dares reprehend him Notwithstanding I will say something not in way of detraction but that we also may be able to grow with his greatnesse Then speaking of his Metamorphosis Bookes deseruing a more fortunate Author that from his last hand they might haue had their perfection which hee himselfe bewaileth in luculent Verses Yet are there in these well-nigh an infinite number which the wit of an other I beleeue could neuer haue equall'd And thus exclaimes against Caesar in the person of OVID. Tyrant with me I would thou badst begun Nor thy black slaughters had my fate fore-run If my licentious Youth incenst thee so Thy owne condemnes thee into exile goe Thy Cabinets are stain'd with horrid deeds And thy soule guilt all monstrous names exceeds Diuine wit innocence nor yet my tongue Next to Apollo's could preuent my wrong I smoeth'd th' old Poets with my fluent vaine And taught the New a far more numerous strain When thee I prais'd then from the truth I sweru'd And banishment for that alone deseru'd can hee said to transcend him What should I say of that singular and well-nigh diuine contexture of Fable with Fable so surpassing that nothing can bee spoken or done more artificially more excellently or indeed more gracefully Who handling such diuersitie of matter so cunningly weaues them together that all appeare but one Series Planudes well knowing that Greece had not a Poem so abounding with delight and beautie translated it into that language What should I say more All Arts which Antiquitie knew are here so fully delineated that a number expert in both tongues of prime vnderstanding and iudgements admire it beyond all expression The first that writ a Commentarie on this booke whereof fiftie thousand were vented and that in his life time was RAPHAEL REGIVS Who thus in his Preface There is nothing appertaining to the knowledge and glorie of warre whereof wee haue not famous examples in the Metamorphosis of OVID not to speake of stratagems nor the Orations of Commanders described with such efficacie and eloquence that often in reading you will imagine your selfe imbroiled in their conflicts Neither shall you finde any Author from whom a ciuill life may gather better instruction IACOBVS MICYLLVS Hardly shall you find a Poem which flowes with greater facilitie For what should I speake of Learning Herein so great so various and abstruse that many places haue neither beene explained nor yet vnderstood no not by the most knowing requiring rather a resolution from the Delian Oracle c. Let the ingenuous that affect not error now rectifie their owne by the iudgements of these But incurable Criticks who warre about words and gail the sound to feed on their sores as not desiring their sanitie I forbeare to disswade and deliuer them vp to the censure of Agrippa QVOD OLIM FACIEBAT VOTVM GERMANIâ—O OVIDIVS IDEM AVGVSTISSâ—MO CAROLO Interpretis sui nomine â—acuâ—nt OVIDIANI MANES EXcipe pacato Caesaâ— Brittannice vultu â—â—oc â—pus 〈◊〉 tim dâ— dirige nauis â—ter Officioqus lâ—uem non auâ—â—â—atuâ— honorem Hu◠〈…〉 dexter ades Hâ—â—c â—e da placâ—â—um dâ—deris in carmine vires Ingenium vnitu statque caditque tuo Pagâ—a◠〈…〉 docte subâ—turâ— moâ—etur Principis vt Clarâ—o missa legenda Deâ— OVID'S METAMORPHOSIS The first Booke THE ARGVMENT THe World form'd out of Chaos Man is made The Ages change The Giants Heauen inuade Earth turnes their blouâ— to men Ioue's flames confound Lâ—caon now a Wolfe The World is drown'd Man-kind cast stones restore All quickning Earth Renews the rest and giues new Monsters birth Apollo Python kills hart-wounded loues Lust-flying Daphâ—é She a Laurel proues Ioue 〈◊〉 made a Cow to maske foule deeds Hermes a Heards-man Syriâ—x chang'd to Reeds Dead Argus eyes adorn the Peacock's traine The Cow to Iâ— loue transform's againe OF formes to other bodies chang'd I sing Assist you Gods from you these wonders spring And from the Worlds first fabrick to these times Deduce my neuer discontinued Rymes The Sea the Earth al-couering Heauen vnfram'd One face had nature which they Chaos nam'd An vndigested lump a barren load Where iarrâ—ing seeds of things ill-ioyn'd aboad No Titan yet the World with light adornes Nor waxing Phoebe fill'd her waned hornes Nor hung the selfe-poiz'd Earth in thin Ayre plac't Nor Amphitrite the vast shore imbrac't With Earth was Ayre and Sea the Earth vnstable The Ayre was darke the Sea vn-nauigable No certaine forme to any one assign'd This that resists For in one body ioyn'd The Cold and Hot the Drie and Humid fight The Soft and Hard the Heauy with the Light But God the better Nature this decides Who Earth from Heauen the Sea from earth diuides And purer Heauen extracts from grosser Ayre All which vnfolded by his prudent care From that blinde Masse the happily dis-ioyn'd With strifelesse peace he to their seats confin'd Forth-with vp-sprung the quicke and waightlesse Fire Whose flames vnto the highest Arch aspire The next in leuitie and place is Ayre Grosse Elements to thicker Earth repayre Selfe-clog'd with waight the Waters flowing round Possesse the last and solid Tellus bound What God soeuer this diuision wrought And euery part to due proportion brought First lest the Earth vnequall should appâ—are He turn'd it round in figure of a Sphere Then Seas diffus'd commanding them to rore With ruffling Winds and giue the Land a shore To those hâ— addeth Springs Ponds Lakes immense And Riuers whom their winding borders fence Of these not few Earth's thirstie iawes deuour The rest their streames into the Ocean pour When in that liquid Plaine with freer waue The fomy Cliffs in stead of Banks they laue Bids Trees increase to Woods the Plaines extend The rocky Mountaynes rise and Vales descend Two equall Zones on either side dispose The measur'd Heauens a fifth more hot than those â—s many Lines th'included Globe diuide â—th'midst vnsufferable beames reside â—now clothes the other two the temperate hold Twixt these their seats the heat well mixt with cold As Earth as Water vpper Ayre out-waighs â—o much doth Ayre Fire's lighter balance raise â—here he commands the changing Clouds to stray â—here thundering terrors mortall mindes dismay And with the Lightning Winds ingendring Snow Yet not permitted euery way to blow Who hardly now to teare the World refraine â—So Brothers iarre thoughâ— they diuided raigne â—o Persis and Sabaea Eurus flies Whose fruits perfume the blushing Mornes vp-rise â—ext to the Euening and the Coast the glowes â—ith setting Phoebus flowry Zeph'rus blowes 〈◊〉 Scythia horrid Boreas holds his raigne â—eneath Bootes and the frozen Waine The Land to this oppos'd doth Auster steep With fruitfull showrs and clouds which euer weep â—boue all these he plac't the liquid Skies Which void of earthly dregs did highest rise Scarce had he all thus orderly dispos'd When-as the Starres their radiant heads disclos'd â— Long 〈◊〉 in Night and shone through all the skie Then that no place should vnpossessed lie
