The .xiii. Bookes of Aeneidos The first twelue beeinge the woorke of the diuine Poet Virgil Maro, and the thirtenth the supplement of Maphaeus Vegius. Translated into English verse to the fyrst third part of the tenth Booke, by Thomas Phaher ... and the residue finished, and now the second time newly setforth for the delite of such as are studious in Poetrie: By Thomas Twyne [i.e. Thomas Phaer] |
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 | The .xiii. Bookes of Aeneidos |  |
THE FIRST BOOKE OF the Æneidos of Uirgill.
The Argument.
When Troy was taken, Aeneas the sonne of Anchises and Venus, a man endued with singular godlinesse, and like valiencie, whilst in the seuenth yeare of his wandring, he sailed vpon the Tyrrhene sea from Sicil, towards Italy a mighty tempest beinge raised by Aeolus the kinge of windes at Iunos request: was driuen to the shoare of Afrike, where entring on the land, he slew with bow and arrowes seuen great Stags & deuided them equally to each Ship one, for so many saile hee had gathered together of his dispearsed fleet, and hartned his souldiers ouerweried now with trauaile, with the hope of future rest: manfully to indure the labours that were yet to come. In the meane while Venus pleadeth her sonne Aeneas, and all the Troians cause before Iupiter, and imputeth all those calamities vnto Iuno: but Iupiter on the other side, disclosing al the order of the destinies, recomforteth his daughter with hope of happy posteritie, and power of the Romanes, wherwith Venus being wel satisfied: meeteth with her sonne Aeneas, being ignorant of the place, and roming vp and downe in the countrey, and sheweth him how that his dispersed ships be safe and telleth him that Carthage is not farre of, a Citie which Dido builded in that place, wherfore Aeneas by his mothers meane beinge shrowded in an hollow cloude accompanied with Achates: entreth into Carthage, where both he findeth his mates safe, and is curteously entertayned of Dido the Queene. Venus notwithstanding not ouermuch trusting to Iunos entertainment, nor the vnconstancie of women, laying Ascanius a sleepe in the woods of Ida: addresseth Cupide in his steede, who amongst embracings, and kisses, priuily inspireth the Queene with the loue of Aeneas.
I that
my slender Oten Pipe in verse was wont to sounde
Of woods, and next to that I taught for husbandmen the ground,
How fruite vnto their greedy lust they might constraine to bring,
A worke of thankes: Lo now of Mars, and dreadfull warres I singe,
Of armes, and of the man of Troy, that first by fatall flight
Did thence arriue to Lauine land, that now Italia hight.
But shaken sore with many a storme by seas and land ytost,
And all for Iunos endles wrath that wrought to haue had him lost.
And sorrowes great in warres hee bode, ere hee the walls could frame
Of mighty Rome, and bring the gods t'aduance the Romaine name.
Now Muse direct my song to tell for what offence and why:
What ayled so the queene of gods to dryue thus cruelly,
This noble prince of vertue mylde from place to place to toile,
Such paines to take? may heauenly mindes so sore in rancour boile?
Of woods, and next to that I taught for husbandmen the ground,
How fruite vnto their greedy lust they might constraine to bring,
A worke of thankes: Lo now of Mars, and dreadfull warres I singe,
Of armes, and of the man of Troy, that first by fatall flight
Did thence arriue to Lauine land, that now Italia hight.
And all for Iunos endles wrath that wrought to haue had him lost.
And sorrowes great in warres hee bode, ere hee the walls could frame
Of mighty Rome, and bring the gods t'aduance the Romaine name.
Now Muse direct my song to tell for what offence and why:
What ayled so the queene of gods to dryue thus cruelly,
This noble prince of vertue mylde from place to place to toile,
Such paines to take? may heauenly mindes so sore in rancour boile?
There was a towne of auncient time Carthago of olde it hight,
Against Italia and Tybers mouth lay loofe at seas aright:
Both ritch in wealth and sharpe in war, the people it helde of Tyre:
This towne aboue all townes to raise was Iunos most desire,
Forsooke her seate at Samos yle and here her armes shee set,
Her chare, and here shee mindes to make (if all gods do not let)
An empire all the world to rule: but heard she had beforne
From Troy should rise a stock, by whom their towres should al be torne,
That far and wide should beare the rule, so fearce in war to feele:
That Lyby land destroy they should, so fortune turnes the wheele.
For feare of that, and calling eft the old war to her minde,
That shee at Troy had done before for Greekes her freends so kinde.
Ne from her hart the causes olde of wrath and sore disdaine
Was slaked yet, but in her brest high spite did still remaine.
How Paris Venus beauty praised, and hers esteemed at naught.
Shee abhors the stock and Ganimede whom Ioue to heauē had raught,
Thus flamed in her moode, shee kest through all the seas to throwe
The sely poore remaine of Troy that Greekes had laide so low.
And them that wilde Achilles wrath had spared aliue at last
From Italy shee thought to keepe, till destnies should be past.
And many a yeare they wandred wide, in seas and sundry pyne,
So huge a worke of weight it was, to build of Rome the lygne.
Against Italia and Tybers mouth lay loofe at seas aright:
Both ritch in wealth and sharpe in war, the people it helde of Tyre:
This towne aboue all townes to raise was Iunos most desire,
Forsooke her seate at Samos yle and here her armes shee set,
Her chare, and here shee mindes to make (if all gods do not let)
An empire all the world to rule: but heard she had beforne
From Troy should rise a stock, by whom their towres should al be torne,
That far and wide should beare the rule, so fearce in war to feele:
That Lyby land destroy they should, so fortune turnes the wheele.
For feare of that, and calling eft the old war to her minde,
That shee at Troy had done before for Greekes her freends so kinde.
Ne from her hart the causes olde of wrath and sore disdaine
Was slaked yet, but in her brest high spite did still remaine.
How Paris Venus beauty praised, and hers esteemed at naught.
Shee abhors the stock and Ganimede whom Ioue to heauē had raught,
Thus flamed in her moode, shee kest through all the seas to throwe
The sely poore remaine of Troy that Greekes had laide so low.
And them that wilde Achilles wrath had spared aliue at last
From Italy shee thought to keepe, till destnies should be past.
And many a yeare they wandred wide, in seas and sundry pyne,
So huge a worke of weight it was, to build of Rome the lygne.
Scant from the sight of Sicil yle, their sailes in merry aray
Went vnder winde, and through the seas, & salt some made their way:
When Iuno her bethought againe of her immortall wound
Unto her selfe. And shall I thus be conquerd, and confound?
And shall I leaue it thus quoth shee? shall yet this Troian kinge
For all my worke to Italie this people safely bringe?
I trow the destnie wils it so, but did not Pallas burne
A fleete of Greekes, and in the seas them all did ouerturne
For one mans sinne, and for the fault of Aiax made to fall?
Shee threw the fiers of mighty Ioue from skies vpon them all.
And drownd their ships, and hee him selfe with whirlewinde set a fier
All smoking on the rocks shee kest his carcas to expier.
But I, that queene of gods am calde and sister of Ioue in throne
And eke his wife, how long I war with this poore stocke alone?
So many a yere? and who shall now dame Iunos godhead know,
Or shortly vpon mine altars who due honours will bestow?
Went vnder winde, and through the seas, & salt some made their way:
When Iuno her bethought againe of her immortall wound
Unto her selfe. And shall I thus be conquerd, and confound?
And shall I leaue it thus quoth shee? shall yet this Troian kinge
For all my worke to Italie this people safely bringe?
I trow the destnie wils it so, but did not Pallas burne
A fleete of Greekes, and in the seas them all did ouerturne
Shee threw the fiers of mighty Ioue from skies vpon them all.
And drownd their ships, and hee him selfe with whirlewinde set a fier
All smoking on the rocks shee kest his carcas to expier.
But I, that queene of gods am calde and sister of Ioue in throne
And eke his wife, how long I war with this poore stocke alone?
So many a yere? and who shall now dame Iunos godhead know,
Or shortly vpon mine altars who due honours will bestow?
Thus rolling in her burning brest shee straight to Æolia hyed,
Into the countrey of cloudy skyes where blustring windes abide.
King Aeolus the wrastling windes in caues hee locks full low:
In prison strong the stormes hee keepes forbidden abrode to blow.
They for disdaine with murmour great at euery mouth do rage,
But hee a loft with mace in hand their force doth all aswage.
If hee so did not: lands and seas and skyes they would so sweepe
Within a while, that all were gone. Therfore in dongeons deepe
Almighty Ioue did close them vp and hilles hath ouerset,
And made a kinge, that should know when to louse them, when to let.
Whom to intreat this Iuno came, and thus to him shee spake:
King Aeolus, for vnto thee the great god hath betake
And giuen thee leaue to lift the flouds and calme to make them still:
On Tyrrhen sea there sailes a fleete that beares mee no good will.
To Italy they minde to passe, a new Troy there to bylde.
Let out thy windes and all their ships do drowne with waters wylde.
Disperse them al to sundry shores or whelme them downe with deepe.
Of goodly Ladies seuen and seuen about mee I do keepe,
Wherof the fairest of them all that cald is Deiopey,
Shalbe thine owne for euermore, my minde if thou obey,
And of a goodly sonne (quod shee) shee shall thee make a syer.
Into the countrey of cloudy skyes where blustring windes abide.
King Aeolus the wrastling windes in caues hee locks full low:
In prison strong the stormes hee keepes forbidden abrode to blow.
They for disdaine with murmour great at euery mouth do rage,
But hee a loft with mace in hand their force doth all aswage.
If hee so did not: lands and seas and skyes they would so sweepe
Within a while, that all were gone. Therfore in dongeons deepe
Almighty Ioue did close them vp and hilles hath ouerset,
And made a kinge, that should know when to louse them, when to let.
Whom to intreat this Iuno came, and thus to him shee spake:
King Aeolus, for vnto thee the great god hath betake
And giuen thee leaue to lift the flouds and calme to make them still:
On Tyrrhen sea there sailes a fleete that beares mee no good will.
To Italy they minde to passe, a new Troy there to bylde.
Let out thy windes and all their ships do drowne with waters wylde.
Disperse them al to sundry shores or whelme them downe with deepe.
Of goodly Ladies seuen and seuen about mee I do keepe,
Wherof the fairest of them all that cald is Deiopey,
Shalbe thine owne for euermore, my minde if thou obey,
And of a goodly sonne (quod shee) shee shall thee make a syer.
To that said Aeolus: O Queene what needes all this desier?
