The heroycall epistles of the learned poet Publius Ouidius Naso, in English verse set out and translated by George Turberuile ... ; with Aulus Sabinus aunsweres to certaine of the same.

¶ The Argument of the first Epistle , entituled Penelope to Vlysses . THe angrie Greekes for Helens rape preparde To Troie : when wise Vlysses marryde late A furie fainde , in hope to haue bene sparde : But Palamede lothing to lose a Mate So needefull as Vlysses was , bewrayde The fraude of him that gladly would haue stayde . A way he goes . When ten yeares warre was spent ; And flaunting Troie troden to the ground : With other Greekes to shippe Vlysses went ; But Pallas then the wrathfull Goddesse fround , And made the Grecians greedie of their home , Full ten yeares space on surging Seas to rome . Which absence long Penelope aggrieude , That little space hir husband had enioyde : ( For saken wight ) she verilie belieude Some other Lasse Vlysses had acoyde . And this procurde the louing wife to wright , That she his cause of absence learne might . The first Epistle . Penelope to Vlysses . TO thée that lingrest all too long , thy Wyfe ( Vlysses ) sendes : Gayne write not , but by quick returne for absence make amendes . To Gréekish Nymphes that hatefull Troye is now to ruine brought : Scarce mought the King and all his wealth requite the wrong they wrought . O that the surging Seas had drencht that lustfull Lecher tho : When he to Lacedemon came imbarckt , and wrought our wo. Then shoulde I not haue layde my limmes in desert coutch alone : Ne made complaynt that Phoebus steades too slowe to glade had gone . Then shoulde no Beldames distaffe made , my Wydowish hande so faynt : Whilst I to waste the wearie night , with spinning was artaynt . When stoode I not in worser awe in déede than was befell ? Aye loue is passing full of feare , though euery thing be well . Mée thought I sawe a swarming troupe of Troians thée aboute : No sooner Hectors name I heard , but Hector made me doute . If brute had blazde Amphymachus of Hector to bene slaine : Amphymachus by such report procurde my dreade againe . Or when Menetius sonne was sayde in forged armes to die : I sorrowde that the Troians did Patroclus craft espie . When Tlepolemus lost by force of Lycian launce his life : By Tlepolemus death were made my slacked sorrowes rife . In fine what so they were of Greece , that dyde amid their foes , A feare within my breast more colde than Mountaine yse arose . But righteous God that Hymen hight , and true loue hath in care : Hath kept Vlysses frée from scath , and Troians caught in snare . The Gréekish Chieftaines are returnde , the sacred Altars flame : Of barbarous spoyle the Gods haue part , that well deserude the same . The Matrones for their salued Féeres most gratefull giftes prepare : And they , how Troie by their toyle atchieued was declare . The sage with siluer haires doe muse , and daintie Damsels eake : The wyues about their husbandes hange when they begin to speake . And lo when Tables once are laide , one ginneth straight to showe The wreakefull warre , and drawes with Wine the Troian Tentes arowe . Here Symois ( sayth he ) did flowe , here is Sigeian lande : And here the aged Priams Hawle and Princely house did stande . There fierce Achylles pight his Tentes , there wise Vlysses lay : Here Hector rent in dolefull wise , the horses did affray . Thus auncient Nestor made reporte , who tolde thy sonne the same : And he ( as was his parte to doe ) declarde it to his Dame . How Rhesus thou didst make to rue , and Dolon yeelde to death : Th' one shéeping , th' other by thy guile did lose his vitall breath . And didst thou dare ( thou retchlesse man and ouerbolded wight ) To Thracian Tents to shape thy course in vgly shade of night ? And onely by the ayde of one , so many men to slaye That woonted were to be so ware and minde thy wedlock aye ? With quaking feare my heart was colde , and visage passing pale : When thou didst passe along the Host , and Thracian horses stale . But what to me ( vnhappie Feme ) auailes the Troian wracke : And walles which you by breach haue brought , to vtter spoyle and sacke : If I in Wydowes state remaine , as I tofore haue done : And must for aye Vlysses lacke , as when the broyle begonne ? To me that Troie sole doth stande though Souldiers had the spoyle : And they that Victors were with plough for lucre tourne the soyle . Where stately buildings were to see , and Troian towne did stande : There sprouteth corne , with Phrygian bloud so fatted is the lande . Halfe buried bones of warlike wightes the crooked Culters teare : Both grasse and graine with hearbes do growe , where haughtie houses were . Thou Victor euer art alack , ne once wilt make me showe By louing lynes , or message meanes , what cause of stay doth growe . No straunger stumbles on our stronde , or bringes his Barck to bay , But I enquire him of thy health or ere he passe away . And so his fortune fauour , that on thée he chaunce to light , I pray him yéelde those louing lines , which I to thée endight . I sent to Pylos to inquire , ( where aged Nèstor dwelt ) No certaine rumor of a truth from Pylos haue I felt . From thence I sparde not for expence to Sparta me to hie : But Sparta can not make accoumpt , where thou doe liue or die . More better were for me ( in fayth ) if Troie stoode againe , ( But I vnconstant wight am wroth with these my wishes vaine . ) Then should I certaine be and sure where thou didst lead thy lyfe : Then onely shoulde I dreade the warres , and stormes of styrred strife . Then should my drearie dolefull plaint conioyned be with mo : That in the absence of their Makes should take some taste of wo. I fraughted am with feare , but what I dreade I knowe not well : My cares encrease , the way is wide that leades me to this hell . No perill on the tossing Sea , or on the lande is séene , But I surmise that they forthwith thy cause of stay haue béene . Whilst fondly thus amazde I stande , ( such is thy pleasures plight ) Thou mayst bestow thy loue a freshe vpon some other wight . To whome thou makste a shew perhaps , how homely is thy wife : And how at Distaffe she delights to leade a Rusticks life . But ( Gods ) O let me be beguilde , let whisking windes transport Such thoughts , and thou that mayst retyre , dislodge not in such sort . Icarius my grutching Syre woulde force me breake my Heast , And blaming this thy flack returne , would make newe marrige feast . But as I am , I will be thine let rancor feede his fill , Penelope will be the wife of hir Vlysses still . Yet naythelesse my endlesse sute at length hath mooude my Syre : Who rules hys rage with reasons brake , and Masters wrathfull yre . From Ilandes rounde about doe flocke of suters many one : Zacinthus , Samus , with the reast , by sute encrease my mone . Those roysting rufflers beare the sway within thy Pallace gate : With catching clawes they waste thy wealth , and séeke t'impayre thy state . Pyzander , Medon , Polybus , Eurimachus yfere : Wyth Antynous t' is no néede , for to recite as here . What shoulde I these , with others name , who seeke to spende thy good : Which thou by manly Marte hast got in daunger of thy blood ? The raskall eke doe rule the rost , Melanthius , and Ire , ( Which soundes to thy disworship most ) together doe conspire . Wée are by tale , but thrée , God wote , thy weake and wretched wife : Telemachus thy little sonne , Laërtes lothing life . Thy Sonne not long ago was like by craft to bene consumde : Whilst he , to passe against their willes to Pylos had presumde . But Gods I grate this onely boone , that he by course of kinde , His fathers eyes and mine may close , and liue himselfe behinde . This is the crooked Nurces woorke and clownish Cowardes care : And he that dailye serues the swine , a lyke is woont to fare . Laërtes ouerlode with yeares , vnable to the warre , Amidde these states can strike no stroke when they begin to iarre . Thy Sanne ( so Gods dee lende him life ) to mans estate will growe : But thou , in these his childish yeares , shouldst garde him from the foe . I Miser wight am not of force to banishe them the place : Wherefore see thou who art our ayde , that thou returne apace . Thou bast ( long mayst thou haue ) a Sonne , that in his tender age , Shoulde follow on his fathers steppes , and lyfe for worship gage . Liue not aye retchlesse of thy Syre , whose eyes thou oughtst to shutte : His dying date drawes on apace , the twine of lyfe is cutte . And I that at thy parture was , a Gyrle to beholde : Of truth am waxt a Matrone nowe , thy selfe wilt iudge mée olde .

The Argument of the second Epistle , entituled Phyllis to Demophoon . DEmophoon minding after Troian broyle To long desired Countrie to retowre : For all his force , for all his painefull toyle , Was brought to Thrace by meane of stormie showre , Where Phyllis raignde , who likte hir guest so well , As first to boorde , and then to bed they fell . Within a while Demophoon gan to faine And forge excuse to Athens to repaire , With gaged fayth to shape returne againe Within one Month , and bid hir not despaire : But when the fixed time was gone and past , Thus Phyllis wrote vnto hir guest at last . The seconde Epistle . Phyllis to Demophoon . I That thine Hostesse , Phyllis was , a Rhodopeian Mayde : Mislike that thou my guest , beyonde thy fixed time hast stayde . Thy plighted promise was with shippe here to arryude againe Before or neere aboute the time the waxen Moone should waine . But Phoebe fourthly hath repayrde hir wasted hornes a newe : Yet may I not on Thracian coast take once of thée a vewe . Though thou accoumpt the fléeting time , ( which Louers note by trade ) Thou shalt not finde that Phyllis hath too soone hir plaint ymade . And long ynough I fedde on hope , for such is Louers guise : We hardly credit hurtefull happes till damage doe arise . I haue oft flattred with my selfe , and thought the Southren winde Had stuft thy sayles , and brought thy Barck , which yet I can not finde . I haue accursed Theseus oft , that was thy cause of stay : And yet may be that he at all bred not this long delay . Another while I stoode in awe , least thou to Haebrus Lake Directing course , in middle Seas by wracke thy bane hadst take . Full often haue I for thy health in milde and humble wise , With Incense made request to Gods , that lodge in loftie skies . And sundrie tymes when Aeole had his broyling impes inclosde : That if thou were aliue , thou wouldst haue commen , I supposde . Thus loyall loue ( what so might bréede and be a cause of stay To such as trauell ) did deuise , excusing thy delay . But thou not forcing on thy fayth , ne counting of thy Hest , Not dreading Gods to witnesse callde , dost minde thy Phyllis lest . Demophoon to the windes ingagde his promisse with his saile : I sorrow that the ones returne , and th 'others fayth doth faile . Denounce to mée what I haue done , but looude thée all too well ? By mine offence I haue deserude that thou with mée shouldst dwell . In mee one haynous fault is found that harbourde such a guest : But this my guilt hath force of boone , and merit there doth rest . Where now thy solempne sacred othes , thy plighted trouth with hande ? And Gods appealde as true recordes to witnesse of thy bande ? Where is that holy Hymen nowe , that vs as chosen Feares By frée assent conioynde in one yfeare to wast our yeares ? First sworst thou by that gastly Goulfe , where winde and waue doe rore : By whome thou were in poynt to passe , as oft thou hadst before . Then Neptune was to witnesse callde , thy Graunde and woorthie Syre , ( Vnlesse thou faine ) who quailes the Surge , and swelling waters yre . Then Venus , with hir winged wight , ( that bred me all this téene ) Was sommond , whose reuenger tooles are bowe and arrowes kéene . Dame Iuno , that hath spousall charge and wedlocke , shewde hir face : And Ceres with hir solempne rytes , was cyted to the place . If eche of these forenamed powres and witnest thus in vaine , Should seeke on thee to wreake their wrath , couldst thou endure the paine ? My selfe ( least thou shouldst want at néede a Barck to leaue my lande ) Infonded , did repaire the shippes that ragged lay on sande . I trimde vp all thy broken Oares , whereby thou mightste depart : And thus my selfe haue forgde the tooles , that thyrled haue my heart . Thy many smooth and filed woordes did purchase credites place : I did beleue thy stock , thy Gods stoode all in Phyllis grace . I thought thy teares had bene of trouth : can they be forged to ? Thy teares which at commaundment are , from flattering face to flo . Thy Gods did make mee iudge the best , these pledges were in vaine : God wote one parcell of them mought a siely Mayden traine . That I supported thée at néede it mooues mée nought at all : So that thy harbour all had bene , the matter had bene small . But shamelesse and with blinde forecast , from bourde to bed to goe : And there to passe in Venus toyes doth agrauate my woe . O that the last forepassed night before that cursed tyde Had bene my last : then Phyllis might with spotlesse fayth haue dyde I hoped better , by deserte who had thy friendship wonne : The hope , which méede and right procures , they say is well begoonne . The glorie is not great by guile to circumuent a Mayde : You rather should my simplenesse with friendly fauour payde . A woman , and a louing wight thy forged fraude hath made To be intrapt : God graunt thy prayse by Phyllis spoyle to vade . Among th' Athenian noble wightes thy seate shall be assignde : Thy Syre amid his spoyles shall stande , and thou his sonne behinde . When shamefull Syron shall be read and fell Procustes death , And Scynis with the Minotaure , whome Theseus reft his breath : When Creon conquerde shall appeare , and Centaures there be séene : And be recorded that thy Syre , at Plutos Court hath béene : Beneath thy Fathers manly factes , shall stande this stately stile : ( Lo this is that vnfaithfull guest , who Phyllis did beguile . ) Of all thy fathers noble actes , and woorthie feates of fame : Thou onelie doste resemble one , which he accoumpts a shame : For he king Minos daughter reft , and hir forewent at last : And thou ( as heire of all his guile ) doste frame a iugling cast . But shée hath made a wise exchaunge , ( I spite not ) for the best : Vpon hir Tigers bridled braue , shée rydes at quiet rest . But now such suters as in Thrace , of mée were scornde before , Despise to be espousde to hir who loues a straunger more , Than such as were my Countrie men , to Athens let hir go , ( Saye they ) to weare the Thracian crowne we want not one I trowe . The ende is it that tryes the fact , God sende him sorie haps , That alway thinkes it best to iudge the cause by after claps . But so my Countrie waues were cutte , and sundred with the keale , Then myght I vaunt my loue imployde , to tende to publike weale . But slender was the loue I bare to this my natiue soyle : My Pallace moues not thée a mite , ne Bystons pleasaunt goyle . The countnaunce and the gesture both , are yet imprinted fast Within my breast , that thou didst vse , when Phyllis sawe thée last . And didst thou dare with clasping armes , imbrace hir carkasse so ? And touch hir chirrie lyppe with thine , a thousande times and ino ? And to confounde thy brackish teares , with Phyllis salted brine ? And that the weather serude so well , a fault with Aeole fine ? And when thou tookste thy last farewell , adue how darste thou say ? Demophoon will retyre againe , that ( Phyllis ) is no nay . Shall I expect his gainecome that hath minde on nothing lesse ? Or gape for sayles that shonne the porte where was their chiefe redresse ? And yet I can but long to sée thy comming , though be long : Though fixed day be past , reuert and quite somepart of wrong . But what doe I vnhappie wishe ? an other daintie dame Both thée , and all thy loue hath wonne to thy reprochefull shame . I thinke that Phyllis is forgot , that vsde hir guest so well : Fie , fie , of Phyllis make not straunge , ne aske the place I dwell . I am that Phyllis ( would thou wist ) who harbourde thée at néede : And gaue thée porte that long on Seas hadst wandred all in dréede . Whose goods inricht thy poore estate , and hauing wealth at will Did succour thée , and woulde haue done if thou hadst taryed still . Euen shée , that made thée Lorde and Prince of all Lycurgus lande : And yéelded thee a Scepter farre vnfit for womans hande . As farre as chillie Rhodope to busshie Haemus goes : And sacred Haebrus with his streames , and weltring waters floes . Euen she that gaue thée leaue to pluck hir Maydenhead all beshroude : And with thy craftie hande to let hir honest belt abroade . At that synister time was prest Tisiphone in place : And eke the Owle , with dolefull shriche , and monstrous vgly face . Not farre from thence with snakie bushe , the fell Alecto lay : Who with hir gastly glowing eyes , the presence did affray . Yet naythelesse to ragged rockes , and shore I vie to hie : And all about to kenne the coast I cast my gazing eye . When starres in rowling skyes doe ratinge , or Phoebus yéelde his light , I go to see where Aeols windes with Neptunes waues doe fight . And whatsoeuer shippe I vewe come cutting on the Sea To Thracia warde : I iudge it straight our natiue Gods to be . Then lyke a Bedlam wight to waues and drenching seas I ronne : As farre as swelling waters flowe , when ebbing tyde is done . But how much more the Barke ariues , and néerer is to lande : The more amazde , and from my wittes estraunged doe I stande . Then gyn my sences all to fayle , my liuely partes to faint : And ( were not for my Maydes ) I shoulde with swouning be attaint . A créeke there standes , that is by kinde , not farre vnlike a bowe : Whose picked pointes with ruthlesse rocke , and hardoned stone doth growe . I was resolude wyth stayed minde , and vnappalled heart , From thence to cast my corps adowne , and will if thou depart . Then restlesse floude , and fleeting waues , my carkasse will applye To shore , and thou thine Hostesse shalt vnterred sée with eye . Though Adamant thy rygor then and stubburne stéele excéede , Yet wilt thou saye , fye Phyllis , fye , this pursute had no néede . Sometime my fansie serues me well with venoms drench to die : And straight with sworde to hast my death , I am at point to trie . Then with a string to stoppe my breath , I thinke it passing fit : And with a ruthlesse hande , a corde about my throte to knit . For certaine fully bent I am , with spéedie leaning life , To recompence my spotted fame , in choyse shall be no strife . And thou that didst procure my bane , for thy desert shalt haue This Verse , or some such other lyke , insculped on my graue . Demophoon , that guilefull guest , , made Phyllis stoppe hir breath : His was the cause , and hirs the hande that brought hir to the death .

The Argument of the third Epistle , entituled Briseis to Achylles . THe Greekes ariude at Phrygia , fell to sacke The neighbour townes to aged Priams walles : When fierce Achylles brought to wailefull wracke Cilisias both , and tooke two Virgins thrawles : Th' one Chrysis hight a passing goodly Dame , And Briseis th' other not much vnlike the same . Chrysis Atrides chose to sporte withall , Achylles Briseis had for like intent , But when at last the Prince forewent his thrall , He Briseis reft , whome earst Achylles hent : Which done , he left his Launce , he fled the fielde , And would no more his wonted weapons wielde . The Chieftaine sawe at length Achylles lacke , And former fight in fielde with furious so , To stint the strife , he sent him Briseis backe , But he refusde to take the Ladie tho : Which when the Virgin sawe , this following verse Faire Briseis sent his brasen breast to pierce . The thirde Epistle . Briseis to Achylles . THe dolefull lynes you reade from captiue Briseis came : Whose Troian fist can scarcely yet with Gréekish figures frame . My flushing teares did cause the blottes and blurres you sée : Yet in these dréerie droppes I knowe the weight of wordes to bée . If lawfull be to plaine of thée my Lorde and Féere : Of thée my Feere and Lorde the plaint thy selfe shalt quickly heare . I déeme it not thy guilt , that I fro thée was sent : Yet in some part for yéelding mée so soone thou mayst be shent . No sooner Eurybate with Talthybius came : But I was yéelded to their handes my iourney forth to frame . And they with glaunsing eyes ytossed too and fro , In secrete silence did consult my fansies plight to know . I might haue stayde a while , deferring of my wo Had earned thankes , I did not kisse my Lorde Achylles tho . But teares beraynde my chéekes , I retchlesse rent mine heare : And least I had bene rapte againe , I stoode in gastly feare . Ofte minded I by breach , and fcape to haue retournde : But scoutes and warders lay in waite , that me my purpose wornde . To issue out by night of foes I stoode in dread : Though if I had bene caught , I should to Troian Dames bene lead . But yéelded vp , I haue bene many nights alack : Not rescude by thy haughtie powre , thy malice is too stack . Patroclus did enquire , ( when I from thee did go : ) What bred my dole , since quick retyre , should soone abridge my wo ? Thou doste not onely cease to sue for me againe : But aye procurste the most thou mayst , the Captaine shoulde detaine Thy Briseis from thy clummes : go nowe I saye and boast ( Thou hote and earnest louer ) of thy loue in euery coast . To thée Amyntors sonne , and Aiax came yfeare : Thy fellowe Phoenis , Aiax was by bloud to Achyl neare . Vlysses was the thirde , which shoulde haue brought me back : Of gentle wordes and guerdons great , thou shouldst haue founde no lack . Atrides Tables sent twise tenne of glowing Brasse : So finely wrought as to beholde their matches rare it was . Seauen stooles of semblant Arte and weyght , with Talants fiue Of Golde , a dosen stately steades , to gallop passing bliue . And ( more than néeded too , or that Achylles lackt ) A troupe of daintie trulles that came from Cities lately sackt . With them a pretie peate , ( of Agamemnons thrée Faire daughters , but thou néeded none ) thy louing wife to bée . Of lyke the summe is small Achylles woulde bestowe Vpon my raunsome , if he scorne , the things he shoulde forgoe : That hauing proffer made of mee with heaped gaine , Refuseth mée and all the wealth , and barres mee by and maine . Aye mée , by what desert hath Briseis lost thy loue ? Achylles , why so soone from hir shouldst thou thy heart remoue ? Doth cankred fortune still persist in yrefull rage To Myser wightes ? will neuer calme these hurling broyles asswage ? I by thy manly Mart sawe Lyrnes brought to sack : And I in Lyrnes had a share , which now is gone to wrack . I sawe with ruthfull eye , of myne allyance thrée , ( Of three my Mother déere was one ) there lyked lyues to flee . I sawe my husbande eke on bloudie soyle , with gore Besprent , with wide and gaping woundes in vglye wyse to rore . For all these hurtes endurde on thée I made my choyse : That thou my Lorde and Louer art , and brother I reioyce . Thou sworste by Tethys tho , that I shoulde scape annoy : And that my bondage shoulde not bréede my domage , but my ioy . Euen to this fine it tendes that I with all this dowre , Shoulde of Achylles be refusde for Agamemnons powre . Moreouer brute hath blazde , that when the morning light Hath clearde the pole , that thou on Seas with shippe wilt take thy flight . Which fell reporte no sooner came vnto mine care , But I by sodaine chaunge of hue declarde my chaunge of cheare . And wilt thou thus depart ? to whome wilt thou me leaue ? Who will relieue my vile estate , or succourlesse receyue ? Let gastly gaping gulfe and quaking earth deuoure : Or let me féele of Vulcanes boltes the stroke , and scathfull scoure . Let flasshing flame of fire and lightning Briseis burne , And so by sodaine clappe hir corps to partched cynders turne : Ere shée from Pthia sée hir Lorde Achylles wende Imbarckt , and leaue his thrall behinde , which mightie Ioue forefende . If my returne may like , or countrie Gods thée please : My burden shall not bréede the Barcke , or thée such great disease . The Victor as a thrall , ( not as a spouse hir Make ) I will attende : my hande to spinne and carde shall vndertake . In all the Achaian soile , to wife the brauest Dame Receiue , let hir with Achyl lodge Cupidos feates to frame . A worthie daughter lawe for Pelius , Aeacus sonne : To whome , olde Nereus to become a Seignour would not shonne . The while , I sielie wenche prompt to obey thy hest , Will doe my taske at turne and Cardes or Distaffe with the rest . So that I craue hir nought , but onely that thy wife , ( Which woulde torment my heart full sore ) will cease from grutching strife . Ne banishe me myne ease , ne suffer hir to teare In spitefull wyse , my golden lockes , and rent my crysped heare . In silence to thy selfe saye : this was once my loue , As th' other is my wedded spouse , whose rygor I reproue . I force not what I bide , so I with thee may staye : But Briseis hath a doubtfull dréede , that puttes good hope awaye . What dost thou more expect ? Atrides wrath is gone : And Greece , in dolefull wise , before thy féete doth make hir mone . Represse thy raging yre , that dost the rest subdue : Now cruell Hector makes the Gréekes their restlesse rage to rue . Achylles take thy loue and Briseis once againe : And then with luckie Mart , thy fist with Troian bloud distaine . Let hir that was the cause of wrath , appease thine yre : Let hir , that forst thy griefe , bée cause that thou to ioye aspire . Ne doe thou thinke disdaine to graunt me my request : Since Meleager yeelded him to Cleopatras hest . I speake it by reporte , thou knowste the matter well : How Althaea sought to spoyle hir sonne , ( O Achyl ) thou canst tell . Who was a valiant wight , and noble for his Mart: And yet he did renounce his armes , and from his Countrie start . Whome onely milde request of Cleopatra bowde : But Briseis wordes are of no weight , hir sute is not alowde . Whereof I ne disdaine , who may not iustly craue The title of a spouse , but am a vyle and bounden slaue . For sundrie times when thou were bent to Venus playe , Then wouldst thou bid vnto thy bedde thy seruant come hir waye . Among thy captiues one a Madams name me gaue , Those are vnfitting tearmes ( quoth I ) not gréeing to a slaue . By my good husbandes bones layde in vntimely pit , ( Which bones I minde to honour aye till liuely twine vnknit ) And by my brothers gostes which did resist tyll death , And in defence of natiue Gods to lauish were of breath : By both our heades which wée haue often led yfeare : And by thy weapons , which my friendes haue tryde to much , I sweare . That none of all the Gréekes my secret partes doe know : Forsake and as an abiect scorne mée , if it proue not so . But if I shoulde demaunde an othe of thée againe , That thou hadst with none other Lasse but with thy Briseis laine . And say : thou valiant wight , hast thou not past in play Since I to Agamemnon went ? Achylles would say nay . The Gréekes surmise that thou doste leade thy lyfe in wo , And mourne for want of Briseis : but I sée it is not so . Thou rumblest on thy Lute , swéete musicke lykes thine eare , Some lustfull Lasse will not permit Achylles coutch be leare . If question were , why thou didst stynt from wonted fight : Thou wouldst auouch that Venus were with greater pleasure freight . More safetie is to lincke , and rowe in Venus Barge , Or with a pleasant Thracian Lute all sorrowes to discharge : Than in thy hande to haue a shielde with bloudie speare , Or heauie Helmet on thy head , and feltred lockes to beare . But worthie workes of warre were more imbraced earst , Than such a safetie , when thy breast with glories Launce was pearst . What ? were thou onely stoute when I by fight was wonne ? Is all that courage quayled quite now Lyrnes siege is donne ? Nay , Gods forbid that thou shouldst séeke thy fame to loose : Yet rather let thy Launce the breast of haughtie Hector broose . Sende me ( you Gréekes ) to treate , as seruaunt will I sue Vnto my Lord , and all my woordes my kisses shall ensue . For Briseis will preuayle farre more than Phoenis can And more than wise Vlysses tals or Aiax with the man . T' is much with folded armes his neck to haue imbrast : And louing lookes by fancie forst with glauncing eye to cast . Though thou ( Achylles ) bee with rigor and with rage Repleate , yet naythelesse with teares thy wrath I will asswage . And may they now take place ? if so , Gods graunt thy Syre ( The worthie Peleus ) to his yeares and hoped age aspire . If so thou heare my sute , Gods graunt that Pyrrhus may ( Thy worthie sonne ) to battayle go in good and luckie day . Beholde thou manly wight . thy Briseis clad with wo : Abandon rygor in good time that paynes thy Louer so . Or if thy loue be chaungde , from loue to lothsome hate : Force hir that liues in heauie plight to yéelde hir due to fate . The fine will proue it so , my corps and colour fade : The soule to kéepe his former force thy onely hope hath made . Which hope , when so shall faint and be debarde his hyre : Thy Briseis to hir husbands soule and brothers shall aspyre . To force a woman die , no glorie mayst thou gaine : But so thou long to haue my death let me with sworde be slaine . Some bloud as yet remaynes in carefull corps inclosde , Which would flush out , if with thy sworde the vaine were once disclosde . With selfe same weapon pierce my weake and feeble syde , Wherewith ( if Pallas had not beene ) Atrides should haue dyde . Yet rather saue my lyfe as thou to fore hast donne : And thou that were by pittie moonde , by humble sute be wonne . On Troian wreake thy wrath , thy fierce vnfayned foe : Go hath in Phrygian bloud , thy blowes on Priams friends bestowe . Achylles say the worde , and where thou come or stay , If thou wilt haue me make returne , thy Briseis commes hir way .

