Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy A Poem Deuided into XVII. seuerall Cantons, intermixed with many pleasant Poeticall Tales. Concluding with an Vniuersall Chronicle from the Creation, untill these present Times. Written by Tho. Heywood |
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Canto. 4.
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 | Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy |  |
78
Canto. 4.
Argumentum
Ihoue Esculapius kils, Apollo ariuesTo keepe Admetus sheepe in Thessaly,
And next his beautious sister Iuno wiues,
At her returne from Creet to Parthemy,
The father with the sonne in battell striues,
But by his puissance is inforst to fly:
Acrisius keepes his daughter in a Tower,
Which amorous Ihoue skales in a golden shower
Arg. 2.
To deuine Physicke, Gods made first of men,And Perseus birth, swift Delia guids my pen
1
Thou deuine Art of Physicke let me singThy honoured praise, and let my pen aspire
To giue thee life, that vnto life canst bring
Men halfe departed: whether thy first Syre
Was that Prometheus, who from the Heauens King
Stole by his skill part of the vitall fier
That kindles life in man, thereby to saue
Sicke men, that stand with one foot in the graue.
2
Or whether Æsculapius was thy father,Sonne to the Sun-god, by whose liuely heat
Symples and Plants, their saps and vertues gather,
Let it suffice I know thy power is greate;
79
Then comprehends thy worth, let them intreat
Of thy perfection, that with fame professe thee,
And in their Arts vnto the life expresse thee.
3
As famous Butler, Pady, Turner, Poe,Atkinson, Lyster, Lodge, who still suruiue:
Besides these English Gallens thousands moe,
Who where they come, death and diseases driue
From pale sicke creatures: and all Cordials know,
Spirits spent and wasted to preserue aliue,
In this with Gods and Kings they are at strife,
Physitians Kings and Gods alone giue life.
4
Some hold young Mercury deuisd the skillOf Phisicke first, and taught that Art abroad,
Some vnto Arabus impute it still,
Some yeild that honour to th'Egiptian God,
Cal'd Apis or Serapis, others wil
Apollo chiefe, what time he made aboad
With king Admetus, but most voyces runne,
The first renown'd was Esculap his sonne.
5
Hippocrates reduc't it to an Art,Gallen and Auicenna him succeed,
Cassius and Calpitanus too, impart
His soueraigne skill, Rubrius taught first to bleed,
Antonius Musa chear'd the wasted hart,
Aruntius too helpt euery griefe at need:
Archagathus profest this first in Rome,
But all submit to Noble Gallens doome.
6
The first that did this sacred Art renowne,And gaue it fame on earth was as I read,
Great Æsculape who tracing vp and downe
To gather Simples in the flowry Mead,
Hard by a rocke that weares a bushy crowne,
And boue the neighbour champion lifts his head,
He spies a Swaine in habit neate and briske,
Hold battell with a dreadfull Bassiliske.
80
7
A monster that kils onely with his eie,Which from th'vnarmed Shepheard shrunke and ran,
Apolloes sonne with wonder stands him nie,
And thinks, or that no beast, or this no man,
Admiring by what hidden Diety
The piercing Cockatrice out-gaze he gan,
Vnlesse by chance there lodg'd a Vertue rare,
In some one simple in the wreath he ware.
8
All the strong armour gainst this horrid beast,Was but a Chaplet which begirt his braine,
Which Esculape suspecting, much increast
His Ardency, to know what hidden straine
Slept in strange working herbs (thus being possest)
He begs the Garland from the ignorant Swaine,
Who now vnwreath'd, againe the beast defies,
Who straight returnes, and kils him with hir eies.
9
Apolloes sonne by certaine proofe now findsTh'inuertued hearbes haue gainst such poyson power,
To combate with th'eie-killing Beast he minds,
(Thirsting for fame) the wreath with many a Flower,
And hearbe, and plant, about his braine he binds,
And so with speed hasts to her Rocky tower,
Skales her foule den, and threatens present warre,
T'out-gaze her neare, who seeing, kils from farre.
10
The big-swolne Serpent with broad eye-lids stares,And through the aire her subtle poison flings,
The Sunnes-hearbe charmed, soone her venom dares,
And shrinkes not at her persaunt eie-bals stings,
The Basiliske in her owne strength dispaires,
And to flie thence, she shakes her flaggy wings,
But his Dart takes her as she meant to rise,
And pierst her hart, that pierst harts with her eies.
11
Proud of this Trophy, he returning seesThe harmelesse Swaine vpon the ground lie dead,
Whom pittying, he discends vnto his knees,
Taking the vertued Chaplet from his head,
81
And downe his throat their powerfull liquor shed,
But when the iuice of one pure herbe was draind,
The new departed life it backe constraind.
11
Nor wonder if such force in hearbs remaine,What cannot iuice of deuine Simples bruisd?
The Dragon finding his young Serpent slaine,
Hauing th'herbe Balin in his wounds infusd,
Restores his life and makes him whole againe.
Who taught the Heart how Dettany is vsed?
Who being pierced through the bones and marrow,
Can with that hearbe expell th'offensiue arrow.
13
Who taught the poore beast hauing poison tastedTo seeke th'hearbe Cancer, and by that to cure him?
Who taught the Bore finding his spirits wasted
To seeke a branch of Iuy to assure him?
The Tortois spide a Dragon, and straight hasted
For Sauery, arm'd with which he can endure him,
Chyron found Centery, whose vse is holy,
Achilles Yarrow, and great Hermes, Moly.
