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The .xv. Epistle. Paris to Helen. (Book 15)
THis gréeting Paris sendes
to Ledas daughter deare:
Whose helthfull state doth whole depend
vpon thy friendly cheare.
What? shall I speake? or néedes
not this my flame be showne?
And more than I coulde wishe to be
is loue alreadie knowne?
More leffer shoulde it lurcke
(if I might haue my will)
Till Fortune framde, as feare ne dreade
my gladsome ioyes might spill.
But I to cloake by craft
my loue not knowe the wayes:
For who can hide the flanckring flame
that still it selfe betrayes?
But if thou looke that I
with worde confirme the déede:
Take this as proufe of hidden heart,
I frie with feruent gleede.
Let him that doth confesse
finde at thy hande such grace:
In reading friendly all the reast,
as fittes thy featurde face.
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Page 84
It made mée ioye to heare
my Letters were receyude:
Whereof that he shall fauour finde
thy Paris hath conceyude.
Which hope I wishe to be
of force, nor thou for nought
Of mée through ouerpassed seas
by Venus Hestes be sought.
For least thou witlesse ere,
I came vnto this place
By warning of the Gods, and no
small God doth ayde my case.
Great matters I demaunde,
but not vndue to mée:
For Venus did compounde that I
should fast be linckt with thée.
By hir conduct I from
Sigeian countrye came
In Phereclean Barck, and did
by seas my iourney frame.
Shée gaue me windes at will,
and weather safe to saile:
No maruell if she that was borne
of waues, on seas preuaile.
Let hir persist, and calme
the raging of my breast,
As earst she did the seas: and bring
my vowes to harbours reast.
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I brought with mée this fire
I founde not hers my flame:
Which was the cause that hither I
my voyage long did frame.
Not hither winters stormes
or errour mée did driue,
At Tenaris was aye my minde
and purpose to ariue.
Surmise not mée with wares
or marchaunts Mart to wende
Through fishfull flouds: the wealth I haue
immortall Gods defende.
Ne as a gaser I
to Graian Cities came:
For Troian towne (my natiue soyle)
the Greece would lightly shame.
But thou, whome Venus earst
vnto my bedde behight,
Didst cause me come, for whome I wisht
or ere I knewe the wight.
In minde I vewde thy face
before I sawe with eye:
And brute by stickring fame at first
thy beautie did descrie.
And maruell is it none
if I as one that was
Ystroke a farre with thirlings shafte,
in loue my time doe passe.
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Page 85
For so it pleasde thē Fates,
which least thou séeke to breake:
Lende eare to such vndoubted truthes
as I intende to speake.
When me within hir wombe
my mother did detaine:
And that the wearie poyse thereof
hir strowting corps did paine:
She séemde by Morpheus meanes
in dasled doubtfull dreame,
To haue as then bene brought a bedde
with flaming fierie streame.
Afright with feare she rose,
and what she sawe she tolde
The aged King, and he forthwith
consulted sages olde.
Who preaching did pronounce
that Ilion shoulde flame
With Paris fire, this ardent loue
I féele, it was the same.
My forme and forwarde heart
(though then I séemde but base)
Was proufe and token that I came
of Noble haughtie race.
A place there is in Ide
myd bushie laundes belowe,
Whereto no open way doth lye,
but Pire and Houlme doth growe:
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Where neyther simple shéepe,
nor Mountaine Goate did gnawe:
Nor lumpishe Oxe with flapping lyppes
had filde hys mownching mawe.
From thence the Dardane walles,
and buildings huge to sée:
And waltring waues of drenching seas,
I leande against a trée.
With trampling féete me thought
the soyle began to moue:
(Though I displaye but truth, yet thou
wilt scarce my tale approue.)
By force of flickring wings
was brought vnto the place
Cylenus, (Atlas Nephewe néere,)
and stoode tofore my face.
(As lawfull t'was to sée,
be léefull to recite)
And in his hande a golden rodde,
the God did holde vpright.
And Heauenly Ladies thrée,
dame Venus, Iuno and
The Princely Pallas, all at once
set footing on the sand.
I quooke for dread, my haire
stoode staring on my head:
When (set thy feare aside) to mée
the winged Herawide sed.
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Page 86
Thou art a Iudge of formes,
stint all this godly warre:
And tell which of these thrée by right
thy verdit doth prefarre.
And least I shoulde refuse,
from Ioue he gaue me charge:
And therewith flue with gate direct
into the Heauens large.
My strength began to growe,
and courage come anewe:
And then I drad not of the thrée
to take a perfite vewe.