The Argument of the fourth Epistle , entituled Phaedrato Hippolytus . THe frantick Phaedra , Theseus wedded Make , In absence of the Duke hir husband fell In loue with Hippolyte , and did forsake The worthie wight that looude his wife so well . But he delighted with Diana more Than crancking Cupid , or Dame Venus play : Aye kept the chase , and slue the sauage Bore , Not forcing what his Motherlaw did say . She naythelesse attacht with glowing gleede , To winne the chastfull youth to filthie lust : In subtile sort his humors sought to feede , Perswading him hir sute to be but iust . With sundrie sleightes she went about to winne The retchlesse youth , that minded nothing lesse Than shamefull lust and filthie fleshly sinne . The Mothers minde this Pistle doth expresse , These suing lynes hir sluttish sute bewray , Wherein to Hippolyte thus gan she say . The fourth Epistle . Phaedra to Hippolytus . THe health and gréeting that she sendes , the same shall Phaedra want , Vnlesse thou ( Hippolyte ) such health vouchsafe to Phaedra graunt . Receyue and reade what so is sent , what damage may ensue ? In these perhaps there lurckes that may thy pleasures plight renue . As well by lande , as surging seas , such writtes are woont to wende : And foes that féede on rancour , reade the lynes the foes doe sende . Thrise was I bent to haue disclosde to thée my couert sute : But thrise my foltring tongue was tide , I stoode as one were mute . I mingled bashfull shame with loue , till loue furpassed shame : Wherefore the woords I blusht to speake , in wryting reade the same . For what so Cupid giues in charge t' is madnesse to dispise : For he doth conquer God and man as nature did deuise . He when I stoode in gastfull dreade to penne my earnest sute , Said , write on Phaedra , he shall yéelde and pay thy paynes with fruite . Be prest thou mightie Prince of loue , and as thy feruent fire Doth burne my brest : so cause him frie with Phaedras hote desire . I minde not by enormous guilt to breake my spousall knot : For ( would thou wist ) my life as yet is frée from shamefull blot . How much the longer t' is ere loue inuades a womans breast : The sorer is the cruell gashe , and bréedes the more disrest . My inward parts are all inflamde , my bowels boyle with heate : My scorched heart forepinde with wo a lurcking wound doth freate . As Bullocks may not well abide the crooked yoke at furst : Nor trampling Colts with bit or brake to haue their iawes yburst : So fares it by my skillesse brest that hardly may endure . Vnwoonted loue , or such vnrest as Cupid will procure . In youth when skill by practise commes , the knowledge is profounde : But who so loues when youth is spent can not with Arte abounde . The first taste of my spotlesse fame vnto thy share shall fall And eche of vs at once shall bée to sinfull lust in thrall . T' is somewhat from the fraughted boughes to pluck the fruite at full , And Primrose with a nimble nayle from slender stalke to pull . Euen so the former brightnesse of my passed age was cleare , Obscured with no cloudie crime , as doth in prouse appeare . But well it chaunceth that I am attacht with worthie flame , A foule Adulter , than the fact doth bréede a fouler shame . Though Iuno would to Phaedras vse of Ioue renounce hir right : Yet Phaedra would Hippolytus preferre with all hir might . And now ( which thou wouldst scarcely déeme ) I am not as I was : I haue delight in quechie groues , by brutish beastes to passe . Now Dian with hir bended how and shaftes is all my care : I yéel de mée wholy to thy will , in wrack and wealth to fare . My pleasure is to haughtie hilles , and bushie brakes to hie : To pitch my hay , or with my Houndes to rayse a lustie crie . Or else with weake and willing arme a trembling dart to throwe , Or wearie limmes in grasse and greaues with pleasure to bestowe . T' is oft my practise in the plaine a Charret for to guide : And with a bitte , to wrest and winde the horse from side to side . Sometimes by restlesse raging fittes much like to Bacchus Nunne , Or to Cibeles brainsick Nymphes in Ida Mount , I runne . Resembling those whome Dryades , and Faunes doe force to flée : Whome Semigods we déemen and halfe heauenly wightes to bée . This tale is tolde to me at large when furious fittes are past : To mee I say , whose couert parts with silent loue doe wast . We may perhaps vnto the fate and fortune of our kinde Impute this loue , and Venus longs by tribute vs to binde . For first the faire Europa was of mightie Ioue imbrast : Who in the figure of a Bull did play a sluttish cast . Another brutish Bull my Dame Pasiphae beguilde : Who with an vgly Monster was by him begot with childe . False Theseus by my sisters shifts and track of silken twine , The crooked Caue and doubtfull denne of Dedal fled in fine . And last of all , least I should séeme to swarue from Minos trade , The remnaunt of that noble race the like attempt haue made . And that by fatall doome procurde , one house two Nymphes hath woonne : My sister looude the father well , and I imbrace the sonne . Two sisters were away conuaide by thée , and by thy Syre : Erect two Trophées of one house , whereto you did aspyre . That time when we in Athens did to Ceres incense yéelde : Would Gods that Gnosian quiet soyle in Creta me had helde . Then most of all ( but euer well ) thou stoodste in Phaedras grace , And chiefely tho thy piercesant loue my yéelding heart did race . Thy vesture was as white as snow , and head with garlands deckt : Thy visage swarth , was séemely then with Rosie redde infect . Thy countnance , which to other Dames so clownish séemes and grimme , For clownish , comely Phaedra thinks hir eye doth iudge it trimme . Fye on those fonde vnmanly men that séeke in nice attyre Against their kinde , the curious tricks of women to aspyre . Thée ( Hippolyte ) thy warlike face and staring locks commend : Thy countnance grymed all with dust a comely shape doth lend . Where thou with Raine dost rule thy horse and gallop in the fielde : I maruell at thy Arte , that so canst force a Courser yéelde . Or where thou with thy nymble arme a thyrling Launce dost cast : I muse how such a slender Dart should pierce the ayre so fast . Or where thou holde thy hunting staffe , ytipt with stubburne stéele , Or ought dost else , it glads my minde my heart the ioy doth feele . Wherefore , this rygor to the woods and knarrie trées expell , I am not shée , that doth deserue to die for louing well . O to what purpose wilt thou put Dianas feates in proufe , And take from Venus all hir due and stand from hir aloufe ? For what so lacks successiue rest and respite after toyle Which should refresh the fainting limmes , must néedes sustaine the foyle . For tryall , take thy crooked bow and let it stand ybent , And neuer cease to shoote , and thou shalt féele his force relent . Though Cephalus in silent woods were woont to waste his time , And kill his game with dexter hande when sauage were in prime : Yet naythelesse to Auroras Couch and Cabbin would he wende : In lothed Tythons woonted roome the ioyfull tyme to spynde . Not once , nor twise , but sundrie sithes the Goddesse Venus lay With Adon in the waylesse woods hir pleasures to assay . So with the faire Atlantas loue sir Meleager glowde , Whome he in proufe of perfect loue the monsters spoyle allowde . So let vs now at length I pray , be numbred with the mo : The rudenesse of your chase appeares if Venus it forgo . My selfe will follow at a foote , though rockie hilles say nay : No gnashing Bore with threatning tuskes thy Phaedra shall affray . Two seas there are that with their waues enuiron Isthmos so , That all the Iland heares the flouds on eyther side that flo . There I with thée in Trezen will soiourne in Pytheus raigne : For now that soyle contents mée more than all my Countrie vaine . Now loytring Theseus doth dislodge , not minding to retire As yet , Perithous his friend his presence doth desire . And least we should apparant truth with frowarde will denie : That Pyrrith he preferres before our looues we may espie . And not this onely wrong ( though this were much ) we both endure : But he in greater matters doth our open wrong procure . My brothers bones with balefull blowes of knarrie clubbe he brake : My sister eke suspecting nought , this Theseus did forsake . The chiefe of all the Amazons for prowesse and for fame Thy Mother was , who well deserude great fauour for the same . But if thou chaunce of hir what is become , demaunde to make : Thou shalt descrie that she hir death by Theseus sworde did take . And that before she was conioynde in mariage . Wote you why ? For thou base borne shouldst neuer raigne and Princes roome supplie . And more than that , on me he gat some Impes , whom Theseus wrath , Not mine ( I witnesse all the Gods ) too soone bereued hath . O Lord , what so she were aliue that would thy spoyle intende : Amidst hir trauell would hir life by shamefull death might ende . Wherefore go too , doe reuerence vnto thy fathers bedde : Which he by his vnhonest meanes and faythlesse flight hath fledde . Be not surprisde with foolish feare nor rapt with gastfull awe , That I thy lotted stepdame am , and thou my Sonne in lawe . These rytes and superstitions by Saturn were maintainde : But all such lawes in future time are like to be restrainde : That rustie Saturn now is dead , his statutes are all gone : Now follow Ioue , who gouernes all , and raignes as Prince alone . For Ioue as lawfull hath allowde what so may bréede delight : And now the brother may his fayth vnto his sister plight . They whome Dame nature had allyde and linckt by lawe of kinde , By mutuall loue , and friendly league the knot more firmely binde . To kéepe in couert such delightes it is but slender skill , The cloake of kinred will procure the worlde to iudge no yll . When so our kissing shall be séene , or clipping close be knowe : That I a stepdame am so kinde , to both our prayse will growe . Thou shalt not néede to come by darke or bleare the Porters eye By comming to the lodging late where I am woont to lye : As we haue soiournde long yfeare , so we hereafter will : And as we haue in open kist , so may we franckly still . With mee thou mayst be safe and sounde thy fact shall purchase fame : And though thou in my bed were séene it will not bréede thy shame . Wherefore expell all fond delayes . and hast to Venus ioy : So Cupid , that on me doth rage , procure thee none annoy . Thou séest I take not in disdaine in humble sort to sue : Lord , where is all my pride become and haughtie wordes that flue ? I was in minde and fully bent resistance to haue made , Reuolting aye : but now I sée no stay in Louers trade . Thus conquerd , with erected handes and falling at thy knée I sue for grace . What best beséemes we Louers can not see . Now honest shame hath fled my face and makes no longer stay : Relent , and since I doe confesse , ridde rygor cleane away . Since Minos that doth owe the Seas my stately Syre is knowne , Since from my Grandsires wreakfull hands the thundring boltes are throwne : Since Phaedra that doth make request of Phoebus line discendes , Who to the soyle his blazing brandes for earthly comfort lendes : ( In this my loue great honour lurckes ) let noble stocks dissent , ( If Phaedras sute may not be heard ) enforce thée to relent . All Creta , where the mightie Ioue was fostred , is my dowre : Which I will wholy yeelde to thée to vse thereon thy powre . Exile this ruthfull rage , my Dame a sauage Bull could mooue : More cruell than a brutish beast wilt thou thy selfe approoue ? For Venus sake I craue remorse , whome I doe honour faine : So graunt ye Gods that Hippolyte may neuer loue in vaine . Diana chast in silent woods so prest be at thy call : And Lawndes so lende thée store of game to glad thy minde withall . So Satyrs , friendly shew your selues , and Mountaine Panes eake , So on the cruell tusked Boare thy Iauelaine mayst thou breake . So , ( though thou hate the hurtlesse Nymphes ) let Nymphes from Christall flood , Alowe the lycor to expell thy thirst in desert wood . Vnto these milde requestes of mine I added teares withall : When so thou reade the lynes , surmise thou sawste the drops to fall .

The Argument of the fift Epistle , entituled Oenone to Paris . KYng Priamus wife with childe , and neare hir time , did dreame That she was brought abed with flash , and flaming fierie streame . The doubtfull Sire demaundes the Oracles aduise . Which tolde that damage by the Babe to Troie should arise . The father gaue in charge the childe should die the death : The Dame deliuerde sought the meane to saue hir Babe his breath . A Hyard bad the childe , that growne to mans estate , Of Oenon was enamoured , and tooke hir to his Mate . But when the Ladies stroue for beautie , Paris gaue His verdit on Dame Venus side : that promisde he should haue In token of good will , a passing wench for hewe : Meane while the Syre by secret signes his sonne sir Paris knewe . To Greece the gallant goes and steales Atrides wife , That was the cause of wailefull warre , and roote of ranckling strife . Which when Oenone knewe ( Report had blazde it so ) Agrieude shee made hir iust complaint : and prayde him to forgo The wrongfull Greekish rape , and take hir to his Feere , The wordes shee wrote with painefull penne ▪ began as you shall heare . The fift Epistle . Oenone to Paris . TO Paris that was once hir owne though now it be not so , From Ida , Oenon gréeting sendes as these hir letters show . May not thy nouell wife endure that thou my Pistle reade ? That they with Grecian fist were wrought thou néedste not stand in dreade . Pegasian Nymph renoumde in Troie , Oenone hight by name , Of thée , ( that were mine owne ) complaine if thou permit the same . What froward God doth séeke to barre Oenone to be thine ? Or by what guilt haue I deserude that Paris should decline ? Take paciently deserude woe and neuer grutch at all : But vndeserued wrongs will grieue a woman at the gall . Scarce were thou of so noble fame . as platly doth appeare : When I ( the ofspring of a floud ) did choose thée for my Féere . And thou , who now art Priams sonne , ( all reuerence layde apart ) Were tho a Hyard to beholde when first thou wanste my heart . How oft haue we in shaddow laine whylst hungrie flocks haue fedde ? How oft haue we of grasse and greaues preparde a homely bedde ? How oft on simple stacks of strawe and bennet did we rest ? How oft the dew and foggie mist our lodging hath opprest ? Who first discouerde thée the holtes and Lawndes of lurcking game ? Who first displaid thée where the whelps lay sucking of their Dame ? I sundrie tymes haue holpe to pitch thy toyles for want of ayde : And forst thy Hounds to climbe the hilles that gladly would haue stayde . The boysteous Beech Oenones name in outwarde barke doth beare : And with thy caruing knife is cut Oenon , euery wheare . And as the trées in tyme doe waxe so doth encrease my name : Go to , grow on , erect your selues , helpe to aduaunce my fame . There growes ( I minde it verie well ) vpon a banck , a trée Whereon there doth a fresh recorde and will remaine of mée . Liue long thou happie trée , I say , that on the brinck dost stande : And hast ingraued in thy barke these woordes , with Paris hande . When pastor Paris shall reuolte . and Oenons loue forgoe : Then Xanthus waters shall recoyle , and to their Fountaines floe . Now Ryuer backwarde bende thy course , let Xanthus streame retier : For Paris hath renounst the Nymph and prooude himselfe a lier . That cursed day bred all my doole , the winter of my ioy , With cloudes of froward fortune fraught procurde me this annoy : When cankred craftie Iuno came with Venus , ( Nurce of loue ) And Pallas eke , that warlike wench , their beauties pride to proue , No sooner heard I of that hap which thou thy selfe didst tell , But streight through all my quiuering bones a trembling feare there fell . And plunged all in doubtfull dread , of aged folkes I sought What might this gastly matter meane : some haynous thing they thought . Then with a trice the trées were cut , the timber went to wrack : And tallowed Keales did forrow Seas and made the Cabels crack . At parture saltish teares were shed thou canst but say the same : In fayth this latter loue of thine deserues the greater shame . Then showres of brackish brine began of eyther side to raine : And both repleate with griefe alike at parture gan to plaine . Not Bacchus braunches so imbrace , ne lymber limmes of vine Enuiron that whereof it growes , as thou this necke of mine . How often were thou wroth with windes when windes did serue thée well ? Thy iourney Mates began to smyle when they thy sleightes did smell . How oft didst thou me sweetely kisse and then vnkisse againe ? How did thy ( last adue ) procure thy foltring tongue to paine ? With wished wind thy sayles were stust that hoong vpon thy Mast : The waters waxte as gréene as grasse th' Oares went on so fast . With sight as long as sight would serue , thy Barcke I did pursue And when mine eye might sée no more , my heart began to rue . To gréene Neriedes I did fue that thou mightst soone retyre : And I ( to further this my woe ) thy gainecome did desyre . Whose comming is to others vse procured by my sute : ( Alas ) of all my traueling toyle a harlot hath the fruite . A huge and haughtie hill there is that gapes into the flood , Repelling all the waltring waues that beate his banck a good . From thence I tooke my prime prospect and knew full well thy shippe : A sodaine ioy well nigh had made me from the Mount to skippe . But whilst I stayde , I sawe in toppe a purple banner shine : Which colours made me sore adradde , I knewe they were not thine . The shippe that slacked not to sayle came by and by to shore , With quaking heart I saw a Lasse I neuer knew before . Ne yet could that perdie suffice , ( but wherefore made I stay ? ) The hatefull harlot out of hande hir manners did display . Then mourning gan I rent my Robes , then beate I on my brest : And with vnfriendlie fist my face in wailefull wise was drest . My yelling clamours Ida heard , and witnesde all my woe : I carred thither to my Cotte my teares , that fell as snowe . So graunt yée Gods that Helen rue and spoyled of hir Make , Of these my griefes procurde by hir the greatest share may take . Now hast thou brought them home by Seas and ouer wandred waues . That haue their loyall husbandes fled and left as lothsome slaues : But when thou were in vile estate and led a Hyards lyfe : Poore Paris had but Oenon tho to his approoued wyfe . I am not she that weighes thy wealth thy Pallace mooues me nought : Ne to be Priams daughter I by earnest sute haue sought . Yet néedelesse is that Priam should of such a daughter shame : What should procure olde Hecuba , to blush to be my Dame ? I well deserude , and verie faine a Princes spouse would bee : A Scepter would beséeme my hande and passing well agrée . Though I with thée in open holte amid the sedge were séene : Disdaine me not , a purple bedde were fitter for a Quéene . In fine my loue is voyde of dreade thou needste not warre at all : Reuenger ships are not in sight to sack the Troian wall . But hatefull Helen is requirde with wreakefull warre againe : This is a daintie dowre in déede where bloudshed is the gaine . Aske Hectors counsell in this case where thou shouldst hir restore ; Deiphobus , Polydamas , with other Troians more . Let sage Antenors tale be hearde , let Priam giue aduise : For they by long expence of yeares haue gotten to be wise . It is a shamefull thing in déede a strumpet to prefarre : The goodnesse of thy cause appeares , the Gréekes doe iustly warre . Maist thou assure hir to be true or ought in hir affie , Whome thou so quickly wanst with words and made hir countrie flie ? As yong Atrides doth lament and sorrow this his fate , And takes in griefe a straunger should enioy his wedded Mate : So Paris shall in processe proue and sweare that gaged fayth Once faléed , may not be restorde till life doe ende by death . Put case she loue thée ( Paris ) well , so did she loue the Gréeke : But now the fiely man is sole , his Helen is to séeke . Thrise happie was sir Hectors wife , hir lucke was passing good : Thou shouldst haue followde Hectors trade and to thy bargin stood . More light art thou than partched leaues when suck and sappe is lost , That with the winde for want of weight from place to place are tost . In thée lesse suretie to be found than weight in bearde of wheate , That is surprisde with Sunnie rayes and Phoebus feruent heate . I call to minde thy sisters sawes which tho I tooke as vaine : The Prophetesse pronounst in prouse that now is passing plaine . What madnesse makes thée thus inragde to sow thy séede in sande : O Nymph ( she said ) with bootelesse Plough thou breakste a barraine lande . A Gréekish Hayfer comes to Troie , that both thy Countrie soyle And thée , thy house , ( which Gods forefend ) will bring to vtter foyle . With spéede go sincke that shamefull ship , let drowne the beastly Barcke That fraughted is with Phrygian bloud , repleate with Troian carcke . No sooner had this Sibyll sayde , hir Vassels thought hir woode : But I with quaking feare was rapt , my haire erected stoode . Thy words ( Cassandra ) were of weight , thou art a Sibyll true : The Hayfer leapes within my leaze that makes my heart to rue . Surpassing though hir beautie bée dishonest is hir life , That leaues hir Countrie Gods , and is become a straungers wife . Once was she earst away conuayde from Greece by Theseus theft : I wote not by what Theseus , but by Theseus was she reft . Might she with Maidenhead make retyre from such a wanton guest ? No , no , I know the trade of loue as well as doth the best . Well , pose it to be rape and stealth , so cloake the crime with name : Yet shée that was so often wrongde assented to the same . Oenon neuer swarude hir Hest though Paris were vniust : Of right thou shouldst haue béene beguilde in whome was slender trust . Sage , swift , and séemely Satyrs would with me bene coupled faine , Whome they in leauie woods haue sought with great and grieffull paine . The fonded Faunus oft in Ide my friendship did request : Whose head with hurelesse hornes , and boughes of Pine was brauely drest . The faithfull Phoebus ( Troians trust and rampire ) looude me well : Vntill such time my daintie fruite vnto sir Phoebus fell , And that by force : in proufe whereof I rent his golden haire , And scratcht his face with frowarde fist , the signes as yet appeare . No Iewels I , ne Gemmes receiude for filthie lukers hyre : T' is beastly so t' ingage the corps for greedie mucks desyre . He déemde it recompence ynough his Phisick to bestowe : My skillesse bande and barraine skull he taught his Arte to knowe . What hearbe soeuer were of powre or vertue to recure , To learne his force and lurcking might I could my selfe assure . Aye me , the most vnhappie wench , vnluckiest vnder Sunne : Though I in Phisick haue good sight by loue my skill is wunne . Apollo Phisicke that diuisde Admetus flock did féede : And had his godly breast incenst with Oenons partching gléede . But Paris worst thou what ? the health that neyther hearbes may lende Ne Gods may graunt , thy friendly fist at once to me may sende . Thou canst , and I haue well deserude , take mercy of a Mayde : I come not like a Gréekish foe , Atrides powre to ayde . But thine I am , and from thy youth thy louer haue I béene : And will whilste ( lungs shall lende me breath ) thy faythfull friend be séene .

The Argument of the sixt Epistle , entituled Hypsiphyle to Iason . THe Oracle pronounste to Pelyas , that hee Should then in daunger stand of death when be did chaunce to see One barefoote , doing rytes vnto his Fathers ghost : T' was Iasons hap to mecte him , that by hap his shoe had lost In floud Auaurus foord . The Vncle waying than The prophecie , to stande in doubt of dreadfull death began , To Colchos he per swades the lustie youth to fleete To fet the golden Fleese a spoyle for such a Gallant meete , In hope the daungers would the wanton wight deuourde Sir Iason with a troupe of Greekes through chocking chanell scourde . At Lemnos he at length and all his route arriude , An Yle where cursed women had their husbandes lyues depriude . Hypsiphyle the Queene did entertaine the Greeke And all his traine , for courtesie they neuer sawe the like , There two yeares he soiournde , his Mates at last bespake Their Captaine ; and perswade him thence his voyage on to take : The Queene was great with Babe , away the Grecians go , Ariude at Colch he wanne the Fleese Medea looude him so . The conquerour conueyes the Mayde with him to Greece : Which Queene Hypsiphyle hearing off , and of his prettie piece , Repynde at Iason sore ; that Medea had possest . The place which shee had woonne before by vsing well hir guest . She ioyes at his retourne , the Witch shee felly hates , And thus with ioyfull Iason in hir Pistle shee dehates : The sixt Epistle . Hypsiphyle to Jason . THe flickring fame reportes that to Thessalia soile Thou art with luckie Barck returnde , enricht with golden spoile . I ioy ( as much as thou wilt giue me leaue mine owne ) To heare thy health , but yet I shoulde thereof by letter knowne . For that thou shouldst not leaue my lande at thy returne Vnséene : thou couldst not haue the windes to serue thy hoped turne . Thou shouldst haue sent mée lines though weather did not serue : I stande assurde that Hypsiphyl a greeting did deserue . Why came report before thy Letters made me showe , That bluddy Mars his sacred Bulles the pinching yoke did knowe ? And that of scattred seede there weapned Wightes arose ? And that thy balefull hande was prest to deale them deadly blose ? And that the waker Fenne the glittering spoyle did kéepe : Which thou in fine with manly hande hast reft the shining shéepe ? To such as hardly woulde beleue the wonders tolde , How blest were I , if I my vaunt thus Iason wrote . Beholde . What shall I say thou hast not playde the husbandes part ? So I be thine , thy friendship farre surmounts my small desart , The brute doth blast there is a barbarous Witch arriude With thee , who hath mée of my spouse and bridely bedde depriude . Loue lightly will beleue : woulde God I might be sed A rashfull Dame , and false reportes of Iason to haue spred . A guest of Thessal came from Hemus partes of late , Who scarcely had set foote within my vnacquainted gate . How fares my Loue ( quoth I ) olde Aesons sonne I pray ? But he with countnance cast to grounde for shame had nought to say . Then forth I skipt in hast , and renting mine attire : Liues he ( quoth I ) or doe the fates my death also require ? He liues ( quoth he ) an othe in proufe therof I craue : I made him sweare , yet to his Gods I hardly credit gaue . When to my selfe I came , thy manfull actes to knowe I long : and he how Mars his Bulles had turnde the soyle did showe . He sayde that snakie téeth for séede were cast on lande : And vpstart men with armour cladde both sworde and shielde in hande . And that the earthly broode in ciuill warre was slaine : And in a day lost sodaine lyfe by sodaine death againe . And of the Serpents fall . againe where Iason liues I aske . So hope and doubtfull dread for chiefest credit striues . Whilst he eche thing displayes desirous for to prate : He makes me shew how thou hast wrongde thy loyall spouse of late . O where is plighted fayth ? where nuptiall othes and bande ? And that which shoulde béene cast in flame , I meane the spousall brande ? Thou knowste me not by stealth , Dame Iuno was in place , ( Who hath the marrige charge ) and there did Hymen shew his face . But neyther Iuno did nor Hymen holde the light : Some furie fell with bloudshot eyes did frame this cankred spight . Why I with Minyes did deale ? or Pallas sacred pine ? Or ( Tiphus ) what hast thou to doe with any soyle of mine ? Here was no famous Ramme with fléese of glowing golde : In Lemnos was no Pallace for your aged Prince to holde . First was I fully bent , ( but destnie me withdrue ) By womans powre to put them off and wandring guestes subdue : For Lemnian Ladies knowe too well to warre with men : My lyfe with such a valiant troupe should haue bene garded then . I gaue the man at once my hostage and my heart : For two yeares date thou werte with mée , and neuer didst depart . When thirde Autumne came on that thou of force were faine To hoyse thy fayles : these woords thou spakste with gushing teares amaine : Mine owne I must depart , if Fortune say Amen , From hence I passe thy spouse , and will thy spouse repasse agen . The Impe within thy Wombe Gods graunt that it may liue : And wée his parents both yfeare a decent name may giue . Thus much ( I minde ) thou spakste , when salted teares berainde Thy falsed face , the remnant of thy sermon was restrainde . The last of all thy Mates thou clambst the sacred Arge , That spinde along , thy sayles did stroute they had so great a charge . The ship was shooude apace vpon the grayish flood : Thou threwste thine eyes to shore , and we to Seawarde lookte a good . There standes a Turret by that ouerlookes the place : To whome I ranne , and did with teares imbrue both breast and face . I looked through my teares , mine eye as friendly light Had larger kenning than of course , and farder stretcht his sight . Adde therevnto my vowes and Prayers ioynde with dred : Which sacred vowes I will perfit since thou hast haply sped . But shall I pay my vowes ? shall Medea them enioy ? My heart doth ake , and wrath with loue combyned doth annoy . Shall I beare gifts to Church or be at charge at all ? To loose my louing Iason shoulde there any Hayfer fall ? I was not calme in minde , I alwayes stoode in awe Thy Father would not entertaine in Greece a daughter lawe . Of Greece I was in dréede , but other worke my woe : I haue receyude a hurt of one whome earst I did not knowe . By beautie nor desert she wonne thée , but by charme : With Sorcerers Syth she sheares the Grasse whereby she workes thy harme . She sayes from woonted track the waywarde Moone to wrie : And dimme with duskie cloude the stéedes that praunce in open skie . She bridles running streames and fleeting flouds doth stay : Shee makes the Holtes and ragged rocks for ioy to skip and play . Dissheueld with hir lockes she walkes by buriall graues : And certaine of the lothsome hones from wasting flame she faues . She curseth absent wightes , of Waxe she pictures makes : And prickes with pinnes the pensiue lungs wherewith the bowels akes . Thus Loue that should be wonne with beautie and desarte : Is got ( which would I had not tryde ) by Herbes and hurtfull Arte. What ? canst thou roll and clip or sléepe in selfe same bed With hir , deuoide of waking care and free from carking dred ? As earst she yokte the Bulles so hath she bound thée fast : And tamde thée , as the Dragons fell were conquerde by hir cast . To that she spoyles both thée and all thy Mates of prayse : And by the meane of such a wife the husbandes fame decayes . In Thessalie are some to poyson that impute Thy factes : and there will be ynough which will beleue the brute . Not this olde Aesons sonne but Oeetes daughter wrought : T' was she , not Iason , that the fléese of Golde from Colchos brought . Aske Alcimedes aduise , thy Dame doth this disléeke : Thy Father eke from chilly Role who did a daughter séeke . Let hir to Tanays go and séeke in Scythian soyle Hir louing spouse , and gape for him from Phasis farthest goyle . Fye , faythlesse Iason , fie , more light than windie blast : Why dost not thou thy painted words with déede confirme at last ? Thou partedst hence my spouse , why art not so returnde ? O barre not that at gainecome which at parture was not wournde . If Noble line thou lyke , and gentrie mooue thy minde : That I King Thoas dearling was and daughter mayst thou finde . My Grandsire Baechus was , and Bacchus wife ycrownde Doth farre surpasse the lesser lights that hir enuiron rounde . Lemnos shall be my dowre , as fruitfull as the best To such as there soiourne : and me , accoumpt among the rest . Who now am brought a bed , let dubble ioy possesse Thy heart , the Father made the throwes of trauaile séeme the lesse . The number gladdes my minde , ( Lucina thancked bee ) Of good successe , a luckie twinne to light are brought by mée . Whose shape and shewe they beare if thou demaunde , I vaunt Thou mayst be knowne by them , saue they the fathers fraude doe want . Whome I was euen at poynt by Legates to conuaie , Saue that the cruell stepdame was the onely cause of staie . Medea made mée dréede , who iustly may be thought More than a stepdame , with hir hande eche cursed fact is wrought . She that hir Brothers bones and fleshe coulde fling in fielde , Rent first with cruell fist : would shée haue ruth vpon my childe ? Yet hir the fame reportes , ( O woode and wretched Wight ) That thou before thy Hypsiphyl preferrste with all thy might . She goyng for a Mayde hath playde a harlots cast : But with vnspotted bridely chaine we two were lincked fast . Hir Father she betrayde , I saude King Thoas lyfe : Shée fled from Colche , in Lemnos I remaine thy louing wyfe . But whereto ? if a Drabbe an honest woman winne ? And that hir crymes for iointure haue and stead of dowrie binne ? I blame the Lemnian Maydes , I muse not at their déede : For dolour to the angrie will bring wreakefull tooles with spéede . Say on , if forst with windes ( as right did will thée doe ) Both thou and all thy troupe at once my Port had commen too : And I with this my broode had met thée at the doore : Then wouldst thou not haue wisht the gasping soyle thy corps deuoure ? ( Vnthriftie ) wyth what face vpon those Babes and mée Wouldst thou haue lookte ? fie traytor what had bene fitte death for thée ? Thou mightst haue liude at ease and safe by my consent : Not for thou didst deserue so well , but cause I did relent . I with that Wytchesse bloud my face shoulde haue imbrude : And Iasons eke , which with hir Hearbes the Harlot did delude . To Medea I shoulde haue bene Medea then : ( And if in skies be any Ioue that will giue eare to men ) As Hypsiphyl doth plaine and sobbe alone hir fill : So let that beast ( Medea ) mourne plagude with hir handie skill . And as I lose my Impes and am bereft my Make : So graunt , that hir as many babes and husband may forsake . Ne that she may retaine but leaue with worser hap Ill gotten goodes : and banisht begge hir breade with dish and clap , As loouing sister shée and daughter eke hath bene To Father and to Brother both : Gods graunt she may be séene So spitefull to hir Spouse , and armde with prefull rage Euen to hir tender Children whome she ought to garde in age . When Sea and Lande she hath consumde , vp to the skie Let hir go rangle lyke a Rogue and by selfeslaughter die . Thus I bereft my spouse King Thoas daughter pray : In cursed Cabbin leade your liues you beastly folkes I say .

