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. 9.
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 | Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy |  |
194
Canto. 9.
Argumentum
Paris departs from Troy, & Greece doth enterWhom Menelaus welcomes, hauing seene;
The King is cald thence by a strange aduenter
And to his Troian-guest he trusts his Queene:
Paris fayre Hellen Loues, & doth present her
With a long sute, to heale his wound yet greene:
First Paris writes, she answers; Then with ioy
Greece they forsake, & both are shipt for Troy
Arg. 2.
Bright Hellen courted, Paris birth and Fate,With his Loue-trickes, Iota shall relate.
1
Who can describe the purity of those,Whose beauties are by Sacred Vertues guided,
Or who their vgly pictures that oppose
Their beauties against Chastity deuided,
Proud Lucifer an Angell was, but chose
Vice: Vertue to eschew: and from heauen slided:
Women like him (in shape Angellicall)
are Angels whilst they stand, Deuils when they fall.
2
Their gifts well vsd, haue power t'inchant the wise,To daunt the bold, and ruinate the strong,
Which well applyde, can make the ruin'd rise,
The Coward valiant, weake to tast no wrong,
197
All Soueraigne, where ther's Vertue mixt among:
Chast, nothing better; wanton, nothing worse,
The grate-fulst Blessing, or the greatest Curse.
3
Had Spartan Hellen bin as chast as faire,her Vertue sooner might haue raisd a Troy
Then her loose gestures: great without compare,
Had power so rich a Citty to destroy:
By this time all the Troians Landed are,
and Paris of the Queene receiu'd with ioy:
To whom th'inamored Prince in priuate sends
These lines, in which his duty he commends.
The Epistle of Paris to Hellen.
Health vnto Lædaes daughter, Priams sonSends in these lines, whose health cannot be won
But by your guift, in whose power it may lie,
To make me whole or sicke; to liue, or die:
Shall I then speake? Or doth my flame appeare
Plaine without Index? Oh, tis that I feare:
My Loue without discouering smile takes place,
And more then I could wish shines in my face:
When I could rather in my thoughts desire
To hide the smoke, til time display the fire:
Time, that can make the fire of Loue shine cleare,
Vntroubled with the misty smoke of feare:
But I dissemble it, for who I pray
Can fire conceale, that will it selfe betray?
yet if you looke, I should affirme that plaine
In words, which in my countenance I maintaine:
I burne, I burne, my fault I haue confest,
My words beare witnesse how my lookes transgrest.
Oh pardon me that haue confest my error,
Cast not vpon my lines a looke of terror,
But as your beautie is beyond compare,
Suite vnto that your lookes (oh you most faire)
That you my Letter haue receiu'd, by this
The supposition glads me, and I wish
198
you will receiue me in some sort ere long,
I aske no more then what the Queene of Beauty
Hath promist me, for you are mine by duty,
By her I claime you, you for me were made,
And she it was my iourney did perswade:
Nor Lady thinke your beauty vainely sought,
I by deuine instinct was hether brought,
And to this enterprize, the heauenly powers,
Haue giuen consent, the Gods proclaime me yours,
I ayme at wonders, for I couet you,
yet pardon me, I aske but whats my due,
Venus her selfe my iourney hether led,
And giues you freely to my promist bed:
Vnder her safe conduct the seas I past,
Till I arriu'd vpon these Coasts at last:
Shipping my selfe from the Sygean shore,
Whence vnto these Confines my course I bore:
She made the Surges gentle, the winds fayre,
Nor maruell whence these calmes proceeded are,
Needs must she power vpon the salt-Seas haue,
That was sea-borne, created from a waue,
Still may she potent stand in her ability,
And as she made the seas vvith much facility
To be through-saild, so may she calme my heat,
And beare my thoughts to their desired seat:
My flames I found not Here, no, I protest,
I brought them with me closed in my brest,
My selfe transported then without Atturney,
Loue was the Motiue to my tedious iourney;
Not blustring Winter when he triumpht most,
Nor any error droue me to this Coast,
Nor led by Fortune where the rough winds please,
Nor Marchant-like for gaine crost I the Seas:
Fulnesse of wealth in all my Fleet I see,
I am rich in all things saue in wanting thee.
No spoile of petty Nations my Ship seekes,
Nor Land I as a spie among the Greekes,
What need we? See of all things we haue store,
Compar'd with Troy (alas) your Greece is pore,
197
Whom golden Venus hath by promise giuen me,
I Wisht thee ere I knew thee, long ago,
Before these eyes dwelt on this glorious show:
I saw thee in my thoughts, know beautious Dame,
I first beheld you with the eyes of Fame,
Nor maruell Lady I was stroke so farre,
Thus Darts or Arrowes sent from Bowes of warre
Wound a great distance off: so was I hit
With a deepe smarting wound that ranckles yet,
For so it pleas'd the Fates, whom least you blame,
Ile tell a true Tale to confirme the same.
When in my Mothers wombe full ripe I lay,
Ready the first houre to behold the day,
And she at point to be deliuered streight,
And to vnlade her of her Royall freight,
My Byrth-houre was delaid, and that sad night
A fearefull vision did the Queene affright,
In a sonnes stead to please the aged Sire,
She dreampt she had brought forth a Brand of fire,
Frighted she rises, and to Priam goes,
To the old King this ominous dreame she showes:
He to the Priest, the Priest doth this returne,
That the Child borne shall stately Islium burne:
Better then he was ware the Prophet guest,
For loe a kindled Brand flames in my brest,
To preuent Fate a Pesant I was held,
Till my faire shape all other Swaines exeld,
And gaue the doubtfull world assurance good,
your Paris was deriu'd from royall blood.
Ready the first houre to behold the day,
And she at point to be deliuered streight,
And to vnlade her of her Royall freight,
My Byrth-houre was delaid, and that sad night
A fearefull vision did the Queene affright,
In a sonnes stead to please the aged Sire,
She dreampt she had brought forth a Brand of fire,
Frighted she rises, and to Priam goes,
To the old King this ominous dreame she showes:
He to the Priest, the Priest doth this returne,
That the Child borne shall stately Islium burne:
Better then he was ware the Prophet guest,
For loe a kindled Brand flames in my brest,
To preuent Fate a Pesant I was held,
Till my faire shape all other Swaines exeld,
And gaue the doubtfull world assurance good,
your Paris was deriu'd from royall blood.
