University of Virginia Library

The .xv. Epistle.

Paris to Helen.

This greeting Paris sendes
to Ledas daughter deare:
Whose helthfull state doth whole depend
vpon thy friendly cheare.
What? shall I speake? or needes
not this my flame be showne?
And more than I coulde wishe to be
is loue alreadie knowne?
More leffer shoulde it lurcke
(if I might haue my will)
Till Fortune framde, as feare ne dreade
my gladsome ioyes might spill.
But I to cloake by craft
my loue not knowe the wayes:
For who can hide the flanckring flame
that still it selfe betrayes?
But if thou looke that I
with worde confirme the deede:
Take this as proufe of hidden heart,
I frie with feruent gleede,
Let him that doth confesse
finde at thy hande such grace:
In reading friendly all the reast,
as fittes thy featurde face.
It made mee ioye to heare
my Letters were receyude:
Whereof that he shall fauour finde
thy Paris hath conceyude.
Which hope I wishe to be
of force, nor thou for nought
Of mee through ouerpassed seas
by Venus Hestes be sought.
For least thou witlesse ere,
I came vnto this place
By warning of the Gods, and no
small God doth ayde my case.
Great matters I demaunde,
but not vndue to mee:
For Venus did compounde that I
should fast be linckt with thee.
By hir conduct I from
Sigeian countrye came
In Phereclean Barck, and did
by seas my iourney frame.
Shee gaue me windes at will,
and weather safe to saile:
No maruell if she that was borne
of waues, on seas preuaile.
Let hir persist, and calme
the raging of my breast,
As earst she did the seas: and bring
my vowes to harbours reast.
I brought with mee this fire
I founde not here my flame:
Which was the cause that hither I
my voyage long did frame.
Not hither winters stormes
or errour mee did driue,
At Tenaris was aye my minde
and purpose to ariue.
Surmise not mee with wares
or marchaunts Mart to wende
Through fishfull flouds: the wealth I haue
immortall Gods defende.
Ne as a gaser I
to Graian Cities came:
For Troian towne (my natiue soyle)
thy Greece would lightly shame.
But thou, whome Venus earst
vnto my bedde behight,
Didst cause me come, for whome I wisht
or ere I knewe the wight.
In minde I vewde thy face
before I sawe with eye:
And brute by flickring fame at first
thy beautie did descrie.
And maruell is it none
if I as one that was
Ystroke a farre with thirlings shafte,
in loue my time doe passe.
For so it pleasde the Fates,
which least thou seeke to breake:
Lende eare to such vndoubted truthes
as I intende to speake.
When me within hir wombe
my mother did detaine:
And that the wearie poyse thereof
hir strowting corps did paine:
She seemde by Morpheus meanes
in dasied doubtfull dreame,
To haue as then bene brought a bedde
with flaming fierie streame.
Afright with feare she rose,
and what she sawe she tolde
The aged King, and he forthwith
consulted sages olde.
Who preaching did pronounce
that Ilion shoulde flame
With Paris fire, this ardent loue
I feele, it was the same.
My forme and forwarde heart
(though then I seemde but base)
Was proufe and token that I came
of Noble haughtie race.
A place there is in Ide
myd bushie laundes belowe,
Whereto no open way doth lye,
but Pixe and Houlme doth growe:
Where neyther simple sheepe,
nor Mountaine Goate did gnawe:
Nor lumpishe Oxe with flapping lyppes
had filde hys mownching mawe.
From thence the Dardane walles,
and buildings huge to see:
And waltring waues of drenching seas,
I leande against a tree.
With trampling feete me thought
the soyle began to moue:
(Though I displaye but truth, yet thou
wilt scarce my tale approue.)
By force of flickring wings
was brought vnto the place
Cylenus, (Atlas Nephewe neere,)
and stoode tofore my face.
(As lawfull t'was to see,
be leefull to recite)
And in his hande a golden rodde,
the God did holde vpright.
And Heauenly Ladies three,
dame Venus, Iuno and
The Princely Pallas, all at once
set footing on the sand.
I quooke for dread, my haire
stoode staring on my head:
When (set thy feare aside) to mee
the winged Herawlde sed.
Thou art a Iudge of formes,
stint all this godly warre:
And tell which of these three by right
thy verdit doth prefarre.
And least I shoulde refuse,
from Ioue he gaue me charge:
And therewith flue with gate direct
into the Heauens large.
My strength began to growe,
and courage come anewe:
And then I drad not of the three
to take a perfite vewe.
