or Vlysses There is a sweeter eloquence in kisses If I incircle thee within mine arms My close embraces are like powerful charms My naked breasts being in thy view laid open Will soon perswade thee though no word be spoken If thou wert like the sea void of compassion My silent tears would move commiseration As thou desirest thy fathers length of dayes Or to see Pyrrbus crown'd with wreaths of Bayes Achillâ—s take thy Briseis once again Have pity on that grief which I sustain If thy love be turn'd to hate yet do not flout me Kill me out-right who cannot live without thee Nay thou dost kill me for my strength doth fade My beauty and fresh colour is decay'd Yet I do hope thou wilt thy Briseis take And this hope makes me live even for thy sake But if my hopes of thee do sail then I To meet my brother and husband will dye Yet when others shall perchance read my sad story To kill a woman will yeild thee no glory Yet let no other kill me thy weapon can Kill me assoon as any other man Let thy sword give me such a wound that I May bleed with pleasure and so bleeding die Let thy sword send me to Elysian rest Which might have wounded Hectors valiant brest But let me live if thou art pleased so Thy love doth ask what thou grant'st to thy foe And rather kill thy Trojan foes than I Express thy valour on thy enemy And whether thou intend'st to go or stay Command me as my Lord to come away The Argument of the fourth Epistle THeseus the son of Aegens having slain the Minotaure brought away by ship Ariadna daughter to Minos and Pasiphae to whom for helping him in killing the Minotaure he had promised marriage and her sister Phâ—dra But admonished by Bacchus he leaves Ariadna in the Isle Naxâ—s or Chios and marries Phaedra who in Theseus absence falls in love with her son in Law Hippolytus Theseus son by Hippolito an Amâ—zon He being a Bachelour and much addicted to hunting she having no opportunity to speak to him discovers he love by this Epistle wherein cunningly wooing and perswading him to love her and lest it might seem dishonesty in a mother to solicit her son in law she begins with an Insinuation PHAEDRA to HIPPOLYTUS PHâ—edra unto Hippolytus sends health Which unless thou giv'st me I must want my self Yet read it for a Letter cannot fright thee There may be something in it may delight thee For these dumb Messengers sent out of hand Do carry secrets both by sea and land The foe will read a letter though it be Sent to him from his utter enemy Thrice I began my mind to thee to break Thrice I grew dumb so that I could not speak There is a kind of modesty in love Which hindereth those that honest suits do move And love hath given command that every lover Should write that which he blusheth to discover Then to contemn loves power it is not safe Who over all the gods dominion hath 'T is dangerous to resist the power of love Who ruleth over all the gods above Love bid me write I followed his direction Who told me that my lines should win affection O! since I love thee may my love again Raise in thy brest another mutual flame That love â—hich hath been a long time delay'd At last grows violent and must be obey'd I feel a fire a fire within my heart And the blind wound of love doth rage and smart As tender Heyfers cannot brook the yoak Nor the wild Colt that is not backt nor broak Endure the bridle so loves yoak I find Is heavy to an unexperienc'd mind When 't is their art and they can easily do it That from their youth have been train'd up unto it She that hath let her time run out at wast Her love is violence when she loves at last The forbidden fruits of love I keep for thee In tasting them let us both guilty be It is some happiness to pluck and cull Fruit from a tree Whose boughs with fruit are full Or from the bush to gather the first Rose I am the tree and bush where loves fruit grows Yet hitherto my fame was never blotted But for white chastity I have been noted And I am glad that I my love have plac'd On one by whom I cannot be disgrac'd Adultery in her is a base fact That with some base fellow doth commit the act But should Iuno grant me her Iupiter In love I would Hippolytus prefer And since I lov'd thee I do now embrace Those sports which thou â—ost love to hunt and chase Wilde savage beasts for I would gladly be A Huntress to enjoy thy company And now like thee no Goddess I do know But chast Diana with her bended bow I love the woods and take delight to set The toyles and chase the Deer into the net And I do take delight to hoop and hollow And cheer the dogs while they the chase do follow To cast a dart I now am cunning grown Sometimes upon the grass I lye along Sometimes for pleasure I a Chariot drive Reyning the horse that with the bridle strive Sometime like those mad Bacchie I do run Who pipe when they to the Idian hill do come Or like those that have seen the horned fawns And Dryads lightly tripping o're the lawns In such a frantick fit they say I am When love tormâ—nts me with his raging flame And this same love of mine perhaps may be By fate entail'd upon one family For it is given to us in love to fall And Venus takes a tribute of us all For first great Iupiter did rarely gull Europa with the false shape of a Bull. My mother Pasiphae in a Cow of wood The leaping of a lustful Bull withstood My sister likewise to false Theseus gave A Clew of silk and so his life did save Who through the winding labyrinth was led By the direction of this slender thred And now like Mino's stock even I Love as the rest did in extremity It fortunes that our love thus cross should be Thy father lov'd my sister I love thee Thus Theseus and Hippolytus his son Do glory that their love hath overcome Two sisters but I would we had remain'd At home when we came to thy fathers land For then especially thy presence mov'd me And from that time I ever since have lov'd thee My eye convey'd unto my heart delight To like of thee for thou wert cloth'd in white A flowry garland did thy soft hair crown And thy complexion was a lovely brown Which some for a stern visage had misâ—ook But Phaedra thought thou hadst a manly look For young-men should not be like women drest A careless dressing doth become them best Thy steâ—nness and loose flowing of thy hair And dusty countenance most graceful were While thy curveting Steed did bound and fling I admir'd to see thee ride him in the ring If with thy strong arm thou didst toss the pike