â—right Constellations and fair-figured Gods â—n heauenly Mansions fixt their blest abodes The glittering Fishes to the Flouds repayre The Beasts to Earth the Birds resort to Ayre The nobler Creature with a minde possest Was wanting yet that should command the rest That Maker the best World's originall Either 〈◊〉 framâ—d of see Coelestiall Or Earth which late he did from Heauen diuide Some sacred seeds retayn'd to Heauen ally'd Which with the liuing streame Prometheus mixt And in that artificiall structure fixt The forme of all th' all-ruling Deities And where as others see with downe-cast eyes He with a loftie looke did Manâ—indue And bade him Heauens transcendent glories view So that rude Clay which had no forme afore Thus chang'd of Man the vnknowne figure bore The Golden Age was first which vncompeld And without rule in Faith and Truth exceld As then there was nor punishment nor feare Nor threatning Lawes in brasse prescribed were Nor suppliant crouching prisâ—ners shooke to see Their â—â—grie Iudge but all was safe and free To visit other Worlds no wounded Pine Did yet from Hills to faithlesse Seas decline Then vnambitious Mortals knew no more But their owne Countrie 's Nature-bounded shore Nor Swords nor Armes were yet no trenches round Besieged Iownes nor striâ—â—efull Trumpets sound The Souldier of no vâ—e In firme content And harmelesse ease their happy dayes were spent The yet-free 〈◊〉 did of her owne accord Vntoinâ—â— wit vploughs all sorts of fruit afford Content with Natures vn-enforced food They gather Wildings Strawb'ries of the Wood â—owre Cornels what vpon the Bramble growes And Acorns which Ioue's spreading Oke bestowes â—Twas alwayes Spring warme Zophyrus sweetly blew On smiling Flowres which without setting grew â—orth-with the Earth corne vnmanured beares And euery yeere renewes her golden Eares With Milke and Nectar were the Riuers fill'd And yellow Hony from greene Elms distill'd But after Saturne was throwne downe to Hell â—ue rul'd and then the Siluer Age befell â—ore base than Gold and yet than Brasse more pure â—ue chang'd the Spring which alwayes did indure â—o Winter Summer Autumne hot and cold â—he shortned Springs the yeaâ—'s fourth-part vphold â—hen first the glowing Ayre with feruor burn'd â—he Raine to ycicles by bleake winds turn'd â—en houses built late hous'd in Caues profound 〈◊〉 plashed Bowres and Sheds with Oâ—iers bound â—hen first was Corne into long furrowes throwne â—nd Oxen vnder heauâ—e yokes did 〈◊〉 Next vnto this succeeds the Brazen Age â—orse natur'd prompt to horridâ—warre â—â—â—rage 〈◊〉 yet nor wicked Stubborne Yr'â— the 〈◊〉 â—hen blushlesse Crimes which all degrees suâ—past â—he World surround Shame Truth and Faith depart â—â—aud enters ignorant in no bad Art â—â—rce Treason and the wicked Loue of gayn â—heir sailes those winds which yet they knew not strayn â—nd ships which long on loftâ—â— Mountaynes stood â—hen plow'd th' vnpractiz'd bosome of the Flood The Ground as common earst as Light or Ayre By limit-giuing Geometric they share Nor with rich Earth's iust nourishments content For treasure they her secret entrailes rent The powerfull Euill which all power inuades By her well hid and wrapt in Stygian shades Curst Steel more cursed Gold she now forth brought And bloody-handed Warre who with both fought All liue by spoile The Host his Guest betrayes Sons Father-in-lawes 'twixt Brethren loue decayes Wiues husbands husbands wiues attempt to kill And cruell Step-mothers pale poysons fill The Sonne his Fathers hastie death desires Foild Pietie trod vnder foot expires Astraa last of all the heauenly birth Affrighted leaues the blood-defiled Earth And that the Heauens their safetie might suspect The Giants now coelestiall Thrones affect Who to the skies congested Mountaines reare Then Ioue with thunder did Olympus teare Steep Pelion from vnder Ossa throwne With their owne waight their monstrous bodies groâ—e And with her Childrens blood the Earth imbru'd Which shee scarce thoroughly cold with life iudu'd And gaue thereto t'vphold her Stocke the face And forme of Man a God-contemning Race Greedie of slaughter not to be withstood Such as well shews that they were borne of blood Which when from Heauen Saturnius did behold He sigh 't reuoluing what was yet vntold Of fell Lycaoâ—'s late ihhumane feast Iust anger worthy Ioue inflam'd his breast A Synod call'd the summoned appeare There is a way well seene when skies be cleare Tho Milkie nam'd by this the Gods resort Vnto th' Almightie Thunderers high Court With euer-open dores on either hand Of nobler Deities the Houses stand The Vulgar dwell disperst the Chiefe and Great In front of all their shining Mansions seat This glorious Roofe I would not doubt to call Had I but boldnes lent me Heauen 's White-hall All set on Marble seats He leaning on His Iuory Scepter in a higher Throne Did twice or thrice his dreadfull Tresses shake The Earth the Sea the Stars though fixed quake Then thus inflam'd with indignation spake I was not more perplext in that sad Time For this Worlds Monarchie when bold to clime The Serpent-footed Giants durst inuade And would on Heauen their hundred-hands haue laid Though fierce the Foe yet did that Warre depend But of one Body and had soone an end Now all the race of man I must confound Where-euer Nerâ—us walks his wauy Round And this I vow by those infernall Floods Which slowly glide through silent Stygian woods All cures first sought such parts as health reiect Must be cut off least they the sound infect Our Demi-gods Nymphs Syluans Satyres Faunes Who haunt cleare Springs high Mountayns Woods and Lawnes On whom since yet we please not to bestow Coelestiall dwellings must subsist below Thinke you you Gods they can in safetie rest When me of lightning and of you possest Who both at our Imperiall pleasure sway The sterne Lycaon practiz'd to betray All bluster and in rage the wretch demand So when bold Treason sought with impious hand By Caesar's bloud t'out-race the Roman name Man-kind and all the World 's affrighted Frame Astonisht at so great a ruine shooke Nor thine for Thee lesse thought Augustus tooke Than they for Ioue He when he had supprest Their murmur thus proceeded to the rest He hath his punishment remit that care The manner how I will in briefe declare The Times accus'd but as I hop't bely'd To trie I downe from steep Olympus slide A God transform'd like one of humane birth I wandred through the many-peopl'd Earth 'T were long to tell what crimes of euery sort Swarm'd in all parts the truth exceeds report Now past den-dreadfull Maenalus confines Cylâ—ene cold Lycaeus clad with Pines There where th' Arcadians dwell when Doubtfull-light Drew on the deawy Charriot of the Night I entred his vnhospitable Court The better Vulgar to their pray'rs resort When I by signes had showne a Gods repayr Lycaâ—n first derides their zealous pray'r Then said We straight the vndoubted truth will trie Whether he be immortall or may die In dead of night when all was whist and still Me in
black now mourne And what the fire had left lay in one vrne Here ended she Some intermission made Leucothoê her sisters silent said This Sunne who all directeth with his light Weake Loue hath tam'd his loues we now recite He first discouer'd the adulterie Of Mars and Venus nothing scapes his eye And in displeasure told to Iuno's sonne Their secret stealths and where the deed was done His spirits faint his hands could not sustaine The worke in hand Forthwith he forg'd a chaine With nets of brasse that might the eye deceaue Lesse curious far the webs which Spiders weâ—uc Made pliant to each touch and apt to close This he about the guiltie bed bestowes No sooner these Adulterer's were met Than caught in his so strangely forged net Who strugling in compeld imbracements lay The Iuory doores then Vulcan doth desplay And calls the Gods The shamefully lay bound Yet one a wanton wisht to be so found The heauenly dwellers laugh This tale was told Through all the Round and mirth did long vphold Venus incenst on him who this disclos'd A memorable punishment impos'd And he of late so tyrannous to Loue Loue 's tyrannie in iust exchange doth proue Hyperion's sonne what boots thy pearcing sight Thy feature colour or thy radiant light For thou who earth inflamest with thy fires Art now thy selfe inflam'd with new desires Thy melting eyes alone Leucothoê view And giue to her what to the World is dew Now in the East thou hastnest thy vp-rise Now slowly sett'st euen loth to leaue the skyes And while that Obiect thus exacts thy stay Thou addest houres vnto the