Sixe idillia that is, sixe small, or petty poems, or æglogues, chosen out of the right famous Sicilian poet Theocritus, and translated into English verse.

SIXE IDILLIA , CHOSEN OVT OF THE famous Sicilian Poet THEOCRITVS , and translated into English verse .

THE VIII . JDILLION . Argument .

Menalcas a Shephearde , and Daphnis a Netehearde , two Sicilian Iads , ●ontending who should sing best , pawne their whistles , and choose a Gotehearde , to be their Iudge . Who giueth sentence on Daphnis his side . The thing is imagined to be don in the Ile of Sicily by the Sea shore of whose singing , this Idillion is called BVCOLIASTAE , that is , Singers of a Neteheards song .

BVCOLIASTÆ . DAPHNIS . MENALCAS . GOTEHEARDE . WITH louely Netehearde Daphnis on the hills , they saie , Shepehearde Menalcas mett , vpon a summers daie . Both yuth fullstriplings , both had yeallow heades of heare , In whistling both , and both in singing skilfull weare . Menalcas first , behoulding Daphnis , thus bespake . MENALCAS . Wilt thou in singing , Netehearde Daphnis , vndertake To striue with me ? for I affirme , that at my will I can thee passe . thus Daphnis aunswerde on the hill . DAPHNIS . Whistler Menalcas , thou shalt neuer me excell In singing , though to death with singing thou shouldst swell . MENALCAS .

Then wilt thou see , and something for the victor wage ?

DAPHNIS .

I will both see , and something for the victor gage .

MENALCAS .

What therefore shal we pawne , that for vs maie befit ?

DAPHNIS .

I le pawne a calfe , a wennell lambe laie thou to it .

MENALCAS . I le pawne no lambe , for both my Syre and Mother fell Are verie hard , and all my sheepe at evne they tell . DAPHNIS .

What then ? what shall he gaine that winns the victore ?

MENALCAS . A gallant Whistell which J made with notes thrise three , Joinde with white waxe , both evne belowe and evne aboue , This will I laie , my Fathers thinges I will not moue . DAPHNIS . And J a Whistle haue with notes thrise three arowe , Joinde with white waxe , both evne aboue , and evne belowe . J latelie framde it , for this finger yet doth ake With pricking , which a splinter of a reede did make . But who shall be our Iudge , and giue vs audience ? MENALCAS . What if we call this Goteheard heere , not far from hence , Whose dog doth barke harde by the kids ? the lustie boies Did call him , and the Gotehearde came to heare their toies . The lustie boies did sing , the Gotehearde iudgement gaue . Menalcas first by lot vnto his whistle braue Did sing a Neteheards song , and Neteheard Daphnis than Did sing by course , but first Menalcas thus began . MENALCAS . Yee Groues , and Brookes deuine , if on his reede Menalcas euer sung a pleasant laie , Fat me these Lambes ; if Daphnis here wil feede His calfes , let him haue pasture toe I praie . DAPHNIS . Yee pleasant Springs , and Plants , would Daphnis had As sweete a voice as haue the Nightingales ; Feede me this heard , and if the sheepeheards lad Menalcas cums , let him haue al the dales . MENALCAS . T is euer spring , their meades are euer gaie , There strowt the bags , their sheepe are fatly fed Where Daphne cums ; go she awaie , Then both the sheepheard there , and grasse is ded . DAPHNIS . There both the Ewes , and Gotes bring forth their twins , Their Bees doe fil their hiues , their Okes are hie Where Milo treades ; when he awaie begins To goe , both Neteheard , and the Nete waxe drie . MENALCAS . O husband of the Gotes ! O wood so hie ! O kids , come to this brooke , for he is there ; Thou with the broken hornes , tel Milo shie , That Proteûs kept Sea-calfes , though God he were . DAPHNIS . Nor Pelops kingdome may J craue , nor gould , Nor to outrunne the windes vpon a lea ; But in this caue I le sing , with thee in hould , Both looking on my sheepe , and on the sea . MENALCAS . A tempest marreth trees , and drought a spring , Snares vnto foules , to beastes , netts are a smarte , Loue spoiles a man . O Ioue , alone his sting J haue not felt , for thou a louer art . Thus sung these boies by course , with voices strong , Menalcas then began a latter song . MENALCAS . Wolfe , spare my kids , and spare my fruitful sheepe , And hurt me not , though but a lad these flockes J gide ; Lampur my dog , art thou indeede so sound asleepe ? Thou shouldst not sleepe , while thou art by thy Masters side . My sheepe , fear not to eate the tender grasse at will , Nor when it springeth vp againe , see that you faile ; Goe to , and feede apace , and al your bellies fill , That part your Lambes my haue , and part my milking paile . Then Daphnis in his turne sweetly began to sing . DAPHNIS . And me not long agoe faire Daphne wistle eide As J droue by , and said J was a paragone ; Nor then indeede to her I churlishlie replide , But looking on the ground , my way stil held J one . Sweete is a cowcalfes voice , and sweete her breath doth smell , A bulcalfe , and a cow doe lowe ful pleasantlie ; T is sweete in summer by a spring abrode to dwell , Acornes become the Oke , apples the Appletree , And calfes the kine , and kine , the Neteheard much set out . Thus sung these Yuthes ; the Gotehearde thus did ende the dout . GOTEHEARD . O Daphnis , what a dulcet mouth , and voice thou hast ? T is sweeter thee to heare , than honie-combes to tast . Take thee these pipes , for thou in singing dost excell . Jf me a Gotehearde thou wilt teach to sing so well , This broken horned Goate , on thee bestowe I will , Which to the verie brimm , the paile doth euer fill . So then was Daphnis glad , and lept , and clapt his handes , And danst , as doth a fawne , when by the damm he standes . Menalcas greeud , the thing his mind did much dismaie , And sad as Bride he was , vpon the marrige daie . Since then , among the Shepeheards , Daphnis chiefe was had , And tooke a Nimphe to wife , when he was but a lad .