The Argument of the vij . Epistle , entituled Dido to Aeneas . WHen Priam was opprest and Troie brought to sack , Aeneas with his aged Syre and Reliques on his back , Ingagde himselfe to Seas and shope his course aright : But yet at length it was his luck on Libie land to light By force of froward floud , where Dido gan to rayse A stately towne . The curteous Queene the wandring Troian prayes To make abode with hir : shee likte Aeneas so , As host age with hir heart at once on him shee did bestow . The messenger at length from mightie Ioue was sent To new Carthago to demaunde the Troian what he ment In Libie lande to lodge and loyter so in loue , And not to seeke the lotted lande , that was for his behoue . Away the Troian trudgde , whose will when Dido knew Was fully bent to leaue hir lande : the Princesse gan to sue , That eyther he would staye according to his hest , Or graunt hir space to banish griefe from hir agrieued brest . When shee had wasted wordes and manie teares yshed , At poynt of death the quiuering Queene thus to Aeneas sed . The .vij. Epistle . Dido to Aeneas . EVen so when fates doe call ystrecht in moysted spring , Vpon Meanders winding banches the snowishe Swanne doth sing . Not for I thinke my wordes may ought preuaile , I write : For why I knowe the haughtie Gods , at this my purpose spite . But since my fame , my corps , and spotlesse minde are lost By cankred hap : to wast my woordes I reck it little cost . Now art thou bent to passe and leaue poore Dido so : And with the selfe same windes thy sayles and fickle fayth shall go . Aeneas now thou mindste thy Nauie with thy vowe To lose : and séeke Italia lande but where , thou doste not knowe . Not Carthage built anewe , ne yet the rysing wall , No not my stately Scepter may conuert thy minde at all . Thou fléest the thing atchiude for those that are not donne : Thou hast bene in one lande , and now wilt to another runne . Suppose thou finde an Ile , who will giue thée the place To rule ? will any yéelde his soyle to men of forraine race ? Newe loue remaynes for thee another Dido eake , With other troth to be impaunde which thou againe mayst breake . When will it be that thou wilt builde Carthagos péere ? Or vewe from Turrets top a troupe of such as soiourne héere ? Though all these came to passe and thou hadst wishe at will : Yet where wouldst thou haue such a spouse to beare thée like good will ? Euen as a waxen Torch with Sulphure toucht I burne Both day and night to Didos thought Aeneas makes returne . Euen that vngratefull guest that scornes the gistes I gaue : And he , whome I might want full well as wisdomes loare doth craue . Yet hate I not the man though he deserue dispight : But make complaint of his vntruth , and lesse imbrace the wight . O Venus , vse hir well that maried with thy Sonne : O Cupide , friend thy brother , let him in thy number ronne : Or else let him ( for why I ne disdaine to loue ) Whome I began to fancie , force me greater cares to proue . I sée I am deceyude , his Image bleard my sight : He differs from his mothers trade and swarues hir maners quight . Thee rocks and ragged Hilles and Okes in Mountaynes bred Begat , and thou of brutall beasts in desert hast bene fed , Or of the goulfe , which nowe thou séest turmoylde with winde : On whom ( though waues rebell ) to passe thou fixed hast thy minde . Why ? whither fleest ? the stormes doe rage : let stormes haue powre To ayde my case , see how the Seas doe surge with Eurus scowre . Let mée indebted be to stormes , for that which I Had rather owe to thée : more iust than whome the waues I trie . I am not so much worth ( though thy desert be small ) That fléeing me by waltring Seas thou lose thy life and all . Thy hate is deare in déede and of no slender price , If whilst thou goe from mée , to die thou reck it but a trice , Within a while the Seas will cease their swelling tyde : And Triton with his grayish Stéede● on calmed waues will ryde . O that with winds thou wouldst exchaunge thy ruthlesse minde : And so thou wilt , vnlesse of Okes thou passe the stubburne kinde . What if thou didst not knowe how raging Seas coulde rore ? Yet thou that hast so often tryde wilt trauaile as before ? Though waues were neuer so smouth when thou shouldst leaue the bay : Yet dure and dooleful things God wote might happen by the way . And further , they that false their fayth in daunger are On perillous seas : the place with them for treasons guilt doth warre . And most when loue is wrongde , cause Venus hath béene thought T' haue had hir ofspring of the waues that in Cytheris wrought . I feare least I vndone shall be thy cause of woe : Or least by wrack of ship I should endaunger thée my foe . I pray thée liue , for so I may reuenged bée Farre better than by death : thou shalt be saide to murther mée . Put case , that thou were caught with sway of whirling winde : ( But vaine be this abodement fell ) what then would be thy minde ? Then wouldst thou oft reuoke to thought the Phrygian tongue , That did pronounce the periurde talke which wrought poore Didos wrong . Before thine eyes the forme and Idoll of thy Féere Deceyude , would stande in saddest sort , with bloudie feltred héere . Thy selfe wouldst graunt , thou hadst deserude these torments all : And thinke the thunder cast on thee what so should hap to fall . Wherefore giue time to wrath and rage of roaring flood : Great is the price of little stay , thy passage will be good . Hast no respect to mée ? yet spare Iülus breath : Sufficeth thée to haue bene thought the Author of my death . What poore Ascanius hath or Countrie Gods deserude ? The Sea shall sinck the Saints , which were from Phrygian flame preserude . But neyther thou thy Syre ne priuate Gods didst beare Vpon thy back : thy vaunting crakes these to Elisa were . Thou lyste at euerie worde , not now thy tongue doth ginne To gloze , ne I the first in trappe and guilefull snare hath binne . If question were what of Iülus Dame became : Hir cruell husbande hir forsooke to his eternall shame . This thou to mée displayste . which made my breast to bende : Much sooner will my torment finde than this my cryme an ende . And I doe nothing doubt but that thy guiltie minde Will thée condemue . Thou seauen yeares space no resting place couldst finde . At length I gaue thée porte , cast vp on blisfull shore : And did infeffe thée with my Realme thy name scarce tolde before . Would Gods this had bene all the friendship I had showne : And that report of bedding had not bene so lightly blowne . That day procurde my bale in which for sodaine raine That pourde adowne , to couch in one selfe Caue we both were faine . I hearde a voyce , I thought the Nymphes had howlde for ioy : But they were Furies that forespake of this my fell annoy . Nowe broken fayth I owde to olde Sichaeus name , On me take vengeance , that to Hell must go bereft of shame . In shrine of Marble made I haue Sichaeus bones , Whome boughes and snowwhite fléeses shroude appoynted for the nones . Foure times with wonted mouth he callde me to the place : To whome with whispring voyce , he said come Dido , come apace . Without delay I came sometime thy wedded Féere : But this my shamefull fact procurde me slacker to appéere . Forgiue my fault , alykeloe man hath mée betrayde : And one that hatred of the fact and foule despight hath stayde . His Dame a heauenly wight , his Syre on shoulders borne Did force me iudge he would haue stayde , and not haue béene forsworne . If néedes I must haue errde , this errour hath a showe Of iust pretence : Be true and then I shall not yrke it so . But as my life at first vnluckie was begonne : Euen so the tenour of the same to latter day doth ronne . At sacred Altars slaine my husband fell to ground , And of the fact the spoyle vnto Pigmalion did redound . I as a wight exilde my natiue soyle did lose : And left the cynders of my spouse pursude by wreakefull fose . At length escaping Seas and brothers wrath , was brought To coast vnknowne , where all the soile I gaue to thée I bought . I framde it vp a towne , and with farre stretching wall Enuironde it , to neighbour townes which was a deadly gall . Then battayles broyle began , with warre a forraine wight , And fielie woman was pursude when gates was scarcely pight . A thousand suters came which ioyntly did complaine That I a raskall had preferrde , and had them in disoaine . Why staggerest thou to yéelde mée to Hiarbas handes ? My self will stretch mine armes abrode to bide thy cursed bandes . I haue a brother eke whose hungrie hande doth long For Didos bloud , as earst it did Sichaeus life to wrong . Lay downe thy Gods prophande and Reliques brought to lande : It fittes thée not such sacred things to touch with hurtfull hande . If thou of force were he that should transport the same , Reserude from fire : no force had bene if they had burnt in flame . ( Vnthrist ) perhaps thou leauste thy Dido great with childe : And in my wombe is part of thée whome thou hast so beguilde . The miser Impe will adde vnto his Mothers death : So thou shalt kill a fiely Babe that neuer tasted breath . Iülus Brother with his Dame shall so be slaine : And one selfe torment shall bereus the liuely powres of twaine . But God doth force thée flee , would God had kept away Such guilefull guestes , & Troians had in Carthage made no stay . No doubt that God procures the waywarde windes to blowe : And makes thée waste the wearie time in sandie Seas so flowe . As when that Hector liude if Troie stoode againe ) To passe to Troie thou scarcely shouldst endure a greater paine . But not to Symois thou but Tiber mindst to passe : Arriued there , yet shalt thou be a straunger naythelasse . Thou seekste a lurcking lande and vncouth place to holde : Which scarce will be thy lot to finde till thou be waren olde . Ambages layde aparte , more better were for thee Pigmalions wealth to haue in hande and soiourne here with mée . With luckie happe to Tyre thy Troian stocke transport : And sacred Scepter holde in hande in place of Princely port . But if thou long for warre , or yong Iülus séeke By manly Mart to Purchase prayse and giue his foes the gleeke : Cause naught should want , he shall haue foes to wreake his wrath : This place of lawes and armes good store and broyling battayles hath . For olde Anchises sake and bowe of Venus Boie : For all those sacred Gods which thou hast safely brought from Troie : So Gods agrée that they which from thy Countrie came , May Victors be , and all mishap conuert to gladsome game : And yong Ascanius liue white siluer lockes to haue , And olde Anchises broosed bones may lodge in quiet graue : I pray thée spare the house that yéeldes it selfe to thée , Saue that I looude , what crime at all mayst thou impute to mée ? Not I from Phthia came , ne from the Mycene lyne : My husband ne my father were no spitefull foes of thine . Thine Hostesse let me bée if of thy spouse thou shame : So I remaine thy Dido still I force not on the name . The waues on Afrus bancks that beate I know full well : Sometime they fauour passengers sometimes they doe rebell . Then launch thy ship from shore when weather doth applie , But now the wéedes will let thy Barcke on waltring Seas to hie . Giue me in charge to marke the Tyde , and then be bolde To furrow flouds : though thou wouldst stay then will I not withholde . Thy wearie wandring Mates doe lack , and looke for rest : Thy Nauie faine would stay , till tyme hir tackle were adrest . For my deserts , and that which after I shall owe To thée , for marrige hope doe not as yet thy thrall forgoe : Till surge of Seas doe cease and loue doe temper trade : Meane while for to sustaine the worst I stronger shall be made . If not , I minde to waste my lothsome life ere long : It is but for a time that thou shalt worke poore Dido wrong . Mine ymage whilst I write O that thou sawste with eye : I write , and in my lappe the while thy Troian sworde doth lye : Downe by my chéekes the teares vpon the weapon fall : Which now in steade of brine with bloud shall be imbrued all . Full well thy giftes agrée to this my wretched fate : My graue shall be small charge to thée vnfitting to my state . Not now my brest at furst with cruell Launce is pierst That place with dure and deadly dinte hath Cupid crased earst . Thou sister ( Anne ) that wast of counsell in this case : Now offer vp thy latter boone to Dido in the place . When that my corps is burnt , I will not then be sed Sichaeus Dido : on my Herse this scripture shall be red . Aeneas gaue the cause and sworde wherewith I dyde : But desperate Dido on hir selfe hir ruthlesse hande hath tryde .

The Argument of the viij . Epistle , entituled Hermione to Orestes . BEfore the styrre at Troie to Pyrrhus was Hermion by sir Menelaus behight : The Father hauing cause from Greece to passe To quaile the courage of his foes in fight , Left all the rule to Tyndarus , that than Despoused Hermion to another man . Orestes had a promisse of the peece , Who thought him selfe assured of a Mate : But when proude Pyrrhus made retourne to Greece He reft the Mayde , whome shee pursude with hate : For that in deede shee looude Orestes so , As loth shee was with Achylls Sonne to go . But choyse was none to choose : shee naythelasse By secret stealth aduertisde him that shee Might rescude be , and from his Prison passe . Which fell in fine : for when Aegysthus he The Lecher had despoylde and Mother eake , Orestes gaue Achylles Sonne the gleake . The .viij. Epistle . Hermione to Orestes . TO him that both my spouse of late and brother was I wright : My brother now , for of my spouse another hath the right . That Pyrrhus , that Achylles steppes for courage doth ensue : Gainst law and right hath closde me vp and kéepes me fast in mue : As much as lay in me to doe I stoutly did withstande : But I could doe no more than might a weake and womans hande . What dost thou ( Pyrrhus ) now quoth I ? will none reuenged Bee Thinkst thou ? I am but as a Mayden seruant vnto thée . He deffer than the ruthlesse waues when I ( Orestes ) caulde : Me by the locks with cruell hande into his Cabbin haulde . If Troian Dames me thrall had tane or Lacedemon wonne : I should no worse haue bene abusde than now by Achylls Sonne . More friendly founde Andromache Achaias famous soyle : When with the gastly Grecian flame the Troian wealth did broyle . But oh Orestes ( if to mée thou haue respect at all ) Lay hands on that which is thine owne , and to thy bootie fall . What ? if by falsehoode from thy folde thy flock be borne away , Wilt thou take armes ? and for thy spouse to fight in fielde wilt stay ? Let Menelaus myrrour bée that for his rapted wife Did vndertake such honest warre and stirde such stately strife . Who if had slept and slugde at home or loytred like an Asse : My Dame had béene to Paris linckte as to my Syre she was . Thou hast no néede a thousande shippes or bending sayles so haue , Nor any Gréekish Souldiars helpe , thy onely ayde I craue . Yet rather so ( than not at all ) I should be fette againe : T' is famous for a man to fight if wedlock suffer staine . What ? was not Grandsire to vs both Atreus King Pelops sonne ? At least thou art my bresher , if the marrige were vndonne . I pray thée Brother helpe thy Sister , husbande helpe thy Féere , A dubble title will procure thée in my cause to stéere . My Grandsire for his aged yeares and wisdome passing graue , ( Who of his Neece had all the rule ) mée to Orestes gaue : To Pyrrhus not acquainted with the match , my Father vowde : But most of both my Grandsires deade as caldste should be allowde When I with thée conidynde , I wrongde none by my spousall right But if I ●incke with Pyrrhus , their from thee I am not quight . My Father Menelaus will wincke at my fact I knowe : For cause himselfe hath felt the force of winged Cupids bowe . That will he graunt his sonne in lawe which he himselfe hath looude : My Dames example aydes my case that Venus sportes hath prooude . Looke what my Syre is to my Dame , euen that art thou to mée : The slipper practise Paris playde , with Pyrrhus doth agree . And he is stoute and stately for the factes hys Syre hath donne : So thou mayst bragge and boaste vpon the spoyles thy Father wonne . Who all the trowpe of Tantals trayne , Achylles eke did leade : A chieftaine he among the Dukes , a Souldier stoute at neade . Thy Grandsire great King Pelops was , and Pelops worthie Sire , And if thou coumpte aright from Ioue thou art the fift esquire . Thy manhoode is well knowne ynough , thou foughtste I wote well whan : But what shouldst thou doe in that case ? thy mother slue the man . Would God vpon a better cause thy stoutenesse had bene wrought : Yet dare I vaunt the cause was giuen to thee , and neuer sought . But thou didst bring it to effect that Aegisthe did with gore Of gaping wounde defile the floure as had thy Syre before . And thereof Pyrrhus often prates , and to reproche doth wrye Thy earned prayse , and yet endures my presence with his eye . I frette , and as my face doth puffe , so swelles myne inwarde minde : And burning breast with silent flame of dolor scorcht I finde . Before Hermions face imbrayded should Orestes bée ? I want but force and brainsick blade to be reuengde for thée . But wéepe and wayle I may my fill which lessens parte of woe : And downe on eyther side my face my teares as conduites floe . Them onely to commaunde I haue and out I poure them still : Alongste my stayned théekes eche hours the welling teares doe trill . This fortune followes all our race and to our age is brought : And all that are of Tantals line a séemely rape are thought . I will not hete alleadge the lyes of false and fayned Swanne : Ne yet complaine that Ioue in plume did lurck both God and manne . Where Isthmos streatching out at length two Seas did so deuide : Hippodamie on waxen whéeles and counterfaite cart did ride . Faire Helen once conuaide away by craftie Theseus traine , By Castor and sir Pollux was in fine restorde againe . The selfesame Ladie through the Seas by Troian guest was brought : For whome the noble Gréekish Péeres in wreakefull maner fought . I scarce remember , yet I minde how tho the people wept , In mournefull moode : and dismoll dreade into their hearts it crept . The Grandsire gronde , the sister sobde , the brothers gan to broyle : Lamenting Leda with the Gods and Ioue did kéepe a coyle . And I with locks not long as then rent all about my hedde Exclamde , O mother leauste me thus ? and from thy childe art fledde ? ( For then hir husbande was a lacke . ) and least I shoulde be sed No Impe of Pelops broode , I am a praye by Pyrrhus led . O that Achylles had bene frée and scapte Apollos bowe : Then woulde he blame the beastlye rage of Pyrrhus pride I knowe . It neuer pleasde , ne now would lyke Achylles , if he liude , To heare a wifebounde Wight lament of lyked looue depriude . What guilt of mine hath made the Gods and Heauenly powres so rage ? What cursed starre might I accuse to gouerne thus my age ? My Dame I was bereft in youth , my father waged warre : And though they both did liue , yet I from them was kept afarre . Not I to thée in tender yeares , nor Cradell clowtes did crye Deare mother mine : nor from my lippes the lisping words did flye . Ne did I with my pliaunt armes , thy séemely neck enfolde : Nor thou vpon thy louing lappe thy babling Brat didst holde . No carke of clothing me , ne care did pierce thy pensiue brest : Ne didst thou cause a marrige bed for Bridewife to be drest . But when thou didst returne againe ( the troth I not denie ) I met thee , but my Mothers face I coulde not then descrie . But for thy beautie did surpasse , for Helen thée I tooke : And thou didst make enquirie then , and for thy daughter looke . Good hap in one respect I had , that Oreste was my Make : But he vnlesse he fight it out Hermion must forsake . Mée Pyrrhus as a Vassell kéepes though Victor be my Sire : This goodly guerdon haue I gainde for Troie burnt with fire . When golden Titan ginnes to guide his glistring steades by day , Then I ( vnhappie wenche ) some ease of pensiue paine assay . No fooner blackfaste night doth growe , in howling sort I hie Vnto my cankred carefull couche appointed there to lie . In place of swéete and slumbring sléeps mine eyes with teares doe floe : And from the man in all post haste I flée as from a foe . Oft times mishaps doe make me muse , vnmindefull of my case I touche with hande proude Pyrrhus parts vnwitting of the place . I leaue to touch the man as soone as euer I knowe the fact : And thinke my handes polluted straight with such a shamefull act . Oft times for Neoptolems name Orestes doe I call : And loue the errour of my tongue , right well content withall . I sweare by this vnluckie lyne and Lorde of all the race , That Land and Seas yea haughtie skies afrayes with frowning face : And by the bones of him that was mine Vncle and thy Sire : Who owes thée for reuenge of those that did his death conspire : Or I will in these flowring yeares abandon lothsome life : Or I ( that came of Tantals broode ) will be Orestes wife .

The Argument of the ix . Epistle , entituled Deianeira to Hercules . THe heauie stepdame Iuno by hir fraude And friende Eurystheus , purposde to destroy Alcydes : for the Prince of Mycene lande Stirrde him to conquer Monsters . But with laude And life he scapt away , nor had annoy By any beast the Champion tooke in hande : Bulles , Dragons , Dogges , and Semitaurs he slewe , And aye more greene his gotten glorie grewe . He conquerd all , till filthie loue at length Of King Eurytus daughter made him thrall , Whose Syre and Countrie be had earst atchiude : Fled was his force , stint was his stately strength , To spinne and carde be thought no shame at all , Nor of his Lions spoyle to be depriude : Which Deianeira bearing by report , ( His louing wife ) sent to him in this sort . Amid whose lynes and letters that she wrought Came newes ( a dolefull thing to written here ) And tidings , that the Shirt the wife had sent Alcydes bane , and spitefull spoyle had brought , The louing wife had slaine hir manly Feere , Which shee poore sielie woman neuer ment . But to requite hir husbandes death with paine , At poynt to hang hir selfe thus gan she plaine . The .ix. Epistle . Deianeira to Hercules . QEchalia to be woonne I ioy to heare the fame : It grieues me that the Victor should haue yeelded to the same . Report was brought of late to Grecia that agrées Full yll with any fact of thine the tales we heard were these , That whome not Iuno coulde nor dreadfull trauels foyle , The selfesame man had Iole made in seruage yoke to toyle . Eurystheus would it so , and Iuno passing faine Would learne that thou with such a crime thy former facts would staine . What ? t' was not thou I trowe that could not be conceyude In one whole night ? I thinke herein my selfe to be deceyude . More domage Venus doth than Iuno earst to thée This raysde thee vp by spitefull hate , she makes thée bende I sée . Behold the world by thée that liues at quiet ease , As wyde as watrie Nereus gyrdes the ground with frothie Seas . The greater part of earth , and all the flouds as farre As both Apollos lodges reach to thee indebted are . The Skies thou hast sustaynde that shall thy carkas beare : And Atlas holpe thée at a pinch when thou too wearie weare . But what saue open shame by these thy facts is got ? If those thy valiant feates of armes with bawdie rule thou blot ? Doe men report that thou ( for Ioue a worthie childe ) In Cradle crasht two crawling Snakes ? in fayth they are beguilde . That Babe was better farre than is this bourly man : Thou nothing makste an ende so well as thou thy déedes began . Whome not a thousand beastes nor Steneleus atchiude , Nor Iuno could for all hir spite ; hath craftie Cupid giude . But for I am the wife of Hercules , and hée My fatherlaw that guides the Skies and lettes the thunder flée : I am surmisde a happie Dame and maried well to bée . How yll vnegall Steares in painefull Plough accorde : So yll a simple woman matcht with such a stately Lorde . No honour commes thereby but burthen and debate . Who so wilt well be wedded , wed with one of thine estate . My husband is alack , my spouse is absent aye : A straunger better knowne to mée , he dreadfull beastes doth stay . I in my desert home doe nought but wishe afright , And sore tormented least my spouse be spoylde of foes in fight . Amid the Serpents I and gréedie Lyons pawes , And tusked Boares am tost , in feare I stand of gaping iawes : Of Dogs , that with their téeth from bones will rent thy flesh by flawes . And mée debowled beastes and ydle dreames of night , With griesly pictures of the dead doe maken sore afright . For fléeing fame I hunt and rumors rashly spred : By doubtfull hope is feare exilde , and hope by feare is fled . Thy Mother is alack , and grieuously doth grutch That to haue likte the mightie Ioue hir destinie was such . Amphitryon is away , whome men surmisde to béene Thy Syre : and Hyll the stripling eake of vs can not be séene . Eurystheus that doth forge the cruell Iunos wrath Is felt of vs : endurde to long the Goddesse anger hath . But these are trifles , oh , thou addest forraine loue : And eche may be a Mother made by thée that list to proue . I spare to speake as nowe of Auge whome ere while , ( Alcide ) amid Parthenian vales thou fowly didst defile . And thée ( Astydame ) I minde of purpose to concile . Ne meanes thy wife God wote Teuthrancian trulles to name ( Of whome there scapte not one vntoucht ) to bréede thy farther shame . A recent crime there is a foule yll fauourde iade , That vnto Lamus mée of late a Mother lawe hath made . Meander ( that so oft in one selfe circle ronnes , And eke rebounding waues againe vpon his shoulders , shonnes ) Sawe when about thy neck there hoong a chaine of golde : That neck that thought the burden light the Welkin to vpholde . What ? didst thou nothing shame those brawned armes of thine With Goldsmithes work , with glittring Gemmes and owches braue to bine ? Euen those selfe armes ( I say ) the Lyons lyfe that rest : Whose noble spoyle for mantell serues vpon thy shoulder left ? What ? didst thou dare aloft vpon thy curled heare , ( For which a Popple fitter was ) a mytred Hat to weare ? Ne didst thou blushe in guise of Lydian Lasse to don A silken Scarfe , and Riband fine thy bourly Waste vpon ? Was Diomede forgot that cruell Carle then ? That fatted vp his trampling steades with fleshe of murthred men ? In such a nice attire if Busyre thee had séene : No doubt he woulde haue scornde of thée yconquerde so to béene . Let Antaeus loose for shame these iewels from thy throte , For feare he loth that thou the palme in wrestling collars gote . T' is blasted that thou stoodste of womans threates in awe , And eake amyd Meonyan Maydes the twisted twine didst drawe . What ? didst thou nothing shame that hande with Flare to foyle , That had long earst in valiant fight ygot so many a spoyle ? With thwacking thombs thou drawste a very boysteous thréede : And to thy stately Maystresse yéeldste a iust accoumpt with dréede . How often whilste thou sponne with fingers nothing fine , Amid thy crabbed crushing handes hath crackt the twisted twine ? And standing of the whip in trembling feare , they say That thou before thy Maystresse féete in dréede of lashing lay . And spoyles ylaide a part of gotten prayse the pryce , Thou toldste thy déedes that should bene tho concealde in any wyse . To witte , in cradle how the crawling Snakes thou slue : And rent their gaping ia wes in two and did their force subdue . And how Tegaean Boare in Erymanthus lyes : And with his weight doth wrong the ground , so monstrous is his sies . Thou dost not let to tell of Diomedes hedde Firt on his Thracian gate , his Stéedes with flesh of man that fedde . And of the triple beast Geryon thou didst boast : That for his heirde the welthiest was in all the Spanish coast . And of the Hellish hounde , that Cerberus was height ( Thrée headed Curre , ) whose pate with locks of Snakes was fowly freight . The Serpent eke , whose woundes reserude him from the death , And gashing scotches giuen afresh infeft with better breath . And how Antaeus hoong with broken iawes betwyne Thy left side ( an ylfauourde weight ) and shoulders right behyne . Ne doste thou then conceale how Centaurs thou didst chase ( That double shaped were , and dars●… not trust their legges in place ) Athwart Thessalian craggie cliffes , and made them runne apaee . And canst thou cladde perdie in Sidon soft araye , And womans nyce attyre , for shame haue any worde to saye ? Beside the Iardan Nymph vpon hir shoulders thrue Thine armour , and did conquer the● that Monsters didst subdue . Go now , and proudly vaimt thy noble déedes of fame : A man thou shouldst not bene of right she bett deserude the same . Than whome so much thou art inferiour , how much more Thou stronger were than such as thou hadst slaine with hande before . Shée hath atchiude the fame of all thy former déedes : To hir , as to thy lawfull heyre thy purchasde prayse procéedes . Oh , shame : the shagheard case the Lyons rybbes bereast , Enuironde rounde a womans corps and to hir carkas cleast . Tushe , thou art foule deceiude , no Lyons spoyle it is , But thine thou flewste the beast , and shée hath conquerde thée ywis . A woman bare thy darts with venom ranck that weare And Hydras beastly bloud imbrude , in hande that scarce coulde beare A Distaffe fraught with Flax : thy knarrie clubbe she helde , And gazing in a shining Glasse thine Armour she behelde . This brute I hearde , but gaue no credit to the same , But yet from eare some part of griefe vnto my senses came . But now before my face the hatefull Whoore doth ride : Nor I the secrete smart I féele haue farther powre to hide . Thou wilt not haue hir gone , shée passeth through the stréete A captiue : whome of force we sée , not as a captiue méete : With tresses hanging downe declaring hir estate , And hidden face to shew that Channes hath giuen hir the Mate : But braue in beaten Golde she passeth to and fro : As thou ere this in Phrygia were accustomed to go . From stately seate shée yéeldes the people such a chéere , As though Oechalia stood againe and eake hir Father deere Did liue , and thou ( Alcides ) by Eurytus conquerde wéere . Perhaps deuorcement made twixt Deianeire and thée , No more thy drabbe this hatefull Whoore but wedded wife shall bée . Th' abodement makes me feare , 〈…〉 colde my corse Doth 〈…〉 hande doth lie in bedde withouten 〈◊〉 And me among the rest as wife with honest zeale Thou hast pursude : I causde thée twise with warlike tooles to deale . For Achelous vppe his broken hornes did take With dreerie chéere that laye disperst , and hid in durtie Lake His maymed front and erdwne yerackt for Deianeiras sake . The Monster Nessus with thy deadly darte was slaine , And with his Horses gorie bloud the waters did distaine . But whereto write I this ? for tidings now is brought , The shirt I gaue my husbande hath his cruell death gwrought . Aye me , what haue I done ? what forste me this to frie ? O Deianeire , O cursed wench , why dost thou doubt to die ? And shall thy noble Féere in Oeta Mount be rent ? And thou suruiue that were the cause and wrought that foule intent ? What now remaines to 〈◊〉 a perfite prouse 〈…〉 Was H●…cles wife ? the truth therein my doolefull death shalt trie . Thou Meleager in mée thy sister shalt descrie : O Deianeire , O cursed wenche why doste thou doubt to die ? O lynage of missehappe , O haplesse house I say : My aged Syre Oeneus lyues at point of last decay . Tydeus my brother is a poore exiled Squire , The tother fryde by Mothers meanes aliue in fatall fire . My Dame vpon hir Corps the cruell sworde did trie : O Deianeire , O cursed wench , why doste thou doubt to die ? By geniall rights I craue this onely thing of thée Not to surmise this wicked death of purpose meant by mée . For Nessus stroke with Dart , declarde me that his blood Would forcen loue , and saide it was for that excéeding good . I sent a Shirt to thée imbrude therewith to trie : O Deianeire , O cursed wench , why doste thou doubt to die ? Now crooked Sire farewell , and sister Gorge adue : Thou Countrie with my brother exilde , farewell I say to you . And thou that art so lyke to be the latter light Mine eyes shall see : and Hercules my spouse ( O that thou might ) And little Hyl ( my prettie boy ) I bid you all good night .

The Argument of the x. Epistle , entituled Ariadne to Theseus . ANdrogeus by deceyte was done to death And murthred by the men of Athens towne : King Minos warrde to wreake his lasse of breath , And brought in fine his sturdie enmies downe , Scuen Mayden Babes , as many men by th' yeare They yeelded vp to make his Monster cheare . By lot they went , vntill they came at last To Theseus , he into the doubtfull denne ( Clept Laberinth ) to Minotaur was cast : But ruthfull Ariadne taught him then How to destroy the Monster , and to passe By tracke of twist from Prison where he was . With Ariadne he , and Phaedra scapes , Ariude at Naxus , Bacchus gaue him charge To leaue the one of those his goodly rapes ( That Ariadne hight ) and let hir large . When night was come , and she to slumber led , With Phaedra he from Ariadne fled : The Nymph ( when sleepie nap was quite exilde , And senses came to former force againe , ) Seing hir selfe so shamefully beguilde , In wretched wise with teares began to plaine : Requesting ruth , and platly making showe That he to hir a better boone did owe . The .x. Epistle . Ariadne to Theseus . MOre friendly haue I founde than thée the brutish kinde : A worser garde than thou hast bene I déeme I mought not finde . Theseus : the lynes thou vewste from that selfe shore I wright : From whence ( forsaking me by meane of sayle ) thou tookste thy flight . Where mée , my fléepe , and thou , ( a wofull wight ) betrayde : Thou ( out alas ) that chose thy stemme when I to sléepe was layde . It was the tyme when soyle with foggie Deaw was dight But lately falne : and shrowded Foules in shadie bushes shright . Where I were waking then or slumbring I wote nere : But out I floong my fist to féele where Theseus were there . Was none such . Backe I drewe my hande : and out againe I rousde mine armes about the bed , but ( oh ) it was in vaine . The feare all sléepe exilde , I rose in gastly dredde : And from my wyddowish Couch I fell and foule forsaken bedde . Forthwith with ruthlesse handes , I strake my bared brest : And rent my locks , that hoong ( as I abrayde from sléepe ) vndrest , The Moone gaue light , I lookte to vewe the countrie rounde : But saue the stronde , and stonie rudge , was nothing to be founde , Now hither , thither then I ranne and too and fro I rangde , the Sande did lode my legges I had much worke to go . Thus whilste about the shore on Theseus name I crie : The hollow rocks at erie call and cleaping did replie . How oft I callde , the place so often Theseus namde : As though it woulde a wofull wight hir ayde and succour framde . There was a Mount , whereon fewe trees aloft did growe : Which now is wore a hanging rocke yfret with waues that flowe . Whereto I clambe , the heart my limmes doth strenthen so : As rounde about the surging Seas my wandring eyes I throw . From thence ( for tho the windes on me did vse their powre ) I sawe how with a Southren gale thy strouting sayles did scowre . I sawe it : or at least for that I so surmisde , More colde I woxe than yse , and deadly pangues my heart surprisde . Whome long to languish griefe would not permit as than : Abrayde from traunce , vpryste to call on Theseus I began . Why ? whither fléest ? ( quoth I ) retire vnthriftie wight : Doe turne thy Barck that lacks his load , and is not throughly fright . Looke what my voice might not my plangor did supplie : And with my wordes I medled strokes , eche blowe ensude a crie . Put case thou didst not heare : yet mightst thou sée it plaine : My handes displayde gaue siker signes and tokens of my paine . Vpon a pole I hoong a flittering Kerchiffe white : That might reuoke to minde , that thou hadst mée forgotten quite . At length I lost thy sight then teares gan flush apace : My chéekes long earst were woxen wanne and flecked was my face . What should mine eyes haue done but waylde my wofull plight ? When that they saw they might no more haue Theseus ship in sight ? Or I with tresses then depending sole did runne , Incited by the Ogigian God as doth the drousie Nunne : Or casting eye to Sea did sit vpon a stone , My selfe as much a rocke as was the seate I sate vpon . Oft times to bedde that had receiude vs both I hast : The bed which coulde not yéelde againe the man that thence was past . And as ( I might ) for thée thy steps I did imbrace : And eke the couch not throughly colde where thou thy corps didst place . I laie me downe , when teares my deadly chéekes distaine : And crie , reyéelde accoumpt of two that hast receyued twaine . Since hither both we came , why part we not yfeare ? Thou trayterous couch , the chiefest part make shewe where is it ? where ? What might I doe ? or sole why whither should I flée ? Within this Ile ne workes of men nor toyles of Oxen bée . The Sea enuirons rounde the Lande on euery side : No shipman here , nor Hulck that dares on perillous Sandes to ride . Put case I had both Mates and windes with wisshed saile : My Syre debarres me to returne , what shall the rest preuaile ? Though in a blissefull Barck through calmed Seas I passe : Though Aeole pease the windes , I shall be banisht naythelasse . Not Crete , that fostred Ioue is léefull for to sée : Wherein of great renoumed fame a hundreth Cities bée . For not alone the soyle where Minos beares the sway , But eke my Father by my fact I fowly did betray . When least thou vanquisht , shouldst in Laberinth haue dide , I gaue thée twiste thy skillesse foote and twine thy steppes to guide , When thou me spakste ( by these my present perills I Protest that thou shalt aye be mine till both of vs doe die . ) As yet we both doe liue and I am not thy Make , ( If women may be saide to liue whome periurde men forsake ) If with the Mace , that reft my brother monsters breath , Thou me hadst slaine , thy Hest had béene accomplisht by my death . Not now to minde alone my future happes I call , Which must ensue : but such as to forsaken wightes doe fall . Vnto my troubled thought a thousande kindes of death Resort , which lesse would grieue my ghost , than this my lingred breath . Now feare I 〈◊〉 Woolues 〈…〉 that come : With gnashing téeth , and ramping pawes my griefull guttes to nooine . Perhaps this sauage soyle the Lyon browne doth bréede : Who wottes the ruthlesse Tygres where this yrkesome yle doth féede ? To that , the Seas are sayd great Whales to cast on lande : And who ( if I with sworde were wrongde ) by me would friendly stande ? Oh let me not be bound as Vassell caught in bande : Ne waste the day at turne and twist , or carde with captiue hande : That Minos haue to Sire and Pasiphae to Dame : And ( that I chiefly fixe in thought ) thy pacted spouse that am . When I suruey the Seas , the lande , or stonie fleate : The grounde doth manace manie things , the waters eke doe threate . Then onely skyes were left the formes of Gods I feare : A pray in wilde Desart forlorne for hungrie beastes to teare . Though men po●… 〈…〉 I giue no trust at all : For wronged once , the forraynes fayth into suspect I call . O would Androgeus liude , nor Athens bought so deare , His doolefull death , by yéelding such a tribute by the yeare . Ne thou with knottie Mace hadst done to death the Beast That was a man for vpper partes , a Bullock for the reast . O that I ne had giuen to thée the twisted Clewe , Whereby the darcksome Denne to scape , when thou the Monster slewe . That thou art Victor aye I nothing muse perdie : Nor that thou madste the vgly Beast of Creta so to die . Thy steelie heart coulde not be pierst with hurtfull horne : Thy breast was garded well , thereon though were none armour borne . Thou thither flints conueydst , and Adamant didst beare : And that which slints doth farre surmount , a Theseus hadst thou there . O cruell sléepes , why did you tho my limmes detaine ? I should as then with ruthlesse death but once for all béene slaine . Ye windes were spitefull eke and readie ( oh ) too soone : Ye puffing blastes to force my teares ye haue your deuor doone . The hand was cruell that my brother and me hath slaine : And faith ygraunted me that was a name requird in vaine . Sléepe , wind , and gaged troth did all at once coniure : One silly Nymph by triple cause was guild without recure . Oh that my mothers teares I dying shall not sée : Nor any for to close mine eyes with fréendlie fist will be . My haplesse ghost to straunge and vncouth skies will flie : No louing hand wil noynt my limmes and carkasse when I die . But for my bones vngraud the Seafoule fowle will striue : A worthy Sepulture for one that well deserud aliue . To Athens thou wilt passe , where in the Cittie when Thou art receiude , and plast in pride amids thy countrie men : And shalt declare the death of double shaped beast : And stonie lodge to doubtfull wayes that doth so ofen wreast : Display how me forlorne thou leftst in Desart tho . I naust not be forgot , ne séeme to spoyle thy title so . Not Aegeus was my fire , nor Aethra gaue the brest : Of rocks & waues that thou were bred may eastlie be gest . From ship top would thou mightst me miser Wight haue viewde : My grisly picture would haue forst thy stony hart t' haue rewde . Nowe not with eye beholde but in thy mind suruay , Mée clinging to the deaten rocke which makes the waues to staie . Sée how my locks doo hang in wailefull mourning moode : Behold my clothes with teares as moist as they were washt in flood . My carkas quakes as corne enforst with Borias might : My trembling fist the letters marres as I my lynes doe wright . By no desert of mine ( for that it framde awrie ) I sue to thée : let not my factes deserue such thanks perdie : Ne griefull paynes procure , for though thy liuely breath I ne did saue : yet hast thou no iust cause to hast my death . These fainting fistes , with beating of my breast a good , I ( wofull wretch ) extende to thée through ouerwandred flood . These locks ( which yet are lest ) in doolefull wise I showe : And by these teares I pray , which teares thy facts enforce to flowe : ( Good Theseu ) turne thy shippe with wrested winde retoure : Though ere thou come I die , yet of the bones thou shalt be sure .

