Yet would not stout Alcithoë Duke Mineus daughter bow
The Orgies of this newfound God in conscience to allow
But still she stiffly doth denie that Bacchus is the sonne
Of Ioue: and in this heresie hir sisters with hir runne.
The Priest had bidden holiday, and that as well the Maide
As Mistresse (for the time aside all other businesse layde)
In Buckskin cotes, with tresses loose, and garlondes on their heare,
Should in their hands the leauie speares (surnamed Thyrsis) beare.
Foretelling them that if they did the Goddes commaundement breake,
He would with sore and grieuous plagues his wrath vpon them wreake.
The women straight both yong and olde doe therevnto obay.
Their yarne, their baskets, and their flax vnsponne aside they lay,
And burne to Bacchus frankinsence. Whome solemly they call
By all the names and titles high that may to him befall.
As Bromius, and Lyeus eke, begotten of the flame,
Twice borne, the sole and only childe that of two mothers came.
Unshorne Thyoney, Niseus, Leneus, and the setter
Of Uines, whose pleasant liquor makes all tables fare the better.
Nyctileus and th' Elelean Sire, Iacchus, Euan eke,
With diuers other glorious names that through the land of Greke
To thee O Liber wonted are to attributed bee.
Thy youthfull yeares can neuer wast: there dwelleth ay in thee
A childhod tender, fresh and faire: In Heauen we doe thee see
Surmounting euery other thing in beautie and in grace
And when thou standste without thy hornes thou hast a Maidens face.
To thee obeyeth all the East as far as Ganges goes,
Which doth the scorched land of Inde with tawnie folke enclose.
Lycurgus with his twibill sharpe, and Penthey who of pride
Thy Godhead and thy mightie power rebelliously denide,
Thou right redowted didst confounde: Thou into Sea didst send
The Tyrrhene shipmen. Thou with bittes the sturdy neckes doste bend
Of spotted Lynxes: Throngs of Frowes and Satyres on thee tend,
And that olde Hag that with a staffe his staggering limmes doth stay
Scarce able on his Asse to sit for reeling euery way.
Thou commest not in any place but that is hearde the noyse
Of gagling womens tatling tongues and showting out of boyes.
With sound of Timbrels, Tabors, Pipes, and Brazen pannes and pots
Confusedly among the rout that in thine Orgies trots.
The Thebane women for thy grace and fauour humbly sue,
And (as the Priest did bid) frequent thy rites with reuerence due.
Alonly Mineus daughters bent of wilfulnesse, with working
Quite out of time to breake the feast, are in their houses lurking:
And there doe fall to spinning yarne, or weauing in the frame,
And kepe their maidens to their worke. Of which one pleasant dame
As she with nimble hand did draw hir slender threede and fine,
Said: whyle that others idelly doe serue the God of wine,
Let vs that serue a better Sainct Minerua, finde some talke
To ease our labor while our handes about our profite walke.
And for to make the time seeme shorte, let eche of vs recite,
(As euery bodies turne shall come) some tale that may delight.
Hir saying likte the rest so well that all consent therein,
And therevpon they pray that first the eldest would begin.
She had such store and choyce of tales she wist not which to tell.
She doubted if she might declare the fortune that befell
To Dircetes of Babilon whome now with scaly hide
In altred shape the Philistine beleueth to abide
In watrie Pooles: or rather how hir daughter taking wings
In shape of Doue on toppes of towres in age now sadly sings:
Or how a certaine water Nymph by witchcraft and by charmes
Conuerted into fishes dumbe, of yongmen many swarmes,
Untill that of the selfe same sauce hir selfe did tast at last:
Or how the tree that vsde to beare fruite white in ages past,
Doth now beare fruite in maner blacke, by sprincling vp of blood.
This tale (bicause it was not stale nor common) seemed good
To hir to tell: and therevpon she in this wise begun
Hir vnsie hand still drawing out the flaxen threede she spun.
Within the towne (of whose huge walles so monstrous high & thicke
The fame is giuen Semyramis for making them of bricke)
Dwelt hard together two yong folke in houses ioynde so nere
That vnder all one roofe well nie both twaine conueyed were.
The name of him was Pyramus, and Thisbe calde was she.
So faire a man in all the East was none aliue as he,
Nor nere a woman maide nor wife in beautie like to hir.
This neighbrod bred acquaintance first, this neyghbrod first did stirre
The secret sparkes, this neighbrod first an entrance in did showe,
For loue to come to that to which it afterward did growe.
And if that right had taken place they had bene man and wife,
But still their Parents went about to let which (for their life)
They could not let. For both their heartes with equall flame did burne.
No man was priuie to their thoughts. And for to serue their turne
In steade of talke they vsed signes. the closelier they supprest
The fire of loue, the fiercer still it raged in their brest.
The wall that parted house from house had riuen therein a crany
Which shronke at making of the wall. this fault not markt of any
Of many hundred yeares before (what doth not loue espie.)
These louers first of all found out, and made a way whereby
To talke togither secretly, and through the same did goe
Their louing whisprings verie light and safely to and fro.
Now as at one side Pyramus and Thisbe on the tother
Stoode often drawing one of them the pleasant breath from other
O thou enuious wall (they sayd) why letst thou louers thus?
What matter were it if that thou permitted both of vs
In armes eche other to embrace? Or if thou thinke that this
Were ouermuch, yet mightest thou at least make roume to kisse.
And yet thou shalt not finde vs churles: we thinke our selues in det
For this same piece of courtesie, in vouching safe to let
Our sayings to our friendly eares thus freely come and goe,
Thus hauing where they stoode in vaine complayned of their woe,
When night drew nere, they bade adew and eche gaue kisses sweete
Unto the parget on their side, the which did neuer meete.
Next morning with hir cherefull light had driuen the starres aside
And Phebus with his burning beames the dewie grasse had dride.
These louers at their wonted place by foreappointment met.
Where after much complaint and mone they couenanted to get
Away from such as watched them, and in the Euening late
To steale out of their fathers house and eke the Citie gate.
And to thentent that in the fieldes they strayde not vp and downe
They did agree at Ninus Tumb to meete without the towne,
And tarie vnderneath a tree that by the same did grow
Which was a faire high Mulberie with fruite as white as snow,
Hard by a coole and trickling spring. This bargaine pleasde them both
And so daylight (which to their thought away but slowly goth)
Did in the Ocean fall to rest, and night from thence doth rise.
Assoone as darkenesse once was come, straight Thisbe did deuise
A shift to wind hir out of doores, that none that were within
Perceyued hir: And muffling hir with clothes about hir chin,
That no man might discerne hir face, to Ninus Tumb she came
Unto the tree, and sat hir downe there vnderneath the same.
