What ayleth thee (quoth Theseus) too sygh so sore? and how
Befell it thee too get this mayme that is vppon thy brow?
The noble streame of Calydon made answer, who did weare
A Garland made of reedes and flags vpon his sedgie heare.
A greeuous pennance you enioyne. for who would gladly show
The combats in the which himself did take the ouerthrow?
Yit will I make a iust report in order of the same.
For why? too haue the woorser hand was not so great a shame,
As was the honor such a match too vndertake. And much
It comforts mee that he who did mee ouercome, was such
A valiant champion. If perchaunce you erst haue heard the name
Of Deyanyre the fayrest Mayd that euer God did frame
Shee was in myne opinion. And the hope too win her loue
Did mickle enuy and debate among hir wooers moue.
With whome I entring too the house of him that should haue bee
My fathrilaw, Parthaons sonne (I sayd) accept thou mee
Thy Sonnylaw. And Hercules in self same sort did woo.
And all the other suters streight gaue place vntoo vs twoo.
He vaunted of his father Ioue, and of his famous deedes,
And how ageinst his stepdames spyght his prowesse still proceedes.
And I ageine a toother syde sayd thus. It is a shame
That God should yeeld too man. (this stryfe was long ere he became
A God). Thou seeist mee a Lord of waters in thy Realme
Where I in wyde and wynding banks doo beare my flowing streame.
No straunger shalt thou haue of mee sent farre from forreine land:
But one of household, or at least a neyghbour heere at hand.
Alonly let it bee too mee no hindrance that the wyfe
Of Ioue abhorres mee not, ne that vpon the paine of lyfe
Shee sets mee not too task. For where thou bostest thee too bee
Alcmenas sonne, Ioue eyther is not father vnto thee:
Or if he bee it is by sin. In making Ioue thy father,
Thou maakst thy mother but a whoore. now choose thee whither rather
Thou had too graunt this tale of Ioue surmised for too bee,
Or else thy selfe begot in shame and borne in bastardee.
At that he grimly bendes his browes, and much a doo he hath
Too hold his hands. so sore his hart inflamed is with wrath.
He said no more but thus. My hand dooth serue mee better than
My toong. Content I am (so I in feighting vanquish can)
That thou shalt ouercome in wordes. And therewithall he gan
Mee feercely to assaile. Mee thought it was a shame for mee
That had euen now so stoutly talkt, in dooings faint too bee.
I casting of my greenish cloke thrust stifly out at length
Mine armes and streynd my pawing armes too hold him out by stregth,
And framed euery limme too cope. With both his hollow hands
He caught vp dust and sprincked mee: and I likewise with sands.
Made him all yelow too. One whyle hee at my necke dooth snatch
Another whyle my cleere crisp legges he striueth for too catch,
Or trippes at mee: and euerywhere the vauntage he dooth watch.
My weightinesse defended mee, and cleerly did diffeate
His stoute assaults as when a waue with hideous noyse dooth beate
Against a Rocke, the Rocke dooth still both sauf and sound abyde
By reason of his massinesse. Wee drew a whyle a syde.
And then incountring fresh ageine, wee kept our places stowt
Full minded not too yeeld an inch, but for too hold it owt.
Now were wee stonding foote too foote. And I with all my brest
Was leaning forward, and with head ageinst his head did rest,
And with my gryping fingars I ageinst his fingars thrust.
So haue I seene twoo myghtie Bulles togither feercely iust
In seeking as their pryse to haue the fayrest Cow in all
The feeld too bee their make, and all the herd bothe greate and small
Stand gazing on them fearfully not knowing vntoo which
The conquest of so greate a gayne shall fall. Three tymes a twich
Gaue Hercules and could not wrinch my leaning brest him fro
But at the fourth he shooke mee of and made mee too let go
My hold: and with a push (I will tell truthe) he had a knacke
Too turne me of, and heauily he hung vpon my backe.
And if I may beleeued bee (as sure I meene not I
To vaunt my selfe vayngloriusly by telling of a lye,)
Mee thought a mountaine whelmed me. But yit with much a doo
I wrested in my sweating armes, and hardly did vndoo
His griping hands. He following still his vauntage, suffred not
Mee once too breath or gather strength. but by and by he got
Mee by the necke. Then was I fayne too sinke with knee too ground,
And kisse the dust. Now when in strength too weake myself I found,
I tooke mee too my slights, and slipt in shape of Snake away
Of woondrous length. And when that I of purpose him too fray
Did bend myself in swelling rolles, and made a hideous noyse
Of hissing with my forked toong, he smyling at my toyes,
And laughing them too scorne sayd thus. It is my Cradle game
To vanquish Snakes O Acheloy. Admit thou ouercame
All other Snakes, yet what art thou compared too the Snake
Of Lerna, who by cutting of did still encreasement take?
For of a hundred heades not one so soone was paarde away,
But that vppon the stump therof there budded other tway
This sprouting Snake whose braunching heads by slaughter did reuiue
And grow by cropping, I subdewd, and made it could not thryue.
And thinkest thou (who being none wouldst seeme a Snake) too scape?
Who doost with foorged weapons feyght and vnder borowed shape?
This sayd, his fingars of my necke he fastned in the nape
Mee thought he graand my throte as though he did with pinsons nip
I struggled from his churlish thumbes my pinched chappes too slip
But doo the best and worst I could he ouercame mee so.
Then thirdly did remayne the shape of Bull. and quickly tho
I turning too the shape of Bull rebelld ageinst my fo.
He stepping too my left syde cloce, did fold his armes about
My wattled necke, and following mee then running maynely out
Did brag mee backe, and made mee pitch my hornes against the ground,
And in the deepest of the sand he ouerthrew mee round.
And yit not so content, such hold his cruell hand did take
Uppon my welked horne, that he a sunder quight it brake,
And pulld it from my maymed brew. The waterfayries came
And filling it with frute and flowres did consecrate the same,
And so my horne the Tresory of plenteousnesse became.
Assoone as Acheloy had told this tale a wayting Mayd
With flaring heare that lay on both hir shoulders and arayd
Like one of Dame Dianas Nymphes with solemne grace forth came
And brought that rich and precious horne, and heaped in the same
All kynd of frutes that Haruest sendes, and specially such frute
As serues for latter course at meales of euery sort and sute.
Assoone as daylight came ageine, and that the Sunny rayes
Did shyne vpon the tops of things, the Princes went their wayes.
They would not tarry till the floud were altogither falne
And that the Riuer in his banks ran low ageine and calme.
Then Acheloy amid his waues his Crabtree face did hyde
And head disarmed of a horne. And though he did abyde
In all parts else bothe sauf and sound, yit this deformitye
Did cut his comb: and for too hyde this blemish from the eye.
