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 SIXT BOOKE OF the Æneidos of Uirgill.
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 | The .xiii. Bookes of Aeneidos |  |
THE SIXT BOOKE OF the Æneidos of Uirgill.
The Argument.
When Aeneas was come to Cunias, he went vnto Sybillas den, where doing sacrifice according to the custome: hee asketh counsel at the Oracle of Apollo, & there learneth both the dangers at hand, & the successe of future wars. Misenus body which he found on the shore he burneth, his furniture, and spoyles he buryeth vnder the next hill, which therof was called Misenus. From thence, by directiō of Dooues, he was brought to the golden boughe, which being gathered, & hauing worshipped and appeased the infernall gods with slaine sacrafice: by conduct of Sibylla he goeth downe to hell, through the mouth of Auernus. He findeth Palinurus wandringe about the lake of STYX, bycause his body was vnburied, & when Sibylla had refused to take him ouer vnto the farther shore, which he requested: Aeneas putteth him in good comfort with exequies, & hope of honorable burial. Frō thence Aeneas passing ouer Styx, and casting Cerberus in a sleape with a medcined sop, takinge his iourney through the place of Infantes, aud of such as were wrongfully condemned, and put to death vnderseruedly: he cometh vnto the seats of those, yt through impaciencie of loue, had shortned their owne dayes, where espying Dido, when he would haue purged him selfe vnto her: disdaynfully she auoyded his sight. Then departing thence, he came to the habitation of those that were somtime famous in war, where he saw Deiphobus torne, and rent with many wounds, and is there by by him enformed by what cruell & shamefull meanes he came to his death. Afterward, leauing Tartarus on the left hand, and being by Sibylla instructed in the punishments of the wicked: he approacheth nigh the walles of Pluto, & there sticketh vp the golden bough euen in the Queenes entrie, and from thence he proceedeth to the fields of the blessed and is by Musæus brought vnto his father. There Anchises declareth vnto his sonne Aeneas the order, and succession of the Albane, and Romane kinges, and running ouer the names of certen of the Romane nobilitie: cometh to the commendation of Iulius, and Augustus Cæsars, and wonderfully extolleth Marcellus the sonne of Octauia, who was sodenly cut of by vntimely death. Then going forth through the Iuery gate vpon the earth: visiteth his mates and leauing Cumas, sayleth to Caieta.
So
talked hee with teares, and to his fleet he gaue ye raines,
And at the last on Cumas coast Italia land attaines.
Their forships all frō seabourd than they turne and ankers strong
They pitching laid a land, and all the croked shores along
Their ships in order set, out leapes the youth with long desier
To tread Italia land, some seeke for seedes of lurking fier
In secret vaines of flints, some breake the beds of beastes onkinde,
And reauing spoile their dennes, some shew what woods, what floods they find.
And at the last on Cumas coast Italia land attaines.
Their forships all frō seabourd than they turne and ankers strong
They pitching laid a land, and all the croked shores along
To tread Italia land, some seeke for seedes of lurking fier
In secret vaines of flints, some breake the beds of beastes onkinde,
And reauing spoile their dennes, some shew what woods, what floods they find.
But good Aeneas to Apollos church, and temple towres,
He went to seeke the secret caue of Siblyes dreedfull bowres.
A vaute of widenes wast, where mighty sprite, and mighty minde
Apollo her inspires, that all thing knowes in secret kinde.
And things that fatall ben he doth to her full broad vnfolde.
And now the sacred groues they see, and houses bright of golde.
He went to seeke the secret caue of Siblyes dreedfull bowres.
A vaute of widenes wast, where mighty sprite, and mighty minde
Apollo her inspires, that all thing knowes in secret kinde.
And things that fatall ben he doth to her full broad vnfolde.
And now the sacred groues they see, and houses bright of golde.
By old report whan Dedalus from Minos kingdoms fled,
With bold attempt of wings he toke the skies hie ouerhead,
And Northward fast he flew, a passage straunge vnseene before,
And lighting downe at last, hee stood a land on Cumas shore.
There he ariued first, and there (O Phœbus bright to thee)
Did consecrate his wings, and made a temple huge to see.
Upon the doores Androgeos death there stands, than yeere by yeere
How Athens was compeld, (a wretched thing,) their children deere
By couples seuen and seuen, both sonnes, & doughters bound in bands,
To send to slaughter vile, the pot with lots there redy stands.
Right theragainst in seas doth Candy kingdoms answer full,
There Pasiphee was made, and next to her there stood the Bull
With tokens foule of loue, and how by stelth, in metall thin
She vnderlay that beast, with stinking lust of lothsome sin.
And Minotaure there was, the mongrell vile of mixed kinde,
Inclosed kept in maze, where issue none there was to finde.
There lay the labour sore, and wandring house of endles wayes,
In corners crooking darke, a wofull worke for them that straies.
But Dedalus, that pitie did the Queenes outragious loue,
Him selfe the craft did teache, and dangers all he did remoue,
By giding through the darke her passage blinde by threde full fine.
And thou O Icarus also among those workes deuine
Hadst had no slender part, if sorowes him not letted had.
Two times in shining golde, thy drowing fall with hart full sad
Thy father there began, and twise his hands for fainting fell.
These stories olde, and things of former fame right long to tell
They should haue ouervewd, whan (sent of purpose there before)
Achates did returne, and brought the priest with head full hoare,
That seruid Phœbus church, and did Dianas offrings make,
And Deiphobe she hight, and to the king these wordes she spake.
This time requireth not with gasing thus to linger there,
Now hefers seuen to kill, to serue the gods more wisdome were.
And seuen of chosen sheepe (as custome is) you should haue brought.
These things she spake, & they forthwith her iust cōmaūdment wrought
Than she the Troian lords into the temple gorgeous calles.
With bold attempt of wings he toke the skies hie ouerhead,
And Northward fast he flew, a passage straunge vnseene before,
And lighting downe at last, hee stood a land on Cumas shore.
There he ariued first, and there (O Phœbus bright to thee)
Did consecrate his wings, and made a temple huge to see.
Upon the doores Androgeos death there stands, than yeere by yeere
How Athens was compeld, (a wretched thing,) their children deere
By couples seuen and seuen, both sonnes, & doughters bound in bands,
To send to slaughter vile, the pot with lots there redy stands.
Right theragainst in seas doth Candy kingdoms answer full,
There Pasiphee was made, and next to her there stood the Bull
With tokens foule of loue, and how by stelth, in metall thin
She vnderlay that beast, with stinking lust of lothsome sin.
And Minotaure there was, the mongrell vile of mixed kinde,
Inclosed kept in maze, where issue none there was to finde.
There lay the labour sore, and wandring house of endles wayes,
In corners crooking darke, a wofull worke for them that straies.
But Dedalus, that pitie did the Queenes outragious loue,
Him selfe the craft did teache, and dangers all he did remoue,
By giding through the darke her passage blinde by threde full fine.
And thou O Icarus also among those workes deuine
Hadst had no slender part, if sorowes him not letted had.
Two times in shining golde, thy drowing fall with hart full sad
Thy father there began, and twise his hands for fainting fell.
These stories olde, and things of former fame right long to tell
They should haue ouervewd, whan (sent of purpose there before)
Achates did returne, and brought the priest with head full hoare,
And Deiphobe she hight, and to the king these wordes she spake.
This time requireth not with gasing thus to linger there,
Now hefers seuen to kill, to serue the gods more wisdome were.
And seuen of chosen sheepe (as custome is) you should haue brought.
These things she spake, & they forthwith her iust cōmaūdment wrought
Than she the Troian lords into the temple gorgeous calles.
A caue there is, cut out in rocke, euen through the temple walles,
Both huge and broad at mouth, a hundred vautes, a hundred doores,
A hundred roarings sound, whan Siblyes answers beates the floores.
Before the same they stood, whan she the virgin close within,
Deskried her selfe and spake. Now doth (quoth shee) my time begin
To learne at god, lo here comes god. As she thus babling prates,
All sodenly, with faces more than one, before the gates,
And colours more than one, disfigured wild she stood in traunce.
Her hear vpsterting stands, her trembling brest doth panting praunse,
Her hart outraging swells, nor mortallyke she lokes at last:
Aboue mankind she speakes, whan of the god she self the blast
In sprite approching neere. And standst thou still, and doost not pray,
Thou Troian thou? (quoth she) & standst thou still? shall not this day
One doore disclose it selfe till prayer come. Whan shee thus sayd,
She silence made: than quaking cold in Troians limmes affrayd
Did ron through all their bones, & thus their king ful humbly prayd.
Both huge and broad at mouth, a hundred vautes, a hundred doores,
A hundred roarings sound, whan Siblyes answers beates the floores.
Before the same they stood, whan she the virgin close within,
Deskried her selfe and spake. Now doth (quoth shee) my time begin
To learne at god, lo here comes god. As she thus babling prates,
All sodenly, with faces more than one, before the gates,
And colours more than one, disfigured wild she stood in traunce.
Her hear vpsterting stands, her trembling brest doth panting praunse,
Her hart outraging swells, nor mortallyke she lokes at last:
Aboue mankind she speakes, whan of the god she self the blast
In sprite approching neere. And standst thou still, and doost not pray,
Thou Troian thou? (quoth she) & standst thou still? shall not this day
One doore disclose it selfe till prayer come. Whan shee thus sayd,
She silence made: than quaking cold in Troians limmes affrayd
Did ron through all their bones, & thus their king ful humbly prayd.
O Phœbus, whom the painefull toyles of Troy did euer greeue,
Thou that sir Paris hand and dart (poore Troians to releeue)
Directing didst conduct, and gauest Achilles mortall wound,
Thus many mightie seas that mighty landes encompas round
I entred haue by thee, through nations wilde, and parlous strands,
Through coasts of mountaine Moores, and contreys close of Sirtes sands.
And now Italia shore (alwayes that shrancke) we touche at last,
Thus farforth now haue we through dangers all our fortune past.
And you also your indignations great is time to end,
You gods and goddesses eche one, whom Troy did ought offend
With glory great of pryde, eke thou, (O sacred prophet trewe)
That fortunes doost forsee, (I aske nothing but kingdoms due
That destny doth me giue,) Italia land let vs enioye,
Our wandring gods to place, and relikes deere outcast of Troye,
Than I, to Phœbus cleere and to Diana, temples pure
Of marble stone shall make, and feastes that euermore shall dure.
Rewardes also to thee, and offrings great for thee shall stand
Within my kingdomes all, and I my selfe shall out of hand
Enrolle thy sacred lots, and dities deere of holy rimes.
My people shall them learne, and chosen men at standing times
Shall consecrated be, thy mighty minde that shall expound.
Do thou this time thy selfe thy verses speake with perfit sound,
Nor write no line in leaues, lest whirling wind therwith may play,
Confounding then from course, and lest in skies they flie their way.
He ended thus. Speake thou (quoth he) thy selfe I humbly pray.
Thou that sir Paris hand and dart (poore Troians to releeue)
Directing didst conduct, and gauest Achilles mortall wound,
Thus many mightie seas that mighty landes encompas round
I entred haue by thee, through nations wilde, and parlous strands,
Through coasts of mountaine Moores, and contreys close of Sirtes sands.
And now Italia shore (alwayes that shrancke) we touche at last,
Thus farforth now haue we through dangers all our fortune past.
And you also your indignations great is time to end,
You gods and goddesses eche one, whom Troy did ought offend
With glory great of pryde, eke thou, (O sacred prophet trewe)
That fortunes doost forsee, (I aske nothing but kingdoms due
That destny doth me giue,) Italia land let vs enioye,
Our wandring gods to place, and relikes deere outcast of Troye,
Than I, to Phœbus cleere and to Diana, temples pure
Rewardes also to thee, and offrings great for thee shall stand
Within my kingdomes all, and I my selfe shall out of hand
Enrolle thy sacred lots, and dities deere of holy rimes.
My people shall them learne, and chosen men at standing times
Shall consecrated be, thy mighty minde that shall expound.
Do thou this time thy selfe thy verses speake with perfit sound,
Nor write no line in leaues, lest whirling wind therwith may play,
Confounding then from course, and lest in skies they flie their way.
He ended thus. Speake thou (quoth he) thy selfe I humbly pray.
But wrastling wild as yet, against the god in thentry large
Dame Sibly mombling made, and strugling strong withstood ye charge,
If haply so she might the gods enforcing shake from brest.
But he preuailing still, with more and more her spite opprest.
Her hart, her raging mouth, he taming stayed and fixed fast.
And now along the caue, a hundred dores were open brast
Of proper strength, & through the vaute these answers out she cast.
Dame Sibly mombling made, and strugling strong withstood ye charge,
If haply so she might the gods enforcing shake from brest.
But he preuailing still, with more and more her spite opprest.
Her hart, her raging mouth, he taming stayed and fixed fast.
And now along the caue, a hundred dores were open brast
Of proper strength, & through the vaute these answers out she cast.
O thou that dangers great of seas at last hast skaped all,
But greater things on land remaines for thee. The Troyans shall
To Lauin kingdom come, cast from thy brest that point of feare.
But sone repent they shall, and curse the time that brought them there.
Repent right sone they shall: was, dredfull wars vprising growes,
And Tyber flood I see, with fomy blood how thicke it flowes.
Eft sones of Troyan streames nor Greekish camps thou shalt not faile,
And in Italia thee a new Achilles shall assail,
That borne of goddesse is, nor from the Troyans Iuno stout
Shall onewhere absent be, whan thou at neede extreme for dout,
What nation of Italia land shalbe? what cities great?
That thou that time for ayde with humble sute shalt not entreat?
The cause of all this wo, shall be a wife of forayne line,
A foraine spouse yet ones againe to Troyans.