Loue made hir bold. But see the chauce, there comes besmerde with blood,
About the chappes a Lionesse all foming from the wood
From slaughter lately made of Kine to staunch hir bloudie thurst
With water of the foresaid spring. Whome Thisbe spying furst
A farre by moonelight, therevpon with fearfull steppes gan flie,
And in a darke and yrkesome caue did hide hirselfe thereby.
And as she fled away for hast she let hir mantle fall
The whych for feare she left behind not looking backe at all.
Now when the cruell Lionesse hir thurst had stanched well,
In going to the Wood she found the slender weede that fell
From Thisbe, which with bloudie teeth in pieces she did teare
The night was somewhat further spent ere Pyramus came there
Who seeing in the suttle sande the print of Lions paw,
Waxt pale for feare. But when also the bloudie cloke he saw
All rent and torne, one night (he sayd) shall louers two confounde,
Of which long life deserued she of all that liue on ground.
My soule deserues of this mischaunce the perill for to beare.
I wretch haue bene the death of thee, which to this place of feare
Did cause thee in the night to come, and came not here before.
My wicked limmes and wretched guttes with cruell teeth therfore
Deuour ye O ye Lions all that in this rocke doe dwell.
But Cowardes vse to wish for death. The slender weede that fell
From Thisbe vp he takes, and streight doth beare it to the tree,
Which was appointed erst the place of meeting for to bee.
And when he had bewept and kist the garment which he knew,
Receyue thou my bloud too (quoth he.) and therewithall he drew
His sworde, the which among his guttes he thrust, and by and by
Did draw it from the bleeding wound beginning for to die,
And cast himselfe vpon his backe, the bloud did spin on hie
As when a Conduite pipe is crackt, the water bursting out
Doth shote it selfe a great way off and pierce the Ayre about.
The leaues that were vpon the tree besprincled with his blood
Were died blacke. The roote also bestained as it stoode,
A deepe darke purple colour straight vpon the Berries cast.
Anon scarce ridded of hir feare with which she was agast,
For doubt of disapointing him commes Thisbe forth in hast,
And for hir louer lookes about, reioycing for to tell
How hardly she had scapt that night the daunger that befell.
And as she knew right well the place and facion of the tree
(As whych she saw so late before): euen so when she did see
The colour of the Berries turnde, she was vncertaine whither
It were the tree at which they both agreed to meete togither.
While in this doubtfull stounde she stoode, she cast hir eye aside
And there beweltred in his bloud hir louer she espide
Lie sprawling with his dying limmes: at which she started backe,
And looked pale as any Box, a shuddring through hir stracke,
Euen like the Sea which sodenly with whissing noyse doth moue,
When with a little blast of winde it is but toucht aboue.
But when approching nearer him she knew it was hir loue.
She beate hir brest, she shricked out, she tare hir golden heares,
And taking him betweene hir armes did wash his wounds with teares,
She meynt hir weeping with his bloud, and kissing all his face
(Which now became as colde as yse) she cride in wofull case
Alas what chaunce my Pyramus hath parted thee and mee?
Make aunswere O my Pyramus: It is thy Thisb, euen shee
Whome thou doste loue most heartely that speaketh vnto thee.
Giue eare and rayse thy heauie heade. He hearing Thisbes name,
Lift vp his dying eyes and hauing seene hir closde the same.
But when she knew hir mantle there and saw his scabberd lie
Without the swoorde: Unhappy man thy loue hath made thee die:
Thy loue (she said) hath made thee slea thy selfe. This hand of mine
Is strong inough to doe the like. My loue no lesse than thine
Shall giue me force to worke my wound. I will pursue the dead.
And wretched woman as I am, it shall of me be sed
That like as of thy death I was the only cause and blame,
So am I thy companion eke and partner in the same,
For death which only coulde alas a sunder part vs twaine,
Shall neuer so disseuer vs but we will meete againe.
And you the Parentes of vs both, most wretched folke alyue,
Let this request that I shall make in both our names byliue
Entreate you to permit that we whome chaste and stedfast loue
And whome euen death hath ioynde in one, may as it doth behoue
In one graue be together layd. And thou vnhappie tree
Which shroudest now the corse of one, and shalt anon through mee
Shroude two, of this same slaughter holde the sicker signes for ay
Blacke be the colour of thy fruite and mourning like alway,
Such as the murder of vs twaine may euermore bewray.
This said, she tooke the sword yet warme with slaughter of hir loue
And setting it beneath hir brest, did to hir heart it shoue.
Hir prayer with the Gods and with their Parentes tooke effect,
For when the frute is throughly ripe, the Berrie is bespect
With colour tending to a blacke. And that which after fire
Remained, rested in one Tumbe as Thisbe did desire.
This tale thus tolde a little space of pawsing was betwist,
And then began Leucothoë thus, hir sisters being whist.
This Sunne that with his streaming light al worldly things doth cheare
Was tane in loue. of Phebus loues now list and you shall heare.
It is reported that this God did first of all espie,
(For euerie thing in Heauen and Earth is open to his eie)
How Venus with the warlike Mars aduoutrie did commit.
It grieued him to see the fact and so discouered it,
He shewed hir husband Iunos sonne th' aduoutrie and the place
In which this priuie scape was done. Who was in such a case
That heart and hand and all did faile in working for a space.
Anon he featly forgde a net of Wire so fine and slight,
That neyther knot nor nooze therein apparant was to sight.
This piece of worke was much more fine than any handwarpe oofe
Or that whereby the Spider hanges in sliding from the roofe.
And furthermore the suttlenesse and slight thereof was such.
It followed euery little pull and closde with euery touch,
And so he set it handsomly about the haunted couch.
Now when that Venus and hir mate were met in bed togither
Hir husband by his newfound snare before conuayed thither
Did snarle them both togither fast in middes of all theyr play
And setting ope the Iuorie doores, callde all the Gods streight way,
To see them: they with shame inough fast lockt togither lay,
A certaine God among the rest disposed for to sport
Did wish that he himselfe also were shamed in that sort.
The resdue laught and so in heauen there was no talke a while,
But of this Pageant how the Smith the louers did beguile.
Dame Venus highly stomacking this great displeasure, thought
To be reuenged on the part by whome the spight was wrought.
And like as he hir secret loues and meetings had bewrayd.
So she with wound of raging loue his guerdon to him payd.
What now auayles (Hyperions sonne) thy forme and beautie bright?
What now auayle thy glistring eyes with cleare and piercing sight?
For thou that with thy gleames art wont all countries for to burne,
Art burnt thy selfe with other gleames that serue not for thy turne.
And thou that oughtst thy cherefull looke on all things for to show
Alonly on Leucothoë doste now the same bestow.
Thou fastnest on that Maide alone the eyes that thou doste owe
To all the worlde. Sometime more rathe thou risest in the East,
Sometime againe thou makste it late before thou fall to reast.
And for desire to looke on hir, thou often doste prolong
Our winter nightes. And in thy light thou faylest eke among.
