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 SEVENTH BOOKE of Ouids Metamorphosis. (Book 7)

ANd now in ship of Pagasa the Mynies cut the seas. And leading vnder endlesse night his age in great disease Of scarcitie was Phiney séene. and Boreas sonnes had chaste Away the Maidenfaced foules that did his victels waste. And after suffring many things in noble Iasons band, In muddie Phasis gushing streame at last they went a land. There while they going to the King demaund the golden fléece Brought thither certaine yeares before by Phryxus out of Greece, And of their dreadfull labors wait an answere to receiue: Aeëtas daughter in hir heart doth mightie flames conceyue. And after strugling verie long, when reason could not win The vpper hand of rage: she thus did in hir selfe begin. In vaine Medea doste thou striue. some God what ere he is Against thée bendes his force. for what a wondrous thing is this? Is any thing like this which men doe terme by name of Loue? For why should I my fathers hestes estéeme so hard aboue All measure? sure in very déede they are too hard and sore. Why feare I least you straunger whome I neuer saw before Should perish? what should be the cause of this my feare so great? Unhappie wench (and if thou canst) suppresse this vncouth heat That burneth in thy tender brest. and if so be I coulde, A happie turne it were, and more at case then be I shoulde. But now an vncouth maladie perforce against my will Doth hale me. Loue persuades me one, another thing my skill. The best I sée and like: the worst I follow headlong still. Why being of the royall bloud so fondly doste thou raue, Upon a straunger thus to dote, desiring for to haue An husband of another world? at home thou mightest finde A louer méete for thine estate on whome to set thy minde. And yet it is but euen a chaunce if he shall liue or no: God graunt him for to liue. I may without offence pray so, Although I loude him not: for what hath Iason trespast me? Who woulde not pitie Iasons youth onlesse they cruell be? What creature is there but his birth and prowesse might him moue?

And setting all the rest asyde, who woulde not be in loue With Iasons goodlie personage? my heart assuredly Is toucht therewith. But if that I prouide not remedie, With burning breath of blasting Bulles néedes sindged must he bée. Of séedes that he himselfe must sow a haruest shall he sée Of armed men in battell ray vpon the ground vp grow Against the which it houeth him his manhode for to show. And as a pray he must be set against the Dragon fell. If I these things let come to passe, I may confesse right well That of a Tyger I was bred: and that within my brest A heart more harde than any stéele or stonie rocke doth rest. Why rather doe I not his death with wrathfull eyes beholde? And ioy with others séeing him to vtter perill solde? Why doe I not enforce the Bulles against him? why I say Exhort I not the cruell men which shall in battell ray Arise against him from the ground? and that same Dragon too Within whose eyes came neuer sléepe? God shield I so should doo. But prayer smally bootes, except I put to helping hand. And shall I like a Caytife then betray my fathers land? Shall I a straunger saue whome we nor none of ours doth know? That he by me preserued may without me homeward row? And take another to his wife, and leaue me wretched wight To torments? If I wist that he coulde worke me such a spight, Or could in any others loue than only mine delight, The Churle should die for me. But sure he beareth not the face Like one that wold doe so. His birth, his courage, and his grace Doe put me clearly out of doubt he will not me deceyue, No nor forget the great good turnes he shall by me receyue. Yet shall he to me first his faith for more assurance plight And solemly he shall be sworne to kéepe the couenant right. Why fearste thou now without a cause? step to it out of hand: And doe not any lenger time thus lingring fondly stand. For ay shall Iason thinke himselfe beholding vnto thée: And shall thée marrie solemly: yea honored shalt thou bée Of all the Mothers greate and small throughout the townes of Gréece For sauing of their sonnes that come to fetch the golden fléece. And shall I then leaue brother, sister, father, kith and kin?

And household Gods, and natiue soyle, and all that is therein? And saile I know not whither with a straunger? yea: why not? My father surely cruell is, my Countrie rude God wot: My brother yet a verie babe: my sister I dare say Contented is with all hir heart that I should go away: The greatest God is in my selfe: the things I doe forsake Are trifles in comparison of those that I shall take. For sauing of the Gréekish ship renoumed shall I bée. A better place I shall enioy with Cities riche and frée, Whose fame doth florish fresh euen here, and people that excell In ciuill life and all good Artes: and whome I would not sell For all the goods within the worlde Duke Aesons noble sonne. Whome had I to my lawfull Féere assuredly once wonne, Most happie yea and blest of God I might my selfe account, And with my head aboue the starres to heauen I should surmount. But men report that certaine rockes (I know not what) doe méete Amid the waues, and monstruously againe a sunder fléete: And how Charybdis vtter foe to ships that passe thereby Now sowpeth in now speweth out the Sea incessantly: And rauening Scylla being hemde with cruell dogs about, Amids the gulfe of Sicilie doth make a barking out. What skilleth that? As long as I enioy the thing I loue, And hang about my Iasons necke, it shall no whit me moue To saile the daungerous Seas: as long as him I may embrace I cannot surely be afraide in any kinde of case. Or if I chaunce to be afraide, my feare shall only tende But for my husband. Callste thou him thy husband? doste pretende Gay titles to thy foule offence Medea? nay not so: But rather looke about how great a lewdnesse thou doste go. And shun the mischiefe while thou mayst. She had no sooner said These wordes, but right and godlinesse and shamefastnesse were staid Before hir eyes, and frantick loue did flie away dismaid. She went me to an Altar that was dedicate of olde To Perseys daughter Hecate (of whome the witches holde As of their Goddesse) standing in a thicke and secrete wood So close it coulde not well be spide: and now the raging mood Of furious loue was well alaide and clearely put to flight:

