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 FYFT BOOKE of Ouids Metamorphosis. (Book 5)

NOw while that Danaes noble sonne was telling of these things Amid a throng of Cepheys Lordes, through al the Pallace rings A noyse of people nothing like the sound of such as sing At wedding feastes, but like the rore of such as tidings bring Of cruell warre. This sodaine chaunge from feasting vnto fray Might well be likened to the Sea: whych standing at a stay The woodnesse of the windes makes rough by raising of the waue. King Cepheys brother Phyney was the man that rashly gaue The first occasion of this fray. Who shaking in hys hand A Dart of Ash with head of stéele, sayd loe: loe here I stand To chalenge thée that wrongfully my rauisht spouse doste holde. Thy wings nor yet thy forged Dad in shape of feyned golde Shall now not saue thée from my hands. As with that word he bent His arme aloft, the foresaid Dart at Persey to haue sent What doste thou brother (Cephey cride) what madnesse moues thy minde To doe so foule a déede? is this the friendship he shall finde Among vs for his good deserts? And wilt thou néedes requi••e

The sauing of thy Néeces life with such a foule despight? Whome Persey hath not from thée tane: but (if thou be aduisde) But Neptunes heauie wrath bicause his Seanymphes were despisde But horned Hammon: but the beast which from the Sea arriued On my deare bowels for to féede. That time wert thou depriued Of thy betroothed, when hir life vpon the losing stoode: Onlesse perchaunce to sée hir lost it woulde haue done thée good, And easde thy heart to sée me sad. And may it not suffice That thou didst sée hir to the rocke fast bound before thine eyes And didst not helpe hir beyng both hir husband and hir Eame? Onlesse thou grudge that any man should come within my Realme To saue hir life? and séeke to rob him of his iust rewarde? Which if thou thinke to be so great, thou shouldst haue had regarde Before, to fetch it from the rocke to which thou sawste it bound, I pray thée brother séeing that by him the meanes is found That in mine age without my childe I go not to the grounde, Permit him to enioy the price for which we did compounde, And which he hath by due desert of purchace déerely bought. For brother let it neuer sinke nor enter in thy thought That I set more by him than thée: but this may well be sed I rather had to giue hir him than sée my daughter dead. He gaue him not a worde againe: But looked eft on him, And eft on Persey irefully with countnance stoure and grim, Not knowing which were best to hit: And after little stay He shooke his Dart, and flung it forth with all the powre and sway That Anger gaue at Perseys head. But harme it did him none, It sticked in the Bedsteddes head that Persey sate vpon. Then Persey sternely starting vp and pull••ng out the Dart Did throw it at his foe agayne, and therewithall his hart Had cliuen a sunder, had he not behinde an Altar start. The Altar (more the pitie was) did saue the wicked wight. Yet threw he not the Dart in vaine: it hit one Rhetus right Amid the foreheade: who therewith san••e downe, and when the stéele Was plucked out, he sprawlde about and spurned with his héele, And all berayd the boorde with bloud. Then all the other rout As f••erce as fire flang Dartes: and some there were that cried out That Cephey with his sonne in lawe was worthy for to die.

But he had wound him out of doores protesting solemly As he was iust and faithfull Prince, and swearing eke by all The Gods of Hospitalitie, that thatsame broyle did fall Full sore against his will. At hand was warlie Pallas streight And shadowed Persey with hir shielde, and gaue him heart in feight. There was one Atys borne in Inde, (of faire Lymniace The Riuer Ganges daughter thought the issue for to be,) Of passing beautie which with rich aray he did augment. He ware that day a scarlet Cloke, about the which there went A garde of golde: a cheyne of golde he ware about his necke: And eke his haire perfumde with Myrrhe a costly crowne did decke. Full sixtene yeares he was of age: such cunning skill he coulde In darting, as to hit his marke farre distant when he would. Yet how to handle Bow and shaftes much better did he know. Now as he was about that time to bende his horned Bowe, A firebrand Persey raught that did vpon the Aultar smoke, And dasht him ouertwhart the face with such a violent stroke, That all bebattred was his head the bones a sunder broke. When Lycabas of Assur lande his moste assured friend And deare companion being no dissembler of his miend Which most entierly did him loue, behelde him on the ground Lie weltring with disfigurde face, and through that grieuous wound Now gasping out his parting ghost, his death he did lament, And taking hastly vp the Bow that Atys erst had bent, Encounter thou with me (he saide) thou shalt not long enioy Thy triumphing in brauerie thus, for killing of this boy, By which thou getst more spight than praise. All this was scarsly sed, But that the arrow from the string went streyned to the head. Howbeit Persey (as it hapt) so warely did it shunne, As that it in his coteplights hung. then to him did he runne With Harpe in his hand bestaind with grim Medusas blood, And thrust him through the brest therwith▪ he quothing as he stood Did looke about where Atys lay with dim and dazeling eyes, Now wauing vnder endlesse night: and downe by him he lies, And for to comfort him withall togither with him dies. Behold through gredie haste to feight one Phorbas Methions son A Svveuite: and of Lybie lande one callde Amphimedon

