How could that loue be constant that affection permanent which had no déeper roote then the parents naked consent no surer seale then a bare saluting at the first fight Yet such was the inclination of my youth I earnestly desired to fixe my fancy on some fortunate obiecte worthie of a Princes fauour Many both gorgeous and gallant Dames attended in my Fathers Court yet none fit though all faire While fancy commenced such tumults in my thoughts there arriued in Cyprus a noble Epirote surnamed Aristophon a man noble in déede graced with all ornaments which nature might afford or vertue challenge He was banished from his natiue soyle by tyrannous doome of his vnnaturall Souereigne being falsely accused to attempt an innouation in the State and plot some treacherous practise with the King of Macedon For it was vniustly surmised by some and beléeued by all that he had conspired to betray to him the countrey of Ambracia whereof he was President and had annexed it by force of Armes to the Crowne of Epirus Although his integritie should haue cleared him from such a crime yet as it commonly happens innocencie oppressed by iniurie could not preuaile leauing therefore his vnkinde countrey despairing of returne yet bearing with manlike patience the burthen of his exile he repaired to my Fathers Court who reléeued him with princely liberalitie allowing him an honourable pension for maintenance of his estate for hauing oft employd him in weightie affaires and finding him fortunate in atchieuements he perceiued by these experiments that he was garnished with all glories of nobilitie graue in counsell valiant armes of dauntlesse courage spotlesse truth But leauing this digression I will returne to the proposed entent of my discourse Hée brought with him his daughter and onely childe named Timoclea a creature endued with such ornaments of the bodie graced with such qualities of the minde that it seemed nature and vertue concurring in one had conspired to make her a péerelesse proofe-péece of their vnited perfections and though fortune fretting at their fauours so largely bestowed sought to crosse their courtesies with her cruelties yet could she not blemish the bright-shining worth of so famous a wonder But as a small cloude in a cleare day may somewhat stayne not wholy stop the Sunnes light so fortunes malice did rather darken then drowne her merits in whose Iuory browes Chastitie sate enthronizde as gardian of her lookes Modestie teinting her chéekes with a vermilian dye of Virgin-red maiden-blushes emblasond her a map of mirrors Maiestie whiche beautie claymed birth challenged loue commaunded guided her gestures with such decent proportion as Iuno wanted in the pride of her glorie or Minerua in the prime of her pompe These gifts these glories did so enchaunt enthrall enforce me that hauing scarce viewde her I vowde her mine or my selfe not mine owne such déepe impressions were wrought in mine affections Loue hauing wonne and wounded me with mine owne weapons finding an easy entrance into mine heart through mine eyes the authors of my disease and discouerers of my desire disgarisond my thoughts of wonted fancies conuerting my solace into sobs my delights into despaire I vnable to susteine so grieuous a burthen perceiuing that the more I stroue to allay the heate the more those smothered cinders reuiude in quenchlesse flames Flames which Aetna-like boild in my brest resembling the horrors of Mount Ghibelloes firie rage which vomits millions of vapors and darts heapes of sulphur from the glowing centre being I say torturde with troubles I resolued to finde ease for my loue or end for my life suing to her bountie which had vndone me by her beautie I am so briefe in relating my fortunes as I was then loth to defer the execution of mine enterprise that so highly concernd the hope of my good hap Finding her on a time in company with other I singled her from the rest my intent not suspected by any When we were alone I hauing awhile dallyed with common deuises to enterteine her with varietie of talke in the end though I could not Orator-like paynt my passions in figuratiue tearmes nor contriue them with rhetoricall conceipts yet did I playnely discouer my affection protesting my present loue vowing my future loyaltie producing causes desiring comfort alleadging her worth my wants seasoning my words with many sighes She in a cholerike humor but it was a pretty choler framde a courteous yet cruell answere courteous in her words enterlaced with reuerent speaches cruell in that vnkinde repulse yet kinde rebukes not omitting to insert the respect of her owne honor and the regard of her fathers safetie but concluding her friendly anger in a calmer veine she proffered in submission all seruice loue excepted and her honour reserued Although the last clause afforded sufficient matter for a fresh reply yet did her constancie so confound me that being vnable to vtter one word I brake off our parle abruptly and summoning