All were surpassing wightes,
but yet I stoode in dred,
(Assigned Iudge) that erye one
might not alike be sped.
For one among the reast
surmounted other so:
As that it were the Nurce of loue
thy selfe wouldst lightly knowe.
Such carke they had to winne,
as eche one did intende,
By largesse, and their goodly giftes
my doubtfull doome to bende.
An Empire Iuno gaue,
dame Pallas vertues raigne:
I doubtfull stoode where powre or ver-
tue were the best of twaine.
When sweetely Venus smilde,
let giftes not moue thy minde
(Quoth she) friend Paris: both repleate
with trouble thou shalt finde.
My onely boone shall be,
that thou shalt loue, and haue
The snowe white Ledas dearling deare
and daughter passing braue.
She saide, when iustly scande
both formes and profers weare:
The last with pricke and prayse began
to mount vp to hir spheare.
Meanewhile (as frowarde fates
to better fortune grewe)
By certaine signes for Priams childe
the Troians Paris knewe.
The sonne receyude, the house
long time was filde with ioie:
And that selfe day continues still
as halowde yet in Troie.
And as I long for thee,
so maydens looude me well:
Thou onely mayst their wishe atchiue,
and beare awaye the bell.
Not Princes heyres alone
or daintie dames imbrast:
But seemely Nymphes in ardent loue
with me were coupled fast.
But lothsome was their loue,
I wayde them all aleeke.
When I of Helen stoode in hope,
whome Venus willde me seeke.
I waking with mine eye
did see thy face by daye:
And in my heart I vewde thy forme
when Phœbus fled awaye.
What wilt thou present doe,
that in thine absence so
Didst Paris please? I fryde though farre
the fierie flame were tho.
Ne longer this my hope
I coulde deferre at last,
But that my purpose to aspire
to Sea I went in hast.
With Phrygian Axe were cut
the Troian trees to grounde:
And timber what so for the seas
most fittest then was founde.
The haughtie hilles were spoylde
of great and woxen woods:
And Ida leant me many a tree,
with all their sturdie shrowds.
The Okes for warped Keales
and rudder were ysquarde:
And with his crouked clinching ribbes
the ship was well preparde.
Wee added Maste and toppe,
and hanging sayles thereto:
And in the sides our painted Gods
were portred all aroe.
In shippe wherein I went
was with hir little boye
Dame Venus grauen, whose behest
was causer of my ioye.
When Nauie was addrest,
and readie was the charge:
To passe vpon Ægean seas
was giuen me in charge.
My parents by request
my voyage woulde haue stayde:
And that I would soiourne with them,
as earnest suters prayde.
My sister with hir lockes
(Cassandra) lolling downe:
(When shippes were ready to avale
from porte within a stowne)
Why? whither goste (quoth she?)
thy freyghting shall be flame:
Thou little knowste what fyre thou fetst,
that doste thys iourney frame.
I finde hir wordes a troth,
I feele the foresaide heate:
And raging loue in yeelding breast
as kindled cole doth freate.
With that I left the porte,
by meane of blissefull blast
And friendly gale: I did arriue
vpon thy coast at last.
Thy husbande tooke mee guest,
with whome I harbourde thoe:
And not without the Gods aduise
he practisde that I knowe.
Who made mee shewe of all
that goodly was to vewe
In Lacedemon, or else where
in stately Greece he knewe.
But nought might please my eye,
or hungrie fansie leeke:
Who for thy passing praysed shape
with longing heart did seeke:
Whome when I sawe, I musde,
mine inwarde parts I fealt
Surprisde with newe vnwoonted cares
in monstrous wise to mealt.
A face resembling thine
(of trouth I minde it well)
Had Venus, when to iudge of hues
to Paris lot it fell.
If thou hadst there bene prest,
contending for the game:
I doubt where Lady Venus shoulde
so lightly wonne the same.
Reporte hath spread thy prayse,
and Fame hir trumpet blowne:
So that in euery countrie is
fayre Helens beautie knowne.
In Troian towne is none,
nor from the rising Sunne
A famous Lasse, that for hir hue
a semblaunt prayse hath wonne.
And if thou darste beleue,
thy beautie doth surpasse:
And common rumor doth impayre
and breedes thy beautie lasse.
Here finde I more than mee
the Goddesse had behight:
And all that glory by thy face
and forme is passed quight.
Not Theseus looude for nought,
that knewe so well thy shape:
That were of such a noble Duke
surmisde a seemely rape.
When by the Greekishe guise
a naked Nymph didst sporte
With naked wightes, in place of playe
where Grecians did resorte.