By fortune sliding in the blood with which the ground was we••, Fell downe: and as they woulde haue r••se, Perseus fauchon met With both of them, Amphimedon vpon the ribbes he smote, And with the like celeritie he cut me Phorbas throte. But vnto Erith Actors sonne that in his hand did holde A brode browne Bill, with his short sword he durst not be too bolde To make approch. With both his handes a great and massie cup Embost with cunning portrayture aloft he taketh vp, And sendes it at him. He spewes vp red bloud: and falling downe Upon his backe, against the ground doth knocke his dying crowne. Then downe he Polydemon throwes extract of royall race And Abaris the Scithian, and Clytus in like case. And Elice with his vnshorne lockes, and also Phlegias, And Lycet olde Spe••chefies sonne, with diuers other mo, That on the heapes of corses slaine he treades as he doth go. And Phyney daring not presume to méete his foe at hand, Did cast a Dart: which hapt to light on Idas who did stand Aloofe as neuter (though in vaine) not medling with the Fray. Who casting backe a frowning looke at Phyney, thus did say. Sith whether that I will or no compeld I am perforce To take a part, haue Phyney here him whome thou doste enforce To be thy ••oe, and with this wound my wrongfull wound requite. But as he from his body pullde the Dart, with all his might To throw it at his foe againe, his limmes so féebled were With losse of bloud, that downe he fell and could not after steare. There also lay Odites slaine the chiefe in all the land Next to King Cephey, put to death by force of Clymens hand. Protenor was by Hypsey killde, and Lyncide did as much For Hypsey. In the throng there was an auncient man and such a one as loued righteousnesse and greatly feared God: Emathion called was his name: whome sith his yeares forbod To put on armes, he feights with tongue, inueying earnestly Against that wicked war the which he banned bitterly. As on the Altar he himselfe with quiuering handes did stay, One Cromis tipped of his head: his head cut off streight way Upon the Altar fell, and there his tongue not fully dead, Did bable still the banning wordes the which it erst had sed,

And breathed forth his fainting ghost among the burning brandes. Then Brote & Hammon brothers, twins, stout chāpions of their hāds In wrestling Pierlesse (if so be that wrestling could sustaine The furious force of slicing swordes) were both by Phyney slaine. And so was Alphit Ceres Priest that ware vpon his crowne A stately Miter faire and white with Tables hanging downe. Thou also Iapets sonne for such affaires as these vnméete But méete to tune thine instrument with voyce and Ditie swéete The worke of peace, wert thither callde th'assemblie to reioyce And for to set the mariage forth with pleasant singing voyce. As with his Uiall in his hand he stoode a good way off, There commeth to him Petalus and sayes in way of scoffe: Go sing the resdue to the ghostes about the Stygian Lake, And in the left side of his heade his dagger poynt he strake. He sanke downe deade with fingers still yet warbling on the string And so mischaunce knit vp with wo the song that he did sing. But fierce Lycormas could not beare to sée him murdred so Without reuengement. Up he caught a mightie Leauer tho That wonted was to barre the doore a right side of the house And therewithall to Petalus he lendeth such a souse Full in the noddle of the necke, that like a snetched Oxe Streight tūbling downe, against the ground his groueling face he knox. And Pelates a Garamant attempted to haue caught The left doore barre: but as thereat with stretched hand he raught, One Coryt sonne of Marmarus did with a Iauelin stricke Him through the hand, that to the wood fast nayled did it sticke. As Pelates stoode fastned thus, one Abas goard his side: He could not fall, but hanging still vpon the poste there dide Fast nayled by the hand. And there was ouerthrowne a Knight Of Perseyes band callde Melaney, and one that Dorill hight A man of greatest landes in all the Realme of Nasamone. That occupide so large a grounde as Dorill was there none, Nor none that had such store of corne. there came a Dart a skew And lighted in his Coddes the place where present death doth sew. When Alcion of Barcey he that gaue this deadly wound Beheld him yesking forth his ghost and falling to the ground With warrie eyes the white turnde vp: content thy selfe he said

With that same litle plot of grounde whereon thy corse is layde, In steade of all the large fat fieldes which late thou didst possesse. And with that word he left him dead. Per••eus to redresse This slaughter and this spightfull taunt, streight snatched out the Dart That sticked in the fresh warme wound, and with an angrie hart Did send it at the throwers head: the Dart did split his nose Euen in the middes, and at his necke againe the head out goes: So that it péered both the wayes. Whiles fortune doth support And further Persey thus, he killes (but yet in sundrie sort) Two brothers by the mother: tone callde Clytie tother Dane. For on a Dart through both his thighes did Clytie take his bane: And Danus with another Dart was striken in the mouth. There died also Celadon a Gyps••e of the South: And so did bastard Astrey too, whose mother was a Iew: And sage Ethion well foreséene in things that should ensew, But vtterly beguilde as then by Birdes that aukly flew. King Cepheyes harnessebearer callde Thoactes lost his life, And Agyrt whom for murdring late his father with a knife The worlde spake shame off. Nathelesse much more remainde behinde Than was dispatched of of hand: for all were full in minde To murder one. the wicked throng had sworne to spend their blood Against the right, and such a man as had deserued good. A totherside (although in vaine) of mere affection stood The father and the Motherinlaw, and eke the heauie bride, Who filled with their piteous playnt the Court on euerie side. But now the clattring of the swordes and harnesse at that ••••de With grieuous grones and sighes of such as wounded were or dide, Did raise vp such a cruell rore that nothing could be heard. For fierce Bellona so renewde the battell afterward, That all the house did swim in blood. Duke Phyney with a rout Of moe than a thousand men enuirond round about The valiant Persey all alone. The Dartes of Phyneys bande Came thicker than the Winters hayle doth fall vpon the lande, By both his sides his eyes and eares. He warely therevpon Withdrawes, and leanes his backe against a huge great arche of stone: And being safe behind, he ••ettes his face against his foe Withstanding all their fierce assaultes. There did assaile him thoe

