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 TENTH BOOKE of Ouids Metamorphosis.

FRom thence in saffron colourd robe flew Hymen through y^e ayre, And into Thracia béeing call••d by Orphy did repayre. He came in d••••de at Orphyes call: bu•• neyther did he sing The woordes of that solemnitie, nor merry countnance bring, Nor any hand••ell of good lucke. His torch with drizling smoke Was dim: the same too burne out cleere, no stirrr••ng could prouoke. The end was woorser than the signe. For as the ••ryde did rome Abrode accompanyde with a trayne of Nymphes too bring her home, A serpent lurking in the grasse did 〈◊〉〈◊〉 her in the ancle: Whereof shée dyde incontinent, so swift the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 did ••ancle. Whom when the Thracian Poet had bewayl•• sufficiently On earth, the Ghostes departed hence he minding for too trie, Downe at the gate of Taenarus did go too Limbo lake. And thence by gastly folk and soules late buried he did take His iourney too Persephon••e and too the king of Ghosts That like a Lordly tyran reignes in those v••••••easant coasts. And playing on his tuned harp he thus began too sound. O you the Souereines of the world set vnderneath the ground, Too whome wée all (what euer thing is made of mortall kynd) Repayre, if ••y your leaue I now may fréely speake my mynd, I come not hither as a spye 〈…〉〈…〉 Nor yet the foule thrée headed Eurre whose heares all Adders bée Too tye in cheynes. The cause of this my vyage is my wyfe Whose foote a Uiper stinging did abridge her youthfull lyfe. I would haue bor••e it pa••iently: and so too doo I straue. But Loue surmoun••ed powre. This God is knowen great force too haue Aboue on earth. And whether he reigne héere or no I dow••. But I beleeue hée reignes héere too. If fa••••e that flies abowt Of former rape report not wrong, Loue coupled also yow. By theis same places full of feare: by this howge Chaos now, And by the st••lnesse of this waste and emptye Kingdome, I Beséech yée of Eurydicee v••••éele the destinye That was so swiftly reeled vp All things too you belong. And though wée lingring for a whyle our pageants doo prolong,

Yit soone or late wée all too one abyding place doo rome: Wée haste vs hither all: this place becomes our latest home: And you doo ouer humaine kynd reigne longest tyme. Now when This woman shall haue liued full her tyme, shée shall agen Become your owne. The vse of her but for a whyle I craue. And if the Destnyes for my wyfe denye mée for too haue Releace, I fully am resolvd for euer héere too dwell. Reioyce you in the death of both. As he this tale did tell, And played on his instrument, the bloodlesse ghostes shed teares: Too tyre on Titius growing hart the gréedy Grype forbeares: The shunning water Tantalus endeuereth not too drink: And Danaus daughters ceast too fill theyr tubbes that haue no brink: Ixions whéele stood still: and downe sate Sisyphus vppon His rolling stone. Then first of all (so fame for truth hath gone) The Furies béeing striken there with pitie at his song Did wéepe. And neyther Pluto nor his Ladie were so strong And hard of stomacke too withhold his iust petition long. They called foorth Eurydicee who was as yit among The newcome Ghosts. and limped of her wound. Her husband tooke Her with condicion that he should not backe vppon her looke, Untill the tyme that hée were past the bounds of Limbo quyght: Or else too lose his gyft. They tooke a path that steepe vpryght Rose darke and full of foggye mist. And now they were within A kenning of the vpper earth, when Orphye did begin Too dowt him least shée followed not, and through an eager loue Desyrous for too see her he his eyes did backward moue. Immediatly shée slipped backe. He re••ching out his hands. Desyrous too bée caught and for too ketch her grasping stands. But nothing saue the slippry aire (vnhappy man) he caught. Shée dy••ng now the second tyme compla••nd of Orphye naught. For why what had shée too complayne, onlesse it were of loue? Which made her husband backe agen his eyes vppon her moue? Her last farewell shée spake so oft, that scarce he heard the sound, And then reuolted too the place in which he had her found. This double dying of his wyfe set Orphye in a stound, No lesse than him who at the syght of Plutos dreadfull Hound That on the middle necke of three dooth beare an iron cheyne,

Was striken in a sodein feare and could it not restreyne, Untill the tyme his former shape and nature béeing gone, His body quyght was ouergrowne, and turned intoo stone. Or than the foolish Olenus, who on himself did take Anothers fault, and giltlesse néedes himself would giltie make, Toogither with his wretched wyfe Lethaea, for whose pryde They both becomming stones, doo stand euen yit on watry Ide. He would haue gone too Hell ageine, and ••arnest sute did make: But Charon would not suffer him too passe the Stygian lake. Seuen dayes he sate forlorne vppon the bank and neuer ••ate A bit of bread. Care, teares, and thought, and sorrow were his meate And crying out vppon the Gods of Hell as cruell, hée Withdrew too lofty Rhodopee and Heme which beaten bée With Northern wynds. Thrée tymes the Sunne had passed through the shéere And watry signe of Pisces and had finisht full the yéere. And Orphye (were it that his ill successe hée still did rew, Or that he vowed so too doo) did vtterly eschew The womankynd. Yit many a one desyrous were too match With him, but he th••m with repulse did all alike dispatch. He also taught the Thracian folke a st••wes of Males too make And of the flowring pryme of boayes the pleasure for too take. There was a hyll, and on the hyll a verie leuell plot. Fayre gréene with grasse. But as for shade or couert was there not. Assoone as that this Po••t borne of Goddes, in that same place Sate downe and toucht his tuned strings, a shadow came a pace. There wanted neyther Chaons trée, nor yit the trees too which Fresh Phaetons susters turned were, nor Béeche, nor Holme, nor Wich Nor gentle Asp, nor wyuelesse Bay, nor lofty Chestnuttrée. Nor Hazle spalt, nor Ash wherof the shafts of speares made bée. Nor knotlesse Firre, nor chéerfull Plane, nor Maple ••lecked grayne. Nor Lote, nor Sallow which delights by waters too remayne. Nor slender twigged Tamarisk▪ nor Bor ay gréene of hew. Nor Figtrées loden with theyr frute of colours browne and blew. Nor double colourd Myrtletrées. Moreouer thither came The wrything Iuye, and the Uyne that runnes vppon a frame. Elmes clad with Uynes, and Ashes wyld, and Pitchtrées blacke as cole, And full of trées with goodly frute red stryped, Ortyards whole.