The Argument of the xj . Epistle , entituled Canace to Machareus . KYng Aeols Sonne Machareus , fell in loue With Canace beyonde the boundes of kinde , To bed this beastly broode are gone to proue Vnlawfull lustes delight , nature repinde : She naythelesse fowly begot with Childe Was brought a bed , a signe she was defilde . The Nurce conuayde the Babe , who at the doore Exclamde : The Grandsire heard the yelling sounde , And found the filthie fact : he made no more Adoe , but sent the Babe in blankets bounde Into the fieldes of Rauens to be rent , Or hungrie Dogges , or wandring Woolues he ment . Beside , a sworde to Canace he sendes , By cursed death to ende hir beastly life : To worke hir fathers will the wench intendes , But ere she felt the force of fathers knife , To Machareus ( to Delphos that was gone For succours sake ) thus ganshe make hir mone . The .xj. Epistle . Canace to Machareus . JF any blots doe blinde , or blurre my lynes , The murther of their Maistresse makes the sann My right hande holdes the pen ; the left a sworde , And in my carefull lappe the Paper lyes . Of Canace such is the griesly forme , Whilst to hit brother she deuisde to write : For so I may suffice my wrathfull Syre . Oh , that himselfe were here a gazer on His daughters death : Oh , that the Author sawe With present eye , the thing he gaue in charge . So ruthlesse he , and passing farre in rage His whirling Southren blastes , that he with dr●… And teareles cheeks , my gaping wounds wold vew T' is much ( in fayth ) with raging windes to liue , Vnto his peoples kinde his nature grées , A Ruler fitte for such a ruthlesse race . Hee checks the Southren winde , and Zephyrus , With Northren Aquilo he kéepes a coyle , And ( Eurus eake ) thy stubborne winges he rules . He maisters all the windes , not swelling wrath , Vnto his vice , his conquerde kingdome yéeldes . What now auayles by Grandsires to the skyes Aduaunst to be ? With Ioue to be allyde ? If naythelesse in womanish hande I holde Vnsitting tooles the sworde , a scathfull gift ? ( O Machareu ) the day that vs conioynde After my death one houre should haue be faine . A brother why , more than a brother ought , Imbrast thou mee ? and why to thée was I More than a sister to hir brother shoulde ? Eke I was toucht with loue , and I wote nere What God it was that set my heart in flame . My colour quite was fledde , my carkas leane And bare became , my mouth refusde to féede . Full harde by sléepe I came , eche night a yeare Did séeme , I gronde , and had no hurt at all : Ne coulde accoumpt my selfe why so I did , Ne knewe what loue did meane , and yet did loue . My Nurse with aged minde , perceyude it first , And saide at first , I was with loue attachte . Whereat I blusht , and cast mine eyes to ground , And whist , which tokens were of guiltie minde . At length my growing wombe began to stroute , And with his weight my weakned limmes opprest . But then , what hearbe or drench was to be found , That she ne brought , and boldely did applye ? To fine ( which onely prancke thou neuer wiste ) My venter might of burthen be releast , That woxe so fast within my growing guttes ? But ( oh ) the infant was so rype , and stacke So nere my ribbes , as it was safe from scathe . When Phoebus sister ninthly woxen was , And tenth Moone gan to chase hir lightsome stedes : I wist not what procurde my sodaine throwes , A skillesse wight ( God wotte ) to beare a childe . No longer I from crying coulde refraine , Or holde my peace . What will you so vnfolde ( Qd Beldam Nurse ) the crime ? & stopt my mouth . What might I Miser doe ? griefe forst me grunt , But feare , and shame , and Beldam it forbode . Then dolor I represt , and vttered wordes Reuokte , and was enforst to drinke my teares . Death stoode before my face , Lucina quite Denyde to helpe : and death it selfe had bene A monstrous cryme , if I as then had dyde . When thou , with garments rent and foren lacks , Relieued with thy breste my dying limmes , And saidst . O sister liue , liue sister deare , Ne in one corse destroy thou bodies twaine . Let hope reduce thy force , that brothers spouse Shalt be , and wife to him by whome thou art A Mother made . In fayth I was reuiude At those thy chéerefull words , that lay astraught , And was releast of griefe and gylt at once . Why doste thou so reioyce ? King Aeole sits Amid his stately Hawle , my fathers eyes Muste neuer sée this filthie fact of mine . The busie carefull Nurse with fillets fine The Infant hid , and boughes of Oliue white : A sacrifice she faynde and prayde apace . My Father and all the people gaue hir way , And licenst hir with fayned rites to passe . When she to Thresholde came , the yelling crie And clamor of the Babe the Father hearde ; And so the sielie childe it selfe bewrayde . The Infant all inragde , Aeolus , raught , And with his furious shrich the Pallace fillde , The falsed sacrifice reuealing quite . Euen as the Sea doth shake & trembling quappe , When with a gentle gale it is enforst , Or as the Ashe with Southren wind doth wagge So mightst thou se my bloudlesse members shake , Who lay as then ystraught vpon my bedde . He rushing in , and with an open crie Disclosde my fault , and from my Misers face His ruthlesse handes with much a doe withhelde . I blushing , nought , saue flushing teares gan shed , With quaking feare my trebling tonge was tide . He gaue in charge the Babe , ( his nephew ) should To Dogs and rauening foule in fieldes be floong . The childe exclamde , as though he had conceiude The Grandsires minde , to whom he sude for ruth With voice , as he the sielie Miser coulde , What heart had I then ( Brother ) to your doome ? ( You may my case coniecture by your owne ) When fore my face into the desert groue , My cruell foe , in hande my bowels hare , Of Mountaine Wolues to be in quarters torne ? But out at length he from my lodge diuerts . Then beate I on my breast with balefull strokes , And with despitous nayles I rent my face . Meane while with mournful chéere from Aeole comes In message one , that thus bespake me tho . Aeole ( my Lorde ) to thée this sworde hath sent , ( And therwith tooke it mée ) and biddes thée know By thy desert and merite what it meanes . I wote , and will this sworde with courage vse , Stabbing my Fathers gift into my breast . O thou that gauste me life , with such rewardes My mariage dost thou minde for to enrich ? O Father , shall thy Daughter thus be dowde ? Hymen deceyude , doe way thy bridall brandes , And flee this wicked lodge with troubled foote . On me , ye swarth Erinnyes , fling the flames You beare , therewith to make my buriall blase . O happie sisters , lincke with better lucke But aye my fact in mindefull breast retaine . Alas , what hath the sielie Babe deserude , So lately brought to light and lothsome Skyes ? What fact of his the Grandsires wrath might stir ? Let him be thought to haue deserude the same , If so he could deserue . But ( out alas ) His mothers guilt the Miser Infant byes . O Sonne thy Mothers dole , the pray of beastes , O thou the day of byrth , thy Dame berest , O childe of haplesse loue , the piteous pledge , This day thy first , and this shall be thy last . Ne lawfull was for me with yolded teares To bath thy corps : nor on thy graue to cast My clipped locks , and tresses cut thereto . Ne lay I on thy limmes , ne from thy mouth The chillie kisse I caught and latter breath . But gréedie beastes my rapted bowels rent . And I by lurching wound the infants ghost And shadew will pursue : ne will be saide A Mother long , nor voyde of Babe to be . But thou ( whom all in vaine , and all for naught Thy wretched Sister hopt ) the scattred benes Collect in fielde of thy yong Sonne and mine , And bring them to their Dame , & place them there , Let one selfe vrne our bodies both containe . Remember mée , and bath my Herse with teares ; Ne feare the corps of hir that looude thee well , I craue thée to fulfill thy sisters Hestes . A Miser most of all : and I will séeke My cruell Fathers will to put in vre . Thy dying wyfe and sister sayes adewe .

The Argument of the xij . Epistle , entituled Medea to Iason . IAson in youthfull yeares to Colchos came , And with the Fleese be filcht away a Mayde Medea cleapt , and gan his voyage frame To Thessalie , where once arriude he stayde . The feeble Aeson she reducde againe By solemne charme to lustie youthfull age , With fresher bloud enstuffing erie ●aine . She made him yong to sight that earst was sage . King Pelias daughters deare she did perswade ( A monstrous acte ) to kill their aged Syre , In hope she would the Prince a princoxe made : Which they poore sielie Maydes did most desire . With other fowler factes , which when shee had For Iasons loue ( as she reported ) donne , He shooke hir off , which made Medea mad , And causde hir write these lynes to Aesons Sonne : She sigth , she sude , she sobde , she manast eke To be reuengde vpon the guilefull Greke . The .xij. Epistle . Medea to Iason . I Minde it yet how I of Colchos Queene Aplide to thée , when thou my succor craudste That I by Arte wold gard thée from annoy . The sisters tho , the mortall twist dispence , There flaxen webbe should haue vnfolden quite : Then might I Medea well haue lost my breath , From that my lingred life is but a paine . Aye mée . Why euer forst with youthfull armes Came Iasons shippe to fet the Phrygian Fléece ? At Colchos why Magnetian Arge arriude ? And Gréekish route of Phasian flood did drinke ? Why more than néeded I thy golden lockes Did lyke ? thy featurde shape , & glosing tongue ? If once ( for that a forraine shippe to shore At Colchos came , & brought vndaunted wightes And dreadlesse men to lande ) Iason vnwares , Not Phisickt first , had ronne to breathed flames , And poynant hornes of fell and yrefull Bulles , Or sowne the seede and had as many foes , And Tilman had of tillage so bene slaine : How much disceite ( vnthrift ) with thée had dide ? And I of how much wo acquited bene ? It is some pleasure to vnthankfull wightes , For to obiect the good forepassed tournes . That I will vse of thee , that onely ioy And solace I will gaine , thou faythlesse man . Thou hauing charge at Colchos to arriue , In vncouth Hulke my wealthfull kingdome , and My Countrie camste vnto , where I was then The same that here thy nouell spouse is déemde . My father was as rich , as is hir Syre . He Ephyren with double Sea possest , In frostie Scythia tother gouernde all , As farre as Pontus lefter side doth lye . Oeta tooke the youthfull Greekes to guestes , With him , you men of Thessale did soiourne . Then sawe I thée , and gan to knowe thy name : That season brought my minde to ruine first . I both did sée and perisht eke , inflamde With fire vnknowne , & fride with straungie gleade , As fore the Altars burnes the torche of Pyne . Both featurde well thou were , and fates me drue , Thine eyes my dazeled lightes did rauish quite : Which quickly thou discridste . For who may well Kéepe loue in mewe , that no man it discerne ? Aye flame it selfe by casting light , bewrayes . Meanewhile the king commaunds , & giues in charge The bulles with brawned necks to bring to yoke . Mauors his bulles they were dreadfull for horne , Not sole , but breathing out a gastly flash : Whose houes were brasse compact , their noses set with gads of steele , which blak with breathing lookt . Moreouer in open fieldes to cast the séede Engendring men thou were commaunded the , Which wold assaile thée with their late borne darts , A thancklesse crop for him that tilde the soyle . The waker Dragons eyes , that neuer slept To guile , of all thy trauels was the last . Thus spake Oetes , vp in gastefull dréede Ye rose eche one , and from the Table start . How farre from thee was then Creusas dowre ? And raigne in ioynture giuen ? thy Fatherlaw How farre ? & mightie Creons daughter deare ? Away thou wentst dismaide : with vapord eyen Whome I pursude , and softly bid adewe . As soone as wounded I to Cabbin came Where lay my couch : I spent the night in teares , Before mine eyes the balefull Bullocks stoode , The cursed séede , the watchfull Dragon eke : Here feare & quiuering dréed , there loue did stand , The feare it selfe my loue to more increast . In dawning to my lodge my sister came , Where me with toren tresse , and lying groufe Vpon my face , besprent with teares she found She craude my helpe for men of Thessalie : What she requirde , that I to Iason gaue . There stands a groue with Béech & houlme so black As scarce Apollos rayes may pierce the same : There is in that ( or tho at least there was ) Dianas Church , the Goddesse standing there , With barbarous hande yframde of massie golde . Minde you ? or is the place with me forgot ? Thither we came yfeare , with ruthlesse tongue And guilefull mouth when thou didst bourd me thus . To thée hath fortune right and powre assignde Of life and dreadfull death : within thy hande ( By hir appoynted lore ) my state doth stay . Sufficeth powre to spoyle , if any take Therein delight : but I reserude from scathe Shall make thy former prayse and glorie growe , And blast thy brute in Trumpe of endlesse fame . By my sinister haps ( which lyes in thée For to redresse ) and by thy noble race , And Grandsire , that all mortall things surueyes : And by the triple forme of Dian , and Hir priuie sacred rytes , this Countrie Gods , ( If any here within this soyle doe raine ) Rne on my Mates and me , O ( Quéene ) I pray : And oblige mee vnto thée by this boone . And so a Gretian thou not séeme to scorne , ( But how might I the Gods so friendly finde ? ) Sooner my soule to weightlesse ayre shall waste , Than any ( saue your grace ) with me be linckt In spousall bande , and bridely knot be tyde . Let Iuno witnesse bée , that hath in charge The mariage rites : that holy Goddesse too Within whose Marble Church we stooden now . These , or the least of these , a siely Nymph Might moue to ruth : our hands were ioyned ek●… I saw thy trickling teares . Where parte of guile In them doth lurcke ? so I was quickly wonne , And soone entrapt with thy dissembling tongue . Thou broughtst to yoke the brasen footed Bulles Vnhurt of flame , and brakste the bidden soile With pointed plough : wheron in stéede of graine The Serpents teeth thou floongst , wherof there sproong A troupe of Souldiers sterne , with sworde & shielde : That I ( who gaue thée oyntment ) stoode in dréed , To sée the sodaine broode with armour clad : Till time the earthly brothers , twixt themselues To ciuill combat fell , and fought yfeare , A griesly sight , and wofull thing to tell . Behold , the waker Serpent hissing came With crackling scales , & with his bending breast Did swéepe the soile . Then where was dowre become ? Then where thy Princely spouse ? & Isthmos that The double Sea deuides , and cuttes his course ? Euen I , that nowe so barbarous am become To thée , ( a poore and hurtfull person thought ) With forced sléepe , the Serpents eyes did feede , That safely thou mightst reue the golden Fléese . My Father I betrayde , my natiue soyle , And kingdome I forsooke : and got the gyft Which in exile a woman may attaine . My chastice was a wandring Rouers pray : My sister and my louing Dame I left . But thée ( O brother ) I ne lefte behinde At time of flight : my letter in this one Place ginnes to faint , the thing my ventrous hand Did dare to doe , it dares not to recorde : So I ( but euen with thee ) should haue bene rent Yet dradde I not ( for what should me appall As then a woman , and a guiltie wight ) My cursed corps to surging Seas to gage ? Wher are those gods ? where those celestial states ? On vs amid the goulfe deserued plagues And torments sende : on thée for thy deceyte , On mée for that I gaue such credit light . O that the ruthlesse rocks , Symphlegads , had Our lymmes surprisde , and rent our bodies so As might my bones vnto thy carkasse cloong : Or cruell Scylla sent vs to hir whelpes And Dogs to bene deuourde : for Scylla ought Vngratefull wightes to plague , and pay with paine . Charybdis eke that belks the swallowde waues , O that it had vnder Sicilian surge Our yrkesome corses cast , & whelmde in goulfe . Safe thou , and Victor to Aemonia comste , And to the Gods presentst the golden Fléese . What should I Pelias daughters name , that did Aguilt to pittie mooude ? who rent with hande Their aged fathers bones ? though other blame Medea , yet thou haste cause to like hir well , For whome I haue so often done amisse . Thou didst not shame ( O that I words doe wa●… To shew my iust complaint ) thou didst not shame To say : from Aesons house dislodge in haste . Commaunded I departed , followde with Mine infants two , and loue of thée , that aye Pursues my track , and followes where I go . Vnto mine eares as soone as Hymen came , Carolde aloude , and kindeled Torches shone With Bauen blase , & Shaulme began to sounde Ditties of loue , ioyfull to thée , but more Doolefull to me than is the Trumpets clang : Afright I woxe , suspectyng no such yll , Ne yet so foule offence : but naythelesse Through all my breast the frostie cold did runne . A rout of people ranne , and Hymen cryde , Repeating oft the same : how much the voyce More neare approcht , the more increast my wo. My seruaunts sobde , and couertly did mourne Who gladly would so great an euill reporte ? And me auayling more had bene , what so It were , not to haue knowne . Yet sad and trist I woxe , as though I had the truth discride . When of my Boyes the lesser , for desire To see tofore the doore at Wickat stoode . Oh Mother mine ( quoth he ) forgoe the place , With ioyly pompe my Father Iason commes , And glittring twixt two chayned chyuals rydes . I out of hand ( my vesture rent abrode ) Did plague my brest with blowes , with nailes my face . My minde perswaded me amids the throng And thickest presse to runne , the garlands gay From tresses smouthly trimde in rage to pull . I hardely me withhelde from crying outs ( As I dissheuled was ) t' is mine : and scarce From laying handes thereon I tho abstaynde . O wronged Syre reioyce : ye men of Colche Be glad : and of my Brothers ghost receiue Th' infests . My Countrie , house , & kingdome lost , My spouse in stéede of all that stoode to me , I reast refusde , and vtterly forlorne . Serpents I did subdue , and furious Bulles , One man to daunt vnable or to tame . And I that raging fire by Arte repelde , Can by no skill my wasting flame eschue Inchauntments , herbes , and soceries faylen now , The Goddesse nought , or mightie Hecate Preuayles or helpes Medea in néedefull tyme . Not pleasant is to me the day , the nightes ( That bitter are ) I wake : no gentle sléepe Doth daine to lodge in lamentable breast . I , that my lymmes to flumber can not force , Was able well the Dragons eyes to close . Other my Artes , than me , doe more auaile . The corps that I preserude a strumpet straynes With folded armes and of my paynes hath sruite . And thou perhaps whilst to thy fonded spouse Dost braue , hir eares desirous to content , Against my face and maners new found crymes Dost forge . Well may she laugh at these defaults Of mine : well let hir laugh in stately seate With purple Robe attyre : the time will come That she shall mourne , and wéepe againe as fast , And farre surmount these hidden scorching flames . Whylst yron , fire , or poyson may be found , No foe of Medeas shall vnwroken go . If so by hap my prayers be of powre To touch thy stéely heart , now lende an eare To wordes that are inferiour to my minde . For I to thée in humble sort doe sue , To me as thou full oft hast done of yore , Ne prone to lie before thy féete refuse . If me thou set so light , yet haue remorse Of those our Babes , that common are to both . A cruell stepdame will my children wrath , And rigorously entreate in ruthlesse sorte : And they too much resemble thée , that are Trapt by thy forme , whose ymage moues me sort And whome how oft I sée : so oft my face And moysted chéekes with teares are all bedewde . By Gods I make request , by flaming light My Grandsire giues , and by mine earned boone , And by thy Babes ( the pawnes of perfite loue ) Reyéelde the bridely bed , for which I shonde So many things : accomplish thy behest , And doe with ayde thy Miser spouse relieue . Gainst men , or Bulles , of thée no ayde I craue , Ne that thou shouldst the watchful Dragon drench , And force him yéelde his daunted eyes to sléepe : But thée ( that art mine owne infeft ) I craue , That by thy fact hast me a Mother made . Demaundste thou for my dowre ? in the self fielde ( That was to eare for golden Fleese ) it lay . That verie Fléese of golde , my ioynture was , Which if I should reclaime , thou wouldst debarre Thy selfe preserude my dowre : the Greekish youth My ioynture was , therewith the wealth compare Of Creons darling , iudge the price of both . That thou dost liue and art a wifebound man , Linckt with a spouse , and hast a Fatherlaw , ) And that thou canst nowe shew thy selfe vnkinde : To me impute it , whence the guerdon came . Whome I will out of hande . But to foretell The paynes what wil auaile ? Ay swelling wrath Is full of threates , disclosing secret thought . Euen whither yre shall leade , I will enfue . And then perhaps he shall repent his déede , As I lament , I gaue a faythlesse man Such credit , and beléeude the wordes he spake That god descerne the same , which stirrs my brest I ne wote what greater thing my heart intendes .

The Argument of the xiij . Epistle , entituled Laodameia to Protesilaus . WIth fourtie sayle when Protesilaus went To Troie warde , to fight for Helens rape , The tempest so withstoode the Greekes intent , As they from out port Aulide could not scape . When flickring fame this brute had blasted wide , His louing wife Laodameia wrought Him thus , she shewes hir dreames , she willes beside That he the Prophetes wordes should print in thought . Whose aunswere was , that who so leapte to lande First of the Greekes when they to Troie came , Shoulde die the death , t' was bootelesse to withstande , For why , the Gods appointed had the same . He naythelesse for all his spouses wordes ( Coragious Lad ) first leapte from shippe to shore , And for his paine , was done to death with sworde , As had the Oracle pronounst before , This was the cause Laodameia pende These lines , this made the wyfe this Pistle sende . The .xiij. Epistle . Laodameia to Protesilaus . AEmonian Laodameia sendeth health , And gréeting to Protesilaus hir sp●use : And wisheth it , where he soiourns to stay . Reporte hath spred in Aulide that you lie In rode , by meane of fierce and frowarde gale . Ah , when thou me forsookste , where was the winde ? Then broiling seas thine Oares shold haue withstood , That was a sitting time for wrathfull waues . Moe kisses with a greater charge , I would Vnto my spouse haue giuen , and parled more . But hedlong hence thou wentst , & wished winde Of Seamen not of me , thy sayles allurde : That gale was méete for Mariners , vnfitte For those that loue . O spouse and Féere electe Too soone I was thy clasping armes bereft . Vnperfite were the wordes , my foltring tongue Pronounste , scarce coulde it speake and bid adue . Then Boreas blewe and bore thy sayles away , And thou ( O spouse ) were quickly hence conuayde . It did me good ( as long as lawfull was ) To gase vpon thy face , and with mine eyes At parture to beholde thy countenaunce . When thou were out of sight , I saw thy sayles , Thy sayles , that long my staring eyes detaind , When neyther thée at last nor sayles I sawe , And nought saue waltring waues was to be sene : With thée my eyesight fled , and bloudlesse all ( With darkesome cloude beset ) I fell to ground . My fainting knées refuse to beare the corps . Whome Iphiclus my Fatherlawe , nor olde Acastus lod with yeares , ne Mother searce With water cold , from swowning might reduce . A charitable déede they wrought , to me Gainelesse , I loth that I ne tho had dyde . Euen with remembrance , griefe renude againe , And loyall loue did gripe my chastefull breast . No care had I as then my tresse to trim , Ne yet with curious robes my limmes to wrappe . As they with leauie thirse whom Bacchus beates : So to and fro , as furie forst I ranne . Phylacian Matrones came to me and cryde , Laodamie , doe on thy brauest wéedes . Shall I in purple Robe and Silkes be clad , And he wage warre vnder the walles of Troie ? Shall I go kembe my tresse , and he an Helme Vpon his head sustaine ? fresh garments should I weare , and he his clattring Armour welde ? As neare as euer I may , thy trauelles I Resemble will with doole : and during time Thou art in siege , will lead a dismoll life . Duke Paris , Priams Sonne ( whose beautie bred The scath of thine ) I wish thou mayst as slow An enmie be , as yll thou were a guest . Oh that or thou disliked hadst the face Of yong Atrides spouse , or she thy porte . Thou Gréeke , that for thy rapted wife to great A strife dost stirre , and ouermuch dost toyle : ( Aye me ) doolefull reuenge to manie wilte . In future time , and wailefull wreake procure . Yée Gods I pray from vs th' abodement fell Remoue , and graunt that my reuerted Féere In temple may to Ioue his armour yéelde . But sore I dreade , and looke how oft I minde The lamentable warre , and fearefull fight , Teares from my chéekes as thawed snow do tril . Ide , Tenedos , Xanthus , and Ilion With Symois , are gastely names to tell . Ne would the guest presumde or bene so bolde Away to haue a Greekish Feme purloynde , Vnlesse he had by powre and strength of hande Bene able to maintaine , and beare it out . His puissant force to him was not vnknowne . He came reported , all betrapt with Golde , And Troian wealth vpon his bodie bare : With men and armoue storde , the aydes of warre . And who with all his Countrie strength at once And Princely powre to forraine landes doth goe ? These Helen ( I surmise ) did thee attache , And vanquished , which may the Gréekes annoy . Of Hector I adrad , I know not whome , But Hector ( by report of Paris ) fightes With bloudie hande , & deales with deadly sword . That Hector , that beware , what so he be , If any loue of me as yet be left , His graued name in mindefull brest ensculpe , Him when thou hast escapte auoide the reast : And many Hectors there surmise to bée . And saye ( when thou art euen at poynt to fight ) Laodamie my spouse did bid me spare . If lawfull be that Gréekes shall conquer Troie And Ilion by sorted lotte subdue : Without thy woundes let it to ruine runne . Let Menelaus martch against his fo rs , And Paris spoyle of that which Paris reft . Let him amid the presse of enmies throunge , And winne in armes , whome he in cause subdues . The husbande ought the wife to rescue , yea Though she were plaste amid a troupe of fees . Thy cause is farre vnlike , contende for life , And harmelesse to escape , and onely to Thy Ladyes lappe in safetie to retyre . Yée Dardanes , of so manie spare me one , Ne from his corps enforce my bloud to flush . He is not one whome may be seeme to fight . Or to his martiall foe his breast to gage . He better may that fightes for heartie zeale , Let others flash , let Protesilaus loue . Him I confesse I would withhelde at home , My tongue for feare of yll abodement stack . When from thy fathers house to Troie warde Thou wentst , thy foote at thresholde stumbled tho . Which when I sawe , in silence mourning sayde , Graunt Gods that this portende a good retourne . Now doe I this display , for thou in armes Too ventrous shouldst not be : procure that this My feare to vaine and vacant windes may turne . And sort ( I wote not whome ) appointed hath To vndeserued fate , that first of Gréekes With forwarde foote shall touch the Troian soile . O cursed Feme , that first shall waile the losse Of hir adempted feare . I craue the Gods Thou shew not then thy selfe excessiue stout . Of thousand shippes let thine the latter bée , And last of all the sundred waues deuide , ( And this for warning take ) go last on lande . T' is not thy natiue soyle thou flittest too , At thy returne let sayle and Oare be plyde , And haste thy Barck to thy well knowne shore . Where Phoebus lurke , or else doe shine aloft , Both day and night thou bréedste my griefull wo. But most by might , for that a season is To women ( that with clinching armes im brace Their louers limmes ) of sugred sport and ioy . For falsed sléepes I hunt in carefull Couch , Féeding on false delights , for want of true . But why to me thy Image pale appeares ? And from thy mouth why such complaint procéeds ? Enforst to watch , the yrkesome ghostes of night And visions I adore : no Altare through All Thessalie my fuming smoke doth lacke . Incense I yéelde with intermedled teares , Which mingde doe surge as wine ycast in flame When I with gréedie armes , shall thée retourde Imbracing lie , and senselesse ware for ioy ? When lodgde with me in one selfe carelesse couch Wilt thou the valiant factes of battaile blase ? Which whilst thou shalt describe , though I to heare Shall long , yet will we coll and kisse betwixt . For kissing deckes the tale with better grace , And stay procures the tongue more prompt to parle . But when I think of Troie , both wind and Seas Returne to minde : and hope by hoofull feare Is vanquisht cleane , and put to sodaine flight . And that the windes your middle passage barre Moues me . In spite of waues you minde to passe . Who to his Countrie would with frowarde gale , Against the will of windes shape his returne ? And you from Greece in troublous tempest trudge . Vnto his towne Neptunus barres your course . Whither hast you ? eche vnto his home retyre . Why , whither go you Gréekes ? beholde the winds And coūterthwarting blasts . Some God procures ( Not soddain chaunce ) no doubt , this lingring stay . What saue a shamefull drabbe and harlot rancke , By this your warre & battayles broyle is sought ? Whilst yet you may , and lawfull is your sayles And flitting Barckes back to Achaia bende . But why doe I reuoke ? or call thée home ? Let all abodements go . I pray the windes And calmed waues to further thine intent . I spite at Troian Dames , that shall suruay The Funerals of their Féeres & waileful spoiles , Nor haue their foes farre from their countries bounds . The late betrothed spouse hir selfe will d'on Hir husbands Helme and harnesse with hir hand . She will giue armour , and whilste armour shée Doth giue ( a gratefull thing to both ) will kisse , And fellow forth hir spouse , with charge to make Retyre , and say ( to Ioue thy weapons vowe ) Reseruing he his recent charge in minde , Will warely fight , and cast an eye to home : She at returne will loose hir spouses Helme , And doe his Targe away , his wearie limmes Relieuing with hir ayde as best she may . We doubtfull in suspence , and dreade doe stande , Fearing eche thing that may by fortune fall . Yet whilste in forraine coast thou wagest warre , Of War that represents thy face , I haue A table made : to whome I tell my tale , And kisse , as I thy corse was wont to coll. The picture is more than it séemes to sight . In fayth allowe the waren forme a sounde . And it will be Protesilaus out right : That I beholde , and in my husbandes steade Betwix my paps doe place , and frame complaint Thereto , as though it had the powre to speake . By thy retourne , and corps ( my saints I sweare ) By egall lightes of mariage and of minde : And by thy head ( which fright with siluer locks To fine that I may sée : and that thou mayst In health reuert ) I sweare , that whither thou Shalt giue in charge , to thée I will repayre As fellowing Mate , whether thou liue , or oh That more I dreade and stand oh more appald . With this precept and onely charge I ende , Respect thy selfe , and haue remorse of me ?