14
The Storke hauing a branch of Orgamy,Can with much ease the Adders sting eschew,
And when the little Weasill chast, doth fly
The Dragon, he defends himselfe with Rew,
Much might be done by their rare purity,
By such as all their opperations knew:
No maruell then if such as know their skill,
Find by their practise, Art to saue or kill.
15
The Basiliske and the reuiued Swaine,With all the powerfull hearbes that life restore,
He beares to Paphos: they beholding slaine
So horrible a Monster knowne before,
Perceiuing likewise how he cal'd againe
Men dead to life: his person they adore,
Now Esculapius name is sounded hie,
Through the vast compasse of the spatious skie.
82
16
And whether enuious of this Princes name,Fitting the humorous world with such applauses,
Or whether for receiuing such as came
From the last field: or at what carping clauses
Ioue was agrieu'd at Esculapius fame,
I find no certaine ground but for some causes
Vnknowne to me, he Paphos doth inuade,
And great Apollo to his sonne giues aide.
17
But Saturnes seed preuailes: much bloud he spilsTo quench the heat of his incensed ire,
Paphos he sackes, and Esculapius kils,
Oh, wheres the Art that made thy name aspire?
Whose fame, Sea, Earth, and Heauen with clangor fils,
To others thou gauest life, now life desires,
(In vaine alas) when heauen hath doomd thy date,
Prepare thy soule, all physicke comes too late.
18
Besides this sentence, I pronounce or hieThere is no strife with heauen: when their houres call,
Physitians must as well as patients die,
And meete at the great iudgement generall,
Paphos is spoil'd, Apollo forcst to flie,
The Cretans him pursue, he scapes them all
Disguis'd, and is in exile forcst to keepe
In Thessaly, the king Admetus sheepe.
19
I told you erst, how Saturne reinuestedInto Parthemia, for bright Iuno sent
There, with her vnknowne Brothers to be feasted,
And how Athenian Neptune had intent
To meet with Pluto there. Things thus digested,
Triumphant Ioue, now full of griefe Ostent,
For his late conquest, in his breath'd defiance,
Is in all pompe receiu'd by his alliance.
20
Chiefely by twin-borne Iuno, not aloneHis Sister, now his troth-plight Queene and Bride,
Their long diuided bodies they attone
And enter amorous parley, which espide
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To all the bordering Kings to them alide,
Vnto their solemne spousales to inuite,
King, Prince, Duke, Marquesse, Baron, Lord, and Knight.
21
Metis the daughter of OceanusThey say, was Ioues first wife, whom being great
He swallowed: least of her being childed thus,
One should be borne to lift him from his seate;
By this the God growes more then Timpanus,
And swelling with the same, with throwes did sweat,
Till after anguish, and much trauelling paine,
The armed Pallas leapt out of his braine.
22
Metis deuout'd, he Themis takes to bed,Espousing her within the Gnossean Isle,
There where the flood Theremus lifts his head,
His third wife Iuno, whom he wan by guile,
Ioue knowing it vnlawfull was to wed
His sister: by his God-hood in small while
Transformes himselfe, and like a Cuckow flies,
Where Iuno tasts the pleasure of the skies.
23
But at his becke the King of Gods and men,Commands a storme the Welkin to orecast,
At which the Cuckow trembling, shrinketh then
Her legges beneath her wings, Iuno at last
Pitties the fearefull Bird, who quakes agen,
And wraps it softly, till the storme was past,
In her warme skirt, when Ioue within few houres
Takes hart, turnes God, and the faire Queen deflours.
24
After which rape, he takes her to his Bride,And though some thinke her barren without heires:
Some more iudicious, haue such tales denide,
(Gods that know all things, know their owne affaires)
And vvhat they vvill, their povverfull vvisedomes guide,
Their children Preces were, vvhom vve call Prayers,
These dwel on earth, but when they mount the sphears
Haue free accesse to Ioue their fathers eares.
84
25
Imagine all the pompe the Sea can yeild,Or ayre affoord, or earth bestow on Man,
Seas-fish, Ayres-Fowle, beast both of Parke and field,
Rarieties flowed in abundance than,
Nature and Art striue which is deeplier skild,
Or in these pompous Nuptials better can:
Twixt these (being more then mortall) seem smal ods,
And the high sumptuous shewes made by the Gods.
26
Night coms, a daughter is begot, and nam'dHebe, the long-liu'd Feast at length expires,
Great Iupiter and Iuno are proclaimd
Parthemian King and Queene: Neptune desires
To visite Athens, being likewise nam'd
Th'Athenian King, (his bloud Ambition fires,)
Pluto departs, in Tartary to dwell,
There founds a deuilish Towne, and cals it Hell.
27
No day so cleere but darke night must ensue,Death is the end of life, and care of pleasure:
Paine followes ease, and sorrowes ioy pursue,
Saue (not to want) I know not what is Treasure,
The Gods that scourge the false, and crowne the true,
Darknesse and Light in equall ballance measure:
Tydes fall to ebbes, the world is a meere graunge,
Where all things brooke decay, and couet chaunge.
28
Not long these triumphs last, when Saturne seeingParthemian Ihoue such generall fame atchieue,
Out-shining him, hee envyes at his being,
(Still feare is apt things threatned to beleeue:)
But when the Oracle with this agreeing
He cals to mind: his Soule doth inly grieue,
For this is he whom Delphos did foretell,
Should Saturne from his Crowne and Realme, expell.
