Endimion and Phœbe Ideas Latmus. Phœbus erit nostra princeps et carminis author.

Endimion & Phoebe . Ideas Latmus . IN I-onia whence sprang old Poets fame , From whom that Sea did first deriue her name , The blessed bed whereon the Muses lay , Beauty of Greece , the pride of Asia , Whence Archelaus whom times historifie , First vnto Athens brought Phylosophie . In this faire Region on a goodly Plaine , Stretching her bounds vnto the bordring Maine , The Mountaine Latmus ouer-lookes the Sea , Smiling to see the Ocean billowes play : Latmus , where young Endimion vsd to keepe His fairest flock of siluer-fleeced sheepe . To whom Siluanus often would resort , At barly-breake to see the Satyres sport ; And when rude Pan his Tabret list to sound , To see the faire Nymphes foote it in a round , Vnder the trees which on this Mountaine grew , As yet the like Arabia neuer knew : For all the pleasures Nature could deuise , Within this plot she did imparadize ; And great Diana of her speciall grace , With Vestall rytes had hallowed all the place : Vpon this Mount there stood a stately Groue , Whose reaching armes , to clip the Welkin stroue , Of tufted Cedars , and the branching Pine , Whose bushy tops themselues doe so intwine , As seem'd when Nature first this work begun , Shee then conspir'd against the piercing Sun ; Vnder whose couert ( thus diuinely made ) Pboebus greene Laurell flonsht in the shade : Faire Venus Mirtile , Mars his warlike Fyrre , Mineruas Oliue , and the weeping Myrhe , The patient Palme , which thriues in spite of hate , The Popler , to Alcides consecrate ; Which Nature in such order had disposed , And there-withall these goodly walkes inclosed , As seru'd for hangings and rich Tapestry , To beautifie this stately Gallery : Imbraudring these in curious trailes along , The clustred Grapes , the golden Citrons hung , More glorious the the precious fruite were these , Kept by the Dragon in Hesperides ; Or gorgious Arras in rich colours wrought , With silk from Affrick , or from Indie brought : Out of thys soyle sweet bubling Fountains crept , As though for ioy the sencelesse stones had wept ; With straying channels dauncing sundry wayes , With often turnes , like to a curious Maze : Which breaking forth , the tender grasse bedewed Whose siluer sand with orient Pearle was strewed , Shadowed with Roses and sweet Eglantine , Dipping theyr sprayes into this christalline : From which the byrds the purple berries pruned , And to theyr loues their small recorders tuned . The Nightingale , woods Herauld of the Spring , The whistling Woosell , Mauis carroling , Tuning theyr trebbles to the waters fall , Which made the musicque more angelicall : Whilst gentle Zephyre murmuring among , Kept tyme , and bare the burthen to the song . About whose brims , renfresht with dainty showers , Grew Amaranthus , and sweet Gilliflowers , The Marigold , Phoebus beloued frend , The Moly , which from sorcery doth defend : Violet , Carnation , Balme and Cassia , Ideas Primrose , coronet of May . Aboue this Groue a gentle faire ascent , Which by degrees of Milk-white Marble went : Vpon the top , a Paradise was found , With which , Nature this miracle had crownd ; Empald with Rocks of rarest precious stone , Which like the flames of Aetna brightly shone ; And seru'd as Lanthornes furnished with light , To guide the wandring passengers by night : For which fayre Phoebe sliding from her Sphere , Vsed oft times to come and sport her there . And from the Azure starry-painted Sky , Embalmd the bancks with precious lunary : That now her Menalus shee quite forsooke , And vnto Latmus wholy her betooke , And in this place her pleasure vs'd to take , And all was for her sweet Endimions sake : Endimion , the louely Shepheards boy , Endimion , great Phoebes onely ioy , Endimion , in whose pure-shining eyes , The naked Faries daunst the hey degies . The shag-haird Satyrs Mountain-climing race , Haue been made tame by gazing in his face . For this boyes loue , the water-Nymphs haue wept Stealing oft times to kisse him whilst he slept : And tasting once the Nectar of his breath , Surfet with sweet , and languish vnto death ; And Ioue oft-times bent to lasciuious sport , And comming where Endimion did resort , Hath courted him , inflamed with desire , Thinking some Nymph was cloth'd in boyes attire . And often-times the simple rural Swaines , Beholding him in crossing or'e the Plaines , Imagined , Apollo from aboue Put on this shape , to win some Maidens loue . This Shepheard , Phoebe euer did behold , Whose loue already had her thoughts controld ; From Latmus top ( her stately throne ) shee rose , And to Endimion downe beneath shee goes . Her Brothers beames now had shee layd aside , Her horned cressent , and her full-fac'd pride : For had shee come adorned with her light , No mortall eye could haue endur'd the sight ; But like a Nymph , crown'd with a flowrie twine , And not like Phoebe , as herselfe diuine . An Azur'd Mantle purfled with a vaile , Which in the Ayre puft like a swelling saile , Embosted Rayne-bowes did appeare in silk , With wauie streames as white as mornings Milk : Which euer as the gentle Ayre did blow , Still with the motion seem'd to ebb and flow : About her neck a chayne twise twenty fold , Of Rubyes , set in lozenges of gold ; Trust vp in trammels , and in curious pleats , With spheary circles falling on her teats . A dainty smock of Cipresse , fine and thin , Or'e cast with curls next to her Lilly skin : Throgh which the purenes of the same did show Lyke Damaske-roses strew'd with flakes of snow . Discouering all her stomack to the waste , With branches of sweet circling veynes enchaste . A Coronet she ware