When spying Aesons sonne, the flame that séemed quenched quight Did kindle out of hand againe. Hir chéekes began to glowe, And flushing ouer all hir face the scarlet bloud did flowe. And euen as when a little sparke that was in ashes hid, Uncouered with the whisking windes is from the ashes rid, Ef••soones it taketh nourishment and kindleth in such wise, That to his former strength againe and flaming it doth rise: Euen so hir quailed loue which late ye would haue thought had quight Bene vanisht out of minde, as soone as Iason came in sight Did kindle to his former force in vewing of the grace With which he did auaunce himselfe then comming there in place. And (as it chaunced) farre more faire and beautifull of face She thought him then than euer erst. but sure it doth behoue Hir iudgement should be borne withall bicause she was in loue. She gapte and gased in his face with fixed staring eyen As though she neuer had him séene before that instant time. So farre she was beside hir selfe ••he thought it should not bée The face of any worldly wight the which she then did sée. She was not able for hir life to turne hir eyes away. But when he tooke hir by the hand and speaking gan to pray Hir softly for to succor him, and promisde faithfully To take hir to his wedded wife, she falling by and by A wéeping, said. Sir, what I doe I sée apparantly. Not want of knowledge of the truth, but loue shall me deceiue. You shalbe saued by my meanes. And now I must receiue A faithfull promise at your hand for sauing of your life. He made a solemne vow, and sware to take hir to his wife, By triple Hecates holie rites, and by what other power So euer else had residence within that secret bower. And by the Sire of him that should his Fathrinlaw become Who all things doth behold, and as he hopte to ouercome The dreadfull daungers which he had soone after to assay. Duke Iason being credited receiude of hir streight way Enchaunted herbes: and hauing learnde the vsage of the same, Departed thence with merrie heart, and to his lodging came. Next Morne had chast•• y^• streaming stars: & folke by heapes did flocke To Marsis sacred field, and there stoode thronging in a shocke,

To sée the straunge pastimes. The King most stately to beholde With yuorie Mace aboue them all did sit in throne of golde. Anon the brazenhoued Bulles from stonie nosethrils cast Out flakes of fire: their scalding breath the growing grasse did blast. And looke what noise a chimney full of burning fewell makes, Or Flint in softning in the Kell when first the fire it takes By sprincling water therevpon: such noyse their boyling brests Turmoyling with the firie flames enclosed in their chests, Such noise their scorched throtebolles make. yet stoutly Iason went To méete them. They their dreadfull eyes against him grimly bent, And eke their hornes with yron tipt: and strake the dust about In stamping with their clouen clees: and with their belowing out Set all the fielde vpon a smoke. The Myneis séeing that Were past their wits with sodaine feare. but Iason féeled nat So much as any breath of theirs: such strength hath sorcerie. Their dangling Dewlaps with his hand he coyd vnfearfully. And putting yokes vpon their neckes he forced them to draw The heauie burthen of the plough which erst they neuer saw, And for to breake the fielde which erst had neuer felt the share. The men of Colchos séeing this, like men amazed fare. The Mynies with their shouting out their mazednesse augment. And vnto Iason therewithall giue more encouragement. Then in a souldiers cap of stéele a Uipers téeth he takes, And sowes them in the new plowde fielde. the ground thē soking makes The séede forestéepte in poyson strong, both supple lithe and soft, And of these téeth a right straunge graine there growes anon aloft. For euen as in the mothers wombe an infant doth begin To take the liuely shape of man, and formed is within To due proportion piece by piece in euery limme, and when Full ripe he is, he takes the vse of Aire with other men: So when that of the Uipers téeth the perfect shape of man Within the bowels of the earth was formed, they began To rise togither orderly vpon the fruitefull fielde: And (which a greater wonder is) immediatly they wielde Their weapons growing vp with them. whō when the Gréekes behilde Preparing for to push their Pikes (which sharply headed were) In Iasons face, downe went their heades, their heartes did faint for feare:

And also she that made him safe began abasht to bée. For when against one naked man so huge an armie shée Beheld of armed enmies bent, hir colour did abate And sodainly both voyd of bloud and liuelie heate she sate. And least the chaunted wéedes the which she had him giuen before Should faile at néede, a helping charme she whispred ouermore, And practisde other secret Artes the which she kept in store. He casting streight a mightie stone amid his thickest foes, Doth voyde the battell from him selfe and turnes it vnto those. These earthbred brothers by and by did one another wound And neuer ceased till that all lay dead vpon the ground. The Gréekes were glad, & in their armes did clasp their Champion stout, And clinging to him earnestly embraced him about. And thou O fond Medea too couldst well haue found in hart The Champion for to haue embraste, but that withheld thou wart By shamefastne••••e. and yet thou hadst embraced him, if dread Of stayning of thine honor had not staid thee in that stead. But yet as far forth as thou maist, thou doste in heart reioyce, And secretly (although without expressing it in voyce) Doste thanke thy charmes and eke the Gods as Authors of the same. Now was remaining as the last conclusion of this game, By force of chaunted herbes to make the wa••chfull Dragon sléepe Within whose eyes came neuer winke: who had in charge to kéepe The goodly trée vpon the which the golden fléeces hung. With crested head, and hooked pawes, and triple spirting tung. Right ougly was he to beholde. When Iason had besprent Him with the iuice of certaine herbes from Lethey Riuer sent, And thrice had mumbled certaine wordes which are of force to cast So sound a sléepe on things that euen as dead a time they last, Which make the raging surges calme and flowing Riuers stay. The dreadfull Dragon by and by (whose eyes before that day Wist neuer erst what sléeping ment) did fall so fast a sleepe That Iason safely tooke the fléece of golde that he did kéepe. Of which his bootie being proud, he led with him away The Author of his good su••cesse another fairer pray: And so with conquest and a wife he loosde from Colchos strond, And in Larissa ••auen safe did go againe a lond.

The auncient men of Thessalie togither with their wiues To Church with offrings gone for sauing of their childrens liues. Great heapes of fuming frankincense were fryed in the flame And vowed Bulles to sacrifice with hornes faire gilded came. But from this great solemnitie Duke Aeson was away, Now at deathes doore and spent with yeares. Then Iason thus gan say. O wife to whome I doe confesse I owe my life in déede, Though al things thou to me hast giuen, and thy deserts excéede Beleife: yet if enchauntment can, (for what so hard appeares Which strong enchauntment can not doe?) abate thou from my yeares, And adde them to my fathers life. As he these wordes did speake, The teares were standing in his eyes. His godly sute did breake Medeas heart: who therewithall be thought hir of hir Sire In leauing whome she had exprest a far vnlike desire. But yet bewraying not hir thoughts, she said: O Husband fie, What wickednesse hath scapt your mouth? suppose you then that I Am able of your life the terme where I will to bestow? Let Hecat neuer suffer that. Your sute (as well you know) Against all right and reason is. But I will put in proofe A greater gift than you require and more for your behoofe. I will assay your fathers life by cunning to prolong, And not with your yeares for to make him yong againe and strong: So our thréeformed Goddesse graunt with present helpe to stand A furthrer of the great attempt the which I take in hand. Before the Moone should circlewise close both hir hornes in one Three nightes were yet as then to come. Assoone as that she shone Most full of light, and did behold the earth with fulsome face, Medea with hir haire not trust so much as in a lace, But flaring on hir shoulders twaine, and barefoote, with hir gowne Ungirded, gate hir out of doores and wandred vp and downe Alone the dead time of the night. both Man, and Beast, and Bird Were fast a sléepe: the Serpents slie in trayling forward stird So softly as ye would haue thought they still a sléepe had bene. The moysting Ayre was whist. no leafe ye could haue mouing sene. The starres alonly faire and bright did in the welkin shine To which she lifting vp hir handes did thrise hirselfe encline: And thrice with water of the brooke hir haire besprincled shée:

