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 THIRDE BOOKE OF the Æneidos of Uirgill.
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 | The .xiii. Bookes of Aeneidos |  |
THE THIRDE BOOKE OF the Æneidos of Uirgill.
The Argument.
When Troy was vtterly subuerted, Aeneas hauinge gathered together in flight his company, that remained after the great fier and slaughter, and hauing obtained of Atander a fleete of twenty sayle: arriueth first in Thracia. Wheras, when he began to build a citie, being terrefied through the prodigious tokens of Polydorus yt was slaine by Polymnestor: he departeth to Delos, & there taking counsel of ye Oracle of Apollo, and aduertised that he must go to yt land from whence his auncestors first descended: through the false enterpretation of Anchises his father, arriued in Creta where he began also to lay the foundations of a Citie. And being there afflicted with a great plague of pestilence: was warned by his houshold Gods in his slepe, that he should leaue Creta, and goe to Italy. In which iorney, by a tempest he was driuen to the Ilandes Strophades, and there much troubled by the Harpyes, & shortly after arriuing at Actium: made playes in the honour of Apollo. From thence he sayled by Corcyra into Epyrus, wheras Helenus ye son of Priamus raygned, yt maryed Andromache after the death of Pyrrhus. By whom he was courteously entertained, and admonished of the perils which he should substayne both by sea and land. Frō thence he sayleth to Tarentum, and passing along by the first shoare of Italy: arriueth on that side that lieth neare to the Mounte Aetna, and there hee receaueth Achæmenides who was left in the Cyclops den by Vlisses: anon from thence he hoyseth sayle as Helenus commaunded, and passeth by Scylla & Carybdis. And coastinge along the shoare of Sycilye taketh land at Drepanus, where Anchises partly weakened by age, and partly by trauaile ended his life. From thence sayling towardes Italy: hee was driuen into Affrike by a tempestous weather raised by Aeolus, as is expressed in the first booke.
Whan
Asia state was ouerthrowen, and Priams kingdome stout
All gitles by the power of gods aboue was rooted out,
And downe the fortresse proude was falne that Glorious Ilion hyght,
And flat on ground all Neptunes Troy lay smoking broad in sight:
To diuers londes and diuers coasts, like outlawd men, compeld
By tokens of the Gods we were, to seeke from thence expeld,
And vnderneath Antander hill, and mountes of Ida name,
In Phrygi lond our nauy great we wrought and vp did frame,
Uncertein wherupon to stay, where destnies vs doth gyde,
And power of men assembleth fast. Scant sommer first wee spied:
Whan sayles onto the windes to set my father Anchises cries.
Than parting from my contrey shores and hauens with weeping eies,
The feeldes where Troy did stand I leaue, forth outlaw fare I right,
My son my mates & frends wt me through deepe seas tooke their flight
My sayntes my cuntrey Gods also that are full great of might.
All gitles by the power of gods aboue was rooted out,
And downe the fortresse proude was falne that Glorious Ilion hyght,
And flat on ground all Neptunes Troy lay smoking broad in sight:
By tokens of the Gods we were, to seeke from thence expeld,
And vnderneath Antander hill, and mountes of Ida name,
In Phrygi lond our nauy great we wrought and vp did frame,
Uncertein wherupon to stay, where destnies vs doth gyde,
And power of men assembleth fast. Scant sommer first wee spied:
Whan sayles onto the windes to set my father Anchises cries.
Than parting from my contrey shores and hauens with weeping eies,
The feeldes where Troy did stand I leaue, forth outlaw fare I right,
My son my mates & frends wt me through deepe seas tooke their flight
My sayntes my cuntrey Gods also that are full great of might.
There lieth a land far loof at seas, where Mars is lord, and wheare
The largy feeldes and fertill soyle mee Thracia cald, doth eare.
Sometime Lycurgus fearre therin did reygne and empier hold.
An auncient stay to Troy, and like in faith and freendship old
While fortune was. To that I went, and on the crooked shore
Foundations first of walls I laid with destnies lucke full sore.
And of my name their name I shoope, and Aeneads them call.
Unto the mother of Gods that time, and heauenly persons all
Great sacrifice I made, for lucke my woorkes to prosper new,
And to the king of heauen himselfe a bright bull downe I slew.
A banke by chaunce by mee there stoode, where bright as horne of hew
With rods vpright and braunches thicke a Myrtill bushe there grew.
I drew mee neare, and from the ground the greene brush vp I pull,
Myne altars to adorne therwith with bows and shadowes full.
A dreedfull sight and monster (maruell great to tell) I found.
For from the twig that first I brake and rootes I rent from ground.
The blacke blood out doth breake, & downe with trickling drops it trils
Defiling foule the soyle, with that for feare my body chilles.
My limmes do quake, my blood for dread doth shrinke with frosty colde.
Another braunche againe to plucke with force I waxed bolde,
The cause therof to learne, and see what thing therunder lay.
That other braunche againe doth bleede, and blacke doth mee beray.
Great things in minde I kest, and straight the feeld Nimphes I adore,
And Mars the father great that prince is of that lond and shore,
Good fortune mee to send, and turne that sight to good they shuld.
But whan the thyrd time twigs to take with greater might I puld,
And knees against the sand I set with force, what shall I doo?
Speake out, or silence keepe? a piteous wailing vs vnto
Was heard from out the hill, and voice thus groning spake me to.
Why doost thou thus Aeneas mee most wofull miser teare?
Abstaine thy graue to file, from sin thy gentle hands forbeare.
I am to thee no straunger borne, nor thus deserue to speede,
This blood thou seest from out this stub ywis doth not proceede.
Flee, flee (alas) this cursed shore, flee from this greedy land,
For I am Polidore, in this place slayne I was with hand,
This bush of dartes is growne, & sharp with pricks on me they stād.
The largy feeldes and fertill soyle mee Thracia cald, doth eare.
Sometime Lycurgus fearre therin did reygne and empier hold.
An auncient stay to Troy, and like in faith and freendship old
While fortune was. To that I went, and on the crooked shore
Foundations first of walls I laid with destnies lucke full sore.
And of my name their name I shoope, and Aeneads them call.
Unto the mother of Gods that time, and heauenly persons all
Great sacrifice I made, for lucke my woorkes to prosper new,
And to the king of heauen himselfe a bright bull downe I slew.
A banke by chaunce by mee there stoode, where bright as horne of hew
With rods vpright and braunches thicke a Myrtill bushe there grew.
I drew mee neare, and from the ground the greene brush vp I pull,
Myne altars to adorne therwith with bows and shadowes full.
A dreedfull sight and monster (maruell great to tell) I found.
For from the twig that first I brake and rootes I rent from ground.
The blacke blood out doth breake, & downe with trickling drops it trils
Defiling foule the soyle, with that for feare my body chilles.
My limmes do quake, my blood for dread doth shrinke with frosty colde.
Another braunche againe to plucke with force I waxed bolde,
The cause therof to learne, and see what thing therunder lay.
That other braunche againe doth bleede, and blacke doth mee beray.
Great things in minde I kest, and straight the feeld Nimphes I adore,
And Mars the father great that prince is of that lond and shore,
Good fortune mee to send, and turne that sight to good they shuld.
But whan the thyrd time twigs to take with greater might I puld,
And knees against the sand I set with force, what shall I doo?
Was heard from out the hill, and voice thus groning spake me to.
Why doost thou thus Aeneas mee most wofull miser teare?
Abstaine thy graue to file, from sin thy gentle hands forbeare.
I am to thee no straunger borne, nor thus deserue to speede,
This blood thou seest from out this stub ywis doth not proceede.
Flee, flee (alas) this cursed shore, flee from this greedy land,
For I am Polidore, in this place slayne I was with hand,
This bush of dartes is growne, & sharp with pricks on me they stād.
Than more with doubt and dread opprest my minde fro me was past.
I stoinid, and my hear vpstert, my mouth for feare was fast,
This Polidore sometime, with gold of weight full huge to tell,
His father Priam king (good man) by stelth had sent to dwell
Unto the king of Thrace, whan first to Troy he gan mistrust,
Whan hee the citie sieged saw, that needes defend hee must.
But hee whan Troy decay began and fortune fourth was past,
The stronger part he tooke, and (Agamemnon ayding fast)
All truth hee brake, and Polidore of chops, and than the gold
By force into his hands hee caught, and held, What can be told?
Or what is it that hunger sweete of gold doth not constraine
Men mortall to attempt? whan feare my bones forsooke againe,
Unto the peoples lordes I went, and first vnto my sier,
The monsters of the Gods I shew, their councels I requier.
All they with one assent do bid that cursed lond forsake.
To leaue that hostrie vile, and ships to windes at south betake.
Anon therfore to Polidore a herse we gan prepare,
And huge in heyght his tombe we reare, all altars hanged are
with weedes of mourning hewes, and Cipres trees and blacke deuise,
And Troian wiues about with hear vnfold as is theyr gise.
Great fomy boolles of milke wee threw luke warme on him to fall,
And holy blood in basons brought wee poure, and last of all
Wee shright, and on his soule our last with great cries out wee call,
Than whan the seas we see to trust and winde with pipling sweete
Is out at sowth, and to the seas to sayle doth call the fleete:
My mates their ships set forth, and shores with men they mustred all,
To seas wee flee, and as we flee, both townes and hilles do fall.
I stoinid, and my hear vpstert, my mouth for feare was fast,
This Polidore sometime, with gold of weight full huge to tell,
His father Priam king (good man) by stelth had sent to dwell
Unto the king of Thrace, whan first to Troy he gan mistrust,
Whan hee the citie sieged saw, that needes defend hee must.
But hee whan Troy decay began and fortune fourth was past,
The stronger part he tooke, and (Agamemnon ayding fast)
All truth hee brake, and Polidore of chops, and than the gold
By force into his hands hee caught, and held, What can be told?
Or what is it that hunger sweete of gold doth not constraine
Men mortall to attempt? whan feare my bones forsooke againe,
Unto the peoples lordes I went, and first vnto my sier,
The monsters of the Gods I shew, their councels I requier.
All they with one assent do bid that cursed lond forsake.
To leaue that hostrie vile, and ships to windes at south betake.
Anon therfore to Polidore a herse we gan prepare,
And huge in heyght his tombe we reare, all altars hanged are
with weedes of mourning hewes, and Cipres trees and blacke deuise,
And Troian wiues about with hear vnfold as is theyr gise.
Great fomy boolles of milke wee threw luke warme on him to fall,
And holy blood in basons brought wee poure, and last of all
Wee shright, and on his soule our last with great cries out wee call,
Than whan the seas we see to trust and winde with pipling sweete
Is out at sowth, and to the seas to sayle doth call the fleete:
My mates their ships set forth, and shores with men they mustred all,
To seas wee flee, and as we flee, both townes and hilles do fall.