29
Now turnes he loue to hate: his Ioy to Sadnesse,His Fathers-pitty, to a Foe-mans spight,
His pleasure to despaire, his myrth to madnesse,
In teares he spends the day, in sighes the night,
85
And all to Melanchollie is sad affright,
Nor can his troubled sences be appeas'd,
Till as a Traitor he Prince Ioue hath ceas'd.
30
He therefore musters vp a secret powerOf his vnwilling Subiects, to surprize
Ioue in Parthemia, Ioue ascends a Tower
At the same time, and from a farre espies
Their armed troopes, the fields and Champions scowre,
From euery quarter clouds of thicke smoke rise,
No way he can his eyes or body turne,
But he sees Citties blaze, and Hamlets burne.
31
More mad with anger, then with rage dismaid,From that high Tower he in hast discends,
To know what bold foe dares his realmes inuaid,
And gainst his peacefull kingdome enuy bends,
Tidings is brought, great Saturne hath displaid
His hostile fury, and his wracke intends:
But Ioue, that in his Fathers grace affide,
Sweares he shall die, that hath his name belide.
32
It bears no face of truth, no shape of reason,A father should a guiltlesse sonne pursue,
A sonne that hath his father sau'd from Treason,
And but so late his dangerous enemies slew,
From whose embracing armes he for a season,
With much vnwillingnesse himselfe withdrew,
All things well poys'd, he cannot yet debate,
How such hot loue so soone should change to hate.
33
But whilst he argues thus, behold his foesWith armed rankes begirt Parthemia round,
Mongst whom the prince his father Saturne knowes,
And heares his warlike tunes to battell sound,
He now forgets the filiall zeale he owes,
And cries (to armes) their fury to confound,
But then againe into himselfe retiring,
He to his Father sends, his peace desiring.
86
34
Twice his submission to King Saturne came,Twice his submission he returnes in skorne,
Then Ihoue his protestation doth proclaime,
That with vnwillingnesse his Armes were borne,
Loth with his Syre to fight, more loath with shame
By his bold foes, to haue his Kingdome torne:
Which to make good as Saturne earst had vowd'e,
They charge and (cry Assault) with clamors lowde.
35
Since no entreaty can preuaile, he ratherThen trust to certaine death, must battaile wage,
Archas with him their sterne Parthemians gather,
And issue boldly, to withstand the rage
Of their knowne mallice: Twice Ihoue meetes his Father,
Twice giues him place, yet nothing can asswage
His setled hate, he threats the Prince to kill,
Who whilst he strikes, beares off, and guardeth still.
36
And seekes out other Conquest mongst the troopes,Of men vn-numbred, where his valour shines,
The strongest Champion to his fury stoopes,
And where he profers warre his stand resignes,
That now the pride of Saturne flagges and droops,
Archas his forces with Prince Ihoue combines,
And make one hoast of able strength and feare,
Before them as they fight the field to cleare.
40
So haue I seene a storme of hayle and rayne,With thicke tempestuous clouds of night and smoke,
Before it lay the fields of standing graine,
And top the stiffe bowes from the tallest Oake:
So where they come these Princes smooth the plaine,
Making the greene leaues weare a Crimson cloake:
The skarlet drops that from the wounded slide,
Into deepe red, the spring-tydes liuery dide.
38
They still pursue the slaughter, Saturue flyes,Him Archas hotly to the Sea-side chaces,
But in a Creeke a new-rigd ship he spies,
And skapes by sea, his swift steps Archas traces,
87
and beare him from the sight of his disgraces,
Leaue we the conquered Father basely fled,
The conquering sonne, triumphant mongst the dead.
39
Who from Parthemia posts in hast to Creet,To ceize vnto his vse his Fathers Crowne,
The Cretans him with Olyue branches meet,
(For who at prosperous Fortunes dare to frowne?)
The Scepter and themselues too, at his feet
With one consent and voice they prostrate downe,
His person with applause they circle round,
Thus Ihoue & Iuno, King and Queene are crownd.
40
So without threatned armes or rude hostility,In greater pompe, and more degrees of State,
By Englands Commons, and our high Nobility,
Was Royall Iames mongst vs receiued of late,
With his Queene Anne, to the Realmes large vtility,
Oh, may their dayes on earth haue endlesse date:
In stead of Olyue branches, enterteined
With zeale, with loyall thoughts, and harts vnfeined.
41
Some say, Ihoue guelded Saturne, and surrendredHis procreatiue parts into the Ocean,
Of which the Goddesse Venus was engendred,
Betwixt them and the Seas continuall motion
I thinke such superstitious people tendred
Vnto these idle dreames too much deuotion:
Else by this Morrall, signifie they would,
He mongst his Souldiors dealt his Fathers gould.
42
And from this plenty surfets mongst them grew,Lasciuious gestures, Lust that had no measure,
And in this kind, appeares the Morrall true:
For oft excesse, begets vnlawfull pleasure;
And so the Froath-borne Venus might accrew,
and be begot by Saturnes gelded treasure:
So sacred spels are writ in parchment Tables,
So golden truths are meant, in Leaden Fables.
88
42
Opinion, strongly mongst the Heathen raignes,And hath continued from the longest season,
I searcht the Iudgments of some ydle braines,
(That no Religion like, but built on Reason:)
To know what strength it hath, when it restraines
Some men in loyall bonds, fils some with Treason:
But found theyr censures vary from the right,
For thus th'Irregular prophanely wright.