And gasping thrise she opte hir mouth: and bowing downe hir knée Upon the bare hard ground, she said: O trus••ie time of night Most faithfull vnto priuities, O golden starres whose light Doth iointly with the Moone succéede the beames that blaze by day And thou thrée headed Hecàté who knowest best the way To compasse this our great attempt and art our chiefest stay: Ye Charmes & Witchcrafts, & thou Earth which both with herbe & wéed Of mightie working furnish••st the Wizardes at their néede: Ye Ayres and windes: ye Elues of Hilles, of Brookes, of Woods alone, Of standing Lakes, and of the Night approche ye euerychone. Through helpe of whom (the crooked bankes much wondring at the thing) I haue compelled streames to run cleane backward to their spring. By charmes I make the calme Seas rough, & make y^e rough Seas plaine▪ And couer all the Skie with Cloudes and chase them thence againe. By charmes I rasse and lay the windes, and burst the Uipers law. And from the bowels of the Earth both stones and trées doe draw. Whole woods and Forestes I remoue: I make the Mountaines shake, And euen the Earth it selfe to grone and fearfully to quake. I call vp dead men from their graues: and thée O light some Moone I darken oft, though beaten brasse abate thy perill soone. Our Sorcerie dimmes the Morning faire, and darkes y^e Sun at Noone. The flaming breath of firie Bulles ye quenched for my sake And caused their vnwieldie neckes the bended yoke to take. Among the Earthbred brothers you a mortall war did set And brought a sléepe the Dragon fell whose eyes were neuer shet. By meanes whereof deceiuing him that had the golden fléece In charge to kéepe, you sent it thence by Iason into Greece. Now haue I néede of herbes that can by vertue of their iuice To flowring prime of lustie youth old withred age reduce. I am assurde ye will it graunt. For not in vaine haue shone These twin••ling starres, ne yet in vaine this Chariot all alone By draught of Dragons hither comes. With that was fro the Skie A Chariot softly glaunced downe, and stayed hard thereby. Assoone as she had gotten vp, and with hir hand had coyd The Dragons reined neckes, and with their bridles somewhat toyd, They mounted with hir in the Ayre, whence looking downe she saw The pleasant Temp of Thessalie, and made hir Dragons draw

To places further from resort: and there she tooke the view What herbes on high mount Pelion, and what on Ossa grew. And what on mountaine Othris and on Pyndus growing were, And what Olympus (greater than mount Pyndus far) did beare. Such herbes of them as liked hir she pullde vp roote and rinde Or cropt them with a hooked knife. And many she did finde Upon the bankes of Apidane agréeing to hir minde: And many at Amphrisus foords: and thou Enipeus eke Didst yeelde hir many pretie wéedes of which she well did like. Peneus and Sperchius streames contributarie were, And so were Boebes rushie bankes of such as growed there. About Anthedon which against the Ile Euboea standes, A certaine kind of liuely grasse she gatherd with hir handes, The name whereof was scarsly knowen or what the herbe could doe Untill that Glau••us afterward was chaunged thereinto. Nine dayes with winged Dragons drawen, nine nights in Chariot swift She searching euerie field and frith from place to place did shift. She was no sooner home returnde but that the Dragons fell Which lightly of hir gathered herbes had taken but the smell, Did cast their sloughes and with their sloughes their riueled age forgo. She would none other house than heauen to hide hir head as tho: But kept hir still without the doores: and as for man was none That once might touch hir. Altars twayne of Turfe she builded: one Upon hir lefthand vnto Youth, another on the right To He••at. Both the which assoone as she had dight With Ueruin and with other shrubbes that on the fieldes doe rise, Not farre from thence she digde two pits: and making sacrifice Did cut a couple of blacke Rams throtes and filled with their blood The open pits, on which she pourde of warme milke pure and good A boll full, and another boll of honie clarifide. And babling to hir selfe therewith full bitterly she cride On Pluto and his rauisht wife the souereigne states of Hell, And all the Elues and Gods that on or in the Earth doe dwell, To spare olde Aesons life a while, and not in hast depriue His limmes of that same aged soule which kept them yet aliue. Whome when she had sufficiently with mumbling long besought, She bade that Aesons ••éebled corse should out of doores be brought

Before the Altars. Then with charmes she cast him in so déepe A slumber, that vpon the herbes he lay for dead a sléepe. Which done she willed Iason thence a great way off to go And likewise all the Ministers that serued hir as tho: And not presume those secretes with vnhallowed eyes to sée. They did as she commaunded them. When all were voyded, shée With scattred haire about hir eares like one of Bacchus froes Deuoutly by and by about the burning Altars goes: And dipping in the pits of bloud a sort of clif••ed brandes Upon the Altars kindled them that were on both hir handes. And thrise with brimstone, thrise with fire, and thrise with water pure She purged Aesons aged corse that slept and slumbred sure. The medicine séething all the while a wallop in a pan Of brasse, to spirt and leape a loft and gather froth began. There boyled she the rootes, séeds, flowres, leaues, stalkes & iuice togither Which from the fieldes of Thessalie she late had gathered thither. She cast in also precious stones fetcht from the furthest East And which the ebbing Ocean washt fine grauell from the West. She put thereto the deaw that fell vpon a Monday night: And flesh and feathers of a Witch a cursed odious wight Which in the likenesse of an Owle abrode a nightes did flie, And Infants in their cradels chaunge or sucke them that they die. The singles also of a* 1.1 Wolfe which when he list could take The shape of man, and when he list the same againe forsake. And from the Riuer Cyniphis which is in Lybie lande She had the fine shéere scaled filmes of water snayles at hand. And of an endlesseliued heart the liuer had she got. To which she added of a Crowe that then had liued not So little as nine hundred yeares the head and Bill also. Now when Medea had with these and with a thousand mo Such other kinde of namelesse things bestead hir purpose through For lengthning of the old mans life, she tooke a withered bough Cut lately from an Olyf trée, and iumbling all togither Did raise the bottome to the brim: and as she stirred hither And thither with the withered sticke, behold it waxed gréene. Anon the leaues came budding out: and sodenly were séene As many berries dangling downe as well the bough could beare.