There is a lond in mid sea set whom Neptune deere doth loue,
And mother of the Mermaides eke, that lond sometime did houe
In floodes, and to and fro did stray, till Phœbus it did binde
With landes about, and fixt it fast, and bad defie the winde,
With Giarus and Mieonee (two countreys) strongly stayed.
Whan in we came, our weary ships in hauen at rest wee layed.
And went to worship Phœbus towne, and giftes with vs we beare.
King Anius, king of men and Phœbus preest against vs there,
His head with holy labels layd and crowne of laurell greene
Came out, and welcome bad his freend Anchises long vnseene.
Than hand in hand wee set, and lodging tooke in houses hie.
I worship eke the temple there that to that God I spie
Of auncient stone: O Phœbus bright giue me some house to dwell,
Giue walls to weary men and town from whence may none expell.
Haue mercy vpon our blood and saue of Troy this last remaine,
The leauinges of Achilles wilde and Greekes abiectes vnslaine.
Who shall vs leade? or where apoint our place it may thee please?
Our rest to take, giue token God, enspier our hartes with ease.
Scant this I said, whan trembling fast with sodein shew to shooue
The Laurel trees gan quake, and dores, and thresholdes all do mooue.
The mount therwith doth bend, and vp the gates with roring brekes,
Adown to ground all flat wee fall, and strait a voice there spekes.
Ye Troians tough, the ground that you first bare from parents bold:
The same shal you receiue againe, seeke out your grandame old.
For there Aeneas house shall stand, whom contreis all shall dreede.
And childerns childe and all their ligne that of them shall proceede.
This Phœbus said, and wee for ioy great noyse and murmur make,
And what those walls should be wee scan, and councel great we take
What place it is that Phœbus bids to seeke, and where to finde.
My father than the stories old of auncient men to minde
Doth call, and than, you lordes (quoth hee) lay now to mee your eare,
And marke mee well, for now of mee your great hope shall you leare.
Candy from hence in mid sea lieth, Ioues ylond great it is,
Where Ida mount doth stand, and where first sprang our stock ere this.
A hundred mighty townes they keepe, most frutefull soile to till:
From whence our auncient gransir great (if true report I skill)
King Teucrus issued first, and on the coast of Rhoeta hyt.
And there his kingdome first began, Troy was not vp as yet,
Nor Ilion toures did stand, but there in low vales did they dwell.
Cibele wildernes doth haunt therin with sounding bell.
And Coribantes beat their brasse the moone from clips to cure.
From thence wee haue that seruice time we keepe with silence pure,
For Lions in that ladies chare their yokes to draw do beare.
Come on therfore, and where the Gods do call, let vs go there.
Please wee the windes, and foorth to Candy kingdomes let vs wend,
The course is not so long (if Ioue vs lucke vouchsaue to send)
Our ships on Candy shore to stand the third day shall we see.
So speaking, on his altars there due honours kill did hee,
A bull to thee O Neptune first, a bull to Phœbus bright,
A blacke beast to the winter storme, to western slaws a white.
And mother of the Mermaides eke, that lond sometime did houe
With landes about, and fixt it fast, and bad defie the winde,
With Giarus and Mieonee (two countreys) strongly stayed.
Whan in we came, our weary ships in hauen at rest wee layed.
And went to worship Phœbus towne, and giftes with vs we beare.
King Anius, king of men and Phœbus preest against vs there,
His head with holy labels layd and crowne of laurell greene
Came out, and welcome bad his freend Anchises long vnseene.
Than hand in hand wee set, and lodging tooke in houses hie.
I worship eke the temple there that to that God I spie
Of auncient stone: O Phœbus bright giue me some house to dwell,
Giue walls to weary men and town from whence may none expell.
Haue mercy vpon our blood and saue of Troy this last remaine,
The leauinges of Achilles wilde and Greekes abiectes vnslaine.
Who shall vs leade? or where apoint our place it may thee please?
Our rest to take, giue token God, enspier our hartes with ease.
Scant this I said, whan trembling fast with sodein shew to shooue
The Laurel trees gan quake, and dores, and thresholdes all do mooue.
The mount therwith doth bend, and vp the gates with roring brekes,
Adown to ground all flat wee fall, and strait a voice there spekes.
Ye Troians tough, the ground that you first bare from parents bold:
The same shal you receiue againe, seeke out your grandame old.
For there Aeneas house shall stand, whom contreis all shall dreede.
And childerns childe and all their ligne that of them shall proceede.
This Phœbus said, and wee for ioy great noyse and murmur make,
And what those walls should be wee scan, and councel great we take
What place it is that Phœbus bids to seeke, and where to finde.
My father than the stories old of auncient men to minde
Doth call, and than, you lordes (quoth hee) lay now to mee your eare,
And marke mee well, for now of mee your great hope shall you leare.
Candy from hence in mid sea lieth, Ioues ylond great it is,
Where Ida mount doth stand, and where first sprang our stock ere this.
A hundred mighty townes they keepe, most frutefull soile to till:
From whence our auncient gransir great (if true report I skill)
King Teucrus issued first, and on the coast of Rhoeta hyt.
And there his kingdome first began, Troy was not vp as yet,
Nor Ilion toures did stand, but there in low vales did they dwell.
Cibele wildernes doth haunt therin with sounding bell.
From thence wee haue that seruice time we keepe with silence pure,
For Lions in that ladies chare their yokes to draw do beare.
Come on therfore, and where the Gods do call, let vs go there.
Please wee the windes, and foorth to Candy kingdomes let vs wend,
The course is not so long (if Ioue vs lucke vouchsaue to send)
Our ships on Candy shore to stand the third day shall we see.
So speaking, on his altars there due honours kill did hee,
A bull to thee O Neptune first, a bull to Phœbus bright,
A blacke beast to the winter storme, to western slaws a white.
There flieth a fame that of his fathers kingdoms quite forsake,
Idomeneus duke therof expelde his flight hath take.
And all the coast of Candy lieth wide open for their foes,
Unfenced, and the townes of people voyd, so rumour goes.
Anon therfore our hauens we left, and through the seas we flie,
By geeene Donisa, and Naron hills where men to Bacchus crie.
Olearon, and Paron white as snow, and skattrid wide
Of Cicladas we compas lands, that rough seas makes to ride.
The mariners their shoutes vp set, eche man his mate doth bold,
To Candy let vs cheerely fare, to seeke our gransiers old.
A mery coole of winde them fast pursueth, and foorth doth driue,
And at the length on Candy coast our ships wee do arriue.
My town therfore (with great desier) and walls I gin to frame,
And Pergam I the citie call, right glad they take that name,
I courage them that lond to loue, and towres and temples byld.
And now welneare our ships vp set, drie lond our nauy hyld,
With weddings and with tillage new the youth them selues applies,
And houses eke and lawes I gaue: whan sodenly doth rise
Among them (foule) a plage, and piteous murreyn to be thought,
The skies corrupted were, that trees and corne destroied to nought,
And limmes of men consuming cottes, such yere of death them deares,
That sweete life of they leaue, or long their greeuous wo them weares.
The Dog star vp doth rise, the soyle for heat of sonne doth frie,
That graine and grasse vp dries, and feelds of foode doth men denie.
Agayn to Phœbus holy seat, yet backe againe our way
Through seas my father bids vs turne, and Phœbus mercy pray.
What end of wo to wery men he puts, and how from paine
Our selues we may relieue, and where from thence to turne againe.
Than was it night, and on the ground all creatures laid a sleepe,
The gods of Phrygi lond, whom I with me full deare did keepe,
Whom from the mids of burning Troy with mee I brought in flight
Before mine eyes (as dreame I did) I saw to stand vpright,
All shining in their glory bright beholde I might them cleere,
The way that through my window than the full moone did appeere,
They spake also, and thus from mee they lighten gan my cheere.
Idomeneus duke therof expelde his flight hath take.
And all the coast of Candy lieth wide open for their foes,
Unfenced, and the townes of people voyd, so rumour goes.
Anon therfore our hauens we left, and through the seas we flie,
By geeene Donisa, and Naron hills where men to Bacchus crie.
Olearon, and Paron white as snow, and skattrid wide
Of Cicladas we compas lands, that rough seas makes to ride.
The mariners their shoutes vp set, eche man his mate doth bold,
To Candy let vs cheerely fare, to seeke our gransiers old.
A mery coole of winde them fast pursueth, and foorth doth driue,
And at the length on Candy coast our ships wee do arriue.
My town therfore (with great desier) and walls I gin to frame,
And Pergam I the citie call, right glad they take that name,
I courage them that lond to loue, and towres and temples byld.
And now welneare our ships vp set, drie lond our nauy hyld,
With weddings and with tillage new the youth them selues applies,
And houses eke and lawes I gaue: whan sodenly doth rise
Among them (foule) a plage, and piteous murreyn to be thought,
The skies corrupted were, that trees and corne destroied to nought,
And limmes of men consuming cottes, such yere of death them deares,
That sweete life of they leaue, or long their greeuous wo them weares.
The Dog star vp doth rise, the soyle for heat of sonne doth frie,
That graine and grasse vp dries, and feelds of foode doth men denie.
Agayn to Phœbus holy seat, yet backe againe our way
Through seas my father bids vs turne, and Phœbus mercy pray.
What end of wo to wery men he puts, and how from paine
Our selues we may relieue, and where from thence to turne againe.
The gods of Phrygi lond, whom I with me full deare did keepe,
Whom from the mids of burning Troy with mee I brought in flight
Before mine eyes (as dreame I did) I saw to stand vpright,
All shining in their glory bright beholde I might them cleere,
The way that through my window than the full moone did appeere,
They spake also, and thus from mee they lighten gan my cheere.
The thing that of Apollo now to know you doo entend,
He speakes it here, and vs to thee with glad will doth hee send.
Wee from the flames of Troy with thee thine army came to gyde.
Wee vnder thee with nauy great the salt seas broad haue tried.
Wee be the same that to the stars thy ligne shall lift with pride,
And empier great we shall thee geue, and citie great to reare,
For mightie men make mighty walles, long flight do thou not feare,
Chaunge yet thy place, not here it is that Phœbus bids thee bide,
It is not here to Candy shore Apollo thee did guide.
There is a place the Greekes by name Hesperia do call,
An auncient lond and feirce in war, and frutefull soile withall.
Out from Oenotria they came, that first did till the same,
Now Italy men saith is cald, so, of the captaines name.
There be our dwelling seates frō thence king Dardan selfe was borne,
And Iaseus the prince from whom our ligne descends beforne.
Arise, go to, and tell this thing vnto thy father deare,
Seke out Italia land, the shores of Corit coast enqueare,
Be bolde, proceede for Ioue doth thee from Candy contreis take.
Astoined I with this was made whan gods to mee so spake.
For slomber was it not (me thought) but plaine their faces bright,
And solded hear be wrapt I saw, and knew them sure by sight:
With colde swete all my body than did ronne, and therwithall
From out my bed I leapt, and strait on knees there downe I fall.
My hands to heauen I held, and praied, and giftes and offringes pure,
In fiers to them I threw, and all my duty don with cure:
Anchises I asserteyne than, and him declare the caas.