And Palmetrées lythe which in reward of conquest men doo beare, And Pynapple with tufted top and harsh and prickling heare, The trée too Cybele mother of the Goddes most déere. For why? Her minion Atys putting of the shape of man, did dye, And hardened intoo this same trée. Among this companée Was present with a pyked top the Cypresse, now a trée, Sumtime a boay beloued of the God that with a string Dooth arme his bow, and with a string in tune his Uiall bring. For, hallowed too the Nymphes that in the féeldes of Carthye were There was a goodly myghty Stag whose hornes such bredth did beare, As that they shadowed all his head. His hornes of gold did shyne, And downe his brest hung from his necke, a chyne with iewels fyne. Amid his fru••t with prettie strings a tablet béeing tyde, Did wauer as he went: and from his cares on eyther syde Hung perles of all one growth about his hollow temples bryght. This goodly Spitter béeing voyd of dread, as hauing quyght Forgot his natiue fearefulnesse, did haunt mens houses, and Would suffer folk (yea though vnknowen) too coy him with theyr hand. But more than vntoo all folke else he déerer was too thée O Cyparisse the fayrest Wyght that euer man did sée In Coea. Thou too pastures, thou too water springs him led, Thou wreathedst sundry flowres betwéene his hornes vppon his hed. Sumtyme a horsman thou his backe for pleasure didst bestryde, And haltring him with silken bit from place too place didst ryde. In summer tyme about hygh noone when Titan with his heate Did make the hollow crabbed cleas of Cancer for too sweate, Unwéeting Cyparissus with a Dart did strike this Hart Quyght through. And when that of the wound he saw he must depart, He purposd for too die himself. What woords of comfort spake Not Phoebus too him? willing him the matter lyght too take And not more sorrow for it than was requisite too make. But still the Lad did sygh and sob, and as his last request Desyred God he myght thenceforth from moorning neuer rest. Anon through wéeping ouermuch his blood was drayned quyght: His limbes wert gréene: his heare which hung vpō his forehead whyght Began too bée a bristled bush: and taking by and by A stiffnesse, with sharpened top did face the starrie skye

The God did sigh, and sadly sayd. Myselfe shall moorne for thée, And thou for others: and ay one in moorning thou shalt bée. Such wood as this had Orphye drawen about him as among The herdes of beasts, and flocks of Birds he sate amyds the throng. And when his thumbe sufficiently had tryed euery string, And found that though they seuerally in sundry sounds did ring, Yit made they all one Harmonie. He thus began too sing. O Muse my mother frame my song of Ioue. for euery thing Is subiect vntoo royall Ioue. Of Ioue the heauenly King I oft haue shewed the glorious power. I erst in grauer verse The Gyants slayne in Phlaegra féeldes with thunder, did reherse, But now I néede a méelder style too tell of prettie boyes That were the derlings of the Gods: and of vnlawfull ioyes That burned in the brests of Girles, who for theyr wicked lust According as they did deserue, receyued penance iust. The King of Goddes did burne erewhyle in loue of Ganymed The Phrygian and the thing was found which Iupiter that sted Had rather bée than that he was. Yit could ••e not betéeme The shape of any other Bird than Aegle for too séeme And so he soring in the ayre with borrowed wings trust vp The Troiane boay who still in heauen euen yit dooth beare his cup, And brings him Nectar though against Dame Iunos will it bée. And thou Amyclys sonne (had not they heauy destinée Abridged thée before thy tyme) hadst also placed béene By Phoebus in the firmament. How bée it (as is séene) Thou art eternall so farre forth as may bée. For as oft As warrie Piscis giueth place too Aries that the soft And gentle springtyde dooth succéede the winter sharp and stowre: So often thou renewest thyself, and on the fayre gréene clowre Doost shoote out flowres. My father bare a speciall loue too thee Aboue all others. So that whyle the God went oft too sée Eurotas and vnwalled Spart, he left his noble towne Of Delphos (which a mid the world is situate in renowne) Without a souereigne▪ Neyther Harp nor Bow regarded were. Unmyndfull of his Godhead he refused not too beare The nets, nor for too hold the hounds, nor as a peynfull mate Too trauell ouer cragged hilles, through which continuall gate

His flames augmented more and more. And now the sunne did stand Well néere midway betwéene the nyghts last past and next at hand. They stript themselues and noynted them with oyle of Olyfe fat. And fell to throwing of a Sledge that was ryght howge and flat. Fyrst Phoebus peysing it did throw it from him with such strength, As that the weyght draue downe the clouds in flying. And at length It fell vpon substantiall ground, where plainly it did show As well the cunning as the force of him that did it throw. Immediatly vpon desyre himself the sport too trie, The Spartane lad made haste too take vp vnaduisedly The Sledge before it still did lye. But as he was in hand Too catch it, it rebounding vp ageinst the hardened land, Did hit him full vpon the face. The God himselfe did looke As pale as did the lad, and vp his swounding body tooke. Now culles he him, now wypes he from the wound the blood away, Anotherwhyle his fading lyfe he stryues with herbes too stay. Nought booted Léechcraft. Helplesse was the wound. And like as one Broosd violet stalkes or Poppie stalkes or Lillies growing on Browne spindles, streight they withering droope with heauy heads & are Not able for too hold them vp, but with their tops doo stare Uppon the ground. So Hyacinth in yéelding of his breath Chopt downe his head. His necke bereft of strength by meanes of death Was euen a burthen too itself, and downe did loosely wrythe On both his shoulders, now a tone and now a toother lythe. Thou faadst away my Hyacinth defrauded of the pryme Of youth (quoth Phoebus) and I sée thy wound my heynous cryme. Thou art my sorrow and my fault: this hand of my••e hath wrought Thy death: I like a murtherer haue too thy graue thée brought. But what haue I offended thow? onlesse that too haue playd, Or if that too haue loued, an offence it may be sayd. Would God I render myght my lyfe with and in stead of thée. Too which syth fatall destinée denyeth too agrée, Both in my mynd and in my mouth thou euermore shalt bée. My U••all striken with my hand, my songs shall sound of thée, And in a newmade flowre thou shalt with letters represent Our syghings▪ And the tyme shall come ere many yéeres bée spent, That in thy flowre a valeant Prince shall ioyne himself with thée,

