Ouids Metamorphosis: Tenth Book Poem by Arthur Golding

From thence in saffron colourd robe flew Hymen through ye ayre,
And into Thracia beeing called by Orphy did repayre.
He came in deede at Orphyes call: but neyther did he sing
The woordes of that solemnitie, nor merry countnance bring,
Nor any handsell of good lucke. His torch with drizling smoke
Was dim: the same too burne out cleere, no stirrring could prouoke.
The end was woorser than the signe. For as the Bryde did rome
Abrode accompanyde with a trayne of Nymphes too bring her home,
A serpent lurking in the grasse did sting her in the ancle:
Whereof shee dyde incontinent, so swift the bane did rancle.
Whom when the Thracian Poet had bewayld sufficiently
On earth, the Ghostes departed hence he minding for too trie,
Downe at the gate of Tænarus did go too Limbo lake.
And thence by gastly folk and soules late buried he did take
His iourney too Persephonee and too the king of Ghosts
That like a Lordly tyran reignes in those vnpleasant coasts.
And playing on his tuned harp he thus began too sound.


O you the Souereines of the world set vnderneath the ground,
Too whome wee all (what euer thing is made of mortall kynd)
Repayre, if by your leaue I now may freely speake my mynd,
I come not hither as a spye the shady Hell too see:
Nor yet the foule three headed Curre whose heares all Adders bee
Too tye in cheynes. The cause of this my vyage is my wyfe
Whose foote a Uiper stinging did abridge her youthfull lyfe.
I would haue borne it paciently: and so too doo I straue.
But Loue surmounted powre. This God is knowen great force too haue
Aboue on earth. And whether he reigne heere or no I dowt.
But I beleeue hee reignes heere too. If fame that flies abowt
Of former rape report not wrong, Loue coupled also yow.
By theis same places full of feare: by this howge Chaos now,
And by the stilnesse of this waste and emptye Kingdome, I
Beseech yee of Eurydicee vnreele the destinye
That was so swiftly reeled vp All things too you belong.
And though wee lingring for a whyle our pageants doo prolong,
Yit soone or late wee all too one abyding place doo rome:
Wee haste vs hither all: this place becomes our latest home:
And you doo ouer humaine kynd reigne longest tyme. Now when
This woman shall haue liued full her tyme, shee shall agen
Become your owne. The vse of her but for a whyle I craue.
And if the Destnyes for my wyfe denye mee for too haue
Releace, I fully am resolvd for euer heere too dwell.
Reioyce you in the death of both. As he this tale did tell,


And played on his instrument, the bloodlesse ghostes shed teares:
Too tyre on Titius growing hart the greedy Grype forbeares:
The shunning water Tantalus endeuereth not too drink:
And Danaus daughters ceast too fill theyr tubbes that haue no brink.
Ixions wheele stood still: and downe sate Sisyphus vppon
His rolling stone. Then first of all (so fame for truth hath gone)
The Furies beeing striken there with pitie at his song
Did weepe. And neyther Pluto nor his Ladie were so strong
And hard of stomacke too withhold his iust petition long.
They called foorth Eurydicee who was as yit among
The newcome Ghosts. and limped of her wound. Her husband tooke
Her with condicion that he should not backe vppon her looke,
Untill the tyme that hee were past the bounds of Limbo quyght:
Or else too lose his gyft. They tooke a path that steepe vpryght
Rose darke and full of foggye mist. And now they were within
A kenning of the vpper earth, when Orphye did begin
Too dowt him least shee followed not, and through an eager loue
Desyrous for too see her he his eyes did backward moue.
Immediatly shee slipped backe. He retching out his hands,
Desyrous too bee caught and for too ketch her grasping stands.
But nothing saue the slippry aire (vnhappy man) he caught.
Shee dying now the second tyme complaynd of Orphye naught.
For why what had shee too complayne, onlesse it were of loue?
Which made her husband backe agen his eyes vppon her moue?
Her last farewell shee spake so oft, that scarce he heard the sound,
And then reuolted too the place in which he had her found.


This double dying of his wyfe set Orphye in a stound,
No lesse than him who at the syght of Plutos dreadfull Hound
That on the middle necke of three dooth beare an iron cheyne,
Was striken in a sodein feare and could it not restreyne,
Untill the tyme his former shape and nature beeing gone,
His body quyght was ouergrowne, and turned intoo stone.
Or than the foolish Olenus, who on himself did take
Anothers fault, and giltlesse needes himself would giltie make,
Toogither with his wretched wyfe Lethæa, for whose pryde
They both becomming stones, doo stand euen yit on watry Ide.
He would haue gone too Hell ageine, and earnest sute did make:
But Charon would not suffer him too passe the Stygian lake.
Seuen dayes he sate forlorne vppon the bank and neuer eate
A bit of bread. Care, teares, and thought, and sorrow were his meate
And crying out vppon the Gods of Hell as cruell, hee
Withdrew too lofty Rhodopee and Heme which beaten bee
With Northern wynds. Three tymes the Sunne had passed through the sheere
And watry signe of Pisces and had finisht full the yeere.
And Orphye (were it that his ill successe hee still did rew,
Or that he vowed so too doo) did vtterly eschew
The womankynd. Yit many a one desyrous were too match
With him, but he them with repulse did all alike dispatch.
He also taught the Thracian folke a stewes of Males too make
And of the flowring pryme of boayes the pleasure for too take.