All were surpassing wightes,
but yet I stoode in dred,
(Assigned Iudge) that erye one
might not alike be sped.
For one among the reast
surmounted other so:
As that it were the Nurce of loue
thy selfe wouldst lightly knowe.
Such carke they had to winne,
as eche one did intende,
By largesse, and their goodly giftes
my doubtfull doome to bende.
An Empire Iuno gaue,
dame Pallas vertues raigne:
I doubtfull stoode where powre or ver∣tue
were the best of twaine.
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When swéetely Venus sinilde,
let giftes not moue thy minde
(Quoth she) friend Paris: both repleate
with trouble thou shalt finde.
My onely boone shall be,
that thou shalt loue, and haue
The snowe white Ledas dearling deare
and daughter passing braue.
She saide, when iustly scande
both formes and profers weare:
The last with pricke and prayse began
to mount vp to hir spheare.
Meanewhile (as frowarde fates
to better fortune grewe)
By certaine signes for Priams childe
the Troians Paris knewe.
The sonne receyude, the house
long time was filde with ioie:
And that selfe day continues still
as halowde yet in Troie.
And as I long for thée,
so maydens looude me well:
Thou onely mayst their wishe atchiue,
and beare awaye the bell.
Not Princes heyres alone
or daintie dames imbrast:
But séemely Nymphes in ardent loue
with me were coupled fast.
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Page 87
But lothsome was their loue,
I wayde them all aléeke.
When I of Helen stoode in hope,
whome Venus willde me séeke.
I waking with mine eye
did sée thy face by daye:
And in my heart I vewde thy forme
when Phoebus fled awaye.
What wilt thou present doe,
that in thine absence so
Didst Paris please? I fryde though farre
the fierie flame were tho.
Ne longer this my hope
I coulde deferre at last,
But that my purpose to aspire
to Sea I went in hast.
With Phrygian Axe were cut
the Troian troes to grounde:
And timber what so for the seas
most fittest then was founde.
The haughtie hilles were spoylde
of great and woxen woods:
And Ida leant me many a trée,
with all their sturdie shrowds.
The Okes for warped Keales
and rudder were ysquarde:
And with his crouked clinching ribbes
the ship was well preparde.
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Wée added Maste and toppe,
and hanging sayles thereto:
And in the sides our painted Gods
were portred all aroe.
In shippe wherein I went
was with hir little boye
Dame Venus grauen, whose behest
was causer of my ioye.
When Nauie was addrest,
and readie was the charge:
To passe vpon Aegean seas
was giuen me in charge.
My parents by request
my voyage woulde haue stayde:
And that I would soiourne with them,
as earnest suters prayde.
My sister with hir lockes
(Cassandra) lolling downe:
(When shippes were ready to avale
from porte within a stowne)
Why? whither goste ({quod} she?)
thy freyghting shall be flame:
Thou little knowste what fyre thou feest,
that doste thys iourney frame.
I finde hir wordes a troth,
I féele the foresaide heate:
And raging loue in yéelding breast
as kindled cole doth freate.
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Page 88
With that I left the porte,
by meane of blissefull blast
And friendly gale: I did arriue
vpon thy coast at last.
Thy husbande tooke mee guest,
with whome I harbourde thoe:
And not without the Gods aduise
he practisde that I knowe.
Who made mée shewe of all
that goodly was to vewe
In Lacedemon, or else where
in stately Greece he knewe.
But nought might please my eye,
or hungrie fansie leeke:
Who for thy passing praysed shape
with longing heart did séeke.
Whome when I sawe, I musde,
mine inwarde parts I fealt
Surprisde with newe vnwoonted cares
in monstrous wise to mealt.
A face resembling thine
(of trouth I minde it well)
Had Venus, when to iudge of hues
to Paris lot it fell.
If thou hadst there bene prest,
contending for the game:
I doubt where Lady Venus shoulde
so lightly wonne the same.
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Reporte hath spread thy prayse,
and Fame hir trumpet blowne:
So that in euery countrie is
fayre Helens beautie knowne.
In Troian towne is none,
nor from the rifing Sunne
A famous Lasse, that for hir hue
a semblaunt prayse hath wonne.
And if thou darste beleue,
thy beautie doth surpasse:
And common rumor doth impayre
and bréedes thy beautie lasse.
Here finde I more than mée
the Goddesse had behight:
And all that glory by thy face
and forme is passed quight.
Not Theseus looude for nought,
that knewe so well thy shape:
That were of such a noble Duke
surmisde a séemely rape.
When by the Gréekishe guise
a naked Nymph didst sporte
With naked wightes, in place of playe
where Grecians did resorte.
