of whom Corinth tooke first name Electra daughter to King Athlas marryed From Lybia hath he fetcht the louely Dame And thence to Naples this rich purchase carried Corinth and Naples are indeed the same One Citty though by Time their names be varried These dying left behinde them to succeed Two Princes Lords of many a vahant deed 3 Whilst Corinth there Memnon all Egypt swayde In Italy Atleus Harbon Gaul Hesperus Spaine the Argine King was made Crassus in France King Ludgus gouern'd all Arming himselfe gainst such as did Inuade Syrus in Syria Assyrias crowne doth fall To Mancaleus which whilst he maintaind Orthopolis in Pelloponessus raign'd 4 Moyses was borne the selfe-same happy yeare That faire Electra was made haplesse Queene Who spake with GOD and saw the bush burne cleare By whom the Israelites deliuered beene From Pharaohs bondage whom the fiery spheare Guided by night when in the day was seene The Cloud to vsher them In whose blest daies Corinthus yssue their proud fortunes raise 5 One Dardanus that other Iasius hight Who strongly for their Fathers Crowne contend And to their aydes assemble many a knight By force of Armes their challenge to defend But Armes nor bloudy battell force nor fight Can vnto this vnnaturall warre giue end Till at the length a Treaty was appointed Which by accord should be the King annointed 6 Iasius to Parlee comes vnarm'd his brother Vnder his Robes of peace bright Armor wore And being met his vengeance could not smother But slew him dead The Lords his death deplore Thus pitiously the one hath kilde the other Iasius vnto his Sepulcher they bore But Dardanus that him so basely slew Vnto the Pallaee Royall they pursue 7 The people such a Traiterous practise hated And vow his blood shall for his murder pay Such as lou'd Iasius the rest animated And round begirt the place where Dardan lay Who cals such friends as on his person waited And in the dead of night steales thence away For well he knowes they Iasius lou'd so deerely That they his murder will reuenge seucrely 8 Before the dawne of day they shipping take The darkenesse of the night their purpose aideth Through the vast Ocean a swift saile they make But as the morning riseth and night fadeth The sterne Corinthians to their fury wake And euery man th'vngarded house inuadeth But when they entring found the brother fled They curse the liuing and lamâ—… the dead 9 Long they their weary Fortunes haue in chase Still in the mercy of the Seas and winde But where to harbor they can find no place Or in the seas wilde deserts comfort finde At length they touch at Samos Isle in Thrace A soile which yet contents not Dardans minde Ballast fresh water victuals he takes in And hoysing saile seekes further shores to win 10 By this the Asian Seas his ships hath past And now within the Helle spont he rides The Marriners the shore discry at last Where calling all their Sea-gods to their guides To their discouery they apply them fast And now their vessels neere the cost abides Not long about the briny beach they houer But Dardan landes the Iland to discouer 11 He finds it fruitfull pleasant and a soile Fit to inhabit hie woods champion fields He holds this countrey worth her former toile The place he likes and to this clime he yeilds And after all his trauell and turmoile He plants himselfe a Citty here he builds He casts a huge Ditch first then layes a frame And after cals it Dardan by his name 12 The time the groundsils of great Troy were layd Was Lacedemon built by computation In Athens Ertchthonius King was made And Danaus ruler ore the Argiue Nation Hercules Dasinas Phenitia swayde Egiptus Egypt now the first foundation Of great Apollos Temple was begun By young Eristhones King Cecrops sonne 13 In processe is much people there conuented Being a Citty well and fairely seated And all such people as this place frequented Were by him and his followers well intreated No stranger from the King past discontented No Marchant in his traffique was defeated In time his wealth and people both abound And here in Dardan Dardanus liues crownd 14 This Dardan on Candame got a sonne Eruton hight who the same state maintained Time keepes his course away the swift howers run The second King in Arts and Warres is trained Imagine seauen and forty Winters dun So long Eruton in this Citty raigned Troos his sonne the kingdome doth enioy And of this Troos came the name of Troy 15 A puissant King in Armes his valors fame Through all the Asian confines stretched far Kingdomes he doth subdue Invadors tame By him the two first kings ecclipsed are And the Dardanians change their auncient name And of King Troos so renowmd in warre Are Troyans cald for so King Troos chargeth And with his fame his new-built towne enlargeth 16 Now all the Graecian Citties Troy out-shineth Whose glory many neighbour kings enuy Yet none so bold that outwardly repineth Or date in publicke tearmes king Troos defie The strongest people he by loue combineth The weaker he by armes doth terrifie King Tantalus that liues in Phrigia crownd Most enuies Troy should be so farre renown'd 17 But leaue we him in enuy Troy in glory For enuy still lookes vpward seldome downe And turne to that which most concernes our story How Iupiter attain'd his fathers crowne How Sybill â—…oyfull was but Saturne sorry To heare his sonnes suruiuing in renowne How Tytan war'd on Saturne how Ione grew And in his fathers aid his Vnckle slew 18 Twixt the Pelagians and Epiriens riseth Contentious warre in Epire raigned then King Milleseus who in armes surpriseth Certaine Pelagians king Lycaons men Lycaon with his watlike troopes aduiseth By pollicy of warre both how and when He may awaite th' Epiriens the like domage And make their king vnto his state do homage 19 At length Ioues Guardian the great Epyre king Vnto the son of Titan offers peace In signe whereof they Oliue branches bring To signifie their hostile Armes surcease Lycaon sonne to Tytan whom wars sting Had likewise gald and spoild his lands increase Applauds the motion sweares to this accord Condition'd thus to leaue an Epire Lord. 20 An Epyre Lord as Hostage straight they take And in Pelagia with Lycaon leaue him There to abide till they amends shall make For all the spoiles th' Eperiens did bereaue him The King the daies doth watch the nights doth wake Least his Epirien hostage should deceiue him Lycaon of his couenant naught doth slacke The time expires the Lord should be sent backe 21 And to that purpose Melliseus sends Ambassadors from Epire to Pelage Who to Lycaon beares his kind commends Lycaon full of spleene and warlike rage To quit his former inâ—…ury intends And with much paine his fury doth asswage Yet giues them outward welcome they desire Their Hostage Lord to