He hydes his hurt with Sallow leaues, or else with sedge and reede.
But of the selfsame Mayd the loue killd thee feerce Nesse in deede,
When percing swiftly through thy back an arrow made thee bleede.
For as Ioues issue with his wyfe was onward on his way
In going too his countryward, enforst he was too stay
At swift Euenus bank, bycause the streame was risen sore
Aboue his bounds through rage of rayne that fell but late before
Agein so full of whoorlpooles and of gulles the channell was,
That scarce a man could any where fynd place of passage. As
Not caring for himself but for his wyfe he there did stand,
This Nessus came vnto him (who was strong of body and
Knew well the foordes,) and sayd vse thou thy strength O Hercules
In swimming. I will fynd the meanes this Ladie shall with ease
Bee set vppon the further bank. So Hercules betooke
His wyfe too Nessus. Shee for feare of him and of the brooke
Lookte pale. Her husband as he had his quiuer by his syde
Of arrowes full, and on his backe his heauy Lyons hyde,
(For too the further bank he erst his club and bow had cast)
Said. sith I haue begonne, this brooke bothe must and shalbee past,
He neuer casteth further doubts, nor seekes the calmest place,
But through the roughest of the streame he cuts his way a pace.
Now as he on the furthersyde was taking vp his bow,
He heard his wedlocke shreeking out, and did hir calling know:
And cryde to Nesse (who went about to deale vnfaythfully
In running with his charge away) Hoawe whither doost thou fly
Thou Royster thou, vppon a vaine hope by swiftnesse too escape
My hands? I say giue eare thou Nesse for all thy double shape,
And meddle not with that thats myne. Though no regard of mee
Might moue thee too refrayne from rape, thy father yit might bee
A warning, who for offring shame too Iuno now dooth feele
Continuall torment in his limbes by turning on a wheele.
For all that thou hast horses feete which doo so bolde thee make,
Yit shalt thou not escape my hands. I will thee ouertake
With wound and not with feete. He did according as he spake.
For with an arrow as he fled he strake him through the backe,
And out before his brist ageine the hooked iron stacke.
And when the same was pulled out, the blood a mayne ensewd
At both the holes with poyson foule of Lerna Snake embrewd:
This blood did Nessus take, and said within himselfe: well: sith
I needes must dye, yet will I not dye vnreuendgd. And with
The same he staynd a shirt, and gaue it vnto Dyanyre,
Assuring hir it had the powre too kindle Cupids fyre.
A greate whyle after when the deedes of worthy Hercules
Were such as filled all the world, and also did appease
The hatred of his stepmother, As he vppon a day
With conquest from Oechalia came, and was abowt to pay
His vowes to Ioue vppon the Mount of Cenye, tatling fame
(Who in reporting things of truth delyghts too sauce the same
With tales, and of a thing of nowght dooth euer greater grow
Through false and newly forged lyes that shee hirself dooth sow)
Told Dyanyre that Hercules did cast a liking too
A Ladie called Iölee. And Dyanyra (whoo
Was iealous ouer Hercules,) gaue credit too the same.
And when that of a Leman first the tidings too hir came,
She being striken too the hart, did fall too teares alone,
And in a lamentable wise did make most wofull mone.
Anon she said: what meene theis teares thus gushing fro myne eyen?
My husbands Leman will reioyce at theis same teares of myne.
Nay, sith she is too come, the best it were too shonne delay,
And for too woork sum new deuyce and practyse whyle I may,
Beefore that in my bed her limbes the filthy strumpet lay.
And shall I then complayne? or shall I hold my toong with skill?
Shall I returne too Calydon? or shall I tarry still?
Or shall I get me out of doores, and let them haue their will?
What if that I (Meleager) remembring mee too bee
Thy suster, too attempt sum act notorious did agree?
And in a harlots death did shew (that all the world myght see)
What greef can cause the womankynd too enterpryse among?
And specially when therevntoo they forced are by wrong.
With wauering thoughts ryght violetly her mynd was tossed log.
At last shee did preferre before all others, for too send
The shirt bestayned with the blood of Nessus too the end
Too quicken vp the quayling loue. And so not knowing what
She gaue, she gaue her owne remorse and greef too Lychas that
Did know as little as herself: and wretched woman, shee
Desyrd him gently too her Lord presented it too see.
The noble Prince receyuing it without mistrust therein,
Did weare the poyson of the Snake of Lerna next his skin.
Too offer incense and too pray too Ioue he did begin,
And on the Marble Altar he full boawles of wyne did shed,
When as the poyson with the heate resoluing, largely spred
Through all the limbes of Hercules. As long as ere he could,
The stoutnesse of his hart was such, that sygh no whit he would.
But when the mischeef grew so great all pacience too surmount,
He thrust the altar from him streight, and filled all the mount
Of Oeta with his roring out. He went about too teare
The deathfull garment from his backe, but where he pulled, there
He pulld away the skin: and (which is lothsum too report)
It eyther cleaued too his limbes and members in such sort
As that he could not pull it of, or else it tare away
The flesh, that bare his myghty bones and grisly sinewes lay.
The scalding venim boyling in his blood, did make it hisse,
As when a gad of steele red whot in water quenched is.
There was no measure of his paine. The frying venim hent
His inwards, and a purple swet from all his body went.
His sindged sinewes shrinking crakt, and with a secret strength
The poyson euen within his bones the Maree melts at length.
And holding vp his hands too heauen he sayd, with hideous reere.
O Saturnes daughter feede thy selfe on my distresses heere.
Yea feede. and cruell wyght this plage behold thou from aboue
And glut thy sauage hart therewith. Or if thy fo may moue
Thee vntoo pitie, (for too thee I am an vtter so)
Bereeue mee of my hatefull soule distrest with helplesse wo,
And borne too endlesse toyle. For death shall vntoo mee bee sweete,
And for a cruell stepmother is death a gift most meete.
And is it I that did destroy Busiris who did foyle
His temple floores with straungers blood? Ist I that did dispoyle
Antæus of his moothers help? Ist I that could not bee
Abashed at the Spanyard who in one had bodies three?
Nor at the trypleheaded shape O Cerberus of thee?
Are you the hands that by the hornes the Bull of Candie drew?
Did you king Augies stable clenze whom afterward yee slew?
Are you the same by whom the fowles were scaard from Stymphaly?
Caught you the Stag in Maydenwood which did not runne but fly?
Are you the hands whose puissance receyued for your pay
The golden belt of Thermodon? Did you conuey away
The Apples from the Dragon fell that waked nyght and day?
Ageinst the force of mee, defence the Centaures could not make,
Nor yit the Boare of Arcadie: nor yit the ougly Snake
Of Lerna, who by losse did grow and dooble force still take.
What? is it I that did behold the pampred Iades of Thrace
With Maungers full of flesh of men on which they fed a pace?