my fancies to a retreate I resolued to attempt a second onset wherein being likewise vanquished by her vertues yet rather animated then amated these kinde conflicts kindling not quenching my flaming passions I attached a third onset but hauing therein receiued a sharper foyle I proceeded to a fourth of all most fatall for she taunted me with contemptuous tearmes and yéelding a full denyall sealed with a storme of frownes she departed leauing me amid my discontent plunged in a sea of dangerous conceipts musing on my mishaps meditating on her rigor desperate of all hope destitute of all delights but my passions were such that I could not conceale them vndiscouered such my sorrows that I could not smother them in silence thus therefore I vttâ—red part of my griefe in an extemporall Sonet Arisbas his Sonet SHould I accuse mine eyes that boldly gazed On that fayre obiect not to be obteyned Or blame the worth in Europes wonder blazed That them to looke and me to loue constreyned Eyes for excuse alleadgde preuailing reason Heart in extreames on fancies wrong exclaymed Hopes sun-shine clowded like obscurest season Yeelds to despeire at my misfortunes aymed Nature too lauish outward graces planted Vertue too friendly inward bounties sowed Yet those faire eyes of courteous looks are scanted And angels hue on tygres thoughts bestowed Tush loue which not alike did wound vs both Is cause that I my death-like life doe loath But not satisfyed thus to haue expressed my sorrowe I did in an odder veine pen an Elegie without methode or good matter but as it was I will rehearse it Arisbas his Elegie FAint wel I may for I feele enfeebling faintnes about me faintnes vpon my lims heart to beset to besot Loue is a God but a cruell God but a boy but a wanton blinde but boldly triumphs proud to be tearmd a tyran What shal I do shal I sue to the gods that lodge in Olympus there loue seated aloft vaunts to be Lord ouer all Heau'n yeelds small comfort him they do tremble obeying and themselues enthralde
cannot alas me release What shal I doe shal I sue to the pow'r whome Cyprus adoreth loues loue-worthy mother though not a friend to Cupid Her doth he wound and smiles when her hap Cytherea bewaileth how then will he for her yeeld to releeue another What shal I then shal I sue to the boyish God that hath hurt mee hurt and harmd me so that little is my reliefe Then wil he vexe mee more til heart more heauily languish torne as Prometheus fruteful vnhappy liuer What shal I then ile sue to the saint whose lookes me bereaued of liues blisse through loue loue the decayer of hope O that beautie so rare but I blush to blame such a bountie should staine fairest hue with such a blot such a blur Yet wil I try to the saint wil I pray and sue to be succord in whose choise it rest mee to relieue to release If you mislike eyther of them or both of them as well you may accept this for a curraÌ„t excuse that troubled thoughts thwarted with sorrowe can hatch no pleasant conceipts seasoned with swéetnesse and where sadnesse houers no Muses harbour but to our purpose This melancholy whereof I spake before procured a grieuous maladie which she at the first supposed feigned knowing that I would plot all sleights and leaue no subtilties vnassaide to circumuent her but when the Physicions report my Fathers sorrowe the generall rumor bruted through the Courte had assured her of mine estate she thinking it enough to cause but too much to continue my danger came with her Father to visit me How then I was affected I refer to their censures whose fortunes haue resembled mine All the powers of my bodie being transferd into mine eyes the contriuers of my then-séeing discontent were employed in viewing her outward glories and valuing her inward graces When I remembred her last tearmes I trembled at each thought but weighing that being endued with all vertues she could not want that of clemency hauing the other of courtesie nor be voide of gentlenesse being garnished with far-deriued gentilitie I supposed this the fittest time to spéede if now I spake When her father tooke leaue I craude his daughters longer presence vnder pretence of passing away the time she not vnwillingly assented though smelling the drift of my demaund and he both accepted and ratified my request commaunding her to tarrie When we were alone I pleaded in effect thus though not so boldly as before First I alleadged that my present sicknesse so dangerous my former vowes so serious might warrant the truth of mine vnfeigned passions Next that I meant not to dishonour her by affecting her sith I craude onely to make her my lawfull spouse which fauor if she would vouchsafe to afforde I vowed to incurre all hazards for the preseruing of her honor protesting to leaue Cyprus to frustrate the pretended mariage with the Prince of Lemnus his daughter and liue with her the onely blissefull heauen of my life and stay of mine happinesse as banisht in some other countrey till my Fathers