Anone the doubtfull ligne he knew, how hee begylid was,
By graunsyrs twain and children twain, and places olde mistake.
Than said he thus, O son whom Troy by destnies tough doth make.
Cassandra alone, of all mankinde, these things to mee did tell,
These chaunces of our stocke she sang, I now remembre well.
Of Italy full oft she spake, oft of Hesperia shore.
But who could euer thinke that time, or this beleeue before?
That Troians to Hesperia land should come to dwell at last?
Of prophecies, or who that time of mad Cassandra past?
To Phœbus let vs yeeld, and after warning take the best.
So spake he, and anon with ioy all wee obeyed him prest.
That seat also wee than forsake, and (few folke left behinde)
With beames through hugy seas wee cut, and sailes set vp for winde.
He speakes it here, and vs to thee with glad will doth hee send.
Wee from the flames of Troy with thee thine army came to gyde.
Wee vnder thee with nauy great the salt seas broad haue tried.
Wee be the same that to the stars thy ligne shall lift with pride,
And empier great we shall thee geue, and citie great to reare,
For mightie men make mighty walles, long flight do thou not feare,
Chaunge yet thy place, not here it is that Phœbus bids thee bide,
It is not here to Candy shore Apollo thee did guide.
There is a place the Greekes by name Hesperia do call,
An auncient lond and feirce in war, and frutefull soile withall.
Out from Oenotria they came, that first did till the same,
Now Italy men saith is cald, so, of the captaines name.
There be our dwelling seates frō thence king Dardan selfe was borne,
And Iaseus the prince from whom our ligne descends beforne.
Arise, go to, and tell this thing vnto thy father deare,
Seke out Italia land, the shores of Corit coast enqueare,
Be bolde, proceede for Ioue doth thee from Candy contreis take.
Astoined I with this was made whan gods to mee so spake.
For slomber was it not (me thought) but plaine their faces bright,
And solded hear be wrapt I saw, and knew them sure by sight:
With colde swete all my body than did ronne, and therwithall
From out my bed I leapt, and strait on knees there downe I fall.
My hands to heauen I held, and praied, and giftes and offringes pure,
In fiers to them I threw, and all my duty don with cure:
Anchises I asserteyne than, and him declare the caas.
Anone the doubtfull ligne he knew, how hee begylid was,
By graunsyrs twain and children twain, and places olde mistake.
Than said he thus, O son whom Troy by destnies tough doth make.
Cassandra alone, of all mankinde, these things to mee did tell,
These chaunces of our stocke she sang, I now remembre well.
But who could euer thinke that time, or this beleeue before?
That Troians to Hesperia land should come to dwell at last?
Of prophecies, or who that time of mad Cassandra past?
To Phœbus let vs yeeld, and after warning take the best.
So spake he, and anon with ioy all wee obeyed him prest.
That seat also wee than forsake, and (few folke left behinde)
With beames through hugy seas wee cut, and sailes set vp for winde.
Whan to the deepe our ships were come, and now on neither side
Appeeres no land, but seas and skies about vs broad are spied:
A shoure aboue my head there stood all dusky blacke with blew,
Both night and storme it brought, & rough the waters dark their hewe.
Straight all the seas with windes are tost, and mighty surges rise,
And through the deepes we to and fro be thrown in wonders wise.
The cloudes inclosid haue the day: dim night hath hid the heauen:
And from the skies the lightning fiers do flash with grisly steauen.
From out our course we be disperst, and blinde in waues we stray,
Eke hee him selfe our maister there can skant the night from day
Discerne hee sayth, so trobleth him the tempest Palmure,
Nor in the waters wilde his way to hold he can be sure.
Three daies therfore vncerten where wee go, withouten sun
In seas we wander wide, and three nights like in darke we run
Withouten star: the fourth day land to rise we spied at last,
And mountaines far in sight are seene, and smoke do seeme to cast.
Our sailes forthwith do fall, and vp with ores, and than anon
The mariners do sweepe the seas, and through the fome they gon.
Escaping so the streames on shore at Strophades I light,
At Strophades, for so their names in Greekish toong doth hight.
For Ilands in the salt sea great they stand, wherin doth dwell
Celeno foule mishapen bird, and Harpies more right fell:
Since Phines house from them was shut, their former fare they fled.
A monster more to feare than them, nor plage was neuer bred.
Nor from the pit of hell vp start the wreke of god so wilde.
Like foules with maidens face they ben, their paunches wide defilde
With garbage great, their hooked pawes they sprede, and euer pale
With hungry lookes.
Whan there we came, and first in hauen wee entred, lo wee see
The heardes of beast full fat to feede on euery side full free,
And goates also to grase, and keeper none there was to vew:
Our wepons on them fast we lay, and downe them thicke we slew,
And bankes vpon the shore we make, and gods to part wee call,
And Ioue him selfe to blesse the pray, and fast to meate wee fall.
But sodenly from downe the hilles with grisly fall to sight,
The Harpies come, & beating winges with great noys out they shright,
And at our meate they snatch, and with their clawes they all defile,
And fearefull cries also they cast, and sent of sauour vile.
Againe into a priuie place where rockes and caues doth hide,
With trees and shadowes compast darke our tables wee prouide.
And altars vp againe we make, and fiers on them we tinde.
Againe from out a diuers coast, from holes and lurkings blinde,
The preas with crooked pawes are out, and sounding foule they flie,
Polluting with their filthy mouthes our meate, and than I crie:
That all men weapons take, and with that vgly nacion fight.
They did as I them bad forthwith, and in the grasse from sight
Their swords by them they laid, & couching close their sheelds they hide.
Than whā the third time from the cliues with noise again they glide:
Misenus from aloft with brasen trompet fets a sound.
My mates inuade them than, and felt the fight but newly found,
And on the filthy birdes they beat, that wild sea rocks do breede,
But fethers none do from them fall, nor wound for stroke doth bleede,
Nor force of weapons hurt them can, their backes and wings no speare
Can perce, but fast away they flie, full hie from sight, and there
The pray to vs halfe maunched, and begnawn full foule they leaue.
But one of them, Celeno, than her selfe on rocks doth heaue
Unhappy tale to tell, and thus her lothsome voyce she brake.
And is it war (quoth shee) with vs? war Troians do you make?
And for our cattell slaine, do you with vs to bataile bend
Pore Harpies, and our kingdome take from vs that nought offend?
Take this with you therfore, and well my words imprint in minde.
That God him selfe to Phœbus said, and I by Phœbus finde,
That am the chiefe of furies all, and thus to you I tell:
To Italy your course you take, whan winde shall serue you, well:
In Italy ariue you shall, and hauen possesse you there,
But power you shall not haue your towne nor walles therof to rere
Till famine for your trespas here, and for our cattell slaine,
Shall pinche you so, that tables vp to eate you shalbe faine.
She said, and into woods therwith full fast she tooke her flight.
But than my mates, their blood for colde did shrinke, and sore affright,
Their corage downe doth fal, and now no wepons more they welde,
But vowes and praiers make, and downe for peas they kneele in felde.
If goddesses perchaunce they bee, or furies, or of seas
Some boistous birdes, what euer it is, full fain they would them pleas.
But than my father Anchises vp his handes to heauen on hie
Doth hold, and to the Gods aboue with honours great doth crie.
O Gods defend this feare, O Gods from this chaunce vs preserue,
God saue good men from harme, than from that shore he bids to swarue,
And cables vp to winde, and sailes vp hoys with halsers hie.
The northen winde vs blows, and fast through foming seas we flie,
Where winde doth driue, & where our master calls our course to keepe.
Zacinthous ylond, full of woods, appeeres amids the deepe.
Dulichium, and Samey londes, and cragges of Nerite hye,
Of Ithaca we flee the rockes, and (as we passe them by)
The kingdome of Laertes there, syr false Vlisses nurse,
That land aloofe we leaue, and it with good cause oft we curse.
Anon the point Leucates cald, and cloudy tops of hyll
Apeeres Apollos point, and coast that shipmen trust ful yll.
All weary there wee land, and there the citie small wee vew,
Our ankers out we layd on land, and ships to shore we drew.
Appeeres no land, but seas and skies about vs broad are spied:
A shoure aboue my head there stood all dusky blacke with blew,
Both night and storme it brought, & rough the waters dark their hewe.
Straight all the seas with windes are tost, and mighty surges rise,
And through the deepes we to and fro be thrown in wonders wise.
The cloudes inclosid haue the day: dim night hath hid the heauen:
And from the skies the lightning fiers do flash with grisly steauen.
From out our course we be disperst, and blinde in waues we stray,
Eke hee him selfe our maister there can skant the night from day
Discerne hee sayth, so trobleth him the tempest Palmure,
Nor in the waters wilde his way to hold he can be sure.
Three daies therfore vncerten where wee go, withouten sun
In seas we wander wide, and three nights like in darke we run
Withouten star: the fourth day land to rise we spied at last,
And mountaines far in sight are seene, and smoke do seeme to cast.
Our sailes forthwith do fall, and vp with ores, and than anon
The mariners do sweepe the seas, and through the fome they gon.
Escaping so the streames on shore at Strophades I light,
At Strophades, for so their names in Greekish toong doth hight.
For Ilands in the salt sea great they stand, wherin doth dwell
Celeno foule mishapen bird, and Harpies more right fell:
Since Phines house from them was shut, their former fare they fled.
A monster more to feare than them, nor plage was neuer bred.
Nor from the pit of hell vp start the wreke of god so wilde.
Like foules with maidens face they ben, their paunches wide defilde
With garbage great, their hooked pawes they sprede, and euer pale
With hungry lookes.
Whan there we came, and first in hauen wee entred, lo wee see
The heardes of beast full fat to feede on euery side full free,
Our wepons on them fast we lay, and downe them thicke we slew,
And bankes vpon the shore we make, and gods to part wee call,
And Ioue him selfe to blesse the pray, and fast to meate wee fall.
But sodenly from downe the hilles with grisly fall to sight,
The Harpies come, & beating winges with great noys out they shright,
And at our meate they snatch, and with their clawes they all defile,
And fearefull cries also they cast, and sent of sauour vile.
Againe into a priuie place where rockes and caues doth hide,
With trees and shadowes compast darke our tables wee prouide.
And altars vp againe we make, and fiers on them we tinde.
Againe from out a diuers coast, from holes and lurkings blinde,
The preas with crooked pawes are out, and sounding foule they flie,
Polluting with their filthy mouthes our meate, and than I crie:
That all men weapons take, and with that vgly nacion fight.
They did as I them bad forthwith, and in the grasse from sight
Their swords by them they laid, & couching close their sheelds they hide.
Than whā the third time from the cliues with noise again they glide:
Misenus from aloft with brasen trompet fets a sound.