cended to the Stygian Lake From thence in saâ—ety I returned back For though in thy Letters no dread appear I saw my mothers thin ghost walking there She told me how at home all matters be And to shun my imbraces thrice fled me I saw Protesilaus who fate-contemnâ—ng Wâ—th his death gave the Trojan wars beginning And his wife Leodaâ—iâ— who did dye That she might beaâ— her hâ—sband company I saw Agameâ— on whose wounds bleâ—ding were So that the sight made me â—et fall a tear He had no hurt at Troy and also past The Eubaean Promontory yet at last Having a thousand wounds gâ—ven him he dies Even then when he to Jove did sacrisice Thus Hâ—lena the Grecians ruin bred While she to Troy a stranger fo lowed Besides what profit was it unto me Cassaâ—dra were captives and Andromeche I could have chosen Hâ—cuâ—a for my wife Think not that with a who e I spend my life For I brought Hâ—cubâ— aboard my ship But she out of her former shape did â—â—ip For into a Bitch she was straight transform'd And her complaints were into barking turn'd Thetis grew angry at these Progedies And enrag'd Aeosus made a storm to rise So that with wind and waves our ships did strive Which tempest round about the world did drive But if Tyresias truely foretold me A prosperous â—ate aâ—ter adversity Having endur'd so much by land and sea I hope my fortunes will more kinder be Now Pallas doth protect us from all dangers And guides us in our journey amongst strangers Since Trâ—yes destruction I have Pallas sâ—en Of late so that her anger spent doth seem And whaâ—soever Ajax did commit The Grecians now are punished for it Nor was Tydides too excus'd from danger For he like us about the world doth wander Nor Teucer that from Telamon firâ—t sprung Nor he that with a thousand ships did come Menâ—laus was happy for having got His wife he need fear no unhappy lot Though the winds or seas did your journy stay Your love was not hindred by that delay The winds nor waves did not hinder your blisse But when you list you could embrace and kisse And had I so enjoy'd thy company No evil chance could then betide to me But since Telemachus is well I hear My present troubles I more lightly bear I blame thy love in sending him to sea Through Sparte and in Pyâ—on to seek me I needs muâ—t blame thy love in doing it While to the Sea thou didst my Son commit But fortune may at last yet prove my friend And all my troubles may have a fair end A Prophet told me dear wife we should meet And with embraces should each other greet But â— will come diâ—guis'd so to be known Unto no other â—ut thy self alone In a bâ—ggers habit â—'le disguised be Conceale thy joy and knowledge then of me I 'le shew no outward violence when I come For so Apolâ—â—s Priest unto me sung But I 'le revenge my self even at that time When thy wooâ—rs are banqueting with wine While beggers rayment doth Vlesses cover And then at last my self I will discover While at Vlesses they shall all admire That thâ—s day would come soon I do desire That we may both dâ—er wife renew our love And I to thee may a kind husband prove The Argument of Sabines seâ—ond Eâ—iâ—tle DEmophoon in this Epistle endeavours by divers Arguments to excuse his unfaithfull neglect of returning to Phylles according to his promise Alledging that his friends were offended with him sot staying so long with her in Thrace and also the importune unseasonablenesse of the weather for sailing promising howsoever at length to return to Phillis He performed his promise but Phyllis impatient of delay â—ad strangled her self before he came and by the mercy of the gods was changed into a leafelesse Almond tree which Demophoon embracing it put forth leaves as if it had been sensible of his return Which is fain'd because Phyllis signifies in Greek an Almonde tree so expressing the name of Phyllis Because when Zephyrus or the West wind bloweth from Afriâ—a into Thrace this â—ree flourisheth for Zephyrus signifies as much as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is The life cherisher which gave occasion to this fiction that Phyllis transformed into a Tree seemed to rejoyce and flourish at the return of her Lover DEMOPHOON to PHILIS FRom his own Country to Phyllis his friend Dâ—mophoâ—n doth this his Letter send Evâ—n thy â—emoâ—hâ—oâ— that doth still love thee My fortunes chang'd but not my constancy Theseus whoâ—e name thou hast no cause to fear Thy flame of love for his sake worthy were Menestheus drove out of his royal state And the old Tyrant is now dead of late He that the Amazons had overcome And unto Herculâ—s was companion He that did Minâ—s son in law become When he the Minotaure had overthrown He did accuse me because I did stay Trifling so long with thee in Thraâ—ia For while the love of Phyllis did detain thee And that a foâ—reign beauty did enflame thee Time with a nimble pace did slip away And sad accidents hapned by thy delay Which had been all prevented hadst thou come Or hadst thou made them void when they wereâ—d VVhen thou didst Phyllis kingdome love for she Thâ—n a whoâ—e kingdome was dearer to thee From Atâ—amas I this sâ—me chiding have And old Ethra who 's halfe within her grave Since Theseus is not their to close their eyes The fault on me for staying with thee lyes I confesse they both to me often cry'd VVhen my ship did in Thracian waters ride The winâ—s stand faire Demophoon why dost stay Go home Demophoon without delay From thy beloved Phyllis example take She loves thee yet her home she 'l not forsake She desires not to bear thee company But to return again entreateth thee I with a silent patience heard them chide But their desire I in my thoughts deny'd I thought I could not imbrace thee enough And I was glad to see the sea grow rough Before my father I will this confesse He that loves worthily may it professe For since such store of worth remains in thee If I do love thee it no shame can be And I do know that Phyllis cannot say I prov'd unkin'd when I did sail away For when the day came that I must take ship I weept and comforted thee who did'st weep Thou didst grant me a ship of Thracia VVhile Phyllis love made me the time delay Besides my father Theseus doth retain Ariadnes love and cherishes that flame VVhen he looks towards heaven many times See how my love saith he in heaven shines Though Bacchus to forsake her did commenâ— him The world for forsaking her hath blam'd him So am I perjur'd thought for my delay Though Phyllis know not the cause of my stay This may assure thee I will come again Because my breast doth burn with no new flame Phyllis hath not report to thee made known What dismall troubles are sprung up at