Ist I that downe at syght thereof theyr greazy Maungers threw,
And bothe the fatted Iades themselues and eke their mayster slew?
The Nemean Lyon by theis armes lyes dead vppon the ground.
Theis armes the monstruous Giant Cake by Tyber did confound.
Uppon theis shoulders haue I borne the weyght of all the skie.
Ioues cruell wyfe is weerye of commaunding mee. Yit I
Unweerie am of dooing still. But now on mee is lyght,
An vncoth plage, which neyther force of hand, nor vertues myght,
Nor Arte is able too resist. Like wasting fyre it spreedes
Among myne inwards, and through out on all my body feedes.
But all this whyle Eurysthye liues in health. And sum men may
Beeleue there bee sum Goddes in deede. Thus much did Hercule say.
And wounded ouer Oeta hygh, he stalking gan too stray,
As when a Bull in maymed bulk, a deadly Dart dooth beare,
And that the dooer of the deede is shrunke asyde for feare.
Oft syghing myght you him haue seene, oft trembling, oft about
Too teare the garment with his hands from top too to throughout.
And throwing downe the myghtye trees, and chaufing with the hilles,
Or casting vp his handes too heauen where Ioue his father dwelles.
Behold as Lychas trembling in a hollow rock did lurk,
He spyed him. And as his greef did all in furie woork,
He sayd. Art thou syr Lychas he that broughtest vntoo mee
This plagye present? of my death must thou the woorker bee?
Hee quaakt and shaakt, and looked pale, and fearfully gan make
Excuse. But as with humbled hands hee kneeling too him spake,
The furious Hercule caught him vp, and swindging him about
His head a halfe a doozen tymes or more, he floong him out
Into th' Euboyan sea with force surmounting any sling.
He hardened intoo peble stone as in the ayre he hing.
And euen as rayne conieald by wynd is sayd too turne too snowe,
And of the snow round rolled vp a thicker masse too growe,
Which falleth downe in hayle: so men in auncient tyme report,
That Lychas beeing swindgd about by violence in that sort,
(His blood then beeing drayned out, and hauing left at all
No moysture,) intoo peble stone was turned in his fall.
Now also in th' Euboyan sea appeeres a hygh short rocke
In shape of man ageinst the which the shipmen shun too knocke,
As though it could them feele. and they doo call it by the name
Of Lychas still. But thou Ioues imp of great renowme and fame,
Didst fell the trees of Oeta high, and making of the same
A pyle, didst giue too Poeans sonne thy quiuer and thy bow,
And arrowes which should help agein Troy towne too ouerthrow.
He put too fyre, and as the same was kindling in the pyle,
Thy selfe didst spred thy Lyons skin vpon the wood the whyle,
And leaning with thy head ageinst thy Club, thou laydst thee downe
As cheerfully, as if with flowres and garlonds on thy crowne
Thou hadst beene set a banquetting among full cups of wyne.
Anon on euery syde about those carelesse limbes of thyne
The fyre began too gather strength, and crackling noyse did make,
Assayling him whose noble hart for daliance did it take.
The Goddes for this defender of the earth were sore afrayd
Too whom with cheerefull countnance Ioue perceyuing it thus sayd.
This feare of yours is my delyght, and gladly euen with all
My hart I doo reioyce O Gods that mortall folk mee call
Their king and father, thinking mee ay myndfull of their weale,
And that myne offpring should doo well your selues doo show such zeale.
For though that you doo attribute your fauor too desert,
Considring his most woondrous acts: yit I too for my part
Am bound vntoo you. Nerethelesse, for that I would not haue
Your faythfull harts without iust cause in fearfull passions waue,
I would not haue you of the flames in Oeta make account.
For as he hath all other things, so shall he them surmount.
Saue only on that part that he hath taken of his mother,
The fyre shall haue no power at all Eternall is the tother.
The which he takes of mee, and cannot dye, ne yeeld too fyre.
When this is rid from earthly drosse, then will I lift it hygher,
And take it intoo heauen: and I beleeue this deede of myne
Will gladsome bee too all the Gods. If any doo repyne,
If any doo repyne I say that Hercule should become
A God, repyne he still for mee, and looke he sowre and glum.
But let him know that Hercules deserueth this reward,
And that he shall ageinst his will alow it afterward.
The Gods assented euerychone. And Iuno seemd too make
No euill countnance too the rest, vntill hir husband spake
The last. for then her looke was such as well they might perceyue,
Shee did her husbands noting her in euill part conceyue.
Whyle Ioue was talking with the Gods, as much as fyre could waste
So much had fyre consumde. And now O Hercules thou haste
No carkesse for too know thee by. That part is quyght bereft
Which of thy mother thou didst take. Alonly now is left
The likenesse that thou tookst of Ioue. And as the Serpent slye
In casting of his withered slough, renewes his yeeres thereby,
And wexeth lustyer than before, and looketh crisp and bryght
With scoured scales: so Hercules as soone as that his spryght
Had left his mortall limbes, gan in his better part too thryue,
And for too seeme a greater thing than when he was alyue,
And with a stately maiestie ryght reuerend too appeere.
His myghty father tooke him vp aboue the cloudy spheere.
And in a charyot placed him among the streaming starres.
Howge Atlas felt the weyght thereof. But nothing this disbarres
Eurysthyes malice. Cruelly he prosecutes the hate
Uppon the offpring, which he bare ageinst the father late.
But yit too make her mone vntoo and wayle her miserie
And tell her sonnes great woorkes, which all the world could testifie,
Old Alcmen had Dame lölee. By Hercules last will
In wedlocke and in hartie loue shee ioyned was too Hill,
By whome shee then was big with chyld: when thus Alcmena sayd.
The Gods at least bee mercifull and send thee then theyr ayd,
And short thy labor, when the frute the which thou goste withall
Now beeing rype enforceth thee wyth fearfull voyce too call
Uppon Ilithya president of chyldbirthes, whom the ire
Of Iuno at my trauelling made deaf too my desire.
For when the Sun through twyce fyue signes his course had fully run,
And that the paynfull day of birth approched of my sonne,
My burthen strayned out my wombe, and that that I did beare
Became so greate, that of so howge a masse yee well myght sweare
That Ioue was father. Neyther was I able too endure
The trauell any lenger tyme. Euen now I you assure
In telling it a shuddring cold through all my limbes dooth strike,
And partly it renewes my peynes too thinke vppon the like.
I beeing in most cruell throwes nyghts seuen and dayes eke seuen,
And tyred with continuall pangs, did lift my hands too heauen,
And crying out aloud did call Lucina too myne ayd,
Too loose the burthen from my wombe. Shee came as I had prayd:
But so corrupted long before by Iuno my most fo,
That for too martir mee too death with peyne she purposde tho.