My mates inuade them than, and felt the fight but newly found,
And on the filthy birdes they beat, that wild sea rocks do breede,
But fethers none do from them fall, nor wound for stroke doth bleede,
Nor force of weapons hurt them can, their backes and wings no speare
Can perce, but fast away they flie, full hie from sight, and there
The pray to vs halfe maunched, and begnawn full foule they leaue.
But one of them, Celeno, than her selfe on rocks doth heaue
Unhappy tale to tell, and thus her lothsome voyce she brake.
And is it war (quoth shee) with vs? war Troians do you make?
And for our cattell slaine, do you with vs to bataile bend
Pore Harpies, and our kingdome take from vs that nought offend?
Take this with you therfore, and well my words imprint in minde.
That God him selfe to Phœbus said, and I by Phœbus finde,
That am the chiefe of furies all, and thus to you I tell:
To Italy your course you take, whan winde shall serue you, well:
In Italy ariue you shall, and hauen possesse you there,
But power you shall not haue your towne nor walles therof to rere
Till famine for your trespas here, and for our cattell slaine,
Shall pinche you so, that tables vp to eate you shalbe faine.
But than my mates, their blood for colde did shrinke, and sore affright,
Their corage downe doth fal, and now no wepons more they welde,
But vowes and praiers make, and downe for peas they kneele in felde.
If goddesses perchaunce they bee, or furies, or of seas
Some boistous birdes, what euer it is, full fain they would them pleas.
But than my father Anchises vp his handes to heauen on hie
Doth hold, and to the Gods aboue with honours great doth crie.
O Gods defend this feare, O Gods from this chaunce vs preserue,
God saue good men from harme, than from that shore he bids to swarue,
And cables vp to winde, and sailes vp hoys with halsers hie.
The northen winde vs blows, and fast through foming seas we flie,
Where winde doth driue, & where our master calls our course to keepe.
Zacinthous ylond, full of woods, appeeres amids the deepe.
Dulichium, and Samey londes, and cragges of Nerite hye,
Of Ithaca we flee the rockes, and (as we passe them by)
The kingdome of Laertes there, syr false Vlisses nurse,
That land aloofe we leaue, and it with good cause oft we curse.
Anon the point Leucates cald, and cloudy tops of hyll
Apeeres Apollos point, and coast that shipmen trust ful yll.
All weary there wee land, and there the citie small wee vew,
Our ankers out we layd on land, and ships to shore we drew.
Therfore, to main land whan we came long looked for at last,
Processions great to Ioue we make, and altars kindle fast.
And on the shore in Troian gise our games and places we point,
Some wrastling for disport with naked limmes in oyl anoint,
And maistries with thē selfes they try, great ioy they make to see:
That through so many townes of Greekes, and foes they skaped bee.
This while the sonne with compas wide the great yeare brings about,
And winter windes & northen frostes rough seas doth make men dout.
A sheeld of beaten bras, sometime that Abas strong did weare:
On postes I fixed fast and tytle wrote, and left it there,
Aeneas from the victor Greekes, these armes hath offred here,
Than portes I bid them leaue, and foorth to sea them selfes to stere.
Strait wt their ores they skom ye seas, & salt fome through they sweepe,
And strait from sight Pheaea towres we hid with mountaines steepe.
And round about Epirus cost we ronne, and than anon
To Chaon hauen, and vp the towne of Butrot hie we gon.
A wonders fame there fils our eares, and rumour thought but vaine,
That Helenus king Priams son on Greekish townes doth raigne,
And wedded vnto Pirrhus wife, and Pirrhus kingdomes keepes,
And how Andromache eftsones with Troian husband sleepes.
I stoinid, and with woonders loue my hart in fier did glow,
To see the man, and of that chaunce the fortune great to know.
From out the hauen I went to walke, my fleete bestowed behinde.
Great sacrifice by chaunce that time, and giftes with heauy minde,
Before the towne in greene wood shade by Simois water side,
Andromache to Hectors dust with seruice did prouide,
And deintees great of meat she brought, and on his soule she cried,
At Hectors tombe, that greene with gras and turfes stoode her beside.
And causes more to mourne therby, two altars had she set.
Whan toward her she saw me come, and Troian armours met:
Al straught with monsters great she stert, & frantike like, affright,
Astoynid stark she stoode, her limmes had heat forsaken quight.
She fell ther with, and long at last with these wordes out she shright.
And is it true? see I thy face? true tidings brings thou mee?
O Goddesse son? and art aliue? or (if we chaunged bee
Into some other world) where is my Hector now quoth shee?
And with that word her eyes on water brast, and therwithall
The court with cries she filde: and I whom sorow thus did pall,
Few wordes could I reply for woo, and answerd thus again,
I liue in deede, and after daungers all in breath remain,
Doubt not for trueth thou seest.
Alas, how from so great a fall, so great a husband slaine,
What chaunce doth thee restore, or fortune due doth entertaine?
Andromache, of Hector wife, Pirrs wedlockes dost thou keepe?
She kest her eies on ground, and soft with voyce she did be weepe.
O happy most of happies all, king Priams doughter bright,
That vnderneth the walles of Troy was done to death outright
Before her enmies tombe, for lots on her were neuer cast,
Nor neuer she to maisters bed was captiue fixed fast.
But wee, when brent our contrey was, through sundry seas with paine
The pride of fears Achilles ympe, and yonglinges hie disdaine
In thraldome, to our trauailes great haue borne, but he at last,
His minde on Helenes doughter, (gay for Greekes to wed) did cast,
And me his maide, to Helenus his man, for wife he left.
But shortly him, for ielous rage, and for his spouse bereft,
Orestes full of furies wood, all onaware with knife
Him slew, and on his fathers tombe him chopt, and tooke from life.
Than died Neptolemus also, and of his kingdomes all
This part to Helenus befell, which hee did Chaon call,
Of Chaon Troian lord: and Chaon fieldes their name is yet.
This Pargame towne hee bilt, and Ilion tour theron he set.
But thee what destny thus doth gyde? what winde thee here doth driue?
What chaunce or god onto this coast vnknowen doth thee arriue?
How doth Ascanius thy childe? doth life and breath him feede?
Whom timely Troy to thee.
How farith hee? how? for his mother lost doth hee not long?
Doth he not manfull vertues great embrace? and them among
Example of his father take, and vncle Hector strong?
These things with teares she tolde, and weeping long for wo she drew,
Whan from the towne the prince himselfe descending there we vew,
King Helenus, king Priams son, with lordes a stately traine.
His countreymen he knew, and vs to towne he brought full faine,
And teares from out his eies in talke, at euery word did fall.
I went mee forth to walke, and Troy by name that citie small,
In countenaunce like to Troy the great, and Pergam wals I vew:
And slender brooke of Xanthus name, and gates well like I knew.
The Troians in their countrey towne also, their easment take,
The kinge him selfe great cheare to them in parlours wide doth make,
And wine in plenty great they quaffe, and deinty meates in golde
They feede, and seemely set in hall, their cups in hands they holde.
And thus a day or two the time we past, whan winde at wils
Begins to blow, and calling foorth our sayles with puffing fils.
Onto the sacred king I went, and freendly prayed him thus.
O Troian king, that secrets hie of great Gods canst discus,
Whom Phœbus token trees, and stars of heauen, hath taught to skrie,
Both chirming toongs of birdes, and winges of foul that swift doth flie.
Tell sooth I thee beseeke, for lucky course, and happy trade
Religions all and all the gods with one voice do perswade.
But one alone, (a monster straunge to thinke, and sin to speake)
Celeno, harpie foule, doth woonder tell, and fearfull wreake
Of hunger vile, what daunger furst shall I escape alas?
Or wherunto shall I mee trust through paines so great to passe?
There Helenus (as custome was) furst heyfers downe he slew,
And praied his God of peace, and than the labels he withdrew
From of his holy head, and to thy blessed secretes, mee
O Phœbus hand in hand he brought, all trembling them to see,
And than with mouth diuine he spake, both priest and prophet hee.
O goddesse son, (for greater lucke than mankinde, through the deepe
Doth gyde thee thus, and greater might to greater things doth keepe
Right true it is, the king of gods him selfe so destny gydes,
So lots doth fall, and so the wheele of fatall order slydes.
Few thinges of nombers mo, to thee, that bolder through the seas
Thou maist endure, and to thy port at last arriue with eas
In brief I will declare, for destnies deepe I leaue ontold,
I know them not, and Iuno more to tell my toonge doth holde.
Processions great to Ioue we make, and altars kindle fast.
And on the shore in Troian gise our games and places we point,
Some wrastling for disport with naked limmes in oyl anoint,
And maistries with thē selfes they try, great ioy they make to see:
That through so many townes of Greekes, and foes they skaped bee.
This while the sonne with compas wide the great yeare brings about,
And winter windes & northen frostes rough seas doth make men dout.
A sheeld of beaten bras, sometime that Abas strong did weare:
On postes I fixed fast and tytle wrote, and left it there,
Aeneas from the victor Greekes, these armes hath offred here,
Than portes I bid them leaue, and foorth to sea them selfes to stere.
Strait wt their ores they skom ye seas, & salt fome through they sweepe,
And strait from sight Pheaea towres we hid with mountaines steepe.
And round about Epirus cost we ronne, and than anon
To Chaon hauen, and vp the towne of Butrot hie we gon.
That Helenus king Priams son on Greekish townes doth raigne,
And wedded vnto Pirrhus wife, and Pirrhus kingdomes keepes,
And how Andromache eftsones with Troian husband sleepes.
I stoinid, and with woonders loue my hart in fier did glow,
To see the man, and of that chaunce the fortune great to know.
From out the hauen I went to walke, my fleete bestowed behinde.
Great sacrifice by chaunce that time, and giftes with heauy minde,
Before the towne in greene wood shade by Simois water side,
Andromache to Hectors dust with seruice did prouide,
And deintees great of meat she brought, and on his soule she cried,
At Hectors tombe, that greene with gras and turfes stoode her beside.
And causes more to mourne therby, two altars had she set.
Whan toward her she saw me come, and Troian armours met:
Al straught with monsters great she stert, & frantike like, affright,
Astoynid stark she stoode, her limmes had heat forsaken quight.
She fell ther with, and long at last with these wordes out she shright.
And is it true? see I thy face? true tidings brings thou mee?
O Goddesse son? and art aliue? or (if we chaunged bee
Into some other world) where is my Hector now quoth shee?
And with that word her eyes on water brast, and therwithall
The court with cries she filde: and I whom sorow thus did pall,
Few wordes could I reply for woo, and answerd thus again,
I liue in deede, and after daungers all in breath remain,
Doubt not for trueth thou seest.
Alas, how from so great a fall, so great a husband slaine,
What chaunce doth thee restore, or fortune due doth entertaine?
Andromache, of Hector wife, Pirrs wedlockes dost thou keepe?
She kest her eies on ground, and soft with voyce she did be weepe.
O happy most of happies all, king Priams doughter bright,
That vnderneth the walles of Troy was done to death outright
Before her enmies tombe, for lots on her were neuer cast,
Nor neuer she to maisters bed was captiue fixed fast.