The Argument of the xiiij . Epistle , entituled Hypermnestra to Lyncius . TO fiftie daughters Danaus was Syre , His brother Aegypt had as many sonnes : Whome be to match did earnestly desire , With Danaus daughters : he the mariage shonnes , And reason why : the Oracle had sed His sonne in lawe should hewen off his bed . Aegyptus wroth with this his brothers deede ( Of purpose that to Argos went his way For cause the mariage should not so proceede ) Sent all his sonnes with Souldiars for to stay Their Vncle : or his daughters at the least To take to wiues , and make a mariage feast . The siedge was layde and Danaus in fine Of force compellde for safties sake to yeelde His brothers sute although he did repine : When mariage day approcht , the father willde His daughters to destroie with cruell kniues Their husbandes , and to reaue their Nephewes liues . The day was come , eche slue hir slumbring Make , Saue Hypermnestra , that of all the rest Spared hir spouse , and warned him to take His flight : such ruth did lodge in louing breast . According to hir counsell so he did , And by that meane himselfe from daunger rid . In dawning when the father came , he sawe Eche daughter had hir sleepie husband slaine , Saue Hypermnestra : whome withouten lawe He sent to warde , in Prison hir to paine , Where being lodgde , these lynes to Lynceus she Deuisde and sent from Gyues releast to be . The .xiiij. Epistle . Hypermnestra to Lynceus . TO him that of so many brethren lyues , And sole suruiues , I Hypermnestra sende : The rest by their wiues guilt were fowly slaine . I lode with Giues in Prison am detainde , And not aguilting is my cause of scath . For that my hande to murther not presumde , I did offence : but so I had done euill And ruthlesse bene , I semblant prayse had wonne . More leffer I accoumpt guilt to sustaine , Than in such sort to please mine angrie Syre . Ne loth I hands of murther voyde to haue . Though me my Syre ( whom I ne wrongde at all ) With threatfull flame consumde , or manace with The fire that present was at sacred rytes , Or slea with sworde which shamefully he gaue , And wife sustaine the death hir husbande should : Yet shall he not my dying iawes enforce For to repent , or loth such friendly ruth . Let Danaus , and my sisters for their fact Agrise : This ende such mischiefe aye ensues . Recounting of that bloudie night doth make My heart to quake , and sodaine tremor force My hand to stay from that I thought to write : She whom they déemd could haue hir hus●…d slain Of murther not committed dreedes to write : But yet I will assay . With mantle black When yrkesome shade gan ouerspreade the soyle , And fayling day did yéelde to growing night : We sisters led to Danaus Castle came , And there Aegypt his daughters intertainde , Which priuily were armde with wreakfull blades , On euerie side the golden Lamps did shine , And in vnwilling flames the incense fumde . The people Hymen cryde , but Hymen fled The place , and Iuno tho hir towne forewent . When staggring they with wine , & fellowes crie , With garlandes fresh about their moysted locks , To lodgings glad ( their buriall places ) go , And on their funerall beddes their corpses cast . With Wine and slumber now they loden lay , And quiet rest throughout all Argos was , When ( to my séeming ) round about I heard Of dying men the grunts : which I in déede . Did heare , and as I drad , it fell at last . My bloud was fled , the heate forsooke my limmes And in my nouell Couch full coulde I lay . As Zephyrus the flender Reedes doth stirre , And winter ayre doth shake the Popple trée : Euen so ( or more ) I quooke : astraught thou layst , The wine I gaue thée , was to forcen sléepe . My fathers charge all feare had quite exilde , I rose , and tooke in trembling hande the sworde . ( I tell but truth ) thrise caught I vp the toole , And thrise from out my reaching fist it fell . I naythelesse constrained by my Sires Ruthlesse precept , and wailefull warning giuen , Vnto thy throte applide the threatning sworde . But feare and pitie my attemptes withstoode : My ruthfull fist refusde my fathers charge . Renting my purple robes and tresses downe , In whispring wise then thus I gan to speake . Thy father ( Hypermnestra ) cruell is To thée , fulfill his Hest : a fellow let Thy husband Lynceus to his brothers goe . Ah , I a maiden am by nature and By age debonaire , ne my hande for warre And slaughter sitting is , vnseemely fact . But what ? go to , and whilste occasion serues , Thy valiant sisters sue : I déeme by this They all their Feeres haue sent to Plutos Court. Fye , if this hand could any murther done , Vnto my bloud it should an issue giuen . For bearing rule within their vncles reigne , They not deserued death , which naythélesse To forraine sonnes in law should bene assignde . Put case the men had well deserude to die , What haue we misers done ? or how aguilt ? What makes that I should not be ruthfull aye ? Fie ? what with cruell sword haue I to doe ? What should a Maid with warlike weapons deale ? My handes for turne and twist more fitter were . Thus I , and whilste I plaine , my teares ensude , And from my face vpon thy carcasse fell . Whilst me to colle , thou threwst thy senselesse armes The sword well nie thine armes had recht a wound At length of Sire , his seruants and the daye Dreading : these words to breake thy sléepe , I spake Lynceus , that of thy brothers sole doste liue , This night ( vnlesse thou haste ) will be thy last . Thou startst affright , and sléepe abandoned In trembling fist thou sawste the cruell sword . To thée that tho didst long to know the cause , Whilst night wil giue thée leaue ( flée , flée , ꝙ I ) By night thou fledst , and I remainde behinde . Aurora rose , when Danaus gan to compt And tell the corses of his murthred sonnes : Thou onely of the tale were founde alack . That of his nephewes one had scapte the death , He tooke in rage , complaining not inough Bloudshed to be : such was his eger thyrst : I from my fathers féete was taken straight , And halde by the haire , to cruell prison thrust : Of ruthfull pitie such the guerdon was . Dame Iunos wrath hath euer sith endurde , That Iö of a Nimphe a Cowe became And from a Cowe to Goddesse was transformde Alas , t' was paine inough a sielie maide To lowgh in fieldes , and not hir Ioue to please . But lately made a Cowe , hir fathers banckes She stoode vpon , and gazed in the flood Vpon the hornes which earst were neuer hirs , And minding for to speake she lowght a good , Both of hir forme , and of hir voyce afrayde . Why Myser dost thou flée ? why musest at Thy selfe in foorde , and numbrest so thy féete ? That art to other members now transmude ? Thou , whome Dame Iuno had in great suspect , With boughes , and sedge thy famine dost expell . Of floud thou drinkste , and gazest all agast Vpon thy forme , dreading the hornes thou bearst , And one , of late so rich as might accoye The mightie Ioue , lyest bare vpon the soyle . By Seas , by landes , and cosin flouds thou runst , Both sea and lande , and lakes doe giue thée way , Passage both sea and lande , and Lakes allowe . What is thy cause of flight ? why ( Iö ) why Ranglest thou so the largie Seas about ? Thine owne countnance thou mayst not wel auoide . Why ( Iö ) whither fléest ? the thing thou shoonsts Thou followste aye , and doste by flight pursue : Thou doste both leade and follow hir that leades . Nilus , to sea with seauen folde streame that flowes , Made hir doe way hir brutishe shape at last . What néede I name the reast , that aged folke Recite ? my yeares occasion yéelde of plaint . My Syre and Vncle warre , wée sisters wée Of Realme and raigne exilde , are banisht farre , He cruell both the Seate , and Scepter rules , We néedie rangle with our néedefull Syre . Of brethren now the lesser parte doth liue . Whome I ( as well the parties done to death As Authors of the cruell facte ) bewayle . For looke how many brothers I am bereft So many louing systers loste I eke . For eyther part my dolefull teares I shead . Lo , I ( cause thou doste liue ) sustaine the smart . What should I guiltie beare ? what torment bide , That wrongfull paine without desert endure ? I that was one of hundred allyes earst , One brother liuing Miser shall be slain . But thou ( O Lynceus ) if regarde at all Of ruthfull Syster lodge within thy breast , And worthie be , the friendship I haue showde Or ayde mée , or with death foredoe my corse . And laye my limmes deuoide of lyfe by stealth In earth , my bones engraue with faithfull teares , And on my Tombe this slender title write . A boone vnfit for ruth , in wrong exile the death Bode Hypermnestra , cause she saude , hir brother Linceus breath . Much more in heart yet coulde I finde to write , Saue that my hands the clincking chaines doe lode , And gastly feare my wonted strength bereaues .

The Argument of the xv . Epistle , entituled Paris to Helen . SYr Paris gone to Greece faire Helena to coy , In Lacedemon landes at length , receiued lyke a Roy At Menelaus house : the Host to Creta goes Atreus goodes but lately deade , in order to dispose . Whose absence gaue the guest occasion to bewraye His sute to Helen , whilst ( goodman ) hir husbande was awaye . He shewes his secret loue and what good will he beares , And to make breach into the Forte the subtile Souldier sweares . He bragges of stately stocke , be vauntes of Princely kinde : He telles of Dardan dames of Troie and more than was to finde . The Ladie to allure , his painted sheath he showde : And in this wise his Pecocks plumes the Troian spred abrode . The .xv. Epistle . Paris to Helen . THis gréeting Paris sendes to Ledas daughter deare : Whose helthfull state doth whole depend vpon thy friendly cheare . What ? shall I speake ? or néedes not this my flame be showne ? And more than I coulde wishe to be is loue alreadie knowne ? More leffer shoulde it lurcke ( if I might haue my will ) Till Fortune framde , as feare ne dreade my gladsome ioyes might spill . But I to cloake by craft my loue not knowe the wayes : For who can hide the flanckring flame that still it selfe betrayes ? But if thou looke that I with worde confirme the déede : Take this as proufe of hidden heart , I frie with feruent gleede . Let him that doth confesse finde at thy hande such grace : In reading friendly all the reast , as fittes thy featurde face . It made mée ioye to heare my Letters were receyude : Whereof that he shall fauour finde thy Paris hath conceyude . Which hope I wishe to be of force , nor thou for nought Of mée through ouerpassed seas by Venus Hestes be sought . For least thou witlesse ere , I came vnto this place By warning of the Gods , and no small God doth ayde my case . Great matters I demaunde , but not vndue to mée : For Venus did compounde that I should fast be linckt with thée . By hir conduct I from Sigeian countrye came In Phereclean Barck , and did by seas my iourney frame . Shée gaue me windes at will , and weather safe to saile : No maruell if she that was borne of waues , on seas preuaile . Let hir persist , and calme the raging of my breast , As earst she did the seas : and bring my vowes to harbours reast . I brought with mée this fire I founde not hers my flame : Which was the cause that hither I my voyage long did frame . Not hither winters stormes or errour mée did driue , At Tenaris was aye my minde and purpose to ariue . Surmise not mée with wares or marchaunts Mart to wende Through fishfull flouds : the wealth I haue immortall Gods defende . Ne as a gaser I to Graian Cities came : For Troian towne ( my natiue soyle ) the Greece would lightly shame . But thou , whome Venus earst vnto my bedde behight , Didst cause me come , for whome I wisht or ere I knewe the wight . In minde I vewde thy face before I sawe with eye : And brute by stickring fame at first thy beautie did descrie . And maruell is it none if I as one that was Ystroke a farre with thirlings shafte , in loue my time doe passe . For so it pleasde them Fates , which least thou séeke to breake : Lende eare to such vndoubted truthes as I intende to speake . When me within hir wombe my mother did detaine : And that the wearie poyse thereof hir strowting corps did paine : She séemde by Morpheus meanes in dasled doubtfull dreame , To haue as then bene brought a bedde with flaming fierie streame . Afright with feare she rose , and what she sawe she tolde The aged King , and he forthwith consulted sages olde . Who preaching did pronounce that Ilion shoulde flame With Paris fire , this ardent loue I féele , it was the same . My forme and forwarde heart ( though then I séemde but base ) Was proufe and token that I came of Noble haughtie race . A place there is in Ide myd bushie laundes belowe , Whereto no open way doth lye , but Pire and Houlme doth growe : Where neyther simple shéepe , nor Mountaine Goate did gnawe : Nor lumpishe Oxe with flapping lyppes had filde hys mownching mawe . From thence the Dardane walles , and buildings huge to sée : And waltring waues of drenching seas , I leande against a trée . With trampling féete me thought the soyle began to moue : ( Though I displaye but truth , yet thou wilt scarce my tale approue . ) By force of flickring wings was brought vnto the place Cylenus , ( Atlas Nephewe néere , ) and stoode tofore my face . ( As lawfull t' was to sée , be léefull to recite ) And in his hande a golden rodde , the God did holde vpright . And Heauenly Ladies thrée , dame Venus , Iuno and The Princely Pallas , all at once set footing on the sand . I quooke for dread , my haire stoode staring on my head : When ( set thy feare aside ) to mée the winged Herawide sed . Thou art a Iudge of formes , stint all this godly warre : And tell which of these thrée by right thy verdit doth prefarre . And least I shoulde refuse , from Ioue he gaue me charge : And therewith flue with gate direct into the Heauens large . My strength began to growe , and courage come anewe : And then I drad not of the thrée to take a perfite vewe . All were surpassing wightes , but yet I stoode in dred , ( Assigned Iudge ) that erye one might not alike be sped . For one among the reast surmounted other so : As that it were the Nurce of loue thy selfe wouldst lightly knowe . Such carke they had to winne , as eche one did intende , By largesse , and their goodly giftes my doubtfull doome to bende . An Empire Iuno gaue , dame Pallas vertues raigne : I doubtfull stoode where powre or vertue were the best of twaine . When swéetely Venus sinilde , let giftes not moue thy minde ( Quoth she ) friend Paris : both repleate with trouble thou shalt finde . My onely boone shall be , that thou shalt loue , and haue The snowe white Ledas dearling deare and daughter passing braue . She saide , when iustly scande both formes and profers weare : The last with pricke and prayse began to mount vp to hir spheare . Meanewhile ( as frowarde fates to better fortune grewe ) By certaine signes for Priams childe the Troians Paris knewe . The sonne receyude , the house long time was filde with ioie : And that selfe day continues still as halowde yet in Troie . And as I long for thée , so maydens looude me well : Thou onely mayst their wishe atchiue , and beare awaye the bell . Not Princes heyres alone or daintie dames imbrast : But séemely Nymphes in ardent loue with me were coupled fast . But lothsome was their loue , I wayde them all aléeke . When I of Helen stoode in hope , whome Venus willde me séeke . I waking with mine eye did sée thy face by daye : And in my heart I vewde thy forme when Phoebus fled awaye . What wilt thou present doe , that in thine absence so Didst Paris please ? I fryde though farre the fierie flame were tho . Ne longer this my hope I coulde deferre at last , But that my purpose to aspire to Sea I went in hast . With Phrygian Axe were cut the Troian troes to grounde : And timber what so for the seas most fittest then was founde . The haughtie hilles were spoylde of great and woxen woods : And Ida leant me many a trée , with all their sturdie shrowds . The Okes for warped Keales and rudder were ysquarde : And with his crouked clinching ribbes the ship was well preparde . Wée added Maste and toppe , and hanging sayles thereto : And in the sides our painted Gods were portred all aroe . In shippe wherein I went was with hir little boye Dame Venus grauen , whose behest was causer of my ioye . When Nauie was addrest , and readie was the charge : To passe vpon Aegean seas was giuen me in charge . My parents by request my voyage woulde haue stayde : And that I would soiourne with them , as earnest suters prayde . My sister with hir lockes ( Cassandra ) lolling downe : ( When shippes were ready to avale from porte within a stowne ) Why ? whither goste ( ꝙ she ? ) thy freyghting shall be flame : Thou little knowste what fyre thou feest , that doste thys iourney frame . I finde hir wordes a troth , I féele the foresaide heate : And raging loue in yéelding breast as kindled cole doth freate . With that I left the porte , by meane of blissefull blast And friendly gale : I did arriue vpon thy coast at last . Thy husbande tooke mee guest , with whome I harbourde thoe : And not without the Gods aduise he practisde that I knowe . Who made mée shewe of all that goodly was to vewe In Lacedemon , or else where in stately Greece he knewe . But nought might please my eye , or hungrie fansie leeke : Who for thy passing praysed shape with longing heart did séeke . Whome when I sawe , I musde , mine inwarde parts I fealt Surprisde with newe vnwoonted cares in monstrous wise to mealt . A face resembling thine ( of trouth I minde it well ) Had Venus , when to iudge of hues to Paris lot it fell . If thou hadst there bene prest , contending for the game : I doubt where Lady Venus shoulde so lightly wonne the same . Reporte hath spread thy prayse , and Fame hir trumpet blowne : So that in euery countrie is fayre Helens beautie knowne . In Troian towne is none , nor from the rifing Sunne A famous Lasse , that for hir hue a semblaunt prayse hath wonne . And if thou darste beleue , thy beautie doth surpasse : And common rumor doth impayre and bréedes thy beautie lasse . Here finde I more than mée the Goddesse had behight : And all that glory by thy face and forme is passed quight . Not Theseus looude for nought , that knewe so well thy shape : That were of such a noble Duke surmisde a séemely rape . When by the Gréekishe guise a naked Nymph didst sporte With naked wightes , in place of playe where Grecians did resorte . I prayse him for his rape , I muse he would forgoe So good a pray : with valiant heart it shoulde bene healde you knowe . For from these shoulders first should fall my scotched skull : Ere thee out of my griping handes a mortall wight shoulde pull . Would ere these armes of mine haue let thee so depart ? Or during life mightste thou at all from Paris clummes astart ? If néedes I should forgone , I would haue had a share , Nor all in Idle should haue layne the lustfull Venus ware . Or I thy maydenhead woulde and daintie flowre haue gainde : Or that which might haue bene allowde ; if maydenhead were restrainde . To Paris plye , and thou his constant heart shalt trie : Who vowes with thée in selfe same fire and funerall flame to frie. For I haue thée preferrde before the regall Mace , Which welthfull Iuno offred , when I sate in Iudges place . And to thée fine I might with armes thy neck enfolde : I scornde the vertue Pallas gaue , more worth than glowing golde : That time when Ladies thrée appearde in stately Ide , By dexter iudgement there to haue their doubtfull quarrell tride : I sorrow not my choyce , ne yet repent at all● : My stable minde doth aye persist as then it did , and shall . This one request I make , let not my hope be vaine , ( O famous dame ) that well deseruste pursute with endlesse paine . No Raskall séekes to match himselfe in Gentils blood : Ne thou to be my wedded spouse mayst thinke thy selfe too good . The Pleyade mayst thou finde , and Ioue with stately stile To me alide , the middle Grandsires though I shoulde concile . In Asia raignes my Syre , ( a freshe and fruitefull soyle ) Which scarcely may enuironde be with long and painefull toyle . Of Cities many one , and lodges shalt thou sée : And Temples such as fit for Gods thy selfe wilt déeme to bée . Great Walles with loftie towres and Ilion shalt thou bewe : Which stately buildings by the sounde of Phoebus musicke grewe . What of the hugie presse of people should I tell ? The Countrie scarce containes the folke that in the Cities dwell . A troupe of Troian Dames , and Matrones thée will méete : The Phrygian Femes will stuffe eche Porch , and euery other streete ; How often wilt thou saye Achaia is but powre ? The wealth of Gréekish townes is founde in euery little bowre , Ne lawfull is for mee thy Sparta to despise : The place where thou were fostred , I most blissefull doe surmise . Yet Sparta is but spare , more pompe thou dost deserue : So meane a soyle for such a face doth nothing fitly serue . Such beautie larger coast would well beséeme in déede : And aye on new delights were méete for such a face to féede . When thus thou vewe our men attirde , and brauely dight : What wilt thou iudge of Troian trulls , and of their vesture bright ? Now shewe thy selfe a friende , nor of a Phrygian scorne Thou daintie dame , in Therapnean countrie that were borne . For he a Phrygian was and come of Troian line : That to the Gods their Nectar giues commixt with water fine . A Troian Tython too , and yet she likte him well , That with the golden dawning doth the drowping night expell . Anchifes was a Troian borne , and bred they say , With whome the Dame of Loue in Ide in shrouding shaddowe lay . Thy spouse with me comparde ( though thou thy selfe were iudge ) For yeares and séemely shape would be a Rascall and a Snudge . I will not giue to thee a Fatherlawe , that by His cursed fact did force the Sonne his fearefull steades to wry . Ne Pelops was the Syre of Priam , that with blood Of Oenamus imbrude his handes , and Mirtill drencht in flood . Nor doth our Grandsire gape for fruite in flattring lake Of Styx : nor séekes for waues in Well , his growing thirst to slake . But what auaileth this if one be linckt with thée Of their discent ? Ioue is enforst this families head to bée . Fye shamefull act , all night that same vnworthy patch With thée doth fléepe , and with his armes thy sugred corps doth catch . Thee scarcely I discrie when table clothes are led : And that selfe time with cark and care , and sorrowe ynough is sped . Vnto my mortall foes such banquets fall I craue : As when that Bacchus comes to broode I sielie Paris haue . I hate mine harboure sore , when so the rustick layes His armes vpon thy snowish necke , and with mine Hostesse playes . I swell with wrath ( but what should I now all declare ? ) When with his clothes displaide the Chuffe thy husbande , hydes thy bare . But when you gan to kisse and coll eche other apace : ( For that I woulde not sée ) the cuppe I set before my face . Looke when he thée imbraste , to grounde mine eyes I threwe : And in vnwilling mouth my meate , and yrkesome prawnder grewe . And grunting oft with griefe , I sawe full well when thou At those my woes in wanton wife wouldst smile with laughing brow . With wine oft times I would that fuming flame supprest : But dronkennesse was flame in fire and thus my heate increast . And sundrie sights to shunne , away my head I tourne : But thou estsoones wouldst make mine eyes and fancie to retourne . Thus doubtfull what to doe , agriefe these things to sée : But yet a greater griefe away from such a face to hée . As much as lay in mée this rage I striue to hide : Yet naythelesse dissembled loue is quickly to be spide . Ne art thou ought deceiude , to thée my woundes be knowne : And would to God that of my griefes thou priuie were alone . How oft when teares gan flush , turnde I my head awrie ? Least he the cause of mournefull moode should fortune to discrie ? How often with cup crasde haue I some looue exprest ? And would vnto thy featurde face eche worde and sentence wrest ? And of my selfe in close and fayned name made showe : Euen I am he that looude so well , if thou the same not knowe . And that I franckly might vse wanton words at will : I woulde make wise of Bacchus wares as though I had my fill . Thy breast ( I well recorde ) ( thy vesture being lose . ) Displayde vnto my staring eyes , thy beautie did disclose . Thy breast than Mountaine snowe or morning Milke more cleare , Or Ioue that in the forine of Swanne to Leda did appeare Whilst at the sight I gazde ( I helde a Cuppe by happe ) And from my fist the Cuppe it fell and in the floore did snappe . When thou thy daughter kist , I would , the kisse to winne , Hermions chéekes and cherrie lippes eftsoone to smack beginne . Sometime laide bolte vpright of former loue would sing : And other sithes by beck would giue a signe of secrete thing . The chiefe of all thy Mates I bourded but of late : To Clymen , and to Aethra I in humble wise did prate . Who aunswerd nothing else but that they stoode in dread : And euen amid my earnest sute away from me they flead . Would thou were plaste as price at some notorious watch , That he who best in armes deserude , thée for his Feere might catch . Then as Hippomenes wanne Atlanta in the fielde , To whome a flock of suters earst in running race did yéelde : As Hercules the hornes of Achelous broke , When Deianeiras loue to fight the Champion did prouoke ? I would my valiaunt prowesse in semblant sort haue showne : And that thy beautie causde the same to thée it should be knowne . Now nought remaines , but euen to sue to thee ( faire Dame ) And groufe to fore thy feete to fall if thou permit the fame . O flowre , and present prayfe of both thy brothers hyre : O worthie wife for mightie Ioue if Ioue were not thy Syre : Or to Sigeian porte with thée I will retire : Or in exile at Tenaris : my carcasse shall expire . For why , no slender darte hath clest my breast in twaine , The mortall wounde hath broosde the bones , and ransackt euery vaine . In this ( I minde it well ) Cassandra spake aright : Who saide in future time on m● a heauenly shaft should light . Wherefore , doe not despise the loue allowde by fate : So mayst thou haue the gastely Gods thy friendes in néedefull state . I haue a thousande things which franckly to recite , Receyue me to thy carelesse Couch in fere and silent night . What ? dost thou shame , or stande in such a bashfull dred , For to defile with secrete scape thy chaste and bridely bed ? Too simple sure thou art , a rustick might I say ? Thinkst thou that so wel formde a face from guilt may scape away ? Or thou must chaunge thy hue , or not be hard at least : Twixt beautie and an honest life was neuer warre infeast . For Ioue delightes in stealthes , and Venus loues the same : Ne Ioue had bene thy Syre vnlesse had Leda likte the game . If griefes of loue haue force scarce chaste thou mayst be thought : Whome lustfull Ioue and Leda light into this worlde brought . Then leade an honest life , when we in Troie shall be : Let none be able to defame fayre Helen , but by me . Now let vs forge the fact which mariage shall amende : If Ladie Venus wordes be true as tho she did pretende . Thy husbande not in wordes but déedes perswades thereto : Who , for he would no hindrance be , deuisde from Greece to go . He had no fitter time to ride from home but than : O Lord it is a worlde to sée the subtile craft of man . Mine Host is gone , who saide at parture : wife I will Thou take in charge my Troian guest ▪ thy husbands Hestes fulfill . I sweare , thou dost neglect thy absent Féeres request : For why , thou hast no carke at all to entertaine thy guest . What dost thou thinke in déede that doltish sielie man , The thewes of Helens passing forme may iudge , or throughly scan ? In fayth thou art beguilde : for if the good he owes He knew , therewith he would not trust , a guest he scarcely knowes . Though neyther thée my voyce nor friendship may procure To yéelde me grace : conuenient time may cause vs to play sure . Or else we are but Doltes , and more than he to blame : If such occasion we permit to flide deuoyde of game . In maner with his hande he gaue his guest to thée : Sée thou doe vse such simplenesse that hath such care of mee : The long and lothsome night thou lodgest all alone : And I poore Paris to redresse my haplesse harmes haue none . Let intermedled ioyes conioyne vs both yfeare : And that selfe night shall séeme to vs than brightest day more cleare . Then will I make my vow , appealing Gods to othe : And by a sacred bande to thée for pawne ingage my troth . And then ( vnlesse the trust I in my selfe repose Be vaine ) I vnto thée estsoones my Scepter will disclose . But if thou shame , and dread to condescend thereto : I onely will sustaine the guilt and thou exempt shalt go . For why , thy brothers fact , and Theseus will I take As myrrours : nearer proufe than this I know thou canst not make . The Theseus earst , they two Leucippids haue bereft : And I as fourth example made and mirrour shall be left . My Nauie is at hande , of men and armour store : We shall to Troie flit in haste by meane of winde and Ore . Thou like a stately Quéene through Dardan streates shalt ride : The Commons will some Goddesse new surmise to haue espide . What way soeuer thou goest , the perfumes they shall sweate : And slaughtred beastes the gorie grounde with bloudie strokes shall beate . My sisters with my dame , my brothers with the King , And all the Troian Matrons shall their ample presents bring . Oh , scarce one parcell I of future things recite : Thou shalt haue more than in these lines my feeble penne can write . Ne doe thou rapted stande of dreadfull warre in awe : Ne feare that grudging Greece hir force to wreake this rape will drawe . Though sundry were conuaide , was neuer none pursude With clattring armes : of troth this dread vs causelesse doth delude . In Boreas name the men of Thrace Orithia stole : Yet Byston had no hatefull warres , nor enmies to controle . In nouell Barcke was brought by Iason through the Seas Medea : Colchos kept no coyle ne Thessale did disease . And he that stale the first reft Minos dearling deare : And yet his men of Creta did not once in armour steare . The feare in these affaires the daunger doth excell : But afterwarde of feare we shame when euery thing is well . Put case , that warre were wagde ? ( if so thou list to thincke ) What , I haue men , and armour eake yea such as will not shrincke . And Asia is no lesse , than is your countrie wide : Of valiant wightes we haue good store , and startling steades to ride . Nor Menelaus shall of greater courage bée Than Troian Paris , nor in armes more stiffe and stoute than hée . For being yet a childe I slue my haughtie foes That stale my heirde : and of that fact my valiant name arose . And being but a Ladde in sundry combats wanne The palme from Illioneus , and eake Deiphobus the man . And least thou sole surmise mée to preuaile at hande : I can enforce my thirled shaft full neare the marke to stande . The like attempt in youth Atrides neuer made : Ne Menelaus mayst thou match with Paris for his trade . Though all things else thou graunt , yet Hector can not bée His brother , which will stande in steade of thousande men to mée . Thou little knowste my powre , my force from thée is lockt : Thou canst not tell what man is he with whome thou shalt be shockt . Or with no tumult thou shalt be requirde againe : Or Greekish tentes to Paris Marte to yéelde they shall be faine . Yet néede I not disdaine to warre for such a wife : For why , the price doth well deserue to stirre a greater strife . And thou , if all the worlde for thee shoulde séeme to striue : Shalt stande assurde in after time for aye to be aliue . Wherefore hath dreadlesse hope departing from this shore , And blissefull Gods , demaunde the giftes I thée behight before .