43
Opinion iudgeth all by apparition,And from Opinion, shame or Honor springs,
(Opinion) Thou that art all Superstition,
Thou makest Beggars, or pronouncest Kings,
For why should man to man, make low submission;
Since each of vs, his line from Adam brings?
Hauing at first, one Father, and one mother,
What duty owes a brother to a brother.
44
Whats wealth to him that nothing doth esteeme it?Whats to the dunghill Cocke the Pearle he found?
Giue him a graine of Barley and hee'l deeme it
A richer prize: What differs gold from ground
To him that hath no iudgement to esteeme it?
Or Diamonds from Glasse? Search the world round,
Nothing is pretious held, but whats thought best,
Nothing acquir'd, but whats in most request.
45
Opinion's all: Say, I this man adore:He is to me a King, (though but a Slaue,)
Or if a King, of him that bowes no more
Or holdes him none, the stile he cannot haue.
Religion is Opinion too: Before
Religion was, Man worshipt euery Graue,
And in these daies, through all the worlds dominions,
We see as many Churches as Opinions.
46
Opinion first made Kings, first founded Lawes,First did deuide the Gentle from the Base,
First bounded Man in compasse for, because
Men thought it good, they gaue Opinion place:
89
Reuerence to some, and vnto some disgrace:
This, Peace compounds, or Concord turns to ods,
This, first dam'd Deuils, first created Gods.
48
This, breedes the Atheists skorne, the Christians feare,The Arrians error, Pagans misbeliefe,
This makes the Turke his Alceran to heare,
Breeds in the bold, presumption: penitent, griefe:
This made the Iewes their Sauiour Christ forsweare,
Despising him, choose Barrabas the Theefe:
Hence came the Persian Haly (long agone)
Diffring from him the sect of Præster-Ihon.
49
Hence comes the Protestant to be deuidedFrom Triple-crowned Rome: a long-liu'd warre
Not yet by armes or Arguments decided:
Hence came the Catholikes mongst themselues to iar,
Hence, diuers orders, diuers waies are guyded:
Some Iacobins, and some Franciscans are:
Templers, Capoochians, Fryers both blacke and gray,
Moonks, and the Iesuits, bearing the most sway.
50
In our reformed Church too, a new manIs in few yeares crept vp, in strange disguise
And cald the selfe-opinion'd Puritan,
A fellow that can beare himselfe precise,
No church supremacy endure he can,
No orders in the Byshops Diocyse:
He keepes a starcht gate, weares a formall ruffe,
A nosegay, set face, and a poted cuffe.
51
He neuer bids God speed you on the way,Bicause he knowes not what your bosomes smother,
His phrase is, Verily; By yea and nay,
In faith, in truth, good neighbor, or good brother,
And when he borrowes mony, nere will pay,
One of th'elect must common with another,
And when the poore his charity intreat,
You labour not, and therefore must not eate.
90
52
He will not Preach, but Lector: nor in white,Because the Elders of the Church commaund it,
He will no crosse in Baptisme, none shall fight
Vnder that Banner, if he may withstand it,
Nor out of antient Fathers Latine cite,
The cause may be, he doth not vnderstand it,
His followers preach all faith, and by their workes,
You would not Iudge them Catholickes, but Turkes.
53
He can endure no Organs, but is vextTo heare the Quirristers shrill Antheames sing,
He blames degrees in th' Accademy next,
And gainst the liberall Arts can Scripture bring,
And when his tongue hath runne beside the text,
You may perceiue him his loud clamors ring
Gainst honest pastimes, and with pittious phrase,
Raile against Hunting, Hawking, Cockes, and plaies.
54
With these the Brownists in some points cohere,That likewise hold the marriage ring prophane,
Commanded prayers they'l not indure to heare,
and to subscribe to Cannons they disdaine:
They hold more sinne a corner'd cap to weare
Then cut a purse: leaue these as vilde and vaine,
By thee (Opinion) Realmes haue bin confounded,
What darst not thou, wher thou art firmly grounded?
55
To the first world now let my muse retire,And see how strong thou wast Opinion then,
To create dieties I must aspire
And giue eternity with my fraile pen,
Such as the world did in those daies admire,
It deified, and so made Gods of men:
The Cretan Iupiter, to heauen translated,
And Saturne, sire of all the Gods instated.
56
Made Iuno Queene of heauen, Venus of pleasure,Ceres of Corne, and Bacchus God of wine,
Cupid of Loue, Mars Warre, and Mammon treasure,
Pallas of wisedome, and of speech deuine,
91
By their owne thoughts, and vnto such resigne
Their speciall honours, in whose harts they guest
Most power in that, which they on earth profest.
57
This made the Heathen kings by Ioue to sweare,Their Queenes at Iunoes sacred Altar kneele:
Child-bearing women, chast Lucian feare,
Souldiers at Mars his shrine, to hang their steele,
The Swaines to honor Ceres, by whose cheare
Their graine decaide or prosper'd: this made kneele
Drunkards to Bacchus, Orpheus strung his Lyre
To Phæbus God of Musicke, and of Fire.
58
To Esculapius the Physitians prai'd,Shepheards to Pan, and Poets to the Muses,
A God of Neptune Nauigators made,
And he that gardens loues, Pomona chuses,
Chast Virgins still implore Dianaes aide,
And who that loues, God Cupids name refuses,
Vulcan commandeth Smiths, Flora Flowers,
Æolus winds, and Pluto infernall powers.