Upon the left side Molpheus a Prince of Choanie, And on the right Ethemon borne hard by in Arabie. Like as the Tyger when he heares the lowing out of Neate In sundrie Medes, enforced sore through abstinence from meate, Would faine be doing with them both, and can not tell at which Were best to giue aduenture first: So Persey who did itch To be at host with both of them, and doubtfull whether side To turne him on, the right or left, vpon aduantage spide Did wound me Molphey on the leg, and from him quight him draue. He was contented with his flight: for why Ethemon gaue No respite to him to pursue: but like a franticke man Through egernesse to wounde his necke, without regarding whan Or how to strike for haste, he burst his brittle sworde in twaine Against the Arche: the poynt whereof rebounding backe againe, Did hit himselfe vpon the throte. Howbeit that same wound Was vnsufficient for to sende Ethemon to the ground. He trembled holding vp his handes for mercie, but in vaine. For Persey thrust him through the heart with Hermes hooked skaine. But when he saw that valiantnesse no lenger could auayle, By reason of the multitude that did him still assayle, Sith you your selues me force to call mine enmie to mine ayde, I will do so: if any friend of mine be here (he sayd) Sirs turne your faces all away: and therewithall he drew Out Gorgons head. One Thessalus streight raging to him flew, And sayd: go séeke some other man whome thou mayst make abasht With these thy foolish iuggling toyes. And as he would haue dasht His Iaueling in him with that worde to kill him out of hand, With gesture throwing forth his Dart all Marble did he stand. His sworde through Lyncids noble heart had Amphix thought to shoue: His hand was stone, and neyther one nor other way could moue: But Niley who did vaunt himselfe to be the Riuers sonne That through the boundes of Aegypt land in channels .vij. doth runne, And in his shielde had grauen part of siluer, part of golde The said .vij. channels of the Nile, sayd: Persey here beholde From whence we fetch our piedegrée: it may reioyce thy hart To die of such a noble hand as mine▪ The latter part Of these his words could scarce be heard: the dint therof was drownde:

Ye would haue thought him speaking still with open mouth: but sound Did none forth passe: there was for speache no passage to be found. Rebuking them cries Eryx: Sirs it is not Gorgons face It is your owne faint heartes that make you stonie in this case. Come let vs on this fellow run and to the ground him beare That feightes by witchcraft: as with that his féete forth stepping were, They stacke still fastened to the floore: he could not moue a side, An armed image all of stone he speachlesse did abide. All these were iustly punished. But one there was a knight Of Perseys band, in whose defence as Acont stoode to feight, He waxed ouergrowne with stone at vgly Gorgons sight. Whome still as yet Astyages supposing for to liue, Did with a long sharpe arming sworde a washing blow him giue. The sword did clinke against the stone and out the sparcles driue. While all amazde Astyages stoode wondring at the thing, The selfe same nature on himselfe the Gorgons head did bring. And in his visage which was stone a countnance did remaine Of wondring still. A wearie worke it were to tell you plaine The names of all the common sort. Two hundred from that fray Did scape vnslaine: but none of them did go aliue away. The whole two hundred euery one at ••ight of Gorgons heare Were turned into stockes of stone. Then at the length for feare Did Phyney of his wrongfull war forthinke himselfe full sore. But now (alas) what remedie? he saw there stand before His face, his men like Images in sundrie shapes all stone. He knew them well, and by their names did call them euery••hone: Desiring them to succor him: and trusting not his sight He féeles the bodies that were next, and all were Marble quight. He turnes himselfe from Persey ward and humbly as he standes He wries his armes behind his backe: and holding vp his handes, O noble Persey thou hast got the vpper hand he sed. Put vp that monstruous shield of thine: put vp that Gorgons head That into stones transformeth men: put vp I thée desire. Not hatred, nor bicause to reigne as King I did aspire, Haue moued me to make this fray. The only force of loue In séeking my betrothed spouse, did herevnto me moue. The better title séemeth thine bicause of thy desert:

And mine by former promise made. It irkes me at the heart In that I did not giue the place. None other thing I craue O worthie knight, but that thou graunt this life of mine to saue. Let all things else beside be thine. As he thus humbly spake Not daring looke at him to whome he did entreatance make, The thing (quoth Persey) which to graunt both I can finde in heart, And is no little courtesie to shewe without desert Upon a Coward, I will graunt O fearfull Duke to thée. Set feare a side: thou shalt not hurt with any weapon bée. I will moreouer so prouide as that thou shalt remaine An euerlasting monument of this dayes toyle and paine. The pallace of my Fathrinlaw shall henceforth be thy shrine Where thou shalt stand continually before my spouses eyen. That of hir husband hauing ay the Image in hir sight, She may from time to time receyue some comfort and delight. He had no sooner sayd these wordes but that he turnde his shielde With Gorgons heade to that same part where Phyney with a mielde And fearfull countnance set his face. Then also as he wride His eyes away, his necke waxt stiffe, his teares to stone were dride. A countnance in the stonie stocke of feare did still appeare With humble looke and yéelding handes and gastly ruthfull cheare. With conquest and a noble wife doth Persey home repaire And in reuengement of the right against the wrongfull heyre, As in his Graundsires iust defence he falles in hand with Prete Who like no brother but a foe did late before defeate King Acrise of his townes by warre and of his royall seate. But neyther could his men of warre nor fortresse won by wrong Defend him from the griesly looke of grim Medusa long. And yet thée foolish Polydect of little Seriph King, Such rooted rancor inwardly continually did sting, That neyther Perseys prowesse tride in such a sort of broyles Nor yet the parils he endurde, nor all his troublous toyles Could cause thy stomacke to relent. Within thy stonie brest Workes such a kinde of festred hate as cannot be represt. Thy wrongfull malice hath none ende. Moreouer thou of spite Kepining at his worthy praise, his doings doste backbite: Upholding that Medusas death was but a forged lie:

So long till Persey for to shewe the truth apparantly, Desiring such as were his friendes to turne away their eye, Drue out Medusas ougly head. At sight whereof anon The hatefull Tyran Polydect was turned to a stone. The Goddesse Pallas all this while did kéepe continually Hir brother Persey companie, till now that she did stie From Seriph in a hollow cloud, and leauing on the right The Iles of Scyre and Gyaros, she made from thence hir flight Directly ouer that same Sea as neare as eye could ame To Thebe and Mount Helicon. and when she thither came, She stayde hir selfe, and thus bespake the learned sisters nine. A rumor of an vncouth spring did pierce these eares of mine The which the winged stéede should make by stamping with his hoofe. This is the cause of my repaire: I would for certaine proofe Be glad to sée the wondrous thing. For present there I stoode And saw the selfe same Pegasus spring of his mothers blood. Dame Vranie did entertaine and aunswere Pallas thus. What cause so euer moues your grace to come and visit vs, Most heartely you welcome are: and certaine is the fame Of this our Spring, that Pegasus was causer of the same. And with that worde she led hir forth to sée the sacred spring. Who musing greatly with hir selfe at straungenesse of the thing, Surueyde the Woodes and groues about of auncient stately port. And when she saw the Bowres to which the Muses did resort, And pleasant fields beclad with herbes of sundrie hew and sort, She said that for their studies sake they were in happie cace And also that to serue their turne they had so trim a place. Then one of them replied thus. O noble Ladie who (But that your vertue greater workes than these are calles you to) Should else haue bene of this our troupe, your saying is full true. To this our trade of life and place is commendation due. And sure we haue a luckie lot and if the world were such As that we might in safetie liue. but lewdnesse reignes so much That all things make vs Maides afraide: Me thinkes I yet do sée The wicked Tyran Pyren still: my heart is yet scarce free From that same feare with which it hapt vs flighted for to bée. This cruell Pyren was of Thrace and with his men of war

The land of Phocis had subdude, and from this place not far Within the Citie Davvlis reignde by force of wrongfull hand, One day to Phebus Temples warde that on Parnasus stand As we were going, in our way he met vs courteously, And by the name of Goddesses saluting reuerently Said: O ye Dames of Meonie (for why he knew vs well) I pray you stay and take my house vntill this storme (there fell That time a tempest and a showre) be past: the Gods aloft Haue entred smaller sheddes than mine full many a time and oft. The rainie weather and hys wordes so moued vs, that wée To go into an outer house of his did all agrée. As soone as that the showre was past and heauen was voyded clear•• Of all the Cloudes which late before did euery where appeare, Untill that Boreas had subdude the rainie Southerne winde. We woulde haue by and by bene gone. He shet the doores in minde To rauish vs: but we with wings escaped from his hands. He purposing to follow vs, vpon a Turret stands, And sayth he néedes will after vs the same way we did 〈◊〉〈◊〉. And with that worde full frantickly he leapeth downe from hie, And pitching euelong on his face the bones a sunder crasht, And dying, all abrode the ground his wicked bloud bedasht. Now as the Muse was telling this, they heard a noyse of wings And from the leauie boughes aloft a sound of gréeting rings▪ Minerua looking vp thereat demaunded wh••nce the sounde Of tongues that so distinctly spake did come so plaine and rounde? She thought some woman or some man had gréeted hir that stounde. It was a flight of Birdes. Nyne Pies bewailing their mischaunce, In counterfetting euerie thing from bough to bough did daunce. As Pallas wondred at the sight, the Muse spake thus in summe. These also being late ago in chalenge ouercome, Made one kinde more of Birdes than was of auncient time beforne. In Macedone they were about the Citie Pella borne Of Pierus a great riche Chuffe and Euip, who by ayde Of strong Lucina trauelling ninetimes, nine times was laide Of daughters in hir childbed safe. This fond and foolish rou•• Of doltish sisters taking pride and waxing verie stout, Bicause they were in number nine came flocking all togither

Through all the townes of Thessalie and all Achaia hither, And vs with these or such like wordes to combate did prouoke. Cease off ye Thespian Goddesses to mocke the s••mple folke With fondnesse of your Melodie. And if ye thinke in déede Ye can doe ought, contend with vs and sée how you shall speede. I warrant you ye passe vs not in cunning nor in voyce. Ye are here nine, and so are we. We put you to the choyce, That eyther we will vanquish you and set you quight beside Your fountaine made by Pegasus which is your chiefest pride, And Aganippe too: or else confounde you vs, and we Of all the woods of Macedone will dispossessed be As farre as snowie Peonie: and let the Nymphes be Iudges. Now in good sooth it was a shame to cope with suchie Drudges, But yet more shame it was to yéeld. The chosen Nymphes did sweare By Styx, and sate them downe on seates of stone that growed there. Then streight without commission or election of the rest, The formost of them preasing forth vndecently, profest The chalenge to performe: and song the battels of the Goddes. She gaue the Giants▪ all the praise, the honor and the oddes, Abasing sore the worthie déedes of all the Gods. She telles How Typhon issuing from the earth and from the déepest helles, Made all the Gods aboue afraide, so greatly that they fled And neuer staide till Aegypt land and Nile whose streame is shed In channels seuen, receiued them forwearied all togither: And how the Helhound Typhon did pursue them also thither. By meanes wherof the Gods eche one were faine themselues to hide In forged shapes. She saide the Ioue the Prince of Gods was wride In shape of Ram: which is the cause that at this present tide Ioues ymage which the Lybian folke by name of Hammon serue, Is made with crooked welked hornes that inward still doe terue: That Phebus in a Rauen lurkt, and Bacchus in a Geate, And Phebus sister in a Cat, and Iuno in a Neate, And Venus in the shape of Fish, and how that last of all Mercurius hid him in a Bird which Ibis men doe call. This was the summe of all the tale which she with rolling tung And yelling throteboll to hir harpe before vs rudely sung. Our turne is also come to speake, but that perchaunce your grace

