E.W. his Thameseidos Deuided into three bookes, or cantos.

THAMESEIDOS , Liber Primus . NOw gentle blastes , forerunners of the day , Had summond hatefull Darknes packe away : And Horror , Coachman vnto ougly night , Made his blacke Steedes poast with all speed he might , From foorth our Hemisphere , not daring bide To looke vpon Aurorás gorgious pride . And now from new sows'd wife , the fierie Sunne Was risen , and from Ocean seas begunne , To driue his golden Chariot , that he might To all the world declare his glorious light . When Thamesis , the fairest Queene on earth , To solemnise her annuall day of birth , Appareled in Robe of purest white , All thicke of golden shimiring Spangles dight ; Which gainst the Sunne reflecting beames did cast , As do the Starres , that in the heauens are plâst . Her haire bound vp in knots like golden Wier , And crownd with Garlands of sweete smelling Brier : Vnto a Meddow by , his flowing streames Did goe : where she from heat of Phoebus beames , Vnder the coole shade of the spreading Trees , Did meane to sport and sing sweete virolees . With her faire Nimphes , each hauing in her hand , To fill with precious flowers a little maund . It was about the selfe same time of yeare , When from the midst of heauen the Sunne doth beare His scorching heate , and makes it swiftly role , Vnto the Starres of the Antartique Pole . Then when Pomona lades her slender bowes , To serue Autumnus her diseased spowse . Autumnus who in presse with naked feete , From sweete ripe Grapes , make pleasant Wines to fleete . In Inorie hand faire Thames a Maund did hold , Most rarely painted , and adornd with gold : Which precious Iewell great Ocean did To Doris giue , what time he did her wed : Which precious rich Maund louely Doris after , Did giue to Thames her derling and her daughter . Vpon that Maund were many Histories Depicted in such rare and curious wise , That seemd as Art with Nature stroue t' excell In the rare workmanshyp , for none could tell , Saue Vulcane , who some sayd , did make the same , How like to it , an other Maund to frame . There might y' haue seene a very stately Bed , Made like a Boat ; which certaine Tritons did With their strong scalie backes vphold and stay , All armde with Oares , all coullard like the Sea : Bout whom , faire Sea-Nimphs sported chearfully , Delighted with the Tritons company : Where , on the poop , stood Neptune ; who did hold In his right hand his Trident tinde with gold . And vnder his left arme a winding Shell , Like those from whence ( as ancient Poets tell ) The heades of Tiber and of Nilus ran , Or ere their floodes vnto the salt Sea came . Ioues braine-bred-daughrer at the prow was placed , Armed as then when she from heauen chaced The hundred handed Titan to his graue , Vpon the Fish that did Orion saue . The Testerne like a Tile , all couered With purple Veluet richly imbrodered , With orient round Pearle was supported by ; Certaine faire Sea-Nimphes on whose head did lie , The Arched Ribbes in very stately order , As on so many columnes : on a border Bout which was painted the imagerie Of many Sea-gods , very curiously ; With Curtaines sutable thereto : whereon The Romaine Lucrece liuelesse , pale , and wan , Lay all besmeared in her owne goare blood , Which with a Poyniard her owne hand had shod , As sacrifice vnto her chastitie ; Which was bereau'd by Tarquine spightfully . And there by cunning Woorkman curiously , Was made a Land-shaft , in which one might see , Steepe craggie Rockes , high Mountaines , shady Woodes , Greene pleasing Fieldes , and crooked winding Floodes ; Where , in the middle of a pleasant Lawne , There was a stately Fountaine sweetely drawne ; Whose water from a Harpies breast did fall , Of Brasse , into a Cesterne paued all With polisht Marblé , and with Porphire stone ; In which the Painter had his cunning showne , In neately laying of his cullours , that It seemd a true Fount , and no counterfect : In which was chast Diana with her Nimphes , All naked , bathing of their tender limbes ; On whom Acteon in the changed shape Of fearefull Deare , full greedily did gape , Turned thereto because he should not tell , Had seene Diana naked in a Well : By whom were made his wearie Hound that lapped The water which from foorth the Fountaine drapped ; Whom fearing , he did seeke to flie : for as His body , so his minde transformed was ; And on the hanger of a Hill hard by , The Dogges pinching his hantches you might see ; A rewfull sight , yet could not be amended , Since he Dianas grace had so offended . And bout the Verges seemely to behold , Trailes of Morisco workes were wrought in gold . Thus louely Isis with his comely traine Of beauteous Nimphes , into the Meddow came ; Where , on one side a shady Forrest grew ; To which Aurora oft her selfe withdrew , To heare her Loues complaint , and where the Moone , Oft stayde to looke vpon the Latmian Lowne : In which did grow the tough and hardie Ashe , The builder Oke ; Holme fit for Carters lash , Chast louely Daphne closed vnder rinde , Incestuous Mirh , that weepeth still of kind : Then peacefull Oliue , and the holsome Pine ; The sayling Firre , and eke the drunken Vine : Vpon whose boughes , pearcht the lasciuious Sparrow , The temperate Turtle , and the wight wingd Swallow , Who flying singes , and singing studieth where , With more art then with cost , her nest to reare : The which , as patterne may be looked on By rarest Archytect and cunningst man . The little Owsle , and the mounting Larke ; The prettie Quaile , and charitable Storke , Whose kindnesse to olde Parents children learne ; For oft to aged Parents you are more sterne . High flying Cranes , by whose orderly flight , Mars first was taught in rancked squadrons fight . And Peacoks , which against the Sunne do reare Their painted tayles with Argus eyes made faire . With little Nightingales , who diuersly With changed notes do make sweete melodie , Feigning sometime a base , sometime a trebble , Often a meane , then sweetely foorth do warble A descant , which the mindes of standers by , Doth rauish , hearing such sweete harmonie . On th' other side , a secret Caue was seene , Which for his fitnesse , often times hath beene A refuge for those Nimphes , the which would shunne , The scortching heate of Midday of the Sunne : The entrance deckt with Mosse , pleasing the sight , And alway fresh and greene for more delight , To land-ward did there rise a Hill so high , That wel-nie it did face the azurd skie : From foote of which , did runne a purling Brooke Through the Meade , with many a winding crooke : Whose slyding streames the heauens calme seemd blew , Whence store of pleasure to the eye-sight grew ; Yet clearer then was Aganippe Fount , Or Acidalia , where the Charicts wount To bath their Iuorie breastes and golden haire , Ere they make readie Cithereas care . About whose bankes did grow small tangled Trees , Which made it seeme a heauen to gasers eyes : Whose boughes the needie Wood-man neare had cut , Nor hungrie Beast the tender shootes had brut . And in the middle of that Meddow grew A stately Beech , which his large armes foorth threw To shadow them that vnder her should sport , To which with Lea , Isis did resort With Lea ; on whose bankes Ardea was turned Into a Bitterne , cause she Glaucus scorned . Whilst Colne , and Kenet , with the faire Chrew went To gather Flowers of most pleasing sent ; For there were Roses with Virmilion died , Coole Dasies , and white Lillies ; Summers pride : The Marigold , that doth affect the Sunne , Hiding her beautie when his light is gonne : The Bee alluring Thime , the sweete Costmarie , Gray Lauender , and strong senting Rosemarie , And what else might be pleasing to the view , Within this faire and princely Meddow grew : But that which garnisht most this Paradise , Were Isis louely looke , and sparkling eyes . For marke how brighter Cinthia doth appeare Aboue the Starres within her motiue Spheere : So much more fairer did this louely Dame Exceede those comely Nimphes , that which here came . Not shee , whom Venus gaue for the rich Ball , The cause of tenne yeares warre , and Troyes fall : Nor that faire Dame whom Ioue in shape of Swan , Whylome did court , when he her loue first wan : Nor yet Europa , whose loue made him take A proude Bulles shape ( tho then when he did make ) To looke like a faire vntamed Heyfer : Had he turnd to a Bull , it had been better ; For Beautie might in any poynt compare To Isis , tho they were exceeding faire . You learned Muses , race of mighty Ioue , That often sport within a sacred Groue , In pleasant Tempe , and do dayly drinke , Of those cleare waues that flow from Pinples brinke . O you that guide their enterprises right , Who take in hand to graue with rarest slight , Vpon the Alter of Muemosine , Within the Temple of Immortalitie , Sweete pleasing beautie , which else subiect were , In shade of lasting silence still to ere , Guide me , that with your helpe I may begin To frame Thams beautie ; whose like neare hath bin : And graunt these Rithmes , which slenderly are done , May shew hereafter when as