Yet for these mischiefes all do thou not shrinke, but bolder prease,
Where thee thy fortune leades, thy chiefest helth and cause of peace,
(Where least thou doost suspect) shall from a Greekish towne apeere.
These words did Sibly speake, and rapt with spright in caue oncleere,
Her compas croked songes, and doubtfull rimes she belwing soundes,
Inuoluing trueth in darke, such bridling bittes and rauing boundes
Apollo giues his preest, and close to preache he prickes her brest.
Whan first her pattring mouth and raging lims were left at rest,
Aeneas prince began. No trauaile new this is to mee
O virgin pure, nor face of labour none vnfelt I see.
All this I do conceiue, and in my minde considred late.
One thing I shall desire, (for here men say begins the gate
Of great infernall king, and darcksome floods by hell that fleete)
Giue licence mee to go to seeke and see my father sweete.
Uouchsaue to guide my way, and holy doores do open make.
Him I from thousands swordes, and burning flames away did take,
These shoulders, euē these shoulders, through ye foes did bring him out,
He passage toke with mee, with mee all streames and londs about,
And threatnings all of seas and tempestes all with wery payne,
Aboue his age and strength, onweldy man, he did sustaine.
And now that I this time before thy dore so meekely pray:
Hee mee commaunded thus. Haue pitie now of both vs tway
O sacred virgin pure (for thou maist all) nor here in vaine
Diana thee hath set, on Lymbo woods to rule and raine.
If Orpheus obtained ones his wife from vnder ground,
By singing sweete at harpe, and striking stringes of pleasant sound:
If Pollux did his brothers death redeeme with his exchaunge,
And went and came so oft, what should I talke of Theseus straunge?
Or strongest Hercules? my selfe from hie Ioue do discend.
These things he talked thus, and fast he held the altars end.
Than prophet Sibly said. O borne of blood of heauenly kinde,
Thou Troian duke, the way that leades to hell is light to finde,
Both nightes and daies, the dore of Limbo blacke doth open gape.
But backward vp to clime, and free to skies eftsones to skape,
There worke, there labour is: few men whom equall Ioue did loue,
Or vertue percing all, did to the stars aduaunce aboue,
Could worke so great a worke: that midwaies all are compast wide
With desertes darke of woods, and slimy flood full blacke doth slide.
But if so great desier, such feruent loue thou hast in minde,
Two times to loke on hell, two times to swim those lakes onkinde,
If pleasour ought there bee, this frantike toyle to lake on thee:
These things first must thou doo. In shadowes great there lurks a tree,
With golden crops & bows, with leaues & braunches smooth of golde:
Which to Diana deepe, infernall Queene, is sacred holde.
This tree hath euery wood, and darke in vales doth hide with shade.
But no man breathing life can vnder ground haue power to trade,
Till from those goldilocks of bows he brings one braunch deuine,
Which to her selfe for chiefe reward Diana doth assigne.
Whan one bough broken is, another springs as fresh in sight
Of gold, and twigs are euer like, with buds of metall bright.
Seeke out therfore with speede, and whan thou duely hast it spied,
Lay thou theron thy hand, for willingly with ease, onwried
It selfe it shall release, if destnies thee therto do call:
For otherwise not breake it will, for strength, nor wepons all.
But greater things on land remaines for thee. The Troyans shall
To Lauin kingdom come, cast from thy brest that point of feare.
But sone repent they shall, and curse the time that brought them there.
Repent right sone they shall: was, dredfull wars vprising growes,
And Tyber flood I see, with fomy blood how thicke it flowes.
Eft sones of Troyan streames nor Greekish camps thou shalt not faile,
And in Italia thee a new Achilles shall assail,
That borne of goddesse is, nor from the Troyans Iuno stout
Shall onewhere absent be, whan thou at neede extreme for dout,
What nation of Italia land shalbe? what cities great?
That thou that time for ayde with humble sute shalt not entreat?
The cause of all this wo, shall be a wife of forayne line,
A foraine spouse yet ones againe to Troyans.
Yet for these mischiefes all do thou not shrinke, but bolder prease,
Where thee thy fortune leades, thy chiefest helth and cause of peace,
(Where least thou doost suspect) shall from a Greekish towne apeere.
These words did Sibly speake, and rapt with spright in caue oncleere,
Her compas croked songes, and doubtfull rimes she belwing soundes,
Inuoluing trueth in darke, such bridling bittes and rauing boundes
Apollo giues his preest, and close to preache he prickes her brest.
Aeneas prince began. No trauaile new this is to mee
O virgin pure, nor face of labour none vnfelt I see.
All this I do conceiue, and in my minde considred late.
One thing I shall desire, (for here men say begins the gate
Of great infernall king, and darcksome floods by hell that fleete)
Giue licence mee to go to seeke and see my father sweete.
Uouchsaue to guide my way, and holy doores do open make.
Him I from thousands swordes, and burning flames away did take,
These shoulders, euē these shoulders, through ye foes did bring him out,
He passage toke with mee, with mee all streames and londs about,
And threatnings all of seas and tempestes all with wery payne,
Aboue his age and strength, onweldy man, he did sustaine.
And now that I this time before thy dore so meekely pray:
Hee mee commaunded thus. Haue pitie now of both vs tway
O sacred virgin pure (for thou maist all) nor here in vaine
Diana thee hath set, on Lymbo woods to rule and raine.
If Orpheus obtained ones his wife from vnder ground,
By singing sweete at harpe, and striking stringes of pleasant sound:
If Pollux did his brothers death redeeme with his exchaunge,
And went and came so oft, what should I talke of Theseus straunge?
Or strongest Hercules? my selfe from hie Ioue do discend.
These things he talked thus, and fast he held the altars end.
Than prophet Sibly said. O borne of blood of heauenly kinde,
Thou Troian duke, the way that leades to hell is light to finde,
Both nightes and daies, the dore of Limbo blacke doth open gape.
But backward vp to clime, and free to skies eftsones to skape,
There worke, there labour is: few men whom equall Ioue did loue,
Or vertue percing all, did to the stars aduaunce aboue,
Could worke so great a worke: that midwaies all are compast wide
With desertes darke of woods, and slimy flood full blacke doth slide.
But if so great desier, such feruent loue thou hast in minde,
Two times to loke on hell, two times to swim those lakes onkinde,
If pleasour ought there bee, this frantike toyle to lake on thee:
These things first must thou doo. In shadowes great there lurks a tree,
With golden crops & bows, with leaues & braunches smooth of golde:
Which to Diana deepe, infernall Queene, is sacred holde.
This tree hath euery wood, and darke in vales doth hide with shade.
Till from those goldilocks of bows he brings one braunch deuine,
Which to her selfe for chiefe reward Diana doth assigne.
Whan one bough broken is, another springs as fresh in sight
Of gold, and twigs are euer like, with buds of metall bright.
Seeke out therfore with speede, and whan thou duely hast it spied,
Lay thou theron thy hand, for willingly with ease, onwried
It selfe it shall release, if destnies thee therto do call:
For otherwise not breake it will, for strength, nor wepons all.
Moreouer, now thy freend deceassid lieth with corps on ground,
Alas vnware thou art, and all thy fleete he doth confound,
While here thou harkning standst, & councels great of God doost craue.
Him first go bring to earth, and giue to him his worthy graue.
And slaughters blacke of beastes for sinnes redemption see thou lead.
So maist thou Limbo woods, where breathing man may neuer tread,
Behold at last (quoth she.) With that, her mouth she stopping staied.
Aeneas mourning went, with fixed eyes on ground dismaied.
And leauing thus the caue, these fortunes hard and chaunces blinde
He pondring did reuolue, so did with him Achates kinde,
And ioyntly step by step with equall cares they walking went.
Much talke between them twaine of sondry things they speaking spent,
What frend dame Sibly means, what corps it is they should entiere.
But whan to shore they came, onware on sand approching neere,
Misenus slaine they see with giltles death, their frend full deere.
Misenus trompet sounder chiefe, whose nobler neuer was,
In kindling men with noise, and fighting fieldes to chere with bras.
Somtime sir mighty Hectors mate he was, to Hector strong
With trompet bold and speare he corage gaue in battaill throng,
But whan that him from life Achilles victor spoiled had,
Unto Aeneas Troian prince this valiant captaine sad
Did place him selfe as peere, and nothing worse his chaunce he drew.
But than (as mischiefe was) while brasen trompe he swimming blew
For pride, and callinge to compare the Gods of seas did greue:
Him Triton toke for spite (if men may boldly this beleue)
And dragd him through the rockes, & deepe in seas his enmy drownd.
The Troians than with noise his body dead encompast round,
And good Aeneas chiefe, than to acomplish Siblyes charge,
No longer time they take, but weeping fast an altar large
They lade with timber logs, and hie to heauen a pile they bilde.
Into a forest old they gon, and hauntes of beastes vnmilde,
Down tombling crake the trees, vpriseth sound of axes strokes,
Both holmes, and beches broad, and beames of ashe, and shides of Okes,
With wedges great they clyue, and mountain elmes with leauers roll.
Aeneas eke their worke with corage kindling did controll,
And tooles in hand he tooke, and formost man amongst then wrought.
Yet heauines in hart he bare, and often thus he thought,
If now this golden braunche will through this forest thicke apeere,
Than verily right true it is (as all things els ben cleere)
And too too true (alas) of thee she spake Misenus deere.
Skant spoken were these words, whā culuers twain by chaūce in sight,
Came ouerhead in skies before his face, and downe they light,
And softly sat on ground, he knew forthwith his mothers burdes
Aeneas mighty prince, and thus he praied in silent wurdes.
O, be my gides (if any way there be) and through these glades
Direct mee to the place where fertill soile in darcksome shades
Doth beare this golden braunche, and thou O mother great, I pray
Now faile me not at neede. Thus speking still himselfe did stay,
Beholding brim those byrdes, and how they rise, and where they flie.
They feeding there a while amounted forth, and went in skie,
So far as eyes of man could them pursue, or marke could make.
Than whan against Auerna mouth they came, (that stinking lake)
They lyft them selues aloft, and through the tender aier they slyde,
And falling down at last, they toke their tree, and there did bide,
Where glistring braunches shewes of sondry glossid shining gold.
None otherwise, than misteltewe on woods in winter cold
Renewes his bushes greene, whom tronck of tree did neuer breede,
But saffronfrutid bows the stubs therof doth ouerspreede:
So from the tree the golden braunch did shew, such was the kinde,
So wauering soft it wagde, and tincling sweete it made in winde.
Aeneas at it straight, and caught a crop with much ado,
And glad with comfort great, dame Siblyes house he brought it to.
Alas vnware thou art, and all thy fleete he doth confound,
While here thou harkning standst, & councels great of God doost craue.
Him first go bring to earth, and giue to him his worthy graue.
And slaughters blacke of beastes for sinnes redemption see thou lead.
So maist thou Limbo woods, where breathing man may neuer tread,
Behold at last (quoth she.) With that, her mouth she stopping staied.
Aeneas mourning went, with fixed eyes on ground dismaied.
And leauing thus the caue, these fortunes hard and chaunces blinde
He pondring did reuolue, so did with him Achates kinde,
And ioyntly step by step with equall cares they walking went.
Much talke between them twaine of sondry things they speaking spent,
What frend dame Sibly means, what corps it is they should entiere.
But whan to shore they came, onware on sand approching neere,
Misenus slaine they see with giltles death, their frend full deere.
Misenus trompet sounder chiefe, whose nobler neuer was,
In kindling men with noise, and fighting fieldes to chere with bras.
Somtime sir mighty Hectors mate he was, to Hector strong
With trompet bold and speare he corage gaue in battaill throng,
But whan that him from life Achilles victor spoiled had,
Unto Aeneas Troian prince this valiant captaine sad
Did place him selfe as peere, and nothing worse his chaunce he drew.
But than (as mischiefe was) while brasen trompe he swimming blew
For pride, and callinge to compare the Gods of seas did greue:
Him Triton toke for spite (if men may boldly this beleue)
And dragd him through the rockes, & deepe in seas his enmy drownd.
The Troians than with noise his body dead encompast round,
And good Aeneas chiefe, than to acomplish Siblyes charge,
No longer time they take, but weeping fast an altar large
Into a forest old they gon, and hauntes of beastes vnmilde,
Down tombling crake the trees, vpriseth sound of axes strokes,
Both holmes, and beches broad, and beames of ashe, and shides of Okes,
With wedges great they clyue, and mountain elmes with leauers roll.
Aeneas eke their worke with corage kindling did controll,
And tooles in hand he tooke, and formost man amongst then wrought.
Yet heauines in hart he bare, and often thus he thought,
If now this golden braunche will through this forest thicke apeere,
Than verily right true it is (as all things els ben cleere)
And too too true (alas) of thee she spake Misenus deere.
Skant spoken were these words, whā culuers twain by chaūce in sight,
Came ouerhead in skies before his face, and downe they light,
And softly sat on ground, he knew forthwith his mothers burdes
Aeneas mighty prince, and thus he praied in silent wurdes.
O, be my gides (if any way there be) and through these glades
Direct mee to the place where fertill soile in darcksome shades
Doth beare this golden braunche, and thou O mother great, I pray
Now faile me not at neede. Thus speking still himselfe did stay,
Beholding brim those byrdes, and how they rise, and where they flie.
They feeding there a while amounted forth, and went in skie,
So far as eyes of man could them pursue, or marke could make.
Than whan against Auerna mouth they came, (that stinking lake)
They lyft them selues aloft, and through the tender aier they slyde,
And falling down at last, they toke their tree, and there did bide,
Where glistring braunches shewes of sondry glossid shining gold.
None otherwise, than misteltewe on woods in winter cold
Renewes his bushes greene, whom tronck of tree did neuer breede,
But saffronfrutid bows the stubs therof doth ouerspreede:
So from the tree the golden braunch did shew, such was the kinde,
So wauering soft it wagde, and tincling sweete it made in winde.