Winters day Oft in thy face thy mindes disease appeares Affrighting all the darkned World with feares Not Cynchia's interposed Orbe doth moue These pale aspects this colour springs from loue Shee all thy thoughts ingrost nor didst thou care For Clymen c for her who Circes bare For Khodos Clytie who in loue abounds Although despis'd though tortur'd with two wounds All all were buried in LeucothoeÌ„ Borne in sweet Saba of Eurynome As shee in beautic farre surpast all other So much the Daughter farre surpast the Mother Great Orchamus was Father to the Maid Who seuenth from Belus Priscus Persuâ—sway'd In low Hisperian Vales those pastures are Where Phoebus horses oâ— Ambrosrosia fare There tyred with the trauels of the day They renouate what labour doth decay Now while coelestiall food their huâ—â—er seeds And Night in her alternate raigne succeeds In figure of Eurynome the God Approcht the chamber where his life aboad He spinning by a lamp Leucath oâ— found With twice six hand-maids who inclos'd her round Then kissing her her Mother now by Art I haue said he a secret to impart Maids presently with-draw They all obey'd He after he had cleer'd the chamber said The tardie Yeare I measure I am he Who see all Obiects and by whom all see The World 's cloere eye by thy fair solse I sweare I loue thee aboue thought Shot shooke for feare Her spindle and her distasse from her fell And yet that feare became her wondrous well Then his owne forme and radiancy he tooke Though with that vnexpected presence strookes Yet vanquisht by his beautie her complaint Shee said aside and suffred his constraint This Clytic vext his loue obsecur'd no measure Who in the furie of her fell displeasure Divulg'd the quickly-spreading infamy And to her father doth the fact descry Who sterne and sauage shuts vp all remorse From her that'su'd subdew'd she said by force And Sol to witnesse calls He his dishonour Interres aliue and casts a Mount vpon her Hyperion's sonne this batters with his rayes And for her re-ascent a breach displayes Yet could not she aduance her heauy head But life too hasty from her body fled Neuer did Phoelâ—us with such sorrow mourne Since wretched Bhoeton the World did burne Yet striues he with his influence to beget In her cold lims'a life-rouoking heat But since the Fates such great attempts withstood He steep's the place and body in a floud Offragrant Nectar much bewailes her end And sighing said Yet shalt thou heauen ascend Forthwith her body thawes in to a deaw Which from the moy stned earth an odour threw Then through the hill ashrub of Frankincense Thrust vp his crowne and tooke his root from thence Though loue might clyties sorrow haue excus'd Sorrow her tongue Daye 's king her bed refus'd She with distracted passion pines away Detesteth company all night all day Disrobed with her ruffled haire vnbound And wet with humour fits vpon the ground For â—nelong dayes all sustenance for beares Her hunger â—loyd with deaw her thirst with teares Nor rose but â—â—uets on the God her eyes And euer turnes her face to him that flyes At length to earth her stupid body cleaues Her wan complexion turns to bloodlesse-leaues Yet streak't with red her perisht lims beget A flowre resembling the pale Violet Which with the sun though rooted fast doth moue And being changed changeth not her loue Thus she This wondrous story caught their cares To some the same impossible appeares Others that all is possible conclude To true-styl'd Gods but Bacebus they extrude All whist Alcithoê call'd-vpon doth run Her shettle through the web and thus begun T'omit the pastorall loues to few vnknowne Of young Idaean Duphnis turn'd to stone By that vext Nymph who could not else asswage Her iealousie such is a louer's rage And Scython who his nature in innouates Now male now female by alternate Fates With Celmus turn'd into an Adamant Who of his faith to little loue might vant The shorne Curetes got by falling showres crocos and Smilax chang'd to prerty flowres I ouer-passe and will your eares surprize With sweet delight of vnknowne nouelties Then know how Salmacis in famous grew Whose too strong waues all manly strength vndo And mollifie with their soule-sostning touch The cause vnknown their nature knowne too muche Th' ideaean Nymphs nurst in secure delight The sonne of Hermes and faire Aphrodite His father and his mother in his looke You might behold from whom his name he tooke When Summers fiue he thrice had multiply'd Leauing the fount-full Hills of foster Ide He wandred through strange Lands pleas'd with the sight Of forren streames toyle less'ning with delight The Lycian Cities past he treads the grounds Of wealthy Caria which on Lycia bounds There lighted on a Poole so passing cleer That all the glittering bottom did appear Inuiron'd with no marish-louing Reeds Nor piked Bull-rushes nor barren weeds But liuing Turf vpon the border grew Whose euer-Spring no blasting Winter knew A Nymph this haunts vnpractiz'd in the chace To bend a Bow or run a strife-full race Of all the Water-Nimphs this Nymph alone To nimble-footed Dian was vnknowne Her sisters oft would say Fie salmacis Fie lazic sister what a sloth is this Vpon a Quiuer or a Iauelin seaze And with laborious hunting mix thine ease On Quiuer nor on Iauelin would she seaze Nor
groues where â—iber turn'd a Steere To cloke his sons slye theft into a Deere The sand-heape which Corytus Sire containes And where new-barking Merâ— frights the plaines Euryphylus towne where hornes the Matrons sham'd Of â—o when Hercules the Coans tam'd Phoebeian â—hode â—al sian Telchines Drencht by Ioues vengeance in his brothers seas For all transforming with their vitious eyes By Caea's old Carthetan turrets flyes Where fates Alcidamas with wonder moue To thinke his daughter could become a Doue Then Hyries lake Cyâ—neian Tempe view'd Grac't by a Swan with sudden plumes indu'd For Phyllius there had at a Boyes command Wild birds and saluage Lyons brought to hand Who bid to tame a Bull his will perform'd Yet at so sterne a loue not seldome storm'd And his last purchase to the boy deny'd Pouting You 'l wish you had giuen it me he cry'd And iumpt from downe-right cliffs All held him bain'd When spredding wings a siluer Swan sustain'd His Mother ignorant thereof became A Lake with weeping which they Hyrie name Next Pleâ—ron lies where Ophian Combe shuns With trembling wings her life pursuing sons Then neere â—atona-lou'd Calaurea rang'd In which the King and Queene to birds were chang'd 〈◊〉 on the right hand where the beast 〈◊〉 would his mother haue comprest Cephisus spies who for his nephew mourn'd Into a Sea-calfe by Apollo turn'd 〈◊〉 Court whose daughter sads her Sire With mounting wings Her Snakes at length retire To Piren Ephyr men if Fame say true Here at the first from shower-raysd mushrumps grew But after Colchis had the new-wed Dame And Creons Pallace wrapt in Magick flame When impious steele her childrens bloud had shed The ill-reueng'd from Iasons fury fled Whom now the swift Titanian Dragons draw To Pallas towres Those thee iust Phineus saw And thee old Periphas at once to flie Where Polyphemons Neece new wings supply Aegaeus entertaines her of his life The onely staine and took her for his wife Here Theseus maskt vnknown who great in Deed Had two-sea'd Isthmos from oppression freed Whose vndeserued ruin Phasias sought By mortall Aconite from Scythia brought This from Echidna's hel-hound effence drawes There is a blind steepe caue with foggy iawes Through which the bold Tirynthian Heros strain'd Drag'd Cerberus with adamant inchain'd Who backward hung and scouling lookt a-skew On glorious Day with anger rabid grew Thrice howles thrice barks at once with his three heads And on the grasse his spumy poyson sheds This sprung attracting