Amid the Idean Fields there is a place
Remote, full of hie Trees, which hide the face
Of the greene mantled Earth, where in thicke rowes,
The Oake, the Elme, the Pine, the Pitch-tree growes:
Heere neuer yet did browze the wanton Ewe,
Nor from this plot the slow Oxe licke the dew:
The sauage Goat that feeds among the Rockes
Hath not graz'd heere, nor any of their Flockes,
Hence the Dardanian wals I might espy,
The lofty Towers of Islium reared by,
Hence I the Seas might from the firme Land see,
Which to behold, I leant me to a Tree:
Beleeue me, for I speake but what is true,
Downe from the skies with feathered pynions flew
The Nephew to great Atlas, and doth stand
With Golden Caducens in his hand,
(This as the Gods to me thought good to show,
I hold it good that you the same should know:
Three Goddesses behind young Hermes moue
Great Iuno, Pallas, and the Queene of Loue;
Who as in pompe and Pride of gate they passe,
Scarse with their weight they bend the tops of grasse:
Amaz'd I start, and endlong stands my haire,
When Mayus Sonne thus sayes, abandon feare
Thou Curteous Swaine, that to these groues repairest,
And freely Iudge which of these three is fairest:
And least I should this curious sentence shun,
He tels me by Ihoues sentence all is done.
And to be Iudge I no way can eschew,
This hauing saide, vp through the Ayre he flew:
I straight take Hart a grace, and grow more bold,
And there their beauties one by one behold.
Why am I made the Iudge to giue this dome?
Methinkes all three are Worthy to o're-come:
To iniure two such Beauties what tongue dare?
Or preferre one where they be all so faire:
Now this seemes fairest, now againe that other,
Now would I speake, and now my thoughts I smother,
And yet at length the praise of one most sounded,
And from that one my present Loue is grounded:
The Goddesses out of their earnest care
And pride of Beauty to be held most faire,
Seeke with large Ariues, and gifts of wondrous price,
To their owne thoughts my censure to intice:
Iuno the Wife of Ihoue doth first inchant me,
To Iudge her fairest, she a Crowne will grant me:
Pallas her Daughter, next doth vndertake me,
Giue her the price, and valiant she will make me:
I straight deuise which can most pleasure bring,
To be a valiant Souldier or a King:
Last Venus smiling came with such a grace,
As if she swayed an Empire in her face,
Let not (said she) these guifts the Conquest beare,
Combats and Kingdomes are both fraught with feare.
Ile giue thee what thou louest best, (louely Swaine,)
The fairest Saint that doth on earth remaine
Shalbe thine owne, make thou the Conquest mine,
Faire Lædaes fairest daughter shalbe thine.
This said, when with my selfe I had deuised,
And her rich guift and beauty ioyntly prised:
Venus victor, ore the rest is plac'st,
Iuno and Pallas leaue the Mount disgrac'st,
Meane time my Fates a prosperous course had ron,
And by knowne signes King Priam cald me Son:
The day of my restoring is kept holy
Among the Saints-daies, consecrated soly
To my remembrance, being a day of ioy,
For euer in the Calenders of Troy.
Remote, full of hie Trees, which hide the face
Of the greene mantled Earth, where in thicke rowes,
The Oake, the Elme, the Pine, the Pitch-tree growes:
Heere neuer yet did browze the wanton Ewe,
Nor from this plot the slow Oxe licke the dew:
The sauage Goat that feeds among the Rockes
Hath not graz'd heere, nor any of their Flockes,
Hence the Dardanian wals I might espy,
The lofty Towers of Islium reared by,
198
Which to behold, I leant me to a Tree:
Beleeue me, for I speake but what is true,
Downe from the skies with feathered pynions flew
The Nephew to great Atlas, and doth stand
With Golden Caducens in his hand,
(This as the Gods to me thought good to show,
I hold it good that you the same should know:
Three Goddesses behind young Hermes moue
Great Iuno, Pallas, and the Queene of Loue;
Who as in pompe and Pride of gate they passe,
Scarse with their weight they bend the tops of grasse:
Amaz'd I start, and endlong stands my haire,
When Mayus Sonne thus sayes, abandon feare
Thou Curteous Swaine, that to these groues repairest,
And freely Iudge which of these three is fairest:
And least I should this curious sentence shun,
He tels me by Ihoues sentence all is done.
And to be Iudge I no way can eschew,
This hauing saide, vp through the Ayre he flew:
I straight take Hart a grace, and grow more bold,
And there their beauties one by one behold.
Why am I made the Iudge to giue this dome?
Methinkes all three are Worthy to o're-come:
To iniure two such Beauties what tongue dare?
Or preferre one where they be all so faire:
Now this seemes fairest, now againe that other,
Now would I speake, and now my thoughts I smother,
And yet at length the praise of one most sounded,
And from that one my present Loue is grounded:
The Goddesses out of their earnest care
And pride of Beauty to be held most faire,
Seeke with large Ariues, and gifts of wondrous price,
To their owne thoughts my censure to intice:
Iuno the Wife of Ihoue doth first inchant me,
To Iudge her fairest, she a Crowne will grant me:
Pallas her Daughter, next doth vndertake me,
Giue her the price, and valiant she will make me:
I straight deuise which can most pleasure bring,
To be a valiant Souldier or a King:
199
As if she swayed an Empire in her face,
Let not (said she) these guifts the Conquest beare,
Combats and Kingdomes are both fraught with feare.
Ile giue thee what thou louest best, (louely Swaine,)
The fairest Saint that doth on earth remaine
Shalbe thine owne, make thou the Conquest mine,
Faire Lædaes fairest daughter shalbe thine.
This said, when with my selfe I had deuised,
And her rich guift and beauty ioyntly prised:
Venus victor, ore the rest is plac'st,
Iuno and Pallas leaue the Mount disgrac'st,
Meane time my Fates a prosperous course had ron,
And by knowne signes King Priam cald me Son:
The day of my restoring is kept holy
Among the Saints-daies, consecrated soly
To my remembrance, being a day of ioy,
For euer in the Calenders of Troy.
As I wish you I haue bin wisht by others,
The fairest maids by me would haue bin Mothers,
Of all my fauours I bestow'd not any,
you onely may inioy the Loues of many:
Nor by the Daughters of great Dukes and Kings
Haue I alone bin sought, whose marriage Rings
I haue turn'd backe, but by a straine more hie,
By Nimphs and Phairies, such as neuer die.
No sooner were you promist as my due,
But I (al hated) to remember you:
Waking, I saw your Image, if I dreampt,
Your beautious figure stil appeard to tempt
And vrge this voyage: Til your face excelling
These eies beheld, my dreames were all of Hellen.
Imagine how your face should now incite me,
Being seene, that vnseene did so much delite me:
If I was scorcht so farre off from the Fyer,
How am I burnt to Cinders thus much nyer:
Nor could I longer owe my selfe this treasure,
But through the Ocean I must search my pleasure,
The Phrygian Hatchets to the rootes are put
Of the Idean Pines, (asunder cut)
The Wood-land Mountaine yeilded me large fees,
Being despoyl'd of all her tallest Trees,
From whence we haue squar'd out vn-numbred beames,
That must be washt within the Marine streames:
The grounded Oakes are bowed, though stiffe as steele,
And to the tough Ribs is the bending Keele
Wouen by Ship-wrights craft, then the Maine-mast,
A crosse whose middle is the Saile yard plast.
Tackles and sailes, and next you may discerne,
Our painted Gods vpon the hooked stearne:
The God that beares me on my happy way,
And is my guide, is Cupid: Now the day
In which the last stroke of the Hammer's heard,
Within our Nauy, in the East appeard,
And I must now lanch forth, (so the Fates please)
To seeke aduentures in the Egean Seas.
My Father and my Mother moue delay,
And by intreaties would inforce my stay:
They hang about my necke, and with their teares
Woo me deferre my iourney: but their feares
Can haue no power to keepe me from thy sight:
And now Cassandra full of sad affright,
With loose disheuel'd Tramels, madly skips,
Iust in the way betwixt me and my Ships:
Oh, whether wilt thou head-long run she cries?
Thou bearest fire with thee, whose smoake vp flies
Vnto the heauens (Oh Ihoue) thou little fearest
What quenchlesse flames thou through the water bearest:
Cassandra was too true a Prophetesse,
Her quenchlesse flames she spake of (I confesse,)
My hot desires burne in my breast so fast,
That no Red Furnace hotter flames can cast.
The fairest maids by me would haue bin Mothers,
Of all my fauours I bestow'd not any,
you onely may inioy the Loues of many:
Nor by the Daughters of great Dukes and Kings
Haue I alone bin sought, whose marriage Rings
I haue turn'd backe, but by a straine more hie,
By Nimphs and Phairies, such as neuer die.
No sooner were you promist as my due,
But I (al hated) to remember you:
Waking, I saw your Image, if I dreampt,
Your beautious figure stil appeard to tempt
And vrge this voyage: Til your face excelling
These eies beheld, my dreames were all of Hellen.
Imagine how your face should now incite me,
Being seene, that vnseene did so much delite me:
If I was scorcht so farre off from the Fyer,
How am I burnt to Cinders thus much nyer:
Nor could I longer owe my selfe this treasure,
But through the Ocean I must search my pleasure,
The Phrygian Hatchets to the rootes are put
Of the Idean Pines, (asunder cut)
200
Being despoyl'd of all her tallest Trees,
From whence we haue squar'd out vn-numbred beames,
That must be washt within the Marine streames:
The grounded Oakes are bowed, though stiffe as steele,
And to the tough Ribs is the bending Keele
Wouen by Ship-wrights craft, then the Maine-mast,
A crosse whose middle is the Saile yard plast.
Tackles and sailes, and next you may discerne,
Our painted Gods vpon the hooked stearne:
The God that beares me on my happy way,
And is my guide, is Cupid: Now the day
In which the last stroke of the Hammer's heard,
Within our Nauy, in the East appeard,
And I must now lanch forth, (so the Fates please)
To seeke aduentures in the Egean Seas.
My Father and my Mother moue delay,
And by intreaties would inforce my stay:
They hang about my necke, and with their teares
Woo me deferre my iourney: but their feares
Can haue no power to keepe me from thy sight:
And now Cassandra full of sad affright,
With loose disheuel'd Tramels, madly skips,
Iust in the way betwixt me and my Ships:
Oh, whether wilt thou head-long run she cries?
Thou bearest fire with thee, whose smoake vp flies
Vnto the heauens (Oh Ihoue) thou little fearest
What quenchlesse flames thou through the water bearest:
Cassandra was too true a Prophetesse,
Her quenchlesse flames she spake of (I confesse,)
My hot desires burne in my breast so fast,
That no Red Furnace hotter flames can cast.
I passe the Citty gates, my Barke I boord,
The fauourable winds calme gales affoord,
And fill my sailes, vnto your Land I steare,
For whether else (his course) should Paris beare:
Your Husband entertaines me as his guest,
And all this hapneth by the Gods behest,
He shewes me all his Pastures, parts, and Fields,
And euery rare thing Lacedemon yeilds,
He holds himselfe much pleased with my being,
And nothing hides, that he esteems worth seeing.
I am on fire, till I behold your face,
Of all Achayas Kingdome, the sole grace,
All other Curious obiects I defie,
Nothing but Hellen can content mine eie,
Whom when I saw, I stood transformd with wonder,
Sencelesse, as one strooke dead by Ihoues sharpe Thunder:
As I reuiue, my eyes I rowle and turne,
Whilst my flam'd thoughts with hotter fancies burne,
Euen so (as I remember,) lookt Loues Queene,
When she was last in Phtygian Ida seene,
Vnto which place by Fortune I was trained,
Where by my censure she the Conquest gained:
But had you made a fourth in that contention,
Of Venus beauty, there had bin no mention:
Hellen assuredly had borne from all
The prize of beauty, the bright Golden Ball.
The fauourable winds calme gales affoord,
And fill my sailes, vnto your Land I steare,
For whether else (his course) should Paris beare:
Your Husband entertaines me as his guest,
And all this hapneth by the Gods behest,
He shewes me all his Pastures, parts, and Fields,
And euery rare thing Lacedemon yeilds,
201
And nothing hides, that he esteems worth seeing.
I am on fire, till I behold your face,
Of all Achayas Kingdome, the sole grace,
All other Curious obiects I defie,
Nothing but Hellen can content mine eie,
Whom when I saw, I stood transformd with wonder,
Sencelesse, as one strooke dead by Ihoues sharpe Thunder:
As I reuiue, my eyes I rowle and turne,
Whilst my flam'd thoughts with hotter fancies burne,
Euen so (as I remember,) lookt Loues Queene,
When she was last in Phtygian Ida seene,
Vnto which place by Fortune I was trained,
Where by my censure she the Conquest gained:
But had you made a fourth in that contention,
Of Venus beauty, there had bin no mention:
Hellen assuredly had borne from all
The prize of beauty, the bright Golden Ball.
Onely of you may this your Kingdome boast,
by you it is renown'd in euery Coast:
Rumor hath euery where your beautie blazed,
In what remote Clyme is not Hellen praised?
From the bright Eastern Suns vprise, Inquire
Euen to his downfall, where he slakes his fire,
There liues not any of your Sex that dare,
Contend with you that are proclaimd so faire;
Trust me, for truth I speake. Nay vvhats most true,
Too sparingly the vvorld hath spoke of you:
Fame that hath vndertooke your name to blaze,
Plaid but the envious Husvvife in your praise:
More then report could promise, or fame blazon,
Are these Deuine perfections that I gaze on:
These were the same that made Duke Theseus lauish,
Who in thy prime and Nonage did thee rauish;
A vvorthie Rape for such a vvorthie Man,
Thrice happie Rauisher, to ceize thee than
Whèn thou vvert stript starke naked to the skin,
(A sight, of force to make the Gods to sin:)
Such is your Countries guise at seasons vvhen,
vvith naked Ladies they mixe naked Men;
That he did steale thee from thy Friends, I praise him,
And for that deed, I to the Heauens will raise him:
That he return'd thee backe, by Ihoue I wonder,
Had I bin Theseus, he that should assonder
Haue parted vs, or snacht thee from my bed,
First from my shoulders should haue par'd my head:
So rich a purchase, such a glorious pray,
Should constantly haue bin detai'nd for aye.
Could these my strong Armes possibly vnclaspe,
Whilst in their amorous Foulds they Hellen graspe,
Neither by free constraint, nor by free-giuing,
Could you depart that compasse, and I liuing:
But if by rough inforce I must restore you,
Some fruits of Loue, (which I so long haue bore you,)
I first would reape, and some sweet fauour gaine,
That all my suite were not bestowd in vaine;
Either with me you should abide and stay,
Or for your passe your maiden-head should pay.
Or say I spar'd you that, yet would I try
What other fauour, I could else come by,
All that belongs to loue, I would not misse,
You should not let me both to clip and kisse.
by you it is renown'd in euery Coast:
Rumor hath euery where your beautie blazed,
In what remote Clyme is not Hellen praised?
From the bright Eastern Suns vprise, Inquire
Euen to his downfall, where he slakes his fire,
There liues not any of your Sex that dare,
Contend with you that are proclaimd so faire;
Trust me, for truth I speake. Nay vvhats most true,
Too sparingly the vvorld hath spoke of you:
Fame that hath vndertooke your name to blaze,
Plaid but the envious Husvvife in your praise:
More then report could promise, or fame blazon,
Are these Deuine perfections that I gaze on:
These were the same that made Duke Theseus lauish,
Who in thy prime and Nonage did thee rauish;
A vvorthie Rape for such a vvorthie Man,
Thrice happie Rauisher, to ceize thee than
Whèn thou vvert stript starke naked to the skin,
(A sight, of force to make the Gods to sin:)
Such is your Countries guise at seasons vvhen,
vvith naked Ladies they mixe naked Men;
202
And for that deed, I to the Heauens will raise him:
That he return'd thee backe, by Ihoue I wonder,
Had I bin Theseus, he that should assonder
Haue parted vs, or snacht thee from my bed,
First from my shoulders should haue par'd my head:
So rich a purchase, such a glorious pray,
Should constantly haue bin detai'nd for aye.
Could these my strong Armes possibly vnclaspe,
Whilst in their amorous Foulds they Hellen graspe,
Neither by free constraint, nor by free-giuing,
Could you depart that compasse, and I liuing:
But if by rough inforce I must restore you,
Some fruits of Loue, (which I so long haue bore you,)
I first would reape, and some sweet fauour gaine,
That all my suite were not bestowd in vaine;
Either with me you should abide and stay,
Or for your passe your maiden-head should pay.
Or say I spar'd you that, yet would I try
What other fauour, I could else come by,
All that belongs to loue, I would not misse,
You should not let me both to clip and kisse.
Giue me your heart faire Queene, my hart you owe,
And what my resolution is, you knowe,
Til the last fire my breathlesse body take,
The fire within my breast can neuer slake,
Before large kingdomes I preferd your face,
And Iunoes loue, and potent gifts disgrace.
To fold you in my amorous Armes I chusd,
And Pallas vertues scornefully refusd.
When they with Venus in the Hil of Ide,
Made mee the Iudge their beauties to decide,
Nor do I yet repent me, hauing tooke
Beauty: and strength and Scepter'd rule forsooke:
Methinkes I chusd the best, (nor thinke it strange)
I still persist, and neuer meane to change;
Onely that my imployment be not vain,
Oh you more worth then any Empires gaine,
Let me intreat, least you my byrth should scorne
Or parentage: know I am royall borne.
By marrying me, you shall not wrong your State,
Nor be a wife to one degenerate.
Search the Records where vve did first begin,
And you shall find the Pleyads of our Kin:
Nay Ihoue himselfe, all others to forbeare,
That in our stocke renowned Princes were:
My Father of all Asia raignes sole-King,
Whose boundlesse Coast, scarce any feathered wing
Can giue a girdle too, a happier Land
A neighbor to the Ocean cannot stand:
There in a narrovv compasse you may see
Citties and Towers, more then may numbred be,
The houses guilt, rich Temples that exell,
And you will say I neere the great Gods dwell.
You shall behold hie Isliums lofty Towers,
And Troyes braue Wals built by Immortall powers,
But made by Phœbus the great God of Fire,
And by the touch of his melodious Lyer:
If we haue people to inhabit, vvhen
The sad earth grones to beare such troopes of men:
Iudge Hellen, Likevvise when you come to Land,
The Asian Women shall admiring stand,
Saluting thee with welcome, more and lesse
In preasing throngs and numbers, numberlesse:
More then our Courts can hold of you (most faire)
You to your selfe will say, alasse, how bare
And poore Achaya is, when with great pleasure,
You see each house containe a Citties Treasure.
And what my resolution is, you knowe,
Til the last fire my breathlesse body take,
The fire within my breast can neuer slake,
Before large kingdomes I preferd your face,
And Iunoes loue, and potent gifts disgrace.
To fold you in my amorous Armes I chusd,
And Pallas vertues scornefully refusd.
When they with Venus in the Hil of Ide,
Made mee the Iudge their beauties to decide,
Nor do I yet repent me, hauing tooke
Beauty: and strength and Scepter'd rule forsooke:
Methinkes I chusd the best, (nor thinke it strange)
I still persist, and neuer meane to change;
Onely that my imployment be not vain,
Oh you more worth then any Empires gaine,
Let me intreat, least you my byrth should scorne
Or parentage: know I am royall borne.
203
Nor be a wife to one degenerate.
Search the Records where vve did first begin,
And you shall find the Pleyads of our Kin:
Nay Ihoue himselfe, all others to forbeare,
That in our stocke renowned Princes were:
My Father of all Asia raignes sole-King,
Whose boundlesse Coast, scarce any feathered wing
Can giue a girdle too, a happier Land
A neighbor to the Ocean cannot stand:
There in a narrovv compasse you may see
Citties and Towers, more then may numbred be,
The houses guilt, rich Temples that exell,
And you will say I neere the great Gods dwell.
You shall behold hie Isliums lofty Towers,
And Troyes braue Wals built by Immortall powers,
But made by Phœbus the great God of Fire,
And by the touch of his melodious Lyer:
If we haue people to inhabit, vvhen
The sad earth grones to beare such troopes of men:
Iudge Hellen, Likevvise when you come to Land,
The Asian Women shall admiring stand,
Saluting thee with welcome, more and lesse
In preasing throngs and numbers, numberlesse:
More then our Courts can hold of you (most faire)
You to your selfe will say, alasse, how bare
And poore Achaya is, when with great pleasure,
You see each house containe a Citties Treasure.
Mistake me not I Sparta do not scorne,
I hold the Land blest where my Loue was borne:
Though barren else, rich Sparta Hellen bore,
And therefore I that Prouince must adore;
Yet is your Land methinkes but leane and empty,
You worthy of a Clyme that flowes with plenty
Full Troy, I prostrate it is yours by duty,
This petty-seat becomes not your rich beauty;
Attendance, Preparation, Curtsie, state,
Fit such a Heauenly forme, on which should waite,
Cost, fresh variety, Delicious diet,
Pleasure, Contentment, and Luxurious ryet,
What Ornaments we vse, what fashions faigne,
You may perceiue by me and my proud traine,
Thus we attyre our men, but with more cost
Of Gold and Pearle, the rich Gownes are Imbost
Of our chiefe Ladies, guesse by what you see,
you may be soone induc'st to credit me.