For when shee heard my piteous plaints and gronings, downe shee sate
On yon same altar which you see there standing at my gate.
Upon her left knee shee had pitcht her right ham, and besyde
Shee stayd the birth with fingars one within another tyde
In lattiswyse. And secretly she whisperde witching spells
Which hindred my deliuerance more than all her dooings ells.
I labord still: and forst by payne and torments of my fitts,
I rayld on Ioue (although in vayne) as one besyde her witts.
And ay I wished for too dye. The woords that I did speake,
Were such as euen the hardest stones of very flint myght breake.
The wyues of Thebee beeing there, for sauf deliuerance prayd
And giuing cheerfull woords, did bid I should not bee dismayd.
Among the other women there that too my labor came,
There was an honest yeomans wyfe, Galantis was her name.
Her heare was yellow as the gold, she was a iolly Dame,
And stoutly serued mee, and I did loue her for the same.
This wyfe (I know not how) did smell some packing gone about
On Iunos part. And as she oft was passing in and out,
Shee spyde Lucina set vppon the altar holding fast
Her armes toogither on her knees, and with her fingars cast
Within ech other on a knot, and sayd vntoo her thus.
I pray you who so ere you bee, reioyce you now with vs,
My Lady Alcmen hath her wish, and sauf is brought a bed.
Lucina leaped vp amazde at that that shee had sed.
And let her hands a sunder slip. And I immediatly
With loosening of the knot, had sauf deliuerance by and by.
They say that in deceyuing Dame Lucina Galant laught.
And therfore by the yellow locks the Goddesse wroth hir caught,
And dragged her. And as she would haue risen from the ground,
Shee kept her downe, and into legges her armes shee did confound.
Her former stoutnesse still remaynes: her backe dooth keepe the hew
That erst was in her heare: her shape is only altered new.
And for with lying mouth shee helpt a woman laboring, shee
Dooth kindle also at her mouth. And now she haunteth free
Our houses as shee did before, a Weasle as wee see.
With that shee syghes too think vppon her seruants hap, and then
Her daughtrinlaw immediatly replied thus agen.
But mother, shee whose altred shape dooth moue your hart so sore,
Was neyther kith nor kin too you. What will you say therefore,
If of myne owne deere suster I the woondrous fortune show?
Although my sorrow and the teares that from myne eyes doo flow,
Doo hinder mee, and stop my speeche. Her mother (you must know
My father by another wyfe had mee) bare neuer mo
But this same Ladie Dryopee, the fayrest Ladye tho
In all the land of Oechalye Whom beeing then no mayd
(For why the God of Delos and of Delphos had her frayd)
Andræmon taketh too hys wyfe,and thinkes him well apayd.
There is a certaine leaning Lake whose bowing banks doo show
A likenesse of the salt sea shore. Uppon the brim doo grow
All round about it Mirtletrees. My suster thither goes
Unwares what was her destinie, and (which you may suppose
Was more too bee disdeyned at) the cause of comming there
Was too the fayries of the Lake fresh garlonds for too beare.
And in her armes a babye her sweete burthen shee did hold.
Who sucking on her brest was yit not full a tweluemoonth old.
Not farre from this same pond did grow a Lote tree florisht gay
With purple flowres and beries sweete, and leaues as greene as Bay.
Of theis same flowres too please her boy my suster gathered sum,
And I had thought too doo so too, for I was thither cum.
I saw how from the sliuered flowres red drops of blood did fall,
And how that shuddring horribly the braunches quaakt withall,
You must perceyue that (as too late the Countryfolk declare)
A Nymph cald Lotos flying from fowle Pryaps filthy ware,
Was turned intoo this same tree reseruing still her name.
My suster did not know so much. who when shee backward came
Afrayd at that that shee had seene, and hauing sadly prayd
The Nymphes of pardon, too haue gone her way agen assayd:
Her feete were fastned downe with rootes. Shee stryued all she myght
Too plucke them vp. but they so sure within the earth were pyght,
That nothing saue her vpper partes shee could that present moue.
A tender barke growes from beneath vp leysurly aboue,
And softly ouerspreddes her loynes. which when shee saw, shee went
About too teare her heare, and full of leaues her hand shee hent.
Her head was ouergrowen with leaues. And little Amphise (so
Had Eurytus his Graundsyre naamd her sonne not long ago)
Did feele his mothers dugges wex hard. And as he still them drew
In sucking, not a whit of milke nor moysture did ensew.
I standing by thee did behold thy cruell chaunce: but nought
I could releeue thee suster myne. yit too my powre I wrought
Too stay the growing of thy trunk and of thy braunches by
Embracing thee. Yea I protest I would ryght willingly
Haue in the selfe same barke with thee bene closed vp. Behold,
Her husband good Andræmon and her wretched father old
Sir Eurytus came thither and enquyrd for Dryopee.
And as they askt for Dryopee, I shewd them Lote the tree.
They kist the wood which yit was warme, and falling downe bylow,
Did hug the rootes of that their tree. My suster now could show
No part which was not wood except her face. A deawe of teares
Did stand vppon the wretched leaues late formed of her heares.
And whyle she might, and whyle her mouth did giue her way too speake,
With such complaynt as this, her mynd shee last of all did breake.
If credit may be giuen too such as are in wretchednesse,
I sweare by God I neuer yit deserued this distresse.
I suffer peyne without desert. My lyfe hath guiltlesse beene.
And if I lye, I would theis boughes of mine which now are greene,
Myght withered bee, and I heawen downe and burned in the fyre.
This infant from his mothers wombe remoue you I desyre:
And put him forth too nurce, and cause him vnderneath my tree
Oft tymes too sucke, and oftentymes too play. And when that hee
Is able for too speake I pray you let him greete mee heere,
And sadly say in this same trunk is hid my mother deere.
But lerne him for too shun all ponds and pulling flowres from trees,
And let him in his heart beleeue that all the shrubs he sees,
Are bodyes of the Goddesses. Adew deere husband now,
Adew deere father, and adew deere suster. And in yow
If any loue of mee remayne, defend my boughes I pray
From wound of cutting hooke and ax, and bit of beast for ay.
And for I cannot stoope too you, rayse you yourselues too mee,
And come and kisse mee whyle I may yit toucht and kissed bee.
And lift mee vp my little boy. I can no lenger talke,
For now about my lillye necke as if it were a stalke
The tender rynd beginnes too creepe, and ouergrowes my top.
Remoue your fingars from my face. the spreading barke dooth stop
My dying eyes without your help. Shee had no sooner left
Her talking, but her lyfe therewith toogither was bereft.