anger were appeased and his consent obteyned whose royall estate to me as eldest by right belonging when I should by succession in that farre-renowned Kingdome fully enioy I promised to inuest her with a Diademe and Crowne her Quéene of my countrey as she was already souereigne of my content I ended my plaints with an humble petition desiring her to pittie mine estate accept my seruice and compassionate my sorrowes sith in loue-diseases they onely can heale which causde the hurt She showring a streame of siluer-teares from those christall fountaines bright lamps of loues light such as might beseeme Venus to shead on her déere Adonis Aurora on her Sonne Memnon shapt this answere Pardon dearest Lord the follies of a selly mayde or rather weigh with indifference the causes of her coynesse for so you tearme my denyall which if folly had effected or disdeigne caused I had merited more blame then a world of punishments might expiate But sith the respect of my Fathers safetie and the regard of mine owne honour moued me to be so rigorous in my replyes I hope to finde the more fauour in the offer of my satisfaction which with all submission I humbly present As it grieues me to be the author of your present danger so it glads me not a little that in me it rests as you affirme to cure your discontent and be the happy author of your health wherein if mine endeuors may further you I will not faile in diligence nor be slacke in my deuoire but with this condition that you obserue your promise of preseruing mine honour from all preiudice then leauing all and onely louing you I will for euer liue with you but if you violate that vowed couenant then is the bargaine cancelled by so heinous a forfeit These words conteining such comfort affoording such content to my halfe-withered hope did so relieue my fainting spirits that they recouered their wonted vigor and I my former strength being within short time restored to mine health by this good hap I foorthwith conceiued meanes for our escape hauing before decréed to passe into your Arcadia and to remayne there vntill my Fathers anger were appeased knowing that in such affaires delayes import more then ordinarie dangers fearing my Fathers too hastie pracéeding in that ill-pleasing match with the Lemnian Princes daughter Being loth to defer time or dally with fortune I obserued this order in perfourmance of my plotted enterprise Disguising my selfe I went on an euening tâ—â—he Hauen for the Court was then kept at Famagosta there I met with a Rhodian which hauing shipt his fraught was readie to hoise sayle and determined to touch in the maine of Greece before his arriuall at Rhodes Conferring with him a while of triuiall matters in the end I disclosed my purpose feining my selfe an Arcadian and that my Father enforced to flye his countrey had long liued in Cyprus spending the remnant of his life in banishment with mée and my poore sister for so I tearmed Timoclea his vnhappy children the hopelesse companions of his exile that being now dead he left vs séely Orphanes and to vs such small substance as hée had that wée bereaued by death of our dearest comforte not knowing howe to mainteine our selues in a strange place with so small a portion were desirous to reuiewe our natiue soyle and returne to our deceassed fathers friends Procéeding I tolde him that I knewe none fitter to transport vs then himselfe protesting to pay whatsoeuer he would reasonably demaund if he would vndertake it as well he might hauing occasions to touch in the maine of Greece sith in what part soeuer of the continent wée were set on lande wée might haue easy passage thence into Arcadia Hée beléeuing my feined tale séeming to pittie each clause of my discourse or perhaps tickled with desire of gaine offered himselfe most willingly to vndertake it but requested a round summe which I granting gaue him
marke Men his obiects earth his parke Gods and men his hunting game Beauty natures deareling came Beautie clad in natiue hue Whome the Graces did endue With rich plentie of their gifts Beautie cause of witty shifts Beautie with whose worth delighted Poets haue sweet hymns endited Faire as is the ruddy morne Leauing restfull bowre forlorne Morne dide with Vermilion red Rising from old Tithones bed Thus this fairest of all faire Deind to grace the liquide aire Passing by where loue did stand Holding powre-full bowe in hand Not saluting as she went Him that rag'd in discontent Boyling wrath must issue finde Wrath that boilde in troubled minde For the ease of whose vnrest Thus his furie was exprest Loue said he was Beauties better She said Loue was Natures debter Loue exclaimde on Beauties pride Which all duties force denide She said Loue receiude no wrong Where no dutie did belong None might craue peculiar right Sith they were of equall might He said beautie nere preuailed But where Loue the heart assailed Beautie for it selfe admired His shafts causde to be desired For where Loue bred no remorse