To giue the hearing to our song hath now no time nor space. Yes yes (quoth Pallas) tell on forth in order all your tale: And downe she sate among the trées which gaue a pleasant swale. The Muse made aunswere thus: To one Calliope here by name This chalenge we committed haue and ordring of the same. Then rose vp faire Calliope with goodly bush of heare Trim wreathed vp with yuie leaues, and with hir thumbe gan steare The quiuering strings, to trie them if they were in tune or no. Which done, she playde vpon hir Lute and song hir Ditie so. Dame Ceres first to breake the Earth with plough the maner found, She first made corne and stouer soft to grow vpon the ground, She first made lawes. For all these things we are to Cer••s bound. Of hir must I as now intreate: would God I could resound Hir worthie laude: she doubtlesse is a Goddesse worthie praise. Bicause the Giant Typhon gaue presumptuously assayes To conquer Heauen, the howgie Ile of Trinacris is layd Upon his limmes, by weight whereof perforce he downe is weyde. He striues and strugles for to rise full many a time and oft. But on his right hand toward Rome Pelorus standes aloft: Pachynnus standes vpon his left: his legs with Lilybie Are pressed downe: his monstrous head doth vnder Aetna lie. From whence he lying bolt vpright with wrathfull mouth doth spit Out flames of fire▪ he wrestleth oft and walloweth for to wit And if he can remoue the weight of all that mightie land Or tumble downe the townes and hilles that on his bodie stand. By meanes whereof it commes to passe that oft the Earth doth shake: And euen the King of Ghostes himselfe for verie feare doth quake, Misdoubting least the Earth should cliue so wide that light of day Might by the same pierce downe to Hell and there the Ghostes affray Forecasting this, the Prince of Fiendes forsooke his darksome hole, And in a Chariot drawen with Stéedes as blacke as any cole The whole foundation of the Ile of Sicill warely vewde. When throughly he had sercht eche place that harme had none ensewde, As carelessely he raungde abrode, he chaunced to be séene Of Venus sitting on hir hill: who taking streight betwéen•• hir armes hir winged Cupid, said: my sonne, mine only stay, My hand, mine honor and my might, go take without delay

Those ••ooles which all wightes do subdue, and strike them in the hart Of that same God that of the world enioyes the lowest part. The Gods of Heauen, and Ioue himselfe, the powre of Sea & Land And he that rules the powres on Earth obey thy mightie hand: And wherefore then should only Hell still ••nsubdued stand? Thy mothers Empire and thine own why doste thou not aduaunce. The third part of al the world now hangs in doubtful chaunce. And yet in heauen too now, their déedes thou séest me faine to beare. We are despisde: the strength of loue with me away doth weare. Séeste not the Darter Diane and dame Pallas haue already Exempted them from my behestes? and now of late so heady Is Ceres daughter too, that if we let hir haue hir will, She will continue all hir life a Maid vnwedded still. For that is all hir hope, and marke whereat she mindes to shoote. But thou (if ought this gracious turne our honor may promote, Or ought our Empire beautifie which ioyntly we doe holde,) This Damsell to hir vncle ioyne. No sooner had she tolde These wordes, but Cupid opening streight his quiuer chose therefr•• One arrow (as his mother bade) among a thousand mo. But such a one it was, as none more sharper was than it, Nor none went streighter from the Bow the amed marke to hit. He set his knée against his Bow and bent it out of hande, And made his forked arrowes steale in Plutos heart to stande. Neare Enna walles there standes a Lake Pergusa is the name. Cayster heareth not mo songs of Swannes than doth the same. A wood enuirons euerie side the water round about, And with his leaues as with a veyle doth kéepe the Sunne heate out. The boughes doe yéelde a coole fresh Ayre: the moystnesse of the grounde Yéeldes sundrie flowres: continuall spring is all the yeare there founde. While in this garden Proserpine was taking hir pastime, In gathering eyther Uiolets blew, or Lillies white as Lime, And while of Maidenly desire she fillde hir Maund and Lap, Endeuoring to outgather hir companions there. By hap Dis spide hir: loude hir: caught hir vp: and all at once well nere. So hastie, hote, and swift a thing is Loue as may appeare. The Ladie with a wailing voyce afright did often call Hir Mother and hir waiting Maides, but Mother most of all.

And as she from the vpper part hir garment would haue rent, By chaunce she let hir lap slip downe, and out hir flowres went. And such a sillie simplenesse hir childish age yet beares, That euen the verie losse of them did moue hir more to teares. The Catcher driues his Chariot forth, and calling euery horse By name, to make away apace he doth them still enforce: And shakes about their neckes and Manes their rustie bridle reynes And through the déepest of the Lake perforce he them constreynes. And through the Palik pooles. the which from broken ground doe boyle And smell of Brimstone verie ranke: and also by the soyle Where as the Bacchies folke of Corinth with the double Seas, Betwéene vnequall Hauons twaine did réere a towne for ease. Betwéene the fountaines of Cyane and Arethuse of Pise An arme of Sea that meetes enclosde with narrow hornes there lies. Of this the Poole callde Cyane which beareth greatest fame Among the Nymphes of Sicilie did Algates take the name. Who vauncing hir vnto the waste amid hir Poole did know Dame Proserpine, and said to Dis: ye shall no further go You cannot Ceres sonneinlawe be, will she so or no. You should haue sought hir courteously and not enforst hir so. And if I may with great estates my simple things compare, Anapus was in loue with me: but yet he did not fare As you doe now with Proserpine. He was content to woo And I vnforst and vnconstreind consented him vntoo. This said, she spreaded forth hir armes and stopt him of his way. His hastie wrath Saturnus sonne no lenger then could stay. But chearing vp his dreadfull Stéedes did smight his royall mace With violence in the bottome of the Poole in that same place. The ground streight yéelded to his stroke and made him way to Hell, And downe the open gap both horse and Chariot headlong fell. Dame Cyan taking sore to heart as well the rauishment Of Proserpine against hir will, as also the contempt Against hir fountaines priuiledge, did shrowde in secret hart An inward corsie comfortlesse, which neuer did depart Untill she melting into teares consumde away with smart. The selfe same waters of the which she was but late ago The mighty Goddesse, now she pines and wastes hirselfe into.