And lea••e his name vppon the leaues for men too réede and sée. Whyle Phoebus thus did prophesie, behold the blood of him Which dyde the grasse, ceast blood too bée, and vp there sprang a trim And goodly flowre, more orient than the Purple cloth ingrayne, In shape a Lillye, were it not that Lillyes doo remayne Of syluer colour, whereas theis of purple hew are séene. Although that Phoebus had the cause of this greate honor béene, Yit thought he not the same ynough. And therfore did he wryght His syghes vppon the leaues thereof: and so in colour bryght The flowre hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 writ theron, which letters are of gréef. So small the Spartanes thought the birth of Hyacinth reprée•• Unto them, that they woorship him from that day vntoo this. And as their fathers did before, so they doe neuer misse With solemne pomp too celebrate his feast from yéere too yéere. But if perchaunce that Amathus the rich in mettals, wéere Demaunded if it would haue bred the Propets it would sweare, Yea euen as gladly as the folke whose brewes sumtyme did beare, A payre of welked hornes: whereof they Cerastes named are. Before theyr doore an Altar stood of Ioue that takes the care. Of alyents and of trauellers, which lothsome was too sée, For lewdnesse wrought theron. If one that had a straunger bée Had lookt thereon, he would haue thought there had on it béene killd Sum sucking calues or lambes. The blood of straūgers there was spilld. Dame Venus sore offended at this wicked sacrifyse, Too leaue her Cities and the land of Cyprus did deuyse. But then bethinking her, shée sayd. What hath my pleasant ground What haue my Cities trespassed? what fault in them is found? Nay rather let this wicked race by exyle punnisht béene, Or death, or by sum other thing that is a meane betwéene Both death and exyle. what is that? saue only for too chaunge Theyr shape. In musing with herself what figure were most straunge, Shée cast her eye vppon a horne. And therewithall shée thought The same too bée a shape ryght méete vppon them too bée brought: And so shée from theyr myghty limbes theyr natiue figure tooke, And turnd them intoo boystous Bulles with grim and cruell looke Yit durst the filthy Propets stand in stiffe opinion that Dame Venus was no Goddesse till shée béeing wroth thereat,

Too make theyr bodies common first compelld them euerychone And after chaungd theyr former kynd. For when that shame was gone, And that they wexed brazen faast, shée turned them too stone, In which betwéene their former shape was diffrence small or none. Whom forbycause Pygmalion saw too leade theyr lyfe in sin Offended with the vice whereof greate store is packt within The nature of the womankynd, he led a single lyfe. And long it was ere he could fynd in hart too take a wyfe. Now in the whyle by wondrous Art an image he did graue Of such proportion, shape, and grace as nature neuer gaue Nor can too any woman giue. In this his worke he tooke A certaine loue. The looke of it was ryght a Maydens looke, And such a one as that yée would beléeue had lyfe, and that Would moued bée, if womanhod and reuerence letted not: So artificiall was the work. He woondreth at his Art And of his counterfetted corse conceyueth loue in hart. He often toucht it, féeling if the woork that he had made Were verie flesh or Iuorye still. Yit could he not perswade Himself too think it Iuory. For he oftentymes it kist And thought it kissed him ageine. He hild it by the fist, And talked too it. He beléeued his fingars made a dint Uppon her flesh, and feared least sum blacke or broosed print Should come by touching ouer hard. Sumtyme with pleasant boords And wanton toyes he dalyingly dooth cast foorth amorous woords. Sumtime (the giftes wherein yong Maydes are wonted too delyght) He brought her owches, fyne round stones, and Lillyes fayre & whygh••▪ And pretie singing birds, and flowres of thousand sorts and hew, And peynted ball••s, and Amber from the trée distilled new. In gorgeous garments furthermore he did her also decke, And on her fingars put me rings, and cheynes about her necke. Riche perles were hanging at her eares, and tablets at her brest. All kynd of things became her well. And when she was vndrest, Shée s••emed not lesse beawtifull. He layd her in a bed The which with scarle•• dyde in Tyre was richly ouerspred, And terming her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 bedfellow, he couched downe hir head Uppon a 〈…〉〈…〉 though shée could haue felt the same. The feas•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Venus hallowed through the Ile of Cyprus, cam••

And Bullocks whyght with gilden hornes were slayne for sacrifyse, And vp too heauen of frankincence the smoky fume did ryse. When as Pygmalion hauing doo••e his dutye that same day, Béefore the altar standing, thus with fearefull hart did say. If that you Goddes can all things giue, then let my wife (I pray) (He durst not say bée yoonsame wench of Iuory, but) bée léeke My wench of Iuory. Venus (who was nought at all to séeke What such a wish as that did méene) then present at her feast, For handsell of her fréendly helpe did cause thrée tymes at least The fyre to kindle and to spyre thryse vpward in the ayre. Assoone as he came home, streyght way Pygmalion did repayre Unto the Image of his wench, and leaning on the bed, Did kisse hir. In her body streyght a warmenesse séemd too spred. He put his mouth againe to hers, and on her brest did lay His hand. The Iuory wexed soft: and putting quyght away All hardnesse, yéelded vnderneathe his fingars, as wée sée A péece of wax made soft ageinst the Sunne, or drawen too bée In diuers shapes by chaufing it betwéene ones handes, and so To serue to vses. He amazde stood wauering too and fro Twéene ioy, and feare too bée béeguyld, ageine he burnt in loue, Ageine with féeling he began his wisshed hope too proue. He felt it verrye flesh in déede. By laying on his thumb, He felt her pulses beating. Then he stood no longer dumb But thanked Venus with his hart. and at the length he layd His mouth to hers who was as then become a perfect mayd. Shee felt the kisse, and blusht therat: and lifting fearefully Hir eyelidds vp, hir Louer and the light at once did spye. The mariage that her selfe had made the Goddesse blessed so, That when the Moone with fulsum lyght nyne tymes her course had go, This Ladye was deliuered of a Sun that Paphus hyght, Of whom the Iland takes that name. Of him was borne a knyght Calld Cinyras who (had he had none issue) surely myght Of all men vnderneathe the sun béene thought the happyest wyght. Of wicked and most cursed things to speake I now commence. Yée daughters and yée parents all go get yée farre from hence. Or if yée mynded bée to héere my tale, beleeue mée nought In this béehalfe: ne think that such a thing was euer wrought.