DAPHNIS his Embleme . Me tamen vrit amor .

MENALCAS his Embleme . At haec Daphne for san probet .

GOTEHEARDES Embleme . Est minor nemo nisi comparatus .

THE XI . JDILLION . Argument .

Theocritus wrote this Idillion to Nicias a learned Physition . wherein he sheweth by the example of Polyphemus , a Gyant in Sicilie , of the race of the Cyclopes , who loued the water Nymph Galatea , that ther is no medecine so soueraigne against loue , as is Poetry . Of whose loue-song , as this Idillion is termed Cyclops , so he was called Cyclops , because he had but one eie , that stood like a circle in the middest of his forehead .

CYCLOPS . O Nicias , there is no other remedie for loue , With ointing , or with sprinkling on , that euer I could proue , Beside the Muses nine . this pleasant medsun of the minde Growes among men , and seems but lite , yet verie hard to finde . As well I wote you knowe , who are in Phisicke such a leeche , And of the Muses so belov'd . the cause of this my speeche , A Cyclops is , who liued heere with vs right welthele , That anchent Polyphem , when first he loued Galate ; When with a bristled beard , his chin and cheekes first clothed were . He lov'd her not , with roses , apples , or with curled heare , But with the Furies rage . al other thinges he little plide . For often to their fould , from pastures green , without a guide His sheepe returned home , when all the while he singing laie Jn honor of his loue , and on the shore consumde awaie From morning vntil night , sicke of the wound , fast by the hart , Which mighty Venus gaue , and in his liuer stucke the dart . For which , this remedie he found , that sitting oftentimes Vpon a rocke , and looking on the Sea , he sung these rimes . O Galatea faire , why dost thou shun thy louer true ? More tender than a Lambe , more white than cheese when it is new , More wanton than a calfe , more sharpe than grapes vnripe I finde . You vse to come , when pleasant sleepe my senses all doe binde . But you are gone againe , when pleasant sleepe dooth leaue mine eie , And as a sheep you run , that on the plaine a Woolfe doth spie . J then began to loue thee , Galate , when first of all You with my mother came , to gather leaues of Crowtoe small Vpon our hil , when J as vsher , squirde you all the waie . Nor when I sawe thee first , nor afterward , nor at this daie , Since then could J refraine ; but you , by Joue , nought set thereby . But well I knowe , fair Nimphe , the verie cause why you thus flie . Because vpon my front , one onlie brow , with bristles strong From one eare to the other eare , is stretched al along . Nethe which , one eie , and on my lips a hugie nose there standes . Yet I , this such a one , a thousand sheep seed on these lands . And pleasant milke I drinke , which from the strouting bags is prest . Nor want I cheese in summer , nor in Autumne of the best , Nor yet in winter time . my cheese-rackes euer laden are , And better can I pipe , than anie Cyclops maie compare . O Apple sweet , of thee , and of my selfe , I vse to sing , And that at midnight oft . for thee , aleavne faunes vp I bring , All great with young , & foure beares whelps , I nourish vp for thee . But come thou hither first , and thou shalt haue them all of me . And let the blewish colorde Sea beat on the shore so nie . The night with me in caue , thou shalt consume more pleasantlie . There are the shadie Baies , and there tall Cypres-trees doe sprout , And there is Juie blacke , and fertill Vines are al about . Coole water there J haue , distilled of the whitest snowe , A drinke deuine , whiich out of wooddy Aetna mount doth flowe . In these respects , who in the Sea & waues would rather be ? But if J seeme as yet , too rough and sauage vnto thee , Great store of Oken woode I haue , and neuer quenched fire ; And J can well indure my soule to burne with thy desire , With this my onely eie , then which J nothing thinke more trimme . Now woe is me , my mother bore me not with finns to swimme , That J might diue to thee , that I thy dainty hand might kisse , If lips thou wouldst not let ; then would J Lillies bring Jwis , And tender Poppie toe , that beares a top like rattells red . And these in summer time , but other are in winter bred , So that I cannot bring them all at once . now certainlie , I le learne to swimme of some or other stranger passing bie , That I maie knowe what pleasure t is in waters deepe to dwell . Come forth , faire Galate , and once got out , forget thee well ( As I doe sitting on this rocke ) home to returne againe . But feede my sheepe with me , & for to milke them take the paine , And cheese to presse , and in the milke , the rennet sharpe to straine . My mother only wrongeth me , and her I blame , for shee Spake neuer yet to thee , one good or louelie worde of me , And that , although shee daily sees , how I awaie doe pine . But I will saie my head and feete doe ake , that shee maie whine And sorrowe at the hart , because my hart with griefe is swolne . O Cyclops , Cyclops , whither is thy wit and reason flowne ? If thou wouldst baskets make , and cut downe browzing from the tree , And bring it to thy Lambes , a great deale wiser thou shouldst be ? Goe coie some present Nimphe , why dost thou follow flying wind ? Perhaps an other Galate , and fairer thou shalt find . For manie maidens in the euening tide with mee will plaie , And all doe sweetlie laugh , when I stand harkning what they saie , And I some bodie seeme , and in the earth doe beare a swaie . Thus Polyphemus singing , fed his raging loue of ould , Wherein he sweeter did , than had he sent her summes of gould .

POLYPHEM'S Embleme . Vbi Dictamum inueniam ?

THE XVI . JDILLION . Argument .

The stile of this Poeme is more loftie than anie of the rest , & Theocritus wrote it to Hiero king of Siracuse in Sicily . Wherein hee reprooueth the nigardise of Princes and great men , towards the learned , and namelie Poets , in whose power it is , to make men famous to al posterity . Towards the end he praiseth Hiero , and praieth that Sicilie may be deliuered , by his prowes , from the inuasions of the Carthagineans . This Idillion is named Hiero , in respect of the Person to whome it was written , or Charites , that is Graces , in respect of the matter whereof it treateth .