Thy nimble strength I did approve and like Or if thou took'st thy Javelin in thy hand Me thought thou didst in comely posture stand For all thy actions yeilded me delight And did appear most graceful in my sight Of the woods wildness do not then partake Nor suffer me to perish for thy sake For why shouldst thou in hunting spend thy leasure And no delight on Venus sweeter pleasure There 's nothing can endure without due rest By which our wearied bodies are refresht And thou might'st imitate thy Diana's bow Which if too ofâ—en bended weak will grow Cephalus was a Woodman man of great fame And many wild beasts by his hand were slain Yet with Aurora he did fall in love Her blushing beauty did his fancy move While from her aged husbands bed she rose And wisely to young Cephalus straight goes Venus and young Adoâ—â—s oft would lie Together on the grass most wantonly And underneath some tree in the hot weather They would â—e kissing in the shade together Atalâ—nta did Oâ—â—ides fancy move And gave her wilde beasts skins to shew his love And therefore why may'st thou not fancy me â—ah without love the woods unpleasant be For I will follow thee o're the rocky cliff And never fear the boars sharp fanged teeth Two seas the narrow Illhmus do oppose The raging waves on both sides of it flows Together thee and I will goveâ—n here The Kingdom than my Country far more dear My husband Theseus hath long absent been He 's with his friend Perithous it doth seem Theseus unless we will the truth deny Doth love Perithous more then thee or I. 'T is his unkindness that he stayes so long But he hath done us both far greater wrong With his great Club he did my brother shy And left my sister to wild beasts a prey Thy mother was a warlike Amazon Deserving favour for thy sake her son Yet cruel Theseus kill'd her with his sword Who did to him so brave a son afford Nor would he marry her for he did aim That as a bastard thou shouldst never raign And many children he on me begot Whose untimely death not I but he did plot Would I had died in labour ere that I Had wrong'd thee by a second Progeny Why shouldst thou reverence thy fathers bed Which he doth shun and now away is fled If a mother be to love her son enclin'd Why should vain names fright thy couragious mind Such strict preciseness former times became When good old Saturn on the earth did raign But Saturn's dead his laws are cancell'd now Iove rules then follow what Iove doth allow For Iove all sort of pleasure doth permit Sister may marry if they think it fit With their own brothers Venus bonds doth tye The knot more close of consanguinity Besides who can our stoln joyes discover With a fair outside we our fault may colour If our embraces were discern'd by some They would say that mother surely loves her son Thou need'st not come by night no doors are bar'd And shut on me thy passage is not hard One house as it did once may us contain Thou oft hast kist me and shalt kiss again Thou shalt be safe with me nay wert thou seen Within my bed such faults have smother'd been Then come with speed to ease my troubled mind And may love alwayes prove to thee more kind Thus I most humbly do entreat and sue Pride and great words become not those that wooâ— Thus I most humbly beg of thee alone Alas my pride and my great words are gone To my desiâ—es long time I would not yeild But yet at last affection won the field And as a Captive at thy royal feet Thy mother begs Love knows not what is meet Shame hath forsook his Colours in my cheek It is confest yet grant that love I seek Though Minos be my father who keeps under His power the seas and that darteth thunder Be my Grand-father and he be a kin To me that hath his forehead circled in With many a clear beam a sharp pointed ray And drives the purple Chariot of the day Love makes a servant of Nobility Then for my Ancestors even pity me Nay Creeâ— Ioves Island shall my Dowry be And all my Court Hippolytus shall serve thee My mother softned a Buls stern breast And wilt thou be more cruel then a beast For love-sake love me who have thus complain'd So may'st thou love and never be disdain'd So may the Queen of Forests help thee still So may the Woods yeild game for thee to kill May Fawns and Satyres help thee every where So may'st thou wound the Boar with thy sharp spear So may the Nymphs give thee water to slake Thy burning thirst though thou do Maidens hate Tears with my prayers I mingle read my prayers And imagine that you do behold my tears The Argument of the first Epistle HEcuba Daughter to Cisseus and wise to Priam being with child dreamt that she was delivered of a flaming Fire-brand that let all Tâ—oy on fire Priam troubled in mind consults With the Oracle receives answer that his son should be the destruction of his Country and therefore as soon as he was born commands his death But his Mother Hecuba sends her son Paris secretly to the Kings shepherds They-keep him till being grown a Young man he fancied the Nymph Oenone and marryed her But when Juâ—o Pallas and Venus contended about the golden Apple which had this inscription DETUR PULCHRIORI Let it be given to the fairest Jupiter made Paris their Judge To whom Juno promised a Kingdom Pallas Wisdom Venus Pleasure and the fairest of Women but he gave sentence for Venus Afterward being known by his Father and received into favour he failed to Sparta whence he took â—elen wife to Menelaus and brought her to Troy Oenone hearing thereof complains in this Epistle of his unfaithfulness perswading him to feud back Helen to Greece and receive her again OENONE to PARIS UNto my Paris for though thou art not mine Thou art my Paris because I am thine A Nymph doth send from the Idaean Hill These following words which do this paper â—ill Read it if that thy new wife will permit My letter is not in a strange hand writ Oenone through the Phrygian woods well known Complains of wrong that thou to her hast done What god hath us'd his power to cross our love What fault of mine hath made thee faithless prove With deserv'd sufferings I could be content But not with undeserved punishment What I deserve most patient I could bear But undeserv'd punishments heavy are Thou wert not then of such great dignity When a young Nymph did first marry thee Though now forsooth thou Priam's son art prov'd Thou wert a servant first when first we lov'd And while our sheep did graze we both have laid Under some tree together in the shade Whose boughs like a green Canopie were spred While the soft grass did yeild us a green bed And when