Or if yée will béeléeue the déede, beléeue the vengeance too Which lyghted on the partye that the wicked act did doo. But if that it be possible that any wyght so much From nature should degenerate, as for to fall to such A heynous cryme as this is, I am glad for Thracia, I Am glad for this same world of ours, yea glad excéedingly I am for this my natiue soyle, for that there is such space Betwéene it and the land that bred a chyld so voyd of grace. I would the land Panchaya should of Amomie be rich, And Cinnamom, and Costus swéete, and Incence also which Dooth issue largely out of trees, and other flowers straunge, As long as that it beareth Myrrhe: not woorth it was the chaunge, Newe trées to haue of such a pryce. The God of loue denyes His weapons too haue hurted thée, O Myrrha, and he tryes Himselfe vngiltie by thy fault. One of the Furies three With poysonde Snakes and hellish brands hath rather blasted thée To hate ones father is a cryme as heynous as may bee. But yit more wicked is this loue of thine than any hate. The youthfull Lordes of all the East and Péeres of chéef estate Desyre to haue thée too their wyfe, and earnest sute doo make. Of all (excepting onely one) thy choyce O Myrrha take. Shee féeles her filthye loue, and stryues ageinst it, and within Herself sayd. whither roonnes my mynd? what thinke I to begin? Yée Gods (I pray) and godlynesse, yée holy rites and awe Of parents, from this heynous cryme my vicious mynd withdrawe, And disappoynt my wickednesse. At leastwyse if it bée A wickednesse that I intend. As farre as I can sée, This loue infrindgeth not the bondes of godlynesse a whit. For euery other liuing wyght dame nature dooth permit Too match without offence of sin. The Hecfer thinkes no shame Too beare her father on her backe: The Horse béestrydes the same Of whom he is the syre: The Gote dooth bucke the Kid that hée Himself begate: and birdes doo tread the self same birdes wée sée Of whom they hatched were before. In happye cace they are That may doo so without offence. But mans malicious care Hath made a brydle for it self, and spyghtfull lawes restreyne The things that nature setteth free. yit are their Realmes (men sayne)

In which the moother with the sonne, and daughter with the father Doo match, where through of godlynesse the bond augments the rather With doubled loue. Now wo is mée it had not béene my lot In that same countrie too bée borne. And that this lucklesse plot Should hinder mée. Why thinke I thus? Auaunt vnlawfull loue. I ought too loue him I confesse: but so as dooth behoue His daughter: were not Cinyras my father then, Iwis I myght obtaine too lye with him. But now bycause he is Myne owne, he cannot bée myne owne. The néerenesse of our kin Dooth hurt me. Were I further of perchau••ce I more myght win. And if I wist that I therby this wickednesse myght shunne, I would forsake my natiue soyle and farre from Cyprus runne. This euill hea••e dooth hold mée backe, that béeing present still I may but talke with Cinyras and looke on him my fill, And touch, and kisse him, if no more may further graunted bée. Why wicked wench? and canst thou hope for further? doost not sée How by thy fault thou doost confound the ryghts of name and kin? And wilt thou make thy mother bee a Cucqueane by thy sin? Wilt thou thy fathers leman bee? wilt thou bée both the moother And suster of thy chyld? shall he bée both thy sonne and brother? And standst thou not in feare at all of those same susters thrée Whose heads with crawling snakes in stead of heare bematted bée? Which pushing with theyr cruell bronds folks eyes and mouthes, doo sée Theyr sinfull harts? but thou now whyle thy body yit is frée, Let neuer such a wickednesse once enter in thy mynd. Defyle not myghtye natures hest by lust ageinst thy kynd. What though thy will were fully bent? yit euen the very thing Is such as will not suffer thée the same too end too bring. For why he béeing well disposde and godly, myndeth ay So much his dewtye that from ryght and truth he will not stray. Would God lyke furie were in him as is in mee this day. This sayd, her father Cinyras (who dowted what too doo By reason of the worthy store of suters which did woo His daughter,) bringing all theyr names did will her for too show On which of them shée had herself most fancie too bestow. At first shée hild her peace a whyle, and looking wistly on

Her fathers face, did boyle within: and scalding teares anon Ran downe her visage. Cyniras, (who thought them too procéede Of tender harted shamefastnesse) did say there was no néede Of teares, and dryed her chéekes, and kist her. Myrrha tooke of it Excéeding pleasure in her selfe: and when that he did wit What husband shée did wish too haue, shée sayd: one like too yow. He vnderstanding not hir thought, did well her woordes allow. And sayd: in this thy godly mynd continew. At the name Of godlynesse, shée cast mée downe her looke for very shame. For why her giltie hart did knowe shée well deserued blame. Hygh mydnight came, and sléepe bothe care and carkesses opprest. But Myrrha lying brode awake could neyther sléepe nor rest. Shée fryes in Cupids flames, and woorkes continewally vppon Her furious loue. One while shée sinkes in déepe despayre. Anon Shée fully myndes to giue attempt, but shame doth hold her in. Shée wishes and shée wotes not what too doo, nor how too gin. And like as when a mightye trée with axes heawed rownd, Now reedye with a strype or twaine to lye vppon the grownd, Uncerteine is which way to fall and tottreth euery way: Euen so her mynd with dowtfull wound efféebled then did stray Now héere now there vncerteinely, and tooke of bothe encreace. No measure of her loue was found, no rest, nor yit releace, Saue onely death. death likes her best. Shée ryseth, full in mynd To hang herself. About a post her girdle she doth bynd. And sayd farewell déere Cinyras, and vnderstand the cause Of this my death. And with that woord about her necke shée drawes The nooze. Her trustye nurce that in another Chamber lay By fortune heard the whispring sound of theis her woordes (folk say.) The aged woman rysing vp vnboltes the doore. And whan Shée saw her in that plyght of death, shée shréeking out began Too smyght her self, and scratcht her brest, and quickly too her ran And rent the girdle from her necke. Then wéeping bitterly And holding her betwéene her armes, shée askt the question why Shée went about too hang her self so vnaduisedly. The Lady hilld her peace as dumb, and looking on the ground Unmouably, was sorye in her hart for béeing found Before shée had dispatcht herself. Hernurce still at her lay,

