Philomythie or Philomythologie wherein Outlandish Birds, Beasts, and Fishes, are taught to speake true English plainely. By Tho: Scot ... The second edition much inlarged |
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| 4. | 4. SPHINX, HYENA. |
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 | Philomythie or Philomythologie |  |
4. SPHINX, HYENA.
Dedicated To the wise and valiant Souldier, Sr. Iohn Pooly Knight, and to his good Lady.
You lou'd my Brother, he is gone, I stay,T'acknowledge first a debt, and then to pay:
Loue lookes vpon the will, which easily can
Proue ther's no bankrupt but the thanklesse Man.
Hyena
was a subtle beast and bloudy;
To ruine man was his whole trade and study.
He scorn'd the sheep, the shepheard was his prey,
His nightly plots got, what he mist by day.
The shepheards of Arcadia, beguil'd
By his fain'd voice, were murther'd oft and spoil'd.
For in the night he wont like some good friend,
To call them out, and then a peeces rend.
One onely wiser shepheard thought it best
Hire Sphinx to watch his house whil'st he did rest:
Whose subtiltie foresaw, and still preuented,
What else his Master had too late repented.
For when the false Hyena went about
Calling for helpe, to traine the Shepheard out,
Faining distresse as if he robbed were,
Or mist his way (a weary traueller);
Sphinx soone perceiu'd his counterfeit complayning,
And laught out-right to heare his craftie fayning;
But would not let the credulous shepheard goe,
(Whose tender heart pittied his mortall foe)
Till day appear'd, and that the Sunne shone bright.
To ruine man was his whole trade and study.
He scorn'd the sheep, the shepheard was his prey,
His nightly plots got, what he mist by day.
The shepheards of Arcadia, beguil'd
By his fain'd voice, were murther'd oft and spoil'd.
For in the night he wont like some good friend,
To call them out, and then a peeces rend.
One onely wiser shepheard thought it best
Hire Sphinx to watch his house whil'st he did rest:
What else his Master had too late repented.
For when the false Hyena went about
Calling for helpe, to traine the Shepheard out,
Faining distresse as if he robbed were,
Or mist his way (a weary traueller);
Sphinx soone perceiu'd his counterfeit complayning,
And laught out-right to heare his craftie fayning;
But would not let the credulous shepheard goe,
(Whose tender heart pittied his mortall foe)
Till day appear'd, and that the Sunne shone bright.
Together with the Sphinx full many a night,
An Indian Asse and Musk-cat, safely slept,
Whil'st Sphinx the shepheards house & houshold kept.
Nor did they alwaies sleep but often heard
What at the first to thinke vpon they fear'd;
But custome at the length bereft all awe,
And they afrayd were when they nothing faw.
So enuy wrought, and Ignorance, and Pride,
That they the wiser Sphinx dare now deride.
And mou'd the Shepheard, to preuent the charge
Of keeping more, to let the Sphinx at large.
Perswading there was no such cause of dread,
But they might well supply the Sphinx his stead:
Who fain'd those feares, and did imagine treason,
To win th'opinion of much wit and reason.
The Sheapheard fondly credits this; and straight
Lets loose the Sphinx, and these in order waite.
The Indian Asse he trusted being plaine,
Supposing he would neither lye, nor faine.
And the Musk-cat, was pleasant to the smell,
And very watchfull; needs must these do well.
The night is come, the Shepheard soundly sleeps
As he had wont, no skar his conscience keeps.
These two stand Sentinel, and now ere long,
Comes the Hyena, and with smoothing tongue
Saith; Is your Master waking, gentle swaines?
If not, arere him, tell him all the Plaines
Are vp in armes against our common foe,
The false Hyena that beguil'd vs so.
He cannot scape their hands, for they haue found
The Caue he keeps in, closely vnder ground.
Bid him awake and rise and come away,
For all the Shepheards for his comming stay.
This tale beleeu'd, the Asse and Musk-cat hye,
To make their Master to make hast to dye.
He riseth rashly, opes the doore, goes out,
And is deuour'd ere he can looke about.
Nor can the watch-men scape, but both are slaine:
Though one be sweet, the other true and plaine.
An Indian Asse and Musk-cat, safely slept,
Whil'st Sphinx the shepheards house & houshold kept.
Nor did they alwaies sleep but often heard
What at the first to thinke vpon they fear'd;
But custome at the length bereft all awe,
And they afrayd were when they nothing faw.
So enuy wrought, and Ignorance, and Pride,
That they the wiser Sphinx dare now deride.
And mou'd the Shepheard, to preuent the charge
Of keeping more, to let the Sphinx at large.
Perswading there was no such cause of dread,
But they might well supply the Sphinx his stead:
Who fain'd those feares, and did imagine treason,
To win th'opinion of much wit and reason.
The Sheapheard fondly credits this; and straight
Lets loose the Sphinx, and these in order waite.
The Indian Asse he trusted being plaine,
Supposing he would neither lye, nor faine.
And the Musk-cat, was pleasant to the smell,
And very watchfull; needs must these do well.
As he had wont, no skar his conscience keeps.
These two stand Sentinel, and now ere long,
Comes the Hyena, and with smoothing tongue
Saith; Is your Master waking, gentle swaines?
If not, arere him, tell him all the Plaines
Are vp in armes against our common foe,
The false Hyena that beguil'd vs so.
He cannot scape their hands, for they haue found
The Caue he keeps in, closely vnder ground.
Bid him awake and rise and come away,
For all the Shepheards for his comming stay.
This tale beleeu'd, the Asse and Musk-cat hye,
To make their Master to make hast to dye.
He riseth rashly, opes the doore, goes out,
And is deuour'd ere he can looke about.
Nor can the watch-men scape, but both are slaine:
Though one be sweet, the other true and plaine.
Epimythium.
“Not simple truth alone can make vs fit,“To beare great place in State without great wit.
“For when the Serpent comes to circumuent vs,
“We must be Serpents too, or els repent vs.
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