enemies pike Had by the aime of some strong hand bin cast And side to side through all his entrailes past 45 He comes where all his Lords in counsell sat And tels them of three sons preseru'd to life The Peeres at first seeme much amaz'd thereat Yet all commend the pitty of his wife And praise her vertue intermitting that They next proceed to Tytans hostile strife And thus conclude their enemies to expell Whom they know Barbarous bloody fierce and fell 46 When calling him that the defiance brought This answere backe to Tytan they returne That they his brauing menace set at naught That their owne blouds shall quench the towns they burn That their immediate ruines they haue sought And they no longer can reuenge adiourne But the next sonne shall see strange vengeancetane Of all his Cretan subiects they haue slaine 47 The Messengers dismist while they prepare Armes and munition for the Morrowes field Meane time great Tytans sonnes assembled are Who all their Fortunes on their fury build Their hauty lookes their spleenfull harts declare Each brandishing his sword and ponderous shield Longing to heare from Saturne such reply That on his men they may their valours try 48 Nor do they tempt the Deities in vaine They haue what they desire to them behold The bassled messenger gallops amaine But ere the Knight his message hath halfe told So much the Gyant kings their braues disdaine That with their scornefull feet they spurne the mold Their browes they furrow and their teeth they grate And all the Gods blaspheame to shew their hate 49 Now hath the Sunne slid from his fiery Car And in cold Ister quencht his flaming head Blacke darknes risting from the earth afar You might perceiue the welkin to orespread Orions blazing lockes discouered are Pale Cinthia gouernes in Apolloes stead Bootes his waine about the pole hath driuen And all the stars borne bright that spangle heauen 50 The morning comes Tytan in field appeares In compleat harnesse arm'd from head to toe Next him Aegeon who no Corslet weares Or coat of Armes to incounter any foe Vnarmed as he is he no man feares A plume doth from his guilded helmet flow Made of the Peacockes traine his armes is strong In which he shakes a skeine bright broad and long 51 Creous huge sinnowy Armes and brawny thighes Are naked being tawnied with the sun Buskins he weares that boue his ankles rise Puft with such curl'd silke as Arachne spâ—…n A coat of Armes well mail'd that fits his size Laceth his body in these Armes he woon Of a huge Monster in the Isle of Thrace Whose weapon was a weighty iron mace 52 His knotted beard was as the Porphir blacke So were the fleecy lockes vpon his crowne Which to the middle of his armed backe From his rough shaggy head discended downe His fiery Eie-bals threaten Saturnes wracke Sterne vengeance rous'd her selfe in Caons frowne His sheild a broad iron dore his Lance a beame Oft with his large stride he hath Archt a streame 53 Typhon in skins of Lyons grimly clad Next his too Brothers in the march proceeds The hides of these imperious beasts he had From th'Erithmanthian forrest where his deeds Liue still in memory like one halfe mad The Gyant shewes in these disguised weeds The Lyons iawes gnawing his Helmet stood And grinning with his long fangs stain'd in blood 54 And yet his owne fierce visage lowring vnder Appeares as full of terror as that other Two such aspects makes the Saturniens wonder Next him appeares Euceladus his Brother Whose eye darts lightning and his voice speaks Thunder This was the onely darling of his mother His weapon was a tall and snaggy Oake With which he menac'st death at euery stroake 59 Hiperion in an armor all of Sunnes Shines like the face of Phoebus o're the rest This Gyant to his valiant Brothers runs Crying to Armes base lingering I detest Damn'd be that Coward soule that damage shuns Or from apparant perill shrinkes his brest Behold where Saturne mongst his people crownd His hornes and Clarions doth to battell sound 56 Saturne appeares as great Hyperion spake Borne in an Iuory chaire with bright stones stoodded Mongst which in trailes ran many an Anticke flake With rich Inamell azur'd greene and rudded At the first push their enemies rankes they brake He fought till his bright Chariot was all bloodded About him round their bowes his Archers drew A fight which yet their Foe-men neuer knew 57 The big-bon'd Gyants wounded from a farre And seeing none but their owne souldiers by them Amazed stand at this new kind of warre To receiue wounds by such as came not nie them From euery wing they heare their looses iarre They knew not where to turne or how to flie them The showers of Arrowes rain'd so fast and thicke That in their legges thighs brest and armes they stick 58 So long as their strong Bowes of trusty Ewe And silken strings held fast so long fresh riuers Of Crimson blood the Champion did imbrew For euery shaft the Archers Bow deliuers Or kils or woundes one of their countlesse crew But when they once had emptied all their quiuers And that the enemy saw their arrowes wasted To