Albions England A Continued Historie of the same Kingdome, from the Originals of the first Inhabitants thereof: With most the chiefe Alterations and Accidents theare hapning, vnto, and in the happie Raigne of our now most gracious Soueraigne, Queene Elizabeth: Not barren in varietie of inuentiue and historicall Intermixtures: First penned and published by William Warner: and now reuised, and newly inlarged by the same Author: Whereunto is also newly added an Epitome of the whole Historie of England |
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CHAP. VI.
Albions England |  |
The glory of this high attempt and sauing of the Bride
They all ascribe to Hercules: and whilst they heere abide,
To exercise his Piracies, as Pluto King of Hell,
(Such was the lewdnes of his life, and place where he did dwell,
That he and it were titled so) lay houering neere the shore,
And saw the folke of Cicilie their Gods with rights adore,
This rouing King, with armed Guardes of his disordered Crew
Did come a land to make their Pray: but for, to outward view,
They faine deuotion, none suspect the ill that did insue,
Anon, a wreathing Garlands sweet hard at her mothers side,
King Pluto sawe Proserpine, and liking whom he spide,
Concluding with his companie how to conuay her thence,
Betwixt his boistrous armes he tooke the faire and fearefull wench,
And, doo what the Cicilians might, he setteth her aboord:
And to his giltie Sailes the Aire did gentle Gales afoord.
They all ascribe to Hercules: and whilst they heere abide,
To exercise his Piracies, as Pluto King of Hell,
(Such was the lewdnes of his life, and place where he did dwell,
That he and it were titled so) lay houering neere the shore,
And saw the folke of Cicilie their Gods with rights adore,
This rouing King, with armed Guardes of his disordered Crew
Did come a land to make their Pray: but for, to outward view,
They faine deuotion, none suspect the ill that did insue,
Anon, a wreathing Garlands sweet hard at her mothers side,
20
Concluding with his companie how to conuay her thence,
Betwixt his boistrous armes he tooke the faire and fearefull wench,
And, doo what the Cicilians might, he setteth her aboord:
And to his giltie Sailes the Aire did gentle Gales afoord.
A number eyes in Cicilie for her did weepe, in vaine:
For her her Mother Ceres and her Loues-mate did complaine,
Her selfe (sweet Lady) of her moane did finde no meane, God wot,
Though Dis to please did say and giue what might be said or got.
Imbarked then, with him his Harpe did wofull Orpheus take,
And to Molossa Plutos Realme with speedie Sailes did make:
Where he, vnknowne, at gate of Hell did harp such Musick sweete,
As lumpish Cerberus could not but shake his monstrous feete.
His foule and warpt ill-fauoured face, ore-hung with cole-black haires,
His horslike teeth, his lolling lips, his Doglike hanging eares,
His hooked nose, his skowling eyes, his filthie knotted Beard,
And what not in his vgly shape? but presently appeard,
More milder than his common moode, and lesser to be feard.
This hellish Porter, deeming that such musick would delight
His weeping Mistris, did conuay the Harper to her sight:
Where Pluto swore by dreadful Stix, if Orpheus did by play
But make her laugh, what so he askt he should receiue for pay.
Anon such Heauenly Harmonie on skilfull Harpe he plaid,
That she her husbands musick knew, and ioyfull was she made.
Now Orpheus did a watch-word giue, and she to laugh began:
And for reward to haue from thence his wife he asked than.
For her her Mother Ceres and her Loues-mate did complaine,
Her selfe (sweet Lady) of her moane did finde no meane, God wot,
Though Dis to please did say and giue what might be said or got.
Imbarked then, with him his Harpe did wofull Orpheus take,
And to Molossa Plutos Realme with speedie Sailes did make:
Where he, vnknowne, at gate of Hell did harp such Musick sweete,
As lumpish Cerberus could not but shake his monstrous feete.
His foule and warpt ill-fauoured face, ore-hung with cole-black haires,
His horslike teeth, his lolling lips, his Doglike hanging eares,
His hooked nose, his skowling eyes, his filthie knotted Beard,
And what not in his vgly shape? but presently appeard,
More milder than his common moode, and lesser to be feard.
This hellish Porter, deeming that such musick would delight
His weeping Mistris, did conuay the Harper to her sight:
Where Pluto swore by dreadful Stix, if Orpheus did by play
But make her laugh, what so he askt he should receiue for pay.
Anon such Heauenly Harmonie on skilfull Harpe he plaid,
That she her husbands musick knew, and ioyfull was she made.
Now Orpheus did a watch-word giue, and she to laugh began:
And for reward to haue from thence his wife he asked than.