59
The Poets write, three brothers lots did castFor th'Vniuersall Empire: To Ioue fell
Th'Olimpicke heauens, which all the rest surpast,
Great Neptune with his three fork't Mace must dwell
Within the bosome of the Ocean vast
And guide the Seas, blacke Pluto gouernes hell,
Opinion, whence these Gods build all their glory,
Must be the Base, to our succeeding story.
60
Whilst thus Egiptian Belus was instated,The reuerend Moyses in Mount Nebo died,
And Captaine Iossua second Iudge created,
The Thracian Boreas, from his Mothers side
Stole faire Orithia, hauing long awaited,
To make the beautious Virgin his sweet Bride,
From whose rude armes she neuer could be freed:
But leauing these, of Belus we proceed.
92
61
The blustring winds before they had a kingTo locke them fast within his brazen Caues,
Great deuestations ore the earth did bring,
Tossing blacke tempests on the curled waues:
Tis said rough Boreas shak't his flaggy wing,
Gainst his three brothers with opposed braues,
Who with such mortall hate, at variance fell,
They made heauen shake, earth reele, the Ocean swel:
62
No Mediterren Sea, before this brall,Was knowne in the earths armes to be inclos'd,
The Seas tost by the winds, brake downe the wall,
Which for his bounds the fates had interpos'd,
At such dissention, the foure Brothers fall:
Hauing the raines of all their gusts vnlos'd,
They cleft the Earth, the Ocean full of pride,
Thrusts in, and two maine Lands shoulders aside.
63
His traine of waues by Calpes he brought in,And through his deepe Abismes leads them to warre,
He peoples euery place where he hath bin
With his broad waters: who are still at iarre
With the torne earth, more roomth and space to win,
For his vnbounded limits (stretch't so farre)
That they haue pierst the aged Tellus hart,
And from Europa, Affrica still part.
64
So was Italia and Sicilia one,Till the rough gusts the Ocean did inuade,
Who forcst a channell, where before was none,
And twixt these kingdomes large irruption made,
Therefore the Gods th'vnbrideled winds t'attone,
That their commaundlesse furies might be staid,
Surprisd them, and to Æolus bound in chaines
Gaue them, and he their roughnes still restraines.
65
With Ioues lasciuious pastimes I proceede,As cheefely to the fall of Troy allide,
Oh you Ioues daughters borne of heauenly seed,
My braine and pen by inspiration guide,
93
Of Priams glory, and Achilles pride,
Of Hectors valor, and bright Hellens fate,
With all your aydes I may at large delate.
66
Not how on Semele, Ioue Bacchus got,Nor in the shape of Bull Europa stale,
Of Swan-transformed Loeda speake I not,
Nor of Mnemosine frame I my tale,
Nor how Esopis did her honour blot,
Nor Astery by Ioue turnd to a Quaile,
Nor how for Nicteis he himselfe transformed,
Nor Ioes rape, at which Queene Iuno stormed.
67
But how he rauisht Danae that bright Lasse,By many suters (but in vaine) assailed,
How she was closed in a Tower of Brasse,
Which with a golden Ladder the prince skaled:
What cannot gold? whose brightnesse doth surpasse,
How oft hath Gold boue womens strength preualed?
Laps that haue had gainst all temptations power,
Haue spred themselues wide, to a golden shower.
68
From Iupiter of Archad, and a dameCal'd Isis did one Epaphus proceed,
To him was borne a sonne of ancient fame,
Hight Belus, who great part of Egipt freed
From tirrany; and after swaide the same,
He had a Sister too, who soone decreed
Archad to change for Affricke, and her name
Lybia, from whom the grim Busyris came.
69
Belus two children had (so the fame runnes)Danaus and Egiptus: Danaus he
Had fifty girles, Egyptus fifty sonnes,
Twixt whom, these Brothers a full match decree,
All parts are pleas'd, not one the marriage shunnes,
False Danaus, with his daughters doth agree,
As with their Bridegroomes in their beds they lay,
The fifty husbands in one night to slay.
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70
(Saue young Ypermenestra not a maid,)But in her husbands bosome sheath'd her knife,
And she alone the bloudy plot bewraid,
And to her Linceus prou'd a loyall wife,
Of all Egistus sonnes, he by her aide,
Alone did from the murther scape with life,
Of whom, as they in nuptiall loue remained,
He Abas got, Abas in Arges raigned.
71
Abas Acrisius got, from him discendedBright Danae, of whom we now intreat,
Whose beauties fame is through the earth extended,
Acrisius iealous of his Fathers seat
To Egipt hies, and there his prayers commended,
Offering large quantities of Gold and Wheat.
At the God Belus his great Grandsires shrine,
Of his faire daughters fortunes to deuine.
72
This answere he returnes: Away, be goneThou sonne of Abas, Danae forth shall bring
A gallant boy, shall turne thee into stone,
And after thee in Arges raine sole-King:
Acrisius now hath turn'd his mirth to mone,
From whence his ioyes should grow, his sorrows spring,
His hoped Issue and successiue heire,
Late, al his pleasure, now is all his care.
73
He intimates that from her wombe shall riseA gallant boy, that shall his Grandsire kill,
And Arges Crowne by force of armes supprize,
He sweares the maid shall liue a Virgin still,
And to preuent his fate, doth straight deuise
A Tower impregnable, built on a hill,
Strong of it selfe: but yet to make it sure,
He girts it with a treble brazen Mure.