blowes and handy-strokes both armies hasted 59 Thou famous English Henry of that name The fift I cannot but remember thee That wan vnto thy kingdome endlesse fame By thy bold English Archers Chiualry In Agin-Court when to the Frenchmens shame King Dolphin and the chiefe Nobility Were with the ods of thousands forcst to yeeld And Henry Lord of that triumphant field 60 But such successe king Saturne had not then He is in number and in strength too weake His people are but one to Tytans ten Nor are his guards so strong their spleene to wreake The Gyant-Kings with infinites of men Into their foes Battallions rudely breake Their Polaxes and Clubs they heaue on hie The Kings surpriz'de and the Saturniens fly 61 The Tytans brandish their victorious Glaues and enter the great Citty Hauocke crying In Cretan bloud they drowne their Chariot Naues And slaughter all the poore Saturniens flying One hand sharpe steele the other fire-brands waues In euery place the grones of people dying Mixt with the Conquerors showts to heauen aspire and in their harsh sound make a dismall Quire 62 The Citty 's ceizd Saturne and Sybill bound Whilst Tytan Lords it in the Cretan Throne His reuelling sonnes for Pillage ransacke round And where they heare Babes shrike or olde men grone They showt for ioy meane time King Saturnes wound Sybill bindes vp and being all alone In prison with her Lord to him relates The fortunes of her sonnes and their estates 63 She tels him that young Ihoue in Epire famed For Martiall triumphs is theyr naturall sonne He that Lycaon queld Pelagia tamed And many spoyles for Milliseus woon No sooner did the King heare young Ihoue named But he repents the wrongs against him doon and proud of such an Issue so
whose skill Ouid remembers By art of Sayle and Oare Seas are diuided By art the Chariot runs by art Loue 's guided By art are Bridles rain'd in or let slip Typhis by art did steare th' Hemonian ship And Tymes succeeding shall call me alon Loues expert Typhis and Antomedon The reason why Achilles kept his Tent and was not in the field when Hector breathed his chalenge is not fully resolued some thinke he was discontent about a difference betwixt the Generall Agamemnon and him who kept away perforce Briseis a beauteous Lady claimed by Achilles as his Prise which wee rather follow in our History then to lay his absence on his Loue to Polixena whom hee had not yet seene and the promise which for her sake he made to Hecuba to keepe himselfe and his Mâ—…midons from the battaile Achelous was sonne to Oceanus and Tellus viz the sea and the Earth whence all Riuers are deriued who beeing vanquisht by Hercules hid himselfe in the Riuer called of himselfe Achelous a famous stoud in Greece diuiding Aetolia from Acatnauia This Achelous was before called Thoas and riseth from the Mount Pindus but Plutarch calleth it Thestius of Thestius the son of Mars and Pisidices who had three daughters Calirhoe Castalia and Dirce of whom the famous Greeke Poet Akeloou thugater diska c. Oh Acheloi filia venerande Virgo dierce The Flouds of Achelous were so famous that all the waters vsed in the deuine sacrifices were by the Oracle cald Aquae Acheloae The Poets faine him to transhape himselfe in a Bul because Riuersplow the earth as Oxen make Furrowes or because Buls draw neere to the brinkes of riuers when they bellow for fresh pasture else because waters breaking violently through any fall make a confused noise like the roarings of many Buls together He was â—…ald a Dragon by his many indented windings and turnings Hercules being leagued with King Oeneus vndertooke to suppresse this raging riuer whose many inundations had much damag'd his Kiingdome who extenuating his maine streame by inforcing it into many riualets by that meanes made the country more fertil therefore it was moraliz'd that Hercules breaking off his horn receiu'd in the same all fruits of plenty To this Cornucopia or horne of abundance Iupiter gaue this property that whosoeuer held it and wisht should receiue according to their desire The rarieties of the most choise fruits and wines of all kinds how delicious soeuer to tast the Pallat. This vertue was first prou'd by Amatthea daughter to Hemonius King of Aetolia though some take Amatthea to be the Goat that nurst Iupiter with her milke when Rhea had giuen him to be brought vp to Adrastea and Isde. The end of the twelfth CANTO Argumentum A Chilles dotes on beauteous Polixaine And at her faire request refraines the fielde The Truce expierd both Hoasts prepare againe For battaile with proud harts in valour steel'd The Greekes are beate backe many kild and taine Patroclus don's Achilles Armes and shield Him Hector for Achilles tooke and slew Whose Armor gone his Mother seeks him new ARG. 2. TRuce after Combat Hecuba is wonne By Paris meanes to league with Thetis sonne CANTO 13. 1 AWake soft Muse from sleepe and after rest Shew thy selfe quicke and actiue in thy way Thy labouring flight and trauell long opprest Is comforted no longer then delay But with thy swiftest winges fly in the Quest Of thy prefyxed goale The happy day In which this Kingdome did her wide armes spread To imbrace king Iames our Soueraigne Lord head 2 And you great Lord to whom I Dedicate A second worke the yssue of my braine Accept this Twin to that you saw of late Sib to the first and of the selfe-same straine That onely craue the shelters of your state To keepe it from all stormes of Haâ—…le and Raine Who neither dread the rage of winds or Thunder whilst your faire roofe they may be shadowed vndâ—…r 3 Your fauour and protection deckes my phrase and is to me like Ariadnes clew To guide me through the Laborinthean Maze 〈◊〉 which my brain 's intangled T is by you That euery vulger eye hath leaue to gaze and on this Proâ—…ct takes free enter view Which but t' expresse a due debt yet vnpaid Had still remain'd vnperfect and vnmade 4 Proceed we