And where the fire had from the pan the scumming cast, or where The scalding drops did fall, the ground did springlike florish there, And flowres with fodder fine and soft immediatly arose. Which when Medea did behold, with naked knife she goes And cuttes the olde mans throte: and letting all his old bloud go Supplies it with the boyled iuice: the which when Aeson tho Had at his mouth or at his wounde receyued in, his heare As well of head as beard from gray to coleblacke turned were. His leane, pale, hore, and withered corse grew fulsome, faire and fresh: His furrowed wrincles were fulfilde with yong and lustie flesh. His limmes waxt frolicke, baine and lithe: at which he wondring much, Remembred that at fortie yeares he was the same or such. And as from dull vnwieldsome age to youth he backward drew: Euen so a liuely youthfull spright did in his heart renew. The wonder of this monstruous act had Bacchus séene from hie. And finding that to youthfull yeares his Nurses might thereby Restored bée, did at hir hand receiue it as a gift. And least deceitfull guile should cease, Medea found a shift To feyne that Iason and hir selfe were falne at oddes in wroth: And therevpon in humble wise to Pelias Court she goth. Wh••re forbicause the King himselfe was féebled sore with age, His daughters entertainde hir whome Medea being sage, Within a while through false pretence of feyned friendship brought To take hir baite. For as she tolde what pleasures she had wrought For Iason, and among the rest as greatest sadly tolde How she had made his father yong that withred was and olde, And taried long vpon that point: they hoped glad and faine That their olde father might likewise his youthful yeares regaine. And this they crauing instantly did proffer for hir paine What recompence she would desire. She helde hir peace a while As though she doubted what to doe: and with hir suttle guile Of counterfetted grauitie more eger did them make. Assone as she had promisde them to doe it for their sake, For more assurance of my graunt, your selues (quoth she) shall sée The oldest Ram in all your flocke a Lambe streight made to bée By force of my confections strong. Immediatly a Ram So olde that no man thereabouts remembred him a Lam▪

Was thither by his warped hornes which turned inward to To his hollow Temples, drawne: whose withred throte she slit in two. And when she cleane had drayned out that little bloud that was Upon the fire with herbes of strength she set a pan of brasse, And cast his carcasse thereinto. The Medcine did abate The largenesse of his limmes and seard his dossers from his pate, And with his hornes abridgde his yeares. Anon was plainly heard The bleating of a new yea••d Lambe from mid the Ketleward. And as they wondred for to heare the bleating, streight the Lam Leapt out, and frisking ran to séeke the vdder of some Dam. King Pelias daughters were amazde and when they did beholde Hir promise come to such effect, they were a thousand folde More earnest at hir than before. Thrise Phoebus hauing pluckt The Collars from his horses neckes, in Iber had them duckt. And now in Heauen the streaming starres the fourth night shined cleare: When false Medea on the fire had hanged water shere. With herbes that had no powre at all. The King and all his garde Which had the charge that night about his person for to warde Were through hir nightspels and hir charmes in deadly sléepe all cast. And Pelias daughters with the Witch which eggde them forward, past Into his chamber by the watch, and compast in his bed. Then: wherefore stand ye doubting thus like fooles Medea sed. On: draw your swordes: and let ye out his old bloud, that I may Fill vp his emptie veynes againe with youthfull bloud streight way. Your fathers life is in your handes: it lieth now in you To haue him olde and withred still or yong and lustie. Now If any nature in ye be, and that ye doe not féede A fruitelesse hope, your dutie to your father doe with spéede. Expulse his age by sword, and let the filthy matter out. Through these persuasions which of them so euer went about To shewe hirselfe most naturall, became the first that wrought Against all nature: and for feare she should be wicked thought, She executes the wickednesse which most to shun she sought. Yet was not any one of them so bolde that durst abide To looke vpon their father when she strake, but wride aside Hir eyes: and so their cruell handes not marking where they hit With faces turnde another way at all auenture 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

He all beweltred in his bloud awaked with the smart, And maimde and mangled as he was did giue a sodeyne start Endeuoring to haue risen vp. but when he did beholde Himselfe among so many swordes, he lifting vp his olde Pale wary••sh armes, said: daughters mine what doe ye? who hath put These wicked weapons in your hands your fathers throte to cut? With that their heartes and handes did faint. And as he talked yet, Medea breaking of his wordes, his windpipe quickly slit, And in the scalding liquor torne did drowne him by and by. But had she not with winged wormes streight mounted in the skie She had not scaped punishment. but stying vp on hie She ouer shadie Pelion flew where Chyron erst did dwell, And ouer Othrys and the grounds renowinde for that befell To auncient Ceramb: who such time as old Deucalions flood Upon the face of all the Earth like one maine water stood, By helpe of Nymphes with fethered wings was in the Ayer lift, And so escaped from the floud vndrowned by the shift. She left Aeolian Pytanie vpon hir left hand: and The Serpent that became a stone vpon the Lesbian sand. And Ida woods where Bacchus hid a Bullocke (as is sayd) In shape of Stag the which his sonne had théeuishly conuayde. And where the Sire of Corytus lies buried in the dust. The fieldes which Meras (when he first did into barking brust) Affraide with straungenesse of the noyse. And eke Eurypils towne In which the wiues of Cos had hornes like Oxen on their crowne Such time as Hercles with his hoste departed from the Ile. And Rhodes to Phoebus consecrate: and Ialyse where ere while The Telchines with their noysome sight did euery thing bewitch. At which their hainous wickednesse Ioue taking rightfull pritch, Did drowne them in his brothers waues. Moreouer she did passe By Ceos and olde Carthey walles where Sir Alcidamas Did wonder how his daughter should be turned to a Doue. The Swannie Temp and Hyries Poole she viewed from aboue, The which a sodeine Swan did haunt. For Phyllie there for loue Of Hyries sonne did at his bidding Birdes and Lions tame, And being willde to breake a Bull performed streight the same: Till wrothfull that his loue so oft so streightly should him vse,