from the fruitfull soyle Dire nourishment and powre of deathfull spoyle The rurall Swaines because it takes delight In liuing rocks surnam'd it Aconite Aegaeus by her fly perswasions wonne As to a foe presents it to his sonne He took the cup when by the iuory hilt Of Theseus sword Aegaeus found her guilt And struck the potion from his lips With charmes Ingendring clouds she scapes his lengthlesse armes Though glad of his sons safetie a chill feare Shooke all his powers that danger was so neere With fire he feeds the Altars richly feasts The Gods with gifts Whole Hecatombs of beasts Their hornes with ribands wreath'd imbrew the ground No day they say was euer so renown'd Amongst th' Athenians Noble vulgar all Together celebrate that Festiuall And sing when flowing bowles their spirits raise Great Theseus Marathon resounds thy praise For slaughter of the Cretan Bull. Secure They liue who Cremyons wasted fields manure By thy exploit and bounty Vulcans Seed By thee glad Epidaure beheld to bleed Immane Procrustes death Cephisia view'd Elusis Cercyon's Scinis ill indu'de With strength so much abus'd who Beeches bent And tortur'd bodyes 'twixt their branches rent Thou slew'st The way which to Alcathoê led Is now secure inhumane Scyron dead The Earth his scatter'd bones a graue deny'd Nor would the Sea his hated reliques hide Which tossed to and fro in time became A solid rock the rock we Scyron name If we thy yeares should number with thy acts Thy yeares would proue a cypher to thy facts Great soule for thee as for our publique wealth We pray and quaffe Lyaeus to thy health The Pallace with the peoples praises rings And sacred Ioy in euery bosome springs Aegaeus yet no pleasure is compleat Griefe twins with ioy for Theseus safe receit Reapes little comfort Minos makes a war Though strong in men and ships yet stronger far Through vengeance of a father who his harmeâ— In slaine Androgeus scourgeth with iust armes Yet wisely first endeuours forraine aid And all the Ilands of that Sea suruai'd Who Anaphe and Astipalea gain'd The one by gifts the other was constrain'd Low Mycone Cimolus chalkie fields High Scyros Siphnus which rich metals yeelds Champion Seriphos Paros far display'd With marble browes and Cythnos il-betray'd By impious Arne for yet-loued gold Turn'd to a Chough whom sable plumes infold Oliaros Didymae the Sea-lou'd soyle Of Tenos l'eparethes fat with oyle Andros and Gyaros these their aid deny'd The Gnossian fleet from thence their sailes apply'd Vnto Oenopia for her children fam'd Oenopia by the ancient dwellers nam'd But Aeacus there raigning call'd the same Aegina of his honour'd mothers name All throng to see a Prince of so great worth Straight â—elamon and Peleus issuing forth With Phocus youngest of that royall race Make haste to meet him With a tardie pace Came aged Aeacus and askt the cause Of his repaire At those sad thoughts he drawes His breath in sighs some intermission made The Ruler of the hundred Cities said Assist our armes borne for my murdred son And in this pious war our fortunes run Giue comfort to his graue The King reply'd In vaine you aske what needs must be deny'd No Citie is in stricter league than ours Conioyn'd to Athens mutuall are our powres He parting said Your league shall cost you deare And held it better far to threat than beare An accidentall warre whereby he might Consume his force before he came to fight Yet might they see the Cretans vnder saile From high built walls when with a leading gale The Atâ—â—ck ship attain'd their friendly shore Which Cephalus and his embassage bore Th Aeacides him knew though many a day Vnseene imbrace and to the Court conuay The goodly Prince who yet the pledges held Of those perfections which in youth exceld Enters the Pallace bearing in his hand A brancit of Oliue At his elbowes stand Clytus and Butes valorous and young Who from the loynes of high-borne Paâ—las sprung First Cephalus his full oration made Which shew'd his message and demanded aid Their leagues an ancient loues to mind recalls And how all Greece was threatned in their falls With eloquence inforc't his embassie When God-like Aeacus made this replie His royall scepter shining in his hand Athenians craue not succour but command This Ilands forces yours vouchsafe to call For in your ayde I will aduenture all Souldiers I haue enow at once t' oppose My enemies and to repell your foes The Gods be prais'd and happy times that will Seeke
with laborious hunting mix her ease But now in her owne Fountayne bathes her faire And shapefull lime now kembs her golden haire Her selfe oft by that liquid mirror drest There taking counsell what became her best Her body in transparant Robes array'd Now on soft leaues or softet mosse display'd Oft gathers flowres so when she saw the Boy Whom seen forthwith shee couets to injoy And yet would not approch though big with haste Till neatly trickt till all in order plac't Her loue-inueighling lookes set to insoare Who merited to be reputed faire Sweet Boy said she well worthy the aboad Of blest coelestialls if thou be a God Then art thou cupid if of humane race Happy the Parents whom thy person grace Thy sister if thou hast a sister blest Thy Nurse muchmore who fed thee with her brest But ô no lesse than deifi'd is shee Whom mariage shall incorporate to thee If any such let me this treasure steale If not be 't I and our dear Nuptials seale This said she held her peace He blusht for shame Not knowing loue whom shamefac'tnesse became So Apples show vpon the sunny side So Iuory with rich Vermillion dy'd So pure a red the filuer Moone doth staine When auxil'ary brasse resounds in vaine Shee earnestly intreats a sisters kisse And now aduancing to imbrace her blisse He struggling said Lasciuious Nymph forbeare Or I will quit the place and leaue you heare Faire Stranger timorous salmaâ— is reply'd I 'T is freely yours and therewith stept aside Yet looking back amongst the shrubby Trees She closely sculks and crouches on her knees The vacant Boy now being left alone Imagining he was obseru'd by none Now here now there about the margent trips And in th'alluring waues his ankles dips Caught with the Water's flattering temp'rature He streight distobes his body ô how pure His naked beautie Salmacis amaz'd Who with vnsatisfied longing gaz'd Her sparkling eyes shoot flames through this sweet error Much like the Sunne reflected by a mirror Now she impatiently her hope delayes Now burns t' imbrace now halfe-madde hardly stayes He swiftly from the banke on which he stood Clapping his body leaps into the flood And with his rowing armes supports his lims Which through the pure waues glister as he swims Like Iuory statues which the life surpasse Or like a Lilly in a crystall glasse He 's mine the Nymph exclaim'd who all vnstript And as she spake into the water skipt Hanging about the neck that did resist And with a mastring force th' vnwilling kist Now puts her hand beneath his scornfull brest Now euery way inuading the distrest And wraps-about the subiect of her lust Much like a Serpent by an Eagle truss't Which to his head and feet infettered clings And wreaths her tayle about his stretcht-out wings So clasping luy to the Oke doth grow And so the Polypus detaines his foe But Atlantiades relentlesse coy Still struggles and resists her hop't-for ioy Inuested with her body foole said shee Struggle thou may'st but neuer shalt be free O you who in immortall thrones reside Grant that no day may euer vs diuide Her wishes had their Gods Euen in that space Their cleauing bodies mix both haue one face As when wee two diuided scions ioyne And see them grow together in one rine So they by such a strict imbracement glew'd Are now but one with double forme Indew'd No longer he a boy not she a