Absyâ—tus limbs whom she had taken with her thereby to stay her father while he gathered up his Sons bones And so at length safely arriving in Thessaly Iason renewed his Father Aesons age by Medeas help who also made Pelias Daughters kill their Father For pretending that she would make him young as she had done Aeson she perswaded his Daughters with a knife to let out all his old black blood that she might infuse new fresh blood instead thereof His Daughters having done so Pelias straightway dyed Iason hereupon or for some other cause repudiates Medea and marries Creusa the daughter of Creon King of Corinth Medea herewith enraged Writes to Iason expostulating with him of his ingratitude and threatens speedy revenge unless he receive her again MEDEA to JASON AT that time Queen of Corinth I did raign When thou didst seek by my art help to gain I wish my thred of life which then was â—pun By the three sisters had been cut and done Then might Medea have dy'd innocent My life since then hath been a punishment Woe 's me that ere the lusty youth of Greece Sail'd hither for to fetch the golden Fleece Would Colchos never had their Argos seen Would the Grecians ne're on our shoar had been Why was I with thy lovely brown hair took Or with thy tempting tongue and comely look Or at least when thy ship came to our shore Bringing thy self with gallants many more I might have let thee run and found a death By those fiery Oxen with their flaming breath I might have suffer'd thee to sow that seed Whence armed men did spring up and proceed That the sower might by his own tillage die When each ear of coâ—â—e did prove an enemy They had prevenâ—ed then thy treâ—chery And kept me both from grie ' and misery To upbraid thy ingratitude pleases me In this alone I can triumph o're thee For when thy ship arrived at the shore Of Colchâ—s where it nâ—re had been before O then Medâ—a was beloved there Of thee as thy new wife 's bâ—loved here My father was as rich as hers he raign'd O're Corinth which 'twixt two Seas is contain'd My father possess'd all the Land which lay Between Ponâ—us and snowy â—cythiâ— My father did thy Grecians entertain Affording lodging to thee and thy train I saw thee then then did of thee enquire And then thy love did sâ—t my heart on fire I saw thee and that sight to love did turn While my heart did like a great Taper burn Thy beauty drew me to my destin'd fate And thy fair eyes my eyes did captivate Which thou percevid'st for who can love conceale Whose glowing flame doth it own selfe reveale My father then commanded thee to yoak Those Oxen that were to the plough ne're broak For they were Mars his Oxen whose horns werâ— Sharp and their breath did like a flame appear They had brasse hooâ—â— and nostrils arm'd with brass Blackt with the breath that through them did passe And thou wert bid to sow in the large field That seed which did an armed â—eo â—e yield VVhich sprung up would assail thee straight again Thou for thy harvest such a crâ—p shouldst gain And thy last labour was to charm a sleep The Dragon that the golden â—eece did keep When Aeetâ—s said thus you all stâ—aight rose And every one much discontentment showes So that you did your purple seats forsake And then the Table they away did take Greaâ— Creens daughter thou didst now contemn And Câ—â—â—sas dowry could not help thee then Sadly thou didst depart and discontent yet my weeping eyes on thee still were bent And as thou wâ—ntst away this one word sell In a soâ—t murmure from my tongue Farewell And when I went to bed I never slept Wounded with love all nighâ— I griev'd and wept The fieâ—ce Bulls were alwaâ—es before my eyes And the Armed mâ—n which from the earth did rise And then the watchfull Dragon did affright My senses and was still before my sight Thus love and fear my breast at once did trouble My love of thee did make my fear to double At last it chanced that early in the morning My loving sister came and found me mourning And lying on my face with all my hair Loose spread the pillow wet with many a tear She and two sisters more did me invade With fair entreaties foâ— to help and aid Iason and his Thesâ—alians who did want My assistance I in love their suit did grant There is a wood so dark with thick-leav'd trees That the bright Sun but seldome through it sees There doth a Chappel of Diana's stand VVhose golden statue there was rudely fram'd I know not whether this place is by thee Forgotten as thou hast forgotten me VVe being thither come thou then didst break Thy mind to me and thus beganst to speak My life and fortunes are at thy command My life and death are both within thy hand you may let me perish if so be you will But 't is more noble to preserve then kill Then by my present sorrows I entreat Which you can ease if you the word would speak By thy kindred and uncle Phoebus who Sees all things that on earth we mortals do By Diana's triple-sace and sacred rites And Gods wherein this Nation delights O Virgin have some pity at this time On me and make me so for ever thine And though I cannot hope the gods should be So kind and favourable unto mee yet if you would be pâ—eased now to take A Tâ—essalian and him a husband make Then I do promise I will faithfull be And vow that I will marry none but thee Let Iuno be a witnesse to my vow And Diâ—na in whose Tempâ—e we are now Thou took'st me by the hand those words of thine A maidens fancy did straight way inâ—â—ine For such thy languâ—ge was as soon did move My honest heart to entertain thy love By thy deceitfull tears I was betrayed For they had â—ower to betray a Maid So that the â—ulls whose breath like flames did smoaâ—â— I taught thee how to tame and how to yoak And thou did'st sow the Dragons teeth for seed Whence armed â—â—n did spring up and proceed I that did give thee those securing â—â—arms Grew pale to see those new-sâ—â—ung men in armes When straight those earth-bred brethren there in â—â—ght Did sâ—ay each other in a bloody fight The watchful Dragon now the earth did sweep While he upon his scaly breast did creep Where was the Dowry of thy royal wife Or King of Corinth could they save thy life No it was I that now am thus rejected And as a poor Enchantresse disrespected I charmâ—d the Dragons flaming eyes asleep That thou mightst get the Fleece which he did keep My Father I betray'd and I forsook My Countrey and with thee a voyage took Though my life a sad banishment should be I was content to wander still with thee Thou of my Maiden-head didst me deceive Who my Mother and my