When for his last reward he askt the Bull, he did refuse To giue it him. The boy displeasde, said: well: thou wilt anon Repent thou gaue it not: and leapt downe headlong from a stone. They all supposde he had bene falne: but being made a Swan With snowie feathers in the Ayre to flacker he began. His mother Hyrie knowing not he was preserued so, Resolued into melting teares for pensiuenesse and wo, And made the Poole that beares hir name. Not far from hence doth stand The Citie Brauron, where sometime by mounting from the land With wauing pinions Ophyes ympe dame Combe did eschue Hir children which with naked swordes to slea hir did pursue. Anon she kend Calaurie fieldes which did sometime pertaine To chast Diana where a King and eke his wife both twaine Were turnde to Birdes. Cyllene hill vpon hir right hand stood, In which Menephron like a beast of wilde and sauage moode To force his mother did attempt. Far thence she spide where sad Cephisus mourned for his Neece whome Phebus turned had To vgly shape of swelling Seale: and Eumelles pallace faire Lamenting for his sonnes mischaunce with whewling in the Aire. At Corinth with hir winged Snakes at length she did arriue. Here men (so auncient fathers said that were as then aliue) Did bréede of deawie Mushrommes. But after that hir téene With burning of hir husbāds bride by witchcraft wreakt had béene And that King Creons pallace she on blasing fire had séene, And in hir owne deare childrens bloud had bathde hir wicked knife Not like a mother but a beast bereuing them of life: Least Iason should haue punisht hir she tooke hir winged Snakes, And flying thence againe in haste to Pallas Citie makes, Which saw the auncient Periphas and rightuous Phiney to Togither flying, and the Néece of Polypemon who Was fastened to a paire of wings as well as tother two. Aegeus enterteinde hir wherein he was too blame Although he had no further gone but staid vpon the same, He thought it not to be inough to vse hir as his guest Onlesse he tooke hir too his wife. And now was Thesey prest, Unknowne vnto his father yet, who by his knightly force Had set from robbers cleare the balke that makes the streight diuorce

Betwéene the seas Iönian and Aegean. To haue killde This worthie knight, Medea had a Goblet readie fillde With iuice of Flintwoort venemous the which she long ago Had out of Scythie with hir brought. The common brute is so That of the téeth of Cerberus this Flintwoort first did grow. There is a caue that gapeth wide with darksome entrie low, There goes a way slope downe by which with triple cheyne made new Of strong and sturdie Adamant the valiant Her••le drew The currish Helhounde Cerberus: who dragging arsward still And writhing backe his scowling eyes bicause he had no skill To sée the Sunne and open day, for verie moodie wroth Thrée barkings yelled out at once, and spit his slauering froth Upon the gréenish grasse. This froth (as men suppose) tooke roote And thriuing in the batling soyle in burgeous forth did shoote, To bane and mischiefe men withall: and forbicause the same Did grow vpon the bare hard Flints, folke gaue the foresaid name Of Flintwoort therevnto. The King by egging of his Quéene Did reach his soone this bane as if he had his enmie béene. And Thesey ••f this treason wrought not knowing ought had tane The Goblet at his fathers ha••d which helde his deadly bane: When sodenly by the Iuor••e hi••••s that were vpon his sword Aegeus knew he was his sonne: and rising from the borde Did strike the mischie••e from his mouth. Medea with a charme Did cast a mist and so scapte death deserued for the harme Entended. Now albeit that Aegeus were right glad That in the sauing of his sonne so happy chaunce he had, Yet grieued it his heart full sore that such a wicked wight With treason wrought against his sonne should scape so cleare & quight. Then fell he vnto kindling fire on Altars euerie where And glutted all the Gods with gifts. The thicke neckt Oxen were With garlands wreathd about their hornes knockt downe for sacrifice. A day of more solemnitie than this did neuer rise Before on Athens (by report.) The auncients of the Towne Made feastes: so did the meaner sort, and euery common clowne. And as the wine did sharpe their wits, they sung this song. O knight Of péerlesse prowesse Theseus, thy manhod and thy might Through all the coast of Marathon with worthie honor soundes,

For killing of the Cretish Bull that wasted those same groundes. The folke of Cremyon thinke themselues beholden vnto thée. For that without disquietting their fieldes may tilled be. By thée the land of Epidaure behelde the clubbish sonne Of Vulcane dead. By thée likewise the countrie that doth runne Along Cephisus bankes behelde the fell Procrustes slaine. The dwelling place of Ceres our Eleusis glad and faine Beheld the death of Cercyon. That orpid Sinis who Abused his strength in bending trées and tying folke thereto, Their limmes a sunder for to teare when loosened from the stops The trées vnto their proper place did trice their streyned tops, Was kilde by thée. Thou made the way that leadeth to the towne Alcathoe in Beotia cleare by putting Scyron downe. To this same outlawes scattred bones the land denied rest, And likewise did the Sea refuse to harbrough such a guest: Till after floting to and fro long while as men doe say At length they hardened into stones: and at this present day The stones are called Scyrons cliffes. Now if we should account Thy déedes togither with thy yeares, thy déedes would far surmount Thy yeares. For thée most valiant Prince these publike vowes we kéepe For thée with cherefull heartes we quaffe these bolles of wine so déepe. The Pallace also of the noyse and shouting did resounde The which the people made for ioy. There was not to be founde In all the Citie any place of sadnesse. Nathelesse (So hard it is of perfect ioy to find so great excesse, But that some sorrow therewithall is medled more or lesse,) Aegeus had not in his sonnes recouerie 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 Conceyued in his fathers brest for murthring of his sonne Androgeus made him farre more strong and fiercer for to ronne To rightfull battell to reuenge 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 therevpon with flying fléete where passage did permit He went to visit all the Iles that in those seas doe fit.