I prayse him for his rape,
I muse he would forgoe
So good a pray: with valiant heart
it shoulde bene healde you knowe.
For from these shoulders first
should fall my scotched skull:
Ere thee out of my griping handes
a mortall wight should pull.
Would ere these armes of mine
haue let thee so depart?
Or during life mightst thou at all
from Paris clummes astart?
If needes I should forgone,
I would haue had a share,
Nor all in Idle should haue layne
the lustfull Venus ware,
Or I thy maydenhead woulde
and daintie flowre haue gainde:
Or that which might haue bene allowde,
if maydenhead were restrainde.
To Paris plye, and thou
his constant heart shalt trie:
Who vowes with thee in selfe same fire
and funerall flame to frie.
For I haue thee preferrde
before the regall Mace,
Which wealthfull Iuno offred, when
I sate in Iudges place.
And to thee fine I might
with armes thy neck enfolde:
I scornde the vertue Pallas gaue,
more worth than glowing golde.
That time when Ladies three
appearde in stately Ide,
By dexter iudgement there to haue
their doubtfull quarrell tride:
I sorrow not my choyse,
ne yet repent at all:
My stable minde doth aye persist
as then it did, and shall.
This one request I make,
let not my hope be vaine,
(O famous dame) that well deseruste
pursute with endlesse paine.
No Raskall seekes to match
himselfe in Gentils blood:
Ne thou to be my wedded spouse
mayst thinke thy selfe to good.
The Pleyade mayst thou finde,
and Ioue with stately stile
To me alide, the middle Grand-
sires though I should concile.
In Asia raignes my Syre,
(a freshe and fruitefull soyle)
Which scarcely may enuironde be
with long and painefull toyle.
Of Cities many one,
and lodges shalt thou see:
And Temples such as fit for Gods
thy selfe wilt deeme to bee.
Great Walles with loftie towres
and Ilion shalt thou vewe:
Which stately buildings by the sounde
of Phœbus musicke grewe.
What of the hugie presse
of people should I tell?
The Countrie scarce contaynes the folke
that in the Cities dwell.
A troupe of Troian Dames,
and Matrones thee will meete:
The Phrygian Femes will stuffe ech Porch,
and euerie other streete.
How often wilt thou say
Achaia is but poore?
The wealth of Greekish townes is founde
in euerie little bowre.
Ne lawfull is for mee
thy Sparta to despise:
The place where thou were fostred, I
most blissfull do surmise.
Yet Sparta is but spare,
more pompe thou dost deserue:
So meane a soyle for such a face
doth nothing fitly serue.
Such beautie larger coast
would well beseeme indeede:
And aye on new delights were meete
for such a face to feede.
When thus thou vewe our men
attyrde, and brauely dight:
What wilt thou iudge of Troian trulls,
and of their vesture bright?
Now shew thy selfe a freend,
nor of a Phrygian scorne
Thou daintie dame, in Therapne-
an countrie that were borne.
For he a Phrygian was
and come of Troian line:
That to the Gods their Nectar giues
commixt with water fine.
A Troian Tython too,
and yet shee likte him well,
That with the golden dawning doth
the drowping night expell.
Anchises was a Tro-
ian borne, and bred they say,
With whome the Dame of Loue in Ide
in shrowding shadow lay.
Thy spouse with mee comparde
(though thou thy selfe were iudge)
For yeares and seemely shape would be
a Rascall and a Snudge.
I will not giue to thee
a Fatherlawe, that by
His cursed fact did force the sonne
his fearefull steades to wry.
Ne Pelops was the Syre
of Priam, that with blood
Of Oenamus imbrude his handes,
and Mirtill drencht in flood.
Nor doth our Grandsire gape
for fruite in flattring lake
Of Styx: nor seekes for waues in Well,
his growing thirst to slake.
But what auaileth this.
if one be linkt with thee
Of their discent? Ioue is enforst
this families head to bee.
Fie shamefull act, all night
that same vnworthy patch
With thee doth sleepe, and with his armes
thy sugred corps doth catch.
Thee scarcely I discrie
when table clothes are led:
And that selfe time with cark and care,
and sorrow ynough is sped.
Unto my mortall foes
such banquets fall I craue:
As when that Bacchus comes to broode
I sielie Paris haue.
I hate mine harbour sore,
when so the rustick layes
His armes vpon thy snowish necke,
and with mine Hostesse playes.
I swell with wrath (but what
should I now all declare?)
When with his clothes displayd the Chuffe
thy husband, hydes thy bare.
