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A Strappado for the Diuell

Epigrams and Satyres alluding to the time, with diuers measures of no lesse Delight. By MISOSUKOS[Greek], to his friend PHILOKRATES[Greek] [by Richard Brathwait]

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The Argument of Pyramus and Thysbe.
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The Argument of Pyramus and Thysbe.

Childrens loue and Parents hate,
Pure affection cros'd by fate.
True their loue, so true to either,
That they chusd to die together.
Curteous woodnimphs, Tigres fierce,
“Wash with teares their doleful hearse,
Mirtle branches, roses sweete,
“Satyres strow about their feete.
Woodnimphs with their Syrens voice,
Call their parents by their noise.
Who with pace (slow pace God wot,)
“Made hast they could, yet hasted not;
Till they saw their children lie,
“Arme in arme full louingly.
Oft they sought, but all in vaine,
To bring life to them againe.
Trickling teares came dropping downe,
“Groues with teares were ouerflowne,
Water mixt with crimson blood,
“Made a deluge where they stood.
Thisbees obsequies they see,
“Grauen in an Oliue tree,
Their bones to ashes they doe burne
And place them in one sacred vrne.
That as their loue was all in all,
So they might haue one Buriall.

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To this shrine, this statue faire,
Louers wont for to repayre.
Who to confirme their sincere Loue,
Offered them a Turtle Doue.
But when their reliques scattered were,
Maids nere after offered there
Their wonted incense, but forsooke,
The Altar which was wont to smoke,
With mirrhe and thime, which they did burne,
With solemne rites about their vrne.
Yet lest their fame should so decay,
Their tombe is to be seene this day,
Which first erected was to be,
Conseruer of their memory.