I prayse him for his rape,
I muse he would forgoe
So good a pray: with valiant heart
it shoulde bene healde you knowe.
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Page 89
For from these shoulders first
should fall my scotched skull:
Ere thee out of my griping handes
a mortall wight shoulde pull.
Would ere these armes of mine
haue let thee so depart?
Or during life mightste thou at all
from Paris clummes astart?
If néedes I should forgone,
I would haue had a share,
Nor all in Idle should haue layne
the lustfull Venus ware.
Or I thy maydenhead woulde
and daintie flowre haue gainde:
Or that which might haue bene allowde;
if maydenhead were restrainde.
To Paris plye, and thou
his constant heart shalt trie:
Who vowes with thée in selfe same fire
and funerall flame to frie.
For I haue thée preferrde
before the regall Mace,
Which welthfull Iuno offred, when
I sate in Iudges place.
And to thée fine I might
with armes thy neck enfolde:
I scornde the vertue Pallas gaue,
more worth than glowing golde:
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That time when Ladies thrée
appearde in stately Ide,
By dexter iudgement there to haue
their doubtfull quarrell tride:
I sorrow not my choyce,
ne yet repent at all••:
My stable minde doth aye persist
as then it did, and shall.
This one request I make,
let not my hope be vaine,
(O famous dame) that well deseruste
pursute with endlesse paine.
No Raskall séekes to match
himselfe in Gentils blood:
Ne thou to be my wedded spouse
mayst thinke thy selfe too good.
The Pleyade mayst thou finde,
and Ioue with stately stile
To me alide, the middle Grand∣sires
though I shoulde concile.
In Asia raignes my Syre,
(a freshe and fruitefull soyle)
Which scarcely may enuironde be
with long and painefull toyle.
Of Cities many one,
and lodges shalt thou sée:
And Temples such as fit for Gods
thy selfe wilt déeme to bée.
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Great Walles with loftie towres
and Ilion shalt thou bewe:
Which stately buildings by the sounde
of Phoebus musicke grewe.
What of the hugie presse
of people should I tell?
The Countrie scarce containes the folke
that in the Cities dwell.
A troupe of Troian Dames,
and Matrones thée will méete:
The Phrygian Femes will stuffe eche Porch,
and euery other streete;
How often wilt thou saye
Achaia is but powre?
The wealth of Gréekish townes is founde
in euery little bowre,
Ne lawfull is for mee
thy Sparta to despise:
The place where thou were fostred, I
most blissefull doe surmise.
Yet Sparta is but spare,
more pompe thou dost deserue:
So meane a soyle for such a face
doth nothing fitly serue.
Such beautie larger coast
would well beséeme in déede:
And aye on new delights were méete
for such a face to féede.
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When thus thou vewe our men
attirde, and brauely dight:
What wilt thou iudge of Troian trulls,
and of their vesture bright?
Now shewe thy selfe a friende,
nor of a Phrygian scorne
Thou daintie dame, in Therapne∣an
countrie that were borne.
For he a Phrygian was
and come of Troian line:
That to the Gods their Nectar giues
commixt with water fine.
A Troian Tython too,
and yet she likte him well,
That with the golden dawning doth
the drowping night expell.
Anchifes was a Tro∣ian
borne, and bred they say,
With whome the Dame of Loue in Ide
in shrouding shaddowe lay.
Thy spouse with me comparde
(though thou thy selfe were iudge)
For yeares and séemely shape would be
a Rascall and a Snudge.
I will not giue to thee
a Fatherlawe, that by
His cursed fact did force the Sonne
his fearefull steades to wry.
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Ne Pelops was the Syre
of Priam, that with blood
Of Oenamus imbrude his handes,
and Mirtill drencht in flood.
Nor doth our Grandsire gape
for fruite in flattring lake
Of Styx: nor séekes for waues in Well,
his growing thirst to slake.
But what auaileth this
if one be linckt with thée
Of their discent? Ioue is enforst
this families head to bée.
Fye shamefull act, all night
that same vnworthy patch
With thée doth fléepe, and with his armes
thy sugred corps doth catch.
Thee scarcely I discrie
when table clothes are led:
And that selfe time with cark and care,
and sorrowe ynough is sped.
Vnto my mortall foes
such banquets fall I craue:
As when that Bacchus comes to broode
I sielie Paris haue.
I hate mine harboure sore,
when so the rustick layes
His armes vpon thy snowish necke,
and with mine Hostesse playes.
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I swell with wrath (but what
should I now all declare?)
When with his clothes displaide the Chuffe
thy husbande, hydes thy bare.