maid But neither and yet either might be said Hermaphrodiâ—us at himselfe admires Who halfe a female from the spring retires His manly liâ—â—s now softned and thus prayes With such a voyce as neither sex betrayes Swift Hermes Apâ—rodirâ—â— him ô heare Who was your sonne who both your names doth beare May euery man that in this water swims Returne halfe-woman with infeebled lims His gentle parents signe to his request And with vnknowne receits the spring infest Here they conclude yet giue their hands no rest But Bacchus slight and still prophane his Feast Then suddenly harsh instruments surprize Their charged eares not extant to their eyes Sweet Myrrhe and Saffron all the house perfume Their webs past credit flourish in the loome The hanging wooll to green-leau'd Iuy spreads Part into vines the equall twisted threads To branches run buds from the distâ—â—â—e shoote And with that purple paint their blushing fruit Now to the day succeeds that doubtfull light Which neither can be called day nor night The building trembles torches of fat Pines Appeare to burne the roome with flashes shines Fill'd with fantasticall resemblances Of howling beasts whom blood and slaughter please The Sisters to the smoaky roofe retire And there disperst aâ—oâ—d both â—ight and â—â—re Thus while they corners seeke thin films extend From lightned lims with small beams inter-pend But how their former shapes they did forgoe Concealing darknesse would not let them know Nor are these little Light-detesting things Born-vp with feathers but transparant wings Their voyce besits their bodies small and faint Wherewith they harshly vtter their complaint These houses haunt in night conceale their shame And of the loued Euening take their name All Thebes now feared Bacchus celebrates Whose wondrous powr his boasting Aunt relates She onely of so many sisters knew No griefe as yet but what from them she drew A happy Mother Wife to Athamas Nurse to a God these caus'd her to surpasse The bounds of her felicities and made Vext Iuno storm who to her selfe thus said What could that Strumpets brat the form defeise Of poore Maeonian Saylers drencht in Seas A Mother vrge to murther her owne son And wing the three MineÌ„ides that spun Can I but vn-reuenged wrongs deplore Must that suffize and is our powre no more He teacheth what to doe learne of thy Foe What furie can the wounds of Pentheus show More than too-much Why should not Iâ—o tread The path which late her franticke sisters lead A steepe darke Caue with deadly Ewe repleâ—â— Through silence leads to hell's infernall seat By this dull Styx eiects a blasting furne Here ghosts descend whose bodies earth inhume Amongst those thorns stiffe Cold and Palenesse dwell The new-come ghosts nor know the way to Hell Nor where the roomy Stygian Citie stands Or that dire Palace where black Dis commands A thousand entries to this Citie guide The gates still open stand on euery side And as all Riuers run into the Deep So all vnhoused Soules doe thither creep Nor are they pestered for want of roome Not can it be perceiu'd that any come Here shadowes wander from their bodies pent Some plead and some the Tyrants Court frequent Some in life-practiz'd Arts imploy their times Others are tortur'd for their former Crimes Saturnia stooping from her Throne of Ayre Her hate immortall thither makes repayre As soone as shee had entered the gate The threshold trembl'd with her sacred waight Still-waking Cerberus the Goddesse dreads And barketh thrice at once with his three heads Shee calls the Furies Daughters to old Night
In Sipylus and in Maonia staid Yet slights that home example still rebels Against the Gods and with proud lâ—â—guage swels Many things sweld her Yet Amphiâ—â—s towne Their high descents not glory of a crowne So pleas'd her though she pleas'd her selfe in all As her faire race We Niobe might call The happiest mother that yet euer brought Life vnto light had not her selfe so thought Tiresian Manto in presages skild The streets inspir'd by holy fury fild With these exhorts Ismenides prepare To great Latona and her Twins with prayer Mix sweet perfumes your brows with Laurel bindâ— By me Latona bids The Thebans wind About their temples the commaunded Bay And sacred fires with incense feeding pray Behold the Queene in height of state appeares A Phrygian mantle weauâ—d with gold she weares Her face as much as rage would suffer faire She stops and shaking her disheueled haire The godly troope with hauty eyes suruayes What madnesse is it Here-say Gods she sayes Before the seene Coelestials to prefer Or while I Altars want to worship her Me Tantalus begot alowd to feast In heauenly bowres my mother not the least Pleias greatest Atlas fire to those On whose high shoulders all the stars repose Ioue is my other Grandfather and he My father in law a double grace to me Me Phrygia Cadmus kingdomes me obay My husbands harp-rais'd walls we ioyntly sway Through-out my Court behold in euery place Infinite riches adde to this a face Worthy a Goddesse Then to crowne my ioyes Seuen beauteous daughters and as many boyes All these by marriage to be multiply'd Say now haue we not reason for our pride How dare you then Latona Caeus birth Before me place to whom the ample Earth Deny'd a little spot t'vnlade her wombe Heauen Earth nor Seas afford your Goddesse roome A Vagabond till Delas harbor gaue Thou wandrest on the land I on the waue It said and granted an vnstable place She brought forth two the seuenth part of my race Happy who doubts I happy will abide Or who doubts that with plentie fortifi'd My state too great for fortune to bereaue Though much she rauish she much more must leaue My blessings are aboue low feare Suppose Some of my hopefull sons this people lose They cannot be reduc't to such a few Off with your bayes these idle Rites eschew They put them off the sacrifice forbore And yet Latona silently adore As far as free from barrennesse so much Disdaine and griefe th' inraged Goddesse touch Who on the top of Cynthus thus begins To vent her passion to her sacred Twins Lo I your mother proud in you alone Excepting Iuno second vnto none Am question'd if a Goddesse and must loose If you assist not all religious dews Nor is this all that curst Tantalian Seeds Adds soule reproaches to her impious deede She dares her children before you prefer And calls me childlesse may it light on her Whose wicked words her fathers tongue declarâ— About to second her report with praier Peace Phoebus said complaint too long delayes Conceau'd reuenge the same vext Phoebe sayes Then swiftly through the yielding ayre they glide To Cadmus towres whom thickned vapors hide A spacious plaine before the citty lieâ— Made dusty with the daily exercise Of trampling hooues by strife-full chariots tracke Part of Amphions actiue sons here backt High-bounding steeds whose rich caparison With scarlet blusht with gold their bridles shone Ismenus Ioe her pregnant wombs first spring As with his ready horse he bears a Ring And checks his fomy iawes ay me â—he cryes While through his groâ—ing brest an arrow flyâ—â— His bridle slackning with his dying force He leasurely sinks side-long from his horse Next Siphilus from clashing quiuer flieâ— With slackned raignes as when a Pilot spies A growing storme and least the gentle gaile Should scape besides him claps on all his saile His haste th'vneuitable bowe O're-took And through his throte the deadly arrow strook Who by the horses mane and speedy thighes Drops headlong and the earth in purple dies Now Phoedimus and Tantalus the heire This Grand-â—ires names that labour done prepare To wrastle Whilst with oyled lims they prest Each others power close grasping brest to brest A shaft which from th'impulsiue bow-string flew Them in that sad