Thule, or Vertues historie To the honorable and vertuous Mistris Amy Audely. By F.R. The first booke.

CANT. 5. (Book 5)

Th'inchanter on a plaine doth ly, And while he looketh all abrode, He sees a Lady passing by, To whom enforst with lust he r••de, Fidamours loue and Philarets charge, Phucerus crueltie is told at large.

DEare soule, what euer wandrest here below, Chaind in the sinfull bodies sensuall bands, Yeeld not thy selfe to what doth fayrest show, Nor walking in these worldly Nilus sands, Giue listning to the tunes that sweet doe blow: Tis easie falling into pleasures hands, But at deare rate he selleth all his ware, The entrance pleaseth, but the end is care.

This hast thou found thou euer-damned ghost, And payest dearly for thy marchandise, Gnashing thy teeth in that infernall coast, Rowling to banisht heauen thy glowing eyes: Now doth he curse what once did please him most, Seeing his accounts to such a fumme to rise, And in deepe horror from his bowels cryes, To learne iustice, nor the Gods despise.

But all too late he moanes his wicked deede, Now was it time all euill to preuent, Before foule sinne had hatcht his cursed seede, Better he had his guts in famine spent, Then with this feast his poysoned flesh to feede, But what to doe himselfe did not repent, Shall not much grieue my warned minde to tell, Better to heare then doe what is not well.

After his faithles heart had her forsooke, That still ingeminates his hated name, With th'other knights he foorth his iourney tooke, And to Geticas bower at length they came, Where they inscrib'd their names in cursed booke, Incorporated in the citie of defame, The citie which foule shame on earth hath built, To trap mens soules in sinnes accusing guilt.

And euery one his sundrie choise had gaind, As each mans liking doth him most direct, But wicked B••nanallant hath obtaind, To be of Hecates accursed sect, Taught now to bold grim Di•• and Spirits chaind, And plague the furies for his words neglect, And foule Meg•••••• at his kindled brest, Will rack mens tortur'd soules in sad vnrest.

No sooner doth he moue his charmed wan, But hell eructs foule Spirits which attend, To worke the will of this accursed man, He can with deadly charmes earths belly rend, And with swift wings the sliding eyes fan, Making sterne Pluto at his words to bend, One houre this Pole shall see his charmed wings, And in the same he to th'Antartique: flings.

But now vpon a fayre plaine he doth lye, Harbourd within his charme-enchaunted wall, Where on a tower he sees who passeth by, Hoping at length some purchase will befall, On whom to worke his cursed witchery, To which a sudden sight his sence doth call, For a farre off he sees a Lady bright, That armed was and all arayd for fight.

Her face like Phoebus at the sudden rise, Gaue such a glister in her beauties morne, As made him hope some vnaccustom'd price, And richer treasure then he saw beforne, Therefore his cursed art he now applies, Hoping he should this game away haue borne; And armed with infernall spirits might, Thus he assayd to close this blessed wight.

Out from his cell he flyes with greatest haste, Like stormie Notus on his dewy plumes, And from his castles sight he quite is past, Where hid in charmed fogges and ch••unted fumes, Like to a Snake his skin he off doth cast, And fained shape and forme he now assumes, Vpon a hackney he is fairely set, Whose sides his feete not stirropt staggring beat.

His hoary beard downe snowing on his breast, And swanny locks the chronicles of age, Witnesse that elder yeares haue him opprest, But that his sword doth tell that youthfull rage, Within his haughty heart is not deceast: Thus doth he goe as in a pilgrimage, Euen like Silenus now he doth appeare, But he a tankard▪ this a sword doth beare.

Thus doth he march toward that fayrest d••me, His horse scarse mouing his vntoward feete, When as the Sunne vnto his lodging came, And did no soones his faire Thetis greete, But this Tithonus setled for his gaine, Did fayrer farre then fayre Aurora meete, And careles seemed he to passe aside, But though his horse go'th forth, his hart doth back abide.