Although it gawled Plutoes soule his sweet-heart to forgo,
Yeat for to quit him of his oath, he yeelds it shall be so,
With this condition, that before they fully passed Hell,
He should not backwards looke on her, what chance so ere befell.
Now as they passe through blinde by-waies, he fearing least perchance
She erre or lag, returnes a looke: and who should marke that glance
But Cerberus, that purposely for such aduantage waites:
Who still detayning her, did shut her Husband out the gates.
Yeat for to quit him of his oath, he yeelds it shall be so,
With this condition, that before they fully passed Hell,
He should not backwards looke on her, what chance so ere befell.
Now as they passe through blinde by-waies, he fearing least perchance
She erre or lag, returnes a looke: and who should marke that glance
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Who still detayning her, did shut her Husband out the gates.
When Ceres heard of this mischance, she Cicill leaues anon
And knowing all the Knights of Greece to Thessalie were gone,
She thether goes in hope of helpe: where presently she meetes
With Thæseus and Pirithous, whose salutings she regreetes.
They, wondring what the noble Queene of Cicill there should make,
Become inquisitiue thereof: to whom sad Ceres spake,
First of Proserpine her griefe, and then of Plutoes guile:
For her she weepes, on him she railes, and mooueth them meane while.
The mother of false Dis his rape had more behinde vnsaid,
When AEgeus and Ixions Sonnes did iointly offer aide.
And knowing all the Knights of Greece to Thessalie were gone,
She thether goes in hope of helpe: where presently she meetes
With Thæseus and Pirithous, whose salutings she regreetes.
They, wondring what the noble Queene of Cicill there should make,
Become inquisitiue thereof: to whom sad Ceres spake,
First of Proserpine her griefe, and then of Plutoes guile:
For her she weepes, on him she railes, and mooueth them meane while.
The mother of false Dis his rape had more behinde vnsaid,
When AEgeus and Ixions Sonnes did iointly offer aide.
About the desert parts of Greece there is a valley lowe,
To which the roaring waters fall that from the Mountaines flowe:
So Rockes doe ouershadow it that scarce a man may vewe
The open ayre: no Son shines there: Amidst this darkesome Mewe
Doth stand a Citie, to the same belongs one onely Gate,
But one at once may come thereto the entrance is so straite,
Cut out the rough maine-stonie Rocke: This Citie did belong
To Pluto, and because that he was euer doing wrong,
And kept a theeuish Rable that in mischiefes did excell,
His Citizens were Diuels said, and Citie named Hell.
When to this Cities ruthlesse gate were come the friendly Knights,
Fierce Cerberus did rouse himselfe, and scarcely barking bites.
He thought the world had lackt the man that thether durst repaire:
And troth to say, not one till then to doo the like did dare.
Now fiery sparks from thundering strokes in darke did giue them light,
And Ceres Champions valiantly maintaine their ventrous fight,
When stout Pirithous, too too bold, a deadly wound he catcht,
And Thæseus, though Combattan-like he long the Helhound matcht,
Yeat with his fellowe had he falne, and flying feares to cope,
Expecting nothing lesse then life: but hap exceeded hope:
For Hercules at Thessalie did feare so hard euent:
Whence lanching out, he made in showe as if to Thæbes he went,
But with Philoctes all his traine and Lycus home he sent:
And he himselfe to aide his friends did to Molossa goe,
Wheare, like as did his minde presage, he found it very so.
For euen as currish Cerberus with gorie bloes did chace
The wounded and the wearie Knight, came Hercules in place.
An vnexpected happie sight to Theseus at that tide:
Whom Cerberus forsaking then at Hercules he slide,
Vpbraiding him with threatning words, and like himselfe did raue,
And reacht him many a crabbed rap with his presumptious Glaue.
To which the roaring waters fall that from the Mountaines flowe:
So Rockes doe ouershadow it that scarce a man may vewe
The open ayre: no Son shines there: Amidst this darkesome Mewe
Doth stand a Citie, to the same belongs one onely Gate,
But one at once may come thereto the entrance is so straite,
Cut out the rough maine-stonie Rocke: This Citie did belong
To Pluto, and because that he was euer doing wrong,
And kept a theeuish Rable that in mischiefes did excell,
His Citizens were Diuels said, and Citie named Hell.
When to this Cities ruthlesse gate were come the friendly Knights,
Fierce Cerberus did rouse himselfe, and scarcely barking bites.
He thought the world had lackt the man that thether durst repaire:
And troth to say, not one till then to doo the like did dare.