Commaund me dame, I must obey, my duty it is of right,
By you this kingdome first I gat, and grace of Ioue on hight.
You make mee sit among the gods at bankets this ye know,
You gaue mee might these stormy windes to straine, or make to blow.
Hee turnd his sword when this was said, and through the hill he pusht
And at that gap with thronges atones the windes forth out they rusht.
The whirlewindes to the land went out, and then to seas they flewe,
Both East and West, and from the sands the waues aloft they threw.
The stormy South againe the cliues the waters driue so hie,
That cables all began to cracke and men for dreed to crie.
Anon was taken from Troians eyes both sight and light of sonne
And on the sea the grim darke night to close all in begonne.
The thonders roard, and lightninge lept full oft on euery side:
There was no man but present death before his face espide.
Aeneas than in euery lim with colde began to quake,
With hands vp throwē to heauens aloft his mone thus gan he make.
Commaund me dame, I must obey, my duty it is of right,
By you this kingdome first I gat, and grace of Ioue on hight.
You make mee sit among the gods at bankets this ye know,
You gaue mee might these stormy windes to straine, or make to blow.
Hee turnd his sword when this was said, and through the hill he pusht
And at that gap with thronges atones the windes forth out they rusht.
The whirlewindes to the land went out, and then to seas they flewe,
Both East and West, and from the sands the waues aloft they threw.
That cables all began to cracke and men for dreed to crie.
Anon was taken from Troians eyes both sight and light of sonne
And on the sea the grim darke night to close all in begonne.
The thonders roard, and lightninge lept full oft on euery side:
There was no man but present death before his face espide.
Aeneas than in euery lim with colde began to quake,
With hands vp throwē to heauens aloft his mone thus gan he make.
O ten times treble blessed men that in their parents sight,
Before the loftie walles of Troy, did lose their liues in fight.
O Diomedes, valiaunt lord, and guide of Greekes most stout,
Could I not of thy force haue fallen, and shed my life right out:
In Troian feeldes? where Hector ferce lyeth vnder Achilles launce
King Serpedon and many a lord, how blis-full was their chaunce?
Whose bodies with their armes and sheeldes in Simois waters sinkes.
As hee thus spake, the Northerne blast his sailes brake to the brinkes,
Unto the skies the waues them lift, their ores bin all to torne,
Away goeth helme, and with the surge the ship side downe is borne,
In come the seas, and hie as hilles some hang in floods aboue,
Some downe the gaping water sends against the sands to shoue.
There three at once the Southerne winde into the rocks hath cast
(So they call stones that in the seas like altars lie full fast)
And three the Easterne winde also (that pittie it is to thinke)
Out of the deepe into the sholdes, and quicksands made to sinke.
And one that men of Lycia land, and trustie Orontes helde,
Afore his face there fell a sea that made the puppe to yelde.
And hedlong downe the maister fals, and thrise the keele aground
The water whirld, and at the last the wilde sea swallowd round.
Than might you see both here and there, men with their armor swim,
The robes and painted pompe of Troy lay fleeting on the brim,
And now the ships where Ilionee, and where Achates strong,
And where as Abas went, and where Alethes liuing long,
The wether had won, and through the ribs the seas came wonders fast
When sodenly the god Neptune vpstart him all agast.
With wonder how so great a rage should hap to him vntolde,
And forth his noble face he puts the waters to behold,
There saw hee how Aeneas ships through all the seas bespred,
And Troian folkes ydround with flood, and stormes falne ouer head.
Anon the craft therof hee knew, and Iuno his sisters yre.
Strait by their names hee calls the windes, who than began retire.
Are you so bold you blasts (quod hee) without my licence here
The lands and skies and seas also with such a storme to stere?
I will be quite: but first is best the floods to set in stay,
And after this for your deserts be sure I shall you pay.
In haste begone, go tell your king the seas is not his charge,
But vnto mee that lot befell with mace threeforked large.
Not here, but in his caues of winde, his court go bid him keepe.
There let him if hee list, you blasts enclose in prison deepe.
This spoken with a thought he makes the swelling seas to cesse,
And sunne to shine, and clouds to flee, that did the skies oppresse,
The Mermaids therwithall appeares, and Triton fleetes aboue,
And with his forke they all the ships from rocks do softly moue.
Then lets he lose the perlous sands that ships away may slide,
And on the sea full smooth his chaire with wheeles hee made to ride.
And like as in a people stout whan chaunceth to betide
The multitude to make a fray of wit full often wide,
That stones, and weapons flies abroad, and what come first to hande,
Some sad man comth, that for his right is loued of all the lande:
Anon they cease and silence make, and downe they lay their rage,
To harke at him, and he with speech their wood mindes doth asswage.
So fell this deadly fray at sea, when Neptune had controlde
The waters wilde, and through the seas his chaire abroad had rolde.
The men of Troy vnto the shore that next was in their sight
Made haste to draw, and on the coast of Africa they light.
Before the loftie walles of Troy, did lose their liues in fight.
O Diomedes, valiaunt lord, and guide of Greekes most stout,
Could I not of thy force haue fallen, and shed my life right out:
In Troian feeldes? where Hector ferce lyeth vnder Achilles launce
King Serpedon and many a lord, how blis-full was their chaunce?
Whose bodies with their armes and sheeldes in Simois waters sinkes.
As hee thus spake, the Northerne blast his sailes brake to the brinkes,
Unto the skies the waues them lift, their ores bin all to torne,
Away goeth helme, and with the surge the ship side downe is borne,
In come the seas, and hie as hilles some hang in floods aboue,
Some downe the gaping water sends against the sands to shoue.
There three at once the Southerne winde into the rocks hath cast
(So they call stones that in the seas like altars lie full fast)
And three the Easterne winde also (that pittie it is to thinke)
Out of the deepe into the sholdes, and quicksands made to sinke.
And one that men of Lycia land, and trustie Orontes helde,
Afore his face there fell a sea that made the puppe to yelde.
And hedlong downe the maister fals, and thrise the keele aground
The water whirld, and at the last the wilde sea swallowd round.
Than might you see both here and there, men with their armor swim,
The robes and painted pompe of Troy lay fleeting on the brim,
And now the ships where Ilionee, and where Achates strong,
And where as Abas went, and where Alethes liuing long,
The wether had won, and through the ribs the seas came wonders fast
When sodenly the god Neptune vpstart him all agast.
With wonder how so great a rage should hap to him vntolde,
And forth his noble face he puts the waters to behold,
There saw hee how Aeneas ships through all the seas bespred,
And Troian folkes ydround with flood, and stormes falne ouer head.
Anon the craft therof hee knew, and Iuno his sisters yre.
Are you so bold you blasts (quod hee) without my licence here
The lands and skies and seas also with such a storme to stere?
I will be quite: but first is best the floods to set in stay,
And after this for your deserts be sure I shall you pay.
In haste begone, go tell your king the seas is not his charge,
But vnto mee that lot befell with mace threeforked large.
Not here, but in his caues of winde, his court go bid him keepe.
There let him if hee list, you blasts enclose in prison deepe.
This spoken with a thought he makes the swelling seas to cesse,
And sunne to shine, and clouds to flee, that did the skies oppresse,
The Mermaids therwithall appeares, and Triton fleetes aboue,
And with his forke they all the ships from rocks do softly moue.
Then lets he lose the perlous sands that ships away may slide,
And on the sea full smooth his chaire with wheeles hee made to ride.
And like as in a people stout whan chaunceth to betide
The multitude to make a fray of wit full often wide,
That stones, and weapons flies abroad, and what come first to hande,
Some sad man comth, that for his right is loued of all the lande:
Anon they cease and silence make, and downe they lay their rage,
To harke at him, and he with speech their wood mindes doth asswage.
So fell this deadly fray at sea, when Neptune had controlde
The waters wilde, and through the seas his chaire abroad had rolde.
The men of Troy vnto the shore that next was in their sight
Made haste to draw, and on the coast of Africa they light.
Far in the shore there lieth an yle, and there besides a bay,
Where from the chanell deepe the hauen goeth in and out alway.
On either side the reaches hie, to heauen vp clime to grow,
And vnder them the still sea lyeth, for there no breath can blow.
But greene wood like a garland growes, and hides them al with shade
And in the mids a pleasaunt caue there stands of nature made,
Where sits the Nimphes among the springs in seats of mosse and stone
When ships are in, no cables neede nor ankers neede they none.
Then from the ship to walke a land Aeneas longed sore,
And chose of all the number seuen and brought with him to shore.
There by a banke their weary limmes of salte sea did they stretch,
And first Achates from the flint a sparke of fier did fetch,
Which he receiued in matter meete, and drie leaues laide about,
Than vittailes out they laid a land, with seas welnere ymard.
And corne to drie they set, and some with stones they brused hard,
Ther whilest Aeneas vp the rocke was gone to walke on hie,
To see where any ships of his astray he might espie,
If Caicus armes vpon the sayle, or Capis haps to showe.
No boat in sight, but on the shore three Harts there stood arowe:
And after them the heard behinde along the valley fed.
Hee stayed, and of his bow and bolts Achates strait him sped.
The cheefe that hiest bare their heads, adowne with darts he kest,
And to the woods he followed than with like pursuite the rest.
Hee left them not till seuen of them were falne with bodies great,
To match the number of his ships that now had neede of meate.
Than to the hauen hee doth the flesh among his men deuide,
And pipes of wine departed eke that was abourd that tide,
Which good Acestes had them giuen when they from Sicile went.
And than to cheere their heauy harts with these wordes hee him bent.
O mates quod hee, that many a woe haue bidden and borne ere this.
Worse haue wee seene, and this also shal end when gods will is.
Through Scilla rage (you wot) and through the roring rocks we past,
Though Ciclops shore was full of feare, yet came we through at last.
Plucke vp your harts & driue from thence both thought and fear away,
To thinke on this may pleasure be perhaps another day.
With paines and many a daunger sore by sundry chaunce we wende,
To come to Italia where wee trust to finde our restinge ende,
And where the destnies haue decreed Troys kingdomes eft to rise,
Be bolde, and harden now your selues take ease when ease applise.
Thus spake hee tho, but in his hart huge cares him had opprest,
Dissembling hope with outward eyes, full heauy was his brest,
Then all bestird them to the pray, the bankets gan begin,
The skinnes from of the flesh they pluckt, and eke thentrailes within.
Some cut their shares and quaking yet on broches gan to broyle,
Some blew the fier to burne, and some their cawdrons set to boyle.