But wee, when brent our contrey was, through sundry seas with paine
The pride of fears Achilles ympe, and yonglinges hie disdaine
In thraldome, to our trauailes great haue borne, but he at last,
His minde on Helenes doughter, (gay for Greekes to wed) did cast,
And me his maide, to Helenus his man, for wife he left.
Orestes full of furies wood, all onaware with knife
Him slew, and on his fathers tombe him chopt, and tooke from life.
Than died Neptolemus also, and of his kingdomes all
This part to Helenus befell, which hee did Chaon call,
Of Chaon Troian lord: and Chaon fieldes their name is yet.
This Pargame towne hee bilt, and Ilion tour theron he set.
But thee what destny thus doth gyde? what winde thee here doth driue?
What chaunce or god onto this coast vnknowen doth thee arriue?
How doth Ascanius thy childe? doth life and breath him feede?
Whom timely Troy to thee.
How farith hee? how? for his mother lost doth hee not long?
Doth he not manfull vertues great embrace? and them among
Example of his father take, and vncle Hector strong?
These things with teares she tolde, and weeping long for wo she drew,
Whan from the towne the prince himselfe descending there we vew,
King Helenus, king Priams son, with lordes a stately traine.
His countreymen he knew, and vs to towne he brought full faine,
And teares from out his eies in talke, at euery word did fall.
I went mee forth to walke, and Troy by name that citie small,
In countenaunce like to Troy the great, and Pergam wals I vew:
And slender brooke of Xanthus name, and gates well like I knew.
The Troians in their countrey towne also, their easment take,
The kinge him selfe great cheare to them in parlours wide doth make,
And wine in plenty great they quaffe, and deinty meates in golde
They feede, and seemely set in hall, their cups in hands they holde.
And thus a day or two the time we past, whan winde at wils
Begins to blow, and calling foorth our sayles with puffing fils.
Onto the sacred king I went, and freendly prayed him thus.
O Troian king, that secrets hie of great Gods canst discus,
Whom Phœbus token trees, and stars of heauen, hath taught to skrie,
Both chirming toongs of birdes, and winges of foul that swift doth flie.
Tell sooth I thee beseeke, for lucky course, and happy trade
Religions all and all the gods with one voice do perswade.
But one alone, (a monster straunge to thinke, and sin to speake)
Celeno, harpie foule, doth woonder tell, and fearfull wreake
Of hunger vile, what daunger furst shall I escape alas?
Or wherunto shall I mee trust through paines so great to passe?
And praied his God of peace, and than the labels he withdrew
From of his holy head, and to thy blessed secretes, mee
O Phœbus hand in hand he brought, all trembling them to see,
And than with mouth diuine he spake, both priest and prophet hee.
O goddesse son, (for greater lucke than mankinde, through the deepe
Doth gyde thee thus, and greater might to greater things doth keepe
Right true it is, the king of gods him selfe so destny gydes,
So lots doth fall, and so the wheele of fatall order slydes.
Few thinges of nombers mo, to thee, that bolder through the seas
Thou maist endure, and to thy port at last arriue with eas
In brief I will declare, for destnies deepe I leaue ontold,
I know them not, and Iuno more to tell my toonge doth holde.
First Italy, whom nere at hand onware thou doost suppose,
And nere at hand in hauen thy rest to take thou doost propose,
Far out aloof, and long aloof it lieth, in compas sore,
And furst in Sicil streame thou must embathing bend thine ore,
And fleeting in the salt-sea fome long coursings must thou make,
For Circes yle must furst be seene, and lands of Limbo lake,
Ere thou thy citie safe on land maist builde, and resting finde.
These tokens I thee tell, do thou imprint them well in minde.
Whan thou alone with carefull hart shalt sit besides a flood,
And see a sow of mighty sise that late hath layed her brood,
Beneth a bank among the rootes with thirtie sucklings out,
All white her selfe on ground, and white her brats her dugs about:
There shall thy citie stand, there lieth thy rest of labours all.
Nor dread thee not the plage that shall of tables eating fall,
The destnies will inuent a way therfore, and Phœbus bright
Shalbe thine ayde, and thee therof from dangers all acquite.
But yonder coast, and all that lond that ouer next vs lies,
Though part of Italy it bee, attempt it in no wise.
Leaue all aloof, the cursed Greekes all cities there haue filde,
One quarter men of Loerus hath, and castels strong they bilde.
Another were in Salent field, all places pestring wide,
Idomeneus duke his army keepes, and there beside
Petilia smal, whom Philoctetes wall doth compasse round,
Duke Melybee therin doth dwell, and Greekes possesse the ground,
Moreouer, whan the seas are past, and ships in safety stand,
And altars thou shalt make to pay thy vowes vpon the sand:
With purple weedes and hoodes of purple hews your selues attyer,
In purple hide your heads from sight, before the sacred fier,
For honour great of Gods: that no vnfrendly signe or face,
Of enmytie apeere, disturbing all, and hinder grace.
This custome keepe thy selfe, so let thy mates and all thy traine,
In this religion pure also thine ofspring shall remaine.
But whan approching Sicil coast the winde thee foorth doth blow,
And that Pelorus crooked straites begin them selues to show.
Than left hand land, and left hand sea, with compas long alee,
Fetch out aloof from londs and seas on right hand, see thou flee.
These places two sometime, by force with bretche and ruines great,
(So Tyme doth alter thinges, and what is it but Age doth eate?)
From soonder fel (men say) whan both in one the ground did grow,
The seas brake in by force, and through the mids did ouerthrow
Both townes and fieldes: and Italy forthwith from Sicill side
Did cut, and yet with narow streame and sharpe it doth deuide.
The rightside Scylla keepes, the left, Carybdis gulf vnmilde,
With gaping mouth she sits, and to her wombe the waters wilde
Three times to ground she gulps, and thrise the same to skies on hight
By course aloft she lifts, against the starres the surges smight.
But Scylla couching close in caue, if pray she haply findes,
Her head aboue the streame she holdes, and ships in rockes the windes.
From shoulders vp a man she seemes, in breast a mayden bright,
But from the nauell down, a whale, with vgly shape to sight.
Compacted of the wombs of wolues, and mixt with Dolphins tailes,
Behind her long they lag, and thus in seas her selfe she trailes.
Yet better is Pachinus point, and crookes both in and out
By leysure all to seeke, and courses long to cast about:
Than once this Scylla monster wilde behold in dongeon foule,
Or heare the roare among the rocks of dogs that there do houle.
And nere at hand in hauen thy rest to take thou doost propose,
Far out aloof, and long aloof it lieth, in compas sore,
And furst in Sicil streame thou must embathing bend thine ore,
And fleeting in the salt-sea fome long coursings must thou make,
For Circes yle must furst be seene, and lands of Limbo lake,
Ere thou thy citie safe on land maist builde, and resting finde.
These tokens I thee tell, do thou imprint them well in minde.
Whan thou alone with carefull hart shalt sit besides a flood,
And see a sow of mighty sise that late hath layed her brood,
Beneth a bank among the rootes with thirtie sucklings out,
All white her selfe on ground, and white her brats her dugs about:
There shall thy citie stand, there lieth thy rest of labours all.
Nor dread thee not the plage that shall of tables eating fall,
The destnies will inuent a way therfore, and Phœbus bright
Shalbe thine ayde, and thee therof from dangers all acquite.
But yonder coast, and all that lond that ouer next vs lies,
Though part of Italy it bee, attempt it in no wise.
Leaue all aloof, the cursed Greekes all cities there haue filde,
One quarter men of Loerus hath, and castels strong they bilde.
Another were in Salent field, all places pestring wide,
Idomeneus duke his army keepes, and there beside
Petilia smal, whom Philoctetes wall doth compasse round,
Duke Melybee therin doth dwell, and Greekes possesse the ground,
Moreouer, whan the seas are past, and ships in safety stand,
With purple weedes and hoodes of purple hews your selues attyer,
In purple hide your heads from sight, before the sacred fier,
For honour great of Gods: that no vnfrendly signe or face,
Of enmytie apeere, disturbing all, and hinder grace.
This custome keepe thy selfe, so let thy mates and all thy traine,
In this religion pure also thine ofspring shall remaine.
But whan approching Sicil coast the winde thee foorth doth blow,
And that Pelorus crooked straites begin them selues to show.
Than left hand land, and left hand sea, with compas long alee,
Fetch out aloof from londs and seas on right hand, see thou flee.
These places two sometime, by force with bretche and ruines great,
(So Tyme doth alter thinges, and what is it but Age doth eate?)
From soonder fel (men say) whan both in one the ground did grow,
The seas brake in by force, and through the mids did ouerthrow
Both townes and fieldes: and Italy forthwith from Sicill side
Did cut, and yet with narow streame and sharpe it doth deuide.
The rightside Scylla keepes, the left, Carybdis gulf vnmilde,
With gaping mouth she sits, and to her wombe the waters wilde
Three times to ground she gulps, and thrise the same to skies on hight
By course aloft she lifts, against the starres the surges smight.
But Scylla couching close in caue, if pray she haply findes,
Her head aboue the streame she holdes, and ships in rockes the windes.
From shoulders vp a man she seemes, in breast a mayden bright,
But from the nauell down, a whale, with vgly shape to sight.
Compacted of the wombs of wolues, and mixt with Dolphins tailes,
Behind her long they lag, and thus in seas her selfe she trailes.
Yet better is Pachinus point, and crookes both in and out
By leysure all to seeke, and courses long to cast about:
Than once this Scylla monster wilde behold in dongeon foule,
Or heare the roare among the rocks of dogs that there do houle.
Besides all this, if cunning ought of prophecies, or skill
To Helenus is giuen, if Phœbus mee doth truely fill:
One thing to thee thou Goddesse son, one thing, and ouer all
One thing I will thee warne, and yet againe, and yet I shall.
Dame Iunos Godhode great adore, with hart and praiers meeke.
To Iuno make thy vowes that lady great and mightie seeke
To win with humble gifts, so shalt thou to thy minde at last,
All safe to Italy aryue, the lond of Sicill past.
There whan thou comst, and Cumas town thou entrest first at shore,
Where holy lakes, and woods, and floods (Auerna cald) doth rore,
A frantike Prophet priest of womankinde thou shalt behold,
That deepe in ground doth dwell, and vnder rockes her selfe doth hold,
And destnies out she sings, and leaues with notes and names she signes
What euer thing that virgin writes, in leaues and painted lines,
In rimes and verse she sets, and them in caues in raunges couche:
There still they lye, nor from their orders mone if nothing touche.
But whan the dore by chaunce doth turne, & winde the corner blowes:
Their heapes a sonder fall and forth they flie, and breake their rowes,
She them to stay, nor from their caues to flie doth neuer let,
Nor seekes them eft to ioyne, nor of her verses more doth set.
Away they ronne, and Siblyes house their maistresse seate they hate.