then and where we left repaire About his head the Tree rough Aiax flings Like to a threatning Meteor in the aire Which where it lights exitiall ruin brings Such seemes th'vngrounded Oake leauelesse and bare Who shakes ore Hectors Crest her rooted strings And with such rude impetuous fury fell T' haue dingd him through the Center downe to hel 5 But Hector with his broad shield waits the fall Which shiuers all the plates of his strong Targe The Graectans too much fury strikes withall The plant from his owne hands in his rough charge Vnarm'd once more they grapple to make thrall Each others strength their armes sinnowy and large About their sides with mutuall strength they cling and wrastling striue which can each other fling 6 When loe the Kings on bothsides much admiting Their neuer equald valour loth to lose Such Champions in whose charging or retyring Their spring of victory declines or Flowes Their Conquests droop towards earth or rise aspiring The generall of each hoast his Warder throwes Betweene the Combattants who still contend By slight of strength to giue the difference end 7 Two Guards from either Army step betweene Their heated furies till their blood retyr'd For with fresh breath they both abate their spleene And cease that Combate thousands late admyr'd Instead of blowes their friendly Armes are seene T'infold each other with new loues inspyr'd Aiax his Belt pluckes from athwart his brest And giues to Hector of all Knights the best 8 Who takes a good sword flesht on many a foe And enter-chang'd with Aiax but oh Fate Two ominous Tokens these good Knights bestow Which to themselues prou'd most vnfortunate To Hectors heeles must Aiax Baldricke grow And three times drag him by each Troian gate Whose sight whole Troy with clamorous shricks shal fill With Hectors sword Aiax must Aiax kil 9 These passages of friendship giuen and tooke Behold a Herald from the Towne appeares Who greets the proud Greekes with a friendly looke From Priam reuerent both in state and yeares Them whom but late the Troians could not brooke Troy now inuites and for a space forbeares All hostile hate betweene both hoasts proclaiming A day of Iubile for feast and gaming 10 The Faith of Hector as best hostage giuen Th'inuasiue Kings in peace the Citty enter Whom Priam feasts with all that vnder heauen Can be found rare or bred aboue the Center The Dames and Damsels all pale feare bereauen Amongst the dreadfull Greekes dare freely venter And they that late did fright them aboue measure Haue liberty to sport and Court their pleasure 11 Vnpeered Hector
Husbands Bed denide 82 And proouing armes by them she honor sought She tam'd the VVelch-men and the Danes disgraced Next Edward Adelstane the battailes fought Of the bold English and the Castles raced as the proud Danes reard and to ruine brought The Sarafins euen from Hetruria chased Th Italian Guards they Gâ—…n ouerthrow VVhere bloud three dayes out of a VVell did flow 83 Now Gui of Warwick Danish Colebrand slew And England of all Tribute quite releast King Edmond did the Soueraignety pursue When Adelstane at Malmsbury deceast Slaine after fiue yeares by succession true Eldred his Brother raignes whose pomp increast Edmonds two Sons being young the Peeres coÌ„plaine and thinke their Vncle of more worth to raigne 84 France Tuskaine Germany the Hungars wast Hugh King of Italy by Fire destroyes The nauy of the Sarazens then past To Traxinetum Edwin next inioyes The Scepter Eldred hauing breath'd his last At Kingstone crown'd whose hart was set on toyes He Dunstan banisht his Landes and Treasure lauisht and his neere Nâ—…c vpon his Crowne-day rauisht 85 And next he slew her Husband for all which after foure yeares he was depriude his state Edgar his Brother a Prince wise and rich In all things â—…ust seuere and Fortunate ascends the Throne no Sorcerer nor Witch His sentence spard Theeues Bribers he did hate To him Ludwallis Prince of Wales obayd Three hundred Wolues for Tribute yearely payd 86 Forty seauen Monasteryes this King erected Red Crosses made and on mens Roabes were seared When Duffus had foure yeares the Scots protected Donewald a Scotch Lord that no bad thing feared Him basely slew and from his Throne derected From which â—…xe monthes no Moone or Sunne appeared The Turkes by Euecus Earle of Bygar Were Spaine expold he first King of Nauar. 87 King Edgar in his sixteenth yeare expyres When his Sonne Edward was at Kingstone crownde Slaine by his trayterous Stepdame who desires The Crowne for her Sonne Etheldred he founde Exter Abbey Swayne of Denmarke fires Citties and Townes in England burning round King Etheldred raign'd in this Kingdome free Thirty eyght yeares His murdred Brother three 88 Now Stephen was made first King of Hungary And thirty nine yeares raign'd Alphons of Spaine Besiedging great Visenum valiantly Was with an arrow kild and strowed the plaine All the Lord-Danes that liu'd here tyranously Were by the English Wiues in one night slaine Ierusalem was by the Turkes possest Whom twice the bold Venetian Duke distrest 89 King Edmond sir-nam'd Iron-side next his Father Inioyes the Kingdome gainst whom Swanus Son The bold Canutus all his Danâ—…s doth gather Twixt whom were many battayles lost and won After much bloods effusion they chose rather By single strife to end the broyles begon Theyr valors were in epuall ballance tryde and after Combat they the Land deuide 90 Edrick of Stratton valiant Edmond slew And from Canutus had a Traytors meede The valiant Dane in Stiles and Honors grew He Scotland wan and Norway To his seed Leauing foure Kingdomes Vice he did eschew Nor euer did a juster Prince succeed English and Danâ—…s he atton'd vnto his doome and after went on Pilgrimage to Roome 91 Robert the Norman Duke for valor famed Hyes to the holy warres in Palestine He gone his young Sonne William is proclaymed The Norman Duke Now seekes a Throne deuine