The fancie of thy faultie minde infectes thy feeble sight,
And so thou makste mens hearts afrayde by daunting of thy light,
Thou looxte not pale bycause the globe of Phebe is betweene
The Earth and thee: but loue doth cause this colour to be seene.
Thou louest this Leucothoë so far aboue all other,
That neyther now for Clymené, for Rhodos, nor the mother
Of Circé, nor for Clytië (who at that present tyde
Reiected from thy companie did for thy loue abide
Most grieuous torments in hir heart: thou seemest for to care.
Thou mindest hir so much that all the rest forgotten are.
Hir mother was Eurynome of all the fragrant clime
Of Arabie esteemde the flowre of beautie in hir time.
But when hir daughter came to age the daughter past the mother
As far in beautie, as before the mother past all other.
Hir father was king Orchamus and rulde the publike weale
Of Persey, counted by descent the .vij. from auncient Bele.
Far vnderneath the Westerne clyme of Hesperus doe runne
The pastures of the firie steedes that draw the golden Sunne.
There are they fed with Ambrosie in stead of grasse all night
Which doth refresh their werie limmes and keepeth them in plight
To beare their dailie labor out: now while the steedes there take
Their heauenly foode and night by turne his timely course doth make,
The God disguised in the shape of Queene Eurynome
Doth prease within the chamber doore of faire Leucothoë
His louer, whome amid .xij. Maides he found by candlelight
Yet spinning on hir little Rocke, and went me to hir right.
And kissing hir as mothers vse to kisse their daughters deare,
Saide Maydes withdraw your selues a while and sit not listning here.
I haue a secret thing to talke. The Maides auoyde eche one.
The God then being with his loue in chamber all alone,
Said: I am he that metes the yeare, that all things doe beholde,
By whome the Earth doth all things see, the Eye of all the worlde.
Trust me I am in loue with thee. The Ladie was so nipt
With sodaine feare that from hir hands both rocke and spindle slipt
Hir feare became hir wondrous well. he made no mo delayes,
But turned to his proper shape and tooke hys glistring rayes.
The damsell being sore abasht at this so straunge a sight,
And ouercome with sodaine feare to see the God so bright,
Did make no outcrie nor no noyse, but helde hir pacience still,
And suffred him by forced powre his pleasure to fulfill.
Hereat did Clytie sore repine. For she beyond all measure
Was then enamoured of the Sunne: & stung with this displeasure
That he another Leman had, for verie spight and yre
She playes the blab, and doth defame Leucothoë to hir Syre.
He cruell and vnmercifull would no excuse accept,
But holding vp hir handes to heauen when tenderly she wept,
And said it was the Sunne that did the deede against hir will:
Yet like a sauage beast full bent his daughter for to spill,
He put hir deepe in delued ground, and on hir bodie laide
A huge great heape of heauie sand. The Sunne full yll appaide
Did with his beames disperse the sand and made an open way
To bring thy buried face to light, but such a weight there lay
Upon thee, that thou couldst not raise thine hand aloft againe,
And so a corse both voide of bloud and life thou didst remaine.
There neuer chaunst since Phaetons fire a thing that grieude so sore
The ruler of the winged steedes as this did. And therfore
He did attempt if by the force and vertue of his ray
He might againe to liuely heate hir frozen limmes conuay.
But forasmuch as destenie so great attempts denies,
He sprincles both the corse it selfe and place wherein it lyes
With fragrant Nectar. And therewith bewayling much his chaunce
Sayd: yet aboue the starrie skie thou shalt thy selfe aduaunce.
Anon the body in this heauenly liquor steeped well
Did melt, and moisted all the earth with sweete and pleasant smell.
And by and by first taking roote among the cloddes within
By little and by little did with growing top begin
A pretie spirke of Frankinsence aboue the Tumbe to win.
Although that Clytie might excuse hir sorrow by hir loue
And seeme that so to play the blab hir sorrow did hir moue,
Yet would the Author of the light resort to hir no more
But did withholde the pleasant sportes of Venus vsde before.
The Nymph not able of hir selfe the franticke fume to stay.
With restlesse care and pensiuenesse did pine hir selfe away.
Bareheaded on the bare cold ground with flaring haire vnkempt
She sate abrode both night and day: and clearly did exempt
Hirselfe by space of thrise three dayes from sustnance and repast
Saue only dewe and saue hir teares with which she brake hir fast.
And in that while she neuer rose but stared on the Sunne
And euer turnde hir face to his as he his corse did runne.
Hir limmes stacke fast within the ground, and all hir vpper part
Did to a pale ashcolourd herbe cleane voyde of bloud conuart.
The floure whereof part red part white beshadowed with a blew
Most like a Uiolet in the shape hir countnance ouergrew.
And now (though fastned with a roote) she turnes hir to the Sunne
And keepes (in shape of herbe) the loue with which she first begunne.
She made an ende: and at hir tale all wondred: some denide
Hir saying to be possible: and other some replide
That such as are in deede true Gods may all things worke at will:
But Bacchus is not any such. Thys arguing once made still.
To tell hir tale as others had Alcithoes turne was come.
Who with hir shettle shooting through hir web within the Loome,
Said: Of the shepeheird Daplynis loue of Ida whom erewhile
A iealouse Nymph (bicause he did with Lemans hir beguile)
For anger turned to a stone (such furie loue doth sende
I will not speake: it is to knowe: ne yet I doe entende
To tell how Scython variably digressing from his kinde,
Was sometime woman, sometime man, as liked best his minde.
And Celmus also wyll I passe, who for bicause he cloong
Most faithfully to Iupiter when Iupiter was yoong,
Is now become an Adamant. So will I passe this howre
To shew you how the Curets were engendred of a showre:
Or how that Crocus and his loue faire Smylar turned were
To little flowres. with pleasant newes your mindes now will I chere.
Learne why the fountaine Salmacis diffamed is of yore,
Why with his waters ouerstrong it weakeneth men so sore
That whoso bathes him there commes thence a perfect man no more.
The operation of this Well is knowne to euery wight.
But few can tell the cause thereof, the which I will recite.
The waternymphes did nurce a sonne of Mercuries in Ide
Begot on Venus, in whose face such beautie did abide,
As well therein his father both and mother might be knowne,
Of whome he also tooke his name. Assoone as he was growne
To fiftene yeares of age, he left the Countrie where he dwelt
And Ida that had fostered him. The pleasure that he felt
To trauell Countries, and to see straunge riuers with the state
Of forren landes, all painfulnesse of trauell did abate.
He trauelde through the lande of Lycie to Carie that doth bound
Next vnto Lycia. There he saw a Poole which to the ground
Was Christall cleare. No fennie sedge, no barren reeke, no reede
Nor rush with pricking poynt was there, nor other moorish weede.
The water was so pure and shere a man might well haue seene
And numbred all the grauell stones that in the bottome beene.
The vtmost borders from the brim enuirond were with clowres
Beclad with herbes ay fresh and greene and pleasant smelling flowres.