Aeneas at it straight, and caught a crop with much ado,
And glad with comfort great, dame Siblyes house he brought it to.
Nor nothing lesse this while, the Troyans all in solempne gise
Did wayle Misenus corps, and gaue to him their last outcries.
First, cut in culpons great, and fat of sap with pitche among
A stately pile they bilde, with timber trees and Cipers strong.
(That dead mens treasour is) his gorgeous armes also they set,
Some brought the water warme, and caudrons boyling out they set.
The body cold they wash, and precious ointments on they powre.
Lamenting loude is made, than close his limmes in bed on floore
They couch with weeping teares, & purple weedes on him they throw:
His robes, his harneis bright, and ensignes all that men may know.
In mourning sort, some heaue on shoulders hie the mighty beere,
(A dolefull seruice sad) as children do their father deere,
Behinde them holding bronds, than flame vprising, broad doth spreede,
And oyles and deinties cast, and frankinsens the fier doth feede.
Whan falne his cinders were, and longer blaze did not endure,
His reliques and remaine of dust with wines they washed pure.
Than Choriney his bones in brasen coffin bright did close,
And sprincling water pure, about his mates three times he goes,
And drops of sacred dewe with Oliue palmes on them did shake,
And compas blest them all, and sentence last he sadly spake.
To fieldes of ioye thy soule, and endles rest we do betake.
But good Aeneas than, right huge in height his tombe did rere,
And gaue the lord his armes, his Ore and Trompet fixed there.
On mountaine nere the skies, that of Misenus beares the name,
And euerlasting shall from world to world retaine the same.
This done, dame Siblyes further minde to execute he shapes.
Did wayle Misenus corps, and gaue to him their last outcries.
First, cut in culpons great, and fat of sap with pitche among
A stately pile they bilde, with timber trees and Cipers strong.
(That dead mens treasour is) his gorgeous armes also they set,
The body cold they wash, and precious ointments on they powre.
Lamenting loude is made, than close his limmes in bed on floore
They couch with weeping teares, & purple weedes on him they throw:
His robes, his harneis bright, and ensignes all that men may know.
In mourning sort, some heaue on shoulders hie the mighty beere,
(A dolefull seruice sad) as children do their father deere,
Behinde them holding bronds, than flame vprising, broad doth spreede,
And oyles and deinties cast, and frankinsens the fier doth feede.
Whan falne his cinders were, and longer blaze did not endure,
His reliques and remaine of dust with wines they washed pure.
Than Choriney his bones in brasen coffin bright did close,
And sprincling water pure, about his mates three times he goes,
And drops of sacred dewe with Oliue palmes on them did shake,
And compas blest them all, and sentence last he sadly spake.
To fieldes of ioye thy soule, and endles rest we do betake.
But good Aeneas than, right huge in height his tombe did rere,
And gaue the lord his armes, his Ore and Trompet fixed there.
On mountaine nere the skies, that of Misenus beares the name,
And euerlasting shall from world to world retaine the same.
This done, dame Siblyes further minde to execute he shapes.
A dongeon darke there is, that euermore wide open gapes,
Full rough of rocky stones, and lothsome lake there flowes about.
Therouer dare no byrd attempt to flie, for deadly dout,
Such prison breath outbreaks, & through the throte with stifling stink,
Such smolthring vapour smokes, and vp to skies is born from brinke,
Wherby the Greekes by name Auerna mouth that place do call.
There hefers chosen foure, full blacke of backes, he first of all
Did bring, and wines betweene their fronts the priest of custom threw,
And with her hand she pluckt the hear betweene their hornes yt grew,
Lo cast in sacred fier, redemption chiefe of deedes amis.
And on Diana calles, in heauen and hell that mighty is.
Some other sturs with kniues, & blood lukewarme in bolles they take.
Him selfe a lambe by darke, vnto the dame of furies blake,
And to her sister great with sword he strake, and vnto thee,
(O Proserpine) a frutelesse cowe he kilde full blacke to see.
Than vnto Lymbo king his altars large he made by night,
And bowels whole of Bulles in burning fier enflamed bright.
And plenty fat of oyles, till offrings all were wasted quight.
Full rough of rocky stones, and lothsome lake there flowes about.
Therouer dare no byrd attempt to flie, for deadly dout,
Such prison breath outbreaks, & through the throte with stifling stink,
Such smolthring vapour smokes, and vp to skies is born from brinke,
Wherby the Greekes by name Auerna mouth that place do call.
There hefers chosen foure, full blacke of backes, he first of all
Did bring, and wines betweene their fronts the priest of custom threw,
And with her hand she pluckt the hear betweene their hornes yt grew,
Lo cast in sacred fier, redemption chiefe of deedes amis.
And on Diana calles, in heauen and hell that mighty is.
Some other sturs with kniues, & blood lukewarme in bolles they take.
Him selfe a lambe by darke, vnto the dame of furies blake,
And to her sister great with sword he strake, and vnto thee,
(O Proserpine) a frutelesse cowe he kilde full blacke to see.
Than vnto Lymbo king his altars large he made by night,
And bowels whole of Bulles in burning fier enflamed bright.
Behold, before that light of sonne did rise in skies aboue,
The ground with roaring shooke, and vnder feete did trembling moue,
And tops of trees do turne, and dogs in shade did seeme to houle,
Whan first the goddesse came. Auaunt, auaunt, you sinners foule
Dame Sibly loud did crie, from all these woods stand out beneath.
Kepe thou thy way by force, and naked sword pul from thy sheath,
Now time of corage is, now fixe thy minde Aeneas fast.
And with that word into Auerna mouth her selfe the cast.
He void of feare doth stalking her pursew at elbow fast.
The ground with roaring shooke, and vnder feete did trembling moue,
And tops of trees do turne, and dogs in shade did seeme to houle,
Whan first the goddesse came. Auaunt, auaunt, you sinners foule
Dame Sibly loud did crie, from all these woods stand out beneath.
Kepe thou thy way by force, and naked sword pul from thy sheath,
Now time of corage is, now fixe thy minde Aeneas fast.
And with that word into Auerna mouth her selfe the cast.
He void of feare doth stalking her pursew at elbow fast.
O gods that empier keepes on ghostes, and soules of silence dum,
Thou Chaos, and you firy boyling pits and places glum,
Giue license mee to tell your secret workings vnder ground,
Giue pardon to disclose thinges deepe in mist, aud darkenes dround.
They walking went in night, alone, in silence through the shade,
By Lymbos kingdoms wast, and houses empty voide of trade.
Like as the feeble Moone doth giue sometime a fainting light
To men yt walke in woods, whan clouds do kepe the skies frō sight,
And all things altred ben, and coulours cleere are hid by night.
Thou Chaos, and you firy boyling pits and places glum,
Giue license mee to tell your secret workings vnder ground,
Giue pardon to disclose thinges deepe in mist, aud darkenes dround.
They walking went in night, alone, in silence through the shade,
By Lymbos kingdoms wast, and houses empty voide of trade.
Like as the feeble Moone doth giue sometime a fainting light
To men yt walke in woods, whan clouds do kepe the skies frō sight,
And all things altred ben, and coulours cleere are hid by night.
Euen at the porche, and first in Lymbo iawes, done Wailings dwell,
And Cares on couches lyen, and Settled Mindes on vengeance fell.
Diseases leane, and pale, and combrous Age of dompish yeeres,
And Feare, and filthy Neede, and Hunger hard that mischiefe steeres,
Misshapen things in sight. Than Death himselfe, whose neighbor next
Was Slepe that kinsman is to Death, than proud Mindes vnperplext
Reioysing vile in sin, and mortall Warres afront the gate,
And Furies sight in beds of steele, and Discorde far from state
With bleeding brows, and vgsome starling heares of angry snakes.
Amids them all an Elme with armes out spreding, shadow makes,
An Elme both huge and olde, that seat, men say do Fansies keepe,
And Dreames vncertaine dwell, and euery leafe they vndercreepe.
And diuers monsters more there was, of sondry sortes vnkinde,
As Scyllas and Centaurus, man before, and beast behinde,
In euery doore they stampe, and Lyons sad with gnashing sound.
And Bugges with hundred heads as Briarey, and armed round
Chimera fightes with flames, and gastly Gorgon grim to see,
With heardes of Harpies vile, and Goblines foule of figures three.
Aeneas sodenly for feare his glistring sword out tooke,
And as they threatning came, he towards them his fauchon shooke.
And (but his learned gyde instruct him did, to let go by
Those flittring tender formes, and not to touch those shappes that flye
Which nothing ben but life, and substance none, but likenes thin)
He would with them haue fought, and did in vaine to beat begin.
And Cares on couches lyen, and Settled Mindes on vengeance fell.
Diseases leane, and pale, and combrous Age of dompish yeeres,
And Feare, and filthy Neede, and Hunger hard that mischiefe steeres,
Misshapen things in sight. Than Death himselfe, whose neighbor next
Was Slepe that kinsman is to Death, than proud Mindes vnperplext
Reioysing vile in sin, and mortall Warres afront the gate,
And Furies sight in beds of steele, and Discorde far from state
With bleeding brows, and vgsome starling heares of angry snakes.
Amids them all an Elme with armes out spreding, shadow makes,
An Elme both huge and olde, that seat, men say do Fansies keepe,
And Dreames vncertaine dwell, and euery leafe they vndercreepe.
And diuers monsters more there was, of sondry sortes vnkinde,
As Scyllas and Centaurus, man before, and beast behinde,
In euery doore they stampe, and Lyons sad with gnashing sound.
And Bugges with hundred heads as Briarey, and armed round
Chimera fightes with flames, and gastly Gorgon grim to see,
With heardes of Harpies vile, and Goblines foule of figures three.
Aeneas sodenly for feare his glistring sword out tooke,
And (but his learned gyde instruct him did, to let go by
Those flittring tender formes, and not to touch those shappes that flye
Which nothing ben but life, and substance none, but likenes thin)
He would with them haue fought, and did in vaine to beat begin.
Here now the way doth lead to Lymbo lake and filthy flud,
Whose chanell chokid is with troublous grounds of miry mud,
And belching boyles a sand, which to the bancks it throws from deepes.
A dreedfull feryman that streame with visage lothsome keepes,
In tattrid wretched weede, and Caron he by name doth hight.
His hoary bush and beard both ouergrown and foule vndight,
With skouling steaming eyes, and from his shoulders down his loines
His filthy mantell hanges, whom sluttish knot vncomly ioynes.
Himselfe with pyked poale his boate doth guide, and beares a charge,
Transporting still the soules, in rusty dusty cankred barge,
Well aged now, but sappy strength hee keepes of greener yeres.
To this place all the rout doth draw themselues with louring cheres,
By numbers great, both men and women dead, nor long delayed.
With princes, preaced boyes and girles, that wedlocks neuer sayed,
And flouring youth, that in their parentes time were layd in ground,
And all that life had borne, about the banke they clustred round,
As thicke as leaues of trees among the woods in winter winde
Whan first to ground they fall: or like as foules of waterkinde
Assembling flocke them selues, whan yere of frost hath first begonne,
And ouer seas they seeke in warmer londs to take the sonne.
They stood, and crauing cried, that first transport they might before,
And stretching held their hands desiring much the further shore.
The churlish feryman, now these now those by course receiues,
And some down thrusting throws, & from the sand restraining weiues.
Whose chanell chokid is with troublous grounds of miry mud,
And belching boyles a sand, which to the bancks it throws from deepes.
A dreedfull feryman that streame with visage lothsome keepes,
In tattrid wretched weede, and Caron he by name doth hight.
His hoary bush and beard both ouergrown and foule vndight,
With skouling steaming eyes, and from his shoulders down his loines
His filthy mantell hanges, whom sluttish knot vncomly ioynes.
Himselfe with pyked poale his boate doth guide, and beares a charge,
Transporting still the soules, in rusty dusty cankred barge,
Well aged now, but sappy strength hee keepes of greener yeres.
To this place all the rout doth draw themselues with louring cheres,
By numbers great, both men and women dead, nor long delayed.
With princes, preaced boyes and girles, that wedlocks neuer sayed,
And flouring youth, that in their parentes time were layd in ground,
And all that life had borne, about the banke they clustred round,
As thicke as leaues of trees among the woods in winter winde
Whan first to ground they fall: or like as foules of waterkinde
Assembling flocke them selues, whan yere of frost hath first begonne,
And ouer seas they seeke in warmer londs to take the sonne.
They stood, and crauing cried, that first transport they might before,
And stretching held their hands desiring much the further shore.
The churlish feryman, now these now those by course receiues,
And some down thrusting throws, & from the sand restraining weiues.
Aeneas than, for of this great tumult he merueld sore,
O virgin tell (quoth hee) what meanes this busie great vprore?
What seeke they thus? why to this water bancke ron they so fast?
Wherfore be these reiect? and yonder those their course haue past?
And some with Ores I see are sweeping yet this chanell blew?
Than shortly thus to him dame Sibly spake, that prophet true.
O great Anchises son, vndouted child of gods in blisse,
Now Lymbo lake thou seest, infernall poole this water is.
Cocitus cald it is, and Stigies moore the name doth beare,
By which the gods them selues so sore affraid ben to forsweare.
This prease that here thou seest, ben people dead that laid in graue,
A piteous rable poore, that no reliefe nor comfort haue.
This boateman Caron is, and those whom now this water beares,
Are bodies put in ground with worship due of weeping teares.
Nor from these fearefull bankes nor ryuers hoarce they passage get:
Till vnder earth in graues their bodies bones at rest are set.
A hundred yeres they walke, & round about these shores they houe,
And than at last full glad, to further pooles they do remoue.
Aeneas stopt his foote, and stayed him selfe against that place,
Reuoluing much in minde, and pitied sore their wofull case.