Coniunction ioyntly slew Both grone at once at once their bodyes bend With bitter pangs at once to earth descend Her tongue and pallat rob'd of inward heat At once congeale her pulse forbeares to beat Her neck wants power to turne her feet to goe Her armes to moue her very bowels grow Into a stone She yet retaines her teares Whom straight a hurle-wind to her Countrie beares And fixes on the summit of a hill Now from that mourning marble teares distill Th'exemplary reuenge struck all with feare Who offerings to Latona's altars beare With doubled zeale When one as oft befalls By present accidents the past recalls In fruitfull Lyciâ— once said he there dwelt A sort of Pesants who her vengeance felt 'T was of no note in that the men were base Yet wonderfull I saw the poole and place Sign'd with the prodigie My father spent Almost with age ill brooking trauell sent Me thither for choice Steeres and for my guide A natiue gaue Those pastures searcht we spy'd An ancient Altar black with cinders plac't Amidst a Lake with shiuering reeds imbrac't O fauour me he softly murmuring said O fauour me I softly murmuring praid Then askt if Nymph or Faune therein reside Or rurall God The stranger thus reply'd O youth no mountaine Powres this altar hold Shee calls it hers to whom Ioues wife of old Earth interdicted till that floting I le Waue-wandring Delo finisht her exile Where coucht on palmes and oliues she in spight Of freâ—full Iuno brought her Twins to light Thence also frighted from her painefull bed With her two infant Deities she fled Now in Chimara-breeding Lycia fir'd By burning beames and with long trauell tyr'd Heat-raised thirst the Goddesse sore opprest By their exhausting of her milk increast By fortune in a dale with longing eyes A Lake of shallow water she descries Where Clownes were then a gathering picked weeds With shrubby osiers and plash-louing reedes Approcht Titania kneeles vpon the brink And of the cooling liquor stoops to drinke The Clownes with-stood Why hinder you said she The vse of water that to all is free The Sun aire water Nature did not frame Peculiar a publick gift I clame Yet humbly I intreat it not to drench My weary lims but killing thirst to quench My tongue wants moysture my iawes are dry Scarce is there way for speech For drink I dye Water to me were Nectar If I liue 'T is by your fauour life with water giue Pitty these babes for pitty they aduance Their little armes their armes they stretcht by chancâ— With whom would not such gentle words preuaile But they perseuering to prohibit raile The place with threats command her to forsake Then with their hands and
no excuses May your Citie still Increase with people Cephalus reply'd At my approch I not a little ioy'd To meet so many youths of equall yeares So fresh and lustie Yet not one appeares Of those who heretofore your towne possest When first you entertayn'd me for a Guest Then Aeacus in sighs his words ascend A sad beginning had a better end Would I could veter all Day would expire Ere all were told and t' would your patience tire Their bones and ashes silent graues inclose And what a treasure perished with those By Iunâ—'s wrath a dreadfull pestilence Deuour'd our liues who tooke vniust offence In that this Ile her Riuals name profest While it seem'd humane and the cause vnghest So long we death-repelling Physick try'd But those diseases vanquisht Art deride Heauen first the earth with thickned vapors shrouds And lazie heat inuolues in sullen clouds Foure pallid moones their growing hornes vnite And had as oft with-drawne their feeble light Yet still the death-producing Auster blew Sunke springs and standing lakes infected grew Serpents in vntild fields by millions creepe And in the streames their tainting poysons steepe First dogs sheepe oxen fowle that flagging fly And saluage beasts the swift infection try Sad Swaines amazed see their oxen shrink Beneath the yoke and in the furrowes sink The fleecie flocks with anguish faintly bleat Let fall their wooll and pine away with heat The generous Horse that from th' Olympicks late Return'd with honour now degenerate Vnmindfull of the glory of his prize Grones at his manger and there deedlesse dyes The Bore â—orgets his rage swift feet now faile The Hart nor Beares the horned Herd assaile All languish Woods fields paths no longer bare Are fil'd with carkasses that stench the aire Which neither dogs nor greedy fowle how much To be admir'd nor hoary wolues would touch Falling they rot which deadly Odors bred That round about their dire contagion spred Now raues among the wretched country Swaines Now in our large and populous Citie raignes At first their bowels broyle with feruor stretcht The symptoms rednesse hot wind hardly fetcht Their furd tongs swell their drie iawes gasp for breath And with the ayre inhale a swifter death None could indure or couerture or bed But on the stones their panting bosoms spred Cold stones could no way mitigate that heat Euen they beneath those burning burdens sweat None cure attempt the sterne Disease inuades The heartlesse Leech nor Art her author aids The neere ally'd whose care the sick attends Sicken themselues and dye before their friends Of remedy they see no hope at all But onely in approching funerall All cherish their desires for helpe none care Help was there none In shamelesse throngs repaire To springs and wells there cleaue in bitter strife T' extinguish thirst but first extinguish life Nor could th'o're-charg'd arise but dying sink And of those tainted waters others drink The wretches lothe their tedious beds thence breake With giddy steps Or if now growne too weake Roule on the floore there quitted houses hate As guilty of their miserable fare And ignorant of the cause the place accuse Halfe-ghosts they walk while they their legs could vse You might see others on the earth lye mourning Their heauy eyes with dying motion turning Stretching their armes to heauen where euer death Surpris'd them parting with their sigh't-out breath O what a heart had I or ought to haue I loth'd my life and wisht with them a graue Which way soeuer I conuert my eye The breathlesse multitude dispersed lye Like perisht apples dropping with the strokes Of rocking windes or acornes from broad okes See you yon' Temple mounted on high staires 'T is Iupiters Who hath not offer'd praiers And slighted incense there husbands for wiues Fathers for sons and while they pray their liues Before th'inexorable altars vent With incense in their hands halfe yet vnspent How oft the oxe vnto the temple brought While yet the Priest the angry Powres besought And pour'd pure wine betweene his hornes fell downe Before the axe had toucht his curled crowne To Iupiter about to sacrifice For me my country sons with horrid noyse Th'vnwounded Offering fell the blood that life Bore into exile hardly staind the knife The Inwards lost their signes of heauens presage Out-raized by the sterne Diseases rage The dead before the sacred doores were laid Before the Altars too the Gods t' vpbraid Some choke themselues with cords by death eschue The feare of death and following Fates pursue Dead corps without the Dues of funerall They weakly beare the ports are now too small Or vn-inhum'd they lye or else are throwne On wealthlesse pyles Respect is giuen to none For Pyles they striue on those their kinsfolke burne That flame for others None are left to mourne Ghosts wander vndeplor'd by sons or fires Nor is there roome for tombs or wood for fires Astonisht with these tempests of extreames O Ioue said I if they be more than dreames That wrapt thee in Aegina's armes nor shame That I thy son should thee my father name Render me mine or render me a graue With prosperous thunder-claps a signe he gaue I take it said I let this Omen be