I am gone . She was the fairst and most accomplisht Dame , Excelling ' all whom Nature ere did frame . Her heauenly Head the miracle of Nature , Surpassing farre the fairest earthly creature : With yelow Tramels all of beaten gold , Which gasers thoughts in curled knots did hold ; Seemd ouerspred with flowers fresh and gay , The mirtle Forests where the loues do play . Like to a Table was her Front to see , Of whitest Marble , seate of Maiestie : Well polished , as on a summers daie , Withouten waues vnited seemes the Sea : Where Cupid had an Alter built to offer , Their hartes that did refuse his lawes to suffer . Her Eye-lids blacke , of Heben arches made , Were like the bow that Psiches husband had ; In which so liberall was Nature to her , That euery one suspected ( that did view her ) She onely ' made faire Isis to deceaue them : And both of sight and iudgement to bereaue them . Of different force were her two sparckling eyes , Disdaine in th' one , grace in the other lyes : Two eyes ? O no , rather two heauenly Starres ; Th' one proffering Peace , the other threatning Warres : In which Mars bastard Boy , his lodging tooke Thence wounding them which at those starres did looke . Her Nose did seeme ( being somewhat highly raysed ) A little Hill betweene two Vallies placed . Her round and tender Eare , white polished : With Rubies hung her Cheekes embellished : Cheekes which with liuely Cynab're ore spred . Seemd like the Morning , new risse from her bed . Not all those Flowers sprung from Princes gore , Nor Amaranthus loues Flower made of Yore , Like colour had to hers , which did amaze Those carelesse eyes , that on her cheekes did gaze . Full was her Mouth of thousand Odours sweete , Where there in single ranckes did seemely meete Bright orientall Peatles in stead of Teeth : All which , embalmd the Heauens with their breath . From thence sweete word and pleasing smiles did come , All made to charme , and make beholders dome : And which hard Rockes that stand in Seas aloft , Could by their mighty power , of hard make soft . Round was her Chin , with in whose dimples lay Enchaunting spels , tho seeming faire and gay . Her Neck a stay , this little worlde to'pholde , Of Iuorie was , or Alabaster mould , Plast on two hils in whitnes that did passe . Her snow-white Breasts that was Agenous lasse : Betweene which hils , Loue often times did lurke , When cruell stratagems he meant to worke . Her little , but long fingered Hand , more white Then whitest Lillies that the Spring doth dight : With enterchanged Vaines adorned was . Her small Feete such as some say Tethis has : With which she nimbly could trip ore the Lawns , And chace swift Row-bucks , and young wanton Fawns . But for those parts the which her Garments hid , What should we say ? Surely dame Nature did Keepe those thinges secret , least they should excell All she had made in heauen , in earth , in hell . But O! what boots it to haue thinges surpasse , Since fairest thinges do fade like Sommers grasse : Alas nought in this worlde doth firmely stay , But turneth still like Billowes of the Sea : Which neare do cease to roule till with great rore , Their rushing beat and breake against the shore . And thou the cause of this vnstablenesse , That dost delight in nought but ficklenesse ; Whose customes neuer to abide in one , But vseth headlong dayly throw vs downe , When we are rays'd by thy benignitie , Vnto the top of all felicitie . While thus with their faire Nimphs this louely Queene Was in this pleasant Meade , by them was seene A Sheapheard , in the pride of all his dayes : Who whilst his tender Flocke on salts did grase , Sate sencelesse , like an Image made of stone Long while , at last fetching a deepe sad grone Of inward griefe , the trewest signe of all ; They foorth his eyen perceiud salt teares to fall : So after great Ioues hidious thunders past , A cloude of raine , the heauens doth ouercast : And when his teares were spent , with heauie cheare , Sang to his Pipe this Song ; which they did heare : And hearing , could not choose but simpathise His heauie griefe with water in their eyes . O whither ( quoth he ) whither shall I flie , To purchase ende vnto my miserie ? Within what Rocke , or to what desart place , That neuer is enricht by Phaebus face ? Shall I vnfold in great and greeuous paine , Which makes me wretcheder then any Swaine ? If there be any place where dayly cries The Night-rau'n and the Owle , that by night flies , Whereto no liuing wight doth ere resort : From whence foule Winter neuer doth depart , And where the Spring her verdure will not sowe , A place of deadly horror and foule woe , Where ougly sorrow dayly may present , Her selfe before mine eyes me to torment : That will I choose as best befitting mee , In this distresse and great extremitie . And you my little flocke , the small remaine Of a farre greater , which once more my payne Might with most neighbour flockes haue made compare For number or for wooll , both fine and faire : Then when for change of pasture sillie I , In th' Aprill of mine age left Germanie ; Where I mongst Stadian bowers had nigh been slaine , Cause I my Princesse honour did maintaine : Which was , and is , more dearer vnto mee , Then is the precious apple of mine eie : And hoping for I wat not what to gaine , To Englands pleasant soyle brought you againe . Goe wander , goe ; and take your libertie , Grasing where is best pasture , while that I Bewaile m' Icarian flight in mounting pride , Plumed with waxe-forg'd-wings , which thought to ride Aboue the cloudy welkin of the ayre , To view the order their Latonas heire ; Holdeth in guiding of that glorious light , That is the nourish of each liuing wight ; But was deceaud for comming neare the Sunne : My winges did melt , and I did tumble downe . O had I kept along the humble gill , When first I did attempt to climbe the hill . Or had I bounded mine ambitious minde , Which carelesse thought to builde aboue the winde , Sprung from remembraunce of those deedes were done By my great Graundsirs , long-since dead and gone : And a desire to register my'name , Mought them within the sacred booke of fame : Then might I now as I haue done before , Pasture you still along this pleasant shore . Or had not rather greete Chrusophilus , Whose greedy humor passing couetous , Thought all that went beside himselfe quite lost : Mee too much wronged , and mee too much crost ; Whose soule with many filthy crimes made blacke , Now fleetes about Auernus fearefull lake : Then might I now as I haue done before , Pasture you still along this pleasant shore . For which , you Lordes of the infernall Bower , Who ore deceassed soules haue mighty powet , T' inflict , or to remit their punishment : O doe you all at my request assent , Ixion from his wheele a while to take ; And false Chrusophilus fast there to make . Or if great Iunos wrath be not yet done , Let Sisiphus t'hen leaue his rowling stone . Or pull from Cawcasus Prometheus , And let the Vulturs teare Chrusophilus . Or if that may not be , Ioue angrie yet , O then drag Tantalus foorth of his pit . And let Chrusophilus vp to the chin , Still , but in vaine , wade vp an'downe therein . Let him at that faire seeming fruite , oft snatch ; Which thereby hanges , but neuer any catch . A torment well beefitting such a wight , Who liuing ore his owne , had neuer might ; And let his late made gentle of spring , which Are with stolne Plumes of others pride made rich : Dispoyld thereof like to their Grandsirs fare , Who vnto Ceres slauish seruants weare . And for assenting to my wished boone , Sad Hecatombes by mee shall be done , And monthly I will offer a blacke Ramme , As signe that I am thankfull for the same , For had not he lately from mee bereft Vniustly all my Sheepe , saue these few left ; To stanch his neuer satisfied lust Of Golde , earths drosse , that doth consume with rust ; Then might I now , as I hane done before , Pasture you still alongst this pleasant shore . But since it cannot be as t was of late , Since Fortune now hath giuen me the mate , Dispoyld me quite of all my woonted mirth , Clad me with woes , and throwne me to the earth : And like a Tyrant triumphes ouer me , That fore her prostrate on the ground doth lie ; Neare reckning whether it be iust and sound , To trouble him , lies groueling on the ground . O you the remnant of a greater flocke , Goe get you gone , while to some desart rocke I make repaire , where for my bed shall be The cold dry ground , whereon I still will lie ; For morning mattens , mournings full of care : For walkes , the wretched pathes of foule dispaire : For meate , sad discontent : for drinke , salt teares : For nightly sleepes , nought else but slumbring feares ; Till those last dueties I doe pay to Nature , Which I am bound too , beeing a mortall creature : What time my soule freed from this earthly gaile , Where now it tyred lyes , shall to thee vaile : Of faire Elisium fly , where voyde of paine , Mongst blessed soules in ioy it shall remaine . And thou sweete Pipe , the which wonts oft display My wronges vnto these Woodes , these Rockes , and