He saw lamenting there, and lacking graues and worship due,
Leucaspis and Orontes, lords of Troyan fleete full true.
Whom ioyntly both from Troy, as through the swelling seas they past,
The southwind whirling toke, and ship and men did ouercast.
O virgin tell (quoth hee) what meanes this busie great vprore?
What seeke they thus? why to this water bancke ron they so fast?
Wherfore be these reiect? and yonder those their course haue past?
And some with Ores I see are sweeping yet this chanell blew?
Than shortly thus to him dame Sibly spake, that prophet true.
O great Anchises son, vndouted child of gods in blisse,
Now Lymbo lake thou seest, infernall poole this water is.
Cocitus cald it is, and Stigies moore the name doth beare,
This prease that here thou seest, ben people dead that laid in graue,
A piteous rable poore, that no reliefe nor comfort haue.
This boateman Caron is, and those whom now this water beares,
Are bodies put in ground with worship due of weeping teares.
Nor from these fearefull bankes nor ryuers hoarce they passage get:
Till vnder earth in graues their bodies bones at rest are set.
A hundred yeres they walke, & round about these shores they houe,
And than at last full glad, to further pooles they do remoue.
Aeneas stopt his foote, and stayed him selfe against that place,
Reuoluing much in minde, and pitied sore their wofull case.
He saw lamenting there, and lacking graues and worship due,
Leucaspis and Orontes, lords of Troyan fleete full true.
Whom ioyntly both from Troy, as through the swelling seas they past,
The southwind whirling toke, and ship and men did ouercast.
Behold, his maister chiefe, and pylot guide, syr Palinure
Chafing did vexe him selfe, who late in Sicil seas full sure
His course with sailing kept, while stars of heauen he vewd at helme
He through the pup was falne, and seas him quite did ouerwhelme,
Him scarse he could discerne among the soules with frowning face.
Than first he spake. O Palinure, what god with heauy grace
Hath spoyled mee of thee? and thee in deepe seas thus hath dround?
Declare to mee, for neuer heretofore that fals was found,
With this one tale vntrew Apollo mee did feede in vaine,
Who said, that safe from seas, Italia land thou shouldst attaine,
Lo where a man may trust. Is this his faith so vndefilde?
Hee theronto. It is not Phœbus thee that hath begylde
O Troian king, nor mee that god in seas did ouerwhelme.
For as at sterne I stood, and steering strongly held my helme
Wherwith I charged was, and course of ships with sailes did beare,
I hedlong fell therwith. By all the seas full rough I sweare,
Nothing so sore I dred, nor for my selfe so much did care,
As lest thy ship dispoild, and of her guide and maister bare:
Should by misfortune faile, as waues so great that time did rise.
Three weery winter nightes, in combrous seas in waltring wise,
With waters borne I was: the fourth day skant at last I spied
Italia land, as ouer waues full hie my head I wried.
By small and small to landward than I swam, and sure I was,
Had not the nation wild destroyed me there vnknown, alas.
And as I creeping held with crooked hands the mountaines top,
Encombred in my clothes that dabbing downe from me did drop,
They slew me there with swords, and thought by mee to gaine a pray.
Now still in floods I fleete, and to and fro with windes I stray.
That I thee, by the gladsome light of heauen and ioyfull skies
Now for thy fathers loue, and for thy son whose lucke doth rise:
Unwrap me frō these wrongs (O pereles prince) & bring me a ground,
I pray thee, (for thou maist) in Velin hauens I shall be found.
Or thou, if any way there bee, if goddesse mother thine
Hath shewd thee how to shift (for not without some power deuine
This place I thinke thou seest, nor Lymbo pooles thus canst thou swim)
Reatche mee thy hand, and take mee wretche with thee by water brim,
That after death at least, in pleasant rest I may remaine.
Such things he talking spake, whan Sibly thus replyed againe.
Since whan O Palinure, hath all this madnes comen on thee?
Wouldst thou the Lymbo poole and dolefull floods vntombed see?
Unbidden from this banke doost thou in deede to skape entend?
Seeke neuer Gods eternall dome with speech to thinke to bend.
Yet take with thee his worde, and comfort thus thy greeuous fall.
For they that border next vnto that mount, and cities all,
By tokens great from heauen, shall be compeld thy bones to take,
And tombe they shall thee byld, and solempne seruice thee shal make,
And Palinurus name for euermore the place shall keepe.
This spoken, from his heauy hart his cares abating creepe,
And sorowes partly shranke, and glad on earth his name he knew.
They on their iourney went, and towards now the flood they drew.
Whom as the boteman first, with eyes vpcast in comming spied
To walke in silent woods, and how to shore their feete they plied:
He thus began to chafe, and towards them full loude he cried.
What euer thou art, that armed thus vnto our floods doost trace:
Tell what thine errand is, and stay thy selfe, and stop thy pace.
Here is the seate of soules, the place of sleepe and slumbry night,
Nor breathing bodies none this boat may bear by law nor right.
Nor Hercules (whom I did last receiue) did mee no good,
Nor Theseus, with Pirithous, that passed here this flood,
Though borne of Gods they were, & peereles lords of strength & minde,
Hee with his mighty hands the mastif hound of hell did binde
Before the king at benche, and dragde him trembling out to light,
Those other did attempt to steale from hence our empresse bright.
Than Sibly prophet preest, with gentle speeche thus did entreat.
Here is no treason such, do thou not chase nor further freat,
These wepons worke no harme, the porter huge for euermore
May barking keepe his caue, and bloodles soules affray from shore.
Well may Diana chast her vncles chamber long enioy.
Aeneas famous here, the curteis prince, in armes of Troy
Unto his father goeth, vnto the soules of Lymbo lowe.
If vertue none so great may mooue thy minde this man to know,
Behold (quoth he) this braunch, & from her garment out she tooke
The golden braunch, than angry wrath his swelling hart forsooke,
Nor, more she spake, but wondring at that blessed gift of grace,
And fatall rod, that seldome seene had ben within that place,
She shouid forth his ship, and on the bancke approching hit.
Than other soules, that on the sides in long arayes did sit:
He tombling draue them downe, and made a rowine, and in he takes
Aeneas mighty prince, the boat in ioyntes for burden crakes,
And through that lethrin seames the filthy flood in plenty drinkes.
Yet landed safe at last both preest and man, on the vtter brinkes,
In miry woas, and slimy mud mischapen foule that stinkes,
Chafing did vexe him selfe, who late in Sicil seas full sure
His course with sailing kept, while stars of heauen he vewd at helme
He through the pup was falne, and seas him quite did ouerwhelme,
Him scarse he could discerne among the soules with frowning face.
Than first he spake. O Palinure, what god with heauy grace
Hath spoyled mee of thee? and thee in deepe seas thus hath dround?
Declare to mee, for neuer heretofore that fals was found,
With this one tale vntrew Apollo mee did feede in vaine,
Who said, that safe from seas, Italia land thou shouldst attaine,
Lo where a man may trust. Is this his faith so vndefilde?
Hee theronto. It is not Phœbus thee that hath begylde
O Troian king, nor mee that god in seas did ouerwhelme.
For as at sterne I stood, and steering strongly held my helme
Wherwith I charged was, and course of ships with sailes did beare,
I hedlong fell therwith. By all the seas full rough I sweare,
Nothing so sore I dred, nor for my selfe so much did care,
As lest thy ship dispoild, and of her guide and maister bare:
Should by misfortune faile, as waues so great that time did rise.
Three weery winter nightes, in combrous seas in waltring wise,
With waters borne I was: the fourth day skant at last I spied
Italia land, as ouer waues full hie my head I wried.
By small and small to landward than I swam, and sure I was,
And as I creeping held with crooked hands the mountaines top,
Encombred in my clothes that dabbing downe from me did drop,
They slew me there with swords, and thought by mee to gaine a pray.
Now still in floods I fleete, and to and fro with windes I stray.
That I thee, by the gladsome light of heauen and ioyfull skies
Now for thy fathers loue, and for thy son whose lucke doth rise:
Unwrap me frō these wrongs (O pereles prince) & bring me a ground,
I pray thee, (for thou maist) in Velin hauens I shall be found.
Or thou, if any way there bee, if goddesse mother thine
Hath shewd thee how to shift (for not without some power deuine
This place I thinke thou seest, nor Lymbo pooles thus canst thou swim)
Reatche mee thy hand, and take mee wretche with thee by water brim,
That after death at least, in pleasant rest I may remaine.
Such things he talking spake, whan Sibly thus replyed againe.
Since whan O Palinure, hath all this madnes comen on thee?
Wouldst thou the Lymbo poole and dolefull floods vntombed see?
Unbidden from this banke doost thou in deede to skape entend?
Seeke neuer Gods eternall dome with speech to thinke to bend.
Yet take with thee his worde, and comfort thus thy greeuous fall.
For they that border next vnto that mount, and cities all,
By tokens great from heauen, shall be compeld thy bones to take,
And tombe they shall thee byld, and solempne seruice thee shal make,
And Palinurus name for euermore the place shall keepe.
This spoken, from his heauy hart his cares abating creepe,
And sorowes partly shranke, and glad on earth his name he knew.
They on their iourney went, and towards now the flood they drew.
Whom as the boteman first, with eyes vpcast in comming spied
To walke in silent woods, and how to shore their feete they plied:
He thus began to chafe, and towards them full loude he cried.
What euer thou art, that armed thus vnto our floods doost trace:
Tell what thine errand is, and stay thy selfe, and stop thy pace.
Here is the seate of soules, the place of sleepe and slumbry night,
Nor breathing bodies none this boat may bear by law nor right.
Nor Hercules (whom I did last receiue) did mee no good,
Nor Theseus, with Pirithous, that passed here this flood,
Though borne of Gods they were, & peereles lords of strength & minde,
Hee with his mighty hands the mastif hound of hell did binde
Those other did attempt to steale from hence our empresse bright.
Than Sibly prophet preest, with gentle speeche thus did entreat.
Here is no treason such, do thou not chase nor further freat,
These wepons worke no harme, the porter huge for euermore
May barking keepe his caue, and bloodles soules affray from shore.
Well may Diana chast her vncles chamber long enioy.
Aeneas famous here, the curteis prince, in armes of Troy
Unto his father goeth, vnto the soules of Lymbo lowe.
If vertue none so great may mooue thy minde this man to know,
Behold (quoth he) this braunch, & from her garment out she tooke
The golden braunch, than angry wrath his swelling hart forsooke,
Nor, more she spake, but wondring at that blessed gift of grace,
And fatall rod, that seldome seene had ben within that place,
She shouid forth his ship, and on the bancke approching hit.
Than other soules, that on the sides in long arayes did sit:
He tombling draue them downe, and made a rowine, and in he takes
Aeneas mighty prince, the boat in ioyntes for burden crakes,
And through that lethrin seames the filthy flood in plenty drinkes.
Yet landed safe at last both preest and man, on the vtter brinkes,
In miry woas, and slimy mud mischapen foule that stinkes,
There Cerberus, infernall hound, with throtes wide open three,
Doth bawle with barking noyse, at Lymbo mouth full huge to see.
Whose necke whan Sibly saw with startling snakes to swelling fixt:
A sop of bread with sleepy seedes, and hony sweete commixt
Against his throte she threw, he gaping wide his threefold iawes,
All hungry caught that gub, and couching strait with stretching pawes,
He bowed his boistous backe, and on the ground himselfe be spred,
Encombring all the caue, and groueling lay with slumbry head,
Aeneas toke the place, while thus the porter slurging was,
And skoope the further shore, where backward home no life can pas.
Doth bawle with barking noyse, at Lymbo mouth full huge to see.
Whose necke whan Sibly saw with startling snakes to swelling fixt:
A sop of bread with sleepy seedes, and hony sweete commixt
Against his throte she threw, he gaping wide his threefold iawes,
All hungry caught that gub, and couching strait with stretching pawes,
He bowed his boistous backe, and on the ground himselfe be spred,
Encombring all the caue, and groueling lay with slumbry head,
Aeneas toke the place, while thus the porter slurging was,
And skoope the further shore, where backward home no life can pas.
Anon were voyces hard, and piteous cries, and wailings shrill,
Of soules of tender babes, and infantes weeping void of skill,
That pleasure sweete of life did neuer tast, but from their brest
Untimely death them tooke, and fortune grim hath down opprest.
Next them be such, as false surmise haue don to death by law,
Nor they without their iudge, and for their seates their lots they draw,
King Minos moues their boxe, and as a iudge their liues enqueres,
And calles enquestes of soules, and all their sinnes in silence heres.
Than louring next in place, ben they that fell with wilfull death,
And giltles slew them selues, with hasty hands, abhoring breath,
And shoke from them their soules, how gladly now in skies againe,
Would they full poore estate, and hardnes all of life sustaine?
The destnies do resist, and lake vnlouely them detaines,
And pooles of Lymbo nine in compas ronning, them restraines.
Not far aloofe from thence, disperst abroad on quarters all,
The mourning feeldes they see (for so by name men do them call.)
There they whom cruell loue consumed hath with fretting moodes,
In secret pathes they walke, and hide them selues in Mirtill woodes,
Encombred still with cares, nor death it selfe their sorowes slakes.
There Phædra, Procris, Eriphyle he seeth that mourning makes
For loue, and of her son vnmercifull the woundes doth beare.
Euadnee than, and Pasiphee, likewise that martryd were.
And Cenæus, a lad somtime that was, but now a wife,
Conuerted eft by kinde to former shape of females life.
Among all these, Queene Dido late that died of fatall wound,
In forest wandring went, whom when the Troyan duke had found
Approching nere and knew, in shimring shadow darke and thin:
Much like, as after chaunging new whan prime doth first begin,
Men see, or thinke they see, that doubtfull moone in cloudes aboue:
He blubbrid out in teares, and thus did speake for dulcet loue.