of Mirtle bowes , Which gaue a shadow to her Iuory browes . No smother beauty maske did beauty smother " Great lights dim lesse yet burn not one another , Nature abhorrs to borrow from the Mart , " Simples fit beauty , fie on drugs and Art . Thus came shee where her loue Endimion lay , Who with sweet Carrols sang the night away ; And as it is the Shepheards vsuall trade , Oft on his pype a Roundelay he playd . As meeke he was as any Lambe might be , Nor neuer lyu'd a fayrer youth then he : His dainty hand , the snow it selfe dyd stayne , Or her to whom Ioue showr'd in golden rayne : From whose sweet palme the liquid Pearle dyd swell , Pure as the drops of Aganippas Well : Cleere as the liquor which fayre Hebe spylt ; Hys sheephooke siluer , damask'd all with gilt . The staffe it selfe , of snowie Iuory , Studded with Currall , tipt with Ebony ; His tresses , of the Rauens shyning black , Stragling in curles along his manly back . The balls which nature in his eyes had set , Lyke Diamonds inclosing Globes of Iet : Which sparkled from their milky lids out-right , Lyke fayre Orions heauen-adorning light . The stars on which her heauenly eyes were bent , And fixed still with louely blandishment , For whom so oft disguised shee was seene , As shee Celestiall Phoebe had not beene : Her dainty Buskins lac'd vnto the knee , Her pleyted Frock , truck'd vp accordingly : A Nymph-like huntresse , arm'd with bow & dart About the woods she scoures the long-hu'd Hart. She climes the mountains with the light-foot Fauns And with the Satyrs scuds it or'e the Launes . In Musicks sweet delight shee shewes her skill , Quauering the Cithron nimbly with her quill , Vpon each tree she carues Endimions name In Gordian knots , with Phoebe to the same : To kill him venson now she pitch'd her toyles , And to this louely Raunger brings the spoyles ; And thus whilst she by chaste desire is led Vnto the Downes where he his fayre Flocks fed , Neere to a Groue she had Endimion spide , Where he was fishing by a Riuer side Vnder a Popler , shadowed from the Sun , Where merrily to court him she begun : Sweet boy ( qd. she ) take what thy hart can wish , When thou doost angle would I were a fish , When thou art sporting by the siluer Brooks , Put in thy hand thou need'st no other hooks ; Hard harted boy Endimion looke on mee , Nothing on earth I hold too deere for thee : I am a Nimph and not of humaine blood , Begot by Pan on Isis sacred flood : When I was borne vpon that very day , Phoebus was seene the Reueller to play : In Ioues hye house the Gods assembled all , And Iuno held her sumptuous Festiuall , Oceanus that hower was dauncing spy'de , And Tython seene to frolick with his Bride , The Halcions that season sweetly sang , And all the shores , with shouting Sea-Nymphes rang , And on that day , my birth to memorize , The Shepheards hold a solemne sacrifice : The chast Diana nurst mee in her lap , And I suckt Nectar from her Downe-soft pap . The Well wherein this body bathed first , Who drinks thereof , shall neuer after thirst ; The water hath the Lunacie appeased , And by the vertue , cureth all diseased ; The place wherein my bare feete touch the mold , Made vp in balls , for Pomander is sold. See , see , these hands haue robd the Snow of white , These dainty singers , organs of delight : Behold these lyps , the Load-stones of desire , Whose words inchant , like Amphyons well-tun'd lyre , This foote , Arts iust proportion doth reueale , Signing the earth with heauens own manuel seale . Goe , play the wanton , I will tend thy flock , And wait the howres as duly as a clock ; I le deck thy Ram with bells , an I wreathes of Bay , And gild his hornes vpon the sheering day ; And with a garlond crown thee Shepheards king , And thou shalt lead the gay Gyrles in a ring ; Birds with their wings shall fan thee in the Sun , And all the fountaynes with pure Wine shall run , I haue a Quier of dainty Turtle-doues , And they shall fit and sweetly sing our loues : I le lay thee on the Swans soft downy plume , And all the Winde shall gently breath perfume , I le plat thy locks with many a curious pleate , And chafe thy temples with a sacred heate ; The Muses still shall keepe thee company , And lull thee with inchaunting harmony ; If not all these , yet let my vertues moue thee , A chaster Nymph Endimion cannot loue thee . But he imagin'd she some Nymph had been , Because shee was apparrelled in greene ; Or happily , some of fayre Floras trayne , Which oft did vse to sport vpon the Plaine : He tels her , he was Phoebes seruant sworne , And oft in hunting had her Quiuer borne , And that to her virginity he vowed , Which in no hand by Venus was alowed ; Then vnto her a Catalogue recites Of Phoebes Statutes , and her hallowed Rites , And of the grieuous penalty inflicted , On such as her chast lawes had interdicted : Now , he requests , that shee would stand aside , Because the fish her shadow had espide ; Then he intreats her that she would be gone , And at this time to let him be alone ; Then turnes him from her in an angry sort , And frownes and chafes that shee had spoil'd his sport . And then he threatens her , if she did stay , And told her , great Diana came this way . But for all this , this Nymph would not forbeare , But now she smoothes his crispy-curled haire , And when hee ( rudely ) will'd her to refrayne , Yet scarcely ended , she begins agayne : Thy Ewes ( qd. she ) with Milk shall daily spring , And to thy profit yeerely Twins shall bring , And thy fayre flock , ( a wonder to behold ) Shall haue their fleeces turn'd to burnisht gold ; Thy batefull pasture to thy wanton Thewes , Shall be refresht with Nectar-dropping dewes , The