Ovid's heroical epistles Englished by W.S.

[illustration]

The Argument of the sixteenth Epistle.

HElena having read Paris his Epistle; in her answer seems at first offended, and chides him, and for modesties sake objects against his perswasions, proving them idle, but so that she rather gives, then takes away encouragement from him to proceed in his suit, thereby shewing a womans crafty wit, according to that of Ovid, in his Art of Love:

〈…〉〈…〉 tri••tis, Quae{que} rogat, ne se sollicitare velis, Quod rogat illatimet! quod non rogat optat ut i••stes, In sequere, &c.

At first pehaps her Letter will be sowre, And on thy hop••s her paper seem to lowre; In which she will conjure thee to be mute, And charge thee to forbear thy hated suit. Tush, what she most forwarnes, she most desires, In frosty woods are hid the hottest fires.

At last she seems to consent to Paris desire, advising him as a more safe and honest course, not to write his desire, but impart his mind to her waiting-maids Clymene and Athra, he dealing with them, so farre prevailed, that he brought both Helena and them to Troy.

HELENA'S Answer to PARIS.

SInce thy wanton ••etter did my eyes infect When I did read it, why should I neglect To answer it? Since to answer it can be No breach of chastity at all in me. What b••ldnesse was it in thee, thus to break All Lawes of hospitatlity and to speak Thus by your Letter therby for to move My affection and solicite me for love. Didst thou on purpose saile into our Port? That thou might'st wooe me, and with fair words court, And had not we power to avoid this danger? And shut our Palace ga••e against a stra••ger? Who dost requite our love with injury? Didst thou come as a gue••••, or enemy? I know my just complaint will seem to thee, To proceed from rudenesse, and rustic••ty,

Let me seem rude, so I preserve my ••ame, And keep my honour free from spot or slain. Although my countenance be not sad or sowre, Though with bent brows I do not sit and lowre: yet I have kept my clear fame without spot, No man hath in my Tables found a blot. So that I wonder whence thy encouragement Proceedeth, that thou shouldest my love attempt: Because once Theseus stole me as a prey, Shall I the Second time be stolne away? It had been my fault had I given consent, But being stolne against my will I went. And yet he gathered not my Virgin slower, He us'd no violence, though I was in his power: Some kisses onely he did striving gain, But no more kindnesse could from me obtain. Such is thy wantonnesse, thou wouldst not be Like him content alone with kissing me. He brought me back untoucht, his modesty Seem'd to excuse his former injury; And plainly it appear'd, that the young man For stealing me grew penetent again. But Paris comes when Theseus is fallen off, That Helen may be still the worlds scoffe. yet with a Lover who can be offended? If thy love prove true as thou hast pretended? This I do doubt, although I do not feare, My beauty can command love any where. But because women should not soon believe men, For men with flattering words do oft deceive them. Though other Wives offend, and that a fair one Is seldome chast, yet I will be that rare one. Because thou think my mother did offend, By her example you think me to bend.

My Mother was deceiv'd; Iove to her came In the shape of a milk-white feathered Swan. If I offend 'tis not my ignorance, For no mistake can shaddow my offence. And yet her error may be happy thought, For to offend with greatness is no fault. But I should not be happy, if I erre, Since I should not offend with Iupiter. Of royal kindred thou dost boast to me, But Io••e'•• the fountain of Nobility. Nay though from Jupiter thy self doth spring, And P••lops, and Atreus be to thee a kin; Jupiter's my Father, who himself did cover With a Swans feathers, and deceiv'd my Mother. Go reckon now thy Pedegree of thy Nation, And talk of Pri••m and La••med••••. Whom I do reverence, yet thou shalt be Remov'd from Jupiter to the fifth degree; And I but one; and albeit that Troy Be a great, land, such is this we enjoy. Though it for wealth, and store of men excell, The land is barbourous, where thou do'st dwell. yet thy Letter promises such gifts to me, That goddesses might therewith ••empted be. But if I may with modesty thus speak, Thy self, and not thy gifts may fancy take. For either I'le keep my integrity, Or for thy love, not gifts I'le go with thee. Though I despise them nor, if e're I take Those gifts, it shall be for the givers sake. For when thy gifts have no power to mo••e me, I do esteem this more t••at thou do'st love me And that thou shoul'dst a painfull voyage take Through the rough Seas, and all even for thy sake.