O wofull Dido deere, the tale to trew (as now doth seeme)
Was brought mee of thy losse, and of thy stroke and wound extreeme.
I was thy cause of death, alas, now by the starres I sweare,
By all the Gods, and if there be remaining yet one where
Unfained faith, if trueth on ground or vnder ground may bee,
Against my will (O Queene) from thy dominions did I flee.
But mee, the threatnings great of gods ye through these glimsing glades
Compels to seeke, these hoary moory mufty darksome shades,
Hath forced mee to this, nor neuer (Queene) could I beleeue,
That my departing thee, so sore at hart could euer greeue.
Now stay thy selfe, and from my sight withdraw thee not so fast.
Whom sleest thou thus? this vnto thee must be my talking last,
Aeneas thus to her, that frowning stood, with skouling eyes,
He spake to swage her minde, and teares out gushing still did rise.
She turning, fixed fast her face on ground with louring looke,
Nor more to him did moue, nor at his tale regard she tooke,
Than sturres a standing stone, or mountaine rocke for blast of winde,
At last from him she brake, and backe she fled with spitefull minde,
To shadows thicke of woods, where ioynt with her, her husband olde
Sichæus doth complaine, and equall loue with her doth holde.
Aeneas nethelesse, whom this mischaunce full sory shooke,
Pursude her, weeping long, and at her parting pitie tooke.
From thence their way they sought, & now the borders last they helde,
Where worthy lords of armes enhabit thicke in secret felde.
There met he with sir Tydeus, and valiaunt noble knight
Parthenopee, and pale Adrastus ghost, that wofull spright.
There, they that much lamented were on earth, and died in war,
The Troian lords, he knew them all in long arayes a far.
Thersilochus, and Glaucus deere, he sobbid them to see,
And Medon, of Anthenor stout the famous children three.
And Polybetes, Ceres priest that was, both strong and bolde,
Idæus eke, that horses swift and armours yet doth holde.
By flockes about him drew the soules full thicke on euery hand,
Nor satisfied they ben with loking ones, but still they stand,
And steps with him they ioyne, and glad they be his cause to lerne.
But all the Greekish lordes, and Agammenons captayns sterne,
Whan first the man they saw in glistring armour through the night:
They trembling shoke for feare, some turning toke their wonted flight,
As to their ships sometime they ran, some others squeking thin
Would lift their voice, but in their iawes begonne, it stacke within,
Of soules of tender babes, and infantes weeping void of skill,
That pleasure sweete of life did neuer tast, but from their brest
Untimely death them tooke, and fortune grim hath down opprest.
Next them be such, as false surmise haue don to death by law,
Nor they without their iudge, and for their seates their lots they draw,
King Minos moues their boxe, and as a iudge their liues enqueres,
Than louring next in place, ben they that fell with wilfull death,
And giltles slew them selues, with hasty hands, abhoring breath,
And shoke from them their soules, how gladly now in skies againe,
Would they full poore estate, and hardnes all of life sustaine?
The destnies do resist, and lake vnlouely them detaines,
And pooles of Lymbo nine in compas ronning, them restraines.
Not far aloofe from thence, disperst abroad on quarters all,
The mourning feeldes they see (for so by name men do them call.)
There they whom cruell loue consumed hath with fretting moodes,
In secret pathes they walke, and hide them selues in Mirtill woodes,
Encombred still with cares, nor death it selfe their sorowes slakes.
There Phædra, Procris, Eriphyle he seeth that mourning makes
For loue, and of her son vnmercifull the woundes doth beare.
Euadnee than, and Pasiphee, likewise that martryd were.
And Cenæus, a lad somtime that was, but now a wife,
Conuerted eft by kinde to former shape of females life.
Among all these, Queene Dido late that died of fatall wound,
In forest wandring went, whom when the Troyan duke had found
Approching nere and knew, in shimring shadow darke and thin:
Much like, as after chaunging new whan prime doth first begin,
Men see, or thinke they see, that doubtfull moone in cloudes aboue:
He blubbrid out in teares, and thus did speake for dulcet loue.
O wofull Dido deere, the tale to trew (as now doth seeme)
Was brought mee of thy losse, and of thy stroke and wound extreeme.
I was thy cause of death, alas, now by the starres I sweare,
By all the Gods, and if there be remaining yet one where
Unfained faith, if trueth on ground or vnder ground may bee,
Against my will (O Queene) from thy dominions did I flee.
But mee, the threatnings great of gods ye through these glimsing glades
Compels to seeke, these hoary moory mufty darksome shades,
Hath forced mee to this, nor neuer (Queene) could I beleeue,
That my departing thee, so sore at hart could euer greeue.
Now stay thy selfe, and from my sight withdraw thee not so fast.
Whom sleest thou thus? this vnto thee must be my talking last,
Aeneas thus to her, that frowning stood, with skouling eyes,
He spake to swage her minde, and teares out gushing still did rise.
She turning, fixed fast her face on ground with louring looke,
Than sturres a standing stone, or mountaine rocke for blast of winde,
At last from him she brake, and backe she fled with spitefull minde,
To shadows thicke of woods, where ioynt with her, her husband olde
Sichæus doth complaine, and equall loue with her doth holde.
Aeneas nethelesse, whom this mischaunce full sory shooke,
Pursude her, weeping long, and at her parting pitie tooke.
From thence their way they sought, & now the borders last they helde,
Where worthy lords of armes enhabit thicke in secret felde.
There met he with sir Tydeus, and valiaunt noble knight
Parthenopee, and pale Adrastus ghost, that wofull spright.
There, they that much lamented were on earth, and died in war,
The Troian lords, he knew them all in long arayes a far.
Thersilochus, and Glaucus deere, he sobbid them to see,
And Medon, of Anthenor stout the famous children three.
And Polybetes, Ceres priest that was, both strong and bolde,
Idæus eke, that horses swift and armours yet doth holde.
By flockes about him drew the soules full thicke on euery hand,
Nor satisfied they ben with loking ones, but still they stand,
And steps with him they ioyne, and glad they be his cause to lerne.
But all the Greekish lordes, and Agammenons captayns sterne,
Whan first the man they saw in glistring armour through the night:
They trembling shoke for feare, some turning toke their wonted flight,
As to their ships sometime they ran, some others squeking thin
Would lift their voice, but in their iawes begonne, it stacke within,
There Deiphobus, Priams son he saw, all boucherwise
Bemanglid foule in face, with body torne in cruell gise,
Both body, face, and handes, and temples twaine, and eares dispoilde,
With lothly cropped nose, and shamefull woundes eche where defoilde.
Skarse him he could discerne, that trembling shrank, and couered wold
His filthy wounds, than thus he spake with voice acquainted old.
O Deiphobus, mighty most in armes, O Troian blood,
What saluage tirant beast hath giuen to thee this plage so wood?
Who might so great a powre obtaine on thee? The rumour went
How in the night extreme, of Greekish slaughters wery spent
Thou headlong threwst thy selfe on mixid heapes of enmies slaine.
Than I my selfe to thee, an empty tombe on Rheta plaine
Aduaunsing vp did bilde, and thrise thy soule saluted cleere.
Thy name & armes that place preserues, but thee (O freend so deere)
Could I not see, that in thy contrey ground I might enteere.
Bemanglid foule in face, with body torne in cruell gise,
Both body, face, and handes, and temples twaine, and eares dispoilde,
With lothly cropped nose, and shamefull woundes eche where defoilde.
Skarse him he could discerne, that trembling shrank, and couered wold
His filthy wounds, than thus he spake with voice acquainted old.
O Deiphobus, mighty most in armes, O Troian blood,
What saluage tirant beast hath giuen to thee this plage so wood?
Who might so great a powre obtaine on thee? The rumour went
How in the night extreme, of Greekish slaughters wery spent
Thou headlong threwst thy selfe on mixid heapes of enmies slaine.
Than I my selfe to thee, an empty tombe on Rheta plaine
Aduaunsing vp did bilde, and thrise thy soule saluted cleere.
Could I not see, that in thy contrey ground I might enteere.
Than Deiphobus said. Nothing (sweete freend,) can I requier.
All dueties done thou hast, nor more my ghost can thee desier.
But mee, mine own mischaunce, and Helen strompets mischiefe more
Hath plunged thus in paines, these tokens mee she left in store.
For whan that latter night with ioyes deceitfull vs did feede,
Thou knowst: and ouermuch therof to thinke we must of neede.
Whan first that fatall horse our contrey walles did ouerskip
With armour freyghted full, and harneist footemen downe did slip:
Dissembling than to daunse with songes, and himpnes in streets about
She drew the Troyan wiues, and in her hand amids the rout
She bare the burning torche, and from the towres the Greekes did lure.
Than ouercome with cares, I wofull miser sleeping sure
Within my chamber was, in pleasant ease, and laid at rest,
And slomber sweete and deepe, most like to death had mee opprest.
My goodly spouse this while, my wepons all way she cloind,
From all my house, and from my head my trusty sword purloind.
And Menelae her former husband cald, and fild the floores
With clusters great of Greekes, and open wide she set the doores,
And mee to them she gaue, for token chiefe of former loue,
That same of olde offence by that amendes she might remoue.
What should I longer make: into my chamber all they thrust,
With false Vlisses helpe. O gods redub them vengeaunce iust,
If due rewards I seeke it, Greekes with mee vniustly wrought.
But thee, aliue, what wondrous fortune here this time hath brought?
Declare to mee, by wandring wide at seas art comen astray?
Or gods appointment great, or what mischaunce doth thee dismay,
To see this troublous place, these houses heauy voide of sonne?
With talking thus, the Morning golden bright had ouerronne
The compas halfe of heauen, and mids of skies she now did clime,
And haply speaking more, they should haue spent their pointed time,
But Sibly warning gaue.
The night approcheth fast, we weepe away the time in vaine.
Here is the place where now the way deuides it selfs in twaine.
The righthand path goth vnderneth the walles of Pluto deepe.
That way we must, if path to Paradise we thinke to keepe.
The lefthand leades to paine, and damned sinners sends to hell.
Than Deiphobus said. O prophet pure that doost excell,
Do thou no further freat, I will depart to yonder feeld
To fill the number there, and mee againe to darkenes yeeld.
Go worship, go thou glory great of Troy, with heauenly grace,
God send thee more good lucke, and with that word he turnd his pace.
All dueties done thou hast, nor more my ghost can thee desier.
But mee, mine own mischaunce, and Helen strompets mischiefe more
Hath plunged thus in paines, these tokens mee she left in store.
For whan that latter night with ioyes deceitfull vs did feede,
Thou knowst: and ouermuch therof to thinke we must of neede.
Whan first that fatall horse our contrey walles did ouerskip
With armour freyghted full, and harneist footemen downe did slip:
Dissembling than to daunse with songes, and himpnes in streets about
She drew the Troyan wiues, and in her hand amids the rout
She bare the burning torche, and from the towres the Greekes did lure.
Than ouercome with cares, I wofull miser sleeping sure
Within my chamber was, in pleasant ease, and laid at rest,
And slomber sweete and deepe, most like to death had mee opprest.
My goodly spouse this while, my wepons all way she cloind,
From all my house, and from my head my trusty sword purloind.
And Menelae her former husband cald, and fild the floores
With clusters great of Greekes, and open wide she set the doores,
And mee to them she gaue, for token chiefe of former loue,
That same of olde offence by that amendes she might remoue.
What should I longer make: into my chamber all they thrust,
With false Vlisses helpe. O gods redub them vengeaunce iust,
If due rewards I seeke it, Greekes with mee vniustly wrought.
But thee, aliue, what wondrous fortune here this time hath brought?
Declare to mee, by wandring wide at seas art comen astray?
Or gods appointment great, or what mischaunce doth thee dismay,
To see this troublous place, these houses heauy voide of sonne?
With talking thus, the Morning golden bright had ouerronne
The compas halfe of heauen, and mids of skies she now did clime,
And haply speaking more, they should haue spent their pointed time,
But Sibly warning gaue.
The night approcheth fast, we weepe away the time in vaine.
Here is the place where now the way deuides it selfs in twaine.
The righthand path goth vnderneth the walles of Pluto deepe.
That way we must, if path to Paradise we thinke to keepe.
The lefthand leades to paine, and damned sinners sends to hell.
Do thou no further freat, I will depart to yonder feeld
To fill the number there, and mee againe to darkenes yeeld.
Go worship, go thou glory great of Troy, with heauenly grace,
God send thee more good lucke, and with that word he turnd his pace.
Aeneas turnd his eyes, and in the rocke on lefthand side
A castle broad he seeth, with three thicke walles encompast wide.
Whom enuironned with rage of flaming flood that fier out spewes,
A dampish firy flood, that sounding stones outbelching stewes.
A gate against it stands, full huge of height, with pillers great
Of Adamant vncut, whom force of mankinde none can beat,
Nor gods themselues of heauen: vpstands to skies a brasen towre,
Where sits Tisiphonee with blood read tooles, and visage sowre,
That combrous monster feend, both daies & nights the watch she keepes
Before that entry grim, with gargell face, and neuer sleepes.
From thence wer howlings heard, & wretches wawling tost in paines,
And clinching loud of Iron, and gingling noise of dragging chaines.
Aeneas sterting stood, and all that bustling harkned to.
What vengeance nose is this? O virgin tell, what haue they do,
That thus tormented ben? what meanes this bounsing? this outrage?
Than Sibly thus began. O Troian duke of wisdome sage,
No good man may come neere this cursed house of dampned Hell.
But mee, whan in Auerna woods Diana set to dwell,
She taught mee than their paines, and through these places all did gide.
This boistous empier keepes sir Radamanthus, king of pride,
Correcting men for sinne, and all their falshodes heares and tries,
Constraining to confesse what euer thing they did in skies,
Differring till their death, as if all paines escaped were.
