lestrigon did kéepe, And Trache enuyrond with a fen, and Circes mountayne stéepe: Too Ancon with the boystous shore. Assoone as that the shippe Arryued héere, (for now the sea was rough,) the God let slippe His circles, and in bending bowghts and wallowing waues did glyde Intoo his fathers temple which was buylded there besyde Uppon the shore. and when the sea was calme and pacifyde, The foresayd God of Epidavvre, his fathers Church forsooke,

(The lodging of his néerest fréend which for a tyme hée tooke,) And with his crackling scales did in the sand a furrowe cut, And taking hold vppon the sterne did in the Galy put his head, and rested till he came past Camp and Lauine sands, And entred Tybers mouth at which the Citie Ostia stands. The folke of Roome came hither all by heapes bothe men and wyues And éeke the Nunnes that kéepe the fyre of Vesta as theyr lyues, Too meete the God, and welcomd him with ioyfull noyse. And as The Gally rowed vp the streame, greate store of incence was On altars burnt on bothe the banks, so that on eyther syde The fuming of the frankincence the very aire did hyde, And also slaine in sacrifyse full many cattell dyde. Anon he came too Roome the head of all the world: and there The serpent lifting vp himself, began his head too beare Ryght vp along the maast, vppon the toppe whereof on hye He looked round about, a méete abyding place too spye The Tyber dooth deuyde itself in twaine, and dooth embrace A little pretye Iland (so the people terme the place) From eyther syde whereof the bankes are distant equall space. Apollos Snake descending from the maast conueyd him thither, And taking eft his heauenly shape, as one repayring hither Too bring our Citie healthfulnesse, did end our sorrowes quyght. Although too bée a God with vs admitted were this wyght. Yit was he borne a forreiner. But Caesar hathe obteynd. His Godhead in his natiue soyle and Citie where he reignd. Whom péerelesse both in peace and warre, not more his warres vp knit With triumph, nor his great exployts atchéeued by his wit, Nor yit the great renowme that he obteynd so spéedely, Haue turned too a blazing starre, than did his progenie. For of the actes of Caesar, none is greater than that hée Left such a sonne behynd him as Augustus is, too bée His heyre. For are they things more hard too ouercomme thy Realme Of Britaine standing in the sea? or vp the seuenfold streame Of Nyle that beareth Paperréede victorious shippes too rowe? Or too rebelliouse Numidye too giue an ouerthrowe? Or Iuba king of Moores, and Pons (which proudely did it beare

Uppon the name of Mythridate) too force by swoord and speare Too yéeld them subiects vntoo Roome? or by his iust desert Too merit many triumphes, and of sum too haue his part? Than such an heyre too leaue béehynd, in whom the Goddes doo showe Excéeding fauour vntoo men for that they doo bestowe So great a prince vppon the world? Now too thentent that hée Should not bée borne of mortall séede, the oother was too bée Canonyzed for a God. Which thing when golden Venus sée, (Shée also sawe how dreadfull death was for the bisshop then Prepaard, and how conspiracye was wrought by wicked men) Shée looked pale. And as the Goddes came any in her way, Shée sayd vntoo them one by one. Behold and sée I pray, With how exceeding eagernesse they séeke mée too betray, And with what woondrous craft they stryue too take my lyfe away, I méene the thing that only now remayneth vntoo mée Of Iule the Troians race. Must I then only euer bée Thus vext with vndeserued cares? How seemeth now the payne Of Diomeds speare of Calydon too wound my hand ageyne? How séemes it mée that Troy ageine is lost through ill defence? How séemes my sonne Aenaeas like a bannisht man, from thence Too wander farre ageine, and on the sea too tossed bée, And warre with Turnus for too make? or rather (truth too say) With Iuno? what méene I about harmes passed many a day Ageinst myne ofspring, thus too stand? This present feare and wo Permit mée not too think on things now past so long ago. Yée sée how wicked swoordes ageinst my head are whetted. I Beséeche yée kéepe them from my throte, and set the traytors by Theyr purpose. neyther suffer you dame Vestaas fyre too dye By murthering of her bisshop. Thus went Venus wofully Complayning ouer all the heauen, and moovde the Goddes therby. And for they could not breake the strong decrées of destinye, They shewed signes most manifest of sorrowe too ensew. For battells feyghting in the clowdes with crasshing armour flew. And dreadfull trumpets sownded in the aire, and hornes éeke blew, As warning men before hand of the mischéef that did brew. And Phebus also looking dim did cast a drowzy lyght.

Uppon the earth, which séemd lykewyse too bée in sorye plyght. From vnderneathe amid the starres brands oft séemd burning bryght It often rayned droppes of blood. The morning starre lookt blew, And was bespotted héere and there with specks of rusty hew. The moone had also spottes of blood. The Scréeche owle sent from hell Did with her tune vnfortunate in euery corner yell. Salt teares from Iuory images in sundry places fell. And in the Chappells of the Goddes was singing heard, and woordes Of threatning. Not a sacrifyse one signe of good auoordes. But greate turmoyle too bée at hand theyr har••strings doo declare. And when the beast is ripped vp the inwards headlesse are. About the Court, and euery house, and Churches in the nyhgts The doggs did howle, and euery where appéered gastly spryghts. And with an earthquake shaken was the towne. Yit could not all Theis warnings of the Goddes dispoynt the treason that should fall, Nor ouercomme the destinies. The naked swoordes were brought Intoo the temple. For no place in all the towne was thought So méete too woork the mischéef in, or for them too commit The heynous murder, as the Court in which they vsde too sit In counsell. Venus then with both her hands her stomacke smit, And was about too hyde him with the clowd in which shée hid Aenaeas, when shée from the swoord of Diomed did him rid. Or Paris, when from Menelay shée did him saufe conuey. But Ioue her father staying her did thus vntoo hir say. Why daughter myne, wilt thou alone bée stryuing too preuent Unuanquishable destinie? In fayth and if thou went Thy self intoo the house in which the fatall susters thrée Doo dwell, thou shouldest there of brasse and stéele substantiall sée The registers of things so strong and massye made too bee, That ••au•• and euerlasting, they doo neyther stand in feare Of thunder, nor of lyghtning, nor of any ruine there. The destnyes of thyne ofspring thou shalt there fynd grauen déepe In Adamant. I red them: and in mynd I doo them kéepe. And forbycause thou shalt not beiquyght ignorant of all, I will declare what things I markt herafter too befall. The man for whom thou makest sute, hath liued full his tyme