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 vpon 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, féete and bill. A Cadowe is the name of hir. But yet Olyarey, And Didymey, and Andrey eke, and Tene, and Gyarey, And Pepareth where Oliue trees most plenteously doe grow, In no wise would agrée 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 sée A man of such renowne as Minos bruted was to bée. The Kings three sonnes Duke Telamon Duke Peley, and the yong Duke Phocus went to méete 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 iust Reuengement of my murthred sonne that sléepeth in the dust. I craue your comfort for his death. Aeginas sonne replide: Thy suite is vaine: and of my Realme perforce must be denide. For vnto Athens is no lande more sure than this alide: Such leagues betwéene vs 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 auaile him more.

As yet might from Oenopia walles the Cretish fléete be kend. When thitherward with puffed sayles and wind at will did tend A ship from Athens, which anon arriuing at the strand Set Cephal with Ambassade from his Countrimen a land. The Kings thrée sonnes though long it were since last they had him séene: Yet knew they him. And after olde acquaintance eft had béene Renewde by shaking hands, to Court they did him streight conuay This Prince which did allure the eyes of all men by the way, As in whose stately person still remained to be séene The markes of beautie which in flowre of former yeares had béene Went holding out on Olife braunch that grew in Atticke lande And for the reuerence 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 h••ght. When gréeting first had past betweene these Nobles and the King, Then Cephal setting streight a broche the message he did bring, Desired aide: and shewde what leagues stoode then in sorce betwéene His countrie and the Aeginites, and also what had béene Decréed betwixt their aunceters, concluding in the ende That vnder colour of this war which Minos did pretende To only Athens, he in déede 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 haue Your state of Athens séeme so straunge as succor here to craue. I pray commaund. For be ye sure that what this Ile can make Is yours. Yea all that ere I haue shall hazard for your sake. I want no strength. I haue such store of souldiers, that I may Both vex my foes and also kéepe my Realme in quiet stay. And now I thinke me blest of God that time doth serue to showe Without excuse the great good will that I to Athens owe. God holde it sir ({quod} Cephalus) God make the number grow Of people in this towne of yours: it did me good a late When such a goodly sort of youth of all one age and rate Did méete me in the stréete. but yet me thinkes that many misse Which at my former being here I haue beheld ere this.

At that the King did ••igh, and thus with plaintfull voice did say. A sad beginning aft••rward 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 least I séeme to wearie you with ouerlong delay, The men that you so mindefully enquire for lie in ground And nought of them saue bones and dust remayneth to be found. But as it hapt what losse thereby did vnto me redound? A cruell plague through Iunos wrath who dreadfully did hate This Land that of hir husbands Loue did take the name of late, Upon my people fell: as long as that the maladie None other séemde than such as haunts mans nature vsually, And of so great mortalitie the hurtfull cause was hid, We stroue by Phisicke of the same the Pacients for to rid. The mischief ouermaistred Art: yea Phisick was to séeke To doe it selfe good. First the Aire with fogg••e stinking réeke Did daily ouerdréepe the earth: and close culme Clouds did make The wether faint: and while the Moone foure time hir light did take And fillde hir emptie hornes 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 & flow. And swarmes of Serpents crawld about the fieldes that lay vntillde Which with their poison euen the brookes and running waters fillde. In sodaine dropping downe of Dogs, of Horses, Shéepe and Kine, Of Birds & Beasts both wild & tame as Oxen, Wolues, & Swine, The mischiefe of this secret sore first outwardly appéeres. The wretched Plowman was amazde to sée his sturdie Stéeres Amid the ••orrow sinking downe ere halfe his worke was donne. Whole flocks of shéepe did faintly bleate, and therewithall begonne Their fléeces for to fall away and leaue 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 pr••ast so oft to get in fight, Stoode sighing sadly at the Racke as wayting for to yéelde 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 cario••s lay, whose stinche, the Ayre it selfe distaines. (A wondrous thing to tell) not Dogges, not rauening Foules, nor yit Horec••ted Wolues would once attempt to tast of them a bit. Looke where they fell, there rotted they: and with their sauor 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 ••••ept. 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 & swolne, the mouth through drought of burning veines Lay gaping vp 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 th••ir hardened stomackes flat against the bare colde ground Yet no abatement of the heate therein their bodies found: But h••t the earth, and as for Leache was none that helpe could hight The Surgians and Phisitions too were in the selfe same plight. Their cur••l••sse cunning hurt themselues. 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 wherevnto that eche mans minde and fancie was enclinde, That followed he. he neuer past what was for his behoofe. For why? that nought could doe them good was felt too much by proofe. In euerie 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 staūch their thirst thereby. And therewithall so heauie and vnwieldie they become, That wanting power to rise againe, they died there. Yet some The selfe same 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 féeble force denide, They wallowed downe and out of doores immediatly them hide: It was a death to euery 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 haue séene some halfe sord••ad 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 neuer sée the Skie: Or stretching out their l••••mes to Heauen that ouerhangs on hie, Some here, some there, and yonder some, in what so euer coste Death finding them enforced them to yéelde their fainting Ghoste. What heart had I suppose you then, or ought I then to haue? In faith I might haue lothde my life, and wisht me in my graue As other of my people were. I could not cast mine eie In any place, but that dead folke there strowed I did spie Euen like as from a shaken twig when rotten Apples drop, Or Mast from Beches, Holmes or Okes whē Poales doe scare their top. Yo•• stately Church with gréeces long against our Court you sée: It is the shrine of Iupiter. What Wight was he or shee That on those Altars burned not their frankincense in vaine? How oft, yea euen with Frankincense that partly did remaine Still vnconsumed in their hands, did die both man and wife? As ech of them with mutuall care did pray for others life? How often dide the mother there in sewing for hir sonne, Unheard vpon the Altarstone, hir prayer scarce begonne? How often at the Temple doore euen while the Priest did bid His Beades, and poure pure wine betwene their hornes, at sodaine slid The Oxen downe without stroke giuen? Yea once when I had thought My selfe by offring sacrifice Ioues fauor to haue sought, For me, my Realme, and these thrée ymps, the Oxe with grieuous 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 vs of before: For euen the verie bowels were attainted with the sore. Before the holie Temple doores, and (that the death might bée The more dispitefull) euen before the Altars did I sée The stinking corses scattred. Some with haltars slopt their winde, By death expulsing feare of death: and of a wilfull minde