Oakes smooth leaues , sirropt with hony fall , Trickle down drops to quench thy thirst withall : The cruell Tygar will I tame for thee , And gently lay his head vpon thy knee ; And by my spells , the Wolues iawes will I lock , And ( as good Sheepheards ) make them gard thy flock , I le mount thee brauely on a Lyons back , To driue the fomy-tusked Bore to wrack : The brazen-hoofed yelling Bulls I le yoke , And with my hearbs , the scaly Dragon choke . Thou in great Phoebes Iuory Coche shalt ride , Which drawne by Eagles , in the ayre shall glide : I le stay the time , it shall not steale away , And twenty Moones as seeming but one day . Behold ( fond boy ) this Rozen-weeping Pine , This mournfull Larix , dropping Turpentine , This mounting Teda , thus with tempests torne , With incky teares continually to mourne ; Looke on this tree , which blubbereth Amber gum which seemes to speak to thee , though it be dumb , Which being senceles blocks , as thou do'st see , Weepe at my woes , that thou might'st pitty mee : O thou art young , and fit for loues profession , Like wax which warmed quickly takes impression , Sorrow in time , with floods those eyes shall weare , Whence pitty now cannot extort a teare . Fond boy , with words thou might'st be ouercome , " But loue surpriz'd the hart , the tongue is dumbe , But as I can , I le striue to conquer thee ; Yet teares , & sighes , my weapons needs must bee . My sighs moue trees , rocks melting with my tears , But thou art blind ; and cruell stop'st thine eares : Looke in this Well , ( if beautie men alow ) Though thou be faire , yet I as fayre as thou ; I am a Vestall , and a spotles Mayd , Although by loue to thee I am betrayd : But sith ( vnkinde ) thou doost my loue disdayne , To rocks and hills my selfe I will complaine . Thus with a sigh , her speeches of she broke , The ilst her eyes to him in silence spoke ; And from the place this wanton Nymph arose , And vp to Latmus all in hast shee goes ; Like to a Nymph on shady Citberon , The swift Ismoenos , or Thirmodoon , Gliding like Thetis , on the fleet waues borne , Or she which trips vpon the eares of Corne ; Like Swallowes when in open ayre they striue , Or like the Foule which towring Falcons driue . But whilst the wanton thus pursu'd his sport , Deceitfull Loue had vndermin'd the Fort , And by a breach ( in spight of all deniance , ) Entred the Fort which lately made defiance : And with strong siedge had now begirt about The mayden Skonce which held the souldier out . " Loue wants his eyes , yet shoots he passing right , His shafts our thoughts , his bowe hee makes our sight . His deadly piles are tempred by such Art , As still directs the Arrowe to the hart : He cannot loue , and yet forsooth he will , He sees her not , and yet he sees her still , Hee goes vnto the place shee stood vpon , And asks the poore soyle whether she was gon ; Fayne would he follow her , yet makes delay , Fayne would he goe , and yet fayne would he stay , Hee kist the flowers depressed with her feete , And swears from her they borrow'd all their sweet . Faine would he cast aside this troublous thought , But still like poyson , more and more it wrought , And to himselfe thus often would he say , Heere my Loue sat , in this place did shee play , Heere in this Fountaine hath my Goddesse been , And with her presence hath she grac'd this green . Now black-brow'd Night plac'd in her chaire of Iet , Sat wrapt in clouds within her Cabinet , And with her dusky mantle ouer-spred , The path the Sunny Palfrayes vs'd to tred ; And Cynthia sitting in her Christall chayre , In all her pompe now rid along her Spheare , The honnied dewe descended in soft showres , Drizled in Pearle vpon the tender flowers ; And Zephyre husht , and with a whispering gale , Seemed to harken to the Nightingale , Which in the thorny brakes with her sweet song , Vnto the silent Night bewrayd her wrong . Now fast by Latmus neere vnto a Groue , Which by the mount was shadowed from aboue , Vpon a banck Endimion sat by night , To whom fayre Phoebe lent her frendly light : And sith his flocks were layd them downe to rest , Thus giues his sorrowes passage from his brest ; Sweet leaues ( qd. he ) which with the ayre do tremble , Oh how your motions do my thoughts resemble , With that milde breath , by which onely moue , Whisper my words in silence to my Loue : Conuay my sighes sweet Ciuet-breathing ayre , In dolefull accents to my heauenly fayre ; You murmuring Springs , like doleful Instruments Vpon your grauell sound my sad laments , And in your silent bubling as you goe , Consort your selues like Musick to my woe . And lifting now his sad and heauy eyes Vp , towards the beauty of the burnisht skies , Bright Lamps ( qd. he ) the glorious Welkin bears , Which clip about the Plannets wandring Sphears , And in your circled Maze doe euer role , Dauncing about the neuer-moouing Pole : Sweet Nymph , which in fayre Elice doost shine , Whom thy surpassing beauty made diuine , Now in the Artick constellation , Smyle sweet Calisto on Endimion : And thou braue Perseus in the Northern ayre , The constellations neere the Pole Artick Holding Medusa by the snaky hayre , Ioues showre-begotten Son , whose valure tryed , In seauenteene glorious lights art stellified ; Which won'st thy loue , left as a Monsters pray ; And thou the louely fayre Andromida , Borne of the famous Etheopianlyne , Darting these rayes from thy transpiercing eyne , To thee the bright Cassiopey , with these , Whose beauty stroue with the Neriedes , With all the troupe of the celestiall band , Which on Olimpus in your glory stand ; And you great wandring lights , if from your Sphears You haue regard vnto a Sheepeheards