And shewing her her emptie dugges and naked head all gray, Besought her for the paynes shee tooke with her both night and day In rocking and in féeding her, shée would vouchsafe to say What ere it were that gréeued her. The Ladye turnd away Displeasde and fetcht a sygh. The nurce was fully bent in mynd Too bowlt the matter out: for which not onely shée did bynd Her fayth, in secret things to kéepe: but also sayd, put mée In trust too fynd a remedye. I am not (thou shalt sée) Yit altoogither dulld by age. If furiousenesse it bée, I haue bothe charmes and chaunted herbes to help. If any wyght Bewitcheth thée, by witchcraft I will purge and set thée quyght. Or if it bée the wrath of God, we shall with sacrifyse Appease the wrath of God right well. What may I more surmyse? No théeues haue broken in vppon this house and spoyld the welth. Thy mother and thy father bothe are liuing and in helth. When Myrrha heard her father naamd, a gréeuous sygh she fet Euen from the bottom of her hart. Howbeet the nurce as yet Misdéemd not any wickednesse. But nerethelesse shée gest There was some loue: and standing in one purpose made request Too breake her mynd vntoo her, And shée set her tenderly Uppon her lappe. The Ladye wept and sobbed bitterly. Then culling her in feeble armes, shée sayd I well espye Thou art in loue. My diligence in this behalf I sweare Shall seruisable too th••e bée. Thou shalt not néede too feare That ere thy father shall it knowe. At that same woord shee lept From nurces lappe like one that had béene past her witts, and stept With fury to her bed. at which shée leaning downe hir face Sayd, hence I pray thee: force mée not to shewe my shamefull cace. And when the nurce did vrge her still, shée answered eyther get The hence, or ceace too aske mée why myself I thus doo fret. The thing that thou desyrste too knowe is wickednesse. The old Poore nurce gan quake, and trembling both for age and feare did hold Her handes to her. And knéeling downe right humbly at her féete, One whyle shee fayre intreated her with gentle woordes and swéete. Another whyle (onlesse shée made her priuie of her sorrow) Shée threatned her, and put her in a feare shée would next morrow Bewray her how shée went about to hang herself. But if

Shée told her, shée did plyght her fayth and help too her reléef. Shée lifted vp her head, and then with teares fast gusshing out Béesloobered all her nurces brest: and going oft about Too speake, shée often stayd: and with her garments hid her face For shame, and lastly sayd: O happye is my moothers cace That such a husband hath. with that a gréeuous sygh shée gaue, And hilld her peace. Theis woordes of hers a trembling ch••lnesse draue In nurcis limbes, which perst her bones: (for now shée vnderstood The cace) and all her horye heare vp stiff••y staring stood And many things she talkt to put away her cursed loue, If that it had béene possible the madnesse to remoue. The Mayd herself to be full trew the councell dooth espye: Yit if shée may not haue her loue shée fully myndes to dye. Liue still ({quod} nurce) thou shalt obteine (shée durst not say thy father, But stayd at that.) And forbycause that Myrrha should the rather Beléeue her, shée confirmd her woordes by othe. The yéerely feast Of gentle Ceres came, in which the wyues bothe moste and least Appareld all in whyght are wo••nt the firstlings of the féeld Fyne garlonds made of eares of corne too Ceres for to yéeld. And for the space of thryce thrée nyghts they counted it a sin To haue the vse of any man, or once too towche his s••in. Among theis women did the Quéene fréequent the secret rites. Now whyle that of his lawfull wyfe his bed was voyd a nightes, The nurce was dooble diligent: and fynding Cinyras Well washt with wyne, shée did surmyse there was a pretye lasse In loue with him. And hyghly shée her beawty setteth out. And béeing asked of her yéeres, she sayd shée was about The age of Myrrha. well ({quod} he) then bring her too my bed. Returning home shée sayd: bée glad my nurcechilde: we haue sped. Not all so wholly in her hart was wretched Myrrha glad, But that her fore misgiuing mynd did also make her sad. Howbéete shée also did reioyce as in a certaine kynd, Such discord of affections was within her combred mynd. It was the tyme that all things rest. And now Boötes bryght The driuer of the Oxen seuen about the northpole pyght. Had sumwhat turnd his wayne asyde, when wicked Myrrha sped About her buysnesse. Out of heauen the golden Phoebee fled.

With clowds more black than any pitch the starres did hyde their hed. The nyght béecommeth vtter voyd of all her woonted lyght. And first before all other hid their faces out of syght Good Icar and Erigonee his daughter, who for loue Most vertuous too her fatherward, was take vp aboue And made a starre in heauen. Three tymes had Myrrha warning giuen By stumbling, to retyre. Thrée tymes the deathfull Owle that éeuen With doolefull noyse prognosticates vnhappie lucke. Yet came Shée forward still: the darknesse of the nyght abated shame. Her left hand held her nurce, her right the darke blynd way did grope. Anon shée too the chamber came: anon the doore was ope: Anon shée entred in. with that her foltring hammes did quake: Her colour dyde: her blood and hart did cleerly her forsake. The néerer shee approched too her wickednesse, the more Shée trembled: Of her enterpryse it irked her full sore: And fayn shée would shée might vnknownē haue turned back. Nurce led Her pawsing forward by the hand: and putting her too bed, Héere take this Damzell Cinyras, shée is thine owne shée sed. And so shée layd them brest too brest. The wicked father takes His bowelles intoo filthy bed, and there with wordes asslakes The maydens feare, and chéeres her vp. And least this cryme of theyres Myght want the ryghtfull termes, by chaunce as in respect of yéeres He daughter did hir call, and shée him father. Béeing sped With cursed séede in wicked womb, shée left her fathers bed, Of which soone after shee became greate bagged with her shame. Next night the lewdnesse doubled. And no end was of the same, Untill at length that Cinyras desyrous for to knowe His louer that so many nyghts vppon him did bestowe, Did fetch a light: by which he sawe his owne most heynous cryme, And éeke his daughter. nathelesse, his sorrow at that time Represt his speeche. Then hanging by he drew a Rapier bryght. Away ran Myrrha, and by meanes of darknesse of the nyght Shée was deliuered from the death: and straying in the broade Datebearing féeldes of Arabye, shée through Panchaya yode, And wandring full nyne moonethes at length shée rested béeing tyrde In Saba land. And when the tyme was néere at hand expyrde, And that vneath the burthen of her womb sh••e well could beare,