Did haste their ende, which of it selfe was coming on a pace. 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 vnburied did they lie, Or else without solemnitie were burnt in bonfires hie No reuerence 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 fillie soules of Mothers with their small And tender babes, and age with youth as Fortune did befall Went wandring gastly vp and downe vnmourned for at all. In fine so farre outrageously this helpelesse Murren raues, There was not wood inough for fire, nor ground inough for graues. Astnoied at the stourenesse of so stout a storme of ills I said O father Iupiter whose mightie power fulfills Both Heauen and Earth, if flying fame report thée not amisse In vouching that thou didst embrace in way of Loue ere this The Riuer Asops daughter faire Aegina euen 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 gaue a signe by sodaine flash of lightning from the Skies, And double peale of Thundercracks. I take this same ({quod} 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 vnto me. Hard by vs as it hapt that time, there was an Oken trée With spreaded armes as bare of boughes as lightly one shall sée. This tr••e (as all the rest of Okes) was sacred vnto Ioue And sprouted of an Acorne which was fet from Dodon groue. Here markt we how the pretie Ants the gatherers vp of graine One following other all along in order of a traine, Great burthens in their little mouthes did painfully sustaine▪ And nimbly vp the rugged barke their beaten path maintaine. As wondring at the swarme I stoode, I said, O father déere As many people giue thou me, as Ants are créeping héere. And fill mine empty walles againe. Anon the Oke did quake,

And vnconstreynde of any blast, his loftie braunches shake, The which did yéeld a certaine sound. With that for dreadfull feare A ••huddring through my bodie strake and vp stoode stiffe my heare. But yet I kissed reuerently the ground and eke the trée. Howbeit I durst not be so bolde of hope acknowne to bée. Yet hoped I: and in my heart did shroude my secret hope. Anon came night: and sléepe vpon my carefull carcasse crope. Me thought I saw the selfe same Oke with all his boughes and twigs, And all the Pismeres créeping still vpon his tawnts and sprigs. Which trembling with a sodaine brayd these Haruest folke of threw And shed them on the ground about, who on the sodaine grew In bignesse more and more. and from the earth themselues did lift: And stoode vpright against the trée: and therewithall did shift Their meygernesse, and coleblacke hue, and number of their féete: And clad their limmes with shape of man. Away my sléepe did fléete. And when I wooke, misliking of my dreame I made my mone That in the Gods I did perceiue but slender helpe or none. But straight much trampling vp 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 haue béen Some fancie of the foolish dreame which lately I had séen, 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 haue: come forth. Forth came I by and by And euen such men for all the world there standing did I spie As in my sléepe I dreamed of, and knew them for the same. They comming to me gréeted me their souereigne Lord by name. And I (my vowes to Ioue performde) my Citie did deuide Among my new inhabiters: and gaue 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 gaue. Their persons you haue séen: Their disposition is the same that erst in them hath béen. They are a sparing kinde of folke, on labor wholy set, A gatherer, and an hoorder vp of such as they doe get. These fellowes being like in yeares and courage of the minde,

Shall go a warfare wy assone 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 〈◊〉〈◊〉. With this and other such like talke they brought the day to ende. The Euen in feasting, and the night in sléeping they did spende. The Sunne next Morrow in the heauen 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 a sléepe. Duke Phocus at the gate Did méete them, and receyued 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 steale whereof he well might vnderstand Was of some straūge and vnknowne trée. when certaine talke had past A while of other matters there, I am (quoth he) at last A man that hath delight in woods and loues to follow game And yet I am not able sure by any meanes to ame What wood your Iaueling steale is of. Of Ash it can not bée. For then the colour should be browne. and if of Cornell trée, It would be full of knubbed knots. I know not what it is: But sure mine e••es did neuer sée 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 whatsoeuer He throwes it at. The stroke thereof by Chaunce is ruled neuer. For h••uing 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 gaue it him, and where••pon the partie gaue the same. Duke Cephal answerde his d••maund in all points (one except) The which (as knowne apparantly) for shame he ouerlept: ••is beautie namely, for the which he did receiue the Dart. And ••or the losse of his deare wife right pensiue at the hart.

He thus began with wéeping eies. This Dart O Goddesse sonne (Ye ill would thinke it) makes me yirne, & long shall make me donne, If long the Gods doe giue me life. This weapon hath vndonne My deare beloued wife and me. O would to God this same Had neuer vnto me bene giuen. There was a noble Dame That Procris hight (but you perchaunce haue oftner heard the name Of great Orythia whose renowne was bru••ed so by fame, That blustring Boreas rauisht hir.) To this Orythia shée Was sister. If a bodie should compare in ech degrée The face and natures of them both, he could none other déeme But Procris worthier of the twaine of rauishment should séeme. Hir father and our mutuall loue did make vs man and wife. Men said I had (and so I had in déede) a happie life. Howbeit Gods will was otherwise. for had it pleased him Of all this while, and euen still yet in pleasure should I swim. The second Month that she and I by band of lawfull bed Had ioynde togither bene, as I my masking Toyles did spred, To ouerthrow the horned Stags, the early Morning gray Then newly hauing chased night and gun to breake the day, From Mount Hymettus highest tops that freshly flourish ay, Espide me, and against my will conueyde 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 chéekes: although of day and night the bounds she holde: Although on iuice of Ambrosie continually she feede: Yet Procris was the only Wight that I did loue in déede. On Procris only was my heart: none other word had I But Procris only in my mouth: still Procris did I crie. It vpned 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 moued at the words that I did speake, Said: cease thy plaint thou Carle, and kéepe thy Procris still for me. But (if my minde deceyue 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 least my wife had made some scape. Hir youthfull yeares begarnished with beautie, grace and shape, In maner made me to beleue the déede already done. Againe hir maners did forbid mistrusting ouer soone. But I had b••ne away: but euen the same from whom I come A shrewde example gaue how lightly wiues doe run in blame: But we poore Louers are afraide of al things. Herevpon I thought to practise feates: which thing repented me anon: And shall repent me while I liue. The purpose of my drifts Was for tassault hir honestie with great rewards and gifts. The Morning fooding this my feare, to further my deuice, My shape (which thing me thought I felt) had altered with a trice. By meanes whereof anon vnknowne to Pallas towne I came, And entred so my house: the house was clearely voide of blame: And shewed signes of chastitie in mourning euer sith Their maister had bene rapt away. A thousand meanes wherewith To come to Procris speach had I deuisde: and scarce at last Obteinde I it. Assoone as I mine eie vpon hir cast, My wits were rauisht in such wise that nigh I had forgot The purposde triall of hir troth. right much a doe God wo•• I had to holde mine owne that I the truth bewrayed not. To kéepe my selfe from kissing hir full much a doe I had As reason was I should haue done. She looked verie sad. And yet as sadly as she lookte, no Wight aliue 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 behauiour straue And ouercame most constantly the great assaults I gaue? Or tell how oft she shet me vp with these same words? To one (Where ere he is) I kéepe my selfe, and none but he alone Shall sure enioy the vse of me. What creature hauing 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 ouerlading hir with wordes I draue hir to hir shifts.