There was a hyll, and on the hyll a verie leuell plot.
Fayre greene with grasse. But as for shade or couert was there not.
Assoone as that this Poet borne of Goddes, in that same place
Sate downe and toucht his tuned strings, a shadow came a pace.
There wanted neyther Chaons tree, nor yit the trees too which
Fresh Phaetons susters turned were, nor Beeche, nor Holme, nor Wich
Nor gentle Asp, nor wyuelesse Bay, nor lofty Chestnut tree.
Nor Hazle spalt, nor Ash wherof the shafts of speares made bee.
Nor knotlesse Firre, nor cheerfull Plane, nor Maple flecked grayne.
Nor Lote, nor Sallow which delights by waters too remayne.
Nor slender twigged Tamarisk, nor Box ay greene of hew.
Nor Figtrees loden with theyr frute of colours browne and blew.
Nor double colourd Myrtletrees. Moreouer thither came
The wrything Iuye, and the Uyne that runnes vppon a frame.
Elmes clad with Uynes, and Ashes wyld, and Pitchtrees blacke as cole,
And full of trees with goodly frute red stryped, Ortyards whole.
And Palmetrees lythe which in reward of conquest men doo beare,
And Pynapple with tufted top and harsh and prickling heare,
The tree too Cybele mother of the Goddes most deere. For why?
Her minion Atys putting of the shape of man, did dye,
And hardened intoo this same tree. Among this companee
Was present with a pyked top the Cypresse, now a tree,
Sumtime a boay beloued of the God that with a string
Dooth arme his bow, and with a string in tune his Uiall bring.
For, hallowed too the Nymphes that in the feeldes of Carthye were
There was a goodly myghty Stag whose hornes such bredth did beare,
As that they shadowed all his head. His hornes of gold did shyne,
And downe his brest hung from his necke, a cheyne with iewels fyne.
Amid his frunt with prettie strings a tablet beeing tyde,
Did wauer as he went: and from his eares on eyther syde
Hung perles of all one growth about his hollow temples bryght.
This goodly Spitter beeing voyd of dread, as hauing quyght
Forgot his natiue fearefulnesse, did haunt mens houses, and
Would suffer folk (yea though vnknowen) too coy him with theyr hand.
But more than vntoo all folke else he deerer was too thee
O Cyparisse the fayrest Wyght that euer man did see
In Coea. Thou too pastures, thou too water springs him led,
Thou wreathedst sundry flowres betweene his hornes vppon his hed.
Sumtyme a horsman thou his backe for pleasure didst bestryde,
And haltring him with silken bit from place too place didst ryde.
In summer tyme about hygh noone when Titan with his heate
Did make the hollow crabbed cleas of Cancer for too sweate,
Unweeting Cyparissus with a Dart did strike this Hart
Quyght through. And when that of the wound he saw he must depart,
He purposd for too die himself. What woords of comfort spake
Not Phoebus too him? willing him the matter lyght too take
And not more sorrow for it than was requisite too make.
But still the Lad did sygh and sob, and as his last request
Desyred God he myght thenceforth from moorning neuer rest.
Anon through weeping ouermuch his blood was drayned quyght:
His limbes wext greene: his heare which hung vpo his forehead whyght
Began too bee a bristled bush: and taking by and by
A stiffnesse, with a sharpened top did face the starrie skye
The God did sigh, and sadly sayd. Myselfe shall moorne for thee,
And thou for others: and ay one in moorning thou shalt bee.
Such wood as this had Orphye drawen about him as among
The herdes of beasts, and flocks of Birds he sate amyds the throng.
And when his thumbe sufficiently had tryed euery string,
And found that though they seuerally in sundry sounds did ring,
Yit made they all one Harmonie. He thus began too sing.


O Muse my mother frame my song of Ioue. for euery thing
Is subiect vntoo royall Ioue. Of loue the heauenly King
I oft haue shewed the glorious power. I erst in grauer verse
The Gyants slayne in Phlægra feeldes with thunder, did reherse.
But now I neede a meelder style too tell of prettie boyes
That were the derlings of the Gods: and of vnlawfull ioyes
That burned in the brests of Girles, who for theyr wicked lust
According as they did deserue, receyued penance iust.
The King of Goddes did burne erewhyle in loue of Ganymed
The Phrygian and the thing was found which Iupiter that sted
Had rather bee than that he was. Yit could he not beteeme
The shape of any other Bird than Aegle for too seeme
And so he soring in the ayre with borrowed wings trust vp
The Troiane boay who still in heauen euen yit dooth beare his cup,
And brings him Nectar though against Dame Iunos will it bee.


And thou Amyclys sonne (had not thy heauy destinee
Abridged thee before thy tyme) hadst also placed beene
By Phoebus in the firmament. How bee it (as is seene)
Thou art eternall so farre forth as may bee. For as oft
As watrie Piscis giueth place too Aries that the soft
And gentle springtyde dooth succeede the winter sharp and stowre:
So often thou renewest thyself, and on the fayre greene clowre
Doost shoote out flowres. My father bare a speciall loue too thee
Aboue all others. So that whyle the God went oft too see
Eurotas and vnwalled Spart, he left his noble towne
Of Delphos (which a mid the world is situate in renowne)
Without a souereigne Neyther Harp nor Bow regarded were.
Unmyndfull of his Godhead he refused not too beare
The nets, nor for too hold the hounds, nor as a peynfull mate
Too trauell ouer cragged hilles, through which continuall gate
His flames augmented more and more. And now the sunne did stand
Well neere midway betweene the nyghts last past and next at hand.
They stript themselues and noynted them with oyle of Olyfe fat.
And fell to throwing of a Sledge that was ryght howge and flat.
Fyrst Phoebus peysing it did throw it from him with such strength,
As that the weyght draue downe the clouds in flying. And at length
It fell vpon substantiall ground, where plainly it did show
As well the cunning as the force of him that did it throw.
Immediatly vpon desyre himself the sport too trie,
The Spartane lad made haste too take vp vnaduisedly
The Sledge before it still did lye. But as he was in hand
Too catch it, it rebounding vp ageinst the hardened land,
Did hit him full vpon the face. The God himselfe did looke
As pale as did the lad, and vp his swounding body tooke.
Now culles he him, now wypes he from the wound the blood away,
Anotherwhyle his fading lyfe he stryues with herbes too stay.
Nought booted Leechcraft. Helplesse was the wound. And like as one
Broosd violet stalkes or Poppie stalkes or Lillies growing on
Browne spindles, streight they withering droope with heauy heads & are
Not able for too hold them vp, but with their tops doo stare
Uppon the ground. So Hyacinth in yeelding of his breath
Chopt downe his head His necke bereft of strength by meanes of death
Was euen a burthen too itself, and downe did loosely wrythe
On both his shoulders, now a tone and now a toother lythe.
Thou faadst away my Hyacinth defrauded of the pryme
Of youth (quoth Phoebus) and I see thy wound my heynous cryme.
Thou art my sorrow and my fault: this hand of myne hath wrought
Thy death: I like a murtherer haue too thy graue thee brought.
But what haue I offended thow? onlesse that too haue playd,
Or if that too haue loued, an offence it may be sayd.
Would God I render myght my lyfe with and in stead of thee.
Too which syth fatall destinee denyeth too agree,
Both in my mynd and in my mouth thou euermore shalt bee.
My Uiall striken with my hand, my songs shall sound of thee,
And in a newmade flowre thou shalt with letters represent
Our syghings. And the tyme shall come ere many yeeres bee spent,
That in thy flowre a valeant Prince shall ioyne himself with thee,
And leaue his name vppon the leaues for men too reede and see.
Whyle Phoebus thus did prophesie, behold the blood of him
Which dyde the grasse, ceast blood too bee, and vp there sprang a trim
And goodly flowre, more orient than the Purple cloth ingrayne,
In shape a Lillye, were it not that Lillyes doo remayne
Of syluer colour, whereas theis of purple hew are seene.
Although that Phoebus had the cause of this greate honor beene,
Yit thought he not the same ynough. And therfore did he wryght
His syghes vppon the leaues thereof: and so in colour bryght
The flowre hath ai writ theron, which letters are of greef.
So small the Spartanes thought the birth of Hyacinth repreef
Unto them, that they woorship him from that day vntoo this.
And as their fathers did before, so they doe neuer misse
With solemne pomp too celebrate his feast from yeere too yeere.