And hauing ronne his race on earth must now too heauen vp clyme. Where thou shalt make a God of him ay honord for too bée With temples and with Altars on the earth. Moreouer hée That is his heyre and beares his name, shall allalone susteyne The burthen layd vppon his backe, and shall our help obteyne His fathers murther too reuenge. The towne of Mutinye Beséedged by his powre, shall yéeld. The féelds of Pharsaly Shall féele him, and Philippos in the Realme of Macedonne Shall once ageine bée staynd with blood. The greate Pompeius sonne Shall vanquisht be by him vppon the sea of Sicilye. The Romane Capteynes wyfe the Quéene of Aegypt through her hye Presumption trusting too her match too much, shall threate in vayne Too make her Canop ouer our hygh Capitoll too reigne. What should I tell thee of the wyld and barbrous nacions that At bothe the Oceans dwelling bée? The vniuersall plat Of all the earth inhabited, shall all be his. The sea Shall vntoo him obedient bée likewyse. And when that he Hathe stablisht peace in all the world, then shall he set his mynd Too ciuill matters, vpryght lawes by iustice for too fynd, And by example of himself all others he shall bynd. Then hauing care of tyme too comme, and of posteritye, A holy wyfe shall beare too him a sonne that may supply His carefull charge and beare his name. And lastly in the end He shall too heauen among the starres his auncetors ascend, But not before his lyfe by length too drooping age doo tend. ••nd therfore from the murthred corce of Iulius Caesar take ••is sowle with spéede, and of the same a burning cressed make, That from our heauenly pallace he may euermore looke downe Uppon our royall Capitoll and Court within Roome towne. He scarcely ended had theis woordes, but Venus out of hand Amid the Senate house of Roome inuisible did stand, And from her Caesars bodye tooke his new expulsed spryght The which shée not permitting too resolue too ayer quyght, Did place it in the skye among the starres that glister bryght And as shée bare it, shée did féele it gather heauenly myght, And for too wexen fyrye. Shée no sooner let it flye,

But that a goodly shyning starre it vp a lost did stye And drew a greate way after it bryght beames like burning heare. Whoo looking on his sonnes good déedes confessed that they were Farre greater than his owne, and glad he was too sée that hée Excelled him. Although his sonne in no wyse would agrée Too haue his déedes preferd befor•• his fathers: yit dooth fame, (Whoo ay is frée, and bound too no commaund) withstand the same And stryuing in that one behalf ageinst his hest and will, Procéedeth too preferre his déedes before his fathers still. Euen so too Agamemnons great renowne giues Atreus place Euen so Achilles déedes, the déedes of Peleus doo abace. Euen so beyond Aegaeus farre dooth Theseyes prowesse go. And (that I may examples vse full matching theis) euen so Is Saturne lesse in fame than Ioue. Ioue rules the heauenly spheres, And all the tr••ple shaped world. And our Augustus beares Dominion ouer all the earth. They bothe are fathers: They Are rulers both. Yee Goddes too whom both fyre and swoord gaue way, What tyme yée with Aenaeas came from Troy: yée Goddes that were Of mortall men canonyzed: Thou Qui••in whoo didst réere The walles of Roome: and Mars whoo wart the valcant Quirins syre And Vesta of the household Goddes of Caesar with thy fyre Most holy: and thou Phebus whoo with Vesta also art Of household: and thou Iupiter whoo in the hyghest part Of mountayne Tarpey haste thy Church: and all yee Goddes that may With conscience sauf by Poëts bée appealed too: I pray Let that same day bée slowe too comme and after I am dead, In which Augustus (whoo as now of all the world is head) Quyght giuing vp the care therof ascend too heauen for ay There (absent hence,) to fauour such as vntoo him shall pray. Now haue I brought a woork too end which neither Ioues féerce wrath, Nor swoord, nor fyre, nor freating age with all the force it hath Are able too abolish quyght. Let comme that fatall howre Which (sauing of this brittle flesh) hath ouer mée no powre, And at his pleasure make an end of myne vncerteyne tyme. Yit shall the better part of mée assured bée too clyme Aloft aboue the starry skye. And all the world shall neuer Be able for too quench my name. For looke how farre so euer

The Romane Empyre by the ryght of conquest shall extend, So farre shall all folke reade this woork. And tyme without all end (If Poets as by prophesie about the truth may ame) My lyfe shall euerlastingly bée lengthened still by fame.

Finis Libri decimi quinti. Laus & honor soli Deo.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hercules.
• * 1.2

  Horses••aine.
• * 1.3

  Twyce man.