There let no time be lost, but though for hast thou thinkest late,
Though all thy mates do call and cry to seas, and winde at wil
Allureth forth thy fleete, and sailes thou maist with puffing fill:
Assay the prophet first, and her with praiers due beseache
Thy destnies thee to tell, and chaunces all by mouth to teache.
Of Italy she shall thee shew, and peoples all declare,
And wars at hand, and how thy self therto thou mayst prepare.
And euery labour how thou maist auoide, or how endure,
And all thy course she wil thee tell, that preist and prophet, pure.
These things I may thee shew, and this to heare hath been thy chaunce,
Go, play thy part, and mighty Troy to heauen with deedes aduaunce.
Which things, whan thus the prophet me so like a freend had tolde:
Great gifts of Yuery wrought, and treasour great in weight of golde,
To ships he bids vs beare, and rowmes abourd he made to lade
With siluer plenty great, and Plate full riche and massy made.
A gorgeous armor coat also, threefolded gilt with hookes
Of golde, and helmet eke, with crest theron that glistring lookes,
Neptolemus his armes. My father eke hath his rewardes.
And horses more, and captaines more.
And armour eke vnto my mates he gaue, and doth supply
Our want of Ores, my father all this while doth bid them hie,
And sayles in order set, that nothing lacke whan winde doth call.
Whom Phœbus prophet spake vnto with these wordes last of all.
Anchises, whom dame Venus proude in bed did not disdaine,
Thou care of gods that twise from Troyes destruction doost remaine:
Lo Italy, lo yonder it to thee, set vp thy sayle
And take the same, yet must thou passe by this lond out of faile.
That further lond it is, Appollo sheweth that further shore.
Go forth, O happy man with such a son, what should I more
Prolong the time in talke? and you from winde that riseth keepe?
Likewise Andromache no lesse at parting gan to weepe.
And robes of riche aray, and broyded deepe with gold she brought,
A Troian mantell for Ascanius wondrous gorgeous wrought.
And him with giftes, and weauinge workes of gold full gay doth lade.
Than said she thus: take this of mee, mine owne hands hath it made,
Take this my childe, that long with thee my loue in minde may last.
Of Hectors wife receiue thy freends good will, and tokens last,
O figure, next Astianax, alone to me most deere,
So he his eyes, so he his hands, so like he bare his cheere,
And now alike in yeres with thee his youth he should haue led.
Than parting thus to them I spake, and teares for weeping shed.
Now fare ye well, O happy men, whose fortunes end is past.
New destnies vs doth call, and we from care to care ben cast.
Your rest is ready won, no feeld of seas you haue to eare,
To seeke the land that backe doth alway flee you neede not feare,
Your citie faire in fashion like to Troy and Xanthus old,
Your riuer like, and bildings worthy praise you do behold.
Your proper hands them made, the frames therof your selues do reare
With better lucke (I trust) and lesse shal neede the Greekes to feare.
If euer I to Tyber flood and fieldes of Tyber fayer
May come, and see my citie bylt, wherof I not despayer:
Two freendly townes hereafter, that and this, both neere of kin,
Two peoples neighbour like shal dwell, and frendship fast betwin
Epirus and Italia lond, whose founder both of name
King Dardan is, one blood we bee, and chaunce haue had the same.
And now of both one Troy to make in minde let vs prepare,
And to our ofspring after vs likewise we leaue the care.
To Helenus is giuen, if Phœbus mee doth truely fill:
One thing to thee thou Goddesse son, one thing, and ouer all
One thing I will thee warne, and yet againe, and yet I shall.
Dame Iunos Godhode great adore, with hart and praiers meeke.
To Iuno make thy vowes that lady great and mightie seeke
To win with humble gifts, so shalt thou to thy minde at last,
All safe to Italy aryue, the lond of Sicill past.
Where holy lakes, and woods, and floods (Auerna cald) doth rore,
A frantike Prophet priest of womankinde thou shalt behold,
That deepe in ground doth dwell, and vnder rockes her selfe doth hold,
And destnies out she sings, and leaues with notes and names she signes
What euer thing that virgin writes, in leaues and painted lines,
In rimes and verse she sets, and them in caues in raunges couche:
There still they lye, nor from their orders mone if nothing touche.
But whan the dore by chaunce doth turne, & winde the corner blowes:
Their heapes a sonder fall and forth they flie, and breake their rowes,
She them to stay, nor from their caues to flie doth neuer let,
Nor seekes them eft to ioyne, nor of her verses more doth set.
Away they ronne, and Siblyes house their maistresse seate they hate.
There let no time be lost, but though for hast thou thinkest late,
Though all thy mates do call and cry to seas, and winde at wil
Allureth forth thy fleete, and sailes thou maist with puffing fill:
Assay the prophet first, and her with praiers due beseache
Thy destnies thee to tell, and chaunces all by mouth to teache.
Of Italy she shall thee shew, and peoples all declare,
And wars at hand, and how thy self therto thou mayst prepare.
And euery labour how thou maist auoide, or how endure,
And all thy course she wil thee tell, that preist and prophet, pure.
These things I may thee shew, and this to heare hath been thy chaunce,
Go, play thy part, and mighty Troy to heauen with deedes aduaunce.
Which things, whan thus the prophet me so like a freend had tolde:
Great gifts of Yuery wrought, and treasour great in weight of golde,
To ships he bids vs beare, and rowmes abourd he made to lade
With siluer plenty great, and Plate full riche and massy made.
A gorgeous armor coat also, threefolded gilt with hookes
Of golde, and helmet eke, with crest theron that glistring lookes,
Neptolemus his armes. My father eke hath his rewardes.
And horses more, and captaines more.
And armour eke vnto my mates he gaue, and doth supply
Our want of Ores, my father all this while doth bid them hie,
And sayles in order set, that nothing lacke whan winde doth call.
Whom Phœbus prophet spake vnto with these wordes last of all.
Anchises, whom dame Venus proude in bed did not disdaine,
Thou care of gods that twise from Troyes destruction doost remaine:
And take the same, yet must thou passe by this lond out of faile.
That further lond it is, Appollo sheweth that further shore.
Go forth, O happy man with such a son, what should I more
Prolong the time in talke? and you from winde that riseth keepe?
Likewise Andromache no lesse at parting gan to weepe.
And robes of riche aray, and broyded deepe with gold she brought,
A Troian mantell for Ascanius wondrous gorgeous wrought.
And him with giftes, and weauinge workes of gold full gay doth lade.
Than said she thus: take this of mee, mine owne hands hath it made,
Take this my childe, that long with thee my loue in minde may last.
Of Hectors wife receiue thy freends good will, and tokens last,
O figure, next Astianax, alone to me most deere,
So he his eyes, so he his hands, so like he bare his cheere,
And now alike in yeres with thee his youth he should haue led.
Than parting thus to them I spake, and teares for weeping shed.
Now fare ye well, O happy men, whose fortunes end is past.
New destnies vs doth call, and we from care to care ben cast.
Your rest is ready won, no feeld of seas you haue to eare,
To seeke the land that backe doth alway flee you neede not feare,
Your citie faire in fashion like to Troy and Xanthus old,
Your riuer like, and bildings worthy praise you do behold.
Your proper hands them made, the frames therof your selues do reare
With better lucke (I trust) and lesse shal neede the Greekes to feare.
If euer I to Tyber flood and fieldes of Tyber fayer
May come, and see my citie bylt, wherof I not despayer:
Two freendly townes hereafter, that and this, both neere of kin,
Two peoples neighbour like shal dwell, and frendship fast betwin
Epirus and Italia lond, whose founder both of name
King Dardan is, one blood we bee, and chaunce haue had the same.
And now of both one Troy to make in minde let vs prepare,
And to our ofspring after vs likewise we leaue the care.
In seas we went, and at Cerauniæ neere our selfs we put,
From whence Italia lyeth, and shortest course there is to cut.
The sonne this while doth fall, and shadows great doth hide the hilles,
We spred our selues on lond, and layd vs down with gladsom willes,
Whan ships to shore was brought, and chere we make on corners all,
Our wery limmes we fresh, and slomber sweete doth on vs fall.
Nor yet from vs the midnight houre his compas quite had ron:
Whan Palinurus quicke from couche himselfe to stere begonne,
To feele the winde, and quarters all with eares attentiue harkes,
And euery star that still doth stand or moues in heauen he markes.
The waine, the plowstar, & the seuen that stormes & tempests poures,
Orion grim with fauchon great of gold also that loures.
Whan all thing sure hee seeth, and all thing faier in skies aboue,
From shipbourd loud he giues a signe, we than our campe remoue,
The way we seeke to keepe, and wings of sailes full hie wee houe.
From whence Italia lyeth, and shortest course there is to cut.
The sonne this while doth fall, and shadows great doth hide the hilles,
We spred our selues on lond, and layd vs down with gladsom willes,
Whan ships to shore was brought, and chere we make on corners all,
Our wery limmes we fresh, and slomber sweete doth on vs fall.
Nor yet from vs the midnight houre his compas quite had ron:
To feele the winde, and quarters all with eares attentiue harkes,
And euery star that still doth stand or moues in heauen he markes.
The waine, the plowstar, & the seuen that stormes & tempests poures,
Orion grim with fauchon great of gold also that loures.
Whan all thing sure hee seeth, and all thing faier in skies aboue,
From shipbourd loud he giues a signe, we than our campe remoue,
The way we seeke to keepe, and wings of sailes full hie wee houe.
And now the morning read doth rise, and stars expulsed bee,
Whan far aloof with mountaines dim, and low to looke, wee see
Italia lond. Italia first of all Achates cried.
Italia than with greeting loude my mates for ioy replied.
Anchises than my father, straight a mighty boll of gold
Did crowne, and fill with wine, and vp to Gods on hye did hold,
Auauncing forth in ship.
O gods, that londes and seas, and tempests great haue might to gide:
Uouchsafe your grace to send, and speede vs fast with winde and tide.
The winde at wish doth blow: and hauen more open now is neere,
And Pallas temple towre to vs doth broad in sight appeere.
My felowes made to shore, and downe their sailes they do bestow,
The port lyeth in from esterne seas, and crooketh like a bowe.
A front it rocks do stand, and salt sea some about them falles,
But close it selfe it lieth, on eyther side with hugy walles
Two rocky towres arise, the temple shrinkes away from shore.
There for a lucke foure horses first I saw to feede in gras,
The ground with teeth they share, and white as snow their colour was
My father than Anchises: war (O contrey land quoth hee)
Thou thretnest war, these beasts betoken war, right wel I see.
But than againe, for in the cart I see they wonted were,
To draw like matches meete, and glad their bits and yokes to bere,
I hope of peace (hee said) than last our blessed gods we pray,
And Pallas great in war, that first vs did receiue that day.
And heades with purple hoodes before the fiers in Troian gise
Wee hid from fight, as Helenus with great charge did aduise,
And vnto Greekish Iuno there, with gifts and honours new
We sacrifice: and after all things don with order dew,
Our shroudes aloft wee lift, and sailes abroad on hie we heaue.