Anon, the giltie soules with ramping force and grisly feare
Tisiphonee doth take, and scourging them she swaps with whips,
And serpentes grim she shakes, and ouer them she stamping skips,
With flockes of swarming feends, and all her sisters out she calles,
Infernall hideous hags, and to their turments them she stalles.
Than verily with thondring fearfull noise, the sacred hookes
Doth opening turne their gates, seest what a gard against vs lookes?
What faces? what a watch there stands at euery gate in sight?
With fifty garing heads a monstrous dragon stands vpright?
Yet sits a worse within. Than, Hell it selfe, that sinkehole steepe
Two times as broad descendes, two times as hedlong downright deepe:
As heauen vpright is hie, if men therto from thence might peepe.
A castle broad he seeth, with three thicke walles encompast wide.
Whom enuironned with rage of flaming flood that fier out spewes,
A dampish firy flood, that sounding stones outbelching stewes.
A gate against it stands, full huge of height, with pillers great
Of Adamant vncut, whom force of mankinde none can beat,
Nor gods themselues of heauen: vpstands to skies a brasen towre,
Where sits Tisiphonee with blood read tooles, and visage sowre,
That combrous monster feend, both daies & nights the watch she keepes
Before that entry grim, with gargell face, and neuer sleepes.
From thence wer howlings heard, & wretches wawling tost in paines,
And clinching loud of Iron, and gingling noise of dragging chaines.
Aeneas sterting stood, and all that bustling harkned to.
What vengeance nose is this? O virgin tell, what haue they do,
That thus tormented ben? what meanes this bounsing? this outrage?
Than Sibly thus began. O Troian duke of wisdome sage,
No good man may come neere this cursed house of dampned Hell.
But mee, whan in Auerna woods Diana set to dwell,
She taught mee than their paines, and through these places all did gide.
This boistous empier keepes sir Radamanthus, king of pride,
Correcting men for sinne, and all their falshodes heares and tries,
Constraining to confesse what euer thing they did in skies,
Differring till their death, as if all paines escaped were.
Anon, the giltie soules with ramping force and grisly feare
Tisiphonee doth take, and scourging them she swaps with whips,
And serpentes grim she shakes, and ouer them she stamping skips,
With flockes of swarming feends, and all her sisters out she calles,
Infernall hideous hags, and to their turments them she stalles.
Than verily with thondring fearfull noise, the sacred hookes
Doth opening turne their gates, seest what a gard against vs lookes?
What faces? what a watch there stands at euery gate in sight?
With fifty garing heads a monstrous dragon stands vpright?
Yet sits a worse within. Than, Hell it selfe, that sinkehole steepe
As heauen vpright is hie, if men therto from thence might peepe.
There lie the Titans brood, and of dame Earth the linage olde
Downthrown with lightning dints, and in that gulf are tombling rold.
There saw I serpentfeeted bastards twaine, of Giaunts sise,
That in conflict with heauen, to teare the skies did enterprise,
Despising Ioue himfelfe, whom from his throne they would haue thrust.
Eke Sulmon there I saw, in cruell wreake of turmentes iust.
For he the flames of god, and thondring soundes would counterfeat.
He borne with horses foure, and shaking bronds and torches great
Through contreys all of Greece, and townes triumphing went about,
And honors due to God vsurping tooke of euery rout.
A frantik man, that peereles lightning clouds would thinke to skorne,
With brasse and ronning steedes, that footed ben with hoofe of horne.
But Ioue almighty than, a firy dart on him down flang,
His artes could him not helpe, nor cressets fierce wherwith he sprang.
But hedlong he to hell in whirling storme was thrown to deepes.
There plunged now in paines, he in the botom crawling creepes.
Downthrown with lightning dints, and in that gulf are tombling rold.
There saw I serpentfeeted bastards twaine, of Giaunts sise,
That in conflict with heauen, to teare the skies did enterprise,
Despising Ioue himfelfe, whom from his throne they would haue thrust.
Eke Sulmon there I saw, in cruell wreake of turmentes iust.
For he the flames of god, and thondring soundes would counterfeat.
He borne with horses foure, and shaking bronds and torches great
Through contreys all of Greece, and townes triumphing went about,
And honors due to God vsurping tooke of euery rout.
A frantik man, that peereles lightning clouds would thinke to skorne,
With brasse and ronning steedes, that footed ben with hoofe of horne.
But Ioue almighty than, a firy dart on him down flang,
His artes could him not helpe, nor cressets fierce wherwith he sprang.
But hedlong he to hell in whirling storme was thrown to deepes.
There plunged now in paines, he in the botom crawling creepes.
Eke Tition the darling deere of Earth which all thing breedes
You should haue seene, that furlongs nine of ground wt bodies spreedes.
And huge on him there sits, with crooked beake and croming pawes
A gastly Gripe, that euermore his growing guts outdrawes,
And tiring teareth forth his euerduring liuer vaines,
Nor neuer rest there is, but fresh renewes his endles paines.
What should I now rehearse the beastly Centaures rable all?
Whom ouer hangs a stone that euermore doth seeme to fall.
Their bridebeds faier are spred, and golden carpets shine full bright,
And precious princely fare before their face is set in sight.
Than comes the foulest feend, and all their deinties ouerbroodes,
Forbidding them to touch, and from their hands doth snatch their foods,
And beats with burning bronds & thōdrings thicke her mouth doth cast.
There they that did their brethren most abhor while life did last,
Or beat their parents, or their clients cause haue foule betraied,
And such as gathered goods vnto themselues and no man paied,
Nor almes neuer gaue, wherof there is to great a throng,
Or for aduoutry haue ben slaine, or reisid warres in wrong,
Or rebells to their prince, or maisters goods would not discerne:
Included in that Iaile their paines they bide. Seeke not to lerne.
What paines: what world of wo there is: how eche his fortune feeles.
Some rolles vnweldy rocks, some hangs on hie displaid on wheeles.
Some tombling tyre themselues. There euer sits and euer shall
Unhappy Theseus, and Phlegias most of misers all,
Among those caytiues darke and loude with voice to them doth rore,
Learne iustice now by this, and gods aboue despise no more.
One wretch his contrey solde, and prince of strength therto did call,
He forged lawes for bribes, and made, and mard, and altred all.
Another leapt into his doughters bed, confounding kindes,
All ment outragious deedes, and fild their foule outragious mindes.
Not if I had a hundred mouthes, a hundred tonges to spend,
And voyce as strong as steele, yet could I neuer comprehend
Their sondry sinnes & paines, nor of their names shuld make an end.
You should haue seene, that furlongs nine of ground wt bodies spreedes.
And huge on him there sits, with crooked beake and croming pawes
A gastly Gripe, that euermore his growing guts outdrawes,
And tiring teareth forth his euerduring liuer vaines,
Nor neuer rest there is, but fresh renewes his endles paines.
What should I now rehearse the beastly Centaures rable all?
Whom ouer hangs a stone that euermore doth seeme to fall.
Their bridebeds faier are spred, and golden carpets shine full bright,
And precious princely fare before their face is set in sight.
Than comes the foulest feend, and all their deinties ouerbroodes,
Forbidding them to touch, and from their hands doth snatch their foods,
And beats with burning bronds & thōdrings thicke her mouth doth cast.
There they that did their brethren most abhor while life did last,
Or beat their parents, or their clients cause haue foule betraied,
And such as gathered goods vnto themselues and no man paied,
Nor almes neuer gaue, wherof there is to great a throng,
Or for aduoutry haue ben slaine, or reisid warres in wrong,
Or rebells to their prince, or maisters goods would not discerne:
Included in that Iaile their paines they bide. Seeke not to lerne.
Some rolles vnweldy rocks, some hangs on hie displaid on wheeles.
Some tombling tyre themselues. There euer sits and euer shall
Unhappy Theseus, and Phlegias most of misers all,
Among those caytiues darke and loude with voice to them doth rore,
Learne iustice now by this, and gods aboue despise no more.
One wretch his contrey solde, and prince of strength therto did call,
He forged lawes for bribes, and made, and mard, and altred all.
Another leapt into his doughters bed, confounding kindes,
All ment outragious deedes, and fild their foule outragious mindes.
Not if I had a hundred mouthes, a hundred tonges to spend,
And voyce as strong as steele, yet could I neuer comprehend
Their sondry sinnes & paines, nor of their names shuld make an end.
When Sibly to Aeneas thus had sayd. Now make mee speede,
Go furth, kepe on thy way, performe those things that thou hast neede.
Dispatch we now (quoth she) I spie from hence the chimneis tops
Of Ciclops boistous walles, I see their gates their forge, and shops,
Where we commaunded be to leaue this gift of golden spraies.
She said, and ioyntly both they past through crooking darksome waies,
And marching through the mids, vnto the gates approched neere.
Aeneas through them rusht, and than him selfe with water cleere
Besprinckling, toke the braunche, and at the gate he fixt it fast.
Go furth, kepe on thy way, performe those things that thou hast neede.
Dispatch we now (quoth she) I spie from hence the chimneis tops
Of Ciclops boistous walles, I see their gates their forge, and shops,
Where we commaunded be to leaue this gift of golden spraies.
She said, and ioyntly both they past through crooking darksome waies,
And marching through the mids, vnto the gates approched neere.
Aeneas through them rusht, and than him selfe with water cleere
Besprinckling, toke the braunche, and at the gate he fixt it fast.
These things so done, and all the goddesse gift fulfild at last:
Into the gladsome feeldes they come, where arbers sweete and greene,
And blessed seates of soules, and pleasant woods and groues are seene.
A fresher feeld of aier whom larger light doth ouerstrow,
And purer breath, their priuat sonne, their priuat stars they know.
Some to disport them selues there sondry maistries tried on grasse.
And some their gambolds plaid, and some on sand there wrastling was.
Some frisking shake their feete, & measures tread & rimes they sowne.
And Orpheus among them stands, as priest in trayling gowne,
And twancling makes them tune, with notes of musike seuerall seuen,
And now with Yuery quill, now strings he strikes with fingers euen.
There were the Troyan lords, and antike stocke of noble race,
Most prudent princes strong, and borne in yeres of better grace.
Both Ilus, and Assaracus, and founder first of Troy,
King Dardan, at their armour weedes he wondred much with ioy.
Their speares beside them stand, their charets strong are set on ground,
Their comly coursing steedes along the launds do feede vnbound.
Whan minds, what loue they had, to deeds of arms whā life they drew,
Or what delite in steedes: the same them dead doth now pursue.
Another sort he seeth, with hand in hand where gras doth spring,
That feasting feede them selues, and heaue and how for ioy they singe.
Among the Laurell woods, and smelling floures of arbers sweete,
Where bubbling soft with sound the riuer fresh doth by them fleete.
There such as for their contreys loue while liues in them did last
In battel suffred wounds, or priestes that godly were and chast,
Or prophets pure of life, and worthy things to men did preach:
Or to adorne mans mortall life did science goodly teache:
Their heads are compas knit with garlond floures right fresh of hewe.
To whom than Sibly spake, as round about her fast they drew,
Onto Musæus first, for he inclosed is in throng
With numbers great of soules, and him they keepe alwaies among,
Bresthigh aboue them all, and all to him their heads incline.
Declare (quoth she) you blessed soules, and thou priest most diuine.
What place Anchises hath? where shal we find him? for his sake
We be come here, and passed haue the floods of Limbo lake.
Than vnto her the sacred priest with wordes full gentle spake.
No man hath certen house, but in these shadowes broad we dwell,
In beds of riuer bankes, and medowes new that sweetely smell.
But you, if such desire you haue, passe ouer yonder downes,
My selfe shall be your gide by easie path into those bownes.
He said, and went before them both and fieldes ful bright that shynd
He shewd them from aboue, and all the downes they left behind.
Into the gladsome feeldes they come, where arbers sweete and greene,
And blessed seates of soules, and pleasant woods and groues are seene.
A fresher feeld of aier whom larger light doth ouerstrow,
And purer breath, their priuat sonne, their priuat stars they know.
Some to disport them selues there sondry maistries tried on grasse.
And some their gambolds plaid, and some on sand there wrastling was.
Some frisking shake their feete, & measures tread & rimes they sowne.
And Orpheus among them stands, as priest in trayling gowne,
And twancling makes them tune, with notes of musike seuerall seuen,
And now with Yuery quill, now strings he strikes with fingers euen.
There were the Troyan lords, and antike stocke of noble race,
Most prudent princes strong, and borne in yeres of better grace.
Both Ilus, and Assaracus, and founder first of Troy,
King Dardan, at their armour weedes he wondred much with ioy.
Their speares beside them stand, their charets strong are set on ground,
Whan minds, what loue they had, to deeds of arms whā life they drew,
Or what delite in steedes: the same them dead doth now pursue.
Another sort he seeth, with hand in hand where gras doth spring,
That feasting feede them selues, and heaue and how for ioy they singe.
Among the Laurell woods, and smelling floures of arbers sweete,
Where bubbling soft with sound the riuer fresh doth by them fleete.
There such as for their contreys loue while liues in them did last
In battel suffred wounds, or priestes that godly were and chast,
Or prophets pure of life, and worthy things to men did preach:
Or to adorne mans mortall life did science goodly teache:
Their heads are compas knit with garlond floures right fresh of hewe.
To whom than Sibly spake, as round about her fast they drew,
Onto Musæus first, for he inclosed is in throng
With numbers great of soules, and him they keepe alwaies among,
Bresthigh aboue them all, and all to him their heads incline.
Declare (quoth she) you blessed soules, and thou priest most diuine.
What place Anchises hath? where shal we find him? for his sake
We be come here, and passed haue the floods of Limbo lake.
Than vnto her the sacred priest with wordes full gentle spake.