A Nymph did haunt this goodly Poole: but such a Nymph as neyther
To hunt, to run, nor yet to shoote, had any kinde of pleasure.
Of all the Waterfairies she alonly was vnknowne
To swift Diana. As the brute of fame abrode hath blowne,
Hir sisters oftentimes would say: take lightsome Dart or bow,
And in some painefull exercise thine ydle time bestow.
But neuer could they hir persuade to runne to shoote or hunt,
Or any other exercise as Phebes knightes are wont.
Sometime hir faire welformed limbes she batheth in hir spring:
Sometime she downe hir golden haire with Boxen combe doth bring.
And at the water as a glasse she taketh counsell ay
How euery thing becommeth hir. Erewhile in fine aray
On soft sweete hearbes or soft greene leaues hir selfe she nicely layes:
Erewhile againe a gathering flowres from place to place she strayes.
And (as it chaunst) the selfe same time she was a sorting gayes.
To make a Poisie, when she first the yongman did espie,
And in beholding him desirde to haue his companie.
But though she thought she stoode on thornes vntill she went to him:
Yet went she not before she had bedect hir neat and trim,
And pride and peerd vpon hir clothes that nothing sat awrie.
And framde hir countnance as might seeme most amrous to the eie.
Which done she thus begon: O childe most worthie for to bee
Estemde and taken for a God, if (as thou seemste to mee)
Thou be a God, to Cupids name thy beautie doth agree.
Or if thou be a mortall wight, right happie folke are they,
By whome thou camste into this worlde, right happy is (I say)
Thy mother and thy sister too (if any bee good hap
That woman had that was thy Nurce and gaue thy mouth hir pap.
But farre aboue all other, far more blist than these is shee
Whome thou vouchsafest for thy wife and bedfellow for to bee.
Now if thou haue alredy one, let me by stelth obtaine
That which shall pleasure both of vs. Or if thou doe remaine
A Maiden free from wedlocke bonde, let me then be thy spouse,
And let vs in the bridelie bed our selues togither rouse.
This sed, the Nymph did hold hir peace, and therewithall the boy
Waxt red: he wist not what loue was: and sure it was a ioy
To see it how exceeding well his blushing him became.
For in his face the colour fresh appeared like the same
That is in Apples which doe hang vpon the Sunnie side:
Or Iuorie shadowed with a red: or such as is espide
Of white and scarlet colours mixt appearing in the Moone
When folke in vaine with sounding brasse would ease vnto hir done.
When at the last the Nymph desirde most instantly but this;
As to his sister brotherly to giue hir there a kisse.
And therewithall was clasping him about the Iuorie necke:
Leaue of (quoth he) or I am gone and leaue thee at a becke
With all thy trickes. Then Salmacis began to be afraide,
And to your pleasure leaue I free this place my friend she sayde.
Wyth that she turnes hir backe as though she would haue gone hir way:
But euermore she looketh backe, and (closely as she may)
She hides hir in a bushie queach, where kneeling on hir knee
She alwayes hath hir eye on him. He as a childe and free,
And thinking not that any wight had watched what he did
Romes vp and downe the pleasant Mede: and by and by amid
The flattring waues he dippes his feete, no more but first the sole
And to the ancles afterward both feete he plungeth whole.
And for to make the matter short, he tooke so great delight
In coolenesse of the pleasant spring, that streight he stripped quight
His garments from his tender skin. When Salmacis behilde
His naked beautie, such strong pangs so ardently hir hilde,
That vtterly she was astraught. And euen as Phebus beames
Against a myrrour pure and clere rebound with broken gleames:
Euen so hir eys did sparcle fire. Scarce could she tarience make:
Scarce could she any time delay hir pleasure for to take:
She wolde haue run, and in hir armes embraced him streight way:
She was so far beside hir selfe, that scarsly could she stay.
He clapping with his hollow hands against his naked sides,
Into the water lithe and baine with armes displayde glydes.
And rowing with his hands and legges swimmes in the water cleare:
Through which his bodie faire and white doth glistringly appeare,
As if a man an Iuorie Image or a Lillie white
Should ouerlay or close with glasse that were most pure and bright.
The price is won (cride Salmacis aloud) he is mine owne.
And therewithall in all post hast she hauing lightly throwne
Hir garments off, flew to the Poole and cast hir thereinto
And caught him fast betweene hir armes, for ought that he could doe:
Yea maugre all his wrestling and his struggling to and fro,
She held him still, and kissed him a hundred times and mo.
And willde he nillde he with hir handes she toucht his naked brest:
And now on this side now on that (for all he did resist
And striue to wrest him from hir gripes) she clung vnto him fast:
And wound about him like a Snake which snatched vp in hast,
And being by the Prince of Birdes borne lightly vp aloft,
Doth writhe hir selfe about his necke and griping talants oft:
And cast hir taile about his wings displayed in the winde:
Or like as Iuie runnes on trees about the vtter rinde:
Or as the Crabfish hauing caught his enmy in the Seas,
Doth claspe him in on euery side with all his crooked cleas.
But Atlas Nephew still persistes, and vtterly denies
The Nymph to haue hir hoped sport: she vrges him likewise.
And pressing him with all hir weight, fast cleauing to him still,
Striue, struggle, wrest and writhe (she said) thou froward boy thy fill:
Doe what thou canst thou shalt not scape. Ye Goddes of Heauen agree
That this same wilfull boy and I may neuer parted bee.
The Gods were pliant to hir boone. The bodies of them twaine
Were mixt and ioyned both in one. To both them did remaine
One countnance: like as if a man should in one barke beholde
Two twigges both growing into one and still togither holde.
Euen so when through hir hugging and hir grasping of the tother
The members of them mingled were and fastned both togither,
They were not any lenger two: but (as it were) a toy
Of double shape. Ye could not say it was a perfect boy,
Nor perfect wench: it seemed both and none of both to beene
Now when Hermaphroditus saw how in the water sheene
To which he entred in a man, his limmes were weakened so
That out fro thence but halfe a man he was compelde to go.
He lifteth vp his hands and said (but not with manly reere)
O noble father Mercurie, and Venus mother deere.
This one petition graunt your son which both your names doth beare,
That whoso commes within this Well may so be weakened there,
That of a man but halfe a man he may fro thence retire.
Both Parentes moued with the chaunce did stablish this desire
The which their doubleshaped sonne had made: and therevpon
Infected with an vnknowne strength the sacred spring anon.
Their tales did ende and Mineus daughters still their businesse plie
In spight of Bacchus whose high feast they breake contemptuously.
When on the sodaine (seeing nought) they heard about them round
Of tubbish Timbrels perfectly a hoarse and iarring sound.
With shraming shalmes and gingling belles. and furthermore they felt
A cent of Saffron and of Myrrhe that verie hotly smelt.