There had beautie litle force Psyche was more faire then any Loude of few though likde of many Yet so likde that not affected Sisters sped but she reiected Yet quoth Beautie Psyche gainde Cupids heart to her enchainde Where was then his wonted might Vanquishde by a womans sight Thus fell Loue into a trip Thus she galde him with a quip He said twas his owne procurement She said it was her allurement Loue said beautie pleasde the eie But he wrought hearts sympathie She said heart when eye had viewde Was by beauties force subdude He said beautie soone decaide She said loue no longer staide Then while beautie was in prime Thus did both giue place to time Cupid grieude with these replies Framde by her in taunting wise Sware by dreadfull Stygian lake Greatest vow that gods can make That he would no more descend Till he did this quarrell end Vowing by his godheads might Beauties darlings to despight Thus he saies and vp he flies Swiftly through the Empyre skies If men might this strife decide As by men it should be tride Then would all agree in one Beautie can preuaile alone Beautie able to enthrall Eyes and heart and thoughts and all Yet three powers in one assenting Stroke mine heart heart soone relenting Eyes saw beautie and admirde it Loue saw heart through eyes he firde it But faire lookes did first constraine Cupids shafts to shape my paine Fairer Vertue beauties iewel Bad mee not pronounce Loue cruel Loue that forc'd me to affect Beauties worth by Vertue deckt Then ô three of all the chiefe Ease at last my loathed griefe His second inuention followes thus CVPIDS PALACE PAphos now a worthlesse name Wants the grace of wonted Fame Fishie Cnidus not frequented Samos highly discontented Discontented with the misse Of so great a former blisse Where from altars did arise Odors sweete with louers cries Breathing sighes from hearts amaine Sad reporters of their paine Barraine be Idalian hill Vnadornd by Natures skill Dry be Acidalian spring Circled with no euening ring Of the Fairy wood-Nymphs tripping And on greene grasse lightly skipping Where sweete Amorets were chaunted While it was by goddesse haunted Be they of all bounties reft Sith they are by Venus left Loues coy queene forgetting quight Iles could yeeld her queint delight Deeming earthly mansions drosse Former solace future losse Haunts the palace of her sonne Worke of wonder lately done Daily guest she there remaineth And of loue to Loue complaineth Now no more to rule she deignes Yoked Swans with siluer reines As she did from earth ascend Earth which erst she did commend And returnd through liquide aire Gliding to Ioues royall chaire Vulcan staide from framing thunder That he might erect this wonder Wanton boy would neuer cease Wily mother grant no peace Till by this the strife were ended Feined strife by them pretended Top is close the fourme is round Seated on an azure ground No doore seene yet doores each-where Entries close yet many there For one colour teinteth all Turrets doores and gyring wall Clammy stuffe the colour beareth Halfe white halfe red hue it weareth Such as in Asphaltis lake Did Chaldaean workemen take For that high-entitled frame Honord with first Empires name On the top with triumphs fild Stockdoues mothers birds did build Right side was with windowes dight To receiue th'infused light Light so cleare so bright so faire As in clearest open aire There the roofes are rich embost Wals adornd with equal cost Workes engraude of queint deuise And enchasde with gemmes of price There his bow of beaten gold Worth a world of wealth vntold And shafts pointed with like mettle Wily wag thought meet to settle Pleasure gardian of this roome Author of each happie doome Loues Vicegerent on that side Vaunts the worth of heau'ns chiefe pride Fancies on her steps attend Such as do her fauours send Or affoord the fruites of pleasure When delight by loue they measure These serue when the god doth strike Both hearts with one shaft alike Not that one should sue in vaine And the other dart disdaine But a mutuall passion wrought In one sympathie of thought Or when hope of hap vnproued Plots the praise of things beloued Pyrocles such fancie knew Fancie giuing Loue his due Which did on Philoclea looke Bathing in a Christall brooke He disguisde a virgin seemd And his name was Zelmane deemd O how sweetly did he praise In those lines those louely laies All perfections in her planted For his pen no praises wanted Tresses of her Ambre haire Wauing in the wanton aire Rubie lips and corall chin Soft smooth Alablaster skin Angels â—ookes hands lily white Eyes subduing at the sight Left side hath no windowes made Darker then Tartarian shade There was bowe of fatal yue Acting horrors that ensue And his arrowes with leade tipt Which in Stygian poole were dipt Sorrow keeps this seate of terror Mirthlesse hag the whelpe of error Fancies do on her attend Fancies which despaire do send When one shaft poore heart doth shiuer Drawne from loue-enforcing