Now fiery sparks from thundering strokes in darke did giue them light,
And Ceres Champions valiantly maintaine their ventrous fight,
When stout Pirithous, too too bold, a deadly wound he catcht,
And Thæseus, though Combattan-like he long the Helhound matcht,
Yeat with his fellowe had he falne, and flying feares to cope,
Expecting nothing lesse then life: but hap exceeded hope:
22
Whence lanching out, he made in showe as if to Thæbes he went,
But with Philoctes all his traine and Lycus home he sent:
And he himselfe to aide his friends did to Molossa goe,
Wheare, like as did his minde presage, he found it very so.
For euen as currish Cerberus with gorie bloes did chace
The wounded and the wearie Knight, came Hercules in place.
An vnexpected happie sight to Theseus at that tide:
Whom Cerberus forsaking then at Hercules he slide,
Vpbraiding him with threatning words, and like himselfe did raue,
And reacht him many a crabbed rap with his presumptious Glaue.
The Danter then of Trespassers, perceiuing Theseus drie
His grieuous wounds, and at his feete Pirithous dead to lie,
Desirous to reuenge them both, laies lustie lode about,
And with his still victorious Club did Cerberus so cloute,
That, quite dismaid at such a match, he reeling to the ground,
Did send from out his Doggish throat a loud and diuclish sound.
But when the Victor sure enough the vanquished had bound,
He leauing Theseus weake without into the Cittie went:
Whereas he found the wicked King and Citizens, that spent
Their fruitelesse time in vices foule, and dealings most vniust,
As those that in their Porters strength reposed all their trust.
With these did Hercules play Rex, and leauing Dis for dead,
Not one escapes his deadly hand that dares to shew his head.
Whole thousands thē did breath their last, & who had seene the sight,
Might well haue said it Hell indeede: for euerie thing out-right,
Besides that sullen Mew it selfe, did giue a figure plaine
Of selfe same Hell where damned Soules abide in endlesse paine.
Saue howlings out & shuddering feare came nought to eare or sight,
With grieuous grones of dying ghosts: & so much more their spight
By how much more he found them then in pleasures and delight.
His grieuous wounds, and at his feete Pirithous dead to lie,
Desirous to reuenge them both, laies lustie lode about,
And with his still victorious Club did Cerberus so cloute,
That, quite dismaid at such a match, he reeling to the ground,
Did send from out his Doggish throat a loud and diuclish sound.
But when the Victor sure enough the vanquished had bound,
He leauing Theseus weake without into the Cittie went:
Whereas he found the wicked King and Citizens, that spent
Their fruitelesse time in vices foule, and dealings most vniust,
As those that in their Porters strength reposed all their trust.
With these did Hercules play Rex, and leauing Dis for dead,
Not one escapes his deadly hand that dares to shew his head.
Whole thousands thē did breath their last, & who had seene the sight,
Might well haue said it Hell indeede: for euerie thing out-right,
Besides that sullen Mew it selfe, did giue a figure plaine
Of selfe same Hell where damned Soules abide in endlesse paine.
Saue howlings out & shuddering feare came nought to eare or sight,
With grieuous grones of dying ghosts: & so much more their spight
By how much more he found them then in pleasures and delight.
This horror hanging, Hercules in buskling vp and downe
In Plutoes Pallace, to her ioy, Proserpine he found,
And tolde her of enlargement thence: And then in harrowed Hell
(Pyrithous buried) he, nor she, nor Theseus longer dwell.
But, waying Anker with the Queene of Cicils Daughter went
To Thessalie: where present greefes pretended ioyes preuent,
For, hearing of Pyrithous death, not one but did lament.
Hippodame (a Widowe now) especially bewailes
Her ouer-hardie Husbands death: But weeping lesse preuailes
Then did Reuenge: for Hercules vnto her doome commits
Her greefes-Contriuer, Cerberus, almost besides his wits
For feare of death his due desert: whome causing to be bound
Both hands and feet, and to be dragd along the ragged ground,
A knauish Skull of Boyes and Girles did pelt at him with stones,
And laying on with staues and whippes did breake both flesh & bones.
23
And tolde her of enlargement thence: And then in harrowed Hell
(Pyrithous buried) he, nor she, nor Theseus longer dwell.
But, waying Anker with the Queene of Cicils Daughter went
To Thessalie: where present greefes pretended ioyes preuent,
For, hearing of Pyrithous death, not one but did lament.
Hippodame (a Widowe now) especially bewailes
Her ouer-hardie Husbands death: But weeping lesse preuailes
Then did Reuenge: for Hercules vnto her doome commits
Her greefes-Contriuer, Cerberus, almost besides his wits
For feare of death his due desert: whome causing to be bound
Both hands and feet, and to be dragd along the ragged ground,
A knauish Skull of Boyes and Girles did pelt at him with stones,
And laying on with staues and whippes did breake both flesh & bones.
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CHAP. VI.
Albions England | |