Anon the Greekish townes, and contrey sore suspect we leaue.
Than passe wee by Tarentum bay, where Hercules sometime
(If mens report be trew) did dwell, and there against doth clime
Lacima goddesse seat, and towres of Caulon castles hie.
And than to Scyllas wrackfull shore with ships approche we nie.
Than from the flood a far, wee do the mountaine Ætna see,
And hugy noise of seas we here, and stones that beaten bee
Against the cliues, and flapping voice of waues and water sounds,
The surges leapes aloft, and from the sands they stere the grounds.
Than sayd my father Anchises, lo, here is Charybdis hold,
These stones did Helenus declare, these gastly rocks he told.
O mates, lay to your might, and vs with ores from hence remoue.
They did doo his commaund, and Palinurus first aboue,
His tacle to the left hand set, and sterne to left hand wried:
To left hand all my mates their ships, with windes and ores aplied.
As hie as heauen we rise, with mounting waues, and therwithall
Whan down we come, vnto the soules of hell wee thinke wee fall.
Three rorings loud among the rockes wee heard and surges flash,
And thries the falling fome to breake, and stars we saw to wash.
This while the winde our weary fleete forsooke, so did the sunne,
And onaware, on Cyclops coast from out our curse we runne.
A hauen right large there is, whom force of winde can neuer moue,
But Ætnas brasting noise, and grisly thondring, rores aboue.
Sometime therout a blustring cloude doth breke, and vp to skies
All smoking blacke as pitche, with flakes of fiers among it flies,
And flames in foldings round, to sweepe the stars, the mouth doth cast,
Sometime, the rockes and mountaines deepe entrailes, a sonder brast.
It belching, bolketh out: and stones it melts, and vp it throwes
In lompes with roaring noise, and low beneth the botome glowes.
Enceladus (men say) halfbrent, (some time,) with lightning blast
Is pressyd here with waight, and Ætna houge on him is cast.
Whose flaming breath along those furneis chimneis vp doth rise.
And whan his weery side he haps to turne, in wonders wise
All Sicil doth shake with noise, and smoke doth close the skies.
That night in woods with straungy sightes & monsters far from kinde
Wee troubled were, nor cause of all that nois or sound we finde.
For neither star nor light in skies there was, nor welken cleere,
Nor yet for cloudes and tempest dim, the Moone could ought apeere.
The morning next doth rise at east, and light abroad was spred,
And from the skies the drowping shade of night away was fled:
Whan sodenly, from out the woods, with flesh consumed leane,
A straungy man to sight apperes, in piteous fourme vncleane.
To vs hee came, and downe did kneele, with handes abroade vpthrown.
Wee loked, foule araied he was, his beard was ouergrown,
His vesture rent with thornes, and like a Greeke in weede he went,
And was sometime among the Greekes to Troy in armour sent.
He whan that Troian enseignes out, and armes of Troy beheld,
Affraied, hee pawsyd first, and still him selfe a while hee helde.
Anon in hast, all hedlong downe hee ronnes, and praiers meeke,
With teares hee wailing makes. Now by the stars I you beseeke,
By all the Gods, and by this breath of heauen that men do fede,
Take mee from hence (O Troians) where ye list away mee lede,
To londes, or seas, I recke not where, I know my selfe a Greeke,
And in their ships I came, the spoile of Troy your towne to seeke.
For which, if my offence so great deserueth such a wreke:
In floods do you mee drowne, or all my limmes in waters breke.
If mankinde me doth kill, it doth mee good my life to loose.
So said hee, and his knees before vs still hee keept in woose.
What man he was wee bid him straight to tell, what kinred borne,
And what him ailes, and why hee lookes so like a man forlorne.
My father Anchises gaue to him his hand him self anon,
And bad him comfort take, for harme of vs he should haue none.
Hee set his feare aside, and thus his tale proceeded on.
I am a man of Ithaca, Vlisses wofull mate.
My name is Achæmenides, to Troy I came but late.
My father sent mee there, and Adamastus is his name,
Of poore estate, I would wee yet continued had the same.
For in this place, whan all my fellowes fled this coast vnkinde
For hast, in Cyclops dungeon wide, they left mee here behinde.
A bloudy shop, where slaughters vile, and deynties foule do stinke:
But houge and broad within: but he him selfe is worse to thinke.
The stars hee reatcheth: such a plague God from this world defend.
No hart can him behold, nor tongue in talke can comprehend.
On flesh of men he feedes, and wretches bloud hee gnawes and bones,
I saw my selfe, whan of my fellowes bodies twaine at ones,
With mighty hands he caught, and groueling on the ground outright
Against a stone he brake them both, the dongeon floore in sight
Did swim with bloud, I saw the bloud, and filthy slauer drop
From out his mouth, whan he with teeth their quaking lims did chop.
But paied hee was, nor there Vlisses in that daunger great
This mischeif could sustaine to see, nor did him selfe forgeat.
For whan hee gorged had him selfe with meates and drinking drownd,
Hee bowed his necke to slepe, and there hee lay along the ground.
An hideous thing to sight, and belching out the gubs of blood,
And lompes of flesh with wine he galpyd fourth, wee all vpstood,
And praied our Gods for helpe, and all atones him round about
We spred our selues, and did his eye with weapons sharpe put out.
His mighty eye, that on his frowning face full broad he held,
In compas like the sonne, or like a Greekish arming sheld.
And thus our fellowes liues at last full glad we be to wreke.
But flee (alas) O caitiues, flee, and fast from shore do breke
Your cables.
For of the sort that Polyphemus is in dongen deepe,
And closeth beastes, and straungers all doth kil, and milketh sheepe,
A hundred more a long this crooked coast, of Cyclops fell
Among these mountaines hie do stray, and deepe in dens they dwell.
Three times the moone her light hath filde, and thrise her light exilde:
Since I my life in woods, and hauntes of beastes and monsters wilde
In wildernesse do lead, and Cyclops hie from holes and rockes
All quaking I beholde, and of their feete I feare the knockes.
For hunger, sloes hath ben my foode, and mast on trees I found,
And Hawthornes hard, and rootes of herbes I rent frō out the ground.
All things about I spied, this fleete at last on sea, I see.
What euer it were, I did my selfe bequeth therto to flee.
And now escaped from this wicked kinde, I am at ease.
Destroy mee rather you, and giue to mee what death you please.
Skant had he said his tale, whan on the mountaine tops aboue,
Him selfe among the beastes we see, with boystrous noyse to moue.
That vgly Polyphemus, and to shore him selfe enclinde.
A monster foule, mischapen, lothsom great, vneeied, and blinde.
A post in hand he bare of mighty Pyne, and therwithall
He felt his way, and led his sheepe, there was his comfort all.
About his necke a pipe there hong, his griefe therwith to ease.
Whan to the floods he came, and set his foote within the seas,
From out his greeuous eye, the blood hee washt and poison foule
With gnashing teeth for wo, and loude for wo began to houle.
And through the streamy waues he stamping goth, and yet aboue
His brest is nothing wete, and thus him selfe in sea doth houe.
Wee all affrayd in hast away do flee, and vp wee take
Our gest as worthy was, and soft our cables of we brake.
Than sweepe we through the seas, & Ores we pull with might & main.
Hee heard vs, and against the sound, hee turning stept againe.
But whan with hand on vs to gripe, he could not haue his retche,
Nor wading through the deepe of seas, vs backe he could not fetche:
A roringe loude aloft he liftes, wherat the seas, and all
The waters shooke, and londes therwith affrighted gan to pall
Of Italy, and Ætna mount did yell as it would fall.
But from the woods, all Cyclops kinde, in swarmes on euery hill
Arose and to the portes they run, and shores along they fill.
Wee saw them stand (but harme they could not do) with louring eyes,
The brethren grim of Ætna mount, their heades were vp to skies,
An vgly councell, like in sight for number to behold
Onto a forest great of okes, or trees of Cipres old,
Or like Dianas wood that hie to heauen their tops doth hold.
Whan far aloof with mountaines dim, and low to looke, wee see
Italia lond. Italia first of all Achates cried.
Italia than with greeting loude my mates for ioy replied.
Anchises than my father, straight a mighty boll of gold
Did crowne, and fill with wine, and vp to Gods on hye did hold,
Auauncing forth in ship.
O gods, that londes and seas, and tempests great haue might to gide:
Uouchsafe your grace to send, and speede vs fast with winde and tide.
The winde at wish doth blow: and hauen more open now is neere,
And Pallas temple towre to vs doth broad in sight appeere.
My felowes made to shore, and downe their sailes they do bestow,
The port lyeth in from esterne seas, and crooketh like a bowe.
A front it rocks do stand, and salt sea some about them falles,
But close it selfe it lieth, on eyther side with hugy walles
Two rocky towres arise, the temple shrinkes away from shore.
There for a lucke foure horses first I saw to feede in gras,
The ground with teeth they share, and white as snow their colour was
My father than Anchises: war (O contrey land quoth hee)
Thou thretnest war, these beasts betoken war, right wel I see.
But than againe, for in the cart I see they wonted were,
To draw like matches meete, and glad their bits and yokes to bere,
I hope of peace (hee said) than last our blessed gods we pray,
And Pallas great in war, that first vs did receiue that day.
And heades with purple hoodes before the fiers in Troian gise
Wee hid from fight, as Helenus with great charge did aduise,
And vnto Greekish Iuno there, with gifts and honours new
We sacrifice: and after all things don with order dew,
Our shroudes aloft wee lift, and sailes abroad on hie we heaue.
Anon the Greekish townes, and contrey sore suspect we leaue.
(If mens report be trew) did dwell, and there against doth clime
Lacima goddesse seat, and towres of Caulon castles hie.
And than to Scyllas wrackfull shore with ships approche we nie.
Than from the flood a far, wee do the mountaine Ætna see,
And hugy noise of seas we here, and stones that beaten bee
Against the cliues, and flapping voice of waues and water sounds,
The surges leapes aloft, and from the sands they stere the grounds.
Than sayd my father Anchises, lo, here is Charybdis hold,
These stones did Helenus declare, these gastly rocks he told.
O mates, lay to your might, and vs with ores from hence remoue.
They did doo his commaund, and Palinurus first aboue,
His tacle to the left hand set, and sterne to left hand wried:
To left hand all my mates their ships, with windes and ores aplied.
As hie as heauen we rise, with mounting waues, and therwithall
Whan down we come, vnto the soules of hell wee thinke wee fall.
Three rorings loud among the rockes wee heard and surges flash,
And thries the falling fome to breake, and stars we saw to wash.
This while the winde our weary fleete forsooke, so did the sunne,
And onaware, on Cyclops coast from out our curse we runne.
A hauen right large there is, whom force of winde can neuer moue,
But Ætnas brasting noise, and grisly thondring, rores aboue.