But yit a goodwhyle after that her natiue shape did fade,
Her newmade boughes continewed warme. Now whyle that Iöle made
Report of this same woondrous tale, and whyle Alcmena (who
Did weepe) was drying vp the teares of Iöle weeping too,
By putting too her thomb: there hapt a sodeine thing so straunge,
That vntoo mirth from heauinesse theyr harts it streight did chaunge.
For at the doore in maner euen a very boy as then
With short soft Downe about his chin, reuoked backe agen
Too youthfull yeares, stood Iölay with countnance smooth and trim.
Dame Hebee Iunos daughter had bestowde this gift on him,
Entreated at his earnest sute. Whom mynding fully there
The giuing of like gift ageine too any too forsweare,
Dame Themis would not suffer. For (quoth shee) this present howre
Is cruell warre in Thebee towne, and none but Ioue hath powre
Too vanquish stately Canapey. The brothers shall a like
Wound eyther other. And alyue a Prophet shall go seeke
His owne quicke ghoste among the dead, the earth him swallowing in.
The sonne by taking vengeance for his fathers death shall win
The name of kynd and wicked man, in one and self same cace.
And flayght with mischeefes, from his wits and from his natiue place
The furies and his mothers ghoste shall restlessely him chace,
Untill his wyfe demaund of him the fatall gold for meede,
And that his cousin Phegies swoord doo make his sydes too bleede.
Then shall the fayre Callirrhoee Achelous daughter pray
The myghty Ioue in humble wyse too graunt her children may
Retyre ageine too youthfull yeeres, and that he will not see
The death of him that did reuenge vnvenged for too bee.
Ioue moued at her sute shall cause his daughtrinlaw too giue
Like gift, and backe from age too youth Callirrhoës children driue.
When Themis through foresyght had spoke theis woords of prophesie,
The Gods began among themselues vayne talke too multiplie,
They mooyld why others myght not giue like gift as well as shee.
First Pallants daughter grudged that her husband old should bee.
The gentle Ceres murmurde that her Iasions heare was hore.
And Vulcane would haue calld ageine the yeeres long spent before
By Ericthonius. And the nyce Dame Venus hauing care
Of tyme too come, the making yong of old Anchises sware.
So euery God had one too whom he speciall fauor bare.
And through this partiall loue of theyrs seditiously increast
A hurlyburly, till the time that Ioue among them preast,
And sayd. So smally doo you stand in awe of mee this howre,
As thus too rage? Thinkes any of you himself too haue such powre,
As for too alter destinye? I tell you Iölay
Recouered hath by destinye his yeeres erst past away.
Callirrhoës children must returne too youth by destiny,
And not by force of armes, or sute susteynd ambitiously.
And too th' entent with meelder myndes yee may this matter beare,
Euen I myself by destinyes am rulde. which if I were
Of power too alter, thinke you that our Aeacus should stoope
By reason of his feeble age? or Radamanth should droope?
Or Minos, who by reason of his age is now disdeynd,
And liues not in so sure a state as heretoofore he reygnd?
The woords of Ioue so movd the Gods that none of them complaynd,
Sith Radamanth and Aeacus were both with age constreynd:
And Minos also: who (as long as lusty youth did last,)
Did euen with terror of his name make myghty Realmes agast.
But then was Minos weakened sore, and greatly stood in feare
Of Milet one of Deyons race: who proudly did him beare
Uppon his father Phoebus and the stoutnesse of his youth.
And though he feard he would rebell: yit durst he not his mouth
Once open for too banish him his Realme: vntill at last
Departing of his owne accord, Miletus swiftly past
The Gotesea and did build a towne vppon the Asian ground,
Which still reteynes the name of him that first the same did found.
And there the daughter of the brooke Mæander which dooth go
So often backward, Cyane a Nymph of body so
Exceeding comly as the lyke was seldome heard of, as
Shee by her fathers wynding bankes for pleasure walking was,
Was knowen by Milet: vnto whom a payre of twinnes shee brought,
And of the twinnes the names were Caune and Byblis. Byblis ought
Too bee a mirror vntoo Maydes in lawfull wyse too loue.
This Byblis cast a mynd too Caune. but not as did behoue
A suster too her brotherward. When first of all the fyre
Did kindle, shee perceyvd it not. Shee thought in her desyre
Of kissing him so oftentymes no sin, ne yit no harme
In cleeping him about the necke so often with her arme.
The glittering glosse of godlynesse beguyld her long. Her loue
Began from euill vntoo woorse by little too remoue.
Shee commes too see her brother deckt in braue and trim attyre,
And for too seeme exceeding fayre it was her whole desyre.
And if that any fayrer were in all the flocke than shee,
It spyghts her. In what case she was as yit shee did not see.
Her heate exceeded not so farre as for too vow: and yit
Shee suffred in her troubled brist full many a burning fit.
Now calleth shee him mayster, now shee vtter hateth all
The names of kin. Shee rather had he should her Byblis call
Than suster. yit no filthy hope shee durst permit too creepe
Within her mynd awake. But as shee lay in quiet sleepe,
Shee oft behild her loue: and oft she thought her brother came
And lay with her, and (though a sleepe) shee blushed at the same.
When sleepe was gone, she long lay dumb still musing on the syght,
And said with wauering mynd. Now wo is mee most wretched wyght.
What meenes the image of this dreame that I haue seene this nyght?
I would not wish it should bee trew. Why dreamed I then so?
Sure hee is fayre although hee should bee iudged by his fo.
Hee likes mee well. and were he not my brother, I myght set
My loue on him, and he were mee ryght woorthy for too get,
But vnto this same match the name of kinred is a let.
Well. So that I wake doo still mee vndefyled keepe,
Let come as often as they will such dreamings in my sleepe.
In sleepe there is no witnesse by. In sleepe yit may I take
As greate a pleasure (in a sort) as if I were awake.
Oh Venus and thy tender sonne Sir Cupid, what delyght,
How present feeling of your sport hath touched mee this nyght?
How lay I as it were resolvd both maree, flesh, and bone?
How gladdes it mee too thinke thereon? Alas too soone was gone
That pleasure, and too hastye and despyghtfull was the nyght
In breaking of my ioyes. O Lord if name of kinred myght
Betweene vs twoo remoued mee, how well it would agree
O Caune that of thy father I the daughtrinlaw should bee?
How fitly myght my father haue a sonneinlaw of thee?
Would God that all saue auncesters were common too vs twayne
I would thou were of nobler stocke than I. I cannot sayne
O perle of beautie what shee is whom thou shalt make a mother.
Alas how ill befalles it mee that I could haue none other
Than those same parents which are thyne? So only still my brother
And not my husband mayst thou bee. The thing that hurts vs bothe
Is one, and that betweene vs ay inseparably gothe.
what meene my dreames the? what effect haue dreames? & may there bee
Effect in dreames? The Gods are farre in better case than wee.