Sister both did leave Yet I â—eâ—t not my Brother at that name Me thinks my pen stands still for very shame I fear to write that which I diâ— not fear To do 't was I that did in peeces tear Thy scattered â—imbs and when I had done so Guilty of thy blood unto Sea did go And would the gods had drownd us in the sea Thou for deceiâ— I for â—redulity I wou'd out ship as it along had past Our joyned bodies on some rock and dasht Or bâ—eaking Scyllâ— had devouâ—ed us then Sâ—ylla should punish such ungrateful men I wiâ—h Câ—arybdiâ— had then pleased been With his round whirling waves to suck us in But thou in safety art to Thessâ—ly come Offering thâ— go'den-â—leece which thou hast won Unto the gods What should I mention Peâ—ias Daughters whose intention I wrong'd and made their virgin handâ— to kill Their aged Father and his blood to spill Though othes blame me thou must praise me needs Since from my love of thee my guilt proceeds yet thou hast cast me off now ne re the leâ—â—e O I want words that may my grief expresse When thou didst bid me go I did obey Thy cruel doom and forthwith went away With my two Children forth along went I And love which always bears me company But when I did of thy late marriage hear Where Hymens Torches burnt bright and clear And that new musick with new marriage â—ongs Proclaim'd your wedding and thy unkind wrongs I fear d and yet could not the news beleeve yet a sad coldness to my breast did cleave But when I heard them to Hymen cry The more they cry'd more was my misery My servants wept and yet they hid their tears To bring this sad news to me each one fears And I do wish I had not known it still But yet my mind did prophesie some ill When my young Son desirous for to see Some novelty as children use to be Standing at the door did begin to cry Come Mother see my Father passing by My father Iason who in pomp doth ride In 's Charriot with his new married Bride Then I did beat my breast my clothes I rent To tear my cheeks my fingâ—rs then were bent My mind did urge me to revenge my wrong And thrust my selfe among the Bridall throng And having snatcht thy garland from thy head My arms about thy middle to have spread And took possession of that at that time And to the people cry'd aloud He 's mine Father rejoyce Colchians now be glad My brothers ghost hath these infernals had For now I am â—orsaken left and crost My Country House and kingdome I have lost Nay I have â—ost my Husband too and he Was a kingdome of contentment unto me I that both Dâ—agons and wild Bulls could tame Yet by one â—â—n am conquered again I that could quench hot fire with learned charmes Can't quenâ—â— the fire of love which my breast warmes My charmes and Art and Potions do deceive me And Aeâ—ates witchcrafts cannot now releive me Me thinks that I do hate the dayes for light And sorrow makes me lye awake all night And seldome is my miserable brest With any quiet gentle sleep refresht I made the Dragon â—â—st aâ—leep to fall But Art hath on my self no power at all A whore embraces him whom I preserv'd She reaps the fruit of that which I deâ—erv'd And perhaps whil'st thou strivâ—st to please the eare Oâ— thy Bride who thy boasting tales doth here With admiration thou dost then disgrace Either my behaviour or homely face While out of foolish pride she laughs at me And doth rejoyce at my deâ—ormity Let her laugh and lye down upon her quilt She shall weep when she hath my anger felt Mâ—dea will by sword or poyson be Revenged on her hated enemy But if â—nto my prayers thou would'st attend Unto entreaties I would now descend I will a suppliant become to thee Eâ—en at thy â—eeâ— as thou hast been to me If thou wilt not pity me for my own sake Yet on my children some compassion take Their step-mother will most unkindly use them Nay and perhaâ—s most cruelly abuse them For they too much alas resemble thee In them thy living picture I can see And since they are of thee a living Type When I behold them I am weeping â—ipe I intreat thee by the gods and â—â—e Sun My Uncle and by that which I have done For thy sake and by my two Children dear Which the pledges of our tâ—ue affection were Return to my bed who left all for thee Be constant as thou didst promise to me Against fierce Bulls thy aid I do not seek Or to charm the watchfull Dragon fast asleep Thee I desire whom I deserved have By Children hade by thee thee I do crave If thou desirst a Dowry I did yeild A Dowry which was told out in the field Which I did make thee plâ—ugh while thou didst stay Only to bear the Golden Fleece away My Dowry was the Golden Ram which had This Golden Fleece and was so richly clad This was my Dowry and should I aske thee To restore it back thou wouldst deny it me My Dowry was the preserving thy selfe Can Creons Daughter bring thee so much wealth That thou dost live and hast another Bride It was my gift else thou hadst surely dy'd And it was I that gave thee life to be Thus thanklesse and ungrateful unto me I will revenge yet what doth it pertain Unto revenge if I my wrath proclaim And tell what punishments on you shall light The closest anger doth most deadly strike I will follow as my rage doth leâ—d me on Though I repent the aâ—t when it is done For I repent that I should e're preserve A man that doth so ill of me deserve The winged God hath seen from the blâ—w skie My wrongs my sorrows and my injury And with a rage he hath inspir d my heart To plot and act e're long some Tragick part The Argument of the thirteenth Epistle PRotesilaus the Sonne of Iphyclus sayling as Homer reports with forty ships to Troy was shut up with the rest of the Grecians in Aulo a Haven of Boeotia which when his Wife Laodamiâ— the Daughter of Acasâ—us and Laodathea understood she dearly loving her Husband and being troubled much with dreams ' wâ—it this Epistle unto him and admonished him to remember the Oracle and abstain from the warres For the Orâ—cle had given this answer to the Greciâ—ns that hâ— shoulâ— periâ—h that first went a â—hore and set foot upoâ— thâ— Trojâ—n ground Bâ—t couragioâ—s Protesâ—laâ—i was the â—irst that landed and was slain by Hector LAODAMIA to PROTESILAUS LAodamâ—a doth to thee send health Wishing that she might come to thee her self I hear that thoâ— in Aulus art wind-bound Would I had of the winds such favour found To resist thy going hence and hinder it Then for the Sea to grow rough it was fit Then I had kissd thee oftener and at large Had spoken more and