But when you gan to kisse
and coll eche other apace:
(For that I woulde not sée) the cuppe
I set before my face.
Looke when he thée imbraste,
to grounde mine eyes I threwe:
And in vnwilling mouth my meate,
and yrkesome prawnder grewe.
And grunting oft with griefe,
I sawe full well when thou
At those my woes in wanton wife
wouldst smile with laughing brow.
With wine oft times I would
that fuming flame supprest:
But dronkennesse was flame in fire
and thus my heate increast.
And sundrie sights to shunne,
away my head I tourne:
But thou estsoones wouldst make mine eyes
and fancie to retourne.
Thus doubtfull what to doe,
agriefe these things to sée:
But yet a greater griefe away
from such a face to hée.
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Page 92
As much as lay in mée
this rage I striue to hide:
Yet naythelesse dissembled loue
is quickly to be spide.
Ne art thou ought deceiude,
to thée my woundes be knowne:
And would to God that of my griefes
thou priuie were alone.
How oft when teares gan flush,
turnde I my head awrie?
Least he the cause of mournefull moode
should fortune to discrie?
How often with cup crasde
haue I some looue exprest?
And would vnto thy featurde face
eche worde and sentence wrest?
And of my selfe in close
and fayned name made showe:
Euen I am he that looude so well,
if thou the same not knowe.
And that I franckly might
vse wanton words at will:
I woulde make wise of Bacchus wares
as though I had my fill.
Thy breast (I well recorde)
(thy vesture being lose.)
Displayde vnto my staring eyes,
thy beautie did disclose.
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Thy breast than Mountaine snowe
or morning Milke more cleare,
Or Ioue that in the forine of Swanne
to Leda did appeare
Whilst at the sight I gazde
(I helde a Cuppe by happe)
And from my fist the Cuppe it fell
and in the floore did snappe.
When thou thy daughter kist,
I would, the kisse to winne,
Hermions chéekes and cherrie lippes
eftsoone to smack beginne.
Sometime laide bolte vpright
of former loue would sing:
And other sithes by beck would giue
a signe of secrete thing.
The chiefe of all thy Mates
I bourded but of late:
To Clymen, and to Aethra I
in humble wise did prate.
Who aunswerd nothing else
but that they stoode in dread:
And euen amid my earnest sute
away from me they flead.
Would thou were plaste as price
at some notorious watch,
That he who best in armes deserude,
thée for his Feere might catch.
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Then as Hippomenes wanne
Atlanta in the fielde,
To whome a flock of suters earst
in running race did yéelde:
As Hercules the hornes
of Achelous broke,
When Deianeiras loue to fight
the Champion did prouoke?
I would my valiaunt prowesse
in semblant sort haue showne:
And that thy beautie causde the same
to thée it should be knowne.
Now nought remaines, but euen
to sue to thee (faire Dame)
And groufe to fore thy feete to fall
if thou permit the fame.
O flowre, and present prayfe
of both thy brothers hyre:
O worthie wife for mightie Ioue
if Ioue were not thy Syre:
Or to Sigeian porte
with thée I will retire:
Or in exile at Tenaris:
my carcasse shall expire.
For why, no slender darte
hath clest my breast in twaine,
The mortall wounde hath broosde the bones,
and ransackt euery vaine.
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In this (I minde it well)
Cassandra spake aright:
Who saide in future time on m••
a heauenly shaft should light.
Wherefore, doe not despise
the loue allowde by fate:
So mayst thou haue the gastely Gods
thy friendes in néedefull state.
I haue a thousande things
which franckly to recite,
Receyue me to thy carelesse Couch
in fere and silent night.
What? dost thou shame, or stande
in such a bashfull dred,
For to defile with secrete scape
thy chaste and bridely bed?
Too simple sure thou art,
a rustick might I say?
Thinkst thou that so wel formde a face
from guilt may scape away?
Or thou must chaunge thy hue,
or not be hard at least:
Twixt beautie and an honest life
was neuer warre infeast.
For Ioue delightes in stealthes,
and Venus loues the same:
Ne Ioue had bene thy Syre vnlesse
had Leda likte the game.
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If griefes of loue haue force
scarce chaste thou mayst be thought:
Whome lustfull Ioue and Leda light
into this worlde brought.
Then leade an honest life,
when we in Troie shall be:
Let none be able to defame
fayre Helen, but by me.
Now let vs forge the fact
which mariage shall amende:
If Ladie Venus wordes be true
as tho she did pretende.
Thy husbande not in wordes
but déedes perswades thereto:
Who, for he would no hindrance be,
deuisde from Greece to go.