Sea , And moouedst them at once to rew my lot , When lyuing men seemd sencelesse , and would not ; But helde hard hartes , the which I do repent , More harder farre , then hardest Adamant . From that rude race , degenerating nought , Which was of hard Stone , by Deiecalion wrought . Here hang thou ( therewith on a Beechen tree He hung his Pipe ) for now no more for thee , Nor for thy sugred melodie I care , ( Quoth he ) which done like one drownd in dispaire : Thence heauie he departed , passing nought , What Fortune , or foule Enuie could alot . On whom , whilst ISIS lookt , perceiue she might The Sea to swell , which did her much affright : For she discerned on their toppes to ride Great Neptune , poasting to the shore with speede . Whose comming so amas'd the fearefull Thams , ( Who knew full well that he those scorching flames , With her faire eyes within his breast had wrought , Would seeke to quench by farce , if he her caught ) As in a shadie Wood the hydeous stroke Of ratling Thunder on the sodaine broke , Doth scare the small Birdes , pearched on the spray : And like how Fowle that by a Riuer play , Spying a Falcon towring in the skie , Straight leaue their sport , and for their safetie flie , Withouten order crying here and there : So ISIS and her Nimphes , being in feare Of hated Neptune , from thence straight gan fly , Shreeking and crying very pitteously . Aye me , What is this world but vanitie ? Subiect to change ; full of vnconstancie : Now is the Welkin glorious to the eie , Clad in a Mantle of an asurd die . And Phaebus now his faire light doth display , When by and by a blacke Cloud foorth the Sea Doth rise and darke the heauens were Iouiall , Troubling both ayre and earth with waters fall . Aye , now I see that mourning followes mirth , That sorrow driueth pleasure from the earth ; That happinesse doth not long time remaine , But ere it is at full begi'nes to waine : That all in vaine man striues to keepe his state , When dangerous stormes labour it to abate : That vainely men doe boast of Fortunes fauours , Since like a weather-cocke shee alwayes wauers , Threatning them most , and bringing soonest vnder Those , at whose fortunes most the world did wonder . And strange , what ere within this world is done , Ordayned was before this world begun : So that great IOVE , who moderateth Heau'n As soueraigne , and commaunds ore Gods and men : At whose becke , earth and ayre , and all else moue , Will not o●●● enterprise the Fates to proue : Whom neither prayers , nor ought else can resist , Cause still th' are fixt , and still in one persist . FINIS Lib. Prim.

THAMESEIDOS , Liber Secundus . WHen cold staru'n Winter white with Ice and Snow Declining from our Hemisphere doth goe : And watrie Planets plunged deepe do yeelde , Their mantions vnto Hyems pleasant childe . When lucklesse Eccho learnes againe to sing , The pastorall Songes which Sheapheard neare a Spring ; Or hard beside some murmering Brooke repeat , Whilst little Lambkins bout the fieldes do bleat . The amorous God that louely Tyro knew , In likenesse of her Husband Enipeu , Hated by Grecian Nimphes , him whilome loued , And by the Thuscane , French , and Spanish glouted : Remembring the rare beautie that was saide T' adorne faire ISIS face , himselfe araide : And falling foorth the straights of Gibraltare , Where by Alcides plast to Coloms are , His nimble teame of Dolphins he made post , Along the Spanish and the Gallicke coast : And when he came where Englands pride doth pay Her dayly tribute to her Soueraigne Sea , There he at last vnyoakt his wearie teeme , And went to seeke the faire commended Queene : Whom by her siluer slyding streames he found , Amid her Maydens on th' enameld ground : Whose face faire without art , did quickly daze His eyes , that greedely on it did gaze , As Phaebus doth our ●ver feeble sight , When we dare looke on upon his daseling light ; For like the man that vnawares doth see A blasing Comet in the sable skie , Not hauing ere before seene such a sight , Astond , long stares vpon the streaming light : This great God long beheld her beauteous face ; Her beauteous face that Natures workes doth grace , Till therewith rauisht , he perceiud his hart Began to faint , and wonted courage part : And felt each sense enchaunted by her beautie , Forget his wonted office , and his duetie : Which wanton Cupid saw as he did lie Lurking vnder a sandie banke , to prie On JSIS beautie , and being v'ery glad , That then the long desired meane he had T' auenge him for the enuious tale he tolde , Vnto his mother then , when faine he would Haue maried Psiches : straight he to the hart Strake ISIS with a leaden headed dart : Then with an other all of burnisht gold , He warmd his hart , that had long time been cold ; And made him supplyant , craue remedie For those hot flames that in his brest gan frie : But craue in vaine ; for when his suite she heard , At first she waxed pale , being afeard : But after , like the Rose in month of May , Coullard with heate of Phaebus goulden ray For shame her face did seeme , and to him sayd , That she long since had vowd to die a Mayde : Therefore in vaine he labourd , and in vaine Should sue , if in the end he hop't to gaine That guerdon , whereto they haue onely right , Who vnder Loues lasciuious banner fight : And therewith with her faire troope went her way , Leauing the God behind , who did not stay Long after her ; but wroth that she was gon , He studied long which way she might be won Vnto his will ; like to a gallant Souldier , Who for the first repulse doth not giue ouer The fortresse , which to gaine he goes about : Who thereby more enrag'd , doth waxe more stoute ; And backe returnes , meaning in spight of foes , To sacke the walles , and enter ere he goes . But after he had long time beate his braine , And could deuise no way how her to gaine , He vowd the next time that he could come to her , To vse his force , and not his words to woe her . Within a Wood from ISIS streames a part , There is a Caue made in despight of art , So fitly is the growing Marble wrought , To beautifie the entry of the Vault : Through this a Riuer glides , whose sandes do show , Like those that do in westerne Tagus grow : Which left the earth some while , her selfe to drowne , Within this darke , but pleasant mansion ▪ Much like the Nubian Niger , which doth slide In one place vnder earth of no man spide : Hither proud Medwaie , one of JSIS traine , In hunting hauing lost his company came ; Where , with her dayes toyle ouer-wearied , Downe on a bancke she layde her weary head , Meaning when she had slept a while , to go After her lost Companions : but ô , We entend often one thing , when an other Crosseth our purposes ; the which , ô there Was to be seene : for that place which she thought Should worke her rest , her most disquiet wrought : Because a Satire that before had spide her , Taking the Vault when she thought none had eyed her , Who did imagine she was Phaebus sister : And with Endimion , who had often kist her , Appoynted there to meete , whereby they might Reape that same haruest , that doth Loue delight , Did follow her : and had't been true , he then , Meant to bewray it vnto Gods and men : All in reuenge of that disgrace was done , To Marsius , by the God that guides the Sunne . But when the fearefull Satire came vnto The entraunce of the Caue , he durst not go Boldly in to 't , afrayde least he espied , His base leawd enterprise might be denied : But villain-like stale softly to , and peeped At first there in , where he a Nimph that sleeped On the bare floare did see , whom straight he knew : But nor for Phaebe , nor one of her crew . And woondring at his hap , forgate anon The Goddesse , and her deare Endimion : And looke how that same Faun that doated on Faire Iole , stoode like a senselesse stone , Scard and amas'd , when softly he had crept , It being darke where as Alcides slept , Thinking that he faire Iole had bin , Cause she was armd with Club and Lions skin . So stood this Satire for a while astond , Viewing the sleeping Nimph on the bare ground : Yet that vnlookt-for change pleasd him so well , That straight to toying on her lippes he fell , Whereby he causd her from her sleepe awake ; Where she spying this Satire , straight gan quake , And stood euen like , if that the like might bee : Scard and amased at his companie , Like Gadian Spaniards , when as they did see , The valiant English by their chiualrie , Caesarean conquerours of their towne before , They are suspected they had gaind their shore . Or like to him whose fellowes sodainlie , Stroke with a Dart sent from Joues armorie . But as the Birde besnarled in the net , Which the false Fowler closely for her set , Altho fast bound , yet flutters with her winges , And to be gone , standes byting of the stringes : So did she with her tender force withstand , And strugled strongly both with foote and hand , Thinking her selfe thereby againe to free Away out of his brutish companie ; And with sharpe wordes reuilde him , to maintaine Her honour spotlesse , but t was all in vaine : For the young