No man hath certen house, but in these shadowes broad we dwell,
In beds of riuer bankes, and medowes new that sweetely smell.
But you, if such desire you haue, passe ouer yonder downes,
My selfe shall be your gide by easie path into those bownes.
He said, and went before them both and fieldes ful bright that shynd
He shewd them from aboue, and all the downes they left behind.
Anchises prince, that time in pleasant vale surueying was
The soules included there that to the world againe should passe.
And reckned all his race, and childers childerns line he told,
And kest their destnies all, and liues, and lawes, and manhods bold.
He whan against him there Aeneas comming first beheld,
As he did walke in grasse, his hands to heauen for ioy vp held,
With tricling teares on cheekes, & thus his voyce from him did yeld.
The soules included there that to the world againe should passe.
And reckned all his race, and childers childerns line he told,
And kest their destnies all, and liues, and lawes, and manhods bold.
He whan against him there Aeneas comming first beheld,
As he did walke in grasse, his hands to heauen for ioy vp held,
With tricling teares on cheekes, & thus his voyce from him did yeld.
And art thou comen at last, long looked for, my son so deere?
Thy vertue ouercame this passage hard, and now so cleere,
Do I behold thy face? with rendring speech to speech of thine?
So verily mee thought, and in my minde I did deuine
Acompting still the times, nor mee my carcke hath not begilde.
What contreys thee (my son) what combrous seas? what nations wilde
Turmoyld with daungers all, thee scaped now do I receiue?
How sore affraid I was, lest Lybie lands should thee deceiue?
He therunto: Thy ghost O father sweet, thy greeuous ghost,
Perturbing in my dremes hath me compeld to see this coast.
On Tirrhen shore my nauy stands at seas, now let vs ioyne
Good father hand in hand, now thee from mee do not purloyne.
Thus talked he with teares.
Three times about his necke his armes he would haue set, and thries
In vaine his likenes fast he helde, for through his hands he flies
Like winde, vngropable, or dreames that men most swift espies.
Thy vertue ouercame this passage hard, and now so cleere,
Do I behold thy face? with rendring speech to speech of thine?
So verily mee thought, and in my minde I did deuine
Acompting still the times, nor mee my carcke hath not begilde.
Turmoyld with daungers all, thee scaped now do I receiue?
How sore affraid I was, lest Lybie lands should thee deceiue?
He therunto: Thy ghost O father sweet, thy greeuous ghost,
Perturbing in my dremes hath me compeld to see this coast.
On Tirrhen shore my nauy stands at seas, now let vs ioyne
Good father hand in hand, now thee from mee do not purloyne.
Thus talked he with teares.
Three times about his necke his armes he would haue set, and thries
In vaine his likenes fast he helde, for through his hands he flies
Like winde, vngropable, or dreames that men most swift espies.
This while Aeneas seeth a croked vale, and secret wood,
And shrubs of sounding trees, and fleeting through them Lethee flood,
With sleeping sound, that by those pleasant dwellings softly ran:
And peoples thicke on euery side that no man number can.
As bees in medowes fresh, (whom somer sun doth shining warme)
Assembling fall on floures, and Lilies white about they swarme,
With huzzing feruent noyse, that euery feeld of murmour ringes.
Aeneas with that sight amasid stood, and of those things
The causes all did axe, what flood it is, so dull that glides?
And what those peoples ben, that fill so thicke those water sides?
Anchises than to him. These soules (quoth he) that bodies new
Must yet againe receiue, and limmes eftsones with life endue,
Here at this Lethee flood they dwell, and from this water brincke
These liquors quēching cares, & long forgetful draughts they drink,
That of their liues, and former labours past, they neuer thinke.
And shrubs of sounding trees, and fleeting through them Lethee flood,
With sleeping sound, that by those pleasant dwellings softly ran:
And peoples thicke on euery side that no man number can.
As bees in medowes fresh, (whom somer sun doth shining warme)
Assembling fall on floures, and Lilies white about they swarme,
With huzzing feruent noyse, that euery feeld of murmour ringes.
Aeneas with that sight amasid stood, and of those things
The causes all did axe, what flood it is, so dull that glides?
And what those peoples ben, that fill so thicke those water sides?
Anchises than to him. These soules (quoth he) that bodies new
Must yet againe receiue, and limmes eftsones with life endue,
Here at this Lethee flood they dwell, and from this water brincke
These liquors quēching cares, & long forgetful draughts they drink,
That of their liues, and former labours past, they neuer thinke.
These things to thee, full trew I shall set forth before thine eyes,
And shew thee all our stocke, of thee and mee that shall arise,
That more thou maist reioyce Italia land to finde at last.
O father, is it true? may soules that ones this world hath past
And blessed ben in ioy, to bodies dull againe remoue?
What meane they so? why wretched wordly light do they so loue?
I will declare forsooth, nor long (my son) I will thee holde,
Anchises aunswer made, and all in order did vnfolde.
And shew thee all our stocke, of thee and mee that shall arise,
That more thou maist reioyce Italia land to finde at last.
O father, is it true? may soules that ones this world hath past
And blessed ben in ioy, to bodies dull againe remoue?
What meane they so? why wretched wordly light do they so loue?
I will declare forsooth, nor long (my son) I will thee holde,
Anchises aunswer made, and all in order did vnfolde.
First heauen and earth, and of the seas that flittring feeldes & fines,
These glorious stars, this glistring globe of moone so bright that shines,
One liuely soule there is, that feedes them all with breath of loue,
One mind through al these mēbers mixt this mighty masse doth moue.
From thence mankinde, & beasts, and liues of foules in aier that flies,
And all what marblefaced seas conteines of monstrous fries,
One chafing fier among them all there sits, and heauenly springes
Within their seedes, if bodies noisom them not backward bringes.
But lompe of liueles earth, and mortall members make them dull.
This causeth them, of lust, feare, griefe and ioy, to be so full.
Nor closed so in darke, can they regard their heauenly kinde,
For carcas foule of flesh, and dongeon vile of prison blinde.
Moreouer, whan their end of life, and light them doth forsake:
Yet can they not their sinnes nor sorowes all (poore soules) of shake.
Nor all contagions fleshly, from them voides, but must of neede
Much things congendred long, by wondrous meanes at last outspreed.
Therfore they plaged ben, and for their former fautes and sinnes
Their sondry paines they bide, some hie in ayer doth hang on pinnes.
Some fleeting ben in floods, and deepe in gulfes them selues they tier
Till sinnes away be washt, or clensed cleere with purgin fier.
Eche one of vs our penaunce here abides, than sent we bee
To Paradise at last, we few these fieldes of ioy do see:
Till compas long of time, by perfit course, hath purged quight
Our former cloddrid spots, and pure hath left our ghostly spright,
And sences pure of soule, and simple sparkes of heauenly light.
Than all, whan they a thousand yeres that wheele haue turnd about,
To drinke of Lethee flood, by clusters great, God calles them out.
That there forgetting all their former liues, and former sin,
The mortall world afresh, in bodies new they may begin.
Anchises said, and therwithall his sonne and Sibly takes,
And drawes them through ye mids of all that prease yt sounding makes,
Unto a mount, from whence they may their orders long a rowe,
By leysour ouer read, and as they come their faces knowe.
These glorious stars, this glistring globe of moone so bright that shines,
One liuely soule there is, that feedes them all with breath of loue,
One mind through al these mēbers mixt this mighty masse doth moue.
And all what marblefaced seas conteines of monstrous fries,
One chafing fier among them all there sits, and heauenly springes
Within their seedes, if bodies noisom them not backward bringes.
But lompe of liueles earth, and mortall members make them dull.
This causeth them, of lust, feare, griefe and ioy, to be so full.
Nor closed so in darke, can they regard their heauenly kinde,
For carcas foule of flesh, and dongeon vile of prison blinde.
Moreouer, whan their end of life, and light them doth forsake:
Yet can they not their sinnes nor sorowes all (poore soules) of shake.
Nor all contagions fleshly, from them voides, but must of neede
Much things congendred long, by wondrous meanes at last outspreed.
Therfore they plaged ben, and for their former fautes and sinnes
Their sondry paines they bide, some hie in ayer doth hang on pinnes.
Some fleeting ben in floods, and deepe in gulfes them selues they tier
Till sinnes away be washt, or clensed cleere with purgin fier.
Eche one of vs our penaunce here abides, than sent we bee
To Paradise at last, we few these fieldes of ioy do see:
Till compas long of time, by perfit course, hath purged quight
Our former cloddrid spots, and pure hath left our ghostly spright,
And sences pure of soule, and simple sparkes of heauenly light.
Than all, whan they a thousand yeres that wheele haue turnd about,
To drinke of Lethee flood, by clusters great, God calles them out.
That there forgetting all their former liues, and former sin,
The mortall world afresh, in bodies new they may begin.
Anchises said, and therwithall his sonne and Sibly takes,
And drawes them through ye mids of all that prease yt sounding makes,
Unto a mount, from whence they may their orders long a rowe,
By leysour ouer read, and as they come their faces knowe.
Now let vs see what glory great our Troyan line shall spreede,
And what redouted lusty lads, Italia land shall breede,
Most princely sprites, our noble Troyan fame aduaunce that shall,
In briefe I will dispatch, and thee declare thy destnies all.
Seest thou not yonder liuely child that leaning bendes his speare?
His lot is next to rise, and next in world his head shall reare,
Of Troyan and Italian blood commixt, thy worthy childe,
Thy Siluius, borne after thy deceasse in forest wilde.
Whom late at last to thee thy wife Lauinia bearing bringes,
A stately king him selfe, and father great of stately kinges.
From whom our linage long shal Alba kingdoms riche enioy.
Than yonder Procas next, the proud renown of former Troy,
And Numitor, and Capis good, and hee that thee by name
Shall represent, Aeneas Siluius of noble fame,
And deedes of armes with vertue mixt, if euer he may raigne,
If euer hee his Alba lands, and kingdoms may obtaine.
Which lusty lads behold, from them what corage doth redound,
And how their tops with oken bows, and ciuill crownes are bound.
They vnto thee Nomentum land, and Gabios townes shall tame,
And Fidenas, and cities great and proud they shall reclame.
Pometium, and Innus castles strong, and Bolam bowres,
And Collantine, and Coram hilles, suppresse they shall with toures.
These names shal than vprise, now nothing is but nameles dust.
Than Romulus, that valiant impe of Mars, him forth shal thrust,
To match his graunsir great, whan Ilia Queene shall bring to light
Of Troyan blood, seest not his dubblecreastid head vpright?
And with what grace the king of heauē doth mark his chosen knight?
And what redouted lusty lads, Italia land shall breede,
Most princely sprites, our noble Troyan fame aduaunce that shall,
In briefe I will dispatch, and thee declare thy destnies all.
Seest thou not yonder liuely child that leaning bendes his speare?
His lot is next to rise, and next in world his head shall reare,
Of Troyan and Italian blood commixt, thy worthy childe,
Thy Siluius, borne after thy deceasse in forest wilde.
Whom late at last to thee thy wife Lauinia bearing bringes,
From whom our linage long shal Alba kingdoms riche enioy.
Than yonder Procas next, the proud renown of former Troy,
And Numitor, and Capis good, and hee that thee by name
Shall represent, Aeneas Siluius of noble fame,
And deedes of armes with vertue mixt, if euer he may raigne,
If euer hee his Alba lands, and kingdoms may obtaine.
Which lusty lads behold, from them what corage doth redound,
And how their tops with oken bows, and ciuill crownes are bound.
They vnto thee Nomentum land, and Gabios townes shall tame,
And Fidenas, and cities great and proud they shall reclame.
Pometium, and Innus castles strong, and Bolam bowres,
And Collantine, and Coram hilles, suppresse they shall with toures.
These names shal than vprise, now nothing is but nameles dust.
Than Romulus, that valiant impe of Mars, him forth shal thrust,
To match his graunsir great, whan Ilia Queene shall bring to light
Of Troyan blood, seest not his dubblecreastid head vpright?
And with what grace the king of heauē doth mark his chosen knight?
Behold my son the man, for through his lucke and huge deuise,
That peereles mighty Rome, that glorious Rome aloft shal rise.
Whose rod shall rule the total earth, whose mindes shal match ye heuen,
And reyse their wals they shal, including toures, and mountains seuen,
Most fortunate in frute of men, as Berecinthia Queene,
From whom the race of Gods, and linage all discended beene.
She riding through the world, in charet borne with godly grace,
Her hundred deerlings sweete her childerns childern doth embrace
All heauenly wightes, all scepter bearers bright, in stars on hie.
Now this way turne thy face, and on this nation cast thine eie.
Behold thy Romains, see where Cæsar is, and of Iule
The progeny that vnder poles of heauen shal beare the rule.
This man, this is the man, of whom so oft I haue thee tolde,
Augustus Emprour, prince deuine, he shall the world of gold
Saturnus Golden world (sometime that was) eftsones restore.
On Garamants, and Indes, and contreys conquerd more and more
His empier out shall stretch. Beyond the starres the kingdoms ronne,
Beyond the firmament and signe, from course of yeare and sonne,
Where Atlas (mighty mount) on shoulders strong ye heuen doth turne,
And vnderprops the pole that beares the stars that euer burne.
At this mans comming, lo, euen very now, all Asia quakes
For drede, and temples great of Gods with aunsweres gresly shakes.
And Nilus flood for feare his issues seuen doth foule confound.
Nor neuer Hercules him selfe could walke so much of ground,
Though hee with dart the windy footed hinde did ouertyer,
Though monsters swift hee slew, and dragons quaking brent with fier.
Nor Bacchus victor so could nations wild and proud reclame,
Though he with bridling bits of vines did ride on Tigers tame.
And stand we still in doubt by valiaunt deedes to purchase fame?