But if perchaunce that Amathus the rich in mettals, weere
Demaunded if it would haue bred the Propets it would sweare,
Yea euen as gladly as the folke whose brewes sumtyme did beare,
A payre of welked hornes: whereof they Cerastes named are.
Before theyr doore an Altar stood of Ioue that takes the care.
Of alyents and of trauellers, which lothsome was too see,
For lewdnesse wrought theron. If one that had a straunger bee
Had lookt thereon, he would haue thought there had on it beene killd
Sum sucking calues or lambes. The blood of straugers there was spilld.
Dame Venus sore offended at this wicked sacrifyse,
Too leaue her Cities and the land of Cyprus did deuyse.
But then bethinking her, shee sayd. What hath my pleasant ground
What haue my Cities trespassed? what fault in them is found?
Nay rather let this wicked race by exyle punnisht beene,
Or death, or by sum other thing that is a meane betweene
Both death and exyle. what is that? saue only for too chaunge
Theyr shape. In musing with herself what figure were most straunge,
Shee cast her eye vppon a horne. And therewithall shee thought
The same too bee a shape ryght meete vppon them too bee brought:
And so shee from theyr myghty limbes theyr natiue figure tooke,
And turnd them intoo boystous Bulles with grim and cruell looke
Yit durst the filthy Propets stand in stiffe opinion that
Dame Venus was no Goddesse till shee beeing wroth thereat,
Too make theyr bodies common first compelld them euerychone
And after chaungd theyr former kynd. For when that shame was gone,
And that they wexed brazen faast, shee turned them too stone,
In which betweene their former shape was diffrence small or none.


Whom forbycause Pygmalion saw too leade theyr lyfe in sin
Offended with the vice whereof greate store is packt within
The nature of the womankynd, he led a single lyfe.
And long it was ere he could fynd in hart too take a wyfe.
Now in the whyle by wondrous Art an image he did graue
Of such proportion, shape, and grace as nature neuer gaue
Nor can too any woman giue. In this his worke he tooke
A certaine loue. The looke of it was ryght a Maydens looke,
And such a one as that yee would beleeue had lyfe, and that
Would moued bee, if womanhod and reuerence letted not:
So artificiall was the work. He woondreth at his Art
And of his counterfetted corse conceyueth loue in hart.
He often toucht it, feeling if the woork that he had made
Were verie flesh or Iuorye still. Yit could he not perswade
Himself too think it Iuory. For he oftentymes it kist
And thought it kissed him ageine. He hild it by the fist,
And talked too it. He beleeued his fingars made a dint
Uppon her flesh, and feared least sum blacke or broosed print
Should come by touching ouer hard. Sumtyme with pleasant boords
And wanton toyes he dalyingly dooth cast foorth amorous woords.
Sumtime (the giftes wherein yong Maydes are wonted too delyght)
He brought her owches, fyne round stones, and Lillyes fayre & whyght,
And pretie singing birds, and flowres of thousand sorts and hew,
And peynted balles, and Amber from the tree distilled new.
In gorgeous garments furthermore he did her also decke,
And on her fingars put me rings, and cheynes about her necke.
Riche perles were hanging at her eares, and tablets at her brest.
All kynd of things became her well. And when she was vndrest,
Shee seemed not lesse beawtifull He layd her in a bed
The which with scarlet dyde in Tyre was richly ouerspred,
And terming her his bedfellow, he couched downe hir head
Uppon a pillow soft, as though shee could haue felt the same.


The feast of Venus hallowed through the Ile of Cyprus, came
And Bullocks whyght with gilden hornes were slayne for sacrifyse,
And vp too heauen of frankincence the smoky fume did ryse.
When as Pygmalion hauing doone his dutye that same day,
Beefore the altar standing, thus with fearefull hart did say.
If that you Goddes can all things giue, then let my wife (I pray)
(He durst not say bee yoonsame wench of Iuory, but) bee leeke
My wench of Iuory. Venus (who was nought at all to seeke
What such a wish as that did meene) then present at her feast,
For handsell of her freendly helpe did cause three tymes at least
The fyre to kindle and to spyre thryse vpward in the ayre.
Assoone as he came home, streyght way Pygmalion did repayre
Unto the Image of his wench, and leaning on the bed,
Did kisse hir. In her body streyght a warmenesse seemd too spred.
He put his mouth againe to hers, and on her brest did lay
His hand. The Iuory wexed soft: and putting quyght away
All hardnesse, yeelded vnderneathe his fingars, as wee see
A peece of wax made soft ageinst the Sunne, or drawen too bee
In diuers shapes by chaufing it betweene ones handes, and so
To serue to vses. He amazde stood wauering too and fro
Tweene ioy, and feare too bee beeguyld, ageine he burnt in loue,
Ageine with feeling he began his wisshed hope too proue.
He felt it verrye flesh in deede. By laying on his thumb,
He felt her pulses beating. Then he stood no longer dumb
But thanked Venus with his hart. and at the length he layd
His mouth to hers who was as then become a perfect mayd.
Shee felt the kisse, and blusht therat: and lifting fearefully
Hir eyelidds vp, hir Louer and the light at once did spye.
The mariage that her selfe had made the Goddesse blessed so,
That when the Moone with fulsum lyght nyne tymes her course had go,
This Ladye was deliuered of a Sun that Paphus hyght,
Of whom the Iland takes that name. Of him was borne a knyght
Calld Cinyras who (had he had none issue) surely myght
Of all men vnderneathe the sun beene thought the happyest wyght.


Of wicked and most cursed things to speake I now commence.
Yee daughters and yee parents all go get yee farre from hence.
Or if yee mynded bee to heere my tale, beleeue mee nought
In this beehalfe: ne think that such a thing was euer wrought.
Or if yee will beeleeue the deede, beleeue the vengeance too
Which lyghted on the partye that the wicked act did doo.
But if that it be possible that any wyght so much
From nature should degenerate, as for to fall to such
A heynous cryme as this is, I am glad for Thracia, I
Am glad for this same world of ours, yea glad exceedingly
I am for this my natiue soyle, for that there is such space
Betweene it and the land that bred a chyld so voyd of grace.
I would the land Panchaya should of Amomie be rich,
And Cinnamom, and Costus sweete, and Incence also which
Dooth issue largely out of trees, and other flowers straunge,
As long as that it beareth Myrrhe: not woorth it was the chaunge,
Newe trees to haue of such a pryce. The God of loue denyes
His weapons too haue hurted thee, O Myrrha, and he tryes
Himselfe vngiltie by thy fault. One of the Furies three
With poysonde Snakes and hellish brands hath rather blasted thee
To hate ones father is a cryme as heynous as may bee.
But yit more wicked is this loue of thine than any hate.
The youthfull Lordes of all the East and Peeres of cheefe estate
Desyre to haue thee too their wyfe, and earnest sute doo make.
Of all (excepting onely one) thy choyce O Myrrha take.


Shee feeles her filthye loue, and stryues ageinst it, and within
Herself sayd. whither roonnes my mynd? what thinke I to begin?
Yee Gods (I pray) and godlynesse, yee holy rites and awe
Of parents, from this heynous cryme my vicious mynd withdrawe,
And disappoynt my wickednesse. At leastwyse if it bee
A wickednesse that I intend. As farre as I can see,
This loue infrindgeth not the bondes of godlynesse a whit.
For euery other liuing wyght dame nature dooth permit
Too match without offence of sin. The Hecfer thinkes no shame
Too beare her father on her backe: The Horse beestrydes the same
Of whom he is the syre: The Gote dooth bucke the Kid that hee
Himself begate: and birdes doo tread the self same birdes wee see
Of whom they hatched were before. In happye cace they are
That may doo so without offence. But mans malicious care
Hath made a brydle for it self, and spyghtfull lawes restreyne
The things that nature setteth free. yit are their Realmes (men sayne)
In which the moother with the sonne, and daughter with the father
Doo match, where through of godlynesse the bond augments the rather
With doubled loue. Now wo is mee it had not beene my lot
In that same countrie too bee borne. And that this lucklesse plot
Should hinder mee. Why thinke I thus? Auaunt vnlawfull loue.
I ought too loue him I confesse: but so as dooth behoue
His daughter: were not Cinyras my father then, I wis
I myght obtaine too lye with him. But now bycause he is
Myne owne, he cannot bee myne owne. The neerenesse of our kin
Dooth hurt me. Were I further of perchaunce I more myght win.
And if I wist that I therby this wickednesse myght shunne,
I would forsake my natiue soyle and farre from Cyprus runne.
This euill heate dooth hold mee backe, that beeing present still
I may but talke with Cinyras and looke on him my fill,
And touch, and kisse him, if no more may further graunted bee.
Why wicked wench? and canst thou hope for further? doost not see
How by thy fault thou doost confound the ryghts of name and kin?
And wilt thou make thy mother bee a Cucqueane by thy sin?
Wilt thou thy fathers leman bee? wilt thou bee both the moother
And suster of thy chyld? shall he bee both thy sonne and brother?
And standst thou not in feare at all of those same susters three
Whose heads with crawling snakes in stead of heare bematted bee?
Which pushing with theyr cruell bronds folks eyes and mouthes, doo see
Theyr sinfull harts? but thou now whyle thy body yit is free,
Let neuer such a wickednesse once enter in thy mynd.
Defyle not myghtye natures hest by lust ageinst thy kynd.
What though thy will were fully bent? yit euen the very thing
Is such as will not suffer thee the same too end too bring.
For why he beeing well disposde and godly, myndeth ay
So much his dewtye that from ryght and truth he will not stray.
Would God lyke furie were in him as is in mee this day.


This sayd, her father Cinyras (who dowted what too doo
By reason of the worthy store of suters which did woo
His daughter,) bringing all theyr names did will her for too show
On which of them shee had herself most fancie too bestow.
At first shee hild her peace a whyle, and looking wistly on
Her fathers face, did boyle within: and scalding teares anon
Ran downe her visage. Cyniras, (who thought them too proceede
Of tender harted shamefastnesse) did say there was no neede
Of teares, and dryed her cheekes, and kist her. Myrrha tooke of it
Exceeding pleasure in her selfe: and when that he did wit
What husband shee did wish too haue, shee sayd: one like too yow.
He vnderstanding not hir thought, did well her woordes allow.
And sayd: in this thy godly mynd continew. At the name
Of godlynesse, shee cast mee downe her looke for very shame.
For why her giltie hart did knowe shee well deserued blame.


Hygh mydnight came, and sleepe bothe care and carkesses opprest.
But Myrrha lying brode awake could neyther sleepe nor rest.
Shee fryes in Cupids flames, and woorkes continewally vppon
Her furious loue. One while shee sinkes in deepe despayre. Anon
Shee fully myndes to giue attempt, but shame doth hold her in.
Shee wisshes and shee wotes not what too doo, nor how too gin.
And like as when a mightye tree with axes heawed rownd,
Now reedye with a strype or twaine to lye vppon the grownd,
Uncerteine is which way to fall and tottreth euery way:
Euen so her mynd with dowtfull wound effeebled then did stray
Now heere now there vncerteinely, and tooke of bothe encreace.
No measure of her loue was found, no rest, nor yit releace,
Saue onely death. death likes her best. Shee ryseth, full in mynd
To hang herself. About a post her girdle she doth bynd.
And sayd farewell deere Cinyras, and vnderstand the cause
Of this my death. And with that woord about her necke shee drawes
The nooze. Her trustye nurce that in another Chamber lay
By fortune heard the whispring sound of theis her woordes (folk say.)
The aged woman rysing vp vnboltes the doore. And whan
Shee saw her in that plyght of death, shee shreeking out began
Too smyght her self, and scratcht her brest, and quickly too her ran
And rent the girdle from her necke. Then weeping bitterly
And holding her betweene her armes, shee askt the question why
Shee went about too hang her self so vnaduisedly.
The Lady hilld her peace as dumb, and looking on the ground
Unmouably, was sorye in her hart for beeing found
Before shee had dispatcht herself. Her nurce still at her lay,
And shewing her her emptie dugges and naked head all gray,
Besought her for the paynes shee tooke with her both night and day
In rocking and in feeding her, shee would vouchsafe to say
What ere it were that greeued her. The Ladye turnd away
Displeasde and fetcht a sygh. The nurce was fully bent in mynd
Too bowlt the matter out: for which not onely shee did bynd
Her fayth, in secret things to keepe: but also sayd, put mee
In trust too fynd a remedye. I am not (thou shalt see)
Yit altoogither dulld by age. If furiousenesse it bee,
I haue bothe charmes and chaunted herbes to help. If any wyght
Bewitcheth thee, by witchcraft I will purge and set thee quyght.
Or if it bee the wrath of God, we shall with sacrifyse
Appease the wrath of God right well. What may I more surmyse?
No theeues haue broken in vppon this house and spoyld the welth.
Thy mother and thy father bothe are liuing and in helth.
When Myrrha heard her father naamd, a greeuous sygh she fet
Euen from the bottom of her hart. Howbeet the nurce as yet
Misdeemd not any wickednesse. But nerethelesse shee gest
There was some loue: and standing in one purpose made request
Too breake her mynd vntoo her, And shee set her tenderly
Uppon her lappe. The Ladye wept and sobbed bitterly.
Then culling her in feeble armes, shee sayd I well espye
Thou art in loue. My diligence in this behalf I sweare
Shall seruisable too thee bee. Thou shalt not neede too feare
That ere thy father shall it knowe. At that same woord shee lept
From nurces lappe like one that had beene past her witts, and stept
With fury to her bed. at which shee leaning downe hir face
Sayd, hence I pray thee: force mee not to shewe my shamefull cace.
And when the nurce did vrge her still, shee answered eyther get
The hence, or ceace too aske mee why myself I thus doo fret.
The thing that thou desyrste too knowe is wickednesse. The old
Poore nurce gan quake, and trembling both for age and feare did hold
Her handes to her. And kneeling downe right humbly at her feete,
One whyle shee fayre intreated her with gentle woordes and sweete.
Another whyle (onlesse shee made her priuie of her sorrow)
Shee threatned her, and put her in a feare shee would next morrow
Bewray her how shee went about to hang herself. But if
Shee told her, shee did plyght her fayth and help too her releef.
Shee lifted vp her head, and then with teares fast gusshing out
Beesloobered all her nurces brest: and going oft about
Too speake, shee often stayd: and with her garments hid her face
For shame, and lastly sayd: O happye is my moothers cace
That such a husband hath. with that a greeuous sygh shee gaue,
And hilld her peace. Theis woordes of hers a trembling chilnesse draue
In nurcis limbes, which perst her bones: (for now shee vnderstood
The cace) and all her horye heare vp stiffly staring stood
And many things she talkt to put away her cursed loue,
If that it had beene possible the madnesse to remoue.
The Mayd herself to be full trew the councell dooth espye:
Yit if shee may not haue her loue shee fully myndes to dye.
Liue still (quoth nurce) thou shalt obteine (shee durst not say thy father,
But stayd at that.) And forbycause that Myrrha should the rather
Beleeue her, shee confirmd her woordes by othe. The yeerely feast
Of gentle Ceres came, in which the wyues bothe moste and least
Appareld all in whyght are woont the firstlings of the feeld
Fyne garlonds made of eares of corne too Ceres for to yeeld.
And for the space of thryce three nyghts they counted it a sin
To haue the vse of any man, or once too towche his skin.


Among theis women did the Queene freequent the secret rites.
Now whyle that of his lawfull wyfe his bed was voyd a nightes,
The nurce was dooble diligent: and fynding Cinyras
Well washt with wyne, shee did surmyse there was a pretye lasse
In loue with him. And hyghly shee her beawty setteth out.
And beeing asked of her yeeres, she sayd shee was about
The age of Myrrha. well (quoth he) then bring her too my bed.
Returning home shee sayd: bee glad my nurcechilde: we haue sped.
Not all so wholly in her hart was wretched Myrrha glad,
But that her fore misgiuing mynd did also make her sad.
Howbeete shee also did reioyce as in a certaine kynd,
Such discord of affections was within her combred mynd.


It was the tyme that all things rest. And now Boötes bryght
The driuer of the Oxen seuen about the northpole pyght.
Had sumwhat turnd his wayne asyde, when wicked Myrrha sped
About her buysnesse. Out of heauen the golden Phoebee fled.
With clowds more black than any pitch the starres did hyde their hed.
The nyght beecommeth vtter voyd of all her woonted lyght.
And first before all other hid their faces out of syght
Good Icar and Erigonee his daughter, who for loue
Most vertuous too her fatherward, was take vp aboue
And made a starre in heauen. Three tymes had Myrrha warning giuen
By stumbling, to retyre. Three tymes the deathfull Owle that eeuen
With doolefull noyse prognosticates vnhappie lucke. Yet came
Shee forward still: the darknesse of the nyght abated shame.
Her left hand held her nurce, her right the darke blynd way did grope.
Anon shee too the chamber came: anon the doore was ope:
Anon shee entred in. with that her foltring hammes did quake:
Her colour dyde: her blood and hart did cleerly her forsake.
The neerer shee approched too her wickednesse, the more
Shee trembled: Of her enterpryse it irked her full sore:
And fayn shee would shee might vnknowe haue turned back. Nurce led
Her pawsing forward by the hand: and putting her too bed,
Heere take this Damzell Cinyras, shee is thine owne shee sed.
And so shee layd them brest too brest. The wicked father takes
His bowelles intoo filthy bed, and there with wordes asslakes
The maydens feare, and cheeres her vp. And least this cryme of theyres
Myght want the ryghtfull termes, by chaunce as in respect of yeeres
He daughter did hir call, and shee him father. Beeing sped
With cursed seede in wicked womb, shee left her fathers bed,
Of which soone after shee became greate bagged with her shame.
Next night the lewdnesse doubled. And no end was of the same,
Untill at length that Cinyras desyrous for to knowe
His louer that so many nyghts vppon him did bestowe,
Did fetch a light: by which he sawe his owne most heynous cryme,
And eeke his daughter. nathelesse, his sorrow at that time
Represt his speeche. Then hanging by he drew a Rapier bryght.
Away ran Myrrha, and by meanes of darknesse of the nyght
Shee was deliuered from the death: and straying in the broade
Datebearing feeldes of Arabye, shee through Panchaya yode,
And wandring full nyne moonethes at length shee rested beeing tyrde
In Saba land. And when the tyme was neere at hand expyrde,
And that vneath the burthen of her womb shee well could beare,
Not knowing what she might desyre, distrest betweene the feare
Of death, and tediousnesse of lyfe, this prayer shee did make.
O Goddes, if of repentant folk you any mercye take,
Sharpe vengeance I confesse I haue deserued, and content
I am to take it paciently. How bee it too thentent
That neyther with my lyfe the quick, nor with my death the dead
Anoyed bee, from both of them exempt mee this same sted.
And altring mee, deny too mee both lyfe and death we see
Too such as doo confesse theyr faults sum mercy shewd too bee.
The Goddes did graunt her this request, the last that shee should make.
The ground did ouergrow hir feete, and ancles as shee spake.
And from her bursten toes went rootes, which wrything heere and there
Did fasten so the trunk within the ground shee could not steare.
Her bones did intoo timber turne, whereof the marie was
The pith, and into watrish sappe the blood of her did passe.
Her armes were turnd too greater boughes, her fingars into twig,
Her skin was hardned into bark. And now her belly big
The eatching tree had ouergrowen, and ouertane her brest,
And hasted for to win her neck, and hyde it with the rest.
Shee made no taryence nor delay, but met the comming tree,
And shroonk her face within the barke therof. Although that shee
Toogither with her former shape her senses all did loose,
Yit weepeth shee, and from her tree warme droppes doo softly woose.
The which her teares are had in pryce and honour. And the Myrrhe
That issueth from her gummy bark dooth beare the name of her,


And shall doo whyle the world dooth last. The misbegotten chyld
Grew still within the tree, and from his mothers womb defyld
Sought meanes too bee delyuered. Her burthened womb did swell
Amid the tree, and stretcht her out. But woordes wherwith to tell
And vtter foorth her greef did want, She had no vse of speech
With which Lucina in her throwes shee might of help beseech.
Yit like a woman labring was the tree, and bowwing downe
Gaue ofte sighes, & shed foorth teares as though shee there should drowne.
Lucina to this wofull tree came gently downe, and layd
Her hand theron, and speaking woordes of ease the midwife playd.
The tree did cranye, and the barke deuiding made away,
And yeelded out the chyld alyue, which cryde and wayld streyght way.
The waternymphes vppon the soft sweete hearbes the chyld did lay,
And bathde him with his mothers teares. His face was such as spyght
Must needes haue praysd. For such he was in all condicions right,
As are the naked Cupids that in tables picturde bee.
But too thentent he may with them in euery poynt agree,
Let eyther him bee furnished with wings and quiuer light,
Or from the Cupids take theyr wings and bowes and arrowes quight.


Away slippes fleeting tyme vnspyde and mocks vs too our face,
And nothing may compare with yeares in swiftnesse of theyr pace.
That wretched imp whom wickedly his graundfather begate,
And whom his cursed suster bare, who hidden was alate
Within the tree, and lately borne, became immediatly
The beawtyfullyst babe on whom man euer set his eye.
Anon a stripling hee became, and by and by a man,
And euery day more beawtifull than other he becam.
That in the end Dame Venus fell in loue with him: wherby
He did reuenge the outrage of his mothers villanye.
For as the armed Cupid kist Dame Venus, vnbeware
An arrow sticking out did raze hir brest vppon the bare.
The Goddesse being wounded, thrust away her sonne. The wound
Appeered not too bee so deepe as afterward was found.
It did deceyue her at the first. The beauty of the lad
Inflaamd her. Too Cythera Ile no mynd at all shee had.
Nor vntoo Paphos where the sea beats round about the shore,
Nor fisshy Gnyde, nor Amathus that hath of metalls store.
Yea euen from heauen shee did absteyne. Shee lovd Adonis more
Than heauen To him shee clinged ay, and bare him companye.
And in the shadowe woont shee was too rest continually,
And for too set her beawtye out most seemely too the eye
By trimly decking of her self. Through bushy grounds and groues,
And ouer Hills and Dales, and Lawnds and stony rocks shee roues,
Bare kneed with garment tucked vp according too the woont
Of Phebe, and shee cheerd the hounds with hallowing like a hunt,
Pursewing game of hurtlesse sort, as Hares made lowe before.
Or stagges with loftye heades, or bucks. But with the sturdy Boare
And rauening woolf, and Bearewhelpes armd with vgly pawes, and eeke
The cruell Lyons which delyght in blood, and slaughter seeke,
Shee meddled not. And of theis same shee warned also thee
Adonis for too shoonne them, if thou wooldst haue warned bee.
Bee bold on cowards (Venus sayd) for whoso dooth aduaunce
Himselfe against the bold, may hap too meete with sum mischaunce.
Wherfore I pray thee my sweete boy forbeare too bold too bee.
For feare thy rashnesse hurt thy self and woork the wo of mee
Encounter not the kynd of beastes whom nature armed hath,
For dowt thou buy thy prayse too deere procuring thee sum scath.
Thy tender youth, thy beawty bryght, thy countnance fayre and braue
Although they had the force too win the hart of Venus, haue
No powre ageinst the Lyons, nor ageinst the bristled swyne.
The eyes and harts of sauage beasts doo nought too theis inclyne.
The cruell Boares beare thunder in theyr hooked tushes, and
Exceeding force and feercenesse is in Lyons too withstand.
And sure I hate them at my hart. Too him demaunding why?
A monstrous chaunce (quoth Venus) I will tell thee by and by,
That hapned for a fault. But now vnwoonted toyle hath made
Mee weerye: and beholde, in tyme this Poplar with his shade
Allureth, and the ground for cowch dooth serue too rest vppon.
I prey thee let vs rest heere. They sate them downe anon.
And lying vpward with her head vppon his lappe along,
Shee thus began: and in her tale shee bussed him among.