And (which a man would ill beleue) the web they had begun
Immediatly waxt fresh and greene, the flaxe the which they spun
Did flourish full of Iuie leaues. And part thereof did run
Abrode in Uines. The threede it selfe in braunches forth did spring.
Yong burgeous full of clustred grapes their Distaues forth did bring.
And as the web they wrought was dide a deepe darke purple hew,
Euen so vpon the painted grapes the selfe same colour grew.
The day was spent, and now was come the time which neyther night
Nor day, but euen the bound of both a man may terme of right.
The house at sodaine seemde to shake, and all about it shine
With burning lampes, and glittering fires to flash before their eyen.
And likenesses of ougly beastes with gastfull noyses yeld.
For feare whereof in smokie holes the sisters were compeld
To hide their heades, one here and there another, for to shun
The glistring light. And while they thus in corners blindly run,
Upon their little pretie limmes a fine crispe filme there goes,
And slender finnes in stead of handes their shortned armes enclose.
But how they lost their former shape of certaintie to know
The darknesse would not suffer them. No feathers on them grow,
And yet with shere and velume wings they houer from the ground
And when they goe about to speake they make but little sound,
According as their bodies giue, bewayling their despight
By chirping shirlly to themselues. In houses they delight
And not in woods: detesting day they flitter towards night:
Wherethrough they of the Euening late in Latin take their name,
And we in English language Backes or Reermice call the same.
Then Bacchus name was reuerenced through all the Theban coast.
And Ino of hir Nephewes powre made euery where great boast.
Of Cadmus daughters she alone no sorowes tasted had,
Saue only that hir sisters haps perchaunce had made hir sad.
Now Iuno noting how she waxt both proud and full of scorne,
As well by reason of the sonnes and daughters she had borne,
As also that she was aduaunst by mariage in that towne
To Athamas King Aeolus sonne a Prince of great renowne,
But chiefly that hir sisters sonne who nourced was by hir
Was then exalted for a God: began thereat to stir,
And freating at it in hirselfe said: coulde this harlots burd
Transforme the Lydian watermen, and drowne thee in the foord?
And make the mother teare the guttes in pieces of hir sonne?
And Mineus al three daughters clad with wings, bicause they sponne
Whiles others howling vp and down like frantick folke did ronne?
And can I Iuno nothing else saue sundrie woes bewaile?
Is that sufficient? can my powre no more than so auaile?
He teaches me what way to worke. A man may take (I see)
Example at his enmies hand the wiser for to bee.
He shewes inough and ouermuch the force of furious wrath
By Pentheys death: why should not Ine be taught to tread the path
The which hir sisters heretofore and kinred troden hath?
There is a steepe and irksome way obscure with shadow fell
Of balefull yewgh, all sad and still, that leadeth downe to hell.
The foggie Styx doth breath vp mistes: and downe this way doe waue
The ghostes of persons lately dead and buried in the graue.
Continuall colde and gastly feare possesse this queachie plot
On eyther side: the siely Ghost new parted knoweth not
The way that doth directly leade him to the Stygian Citie
Or where blacke Pluto keepes his Court that neuer sheweth pitie.
A thousand wayes, a thousand gates that alwayes open stand,
This Citie hath: and as the Sea the streames of all the lande
Doth swallow in his gredie gulfe, and yet is neuer full:
Euen so that place deuoureth still and hideth in his gull
The soules and ghostes of all the world: and though that nere so many
Come thither, yet the place is voyd as if there were not any.
The ghostes without flesh, bloud, or bones, there wander to and fro.
Of which some haunt the iudgement place: and other come and go
To Plutos Court: and some frequent the former trades and Artes
The which they vsed in their life: and some abide the smartes
And torments for their wickednesse and other yll desartes.
So cruell hate and spightfull wrath did boyle in Iunos brest,
That in the high and noble Court of Heauen she coulde not rest:
But that she needes must hither come: whose feete no sooner toucht
The thresholde, but it gan to quake. And Cerberus erst coucht
Start sternely vp with three fell heades which barked all togither.
She callde the daughters of the night the cruell furies thither:
They sate a kembing foule blacke Snakes from of their filthie heare
Before the dungeon doore, the place where Caitiues punisht were,
The which was made of Adamant. when in the darke in part
They knew Queene Iuno, by and by vpon their feete they start.
There Titius stretched out (at least) nine acres full in length,
Did with with his bowels feede a Grype that tare them out by strength.
The water fled from Tantalus that toucht his neather lip,
And Apples hanging ouer him did euer from him slip.
There also labored Sisyphus that draue against the hill
A rolling stone that from the top came tumbling downeward still.
Ixion on his restlesse wheele to which his limmes were bound
Did flie and follow both at once in turning euer round.
And Danaus daughters forbicause they did their cousins kill,
Drew water into running tubbes which euermore did spill.
When Iuno with a louring looke had vewde them all throughout,
And on Ixion specially before the other rout,
She turnes from him to Sisyphus, and with an angry cheere
Sayes: wherefore should this man endure continuall penance here?
And Athamas his brother reigne in welth and pleasure free?
Who through his pride hath ay disdainde my husband Ioue and mee.
And therewithall she poured out th' occasion of hir hate,
And why she came and what she would. She would that Cadmus state
Should with the ruine of his house be brought to swyft decay.
And that to mischiefe Athamas the Fiendes should force some way,
She biddes, she prayes, she promises, and all is with a breth.
And moues the furies earnestly: and as these things she seth,
The hatefull Hag Tisiphone with horie ruffled heare,
Remouing from hir face the Snakes that loosely dangled there,
Sayd thus: Madame there is no neede long circumstance to make.
Suppose your will already done. This lothsome place forsake,
And to the holsome Ayre of heauen your selfe agayne retire.
Queene Iuno went right glad away with graunt of hir desire.
And as she woulde haue entred heauen, the Ladie Iris came
And purged hir with streaming drops. Anon vpon the same
The furious Fiende Tisiphone doth cloth hir out of band
In garment streaming gorie bloud, and taketh in hir hand
A burning Cresset steepte in bloud, and girdeth hir about
with wreathed Snakes and so goes forth. And at hir going out,
Feare, terror, griefe and pensiuenesse for companie she tooke,
And also madnesse with his slaight, and gastly staring looke.
Within the house of Athamas no sooner foote she set,
But that the postes began to quake and doores looke blacke as Iet.
The sonne withdrew him, Athamas and eke his wife were cast
With ougly sightes in such a feare, that out of doores agast
They would haue fled. There stoode the Fiend, and stopt their passage out,
And splaying forth hir filthie armes beknit with Snakes about,
Did tosse and waue hir hatefull head. The swarme of scaled snakes
Did make an irksome noyse to heare as she hir tresses shakes.
About hir shoulders some did craule: some trayling downe hir brest
Did hisse and spit out poyson greene, and spirt with tongues infest.
Then from amyd hir haire two snakes with venymd hand she drew
Of which shee one at Athamas and one at Ino threw.