my hair I tore the flaxen wealth And softly thus did reason with thy selâ—e Hypermaâ—stra thou hast a cruell father Therefore obey his commands the rather Take courage and obey thy fathers will And boldly with the rest thy Husband kill yet since I am a young maid my hands be Unfit to act a bloody Tragedy yet imitate thy sisters now again VVho have by this time a lâ—tâ—eir husbands slain yet iâ— this â— and a murther could commit To stain it with my own blood it were fit Dâ— they dâ—sâ—rve death because they possesse Our faâ—her's kiâ—gdoâ— which yet ne'rethelesse Some strangers might from him away have carried As dowries given them whâ—n we were married Though they deserve death what shall we do lesse If we commit this deed of wickednesse Maids do not love a sword or kilâ—ing tool My fingers fitter are to spin soft wooll Having thus complain'â— my tears began to riâ—e And drâ—pped on thy body from my eyes And while thy arms aboâ—â— me thou didst out Thy hand though with the sword hadst almost put And left my father should surprize and take thee With these words I did suddenly awake thee Rise Lâ—nus who dost now alone survive Of all thy brethren none are left aâ—ive Make hast I say beâ—ake thy selfe to flight Make haste or else thou wilt be slain to night Awak'd fâ—om sleep thou didst amazed stand To see the glittering sword shine in my hand And I did wish thee for to fly away By night and save thy selfe while I did stay In the morning when â—anaus came to view His sons which his most bloudy daughters slew He saw them laid in deaths eternal slumber Yet one was wanting to make up the number And angry that so little blood was spill'd Because I my Husband had not kill'd My father without any love or care Drag'd me along even by my flaxen hair And straight way did command I should be cast Intâ— prison this was my reward at last For Iuno still on us doth bend her brow Since Iuno still on us doth bend her brow Since Iâ— was transform'd into a Cow yet punishment enough by her was born When Iuno did her to a Cow transform When she that was so fair could not in height Of pleasure yield great Iupiter delight On the bank of the River Inachus now She stood cloth'd in the shape of a white Cow While in her fathers stream both clear and cold The shadow of her horns she did behold And low'd aloud when she to speak assai'd Her shape and voice did make her both aâ—raid Why dost thou fly from thy own selfe alas Or admire thy shape in that watry glasse Thus she that was great Iupiters chief Lasfe Is enforcâ—d to feed on dry leaves and grasse Thou drink'st spring-water and art in amaze VVhen on thy shadow thoâ— dost look and gaze And of those spreading horns which thou dost bear Upon thy head thou seem'st to stand in fear And she whose beauty Iupiter did wound Now lyeth every night on the bare ground O're hills and rivers thou abroad dost stray O're seas and countries thou dost find thy way And yet O Io thou canst not escape Or changing places change thy outward shape Thy selfe doth always bear thee company Where Nilus seven streams to the sea run There she unto her former shape did come But why should I such ancient tales relate I have cause to complain of my own fate My Father and my Uncle do wage war And we out of our kingdom banisht are And he our royal Scepter now doth sway VVhile miserable we like pilgrims stray Of fifty brethren thou alone art left For their deaths and my sisters I have wept My sisters and my brothers both slain were For whose sakes I can't chuse but shed a tear And because thou in safety dost survive To be tormented I am kept alive VVhat punishment shall they expect that be Guilty when they for goodness condemn me And I must die because I would not spill My brothers bloud and cruelly him kill If therefore thou respectest me thy wife Or lovest me because I sav'd thy life Help me or if I die I thee desire To lay my body on the funeral fire Eâ—balm my boness with thy moist tears aed then Sâ—e that thou carefully do bury them And let this Epitaph be engraved on My Sepulcher or on my Marble-stone Hypeâ—â—uestra here underneath doth lye That was iâ—l rewarded for her piety For she most like unto a faithful wife Did lose her own to save her husbands life My trembling hand is tired with the weight Of Chaines or else I would more largely write The Argument of the fifteenth Epistle PAris otherwise called Alexander sayling to Lacedemon to fetch Helena which Venus had promised him was honourably received by Menelaus but Menelaus and Menos kindred going to Greece to divide Acreus his wealth left Paris at home charging his wife to use him with as much respect as himself But Paris improving the opportunity began to wooe and court Holena to gain her love In this Epistle he artificially discovers his affection and with amourous boasting iudeavours to insinuate into her affection And because he knew that women love to hear their birth and beauty praised Paris endeavours by flattery to gain her favour urging her praises and striving to disgrace her husband And at last perswades her to go with him to Troy where he would keep her by force PARIS to HELENA PAris sweet Helen wisheth health to thee That health which you can onely give to me Shall I speak or need no I my flame reveale you know I love you nor can I conceal My love which I could wish might hidden be Till time did give the opportunity VVithout all fear most freely to discover My selfe to be your faithful constant Lover But yet who can the fire of love conceal Which by its own light doth it selfe reveal yet if thou look'st that I my grief should name Then know I love thee these lines shew my flame And I intreat you to have pity on me Because my present sufferings proceed from thee VVith a frowning countenance read not the rest But such as may become thy beauty best Thy receipt of thy Letters joyeth me And cherish hope that I at last shall be Receiv'd into thy favour which I wish That Venus may her promise keep in this For Loves fair Mother first perswaded me To take this journey in hope to gain thee And lest thou shouldst through ignorance offend By divine appointment I came to this end Venus perswaded me to undertake This journey which she would propitious make For since that Venus promis'd me that you Should be my wife I challenge it as due For her perswasions made me to take ship From Troy and unto Lacedemon ship And she did make the wind most fair to stand She that 's sprung from the seâ— might it command And as she smooth'd the sea and ca'm'd the wind So may she make thy