I hold the Land blest where my Loue was borne:
Though barren else, rich Sparta Hellen bore,
And therefore I that Prouince must adore;
Yet is your Land methinkes but leane and empty,
You worthy of a Clyme that flowes with plenty
Full Troy, I prostrate it is yours by duty,
This petty-seat becomes not your rich beauty;
Attendance, Preparation, Curtsie, state,
Fit such a Heauenly forme, on which should waite,
Cost, fresh variety, Delicious diet,
Pleasure, Contentment, and Luxurious ryet,
204
You may perceiue by me and my proud traine,
Thus we attyre our men, but with more cost
Of Gold and Pearle, the rich Gownes are Imbost
Of our chiefe Ladies, guesse by what you see,
you may be soone induc'st to credit me.
Be tractable faire Spartan, nor contemne
A Troian borne, deriu'd from Royall stemne:
He was a Troian and allyde to Hector,
That waits vpon Ihoues cup, and fils him Nector:
A Troian did the faire Aurora wed,
And nightly slept within her Rose at bed:
The Goddesse that ends night and enters day,
From our faire Troian Coast stole him away,
Anchises was a Troian, whom Loues Queene,
(Making the Trees of Ida a thicke Screene
Twixt Heauen and her) oft lay with, view me vvell,
I am a Troian too, in Troy I dwell:
Thy Husband Menelaus hether bring,
Compare our shapes, our yeares, and euery thing
I make you Iudgesse, wrong me if you can,
you needs must say I am the properer man:
None of my line hath turn'd the Sun to blood,
And rob'd his Steeds of their Ambrosiall food:
My Father grew not from the Caucasse Rocke,
Nor shall I graft you in a bloody Stocke:
Priam nere wrong'd the guiltlesse soule, or further,
Made the Myrtoan Sea looke red with murder.
Nor thirsteth my great Grand-sire in the Lake
Of Lethe, Chin-deepe, yet no thirst can slake:
Nor after ripened Apples vainely skips,
Who flie him still, and yet still touch his lips,
But what of this? If you be so deriu'd,
You notwithstanding are no right depriu'd:
You grace your Stocke, and being so deuine,
Ihoue is of force compeld into your Liue.
A Troian borne, deriu'd from Royall stemne:
He was a Troian and allyde to Hector,
That waits vpon Ihoues cup, and fils him Nector:
A Troian did the faire Aurora wed,
And nightly slept within her Rose at bed:
The Goddesse that ends night and enters day,
From our faire Troian Coast stole him away,
Anchises was a Troian, whom Loues Queene,
(Making the Trees of Ida a thicke Screene
Twixt Heauen and her) oft lay with, view me vvell,
I am a Troian too, in Troy I dwell:
Thy Husband Menelaus hether bring,
Compare our shapes, our yeares, and euery thing
I make you Iudgesse, wrong me if you can,
you needs must say I am the properer man:
None of my line hath turn'd the Sun to blood,
And rob'd his Steeds of their Ambrosiall food:
My Father grew not from the Caucasse Rocke,
Nor shall I graft you in a bloody Stocke:
Priam nere wrong'd the guiltlesse soule, or further,
Made the Myrtoan Sea looke red with murder.
Nor thirsteth my great Grand-sire in the Lake
Of Lethe, Chin-deepe, yet no thirst can slake:
Nor after ripened Apples vainely skips,
Who flie him still, and yet still touch his lips,
But what of this? If you be so deriu'd,
You notwithstanding are no right depriu'd:
You grace your Stocke, and being so deuine,
Ihoue is of force compeld into your Liue.
Oh mischiefe! Whilst I vainely speake of this,
Your Husband all vnworthy of such blisse
Inioyes you this long night, enfolds your wast,
And where he list may boldly touch and tast,
So when you sat at Table, many a toy,
Passeth betweene you my vext soule t'annoy,
At such hie feasts I wish my enemy sit,
Where discontent attendes on euery bit,
I neuer yet was plac'st at any Feast,
But oft it irkt me that I was your Guest:
That which offends me most, thy rude Lord knowes,
For still his arme about thy necke he throwes,
Which I no sooner spy but I grow mad,
And hate the man whose courting makes me sad:
Shall I be plaine? I am ready to sinke downe
When I behold him wrap you in his Gowne,
While you sit smiling on his amorous knee,
His fingers presse, where my hands itch to bee:
But when he hugs you I am forc'st to frowne,
The meat I am eating will by no meanes downe,
But stickes halfe way, amidst these discontents
I haue obseru'd you laugh at my laments,
And with a scornefull, yet a wanton smile
Deride my sighes and grones, oft to beguile
My passions, and to quench my fiery rage,
By quaffing healths I haue thought my flame t' asswage,
But Bacchus full cups make my flame burne hyer,
Add wine to loue, and you adde fire to fire.
To shun the sight of many a wanton feat,
Betwixt your Lord and you I shift my seat,
And turne my head, but thinking of your grace,
Loue skrewes my head to gaze backe on your face.
What were I best to do? To see you play
Mads me, and I perforce must turne away,
And to forbeare the place where you abide,
Would kill me dead should I but start aside:
As much as lyes in me I striue to bury
The shape of Loue, in mirths spight I seeme mery:
But oh, the more I seeke it to suppresse,
The more my blabbing lookes my loue professe
Your Husband all vnworthy of such blisse
Inioyes you this long night, enfolds your wast,
And where he list may boldly touch and tast,
205
Passeth betweene you my vext soule t'annoy,
At such hie feasts I wish my enemy sit,
Where discontent attendes on euery bit,
I neuer yet was plac'st at any Feast,
But oft it irkt me that I was your Guest:
That which offends me most, thy rude Lord knowes,
For still his arme about thy necke he throwes,
Which I no sooner spy but I grow mad,
And hate the man whose courting makes me sad:
Shall I be plaine? I am ready to sinke downe
When I behold him wrap you in his Gowne,
While you sit smiling on his amorous knee,
His fingers presse, where my hands itch to bee:
But when he hugs you I am forc'st to frowne,
The meat I am eating will by no meanes downe,
But stickes halfe way, amidst these discontents
I haue obseru'd you laugh at my laments,
And with a scornefull, yet a wanton smile
Deride my sighes and grones, oft to beguile
My passions, and to quench my fiery rage,
By quaffing healths I haue thought my flame t' asswage,
But Bacchus full cups make my flame burne hyer,
Add wine to loue, and you adde fire to fire.
To shun the sight of many a wanton feat,
Betwixt your Lord and you I shift my seat,
And turne my head, but thinking of your grace,
Loue skrewes my head to gaze backe on your face.