Not knowing what she might desyre, distrest betwéene the feare Of death, and tediousnesse of lyfe, this prayer shée did make. O Goddes, if of repentant folk you any mercye take, Sharpe vengeance I confesse I haue deserued, and content I am to take it paciently. How bée it too thentent That neyther with my lyfe the quick, nor with my death the dead Anoyed bée, from both of them exempt mée this same sted. And altring mée, deny too mée both lyfe and death. we sée Too such as doo confesse theyr faults sum mercy shewd ••oo bée. The Goddes did graunt her this request, the last that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make. The ground did ouergrow hir féete, and ancles as shée spake. And from her bursten toes went rootes, which wrything heere and there Did fasten so the trunk within the ground shée could not steare. Her bones did intoo timber turne, whereof the marie was The pith, and into watrish sappe the blood of her did passe. Her armes were turnd too greater boughes, her fingars into twig, Her skin was hardned into bark. And now her belly big The eatching trée had ouergrowen, and ouertane her brest, And hasted for to win her neck, and hyde it with the rest. Shée made no taryence nor delay, but met the comming trée, And shroonk her face within the barke therof. Although that shée Toogither with her former shape her senses all did loose, Yit wéepeth shée, and from her trée warme droppes doo softly woose. The which her teares are had in pryce and honour. And the Myrrhe That issueth from her gummy bark dooth beare the name of her, And shall doo whyle the world dooth last. The misbegotten chyld Grew still within the trée, and from his mothers womb defyld Sought meanes too bée delyuered. Her burthened womb did swell Amid the trée, and stretcht her out. But woordes wherwith to tell And vtter foorth her gréef did want, She had no vse of spéech With which Lucina in her throwes shée might of help beséech. Yit like a woman labring was the trée, and bowwing downe Gaue oftē sighes, & shed foorth teares as though shée there should drowne. Lucina to this wofull trée came gently downe, and layd Her hand theron, and speaking woordes of ease the midwife playd. The trée did cranye, and the barke deuiding made away, And yéelded out the chyld alyue, which cryde and wayld streyght way.

The waternymphes vppon the soft swéete hearbes the chyld did lay, And bathde him with his mothers teares. His face was such as spyght Must needes haue praysd. For such he was in all condicions right, As are the naked Cupids that in tables picturde bée. But too thentent he may with them in euery poynt agrée, Let eyther him bée furnisshed with wings and quiuer light, Or from the Cupids take theyr wings and bowes and arrowes quight. Away slippes fléeting tyme vnspyde and mocks vs too our face, And nothing may compare with yeares in swiftnesse of theyr pace▪ That wretche•••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whom wickedly his graundfather begate, And whom his cursed suster bare, who hidden was alate Within the trée, and lately borne, became immediatly The beawtyfullyst babe on whom man euer set his eye. Anon a stripling hée became, and by and by a man, And euery day more beawt••full than other he becam. That in the end Dame Venus fell in loue with him: wherby He did reuenge the outrage of his mothers villanye. For as the armed Cupid kist Dame Venus, vnbeware An arrow sticking out did raze hir brest vppon the bare. The Goddesse being wounded, ••hrust away her sonne. The wound Apyeered not too bée so déepe as afterward was found. It did deceyue her at the first. The beawty of the lad Inflaamd her. Too Cythera Ile no mynd at all shée had. Nor vntoo Paphos where the sea beats round about the shore, Nor 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Gnyde, nor Amathus that hath of metalls store. Yea ••uen from heauen shee did absteyne. Shée lovd Adonis more Than heauen▪ To him shée clinged ay, and bare him companye. And in the shadowe woont shée was too rest continually, And for too set her beawtye out most séemely too the eye By trimly decking of her self. Through ••ushy grounds and groues, And ouer H••lls and Dales, and Lawn••s and stony rocks shée roues, Bare knéed with garment tucked vp according too the woont Of Phebe, and shée chéerd the hounds with hallowing like a hunt, Pursewing game of hurtlesse sort, as Hares made lowe before. Or stagges with loftye heades, or bucks. But with the sturdy Boare And ra••ening woolf, and Bearewhelpes armd with vgly pawes, and éeke The cruell Lyons which delyght in blood, and slaughter séeke,