Perchaunce thou hast or this tyme hard of one that ouercame
The swiftest men in footemanshippe. no fable was that fame.
She ouercame them out of dowt. And hard it is to tell
Thee whither she did in footemanshippe or beawty more excell.
Uppon a season as she askt of Phebus, what he was
That should her husband bee, he sayd. For husband doo not passe
O Atalanta, thou at all of husband hast no neede
Shonne husbanding. But yit thou canst not shonne it I thee reede.
Alyue thou shalt not be thy self. Shee being sore afrayd
Of this Apollos Oracle, did keepe herself a mayd,
And liued in the shady woodes. When wooers to her came,
And were of her importunate, shee draue away the same
With boystous woordes, and with sore condition of the game.
I am not too be had (quoth shee) onlesse yee able bee
In ronning for too vanquish mee. Yee must contend with mee
In footemanshippe. And who so winnes the wager, I agree
Too bee his wife. But if that he bee found too slowe, then hee
Shall lose his head. This of your game the verrye law shall bee.
Shee was in deede vnmercifull. But such is beawties powre,
That though the sayd condition were extreme and ouer sowre,
Yit many suters were so rash too vndertake the same.
Hippomenes as a looker on of this vncurteous game,
Sate by, and sayd. Is any man so mad to seeke a wyfe
With such apparant perill and the hazard of his lyfe?
And vtterly he did condemne the yongmens loue. But when
He saw her face and bodye bare, (for why the Lady then
Did strippe her too her naked skin) the which was like too myne,
Or rather (if that thou wert made a woman) like too thyne:
He was amazde. And holding vp his hands too heauen, he sayth:
Forgiue mee you with whom I found such fault euen now: In fayth
I did not know the wager that yee ran for. As hee prayseth
The beawty of her, in him selfe the fyre of loue he rayseth.
And through an enuy fearing least shee should a way be woonne,
He wisht that nere a one of them so swift as shee might roonne.
And wherfore (quoth hee) put not I myself in preace too trye
The fortune of this wager? God himself continually
Dooth help the bold and hardye sort. now whyle Hippomenes
Debates theis things within himselfe and other like to these,
The Damzell ronnes as if her feete were wings. And though that shee
Did fly as swift as arrow from a Turkye bowe: yit hee
More woondred at her beawtye than at swiftnesse of her pace
Her ronning greatly did augment her beawtye and her grace.
The wynd ay whisking from her feete the labells of her socks
Uppon her back as whyght as snowe did tosse her golden locks,
And eeke thembroydred garters that were tyde beneathe her ham.
A rednesse mixt with whyght vppon her tender bodye cam,
As when a scarlet curtaine streynd ageinst a playstred wall
Dooth cast like shadowe, making it seeme ruddye therwithall.
Now whyle the straunger noted this, the race was fully ronne,
And Atalant (as shee that had the wager cleerely wonne)
Was crowned with a garlond braue. The vanquisht sighing sore,
Did lose theyr lyues according too agreement made before.
Howbeeit nought at all dismayd with theis mennes lucklesse cace
He stepped foorth, and looking full vppon the maydens face,
Sayd: wherfore doost thou seeke renowne in vanquisshing of such
As were but dastards? cope with mee. If fortune bee so much
My freend too giue mee victorie, thou needest not hold scorne
Too yeeld too such a noble man as I am. I am borne
The sonne of noble Megaree Onchestyes sonne, and hee
Was sonne to Neptune. Thus am I great graundchyld by degree
In ryght descent, of him that rules the waters. Neyther doo
I out of kynd degenerate from vertue meete thertoo.
Or if my fortune bee so hard as vanquisht for too bee,
Thou shalt obteine a famous name by ouercomming mee.
In saying thus, Atlanta cast a gentle looke on him
And dowting whither shee rather had too lose the day or win,


Sayd thus. What God an enmy to the beawtyfull, is bent
Too bring this person to his end, and therfore hath him sent
Too seeke a wyfe with hazard of his lyfe? If I should bee
Myselfe the iudge in this behalfe, there is not sure in mee
That dooth deserue so deerely too bee earned. neyther dooth
His beawty mooue my hart at all. yit is it such in sooth
As well might mooue mee. But bycause as yit a chyld he is,
His person mooues mee not so much as dooth his age I wis.
Beesydes that manhod is in him, and mynd vnfrayd of death:
Beesydes that of the watrye race from Neptune as he seth
He is the fowrth: beesydes that he dooth loue mee, and dooth make
So great accompt too win mee too his wyfe, that for my sake
He is contented for too dye, if fortune bee so sore
Ageinst him too denye him mee. Thou straunger hence therfore.
Away I say now whyle thou mayst, and shonne my bloody bed.
My mariage cruell is, and craues the losing of thy hed.
There is no wench but that would such a husband gladly catch.
And shee that wyse were myght desyre too meete with such a match.
But why now after heading of so many, doo I care
For thee? Looke thou too that. For sith so many men as are
Alreadye put too slawghter can not warne thee too beeware,
But that thou wilt bee weerye of thy lyfe, dye: doo not spare.
And shall he perrish then bycause he sought to liue with mee?
And for his loue vnwoorthely with death rewarded bee?
All men of such a victory will speake too foule a shame.
But all the world can testifye that I am not too blame.
Would God thou wouldst desist. Or else bycause thou are so mad,
I would too God a litle more thy feete of swiftnesse had.
Ah what a maydens countenance is in this chyldish face?
Ah foolish boy Hippomenes, how wretched is thy cace?
I would thou neuer hadst mee seene. Thou woorthy art of lyfe.
And if so bee I happy were, and that too bee a wyfe
The cruell destnyes had not mee forbidden, sure thou art
The onely wyght with whom I would bee matcht with all my hart.