teares , Or as men say , if ouer earthly things You onely rule as Potentates and Kings , Vnto my loues euent sweet Stars direct , Your kindest reuolution and aspect , And bend your cleere eyes from your Thrones aboue Vpon Endimion pyning thus in loue . Now , ere the purple dauning yet did spring , The ioyfull Lark began to stretch her wing , And now the Cock the mornings Trumpeter , Playd hunts-vp for the day starre to appeare , Downe slydeth Phoebe from her Christall chayre , Sdayning to lend her light vnto the ayre , But vnto Latmus all in haste is gon , Longing to see her sweet Endimion ; At whose departure all the Plannets gazed , As at some seld-seene accident amazed , Till reasoning of the same , they fell at ods , So that a question grew amongst the Gods , Whether without a generall consent She might depart their sacred Parliament ? But what they could doe was but all in vaine , Of liberty they could her not restraine : For of the seauen sith she the lowest was , Vnto the earth she might the easiest passe ; Sith onely by her moysty influence , Of earthly things she hath preliminence , And vnder her , mans mutable estate , As with her changes doth participate ; And from the working of her waning source , Th' vncertaine waters held a certaine course , Throughout her kingdome she might walk at large Wherof as Empresse she had care and charge , And as the Sunne vnto the Day giues light , guide , So is she onely Mistris of the Night ; Which whilst shee in her oblique course dooth The glittering stars apeare in all their pride , Which to her light their frendly Lamps do lend ; And on her trayne as Hand-maydes doe attend , And thirteene times she through her Sphere doth run , Ere Phoebus full his yearly course haue don : And vnto her of women is assign'd , Predominance of body and of mind , That as of Plannets shee most variable , So of all creatures they most mutable , But her sweet Latmus which she lou'd so much , No sooner once her dainty foote doth touch , But that the Mountaine with her brightnes shone And gaue a light to all the Horizone : Euen as the Sun which darknes long did shroud , Breakes suddainly from vnderneath a clowd , So that the Nimphs which on her still attended , Knew certainly great Phoebe was discended ; And all aproched to this sacred hill , There to awayt their soueraigne Goddesse will , And now the little Birds whom Nature taught , To honour great Diana as they ought , Because she is the Goddesse of the woods , And sole preseruer of their hallowed floods , Set to their consort in their lower springs , That with the Musicke all the mountaine rings ; So that it seemd the Birds of euery Groue Which should excell and passe each other stroue , That in the higher woods and hollow grounds , The murmuring Eccho euery where resounds , The trembling brooks their slyding courses stayd , The whilst the waues one with another playd , And all the flocks in this reioycing mood , As though in chaunted do forbeare their food : The heards of Deare downe from the mountains flew , As loth to come within Dianas view , Whose piercing arrowes from her Iuory bowe , Had often taught her powerfull hand to knowe ; And now from latmus looking towards the plains Casting her eyes vpon the Sheepheards swaines , Perceiu'd her deare Endimions flock were stray'd And he himselfe vpon the ground was layd ; Who late recald from melancholy deepe , The chaunting Birds had lulled now asleepe : For why the Musick in this humble kinde , As it first found , so doth it leaue the minde ; And melancholy from the Spleene begun , By passion moou'd , into the veynes doth run ; Which when this humor as a swelling Flood By vigor is infused in the blood ; The vitall spirits doth mightely apall ; And weakeneth so the parts organicall , The effect of Melansholic And when the sences are disturbd and tierd , With what the hart incessantly desierd , Like Trauellers with labor long opprest , Finding release , eft-soones they fall to rest . And comming now to her Endimion , Whom heauy sleepe had lately ceas'd vpon , Kneeling her downe , him in her armes she clips , showrs And with sweet kisses sealeth vp his lips , Whilst from her eyes , teares streaming downe in Fell on his cheekes like dew vpon the flowrs , In globy circles like pure drops of Milk , Sprinckled on Roses , or fine crimson silk : Touching his brow , this is the seate ( quoth she ) Where Beauty sits in all her Maiestie , She calls his eye-lids those pure Christall couers Which do include the looking Glasse of Louers , She calls his lips the sweet delicious folds Which rare perfume and precious incense holds , Shee calls his soft smooth Allablaster skin , The Lawne which Angels are attyred in , Sweet face ( qd. she ) but wanting words I spare thee Except to heauen alone I should compare thee : And whilst her words she wasteth thus in vayne , Sporting herselfe the tyme to entertayne , The frolick Nymphes with Musicks sacred sound , Entred the Meddowes daunding in a round : And vnto Phoebe straight their course direct , Which now their ioyfull comming did expect , Before whose feet their flowrie spoyles they lay , And with sweet Balme his body doe imbay . And on the Laurels growing there along , Their wreathed garlonds all about they hung : And all the ground within the compasse load , With sweet est flowers , wheron they lightly troad . With Nectar then his temples they be dew , And kneeling softly kisse him all arew ; Then in braue galiards they themselues aduaunce , And in the Tryas Baccbus stately daunce ; Then following on fayre Floras gilded trayne , Into the Groues they thus depart agayne , And now to shew her powerfull deitie , Her sweet Endimion more to beautifie , Into his soule the Goddesse , doth infuse , The fiery nature of a heauenly Muse , Which in the spyrit labouring by the mind Pertaketh of celestiall things by kind : The excellency of the soule For why the soule being diuine alone , Exempt from vile and grosse corruption , Of heauenly secrets comprehensible , Of which the dull flesh is not sensible , And by one onely powerfull faculty , Yet gouerneth a multiplicity , Being essentiall , vniforme in all ; Not to be seuer'd nor diuiduall , But in her function holdeth her estate , By powers diuine in her ingenerate , And so by inspiration condeaueth What heauen to her by divination breatheth ; But they no sooner to the shades were gone , Leauing their Goddesse by Endimion , But by the hand the louely boy shee takes , And from his sweet sleepe softly him awakes , Who being struck into a sodaynefeare , Beholding thus his glorious Goddesse there , His hart transpiersed with this sodayne glance , Became as one late cast into a trance : Wiping his eyes not yet of perfect sight , Scarcely awak'd amazed at the light , His cheekes now pale then louely blushing red , Which oft increasd , and quickly vanished , And as on him her fixed eyes were bent , So to and fro his colour came and went ; Like to a Christall neere the fire set , Against the brightnes rightly opposet , The causes of the externall signes of passioa . Now doth reteyne the colour of the flame , And lightly moued againe , reflects the same ; For our affection quickned by her heate , Alayd and strengthned by a strong conceit , The minde disturbed , forth with doth conuart , To an internall passion of the hart By motion of that sodaine ioy or feare , Which we receive either by the eye or eare , For by retraction of the spirit and blood , From those exterior parts where first they stood , Into the center of the body sent , Returnes againe more strong and vehement : And in the like extreamitie made cold , About the same , themselues doe closely hold , And though the cause be like in this respect , Works by this meanes a contrary effect . Thus whilst this passion hotely held his course , Ebbing and flowing from his springing source , With the strong fit of this sweet Feuer moued , At sight of her which he intirely loued , Not knowing yet great Phoebe this should be , His soueraigne Goddesse , Queene of Chastitie , Now like a man whom Loue had learned Art , Resolu'd at once his secrets to impart : But first repeats the torments he had past , The woes indur'd since tyme he saw her last , Now he reports he noted whilst she spake , The bustling windes their murmure often brake , And being silent , seemd to pause and stay , To listen to her what she ment to say : Be kind ( quoth he ) sweet Nymph vnto thy louer , My soules sole essence , and my sences mouer , Life of my life , pure Image of my hart , Impressure of Conceit , Inuention , Art , My vitall spirit , receues his spirit from thee , Thou art that all which ruleth all in me , Thou art the sap , and life whereby I liue , Which powerfull vigor doost receiue and giue ; Thou nourishest the flame wherein I burne , The North wherto my harts true tuch doth turne . Pitty my poore flock , see their wofull plight , Theyr Maister perisht liuing from thy sight , Theyr fleeces rent , my tresses all forlorne , I pyne , whilst they theyr pasture haue forborne ; Behold ( quoth he ) this little flower belowe , Which heere within this Fountayne brim dooth grow ; With that , a solemne tale begins to tell Of this fayre flower , and of this holy Well , A goodly legend , many Winters old , Learn'd by the Sheepheards fitting by their folde , How once this Fountayne was a youthfull swaine , A frolick boy and kept vpon the playne , Vnfortunate it hapt to him ( quoth he ) To loue a fayre Nymph as I nowe loue thee , To her his loue and sorrow he imparts , Which might dissolue a rock of flinty harts ; To her he sues , to her he makes his mone , But she more deafe and hard then steele or stone ; And thus one day with griefe of mind opprest , As in this place he layd him downe to rest , The Gods at length vppon his sorrowes looke , Transforming him into this pirrling Brooke , Whose murmuring bubles softly as they creepe , Falling in drops , the Channell seems to weepe , But shee thus careles of his misery . Still spends her dayes in mirth and iollity ; And comming one day to the Riuer side , Laughing for ioy when she the same espyde , This wanton Nymph in that vnhappy hower , Was heere transformd into this purple flower , Which towards the water turnes it selfe agayne , To pitty him by her vnkindnes slayne . She , as it seemd , who all this time attended , Longing to heare that once his tale were ended , Now like a iealous woman she repeats , Mens subtilties , and naturall deceyts ; And by example striues to verifie , Their ficklenes and vaine inconstancie : Their hard obdurate harts , and wilfull blindnes , Telling a storie wholy of vnkindnes ; But he , who well perceiued her intent , And to remoue her from this argument , Now by the sacred Fount he vowes and sweares , By Louers sighes , and by her halowed teares , By holy Latmus now he takes his oath , That all he spake was in good fayth and troth ; And for no frayle vncertayne doubt should moue her , Vowes secrecie , the crown of a true Louer . She hearing this , thought time that she reueald , That kind affection which she long conceald , Determineth to make her true Loue known , Which shee had borne vnto Endimion ; I am no Huntresse , nor no Nymph ( quoth she ) As thou perhaps imagin'st me to be , I am great Phoebe , Latmus sacred Queene , Who from the skies haue hether past vnseene , And by thy chast loue hether was I