The Argument of the xvj . Epistle , entituled Helen to Paris . WHen Helen had the Troian writte perusde She thought hir selfe too shamefully abusde . She deemde it not the part of any guest , To whoredome so his Hostesse minde to wrest . To quaile the Princockes pride , and make a prouse Of spotlesse fame , at first she standes aloufe . At length when to and fro she had discourste Of this and that , and collour well disbourste : She fawnes , she frownes , she freates , she speakes him faire , She offred hope , but fed him with dispaire , As women wont , deuising many a toie , But Paris hir in fine conuayde to Troie . The .xvj. Epistle . Helen to Paris . HOw since thy letters haue thus rashly wrongde my sight : I thought it needefull with my penne thy Pistle to requite . And didst thou dare a guest , ( the boundes of hostage broke ? ) And honest Matron well espousde , to pleasure to prouoke ? For this by whisking windes ytost on wauing Seas , Did Taenaris thée with porte relieue thy painefull plight to ease ? Nor ( though inguestred thou camste from a Countrie farre ) My Pallace did gainst thée as then his churlish gates debarre ? That such a wrong should be rewarde for good desart ? Thou that didst enter so hast playde no guestes , but enmies part . Though lawfull be my plaint , yet doubt I not at all , But thou ( when so thou heare thereof ) a rude complaint wilt call . A rustick let me bee , so I not passe the bounde Of honest shame , and in my lyfe no cankred crime be founde . So I in fayned looke doe cloake no churlish cheare : Nor in my face no grimme disdaine nor bended broowe appeare . Yet honest is my fame , I liue deuoide of spot : No lustfull Lecher for his life is able me to blot . Which makes me muse the more what should enbolde thée so , To take this straunge attempt in hand a maried wife to wowe ? Cause Theseus wrongde me once , well worthie am I déemde To be a Ruffians rape againe , and so to be estéemde ? The guilt was mine if I allured were to yll : But so I rapted were by force , what coulde I doe but nill ? Ne he by that his fact his hoped bootie gote : Set feare and womans dread aside , I nought abode God wote . The wretch by wrestling wonne at Helens hande a kisse : And laide hir on the lippes sometime , he had no more but this . Scarce would you bene content ( vnthriftie so you arre ) With that : I thanke the Gods , that he and thou didst differ farre . He yéelded me againe and me did scarcely touch : And did repent him of his fact , his modestie was such . Did Theseus so recant that Paris should succéede ? For feare least on my blased armes . the people should not féede ? Yet I am nothing wroth , ( for who can angrie bée With that shée loues ? ) if this my loue be faithfull vnto mée . For thereof doubt I sore , not for distrust at all , Or that my face and featurde forme into suspect I call . But for such light beliefe and credit workes our woe : And suters tales art freight with fraud , and fired faith forgoe . But others doe aguilt , an honest Matron rare : Who barres that I among those fewe should haue a partie share ? For cause my mother errde , perhaps thou thinkste me light By hir example to be wonne , by meane of natures might . To cloake my mothers crime an errour is in store : For why the Lecher lurckt in plume to worke his will the more . If I should doe amisse of force thereof I knowe : There is no errour mine offence to hide from open showe . Hir scape is well allowde , the Aucthor made it lesse : There is no Ioue at all to cloake my fault if I transgresse . Thou braust vpon thy stock , thy Grandsires Princes are : This house of worthie Auncesters and Nobles is not bare . I will conceale that Ioue was Atreus Grandsire great : Of Tantalus , or Pelops I , nor Tyndaris minde to treat . But Leda lendes me Ioue my stately Sire to bée : Whome foule beguilde with swannish forme and falsed byrde we sée . Now vaunt thy Troian heades and ginners of thy race : Let Laomedon be in presse and Priam eke in place . Whome I commend : but he that fift is of your line , ( Thy greatest pryde ) I finde the same the formost man in mine . Though Troian Scepter I accoumpt to be of fame , Yet iudge I not our Empire ought inferiour to the same . Suppose our wealth you passe , and Teucrian troupe excell Our Gréekish soyle : yet barbarous is the countrie where you dwell . So great rewardes your lynes and Letters me behight , As well they might accoy , and cause to yéelde a heauenly wight . But so I minded were to breake the boundes of shame : Thy selfe shouldst sooner make me yéelde than all thy giftes of fame . Or I for aye will liue and leade vnspotted life , Or thée more rather would ensue than all thine offers rife : As I not scorne the same , in price so are they thought The greatest gifts to whome the giuer hath their beautie brought . But most of all I weigh thy loue , that for my sake Such paines abodste , whose hope to passe the Seas did vndertake . And eke at tables set ( though with dissembling browe I séeke to hide thine amorous tricks ) I note them well ynowe . Sometime thou ( wanton wight ) doste cast a glauncing blinck With wrested looke , whereat well neare my daunted eyes doe shrinck . Againe you sigh as fast , another time you take The Cup , and where I dranck euen there your falsed thirst doth flake . With fingers ( Lorde ) how oft , and wyth a talking browe , Hast thou me giuen secret signes I wote well where , and howe ? And oft I stoode in feare my husbande sawe the same : And often dreading to be spide I blusht with bashefull shame . Oft times with whispring wordes vnto my selfe I sedde : ( This is a shamelesse guest ) my wordes did hit the nayle on hedde . And often wrought in wine , I rad vpon the boorde , Euen vnder Helens name ( I loue ) I well recorde the woorde . But that I had distrust therof , my lookes did showe : But now ( alas ) to write the like doth haplesse Helen knowe . These fansies might haue forst my ruthfull breast to bende , And tournde my heart , if to aguilt I would at all intende . Thy feature I confesse is rare , and such to sée , As might allure a womans heart to linck hir selfe with thée . I wishe that hap to fall vpon some single dame : Ere I with forraine loue should séeke my bridely Bedde to shame . Well liked things to lack by my example leare : It is a vertue to abstaine from what thou hast so deare . How many youthes haue wisht for that which thou doste craue ? What ? Paris dost thou déeme , that thou alone good iudgement haue ? Thou séest no more than they , but madder is thy minde : Thy courage is no bett than theirs , lesse shame in thée I finde . Would then thou hadst repayrde , and hither come by floode : When me in prime and flowring yeres a thousande suters woode . Of thousande thou the first if I thee tho had séene , ( My doome to heare withall I craue my husbande ) thou hadst béene . To things possest thou comste , and gotten goods too late : Too slow thou were , another hath in that thou crauste , estate . As then thy Troian wife , I would haue wisht to bée : So now Atrides not against my will enioyeth mée . Eease thou with wordes therefore to ransacke Helens heart , To hir ( thou fayst thou loouste so well ) procure no grutching smart . But let me kéepe the sort that Fortune hath allowde : Séeke not my fame and good report to darke with shadie clowde . But Venus so behight , and in the vales of Ide Thrée heauenly Wightes starke naked came to clayme their beauties pride . Of whome one gaue thée raigne , th' other Bellonas skill : The thirde pronounst that Helen shoulde be plyant to thy will . In faith I scarcely thinke such Ladies would vouchsaue , For chiefest beauties péerelesse price thy doubtfull doome to haue . Suppose it were a trouth , the reast was all vntrue : That for such iudgement I should be a recompence to you . I stande not so much on my beauties pride , to déeme That me the greatest gift of all the Goddesse did estéeme . My feature is content of men to purchase fame : I like it not that Venus should so much commende the same . But nothing I denie the prayse full well I léeke : For to what ende should I gainesay the thing I chiefely séeke ? Ne let it wrath thée that I hardely thée beléeue : To matters of importance great we scarcely credit geeue . Wherefore I ioy it most that Venus likte me so : And next for such a stately gift that thou did take me tho . And that thou didst preferre my blased beauties good Fore Pallas gift , and Iunos raigne that there in iudgement stood . Then I thy vertue am , then I to thée a raigne : I were too stonie if I woulde not loue the like againe . Good fayth , I am no stéele , but him to loue I shonne Who scarce ( I thinke ) may be my spouse when all my worke is donne . Why should I fondely seeke to plough the barraine sande ? Or hope on that which place it selfe doth very much withstande ? I skillesse am in scapes , the Gods recorde I call I neuer by deceitefull sleight beguilde my Féere at all . In that to couert scrole my wordes I now commit , My letters doe attempt a thing they neuer practisde yet . Thrise blest that are inurde , I wote not how to play That part as yet , to guilt full harde I doe surmise the way . This dreade doth much annoy and sore I am agast , Suspecting all the peoples eyes on vs are fixed fast . Nor this I feare in vaine , the bussing brute I know : And Aethra , what report had gone , to mée but late did show . Vnlesse thou minde to cease , dissemble thou therefore : But why shouldst thou now stint thy sute ? thou canst dissemble sore . In secret vse thy toyes , and spare thou not to play : Now scope we haue , though not the most , my husband is away . He now is farre from home affayres compellde him so : A iust and good occasion he had out of towne to go . When in a doubt he stoode his iourney forth to take , Dispatch ( ꝙ I ) good sir , and sée a quicke returne you make . Th' abodement likte him so ; as he to kissing fell : And gaue me charge of house and goods , and bad me vse thée well . I scarce my laughter helde , which whilste I striue to stay : Saue that it should be so in déede , I had no worde to say . To Crete he went in hast by helpe of winde and Ore : But thou , that all things léefull are , must not surmise therefore . So is my spouse alacke , as in his absence well He doth me garde : that Princes haue long reach canst thou not tell ? Fame doth impayre our ioyes for how much more you léeke And prayse me : So much more you cause to stande in feare the Greeke . The laude I loue so well ( as now consistes the case ) Annoyes : more better were that fame had neuer blazde my face . That I am left with thée now he is farre away Muse not : he trustes my manners well and thinks in me some stay . My face did make him dread , he trustes my life full well : The suretie which my manners bréede , my beautie doth expell . Thou willste me to be wise and vse the present tide : And not to let so fitte a time deuoyde of game to slide . I would , and am afrayde as yet my heart doth quake : And fearefull breast in doubt doth stande , and knowes not which to take . My spouse doth nowe dislodge , and thou alone dost lye : Thy beautie likes mée well , and Helens shape contents thine eye . The nightes are passing long , and we to chatte begin : And thou art euen a pleasaunt guest and both one house within . Good sooth eche thing doth séeme this fact to further aye : And yet I knowe not how the same my quiuering feare doth staye . As thou perswadste but yll , would well thou mightst constraine Mée to thy will , this rudenesse then should be expelde amaine . Sometime receiued wrong auailes the pacient much : How blest were I , such force to byde if Helens hap were such ? More better were while loue is rawe and gréene , to staye : For flame that scarcely kindled is will soone consume awaye : Fewe drops of sprinckled water will the sparckling fyre delaye . As straungers starters are vncertaine be their loues : And when thou thinkst them surtte of all their wauering faith remoues . Let Hypsiphyl recorde and Mynos daughter trye : For they them selues with wandring wightes in bridely bande did tie . And thou of whome Oenon was many yeares imbrast , Art sayd without a iust desert to shonne the Nymph at last , Which thou dost not denie ; and verie troth to tell , My chiefest care was to enquire where thou didst vse thée well . And though thou wouldst full faine be stable now in loue , Thou canst not , for thy Teucrian ships will out of hande remoue . Whyle we doe tale yfeare , and fixed night shall bée , The wind will serue thy sayles so well as thou wilt part from mee . Amid his pleasant course , that vnacquainted play Will stint , and with the whisking winds our friendship passe away . Shall I ( as thou perswadste ) go vewe the Troian towne ? Or vnto great Laomedon a Daughterlaw be fowne ? Perdie I more accoumpt of swift and flickring fame , Than that in euery lande it should haue powre to spred my name : What Sparta might of me and all Achaia speake ? What auncient Asias famous townes , and Priams mansion eake ? What Priamus of me , and Priams wife might say ? Thy brothers , with the Troian dames what might they blast I pray ? And last , how mightst thou hope mée faythfull spouse to finde ? Thy owne example would procure distrust within thy minde . What guest soeuer shall to Ilion repeare , Will bréede suspect within thy breast , and make thée stande in feare . How oft wilt thou inragde tearme me by harlots name , Forgetfull that thy owne offence was causer of the same ? Thy selfe wilt both procure and blame the fact at last : Ere that I wish in hollow vaute my carkasse to be plast . But I shall haue the wealth of Trose , and braue aray : And mo rewards than promise was , thus did thy Pistle say . Of precious Purple I and Arrasse store shall haue : And be enricht with hugie heapes of massie golde so braue . Forgiue that I confesse , I way not all the golde : I wote not how this soyle doth séeme thy Helen to withholde . For if I wronged were , in Troie no succour is : My brothers ayde I stande assurde , and fathers helpe to misse . False Iason euerie thing to Medea behight : And yet in fine from Aesons lodge she was expelled quight . And being so refusde , she could not make retourne To Aetes , Ipsea , nor with Chalciope for shame soiourne . I nothing dread the like , no more did Medea tho : But sundrie times abodements doe good hope delude , we know . The shippes that now in surge and yrefull seas doe ride : When first they wayd their Ankcors , had a calme and pleasant tide . The brande doth bréede my dreade , wherewith thy Dame was sed Before hir wonted time of birth , to haue bene brought abed . The Soothsayers sawes I feare , which spake the time would bée , When men of Troie within their walles the Greekish flame should sée . As Venus friendes thee , for shee wanne the glittring fruite , And foylde the other two that were hir riuals in the sute : So dreade I their disdaynes which ( by thine owne reporte ) In iudgement were so put a back in such reprochfull sorte . And if I follow thée , I doubt it not ( alas ) But that through swordes and wreakefull blades our haplesse loue shall passe . With Centaurs to discorde , and bloudie warres to wage Did Hippodamia cause the men of Thrace in yrefull rage : And dost thou déeme my Féere will vnreuenged go In quarrell iust ? my brothers both and Tindaris also ? For that in brauerie you your Martiall déedes recite : The truth is thus , that from your wordes your feature differs quite . For Venus fitter thou than Mars dost séeme to bée : Loue Paris , and let men of force go fight in fielde for thée . Let Hector , whome thou so dost vaunt , in armour broyle : Another kinde of warrefare is farre better for thy toyle . If I were in my wittes , or somewhat bolder were I would vse these : the woman that are wise will vse this geare . And laying shame aside perhaps hereafter I Will condiscend , and conquerde with continuance will applie . For that in secret thou dost long the rest to tell , The couert talke that thou wouldst vse , I know it passing well . Too hastie sure thou art , thy haruest is in grasse : Perhappes this tariance will the better bring thy will to passe . Thus ye my letters leaue my guiltie minde to showe : Thou Quill , that wearied hast my hand , in this no farther go . The reast by Clymen I and Aethra will disclose : Which two are of my counsell chiefs , in whome I trust repose .

The Argument of the xvij . Epistle , entituled Sappho to Phaon . Phaon in passage Boate his pain full liuing gate , And ferriyng folke from shore to shore , relieude his needfull state . T' was Venus happe at last , without a profred hyre To Phaon for his painfull toile , a passage to desire . The Whirryman agreed , and ferried hir for nought , Whome he no heauenlic Goddesse , but a mortall woman thought . She in rewarde a Box of ointment gaue to him , That coulde enforce a featurde forme , and make the beautie trim . Within a while this Lad the Lasses had allurde , But wanton Sappho least of all his beauties beames endurde . She looude hym passing well , he forste hir not a rush : Hir sielie Nymph inragde with loue a thousand cares did crush . To Sicil Phaon goes , then Sappho seemd vndonne , And thought by speedie leauing life bi r wasting flames to shonne . From Leucas she pretendes ( Epyrus Mount ) to sall , And so by hastned death to leaue both loue and life withall . To Leucas ere she came , to suing flat she fill , And to vnfriendlie Phaon did deuise this friendlie Bill . In hope to winne the Wight , and purchase loue againe , Wherein she telles hir twi ching griefer and pennes hir pinching paine . The .xvij. Epistle . Sappho to Phaon . WHere when thou sawste at first my louing lines with eye , Thou knowledge hadst from whence they came and notice by and by ? Where if thou hadst herein not read the Authors name And Sappho seene , thou hadst not knowne from whome this writing came ? Demaund thou wilt perhaps what me procurde to write This kinde of verse , that mirrie tunes and Luting doe delight ? For that this loue of mine is doolefull , and the verse Elegia callde , a wofull kinde of miter to reherse . No Cytheron serues a mourning minde whome cruell cares doe pierse . As straw doth kindle soone , when Eurus ginnes to driue The flash into the fertill fieldes : euen so I frie aliue . To Aetna Phaon nowe hath tane his way in hast : And me poore wench as great a fire as Aetnas flame doth wast . I can not frame my frets , my stubburne strings doe iarre : For why , in déede of quiet minde such verses tokens arre . Pyrino is forgot , ne Dryads doe delite My fancie : Lesbian Lasses eke are now forgotten quite . Not Amython I force , nor Cydno passing fine : Nor Atthis , as she did of yore , allures these eyes of mine . Ne yet a hundreth mo whome ( shame ylaid aside ) I fanside erste : thou all that loue from them to thee hast wride . In thée doth feature flowe , thy yeares for daliance apt : Thy face , O face t' is thou that hast my shaken senses rapt . A Quiuer and a Lute take thou in hande , and thée Apollo men will deeme : d'on hornes and Bacchus thou shalt bee . And Phoebus Daphne looude , king Minos darling deare God Bacchus lykte , yet neyther of both a Cytherons string could steare . But me Pegasian Nymphes haue learned on the Lute , And throughout all the worlde is borne of Sapphos songes the brute . Nor Alcaeus ( though vpon a statelier string doe sounde My Mate for Arte , and Countrie eke ) a greater prayse hath founde . Though I at natures hand no featurde face could gaine : Yet those defaults of kinde I quite by goodnesse of the brains . Disdaine me not , although but meane my stature bée : And in pronouncing verie short you Sapphos name doe sée . Put case I be not faire ? swarth Andromed to vewe . Duke Perseus pleasde : Morisco soyle allowde hir tawnie hewe . Full oft the whitest Doues with specled Culuers tred : And oft we sée the Turtle browne with Popingay doth wed . If none , vnlesse hir forme could match thy featurde shape , Should lincke with thee : thou doubtlesse shouldst from mariage aye escape . But when thou vewdste my verse , then Sappho séemde in sight A comely wench , thou swarste that me alone became to wright . I sang , I minde it well , ( for Louers fixe in breast Forepassed toyes ) and thou the whilste to kissing thée addreast . Those busses likte thée eke , for euerie point I was Befancide well : but most when we to Venus prancks did passe . Then did my wanton tricks and loftie mounting , more With sugred wordes , delight thy minde ( my Phaon ) than of yore . And that when both our ioyes confounded were , I lay With wearie limmes , and languor lame and had no worde to say . Now are Sicilian trulles thy nouell pray , I sée : In Lesbos what make I ? a wench of Sicill I will bee . O Nysian Matrons , O Sicilian Dames I say , This loytring guest of ours expell your Countrie boundes I pray . Ne let his glosing tongue your listning eares beguile : For why to vs he hath ere this yvsde that selfe same stile . And Ladie Venus , thou that knowen art to dwell ( Rue on thy Poets piteous plight ) among the Sicans fell . Will aye this cruell chaunce in one selfe tenour roonne ? And still persist in spitefull sorte as when hir race begoonne ? For but a Babe in yeares , and lacking thrée of nine , My parents bones I gathered vp and bathde with saltish brine . My néedefull brother burnt with beastly strumpets flame : And did endure both wrack of wealth and spitefull losse of fame . To beggrie brought he plies the sliding seas with Ore : And gettes againe with shamefull shifts the wealth he spent before . And me for sounde aduise pursues with deadly hate : This was the onely good to me that my freespeaking gate . And eake , as though I lackt a cause to bréed my dole , My little daughter heapes vp hoe , that prettie pratling soule . But last of all , thou art the forger of my bale : Aye me poore wench , my beaten Barcke flits not with pleasant gale . Marke out of order how my lolling tresses flée : No glistring Gem , or Iuell is vpon my hande to sée . My vesture is but vile , not spanged is my toppe : My hanging haire with Ciuet , nor Arabian dew doth droppe . For whome ( vnhappie Girle ) should Sappho go so gay ? Whome féeke to please ? the Author of my brauery is away . My gentle yéeiding breast eche lightsome dart may broose : And aye I finde a cause to loue , and can none other choose . Or else at time of birth the sisters set this lawe : Allowing me such cruell twist that did my destnie drawe : Or custome growes to kinde , and vse becomes an Arte : I wote not well , but sure I haue , by kinde a gentle heart . What wonder , if with such a beardlesse youth I were Attacht , whose tender childish yeares allowde his chinne no haire ? I drad ( Aurora ) least for Cephalus thou wold Ychosen him : saue that thy former rape doth thée withhold . If Phoebe vewe him once , that all suruayes with eye : My Phaon shall be quickly forste in slumber long to lye . In Iuorie Wagon would dame Venus , to the starres Borne him : but that she fearde he wold haue coyde the God of Warres . O thou that neyther art a boy , nor man in sight , But aptest age : of all thy race the most excellent wight , Come hither , come , and to my bosome make retowre ; No loue I craue in fayth of thée , but thée to loue the powre . I write and from my chéekes the deawie teares distill : Beholde how many blots they cause in Sapphos doolefull bill . If néedes thou wouldst haue gone , yet this allow for true : Thou mightst haue saide at parture , O my Lesbian Lasse adue . But now no teares of mine ne latter kisse thou had : Ne ( to be short ) of such mishaps as are befall , I drad . With me is nought of thine , saue wrong yleft in déede : Ne gaue I warning that thou hadst of faythfull loue the méede . I gaue thee no precepts , nor would haue done a iot : But made a sute that Sappho might at no time bene forgot . By loue , that neuer farre may from thy breast astart : And sacred sisters nine ( my saincts ) whome I embrace with heart , I sweare : when one exclamde ( I wote nere who to mée ) And said , now Sappho iogges thy ioy , thy Phaon now doth flée : I had no teares to shed , my lippes did language lacke , Mine eyes did want their gushing teares my foltring tongue it stacke Vnto the roufe , and ysie colde my fearefull breast did racke . When griefe was somewhat swagde , and sorrow gan to slake : I howlde with toren lockes , and with my fist my bodie strake : As doth the louing Dame that to the Temple beares Hir Babe his corps withouten sense , and bathes his Tombe with teares . Charaxe my brother ioyde , and often past before My face and to and fro did iet to make my doole the more . And to encrease my shame , would wit my cause of woe : And say , why wéepes this woman ? why ? hir daughter liues I trowe . Oh , shame and earnest loue can neuer well agrée : How there with open breast I stoode the Vulgar folke did sée . Thou Phaon art my carke , my dreames reduce to minde Thy countnance : dreames which clearer than the shining Sunne I finde . I meete thée oft in sléepe , though thou be nothing nie , But of this sléepe the slipper ioyes too soone away doe slie . Full oft vpon thine armes my lodging neck I laye : And then me thinks thy head as much my limber armes doe staye . I know thy kisses well , and am not now to seeke How thou were wont to smack thy wench , and she to doe the léeke . I play the wanton Gyrle sometime , and séeme with thée To chat , and think my slumbring sense awaked wide to bée . I blush to tell the reast that followes , but there is Naught left vndone that bréedes delight , I coulde not Phaon misse . But when that Titan splayes his face , and all beside : I make complaint that winged sléepe so soone away did slide . To Groues and Caue I trudge , as though they did me good : The Caue and groues that witnesse there in place of pleasure stood . Inragde I thither runne , as doth the Frantike fro Whome fell Erichtho hath in chase , my locks at random go . There plainely I discrie with rotten Tophe yspred A place , that earst in lieu was to me of better bed . I finde the Wood where we with boughes and gallant greaues Yshadowde haue full often laine among the flittring leaues . The owner is alack both of the place and mée : The place is but a filthie soyle , the place his dowre was hee . The twifolde turning turffe I knowe it very well , And Grasse , with bended head to grounde that with our tumbling fell . I layde me groufe vpon thy wonted side : the banck ( A pleasaunt plot of pleasure earst ) my flushing feares it dranck . Againe the naked boughes ( their garments layde in grounde ) Did séeme to mourne , no mirrie fowle did vse his warbling sounde . The wofull Dame alone that fouly was awroke Vpon hir sonne , that Itis hight in doolefull dittie spoke . The chyrping Fowle hir childe , but Sappho wayles hir loue , Forlorne Lasse : when all things else the slumbers ioyes doe proue . A Christall Well there is than shining Glasse more shéere , A holy spring , some déemen that some sacred Sainct is there . A watrie Lotos spreades his sprayes athwart the Well : And all aboute with tender Sedge the gréenish grounde doth smell . Where wofull wight , when I had layde me on the grasse : Eftsoone a stripling did appeare , a proper boy it was . Hee stoode him still and sayde : what meanste thou ( Nymph ) I pray To frie with such vnegall flames ? to Ambrace go thy way . There Phoebus from a loft the open sea doth face : Leucadium men they say , or else Actaeum terme the place . Deucalion thence inragde with Pyrrhas loue did fall Of purpose , and he naythelesse sustainde no hurt at all . And straight conuersed loue forsooke his swelting breast That was ydrencht : and so good man Deucalion came to reast . Such is the place his powre and hidden force by kinde : Go thither in post , and skip adowne , let feare not mooue thy miude . He vanisht with his voice I rose me vp agast : And all to bainde my cheerelesse cheekes with teares that flushed fast . I ( Nymph quoth I ) will trudge vnto the bidden place : Let raging loue haue force and powre all feare away to chase . What fortune so befall , will better present plight : O gentle ayre beare vp my corps that now is passing light . And thou ( O friendly Loue ) come vnderset thy wing : Least if I die , defame vnto Leucadian goulfe doe spring . Then I to Phoebus will my pleasant Lute bequeath : And brauely cause to be ingraude this Verse or two beneath . O Phoebus , this hir Lute , hath Sappho left to thee : For in that Arte she during life and thou did well agree . Fye ( Phaon ) why dost thou me to Actaeum driue : And thou thy selfe mayst make returne and saue thy loue aliue ? More healthfull than the floud of Leucas thou mayst bée : And by thy beauties féemely shape Apollo vnto mée . And canst thou ( oh ) more harde than rocke , and ruthlesse waue If so I die the title of my death indure to haue ; Ah , how much better might my breast conioyne with thirie , Than thus be cast from craggie cliffe to Sea of surging brine ? That selfe same breast which thou commended hast so oft : And which with passing wisedome fraught thy selfe ( friend Phaon ) thought . Now would I were faconde , but dolour hinders Arte : And all my witte is me berest by long enduring smart . My wonted vaine in verse is ouerdrie become : My lowring Lute laments for wo , my Harpe with doole is dombe . Ye Lesbian Lasses all that border on the Lake : And ye that of the Aeolian towne your names are thought to take , Ye Lesbian Lasses ( that for cause I looude you sore Bréede my defame ) vnto my Harpe I charge you come no more . Looke what did like you earst , of that is Phaon sped : Alas poore wretch , my Phaon I had very neare ysed . Cause Phaon to retire and then your Poet will Reuert againe : t' is he that doth both make and marre my skill . What ? doe my prayers preuaile , or pierce his stéely brest ? Or is he standing stiffe at stay , a retchlesse rigorous guest ? Or doe the puffing winds transport my wordes into the west ? The gale that hence conuaies my voice , oh that it might Reduce thy fléeing Barck againe , and bring thy shippe in sight . O ouerlingring Ladde , in fayth if thou were wise , Thou wouldst attempt to make returne and follow mine aduise . What ? wilt thou come ? or no ? we for thy shippe prepare Our vowed gifts : why doth thy staye enforce our hearts to care ? Anale , and lose thy Barcke , take Seas : for Venus shée That came of seas , wil calme the surge come off the gale will bée As friendly to thy comming Keale as thou wouldst wish to sée . At Helme will Cupid sit , and steare thy shippe to lande : He both will hoyse , and hale the sayles with skilfull Boateswanes hande . Or if thy pleasure be from Sappho farre to trudge : ( Who neuer did deserue so yll of thée , thy selfe be iudge . ) At least let cruell lynes will hir vnhappie wench Vnto Leucadian foorde to flée , and there hir corps to drench .

The Argument of the xviij . Epistle , entituled Leander to Herô . LEander looude a Lasse that Herô hight And dwelt in Sest , the chanell did deuide Their countries so , as Sestus was in sight Of Abydon , that stoode in th' other side . Nightly the youth to Herô shoope his waie , And woulde returne againe before the daie . At length the tempest rose , the windes did blo , The waters wrought so roughly as they coulde , That seauen daies space Leander might not go To Sestus shore , as he was wont of olde : But yet by chaunce a Mariner there went , By whome these lines vnto his Loue he sent , Wherein he shewes his Loue and faithfull heart , Wherein he plaines against the troublous Tide , And vowes at last ( all dreade yset apart ) To swim the Seas , that he before had tride : He rather chose to hazard life , than dwell A weeke or two from hir he looude so well . The .xviij. Epistle . Leander to Herô . FRom Abydon these lynes Leander doth endite , And health to Herô sends , which he would rather bring than write . If Neptuns waters were with friendly Gods agréede : There were no choise for thée to choose , but thou my woords shouldst réede . But Gods withstand my wish , and kéepe my hope arcare : That will in no wise giue me leaue to flitte vnto my Feare . Thy selfe dost sée the skies with pitchie cloudes so blacke , And waltring waues so tost with winde as shippes are nie the wracke . Yet one , than all the reast more bolde , by whome I send These lynes , to Sestus by the Seas did dare his course to bend . With whome Leander would haue bene imbareked faine : Had not Abydos giuen the gase , and séene his shipping plaine . I could not kéepe the fact hid from my Parents eye As earst I had , but that they would At length I tooke my Quill , wherewith I might endite , Go blissefull scroll to Heros handes , than snowe ( ꝙ I ) more white . First will she thée receiue , and after touch with lippe When she with tooth shall go about the signed seale to rippe . These whispring wordes I spake in soft and silent sort : The reast my writing hande did will my Paper to report . That hande wherewith I would more rather swimme than write : And cut the waues from drenching goulfe my flitting corps to quite . Than fist that fitter is to clappe the flood that floes : And yet will serue my turne right well my secretes to disclose . Now seauen nights are ypast since Neptunes rage begunne : A yeare well nie it séemes to mée , so flow the time doth runne . If any pleasant nappe or quiet sléepe mine eyes In all this space surprisde : let Seas persist in prefull wise . Sitting in doolefull dumpe vpon a rock , I sée Thy strond , my soule is present where the carkasse may not bee . Beside in Turrets toppe a Lambe I did discrie : Or else mine eyes were foule deceyude , and tooke their marcke awrie . Thrise layde I downe my robes in safe and sandie shore : And naked thrise assayde to swimme , as oft I had before : But swelling waters made me of my purpose fayle , And by the force of frowarde streames did drench me toppe and tayle . Oh waywardst of the windes , of Aeols Impes the wurst ? Why dost thou shewe thy selfe to me , so cruell and so curst ? I , not the surging Seas , of this sustaine the smart : This were ynough if thou of loue hadst neuer fealt the dart . For though with colde thou quake , yet canst thou not denie , But that with Orithias flame thy frostie flesh did frie. When thou wast fully bent Dame Venus sportes to trie : If any had restrainde thy course thou wouldst haue lookte awrie . Oh , ( Boreas ) tame thy wrath , rebate thy raging yre : So Aeole giue thée nought in charge but as thou wouldst desyre . My sute is all for nought my labour is in vaine , He doth not seeke the tossed waues to maken smoouth againe . Would Daedal would allowe mée wished wings at will : Though by such sleight his sonne into the neighbour waters fill . What fortune so should chaunce Leander would abide : To fine his fethred corse might flée on waues that wont to slide . But whilste I am debarrde by wrath of waue and winde To furrow Seas : I doe reuoke my passed ioyes to minde . When Phoebus gan to fall , and gaue his Sister place : ( I ioy to think ) my Fathers lodge I fled with spéedie pace . And straight with shifted robes all dread I did remoue : And in the floud I flong mine armes , the Delphins Arte to proue . The Moone did shine as light as any Sunnie day : As one that would with all hir powre assist me in the way . I casting vp mine eyes on hir that clearly shinde : Said . Mercy ( Moone ) thy Mariner : call Latmus Hill to minde . Endymion thee denies to beare a ruthlesse heart : Wherefore to these my secret stealthes thy friendly face conuart . Thy selfe ( a Goddesse ) didst a mortall Wight imbrace : And shee , whome I pursue , is euen a Goddesse for hir face . I leaue hir thewes vntoucht , wherein she may compare With heauenly Péeres , such feature falles on earthly creatures rare . Saue Venus passing shape , and thine vnspotted face Is none whome shée ne doth excell , thy selfe discerne the case . How much thy golden Lampe ( when thou thy pride dost show ) Surmounts all other streaming starres that in their circles glow : So farre surpasseth she eche other mortall wight : And if thou doubt thereof , good fayth deluded is thy light . Such wordes I did pronounce , or not vnlike to these , Whilst I by night directed course , amid the yéelding Seas . The water glistred with rebounds of Phoebes rayes : And night for clearnesse might compare euen with the brightest dayes . No voyce I heard with eare , but euerie thing was husht : Saue whilst my bodie brake the waues the troubled water rusht . Alcyones alone did vse a pleasant note : And did recorde Ceycus loue with sweete and warbling throte . At length my handes gaue vp , mine armes coulde worke no more : Then stoode I on the waues aloft , and cast mine eyes to shore . No sooner sawe I light : My loue is yonder way ( Quoth I ) that coast doth harbour hir on whome my life doth stay . Then streight my strength renude , mine armes had force againe : Me thought ( than earst ) the foming Seas I swam with lesser paine . The ardent gleames I bare in close and louing breast , Would not permit that I should be with watrie colde opprest . The more I came to shore , or did approch the lande : Me thought I could a greater charge of swimming take in hande . But when I came in sight that thou mightst take the vewe : Thy gladsome lookes my fainting force with comfort did renewe . Then shewde I all my skill , to féede thy hungrie eyes : And , for thou mightst decerne mine armes , I heaude them to the skies . Thée from the flowring foorde thy Nurce coulde scarce restraine : With fixed eye I markte it well , and sawe it passing plaine . Whome though the Hag withheld , as was in hir to dooe : Yet with the swelling Tide thou wettste the leather of thy shooe . And clasping me in armes didst kisse Leander oft : Such kisses as of Gods by Seas were worthie to be sought . And from thy shoulders gauste me garments of the best : And dridste my haire that was béedewde , and with the waues opprest . The reast , thy guiltie towre , the night , and we doe knowe : And Phoebe with hir friendly Lampe that did my passage showe . That nightes surpassing ioyes no bett may be discryude , Than Hellespontus waltring waues , that Helles life depriude . How shorter was the space on Venus to bestow , We tooke the greater héede that it in idle might not go . Thus weares away the night , and Lucifer the Starre Declares that Tythons louing spouse ( Aurora ) is not farre . Then forging doolefull plaintes that Nox hath runne hir race With ouer hastie foote , our friendly kisses walke apace . But when the crabbed Nurse beginnes to chide and chowre , With heauie heart I take my course to Seawarde from the Towre . At parture both lament , to Helles goulfe I goe : And whilst the furge will giue me leaue , to thée my lookes I throwe . In fayth vnto thy stronde I like my swimming well ; But backwarde when I bend my course , it likes me neuer a dell . And certes , when I come , the middle Sea séemes plaine : But rough and full of hanging Hilles when I retyre againe . And ( little wouldst thou thinke ) I stay against my will In Abydon I long to lodge with thée in Sestus still . Oh Gods , why should the surge two lincked hearts denide ? Why they that are of greeing mindes , one hostage are denide ? Else I with thée in Sest would make a long soiourne : Or thou with mée to Abydon shouldst shape a quicke retourne . I force not on the place , so we yfeare may dwell , Thou louste my Abydos , and I thy Sestus like as well . Why doe I cease to swimme for raging waters yre ? Or why the roring winde ( a slender cause ) makes me retyre ? Now crooked Delphins know the faithfull heart I beare : All other kinde of scaly fish will for Leander sweare . With passing to and fro I haue a path ymade In waters , as the Cartes are wont where chiefely lyes their trade : Which could not come to passe with flitting now and than : That now for windes I can not doe the lyke , I curse and ban . Now drenched Helles floud is so with tempest tost : As Hulkes in harbour hardly saue themselues from being lost . When she poore siely wench by waters lost hir life , I iudge that tho th' infamed waues were at a semblant strife . This Goulfe hath hate ynough and shame for drowning one : Wherefore it may the better let Leanders life alone . I spite at Phrixus fate that on the golden Ramme , These fretting Seas in spite of waues and surges safely swamme . But I will neyther sheepe , nor ayde of Shippe require : If so the waters would be such as swimmers would desire . No forraine helpe I craue , so waues go not too rough : My selfe will be the passage Boats and Bargeman well inough . I will by neyther Beare direct my stearelesse shippe . My loue such publike peeuish starres . estéemes but as a chippe . Let those that list beholde Andromade the fayre : The golden crowne , or Parrhasis that shines in Northren ayre : Leander makes no coumpt of any of their light : No not of hir whome Perseus chose , or Bacchus for delight . Another starre I haue surmounting all the rest : That will not sée mine earnest loue with darcksome cloude opprest . Whereon when I so gaze , to Colchos Launcher bound As Iason did , I trauell could , or to a further ground . I would in flitting farre Palaemons cunning passe : Or Glaucus that became a God by tasting of the grasse . Mine armes doe often ake with sundring of the waue : That scarcely can I swimme to shore my wearie corps to saue . But when I say ( good cheere , you shall not faile your hyre , And for your paine eftsoones you shall to Heros neck aspyre . ) Then wonted valiant force beginnes to grow againe : And like a Courser forth I thrust that would be formost faine . Thus I my burning flames reserue in couert brest : And thée pursue of heauenly staule as worthie as the best . Yet though thou well deserue a heauenly wight to bee : Demour in earth , or make me showe how I may come to thée . I sée it thence procéedes that I thée seld enioy : And thence it comes that with my mind the wrathfull Seas annoy . What gaynes Leander though the passage be but small ? For him it were as good that these were wydest Seas of all . I somewhat doubtfull stande , what first to wish or craue : To be so nigh , or farther off both loue , and hope to haue . The nearer I approch , the more my flame doth gléede : I lacke the thing I most desire , though Hope mine humor feede . I may welnigh with armes , ( so neare it is ) imbrace , And not enioy : which makes the teares ofte tymes imbrue my face . I may my lotte compare with Tantals hungrie lore : That hath both foode and lyquor by , yet famine bytes him sore . What shall I neuer straine thée in my folded armes But when the water lift ? redresse is none for those my harmes ? And since no suretie may in winde and waues be found , Shall all his hoped trust in waues and winde Leander ground ? If tempests thus doe rage whilst Aestas is in place : How wil they rore , when watry signes shall showe their storinie face ? Or else I doe not knowe my fonde and witlesse rage : Or else euen then I shall my corps vnto the goulfe ingage . And least thou shouldst surmise my painted promise vaine : My deede shall well approue my words within a day or twaine . Ere many nights shall passe , ( in spite of Neptuns powre ) I minde to swimme the swelling Seas Leander dreades no showre . For eyther will I liue , and Heros loue enioy . Or by my death of carefull loue abandon all annoy . And so it sorte I die , this onely boone I craue , My carkasse to be cast on lande with thée his Heirse to haue . I know thou wilt both touch , and eke deplore the same : And say ( Leander ) I thy death against my will did frame . This fell abodement may perhappes offende thy heart : And these forespeaking lynes of mine increase thy silent smart . Let all such fancies go , helpe ( Hero ) to request That waltring waters may be calme , and belking Seas at rest . Small time of truce will serue to bring me to thy shore : When I am there let Neptune frowne , and ruthlesse Chanell rore . There may Leander make a safe and sicker stay : His shippe no surer harbour can nor Barck haue better Bay . Let Boreas me include where I so faine would bee : And then Leander loth to swimme from Sestus thou shalt sée . I will not then go scolde with déeffe Seas as to fore : Ne yet , that waters are vniust in wonted wise deplore . Let Heros armes withholde , Let windes enforce my stay : Let double cause preuaile to stoppe Leander if they may . When tempest shall permit , to Sestus will I hie : Sée that thy Lampe be burning aye for feare I swimme awrie . The while receyue my lynes I wrote with quaking pen : Ere long myselfe will be with thée , if fortune say Amen .