Satire fealt she was vnable , Beeing so tender bônd , with him to graplet Yet seeing her so hot , and out of quiet , And very desirous for to put her by it , So gently as he could he askt her why , She so should ha : e the harmelesse Satirie ? Who answered straight , Their foule deformed shapes , Their manners rude , vnfit for Maydens laps ; Did make her loath their vile base companie : To which the Satire foorthwith did replie . Sweete Nimph ( quoth he ) What ? is it these that grow Foorth of our forheads , that dislike you so ? ( Poynting vnto his little hornes ) If these ? That God which conquerd Jndia , and did please The Candian Queene , had such : or if too red My face doth seeme ? know Phaebus from the bed Of his faire Loue arysing , redder farre Doth looke ; yet rode he oft in Climens Carre . But happily , nor these our Hornes nor Face , But these our hayrie Breastes , worke our disgrace : Which I confesse are rough , but like his Breast Where louely Venus oft hath stolne her rest . Nor should we ought the more ill shapen seeme , Because Goate-like wee clouen footed beene , Since Cupids mother is wed vnto him , That hath a pool-foote , and halts of a lim . And well I wot , wee Joue our shape did take When to Antiope he loue did make : Therefore I must conclude , if Nature had This perfect shape of ours imperfect made , Because in heauen and earth the like there are , Mongst God and men to be excus'd it were : This sayd , he threw her downe vpon the sand , For , O her force too weake was to withstand : And there in spight of her , he puld the flower , The fragrant Rose , which neare before that hower ; ( Tho ofted sought ) by any was obtayned : Hard was her hap that so vile slaue it gained . That done , he shooke her off , as great men now , Those that their turnes haue serued vse to do ; And thence departed , leauing her full woe , And sorrowfull behind , for she did know , She like the Rose , was cropt from natiue stem , Whose vertues wholy lost , do nor younge men , Nor louely Maydes delight , or ought content Either for shew , or for their pleasing sent . Yet went she home againe , but did not tell , What hard misfortune was to her befell , But proudly , as before , when she was free , Shee presseth next her Mistris still to bee , And iets it by her side ; she neuer showde By any action she awry had trode . Nor did her fellowes ere her fault perceiue : So studied she their eye sight to deceiue . Yet after this , scarce Phaebe the ninth time Had showne her selfe to this our northerne Clime , When Isis almost fainting thorow heate , And hunting in the chace , being in a sweate : By chaunce a faire and pleasant Lawne espyed , Through midst of which a shallow Brooke did slide : And liking well the place , the vpper brimme , Toucht with her foote , and finding coole and trimme The water , willed all her Maydens there , To bath themselues , which when Medwaie did heare , She hung the head , afraid she should bewray , That yet none knew , and onely sought delay , Till iealous Thams whether she would or no , Caused her Maydes her garments to vndo ; Where , with her naked body straight was showne , Her shame ; the which vnwilling to haue knowne , She couerd with her hands : but all serud nought , T was knowne , and she confest where it was wrought : Desiring pardon , cause t was forced on her , And gainst her will , she suffred that dishonour . But as Diana raged when she knew Calisto , one of her faire retinew By Ioue was forced ; so did ISIS now : And straight commaunded her from thence to goe , And tolde her for her leawd fact angered , That whether to the Northerne Pole she fled , Where windie Boreas doth dayly strow The tops of Hyperborean hilles with Snow : Or to the Tropicks , where Apollos torch With extreame heate the sandy ground doth scortch : Yet therefore should she not escape or flie The iust reward of her hypocisie , Which could so vilde a fact so long time hide , From being by her , or her fellowes spide . Which when poore Medwaie heard , discomfited ; Vnwitting what to doe ; for feare halfe dead : From thence she traueld by vncertaine wayes , Like a great Shippe in the wide Ocean Seas ; Whose stately Maste being spent , and proud Sayles lost , Is by each waue hither and thither tost : And still bewailde her miserable state , Her wretched life brought to so low a rate : Life seeming long to folke in miserie , But short to those liue in felicitie . Yet comfortlesse as she was , like that wight , Which on the high Alpes , hauing lost by night His way , and knoweth not which hand to turne , Sits on a Bancke , where while as he doth mourne His happes vnto the sable mantled Skies , Farre off some Sheapheards by a fier espies , She farde ; hearing the iangling of a Bell : Following the which , she came vnto a Cell , Amidd the shadow of faire spreading trees : Through which did breath a coole refreshing brees , Where the woods Burgeses did dayly sing Sweete Laies vnto a pleasant purling Spring , That thereby ranne : which pleasing melodie Might well delight , with his rare harmonie Each mortall creature ; whereas she did see An olde Man clad in russet , on his knee , Deuoutly mumbling Mattens : which good sight , At that time cheard her ouer dulled spright : And till his mourning dueties he had ended , At th' entrance of the Cell she him attended : Which finisht , in she went ; whom when he spied , What wight she was much mus'd , and more her eied . All in astoond , for sillie man he nere Before that time , like strange sight had seene there . If she some Goddesse were , he wist not well ; For of strange Goddesses he had heard tell , That would leaue hautie heauen , and resort To earthly Springes and Groues , to take their sport . Or if some Nimph to neighbour-woods belonging , He did not know ; yet for he had a longing To wit what mister wight she was , he did , After he thither had her welcome bid , Intreate her shew , by knowing , which quoth he , You may be duely honoured by me ? To which , Medwaie reuiud by 's courtesie , Him mildly answered : Father take not me For other then a wretched wight , opprest With mightie griefe , who craue but roome to rest , Till wearie limbes I haue refresht againe , Wherewith from foorth her eyes great shewers of raine Fell downe her blubbred cheekes , whereat th' old man Rewing her sad distressed state , began Entreat her tell the causes of her griefe . Who ( sighing ) did her fortunes tell in briefe , Both how the Satire in the Caue had vs'd her , And how therefore her Mistris had refus'd her : Which when the olde man heard , rewing her paine : Alas faire daughter ( quoth he ) do not plaine , For plaintes in these extreames do nothing vaile : And t is not good in vaine to weepe and waile . What woman , know there is no maladie So hard to cure , but hath his remedie . Ioue doth not alwayes foorth his thunder cast , Nor still doth the hot raging Sommer last , Still Boreas doth not with impetuous sway , Raise mighty tempestes in the Ocean Sea . Nor will these sorrowes dayly on thee tende , Thy patience prowd away from thee they 'll wende . All humaine accidents about do wheele , And in one place do neuer soiorne still , No more then this great heau'n which dayly wee , To turne with an vnwearie course do see : Then euen as Heauen the which is Fortunes ~~horse~~ sourse , About the earth doth keepe a lasting course : So must we thinke those fortunes which do fall , Bred by high heauen ; yet not perpetuall . Cold Winter past , the healthy Spring doth come , Then cholericke Sommer , after sicke Autum : Nor doth the influence of the heauens each hower , Downe in one place still good or bad lucke power : Therefore sad Nimph , since what is thee befall , Thou canst by no art backe againe recall . Comfort thy selfe , and hope that God will send To these thy griefe , when he sees time , an end . In the meane season , and till thou haue reard Th' vnwildie burthen , and thy selfe hast cheard , Stay heere with me . So downe he wild her sit , And ease her wearie limbes : who glad of it , Did rest her selfe straight on the dustie ground , As glad so good an harbour she had found In her great neede ; as weather beaten Thrush , In a great shower is of a sheltring bush . Not farre from hence where this old man abode , Downe in a bottome grew a shadie Wood : By which a Riuer serpenteth so cleere , That from the bottome each thing doth appeare Most liuely to the curious gasers sight : Hither at any time no Shepheard might Driue his rich fleecie bleating flocke to grase , For reuerence of those Nimphes that haunt the place . So 't fortun'd as sad Medwaie walkt about One day to ease her griefe , she did finde out This pleasant place , where by the Riuer side , An entraunce through a stonie Rocke she spide : To which she went , and did by steps descend , Into a dark some Hall , through which she wend : Vnto a fayre roome , lightened all by arte , For vnder ground it was , and farre apart From sight of heauen ; the things that there made light , Were precious Carbuncles , and Diamonds bright , Reflecting Christalls , Rubies cherrie red ; Rich Emeraulds , and Opols discoloured : About which roome , the antique Images Were plast , of many worthy personages . Fame saith , that Merline while he liu'd , did make ( Doating vpon a Lady of the lake ) This bowre , by his great skill at her request , And therin plast the pictures of the best , And noblest wights that should in Brittaine be , After his death : There sad Medwaie did see , On one side , the last man bore name of King , In Brutes long raigning race , who thought to bring From Armorick an Host of valiant men , To foyle the Saxons , that had footing then In Brittaine tane , had not him Visions stayde , That wild to Rome his Iorney should be made . There was that Rhodericke , the great surnamde , Who for deuiding Wales , was highly famde : And Howel Dha , who auncient lawes corrected , And Officers to see right done , elected : With Griffeth Conon , who victorious raigned Full fiftie yeeres ; and when he peace had gayned Vnto his Countrey , dyed : And Llewelline , The braue last Prince of auncient Brittish line ; Whose life by them whom he did trust , betrayde ; Alterd the gouernment which they had swayde Two thousand and foure hundred yeeres and od . Aye me , that nought on earth hath his abode , Heere permanent : aye me , that one mans fall , Should be the ruine and decay of all His house : aye me , I should haue cause to rew His losse , whose memorie olde griefes renew . On th' other side , in liuely Tables were Pictures of Noble-men , and Ladyes faire : Among all which , those seemd the liueliest , That should liue vnder Faire ELIZA'S rest : Who though a Woman , yet beyonde compare Of all the Princes in the world that are : For in her raigne Arachne busely , Maketh her webs in rusty Armorie : And mightie Staues by rotten Woormes are eaten , For want of vse , that death had wont to threaten . These when she had oreseene , she further went , And to an other Roome thereby had ment To goe , wherein the carued Pictures were , Of those that Englands royall Crowne should weare : And reached at the Key that thereby hung , But could not moou't , so to the wall it clung : For that same entraunce , cause she was no Mayde , ( Like the faire Empresse who the Scepter swayde ) Was her denied , for so by hidden skill Of Magicks art , and by infernall spell T was framde , that none might haue accesse therein , That were defiled with Venerian sinne : Onely she hapt through the Key-hole to spie The fairest Picture that she ere did see . The counterfeict of Englandes Soueraigne , ELIZABETH , thrice happy in her raigne : Vnder whose rule her Subiectes not desier To change their state of womanish Empire : Who whilst hatefull Erinnis hell doth leaue , And both with fier and sword her neighbours greeue , And in the murmure of a cruell storme , Which threates the machine of the world to harme : In peace and quiet doth her Realme maintaine ; Suppressing Will , and suffering Iustice raigne . Thou most bright Sunne of this our Northern clime , Liue thou for euer , or liue Nestors time , To maintaine Artes , as hitherto th' ast done ; For wayle the Muses must when thou art gone : And if it fortune that at any time , ( Luckely ) this ragged and vnpolisht Rithme , Into those faire hands fall , that holdes the bridle , With which thou iustly rulest many people ; Behold it with a fauourable eie , And thinke that none can praise thee worthelie . After the Nimph perceiude she was denied The entraunce of that roome , she would abide No longer there , but left the enchaunted place ; And thought returne , and shew what she that space Had seene , vnto her Hoast : but being wearie Of that vnweeldie burthen she did carrie , She sate her downe to rest , and by and by , Was faine for helpe vnto Lucina cry : Who hearing her , straite came , and with her goes Some other Nimphes , to helpe her in her throwes : Where they to get her , speaking words of ease , Did from her wombe a little babe release . Which by and by they laide in mothers lap , Who with salt teares gan thus to waile her hap . O cruell Mistris ( quoth she ) that exilde me , When a rude Satire gainst my will beguilde me . Making me wander like a vacabone , Through darke woods and ore bleere hills vnknowne : Or like a Ghost , whose freinds forgotten haue , The sencelesse corps to burie in a graue . Well hoped I for my long seruice don , A better guerdon then this , to haue won : But hopte in vayne ; for woe ! my cursed fate I now do finde : but finde it all too late . Who serueth thanklesse folke , shal be rewarded Not as they hopte , nor as they haue deserued . More had she saide , had she not bin by him Euen then surpriz'd , that long to Thams had bin A wearie suter , who then from his Sonne Old Proteas , the skilfull God , did come . Deepe in the Ocean , where yet neuer ground , By longest fadome ●●●…e could ere be found : Vnder a hollow Rocke , ther is a vault , By often beating of great Billowes wrought : So that it seemes to be the noble acte , Of some rare Mason , or skild Architect : About which secret Caue , do daiy lorke Amid the Rocks , the monstrous cruell Orke : The admirable Whale , which with great rore , An other Sea , into the Sea doth poure : All with the dead-sleepe charming cold Torpil , That knowes he carries in his flancke , that wil Decaue the traitrous Fisher of his pray : And Scolopenders , who into the Sea ( Caught with sharpe hooks ) their entrails foorth do cast : And when the hookes are found , and daunger past , Receiue them in againe ; where as each one His office holdes , as he before had done . There dwels old Proteus , who by his great skill , In the deepe secrets of blacke Magicke , will Commaund Apollo staie his foaming horse , Pluck downe heauens stars , & stop faire Cinthias course : And can great Pluto in his Realme affright , When ere him list , to shew his powrefull might . Heere had old Neptune bin , in hope to gaine Some helpe from him , but then his arte prou'd vaine : His Circles , Characters , straunge words , all vsde In order , number , time , his will refusde : For sure that arte hath no power ore the soule , Nor doth the world afoard an hearbe so foule : Or potion made of poysoned Minerall , That can the minde vnwilling , make loues thrall : Which made Ioues Brother discontent , thence part , Dispayring ere to ease his greiuous smart . Since then , his hopes did faile , but as he went , He heard a woman wofully lament , With pitteous plaintes her greeuous martyrdome : And going that way whence the plaintes did come , Distressed Medwaie , he did hap to spie , Bewayling of her Babies myserie . Whose sight did comfort him that hoped by her , He might worke meanes to slake his tortring fier : Which to effect and bring about the sooner , Knowing her fortunes , thus he straight gan wooe her . The much griefe ( quoth he ) I haue boren long , Makes me the more to rue thy too much wrong , Sad Nimph , all vndeserude ( I wot ) by thee : Wherefore if thou 'lt , deuise , and but tell me How I may quench these fiers in my brest , By fraude or force I passe not , I protest , Of all those many Sea-gods waite on mee , The choise and comliest I le besto we on thee , To be thy Husband , in thy Mistris place . This said , straight Medwaie gan to waigh her case , And sadly counts the wronges she had endured , The great disgraces nere to be recured : All by her Mistris , all without desart , As she did iudge : yet iudg'd she not her part , Traytrously sell her to her greatest foe , Though by her sh 'ad bin wronged farre much more : But , but a small while that thought did possesse her , So much did Neptunes promis'd husband presse her , 'T should seeme sh 'ad not forgot the sport was made Late in the Caue , how ere at last she sayde : If to that place great God where sometime you , With all the Sea-gods of your retinue , Were by Ocean richly entertained , When he proud Thetis to his first wife gained : Do goe to morrow ere the fierie Sunne The harnesse from his horses hath vndunne : There you that cruell Lady straight shall finde , That to vs both hath prooued too vnkinde : Where hauing caught her , you may force her stench Your bleeding woundes , and burning fiers quench . But be you sure to catch her by some sleight , Else will she scape you ( for she 's woondrous wight ) And serue you as Coronis hath to fore , When she out ran you on Phocaion shore : But poore soule shee , no sooner tolde this tale , When Neptune being afeard the time would faile , If he would longer stay , in hast did hie To seeke his loue ; which when Medwaie did see , Repenting ( but too late ) that euer he , Had her deceaued by his flatterie ; Euen as a wilde Bull darted by some one , Begins to roare , and vp and downe to runne Amid the presse , all fearelesse of his harme : So Medwaie vext , cause he did not performe His oath ; and for her fault in conscience stunge , Voyde of all patience , furilike flunge , And oft for spight , her body threw to ground , And all for spight her body to confound ; Till at the last , she with her selfe did take A truce , and summoned sad wordes , to make Her sorrowes knowne ; with which the quiet skie She vext , and