74
The guiltlesse Lady wonders at the stateOf this new worke, not knowing why tis built,
To see sharpe Pynacles themselues elate
So high towards heauen, the Arches richly guilt,
95
In euery place rich tinctures largely spilt,
The Tarras with white Iuory pillers rail'd,
And the Crosse-ebon bars, with guilt stoods nail'd.
60
It seemes too strong for pleasure, and for warreIt shewes too neat: but now the worke is ended,
Who that beholds it shining from a farre,
But with admiring thoughts the worke commended?
The nearer you approach, the more you are
Inflam'd with wonder, not a staire ascended
But of white Marble, not a doore but Brasse,
The windowes glaz'd with Cristals, not with glasse.
61
All things prepard, the King will Danae carryTo view the Tower, she giues it due with praise,
He thus proceeds; Child thou shalt neuer marry,
But in this place of pleasure end thy daies,
And in this brazen circuit euer tarry,
The Lady starts, and thinkes too long she staies
In that loath'd place which now to her appeares
No Pallace, but a dungeon full of feares.
62
And asking why she must be kept a slaue,Or how she hath deseru'd so strict a doome,
To be so young put in her Marble graue,
(For whats a Prison, but a liuing Toombe?)
Or for what cause she may no husband haue,
But liue an Ancresse in so strict a roome,
Knowing her selfe a Princesse ripe and fit,
Wrongd (as she thinkes) not to be married yet:
63
Acrisius tels her what great Belus spake,When hee with Orisons kneeld at his throne,
That from her wombe the world a sonne should take,
That shall his Grandsire change into a stone,
She interrupts him, and thus scilence brake,
Oh would you be eternall liu'd alone?
And neuer die? What would Acrisius haue,
More then an heire to lodge him in his graue.
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79
Did you not into stone great Abas turne,And Abas to his Father Linceus so,
Their funerall trunkes to sacred ashes burne,
O're which their monumentall marbles grow,
Oh Father, no man can his Fate adiorne,
Shall these your eyes be closed vp by a Foe?
Or can you deeme your owne bloud shall betray you?
Who are more fit within your stone to lay you.
80
What you did to your Father, let my sonnePerforme to you: successiuely succeed:
Your Fathers glasse is out, yours must be run,
Leaue then your Crowne to one of Abas breed:
In vaine (quoth he) we cannot thus be wun,
To alter whats vnchangeably decreed;
Here shalt thou liue, but royally attended,
Like a bright Queene, and from a King descended.
81
So leaues her guarded with a troope of Mayds,And envious Beldams that were past their lust,
These, with rewardes and threats the King invades
In his high charge, to be seuere and iust,
But most the Matrons, (fittest for such trades)
Rather than wanton wenches, he dare trust:
Louers may Louers fauour, Crones are past it,
and enuy, but not pitty those would tast it.
82
So doth the full-fed stomach meate denyVnto the famisht: So the Drunkard spils
Wine in aboundance, which would cheare the dry,
Cold age the appetite of hot lust kils,
Danae thy beauties fame is sounded hie,
Mongst many other Kings: Ihoues cares it fils,
He loues her by her fame, and longs to see her,
Nor are her thoughts at peace before he see her.
83
A thousand bracelets, Iewels, Pearls and Rings,With gold of sundry stamps, the King prepares,
And hauing readied all these costly things,
In a poore Pedlers trusse, he packs his wares,
97
Hope sometime cheeres him, sometimes he dispaires:
At length arriues there, in an euening late,
And fals his rich packe at the Castle gate.
84
Where two leane wrinkled Crones stand Centinell,To giue the watchword to Acrisius guard,
Appointed straight to ring the latum Bell,
If any man once neere the Castle dar'd,
The Pedler askes, who in that pallace dwell,
Or how they call the place? Hast thou not heard
Of Danae quoth the Beldam (looking sower)
Whom Arges King, closd in this brazen Tower.
85
He viewes the place, and finds it strongly seared,Not to be won by armes, but skal'd by slight,
I came from Creet, quoth he, and was intreated
Heere to deliuer tokens of some weight
From great king Iupiter: their cold blouds heated
With hope of gaine, they cheare their age-duld sight,
And with a couetous longing, earne to view
What precious knackes he from his Hamper drew.
86
A thousand seuerall Trinckets he displaies,If this be Danaes Tower quoth he, then these
Belong to you: the Crones his bounty praise,
And in their hands two costly Iewels cease,
The younger Ladies now are come to gaze,
Not one amongst them but he seekes to please:
Some Gold, some stones, some Rings, some Pearles he gaue,
And all haue something, though they nothing craue.
87
Blear'd with these gifts, their charge they quite forget,And euery Ladies eie dwels on her prize,
Comming fore Danae, she beholds them set
With sundry brouches sparkling in her eyes,
And asking whence they had them, they bid fet
The Pedler vp, who hath of fairer size,
Brighter Aspect, and for a Queene to weare,
In worth not to be valewed, yet not deare.
98
88
Danae commands him vp, he glad ascends,And through their brib'd hands freely is admitted
Euen to her chamber: Gold, thy might extends
Beyond all opposition, the best witted
Thou canst corrupt, diue through the hearts of friends,
By thee are wal'd Townes entred, skonces splitted,
By thee are armies swayed, Camps ouer-runne,
Children the Fathers spoile, and Sire the sonne.
89
No wonder then if Gold the Pedler brought,To enter, where besides him, no man came,
Behold the Goddesse this great King hath sought,
Oh how her bright eie doth his soule inflame!