And I do mark thy carriage at the Table, Although I to dissemble it am able. Sometimes thou wantonly wilt on me glance, And put me almost out of countenance, Sometimes thou ••gh••st and then the cup do'st take, And to drink where I did drink, do'st pleasure take. And so sometimes with thy fingers, or a wink, Thou closely wou••d••st expresse what thou didst think. And I confesse I have blush't many times, Fo•• fear my husband should discern thy signes. And oftentimes unto my self I said, If he were shamless he would be dismaid. And on the Table thou hast many a time Fashon'd and drawn forth with a little wine Those letters, wh••ch my name did plainly show, And underneath them thou hast writ, Amo. I look't on it, but seem'd not to beleive thee, But now this word Amo doth also give me. By these allurments thou my heart might'st bend: If that I would have yeilded to offend. I must confess thou ha•••• a beauteous face Might win a Maid to yeild to thy embrace. Let some one rather honestly enjoy thee, Then that a strangers love should so destroy me. To resist the power of beauty learn by me, Vertue abstains from things which pleasing be. By how many young men have I wooed been? That beauty Paris sees others have seen. Thou art more bold, but they as much did see, Nor hast more courage, but less modesty. I would thy ship had then arrived here, When a thousand youths for my love Suiters were. For before a thousand I had preferr'd thee, Nay even my husband must have pardon'd me.

But thou hast stai'd too long, and hast so trifle'd That all my Virgin joyes are gon and rifled. Thou wert too flow, therefore suppress thy flame. What thou defir'st another doth obtaine. Though to have been thy Wife I do wish still, Mene••a•••• enjoyes me, not 'gainst my will. Cease with fair words to mollify my breast, If you love me let it be so exprest Let me live as fortune hath allotted me, Do not seek to corrupt my chastity. But Venus promis'd thee in the Idean wood, When three nak'd goddesses before thee stood: One promised a Kingdome unto thee, T'other that thou in wars should'st prosperous be. But Venu••, who was the third in this strife, Did promise Helena should be thy wife. I scarce believe the goddesses would be In a case of beauty judg'd so by thee. Were the first true, the latter part is sain'd, That she gave thee me, for Judgement obtain'd. I do not think my beauty such that she Could think to bribe thy judgement by that fee. I am content that men may beauty prize, That beauty V••n••s praises, she envies. Ther's no assurance in a strangers love, As they do wander, so their love doth rove. And when you hope to find most constancy, Their love doth coole, and they away do flye. Wi••nesse Ariadne and Hipsiphile, Who••e lawlesse ove procur'd their misery. And it is said, thou did'st Oenon wrong, Forsaking her, whom thou had••st lov'd so long. This by thy self cannot denyed be, For know I took care to enquire of thee.

Besides if thou had'st a desire to prove Constant in thy affection and true love; yet thou would••st be compell••d at ••••••st to sail, And with thy Trojans thou away would'st saile. For if the wished night appointed were, Thou would'st be gone, if that the wind stood fair. And when our pleasures grew unto the height, Thou would'st be gone, if that the wind stood right: So by a fair wind I shou••d be bereft Of joyes even in the midst imperfect left. Or as thou perswad'st shall I follow thee To Troy, and so great Priams Daughter be. yet I do not so much contemn swift fame, That I would stick disgrace upon thy name. What would Priam, and his Wife think of me With's Daughters, and thy brothers which may be? W••at m••ght Sparta, and Greece of Helen say? Or what might Troy report, and Asia? And how canst thou hope I should faithfull prove? And not to others, as to thee g••ant love So that if a st••angers ship do arrive here, It will procure in thee a jealous fear. And in thy rage call me adulteresse, When thou art guilty of my wickednesse. Thou that didst cause my fault wilt me upbraid, O may I fi••st into my g••ave be laid; But I shall have Troys wealth, go rich and brave, And more then thou canst promise I shall have. Tissue, and Cloth of gold they shall present me, And store of gold shall for a gift be sent me. yet pardon me, those gifts cannot inflame me, I know not how thy Land would entertain me, If in the Trojan Land I should wrong'd be, How could my brother, or father help me?