For why? the Gods haue matched with theyr susters as wee see.
So Saturne did alie with Ops the neerest of his blood.
So Tethys with Oceanus: So Ioue did think it good
Too take his suster Iuno too his wyfe. What then? the Goddes
Haue lawes and charters by themselues. And sith there is such oddes
Betweene the state of vs and them, why should I sample take,
Our worldly matters equall with the heauenly things too make?
This wicked loue shall eyther from my hart be driuen away,
Or if it can not bee expulst, God graunt I perish may.
And that my brother kisse me layd on Herce too go too graue.
But my desyre the full consent of both of vs dooth craue.
Admit the matter liketh me. He will for sin it take.
But yit the sonnes of Aeolus no scrupulousnesse did make
In going too theyr susters beds. And how come I too know
The feates of them? Too what intent theis samples doo I show?
Ah whither am I headlong driuen? auaunt foule filthy fyre:
And let mee not in other wyse than susterlyke desyre
My brothers loue. Yit if that he were first in loue with mee,
His fondnesse too inclyne vntoo perchaunce I could agree.
Shall I therefore who would not haue reiected him if hee
Had sude too mee, go sue too him? and canst thou speake in deede?
And canst thou vtter forth thy mynd? and tell him of thy neede?
My loue will make mee speake. I can. Or if that shame doo stay
My toong, a sealed letter shall my secret loue bewray.
This likes her best. vppon this poynt now restes her doubtful mynd
So raysing vp herself vppon her leftsyde shee enclynd,
And leaning on her elbow sayd. Let him aduyse him what
Too doo, for I my franticke loue will vtter playne and flat.
Alas too what vngraciousnesse intend I for too fall?
What furie raging in my hart my senses dooth appall?
In thinking so, with trembling hand shee framed her too wryght
The matter that her troubled mynd in musing did indyght.
Her ryght hand holdes the pen, her left dooth hold the empty wax.
Shee ginnes. Shee doutes, shee wryghtes: shee in the tables findeth lacks.
Shee notes, she blurres, dislikes, and likes: and chaungeth this for that.
Shee layes away the booke, and takes it vp. Shee wotes not what
She would herself. What euer thing shee myndeth for too doo
Misliketh her. A shamefastnesse with boldenesse mixt theretoo
Was in her countnance. Shee had once writ Suster: Out agen
The name of Suster for too raze shee thought it best. And then
Shee snatcht the tables vp, and did theis following woords ingraue.
The health which if thou giue her not shee is not like too haue
Thy louer wisheth vntoo thee. I dare not ah for shame
I dare not tell thee who I am, nor let thee heare my name.
And if thou doo demaund of mee what thing I doo desyre,
Would God that namelesse I myght pleade the matter I requyre,
And that I were vnknowen too thee by name of Byblis, till
Assurance of my sute were wrought according too my will.
As tokens of my wounded hart myght theis too thee appeere:
My colour pale, my body leane, my heauy mirthlesse cheere,
My watry eyes, my sighes without apparant causes why,
My oft embracing of thee: and such kisses (if perdye
Thou marked them) as very well thou might haue felt and found
Not for too haue beene Susterlike. But though with greeuous wound
I then were striken too the hart. although the raging flame
Did burne within: yit take I God too witnesse of the same,
I did as much as lay in mee this outrage for too tame.
And long I stryued (wretched wench) too scape the violent Dart
Of Cupid. More I haue endurde of hardnesse & of smart,
Than any wench (a man would think) were able too abyde.
Force forceth mee too shew my case which faine I still would hyde,
And mercy at thy gentle hand in fearfull wyse too craue.
Thou only mayst the lyfe of mee thy louer spill or saue.
Choose which thou wilt. No enmy craues this thing: but such a one
As though shee bee alyde so sure as surer can bee none,
Yit couets shee more surely yit alyed for too bee,
And with a neerer kynd of band too link her selfe too thee.
Let aged folkes haue skill in law: too age it dooth belong
Too keepe the rigor of the lawes and search out ryght from wrong.
Such youthfull yeeres as ours are yit rash folly dooth beseeme.
Wee know not what is lawfull yit. And therefore wee may deeme
That all is lawfull that wee list: ensewing in the same
The dooings of the myghtye Goddes. Not dread of worldly shame
Nor yit our fathers roughnesse, no nor fearfulnesse should let
Our purpose. Only let all feare asyde be wholy set.
Wee vnderneath the name of kin our pleasant scapes may hyde.
Thou knowest I haue libertie too talke with thee a syde.
And openly wee kysse and cull. And what is all the rest
That wants? Haue mercy on mee now, who playnly haue exprest
My ease: which thing I had not done, but that the vtter rage
Of loue constreynes mee therevntoo the which I cannot swage.
Deserue not on my tumb thy name subscribed for too haue,
That thou art he whose cruelnesse did bring mee too my graue.
Thus much shee wrate in vayne, and wax did want her too indyght,
And in the margent she was fayne the latter verse too wryght.
Immediatly too seale her shame shee takes a precious stone,
The which shee moystes with teares: fro tung the moysture quight was gone.
Shee calld a seruant shamefastly, and after certaine fayre
And gentle woords, my trusty man I pray thee beare this payre
Of tables (quoth shee) too my (and a great whyle afterward
Shee added) brother. Now through chaunce or want of good regard
The table slipped downe too ground in reaching too him ward
The handsell troubled sore her mynd. But yit shee sent them. And
Her seruant spying tyme did put them intoo Caunyes hand.
Mæanders nephew sodeinly in anger floong away
The tables ere he half had red, (scarce able for too stay
His fistocke from the seruants face who quaakt) and thus did say.
Auaunt thou baudye ribawd whyle thou mayst. For were it not
For shame I should haue killed thee. Away afrayd he got,
And told his mistresse of the feerce and cruell answer made
By Caunye. By and by the hew of Byblis gan too fade,
And all her body was benumd with Icie colde for feare
Too heere of this repulse. Assoone as that her senses were
Returnd ageine, her furious flames returned with her witts.
And thus shee sayd so oft that scarce hir toong the ayer hitts
And woorthely. For why was I so rash as too discouer
By hasty wryghting this my wound which most I ought to couer.
I should with dowtfull glauncing woords haue felt his humor furst,
And made a trayne too trye him if pursue or no he durst.
I should haue vewed first the coast, too see the weather cleere,
And then I myght haue launched sauf and boldly from the peere.
But now I hoyst vp all my sayles before I tryde the wynd:
And therfore am I driuen vppon the rockes ageinst my mynd,
And all the sea dooth ouerwhelme mee. Neyther may I fynd
The meanes too get too harbrough, or from daunger too retyre.
Why did not open tokens warne too bridle my desyre,
Then when the tables falling in deliuering them declaard
My hope was vaine? And ought not I then eyther too haue spaard
From sending them as that day? or haue chaunged whole my mynd?
Nay rather shifted of the day? For had I not beene blynd
Euen God himself by soothfast signes the sequele seemd too hit.
Yea rather than too wryghting thus my secrets too commit,
I should haue gone and spoke myself, and presently haue showde
My feruent loue. He should haue seene how teares had from mee flowde.
Hee should haue seene my piteous looke ryght louerlike. I could
Haue spoken more than intoo those my tables enter would.
About his necke against his will, myne armes I myght haue wound
And had he shaakt me of, I myght haue seemed for too swound.
I humbly myght haue kist his feete, and kneeling on the ground
Besought him for too saue my lyfe. All theis I myght haue proued,
Wherof although no one alone his stomacke could haue moued.
Yit all toogither myght haue made his hardened hart relent.
Perchaunce there was some fault in him that was of message sent.
He stept vntoo him bluntly (I beleeue) and did not watch
Conuenient tyme, in merrie kew at leysure him too catch.
Theis are the things that hindred mee. For certeinly I knowe
No sturdy stone nor massy steele dooth in his stomacke grow.
He is not made of Adamant. He is no Tygers whelp.
He neuer sucked Lyonesse. He myght with little help
Bee vanquisht. Let vs giue fresh charge vppon him. Whyle I liue
Without obteyning victorie I will not ouer giue.
For firstly (if it lay in mee my dooings too reuoke)
I should not haue begonne at all. But seeing that the stroke
Is giuen, the second poynt is now too giue the push too win.
For neyther he (although that I myne enterpryse should blin)
Can euer whyle he liues forget my deede. And sith I shrink,
My loue was lyght, or else I meant too trap him, he shall think.
Or at the least he may suppose that this my rage of loue
Which broyleth so within my brest, proceedes not from aboue
By Cupids stroke, but of some foule and filthy lust. In fyne
I cannot but too wickednesse now more and more inclyne.
By wryghting is my sute commenst: my meening dooth appeere:
And though I cease: yit can I not accounted bee for cleere.
Now that that dooth remayne behynd is much as in respect
My fond desyre too satisfy: and little in effect
Too aggrauate my fault withall. Thus much shee sayd. And so
Unconstant was her wauering mynd still floting too and fro,
That though it irkt her for too haue attempted, yit poceedes
Shee in the self same purpose attempting, and exceedes
All measure. and vnhapy wench shee takes from day too day
Repulse vpon repulse, and yit shee hath not grace too stay.
Soone after when her brother saw there was with her no end,
He fled his countrie forbycause he would not so offend,
And in a forreine land did buyld a Citie. Then men say
That Byblis through despayre and thought all wholy did dismay.
Shee tare her garments from her brest, and furiously shee wroong,
Her hands, and beete her armes, and like a bedlem with her toong
Confessed her vnlawfull loue But beeing of the same
Dispoynted, shee forsooke her land and hatefull house for shame,
And followed after flying Caune. And as the Froes of Thrace
In dooing of the three yeere rites of Bacchus: in lyke cace
The maryed wyues of Bubasie saw Byblis howling out
Through all theyr champion feeldes The which shee leauing, ran about
In Caria too the Lelegs who are men in battell stout,
And so too Lycia. Shee had past Crag, Limyre, and the brooke
Of Xanthus, and the countrie where Chymæra that same pooke
Hath Goatish body, Lions head and brist, and Dragons tayle,
When woods did want: and Byblis now beginning for too quayle
Through weerynesse in following Caune, sank down and layd her hed
Ageinst the ground, and kist the leaues that wynd from trees had sted.
The Nymphes of Caria went about in tender armes too take
Her often vp. They oftentymes perswaded her too slake
Her loue. And woords of comfort too her deafe eard mynd they spake.
Shee still lay dumbe: and with her nayles the greenish herbes shee hild,
And moysted with a streame of teares the grasse vpon the feeld.
The waternymphes (so folk report) put vnder her a spring,
Whych neuer myght be dryde: and could they giue a greater thing?
Immediatly euen like as when yee wound a pitchtree rynd,
The gum dooth issue out in droppes: or as the westerne wynd
With gentle blast toogither with the warmth of Sunne, vnbynd
The yce: or as the clammy kynd of cement which they call
Bitumen issueth from the ground full fraughted therewithall:
So Phoebus neece Dame Byblis then consuming with her teares,
Was turnd too a fountaine, which in those same vallyes beares
The tytle of the founder still, and gusheth freshly out
From vnderneath a Sugarchest as if it were a spowt.
The fame of this same wondrous thing perhappes had filled all
The hundred Townes of Candye had a greater not befall
More neerer home by Iphys meanes transformed late before.
For in the shyre of Phestos hard by Gnossus dwelt of yore
A yeoman of the meaner sort that Lyctus had too name.
His stocke was simple, and his welth according too the same.
Howbeet his lyfe so vpryght was, as noman could it blame.
He came vntoo his wyfe then big and ready downe too lye,
And sayd: twoo things I wish thee. Tone, that when thou out shalt crye,
Thou mayst dispatch with little payne: the other that thou haue
A Boay. For Gyrles too bring them vp a greater cost doo craue.
And I haue no abilitie. And therefore if thou bring
A wench (it goes ageinst my heart too thinke vppon the thing)
Although ageinst my will, I charge it streyght destroyed bee.
The bond of nature needes must beare in this behalf with mee.
This sed, both wept exceedingly, as well the husband who
Did giue commaundement, as the wyfe that was commaunded too.
Yit Telethusa earnestly at Lyct her husband lay,
(Although in vayne) too haue good hope, and of himselfe more stay.
But he was full determined. Within a whyle, the day
Approched that the frute was rype, and shee did looke too lay
Her belly euery mynute: when at midnyght in her rest
Stood by her (or did seeme too stand) the Goddesse Isis, drest
And trayned with the solemne pomp of all her rytes. Twoo hornes
Uppon her forehead lyke the moone, with eares of rypened cornes
Stood glistring as the burnisht gold. Moreouer shee did weare
A rich and stately diademe. Attendant on her were
The barking bug Anubis, and the saint of Bubast, and
The pydecote Apis, and the God that giues too vnderstand
By fingar holden too his lippes that men should silence keepe,
And Lybian wormes whose stinging dooth enforce continuall sleepe,
And thou Osyris whom the folk of Aegypt euer seeke,
And neuer can haue sought inough, and Rittlerattles eke.
Then euen as though that Telethuse had fully beene awake,
And seene theis things with open eyes, thus Isis too her spake.