Pearles, Iewels, Rings, and Gold, he sets at naught,
yea all the world, if valewed vvith this Dame,
Variety of costly gems he shewes her,
And makes her of them all, the free disposer.
90
So wils the Cretan King, nor vvill he takeOne mite in way of Chaffer or set price,
She thankes the Pedler for his Maisters sake,
And hovv to please him, askes her maids aduice,
But they so much of their ovvne Ouches spake,
Whose brightnesse did their thoughts imparadice,
That they contend whose Iewell rarest glisters,
Whilst Ioue in Danaes eare, thus softly whispers.
91
Behold vvhat loue can do: that King of CreetThat prizes Danae aboue any rate,
Wrapt in course Garments (for a King vnmeet)
(For Danaes Loue and grace, despising state)
Prostrates himselfe at thy Imperiall feet,
Resolud before he entred Darrains gate,
Thy beauty, vertue, youth, and fame to saue,
Buried already in this brazen graue.
92
For Lady, to vvhat purpose are you faire?as good to haue a tan'd and vvrinkled hide,
Why is your hands so vvhite, your brovv so rare?
An Ethiops face maskt, shevves as full of Pride,
99
Of your bright lookes, al wonder are denide,
Your Goddesse-shape is to the sencelesse stone
No better than the beauty of yon Crone.
93
What difference makes the dead twixt grace and skorne?What luster giues Apollo to the blind?
What are the choysest dainties if forborne?
Whats musicke to the eares whom deafnesse binde?
What is the costlyest garment if not worne?
Or being worne, if none his riches mind?
What shewe's in Iewels hid behind a skreene?
Whats state vnknowne? whats beauty if not seene?
94
The Princesse sighes, as knowing all is true,When Iupiter proceedes: Renowned Dame,
Set this ritch beauty to the broad-worlds view,
These rare perfections let the world proclaime,
Whom thousand Kingly Sutors shall pursue,
Vnmaske this beauty: to that end I came:
Oh, leade not here a base condemned life!
That may abroad, liue a free Queene and wife.
95
Pitty yout seruant Iupiter, whose treasure,Whose life, whose Crowne, whose fortunes are al yours,
Robbe not your selfe of all earths glorious pleasure,
Pitty your youth, whose pride a gayle deuours,
A dungeon takes of such perfections ceasure,
That should command all free enthroned powers:
And die not here, t'eternal bonds betraide,
Rob'd of all sweets, that for your tast were made.
96
You are a woman desperate here, and lost,Kept from mans sight, for which you were created,
And beauteous Princesse (which should touch you most)
Your gealous father by the world is rated
As one that coopes you but to spare his cost,
And enuying you a Queene should be instated,
A Tyrant, that prefers his gealous feares,
Before your vertue, beauty, youth and yeares.
100
97
Graunt me your loue (oh grant it) blush not Queene,That loue, shall be your ransome from this place,
This prisoned beauty shall abroad be seene,
and Empresses shall homage to your face,
and then this Gaile where you haue cloystred beene
You will despise, and tearme Acrisius base,
That gold in Brasse, and pearle in stone would shrowd,
Muffling the bright Sunne in so base a clowd.
98
Her tender hart relents, his amorous shapeAppeares out of his base vnknowne disguise,
and if her hart his sweet words cannot scape,
No wonder if his feature charme hir eies,
She knowes no Peasant dares attempt her rape,
Nor any base thought ayme at her surprise:
and saue King Iupiter by fame held peerlesse,
She knowes no prince so bold, so rich, so fearlesse.
99
But as she would reply, her Virgin-guardBegan to leaue their conference, and draw neere them,
Which Iupiter espying, straight prepar'd
His bounteous packe with more rewards to cheere them,
and whilst they askt the Princesse how she far'd,
He ransacks for more trifles, and doth beare them
Vnto the female waiters, Danaes traine,
So with fresh toyes he bribes them once againe.
100
They throng about him round, to be seru'd first,and as they tast his bounty start aside,
Comparing which is best, and whose the worst,
More words and wagers must the strife decide,
and whilst these gemmes are by the Ladies purst,
and none neere Danae and the King abide:
She viewes the amorous Prince with more satietie,
and he the Princesse courts with fresh variety.
101
She neither giues him promise, nor deniall,Neither repulse, nor graunt, (so Women vse)
When men (in sight of others) make their tryall,
They will not say you shall: least you abuse
101
And say withall, they shall nor will, nor chuse,
Then you shall find them weakly, fighting fall,
And willingly, vnwilling prostrate all.
102
Giue louers opportunity, their louesAre halfe won to their hands without more sute,
The man that verball Court-ship onely moues,
Shall all his life time in vaine words dispute,
When one that proffers faire, and fine force proues,
Speeds with his Action, though his tongue be mute,
For euery maid, takes one thing from her mother,
Whilst her tongue one thing speaks, to think another.
103
The night growes old, and the bright Lamps of heauen,Are halfe burnt out: the Beldams call to rest,
What shall the Pedler do, so late be driuen
Out of his Inne, the lodge that likes him best,
To lie with Charles-waine, and the Hyads seauen,
He hath deseru'd more grace they dare protest,
To turne him out at this time might seeme cruell,
That bought his bed with many a high priz'd Iewell:
104
And yet to harbor him, they needs must feare,Because they shall incurre Acrisius ire,
If such a tiding should arriue his eare,
Their bodies all were doomd vnto the fire,
But by what meanes can King Acrisius heare?