A happy pledge of thy intents to me Hard by a goodly Oke by fortune stood Sacred to Ioue of Dodoneian wood Graine-gathering Ants there in long files I saw Whose little mouthes selfe-greater burthens draw Keeping their paths along the rugged rine While I admire their number O diuine And euer helpfull giue to me said I As many men who may the dead supply The trembling oke his loftie top declin'd And murmured without a breath of wind I shooke with feare my tresses stood an end Yet on the earth and oke I kisses spend I durst not seeme to hope yet hope I did And in my brest my cherisht wishes hid Night came and Sleepe care-wasted bodies chear'd Before my eyes the selfe-same Oke appear'd So many branches as before there were So many busie Ants those branches beare So shooke the Oke and with that motion threw To under-vnder-earth the graine-supporting crew Greater and greater straight they seeme to sight To raise themselues from earth and stand vp-right Whom numerous feet black colour lanknesse leaue And instantly a humane shape receiue Now Sleep with-drew My dream I waking blame And on the small-performing Gods exclaime Yet heard a mightie noyse and seem'd to heare Almost forgotten voyces yet I feare That this a dreame was also Whereupon The doore thrust open in rusht Telamon Come forth said he O father and behold What hope transcends nor can with faith be told Forth went I and beheld the men which late My dreame presented such in euery state I saw and knew them They salute their King Ioue prais'd a partio to the towne I bring Among the rest I share the fields and call Them Myrmidons of their originall You see their persons such their manners are As formerly A people giuen to spare Patient of
feet wide open flies The sounding wicket and the deed descries The seruants shreeke the Vainely raised bore T' his mothers house his father dead before His breathlesse corps she in her bosome plac't And in her armes his key-cold limbs imbrac't Lamenting long as wofull parents vse And hauing paid a wofull mothers dues The mournfull Funerall through the City led And to prepared fires conueyes the dead This sorrowfull Procession passing by Her house which bordering on the way their cry To th' eares of Anaxarete arriues Whom now sterne Nemesis to ruine driues Wee 'l see said she these sad solemnities And forth-with to the lofty window highes When seeing Iphis on his fatall bed Her eyes grew stiffe bloud from her visage sled Vsurpt by palenesse Striuing to retire Her feet stuck fast nor could to her desire Diuert her looks for now her stony heart â—t selfe dilated into euery part This Salamis yet keeps to cleere your doubt â—n Venus temple call'd the Looker-out Inform'd by this ô louely Nymph decline Thy former pride and to thy louer ioyne So may thy fruits suruiue the Vernall frost Nor after by the rapefull winds be tost When this the God who can all shapes indue Had said in vaine againe himselfe he grew Th'abiliments of heatlesse Age depos'd And such himselfe vnto the Nymph disclos'd As when the Sunne subduing with his reyes The muffling clouds his golden brow displaies Who force prepares of force there was no need Strucke with his beauty mutually they bleed Vniust Amulius next th' Ausonian State I'y strength vsurpt The nephews to the late Deposed Numiâ—or him re-inthrone Who Rome in Pales Feasts immur'd with stone Now Tatius leades the Sabine Sires to warre Tarpâ—ia's hands her fathers gates vnbarre To death with aâ— melets prest her treasons meed The Sabine Sires like silent Wolues proceed T' inuade their sleeping sonnes and seeke to seazâ— Vpon their gates barr'd by Iliades One Iuno opens though no noise at all The hinges made yet by the barres lowd fall Descry'd by Venus who had put it too But Gods may not what Gods haue done vndoâ— Ausâ—nian Nymphs the places bordering To Ianus held inchased with a spring Their aid sh'implores The Nymphs could not deny A sute so iust but all their flouds vntie As yet the Fane of Ianus open stood Nor was their way impeached by the flood Beneath the fruitfull spring they sulphure turne Whose hollow veines with blacke bitumen burne With these the vapours penetiate below And waters late as cold as Alpin snow The fire it selfe in seruour dare prouoke Now both the posts with flagrant moisture smoke These now-rais'd streames the Sabine Powre exclude Till Mars his Souldiers had their armes indu'd By Romulus then in Batalia led The Roman fields the slaughtred Sabines spred Their owne the Romans Fathers Sonnes in law With wicked steele bloud from each other draw At length conclude a peace nor would contend Vnto the last Two Kings one throne ascend With equall rule But noble Tatius slaine Both Nations vnder Romulus remaine When Mars laid by his shining caske and then Thus spake vnto the Sire of Gods and men Now Father is the time since Rome is growne To such a greatnesse and depends on One To put in act thy neuer-failing word And Romulus a heauenly throne afford You in a synod of the Gods profest Which still I carry in my thankfull brest That one of mine this ô now ratifie Should be aduanc't vnto the starry skie Ioue condescends with clouds the day benights And with flame-winged thunder earth affrights Mars at the signe of his assumption Leanes on his lance and strongly vaults vpon His bloudy Chariot lashes his hot horses With sounding whips and their full speed inforces Who scouring downe the ayrie region staid On faire mount Palatine obscur'd with shade There Romulus assumeth from his Throne Vn-kinglike rendering iustice to his owne Rapt through the aire his mortall members waste Like melting Bullets by a Slinger cast More heauenly faire more fit for lofty shrines Our great and scaâ—let-clad Quirinus shines Then Iuno to the sad Hersâ—lia Lost in her sorrow by a crooked way Sent Iris to deliuer this Command Star of the Latian of the Sabine land Thy sexes glory worthy then the vow Of such a husband of Quirinus now Suppresse thy teares If thy desire to see Thy husband so exceed then follow mee Vnto those woods which on mount Querin spring And shade the temple of the Roman King Iris obayes and by her painted Bow Downe-sliding so much lets Hersilia know When she scarce lifting vp her modest eyes O Goddesse which of all the Deities I know not sure a Goddesse thou cleere light Conduct me ô conduct me to the sight Of my deare Lord which when the Fates shall shew They heauen on me with all the gifts bestow Then with Tâ—aumantias entering the high Romuâ—aâ— Hills a Star shot from the Skie Whose golden beames inflam'd Hersilia's haire When both together mount th'enlightned Aire The Builder of the Roman City tooke Her in his armes and forth-with chang'd her looke To whom the name of Ora he assign'd This Goddesse now is to Quirinus ioyn'd OVID'S METAMORPHOSIS The Fifteenth Booke THE ARGVMENT BLacke Stones conâ—ert to White Pythagoras In Ilium's lingring warre Euphorbus was Of transmigrations of the change of things and strange effâ—cts the learned Samian sings Recur'd Hippolyâ—us 〈◊〉 deiâ—ide Whom safer Age and name of Virbius bids Aegeria thawes into a Spring From Earth Prophetick Tages takes his wondrous birth A Speare a Tree Graâ—â— Cippus vertues 〈◊〉 The â—rowne his Horues present Appollo's Son Assumes a Serpents shape The Soule of Warre Great Caesar slaine becomes a Blazing Starre MEanewhile a man is sought that might sustaine So great a burthen and succeed the raigne Of such a King when true-foreshewing Fame To God-like Numa destinates the same He with his Sabine rites vnsatisfi'd To greater things his able mind appli'd In Natures search Inticed with these cares He leaues his countries Cures and repaires To Croton's City askes what Grecian hand Those walls erected on Italian land One of the Natiues not vnknowing old Who much had heard and seene this story told Ioues sonne inrich't with his Iberian prey Came from the Ocean to Lacinia With happy steps who while his cattle fed Vpon the tender clouer entered Heroick Croton's roofe a welcome Guest And his long trauell recreates with rest Who said departing In the following age A City here shall stand A true presage There was one Mycilus Argolian Alemons issue in thoso times no man More by the Gods affected He who beares The dreadfull Club to him in sleepe appeares And said Begon thy countries bounds forsake To stony Aesarus thy iourney take And threatens vengeance if he dis-obay The God and Sleepe together flew away He rising on the Vision meditates Which in his doubtfull soule he long debates The God commands the Law forbids to goe Death due to such as left their Country so Cleare