Ye might haue séene hir limmes wer lithe, ye might haue bent hir bones. Hir nayles wext soft: and first of all did melt the smallest ones: As haire and fingars, legges and féete: for these same slender parts Doe quickly into water turne. and afterward conuerts To water, shoulder, backe, brest, side: and finally in stead Of liuely bloud, within hir veynes corrupted there was spred Thinne water: so that nothing now remained wherevpon Ye might eake holde, to water all consumed was anon. The carefull mother in the while did séeke hir daughter deare Through all the world both Sea & Land, and yet was nere the neare. The Morning with hir deawy haire hir slugging neuer found, Nor yet the Euening star that brings the night vpon the ground. Two seasoned Pynetrées at the mount of Aetna did she light And bare them restlesse in hir handes through all the dankish night. Againe as soone as chierfull day did dim the starres, she sought Hir daughter still from East to West. And being ouerwrought She caught a thirst: no liquor yet had come within hir throte. By chaunce she spiëd nere at hand a pelting thatched Cote Wyth péeuish doores: she knockt thereat, and out there commes a trot. The Goddesse asked hir some drinke and she denide it not: But out she brought hir by and by a draught of merrie go downe And therewithall a Hotchpotch made of steeped Barlie browne And Fla••e and Coriander séede and other simples more The which she in an Earthen pot together sod before. While Ceres was a eating this, before hir gazing stood A hard faaste boy a shrewde pert wag that could no maners good: He laughed at hir and in scorne did call hir gréedie gut. The Goddesse being worth therewith, did on the Hotchpotch put The liquor ere that all was eate, and in his face it threw. Immediatly the skinne thereof became of speckled hew. And into legs his armes did turne: and in his altred hide A wrigling tayle streight to his limmes was added more beside. And to th'intent he should not haue much powre to worken scathe, His bodie in a little roume togither knit she hathe. For as with pretie Lucerts he in facion doth agrée: So than the Lucert somewhat lesse in euery poynt is he. The poore old woman was amazde: and bitterly she wept:

She durst not touche the vncouth worme, who into corners crept. And of the flecked spottes like starres that on his hide are set A name agréeing therevnto in Latine doth he get. It is our Svvift whose skinne with gray and yellow specks is fret. What Lands & Seas the Goddesse sought it were too lōg to saine. The worlde did want. And so she went to Sicill backe againe. And as in going euery where she serched busily, She also came to Cyane: who would assuredly Haue tolde hir all things, had she not transformed bene before. But mouth and tongue for vttrance now would serue hir turne no more. Howbeit a token manifest she gaue hir for to know What was become of Proserpine. Hir girdle she did show Still houering on hir holie poole, which slightly from hir fell As she that way did passe: and that hir mother knew too well. For when she saw it, by and by as though she had but than Bene new aduertisde of hir chaunce, she piteously began To rend hir ruffled haire, and beate hir handes against hir brest. As yet she knew not where she was. But yet with rage opprest. She curst all landes, and said they were vnthankfull euerychone Yea and vnworthy of the fruites bestowed them vpon. But bitterly aboue the rest she banned Sicilie, In which the mention of hir losse she plainely did espie. And therefore there with cruell hand the earing ploughes she brake, And man and beast that tilde the grounde to death in anger strake. She marrde the féede, and eke forbade the fieldes to yéelde their frute. The plenteousnesse of that same Ile of which there went suche brute Through all the world, lay dead: the corne was killed in the blade: Now too much drought, now too much wet did make it for to fade. The starres and blasting windes did hurt, the hungry soules did eate The corne in ground: the Tines and Briars did ouergow the Wheate. And other wicked wéedes the corne continually annoy, Which neyther tylth nor toyle of man was able to destroy. Then Arethuse floud Alpheys loue lifts from hir Elean wau••s Hir head, and shedding to hir eares hir deawy haire that waues About hir foreheade sayde: O thou that art the mother deare Both of the Maiden sought through all the world both far and neare, And eke of all the earthly fruites, forbeare thine endlesse toyle,