Beside, what pesant pedler dares aspire
To Danaes bed? and all their liues betray,
Faine they would haue him gone, and faine to stay.
105
His bounty hath preuail'd, and he prouidedA priuate lodging in a place remote,
Danae vnto her Princely couch is guided,
So much her Hand-maids on their fauours dote,
They carelesse plucke her doore too, the locke slided
Besides his fastning place, which none doth note,
Then take their toyes, and to their beds they bear thē,
Longing for day, that they in sight may weare them.
102
106
A generall hushtnesse hath the world possest,And all the Tower surpriz'd with golden dreames,
Alone King Iupiter abandons rest,
Still wishing for Apolloes Golden beames:
Desperate of hope, he knowes not what is best,
When rising, from a farre he spies bright gleames
Pierce from his window, as from Danaes Tower,
In th'humid nights most taciturnall houre.
107
He knowes sad sleepe hath ceas'd vpon the many,He heares no waking clocke, nor watch to iarre,
He venters forth, and searching, finds not any,
And in his way to this new blazing-starre,
He layes his eare to euery rift and crany,
Till he with fearefull strides hath woon so farre,
That he must now these Marble steps ascend,
Which led vnto the bower of his faire friend.
108
Wher comming, with a soft and trembling pace,To touch the doore, he feeles it yeild him way,
And freely giues him entrance to the place
Where his diuinest Mistresse Danae lay,
He kist her finger, hand, necke, brest, and face,
And euery thing the white sheete durst betray,
That done, into her siluer armes he crept,
And all this while the amorous Virgin slept.
109
Imagine how she waking grew amazed,Imagine him a double Rhetoricke vsing,
Action and words: sometimes her selfe she raised
To call for helpe, his dalliance quite refusing,
Imagine then how he his loue imblazed,
He at her scorne, she at his boldnesse musing,
His gifts, his name, his loue, plead on his part,
Gainst him, her fame, her feare, and her chast hart.
110
Loue makes him eloquent, and sweet occasion,Makes him bold too, shee's bashfull, and withstands,
He laies to her both battry and perswasion,
And much ado she hath to passe his hands,
103
Or breake the compasse of his Iuory bands:
She would be gon, he wooes her to lye still,
So hee'l no violence vse, she sayth she will.
111
Oh banquerupt Ihoue, in midst of all thy blissesIoylesse, and yet with pleasures ring'd about:
He wooes againe with Court-ship mixing kisses,
A thousand batteries, Danae hath held out:
And still the siedger his irruption misses,
They parly, but conclude not, both are stout:
Sometimes he striues, then she begins to threat,
Then hee from striuing, falles againe t'entreat.
112
What, cannot opportunity and placeBed-fellowship and loue, if they conspire?
A comely feature and a Courtly face,
Court-ship and Name of King to win desire?
All these in Iupiter intreat for grace:
All these haue set her amorous hart a fire,
And gainst all these, the least of which command,
Saue bashfulnesse, sh'hath nothing to withstand.
113
And thats too weake gainst things of their ability,Yet is it of a temper, not to yeeld,
For though it be subdude with much facility,
T'will proudly seeme still to maintaine the field:
It raignes in many that professe ciuility,
Who all their pleasures on compulsion build:
For bashfull women long since learnt this skill,
What they would giue, to grant against their will.
114
Women are weake, and weake ones must obey,Faire Danae is but woman, and must fall,
Her glory is, that she hath held him play,
And kept her friendly foe so long from all:
What should she doe, the Prince will haue no nay,
Her guard's asleepe, if she for help should call:
What with compulsion, loue, force, and faire words,
She lyes confus'd, and he the Princesse bords.
104
115
This night the warlike Perseus was begot,And now the early day-star gins to rise,
Who cals the Prince vp, least the Beldam trot
Should find his night-walke with her gealous eyes,
But she their priuate sport suspected not,
Nor knew the King in his assumd'e disguise:
Teares when they part are in aboundance shed,
When he must leaue the Princely Danaes bed.
116
It is compounded and betweene them sworne,That Ihoue must come in Armes by such a day,
By whom the Lasse must be from Arges borne;
So takes his leaue, he dare no longer stay,
The Sunne is cal'd vp by the early Morne,
High time, to send the Pedler on his way:
They praise the largesse of their bounteous guest,
But of his Iewels, Danae keepes the best.
117
Leaue Ihoue towards Creet, and Danae in sad plight,For his departure, whom she tenders deerely,
She neuer lou'd vntill this Ominous night,
And now to see him part, she riseth early,
Gladly with him she would haue tane her flight,
But feares her father would reuenge seuearly
Her bold attempt, and backe returne her weeipng,
To spend her future youth in stricter keeping.
118
Besides she feares (that which indeed was trew)That she (of Ihoues seed) might conceiue a sonne,
Which if the gealous King Acrisius knew,
At these sad tidings he would franticke run:
The Princesse to her chamber now withdrew,
Arm'd with this hope, that Ihoue the deed had done:
Th'only renownd, ritch, puissant, and of power,
By force of Armes, to free her from the Tower.
119
Now to record what I remembred earst,How Troos in Troy his neighbor Kings out-shined,
And in the same place where it was reuerst,
How all Troys fame King Tantalus repined,
105
By Troas: is to another place assignde:
Here should I speake how Troy to fame aspired,
But my Muse flags, and my dull pen is tired.
106
The end of the fourth CANTO.
| Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy | |