The heroycall epistles of the learned poet Publius Ouidius Naso, in English verse set out and translated by George Turberuile ... ; with Aulus Sabinus aunsweres to certaine of the same.

The Argument of the xv. Epistle, entituled Paris to Helen.

SYr Paris gone to Greece faire Helena to coy, In Lacedemon landes at length, receiued lyke a Roy At Menelaus house: the Host to Creta goes Atreus goodes but lately deade, in order to dispose. Whose absence gaue the guest occasion to bewraye His sute to Helen, whilst (goodman) hir husbande was awaye. He shewes his secret loue and what good will he beares, And to make breach into the Forte the subtile Souldier sweares. He bragges of stately stocke, be vauntes of Princely kinde: He telles of Dardan dames of Troie and more than was to finde. The Ladie to allure, his painted sheath he showde: And in this wise his Pecocks plumes the Troian spred abrode.

The .xv. Epistle. Paris to Helen.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Wherefore hath dreadlesse hope departing from this shore, And blissefull Gods, demaunde the giftes I thée behight before.