Canutus when he twenty yeares had raigned and Harrold Harefoote vnto whom incline The Danâ—…s in England next the Scepter swayes and three yeares past at Oxford ends his dayes 92 Hardi-canutus the same number fild and drinking dide whom the good Edward Sainted For holy workes succeeds no bloud he spild Nor with knowne sinnes his high profession taynted He married as the great Earle Goodwin wild Th'Earles Daughter Edgitha and nothing wanted That a iust Prince should haue one and twenty years In zeale and clemency the Crowne he weares 93 This Goodwin Alphred Edward younger Brother Traytorously slew and by his power he yoaked The King himselfe betray de his Soueraigne Mother By Byshop Robert to these illes prouoked But Heauen no longer could such mischiefe smother Swearing by Bread he by the bit was choaked The swallowing Sea deuour'd all his Lands Which to this day beare name of Goodwins sands 94 William the Bastard Duke first landing heare Was by the King receaued and Englands Crowne Promist by Edward which no English Peere Was knowne to contradict after lenthome With greatest pompe and Harrold the same yeare Earle Goodwins sonne a man of great renowne Arriude in Normandy and with oathes deepe Sware the King dead for him the Crowne to keepe 95 But Edward dead Harrold vsurpes the seate Whom Fauston and the Norwey King inuade Vpon the North both whom he did defeate And brauely slew in battaile William made A new Incursion gainst whom in t' is heare Harrold his Ensignes in the field displayde The Norman Duke preuaylde and Harrald slaine William the first so cald begins his raigne In Brutes time whilst he gouernd Brittan Anaeus Siluius raigned amongst the Latines Dercitus in Assyria Athletets in Corinth Pipinus in Thusâ—…an Codrus in Athens in whose dayes the Arke of God was taken by the Philistims In Locrynes raigne Dauid was annoynted King ouer Israel In Guendolins raigne he 〈◊〉 Vriah and marryed Bersheba In Madans dayes Salomon built the Temple c. From Brute to Caelar the Brittans were not Tributary to any the gouernment of the Romans from Caesar to Theodosius lasted 483. years In Theodosius the youngers raign the yeare of Christ 443. the Tribute 〈◊〉 The gouernment of the Saxons continued the space of 600. yeares in continuall warre and hostility either with the Brittans the Danes or the Normans The opinions of those that write of the first inhabiting of this Iland are diuerse and how it came first to receiue the name of Albion some thinke of the Chalky and white Cliffe which seemes to wall it in from the Sea But Hugh Genisis a Roman Chronicler writing of all the Kinges and Kingdomes of the World from the Vniuer sall Deluge to Christ. Writes that Danaus King of Greece had fifty Daughters and Aegiptus as many Sonnes who being married and the women the first night murdring their Husbands were for the offence banished and sayling on the Seas were driuen vpon this Island which Albiana called after her Name Albion vvith these Ladies he reports that Spirits engendred and begotte Gyants who laie with their Mothers and Sisters led onely by their lustes till they had multiplyed themselues to the number of twelue thousand But Idoubt not but that this Land may contend with any other whatsoeuer for her antiquity being inhabited with the first which beeing continually vexed within it selfe with ciâ—… 〈◊〉 and forraine inuasions her Monuments and remembrances
taught the poore beast hauing poison tasted To seeke th`hcarbe Cancer and by that to cure him Who taught the Bore finding his spirits wasted To seeke a branch of Iuy to assure him The Tortois spide a Dragon and straight hasted For Sauery arm'd with which he can endure him Chyron found Centery whose vse is holy Achilles Yarrow and great Hermes Moly 14 The Storke hauing a branch of Orgamy Can with much ease the Adders sting eschew And when the little Weasill chast doth fly The Dragon he defends himselfe with Rew Much might be done by their rare purity By such as all their opperations knew No maruell then if such as know their skill Find by their practise Art to saue or kill 15 The Basiliske and the reuiued Swaine With all the powerfull hearbes that life restore He beares to Paphos they beholding slaine So horrible a Monster knowne before Perceiuing likewise how he cal'd againe Men dead to life his person they adore Now Esculapius name is sounded hie Through the vast compasse of the spatious skie 16 And whether enuious of this Princes name Fitting the humorous world with such applauses Or whether for receiuing such as came From the last field or at what carping clauses Ioue was agrieu'd at Esculapius fame I find no certaine ground but for some causes Vnknowne to me he Paphos doth inuade And great Apollo to his sonne giues aide 17 But Saturnes seed preuailes much bloud he spils To quench the heat of his incensed ire Paphos he sackes and Esculapius kils Oh where 's the Art that made thy name aspire Whose fame Sea Earth and Heauen with clangor fils To others thou gauest life now life desires In vaine alas when heauen hath doomd thy date Prepare thy soule all physicke comes too late 18 Besides this sentence I pronounce or hie There is no strife with heauen when their houres call Physitians must as well as patients die And meete at the great iudgement generall Paphos is spoil'd Apollo forcst to slie The Cretans him pursue he scapes them all Disguis'd and is in exile forcst to keepe In Thessaly the king Admetus sheepe 19 I told you erst how Saturne reinuested Into Parthemia for bright Iuno sent There with her vnknowne Brothers to be feasted And how Athenian Neptune had intent To meet with Pluto there Things thus digested Triumphant Ioue now full of griefe Ostent For his late conquest in his breath'd defiance Is in all pompe receiu'd by his alliance 20 Chiefely by twin-borne Iuno not alone His Sister now his troth-plight Queene and Bride Their long diuided bodies