Good cheare they made and fed them fast as on the grasse they sat,
With wine and vittailes of the best, and red deare good and fat.
Whan meat was done and honger past, and trenchers vp were take,
Great search and talking for their freends that were behind they make.
In hope and dread of them they stand, and whether a liue they bee,
Or what is else of them become, or shall they them euer see.
But chiefly good Aeneas did the case full sore lament
Of stout Orontes and Amicus whom the seas had hent,
And other whiles he sighed sore for Licus pitteous fall,
And mighty Gias and Cloanthus mournd hee most of all.
Where from the chanell deepe the hauen goeth in and out alway.
On either side the reaches hie, to heauen vp clime to grow,
And vnder them the still sea lyeth, for there no breath can blow.
But greene wood like a garland growes, and hides them al with shade
And in the mids a pleasaunt caue there stands of nature made,
Where sits the Nimphes among the springs in seats of mosse and stone
When ships are in, no cables neede nor ankers neede they none.
Then from the ship to walke a land Aeneas longed sore,
And chose of all the number seuen and brought with him to shore.
There by a banke their weary limmes of salte sea did they stretch,
And first Achates from the flint a sparke of fier did fetch,
Which he receiued in matter meete, and drie leaues laide about,
And corne to drie they set, and some with stones they brused hard,
Ther whilest Aeneas vp the rocke was gone to walke on hie,
To see where any ships of his astray he might espie,
If Caicus armes vpon the sayle, or Capis haps to showe.
No boat in sight, but on the shore three Harts there stood arowe:
And after them the heard behinde along the valley fed.
Hee stayed, and of his bow and bolts Achates strait him sped.
The cheefe that hiest bare their heads, adowne with darts he kest,
And to the woods he followed than with like pursuite the rest.
Hee left them not till seuen of them were falne with bodies great,
To match the number of his ships that now had neede of meate.
Than to the hauen hee doth the flesh among his men deuide,
And pipes of wine departed eke that was abourd that tide,
Which good Acestes had them giuen when they from Sicile went.
And than to cheere their heauy harts with these wordes hee him bent.
O mates quod hee, that many a woe haue bidden and borne ere this.
Worse haue wee seene, and this also shal end when gods will is.
Through Scilla rage (you wot) and through the roring rocks we past,
Though Ciclops shore was full of feare, yet came we through at last.
Plucke vp your harts & driue from thence both thought and fear away,
To thinke on this may pleasure be perhaps another day.
With paines and many a daunger sore by sundry chaunce we wende,
To come to Italia where wee trust to finde our restinge ende,
And where the destnies haue decreed Troys kingdomes eft to rise,
Be bolde, and harden now your selues take ease when ease applise.
Thus spake hee tho, but in his hart huge cares him had opprest,
Dissembling hope with outward eyes, full heauy was his brest,
Then all bestird them to the pray, the bankets gan begin,
The skinnes from of the flesh they pluckt, and eke thentrailes within.
Some cut their shares and quaking yet on broches gan to broyle,
Some blew the fier to burne, and some their cawdrons set to boyle.
Good cheare they made and fed them fast as on the grasse they sat,
With wine and vittailes of the best, and red deare good and fat.
Whan meat was done and honger past, and trenchers vp were take,
Great search and talking for their freends that were behind they make.
In hope and dread of them they stand, and whether a liue they bee,
Or what is else of them become, or shall they them euer see.
Of stout Orontes and Amicus whom the seas had hent,
And other whiles he sighed sore for Licus pitteous fall,
And mighty Gias and Cloanthus mournd hee most of all.
And now an end therof there was, when Ioue him selfe on hie
Beheld the seas where shippes do saile, and broad londs vnder skie.
And from the tops of heauens aboue hee cast his eyes adowne,
And staid to looke on Affrike land and who there bare the crowne.
And vnto him as to and fro his carefull minde he cast:
Came Venus in, and sad shee was vnlike her custome past.
With teares about her eyes so bright she thus began to playne:
O king (quod she) that ouer vs all both gods and men doost raigne
For euermore, and with thy dints of lighting makest a fright:
What hath my sonne Aeneas wrought or spoken againe thy might?
What hath the simple Troians done? that after tormentes all,
From Italy to keepe them of the world is made to small?
Somtime ye saide there should arise (whan yeares were comen about)
The men of Rome that of the ligne of Troy should be so stout,
That seas and londs should to their rule both far and nie suppresse.
What makes O mighty father now your will away to dresse?
In hope therof ywis I tooke the fall of Troy so light,
And thought amends should now be made and pleasure paine to quite.
But now I see the same mischance the poore men yet to chase.
What ende therof shall we awaite at your almightie grace?
Antenor through the mids of Greece had fortune safe to steale,
And to Lyburnus kingdome came as destnie list to deale.
Euen to the middes therof, and head wherout Tymauus springes,
Where issues nine the sea makes in, for noise the mountaine ringes.
Yet for the men of Troy to dwell a cittie bylte he there,
Padua by name, and gaue them lawes and armes of Troy to beare.
Now lieth he there in pleasaunt rest, no wight him doth disease,
But wee your stocke whom to the starres of heauen admit you please,
Our ships destroyed (I abhor to thinke) and for the cruell spight
Of one alone, wee be betraied and spoiled of our right,
Ne to the coasts of Italy for ought we can attaine.
Is this the fathers loue wee finde? so stablish you my raigne?
The maker of the Gods and men to her all sweetely smiles
With countnance such as from the skies ye stormes & clouds exiles.
And sweetly kost his daughter deare, and therwithall hee speakes:
Feare not (quod he) thy mens good hap, for none their fortune breakes,
Thy kingdome prosper shall, and eke the walles I thee behight,
Thou shalt see rise in Lauine land and grow full great of might.
And thou thy sonne Aeneas stout to heauen shalt bring at last,
Among the gods be sure of this, my minde is fixed fast.
And now to thee disclose I shall (for sore I see thee dout)
The long discourse of destenies that yeres shall bring about.
Great war in Italy haue he shall, ere hee the people wilde
May vndertread, and learne to liue, and then the cittie bilde.
That sommers three, ere hee shall sit as king them shall renew,
And winters three, before he can the Rutyls al subdew.
Than shall Ascanius (now a childe) whose name Yulus hight,
(Was Ylus cald when Troys estate and kingdome stoode vpright)
Till space of thirtie yeares expire his kingdome shall obtaine,
And hee from Lauyne shall translate the olde state of the raigne,
And strongly fortifie the towne of Alba longe shall hee,
Where whole three hundred yeres the stocke of Hector kings shall bee.
Till Ilia Queene, with childe by Mars two twinnes to light shal bring
Whom wolues shal nurse, & proud therof he growes that shalbe king.
He Romulus shal take the rule, and vp the walles shall frame
Of mightie Rome, and Romaines all shal call then of his name,
No ende to their estate I set, ne termes of time or place,
But endles shall their empire grow, and Iunos cruell grace
That now with feare the ground beneath turmoiles, and eke the skies,
Shall leaue her wrath, and worke with mee, and take more sad auise,
To loue the Romaines lords of peace, and people clad in gowne.
Let it be so: let time roll on, and set forth their renowne.
Then shal be borne of Troian blood the emprour Cæsar bright,
Whose empire through the seas shal stretch & fame to heauen vpright
And Iulius his name it is of mighty Iule deriued:
Him laden ful of Esterne spoiles by him in wars atchiued,
In heauen thou shalt bestow full glad, and vowes men shal him hight
Then downe goth war, men shal be milde, in armes shal not delight,
Then truth and right and Romane gods shal sit with lawes in hand,
The gates of war with bolts and bars of hard steele fast shall stand.
And therewithin on armour heapes sits Batail rage, and wailes
With brazen chaines an hundred bounde, his wrastling not auailes.
Thus much hee sayd, and downe anon the sonne of May he sent,
That new Carthage, and all the coasts of Affrike should be bent
The Troians to receiue a land, least Dido there the Queene
Might from her shore expell them of, ere she the cause had seene.
And downe he flies him through the skies, with winges as swift as winde,
And on the land of Lyby stoode, and did his fathers minde.
With that the Moores laid downe their rage (as god did bid) and eeke
The Queene her selfe gan turne, and to the Troians waxed meeke.
But good Aeneas all that night his minde about hee tost,
And in the morning went him out to search and see the cost,
To learne what land they were come to, what people dwelt theron,
If men or saluage beasts it hold, for tild he could see none.
This would he know, and to his men the truth of all to tell.
Therwhilest within a water caue his ships hee made to dwell,
Whom trees & woods with shadowes thicke and eke the rock doth hide.
Than forth he goth, and tooke but one Achates by his side.
And launces two they bare in hand of mettall sharpe and light,
And as they went amid the wood he met his mother right,
Most like a maide in maidens weede, she maidens armour beares,
As doth Harpalicee the Queene that horses wilde outweares.
So wight of foote, that Heber streame so swift she leaues behinde,
For hunterlike her bow she bare, her locks went with the winde
Behinde her backe, and tuckt she was that naked was her knee.
She cald to them and said, good sirs, I pray you did you see
To stray this way as ye haue come, my sisters any one?
With quiuer bound that in the chase of some wild beast are gone?
Or with a cry pursueth a pace the fomy bore to paine?
So Venus said, and Venus sonne her answerd thus againe.
None of thy sisters haue I seene nor heard, I thee assure
O maide, what shall I make of thee, thy face I see so pure.
Not mortall like, ne like mankinde thy voice doth sound, I gesse
Some goddesse thou art, and Phebus bright thy brother is doubtles,
Or of the noble Nymphes thou comest, of grace wee thee beseech
What euer thou art, and helpe our neede, and now vouchsafe to teache
What land is this? what coast of heauen be wee come vnder here?
Where neither man nor place we know, so straied we haue in fere,
Out of our course wee haue beene cast with windes and floods yshake.
Afore thine altars many a beast to offer I vndertake.
As for mine altars (quod she tho) no such estate I beare,
The manner is of virgins here this short aray to weare.
In purple weede wee vse to walke with quiuer light vnbounde,
The realme of Affrike here thou seest, and men of Tyrus ground.
Here is the citie of Agenor, fearce be the lands about,
Queene Dido rules and weares the crowne from Tyrus she came out,
And lately from her brother fled, the cause is long to lere.
The story long, but touch I will the chiefe and leaue it there.
Sicheus was her husband tho: the richest man of ground
In all that coast, and deepe (good hart) in loue with her was dround.
For her to him her father gaue a virgin yet vntwight,
And to her brother came the crowne of Tyrus than by right
Pigmalion, a sinfull wretch of all that euer raignde,
Whom couetise did blinde so sore, and rage of fury strainde,
That vnaware, with priuye knife before the altars pure
He slew Sicheus, and of his sisters loue he thought him sure.
And long he kept the deede in close, and she good soule full sad,
The crafty theefe made wondrous meanes & tales her minde to glad,
But in a dreame (vnburied yet) her husband came t'appere
With visage pale, and wondrous hewes, full deadly was his chere,
And told her all, and wide his wound disclosing shewd his brest,
How hee before the altars was, for what intent opprest.
And bad her flee the wicked soile ere worse might her befall.
And treasor vnder ground he shewd to helpe her therwithall,
Both golde and siluer plenty great vnknowen til than, and so
This Dido did, and made her freends and ordeind forth to go.
Than such as for his wicked life the cruell tyrant hates,
Or bin afraid of him for ought, them gets out of the gates
In ships that readie lay by chaunce, the gold with them they packt
They spoild also Pigmalion, this was a womans acte.
Than past they forth and here they came, where now thou shalt espie
The hugy walles of new Carthage that now they rere so hie.
They bought the soile and Birsa it cald whan first they did begin,
As much as with a bull hide cut they could inclose within.
But what are you faine would I know, or what coast come yee fro?
Where would you bee? demaunding thus he answerd her vnto
With sighing deepe, and from his brest heauy his tale he fet.
O lady mine (quod he) to tell if nothing did mee let,
And of our paines ye list to heare the stories out at large:
The day were short, and ere an end the sunne would him discharge.
Of auncient Troy (if euer Troy beside your eares hath past)
Of thence be wee: by sundrie seas and coasts wee haue ben cast.
And now the tempest hath vs brought to Lyby land by chaunce,
My name Aeneas clepid is: my countrey gods (t'aduaunce)
In ships I bring: vnto the starres well blased is my fame,
Of Italy I seeke the lond, and Ioues of-spring I am.
A Troian fleete I tooke to sea with twentie vessels wide,
My mother goddesse taught my way, as destnie did mee guide.
Now seuen therof do skant remaine, the rest with wethers gone,
And I vnknowen in wildernesse here walke and comfort none.
From Asia and from Europa quite thus driuen I am: with that
Shee could no longer bide him speake, but brake his tale therat.
What euer thou art (quoth shee) for well I wot the gods aboue
Doth loue thee much to saue thy life to this place to remoue.
Go forth to yonder Palais straight, assay the Queene to see,
For safe thy companie a land be set beleeue thou mee.
And safe thy ships are come to shore, with Northen winde at will,
Onles my cunninge failes mee now whom wont I was to skill.
Behold the flocke of sixe and sixe that yonder cheerly flies
Of Swannes, whom late an Egle ferce did chace through all the skies,
Now toward lond, or on the lond, they seeme their course to keepe,
And as for ioy of danger past their wings aloft they sweepe
With myrth and noise: right so thy men and all thy ships a row
Be come to hauen, or neare the hauen in safegard, this I know.
Now get thee forth, and where the way thee leades hold on thy pace.
Skant had she said, and therwithall she turnd aside her face,
As red as rose she gan to shine, and from her heauenly heare
The flauour sprang, as Nectar sweet, downe fell her kirtell there,
And like a goddesse right she fled. Whan he his mother wist,
He folowed fast and calde (alas) what meane you, thus to list
In fained shapes so oft to mee begiling to appeare?
Why hand in hand imbrace we not, and iointly speake and heare?
Thus plaining sore he still his pace vnto the citie holdes.
But Venus as they went, a weede about them both she foldes,
Of myst and cloud and aire so thicke, that no man should them spie,
Ne do them harme, nor interrupt, nor aske them who nor why.
Her selfe by skie to Paphos yeede where stonds her honor seates,
And temple ritch, and of encense a hundred altars sweates,
And where of flowres and garlands fresh her flore is alway spred.
They in that while went on their way wherto the path them led.
And now come vp they were the hill that nere the citie lies,
From whence the towres and castels all bin subiect to their eyes.
Aeneas wondred at the worke where sometime sheepe were fed,
And on the gates hee wondred eke, and noise in streetes yspred.
The Moores with courage went to worke, some vnder burdens grones,
Some at the wals & towres with hands were tumbling vp the stones.
Some measurd out a place to build their mansion house within,
Some lawes and officers to make in parlament did begin.
An other sort a hauen had cast, and deepe they trench the ground.
Some other for the games and plaies a stately place had found,
And pillers great they cut for kings to garnish forth their halles.
And like as bees among the floures, whan fresh the sommer falles
In shine of sun applie their worke, when growen is vp their yonge,
Or when their hiues they gin to stop, and honie sweete is spronge,
That all their caues and cellers close with dulcet liquor filles,
Some doth onlade, some other brings the stuffe with ready willes,
Some time they ioyne and all at once do from their mangers fet
The slouthfull drones that would consume, & nought will do to get.
The worke it heates, the hony smelles of flowres and Tyme ywet.
Beheld the seas where shippes do saile, and broad londs vnder skie.
And from the tops of heauens aboue hee cast his eyes adowne,
And staid to looke on Affrike land and who there bare the crowne.
And vnto him as to and fro his carefull minde he cast:
Came Venus in, and sad shee was vnlike her custome past.
With teares about her eyes so bright she thus began to playne:
O king (quod she) that ouer vs all both gods and men doost raigne
For euermore, and with thy dints of lighting makest a fright:
What hath my sonne Aeneas wrought or spoken againe thy might?
What hath the simple Troians done? that after tormentes all,
From Italy to keepe them of the world is made to small?
Somtime ye saide there should arise (whan yeares were comen about)
The men of Rome that of the ligne of Troy should be so stout,
That seas and londs should to their rule both far and nie suppresse.
What makes O mighty father now your will away to dresse?
In hope therof ywis I tooke the fall of Troy so light,
And thought amends should now be made and pleasure paine to quite.
But now I see the same mischance the poore men yet to chase.
What ende therof shall we awaite at your almightie grace?
Antenor through the mids of Greece had fortune safe to steale,
And to Lyburnus kingdome came as destnie list to deale.
Euen to the middes therof, and head wherout Tymauus springes,
Where issues nine the sea makes in, for noise the mountaine ringes.
Yet for the men of Troy to dwell a cittie bylte he there,
Padua by name, and gaue them lawes and armes of Troy to beare.
Now lieth he there in pleasaunt rest, no wight him doth disease,
But wee your stocke whom to the starres of heauen admit you please,
Our ships destroyed (I abhor to thinke) and for the cruell spight
Of one alone, wee be betraied and spoiled of our right,
Ne to the coasts of Italy for ought we can attaine.
Is this the fathers loue wee finde? so stablish you my raigne?
The maker of the Gods and men to her all sweetely smiles
With countnance such as from the skies ye stormes & clouds exiles.
Feare not (quod he) thy mens good hap, for none their fortune breakes,
Thy kingdome prosper shall, and eke the walles I thee behight,
Thou shalt see rise in Lauine land and grow full great of might.
And thou thy sonne Aeneas stout to heauen shalt bring at last,
Among the gods be sure of this, my minde is fixed fast.
And now to thee disclose I shall (for sore I see thee dout)
The long discourse of destenies that yeres shall bring about.
Great war in Italy haue he shall, ere hee the people wilde
May vndertread, and learne to liue, and then the cittie bilde.
That sommers three, ere hee shall sit as king them shall renew,
And winters three, before he can the Rutyls al subdew.
Than shall Ascanius (now a childe) whose name Yulus hight,
(Was Ylus cald when Troys estate and kingdome stoode vpright)
Till space of thirtie yeares expire his kingdome shall obtaine,
And hee from Lauyne shall translate the olde state of the raigne,
And strongly fortifie the towne of Alba longe shall hee,
Where whole three hundred yeres the stocke of Hector kings shall bee.
Till Ilia Queene, with childe by Mars two twinnes to light shal bring
Whom wolues shal nurse, & proud therof he growes that shalbe king.
He Romulus shal take the rule, and vp the walles shall frame
Of mightie Rome, and Romaines all shal call then of his name,
No ende to their estate I set, ne termes of time or place,
But endles shall their empire grow, and Iunos cruell grace
That now with feare the ground beneath turmoiles, and eke the skies,
Shall leaue her wrath, and worke with mee, and take more sad auise,
To loue the Romaines lords of peace, and people clad in gowne.
Let it be so: let time roll on, and set forth their renowne.
Then shal be borne of Troian blood the emprour Cæsar bright,
Whose empire through the seas shal stretch & fame to heauen vpright
And Iulius his name it is of mighty Iule deriued:
Him laden ful of Esterne spoiles by him in wars atchiued,
In heauen thou shalt bestow full glad, and vowes men shal him hight
Then downe goth war, men shal be milde, in armes shal not delight,
Then truth and right and Romane gods shal sit with lawes in hand,
The gates of war with bolts and bars of hard steele fast shall stand.
And therewithin on armour heapes sits Batail rage, and wailes
With brazen chaines an hundred bounde, his wrastling not auailes.
That new Carthage, and all the coasts of Affrike should be bent
The Troians to receiue a land, least Dido there the Queene
Might from her shore expell them of, ere she the cause had seene.
And downe he flies him through the skies, with winges as swift as winde,
And on the land of Lyby stoode, and did his fathers minde.
With that the Moores laid downe their rage (as god did bid) and eeke
The Queene her selfe gan turne, and to the Troians waxed meeke.
But good Aeneas all that night his minde about hee tost,
And in the morning went him out to search and see the cost,
To learne what land they were come to, what people dwelt theron,
If men or saluage beasts it hold, for tild he could see none.
This would he know, and to his men the truth of all to tell.
Therwhilest within a water caue his ships hee made to dwell,
Whom trees & woods with shadowes thicke and eke the rock doth hide.
Than forth he goth, and tooke but one Achates by his side.
And launces two they bare in hand of mettall sharpe and light,
And as they went amid the wood he met his mother right,
Most like a maide in maidens weede, she maidens armour beares,
As doth Harpalicee the Queene that horses wilde outweares.
So wight of foote, that Heber streame so swift she leaues behinde,
For hunterlike her bow she bare, her locks went with the winde
Behinde her backe, and tuckt she was that naked was her knee.
She cald to them and said, good sirs, I pray you did you see
To stray this way as ye haue come, my sisters any one?
With quiuer bound that in the chase of some wild beast are gone?
Or with a cry pursueth a pace the fomy bore to paine?
So Venus said, and Venus sonne her answerd thus againe.
None of thy sisters haue I seene nor heard, I thee assure
O maide, what shall I make of thee, thy face I see so pure.
Not mortall like, ne like mankinde thy voice doth sound, I gesse
Some goddesse thou art, and Phebus bright thy brother is doubtles,
Or of the noble Nymphes thou comest, of grace wee thee beseech
What euer thou art, and helpe our neede, and now vouchsafe to teache
What land is this? what coast of heauen be wee come vnder here?
Where neither man nor place we know, so straied we haue in fere,
Out of our course wee haue beene cast with windes and floods yshake.
Afore thine altars many a beast to offer I vndertake.
The manner is of virgins here this short aray to weare.
In purple weede wee vse to walke with quiuer light vnbounde,
The realme of Affrike here thou seest, and men of Tyrus ground.
Here is the citie of Agenor, fearce be the lands about,
Queene Dido rules and weares the crowne from Tyrus she came out,
And lately from her brother fled, the cause is long to lere.
The story long, but touch I will the chiefe and leaue it there.
Sicheus was her husband tho: the richest man of ground
In all that coast, and deepe (good hart) in loue with her was dround.
For her to him her father gaue a virgin yet vntwight,
And to her brother came the crowne of Tyrus than by right
Pigmalion, a sinfull wretch of all that euer raignde,
Whom couetise did blinde so sore, and rage of fury strainde,
That vnaware, with priuye knife before the altars pure
He slew Sicheus, and of his sisters loue he thought him sure.
And long he kept the deede in close, and she good soule full sad,
The crafty theefe made wondrous meanes & tales her minde to glad,
But in a dreame (vnburied yet) her husband came t'appere
With visage pale, and wondrous hewes, full deadly was his chere,
And told her all, and wide his wound disclosing shewd his brest,
How hee before the altars was, for what intent opprest.
And bad her flee the wicked soile ere worse might her befall.
And treasor vnder ground he shewd to helpe her therwithall,
Both golde and siluer plenty great vnknowen til than, and so
This Dido did, and made her freends and ordeind forth to go.
Than such as for his wicked life the cruell tyrant hates,
Or bin afraid of him for ought, them gets out of the gates
In ships that readie lay by chaunce, the gold with them they packt
They spoild also Pigmalion, this was a womans acte.
Than past they forth and here they came, where now thou shalt espie
The hugy walles of new Carthage that now they rere so hie.
They bought the soile and Birsa it cald whan first they did begin,
As much as with a bull hide cut they could inclose within.
But what are you faine would I know, or what coast come yee fro?
Where would you bee? demaunding thus he answerd her vnto
With sighing deepe, and from his brest heauy his tale he fet.
O lady mine (quod he) to tell if nothing did mee let,
The day were short, and ere an end the sunne would him discharge.
Of auncient Troy (if euer Troy beside your eares hath past)
Of thence be wee: by sundrie seas and coasts wee haue ben cast.
And now the tempest hath vs brought to Lyby land by chaunce,
My name Aeneas clepid is: my countrey gods (t'aduaunce)
In ships I bring: vnto the starres well blased is my fame,
Of Italy I seeke the lond, and Ioues of-spring I am.
A Troian fleete I tooke to sea with twentie vessels wide,
My mother goddesse taught my way, as destnie did mee guide.
Now seuen therof do skant remaine, the rest with wethers gone,
And I vnknowen in wildernesse here walke and comfort none.
From Asia and from Europa quite thus driuen I am: with that
Shee could no longer bide him speake, but brake his tale therat.
What euer thou art (quoth shee) for well I wot the gods aboue
Doth loue thee much to saue thy life to this place to remoue.
Go forth to yonder Palais straight, assay the Queene to see,
For safe thy companie a land be set beleeue thou mee.
And safe thy ships are come to shore, with Northen winde at will,
Onles my cunninge failes mee now whom wont I was to skill.
Behold the flocke of sixe and sixe that yonder cheerly flies
Of Swannes, whom late an Egle ferce did chace through all the skies,
Now toward lond, or on the lond, they seeme their course to keepe,
And as for ioy of danger past their wings aloft they sweepe
With myrth and noise: right so thy men and all thy ships a row
Be come to hauen, or neare the hauen in safegard, this I know.
Now get thee forth, and where the way thee leades hold on thy pace.
Skant had she said, and therwithall she turnd aside her face,
As red as rose she gan to shine, and from her heauenly heare
The flauour sprang, as Nectar sweet, downe fell her kirtell there,
And like a goddesse right she fled. Whan he his mother wist,
He folowed fast and calde (alas) what meane you, thus to list
In fained shapes so oft to mee begiling to appeare?
Why hand in hand imbrace we not, and iointly speake and heare?
Thus plaining sore he still his pace vnto the citie holdes.
But Venus as they went, a weede about them both she foldes,
Of myst and cloud and aire so thicke, that no man should them spie,
Ne do them harme, nor interrupt, nor aske them who nor why.
And temple ritch, and of encense a hundred altars sweates,
And where of flowres and garlands fresh her flore is alway spred.
They in that while went on their way wherto the path them led.
And now come vp they were the hill that nere the citie lies,
From whence the towres and castels all bin subiect to their eyes.
Aeneas wondred at the worke where sometime sheepe were fed,
And on the gates hee wondred eke, and noise in streetes yspred.
The Moores with courage went to worke, some vnder burdens grones,
Some at the wals & towres with hands were tumbling vp the stones.
Some measurd out a place to build their mansion house within,
Some lawes and officers to make in parlament did begin.
An other sort a hauen had cast, and deepe they trench the ground.
Some other for the games and plaies a stately place had found,
And pillers great they cut for kings to garnish forth their halles.
And like as bees among the floures, whan fresh the sommer falles
In shine of sun applie their worke, when growen is vp their yonge,
Or when their hiues they gin to stop, and honie sweete is spronge,
That all their caues and cellers close with dulcet liquor filles,
Some doth onlade, some other brings the stuffe with ready willes,
Some time they ioyne and all at once do from their mangers fet
The slouthfull drones that would consume, & nought will do to get.
The worke it heates, the hony smelles of flowres and Tyme ywet.
O happy men whose fortune is your walles now thus to rise
Aeneas said, and to the tops of al hee kest his eyes.
Encompast with the cloude he goth (a wondrous thing to skill)
And through the mids of men onseene he comth and goth at will.
Amids the towne a groue there stoode full gladsome was the shade,
Where first the Moores by wether cast, and stormes into that trade
Had made a marke, and digde the place, where shortly they had founde
A horses head of courage hie, so Iuno did compound,
That by that signe they vnderstood their stocke should prosper stout
In wars and fame, and light to finde in time by lands about.
And in that place Queene Dido had a gorgeous temple set
With ritches great, no spare of cost should Iunos honor let.
The brasen grees afore the doores did mount, and eke the beames
With brasse are knit, and vauts & doores of brasse and mettal streames.
There in that wood a sodaine sight his feare began to slake,
And there Aeneas first him dares to trust, and comfort take.
For, as within that temple wide on euery thing hee gazed,
And waited whan the Queene should come, and stood as one amazed
To see the worke, and how to state so soone the towne was brought,
And wondred at the precious things the craftsmen there had wrought:
Hee seeth among them all the iests of Troy, and stories all,
And wars that with their fame had filde all kingdoms great and small.
King Priame and Atridas twaine, and wroth to both Achille.
Hee staide with teares, and said alas, what land hath not his fille
Of our decay (Achates mine) what place is void? beholde
Where Priam is, lo here some praise is left him for his golde.
Here is a sight for man to mourne, and sample take in minde.
Cast of thy care, for of this fame some comfort thou shalt finde.
So said, but yet with picture vaine a while his minde hee fed
With many sigh, and largy streames out from his eies he shed.
For there hee saw, how in the fight the walles of Troy about
Here fled the Greekes, and them pursued the youth of Troian rout.
Here they of Troy be chased afore Achilles wilde in chare.
Not far aloofe was Ryses campe that white in banners bare.
Hee mournd to thinke how soone betraide they were, and fast a sleepe
Tytides them in bloody fight destroied with slaughter deepe,
And brought away their horses stont, ere once they had assaid
The taste of Troian pastures, or their feete in water laid.
Another way was Troylus seene to run with armour broke,
Unlucky lad, and match vnmeete Achilles to prouoke.
His horses fled, and hee along in chare was ouercast.
Yet held hee still the raines in hand, and ere a while is past,
By heare and head vnto the ground Achilles hath him hent,
And with his speare to cruell death in dust he hath him sent.
Therwhiles vnto the temple great of angry Pallas went
The wiues of Troy, with heare vnfolde a veill they did present
With humble teares, and on their brest to knock they nothing spares.
Shee turnes her face, and fast her eies vpon the ground she stares.
Three times about the walles of Troy was Hector haled on ground,
His carkas eke Achilles had for gold exchaunged round.
Then from the bottom of his brest a hougy sigh hee drew,
Whan of his freend the cruell spoile, and chare, and corps he knew.
And Priamus hee saw to pray with hands abrode on knee.
And eke him selfe among the lords of Greece he saw to bee.
And armies out of Inde there came and Memnons blacke aray,
And from the realme of Amazon with thronges and targets gay
Penthasilee Virago feers, amids the millions standes
In armour girt, her pappe set out with lace of golden bandes,
A Queene of war, though maide she bee, with men she likes to trie.
While thus about this Troian duke Aeneas led his eie
With maruel much, and ernest stoode him still in one to vew,
To temple comes this Dido lo, the Queene so faire of hew.
Of lordes and lusty yonkers fine about her many a rout.
Most like vnto Diana bright when shee to hunt goth out
Upon Eurotas bankes, or through the cops of Cynthus hill,
Whom thousands of the ladie Nimphes await to do her will.
Shee on her armes her quiuer beres, and all them ouershines,
And in her brest the tikling ioy her hart to mirth enclines.
So Dido came, and freshly glad among the prease shee past.
And forward shee their worke set forth and cherly bids them hast.
Whan shee into the temple came, before the goddesse gate
Amids her gard, her downe shee sat in seate of great estate.
There iustice, right and law she gaue, and labours did deuide
In equall parts, or els by lot let men their chaunce abide.
Whan sodenly Aeneas seeth with great concourse to throng
Both mighty Anteas and Serestus, and Cloanthus strong.
And other Troians many one, whom wethers wide had spred
And driuen abroad in sondry sortes to diuers coastes yled.
Astoind with him Achates was, for ioy they would haue lept
To ioyne their hands, but feare againe them held and close ykept.
They looked on, and through the cloud they hid, did all beholde
What chaunce they had, & where their ships, & what shore might them holde,
What make they there, for men yculde of al the nauy cheefe
With cries into the temple came, to seeke the Queenes releefe.
Whan they were in, and license had before the Queene to speake,
The greatest lord sir Ilionee, thus gan the silence breake.
O Queene, to whom is giuen of god to bilde this citie new,
And for your iustice peoples proud and saluage to subdue,
Wee Troians poore, whom through the seas all tempests tossed haue,
Beseeke your grace our seely ships from wicked fier to saue.
Haue mercy vpon our gentle stocke, and graciously relieue
Our painfull case: wee come not here with wepons you to greeue,
To spoile the coast of Lyby land, nor booties hence to beare.
Wee conquerd men be not so bolde, our pride neede none to feare.
There is a place the Greekes by name Hesperia do call,
An auncient lond and stout in war, and fruitfull soile withall.
Out from Enotria they came that first did till the same,
Now Italy men say is calde so of the captaines name,
To that our course was bent,
Whan sodenly there rose at south a winde and tempest wood
That toward shore enforst to fall, and so tooke on the flood,
That in the rockes we be disperst, wee few this coast haue caught.
What kind of men be these of yours? what maners wild ytaught
This countrey keepes? to lodge in sand wee can not suffred bee,
They fight, and none to tread a land they can content to see?
If mortall men you do despise and care for none in fight:
Yet haue respect to gods aboue that iudge both wrong and right.
Wee had a king Aeneas cald, a iuster was there none
In vertue, nor in feates of war, or armes could match him one.
Whom if the destnies keepes aliue (if breath and aier of skies
Hee drawes, nor yet among the goasts of cruell death hee lies)
There is no feare it shalbe quit the fauour now you showe,
You first his kindnes to prouoke shal neuer repent I know.
In diuerse yles some cities be that Troian armour beares,
Of Troians blood there is also Acestes crowne that weares.
Now giue vs leaue our shaken ships to lay a land wee pray,
And timber to repare them eke, and ores to passe our way:
That with our king if wee can meete, and eke our felowes moe:
To Italy by your reliefe with glad chere wee may goe.
But if that comfort all be past, and mightie father thee
The Lyby seas hath had, nor of Ascanius hope may wee:
Yet at the least to Sicil yle, and seates that will not swarue,
From whence we came let vs depart, and king Acestes serue.
So said sir Ilionee, the rest of Troians cried the same
At once with murmour great.
Aeneas said, and to the tops of al hee kest his eyes.
Encompast with the cloude he goth (a wondrous thing to skill)
And through the mids of men onseene he comth and goth at will.
Amids the towne a groue there stoode full gladsome was the shade,
Where first the Moores by wether cast, and stormes into that trade
Had made a marke, and digde the place, where shortly they had founde
A horses head of courage hie, so Iuno did compound,
That by that signe they vnderstood their stocke should prosper stout
In wars and fame, and light to finde in time by lands about.
And in that place Queene Dido had a gorgeous temple set
With ritches great, no spare of cost should Iunos honor let.
The brasen grees afore the doores did mount, and eke the beames
With brasse are knit, and vauts & doores of brasse and mettal streames.
There in that wood a sodaine sight his feare began to slake,
For, as within that temple wide on euery thing hee gazed,
And waited whan the Queene should come, and stood as one amazed
To see the worke, and how to state so soone the towne was brought,
And wondred at the precious things the craftsmen there had wrought:
Hee seeth among them all the iests of Troy, and stories all,
And wars that with their fame had filde all kingdoms great and small.
King Priame and Atridas twaine, and wroth to both Achille.
Hee staide with teares, and said alas, what land hath not his fille
Of our decay (Achates mine) what place is void? beholde
Where Priam is, lo here some praise is left him for his golde.
Here is a sight for man to mourne, and sample take in minde.
Cast of thy care, for of this fame some comfort thou shalt finde.
So said, but yet with picture vaine a while his minde hee fed
With many sigh, and largy streames out from his eies he shed.
For there hee saw, how in the fight the walles of Troy about
Here fled the Greekes, and them pursued the youth of Troian rout.
Here they of Troy be chased afore Achilles wilde in chare.
Not far aloofe was Ryses campe that white in banners bare.
Hee mournd to thinke how soone betraide they were, and fast a sleepe
Tytides them in bloody fight destroied with slaughter deepe,
And brought away their horses stont, ere once they had assaid
The taste of Troian pastures, or their feete in water laid.
Another way was Troylus seene to run with armour broke,
Unlucky lad, and match vnmeete Achilles to prouoke.
His horses fled, and hee along in chare was ouercast.
Yet held hee still the raines in hand, and ere a while is past,
By heare and head vnto the ground Achilles hath him hent,
And with his speare to cruell death in dust he hath him sent.
Therwhiles vnto the temple great of angry Pallas went
The wiues of Troy, with heare vnfolde a veill they did present
With humble teares, and on their brest to knock they nothing spares.
Shee turnes her face, and fast her eies vpon the ground she stares.
Three times about the walles of Troy was Hector haled on ground,
His carkas eke Achilles had for gold exchaunged round.
Then from the bottom of his brest a hougy sigh hee drew,
Whan of his freend the cruell spoile, and chare, and corps he knew.
And Priamus hee saw to pray with hands abrode on knee.
And armies out of Inde there came and Memnons blacke aray,
And from the realme of Amazon with thronges and targets gay
Penthasilee Virago feers, amids the millions standes
In armour girt, her pappe set out with lace of golden bandes,
A Queene of war, though maide she bee, with men she likes to trie.
While thus about this Troian duke Aeneas led his eie
With maruel much, and ernest stoode him still in one to vew,
To temple comes this Dido lo, the Queene so faire of hew.
Of lordes and lusty yonkers fine about her many a rout.
Most like vnto Diana bright when shee to hunt goth out
Upon Eurotas bankes, or through the cops of Cynthus hill,
Whom thousands of the ladie Nimphes await to do her will.
Shee on her armes her quiuer beres, and all them ouershines,
And in her brest the tikling ioy her hart to mirth enclines.
So Dido came, and freshly glad among the prease shee past.
And forward shee their worke set forth and cherly bids them hast.
Whan shee into the temple came, before the goddesse gate
Amids her gard, her downe shee sat in seate of great estate.
There iustice, right and law she gaue, and labours did deuide
In equall parts, or els by lot let men their chaunce abide.
Whan sodenly Aeneas seeth with great concourse to throng
Both mighty Anteas and Serestus, and Cloanthus strong.
And other Troians many one, whom wethers wide had spred
And driuen abroad in sondry sortes to diuers coastes yled.
Astoind with him Achates was, for ioy they would haue lept
To ioyne their hands, but feare againe them held and close ykept.
They looked on, and through the cloud they hid, did all beholde
What chaunce they had, & where their ships, & what shore might them holde,
What make they there, for men yculde of al the nauy cheefe
With cries into the temple came, to seeke the Queenes releefe.
Whan they were in, and license had before the Queene to speake,
The greatest lord sir Ilionee, thus gan the silence breake.
O Queene, to whom is giuen of god to bilde this citie new,
And for your iustice peoples proud and saluage to subdue,
Wee Troians poore, whom through the seas all tempests tossed haue,
Beseeke your grace our seely ships from wicked fier to saue.
Haue mercy vpon our gentle stocke, and graciously relieue
To spoile the coast of Lyby land, nor booties hence to beare.
Wee conquerd men be not so bolde, our pride neede none to feare.
There is a place the Greekes by name Hesperia do call,
An auncient lond and stout in war, and fruitfull soile withall.
Out from Enotria they came that first did till the same,
Now Italy men say is calde so of the captaines name,
To that our course was bent,
Whan sodenly there rose at south a winde and tempest wood
That toward shore enforst to fall, and so tooke on the flood,
That in the rockes we be disperst, wee few this coast haue caught.
What kind of men be these of yours? what maners wild ytaught
This countrey keepes? to lodge in sand wee can not suffred bee,
They fight, and none to tread a land they can content to see?
If mortall men you do despise and care for none in fight:
Yet haue respect to gods aboue that iudge both wrong and right.
Wee had a king Aeneas cald, a iuster was there none
In vertue, nor in feates of war, or armes could match him one.
Whom if the destnies keepes aliue (if breath and aier of skies
Hee drawes, nor yet among the goasts of cruell death hee lies)
There is no feare it shalbe quit the fauour now you showe,
You first his kindnes to prouoke shal neuer repent I know.
In diuerse yles some cities be that Troian armour beares,
Of Troians blood there is also Acestes crowne that weares.
Now giue vs leaue our shaken ships to lay a land wee pray,
And timber to repare them eke, and ores to passe our way:
That with our king if wee can meete, and eke our felowes moe:
To Italy by your reliefe with glad chere wee may goe.
But if that comfort all be past, and mightie father thee
The Lyby seas hath had, nor of Ascanius hope may wee:
Yet at the least to Sicil yle, and seates that will not swarue,
From whence we came let vs depart, and king Acestes serue.
So said sir Ilionee, the rest of Troians cried the same
At once with murmour great.
Than Dido shortly full demure her eies downe set, and thus
Cast of your care you Troians, set your harts at ease for vs.
Great neede, and yet the raw estate of this my kingdome new,
Compels mee thus my coast to kepe, and wide about mee view.
Who knowes not of Aeneas? who? or hath not heard the name
Of lusty Troy: and of the men and all that war the flame?
Wee Moores be not so base of wit, ne yet so blunt of minde,
Ne from this towne the sunne his steedes so far away doth winde.
Go where you please, to Italy to old Saturnus feeldes,
Or get you into Sicile land that king Acestes weeldes.
I will you helpe, and see you safe, and giue you goods to go.
Will you remaine euen here with mee? can you content you so?
This towne is yours, I haue it made, set vp your ships anone:
A Troian and a Moore to mee indifferent shalbe one.
And would to god your king had hapt this way also to bend,
And were him selfe Aeneas here, forsooth I wil out send
Along the coasts and wildernes, perhaps he may be found,
If any where in townes hee straies, or woods of Affrike ground.
With this the Troians comfort tooke, and now Achates strong,
And lorde Aeneas through the cloud to breake they thought it long.
Achates to Aeneas first him drew and to him said:
Thou goddesse son what meanst thou thus? how long shal we be staid?
All thing thou seest is safe and sure, our fleete, our freends, and all.
Wee misse but one whom in the mids of floods we saw to fall
And drownd, but in the rest I see your mothers tale is trew.
Skant had he spoke, and sodainly the cloud from them withdrew,
And vanisht into aier alone, and left them bare in light.
Aeneas stood and freshly shinde, al men behold him might,
Most like a god with face and hew, for than his mother deare
Set forth her sonne with shoulders faire, and comly shind his heare.
And with a roset youth his eies and countnance ouer cheard,
And white as burnisht Iuerie fine his necke and hands appeard.
Ful like as if the siluer cleare, or pearles are put in golde.
Than to the Queene hee steps, and said (all sodainly) beholde
Hee that you seeke, lo here I am, Aeneas Troian I:
Escaped from the Lyby seas where lost I was welme.
O Queene that in our woes (alone) such merry doost extende
To vs the poore remaine of Troy, that welnie brought to an ende
By seas and lands are tost and tierd, of all thing bare and peld,
Our towne, our house, our peoples eke: you worthy thankes to yeld
It lieth not Dido in our power, nor what is euery where
Of Troian blood, not all that through the wide world scattred were.
The almighty gods (if pitie they regard, or if there bee
Of iustice any whit, or soule that vertue loues to see)
Do pay thy meede: what happy world forth such a treasor brought?
What blessed father thee begat, and mother such hath wrought?
While floods into the seas do run, while hilles do shadowes cast,
And while the stars about the skies doth turne and tary fast:
Shall neuermore with me thy name thy praise and honor end,
What land soeuer calth me too. So said, and than his frend
Sir Ilionee by hand he tooke, and than Serestus strong,
And Gias and Cloanthus eke, and other his lordes in throng.
Cast of your care you Troians, set your harts at ease for vs.
Great neede, and yet the raw estate of this my kingdome new,
Compels mee thus my coast to kepe, and wide about mee view.
Of lusty Troy: and of the men and all that war the flame?
The further from the son, ye duller wittes. The cōmon people imagined the son to be caried about in a charet wt horses.
Ne from this towne the sunne his steedes so far away doth winde.
Go where you please, to Italy to old Saturnus feeldes,
Or get you into Sicile land that king Acestes weeldes.
I will you helpe, and see you safe, and giue you goods to go.
Will you remaine euen here with mee? can you content you so?
This towne is yours, I haue it made, set vp your ships anone:
A Troian and a Moore to mee indifferent shalbe one.
And would to god your king had hapt this way also to bend,
And were him selfe Aeneas here, forsooth I wil out send
Along the coasts and wildernes, perhaps he may be found,
If any where in townes hee straies, or woods of Affrike ground.
With this the Troians comfort tooke, and now Achates strong,
And lorde Aeneas through the cloud to breake they thought it long.
Achates to Aeneas first him drew and to him said:
Thou goddesse son what meanst thou thus? how long shal we be staid?
All thing thou seest is safe and sure, our fleete, our freends, and all.
Wee misse but one whom in the mids of floods we saw to fall
And drownd, but in the rest I see your mothers tale is trew.
Skant had he spoke, and sodainly the cloud from them withdrew,
And vanisht into aier alone, and left them bare in light.
Aeneas stood and freshly shinde, al men behold him might,
Most like a god with face and hew, for than his mother deare
Set forth her sonne with shoulders faire, and comly shind his heare.
And with a roset youth his eies and countnance ouer cheard,
And white as burnisht Iuerie fine his necke and hands appeard.
Ful like as if the siluer cleare, or pearles are put in golde.
Than to the Queene hee steps, and said (all sodainly) beholde
Hee that you seeke, lo here I am, Aeneas Troian I:
Escaped from the Lyby seas where lost I was welme.
O Queene that in our woes (alone) such merry doost extende
To vs the poore remaine of Troy, that welnie brought to an ende
By seas and lands are tost and tierd, of all thing bare and peld,
Our towne, our house, our peoples eke: you worthy thankes to yeld
It lieth not Dido in our power, nor what is euery where
Of Troian blood, not all that through the wide world scattred were.
Of iustice any whit, or soule that vertue loues to see)
Do pay thy meede: what happy world forth such a treasor brought?
What blessed father thee begat, and mother such hath wrought?
While floods into the seas do run, while hilles do shadowes cast,
And while the stars about the skies doth turne and tary fast:
Shall neuermore with me thy name thy praise and honor end,
What land soeuer calth me too. So said, and than his frend
Sir Ilionee by hand he tooke, and than Serestus strong,
And Gias and Cloanthus eke, and other his lordes in throng.
The Queene astonied gan to bee, whan first she saw the sight,
And waied the chaunce of such a lorde, and thus her words she dight.
Thou goddesse son, what fortune thee through al these dangers driues?
What force vnto this cruell shore thy person thus arriues?
Art thou not hee Aeneas whom from Dardanus the king,
Anchises gat on Venus hie, where Symois doth spring?
Ere this I well remember, how that Teucer from his raigne
Expulsed was, and to the towne of Sidon flee was faine,
Some helpe at Belus hand toptaine, his kingdome to restore.
Than ward my father Belus wide in Cypers land so sore,
And conquerd all and kept the state, that time I heard the fall
Of Troy, and eke the name of thee, and kings reheased all.
Their enmies of the Troians than great praise abrode did blow,
And of the auncient race of Troy to come hee would be know.
Wherfore approche, and welcome al, my houses shall you host,
For like mischaunce with labours sore, my selfe somtime hath tost.
And fortune here hath set me now, this land thus to subdew,
By proofe of paine I haue ben taught on painfull men to rew.
Thus talked shee, and than Aeneas to her pallais brought,
Whan on their altars they had done such honors as they thought.
Yet ceassed not the Queene to send vnto his men that tide
A skore of bulles, and eke of brawnes a hundred rough of hide,
And with the dammes a hundred more of lambes both good and fat,
The gladsome giftes of god.
The inner court was all beset with riches round about,
And in the mids the feastes they gan prepare for all the rout,
With precious clothes & conning wrought, & proudly enbrodred wide.
And on the bourdes the mighty piles of plate there stoode beside,
Wheron was grauen in golden worke the stories all by rowe,
And deedes of lordes of antike fame a long discourse to know.
Aeneas than (for in his minde could loue not let him rest:)
His freend Achates for his sonne Ascanius hath him drest
Unto the ships, and bad him tell the newes, and bring him there
As fast as may, for in Ascanius fixt was all his feare.
And gifts with him he had to bring from Troy destroied yfet.
A royal pal, that al with gold and stones was ouerset,
And eke a robe with borders rich, sometime it was the weede
Of Helene bright, whan Paris her from Greece to Troy did leede.
Her mother Ledas gift it was, a wondrous worke to vew.
A scepter eke that Ilionee king Priams daughter trew
Was wont to beare, and more a brooch that from her necke went down
With precious pearles, and double set of fine golde eke a crown.
These things to fet Achates hast vnto the nauie makes.
But Venus strange deuises new, and counsails new she takes,
That Cupide shall the face and hew of sweete Ascanius take,
And beare the presents to the Queene her heart a fier to make
With feruent loue, and in her bones to fling the priuy flame.
Suspect she doth the Moores, that haue of dooble toong the name,
And Iunos wrath her frets, and in the night her care returnes.
Therfore shee thus exhortes her son Cupide that louers burnes.
My son, that art my stay alone, my great renowne and might,
My son, that of the thonderblastes of hye Ioue setst but light,
How through the seas Aeneas mine thy brother hath ben thrown
By cruell Iunos wicked wrath, to thee is not vnknown.
And often mournd with mee thou hast therfore, but so it is.
With Dido Queene he lodgeth now, and faire he flattred is.
But wherto Iunos Innes will turne, is matter hard to know,
In such a time of daunger great thou maist not bee to slow.
Wherfore preuenting al mischaunce, I list to worke a wile,
And with the flame of loue I meane the Queene now to begyle.
Lest by some misaduenture bad her minde she haply turne,
But for Aeneas loue with mee somedeale I like she burne.
And how this thing ywrought shalbe, giue eare and know my minde.
Now goth the child, my cheefest care vnto his father kinde
Into the town, and from the seas the presentes forth he brings
That from the flames of burning Troy was kept as worthy things.
Him purpose I a sleape to make, and into hie Cithere,
Or to my seates in Ida mount, all onaware to beare,
That from this craft he may be far, ne let herein do make,
Thou for a night, and not beyond, his forme and figure take
Her to begile, and of a childe thou childe put on the face,
That whan within her lappe the Queene thee gladly shal embrace,
Among the royall pompe of meate and wine of Bacchus blisse,
And clippes thee sweete, and on thy lipps doth presse the pleasant kisse:
Disperse in her the secret flame and poyson sweete inspier.
Loue doth obey, puts of his winges, and after her desier
Puts on Ascanius shap forthwith, and like the same he went.
But Venus on Ascanius sweete a restfull slomber cast,
And in her bosome vp she beares, and forth with him she past
To Ida woods, where beds of Tyme and Maioram so soft,
And lusty flowres in greenewod shade him breathes and comforts oft.
And now is Cupide on his way, Achates with him yeid,
The royal presents to the court they bare as they were bydde.
Whan in they came, the Queene her set in chaire on carpet gay,
Of kingly state, with hangings riche in golde and proud aray.
And now the Lord Aeneas eke and youth of Troian rout
Together came, in purple seates bestowd they were about.
The waiters gaue the waters sweete, and princely towels wrought,
And eke the bread in sondrie gyse on baskets fine they brought.
And fifty ladies far within there was, that had the charge
Of all the feast to be set forth, and fiers on altars large.
A hundred more to wait and carue, and like of age and trade,
A hundred gentlemen, the bourdes with deinty fare to lade.
And many lords of Moores among, at euery bourd to dine
Came in, and were commaunded sit on picturd carpets fine.
They wondred at the presents there, they wondred at Iule,
His countnaunce quick, and wel that god his eyes & toong could rule.
But specially the Queene was caught in meruell to behold
Upon the chyld, vpon the pall, the giftes and robe of gold.
No sight her eyes could draw therfrom, and as shee looked more:
The more shee fell into the flame, that after paind her sore.
But chiefly to the noble boy she moues, who in a while
Whan he his father false with loue and kissing did begyle:
Unto the Queene he drew, and her with eyes and brest and all
About her necke embraceth sweete, and whole on her doth fall.
She on her lap somtime him sets, good Dido nothing knowes
How great a god vpon her sits, what cares on her hee throwes.
He thinking on his mothers art, by small and small doth make.
The Queene forget her husband dead, and him from minde to shake.
And where of loue she nothing feeles her hart she kept so true:
Her wonted heat and old desires he steeres and doth renue.
Whan men from meat began to rest, and trenchers vp were take,
Great bolles of wines along they set, and crownes on them they make.
Great chere in all the chambers wide, of noise the hall it ringes,
And tapers toward night they burne hie hangd with golden stringes.
And with the light of torches great the darke ofdriue atones.
The Queene commaunds a mightie bolle of golde and precious stones
To fill with wine, whom Belus king and all king Belus line
Was wont to hold, than through them al was silence made by signe.
And waied the chaunce of such a lorde, and thus her words she dight.
Thou goddesse son, what fortune thee through al these dangers driues?
What force vnto this cruell shore thy person thus arriues?
Art thou not hee Aeneas whom from Dardanus the king,
Anchises gat on Venus hie, where Symois doth spring?
Ere this I well remember, how that Teucer from his raigne
Expulsed was, and to the towne of Sidon flee was faine,
Some helpe at Belus hand toptaine, his kingdome to restore.
Than ward my father Belus wide in Cypers land so sore,
And conquerd all and kept the state, that time I heard the fall
Of Troy, and eke the name of thee, and kings reheased all.
Their enmies of the Troians than great praise abrode did blow,
And of the auncient race of Troy to come hee would be know.
Wherfore approche, and welcome al, my houses shall you host,
For like mischaunce with labours sore, my selfe somtime hath tost.
And fortune here hath set me now, this land thus to subdew,
By proofe of paine I haue ben taught on painfull men to rew.
Thus talked shee, and than Aeneas to her pallais brought,
Whan on their altars they had done such honors as they thought.
Yet ceassed not the Queene to send vnto his men that tide
A skore of bulles, and eke of brawnes a hundred rough of hide,
And with the dammes a hundred more of lambes both good and fat,
The gladsome giftes of god.
The inner court was all beset with riches round about,
And in the mids the feastes they gan prepare for all the rout,
With precious clothes & conning wrought, & proudly enbrodred wide.
And on the bourdes the mighty piles of plate there stoode beside,
And deedes of lordes of antike fame a long discourse to know.
Aeneas than (for in his minde could loue not let him rest:)
His freend Achates for his sonne Ascanius hath him drest
Unto the ships, and bad him tell the newes, and bring him there
As fast as may, for in Ascanius fixt was all his feare.
And gifts with him he had to bring from Troy destroied yfet.
A royal pal, that al with gold and stones was ouerset,
And eke a robe with borders rich, sometime it was the weede
Of Helene bright, whan Paris her from Greece to Troy did leede.
Her mother Ledas gift it was, a wondrous worke to vew.
A scepter eke that Ilionee king Priams daughter trew
Was wont to beare, and more a brooch that from her necke went down
With precious pearles, and double set of fine golde eke a crown.
These things to fet Achates hast vnto the nauie makes.
But Venus strange deuises new, and counsails new she takes,
That Cupide shall the face and hew of sweete Ascanius take,
And beare the presents to the Queene her heart a fier to make
With feruent loue, and in her bones to fling the priuy flame.
Suspect she doth the Moores, that haue of dooble toong the name,
And Iunos wrath her frets, and in the night her care returnes.
Therfore shee thus exhortes her son Cupide that louers burnes.
My son, that art my stay alone, my great renowne and might,
My son, that of the thonderblastes of hye Ioue setst but light,
How through the seas Aeneas mine thy brother hath ben thrown
By cruell Iunos wicked wrath, to thee is not vnknown.
And often mournd with mee thou hast therfore, but so it is.
With Dido Queene he lodgeth now, and faire he flattred is.
But wherto Iunos Innes will turne, is matter hard to know,
In such a time of daunger great thou maist not bee to slow.
Wherfore preuenting al mischaunce, I list to worke a wile,
And with the flame of loue I meane the Queene now to begyle.
Lest by some misaduenture bad her minde she haply turne,
But for Aeneas loue with mee somedeale I like she burne.
And how this thing ywrought shalbe, giue eare and know my minde.
Now goth the child, my cheefest care vnto his father kinde
Into the town, and from the seas the presentes forth he brings
That from the flames of burning Troy was kept as worthy things.
Or to my seates in Ida mount, all onaware to beare,
That from this craft he may be far, ne let herein do make,
Thou for a night, and not beyond, his forme and figure take
Her to begile, and of a childe thou childe put on the face,
That whan within her lappe the Queene thee gladly shal embrace,
Among the royall pompe of meate and wine of Bacchus blisse,
And clippes thee sweete, and on thy lipps doth presse the pleasant kisse:
Disperse in her the secret flame and poyson sweete inspier.
Loue doth obey, puts of his winges, and after her desier
Puts on Ascanius shap forthwith, and like the same he went.
But Venus on Ascanius sweete a restfull slomber cast,
And in her bosome vp she beares, and forth with him she past
To Ida woods, where beds of Tyme and Maioram so soft,
And lusty flowres in greenewod shade him breathes and comforts oft.
And now is Cupide on his way, Achates with him yeid,
The royal presents to the court they bare as they were bydde.
Whan in they came, the Queene her set in chaire on carpet gay,
Of kingly state, with hangings riche in golde and proud aray.
And now the Lord Aeneas eke and youth of Troian rout
Together came, in purple seates bestowd they were about.
The waiters gaue the waters sweete, and princely towels wrought,
And eke the bread in sondrie gyse on baskets fine they brought.
And fifty ladies far within there was, that had the charge
Of all the feast to be set forth, and fiers on altars large.
A hundred more to wait and carue, and like of age and trade,
A hundred gentlemen, the bourdes with deinty fare to lade.
And many lords of Moores among, at euery bourd to dine
Came in, and were commaunded sit on picturd carpets fine.
They wondred at the presents there, they wondred at Iule,
His countnaunce quick, and wel that god his eyes & toong could rule.
But specially the Queene was caught in meruell to behold
Upon the chyld, vpon the pall, the giftes and robe of gold.
No sight her eyes could draw therfrom, and as shee looked more:
The more shee fell into the flame, that after paind her sore.
But chiefly to the noble boy she moues, who in a while
Whan he his father false with loue and kissing did begyle:
Unto the Queene he drew, and her with eyes and brest and all
She on her lap somtime him sets, good Dido nothing knowes
How great a god vpon her sits, what cares on her hee throwes.
He thinking on his mothers art, by small and small doth make.
The Queene forget her husband dead, and him from minde to shake.
And where of loue she nothing feeles her hart she kept so true:
Her wonted heat and old desires he steeres and doth renue.
Whan men from meat began to rest, and trenchers vp were take,
Great bolles of wines along they set, and crownes on them they make.
Great chere in all the chambers wide, of noise the hall it ringes,
And tapers toward night they burne hie hangd with golden stringes.
And with the light of torches great the darke ofdriue atones.
The Queene commaunds a mightie bolle of golde and precious stones
To fill with wine, whom Belus king and all king Belus line
Was wont to hold, than through them al was silence made by signe.
O Ioue, quoth she, for thou of hostes and gestes both great and small
Men say the lawes hast put: giue grace I pray, and let vs all
Both Moores and also Troians here this day for good be met,
That all our offpring after vs this time in ioy may set.
Now Bacchus maker of the mirth, good Iuno goddesse deere,
And you O Moores go do your best these Troians for to cheere.
Thus said she, and whan the grace was done, the boll in hand she sipt,
And in the liquor sweet of wine her lips she skantly dipt:
But vnto Bitias she it raught with charge, and he anon
The fomy bolle of gold vpturnd, and drew till all was gon.
Than all the lordes and states about: And on his golden harp
Iopas with his bushie locks in sweet song gan to carp,
Of stories such as him had taught most mighty Atlas olde.
The wandring Moone, and of the Sonne the daily toile he told.
How mankind was begoon and beast, wherhence the fier and shoures
Proceeds, and how the stars arisen and fallen in certein houres.
The waine, the plough stars, & the seuen that storms & tēpest loures.
What meanes the sonne that to the seas hee westward hieth so fast
In winter daies, and why the nightes so short in sommers wast,
The Moores with cries cast vp their hands, so doth the Troians eke,
And all that night of them the Queene new talke began to seke.
Full oft of Priam would she know, of Hector oft enqueeres,
In what aray Aurotas son came in, she gladly heres.
What horses Diomedes brought, how great Achilles was
Shee learned all to soone, and of long loue she bibbes (alas,)
And from the first (quoth she) my gest, vouchsaue I pray to tell
The treasons of the Greekes, and how your towne and people fell.
And of your chaunce and trauailes all, for thus these seuen yeere
About the lands and all the seas thou wandrest as I heere.
Men say the lawes hast put: giue grace I pray, and let vs all
Both Moores and also Troians here this day for good be met,
That all our offpring after vs this time in ioy may set.
Now Bacchus maker of the mirth, good Iuno goddesse deere,
And you O Moores go do your best these Troians for to cheere.
Thus said she, and whan the grace was done, the boll in hand she sipt,
And in the liquor sweet of wine her lips she skantly dipt:
But vnto Bitias she it raught with charge, and he anon
The fomy bolle of gold vpturnd, and drew till all was gon.
Than all the lordes and states about: And on his golden harp
Iopas with his bushie locks in sweet song gan to carp,
Of stories such as him had taught most mighty Atlas olde.
The wandring Moone, and of the Sonne the daily toile he told.
How mankind was begoon and beast, wherhence the fier and shoures
Proceeds, and how the stars arisen and fallen in certein houres.
The waine, the plough stars, & the seuen that storms & tēpest loures.
What meanes the sonne that to the seas hee westward hieth so fast
In winter daies, and why the nightes so short in sommers wast,
The Moores with cries cast vp their hands, so doth the Troians eke,
And all that night of them the Queene new talke began to seke.
Full oft of Priam would she know, of Hector oft enqueeres,
In what aray Aurotas son came in, she gladly heres.
Shee learned all to soone, and of long loue she bibbes (alas,)
And from the first (quoth she) my gest, vouchsaue I pray to tell
The treasons of the Greekes, and how your towne and people fell.
And of your chaunce and trauailes all, for thus these seuen yeere
About the lands and all the seas thou wandrest as I heere.
DEO GRACIAS.
Per Thomam Phaer, 25. Maij finitum. Inchoatum
9. eiusdem. 1555. in foresta Kilgerran Southwallie. Opus 11. dierum.
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