Or for Italia land to fight, should we our destnies blame?
That peereles mighty Rome, that glorious Rome aloft shal rise.
Whose rod shall rule the total earth, whose mindes shal match ye heuen,
And reyse their wals they shal, including toures, and mountains seuen,
Most fortunate in frute of men, as Berecinthia Queene,
From whom the race of Gods, and linage all discended beene.
She riding through the world, in charet borne with godly grace,
Her hundred deerlings sweete her childerns childern doth embrace
All heauenly wightes, all scepter bearers bright, in stars on hie.
Now this way turne thy face, and on this nation cast thine eie.
Behold thy Romains, see where Cæsar is, and of Iule
The progeny that vnder poles of heauen shal beare the rule.
This man, this is the man, of whom so oft I haue thee tolde,
Augustus Emprour, prince deuine, he shall the world of gold
Saturnus Golden world (sometime that was) eftsones restore.
On Garamants, and Indes, and contreys conquerd more and more
His empier out shall stretch. Beyond the starres the kingdoms ronne,
Beyond the firmament and signe, from course of yeare and sonne,
Where Atlas (mighty mount) on shoulders strong ye heuen doth turne,
And vnderprops the pole that beares the stars that euer burne.
For drede, and temples great of Gods with aunsweres gresly shakes.
And Nilus flood for feare his issues seuen doth foule confound.
Nor neuer Hercules him selfe could walke so much of ground,
Though hee with dart the windy footed hinde did ouertyer,
Though monsters swift hee slew, and dragons quaking brent with fier.
Nor Bacchus victor so could nations wild and proud reclame,
Though he with bridling bits of vines did ride on Tigers tame.
And stand we still in doubt by valiaunt deedes to purchase fame?
Or for Italia land to fight, should we our destnies blame?
But what is yonder hee, that Oliue palme so comly beares?
Most like a priest? lo now I know, I know those hoary heares,
And whitish bearded chin of prudent Numa, Romain king,
That vnto lawes and peace shal first the simple people bring,
From poore estate to mighty kingdome cald, whom shal succeede
He that his contreys ydlenes shall breake, and force of neede
To stur them selues in armes, king Tullus, he shal vp reuiue
Their sluggish sprites, and teach to win, and triumphes eft atchiue.
Next vnto him, with greater boast, king Ancus them shall guide,
That of the peoples praise to much already takes a pride.
Wult see the Tarquin kings? and stately soule of Brutus brest?
Of Brutus, mischief wreaker? and by him the kings supprest?
He first the Consulship on him shall take, and first of all,
His onely sons vnto their death, for welth of Rome shall call,
Whan they with battailes new against the Consuls would rebell,
Himselfe for freedom fayer, with edge of axe shall do them quell.
Unlucky man, how euer latter age shall praise the same,
His contreys loue him driues, and greedy lust of endles fame.
See Decios, and Drusos, and his axe that doth distraine
Torquatus, Lo Camillus, standards lost that brings againe.
But yonder matches twaine, whom shine thou seest in harneis bright,
Now louing soules they bee, while both are wrapt in darke of night.
Alas, what wondrous wars? if euer they in life apeere,
What bloody fighting feeldes? what slaughters wild shall they vpsteere?
The fatherlaw from Alpes hilles, and towres of Fraunce shal fall.
The son in law, from Estern lands shal moue with armies all.
Not so my lads, not so, such greeuous wars do you not minde,
Nor with your hands your contreys wombe to teare be so vnkinde,
And chiefly thou, thou from the gods of heauen that doost descend,
Cast from thy hand thy wepons, O my blood.
He with triumphant ioy, in charet borne, and mighty traine
Shall clime the Capitoll of Rome, whan lords of Greekes are slaine,
And townes vprooted ben, Corinthus, Argos, great Micene,
He victor conquer shall, and from the ground subuert them cleane.
Another vanquish must Achilles brood, sir Pirrhus wilde,
And wreke his graunsirs old of Troy, and Pallas church defilde.
Who can but thinke of thee, most worthy Cato sterne of minde?
Or noble Cossus thee who can forgetting leaue behinde?
Or gracious Gracchus line, or captaines twaine who can withstand
Two Scipios? two thonderboltes of war: for Lybie land
A deadly fatall plage: or who can thee extoll ynough
Fabritius? that much canst do with small, or from thy plough
Serranus thou that comest? and after conquests sowest thy corne.
Where now away withdraw you wery mee? you noble borne
You Fabij? thou Maximus, thou onely art the man
That all our welth forlorne, by sober lingring reskue can.
Some forsing metals fine shal brasen shappes with breath endue,
I weene they will to marble stones giue life with likenesse true.
They causes best shal pleade, and course of heauen in wondrous wise,
They shall describe with rod, and teach the state of stars that rise.
Remember Romaine thou, to rule thy realmes with empier iust,
Let this thy practise bee. To much on peace set not thy lust,
Thy subiectes euer spare, and stomacks proud downe vanquish plaine.
So lord Anchises said, and (as they wondred) spake againe.
Behold, how gorgeous gay with spoyles Marcellus goth vpright,
Aboue all men, by shoulders hie he doth surmount them quight.
Hee, whan the Romaine state with great commotion troubled is,
Shal stay with horsemen stout, & make the Moores their purpose misse,
And ouerthrow their throngs, and rebell French in combat kylde,
His armour spoyles to Ioue, for offering third he shall vpyelde.
Most like a priest? lo now I know, I know those hoary heares,
And whitish bearded chin of prudent Numa, Romain king,
That vnto lawes and peace shal first the simple people bring,
From poore estate to mighty kingdome cald, whom shal succeede
He that his contreys ydlenes shall breake, and force of neede
To stur them selues in armes, king Tullus, he shal vp reuiue
Their sluggish sprites, and teach to win, and triumphes eft atchiue.
Next vnto him, with greater boast, king Ancus them shall guide,
That of the peoples praise to much already takes a pride.
Wult see the Tarquin kings? and stately soule of Brutus brest?
Of Brutus, mischief wreaker? and by him the kings supprest?
He first the Consulship on him shall take, and first of all,
His onely sons vnto their death, for welth of Rome shall call,
Whan they with battailes new against the Consuls would rebell,
Himselfe for freedom fayer, with edge of axe shall do them quell.
Unlucky man, how euer latter age shall praise the same,
His contreys loue him driues, and greedy lust of endles fame.
See Decios, and Drusos, and his axe that doth distraine
Torquatus, Lo Camillus, standards lost that brings againe.
But yonder matches twaine, whom shine thou seest in harneis bright,
Now louing soules they bee, while both are wrapt in darke of night.
Alas, what wondrous wars? if euer they in life apeere,
What bloody fighting feeldes? what slaughters wild shall they vpsteere?
The fatherlaw from Alpes hilles, and towres of Fraunce shal fall.
The son in law, from Estern lands shal moue with armies all.
Not so my lads, not so, such greeuous wars do you not minde,
Nor with your hands your contreys wombe to teare be so vnkinde,
And chiefly thou, thou from the gods of heauen that doost descend,
He with triumphant ioy, in charet borne, and mighty traine
Shall clime the Capitoll of Rome, whan lords of Greekes are slaine,
And townes vprooted ben, Corinthus, Argos, great Micene,
He victor conquer shall, and from the ground subuert them cleane.
Another vanquish must Achilles brood, sir Pirrhus wilde,
And wreke his graunsirs old of Troy, and Pallas church defilde.
Who can but thinke of thee, most worthy Cato sterne of minde?
Or noble Cossus thee who can forgetting leaue behinde?
Or gracious Gracchus line, or captaines twaine who can withstand
Two Scipios? two thonderboltes of war: for Lybie land
A deadly fatall plage: or who can thee extoll ynough
Fabritius? that much canst do with small, or from thy plough
Serranus thou that comest? and after conquests sowest thy corne.
Where now away withdraw you wery mee? you noble borne
You Fabij? thou Maximus, thou onely art the man
That all our welth forlorne, by sober lingring reskue can.
Some forsing metals fine shal brasen shappes with breath endue,
I weene they will to marble stones giue life with likenesse true.
They causes best shal pleade, and course of heauen in wondrous wise,
They shall describe with rod, and teach the state of stars that rise.
Remember Romaine thou, to rule thy realmes with empier iust,
Let this thy practise bee. To much on peace set not thy lust,
Thy subiectes euer spare, and stomacks proud downe vanquish plaine.
So lord Anchises said, and (as they wondred) spake againe.
Behold, how gorgeous gay with spoyles Marcellus goth vpright,
Aboue all men, by shoulders hie he doth surmount them quight.
Hee, whan the Romaine state with great commotion troubled is,
Shal stay with horsemen stout, & make the Moores their purpose misse,
And ouerthrow their throngs, and rebell French in combat kylde,
His armour spoyles to Ioue, for offering third he shall vpyelde.
Aeneas there, (for walke with him he saw a seemely knight,
A goodly springold yong in glistring armour shining bright,
But nothing glad in face, his eyes down cast did shew no cheere.)
O father, what is he that walkes with him as equall peere?
His onely son? or of his stocke some child of noble race?
What bustling makes his mates? how great he goth with portly grace?
But cloud of louring night his head full heauy wraps about.
Than lord Anchises spake, and from his eyes the teares brake out.
O son, thy peoples huge lamented losse seeke not to know.
The destnies shall this child, vnto the world, no more but show,
Nor suffer long to liue. O gods, though Rome you thinke too strong
And ouermuch to match, for enuie yet do vs no wrong.
What wailings loud of men in stretes, in feeldes, what mourning cries
In mighty campe of Mars, at this mans death in Rome shall rise?
What funeralls? what numbers dead of corpses shalt thou see?
O Tyber flood, whan fleeting nere his new tombe thou shalt flee?
Nor shall there neuer child, from Troian line that shal proceede,
Exalt his graunsirs hope so hie, nor neuer Rome shall breede
An impe of maruell more, nor more on man may iustly bost.
O vertue, O prescribed faith, O righthand valiaunt most.
Durst no man him haue met in armes conflicting, foteman fearce,
Or would he fomy horses sides with spurres encountring pearce.
O piteous child, if euer thou thy destnies hard maist breake:
Marcellus thou shalt bee. Now reatche mee Lillies, Lilly flours,
Giue purple Uiolets to mee, this neuews soule of ours
With giftes that I may spread, and though my labour be but vaine,
Yet do my duety deere I shall. Thus did they long complaine.
And compas round the campe they wandring went, and vewd about,
In borders broad of ayer, and of the soules surueied the rout.
Which whan Anchises thus had shewd his son in order due,
And kindled glad his minde with fame of things that should ensue:
Than him of all his warres, and great affaires to come, he told,
Of king Latines towne, and of his realmes and peoples bold,
And how eche labour best may voided bee, or easely borne.
Two gates of sleepe there bee, the one men say is made of horne,
Wherthrough by passage soft do sprites ascend with sences right.
That other gate doth shine, and is compact of Yuery bright,
But false deceitful dreames that way the soules are woont to send.
With talking thus, whan lord Anchises first had made an end,
And counsaile gaue his son, and al his minde had put from dout,
He brought them both, and through the Yuery gate he let them out.
He toke his way forthwith, and to his nauy went by land.
And finding there his mates, he brought them to Caieta strand.
Their ankers frō their foreships cast, their pups on shore they stand.
A goodly springold yong in glistring armour shining bright,
But nothing glad in face, his eyes down cast did shew no cheere.)
O father, what is he that walkes with him as equall peere?
His onely son? or of his stocke some child of noble race?
What bustling makes his mates? how great he goth with portly grace?
But cloud of louring night his head full heauy wraps about.
Than lord Anchises spake, and from his eyes the teares brake out.
The destnies shall this child, vnto the world, no more but show,
Nor suffer long to liue. O gods, though Rome you thinke too strong
And ouermuch to match, for enuie yet do vs no wrong.
What wailings loud of men in stretes, in feeldes, what mourning cries
In mighty campe of Mars, at this mans death in Rome shall rise?
What funeralls? what numbers dead of corpses shalt thou see?
O Tyber flood, whan fleeting nere his new tombe thou shalt flee?
Nor shall there neuer child, from Troian line that shal proceede,
Exalt his graunsirs hope so hie, nor neuer Rome shall breede
An impe of maruell more, nor more on man may iustly bost.
O vertue, O prescribed faith, O righthand valiaunt most.
Durst no man him haue met in armes conflicting, foteman fearce,
Or would he fomy horses sides with spurres encountring pearce.
O piteous child, if euer thou thy destnies hard maist breake:
Marcellus thou shalt bee. Now reatche mee Lillies, Lilly flours,
Giue purple Uiolets to mee, this neuews soule of ours
With giftes that I may spread, and though my labour be but vaine,
Yet do my duety deere I shall. Thus did they long complaine.
And compas round the campe they wandring went, and vewd about,
In borders broad of ayer, and of the soules surueied the rout.
Which whan Anchises thus had shewd his son in order due,
And kindled glad his minde with fame of things that should ensue:
Than him of all his warres, and great affaires to come, he told,
Of king Latines towne, and of his realmes and peoples bold,
And how eche labour best may voided bee, or easely borne.
Two gates of sleepe there bee, the one men say is made of horne,
Wherthrough by passage soft do sprites ascend with sences right.
That other gate doth shine, and is compact of Yuery bright,
But false deceitful dreames that way the soules are woont to send.
With talking thus, whan lord Anchises first had made an end,
And counsaile gaue his son, and al his minde had put from dout,
He brought them both, and through the Yuery gate he let them out.
He toke his way forthwith, and to his nauy went by land.
And finding there his mates, he brought them to Caieta strand.
Their ankers frō their foreships cast, their pups on shore they stand.
DEO GRATIAS.
Per T. Phaer in foresta Kilgerran 13. Augusti, 1557. Opus triginta dierum.
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