Then cride I out: Thine euill heart my selfe I tardie take. Where of a straunge aduouterer the countenance I did make, I am in déede thy husband. O vnfaithfull woman thou, Euen I my selfe can testifie thy lewde behauior now. She made none answere to my words, but being stricken dum And with the sorrow of hir heart alonly ouercum, 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 euer 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 haue bene enforst to yeelde to blame, The rather if performance had ensewed of the same. When I had this submission made, and she sufficiently Reuengde hir wronged chastitie, she then immediatly Was reconcilde: and afterward we liued many a yeare In ioy and neuer any iarre betwéene vs did appeare. Besides all this (as though hir loue had bene to small a gift) She gaue me eke a goodly Grewnd which was of foote so swift, That when Diana gaue him hir, she said he should out go. All others. and with this same Grewnd she gaue this Dart also The which you sée I hold in hand. Perchaunce ye faine would know What fortune to the Grewnd befell. I will vnto you show A wondrous case. The straungenesse of the matter will you moue. The krinkes of certaine Prophesies surmounting farre aboue The reach of auncient wits to read, the Brookenymphes did expoūd: And mindlesse of hir owne darke doubts Dame Themis being found, Was as a rechelesse Prophetisse throwne flat against the ground. For which presumptuous déede of theirs she tooke iust punishment. To Thebes in Baeotia streight a cruell beast she sent, Which wrought the bane of many a Wight. The coūtryfolk did féed Him with their cattell and themselues, vntill (as was agréed) 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 ouer at his ease the highest of the top. Then euerie man let slip their Grewnds, but he them all outstript And euen 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 vnto me did giue was named so) Who strugling for to wrest his necke already from the band Did stretch his collar. Scarsly had we let him of of hand But that where Laelaps was become we could not vnderstand. The print remained of his féete vpon the parched sand, But he was clearly out of sight. Was neuer 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 ouerlooke 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 giue the Grewnd the slip, and from his bighting shrink: And like a wilie Foxe he runnes not forth directly out, Nor makes a windlasse ouer all the champion fieldes about, But doubling and indenting still auoydes his enmies lips, And turning short, as swift about as spinning whéele he whips, To disapoint the snatch. The Grewnd pursuing at an inch Doth cote him, neuer losing ground: but likely still to pinch Is at the sodaine shifted of. continually he snatches In vaine: for nothing in his mouth saue only Aire he latches. Then thought I for to trie what helpe my Dart at néede could show. Which as I charged in my hand by leuell 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 haue thought the tone had fled on still a pace 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 vs 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 griefe was ioy. those ioyes of mine remember first I shall. It doth me good euen yet to thinke vpon that blissfull time (I meane the fresh and lustie yeares of pleasant youthfull Prime) When I a happie man enioyde so faire and good a wife, And she with such a louing Make did lead a happie life. The care was like of both of vs, the mutuall loue all one. She would not to haue line with Ioue my presence haue forgone. Ne was there any Wight that could of me haue wonne the loue, No though Dame Venus had hir selfe descended from aboue. The glowing brands of loue 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 vpon the sent. Nor Seruingman, nor knottie toyle before or after went. For I was safe with this same Dart. when wearie waxt mine arme With striking Déere, 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 excessiue 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 beart in thought) Come Aire I wonted was to sing. come ease the paine of me Within my bosom lodge thy selfe most welcome vnto 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 vsed for to say Great pleasure doe I take in thée: 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 Receiue 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 vpon, had bene some Ladie faire: He thought that I had looude some Nymph. And therevpon streight way He runnes me like a Harebrainde blab to Procris, t•• bewray

This fault as he surmised it: and there with lauas tung. Reported all the wanton words that he had heard me sung. A thing of light beliefe is loue. She (as I since haue harde) For sodeine sorrow swounded downe: and when long afterwarde She came againe vnto hir selfe, she said she was accurst And borne to cruell destinie: and me she blamed wurst For breaking faith: and treating 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 beleue 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 driuen the night away, I went abrode to hunt againe: and spéeding, as I lay Upon the grasse, I said come Aire and ease my painfull heate. And on the sodaine as I spake there séemed for to beate A certaine sighing in mine eares of what I could not gesse. But ceasing not for that I still procéeded nathelesse: And said O come most pleasant Aire. with that I heard a sound Of russling softly in the leaues that lay vpon 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. Assoone as I perceyued 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 giuen. Then softly from the ground I lifted vp 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 vp hir cruell wound I striued 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 a pace, enforced all hir strength To vtter these few wordes at last. I pray thée humbly by Our bond of wedlocke, by the Gods as well aboue the Skie As those to whome I now must passe, as euer I haue ought

Deserued well by thée, and by Loue which hauing brought Me to my death doth euen in death vnfaded still remaine To nestle in thy bed and mine let neuer Aire obtaine. This sed, she held hir peace, and I receyued the same And tolde hir also how she was beguiled in the name. But what auayled telling then? she quoathde: and with hir bloud Hir little strength did fade. Howbeit as long as that she coud Sée ought, she stared in my face and gasping still on me Euen in my mouth she breathed forth hir wretched ghost. But she Did séeme with better cheare to die for that hir conscience was Discharged quight and cleare of doubtes. Now in conclusion as Duke Cephal wéeping 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 leuied: which the King Deliuered vnto Cephalus to Athens towne to bring.

Finis septimi Libri.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Ware wolfe.