When she back turning her celestiall spheares, (In one of which sweet Venus darts her rayes, In th'other Mars and warlike loue appeares) Father (quoth she) know you how farre awayes Is fayre Doledra, where Phucerus beares The Diadem in these vnhappy dayes? Well doe I know (quoth he) but tis so farre, You cannot there come by the light of starre.

Then poynting to this witches charmed place, (Quoth she) what Knight dwels in those goodly walls, Or will he offer Lady this one grace▪ (Because the night me so vntimely calls) To entertaine me for this little space? And if at any time the like befalls, Which may requite his gentle curtesie, Ile try to quite his great humanitie.

Euen like to Iupiter when once he brought, That fayre Europa on his back did sit, Daunc'd through the flowry fields, glad he had caught His game, applauding his successiue wit: So doth this carle at this good newes, he sought, And to the Lady thus his speech doth fit: Well may you goe, none are more welcome there, Then those that for true cause doe armour beare.

And to assure you here my selfe will lead, Vnworthie loadstarre of so fayre a Sunne, Vnto that castle where I sure aread, Not common kindne•• to you will be done: She harkning to his speech the path doth tread, Which to this labyrinth of shame doth runne, Where pleasing doub•• ••••th leade her to the center, But these soule 〈◊〉〈◊〉 will her incounter.

But least long wonder might your thoughts possesse, Who was this Lady, and from whence she came, And why here she her iourney did addresse, I will vnfold the storie of this Dame; Strong loue her bounden heart doth much oppresse, Which any thought of danger ouercame: Not many fights and perils doe her moue, She counts them all but pleasures for her loue.

Vpon Eumorphos plaines a castle stands, VVhere dwelt an ancient and a comely Knight, VVhich all the country bordering commaunds: But that which greatest raisde his glories hight, VVas not his treasure, nor farre stretched lands: But three fayre daughters, lights most brightest light, VVhose wondrous beautie lookers did amaze, That in one heauen so many Sunnes did blaze.

Amongst these lookers, one there did surprize An vncouth heate of vndermining loue, VVho knowing that stopt fire more hotly fryes, And with his owne light doth his cloake remoue, Made knowne the Comet which withdrew his eyes, And to his Lady did his passions proue: She Philaret was calde, the eldest mayd, The Knight Sir Fidamour thus ill apayd.

VVith earnest sute an answere he hath gaind, The golden shaft shot foorth from Cupids bow, That if the victorie he haue obtaind, In that aduenture which this mayd shall show, His gentle proffers shall be entertaind, And happy match betweene these loues shall grow▪ But if he doe not, then all former band Came back as free into the makers hand.

Downe in the westerne coast there dwelt a king, Phucerus he is hight, his goodly seate, Is calde Doledra, whose high towers doe sing Soft murmuring tunes, when windes then gently beat, And loftio turrets mighty tops doe bring, Vnto the skye which neuer saw so great, That dar'd to looke vpon the starry skye, And lift their masses in the ayre so hye.

Within this towne a prophesie did passe, That from Eumorphos should a mayden come, Whose hand should change the kingdome whence it was, Which made the king in priuate charge to some, That whosoere could bring that countries lasse, Vnto th'appoynted Eumorphean tombe, He should be recompenc'd with liberall see, Beside the grace in which he still should bee.

Thus had he slaine and tombde in bloody pit, Many that guiltles came with no pretence, And Philaret glad to be reuengde of it, Enioynd the knight these deedes to recompence, And to prouoke them more he should him fit, Womans apparell which breedes more offence. And thus with speare and targe he forth should goe, To be reuenged on his wicked foe.

Forth is he gone (the gods him prosper fayre) And to this castle is this iourney spent, Where I must leaue him to his fortunes fare, But still imagine that he forward went, For strongest loue imprints a deepest care, That nothing can withdraw his hearts intent; But let him goe as fast as loue him driues, Ile ouertake him ere he home ariue••.