He had no fitter time
to ride from home but than:
O Lord it is a worlde to sée
the subtile craft of man.
Mine Host is gone, who saide
at parture: wife I will
Thou take in charge my Troian guest▪
thy husbands Hestes fulfill.
I sweare, thou dost neglect
thy absent Féeres request:
For why, thou hast no carke at all
to entertaine thy guest.
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What dost thou thinke in déede
that doltish sielie man,
The thewes of Helens passing forme
may iudge, or throughly scan?
In fayth thou art beguilde:
for if the good he owes
He knew, therewith he would not trust,
a guest he scarcely knowes.
Though neyther thée my voyce
nor friendship may procure
To yéelde me grace: conuenient time
may cause vs to play sure.
Or else we are but Doltes,
and more than he to blame:
If such occasion we permit
to flide deuoyde of game.
In maner with his hande
he gaue his guest to thée:
Sée thou doe vse such simplenesse
that hath such care of mee:
The long and lothsome night
thou lodgest all alone:
And I poore Paris to redresse
my haplesse harmes haue none.
Let intermedled ioyes
conioyne vs both yfeare:
And that selfe night shall séeme to vs
than brightest day more cleare.
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Page 95
Then will I make my vow,
appealing Gods to othe:
And by a sacred bande to thée
for pawne ingage my troth.
And then (vnlesse the trust
I in my selfe repose
Be vaine) I vnto thée estsoones
my Scepter will disclose.
But if thou shame, and dread
to condescend thereto:
I onely will sustaine the guilt
and thou exempt shalt go.
For why, thy brothers fact,
and Theseus will I take
As myrrours: nearer proufe than this
I know thou canst not make.
The Theseus earst, they two
Leucippids haue bereft:
And I as fourth example made
and mirrour shall be left.
My Nauie is at hande,
of men and armour store:
We shall to Troie flit in haste
by meane of winde and Ore.
Thou like a stately Quéene
through Dardan streates shalt ride:
The Commons will some Goddesse new
surmise to haue espide.
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What way soeuer thou goest,
the perfumes they shall sweate:
And slaughtred beastes the gorie grounde
with bloudie strokes shall beate.
My sisters with my dame,
my brothers with the King,
And all the Troian Matrons shall
their ample presents bring.
Oh, scarce one parcell I
of future things recite:
Thou shalt haue more than in these lines
my feeble penne can write.
Ne doe thou rapted stande
of dreadfull warre in awe:
Ne feare that grudging Greece hir force
to wreake this rape will drawe.
Though sundry were conuaide,
was neuer none pursude
With clattring armes: of troth this dread
vs causelesse doth delude.
In Boreas name the men
of Thrace Orithia stole:
Yet Byston had no hatefull warres,
nor enmies to controle.
In nouell Barcke was brought
by Iason through the Seas
Medea: Colchos kept no coyle
ne Thessale did disease.
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And he that stale the first
reft Minos dearling deare:
And yet his men of Creta did
not once in armour steare.
The feare in these affaires
the daunger doth excell:
But afterwarde of feare we shame
when euery thing is well.
Put case, that warre were wagde?
(if so thou list to thincke)
What, I haue men, and armour eake
yea such as will not shrincke.
And Asia is no lesse,
than is your countrie wide:
Of valiant wightes we haue good store,
and startling steades to ride.
Nor Menelaus shall
of greater courage bée
Than Troian Paris, nor in armes
more stiffe and stoute than hée.
For being yet a childe
I slue my haughtie foes
That stale my heirde: and of that fact
my valiant name arose.
And being but a Ladde
in sundry combats wanne
The palme from Illioneus, and eake
Deiphobus the man.
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And least thou sole surmise
mée to preuaile at hande:
I can enforce my thirled shaft
full neare the marke to stande.
The like attempt in youth
Atrides neuer made:
Ne Menelaus mayst thou match
with Paris for his trade.
Though all things else thou graunt,
yet Hector can not bée
His brother, which will stande in steade
of thousande men to mée.
Thou little knowste my powre,
my force from thée is lockt:
Thou canst not tell what man is he
with whome thou shalt be shockt.
Or with no tumult thou
shalt be requirde againe:
Or Greekish tentes to Paris Marte
to yéelde they shall be faine.
Yet néede I not disdaine
to warre for such a wife:
For why, the price doth well deserue
to stirre a greater strife.
And thou, if all the worlde
for thee shoulde séeme to striue:
Shalt stande assurde in after time
for aye to be aliue.
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Wherefore hath dreadlesse hope
departing from this shore,
And blissefull Gods, demaunde the giftes
I thée behight before.