The Argument of the xix . Epistle , entituled Hero to Leander . WHen Hero had Leanders lines receiude , His louing letters read , and throughly scand : His faythfull heart and constance she perceiude , Which made hir write againe with willing hand . Some time for sluggish him the Wench controlde , To shew hir selfe a louing Lasse in deede : Some time she biddes him not to be too bolde , Nor hasten more to Sestus than were neede . Now cries she out against the Mounting waues , And craues a calme at cruell Neptuns hand : And by and by with Aeolus she raues , And Boreas blamde , that did hir loue withstand . Some time she dreades least she forelorne were , ( As common trade of Louers is to do : ) But last of all she willes him to forbere , And not to come whilst windes did bluster so , And waters warrde , that perill was to passe The curssed streame where Helle drenched was . The .xix. Epistle . Hero to Leander . THe health thou sent in wordes , that I may haue in deede : Doe way ( Leander ) all excuse and come thy way with spéede . All stay tormentes me sore , that doth my ioyes expell : And mercy , since I doe confesse I loue thée passing well . We both doe burne alike and frie with egall flame : But I am weakest of the two , my nature willes the same . As womens corse is faint , so are their mindes not strong : If thou doe not repayre at once I shall be dead ere long . You men contriue the time and lothsome tide away : Sometime in tillage of your soyles , sometime you hunt the day . Sometime at open barre you plead a Clients case : To Tennis now , and then with horse you runn a lustie race . Sometime you pitch for foule , for fishe you lay your line : And when the day is spent and gone , you fall to quaffing wine . Now I can none of these though lesser were my flame : Thy Hero can doe nothing else but cleape hir louers name . And that which sole remaynes ( Leander ) that I proue : And , more than any wight would deeme , I rage with ardent loue . Or I with Beldam Nurce doe sit , and chatte of thée , And doe not little muse what should thy cause of lingring bée : Or séeing Seas to surge by meane of windie flawes : In thy behalfe I checke the windes with wide and wreakefull iawes . Or when the calmed Seas haue somewhat quaylde their powre : I say thou mayst , but wilt not come to Heros wonted towre . Amid my griefull plaintes the saltish teares gush out By streames which crooked Nurce doth wipe , and dryes with Linnen clout . Oft tymes I séeke in sande where I thy steppes may finde : As though the foote once gone , the print would aye remaine behinde . I aske when any came , or any mindes to go To Abydon : to fine I might thy state by wryting know . What should I speake how ofte I kisse with louing lippe The robes which tho thou lefest behind when thou to Sea didst skippe ? Thus when the day is spent , and night our friendfull ride Hath banisht Phoebus from the Pole , and starres doe shew their pride : In stately turrets toppe a blazing Lampe I sette : Whereby thou wonted are my shore and perillous stronde to fette . Then I to passe the time in haste to Distaffe coonne : An Arte which woraen vse the griefes of yrkesome stayes to shoonne . O that thou knewste my wordes , that I pronounce the while : Leanders name is all my talke , Leander is my stile . How thinke you ( Nurse ) is he by this come out of doore ? Or doth he stand in dreade of scowtes that on his passage poore ? Hath he remooude his robes ? ( good Beldame tell thy minde ) Or oylde his ventrous carelesse corps as swimmers wont by kinde ? With that she giues a nod , not for she heares my talke : But drowsie slumber so procures hir gogling head to walke . And then I pawse a stounde : then ( now he flitts ) I say , And with his well approued armes he beates the waues away . Then spinne I for a space , and twist a threede or twaine : And where thou be in middle Seas to learne I am full faine . Sometime I giue the gaze where I may see thee swimme : And then we pray that Neptune will not shewe his cheare too grimme . Sometime we heare with eare a noyse that makes vs thincke , That thou art then ycome to shore and safe to Sestus brincke . Thus when the greatest part of night is flitted by : The slumbring sleepe by secret stealth inuades my weried eye . Then ( gainst thy will perhaps ) thou dost with me foiourne : And ( though thy selfe wouldst faine dislodge ) yet art thou here atourne . For now I séeme to sée thée swimming in the flood : And then to throw thy limber armes on Heros backe a good . Another while with clothes and wonted robes I hide Thy moysted limmes , and lay me dowlie fast by thy wished side . And other toyes to taste and other feates to frame : Which though I ioyde to put in vre , my tongue to tell doth shame . Oh mée vnhappie wench whose pleasure makes no stay , And falsed is : for thou with fléepe art wont to slippe away . O Lord let vs that loue at length wich firmer lace Inchaine our selues : let dreames no more true pleasurs so deface . Why haue I lodgde alone so many nights arowe In colde and carefull couch ? why dost thou proue thy selfe so stowe ? As now the waters are too boysteous I confesse For such as swimme : but yesternight Neptunus rage was lesse . Why lettste thou slip that lide ? thou shouldst haue fearde the wurst : And not haue stoode in earnest hope for better than the furst . What though the weather shape as well againe to swim ? Yet that , because it was the first , of both I iudge it t●…m . For Seas haue sodaine chaunge , the floud is altred soone : And when thou willing art to come thy course is sooner doone . Arriude to Sestus shore , no cause thou shouldst at all Haue of regréete : thée in mine armes what winter storme might gall ? Then I with gladsome minde would heare the windes to rage : And pray that Neptuns surging Seas their swelling might not swage . But how befell you feare your wonted passage so , And dréede the goulfe you scornd ere this ? the cause I long to know . For yet I well recorde that when thou camste to Sest , The Chanell was as rough , or nie as rough as may be gest . When I exclamde aloude , ( mine owne ) be not too bolde : Least I be forst to rue thy fate , if I thy death beholde . Whence comes this sodaine feare ? where is that courage now ? Where he that scornde the force of flouds and waters wont to flow ? Yet naythelesse be wise , not retchlesse as thou were : And swim in safetie if thou mayste , if not a while forbeare . So that thy fayth be one , as those thy lines did showe : And so that kindled flame of thine to cinders doe not growe . I dreade not so the windes that barre my wished ioye : As least thy loue , will like the winde exchaunge by chaunge of toye . Of this I stande in awe , least perill passe the gaine : And least thou thinke thy bootie farre inferiour to thy paine . Sometyme I quake for feare least Abydon deface My Sest , and least Leander thincke his Herô farre too base . But all I can endure , with well contented will , So that thou haue no daintie Dra● thy pleasures to fulfill . So that no strumpets armes about thy necke depende : Nor nouell loue procure thy first and former flame to ende . Oh rather let me die than such a crime to know , Let Herôs liuely twist be shrid , ere thou doe trespasse so . Not for thou gauste me causs of future griefe , I speake In such a wise : no newe report moues me my minde to breake , Saue that I feare the worst , Who loues deuoyde of dreede ? The place doth forte the absent wight oft times on feare to féede . Oh happie Nymphes whome place and presence makes to know Committed crymes , and kéepes from seare of things that are not so . No lesse the forged fact than wrong ydone in deede Doth moue our mindes : from both alike lyke dolour doth procéede . Oh , that thou wouldste repaire or else thy cause of let From winds & grutching father mightst , and from no woman fet . Which if I heard of troth , for grunting griefe I die : And great will be thy guilte , if so thy loue thou séeke to strie . But more than needes I dreade thou wilt not so offende : For churlish tempest is in fault that will not let thée wende : O Gods , what mounting flouds doe driue against the shore ? How doth the darkesome cloude inclose and kéepe the light in store ? Perhaps the virgins Dame is commen to the flood : And for hir drenched dearling sheddes hir saltish teares a good . Or Ino being woxe a Seanymph but of late , Turmoyles the Goulfe , that Helle brought to such vntimely fate . That floud doth nothing-friend the Mayden sexe I know : For there did Helle lose hir life , where Heros hurt doth grow . But ( Neptune ) waying well and calling oft to minde Thy former flames , me thinks thou shouldst not hinder loue by winde . For Amymon can well , and Tyro trie at neade , That thou were truely toucht with loue as we in stories reade . Alcyonê the fresh , and Iphimedia faire : Medusa on whose skull as then there hoong no hissing haire . Laodice the browne , Celaeno fixt in skie : Whose names I sundrie times haue read , and séene with searching eye . With these , and diuers else ( of whome the Poets write ) Thou ( Neptune ) chambred hast full oft , and past in loues delight . Why then that hast so oft the valiant force of loue Assayde , by tempest to forelet our wonted course dost proue ? Cruell be calme awhile , wage warre where Seas be wide : This is a slender Chanell that two Countries doth deuide . It better would beséeme a high and haughtie Roy , To hoyse the Hulkes , to broile with Barks , or Nauies to annoy . T' is shame for God of Goulfe a swimming youth to sincke : Eche little Lake this conquest would , and spoyle vnfitting thincke . He is of noble bloud , not of Vlysses line : At whome , not vndeseruedly thou ( Neptune ) dost repine . Giue leaue , at once saue two : for though he sole doe swim , Yet in the selfe same tossing Tide my hope consistes in him . Meanewhile the Torch ( for by a Torch I sit and write ) Doth happer , a blissefull signe that all shall not successe aright . Beholde how Beldame poures the wine into the flame : And sayes ( to morrow we shal be mo ) and drinckes vpon the same . Oh , come by fliding Seas , increase the tale by one : Thou whome I fix in faythfull breast , and let delayes alone . Home to thy tentes retyre , that fleest thy friendly spouse : Why doe I sole amid my Couch my carefull carkasse rouse ? No cause there restes of dreade , the bolde is sure of grace At Venus handes : she that was bred of flouds , will rue thy case . My selfe oft tymes to méete in middle Goulfe doe dare : Saue for the floud is friend to men , not women wont to spare . For why ( when Phrixus with his louing sister came By Sea ) did Helles onely giue the gastly Goulfe his name : Perhaps you dreade returne , least force will faile you feare ? You stand in doubt you may not well this double trauaile beare . Wherefore make hast , and méete thy friende amids the flood : And there aloft vpon the waues shall kisses walke a good . That done , let eyther to his stronde reuert againe : Though this were small , t' is better some , than naught at all to gaine . Would eyther bashfull shame that féedes this serret fire , Or fearefull loue would yéelde to fame : of both I t 'one desire . For yll they can agrée , that neuer are at truce : T 'one sweete , and t'other séemely is , I wote nere which to chuse . When Iason did arriue at Colchos carefull port : Hée his Medea well imbarckt did thence with spéede transport . No sooner Priams sonne to Lacedaemon came : But straight he made returne to Troie with famous Grecian Dame . But thou as often leauste thy liked loue behinde As doste repaire : and comste when ships may scarcely passe for winde . Be naythelesse auisde ( thou Victor of the Seas : ) So scorne the floud as thou maist feare least Neptune thée disease . Huge , high , and haughtie Hulks , yframde by Arte doe fayle : And canst thou déeme thine armes will more than shauen Ores preuaile ? The Pylates stande afright the shelfes thou swimste to coste : For Barks ybroosde , and shaken shippes , in such a sort are loste . Oh mee vnlucky wench , I woulde not thus disswade , But be as bolde for all my wordes as is thy wonted trade : So safely thou ariue , and laie those armes of thine Vpon my backe , that oft were beate with Sea of bealking brine . But I wote nere what colde my quaking breast doth nomme , As oft as to my restlesse minde a thought of Seas doth comme . My last nights dreame torments and makes mée sore afright : Though I to Morpheus ere I slept , had done my sacred right . In creake of dawning day when torchlight gan to faile : ( A tide when true vndoubted dreames the slumbring corse assaile ) Out of my sléeple hands the twisted twine did fall , And to my pensiue Pillow I my head applyde withall . And with vnfalsed fayth , and certaine sight I sawe A crooked Delphin flit in floud , ytost with windie flawe . Who when by drift of waues and turning Tide was tost To sandie shore : he both at once his lyfe and waters lost . What so it be I dreade , haue not in scorne my dreames : Ne ( yet vnlesse the waters serue ) commit thy corse to streames . If selfe care all be past , yet way thy friendly Mate , Whose wealth & welfare doth depende vpon thy healthfull state . I hope that yrefull Seas will shortly be at reast : Then do thou breake the calmed waues with safe and sicker breast . Meanewhile , cause surge turmoilde thy passage doth restraine : Let louing lynes ysent , abridge some part of lingring paine .

The Argument of the xx . Epistle , entituled Acontius to Cydippe . To Delos , where the rites were done to Dians grace Acontius trauailde , many Nymphes and Maydens were in place . Atroupe to Temple came , but one aboue the rest ( Cydippe namde , ) with louing dart did craze Acontius brest . Who for be saw the wight vnegall in estate : Surmisde he should not for his life haue giuen hir the mate . Yet naythelesse at length he bourded hir with guile : And in a goodly Apple did inclose this craftie stile . By Dians sacred rytes and misteries I sweare , That I will make repaire to thee and be thy friendly Feeare . In Temple at hir feete he floong the flattring fruite : She tooke it vp , and reade the rymes . Cydippe woxe as mute As fish , and Scarlet red hir lillie Cheekes became : For hauing made a vowe she knewe she should obserue the same . For what so was beheight before Dianas face , By commen order was decreede should take effect and place . Hir Father after this vnwitting of the othe His daughter made , Cydippe to another did betrothe . Meanewhile the sillie wench with Feuers was opprest , And fealt a thousande furious fits ybreeding hir vnrest . Acontius in his lynes induceth hir to thinck This Feuer faine by Dians wrath , forcause she sought to shrinck Hnd false hir plighted fayth in presence and in place Of all those sacred Saincts , but most of good Dianas grace . The .xx. Epistle . Acontius to Cydippe . ABandon dreade , for to thy Louer thou shalt frame no farther hest ne swere again : Thy once ingaged faith I recke ynough . Read & suruay my lines : so may this griefs And languor leaue thy corps , which is my tene When any limme of thine sustaineth smart . Why blush you ? and why with vermilion taint Beflecke your chéekes ? in Dians temple so I déeme thy face with scarlet hue infect . Marrige and plighted troth , no crime I craue : I loue not as a Letcher , but a spouse . Reuoke to minde the wordes in Apple graude , Which to thy guiltlesse handes I did proiect . There shalt thou finde confirmde by solemne oth , That I require : vnlesse both fired faith And wordes at once out of thy breast are fled . Euen as I drad in déede , the Goddesse frettes . O Nimph , thou rather than the Goddesse shouldst Stand mindefull of thy Hest and promisse made : And now I feare the like . But oh to more Hir raging force is growne , and flame increast By lingring staye . And loue that neuer was Slender , by yéelded hope in processe springs . Thou gauste me hope , my loue leant faith thereto That Dian witnesde thou canst not withsaye . She tho was prest , and noted well the wordes And séemde with mooued tresse to giue assent . Report that by deceite thou were intrapt , Whilst Cupid did enforce me forge the fraude . What meant my craft but to be linckt with thée ? That thou complainste , may well me reconcile . Not guilefull I by vse , or nature am , Me thou ( my wenche ) in fayth hast subtill made . ( If I did ought by Arte ) with sleightfull words , The wilye Loue hath fast with mée enchainde : I knit the knot with wordes that he pronounst , And craftie I by Cupids counsell , woxe . Let guile sustaine the name , let me be saide Subtille , if things beloude to winne , be craft . Beholde , I write a fresh , and frame request , Another frande whereof thou mayste complaine . If I , in that I loue , annoy thée so , Incessantly I will : and though thou bée Full well aduisde , I will pursue thée aye . Others by sword haue many Nymphes purloynd And shall a letter forgde by craftie sleight , To me as haynous crime obiected be ? Gods graunt I thee in faster knot may chaine . As thou mayst neuer finde a way to start , Nor flie thy fixed faith . A thousand trickes There are , and I in that one trauaile toyle , Nothing my loue permits vntride to goe . Though doubtful be where thou wilt yéeld or no , ( The ende is in the Gods , ) but thou shalt yeelde , And be entrapt , and forst in fine to bow . Some toyles put cuse thou scape ? yet al the ginnes Thou canst not passe which crafty Cupid pight : Moe Nettes there are than thou surmisde to be . If Arte may not auayle , to armes we will , And I will thee , as rape atchiude enioy . I am not he that Paris fact controlle , Nor any that such manlike parts haue playde . And I. But now no more : though death ensue This rape , should lesse aggrieue than thée to lose . Oh , would thou were worse featurde than thou art , With reason then of me thou shouldst be sought : Thy-face doth me to valiance now procure . Thou , and thine eyes ( surpassing flaming starres , Which were the causers of my glowing gleade ) In me this courage moues , and stoutnesse stirres , Thy yellow golden lockes , thy yuorie necke , Thy handes , ( of whome I long to be accold , ) Thy feature , and thy blusshing countenance Deuoyde of rustickes grace : and feete such as With Thetis may compare , this boldnesse bréedes , More fortunate were I , if all the reast I might condignly prayse : but doubt I nought But that the whole vnto his parts agrees . By thys thy forme enforst , no maruell though I sought to haue thy parling voyce his pledge . In fine , sith that thou art constrainde to yéelde Thy selfe beguilde , by my deceytfull sleight ( O Virgine ) be thou conquerde at the last . Let me sustaine the hate , and reape the fruite For hatred so endurde : So haynous cryme And blame why doth it want his earned hire ? Hesion Aiax , Briseis Achylles tooke , And eyther of them their Victor did ensue . Me spare not to accuse , ne sticke to wrath Me , so I may thée angrie wight enioy . We that procurde the yre , will pease the same If neuer so little leysure be allowde , And respite giuen to lessen swelling wrath . Let me besprent with teares tofore thy face Stand , adding to my teares lamenting sounde ? And as the frequent vse of Vassels is , When they of lashing scourge doe stand in awe , ( Groufe at thy féete , stretch out my yéelding hands ) What ? knowst thou not thy right & Mistres powre ? Cite me . In absence why am I accusde ? As Ladies woont● , giue me in charge t' appeare . Though thou my tresses teare in stately sorte , And make my face with buffets black and blewe : Yet all I will endure , fearing but that My bodie should thy tender fifies annoy . In Chaine or Gyue t' is néedelesse me to binde Inlaste in loue , that haue no powre to flée . When so thy wrath with wreak shal be repleate , And anger be reuengde : thy selfe shalt say Oh God , how paciently the man doth loue ? Thy selfe shalt say ( when I haue all endurde ) My seruant thou that seruste so well shalt bée . In absence why am I ( vnluekie ) dée mde Guiltie ? and though my cause be passing good Yet for default of Patrone , goes to wracke ? The bill that Cupid wrote , and gaue in charge , It is my wrong and practisde iniurie , This onely fact in mee thou must reproue . Dian with me deserued not the bob . If so the thing to me thou hast behight Thou loth to yéelde , let Delia beare the same . For being prest she saw when thou intrapt Didst blush , in mindefull eare the words she plast . Abodements laide ayart more fiercer than Diana , ( when she sées hir Godhead wrongde , ) There is not any God , nor halfe so sterne . The Calydonian Boare can well recorde : For by his meane , how cruell was the Dame Vnto hir sonne , we haue full often read . Witnesse Acteon eke , that fedde his Houndes That earst with them had sundrie quarries made . The haughtie Mother too to Marble turnde , In ruthfull sort that in Migdoni standes ? Aye me ( Cydip ) I dreade the troth to tell , Least I be thought for goodding of my cause False matter to alledge : yet needes I must Now plead the same . This is the cause ( in fayth ) That thou at Nuptiall day art so diseasde , Vnable from the sickle Couch to rise . Dian would doe thée good , and paynes hir sore Least thou shouldst be forsworne : she gladly would The sicklesse , and vnbroken Hest reserue . Thence it precéedes ( as oft as thou dost séeke To swarue thy fayth ) that she thy carkasse plagues ▪ Leaue off to stirre the cruell Virgins Bowe : Yet if thou wilt to ruth she may be brought . Spare thou thy corse with Feuers to molest , Reserue thy featurde face for me to vse : That countnance kéepe , to set my heart on flame By nature made , where Rose with Lillie striues ▪ So fare my foe , and who so else doth barre Thée to be mine , as the diseasde I liue . My griefe is one , or when thou linckest with An other wight , or féelste tormenting téene , I wote not which I recke the worst of both . Sometime it yrkes me that I bréede thy doole , Déeming thy gripes by my deceite to growe , Praying the plague of periurie to redounde On mée , that thou mightst by my scath escape . And oft to wit , and vnderstande thy plight , Doubtfull ( God wote ) I wander to and fro , Thy Mayd at ynches suing and thy Man , Demaunding how thy meate , and sléepe auaile , Wo me , that I the rules of Phisick scorne , And put them not in vre , ne wring hir wrestes , Ne on hir cowch for comfortes sake , doe lye . And woe againe , that I absent me thence , An other perhaps , whome I ne would , is prest . He féeles thy pulses , and doth sit him downe By thy diseased corse , hatefull to Gods , And with the Gods , of me detested too . And whilst with thumbe he féeles the leaping vaines , He straines by meane thereof , thy snowish armes , Handling thy breast , and by escheate perhaps A kisse doth gaine of those thy sugred lips , A greater guerdon than his paine deserude . Who gaue thée leaue my haruest to forereape ? Vnto an others hope , who made thy way ? That bosome ( friend ) is mine , fowlly from me My kisses thou bereauste : wherefore do waye Thy flippant fist from that my pacted corps . Vnthrift , do way thy hands , the thing thou feelst Is me behight : hereafter if thou doe The like , thou shalt a Leachers name procure . On single Nymphes , and not dispoused Maydes Make choyse : I woulde thou wist , this is possest . Beleue not mée giue to the bargaine , eare , And cause hir reade the wryting , to this ende Thou déeme hir not vntrue or false to bee . Goe from anothers bridall bed , I saye , What makst thou here ? go pack , this knot is tide . Put case thou haue a partie promise eake ? Yet is thy cause and mine vnegall farre . She made me perfect vow : hir Sire the Nymph To thee behight : but nearer than hir Sire , Vnto hir selfe the sielie Mayden standes . Hir Father made a promise : she by othe Conioynde hir selfe in league of stayde loue . He witnesde men : She Dian did protest . He dreades the name of Liar to sustaine : But she the blot of periurde tongue to beare . Of both déeme thou which is the greater feare . And last of both the perils to compare , Respect the euents of both , and latter lotte . She lies diseasde : he liues releast of woe . And we with dispar mindes for hir contende Ne hope to both , nor egall is the dread . Thou forcest not the sute : more griefull were Repulse to me than death : alreadie I Imbrace the Mayde , whome thou in future time And after this mayste haue the hap to loue . If iustice , or regarde of right did lodge Within thy brest , thou to my flames wouldst yéeld Now since this furious wight maintaines a strife In wrongfull cause , ( Oh Cydip ) to what ende Do I to thée fruitlesse lines endite ? He bréedes thy doole , and makes thée be suspect Of Dian : him ( if thou be wise ) renounce . Barre , and forbidde him to approche thy lodge . These perrils by his meane thou doste endure : That would he might acquite thy corse from we , That forger is of these thy pinching paynes . Whome if thou flée , and lincke with him in loue Whome Dian not condemnes : release of fittes Thy selfe shalt finde , and I shall be reuiude , Virgin exile thy feare , doubt not recure , Reuerence the temple where thou madste the vow The Gods delight not with a flaughtred Oxe , But with a fayth performde without recorde . Some women health to gaine , and purchase ease , Both scarring Launce , & scalding flame endure : Other the bitter drench acquites of paine . These néedelesse are to thée : flée periurie : Thy selfe , thy Hest , and mée referue at once . Pardon of passed crime by ignorance Shall be procurde : quite from thy mind was fled And plighted promesse quite thy thought exilde . Thée both my wordes , and these thy present haps Haue warned , which thy carefull corse assault As oft as thou from pawned fayth dost wrie : When these are ouerblowne in trauell thou Wilt craue of hir , of baron to be well And soone releast , and haue thy throwes abridgde . Which she will heare , and rolling in hir minde Will aske , who was the sielie infants Sire ? Thou wilt auow . She knowes thy Hest vntrue . Thou wilt protest , and binde with sacred othe : But she wottes wel thou canst the Gods beguile . It nothing toucheth mée : yet greater hoe I haue , and carefull is my heart of thy Indaungred life , that now in perill stands . Why lately did thy doubtfull Parents mourne , For thy distresse , whom thou thy crime cōcealdste ? And why are they vnwitting of thy guilt ? Cydip , thy déedes deserue no shame at all . Display in order thine acquaintance first With me , as to Dian thou didst thy rites : And how , when first ( if well thou didst attende ) I saw thy face , I stayd , and gaue the gaze , Vewing with staring eyes thy comely corse , And whilst I muzde thereat ( a sicker signe Of frensie ) from my backe my vesture flid . And after , how by hap ( thou wottste not howe ) A rolling Apple trillde , with lynes ingraude Thereon , which were by subtile sleight deuisde : Which being read by thée , in presence of The sacred Goddesse , bound thy faith in bande , Which , cause Diana heard , must not be slipt . And to the fine she may the writing know , As earst thou didst , so reade the same againe . Wedde ( will she say ) with my good will , to him With whom the blissefull Gods haue thée conioynd , Let be my sonne , whom thou to spouse hast tane , Who so it be , shall like me , for he earst Hath stoode in Dians grace . Thy Mother thus Will say , if so that she thy Mother bée . If who , and what I am , she make demaunde , Let hir beholde , and she shall well perceiue That well for thee Diana hath puruayde . The famous Ile ( where the Coritian Nymphes Did lodge of yore , inuironde with the Sea Aegaeum , ) Caea cleaped is the soyle Where I was bred : and ( if thou doe accoumpt Of Gentils bloud ) my Grandsires were of fame . And we are wealthie eke , our maners are Not fraught with shameful crimes , suppose ther wer Nought else ? yet loue hath shackled vs yfeare . Vnsworne thou mightst selected such a spouse , And neuer forst with such a husbande wed . This is my dreame , Phoebe the Archeresse , And Loue awakt , did will me write to thee : Of whom th' ones darts haue thirled erst my hart , Beware least th' ochers shafts doe thée annoy . Our healthes are ioynde in one : Rue on thy selfe And me : why dost thou stagger both to ease ? Which if befal , when blasted Trumpe shal sound , And Delos be with yolded bloude imbrude : The golden Image of the blissefull fruite Shall stande aloft , with cause in myter graude . Acontius , by the Apples forme , recordes Th' insculped lynes to haue bene brought to passe . But least thy weakened limmes , and féeble corps . My ouer long Epistle should molest : To fine I may in wonted maner ende , Aconce thy friend , biddes the ( Cydip ) adue .