But when you gan to kisse
and coll eche other apace:
(For that I would not see) the cup
I set before my face.
Looke when he thee imbraste,
to ground mine eyes I threwe:
And in vnwilling mouth my meate,
and yrkesome prawnder grewe.
And grunting oft with griefe,
I sawe full well when thou
At those my woes in wanton wise
wouldst smile with laughing brow,
With wine oft times I would
that fuming flame supprest:
But dronkennesse was flame in fire
and thus my heate increast.
And sundrie sights to shunne,
away my head I turne:
But thou eftsoones wouldst make mine eyes
and fancie to returne.
Thus doubtfull what to doe,
agriefe these things to see:
But yet a greater griefe away
from such a face to bee.
As much as lay in mee
this rage I striue to hide:
Yet naythelesse dissembled loue
is quickly to be spide.
Ne art thou ought deceiude,
to thee my woundes be knowne:
And would to God that of my griefes
thou priuie were alone.
How oft when teares gan flush,
turnde I my head awrie?
Least he the cause of mournefull moode
should fortune to discrie?
How often with cup crasde
haue I some looue exprest?
And would vnto thy featurde face
eche worde and sentence wrest?
And of my selfe in close
and fayned name made showe:
Euen I am he that looude so well,
if thou the same not knowe,
And that I franckly might
vse wanton wordes at will:
I would make wise of Bacchus wares
as though I had my fill.
Thy breast (I well recorde)
(thy vesture being lose.)
Displayde vnto my staring eyes,
thy beautie did disclose.
Thy breast than Mountaine snowe
or morning Milke more cleere,
Or Ioue that in the forme of Swanne
to Leda did appeere
Whilst at the sight I gazde
(I helde a Cup by hap)
And from my fist the Cup it fell
and in the floore did snap.
When thou thy daughter kist,
I would, the kisse to winne,
Hermions cheekes and cherrie lippes
eftsoone to smack beginne.
Sometime laide bolt vpright
of former loue would sing:
And other sighes by beck would giue
a signe of secrete thing.
The chiefe of all thy Mates
I bourded but of late:
To Clymen, and to Æthra I
in humble wise did prate.
Who aunswered nothing else
but that they stoode in dread:
And euen amid my earnest sute
away from me they flead.
Would thou were plaste as price
at some notorious watch,
That he who best in armes deserude,
thee for his Feere might catch.
Then as Hippomenes wanne
Atlanta in the fielde,
To whome a flock of suters earst
in running race did yeelde:
As Hercules the hornes
of Achelous brooke,
When Deianeiras loue to fight
the Champion did prouoke?
I would my valiaunt prowesse
in semblant sort haue showne:
And that thy beautie causde the same
to thee it should be knowne.
Now nought remaines, but euen
to sue to thee (faire dame)
And groufe to fore thy feete to fall
if thou permit the same.
O flowre, and present prayse
of both thy brothers hyre:
O worthie wife for mightie Ioue
if Ioue were not thy Syre:
Or to Sigeian porte
with thee I will retire;
Or in exile at Tenaris
my carcasse shall expire,
For why, no slender darte
hath cleft my breast in twaine,
The mortall wounde hath broosde the bones,
and ransackt euery vaine.
In this (I minde it well)
Gassandra spake aright:
Who saide in future time on me
a heauenly shaft should light.
Wherefore, doe not despise
the loue allowde by fate:
So mayst thou haue the gastly Gods
thy freendes in needefull state.
I haue a thousande things
which franckly to recite,
Receyue me to thy carelesse Couch
in sere and silent night.
What? dost thou shame, or stande
in such a bashfull dred,
For to defile with secrete scape
thy chaste and bridely bed?
Too simple sure thou art,
a rustick might I say?
Thinkst thou that so well formde a face
from guilt may scape away?
Or thou must chaunge thy hue,
or not be heard at least:
Twixt beautie and an honest lyfe
was neuer warre infeast:
For Ioue delightes in stealthes,
and Venus loues the same:
Ne Ioue had beene thy Syre vnlesse
had Leda likte the game.
If griefes of loue haue force
scarce chast thou mayst be thought:
Whome lustfull Ioue and Leda light
into this worlde brought.
Then leade an honest life,
when we in Troie shall be:
Let none be able to defame
fayre Helen, but by me.
Now let vs forge the fact
which mariage shall amende:
If Ladie Venus wordes be true
as tho she did pretende.
Thy husbande not in wordes
but deedes perswades thereto:
Who, for he would no hindrance be,
deuisde from Greece to go,
He had no fitter time
to ride from home but than:
O Lord it is a world to see
the subtile craft of man.