Shée meddled not. And of theis same shée warned also thée Adonis for too shoonne them, if thou wooldst haue warned bée. Bée bold on cowards (Venus sayd) for whoso dooth aduaunce Himselfe against the bold, may hap too méete with sum mischaunce. Wherfore I pray thée my swéete boy forbeare too bold too bée. For feare thy rashnesse hurt thy self and woork the wo of mée Encounter not the kynd of beastes whom nature armed hath, For dowt thou buy thy prayse too déere procuring thée sum scath. Thy tender youth, thy beawty bryght, thy countnance fayre and braue Although they had the force too win the hart of Venus, haue No powre ageinst the Lyons, nor ageinst the brist led swyne. The eyes and harts of sauage beasts doo nought too theis m••lyne. The cruell Boares beare thunder in theyr hooked tushes, and Excéeding force and féercenesse is in Lyons too withstand. And sure I hate them at my hart. Too him demaunding why? A monstrous chaunce ({quod} Venus) I will tell thée by and by, That hapned for a fault. But now vnwoonted toyle hath made Mée wéerye: and beholde, in tyme this Poplar with his shade Allureth, and the ground for cowch dooth serue too rest vppon. I prey thée let vs rest héere. They sate them downe anon. And lying vpward with her head vppon his lappe along, Shée thus began: and in her tale shée bussed him among. Perchaunce thou hast or this tyme hard of one that ouercame The swiftest men in footemanshippe. no fable was that fame. She ouercame them out of dowt. And hard it is to tell Thée whither she did in footemanshippe or beawty more excell. Uppon a season as she askt of Phebus, what he was That should her husband bée, he sayd. For husband doo not passe O Atalanta, thou at all of husband hast no néede Shonne husbanding. But yit thou canst not shonne it I thée réede. Alyue thou shalt not be thy self. Shée being sore afrayd Of this Apollos Oracle, did kéepe herself a mayd, And liued in the shady woodes. When wooers to her came, And were of her importunate, shée draue away the same With boystous woordes, and with sore condition of the game. I am not too be had ({quod} shée) onlesse yée able b••e In ronning for too vanquish mée. Yée must contend with mée

In footemanshippe. And who so winnes the wager, I agrée Too bée his wife. But if that he bée found too slowe, then hee Shall lose his head. This of your game the verrye law shall bée. Shée was in déede vnmercifull. But such is beawties powre, That though the sayd condition were extreme and ouer sowre, Yit many suters were so rash too vndertake the same. Hippomenes as a looker on of this vncurteous game, Sate by, and sayd. Is any man so mad to séeke a wyfe With such apparant perill and the hazard of his lyfe? And vtterly he did condemne the yongmens loue. But when He saw her face and bodye bare, (for why the Lady then Did strippe her too her naked skin) the which was like too myne, Or rather (if that thou wert made a woman) like too thyne: He was amazde. And holding vp his hands too heauen, he sayth: Forgiue mée you with whom I found such fault euen now: In fayth I did not know the wager that yée ran for. As hée prayseth The beawty of her, in him selfe the fyre of loue he rayseth. And through an enuy fearing least shée should a way be woonne, He wisht that nere a one of them so swift as shée might roonne. And wherfore ({quod} hée) put not I myself in preace too trye The fortune of this wager? God himself continually Dooth help the bold and hardye sort. now whyle Hippomenes Debates theis things within himselfe and other like to these, The Damzell ronnes as if her feete were wings. And though that shée Did fly as swift as arrow from a Turkye bowe: yit hée More woondred at her beawtye than at swiftnesse of her pace Her ronning greatly did augment her beawtye and her grace. The wynd ay whisking from her féete the labells of her socks Uppon her back as whyght as snowe did tosse her golden locks, And eeke thembroydred garters that were tyde beneathe her ham. A rednesse mixt with whyght vppon her tender bodye cam, As when a scarlet curtaine streynd ageinst a playstred wall Dooth cast like shadowe, making it seeme ruddye therwithall. Now whyle the straunger noted this, the race was fully ronne, And Atalant (as shee that had the wager cléerely wonne) Was crowned with a garlond braue. The vanquisht sighing sore, Did lose theyr lyues according too agréement made before.

Howbéeit nought at all dismayd with theis mennes lucklesse cace He stepped foorth, and looking full vppon the maydens face, Sayd: wherfore doost thou séeke renowne in vanquisshing of such As were but dastards? cope with mée. If fortune bée so much My fréend too giue mee victorie, thou néedest not hold scorne Too yéeld too such a noble man as I am. I am borne The sonne of noble Megaree Onchestyes sonne, and hée Was sonne to Neptune. Thus am I great graundchyld by degrée In ryght descent, of him that rules the waters. Neyther doo I out of kynd degenerate from vertue méete thertoo. Or if my fortune bée so hard as vanquisht for too bée, Thou shalt obteine a famous name by ouercomming mée. In saying thus, Atlanta cast a gentle looke on him And dowting whither shée rather had too lose the day or win, Sayd thus. What God an enmy to the beawtyfull, is bent Too bring this person to his end, and therfore hath him sent Too seeke a wyfe with hazard of his lyfe? If I should bée Myselfe the iudge in this behalfe, there is not sure in mée That dooth deserue so déerely too bée earned. neyther dooth His beawty mooue my hart at all. yit is it such in sooth As well might mooue mée. But bycause as yit a chyld he is, His person mooues mée not so much as dooth his age Iwis. Béesydes that manhod is in him, and mynd vnfrayd of death: Béesydes that of the watrye race from Neptune as he seth He is the fowrth: béesydes that he dooth loue mée, and dooth make So great accompt too win mée too his wyfe, that for my sake He is contented for too dye, if fortune bée so sore Ageinst him too denye him mée. Thou straunger hence therfore. Away I say now whyle thou mayst, and shonne my bloody bed. My mariage cruell is, and craues the losing of thy hed. There is no wench but that would such a husband gladly catch. And shée that wyse were myght desyre too méete with such a match. But why now after heading of so many, doo I care For thée? Looke thou too that. For sith so many men as are Alreadye put too slawghter can not warne thée too béeware, But that thou wilt bée wéerye of thy lyfe, dye: doo not spare. And shall he perrish then bycause he sought to liue with mee?