sighing , thus at last gan crie . O foolish , that I was foolish and madd , To thinke that false forsworen Neptune had Fayth in his wordes , or to imagine hee , ( Changing his nature ) would be true to mee . You hollow Caues , grim Plutoes auncient place , You hellish furies , blacke nightes ougly race : Thou triple headed Cerberus ; and you Infernall Floodes , O plundge mee deepe into The bottome of that hot abisme , where lie Tormented Ghostes in wretched miserie . O thou the guyder of the golden light , O thou faire Queene that cleerely shinst by night , And you bright Starres that wander in the Skies , If you haue power ouer our Destenies , And that you be both of our good and ill , The onely authours , then togither will So many mischiefes on my head to light , As can , or may , vpon a wretched wight . And thus as she lamented in despaire , Her tatterd Garments shee in peeces taire : And her two snow-white handes plaighted together , Enrag'd she wrong , and thumped without measure ▪ Her tender Armes against the senselesse ground , And her small Babe ( strange tale ) being vnbound , And layde along vpon the soft greene gras ; No sooner toucht the earth , but straight wayes was Ore-growne with earth ; and from her tooes out went Small writhing rootes in vnquoth wonderment . And her small body being lessoned , Into a small long stalke was fashioned . To Flagges her fingers changd : and last of all , Her Head turnd to that plant we Cats-talle call . Which wondrous change , when Medwaie saw , she mournd , Cause to so vile a plant the Gods had turnd Her guiltlesse Babie ; till at last euen she Did like to snow , that on the Alps doth lie All Winter time ; which when as westerne windes , Together with the warmth of Sunne vnbindes , The clodded lumpes to water straight doth change , Making small Brookes , as downe hill it doth range : For she consuming vnto watrie teares , Was to a Riuer turnde ; the which now beares Th' vnfortunate Nimphes name , fall'n by the fault , Which in the Gaue was by the Satire wrought . Finis Lib. Secund.

THAMESEIDOS , Liber Tertius . IN all the world so great an enemie , Either to man , or mans felicitie There neuer was , if we do iudge aright , And be not led away with blinded sight , Then is our owne ore-bold ~~seueritie :~~ 〈◊〉 For still thereby fit oportunitie , Our foes haue for to ceaze on vs , before We thinke that they are neare aboard the shore : Witnesse faire Thames , who doubting nought at all , Was nigh surprisd , and made God Neptuns thrall : Who next day , when Hiperions sonne began To driue his Chariot to the Ocean , Ariued in the Meddow where as she Was sporting in her Maydens companie : Whom happilie faire Thamisis espied ; And spying , her faire louely cheekes ( straight ) died With a Vermilion blush , abashed as Naked Diana mongst her Maydens was : Then when she in the cleere Gargaphian Spring , By th' haples Nephew of the Thebane King Vnwares was found ; and from the place straight fled , Leauing her Maydes behind all in the Mead : A way she ran , as raging stormes doth flie , Tumbling vp cloudes within the fable skie , Nere looking backe , nor making any staie : So feared she the soueraigne of the Sea . Not halfe so fast distressed Florimel Fled from the sight of that Hiena fell , Which the dispightfull Witch after her sent , To bring her backe , and her in peeces rent . Nor halfe so fast from Phaebus Daphne fled , As ISIS now , to saue her maydenhead : Whereat the Lord of the vnconstant Sea Did chafe , yet loth that she should get away , He gan with sugred speaches for to woe her , But all was spent in vaine , that he sayd to her . Thou that my soule holdes captiue in thine eyes , ( Quoth he ) and still new tormentes dost deuise To plague me , stay ; and those hot fiers fee , That burning in my breast , haue vexed mee Ere since the shaftes which from thy sparkling starres Did come ▪ and wounded me all vnawares : And in thy golden haire my hart was tane , Which now dispaires t' haue freedome ere againe : But bootelesse were these Wordes ; which seeing , hee A loude vnto her , thus againe gan crie . Stay cruell ISIS , harder farre then Flint , And rougher then the Oake on Ida , stint Thy hastie pace ; and cause the Nimphos thou dost Excell in fairenes , do not therefore bost ; But thinke , that as thy flood beares to my realme , with an infatigable course his streame , Returning nere againe vnto his head : So th' howre the day , the day thy youth will lead , Till on it death , or wrinckled age will sease : Which come , thou 'lt rue the time which thou didst lease . Loue therefore while as time is offerd thee , And while thou mayst againe like loued bee : For times do change and alter euery day , And in those times we change , and doe decay : Then present time 's better , then time to come , Since Golden , Siluer , Brasen age , is done ; And nought is left , but Irons cankred rust , Which dayly turneth all from worse to worst . Looke but vpon the faire sweete senting Rose , Which cropped from the tree whereon he growes , Straight loseth all the fairenesse that it had : And know , thy beautie one day , so will fade . Nor thinke thou canst the Gods in heauen excell , Since thundring loue , loues fier could not quell . Since bright Apollo spite of all his art , With Cupids shafts , was wounded to the heart : Since the faire Ciprian Queene , wanton Loues Mother , By no means could her youngling fier smother : And that Diana on Endimion doated , Yet for a maide , and chast , is still reputed . But rather thinke , though now from loue th' art free , That loue will one day shew his power on thee . Thou knowest , how late disdainefull Ardea , Who Glaucus scornde ; a God , and of the Sea : Had her due merits on thy maidens strond . Be warn'd by her , that God which can commund ▪ The greatest Gods , will take reuenge on thee , If thus thou dost persist in crueltee : And if thou knowst me not , then stay and view What one he is , that for thy loue doth sue . I am not one that hauntes the craggie Rocks , Yet Lord of Seas : nor tend I fleecie flocks , From whom thou fleest , I thinke thou dost not know ; For if thou didst , thou wouldst not vse me so . Were I a Saluadge , that mans flesh doth eate , A foule blacke Moore , a Tartar , or a Gete : Had I bin fosterd in Hircanian wood , By wilde Beares milke , or cruell Tygers blood : Then mightst thou scorne me iustly , and hold mee Too too presumptuous , thus to follow thee : Then mightst thou haue excuse , and not be blam'd , To let me die , with beauties fire inflam'd . But I in Seas keepe Court , my Temples stand . At Istmus , and within Calabria land . In Italie the people do me honour , And Ioue himselfe is knowne to be my brother . With crooked Keele men learned first by mee , To cut the Seas ; and tame the Horse was free . And though my Beard seeme white , my Carkas olde , Prooue mee , and thou shalt finde mee hot and colde : Prooue mee , my artires wants no strength : and though That I seeme light , yet haue I pith enough . Still pleasure shall yeelde force vnto my raines : Prooue , I will not deceiue thee of thy paines , For oft vnidelie I haue spent the night , And when I rose , I haue bin fresh and light : O runne no further then , but stay and proue , Stay , and let 's mutually ioy others loue . Faine more he would haue spoke , but she afrayd , Fled fast away , not heeding what he sayd : And as she ranne , so meeting windes did blow , That naked skinne aboue her knee did show , And her gold haire now fallen loose and slacke , At euery step did waue behinde her backe : All which , farre more did set his hart a fier , And farre more did encrease his hot desier , So that he lustely did mende his pace , Hopeing to catch her , whom he had in chace . But as a Pirate hath bin long at Sea , Whose Shippe foule and vnwasht , makes but small way , Doth nerethelesse if that he spies a chace , Vnto his courses straight his drablers lace , And vp a trip hoyse topsailes , though in vaine , For foule , the more they sayle , the lesse they gaine : So was it twixt faire ISIS and her foe ; For she more lighter , did him faire outgoe . Which when he saw , vexed to be so crost , Even like a Tyger fell , the which hath lost Vnwares her sucking Whelpes , doth rage and fling , Amid the shrubbes and bushes that do spring , On Ganges golden strond so tooke he on , Stamping and stareing like a franticke man . After staying his rage , and lookeing round about : In broken speaches thus he did breake out . Now Heauens , I see my Godhead is but small : My power far lesse , my might iust nought at all : But shall I leaue her tho ? No , I will after : And neuer lin , till these same hands haue caught her : Yet she is young and wight , I o●●e and slowe : And as I followe , she doth me outgoe . Oh Cupid , why art thou mine enemie , And to my griefe dost giue no remedie ? Why ad'st thou starres to heauen ? leaues to green trees ? Why gathered waters , vnto growen Seas ? Why dost thou make me languish for that Lady , That is more coy , then euer I knew anie ? Yet you mine eyes were cause first of this same , For thorow