breast most soft and kind I did not find love here I brougâ—t tâ—e flame VVith me and to obtain thy love I came By wandring storms I was not hither drove My ship was guided hither by true love Nor came I hither like a merchant man I have wealth enough the gods it maintain Nor yet the Grecian Cities here to view For richer in my kingdom I can shew 'T is thee I aske 'T is thee I onely crave VVhom Venus promis'd me that I should have I askt thee of her when I did not know the She promisâ—d that she would on me bestow thee For of thy beauty I had heard by fame Before mine eye had e're beheld the same yet 't is no wonder if that Cupâ—â—s Bow VVith feathered arrows makes me cry Amo Since by unchanged fates it 's so ordain'd Then do not thou their hidden will withstand And that you may beleeve it is my fate Receive the truth which I will here relate When that my mother was with child And daily did expect delivery She dream't for in her dream it so did seem That of a fire brand she had deliver'd been She rises and to Pâ—â—am doth unfold Her dream which he unto his Prophets told Who straight foretold that Paris should destâ—oy And like a kindled brand set fire on Troy But I do think they rather might divine That brand did signifie this love of miâ—e And though I like a Shepherds son was bred My shape and spirit soon discovered That I had not been born the son of e'arth But that I claim'd Nobility by birth In the Troy valleys there 's a place Which many trees with a coâ—d shade do grace Wherein no Sheep do feed nor any Oxe Nor Goats that love to climb upon high Rocks Here looking towards Troy and to the Sea I stood and lean'd my selfe against a tree The truth I tell me thought the earth then shook As if oppressed with some heavy foot And presently swift Mercury from the skies Descended down and stood before mine eies And therefore what I saw I may unfold The God had in his hand a rod of Gold And three goddesses Venuâ— Iuno Pallas Did set their tender feet udon the grasse Thâ—n cold amazement stiffned my long hair But winged Mercurie bid me not to fear Thou art says he câ—osen to judge and end The matter 'twixt these goddesses who contend About their beauty say they which shall be Accounted the most beautiful of three This message I from Iupiteâ— do bring VVhich having said he from the earth did spring And through the air did a quick passage make And by his words I did more courrge take So that my mind more fortified grew And dreadlesse I each one of them did view Who unto me so beautifull did appear I could not judge which of them fairest were yet one of them my fancy did approve Her beauty shew'd she was the Queen of Love But they conâ—ending which should faâ—â—est be Did all with most â—ich gifts solicite me Iuno did fairly promise I should be A mighty Monarch Pâ—â—los promis'd me Learning so that a doubt did now arise Whether I would chuse to be gâ—ea or wise But Venus smiling then Paris says she Those gifts of theirs but glorious tâ—oubles be I 'le give thee Helena thou shalt hereafter In thy arms imbrace Leâ—â—â— fair daughter Thus both her gift and beauty conquer'd me So that to her I gave the victory And afterward my fate so kind was grown That now to be the Kings son I was known At my instaâ—ment all the Courts did joy Kept in a yearly festival in Troy And as I lov'd I was belov'd of many But for thy sake I would not match with any Kings and â—ukes daughters did of me approve And fairest Nymphs with me did fall in love yet all of them were but despisâ—d of me After I had this hope of marrying thee Day and nâ—ght in my mind I thee did keep And thinking on thee I should fall aslâ—ep How comely would thy presence sure have been Whose beauty wounded me a though unseen I was enâ—â—amed with a strange desire Burning when I was absent from the fire My hopes I could no longer now contain But to sea put forth my wish to obtain And now the losty Phrygian Pines I fell'd And â—â—ees for building ships most fitting held The 〈◊〉 of Gargaâ—uâ— and Ida did yield Greâ—◠〈◊〉 of trees wherewith I ships did build I buâ—lt â—heir decks and lined the ships side With planks of Oak which might a storm abide And did rig and tackle them beside With ropes and sayles which to the yards were ty'd And I did set on the stern of the ship The Image of those Gods which did it keep And on my own ship I did make them paint Venus and Cupid thaâ— it might not want Her safe protection who had promis'd me By her assistance I should marry thee Soon as my fleet was builded thus and fram'd To sea I presantly resolv'd to stand My father and Mother when I did require Their leave to go would not gran my desire Or licence me and therefore to have staid My intended journey both of them astai'd My Sister Cassanâ—ra with loosned hair When as my Ships even weighing anchor were Said whither goest thou thou shalt bring again By crossing the seas a destroying flame The truth she said for I have found a fire Love hath enflam'd my soft breast with desire A fair wind from the Port my sails did drive And I in Helena Countrey did arrive Where thy Husband did me much kindnesse show And sure the gods decreed it should be so He shew'd me all that worthy was of sight In Lacedemon to breed me delight But there was nothing that my fancy took But onely thee and thy sweet beauteous â—ook For when I saw thee I was even amaz'd My heart was wounded while on thee I gaz'd For I remember Venus was like thee When she would have her beauty judg'd by me And if thou hadst contended with her I Had surely given thee the victory For the report of thee â—abroad was blown Thy beauty was in every Country known For through all Nations where the Sun doth rise Thy beauty onely bear away the prize Beleeve me fame did not report so much As thou deservâ—st thy beauty seemeth such That Tâ—esâ—s did not thy love disdain And to steal thee away did think 't no shame When suâ—ting to the Lacedemonian fashion Thou didst sport with the young men of thy Nation In stealâ—ng thee I like his just desire But â—ow he could restore thee I admire For such a beauteous prey had sure deserv'd To have been kept and constantly preserv'd For before thou shouldst been took from my bed Before I would loose thee I would loose my head â—las could I have ceer so forgone thee O while I livâ—d have let thee been took fâ—om me Yet if I must restore thee needs at last I would have yeâ— presum'd to touch and â—ast The