The snakes did craule about their breasts, inspiring in their heart
Most grieuous motions of the minde: the bodie had no smart
Of any wound: it was the minde that felt the cruell stings.
A poyson made in Syrup wise, shee also with hir brings.
The filthie fame of Cerberus, the casting of the Snake
Echidna, bred among the Fennes about the Stygian Lake:
Desirde of gadding foorth abroad: forgetfulnesse of minde:
Delight in mischiefe: woodnesse: teares: and purpose whole inclinde:
To cruell murther: all the which shee did together grinde:
And mingling them with new shed bloud had boyled them in brasse,
And stird them with a Hemblock stalke, Now whyle that Athamas
And Ino stood and quakte for feare, this poyson ranke and fell
Shee tourned into both their breastes and made their heartes to swell.
Then whisking often round about hir head hir balefull brand,
Shee made it soone by gathering winde to kindle in hir hand.
Thus as it were in triumph wise accomplishing hir hest,
To Duskie Plutos emptie Realme shee gettes hir home to rest,
And putteth of the snarled Snakes that girded in hir brest.
Immediatly King Aeolus sonne stark madde comes crying out,
Through all the court what meane yee Sirs? why go yee not about
To pitch our toyles within this chach. I sawe euen nowe here ran
A Lyon with hir two yong whelpes. And there withall he gan
To chase his wyfe as if in deede shee had a Lyon beene
And lyke a Bedlem boystouslie he snatcheth from betweene
The mothers armes his little babe Loearchus smyling on him
And reaching foorth his preatie armes & floong him fiercely from him
A twice or thrice as from a slyng: and dasht his tender head
Against a hard and rugged stone vntill he sawe him dead.
The wretched mother (whither griefe did moue hir therevnto
Or that the poyson spred within did force hir so to doe)
Hould out frantikly with scattered haire about hir eares
And with hir little Melicert whome hastely shee heares
In naked armes she cryeth out hoe Bacchus. At the name
Of Bacchus Iuno gan to laugh and scorning sayde in game,
This guerden loe thy foster child requiteth for the same.
There hangs a rocke about the Sea the foote whereof is eate
So hollow with the saltish waues which on the same doe beate.
That like a house it keepeth off the moysting showers of rayne
The toppe is rough and shootes his front amiddes the open mayne.
Dame Ino (madnesse made hir strong) did climb this cliffe anon
And healong downe (without regarde of hurt that hoong thereon)
Did throwe hir burden and hir selfe, the water where shee dasht
In sprincling vpwarde glisterd red. But Venus sore abasht
At this hir Neeces great mischaunce without offence or fault,
Hir Uncle gently thus bespake. O ruler of the hault
And swelling Seas, O noble Neptune whose dominion large
Extendeth to the Heauen, whereof the mightie Ioue hath charge,
The thing is great for which I sew. But shewe thou for my sake
Some mercie on my wretched friends whome in thine endlesse lake
Thou seeest tossed to and fro. Admit thou them among
Thy Goddes. Of right euen here to mee some fauour doth belong
At least wise if amid the Sea engendred erst I were
Of Froth, as of the which yet still my pleasaunt name I beare.
Neptunus graunted hir request, and by and by bereft them
Of all that euer mortall was. In sted whereof he left them
A hault and stately maiestie: and altring them in hew
With shape and names most meete for Goddes he did them both endew.
Leucothoë was the mothers name, Palemon was the sonne.
The Thebane Ladies following hir as fast as they could runne,
Did of hir feete perceiue the print vpon the vtter stone.
And taking it for certaine signe that both were dead and gone,
In making mone for Cadmus house, they wrang their hands and tare
Their haire, and rent their clothes, and railde on Iuno out of square,
As nothing iust, but more outragious farre than did behoue
In so reuenging of his selfe vpon hir husbands loue.
The Goddesse Iuno could not beare their railing. And in faith
You also will I make to be as witnesses (she sayth)
Of my outragious crueltie. And so shee did in deede.
For shee that loued Ino best was following hir with speede
Into the Sea. But as shee would hir selfe haue downeward cast.
Shee could not stirre, but to the rock as nailed sticked fast.
The second as shee knockt hir breast, did feele hir armes wax stiffe.
Another as shee stretched out hir hands vpon the cliffe,
Was made a stone, and there stoode still ay stretching forth hir hands
Into the water as before. And as an other standes
A tearing of hir ruffled lockes, hir fingers hardened were
And fastned to hir frisled toppe still tearing of hir heare,
And looke what gesture eche of them was taken in that tide,
Euen in the same transformde to stones, they fastned did abide.
And some were altered into birds which Cadmies called bee
And in that goolfe with flittering wings still to and fro doe flee.
Nought knoweth Cadmus that his daughter and hir little childe
Admitted were among the Goddes that rule the surges wilde.
Compellde with griefe and great mishappes that had ensewd togither,
And straunge foretokens often seene since first his comming thither,
He vtterly forsakes his towne the which he builded had,
As though the fortune of the place so hardly him bestad,
And not his owne. And fleeting long like pilgrims, at the last
Upon the coast of Illirie his wife and he were cast.
Where ny forpind with cares and yeares, while of the chaunces past
Upon their house, and of their toyles and former trauails tane
They sadly talkt betweene themselues, was my speare head the bane
Of that same ougly Snake of Mars (quoth Cadmus) when I fled
From Sidon? or did I his teeth in ploughed pasture spred?
If for the death of him the Goddes so cruell vengeaunce take,
Drawen out in length vpon my wombe then traile I like a snake.
He had no sooner sayde the worde but that he gan to glide.
Upon his belly like a Snake. And on his hardened side
He felt the scales new budding out, the which was wholy fret
With speccled droppes of blacke and gray as thicke as could be set.
He falleth groueling on his breast, and both his shankes doe growe
In one round spindle Bodkinwise with sharpned point below.
His armes as yet remayned still: his armes that did remayne,
He stretched out, and sayde with teares that plentuously did raine
A downe his face, which yet did keepe the natiue fashion sownd,
Come hither wyfe, come hither wight most wretched on the ground,
And whyle that ought of mee remaynes vouchsafe to touche the same.
Come take mee by the hand as long as hand may haue his name,
Before this snakish shape doe whole my body ouer runne.
He would haue spoken more when sodainely his tongue begunne
To split in two and speache did fayle: and as he did attempt
To make his mone, he hist: for nature now had cleane exempt
All other speach. His wretched wyfe hir naked stomack beete:
And cryde, what meaneth this? deare Cadmus where are now thy feete?
Where are thy shoulders and thy handes? thy hew and manly face?
With all the other things that did thy princely person grace?
Which nowe I ouerpasse. But why yee Goddes doe you delay?
My bodie into lyke misshape of Serpent to conuay?