they attone And enter amorous parley which espide By Saturne speedy Purseuants are gone To all the bordering Kings to them alide Vnto their solemne spousales to inuite King Prince Duke Marquesse Baron Lord and Knight 21 Metis the daughter of Oceanus They say was Ioues first wife whom being great He swallowed least of her being childed thus One should be borne to lift him from his seate By this the God growes more then Timpanus And swelling with the same with throwes did sweat Till after anguish and much trauelling paine The arrned Pallas leapt out of his braine 22 Metis deuout'd he Themis takes to bed Espousing her within the Gnossean Isle There where the flood Theremus lifts his head His third wife Iuno whom he wan by guile Ioue knowing it vnlawfull was to wed His sister by his God-hood in small while Transformes himselfe and like a Cuckow flies Where Iuno tasts the pleasure of the skies 23 But at his becke the King of Gods and men Commands a storme the Welkin to orecast At which the Cuckow trembling shrinketh then Her legges beneath her wings Iuno at last Pitties the fearefull Bird who quakes agen And wraps it softly till the storme was past In her warme skirt when Ioue within few houres Takes hart turnes God and the faire Queen deflours 24 After which rape he takes her to his Bride And though some thinke her barren without heires Some more iudicious haue such tales denide Gods that know all things know their owne affaires And vvhat they vvill their povverfull vvisedomes guide Their children Preces were vvhom vve call Prayers These dwel on earth but when they mount the sphears Haue free accesse to Ioue their fathers eares 25 Imagine all the pompe the Sea can yeild Or ayre affoord or earth bestow on Man Seas-fish Ayres-Fowle beast both of Parke and field Rarâ—…eties flowed in abundance than Nature and Art striue which is deeplier skild Or in these pompous Nuptials better can Twixt these being more then mortall seem smal ods And the high sumptuous shewes made by the Gods 26 Night coms a daughter is begot and nam'd Hebe the long-liu'd Feast at length expires Great Iupiter and Iuno are proclaimd Parthemian King and Queene Neptune desires To visite Athens being likewise nam'd Th' Athenian King his bloud Ambition fires Pluto departs in Tartary to dwell There founds a deuilish Towne and cals it Hell 27 No day so cleere but darke night must ensue Death is the end of life and care of pleasure Paine followes ease and sorrowes ioy pursue Saue not to want I know not what is Treasure The Gods that scourge the false and crowne the true Darknesse and Light in equall ballance measure Tydes fall to ebbes the world is a meere graunge Where all things brooke decay and couet chaunge 28 Not long these triumphs last when Saturne seeing Parthemian Ihoue such generall fame atchieue Out-shining him hee envyes at his being Still feare is apt things threatned to beleeue But when the Oracle with this agreeing He cals to mind his Soule doth inly grieue For this is he whom Delphos did foretell Should Saturne from his Crowne and Realme expell 29 Now turnes he loue to hate his Ioy to Sadnesse His Fathers-pitty to a Foe-mans spight His pleasure to despaire his myrth to madnesse In teares he spends the day in sighes the night To spleene his feares conuert to griefe his gladnesse And all to Melanchollie is sad affright Nor can his troubled sences be appeas'd Till as a Traitor he Prince Ioue hath ceas'd 30 He therefore musters vp a secret power Of his vnwilling Subiects to surprize Ioue in Parthemta Ioue ascends a Tower At the same time and from a farre espies Their armed troopes the fields and Champions scowre From euery quarter clouds of thicke smoke rise No way he can his eyes or body turne But he sees Citties blaze and Hamlets burne 31 More mad with anger then with rage dismaid From that high Tower he in hast discends To know what bold foe dares his realmes inuaid And gainst his peacefull kingdome enuy bends Tidings is brought great Saturne hath displaid His hostile fury and his wracke intends But Ioue that in his Fathers grace affide Sweares he shall die that hath his name belide 32 It bears no face of truth no shape of reason A father
bold Too ventrous Greeke for loues sake leaue this place Thou knowst not what thou seekst the fleece of Gold A royall prize it is yet amorous stranger It hath not worth to countervaile the danger 62 For the least blood shall drop downe by thy skin Or in the' combat staine the Colchian grasse Is of more worth then all that thou canst win Yet doth the riches of this Fleece surpasse But stay What blind maze am I entred in What louing laborinth Forgetfull Lasse Oh canst thou to a strangers grace appeale Who comes from farre thy Fathers fleece to steale 63 This Iason is our foe dwels in a Land Remote and of another Clyme indeed If thou wilt loue about thee Princes stand Of thine owne Nation let this stranger bleed Despise him then and all his forraine band That in thy Fathers pillage haue agreed Instead of loue the amorous Greeke defie And by th'inchanted Monsters let him die 64 But shall Medea view that Tragicke sight And see his faire limbes by her Monsters rent Shall his white fingers with grim Hell-hounds sight That might Medea in her loue content Apollo may I neuer tast thy light Pertake thy earthly rise or low discent But by my Art I shall so well prouide To be the Gold-Fleece-conquering Iasons Bride 65 But how Medea Wilt thou then forsake Thy Country Father Friends All which are great and to thy Lord a rouing Pyrate take One that perchance hath no abiding seat Fond Girle thou wrongst him these faint doubts to make A Royall Prince and in all acts compleat Thy Country Father Friends trifles but small And this one warlike Iason worth them all 66 That he is louely witnesseth mine eye And valiant what can better record beare Then this attempt whose fame to heauen will flye T' amaze the Gods