by the wind Even so the flame of love doth fire my mind Though Phaâ—n live near Aetâ—a far from me My flames of love hotter than Eâ—na be So that veâ—seâ— to my harpe I cannot set A quiet mind doth verses best beget The Dryad's do not help me at this time Nor Lesbian nor Pierian Muses nine I hate Amythone and Cydâ—us white And Athis is not pleasant in mâ— sight And many others that were â—ov'd of me But now I have plac'd all my love on thee Thy youthfull years to pleasure do invite Thy tempting beauty haâ—h betraâ—'d my sight Take a quiver and thou wiâ—t Appâ—lâ—â— be Take Horns and Bacchâ—s will be like to thee Pâ—oeâ—us lov'd Daphne Bâ—cchus Ariaâ—nâ— Yet in the Lyrick verse no knowledge had she But the Muses dictate unto me smooth rhymes So that the world knows my name and linâ—s Nor hath Aceus for the harp more praise Though he by higher subjects gets his Bayes If nature beauty unto me deny My wit the want oâ— beâ—uty doth supp'y Though low of stature yet my fame is tall And high for through the world 't is known to all Though for my beauty I have no renown Pâ—rsâ—us lov'd Cepâ—eâ—a that was brown White Doves do often pair with spoted Doves And the gâ—een Parret the black Turtle loves If thou wilt have a love as fair as thee Thou must have none for none â—o fair can be yet once my face did fair to thee appear And that my speecâ— became me thou didst swear And thou would'st kisse me while that I did sing For Lovers do remember every thâ—ng My kisses and each part thou didst approve But specialy when I did write of love Then I did please thee with my wanton strain With witty words and with my amorous vain But now the Maids of Sâ—cily do please thee Would I might Lâ—sbâ—s change for Sicâ—ly But take heed Meâ—â—ensianâ—ow â—ow you do Receive this wanderer least you do it rue Least by his â—â—attering tongue you be bâ—trai'd What he says to you he hath to me said O Venus help me now in my distresse Fair goddesse favour now thy Poetesse Will fortune alwayes be to me unkind And will she never change her froward mind For I knew sorrow soon even when that I Was six years old my father first did dye The love of a whore my brothero're-came On whom he spent his wealth and lost his fame Being grown poor then unto Sea he went To get by piracy what he had spent And because I did blame his courses he My honest counsell scorn'd and hateâ— me And as if these griefes weâ—e to light for me you know that I have faulty been with thee And of thee at last I must make complaint Because that I thy company do want In thy absence I do not dress my hair Nor on my fingers any rings do wear A poor and homely weed I do assume Arabian myrrhe doth not my hair perfume Though I did dresse my self for to please thee yet in thy absence why should I dresse me Nature hath given me a hart so soft Thaâ— love doth with his arrow wound it oft For I am still in love and I do see That I must alwayes thus in love still be The fatall sisters at my birth decreed To spin my life forth with an amorous thred Or else my studies are the cause of it Thalia hath given me a wanton wit Nor can it in love seem so strange a case That I'should love thy young effeminate face Lest Aurora should love thee I was affraid And so she had but Cephâ—â—us her staid If Phoebe should behold thee she e're long Would love thee more then her Eâ—dâ—mâ—on And beauteous Venus long ago had carried Tâ—ee unto heaven in her Ivory Chariot But that the goddesse wiâ—ely did foresee That Maâ—â— himself would fall in love with thee Such was thy beauty and thy comely grace For in thy youth thou hadst a Virgins face Return to me thou sweetest flower of beauty For to love thee I know it is my duty I do not here intreat thee to love me But that thou wouldst permit me to love thee And while I write I weep even for thy sake And all those blots thou see'st my tears did make Though thou resolvest to go yet modesty Might have enforced thee to take leave of me At thy departure thou didst not kisse me I fear'd that I should forsaken be I had no pledges of thy love for I Have nothing of thine but thy injury This only charge I would have gâ—ven to thee That thou wouldst not be unmindfull of me I swear unto thee by â—his love of mine And by my goddesses the muses nine When they did tell me that thou hadst took ship A long time I could neither speak nor weep My heart grew cold my silent grief was dumb Wanting both tears to vent it self and tongue But when my sorrows I more lively felt I tore my hair my tears began to melt So that to weep I presently begun Like Mothers at the burial of a son My brother laught and while that he did walk And strut by me he thus began to taâ—k Alas why does my loving sister grieve Thou hast no cause thy Daâ—gâ—ter is alive Thus love and shame together ill agree For I had put off now alâ— modesty And in such manner I abroad did rove That the people thereby discerned my love O Phâ—â—n I do dream of thee always Dreams makes the night more pleasâ—nt than the days Dreams make thee present though thou absent art But they weak shadows of true joyes impart Sometimes I tâ—ink that thou embracest me And â—ometimes I think â—haâ— I â—mbrace thee That thou dost kisse me then I do believe With such kisses as thou dost use to give And sometimes in my dream to thee I speak As if my tongue and senses were awaâ—e I cannot tell â—he â—est with modesty For methinks I enjoy thy campany But when the sun doth riâ—e and break the day I am sad because my dreams passe away I 'me angry that my fancy is no stronger And that my pleasant dream should last no longer Then to the woods and caves I straight way hie Wherein I enjoy'd thy sweet company As if the woods and caves wouâ—d comfort me Since they witnesses of our pleasure be Like one wâ—re mad or enchanted I â—â—ye Wâ—ile my hair doth o're my shoulders loose lie Methinks the mossie caves do seem as fair As those which built of costly Marble are I love the vvood under whose leavie shade VVe oftentimes have both together laid But the vvood seems upleasant unto me As if it mourned for thy company And I have often gone unto that place Where we have lain together in the grasse And laid me down again and with the showers Of tears have watered the smiling flowers The leavelesse trees to mourn do begin And all the sweet â—irds have left off to sing Only the Nightingale with mournfull song In sadest notes bewailes her