False Jason with fair promi••es beguild Med••a, Who afterward exil'd. Her Father Eetes was not there, to whom, When she was scorn'd by Ja••on, she might come. Nor her Mother Ipsea to whom she Might return, nor her sister Chal••io••e. I fear not this, was not Me••ea afraid. "For those who mean best, soonest are be••rai'd, Ships in the harbour do in safety ride. But are tost at Sea, and do storms abi••e. And that same fire-brand too affrighteth me, Of which thy mother dremt, and thought that she Had been deliver••d: and besides too I Do fear Cass••ndra's dismall prophesie? Who did foretell, as truth did her inspire, The Greekes should wast the City T••oy with fire. And besides, as faire Venus favours thee, Because thy judgment gave her the victory; I fear the other goddesses do grudge At thee, because thou did'st against them judge. And I do know that wars may follow after, Our fatall love shall be reveng'd with slaughter. Yet to allow her praise I am content, Why should I question that which she hath meant? yet for my ••ow belief be not thou griev'd. For such good matters hardly are beleiv'd. First I am glad that Ven••s did regard me, Secondly, that with me she did reward thee. And that Helen, when you of her beauty heard, Was before Pallas and Iuno's gifts preferr'd. Am I both Wisdom, and Kingdom to thee? S••nce thou ••ov'st me, should I no kindnesse shew thee? I••me not so cruell, yet cannot incline To love him who I fear cannot be mine.

For suppose I to Sea would go with thee, To steal hence I have no opportunity. In love's thef••s I am ignorant and rude, Heavens knows my husband I did ne're delude: And in a Letter thus my mind to shew, Is a task, I before did never do. They are happy that do use it every day, To offend it is hard to f••nd the way. A kind of painfull fear restraineth me, And how they look on us me-thinks I see. Of the grumbling people I am much affraid, For Aethra told me long since what they said. But take no notice, nor dost thou desist, I know you can di••emble if you list Then sport and spare not, but let us be wary, "And if not chast, let us at least be c••ary. For though that Menelaus absent be, I must di••creetly use my liberty. For though he is on earnest businesse gone, And for this journey had occasion; I took occasion thus my love to show, Make hast to return, Sweet heart, if you go. And he straightway to recompence my wish Of his return gave me a joyful kisse. Charging me that my care should be exprest In looking to his house, and Troj••n guest. I smil'd, and to him could say naught at all, I striv'd, to refrain laughing with, I shall. So with a prosperious wind he sail'd to C••eet, Yet to do, what thou dost list, is not meet. I'me kept in his absence with guard most strong, "Do'st thou not know the hands of Kings are long? Besides, thou wrong'st us both in praising me, For when he hears it he will jealous be.

The fame of beauty maketh me suspected, I would I had the same of it negle••••ed Though to leave us together he thought fit, To my own keeping he did me commit "He knew there could no better guardian be, "To keep me chast than my own honesty. He fear'd my beauty, but my chastity Did take away that idle jealousie. To make use of time thou advisest me, Since his absence gives opportunity. I must confess I have a good mind to it, But am yet unresolv'd, and fear to do it. Be••ides you know my husband is from home, And you without a wife do lie alone; The nights are long and while we sit together In one house, we may talk unto each other. And woe is me! when we are both alone, I know thou hast a fair alluring tongue Thus every circumstance seemes to invite me, And nothing but a bashfull fear doth fright me. Since perswasions do no good, leave that course And make me leave this bashfullnesse by force. Such force would seem a welcome injury, And I would fain be thus compell'd by thee. yet let me rather my new love restrain, A li••tle wat••r quenc••es a young flame. Did not ••he stout inhabitants of Thessalia F••ght with the Centaures for Hippod••mia? And dost thou not think Menelaus hath, And Tyndarus as violent a wrath? A though of valour thou do'st boast to me, Thy words and amorous face doth not agree. Thou art not fit for M••rs, nor for the field, But for V••nus combats, which do pleasures yeild.

Let valient hardy men of wars approve, But Paris follow thou the wars of love. Let Hector fight for thee, whom thou dost pra••se, The gentle wars of love shall give thee bayes. And in these wars 'tis wisdom for to fight, And any Maid that's wise will take delight. Not upon idle points of modesty ••••and, I may perhaps in time give thee my hand. But it is your desire, that you and I Should meet, I know what you do mean thereby. Thus far this guilty Letter hath reveal'd A piece of my mind the rest is conceal'd. By Clymena and Aethra we may further Make known our minds, more fully to each other▪ For these two Maidens in such matters be Companions, and Counsellers to me.