And be not wroth without a cause with this thy faithfull soyle, The Lande deserues no punishment. vnwillingly God wo••e She opened to the Rauisher that violently hir smote. It is not sure my natiue soyle for which I thus entreate. I am but here a soiourner, my natiue soyle and seate Is Pisa and from Ely towne I fetch my first discent. I dwell but as a straunger here. but sure to my intent This Countrie likes me better farre than any other land. Here now I Arethusa dwell: here am I setled: and I humbly you beseche extend your fauour to the same. A time will one day come when you to mirth may better frame, And haue your heart more frée from care, which better serue me may To tell you why I from my place so great a space doe stray. And vnto Ortygie am brought through so great Seas and waues. The ground doth giue me passage frée, and by the lowest caues Of all the Earth I make my way, and here I raise my heade, And looke vpon the starres agayne neare out of knowledge fled. Now while I vnderneath the Earth the Lake of Styx did passe, I saw your daughter Proserpine with these same eyes. She was Not merrie, neyther rid of feare as séemed by hir chéere. But yet a Quéene, but yet of great God Dis the stately Féere: But yet of that same droupie Realme the chiefe and souereigne Péere. Hir mother stoode as starke as stone, when she these newes did heare, And long she was like one that in another worlde had béene. But when hir great amazednesse by greatnesse of hir téene Was put aside, she gettes hir to hir Chariot by and by And vp to heauen in all post haste immediatly doth stie. And there bes••owbred all hir face: hir haire about hir eares, To royall Ioue in way of plaint this spightfull tale she beares. As well for thy bloud as for mine a suter vnto thée I hither come. if no regard may of the mother bée Yet let the childe hir father moue, and haue not lesser care Of hir (I pray) bicause that I hir in my bodie bare. Behold our daughter whome I sought so long is found at last: If finding you it terme, when of recouerie meanes is past. Or if you finding do it call to haue a knowledge where She is become. Hir rauishment we might consent to beare,

So restitution might be made. And though there were to me No interest in hir at all, yet forasmuche as she Is yours, it is vnméete she be bestowde vpon a théefe. Ioue aunswerde thus. My daughter is a Iewell deare and léefe: A collup of mine owne flesh cut as well as out of thine. But if we in our heartes can finde things rightly to define, This is not spight but loue. And yet Madame in faith I sée No cause of such a sonne in law ashamed for to bée, So you contented were therewith. For put the case that hée Were destitute of all things else, how greate a matter ist Ioues brother for to be? but sure in him is nothing mist. Nor he inferior is to me saue only that by lot The Heauens to me, the Helles to him the destnies did allot. But if you haue so sore desire your daughter to diuorce, Though she againe to Heauen repayre I doe not greatly force. But yet conditionly that she haue tasted there no foode: For so the destnies haue decréed. He ceaste: and Ceres stoode Full bent to fetch hir daughter out: but destnies hir withstoode, Bicause the Maide had broke hir fast. For as she hapt one day In Plutos Ortyard rechlessely from place to place to stray, She gathering from a bowing trée a ripe Pownegarnet, tooke Seuen kernels out and sucked them. None chaunst hereon to looke. Saue onely one Ascalaphus whome Orphne erst a Dame Among the other Elues of Hell not of the basest fame Bare to hir husbande Acheron within hir duskie den. He sawe it, and by blabbing it vngraciously as then, Did let hir from returning thence. A grieuous ••igh the Quéene Of Hell did fetch, and of that wight that had a witnesse bée••e Against hir made a cursed Birde. Upon his face she shead The water of the Phleg••ton: and by and by his head Was nothing else but Beake and Downe, and mightie glaring eyes. Quight altred from himselfe betwéene two yellow wings he flies. He groweth chiefly into head and hooked talants long And much a doe he hath to flaske his lazie wings among. The messenger of Morning was he made, a filthie fowle, A signe of mischiefe vnto men, the sluggish skreching Owle. This person for his lauas tongue and telling tales might séeme

To haue deserued punishment. But what should men estéeme To be the verie cause why you Acheloes daughters weare Both féete and feathers like to Birdes, considering that you beare The vpper partes of Maidens still? and commes it so to passe? Bicause when Ladie Proserpine a gathering flowers was, Ye Meremaides kept hir companie? whome after you had sought Through all the Earth in vaine, anon of purpose that your thought Might also to the Seas be knowen, ye wished that ye might Upon the waues with houering wings at pleasure rule your flight, And had the Goddes to your request so pliant, that ye found With yellow feathers out of hand your bodies clothed round? Yet least that pleasant tune of yours ordeyned to delight The hearing, and so high a gift of Musicke perish might For want of vttrance, humaine voyce to vtter things at will And countnance of virginitie remained to you still. But meane betwéene his brother and his heauie sister goth God Ioue, and parteth equally the yeare betwéene them both. And now the Goddesse Proserpine indifferently doth reigne Aboue and vnderneath the Earth, and so doth she remaine One halfe yeare with hir mother and the resdue with hir Féere Immediatly she altred is as well in outwarde chéere As inwarde minde. for where hir looke might late before appéere Sad euen to Dis, hir countnance now is full of mirth and grace Euen like as Phebus hauing put the watrie cloudes to chace, Doth shew himselfe a Conqueror with bright and shining face. Then fruitfull Ceres voide of care in that she did recouer Hir daughter, prayde thée Arechuse the storie to discouer What caused thée to fléete so farre and wherefore thou became A sacred spring? the waters whist. The Goddesse of the same Did from the bottome of the Well hir goodly head vp reare. And hauing driëd with hir hand hir faire gréene hanging heare, The Riuer Alpheys auncient loues she thus began to tell. I was (quoth she) a Nymph of them that in Achaia dwell. There was not one that earnester the Lawndes and forests sought Or pitcht hir toyles more handsomly. And though that of my thought It was no part, to séeke the fame of beautie: though I were All courage: yet the pricke and prise of beautie I did beare