What were I best to do? To see you play
Mads me, and I perforce must turne away,
And to forbeare the place where you abide,
Would kill me dead should I but start aside:
As much as lyes in me I striue to bury
The shape of Loue, in mirths spight I seeme mery:
But oh, the more I seeke it to suppresse,
The more my blabbing lookes my loue professe
You know my Loue which I in vaine should hide,
Would God it did appeare to none beside,
Oh Ihoue how often haue I turnd my cheeke,
To hide th' apparant teares that passage seeke,
From forth my eies, and to a corner stept,
Least any man should aske wherefore I wept:
How often haue I told you pittious tales,
Of constant louers, and how Loue preuailes?
When such great heed to my discourse I tooke,
That euery accent suited to your looke.
In forged names my selfe I represented,
The Louer so perplext and so tormented,
If you will know? Behold I am the same,
Paris was ment in that true Louers name:
As often, that I might the more securely
Speake loose immodest words that sound impurely,
That they offencelesse might your sweet cares tutch,
I haue lispt them out, like one had drunke too mutch:
Once I remember, your loose vayle betraid
Your naked skin, and a fayre passage made
To my inamored eye, Oh skin much brighter
Then snow, or purest milk, in colour whiter
Then your faire mother Læda, when Ihoue grac'st her,
And in the shape of Feathered Swan imbrac'st her:
Whilst at this rauishing sight I stand amazed,
And without interruption freely gazed,
The wreathed handle of the Boule I graspt,
Fell from my hold, my strengthlesse hand vnclaspt,
A Goblet at that time I held by chance,
And downe it fell, for I was in a trance;
Kisse your faire daughter, and to her I skip,
And snatch your kisses from your sweet Childs lip.
Sometimes I throw my selfe along, and lie
Singing Loue-songs, and if you cast your eie
On my effeminate gesture, I still find
Some pretty couered signes to speake my mind,
And then my earnest suit bluntly inuades
Æthra and Climenea your two chiefe maides,
But they returne me answeres full of feare,
And to my motions lend no further eare.
Would God it did appeare to none beside,
Oh Ihoue how often haue I turnd my cheeke,
To hide th' apparant teares that passage seeke,
206
Least any man should aske wherefore I wept:
How often haue I told you pittious tales,
Of constant louers, and how Loue preuailes?
When such great heed to my discourse I tooke,
That euery accent suited to your looke.
In forged names my selfe I represented,
The Louer so perplext and so tormented,
If you will know? Behold I am the same,
Paris was ment in that true Louers name:
As often, that I might the more securely
Speake loose immodest words that sound impurely,
That they offencelesse might your sweet cares tutch,
I haue lispt them out, like one had drunke too mutch:
Once I remember, your loose vayle betraid
Your naked skin, and a fayre passage made
To my inamored eye, Oh skin much brighter
Then snow, or purest milk, in colour whiter
Then your faire mother Læda, when Ihoue grac'st her,
And in the shape of Feathered Swan imbrac'st her:
Whilst at this rauishing sight I stand amazed,
And without interruption freely gazed,
The wreathed handle of the Boule I graspt,
Fell from my hold, my strengthlesse hand vnclaspt,
A Goblet at that time I held by chance,
And downe it fell, for I was in a trance;
Kisse your faire daughter, and to her I skip,
And snatch your kisses from your sweet Childs lip.
Sometimes I throw my selfe along, and lie
Singing Loue-songs, and if you cast your eie
On my effeminate gesture, I still find
Some pretty couered signes to speake my mind,
And then my earnest suit bluntly inuades
Æthra and Climenea your two chiefe maides,
But they returne me answeres full of feare,
And to my motions lend no further eare.
Oh that you were the prize of some great strife,
And he that wins might claime you for his wife,
Hyppomanes with swift Atlanta ran,
And at one course the Goale and Lady wan,
Euen she, by whom so many Suters perisht,
Was in the bosome of her new Loue cherisht:
So Hercules for Deyaneira stroue,
Brake Achelous horne, and gain'd his loue,
Had I such liberty: such freedome graunted,
My resolution neuer could be daunted,
Your selfe should find, and all the world should see,
Hellen (aprize alone) reseru'd for me.
There is not left me any meanes (most faire)
To Court you now, but by intreats and praire,
Vnlesse (as it becoms me) you thinke meet,
That I should prostrate fall, and kisse your feet,
Oh, all the honour that our last age wins,
Then glory of the two Tyndarian Twins,
Worthy to be Ihoues Wife, in heauen to raigne,
Were you not Ihoues owne daughter, of his straine.
To the Sygean confines I will carry thee,
And in the Temple of great Pallas marry thee:
Or in this Island where I vent my mones,
Ile beg a Toombe for my exiled bones:
My wound is not a slight race with an arrow,
But it hath pierst my hart, and burnt my marrow,
This Prophesie my Sister oft hath sounded,
That by an heauenly dart I should be wounded:
Oh then forbeare (fayre Hellen) to oppose you.
Against the Gods, they say I shall not lose you:
Yeeld you to their beheast, and you shall find,
The Gods to your petitions likewise kind.
A thousand things at once are in my braine,
Which that I may essentially complaine,
And not in papers empty all my head,
Anon at night receiue me to your bed.
Blush you at this, or Lady doe you feare
To violate the Nuptiall lawes austeare?
Oh (simple Hellen) Foolish, I might say,
What profite reape you to be Chast, I pray?
Ist possible, that you a World to winne,
Should keepe that face, that beauty, without sinne?
Rather you must your glorious face exchange
For one (lesse Faire) or else not seeme so strange:
Beauty and Chastity at variance are,
Tis hard to finde one Woman chast and faire,
Venus will not haue beauty ouer aw'de,
Hie Ihoue himselfe, stolne pleasures will applaude,
And by such theeuish pastimes we may gather,
How Ihoue gainst Wedlocks lawes, became your father:
He and your mother Læda both transgrest
When you were got, she bare a tender breast.
What glory can you gaine Loues sweets to smother?
Or to be counted Chaster then your mother?
Professe strict chastity, when vvith great ioy,
I lead you as my Bride-espousd, through Troy;
Then, I entreat you raine your pleasures in,
I wish thy Paris may be all thy sinne.
If Citherea her firme Couenant keepe,
Though I within your bosome nightly sleepe,
We shall not much misdoo, but so offend,
That we by marriage may our guilt amend.
And he that wins might claime you for his wife,
Hyppomanes with swift Atlanta ran,
And at one course the Goale and Lady wan,
207
Was in the bosome of her new Loue cherisht:
So Hercules for Deyaneira stroue,
Brake Achelous horne, and gain'd his loue,
Had I such liberty: such freedome graunted,
My resolution neuer could be daunted,
Your selfe should find, and all the world should see,
Hellen (aprize alone) reseru'd for me.