This spoken: shee yit rawe, and but new striken with the dart
Of Cupid, beeing ignorant, did loue and knew it nat
Anon her father and the folk assembled, willed that
They should begin theyr woonted race. Then Neptunes issue prayd
With carefull hart and voyce too mee, and thus deuoutly sayd.
O Venus, fauour myne attempt, and send mee downe thyne ayd
Too compasse my desyred loue which thou hast on mee layd.
His prayer movd mee (I confesse,) and long I not delayd
Before I helpt him. Now there is a certaine feeld the which
The Cyprian folk call Damasene, most fertile and most rich
Of all the Cyprian feelds: the same was consecrate too mee
In auncient tyme, and of my Church the glebland woont too bee.
Amid this feeld, with golden leaues there growes a goodly tree
The crackling boughes whereof are all of yellew gold. I came
And gathered golden Apples three: and bearing thence the same
Within my hand, immediatly too Hippomen I gat
Inuisible too all wyghts else saue him and taught him what
Too doo with them. The Trumpets blew: and girding forward, both
Set foorth, and on the houering dust with nimble feete eche goth.
A man would think they able were vppon the Sea too go
And neuer wet theyr feete, and on the ayles of corne also
That still is growing in the feeld, and neuer downe them tread.
The man tooke courage at the showt and woordes of them that sed,
Now now is tyme Hippomenes too ply it, hye a pace:
Enforce thyself with all thy strength: lag not in any cace:
Thou shalt obteine. It is a thing ryght dowtfull whither hee
At theis well willing woordes of theyrs reioysed more, or shee.
O Lord how often when shee might outstrippe him did shee stay,
And gazed long vppon his face, right loth too go her way?
A weerye breath proceeded from theyr parched lippes, and farre
They had too ronne. Then Neptunes imp her swiftnesse too disbarre,
Trolld downe a toneside of the way an Apple of the three.
Amazde therat, and couetous of the goodly Apple, shee
Did step asyde and snatched vp the rolling frute of gold.
With that Hippomenes coted her. The folke that did behold,
Made noyse with clapping of theyr hands. She recompenst her slothe
And losse of tyme with footemanshippe: and streight ageine outgothe
Hippomenes, leauing him behind. and beeing stayd agen
With taking vp the second, shee him ouertooke. And when
The race was almost at an end: He sayd: O Goddesse, thou
That art the author of this gift, assist mee freendly now,
And therwithall, of purpose that she might the longer bee
In comming, hee with all his might did bowle the last of three
A skew a toneside of the feelde. The Lady seemde too make
A dowt in taking of it vp. I forced her too take
It vp, and too the Apple I did put a heauy weyght,
And made it of such massinesse shee could not lift it streight.
And least that I in telling of my tale may longer bee,
Than they in ronning of their race, outstripped quight was shee.
And he that wan her, marying her enioyd her for his fee.


Thinkst thou I was not woorthy thanks, Adonis thinks thow
I earned not that he too mee should frankincence allow?
But he forgetfull neyther thanks nor frankincence did giue.
By meanes wherof too sooden wrath he iustly did me driue.
For beeing greeued with the spyght, bycause I would not bee
Despysd of such as were too come, I thought it best for mee
Too take such vengeance of them both as others might take heede
By them. And so ageinst them both in anger I proceede.
A temple of the mother of the Goddes that vowwed was
And buylded by Echion in a darksome groue, they passe
There through my might Hippomenes was toocht and stirred so,
That needes he would too Uenerie though out of season go.
Not farre from this same temple was with little light a den
With pommye vawlted naturally, long consecrate ere then
For old religion, not vnlike a caue: wher priests of yore
Bestowed had of Images of wooden Goddes good store.
Hippomenes entring herintoo defyld the holy place.
With his vnlawfull lust: from which the Idolls turnd theyr face.
And Cybell with the towred toppes disdeyning, dowted whither
Shee in the lake of Styx might drowne the wicked folk toogither.
The pennance seemed ouer lyght. and therefore shee did cawse
Thinne yellow manes to growe vppon theyr necks: and hooked pawes
In stead of fingars too succeede. Theyr shoulders were the same
They were before: with woondrous force deepe brested they beecame.
Theyr looke beecame feerce, cruell, grim, and sowre: a tufted tayle
Stretcht out in length farre after them vpon the ground dooth trayle.
In stead of speech they rore: in stead of bed they haunt the wood:
And dreadfull vnto others they for all theyr cruell moode
With tamed teeth chank Cybells bitts in shape of Lyons. Shonne
Theis beastes deere hart: and not from theis alonely see thou ronne,
But also from eche other beast that turnes not backe too flight
But offreth with his boystows brest too try the chaunce of fyght:
Anemis least thy valeantnesse bee hurtfull to vs both.


This warning giuen, we yoked swannes away through aire she goth.
But manhod by admonishment restreyned could not bee.
By chaunce his hounds in following of the tracke, a Boare did see,
And rowsed him. And as the swyne was comming from the wood,
Adonis hit him with a dart a skew, and drew the blood.
The Boare streyght with his hooked groyne ye huntingstaffe out drew
Bestayned with his blood, and on Adonis did pursew
Who trembling and retyring back, too place of refuge drew.
And hyding in his codds his tuskes as farre as he could thrust
He layd him all along for dead vppon the yellow dust.
Dame Venus in her chariot drawen with swannes was scarce arriued
At Cyprus, when shee knew a farre the sygh of him depryued
Of lyfe. Shee turnd her Cygnets backe. and when shee from the skye
Beehilld him dead, and in his blood beweltred for to lye:
Shee leaped downe, and tare at once hir garments from her brist,
And rent her heare, and beate vppon her stomack with her fist,
And blaming sore the destnyes, sayd. Yit shall they not obteine
Their will in all things. Of my greefe remembrance shall remayne.
(Adonis) whyle the world doth last. From yeere too yeere shall growe
A thing that of my heauinesse and of thy death shall showe
The liuely likenesse. In a flowre thy blood I will bestowe.
Hadst thou the powre Persephonee rank sented Mints too make
Of womens limbes? and may not I lyke powre vpon mee take
Without disdeine and spyght, too turne Adonis too a flowre?
This sed, shee sprinckled Nectar on the blood, which through the powre
Therof did swell like bubbles sheere that ryse in weather cleere
On water. And before that full an howre expyred weere,
Of all one colour with the blood a flowre she there did fynd
Euen like the flowre of that same tree whose frute in tender rynde
Haue pleasant graynes inclosde. Howbeet the vse of them is short.
For why the leaues doo hang so looce through lightnesse in such sort,
As that the windes that all things perce, with euery little blast
Doo shake them of and shed them so as that they cannot last.


\Finis decimi Libri