The Argument of the xxj . Epistle , entituled Cydippe to Acontius . WHen Cydip saw hir furious fits increase , And fretting Feuer grow to worse disease , Then thought she verily that no release Was to be had , vnlesse she mought appease Dianas wrath : wherefore she thought it best To stand vnto hir former plighted hest . Then tooke she pen in hand , then gan she write These following lines to Aconce , making showe That she would yeelde , and banish rigour quite , And pay the det to him that she did owe : Crauing his helpe in peasing Goddesse yre , That she to health the sooner might aspyre . The .xxj. Epistle . Cydippe to Acontius . A Fright in silence I thy lines suruayde , Least that vnwares my tong to witnes should Haue callde the Gods , and for records appealde . I déeme thou wouldst haue bourded me againe . With craft , hadst thou not thought in iudging mind One Hest ( as thou confest ) to haue suffisde . He had I vewde thy lines and Letters sent , But that I thought the yrefull Goddesse wrath By duresse would to furder rage increast . For all that I can doe , though incense I To Dian offer , yet she friendes thée more Than reason willes she should : & as thou crauste Credit to winne : so she with mindefull wrath Vpon my corse for thée awroken is . So stiffely scarce by Hippolyte she stoode . But she ( a Virgin ) rather should haue showne Fauor vnto a siely Maydens yeares : Which to abridge least she doe long I feare . For why the cause of this my languor lurckes And hidden lyes by Phisicke not recurde , So meager am I woxe , so leane and bare , As scarce I had suffising force to write , With leaning on mine Elbowe able scarce My pined limmes and carkasse pale to raise . Now dreade I least beside my Beldame Nurce Some one discrie our entercomoning . Tofore the gate she sittes , to askers how I fare ( that I may write ) she sayes I sléepe . But when within a space fuspected is Excessiue sléepe , and slumber ouerlong , And such she sées repaire whome to debarre Were duresse : then she spits and giues a hemme , A feygned signe that some is at the doore . I leaue my lynes vnperfite then for hast , And to my bosome thrust the scrolle eftsoone , Forth with in spéede I plie the same againe , And set my hande and penne to former taske . Which thing how yrksome toyle it was to me , Thy selfe mayst well discerne , and be the iudge . Which thou ( in fayth ) hast passing yll deserude . But thy merites and iust deserued hire My ruthfull clemencie shall farre surmount . By thée , vncertaine of dispayred health , So oft by thy deceit I haue , and yet Endure tormenting fittes and troublous téene . This is the good my vaunted beautie gaines So oft extolde by thée aboue the starres . It me annoyes thée to haue likte so well . If in thy sight I had deformed béene , ( Which rather I could wishe ) my blamed corps In neede of Phisicks helpe had neuer stoode . Now being praysde I mourne by your discord Betrayde : my proper good doth forge my woes . Whilst thou dost scorne to yéelde , and he repines To lose his roome or be in second place , Thou barrste his wish , and he doth hinder thine , I like a shippe am tost , whome Boreas blast Into the Chanell driues , but surge and tide Repelles to shore , from déeper foorde againe . And of my Parents when the wished day Arriues , excessiue heates my limmes besiedge , And at the cruell mariage day , my doores In yrefull rage Proserpina doth shake . I blush & dread ( though guiltlesse in my minde ) Least I by ought haue stirrde the Gods to wrath . Some pleade it commes by hap , and some surmise This man to be dislikte of heauenly powres , And fame of thée hath also hir reporte : Some déeme it done by my inchauntments eke : The cause is hid : my hurtes too plaine appeare . Ye wage a restlesse warre and endelesse strife : But I meane while am she that bide the smart . I nowe will say as I was wont of yore , By louing if thou thus annoy thy loue , Howe wouldst thou hurt by hate the hated thing ? If whome thou loue thou hurte , go loue thy foe , Wish me full yll to fare , and saue my lyfe . Or now of hoped spouse thou hast no carke , Whom vndeserude , thou ruthlesse lettste to pine : Or if in vaine thou to the Goddesse sue , To me why dost thou so auaunt thy selfe That standest nought in Dians grace at all ? Say what thou wilt , thou wilt not swage hir yre , I cleane am out of thought : thou canst not , thou Appease the Goddesse , thou art quite forgot . Or would I neuer had , or notas then Delos ( that is inuironde withthe Sea , Aegaeum ) knowne : a haplesse I le to mee . Tho was my shippe to surging Chanell brought Vnluckely , sinister was the houre Wherein I shoope to take the cursed Seas . How set I foorth my foote ? from Threshold with What foote went I ? or to my painted Barck With what vnluckie foote did I repaire ? Yet twise with froward winds my ship recoylde , And made retoure to shore : but oh I lie , That winde was blissefull and no froward gale : A blessed blast that brought me back to baye , And went about to barre my haplesse course . And would it had contended with my sayles , And stoode in longer strife and greater warre . But folly is the fickle windes to blame . Mooude with the place his fame , and fresh reporte , To Delos I my hastie voyage shoope : And in a nymble Barck did passe the floud . How oft did I controll the sluggish Oares , Complaining that the sayle clothes did not strout But flagging flue , not stuft with gladsome gale ? Nowe Mycone , Tenos , and Andros I Had past , and Delos was discouerde plaine . Which when I scride afarre . Ile why ( quouth I ) Dost thou me flée ? Where yet ( as earst thou didst ) Doste thou in largie Seas and Chanell rode Aye fléering to and fro ? I came to lande When day was put to flight , and Phoebus gan His wearie stéedes from purple whéeles discharge Whome when he had to wonted rising brought , Againe at morne ( my Mather giuing charge ) My comely tresses were in order laide , And frisled lockes in brauest maner trimde . Hir self bespangde my hands with curious Gemmes , And purlde my haire with golde : hir self applide Vnto my shoulders vesture passing fine . Then yssuing out to Rulers of the Ile And sacred Gods incense with wine we gaue . And whilst my Mother with hir vowed bloud The Altar staines , and Bowels broils on coales In ranges casting Fume to loftie skies : The busie carefull Nurce led mée about From place to place , from Church to sacred Fane : In Porches now I passe , now musing at The giftes of kings , and sundrie sightes I sawe . Then gasting on the Altars made with hornes And tree , gainst which the wandring Goddesse at Hir time of bearing childe did rest hir corse : And what beside ( for I ne all to minde Can call , or lawfull is I say , to tell ) Was to be séene in daintie Delos tho . Whilst I ( Aconce ) of these so straungie sightes Was taking vewe thou me perhaps discridste : Who for so simple was , and voyde of fraude , Did sitting séeme to be entrapt of thée . By steppes I came into a stately Church Where Dian was : might any place more safe Or sicker bée than where the Goddesse stoode ? Tofore my féete the trilling Apple came Gliding on paued ground whereas I sate , Hauing this verse ingraude . ( Aye me well nigh I had to thée another Hest ymade ) Which Beldame Nurce tooke vp , & said ( beholde ) Where I thy craft ( O noble Poet ) read . The name of marrige redde , blushing I felt My chaunged chéekes to glow with sodaine flash . In bosome fired fast mine eyes I helde , Mine eyes that workers were of thine intent . Vnthrifte , why doste thou ioy ? what glory hast Thou gainde ? what praise shalt thou ( a man ) atchieue By craft one sielie Virgin to deuoure ? Not I in armour cladde with Pollare stoode As ventrous Penthesilea did at Troie : No Belt with Amazonian golde beset Thou me hast reft , as Quéene Hippolyte was . Why leapst thou so for ioy ? in that thy wordes Haue fowly me beguilde , and I by dole And subtill sleight , a siely Nymph was tane ? Cydip an Apple tooke , Atlanta did The lyke : another Hippomenes now thou art . More better were it if thou hadst bene thrall Vnto the Boy , who hath by thy report ( I wote not well ) what flaming fierie brands . After the guife of honest wightes ( by fraude Not to fordoe thy hope ) I rather was To béene intreated , than by craft intrapt . Why thou ne me displaydst in time of sute Such things as I in thee should haue belikte ? Why rather to enforce , than to perswade Mée didst thou choose , if thy condition redde By mée had powre to make the bargaine sure ? What now to thée auailes the former othe , And Goddesse prest for erue recorde appealde With tongue ? it is the minde that makes the hest ( Wherewith I neuer sware ) it onely addes Faith to the words , and makes the stable othe . It is pretenced minde and purpose set That bindes the bargain sure : no band auailes , Or is of force without consenting thought . If so it were my will to ioyne with thée , Then spare thou not to claime thy marrige right . But if I spake the worde and meant it not , The forcelesse words & nothing else thou gainst , I sware not , but pronounst the wordes of othe . I must not so select thée for my spouse . Guile other so , certes if that be good And take effect , the riche mans wealth bereaue , Procure that Princes sweare that thou shalt haue Their Scepters , & their soueraigne seates possesse , And let be thine what so the world enioyth . In faith thou dost surpasse Diana farre , If that thy letters haue in them inrolde Such present Godhead and auayling powre . Yet when I haue thus sayde , and flatte affirmde Me not to be thy spouse , and pleaded haue My promesse in best forme that euer I may : I graunt , I dread Dianas yrefull wrath , Déeming from thence my grieful pangues to come , That plague my wretched corse & limmes torment , For why , as oft as spousals are addrest , Languish my limmes ransackt with deadly téene ? Thrise Hymens clamour comming to mine eares Fled from my chamber doore , and did astart . Scarce coulde he make th' infased flame to flashe , Scarce would the stirred bronds & faggots burne . Oft sithes his head furnisht with garlands gaye , Annoynted dropt , and oft his Scarlet Robe And costly vesture was in hand to d'on . When he approcht the doore , and wayling sawe , With flowing teares and feare of griesly death , And other such abhorring his attyre : Straight from his forhead he the garlands floong , And from his perfumde locks the Oile did wring . Shaming with mirth amiddes so sad a route To rushe , his garments hue his face distainde . But miser I with Feuers am attachte , And frie with durning fittes : my vestures are More weightie than they shoulden weightie be . Vpon my chéekes I sée my parents showre Their drearie teares and saltish brine for woe , And stead of marrige wand , deaths brond appeares . Thou Goddesse that in quiuers doste reioyce , And bended bowe , fauor a sickly Nymph , And lende me now thy skilfull Brothers helpe , To ridde my corse of this my vexing smart . T' is shame for thée that he abandons griefe , And thou doste séeke the title of my death . Where I vnwares approched haue the place , Whilst thou didst bathe thy chastfull limmes in ford ? Haue I , of all the Gods thy Altars left And ouerpast withouten sacrifice ? Or did my Dame the Ladie Mother scorne ? I not aguilt , saue that I periure radde , And skilfull was in an vnluckye verse . Doe thou ( vnlesse thy loue be fayned ) cast Incense for me into the flaming fire . The handes that hurt , let them my helpe procure . Why she that freates that I behight to thée Am not thy spouse , makes that I can not be ? Hope well thou mayst whilst yet I liue & breath : But ( cruell ) why bereues she me my lyfe , And thée dispoyles of thy well hoped boone ? Surmise not him whose wyfe I am assignde And lotted spouse , my payned limmes to touch And féele with griping hande . Certes he sittes Him downe by me , as lawfull is to doe , Minding my coutch to be a Maidens lodge . And I wote néere what he doth iudge of mée . For oft ( the cause vnknowne ) he baynes his breast With showres of trickling teares : Not ouerbolde He coyes mée , and doth seldome kisse among , Whispering with fearefull voice , that I am hys . Ne maruaile I if he discrie my minde , That doe my selfe so openly bewraye . When he repayres , I wrie mée rounde about , And vse no wordes , but winking faine to sléepe , Shunning his fist that would me gladly touch . He mournes & drawes his sighes from silent breast , And not aguilting hath my high disdaine . More iustly thou that laughste at my distresse , And pleasure takste therein ( If I coulde spoake And vse my tongue ) shouldst my yll will acquire , And haue my hate , that such a Panther pight , By letter leaue and licence thou dost craue To sée my wretched plight , and feebled corse : Farre off thou makste abode , and yet annoyst . I not a little maruailde that thy name Acontius was : in déede thou hast an edge So sharpe as farre can lende a lurching wounde . I scarce am yet recured of the hurt , Mée like a Dart thy lynes haue scarde aloofe . Why wouldst thou hither come ? a wretched corse ( Thy double spoyle committed ) mayst thou sée . My fleshe is falne away , my colour fled And bloudlesse is my face , a semblaunt hue ( As I remember ) had the subtile fruite . In visage wanne no scarlet redde appeares . Of Marble picture hewen but of late Such is the forme : Such is the siluers hue At bankets that with chilly water toucht In Basan cast , is pale for deadly colde . If now thou sawste mée , thou wouldst quite denie Me earst with eye of thine to haue bene séene . And say : by Arte and subtill sleight , in sooth She not deserude to bene atchiude of me : Sending me back ( for feare I shoulde by othe In marrige shocke with thee ) my plighted Hest : Desirous that Diana woulde forget And cleane put from hir thought the bargain made , Procuring eke perhaps contrarie othe And quite repugnant to my former vowe , Sending a nouell verse for me to vewe . Yet naythelesse ( as thou hast longed earst ) I would thou sawste thy Miser spouses plight , And limmes with lanquor passingly opprest . ( Aconce ) more harder than the stubborne stéele Though be thy ruthlesse breast , yet pardon thou In my behalfe wouldst purchase me I knowe . To shewe the meane how I may be recurde And come by health againe . At Delphos is A God forespeaking things that are to come , Displaying future fates , his counsell seeke . He eke ( as whispring fame doth flie ) complaines Of one ( I wote nere whome ) that broken hath And scornde a promise made before recorde . This both the God , the Prophet , and my verse Declare , thy vowe doth want no verse his ayde Such fauor how shouldst thou procure ? vnlesse Some letter late deuisde by thée , the haulte And stately Gods had tane ? Since thou doste stande In grace and fauor of the Gods so great , I will ensue the name of heauenly powres , And willing yéelde my handes vnto thy Hest . Vnto my Dame by my vnwitting tongue Of plighted promesse I haue made a showe : She downe to ground hir blushing countnance cast . Looke what remaines be thine the care & charge , More than a virgin should ( in that my hande Dradde not to write these lines to thée ) I did Now long ynough my sickly corse with quill Molested is , my pained hande denies A farther dutie : What remaines there now , ( Saue that I long to lincke my selfe with thée ) For these my lines , but thée to bidde adue ?

The Argument of the replie to the first Epistle , entituled Vlysses to Penelope . VLysses hauing throughly scand The earnest verse his wife did write : Thought good and needefull out of hand Hir louing letters to requite : What so she did obiect to him , The Greeke reaunswerde very trim . He quittes himselfe of all such blame As by his wife imputed was : He telles his worthie feates of fame , And perils that he chaunst to passe , And how the Prophet willde the Squire In beggars habite to retire , And that his wife alone should knowe Hir husband that disguisde him soe . Vlysses Replie to Penelopes Epistle . VNto Vlysses miser wight good hap at length hath brought The louing lines ( Penelope ) thy hand in tables wrought . I knewe thy friendly fist at first and tokens passing well : They were a comfort to my woes , and did my sorrowes quell . Thou blamest me of retchlesse slouth , more better were perhaps To linger , than to wrie my woes , and tell thée afterclaps . Greece blamde me not for that ywis , when I a furie fainde , And made as though I had bene madde with thée to haue remainde . The earnest loue to thée ( swéete heart ) and to thy bedde I bare , Procurde me tho so like a madde and Bedlam wight to fare . Thou wouldst not haue me write a whit , but hasten home a pace : Loe , when I thinke to come , my sayles the froward windes doe chase . I loyter not in Troie , a Towne of Gréekish Gyrles defide : For Troie is now to cynders come , suppressed is hir pride . Deiphobus is slain , with sterne Hector , and Asius eke : And who so else did bréede thy feare is conquerde by a Gréeke . I scapte the Thracian furious fights , and hauing Rhesus slain , Vpon the captiue chiuals came into my Tents againe . And safe from Pallas sacred Church I stole , and did conuaye The fatall Relique of the Towne Palladium awaye . Nor in the horse his hollow wombe and bellie I adrad : Although Cassandra ( Troians ) cryde burne , burne as she were mad . Burne , in this fayned tymber frame the wylie Gréekes doe lurcke : That séeke this day poore Troians fal and latter bane to woorke . Achylles honour of his graue and Tombe was like to lack : Had I to Thetis not conuaide Achylles on my back . Ne did the Greekes ( I thank them ) grutch with prayse my paynes to pay : I had the Armour of the corps that I had tane away . But what auailes it ? now t' is drownde , I haue nor shippe yleft , Nor Mates aliue : the swalowing Goulfe hath euery whit bereft . Thy onely loue that part hath tane with me of all my paine , As onely fellow of my fates doth aye with me remaine . Not rauening Syllas wawghing whelpes coulde force him to depart , Ne yet Charybdis churlish Chanell , plucke him from my heart . Not fierce Antiphates , nor yet Parthenope the trull , With swéete deceytfull Syrens songes from mée this loue coulde pull , Not Circe , nor Calypfo though by Magick Arte they wrought : And th' one to bring me to hir bent by meane of marrige thought . I had them both by promise bounde that they woulde take away My mortall twist , and teache me to King Plutos Court the way But I , not forcing of their giftes did loue my wedlock best : Although perhaps in séeking thée I shall be sore distrest . But thou perchaunce such daintie dames suruaying in my write : Impaciently wilt reade the reast , and be in cholar quite . What I with Circe had to doe or fayre Calypso , thée Will aye procure a ( fearefull wench ) in doubtfull dumps to bée . In fayth when I Antinous name , and Polybus did reade , With Medon : I amazed was , and ouercome with dreade . Amid so many lustie Laddes and Tossepots to be chaste ? Alas , what should I thinke herein ? I am full sore agaste . Why , if thou shed thy teares so fast , should any leake thy face ? What ? haue not yet those trickling teares beate beautie out of place ? Beside , thou hast behight to wedde when twist is all ysponne : And all in feare thou dost vntwist as fast as thou begonne . A good deceyte . But take good héede least whilst with such a wile Thou doe thy suters eyes deceyue , thy selfe thou not beguile , Ah ( Polyphem ) I rather wish within thy denne to haue Bene murthred , and my wofull dayes yfinisht with the graue : Yet rather had I conquerde , and of Thracian sworde bene slain , What time the wandring Barges did in Ismaron remaine : Or that I had the gréedie iawes replenisht with my bloud , Of hungrie Helhounde , when I went downe to the Stygian floud . Where I ( thou wrotste not of it ) sawe my Mother , well at ease That was when I departed from thy coast , and tooke the Seas . She tolde mée of the house his euils : and thrise she fled mée fro , As I with reaching armes did catch more newes of hir to know . Sir Protesilaus I discride , that forcing not a pinne The Prophets wordes , to fling the flame to Troie did beginne . A happie and a blessed man , for with him went his wife With laughing browes : that for his sake forsooke hir lothsome life For Lachesis the Goddesse had hir twist not throughly spoonne : It did hir good vnto hir spouse before hir time to roonne : I sawe ( but oh with flowing teares that gusht on eyther cheeke ) Duke Agamemnon lately slaine , a thrise renoumed Greeke . He neuer tooke that hurt at Troie , vntoucht he went his way Through spitefull Nauplius secret snares , that in Euboea lay . But what did that auaile the wight ? for when he surely thought Returnd to pay his due to Ioue this beastly death he cought . This was the guerdon Helen had prouided for the man , In steade of better present when she with the straunger ran . Ah , how could I reioyce to see sir Hectors sister , and His wyfe among thy other thrauls and Teucrian trulls to stand ? I could the aged Hecuba had and vsed hir in bed , That thy mistrustfull minde I mought beguilde , and ielous hed , That would haue thought thy husband had of no such peece ben sped . She gaue the first abodement fell that on my shippes should light : Whome there I sawe not with hir partes and woonted members dight . Hir bitter plaintes and wofull cryes a howling did pursew : She was become a verie Curre in euerie part to vew . Dame Thetis musing at the sight , turmoylde the quiet flood : And Aeole gaue his blustring winds in charge to blow a good . From that time Miser I was driuen to wander in the Seas , And follow euerie floud and flaw , too cruell things to please . But if Tyresias be as true in telling of good haps , As earst he was in making show of euill forepassed claps : Now misaduentures are ypast by land and sowfing waue , I hope I shall retyre to Greece , some better lucke to haue . Now Pallas vndertaken hath as following Mate to mée , To safe conduct mée to the lodge where I doe long to bee . I neuer saw hir from the tyme of Troies latter wrack , Till now the wronged Goddesse hath from anger bene alack . What so Oenides did , it lightes vpon vs all aleeke : Vpon the Gréekes from man to boys reuengement shée did séeke . Not thee ( good Diomed ) she sparde whose armour knowen was : She hath enforst thée Miser eke through many broyles to passe . Nor him that Telamon begat vpon a captiue Lasse : Nor him that with a thousande ships to wreake his wrong did passe . Plisthenides , thou were yblest , what fortune so befell : For aye thy wedlock went with thée , whome thou didst loue so well . And whether windes did bréede thy staye , or surging Seas annoide ; Thou didst by meane of mutuall loue incroching cares auoide . Nor blustring blastes , nor troublous tide from kissing thée dismayde : With clinching armes thou hir imbraste , and neuer wert afrayde . Oh that I might not wander so , ( swéete wench ) thou wouldst procure The surge séeme calme , with thée I should no deadly smart endure . No sooner I had tydings that Telemach was aliue , But that the newes forepassed griefes from gladsome minde did driue . Whose going againe by tossing flouds in weake and rotten Barck To Pylos and to Sparta , did reduce my former carck . That loue deserues no thancke in déede wherein such perill is : And when you let him go to Sea you did not well ywis . But all the broyle will be at last , the Prophet sayd I shoulde At length imbrace thy friendly corse as I had done of olde . Whom thou alone shalt know , but then take héede and well beware , That other by your gesture learne not why so glad you are . I must not deale with force of hande or as an open foe , The Prophet sayd that to foretell Apollo bidde him soe . I shall perhaps deuise the tyme , to be awroken fitte , With bow in hande to rushe me in when they at tables sitte . And then perchaunce they maruell will mée hatefull man to sée : Oh Gods , when will that day come on and pleasant houre bée , Wherein I may renue againe the swéete delights ypast : And thou begin to repossesse thy louing spouse at last ?

The Argument of the replie to the seconde Epistle , entituled Demophoon to Phyllis . HErein his treason and delay Demophoon minded to deface , That had ybēne so long away from friendly Phyllis noble grace : Somtime vpon his Countriē men the lingring Louer layes the blame : On perillous passage now and then , and lacke of winde he cast the same ; But last in spite of waue and winde he made hir promisse to reuart : And so he did , in hope to finde the Queene as when he did depart . But oh , impacient of hir panges , that she had for hir guest sustainde , In Almon tree good Phyllis hanges , and this was all the Hostesse gainde . Demophoons Replie to Phyllis Epistle . EVen from his Countrie soyle Demophoon wrytes to thée : His Countrie ( Phyllis ) that he mindes thy gratefull gift to bée . Demophoon is not linckt with any nouell Lasse : But not so happie as with thée acquainted well he was . Duke Theseus , of whome thou euer stoodste in awe , ( Which made perhaps thy flame the more ) to be thy Fatherlawe : ( A shamefull thing for mée to suffer such a déede ) By cruell foe was reft his reigne : this was olde ages méede . Euen he that whileome had Amazons courage quaylde , A mate for Hercules that so in armour had preuaylde , Euen he that Mynos made a father of a foe , Amazde to sée his monstrous Beast by valiance conquerde so . I am accusde to béene the cause of his exile , My brother layes it to my charge , I must not pleade the while . Whilst thou ( quoth he ) didst fonde on Phyllis , and didst craue By earnest sute vnto thy wyfe a forraine wench to haue : The slipper time did passe with hastie foote away , Thy loytring was the cause that thou doste sée this doolefull day . Thou moughtst perhaps at first this wicked stirre haue stayde : At least , though matters had bene past , thou moughtst haue bene an ayde . But Rhodopeian Reigne I better did esteeme : And of a Nymph , whome better than hir Scepter I did déeme . Then Athamas gins to chaufe , and thundring words bestowes : And Aethra harpes vpon the same , a crooked péece God knowes . She sayth my lingring was th' occasion that hir sonne Could not shut vp his mothers eyes as duetie was to donne . I can not it denie they both excladme a good , And cryde on mée when that my ship rode on the Thracian flood . Demophoon ( quoth they ) why stayste thou lingring so ? The winde doth serue : home to thy Gods , and natiue Countrie go . Let Phyllis myrror be whome thou dost loue so well : She fancies thée , but loth she is for thée hir Realme to sell . She craues thée to retire , thy iourney Mate to bée She scorns : more than thy Raigne she waies hir barbarous soyle we sée . But I in silence would amid their brawles ( I minde ) A thousand thankes bestow atonce vpon the blustring winde . And when I should depart , imbracing Phyllis harde , I ioyde with all my heart to sée how dashing waters warrde . Ne would I feare the same before my Sire to vaunt : For by thy meritts I attainde my libertie I graunt . Thou must of force confesse that with no stéely heart I went my way , nor in post haste thy Countrie did depart . I sobbde and wéeping thée to solace made a stay , When to forgo thy friendly shore was come the fired day . I clambe the Thracian Barke , and tooke my shippe in deede : When Phyllis bid it should not ouer hastely proceede . Forgiue since I confesse , your selfe remember well King Mynos daughter in your brest , that auncient loue doth dwell . As often as my Sire to Skieward lookes : he sayes , She whilome was my louing wench that hath those glistring rayes . God Bacchus bidde him leaue and yéelde him vp the Mayde : But he ( goodman ) sustaines the blame , they say he hir betrayde . By his example I a periurde man am thought : Ne doste thou ( cruell Phyllis ) aske the cause mine absence wrought . Ne thinckst thou it ynough , or able to requight My former fault , that I am not in loue with any wight . Why ( Phillis ) hast thou not heard of the cruell fate Of Theseus Pallace ? of his house ? and lamentable state ? Hast thou not tydings that my fathers death I wayle ? A farther griefe than fathers fall Demophoon doth assayle Not of Hippolyts happe ? he miserable man Fell headlong from the fearefull stéedes that downe the Mountaine ran . I séeke not to excuse my lingring , though there bée A thousand cares that heape my hoe , I aske a space of thée . Let mée or ere I come lay Theseus in his graue , And sée that he who was my Syre his buriall rites may haue . Giue space and leaue I pray , not like a Traytour I Absent me : than thy soyle I knowe not safer where to lie . Since Troie went to wrack , and battayles broyle did stay , What ease so ere I felt at Sea or otherwhere : I say I had it all in Thrace , ( yet there I found some griefe ) that onely soyle vnto my woes was succour and reliefe . And is , if thou be one , and be not mooude awhight , That now I haue a stately house so Castleyke in sight : Nor that my Fathers happes or Mothers shamefull fate , Or these my yll successes cause thy fancie to rebate . What if I went to Troie in mariage linckt with thée ? And thou thy husband waging warre full ten yeares space shouldst sée ? Thou hearste Vlysses wife what honour she hath got : A myrrour she became , for that she liude withouten blot . Who ( by report ) deuisde a charitable wile In sprinning : wherewithall hir instant Suters to beguile . For whatsoeuer she by day in sight had wrought : At night the selfe same twisted twine from thréed to wool she brought . But Phyllis you doe feare your Suters will be gone That profferde wedlock earst in Thrace : canste thou with any one , Or haste thou heart to matche thy selfe in bridely band ? What ? will not feare of broken Hest thy shamefull act withstand ? O Lord how thou wilt blush , O Lord how thou wilt shame , When thou shalt vew my sailes aloofe and know they be the same ? Thou then wilt blame thy rashe complaint ( but all too late ) And say : Demophoon was to mée a true and faithfull Mate . Demophoon is retirde that Southren blast abidde , And cruell tempest , whilst vpon the sowsing seas he slidde . Ah , why in such post haste did I this blame deuise ? I broken haue my plighted Hest , which makes my heart agrise . But ( oh ) go forward so more rather than to mée ( Swéete Phyllis ) greater griefe and care should chaunce againe by thée . What Gibbet ( oh ) is that that thou dost manace so Vnto thy selfe , and froward sate to worke thy waylfull wo ? The Gods that in this soyle doe dwell are ouerbolde I trow . I pray thée spare , and cause no more defame to spring From out our race : whose traitrous crime too loude a Bell doth ring . Ariadne may excuse my Father since hir lotte Was party cause shée was forlorne . who me may iustly blotte ? Now selfe same windes my words that did my sayles conuay : I would returne with all my heart but haue good cause to stay .

The Argument of the replie to the fift Epistle , entituled Paris to Oenone . THe lynes that Oenon sent When Paris had perusde , And saw thereby she ment That she was quite refusde , Of him that had conuayde from Greece Faire Helena that passing peece : He wrote in this effect , And flat at first gan tell , That when he did reiect The Nymph , he did not well : But therewithall he laide the blame On Cupid that procurde the same . He makes hir open showe , How stately was the stroke , Of blinded Cupids bow , And how he brought to yoke Both man and God , and did not let To say that Destnies so had set . Paris Replie to Oenons Epistle . SO lawefull is thy plaint ( O Nymph ) as I confesse , My hand doth hunt for currant termes my meaning to expresse , It hunts and can not finde , I féele my guilt so great : I would recant , but ( oh ) the same my nouell loue doth let . My conscience me condempnes if thou not angrie bée Therewith : but what ? in cause I know thou mayst not match with mée . For mée whome thou dost blame , Cupido to his raigne Hath forst to yéelde : anothers pray euen so I now remaine . Thou were my wedlock first , I graunt it true to bée That I in gréenish yeares my loue and fayth behight to thée . Ne was I then so proude as in your Letters you Obiected me : ne I my selfe king Priams noorie knew . Deiphobus not I nor Hector thought to bée My brothers when I fedde my flock in Ida Mount with thée . Not Hecuba I knewe but by a Mothers name : And thou didst well deserue to had hir aye to béene thy Dame . But Loue from Reason swarues , thy selfe shalt iudge the case : For thou art wrongde , and hauing wrong dost loue me naythelasse . And whereas Panes thée , and Satyrs did desire : Thou shoonste their loue , and aye in minde dost kéepe thy former fire . Beside , this latter loue was furthred by the fate : My sister eke Cassandra sawe of future things the state : Not I as then had heard the brute of Helens name : Ne to mine eares by hir report the Gréekish tumult came . You sée that all is true , my guilte doth sole remaine : And to request your pardon I in humble wise am faine . Within thy powre doth reast the doome of life and death : Now binde me thine for euermore by sauing of my breath . Thou weptst ( I minde it well ) and yet thou sangst withall : And sayd , God shilde that no such euill at any time befall . No though his déedes deserue and euerie thing beside : Yet Oenon I to worke his bane wil neuer be discride . Oh pardon : selfesame loue that forgde this fraude to thée , Made me to thinke herein not halfe so many feares to bée . That God doth strike the stroke : Sometime into a Bull He Ioue conuerts , into a Foule sometime to coy his trull . Not Helen now in earth so passing goodly Dame Had béen , ( at wench by nature made to set my breast in flame ) Had not the mightie Ioue become a Swanne in sight : That earst a golden shattering showre on Danaes lappe did light . A fayned Fowle sometyme in Ida Mount did sore : Sometime amids Agenors neate in forme of Bull did rore . Alcydes who woulde thinke the valiant man to haue Ysat at distaffe ? Loue did make him twisten lyke a slaue . Againe the man was séene in Ioles garment clad : And she the hairie Lions case vpon hir shoulders had . And Oenon thou ( I minde ) ( I touch my selfe too nie ) The God Apollo scorndste , and didst to Paris mind aplie . Not for I him excellde , but Cupid wilde it tho That in such sort his subtill shafts in Oenons breast should go . But comfort thou thy wrong , in that thy ryuall shée A passing wench , and daughter braue to Ioue is knowne to bée . But that she came of Ioue it moues me not a mite : But ( oh ) hir face is passing faire , t' is it that workes the spite . And ( O ) I wish that I a skillesse Iudge had bin , When to 〈…〉 beauties pride the Ladies did begin . For then not Iunos ire nor Pallas wrathfull brest Should hurt me ought , for liking of the Ladie Venus best . She Cupids flames deuids , and franckly fire on those ( By euen and odde , by quick and slow ) on whome she list bestowes . Yet neyther she hir selfe those weapons coulde auoyde : The Bow she bare for other , hath hir proper breast annoyde . For halting Vulcan grutcht when he by fortune founde The warlike God and hir in bedde , and caused to resounde His wofull plaint before the Gods , and Ioue that saw them bounde . And mightie Mauors now laments and lowres as fast : For she hath fled this soyle , and of Anchises is imbrast . Nowe wholy she delights Anchises eye to leake : To him alone she closely clings , and giues the reast the gleake , What wonder was that she should haue the powre to ayde Those egall flames of loue , whose fire poore Paris hath assayde ? Whome Menelaus wrongde doth loue , I fancide well Not wrongde at all : beside she matcht with one wrongde neare a dell . And I perceyue it plaine that for this rape there arre Reuenger Gréekes with wreakfull ships to bidde the Troians warre . The goodnesse of the cause ( I nothing doubt ) will bée Allowde : to forcen Dukes to fight hir features are we sée . If me you not beleue , beholde the Chieftaine Gréekes In Armour : I must holde hir fast whome they so sorely séekes . But if you stande in hope by force to wrest my will , Why cease your hearbes and Magike Verse ? where is thy woonted skill ? For in Apollos Arte thou canst as much as she That is the best , the truest dreames of Hecate thou dost see . I well remember thou hast fet the Moone aback : And stayde the Starres , and dimde the daye with duske and cloudie black . I fed the frowning Bulles , and maruelde much to sée Amid the Heirde by Oenons charmes the Lyons tame to bée . Of Xanthus what shoulde I , or Simoys now report ? Or tell how both those streames were stayde by thée in monstrous sort ? Thy Sire him selfe in feare his daughter farde amisse , Amid his waters all bewitcht would often stay ywisse . Now ( Oenon ) here is place , doe what thou canst by skill : Or quench thy flames , or cleane put out my brande that blazeth still .