There is not left me any meanes (most faire)
To Court you now, but by intreats and praire,
Vnlesse (as it becoms me) you thinke meet,
That I should prostrate fall, and kisse your feet,
Oh, all the honour that our last age wins,
Then glory of the two Tyndarian Twins,
Worthy to be Ihoues Wife, in heauen to raigne,
Were you not Ihoues owne daughter, of his straine.
To the Sygean confines I will carry thee,
And in the Temple of great Pallas marry thee:
Or in this Island where I vent my mones,
Ile beg a Toombe for my exiled bones:
My wound is not a slight race with an arrow,
But it hath pierst my hart, and burnt my marrow,
This Prophesie my Sister oft hath sounded,
That by an heauenly dart I should be wounded:
Oh then forbeare (fayre Hellen) to oppose you.
Against the Gods, they say I shall not lose you:
Yeeld you to their beheast, and you shall find,
The Gods to your petitions likewise kind.
A thousand things at once are in my braine,
Which that I may essentially complaine,
And not in papers empty all my head,
Anon at night receiue me to your bed.
Blush you at this, or Lady doe you feare
To violate the Nuptiall lawes austeare?
Oh (simple Hellen) Foolish, I might say,
What profite reape you to be Chast, I pray?
Ist possible, that you a World to winne,
Should keepe that face, that beauty, without sinne?
Rather you must your glorious face exchange
For one (lesse Faire) or else not seeme so strange:
208
Tis hard to finde one Woman chast and faire,
Venus will not haue beauty ouer aw'de,
Hie Ihoue himselfe, stolne pleasures will applaude,
And by such theeuish pastimes we may gather,
How Ihoue gainst Wedlocks lawes, became your father:
He and your mother Læda both transgrest
When you were got, she bare a tender breast.
What glory can you gaine Loues sweets to smother?
Or to be counted Chaster then your mother?
Professe strict chastity, when vvith great ioy,
I lead you as my Bride-espousd, through Troy;
Then, I entreat you raine your pleasures in,
I wish thy Paris may be all thy sinne.
If Citherea her firme Couenant keepe,
Though I within your bosome nightly sleepe,
We shall not much misdoo, but so offend,
That we by marriage may our guilt amend.
Your husband hath himselfe this businesse ayded,
And though (not with his toung) he hath perswaded
By all his deedes (as much) least he should stay
Our priuate meetings, he is farre away:
Of purpose rid vnto the farthest West,
That he might leaue his wife vnto his guest.
No fitter time he could haue found to visit
The Chrisean royall Scepter, and to ceize it:
Oh, simple simple Husband: but hees gone,
And going, left you this to thinke vpon.
Faire Wife (quoth he) I prethe in my place,
Regard the Troian Prince, and do him grace:
Behold, a witnesse I against you stand,
You haue beene carelesse of his kinde command.
Count from his first dayes iourney, neuer since
Did you regard or grace the Troian Prince;
What thinke you of your Husband? that he knowes
The worth and value of the face he owes?
Who (but a Fool) such beauty would indanger,
Or trust it to the mercy of a Stranger.
Then (royall Queene) if neither may intreat,
My quenchlesse passion, nor Loues raging heate
Can win you, we are wooed both to this crime,
Euen by the fit aduantage of the time,
Either to Loues sweet sport we must agree,
Or shew our selues to be worse fooles then he.
He tooke you by the hand the hower he rode,
And knowing, I with you must make abode,
Brings you to me, What should I further say?
It was his minde to giue you quite away.
And though (not with his toung) he hath perswaded
By all his deedes (as much) least he should stay
Our priuate meetings, he is farre away:
Of purpose rid vnto the farthest West,
That he might leaue his wife vnto his guest.
No fitter time he could haue found to visit
The Chrisean royall Scepter, and to ceize it:
Oh, simple simple Husband: but hees gone,
And going, left you this to thinke vpon.
Faire Wife (quoth he) I prethe in my place,
Regard the Troian Prince, and do him grace:
Behold, a witnesse I against you stand,
You haue beene carelesse of his kinde command.
Count from his first dayes iourney, neuer since
Did you regard or grace the Troian Prince;
What thinke you of your Husband? that he knowes
The worth and value of the face he owes?
Who (but a Fool) such beauty would indanger,
Or trust it to the mercy of a Stranger.
Then (royall Queene) if neither may intreat,
My quenchlesse passion, nor Loues raging heate
209
Euen by the fit aduantage of the time,
Either to Loues sweet sport we must agree,
Or shew our selues to be worse fooles then he.
He tooke you by the hand the hower he rode,
And knowing, I with you must make abode,
Brings you to me, What should I further say?
It was his minde to giue you quite away.
What meant he else? Then lets be blithe and iolly,
And make the best vse of your Husbands folly:
What should we doe? Your husband is farre gone,
And this colde night (poore soule) you lie alone:
I want a bedfellow, so doe we eather,
What lets vs then, but that we lie together.
You slumbring thinke on me, On you I dreame,
Both our desires are feruent, and extreame:
Sweet, then appoint the night. Why doe you stay?
Oh night, more clearer then the brightest day,
Then I dare freely speake, protest, and sweare,
And of my vowes the Gods shall record beare:
Then will I seale the contract, and the strife,
From that day forward, we are man and Wife:
Then questionlesse I shall so farre perswade,
That you with me shall Troyes ritch Coast invade,
And with your Phrygian guest at last agree,
Our potent Kingdome and rich Crowne to see:
But if you (blushing) feare the vulger bruit,
That sayes, you follow me, to me make suite,
Feare it not Hellen; Ile so vvorke with Fame,
I will (alone) be guilty of all blame.
And make the best vse of your Husbands folly:
What should we doe? Your husband is farre gone,
And this colde night (poore soule) you lie alone:
I want a bedfellow, so doe we eather,
What lets vs then, but that we lie together.
You slumbring thinke on me, On you I dreame,
Both our desires are feruent, and extreame:
Sweet, then appoint the night. Why doe you stay?
Oh night, more clearer then the brightest day,
Then I dare freely speake, protest, and sweare,
And of my vowes the Gods shall record beare:
Then will I seale the contract, and the strife,
From that day forward, we are man and Wife:
Then questionlesse I shall so farre perswade,
That you with me shall Troyes ritch Coast invade,
And with your Phrygian guest at last agree,
Our potent Kingdome and rich Crowne to see:
But if you (blushing) feare the vulger bruit,
That sayes, you follow me, to me make suite,
Feare it not Hellen; Ile so vvorke with Fame,
I will (alone) be guilty of all blame.
Duke Theseus was my instance, and so were
Your brothers Lady, Can I come more neare
To ensample my attempts by? Theseus haled
Hellen perforce: Your brothers they preuayled
With the Leucippian Sisters, now from these
Ile count my selfe the fourth (if Hellen please.)
Our Troian Nauy rides vpon the Coast,
Rig'd, arm'd, and Man'd, and I can proudly boast,
The bankes are high, Why doe you longer stay?