My ouermuch commended face was vnto me a spigh••. This gift of bodie in the which another would delight, I rudesbye was ashamed off: me thought is was a crime To be belikte. I beare it well in minde that on a time In comming wearie from the chase of Stymphalus, the heat•• Was feruent, and my trauelling had made it twice as great. I founde a water neyther déepe nor shallow which did glide Without all noyse, so calme that scarce the mouing might be spide. And throughly to the very ground it was so crispe and cleare, That euery little stone therein did plaine aloft appeare. The horie Sallowes and the Poplars growing on the bri•• Unset, vpon the shoring bankes did cast a shadow trim. I entred in, and first of all I déeped but my ••eete: And after to my knées. And not content to wade so fléete, I put off all my clothes, and hung them on a Sallow by And threw my selfe amid the streame▪ which as I ••allyingly Did beate and draw, and with my selfe a thousand maistries tr••e, In casting of mine armes abrode and swimming wantonly: I felt a bubling in the streame I wist not how nor what, And on the Riuers nearest brim I stept for feare. With that O Arethusa whither runs••? and whither runst thou cride Floud Alphey from his waues againe with hollow voyce. I hide Away vnclothed as I was. For on the further side My clothes hung still. so much more hote and eger then was he, And for I naked was, I séemde the readier for to be. My running and his fierce pursuite was like as when ye se The sillie Doues with quiuering wings before the Gossehauke stie, The Gossehauke swéeping after them as fast as he can flie, To Orchomen, and Psophy land, and Cyllen I did holde Out well, and thence to Menalus and Erymanth the colde, And so to Ely. all this way no ground of me he wonne. But being not so strong as he, this restlesse race to runne I could not long endure, and he could hold it out at length. Yet ouer plaines and wooddie hilles (as long as lasted strength) And stones, and rockes, and desert groundes I still maintaind my race. The Sunne was full vpon my backe. I saw before my face A lazie shadow: were it not that feare did make me séete.

But certenly he feared me with trampling of his féete: And of his mouth the boystous breath vpon my hairlace blew. For wearied with the toyle of ••light: Helpe Diane, I thy tru•• And trustie Squire (I said) who oft haue caried after thée Thy bow and arrowes, now am like attached for to bée. The Goddesse moued, tooke a cloude of such as scattred were And cast vpon me. Hidden thus in mistie darkenesse there The Riuer poard vpon me still and hunted round about The hollow cloude, for feare perchaunce I should haue scaped out. And twice not knowing what to doe he stalk•• about the cloude Where Diane had me hid, and twice he called ou•• a loude Hoe Arethuse, hoe Arethuse▪ What heart had I poore wretch then? Euen such as hath the sillie Lambe that dares not stirre nor quetch when He heares the howling of the Wolfe about or neare the foldes. Or such as hath the squatted Hare that in hir foorme beholdes The hunting houndes on euery side, and dares not mone a whit. He would not thence, for why he saw no footing out as yit. And therefore watcht he narrowly the cloud and eke the place. A chill colde sweat my sieged limmes oppre••••, and downe a pace From all my bodie steaming drops did fall of watr••e hew. Which way so ere I stird my foote the place was like a st••w. The deaw ran trickling from my haire. In halfe the while I then Was turnde to water, that I now haue tolde the tale agen. His loued waters Alphey knew, and putting off the shape Of man the which he tooke before bicause I should not scape, Returned to his proper shape of water by and by Of purpose for to ioyne with me and haue my companie. But Delia brake the ground, at which I sinking into blinde Bycorners, vp againe my selfe at Ortigie doe winde, Right deare to me bicause it doth Dianas surname beare, And for bicause to light againe I first was raysed there. Thus far did Arethusa speake: and then the fruitfull Dame Two Dragons to hir Chariot put, and reyning hard the same, Midway bewéene the Heauen and Earth she in the Ay••r went, And vnto Prince Triptolemus hir lightsome Chariot sent To Pallas Citie lode with corne, commaunding him to sowe Some part thereof in ground new broken vp, and some thereof to strow

In ground long tillde before. Anon the yong man vp did stie And flying ouer Europe and the Realme of Asias hie, Alighted in the Scithian land. There reyned in that coast A King callde Lyncus, to whose house he entred for to host. And being there demaunded how and why he thither came, And also of his natiue soyle and of his proper name, I hight (quoth he) Triptolemus and borne was in the towne Of Athens in the land of Gréece, that place of high renowne I neyther came by Sea nor Lande, but through the open Aire I bring with me Dame Ceres giftes which being sowne in faire And fertile fields may fruitfull Haruests yeelde and finer fare. The sauage King had spight. and to thintent that of so rare And gracious gifts himselfe might séeme first founder for to be, He entertainde him in his house, and when a sléepe was he, He came vpon him with a sword. but as he would haue killde him, Dame Ceres turnde him to a Lynx, and waking tother willde him His sacred Téemeware through the Ayre to driue abrode agen. The chiefe of vs had ended this hir learned song. and then The Nymphes with one consent did iudge that we the Goddesses Of Helicon had wonne the day. But when I sawe that these Unnurtred Damsels ouercome began to fall a scolding, I sayd: so little sith to vs you thinke your selues beholding, For bearing with your malapertnesse in making chalenge, that Besides your former fault, ye eke doe fall to rayling flat, Abusing thus our gentlenesse: we will from hence procéede The punishment, and of our wrath the rightfull humor féede. Euippyes daughters grind and ••éerde and set our threatnings light. But as they were about to prate, and bent their fistes to smight Theyr wicked handes with hideous noyse, they saw the stumps of quilles New budding at their nayles, and how their armes soft feather hilles. Eche saw how others mouth did purse and harden into Bill, And so becomming vncouth Birdes to haunt the woods at will. For as they would haue clapt their handes their wings did vp thē heaue, And hanging in the Ayre the scoldes of woods did Pies them leaue. Now also being turnde to Birdes they are as eloquent As ere they were, as chattring still, as much to babling bent.

Finis quinti Libri.