quiuer But a second tipt with lead Strikes affections vigor dead In an other heart not moued With remorse of paine vnproued These do on repulses muse And Loues rigor oft accuse And soft sounds like minutes breath Sighes by turnes from vnderneath But ô God the most diuine Sith Timocleas heart and mine Were with equall wound opprest And with fairest Fancies blest End these sowres with sweete conclusion Least thy godhead seeme illusion His third inuention not treating of loue but shadowing the worth of Poesie in a fiction was thus The worth of Poesie IMpute it not prophane impietie Dread god of Delos and chaste virgin-troupe To him that in vnpitied miserie That doth enforce his wearied muse to stoupe And him all cheerlesse abiect-like to droupe Reueales those holie secrets of your hill That do concerne defence of depest skill
Arisbas Euphues amidst his slumbers or Cupids Iourney to Hell THe Sunne soiourning in his winter mansion had disrobed Arcadia of all her pleasures disgarnished Vestaes mantle of delightes variable choise wherewith Flora had in plentie poudred the freshnesse of her earst-gréen hue Night suted in a duskie robe of pitchie darkenesse besieged the globe with long shadowes while Phoebus wanting wonted vigor did by darting his scarce reflected beames affoord smal comfort to the earths encrease So that Arcadia earst the souereigne seate of all content and sole place of worlds perfections séemed now a patterne of the auncient Chaos wherin all things if things were confounded Feldes flourelesse trées leauelesse ground heatelesse brookes streamelesse springs vnhanted groues vnhalowed augmented this hue of horror blemish of Europes Paradise The mayden huntresse Arcadiaes patronesse did sildome trace the plaines guarded with her troupe of virgin-knights to fixe shafts on the flying beasts whose wont was in time of heauens more milde aspect to grace the fields with her daily presence and when her brothers scortching heat tirde her limbs with faintnesse to bath her chaste bodie in some pleasant brooke Nor did the wanton Satyres lightly skipping on the painted meades painted I meane by Natures workemanship vaunt their bodies agilitie to the Fairy wood-Nymphs Pan Arcadiaes President pent vp himselfe in his winter-lodging and the other rurall powers séeing their glories date ended for that yeare shrouded himselfe in the place of his wonted repose In this season a season wel fitting his melancholy thoghts distracted with moodie passions Arisbas the mappe of Fortunes mutabilitie hauing lost his dearest Ladie left his Country abandoning the state of a Prince the hope of a Crowne the succession of a kingdome wandred in middest of winters rage surcharged with sorrowe lamenting his losse séeking his loue loathing his life since liues solace loues swéetnesse had but one and that an hopelesse obiect whose want made him an haplesse abiect while rough Boreas winters Hench-man mustering legions of stormes scourged the plaines with a troupe of tempests and aimed his violent blasts at the tallest trées to loppe their heights pride and combatting with his companions filled the aire with dreadfull noise of their tumultuous encounter the infortunate Prince in whose minde Loue martialled millions of striuing passions wandring alone if he be alone whom Fancie tosseth in a boundlesse Ocean of perplexing thoughts ceased not his trauaile till the weathers intemperate furie calmed by heuens milder influence tooke truce with Tyme sealed the attonemēt with a sodain change But when Phoebus renuing his yéerely taske and denying longer residence to stormy winter had pierced earthes entrailes with comfortable warmth opening a fruitfull passage for the issue of her wombe to cloath Pomonaes branches with Natures bountie and diapre her owne mantle with Floraes sense-alluring pomp Arisbas entred the frontiers of Arcadiaes maine continent where séeing the late hue of horror turned to an heauen of eies happinesse he redoubled many sighes drawne from the depth of his wofull hearts centre for remembring that Tellus was erst dismantled the trées bereaued of their blossomes beautie earthes naturall defects anatomized by Time in the place where frostie Hyems had displaied her ycie trophies he lamented to thinke that these the tokens of worlds mutabilitie had recouered their former flourish by y e yeres timely alteration but his desperate fortune had no hope of an happie spring to calme the winter of his woe Drowned in this déepe meditation he procéeded pensiue but he had not walked farre when he espied a faire broade Oake whose spatious branches enuirond the ground lying vnderneath with a shady circle There hée determined to rest awhile his bodie wearied by long iourneyes and somewhat disburthen his soule by displaying his sorrowes Thether he came downe he sate and fixing his eyes on the starrie concaue began thus to vtter passionate complaints not limiting his laments with distinct clauses for his mone admitted no