The windes and Oares are ready to make way,
You shall be like a high Maiesticke Queene,
Led through the Dardan Citty, and be seene
By millions, who your State hauing commended,
Will (wondring) sweare, some Goddesse is descended.
Where ere you walke the Priests shall Incence burne,
No way you shall your eie or body turne,
But sacrificed beasts the ground shall beate,
And bright religious fires the Welkin heate,
My father, mother, brother, sisters: all
Islium and Troy in pompe maiesticall,
Shall with rich guifts present you (but alasse)
Not the least part (so farre they doe surpasse)
Can my Epistle speake, you may behold
More then my words or writings can vnfold.
Your brothers Lady, Can I come more neare
To ensample my attempts by? Theseus haled
Hellen perforce: Your brothers they preuayled
With the Leucippian Sisters, now from these
Ile count my selfe the fourth (if Hellen please.)
Our Troian Nauy rides vpon the Coast,
Rig'd, arm'd, and Man'd, and I can proudly boast,
The bankes are high, Why doe you longer stay?
The windes and Oares are ready to make way,
210
Led through the Dardan Citty, and be seene
By millions, who your State hauing commended,
Will (wondring) sweare, some Goddesse is descended.
Where ere you walke the Priests shall Incence burne,
No way you shall your eie or body turne,
But sacrificed beasts the ground shall beate,
And bright religious fires the Welkin heate,
My father, mother, brother, sisters: all
Islium and Troy in pompe maiesticall,
Shall with rich guifts present you (but alasse)
Not the least part (so farre they doe surpasse)
Can my Epistle speake, you may behold
More then my words or writings can vnfold.
Nor feare the bruit of vvarre, or threatning Steele,
When we are fled, to dogge vs at the heele:
Or that all Græcia will their powers vnite,
Of many rauisht, can you one recite,
Whom vvarre re-purchast? These be ydle feares,
Rough blustering Boreas fayre Orithea beares
Vnto the Land of Thrace, yet Thrace still free,
And Athens raisd no rude Hostility:
In winged Pegasus did Iason saile,
And from great Colchos he Medea stale:
Yet Thessaly you see can shew no scar
Of former wounds in the Thessalian warre.
He that first rauisht you: In such a Fleet
As ours is, Ariadne brought from Creet:
Yet Mynos and Duke Theseus were agreed,
About that quarrell, not a breast did bleed:
Lesse is the daunger (trust me) then the feare
That in these vaine and ydle doubts appeare.
But say rude vvarre should be proclaimde at length,
Know, I am valiant and haue sinowie strength:
The vveapons that I vse axe apt to kill,
Asia besides, more spacious fields can fill
With armed men then Greece, amongst vs are
More perfect Souldiers, more beasts apt for war:
Nor can thy husband Menelaus be
Of any high spirit and Magnanimity,
Or so well prou'd in Armes: for Hellen I
Beeing but a Lad, haue made my enemies fly,
Re-gaind the prey from out the hands of Theeues,
Who had dispoild our Heards, and stolne our Beeues,
By such aduentures I my name obtained,
(Being but a Lad) the conquest I haue gained
Of young men in their prime, who much could do,
Deiphebus, Ilioneas to,
I haue orecome in many sharpe contentions,
Nor thinke these are my vaine and forg'd inuentions,
Or that I only hand to hand can fight,
My arrowes when I please shall touch the white.
I am expert in the Quarrey and the Bovv,
You cannot boast your hartlesse husband so:
Had you the power in all things to supply me,
And should you nothing in the world deny me,
To giue me such a Hector to my brother
You could not: The earth beares not such another:
By him alone all Asia is well mand,
He like an enemy against Greece shall stand
Opposd to your best fortunes, wherefore striue you?
You do not know his valour that must wiue you,
Or what hid vvorth is in me, but at length
You will confesse when you haue prou'd my strength:
Thus either war shall still our steps pursue,
Or Greece shall fall in Troyes all-conquering view,
Nor vvould I feare for such a royall Wife,
To set the Vniuersall world at strife:
To gaine ritch Prizes, men will venter farre,
The hope of purchase makes vs bold in vvarre:
If all the vvorld about you should contend,
Your name would be eternizd vvithout end,
Only be bold, and fearelesse may vve saile
Into my Countrey, with a prosperous gale,
If the Gods graunt me my expected day,
I to the full shall all these Couenants pay.
When we are fled, to dogge vs at the heele:
Or that all Græcia will their powers vnite,
Of many rauisht, can you one recite,
Whom vvarre re-purchast? These be ydle feares,
Rough blustering Boreas fayre Orithea beares
Vnto the Land of Thrace, yet Thrace still free,
And Athens raisd no rude Hostility:
In winged Pegasus did Iason saile,
And from great Colchos he Medea stale:
Yet Thessaly you see can shew no scar
Of former wounds in the Thessalian warre.
He that first rauisht you: In such a Fleet
As ours is, Ariadne brought from Creet:
Yet Mynos and Duke Theseus were agreed,
About that quarrell, not a breast did bleed:
Lesse is the daunger (trust me) then the feare
That in these vaine and ydle doubts appeare.
But say rude vvarre should be proclaimde at length,
Know, I am valiant and haue sinowie strength:
The vveapons that I vse axe apt to kill,
Asia besides, more spacious fields can fill
With armed men then Greece, amongst vs are
More perfect Souldiers, more beasts apt for war:
Nor can thy husband Menelaus be
Of any high spirit and Magnanimity,
211
Beeing but a Lad, haue made my enemies fly,
Re-gaind the prey from out the hands of Theeues,
Who had dispoild our Heards, and stolne our Beeues,
By such aduentures I my name obtained,
(Being but a Lad) the conquest I haue gained
Of young men in their prime, who much could do,
Deiphebus, Ilioneas to,
I haue orecome in many sharpe contentions,
Nor thinke these are my vaine and forg'd inuentions,
Or that I only hand to hand can fight,
My arrowes when I please shall touch the white.
I am expert in the Quarrey and the Bovv,
You cannot boast your hartlesse husband so:
Had you the power in all things to supply me,
And should you nothing in the world deny me,
To giue me such a Hector to my brother
You could not: The earth beares not such another:
By him alone all Asia is well mand,
He like an enemy against Greece shall stand
Opposd to your best fortunes, wherefore striue you?
You do not know his valour that must wiue you,
Or what hid vvorth is in me, but at length
You will confesse when you haue prou'd my strength:
Thus either war shall still our steps pursue,
Or Greece shall fall in Troyes all-conquering view,
Nor vvould I feare for such a royall Wife,
To set the Vniuersall world at strife:
To gaine ritch Prizes, men will venter farre,
The hope of purchase makes vs bold in vvarre:
If all the vvorld about you should contend,
Your name would be eternizd vvithout end,
Only be bold, and fearelesse may vve saile
Into my Countrey, with a prosperous gale,
If the Gods graunt me my expected day,
I to the full shall all these Couenants pay.
214
The end of the nynth CANTO.
| Troia Brittanica: or, Great Britaines Troy | |