My seruant Telethusa, cease this care, and breake the charge
Of Lyct. And when Lucina shall haue let thy frute at large,
Bring vp the same what ere it bee I am a Goddesse who
Delyghts in helping folke at neede. I hither come too doo
Thee good. thou shalt not haue a cause hereafter too complayne
Of seruing of a Goddesse that is thanklesse for thy payne.
When Isis had this comfort giuen, shee went her way agayne.
A ioyfull wyght rose Telethuse, and lifting too the sky
Her hardened hands, did pray hir dreame myght woorke effectually.
Her throwes increast, and forth alone anon the burthen came,
A wench was borne too Lyctus who knew nothing of the same.
The mother making him beleeue it was a boay, did bring
It vp, and none but shee and nurce were priuie too the thing.
The father thanking God did giue the chyld the Graundsyres name,
The which was Iphys. Ioyfull was the moother of the same,
Bycause the name did serue alike too man and woman bothe,
And so the lye through godly guile forth vnperceyued gothe.
The garments of it were a boayes. The face of it was such
As eyther in a boay or gyrle of beawtie vttered much.
When Iphys was of thirteene yeeres, her father did insure
The browne Ianthee vntoo her, a wench of looke demure,
Commended for her fauor and her person more than all
The Maydes of Phestos: Telest, men her fathers name did call.
He dwelt in Dyctis. They were bothe of age and fauor leeke,
And vnder both one schoolemayster they did for nurture seeke.
And herevpon the hartes of both, the dart of Loue did streeke.
And wounded both of them aleeke. But vnlike was theyr hope.
Both longed for the wedding day toogither for too cope.
For whom Ianthee thinkes too bee a man, shee hopes too see
Her husband. Iphys loues whereof shee thinkes shee may not bee
Partaker, and the selfe same thing augmenteth still her flame.
Herself a Mayden with a Mayd (ryght straunge) in loue became.
Shee scarce could stay her teares. What end remaynes for mee (quoth shee)
How straunge a loue? how vncoth? how prodigious reygnes in mee?
If that the Gods did fauor mee, they should destroy mee quyght.
Or if they would not mee destroy, at least wyse yit they myght
Haue giuen mee such a maladie as myght with nature stond,
Or nature were acquainted with. A Cow is neuer fond
Uppon a Cow, nor Mare on Mare. The Ram delyghts the Eawe,
The Stag the Hynde, the Cocke the Hen. But neuer man could shew,
That female yit was tane in loue with female kynd. O would
Too God I neuer had beene borne. Yit least that Candy should
Not bring foorth all that monstruous were, the daughter of the Sonne
Did loue a Bull. Howbeet there was a Male too dote vppon.
My loue is furiouser than hers, if truthe confessed bee.
For shee was fond of such a lust as myght bee compast. Shee
Was serued by a Bull beguyld by Art in Cow of tree.
And one there was for her with whom aduowtrie to commit.
If all the conning in the worlde and slyghts of suttle wit
Were heere, or if that Dædalus himselfe with vncowth wing
Of Wax should hither fly againe, what comfort should he bring?
Could he with all his conning crafts now make a boay of mee?
Or could he O Iänthee chaunge the natiue shape of thee?
Nay rather Iphys settle thou thy mynd and call thy witts
Abowt thee: shake thou of theis flames that foolishly by fitts
With out all reason reigne. Thou seest what Nature hathe thee made
(Onlesse thow wilt deceyue thy selfe.) So farre foorth wysely wade,
As ryght and reason may support, and loue as women ought
Hope is the thing that breedes desyre, hope feedes the amorous thought.
This hope thy sex denieth thee. Not watching doth restreyne
Thee from embracing of the thing wherof thou art so fayne.
Nor yit the Husbands iealowsie, nor rowghnesse of her Syre,
Nor yit the coynesse of the Wench dooth hinder thy desyre.
And yit thou canst not her enioy. No though that God and man
Should labor too their vttermost and doo the best they can
In thy behalfe, they could not make a happy wyght of thee.
I cannot wish the thing but that I haue it. Frank and free
The Goddes haue giuen mee what they could. As I will, so will hee
That must become my fathrinlaw. so willes my father too.
But nature stronger than them all consenteth not theretoo.
This hindreth mee, and nothing else. Behold the blisfull tyme,
The day of Mariage is at hand. Iänthee shalbee myne,
And yit I shall not her enioy. Amid the water wee
Shall thirst. O Iuno president of mariage, why with thee
Comes Hymen too this wedding where no brydegroome you shall see,
But bothe are Brydes that must that day toogither coupled bee?
This spoken, shee did hold hir peace. And now the toother mayd
Did burne as whote in loue as shee. And earnestly shee prayd
The brydale day myght come with speede. The thing for which shee longd
Dame Telethusa fearing sore, from day too day prolongd
The tyme, oft feyning siknesse, oft pretending shee had seene
Ill tokens of successe. at length all shifts consumed beene.
The wedding day so oft delayd was now at hand. The day
Before it, taking from her head the kercheef quyght away,
And from her daughters head likewyse, with scattred heare she layd
Her handes vpon the Altar, and with humble voyce thus prayd.
O Isis who doost haunt the towne of Paretonie, and
The feeldes by Maræotis lake, and Pharos which dooth stand
By Alexandria, and the Nyle diuided intoo seuen
Great channels, comfort thou my feare, and send mee help from heauen,
Thyself O Goddesse, euen thyself, and theis thy relikes I
Did once behold and knew them all: as well thy company
As eke thy sounding rattles, and thy cressets burning by,
And myndfully I marked what commaundement thou didst giue.
That I escape vnpunished, that this same wench dooth liue,
Thy counsell and thy hest it is. Haue mercy now on twayne,
And help vs. With that word the teares ran downe her cheekes amayne.
The Goddesse seemed for too moue her Altar: and in deede
She moued it. The temple doores did tremble like a reede.
And hornes in likenesse too the Moone about the Church did shyne.
And Rattles made a raughtish noyse. At this same luckie signe,
Although not wholy carelesse, yit ryght glad shee went away.
And Iphys followed after her with larger pace than ay
Shee was accustomd. And her face continued not so whyght.
Her strength encreased, and her looke more sharper was too syght.
Her heare grew shorter, and shee had a much more liuely spryght,
Than when shee was a wench. For thou O Iphys who ryght now
A modther wert, art now a boay. With offrings both of yow
Too Church retyre, and there reioyce with fayth vnfearfull. They
With offrings went too Church ageine, and there theyr vowes did pay.
They also set a table vp, which this breef meeter had.
The vovves that Iphys vovvd a vvench he hath performd a Lad.
Next morrow ouer all the world did shine with lightsome flame,
When Iuno, and Dame Venus, and Sir Hymen ioyntly came
Too Iphys mariage, who as then transformed too a boay
Did take Iänthee too his wyfe, and so her loue enioy

Finis noni Libri