And for his loue vnwoorthely with death rewarded bée? All men of such a victory will speake too foule a shame. But all the world can testifye that I am not too blame. Would God thou wouldst desist. Or else bycause thou are so mad, I would too God a litle more thy féete of swiftnesse had. Ah what a maydens countenance is in this chyldish face? Ah foolish boy Hippomenes, how wretched is thy cace? I would thou neuer hadst mée séene. Thou woorthy art of lyfe. And if so bée I happy were, and that too bée a wyfe The cruell destnyes had not mée forbidden, sure thou art The onely wyght with whom I would bée matcht with all my hart. This spoken: shée yit rawe, and but new striken with the dart Of Cupid, béeing ignorant, did loue and knew it nat Anon her father and the folk assembled, willed that They should begin theyr woonted race. Then Neptunes issue prayd With carefull hart and voyce too mée, and thus d••uoutly sayd. O Venus, fauour myne attempt, and send mée downe thyne ayd Too compasse my desyred loue which thou hast on mée layd. His prayer movd mée (I confesse,) and long I not delayd Before I helpt him. Now there is a certaine féeld the which The Cyprian folk call Damasene, most fertile and most rich Of all the Cyprian féelds: the same was consecrate too mée In auncient tyme, and of my Church the glebland woont too bée. Amid this féeld, with golden leaues there growes a goodly trée The crackling boughes whereof are all of yellow gold. I came And gathered golden Apples thrée: and bearing thence the same Within my hand, immediatly too Hippomen I gat Inuisible too all wyghts else saue him and taught him what Too doo with them. The Trumpets blew: and girding forward, both Set foorth, and on the houering dust with nimble féete eche goth. A man would think they able were vppon the Sea too go And neuer wet theyr féete, and on the ayles of corne also That still is growing in the féeld, and neuer downe them tread. The man tooke courage at the showt and woordes of them that sed, Now now is tyme Hippomenes too ply it, hye a pace: Enforce thyself with all thy strength: lag not in any cace: Thou shalt obteine. It is a thing ryght dowtfull whither hée

At theis well willing woordes of theyrs reioysed more, or shée. O Lord how often when shée might outstrippe him did shée stay, And gazed long vppon his face, right loth too go her way? A wéerye breath proceeded from theyr parched lippes, and farre They had too ronne. Then Neptunes imp her swiftnesse too disbarre, Trolld downe a toneside of the way an Apple of the thrée. Amazde therat, and couetous of the goodly Apple, shée Did step asyde and snatched vp the rolling frute of gold. With that Hippomenes coted her. The folke that did behold, Made noyse with clapping of theyr hands. She recompenst her slothe And losse of▪ tyme with footemanshippe: and streight ageine outgothe Hippomenes, leauing him behind, and béeing stayd agen With taking vp the second, shée him ouertooke. And when The race was almost at an end: He sayd: O Goddesse, thou That art the author of this gift, assist mée fréendly now, And therwithall, of purpose that she might the longer bée In comming, hée with all his might did bowle the last of thrée A skew a toneside of the féelde. The Lady séemde too make A dowt in taking of it vp. I forced her too take It vp, and too the Apple I did put a heauy weyght, And made it of such massinesse shée could not lift it streight. And least that I in telling of my tale may longer bée, Than they in ronning of their race, outstripped quight was shée. And he that wan her, marying her enioyd her for his fée. Thinkst thou I was not woorthy thanks, Adonis thinks thow I earned not that he too mée should frankincence allow? But he forgetfull neyther thanks nor frankincence did giue. By meanes wherof too sooden wrath he iustly did me driue. For béeing gréeued with the spyght, bycause I would not bée Despysd of such as were too come, I thought it best for mée Too take such vengeance of them both as others might take héede By them. And so ageinst them both in anger I procéede. A temple of the mother of the Goddes that vowwed was And buylded by Echion in a darksome groue, they passe There through my might Hippomenes was toucht and stirred so, That néedes he would too Uenerie though out of season go. Not farre from this same temple was with little light aden

With pommye vawlted naturally, long consecrate ere then For old religion, not vnlike a caue: wher priests of yore Bestowed had of Images of wooden Goddes good store. Hippomenes entring herintoo defyld the holy place. With his vnlawfull lust: from which the Idolls turnd theyr face. And Cybell with the towred toppes disdeyning, dowted whither Shée in the lake of Styx might drowne the wicked folk toogither. The pennance seemed ouer lyght. and therefore shée did cawse Thinne yellow manes to growe vppon theyr necks: and hooked pawes In stead of fingars too succéede. Theyr shoulders were the same They were before: with woondrous force déepe brested they béecame. Theyr looke béecame féerce, cruell, grim, and sowre: a tufted tayle Stretcht out in length farre after them vpon the ground dooth trayle. In stead of spéech they rore: in stead of bed they haunt the wood: And dreadfull vnto others they for all theyr cruell moode With tamed téeth chank Cybells bitts in shape of Lyons. Shonne Theis beastes déere hart: and not from theis alonely sée thou ronne, But also from eche other beast that turnes not backe too flight But offreth with his boystows brest too try the chaunce of fyght: Anemis least thy valeantnesse bée hurtfull to vs both. This warning giuen, w^t yoked swannes away through aire she goth. But manhod by admonishment restreyned could not bée. By chaunce his hounds in following of the tracke, a Boare did sée, And rowsed him. And as the swyne was comming from the wood, Adonis hit him with a dart a skew, and drew the blood. The Boare streyght with his hooked groyne y^e huntingstaffe out drew Bestayned with his blood, and on Adonis did pursew Who trembling and retyring back, too place of refuge drew. And hyding in his codds his tuskes as farre as he could thrust He layd him all along for dead vppon the yellow dust. Dame Venus in her chariot drawen with swannes was scarce arriued At Cyprus, when shée knew a farre the sygh of him depryued Of lyfe. Shée turnd her Cygnets backe. and when shée from the skye Béehilld him dead, and in his blood beweltred for to lye: Shée leaped downe, and tare at once hir garments from her brist, And rent her heare, and beate vppon her stomack with her fist,

And blaming sore the destnyes, sayd. Yit shall they not obteine Their will in all things. Of my gréefe remembrance shall remayne. (Adonis) whyle the world doth last. From yéere too yéere shall growe A thing that of my heauinesse and of thy death shall showe The liuely likenesse. In a flowre thy blood I will bestowe. Hadst thou the powre Persephonee rank sented Mints too make Of womens limbes? and may not I lyke powre vpon mée take Without disdeine and spyght, too turne Adonis too a flowre? This sed, shée sprinckled Nectar on the blood, which through the powre Therof did swell like bubbles shéere that ryse in weather cléere On water. And before that full an howre expyred wéere, Of all one colour with the blood a flowre she there did fynd Euen like the flowre of that same trée whose frute in tender rynde Haue pleasant graynes inclosd••. Howbéet the vse of them is short. For why the leaues doo hang so looce through lightnesse in such sort, As that the windes that all things perce, with euery little blast Doo shake them of and shed them so as that they cannot last.

Finis decimi Libri.