Ovid's heroical epistles Englished by W.S.

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The Argument of Sabines se••ond E••i••tle.

DEmophoon in this Epistle endeavours by divers Arguments to excuse his, unfaithfull neglect of returning to Phylles according to his promise. Alledging that his friends were offended with him sot staying so long with her in Thrace, and also the importune unseasonablenesse of the weather for sailing, promising howsoever

at length to return to Phillis. He performed his promise, but Phyllis impatient of delay, ••ad strangled her self before he came, and by the mercy of the gods was changed into a leafelesse Almond tree, which Demophoon embracing, it put forth leaves as if it had been sensible of his return. Which is fain'd, because Phyllis signifies in Greek an Almonde tree, so expressing the name of Phyllis. Because when Zephyrus or the West wind bloweth from Afri••a into Thrace, this ••ree flouri∣sheth, for Zephyrus signifies as much as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, The life cherisher▪ which gave occasion to this fiction, that Phyllis trans∣formed into a Tree, seemed to rejoyce, and flourish, at the return of her Lover.

DEMOPHOON to PHILIS.

FRom his own Country to Phyllis his friend, D••mopho••n doth this his Letter send. Ev••n thy ••emo••h••o•• that doth still love thee, My fortunes chang'd, but not my constancy. Theseus who••e name thou hast no cause to fear, Thy flame of love for his sake worthy were. Menestheus drove out of his royal state, And the old Tyrant is now dead of late. He that the Amazons had overcome, And unto Hercul••s was companion. He that did Min••s son in law become, When he the Minotaure had overthrown▪ He did accuse me because I did stay, Trifling so long with thee in Thra••ia For while the love of Phyllis did detain thee. And that a fo••reign beauty did enflame thee. Time with a nimble pace did slip away; And sad accidents hapned by thy delay. Which had been all prevented, hadst thou come Or hadst thou made them void, when they were••d VVhen thou didst Phyllis kingdome love, for she Th••n a who••e kingdome was dearer to thee.

From At••amas I this s••me chiding have, And old Ethra who's halfe within her grave. Since Theseus is not their to close their eyes, The fault on me for staying with thee lyes. I confesse they both to me often cry'd, VVhen my ship did in Thracian waters ride. The win••s stand faire Demophoon, why dost stay? Go home Demophoon without delay. From thy beloved Phyllis example take, She loves thee, yet her home she'l not forsake. She desires not to bear thee company, But to return again entreateth thee. I with a silent patience heard them chide, But their desire I in my thoughts deny'd. I thought I could not imbrace thee enough, And I was glad to see the sea grow rough. Before my father I will this confesse, "He that loves worthily may it professe. For since such store of worth remains in thee, If I do love thee it no shame can be. And I do know that Phyllis cannot say, I prov'd unkin'd, when I did sail away. For when the day came that I must take ship; I weept, and comforted thee who did'st weep. Thou didst grant me a ship of Thracia, VVhile Phyllis love made me the time delay. Besides my father Theseus doth retain Ariadnes love and cherishes that flame; VVhen he looks towards heaven many times, See how my love (saith he) in heaven shines. Though Bacchus to forsake her did commen•• him, The world for forsaking her, hath blam'd him. So am I perjur'd thought for my delay, Though Phyllis know not the cause of my stay.

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This may assure thee I will come again, Because my breast doth burn with no new flame. Phyllis, hath not report to thee made known, What dismall troubles are sprung up at home? Since for my fathers death I a mourner am, Whose death includes more grief then I can name, My brother Hyppolli••us deserves a tear. Whom his own horses did in pieces tear. These fatall causes might excuse my stay, yet after a while I will come away. I will but lay my F••t••er in the grave, For 'tis fit he ••hould worthy burial have. Grant me but ••ime and I will constant be, Thy Country ••eilds most safety unto me▪ To those that since the fall of Troy did wander By land and sea, and padst through much danger, T••••••ce hat•• been kind, and I unto this Land By tempest drove, was kindly entertain'd. If that thy love to me remain the same, VVho in my royal Palace now do raign. And art not Angry with my parents fate, Or with D••mophoon most unfortunate. Suppose that unto me thou hadst been married VVhen at the siege of Troy ten years I tarried. Penel••pe through all the world is fam'd Because that she her chastity maintain'd. For she with witty Ar••, did alwayes w••ave An unthriving web, sui••ers to deceive. For she by night did it in pieces pull, Resolving the un••wisted threds to woll. Do'st 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Thracia••s will not marry thee, Or wilt thou marry any one but me? Hast thou a heart with any one to join Thy hand, unlesse thy hand do join with mine;

HOw wilt thou blush then, and how wilt thou grieve, When a far off thou shalt my failes perceive; Thou wilt condemn thy self, and ••ay alas; I see Demophoon most faitful was D••mop••o••n is return'd, and for my sake, A dangerous voyage he by sea did make I that for breach of faith him rashly blamed, Have broke my faith, while I of him complained. But Philli•• I had rather thou should'st marry, Then that thou shouldst some other way miscarry. Why dost thou threaten thou wilt make away Thy self? the gods may hear when thou dost pray. Though thou do'st blame me for inconstancy, Add not affliction to my misery. Though T••eseus Ariadn•• did forsa••e, Where he wild beasts a prey of her might ma••e; Yet my desert hath not been such, that I Should be accused of inconstancy, This Letter may the winds wi•••• out all fail Bring safe to t••ee, which us'd to drive my fail, Perswade thy self, I fain would come away, But that I have just cause a while to stay.