Mine Host is gone, who sayde
at parture: wife I will
Thou take in charge my Troian guest,
thy husbands Hestes fulfill.
I sweare, thou dost neglect
thy absent Feeres request:
For why, thou hast no carke at all
to entertaine thy guest.
What dost thou thinke in deede
that doltish sielie man,
The thewes of Helens passing forme
may iudge, or throughly scan?
In fayth thou art beguilde:
for if the good he owes
He knew, therewith he would not trust,
a guest he scarcely knowes.
Though neyther thee my voyce
nor friendship may procure
To yeeld me grace: conuenient time
may cause vs to play sure.
Or else we are but Doltes,
and more than he to blame:
If such occasion we permit
to slide deuoyde of game.
In maner with his hande
he gaue his guest to thee:
See thou doe vse such simplenesse
that hath such care of mee.
The long and lothsome night
thou lodgest all alone:
And I poore Paris to redresse
my haplesse harmes haue none.
Let intermedled ioyes
conioyne vs both yfeare:
And that selfe night shall seeme to vs
than brightest day more cleare.
Then will I make my vow,
appealing Gods to othe:
And by a sacred bande to thee
for pawne ingage my troth.
And then (vnlesse the trust
I in my selfe repose
Be vaine) I vnto thee eftsoones
my Scepter will disclose.
But if thou shame, and dread
to condescend thereto:
I onely will sustaine the guilt
and thou exempt shalt go.
For why, thy brothers fact,
and Theseus will I take
As myrrours: neerer proufe than this
I know thou canst not make.
The Theseus earst, they two
Lucippids haue bereft:
And I as fourth example made
and mirrour shall be left.
My Nauie is at hande,
of men and armour store:
We shall to Troie flit in haste
by meane of winde and Ore.
Thou like a stately Queene
through Dardan streates shalt ride:
The Commons wil some Goddesse new
surmise to haue espide.
What way soeuer thou goest
the perfumes they shall sweate:
And slaughtred beastes the gorie grounde
with bloodie strokes shall beate.
My sisters with my dame,
my brothers with the king,
And all the Troian Matrones shall
their ample presents bring.
Oh, scarce one parcell I
of future things recite:
Thou shalt haue more than in these lines
my feeble pen can write.
Ne doe thou rapted stande
of dreadfull warre in awe:
Ne feare that grudging Greece hir force
to wreake this rape will drawe.
Though sundrie were conuaide,
was neuer none pursude
With clattring armes: of troth this dread
vs causelesse doth delude.
In Boreas name the men
of Thrace Orithia stole:
Yet Byston had no hatefull warres,
nor enmies to controle.
In nouell Barcke was brought
by Iason through the Seas
Medea: Colchos kept no coyle
ne Thessale did disease.
And he that stale thee first
reft Minos dearling deare:
And yet his men of Creta did
not once in armour steare.
The feare in these affaires
the daunger doth excell:
But afterwarde of feare we shame
when euery thing is well.
Put case, that warre were wagde?
(if so thou list to thinke)
What, I haue men, and armour eake
yea such as will not shrincke.
And Asia is no lesse,
than is your countrie wide:
Of valiant wightes we haue good store,
and startling steades to ride.
Nor Menelaus shall
of greater courage bee
Than Troian Paris, nor in armes
more stiffe and stoute than hee.
For being yet a childe
I slue my haughtie foes
That stale my heirde: and of that fact
my valiant name arose.
And being but a Ladde
in sundrie combats wanne
The palme from Illioneus, and eake
Deiphobus the man.
And least thou sole surmise
mee to preuaile at hande:
I can enforce my thirled shaft
full neere the marke to stande,
The like attempt in youth
Atrydes neuer made:
Ne Menelaus mayst thou match
with Paris for his trade.
Though all things else thou graunt,
yet Hector can not bee
His brother, which will stande in steade
of thousande men to mee.
Thou little knowste my powre,
my force from thee is lockt:
Thou canst not tell what man is he
with whome thou shalt be shockt.
Or with no tumult thou
shalt be requirde againe:
Or Greekish tentes to Paris Marte
to yeelde they shall be faine:
Yet neede I not disdaine
to warre for such a wife:
For why, the price doth well deserue
to stirre a greater strife.
And thou, if all the worlde
for thee shoulde seeme to striue:
Shalt stande assurde in after time
for aye to be aliue.
Wherefore hath dreadlesse hope
departing from this shore,
And blissefull Gods, demaunde the giftes
I thee behight before.