that shall this Nouell heare I leaue a barraine kingdome to discry A populous Nation what then should I feare In seeking with this amorous Greeke to dwell I aske Elisum in exchange for Hell 67 A Land where if his people him resemble Humanity and all good Thewes are rife Who if they loue their Lord cannot dissemble Their harts to her that shall safegard his life Th'inchanted Buls whose bellowing made heauen trēble Shall by their ruines make me Iasons wife Whom all the faire and potent Queenes of Greece Shall better welcome then the conquerd Fleece 68 Opinion'd thus at their next enter-view After their diuers oaths betweene them past That he the fam'd aduenture shall pursue Whose conquests with inchantments she binds fast And when his hands these monsters shall imbrew He to receiue her as his Bride at last Night passeth on at the next birth of day Aurora frights the Feare◅ll Stars away 66 Much confluence of people throng together In the large field of Mars they take their places The Princes of the Land in Scarffe and Feather And Triumph robes expect the Greekes disgraces The burdend earth grones with spectators whether The King himselfe martiald with golden Maces In person comes his Ba◅ns him inuest In a high Throne degr◅d aboue the rest 70 To such prepared ioyes the Frenchmen came To see the valiaunt Mount-morensi roon against Charles Brandon who for Englands fame Vanquisht their Knight at which their ioy was doon The French who to disgrace the English came Saw how bold Charles at one incounter woon Their Champions armes the French Qu. to his pheer Which chang'd their promist mirth to sadder cheere 71 Behold where Polymelaes sonne vndanted against the brazen-hoofed Beasts appeares How richly armd his sword aloft he vanted T' incounter with the two infernall steares Who as he strikes still breaths out words inchanted The Graecians stand amaz'd Medea feares To see young Iason Lord of her desire Betwixt two Buls their Nosthrils breathing fire 72 And least her Incantatious force might faile She mumbles to her selfe more powerfull charmes Still doth the dreadlesse Greeke those Buls assaile Reddy to scorch him in his twice-guilt armes His sharpe edg'd sword their horned crests makes vaile That fire that scaldeth others him scarce warmes Such power hath Magicke the fell Buls grovv tame And Iason tugs with them amidst the flame 73 And first he by the dangling dew-laps takes them Who force perforce his valour must obey He twixt his sinnowy armes together shakes them They bellowing yeeld themselves his glorious prey To bow their stubborne necke bold Iason makes them On which th'obedient yoake he gently lay The Greekes applaud his conquest with shrill cries The Colchians shew their sorrowes in their eyes 74 But all 's not furnisht yet he makes them draw The teemed plow to furrow vp his field The rusty yron doth the greene verdure flaw Quite vanquisht now the conqu◅d Oxen yeild Yet more then this the Colchian Princes saw The Vipers teeth he cast vpon his shield And sow'd them in the furrowes they straight grew To armed men and all on Iason flew 75 The Greekes dismay th'incourag'd Colchians showt Onely Medea doth their ioy detest With magicke she assists her Champion stout Her Exorcismes haue power to arme his brest Those that but late incompast him about And with their steele strooke Stars out of his Crest Seeke mutuall armes amongst themselues they brall So by seditious weapons perish all 76 It now remaines the three-tongu'd venomous Snake The Riuer-waking-Serpent to make sleepe Whose horride crest blew skales and vnces blacke Threat euery one a death vnto his keepe The Fleece is put Medea bids him take Grasse in blacke Lethe laid three nights to steepe Vttering such powerfull charmes as calme the winds And the mou'd Billowes in their Channell binds 77 Those drops being spinkled on the Dragons head The words thrice spoke the wakefull Serpent lies Drownd in forgetfull slumbers seeming dead and sleepe till now not knowne seales vp his eyes Iason in safety may the Mansion tread Where Colchos long preseru'd the golden prize and now at length faire Polimelaes sonne Inioyes the Fleece that he with danger wonne 78 Proud of this purchase but of her more glad That by the Vertue of a powerfull word More hy command vpon these Monsters had Then he in vse of his remorslesse sword Vnto his Argoe he Medea Lad Commanding all his merry mates aboord But secretly least when King Aeta knew his daughters rape he might her flight pursue 79 Which to preuent the Negerous Lady takes The young Absyrtes a faire hopefull youth And when her father after Iason makes And with rough fury her escape pursuth She chops the Lads limbes into bits and flakes and in the Kings way strowes him without ruth And whilst he gathers vp with watry eyes His peece-meale body she in safety flies 80 With triumphs they in Greece are welcomd all And Iason famous for his royal Quest The Bed red Father will his sonne install In his owne kingdome and with him his guest Deepe-speld-Medea at whose Magicke call The Seas and winds or trauell or