arriues To chace the former times so flye persue At once each other and are euer new What was before is not what was not is All in a moment change from that to this See how the Night on Light extends her shades See how the Light the gloomy Night inuadâ—s Nor such Heauens hew when Mid-night crown's Repose As when bright Lucifer his taper showes Yet changing when the Harbinger of Day Th'inlightned World resignes to Phoebus sway His raised Shield earths shaddowes scarely fled Lookes ruddy and low sinking lookes as red Yet bright at Noone because that purer skie Doth farâ—e from Earth and her contagion flie Nor can Night-wandring Dian's wauering light Be euer equall or the same this night Lesse than the following if her hornes she fill If the contract her Circle greater still Doth not the image of our age appeare In the successiue quarters of the Yeare The Spring-tide tender sucking Infancie Resembling then the iuyâ—efull blade sprouts high Though tender weake yâ—t hope to Plough-men yeelds All things then flourish flowers the gaudy fields Wâ—â—h colours paint no virtue yet in leaues Then following Summer greater strength receiues A lusty Youth no age more strength acquires Moâ—â— fruitfull or more burning in desires Maturer Autumne heat of Youth alaid The sober meane twixt youth and age more staid And temperate in Summers waine repaires His reuerend temples sprinckled with gray haires Then comes old Winter void of all delight With trembling steps his head or bal'd or white So change our â—odies without rest or stay What we were yester-day not what to day Shall be to morâ—â—w Once alone of men The seeds and hope the wombe our mansion when Kind Nature shew'd her cunning not content That our vext bodies should be longer pent In mothers stetched entrailes forth-with bare Them from that prison to the open aire We strengthlesse lye when first of light possest Straight creepe vpon all foure much like a beast Then staggering with weake nerues stand by degrees And by some stay support our feeble knees Now lusty swiftly run Youth quickly spent And those our middle times incontinent We sinke in setting Age this last deuoures The former and dimolisheth their powres Old Milo wept when he his armes beheld Which late the strongest beast in strength excel'd Big as Alâ—ides brawnes in flaggie hide Now hanging by slake sinewes Helen cry'd When she beheld her wrinkles in her Glasse And asks her selfe why she twice rauisht was Still-eating Time and thou ô enuious Age All ruinate diminisht by the rage Of your deuouring teeth All that haue breath Consume and languish by a lingring death Nor can these Elements stand at a stay But by exchanging alter euery day Th' eternall world foure bodies comprehends Ingendring all The heauy Earth descends So Water clog'd with weight two light aspire Deprest by none pure Aire and purer Fire And though they haue their seuerall fites yet all Of these are made to these againe they fall Resolued Earth to Water rarifies To Aire extenuated Waters rise The Aire when it it selfe agiane refines To element all Fire extracted shines They in like order backe againe repaire The grosser Fire condenseth into Aire Aire into water Water thickning then Growes solid and conuerts to Earth againe None holds his owne for Nature euer ioyes In change and with new formes the old supplies In all the world not any perish quite But onely are in various habits dight For to begin to be what we before Were not is to be borne to dye no more Than ceasing to be such although the frame Be changeable the substance is the same For nothing long continues in one mold You Ages you to Siluer grew from Gold To Brasse from Siluer and to Yâ—'ne from Brasse Euen place oft such change of fortunes passe Where once was solid land Seas haue I'seene And solid land where once deepe Seas haue beene Shâ—ls far from Seas like quarries in the ground And anchors haue on mountaine tops beene found Torrents hue made a valley of a plaine High hils by delâ—ges â—oâ—ne to the Maine Deepe standing lakes suck't dry by thirsty sand And on late thirsty earth now lakes doe stand Here Nature in her charges manifold Sends forth new fountaines there shuts vp the old Streams with impetuous earth-quakes heretofore Hâ—ue broken forth or sunke and run no more So â—ycus swallowed by they yawning Earth Takes in an other world his second birth So Erasinus now conceales now yeelds His rising waters to Argolian fields And Mysus hating his first head and brayes Calcus nam'd else-where his streame displayes Coole Amasenus watering Sicily Now flowes now spring-lockt leaues his channell dry Men formerly drunke of Anigrus streames Not to be drunke if any thing but dreames The Poets tell since Centaures therein washt Their wounded limbs by Alcides arrowes gasht So Hypaâ—tis deriu'd from Sâ—ythian Hills Long sweet with bitter streames his channel fills Antissa Tyrus and Aegyptian Phare The flouds imbrac't yet now no Ilands are Th' old Colon knew Leucadia Continent Which now the labouring surges circumuent So Zancle once on Italie conâ—n'd Till interposing waues their bounds dis-ioyn'd If Bura and Helice Graecian townes You seeke behold the Sea their glory drownes Whose buildings and declined walls below Th' ambitious floud as yet the Sailers show A Hill by Pitthean Troezen mounts vncrown'd With syluan shades which once was leuell ground For furious winds a story to admire Pent in blinde cauernes strugling to expire And vainly seeking to inioy th'extent Of freer aire the prison wanting vent Th'vnpassable tuffe earth inflated so As when with swelling breath we bladders blow The tumor of the place remained still In time growne sollid like a lofty hill To speake a little more of many things Both heard and knowne New habits sundry Springs Now giue now take Horn'd Hammâ—ns Well at Noone Is cold hot at Sun-rise and setting Sun Wood put in bubling Athamas then fires When farthest from the Sun the Moone retires Ciconian streames congeale his guts to stone That thereof drinkes and what therein is throwne Crathis and Sybaris from your mountaines rold Colour the haire like Amber or pure gold Some fountaines of a more prodigious kind Not onely change the body but the mind Who hath not heard of obscene Salmacis Of th' AeTHiopian Lake who drinke of this Runne forth-with mad or if their wits they keepe Fall suddenly into a deadly sleepe Who at Clitoâ—iâ—â— Fountaine thirst remoue Loath wine and abstinent meere water loue Whether it by antipathie expell Desire or wine or as the Natiues toll 〈◊〉 hauing with his herbs and charmes Snatcht Proeâ—uâ— franticke daughters from the harmes Of entred â—â—ries their wit's physicke cast Into this spring infusing such distast With streames to these oppos'd Lyncestus flowes They 〈◊〉 as drunke who drinke too much of those A Lake in faire Arcadia stands of old Call'd Pheâ—â—us suspected as two fold Feare and forbeare to drinke thereof by night By night vnwholsome wholsome by