methode INiurious heauens quoth hée hath your influence effected this misfortune Iniust Gods haue you enuying earth so rare an ornament beautified the seate of your abode with worlds wonder Vngentle Cupid hast thou déeming my Timoclea fairer then thy Psyche renewed thy doting humor if so then wert thou cruell in thy change but more in thy choise enforcing mée to loue whome thy selfe didst like I haue wandered through the earth augmenting the springs with streames of my teares filling the woods with rebounding Ecchoes of my woes tracing the plaines with restlesse steps yet haue I mist Timoclea and not finding her haue lost my selfe I haue blamed heauen searched earth accusde the Gods and shall Hell excéede the scope of my passions impatience May I not surmise that Pluto affecting a second wonder hath performed a second rape If so then most cruell Monarch of the Ghosts be thy Proserpine as iealous as I am ioy-lesse Doest thou triumph in the possession of so péerelesse a pray and may not I lament the losse of so matchlesse a myrror Should I excuse thy fury or accuse thy folly if it be folly to be blinded by so faire an obiect the worth of whose perfections words can not vtter and thoughts scarce comprehend O that I might equall Orpheus in arte as I excéede him in anguish the powerfull vertue of his heauenly tunes amased furious beastes stayed fluent streames raysed stones assembled trées mouing sense in senselesse things Descending to the silent vauts of Acheron hee caused ghosts to grone shadowes to sighe effecting relenting thoughts in hels remorselesse iudges but were I his péere in that profession I would do more enforcing the tyrant not touched then with such a sympathy to leaue his lust and graunt me my loue Tush Arisbas these are fancies and therefore follies Timoclea is yet lost and if not found in Arcadia then for euer lost But aye me what comfort can Arcadia affoord from whose coasts the windes fury did violently driue her Hath then the Sea gréedie of such rare gaine swallowed her not satisfied with Helle nor glutted with Hero No but Neptune desirous of change hath receyued her into his watrie Palace and crowned her Empresse of his liquide Monarchy commaunding the Sea-Nymphs to attend on her the Syrens to delight her with the swéetenesse of their enchaunting harmonie Dolphins to wafte her Chariot Phocae to gard her and the Tritons to sound her Maiestie Whether doe I wander Is this to rest Leaue Arisbas nay procéede Arisbas cease to suppose begin to sorrow aye me wretched me haplesse hopelesse what meanes may I now conceite what deuise may now be plotted Héereat hée stopt and opening the floud-gates of his eyes distilled a showre of teares supplying his speaches with déepe sighes But resoluing to procéede hee behelde as hee looked aside one somewhat neere him which was by birth an Arcadian and by his habit seemed a Shepheard who ouerhearing the last wordes of the Princes complaints and ayming though amisse at the occasion of his sorrowes thought
make a long discourse briefely told them that hauing by hard fortune left his Countrey he was taken by Pirats amongst whome he had long led a miserable life being most barbarously handled they sometimes alluring him with faire promises sometimes terrifying him with sharpe menaces but no way able to winne him to their wills or moue him to satisfye their beastly lust Oft he cursed his worthlesse beautie so he tearmed it that had caused that wretched bondage wherein he had endured so many troubles continuing resolutely in his chast constancie Thus much he discouered and desired them to question no farther of his estate but earnestly besought one of them whome it should so please to enterteyne him as his seruant and promised to doe his duetie with all deuoire of diligence Aegon the wealthier of the two a man of approoued honestie enterteined him tooke him home and since that time hath vsde him not as a seruant but a sonne for hauing no childe he purposeth to make him his heire When the fame of this wonder and the fortune of his arriuall was bruted through the countrey Aegons house was frequented with troupes of Arcadians lusty Gallants and dainty Girles Ranished with the viewe of so rare a creature they all sayde that eyther Hyalus béeing retransformed had returned to grace Arcadia or Cupid shrowded in disguise of mortall shape was come to fire their hearts with newe flames Thus was this wonder admired of all loued of Shepheards and liked of Lasses Happy séemed the Swayne that could enioy his company prowde was the Girle that could for a louers glaunce receiue a friendly looke Among the rest Dorylus an Heard-man doting more déepely then became a Neateheard assaying all meanes possible yet finding no meanes possible to compasse his desire at last resolued to woe him with offers try him with presents and tempt him with gifts for déeming loue a couetous humor hée thought this the onely point for his purpose Béeing in so odde a veyne presuming