led , Where full three yeares thy fayre flock haue I fed , Vpon these Mountaines and these firtile plaines , And crownd thee King of all the Sheepheards , swaines : Nor wanton , nor laciuious is my loue , nor neuer lust my chast thoughts once could moue But sith thou thus hast offerd at my Shrine , And of the Gods hast held me most diuine , Mine Altars thou with sacrifice hast stord , And in my Temples hast my name ador'd , And of all other , most hast honor'd mee , Great Phoebes glory thou alone shalt see . Thys spake , she putteth on her braue attire , As being burnisht in her Brothers fire , Purer then that Celestiall shining flame Wherein great Ioue vnto his Lemmon came , Which quickly had his pale cheekes ouer-spred , And tincted with a louely blushing red . Which whilst her Brother Titan for a space , Withdrew himselfe , to giue his sister place , Shee now is darkned to all creatures eyes , Whilst in the shadow of the earth she lyes , For that the earth of nature cold and dry , A very Chaos of obscurity , Whose Globe exceeds her compasse by degrees , Fixed vpon her Superficies ; When in his shadow she doth hap to fall , Dooth cause her darknes to be generall . Thus whilst he layd his head vpon her lap , Shee in a fiery Mantle doth him wrap , And carries him vp form this lumpish mould , Into the skyes , whereas he might behold , The earth in perfect roundnes of a ball Exceeding globes most artificiall : Which in a fixed poynt Nature disposed , And with the sundry Elements inclosed , Which as the Center permanent dooth stay , When as the skiesin their diurnall sway , Strongly maintaine the euer-turning course , Forced alone by their first moouer sourse , Where he beholds the ayery Regions , Whereas the clouds and strange impressions , Maintaynd by coldnes often doe appeare , And by the highest Region of the ayre , Vnto the cleerest Element of fire , Which to her siluer foot-stoole doth aspire , Then dooth she mount him vp into her Sphere , Imparting heauenly secrets to him there , Where lightned by her shining beames hee sees , The powerfull Plannets , all in their degrees , Their sundry reuolutions in the skies , And by their working how they simpathize ; All in theyr circles seuerally prefixt , And in due distance each with other mixt : The mantions which they hold in their estate , Of which by nature they participate ; And how those signes their seuerall places take , Within the compasse of the Zodiacke : And in their seuerall triplicities consent , The signes in their triplicities , participate with the Elements . Vnto the nature of an Element , To which the Plannets do themselues disperce , Hauing the guidance of this vniuers , And do from thence extend their seuerall powers , Vnto this little fleshly world of ours : Wherin her Makers workmanship is found , As in contriuing of this mighty round , In such strange maner and such fashion wrought , As doth exceede mans dull and feeble thought , Guiding vs still by their directions ; And that our fleshly frayle complections , Of Elementall natures grounded bee , With which our dispositions most agree , Some of the fire and ayre participate , And some of watry and of earthy state , As hote and moyst , with chilly cold and dry , And vnto these the other contrary ; And by their influence powerfull on the earth , Predominant in mans fraile mortall bearth , And that our liues effects and fortunes are , As is that happy or vnlucky Starre , Which reigning in our frayle natiuitie , Seales vp the secrets of our destinie , With frendly Plannets in coniunction set , Or els with other meerely opposet : And now to him her greatest power she lent , To lift him to the starry Firmament , Where he beheld that milky stayned place , By which the Twynns & heauenly Archers trace , The dogge which doth the furious Lyon beate , Whose flaming breath increaseth Titans heate , The teare-distilling mournfull Pliades , Which on the earth the stormes & tempests raise , And all the course the constellations run , When in coniunction with the Moone or Sun , When towards the fixed Articke they arise , When towards the Antaricke , falling from our eyes ; And hauing impt the wings of his desire , And kindled him , with this coelestiall fire , She sets him downe , and vanishing his sight , Leaues him inwrapped in this true delight : Now wheresoeuer he his fayre flock fed , The Muses still Endimion followed ; His sheepe as white as Swans or driuen snow , Which beautified the soyle with such a show , As where hee folded in the darkest Night , There neuer needed any other light ; If that he hungred and desired meate , The Bees would bring him Honny for to eate , Yet from his lyps would not depart away , Tyll they were loden with Ambrosia ; And if he thirsted , often there was seene A bubling Fountaine spring out of the greene , With Christall liquor fild vnto the brim , Which did present her liquid store to him . If hee would hunt , the fayre Nymphs at his will , With Bowes & Quiuers , would attend him still : And what-soeuer he desierd to haue , That he obtain'd if hee the same would craue . And now at length , the ioyful tyme drew on , Shee meant to honor her Endimion , And glorifie him on that stately Mount Whereof the Goddesse made so great account . Shee sends Ioues winged Herauld to the woods , The neighbour Fountains , & the bordring floods , Charging the Nymphes which did inhabit there , vpon a day appoynted to appeare , And to attend her sacred Maiestie In all theyr pompe and great solemnity . Hauing obtaynd great Phoebus free consent , To further her diuine and chast intent , Which thus imposed as a thing of waight , In stately troupes appeare before her straight , The Fannes