you descended beauties flame : That in mine entrailes burnes like Mongibell , But were mine eyes in fault ? no I wot well , Had my weake minde ore-rulde my greedie eye , Then from this torment had I now bin free . Here did he stop againe , and as you see , Some well skilde actor in a tragedie , Whose purpose bent to execute his will , Is countermaunded by some vnlookt ill , Falles like a madde man in a raging vaine : Euen so did he , and thus began againe . My Haruest is in Grasse , I now do see , And feare that it ripe Corne will neuer bee : What tho ; I am the selfe same God that hath The Scepter of the Seas , who in my wrath Can cause my raging Billowes to arise : And armde with furie , buckle with the skies ; Then shal't be sayd , that I shall suffer this , And thus be crost by scornefull Thamisis ? No ? Who will then acknowledge me a King ? Or on my Aulters offer any thing ? T is onely force must purchase me , what Loue And my long woeing , from her nere could moue ; And though it be not gotten by constraint ; But kinde and gentle meane ( they say ) must gaint . ▪ Yet since I long haue gently woed her , And all in vaine ; by reuerend Stix I sweare , Hence foorth I will no ●●●ger woe , nor sew , But ha'er in spight of all that she can do . O which of all the sacred Muses now , Shall I entreat to shew the base meanes how False Neptune sought to gaine his wished pleasure : But one 's too few , helpe therefore all together ; For well I wot , you hearing her sad chaunce , Did leaue your Springs bout which you wont to daunce , And went to waile with her sad Maydens , which Did nothing else but cry , nought else but scritch . Now wearie Phaebus had vnharnised His fierie steedes , and got him selfe to bed To his faire Loue : and now the sable Night Had causd sleepe ceaze vpon each mortall wight . When Neptune causd his Coatch be brought to him , The which two yoaked Delphins makes to skim Ore the large furrowes of his spacious plaines , In which he mounted , and with scalie raignes , Gouernd their heades ; seated in Iuorie , Like a great Prince adornd with maiestie , Bearing his three tinde Trident in his hand : Whom Glaucus being accomp'ned with a band Of Tritons , followes till vnto the ground They came , where windes in Irons fast they found : A cloudie Countrey , compast all with Hilles : Where wrestling windes with blustrous blasting filles : From darksome Caues sent out the foggie aire : There Aeolus within a stately Chaire He found , holding his royall Mace in hand , With which th' vnruly Windes he doth commaund , Whom Neptune in this manner did intreate . King Aeolus , for thee my brother set To rule the Windes according to thy pleasure , To let them loose , or keepe them lockt together . On farthest shores of Ocean Seas there lyes A pleasant Iland , in triangle wise , Which on the East the mouth of Rhyne doth face , With a great Angle , and from thence apace Withdrawes his shoring sides , butting proudlie Fraunce with the one , with th' other Germanie : Which Iland , doth in honour farre surpasse Creat ; which my brother Joues nurse whylome was . Nor may with it ●● Samos or Rhodes compare : Ore which , once Iuno , or and Loues Queene had care : For there within that land , no lyuing wight Hath want of needfull thing , or sweete delight : Nor are they scarde with blastes of bloody feares , Which braying Trumpet soundes in fearefull eares ; But of the murthring and life quelling blade , For Husbandmen there hookt Sithes oft are made , And Huswiues there do hiue the little Bee , In rusty Caskes that by the walles do lie . In this , there is a cruell , but faire Mayde , Within whole haire , deceitfull Loue once made , Slie subtile Nettes , by which all closely wrought , My faynting senses troytrously he caught , When least suspecting ; rauisht at her sight , They on her rarenesse fed with great delight : And now sixe Moones with borrowed brothers light , Sixe times haue shynd , and sixe times out of sight Bin , since I her gan woe ; but all in vaine , For from my suite is sprung nought but disdaine : Foule scornes , that mocke me and my deitie , And frowning lookes , all voyde of pietie . That Dame whose losse of life and chastetie , Freede Rome from seruile yoake of tyrannie . And that faire Isbell who would loose her head , Rather then yeeld to Pagans lustfull bed , Were not so coy , as is Doris proud daughter ; Witnes those meanes , whereby so oft I sought her : Therefore th' vntamed windes , at my request , Send out against her , that by them opprest , She may without conditions yeelde to mee , And I thereby recure my maladie . Now I le enlarge thy straighted Kingdomes bounds , And giue to thee thy bordering neighbours grounds ; If yeelding , thou vv2 to mee in this , And helpe me get my wished Thamisis . This he with faigned sighes so vttered , That foolish Aeolus thought all he sed To be as true , and therefore pittying The languishing estate of the olde King ; Without aduisement , straight made his replie . Thrice Noble Neptune , whose dominions lie Beyonde the borders of the ruddie Inde : If I , or all my power , can bring to ende , What you desire , in vs shall want no will : And therewith did he strike thorow an hill His Mace ; whence straight a crew of hellish mates In crowdes came thronging foorth the Iron gates ; Whose chiefe was Boreas , who with violent sway , Doth chase the pestred Cloudes , and tosse the Sea : Who in his rage doth turne vp knottie Oakes , And beates the ground in hayle with sturdie stroakes ; Who trembling Ghostes doth vexe in Stigian lake ; And got in Caues , makes all the worlde to quake : To whom turning , thus flattering Neptune sayd , You in your furie , make the worlde afrayd : Turmoyling earth and seas , I did not locke You , fettred with these strong giues in this Rocke ; But frowning Joue , whose will for law must stand . Nor with like tirranny do I commaunde , You know : for in my Realme you may be bould , Not any one gainsaying what you would . Therfore stout Boreas , if Orithia thou Didst ere entirely loue , assist we now , T' obtaine my loue : who farre vnlike to thine , Both scornes my person , and what els is mine . Scarce this was said , when sturdy Boreas gan To flaske his winges : with wauing which euen than He raisde a storme , and with his companie , Madde , and enragde , with furie thence did flie : And like fierce Dogges , long time in Irons chainde , And long in darkesome kennelles haue remainde : Once broken loose , runne rageing heere and there , And all they meete , with rauening teeth do teare . So these same villaines now at libertie , And freed from fetters , do a madding flie . Troubling each place with their impetuous sway , And made the worlde seeme like a dismall day : Vntill they came where louely Thames abode , Whom they did chase ; base villaines , rude , and wood : Not waighing ought the wrong she offred had , Nor yet the plaintes which her sad maydens made . But like how oft in stormie raynie weather , The waters falling twentie howers together , The flouds made proud thereby aboue their boundes , Do swell and ouerflow the meddow groundes . With the great furie of their ouerflowing , Driuing small Birds away from trees by growing : Small Birds which on the spray had built their nestes , And causing fishes , as vnwonted guestes To harbour in their roome : so ISIS was Forc'd by the woodnesse of fell Boreas : To leaue her maydens pleasaunt companies , Who fild the aire with hoarse vnwonted cryes For her departure being ill opayd , As Niobe , Amphions Queene is sayd , When all her brood , the darlings of her ioy , Latonas children did for spight destroy . The hollow sandie bankes that wont rebound , To their rare charming musicke ; a sweete ground , Sent now vnpleasant Ecchoes , like the notes Came through the hollow of their feeble throates . The light foote Fairies , and th' Oreades , The Dryads , Hamadriads , and the Naiades , Who oft delighted with their harmonie , Did by their streames keepe ISIS companie : Now hearing all theses Nimphes so heauely mourne , Like heauely at once vnto them goane , Nere Thetis so bewailde stout Peleus sonne , When Coward Paris him to death had done . Neuer Halcion with like griefe did mourne , On sandie sea shore her deare spouse forlorne : Nor was the sorrow my Phebe did make , When death her dere-ling foorth her lap did take , Though downe her cheekes did issue brackish seas , To be compard vnto the sorrow , these Sad dolefull Nimphes did make , when they did see The faire haird Thames in such extremitie : For like a Meade , dispoyled of his flowers ; A goodly Picture , robbed of her colours : Like to the Heauen , if all his Starres were lost ; A goodly Shippe , wanting her Sayles and Mast : So faire eyed ISIS wanting , seemde that place ; Who thereof was the flower , the beautie , and grace : And when as wordes free passage had obtayned , Of pressing griefes , their harmes they thus complayned . O who ( quoth they ) will make whole Seas fall downe Our blubbred cheekes , where we our selues may drowne ? Or what God , full of pittie shall we call , Who t' end our woes , to Rockes will turne vs all ? From hence foorth , Pleasure be thou banished Out of this wretched place , and in thy stead Let ouglie sorrow dayly on vs tende . And thou bright Sunne , would thou from hence wouldst wend , And let thy light in mystie cloudes be pent , For darknesse best besitteth discontent : And take her with thee , who borrowes her light From the cleere rayes of thy most glorious sight : Take her , which oft amidd her Nimphes doth play On Cinthus hill , and often times doth stay Mongst Stigian Hagges : for Thames deare to you both , Is forst to flie , for feare of Neptunes wroth . And thou that wrapst all in forgetfulnesse , And mortall folke dost ease of heauinesse , Vnder thy blacke winges bringing diuers dreames From foorth Cimerian fieldes , now hide the beames Proroceeding from the Starres in th' Hemisphere , And make a generall darknesse euery where . And Phylomell , since thou art woont to mone , Remembring still the great disgrace was done By thy false brother , helpe vs to lament : Or if thy mourning notes are fully spent , Then giue a quiet eare to that we say , For we huge wronges in sad tunes will display . And you ô Trees , in whom there life doth rest , Shew foorth some signe , as pittying our vnrest . Let little Birdes be silent on your spray : And on your boughs , let Rauens croope by day . But you that late your branches downe did bend , From Thames faire face , the Sun-beames to defend , Now in despight , to ground your branches throwe , Since Thames is gone , to shew you waile her woe . You Lillies white , whom whiter handes did gather : And you faire blooming Roses , Natures treasure , Vpon your selues sadde sable Weedes bestow , Since Thames is gone , to shew you wayle her woe . She was the Rose , the Lillie of the day , Whose leaues b'vntimely stormes , do fall away : Oh eccho all this place , with mouring fill , And marke the dolefull accents of our ill . Sound foorth our griefe , and let them neuer end , Vntill the Heauens our fortunes do amend . Oh let our iust complayninges loude and shrill , Thorow these winding waters wander still , Whereby those seas that on our shores do flow , Our heauie griefe to forraigne lands may show : And on their banckes let neuer trees more grow , Since Thams is gone , as signe you waile her woe . And thou great Joue , if any care thou hast Of earth , or earthly thinges , O do thou haste , And saue her from false Neptunes treacherie , Who honoured still thy sacred deitie : Saue who the corners of thine Aulters dud Purple continually with luke warme bloud . But ô ! it seemes great Joue , thou hast no care Of vs , nor of this worlde ; but it doth ere , At all aduenture : for if that you had Regard of humane thinges , or if you made Esteeme of vs , your owne hands workemanshyp ; Then would you of sad ISIS take some keepe , And her protect from Neptune , who a mine Doth seeke her spotlesse chastetie to staine : And he should not , that hath so laboured T' abuse chast Maydens , scape vnpunished : Wherefore since Heauen , and all therein are deafe , And hearing not , can not amende our griefe , Let vs be gone , and cease hence foorth to plaine , For all our plaintes are spent , but all in vaine . This said , they all arose , all yll apayde , And thence departed , in dispaire of ayde From heauen , or else where ; vexing still the skies , With their hot scalding sighes and greeuous cries : But nor the cryes , nor sighes , did ISIS good , Whom Boreas foule vnciuill Groome starke wood , Did with a crew of wicked mates pursue , As she some Felon were , or wight vntrue : Who poore soule , seeing how she was oreborne , Like pittious plaintes did make , and so did mourne , As with her husband Epimethius daughter Did then when they could see nothing but water ; When onely they of all mankind bereft , Amid the billowes of the Seas were left . Then when themselues were solely left in woe , And saw no land , nor any fellowes moe , And fearing least at last she might be caught , By that foule Leatcher , who this wrong first wrought : With hands lift vp , she thus besought great Joue . Heare thou great Father of the Gods aboue , By whom all 's made , maintained , and disposde , And from whom nought on earth is vndisclosde : Who full of equitie , dost all things right , And wicked folke beholds with eies of spight . Heare and behold the miserable state , Of me thy Daughter , dolfull , desolate . These teares , ay me , that from mine eies do fall , For succour at thy helping hands do call . Oh let not then my foe obtaine his will , On me poore Maide : nor let the windes fulfill The treason that he hath deuisd gainst mee : But force them all retire , and bacward flee , To their abode ; O pittie me I pray , Least following ages doe hereafter say , In vaine thou holdes the thunder in thy hand , Not helping those that helpe of thee demaunde . So prayed Thamisis , and straight great Joue , Shaking his head , thrice thundred from aboue , In signe he heard , and called Mercurie , Charging him straight vnto Aeolia hie , And tell the King when first I did accorde , Ouer the wrastling windes , to make him Lords I gaue in chardg he no man should opresse , But seeke still offerd iniuries to redresse . But since with Neptune , he confederate is , To wrong my tender darling Thamesis : If he his windes do not in hast reclaime , By Sytx tell him , to his eternall shame , Like how with Titans rude rebellious race , I whilome dealt : so will I him disgrace . Yet for this wrong , which is alreadie done , At what time , twixt the place where sets the Sunne , And the right Northen Pole , there doth appeare , By Cassiopeia , seated in her Chaire : Within that milkie way , made by my Queene , A blasing Commet , like fier flameing sheene ; Which shall be ere Apollo eight times leads Aboute the Zodiake his trampling steades : Two princely Beastes shall come from Thames coole streame Which shall more dammadge do vndo his Realme , Then did that mightie Boore Diana sent , The Fielde of Calidon to spill or rent : All ( quoth he ) in reuenge he durst attempt , To wrong her , whom from wrong I haue exempt . This saide , faire Maias Sonne the subtil God , Takeing in hast his dead sleepe charming rod , And winged shooes , did leaue the christall skie , Ioues princely Pallace , where continually Th' erraticke starres in their sweete harmonie , Do make rare soundes of heauenly melodie : And downe from thence , vnto this lower worlde , Swifter then thunder bolt , himselfe he hurlde , And sought King Aeolus : to whom he straight , The purport of his coming , did dilate . Haue any ere in May a Garden seene , With diuers slowers enameld fresh and greene , And it reuewes when Phoebus is declinde Vnto the Southerne pole , the same doth finde Oregrowne with wilde weedes , and with stinking grasse ; Now would haue sayd , in Aeolus there was Like change , hearing great Ioues Embassadour : For neuer was he troubled so before , Saue when his Nephewes bawling did detect , His Childrens lewd crime , and incestious fact : For which , the guiltlesse Babe as punishment , He cast to Dogs , which it in peecemeale rent ; And to desilde Canace , sent a sworde ; With which her owne selfe to the heart she gor'de : For he much feared Joue his Soueraigne , Knowing he might depose him from his Raigne And regall power : therefore t' amend his fault , And please the angrie God , Postillians straight He after Boreas sent , and did commaunde To bring them backe , and cease their sute in hand : Who neuer stayed , till they the windes had founde , And brought them backe , and them againe had bounde In their base bondes of during Iron , wrought Long since in Aetna by the Cyclops : taught Their art by Lymping Vulcan , who was plast there To be Joues workeman , and the cheife Forge-maister ; Wherby distressed Thamesis was freed , From those that had her ouerthrow decree'd And backe return'd to her sad Nimphs , whom she Did finde , her losse bewailing heauily : Who when they saw her first , far'd like to her Hath but one Sonne ; that for a Souldier Prest , in his Princes seruice forth is gone , To keepe his Countrie from inuasion ; Whom fearing to be drowned in the deepe , Or by hard steele sent t'euerlasting sleepe , Shee doth bewaile as dead , and will not be When he returnes , from death and daunger free , Perswaded t is her Sonne , but some vaine sight , That would with idle shadowes her delight , Till her cold feares are past ; for all of them thinking her wholly lost , thought they had seene Her shadow , not her selfe , till she spake to them : What time assured , they all receiued her , As an Hungarian Father doth his heire , And only Sonne : which hath a longsome time , Mongst hated Turkes , in hellish prison line : Their sighes to songs , their teares now almost spent , They turn'd to laughter , and to merriment ; And thankt the motor of the whirling Spheres , That had not them forgot drowned in teares . But stay my Muse , the Skie is faire and cleare , The Seas are calme , no winde doth whistle heere ; Heere let vs anchour then , for heere we may ●●de ●afe , to morrow being Holiday .