CHARITES , or HIERO. POETS haue still this care , and stil the Muses haue this care To magnifie the Gods with songes , and men that worthy are . The Muses they are Goddeses , and Gods with praise they crowne , But we are mortall men , and mortall men let vs renowne . But who of all the men , vnder the cope of heauen that dwell , By opening of his dores , our Graces entertaines so well , That vnrewarded quite he dothe not sende them back agayne ? Thay in a chafe , al barefoote home to me returne with paine , And me they greatly blame , & , that they went for nought , they grutch , And al to weary , in the bottome of an empty hutch , Laying there heades vpon there knees full colde , they still remaine , Where they doe poorely dwell , because they home returnde in vaine . Of all that liuing are , who loues a man that speaketh well ? I knowe not one ; for now a daies for deedes that doe excell , Men care not to be praysde . But all are ouercum with gaine . For euery man looks rounde , with hand in bosome , whence amaine Coyne hee may get , whose rust rubde off , he wil not giue againe . But straite way thus he says ; the legge is further then the knee , Let me haue goulde inough , the Gods to Poets paie their fee . Who would an other heere ? Inough for al , one Homer is . Of Poets he is prince , yet getts he nought of me Iwis . Mad men , what gaine is this to hoorde vp baggs of goulde within ? This is not monyes vse , nor hath to wise men euer bin . But part is due vnto our selues , part to the Poets pen , And many kinsfolkes must be pleasured , and many men , And often to the Gods thou must doe solleme sacrifise . Nor must thou keep a sparing house , but when in frendlie wise Thou hast receiued strangers at thy boorde , when they will thence . Let them depart , but cheefely Poets must thou reuerence . That after thou art hidden in thy graue , thou maist heere well , Nor basely maist thou mourne , when thou in Acharon dost dwell ; Like to sum ditcher vile , whose handes with worke are harde & drie , Who from his parentes poore , bewailes his life in beggerie . In king Antiochus his Court , and king Aleuas toe , To distribute the monthly bred , a many had to doe . The Scopedans had many droues of calfes , which in their stales Mong Oxen lowde , and shepeheardes kept in the Cranonian dales Infinite flockes , to beare the hospital Creondan's charge . No pleasure should these men enioy , of their expenses large , When ons their soules they had embarkt in the infernal Barge , But leauing all this wealth behind , in wretched miserie , Among the dead , without renoune , for euer they shoulde lie , Had not Simonides , the Chian Poet with his pen , And with his Lute of many stringes , so famous made these men To all posteritie . the verie horses are renoun'd , Which from their races swift return'd , with olife garlandes crounde . Who euer shoulde haue knowne the Lician Princes , and their race , Or them of Troie , or Cignus with his womans color'd face , Had not the Poets sung the famous warrs of them of oulde ? Nor yet Vlysses ( who for ten yeeres space , on Seas was roulde By sundry sorts of men , and who at last went downe to Hell As yet aliue , and from the Cyclops den escaped well ) Had got such lasting fame ; and drounde should lie in silence deepe Swinehearde Eumaeus , and Philaetius , who had to keepe A hearde of Nete ; Laertes eke him selfe had bin vnknowne , If far and wide their names , great Homers verses had not blowne . Immortal fame to mortal men the Muses nine do giue . But deade mens wealth is spent , and quite consumde of them that liue . But all one paine it is , to number waues vpon the bankes , Wherof great store , the winde from Sea , doth blowe to lande in rankes , Or for to wash a brick with water cleere , till it be white , As for to moue a man , whome auarice doth on s delite . Therefore adue to such a one for me , and let him haue Huge siluer heapes at will , and more and more still let him craue ; But I , Goodwil of men , and Honor wil prefer , before A many Mules of prise , or many horses kept in store . Therefore I aske , to whom shall J be welcome with my traine Of Muses nine ? whose waies are hard , if Joue guides not the raine . The heauens yet haue not left to roule both monthes & yeares on reeles , And many horses yet , shal turne about the Charret wheeles ; The man shall rise , that shall haue neede of me , to set him out , Doing such deeds of armes , as Aiax , or Achilles stoute Did in the fielde of Simois , where Ilus bones doe rest . And now the Carthagineans , inhabiting the West , Who in the vtmost ende of Liby dwell , in armes are prest ; And now the Syracusians their speares doe carrie in the rest . Whose left-armes laden are with targets made of willoe tree . Mongst whom , king Hiero , the anchent Worthies match , I see In armour shine , whose plume doth ouer shade his helmet bright . O Iupiter , and thou Minerua fierce in fight , And thou Proserpina , who with thy mother , hast renowne By Lysimelia streames , in Ephyra that wealthy towne , Out of our Iland driue our enimies , our bitter fate , Along the Sardine Sea , that death of friends they maie relate Vnto their children and their wiues , and that the townes opprest By enimies , of th' old inhabitants maie be possest ; That they maie till the fields , and sheepe vpon the downes maie blete By thousandes infinite , and fat , and that the heardes of Nete As to their stalles they goe , maie presse the lingring traueler . Let groundes be broken vp for seede , what time the Grashopper Watching the sheepheards by their flocks , in boughs close singing lies ; And let the Spiders spread their slender webs in armories , So that of warr , the verie name maie not be heard againe . But let the Poets striue , king Hieros glories for to straine Beyonde the Scythean Sea , & far beyond those places , where Semiramis did build those statelie walles , and rule did be are . Mongst whom , I will be one ; for maine other men beside Joues daughters loue , whose studie still shal be , both far and wide Sicilian Arethusa , with the people , to aduance , And warlike Hiero. Yee Graces , who keepe resiance In the Thessalian mount Orchomenus , to Thebs of olde So hateful , though of you belovde , to staie J wil be bolde , Where I am bid to come , and I with them will stil remaine , That shall inuite me to their house , with all my Muses traine . Nor you will I forsake ; for what to men can louelie be Without your companie ? the Graces alwaies be with me .