When this was spoken, Cadmus lickt his wyfe about the lippes:
And (as a place with which he was acquaynted well) he slippes
Into hir boosome, louingly embracing hir, and cast
Himselfe about hir necke, as oft he had in tyme forepast.
Such as were there (their folke were there) were slaighted at the sight,
For by and by they sawe their neckes did glister slicke and bright.
And on their snakish heades grew crests: and finally they both
Were into verie Dragons tournd, and foorth together goth
Lone trayling by the tothers side, vntill they gaynd a wood,
The which direct against the place where as they were then stood.
And now remembring what they were themselues in tymes forepast,
They neyther shonne nor hurten men with stinging nor with blast.
But yet a comfort to them both in this their altred hew
Became that noble impe of theirs that Indie did subdew,
Whom al Achaia worshipped with temples builded new.
All only Acrise Abas sonne (though of the selfe same stocke)
Remaind, who out of Argos walles vnkindly did him locke.
And moued wilfull warre against his Godhead: thinking that
There was not any race of Goddes for he beleued not
That Persey was the sonne of Ioue: or that he was conceyued
By Danae of golden shower through which shee was deceiued.
But yet ere long (such present force hath truth) he doth repent
As well his great impietie against God Bacchus meant,
As also that he did disdaine his Nephew for to knowe.
But Bacchus now full gloriously himselfe in Heauen doth showe.
And Persey bearing in his hand the monster Gorgons head,
That famous spoyle which here and there with snakish haire was spread,
Doth beat the ayre with wauyng wings. And as he ouerflew
The Lybicke sandes, the droppes of bloud that from the head did sew
Of Gorgon being new cut off, vpon the ground did fal.
Which taking them (and as it were conceyuing therwithall,)
Engendred sundrie Snakes and wormes: by meanes wherof that clyme
Did swarme with Serpents euer since, euen to this present tyme.
From thence he lyke a watrie cloud was caried with the weather,
Through all the heauen, now here, now there as light as any feather.
And from aloft he viewes the earth that vnderneath doth lie,
And swiftly ouer all the worlde doth in conclusion flie,
Three times the chilling beares, three times ye crabbes fel cleas he saw:
Oft times to Weast, oftimes to East did driue him many a flaw.
Now at such time as vnto rest the sonne began to drawe,
Bicause he did not thinke it good to be abroad all night,
Within King Atlas western Realme he ceased from his flight,
Requesting that a little space of rest enioy he might,
Untill such tyme as Lucifer should bring the morning gray,
And morning bring the lightsome Sunne that guides the cherefull day.
This Atlas Iapets Nephewe, was a man that did excell
In stature euerie other wight that in the worlde did dwell.
The vtmost coast of all the earth and all that Sea wherein
The tyred steedes and wearied Wayne of Phoebus diued bin,
Were in subiection to this King. A thousande flockes of sheepe,
A thousand heirdes of Rother beastes he in his fields did keepe:
And not a neighbor did anoy his ground by dwelling nie.
To him the wandring Persey thus his language did applie.
If high renowne of royall race thy noble heart may moue,
I am the sonne of Ioue himselfe: or if thou more approue
The valiant deedes and hault exploytes, thou shalt perceiue in mee
Such doings as deserue with prayse extolled for to bee.
I pray thee of thy courtesie receiue mee as thy guest,
And let mee only for this night within thy palace rest.
King Atlas called straight to minde an auncient prophesie
Made by Parnassian Themys, which this sentence did implie.
The time shall one day Atlas come in which thy golden tree
Shall of hir fayre and precious fruite dispoyld and robbed bee.
And he shall be the sonne of Ioue that shall enioy the pray.
For feare hereof he did enclose his Orchard euerie way.
With mightie hilles, and put an ougly Dragon in the same
To keepe it. Further he forbad that any straunger came
Within his Realme, and to this knight he sayde presumtuouslie:
Auoyd my land, onlesse thou wilt by vtter perill trie
That all thy glorious actes whereof thou doest so loudly lie
And Ioue thy father be too farre to helpe thee at thy neede.
To these his wordes he added force, add went about in deede
To driue him out by strength of hand. To speake was losse of winde
For neyther could intreating faire nor stoutnesse tourne his minde.
Well then (quoth Persey) sith thou doest mine honour set so light,
Take here a present: and with that he turnes away his sight,
And from his left side drewe mee out Medusas lothly head.
As huge and big as Atlas was he tourned in that stead
Into a mountaine: Into trees his beard and locks did passe:
His hands and shoulders made the ridge: that part which lately was
His head, became the highest top of all the hill: his bones
Were turnd to stones: and therewithall he grew mee all at ones
Beyond all measure vp in heigth (For so God thought it best)
So farre that Heauen with all the starres did on his shoulders rest.
In endlesse prison by that time had Aëolus lockt the wind
And now the cheerely morning starre that putteth folke in mind
To rise about their daylie worke shone brightly in the skie.
Then Persey vnto both his feete did streight his feathers tie
And girt his Woodknife to his side, and from the earth did stie.
And leauing nations nomberlesse beneath him euerie way
At last vpon King Cepheyes fields in Aethiop did he stay.
Where cleane against all right and law by Ioues commaundement
Andromad for hir mothers tongue did suffer punishment.
Whome to a rocke by both the armes when fastned hee had seene,
He would haue thought of Marble stone shee had some image beene,
But that hir tresses to and fro the whisking winde did blowe,
And trickling teares warme from hir eyes a downe hir cheeks did flow
Unwares hereat gan secret sparkes within his breast to glow.
His wits were straught at sight thereof and rauisht in such wise,
That how to houer with his wings he scarsly could deuise.
Assoone as he had stayd himselfe, O Ladie faire (quoth hee)
Not worthie of such bands as these, but such wherewith we see
Togither, knit in lawfull bed the earnest louers bee
I pray thee tell mee what thy selfe and what this lande is named
And wherefore thou dost weare these Chains? the Ladie ill ashamed
Was at the sodaine striken domb: and lyke a fearfull maid
Shee durst not speake vnto a man. Had not hir handes beene staid
She would haue hid hir bashfull face. Howbeit as she might
With great abundance of hir teares shee stopped vp hir sight
But when that Persey oftentimes was earnestly in hand
To learne the matter, for bicause shee woulde not seeme to stand
In stubborne silence of hir faultes, shee tolde him what the land
And what she hight: and how hir mother for hir beauties sake
Through pride did vnaduisedly too much vpon hir take.
And ere shee full had made an ende, the water gan to rore:
An ougly monster from the deepe was making to the shore
Which bare the Sea before his breast. The Uirgin shrieked out.
Hir father and hir mother both stood mourning thereabout,
In wretched ease both twaine, but not so wretched as the maid
Who wrongly for hir mothers fault the bitter raunsome paid.
