 | The Italian Taylor, and his Boy |  |
Cant, 3.
Argument.
Tis euer so, that subtiltieDoth triumph ouer such
Whose infant young simplicitie,
Bewayles the action much:
But where intended honestie,
Doth worke for his auaile,
Let wisedome with indifferently,
It may haue present baile:
As in this shape it now appeares,
To scape the Taylors two-edge sheares.
Returning from the Brookes,
At whom the angrie Father gaz'd,
Saw wonders in their lookes:
They lookt all sadly so:
They fearefull too, that did amisse,
Were loth that he should know:
But when there was no remeadie,
They tell their Father this,
How that his Horse was sodainely
Transform'd into a Fish.
Hee all inraged, gets him home,
And when he saw twas true,
His Mans disguise to recompence,
He bids him-selfe adue,
And turnes into a greater Fish,
The lesser to deuower,
Because he knew no way but this,
Was in his furies power:
Thus shapt, he springs into the Streame,
Where his reuenge did swim.
Now is he in an other Realme,
Which was vnknowne to him:
Anone he comes amongst the shoales,
Where siluer finned Fishes
Kept their bright meeting in the goales,
Of Neptune's watry wishes.
But missing him whom he desir'd
He glotes as lightning glides;
Searching the deepes, he soone aspir'd
Where golden Tagus bides,
Where Triton with his Trumpet blast,
And Argus eyes kept way,
While plentie ballast from it fast,
What flotes the Indian Sea.
Suspected for a thiefe:
And driuen from doing ought amisse
By power from the chiefe:
Nor there, nor any where he findes
His new transformed youth;
Of Fish or Man, of neither kindes,
Though both of him insuth,
At length vnlookt for, while he stayes,
Playing i'th Flood at's ease,
On's bellie, back, sides, sundry wayes,
As his content shall please:
He spies a stranger-Fish passe by;
At whom, small Fishes throng,
As if they knew by nature, why
He had disguis'd so long.
| The Italian Taylor, and his Boy | |