Embleme . Sinihil attuleris , ibis Homere forás .

THE XVIII . JDILLION . Argument .

Twelue noble Spartane Virgins are brought in singing in the euening at the chamber doore of Menelaus and Helena , on their wedding daie . And first they prettily iest with the Bridegroom , then they praise Hellen , lastly they wish them both ioie of their marriage . Therefore this Idillion is entitled Hellens Epithalamion , that is , Hellens wedding song .

HELLENS Epithalamion . IN Sparta long agoe , where Menelaus wore the crowne , Twelue noble Virgins , daughters to the greatest in the towne , All dight vpon their haire in Crowtoe garlands fresh and greene , Danst at the chamber doore of Helena the Queene , What time this Menelay , the younger Sonne of Atreus , Did marry with this louely daughter of Prince Tyndarus . And therewithal at eve , a wedding song they iointly sung , With such a shuffling of their feets , that all the Pallace rung . Fair Bridegrome , do you sleep ? hath slumber al your lims possest ? What , are you drousie ? or hath wine your bodie so opprest That you are gone to bed ? for if you needes would take your rest , You should haue tane a season meete . meane time , till it be daie Suffer the Bride with vs , and with her mother deere to plaie . For , Menelaus , shee at euening and at morning tide , From daie to daie , and yeare to yeare shall be thy louing Bride . O happie Bridegrome , sure some honest man did sneze to thee When thou to Sparta came , to meete with such a one as shee . Among the demi-gods thou only art accounted meete To be the Sonne in lawe of Joue ; for vnderneath one sheete His daughter lies with thee . of al that tread on ground with feet There is not such a one in Greece . now sure sum goodlie thing Shee will thee beare , if it be like the mother that shee bring . For we her peeres in age , whose course of life is evne the same , Who at Eurotas streames , like men are oiled to the game , And foure times sixtie maides , of all the weemen youth we are , Of these none wants a fault , if her with Hellen we compare . Like as the rising Morning shewes a gratefull lightening , When sacred night is past , and winter nowe let s loose the spring ; So glittering Hellen shinde among the maides , lustie and tal ; As is the furrowe in a field that far out-stretcheth al , Or in a garden is a Cypres-tree , or in a trace A steede of Thessalie , so shee to Sparta was a grace . No damsell with such workes as shee , her baskets vsde to fill , Nor in a diuerse color'd web , a woofe , of greater skill Doth cut off from the loome , nor anie hath such songs and laies Vnto her daintie harpe , in Dians and Mineruas praise As Hellen hath , in whose bright eies , all Loues and Graces be . O faire , ô louelie maide , a matrone now is made of thee . But wee wil evrie spring , vnto the leaues in meadowes goe , To gather Garlands sweete , and there not with a little woe Will often thinke of thee , O Hellen , as the sucking Lamms Desire the strouting baggs , and presence of their tender damms . We all betimes for thee , a wreath of Melitoe will knit , And on a shadie Plane , for thee will safelie fasten it . And all betimes for thee , vnder a shadie Plane below , Out of a siluer boxe the sweetest ointment will bestowe . And letters shall bee written in the barke , that men maie see , And reade , Doe humble reuerence , for J am Hellens tree . Sweete Bride , good night , & thou , O happy Bridegroome , now good night , Latona send you happie issue , who is most of might In helping youth , and blisfull Venus send you equall loue Bitwixt you both , and Ioue giue lasting riches from aboue , Which from your noble selues , vnto your noble impes may fall . Sleepe on , and breath into your brests desiers mutuall . But in the morning wake , forget it not in anie wise . And we wil then returne as soone as anie one shall rise , And in the chamber stur , and first of all lift vp the hed . Hymen , O Hymen , now be gladsome at this marrige bed .

Embleme . Vsque adeo latet vtilitas .

THE XXI . JDILLION . Argument .

A Neteheard is brought in chasing , that Eunîca a maid of the cittie disdained to kisse him . Wherby it is thought that Theocritus seemeth to checke them , that thinke this kinde of writing in Poetry , to be too base & rustical . And therfore this Poeme is termed Neteheard .