to foresée his owne successe he plotted his supposed fortune in a Poeme which béeing common in euery Shepheards mouth I will nowe recite that you may iudge howe cunningly he could contriue his fancy in a fiction Cupids iourney to Hell LOue leauing heau'n gan post to Stygian lake And being landed on the farther shore For Plutoes palace did his iourney make To view his vncles Court and royal store Thus hauing crept from mothers sight by stealth He welcom'd is with pompe by bloodlesse ghoasts And hels grim tyran greeting him with health His royalties to powre-full nephew boasts Hauing viewd each strange hue of monstrous shape They feasted with great iollitie in hell And sawc'd their meate with store of pressed grape Till wine did wit and sense from them expell Sleepe causde by fumes to their ore-charged braines Did seaze on both first Pluto tooke a nap Next Cupid thus his quaffing moode constraines Laie downe to rest him dreading no mishap In hast the fondling from his shoulders threw His deare bought quiuer and his fatall bowe Faire Proserpine came in and at the view Forthwith exclaimde these these haue wrought my woe These these causde me depriude of wonted ioy T'inhabit Hell these firde the leachers lust But sith they are misguided by a boy I will commit them to an others trust This said came Plutus headlong tumbling in Plutus the god of Coyne blinde as the other Whom with faire words the guilefull queene did win T'vsurpe those gifts and seeme loues second brother At first he fearde at last he was delighted With vsing them and smiled oft to thinke How mens affections by those shafts excited Obeide his doome which loue with gold did linke Cupid awaking miss'd the dreaded signes Of godheads might strange passions did him tosse He wreathes his armes in folds and them vntwines Thus childishly he mones his haplesse losse He wept he fled in hell he durst not hide him Grieude with the murmure of so many soules Neere heau'n he dares not come least Venus chide him What should he do whom Fortune thus controules Foule fall the wagge that lost so rare a iewell Long may he lurke that could no better gard His fathers toile his mothers pride the fewell Which for hearts wracke eyes glaunses haue preparde Sith then the god of gaine vsurps loues roome I will with gifts make sute for gracious doome You may perhaps doubt the coherence of this deuise thinking it straunge that Plutus stumbled in headlong at that instant no former cause of his hastie comming being pretended but marke my briefe report which being heard his inuention may séeme plausible In this the last and worst time wherein men carry golden thoughts though it be an iron age Plutus perceiuing the generall desire of wealth setled in all hearts thought himselfe so great a god as the best since his giftes were so estéemed of the most Meaning therefore more benignely to expresse his bounties royaltie he lent the vse of his chief seruants to sundrie his well-willers pretending those the onely acceptable sacrifice to obtain his fauour their names were Couetousnesse Deceit Periurie and the Séede of all mischiefe that Arch-sinne Vsurie Hauing thus prepared a path-way he fancying greater glories due to his diuellish deitie discouered himself in the West supposing that these Coyne-cormorants these Money-mongers his godheads chiefe pillers would runne in heapes to adore him and fill the earth with Temples erected in honor of his name But his hope wanted successe for these odde companions hearing that his iollitie had ascended from his infernall lodging to frollike with them contriued meanes to catch him and hauing layd hold on him they hampred him so euerie one catching a péece that he erst in hell a god was now on earth a prisoner mangled and martired by those his fauourites locked in great chests strengthned with yron barres kept so close that the poore god was almost stifeled gasping oft for breath but being blinde he felt no want of light though closed in darkenesse where the glorie of his former beautie was blemished by rust But when Saturnes blacke sonne had sent his poursiuant Death to seaze on these hucksters for whome a stately bath was prepared in euer-burning Phlegeton the children not liking their fathers close fingring restored Plutus to his libertie but with his losse for they brought him from prison to torture setting him on the racke stretching his ioyntes so that he possessed more roome then Tityus whose bodie couered so many acres for they made him reach or rather retch to the benefites of all those whom they glutted with inordinate giftes and they had almost dismembred him for they drew him so â—rie and sucked y e marrow so néere the quintessence of 〈◊〉 substance being bestowed on the basest though best-sâ—â—â—ing commodities that the leane god had nothing 〈◊〉 but skin bone At last winding himselfe from their he met in this perplexitie with his olde friend Fruâ—â—â—itie which being an expert Chirurgian set him togither againe hauing