is figured in his face And in his lookes the eye of Gorgons burnes The Greekes blunt sword can scarce his Helmet race So weake a foe inflamed Hector scornes Vpon his Crest his Faulchion he lets fall And cleaues the Greeke helme body armes and all 59 The emulous son of Thetis crost by chance The blacke goar'd field and came to view this blow And mad in mind against him charg'd his Lance In hope the towring Prince to ouerthrow Him Thoas seconds and doth proudly'aduance His reeking sword late crimson'd in the foe Both with remorflesse blowes the Prince offend And his bruisd Shield about his arme they bend 60 Had not his helmet beene of mettall pure With Axes they had hewed it from his head But he that made it was an Arts-man sure Else had his braines bin on his harnesse spread Nor had he long bin able to indure Such tedious battry had not Fortune led Paris Aeneas Troylus and the rest To rescue valiant Hector thus opprest 61 At their approch the Achive bands retire Whom to their Pallisadoes they pursue By this in heauen ten thousand Lampes of fire Shine through the ayre and now both Hoasts withdrew The re-assembled Greekes Hector admire And mongst themselues into sad counsell grew Since not by force of Armes by what sly traine The neuer-daunted Worthy may be slaine 62 More honoured Hector in his royall braine Reuolues on milder thoughts how bloud to saue It pitties him to see so many slaine And come to such a generall timelesse graue Then that no more red bloud may Symois staine And change the coulour of her siluer waue He by a generall challenge will deuise For thousands safeties one to Sacrifice 63 Against all Greece hee 'l flyng his hostile gage And to a single Fight their Princes dare That two bolde Champions may the combat wage And in their mutuall Fury thousands spare Meane time blacke night from th' vniuersall Stage Of Earth is cha'st and driuen Now all prepare For th' early Field and with Apollo rise To shine in Armour by his rhadiant eies 64 The Princes to the place where Hector lay Throng in theyr Armes and his command attend After they had tooke and giuen the time of day with him they to the aged King descend Before whom Hector briefly doth display his purpost challenge which they all commend For well his Father and his Brothers know Hector hath power t' incounter any foe 65 The Sunne vp the steepe Easterne hils clymes fast Th'embattaild Greekes vpon the plaines appeare To them the faire-rankt Troians march in hast Within the reach of Hectors armed speare Both Hoasts attend the charge when vnagast The Prince first wafts that all the Campemay may heare Then leaning on his Iauelin makes this boast Euen in the face of their assembled hoast 66 You curled Greekes that haue vnpeopled quite Threescore vast Kingdomes of theyr ablest men To throng our fieldes with numbers infinite All hopelesse of theyr safe returne agen Among these sixty Kings that shine so bright In burnisht Steele vpon this sanguine Fen Can you select one boulder then the rest T' encounter armed Hector Creast to Creast 67 Or if your Princes be too weake a number Can all those threescore Climats yeild one hand Amidst this world that coms our Realme to cumber That dares betweene these hoasts gainst Hector stand Or doe you all feare deaths eternall slumber As well your Kinges as those of common band That with a braue breath'd in so many eares No soule more valiant then the rest appeares 68 If any of these Princes proue so free His prodigall life against ours to ingage Know by exposing his whole thousands be Sau'd from the spoyle of warres infernall rage Oh let me then that thrifty Champion see That will spare Graecian blood with him â—…wage wage Equall contention with my liues expence I will maintaine the Troians eminence 69 A Prince shall meet that Prince as neere allide To thundering Ihoue as he that 's best degreed If in his warlike Chariot he will ride I in my Chariot will conâ—…tont his speed March me these foure white Coursers Greece hath tride These faire Andromache doth mornely feed With her white hand with bread of purest wheat And waters them with Wine still when they eat 70 Xanthus Podargus Lampus Aethon deare To Hector you my armed Coach shall draw And in this fierce exposure shall appeare Before the best Steeds that the Sun ere saw But all Greece cannot match your swift Carrere Not Diomedes Steeds that fed on râ—…w And mangled limbes that in their Mangers bleed Can equall you in courage or in speed 71 Therefore I le cease that oddes and once againe Leauing the Kings to common men I turne Among such clusters growing on this plaine In no warme brest doth so much valor burne But shall so many shewers of blood still raine On Symois banke so many widdowes mourne For their slaine Lords so many Children cry For their poore Fathers that heere slaughtred die 72 If not for Loue of honour in despaire Methinkes some one our puissance should accost For noâ—… two soules that heere assembled are Shall scape the â—…y of our Troian hoast Death and deuouring ruin shall not spare One of your infinites you are ingrost All on destructions File then let some Greeke Despairing life a death with honor seeke 73 Yeilds our besieged Towne a Nobler spirit Then sixty assembled Kingdomes can produce That none dares enterpose his hostile merit But all put off this combat with excuse Among such infinites will none inherit A name with vs Feares Greece our hand shall sluce Their Vniuersall blood That feare can slaue So many Legions with one Hectors braue 74 I beg it of you Greekes let some forth stand To try what puissancelyes in Hectors sword If I be foyl'd by his all-daring hand The Spartan Hellen shall be soone restord And all the spoyles brought from the fertile Land Of Cythara made good and he ador'd With these ennobled armes the sword and crest Of Hector Honors more then all the rest 75 If I subdue your Champion Greece in peace Shall ease our burden'd earth of this huge weight Hostility betweene our hoasts shall cease You with your men and armes your ships shall freight And from our bloud-stain'd soyle free this large prease So shall illustrate Hector reach his height When th' Vniuersall world hath vnderstood Hector gag'd his to saue his Citties blood 76 Oh let it not in after times be saide Twice thirty kingdomes could not one man finde Prince Knight or Swaine durst equally inuade A Troian Prince in Armes and height of mind Nor let succeeding time the Greekes vpbraide To heare such lofty spirits so soone declinde Behold heere stand I to abide the rage Of his arm'd hand that dares but touch our gage 77 These words thus breath'd a generall showt is giuen Through al the Trâ—…n army which aspires And strikes against the Marble floores of heauen Where fixed are