They brought not with them any help: but (as the time and cace
Requird) they wept and wrang their hands, and streightly did embrace
Hir bodie fastened to the rock. Then Persey them bespake,
And sayde: the time may serue too long this sorrow for to make:
But time of helpe must eyther now or neuer else be take
Now if I Persey sonne of hir whome in hir fathers towre
The mightie Ioue begat with childe in shape of golden showre,
Who cut off ougly Gorgons head bespred with snakish heare,
And in the ayre durst trust these winges my body for to beare,
Perchaunce should saue your daughters life, I think ye should as then
Accept mee for your sonne in lawe before all other men.
To these great thewes (by the help of God) I purpose for to adde
A iust desert in helping hir that is so hard bestadde.
I couenaunt with you by my force and manhod for to saue hir,
Conditionly that to my wife in recompence I haue hir.
Hir parents tooke his offer streight: for who would sticke thereat
And praid him faire, and promisde him that for performing that
They would endow him with the ryght of al their Realme beeside.
Like as a Gally with hir nose doth cut the waters wide,
Enforced by the sweating armes of Rowers wyth the tide
Euen so the monster with his brest did beare the waues aside,
And was now come as neere the rocke as well a man myght sling
Amid the pure and vacant aire a pellet from a sling.
When on the sodaine Persey pusht his foote against the ground,
And stied vpward to the clouds his shadow did rebound
Upon the sea: the beast ran fierce vpon the passing shade.
And as an Egle when he sees a Dragon in a glade
Lie beaking of his blewish backe against the sunnie rayes,
Doth cease vpon him vnbeware, and with his talants layes
Sure holde vpon his scalie necke least writhing back his head
His cruell teeth might doe him harme: So Persey in that stead
Discending downe the ayre a maine with all his force and might
Did cease vpon the monsters backe: and vnderneath the right
Finne hard vnto the verie hilt his hooked sworde did smight.
The monster being wounded sore did sometime leape aloft,
And sometime vnder water diue, bestirring him full oft
As doth a chaufed Boare beset with barking Dogges about.
But Persey with his lightsome wings still keeping him without
The monsters reach, with hooked sword doth sometime hew his back
Where as the hollow scales giue way: and sometime he doth hacke
The ribbes on both his maled sides: and sometime he doth wound
His spindle tayle where into fish it growes most smal and round.
The Whale at Persey from his mouth such waues of water cast,
Bemixed with the purple bloud, that all bedreint at last
His feathers verie heauie were: and doubting any more
To trust his wings now waxing wet, he straight began to sore
Up to a rocke which in the calme aboue the water stood:
But in the tempest euermore was hidden with the flood.
And leaning therevnto and with his left hand holding iust
The top thereof a dozen times his weapon he did thrust
Among his guttes. The ioyfull noyse and clapping of their hands
The which were made for loosening of Andromad from hir bands,
Fillde all the coast and heauen it selfe. The parents of the Maide
Cassiope and Cepheus were glad and well appayde:
And calling him their sonne in law confessed him to bee
The helpe and sauegarde of their house. Andromade the fee
And cause of Perseys enterprise from bondes now beyng free,
He washed his victorious hands. And least the Snakie heade
With lying on the grauell hard should catch some harme, he spred
Soft leaues and certaine tender twigs that in the water grew,
And laid Medusas head thereon: the twigs yet being new
And quicke and full of iuicie pith full lightly to them drew
The nature of this monstrous head. for both the leafe and bough
Full straungely at the touch thereof became both hard and tough.
The Seanymphes tride this wondrous fact in diuers other roddes
And were full glad to see the chaunge, bicause there was no oddes
Of leaues or twigs or of the seedes new shaken from the coddes.
For still like nature euer since is in our Corall founde:
That looke how soone it toucheth Ayre it waxeth hard and sounde.
And that which vnder water was a sticke, aboue is stone,
Three altars to as many Gods he makes of Turfe anon.
Upon the left hand Mercuries: Mineruas on the right:
And in the middle Iupiters: to Pallas he did dight
A Cow: a Calfe to Mercurie: a Bull to royall Ioue.
Forthwith he tooke Andromade the price for which he stroue
Endowed with hir fathers Realme. For now the God of Loue
And Hymen vnto mariage his minde in hast did moue.
Great fires were made of sweete perfumes, and curious garlandes hung
About the house, which euery where of mirthfull musicke rung
The gladsome signe of merie mindes. The Pallace gates were set
Wide open. none from comming in were by the Porters let.
All Noblemen and Gentlemen that were of any port
To this same great and royall feast of Cephey did resort.
When hauing taken their repast as well of meate as wine
Their hearts began to pleasant mirth by leysure to encline,
The valiant Persey of the folke and facions of the land
Began to be inquisitiue. One Lincide out of hand
The rites and maners of the folke did doe him t'vnderstand.
Which done he sayd: O worthie knight I pray thee tell vs by
What force or wile thou gotst the head with haires of Adders slie.
Then Persey tolde how vnderneath colde Atlas lay a plaine
So fenced in on euery side with mountaines high, that vaine
Were any force to win the same. In entrance of the which
Two daughters of King Phorcis dwelt whose chaunce and hap was such
That one eye serued both their turnes: whereof by wilie slight
And stealth in putting forth his hand he did bereue them quight,
As they from tone to tother were deliuering of the same.
From whence by long blind crooked wayes vnhandsomly he came
Through gastly groues by ragged cliffes vnto the drerie place
Whereas the Gorgons dwelt: and there he saw (a wretched case)
The shapes as well of men as beasts lie scattered euerie where
In open fields and common wayes, the which transformed were
From liuing things to stones at sight of foule Medusas heare
But yet that he through brightnesse of his monstrous brazen shield
The which he in his left hand bare, Medusas face beheld.
And while that in a sound dead sleepe were all hir Snakes and she,
He softly pared of hir head: and how that he did see
Swift Pegasus the winged horse and eke his brother grow
Out of their mothers new shed bloud. Moreouer he did show
A long discourse of all his happes and not so long as trew:
As namely of what Seas and landes the coasts he ouerflew,
And eke what starres with stying wings he in the while did vew.
But yet his tale was at an ende ere any lookt therefore.
Upon occasion by and by of wordes reherst before
There was a certaine noble man demaunded him wherefore
Shee only of the sisters three haire mixt with Adders bore.
Sir (aunswerde Persey) sith you aske a matter worth report
I graunt to tell you your demaunde. she both in comly port
and beautie, euery other wight surmounted in such sort,
That many suters vnto hir did earnestly resort.
And though that whole from top to toe most bewtifull she were,
In all hir bodie was no part more goodly than hir heare.
I know some parties yet aliue, that say they did hir see.
It is reported how she should abusde by Neptune bee
In Pallas Church: fro which fowle facte Ioues daughter turnde hir eye,
And with hir Target hid hir face from such a villanie.
And least it should vnpunisht be, she turnde hir seemely heare
To lothly Snakes: the which (the more to put hir foes in feare)
Before hir brest continually she in hir shield doth beare.

Finis quarti Libri