NETEHEARDE . EVNÎCA skorned me , when her I would haue sweetly kist , And railing at me said , goe with a mischiefe where thou list . Thinkst thou a wretched Neteheard mee to kisse ? I haue no will After the Countrie guise to smouch , of Citie lips I skill . My louely mouth , so much as in thy dreame thou shalt not touch . How dost thou look ? How dost thou talke ? How plaiest thou the slouch ? How daintilie thou speakst ? What courting words thou bringest out ? Howe soft a beard thou hast ? How faire thy locks hang round about ? Thy lips are like a sickmans lips , thy hands , so black they be , And rankely thou dost smel , awaie , least thou defilest me . Hauing thus sed , shee spatterd on her bosome twise or thrise , And still beholding me from top to toe , in skorneful wise , She mutterd with her lips , and with her eies she lookte aside , And of her beutie wondrous coy she was , her mouth she wride , And proudly mockt me to my face . my blud boild in each vaine , And red I woxe for griefe , as doth the rose with dewye raine . Thus leauing me , awaie she flung ; since when , it vexeth me , That J should be so skornde , of such a filthie drab as she . Ye Shepeheards , tel me true , am I not fair as any swan ? Hath of a sodaine anie God , made me another man ? For well J wote before , a cumlie grace in me did shine , Like Iuy round about a tree , and dekt this bearde of mine . My crisped lockes , like Parslie on my temples wont to spred , And on my eiebrowes black , a milke white forhed glistered . More seemelie were mine eies , than are Mineruas eies I know . My mouth for sweetnes passed cheese , and from my mouth did flow A voice more sweete than hunniecombes . Sweete is my rundelaie , When on the whistle , flute , or pipe , or cornet I doe plaie . And all the weemen on our hills , doe saie that I am faire , And al do loue me well . But these that breath the citty aire Did neuer loue me yet . And why ? The cause is this I know , That I a Neteheard am . They heare not , how in vales below Faire Bacchus kept a heard of beastes ; nor can these nice ones tell , How Venus rauing for a Neteheards loue , with him did dwell Vpon the hills of Phrygia , and how she lovde againe Adonis in the woods , and mournde in woods , when hee was slaine . What was Endymion ? Was he not a Netehearde ? Yet the Moone Did love this Neteheard so , that from the heauens descending soone , She came to Latmos groue , where with the daintie lad she laie . And Rhea , thou a Neteheard dost bewaile , and thou al daie O mightie Jupiter , but for a Shepeheardes boie didst straie . Eunica only dained not , a Neteheard for to loue . Better forsooth then Cybel , Venus , or the Moone aboue . And Venus , thou hereafter must not loue thy faire Adone In cittie , nor on hill , but al the night must sleepe alone .

Embleme . Habitarunt Dij quoque Syluas .

THE XXXI . JDILLION . Argument .

The conceit of this Idillion is verie delicate . Wherein it is imagined , how Venus did send for the Bore , who in hunting slew Adonis , a daintie yuth , whom she loued ; And how the Bore aunswering for himselfe , that he slew him against his wil , as beeing inamored on him , & thinking onlie to kisse his naked thigh , she forgaue him . The Poets drift is , to shew the power of loue , not onlie in men , but also in brute beasts . Although in the two last verses , by the burning of the Bores amorous teeth , he intimateth , that extrauagant and vnorderly passions , are to be restrained by reason .

ADONIS . WHEN VENVS first did see , Adonis dead to be , With woeful tatterd heare , And cheekes so wan and seare , The winged Loues she bad , The Bore should straight be had . Forthwith like birdes thay flie , And through the wood thay hie . The woefull beast thay finde , And him with cordes thay binde . One with a rope before , Doth lead the captiue Bore . Another on his backe , Doth make his bow to cracke . The beast went wretchedly , For Venus horribly Hee fearde , who thus him curst . Of all the beasts the wurst , Didst thou this thigh so wounde ? Didst thou my Loue confounde ? The beast thus spake in feare ; Venus , to thee J sweare , By thee , and husband thine , And by these bands of mine , And by these hunters all , Thy husband faire and tall , J minded not to kill , But as an image still , J him beheld for loue , Which made me forward shoue , His thigh , that naked was , Thinking to kisse alas . And that hath hurt me thus . Wherfore these teeth , Venus , Or punish , or cut out . Why beare I in my snowt , These needlesse teeth about ? If this maie not suffise , Cut off my chaps likewise . To ruth he Venus moues , And she commands the Loues , His bands for to vntie . After , he came not nie The wood , but at her wil , He followde Venus still . And cumming to the fire , He burnt vp his desire .

Embleme . Raris forma viris , sęcula prospice , Impunita fuit .

FINIS .