Sometime therout a blustring cloude doth breke, and vp to skies
All smoking blacke as pitche, with flakes of fiers among it flies,
And flames in foldings round, to sweepe the stars, the mouth doth cast,
Sometime, the rockes and mountaines deepe entrailes, a sonder brast.
It belching, bolketh out: and stones it melts, and vp it throwes
In lompes with roaring noise, and low beneth the botome glowes.
Enceladus (men say) halfbrent, (some time,) with lightning blast
Is pressyd here with waight, and Ætna houge on him is cast.
Whose flaming breath along those furneis chimneis vp doth rise.
And whan his weery side he haps to turne, in wonders wise
All Sicil doth shake with noise, and smoke doth close the skies.
That night in woods with straungy sightes & monsters far from kinde
Wee troubled were, nor cause of all that nois or sound we finde.
For neither star nor light in skies there was, nor welken cleere,
Nor yet for cloudes and tempest dim, the Moone could ought apeere.
The morning next doth rise at east, and light abroad was spred,
Whan sodenly, from out the woods, with flesh consumed leane,
A straungy man to sight apperes, in piteous fourme vncleane.
To vs hee came, and downe did kneele, with handes abroade vpthrown.
Wee loked, foule araied he was, his beard was ouergrown,
His vesture rent with thornes, and like a Greeke in weede he went,
And was sometime among the Greekes to Troy in armour sent.
He whan that Troian enseignes out, and armes of Troy beheld,
Affraied, hee pawsyd first, and still him selfe a while hee helde.
Anon in hast, all hedlong downe hee ronnes, and praiers meeke,
With teares hee wailing makes. Now by the stars I you beseeke,
By all the Gods, and by this breath of heauen that men do fede,
Take mee from hence (O Troians) where ye list away mee lede,
To londes, or seas, I recke not where, I know my selfe a Greeke,
And in their ships I came, the spoile of Troy your towne to seeke.
For which, if my offence so great deserueth such a wreke:
In floods do you mee drowne, or all my limmes in waters breke.
If mankinde me doth kill, it doth mee good my life to loose.
So said hee, and his knees before vs still hee keept in woose.
What man he was wee bid him straight to tell, what kinred borne,
And what him ailes, and why hee lookes so like a man forlorne.
My father Anchises gaue to him his hand him self anon,
And bad him comfort take, for harme of vs he should haue none.
Hee set his feare aside, and thus his tale proceeded on.
I am a man of Ithaca, Vlisses wofull mate.
My name is Achæmenides, to Troy I came but late.
My father sent mee there, and Adamastus is his name,
Of poore estate, I would wee yet continued had the same.
For in this place, whan all my fellowes fled this coast vnkinde
For hast, in Cyclops dungeon wide, they left mee here behinde.
A bloudy shop, where slaughters vile, and deynties foule do stinke:
But houge and broad within: but he him selfe is worse to thinke.
The stars hee reatcheth: such a plague God from this world defend.
No hart can him behold, nor tongue in talke can comprehend.
On flesh of men he feedes, and wretches bloud hee gnawes and bones,
I saw my selfe, whan of my fellowes bodies twaine at ones,
With mighty hands he caught, and groueling on the ground outright
Against a stone he brake them both, the dongeon floore in sight
From out his mouth, whan he with teeth their quaking lims did chop.
But paied hee was, nor there Vlisses in that daunger great
This mischeif could sustaine to see, nor did him selfe forgeat.
For whan hee gorged had him selfe with meates and drinking drownd,
Hee bowed his necke to slepe, and there hee lay along the ground.
An hideous thing to sight, and belching out the gubs of blood,
And lompes of flesh with wine he galpyd fourth, wee all vpstood,
And praied our Gods for helpe, and all atones him round about
We spred our selues, and did his eye with weapons sharpe put out.
His mighty eye, that on his frowning face full broad he held,
In compas like the sonne, or like a Greekish arming sheld.
And thus our fellowes liues at last full glad we be to wreke.
But flee (alas) O caitiues, flee, and fast from shore do breke
Your cables.
For of the sort that Polyphemus is in dongen deepe,
And closeth beastes, and straungers all doth kil, and milketh sheepe,
A hundred more a long this crooked coast, of Cyclops fell
Among these mountaines hie do stray, and deepe in dens they dwell.
Three times the moone her light hath filde, and thrise her light exilde:
Since I my life in woods, and hauntes of beastes and monsters wilde
In wildernesse do lead, and Cyclops hie from holes and rockes
All quaking I beholde, and of their feete I feare the knockes.
For hunger, sloes hath ben my foode, and mast on trees I found,
And Hawthornes hard, and rootes of herbes I rent frō out the ground.
All things about I spied, this fleete at last on sea, I see.
What euer it were, I did my selfe bequeth therto to flee.
And now escaped from this wicked kinde, I am at ease.
Destroy mee rather you, and giue to mee what death you please.
Skant had he said his tale, whan on the mountaine tops aboue,
Him selfe among the beastes we see, with boystrous noyse to moue.
That vgly Polyphemus, and to shore him selfe enclinde.
A monster foule, mischapen, lothsom great, vneeied, and blinde.
A post in hand he bare of mighty Pyne, and therwithall
He felt his way, and led his sheepe, there was his comfort all.
About his necke a pipe there hong, his griefe therwith to ease.
Whan to the floods he came, and set his foote within the seas,
From out his greeuous eye, the blood hee washt and poison foule
And through the streamy waues he stamping goth, and yet aboue
His brest is nothing wete, and thus him selfe in sea doth houe.
Wee all affrayd in hast away do flee, and vp wee take
Our gest as worthy was, and soft our cables of we brake.
Than sweepe we through the seas, & Ores we pull with might & main.
Hee heard vs, and against the sound, hee turning stept againe.
But whan with hand on vs to gripe, he could not haue his retche,
Nor wading through the deepe of seas, vs backe he could not fetche:
A roringe loude aloft he liftes, wherat the seas, and all
The waters shooke, and londes therwith affrighted gan to pall
Of Italy, and Ætna mount did yell as it would fall.
But from the woods, all Cyclops kinde, in swarmes on euery hill
Arose and to the portes they run, and shores along they fill.
Wee saw them stand (but harme they could not do) with louring eyes,
The brethren grim of Ætna mount, their heades were vp to skies,
An vgly councell, like in sight for number to behold
Onto a forest great of okes, or trees of Cipres old,
Or like Dianas wood that hie to heauen their tops doth hold.
All headlong feare enforceth vs to flee, nor way wee know,
But foorth to seas in hast wee flew where winde vs list to blow.
But than againe king Helenus commaundments did vs stay,
To keepe betweene Charybdis gulfe, and Scylla middle way.
Betweene them both we past with danger great, an glad we were,
If course wee could not keepe, yet backe againe wee thought to bere.
Behold, a northern blast from out Pelorus mouth was sent,
Therwith Pantagia stony cragges I past incontinent.
And Megarus, and all those bayes where Tapsus low doth lye
I left them all, and through the seas with winde at will I flye.
These places vs repeted than, where left hee had beforne,
Pore Achæmenides, Vlisses mate vnlucky borne.
But foorth to seas in hast wee flew where winde vs list to blow.
But than againe king Helenus commaundments did vs stay,
To keepe betweene Charybdis gulfe, and Scylla middle way.
Betweene them both we past with danger great, an glad we were,
If course wee could not keepe, yet backe againe wee thought to bere.
Behold, a northern blast from out Pelorus mouth was sent,
Therwith Pantagia stony cragges I past incontinent.
And Megarus, and all those bayes where Tapsus low doth lye
I left them all, and through the seas with winde at will I flye.
These places vs repeted than, where left hee had beforne,
Pore Achæmenides, Vlisses mate vnlucky borne.
Against the race of Sicil lond, there lieth in seas an yle,
Plemmyrium of auncient men it hight, but later while
Ortigia doth it call: the fame is, how Alphæus brooke
By secret waies, all vnder seas to this lond passage tooke,
And here it brasteth out, and Arethusas mouth it meetes,
And therwithall to Scicil seas it ronnes, and foorth it fleetes.
The blessed gods that in that place do dwell wee honour than,
And strait Elorus fertill soyle we past, and foorth we ran.
Than through the rockes that steepe do stand against Pachinus nookes
Our waies we share, with labours great we ouercame the crookes.
Than Camerina poole whom destnie neuer graunt to moue,
And Gelas towne full great, and Gelas hils apeeres aboue.
Than Agragas his gorgeous walles aloof sets out on hie:
Where horses ferce somtime did breede, the towres a far we spie.
And thee with all thy dates Selinus soone I left behinde.
And Lilibeas lurking stones and sholdes I passed blinde.
Than hauen at Drepanus I tooke, in that vngladsome shore:
Whan dangers all of seas and tempests great were past before.
Alas my father, there, my onely ioy in care and wo,
Anchises I, do lose (alas) he there departes me fro.
There mee, O father dere, in labours all thou doost forsake:
Alas in vaine from daungers all of seas thou hast ben take.
Nor Helenus whan he to mee great fearfull things did tell,
These wailings did forspeake to fall, nor yet Celeno fell.
This is my labour last, there was my iorney long at end.
From thence departing now doth god me to your contreys send.
So lorde Aeneas, to them all ententife to beholde,
The destnies of the Gods did shew, and all his courses tolde,
He staied at last, and making here an end, did silence holde.
Plemmyrium of auncient men it hight, but later while
Ortigia doth it call: the fame is, how Alphæus brooke
By secret waies, all vnder seas to this lond passage tooke,
And here it brasteth out, and Arethusas mouth it meetes,
And therwithall to Scicil seas it ronnes, and foorth it fleetes.
The blessed gods that in that place do dwell wee honour than,
Than through the rockes that steepe do stand against Pachinus nookes
Our waies we share, with labours great we ouercame the crookes.
Than Camerina poole whom destnie neuer graunt to moue,
And Gelas towne full great, and Gelas hils apeeres aboue.
Than Agragas his gorgeous walles aloof sets out on hie:
Where horses ferce somtime did breede, the towres a far we spie.
And thee with all thy dates Selinus soone I left behinde.
And Lilibeas lurking stones and sholdes I passed blinde.
Than hauen at Drepanus I tooke, in that vngladsome shore:
Whan dangers all of seas and tempests great were past before.
Alas my father, there, my onely ioy in care and wo,
Anchises I, do lose (alas) he there departes me fro.
There mee, O father dere, in labours all thou doost forsake:
Alas in vaine from daungers all of seas thou hast ben take.
Nor Helenus whan he to mee great fearfull things did tell,
These wailings did forspeake to fall, nor yet Celeno fell.
This is my labour last, there was my iorney long at end.
From thence departing now doth god me to your contreys send.
So lorde Aeneas, to them all ententife to beholde,
The destnies of the Gods did shew, and all his courses tolde,
He staied at last, and making here an end, did silence holde.
DEO GRATIAS.
Per Thomam Phaer, in foresta Kilgerran
x. Octobris. Anno. 1555. Opus viginti dierum.
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