and Satyres from the tufted Brakes , Theyr brisly armes wreath'd al about with snakes ; Their sturdy loynes with ropes of Iuie bound , Theyr horned heads with Woodbine Chaplets crownd , With Cipresse Iauelens . and about their thyes , The flaggy hayre disorder'd loosely flyes : Th' Oriades like to the Spartan Mayd , In Murrie-scyndall gorgiously arayd : With gallant greene Scarfes girded in the wast , Theyr flaxen hayre with silken fillets lac'd , Wouen with flowers in sweet lasciuious wreathes , Moouing like feathers as the light ayre breathes , With crownes of Mirtle , glorious to behold , whose leaues are painted with pure drops of gold : With traines of fine Bisse checker'd al with frets Of dainty Pincks and precious Violets , In branched Buskins of fine Cordiwin , With spangled garters downe vnto the shin , Fring'd with fine silke , of many a sundry kind , Which lyke to pennons waued with the wind . The Hamadriads from their shady Bowers , Deckt vp in Garlonds of the rarest flowers , Vpon the backs of milke-white Bulls were set , With horne and hoofe as black as any let , Whose collers were great massy golden rings , Led by their swaynes in twisted silken strings ; Then did the louely Driades appeare , On dapled Staggs , which brauely mounted were , Whose veluet palmes with nosegaies rarely dight , To all the rest bred wonderfull delight ; And in this sort accompaned with these , In tryumph rid the watry Niades , Vpon Sea-horses , trapt with shining finns , Arm'd with their male impenitrable skinns , Whose scaly crests like Raine-bowes bended hye ; Seeme to controule proud Iris in the skye ; Vpon a Charriot was Endimion layd , In snowy Tissue gorgiously arayd , Of precious Iuory couered or'e with Lawne , Which by foure stately Vnicornes was drawne . Of ropes of Orient pearle their traces were , Pure as the path which dooth in heauen appeare , With rarest flowers in chaste and ouer-spred , Which seru'd as Curtaynes to this glorious bed , Whose seate of Christal in the Sun-beames shone , Like thunder-breathing Ioues celestiall Throne , Vpon his head a Coronet instald , Of one intire and mighty Emerald , With richest Bracelets on his lilly wrists , Of Hellitropium , linckt with golden twists ; A beuy of fayre Swans , which flying ouer , With their large wings him from the Sun do couer , And easily wafting as he went along , Doe lull him still with their inchaunting song , Whilst all the Nimphes on solemne Instruments , Sound daintie Musick to their sweet laments . And now great Phoebe in her tryumph came , With all the tytles of her glorious name , Diana , Delia , Luna , Cynthia , Virago , Hecate , and Elythia , Prothiria , Dictinna , Proserpine , Latona , and Lucina , most diuine ; And in her pompe began now to approch , Mounted aloft vpon her Christall Coach , Drawn or'e the playnes by foure pure milk-white Hinds , Whose nimble feete seem'd winged with the winds , Her rarest beauty being now begun , But newly borrowed from the golden Sun , Her louely cressant with a decent space , By due proportion beautifi'd her face , Till hauing fully fild her circled side , Her glorious fulnes now appeard in pride ; which long her changing brow could not retaine , But fully waxt , began againe to wane ; Vpon her brow ( like meteors in the ayre ) Twenty & eyght great gorgious lamps shee bare ; Some , as the Welkin , shining passing bright , Some not so sumptuous , others lesser light , Some burne , some other , let theyr faire lights fall , Compofd in order Geometricall ; And to adorne her with a greater grace , And ad more beauty to her louely face , Her richest Globe shee gloriously displayes , Now that the Sun had hid his golden rayes : Least that his radiencie should her suppresse , And so might make her beauty seeme the lesse ; Her stately trayne layd out in azur'd bars , Poudred all thick with troopes of siluer stars : Her ayrie vesture yet so rare and strange , As euery howre the colour seem'd to change , Yet still the former beauty doth retaine , And euer came vnto the same againe . Then fayre Astrea , of the Titans line , Whom equity and iustice made diuine , Was seated heer vpon the siluer beame , And with the raines guides on this goodly teame , To whom the Charites led on the way , Aglaia , Thalia , and Euphrozine , with princely crownes they in the triumph came , Imbellished with Phoebes glorious name : These forth before the mighty Goddesse went , As Princes Heraulds in a Parliament . And in their true consorted symphony , Record sweet songs of Phoebes chastity ; Then followed on the Muses , sacred nyne , With the first number equally diuine , In Virgins white , whose louely mayden browes , Were crowned with tryumphant Lawrell bowes ; And on their garments paynted out in glory , Their offices and functions in a story , Imblazoning the furie and conceite Which on their sacred company awaite ; For none but these were suffered to aproch , Or once come neere to this celestiall Coach , But these two of the numbers , nine and three , Which being od include an vnity , Into which number all things fitly fall , And therefore named Theologicall : And first composing of this number nine , Which of all numbers is the most diuine , From orders of the Angels dooth arise , Which be contayned in three Hirarchies , And each of these three Hirarchies in three , The perfect forme of true triplicity ; And of the Hirarchies I spake of erst , The glorious Epiphania is the first , In which the hie celestiall orders been , Of Thrones , Chirrup , and the Ciraphin ; The second holds the mighty Principates , The Dominations and the Potestates , The Ephionia , the third Hirarchie , Which Vertues Angels and Archangels be ; And thus by threes we aptly do define , And do compose this sacred number nyne , Yet each of these nyne orders grounded be , Vpon some one particularity , Then as a Poet I might so infer , An other order when I spake of her . From these the Muses onely are deriued , Which of the Angels were in nyne contriued ; These heauen-inspired Babes of memorie , Which by a like attracting Sympathy , Apollos Prophets in theyr furies wrought , And in theyr spirit inchaunting numbers taught , To teach such as at Poesie repine , That it is onely heauenly and diuine , And manifest her intellectuall parts , Sucking the purest of the purest Arts ; And vnto these as by a sweet consent , The Sphery circles are equiualent , From the first Moouer , and the starry heauen , To glorious Phoebe lowest of the seauen , Which Ioue in tunefull Diapazons fram'd , Of heauenly Musick of the Muses nam'd , To which the soule in her diuinitie , By her Creator made of harmony , Whilst she in frayle and mortall flesh dooth liue , To her nyne sundry offices doe giue , Which offices vnited are in three , Which like the orders of the Angels be , Prefiguring thus by the number nyne , The soule , like to the Angels is diuine : And from these nines those Conquerers renowned , Which with the wreaths of triumph oft were crowned . Which by their vertues gain'd the worthies name First had this number added to their fame , Not that the worthiest men were onely nine , But that the number of it selfe diuine , And as a perfect patterne of the rest , Which by this holy number are exprest ; Nor Chiualrie this title onely gaynd ; But might as well by wisedome be obtaynd , Nor in this number men alone included , But vnto women well might be aluded , Could wit , could worlds , coulde times , could ages find , This number of Elizas heauenly kind ; Aud those rare men which learning highly prized By whom the Constellations were deuised , And by their fauours learning highly graced , For Orpheus harpe nine starres in heauen placed : This sacred number to declare thereby , Her sweet consent and solid harmony , And mans heroique voyce , which doth impart , The thought conceaued in the inward hart , Her sweetnes on nine Instruments doth ground , Else doth she fayle in true and perfect sound . Now of this three in order to dispose , Whose trynarie doth iustly nyne compose . First in the forme of this triplicitie Is shadowed that mighty Trinitie , Which still in stedfast vnity remayne , And yet of three one Godhead doe containe ; From this eternall liuing deitie , As by a heauen-inspired prophecy , Diuinest Poets first deriued these , The fayrest Graces Ioue-borne Charites ; And in this number Musick first began , The Lydian , Dorian , and the Phrigian , Which rauishing in their soule-pleasing vaine , They made vp seauen in a higher strayne ; And all those signes which Phoebus doth ascend , Before he bring his yearely course to end , Their seueral natures mutually agree , And doe concurre in thys triplicitie ; And those interior sences with the rest , Which properly pertaine to man and Beast , Nature herselfe in working so deuised , That in this number they should be comprized . But to my tale I must returne againe , Phoebe to Latmus thus conuayde her swayne , Vnder a bushie Lawrells pleasing shade , Amongst whose boughs the Birds sweet Musick made , Whose fragrant branch-imbosted Cannapy , Was neuer pierst with Phoebus burning eye ; Yet neuer could thys Paradise want light , Elumin'd still with Phoebes glorious sight : She layd Endimion on a grassy bed , With sommers Arras ritchly ouer-spred , Where from her sacred Mantion next aboue , She might descend and sport her with her loue , Which thirty yeeres the Sheepheards safely kept , Who in her bosom soft and soundly slept ; Yet as a dreame he thought the tyme not long , Remayning euer beautifull and yong , And what in vision there to him be fell , My weary Muse some other time shall tell . DEeare Collin , let my Muse excused be , Which reudely thus presumes to sing by thee , Although her straines be harsh vntun'd & ill , Nor can attayne to thy diuinest skill And thou the sweet Museus of these times , Pardon my rugged and vnfiled rymes , Whose scarce inuention is too meane and base , When Delias glorious Muse dooth come in place . And thou my Goldey which in Sommer dayes , Hast feasted vs with merry roundelayes , And when my Muse scarce able was to flye , Didst imp her wings with thy sweete Poesie . And you the heyres of euer-liuing fame , The worthy titles of a Poets name , Whose skill and rarest excellence is such , As spitefull Enuy neuer yet durst tuch , To your protection I this Poem send , Which from proud Momus may my lines defend , And if sweet mayd thou deign'st to read this story , Wherein thine eyes may view thy vertues glory , Thou purest spark of Vesta's kindled fire , Sweet Nymph of Ankor , crowne of my desire , The plot which for their pleasure heauen deuis'd , Where all the Muses be imparadis'd , Where thou doost liue , there let all graces be , Which want theyr grace if onely wanting thee , Let stormy winter neuer touch the Clyme , But let it florish as in Aprils prime , Let sullen night , that soyle nere ouer-cloud , But in thy presence let the earth be proud , If euer Nature of her worke might boast , Of thy perfection she may glory most , To whom fayre Phoebe hath her how resign'd , Whose excellence doth lyue in thee refin'd , And that thy praise Time neuer should impayre , Hath made my hart thy neuer mouing Spheare . Then if my Muse giue life vnto thy fame , Thy vertues be the causers of the same . And from thy Tombe some Oracle shall rise , To whom all pens shall yearely sacrifice . FINIS .